LFNIT! v3.1 - BACKUP AND RESTORE LONG FILENAMES =============================================== Copyright (c) 1996-98 Simon A Carter for Crystal Software LFNit! is SHAREWARE and may be trialed for a period of 30 days. After this time you must either purchase the registered version (for $20) or cease using the shareware version. Please register your USAGE of LFNit! by sending email to launch@ozemail.com.au, with your name and address, version of LFNit! and any relevant comments or suggestions. By registering LFNit! we can inform you of updates or improvements and let you know when the next version is released. If you like and use LFNit!, how about linking to our Web site (see below)? Online Web Registration ======================= The registered version of LFNit! can be purchased and received immediately on the Internet, eliminating shipping and handling costs. Direct URL: https://www.regnow.com/softsell/nph-softsell.cgi?item=1496-5 Contact Information =================== We are always happy to hear your comments! If you use and like LFNit!, or have any suggestions for improvements, please drop us a line! Other user's suggestions have made it what it is today. Email: launch@ozemail.com.au WWW: http://www.ozemail.com.au/~launch Fax: +61 (3) 9800-3078 Voice: +61 (3) 9888-3104. After hours number. Please leave a contact name, number and time, and we will try to get back to you within 24 hours. Mail: Simon Carter Crystal Software 2 / 9 Woodbine Court Wantirna Victoria 3152 AUSTRALIA. Benefits ======== The cost, time and effort of replacing your old software with new software that supports long filenames just isn't worth it. Often replacement software is not available. Now you don't have to replace it! With LFNit's help, you can retain long filename support even while using your: * old tape backup software (eg Colorado) * old file transfer program (eg LapLink) * old file manager (eg Xtree Gold) * old disk utility (eg Norton, PC Tools) * old compression program (eg arj, pkzip) * old software, period. You simply run LFNit! in the affected directory before you use the old software (or run it on the entire drive at boot time), run the old program, and then run the batch file created by LFNit! to restore the long filenames. What could be simpler? For example, if you use an old tape backup program to backup your system, it will not retain long filename information. With LFNit!, you just run it on the drive or directories being backed up, and then perform the backup (including the batch file created by LFNit!). At restore time, just run the batch file (LFNrenew.bat) created by LFNit! Features ======== * Can include or exclude subdirectories * Can limit the depth of directories traversed * Totally portable - you don't even need LFNit! to restore the long filenames! * International character support * Now restores hidden files as well * Debug support - adds extra information to batch file to assist debugging * Compatible with FAT32 * Creates a batch file to effect the file renaming. The file is human readable and can be edited easily * Can be used for backup in case Windows 95 needs to be re- installed * Very useful for use in conjunction with tape backups, file compression software, disk and file utilities, file transfer and communications software etc * Multi-threaded, so multiple drives or directories can be processed simultaneously * Can be driven from the command line - very useful in login scripts etc to backup the long filenames on the local machine * Does NOT use direct disk access, so it is much safer than other methods * Can drag and drop files - drop a directory to define a new starting directory, drop a file to define a new batch filename. Command Line Options ==================== LFNit! can be tailored to backup a particular directory and then exit, or backup a particular directory and then revert to normal data entry. Usage: lfnit [options] directory /A /G [[options] directory /A /G ...] [/E] Where [options] is one or more of: directory The starting point for LFNit's output. Where omitted, LFNit! assumes the current directory, but this can be unpredictable unless you run LFNit! from a shortcut. Long filenames should be entered with double quotes e.g. c:\> lfnit "c:\Program Files" [Enter] /# Limits the number of levels of directories that LFNit! descends into to find long filenames. Eg /1 will only look at the first directory level. A value of 0 is equivalent to a value of 255 (ie. all levels) Default: All levels (255) /A Adds a restoration entry to the restoration list. A complete restoration entry consists of a start directory, batch file name (/B=) and directory depth (/#, /I or /X). The /A must be preceded by at least a start directory /B=filename Specifies the name of the batch file to write to. Default: LFNrenew.bat in the start directory /D Enables debug mode. Default: disabled /E Exit after completion. This is normally used to exit LFNit! after all threads of execution have finished. It is commonly used in Windows StartUp folders or login scripts to backup long filenames on all hard disks as the machine starts /G Go! Starts the backup process for the specified list of restoration entries. If this option is omitted then LFNit! will simply use any command line parameters provided as defaults (unless /L= has been used to load a default restoration list) /I Includes all subdirectories (default) (same as /255) /L= Loads a restoration file /X Excludes all subdirectories (same as /1) Examples ======== Here are some brief LFNit! examples: Run LFNit! from a shortcut in the StartUp folder to save long filenames on all drives and then exit (used when the computer is booted): lfnit.exe c:\ /a d:\ /a /g /e Run LFNit just in the My Documents directory and then exit lfnit.exe "c:\My Documents" /a /g /e Run LFNit just in the Windows directory and then wait for further tasks lfnit.exe c:\windows /a /g Debug Mode ========== Debug mode is very useful to help locate the source of any problems when the LFNRENEW batch file has trouble renaming files. This typically occurs when files no longer exist or are currently in use. When debug mode is enabled, LFNit! adds extra information to the LFNRENEW batch file to display the current filename being renamed. The DOS Shell typically does not display the filename when it renames files - this is where this option comes into its own. Notes on Usage ============== LFNit! relies on having Windows 95/98/NT running in order for it to restore long filenames. This means that it cannot be used if Windows can't boot (ie it can't restore the long filenames for Windows itself). However, it can easily handle every other file. Once a minimum install of Windows is running, LFNit can take over and restore all long filenames.