========================== Folder Size - v 1.20 Readme File ========================== ----------------- Table of Contents ----------------- 1. Welcome 2. System Requirements 3. Installation 4. The Interface 5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) 6. Contact Information & Other bits 7. Legal stuff 8. Version History 1. Welcome ================================================================== Folder Size is a utility to aid in the process of file management. Most modern PCs have hard drives in the region of 60GB (Giga-bytes) or more, which at the point of purchase seems ample for most needs. However users usually discover that after a period the system starts to slow down (if your using windows), and that 60GB of disk space rapidly dwindles to a paltry 2GB or so which you know you should leave free to allow windows to run for a a few hours before it does an imitation of a man with no legs and falls over. Folder size will scan your hard drive(s) and produce statistics about folder and file usage on the drive. This information can then be used to produce charts and tables, allowing you to decide what parts of your hard drive may need trimming down to size. It will not however actually allow you to delete files or folders from within the program. 2. System Requirements ================================================================== Note: These system requirements are a "best guess" estimate. The program has only been tested on a limited number of system, and therefore may not be compatible with all system configurations. Recommended System Requirements: Processor : AMD K6-2/Intel Pentium running at 333Mhz RAM : 64MB (Recommend as much as possible) Operating System : Windows 98/ME/2K/NT/XP Sound : None required Graphics : Must be capable of 640x480 High Colour mode This product has only been tested on the following Operating Systems: - Windows 2000 - Windows 98 SE 3. Installation ================================================================== You will need to use a program such as WinZip (R) to extract the .ZIP file containing the program to a folder, then run FolderSize.exe -- But I guess you probably guessed that as your reading this file! 4. The Interface ================================================================== Once the program loads you are presented with a form which is divided into several parts. Across the top of the screen runs the tool bar, with a drop down list of all the available disk drives. When you select one of these drives the program will scan the given drive folders and files, and display gathered information in the box below called the Tree View. The Tree view gives and explorer-style view of the hard drive, with several additions. a) The coloured bar indicates the percentage of the containing folder that folder/File takes up b) The number indicates the exact size of the file c) Information about files in the folder are consolidated into one item "[Files]". This will be coloured red if the program was unable to obtain size information on one or more objects in this entry. This will mean that the quoted size may not be accurate. Clicking an item in the Tree View will be produce one of the following depending on which toolbar button is selected: a) A detailed list of each folder, including a more detailed description of each file. b) A graph of the information gathered in (a) Graphs can be printed, and saved as bitmap files. They can also be copied to the clipboard as an image. The Table list can be saved out in HTML format which can be viewed in any modern Web Browser. 5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) ================================================================== Q. I use other programs to display when a file was last accessed, will Folder Size affect this program? A. Unfortunately, yes. Whenever the program access a drive to determine disk space used by each folder, it must retrieve the file size of each file within that folder. As a result the operating system updates the "Last Accessed" field of the file attributes. Q. The program display the message in the status bar "Please wait calculating folder sizes..." and then appears to lock up. A. Depending on the size of your hard drive, this may take a large amount of time. Scanning 11,000 files taking up 10.2GB on an ATA 66 hard drive takes about 2-3 seconds under Windows 98 SE. If you do think it has crashed, check the hard drive LED (usually displayed on the front of your computers case). If this is flashing, or solid on then the program probably has NOT crashed. Q. I get an "Out Of Memory" when I select a drive from the drop down list box error. What going on? Q. I get an error message saying that it ran out of memory A. The first time you select a drive in the list box, the program will scan that drive and calculate sizes, which take up memory. When you select a different drive this data is retained (until program exit) for quick access. If you have many drives, the system may run out of memory. Try quitting other programs, to free up system memory, or exit and reload the program. Alternatively, from the "Options" menu select "Low Memory Drive Scans". This should fix the problem. Q. After trying the above, I still get the same error. A. All I can suggest is trying to free more memory, by quitting background programs, including those listed at the bottom right of the task bar. Q. I've found a bug! A. Oh dear. Email me (see contact information) 6. Contact Information & Other bits ================================================================== So who wrote this peice of software you may be asking. The answer is quite simple: Me. Specto I am writing this during my 2003 easter break. I have an Industrial Placement interview with IBM in 3 days; and in 1 week and 3 days I start my Part 2 exams for my degree in Computer Science. Ths program was written in Delphi. Yes I know C would have been faster, but delphi is MUCH better when it comes do designing good interfaces quickly. This program was created in the following computer AMD Ahtlon XP 1800+ (1.5Ghz) 128MB Ram 20.5GB Hard disc SB Live! Creative GeForce 256 DDR And it runs wonderfully. Hope you enjoy the program, Specto 7. Legal ================================================================== This program is distributed as freeware. You may re-distribute it so long as the distribution archive has not been modified, and you do not charge for the redistribution. You may charge a postage fee if, however his should be on a non-profit basis. You may not disassemble or decomplile this program. If you really want to know how it is done then email me. The software is provided "as is" and you use it at your own risk therefore I am not responsible for any problems, damage or data loss caused as a result of using or installing this software. WinZip is a trademark of WinZip Computing, Inc. 8. Version History ================================================================== 1.2.0.0 - Fixed bug where if you ran out of member during a drive scan no memory was freed - Added a "status window" during drive scanning with an abort button 1.1.0.0 - Fixed bug with Drives list box being disabled after getting a default file view - Corrected display error for items in the tree view - Added Status update when mouse hovers entry on pie chart - Added buttons to allow/disallow merging of entried making up less than 1% of the given folder. 1.0.1.0 - Added ability to explore or execute files from Folder Detail view - Made right click for details the default. On slow machines calculating a folder's size when only expanding tree was annoying. 1.0.0.0 - First Release