Overview
Advanced CheckSum Verifier - the utility for
calculation and verification the MD5 and CRC32 checksums of files. It is
intended for check of the data integrity, and for revealing of the changed,
removed or damaged files. Uses a the MD5SUM utility format for MD5 checksum
files and SFV (Simple File Verification) format for CRC32 checksum files.
Advanced CheckSum Verifier will allow you to be sure that
files recorded to CD-R(W), or copied over a network are an exact copy of initial
files. Or simply to check up, what files have changed. It is especially
effective, when it is necessary to check up many files and/or the ramified
folders tree.
The program can work in two modes: creating or updating checksum files,
and verifying the checksum files for the specified folders tree.
During updating the checksums, the checksum of each file in the specified
folder will be calculated and saved in a special file. This file is called
"checksum file", and in dependence from the program options, this file may be
one for folders tree, one for each folder or one for each file.
During verification the checksums, values saved in this files compares with
the current checksum values of corresponding files and the warns, if they do
not match. Warnings are given also if files are absent, or on the contrary,
in the folder have appeared new files.
The program features:
- Recursive processing the subfolders;
- Setting a mask for selection of files for processing;
- Setting a mask for selection of checksum files;
- Five ways of creating the checksum files;
- The detailed protocol of processing;
- Supporting the MD5SUM (Message Digest number 5) file format;
- Supporting the SFV (Simple File Verification - CRC32) format;
- Remembers all settings and automatically restores them at the next launch;
- Very simple and convenient graphic interface;
- Very small and fast (written fully on WinAPI);
System requirements
- Windows 95/98/Me/NT4/2000/XP system
- A little space on hard disk.
Program interface
The program interface is very simple. All information necessary for work can
be entered by controls on the left side of main window. On the right side of
main window is placed the log of work (see Pic.1). Controls have the following
assignments:
The "Folder" field - a must contain the path to your files, in this
field is necessary to enter the uppermost folder for files to processing.
On the right side of this field there is a small button ("…"), by pressing
on which it is possible to choose this folder path from the dialog box.
The "Filter" field - a mask for selection of files for processing.
If you for any reasons want to process only files of the certain types,
in this field it is possible to specify a mask for such files. The program
will process only those files which match with this mask.
It is necessary to note, that during the verifying operation from this
field depends only detection of new files. I.e. the "new file" warning arise
only in the case when the new file matches with this mask. Regardless of this
mask, all files included in a checksum files will be checked.
By default this field contains a string "*.*", which match with all files.
The field "Checksum file" - determine the checksum files name. In
dependence of checksum files placement mode, this field must contain the full
name of a checksum file (for example, "C:\checksum.lst"), or only a name part
of a checksum files name (for example, "md5sum.lst"), or a mask indicating the
checksum files extension (for example, "*.md5").
More details in the description of checksum files placement mode selection
group.
NOTE: the usual status of this field is disabled to avoid casual
change. For editing this field it is necessary to press the button with dots
at the right side of a field ("…"). Such safety measures are accepted to
exclude casual damaging of user files since all files with such name will be
automatically rewritten at updating the checksums
Pic.1.Main program window.
Except input fields there are several checkboxes and buttons, which change
the program behavior:
"Include subfolders" - recursive processing the subfolders. If this
box is checked, the all subfolders of the specified folder will be processed.
Usually it is necessary (it's one of main goals of creation of this program),
therefore by default this box is checked.
"Overwrite existing checksum files" - if this box is checked, the
existing checksum files will be rewritten without any questions. If this box
is cleared, the existing checksum files will not be updated. If this box is
undetermined mode (has grayed) the program will ask user confirmation for
rewriting the existing checksum file.
"Create SFV files instead of MD5SUM" - if check this box, the
checksum files will be created in the SFV (Simple File Verification) format.
The SFV format means the use CRC32 algorithm - faster, but less reliable, than
MD5. If this box is cleared, the checksum files will be created in a MD5SUM
utility format and accordingly, the MD5 algorithm will be used.
This checkbox affect only the updating process. During the verification
process, the checksum files format and used algorithm will be determined
automatically.
And at last, group of buttons incorporated under the name "Create
checksum files…" set the checksum files placement mode:
"…one for entire folder tree in any place" - the checksums of
all files are kept in one file in any place specified by the user. In this
mode, pressing of the "Checksum file" button will cause appearing the dialog
box for choice of a file. "…one for entire folder tree in tree root" - the checksums of
all files also are kept in one file, but this file always will be placed in the
root of specified folders tree.
I.e. if we have the string "C:\MyFiles" in a "Folder"
field, and have the string "md5sum.lst" in a "Checksum
file" field, the checksums of all files in this folder (and also in
subfolders, if have checked a box "Include subfolders") will be kept
in a file "C:\MyFiles\md5sum.lst". "…one per folder with fixed name" - a separate file with the
fixed name in each folder. I.e. in each folder will be created the checksums
file with a name specified in a "Checksum files" field. This file will
contain the checksums of all files located directly in this folder. "…one per folder with folder name" - similarly to previous
mode, but the checksum files names will be formed from the folder name by
addition the extension specified in "Checksum files" field.
For example, for our previous case, if the "Checksum files" field
contains the string "*.md5", the checksums of files from the
"C:\MyFiles" folder will be kept in a file
"C:\MyFiles\MyFiles.md5", from the
"C:\MyFiles\Pictures" folder in a file
"C:\MyFiles\Pictures\Pictures.md5", etc. "…for each file" - for each file the separate checksum file
will be created. The name of a checksum file will be formed by addition to the
name of a file the extension specified in a "Checksum files" field.
For example, in the previous case, for the file
"C:\MyFiles\File1.ext" will be created the checksum file named
"C:\MyFiles\File1.ext.md5", for file
"C:\MyFiles\File2.ext" - "C:\MyFiles\File2.ext.md5",
etc.
Also, it is necessary to notice, what this buttons group affect only
updating process. During the verifying the basic criterion is presence the file
path in a "Checksum files" field.
If this field contain checksum file name with path (for example,
"C:\checksum.lst"), only this file will be processed as checksums
file. Otherwise, if this field contain only file name (for ex.,
"checksum.lst"), or mask (for ex., "*sum.lst" or
"*.sum") without path, all files with this name (or, with names
matched with mask) and being in folder, specified by "Folder" field,
will be processed as checksums files.
The "Update" and "Verify" buttons starts the corresponding
processes.
During processing, one of this buttons turns into "Abort!" button.
If to press it, processing will be stopped. All other controls during
processing will be disabled (see Pic.2).
Pic.2.Main program window during
processing.
As mentioned above, the right side of the main program window is occupied
by the log of work. During processing into log window will be output all error
messages, warnings and hints. If the detailed log mode is on, also each
processed file, used algorithm and checksum of this file will be output into
this window.
After processing into log window will be output the statistical information
- number of the processed files, their total size, spent time and average speed,
and also number of errors, warnings and hints.
Log window has the local popup menu, which can be invoked by pressing the
right mouse button. (see Pic.3)
Pic.3.Log window popup menu.
From the applications system menu (see. Pic.4) are accessible the
"Options" and "About" dialog boxes. Besides, the "About"
dialog box can be invoked by pressing the "i" button in the main window.
Pic.4.Applications system menu.
The "Options" dialog box (see Pic.5) allows to adjust seldom
changeable parameters of program. This parameters include: detailed log mode,
popup hints and checksum files headers.
The "Detailed log: show the calculated checksum values" checkbox sets
a level of details of the log of work. If this box is checked, the log will be
contain not only the errors, warnings, hints and statistics - but also the
information for each processed file: the full name of a file, the name of
algorithm and value of the file checksum.
The "Show tooltips with help" checkbox enable/disable the tooltips.
If this box is checked, it is possible to receive the additional information
about each control on window, if pause the mouse pointer over this control.
The "Checksum files headers" group of buttons affect to checksum
files headers. This headers contains short information about program, which
has been used for creating this checksum files.
- "No headers" - the checksum files will not contain any
headers.
- "Standard ACSV headers" - the first line of each checksum file
will be comment line with program name and home page URL.
- "Win-SFV compatible headers" - similarly to previous, but the
header will contain additional text for compatibility with Win-SFV utility.
The basic goals of headers in checksum files is granting the information on
how it is possible to check these checksums. Of course, if you create checksum
files as short-term means or only for yourself, to include headings there is no
necessity. However, if you use the checksums for check of integrity long-term
stored(kept) archives or want give access to them to other people, it is
desirable to include them.
Besides, for example, the Win-SFV utility at all does not recognize SFV
files without the appropriate headers.
Pic.5.Options dialog box.
The "About" dialog box (see Pic.6) contains the information on the
copyrights, the full and correct name of the program, the version number,
and also an authors e-mail address and the address of a home page of the
program.
To write the letter to the author or to have a look at a home page of the
program enough to bring the cursor of the mouse to the appropriate address
(thus the address will be highlighted and will be emphasized) and to click
the mouse button. After that the default e-mail client or web-browser will
be launched.
Pic.3.About box.
| 