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1991-04-11
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FINDALL - "The file finder with a twist"
(The name FINDALL, the FINDALL program itself, and this
documentation are Copyright (Copr) 1991 by Stephen C. Lenz.)
DESCRIPTION
FINDALL is not just another file finder, although it can and
probably will be used as a normal file finder because it is
VERY fast. The "twist" is you can search for file names with
a search string when you can't remember the file's full name!
I wrote this because more than once I have looked for a file
whose full name escaped me (....I think it was SYS something,
or something SYS ....or something SYS something or....). You
get the idea.
Also, while I was writing FINDALL, I remembered the times I
wanted to know how many READ ONLY or SYSTEM or HIDDEN files
were on a particular disk drive, and had to track down a file
attribute manager because DOS's ATTRIB command does not show
hidden or system files! So I included the ability to search
for all occasions of any or all file attributes.
I have already mentioned how fast FINDALL is. Please be aware
that FINDALL is at its fastest when searching for a full file
name and extension seperated by "." because the program uses
only Interrupt 21, service 4Eh, and service 4Fh to find the
existence of a full file name in a directory, then only when
the file is found does FINDALL read its name and description.
If you search for a partial file name string, or if you are
checking file attributes, FINDALL is somewhat slower because
it will read the name and description of EVERY file and do a
compare with the search string or attribute(s) specified.
OPERATION
You can start FINDALL in 2 different ways:
1) If you just want to search for a file name or a partial
file name, merely type FINDALL <Enter> and the FINDALL screen
will appear to prompt you for the file name or search string.
FINDALL will default to start at disk drive C: and it will
continue to search all good disk drives on your system.
2) If you want to search for file attributes, or if you want
more than 25 rows on your screen (EGA, VGA), or if you want
to start with drive A: or B: (yes, FINDALL does floppies!),
or if you want to search 1 drive only, or if you want help,
or if you want to suppress the beep, or if you want to search
non-stop, then you must use the command line. (I could have
included a pop-up menu, but I wanted the code to be as small
and fast as possible). You can, of course, use the command
line to start FINDALL to look for full file names or strings.
FINDALL Syntax: FINDALL [[d:]SSpec /Options]
Where: d: is a drive to START with. If none is specified,
C: is assumed. You can start with any good drive letter,
including floppy A: or B:. If you specify the starting drive,
you MUST Use ":" (colon), but do NOT use "\" (backslash).
FINDALL is NOT case sensitive.
SSpec is either a complete file name, or a search string for
a file. For example, if SSpec = COM, then COMMAND.COM will
show with both COM strings highlighted.
Do NOT use "*" global or "?" wildcards. FINDALL will look for
ALL occurances of the search spec (SSpec).
Options:
/1 to search ONE drive only. /? or ? or /help - this screen.
/4 for 43 screen rows. /5 for 50 screen rows.
/r searches for READ ONLY files. /h searches for HIDDEN files.
/s searches for SYSTEM files. /a searches for ARCHIVE files.
/n searches NON-STOP. /q quiet (no beeps).
(FINDALL will sense the type of video adapter that is on your
computer system, and will act accordingly, so if you have a
monochrome or CGA (not EGA or VGA), and you try to select 43
or 50 screen rows (lines), FINDALL will ignore the parameter,
and run in 25 row mode).
Examples:
FINDALL c:exe /4 /1 will search for all occurances of
"EXE" on drive C in 43 row mode.
FINDALL /R/s will find all READ ONLY and SYSTEM files.
FINDALL a:command.com /1 /n /4 /q will find all occurances
of COMMAND.COM on drive
A: only, will display
them non-stop in 43-line
mode (EGA, VGA), and will
not beep.
FINALLY
If you find this program useful, and would care to donate
$10 to the cause of further program development, my address
is at the bottom of this document. A donation of $25 along
with a blank 5¼" 360k, or 3½" 720k or 1.44m diskette and the
appropriate postage will get you the BASIC source code.
I wrote and tested this program on an IBM PS/2 mdl 30-286,
with VGA color, and a BONDWELL B10 286 laptop with CGA mono.
This program was written in its entirety using the MICROSOFT
BASIC Professional Development System v7.1, and utilizes
subroutines and functions from CRESCENT SOFTWARE's QuickPak
Professional Advanced Programming Library. The program was
then linked with CRESCENT SOFTWARE's P.D.Q., the fantastic
linking library that replaces the huge and very cumbersome
libraries that are supplied with MICROSOFT BASIC of all
versions. Neither the small size, nor the speed of FINDALL
could have been attained without the CRESCENT add-ons.
IBM, PS/2, BONDWELL, MICROSOFT, Professional Development
System, CRESCENT SOFTWARE, QuickPak Professional, and P.D.Q.
are trademarks, registered trademarks, or service marks of
their respective holders.
The name FINDALL, the FINDALL program itself, and this
documentation are Copyright (Copr) 1991 by Stephen C. Lenz.
Stephen C. Lenz
214 Broadway
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 272-5356
CIS 72431,3147
CHANNEL 1 BBS, Cambridge, MA (617) 354-8873
April 11, 1991