

DescExt, a Windows 95 or Windows NT 4 Explorer extension for 4DOS descriptions.

Copyright 1997 Rainer Bahr, Germany


1. Limit of liability
2. What is DescExt?
3. Installation
4. De-installation
5. Limitations
6. Feedback
7. History



DescExt is a copyright reserved free software. That means, you may use and
distribute it freely but you may not pretend that you have written it.

DescExt works with descriptions of 4NT and Take Command too. So if I say
4DOS I mean 4DOS, 4NT or Take Command. DescExt doesn't need 4DOS, 4NT
or Take Command to work. It only uses the same mechanism to describe files.

4DOS, 4NT and Take Command are registered trademarks of JP Software Inc.
You can find them in the internet at http://www.jpsoft.com or with
"GO JPSOFT" on CompuServe.


1. Limit of liability
---------------------
DescExt is distributed as-is. The author disclaims all warranties, expressed
or implied. The author will assume no liability for damages either from direct
use of this product or as consequence of the use of this product.


2. What is DescExt?
-------------------
DescExt is an extension to the Windows 95 or Windows NT 4 explorer to show
4DOS descriptions. It hooks into the context menu and the property sheet of
any file or folder of any explorer window. You can edit the description in
the Description tab of the property sheet. If there is a description available,
DescExt shows it in quotation marks in the context menu. If there is no
description available DescExt only shows the text "*no description*" without
quotation marks. DescExt, like 4DOS, stores the descriptions in a file named
DESCRIPT.ION in the same folder as the file or folder you want to describe.
If DescExt creates a file named DESCRIPT.ION it will be visible.
DescExt preserves the mode (hidden or not) of DESCRIPT.ION if it writes
a description of a file.


3. Installation
---------------
Run the install.bat from a dos shell (4DOS or command.com) or from explorer.
The DescExt.dll will be copied to the windows\system folder and some registry
entries will be made. Reboot your computer to complete the installation.
After that DescExt is available in every explorer window (even in the standard 
open and close dialog boxes of Windows)


4. De-installation
------------------
You can remove all files of DescExt from your system with the add/remove 
control panel. Choose "Description Extension" and then add/remove. All the 
DescExt files will be removed. To delete temporary files and files used by 
windows it is necessary to reboot your computer.


5. Limitations
--------------
With DescExt you can describe short cuts to files, too, but the description
won't be displayed in the context menu. The description only appears
in the property tab.
DescExt only uses the DESCRIPT.ION files to search for descriptions and
stores them into these files. If you change the name of the description file
in 4DOS (see _DNAME variable in 4DOS documentation) DexcExt can't see
the descriptions.
DescExt does not hook into the copy, move or rename process of the explorer.
So if you have a description to a file, and copy, move or rename the file with
the explorer, the description will not be moved or copied to the new file.
If you rename or delete a file with the explorer the description won't
be deleted from DESCRIPT.ION
The maximum length of descriptions DescExt can handle is 1024 characters.
Don't be confused by very long descriptions. The context menu will get
very large!


6. Feedback
-----------
I tested DescExt only on German versions of Windows 95 and Windows NT and it worked
without any problems. If you have any problems, suggestions or comments you can send
an eMail to Rainer Bahr at 100326.1344@compuserve.com
I'll answer you, but maybe it will take a few days.
I'd like to know how you like DescExt. So please drop me a little note if you
can find the time. 


7. History
----------
V1.0: initial release, not distributed
V1.1: documentation expanded, some bug fixes with empty descriptions

