Hot Shareware 35/hot35.iso/ficheros/DUTI/DOUBLE14.ZIP/DOUBLE.DOC

Text File | 1998-04-22 | 8KB | 158 lines

                              D O U B L E  V1.4

                              by John Augustine

               DOUBLE was written in Assembly for MS Dos Systems.

  Requires Color Graphics (CGA) or better. Runs on 8086 to Pentium Computers.
Needs less than 400K Bytes of memory to operate.  DOUBLE is Very Simple to use.

  Please read "IMPROVE.DOC" for information about improvements.

  DOUBLE allows you to view two files in Text Mode at the same time.  Also,
you can view a single file.  Why would you want to view two files at the same
time?  There are many file compare utilities (including Dos's "FC") that report
differences between two files, but they don't clearly indicate where these
differeces are located in the files.  That's why I made Double.

  NEW V1.3 FEATURE:

  Search Mode (Option) searches for differences between two files and stops
the search, displaying the differences highlighted on the screen.  You can
use this feature to compare two files automatically.  You don't have to
bother looking for the differences.  This is especially useful when the files
are very large, and you don't want to spend a lot of time viewing each "page"
for highlighted differences.  If the difference is as small as a period, it
is possible to miss it by visual comparison, even with the "HiLite" feature.

  IMPORTANT NOTE:

  If a file compare utility indicated a difference between the two
files, it is possible that a non-text character/s may be the reason.  For
this reason, I recommend not using the Character Screening (option) which
replaces non-text characters with spaces.

  DOUBLE allows you to view two files (at the same time) in two different
formats, Split Screen (top half for file 1 and bottom half for file 2) or
"Interlaced" (lines 1,3,5,etc. for file 1 and lines 2,4,6,etc. for file 2).

  "HiLite" FEATURE (V1.2)

  1. You can "HiLite" (High Light) characters that DON'T MATCH between the two
files.  The POSITION of each character in the display is VERY IMPORTANT because
each character is compared by POSITION to it's "counterpart".  Example: In
Interlace Mode, the first character in top line (display) of file 1 is compared
to the first character in second line down of file 2, etc.  The same position
compare applies to Split Screen mode.  If one character is different, it is
difficult to spot without this feature.  Use the space bar to toggle HiLite on
or off.

  2. This feature can be used to quickly locate where in a file, additions were
made or something was removed (when comparing to the original), by scanning
through both files at the same time.  Tip: Use Search mode.

  3. This feature can be used to locate similar (Example: Paragraphs) between
two files or the same file (enter the same file name for file 1 and 2).  If
you are looking for a similar part of the same file located elsewhere, hold
down the shift key while moving "File 2" only.  As you scan (Pressing Up/Dn
keys), a similar part will have a small amount of HiLited characters.

  IMPORTANT HiLite Note:

  If the lines of one file has been shifted downward or upward by 1 line so
that, say line 100 of file 1 is the same as line 101 of file 2, then the
HiLite feature may be misleading at first.  What Looks like identical lines
will show up HiLited because they are at the WRONG LINE POSITION.  Remember, in
Interlace mode, line 1 (display) is compared to line 2 (second line down from
the top), line 3 is compared to line 4, etc.  To correct this, adjust one file
with respect to the other so that line 1 (file 1) is the same as line 2 (file
2), etc.  You can see this misleading effect by selecting the same file for
file 1 and file 2.  Shift "File 2" by one line with respect to file 1.

  EXAMPLES FOR USING DOUBLE:

 1.  I copied the Windows "SYSTEM.INI" and "WIN.INI" to another directory (as
backups) before installing a new Windows based application.  This new
application modified those files in the Windows directory.  I used DOUBLE to
view the differences between the backup versions and the modified versions.  It
was easy to spot.

 2.  Someone modified your financial records behind your back, but you have a
back up.  You can use DOUBLE to see all the changes.

  GETTING STARTED:

  Type (without quotes) "DOUBLE FILE1 FILE2" and press Enter

  or

  Type "DOUBLE" and press Enter (you can enter or "Select" the file names
later)

  If you want to view two files with the same filename (one in another
directory), Copy the file located elsewhere into the directory with it's
"counterpart" changing the name in the process.

  Example: COPY \WORK\BUDGET.DOC BUDGET_A.DOC.  This command copies
"BUDGET.DOC", located in another directory called "WORK", to the directory you
are in, and changing it's name to "BUDGET_A.DOC".

  The PgUp, PgDn, Up and Dn (arrow Up/Dn) keys moves through both documents at
the same time. If you encounter a part that had additions (say in file 2) which
"pushed" the rest of the document downstream, you can move file 2 while file 1
remains stationary by holding down the shift key and pressing PgUp, PgDn, Up or
Dn Keys.  Note: You CAN'T move file 1 independently (only file 2).  If you need
to move file 1 with respect to file 2, move both files to the desired position
in file 1, then "Adjust" file 2.

  "END" KEY COMMAND WHILE VIEWING TWO FILES:

  Pressing the "End" key to go to the end of a document, will stop when the end
of either file 1 or file 2 is reached first (nearest).  Press the End key again
to reach the end of the other file.  Note: If you are at the end of one file,
and you press a different key afterwards, press End twice to move to the end of
the other file.

  SELECT FILES TO VIEW 3 WAYS:

  Note: "F1_NAME.DOC" & "F2_NAME.DOC" represent the names of files.

  1. Type "DOUBLE F1_NAME.DOC F2_NAME.DOC" (Without quotes) and press Enter.

  2. Within DOUBLE, you can type the file name (or change it) at the file name
     prompt.

  3. Instead of typing a file name at the file name prompt, press F1 to select
     from a list of all the files in the directory displayed in alphabetical
     order.  Note: This also changes the "Default" file name if one exists.

  CONCLUSION:

  This is NOT a "Free" program.  A small Donation will be Greatly Appreciated.
For a minimum donation of $5.00 (U.S.A.), if you REQUEST, I will send you
several other MS Dos based programs that I made on a 3.5" disk, or attach it
(less than 300K .ZIP package) to E-Mail if you prefer.  Please include your
E-Mail address with your donation to receive these files via E-Mail.

  NOTE: You will NOT be expected to pay for any other program you find useful.
In effect with just one small donation, you paid for several programs instead
of one.  Remember to include a note requesting the other programs if you want
them.  The donation will motivate me to develop more programs (and make
improvements).

  I have included, "OTH-PGMS.DOC" (Other Programs) which is a list of the other
programs plus descriptions you will receive for your donation.  Additional
programs in future will be added.

  Comments or Complaints are always welcomed.  If you use "Snail Mail" and
expect a reply, please include a S.A.S.E.


             E-Mail:  [e-mail]

                      John Augustine N3AOF
                      3129 Earl St.
                      Laureldale, Pa 19605
                      [phone]