What is JDiskCat?
Easy-to-use multi-platform cataloguing program supporting local or removable media-drives and folders. Uses XML files as a data storage. It was originally created in 2010 to catalogue software compilations (also called freeware/shareware compilations) and CD's distributed with computer magazines. It was later improved to support any kind of disks and folders recognized by the operating system. Today I mainly use this program with external hard drives. Network drives probably work but cataloguing them is slow. It can be used to catalogue fragile disks like CD's and floppies which are easy to damage. Cataloguing enables user to check what they contain without putting them physically into the drive and avoid the possibility of a mechanical damage.

Features
  • Drive folder and file structure recording for offline browsing
  • File searching without needed drive availability
  • Any type of drive or folder is supported
  • Volume information is stored using XML documents

System requirements
  • Version 1.6.0 (tested with version 1.6.0ga5)


JDiskCat on an eComStation machine with Open JDK


Installing JDiskCat
Download JDiskCat_1.3.4.zip. Make a directory/map with the name "jdiskcat" or something you like. Open de zip file, open the directory/map "JDiskCat 1.3.4" and copy the file "jdiskcat_1.3.4.jar" to the new created directory/map. The directory/map "source" is only needed if you want to build your own version. That's it!

The used cmd file
JDiskCat works with Open JDK in OS/2-eCS. I have a "jdc.cmd" file with the following contents; 
@echo off
SET BEGINLIBPATH=[drive: java]\JAVA160ga5\bin
SET path=[drive: java]\JAVA160ga5\bin
[drive: jdiskcat]
cd [drive: jdiskcat]\jdiskcat
java -Duser.home=[drive: jdiskcat]\jdiskcat -jar jdiskcat_1.3.4.jar 2>jdiskcat-bugs.txt
I use 2 separate folders (directories), one for Java and one for JDiskCat with the files created by this program. The references used in the cmd file;

  • [drive: java] = drive with Java
  • [drive: jdiskcat] = drive with JDiskCat

should be replaced with real drive letters. Save the file and name it "jdc.cmd" or use the file from the distribution. This file is copied to the "jdiskcat" directory/map. Furthermore, different paths?, adjust according to your needs.
Create a new program object. Specify the path and file name: "[drive: jdiskcat]\jdiskcat\jdc.cmd". In the tabpage Session check the boxes "OS/2 window", "Running as an icon" and "Close Window to end program". In the tabpage General you can enter the name "JDiskCat". I have added an OS/2 icon in the distribution.


JDiskCat together with BaseX on an eComStation machine with Open JDK


Parameters / options explained
  • The statement "-Duser.home=[drive: jdiskcat]\jdiskcat" will ensure that JDiskCat will save all necessary files in own directory instead of saving them in the home directory.
  • The addition "2>jdiskcat-bugs.txt" ensures that errors are saved in the file "jdiskcat-bugs.txt". The 2 in "2>" is not a typo! The file stays not empty if you try to use the links.

Download
In the file you can find the above command file (all drive letters are on set to C:) and an OS/2 JDiskCat icon: jdiskcat-os2.zip.

revision July 9, 2020