VG Archive Directory Program Manual

DESCRIPTION

VGArchDir is a utility program that invokes WinZIP32 to archive the current or specified directory to a ZIP file stored in the "Archives" subdir of the current or specified directory. For example,

If the current directory is named Y:\VB\VGMirror and date is Jul 20, 1999, it creates
Y:\VB\VGMirror\Archives\VGMirror19990720.ZIP

If the directory name ends in a digit (e.g., Y:\VC\VG32), the filename will contain "_" after the directory name; e.g.
Y:\VC\VG32_19990720.ZIP

If the directory is the root dir (e.g., C:\), the file created is
C:\Archives\RootDir19990720.ZIP

If a file of the intended name has already been saved for this date, VGArchDir retains the earliest file created for that date without an extra letter, and the most recent copy with the letter 'a' appended before the .ZIP extension. (Any intervening copies of the file created on the same date are discarded). Up to 5 consecutive ZIP files are retained per directory processed, each with a different name based on the date created, with no more than 2 files created for any single day. This program has been developed with Winzip32 version 5.0 through 9, but will probably work with later versions. WinZip32 is not included and should be obtained from WinZip Computing.

VGArchDir runs under and has been tested only with Windows NT 4.0 and XP, but probably runs well in Windows 2000. VGArchDir is copyrighted by Michael McGoodwin, 1997-2004. The user is welcome to use VGArchDir without cost but may not charge to redistribute it.

HOW TO RUN VGARCHDIR

See INSTALLATION regarding placing VgArchDir in a PATH directory (If VgArchDir.EXE is not in the executable PATH, you must type the full path to it, e.g., C:\Misc\VGArchDir.EXE, regardless of the method chosen below).

To run VgArchDir in NT 4.0 File Manager

Highlight the desired directory in File Manager (this will make that directory the "current" directory). Then do File | Run and type VgArchDir <Enter>.

To recursively include underlying subdirectories and their files, add the command line option /r, e.g.
VgArchDir /r <Enter>

You may optionally specify a fully qualified directory specification (to be processed instead of the current directory) as the first parameter, e.g.,
VgArchDir "C:\My Dir" <Enter>

Additional parameters such as /r should follow the directory, e.g.
VgArchDir "C:\My Dir" /r <Enter>

To have VGArchDir copy the full path and name of the file created to the clipboard, add the parameter /f at the end, e.g.
VgArchDir /f <Enter>
or
VgArchDir "C:\My Dir" /r/f <Enter>

The same file spec is also copied to a file located in the VGArchDir program directory called VGArchDirFileCreated.txt (replacing previous contents).

To run VgArchDir in Windows Explorer

First time only: If you have not already done this, create a shortcut file (.LNK) in Windows Explorer or the Desktop pointing to the VgArchDir.EXE file. Name it "VgArchDir". Copy this shortcut file (i.e., "VgArchDir.LNK") to the SENDTO directory for the current or desired user (i.e., you). For example,

C:\WINNT\Profiles\Administrator\SENDTO\VGArchDir.LNK

When you wish to archive a directory, highlight the desired directory in Windows Explorer.
Right-Click to invoke "Send To" and select VgArchDir.
Note: It is not possible to pass additional parameters such as /r with this method.

To run VgArchDir at a command prompt

Select the drive and Directory to be archived and then run VgArchDir, e.g.,
      C: <Enter>
      CD C:\MyDir <Enter>
      VgArchDir <Enter>

To recursively include underlying subdirectories and their files, add the command line option /r, e.g.
VgArchDir /r <Enter>

You may optionally specify a fully qualified directory specification (to be processed instead of the current directory) as the
first parameter, e.g.,
VgArchDir "C:\My Dir" <Enter>

Additional parameters such as /r should follow the directory, e.g.
VgArchDir "C:\My Dir" /r <Enter>

To have VGArchDir copy the full path and name of the file created to the clipboard, add the parameter /f at the end, e.g.
VgArchDir /f <Enter>
or
VgArchDir "C:\My Dir" /r/f <Enter>

The same file spec is also copied to a file located in the VGArchDir program directory called VGArchDirFileCreated.txt (replacing previous contents).

INSTALLATION

Close all running programs.
Place vgadinst.exe in an empty temporary directory, run it, specify an empty temporary destination (may be the same one) to serve as the destination directory to hold the installation files and press Unzip to decompress the files needed to install VGClean.
Find and run Setup.exe (one of the files that have been decompressed). Select a final directory of your choice to install VGClean to.
The destination directory of VGArchDir.EXE must be pointed to by the Path variable. (Add if necessary with Control Panel | Settings | System | Environment | Path = ...
After installation, you may delete all files in the temporary directory where the decompressed files including setup.exe were placed.

See above regarding adding a Shortcut file to use SendTo in Windows Explorer.

NOTE: If you encounter difficulties updating system files needed by the install program, do the following:

Be sure your system Temp directory is on the same drive as the Windows NT operating system. If you have to change the location of the temp directory, reboot before proceeding. Note: Change setting with Settings|Control Panel|System|Environment|Temp
Run setup.exe and allow the system to reboot when this is suggested
Run setup.exe again, should be able to proceed normally
If appropriate, restore the original system temp directory setting. This problem has been traced to a Windows limitation on moving system files between drives on a delayed basis.

FILES REQUIRED

(List does not include MS VB or setup files)

vgarchdir_manual.html (this file)

VGArchDir.Exe (the executable application file)

VgRegistry.dll (a DLL for registry manipulation)

REVISIONS HISTORY

(These notes are of probably of interest only to the developer)

9/1/98 v. 1.4:
Now will rename Test19980623a.ZIP to Test19980623.ZIP if there is no Test19980623.ZIP, .then will save to Test19980623a.ZIP.
Added splash form with copyright info

9/6/98 v. 1.5:
Substituted RegObj.DLL registry routines

9/15/98 v. 1.6:
Added quotes to Shell params so directories and file names can contain spaces
Added option to explicitly specify directory instead of current directory
Added method for using in Windows Explorer
Added -r option to recurse directories without "Extra Information"
When -r selected, does not include .\Archives\*.* files in the ZIP file created
Tweaked form and additional error handling
Does not show in Task Bar as blank form; only WinZip in task bar

10/15/98 v. 1.7:
Removed RegObj.DLL and substituted VGRegObj (requires VgRegObj.DLL)

11/15/98 v. 1.8:
Fixed problem with moving files on recursive archiving
Will not abort now if directory empty but there is at least one subdirectory and /r option
Fixed error in creating sModifiedSourceDirName$

12/29/98 v. 1.9:
Fixed SendTo in Windows Explorer passes Short (8.3) Dir Name, convert to Long Format

1/9/1999 v. 2.0:
Fixed incorrect handling of files not ending in ZIP

7/20/1999 v. 2.1:
Added /f parameter option to copy name of ZIP file created to clipboard as text.
The same file spec is also copied to a file located in the VGArchDir program directory called VGArchDirFileCreated.txt (replacing previous contents)

7/21/1999 v. 2.2:
Substituted "Name" for FileMove when moving files.
Now moves .\Archives\*.ZIP files on recursive call to the same drive, a temp dir
(These 2 changes should be faster and hopefully lowers risk of filling drive)

6/25/2002 v. 2.3:
Fixed rare problem when directory name has been truncated since VgArchDir has been run and there are leftover archived files named after the longer directory name. Also now deletes older ZIP files only if their names precisely match the expected patterns and incorporate dates ranging from 19950101 to today's date.

11/25/2004 v. 2.4
Fixed registry-related bug for new installations.

4/20/2005 v. 2.4
Fixed problem with setup program.