@database Findme @node main "Findme" FindMe is a GUI based, Workbench utility for finding files and is of particular use to anyone with a Hard-Drive, CD-Rom or any other large storage device. @{b} STOP!!!@{ub} Before you hit the 'Quit' button thinking @{i}"Oh no, not another file finder"@{ui}, please read on for a moment. FindMe will not only find your file of interest (or a selection of) by it's @{"title" link searchtype}, it will also @{"read through the contents" link searchtype} of any files it comes across. This can be extremely useful if you are looking for any text file (e.g. a .readme or .doc file) containing a particular topic of interest. You can input up to two search terms seperated by either an AND or an OR operator. FindMe will scan @{"single or multiple directories" link dirscan} and if you want to narrow your search even further, you can @{"select a range of dates" link datesearch} to search within, for example a particular week or month. FindMe keeps a record of the full path of every file found using the current search term(s). It is possible to load up any of these files, using the program's GUI, for editing or viewing using your favourite applications. It will also differentiate between 'projects' and 'tools' (found during title search), allowing you to directly launch any executables. You can also @{"copy files" link save} (all or a selection of) to a single, new directory. FindMe is blindingly fast. In TITLE search mode, it will scan my entire 80 Meg "Work" partition (670 directories, 5500+ files), for an 8-letter string, in just 45 seconds. This is a lot faster than the utility that I used previously. @{"Getting Started" link start} @{"Installation" link install} @{"Registering" link register} @{"The Author" link author} @{"History" link history} @{"FMView" link FV} @endnode @node start "Getting Started" FindMe is GUI based, so finding all the available functions shouldn't be too tricky. Nevertheless, here is a list of the options: @{b}BUTTON OPTIONS@{ub} ============== * PATH - brings up a requester for easy selection of the root directory from which you want to search. Alternatively, you can type the path directly into the box. * SEARCH WORD - click here and type in your key-word or phrase to find. Beneath this is a cycle gadget which you can use to specify the @{"type of search" link searchtype} (e.g. Title/Text/Both) * COUNT REPETITIONS - if you select this option, FindMe will count the number of times your search string appears within each file (note: this slows down the search considerably). * CHECK SUB-DIRECTORIES - select this and FindMe will search all directories below the selected root directory. * CLEAR RECORD - will erase all items in the search record. * @{"SAVE RECORD" link save} - will take you to another window where you can save any any number of the files currently in the record list to a new directory. * FINDME!! - start searching! You must have selected a valid directory and specified a @{"search string" link searchtype}. Clicking on a file in the search record will bring up information on that file (e.g. It's size; Which search terms were found; When it was last saved), depending on the type of search conducted along with the option to view, edit or run (if it is executable) that file. The applications used by these functions can be specified by the user (see @{"Installation" link install}) @{b}MENU OPTIONS@{ub} ============ * SEARCH BY DATE - here you can @{"specify a range of dates" link datesearch} to search within. FindMe takes 'date' to mean the last time the file was altered or saved. * SEARCH LENGTH - if you know the file you are looking for is only a teeny one, then this option enables you to specify the maximum number of kilobytes (characters) to search before FindMe gives up and starts reading the next file. This can speed up a TEXT search considerably, although you run the risk of missing an important file. The default (and maximum) setting is 512K which should be longer than most text files. If not, let me know. * LOAD FILE - loads up @{"FMView" link FV}, a text-viewer. * ABOUT - an inane and boring message, but hell, 'tis the norm. @endnode @node searchtype "Search Type" Before you can begin a search you must input a search term(s) and specify a directory or PATH from which to start. Click on the box and type in the desired string. This can comprise of up to two words or a phrases. Double terms must be seperated by an AND or OR with the choice of operator affecting the search in one of two ways: * AND - A file/filename must contain both terms to be selected. * OR - A file/filename need only contain one of the terms to be selected. At present, the FindMe search engine is not case sensitive. There are 3 basic ways in which you can search for your string: 1. TITLE - checks the name of each file only, including executable files. 2. TEXT - checks the contents of each file only. When a file possesses an icon. FindMe will ignore executable files in this mode. 3. TEXT & TITLE - checks both, again ignoring executables. See also @{"'Search by Date'" link datesearch} and @{"'Search Length'" link start}. @endnode @endnode @node datesearch "Search by Date" This option enables you to either narrow your word/phrase search or just make FindMe pick out any file that was last saved during a certain period. The options are: * SEARCH PERIOD - use this cycle gadget to select the range of dates you wish to search with within. Below this gadget is a set boxes where you can enter a specific date. If you select 'Day', then FindMe will search for any files that were last saved on that particular day. If you select 'Calendar Week' then FindMe will search the whole week that the specified day lies within (Sunday-Saturday). 'Month' and 'Year' should be now be self explanatory. * WORD BY DATE - search for current search string within any files last saved within the specified period. The @{"type of search" link searchtype} will depend on any selections made on the main FindMe interface (i.e. TITLE/TEXT'). * BY DATE - search for ANY files last saved within the specified period, regardless of search string or any other user settings. @endnode @node save "Saving Files" Clicking on 'Save Record' will bring up a window containing two list gadgets. On the left are all the files found since the record was last cleared. Clicking on an item in this list will transfer it over to the 'Save List'. Clicking on an item in the 'Save list' will move it back over to the 'Search Record'. When all the files you want to keep are in the 'Save List', click on SAVE. You can then select the directory where you want the new sub-directory for the files to be created. Another requestor will then pop up allowing you to input a name for this new directory. By default FindMe uses the search term(s) to create a name (e.g. Perception_Vision) When you leave this window, the 'Search List' will be restored to it's original state on the main 'FindMe' window. @endnode @node register "Registering" This is the full version of the FindMe v1.3. and can be freely distributed. Previous public domain versions were only demos but as I have now stopped development of this program I have decided to release the uncrippled version. I guess FindMe has now become 'Conscienceware'. It's up to you if you want to pay me anything, but please remember all the long lonely hours I spent coding this masterpiece. You will also get a 50% discount on @{"'Formation'" link history} when it is finished. If you do decide to register, please send a cheque, postal-order or cash, to the value of £5-00 (sterling), to the following address. Timothy Cribbin 2, Ashby Court, Moulton, Northamptonshire. ENGLAND. NN3 7AH. Please also send any error reports or suggestions to this address. Alternatively, you can contact me by e-mail: @{i}tim@cribbin.demon.co.uk@{ui} @endnode @node author "About the Author" Dear Amigan, Thankyou for checking out my program. This is my first big project using Blitz Basic. I hope you find it useful. I am committed to the Amiga and intend to continue writing programs for the Amiga shareware scene. Farewell for now, Tim Cribbin. A1200, 040/33, 10MB, 1.2GB HD, 4x CD, 33.6k modem :-) @endnode @node install "Installing FindMe" FindMe is compatible with KickStart 2 and higher. Installation is quite simple. 1. Create a new drawer and name it "FindMe". 2. Copy FindMe13 and FMView across to this drawer. 3. If you don't already have it, copy "reqtools.library" into your "sys:libs" drawer. This is available from most PD libraries. 4. Edit your "S:User-startup" file to include the line: ASSIGN FindMe: <> 5. If you are installing from floppy disk, remove it. 6. Reboot the machine and you're ready to go! You may wish to alter the tooltypes on the "FindMe13" icon. These specify the applications that FindMe will load when you select the READ or EDIT options within the program. As a default, selecting READ will load the file into FMView and EDIT will load it into "Ed" which you should have in your SYS:C drawer. Check your Workbench manual for more information on tooltypes. @endnode @node FV "FMView" FMview is a little text-viewer that I wrote for use in conjunction with this program. It can also be used as a general purpose text-viewer. It has one main advantage over similar programs (e.g. More) in that you can input up to 5 search terms and it will highlight those terms every time they appear in the text. You must seperate multiple terms using a '-' character (e.g. 'Vision-Perception'). @{b}COMMANDS/OPTIONS@{ub} ================ * OPEN FILE - brings up the file requester. * FIND NEW - select a new search term(s) for that document. * FIND NEXT - find the next occurance of the current search term(s). * FIND PREV - find any previous occurances. * ABOUT - brings up a requester showing some info on the current file. * QUIT - as it says! You can scroll through the document using the cursor keys. Pressing these keys in conjunction with the 'Right Alt' key gives you a 'page up/down' function. A proportional scroller bar is also included for extra convenience and information. @endnode @node history "History" v1.0 (03/07/96) - First working incarnation of FindMe v1.1 (20/08/96) - Added multiple search strings/operators (can now input upto 2 strings seperated by AND/OR. (26/08/96) - Made FindMe sensitive to filetype (Project or Tool). Meaning:- * During TEXT search, FindMe will only search the contents of a 'Project'. Prior to this inclusion, FM would search pointlessly and laboriously through all executables during TEXT searches. * Clicking on a 'Tool' from the record list gadget will bring up a requester asking if the user wishes to RUN that application. * Clicking on a 'Project' from the record list will bring up a requester asking if the user wishes to READ or EDIT that application. You can specify your preferred text-editor using the EDITOR tooltype on the FindMe icon - EDITOR="Application Path" (ommitting inverted commas) Otherwise FindMe defaults to "Ed". Same goes for the READ option, although use of @{"FMView" link FV} is recommended as it has been written for the purpose of this program. v1.2 (15/4/97) - First Aminet release. Fixed a few bugs. v1.3 (12/10/97) - This is the second and final Aminet release. Made the interface font sensitive so it should look right no matter which screen font you are using. @{b}FORMATION@{ub} - The future ... I have now stopped developing FindMe to focus on a new project. The working title of this program is 'Formation' and will provide Amiga users with a completely new way of arranging and accessing files. Much of the 'FindMe' code has been incorporated into the new program and current users should find the interface quite familiar. I am hoping to upload a demo on to the Aminet very soon. I will be charging a registration fee of 10 pounds sterling, but those of you who have already paid for FindMe or do so before the end of October 1997 will be able to register for only 5 pounds. @{"I want to register NOW!" link register} @endnode