*** Welcome to Trash-It (tm) **** Version 1.1 10/16/90 Have you ever accidentally deleted a file or groups of files and found that you couldn't recover them? I have. Several times. Now there's a way to prevent this from ever happening again. Trash-It works with DOS, PC-Directory, PC-FileNotes, MS Windows or any program that uses DOS function calls to delete files. Instead of deleting the file, Trash-It moves the file over to the \TRASH subdir. In other words, your deleted files remain intact, they just get moved out of the way. If you accidentally delete a file, don't worry, it's still completely intact over in the \TRASH subdir where DOS can't overwrite it. And Trash-It is completely transparent to the user. But you say, "I have an un-delete program". That's all well and good. However, if DOS has overwritten any part of the disk where the deleted file was stored, even the most sophisticated of the un-delete programs fail. The less sophisticated ones fail for even more reasons (directory info overwritten, files clusters that aren't contiguous, etc..). In my experience un-delete programs work about half the time, if you're lucky. With Trash-It there's no chance of DOS overwriting the file, because the file is never deleted. Of course, since you're not actually deleting these files, eventually your hard disk is going to fill up, requiring that you "dump the trash", i.e. go to the \TRASH subdirectory and clean it out. When you register you'll get AutoDump, a program that automatically deletes trashed files (files that have been moved to the TRASH subdir) that have been there longer than the number of days you specify. In addition, AutoDump gives you the option of using PKZIP (tm) to automatically ZIP your trashed files in order to save even more disk space. As a registered user you'll also get KeyDump, a TSR that does pretty much what AutoDump does but at the touch of a key. Even during other programs. That way if you're in the middle of another program and you get a "Disk Full" message you can activate KeyDump and free up some space. In the interim you can use any file manager (like PC-Directory), or DOS itself, to delete the files in the \TRASH subdir. ** Trash-It doesn't interfere with deletes done in the \TRASH subdir. Files deleted in the \TRASH subdir are actually deleted. Note: PC-Directory (another of our shareware programs) is a big help when it comes to recovering trashed files, or housekeeping the Trash subdir. For example, let's look at how you might recover a trashed file using PC-Directory. First you'd pop-up PC-Directory and use the tree listing of directories to move to the TRASH subdir. Instantly a listing of all trashed files would be displayed, sorted by name. If it's easier to find the file you're after by the time it was trashed, then you can re-sort the entire listing by date/time in the blink of an eye. When you find the file you want, you can instantly view it with one keystroke. Once you're sure this is the one, then you can use PC-Directory to move it back to its original directory. And if you need to rename it (because there was another trashed file with the same name), you can do it with just one more keystroke. Fast and simple. And because PC-Directory is a TSR (33K) you can use it even while in the middle of another application. This can be real handy if you need to free up some disk space NOW. And the nice thing is you'll get the shareware version of PC-Directory (plus a bunch of our other programs) when you register Trash-It. The Configuration Program: Trash-It also comes with a configuration program. The key to keeping disk space free is to only trash significant files. The configuration program lets you do just that. To run it, go to the where the Trash-It files reside and enter "CONFIG" at the DOS prompt. Do it now. You use the configuration program to exempt files from being trashed. You can set a minimum file size in which files greater than the limit are trashed (moved to the TRASH subdir) and those less than the limit are deleted. This can save a lot of disk space. Even a 1 byte file takes up 4K of hard disk space. By having Trash-It delete small files (instead of trashing them) you can free up a significant amount of disk space, without sacrificing any important files. The configuration program also lets you specify up to five different filename extensions. All "deleted" files with the extension(s) you define will be deleted instead of trashed. This too can save a significant amount of disk space. For example, some programs create temporary files with "TMP" as the filename extension. These files aren't important once the program ends and are deleted. If you specify "TMP" in the configuration program then Trash-It would delete these files rather than trash them. The last item in the configuration program lets you decide whether you want Trash-It to change the trashed file's date/time to the time it was trashed. If you select "No" then Trash-It leaves the date/time of the trashed file unchanged. This lets Trash-It run a little faster. The downside is that you have no way of knowing when the file was trashed, rendering AutoDump and KeyDump practically useless. "Yes" is the default value and the position we recommend. However if you're a real speed freak, or for some reason you want the deleted files to retain their original date/time, then select "No". To change an item use the up/down arrow keys to select the item and press C for Change. Then input the new value. To delete an extension: select the extension you want to delete, press C to Change, and then press the Enter or Return key without entering anything. When you've finished making all your changes then press the Escape key to save the changes and exit the configuration program. Getting started: Before you use Trash-It for the first time you need to create a subdirectory called "\TRASH" on your hard disk by entering: "md \trash" at the DOS prompt. If you have your hard drive partitioned than create a "\TRASH" subdir in each partition. After you've created the "\TRASH" subdir then all you do to run Trash-It is move to the subdir where TI.COM is located and enter "ti" at the DOS prompt. Once loaded Trash-It automatically intercepts all attempts via DOS function calls to delete files, and instead moves the files to the Trash ("\TRASH subdir"). You don't do anything different than before. It is totally transparent to the user. * The "how to register" information that appears when Trash-It is loaded, and the 5 second delay, will disappear when you register. The best way to make sure Trash-It is loaded is to put "TI.COM" in the root directory, and the phrase "TI" in your "AUTOEXEC.BAT" file, also located in the root directory. This will automatically load Trash-It every time you boot your computer. Limitations: Programs can delete files using two methods. Most programs use DOS function calls do it. However, a few programs directly modify the disk data (FAT and Directory info) without using DOS. * Trash-It works only if DOS function calls are used to delete * * the file(s). * Trash-It can't protect against programs that go in and modify the FAT and Directory information directly. However, almost all programs let DOS do what it's designed for by using DOS function calls to delete files, thereby allowing Trash-It to do its job. * Trash-It only works if it finds a "\TRASH" subdirectory on the * * disk (or partition) where the deleted files are located. * For example, let's say you have a Trash subdir on your hard drive, C:. You then attempt to delete files on the A: drive. If the disk in the A: drive doesn't have a \TRASH subdir then the files will be deleted, even tho there is a \TRASH subdir on the C: drive. Files will only be moved to the \TRASH subdir if the \TRASH subdir is located on the same disk as the files being deleted. Of course, you can make \TRASH subdirs on all your disks if you want. ** WARNING ** You shouldn't take deleting files any less seriously than you always have, because in the situations described above (and possibly a few we don't know about yet) the file will actually be deleted. * If Trash-It finds a file in the \TRASH subdir with the same name * * as the file it's trying to move there, then it will increment * * the last letter of the filename until it's unique. * For example, if you're trying to delete "TEMP" and a file named "TEMP" already exists in the "\TRASH" subdir then Trash-It would increment the last letter of the filename being moved, in this case from "TEMP" to "TEMQ", and try again. Using AutoDump: Registered Users Only AutoDump helps free up disk space by automatically deleting trashed files older than the user-specified number of days, or smaller than the user-specified size. You adjust these values by configuring AutoDump. To configure AutoDump enter "autodump c" at the DOS prompt and follow the instructions. You'll notice when you configure that you also have the option of Zipping the trashed files. The Zip option uses PKZIP (a shareware file compression program from PKWARE: 1-414-352-7176) to combine and compress all the files that have been trashed since the last time you used AutoDump and puts them in a single file. The advantage is that this frees up disk space. The disadvantage is that it's harder to know what files have been trashed, making it tougher to find and recover a trashed file. Personally, I wouldn't use this option unless disk space is at a premium. The filename given the zipped file contains the month and day plus a letter starting at A and increasing each time AutoDump is run on the same date. For example, if today is October 5th then the filename would be 1005A.ZIP. If you ran AutoDump again today then the filename would be 1005B.ZIP, and so on. Tomorrow the filename would be 1006A.ZIP. AutoDump treats .ZIP files just like trashed files and will delete them after they become older than the user-specified number of days. In order for the Zip option to work, PKZIP.EXE must be in the directory from which AutoDump is run, not necessarily where AutoDump resides. For example, let's say you keep the Trash-It files in a subdirectory called "TI" and you want AutoDump to run every time you boot your computer so you put the phrase "\TI\AUTODUMP" in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Since the AUTOEXEC.BAT file resides in the root directory then PKZIP.EXE must be in the root directory as well, even though TI.COM isn't. Refer to the PKZIP documentation for instructions on how to view and retrieve files in a .ZIP file. Give some thought to the values you chose for AutoDump. If you're not short of disk space then you'd want to specify a larger # of days to keep trashed files around than you would if disk space is at a premium. Remember too, that you can specify a minimum file size in Trash-It itself, so why specify it again here? The reason: tiny files usually aren't important, and if they are you'll probably know right away. By making the minimum file size smaller in Trash-It than in AutoDump you give yourself a period of time where you can recover these tiny files before AutoDump comes along and deletes them. You still get your hard disk cleaned up, it's just that you now have a grace period to recover those tiny little buggers. You run AutoDump by entering "autodump" at the DOS prompt. The best way to operate AutoDump is from your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. That way it's activated every time you boot your computer, without any input from you at all. Using KeyDump: Registered Users Only KeyDump enables those of you silly enough not to use PC-Directory, to recover (maybe) from a "disk full" error. It operates exactly the same as AutoDump, except there's no .ZIP option, and you activate it by pressing its hot key Ctrl-Alt-K. By specifying higher values in KeyDump than in AutoDump, KeyDump will hopefully find more trashed files to get rid of, thereby freeing up enough disk space (we hope) for the current application to recover from the disk full error. You could even set the number of days to keep trashed files around to zero, thereby deleting all the trashed files whenever you activate KeyDump. Drastic but effective. KeyDump is a small TSR (2K) which means you only run it once when you first boot your computer and it stays hidden in memory waiting for you to activate it. You load KeyDump into memory by entering "keydump" at the DOS prompt. You configure it (change the file size, and # of days values) by entering "keydump c" at the DOS prompt and following the instructions. After you've loaded KeyDump if you ever get a "disk full" message then press Ctrl, Alt, and the K key at the same time. KeyDump will do its thing and emit a double beep to let you know it's done. Then have the current application try again to save the file. A much better method of recovering from a "disk full" message is to use a TSR file manager like PC-Directory that lets you pop-up, go over and selectively delete trashed files, and then return. This way you can delete as many trashed files as necessary: more or less as the need requires. Of course if you use a multi-tasker like DesqView or Windows, you can change to the DOS window, or a file manager window (like the non-TSR version of you-know-what), delete some trashed files, and then return to the application that gave you the "disk full" message and try again. Remember, if you configure Trash-It to NOT change the trashed file's date/time to the date/time when it was trashed then AutoDump and KeyDump will delete trashed files according to when they were created or last modified, not when they were trashed. Tech Support: Registered users can call (206) 939-4105 for technical support. You can also contact us by E-Mail on Compuserve ID #: 72371,1557 How Much?: Trash-It (tm) is copyrighted 1990 by RSE Incorporated. It's being released as user-supported shareware. This means you're freely given this copy in order to evaluate it. If after a 21 day evaluation period you decide to continue using Trash-It, you need to become a registered user by sending the registration fee of $10 (add $1 for 3.5 disk) to: Trash-It Registration Mastercard or Visa customers: 1157 57th Drive SE (206) 939-4105 Auburn, WA 98002 Compuserve: 72371,1557 Overseas customers please add $10 for shipping. You're encouraged to freely distribute copies of the TRASH.EXE file as long as you don't charge anything for the copies. DO NOT distribute the individual, extracted, files; only TRASH.EXE. When you register Trash-It you'll receive a disk crammed full of our other user-supported programs including PC-Directory, Playback, Conjecture, Remind Me!, Nabbit, BriteLine, and PC-Images. After all, you'll need a good file manager to go with Trash-It, and PC-Directory is the best (if I do say so myself -grin-). Registered users also get the two programs described earlier: AutoDump and KeyDump. In addition, when you register all the "please register" info that appears when you run Trash-It (along with the 5 second delay), disappears. Those using Trash-It in a commercial or educational environment must register within 30 days. Site licenses are available, as well as quantity discounts. I hope you find Trash-It worthy of your support. Take care. *** Disclaimer *** RSE Incorporated specifically disclaims all warranties expressed or implied, including, without limitation, any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. The software itself is licensed "As Is", without any express or implied warranties whatsoever. In no event shall RSE Incorporated, its distributors or dealers, be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damage, including, without limitation, special, incidental, consequential or other damages. In no case shall any liability exceed the price paid for the software.