
                              F I N D E R  V3.7

                              by John Augustine

  Search feature options include "wildcard", "exclusive", "mis-match allow",
dual "and/or", "extract", "list of patterns", "limit", "find and search",
"search another", "ultrafast", "lines beginning", and more.

  "Alternate menu" (V2.4 feature) allows you to repeat the search for the
same patterns (same search modes).  Note: This is independent of "list of
patterns" search. You can search or view all the files in a directory plus
sub-directories or the entire drive (V2.6 feature).  Extract search
(V3.0 feature) allows you to see more of what you are looking for at one
time.

  Please read "IMPROVE.DOC" for information about new features.

  PLEASE NOTE:

  This is not a "free" program. See "CONCLUSION" near the end of this document
for details on making a small "donation" and becoming a "donor".

  LOCATE A FILE/S:

  You can use Finder to find a file/s and it's/their location, which includes
hidden files or files in hidden folders/directories.

  USEFUL EXAMPLES:

  Please view "READ-ME.DOC" for very useful examples for using Finder.

  SEARCHING THROUGH FILES FOR TEXT PATTERN/S:

  Have you ever wanted to find information in a file, but did not know which
file/s has that information?  You can have hundreds or thousands of files and
search or view all of them.  Simply enter *.* for all files (any type) in
current directory (always), or current directory and all sub-directories.
Note: If you do this at the root directory ("C:\"), all the files, including
hidden files, and files in hidden directories in the hard disk drive (or
other) can be searched.

  If you are trying to locate a file/s that contains a pattern, and the search
may go through hundreds or thousands of files, I recommend using "Ultrafast"
(V3.5 feature) search mode.  See "ULTRAFAST"... below for more information.

  Enter "*.DOC" for all .DOC files, "*.INI" for all .INI files, "*.EXE" for
all .EXE files, etc.  You can "mark" (tag) which files to search or view.  Of
course you can enter a specific filename too.  Press Enter during a pause, to
skip the current file for the next file, whether you are in search mode, or
just viewing a group of files.

  In search mode, Finder will pause if the pattern is found anywhere within
the screen page. You can resume search by pressing F1, or press Enter to go
to the next file.  After a pause occurs (pattern found) during a search, you
can browse using the Up, Down, Page Up or Page Down keys, the highlighted
patterns will remain highlighted so you don't lose track of their locations.
Press F1 at anytime to resume search.  "Search another" (V3.4 feature) allows
you to change the search pattern to another, and resume searching for the new
pattern from the position you are at without starting all over.  NOTE: "Search
another" is not available in "list of patterns" or "extract" search modes.

  IMPORTANT NOTE:

  When searching several files for a pattern/s, if a pause does not occur
(pattern/s not found yet), if you press the Esc key to abort, it will take
effect when the end of the current file, being searched, is reached.

  FIND/SEARCH OPTION (use examples) (V2.8 feature):

  This feature allows you to start searching after a reference pattern has
been found.  Note: If the reference pattern is not found, the "search"
pattern/s will not be found.

  I have a list of files from Simtel.net.  It contains over twelve thousand
filenames and descriptions.  These filenames are broken down into about 175
categories.  If I enter "/editor/" (category) for the "find" pattern, and then
"source" for one of the "search" patterns, I'll find what I am looking for
more quickly.

  DUAL AND/OR SEARCH Option (use example):

  At one time, I searched a "list" of programs for source codes on Sound
Blaster utilities.  I entered "Sound Blaster" (without quotes) for the search
pattern.  Do you know how much Sound Blaster "stuff" there is?  Most of it
did not include source code.  On the other hand, entering "source" was no
better, since "source" has other categories too.

  Now I simply enter, "Sound Blaster" (without quotes) for one pattern, and
"source" for the second pattern.  Note: The order does not matter, the
results are the same.  When both patterns are within two (line before or line
after) regular lines of each other, Finder will pause (unless...). NOTE: Both
patterns could be in the same line too.  Both patterns must be in the same
line is another option (V2.8 feature).

  IMPORTANT "AND" Search Notes:

  If the file/s you are searching doesn't end each line with a CR (carriage
return), the two patterns may not always be found.  If it is important, use
the "OR" search mode.  Note: One of the two "AND" patterns can be far
(another screen) from the other in this type of file.

  Do not use "same line only" (Ctrl and Y) on files which do not end lines
with a CR.  No harm will come, but this function is not reliable on those
types of files.

  Once in awhile, it is possible during the "AND" search mode, a pause will
occur with only one of the two patterns showing (in the last line of the
screen page).  Simply use the down key to move up the display to reveal the
other pattern.

  "OR" Search Mode:

  The "OR" search mode simply means that Finder will pause at every
occurrence of one pattern or the other.

  Of course you can use Finder to search for a single pattern too.

  "Mismatch Allow" Search Option:

  This feature allows you to set a number of mismatched characters allowed (1
to 9).  If set to 0 (default), then this feature is switched off (not used).
This feature was added for special situations.  Normally, keep it set to "0"
(default).  Here is what happens when you set allowed mismatch to 1.  NOTE:
This only affects the first pattern search.  If you enter (example) "beat"
for the first search pattern, words such as seat, beet, neat, bean, meat,
etc. as well as beat will cause a pause and those words will be highlighted.
Each one of those words had one (except beat) mismatched character (allowed).
This example also assumes you were using case insensitive search.  I
recommend, when using this feature, using a case insensitive search (most
common).  If you use a case sensitive search, then "Beat" will match "beat"
along with all those other words.  This example, "beat" is not a practical
use for this feature, since so many different patterns can be found.
Usually, it is used with longer patterns.

  An odd effect (harmless) that the "mismatch" feature can have:

  I'll explain by some examples.  If you set mismatched characters allowed to
4, and you enter (first pattern) "programming" (without quotes), if the word
"Program" was at the end of a line followed by a carriage return, only
"program" will be highlighted.  If "program" was in a line followed by a
space, then another word, "program", the space and the first 3 characters of
the next word (4 allowed mismatch), which add up to 11 characters, will be
highlighted.  The search pattern "programming" has 11 characters.

  Here is an example of what this feature won't find:

  If you set mismatched characters allowed to 1, and enter (first pattern)
"programer", if a word "programmer" (with 2 "m"s) is in the file, that word
will not be found, even though there is a 1 character difference.  In this
case, it's one more character ("m") which moves the following characters out
of position.  This causes the remaining characters to mismatch too.

  Tip:  In the above example, don't use the "mismatch allow" feature, use the
"Or" search instead ("programer" for 1 pattern and "programmer" for the
other).

  WILDCARD FEATURE:

  This feature allows you to enter a pattern which includes one or more
asterisks (*).  NOTE: The Wildcard (option) feature only works in the first
pattern.  In case you are actually looking for a pattern in a file/s that
contains asterisks, you will be asked (when an asterisk/s in the pattern is
detected), "Will this be a wildcard/s?  Y/N".  Afterwards, you can enter any
"regular" pattern for the second pattern (option), if you want an "AND" or
"OR" search.

  Here is one example of many possible uses for the Wildcard:

  You have a list of records with dates.  You are interested in seeing all
the records for May 1996.  Each record's date format is 01-01-96, etc.  Enter
for the first pattern, "05-**-96".

  The advantage of the "wildcard" search compared to the "mismatch allow"
feature is, the wildcard specifies the position/s in a pattern where any
(wildcard) character is accepted.  "Mismatch allow" has no control over
position.  NOTE: You can't have both a "wildcard" and "mismatch allow" search
at the same time.  If you set a "mismatch allow" (1-9), then wildcard is
automatically disabled.  If you enter a (first) pattern with a wildcard when a
mismatch allow is set to 1 (example), it may appear as though the wildcard
search "worked", but as it turns out, the asterisk (*) is the "mismatched"
allowed character.

  "EXCLUSIVE" Search Option (V2.2 feature):

  Here is an example why I added this feature.  I was searching for "ram"
related information and found (I will capitalize RAM in each word for
emphasis): progRAM, progRAMmer, fRAMework, paRAMeter, gRAMmar, fRAMe, and
finally RAM.  Most of the time, I found what I did not want.

  Why didn't I put a space before and after "ram"?  "Ram" could be the first
word in a line, it could end with a period (ram.), comma, or be the last word
in a line followed by a carriage return.

  "Exclusive" checks if the pattern is at the beginning of a line, otherwise
it checks if the "character" before it is a letter (part of another word),
and it checks if the "character" after the pattern is a letter.  Note: The
pattern can be case sensitive or insensitive in an "exclusive" search.  Note:
You can use "exclusive" and "wildcard" (first pattern) search at the same
time

  IMPORTANT "EXCLUSIVE" NOTES:

  Don't use "exclusive" search for anything except a word or name.  Example:
If you used "exclusive" search for a product model number, say SLS2553,
"exclusive" search will not find it if the number in the list is "SLS2553A".

  If you are looking for a particular subject which can be plural, example
"form" can also be "forms", to avoid finding "formation", "conform", etc.,
use the "Or" search Mode.  Enter "form" for the first pattern and select
exclusive, and enter "forms" for the second pattern and select exclusive.

  "LIST" OF PATTERNS SEARCH: (V2.3 feature):

  If you need to search for several patterns in one pass, you can type a list
of text patterns within Finder (V2.9 feature) or use a text editor such as
Word Pad and save the list as a file.  NOTE: Each pattern/line must end with a
CR/LF.  I suggest creating a list of patterns file when you have to search for
the same patterns on a regular basis.

  "CUSTOMIZE" MENU FEATURES (V3.2 feature):

  1. "Limit search" limits how far through each file a search is to proceed,
before stopping and moving on to the next file (if).  The limit is based on
how many "lines" the user specifies or how many bytes/characters.  "0"
(default) = entire file/s.  "Lines", if a text file, is a sequence of
characters ending with a CR (carriage return) and usually a LF (line feed).
In a non-text file or a text file without CR characters (13), a "line" will be
between 3,000 to 3,900 bytes/characters.  NOTE: A blank line, one with only a
CR/LF (used to separate a paragraph) is not counted.  If you set (example) 40
"Lines", you may see more on the "lines" count due to blank lines.

  2. "Lines beginning" search will search for a single pattern at the
beginning of lines. One example: You have a list of all your files for each
computer you own.  Each list is it's own file.  You can search all lists for a
particular file in order to find out which computer has it.  However, you
can't remember the full filename, or you may have it named with different
endings.

  3. Toggle on/off character screening for the file/s viewer.

  "ALTERNATE MENU" (V2.4 added):

  "Find another reference pattern" allows you to use another reference
pattern and search for the same "search" patterns (previous search).

  "Search another file/s for the same patterns (same search mode/s)" allows
you to repeat the same pattern/s search ("find" pattern excluded) in a
different file/s.  Note: This is independent of "list" of patterns search.
You can use "browse" to go to another directory or drive, then enter the
"alternate menu" and search for the same patterns (same search modes).

  As an added bonus, this feature allows you to verify what you were searching
for was entered correctly.  This may be important in cases when the search
pattern was not found in a file/s.  You can see if you entered the pattern
correctly or used a case sensitive search when it should have been insensitive
(example).

  EXTRACT SEARCH (V3.0 feature):

  NOTE: This feature is accessible in the "alternate menu" or "list of search
patterns".

  ES (extract search) displays only lines that contain the search pattern/s.
Note: Sometimes a CR (carriage return), used to space a paragraph, is also
seen, if the line with the search pattern is the last line in a paragraph.

  This feature is useful if you only want to see lines that contain the search
pattern.  As an example, you created a list of all your files on your hard
disk drive using "DIR/S/A *.* >FILES.LST" at the root directory.  Use ES to
see only sound (WAV and/or others) or graphic (JPG and/or others) files in the
"FILES.LST".

  NOTE: This feature works best on a list type of text file.  I don't
recommend using this option if you expect to view additional lines of
information, such as a long (several lines) description about the search
pattern/s.

  ULTRAFAST SEARCH OPTION (V3.5 feature):

  If the search through files for a specific pattern will involve several
hundred or thousands of files, using this feature will speed up the process,
about three times faster, based on a test I made involving 4,494 files.

  Ultrafast is a single pattern search with "case sensitive/insensitive",
"exclusive" and "wildcard" options.  When the pattern/file is located, it
switches over to the standard mode and restarts the same file in the standard
search mode.  After the end of the file is reached (F1 resume search), or if
you press Enter (next file/s), Finder switches back to Ultrafast mode until
the next pattern/file is located.

  CONCLUSION:

  This is NOT a "free" program.  A one time donation is expected.  You choose
the amount ($5.00 minimum).  For your donation, you will become a "donor".
Your name, etc. will be added to the "donors" list.  As a "donor" (one time
donation), you can select (ask for) one or more programs to receive FREE such
as "Tree Restore", etc.  See (use "VIEW-DOC") "OTH-PGMS.DOC" for information
about other programs.  Please include your e-mail address with your donation,
and the name/s of the other program/s you want (if any).  I will tell you in
the email message about the attachment (programs.zip) so you know it is safe
to open.  As a "donor", you will be entitled to receive all improved and new
programs (at your request) developed in the future (sent to you by e-mail).
As a "donor", you may request (from time to time) the latest list of programs
from which you can select to receive FREE.  If you know another shareware
author with a better offer, please let me know.

  The donation will motivate me to develop more programs and make improvements
in existing programs (add new features).

  Comments or complaints are always welcomed via email.  If you use "snail
mail" and expect a reply, please include a S.A.S.E.

  If you are overseas, the local bank charges a $10.00 service fee for checks
outside of U.S. I recommend that you send U.S. cash instead.

  Send $5.00 (or more) check, money order, or cash (put in foil for security)
to:

                     John Augustine N3AOF
                     3129 Earl St.
                     Laureldale, Pa 19605

            E-Mail:  jaugust@bellatlantic.net

