Argentum
MyFiles is a multi-featured disk cataloging
utility that helps you keep your files organized. It can be
used as a disk cataloger,a file organizer, a music organizer, a
family photo-album, a picture catalog, a software library and
more. It keeps track of what you have on each CD, DVD, floppy,
local or network volume. The information is organized in an
easy to understand, tree outline form, where you can
keep detailed descriptions with any file or folder you may have
in your collection.
It will scan a new media and build an outline of media and
everything on it. Argentum MyFiles can also browse in the
content of compressed files like Zip, Cab, Rar, Exe etc.
MyFiles also supports audio and MP3 files so it can be used as
an organizer for your digital audio MP3 and WMA collection. You
can further improve your catalog with your own
descriptions.
After building catalogs with images of your media, you can
use a powerful search to locate items, create HTML, XML and CSV
reports, browse disk content without having that disk available
and access your files lightly with a breeze, directly from
within MyFiles.
Exploring
MyFiles interface is quite similar to the Windows Explorer
interface and is therefore easy to learn and navigate. The main
window, called explorer, is used to browse and alter
trees or catalogs. It is divided into three
resizable panes, with status bar at the bottom, and title bar
on the top.
Left tree pane shows you a tree structure. In the
left pane you can browse folders, archives and volumes. Items
can be expanded or collapsed.
Bottom list pane shows you a list of items from
currently selected item in the left pane. Bottom pane can be
presented in either of four ways: large icons, small icons,
icon list, and details.
Top property pane displays properties
(descriptions) attached to the item, currently selected in
the bottom pane.
Every item, either on the left or the bottom or the top pane
has its own pop-up menu. If you right-click it, a menu will
show up by it, displaying all the options available over the
selected item.
Disks
The cataloging is done by scanning images of
files, folders, and volumes (disks). MyFiles can keep
information on all of your CD's, DVD's, floppies, local and
network volumes, and any other media you may have in your
collection. MyFiles can also extract various information out of
your audio files and keep it in the catalog.
After building catalogs with images of your media, you can
browse media content without having that media available and
access your files directly from within MyFiles. That's a corner
stone of cataloging.
To add a new disk image to the catalog, use the Scan
command, then select one of the available paths. Program is
capable of browsing inside many compressed archive files and
stores them as virtual folders, showing their compressed
contents.
If the files or folders on the disk, which is listed in the
catalog, have been changed, you may wish to update this
information. Generally, you can update disk image in the
catalog the same way as you have added it. To update a disk
image in the catalog, use the Rescan command on any item of
that image.
Properties
The other important part about cataloging is improving your
content with your own descriptions. You can attach
properties (descriptions) to any item of your tree. Just
right-click in the top pane and choose one of the available
commands. You may add, remove, and edit properties.
The properties available for attaching are fully
customizable and may be replaced with yours, preferred ones.
You can construct your own properties using text, numbers,
dates and times.
You can build your own property layout to convert Argentum
MyFiles to a specific file organizer, a music
library, a family photo-album, a picture catalog, or
whatever you want. However a default set of properties should
be enough for everyone.
Searching
Searching for a particular item is very easy with
MyFiles. To make a query, you should specify a text fragment
you want to find. Wildcards can be used: ? - for any
single character, * - for any number of characters.
You are able to search for the text fragment in any
particular property of your choice. You can also limit your
search to only folders and volumes.
To start searching, click the Search! button. Items will be
displayed immediately as they found. The status bar will
display the total number of items found. By double-clicking on
any item you'll be switched to the explorer, and the current
selection will move to that item. This feature greatly
simplifies item locating.
Publishing
With the publishing feature of Argentum MyFiles you will be
able to prepare your catalog for public presentation, publish
it to the Internet, send it through e-mail, or print it out and
get a hard copy. With the publishing feature you will also be
able to publish your catalog in XML and CSV format.
Moreover, as many data processing applications support HTML,
XML and CSV importing nowadays, publishing can also help you if
you would ever want to import MyFiles' catalog into your
favorite database or spreadsheet application.
Simply click on the Publish, then choose your preferred
target folder, layout type and decoration style.
Wait for processing a bit, and you're done.
Final
note
Congratulations! You have completed the
tutorial. Now you should be aware of the five basic principles
of Argentum MyFiles. It is as simple as one, two, three, four,
five:
You scan and keep images of your media in a
portable tree-like catalog.
You improve your images with your own
descriptions.
You browse your media content and access
your files directly from within the catalog.
You search for a particular file or folder and
locate it instantly, with a single click.
You publish your catalog to share it with your
friends, colleagues, your web-site visitors, anyone who could
be interested in it.
That's all. This is how MyFiles can help you. Although you
may use a built-in Windows Explorer, working with files is
noticeably easier with MyFiles, as it is specifically designed
for cataloging and media organizing.
Opinions
Alan Collins
I am a home user, and, being self taught, I began to find
keeping control of my files difficult - your product seemed to
be what I was looking for. I tried the demo for a short period
and felt that it would do the job. It seemed to have the
necessary facilities, was user friendly and reasonably
priced.
David Robertson
I like to save the original installation files for my
favorite programs offline. The main thing I like about Argentum
MyFiles is its flexibility, especially in terms of how much and
what kind of information to display with each file. With
MyFiles, I can decide on a file-by-file basis what info, if
any, I wish to display, and where it comes from. This I really
like. From what little I have seen of your software so far, I
am really impressed, and will be happy to recommend it to my
friends.
Argentum
MyFiles is a multi-featured disk cataloging
utility that helps you keep your files organized. It can be
used as a disk cataloger,a file organizer, a music organizer, a
family photo-album, a picture catalog, a software library and
more. It keeps track of what you have on each CD, DVD, floppy,
local or network volume. The information is organized in an
easy to understand, tree outline form, where you can
keep detailed descriptions with any file or folder you may have
in your collection.
