Category : File Managers
Archive   : STS_410.ZIP
Filename : QUESTION.TXT

A QUESTION/ANSWER SESSION
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This file is contains a typical question and answer session that
might be conducted with the author. If you are having a problem with
StS and can't find the answer in the DOC file, maybe something in here
will help. This file may be printed.

Q: I put a blank floppy disk in drive A: and now I can't get the
cursor back in the window that is pointed at that drive. How am I
supposed to get out of this situation?
A: StS won't let you place the cursor in, or "hook" an empty window
because there is simply nothing you can do in an empty window. The
real problem that arises is that you can't change drives on that
side because you can't "hook" it. StS provides two solutions to
this problem. (1.) Use the <1,2,3,...> key pair to change the
un-hooked side drive. Simply hold the key and press the
number of the drive you want; 1=A, 2=B, etc. (2.) Open the DOS
command window by pressing and then change the un-hooked drive
from there.

Q: I am getting file or path bad errors when I use a compressed file
option that needs the compressed file packer program. I double
checked the path and name and they are correct. What is wrong.
A: It has come to our attention that many users are using programs
that place a clock display in the upper right-hand corner of the
screen. Since this clock display appears within the edit line of
the file packer programs in StS setup, the setup program is picking
the clock display up and storing it as part of the packer program
filespec. Turn the clock display off and re-do your compression
program setups. The clock display is not a problem in StS itself,
but only in the setup program...

Q: Is there any quick way to point the right window back at ZDIR?
A: Yes. Press the keys to reset the right side.

Q: I like the high-res mode of my EGA/VGA adapter. Is there any
method I can use to make StS execute in this mode?
A: Yes. Use the /H option on the DOS command line. Also note that
on VGA equipped systems the /M switch will provide a medium
resolution mode.

Q: Is there any way to change the video mode while StS is running?
A: Yes. If you have an EGA or VGA card, pressing will change
between standard, medium(VGA only), and hi-res modes.

Q: It is a drag going through the DOS menu to get into setup mode. Is
there a faster way?
A: Yes. Use the key pair to get there instantly.

Q: When I try go into setup mode, I get a failure to execute message.
What gives?
A: StS uses an integrated external setup program which is loaded and
executed when you request setup mode. This program must be where
StS can find it. Make sure that the directory in which the setup
program resides is in the DOS path. The setup program is named
STSETxxx.EXE where the xxx matches the version number of the StS
main program. For example STSET400.EXE would work with StS version
4.00. Insure that you have matching programs.

Q: I have my compression program commands so screwed up from trying to
change the way they are programmed that I am ready to start over.
Is there any way to recover the default settings?
A: Yes. Erasing the StS configuration file will cause StS to execute
in its default state the next time you run it.

Q: I like having the ability to independently sort the file windows but
I don't understand how to save the settings the way I like them.
How does this work?
A: Whenever you save the currently defined setup from the setup mode
of StS, the sort types for each file window are saved. What you
need to do is define the sort for each window the way you like them
and then go into setup mode and save the settings. From then on,
StS will be set as you want it when it runs.


Q: How do I erase or rename a directory?
A: Place the highlight bar on it and press or depending
on whether you want to rename or erase it. The directory rename
feature of StS will only work if you are running DOS 3.00 or above.
Directories must be empty before you can erase them.

Q: I keep getting an "invalid path or filename" message when I try to
type in a path in response to a prompt. What am I doing wrong?
A: StS uses standard DOS conventions for pathnames when it is
prompting for input. The last character in the pathname should be
a trailing backslash or a slash. Actually the StS parsing routines
interrogate the last character in the user supplied string to
determine what kind of data it received. If the string ends in a
colon the StS assumes that it only received a drive and it
substitutes in the current path and filename itself. If the string
ends in a slash or backslash StS assumes that it received a valid
path and adds the filename if the situation requires one. If none
of these three characters terminates the string, StS assumes that a
filename was supplied by the user.

Q: I am having trouble getting my external programs to run. What
should I do?
A: By all means you should read the setup section in the .DOC file
especially the part about standard filename conventions. The most
common problem with external programs has to do with the definition
of the drive:\path\filename.ext. CHECK your setup carefully to
make sure that you have defined the program properly. One way to
cross check your setup is to run the program directly from DOS
using the identical file specification you have given StS.

Q: My old IBM display looks like my TV when cousin Earl runs his
powersaw. How can I get rid of the snow?
A: Some older IBM CGA adapters will produce snow when a program uses
direct video screen writing like StS does. You need to go into the
screen section of the setup mode and turn snow suppression on.

Q: I have a sub-directory with 1279 files in it. When I look at this
directory with StS it doesn't read all the filenames. Why?
A: In the interest of using a sane amount of memory when executing,
StS will display up to 600 files and 200 sub-directories on each
side of the display. This represents a total of 1600 file and
directory names available to the user at any time. While designing
StS, our research indicated that in 99% of all cases users would
not need to place more than 500 files in any sub-directory, so we
set the limit at 600. If you have a sub-directory with more than
600 files in it, it is probably time to split it up and organize it
a little better. StS does a great job of making new directories
and moving files...


Q: Why does StS present the "Press any key" message after executing
a program from the screen or DOS command system? I find having
to press the enter key to return to StS irritating.
A: I'll wager you would find it much more irritating if you did not
get the chance to read the results of some of the programs you are
executing. Many programs print a screen full of garbage and then
terminate. Take CHKDSK for example... If StS immediately returned
when CHKDSK terminated it would not be humanly possible to read
the output. So unless you are an android and can read 1000 charac-
ters per millisecond (if you are, write us) oil up the old enter
key and go.

Q: Why does StS rescan my drive every time I call up the tree.
A: Hmmmm, the jury is still out on this one. It was decided by a
split decision that since StS uses its special sidebar technique
as the primary means to change directories, the tree would rescan
since it is not used very often. It is very possible that future
versions of the program will expand upon and offer more options
pertaining to the use of the tree display.

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