Join Files - Joins Files Into a Single File Using a Complete Variety of Features and Modes.

This section discusses the Join Files functionality of the Quantifier module.

The Join Files functionality is used to join two or more files together into a single file. A file is simply a record with a name. Files are discrete entities and are used individually, but there are many cases where, for various reasons, it is necessary to add data to other data and join files together. Joining files usually consists of creating a new empty file and adding the bodies of the original files into it, thus concatenating all data into a single file with some desired order.

One example in which joining files could be required is when transferring very large files. In this case, instead of transferring a large file, it is first split into smaller and more manageable pieces which are transferred individually, possibly using different channels and/or times. Once all pieces are transferred, they are joined into the original large file. There are also other cases in addition to data transfer where large files may be temporarily divided into pieces for easier management. Conversely, the Join Files functionality can be useful when transferring large numbers of very small files. It is much faster and easier to transfer one large file rather than thousands or millions of small files. For this scenario, the compressor module can be used to "join files" together into a single archive (file), however for very large numbers of files, this may be impractical. Another example where the Join Files functionality can be used is to physically group together logically related files. For example, joining a file and its digital signature, joining a picture and its text commentaries, etc.

Capture: Join Files

Operation

To Join Files, you need to select the files and folders in the selected items control of the Join Files functionality. Order the items as desired; the order will be preserved on the joined file. Order is particularly important when the files are joined without a separator or descriptor. There is no possibility to order the items in a selected folder, hence the items in a selected folder will be added to the produced joined file in the order that they are enumerated by the operating system. Once the items to be joined are ordered, if required at all, adjust the controls as appropriate and enter the filename of the result joined file. When ready click OK to start the process of creating a new file containing all selected items.

Controls

Selection Controls

These controls are used to select and display the files and folders for the operation. In addition to the Add Files, Add Folders and Remove buttons, you can use the standard clipboard, drag and drop, and keyboard operations.

Shortcuts

Select the behavior of the functionality in respect to any shortcuts that might be present in the selected folders.

Target

Any shortcut located in selected folder will be dereferenced and its target file or folder will be treated as if it were selected.

Ignore

Any shortcut located in selected folder will be ignored.

Files Joining Order

Use any of the following methods to set the order of the source files and folders in the joined file. Join order may be important when concatenating the source files without adding a separator between them or embedding a descriptor.

Order Buttons

Select one or more items in the selected items view and click the appropriate button below to adjust their position in the view and in the produced join file.

Moves the selected items to the top of the list, i.e. the first (top) of the selected items will be added first to the join file.
Moves the selected items one position up in the list.
Moves the selected items one position down in the list.
Moves the selected items to the bottom of the list, i.e. the last (bottom) of the selected items will be added last to the join file.

Drag and Drop

1. Press the Shift button. 2. Select the items to be moved. 3. Drag and Drop the selected Items to the required position in the list of selected items. While dragging, notice the red indicator that indicates the position where the items will be placed if dropped in that particular moment.

Type Number

Select an item, then press F2 or click on it. A small textbox will appear, allowing you to enter the position (index) of the file where it should be placed.

Sort Columns

Use the column header buttons to sort the selected items in the order compliant with the particular column.

Operation Controls

These controls are used to control the operation of the module and thus directly affect results.

Join Type

Choose the method used to create the join file.

Concatenate Only

The selected items are concatenated in a join file in the same order as they are ordered in the selected items view. The content of any selected folder is added at the position of the folder in the selected items view but the files and folders contained in it are added in an unspecified order as they were enumerated by the system. No other information is placed in the join file except the data (body) of the selected files and the files contained in the selected folders.

Embedded Descriptor

The selected items are added in the requested order. File descriptors are also added to the joined file so that the files can be restored with their original names, partial paths and attributes. A digital signature is also appended to the file to help ensure integrity. The joined file can be split to the original files using the Split File functionality.

Insert Separator

The selected items are added in the requested order. A separator is added between any two files, which is later used as an indicator for the beginning and the end of the source files. It is important that the source files do not contain data that is the same as the separator. If a source file contains data matching the separator, then there will be a loss of information when splitting the file using the same separator. No other information is recorded in the joined file except the bodies of the source files and the separator in between. The joined file can be split to the original files using the Split File functionality.

Separator

Select the separator type.

Text

Display controls for entering text as separator data.

Binary

Display controls for entering binary data (as hexadecimal numbers) as separator data.

File

Display controls for appointing a file as separator data.

Separator text

Enter the text to be used as a separator between the joined files. This text should not be found in the source files or else splitting the join file by the separator text will not result in the same as the original files.

Wide-char text

Set this checkbox to consider the separator text as wide-character text and be entered as such in the joined file. Clear this checkbox to consider the separator text as single byte characters and be placed in the joined file as such.

Separator data

Enter the binary data as hexadecimal numbers to be used as a separator between the joined files. This data should not be found in the source files or else splitting the join file by the separator data will result in data loss.

Separator file

Enter the path to the file which will be inserted in the join file as a separator between the source files. This file content should not be found in the source files or else splitting the join file by the separator file will result in data loss.

Destination Controls

These controls are used to direct the output location at which the module will put the joined file.

Joined file

Enter the name and path of the joined file to dictate where it will be placed.

Further Actions Controls

These controls are used to help to automate some common activities after the process is successfully completed.

Delete Source Items

Set this checkbox to request the module to send the source items to the Recycle Bin after successfully joining them.

Confirm Delete [Source Items]

Set this checkbox to confirm the request to delete the source items after successfully joining them.

Window Controls

These controls have generic meanings.

On Top

Sets and clears the Always On Top flag on the window. This checkbox adds or removes the window from the group of Top-most windows.

Commits to work and create the join file.

Cancel

Closes the window without doing any work. The last selected properties are stored.