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- STRINGS.COM v1.1 -- String Finder
-
- Syntax: STRINGS <filename> [<min_chars>] [/X]
-
- STRINGS looks through the file <filename> and finds all strings of
- printable characters (that is, consisting of only ascii characters between
- space and tilde, or 32 to 126). The strings have to be at least <min_chars>
- long to qualify; they default for min_chars is 4. If you would prefer the
- location to be displayed in hex format, use the /X switch.
-
- You can also use the /C switch (no other arguments are valid or accepted
- when this is used) to display a copyright message, which includes the version
- of STRINGS and its compile date. Many times, a new version will not receive a
- new version number, only a new compile date, so you will have to go by that in
- determining if you need (or want) an upgrade.
-
- STRINGS sends its output to DOS's standard output. This means that it can
- be piped into another program or into a file.
-
- STRINGS's output looks like this (which is STRINGS run on itself with a
- <min_chars> of 8)
-
- Offset String
- 8324 Turbo-C - Copyright (c) 1988 Borland Intl.
- 8367 Divide error
- 8381 Abnormal program termination
- 8700 STRINGS v1.1 dated Jun 22 1990, Copyright 1990 by Daniel Sachs.
- 8764 strings: syntax <filename> [<min_chars>] [/X]
- 8819 strings: unable to open file
- 8848 strings: unable to allocate storage
- 9023 !!!!!
- 9056 @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
- 9658 print scanf : floating point formats not linked
- 9717 0123456789ABCDEF
- ^ ^
- | |______ The string
- |
- |______________ The location in the file (measured in bytes from the beginning)
-
- STRINGS will work properly on any type of file, but is more useful on
- program and data files which are in binary format. This would allow you to see
- what the program does or the data file means, or be used as a guide for
- modifying messages in programs (STRINGS will NOT modify the messages itself;
- you have to use a program such as DEBUG. But finding the messages is much
- simpler if you have something to work from.)
-
- Strings is licensed under the "Bannerware" concept; anyone and everyone who
- wants to use it may and is granted a nonexclusive licensed to do so and to
- distribute it (along with the this documentation) in unmodified form to anyone
- who could benefit from it. However, the program is still copyrighted and
- therefore it is illegal to distribute modified versions.
-
- Now for a sales pitch:
-
- I also have a shareware file/pipe viewing program called MORE which works
- very well with STRINGS and allows you to scroll 4 ways through the file, and
- also supports DOS piping syntax. It also supports searching for words or
- phrases, customizable color schemes, launching editors, and writing files
- collected from other programs (such as STRINGS) to disk, and disk based
- configuration. It can view files up to size of memory or 15,000 lines, and is a
- much simpler alternative to Vern Berg's List; the total size of the program is
- about 32k. A $5 shareware fee is requested.
-
- STRINGS program and document copyright (C) 1990 by Daniel Sachs. All rights
- reserved.