???->TEXT will open, read and display any file in a straight-up once-only manner, similar to the TYPE command available on DOS systems. Invisible files become visible, and specialized documents (those with control characters and headings, such as are produced by word processor applications) can be reviewed. So far, it appears that ANY file can be viewed, although some will be nothing but control characters and therefor unintelligible.
Once a file has been reviewed, the user may wish to convert them to TEXT format so that they can be opened and read by a TEXT reader (like the one you are using now). All of the commands convert the unknown file to a TEXT readable file, using control routines that amount to "bulk" ("batch") editing.
File->File.txt...............converts the file directly and without editing to a TEXT format. All the control characters readable from the original file are present in the new .txt file.
File->File.rtx...............converts the file to a TEXT format, after stripping the first 512 bytes of the file. This often removes the defining header for specialized word processor documents, and leads to a smaller, more attractive presentation of the actual text of the document.
File->File.tdf...............converts files that contain tables of numeric data into TEXT format files consisting solely of the numeric data, in tab-delimited format. This is especially useful for data files themselves, where the data is originally in space (or spaces) delimited format, to produce files that are readable by spread-sheet (or graphing) programs which often prefer tab-delimited data files.
Strip Line Leaders....converts files to TEXT format, after removing the first byte from each line. Choices are to do this for all lines, all lines starting with "tab" characters, or all lines starting with "line feed" characters. This is a holdover from some problems I found with converting DOS data files to Mac readable data files, and may have some value for the user. The original file becomes file.sal, file.sta, or file.slf, respectively.
Replace Spaces..........converts files to TEXT format, after replacing a space or series of consecutive spaces with a single character. Choices are to replace with "tab", or to replace with "single space". The original file becomes file.tab or file.ssp, respectively.
Replace Other.............converts files to TEXT format, after replacing "tab" control characters with a space. The original file becomes file.tsp.
Make "Chapters".........converts files too large for TeachText into multiple TEXT format files of up to 25K, which TeachText can read. The original file is split into file.ch1, file.ch2, file.ch3, etc., which may then be opened in sequence by TeachText.
All Uppercase.............converts files to--ALL UPPERCASE. The file becomes file.UC.
Try Me 1 is 5 rows of 6 columns of data, separated by double spaces. Try to copy it into a spreadsheet. Use Replace Spaces (with tab) to convert it to spreadable data....
Try Me 2 is a file with line leaders which make it unattractive. You could remove them one-by-one, but use Strip Line Leaders (All) to make a clean copy in one step. Such control characters may occur on translation from other computer systems.
Try Me 3 is a MacWrite II file that is much too large for TeachText, even if it were text. It also happens to be a set of random letters copied and pasted to make the large file. If you don't have MWRT, you can still scan this file with ???->TEXT, then convert it to TEXT with either File-> File.txt or File-> File.rtx (which will allow a full size word processor to open it), and/or convert it to chapters so it will fit into TeachText.
It's been a lot of fun, but some work too, went into ???->TEXT, so I hope you'll register your copy. Updates will come directly to you, when, as, and if they are requested and completed. Please send your comments to the same name and address as the registration form goes to (found under the "Apple/About...." menu), and make some suggestions for other interesting and/or practical conversions that might be added.
Please note that ???->TEXT is not free, but is Shareware. Updates and improvements depend on some level of support for the product, so please do the right thing, and register your copy. If you want to forward it to someone, either in person or on a BBS, you're welcome to, and I thank you, but <only> if all files and elements of the program are intact (including this Read Me) as you have received it.
Have fun with it, and I hope you find it useful....
