Why? 
In the actual computer science world there are many text file formats, and we need often convert one format to another. Usually it means simply replace some strings by the others. Of course some text editors provide this possibility with “find and replace” command. But with this command it is almost impossible for a complicate multi-replace conversion.  

What Is It? 
PowerReplace is a powerful text conversion utility. It does the conversion using a small file called “Filter”. The syntax of filter is very easy to understand.

PowerReplace is also an utility to build text conversion application. It can create small stand-alone daughter-application called “SelfReplace”, who makes your favorite conversion more easily and efficiently.

PowerReplace can replace character (including NULL, CR, LF, TAB) or string by any other string. By use of the asterisk-sign(*) representing any indeterminate string, it can replace also a string only whose two extremities are known. It supports all character set, hexadecimal string and regular expression(pattern) for find/replace.

Who Will Use It? 
All people who need to do some text conversion: Non programmer as well as programmer.

How to Use It? A Simple Example
To replace "à" by "&agrave;" and "é" by "&eacute;", follow these steps:
(1) Launch PowerReplace application.
(2) Write the following lines in the window "Untitled":
       "à"      "&agrave;"
       "é"      "&eacute;"
(3) Click Convert File (or press âŒ˜E).
That’s all. For complete information on this topic, see User’s Guide Chapter 4 - Tutorial.

Features
- High conversion speed and easy to use.
- Easy to create new filter file.
- Can copy resource and keep the same type-creator. This seems to me very important. For example I often use this option for convert TeX 8 bits file with pictures to TeX 7 bits file. In these files, pictures are stocked in the resource 'PICT'.
- Easy to change filter file that will be remember in the preference file.
- Can override old text file, or save output file with extension name.
- Apple technology Support: Drag/Drop, Balloon Help, AppleScript.

Documentation & Help
- Launch PowerReplace application, from the Help menu, select PowerReplace User’s Guide…  or  Show Balloons. 

- Visit my home page for general help.
- Ask me if you wish.

Distribution
Shareware fee 25 US$. PowerReplace is copyright © 1993-97 by Guoniu Han, all rights reserved. PowerReplace may be used for a trial period of 4 weeks. If you decide to continue using it, you must register your copy. Paying is fairly simple. You have many ways to register PowerReplace. For more information about registration, see the "Registration Readme" File.

Any SelfReplace applications you create using PowerReplace are copyright © 1993–96 by Guoniu Han, all rights reserved. You may create and distribute SelfReplace for your commercial or non-commercial applications, but without the registration code supplied to you.

Contact the Author
Report bugs or suggestions to: <guoniu@kagi.com> Thanks! 
To download or learn more: <http://www.kagi.com/guoniu> 
Register On-Line through: <http://order.kagi.com/?YU> 
Contact me via postal mail:
Guoniu Han, 30, avenue du General de Gaulle, 67000 Strasbourg, France.