JS-PICK Utility Program Documentation (Ver 5.0) Author: Johnathan Mark Smith THE OLD DISCLAIMER This software and manual are sold "as is" and without warranties as to performance or merchant ability or any other warranties whether expressed or implied. Because of the various hardware and software environments into which this program may be put, no warranty of fitness for a particular purpose is offered. The user must assume the entire risk of using and evaluating this program. Any liability of Johnathan Mark Smith Technology will be limited exclusively to product replacement or refund of purchase price. If you find these terms unacceptable, do not use this product. Introduction As time goes by, more and more Mainframe Systems are being down sized to run on PC's. One of the biggest setbacks is matching data from one file to the next file. The JS-PICK utility will simplify the task of checking to see if you have the same key on two files. JS-PICK must be provided with two files to match and a control file. JS-PICK can be used to: 1. Create a file with all the records on file one which have a matching key on file two. 2. Create a file with all the records on file one which do not have a matching key on file two. 3. Create a file selecting records from one file by using a key file as file two. The best part is that JS-PICK can do all this without any of the files being sorted by the key used for matching. The JS-PICK program must be provided with control information to govern its execution. This information is read from a control file. The control file is a standard PC text file that can be created with any ASCII text editor. To run JS-PICK type at the prompt: JS-PICK [options] THE CONTROL FILE: ---------------- The first line of the control file identifies the mode to run in. The second line of the control file identifies the file(CALL THE MATCH ON FILE) to match on, starting byte of the field to match on and the size of the field. The third line of the control file identifies the file(CALL THE INPUT FILE) from which to pick off the matching and the non-matching records, and the starting byte of the key field. The forth line of the control file identifies the file to put the matching records out to. The fifth line of the control file identifies the file to put the non-matching records out to. The following sample control file illustrates how control information is provided to the JS-PICK program. Contents of a sample #1 of JS-PICK control file, JS-PICK1.CTL: BOTH C:\DATA\KEYS.TXT,4,10 C:\DATA\INPUT.TXT,6 C:\DATA\MATCH.DAT C:\DATA\NONMATCH.DAT The word "BOTH" tells the program to create both output files. Line #2 tells the program that the file(THE MATCH ON FILE) with the keys is "C:\DATA\KEY.TXT" and the key starts in byte 4 for the length of 10 bytes. Line #3 tells the program that the input file name is "C:\DATA\INPUT.TXT" and the key starts in byte 6 of the input file. line #4 tells the program to put the matching records in the file "C:\DATA\MATCH.DAT" line #5 tells the program to put the non-matching records in the file "C:\DATA\NONMATCH.DAT" Contents of a sample #2 of JS-PICK control file, JS-PICK2.CTL: MATCH C:\DATA\KEYS.TXT,4,10 C:\DATA\INPUT.TXT,6 C:\DATA\MATCH.DAT The word "MATCH" tells the program to create only a file with the matching records in it. Line #2 tells the program that the file(THE MATCH ON FILE) with the keys is "C:\DATA\KEY.TXT" and the key starts in byte 4 for the length of 10 bytes. Line #3 tells the program that the input file name is "C:\DATA\INPUT.TXT" and the key starts in byte 6 of the input file. line #4 tells the program to put the matching records in the file "C:\DATA\MATCH.DAT" Contents of a sample #3 of JS-PICK control file, JS-PICK3.CTL: NOMATCH C:\DATA\KEYS.TXT,4,10 C:\DATA\INPUT.TXT,6 C:\DATA\NONMATCH.DAT The word "NOMATCH" tells the program to create only a file with the non-matching records in it. Line #2 tells the program that the file (THE MATCH ON FILE) with the keys is "C:\DATA\KEY.TXT" and the key starts in byte 4 for the length of 10 bytes. Line #3 tells the program that the input file name is "C:\DATA\INPUT.TXT" and the key starts in byte 6 of the input file. line #4 tells the program to put the non-matching records in the file "C:\DATA\NONMATCH.DAT" NOTE: If line #1 is not one of the following (BOTH, MATCH, NOMATCH) the program will default to BOTH. A match file and a nomatch file must be supplied. OPTIONS: ------- At the prompt when you type JS-PICK, there are two options available for the execution of that particular run. 1) -iz This option will tell the utility that the INPUT file is not CRLF and the record length is z long. 2) -mz This option will tell the utility that the MATCH ON file is not CRLF and the record length is z long. 3) -s This will surpress the graph that shows on the screen when JS-PICK is executed and the counters will only be displayed at program termination. The advantage of using this opiton is that the program will run MUCH, MUCH FASTER. (Try it!) 4) -X Turns off exiting on input data error 5) -C This option will turn off case sensitivity. JS-PICK will not care if the key is upper case, lower case, or a mix of both. For example: All these keys will match: John JOHN john jOhN 6) -t To beep on exit. Registration I will keep improving the program if I know enough people are finding it useful. My registration policy is very flexible. The nominal fee are listed in the file REGISTER.TXT. If you don't feel you will get your money worth of use out of JS-PICK, send whatever it is worth to you. If you are impoverished and can't afford to pay anything, enclose a stamped self-addressed envelope and I will send you a registration. This is not freeware or public domain. Shareware is simply a means of marketing commercial software. You are required to register if you intend to use this program after a reasonable trial period. When registering, please tell me the version number you have and where you obtained your copy of JS-PICK. Foreign checks and credit cards OK. See REGISTER.TXT for details. JS-PICK should be registered for the maximum number of copies that can be used simultaneously at your site. Site fees for commercial users can be negotiated. If you register for the full fee, and enclose a Shipping and Handling fee of $2 I will send you the latest versions of JS-PICK and Some Free Demo's. if you decide to use it after a trial period. I will also send other File related shareware programs. Registered version features * FREE NEWSLETTERS * CUSTOM DEFAULT SETTINGS * DISCOUNTS ON SHAREWARE Program Abort Hitting Control-C (or Control-Break) will terminate the program immediately. Distribution Permission is hereby given to copy and distribute this program as long as no more than $5 is charged. It must be made clear to the buyer that this is only a handling charge and not a registration fee. You must include all files in their original unmodified form when distributing this program. . Permission to distribute may be revoked by the Johnathan Mark Smith at any time for any reason. YOU MUST NOT DISTRIBUTE ANY COPY WHICH HAS BEEN BRANDED WITH A REGISTRATION CODE. All trademarks used in this document are the property of their owners. -Johnathan Mark Smith- Questions or suggestions regarding JS-PICK should be directed to the author at the following address: Johnathan Mark Smith 2039 85 STREET BROOKLYN, NY 11214 Telephone: 718-373-3886