DIP 2.0 Doc File

Search for File:
When searching for a file, you can use only the astric for a wild card search.
The ? is not a legitimate wild card character for this program.  Most of the
characters you can't use will be brought to your attention as you attempt to
type them.

Search for Space:
This feature allows you to search for available space on a diskette.  If you
have a file that you want to put on a disk, you first select the box of
diskettes you wish to search in then you specify the amount of space you are
looking for.  Note that if you select the maximum number for a space search,
you will get a listing of blank diskettes in the box you have selected.

FILE

New Listing:
This option allows you to create your box name for your next diskette listing.
You do not have the option of putting your own extension name for your box
listing.  This option is only looking for eight or less characters for a box
name.  If you try to create a new listing that has the same name as one in the
file list, the program will ask for conformation before wiping out an old or
current listing and replacing it with the new listing.  Note: Please limit
diskette number to 100 disks per box.

Delete Listing:
This option allows you to delete a box listing which will completely delete it
from the hard drive.  It will ask you if you really want to do this, twice, so
you won't accidently wipe out a listing without being sure that this is what
you want to do.

Delete Volume Label:
This option gives you the ability to remove a particular disk in the box
listing for purposes of updating the disk or removing it because that
particular disk went bad and you don't have a disk to replace it with at the
moment.  Note: You do not have to remove a particular disk from a listing
before you update it.  The update program will automatically ask you if you
wish to update disks as you process them. (Read information about updating a
listing)

Print Listing:
This feature has some flexibility to it, especially if your using a laser
printer.  Most options for the print routine are pretty straight forward,
however, the print order option was designed for double sided printing and
laser printers that feed from the front or back of the paper tray.  Most laser
printers feed the paper from the back of the paper tray so I set this option as
the default.  My laser printer feeds from the front of the paper tray so I had
to include this option.  What happens is--the back feed option will print all
of the odd pages first then prompt you to reinsert the pages to print the back
side or even pages starting with the last page first.  The front feed option
will repeat this sequence only it will print the first page first.  Use of this
feature will familiarize you with it more quickly than reading about it.  I
don't think a dot matrix printer will print double sided listings simply
because of the upper and lower margin areas of a single feed mechanism.  So I
strongly recommend that 24 pin dot matrix printing be done with the single
sided option using tractor feed paper.  There is a help box in the print menu
to remind you of some of the options.

Run Update Program:
This option will allow you to update your disk listing for what ever reason you
have need to do so.  When updating a listing, you will be prompted for a disk.
If that disk is already listed in your listing you will be asked to either
overwrite the disk in your listing, skip that disk, or rename that disk.  There
is no need to update a list in any order, by that I mean, when updating, you
need not update disk 1 before you update disk 10.  You can process disk 50
first then disk 23 then disk 48 and so on.... Again, using this option will
help you figure this out better than trying to make sense of my explanation.
Note: The update program will not process a disk without a label.  Part of the
update program's function is to prompt you for a label if one does not exist.

Update Disk Listing:
This option is for the final process of updating the listing and to save the
file with the updates that were made.

That's basically the gist of the program so I hope you can make use of it in a
productive way.  It is freeware so please pass it on to others who might be
interested in an alternative to tape drives.  If, however, you are inclined to
make a donation towards this project and the time it took to attempt to make
this program bullet proof then you may send a $10, check or money order,
donation to:

Jim Richardson
122 East Mojave Trail
Nocona, Tx  76255

Also any comments or suggestions can be directed to:
Ken Richardson
cserve 76220,3354

Thank you for trying DIP 2.0.   Jim (VP)