═══ 1. American Coders LTD ═══

American Coders, LTD. 

Post Office Box 97462 

Raleigh, NC  27624 

(919) 846-2014 

Copyright 1993 American Coders LTD  Raleigh NC USA 

Programming Solutions For Your Business 


═══ 2. How To Execute ═══

From the command line simply type PMFLCOMP at the prompt. 

Or set it up in one of your folders.  For instance, where you keep your 
productivity, utility or programming tools. 


═══ 3. What It Is ═══

PM File Compare reads and compares the text lines of two files.  When any 
file's data doesn't have a match the mismatched line is shown in the Comparison 
List Box. 

Future releases will include hex/binary comparison. 


═══ 3.1. The Main Window ═══

The main window is made up of 4 pulldowns, File, Type, Options and Help; two 
entry fields and the comparison list box. 


═══ 3.2. File Pulldown ═══

The File pulldown contains 6 choices: 

o Old File 

o New File 

o Compare 

o Print 

o Refresh 

o Exit 


═══ 3.2.1. Old File Choice ═══

When you select the Old File choice you will get the standard PM File Dialog 
box. Use this dialog box to select the older of the two files you wish to 
compare against. This is an alternate method refer to Old File Entry Field. 


═══ 3.2.2. New File Choice ═══

When you select the New File choice you will get the standard PM File Dialog 
box. Use this dialog box to select the newer of the two files you wish to 
compare against.  This is an alternate method refer to Old File Entry Field. 


═══ 3.2.3. Compare Choice ═══

When you select the Compare choice you start the comparison function.  The 
compare function will not start until both the Old File and New File have been 
selected. 


═══ 3.2.4. Print Choice ═══

Select this to print the contents of the comparison listbox. 


═══ 3.2.5. Refresh Choice ═══

Select this to erase the contents from the comparison listbox. 


═══ 3.2.6. Exit Choice ═══

Select this to exit the program. 


═══ 3.3. Type Pulldown ═══

Not yet implemented at this time. All choices off of this pulldown currently 
are disabled. 

o Text 

o Binary 

o Hex 

o Checksum 


═══ 3.4. Option Pulldown ═══

Not yet implemented at this time. All choices off of this pulldown currently 
are disabled. 

o Ignore Leading Spaces 

o Ignore Trailing Spaces 

o Translate Tabs 


═══ 3.5. Help Pulldown ═══


═══ 3.6. Within The Window ═══

Inside the window there are two entry fields and one list box. 


═══ 3.6.1. Old File Entry Field ═══

Enter the Old File name to select the older of the two files you wish to 
compare against. This is an alternate method refer to Old File Choice. 


═══ 3.6.2. New File Entry Field ═══

Enter the Old File name to select the older of the two files you wish to 
compare against.  This is an alternate method refer to New File Choice. 


═══ 3.6.3. Compare List Box ═══

The list box shows the differences between the Old and New files.  If a line is 
found in the Old File that has no matching New File line it shows up in the 
listbox as 

 Del(#xxxx) yyyyy
 where xxxx is the line number in the Old File and yyyyy is the mismatching 
text. Similarly, if a line is found in the New File that has no matching Old 
File line it shows up in the listbox as 

Ins(#xxxx) yyyyy
 where xxxx is the line number in the New File and yyyyy is the mismatching 
text. 


═══ 4. What It Ain't ═══

PM File Compare can compare almost any file. 

Its main objective is to compare ASCII text file. You could compare binary 
files with the program, but the output would be useless. 


═══ 4.1. Suggestions and Bugs. ═══

Please call or write to us at our address with suggestions or to report bugs. 

We are working on a hex/binary comparison version of the program. 


═══ 5. What Else American Coders Can Do For You ═══

Programming PM apps is our speciality. 

Also, we do mainframe programming. With an emphasis on programming CICS 
applications that communicate to DOS and OS2 applications via APPC. 

There is more. We have written a VRexx application that creates a shell, yet 
compilable, PM program. It accomplishes this function by parsing your .RC and 
.DLG files.  Look for RCDO_Cxx.ZIP on a BBS near you. Or send a check in the 
amount of $25.00 along with a formatted floppy to our address. North Carolina 
companies and residents must include sales tax.