Add Files Dialog

The Add Files dialog is designed to provide a powerful tool to use when creating and maintaining complex archives. Using the Add Files dialog you can:

 

• Add Files to an existing archive

• Add files based on their date of modification.

• Add files based on matches to a specified search string.

• Add files using wild card characters.

• Save a list of files to add for later use.

 

 

Adding Files and Folders.

 

The "General" tab of the Add Files dialog contains the "Files to Add" list, along with several buttons that offer different ways to select those files you wish to add.

 

Add Files: This button opens a file selection dialog that allows you to browse for, and then select, files to add to the archive.

 

Add Folders: This button opens a folder selection dialog that allows you to browse for, and then select, folders to add to the archive.

 

Add Filter: Rather than simply allowing you to add specific files and folders to an archive, the Add Filter feature allows you to add files based on whether or not they match a search criteria that you specify. Perhaps the best way to describe Add by Criteria is as a search engine that allows you to search your hard drive for files to add to an archive.

 

 

Files can be added to an archive based on their matching the following parameters:

 

• Name: Use the File Mask field to specify all or part of the name of a file you wish to add to the archive. You can use Wild Cards to further enhance the search.

• Folder: Enables you to limit the search to a particular location on your hard drive. The recurse subfolders check box enables you to specify that sub folders in the specified location also be included in the search.

• Date: Allows you to specify that only files modified after, before, or between certain dates be added.

• Archive Attribute: The Windows operating system maintains a file attribute called the "Archive bit". When a file is modified, the archive bit is set to indicate that the file should be backed up. Add all files from a particular folder based on whether the archive bit has been set is a great way to make sure that you grab all the files that have recently changed.

 

 

Fig: The add Filter dialog configured to add all files with a ".doc" extension located in the "Other Aladdin Products" folder, or any of its sub-folders.

 

When you exit the Add Filter dialog, a line item is added to the Files to Add list that describes the options you have set. When you exit the Add Files Dialog, StuffIt will search for files that match your criteria and add them to the currently open archive along with any other files and folders you may have selected. To preview the files that will be added as a result of a Add By Criteria task, you can double click its item in the Files to Add list. The StuffIt application will search your hard drive and display a list of all the files that match the criteria you specified.

 

When items have been added to the Files to Add list, there are several options available that allow you to manage this list:

 

Remove: Select an item in the list and click the "Remove" button to remove it from the list.

 

Save List: The save list button allows you to save the current list as a document. You can then use the Load List button to reload this list to perform the same archive task at a later date.

 

Tip: The ability to Load and Save the Files to Add dialog allows you to very easily maintain an archive that contains backup copies of all your recently used files. Click for a tutorial.

 

Next: Drag and Drop Windows

 

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