Getting Started

FileStar/2 Version 3 Quick Start Guide

While the general appearance of the latest version of FileStar/2 looks much like its predecessor v2.10, in reality there is little common code between the two. However, in general, the basic features are much the same. This guide is intended to point out to both new users and those with v2.1 experience the features that are not at all apparent upon first use.

When first started with a new INI file, the bubble help option will be enabled. Please take the time to hover over all windows and controls in the FS/2 window for a brief window/control description, including hot keys for enabling/activating those windows or controls. Disable bubble help when you are familiar with the features. Help persistence time may be adjusted in the Toolbar->Change Style dialog window.

Left Mouse Button (LMB) Clicks in Drives and Directories

An optional feature is LMB single clicks of either drives and directories will refresh the data in the appropriate windows. New INI default is ON but users of an old INI file will need to enable this. The Files window (a specialized 'folder') retains the usual WPS logic - single click selects, double click activates - since it is a multiple object selection window.

When LMB single click refresh logic is enabled, you may use the RMB to single click select without causing a data refresh. Doing so also causes the context menu for that window to appear. You may also use Ctrl+LMB select to single select another drive or directory without activating the context menu, which at times may be desirable.

An Alt+LMB click on any drive, directory or file results in the WPS action for that object.

Titlebar Mouse Clicks

The following clicks may be used in any of the internal windows titlebars:

Mouse Chords

In addition to the use of mouse chords (MC) in the titlebars, you may also use mouse chords within the Drives, Directories and Files windows for enhanced directory navigation as follows:

Setting Target Directory for Operations

When using functions that require the user to set a target directory, the default target directory will alway be that of the non-active Files window. However, FS/2 is designed to allow simply clicking on a directory in the directory tree to update the target path in the function dialog window. If the desired target is on a different drive, change to that drive by clicking the drive, then select the target directory in that appropriate directory tree - or - alternatively use any of the normal navigation features such as Dirmarks, Last Used Directories, etc. to change both drive and directory to the desired target in one easy step.

You may also click in the source Files window to set that path as the target for a file 'cloning' operation if there is a single file selected. This sets both the path and current file name for cloning. Simply change the name and enter to clone the file to a different name.

Setup Quick Options

The main menu Setup item has several 'Quick Options', mainly items that may frequently be changed without the need of opening the setup notebook. Use Setup->Settings to set options in the Settings Notebook.


Menu Setup Options

Quick options are all on/off toggles:

File Associations

Use the Setup->File Associations submenu items to control the actions associated with double-clicking files as follows:

Importing an INI File

Use the Setup->Import INI Data to import an existing FILESTAR.INI file. The file does NOT need to be named as filestar.ini but does need to be such a file. This operation will 'clean' an existing INI file, deleting keys that are not defined in the current version structure and importing the keys data from those keys that have the same key size as currently defined.

NOTE: Importing an INI file does not import the toolbar configuration. If you wish to also import a toolbar configuration you must have a toolbar previously saved to a file using the Save Toolbar As option and then use the Load Toolbar option to load this toolbar.

To import an INI file, select the option and with the import window displayed, simply single click the file to import and press Enter or double click the file to auto enter. The FS window will blank for a couple of seconds while importing the data and then reappear as the imported INI data dictates.

To 'clean' an existing INI file, create a new default INI file and then import the older file. To create a new default INI file, the existing INI file must be hidden from FS/2 for the next start using the following procedure:

Context Menus

The primary FileStar/2 window has context menus available for the following windows/controls:

The following sections should be read to better comprehend the configurability and use of the program:

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