-----------------------------------------
Documentation for TEX - Text File Utility
Copyright 1988 by Floyd Zink, Jr.
All Rights Reserved.
-----------------------------------------


About TEX
---------

This program is FREEWARE.  You can distribute TEX freely, just don't sell it. I do ask that you make sure that this doc file is made available with the program.  You are under no obligation to pay anything for TEX.

However, if you like this program and want to show your appreciation I do accept gratuities.  If you send me $10.00 I will send you the latest version of TEX and some of my other programs that I have written.  PLEASE tell me what version you have so I can determine whether or not I should send you a disk right away.  The $10.00 will also entitle you to 1 free update that will be AUTOMATICALLY mailed to you when I update TEX again.  This way I make a little money and you do not have to spend the money downloading the update.

My address is:

Floyd Zink, Jr.
P.O. Box 060069
Palm Bay, FL  32906

I repeat YOU ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO PAY ANYTHING FOR TEX, but if you want me to continue to provide programs in this manner than support the cause and send in the $10.  Thanks.


Features
--------

    1)  Catalogs disks

    2)  Types files

    3)  Appends files together

    4)  Deletes files

    5)  Renames files

    6)  Strips linefeeds and ^Z's from files

    7)  Removes carriage returns from files


Program Selectors
-----------------

TEX supports a start-up pathname.  If you enter a start-up pathname from a program selector like PROSEL or ECP8 the program will use that pathname and strip the linefeeds from it and then exit by the quit code.  If there is no start-up pathname then TEX will display the menu and you can go on from there.


The Menu
--------

You can select a menu item by either the first letter in the item or by using the arrow keys to move the inverse bar to your selection and then pressing return.  You will be returned to the menu after all processing is done.


Selecting Files To Be Processed
-------------------------------

After making your menu selection you will be prompted for a source directory name and where necessary a destination pathname or target directory.  You can use the TAB key to skip to the next '/' in the pathname shown or OA-TAB to back up to the previous '/'.  The DELETE key will delete characters and the <-- --> keys will backspace and move the cursor forward.  When prompted for a destination pathname be sure and enter a pathname for a file not a directory.

After the directory(s) are selected a catalog of the source directory will be displayed.  Using the up and down arrows will move the bar accordingly.  The left arrow will unselect an item if it was selected otherwise it will move the bar up.  The right arrow will select an item if not already selected otherwise it will move the bar down. Pressing the space bar will toggle a selection also. In addition a OA-space or a control-a (^A) will toggle all the items.  Pressing return will implement the selected task using the just picked filenames.


Filename Queue
--------------

The files selected are put into a linked list.  This means you can select the files in the order you want them processed.  This is particularly handy for the APPEND function.


Using The Mouse
---------------

If you have a mouse TEX will find it and allow you to use it instead of using the arrow keys and you can use the mouse button to select files though you still have to press return to start the process after the files are selected.

The sensitivity of the mouse is at location $204B when the program is in memory.  This is the $4B byte after the beginning of the program. It is currently set at $08.  This means the mouse must move 8 increments to move inverse bar.  If you want to change this use a block editor or from the basic prompt enter:

CALL-151   ;enter monitor
BLOAD TEX,TSYS,A$2000  ;load file
204B:XX    ;XX being the new value. Higher value=lesser sensitivity. BSAVE TEX,TSYS,A$2000  ;save file ^C         ;back to basic


Type Files
----------

When typing files pressing any key will pause the display.  Pressing any key again will start the typing again.  Pressing ESC will jump to the end of the current file and pressing ESC again will exit back to the main menu.  Pressing a 'p' or 'P' will toggle the paging option. When paging is on the file will be displayed a screen full at a time and will wait for a keypress between each page.


Append Files
------------

This feature merges text files that you have selected into one file.  After the merge you will be asked if you want to delete the original separate files.


Strip Linefeeds
---------------

The linefeed stripper creates a temp file with an '.S' extension. When it is done processing it renames the original file with an '.ORG' extension and renames the temp file to the original file name. At the five bytes located at $204E-2052 are the additional characters that TEX will strip out of a file. They are currently set to $1A for control-z and $7F for delete.  You can use a block editor to change these defaults.


Carriage Return Remover
-----------------------

The carriage return remover creates a temp file with an '.R' extension. When it is done processing it renames the original file with an '.ORG' extension and renames the temp file to the original file name.  Before processing the files you will be prompted for some settings as follows:

1)  From the 'Minimum line length' prompt you can use the up and down arrow keys to change the default length.  The purpose of the minimum line length is to try to maintain formatting in short lines.  If you use the default of '60' TEX will not remove the carriage returns in lines of less than 60 characters. DEFAULT = 60

2)   Removing a space immediately before a CR.  If 'Yes' then TEX assumes this space is extraneous and removes it.  If 'No' then TEX leave this space in. DEFAULT - Yes

3)   Removing CR when followed by only ONE space.  If 'Yes then TEX assumes this space is not for formatting and removes the CR.  If 'No' then TEX assumes it is for formatting and leaves the CR in. DEFAULT - Yes

4)   If prompting for settings is answered 'Yes' then you will be prompted for all the settings between every file.  If 'No' then you are only prompted the one time. DEFAULT - No

When you press return to select the files to be processed if you hold down the open-apple key then the above defaults will be used and you will not be prompted for any of them.


Deleting Files
--------------

TEX will not delete files that are locked.  I have to draw the line somewhere, TEX can't do everything <grin>!


Renaming Files
--------------

When you choose the rename feature you will be prompted for the files as usual and then the files will be displayed one at a time with the cursor over them to allow you to rename them.  Pressing escape will skip that file and go to the next one.


Final Words
-----------

If you encounter any bugs or come up with any suggestions for improving the program please let me know.  I will consider all reasonable suggestions for improvements.

You can get support from me on the following systems:

AppleLink PE - AFL Floyd (Apple II Utilities Forum Leader)
CIS - Floyd Zink, Jr. 73147,2717
GEnie - FLOYD.ZINK


Floyd Zink, Jr.
g