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Number   :  10789
Date     :  2005-03-15
Author   :  Garry Deane
Subject  :  Re: features for a new xxcopy frontend
Size(KB) :  2



--- In xxcopy@yahoogroups.com, "therearenoteams" 
 wrote:
> 
> 
> Hello all,
> 
> I'm currently enrolled in a prototyping course here at
> Carnegie Mellon University and have decided to prototype
> (in VB .NET) a new xxcopy frontend application. The prototype
> will encompass functionality of the existing XXCOPY-EZ GUI
> -frontend v.2.71.0 prototype. I'm hoping to add more
> functionality and common xxcopy tasks, which is why I'm
> requesting the help of the xxcopy community!
> 
> What are common xxcopy tasks that could be better accomplished
> with a frontend GUI? A majority of users no doubt rely on
> command line and/or batch scripts to get their work done, but
> I'm hoping to offer xxcopy functionality to a larger, less
> technically oriented population.
> 
> For example, the frontend might allow for easy directory 
> synchronization using a flash memory device, or keeping
> directories synchronized on different machines on a network.
> I'm hoping to hide the flag approach and underlying commands
> from most users, but allow for a 'power-user' mode of some
> sort.
> 
> The key concept is usability--the course is titled Programming
> Usable Interfaces--so keep that in mind. Any ideas are greatly
> appreciated.
> 
> thanks in advance,
> 
> Brett

Well I guess I'd fall into the power user category and almost
exclusively use xxcopy in batch files. Although not necessarily
suited to a GUI approach, the most common tasks I execute are:

1. Copy selected files to a file server based on
/bu/bn/ex:exclude.txt
2. Synchronise newer files from a file server back to the
local PC based on /bn/u/s/ff
3. Copy a sub-set of files based on age
/bu/da#%days_old%/ex:exclude.txt
4. Delete files based on age /rsy/s/h/r/db#%days_old%/pd0
5. Delete empty directories using /rsy/s/pd0/x*
6. Tag files using the archive bit usually based on /aa/bi/s/h
7. Create version numbered backups based on /a/sgn/dL1

A couple of things that I would consider would be necessary are:

1. Ability to preview which files will be selected i.e. a GUI
based /L command using say a 2 pane source and destination
directory listing with the files selected by the xxcopy
command being highlighted.

2. Ability to save/restore/modify previously created xxcopy
commands.

3. Ability to build multiple xxcopy commands. Many file management
tasks require several xxcopy commands. It would be necessary to
be able to chain these together just as with using a batch file.

Although not directly applicable to what you are trying to do,
I've recently become aware of a file renaming program called
LupasRename http://www.azheavymetal.com/~lupasrename/news.php

It has many features similar to what xxcopy includes and manages
to bring them together into a quite easy to use GUI interface.

Good luck,
Garry



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