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1992-09-20
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8KB
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193 lines
I put this handy little utility together after trying to add the comments
from the BBS files catalog to my own file catalog.After 5 minutes of trying
to edit the comments into the neat columns that my catalog requires,I felt
that there had to be a better way.Hence the birth of Sifter,for sifting the
BBS file data into a neater columned format that your disk catalog program
can use.
Operation is very simple.Just type:
SIFTER
and follow the prompts.
Sifter is designed to turn listings like this:
COMCALL1.ZIP 22715 05-18-92 Monitor phone line in your abscence and calls
specified phone number. When your phone rings a specified number of times,
or you can set it to execute a command, like starting up COMM software.
DSMANUAL.ZIP 120805 05-17-92 US Robotics Modem Manual for all Courier 1
models, including the newest 16.8k HST's. Sam as printed manual that
comes with modems. Great for searching on-line for that hard to remember
command.
BGTLX211.ZIP 246873 05-17-92 Great background downloader for Telix/Qmodem
QM452TD2.ZIP 363750 05-17-92 QModem 4.52 Test Drive communications pkg 2/2
QM452TD1.ZIP 333041 05-17-92 Qmodem 4.52 Test Drive Communications pkg 1/2
Into listings like this:
COMCALL1.ZIP 22715 05-18-92 Monitor phone line in your abscence and calls
specified phone number. When your phone rings
a specified number of times, or you can set it
to execute a command, like starting up COMM
software.
DSMANUAL.ZIP 120805 05-17-92 US Robotics Modem Manual for all Courier 1
models, including the newest 16.8k HST's. Sam
as printed manual that comes with modems. Great
for searching on-line for that hard to remember
command.
BGTLX211.ZIP 246873 05-17-92 Great background downloader for Telix/Qmodem
QM452TD2.ZIP 363750 05-17-92 QModem 4.52 Test Drive communications pkg 2/2
QM452TD1.ZIP 333041 05-17-92 Qmodem 4.52 Test Drive Communications pkg 1/2
That's it.
Sifter now contains a configuration screen with several optional features:
JUNK FILTER MANUAL MODE - This feature allows the user to manually view any
junk lines (graphics boxes) detected by Sifter and the option of keeping or
removing the line.This comes in handy if the BBS list has file descriptions
with graphics boxes in the comment field.Sifter would normally remove all
such boxes when running in AUTO mode.
EMBEDDED SPACE FILTER - This feature allows Sifter to search for and remove
extra spaces between words in the comment field.
SEARCH AND REPLACE OPTIONS - This feature allows the user to have Sifter
search the comment field for a specified string of text and replace it with
whatever string the user chooses.This feature can also be used as a method
of removing unwanted text by simply hitting "Enter" at the replacement text
prompt.
SOURCE FILE TYPE - This feature allows the user to choose the type of source
file for conversion.This version supports RBBS (TBBS and PC-Board files
convert using this setting as well), Wildcat (old and new style),and FEBBS
(files created with Availist convert using this setting too) formats.
SAVE CONFIGURATION - Allows the user the user to save the current toggle
settings.
Note:
Due to the fact that BBS's don't seem to standardize the structure their file
listings,Sifter may not be 100% effective in removing all of the "junk" lines
that many BBS's insist on inserting throughout their catalogs.In the worst
case senario,Sifter will greatly reduce the editing chore that would otherwise
be required.
Files Included:
SIFTER.COM - executable file ;
SIFTER.DOC - this file ;
ANSIFT.BAT - batch file for use if you have
ANSI.SYS loaded ;
Revisions :
Version 1.0 :
-Initial release as Convert.
Version 1.1 :
-Renamed utility to Sifter which is somewhat more unique and a bit more
descriptive of what it does.
-Added filter to remove the boxes sometimes used to catagorize the files
by their functions.
-Modified the way the utility handled long file descriptions.
-Added recognition and removal of the pipe symbol (|) from PC-Board
type listings.
Version 1.1a :
-Fixed bug in title display.
Version 2.0 :
-Added color menu screens for nicer appearance.
-Added real time line counter.
-Added elapsed time counter after sort.
-Added valid line and junk line counters.
-Added beep tone to indicate operation completion.
-Added source file verification.
-Improved the line splitting routine.
-Improved the file description handling routine.
Version 2.1 :
-Added configuation menu with save feature.
-Added junk filter manual mode.
-Added embedded space detection and removal.
-Added comment field string search with remove/replace.
-Fixed bug in report screen routine that caused program lockup when
undefined key was pressed.
Version 2.2 :
-Fixed bug that caused clipping of the comments field when performing
multiple conversions.
-Tweaked output file format to comply with BBSee BBS file database utility.
-Added source and target filenames to report screen.
-Now returns to configuration prompt screen when performing multiple
conversions.
Version 2.3 :
-Added routine to allow user to abort conversion process as well as to
exit the program more efficiently from the filename prompt screen.
-Added routine to allow easier access to the configuration menu from the
filename prompt screen.
-Fixed bug that resulted in strange output when removing spaces from
filenames that had no extension.
-Fixed major bug in pipe symbol (|) removal routine.
Version 2.4 :
-Added support for Wildcat, and FEBBS style listings.
-Fixed bug that resulted in a blank line being inserted into the output
file while deleting a text string when the string was the entire line.
-Fixed bug that occured when the source file was not found in the
directory.When the filename prompt screen returned the previous filenames
would also return causing screen garbage.Previous filenames are now
flushed.
Version 2.5 :
-Fixed a couple MAJOR bugs in version 2.4, most notedly in the FEBBS
routine.
-Added support for the older style Wildcat listings for the sake of
completeness.
-Added word wrap routine on the primary comment line.
-Added fill characters that are placed in the file size and date fields
if they are missing in the source file.
Special Thanks to Jim Suzda at Rapid River BBS for his help in providing
ideas for some of the enhancements to Sifter as well as allowing me to use
his BBS as a support board for distribution and feedback.
RAPID RIVER BBS
6848 Highway 34
Rudolph,WI
Phone: (715) 435-3855
Any comments or ideas that you may have can be left as a message on this
board.The latest version of Sifter can be found here as well.
If you find this utility useful then I ask that you send a $10.00
contribution to:
Perry Provost
156 Chartwell Drive,
Apt. 106
Sault Ste Marie,Ontario
Canada. P6A 6A2
This is chickenfeed when you think of how long it would take you to edit
your listings the old fashioned way.Your contribution will clear your
conscience that you aren't taking advantage of another person's work
without compensating them for their efforts.It will also encourage me to
continue to enhance and refine this program.
All programs mentioned here are the trademarks of their respective authors.
Enjoy!!