Find String Application Synopsis Version 3.0 for Win95/NT4.0

The Win95/NT4.0 multiline Find String application was built to allow application
developers, html writers, system/network administrators, and others
to find a key word or phrase in many lines of many text files quickly
and efficiently.  Application developers can, for example, wire it
into the 16/32 bit version of Microsoft C++ visual work bench through
its Options/Tools menu to enrich the editing capability by allowing
them to find all instances of a key word or phrase in their project. 
It can also be used stand-alone by developers, html writers,
administrators et. al. who need to find a piece of information in one
or more lines of many files located in a multiple directories.  Once
found, by double clicking on the file or file line you can launch the
editor of your choice (notepad by default) to manipulate the data. 
Find String, will in addition to launching an editor, supply the line
number to the editor if instructed to do so (see Preferences
DialogHID_PREFERENCES) and will allow command line parameters if
required.  For those folks like me, who can not remember where they
defined a variable 20 minutes ago, it's essential.

Find String supports two methods of defining the file set to search. 
The first method allows you to select as many files from as many
directories via an extended file dialog as you want the application
to search.  This method is supported whether or not you have
registered the application.  The second method allows you to specify
a start directory and file filter.  This method is only supported for
registered customers.  If you have registered the application, you
can use both methods to specify the file set to search.

Find String supports multiline searches and searching for special
characters.  The supported special characters are displayed in a list
in the lower left corner of the Find String DialogHID_FDIALOG.  Just
double click on the special character you wish to search for and it
is automatically added to the end of the Find String Line.

The application was designed to handle a huge number of files from
multiple directories.  There is a display limitation that will limit
the number of files you can search at one time.  The display
limitation is 128,000 lines, consequently, if 95 lines are found per
file (96 display lines), the file limitation would be about 1,300
files. The application will stop the search operation when the line
limitation is reached.

Find String remembers the last directory searched and will default to
that directory on the next invocation.  Additionally, Find String
will save up to the last 100 (20 by default) search strings and allow
you to reuse those stings on subsequent invocations.  For those of
you who want a constant start position on your desktop, Find String
remembers its last size and desktop position and will restore itself
to that size and position until you change it.  If you position it
partially or fully off the desktop, it will restore itself fully on
the desktop.

The application expects to find a newline character, as a minimum, at
the end of each line and will not process files that are not
constructed in this manner.  Files generated by word processors are
not guaranteed to fall into this category unless they are saved in
ASCII/text.  When the application encounters such a file, it warns
you and excludes that file from any further search.  The search
string is limited to 1024 characters and the maximum number of
characters per searched line is limited to 2048.

If you wish to maintain multiple editor capabilities and segregate
your remembered find strings, you may pass Find String a command line
argument specifying the full path to a different ini file (unless the
ini file is in the windows directory and then only the name of the
ini file is required (e.g., my.ini).

In today's networking environment, many files can be manipulated on
foreign machines.  The UNIX file type is supported automatically for
those who need to remotely find a key word or phrase in text files
that conform to the UNIX file standard, assuming of course, that you
have that capability.

The application is easy and safe to use, just type in or select a
previous string, select whether or not you want it to match case
and/or be a whole word, select one or more files you want it to
search, and Begin!

		Dick Floersch
E-Mail:		dflo@oz.sunflower.org
		5/96