Universal Find & Replace Utility Version 1.0 By Softechnics September 12, 1993 CompuServe Address: 72123, 501 NOTE ==== There are two (2) files in the FR.ZIP file. FR.EXE is the Find & Replace Utility for MS-DOS based machine. It is called FR for short. FR came about by the need to make changes in more then 1 file at a time. FR is versatile and unique. It works with any file format, any type, and any file size, as long as you have disk space equal to or greater than the working file. It works well especially on the vector based files such as; .EXE .COM .DLL .DOC(Word format) .BMP .TIF etc.. you name it. The word processors on the market all have excellent Search and Replace options but they are limited to one file, i.e. the one in use. Certain of these programs allow you to program them through Macro statements but again, it takes the "TIME" to learn to do the programming. The word processor programs are designed specifically to handle its own data format. It will not allow you to open and write to an unknown format safely like FR. FR is unique in the way it scans through the file. It does not disturb your file format. FR will not write to a file that has no matching search string. If you wish to search and replace a unique character, you can combine the Alt+N(key code) key. N is the code number from 1 to 255, representing the ASCII and extended characters. See your MS-DOS manually for more details on accessing special characters through Alt+number key. What FR will do is "Smooth" out your multiple change problems! If you are a programmer, you will appreciate saving your time. Many people use FR to change the data and image files, data and font files, form files, print files, executable file, Window library files. The nice thing about FR is, you don't have to regenerate your file using a compiler or word processor. This means, you can change any file without its source file. For testing purpose, this is an excellent tool to patch or add new control string to your file before sending it to the printer. Font maker companies used our FR program to experiment with their print sequence file. If you find this program useful and want to continue on using it legally, we recommend that you send in your $10 register fee. Site license is $4 per station, $10 minimum. You will receive newer & faster FR version plus document. Please include $4 for shipping and handling. Our address is as follow: SOFTECHNICS 1900 NE. 48th Street, Suite A-103 Renton, WA 98056 TEL. (206) 227-0071 FAX. (206) 227-4048 _________________________________________________________________________ Softechnics now offers a free English-French translator working demo for PC, on a 3.5" HD diskette. To receive your free copy, please send $4 shipping & handling to our address above. You will be delighted seeing this artificial program running. You can use it to learn French quickly, to convert software or document files from English to French. Over 12,000 French conjugation table included. That already saves you $15 by not buying the 5000 French Verb Book. If you need more information, call or write us. To save $4 on shipping and handling, you may want to send in your $10 register fee along with your request for a demo copy of our English-French translator. You pay $14 total instead of $18. _________________________________________________________________________ FR USAGE: ========= From the MS-DOS prompt you can call in the files you wish either by the individual name of the file, for one file change, or use any of the MS- DOS wild card masks to pull multiple files. You can create a batch file to automate the search and replace if so prefer. FR will write all changed files in which the Search string was found and replaced, to the drive from which all files resided. If you want FR to backup your file before changing its content, include /B at the command prompt. ************************************************************ ALTHOUGH FR HAS A SWITCH TO BACK-UP YOUR ORIGINAL FILE, IT IS GOOD PRACTICE TO BACK-UP THE ORIGINAL FILE BEFORE MAKING ANY KIND OF GLOBAL CHANGE. ************************************************************ Below are a few examples on how to use FR: TO LIST FR HELP SCREEN: _________________________________________________________________________ Typing a question mark ? at the command line will display the help screen for using the FR. For example: C:>FR ? TO FIND & REPLACE TEXT IN A SINGLE FILE: _________________________________________________________________________ C:>FR filename /Old string/New String FR will immediately display the percentage completed. If the file size is too small, you will not distinguish the percentage rate being displayed. FR is fast in searching speed. You will appreciate using FR with large file greater than one megabyte (Files such as; .HLP or .CDR or image mixed with text file. The finished percentage is displayed smoothly for those large files. Another nice thing about FR is, you don't have to worry about disturbing the file format. If you are writing to .EXE, .COM, .DLL, and other vector based files. You need to match letter for letter, another word, the length of the search string must be equal to the length of the replacement string. There is a case where you might have to put extra space to equalize the replacement string with the search string. TO FIND & REPLACE TEXT IN A SINGLE FILE WITH BACKUP OPTION: _________________________________________________________________________ C:>FR Filename /Search string/Replacement S/ /B NOTE: This option will preserve your file format. This technique works well with vector based files such as: .EXE, .COM, and .DLL files. This is because the lengths of the search string and the replacement string are equal. This will not shift the addressing of your file away from its normal operation. The /B tells FR to rename your old file as (WHATEVER).BAK. Only changed file will be backed up. TO FIND & REPLACE CASE SENSITIVE TEXT: _________________________________________________________________________ C:>FR filename /Search string/Replacement/ /C NOTE: This option causes FR to look for an exact spelling of the Search string(letter for letter, case for case). Once the string is found, the replacement string will be inserted. The replacement string will not be altered. If you are changing an item that needs the proper case, enter the replacement string in the proper case. TO FIND & REPLACE TEXT IN MULTIPLE FILES: _________________________________________________________________________ C:>FR *.DOC /Search string/Replacement/ This causes FR to look for file(s) with extension .DOC, to find and replace text. TO FIND & REPLACE TEXT IN EVERY FILES UNDER CURRENT DIRECTORY: _________________________________________________________________________ C:>FR *.* /Search string/Replacement/ CAUTION:There are files that points to other directory. Be sure to put a write-protected on those file if you don't wish FR to touch them. Usually the configuration file. TO FIND & REPLACE TEXT IN EVERY FILES UNDER DIFFERENT DIRECTORY: _________________________________________________________________________ C:>FR C:\OTHERDIR\*.* /Search string/Replacement/ PROGRAM SPECIFICATION: _________________________________________________________________________ FILE TYPE Compressed or uncompressed. FILE FORMAT Any .exe .com .dll .txt .hlp .doc etc. MAXIMUM NUMBER OF FILES Infinity MAXIMUM FILE SIZE Infinity (must have disk space greater than working file) MAXIMUM FILE LINES Infinity LINE LENGTH (AFTER CHANGE) Variable. BENEFIT fast, automatic. FR will not disturb your file format. _________________________________________________________________________ TYPICAL APPLICATIONS: ===================== FR is the ideal tool if you are upgrading from a Floppy disk based system to a Hard disk system. You may have numerous programs that call in files from either A: or B: that you will NOW want to have on C:\ or newly created sub directories. The FR changes all your programs that need these changes instantly. There are people that save hundred of dollars by using FR to modify existing form files, print files, to print exactly what they want to see on the printer. FR is also an indispensable tool for programmers of compiled languages like C, C++, PASCAL, dBASE II, dBASE III, FORTRAN, COBOL, etc. Any language where the source code is written in text form and then acted on by a compiler and/or linker. Source code like Assembly Language is another example. FR works with source and executable files. As you change any variable declaration, variable name, constant values, drive designations, key words, etc., you simply call in the programs and let the FR go to work. Softechnics appreciates your comment and support, please write or send your fax to us. Thank you for using Softechnics products. +++++++++++++++++++ ORDER FORM ++ BON DE COMMAND +++++++++++++++++ NAME:_________________________________________________________:NOM COMPANY:__________________________________________________:SOCIT ADDRESS:_________________________________________________:ADDRESSE CITY/VILLE:__________________STATE/PAYS___________________________ Zip/Code Postal Telephone:___________________ ________________________ T‚l‚phone: [Visa][Master Card] No. _______________________ Disk sizes [ ] 5.25" [ ] 3.5" [ ] 3.5" Exp.date 1.2mb 1.4mb 720k _______________________ Signature US/Canada Shipping and handling = $4 (In Washington? please add 8.2% sale tax) Frais de port pour les autre pays = $8.95 I enclose a cheque total _______ US-Dollars Je joins un chŠque … la commande de SEND YOUR ORDER TO: BON … retourner …: SOFTECHNICS 1900 NE. 48th Street, Suite. A-103, Renton, WA 98056 U.S.A FAX. (206) 227-4048. Tel. (206) 227-0071 We welcome your comments, suggestions, and critiques. That will help us improve our translation products. N'h‚sitez pas … nous faire part de vos critiques, suggestions, et remarques eventuelles, qui seront toujours les bienvenues. We thank you for using Softechnics product. Merci! A bient“t...