Programmer 7500/MAX_PROGRAMMERS.iso/PASCAL/ANSWER4A.ZIP/ANSWERS.DOC

Text File | 1988-05-12 | 7.9 KB | 179 lines

ANSWERS ! Version 4.0A
Copyright 1988 Brian Corll and TEN B.C. Micro Systems


Introduction

     ANSWERS ! Version 4.0 is composed of two programs which allow you to
index (preferably large !) text files in such a way as to enable you to
retrieve information on any topic in the file very quickly, in many cases,
literally in the blink of an eye !

     These programs are being distributed as ShareWare in archived format as
ANSWER4A.arc, which should include the following files:

     ANSWERS.exe - the runtime module

     INDEX.exe - the parsing, sorting and indexing module

     COMMON.wds - a text file, explained below

     ANSWERS.doc - this manual


HOW IT WORKS

     Briefly, the system parses a text file, such as a manual, and breaks it
down into its individual words.  These words are then sorted alphabetically
(natch !) and from this sorted list two files are created: 1) an index file of
all the unique words which occur in the manual, and 2) a pointers file
containing the line numbers in which each unique word appears. Meantime, a
third file has been created which is merely a structured copy of the text file
itself.  These three files are used by the runtime program to locate any
subject matter anywhere in the text file.


HOW TO USE IT

     There is one major rule: the file to be processed must be in ASCII text
format.  The file name and extension must follow the usual MS-DOS conventions
(eight letters maximum for the file name, three letters for its extension).

     Now then, the simple part :

     All of the files from the archive must be on the same disk and in the same
directory as the text file to be processed.  A word of warning: the resulting
files will take up large amounts of space, so this system is best used on a
hard disk with lots of room.

     To begin processing, simply type the following:

     INDEX filename.ext

     The program will begin immediately and will keep you informed of what it
is doing as the indexing progresses.   Three new files should now be on your
disk, all with the same filename, and these extensions : '.dat','.ndx', and
'.ptr'.  These three files are necessary to run the system.  The original text
file can then be deleted (for God's sake, back it up first, though !).

     Once the indexing is complete, you are ready to go ! Here's how:

     First of all, you should configure the runtime program to use colors for
the screen display which suit your taste and eyeballs.  To do that, simply type

     ANSWERS COLORS

and follow the instructions on the screen.  This process creates a file called
ANSWERS.cfg in which the four allowed color choices are stored.  If this file
is not present on the disk at run time, ANSWERS ! will use its default colors.

    OK. Now for the test drive.  Type ANSWERS filename, that is, just the root
name (the first eight letters) of the file which you just indexed.  After an
opening screen display (which is just a novelty to amuse you while the index is
being loaded into memory), the topic entry screen will appear.  You have 55
spaces in which to specify the topic you wish to search for.  Type anything you
want any way you want to type it.  If it ain't in the text, ANSWERS ! will let
you know instantly.  There are a few things to keep in mind:

     1)  ANSWERS ! can find at most a hundred references to a particular topic.
If 100 references to the topic you want appear on the screen, you may want to
try again and be more specific.  If 102 references to a topic exist in the
text, you won't see the last two.

     2) When the references appear on the screen, simply type the number of the
one you want and press the 'Enter' key.  The text will appear on the screen
with the line you chose highlighted.  This line will remain highlighted
whenever it appears on the screen during highlighting.  To scroll through the
text, simply press the up and down arrow keys.  When you're finished reading,
press 'Enter' or the 'Esc' key.  ANSWERS ! will ask if you want to look at
another reference.  If you answer 'Y', the references will be re-displayed and
you may choose another.  If you answer 'N', the entry screen will reappear.
To exit ANSWERS !, simply press the 'Enter' key while the entry line is blank.

That's it !

ORAL ROBERTS PART

     As I said in the beginning, this program is ShareWare.  For those of you
unfamiliar with this concept, it works like this:

     You may use this program on a trial basis for a period of ninety days with
no obligation whatsoever.  You may redistribute it in its present form to other
individuals or bulletin boards.  However, I hold the copyright to this system,
so neither you nor anyone else has the right to modify the program or market it
without my written consent (and my being compensated accordingly !).

     Ahem ! Now for some sales talk:

     Please keep in mind that you are not licensed to use this program past
ninety days unless you have registered with me as a user and paid the one time
license fee of $ 35 ($ 400 for an unlimited corporate site license).  Once this fee has
been paid, you may use the program as often as you want, on as many machines as
you wish.  Future upgrades will then be sent to you for an additional fee of $
10, payable when the upgrade is received by you.  For further information, or to
send checks, write to:


                             Brian Corll
                             1700 N. 2nd St. #9
                             Harrisburg,PA 17102
                             Tel.: [phone]

     If you like this program and use it, please register.  I'm getting married
on August 6, 1988 , and I can certainly use the money !


POSSIBLE PITFALLS

     The only possible difficulty you may encounter in the use of this program
is the fact that the file sizes are large.  However, this system was designed
to be used with files which are large to begin with, and in these times of huge
hard disks, a couple of million bytes are no big deal, especially when you
weigh the storage space against the speed and usefulness of the program.  Try
it out and decide for yourself.

LEGAL STUFF

     These programs are provided "as is" without warranty of any kind,
either express or implied, included but not limited to the implied
warranty of merchantability and fitness for a specific purpose.  The
entire risk as to the quality and performance of these programs is with
you.

     In no event will the author be liable to you for any damages,
including any lost profits, lost savings or other incidental
or consequential damages arising out of the use of or inability
to use these programs.

     Now that I have that out of the way, let me add that these programs
have been run literally hundreds of times on several different machines, without
harm to hardware or the original files.  The test machines included an IBM-XT
with CGA card, an IBM 3270-AT with XMA card, and a Leading Edge Model D2 EGA system.
It cannot be guaranteed that these programs will work properly with all hardware
configurations, but they should work with most.  With proper use, these programs
should not cause you any trouble.  If they do, please write to me with a complete
description of the problem, so that I can get to work on it.

THE FUTURE

    An ultra-fast hypertext version of this system is in the works and will
be distributed this summer.  Watch for it on a bulletin board near you !


WHO DONE IT AND WHAT IT IS

     I am new to the world of ShareWare, but no longer so new to PC's.  I
received a B.A. in art history from Vassar about five years before the IBM PC
was born.  I create software as a fulltime job and as a hobby.  If you like and
use what I do, let me know.  If you love what I do, pay me !

                                    Brian Corll
                                    May 12, 1988