Directory Utilities for DOS (1 of 2)

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ENHANCED DIRECTORY CHANGERS


1. ACD- Quickly change to any directory; Win9x ready.

* * * * * [updated 10-25-98]

No one should be without this utility- or one of its several look-alikes. ACD lets you change to any directory with one short command. ACD pops up a "quick pick" list of possible matches if you type a partial/ inexact directory name or path. ACD changes to hidden directories as well- one reason I prefer it over some alternatives. Create/ delete/ rename directory capability with auto-updating of directory tree database. Network and substituted drives support. Because of its rich option suite, WIN9x support, and high degree of configurability, ACD remains one of the most popular DOS add-ons around. Includes Pascal source. Author: A. Merckens. Netherlands. (1998)

New since v3.00:

download acd.zip (v3.03, 75K)


2. WCD- Directory changer with regular expression searches, Win9x ready.

* * * * * [added 12-97; updated 05-18-99]

WCD is another smartly designed directory changer which should appeal to both DOS and Unix users. Unlike ACD, WCD supports enhanced wildcard and regular expression searches and allows aliasing of directories. WCD lacks the graphical pop-up display of ACD and instead presents the user with a numbered list of possible matches from which the user makes a choice. 32-bit DOS (w/ Win9x LFN support), and 32-bit DOS bash executables are also available. Source available/ GPL'd. Author: Erwin Waterlander. Netherlands (1999). Home page.

wcd  2.2.6  (May 12 1999) - Wherever Change Directory

Usage: wcd [drive:][dir] [-h] [-q] [-Q] [-b] [-l] [-c] [-e[e]] [-E <path>]
       [-s] [-S <path>] [-a[a]] [-A <path>] [-u <username>] [-f <treefile>]
       [-n <path>] [-i] [-d <drive>] [-[m|M|r|rmtree] <dir>] [-t]
       [-v] [-g] [-z #] [-[#]] [+[#]] [=]
  dir (partial) name of directory to change to.
      Wildcards *, ? and [SET] are supported!
  -h  show this Help                 -m  Make <dir>, add to treefile
  -q  unQuiet operation              -M  Make <dir>, add to extra treefile
  -Q  Quieter operation              -r  Remove <dir>, (-rmtree recursive)
  -u  use User's treefile (+u add)   -c  direct CD mode
  -f  use extra treeFile (+f add)    -l  aLias current dir
  -n  use relative treefile (+n add) -b  Ban current path
  -s  (re)Scan disk from $HOME       -v  print Version info
  -S  Scan disk from <path> (+S rel) -g  print software licence
  -a  Add current path to treedata   -e  add current path to Extra treedata
  -A  Add tree from <path>           -E  add tree from <path> to Extra treedata
  -   Push dir (# times)             -i  Ignore case (Unix)
  +   Pop dir (# times)              -d  set <Drive> for stack & go files (DOS)
  =   Show stack                     -z  set max stack siZe

05-18-99: latest version is 2.2.6 (5-99). See home page for version history.

download wcd22d16.zip 16 bit (50 kB)

download wcd22d32.zip 32 bit (100 kB)


3. CCD- Enhanced directory changer and directory tool.

* * * 1/2 [updated 5-17-98]

Note: for fast Pentiums patch the included exes using bp7pat.

CCD represents an interesting, and perhaps for some, a more user friendly alternative to ACD. It includes some additional features (file listing, directory description capability) but also lacks some of ACD's drive scanning and searching flexibility. Like ACD, CCD pops up a graphical directory tree when run without a directory name/ substring parameter. You can then type in a substring to jump to a directory or you can find a directory by scrolling through the tree. Unlike ACD, the full screen interface mode incorporates pulldown menus which allow you to perform actions on directories, view file/ executable lists, display disk statistics, and rescan directories. Executables can also be launched from within CCD. Author: Jose Coig. Spain. (1998) Get the latest versions here.

Other features:

Update 5-17-98: Changes since v 77a:-

- v0.80a. Fixed bug on the directory searchings....v0.79a. Screen scroll, using Shift+Cursor keys. W95 Long-Filename support on the file lists, and automatic descriptions. Fixed bug in Directory Size under DOS. The '~' can now be used in dialogs. New directory soft rescan (one level only, non-destructive). Some bugs fixed in directory searching. Fixed bug when moving a directory into itself....v0.78a. '\', '..', '...', etc. parameters are allowed on the command line. Can go to the navigator from the directory list. Can use the directory list from the navigator. Directory searches using substrings.

download ccd080a.zip (78K)


4. CDX- Small, enhanced CHDIR doesn't use data file.

* * * 1/2

This utility doesn't have the bells and whistles of larger CD replacements but some will certainly prefer its 7K size and lower memory requirements. Doesn't use a tree-data file and consequently is slower because it has to read directories during each run.

Note the /F switch: find a file and change to its directory in one easy step. I don't think ACD can do that.

Authors: Michael Holmes and Bob Flanders / PC Magazine. (1991). Suggested by Robert Bull.

USAGE: CDX [/B] [/+] [/F file] [d:]p1 p2 .. pn
/B....... change to first qualifying directory
/+....... include floppies in * or - search
/F file.. find directory containing file
d........ are the drives to search
............. *: searches all drives
.............-ddd: searches all drives except ddd
............. ddd: searches only drives ddd
p1..pn... are the names of directories to search

download cdx.zip (15K)


FILE AND DIRECTORY DESCRIPTION CREATORS

Should move this section to a different page?
Also see: FW and Connect file managers which can display DEDIT-generated 4DOS descriptions; also IMD, a simple directory lister that can also display 4DOS descriptions.


1. DEDIT- Create and maintain 4DOS compatible file descriptions.

* * * * * [added 3-5-98; updated 2-21-99]

If you're thinking of maintaining descriptions for your files, DEDIT is the program to grab.

Formerly shareware, now freeware. Author: Mark Incley; Home page, UK (1999).

new in v1.53 (2-99): Changed DEDIT's default maximum description length to 511 characters to keep it in line with the current (at the time of writing) 4DOS and TakeCommand releases.

Part of the Inkutils set: (v1.53;2-99)
download ink153.exe (255K)


MISC. DIRECTORY TOOLS.


DDIFF- Log changes in directory tree.

unrated [added 3-15-98; updated 5-9-98]

(note: for older PC's- not big FAT32 drives...)

From the docs... "DIFF is a program that will check to see if any files in a specified directory tree have changed since the last time the utility was run. If you want to find out what files have changed recently in a certain directory (or directory tree), DIFF will come in handy. It is especially helpful on a network where many people may have access to certain files that you need to keep track of....

DIFF creates either one or two files for its own use depending upon how you wish to use it. The first is a Benchmark file containing the date and time of the last time the utility was run. It also contains a list of all of the files in the directory along with their dates, times, and sizes as they were at the time the Benchmark file was created...The second file (if you tell DIFF to create it) is a Difference file containing a list of all of the files that have been changed (according to date, time, and filesize) since the Benchmark file was created....When DIFF checks your files, it reads the Benchmark file and compares it against the current contents of the directories that you told it to check. If it finds files that have been changed, it writes a list of them to a Difference file (and/or optionally, to the screen)." Requires a 286 or higher PC. Author: Doug McKay (1991); Suggested by Robert Bull.

Usage:  DDIFF option [option...] [path\filespec]
Options:
/M-file      Make Benchmark file using 'file'
/C-file      Check directory using 'file' as a Benchmark.
/D-file      Write Difference file to 'file'.
/I-file      Create an infobase from the Difference file. (Need CREATE.EXE)
/S           Single subdirectory operation.  (Don't process subdirs.)
/CRC         CRC checking on.  Much slower.
/U           Unchanged files written to Difference file.
/F           Write Difference file in Folio Flat File Format.
/O           Overwrite old files.
/A           Append to files.
/H           Display this help screen.
path\        The 'path' to begin working in (MUST END WITH A '\' BACKSLASH)!
filespec     The filename mask (default is '*.*') to use in 'path.'

Update 5-9-98: I replaced version 1.2 (1990) with the more recent v.3.2 (1992). Note that the program was renamed from DIFF to DDIFF. DDIFF 3.2 is 286 optimized and should handle directories of any size. See docs for other changes.

download ddiff32.zip (48K)



CSAP- Sort directories and files on disk (FAT sorting).

* * * *

CSAP can sort disk directories and files by name, extension, date, or size. CSAP actually modifies the FAT order on disk. Most defragment utilities also offer FAT sorting during defragging- CSAP is obviously much quicker. By default, CSAP sorts files alphanumerically (e.g., if you run DIR without a switch on a Csap sorted directory, you'll notice that the file listing will display in alphanumeric order.). CSAP has options to sort by extension, size, etc., and can also reverse sort. I sort my directories on a frequent schedule and find it useful to have files arranged in a certain order for batch processing. Limitations: Not for Win9x/ FAT32 systems. CSAP should not be executed in a secondary shell (i.e., Windows). Perhaps better classified as a disk utility. Authors: Don A. Williams & Edgar Swank (1995)

USAGE: CSAP [options] [directory_name]
-F "Freeze". Do not sort except for subdirectory entries and deleted files.
-N Sort on entry Name and Extension (the default).
-E Sort on entry Extension then Name.
-D Sort on entry Date/Time.
-S Sort on entry Size
-I Invert the sort order, i.e sort in descending order.
-L Sort only one level of the hierarchy.
-R Report the number of removed "deleted"entries and the sector addresses of the directory.
-P Do not remove "deleted" entries [reversed from SAP].
-V Verify (request permission from the operator) before sorting each directory.
-T Truncate directories, i.e. return unused disk space to the free space pool.
-Z Zero out unused entries (leading zero byte).

download csap423.zip


XRD- Directory remover with enhanced wildcards.

unrated

Removes one or more directories, with subdirectories and files if requested. Directory wildcards permitted. Doesn't delete non-empty directories. I haven't tested this one. Written by: Vesa Kolhinen.

Syntax:

XRD [d:]path... [/F[A]/S[A] /PYNQV] [@[@|:][name]] [/4[:dfile]] [/[dts-ranges]]

  • /S[A] Subdirectories [All]: Removes also empty subdirectories except [including] system, hidden and read-only ones.
  • /F[A] Files [All]: Deletes all the files except [including] system, hidden and read-only ones.
  • /N Nothing: Does everything except actually removing directories.
  • /P Prompt: Prompts for confirmation before removing each directory.
  • /Y Yes: Answers "yes" to all prompts. Use with CAUTION.
  • /Q Quiet: Does not print the number of removed directories.
  • /V Verbose: Prints the names of removed directories.
  • [@|%][name] Reads parameters from a file or from an environment variable.
  • /4[:dfile] 4DOS: Removes also 4DOS file description from "dfile". Default is "descript.ion".
  • /[dts-ranges] Specifies date, time or size range according to which directories are chosen. Format is: /[{type}{begin},{end}].
  • download xrd30.zip


    DELTREE- Enhanced DELTREE clone.

    unrated [added 8-16-98; updated 06-09-99]

    4K enhanced clone of Microsoft's DELTREE.EXE .

    DELTREE [switches] filespec [filespec...]
      /Y    Delete specified items without prompting
      /V    Report counts and totals when finished
      /D    Display debug info
    
    Filespecs may name files, subdirectories (all contents will be lost),
    or DR DOS-style file lists.  DELTREE is a dangerous command!  Use at
    your own risk.
    

    new in v1.02a (5-99): Minor modifications- see docs.

    Author: Charles Dye (1999)

    download DELTREE.ZIP (30K)


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