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BLASTER.DOC
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1991-05-28
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5KB
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120 lines
BLASTer v1.0
Integrated ASCII File Prep Utility
By: George Spafford
Purpose:
Blaster was developed to allow the preprocessing of data files
into a flat ASCII format by weeding out extended ascii characters
and control characters. It also partially fills the need to perform
a quick analysis of data files and log the results.
Procedure:
BLASTER.EXE runtime file for this package. You can rename it if you
so desire. Once it is executed, the user is prompted for the input
and output file names. These two names can NOT be duplicates. The
program is purposefully designed to make a user keep a backup file.
By leaving the input file name blank and then pressing enter, the
registration screen will appear and the program will then terminate.
Once the filenames are entered and verified, the user is then presented
with the main menu. At this time, there are seven choices:
1. Remove Blanks
2. Analyze and LOG
3. Repair CR/LF ends
4. Strip to flat ASCII
5. Run the entire battery
R. Display registration information
0. QUIT
One at a time:
1. Remove Blanks
This will read in the input file, weed out all blank lines and then
save the corrected data to the output file. If there are blank lines
after this module executes, you might want to check for space holders
like decimal 20. Since it is a character, even though you can't see it,
BLASTer avoids removing the line "just-in-case."
2. Analyze and LOG
This analyzes the lines/records in the data file. A log file is then
appended to the output file that you specify. The log contains and also
reports the time and the date of the analysis, blank lines encountered,
minimum record length and maximum record length. Since there are tons
of editors and viewers, I will let you use your favorite to view the
log file. It is a simple flat ascii (DOS text) file.
3. Repair CR/LF Ends
Unfortunately, some programs require that DOS records end with
carriage return and line feed characters (Decimal 13 and 10 respectively).
And, as you might guess, some programs save data with just one or the
either. This module attempts to add a CR/LF to each record. It will NOT
parse streamed data files. CUTit (available on Queued Access) or
something similar must be used.
4. Strip to Flat ASCII
This reads in a file byte by byte. Each byte is analyzed and unless it
is a carriage return, line feed, standard printer character (between
decimal 31 and 127) or the true EOF (End of File) marker, it is discarded.
Note, this module processes data until the bytes read equals the byte
size reported by DOS - it does NOT process to the EOF marker. Thus, it
can eliminate extra EOF characters.
5. Run the Entire Battery
This battery of tests will create an intermediary file entitled
BV10$$$.TMP in the active DOS directory. The program will process
the data files and perform each of the above tests.
0. Quit
This displays the registration screen and terminates the program.
R. Registration
You guessed it - it's the registration screen once again!
I hope this program helps you evaluate some of your problems
or even makes some solutions/benefits clear. This program is
distributed as shareware. It is NOT public domain. If you would
like me to be able to continue providing specialized software at a
shareware price, I would appreciate $10. This price is based on
concurrent use - i.e. a license for one computer to use this is $10
or if there are 10 computers, but only 5 use this program at any
concurrent time, then the price is $10 x 5 machines = $50.
Please send payments (no cash please) or comments to:
Sincerely,
George Spafford
3001 LakeShore Drive, #329
St. Joseph, MI 49085
Data: (616) 468-5026 Queued Access BBS 2400-8-N-1
FIDOnet 1:227/250
BLASTER IS DISTRIBUTED AS IS. THE AUTHOR (GEORGE SPAFFORD) MAKES NO
WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE,
WITH RESPECT TO THIS SOFTWARE AND DOCUMENTATION. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOST PROFITS, LOST SAVINGS,
OR ANY OTHER INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF THE USE
OR THE INABILITY TO USE THIS PROGRAM.
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