CLOANTO DIRDIFF V. 5.1
DirDiff is a powerful tool to scan, compare, synchronize and replicate
files. It was originally designed for internal use at Cloanto for backup
management and to simplify the maintenance of software master disks. Over
the years, new features were implemented, the file comparison engine was
enhanced and a graphical interface was added.
DirDiff can be used to compare (and optionally update) two disks. Several
options can be set to finely tune this process.
DirDiff can be used to copy some files from hard disk to floppy, then use
the floppy on another computer (for example at home), and from time to
time automatically move the files which have changed to whichever medium
contains the older version.
DirDiff can be used to compare bootable disks against new versions of the
Amiga Workbench disks. It can selectively compare only the files used in
both disks, skipping icon files if desired. So only messages regarding
relevant files are generated. If desired, DirDiff can upgrade the system
files on work disks in the same process.
When copying tens, or hundreds of Mbytes from one device to another,
errors are more likely to occur and pass undetected than with normal,
interactive use. Using DirDiff, at Cloanto we discovered faulty I/O
configurations which caused only one or two bytes out of 100 million to be
corrupt. We now always use DirDiff after each step in the preparation of
master disks, both for floppy disks and for CD-ROMs, to make absolutely
sure that no errors have occurred. When it finds certain errors, DirDiff
does an additional check to make sure that the storage medium gives
consistent results. It even double-checks the RAM locations it uses.
DirDiff is an invaluable tool to back-up a hard disk to a slower device,
such as a magneto-optical disk, because it can copy only the files which
have changed. Results can be achieved faster and in a less
resource-consuming way. To make the process bullet-proof, the source
directory can be locked, and differing files can be force-copied from hard
disk to the optical disk even if they have an older date. Files from older
backups which become unused can be deleted in the process. The combined
use of these functions can deliver identical copies at a fraction of the
time a standard "Copy" procedure would normally require.
DirDiff can detect even subtle differences between two items, such as a
directory renamed from "WBstartup" to "Wbstartup". Before DirDiff reports
that two directories are identical, it checks not only the contents, but
also the attribute bits, file comments, dates and exact names of all
items.
DirDiff can scan a directory or disk and give an electronic signature (for
example "DD5-A89CE287"), derived from the contents of all files. This
short code can then be used to refer to a particular disk or product
release without detailing the entire contents. For example, two distant
offices which want to verify if they have the same version of a disk can
execute DirDiff separately, and then check the signature in a phone call
taking only a few seconds. Or the signature can be used as a reference in
a licensing agreement, as a confirmation of what is being licensed.
DirDiff includes additional checksum capabilities, and features such as
clearing of unused blocks on a device (useful when it is desirable that
others do not "undelete" data on a medium which was considered safe to
give away).
DISCLAIMER AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER
EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE. BY USING THE ARCHIVE AND ITS
CONTENTS, YOU ACCEPT THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO ITS QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE.
NEITHER CLOANTO NOR ANY OTHER PARTY INVOLVED IN THE CREATION, PRODUCTION
OR DELIVERY OF THE ARCHIVE AND ITS CONTENTS SHALL BE LIABLE FOR ANY
DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING
WITHOUT LIMITATION DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, LOSS OF USE OR LOSS OF
ANTICIPATED COSTS, EXPENSES OR DAMAGES, AND ANY DATA OR INFORMATION WHICH
MAY BE LOST OR RENDERED INACCURATE, EVEN IF CLOANTO IS ADVISED OF THE
POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
NOTES
Please support us by preferring original software. For additional
information, please visit our web site at <http://www.cloanto.com>.
DirDiff is a trademark, and Cloanto is a registered trademark of Cloanto
Italia srl. All files in this archive are Copyright © 1990-1998 Cloanto
Italia srl. Redistribution of this commercial software on a medium other
than Aminet requires a licensing contract with Cloanto Italia srl.
Cloanto reserves the right to change distribution channels for this
archive at any time.
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