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Documentatioε Filσ fo≥ SEARCH ┴ε Informatioε Utility RAMBLING╙ AN─ RATIONAL: Onσ oµ thσ maiε reason≤ fo≥ owinτ ß compute≥ i≤ t∩ assis⌠ iε organizinτ data« ì However¼ mos⌠ oµ thσ "informatioε organizingó program≤ arounΣ toda∙ arσ ì complicateΣ anΣ cumbersomσ t∩ use« Thσ tasδ oµ enterinτ anΣ editinτ datß ì typicall∙ require≤ yo⌡ t∩ movσ bacδ anΣ fortΦ betweeε severa∞ menues« Wheε ì yo⌡ wan⌠ t∩ usσ thσ informatioε storeΣ iε thσ "databaseó yo⌡ discove≥ tha⌠ ì thσ thing≤ yo⌡ wan⌠ t∩ looδ fo≥ arσ no⌠ ke∙ field≤ anΣ therσ i≤ n∩ wa∙ t∩ ì acces≤ thσ informatioε othe≥ thaε dumpinτ ou⌠ thσ entirσ database« Iε ì addition¼ thσ datß i≤ usuall∙ storeΣ a≤ fixeΣ lengtΦ fields« Much∩ disδ ì spacσ i≤ wasted« Afte≥ enterinτ 50░ name≤ int∩ thσ database¼ yo⌡ wil∞ finΣ ì onσ whicΦ i≤ to∩ lonτ t∩ fi⌠ iε thσ field« Plus¼ afte≥ enterinτ datß fo≥ ì severa∞ days¼ yo⌡ wil∞ decidσ tha⌠ i⌠ surσ woulΣ bσ nicσ iµ yo⌡ haΣ aε ì additiona∞ fielΣ fo≥ onσ morσ item¼ etc. Thσ program¼ SEARCH¼ wa≤ writteε t∩ hel≡ overcomσ somσ oµ thσ difficultie≤ iε ì managinτ information« SEARC╚ i≤ usefu∞ fo≥ findinτ informatioε entereΣ iε ì unstructureΣ databases. Durinτ thσ ninσ year≤ ╔ havσ beeε hackinτ oε m∙ computer¼ ╔ havσ madσ ì countles≤ abortivσ attempt≤ t∩ creatσ genera∞ purposσ informatioε retreiva∞ ì programs« Thσ firs⌠ attemp⌠ useΣ BASIC¼ m∙ latte≥ attempt≤ useΣ somσ oµ thσ ì "higΦ techó databasσ managers« Nonσ werσ eve≥ completed« Thσ program≤ ì usuall∙ suffocateΣ froφ thσ weigh⌠ oµ thσ code« To∩ #"$Ñ man∙ menues« To∩ ì mucΦ use≥ friendly¼ programme≥ hostilσ code« To∩ man∙ bug≤ iε thσ databasσ ì software« To∩ mucΦ mone∙ fo≥ revision≤ oµ thσ softwarσ whicΦ introduceΣ ne≈ ì bugs« aΣ nauseaum... Conside≥ thσ casσ oµ ß constructinτ ß simplσ combinatioε Mem∩ ¡ Phonσ ì Directory« Thσ typσ oµ informatioε ╔ woulΣ wan⌠ t∩ storσ i≤ thσ person'≤ ì name¼ address¼ phonσ numbe≥ anΣ perhap≤ somσ extrß detai∞ (comments)« Wheε ╔ ì actuall∙ ge⌠ int∩ designinτ thσ databasσ ╔ neeΣ t∩ worr∙ abou⌠ ho≈ lonτ eacΦ ì oµ thσ field≤ mus⌠ be¼ ho≈ mucΦ detai∞ ╔ wan⌠ t∩ kee≡ oε thσ address« D∩ ╔ ì wan⌠ t∩ havσ aε alternatσ addres≤ field┐ ShoulΣ ╔ als∩ includσ ß fielΣ fo≥ ß ì busines≤ phonσ a≤ wel∞ a≤ persona∞ phone(s)┐ Wha⌠ abou⌠ HarolΣ Jones┐ Hσ ì ha≤ tw∩ phones. Assuminτ tha⌠ ╔ managσ t∩ ge⌠ thσ databasσ designed¼ theε ╔ neeΣ t∩ worr∙ ì abou⌠ enterinτ anΣ changinτ informatioε anΣ searchinτ fo≥ information« Wha⌠ ì wil∞ ╔ usσ fo≥ searcΦ fields┐ ShoulΣ ╔ inde° b∙ name┐ Wha⌠ iµ ╔ wan⌠ t∩ ì searcΦ thσ phonσ lis⌠ fo≥ ß worΣ o≥ identifie≥ iε thσ commen⌠ field┐ Wha⌠ i≤ ì thσ phonσ numbe≥ oµ thσ persoε wh∩ saiΣ hσ haΣ thσ schematic≤ oε thσ Motorolß ì 300│ monitor┐ ShoulΣ ╔ havσ ß separatσ databasσ fo≥ comments« ShoulΣ thi≤ ì databasσ havσ linkagσ witΦ thσ othe≥ database┐ ╔ thinδ yo⌡ begiε t∩ seσ m∙ problem« ╔ wan⌠ t∩ kee≡ al∞ sort≤ oµ unrelateΣ ì bu⌠ interestinτ informatioε iε thσ samσ databasσ anΣ bσ ablσ t∩ ge⌠ a⌠ i⌠ ì witΦ ease. Thσ probleφ whicΦ reall∙ stimulateΣ m∙ thinkinτ wa≤ ho≈ t∩ maintaiε ß ì "databasσ" oε thσ article≤ anΣ letter≤ founΣ iε thσ variou≤ issue≤ oµ thσ ìèexcellen⌠ publication¼ "Micr∩ Cornucopia"« Thosσ oµ u≤ wh∩ havσ singlσ boarΣ ì compute≥ system≤ likσ thσ Fergusoε Biτ Board¼ conside≥ "Micr∩ Có t∩ bσ ß ì nationa∞ treasure« Thσ trouble¼ a≤ witΦ al∞ publications¼ i≤ ho≈ t∩ locatσ ì informatioε burieΣ iε pas⌠ issue≤ withou⌠ spendinτ al∞ nigh⌠ lookinτ througΦ ì them« Actually¼ al∞ nigh⌠ i≤ no⌠ nea≥ lonτ enough« Oncσ ╔ ge⌠ starteΣ ì lookinτ througΦ olΣ issues¼ ╔ finΣ interestinτ article≤ tha⌠ ╔ haΣ forgotteε ì abou⌠ o≥ overlooked« Thσ enΣ resul⌠ i≤ tha⌠ ╔ usuall∙ ge⌠ s∩ absorbeΣ iε ì readinτ thσ olΣ article≤ tha⌠ ╔ forge⌠ wha⌠ ╔ wa≤ lookinτ for« Alas! Usinτ SEARCH SEARC╚ i≤ ß ver∙ eas∙ prograφ t∩ use« Thσ program'≤ namσ describe≤ it≤ ì function╗ i⌠ wa≤ designeΣ t∩ searcΦ ß filσ fo≥ ß patterε match« Iµ thσ matcΦ ì i≤ made¼ thσ recorΣ (o≥ lump⌐ oµ informatioε i≤ displayeΣ whicΦ contain≤ thσ ì match« I⌠ doe≤ no⌠ suffe≥ froφ "rampan⌠ featuritisó (a⌠ leas⌠ no⌠ yet). SEARC╚ wa≤ designeΣ t∩ searcΦ fo≥ matche≤ oε simplσ ASCI╔ tex⌠ files« Thσ ì datß (text⌐ file≤ caε bσ generateΣ usinτ virtuall∙ an∙ halfwa∙ decen⌠ editor« ì Editor≤ oµ thσ MultiMatσ ilδ arσ excluded« Thesσ ilδ editors¼ anΣ ╔ usσ thσ ì terφ editor≤ loosely¼ prefe≥ t∩ kee≡ thσ fruit≤ oµ you≥ labo≥ lockeΣ awa∙ iε ì incomprehensiblσ binar∙ jibberish. Records: SEARC╚ allow≤ thσ databasσ t∩ bσ "organizedó a≤ ß serie≤ oµ "disorganizedó ì records« A≤ fa≥ a≤ SEARC╚ i≤ concerned¼ ß recorΣ i≤ simpl∙ ß collectioε ì (clump⌐ oµ informatioε (ASCI╔ tex⌠ lines⌐ separateΣ froφ othe≥ clump≤ oµ datß ì (text⌐ b∙ somσ sor⌠ oµ specia∞ characte≥ sequence« B∙ defaul⌠ thσ specia∞ characte≥ sequencσ whicΦ delimit≤ SEARC╚ record≤ i≤ ì an∙ blank linσ or any line whicΦ begin≤ witΦ tw∩ minu≤ signs« Fo≥ example: -- Thi≤ i≤ ß recorΣ containinτ some informatioε abou⌠ thing≤ iε general« Iε particular, i⌠ i≤ thσ firs⌠ recorΣ iε thσ file« M∙ phonσ numbe≥ is 555-1234« (no⌠ really) Thi≤ i≤ thσ seconΣ recorΣ iε thσ file« Notσ tha⌠ this record is separated from the previous record by a blank line. This recorΣ doe≤ no⌠ contaiε an∙ more usefu∞ information. -¡ comment≤ caε g∩ he≥σ also Thi≤ i≤ thσ thirΣ recorΣ iε thσ file« Notσ tha⌠ thσ tw∩ minus sign≤ a⌠ thσ beginninτ oµ thσ linσ arσ al∞ tha⌠ i≤ requireΣ t∩ separate records« Comment≤ caε follo≈ thσ tw∩ minu≤ sign≤. ------------ Thi≤ i≤ thσ fourtΦ record« Thσ recorΣ delimite≥ caε als∩ contaiε more thaε tw∩ minu≤ signs« I⌠ mus⌠ havσ a⌠ leas⌠ two - Thi≤ i≤ stil∞ thσ fourtΦ record« Thσ linσ abovσ start≤ witΦ les≤ thaε tw∩ minu≤ signs. etc... è Datß Fields: Wha⌠ caε ╔ sa∙ abou⌠ datß fields┐ A≤ fa≥ a≤ SEARC╚ i≤ concerned¼ datß i≤ ì anythinτ betweeε thσ recorΣ delimiters« Strinτ o≥ patterε matche≤ caε bσ ì madσ oε an∙ o≥ al∞ oµ thσ data« SEARC╚ doe≤ no⌠ requirσ predefineΣ o≥ fixeΣ ì lengtΦ records« USAG┼ SYNTAX Thσ correc⌠ synta° fo≥ usinτ SEARC╚ is: SEARC╚ file1.ex⌠ file2.ex⌠ FO╥ word▒ word_worΣ2 word│ etπ -N SEARC╚ use≤ thσ keyworΣ FO╥ t∩ separatσ thσ filσ name≤ froφ thσ pattern≤ ì (words⌐ t∩ match« Iµ FO╥ i≤ no⌠ entered¼ SEARC╚ wil∞ generatσ aε erro≥ ì messagσ. Severa∞ filσ name≤ caε bσ giveε beforσ thσ FOR« Unfortunately¼ filσ name≤ ì canno⌠ bσ entereΣ a≤ wildcards« T∩ kee≡ thσ prograφ a≤ portablσ a≤ possible¼ ì ╔ haΣ t∩ leavσ ou⌠ wildcarΣ filσ namσ expansion« AlthougΦ thσ UNI╪ shel∞ ì automaticall∙ handle≤ thσ expansion¼ mos⌠ othe≥ operatinτ systeφ shell≤ d∩ ì no⌠ (to∩ bad)« ╔ ma∙ relen⌠ late≥ anΣ adΣ wildcarΣ expansioε a⌠ thσ expensσ ì oµ portability« Maybe. Strinτ o≥ patterε matche≤ arσ casσ insensitive« Also¼ matche≤ arσ handleΣ a≤ ì aε O╥ function« Fo≥ example¼ iµ thσ word≤ "diskó anΣ "driveó arσ used¼ ì SEARC╚ wil∞ looδ fo≥ ß matcΦ witΦ eithe≥ disδ o≥ drive« Iµ eithe≥ i≤ found¼ ì thσ entirσ recorΣ wil∞ bσ displayed« Quote≤ arσ useΣ herσ fo≥ clarit∙ only¼ ì the∙ arσ no⌠ requireΣ o≥ recommendeΣ oε thσ commanΣ line. -╬ (filσ name⌐ option: Wheε SEARC╚ find≤ ß patterε match¼ i⌠ wil∞ displa∙ thσ entirσ recorΣ anΣ theε ì ß recorΣ delimite≥ (tw∩ minu≤ signs)« Iµ thσ -╬ optioε i≤ specified¼ SEARC╚ ì wil∞ givσ thσ recorΣ delimite≥ iε thσ form: ------¡ Filσ --╛ squat.tx⌠ ------- wherσ squat.tx⌠ i≤ thσ namσ oµ thσ filσ iε whicΦ thσ patterε matcΦ i≤ made« ì Aε examplσ oµ thσ -╬ optioε i≤ a≤ follows: SEARC╚ squat.tx⌠ FO╥ disδ drivσ -N Phantoφ Spaces: Thσ specia∞ character¼ ASCI╔ underlinσ '_'¼ ma∙ bσ useΣ t∩ designatσ ß ì "phantomó space« Fo≥ example¼ iµ yo⌡ arσ interesteΣ onl∙ iε thσ patterε ì "disδ driveó yo⌡ woulΣ ente≥ i⌠ a≤ disk_drive« Iε thi≤ casσ SEARC╚ wil∞ ì displa∙ thσ recorΣ onl∙ iµ i⌠ find≤ thσ tex⌠ sequencσ "disδ drive"« Conside≥ thσ probleφ oµ lookinτ fo≥ reference≤ t∩ ╡ 1/┤ incΦ disδ drives« ì Onσ wa∙ woulΣ bσ t∩ specif∙ thσ patterε matcΦ a≤ "╡ 1/4"« Iε thi≤ casσ ì SEARC╚ wil∞ makσ matche≤ oε al∞ occurance≤ oµ thσ digi⌠ ╡ anΣ als∩ oε thσ ìèfractioε 1/4« Yo⌡ wil∞ surel∙ finΣ al∞ reference≤ t∩ ╡ 1/┤ incΦ disδ drive≤ ì a≤ wel∞ a≤ al∞ phonσ number≤ containinτ thσ numbe≥ 5« Informatioε explosioní ì Thσ wa∙ t∩ ge⌠ arounΣ thi≤ probleφ i≤ t∩ ente≥ thσ searcΦ patterε a≤ "5_1/4". RedirecteΣ Output: Normally¼ SEARC╚ display≤ it'≤ informatioε oε thσ console« Becausσ oµ ß ì buil⌠ iε featurσ oµ AZTE├-C¼ thσ outpu⌠ caε bσ sen⌠ t∩ ß file« Followinτ thσ ì UNI╪ convention¼ thσ specia∞ characte≥ ">ó followeΣ b∙ ß filσ name¼ wil∞ ì causσ thσ outpu⌠ t∩ bσ redirecteΣ t∩ thσ file« Fo≥ example¼ SEARC╚ squat.tx⌠ fo≥ disk_drivσ >foo.bar wil∞ senΣ thσ result≤ oµ thσ patterε search¼ iµ any¼ t∩ thσ filσ foo.ba≥ ì rathσ≥ thaε displayinτ i⌠ oε thσ console« Usσ oµ filσ directeΣ outpu⌠ wil∞ enablσ yo⌡ t∩ perforφ AN─ typσ patterε ì matches« Fo≥ example¼ conside≥ tha⌠ yo⌡ arσ lookinτ fo≥ al∞ article≤ tha⌠ ì dea∞ witΦ ╡ 1/┤ disδ drivσ maintenence« Becausσ yo⌡ canno⌠ bσ certaiε tha⌠ ì al∞ appropriatσ entrie≤ iε thσ filσ contaiε thσ sequencσ "╡ 1/┤ disδ drivσ ì maintenence"¼ yo⌡ wil∞ havσ t∩ bσ ß morσ general« Yo⌡ migh⌠ tr∙ thσ ì following: SEARC╚ squat.tx⌠ FO╥ 5_1/┤ disδ drivσ >foo.bar SEARC╚ foo.ba≥ FO╥ main⌠ diaτ troub Thσ firs⌠ commanΣ linσ wil∞ extrac⌠ al∞ record≤ whicΦ mentioε ╡ 1/┤ o≥ disδ ì o≥ drive« Thσ outpu⌠ wil∞ theε bσ writteε t∩ thσ filσ foo.bar« Thσ seconΣ ì commanΣ linσ wil∞ theε examinσ thσ filσ foo.ba≥ fo≥ al∞ record≤ whicΦ contaiε ì thσ worΣ fragment≤ maint¼ diag¼ o≥ troub« Thσ result≤ oµ thσ fina∞ searcΦ ì wil∞ bσ displayeΣ oε thσ screen« Thσ sequencσ caε bσ extendeΣ forever¼ o≥ ì unti∞ yo⌡ ruε ou⌠ oµ disδ spacσ o≥ thing≤ t∩ looδ for. Tes⌠ File: Aε examplσ tes⌠ filσ i≤ supplieΣ iε thσ library« Thσ datß containeΣ iε thσ ì filσ i≤ thσ resul⌠ oµ scanninτ Volume≤ │ anΣ 2│ oµ "Micr∩ Cornucopia"« ì AlthougΦ thσ datß ma∙ appea≥ cryptiπ t∩ you¼ yo⌡ caε adΣ additiona∞ ì informatioε a≤ required« Fee∞ freσ t∩ pla∙ witΦ it« Enjoy! Warrant∙ anΣ Copyrigh⌠ Notice Thσ program¼ SEARCH¼ i≤ guaranteeΣ t∩ worδ fo≥ ß perioΣ no⌠ exceedinτ thirt∙ ì day≤ o≥ thirt∙ seconds¼ whicheve≥ come≤ first« ShoulΣ yo⌡ encounte≥ problem≤ ì o≥ bug≤ iε thσ program¼ bea≥ iε minΣ ho≈ mucΦ yo⌡ paiΣ fo≥ it« Buτ fixe≤ anΣ ì enhancement≤ ma∙ o≥ ma∙ no⌠ bσ madσ available¼ dependinτ oε ho≈ thσ autho≥ ì feel≤ anΣ thσ phasσ oµ thσ moon« Iµ yo⌡ havσ question≤ abou⌠ thσ program¼ ì pleasσ hesitatσ t∩ call. Thσ program¼ SEARCH¼ i≤ CopyrighteΣ b∙ Doε L« Finley« Thσ author¼ Doε L« ì Finley¼ ha≤ releaseΣ thσ prograφ int∩ thσ publiπ domaiε fo≥ al∞ t∩ usσ anΣ ì enjoy« Thσ prograφ mus⌠ no⌠ bσ solΣ fo≥ commercia∞ gaiε althougΦ distrbutioε ìèb∙ publiπ domaiε softwarσ organization≤ i≤ permitteΣ anΣ encouraged« ╔ woulΣ appreciatσ receivinτ an∙ enhancement≤ o≥ buτ fixe≤ madσ t∩ thσ ì program« SenΣ al∞ sucΦ stufµ througΦ ou≥ RBB╙ a⌠ (615⌐ 22╣-448╕ 300/120░ ì bp≤ 2┤ h≥ (xmodeφ support). Doε L« Finley 31░ Willo≈ St. Mt« Carmel¼ T╬ 37642 (615⌐ 357-335╡ (afte≥ 6pm)