Category : Batch File Utilities - mostly for DOS
Archive   : IFITS31.ZIP
Filename : IFITS.DOC

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IFITS.EXE Batch file utility
Conditional execution batch file utility, with virus checking.
Part of the SETHware Grabbag, published by sThomas.

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WHAT IFITS DOES

IFITS started out as an extremely flexible way to run hard disk
backups from the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Along the way, it's grown.
An IFITS command typically looks like this:

>>> ifits 9am do lotus

This command would call up LOTUS.COM if the system clock reads
somewhere between 9:00 A.M. and 9:59 A.M. Otherwise, it would
simply exit.

You can stack conditions. For instance, you could use this
statement:

>>> ifits THU FRI 12/25 EOM do simcity

In this case, if it's Thursday, OR it's Friday, OR it's Christmas,
OR it's the last day of the month, you'd play SIMCITY - otherwise,
you wouldn't. Let's look at a file name.

>>> ifits FRI file d:\store\accounts.dta do checking

In this case, if the accounts.dta file was last updated on a
Friday, ifits will execute the checking program (or perhaps,
given the name, it's a batch file called CHECKING.BAT).

>>> ifits today file appoint.doc do backup

In this case, you want to do a backup if your appoint.doc file
was updated today. (You might put this one in a batch file you
call last thing before you leave the office.)

Here are the basic rules:
> If there's a FILE keyword, the next word on the command
line should be the filename.
> All the 'conditions' on the command line need to be LEFT
of the DO keyword. (Otherwise, IFITS thinks it's part
of the command to be executed.)
> Normally, if ANY condition is true, the command is executed.
> If you use the NOT keyword, the command is ignored if ANY
condition is true. (It executes only if ALL conditions are
false. IFITS NOT THU FRI DO SOMETHING will never execute
SOMETHING.)
> You can "stack" IFITS. (IFITS fri DO IFITS NOT 12am DO 123
will execute 123 if it's Friday and not between midnight
and 12:59 A.M.)
> IFITS uses a secondary command processor which overlays
IFITS in memory. That means that the ONLY memory IFITs
takes away from you application is an extra copy of the
environment. (You can adjust that using the SHELL
statement in your CONFIG.SYS file - see your DOS manual).
It also means that if you run a batch file as the
command, any SET statements do NOT affect the master
environment; you need to use DEEPSET, available on the
SETHware Grabbag utility disk.

Here are the ifits vocabulary:

1 through 31 checks Day of month
1/1 through 12/31 checks Day of year
EOM checks End (last day) Of Month
12am through 11pm checks Hour part of time
TODAY checks using today's date
(always true if no file)
JAN through DEC checks Month of Year
AM checks for before noon
PM checks for after noon
ASCII named file is ASCII text file
(never true if no file)
NOT all conditions must be untrue
FILE check against file datestamp
instead of against system
date/time
DO everything that follows is
the command to be executed.

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VIRUS CHECKING!

IFITS tends to be used in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Programs that
get executed a lot tend to be very susceptible to virii. As an
added feature, IFITS inspects itself to check for viral infection.
If it detects a change, it will report to you. While this does
not take the place of a virus-scanning program, it will serve to
give you early warning of many viruses.

If you're not going to use IFITS for any other reason, put the
line IFITS NOT TODAY DO DIR in your AUTOEXEC.BAT. Obviously, it
is never "not today," and you'll never see a DIR, but you'll get
the virus-checking anyway.

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IFITS and MKMTFILE

MKMTFILE is a program that creates files of zero length. For
most people, a file of just 1 byte requires 4096 bytes of room
on the hard disk. A zero-length file, however, requires no
disk space at all - it just takes up another filename slot in
your directory.

MKMTFILE ("Make empty file") works nicely with IFITS, because
you can use empty files in your batch files to flag whether
something has happened or not happened. DOS gives you their
"if exists" command that works nicely with MKMTFILE, but IFITS
lets you examine the date or time the empty file was created.

Of course, if you're creating empty files, you may need to
erase those files. DELMTFIL searches out and erases all
files of zero length, to keep your directories clean and easy
to read. Both MKMTFILE and DELMTFIL are part of the SETHware
Grabbag.
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WHAT IS SHAREWARE?

IFITS is part of the SETHware Grabbag, a shareware package of
utilities from sThomas. Shareware isn't a different type of
software; it's a marketing technique with two big differences.

The first is the shareware guarantee. We're so sure you'll love
our products, we let you try them before you buy them.

The second is the value difference. Ever notice that a $500
program only costs $100 for existing users to buy from the
publisher? That's because retail and wholesale eats up 80% of
the purchase price! Because we sell directly to the user at
wholesale prices, we can give you a more valuable program at a
fraction of the expense.

Please try out IFITS for a month or two. If you find that IFITS
is useful and handy, we ask you to do two things.
1. Pass copies along to your friends, relatives,
neighbors and co-workers, so they can try it, too.
Tell them what you like about IFITS (and what you
dislike, too - we're happy to stand or fall on our
merits.)
2. Buy a license for IFITS. . You see, that way, we
get stuck with a BIG income tax bill, and we just
love to send money to the IRS.

Please ensure that the copies of IFITS or of the SETHware Grabbag
that you pass along are complete with all related files.

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LICENSING

IFITS is part of the SETHware Grabbag. You can license the
complete SETHware Grabbag or license any individual SETHware
Grabbag program by itself.

We have 'single' licenses, 'WAN/LAN' licenses, and site licenses.

Single licenses follow the Borland 'like-a-book' principle: as
long as you can be sure two people aren't simultaneous users, a
single license is adequate. Single licenses for individual
programs are $15, or the complete SETHware Grabbag is $40. (
Please note that the SETHware Grabbag is considered one license,
not a bundle of individual licenses. You can't have different
people using different utilities in the Grabbag at the same time
on a single license.

Network license fees are based on the number of fileservers
serving the network (NOT the number of fileservers loaded with
copies of our programs.) As a rule, people use bridges,
routers, and brouters define the boundaries of a network, and
you can license a subnetwork without licensing the entire
network. With a network license, every user on the network
can use any licensed program simultaneously.

Site license fees are based on the number of 8086-compatible
computers used in connection with a site. A site is defined
as one company in one building or at one location, plus all
workers based out of that site. A site worker may use these
programs on a substitute computer while the covered computer
is unused. (That is, don't let this license make you a
stranger to your family.)

If these licenses don't meet your needs, tell us what will.
We can be very accomodating.

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UPGRADE POLICY

Frequent upgrades are a PAIN to users. We get unhappy having to
learn new versions of old reliables. We restrict major upgrades
to once a year, except in case of MAJOR problems. However, we
make minor changes to our programs continually, and always ship
the best product we can produce.

For instance, if we would find that Plantronics monitors roll
when EASTER runs, we'd fix that - but we wouldn't stick a new
version number on it, so that people make the phone company rich
downloading software that looks and acts the same as their
present software.

Anyone - registered or not - can always get an evaluation copy of
our software for a nominal charge. At present, we charge $10 for
the first disk and $5 for each additional disk. (Please indicate
whether you want 5.25 or 3.5 inch size.)

If you need a bug fixed, and you are a registered user, there is
no charge to mail you the disk. If you feel our software is not
performing as it should on your computer, please contact us.

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PRODUCT "BRANDING"

The danger of viruses is very small if you follow two rules.

1. Stick to shareware. Statistically, you're much more likely
to get a virus from a shrink-wrap package. There are two reasons
for this. First of all, most BBSes and disk vendors run tight
inspections to ensure that no viruses infect the product they
distribute, while shrink-wrap distributors do not. Second of
all, shareware typically is produced by a very small company
without underpaid, disgruntled employees.

2. Stick to PC-compatibles. Viruses are easier to hide in the
extremely complex, extremely standardized Mac environment than
in the PC world.

We have a product in the SETHware Grabbag - IFITS - that helps
in the early detection of viruses, but we don't recommend that
you stay awake nights worrying, even if you use shrink-wrap
software on a Mac.

However, just to make sure that SETHware stays secure, we have
begun a branding operation. We offer to every legitimate and
reputable disk vendor and BBS a especially-branded copy of any
SETHware program that displays the distributor's name when you
initially use the program, along with the program name and
version, etc. If you get a SETHware program from Brand A and
it says Brand B, you can be sure they did NOT receive the program
directly from us. (ASP vendors may distribute a version that
says ASP; you can trust those copies, too, IF you get them from
an ASP member.)

When you register a program, the copy we mail you will be branded
with your name. If you order disks from us in the future, be
sure to remind us that you are registered, so that your new disks
are properly branded.

There is one additional benefit of this branding, we are told. If
your computer is stolen, and resold, no thief is going to erase all
that valuable software, although he will attempt to erase all the
data. When someone uses the computer and your name pops up on a
SETHware program, it could lead to recovery of your property.

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LICENSE FEES

Single utility SETHware Grabbag

Single user license 15.00 40.00
Network, per 10 nodes 30.00 80.00
Site, First 100 80x86s 120.00 320.00
Site, Additional 50 80x86s 30.00 80.00

You can trade in any license towards a more expensive license
for $5 plus the difference in license fee.

We pay state sales tax for Ohio customers.

All licenses include the latest copy of the SETHware Grabbag
utilities diskette (please specify size). Licensing for the
complete SETHware Grabbag includes printed documentation as
well. Network and Site licensees are allowed to reproduce
documentation for any licensed utility, for internal use,
without charge.

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PHONE SUPPORT

The SETHware Grabbag programs are so easy to use that we offer
unlimited free support.

This is a consulting firm as well as a software development firm.
Many of these programs in the Grabbag were originally built to
solve problems for our clientele; otherwise, we could never give
such good value to our users.

The downside of all this is that sometimes, you're going to get
an answering machine. We have a REALLY short announcement, so
you don't have to wait long to talk, and there's none of this
"if you blah, blahblah, press 3, unless your mother's maiden
name is blah, blah, blahblah, in which case you should press 5"
stuff. You just get an opportunity to explain what's up and
let us know how to get back to you. Of course, if we have to
call you back, that means the phone charges are on us.

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BBS SUPPORT

You can contact us on CompuServe at 70573,2305 for support.

CompuServe isn't cheap. Consequently, we've made arrangements
with Grendel's Lair to support you there. It has USR HST/DS
support, a sharp sysop, and not too many users (although that
will probably change soon...) so that you can get in easily.
And it's a free BBS. We check with Grendel's Lair frequently,
and you'll get the fastest response there. The phone number
for Grendel's Lair is (419) 523-3818.

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WHO WE ARE

The SETHware Grabbag is published by
sThomas
14617 CR 138
Paulding OH 45879
(419) 399-3927
(800) 624-8602

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INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS

For Australian customers, we have made arrangements with Mr. and
Mrs. George Margelis at Budgetware to accept Australian orders.
He will contact us via CompuServe so that we can send you a
user's license package immediately, and will forward funds
to us periodically to minimize the cost of handling foreign
funds. Through this arrangement, our fees are approximately
the same as in the US, although we adjust local fees to be a
round figure.

We would be interested in making arrangements with local reps in
other countries, especially non-English-speaking countries,
as we have some rather spectacular software under development.

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YOUR COMMENTS

I'd appreciate receiving your comments.

Steve Thomas

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ASSOCIATION OF SHAREWARE PROFESSIONALS

We have applied for membership in the ASP. Programmers in the
ASP have agreed to a code of conduct which amounts to treating
customers as if they are important to the future of their
business. (Things like not distributing crippled software, or
incomplete versions of their documentation.) ASP members also
have an ombudsman for solving disputes between customers and
shareware publishers.

Nothing in the ASP itself guarantees that the software is going
to meet your needs. That's the reason for the shareware
guarantee: try it before you buy it. Never the less, the ASP
membership impresses me. Most of the best and the brightest
shareware publishers are in the ASP. With few exceptions, the
mediocre programmers don't bother joining.

However, it's extremely important to look for ASP associate
membership in disk vendors, because disk vendors are required
to update disks in their library within 90 days of receiving
an upgrade. That means that you aren't stuck with old bugs
and missing features.

Like we said, the ASP offers the customer a lot of benefits.
That's why we've applied for membership.