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PostSearch KI
Database Search Post Processor
For Knowledge Index Searches
Version 1.2
(c) 1993
Pastel Programming Co.
HC56 Box 6038
Sidney MT 59270 USA
CompuServe 71477,352
U S E R S ' M A N U A L
CONTENTS
PURPOSE ............................................ 1
INSTALLATION ....................................... 3
LAUNCHING PostSearch ............................... 3
HELP ............................................... 4
INPUT FIELD EDITING KEYS ........................... 4
MAIN MENU .......................................... 4
Menu Items .................................... 4
Command Footer ................................ 5
FILTER CAPTURED SEARCH FILES ....................... 5
What is a Captured Search File? ............... 5
What the Filter Does .......................... 6
Filter Captured File Sub-Menu ................. 6
FILTER ALL CAPTURED RECORDS TO ONE FILE ............ 7
Filter Box .................................... 7
Specifying Drive\Path\File .................... 7
Files Created and Preserved ................... 8
Content of Filtered Record File ............... 8
Command Footer ................................ 10
FILTER SPECIFIED RECORD TYPES TO ONE FILE .......... 10
Reasons for this Option ....................... 10
Extended Filter Box; Input and Feedback ....... 11
Files Created and Preserved ................... 12
Filter Again or Exit .......................... 13
Command Footer ................................ 13
FILTER SPECIFIED RECORD TYPES TO SEPARATE FILES .... 13
Reasons for this Option ....................... 13
Extended Filter Box; Input and Feedback ....... 14
Files Created and Preserved ................... 16
Filter Again or Exit .......................... 16
Command Footer ................................ 17
SIFTING FILTERED RECORD FILES ...................... 17
Reason for Sifting Facility ................... 17
What the Sifting Facility Does ................ 17
Sifting Box ................................... 17
i
Specifying Drive\Path\File .................... 18
Scanning and Indexing ......................... 19
Indexing Capacity ............................. 19
Orientation Line ............................. 20
Record Browsing Keys ......................... 20
Record Navigation Keys ....................... 21
Keep ......................................... 22
Keep Express ................................. 23
Keep List .................................... 24
Command Footer ............................... 24
SAVING AND LOADING RECORD FILE INDEXES ............ 25
SELECT RECORDS BY KEY WORDS ....................... 26
What the Record Selector Does ............... 26
Select Records Box ........................... 26
Specifying Drive\Path\File ................... 27
Scanning and Indexing ........................ 27
Indexing Capacity ............................ 27
Key Word Form ................................ 28
Select File .................................. 29
Searching and Writing ........................ 29
RENUMBER RECORD FILES ............................. 29
What is a Record File? ....................... 29
Why Renumber? ................................ 30
What Renumbering Does ........................ 30
Renumber Box ................................. 31
Specifying Drive\Path\File ................... 31
Files Created and Preserved .................. 32
Command Footer ............................... 32
FORMAT CHANGES .................................... 33
Reformat TAGed Records ....................... 33
Insert Page Breaks ........................... 33
FILE VIEWER ....................................... 34
Availability of File Viewer .................. 34
Uses of File Viewer .......................... 34
Specifying Drive\Path\File ................... 34
Browsing Keys ................................ 35
Text Search .................................. 37
"Record" Stepper ............................. 38
SET UP DEFAULTS ................................... 39
NAMING FILES ...................................... 40
ii
DIRECTORY CLEANUP ................................. 40
APPENDIX
A Input Field Editing Keys ................ 42
B Main Menu Command Footer ................ 44
Help ............................... 44
Change Directory ................... 44
List Files ......................... 44
Copy Files ......................... 45
Rename Files ....................... 45
DOS (command mode) ................. 46
DU (DOS utilities shell) ........... 46
Exit Program ....................... 46
LIMITED WARRANTY .................................. 47
TRADEMARK ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ......................... 48
COPYRIGHT ......................................... 48
iii
PURPOSE
PostSearch KI is post processor for Knowledge Index searches
which lets you:
o "filter" search files to create files containing
just the database records, labeled and numbered
o "sift" filtered record files to "keep" records you
choose to new files
o select records by key words
o renumber records in filtered record files
o reformat TAGed records to remove hard carriage
returns within records
o insert page breaks every X records
You can turn on screen capture in your communication program
at the beginning of a KNOWLEDGE INDEX search session,
capture everything, focus on the search, and afterwards
easily filter the search file to just the database records.
You may:
o filter all online types to one file
o filter specified online types to one file
o filter specified online types to separate files
The filters label each record in the form "Record - X" at
the left margin, replacing the "X" with numbers in numerical
order.
In the PostSearch KI sifting facility:
o PostSearch KI indexes filtered record files to
display records one by one, let you navigate among
the records with single-key commands and let you
optionally write ("keep") ones you select to a new
file or files.
o The Keep (K) command lets you write the currently
displayed record to a file you specify and acts on
the whole record at once, eliminating the need for
cursor movements, highlighting, block operations
PostSearch KI Users' Manual
Page 2
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and all the other manipulations that would be
necessary in a text editor or word processor. The
program then automatically advances to the next
indexed record.
o The Keep Express command (Alt-K) writes the
currently displayed record to the same file to
which the last "kept" record was written without
having to again specify that file, saving
additional time.
o The Keep List command (Ctrl-K) displays a list of
the records by number which already have been
"kept" during the current sifting session.
o Record browsing commands let you browse the
currently displayed record with PgDn, PgUp, Up
Arrow, Down Arrow, Ctrl-PgUp, Ctrl-PgDn and Move
to Line.
o Record navigation commands let you move through
the records with Next, Previous, First, Last and
Jump commands.
The record selection facility lets you place key words on a
form and have only those records which satisfy your search
request written to a new file.
The renumbering facility automatically renumbers records in
a record file to restore them to numerical order, such as
files of "kept" records or files of records selected by key
words which otherwise would have numbers out of numerical
order.
PostSearch KI also includes a file viewer with text search
(F3) and a "Record" stepper (F8) that steps through record
files to the next "Record - X".
PostSearch KI also includes a number of DOS facilities
indicated in the command footer, including drop to DOS in
command mode, change directory, list files, files pick list,
copy files, rename files, and a DOS shell interface.
PostSearch KI does not alter your original files. When you
filter, sift, select by key word, renumber or reformat,
PostSearch KI creates new output files and preserves your
original files.
PostSearch KI Users' Manual
Page 3
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INSTALLATION
PostSearch KI includes three files, PSKI.EXE, PSDU.EXE and
PSKI.HLP. If you received these files in plain form, simply
copy them to your desired directory. No special
installation or configuration is required.
You might have received PostSearch KI on a distribution
floppy diskette which includes an installation program. If
so, insert the floppy diskette into your floppy drive. You
may log on to the floppy drive and type INSTALL or, without
logging on to the floppy drive, give the full drive, path
and file name, e.g., A:\INSTALL. The INSTALL program is
menu-driven and provides an option to read about
installation using the program. The INSTALL program makes
no changes to your AUTOEXEC.BAT or CONFIG.SYS file, nor any
other alterations to your system configuration.
You might have received PostSearch KI in a compressed
archive file. If so, copy the archive to a directory
containing no other files. Type the name of the archive
without the extension and press <enter>. Then delete the
archive file from that directory (saving your original copy
elsewhere) and copy the decompressed files to your desired
directory.
LAUNCHING PostSearch KI
Launch the program from the DOS prompt by typing "PSKI" and
pressing <enter>. By DOS convention, case is not sensitive
in this command. As ever, for DOS to find the program:
o it must be in the current subdirectory, or
o it must be in a subdirectory included in the current
PATH statement which is usually the one executed by
your AUTOEXEC.BAT file at boot-up, or
o you must give the full path when launching the program.
o you can create a DOS batch (.BAT) file in a
subdirectory included in the current PATH statement
which calls PostSearch KI by giving the full path to
the program.
PostSearch KI Users' Manual
Page 4
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HELP
PostSearch KI provides context-sensitive help which is
widely available throughout the program by pressing the F1
key.
INPUT FIELD EDITING KEYS
The program often requires user input and displays a field
on the screen where the user provides the program with the
required input. A number of editing keys are active in each
of these fields. To avoid repetition, the function of these
keys is explained once in an appendix. This manual mentions
when the input field editing keys are active and refers you
to the appendix.
MAIN MENU
Menu Items
When PostSearch KI is first launched, it presents a Main
Menu like this:
Main Menu
C Filter Captured Search Files
M Filter Mailed Search Files
S Sift Filtered Record Files
K Select Records by Key Words
R Renumber Record Files
F Format Changes
V File Viewer
D Set Up Defaults
X eXit Program
C, M, S, K, R, F, V, D or X
This menu indicates the five Main Menu options available:
o to filter captured search files
o to sift filtered record files
o to select records by key words
PostSearch KI Users' Manual
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o to renumber record files
o to reformat records
It also indicates the availability of a file viewer and an
option to set up certain defaults explained later in this
Manual. The final option is to exit the program.
To make a choice among these options, press the key for the
letter opposite your choice. For example, to filter a
captured search file, press the C key. Case is not
sensitive. Pressing "c" or "C" will work. The Main Menu
keys are turbo keys, meaning that you will not need to press
the <enter> key to carry out the command. As soon as you
press the option key of your choice, the program carries out
the command and takes you to the next step.
Command Footer
Additional commands are active at the Main Menu. The
program displays a command footer to remind you of them.
(See Appendix B)
FILTER CAPTURED SEARCH FILES
What is a Captured Search File?
Screen capture is a feature of most computer communication
programs that lets you record the information scrolling up
your screen during an online session and save it to a disk
file on your computer. This feature may also be called
logging or recording.
When your Knowledge Index search request hits on records,
you may command the system to immediately display the
records in your choice of online record types. If you
command that online types be displayed, and if you have
activated screen capture, your communications program will
save the records to a disk file on your computer.
PostSearch KI refers to a file created in this manner as a
captured search file. It is a file which captures records
you've commanded Knowledge Index to immediately display in
online types.
PostSearch KI Users' Manual
Page 6
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What the Filter Does
Capturing records in this manner causes the file to include
other information transmitted to your computer during the
session. The other information includes prompts, error
messages, commands you enter, etc. The object of PostSearch
KI's filter is to create a new file or files with everything
filtered out except the records. As the capture file is
cleaned up, PostSearch KI automatically labels and numbers
the records for you. PostSearch KI does not alter your
capture file; it writes the filtered records to a new file.
Filter Captured File Sub-Menu
When you press C at the Main Menu, PostSearch KI opens the
Filter Captured File Sub-Menu, like this:
Filter Captured File Sub-Menu
1 All record types to one file
2 Specified types to one file
3 Specified types to separate files
Q Quit
1, 2, 3 or Q
This menu lets you choose between:
o filtering all records of all types in a captured
search file to one file, or
o filtering up to five record types you will specify
to one file, or
o filtering up to five record types you will specify
to separate files you will specify, a file for
each type.
The following sections explain first how to filter all the
records to one file. Later sections explain how to specify
record types for filtering either to one file or separate
files.
PostSearch KI Users' Manual
Page 7
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FILTER ALL CAPTURED RECORDS TO ONE FILE
Filter Box
When you press 1 at the Filter Captured File Sub-Menu,
PostSearch KI opens a box where you will conduct the
filtering session. The contents of the filter box when a
file has been filtered to a single file look like this:
Filter Captured Search Files
File to filter:
search.log
Processing: line number 2142
record number 36
Records saved to:
SEARCH.PRO
Captured search file unaltered:
SEARCH.LOG
Specifying Drive\Path\File
The filter box asks you for the name of the file to process.
Follow DOS conventions. The input field editing keys are
active. (See Appendix A)
If the file is in the current subdirectory, you need not
give a drive or path. You may specify a drive and path to
let PostSearch KI find a file in a subdirectory other than
the current one. If you do not give a drive or path and the
file is not in the current subdirectory, PostSearch KI
detects the error and notifies you.
You need not concern yourself with case when specifying
drive, path or file name.
F5 presents a pick list of all files in the current
subdirectory. Use the cursor control keys (Up Arrow, Down
Arrow, PgUp and PgDn) scroll through the list and highlight
the file you want. When the file you want is highlighted,
press <enter> to select it. When you select a file, its
name is inserted into the input field and the pick list is
PostSearch KI Users' Manual
Page 8
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cleared. If you decide not to pick a file from the list,
press ESC.
You may obtain a pick list of just the files with a certain
file name extension by pressing Alt-F5. When you press this
key combination, the program presents a prompt and input
field like this:
Choose a file extension: .
The input field is just three spaces, the maximum length of
a DOS file name extension. Follow DOS conventions to
specify the extension you want. The input editing keys are
active. (See Appendix A) When you have specified an
extension, a pick list of all the files in the current
subdirectory with that extension will appear.
Files Created and Preserved
PostSearch KI automatically names the filtered file with the
same base name as the captured search file plus a .PRO
extension. In the illustration of the filter box above, the
captured search file is SEARCH.LOG and the filtered record
file is SEARCH.PRO. The .PRO extension means "processed."
PostSearch KI automatically assigns the file a .PRO file
name extension because it requires that extension later if
you choose the Sift option or Select Records by Key Words
option from the Main Menu.
PostSearch KI preserves the captured search file without
altering it. In the illustration of the filter box above,
the captured search file specified by the searcher in the
input field is SEARCH.LOG and the box displays a message
that this file has been preserved unaltered.
Content of Filtered Record File
The filtered record file will consist of two kinds of
segments, numbered record labels and records:
PostSearch KI Users' Manual
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Record - 1
record content
Record - 2
record content
Record - 3
record content
An example from a search of ERIC is:
Record - 1
EJ426056 IR522936
The Seven Stages of an Online Search--Part I.
Quint, Barbara
Online; v15 n3 p13-18 May 1991
ISSN: 0146-5422
Available from: UMI
Language: English
Document Type: JOURNAL ARTICLE (080); CLASSROOM
MATERIAL (050); POSITION PAPER (120)
Journal Announcement: CIJSEP91
Discussion of online searching focuses on the first
three of seven stages of searching: (1) the reference
interview, including user needs, the search request,
and the user's expectations; (2) the tactical overview,
including institutional control and cost and time
factors; and (3) database selection considerations,
including relevance, accessibility, and costs. (LRW)
Descriptors: Cost Effectiveness; Costs; Databases;
Interviews; *Online Searching; Relevance (Information
Retrieval); *Search Strategies; Time Management; *User
Needs (Information)
Identifiers: *Query Negotiation (Library Science);
User Fees
Record - 2
EJ428878 IR523115
Inside a Searcher's Mind: The Seven Stages of an
Online Search--Part 2.
Quint, Barbara
Online; v15 n4 p28-35 Jul 1991
ISSN: 0146-5422
PostSearch KI Users' Manual
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-----------------------------------------------------------------
Available from: UMI
Language: English
Document Type: JOURNAL ARTICLE (080); CLASSROOM
MATERIAL (050)
Journal Announcement: CIJNOV91
Continues a description of elements in the online
searching process, highlighting: (1) search strategy
formulation, including free text search construction
versus controlled terminology, and terms and search
statements; (2) the actual online search, including
speed and cost considerations; (3) feedback or
reviewing results; and (4) presentation of final search
results in print or machine-readable format. (LRW)
Descriptors: Cost Effectiveness; Feedback; *Online
Searching; *Search Strategies; Subject Index Terms;
Thesauri; Time Management; User Needs (Information)
Identifiers: Free Text Searching; Machine Readable
Data; Printed Materials
Command Footer
When the filter box opens, the command footer remains
active. (See Appendix B)
FILTER SPECIFIED RECORD TYPES TO ONE FILE
Reasons For This Option
Choosing option 1 at the Filter Captured File Sub-Menu tells
PostSearch KI to filter records of all types to the output
file. You might have reasons for not wanting to include all
record types. For example, you might have commanded
Knowledge Index to display some records in Short (S) format
and not want them in the filtered file. Options 2 and 3
accommodate such purposes.
When you press 2 at the Filter Captured File Sub-Menu,
PostSearch KI opens a filter box which initially looks like
the filter box it opens if you press 1. The filter box asks
you for the name of the file to process. This step works
just like it does when you press 1. Please refer to
"Specifying Drive\Path\File" under "FILTER ALL CAPTURED
RECORDS TO ONE FILE."
PostSearch KI Users' Manual
Page 11
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Extended Filter Box; Input and Feedback
After you specify the captured search file to filter,
PostSearch KI extends the filter box to cover a larger
portion of the screen to accommodate the additional prompts
and feedback you will need to filter specified record types
to one file. Under a new subheading, the program first asks
you how many record types you want, like this:
Specified Types to One File
How many types, 1 to 5?
When you tell PostSearch KI the number of types, it next
provides you with prompts and input fields to specify the
types and associated files. Assuming you told PostSearch KI
you want to filter five types, the screen will look like
this:
Specified Types to One File
How many types, 1 to 5? 5
Type File
First type SEARCH.PRO
Second type SEARCH.PRO
Third type SEARCH.PRO
Fourth type SEARCH.PRO
Fifth type SEARCH.PRO
In this table, the single output file name is given
automatically opposite all the record types to be specified.
This example assumes that the searcher told PostSearch KI to
process a captured search file with a base file name of
SEARCH, such as SEARCH.LOG. The program then automatically
assigns SEARCH.PRO as the name of the file to which records
of the types to be specified will be written. PostSearch KI
automatically assigns the file a .PRO file name extension
because it requires that extension later if you choose the
Sift option or Select Records by Key Words from the Main
Menu.
To the right of the type/file table the program displays a
reminder of how to respond to the input fields in the table,
like this:
PostSearch KI Users' Manual
Page 12
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You may specify record types L, M,
S, F or K. All the types you specify
will be filtered to SEARCH.PRO.
PostSearch KI presents an input field in the "Type" column
on the "First type" row. This input field is one character
wide and will accept input of only one character. The input
field editing keys are active. (See Appendix A) Enter a
Knowledge Index record type just as you would see it online
or in a captured search file between the slashes on the line
before a record.
When you fill the input field, PostSearch KI moves the input
field to the "Type" column on the "Second type" row. You
may specify a second record type in this field the same way
you did for the first type.
You may repeat these steps for the third, fourth and fifth
types you wish to filter.
If you told PostSearch KI you wish to filter less than five
record types, the program would have presented a similar
table, but the table would have only as many rows as the
number of types you told PostSearch KI to filter.
As filtering progresses, PostSearch KI provides feedback
about the number of lines processed, the number of records
being found in the file, and the number of records of each
specified type being written to the .PRO file, like this
(changing the example to three specified types and a shorter
output file name to fit the table into the margins of this
page):
Type File Records Processing:
First type L FIL.PRO 57 line number 2862
Second type M FIL.PRO 21 record number 141
Third type F FIL.PRO 14
Captured file unaltered
FIL.LOG
Files Created and Preserved
PostSearch KI automatically names the filtered file with the
same base name as the captured search file plus a .PRO
extension. In the illustration of the filter box above, the
captured search file is SEARCH.LOG and the filtered record
file is SEARCH.PRO. The .PRO extension means "processed."
PostSearch KI Users' Manual
Page 13
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PostSearch KI automatically assigns the file a .PRO file
name extension because it requires that extension later if
you choose the Sift option or the Select Records by Key
Words option from the Main Menu.
PostSearch KI preserves the captured search file without
altering it. In the illustration of the filter box above,
the captured search file specified by the searcher in the
input field is SEARCH.LOG and the box displays a message
that this file has been preserved unaltered.
Filter Again or Exit
When filtering is done, you may specify a captured search
file again, either the same file or a different one. Notice
in the example above, the total number of records is 141
while the sum of the records of the three specified types is
only 92, indicating that there were records of other types.
Be aware, however, that if you specify the same file, the
new .PRO file will overwrite the last one. You might want
to change that last one's name or copy it to a file with a
different name to save it from being lost.
If you do not wish to continue filtering specific record
types, you may press F7 or ESC to return to the Main Menu.
Command Footer
When the filter box opens, the command footer remains
active. (See Appendix B)
FILTER SPECIFIED RECORD TYPES TO SEPARATE FILES
Reasons for this Option
Choosing option 1 at the Filter Captured File Sub-Menu tells
PostSearch KI to filter records of all types to single
output file. You might have reasons for not wanting to
include all record types. For example, you might have
commanded Knowledge Index to display some records in Short
(S) format and not want them in the filtered file.
PostSearch KI Users' Manual
Page 14
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In addition, you might not want all the specified record
types in a single output file. You might want them in
separate files. Option 3 accommodates this.
When you press 3 at the Filter Captured File Sub-Menu,
PostSearch KI opens a filter box which initially looks like
the filter box it opens if you press 1 or 2. The filter box
asks you for the name of the file to process. This step
works just like it does when you press 1 or 2. Please refer
to "Specifying Drive\Path\File" under "FILTER ALL CAPTURED
RECORDS TO ONE FILE."
Extended Filter Box; Input and Feedback
After you specify the captured search file to filter,
PostSearch KI extends the filter box to cover a larger
portion of the screen to accommodate the additional prompts
and feedback you will need to save different record types to
separate files. Under a new subheading, the program first
asks you how many record types you want, like this:
Specified Types to Separate Files
How many types, 1 to 5?
When you tell PostSearch KI the number of types, it next
provides you with prompts and input fields to specify the
types and associated files. Assuming you told PostSearch KI
you want to filter five types, the screen will look like
this:
Specified Types to Separate Files
How many types, 1 to 5?
Type File
First type
Second type
Third type
Fourth type
Fifth type
To the right of the type/file input table the program
displays a reminder of how to respond to the table, like
this:
PostSearch KI Users' Manual
Page 15
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You may specify record types L, M,
S, F or K, and any valid DOS file
names up to eight characters long
without dots (.) or extensions.
PostSearch KI automatically uses
.PRO extensions.
PostSearch KI presents an input field in the "Type" column
on the "First type" row. This input field is one character
wide and will accept input of one character. The input
field editing keys are active. (See Appendix A) Enter a
Knowledge Index record type just as you would see it online
or in a captured search file between the slashes on the line
before a record.
When you fill the input field, PostSearch KI moves the input
field to the "File" column on the "First type" row. This
input field is eight characters wide and will accept input
of up to eight characters. The input field editing keys are
active. (See Appendix A) Enter any valid DOS filename, but
do not include a dot (.) or an extension. PostSearch KI
automatically assigns the file a .PRO file name extension
because it requires that extension later if you choose the
Sift option or Select Records by Key Words option from the
Main Menu.
The records from the captured search file of the "First
type" you specified will be filtered to the file you
specified for that record type. Other record types will not
be written to that file. The records filtered to that file
will be labeled and numbered sequentially within that
separate file.
When you press <enter> or fill the first file name input
field, PostSearch KI advances the input field to the "Type"
column on the "Second type" row. You may specify a second
record type in this field the same way you did for the first
type. When you do, PostSearch KI moves the input field to
the "File" column on the "Second type" row. You may specify
a separate file name for records of the second type the same
way you did for the first type.
You may repeat these steps for the third, fourth and fifth
types you wish to filter.
If you had told PostSearch KI you wish to filter less than
five record types, the program would have presented a
PostSearch KI Users' Manual
Page 16
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similar table, but the table would have only as many rows as
the number of types you told PostSearch KI to filter.
As filtering progresses, PostSearch KI provides feedback
about the number of lines processed, the number of records
being found in the file, and the number of records of each
specified type being written to each separate file, like
this (changing the example to three specified types):
Type File Records Processing:
First type L L.PRO 57 line number 2862
Second type M M.PRO 21 record number 141
Third type F F.PRO 14
Captured file unaltered
SEARCH.LOG
You may specify any file name you want (except that you may
not use the same name for any two or more of the record
types and you may not use the input file name). In the
example above, the L records were saved to L.PRO merely
because the searcher specified L as the file name, not
because the file name would have had to be the same as the
record type.
Files Created and Preserved
PostSearch KI automatically names the filtered file with the
base names you specify plus .PRO extensions. In the
illustration of the filter box above, the captured search
file is SEARCH.LOG and the filtered record files are L.PRO,
M.PRO and F.PRO. The .PRO extension means "processed."
PostSearch KI automatically assigns the files the .PRO file
name extensions because it requires that extension later if
you choose the Sift option or Select Records by Key Words
option from the Main Menu.
PostSearch KI preserves the captured search file without
altering it. In the illustration of the filter box above,
the captured search file specified by the searcher in the
input field is SEARCH.LOG and the box displays a message
that this file has been preserved unaltered.
Filter Again or Exit
When filtering is done, you may specify a captured search
file again, either the same file or a different one. Notice
PostSearch KI Users' Manual
Page 17
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in the example above, the total number of records is 141
while the sum of the records of the three specified types is
only 92, indicating that there were records of other types.
Be careful not to use any of the same file names. If you
do, the new file with the same name will overwrite the
previous file with that name.
If you do not wish to continue filtering specific record
types, you may press F7 or ESC to return to the Main Menu.
Command Footer
When the filter box opens, the command footer remains
active. (See Appendix B)
SIFTING FILTERED RECORD FILES
Reason for Sifting Facility
Once you have a file of just records with everything else
filtered out, you might want to sift through the records and
save just certain ones to a separate file, or some to one
file and others to other files. Doing this in a word
processor or text editor requires a lot of cursor movements,
highlighting, block operations and other manipulations.
PostSearch KI provides a special sifting facility to
significantly reduce the manipulations for speed and ease.
What the Sifting Facility Does
The record sifting facility lets you select a file of
records, indexes the records so they can be displayed one at
a time in a file viewer, lets you browse the currently
displayed record, lets you navigate through the series of
indexed records, and lets you optionally save records you
select to files you specify, all with a minimum of key
strokes.
Sifting Box
When you press S at the Main Menu, PostSearch KI opens a box
where you will begin the sifting session. The contents of
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the box when PostSearch KI has indexed the records and is
ready to display the first one looks like this:
Sift Filtered Record Files
File to Sift: please specify a
.PRO file prepared by the filter
search.pro
Lines in file 1256
Lines to be processed 1256
Scanning line number 1256
Indexing record number 36
Specifying Drive\Path\File
When you press S at the Main Menu, PostSearch KI asks you
for the name of the file to process. Follow DOS
conventions. The input field editing keys are active. (See
Appendix A)
If, during the current PostSearch KI session, you previously
filtered a captured search file to a single record file
(option 1 or 2 at the Filter Captured File Sub-Menu),
PostSearch KI remembers the name of the last processed
record file (.PRO) and proposes it as a default. You can
accept the default file by pressing <enter>, clear the input
field by pressing Alt-C or edit the file name using the
input field editing keys. (See Appendix A)
The sifting facility indexes the records to display them one
by one. To recognize records individually, the file needs
to have been processed by the filter. The sifting box
displays a message reminding you to specify a .PRO file
prepared by the filter. If the file you specify does not
have a .PRO extension, PostSearch KI detects the error and
notifies you. Then the program lets you respond again to
the prompt to specify a file to sift.
If the file is in the current subdirectory, you need not
give a drive or path. You may specify a drive and path to
let PostSearch KI find a file in a subdirectory other than
the current one. If you do not give a drive or path and the
file is not in the current subdirectory, PostSearch KI
detects the error and notifies you.
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You need not concern yourself with case when specifying
drive, path or file name.
F5 works here like it does at the Main Menu, but shows only
the names of .PRO files since the sifter requires .PRO
files. The files list is displayed in a manner similar to
the "wide" format of the DOS DIR /W command.
Alt-F5 presents a pick list which works like file pick lists
elsewhere in the program, but includes only .PRO files since
the sifter requires .PRO files.
Scanning and Indexing
Before the sifting facility can begin displaying records it
must scan the lines in the filtered record file and index
the records to display them record by record. In case the
file is long, to let you know what is happening, the program
displays a line odometer and then a record odometer. When
indexing is complete, the program automatically activates
the file viewer and displays the first record. The
odometers look like this:
Lines in file 1256
Lines to be processed 1256
Scanning line number 1256
Indexing record number 36
Indexing Capacity
Indexing absorbs varying amounts of RAM depending in part on
the size of the filtered record file. PostSearch KI
attempts to detect cases when it might run out of system RAM
and if it thinks it might, it will decide to process only a
portion of the file. This will be indicated by a smaller
number of "Lines to be processed" than "Lines in file."
Note these two lines in the display:
Lines in file
Lines to be processed
In addition to the line limits, the sifter is limited to
1000 records
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To work around these limitations, you might want to split
the file and sift it in more than one part.
Orientation Lines
The file viewer used by the record sifting facility displays
orientation lines near the top of the screen like this:
Line 1 File SEARCH.PRO Kept 0 Record No. 1 of 45
Keep File none
The line number indicated refers to the top line displayed.
The filename indicated is the name of the processed record
file being sifted.
The record number indicated is the number of the record in
sequential order in the processed record file as detected by
the indexer. If the numbering of records in the file is not
in order, at times this will vary from the number displayed
in the record.
The Kept counter accumulates the number of records written
to "keep" files using the Keep command (K) or the Keep
Express command (Alt-K), and the Keep File reminder tells
you the name of the file to which the last "kept" record was
written. This is helpful especially when using the Keep
Express command (Alt-K) discussed later, so you can decide
whether to use that command or the Keep command. Keep lets
you confirm or change the name of the file to which the
record will be written while Keep Express automatically
writes the record to the same file to which the last "kept"
record was written.
Record Browsing Keys
Within a record, certain browsing keys are active.
Reminders of their availability are displayed in the command
footer.
UP ARROW
Moves up one line, unless already at the top of the
record.
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DOWN ARROW
Moves down one line, unless already at the bottom of
the record.
PgUp
Moves up one screen-full of lines, unless already at
the top of the record.
PgDn
Moves down one screen-full of lines, unless already at
the bottom of the record.
CTRL-PgUp
Moves to the first screen-full of the record.
CTRL-PgDn
Moves to the last screen-full of the record.
RIGHT ARROW
Moves one column to the right in the record.
LEFT ARROW
Moves one column to the left in the record, unless
already at the first column.
HOME
Moves to the first column.
Record Navigation Keys
The following record navigation keys are active:
Next Prev First Last Jump
Pressing N displays the next record in the file, unless the
currently displayed record is the last record, without
performing any other function. The file is not altered and
the record is not saved to any new file.
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Pressing P displays the previous record in the file, unless
the currently displayed record is the first record, without
performing any other function. The file is not altered and
the record is not saved to any new file.
Pressing F displays the first record in the file, without
performing any other function. The file is not altered and
the record is not saved to any new file.
Pressing L displays the last record in the file, without
performing any other function. The file is not altered and
the record is not saved to any new file.
Pressing J allows you to jump to a record by number. A box
opens prompting you to choose a record and reminding you of
the range of valid numbers, like this:
Jump to Record
Choose record 1 to 36
Type the record number of your choice and press <enter>. If
what you type fills the input field before you press
<enter>, the program will accept the number automatically
without requiring that the <enter> key be pressed. The
input field editing keys are active. (See Appendix A)
Because a number is expected, if you type a key which is not
a number, the character will not be accepted or displayed in
the input field, the cursor will not advance, and the
program will sound an audible signal of data input error.
The record navigation commands are not case-sensitive.
When you reach the last record, the orientation line flashes
a message, "LAST RECORD."
Keep
The Keep command lets you write the currently displayed
record to a file you specify.
When you press K, which is not case-sensitive, the program
will ask you at the bottom of your screen for the name of
the file to which you wish to save the record. Follow DOS
conventions. The input field editing keys are active. (See
Appendix A)
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If you give just a file name, the file will be created in
the current subdirectory. You may choose to specify a path
or a drive and path to write the record to a file in a
different subdirectory or on a different drive.
Beginning with the second record you choose to write, the
program remembers the name of the file to which the
previously written record was written and proposes it as a
default. If you want to accept the default file name as the
file to which to write the currently displayed record, just
press <enter>. If you want to write the record to a
different file, you may edit the drive\path\file entry
field. The input field editing keys are active. (See
Appendix A) Of special note, Alt-C clears the field in one
step.
When you keep a record, the orientation lines indicate the
number of records kept so far in the current sifting session
and the name of the file to which the last kept record was
written. Before any records are kept, the Kept counter is
zero (0) and the Keep File is "none." Each time a record is
kept, the Kept counter increases and the name of the file to
which the last kept record was written is updated.
When a record is kept, the sifter automatically advances to
the next record in the file being sifted. The record
navigation commands continue to be active and you can still
view the last record with the Previous command, as well as
any record with the various record navigation commands.
Keep Express
The Keep Express command lets you write the currently
displayed record to the same file as the last kept record
without having to again specify that file. When you press
Alt-K, which is not case-sensitive, the currently displayed
record is written to the file indicated in the Keep File
reminder in the orientation lines. The intervening step of
specifying the file to which you wish to write the record in
the input field at the bottom of the screen is skipped.
This lets you save additional time. When you save a record
with Keep Express, the sifter automatically advances to the
next record in the file being sifted.
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Keep List
While sifting, you might want to know which records you've
already kept. The Keep List command lets you review a list
of the records already kept during the current sifting
session. Pressing Ctrl-K opens a vertical box along the
right edge of the screen displaying the numbers of kept
records in a column.
If the box is empty of numbers, it means no records have
been kept during the current sifting session. This should
be confirmed by a 0 (zero) in the Kept counter in the
orientation lines.
If more records have been kept than can be indicated at one
time within the box, the word "more" will appear below the
last kept record number shown. You can scroll downward in
the list by pressing the Down Arrow key. When you do, the
word "more" will appear above the first displayed kept
record number to remind you that you have scrolled downward
in the list and that more numbers appear above the top
number currently displayed. You can scroll upward in the
list by pressing the Up Arrow key. To clear the Keep List
from the screen, press ESC.
Command Footer
When the sifting box opens, the command footer remains
active. (See Appendix B)
When indexing is complete and PostSearch KI is displaying
records, the following commands continue to be active as
shown the command footer:
F1 Help Ctrl-F1 DOS F5 Files F7 Exit F10 Sav Ndx
These commands work the same way as elsewhere in the
program, except that pressing F7 exits the sifting facility
only, not the whole program. The Save Index command (F10)
is explained in detail in the next major section.
The current directory continues to be indicated like this:
C:\SEARCHES
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SAVING AND LOADING RECORD FILE INDEXES
To sift records, the program must index the filtered record
file. The index is held in RAM and is lost when the sifter
is exited. If you wish to sift the same file again, the
program must rebuild the same index. You can save the time
it takes to rebuild the index by using the Save Index
command, F10, before you leave the sifter.
When you press F10, a box opens and displays an odometer
showing the program's progress in saving the index to a disk
file. Saving is fast, and on many shorter record files you
will just see the box flash on and off, probably too fast to
read it.
When you want to sift the same record file later, select S
at the Main Menu as usual. At the "File to sift:" prompt,
use the Load Index command, Shft-F10. This command presents
a prompt asking you to give the base file name of the
indexed file.
The index file has the same base name as the record file
plus a .NDX extension. If you remember the base file name,
you can just type it. The input field is just eight
characters long and the prompt displays the .NDX extension.
Do not type the extension. PostSearch assumes it and
provides it for you. If you don't remember the base file
name, pressing Alt-F5 will call a pick list of saved index
files in the current directory. You can highlight the index
file you want and press <enter> to select it.
When you specify the base file name, PostSearch KI loads the
index from the saved index disk file, which is very much
faster than rebuilding it, and identifies the associated
record file. The index file also remembers the record you
were viewing when you saved the index to disk and
automatically takes you to that record so you can resume
sifting where you left off.
Please understand that if any alterations have been made to
either the record file or the index file, the index will be
out of synchronization with the record file. If this
happens, you will need to let the program index the record
file from scratch.
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SELECT RECORDS BY KEY WORDS
What the Record Selector Does
PostSearch KI lets you select records by key words. The
record selection facility lets you place key words on a form
and have only those records which satisfy your search
request written to a new file.
The form will provide blanks where you can type key words.
There will be three columns each having three blanks. Each
column represents a nest of search terms. Within each nest
the terms will be related to each other by the OR operator.
The second nest will be related to the other two nests by
the AND operator and the third nest will be related to the
other two nests by the NOT operator.
Truncation is supported using the asterisk (*). Phrases
with blanks are not supported
Select Records Box
When you press K at the Main Menu, PostSearch KI asks you
for the name of the file to in which to select records by
key words. Follow DOS conventions. The input field editing
keys are active. (See Appendix A)
Select Records by Key Words
Selection File: please specify a
PostSearch filtered record file.
.PRO
The record selection facility indexes the records to prepare
for searching them. To recognize records individually, the
file needs to have been processed by the filter. The select
records box displays a message reminding you to specify a
.PRO file prepared by the filter. If the file you specify
does not have a .PRO extension, PostSearch KI detects the
error and notifies you. Then the program lets you respond
again to the prompt to specify from which to select records.
If, during the current PostSearch KI session, you previously
filtered a captured search file to a single record file
(option 1 or 2 at the Filter Captured File Sub-Menu),
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PostSearch KI remembers the name of the last processed
record file (.PRO) and proposes it as a default. You can
accept the default file by pressing <enter>, clear the input
field by pressing Alt-C or edit the file name using the
input field editing keys. (See Appendix A)
If the file is in the current subdirectory, you need not
give a drive or path. You may specify a drive and path to
let PostSearch KI find a file in a subdirectory other than
the current one. If you do not give a drive or path and the
file is not in the current subdirectory, PostSearch KI
detects the error and notifies you.
You need not concern yourself with case when specifying
drive, path or file name.
F5 works here like it does at the Main Menu, but shows only
the names of .PRO files since the sifter requires .PRO
files. The files list is displayed in a manner similar to
the "wide" format of the DOS DIR /W command.
Alt-F5 presents a pick list which works like file pick lists
elsewhere in the program, but includes only .PRO files since
the sifter requires .PRO files.
Scanning and Indexing
To prepare for selection of records by key words, PostSearch
must scan the lines in the filtered record file and index
the records to display them record by record. In case the
file is long, to let you know what is happening, the program
displays a line odometer and then a record odometer, like
this:
Lines in file 1256
Lines to be processed 1256
Scanning line number 1256
Indexing record number 36
When indexing is complete, the program displays the form
where you can specify key words.
Indexing Capacity
The indexing capacity of the key word record selection
facility is the same as in the sifter.
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Loading Saved Indexes
As with the sifter, you can load a saved index by pressing
Shft-F10. The key word selection facility automatically
saves indexed to disk files which can be load later, and the
sifter saves indexes while viewing records when F10 is
press. Indexes saved either way can be loaded while to
select records by key words.
Key Word Form
When indexing is complete or a saved index is loaded,
PostSearch displays a form on which you can place key words,
like this:
Choose Selection Terms
1st Nest AND 2nd Nest NOT 3rd Nest
Record File: BUSFILES.PRO Select File: SEARCH.KEY
Each column has three blanks where key words can be
specified. The terms in each nest are related to the other
terms in the same nest by the OR operator. The whole second
nest is related to the other two nests by the AND operator.
The whole third nest is related to the other two by the NOT
operator.
You may use truncation by ending a key word with the
asterisk (*). Specifying glaci*, for example, would hit on
glacier, glacial, etc. Phrase with spaces, like glacial
lake, are not supported.
A search term is required in the first blank of the first
nest. All other blanks are optional; no key word need be
filled into them. If the second blank in the first nest is
left blank or null, the third blank automatically will be
made null also. If the first or second blank in the second
or third nest is left blank or null, the succeeding blanks
in the nest automatically will be made null. To bypass a
blank, simply press <enter> without typing a key word. The
cursor will move to the next field or nest.
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In each blank, the input editing keys are active. (See
Appendix A)
Select File
When you have finished placing key words on the form, the
program will prompt you to specify the name of the file to
which records satisfying your search request will be
written. Follow DOS conventions. The input editing keys
are active. (See Appendix A)
Searching and Writing
When you press <enter> or fill the input field for the
select file, PostSearch automatically begins searching the
file for records which satisfy your search request. While
searching, PostSearch displays the following odometers to
let you know its progress through the records and the lines
of records, and the number of records hit by your search
request, like this:
Searching record
Searching record line
Records hit
Whenever a record is hit, another odometer appears to the
right of the first three letting you know that the hit
record is being written to the select file and shows an
odometer of the record lines being written.
When searching and writing is complete, PostSearch returns
to the box and prompt for specifying a record from which to
select records, letting you perform another selection of
records by key words, if you wish.
RENUMBER RECORD FILES
What is a Record File?
Once you have processed a captured search file, you have a
record file with a .PRO extension. You might have reason to
sift, edit, copy, combine or rename these record files. Any
of these files containing numbered record labels in the form
Record - 1
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are record files.
Why Renumber?
If you sift, edit, copy, combine or rename a record file,
the resulting file might contain records whose numbers no
longer are in numerical order. The renumbering facility
lets you automatically renumber the records without having
to do so manually in a text editor or word processor
For example, you might have a file like this:
Record - 7
record content
Record - 22
record content
Record - 98
record content
What Renumbering Does
The renumbering facility reads a record file, finds the
numbered record labels, and automatically renumbers the
records in numerical order within the file.
Continuing the example above, the renumbering facility would
produce a renumbered file like this:
Record - 1
record content
Record - 2
record content
Record - 3
record content
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Renumber Box
When you press R at the Main Menu, PostSearch KI opens a box
where you will conduct the renumbering session. The
contents of the box when a file has been renumbered look
like this:
Renumber Record Files
File to renumber:
search.pro
Name for renumbered file:
search.ren
Processing: line number 1256
record number 36
Renumbered file SEARCH.REN
Record file unaltered SEARCH.PRO
Specifying Drive\Path\File
When you press R at the Main Menu, PostSearch KI asks you
for the name of the file to renumber. Follow DOS
conventions. The input field editing keys are active. (See
Appendix A)
If the file is in the current subdirectory, you need not
give a drive or path. You may specify a drive and path to
let PostSearch KI find a file in a subdirectory other than
the current one. If you do not give a drive or path and the
file is not in the current subdirectory, PostSearch KI
detects the error and notifies you.
You need not concern yourself with case when specifying
drive, path or file name.
For the renumbering facility to work, the file you specify
for renumbering needs to be a record file, as defined above.
When specifying a file name for the renumbered records it is
important not to specify the same name as the input file to
be renumbered.
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F5 presents a pick list of all files in the current
subdirectory. Use the cursor control keys (Up Arrow, Down
Arrow, PgUp and PgDn) scroll through the list and highlight
the file you want. When the file you want is highlighted,
press <enter> to select it. When you select a file, its
name is inserted into the input field and the pick list is
cleared. If you decide not to pick a file from the list,
press ESC.
You may obtain a pick list of just the files with a certain
file name extension by pressing Alt-F5. When you press this
key combination, the program presents a prompt and input
field like this:
Choose a file extension: .
The input field is just three spaces, the maximum length of
a DOS file name extension. Follow DOS conventions to
specify the extension you want. The input editing keys are
active. (See Appendix A) When you have specified an
extension, a pick list of all the files in the current
subdirectory with that extension will appear.
Files Created and Preserved
PostSearch KI does not automatically name any files in the
renumbering facility. The name of the renumbered record
file in the example above is SEARCH.REN because that is what
the searcher specified.
PostSearch KI preserves the captured search file without
altering it. In the illustration of the renumber box above,
the record file specified by the searcher in the input field
is SEARCH.PRO and the box displays a message that this file
has been preserved unaltered.
Command Footer
When the filter box opens, the command footer remains
active. (See Appendix B)
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FORMAT CHANGES
PostSearch KI allows you to make two kinds of format changes
in filtered record files:
o reformat TAGed records to remove hard carriage returns
within paragraphs
o insert logical page breaks
When you press F at the Main Menu, PostSearch KI displays
the Format Changes Sub-Menu. Here you can choose between
the two format change options.
Reformat TAGed Records
Pressing 1 at the Format Changes Sub-Menu lets you reformat
TAGed records to remove hard carriage returns within
paragraphs. This feature is dependent on the presence of
TAGs in the file to be reformatted. Knowledge Index
displays TAGeg records with the TAG option added to your
type command.
While this feature is designed to work with filtered and
kept record files, you may use it with your unprocessed,
captured search file; if you do, don't be alarmed by the
record counter remaining constant at 0. Please understand,
however, that if the file is not one of filtered records,
the results can be unpredictable and should be closely
reviewed.
Enter a file name with some extension other than .FMT. The
reformatter uses the base file name of the input file plus a
.FMT extension for the output file.
Insert Page Breaks
Pressing 2 at the Format Changes Sub-Menu lets you automate
the insertion of page breaks. Logical page breaks between
records will be hard-coded at intervals you specify. This
feature is dependent on the presence of record labels in the
format produced by PostSearch's filter. You would want to
use this feature only with filtered or kept record files.
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Enter the name of your record file, e.g., SEARCH.PRO. Case
is not sensitive. The page breaker uses the base file name
of the record file plus .BRK for the output file. Using
.BRK for the input file name will generate the error of both
files having the same name.
You must specify the interval at which logical page breaks
will be inserted. The range of permissible intervals is 1
to 99. One handy use of this feature is to print as many
records as will fit on each page and insure that the next
record begins printing on a new page. Using this feature is
much faster and less tedious than manually inserting page
breaks with a word processor.
If you want every record to begin printing on a new page, as
you might with full text records, specify 1. If any record
is more than one page long, your word processor will be able
to print it from page to page, and then begin the next
record on a new page.
FILE VIEWER
Availability of File Viewer
PostSearch KI provides a file viewer at the Main Menu. This
gives you the ability to see what's in a file without having
to exit the program or shell to DOS and call a separate file
browser, viewer or listing program.
Uses of File Viewer
This facility is useful, for example, to look into the
contents of a file to see if it is the log you want to
filter, to review the online record types it contains, or to
check on the performance of PostSearch KI by looking into a
filtered file it produced.
Specifying Drive\Path\File
When you press V at the Main Menu, PostSearch KI asks you
for the name of the file to view. Follow DOS conventions.
The input field editing keys are active. (See Appendix A)
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If the file is in the current subdirectory, you need not
give a drive or path. You may specify a drive and path to
let PostSearch KI find a file in a subdirectory other than
the current one. If you do not give a drive or path and the
file is not in the current subdirectory, PostSearch KI
detects the error and notifies you.
You need not concern yourself with case when specifying
drive, path or file name.
The file viewer does not perform any function other than
letting you view files. It performs no processing of files
and creates no new files. It does not alter the files you
view.
F5 presents a pick list of all files in the current
subdirectory. Use the cursor control keys (Up Arrow, Down
Arrow, PgUp and PgDn) scroll through the list and highlight
the file you want. When the file you want is highlighted,
press <enter> to select it. When you select a file, its
name is inserted into the input field and the pick list is
cleared. If you decide not to pick a file from the list,
press ESC.
You may obtain a pick list of just the files with a certain
file name extension by pressing Alt-F5. When you press this
key combination, the program presents a prompt and input
field like this:
Choose a file extension: .
The input field is just three spaces, the maximum length of
a DOS file name extension. Follow DOS conventions to
specify the extension you want. The input editing keys are
active. (See Appendix A) When you have specified an
extension, a pick list of all the files in the current
subdirectory with that extension will appear.
Browsing Keys
While browsing a file, a number of browsing keys are active.
As a reminder, they are listed at the bottom of the screen:
UP ARROW
Moves up one line, unless already at the top of the
file.
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DOWN ARROW
Moves down one line, unless already at the bottom of
the file
PgUp
Moves up one screen-full of lines, unless already at
the top of the file.
PgDn
Moves down one screen-full of lines, unless already at
the bottom of the file.
CTRL-PgUp
Moves to the first screen-full of the file.
CTRL-PgDn
Moves to the last screen-full of the file.
The file viewer must index the lines of the file you
view. When first loaded, the indexer indexes a number
of the file's lines behind the scene, and you will be
able to move there directly. If the file is larger
than that number of lines, when you press Ctrl-PgDn, a
box opens displaying a line indexing odometer showing
the program's progress in indexing to the last line.
Then the viewer displays the last screen full of the
file. Lines need to be indexed just once during any
viewing of a certain file, so future browsing commands
during the viewing will be direct and the indexing
odometer box will not appear.
RIGHT ARROW
Moves one column to the right in the file.
LEFT ARROW
Moves one column to the left in the file, unless
already at the first column.
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HOME
Moves to the first column.
F4
Move to a line number you will be able to specify after
pressing F4. A box opens prompting you to choose a
line number and reminding you of the range of valid
line numbers, like this:
Move to line
Choose line 1 to 1256
Type the line number of your choice and press <enter>.
If what you type fills the input field before you press
<enter>, the program will accept the number
automatically without requiring that the <enter> key be
pressed. The input field editing keys are active.
(See Appendix A) Because a number is expected, if you
type a key which is not a number, the character will
not be accepted or displayed in the input field, the
cursor will not advance, and the program will sound an
audible signal of data input error.
The file viewer must index the lines of the file you
view. When first loaded, the indexer indexes a number
of the file's lines behind the scene, and you will be
able to move there directly. If the line number you
specify is beyond what has been indexed already, a box
opens displaying a line indexing odometer showing the
program's progress in indexing to the line you have
specified for the move. Then the viewer moves to that
line. Lines need to be indexed just once during any
viewing of a certain file, so future move commands
during the viewing will be direct and the indexing
odometer box will not appear.
Text Search
The file viewer provides a text search facility. Pressing
F3 displays a box with the following prompt:
Enter Search Text:
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An input field is displayed to the right of the prompt where
you may enter the text to find. The input field editing
keys are active. (See Appendix A)
When you have entered the text to find, press <enter> and
the text searcher will search the file for the first
occurrence of the text beginning at the presently displayed
location in the file. When found, the viewer will move to
that position in the file, display that portion and
highlight the search text you specified.
To find the next occurrence of the same text, press F3
again. This again displays the same prompt and the input
field. The program remembers your last search text and
proposes it in the input field as the default. To accept it
and search again for that same text, just press <enter>. To
search for different text, edit the search text. The input
field editing keys are active. (See Appendix A) Of special
note, Alt-C clears the field in one step.
While searching, the program displays a line odometer
indicating its progress in searching for the text. While
this is displayed, you can interrupt the search by pressing
ESC.
"Record" Stepper
If the file being viewed contains records labeled with the
word "Record" at the left margin, pressing F8 will let you
step through the file to each occurrence of record labels.
This should work with filtered records files created by
PostSearch KI. The stepper will find any occurrence of the
word "Record" at the left margin, which can occasionally
step to a location which is not the beginning of a record if
the file contains that word at the left margin without it
being a record label.
If the current display already shows more than one labeled
record, as can be if records are short (for example, records
in title format), the stepper will bring the second record
already on the screen to the top line. When you reach the
end of the file, the orientation line flashes a message,
"End of File." When the end of the file is reached, even if
the screen contains more than one record, the stepper will
no longer scroll the display.
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SET UP DEFAULTS
To understand this section, you will need to have read the
portions of the manual explaining how to filter search
files, or have found your way through some filtering
sessions with the program.
This option lets you tell PostSearch KI the search file
extension you typically use and the online types you
typically want to filter to one file or separate files.
PostSearch will save this information to a disk file.
Whenever you begin a filtering session, PostSearch KI will
detect the presence of the defaults file, read its contents,
and supply the defaults to save you the trouble of entering
them each time. PostSearch always leaves you the option of
editing the defaults if you choose not to use them.
Pressing D at the Main Menu displays a data entry box like
this:
Search File Extension: .
Types Filtered to Types Filtered to Separate
One File Separate Files
First Type First Type
Second Type Second Type
Third Type Third Type
Fourth Type Fourth Type
Fifth Type Fifth Type
If you typically use the same extension when naming captured
search files, setting up the extension as a default will
save you the trouble of having to type it each time you wish
to filter search files. The program will supply it for you.
For example, if you usually use the extension .LOG, you may
type .log or .LOG here. Case is not sensitive. At the
current prompt, type just the extension without the dot (.)
The prompt already assumes the dot.
Pressing C at the Main Menu presents a sub-menu at which you
might choose to filter up to five specified online types to
one file. If you typically want the same types, you can
save yourself the trouble of having to re-specify them each
time by setting them up as defaults in the first column of
the defaults setup box. Then the program will supply them
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for you. If you want to set up less than five default
types, fill in the ones you want, and after that just press
<enter> to leave the remaining ones blank.
Pressing C at the Main Menu presents a sub-menu at which you
might choose to filter up to five specified online types to
separate files. If you typically want the same types, you
can save yourself the trouble of having to re-specify them
each time by setting them up as defaults in the second
column of the defaults setup box. Then the program will
supply them for you. If you want to set up less than five
default types, fill in the ones you want, and after that
just press <enter> to leave the remaining ones blank.
NAMING FILES
PostSearch KI creates a number a files using the base file
name of your input file plus a three-character DOS file name
extension.
.PRO filtering
.NDX filtering and selecting records by key words
.FMT reformatting records to remove hard carriage
returns within paragraphs
.BRK inserting page breaks
You would want to avoid using any of these file name
extensions as input file names. You would also want to
avoid using them to identify searches unless the base file
name still will enable you to associate the .PRO, .NDX, .FMT
and .BRK files with the right searches.
DIRECTORY CLEANUP
You might want to delete files created by PostSearch KI
during the current session or day. A handy way to do this
is by using the DOS shell interface available from the Main
Menu by pressing F9.
Once you reach the DOS shell, press F9 again to sort the
files by date. The most recent files will be at the bottom
of the sorted list. You can mark the ones you want to
delete by first moving the highlight to a file you want to
delete, press ENTER or SPACE to toggle file marking for the
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highlighted file, and then Ctrl-F4 to delete the marked
files.
If you are not sure whether a particular file is one you
want to delete, you can highlight its name and press F10 to
load it into a file viewer and browse its contents.
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APPENDIX A
INPUT FIELD EDITING KEYS
At each input field where this manual says the input field
editing keys are active, you may type as usual. In
addition, the following keys are active and perform the
following functions:
BACKSPACE
The backspace key is destructive.
SPACE
The space bar also is destructive.
LEFT CURSOR
The left and right arrow keys are active.
HOME
The home key moves the cursor to the beginning of the
field in one step.
END
The end key moves the cursor to the end of the field in
one step.
DEL
The delete key deletes the character at the cursor
location and draws to the left all characters
previously to its right.
INS
The insert key toggles between insert and overtype
mode.
ALT-C
Alt-C clears the entire field in one step. The "c" is
not case-sensitive.
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ALT-R
Alt-R restores the previous contents of the entire
field in one step. The "r" is not case-sensitive.
CTRL-END
Ctrl-End deletes everything at and to the right of the
cursor position in one step.
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APPENDIX B
MAIN MENU COMMAND FOOTER
At the Main Menu the program displays a command footer at
the bottom of the screen like this (the command options on
the first two lines as printed here appear on a single line
on the program screen):
F1 Help Ctrl-F1 DOS F2 Chg Dir F6 Copy Shft-F6 Rename
F7 Exit F9 DU
C:\SEARCHES F5 Files Alt-F5 Files by Ext
The current directory is shown at the left margin of the
second line.
Help
Context sensitive help is available widely throughout the
program on F1, including at the Main Menu.
Change Directory
Pressing F2 lets you change directory. A box opens,
displays a prompt to specify the new directory and displays
an input field where you can specify it. The input field
editing keys are active. (See Appendix A) You may specify
any valid directory following DOS conventions.
List Files
Pressing F5 allows you to see a list of files in the current
directory. The program is temporarily suspended and the
directory is displayed in wide format. You may return to
the program by pressing <esc>.
At locations in the program where you are being asked to
specify a file, pressing F5 will present the files list as a
pick list.
Pressing Alt-F5 lets you first specify a file extension to
see a files list showing only the files in the current
directory with your specified extension.
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Copy Files
Pressing F6 lets you copy files. A box opens, displays a
prompt to specify the file to copy and displays an input
field where you can specify it. The input field editing
keys are active. (See Appendix A). A message reminds you
to use full file names and no wildcards (*, ?). This
facility only acts on one file at a time.
F5 presents a pick list of all files in the current
subdirectory. Use the cursor control keys (Up Arrow, Down
Arrow, PgUp and PgDn) to scroll through the list and
highlight the file you want. When the file you want is
highlighted, press to select it. When you select a file,
its name is inserted into the input field and the pick list
is cleared. If you decide not to pick a file from the list,
press ESC.
When you have specified the file to be copied, the box
displays a prompt to specify the name of the file to which
the source file is to be copied and an input field where you
can specify it. The input field editing keys are active.
(See Appendix A). You should not specify the same file name
as the source file.
At both input fields, you may give full drives and paths.
Follow DOS conventions. If the file to be copied is not in
the current directory, you will need to either give a full
path to the file or change directories to the one containing
the file before copying.
Rename Files
Pressing Shift-F6 lets you rename files. A box opens,
displays a prompt to specify the file to rename and displays
an input field where you can specify it. The input field
editing keys are active. (See Appendix A). A message
reminds you to use full file names and no wildcards (*, ?).
This facility only acts on one file at a time.
F5 presents a pick list of all files in the current
subdirectory. Use the cursor control keys (Up Arrow, Down
Arrow, PgUp and PgDn) to scroll through the list and
highlight the file you want. When the file you want is
highlighted, press to select it. When you select a file,
its name is inserted into the input field and the pick list
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is cleared. If you decide not to pick a file from the list,
press ESC.
When you have specified the file to be renamed, the box
displays a prompt to specify the new name for the file and
an input field where you can specify it. The input field
editing keys are active. (See Appendix A). You should not
specify the same file name as the source file.
DOS (command mode)
Pressing Ctrl-F1 lets you access DOS in command mode. This
is sometimes called dropping to DOS. The program is
temporarily suspended and a second copy of the DOS command
interpreter, COMMAND.COM, is loaded into RAM. This lets you
perform DOS commands as if the program were not loaded. To
return to the program, type "exit" and press <enter>.
DU (DOS utilities shell)
Pressing F9 loads PSDU.EXE, a DOS shell provided with
PostSearch KI. This shell works like many others widely
available and acts as an interface between the user and
command mode DOS.
Exit Program
Pressing F7 lets you exit the program. This is an
alternative to and does the same thing as choosing the eXit
command from the Main Menu.
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LIMITED WARRANTY
LIMITED WARRANTY. Pastel Programming Co. warrants that the
software will perform substantially in accordance with the
accompanying written materials for a period of ninety (90)
days from the date of receipt. Any implied warranties on
the software are limited to ninety (90) days. Some
states/countries do not allow limitations on durations of an
implied warranty, so the above limitation may not apply to
you.
CUSTOMER REMEDIES. Pastel Programming Co. and its
suppliers' entire liability and your exclusive remedy shall
be, at Pastel's option, either (a) return of the price paid,
or (b) replacement of the software which is returned with a
copy of your receipt. The Limited Warranty is void if
failure of the software has resulted from accident, abuse,
or misapplication. Any replacement software will be
warranted for the remainder of the original warranty period
or thirty (30) days, whichever is longer.
NO OTHER WARRANTIES. Pastel Programming Co. and its
suppliers disclaim all other warranties, either express or
implied, including, but not limited to implied warranties of
merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, with
regard to the software and the accompanying written
materials. The Limited Warranty gives you specific legal
rights. You may have others which vary from state/country
to state/country.
NO LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES. In no event shall
Pastel Programming or its suppliers be liable for any
direct, indirect, consequential or incidental damages
whatsoever including, without limitation, damages for loss
of business profits, business interruption, loss of business
information, and the like, or any other pecuniary loss
arising out of the use of or inability to use the software,
even if Pastel has been advised of the possibility of such
damages. Because some states/countries do not allow the
exclusion or limitation of liability or incidental damages,
the above limitation may not apply to you.
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TRADEMARK ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Knowledge Index is a trademark or service mark of DIALOG
Information Services, Inc., A Knight-Ridder Company, 3460
Hillview Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94304, U.S.A.
COPYRIGHT
PostSearch KI and this Manual are (c) 1993, Pastel
Programming Co., HC56 Box 6038, Sidney MT 59270 USA,
CompuServe 71477,352.