Copyright: ® Ziff-Davis Interactive
Citation: Compilation copyright Ziff-Davis Interactive, 1994. All rights reserved.


Multimedia Hardware

Welcome to ProFind version 1.0!

Ziff's ProFind is a powerful File Finder with full regular expression search capabilities on both file content and name. ProFind allows you to quickly create and save search sets. On content search you can quickly see the lines the search matched and manually add or skip the file or line. It provides you with full file management capabilities on the located files. Takes advantage of right mouse quick menus to speed file management. Allows you to quickly copy found file information directly into your Windows Clipboard. Searches can be as simple or as complex as needed. Full boolean search on file Time, Date and size. Full attribute searches allowed, locate directory names or hidden files or both, endless search patterns. Allows you to add various DOS Environment paths to your search path. Saves all search path information with your search sets. Allows you to quickly define complex search paths for each specific search set. Ziff's ProFind is setup to default to your installation drive and search for all files on that drive.


WinFind Pro Version 1.0 Copyright Information
ProFind Version 1.0 Copyright Information

Copyright 1994 Ziff-Davis Interactive all rights reserved, Copyright 1994 David Blain, all rights reserved, Control Library Copyright 1994 Eric Walsh. You may NOT upload this utility to any online service, Internet, BBS, or network. Making copies for any commercial purpose is prohibited. You may NOT incorporate this utility in any collection such as user group disks. Distribution is limited to Ziff Communications online services and electronic publishing projects. This utility is NOT public domain, shareware or freeware.

If you obtained this utility from any commercial source other than ZiffNet, Ziff-Davis Interactive or a Ziff Communications Division, please contact:

Ziff-Davis Interactive
Attn: Robert W. Gerami, Jr.
25 First Street
Cambridge, MA. 02142
Phone: (617) 252-5000
E-Mail
ZiffNet/CompuServe: 72241,2065
Internet: 72241.2065@compuserve.com or rgerami@world.std.com

For Additional Help or to Report Bugs

You can contact David Blain on CompuServe at 72241,2257 for support or to report bugs. You can write Ziff-Davis Interactive at 25 First Street Cambridge, MA 02141 attention Robert Gerami.

Copyright 1994, Ziff-Davis Interactive, all rights reserved.

Copyright 1994 David Blain

Control Library Copyright 1994 Eric Walsh


Operating Instructions

Copy the attached file(s) to a temporary directory and Run INSTALL.EXE program and follow the prompts. Double click on the ProFind Icon to start. Warning: if you are currently using Ziff's Custom Utility Frequent Files you must update Frequent Files DLLs with the ones included in ProFind.


Startup Window

Click on any part of the Startup window for details


Search Expression Box

Enter text, characters or string to search for with the files. Under the ProFind-Configuration Window you will need to Check the Regular Expressions on Text Searches Box on or off. With it turned on the text search is based on regular expression syntax (see below) and with it off, the search is a flat text search (case sensitive check is under the Advanced Window).


Find File Box

Enter the file specification to search for (full wild card support). Default is *.*. Click on the Down Arrow for a list of common file types, single click in the list to select the desired type or click/hold and move the mouse down to scroll the list box for more file types. Under the ProFind-Configuration Window you will need to Check the "Regular Expressions on File Names" Box on or off. With it turned on the filename search is based on regular expression syntax (see Below). The default setting is off.


Current Directory

Displays the current directory path.


Drive Selection Window

Click on the drive or drives to search. Default is installed drive.


Search Sets Window

Lists active search set by description, click to choose. The description can be changed under the Advanced Window. First search set is default highlighted.


Find Button

Starts the search - activated by mouse or ALT F keystrokes or by tabbing to it and pressing Enter.


Advanced Button

Opens up the Advanced Window - activated by mouse or ALT M keystroke or by tabbing to it and pressing Enter. See Advanced Window for additional details.


Chapter 1 - Start Up Window - Save Button
Save Button

Allows you to save your current Search set - activated by mouse or ALT S keystroke or by tabbing to it and pressing Enter. Search sets are saved with a default extension of WFS.


Config button

Opens up the Config Window - activated by mouse or ALT C keystroke or by tabbing to it and pressing Enter. See Configuration Window for additional details.


Help button

Displays this help file.


Close button

Closes down ProFind.


WinFind - Advanced Window
ProFind - Advanced Window

Click on any part of the Advanced window for details


Description Box

Brief description of the search set (optional pull down list box to quickly change search sets). Edit the description in this box for your seach sets. Default Search Sets Description is initially displayed.


File Types Box

Current File Search pattern (optional pull down list box to select common file types). This can be in a Regular Expression Syntax or in ASCII Wild Card Syntax as determined by the Check Box in the Configuration Window. You can edit your search type pattern hear or on the Main Window.


Absolute Path Box

A very powerful feature that allows you to specify an Absolute path. For example, you perform a detail search on specific sub directory branches and cannot locate you file. You decide to back up one level on all your branches so you simple enter "..\" in this box and re-run your search. You may specify you exact path in this box or if you want you can enter "\" to force a search from the root of each selected drive.


Date

Defaults to Ignore. Allows a wide range of search patterns.


Time

Defaults to Ignore. Allows a wide range of search patterns.


Size

Defaults to Ignore. Allows a wide range of search patterns.


Search Attributes

Contains two check boxes.


Ignore Case

Available for NON-Regular Expression Searches when a string is present in the Search Expression Box.


Scan All Directories

Available for any search. Toggles on or off searches on all sub-directory below the selected current directories. Absolute path takes precedence on searches.


File Format

ASCII/Binary searches on all file types.

EBCDIC searches (maps ASCII set to EBCDIC).

Word Star searches (stips the high order bit) limited to the first 128 characters.


Attributes

Allow you to specify any use of FILE Attributes in determining search hits. Blank box means will not display files with that attribute set. An "x" in the box means to hit only on files with this attribute set. A grayed box means to let any file hit with these attributes to be shown.


DOS Environment List Box

Upper left List Box - Default is Ignore. Allows you to select any of your DOS Environment paths as part of your search path.


Drive List Box

Allows to select any available drive. Upon Saving of your search set, all selected drives will show Check mark next to them.


Tree List Box

displays the currently selected drive's tree. You can select specific search paths quickly from this box.


Chapter 1 - WinFind - Advanced Window - Detail Button
Detail Button

Displays the full path details and allows you to quickly remove old paths from the list across all drives. Selected paths will have an indent around the path name. If Search All Sub-Directories is check then all paths under the ones selected will also be searched. The path information is stored in the Saved Search Set (WFS) file.


Chapter 1 - WinFind - Advanced Window - OK Button
OK Button

Takes you back to the Main Window. Changes made to the Advanced Windows will be active but not saved unless you choose the Save Button.


Chapter 1 - WinFind - Advanced Window - Cancel Button
Cancel Button

Takes you back to the Main Window. Changes made to the Advanced Window (unless saved) will be discarded.


Chapter 1 - WinFind - Advanced Window - Save Button
Save Button

Allows you to Save your Search Set.


Chapter 1 - WinFind - Advanced Window - Detail Button
Detail Button

Activates the File Search Detail Listing Window. See File Search Detail Listing Window for more information.


Chapter 1 - WinFind - Advanced Window - Help Button
Help Button

Actives this help file.


File Search Detail Listing Window

This Window allows to quickly see all paths currently selected and edit or remove them as needed. File types are listed in the top list box. Drive and paths are listed in the main list box. Select paths to remove and/or changes. To remove a path, simply highlight the path and click on the Remove Button. Press Cancel to leave without activating your changes or OK to leave and retain you changes. The help button activates this help file.


WinFind - Configuration Window
ProFind - Configuration Window

Click on any part of the Configuration window for details


Search Set Path Box

On Startup ProFind will search this directory first for Saved Search Sets and then your path for additional search sets. Click on the box to edit changes or ALT E keystroke to change.


Regular Expressions on File Names Check Box

Enables or disables regular expression searches on file names. Activated with mouse or with ALT F keystroke. Must NOT be checked to perform a WildCard File Name Search. A warning message appears when you select this box.


Regular Expressions on Text Searches

Enables or disables Full Regular Expression searches on text/strings - activated by mouse or ALT T keystroke. When disabled you can perform WildCard Case Sensitive Searches by unchecking the Ignore Case Check Box in the Advanced Window.


Display Matched Lines On Search

Prompts you for each file found containing the text you specified for the search, showing you the file name and path along with the first line it hit on and the text. You can then choose to add, add all, skip, continue or cancel the search. See Matching File Found Window for further information.


Append Selection Button

Allows for output of searches to be appended to the Search List Box. Activate with mouse or with ALT A keystroke.


Clear Selection Button

Clears the Search List Box prior to inputting current search results. Activated with mouse or ALT L keystroke.


Create New button

Saves any current Search List Box and builds a new Search List Box for each additional search. Activate with mouse or with ALT R keystroke.


Default Sort Order Window

Allows the selection of the default sort field. Activated by mouse or with ALT D keystroke


Characteristics Window

Highlight file characteristics to display in Search List Box(s). Use mouse to drag and drop characteristics to different positions. Activated by mouse or ALT H keystroke. Must use mouse to reorder the fields.


Chapter 1 - WinFind - Configuration Window - OK Button
OK Button

Leaves Config window and saves settings only for current session - activated by mouse or with ALT O keystroke.


Chapter 1 - WinFind - Configuration Window - Save Button
Save Button

Save Config settings for future sessions - activated by mouse or ALT S keystroke.


Font Button

Opens a font changing window and allows you to specify the Search List Box(s) font - activated by mouse or with ALT N keystroke.


Chapter 1 - WinFind - Configuration Window - Help Button
Help Button

Activates this help file.


Chapter 1 - WinFind - Configuration Window - Cancel Button
Cancel Button

Aborts all changes and returns to main window - activated by mouse or ALT C keystroke.


View Window List Box

Upon the location of a file or files from a search, ProFind places the results to a View Window.

Features of the View Window:

Move

Copy

Delete

Rename

Tree

Create Directory

Copy to Clipboard

Select All

Unselect All

Instance resort by clicking on attribute title box.

Instance resize of box using mouse left button (drag and drop).

Instance reorder of box using mouse drag and drop.

Full Drag and Drop features.

Always prompts for action.

Right mouse quick feature access.

Copy/Move conformation on Drag and Drop operations with option to maintain directory structure.


Matching File Found Window

Displays Matched File Path and Name and list the Line number and the Line the text was found on.


Add Button

Adds the current found file to your list.


Add All Button

Stops prompting on hits and adds all to your found list.


Skip Button

Skips the current file, does not add it to your list.


Continue Button

Continues the search within the current file and shows you the next hit line.


Chapter 1 - WinFind - Configuration Window - Cancel Button
Cancel Button

Cancels the search.


Regular Expression Syntax

A regular expression is a string containing special and/or non-special characters.

A non-special character simply matches itself.

Special characters are used to build both simple and complex search expressions.

Simple Search Expressions:

?	Matches any character.
^	Matches the beginning of a line.
$	Matches the end of a line.
\b	Matches the backspace character.
\f	Matches the form-feed character.
\n	Matches the new-line character.
\r	Matches the carriage return character.
\t	Matches the tab character.
\xdd	If dd are hex digits, matches the char '\xdd'
\	Makes the next character non-special.
[class]	Matches any one character in class. To build a class, list the characters in the class. A '-' can be used to signify a range, such as [a-zA-Z] for all alphabetic characters.
[~class]	Negated class. Matches any one character not in the class.

Complex Search Expressions

(expr)	Grouping. The entire group becomes one regular expression.
.X*	Minimal matching. Matches zero or more Xs. Will match as many as needed to satisfy the expression, but no more. X may be a simple expression or a complex expression.
X+	Minimal matching plus. Matches one or more Xs. Will match as many as required, but as few as possible.
X@	Maximal matching. Matches zero or more Xs, and matches as many as possible to satisfy the expression.
X#	Maximal matching plus. Matches one or more Xs. Will match as many as possible.
(X!Y!Z..)	Alternation. Will match X, on failure will match Y, etc.
{...}	Tagging. The enclosed expression is tagged for later reference. The tagged expression may be used later in the expression, or in a replace process.
Examples:

Given the string:

"Oh goodness! The cow jumped over the moon! Super cow!"

Expression	Matches
moon	"moon"
(cow!moon)	"cow"
(sheep!moon)	"moon"
Oh (my!goodness)!"	Oh goodness!"
?*cow	"Oh my! The cow"
?@cow	"Oh goodness! The cow jumped over the moon! Super cow!"


Search Results List Box