How to Use EXTRACT.EXE to Copy Files from DMF Disks

• Microsoft Word for Windows, version 6.0c
• Microsoft Office, versions 4.2c, 4.3c
• Microsoft Excel for Windows, version 5.0c
• Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, version 7.0
• Microsoft Works 4.0 for Windows 95

SUMMARY

Files on all but the first disk of the programs listed at the beginning of this article are combined in cabinet form, and as such cannot be copied individually to other disks or hard drives.

This article explains how to use the Extract utility to locate or copy any individual files from the cabinet files.

MORE INFORMATION

This article is organized as follows:

• Where to get the Extract utility
• How to interrupt the Extract program
• Copying an entire CAB file
• Extracting all files from a CAB file
• Displaying all files in a particular CAB file
• Locating a particular file in particular CAB file
• Locating a particular file in an unknown CAB file
• Extracting a single file from a particular CAB file
• Extracting a single file from an unknown CAB file
• Extracting certain types of files from a particular CAB file
• Syntax of the EXTRACT utility

Where to Get the Extract Utility

The Extract utility is located on Disk 1 of each of the disk sets listed above, except for Works 4.0 for Windows 95. Copy the file Extract.exe from Disk 1 to your computer and place it in a directory on your path. To extract files from the CAB files on the Works 4.0 disks, use the copy of Extract.exe in your <Windows 95>\Command directory.

In order to make best use of space, certain large files are spread among the disks.

How to Interrupt the Extract Program

You can cancel a running Extract program by pressing CTRL+C.

Copying an Entire CAB File

The syntax of this command is

   extract /c <drive>:\<cabinetname> <destination>

This command is necessary when you are copying an entire cabinet file from floppy disks to a hard drive or network drive. If the cabinet file is already on the hard drive or network drive, you can copy files to any hard drive or network drive with a simple COPY command. The Extract utility is necessary only when you are copying the file from floppy disks, because the floppy disks are formatted in a new way, and require a special utility to read them.

For example, to copy a cabinet file named EXCEL2.CAB from drive A to the directory C:\DISK2, use the following syntax:

   extract /c a:\excel2.cab c:\disk2\excel2.cab

Extracting All Files from a CAB File

The syntax of this command is

   extract /e /a /l <destination> <drive>:\<cabinetname>

The /A switch extracts all files on all disks, beginning with the first cabinet specified. You can specify any cabinet file, and Extract will search that cabinet file and all files that come after it. Be sure to place the disk specified in the command line in the drive before executing this command.

The /L switch lists the locations of the files. First the destination of the files expanded files is given, followed by a space and the source of the cabinet files. If you omit this switch, Extract expands files into the current directory.

For example, to copy all of the files from all cabinets on all disks to the directory C:\FLAT, use the following command (and place disk 1 in drive A:):

   extract /e /a /l c:\flat a:\excel1.cab

   extract /e a:\excel4.cab

   extract /e /l c:\disk5 a:\word5.cab

   extract /e /a /l c:\disks a:\word5.cab

Displaying All Files in a Particular CAB File

The syntax of this command is

   extract /d <drive>:\<cabinetname>

   extract /d a:\excel2.cab

Locating a Particular File in a Particular CAB File

The syntax of this command is

   extract /d <drive>:\<cabinetname> <filename>

   extract /d a:\word7.cab odbc.dll

   extract /d a:\word7.cab *.dll

Locating a Particular File in an Unknown CAB File

The syntax of this command is

   extract /a <drive>:\<firstcabinetname> /d <filename>

   extract /a a:\excel1.cab /d solver.xla

NOTE: Extract will continue to search the remaining disks to see if there is a duplicate filename. You must watch the screen carefully to see when the file information is displayed, and note the cabinet name that was displayed above it--this is the cabinet you are looking for.

HINT: If the cabinet files are all stored on a network drive or a hard drive, the cabinet names may scroll off the screen before you can read them. Redirect the Extract output to a file, and scroll through the file using Notepad or another text editor.

NOTE: This method is not suitable for use with disks, as you receive no prompting that Extract is waiting for the next disk.

   Redirecting results to a text file
   ----------------------------------

   1. Type the command above, adding a greater-than symbol (>) and a text
      filename:

        EXTRACT /A A:\EXCEL1.CAB /D SOLVER.XLA > LIST.TXT

   2. Press ENTER.

   3. The command-line prompt appears and a new file has been created in
      the current directory. The file LIST.TXT can be opened and read with
      any text editor.

Extracting a single file from a particular CAB file

The syntax of this command is

   extract <drive>:\<cabinetname> filename /l  <destination>

   extract a:\word6.cab calendar.wiz /l c:\winword\template

Extracting a Single File from an Unknown CAB File

The syntax of this command is

   Extract /A <Drive>:\<Cabinetname> <Filename> /L <Destination>

For example, to extract the MSSPEL2.DLL file from disks in drive A into the WINDOWS\MSAPPS\PROOF directory on drive C, use the following command:

   extract /a a:\word1.cab msspel2.dll /l c:\windows\msapps\proof

Extracting Certain Types of Files from a Particular CAB File

The syntax of this command is

   extract <drive>:\<cabinetname> <filetype> <destination>

   EXTRACT A:\WORD7.CAB *.DLL D:\WINWORD

Syntax of the EXTRACT Utility

To obtain a complete list of command options for the EXTRACT, insert Disk 1 and switch to the drive containing the disk. For example, type "A:" without the quotation marks if the disk is in drive A. Then type EXTRACT or EXTRACT /? at the command prompt to obtain a list of commands for EXTRACT. You will see the list below:

EXTRACT [/Y] [/A] [/D | /E] [/L dir] cabinet [filename ...] EXTRACT [/Y] source [newname] EXTRACT [/Y] /C source destination

  cabinet  - Cabinet file (contains two or more files).
  filename - Name of the file to extract from the cabinet. Wild cards and
             multiple filenames (separated by blanks) may be used.

  source   - Compressed file (a cabinet with only one file).
  newname  - New filename to give the extracted file. If not supplied, the
             original name is used.

  /A         Process ALL cabinets.  Follows cabinet chain starting in first
             cabinet mentioned.
  /C         Copy source file to destination (to copy from DMF disks).
  /D         Display cabinet directory (use with filename to avoid
             extract).
  /E         Extract (use instead of *.* to extract all files).
  /L dir     Location to place extracted files (default is current
             directory).
  /Y         Do not prompt before overwriting an existing file.