                                                      readme.txt 04-97
            
            
            
            
                               FIX 5.10 README          Page 1 of 7

            
                 NovaLogic(TM)            email: novlogic@teleport.com
                 13585 SW Pommel Ct              compuserve: 75557,651
                 Beaverton, OR 97008 USA         voice: (503) 524-9184
                       ftp://ftp.teleport.com/vendors/novlogic/
            
           OVERVIEW
           --------
            FIX is a simple file maintenance utility that will find
            and replace occurrences of any byte string in any size or
            type of IBM-PC[1] file.  The command line syntax form is:
            
                   >FIX [-aAcfhilmquX] FINDSTRING REPLACESTRING
                               [d:][path]FILENAME [d:][path][outfile]
            example:
                      >fix "Smith" "Smythe" report.txt
            
            An on-line help screen may be displayed by entering the
            FIX command with no arguments.
            
            
           QUICK START
           -----------
           
             (1) Install the FIX file set in a directory on your
                 system's hard disk.  If you have the Shareware
                 configuration of FIX the file set must be "unzipped"
                 from the distribution file FIX510S.ZIP.  If you have
                 the Registered or Licensed configuration the files
                 may be simply copied from the distribution disk.
                 
             (2) Include the FIX directory in your system's search
                 path for executable files.  (Insert the directory
                 path in the "PATH ..." statement in the AUTOEXEC.BAT
                 file located in the root directory of your hard
                 disk.)  Then reboot your system.
                 
             (4) Install FIX as a "program item" with an icon in MS
                 Windows.  Set up to "execute" the file FIXWIN.PIF
                 which pops up an MS-DOS window in which to run FIX.
                 
             (3) Execute the command: >FIX -h  for an index of help
                 topics.  Execute: >FIX  for general guidance in using
                 the FIX program.  Execute the command: >FIXUTILS for
                 an overview of the included batch utilities.
                 
            ____________________
                 [1] FIX is a trademark of NovaLogic.  NovaLogic is a
            trademark of John F Crist.  MS-DOS and Windows are
            trademarks of Microsoft Corp.  IBM-PC is a trademark of
            IBM Corp.






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                               FIX 5.10 README          Page 2 of 7


           THREE CONFIGURATIONS OF FIX
           ---------------------------
            FIX is offered in three configurations with progressively
            greater functionality as follows:
            
             (1) FIX 5.10S - the SHAREWARE configuration: provides
                 full basic function; includes operating modes for
                 transforming text to all upper or lower case;
                 includes a set of complementary batch utilities; and
                 displays a promotional screen after random executions
                 of the program.
                 
             (2) FIX 5.10R - the REGISTERED configuration: eliminates
                 the random promotional screen; includes 3 more
                 operating modes - DOS filter, count only, query
                 before replace; includes delimited findstring option;
                 includes a larger set of  batch utilities.
                 
             (3) FIX 5.10L - the LICENSED configuration: adds multi-
                 file capability by accepting the wildcards (*),(?)
                 (*\) in filespecs; includes 3 more operating modes -
                 case insensitive, activity log file, no backup;
                 supports 2 exclusive replacestring options in
                 addition to delimited findstring; may be licensed on
                 multiple computers for commercial application.
                 
                 
           VERSION HISTORY
           ---------------
            FIX 4.00 1July1993
                   - First version distributed publicly.
            FIX 4.01 1Aug1993
                   - More complementary batch utilities included with
                     Registered and Licensed configurations.
            FIX 4.02 1April1994
                   - Three alternate modes of operation added to
                     Registered and Licensed configurations:
                     (-c) count, (-f) DOS filter, (-m) mute report.
                   - Delimited findstring option provided with Regis-
                     tered and Licensed configurations.
                   - Two exclusive replacestring options provided with
                     Licensed configuration.
            FIX 4.03 1Oct1994
                   - Lowered prices.
                   - Corrected error in directory-path recognition
                     under certain conditions.
            FIX 4.04 1Nov1995
                   - Revised central find/replace algorithm to
                     eliminate possibility of buffer overrun.
                   - Revised algorithm to guarantee comprehensive
                     testability (see contents of TEST.ZIP).






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                               FIX 5.10 README          Page 3 of 7


                   - Added symbols (\x) to represent ascii control
                     chars in findstring and replacestring.
                   - Revised algorithm to recognize either default
                     MS-DOS newline, or optional (-u) Unix newline.
                   - Revised central find/replace algorithm to offer
                     it as a stand alone library function (see FIX.H).
            FIX 5.00 1Jan1996
                   - Added query before overwriting an existing file.
                   - Added 2 modes to transform text to: all upper
                     case (-A), or all lower case (-a).
                   - Added query-before-change mode (-q) in Registered
                     and Licensed configurations.
                   - Added activity logfile (-l) in Licensed config.
                   - Added case insensitive search mode (-i) in
                     Licensed config.
                   - Added "same directory" wildcard (*\) in
                     Licensed config.
                   - Added mode to suppress .BAK file (-X) in
                     Licensed config.
                   - Added: help index (-h), help for individual modes
                     (-x), and help for selected features (-xx).
                   - Added check for incompatible modes.
                   - Raised prices.
            FIX 5.10 1April1997
                   - Corrected error in filespec logic which required
                     explicit specification of the current directory
                     when FIXing a file from a remote directory to a
                     named file in the current directory.
                   - Corrected error in file date-time manipulation
                     which caused a 1 minute error in time of file
                     creation/change in about 25% of executions.
                   - Corrected error in processing end-of-line
                     mark ($) in Unix mode (-u) under certain
                     circumstances.
                   - Doubled memory in which FIX runs from 64K to
                     128K; this increases speed by providing a full
                     64K working buffer, but most importantly (with
                     enhancements below), enables processing of long
                     strings:  (findlength + replacelength <= 42K).
                   - Added capability of specifying any element of the
                     FIX command line, including findstring & replace-
                     string, indirectly by:
                     (1) reference to "set" ms-dos environment
                         strings: &strname or &"strname"; or
                     (2) in licensed configuration, reference to file
                         content: @filespec or @"filespec".
                     These enhancements eliminate the constraint on
                     string length which had been imposed by the 127
                     character limit on the ms-dos command line.
            







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                               FIX 5.10 README          Page 4 of 7


           INSTALLATION
           ------------
            The SHAREWARE configuration is distributed in a compressed
            .ZIP file.  The REGISTERED and LICENSED configurations are
            distributed as a set of files on a diskette.  Follow
            instructions appropriate to your configuration of FIX.
            
            The following instructions assume you are reasonably
            proficient in the use of MS-DOS and Windows, and are able
            to use a text editor to examine and modify text files.
            
             (1) Start up your computer and make the target drive
                 (where you want to install FIX) the "current" drive.
                 Example: >C: (the DOS prompt is ">", you enter "C:"
                 followed by the <Enter> key).
                 
             (2) Create a new file directory on the target drive to
                 hold the FIX file set.  Example: >MAKDIR \FIX
                 
             (3) Make the newly created directory the "current"
                 directory.  Example: >CD \FIX
                 
             (4) If you are loading FIX from a distribution diskette,
                 insert the diskette in an external drive of the
                 appropriate size.  Example: insert the diskette in
                 drive A: and close drive door.
             (5) Copy the FIX distribution file set from the source
                 drive into the current (C:\FIX) directory.
                 
                 For the SHAREWARE configuration you must decompress
                 the distribution .ZIP file using the PKUNZIPutility.
                 Example: >PKUNZIP A:\FIX510S
                 
                 For the REGISTERED or LICENSED configurations you
                 simply copy the file set from the distribution disk
                 into the current directory.  Example: >COPY A:\*.*
                 
             (6) Include the new FIX directory in your system's
                 "search path".  Use any text editor to examine the
                 AUTOEXEC.BAT file in your computer's root directory.
                 Look for the statement that begins with the word
                 "PATH" followed by a space or "=", followed by a
                 sequence of directory specs separated by semi-colons
                 ";".  Use the editor to add the new FIX directory to
                 the existing PATH statement.  Example:
                    before -  PATH C:\DOS;C:\WINDOWS
                    after  -  PATH C:\DOS;C:\WINDOWS;C:\FIX
                 If your AUTOEXEC.BAT file has no PATH statement, use
                 the editor to insert one.  Example:  PATH C:\FIX
                 
                 Including the FIX directory in your computer's search






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                               FIX 5.10 README          Page 5 of 7


                 path will enable you to run FIX from any directory on
                 any disk drive on your computer.
                 
             (7) Set up Windows for easy access to FIX.
                   a. Run Windows - open the Program Manager's window.
                   b. Open the Program Group to contain the FIX icon.
                   c. Click on the Program Manager's "File" option,
                      click on the "New" option, and select the
                      "Program Item" option - a form will pop up.
                   d. Enter information in only the "Command Line"
                      blank, and (optionally) the Shortcut Key blank
                      of the form.  Example:
                          Description:
                          Command Line:  C:\FIX\FIXWIN.PIF
                          Working Dir:
                          Shortcut Key:  Ctrl - Alt - F
                   e. Click on <Enter> and an icon for FIX will appear
                      in the open Group window.
                 Double click on the icon, or (optionally) press the
                 <Ctrl><Alt><F> keys simultaneously, to open a DOS
                 window in which to run FIX.
                 
            
           VERIFY DISTRIBUTION FILES
           -------------------------
            Compare the FIX distribution file set you have just
            installed with the enclosed packing list.  Enter the FIX
            directory: >CD \FIX and execute the command: >PRINT
            PACKING.LST  to print out a copy of the packing list.
            Then display a directory listing of the installed files by
            exe-cuting the command: >DIR.  The resulting listing of
            files on the screen should agree, in content and order,
            with the listing printed from PACKING.LST.  (However, the
            SHAREWARE configuration may include certain additional
            files not appearing in the packing list if it was obtained
            from a commercial shareware disk vendor.)  All file sizes,
            dates, and times should agree.
            
            Because it is distributed in a .ZIP compression file, the
            SHAREWARE configuration offers additional means for veri-
            fication.  See your PKZIP documentation.  The CRC-32 (32
            bit cyclic redundancy character) computed for each file by
            PKZIP should match the CRC-32 shown in the packing list.
            Note that for technical reasons, it is not possible to
            include the CRC-32 parameter for the PACKING.LST file in
            the file itself.
            
            Disagreement between a file's actual parameter and the
            packing list indicates that the file has been corrupted in
            handling, or possibly infected by a computer virus.  Or
            the PACKING.LST file may have been tampered with.  If you






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                               FIX 5.10 README          Page 6 of 7


            encounter any discrepancy, please bring it to the
            immediate attention of NovaLogic.
            
            
           PRINT DOCUMENTATION
           -------------------
            Print out hard copies of the documents relevant to your
            use of FIX.  Load your printer with standard 8.5 x 11
            fanfold computer paper; set the print head to the top of
            the page; and enter the following command:
              >COPY *.TXT PRN
            
            
           TEST FIX
           --------
            Some users, contemplating the technical challenge of
            finding and replacing strings under necessarily buffered
            I/O, may wonder about the ability of FIX to perform
            correctly under all possible data conditions.  A test data
            file is included to make it convenient for the interested
            user to verify performance.  Unzip the file TEST.ZIP (use
            pkunzip version 2), read FIXTEST.TXT, and perform your own
            "proof test" exercises.  Note that the test data file is
            large, you will need at least 7M of free disk space.
           
           
           FREE UP DISK SPACE
           ------------------
            If space is scarce on your hard drive you may, after
            making hard copies of the documentation (above), delete
            non-executable files from the FIX directory with no loss
            of function.  The executable files to be retained include
            FIX.COM and any file with a .PIF or .BAT extension, all
            others may be deleted.  To delete, enter the following
            commands:  >DEL *.ZIP  >DEL *.H   >DEL *.LST   >DEL *.DIZ
            >DEL *.TXT .  The remaining minimum executable file set
            should total no more than 26K bytes in size.
            
            
           SAVE BACK-UP COPY
           -----------------
            Remove your FIX distribution disk from the external drive
            and store it in some safe place apart from your computer.
            If you have downloaded SHAREWARE FIX from a BBS, copy the
            downloaded .ZIP file to a floppy disk for back-up.
            
            You may make additional back-up copies of the disk.  Note
            that copies of the SHAREWARE configuration distribution
            file, FIX510.ZIP or FIX510S.ZIP, may be passed on to
            others.  See FIXLICEN.TXT.







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                               FIX 5.10 README          Page 7 of 7


            
            
           TO REGISTER OR LICENSE FIX
           --------------------------
            Use the Order Form / Mailer printed from the text file
            FIXORDER.TXT to:
            
             (1) REGISTER FIX for private non-commercial use, or
                 
             (2) LICENSE FIX for the maximal feature set and
                 commercial use on multiple computers.
            
            
            You may Email, Phone or Mail your order or inquiry:
            
                 NovaLogic(TM)                 novlogic@teleport.com
                 13585 SW Pommel Ct            compuserve: 75557,651
                 Beaverton, OR 97008 USA              (503) 524-9184







































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