Shareware Grab Bag

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ Shareware Grab Bag / Shareware Grab Bag.iso / 013 / psearch.arc / PSEARCH.DOC < prev next >

Wrap

Text File | 1986-04-08 | 30.0 KB | 736 lines

P S E A R C H by Norm Patriquin Version 2.0 April 1986 Table of Contents What is PSEARCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Starting PSEARCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Recommended Implementation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Command Mode Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 [fspec] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 /DR: - Specify multiple drives to search . . . . . . . 4 /F - Search for file names . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 /AR - Search .ARC file directories . . . . . . . . . 5 /AO - Search only .ARC file directories . . . . . . . 5 /S - Scan for text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 /E - Show directory tree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 /A - Scan all directories on disk . . . . . . . . . 5 /T:text - Specify text to be searched for . . . . . . 6 /FW - Find text by complete word . . . . . . . . . . 6 /FP - Find text as a word prefix . . . . . . . . . . 6 /FS - Find text as word suffix . . . . . . . . . . . 6 /D - Show data matching found text (1 line per file) 7 /M - Show all matching text lines . . . . . . . . . 7 /C - Text search must exactly match case . . . . . . 7 /SK - Skip .COM and .EXE during text searches . . . . 7 /FX - Create extract file containing matching lines . 7 /P - Pause after text is found . . . . . . . . . . . 7 /PR - Display on screen and on printer. . . . . . . . 7 /PF - Display on screen and in print file . . . . . . 7 /O:nnn - Select files older than n days . . . . . . . 8 /N:nnn - Select files n days old or newer . . . . . . 8 /MO - MORE - Stop screen scrolling at bottom of scrn 8 /SO - Set sounds off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 /X:xxx - Execute a command for selected file . . . . . 9 /XP:xxx - Pause, then execute command . . . . . . . . 9 /XF:xxx - Generate command file for each selection. . 9 /AT:c - Select files by READONLY, HIDDEN, SYSTEM attr 9 Function Key Usage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Screen colors and monitor support . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Pausing the Search . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Batch Command File Examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Features protected from unregistered users . . . . . . . 12 Registering PSEARCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 PSEARCH Order Form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Problem Reporting and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Overview of new features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Page 1 What is PSEARCH --------------- PSEARCH is a generalized search facility for all PC users. PSEARCH can search the current directory or all hard disk directories for files or text in files. It also can scan non- text files and show only the text (readable) data from the file. PSEARCH is not just another search type command. It works with normal DOS command parameters or through the use of menus. This insures that PSEARCH can be used by anyone that uses a PC. PSEARCH also goes much farther than just searching for data. Once files are found, you can use the file names to build DOS commands which can either be executed or placed in command files. This facility turns PSEARCH into a very useful utility that can aid in many different situations. For instance, if you want to print a selected group of files based on how old they are, you could issue a print command for each file using PSEARCH. Any DOS command may be built with selected filenames used as parameters. The only limit to the use of this facility is your imagination. Another of the most popular features of PSEARCH is the ability to peak into files and show the first readable data in a file. One of the best uses of this is for 123 users who have forgotten the name of a worksheet file they previously created. When users have a great number of worksheet files it is prohibitive to load and inspect each one, but PSEARCH can quickly find the worksheet desired. You optionally specify a word or words to look for in .WKS files and then have PSEARCH locate any files containing those words. Then PSEARCH will show you a line containing the first text words found in the file. This is most often the title line of the worksheet file and will allow you to determine if it is the file you want. If you need more information, press a key and more text from the file will be displayed. This facility is a must for spreadsheet users. Here are a list of some of the hundreds of possible uses for PSEARCH. ** List all files on a hard disk that match a wildcard specification. ** Show the names of any files containing specified text ** Show text lines of any file containing a specified string. ** Look for word "Mrs" in any file and preserve case in search. Page 2 ** Find 123 files containing the word "BUDGET" and print their name. ** Find 123 files with word "BUDGET" and show first text data in file. ** Compile all C programs that refer to the "RECDESC.H" include file. ** Find a word processing document containing the name "Wiffle". ** Delete any *.DOC files containing "To: Mr. Johnson". ** Locate all readonly files existing on a disk. ** Use the ARC utility to archive any *.DOC file over n days old. ** List all files updated today. ** Build a DOS command to archive manually selected files from one or more directories. ** Search multiple drives attached to the system for text or a file name ** Search for a file name even if it has been archived with the ARC utility and exists in a .ARC file. ** Extract lines found in a file to another extract file ** Limit text search to WORDS, PREFIXES, or SUFFIXES. This greatly enhances the search by returning only the data you want. ** Ability to exclude COM and EXE files from text searches greatly reduces the time required to find data. Page 3 Starting PSEARCH ---------------- To start PSEARCH using menus, just enter the command "PS" without any parameters. A menu will be provided to guide you along. To use PSEARCH in command mode you will need to learn the command parameters. These are described in this document and in a online help display that is accessible through the menus. Recommended Implementation -------------------------- Although PSEARCH can be used with menus, it is easiest to use when you build DOS batch command files to accomplish your most often used search requests. Batch files can relieve you from keying in parameters over and over again and will save you from having to remember all the parameters you need each time it is used. Page 4 Command Mode Parameters ----------------------- Since PSEARCH has so many different functions, there are many different command parameters. They are easy to understand and learn and will give you the flexibility to get the work you need done. Remember that each parameter is summarized in the online help display. Just type PS. COMMAND FORMAT: PS [fspec] /T:text /F /S /E /A /D /M /C /P /PR /PF /MO /O:nn /N:nn /X[F][P]:cmd /AT:c /FW /FP /FS /DR:xxx /SO /AR /AO /FX /SK PS - PS is the name of the PSEARCH command. PS actually refers to Patriquin's PSEARCH. Enter the command without any parameters for menus and help. [fspec] Enter the DOS file specification for the directory and file names to be searched. If no directory name is specified the current directory will be searched. If the /A option is specified, the directory name portion of this parameter is not used. The filename portion of the file specification may contain wildcard characters documented by DOS (* and ?). /DR: DRive list. If the drive is not specified, text will be located on the current disk. /DR: indicates one or more drives that the search is to be performed on. The following example indicates the search is to be done on drives A and D. /DR:ad /F Files - This parameter indicates the type of search being done. If /F is specified, PS assumes that a locate for file request is being entered. If not specified, a text search is assumed and the /T parameter must be supplied. Page 5 /AR ARchive - If you use the ARC utility distributed by System Enhancement Associates, this parameter will allow you to find file names even if they have been archived and exist in an archive file. When /AR is specified and a file with the .ARC extension is found, the filenames contained in it are searched for matches. /AR only pertains to file name searches (/F parameter). /AO Archove Only - Like /AR except at only filenames with the DOS .ARC extension are processed. All non archive files are bypassed. /S Scan - Peek into selected files and show the text found. After a file has been selected because it contains found text word or it matches specified filename pattern, PSEARCH will scan the file from the beginning for text information. This information will be shown on the screen one line at a time. If the /P parameter is also specified, you may see more than one line of the text from the file by pressing a key. /E dirEctory - List all directories on the current drive. /A All directories - Indicates that all directories on the current drive are to be searched for the file or text. If not specified, only the current or specified directory are searched. Page 6 /T:text Text - Specifies the text to be found for text search requests. The text string may contain any characters. A terminating command line or the following slash character will signal the end of the text to be searched. If this is the last parameter on the command any trailing spaces will not be included in the search. To include trailing spaces, terminate the string with an ending slash character. Text may be specified in upper or lower case. Unless the /C parameter is specified to force exact text matches, the search will be made for any match regardless of case. Examples: /T:BUDGET /T:Budget /T:Mr. Jones/ /FW Find Word - The text to be searched for is a word. Only select text that is a complete word. A word is defined as any string of characters and numbers that is not preceded or succeeded with other characters or numbers. in "This" "This" is a word. "is" is not a word. /FP Find Prefix - Like find word, Find Prefix will only select the text specified if it is found on the beginning of a word. /FS Find Suffix - Like find word, Find Suffix will only select the text specified if it is found at the end of a word. /D Data - For text searches only. Causes the text that matched the search to be shown on the screen. If a text file is being searched, the screen line displayed will show the line number of the text in the file and the offset into the file where it exists. If it is not a text file, only the offset from the beginning of the file will be shown. Page 7 /M Multiples - For text searches only. Indicates that multiple matching text are to be searched for in each file. If /M is not specified, only the first occurrence of the text in the file will be shown. This is only valid if the /D parameter is also specified. /C Case - Indicates that text search requests are to be case sensitive. /SK FIles with .COM and .EXE extensions are to be excluded from text search operations. /FX File Extract - All lines found to contain the matching text are to be extracted to an output text file. The name of the file is assigned by PSEARCH and it will be displayed at the end of the search. /P Pause - Pause has different meanings depending on other parameters that are specified. For File locate commands, PS will pause whenever a matching filename is found. You may terminate the search or continue by pressing any key. When the peek at file text request is active (/S), PAUSE indicates to stop after each line of text is displayed. You may then request that another line of text from the file be displayed or to go on to the next file. /PR PRint - Causes all screen output to also be directed to the output printer device. /PF Print to File - If you want to direct print to an output file, enter /PR. The file PSPRINT.DAT will be created in the current directory. Page 8 /O:nnn Olddays - Indicates that only files older than nnn days are to be selected for processing. /O:365 will cause files over one year old to be selected. /N:nnn Newdays - Indicates that only files created or updated within the last nnn days are to be selected for processing. /N:1 causes any files updated within the last day to be selected. To search for files updated on the current date, specify /N:0. /MO MOre - Stops screen scrolling when the end of each screen page is reached. /SO Turns the sound off at the beginning of a PSEARCH execution. It may be turned back on at any time by using the sound function key. Page 9 /X:xxx eXecute - Build and execute a DOS command whenever a filename match or a text match is found. xxx is the DOS command to be executed. The command may either be a standard DOS command or the name of a DOS batch command file. The command will be executed with a second copy of COMMAND.COM. The command data may contain the following special characters to allow for substitution values. # - Always replaced with the selected filename & - Always replaced with the selected path/filename ! - Always replaced with the filename without extension @ - Replaced with a slash to allow for command parameters to be specified in executed commands. Examples: /X:ERASE & To delete selected files /X:ARC A OLD123.ARC # To use ARC utility to archive file /X:TYPE & To type the file /X:LOTUS Start 123 for the file /XP:xxx eXecute with Pause - Functions in the same way as the /X parameter except that you are asked to indicate if the command is to be executed for each selected file. /XF:xxx eXecute File - Works like /X except that the command is not executed, it is generated and placed in a DOS batch command file named PSCMDS.BAT in the current directory. This file may be edited before it is executed. /AT:c ATtributes - Only selects files that have the indicated attributes. Indicate one of the following attributes as the c value for the parameter. U - Updated,the ARCHIVE bit is on to indicate the file has been updated since the last backup. R - Readonly,Files marked with Readonly attribute. H - Hidden,Files marked with Hidden attribute. S - System, Files marked with System attribute. Page 10 Function Key Usage ------------------ F1 - Brings up a simple help display to show the use of other function keys. F3 - Toggle sound on/off. If a beep is sounded when the key is pressed the sound has been turned on. If there is no beep, the sound has been turned off. F4 - Execute a DOS command. Pressing this key will clear the screen and allow you to enter a DOS command. The command will be executed from within another version of DOS COMMAND.COM. It may be the name of a DOS batch command file. After the command is executed you may return to activate the search at the point it was stopped. The screen will be restored to its original contents. Screen colors and monitor support --------------------------------- PSEARCH checks the DOS equipment flags to determine what type of monitor you have on your system. This is usually always correct except for one specific information. For those users running a composite monitor with a color graphics card, the screens may not be displayed correctly. If this occurs, use the DOS MODE command to set your environment to black and white. This can be done at system startup or just before starting PSEARCH. Beware that some applications incorrectly reset these indicators and they may need to be reset before again running PSEARCH. Following is an example, see the DOS reference for more information about setting the monitor with the MODE command. MODE BW80 Pausing the Search ------------------ Even if Pause parameters are not specified, you may pause the search at any time by pressing any keyboard key. At the end of the next file processing will pause. You will then have the opportunity to continue processing, use a function key, or exit from PSEARCH. Page 11 Batch Command File Examples --------------------------- Following are examples of batch files that may be used to invoke PSEARCH. 1. PSFF - Find a file on the current hard disk. Stop screen from scrolling past the end. echo off PS %1/f/mo/a To execute enter: PSFF filename 2. PSFIND - Find any file on the disk containing the specified characters and show the matching data. echo off PS *.*/t:%1/d/m/mo/a To execute enter: PSFIND text 3. PS123 - To locate any .WKS files in the 123 directory that contain the text specified. Show the first line of text data found in the file. Optionally allows you to show additional lines of data. echo off PS \123\*.WKS/T:%1/S/P Note: Replace the \123\ with the name of the directory you desire to search in. To execute, enter: PS123 text 4. PSSELECT - Manually select files to be processed with the entered command. echo off PS %1/f/xp:%2 # To execute enter: PSSELECT fspec command skeleton Page 12 Features protected from unregistered users ------------------------------------------ I am happy that you have obtained, and are trying out PSEARCH. I know this is an old story but I do have countless hours in developing PSEARCH. I am attempting to decide if distributing software through Shareware is wise. My experience to this point has shown that anyone considering a major Shareware effort be warned. There is no way that the registration fees sent in have even covered the phone costs I have incurred. This will not be the last release of PSEARCH, but it may be the last Shareware version. The choice is yours as a user. I gratefully thank those users that did register and will always support them in the future. They are also entitled to all future versions of PSEARCH. I encourage you to support Shareware authors when you use their software. This system only works if you support it. If you don't support it, don't complain about the lack of good software available to you. Thank you. Due to the lack of support of PSEARCH (4 users for version 1), the following sections of this utility have been disabled to users who have not yet registered their copy. Once you have entered your registration information, this message will disappear and the protected functions will be available. /PR - Direct display output to the line printer /PF - Direct display output to a print file /SO - Turn off the sound /SK - Ignore COM and EXE files for text searches /FX - Extract text search lines to a file /DR: - Multiple drive support is limited to 2 drives I sincerely regret having to implement this procedure. It was necessary because so many people use Shareware products without ever paying for them. Thank you for your understanding If you cannot afford PSEARCH, don't feel it is worth the amount asked, or are a BBS SYSOP or other individual helping to distribute Shareware, send me a letter describing your situation and I will register you. If you are unable to pay, please include a self addressed, stamped, envelope. Page 13 Registering PSEARCH ------------------- PSEARCH is distributed under the freeware concept. This makes it available for anyone to try without obligation. If you decide it is useful and want to keep it, I ask that you register your use of it. This will allow for continued support and maintenance of the program and will help to encourage that more quality software be made available through this channel. We require all corporate and government users of this utility register their copies. The program registration fee is $15. Make checks payable to, and send to: Norm Patriquin P.O. Box 8308 San Bernardino, CA 92412 Registered users will be sent a product serial number and registration code number. This will be used as input to the registration menu item on the main menu. Once this is done, your registration number and name will be displayed at the bottom of the screen each time the utility is used. The registration charge is a one time fee that entitles you to all future versions of the product. These may either be obtained from normal Freeware sources or directly from me. Any organization ordering more than 100 copies is also entitled to telephone support and will be given the technical support number. The following is a form that may be used to order PSEARCH for corporate or government agencies. Page 14 PSEARCH Order Form Version 2.0 Please send PSEARCH to the following address. We will use ____ copies of the program and have enclosed $15 for each copy to be used. Send the program to: Name: __________________________________________________ Company: _______________________________________________ Address: _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ City: ______________________________ State: ___________ Zip: ______________________ I obtained my copy of PSEARCH from: ____________________________ If BBS indicate name and number please._________________________ ________________________________________________________________ Please register the software under the following name: ____________________________________________________ Make checks payable to, and send to: Norm Patriquin P.O. Box 8308 San Bernardino, CA 92412 Page 15 Problems and Maintenance ------------------------ I welcome all comments or enhancement suggestions. Please document each item clearly and provide printed examples if possible. Please be sure to include this form with all requests, it will help to make sure we can provide you with the best possible service. Name: __________________________________________________________ Company: _______________________________________________________ Registration Number: _________________________________ Address: _______________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ City: __________________________________ State: _______________ Zip: ______________________________ Telephone: _______ / ________________________ (Home / Work) Date: _________________________ Description of problem or enhancement: ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ Suggested solution: ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ Page 15 Overview of new features ------------------------ There is an ongoing commitment to improve PSEARCH as long as there is expressed need by PSEARCH users. I do respond to your requests. The enhancements below reflect both user requests and my own ideas. Please let me know of your needs, maybe they can appear on this list next time. ----------------------------------------------------------------- PSEARCH Version 1.0 was released in March 1st, 1986 PSEARCH Version 2.0 was released April 8th, 1986. It upgraded version 1 with the following new features. -- Ability to search in .ARC files for filenames /AR /AO -- Find text by WORD, PREFIX, or SUFFIX /FW /FP /FS -- Returns back to menus after search is complete -- Extract data to file implemented -- Fix to show found text un upper/lower case -- /SO to turn sound off -- Ability to exclude .COM and .EXE files from search -- Ability to search all drives attached to system /DR:abc