STF: Show Two Files. $8.00 Copyright (c) 1991-96 by R.P.McCormick 79 Rye Street Broad Brook, CT 01016 Command Line: STF [file1] [file2] The filenames are optional. STF '?' or 'h' or 'H' calls the help screen. For registration information see "REGINFO.TXT". STF compares two ASCII text files side-by-side. It can be used to see if two files are identical, or if not, to pinpoint what is different between the two files. This should help to identify what changes you may have made between two revisions. Files may be up to 132 columns per line. Differences are "Highlighted" by dimming the text for unequal lines on the right side: File 2, and by extending a black backgound behind the text for the entire line. This allows mismatched lines to be identified even if the text is not currently visible in the window. Individual characters are highlighted in Red. toggles this feature on & off. Type STDEMO at the DOS command line to run a short tutorial. Files STDEMO.BAT, STFTUT.OLD and STFTUT.TXT are part of this tutorial and should be supplied with STF.EXE. STF with no parameters brings up a directory screen: an arrow-key selectable menu of filenames. You may select different directories for file 1 & file 2 (See "F8" below). For filenames entered on the DOS command line, STF will search the DOS "PATH" for these files. You do not need to enter the full filename, including its directory, if the file is in a directory included in your "PATH". STF with one filename will display that one file full width, or 80 columns wide on the text screen. 130 characters max on the graphics screen. **************** While viewing the directory screen: Use F8 to change directory or drive. A window appears to allow you to enter another directory name. In this window, the left arrow moves non-destructively to the left, while Backspace deletes characters as you go. Insert mode is the default, but you can hit the Insert key to toggle between Overwrite and Insert Mode. The cursor changes to identify the mode. To get back to the directory you started at, hit F8 and enter the current drive letter followed by a colon. Example: "C:" The first letter you type in this window deletes the entire directory name shown. To avoid this when editing, hit any arrow key first. After selecting the first file, you may either select a second file name or choose "No 2nd File" from the upper left. The Home key highlights the first filename on the screen. Use the Home key to speed up the selection of "No 2nd File" After viewing the files, you may want to delete or rename one of them, or Append two files. Key: Function: Alt-A Append File Alt-R or Alt-M Rename or Move highlighted file. Delete Deletes the highlighted file. Escape or ALT-X Returns to the DOS prompt. F8 Select another disk or directory The Append File function uses the Binary mode. DOS uses either the Binary mode or the Text (ASCII) mode. The ASCII mode will modify files containing control codes such as CTRL-Z, or hex 0x1A, which some systems, BASIC for one, use as an end of file marker. The Binary mode used by STF does not modify the files, and can be used with any type file. The disadvantage of using Binary mode on text files is that some file viewers, (DOS "TYPE" is one of them) will show only the first of two files which have been combined with Binary Append. The CTRL-Z symbol at the end of the first file causes some file viewers to think there is no more to read. STF will show a symbol for the CTRL-Z, and continue to display all the files you have appended into the one file. **************** While viewing the files, Function Keys work as follows: Esc Return to File Name Selection screen. F1 Brings up a help screen. F2 Makes both files "Active". This is the default mode. F3 Selects File 1, the one on the left side. F4 Makes File 2 active. F5 Selects the default "text mode". F6 Shows the files in a graphic mode if a VGA adapter is present. In graphic mode more characters are visible, although smaller. Alt-B Toggles the "Ignore Blanks" mode. By default, a line with an extra space at the end, for example, will show up as different, although the text is otherwise identical. Ignoring blanks, or spaces will allow them to appear equal. In "Ignore Blanks" mode, Tabs (code 0x09) and extra Carriage Returns (0x0D) are also ignored. Alt-D or Alt-U Searches for the first unequal line of text. Upper case and lower case letters are considered unequal. Think of D for "Different" or U for "Unequal". Repeat this command to find the next unequal line. Alt-F Prompts you to enter a search string of text on the upper Information bar. Use "Escape" key to abort. "Enter" when done. Then it Finds the first occurrence of the text string in File1, the one on the left. The line containing the match is dimmed, and the matching text is highlighted. The search is started from the current position in the file. Upper & lower case differences are ignored. Alt-A Is "find Again". Looks for next occurrence of the entered text string. After finding one occurrence, hitting ALT-A again will start a search for the next match even if you have backed up a few pages. It will go right past the previous find(s). Alt-H Toggles individual character Highlight on & off. Default is On. Alt-S Turns the "sign bit" on or off. Some word processors use this eighth bit for formatting purposes. Removing it can make the text more readable while viewing. No permanent change is made to the file. ALT-X Exit to DOS, skipping the Directory screen. Left Arrow: Moves both files 10 columns to the left. Right Arrow: Moves both files 10 columns to the right. The following commands affect only the selected "active" file(s). The active file(s) can be identified by a bright white square on the top line on the screen, above the text of the file. Up Arrow: Move Up one line. Down Arrow: Move Down one line. Page Up: Move up one screen page. Space Bar: or Enter Key: or Page Down: Move down one screen page. Home: Go to start (top) of file. End: Go to End of file. The percent figure shown is intended as a rough approximation of how far into the file you are reading. It is updated every 36 lines. ********************** MOUSE SUPPORT Version 1.54 added mouse functions to the file selection or directory screen and the file viewing screen. For the Directory Screen: Left Button is same as Enter or Return, it selects the highlighted file. Right Button is Escape. For the File Viewing Screen: Left button is PageDown, Middle button is PageUp, Right button is Escape. Moving the mouse is the same as using the arrow keys for either screen. The mouse is not yet implemented on the graphic file viewing screen. If you encounter problems with the mouse, you may reconfigure STF to ignore the mouse. Go to the help screen and find the options screen where you can enter "C" to Configure the mouse On/or Off. =============== WINDOWS ================ There are many different ways to run a DOS program such as STF from Windows. DOS BOX: My preference is to go to a DOS box so that I can use Norton's Change Directory (NCD) to get to the directory I want to examine. Then just type "STF". FILE MANAGER: 1. You can use File Manager to select the target directory, then select "File - Run" and type in "STF". 2. If you use File Manager to go to the directory where STF.EXE is, then click once on STF.EXE, then select "File - Run", "STF.EXE" will already be on the command line, so you can add the full name of a file in the target directory after "STF.EXE". 3. If you double click on STF.EXE in File Manager, it will list the files in the directory where STF.EXE is. PROGRAM MANAGER: 1. Select "File - Run" and enter "STF" followed by the full name of a file in the directory you want to examine. If you omit the name, STF will list the files in your Windows directory, typically C:WINDOWS. 2. If you have created an Icon for STF by selecting "File - New - Program Item", you can specify a "Working Directory" which STF will examine whenever you double click on the Icon. PIF EDITOR: By default, Windows closes DOS applications such as STF when they complete. This means that any error messages returned by STF will "go away" when you are returned to the Program (or File) Manager screen. To remedy this, start up the PIF Editor and create a .PIF file for the STF.EXE program. Un check the box in the lower left corner that says "Close Window On Exit" and save the .PIF file. The next time STF is run, Windows will place the results in a window labeled "inactive stf" so you can see the error messages. ======================================= I have been told that STF will not function properly when stored on a disk with PKLITE and run in its compressed form. ASP Ombudsman Statement: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This program is produced by a member of the Association of Shareware Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a shareware-related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide technical support for members' products. Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at: ASP Ombudsman 545 Grover Road Muskegon, MI 49442-9427 U.S.A. or send a CompuServe message via CompuServe MAIL to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536. WARRANTY If you order a disk from me, and it arrives damaged, it will be replaced at my expense if you notify me within 10 days of receipt. I specifically disclaim all other warranties, expressed or implied, including but not limited to damage to hardware and/or software from the use of this product. Under no circumstances will I be liable for any damages,lost profits or incidental or consequential damages arising from your use or inability to use the program. Filename STF.DOC. Last modified September 8, 1996.