This is the first release of the TestFileGenerator. Developed in conjunction with File Cleaner as a test file generation tool, it is freeware, and is for use in verification and debugging of files that would operate on temporary internet files. Primarily developed for the Windows XP platform, TestFileGenerator simulates dat, cookie, gif, and html files in the Microsoft® Internet Explorer (IE) temporary internet file areas. TestFileGenerator is also capable of generating random character files in a user-designated folder. You may use it concurrently with IE, as it does not modify any files being used by IE (please see the Known Bugs and Other Section for further information).
This author found the need, while developing File Cleaner,
for a Windows application that generated test files without having to be
on-line, browsing through numerous pages to get a sample test file set.
Browsing was inefficient, and unnecessarily consumed connection bandwidth, and
sometimes the need for test files in a known folder arose. The intent of
TestFileGenerator is to address those needs, doing so with a user-friendly
interface.
TestFileGenerator was developed using the Dev-Cpp C++ IDE (Integrated Development Environment) Dev-C++ 4.9.9.0, and the FLTK (Fast Light Tool Kit) utility. TestFileGenerator is a standalone program designed for the Windows XP operating system.
TestFileGenerator, with Find Temporary Internet Folders selected, recursively searches for the folders "Temporary Internet Files", "History", "Cookies", "Content.IE5", and "History.IE5", starting from the folder "C:\Documents and Settings". TestFileGenerator insures that no folder names are duplicated in the search, as in example, "Content.IE5" is a subfolder of "Temporary Internet Files". TestFileGenerator also allows the user to select a designated folder and to select the number of files to be generated, their average size, their size spread around the average value, and depending on which mode is in use, the extension type of the files.
There are two modes of operating to TestFileGenerator:
The user interface is straightforward. Figure 1 shows the user interface as it appears on startup, user-designated folder mode, with the default entries in their respective input boxes. Figure 2 shows the user interface after completion of a 100 file write to the folder "d:\test", with the average file size set for 10000 ±5000 bytes. This resulted in 100 random character files being generated in the folder, with the smallest being 5060 bytes and the largest being 14980 bytes. The average size (computed in Excel) was 10295 bytes and the population standard deviation was 2624 bytes.
Figure 3 shows the same entries in the input boxes and Figure 2, however we now have the Find Temporary Internet Folders radio button enabled. Please observe that some of the inputs are now disabled. This is because they are not pertinent in temporary internet folders mode. The only pertinent box is the count of files to generate. Figure 4 appears the same, however, observe the command buttons. Cancel and OK are disabled and ABORT is enabled. In Figure 4, we are waiting for the user to press the Enter key or depress the OK button in Figure 5, which is an information window that pops to indicate to the user the general areas where the files where created and the counts in each area. The plethora of files in the folder "Content.IE5" is due to there being 4 sub-folders to "Content.IE5" not including itself. TestFileGenerator attempts to spread the files evenly among temporary internet folders, however it is not possible, in advance to know exactly the count that will occur in a given folder. Also, as TestFileGenerator is actually writing two files for every htm file generated, the htm file itself and a gif file that corresponds to it, the spread of files will be skewed towards the sub-folders.
The user interface detailed description is as follows (all user inputs have tips associated with them):
button. Use either to terminate the application.,
and Window Iconize,
,
buttons are still active.Please be cautious with the use of TestFileGenerator . Though this is a benign application, you may accidentally fill a folder with test files. This will not hurt your computer or it's operation, but can be a mild nuisance to correct. Hence the limitations on file counts, average file size, and file size spread. Also be aware TestFileGenerator may fill a hard disk or removable media such as a flash drive with test files, and will easily fill a floppy disk with test files. Assuming that you set the file count to 1000, the average size to 1000000 bytes, and the size spread to 250000 bytes, this will result in a total character count ranging from 750,000,000 (750MB) to 1,250,000,000 (1.25GB) bytes. While checking for available space does occur, that won't prevent that available space from being filled up if there is enough to process the configuration you entered in the numeric input boxes.
This author doesn't recommend that you use TestFileGenerator on CD-R, CD-RW, or DVD drives as they have not been tested. Pass-thru operation may not work, or many not work as advertised on optical media drives that allow pass-thru, as TestFileGenerator uses low level forced flushing to the media which may not be compatible with a pass-thru optical drive. Further, this author is not and will not be responsible for careless, negligent, and/or malignant use by any individual who uses TestFileGenerator. Please see the GNU General Public License for more details.
Also, please be aware that TestFileGenerator does not operate on read-only or
locked files. Please be aware that TestFileGenerator, while in
create files in temporary internet folders mode, only operates
on
folders used by Microsoft® Internet Explorer (IE), and does not operate on
folders used by other Internet browsers, such as Mozilla, Opera, etc., unless
they use the same folders as IE. Finally, with the above two paragraphs in mind, please
be sure that you actually want to do what
you configured TestFileGenerator to do before you press that OK button!
With the cautions section in mind, certain files and folders where prohibited from being used, as follows:
This application may be installed in any folder. To install, extract TestFileGenerator.exe from TestFileGenerator_1.0.1.1-20041204.zip to the folder of your choice. "C:\Windows" is the recommended location for Windows applications. You can then create a shortcut to it by right clicking on the Desktop and selecting New -> Short Cut to create a desktop shortcut to TestFileGenerator.
A good way to test the operation of this software on your system is to create 100 files in a nonexistent user-designated folder, with an extension of txt, rtf, or doc. Insure that 100 files where created and that the size spread matches what you entered. If you're exhibiting a need for TestFileGenerator then you already know how to code and are familiar with advanced user concepts, so I won't get into the use of grep, od, wc, and other useful Linux/Unix commands that have ported over to the Windows operating system.
Rebuilding TestFileGenerator requires a C++ compiler such as Dev-C++ (freeware), Microsoft® Visual C++ ($109USD from MSDN) or any other compatible C++ compiler. The only caveat is that it must accept FLTK include files and libraries. All necessary TestFileGenerator source and header files are included in TestFileGenerator_1.0.1.1-20041204.zip. The author recommends that if you are using Dev-C++ that you extract the TestFileGenerator source files to a folder in the same location as devcpp.exe. Regardless, I also recommend that you extract the all the source files to their own project folder for ease of use and visibility.
If you are using Dev-C++, you will need to reconfigure the Project Options -> Parameters -> Linker to point to the correct locations of the required library files. If you followed the recommendation on where to place the files in the preceding paragraph, then it's a simple matter to change the text "../Dev-Cpp" to "../" which points the compiler to the correct required library location. One would think that the compiler could figure this out, but Dev-C++ doesn't, for whatever reason. The required library files are listed at the top of the header file TestFileGenerator.h, with the required header files following thereafter. This author did not use Visual C++, and therefore cannot comment on whether it will compile correctly on it. TestFileGenerator has been designed using standard C++ header files and run time libraries, so it should be straightforward to rebuild TestFileGenerator using Visual C++. However, the author of TestFileGenerator can't guarantee that!
This author would recommend that Linux/Unix users not attempt to use TestFileGenerator, as it's designed with Windows XP in mind. However, with some work, it you should be able to implement TestFileGenerator in any operating system.
TestFileGenerator has been verified on the following operating systems and machines:
As of the time this release TestFileGenerator has no bugs known to the author.
Please contact the author
if you find a bug. Also, if you wish to see this application updated for
previous versions of Microsoft® Windows, or any
other browser for that matter, please
contact me with the pathnames of the proper temporary Internet file folders,
and I'll modify the software to suit that operating system or browser version.
Requires WinZip 8.0® or a compatible un-zipper such as 7Zip.
Download TestFileGenerator_1.0.1.1-20041204.zip now (212KB). Winzip 8.0 CRC for TestFileGenerator.exe is 5AC4A8ED.
TestFileGenerator has 1251 lines of code and took approximately 60 hours to develop. Hopefully, you found or will find TestFileGenerator useful. If you did, then a small voluntary donation would be appreciated to defray the costs of hosting a website at Yahoo! Geocities and for the hours expended developing TestFileGenerator.
Figure 5