Readme file for TFileFind Component

I beg your pardon for any mistake, my mother language is Portuguese.

1. CONTENTS OF FILEFIND.ZIP

This zipped pack has the following files:

. README.WRI	Write version version of this file
. FILEFIND.TXT	This file
. FILEFIND.PAS	Complete sourcecode of TFileFind component
. FFDEMO.DPR	Demo of TFileFind
. FFDEMO.RES	"	"
. FFMAIN.PAS	"	"
. FFMAIN.DFM	"	"

2. HOW TO INSTALL

You may install this component like any other Delphi VCL Component. Just install the
FILEFIND.PAS module. The FileFind component will be added in the Samples page.

3. WHAT FOR IS THIS COMPONENT?

TFindFile is a full featured component very useful that implements file search. It works 
very like The Norton FileFind (Norton Utilities), although the text search has not been 
implemented (yet). You can use wildcards to make a search mask.

4. HOW DOES IT WORK?

Once installed in the VCL pallete, a TFileFind can be dropped in the form and adjusted 
to works on your purpose. The FFDEMO project shows the most of the capabilities of 
TFileFind. See the events (OnChangeDirectory, OnChangeDrive, OnMatch and OnStop) and the
OnClick events of the buttons Start an Stop.

The keys properties are:

DriveList: Holds the drives to search. For example, to search in A:, B: and C: just put 
'ABC' on DriveList. An empty string forces search in all existent drives (A: to Z:)

FileName: File to find. You can use wildcards. If a drive letter is present here, it 
will be used instead DriveList. If a directory name is present here, it will be used as 
starting directory.

SearchScope: ssCurrentDir: searches only in the current directory (or directory in 
FileName); ssCurrentAndBellow: searches in the current directory (or directory in 
FileName) and bellow; or ssEntireDisk force search in the whole disk.

StopOnFirsMatch: if true, the search finishes on the first match. It's very useful when
you are looking for at least one occurrence of the file. If no file was found, LastMatch 
holds an empty string.

The most important property is read only:

LastMatch: holds the last file found by the engine.

There are 4 event handlers available:

OnChangeDirectory: whenever the engine changes the directory. Useful to show the current
directory.

OnChangeDrive: whenever the engine changes the drive. Useful to show the current drive.

OnMatch: whenever the engine finds a file. Remember, the LastMatch holds the path of the
last found file. You process the filename here!

OnStop: whenever the Stop method is called. Useful to have a user's confirmation before
to shut down the search.

There are just 2 methods:

Start: to start the search.

Stop: to cancel the running search. In this case, and only in this case, an OnStop event is
triggered.

You don't need to use Stop after a search, to 'close' or finish it. This method is only 
used to abort the search.

5. DISCLAIMER

I do not assume responsibility for any harm or rack due the use of this software program,
although I believe it is quite harmless as you can see on its sourcecode. You can remove
bugs yourself since the sourcecode is available. If you find a bug, please let me know.

TFileFind is a freeware. Feel free to use this software in your own Delphi applications.
You don't have to pay me any fee, although you are not allowed to charge any license fee
for components you have derived from TFileFind. You cannot change and redistribute the
sourcecode. If you think this software will be useful for you, just send me a postal card
from your town. I am wonder to know how far this package has got!

6. HOW TO REACH ME

I will be pleased if you send me comments, questions or suggestions,  and of course, if
you find a bug, please let me know. My addresses are (postal and e-mail):

Gabriel Cherem
Rua Manfredo Leite 136
Stodieck
88025-110 Florianopolis, SC
BRAZIL

e-mail: egr7jmc@npd.ufsc.br


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TFileFind for Delphi VCL, by Gabriel Cherem, dec 1995