Introduction

What is SoftCabinets?

Welcome to SoftCabinets 1.0, a utility software that acts as a central library of all your important data stored in your PC. With SoftCabinets you can open any one of hundreds of folders INSTANTLY. When you create a folder shortcut in SoftCabinets, it does not get mixed up with other folder shortcuts because every shortcut is stored in the built-in sections called Cabinets and Shelves. One of the biggest advantages of using SoftCabinets, is its structure which is quite similar to a real world document cabinet.

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In the image above, the name of the currently selected Cabinet is PERSONAL, under this Cabinet, the currently selected Shelf is MY FAVORITE MUSIC, which contains two folder-shortcuts titled OLD MUSIC COLLECTION and NEW DOWNLOADS. The rectangles where these folder-shortcuts appear, are called Folder-Locations.

Advantages of Using SoftCabinets

ACCESS TO HUNDREDS OF FOLDERS... INSTANTLY

When you select a Cabinet, all the 16 Shelves of that Cabinet become visible. When you click on one of these Shelves, all the 16 Folder Shortcuts (called Folder-Locations) become visible. To open any of these folder shortcuts, double-click the box showing your desired folder title. This structure of Cabinets, Shelves and Folder-Locations makes it extremely easy to access your favorite data instantly.

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Large Storage Capacity

SoftCabinets can store up to 768 folder shortcuts in it.

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User-friendly interface

The presentation of information in SoftCabinets is very user-friendly. To minimize the search steps, all the storage sections are displayed together in one central window of SoftCabinets.

Apart from this, most of the commands, which you will usually execute by clicking the buttons, are also present in the menus. For example:

-- to rename the currently active Shelf, you may either right-click the Shelf and choose Rename... or choose Rename... command from the Shelf menu.

-- To access the settings, you may either click the Settings... button, or the Settings menu.

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Installation guidelines

Running the Setup program

Before launching the Setup program, please make sure that you are fully authorized to install a new software, and also that any memory- or processor-critical application is not already running. It is strongly recommended that you install it when no other applications are running.

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File Replacement Request by the Setup program

If the setup program asks for any file replacement (this happens when the setup program finds certain setup files to be older or newer than their counterparts in your PC), please ask a computer administrator to assist you if you are not sure what to do in the above situation.

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Registering the Access-Code

After successfully completing the installation, when you launch SoftCabinets for the first time, the Access-Code registration dialog box appears. Register this Access-Code and treat it as your personal password to open SoftCabinets.

The purpose of this Access-Code is just to ensure that certain major actions are not performed by mistake. This Access-Code does not offer any strong access security because SoftCabinets is just a library of your favorite folder-shortcuts and not a data security or encryption software.

New Access-Code (is asked when you install / reinstall / reset SoftCabinets)

When you launch SoftCabinets for the first time after installing it, or after resetting it, the Access-Code dialog asks to reconfirm the Access-Code. The reconfirmation request of the Access-Code indicates that SoftCabinets did not find any existing data.

Verification Access-Code (is asked on a regular basis)

Whenever you launch SoftCabinets, you are asked to enter the Access-Code only in one password entry-cell.

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Setting up Preferences

The Settings window

The Settings window contains some administrative commands and preferences. You can make this window visible by clicking the Settings command button.

General Settings

Change Access Code

Click on this button if you wish to change your existing Access-Code. You will be prompted to enter the existing Access-Code before you can register a new one. SoftCabinets will delete the existing Access-Code and will automatically quit. The next time you launch it, you will be prompted to register a new Access-Code. Once you successfully register a new Access-Code, SoftCabinets will quit again. After this step, you can run SoftCabinets again and start using it.

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Delete All Information

WARNING: EXECUTE THIS COMMAND WITH EXTREME CARE. IT WILL DELETE THE ENTIRE DATABASE OF SOFTCABINETS (INCLUDING ALL THE FOLDER-SHORTCUTS AND YOUR ACCESS-CODE)

To delete all the information currently stored in SoftCabinets, choose File > Delete All Information...

You will be warned and asked to reconfirm this deletion.

NOTE: Executing this command is most useful when you wish to uninstall SoftCabinets (that is, when you wish to completely remove it from your computer). Uninstalling SoftCabinets may not remove its information stored in Windows Registry. You might also need to execute this command if (for example) your present folder-shortcuts are of no use any more. Even in this case you can always preserve your folder-shortcuts, settings, Access-Code, etc., by instructing SoftCabinets to save a backup of its database. (see Manually creating a backup)

Save application window position on exit

By keeping this check-box ticked (or selected), you instruct SoftCabinets to remember its window position on your screen, when it quits. The next time you launch it, it will appear exactly where it was when you quit it.

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Backup Settings

This section deals with the data backup settings provided in SoftCabinets. It is important to save and maintain a current or desired version of all your settings, the Access-Code, and most importantly, your favorite folder-shortcuts.

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Understanding SoftCabinets backup

SoftCabinets provides a built-in data backup facility. To ensure that all your information is safe, you should always maintain a backup of SoftCabinets data. Please remember that SoftCabinets stores its settings in Windows Registry (a database maintained by Microsoft Windows operating system where computer programs store their reusable information).

This is your first step in configuring the built-in backup feature of SoftCabinets. By registering the backup folder, you instruct SoftCabinets where you wish to store the backup file. By default it is the same folder where SoftCabinets is installed. It is recommended that you select a folder which you consider safe and convenient to access. If you are not sure about this folder’s location, please ask a computer-administrator to assist you.

To configure the backup folder, perform the following steps:

1. Choose Settings > Set Backup Location...

The backup folder selection window appears, with the current backup folder selected.

2. Select the desired backup folder from this window and click Store as Default Backup Location button

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Manually creating a backup

Before you perform these steps, please make sure that you have already registered a backup folder location. NOTE: If you delete / rename / move the SoftCabinets Backup Folder, the system will generate an error message (similar to: "Cannot export . Error opening the file. There may be a disk or file system error). (see Register a backup folder)

To backup all the settings and Folder-Locations currently stored in SoftCabinets, perform the following:

1. Choose Settings > Backup Now...

A confirmation dialog appears asking:

Save your personal settings as SoftCabs1_0Bkp.reg?

(This will overwrite any existing backup file!)

2. Click the YES button to confirm, or NO button to cancel this action.

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Opening the backup folder from within SoftCabinets

To view the contents of the folder you designated for SoftCabinets backup, choose:

Settings > Open Backup Folder

Automating backup on exit

To ensure that you are prompted for a backup each time you quit SoftCabinets, keep the following option checked:

Settings > Confirm Backup on Exit

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Restoring Data from an existing backup

WARNING: RESTORING A BACKUP WILL DIRECTLY REPLACE ALL THE INFORMATION CURRENTLY STORED IN SOFTCABINETS WITH THE INFORMATION STORED IN THE BACKUP FILE (IRRESPECTIVE OF THE DATE AND SIZE OF THE BACKUP DATA)

To restore the backup manually, perform the following steps:

1. Open the folder where you stored the backup file

2. Double-click the file named SoftCabs1_0Bkp, and you will see a message - similar to this:

Are you sure you want to add the information in <backup filename> to the registry?

3. Click YES if you wish to restore the backup file contents, or click NO to cancel this action.

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TIP: The commands you get by clicking the Settings button, are also available in the File and Settings menus.


	SoftCabinets 1.0 Installation & Settings

	Introduction What is SoftCabinets? Welcome to SoftCabinets 1.0, a utility software that acts as a central library of all your important data stored in your PC. With SoftCabinets you can open any one of hundreds of folders INSTANTLY. When you create a folder shortcut in SoftCabinets, it does not get mixed up with other folder shortcuts because every shortcut is stored in the built-in sections called Cabinets and Shelves. One of the biggest advantages of using SoftCabinets, is its structure which is quite similar to a real world document cabinet. TOP CONTENTS In the image above, the name of the currently selected Cabinet is PERSONAL, under this Cabinet, the currently selected Shelf is MY FAVORITE MUSIC, which contains two folder-shortcuts titled OLD MUSIC COLLECTION and NEW DOWNLOADS. The rectangles where these folder-shortcuts appear, are called Folder-Locations. Advantages of Using SoftCabinets ACCESS TO HUNDREDS OF FOLDERS... INSTANTLY When you select a Cabinet, all the 16 Shelves of that Cabinet become visible. When you click on one of these Shelves, all the 16 Folder Shortcuts (called Folder-Locations) become visible. To open any of these folder shortcuts, double-click the box showing your desired folder title. This structure of Cabinets, Shelves and Folder-Locations makes it extremely easy to access your favorite data instantly. TOP CONTENTS Large Storage Capacity SoftCabinets can store up to 768 folder shortcuts in it. TOP CONTENTS User-friendly interface The presentation of information in SoftCabinets is very user-friendly. To minimize the search steps, all the storage sections are displayed together in one central window of SoftCabinets. Apart from this, most of the commands, which you will usually execute by clicking the buttons, are also present in the menus. For example: -- to rename the currently active Shelf, you may either right-click the Shelf and choose Rename... or choose Rename... command from the Shelf menu. -- To access the settings, you may either click the Settings... button, or the Settings menu. TOP CONTENTS Installation guidelines Running the Setup program Before launching the Setup program, please make sure that you are fully authorized to install a new software, and also that any memory- or processor-critical application is not already running. It is strongly recommended that you install it when no other applications are running. TOP CONTENTS File Replacement Request by the Setup program If the setup program asks for any file replacement (this happens when the setup program finds certain setup files to be older or newer than their counterparts in your PC), please ask a computer administrator to assist you if you are not sure what to do in the above situation. TOP CONTENTS Registering the Access-Code After successfully completing the installation, when you launch SoftCabinets for the first time, the Access-Code registration dialog box appears. Register this Access-Code and treat it as your personal password to open SoftCabinets. The purpose of this Access-Code is just to ensure that certain major actions are not performed by mistake. This Access-Code does not offer any strong access security because SoftCabinets is just a library of your favorite folder-shortcuts and not a data security or encryption software. New Access-Code (is asked when you install / reinstall / reset SoftCabinets) When you launch SoftCabinets for the first time after installing it, or after resetting it, the Access-Code dialog asks to reconfirm the Access-Code. The reconfirmation request of the Access-Code indicates that SoftCabinets did not find any existing data. Verification Access-Code (is asked on a regular basis) Whenever you launch SoftCabinets, you are asked to enter the Access-Code only in one password entry-cell. TOP CONTENTS Setting up Preferences The Settings window The Settings window contains some administrative commands and preferences. You can make this window visible by clicking the Settings command button. General Settings Change Access Code Click on this button if you wish to change your existing Access-Code. You will be prompted to enter the existing Access-Code before you can register a new one. SoftCabinets will delete the existing Access-Code and will automatically quit. The next time you launch it, you will be prompted to register a new Access-Code. Once you successfully register a new Access-Code, SoftCabinets will quit again. After this step, you can run SoftCabinets again and start using it. TOP CONTENTS Delete All Information WARNING: EXECUTE THIS COMMAND WITH EXTREME CARE. IT WILL DELETE THE ENTIRE DATABASE OF SOFTCABINETS (INCLUDING ALL THE FOLDER-SHORTCUTS AND YOUR ACCESS-CODE) To delete all the information currently stored in SoftCabinets, choose File > Delete All Information... You will be warned and asked to reconfirm this deletion. NOTE: Executing this command is most useful when you wish to uninstall SoftCabinets (that is, when you wish to completely remove it from your computer). Uninstalling SoftCabinets may not remove its information stored in Windows Registry. You might also need to execute this command if (for example) your present folder-shortcuts are of no use any more. Even in this case you can always preserve your folder-shortcuts, settings, Access-Code, etc., by instructing SoftCabinets to save a backup of its database. (see Manually creating a backup) Save application window position on exit By keeping this check-box ticked (or selected), you instruct SoftCabinets to remember its window position on your screen, when it quits. The next time you launch it, it will appear exactly where it was when you quit it. TOP CONTENTS Backup Settings This section deals with the data backup settings provided in SoftCabinets. It is important to save and maintain a current or desired version of all your settings, the Access-Code, and most importantly, your favorite folder-shortcuts. TOP CONTENTS Understanding SoftCabinets backup SoftCabinets provides a built-in data backup facility. To ensure that all your information is safe, you should always maintain a backup of SoftCabinets data. Please remember that SoftCabinets stores its settings in Windows Registry (a database maintained by Microsoft Windows operating system where computer programs store their reusable information). Register a backup folder This is your first step in configuring the built-in backup feature of SoftCabinets. By registering the backup folder, you instruct SoftCabinets where you wish to store the backup file. By default it is the same folder where SoftCabinets is installed. It is recommended that you select a folder which you consider safe and convenient to access. If you are not sure about this folder’s location, please ask a computer-administrator to assist you. To configure the backup folder, perform the following steps: 1. Choose Settings > Set Backup Location... The backup folder selection window appears, with the current backup folder selected. 2. Select the desired backup folder from this window and click Store as Default Backup Location button TOP CONTENTS Manually creating a backup Before you perform these steps, please make sure that you have already registered a backup folder location. NOTE: If you delete / rename / move the SoftCabinets Backup Folder, the system will generate an error message (similar to: "Cannot export . Error opening the file. There may be a disk or file system error). (see Register a backup folder) To backup all the settings and Folder-Locations currently stored in SoftCabinets, perform the following: 1. Choose Settings > Backup Now... A confirmation dialog appears asking: Save your personal settings as SoftCabs1_0Bkp.reg? (This will overwrite any existing backup file!) 2. Click the YES button to confirm, or NO button to cancel this action. TOP CONTENTS Opening the backup folder from within SoftCabinets To view the contents of the folder you designated for SoftCabinets backup, choose: Settings > Open Backup Folder Automating backup on exit To ensure that you are prompted for a backup each time you quit SoftCabinets, keep the following option checked: Settings > Confirm Backup on Exit TOP CONTENTS Restoring Data from an existing backup WARNING: RESTORING A BACKUP WILL DIRECTLY REPLACE ALL THE INFORMATION CURRENTLY STORED IN SOFTCABINETS WITH THE INFORMATION STORED IN THE BACKUP FILE (IRRESPECTIVE OF THE DATE AND SIZE OF THE BACKUP DATA) To restore the backup manually, perform the following steps: 1. Open the folder where you stored the backup file 2. Double-click the file named SoftCabs1_0Bkp, and you will see a message - similar to this: Are you sure you want to add the information in <backup filename> to the registry? 3. Click YES if you wish to restore the backup file contents, or click NO to cancel this action. TOP CONTENTS TIP: The commands you get by clicking the Settings button, are also available in the File and Settings menus.