File-Ex (tm) version 2.1 for Windows 3.1x --------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 1996 by Cottonwood Software All Rights Reserved Thank you for trying File-Ex! File-Ex adds file management functions like Find, Copy, Delete, Rename, and MakeDir to the Open and Save dialogs of Windows applications automatically. File-Ex also enlarges file dialogs to any size desired, and adds Recent and Favorite file/directory lists. If you have just installed File-Ex and are reading this from the Notepad program, try it out now by selecting File from the menu, then Open. You should see buttons and the 'Recent...' and 'Favorite...' lists at the bottom of the Open dialog, and the dialog should be larger (taller) to allow more files to be listed. (The default is still fairly small -- it can be as large as the screen if you like.) If you need help, click the 'File-Ex' button, and then the Help button from that dialog. File-Ex runs as an icon in Windows 3.1 -- you should see a File-Ex icon at the bottom of your screen (possilby covered up by the Program Manager or another program). Click on this for the main menu, or double-click on it to bring up a dialog with configuration, help, & option functions. Enjoy! ----------------------------------------------------------------- SOME IMPORTANT NOTES There will be cases where File-Ex causes problems with a dialog, particularly in the placement of special controls added by an application, due to File-Ex resizing and enhancing the dialog. Such issues are unavoidable due to the wide variety of program designs, but there is a way to work around most problems. To fix this (and other problems, including possible fatal errors), you should be familiar with disabling File-Ex functions for specific application dialogs. Please refer to the Help file for details. ----------------------------------------------------------------- ** BONUS FREEWARE PROGRAM INCLUDED ** Our freeware program "Delayer" is also included with this package. While Delayer can be used for other purposes as you like, it was included here to combat a problem caused by some programs that prevent File-Ex from working. This problem happens when some other programs (such as Excite's "Direct" program) run after or at the same time as File-Ex, typically during Windows start-up. Please see the "Troubleshooting" section of the Help file for notes about using Delayer. Also see the Delayer help and text files for more information. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Readme.txt Contents: -------------------- File Packing List System Requirements Installation About the Evaluation Period Giving Copies to Friends -- (Please Do!) Support Ordering Site licenses & multiple-user pricing Troubleshooting Un-installing File-Ex ASP Ombudsman statement Warranty & License info Distribution by Vendors, BBS's, etc. File Packing List ----------------- These files should be included in this distribution set. If any are missing, please contact Cottonwood Software or your distributor for a complete set. (You can download the latest version from Compuserve or our Web page -- see the Support section) README.TXT This file SETUP.EXE Installation program REMOVE.EXE Removal (un-install) program FILEEX.EXE Main program (please run Setup before using!) FXHOOK.DL_ Part of the main program COMMEX.DL_ "CommEx" portion FXCOMN.DL_ File-Ex common functions FILEEX.HLP Help file FILEEX.DAT Data file for 'trained' not-so-common dialogs FILEEX20.BIN Registration file (purchased version only) REVISION.TXT Program revision history ORDER.TXT Text form for ordering File-Ex (trial version only) FILE_ID.DIZ Short description file (trial version only) VENDINFO.DIZ Vendor info (trial version only) DELAYER.EXE Delayer utility program DELAYER.HLP Help file for Delayer DELAYER.TXT 'readme' text file for Delayer System Requirements ------------------- File-Ex will work with Windows 3.1 or 3.11, including Windows for Workgroups. Windows 95 and NT users: ------------------------ Do NOT install this version of File-Ex if you run Windows 95 or NT! Please contact us or see our web site for versions for these operating systems. Installation ------------ If you're not familiar with File-Ex, please read the 'Overview' section in the Help file after installation. To install File-Ex, run SETUP.EXE from Windows: 1. From the Program Manager's File menu, select Run... 2. In the Command Line box, type d:\path\SETUP, where 'd' is the letter of the drive and 'path' is the directory where the File-Ex files are. For example: C:\FILEEX\SETUP 3. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen. 4. After File-Ex installation is complete, it will need to validate some files. This will happen automatically the first time File-Ex is invoked, so you don't need to do anything special for this to happen. 5. If you're not familiar with File-Ex, open the Help file and read through the Overview sections. Technical information on installation ------------------------------------- The installation procedure does the following: Copy appropriate files to the Program and Data directories. Add a File-Ex group with appropriate icons. Add File-Ex to the startup group. Verify that the operations succeeded. Run File-Ex if requested. Run notepad to display the readme.txt file if requested. When File-Ex is actually invoked for the first time (through a File/Open or File/Save command, or by automatically loading File-Ex), it validates the information files (fileex.hlp, readme.txt, order.txt). This ensures that File-Ex cannot be modified and re-distributed with different company contact/order information. What files should be where, after installation ---------------------------------------------- These files should be in your File-Ex program directory : README.TXT FILEEX.EXE FXHOOK.DLL FXCOMN.DLL COMMEX.DLL FILEEX.HLP FILEEX20.BIN (if it's a purchased copy) ORDER.TXT REVISION.TXT REMOVE.EXE DELAYER.EXE DELAYER.HLP DELAYER.TXT The file FILEEX.DAT will be copied to the 'Data' directory. (This is usually the same as your Program directory, but may be different, for instance, in a network environment where the Program directory is shared. The FILEEX.DAT file should be in a place not shared by users, similar to INI files.) These files are not copied anywhere, and are not needed by File-Ex after setup: SETUP.EXE FILE_ID.DIZ VENDINFO.DIZ The files COMMEX.INI and FILEEX.INI will be created by the Setup program, and will be placed in the Windows directory. The file FILEEX.LOG will be created in the Windows directory, and is useful for troubleshooting. If everything works after installation, this may be deleted. About the Evaluation Period --------------------------- File-Ex is distributed as a shareware trial version. This means that you are free to try it out for 30 days. It will be fully functional during that time, so you can try all of its functions. After using it for 30 days (not necessarily calendar days, but when it's been used on 30 different days), some of the functions will be unavailable. You will still be able to use the file management functions like Copy and Delete, but the recent/favorite functions, dialog sizing, and some other features will not be available unless you register (purchase) the program. Giving Copies to Friends -- (Please Do!) ---------------------------------------- Shareware works best when you 'share' it with other people! If you like this program, we would appreciate it if you spread it around. Give copies to friends and co-workers, or even upload it to your favorite BBS. Please only distribute the original compressed (.ZIP) file that you received File-Ex in. This is the only way to have the complete file set needed to install File-Ex, since the File-Ex directory after installation does not contain all of the necessary installation files. Note: If this is a purchased copy, please DON'T distribute it! The registered copy contains your registration key file, and giving this to someone else is illegal. Please only distribute the shareware trial version! Support ------- For support, contact Cottonwood Software by phone, fax, mail, or E-mail. (E-mail is preferred, and will get a fast response.) Mail: Cottonwood Software P.O. Box 6546 Leawood, KS 66206-0546 USA Phone: (913) 663-3022 FAX: (913) 663-3747 Internet: info@cottonwoodsw.com CompuServe: 75264,1630 WW Web: http://www.cottonwoodsw.com In the U.K. contact: Mail: The Thompson Partnership Lion Buildings Market Place Uttoxeter Staffs ST14 8HZ England Phone: +44 (0) 1889 564601 Fax: +44 (0) 1889 563219 Internet: sales@ttp.co.uk CompuServe: 100530,2050 Please see the Help file for more information. Ordering File-Ex ---------------- For complete ordernig information please see the text file ORDER.TXT, or the File-Ex Help file. Site licenses & multiple-user pricing ------------------------------------- Please see the Help file for complete information. Troubleshooting --------------- Please see the Help file for complete information, but here are some important notes about programs that File-Ex will not work with: File-Ex does not cooperate well with some other programs that do the same thing (modify the file dialogs). If you have these, then you should disable them when running File-Ex. These include: - Instant File Access (don't load it at the same time) - Long File Names (some reported problems, but usually works) - Norton File Assist (disable it from the desktop options) - Q.E.D. (can't co-exist with File-Ex since it changes the common dialogs) If File-Ex does not seem to work when it's in the StartUp group, but does work if you close it and re-start it, then there is probably some program in the StartUp group (or started from WIN.INI) that is interfering. Please see the Help file for more informaion on using the Delayer program to fix this. If you discover other problems, please let us know. Un-installing File-Ex --------------------- If you encounter insurmountable problems, or just don't like the new functions that File-Ex provides, you may need to un-install it. A Remove program is provided for your convenience. Its icon is installed in your File-Ex program group. Please see the help file for more information on this. ASP Ombudsman statement ----------------------- _______ ____|__ | (R) --| | |------------------- | ____|__ | Association of | | |_| Shareware |__| o | Professionals -----| | |--------------------- |___|___| MEMBER Cottonwood Software is a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a shareware- related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide technical support for members' products. Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road, Muskegon, MI USA 49442-9427, Fax 616-788-2765, or send a CompuServe message via CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536. Warranty and license info ------------------------- Complete Warranty and license information may be found in the Help file, FILEEX.HLP. Distribution by Vendors, BBS's, etc. ------------------------------------ Commercial vendors please refer to the VENDINFO.DIZ file for complete details. If this file is not present, please contact Cottonwood Software for a replacement copy.