Useful 3rd party tools to complement TC

[jdmarch]

One other file management utility which I forgot to mention: Diskmapper 2.0 from http://www.miclog.com/ . This is by far the best utility that I've seen, for analyzing disk space usage. Forget the bar graphs, or TC's folder-by-folder totals. This program draws a folder-recurive area-based map of all the folders and files on the hard disk. There are sample screens on their website. Because the display is area-based, you can see and visually assess file/folder sizes varying by a factor of 1000, simultaneously. I found this software several years ago after reading an article about the display algorithm, which a graduate student developed for his doctoral degree.

The downsides: The inventor patented the algorithm , its price is unusually high for a single-function utility ($50) , and it has a few minor interface glitches (they haven't updated it since 1998).

But I have no regrets about buying it. When I really want an overview of where my disk space is going, this is the utility which I use.

[Lefteous]

2jdmarch

take a look at Sequoiaview - it's freeware.

http://www.win.tue.nl/sequoiaview

[jdmarch]

Many thanks, Lefteous. Since reading your post I've been testing Sequioaview, and it is an impressive and powerful program. While they both use a squarified treemap, it seems that SV and Diskmapper each has its areas of strength and weakness.

Strengths of SV: freeware, gorgeous graphics, better filtering, can show more than 10x the range of sizes that DM can (incredible visual detail!)

Strengths of DM: much better keyboard interface (SV has no keyboard support for many crucial functions- I just don't understand why any programmer would do this! - maybe it's the videogame generation?), names of files and folders shown directly where possible, file dates shown, much clearer view of folder hierarchies, ability to delete a file, optional synchronized treeview sorted by size or date or name.

Overall, I'm happy to have both tools available, and I wish someone would combine the best features of both!

====

P.S. A serious disadvantage of both programs is the inability to exclude a folder (such as a TEMP or RECYCLER folder or a large fixed folder) from the display so as to have a clearer look at the folders of interest. (For a moment I thought that SV had this ability, but now it doesn't seem so.)

And another strength of DM is the ability to easily see the size of the folder at any level of nesting (SV just shows the sizes of folders or files at the top and bottom levels of the display)

SV is a bigger time-waster because it's so much fun to pass the mouse around the screen and watch the display react! Yes, I think this program was designed by a videogame player.

[chrisvw]

More useful utilities (not necessarily TC related):

Spybot Search & Destroy (www.safer-networking.org) -- detects and destroys spyware, adware, malware, etc.

Cdex (www.cdex.n3.net) -- CD ripper

Convert (www.joshmadison.com/software) -- unit convertion util

Languard Network Security Scanner (www.gfi.com) -- network info tool

NTFSDOS and others (www.winternals.com)

VNC remote control (www.realvnc.com) -- remotely control other PCs on the network or internet

EniG. Periodic Table of the Elements (www.ktf-split.hr/~eni/toys/)

PixScan 2000 (www.pixscan2000.com) -- find duplicate graphic files

TClockEx (users.iafrica.com/d/da/dalen) -- customizable date/time for the tray

WinGuides (www.winguides.com) -- handy registry hacks

VoloView AutoCAD viewer (www.autocad.com) -- view and print AutoCAD files without owning AutoCAD itself

Pegasus Mail (www.pegasus.com) -- free email program

CacheMan (www.outertech.com) -- memory optimizer

BgInfo (www.systernals.com) -- shows basic computer info on wallpaper (handy for maintenance accounts)

AIDA32 (www.aida32.hu) -- in-depth system info

Blat (www.interlog.com/~tcharron) -- sends emails from DOS

WebDrive (www.webdrive.com) -- maps FTP sites as a drive letter, eg. G:

[hmoeller]

2jdmarch

take a look at Sequoiaview - it's freeware.

http://www.win.tue.nl/sequoiaview

I just came here to propose a SequoiaView like panel in TotalCommander. The main problem of SequoiaView is the lack of speed on bigger disks. TotalCommander could provide a better way of analysis by caching data during operation. This panel would be a great improvement to TotalCommander, I think.

Best regards.

Henning.

[LarsSandberg]

Must have tools I use:

UltraEDIT, probably the best acsii/ hex editor
http://www.idmcomp.com
http://www.idmcomp.com/products/features.html

MacroExpress, superb. miracle utility for automation in all windowsbased programs. Instead of programming via an API, which many apps doesn't have, then you program to the user-interface, controlling mouse & keyboard. See:
http://www.macros.com
http://www.macros.com/features.htm

[jdmarch]

Thanks for mentioning MacroExpress, Lars. I use AIM Keys, which is ok but not superb. A few questions about MacroExpress:
- Can I define a folder such that any macros which I put into that folder can only be activated from a particular program, or must I specify this restriction individually for each new macro?
- Can Win key combinations (Ctrl+Win+A, etc) be used to activate macros?
- Can a macro start a program only if that program is not yet running?
- Can a macro be activated by typing a specified sequence of keys? (e.g. type "..jm" anywhere, as a shortcut for typing my name.)

Thanks!
Jonathan March

[drpiety]

yes macroexpress is great i have been betatesting for them. Aprogram truly worth buying.

I will now tell you a program you will love me for.

http://www.basta.com/ProdBuzof.htm

close every window that pops up automatically

you can even use it to install programs without intervention if you use the default install of a program often.

[pdavit]

Well, the quest on finding the best macro tool is going to get more fascinating!

Check this out: http://www.unisyn.com/automate/

[LarsSandberg]

A few questions about MacroExpress:
- Can I define a folder such that any macros which I put into that folder can only be activated from a particular program, or must I specify this restriction individually for each new macro?

All macros, are within one file *.mex. You can define a scope, in where a particular macro works. That means, you could define F12 to resize Internet Explorer to your favorite position and size. In other apps the same F12 or another hotkey, could fulfill another task

- Can Win key combinations (Ctrl+Win+A, etc) be used to activate macros?

Not win keys, but any combination with CRTL, ALT, SHIFT

- Can a macro start a program only if that program is not yet running?

Yes, then the scope should be within global range

- Can a macro be activated by typing a specified sequence of keys? (e.g. type "..jm" anywhere, as a shortcut for typing my name.)

Yeps, in ME, the term is "shortkeys", which as hotkeys can activate any action you want.

For more info see:
http://www.macros.com
and the usenetserver:
news:\\pgmacros.apk.net

[LarsSandberg]

I will now tell you a program you will love me for.
http://www.basta.com/ProdBuzof.htm
close every window that pops up automatically

Hi, interesting. However MacroExpress could also full these tasks, with closing pop-up windows automatically, during its windows automatic activation, and it's many other cababilities, which I forgot to give a link to before. Here it is:
http://www.macros.com/capab.htm

[jdmarch]

Thanks for the response, Lars. It seems, from your response and from their website, that MacroExpress offers no way to categorize the macros into groups of related macros (similar to the way one collects files into folders and subfolders, for ease of organization)?

In AimKeys, I have about 30 global macros, and about 80 program-specific macros, and it's a lot easier to maintain them, collected into subgroups (they use the subfolder metaphor, though all the macros are actually stored in one file.)

Even though ME sounds very impressive (especially the IF THEN ELSE logic), it sounds like it might not be worth my work of converting existing macros, unless I misunderstand you.

Thanks!

[drpiety]

LarsSandberg : Nonono buzof has nothing to do with a macroprogram its just closing windows of any type that anoy you. you wont have to click on "your cd is successfully burnt "etc try it and you will not uninstall it.

You can stop the search for the best macro program as it is for sure Macroexpress. It even can catch controls and buttons and click for example on them without needing the insure mouse movement and keytypes.

just some examples what ME can do:

task1: generate a folder structure that has 10 subdirs in EACH folder meaning 10000000000 folders to be generated. like this you can hide things on your modified XBOX as you can hide it in folder 8 subdir 7 subdir 2 subdir 8 having a code 8728

i know this is weird but try to do that manually. ME will have to work overnight to generate the structure heres the macro: just paste it into the
macroscript. NOTE this is not the macro language that you will use in ME its just the copy pasted way this looks !! Its much easier.

<TVAR2:01:10:choose whre to put the DIR Structure to: This will take some
minutes !><hhmmP000{N}{P000}02>
<DIS:<TBOX4:T:1:CenterCenter000278000200:000:%N1%><DIS:<MSTOP><REM2:start>
<IVAR2:01:01:0><REP3:01:000001:0000010:01:><DOFILE:02:NN:%T1%\%N1%>>
<REM2:start><IVAR2:02:01:0><REP3:01:000001:0000010:01:>
<DOFILE:02:NN:%T1%\%N1%\%N2%>><REM2:start><IVAR2:03:01:0>
<REP3:01:000001:0000010:01:><DOFILE:02:NN:%T1%\%N1%\%N2%\%N3%>>
<REM2:start><IVAR2:04:01:0><REP3:01:000001:0000010:01:>
<DOFILE:02:NN:%T1%\%N1%\%N2%\%N3%\%N4%>><REM2:start><IVAR2:05:01:0>
<REP3:01:000001:0000010:01:><DOFILE:02:NN:%T1%\%N1%\%N2%\%N3%\%N4%\%N5%>>
<REM2:start><IVAR2:06:01:0><REP3:01:000001:0000010:01:>
<DOFILE:02:NN:%T1%\%N1%\%N2%\%N3%\%N4%\%N5%\%N6%>><REM2:start><IVAR2:07:01:0>
<REP3:01:000001:0000010:01:>
<DOFILE:02:NN:%T1%\%N1%\%N2%\%N3%\%N4%\%N5%\%N6%\%N7%>><REM2:start>
<IVAR2:08:01:0><REP3:01:000001:0000010:01:>
<DOFILE:02:NN:%T1%\%N1%\%N2%\%N3%\%N4%\%N5%\%N6%\%N7%\%N8%>><REM2:start>
<IVAR2:09:01:0><REP3:01:000001:0000010:01:><DOFILE:02:NN:%T1%\%N1%>>
<REM2:start><IVAR2:10:01:0><REP3:01:000001:0000010:01:>
<DOFILE:02:NN:%T1%\%N1%\%N2%\%N3%\%N4%\%N5%\%N6%\%N7%\%N8%\%N9%>>
<NMVAR:08:10:0:0000001:0:0000000><ENDREP><REM2:end>
<NMVAR:08:09:0:0000001:0:0000000><ENDREP><REM2:end>
<NMVAR:08:08:0:0000001:0:0000000><ENDREP><REM2:end>
<NMVAR:08:07:0:0000001:0:0000000><ENDREP><REM2:end>
<NMVAR:08:06:0:0000001:0:0000000><ENDREP><REM2:end>
<NMVAR:08:05:0:0000001:0:0000000><ENDREP><REM2:end>
<NMVAR:08:04:0:0000001:0:0000000><ENDREP><REM2:end>
<NMVAR:08:03:0:0000001:0:0000000><ENDREP><REM2:end>
<NMVAR:08:02:0:0000001:0:0000000><ENDREP><REM2:end>
<NMVAR:08:01:0:0000001:0:0000000><ENDREP><REM2:end><hhmmP000{N}{P000}02>
<hhmmP000{N}{P000}03><TMVAR2:05:03:99:000:000:><TMVAR2:05:02:98:000:000:>
<NMVAR:02:99:1:0000198:1:0000197><TBOX4:T:4:001397000284000268000121:000:The
Structure has been generated in Folder:%T1% in %D99% minutes>


a simple alarm at a sheduled time:

<AUDUP><AUDUP><AUDUP><REP3:01:000001:0000010:01:>
<WAV1:C:\Programme\Macro Express3\alert.wav><WAITTIME:00000002><ENDREP><AUDDOWN>
<AUDDOWN><AUDDOWN>

Macroexpress is starting my programs instead of windows and is also checking ecery 10 minutes if they still run, if not it will restart them and hide their windows and so on.

<REM2:OUTPOST><IFOTH:14:1:OUTPOST.EXE>
<LAUNCHDEL2:0:01C:\Programme\Agnitum\Outpost Firewall\outpost.exe><ENDIF>
<REM2:Dial><IFPINGwww.q-dsl.de><DIS:<IFONLINE><ELSE>
<DIAL:<NAME:cpe52170@qdsl.de><PASS:>Connection to bsn.qsc>
<WAV1:C:\WINDOWS\Media\Windows XP-Batterie niedrig.wav><ENDIF><DIS:<ENDIF>
<DIS:<REM2:PEERGUARDIAN><DIS:<IFOTH:14:1:PEERGUARDIAN_1.99B_PR8.EXE>
<DIS:<LAUNCHDEL2:0:01C:\Programme\peerguardian\PeerGuardian_1.99b_pr8.exe>
<DIS:<ENDIF><DIS:<REM2:EMULE><DIS:<IFOTH:14:1:BTDOWNLOADGUI.EXE>
<DIS:<IFOTH:14:1:EMULE.EXE><DIS:<DOFILE:01:NN:C:\Programme\emule>>
<DIS:<LAUNCHDEL2:0:01C:\Programme\emule\emule.exe>
<DIS:<WAITWIN2:000010:000000:eMule><DIS:<ACTIVATE2:eMule><DIS:<WHIDE:eMule>
<DIS:<ENDIF><DIS:<ENDIF><DIS:<IFOTH:04:2:eMule><DIS:<WHIDE:eMule V>
<DIS:<ENDIF><REM2:KADMELIA><IFOTH:14:1:BTDOWNLOADGUI.EXE>
<IFOTH:14:1:EMULE.EXE><DOFILE:01:NN:C:\Programme\emulekad>>
<LAUNCHDEL2:0:01C:\Programme\emulekad\emule.exe><WAITWIN2:000010:000000:eMule>
<ACTIVATE2:eMule><WHIDE:eMule><ENDIF><ENDIF><IFOTH:04:2:eMule><WHIDE:eMule V>
<ENDIF><DIS:<REM2:OVERNET><DIS:<IFOTH:14:1:BTDOWNLOADGUI.EXE>
<DIS:<IFOTH:14:1:OVERNET.EXE>
<DIS:<LAUNCHDEL2:0:01C:\Programme\Overnet\overnet.exe>
<DIS:<WAITWIN2:000010:000000:Overnet ><DIS:<ACTIVATE2:Overnet>
<DIS:<WHIDE:Overnet><DIS:<ENDIF><DIS:<ENDIF><DIS:<IFOTH:04:2:Overnet>
<DIS:<WHIDE:Overnet><DIS:<ENDIF><REM2:BUZOF><IFOTH:14:1:BUZOF.EXE>
<LAUNCHDEL2:0:01C:\Programme\Basta Computing\Buzof\Buzof.exe3>
<WAITWIN2:000000:000020:Buzof><WHIDE:Buzof><ENDIF><REM2:ISDNCID>
<IFOTH:14:1:ISDNCID.EXE><LAUNCHDEL2:0:01C:\Programme\ISDNCID\isdncid.exe><ENDIF>
<REM2:NO-IP><IFOTH:14:1:NOPDB.EXE><LAUNCHDEL2:0:01C:\Programme\No-IP\DUC20.exe>
<ENDIF><REM2:ULTRAMON><IFOTH:14:1:ULTRAMON.EXE>
<LAUNCHDEL2:0:01C:\Programme\UltraMon\UltraMon.exe><ENDIF><REM2:CD-BREMSE>
<IFOTH:14:1:CDBREMSE.EXE><LAUNCHNO3:0:0112Jörn<LAUNCH:C:\Programme\CD
Bremse\CDBremse.exe><WAITWIN2:000000:000060: Jörn Fiebelkorns CD Bremse 1.29>
<WCLS: Jörn Fiebelkorns CD Bremse 1.29><ENDIF><REM2:RELAX>
<IFOTH:14:1:RELAX.EXE><LAUNCHDEL2:0:01C:\Programme\UltraMon\UltraMon.exe><ENDIF>

i think this should convince


[mod]Line breaks have been inserted to improve thread readability.

Greetings
Lefteous (Moderator)[/mod]

[SanskritFritz]

Here is what I use Macro Express for:
- Many autoreplace macros (ex when I type ",rf", my full name is replaced )
- Type out the contents of the clipboard (ex. to the command line)
- Close some windows automatically, or adjust a window when it is started (maximize etc)
- Auto search and replace text in a control when it appears
- Global keys to control WinAmp, or Apollo
- Switch to ANY window (useful for applications having more windows)
- Automated login for many applications
- Hide and unhide more windows (maintained in a list of captions) at once with a key press ("boss key"
- Copy the contents of a disabled control to the clipboard
- Launch or activate an application
- Fill out complex forms (with more windows opening and closing) repeatedly by reading a control file with a certain syntax

[SanskritFritz]

BTW I tried to copy and paste your macro into the DirectEditor, but since it contains nonAscii characters, it doesnt work