
WHAT IS OVERVIEW

OverView is a hard disk and file maintenance utility for IBM
PC/XT/AT and compatible computers.  OverView enables you to
perform common file operations (copying, renaming, erasing, etc)
with simple, straight forward commands.  OverView removes the
guess work from file operations by displaying the files on your
disk in a tabular format that is constantly updated in response
to your changes.  OverView's command menus speed up time
consuming disk clean-up and maintenance sessions because your
current options are always at your finger tips.

In addition to the standard file maintenance features (copy,
rename, erase, etc) OverView has many other useful features
including:

   * Supports from 1 to 4 windows allowing access to as many as 4
     directories at the same time.

   * Directory tree display.

   * A show-all function that allows all files on the current disk
     to be accessed as easily as the files in the current directory.

   * Full screen interface with user selectable display colors
     (video attributes).

   * On-line help available whenever and wherever OverView is
     waiting for user input.

   * Full source code is provided.  OverView is written in a
     combination of Microsoft C (version 4) and Microsoft MASM.

OverView version 1.43 is being distributed on BBS systems in two
archive files; OV143A.ARC and OV143B.ARC.  The OV143A archive
contains the OverView documentation, program, help, and
configuration files in a ready-to-run format.  OV143B.ARC
contains the full source code for OverView in Microsoft C and
MASM.  You should have received both archive files.  If you give
OverView to others, or upload it to BBS systems, THANK YOU--and
please remember to pass on both archive files.


NEW FEATURES IN THIS VERSION

The current release of OverView (version 1.43) differs from the
previous version (1.02) in the following areas:

   * A couple of minor (and one not so minor) bugs have been
     corrected.

   * Find string has been added to the VIEW function.

   * The ALT-F1 through ALT-F10 keys can be defined to execute any
     DOS command.  ALT-F1 through ALT-F10 are called User Defined
     Keys (UDK).

   * A Point-and-Go facility has been added which allows you to
     define a DOS command to execute on given files with a specific
     extension.  When you try to eXecute a file of this type, the
     corresponding DOS command is actually executed (presumably with
     the current file name as a parameter to the command).

   * Several "macros" have been established for DOS commands (OTHER
     COMMAND, OTHER XECUTE, Point-and-Go commands, and User Defined
     Key commands).  The macros allow you to substitute items such
     as the current file name, the current directory name, the
     current drive, etc on the command line before it is executed.

   * The "beep" generated by erroneous input has been softened to be
     more of a "buzz."

   * Customization parameters are now written to a separate file
     (OV.CFG) instead of being written directly to the OV.EXE file.
     This will allow your parameters to remain in effect when newer
     versions are released.

   * OverView no longer automatically rereads the current directory
     after executing a DOS command.  This way, tagged files remain
     tagged after executing a DOS command.  However, if your DOS
     command deletes or creates files, or changes the current
     directory, you should execute the NEW command to force a reread
     of the current directory.

   * The status of the DOS verify flag is displayed on the right
     side of the screen, just above the menu lines.

   * OverView now keeps a history of the last ten responses you gave
     to its prompts.  When you are being prompted for input (say for
     a DOS command to be executed) you can use the up arrow key to
     recall your previous responses.  Each time the up arrow is
     pressed, the prior response will appear.  You can then edit or
     accept the response as is.  The down arrow will recall more
     recent responses that you have already passed by with the up
     arrow key.

   * The makefile supplied with the source code is now compatible
     with the Microsoft MAKE program.

   * Several changes have been made in the source code that have no
     direct bearing on the operation of the program, but make the
     source code "cleaner" and more organized.

More information on the new features can be found in the HELPFUL
HINTS section of the document and in OverView's on-line help.


COMMENTS FROM USERS

Here are a few comments from registered users of OverView,
version 1.02.

"... nothing I have downloaded has given me more pleasure than
OVERVIEW..."  San Francisco, CA.

"... your Overview product is superior to any we have seen
elsewhere..."  Eden Prairie, MN

"I love it, use it daily."  Bondurant, IA.

"Thanks for your hard work and excellent program."  Arlington, VA.

"Raise the price."  New York, NY.
