WhatChanged

Identifies file system changes over time.

WhatChanged is a set of scripts and a SQLite database which captures
the state of your system and compares that state to an earlier capture.
An example use is to determine what changed during the installation
of a new program.  You would capture the state of the system (say
LIBS:) prior to the installation and again after the installation.

WhatChanged includes scripts which will show which files were deleted,
which files were added, and which files were changed on the basis of
filenote, size, attributes, modified date, and/or version.

_Installation_
WhatChanged requires that SQLite3 (available on Aminet) is installed
and in your search path.  This is ensured by adding, for example,
"PATH SYS:Utilities/SQLite3/bin ADD" to your user-startup.

It also requires that you place its folder within an Assign called
"SQL:".  This is done by adding, for example, "ASSIGN >NIL: SQL:
SYS:Utilities/SQLite3 DEFER" to your user-startup.

Finally, two scripts named "ISODateTime.rexx and "2ISODateTime"
need to be added to your REXX: assignment.

Alternatively, you can edit the scripts for alternate paths to these
files.

_Usage_
1. Execute the script called "Capture" along with drawer or drive,
for example "Capture Libs:", to capture the state of LIBS:. A
requestor will open prompting you for a drawer or drive if you
leave the drawer/drive parameter blank.

2. At a later time, say after the installation of a program, repeat
step #1.

3. Execute the script called "Analyze" and a list of files captured
before, after, newly added, deleted, and changed will be placed in T:.

There are also scripts to "Clear" a drive/drawer from the database
and "Empty" all files from the database.

It works faster to capture your system in smaller pieces such as C:,
S:, LIBS:, etc.  Browser and e-mail histories contain scores of files
so you might want to avoid capturing them.

Please note that, for example, SYS:Libs is considered different from
LIBS:.

WhatChanged was written and tested on AmigaOS 3.9 BB3 on WinUAE.  If
AREXX and AmigaDOS work the same on AmigaOS4, AROS, or MorphOS it
should run there too.

Comments or suggestions to NathanH on AmigaWorld.net.