FILE  :  XCAT43

DATE  :  20 NOV 85

TOPIC :  HOW TO USE


     XCAT uses the CP/M catalog file called MAST.CAT.  It makes a new
cross-reference file which it can then immediately print in paginated
format, or can put the new file directly to disk.  It can handle files
of any length, even if longer than available memory.  MAST.CAT files
with thousands of programs can be properly handled by XCAT.

     It loads in as much of MAST.CAT as available memory permits, then
rearranges the file in a cross-reference manner so duplicate copies of
the same program show what disks they are on.  Here is a small sample
which is obtained with the USER equate set NO:


     CAT     .ASM  -  106
     CAT     .COM  -  033  034	092  093  106  123  147
     CAT     .DOC  -  033  034	106
     CAT2    .COM  -  033  034
     CATALOG .HLP  -  051
     CBAS2   .COM  -  031  032	040
     CCP     .ASM  -  059
     CCP     .DOC  -  059
     CHECKERS.BAS  -  082


An "USER" equate may be set, to display not only the disk but the user
area the program is on.  (The comparable USER equate in MCAT should be
set YES.)


     CAT     .ASM  -  106/05
     CAT     .COM  -  033/05  034/12  092/01  093/10  106/07  123/08
		      147/13
     CAT     .DOC  -  033/05  034/12  106/06
     CAT2    .COM  -  033/05  034/12
     CATALOG .HLP  -  051/00
     CBAS2   .COM  -  031/03  032/11  040/15
     CCP     .ASM  -  059/05
     CCP     .DOC  -  059/05
     CHECKERS.BAS  -  082/02

     Among other things, this allows you to quickly determine how many
copies of each file you have, and delete unneeded extra copies.  Up to
ten disk ID numbers are shown per line.  (Seven when also displaying the
user number.)  If more exist, a new line is started to continue the
numbering.

     XCAT uses only disk volume numbers and discards any disk volume
names that might be on the same line.  This can affect the sequence in
which the volume numbers are displayed.  There is a simple remedy for
this -- do not put volume names on the same line as the volume number.
Here is an alternate possibility:

     A>SAVE 0 B:-.023
     A>SAVE 0 B:-08AUG82
     A>SAVE 0 B:-EDITORS

     All three of these examples may be placed on the same disk to give
additional information.  They use no disk space at all, but do use disk
file names (slightly reducing the number of available remaining names.)

     XCAT paginates when printing to the list device.  It asks several
questions for the operator to answer:


     Do you want to include the '.FRE' space? (Y/N):	(1)
     Do you want hard copy instead of a file? (Y/N):	(2)
     Do you want tear tabs to use roll paper? (Y/N):	(3)
     Current date is:					(5)
     Start on page  :					(6)
     Stop  on page  :					(7)

     1) User option of including 'space remaining' lines added by MCAT
     2) Any key other than 'Y' makes a disk file instead of printing
     3) A 'Y' puts tear tabs for roll paper every 11 inches, any other
	      key defaults to fanfold paper with no tear tabs
     4) A RET leaves the date area blank
     5) A RET starts on page 1
     6) A RET prints all remaining pages


     Not all printers have adjustable left margins.  You can readily
insert up to 9 extra spaces, faking an adjustable left margin.

     Any number of file names may be handled by XCAT.  With a 64k com-
puter having a typical size BIOS, around 3200 names may be handled
each pass.  It can handle up to 999 pages on the pagination before it
starts over.  This should handle at least 50,000 file names.  It takes
about one minute to handle a file with 3000 names.

     XCAT also shows the total number of files handled as well as the
number of "unique file names", since a great many of the total number
are duplicates.  This information gives the true count of different
files in the catalog.

     You can abort XCAT with a Control-X at any time (unless it says:
"Now writing to disk").


				      Irvin M. Hoff
				      Los Altos Hills, CA  94022