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CHANGE-A-FILE
by
Harold D. Portnoy
======================================================================
Be sure to copy CHANGE-A-FILE before using!!!
---------------
Because of the time spent in developing this program, I find it necessary
to charge a small fee for the use of some of the utilities in CHANGE-A-FILE:
Convert AWP to TXT, TXT to AWP, AWP 3.0 to 2.x; AWP File Doctor, Exhume AWP
file, and Restore ADB file. These utilities are protected with a password that
will also apply to future revisions. The remainder of the utilities remain
free.
The same password also unlocks the Auto-Restore function of the repair
file program, RESURRECTION.
To obtain the password, send $10.00 to:
Change File
c/o Harold D. Portnoy
1431 Woodward
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302
**********************************************************************
When an AppleWorks word processor or data base file goes bad is not the
time to worry about how you are going to repair the damage. AWP File Doctor and
Restore ADB can repair these files. Each of these utilities, alone, are worth
the small fee in time saved.
**********************************************************************
CHANGE-A-FILE - -
CHANGE-A-FILE is a batch file utility that reads AppleWorks Word Processor
(AWP) and text (TXT) files; converts AWP files to TXT files, TXT files to AWP
files, and AWP 3.0 files to AWP 2.x files; restores damaged AWP and ADB (data
base) files; change file or auxiliary type codes, and strip line feeds. Up to
88 files in a directory or subdirectory can be altered. This program uses the
Bredon ProSel utilities type of format. CHANGE-A-FILE is particularly useful to
the AppleWorks (AWKS) user and to prepare files for uploading or alter files
after downloading.
Password
CHANGE-A-FILE is a system file. When run, the user is initially presented
with a password screen. Entering the password allows the user to access all the
program's utilities. If the password is not entered only the last 6 utilities
listed below can be accessed.
Activating protected utilities and removing password screen
Transfer the program file to the volume directory of a disk under ProDOS
(P8). Rename the file to CF.SYSTEM. Be sure this file is the first .SYSTEM file
in the directory (e.g. ahead of BASIC.SYSTEM). Boot the disk. (You must boot
directly into CF.SYSTEM.) The password screen will be presented. Enter the
password. When the menu is presented, select Quit. The file will be rewritten
to the disk without the screen. Rename the file to CHANGE.FILE or any other
name of your choice. Whether you have the passwo
rd or not, the password screen will be removed. If you enter the password, all
the utilities will be able to be used. If not, only the 'free' utilities will
be able to be used.
If RESURRECTION is placed in the same directory as CF.SYSTEM, the Auto-
Restore function will be unlocked on entering the password and then quitting.
Menu
The program menu is as follows:
________________________________________________
Q- Quit
X- Convert AWP 3.0 to 2.x
W- ... AWP File to TXT File
T- ... TXT File to AWP File
D- AWP File Doctor
E- Exhume AWP File
R- Restore ADB File
V- View File (TXT, AWP, etc.)
F- Change File Type/Aux. Type/Access Code L- Strip
Line Feed after Carriage Return
C- ... All Control Characters
S- ... Specified Control Character
I- Insert Line Feed after Carriage Return
________________________________________________
The appropriate utility can be selected from the main menu with the light
bar selector, by entering the appropriate letter or by using the mouse.
Pressing RETURN, a letter or the mouse button accepts the selection.
Directory Selection
The volume directory name is the initial default directory. The default
source directory or destination directory can be accepted by pressing RETURN or
mouse button. Any directory online can be entered. These directories will
remain the default directories until changed or the program is quit. The TAB
key tabs to the next slash in a directory pathname and then to the end of the
pathname. Control-X switches the source and destination directories.
Alternately, the prefix can be selected by pressing the Closed Apple (Option)
key. A list of directories is presented from which one can be selected in a
manner similar to that in AppleWorks (AWKS) 3.0. The up and down arrows or the
mouse move the light bar selector, RETURN or the mouse button selects a
subdirectory and Open Apple-RETURN accepts the completed directory name. If an
error is made, pressing TAB lets you restart the selection.
File Selection
Files are selected or deselected with the spacebar or mouse button. A
check mark is placed in front of the selected file. The light bar can be
positioned using the four arrow keys or mouse. When using the spacebar or mouse
button to select a file, the selection is made in the direction first
initiated. After selecting the desired files, press RETURN. ESCape always
returns you to the main menu.
The Utilities
Convert AWP 3.0 to 2.x file. Usually AWP files generated by Appleworks
3.0 cannot be read by versions 2.1 and below. If you do not have version 3.0,
an AWP 3.0 file can be read by your version of Appleworks by converting the AWP
3.0 to an AWP 2.x file. The suffix ".X" is added to the file name. If the
original name is greater than 13 characters, the last two characters are
replaced with the suffix. This utility is particularly useful for those AWKS3.0
users who would like to upload AWP files that can be read by all versions of
AWKS.
The AWP 3.0 file is not converted if it is already compatible with the AWP
2.x format and the source and destination directories are the same. This is
indicated by a bell and a diamond replacing the check mark.
Convert AWP to TXT file.
This utility converts AWP files into text files. In preparation for
uploading, each line is followed by a carriage return. If you want a carriage
return only at the end of a paragraph, press the Open Apple key at the start of
the conversion. Pressing the Open Apple key also sets the left margin to zero.
The text file created is designated by the suffix ".W" added to the
original file name. The original file is preserved. The auxiliary file code is
changed to $0000.
Convert TXT to AWP file.
This utility converts TXT files into AWP files. The conversion,
particularly of multiple files, is considerably faster than using the
AppleWorks from text file option. Only sequential text files are accepted
(auxiliary file code = $0000). The new file is designated by the suffix ".T"
added to the original name. The original file is left undisturbed. When loaded
into AppleWorks, the file may not properly word wrap. This is easily corrected
by changing any margin justification.
AWP File Doctor.
When an AWP file is damaged, it cannot be loaded into AppleWorks instead
the 'Getting error trying to read ...' message is displayed. The AWP File
Doctor will almost always restore the non-corrupted portions of an AWP file to
a new file that can be loaded into AWKS. The restored file has the suffix ".D"
added to the file name. Asterisks replace the bad bytes, however, if the bad
bytes are text characters, these characters may be displayed. The characters
usually make no sense and are easily identified. Except for the damaged text,
the new file requires no revision.
If the file is loaded into AWKS 2.x and the 'Getting error .." message is
still displayed, first convert the file to AWP 2.x format using Convert AWP 3.0
to 2.x, reload the file and try again.
Exhume AWP.
If the file is so damaged that AWP File Doctor cannot repair it, then
Exhume AWP should be tried. Exhume AWP restores the AWP file by searching for
text characters. The restored file contains all characters in the text
character range. Thus text characters that are not part of the original text
will be included (frequently an additional character at the beginning and end
of a text line). Non-text characters are replaced with an asterisk. If the
number of characters exceeds 79 only one line of asterisks is added. The
repaired file has the suffix ".E" added to the file name.
The exhumed file when loaded into AWKS must be edited to remove spurious
characters and add any text that may have been corrupted. This is the hard part
of the repair, but usually not as hard as having to rewrite the whole file from
scratch.
It is suggested that a damaged AWP file be processed by both the AWP File
Doctor and Exhume AWP. The former will reconstruct almost all of the file in a
form requiring virtually no revision. The latter may extract a few more words
of value.
Restore ADB
If an AppleWorks Data Base (ADB) file is corrupted, the file can be
restored with Restore ADB. Damage can occur within a category, to individual
records or to the header. Damage limited to within a category is flagged with
an asterisk. If one or more categories have been damaged, the entire record (or
contiguous records) cannot be restored and the first category in the record(s)
is flagged with the message '** DAMAGED RECORD(S) **'. When this message occurs
as the first record, a report record may actually have been damaged.
If the file header is damaged, a standard header is substituted, which
contains 30 categories. Category names may or may not be restored depending on
whether the names were damaged. Report formats will be lost and have to be
reentered. Occasionally, if the file still cannot be loaded into AWKS after
processing with Restore ADB, the file may still be restored by forcing the
standard header. This can be done by pressing the Closed Apple key when the ADB
file is selected.
______________________________________________________________________
NOTE: AWP File Doctor, Exhume AWP and Restore ADB will restore files with
bad blocks. The message '** BAD BLOCK **' is inserted when a bad block is
encountered. These utilities cannot repair a file if the volume directory or
subdirectory are damaged (and sometimes the file directory pointing to the data
blocks in the file). If one of the directories is damaged, I suggest using the
ProSel utility, Mr. Fixit or my new utility, RESURRECTION.
If you have a file that cannot be restored and the various directories are
intact, please send it to me so that I can improve the algorithms used in the
AWKS and ADB repair utilities. Copy the disk on which the file exists using a
nibble copying utility such as Copy II+ and send the copy, not the original.
Occasionally, when several blocks have been damaged, AWP File Doctor will
produce a new file that cannot be loaded into AWKs. Try using AWP File Doctor
again on the new file. This will usually restore the file. If not, use Exhume
AWP.
______________________________________________________________________
View file.
This utility will read any file. It works best with text files. Control
characters are presented in uppercase inverse. The spacebar stop/starts the
file.
If the file is an AppleWorks word processor (AWP) file (AW 3.0 and lower
versions), it will automatically read it properly. (Read AWP is no longer a
separate utility.) This allows you to rapidly review TXT or AWP files in order
to determine if you wish to use or convert them. The spacebar allows you to
step through the file. Restart scrolling with the down arrow key. The RETURN
key can be used to abort the file. The left margin is automatically set. For
convenience, the file may be output to a printer. Reading AWP files works best
when the characters per inch is 10. If word wrap appears defeated, try pressing
Open Apple at the beginning of the conversion (see AWP to TXT above).
The printer output is set to slot 1. If you use a different slot, then
change the low nibble of byte $05 (C1) to the slot number. This is most easily
accomplished using a block editing utility such as ProSel Block Warden.
Alternately the following patch will suffice after setting the prefix to the
directory containing CHANGE.
FILE.
POKE 768,19n (where n = slot number + 2)
BSAVE CHANGE.FILE,TSYS,A$300,L1,B5
Change file type, auxiliary type or access codes.
Any file type can be altered. You are responsible for the alteration. No
checking is done. Following selection of the file(s), the previous file type is
presented at the cursor and can be accepted as the default by pressing RETURN.
Alteration can be accomplished using the designated file type abbreviations
displayed (e.g. BIN, TXT). Or, if the abbreviation is not listed, by entering
the hexadecimal code (e.g. $04, $06). If you have a favorite abbreviation that
is not listed then the list can be altered
.
Using a block editor, such as ProSel Block Warden, the abbreviation list
can be altered to suit yourself. The file type table begins at byte $07 with A0
A0 A0 20. There is another similar four byte combination that can be changed to
a three byte ASCII abbreviation, which replaces the three A0's, followed by the
file type code, which replaces the 20. Alternately, one of the other
abbreviations can be changed along with its following file code byte. (Note: To
my knowledge, there is no assigned abbreviation to code 20.)
After the file type code is accepted, the auxiliary type code is presented
and can be altered by entering the appropriate code at the cursor. When the
auxiliary type code is governed by the file type code (e.g. SYS always loads at
$2000), the appropriate default can be accepted by pressing RETURN or the mouse
button.
The file access code can then be altered. The file can be toggled locked
or unlocked, or each of the recognized bits in the byte can be separately
toggled. The bits are 7 (Destroy-enable), 6 (ReName-enable), 5 (BacKUp-needed),
2 (INVisibility, GS/OS only), 1 (WRiTe enable), 0 (ReaD-enable). If the bit is
set (1), then the bit is enabled. If cleared (0), then the bit is disabled. If
bits DES,RN and WRT (7,6,1) are all set, then the file is considered unlocked.
If any of these bits are cleared then the file is considered locked. The right
and left arrows and the mouse move the cursor. The spacebar toggles whether the
file is locked or not as well as the individual bits. The RETURN key or the
mouse button accepts the displayed values.
NOTE: The changes in this section are not written to the file until the
final RETURN. ESCape always sends you back to the main menu.
Line feed stripper.
This utility strips line feeds that follow a carriage return. Only text
files are accepted. The original file is preserved.
Two other control character strippers are available. One removes all
control characters, and the other will remove any specified control character
(^J = line feed). If the specified control character is 'M' (e.i. carriage
return), then a space is substituted for the carriage return. All the control
character strippers designate the altered file with the ".C" suffix.
Insert line feed after carriage return.
Some users apparently wish to communicate with Big Blue machines. This
utility inserts a line feed after each carriage return in a text file, which is
required by IBM and IBM compatible computers.
And for those of you wishing to read from the UNIX system, press the Open-
Apple key before entering 'I'. This will convert line feeds to carriage
returns.
When converting files or stripping a control character with only one disk
drive, the source and destination volumes must be the same.
Icons
CF.RES.ICONS contains Change-A-File and Resurrection icons. The Change-A-
File icon is courtesy of Karl Bunker. To use these icons in the Finder, place
CF.RES.ICONS in the ICONS subdirectory of the boot volume
(BOOT.VOLUME/ICONS/CF.RES.ICONS) and reboot. The two programs must have file
names of CHANGE.FILE and RESURRECTION.
Suggestions, bugs and other trivia to:
Compuserve [75156,2436]
GEnie [H.PORTNOY]
All rights reserved.
AppleWorks, copyright Claris Corporation
ProSel, copyright Glen Bredon
Copy II+, copyright Central Point Software, Inc.
Version updates:
1.95- Add output to printer for Read AWP.
2.0 - Add Convert TXT to AWP
2.05- Minor bug
2.1 - Add ability to Change Access Code. Cosmetic
alteration to Change File Type.
2.15- Clear backup bit now works correctly.
2.20- Fix bug in alter auxiliary type code.
2.30- Add mouse to menu and file selector.
2.35- Add mouse to pathname selection.
2.37- A smoother mouse.
2.40- Corrects input bug.
2.41- Add mouse to file type, auxiliary type, and aux
code.
2.46- Corrects bug when used with IIe and single
drive. Adds clock.
2.48- Corrects bug in quit when used with IIe.
2.61- Update to AW 3.0 format in read AWP and AWP to
TXT.
2.63- Eradication of small AWP to TXT infestation.
2.64- Eases AW version conversion.
2.66- Adds AWP 3.0 to 2.x converter.
2.68- Adds View File (by request of several users).
2.69- A few cosmetic changes.
2.71- Corrects bug that prevented proper launching directly
from P8 and certain selectors.
2.73- Update of AWP 3.0 format and a few cosmetic changes.
2.75- Adds directory name selector.
2.76- Bug correction in AWP 3.0 to 2.x.
2.77- Bug correction, View file, IIc only.
2.78- Corrects bug in TXT to AWP and AWP 3.0 to 2.x. AWP
header byte +004 must be $4F (ruler length) otherwise
the new file cannot be saved properly when using
AWKS 3.0 (does not effect AWKS 2.x). 2.81- Adds Exhume
AWP which extracts all text characters
from a damaged AWP file. For highly damaged files and
requires considerable editing. Also corrects a few bugs.
2.85- Adds AWP File Doctor. Corrects several minor bugs and
adds some cosmetic changes.
2.87- Adds Restore ADB, a utility for restoring ADB files.
Read AWP is now included under View File.
2.88- Corrects bug in Restore ADB.
2.89- Now able to restore AWP and ADB files with bad blocks.
2.90- Some improvements and a dead bug.
2.91- Additional header information preserved in Restore ADB.
2.92- Fixes bug in password. Updated documentation.
2.93- Improved bad block routine.
2.94- Bug fix and now, if specified control character is ^M
(e.i. carriage return), a space is substituted.
2.95- Password scheme changed so as to activate RESURRECTION
Auto-Restore function.
2.96- Remove bug from RESURRECTION activation scheme.
2.97- Add insert line feed after carriage return. Bug fix
in strip line feed after carriage return.
2.98- Password scheme change made necessary by RESURRECTION
change.
2.99- Add convert line feed to carriage return.
3.00- Correct minor bug in directory input.
3.01- Correct bug in filetype listing when over 66 files