home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Night Owl 6
/
Night Owl's Shareware - PDSI-006 - Night Owl Corp (1990).iso
/
010a
/
probe22.zip
/
PROBE.DOC
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1990-01-17
|
14KB
|
322 lines
*.* Wildcard Software *.*
Presents
PROBE
Version 2.2
Written by Ron Blessing
Copyright (C) 1989,1990 Ron Blessing, Elkhart, IN
All rights reserved
CHANGES IN VERSION 2.2 page 1
======================
This version adds the ability to insert characters in the search string. By
pressing the INSERT key you toggle between insert and overwrite mode. Also, the
HOME and END keys will move from beginning to end of the search string.
CHANGES IN VERSION 2.0
======================
After using this program on a network for a while, I decided to add a couple
of features that come in handy in my work. You can now search for files using
a specific date pattern and the program displays the files attributes. Also,
there were a couple of problems that croped up, ZIP files with stored paths
for one, that I have corrected.
CHANGES IN VERSION 1.4
======================
This version corrects a disappearing cursor problem on some color systems.
INTRODUCTION page 2
============
PROBE is a file locator program with some additional features added that I
wanted and couldn't find in the programs I have seen. The program will allow
you to:
1) Search compressed files. Both the new "ZIP" and "ARC" (OOPS can I say "ARC"?)
files.
2) List the matching files in the order they were found on the drive or it
will list the file names in alphabetical order.
3) Change to the drive and directory of a matching file.
4) Execute a matching file.
5) Run the program as a menu driven program or as a command driven program.
6) Scroll up and down thru the list of matching files.
7) Search using a specific date pattern.
The program is really easy to use and shouldn't require much explanation, so
I'll try to keep this explanation brief and to the point. I hope you find
PROBE useful and encourage you to register it for $10.00, if you do. You'll
find a pre-printed form at the end of this documentation for easy registration.
PCONFIG.EXE
===========
If you are going to run PROBE on a color system, run this program first.
PCONFIG will allow you to select the foreground and background colors that the
program uses. If you wish to use BIOS calls for screen writes, to prevent
"snow" on a CGA monitor, you can select this option too. The selections can be
toggled by pressing the space bar. The color selections will clear the screen
and redraw it in the new colors as they are toggled, so you can see what you're
selecting. When you are happy with the selections, press "F1" and a file
named "PROBE.CFG" will be created containing all the configuration
information. This file needs to be kept in the same directory as the PROBE
main program so that the program can find it when it starts up each time. If
this file can't be found during start-up, the program will default to NOT CGA,
gray letters and black background.
COMMAND DRIVEN OPERATION page 3
========================
You can run PROBE two different ways. The quickest way is by including the
path, pattern to search for and any "switches" on the same line that commands
DOS to run PROBE. The format is the following:
C> PROBE <path> <pattern> <switches>
Both the path and pattern is optional and switches are optional. Path will
default to the current directory if not included and pattern will default
to "*.*" if path is included without a pattern. You have a choice of the
following switches:
SWITCH RESULT
====== =======================================================
/a Sort matching files alphabetically by file name.
/p Search compressed files. (".ZIP" or ".ARC" extension)
/r Run the first matching file from current directory.
(File must be "EXE" or "COM" or "BAT" file.)
/g Change to first matching files directory and run it.
(File must be "EXE" or "COM" or "BAT" file.)
/c Change to first matching files directory.
/dXXXXXX Search for files matching "XXXXXX" date.
(EX: /d100089 means search for files with Oct of 89 date)
So, if you wanted to search for files on drive "A:" with the string "DOC" in
them, have the files displayed alphabetically and search compressed files, you
would enter the following string:
probe a:doc /a /p
MENU DRIVEN OPERATION
=====================
The second way to run PROBE is by just entering "probe" at the DOS prompt and
pressing "Enter". The program will present you first with an opening screen,
asking you to register the program, and after pressing a key, you will see the
search parameters menu. Enter the drive, path and pattern you want the program
to search for and then, using the arrow keys to change fields and the space bar
to toggle selections ON or OFF, select the options of searching compressed
files and/or displaying the matching files in alphabetical order. The program
defaults to the current drive, root directory and "*.*", if the path or pattern
are left blank. When you have everything set up, press the F1 function key to
start the search.
FILE DISPLAY
============
If any matching files are found, the program will display first the path to
those files on one line and then the filename, creation date, creation time,
file size and attributes on the next line. If there are more files found than
will fit on one screen, you can use the up/down arrow keys, page up/down keys,
"Home" key and "End" key to scroll thru the files. You will notice the
"[N]ext", "[C]hange", "[G]o" and "[R]un" options on the bottom line of the
display. "[G]o" and "[R]un" will only show up if the highlighted bar is on an
"EXE", "COM" or "BAT" file. With these options and by moving the highlighted
bar, with the arrow keys, you can:
page 4
SELECTION RESULT
========= ========================================================
[N]ext Return to the search parameters menu for another search.
[C]hange Change to the drive and directory of the highlighted file.
[G]o Change to the drive and directory of the highlighted file
and run it. (File must be "EXE" or "COM" or "BAT" file.)
[R]un Run the highlighted file from the current directory.
(File must be "EXE" or "COM" or "BAT" file.)
Note:
======
Not all files will execute correctly if run from this program but I've
found the major portion of them will. Watch for improvements to this
function.
SEARCH PATTERNS
===============
The program recognizes the standard DOS wildcards but it does the matching a
little differently. If you enter a string, any filename containing that string
will match it, "*" matches everything up to a period and "?" matches any single
character. For example:
INPUT MATCHES
======= =====================================================
dog Any file name containing "dog".
dog. Any file named "dog".
dog* Any file name that starts with "dog".
dog*. Any file name that starts with "dog" and has no
extension.
dog*.* Any file name that starts with "dog".
dog*.? Any file name that starts with "dog" and has a one
letter extension.
??? Any three letter file name.
SEARCH DATE page 5
===========
After using PROBE on a network for a while, I decided that this feature would
come in real handy. There are a lot of times when you want to know what files
have been created of modified on a certain date. By entering a search date,
the program will only display the files that match the name search pattern and
that match the search date. If you only want to specify a year to match, just
set the month and day to "00" or if you want a month and a year set the day to
"00" etc.
USER SUPPORTED SOFTWARE
=======================
This program is copyrighted material written for private use. It was not
intended specifically for commercial use. You may freely distribute this
software as long as:
1) No fee is charged for such distribution, other than the cost of
duplication and mailing.
2) The entire package is distributed as a whole without modification of any
kind.
No claims are made as to the program's suitability for any specific purpose.
The author disavows responsibility for any damages resulting from the use of
this program.
If, after a reasonable evaluation period, you find this program useful,
please send a check or money order for $10.00 to the address below. If you
don't wish to use the program, please pass it on to someone who may want to use
it.
COMMERCIAL page 6
==========
If you like PROBE, you might also like our program FONEBOOK. FONEBOOK
turns your computer into a personal telephone directory that even dials for
you!
If you're like most people, you probably have names, addresses and phone
numbers scribbled on little bits and pieces of paper all over the place.
FONEBOOK is a tool to help you organize all those bits and pieces into a single
database of names, addresses, phone numbers and comments.
With FONEBOOK you can add and change names, addresses and phone numbers;
browse or search through the database on any field; and quickly find and
dial (with modem) any phone number.
You can also print out everything or only selected records, showing just
phone numbers, just addresses or all fields to a printer or to disk as an
ASCII file.
Then there's our program DISK_TAG. DISK_TAG allows you to print a custom
directory listing that will tuck nicely inside the disk sleeve and if you need
the sleeve, it will print out a custom sleeve for your disk. You can choose to
print out just the root directory or the contents of all directories, and
choose to print out the contents of archived files found on the disk or just
the archived file name. The listings and sleeves contain space for a comment
line and a disk number. The program creates sleeves and directory listings for
both the 5 1/4" and 3 1/2" disks. The sleeves will fit in standard disk
holders.
==============================================================================
[ REGISTRATION FORM ]
[ PROBE Version 2.2 ]
[ ]
[ Date: ____/____/____ TO: Wildcard Software ]
[ 28480 C.R. 4 West ]
[ Elkhart, IN 46514 ]
[ ]
[ FROM: ]
[ Name: __________________________________________________ ]
[ ]
[ Address: __________________________________________________ ]
[ ]
[ City: __________________________ State: ___ Zip: _______ ]
[ ]
[ Area Code (______) Phone: _________________________________ ]
[ ]
[ Comments: __________________________________________________ ]
[ ]
[ __________________________________________________ ]
[ ]
[ __________________________________________________ ]
[ ]
[ ]
[ ___ Enclosed is $10.00 for a single registration of PROBE. ]
[ ]
[ ___ Enclosed is $15.00 please mail me a registered copy of FONEBOOK. ]
[ ]
[ ___ Enclosed is $15.00 please mail me a registered copy of DISK_TAG. ]
[ ]
[ ]
==============================================================================