home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Night Owl 9
/
Night Owl CD-ROM (NOPV9) (Night Owl Publisher) (1993).ISO
/
050a
/
tc14.zip
/
TC_READ.ME
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1993-03-01
|
5KB
|
113 lines
TC - Text compare utility - Version 1.4 Page 1 of 2
Copyright 1992,1993 - Robert M. Peffer
March 1, 1993
Description
-----------
TC is a utility which allows two text files to be viewed side-by side. Single
keystroke commands may then be used to control the display of the files. TC
does not modify the files in any way, and does not create any work files.
These commands include:
-- Scroll either file, or both files together;
-- Search for a string in either or both files;
-- Find the next or previous difference between the two files;
-- Invoke the editor of your choice to modify a file and then return to TC;
-- Change the name of your preferred editor;
-- Shell to DOS;
-- Change the colors of the display;
-- Change the columns displayed.
Usage
-----
To use TC, type TC from the DOS prompt, followed by zero, one or two file
names. If one or both file names are omitted from the command line, then they
may be selected from a file selecton screen within TC.
The TC file selection screen will display up to 999 files from the current
directory, sorted by name or extension. Directories are also displayed,
including the . and .. directories, so that you may traverse your directory
structure.
Commands within the file selection screen include:
-- Select a file or directory to view;
-- Change the sort from name order to extension order or vice-versa;
-- Position to the first file starting with a particular letter;
-- Change the color of the file selection screen.
Options
-------
TC can be used in EGA or VGA modes to see more lines on the screen at once.
The default display mode is whatever mode you are in when you start TC.
The initial display colors can be changed for compatibility with monochrome or
LCD displays. The default colors are blue for the left file and green for the
right file.
Your default editor preference can also be specified. If not specified, no
default editor is assumed. You can also specify or change the editor name from
within TC.
The above options can be specified on the TC command line or stored in an
environment string called TC_OPTIONS. Enter TC /? at the DOS prompt for a
description of how to specify these options.
TC - Text compare utility - Version 1.4 Page 2 of 2
Copyright 1992,1993 - Robert M. Peffer
Limitations
-----------
TC may only be used on standard MS-DOS text files. Only the first 4000
characters of each line and only the first 47998 lines of each file may be
inspected.
TC requures about 470K of conventional memory for its basic functions. The
file selection screen requires about 16K additional memory. The string search
commands require about 20K of additional memory.
Revisions
---------
TC 1.4 - Differences since TC 1.3
When both files are being searched, the ESC key now interrupts both searches.
Undisplayable characters in text files are now displayed as ASCII 127's ().
Selection of directory names can now be exited with Alt+Q, TC can now be exited
with ESC and the help screens can now be exited with Q. Maximum line length
has been extended to 4000 chars. Using the TC directory listing to open a file
or searching for text now show understandable error messages if there is not
sufficient memory for those functions. A new command, Alt+F, will find the
next difference only if the lines under the cursor are the same. This allows
quickly checking if the lines under the cursor match. New commands reset the
first column displayed to column 1 or the end of the longest line in the file.
A bug was fixed that caused TC to function incorrectly if one or both files
were shorter than one screen.
TC 1.3 - Differences since TC 1.2
A bug was fixed when one or both files were longer than the 47998 line limit.
Undisplayable characters in text files are now displayed as question marks.
Line counters now indicate progress during finds and searches.
Finds and searches can now be interrupted with the ESC key.
TC 1.2 - Differences since TC 1.1
TC now supports 43 and 50 line EGA and VGA monitors. If TC is entered without
specifying two file names, TC displays a directory from which one or both files
may be selected. The Find command has been enhanced to remember the last
string searched for, thus eliminating the "Find again" commands; also, this
search string may be edited. The initial colors may be specified on the TC
command line. All command line options may be preset using an environment
variable, including the editor name, and the initial screen colors and size
(25, 43 or 50 lines). Finally, a TC.PIF file has been included because TC
works fine in a windowed mode and does not require a full character-based
screen.
Registration
------------
If you like TC, the author would appreciate suggestions for improvements
and also monetary support. Please send lots of money (or $20) to the following
address to increase the author's enthusiasm for improving the software and
entitle yourself to news of upgrades, should they occur.
Robert M. Peffer Voice Phone: 707-986-7811
P.O. Box 247 Compuserve ID: 70621,1702
Whitethorn, CA 95589-0247