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CLEARCUT.TXT
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Text File
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1980-01-01
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7KB
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158 lines
ClearCut 1.2
A Text File Clarification Program
by
Imagination Enterprises
Mark Lefler
28 June 1987
ClearCut is a program that can improve the clarity of your
writing. ClearCut quickly looks for bad, overblown or confusing
words, and suggests replacements for these words. ClearCut is
very good at getting rid of "governmentese" that may have snuck
into your writing. The new version of ClearCut (1.2) can search
for phrases, and suggest replacements as well. Also, more
information about your writing is displayed, including a rating
on the clarity of your writing.
When you use ClearCut, the program will examine your text
file, and suggest changes. Your file will be copied and these
changes added to the new file. Words and phrases that the
program finds confusing, unclear, or overblown are marked with a
>>, and suggested changes added after the word or phrase. For
instance, if the program finds the word "examine", it may suggest
that the word "look" might be more clear, like this:
>examine>>look<<
After running the program, using your word processor you can
edit the new file and search for >>. You can then make the
suggested change, or delete the suggestion.
The output from the program can go to a new text file, the
screen, or both. The changes can be displayed on the screen or
the text file or both.
After the program has examined the file, it will give you
information about how many words there are in your file. It also
gives an average length of words. Shorter words are generally
clearer. Finally the program will give you a Readibility Index,
telling you how clear your writing is. ClearCut 1.2 even will
make suggestions on ways to improve your writing.
USING THE PROGRAM
ClearCut should only be used on ASCII text files. Check
your word processor manual to make sure your files are in ASCII
format. This may involve a simple conversion utility in your
word processor (Multi-Mate for instance) or your word processor
may be able to directly write text files (Framework and
WordStar). To use ClearCut, make sure the CLEARCUT.COM file, the
BADWORDS.TXT file and your text file are on the current disk,
then type:
CLEARCUT <Return>
Then just follow the simple instructions. You will be asked to
give a file name for the source of the information you want
checked. Just type in the name, then press <Return>. Next you
will be asked for the name for the file with the suggested
changes marked. If you do not want this marked file created,
then just type:
none <Return>
Finally, you will be asked what information you would like
ClearCut to display on the screen while it runs. If you want No
information displayed, then type the letter "n". If you only
want the recommended Suggested Changes displayed, then type "s".
If you want the entire File displayed, including the suggested
changes, then type "f".
The program will search the file, and display the requested
information. When the searches are completed, you will be asked
to hit any key to continue. The next screen will give you
information about your file, such as the number of words of
various lengths, the number of sentences, the average word and
sentence lengths, the number of recommended substitutions made
(if any) and a Readability Index from 1 to 100. The higher the
number, the more clear the writing. If ClearCut thinks that your
writing could be improved, it will ask if you want some
suggestions to improve the writing. Answer "y" for yes or "n"
for no.
If you want, you can tell CLEARCUT the name of the file you
want to have checked and the other information on a single line,
like shown:
CLEARCUT SAMPLE.TXT none f <Return>
where SAMPLE.TXT is the file you want examined. This example
would not write an output file (none), but it would display the
entire file on screen with the recommended changes (f). You can
use this file, CLEARCUT.TXT, as an example.
CHANGING OR ADDING YOUR OWN BAD WORDS
You can modify the file of "bad words" and replacements.
This file is called BADWORDS.TXT. The first entry is a "bad
word", the second entry is the replacement for the "bad word".
This pattern continues with other "bad words" and replacements
for the rest of the file. To add your own words or phrases using
your favorite text processor program, just insert them at the end
of the list, along with your suggested replacements. Remember
that BADWORDS.TXT must be an ASCII or text file. Each "bad word"
or phrase should appear on a line by itself. Also, the
replacements should be on a single line, and must immediately
follow the bad word. It is convenient to use capitol letters for
the "bad words" and small letters for the replacements. The next
time ClearCut is run, the list will be resorted, and the file
rewritten. When the file is rewritten, the "bad words" will
appear in capital letters. This will make the file BADWORDS.TXT
easier to read.
You can have up to 800 "bad word" lines and 800 suggested
changes lines in the BADWORDS.TXT file. Each line can be up to
thirty characters long. More than 30 characters in a line will
be ignored.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
ClearCut was written entirely in Borland's Turbo PASCAL.
The program uses very high speed search techniques to match your
words and phrases to the words and phrases in the substitution
file. This same technique can be used in many special
applications, such as computer language translation. For
instance, you could create a file that will help convert PASCAL
programs to BASIC! If you are interested in the code, a listing
of the source is available for a small fee. See below for
mailing instructions.
FINALLY
Imagination Enterprises is a small business which creates
useful programs for low prices. Using the same technology used
in ClearCut, a flexible language translation program has been
developed. The program uses a substitution file to translate
SPANISH into ENGLISH (with a present vocabulary of 1300 Spanish
words). The translation program TRANS 1.0 is smart enough to
prompt the user for any word that it doesn't know. It will then
remember the new translation the next time the program is run.
You can easily create your own vocabularies for other languages,
and as a side benefit, once you have taught the program the
English equivalent of Spanish words, you can create an English to
Spanish translation file automatically!
If you want more information about Imagination Enterprises
programs, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the address
below.
If you find ClearCut useful, then send a suggested $5
contribution to:
IMAGINATION ENTERPRISES
223 Arbor Lane
Bryans Road, MD 20616
Make sure you include your present address, so that information
on updates to ClearCut can be sent to you. Questions and
comments may be sent to the same address.