
                                  MY PROGRAM
                                       
   
   
   Here is where you will find everything you want to know about
   SEARCH.EXE. This is a small freeware Windows 3.1 program that produces
   Web pages consisting of small in-line images. These images can be
   clicked on in a Web browser (like Netscape or Mosaic) to see the full
   sized JPEG picture. It also serves as a file search utility and GIF
   image previewer.
     _________________________________________________________________
   
   The latest version of this file and the program is always located at
   http://www.canuck.com/~thivier/search.html.
   
Table of Contents

   
   
     * Current Features
     * Planned Features
     * Program Stability
     * Obtaining the Program
     * Legal Issues and Credits
          + Ownership
          + Freeware Status
          + Credits
          + Disclaimer
     * System Requirements
     * Installation Procedures
     * A Picture of SEARCH.EXE"
     * Operation Procedures
          + Generating a Simple Web Site
          + Customizing Your Site
          + Moving your site to a UNIX machine (optional)
          + Tips
     * Known Bugs
     * Contacting Me
       
   
   
   
   
Current Features

     * For every JPEG file in your site, it creates a smaller GIF
       version.
     * It generates a HTML index file (index.htm) in every directory.
       This file contains links to the JPEG pictures and uses the GIF
       files as inline images. Next to each inline image is the name and
       file size of the picture.
     * The index file also refers to index files in any sub-directory.
       This is ideal for people who have multiple picture collections,
       each in its own sub-directory. The Web browser user will see an
       inline image of one of the pictures in the subdirectory. They will
       be able to navigate around the entire collection.
     * Without running another program, you can view the small GIF
       pictures inside of SEARCH.EXE. As well, you can double click on
       any file and launch the associated program to view/edit that file.
     * SEARCH.EXE can be used to produce a listing of all files matching
       a pattern in a directory and its sub-directories. You can limit
       the listing to files that contain a string inside them. Of course
       this includes comments inside of JPEG files.
     * Inside SEARCH.EXE, if you click on a particular JPEG file name you
       will see any comments stored in the file, and the dimensions of
       the picture.
     * You don't need to do any editing of the resulting HTML files.
     * If you choose to edit the header of the HTML index files (which
       contains the title, first heading, and description of the page)
       your changes will be preserved. If you change the first heading of
       a sub-directory index file, that name will appear in the parent
       directories index file (instead of the name of the directory).
     * You can edit the SEARCH.INI file to specify your e-mail address
       and full name. This will be placed at the bottom of every page you
       generate, so people can mail you.
       
Planned Features

   
   
   These are features I have the source code for or know how to write
   myself. I would greatly appreciate feedback on the utility of these
   features and any others you think would be nice.
     * To read a UUENCODED file (usually from saved newsgroup articles
       from alt.binaries.pictures.*) to retrieve JPEG files inside it.
       This would allow the reading of the descriptions used by the
       poster. These descriptions could be put in the comments section of
       the JPEG file to allow for better organization and catalogging.
     * Use the comments stored inside the JPEG file to write HTML files
       that describe the pictures. This will help people with text
       browsers.
     * Allow the user to enter "collection names", that would allow
       SEARCH.EXE to group pictures that contain the same "collection
       name" together on their own page, or section of a page. For
       instance you could enter the names of famous models and my program
       would create a page for each model. It would know which pictures
       to put on what page by reading the comments inside the JPEG files.
     * Point and click directory navigation. Right now you must type in
       the name of the base directory, where you want my program to
       search for files and sub-directories in.
     * A built-in UNIX-like compress or gzip utility so that the
       resulting site can be turned into one file that can be more easily
       transported to a UNIX box. Right now there are several steps.
       
   
   
   
   
   
   
Program Stability

   
   
   This program still has bugs that I am working out. On July 27, 1995 I
   fixed a bug in the version I released the week previous. I have used
   this program successfully myself. This is no guerentee of what success
   you will have.
   
   
   
Obtaining the Program

   
   
   If you are viewing this document on the Web, just load this anchor to
   disk and follow the installation procedures. If you are viewing this
   as an ASCII file, with the program, see below for the installation
   procedures. If you have any problems obtaining it please contact me.
   
Legal Issues and Credits

   
   
  OWNERSHIP
  
   
   
   SEARCH(c) 1995
   The Picture Page Generator
   Written by Robert Thivierge
   All rights reserved by Robert Thivierge
   
   Any attempt by a person other than myself to reverse compile, sell, or
   to represent the program as their own is prohibited. You may give my
   product to someone else free of charge, provided you include all the
   files you received yourself. They then should notify me of receipt of
   it.
   
   However, any person or organization may distribute my program as
   freeware. They may charge a fee for the service of distribution (such
   as on-line charges, charge for distribution media, etc...). An
   acceptable form of distribution is including my program on CD-ROMs
   containing freeware/shareware, where there is a charge for the CD-ROM.
   However, it must be understood that they are not selling my program.
   And absolutely nobody, but me, may imply or suggest that they authored
   this program or that its their property. I must always be given full
   credit.
   
  FREEWARE STATUS
  
   
   
   This program is freeware. I don't even request money. It's not
   shareweare it's freeware. No annoying messages in the program ask for
   money. Since users benefit from my time I think its fair to ask for
   some feedback. I like to know everytime someone gets my software and
   every time someone uses it for the first time. I also like suggested
   improvements, and friendly constructive criticism. I also appreciate
   being sent the URLs of sites made with the program.
   
   
   
  CREDITS
  
   
   
   This software is based in part on the work of the Independent JPEG
   Group. Thankyou IJG.
   
   The Graphics Interchange Format(C) is the Copyright property of
   CompuServe Incorporated. GIF(SM) is a Service Mark property of
   CompuServe Incorporated.
   
   The actual compression method used in GIF is copywrited by Unisys
   Corporation. I thank them for allowing freeware authors to use their
   compression method without obtaining a license or paying royalties.
   See the Unisys FAQ on GIF for further details.
   
  DISCLAIMER
  
   
   
   Use my program at your own risk. There are bugs I know of, there are
   bugs I don't know of. I assume no liability for any losses incurred by
   use of my program. I myself half accidently overwritten files with
   SEARCH.EXE. So, if I can loose stuff, you can too.
   
   
   
System Requirements

     * Operating System: Windows 3.1 (should run on WFW and NT also)
     * Memory: The amount required is semi-proportional to the size of
       the largest JPEG picture you wish to compress.
       
   
   
Installation Procedures

   To install, do the following:
    1. Make a directory for the program.
    2. Copy the ZIP file into it.
    3. Unzip it (using pkunzip).
    4. Edit SEARCH.INI to set your e-mail address and full name. This is
       mandatory. The program will print this information on your web
       page, right or wrong.
       
A Picture of SEARCH.EXE

   
       
       If you are viewing this document on the web you will see a picture
       of SEARCH.EXE running.
       
       [IMAGE]
       
Operation Procedures

   
       
       To start the program double click on SEARCH.EXE in the File
       Manager or set up an icon in the Program Manager.
       
  GENERATING A SIMPLE WEB SITE
         1. Choose a base directory where all your pictures will be. For
            instance if you have pictures in c:\web\pics\apples and
            c:\web\pics\oranges, enter c:\web\pics.
         2. If this is the first time you are running SEARCH.EXE than you
            should move away any GIF files created by other programs.
            SEARCH.EXE will not overwrite any existing GIF files.
         3. Move any file called "index.htm" that was not originally
            created by SEARCH.EXE. If you don't, SEARCH.EXE will destroy
            everything inside the file except the header. You may of
            course leave files created by SEARCH.EXE alone.
         4. Place all the picture's you want in your site in either the
            base directory or in sub-directories of it. You can have any
            level of sub-directories you wish.
         5. Type in the name of the base directory in the Search
            Directory edit box. Or click on the Search Directory button
            and select a directory and hit OK.
         6. Click on Execute Seach to see a list of your files.
         7. Click on Generate Thumbnails and HTML. Wait patiently until
            the program finishes flashing messages of what it is doing.
            When its done it will say "Finished writing index.htm".
         8. Click on the Search button again to see a list of all files
            created.
         9. If this is your first run, please 
            
  CUSTOMIZING YOUR SITE
        By default SEARCH.EXE uses the names of directories in setting
            the document titles and the first header on every page. If
            you know a little HTML (see A Beginner's Guide) you can alter
            these defaults by doing the following:
              1. Open any "index.htm" file in an ASCII editor (like
                 Notepad).
              2. To change what appears at the top of a Web page edit the
                 text inside the HEAD tag. Do not remove any tags.
              3. If you edit the text in the first H1 tag, the new text
                 will also appear in the "index.htm" file in the parent
                 directory.
              4. Now you can regenerate the site and your changes will be
                 preserved.
        
            
            
            
  MOVING YOUR SITE TO A UNIX MACHINE (OPTIONAL)
        
              1. Re-create the directory structure from the base
                 directory (which you specified as the Search Directory)
                 on down, using lower case letters. The base (search)
                 directory does not have to have the same name. But all
                 of its sub-directories must keep their names.
              2. Copy *.gif, *.jpg, and index.htm files into their
                 respective directories.
              3. Ensure all UNIX names are lower case.
              4. Ensure that JPGs, and GIFs were transfered in binary
                 mode.
              5. Any index.htm files must be transfered as "Text"
              6. Rename all index.htm files to index.html. All other
                 files keep their names.
        
            
  TIPS
              1. Before running SEARCH.EXE for the first time, move all
                 your GIF files out of the way. For every JPEG file my
                 program tries to write a matching small GIF file. If a
                 file of the same name exists, SEARCH.EXE does not make
                 the GIF file. The pre-existing GIF file is used as an
                 in-line image.
              2. Back up your important files.
        
            
Known Bugs

        
            
            Please tell me of any bugs not on this list.
              1. Screen fuzz may appear when writing a large number of
                 GIF files. Leave the program alone while its doing this.
                 When its done, try switching to a full-screen program
                 and switching back to clear the fuzz.
              2. The program will incorrectly allow you to quit in the
                 middle. This could result in incomplete/corrupt files
                 left over. Don't quit the program until all work is
                 done.
              3. The cursor does not change shape when it's busy.
        
            
            Please Also, feel free to ask me any questions on use. And
            please send me suggested improvements. Always tell me of
            your first use of my program, regardless of the outcome.
            
            
            
Contacting Me

        
            
            Send all comments and suggestions to Visit My Home Page at
            http://www.canuck.com/~thivier1/index.html
            
    Search: The Picture Page Generator/Robert
    Thivierge/thivier1@canuck.com
