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- ░░░░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ READ.EXE ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░░░░
-
- COPYRIGHT 1992, PC SPECIALISTS, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
- READ.EXE PROGRAMMER: Jonathan D. Stanley
-
- ─ ─ ─ PC SPECIALISTS - (904)-625-7214 (voice) - (904)-625-7719 (BBS) ─ ─ ─
-
- NOTE: This program is SHAREWARE. Please review the Shareware Information
- Screen when you exit the program.
-
- This program may be freely copied for distribution, provided it is unmodified
- and is distributed with the READ.EXE, README, and README.2ND files together.
-
- If your copy of READ.EXE is incomplete, call our BBS to download a complete
- copy. Additionally, an updated version may possibly be available, and we
- have many other original programs available on the BBS as well.
-
- ─[WHAT IS READ.EXE?]───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-
- READ.EXE is a program designed to take the place of the built-in command, TYPE.
- Instead of typing TYPE and a filename (TYPE README), simply substitute the word
- READ (READ README). In fact, if you are not using READ to read this file, why
- not try it right now? Just type:
-
- READ README
-
- And use the up and down arrow keys (or page up and page down) to read through
- this file.
-
- ─[HOW DO I USE READ.EXE TO READ ANY FILE?]─────────────────────────────────────
-
- READ can read any file, including files on other drives or in other sub-
- directories. All of the following would work (providing the files exist):
-
- READ README
- READ C:\AUTOEXEC.BAT
- READ C:\WINDOWS\WIN.INI
- READ D:\STACKER.LOG
- READ H:\BOB\TEXT\REPORT
-
- If you forget how to use READ, just type READ by itself for brief instructions.
-
- We suggest you place READ.EXE in your DOS "PATH" so that you can use it no
- matter what drive or directory you are in. Many people copy READ.EXE into
- their DOS directory. If unsure how to do this, ask someone familiar with DOS.
-
- ─[WHAT CAN READ DO THAT TYPE CANNOT?]──────────────────────────────────────────
-
- (also, what READ can do that the newer DOS command "EDIT" cannot)
-
- READ offers a built-in pause.
- TYPE itself cannot pause.
-
- READ allows you to scroll forward and backward in a document at your own pace.
- TYPE goes one direction - forward - at full speed, you cannot look back.
-
- READ can search for any word, phrase, or character, AND find repeats.
- TYPE has no search capability at all.
-
- READ allows you to move INSTANTLY to the top or bottom of ANY SIZE file.
- TYPE does not allow positioning and has to scroll the entire file.
-
- READ allows you to PRINT the entire file, or an area you mark.
- TYPE only allows you to print the entire file through redirection.
-
- READ Can handle ANY SIZE file, even humongous multi-megabyte files.
- EDIT Allows you to mark an area for Printing, but is limited in the size of
- the file it can handle (approximately 500K).
-
- READ allows you to define a portion of a file, and then save that portion with
- a new file name. (Known as Splitting).
- TYPE Cannot Split at all.
-
- READ As before, can handle ANY SIZE file, even humongous multi-megabyte files.
- EDIT allows you to mark an area for Splitting, but is limited in the size of
- the file it can handle (approximately 500K).
-
- ─[INSTRUCTIONS]─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-
- READ is very easy to use. Simply enter READ filename (where filename is the
- name of the file you wish to read).
-
- The file will be loaded and displayed on the screen.
-
- The bottom line of the screen is your menu. It will tell you which keys you
- can press to perform certain functions. At first you can move the arrow keys,
- Page Up and Page Down Keys, Home and End Keys, <Esc> to exit the program, and
- <F1> for the OPTIONS MENU.
-
- If all you want to do is read, then just use the arrow and page up/down keys,
- then press <Esc> when you are finished reading.
-
- If you wish to perform some of the more advanced features (like FIND, PRINT, or
- SPLIT), press the <F1> key for the options menu.
-
- The options menu brings up the choices:
-
- <F>IND
- FIND <N>EXT
- <M>ARK
- <P>RINT
- <S>PLIT
- EXIT:<Esc>
-
- FIND:
- If you wish to search the file for a particular word, phrase, or character,
- press F for Find, then enter the text you wish to find. The program will
- automatically start searching from the top of the file and will highlight
- and capitalize any match it finds.
-
- FIND NEXT:
- To search for repeat occurrences of the text, press N for find Next. This will
- search farther through the file for the text. You can continue pressing N to
- find further occurances until you reach the bottom of the file, at which time
- the computer will beep and you will see the [end of file] marker.
-
- MARK:
- The Mark command is used in conjunction with the Print and Split commands. In
- order to Print or Split (save) a selected portion of text, you must first Mark
- the Start point and End point of the text.
-
- When you press M for Mark, you are instructed to place a Start Mark and an End
- Mark with the <F4> key. Simply use the arrow keys to make the top line on the
- screen where you want to start marking and press <F4>. The line will be
- highlighted as a reminder. Next move down (you cannot place the end marker
- before the start marker) and repeat the process for the end marker.
-
- You can scroll through the text and see your start and end markers (they will
- be highlighted). If you wish to place your markers again, just press M and
- repeat the process.
-
- When you have your markers placed, you can use the Print and Split commands:
-
- PRINT:
- To Print, press P. You may then press <F9> to print the Entire File (ignores
- any markers you may have placed). Or you can press <F10> to print from the
- start marker to the end marker. If you have not defined both a start marker
- and an end marker, <F10> will not function.
-
- SPLIT:
- The process of splitting allows you to take a certain portion of text and
- save it with a new filename. This is great for huge files that may not fit
- into text editors (like the DOS EDIT command).
-
- After you have placed a START and END marker, press S to Split. You will be
- asked to give a filename. Any valid filename will work. If the file exists,
- you will be asked if you want to overwrite the existing file. The information
- between your start and end markers will be saved into the new file.
-
- Make sure to save the file under a different name that the file you are reading
- to avoid erasing any needed information.
-
- EXIT:<Esc>
- Press <Esc> to leave the READ program.
-
- ─[WHAT READ.EXE DOES NOT DO]───────────────────────────────────────────────────
-
- READ.EXE does not interpret ANSI codes. You will see the actual ANSI codes if
- any exist in a file, not the interpreted ANSI. The DOS TYPE command DOES show
- interpreted ANSI, READ.EXE does not.
-
- READ.EXE is not a text editor. It allows you to READ, FIND, PRINT, and SPLIT
- the information, but it does not allow you to EDIT the information.
-
- READ.EXE handles standard 80 column text files only. The large majority of
- files fall into this category. However, some programs save their files in 255
- column mode (most notably, some programming editors). READ.EXE will TRUNCATE
- (remove) any characters in a line longer than 80 characters. The original
- file will NOT be affected, but you will not be able to view, print, or split
- the removed characters in such a file.
-
- READ.EXE is not FREE. Many hours of programming, research, and testing went
- into the development of READ.EXE. If you continue to use READ.EXE after
- initial evaluation, we ask that you register your copy. See the Shareware
- Information screen when you exit READ for further information.
-
- ─[CLOSING REMARKS]─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-
- We hope you enjoy using the READ.EXE program. I, myself, as a programmer, find
- that I use READ on almost a daily basis. It can benefit both a seasoned
- programmer, as well as a first-time PC user with its power and ease-of-use.
-
- If you have any questions or comments about READ.EXE, call our BBS, or write to
- us at:
-
- PC SPECIALISTS
- PO BOX 4522
- OCALA, FL 34478
-
- We'd love to hear from you!
-
- NOTE: Many of our programs are also available on America Online. Search for
- keywords PC SPECIALISTS and/or STANLEY to find these programs.
-
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