version 2.0.0
Here's another one of those specialty applications that you may or may not have use for. It was written to facilitate organization of sound files during automated broadcasting. The concept is simple.
F2F takes a series of files that reside in the 'root folder', renames them all with the same name if desired, and puts each file in a separate folder or puts a specified number of files in each folder whos name is consecutively numbered. This is done so that automation programs do not have to be reprogrammed for different names for short spots, but can be left to keep the same file name in the programming. All that needs to be done is to replace the files at given times with the new ones in the appropriate folder.
This program is enhanced with Rediware's Renamer. Between the two programs, systematically renaming and grouping files is much easier.
Warning: Files2Folders renames, moves, duplicates, and erases files on your computer. DO NOT use Files2Folders on files or folders that are necessary for your computer to operate. Always create a new folder and your own files for Files2Folders to operate on. Rediware Software and the author are not responsible for any system corruption you experience because of F2F misuse or misunderstanding. Understand the purpose and methods of F2F before using.
The screenshot
(this picture is
interactive - click on an area for it's description)
path display: This displays the working path, or root folder. All folders will be created under this path. Folders being 'undone' must reside under this path and the files 'undone' will be put into this folder. All files to be acted on are in this folder.
progress bar: You will be able to see the progress of F2F when converting large numbers of files, especially if they are being copied rather than moved, by this incrementing progress bar.
the file list: This displays the files that are in the working path, or root folder. After processing, the list is refreshed. This allows loading of a full folder of files, and by checking and clearing the ones you do not want to work with right now, the remaining files in the list will be processed. The remaining files will then automatically loaded into the list for the next process. By using the 'update start' check box (discussed below) you can easily make a few changes to groups of files with consecutively numbered folders.
list controls: All files in this list will be acted on. To remove files from the list, check the boxes next to the file names. Then click the 'clear checked' button. Files that are checked or unchecked when action begins have no significance. All files shown in the list will be acted upon.
The get files button: Before you can do anything you must locate a folder which will be the root folder for these operations. If files are in that folder, they will be listed in the file list box. For 'undo' operations, the folder selected for the root path should have subfolders under it that contain the files you wish to 'undo'.
rename files: After selecting a
working folder, decide if you wish to rename the files, or keep them named
as they are. If you select 'all', type in the new name for the files in the
'new name' box. If you plan to move more than 1 file into each folder and
wish to rename them, enter a sequence number in the '+ inc' box. Multiple
files per folder will not be renamed without a sequence number because they
would all have the same name, overwriting each other. Your files will then
be renamed with the name plus an incremented sequence number. Note: If you
have 21 files, and plan to put 7 files in each folder, rename them, and start
the sequence with 1, each folder will start the initial sequence number over.
You will therefore have 3 folders each with files renamed (with what ever
is in the 'new name' box, and the numbers 1-7 added to the filenames in each
folder.
If the 'all caps' box is checked, files that are NOT being
renamed will be in all capital letters then moved to the folder(s). If the
files are being renamed, it is up to you to enter the new name in all caps
if you want it.
select an extension name: You can change or keep the extension in the file name. Select 'as in new name' if you are renaming the files, and have typed in a new filename with it's extension (as in CM.jpg). Select 'keep original' if you wish the extension to remain the same (file name will still be changed if designated). Select 'as below' to enter a new extension. If this is selected, enter the new extension. You can enter it beginning with a period (as in .jpg) or by itself (as in jpg).
folder names: These are the
folders that will be created. To have your folders begin with text, enter
the text in the 'folder prefix' box. The folders will be numerical (with the
text prefix if entered). Enter how many places this number will have. The
default is 4. Enter the starting number. You do not need to precede this number
with zeros to fill out the places. The quantity box is used if you are creating
empty folders, or wish to store more than one file per folder. Either enter
the number of empty folders you wish to create or the number of files you
wish to store per folder. Note: If you are transferring files to folders,
you do not have to figure out how many folders you will need. The application
will do that for you.
Checking the check box labeled 'update start'
will update the starting number in the appropriate text box. By doing this,
you can do series of files at a time, and the box will be ready for the next
series without having to check to see how many folders were created and what
the next folder number should be. You will also be able to save the updated
settings for another time.
The
documents check boxes:
original file name checkbox: If you keep this
box checked, a document file will be added to the folder along with the file.
This document is actually empty, but the name of the document is the original
name of the file that was renamed. The 'undo' button will only work fully
(renaming the files back to their original name) if the files are documented
in this way. If you do not rename the files, this is not an issue. If you
elect to store more than one file per folder, the document box will be deselected
automatically and will not be created. In this case, a complete 'undo' is
not possible unless you do not rename the files. This created document is
only good for one file per folder. This created document can be recognized
because it will have a comma in the file name.
folder name check box: Checking
this box will put an empty document file into the folder with the name of
the folder it resides in. This is mainly for automation loaders, so that the
next folder to load will be known when it is time to replace the files. This
document can be recognized because it will start with _FOLD_.
date of file check box: Check this box
to put an empty document into the folder with the name of the file's original
creation date. This creates a reference to the file (or show's) actual date.
This document can be recognized because it will start with _DATE_. For multiple
files per folder, duplicates will be overwritten.
Alternate documents:
Manual
note: If you would rather put the date in manually, enter it in the
'date or note' box provided under the date checkbox. Note that you do not
have to use this for the date. You can enter anything you want in this box,
including any notations you may want to remember. A document will be created
with the name of the text in this box. This document can be recognized because
it will start with _NOTE_.
File name
extraction: Many broadcast files have the date embedded in the original
filename. Another document you can create a string extracted from the original
filename. Use the 'sequence start/length' boxes to extract a segment from
the original file name. Enter the number of the character you wish to start
at in the first box, and enter the length of the total string in the second
box. The document file will then contain this string segment. To be sure you
are getting the text you want, a sample string will appear in the space below
with the result after both boxes have been filled. This string will change
as you change the numbers in these boxes. If you have more than one file in
the file list box, the first box checked will be the file this sample string
is extracted from. If no files have been checked, this sample string will
be extracted from the first file listed. To extract from a different file,
uncheck the file selected, check a new one, and reenter one of the numbers.
Note that if numbers show in both of these boxes, the document will be created.
Each file will have it's own document extracted from it's file name. If there
is a duplicate file created, the old one will be overwritten. If the file
name isn't long enough and results in an empty string, no document will be
created.
keep or delete original file selection: Select whether you wish to keep the original file, or delete it. Documented or unrenamed files can be restored, and you can safely delete the originals. Multiple files per folder are not documented! If you elect to rename them, they cannot be undone. When using the 'undo' option, this will designate whether to delete the original folders that contain the original files.
store (next CD volume): If you make up new CDs from the files you convert, you can keep track of an incrementing numerical volume name as you make each CD. If you are doing an entire CD at one time, you can check this box and insert a starting number. (4 digits, as 0001, 0002, etc) When the process is finished, this number will increment to the next number. If you are making up the folders for the CD in steps, uncheck the box so it will not auto-increment. You can check this box before that last set of folders for the CD, or manually update this box when finished. This number gets saved with the 'settings save' so you will know the volume number of the next CD you create.
do it (files): After setting
everything up, activate the files option with this button. If you've missed
something, the application will let you know. Clicking this button will:
Create a folder named according to your specifications
(one for each file)
Take every file listed in the file list box and copy
into a new folder
Rename the file according to your specifications
Create blank documents and insert them into the new
folder as specified
Delete the original file if selected
do it (folders): This button will not affect any files. It will simply create empty folders, according to your specifications as subfolders below the working path. You can create any number of folders at once.
The undo button: Once you have 'done
it' (for files), you can undo all the changes. You can do this even if you
have rebooted your computer. If there is no working path, you need to select
one. Use the 'get files' button to get the path where all of the folders reside.
Selecting undo will rename the files back to their original filenames if you
elected to create the 'original filename' document and have put only one file
per folder, or have not renamed the files. Clicking this button will:
Rename the file back to it's original name if
possible
If renaming is not possible,
the files will still be put back into the root folder. If a duplicate file
name occurs, the file will be renamed with it's name plus a sequential number
so that overwriting will not take place. Extensions will not be changed unless
an 'original file name' document exists.
Move the file back to the working path folder
Delete the folder it was in if 'delete original'
is selected
save settings icon: You can save all of your hard work, getting all the settings correct for each type of file set by clicking the 'save settings' icon. This will save all of the data on the screen. If you elected to update the next folder number and the next CD volume, these will be saved for the next time you need to use then. Use 'save' when finished converting if you will need these settings again. The root path and all the renaming conventions as well as the document creation option settings are all saved for you. Click this icon and enter the desired name for your settings.
get settings icon: After saving a setting, you can easily retrieve all of the information you saved. Click this icon and select the file you want to retrieve. This will automatically load the files that exist in the root path and place them in the list, and set all of your options as you saved them. If the root path no longer exists, you will be notified, and must use the 'get files' button to select a new root folder. The settings will still remain set.
The help button: Loads this document in your web browser
the quit button: Terminates the application
uninstalling Files2Folders:
To completely uninstall Files2Folders, use the 'Start - Settings - Control Panel - Add/Remove Programs' and select Files2Folders for removal. You will then need to go to the place where F2F was installed and remove any remaining folders and files that were created during the use of F2F.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
Rediware Software and the author make no guarantees that Files2Folders will suit your needs or expectations. Rediware Software and the author are not responsible for any system incompatibilities or file or system corruption due to the installing, usage, or uninstalling of Files2Folders. Files2Folders has been tested on Windows 98 without incident, and none is expected. However this disclaimer must be in place should a software conflict arise. Note that the installation software and dynamic link libraries are written by Microsoft and are independent of Files2Folders. I welcome e-mail on any glitches or bugs that you may encounter. When reporting any bugs, please attempt to recreate the glitch in a step by step fashion so that you can relay to me the exact steps that caused the problem. When installing Files2Folders, the installation software may detect that you have older versions of dll files and ask you if you wish to install the updated versions. It is recommended that you do so. The versions contained in Files2Folders are the latest available at the time of release and are official Microsoft-released libraries.
CREDITS and RIGHTS:
Files2Folders is a Rediware Software and Services release, and Rediware Software and the author retain all rights to the Files2Folders application and coding. This application may be distributed freely in it's initial pre-installation state with all files included. It may be used by anyone as long as you send me an e-mail describing what you are using it for. This is for my own records only and will not be shared with anyone.
© Rediware Software and Services, released 2003
Contacting Rediware Software:
Because this is a specialty application, it is not as intuitive as a standard application. If you think this application can give you assistance for the work you need to do, feel free to contact me for direction, explanations, or help. Simply use the e-mail link below.
You may contact Rediware Software via e-mail: Steve Clarke
Visit our website for other software available for free or low-fee
