FILETRAC

Introduction
FileTrac is a simple application to help you manage the onslaught of files that most Windows applications install on your harddrive.  Typically, when you install a new program many files are added to the Windows\system directory, Windows directory, and the Windows\help directory if you have Windows 95.  Windows 3.1 users do not have the luxury of the uninstall feature that true Windows 95 apps have.  Also, many new applications are not true Windows 95 and do not have an unonstall feature.  Having a fetish about keeping my drives neat, I developed FileTrac to help me manage the files added to my hard drive.



Installation
Installation is simple.  Copy filetrac.exe and this file, filetrac.txt, to your windows directory.  You will need a copy of vbrun300.dll in your windows\system directory.  This file can be obtained without charge from AOL, MSN, Prodigy, my webpage or many other sites.  Either make a new group for FileTrac or put it in another group.  You do this in Windows 3.1 by selecting "file", "properties" and then new item.  The command line is C:\Windows\filetrac.exe assuming C: is the drive where windows is installed.  In Windows 95 you can right click on a folder and add a new shortcut for FileTrac by browsing in the windows directory and following the instructions provided by the dialog boxes.



Set Up
When you first run FileTrac you need to configure it by clicking on "Setup" and then "Setup".  Once in setup you will need to select the directories of which to track.  The directories can be selected by double clicking on the directory in the file list box or typing in the complete path e.g., C:\windows in the box at the lower left of the set up screen.  Then click "Add to directory list."  I suggest you do this for Windows, Windows\system and Windows\help.  You can add more directories if you wish.  The limit in the program is 50.

Once all of the directories are in the directory list box click "Accept all entries" to set up FileTrac.



Operation
Click on "Original Files" prior to installing any new software.  After you finish the installation and want to see how many files were added click on "Adds or Deletes" and then "Compare Size."  The results are automatically displayed for you.  In each directory you will find two files.  These are "fileold.txt" and "filenew.txt."  Also, in the directory Filetrac is installed you will also find "filecomp.txt", "Filediff.txt", and "Filetrac.ini." The file usage is as follows


		Fileold.txt		Original files with size included
		Filenew.txt		Original files plus new files with size included
		Filecomp.txt		Displays files added or deleted
		Filediff.txt		Displays only those files that changed size


If you want to uninstall FileTrac, delete the fileold.txt and filenew.txt from each directory you included, and delete Filetrac.exe, filetrac.txt, filetrac.ini, filecomp.txt, and filediff.txt from the directory where you installed FileTrac.

When you view either the "Files Added or Deleted" or the "Files That Have Changed in Size"  you will see the comparison of files for the directories you selected.

With this information you can use either File Manager or Explorer to delete files if you want to uninstall an application.  If you do not want to uninstall the app but keep it long term then you need to run "Original Files" again to get a new baseline.  

The "filediff.txt" file indicates those files that changed size.  I am not recommending you reinstall a file that changed size since some do for very valid reasons under Windows.  This is only a tool for the obsessive PC user who will know when to reinstall a file.

FileTrac is freeware and carries no warranties.  If you like this program E-mail me at hunzy1@Ibm.net			
