VIEW - the file viewer Version 13.4 ========================== Note: this package contains the following files: VIEW.EXE - file viewer version 13.4 VIEWCFG.COM - customizer HPSET.COM - utility for setting printer functions VIEW134.DOC - this file NEW134.DOC - history and new features VIEWHELP.CST - template for customized help file (shift-F1 in VIEW) TROUBLE.DOC - possible problems, and solutions HOWDOI.DOC - tips for using VIEW ORDER.FRM - convenient order form SCROLL.DOC - notes for visually-impaired users README.TXT - basic information for use with BBS NOTE: If you are using VIEW to read this file, you can go to any section by pressing the down arrow until the topic in the following list of contents is at the top of the display, then pressing Enter. Pressing Enter again brings you back to the list of contents. CONTENTS ======== WHAT IS VIEW? THE FINE PRINT SHAREWARE - THE CONCEPT THE SUGGESTED CONTRIBUTION - Pay only once! - Multiple copies TECHNICAL SUPPORT OVERVIEW - Command line switches - Text search - Wild cards - Examples BOOKMARKS THE VIEW SCREEN THE ESC KEY PRINT FUNCTIONS RESETTING THE PRINTER IMPORTANT NOTE AUTOMATIC DETECTION OF FILE FORMATS THE FILE SELECTION MENU CUSTOMIZING VIEW HTML FILES 2COL JETCOL INTERNET ADDRESS MORE SHAREWARE ************************************* WHAT IS VIEW? Ż ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜŻ VIEW is a file viewing utility for DOS. ž It allows you to view and print files in the following formats: - Wordperfect versions 5.0 to 7.0 - Word for Windows versions 1.0 to 6.0, and 97 - Word for DOS - Ami Pro - Wordstar - Windows Write - Windows Notepad (which uses the ANSI character set) - Microsoft Publisher - Rich Text Format (RTF) - ASCII files - ANSI files - UNIX files - World Wide Web HTML tagged files - ClarisWorks (basic support only) ž You can see a quick preview of the first part of files. ž You can print or save all or part of the files viewed. ž You can print or save to file only those lines containing or omitting specified text. ž Printing can be done directly via the compressed print routines 2COL and JETCOL (if you have them). These shareware programs by Tony Caine are provided to those who register VIEW. They allow you to print in multiple columns using small but highly legible fonts. Highly recommended! ž VIEW allows you to search for text strings (both case-sensitive and case-insensitive), including across multiple files. ž You can also print or convert files to ASCII, including in format suitable for import to word processor, directly from the file selection menu. ž You can convert between ASCII and ANSI. ž You can save files in a format suitable for importing into word processors without a hard return at the end of every line. ž You can convert or print file directly without viewing, using command line switches. ž You can convert files to or from UNIX and DOS file formats. ž Has a special scroll mode for visually-impaired users. ž Together, VIEW and 2COL/JETCOL offer a powerful file printing utility that can be run under a wide variety of DOS and Windows shells and file managers. ž VIEW can be identified as the file viewer for a wide range of DOS and Windows shells and file managers, including archive display programs. ž VIEW is ideal as a viewer for e-mail attachments. ž VIEW can be customized for display color, and also its printing, display and memory features. THE FINE PRINT Ż ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜŻ The author makes no warranty that the software in this package will work with your particular hardware configuration. You use the programs entirely at your own risk, and the author will not be held liable for any damage caused to your hardware or software through their use, nor for any consequential damages, loss of earnings, or loss of life, limb, health, sanity or personal relationship. Legalities aside, you should not run into difficulties with this software. SHAREWARE - THE CONCEPT Ż ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜŻ These programs are distributed as shareware, AND ARE NOT CRIPPLED!!. Nor do they contain "nag" screens. (Editorial note: I don't support "crippleware" - I want to know EXACTLY what I'm expected to pay for! Crippleware is, in my opinion, like test driving a Mercedes that's been fitted with a lawnmower engine! There, that's said - but each to his own.) You do not have to register as a user, nor are you under any obligation to buy the program(s). However, they are not free, and in the spirit of shareware, you are requested to make a small donation to the author if you find the software in this package useful, and if you continue to use it after an evaluation period of 30 days. This would both fulfill your moral obligation and help ensure the viability of the shareware concept, from which we all benefit. THE SUGGESTED CONTRIBUTION Ż ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜŻ The suggested contribution is $25 US ($30 Canadian, 12 pounds sterling), but less (or more!) would be fine. Pay what you think the software is worth to you. If you wish, I will send you a diskette with the latest version plus a selection of other shareware for you to evaluate, including Tony Caine's excellent 2COL and JETCOL utilities and some useful freeware programs. Optionally, I can e-mail you the latest version or you can pick it up from my web site at http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/~mdrury/shware.html Should you decide to make a contribution, please remit to: Malcolm Drury 11 Adele Crescent Nepean ON K2J 2T7 Canada INTERNET ADDRESS mdrury@nrn1.nrcan.gc.ca Bank notes in your local currency would be fine, as would international money orders made out in US or Canadian dollars. Thank you. Please tell me where you got the software from and, most importantly, which version it is. You can also register VIEW online or by telephone using the RegNet service, which offers secure credit card transaction capability. Go to http://www.swregnet.com and look for program identifier 735. There is an additional US$5 for this ervice. - Pay only once! ============== IF YOU HAVE PREVIOUSLY PAID FOR AN EARLIER VERSION - THANKS, AND OF COURSE YOU ARE NOT EXPECTED TO PAY AGAIN. YOUR INPUT, COMMENTS ETC. ARE ALWAYS WELCOME. - Multiple copies =============== Please contact me if you would like to negotiate a price for multiple copies. I accept purchase orders, but cannot accept credit card orders. TECHNICAL SUPPORT Ż ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜŻ Please note that at the low contribution requested, I cannot provide DIRECT technical support, nor automatically send upgrades, should they become available. If you have comments, questions, bug reports etc., please leave a message at my INTERNET address, or write to me via snail mail. I will endeavor to fix any problems you might encounter. Users who have paid may, of course, download future upgrades free of charge. I will never post a deliberately crippled version of VIEW, nor a version that has any kind of "nag" message. I also guarantee to honor the suggested contribution for the version of VIEW you are registering in the event that the contribution requested has increased for the current version; you will also receive the current version. I hope my pricing policy will compensate for the lack of direct technical support and mailing of upgrades. The software is supplied on an "as is" basis. You are free to distribute this software package provided that you distribute the ENTIRE package, including this documentation file. (This is necessary for others to be able to use it properly. I've downloaded too many shareware packages that had been posted without accompanying documentation!). I hope you find this package useful. Now to the fun stuff! OVERVIEW Ż ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜŻ Usage: view [d:][path][filename] [/sw1] [/sw2] [/sw3] [/sw4] .. [/swx] [text string to find] where switches /sw1, /sw2, /sw3 and /sw4 can be: /a /b /cfilename.cnv /Cfilename.cnv /fxx /h /lnnn /mnnn /mono /q /s /u /v /w /- (in which nnn is a three digit number and xx is a two-digit number) /a - Save the file using the Windows (ANSI) character. (See also /u ) /b - allows you to break out of the file read even if you have configured VIEW to disable this function normally. /cfilename.cnv - convert selected file to filename.cnv directly, i.e. without viewing it. /Cfilename.cnv - as for /c but file is saved in format suitable for import into word processor (i.e. with hard returns within text suppressed) /d - Save the file using the DOS (ASCII character. (See also /u ) /fxx - allow the file list to display xx 100s of files. /h - force HTML files to be displayed as ASCII, thus showing their HTML tags. /s - forces VIEW to look for case-sensitive string when a text string is entered on the command line. Without the switch the search is case-insensitive - i.e., if VIEW is told to find string from the command line, it will look for string String STrinG etc. With ths switch used, it will only look for string /lnnn - set line wrap to nnn columns /mnnn - set aside nnn memory allocation units (see below) /mono - force VIEW to display in monochrome /q - preview mode; show only the first screen's worth of a file /u - Save the file in the UNIX format, using the UNIX line feed convention. /vnnnn - overrides the default scroll rate. See file visual.doc carriage return/line feed) /w - overrides the default setting for line wrap when viewing ASCII or ANSI files. There are two possibilities: use the file's line wrap, or use VIEW's line wrap. Normally you would use the file's hard returns, but if the file contains lines longer than 80 characters you might wish to use VIEW's setting. Note that you can switch between the two while viewing a file by pressing Ctrl-F10. /w can be used in conjunction with /lnnn to control the appearance of files that you convert or print directly. /- - allows "strikeout" text in Wordperfect documents to be shown (in UPPER CASE characters). By default, VIEW omits this text. NOTE 1: the /u switch is only meaningful when used with the /c or /C switches, i.e. for converting files directly. NOTE 2: the order of the switches is unimportant. However, any text added for the text search function of VIEW MUST follow th switches. NOTE 3: if you use any of the switches, you MUST include at least a drive letter on the command line. If not VIEW will tell you something like "can't find /m056". NOTE 4: if you are using VIEW from a batch file, such as for converting files directly, you can use the ERRORLEVEL function. VIEW returns error level 1 if for some reason the file cannot be viewed or converted (e.g. file does not exist, unrecognized format). If you just type VIEW you will get a list of files on the current drive and directory, from which you can select the one to view. Similarly, if you type VIEW plus drive and directory parameters, you'll get a list of files on that drive and directory. From the file selection menu, you can change to any directory on the drive, or to any other drive. Note that VIEW supports the * wild card character. - More information on command line switches =========================================== /q == Use this switch for displaying only the first screen's worth of of a file (usually the first 23 lines) in a quick preview mode. This function can be toggled on and off from the file selection menu by pressing the q key. /mnnn ===== If you include the switch /mnnn you will be able to allocate more memory for use by JETCOL or 2COL (see below). The more memory you allocate for these programs the less is available to VIEW for loading files. If you only use JETCOL or 2COL occasionally you should leave the memory allocation at the default level and use the /mnnn switch when you do want to use them. If you use one or both of them frequently, you should probably permanently allocate sufficient memory using the configuration program VIEWCFG.COM. See later in this information file for more information on running JETCOL and 2COL. /lnnn ===== If you use the /lnnn switch the line wrap is set at a maximum of 132 columns and a minimum of 20. The number of columns you want is determine by "nnn" which MUST be a three digit number (e.g. 070, 120). In this mode you can use the left and right arrow keys to scroll the display to the left and right. This mode is useful if you want to print files for which the line wrap is greater than 80 - for instance, program listings. Note that VIEW will also run in true 132 mode (i.e. 132 columns actually displayed on screen if you have a video adapter that allows that mode). (NOTE: when you use the /lnnn switch, the help line at the bottom of the screen will refer to "Cursor arrows". When it is not used the left and right arrow function are disabled and the help line refers to "Up and down arrows"). /c == To convert a file directly, use the /c switch - that is, /c followed immediately by the name of the CONVERTED file. For example, to write a converted file called myfile.cnv the format of the switch would be /cmyfile.cnv The name of the converted file can include a full path (drive and directory plus sub-directory) if you wish, or it could be an alternate printer port. TO PRINT A FILE DIRECTLY use /clpt1 (or /clpt2 etc) /C == This is the same as the /c switch EXCEPT that the converted file is written in a format suitable for import into a word processor. Hard returns within paragraphs are suppressed so that in your word processor you can change the word wrap parameter. VIEW attempts to retain legitimate hard returns. No other formatting is saved. /fxx ==== Enable xx 100s of files to be listed in the file list. For example, /f06 enables a display of 600 files. The default is 500 files. The maximum is 1000 (although you can request a special version with up to 3000 when you register VIEW). The more files you enable the less memory is available for actually viewing files, although the loss by going from the default of 500 to, say, 800, is not great. - Text search ============ The text string to find MUST come after the filename, and after any switches used. It allows you to search for the string in all files viewer until the "text search" function is switched off (see later). Text entered from the command line is assumed to be case-insensitive. - Wild cards ========== You can use the * wild-card character in a file name. Then you will get a list of files in the default or specified directory that match the * criteria. Any string identified on the command line for the text search function will be active for all files specified by the wild card option (unless it is changed or switched off when viewing one of the files). - Examples ======== view *.doc - list of files with extension doc in the current directory view d:\docs - list of all files on drive d, directory docs view d:\docs\*.txt - as above, but only files with extension txt view myfile.doc this is a string - open myfile doc and search for "this is my string" view myfile.doc /m060 - open file myfile.doc after allocating 60 block of memory for use by JETCOL, 2COL or HLP2DOC view d: /m050 - list all files on root directory of drive d: after allocating extra memory. view *.txt /l132 - list all matching files and display them in emulated 132 column mode. view myfile.doc /l120 /clpt1 - print the file myfile.doc directly, using 120 column word wrap. view another.doc /cnew.doc - convert "another.doc" and save converted file as "new.doc" view this.doc /a /u /Csaved.doc - convert "this.doc" to file "saved.doc" which is saved in the UNIX format and with the ANSI/UNIX character set. view d:\docs\*.doc another string - list all matching files, and as each is opened look for "another string". This search is in effect for all subsequent files until it is switched off. view d:\docs\*.doc /l120 yet another string - display all matching files in emulated 120 column mode, and look for the string "yet another string". Note on text search: VIEW will only find matches in complete lines, i.e. it will not find text that has wrapped. For example, if the text to find is "cat sat on the mat" it would find the following: One fine day the cat sat on the mat and ate a rat. but not: One fine day, the cat sat on the mat and ate a rat. Note that VIEW reads as much of a file as possible into memory, but if not all of a file can be read in it won't display the full file. This allows you to skip instantly to any part of the file in memory without disk reads. If you are not using DOS 5.0 or later, or a memory manager such as QEMM386 or 386MAX, I strongly recommend you do so. If a file is too big, an overflow file is created; you can switch quickly between the two. The overflow should, in most circumstances, allow you to see all of the original file, unless it is really big. If the file IS really big, you can convert it to ASCII (from the file selection menu) and then split it into smaller components using a text editor. When you convert to ASCII from the file selection menu the entire file is converted even if it is too big to view via VIEW. VIEW will automatically detect WordPerfect 5.0 and later, Microsoft Word, Ami Pro and Windows WRITE formats. It attempts to detect other files that may not be ASCII and gives you the opportunity to display them as straight ASCII, as Wordstar - i.e. with the high-order characters stripped out, or in preview mode, or in preview mode. It will automatically force to ASCII certain standard types of non-ASCII file (e.g. EXE, COM, DLL etc.). Using VIEW is pretty straightforward. Pressing F1 brings up a help menu, and the key features of the menu are permanently displayed on the bottom line. Every feature is accessible directly from the view screen, or from the menu screen. BOOKMARKS Ż ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜŻ VIEW allows you to place up to 200 bookmarks in the text you are viewing. This allows you to move quickly to preset places in the text that you have chosen. In addition, when reading in an ASCII file, VIEW assigns a bookmark to any form feed character it finds. The form feeds are not actually displayed, but by setting a bookmark you can move quickly to any place in the text where they occur. See the following section for a description of the keys assigned to bookmark functions (they are: Ins, d and u). THE VIEW SCREEN Ż ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜŻ The keys: Navigate through the file using the cursor keys (up and down arrows, left and right arrows if in "wide screen" mode, PgUp, PgDn, Home, End). Ins - insert a bookmark at the text currently displayed at the top of the display. d - go to the next bookmark. If you are at the last one, this key moves to the first one (that is, cycles through the bookmarks). First, though, it repeats the bookmark you are currently at in order to indicate that you are at the last one. u - go to the previous bookmark. If you are at the first one, this key moves to the last one (that is, cycles through the bookmarks). First, though, it repeats the bookmark you are currently at in order to indicate that you are at the first one. Enter - find text currently displayed at the top of the display area. Use this function for going directly to topics listed in the contents. NOTE: The Enter key is a toggle. Press it a second time to return to the point at which it was first pressed. s, Alt-F9 - toggle speaker "beep" on/off (beeps when an illegal key press is made). F1 - help menu; all menu items are available directly from this menu (i.e., while the menu is displayed, pressing F2 will activate the appropriate function for that key). Shift F1 - displays customised help file VIEWHELP.CST, which must be in the root directory of your C drive. When viewing the help file, pressing Esc takes you back to the original file being viewed. F2 - case-INSENSITIVE text search - matching text is shown in the highlight color. Unless the string to find has been defined from the command line, the first time you press F2 the string is defined. Subsequent presses of F2 find the next occurrence. F3 - as for F2, but for case-SENSITIVE text. Shift F2 - toggle text search OFF. (NOTE: when the text search function is enabled an asterisk (*) appears at the bottom right corner of the screen.) F4 - enter scroll mode for use with voice synthesizers. For details, see the file visual.doc F5 - go to a particular bookmark number Shift F5 - go to a particular line number F6 - print all of file to printer or disk Shift F6 - allows you to print a document with embedded form feeds retained, or with inserted bookmarks interpreted as form feeds. With this function the default page break is ignored, and you can also override the default left margin indentation. Ctrl F6 - allows you to print a document quickly, without answering any questions. For full functionality, use F6. Alt F6 - allows you to save a document quickly, without answering any questions. For full functionality, use F6. F7 - print all lines that specifically include or exclude a particular text string F8 - print file currently being viewed directly via 2COL or JETCOL. NOTE: you must have either configured VIEW to reserve at least 55 memory blocks, or you must use the switch /m055 on the command line, to activate this feature. Shift F8 - clear all bookmarks F9 - this is a toggle for printing (to printer or disk) a block of text. The first time you press F9, the current top line is set as the beginning of the block. The second time, the current top line is set as the end of the block, and the block is printed to the location you specify. While block select is on, you will see a message at the bottom-left of the screen telling you the starting line of the block. Shift F9 - set or reset HP and HP compatible printers that use the PCL4 command set (portrait or landscape mode, normal or compressed print). This includes a user-definable command. F10 - changes the character set of the file being displayed from ANSI to ASCII. If you print to file after this conversion is made, the file you print will use the converted (i.e. ASCII) character set. This feature is useful for converting Windows NOTEPAD files and others created with the ANSI set (e.g. text files created under UNIX). Shift F10- changes the character set of the file being displayed from ASCII to ANSI. As with F10, files printed to disk will contain the ANSI character set. Alt F10 - changes the character set of the file being displayed from Mac to ANSI. Ctrl-F10 - re-read the file with alternative decoding algorithm. If the file is ASCII, it will be re-read with a different line wrap default. If the file is Word 6 or 7 it will be re-read and decoded with an alternative algorithm. Use this if the file does not appear to have been decoded correctly. If the file is Wordperfect it will be re-read and text to which the "strikeout" format has been applied will be displayed or hidden, depending on the state of the toggle. If the file is HTML or XYWRITE the display of formatting codes will be toggled on or off. All toggles are reset to their default value when exiting a file. )See also the h toggle for HTML files). F11 - exit with errorlevel set to 2. This is useful for passing control to another process via a batch file. Space bar- leave menu without enabling any of the features. If you have read in a large file that has resulted in a temporary overflow file being created, the following keys are also activated: n - move to overflow file ("n" means "next") p - move to original file ("p" means "previous") If you hear a "beep" the function is not currently activated. When in "overflow" mode an identifying letter appears at the bottom-left of the display. "p" means you are in the second level, i.e. overflow file, and "n" means you are in the top level, i.e. original file. Note that in the second level, you will be told that the file is ASCII, and called overflow.1. Not to worry: it still contains the overflow from the file you called to read. Pressing the letter takes you to the
revious or