Programmer's File Editor 1.01 ----------------------------- Welcome to Programmer's File Editor. This file is the place to start looking at the program: if you've not seen PFE before there's a synopsis of its main features; and if you've used earlier versions there's some essential information on major changes. Below you'll find 1. ABSTRACT A brief list of PFE's main features 2. USING AND DISTRIBUTING PFE The terms on which you can use it and pass it on 3. CONTACTING THE AUTHOR How to pass on your criticisms, suggestions, bug reports and maybe even praise 4. WHERE TO GET PFE Places to look for PFE on the Internet and elsewhere 5. WHICH VERSION SHOULD YOU USE? How to pick the most appropriate version 6. UPGRADING FROM PREVIOUS RELEASES Important information if you're currently using an older version of PFE 7. OTHER FILES YOU SHOULD LOOK AT The other important text files in this release 8. THE FILES YOU SHOULD GET What should be in your distribution set 9. INSTALLING PFE How to install everything --- Alan Phillips ( A.Phillips@lancaster.ac.uk ) ( http://www.lancs.ac.uk/people/cpaap/pfe ) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. ABSTRACT ----------- This is the 1.01 release of Programmer's File Editor, a large-capacity multi-file programming oriented editor for Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT 3.51 and 4.0 on Intel platforms, Windows 2000 on Intel platforms, and Windows 3.1x PFE includes the following features: - The size of file it can handle is limited only by the total amount of virtual memory available - No arbitrary limit on the number of lines a file can contain - It can edit multiple files, the number being limited only by the available system resources - Allows multiple edit windows showing the same file - Multi-level undo facility - Can read and write files in UNIX format using LF as line terminator, with automatic format detection - Line numbers can be shown in any edit window if required - Text can be copied and moved by dragging and dropping - Right-click mouse menus give access to commonly required functions - DOS commands such as compilers can be run with the output captured in an edit window - Commonly-used text can be inserted in a simple operation from template libraries - Fully-remappable keyboard, including two-key operation similar to MicroEMACS and mapping of Alt keys to functions - Keystrokes and menu commands can be recorded in replayable keyboard macros which can be collected into libraries - Files can be printed either in total, by line range, or selected text only - Files can be printed with two pages per sheet of paper in landscape mode or as booklets - Automatic line indenting and removal of trailing spaces - Automatic configuration of edit options depending on file type - Automatic configuration of tab sizes depending on file type - Automatic brace alignment when editing C source - Text indent/undent operations - Optional automatic text wrapping at configurable margin - Supports Microsoft IntelliMouse (32-Bit Edition) - Floating Control Station to manage large numbers of open files (32-Bit Edition) Additionally, the editor can be controlled by another application across a DDE client-server link. 2. USING AND DISTRIBUTING PFE ----------------------------- PFE may be used in any way, for any purpose, at no cost. In may be distributed by any means, provided that the original files as supplied by the author remain intact and no charge is made other than for reasonable distribution costs. You do not need to register to use PFE, or buy a licence to use it PFE may be placed on any archive or BBS system PFE may not be distributed with any commercial product without a prior license agreement with the author 3. CONTACTING THE AUTHOR ------------------------ I would very much appreciate hearing from you if you use PFE and find problems, or if you can think of ways it could be improved - and even (or is that 'especially'?) if you just think it's great. Even if the facility you would like to see appears to be of interest only to you, tell me about it - you'd be surprised how many ideas in that class have a much wider appeal. You can contact me by e-mail at A.Phillips@lancaster.ac.uk I read and consider all the mail I receive, even though I may not have time to reply You'll find up-to-date information on PFE, including new versions and a series of Application Notes discussing usage problems on the web at http://www.lancs.ac.uk/people/cpaap/pfe/ 4. WHERE TO GET PFE ------------------- The current version of PFE is distributed in two ZIP files. The names they have when they are sent out are these: pfe101i.zip The 32-bit edition for Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT 3.51 and 4.0 on Intel platforms, Windows 2000 on Intel platforms pfe101.zip The 16-bit edition for Windows 3.1x There is no implementation of this version for Windows NT on PowerPC systems. However, version 0.07.001 is available for this platform in a file that should have the name pfe0701p.zip The distribution files will end up on archives all over the Internet, so a search for these file names will probably show them somewehere. The definitive source for new releases, news and useful information is the PFE Home Page on the World Wide Web; the URL is http://www.lancs.ac.uk/people/cpaap/pfe/ Feel free to create links to this page from your own web site if you desire. 5. WHICH VERSION SHOULD YOU USE? ------------------------------- Although the various editions of PFE will run on platforms other than their intended ones, not all facilities will be available in some combinations. For the best result, you should use the versions recommended here: System Edition To Use ------ -------------- Windows 95 32-Bit Edition Windows 98 32-Bit Edition Windows NT 4.0 Intel 32-Bit Edition Windows NT 3.51 Intel 32-Bit Edition Windows 2000 Intel 32-Bit Edition Windows 3.1x 16-Bit Edition [Note that in this context "Intel" means genuine Intel processors and Intel- compatibles such as the Cyrix and AMD chipsets] 6. UPGRADING FROM PREVIOUS RELEASES ----------------------------------- If you've been using PFE version 0.07.001, 0.07.002 or 1.00, then you won't need to take any special steps to move to 1.01 However, if you've been using 0.06.002 or earlier, take a moment to read the notes below, as there have been some significant changes that you need to consider before you install the new version. FOR 32-BIT EDITION USERS ONLY If you've been using 0.06.002 or earlier of the 32-Bit Edition under Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT or Windows 2000, then you'll probably want to take some installation steps before you start to run the new version of PFE. PFE now uses the Windows Registry to store configuration information rather than the PFE32.INI initialisation file; this allows it to support per-user configuration data and offer some extra facilities. The INI2REG utility allows you to convert existing initialisation files into the Windows Registry and explains the new facilities. You should read the text file UPGRADE.TXT that is part of the distribution set for complete details FOR ALL USERS PFE now sets up associations for the file types you want to use it with itself, using the Options Preferences command. You should begin by using this command to define your associations, as this will guarantee that they are correctly defined, and also enable some context menu support for the 32-Bit Edition. Note that your manually-defined associations will not be shown by PFE when you do this. If you're upgrading from version 0.05.007 or earlier, it's best to delete your existing initialisation files (PFE.INI or PFE32.INI) and begin again with the new release. 7. OTHER FILES YOU SHOULD LOOK AT --------------------------------- The distribution set contains several other text files of important information. For the answers to some of the common questions that users have, see FAQ.TXT. Looking in here can save you a lot of worry and experimentation, and save you from posting your question to newsgroups and mailing lists. The CHANGES.TXT file tells you what's changed from earlier releases. If you find something unexpected going on, look in here too - it could be a feature rather than a bug. The PROBLEMS.TXT file tells you about any major problems that were discovered too late to be addressed in this release, and what you can do if you hit them. The YEAR2000.TXT file tells you about Year 2000 issues affecting PFE. 8. THE FILES YOU SHOULD GET --------------------------- There are a small number of files in the PFE distribution. You should find the following items: 32-bit Intel and Intel-compatibles Edition: [For Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT 3.51 and 4.0 on Intel platforms and Windows 2000 on Intel platforms] pfe32.exe The editor itself pfe.hlp The help file pfedos32.exe A helper module, needed to run commands and capture output readme.txt This file upgrade.txt Details on how to convert your initialisation files into the Windows Registry if you're currently using version 0.06.002 or earlier ini2reg.exe The program that converts your initialisation files into the Windows Registry changes.txt Changes from previous releases faq.txt Frequently Asked Questions problems.txt Information on late-breaking problems year2000.txt Information on Year 2000 issues 16-bit Edition: [For Windows 3.1x] pfe.exe The editor itself pfe.hlp The help file pfedos.exe A helper module, needed to run commands and capture output pfedos.pif The PIF file for this module readme.txt This file changes.txt Changes from previous releases faq.txt Frequently Asked Questions problems.txt Information on late-breaking problems year2000.txt Information on Year 2000 issues [The help file pfe.hlp is identical for the 16-bit and 32-bit editions] 9. INSTALLING PFE ----------------- There is no setup program for PFE, as it doesn't really need one. Installation is done by simply copying the supplied files: 32-bit Edition: Copy pfe32.exe, pfe.hlp, pfedos32.exe to a suitable directory. This need not be on your path; but it's important that all the files are in the same directory. Next, read upgrade.txt carefully, and if you wish, use the ini2reg utility to convert your existing initialisation file PFE32.INI into the Windows Registry If you like to have PFE handy on your desktop, make sure that you place a shortcut there, rather than a copy of the program file itself. If you make a copy, you'll find that you can't run DOS commands, since the pfe.exe executable will be in the desktop directory, and the pfedos32.exe helper module will be somewhere else. 16-bit Edition: Copy pfe.exe, pfe.hlp, pfedos.exe and pfedos.pif to a suitable directory. This need not be on your path; but it's important that all the files are in the same directory. It's a good idea to keep the 16-bit and 32-bit editions in the same place; then you will need only one copy of the help file. After you've installed PFE, the best thing to do is start it up, then use the Options Preferences command to explore the customisation options and set it up to run as you prefer.