SafeDel    Module to retain deleted files

by Kostas Proitsakis


Almost every one of us has deleted useful software by mistake at some time. SafeDel is designed to get around that by keeping a copy of any file or directory that you delete (or as an option, any file that you overwrite). It works as well in command line mode as on the Desktop with RISC OS 2 and 3. To run it double-click on the !SafeDel icon in the directory display or click on the icon above and the icon will appear on the icon bar.

After running SafeDel, whenever you delete files from your hard disc, a new directory will appear in $ named with the square-root symbol which includes all deleted files. After several deletions, if there is no more room for files in the square-root directory a new square-root directory will be created inside the first for the next deleted files. This can go deeper to a level set at 3 by default (3 square-root directories one inside another). The nesting will also occur if an object is deleted which has the same name as a previously deleted object.

Clicking Menu on the icon bar icon opens a menu containing the following items:

Info
Opens an 'About this program' window.

Double
If this is ticked SafeDel will preserve overwritten files as well.

Level
This sets the depth that square-root directories can be nested in the root directory.

Pause
If this is ticked files will be deleted normally; SafeDel will not make copies of the files.

Quit
Removes the icon from icon bar, SafeDel will still be active.

Quit => All
Kills the module, and deactivates SafeDel.


SafeDel will automatically create a new square-root directory level when you delete a file and:

    There is no square-root directory existing
    The last square-root directory is full.
    A file with the same name already exists
     in the current square-root directory.

SafeDel will be temporarily paused and files will not be preserved when you delete files:

    If the file is in a square-root directory.
    If the files are in the RAMFS or MEMFS.
    While holding down the Shift or Alt keys.
    When all levels of the square-root directory are full.

A file will not be deleted when SafeDel needs a new square-root directory and can't create one. This may be because:

    There is no free space at all on the media.
    A disc error prevents SafeDel from working.
    The last square-root directory is full.

Notes
SafeDel always creates two square-root directories one into the other to avoid the last eventuality.

If you try to delete the square-root directory in $, SafeDel will ask you if you are sure you want to do that.

If you set the SafeDel directory level to a high value and you have a slow hard disc things may go a little bit slow when all square-root directories are full and you delete files.

Author
SafeDel was written by Kostas Proitsakis, if you want to contact him write to:

Kostas Proitsakis
Eleftherias 37
553 37 Thessaloniki
GREECE

or call:
Tel: +30 31,931.201

Suggestions are always welcome.


 Copyright RISC User 1994
