Remember last accessed paths - QuickFolders and EditHistory

[fitwell]

An old time favourite is QuickFolders, recommended to me by SOS, iirc.
Found here (lol, Alan's webpage looks different every single time I go
there!):

"Quick Folders Quick Folders keeps track of folders recently accessed
through common open/save dialogs. Most of Win9x/NT applications use
standard system dialogs when there's a need to get name for a file
being opened or saved. Quick Folders adds a small button to a common
file dialog, which gives you access to the list of locations (folders)
of recently opened (or saved) files."
http://www.sover.net/~wysiwygx/Desktop3.html

Unfortunately, QuickFolders stopped working a couple of installations
back (went the way of Multinet). I don't know what it is with these 2
apps, but they both no longer work properly even on fresh installs,
and honestly don't know what the problem is (various posts throughout
the last couple of years yielded no solution). QF needs to be
constantly re-installed so I gave up on it a few months back.

I finally, finally stumbled upon another very, very good which has
helped be a partial replacement to Quick Folders. It's called
EditHistory and it's neat:

"EditHistory is a program that converts regular edit fields into
combo boxes and adds a list of your most recently used folders or
accessed documents to your Open/Save boxes, so you don't have to
search all over the place for them. You can easily pick up a file
you've been using a week or month ago!"
http://mapage.noos.fr/caspionet/
Unfortunately, it doesn't cover the main box for me like Quick Folders
does, the SAVE IN field in any SAVE AS dialogue box.

So, trying again to see if anyone has seen anything like Quick Folders
that will do the job.

TIA.

 

[Mike]

So, trying again to see if anyone has seen anything like Quick Folders
that will do the job.

I find Dialogue Box Assistant very good:

"Dialog Box Assistant is a small program that helps you to deal with the
standard Open and Save As dialog boxes. Dialog Box Assistant places 2
buttons in the upper-right corner of the dialog box. When you press the
left button you see a drop-down list that contains most recently used
files. Right button is for the recent folders. Dialog Box Assistant maintains
a list of recently used folders and files for each application you work with.

Supported platforms: Dialog Box Assistant is designed to run on Windows®
platform. It supports Windows 95, 98, Me, NT4, Windows 2000 and Windows
XP."

It's only 372KB from http://www.dualitysoft.com/download/dboxa101.zip

Mike

 

[Terry Russell]

Qfolders doesn't like logoff/logon, you have to reboot for it to work again.

It is #4,673 on my todo list

hmmm, feel like gamma testing ? ;-)

I find Dialogue Box Assistant very good:

"Dialog Box Assistant is a small program that helps you to deal with the
standard Open and Save As dialog boxes. Dialog Box Assistant places 2
buttons in the upper-right corner of the dialog box. When you press the
left button you see a drop-down list that contains most recently used
files. Right button is for the recent folders. Dialog Box Assistant maintains
a list of recently used folders and files for each application you work with.

Supported platforms: Dialog Box Assistant is designed to run on Windows®
platform. It supports Windows 95, 98, Me, NT4, Windows 2000 and Windows
XP."

It's only 372KB from http://www.dualitysoft.com/download/dboxa101.zip

that version says

PURCHASING
------------------------------------------------------------------------
----

You may use this software for evaluation purposes without any charge.
The evaluation version has a nag screen and a trial period of 15 days.
After you have evaluated the software, you are expected to either
register
this software to obtain a non-limited version, or remove it from your
computer.

the other version is

676 k
Dialog Box Assistant $19.95 $17.95 $15.95 $12.95 $9.95

Most our products are offered under a 30-day evaluation license (except
Dialog Box Assistant with 15-day evaluation). In evaluation mode, all
software functionality is available. The software should not be used beyond
the expiration of the evaluation license.

 

[omega]

Qfolders doesn't like logoff/logon, you have to reboot for it to work again.

It is #4,673 on my todo list

hmmm, feel like gamma testing ? ;-)

Yeah, 'bout the way I felt about it. It's also just weird. Nothing but a
..cpl file. While I suppose it's a PE file, still weird. And I could never
was able to quite adjust seeing rundll32 as a constant in my process list,
like a TSR, when Qfolders was enabled.

that version says

PURCHASING

You may use this software for evaluation purposes without any charge.

I have no guess what file from what download you are reading. While not
true for current versions -- Version 101 of Dialog Box Asst is definitely
a freeware.

____________________________________________________________
"Dialog Box Assistant v1.01

"Dialog Box Assistant is a small program that
helps you to deal with the standard Open and
Save As dialog boxes.
[...]
"Dialog Box Assistant is FREEWARE.
[...]
"Copyright (C) 2002 Duality Software. All Rights Reserved."
____________________________________________________________

 

[omega]

that version says

PURCHASING

I clicked the URL above right now, and see that it redirects to dba20.zip,
the company's later, payware version. The last freeware version of Dialog
Box Assistant, 1.01, it's out there, on the web, somewhere.

 

[fitwell]

I find Dialogue Box Assistant very good:

"Dialog Box Assistant is a small program that helps you to deal with the
standard Open and Save As dialog boxes. Dialog Box Assistant places 2
buttons in the upper-right corner of the dialog box. When you press the
left button you see a drop-down list that contains most recently used
files. Right button is for the recent folders. Dialog Box Assistant maintains
a list of recently used folders and files for each application you work with.

Supported platforms: Dialog Box Assistant is designed to run on Windows®
platform. It supports Windows 95, 98, Me, NT4, Windows 2000 and Windows
XP."

It's only 372KB from http://www.dualitysoft.com/download/dboxa101.zip

Mike

YES! That's it! Hopefully it works forever (unlike QuickFolders)!

Between EditHistory and Dialogue Box Asisstant, I'm covered in saving
and navigating. Thanks for this.

btw, the above link is incorrect. It led through 2 URLs changes to a
later version which seems to be shareware.

Fortunately, though a google search yieled only 3 results to
"dboxa101.zip", one was good. The page program found on is:
http://ftp.se.kde.org/pub/simtelnet/win95/fileutl/

direct dl link is:
http://ftp.se.kde.org/pub/simtelnet/win95/fileutl/dboxa101.zip

Thanks! I've done more in the last 7 weeks than in 7 months, it
seems. This one is great. D

 

[fitwell]

Qfolders doesn't like logoff/logon, you have to reboot for it to work again.

I never logoff/logon. I have Win98SE and this is a single user
installation so have never done that. I honestly don't know why it
stopped working. Only one other program has ever done that, an email
checker. And I mean that they don't work after a complete wipe and
reinstall of the OS. I would have thought this would be impossible,
but the evidence shows the contrary. It worked for over a year, and
now it doesn't <shrug>.

It's a great program, though a little less precise than I ever liked.
If there had been a way to keep those "last x number of folders
visited" but ADD a fixed permanent set of folders, that would have
been great.

It is #4,673 on my todo list

hmmm, feel like gamma testing ? ;-)

Sure. Even if it doens't work permanently, at least every time it
stops working, can re-install like I did for a while just for the
testing phase (I put the install file as a shortcut in my Quick Launch
bar. It got nasty because at one point, I installed it 3 times in one
day. But testing it for other things than that will work as I'm sure
it's highly likely it's just my system.

 

[fitwell]

I clicked the URL above right now, and see that it redirects to dba20.zip,
the company's later, payware version. The last freeware version of Dialog
Box Assistant, 1.01, it's out there, on the web, somewhere.

Yes. Just posted that previously. I found one working link here:
http://ftp.se.kde.org/pub/simtelnet/win95/fileutl/

direct dl link:
http://ftp.se.kde.org/pub/simtelnet/win95/fileutl/dboxa101.zip

Works fine!

 

[Terry Russell]

Yeah, 'bout the way I felt about it. It's also just weird. Nothing but a
.cpl file. While I suppose it's a PE file, still weird. And I could never
was able to quite adjust seeing rundll32 as a constant in my process list,
like a TSR, when Qfolders was enabled.

I quite like it and haven't had a problem, apart from losing it at logoff
requiring
reboot.

It works, for me , I don't have a need to fix it.
Meaning : If there was a crying need and someone was willing to test it
I could modify something similar. A dialog filenumber bumper.


Alternatives found, zero urgency.

 

[Mike]

YES! That's it! Hopefully it works forever (unlike QuickFolders)!

Glad to help!

 

[fitwell]

Glad to help!

Day later and happy to report that it's working perfectly. How did I
ever live without this? I had something on my 16bit box that was a
great device. With this extra app, I've not covered 2 of the 3 things
it did in that environment. In that sense, feels good to be coming up
to the same type of speed I had in that "lesser" system <vbg>. Very
happy about how easy it is to save things now.

D

 

[fitwell]

Day later and happy to report that it's working perfectly. How did I
ever live without this? I had something on my 16bit box that was a
great device. With this extra app, I've not covered 2 of the 3 things
it did in that environment. In that sense, feels good to be coming up
to the same type of speed I had in that "lesser" system <vbg>. Very
happy about how easy it is to save things now.

D

This app is too awesome for words for me. I save a lot from different
sources and it's always been a pain to travel around so many different
folders on the hdd (yet not filing into some sort of order creates a
worse problem).

Just wondering about one thing, any way to save the data as backup
somehow? I'm in the installation folder of Dialog Box Assistant but
don't see anything with today's date though I've just saved some
items. I'm guessing it's a file in a Windows folder somewhere?
Anyone know? I don't know how useful a backup might be but would like
to look at the file to see what it holds and to see that it allows for
manual editing.

Thanks! Great little app so far.

p.s., for every new program, it seems the folder is empty. I'm
guessing that each program builds its own relevant database? If
that's the case, even more cool as generally don't tend to save to
same places for each app.

 

[omega]

Just wondering about one thing, any way to save the data as backup
somehow? I'm in the installation folder of Dialog Box Assistant but
don't see anything with today's date though I've just saved some
items. I'm guessing it's a file in a Windows folder somewhere?

Registry. [HKCU\Software\Duality Software\OSDEx\Data]

Anyone know? I don't know how useful a backup might be but would like
to look at the file to see what it holds and to see that it allows for
manual editing.

To edit, your first step would be to get hold of a decent registry editor
(Registrar Lite or Regmagik). From there you can back up the key, and edit
it (edit either within the reg editor or edit an export with notepad).

Except. I'm imagining you once said (~2yrs ago) that you disliked
doing anything with the registry. Is that right, or was it some muddle
dream confusion or my part?

If for some remote chance it is the case about not wanting to work
with a reg editor, then you can still back up the key. For instance
Moon Software has a utility for that (I'm just on a short recess and
don't have time to look up prog name and URL, but can get back).

p.s., for every new program, it seems the folder is empty. I'm
guessing that each program builds its own relevant database?

Yes, not global. If you view the regkey above, you'll see separate
subkeys for each program DBA is tracking.

 

[fitwell]

Just wondering about one thing, any way to save the data as backup
somehow? I'm in the installation folder of Dialog Box Assistant but
don't see anything with today's date though I've just saved some
items. I'm guessing it's a file in a Windows folder somewhere?

Registry. [HKCU\Software\Duality Software\OSDEx\Data]

Anyone know? I don't know how useful a backup might be but would like
to look at the file to see what it holds and to see that it allows for
manual editing.

To edit, your first step would be to get hold of a decent registry editor
(Registrar Lite or Regmagik). From there you can back up the key, and edit
it (edit either within the reg editor or edit an export with notepad).
Check.

Except. I'm imagining you once said (~2yrs ago) that you disliked
doing anything with the registry. Is that right, or was it some muddle
dream confusion or my part?

Nah, you got it right. Things change, eh? Not only have I gone into
the registry since then some, but ever since I partitioned my hdd,
nothing that requires this degree of care in handling phases me as
much. If worse came to worst, I can just wipe/reinstall as everything
is "safe" on my D drive.

If for some remote chance it is the case about not wanting to work
with a reg editor, then you can still back up the key. For instance
Moon Software has a utility for that (I'm just on a short recess and
don't have time to look up prog name and URL, but can get back).

Sounds like a plan.

Yes, not global. If you view the regkey above, you'll see separate
subkeys for each program DBA is tracking.

Great, will look at that. I'm getting a little more comfortable
working in the registry, but I'm by no means to the point where I
recognize what it all is about <g>. That's one of the steps down the
road.

Actually, it makes the program much better. As I mentioned somewhere
else in this thread, one does different things with different programs
so the same sets of folders are not accessed for each app.

This feature definitely places it above Quick Folders. Don't get me
wrong, QF is a fantastic piece of software, no question, just found
that it was not precise enough for me. Much, much better than nothing
at all, of course, but DBA fits the bill more.

D

 

[Terry Russell]

Just wondering about one thing, any way to save the data as backup
somehow? I'm in the installation folder of Dialog Box Assistant but
don't see anything with today's date though I've just saved some
items. I'm guessing it's a file in a Windows folder somewhere?
Anyone know? I don't know how useful a backup might be but would like
to look at the file to see what it holds and to see that it allows for
manual editing.

as stated, registry

Thanks! Great little app so far.

p.s., for every new program, it seems the folder is empty. I'm
guessing that each program builds its own relevant database? If

each exe type

that's the case, even more cool as generally don't tend to save to
same places for each app.

Speak for yourself.

to add say to internet explorer files list
order will change and duplicates removed as soon as you add anything

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Duality Software\OSDEx\Data\IEXPLORE.EXE\Files]
"File_1"="E:\\blank"
"File_2"="C:\\Program Files\\OSDEx\\storedat2"
"File_3"="C:\\Program Files\\OSDEx\\storedat3"
etc
"File_10"="C:\\Program Files\\OSDEx\\storedat10"
etc
"File_30"="C:\\Program Files\\OSDEx\\storedat30"


autocopy from one to another simple enough

 

[fitwell]

[snip]

that's the case, even more cool as generally don't tend to save to
same places for each app.

Speak for yourself.

Hmmm, and who else did you think I was speaking for?

to add say to internet explorer files list
order will change and duplicates removed as soon as you add anything

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Duality Software\OSDEx\Data\IEXPLORE.EXE\Files]
"File_1"="E:\\blank"
"File_2"="C:\\Program Files\\OSDEx\\storedat2"
"File_3"="C:\\Program Files\\OSDEx\\storedat3"
etc
"File_10"="C:\\Program Files\\OSDEx\\storedat10"
etc
"File_30"="C:\\Program Files\\OSDEx\\storedat30"

Thanks.

 

[omega]

Re: Programs to Back up Registry Keys

Sounds like a plan.

(First, I've got to request: Please forgive my tardiness.)

The Moon utility you probably don't need, as it turns out you'll be going
ahead the "real way," accessing it with a registry editor. But in any
case...

Moon Software's "REGISTRY KEY BACKUP"

A main use is to set up a shortcut, automated, for a small group of
keys one might want specially backed up.

You can configure more than one group of keys. Each group of keys will be
backed up to its own combined .reg file.

<readme.txt>
| For example you may need to store your Outlook Express settings, then
| you need to go to the registry key SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Outlook Express
| with Windows Registry Editor and export this branch into a disk file
| (*.reg).
|
| Since settings are below both HKEY_CURRENT_USER and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
| keys, you need to scroll worth and back and this is not very funny to
| do every day.
|
| But with this program you can make a list of items that should be
| saved with a click of mouse. You can save multiple keys into one REG
| file if you wish - something useful you can't do that with the
| Registry Editor.
</readme.txt>

Well, here's the thing now. I found a mystery. The author looks to have
pulled Registry Key Backup down off his site. I don't know why.
<http://www.moonsoftware.com/freeware.asp>

He'd stated it was only for 9x/ME users. Perhaps he nevertheless got
complaints from a few 2000/XP users, about it not handling the format
of the keys they used it for ?

Google search shows, curiously, a recommendation for the program at a
support.microsoft.com URL.

Hmm. Q of any possible connection between the MSFT recommendation and the
author then removing his program?

This is new business to me, to see MSFT having started to recommend
third-party freeware. I spotted them recommending a couple of SysInternals
products recently as well. It's the kind of thing I'd never seen them do
in older times. In fact they used to fib, "X cannot be done," when the
translation was "X cannot be done without third-party tools."

In any case, Fitwell, I did not spot a download location for Moon's
Registry Key Backup. It might be somewhere out there. If not, I could
arrange to mail it to you. Just, I don't know if it turns out you've
any use for it?

While we're on the subject of backing up individual registry keys, in case
there is interest in that, I'll go ahead and mention another program...

Camtech's "CT REGKEY BACKUP"
http://camtech2000.net/Pages/RegKey_Backup.html

This is, like the other, in order to have a central access place for
regularly backing up a number of registry keys.

The interface is fairly nice. It lets you quick-jump to keys you want, by
setting "favorites"; it keeps a convenient view of what you've backed up;
and it gives a restore option for any of those keys from within the program.

CAMTECH's "CT Regkey Backup" v MOON's "Registry Key Backup"

The Camtech one is a tad more featured, fancier, than the Moon tool.
Strong point with Camtech's regkey backup tool is that you can restore
whichever keys you wish from its centralized location. Whereas the Moon
tool does not in itself offer a restore function; you have to track down
the backed .reg files on your drive and do that yourself.

A main advantage the Moon tool holds is that backing up of the set of
registry keys you've chosen can be automated. You configure a shortcut
with the parameter -automate, and put it in your startup group or similar.

Both of these I like.

I just haven't figured out a use for them, myself. I have my reg editor
open so frequently, it's more natural for me to export from there. Yet
I'm still trying to keep my thoughts open, for where there's a way that
I could use em (they're both cute after all).

I want to note one last tool (the one I personally depend on)...

REG.EXE

For automated operations, as in batch files and such, there is the
commandline tool, REG.EXE. Not only will it do the backup calls, but it
will do most anything with a reg key that I can imagine.

For a long time, I was merely left envious, thinking only the 2000+
folks got to have this one. Until one day discovering that w9x'ers have
it too. It's part of the of the w98 resource kit full version. MSFT has
the complete kit available online. (As a free gift to us. Such a strange
sensation.)

reg.exe, direct
ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/Services/TechNet/samples/PS/Win98/Reskit/REGISTRY/REG.EXE

full reskit
ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/Services/TechNet/samples/PS/Win98

The URL above can be pasted into Windows Explorer's address bar, and one can
then just drag the whole folder to a location on your drive. (MSIE's default
setting, "enable folder view for ftp sites" checked on)


--
Karen S.




________________
Footnote Dept.

PACKRATS BEWARE of the Camtech site!
http://camtech2000.net/Pages/Downloads.html

The author has put out over 150 (!) programs, 70% of those freeware.
So don't go near, unless you're sure you've got some spare hours ahead
of you for stocking up.

Another note. If you've downloaded his programs before, you'll discover
now a happy change: Direct download from his site. We're no longer forced
to wind through the nasty Simtel Scumpit.

 

[omega]

Re: Editing a program's registry key

fitwell <[email protected]>:

Registry. [HKCU\Software\Duality Software\OSDEx\Data]

Anyone know? I don't know how useful a backup might be but would like
to look at the file to see what it holds and to see that it allows for
manual editing.

To edit, your first step would be to get hold of a decent registry editor
(Registrar Lite or Regmagik). From there you can back up the key, and edit
it (edit either within the reg editor or edit an export with notepad).

Check.

Good you've got that covered. Using regedit that comes with Windows is
an exercise in masochism, with its lack of a toolbar (& no bookmarks),
making its victims carpaltunnel down through every key at depth n^4 in
the hierarchy.

Nah, you got it right. Things change, eh? Not only have I gone into
the registry since then some, but ever since I partitioned my hdd,
nothing that requires this degree of care in handling phases me as
much. If worse came to worst, I can just wipe/reinstall as everything
is "safe" on my D drive.

Great memory you have <g>! I've come a long way in last 2 years,
though.

I much appreciated your telling me I'd remembered right.

Really, my memory aren't so good. It habitually forgets to tell me stuff.
What I'd started to worry, after posting the above, was that maybe my mem
had gone further down the road to where it was not only forgetting to tell
me stuff, but maybe starting to make stuff up -- or at least reblend the
past in a messy way. With the next encroaching scene being when it starts
commanding me to Wander, or sit lost in public places.

Eh, so it's good news to hear that apparently that season is not yet
upon me.

If worse came to worst, I can just wipe/reinstall as everything
is "safe" on my D drive.

Regarding the safety of it, editing the registry, totally important point
you make. Truly, as long as you're backed up, doesn't matter what you do.
In w98, it's only two files affected. It's not like you can spread a virus
on your system by using a registry editor. If somehow you do something
really radical, such that re-merging .reg backups is not suitable, there's
always scanreg /restore.

Once I even did the most extreme you can, and deleted a whole hive. It
was back when I was using the buggy reg editor from Lavasoft, Reghance.
One day it'd displayed to me hkey_current_user in duplicate. Call it poor
impulse control or something, but I went ahead and hit delete on what I
thought might be the "ghost entry" of the two. Never seen Windows poof
out of existence faster than that! <g>

That was a case at the far end of extremes, where even scanreg /restore was
not the ticket. At DOS, I manually dug out a recent user.dat + system.dat
from an rb0*.cab, and copied them into the windir. So noprob. Less than 10
minutes after I'd sliced off Window's face with my reg editor -- it rose
back from the dead, not even a scar.

[...]

Great, will look at that. I'm getting a little more comfortable
working in the registry, but I'm by no means to the point where I
recognize what it all is about <g>. That's one of the steps down the
road.

I wanted to say something about that one area of the registry you'd
be editing. That it's a safe area.

<!--windows 98-->

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\CompanyX\ProgramX\...]

You can up and delete any of those [HKCU\Software\CompanyX] subkeys.

The tricky exception being at [HKCU\Software\Microsoft\...].

The only other exception is about 1% or less of the programs where the
programmer made an error. If his program depended on an entry along the
lines of eg installation path or language setting in the registry, then
he is _supposed_ to store that under HKLM\software. In that extremely
unusual occurrence where a prog complains about needing to be reinstalled
because of not finding its entry under HKCU\software, then that is
programmer error. An error, which again, runs some < l/100 cases.

Think about profiles enabled...

HKEY_USERS\.default\
HKEY_USERS\john\
HKEY_USERS\mary\

Remember that HKEY_CURRENT_USER is a virtual display, thus has the same
contents, of the HKEY_USERS\namexxx\ key of the currently logged-on user.

If one of those users has not yet used ProgramABC, and then does, that
software writes a subkey [HKEY_USERS\mary\software\companyABC\ProgramABC\].

While she's the logged in user, it will also display virtually as
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\companyABC\ProgramABC\]

It stores in that location her preferences and settings, like an ini.

(A few programs do also use this area to store user data, in cases where the
developer _failed_ to use an external data file for the purpose.)

You can see why it's expected for that key to be user specific. Individual
preferences and settings. Thus a key that doesn't need to exist, and would
be auto-created on program launch.

HKEY_USERS\john\Software\companyABC\ProgramABC\display\red
HKEY_USERS\mary\Software\companyABC\ProgramABC\display\blue

While Mary is the logged-in user:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\companyABC\ProgramABC\display\blue

Ok, enough. I was just going into lonnng way to try to make a point that
it's a safe section of the registry to edit.

Your risk is essentially only restricted to messing up your settings for
that particular program. (Or data related to the program, if the developer
has the unfortunate habit of storing user data in the registry.)

So, registry editor launched, and want to edit a key section like that?
Totally automatic habit should be, for most folks, to first export the key
they plan to edit. Then if it ever occurs that the program doesn't like
something you did, you delete that subkey, and import your .reg backup.

WHERE TO STORE .REG BACKUPS EXPORTED FROM THE REGISTRY EDITOR

The standing advice is to make sure that you store them all in one
centralized location, a folder specifically for them.

The important thing is not to dump them in the usual I'm-in-a-hurry
places, such as the "documents" or the "desktop" folders.

The one variation of this advice that I'd make is that it seems appropriate
to me that if you're editing the key for a specific program, to put the
..reg backup in that prog's installation folder. Since, if the program
isn't working right, the installation folder should be the natural starting
place to start digging around.

 

[omega]

Re: Editing Dialog Box Assistant's regkey

Registry. [HKCU\Software\Duality Software\OSDEx\Data] [...]
From there you can back up the key, and edit it (edit either within
the reg editor or edit an export with notepad).

[...]
Great, will look at that. I'm getting a little more comfortable
working in the registry, but I'm by no means to the point where I
recognize what it all is about <g>.

Sometimes it's easier to edit with a text editor, sometimes direct.
Looking over this particular key, my preference would be to edit this
one with the registry editor.

<!--The indentation attempt below to mimic the visual display from a reg
editor, it needs of course fixed pitch font display for readability-->

I'm thinking about clean up activity, primarily....

HKCU\...\OSDEx\Data\
\IEXPLORE.EXE\
\Files\ "File_1"="E:\HREFS\inbound\paths\bookmark.htm"
\Folders\ "Folder_1"="E:\HREFS\inbound\paths\"
"Folder_9"="D:\SYSUTILS\APPS\AV\fprot\zip\"

Fortunately, it appears, least under my quick look, that DBA automatically
cleans up all invalid folder and file references stored under its reg key.
Invalid references which would otherwise accumulate quickly as a result
of you moving and deleting stuff on your drives.

The one type of orphan category I am seeing, however, is ProgXabc.exe,
for those programs you no longer use. On my system, when I was actively
using DBA, those useless entries built up quickly. Big lots of em!

HKCU\...\OSDEx\Data\
\CODEDEMO.EXE\
\FORGOTTEN.EXE\
\PIECE-O-KRAP.EXE\

Under my passed-on or long-ago PROG.EXE subkeys here, there are just empty
\Files\ and \Folders\ subkeys. My own inclination would be to go through
this area occasionally, and do a lot of deleting.

All depends on how much you like registry housecleaning. In a case like
this, it's just dust under the refrigerator, doesn't exist until you
think about it.

Operationally, that DBA does on its own clean up its recent files and
folders lists that have been moved on the drive, that is the more
important thing.

Adding or copying entries?

I don't see where you would want to manually add recent folders under the
prog.exe subkeys. Well, maybe I could see that you could want to take a
recent folders list that's stored under one subkey, like ProgA.exe, and
copy them to ProgB.exe. For that, I'd use a registry editor that supports
Drag and Drop.

Just remember the principle. Export [HKCU\Software\Duality Software\OSDEx]
prior to editing, so that you can backtrack if you somehow do something that
makes DBA get upset.

One last item occurs to me to bring up. Concerns editing a software settings
key for a program, [HKCU\Software\CompanyX\ProgamX], while you have that
program loaded.

"The rule of thumb" would be to make sure a program is unloaded before
editing its keys. Whether you can get away with not following that rule,
I've found that it totally depends on the program.

1 Some of them will not mind, and accept your changes.
2 Some of them will ignore your modifications, because they write to the
registry on exit (and read on open).
3 Some of them will get pissed off at you, and curse you out with error
messages, until you close and restart them.

I tested with DBA, and it seemed to belong to group 1. I'd not tested a
great much, so you'd just have to keep a watch. Or play it conservative,
and unload it prior to editing its key.

 

[fitwell]

Re: Programs to Back up Registry Keys



(First, I've got to request: Please forgive my tardiness.)

No problem! Life gets in the way, always, it seems, eh? ...

The Moon utility you probably don't need, as it turns out you'll be going
ahead the "real way," accessing it with a registry editor. But in any
case...

Moon Software's "REGISTRY KEY BACKUP"

A main use is to set up a shortcut, automated, for a small group of
keys one might want specially backed up.

Ah, this sounds like something I've been wondering about. I now of
several other situations where this will be handy. After every
wipe/reinstall, I do in to delete all Word references to RTF and then
re-assign to WordPad. Sounds like this won't need to be manually down
each time once one has this utitlity! Kewl!

You can configure more than one group of keys. Each group of keys will be
backed up to its own combined .reg file.
Great.

<readme.txt>
| For example you may need to store your Outlook Express settings, then
| you need to go to the registry key SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Outlook Express
| with Windows Registry Editor and export this branch into a disk file
| (*.reg).
|
| Since settings are below both HKEY_CURRENT_USER and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
| keys, you need to scroll worth and back and this is not very funny to
| do every day.
Yes!

| But with this program you can make a list of items that should be
| saved with a click of mouse. You can save multiple keys into one REG
| file if you wish - something useful you can't do that with the
| Registry Editor.
</readme.txt>

Well, here's the thing now. I found a mystery. The author looks to have
pulled Registry Key Backup down off his site. I don't know why.
<http://www.moonsoftware.com/freeware.asp>
[snip]

In any case, Fitwell, I did not spot a download location for Moon's
Registry Key Backup. It might be somewhere out there. If not, I could
arrange to mail it to you. Just, I don't know if it turns out you've
any use for it?

Hmmm, yes, it does sounds extremely useful so will do a search for it.

While we're on the subject of backing up individual registry keys, in case
there is interest in that, I'll go ahead and mention another program...

Camtech's "CT REGKEY BACKUP"
http://camtech2000.net/Pages/RegKey_Backup.html

This is, like the other, in order to have a central access place for
regularly backing up a number of registry keys.

The interface is fairly nice. It lets you quick-jump to keys you want, by
setting "favorites"; it keeps a convenient view of what you've backed up;
and it gives a restore option for any of those keys from within the program.
[snip]

The Camtech one is a tad more featured, fancier, than the Moon tool.
Strong point with Camtech's regkey backup tool is that you can restore
whichever keys you wish from its centralized location. Whereas the Moon
tool does not in itself offer a restore function; you have to track down
the backed .reg files on your drive and do that yourself.

A main advantage the Moon tool holds is that backing up of the set of
registry keys you've chosen can be automated. You configure a shortcut
with the parameter -automate, and put it in your startup group or similar.

Both of these I like.

I just haven't figured out a use for them, myself. I have my reg editor
open so frequently, it's more natural for me to export from there. Yet
I'm still trying to keep my thoughts open, for where there's a way that
I could use em (they're both cute after all).

In my case, reg editing is still very rare so I'd be happier to figure
out what to do once and then make up a file that then takes care of it
for me until what a process it takes care of changes.

I want to note one last tool (the one I personally depend on)...

REG.EXE

For automated operations, as in batch files and such, there is the
commandline tool, REG.EXE. Not only will it do the backup calls, but it
will do most anything with a reg key that I can imagine.
[snip]

reg.exe, direct
ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/Services/TechNet/samples/PS/Win98/Reskit/REGISTRY/REG.EXE

full reskit
ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/Services/TechNet/samples/PS/Win98

[snip]

Great. Thanks very, very much for the info. I know that esp. as I
seem to be doing more and more complex tasks that this will come in
handy! D