DiskBase - Disk Cataloging Program: FAQ

NOTE: The DiskBase development has been terminated. The source code is available for further development for those who would be interested.
Click here for details.

If I buy a DiskBase multilicense, does it mean that multiple users then can access one database simultaneously?
Not. The multiple license just saves money (in comparison with buying each license separately). DiskBase enables to open the database to 1 user only. So, if the database is placed on a network drive, it can be accessed by multiple users, but not simultaneously.
When extracting descriptions from files in ZIP archives, are the same rules (filters) used in the same way as for normal files?
Yes. The rules specified in Settings->Database settings->Descriptions are used for extraction of descriptions from ZIP archives too.
Is it possible to catalog a network disk i.e. on another computer of a network?
Yes. If this disk behaves as a normal disk (e.g. you can see it as a disk in Windows Explorer), then it is possible to scan it to DiskBase database. Note that files on network disks can have various access limitations - for example you can see a name of a file, but you cannot read it - in such case DiskBase would not be able to create a description from such file or look inside (if it is an archive). As there can be thousands of such files, DiskBase never announces this to you, it simply skips reading of such files.
When I catalog CD-ROMs, they either started to install or run when the drive door is closed.
This is a feature of Windows 95/98 and Windows NT4 - after inserting the CD-ROM in the drive, the operating system looks for a file called AUTORUN.INF on the CD-ROM, where are the commands to be executed. You can disable the AutoRun feature in two ways:
- by pressing and holding the Shift key for a while after you insert a CD-ROM in the drive,
- or by permanently switching this feature off in Windows 95. You can do so in the StartMenu -> Control Panel -> System -> Device Manager -> select the CD-ROM device and Properties and uncheck the AutoRun check box.
I reorganized files on my hard disk (moved some folders) and then, after rescanning the disk I found that some descriptions were lost in the database.
As it is mentioned in DiskBase Help, this is the disadvantage of the manually edited descriptions: if the file, to which the description belongs, is moved somewhere else, DiskBase considers it as a deleted file and thus does not preserve its description (detecting possible file movements would be a rather complicated task). So it is recommended to keep on mind the following rule: Whenever possible, prefer automatically created descriptions. In other words, use manually edited descriptions only on disk, which contents will not change (CD-ROMs, installation floppies). On all other disks (hard disks, backup disks etc.,) place the files with descriptions (named e.g. DirInfo.txt) directly to the disks and let DiskBase read these files as descriptions. Then, when you reorganize folders and move or copy even from one disk to another, the descriptions are still preserved.
I wanted to set a long name as a volume label on a floppy disk, but it was refused by DiskBase.
Although Microsoft extended the FAT file system for long file names usage, this unfortunately does not apply to volume labels, which are still restricted to 11 characters.
I wanted to find all files and folders matching the mask ORDER*.*, but it did not find the folder ORDERS, although the folder exists in the database.
With the long names introduced in Windows 95, the dot (.) character is no more a special character, but just one of the permitted characters. In the old DOS the dot was added to each name to separate the name and the extension and the mask "ORDER*.*" would be considered as: Find files, which names begin with "order" and the extension is arbitrary. But in long names there can be multiple dots in one name. So the same mask in DiskBase is interpreted as: Find files, in which some word begins with "order", then there can be some arbitrary characters, then there must be a dot and finally there can be some other arbitrary characters. DiskBase uses this way of interpretation of the mask. The folder name "ORDERS" does not have any dots in its name, so it is not found. You should use the "ORDER*" mask instead of "ORDER*.*".
I wanted to find the file My Document.doc, but DiskBase did not find it, although the file is in the database.
This problem was caused by using the Strict mask type for searching in file names. From version 5.11 the mask is considered as Relaxed type, which removes this problem. See detailed description in the Help.
How can I export the search results to MS-Excel?
Such export was not available till version 5.10, but is available from version 5.11 as Export to other format. For Excel the Tab delimited.deff format should be suitable. You can also copy selected lines to Clipboard (Edit -> Copy) and paste them from Clipboard to Excel (Edit -> Paste). This transfer was limited to 32kB of text till the version 5.10, from version 5.11 (32-bit) it is not limited.
My G: drive is my CD-ROM drive. The buttons on your tool bar say A B C. How can I scan G:?
By pressing the "C..." button (the ellipsis indicates "C and other disks"). You will get selection of all disks available in your system.
How can I delete a description?
By opening it and deleting all the text inside.
I have changed a description on disk, but after rescanning the disk the corresponding description in the database was not updated.
This happens (intentionally) when the description is manually modified in the database; then it is protected against being rewritten automatically. The solution is to delete the description, i.e. open it, delete its whole contents (with all lines and spaces). Then rescan the disk.
Is the registration dependent on my computer, i.e. will the registered program function, if I upgrade my computer?
The registration is not dependent on the computer and the program can be copied to another computer.
I have registered version of DiskBase and want to install an update. How can I register the update?
You need not register the update. If you install the update to the same folder, where the previous version was placed, the registration is preserved. If you install the update to a different folder, then you must copy the DiskBase.lic file from the previous version to the folder with the new version. DiskBase check existence of this file at its startup.