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User Reviews

Cathy
Cathy

Cathy is a disk cataloging tool, that you can use to index files stored on removable media (CD-ROMs, LS120, Iomega Zip and Jaz disks, or even diskettes) and create searchable catalogs that can be use ...

Average of 17 user ratings: 5
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  • Oct 05, 2009
  • For version:
  • 2.28.3

quote  Exactly the indexing desired  quote

  • Interface: 3
  • Features: 5
  • Ease of use: 5
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 5

I have been using this excellent software Cathy for the past 3 months. I am quite happy and satisfied with it. It is certainly the fastest among any indexer I have tried. However there are two suggestion I would like to make. 1. I have a problem seeing things which are very small. For some reason, the default font used in Cathy is too small for my comfort. Moreover I see no way to change it. As all of my fonts are of bigger size, so whenever I run Cathy I have to pore closer to the screen to see the results. I wish there was a way to change the font/font-size 2. This is not a very critical suggestion. I would like to see regular expressions supported in Cathy. But not if it impairs the speed or small footprint of Cathy.

user Review by: noxusB
First post


  • Sep 20, 2008
  • For version:
  • 2.28

quote  Exactly what I was looking for!  quote

  • Interface: 5
  • Features: 5
  • Ease of use: 5
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 5

Here I have been using another catalogdirectory printing freeware, the printing and saving saves right off the side of a doc so it's unreadable, been messing with it but it was decent and rated it high. However, wish I would have known about Cathy, this is EXACTLY what I was looking for, it prints how I wanted the other to print, archives quickly, and not just removable storage, ALL storage! This is awesome and I think the interface is fine too, not beautiful or anything but gets the job done. I have a lot of freeware in a Download folder, this printed it exactly how I wanted, DIR, then files under the DIR. The others either only printed the folder or every file under it, including the program files like gif, png, inf, all that, which I didn't want. So this is the ONE, thank you for Cathy!

user Review by: gimpguy (370)
Read all 370 reviews by gimpguy


  • Mar 15, 2007
  • For version:
  • 2.24.2

quote  If every software would be lik this....  quote

  • Interface: 4
  • Features: 5
  • Ease of use: 4
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 5

Small, fast, efficient, portable, free,... very useful, and very simple clever no install, just one file, and on file for each catalog

user Review by: arbory
First post


  • Dec 24, 2006
  • For version:
  • 2.24

quote  A excellent program  quote

  • Interface: 5
  • Features: 5
  • Ease of use: 5
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 5

A really nice program. I have been using it for about 3 years now and highly recommend it.

user Review by: KennethLF (3)
Read all 3 reviews by KennethLF


  • Nov 13, 2006
  • For version:
  • 2.24

quote  Excellent tool!  quote

  • Interface: 4
  • Features: 5
  • Ease of use: 5
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 5

I' ve been using this tool for years and I hardly can imagine life without it. Price/value ratio is really beyond excellent. This is my first recommendation on this site.

user Review by: Predrag
First post


  • Sep 25, 2006
  • For version:
  • 2.24

quote  Hands-down, the best cataloger there is  quote

  • Interface: 4
  • Features: 4
  • Ease of use: 4
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 5

I've been using many catalogers, and most of them are behemoths, consuming space, and running slow. Not Cathy. Cataloging one CD is extremely fast: Disc spins up, Disc spins down, Disc ejects. Done. Less than 10 seconds. Searches? Happen in a blink, even through around 50 CD's. What's more beautiful, it does not need to be installed; I copied Cathy and its database files into my flash drive, and now I can search my catalogs anywhere I'm at! Granted, the interface is not schnitzy, but it is a straightforward frontend to a blazingly fast database (and cataloger) engine. After some time, you'll get used to it, and you'll appreciate its simplicity. And you definitely can't beat the price!

user Review by: pepoluan (22)
Read all 22 reviews by pepoluan


  • Aug 19, 2006
  • For version:
  • 2.24

quote  A winner!  quote

  • Interface: 4
  • Features: 5
  • Ease of use: 5
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 5

I have used VisualCD for many years, but it tends to lock up so I tried Cathy after reading some of the reviews. This is only a 45kB download. It is super fast, accurate, stable, and uses little system resources. Let me emphasize this again - this is fast! Finally, like it's already been mentioned, the interface is not as pretty as other catalogers, but it still gets a 5 overall for simplicity, speed, and size.

user Review by: TerryP (61)
Read all 61 reviews by TerryP


  • Jan 19, 2006
  • For version:
  • 2.23

quote  Super fast, reliable!  quote

  • Interface: 4
  • Features: 5
  • Ease of use: 5
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 5

Interface takes a few minutes to get used to, but once you're onto it it's simple. When you see how quickly it catalogs a full DVD stuffed with files, you just won't believe it! It catalogs everything perfectly, and searching is lightening fast too. In the past I've tried other cataloging software that locked up, had annoying limitations, was too confusing or rather slow. Cathy has none of those issues. It's tiny on the hard drive, reliable, free, and super fast. This makes a super winner in my book. It's one I use and I think you will too. Try it, you'll like it!!!!

user Review by: catmaster (10)
Read all 10 reviews by catmaster


  • Dec 12, 2005
  • For version:
  • 2.22

quote  Must have for every network administrator  quote

  • Interface: 4
  • Features: 5
  • Ease of use: 5
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 5

I use it since a year or 5. Cannot imagine how to do my job without it. I use it in conjunction with CathyCMD to index 100 thousands of file. The result? Name a file (or partial, or other file characteristics) and I'll find it within seconds, no matter what. An (almost) complete solution within an incredible tiny 50K and without the need of installation; thus very portable. Indeed, very very good!! And I'm not sponsored! With regards, Michel K.

user Review by: ELB-MIKE
First post


  • Nov 07, 2005
  • For version:
  • 2.22

quote  Can't beat it  quote

  • Interface: 2
  • Features: 3
  • Ease of use: 5
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 4

OK, it's basic but it's fast and does exactly what it should. It'd be nice if it could womble through the entire disk looking for pattern matches and catalogue them but, hey, for free this program is tops

user Review by: Mountfitchett
First post


  • Oct 18, 2005
  • For version:
  • 2.22

quote  2 extra functions which are very handy  quote

  • Interface: 2
  • Features: 5
  • Ease of use: 5
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 5

2 extra functions which are very handy and can't be found in many paid for Progs: 1) Cathy can make excellent Directory List(important for making inventory of your CDs with Progs),which can be easily transferred into Excel.Before, after trying 5-6 Progs,I found that only DriveZ could do this job. 2) Ability to sort Columns by clicking on their headers as well as using different colours for Folders and Files and show them in two separated groups allows you to read search result easily. It would be nice if Prog can arrange Catalogs in different groups not to mix Progs' CD with Music. I have to confess that I downloaded Cathy a year ago,looked at its interface and removed as I thought that it's too old for XP.What a mistake!Now I'm switching to Cathy from my commercial Prog.

user Review by: Ronbur (23)
Read all 23 reviews by Ronbur


  • Oct 15, 2005
  • For version:
  • 2.22

quote  Getit easy  quote

  • Interface: 4
  • Features: 4
  • Ease of use: 5
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 5

Small, efficient,intelligent,CATHY is a relly good alternative to any pay ware... check it it's a must

user Review by: squizfr
First post


  • Jun 21, 2005
  • For version:
  • 2.22

quote  Cathy is an excellent tool for your use  quote

  • Interface: 3
  • Features: 4
  • Ease of use: 3
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 4

When I first used Cathy... It was strange getting used to. Some things 'could' be done differently to be more user friendly. However, once you 'get used to' the interface and how to operate the software, you will be Amazed as to how FAST and EFFICIENT this software is! For such a small program, it does what it claims. I Cataloged more than 5 Years worth of Newspaper Production Backup (All on CD). Because I have to locate Ads that were placed in the paper from Years Ago and we never know exactly when the ad ran... Well, I can now type in a quick search and BOOM.... I have a snapshot of when they ran and what CD their old ad is on. It's FAST.... Efficient and a program I will recommend to ANYONE that has a lot of CD's and needs to have a better way of "Finding" something. Excellent Program.

user Review by: garycrunk
First post


  • May 24, 2005
  • For version:
  • 2.22

quote  Must be the best  quote

  • Interface: 4
  • Features: 5
  • Ease of use: 5
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 5

I have hundreds of magazine disks and have spent many hours trying progs. and cataloging only to find problems but Cathy gives me a view of MY indexing (reassuring that) so I know what has just been read and stored also the search is great I do not have to select the disks to search - I am 63 ys so I needed something easy to use - best stop now, but to anyone else, just use it do not hesitate Tony H

user Review by: Linton
First post


  • Apr 15, 2005
  • For version:
  • 2.21

quote  Very good actualy  quote

  • Interface: 2
  • Features: 5
  • Ease of use: 5
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 5

I've been looking for a indexing so i know what programs i have on what cd/dvd (over 250 cds, and 40-50 dvds atm) To be honest, I had my doubts about this program since it's so small (only 44kb for v2.21) but it's actually very good. my first impression wasn't very good, since the interface doesn't look very snappy. Just some buttons on a gray window, with a list under. Well, it's a database tool so i let that slip for now. I indexed some dvds just to test it, and to my suprise it was done in seconds. (An entire dvd with programs and images was indexed in less than a half minute!) The search was done in milliseconds. The program does what a program of this category is supposed to do. [Conclusion] Pros: VERY fast, Easy to use, A lot of information in the searches(at least what i want to know) .... Cons: "ugly" looking interface

user Review by: NiXXeN
First post


  • Dec 22, 2004
  • For version:
  • 2.20.6

quote  Cathy - excellent!!  quote

  • Interface: 5
  • Features: 3
  • Ease of use: 5
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 5

I've checked into some of the other freeware softs like this. But since i started with Cathy 2-3 yrs ago, Cathy beats them hands down! Very Fast! No Waiting! Love this freeware!! I depend on it sooo much! And it's allways there for me! Much Thanks to the Author!!

user Review by: Jaymz_ (7)
Read all 7 reviews by Jaymz_


  • Jul 11, 2004
  • For version:
  • 2.20.4

quote  One of the best programs I ever worked with.  quote

  • Interface: 4
  • Features: 5
  • Ease of use: 5
  • Value: 5
  • Overall: 5

I use it every day. Very small and because of it very fast, very handy cataloging tool.

user Review by: RomanShaRP
First post