άάάάάάάάάάάάά ίάάάάάάάάάάάάάί ή ΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫ έ ΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫάά ΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫάά ΫΫΫάά άίίίΫίίίίίΫίίίά ΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫ ΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫ ΫΫΫΫΫ ίίή ΫΫΫΫΫ έίί άάάά ΫΫΫΫ άάάάάάάάάά άάάάά Version 2.61 ή ΫΫΫΫΫ έ ΫΫΫΫ ΫΫΫΫ ΫΫΫΫΫίίίίί ΫΫΫΫΫ ω ή ΫΫΫΫΫ έ ΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫ ΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫάά ΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫάά | ή ΫΫΫΫΫ έ ΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫ ΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫ ΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫ ³ άίίίίίά ω--ΔΔΕΔ---ω ίίίίί ΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫάά ΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫάά ΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫάά ³ ΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫ ΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫ ΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫ | άάάάάάάάάά άάάάάάάάΫΫΫΫΫ άάάάά ΫΫΫΫ ω ΫΫΫΫΫίίίίί ΫΫΫΫΫίίίΫΫΫΫΫ ΫΫΫΫΫ άΫΫΫΫ ΫΫΫΫΫ ΫΫΫΫΫ ΫΫΫΫΫ ΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫά Last update: 03 May 1997 ΫΫΫΫΫ ΫΫΫΫΫ ΫΫΫΫΫ ΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫΫ ίίίί Ϋίίί ΫίίΫ Ϋίίί ΫίίΫ Ϋ Ϋ Ϋίίί ΫίΫ Ϋ ίίΫίί ΫίίΫ Ϋίίί Ϋ Ϋί Ϋίίί ίΫίίά Ϋίί ΫίΫί Ϋί Ϋ άΫ Ϋ Ϋ Ϋί Ϋ Ϋ Ϋ Ϋ ΫίίΫ ίίίΫ ΫίίΫ Ϋί Ϋ Ϋ ί ί ίί ίίίί ίίίΫ ίίίί ίίίί ί ίίί ί ί ί ίίίί ί ί ίίίί ίίίί ΫίίΫ Ϋ Ϋ Ϋίίί Ϋίίί ίίΫίί ίΫί ΫίίΫ ΫίΫ Ϋ Ϋίίί Ϋ άΫ Ϋ Ϋ Ϋί ίίίΫ Ϋ Ϋ Ϋ Ϋ Ϋ Ϋ Ϋ ίίίΫ ίίίΫ ίίίί ίίίί ίίίί ί ίίί ίίίί ί ίίί ίίίί General Questions ΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔ Q: Why should I use TDel instead of the original DEL command? Q: I'm using 4DOS. Its DEL command is quite satisfactory. What do I need TDel for? Q: When I delete a file, the "Space freed by TDel" is almost always greater than the deleted file's size. Why is that? Q: Some anti-viruses report TDel is infected by an unknown virus, but they cannot remove it. Is it really infected? What should I do? Q: I like your TDel utility, and I want to register. How much does it cost? Installation Questions ΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔ Q: What should I do in order to install/uninstall TDel? Q: Why does TDel create a file called COMMAND.DEL when installing itself? Can I delete this file? Q: I'm using a DOS version which is unknown to TDel. Won't I be able to install it? :-( Q: What is the TDEL.DAT file? TDel runs normally without it, so what do I need it for? Q: I want to try something with the original DEL command. Do I have to restore it first? Q: After installing TDel, my anti-virus reported that my COMMAND.COM file has been altered. Why is that, and what should I do? Q: I have installed TDel from DOS. When I run Windows, and open a DOS window, the original DEL command is run instead of TDel. Why is that? Q: I'm using Windows 95. I installed TDel from a DOS window. Sometimes I restore my old DOS version (6.22) by pressing F4 when booting. But then the original DEL command is run instead of TDel. How do I fix it? Options Questions ΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔ Q: How can I set some options as defaults? Q: How can I override default options? Q: What is that "+" thing you're talking about in the help screens? Q: What is the purpose of the /TEST switch? Q: What is the WIPE-file option? Q: What is the purpose of the /NEW switch? Q: What is the PARANOID feature? Q: How to specify a SIZE? Q: How to specify a DATE? Q: How to use the /FN: switch? Q: How to specify a RANGE? Q: How can I protect specific files/directories from being deleted by mistake? Q: What are the Enhanced-wildcards? Q: What tree-information formats does TDel supports? Tips & Tricks using TDel ΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔ Q: How to automatically delete unwanted, temporary and backup files. Q: How to easily create complicated script files. Q: Combining the /OF and the /FS: | /SF: switches. Q: Little tip with the "/A:" (attribute filter) switch. Q: Some shortcuts. Contact and Updates ΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔ Q: How to contact me? Q: How to obtain the newest versions of the T-Utils products? Q: How to obtain the newest TDEL.FAQ file? Acknowledgements ΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔ The persons who supported and tested TDel and the T-Utils products. ω - ---ΔΔΔΔΝΔΝΝΝΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔΝΝΝΔΝΔΔΔ---- - ω General Questions ΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔ Q: Why should I use TDel instead of the original DEL command? A: I will answer this in two parts: * If you are a novice DOS user, you'll like the simplicity of TDel. You will find it 100% compatible with the original DEL command. In addition, TDel will show you the files it deletes, in a colorful and comprehensive way, so you would not have to wonder "hmmm, I hope it deleted the right files". Moreover, you will find some basic switches and features very useful: - /S switch: Delete with sub-directories. - The Paranoid feature makes TDel the most secured deletion program ever made. It prevents fatal mistakes, and makes sure you delete exactly the directories you meant to delete. - Empty directories will be removed automatically (or after asking user). - Many tree-information files are automatically updated when a directory is removed. (see: "What tree-information formats does TDel supports?"). - The installation is easy: just run "TDEL /install". - Easy-to-understand on-line help, which includes explanations and examples. * If you are an experienced DOS user, you will find in TDel all the switches and parameters you have never found on the original DEL command, and could have been so useful and helpful. Some examples: - You can Protect selected files and directories from being deleted by mistake. - Many filters are available: Size, attribute, date, name, age, etc... - You can use the "/NO:" parameter as a command-line filename filter. - You can use the "/TEST" switch to test complicated command-line switches and parameters (eg: play "what-if"). - Script files are supported for the deletion and the protection process. - You have full control of the space you wish to free with TDel, or the amount of space you would like to be available, the order of the deletion, and the security of the deletion (normal, 0, 1 or 2). ω - ---ΔΔΔΔΝΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔΝΔΔΔ---- - ω Q: I'm using 4DOS. Its DEL command is quite satisfactory. What do I need TDel for? A: If you're familiar with all the 4DOS DEL's switches and parameters, you will enjoy TDel even more, since you will find all these options in TDel. In addition, TDel includes more useful options, which are mentioned and explained on the on-line help (when running TDel without parameters). Some of them are explained even further on this FAQ. ω - ---ΔΔΔΔΝΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔΝΔΔΔ---- - ω Q: When I delete a file, the "Space freed by TDel" is almost always greater than the deleted file's size. Why is that? A: Every disk is divided to clusters (or allocation-units). Their size tends to differ from one disk to another (run ChkDsk in order to see your cluster size). Any file which is smaller than the cluster size will occupy the same amount of space as your cluster size. For instance, if your cluster size is 4KB, even a one-byte size file will occupy 4KB on your disk. Obviously, when you delete this file, 4KB will be freed. ω - ---ΔΔΔΔΝΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔΝΔΔΔ---- - ω Q: Some anti-viruses report TDel is infected by an unknown virus, but they cannot remove it. Is it really infected? What should I do? A: It is most probably that TDel in NOT infected by a virus. This problem was common with versions 2.56 and older. If you're using one of these versions, you should upgrade to a newer one. Otherwise, please contact me! In fact, TDel is secured by two independent security envelopes, which protect it from viruses, bad copies (caused by bad-sectors), hacking, etc.. ω - ---ΔΔΔΔΝΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔΝΔΔΔ---- - ω Q: I like your TDel utility, and I want to register. How much does it cost? A: ΔΔΝΝώ NOTHING ώΝΝΔ All the T-Utils products, including TDel, are FREEWARES! That means you do not have to pay for using them. You may use and distribute them freely, as long as you do not make any modification whatsoever in the original package and the files in it. See "Contact and Updates" for contacting me, or subscribing to the T-Utils. ω - ---ΔΔΔΔΝΔΝΝΝΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔΝΝΝΔΝΔΔΔ---- - ω Installation Questions ΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔ Q: What should I do in order to install/uninstall TDel? A: Run "TDel /Install". If it's the first time you are installing TDel, read the instructions carefully. Otherwise, a menu will appear. If you want to uninstall TDel, select the "Restore the original DEL command" option. If you want to upgrade to a newer version, select the "Upgrade" option. ω - ---ΔΔΔΔΝΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔΝΔΔΔ---- - ω Q: Why does TDel create a file called COMMAND.DEL when installing itself? Can I delete this file? A: The file COMMAND.DEL (or 4DOS.DEL) is a backup of your original COMMAND.COM before it was modified by TDel's installation. You do NOT need this file, and can delete it without any worries. TDel does NOT need this file in order to uninstall itself. ω - ---ΔΔΔΔΝΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔΝΔΔΔ---- - ω Q: I'm using a DOS version which is unknown to TDel. Won't I be able to install it? :-( A: Of course you will! TDel can recognize almost all the common operating systems. If you encounter a system which is unknown to TDel, contact me, and I'll send you a tiny file, called TDEL.DAT, which is updated as needed, and contains information about your system and others. ω - ---ΔΔΔΔΝΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔΝΔΔΔ---- - ω Q: What is the TDEL.DAT file? TDel runs normally without it, so what do I need it for? A: The TDEL.DAT file in needed only when installing/uninstalling TDel on/from a system which TDel does not recognize. This file contains information about your system, and that way TDel can be installed and uninstalled. This file is NOT needed for common use, so you can delete it. However, remember that if you needed it for the installation, you'll also need it for the un-installation. To see what operating-systems are supported by TDEL.DAT, run TDel with the /READDAT parameter. ω - ---ΔΔΔΔΝΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔΝΔΔΔ---- - ω Q: I want to try something with the original DEL command. Do I have to restore it first? A: Absolutely not! Use the ERASE command - it works exactly like DEL. But why would you like to try something with the original DEL command anyway? ω - ---ΔΔΔΔΝΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔΝΔΔΔ---- - ω Q: After installing TDel, my anti-virus reported that my COMMAND.COM file has been altered. Why is that, and what should I do? A: When installing itself, TDel modifies your COMMAND.COM file (unless installed on 4DOS). You should tell your anti-virus to update its database. Note: This will also happen when uninstalling TDel. ω - ---ΔΔΔΔΝΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔΝΔΔΔ---- - ω Q: I have installed TDel from DOS. When I run Windows, and open a DOS window, the original DEL command is run instead of TDel. Why is that? A: This is because you are running a different COMMAND.COM for your DOS window than the one specified in the COMSPEC environment-table variable. Here is how to fix it: [ Windows 3.x ] - At the DOS prompt, type "SET ". - Remember the full path and file name which is shown beside the "COMSPEC=" variable. - Run Windows. - Single-click on your DOS window's icon. - Press (properties). - Watch the "COMMAND LINE" file name. If it ends with ".PIF": - Press the "CANCEL" button. - Run the "PIF Editor". - File|Open|[pif_file] (where [pif_file] is the file shown in properties|command-line). - Write the file name shown in the COMSPEC variable in the "command-line" or in the "program file name". - If you're in the PIF Editor, don't forget to SAVE before you quit. [ Windows 95 ] - Right click on your MS-DOS prompt icon. - Select "Properties". - Go to "Program". - Change the "Cmd line:" field as mentioned above. ω - ---ΔΔΔΔΝΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔΝΔΔΔ---- - ω Q: I'm using Windows 95. I installed TDel from a DOS window. Sometimes I restore my old DOS version (6.22) by pressing F4 when booting. But then the original DEL command is run instead of TDel. How do I fix it? A: You have to /INSTALL TDel again under your old DOS version. ω - ---ΔΔΔΔΝΔΝΝΝΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔΝΝΝΔΝΔΔΔ---- - ω Options Questions ΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔ Q: How can I set some options as defaults? A: You can customize TDel's behaviour for you convenience very easily. Just add the line "SET TDEL=[options]" to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, where [options] will be the switches and/or parameters you would like to set as default. The order and the case of [options] are not important; spaces can be omitted. Few examples: - SET TDEL=/D+ --> TDel will not ask you for permission to delete empty directories, and will delete them automatically. - SET TDEL=/A:a --> Delete only archive files (not hidden, read-only or system files - defaults in the original DEL command). - SET TDEL=/CA /P --> Confirm deletion of ALL files in directory, and pause each full screen. - More examples in on-line help pages. Note: The default options are overridden by the command-line options when conflicting. (see also: "How can I override default options"). ω - ---ΔΔΔΔΝΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔΝΔΔΔ---- - ω Q: How can I override default options? A: Easily. The rule is that command-line options override defaulted options when conflicting. Let's take two examples: - By default, TDel deletes files with ALL the attributes (including hidden, read-only and system files). If you wish to override this option, use the "/A:" switch in the command-line: "TDel c:\util /A:ah". (This will delete only files with archive or hidden attribute active, and will disregard read-only and system files). - Let's say you defaulted the "/D+" parameter (automatically delete empty directories), but you encountered an empty directory which you do not want to remove, delete like that: "TDel . /D-". (The "/D-" switch is conflicting with the "/D+" switch, and overrides it). ω - ---ΔΔΔΔΝΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔΝΔΔΔ---- - ω Q: What is that "+" thing you're talking about in the help screens? A: The "+" parameter is similar to the "/S" switch. However, the "/S" will affect ALL the selected files and directories, and the "+" will only affect the file or directory name it is attached to. Some examples: - "TDel c:\games /s" is similar to "TDel c:\games+" - both will delete the GAMES directory with all its sub-directories. - "TDel c:\games c:\util /s" will delete the GAMES directory and the UTIL directory with all their sub-directories. However: - "TDel c:\games+ c:\util" will delete the GAMES directory with all its sub-directories, and the all the files in the UTIL directory (but not its sub-directories). - "TDel .tmp c:\.bak+" will delete all the *.TMP file in the current directory, and all the *.BAK files in every directory on drive C:. ω - ---ΔΔΔΔΝΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔΝΔΔΔ---- - ω Q: What is the purpose of the /TEST switch? A: The /TEST switch will allow you to test complicated (and maybe dangerous) command-line options. If you are unsure about a specific option, you can try to see what will be the consequences by adding the /TEST switch to the command-line. No files nor directories will be actually deleted if this switch is activated. This switch allow you to play "what-if", and try many combinations of switches and parameters. ω - ---ΔΔΔΔΝΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔΝΔΔΔ---- - ω Q: What is the WIPE-file option? A: Wiped files cannot be undeleted. This is achieved by overwriting the file with useless data. If you wish to delete sensitive data, especially on a computer used by other users too, it is recommended to do so. There are 3 levels of wipe "strength": /W0 --> Will not actually overwrite the file, but only remove its traces from the FAT (File Allocation Table). That way, the undelete program will not be able to recognize the file. /W or /W1 --> Normal wipe: will overwrite the file once, and then remove its traces from the FAT. /W2 --> Even more secured wipe: will overwrite the file twice, each time with different data, and then remove its traces from the FAT. Note: The "normal-wipe" is more than secured enough for personal use. The /W2 is for military-use, or if you are extremely paranoid. ω - ---ΔΔΔΔΝΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔΝΔΔΔ---- - ω Q: What is the purpose of the /NEW switch? A: The /NEW switch tells TDel to ignore all previous parameters on the command- line, and to ignore TDEL environment-table variable. This is useful when: - You would like to temporarily disable options on the SET which cannot be overridden otherwise (ie: /P, /I, etc...) - In batch files, when you want to be sure no questions will be asked, such as /C and /CA, or no protection is enable (/NO:...), etc... ω - ---ΔΔΔΔΝΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔΝΔΔΔ---- - ω Q: What is the PARANOID feature? A: The Paranoid feature, as explained in the help-screens, automatically scans the screen before the deletion, and looks for traces of "DIR" and many other directory-lister utilities, and determines whether you are deleting the directory you meant to delete, otherwise - a warning message is shown. This is useful when listing files on a directory, which is not the current directory, and then writing something like "TDEL *.*". This feature makes TDel even more secured. In order to disable this feature, use the /NoPRND switch. (see also: "How to set some options as defaults?"). ω - ---ΔΔΔΔΝΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔΝΔΔΔ---- - ω Q: How to specify a SIZE? A: Some switches require specification of file-size(s), such as /SZ: (Size filter), /SF: (Space-Freed) and /SF: (Free-Space). The format is: /SZ:[k|b] --> Delete files whose sizes are *1000 [*1024|*1] bytes. That means that by default, specified size will be multiplied by 1000 (ie: /SZ:50 will delete 50,000 bytes files). If the letter "k" is added to the size, it will be multiplied by 1024 (ie: /SZ:50k will delete 51,200 bytes files). If the letter "b" is added to the size, it will specify "bytes", and will not be multiplied (ie: /SZ:50b will delete 50 bytes files). ω - ---ΔΔΔΔΝΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔΝΔΔΔ---- - ω Q: How to specify a DATE? A: The /DT: (Date) switch required specification of at least one date. The date's format is ddmm[yy]yy, where "dd" stands for 2 digits of the DAY (ie: "1" will be "01"), "mm" stands for 2 digits of the MONTH, and "[yy]yy" stands for 2 or 4 digits of YEAR (ie: "97" is the same as "1997"). For example: "TDEL *.* /dt:130190" will delete all files in directory, which where created or last-modified in January 13th, 1990. ω - ---ΔΔΔΔΝΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔΝΔΔΔ---- - ω Q: How to use the /FN: switch? A: The /FN: (File-Name) switch allows you to process a group of files, which have no similar parts on their names, and therefore cannot be selected using standard wildcards (eg: *.EXE). The format of the /FN: switch is: /FN:[..] (see also: "How to specify a RANGE?"). TDel will process all files situated between and (including) unsorted, which means in the same order as shown when typing "DIR". For example: "TDEL *.* /fn:hello.exe..test.com" will delete all files in directory, situated between HELLO.EXE and TEST.COM (including). ω - ---ΔΔΔΔΝΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔΝΔΔΔ---- - ω Q: How to specify a RANGE? A: Some filters support range, which means you can use them with 2 values, and they will process all related files. Here are few examples: - /SZ:[..] --> "TDEL *.* /sz:10..30" will delete all files in directory, whose sizes varies between 10,000 bytes and 30,000 bytes. (see also: "How to specify a SIZE?"). * If one value is omitted, an "unlimited" range will be processed: - /DT:[..] --> "TDEL *.* /dt:130190.." will delete all files in directory, which were created or last- modified sometime after January 13th, 1990 including. (see also: "How to specify a DATE?") * If only one value is used, exact match will be processed: - /DAYS:[..] --> "TDEL *.* /days:14" will delete all files in directory, which where created or last-modified 2 weeks (14 days) ago. * More examples are available in on-line help screens. ω - ---ΔΔΔΔΝΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔΝΔΔΔ---- - ω Q: How can I protect specific files/directories from being deleted by mistake? A: - If you want to protect a single file or some files with common letters on their names (like *.EXE), or a single directory, add the following line to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file: "SET TDEL=/NO:[filename]", where "[filename]" is the name of the file(s) or directory you want to protect (wildcards are allowed). - If you want to protect more than one file or directory, you can separate them by commas: "SET TDEL=/NO:c:\dos,c:\config.sys,...". However, this is an inefficient way, since it will occupy unnecessary memory from your environment-table. You may prefer to use a script file: - A script file is a text-file, which contains the names of the files and the directories you want to protect (each name in a new line). After you have created this file, add the following line to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file: "SET TDEL=/NO:@[scriptfile]", where "[scriptfile]" is the full path and name of the script file. For example: "SET TDEL=/NO:@c:\dos\del.not" (do not forget the "@" before the script-file name). (See also: "Tips & Tricks"). * Attention: It is NOT sufficient to specify a path in the /NO: switch only once. Do not use "/NO:a:.exe,.com" when you actually want to use "/NO:a:.exe,a:.com". If for any reason you would like to delete protected files, use the "/YES" switch to override the protection. ω - ---ΔΔΔΔΝΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔΝΔΔΔ---- - ω Q: What are the Enhanced-wildcards? A: Wildcards are the characters "*" and "?", which allow you to specify only a part of the file-name. For example: "*.exe" refers to all files whose extensions are ".EXE"; "test*.*" refers to all files whose name begins with "TEST", ie: TEST1.EXE, TESTING.COM, TEST.BAT, etc... However, there is a little "bug" or "hole" in the normal wildcards: they ignore all characters after the first "*" (eg: "*test*.*" = "*.*"). Enhanced-wildcards allow you to do that. Be careful, since normal DOS commands and applications does not support enhanced-wildcards. ω - ---ΔΔΔΔΝΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔΝΔΔΔ---- - ω Q: What tree-information formats does TDel supports? A: When TDel removes a directory, it will try to update many tree-information files. When this FAQ was released (see first page), TDel supported the following formats: - Norton's directories database file (NCD). - Another Change Directory (ACD). - Led's Change Directory (LCD). - Directory Maven (DM). - More formats are added from time to time. ω - ---ΔΔΔΔΝΔΝΝΝΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔΝΝΝΔΝΔΔΔ---- - ω Tips & Tricks using TDel ΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔ Q: How to automatically delete unwanted, temporary and backup files. A: One of the advantages of TDel is that it treats the TDEL environment-table variable exactly as a command-line. That way, you can include file and directory names in the TDEL variable, which will be automatically deleted each time TDel is run. Here is an example of a line you may want to include in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file: "SET TDEL=.bak .tmp .~??". Other options can be also added to this line (ie: "SET TDEL=.bak/ca/d+"). ω - ---ΔΔΔΔΝΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔΝΔΔΔ---- - ω Q: How to easily create complicated script files. A: You can use the MS-DOS DIR command with the /B (bare format) option and the file redirection symbol: "DIR /b > script.txt". This will create the file SCRIPT.TXT which will include all the file-names in the current directory. Another example is "DIR *.com /b > comfiles.scr", which will create the file COMFILES.SCR which includes all the *.COM files in the current directory. These files are pure text-files, and may be freely edited with every text file editor (such as C:\DOS\EDIT.COM), and used as TDel script files. ω - ---ΔΔΔΔΝΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔΝΔΔΔ---- - ω Q: Combining the /OF and the /FS: | /SF: switches. A: If you have a temporary directory (ie: C:\TEMP), which is usually filled by unneeded and unwanted files, this combination can help you. The /OF switch will tell TDel to start deleting older-files first. The /FS: (Free-Space) or the /SF: (Space-Freed) switches will limit the amount of files deleted. For example, you can delete until 100MB are available, and then stop (TDEL c:\temp /of /fs:100000). ω - ---ΔΔΔΔΝΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔΝΔΔΔ---- - ω Q: Little tip with the "/A:" (attribute filter) switch. A: By default, TDel deletes files with all the attributes ("/A:ashr"). Therefore, you may want to include the "/A:a" switch in the TDEL environment-table variable (which will delete only "normal" files, like the original DEL command). If afterwards you would like to delete a file with special attribute(s), there is no need to identify it - just add the "/A" switch to the command-line. (Note: "/A" is equivalent to "/A:ashr"). ω - ---ΔΔΔΔΝΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔΝΔΔΔ---- - ω Q: Some shortcuts. A: - As you have probably noticed, the asterisk ("*") signal is sometimes omitted. This is not a mistake, but a shortcut. The asterisk can be omitted when all the files you wish to delete have the same extension: ".EXE" = "*.EXE" / "." = "*.*" / BUT: "*." remains "*.". - The spaces between the switches and the parameters are not obligatory, and can be omitted either: "TDel \.bak/c/s" = "TDel /C \*.bak /S". - The file and directory names, the switches and the parameters order and case are not important: "/d+/s" = "/S/D+". ω - ---ΔΔΔΔΝΔΝΝΝΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔΝΝΝΔΝΔΔΔ---- - ω Contact and Updates ΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔ Q: How to contact me? A: The easiest way to contact me is through the InterNet. The T-Utils home-page address is: http://TUtils.home.ml.org. My email address: TUtils@poboxes.com. ω - ---ΔΔΔΔΝΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔΝΔΔΔ---- - ω Q: How to obtain the newest versions of the T-Utils products? A: The newest version of the T-Utils products are available on the T-Utils home-page, or by contacting me. You can subscribe to the T-Utils products from the T-Utils home-page. That way, you will receive news and updates through email. ω - ---ΔΔΔΔΝΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔΝΔΔΔ---- - ω Q: How to obtain the newest TDEL.FAQ file? A: InterNet: http://TUtils.home.ml.org/tdel_faq.zip, or by contacting me. ω - ---ΔΔΔΔΝΔΝΝΝΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔΝΝΝΔΝΔΔΔ---- - ω Acknowledgements ΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔ I would like to thank the following persons for supporting and/or testing TDel and the T-Utils products (sorted alphabetically): Avishay Golan, Guy Nesher, Ofir Harzaz, Robin Hines, Ron Tamerin, Ted Baynes, Zarko Bulat. Special thanks to Eddo Kim for beta-testing, very useful advices, technical and moral support. I would also like to thank all the subscribed users for supporting TDel and the T-Utils. Thank you all! ω - ---ΔΔΔΔΝΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔΝΔΔΔ---- - ω ω - ---ΔΔΔΔΝΔΝΝΝΔΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΝΔΝΝΝΔΝΔΔΔ---- - ω