II. It can read the data from almost any file including Stacks, word processing documents,
III. It can save any data extracted from a file in a form readable by TeachText, BBedit, Word 5.0+, and other word processors.
IV. And more planned for the future...
•Opening a File: To read the text from any word processing document follow the below instructions.
1. Open "Fox Retrieval Utility".
2. Click anywhere on the screen to go to the Command Screen. (The one with the three buttons on the bottom.)
3. Click on the button "Read" and select the file you wish to import from.
4. Select "OK" or hit "Return" and the file will be read.
5. Almost immediately after the file should appear in the scrollable field. (The length of the wait depends on the size of the file.)
6. You can browse through the file using the arrows on the field.
7. If you wish you may now 'Save' or 'Clear' the screen. (See 'Saving a File' and 'Clearing the Screen')
8. When you are finished choose "Quit Fox Retrieval Utility" from the file menu to exit the program.
•Saving a File: To save a file just follow these simple instruction.
1. Push the button labeled 'Save'.
2. Type the name you with the file to be saved as in the appropriate box. (It is a standard save box.)
3. Push 'OK' or type return.
4. The file is now saved.
•Clearing the Screen: To clear the screen of other information just read along.
1. Push the button labeled 'Clear'
2. Select 'OK' to clear screen.
3. The screen should now be clear.
•Other Uses For Fox Retrieval Utility: This is where the fun begins, because this program sprung from my curiosity about the data fork (where text and other information normally is) of certain programs this program can read any data fork. (which makes it perfect to read mystery text files.) This means that you can poke around your computer opening a myriad different types of files, such as Stacks (HyperCard files) and even applications. To do this follow the instructions listed under Opening a File and you will be surprised at what you find. For example when opening a stack you will be able to read the scripts. Try it! I think you'll be surprised.
•Copying Text Out of the Field: To copy text out of the field
1. First load some text into the field by using the read command.
2. Click on the field to bring up a dialog box which asks if you would like to select some text, and click 'OK'.
3. Without moving your cursor out of the field select text as you normal would, then copy it.
4. Once you have moved your cursor out of the field everything will return to normal.
•Trouble Shooting: Read this section to avert any possible problems.
Problem: You have gone through all the steps in opening a file, but nothing is happening.
Answer: Most likely the file has no data fork. (In other words is not text.)
Problem: There are strange symbols mixed in with the text.
Answer: This is normal. What is happening is that the file you read is not entirely text so these strange characters appear.
Problem: After the cursor has left the field text stays selected.
Answer: This will not cause a problem and is one of the things I hope to fix.
Problem: I can't open a file and it keeps giving me a dialog that says. "Error file open by other application."
Answer: The file is being used by another program. To solve this quit your other open applications, and if it still persists then it is probably being used by Finder. In this case make a copy of it then try again on the copy.
