KAREN'S POWER TOOLS NEWSLETTER

January 25, 2005

By Karen Kenworthy

Read the Web version of Power Tools online!
http://www.karenware.com/newsletters/2005/2005-01-25.asp

New Directory Printer!
----------------------
While there's still time left in the day, I decided to upgrade one of the
most popular of my Power Tools programs. The project started modestly, but
before long turned into a big job. Along the way I wore out one keyboard,
and ran my poor computer mouse ragged. I refurbished thousands of old
bits, and still needed buckets of new 1s and 0s.

But I think it was worth it. Finally, the new Directory Printer v5.0 is
ready!

Long-time readers will remember the Directory Printer. It began as a small
program that could print lists of files found on our hard disks,
diskettes, and CDs. In addition to each file's name, the program printed
the file's size, and the dates it was created, last modified, and last
accessed.

True to its name, the Directory Printer also printed details about the
folders where our files are stored. Naturally, the number of files and
sub-folders each folder contains were reported. The total size of the
folder's contents could be printed too. Want to know when a folder was
created, last modified, or last accessed? The program could report those
details too.

Contrary to its name, the Directory Printer could also write the
information it uncovers to a text file. These files can be stored in a
safe place, providing an historical record of a drive's contents. They can
also be imported into spreadsheets and databases, letting you analyze,
sort, and compare the information the Directory Printer collects.

Whew! The early Directory Printer did a lot. But like every successful
program, it has never been finished. Over the years the little tool
learned to reveal several "attributes" of files and folders, including:

Read-Only. Files with this attribute can be read, but not changed or
deleted. Files stored in Read-Only folders can be read, but

Hidden. These files and folders are not normally displayed by Windows. In
theory, this provides a certain amount of protection to important files
and folders.

System. This attribute indicates a file or folder is used by Windows.
Should one of them disappear, or be improperly altered, Windows may behave
erratically or not run at all.

Compressed. Files and folders with this attribute have been compressed by
Windows, to save disk space.

Encrypted. This attribute identifies files that have been encrypted by
Windows, at our request. A password is required before any program can
read or modify their contents.

Executable. Files with this attribute are programs, or files containing
program fragments. The data stored within them are computer instructions -
- numbers that order computers to add, subtract, read and write disks,
display cute images, make loud beeping sounds then crash, and do all the
other endearing things that make us love our binary buddies.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

All of Karen's Power Tools
--------------------------
  Note: For the most up-to-date list, visit:
  http://www.karenware.com/powertools.asp

* Directory Printer - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptdirprn.asp
  Time Sync - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptsync.asp
  Zone Manager - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptzone.asp
  Print Logger - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptprnlog.asp
  LAN Monitor - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptlanmon.asp
  URL Discombobulator - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptlookup.asp
  Window Watcher - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptwinwatch.asp
  'Net Monitor - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptnetmon.asp
  Drive Info - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptdinfo.asp
  E-Mailer II - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptmailer2.asp
  Countdown Timer II - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptcount2.asp
  Computer Profiler - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptprofiler.asp
  Replicator - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptreplicator.asp
  Disk Slack Checker - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptslack.asp
  WhoIs - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptwhois.asp
  Recycler - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptrecycler.asp
  Show Stopper - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptstopper.asp
  Alarm Clock - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptalarm.asp
  Font Explorer - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptfonts.asp
  Power Toy - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/pttoy.asp
  Time Cop - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/pttimecop.asp
  Hasher - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/pthasher.asp
  Mailer - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptmailer.asp
  Version Browser - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptbrowse.asp
  Autorun.inf Editor - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptautorun.asp
  Cookie Viewer - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptcookie.asp
  Registry Pruner - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptpruner.asp
  Registry Ripper - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptregrip.asp
  Snooper - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptsnoop.asp
  Clipboard Viewer - http://www.karenware.com/powertools/ptclpvue.asp

* Indicates program was updated recently.

NOTE: You should use Control Panel's "Add/Remove Programs" applet to
remove the old version, before installing a new version of a Power Tool.

Note: Be sure to install the Visual Basic Runtime v6.0 before installing
your first Power Tool. It's required by all the Power Tools, and must be
installed first. You can download a copy of the Visual Basic Runtime v6.0
installer, vbrun60-setup.exe, from any of the pages where you download the
Power Tools themselves, or from my special Runtimes page at:
http://www.karenware.com/runtimes.asp