Erase 4.4 docfile  -  text format   -   created 07/21/93 by Steven M. Ryckman





ERase 4.4


A replacement for the ever lame dos DEL command.










Ever since the first versions of the DOS operating systems, users have been 
plagued by Microsoft's lack of user-friendly software and operating system(s).  
About five years prior to my writing the documentation for this version of 
ERase, I began working for a company who writes software for large business 
and does not use DOS or UNIX or any of the other "common" operating systems.  
This operating system was an off-shoot of a main-frame O/S and as such, did 
not clone the Microsoft world in any way.

When I began working for this company I thought to myself that they wouldn't 
last a year.  I mean, now-a-days, EVERYONE uses dos whether they know how 
to use it or not.  But low and behold I was wrong and boy am I glad I was 
wrong.  Over the years there I would like to think that I learned a thing 
or two about user-friendly programming.  With this version of ERase being 
the ninth public release of it, evidently some of you feel the same way.   
I won't over-glorify ERase, I'll be the first to admit that it was created 
about 2am one morning because I accidentally erased some files off my 
computer at home (using dos) by a stray wildcard character, and this was 
before UNERASE commands were easily found.

The first two versions of ERase never left my computer.  They were written 
strictly for my own personal use and were clumsy and huge memory hogs.  
One day while a friend was over I happened to use ERase and gave him a 
copy who gave another friend a copy and the story is pretty simple from there.

ERase is written using the Professional Development System (PDS) version 7.1 
and several add-on libraries from Crescent Software in addition to several 
of my own custom in-house routines.   It is modeled after the ERASE command 
for the Theos Operating System but it's similarity stops quick.

Since I have already wasted a good page of space, why don't we just jump 
into the features of ERase and go from there.









    Allows entry of up to twenty filespec's on one command line, each with 
    or without wildcards. different drives and different sub-directories.

    If any wildcards are in the filespec(s), ERase defaults to displaying 
    the filenames matching the filespec and ask if it's ok to erase the 
    file before it is deleted.

    If there are no wildcards in a filespec, ERase will delete the file 
    without asking.

    ERase now looks for an environment variable called ER on your system
    when it is started.  If found, it will use these options as well
    as any options on the command line.  Useful if you want ER to always
    use a particular option without specifying it all the time.
    
    ERase shows you each filename it is deleting and after completing, 
    gives the total number of files and bytes deleted from the drive(s).

    'SECure' option prevents anyone with any un-erase utility from 
    recovering the file(s) after they have been deleted.  This option 
    writes new data in the file(s) location on the drive before actually 
    performing the erase, ensuring that none of the original data file 
    contents can be recovered.

    'VERify' option ensures the file is actually erased.   Very useful 
    for systems where background TSR's or other programs may leave 
    files open.

    'RMD' option instructs ERase to remove the subdirectory the files 
    are in as well when it's done erasing the files.  Note: The filespec 
    you specify must erase ALL files in the subdirectory before it can 
    be erased, otherwise ERase will give you an error.

    'NOErase' option allows you to see what ERase would do, but does 
    not actually erase any of the files.


Command syntax:

ERase  [filespec1]...<filespec20>   <separator>  <options>


filespec1               a required entry of the file(s) to erase.  this 
			can include a drive and path if needed and/or 
			standard dos wildcards.

filespec20              up to twenty filespec's may be specified on one 
			command line.  only the first filespec is
			required however.

separator               the separator character is either a slash or left 
			parenthesis.  it is not required if no options are 
			specified but at least one separator must be 
			used if options are to following the filespec's.

options                 none required, but definitely helpful.  all may be 
			abbreviated to their first three characters 
			(upper case as listed)


Options available:

HELp or ?               display brief summary of options available.

NOQuery                 do not ask if ok to erase files, just erase 
			them right away,

QUEry                 * ask before erasing each file (even if no wildcards).

NOType                  do not display filenames as they are erased.

TYPe                  * display results of each task as performed.

ERAse                 * erase the files specified.

NOErase                 display what would be erased, but never 
			actually delete.

SECure                  over-write the file(s) before erasing them 
			to prevent them from being un-erased by other 
			utilities.

NOSecure              * erase the file, but do not do data 
			over-writing first.

NOVerify              * don't check for file existence after erasing file(s).

VERify                  ensure the file(s) are erased afterwards.

RMDirectory             after erasing the files, if the directory where 
			the files were located is empty, remove the 
			directory as well.

			(default options are followed by asterick above)


Sample commands:

ER  *.DOC                               Ask if ok to erase all files with
					*.DOC extensions, individually.

ER  *.DOC  (NOQ                         Erase the same files but don't ask
					any questions, just erase them.

ER   *.DOC   APPLE.TXT   C:\DOS\DEL.*   Ask if ok to erase any files in the                                                                     current  directory  matching *.DOC,                                                             erase the file APPLE.TXT in the
					current directory without asking,
					and erase all DEL.* files in the 
					directory C:\DOS  directory, but
					ask before actually erasing them.

ER  D:\TEMP\*.*  /NOQ  RMD              Erase all files in the directory 
					D:\TEMP and then remove the
					directory as well.

ER  SECRET.DOC  (SEC                    Erase the file SECRET.DOC in the
					current directory after over-writing
					the file to prevent un-erasure.


Environment variable

ERase now supports the use of an environment variable to set default
options for ERase to use.  For instance, if you put this line:

SET ER=/VER SEC

In your AUTOEXEC.BAT file, every time you run ERase, it will use the
VERify and SECure option - unless it finds a conflicting
option on the command line.  For instance, doing the following:

ER  *.ONE  /NOQ     

With the environment variable set as above would cause ERase to use
the  VERify, SECure and NOQuery options, but doing:

ER  *.ONE  /NOQ NOV

Would cause it to use the NOQuery and SECure options only.


Miscellaneous information

Using the VERify and SECure options will greatly increase the amount of 
time it takes to delete file(s).

ERase is 'Desqview aware' meaning simply that users who are running 
Desqview should have no problem with ERase locking the machine as 
DOS' delete command can do when running under a window.


Disclaimer

I hate to do this, but in today's world we have to.  ERase is provided 
with no warranty either expressed or implied.  I have tested ERase on 
a wide variety of equipment but by no means can I guarantee that it will 
work on all systems all the time.  ERase is distributed as share-ware 
with the pretense of 'try before you buy'. 


Registration

You are hereby granted use of ERase for 90 days to evaluate it.  
Upon expiration of the ninety day evaluation period, you must register 
ERase for continued peace of mind.

Registration of ERase is only $10.00, payable in U.S. funds to Steve Ryckman.  Technical Support to registered users of ERase is provided free of charge by one of the methods listed below.  Registration will have sent to you,  an official ERase diskette (5.25" double density unless 3.5" low-density is requested) and a printed copy of this documentation.  Registration also allows you to register all future versions of ERase for free by download off BBS and entering your registration number.


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