Free Software To Monitor and Log Directories Files Changed On Windows 2000 XP 2003 Vista 7 Server 2008

Watch 4 Folder - a freeware by LeeLu Soft 2010 v2.2
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Watch 4 Folder is a simple to use monitoring tool to monitor folders and files activities.
It is a small, portable and simple to use utility.
 
How to use Watch 4 Folder 
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Watch 4 Folder is a portable application, there is no install process, just unzip the file to any folder and run it.
 
Using Watch 4 Folder, like all other LeeLu Soft programs, is very simple.
 
There are four steps To start a monitoring process:
 
1. Select from the top shell list view the folder or the device you want to monitor, if you want to monitor sub folders also, check the "Watch sub folders" checkbox.
 
2. Select the monitoring events you want to monitor, the available monitoring events are:
  - File create
  - File Delete
  - File Change
  - File Rename
  - Association Change
  - Free Space change
  - Folder Create
  - Folder Delete
  - Folder Rename
  - Folder Change
  - Media Insert
  - Media Remove
 
Pay attention, a single event can create several Monitoring events, for example selecting File Change event and File Rename event will create two events in case of file rename, because the file was renamed but also changed.
So it is better to select specific events or general event but not both.
 
3. Select the actions on event, this is an optional step, here you can select the actions to take in case of an event, the available actions are:
- Execute a program or batch file when event occurs, you should browse and select or enter the full path to the executable or batch file.
 
- Write to a log file will automatically write a line to the log file when event occurs, you have to browse and create or enter the full path and file name for the log file, if the file doesn't exists it will be created, if the file exists the new lines will append to the end of the existing file, the log file is in a text format (*.txt).
Notice: Do not save the log file inside the folder you are going to monitor !
 
- Popup a message will pop up a message to the desktop when event occurs.
 
- Display a desktop alert, this option is similar to the outlook new mail that fade in and out at the buttom of the desktop, a click on this message will restore Watch 4 folder and opens the live log tab.
 
4. The last step is to click Start Monitoring, at this point you can watch the live log running inside the live log tab of the application or you can click on the "Tray" button to minimize the monitor to the system tray.
A click on the Watch 4 Folder icon on the system tray will restore the application to the desktop.
 
W4F displays the events with different color for each type of event:
Blue = Setting changes
Green = Stop / Start monitoring
Red = Events
 
If you didn't select to write to a log file and you still want to save the log, just select all the text from the Live Watch window, copy and paste to where you want.
 
Using Monitoring Configuration files:
You can save the monitoring configuration (all the parameters from steps 1-3) to use it again, in fact you can save as many configuration files as you want.
After you set your monitoring configuration With W4F, click on "Save", and save the configuration file with a name you want, it is a standard Windows ini file.
 
to Load a Configuration file you have a few options:
 
- The simple one is to click "Load" and select one of your saved configuration files, it will load all the parameters.
 
- You can drag and drop the configuration file anywhere on the W4F form, it will load all the configuration parameters.
 
- run from the command line W4F21.exe c:\FolderName\confName.ini (replace with your path and file name) and it will load the configuration parameters, Notice: if the path to the 
configuration files, includes spaces it must be warped with " " (example W4F21.exe "c:\My Folder\ConfName.ini").
 
- Run from the command and auto execute the monitor, same as previous but add /s to the end of the command (example: W4F21.exe "c:\My Folder\ConfName.ini" /s), this will load the configuration and auto start the monitor.
 
Other buttons:
Clear - to clear all checkboxes and edit fields
About - About Watch 4 Folder
Exit - close application, pay attention that you need to stop the monitor to close the application.
 
 
OS Support
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Watch 4 Folder 2.2 was developed on Windows 7 enterprise, it was also tested on Windows 7 Enterprise 64bit and on Windows XP Professional but should run on other Desktop and Server windows based OS.
 
 
Main Changes in version 2.2
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Can monitor hidden and system files
More details on some events
Improved GUI
Desktop alerts
Improved hints
fixed a bug when trying to run the monitor with no folder selected
 
LeeLu Soft Freeware License
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Copyright © 2008 by LeeLu Soft <[email protected]>. All rights reserved
 
THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR AND CONTRIBUTORS ``AS IS'' AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 
Contact:
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[email protected] 
http://leelusoft.blogspot.com