Vdrive 1.5 (c) 2012-2013, Horst Schaeffer 
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The program detects removable (USB) drives, sets the environment variable VDRIVE, and launches an application. 

Of course, this will only be useful, if the launched application is aware of environment variables.

For example, you may run a backup software or a CMD script that is configured to copy files to a USB flash drive. Though the paths and folders are fixed, the drive letter may change sometimes, or you may even have a choice of several removable drives. 

If the backup software is able to replace %Vdrive% with the assigned drive letter, it just has to run in an environment where VDRIVE is set. This is what Vdrive does. 

Vdrive.exe launches an application which is passed as command parameter (see below). Before Vdrive launches the application, it checks the removable drives, tells you how many there are, and offers the drives for selection (if more than one). When you click OK, the program sets the environment variable, and launches the application. Note: If your USB hard disks is not detected see below.


+++ Test Vdrive

To test the program drag&drop the file Vtest.cmd (supplied) onto Vdrive.exe. 
The Vtest.CMD script will only inform you of the VDRIVE assignment (if any).


+++ Configure Vdrive:

The environment vaiable name is VDRIVE. It is up to you to put %Vdrive% (case ignored, enclosed in percent signs) in the backup script or configuration. For example, the backup path could be: "%Vdrive%\backup\user\docs".

The Vdrive shell can be set up as shortcut (drag Vdrive.exe onto the desktop with the right mouse button). Then add the command parameter by changing the shortcut properties in the target input box: append a blank space and the full path of the application in quote marks. Additional parameters are not supported.


+++ Vdrive window

If no removable drives have been found, the launching information is red. Decide whether you prefer to abort.
The full path of the application (as given in the command) can be viewed as a tool tip on the Ok button.


+++ Explicit inclusion by name 

USB hard disks are probably not detected by Vdrive, because Windows does not report them as "removable". In this case edit the file "Vdrive.ini", and add the name(s) of the drive(s) to include. Examples:

        IncludeByName=TeraDisk
        IncludeByName=Backup HD;TeraDisk;

The names are case sensitive(!!); several names to be separated by semicolon.
Find or change the drive names through the drive properties in Windows Explorer.
 

+++ Special: %Vdrive% in launch command 

You can also use %Vdrive% in the application command (see shortcut properties). The command parameter will be passed unchanged to Vdrive.exe if the variable Vdrive does not exist (as expected before Vdrive.exe is running). The tool tip on the Ok button will show the unresolved %Vdrive%. After the user clicks Ok, the program replaces %Vdrive% with the selected drive.


+++ Version history

04 Feb 2013 - ver 1.5 - Bugfix text overflow
12 Jul 2012 - ver 1.4 - Unicode support
04 Mar 2012 - ver 1.3 - Explicit drive inclusion by name (ini file)
05 Feb 2012 - ver 1.2 - Auto detect medium insert/remove while program is running
03 Feb 2012 - ver 1.1 - Drives are only offered if medium is present; volume labels listed
01 Feb 2012 - ver 1.0 


+++ Disclaimer

This program is freeware (c) Horst Schaeffer. No warranty, no liability of any kind.

mailto:horst.schaeffer@gmx.net
http://www.horstmuc.de/

*04 Feb 2013


 



