PSEARCH version 2.0 by Norm Patriquin April 1986 ---------------------------------------------------------------- How PSEARCH can save you time --- PSEARCH is a file and text find utility for use on the IBM personal computer. It is not only a good technicians tool, it provides an easy to use, quick, way for users to locate files when their name has been forgotten or misplaced. This document describes how PSEARCH can benefit users with various different needs. Word Processing Users --------------------- PSEARCH has the ability to locate a file by words in its contents. This provides you with a facility to locate your word processing files by keywords or other information. The following command will print the names of all files that contain the name "Jones": PS *.*/t:jones If you do not have keywords to search for, you can examine the contents of files to locate a file needed. PSEARCH will scan the files matching the wildcard specification and show you the first words in the file. By looking at these words you will easily be able to identify the contents of each one. The next command will produce a report of the contents of all files. Only one line of words from each file will be displayed. This line usually will contain the title of the document or a letter or memo heading that will identify the document. PS *.*/s/d/p Spreadsheet Users ----------------- How many times have you forgotten the name of a spreadsheet you created or needed to locate a spreadsheet from another users files. After awhile names are very poor identifiers for files. PSEARCH can examine spreadsheet files and locate specific file names based on keywords found in the spreadsheet file. The following command will show the names of all spreadsheet files that contain the word "budget". The example below refers to all files with extension .WKS. This is for 123 spreadsheet files. PS *.WKS/t:budget If you do not have a keyword to look for, you can examine the contents of worksheet files to determine what they are. PSEARCH will look for the first text data in the spreadsheet file and show you that information. Since the first text in the file is usually title or the column header information, it is easy to identify the contents of the file. The following command example will cause PSEARCH to show the text contents of all files that satisfy the wildcard filename criteria. The /P (Pause) parameter will allow you to see more than one line of text information of each file if desired. You will be prompted after each line of text is shown. PS *.WKS/f/s/p Program Developers ------------------ PSEARCH's ability to scan for text in files can greatly reduce the time developers use to locate specific parts of code or references to field variables. PSEARCH can search for any specific string, complete words, word prefixes, or word suffixes. Once files are found, you can automatically build DOS commands to be executed against them. PSEARCH's ability to locate complete words is invaluable in finding references to short variable names that are also likely to be found as parts of other words. This makes it more powerful than most text search facilities found in editors. General Disk File Maintenance ----------------------------- In addition to PSEARCH's ability to search for text in files, it also contains the most complete file find facility to be found. PSEARCH can search across multiple directories, even multiple disk drives, for file names. The search can be limited to specified wildcard names and also be limited to the other following criteria: --- File Attribute UPDATED, READONLY, SYSTEM --- FIles greater than nnn days old --- Files less than nnn days old In addition to searching for files recorded in DOS directories, PSEARCH can also find filenames that are stored in archive files created by the ARC utility by System Enhancement Associates. This allows you to quickly locate files that have been archived. In addition, through, PSEARCH's DOS command execution, you may automatically cause PSEARCH to unarchive the file. Since PSEARCH can execute any DOS command against files selected, it can perform unlimited file maintenance activities. For example, the following command causes PSEARCH to archive all files with a .BAS extension that is also over 30 days old: PS *.BAS/f/a/o:30/x:arc m BAS.ARC # DOS command interface parameters and command structure. ------------------------------------------------------- PS [filespec] /F/E/A/DR:xx/P/MO/PR/PF/AO/AR/N:n/O:n/SO/X:xx/AT:x/T:xx/C/D/M ------------------------ GENERAL COMMAND PARAMETERS --------------------- /F - Locate file (not text search) /E - Show directory tree /A - Search all directories /DR:xyz Scan drives x,y,z /P - Pause after every match /MO - Pause when screen full /PR - Print output on printer /PF - Print output to file /AR - Find Files in .ARC files /AO - Only process .ARC files /N - N:nnn Select files < n days old /O - O:nnn Select if > n days old /SO - Set Sound Off /AT: [U][H][S][R] Select Updated, Hidden, System, or Readonly file files ----------------- TEXT SEARCH RELATED PARAMETERS ------------------------- /T - T:text Text to be found /C - Case sensitive search /D - Display matching records /M - Show all matches /FW - Find text as a word /FP - Find text as word prefix /FS - Find text as word suffix /SK - Skip COM,EXE and BAT files ----------------- EXECUTE COMMAND FOR SELECTED FILES --------------------- /X - X:cmd & aa Execute command for each found file The following characters found in command are replaced as follows: & - Path name ! - File name without extension @ - / for parms # - file name ~ - Name of file in .ARC /XF:cmd & aa Like /X to command file /XP:cmd & aa Like /X with Pause \0 }; Examples: --------- Find a file on your disk: PS TOMS.DAT/F/A Find a group of files: PS TOMS*.*/F/A Show files containing the characters XYZ: PS *.*/T:XYZ Also show the matching lines: PS *.*/T:XYZ/D/M List all files updated in last 3 days PS *.*/N:3 List all files older than 6 months PS *.*/O:182 Copy files older than 1 year to drive A: PS *.*/O:366/X:copy # B: Use ARC utility to archive any .WKS files over 1 year old PS *.WKS/O:366/X:ARC A OLDSTUFF.ARC # Delete .WKS files older than 1 year PS *.WKS/O:366/X:ERASE # Search all 123 files for word BUDGET PS *.WKS/D/T:BUDGET Compile all programs that contain the string 'DATAREC1' PS \pgmdir\*.C/T:DATAREC1/x:compile ! Build a command file for manually selected file names PS *.*/A/XP:ARC A SAVE.ARC # General Comments ---------------- The examples shown above all demonstrate PSEARCH's DOS command format. PSEARCH also may be started to display menus for option selection. This makes it easy to use for novices. The menus provide the basic PSEARCH functions and allow for options to be specified. PSEARCH is available on many fine bulletin boards under the following names: PSEARCH.ARC PSRCH?.ARC Note that each version of PSEARCH is supplied with the program file and a multiple page documentation file. If you are unable to locate PSEARCH or would like to obtain a new complete copy, send the $15 registration fee plus $5 shipping and handling to: Norm Patriquin P. O. Box 8308 San Bernardino, CA 92412 Please indicate where to found out about PSEARCH and a complete address where your new copy can be delivered.