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- Generation Gap(TM)
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- User's Guide
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- ii
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- Copyright 1991
-
- By
-
- Damon M. Farris
-
- Joshua Tree, CA. 92252
-
- All Rights Reserved
-
-
-
- iii
-
-
- TABLE OF CONTENTS
-
- Trade Marks v
- INTRODUCTION 1
- Registration 1
- Definition of Shareware
- 1
- Disclaimer - Agreement 2
- Audience 3
- Requirements 3
- Hardware 3
- Memory 4
- Overhead 4
- Theory of Operation
- Overview 4
- Dual File Operation 4
- Single File Operation 5
- File Size 5
- About This Manual 5
- Installation 5
- Objective 5
- Backup distribution
- diskette 6
- Load files 6
- General Operation Notes 7
- Context Sensitive Help 7
- Esc Sequence 7
- File Selection from Default
- Directory Screen 7
- Manual Entry of File Name 8
- Select Function Menu 8
- Help 8
- Browse File 8
- Comparing Files 9
- Is-Was Block 9
- Generated Line Numbers 10
- File Inference Using Delta
- Mark 10
- Composite and Delta Screen
- Description 10
- Determination of Block Move
- 11
- Loosing Its Way 11
- Select Options 11
- Skip Line Numbers 12
- Expand Tabs 13
- Significant Blanks 13
- Case Sensitive for
- Compare 13
- Split Screen Mode 13
- Sound for Messages 14
- Sound for Prompts 14
- Save These Selections 14
- Lines Max 14
- Read Assumptions 15
- Function Bar 15
- Help Function 16
- Index 22
-
-
-
-
- iv
-
-
- File1/Composite 16
- File2/Delta 16
- Split 17
- Option 17
- Files 17
- Print 17
- Save 18
- File Selection
- 18
- Command Line 18
- Dual file functions 18
- Single file functions 18
- Options 19
- GGCL 19
- Redirection of Output 19
- View Output 20
- GGCL Options and Switches 20
- Response File 21
- Execution Using
- Response File 21
-
-
-
-
- v
-
-
- TRADEMARKS
-
-
- IBM PC, XT, AT, PS2 and PC DOS are trademarks of
- International Business Machines Corporation.
-
- MS DOS is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation
-
- Generation Gap is a trademark of Mutech
-
-
-
-
- vi
-
-
-
-
- 1
-
-
- INTRODUCTION
-
-
- Registration
-
- Insure you receive all the free upgrades and latest
- versions of Generation Gap. Please print and fill out
- the register.doc file then remit $25.00 to register the
- complete package.
-
- You will receive:
- - the latest version of Generation Gap
- which does not display the shareware
- notice on start up
-
- - a complete detailed user's guide
-
- You may also register for the partial package of your
- choice by remitting $15.00 for either GenGap or GGCL
- where GenGap is the interactive version and GGCL is the
- Command Line version of Generation Gap.
-
- You will receive:
- - the latest version of the registered option
- which does not display the shareware
- notice on start up
-
- If the register.doc file does not exist on this
- diskette, please register by sending a note and the
- above amount to
-
- Mutech, POB 894
- Joshua Tree, CA 92252
-
- For further information, support, or to place an order
- call
-
- (818) 881-6112
-
-
-
- Definition of Shareware
-
- Shareware distribution gives users a chance to try
- software before buying it. If you try a Shareware
- program and continue using it, you are expected to
- register. Individual programs differ on details --
- some request registration while others require it, some
- specify a maximum trial period. With registration, you
- get anything from the simple right to continue using
- the software to an updated program with printed manual.
-
- Copyright laws apply to both Shareware and commercial
- software, and the copyright holder retains all rights,
-
-
-
-
- 2
-
-
- with a few specific exceptions as stated below.
- Shareware authors are accomplished programmers, just
- like commercial authors, and the programs are of
- comparable quality. (In both cases, there are good
- programs and bad ones!) The main difference is in the
- method of distribution. The author specifically grants
- the right to copy and distribute the software, either
- to all and sundry or to a specific group. For example,
- some authors require written permission before a
- commercial disk vendor may copy their Shareware.
-
- Shareware is a distribution method, not a type of
- software. You should find software that suits your
- needs and pocketbook, whether it's commercial or
- Shareware. The Shareware system makes fitting your
- needs easier, because you can try before you buy.
- And because the overhead is low, prices are low also.
- Shareware has the ultimate money-back guarantee -- if
- you don't use the product, you don't pay for it.
-
-
- Disclaimer - Agreement
-
- Users of Generation Gap must accept this disclaimer of
- warranty: "Generation Gap is supplied as is. The
- author disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied,
- including, without limitation, the warranties of
- merchantability and of fitness for any purpose. The
- author assumes no liability for damages, direct or
- consequential, which may result from the use of
- Generation Gap."
-
- Generation Gap is a "shareware program" and is provided
- at no charge to the user for evaluation. Feel free to
- share it with your friends, but please do not give it
- away altered or as part of another system. The essence
- of "user-supported" software is to provide personal
- computer users with quality software without high
- prices, and yet to provide incentive for programmers to
- continue to develop new products. If you find this
- program useful and find that you are using Generation
- Gap and continue to use Generation Gap after a
- reasonable trial period, you must make a registration
- payment of $25.00, or $15.00 depending on option
- selected, to MuTech. The $25.00 or $15.00 registration
- fee will license one copy for use on any one computer
- at any one time. You must treat this software just
- like a book. An example is that this software may be
- used by any number of people and may be freely moved
- from one computer location to another, so long as there
- is no possibility of it being used at one location
- while it's being used at another. Just as a book
- cannot be read by two different persons at the same
- time.
-
-
-
-
- 3
-
-
- Commercial users of Generation Gap must register and
- pay for their copies of Generation Gap within 30 days
- of first use or their license is withdrawn. Site-
- License arrangements may be made by contacting MuTech.
-
- Anyone distributing Generation Gap for any kind of
- remuneration must first contact MuTech at the above
- address for authorization. This authorization will be
- automatically granted to distributors recognized by the
- (ASP) as adhering to its guidelines for shareware
- distributors, and such distributors may begin offering
- Generation Gap immediately (However MuTech must still
- be advised so that the distributor can be kept up-to-
- date with the latest version of Generation Gap).
-
- You are encouraged to pass a copy of Generation Gap
- along to your friends for evaluation. Please encourage
- them to register their copy if they find that they can
- use it. All registered users will receive a copy of
- the latest version of the Generation Gap system.
-
-
- Audience
-
- There is one primary use of Generation Gap. That is to
- compare two related files to discover the changes made
- since the creation of the parent file and the evolution
- of the descendent file. This guide will refer to these
- files as the master and the semi-clone(1).
-
- While there are many disciplines that need to know
- these differences, computer programmers were the in-
- tended audience. However, the interest has expanded and
- the audience includes Logistic Engineers, Analysts,
- Secretaries and anyone else who maintains files of
- descending order.
-
-
- Requirements
-
-
- Hardware
-
- Generation Gap requires an IBM PC, XT, AT, PS2 or 100%
- compatible computer operating with PC DOS or MS DOS
- Version 3.0 or later.
-
-
- ____________________
- 1 We use the term semi-clone here because the
- assumption is that it is a descendent of the master
- file with just a few differences.
-
-
-
-
- 4
-
-
- Memory
-
- The minimum memory required for Generation Gap is 385K
- and may require up to 640K, depending on the number and
- the size of the records in the files to be tested. A
- rough idea of the requirement can be inferred using the
- following as a guide line. Notice that this is in addi-
- tion to the 146,000, or more, bytes required for the
- executable code that must occupy memory concurrently.
- For larger files, use GGCL(2) which is the COMMAND line
- version of Generation Gap. GGCL requires only about 86K
- to operate leaving more memory for data manipulation.
-
-
- Overhead
-
- The overhead(3) for each line in the file to be evalu-
- ated is as follows:
-
- Browse has no overhead.
-
- Compare is 24 bytes per record per file.
-
- Theory of Operation Overview
-
- Generation Gap performs operations on single or dual
- files. The dual file operations are the browse function
- and compare function while single file operation is
- only the browse function.
-
-
- Dual File Operation
-
- Browse loads two selected files and displays them in
- the desired display mode. This mode may be the second
- file entered overlaying the first file or using one of
- two Split Screen options, either vertical or
- horizontal.
-
- Compare loads two selected files and performs extensive
- tests on every line within each file to determine if
- the second file input has been changed, inserted,
- deleted or moved. Generation Gap assumes the two files
- are related and seeks out the lines that match. It uses
- these lines to maintain synchronization throughout the
- ____________________
- 2 GGCL is the command line version of Generation Gap
- which requires less memory to operate. This leaves
- more Random Access Memory (RAM) for data processing.
-
- 3 Overhead is the number of bytes GG requires to
- operate in the particular option chosen in addition to
- the raw data loaded into memory from the file.
-
-
-
-
- 5
-
-
- process. Using the divide and conquer technique it
- then operates on the undefined smaller blocks between
- the matched lines.
-
-
- Single File Operation
-
- Browse is the only single file operation. If a single
- file operation is to be selected, press and hold the
- Alt key and then press the F10 key.
-
-
- File Size
-
- All processing is done within RAM so the size of the
- files Generation Gap can process is between 70 and 80K
- for each file, depending on the number of lines
- contained in each file. A limiting factor is the
- overhead used by each line.
-
- About This Manual
-
- There are times within this guide when the terms option
- and function are used interchangeably. Actually we try
- to identify the functions as:
-
- - Compare
- - Browse
-
- with certain options available when these are executed.
- We use the term MODE when the options provide alternate
- results.
-
- Generation Gap requires no complex procedures to oper-
- ate so this user's guide is restricted to showing only
- examples of accessing the functions and options.
-
- If there is a requirement for the user to enter data,
- the example input is shown inside the symbols "<" ">".
- i.e., <TYPE MANUAL.DOC | MORE>
-
- Installation
-
- We will announce the objective such that users who al-
- ready have everything down can go ahead and load the
- files where and how they wish then skip to General
- Operation Notes on page five.
-
-
- Objective
-
- Using the DOS commands, make a backup of the distribu-
- tion diskette.
-
-
-
-
- 6
-
-
- Load all files from the distribution disk into the same
- subdirectory and in the current path on the hard drive.
- Ensure that GenGap.prf is in the same subdirectory as
- GenGap.exe.
-
- Please refer to your system manuals, if necessary, and
- resolve any conflicts between the directions in this
- guide and your DOS.
-
-
- Backup distribution diskette
-
- Insert the diskette into drive A and either enter
-
- <diskcopy a: x:> or
-
- <xcopy a:g*.* x:>
-
- where x is either a or b and the term enter means type
- the characters and then press the Enter key.
-
- Load files
-
- If you have a favorite subdirectory for tools and util-
- ities, then change directories to it.
-
- <cd filespec>
-
- where filespec is the name of the subdirectory. Other-
- wise make a subdirectory
-
- <md filespec>
-
- then
-
- <cd filespec>
-
- now load the files by entering
-
- <xcopy a:g*.*>
-
- We assume the backup diskette is in drive a. If it is
- in drive b, then of course use b: instead of a:.
-
- Now refer to the DOS manual and insert or append this
- new subdirectory to the PATH in the AUTOEXEC.BAT.
-
- After the modification is complete, update the PATH by
- entering
-
- <autoexec>
-
- and Generation Gap should be ready to operate.
-
-
-
-
- 7
-
-
- If there is a readme.doc on the distribution diskette,
- read it now by entering
-
- <TYPE a:readme.doc | more>
-
- This ensures the latest information not in the user's
- guide is conveyed.
-
- You are now free to start Generation Gap and explore as
- you refer to this guide or read on. If you're in a
- hurry to get output, refer to the topics on GGCL.
-
- Start Generation Gap by entering
-
- <gengap>
-
-
- General Operation Notes
-
-
- Context Sensitive Help
-
- GG (Generation Gap) provides help at the current
- function or screen level.
-
- For example, when at the Select Function menu and the
- cursor is located on the Compare File function, press-
- ing F1 will initialize the help screen filled with text
- which pertains to that function. This remains true even
- if the cursor is on the Help function line when F1 is
- pressed.
-
-
- Esc Sequence
-
- Generation Gap uses the Esc key to back out of each
- screen and return to the previous screen. This con-
- tinues all the way to the return to DOS. Press Esc if
- an error occurs or if any doubt about the circum-
- stances.
-
- File Selection from Default Directory Screen
-
- The following actions are taken if a function is chosen
- which requires the selection of a file. GG loads the
- default directory and presents it for viewing with the
- ability to select a file for operation.
-
- Selection may be accomplished by moving around the
- screen with the cursor arrows, tab key & back tab, or
- the name of the file may be typed into the data entry
- field. Location of the cursor is noted by the
- highlight of the complete file name. The name of the
- file is also posted in the data entry field which is
-
-
-
-
- 8
-
-
- updated with every new cursor location. When the
- proper name is in the data entry field, press Enter to
- submit the file for type verification. If it is a
- valid DOS ASCII(4) type, the selection is complete. If
- is isn't, try again.
-
- Manual Entry of File Name
-
- When an alphanumeric key is pressed instead of one of
- the cursor keys, the selection process goes into the
- manual entry mode. The cursor jumps to the first loca-
- tion whose leading character matches the key pressed.
- As the second key is pressed, the cursor seeks a more
- qualified location if it exists. This seeking contin-
- ues until the final key is pressed. Pressing Enter
- will select this file for the operation. If the file is
- a valid type, the selection is complete as before.
-
- When a function is selected that requires two file
- names, both names must be entered prior to leaving the
- directory screen.
-
- Select Function Menu
-
-
- Help
-
- Move the cursor to the function under consideration and
- press F1 or the number 1.
-
-
- Browse File
-
- The ability to browse a file is sometimes necessary af-
- ter initializing GG. The number of files that can be
- accessed at one function call is two. The first file
- selected to browse is loaded into the Composite Window
- while the second is placed into the Delta Window. If
- only one file is desired, then press Alt F10 to com-
- plete the selection otherwise, select the second file.
-
- As with all screens in Generation Gap, pressing Esc
- will cancel the immediate screen and return to the pre-
- ____________________
- 4 ASCII TYPE, for our purpose, is a text line using the
- American Standard Code for Information Interchange
- (ASCII) delimited by a Carriage Return and Line Feed.
- Some operating systems, i.e., UNIX, does not include
- the carriage return character in the text file. Other
- files may be of the text type but have embedded control
- characters. Still others may be binary files such as
- the executable code and many other variations of the
- above.
-
-
-
-
- 9
-
-
- vious one. In this case, if Esc is pressed GG will re-
- turn to the Select Function menu. Press F2, the number
- 2, or move the cursor to the active line and press en-
- ter to Browse.
-
-
- Comparing Files
-
- The ability to compare two files which are related is
- the primary function of Generation Gap. The usefulness
- of the output is directly proportional to the relation
- of the files.
-
- Here are two extreme examples.
-
- An example of the output from two files which are not
- related will be a Delta Screen that contains all
- deleted lines from the master file and all inserted
- lines from the semi-clone file. The Composite Screen
- will contain the same data.
-
- An example of the output from two files which are iden-
- tical will consist of a Delta Screen that contains the
- notice "There Are No Differences in These Files" while
- the Composite Screen contains the semi-clone or, in
- this case, the clone with no embedded markers.
-
- In between these extremes, useful information may be
- gleaned depending on how far the relation is removed.
- A notice is given as the two files retreat from being
- related. Press F3, the number 3, or move the cursor to
- active line and press enter to Compare.
-
- Is-Was Block
-
- The algorithm to determine whither or not a line is
- only changed instead of inserted or deleted can be ex-
- haustive. To keep the program from bogging down, the
- default for an unidentifiable block of text is 5
- records.
-
- This may be overridden in GGCL but is not an option in
- the interactive version of Generation Gap. When this
- block is very large, GG spends most of its time search-
- ing for records that have a high probability of being
- related. That is; every word contained in every line of
- the clone file is checked against every word in every
- line of the semi-clone file within the block to verify
- the change.
-
- When this block is output it can really be scrambled.
- If the unidentified block exceeds this default value,
- the block is treated as a cohesion of deletes or in-
- serts. These marks appear to contain more meaningful
-
-
-
-
- 10
-
-
- information than a mixed block of lines marked as Is-
- Was with embedded Inserts and Deletes.
-
- Generation Gap will always take the easy way out to re-
- solve an ambiguous problem. Even if it requires the
- marking of an unrelated pair of lines with an Ins-Del
- combination which may really mean no change has oc-
- curred. This action on the data implies a line or
- block of text has moved and not detected with MF and
- MT.
-
- Generated Line Numbers
-
- As each file is loaded, Generation Gap identifies the
- lines and the file where it belongs. This I.D. tag is a
- line number relative to the first line in the file.
- This information can be used to locate lines or blocks
- which have been modified since generation of the master
- file.
-
- File Inference Using Delta Mark
-
- GG considers the first file entered as the master file
- and the second file entered as the semi-clone. There-
- fore, the present tense "Is" implies the line number of
- the current file or semi-clone and the past tense "Was"
- indicates the line number of the master file. "Del"
- also indicates deleted from the master file and "Ins"
- implies this is the line number inserted into the semi-
- clone.
-
- Composite and Delta Screen Description
-
- The Composite screen contains all records of the semi-
- clone file that are identical to the records in the
- master file plus all of the differences between the
- files. This accounts for extra lines you will notice
- inserted in the screen. A line may change positions
- within the file because of other records having been
- changed, inserted, moved, or deleted.
-
- The Delta screen contains only the records that have
- been changed, added, relocated, or removed. When the
- number of records exceed the allocated size of the
- window, a collision notice is presented and the excess
- records are ignored.
-
- There are small fields identified by "More" which has
- horizontal arrows on the left and right of the status
- line. These fields indicate that more information is
- in that direction and pressing the corresponding arrow
- will bring it into view.
-
-
-
-
- 11
-
-
- Determination of Block Move
-
- If a block of text has been relocated, say moved from
- lines 50 thru 65 to lines 30 thru 45, GG must
- synchronize the records after identifying the moved
- block. Sometimes the output must be massaged to convey
- meaningful information. There will be instances when
- the moved block will be shown as a Moved From (MF)
- block from one location and a Moved To (MT) block in
- another. Then there will be instances where the block
- will not be marked but the area above and below will be
- shown as moved. The objective is to show as little
- movement as possible, so the criterion is to move the
- smallest block of text.
-
- In the case above we could argue that lines 46 thru 49
- actually moved while 50 thru 65 remained stationary.
- Since the outcome is the same, GG indicates the smaller
- of the two moved--a lot cleaner.
-
- Loosing Its Way
-
- When the relation of the two files is too far removed,
- there just are not enough hooks to maintain reliable
- synchronization. When synchronization is lost, or in
- doubt, GG will look for the next occurrence of an unam-
- biguous(5) match between two records in the files. If
- it finds, them it marks the unknown block as Deletes
- and Inserts. If it doesn't find them, it marks the
- block from the last known unambiguous match to the end
- of the files as Deletes and Inserts.
-
- Select Options
-
- The following options are available with the default
- selection active:
-
- << Input Sensitive >>
-
- Skip Line Numbers On
-
- Expand Tabs On
-
- Significant Blanks Off
-
- Case Sensitive for Compare On
-
-
- ____________________
- 5 Unambiguous match is the instant when one and only
- one record in the current file matches one and only one
- record in the opposite file. If more than one record
- has a match in the same file, it is an ambiguous match.
-
-
-
-
- 12
-
-
- << Display Sensitive >>
-
- Split Screen Vertical I
- Horiz I II
- Sound For Messages On
-
- Sound For Prompts On
-
- Save These Selections Yes
-
- Lines Max Off
-
- Note: The Lines Max option is shown only if the
- display is capable of this option.
-
- The options are selected by pressing the space bar when
- the cursor is on the option under consideration. This
- toggles the option from its current state, i.e., if
- it's On then it gets turned Off and vis-a-vis, Off when
- On.
-
-
- Skip Line Numbers
-
- This option is included with the computer programmer in
- mind. There are several languages which require, or in
- the past have required, line numbers. These numbers may
- be resequenced or renumbered without any or few changes
- to the text itself. However, as far as Generation Gap
- is concerned, the lines don't match and a change is
- recorded.
-
- To prevent these unreal differences in the files, Skip
- Line Numbers must be turned on. GG then steps over the
- number and continues with its task as if they weren't
- there.
-
- CAUTION
-
- The previous statement must be restricted to the
- programmer's arena only or used with extreme care.
-
- An example of the wrong use of Skip Line Numbers is
- when two inventory files are compared.
-
- For this purpose, say the first field contains part
- numbers that evaluate to a numeric. This field is
- skipped and therefore not included in the test of the
- record. These conditions provide output that is not
- very useful and sometimes downright confusing.
-
-
-
-
- 13
-
-
- Expand Tabs
-
- There may be instances when a line of text hasn't re-
- ally been changed except for some reason the tabs have
- been expanded in one of the files and not the other.
- When this is suspected, turn on Expand Tabs. The expan-
- sion requires just a little more time to operate on
- each line, but not much.
-
- When Expand Tabs is toggled from Off to On, the tab
- stops must be entered. If the boundary is eight, either
- enter 8 or press Enter and the default overrides. Oth-
- erwise the range of the boundary is 1 thru 8.
-
-
- Significant Blanks
-
- There are instances when the blank lines within a file
- have meaning. If the need to know when these lines have
- been inserted, deleted, or changed (expanded or
- shortened), toggle Significant Blanks On. Otherwise
- they are ignored.
-
-
- Case Sensitive for Compare
-
- There are instances when a character may be in either
- upper or lower case with the results not being
- affected. However, there are many times when it is
- quite significant. For C programmers it may be very
- important while for Basic programmers it may not be.
- For other documents it may also be either significant
- or not.
-
- If is important to detect whither or not a meaningful
- case change has occurred, turn this option on.
-
- When Case Sensitive for Compare is Off, all text is
- output in upper case.
-
-
- Split Screen Mode
-
- Split Screen has two modes of operation. Vertical which
- places the Composite Screen beside the Delta Screen and
- Horizontal II which places the Composite Screen physi-
- cally above the Delta Screen.
-
- In the Horizontal mode the Delta screen will overlay
- the Composite screen if the Composite data fills the
- monitor. Both of the screens grow to fit the available
- text to be displayed. If the size exceeds the
- capability of the monitor to display all lines, the
- screens limit the growth to fit the monitor. The text
-
-
-
-
- 14
-
-
- can be scrolled up/down or left/right and paged up or
- down when it is too large for the view. The current
- location of the cursor is highlighted to give a higher
- level of concentration while reading the text content
- of the line.
-
- The Composite screen grows downward from monitor line 3
- while the Delta grows upward from monitor line 24 or
- line 42, depending on the current screen mode of the
- monitor.
-
- The Horizontal mode is useful when trying to determine
- the difference between the lines that changed.
-
- In the Vertical I mode, the field view of each screen
- is narrowed and is setup side-by-side. The criterion
- for screen growth is the same as above except the Delta
- screen now begins on monitor line 3 and grows downward.
- The cursor action is also available. The Vertical mode
- is useful when trying to verify the location of the
- line or block changes within the two files.
-
-
- Sound for Messages
-
- GG generates a couple of attention getting tones when
- there is an important message displayed. This may be
- turned off.
-
-
- Sound for Prompts
-
- The tones generated for the prompts are slightly dif-
- ferent from the message tones. Since there are many
- prompts, these sounds may become a nuisance and can
- also be turned off.
-
-
-
- Save These Selections
-
- Simple. It does just that. So the next time GG is in-
- voked, the options don't have to be reset unless de-
- sired to do so.
-
-
- Lines Max
-
- Some hardware allows display of more than 25 lines on
- the monitor. GG determines if 43 or 50 lines can be
- displayed and includes Lines Max to be selected if the
- hardware is capable of the option. This is very useful
- if the document contains many lines of text.
-
-
-
-
- 15
-
-
- Due to a problem with the ANSI driver in MS-DOS 4.01,
- the mode at time of invocation will be maintained if
- other than 25 lines are displayed.
-
-
- Read Assumptions
-
- Generation Gap takes the liberty to assume certain at-
- tributes about the files presented. If there is a
- deviation from this assumption, then the following
- consequence will occur:
-
- In the case of:
-
- line numbers:
-
- the Skip Line Numbers option is considered to
- be in the correct mode or undetermined output
- is presented.
-
- relativity:
-
- they are closely related or the output is
- meaningless.
-
- ASCII types:
-
- the file must be DOS ASCII or the file name
- selection is not allowed.
-
-
- Function Bar
-
- The Function Bar is the menu selected as an alternative
- to Pull Down Menus. The operational complexity of Gen-
- eration Gap is minimum and requires few function keys
- to facilitate the complete function list.
-
- The functions may be exercised by:
-
- moving the cursor arrows up or down and then
- pressing Enter.
-
- pressing the corresponding number key.
-
- pressing the corresponding Function key.
-
- The ease of access depends on the type keyboard and
- personal preference.
-
-
-
-
- 16
-
-
- Help Function
-
- Help on Help is accomplished by placing the cursor on
- the Help line and pressing the F1 key. If the cursor is
- located on any other line when the Help access key is
- pressed, the help screen is invoked for that particular
- function.
-
-
- File1/Composite
-
- The Composite screen represents both the master file
- and the changes that have been made to it using the
- current file as an updated version. This screen
- contains original lines and the marked elements:
-
- Is The current contents of the line.
-
- Was The old contents of the line.
-
- Ins A new line that has been inserted or
- appended to the master file.
-
- Del An old line that has been deleted from
- the master file
-
- MF The original location of a line that has
- been moved. (Moved From)
-
- MT The new location of a line that has been
- moved. (Moved To)
-
- The File1 title is used for the screen when the Browse
- function is exercised. The content of the screen is the
- first file loaded into Generation Gap.
-
- Press F2 or use either of the other access methods to
- display the File1/Composite screen
-
-
- File2/Delta
-
- The Delta screen represents only the differences be-
- tween the master file and the current generation. Each
- line is identified as above.
-
- The File2 title is used for the screen when the Browse
- function is exercised. The content of the screen is the
- second file loaded into Generation Gap if the second
- file is selected to browse.
-
- Press F3 or use either of the other access methods to
- display the File2/Delta screen.
-
-
-
-
- 17
-
-
- Split
-
- Split selects both of the above screens to be dis-
- played. The current option mode determines the method
- of display, vertical or horizontal. The vertical mode
- shows each screen side-by-side with the Composite on
- the left and the Delta on the right. The horizontal
- mode shows the Composite above the Delta.
-
- Press F4 or use either of the other access methods to
- display the screens in the Split mode.
-
-
- Option
-
- Option displays the Option menu. This panel allows the
- selection of options used while viewing the results of
- the selected process through the use of switches. The
- selection may be saved for future interrogation. Three
- of the options are active during the load process and
- must be considered before the selection of a function.
-
- These three are:
-
- Case Sensitive for Compare Default is on
-
- Skip Line Numbers Default is on
-
- Expand Tabs Default is on
-
- The other five may be changed before or after the pro-
- cess is selected and were discussed earlier.
-
- Press F5 or use either of the other access methods to
- display the Options menu.
-
-
- Files
-
- Files allow access to the printer and disk drive for
- printing or saving the screens. They may be selected
- individually or all at one time for the action under
- consideration. Press F6 to display the file menu.
-
-
- Print
-
- Using the cursor arrows, move the highlight to "Print"
- and press Enter, or press "P" to display the query of
- the file (screen) to print. Use any of the previous
- techniques to make a selection. Select the printer ad-
- dress.
-
-
-
-
- 18
-
-
- If an error occurs, you will be queried to retry or
- abort the print process otherwise, the file is printed.
-
-
- Save
-
- Using the cursor arrows, move the highlight to Save and
- press Enter, or press "S" to display the query of the
- file (screen) to save. Use any of the previous tech-
- niques to make a selection.
-
- File Selection
-
- The extension of "CMP" is appended to the name of the
- master file when saving the Composite screen.
-
- The extension of "DLT" is appended to the name of the
- semi-clone when saving the Delta screen.
-
- If the file exists, you will be queried to overwrite.
- An answer of yes will overwrite the file. Press Esc to
- enter a new file name. Enter the name of the file for
- the save.
-
- Command Line
-
- To by-pass entering the file at the directory screen,
- the file names and functions may be entered on the
- command line when invoking Generation Gap.
-
- Usage is:
-
- "GENGAP filespec1 [filespec2][/option1]...[/option2]"
- where filespec1 is the name of the master file and
- filespec2 is the name of the semi-clone file. The
- square brackets indicate the entry is optional and not
- part of the input line. The options are any of the
- following functions/options. If an option or function
- is entered, it must follow a forward slash.
-
- Dual file functions
-
- Browse Files BR
-
- Compare Files C
-
- Single file functions
-
- Browse Files BR
-
-
-
-
- 19
-
-
- Options
-
- Not Case Sensitive NC
-
- Skip Line Numbers On L
-
- Display Max Lines LI
-
- Expand Tabs Ex Where x is the tab
- stop. Default is
- 8 columns.
-
- GGCL
-
- Generation Gap Command Line(GGCL) is the command line
- version of Generation Gap that requires less memory
- than GG. The output is to the screen or can be redi-
- rected to a file using the redirection symbol.
-
- For example:
-
- To compare two files and print the Composite and Delta
- screens to the monitor enter GGCL filenam1 filenam2/c/d
- where filenam1 and filenam2 are the file names of your
- choice.
-
- Redirection of Output
-
- That works fine for small files; but when the input and
- the output are large, it is more useful to send the
- output to another file. The data can be viewed with
- your editor or by using the TYPE COMMAND and PIPING it
- to MORE.
-
- Example:
-
- <GGCL filenam1 filenam2/c/d > filenam3>
-
- where filenam3 is the file name where to save the out-
- put and the switches /c and /d tell GGCL to list the
- Composite file and the Delta file. The /c must be
- entered when the /d option is selected if the Composite
- is desired.
-
- CAUTION:
-
- There is no test of the output file name to determine
- if it already exists. If there is another file with the
- same name, it will be overwritten.
-
-
-
-
- 20
-
-
- View Output
-
- To view filenam3 using the TYPE COMMAND, enter
-
- <TYPE filenam3 | MORE>
-
- and the output file will be displayed one screen at a
- time while waiting for any key to be pressed. See the
- PC-MS DOS user's guide for more details.
-
- The entry is not case sensitive. The upper case is
- shown to indicate the DOS command only. The vertical
- bar is the DOS symbol to PIPE the output of TYPE (text
- of filenam3) to the input of MORE. Using TYPE without
- the pipe and MORE will just print to the monitor and
- you must fight the keys to pause the screen. You may
- also pipe the output directly to MORE by entering
-
- <GGCL filenam1 filenam2/c/d | MORE>
-
- However the file is only temporary and can't be viewed
- later.
-
- GGCL Options and Switches
-
- Option Switch
-
- List Composite /c
-
- List Delta /d
-
- Line Numbers On /l
-
- Expand Tabs /ex where x is the tab
- stop...default is 8
-
- Not Case Sensitive /NC default is Case
- Sensitive
-
- No Extended ASCII /NE default is Extended
-
- Change Block /Bx where x is the maximum
- size of the block to
- test for changes...
- See Is-Was for a
- detailed description
- and rationale
-
-
- No Extended ASCII characters is necessary when the
- printer will not print the characters or the printer
- font does not contain the IBM graphics characters set.
-
-
-
-
- 21
-
-
- Response File
-
- When it is necessary to interrogate many files for
- changes, GGCL will accept a response file.
-
- Create the response file with your editor, and ensure
- only one process per line.
-
- Each line must meet the same requirements as if it were
- entered from the command line with the exception of the
- output. It is not necessary to redirect the output to a
- file. GGCL creates its own files by using the first
- file name input and then generating an extension
- beginning at AAA and incrementing one character per
- process. All errors encountered during the process are
- also written to the current active file. These files
- may then be viewed as before.
-
-
- Execution Using Response File
-
- Invoke GGCL by entering
-
- <GGCL @ResponseFileName>
-
- The @ character must precede the file name.
-
- The line numbers and markings have the same meaning as
- in GG.
-
- If you need reminding of the usage, enter GGCL without
- any parameters at the COMMAND line and it will print a
- brief description to the display.
-
- For example, enter
-
- <GGCL>
-
- GGCL gives the error message that no file name was en-
- tered, but we already knew that. It's the other stuff
- we're after. If there are any errors entered on the
- COMMAND line, GGCL will post the error message and dis-
- play the proper usage.
-
-
-
-
- 22
-
-
- INDEX
-
-
- Agreement 2 Errors 21
- Arrows 7, 10, 15, 17, 18 Esc 7, 9, 18
- ASCII 8, 15 key 7
- Extended 20 Ex 19, 20
- ASP 3 Expand Tabs 11, 13, 17,
- Attributes 15 19, 20
- Audience 3 Extended ASCII 20
- Basic 13 F1 7, 8, 16
- Block 9, 10, 11, 14, 20 F2 9, 16
- Boundary 13 F3 9, 16
- BR 18 F4 17
- Browse 4, 5, 8, 9, 16, 18 F5 17
- C F6 17
- compare 18 File 10
- programmers 13 master 9
- Cancel 9 Selection 7
- Care 12 File Inference 10
- Case Sensitive 11, 13, File menu 17
- 17, 19, 20 File Selection 18
- CAUTION 12, 19 File1 16
- Changes 3, 12, 14, 16, 21 File1/Composite 16
- Clone 9 File2/Delta 16
- Command 19, 20 Filespec1 18
- Line 1, 18, 21 Filespec2 18
- COMMAND line 4, 18, 21 Function 4, 5, 7, 8, 15,
- Compare 3, 4, 5, 9, 11, 16, 17, 18
- 13, 17, 19 keys 15
- Files 18 Function Bar 15
- Compare File 7 Functions 5, 15, 18
- Composite 8, 9, 13, 14, Functions/options 18
- 16, 17, 19, 20 Generated 14
- Screen 10, 13, 18 Generation Gap 9, 18
- Consideration 8, 12, 17 Generation Gap
- Context Sensitive 7 Command Line 19
- Current 6, 7, 12, 14, 16, Gengap 7
- 17, 21 GG 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14,
- file 10 19, 21
- Cursor 7, 8, 12, 14, 15, GGCL 1, 4, 7, 9, 19, 20,
- 16, 17, 18 21
- Data entry field 7, 8 Hardware 3, 14
- Del 10, 16 Help 7, 8
- Deletes 10, 11 Highlight 7, 17, 18
- Delta 8, 10, 13, 14, 16, Horizontal 4, 13, 14, 17
- 17, 19, 20 I.D. tag 10
- Screen 9, 10, 16, 18 Input Sensitive 11
- Description 20, 21 Ins 10
- Differences 3, 9, 10, 12, Insert 6
- 16 Interactive 1, 9
- Directory 7 Is-Was 9, 10
- screen 8, 18 Key 5, 6, 7, 8, 15, 16,
- Disclaimer 2 20
- Display Max Lines 19 LI 19
- Display Sensitive 12 License 3
- Error 7, 18, 21 Line number 10
-
-
-
-
- 23
-
-
- Line Numbers 10, 12, 15, Read Assumptions 15
- 17, 20, 21 Redirection 19
- Lines Max 12, 14 Registration 1, 3
- Loosing Its Way 11 Relation 9, 11
- Mark 10 Relative 10
- Master 3, 9, 10, 16, 18 Relativity 15
- file 10, 16 Requirements 3, 21
- Master file 10 Save 18, 19
- Memory 4, 19 Save These Selections 12,
- Message 14, 21 14
- Messages 12, 14 Screen 4, 7, 8, 9, 10,
- MF 11, 16 13, 14, 16, 17, 18,
- Mode 4, 5, 8, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20
- 17 help 16
- More 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 13, See Is-Was 20
- 14, 19, 20 Select Function 7, 9
- Move 8, 9, 11, 17, 18 Select Options 11
- Moved from 11, 16 Selected 4, 5, 8, 12, 14,
- Moved To 11, 16 15, 16, 17, 19
- MT 11, 16 Selection 7, 8, 11, 15,
- Operation 4, 5, 7, 8, 13 17, 18
- Option 1, 5, 9, 12, 13, Semi-clone 3, 9, 10, 18
- 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, file 9
- 20 Shareware 1, 2
- menu 17 distribution 1
- mode 17 Significant Blanks 11, 13
- Options 4, 5, 11, 12, 14, Single file 4, 5, 18
- 17, 18, 19, 20 Skip 5, 12, 17
- Overhead 4 Skip Line Numbers 11, 12,
- PIPE 20 15, 19
- PIPING 19 Sound 12, 14
- Primary function 9 Split 17
- Print 1, 17, 18, 19, 20, Screen 4, 12, 13
- 21 Switch 20
- Printed 18 Synchronize 11
- Programmer 12 Test 12, 19, 20
- Programmers 3, 13 TYPE 5, 6, 7, 8, 15, 19,
- Prompts 12, 14 20
- Pull Down Menus 15 Unambiguous match 11
- Query 17, 18 Vertical 4, 12, 13, 14,
- 17, 20
- Window 8
-