In the actual computer science world there are many text file formats, and we need often convert one format to another. Usually it means simply replace some strings by the others. Of course some text editors provide this possibility with “find and replace” command. But with this command it is almost impossible for a complicate multi-replace conversion.
What Is It?
PowerReplace is a powerful text conversion utility. It does the conversion using a small file called “Filter”. The syntax of filter is very easy to understand.
PowerReplace is also an utility to build text conversion application. It can create small stand-alone daughter-application called “SelfReplace”, who makes your favorite conversion more easily and efficiently.
PowerReplace can replace character (including NULL, CR, LF, TAB) or string by any other string. By use of the asterisk-sign(*) representing any indeterminate string, it can replace also a string only whose two extremities are known. It supports all character set, hexadecimal string and regular expression(pattern) for find/replace.
Who Will Use It?
All people who need to do some text conversion: Non programmer as well as programmer.
How to Use It? A Simple Example
To replace "à" by "à" and "é" by "é", follow these steps:
(1) Launch PowerReplace application.
(2) Write the following lines in the window "Untitled":
"à" "à"
"é" "é"
(3) Click Convert File (or press E).
That’s all. For complete information on this topic, see User’s Guide Chapter 4 - Tutorial.
Features
- High conversion speed and easy to use.
- Easy to create new filter file.
- Can copy resource and keep the same type-creator. This seems to me very important. For example I often use this option for convert TeX 8 bits file with pictures to TeX 7 bits file. In these files, pictures are stocked in the resource 'PICT'.
- Easy to change filter file that will be remember in the preference file.
- Can override old text file, or save output file with extension name.
- Apple technology Support: Drag/Drop, Balloon Help, AppleScript.
- and more…
Documentation & Help
- Launch PowerReplace application, from the Help menu, select PowerReplace User’s Guide… or Show Balloons.
• Fixed the big-progress-message bug. Now you can give a very long message for the progress window.
• Added Unanchor/Anchor Toolbar command in the Control menu. You can move the toolbar window.
• Added preferences for the window position, toolbar status, user's guide topic item, text font and style.
• Shortcuts. To select a filter and avoid opening it: + Select Filter.
• Extract filter from SelfReplace using PowerReplace. Select Open Filter… from the File menu and choose a:
- Filter file = Open it,
- Plain text file = Import it as filter,
- SelfReplace application = Extract filter from it.
• You can protect your filter by setting password in SelfReplace application. This password will be asked when extracting filter from SelfReplace application.
• Simplified the text option dialog for the input window and output window.
• Don't ask save for input and output window when quitting the application.
• Added author name and filter version number in filter information and in SelfReplace application.
Change in Documentation
• An uncompatibility problem between versions 5.x and 6.x in regular expression(pattern):
In version 5, '$' matches the end of line, but doesn't match the '\r' at the end of line. In version 6, '$' matches the end of line, including the '\r' at the end of line.
Example: To replace "abcd" at the end of line by "xyz", the filters are:
