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What is DirScout ?

DirScout was designed to be a folder switching tool

You can quickly open your favorite folders and directories in windowsexplorer or a shell ("DOS box")

DirScout is a folder launcher and is very useful if you have to work with many folders on your computer because with DirScout you don't have to know and memorize foldernames - you simply select it from a list and jump instantly to a folder in a single click.

DirScout minimizes itself to the system tray, from where you can quickly access your folders

There are many folder launchers - why should I use DirScout ?

Unlike other software DirScout is a tiny, easy to use application that consists only of the application itself and a .ini textfile.

Most other software resembles the cockpit of a jet plane, with a confusing collection of features that almost nobody needs.

Not DirScout !

DirScout is very easy to use and will allow you to access your favorite folders in a user-friendly-way :

No registry changes, no overwritten DLLs during installation
No overloaded "bloatware"
No useless "Featuritis"
No "jet plane cockpit"

DirScout will not automatically give you access to "recent" or "frequently used" folders... our goal was to offer a solution that will also cover not frequently used folders.

Using DirScout's .ini files you will yourself determine what folders you consider important.

GUI-View : Tray-View :

How does DirScout work?

The list of folders is controlled by .ini files. The default .ini filename is DirScout.ini and will be opened on program start automatically.

An ini-file contains a list of the folders that you want to appear in DirScout plus some optional parameters.

The DirScout.ini for the above screenshots looks like this :

;sample DirScout .ini File
;
;TrayAction = shell | explorer Default: Explorer - How the folder is opened when selected from the trayicon-menu
;LeftAction = shell | explorer | none - Default: none - How the folder is opened when selected using a LeftClick in the GUI
;EnterAction= shell | explorer | none - Default: Explorer - How the folder is opened when selected using ENTER key in the GUI
;MinimizeAfterOpen = false | true - Default: false - Send GUI to tray after a folder was opend
;
TrayAction = shell
LeftAction = explorer
EnterAction = shell
MinimizeAfterOpen = false
;
[workspace]
c:\,C-Root
%temp%,Temp-Directory
%ProgramFiles%
%Userprofile%
%SystemRoot%
%SystemDrive%
%Userprofile%\cookies
%windir%\system32
%windir%\*32

Here are some more examples:

Example 1:

The simplest DirScout.ini file would look like this:

c:\

Adding the special tag [workspace] will display an overview of all disks:

[workspace]

c:\

Example 2:

By default the foldername will be displayed in the DirScout - GUI. However, you can use "Aliases" that will be displayed instead of the folderpath:

Simply add the Alias separated by ,

c:\,root

Example 3:

You can use the windows environment variables in the DirScout.ini file. Environment variables are enclosed in %.

Enviroment variables can only be opened in a shell ("DOS-Box") but not in windowsexplorer

In the following example the variables are used with a descriptive Alias:

%temp%,Temp-Directory

%ProgramFiles%,Program Files
%Userprofile%, Current User Profile

Example 4:

You can use Wildcards ("*") in the DirScout.ini file.

Folders containing wildcards can only be opened in a shell ("DOS-Box") but not in windowsexplorer

In the following example the directory c:\windows\system32 is opened :

c:\windows\*32

Example 5:

You can use some optional switches in the .ini file.

TrayAction

this switch determines what will happen when you select a folder from the trayicon-menu (minimized mode)

options are : Explorer opens the folder in Windowsexplorer

Shell opens the folder in Shell (DOS-Box)

Default : Explorer

Example : TrayAction=shell

LeftAction

this switch determines what will happen when you left-click a folder in GUI mode

options are : Explorer opens the folder in Windowsexplorer

Shell opens the folder in Shell (DOS-Box)

None

Default : None

Example : LeftAction=Explorer

EnterAction

this switch determines what will happen when you press ENTER on folder in GUI mode

options are : Explorer opens the folder in Windowsexplorer

Shell opens the folder in Shell (DOS-Box)

None

Default : Explorer

Example : TrayAction=shell

MinimizeAfterOpen

this switch determines whether the GUI will be closed and send to the tray after a folder was opened

options are: true

false

Default : false

Example : MinimizeAfterOpen=true

In the following example some switches are used :

MinimizeAfterOpen=true

LeftAction=Shell

;

C:\

D:\data\mp3,My Music files

%Userprofile%, Current User Profile

Using multiple .ini files

the default .ini file that will be opened on programstart is "DirScout.ini" and it will be opened from the application's program directory:

In addition to DirScout.ini you can create other additional .ini files for example for different purposes of folders.

For example a MP3.ini could hold all directories that are related to your music collection :

;sample .ini for folders of a music collection
;
d:\data\myMP3
d:\data\myMP3\rock, Rockmusic
d:\data\myMP3\classic, classic music
d:\data\myMP3\children, children

Similar to a MP3.ini a video.ini file could point to all folders that are related to video files, for example :

;sample .ini for folders of a video collection
;
d:\data\videos, video root directory
d:\data\videos\children, children videos
d:\data\videos\sports, sport videos

Other .ini files may cover ebooks, images etc.

All .ini files must be in the same directory, the easiest way is to place all .ini files in the DirScout program-folder (eg c:\program files\DirScout)

("how to change" the ini-directory see here)

You can change the active ini-file on-the-fly from the DirScout - GUI - simply rightclick it an select another .ini-file:

Using start-parameters

the default .ini file that will be opened on programstart is "DirScout.ini" and it will be opened from the application's program directory:

Also all other .ini files that you may create must reside in the same directory - by default this is the application's program directory.

However, you can change the location of the .ini files with a startup-parameter :

Example:

If you have created your .ini files (DirScout.ini plus all additional ini-files) in a directory called "c:\MyINIfiles" then you can pass this directory to DirScout using a commandline parameter :

DirScout dir= c:\MyINIfiles

By default the .ini file named "DirScout.ini" will be opend - either in the application's program directory or in the directory that was defined by the "dir=" parameter

However, you can change the name of the default .ini file that will be opened on program start:

The following commandline will start DirScout and open mp3.ini from the default-directory (= application's program directory)

DirScout ini=mp3.ini

The following commandline will start DirScout and open mp3.ini from the c:\myINIfiles directory

DirScout dir= c:\MyINIfiles , ini=mp3.ini

Download:

The download contains a DirScout version that is limited in that way that you can only select the first 3 folders from the folderlist - but it will allow you to test all features

Download DirScout v 2.0

After the download has finished unzip the archiv

Now you can start DirScout.exe

The download includes "DirScout.ini" which should give you access to some systemfolders on your PC. (using common environment variables) and 2 other sample .ini files (MP3.ini and video.ini) which you can edit according to your requirements.

Compatibility:

DirScout will run under Windows only and has been tested under Windows 2000\XP\Vista\Windows7 and Windows 2003\2008 Server

DirScout is a standalone application and is non-dependent on any other windows-components like .NET etc.

License:

With a Standard License, you are allowed to use DirScout on 1 PC for non-commercial purposes in non-business, non commercial environment. The Standard Licence does not support folders on mapped network drives and UNC-paths.

Only with an Advanced License you are allowed to use DirScout on 1 PC in a corporate, government or business\commercial environment.
The Advanced License does support mapped network drives and UNC-paths for folders and is valid only for the installation on 1 PC\Server .

Volume Licences are available upon request - please contact info@Scout-Soft.com

Please note that only registered uses are entitled to priority email-support

Buy:

We use to process your order

DirScout Standard Edition : 19 Euro BUY

DirScout Advanced Edition : 49 Euro BUY

All prices are plus local TAX / VAT

After we have received your order we will send you an email with your licence key that will unlock DirScout

Please allow 1 business day for delivery.

contact: info@Scout-Soft.com