WINDOWS FILE CONVERT  Manual

=================================================================

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

  

SECTION I  -  READ ME FIRST
    WinFileConv.Exe   =  Windows File Convert program description:

Windows File Convert is a program that allows users to automate and quickly convert Unix and Macintosh Type Text Files without full CRLF = EOL characters, to Windows PC Text Files with CRLF's, and vice versa.

You can also choose to replace any 0-31 Control Chars or 127-255 Non-Printable chars with spaces,  in the  converted files.

On the File Menu, users can Save the Default WinFileConv Load Settings, as well as Save and Load their own Custom Defaults.

Another feature of the program allows automated Command Line Processing using different Custom Defaults files.   Because of this you can develop Batch Files for use by other programs as well as OS schedulers. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

File downloads from UNIX servers are becoming more common as many companies are getting away from dial up servers.  Unix/Mac/PC Text file type files can be evaluated and managed by this program. 

The following File Conversion options are available:

"Convert Fixed Length Files" (Option-1) -- can be used to Convert Fixed Length Text Files without any CR or LF -- EOL characters to PC -- CRLF format.  Some user programs may assume a set record length for these types of files, but other programs may see them as one long line.  This program will reformat the data to your specified record length so it may be used by other programs without any other special handling.

 "Convert Unix/MAC --to-- PC" Conversion (Option 2) --  will determine if a Text File is UNIX/MAC/PC format, and will convert the needed files to PC format.  An idea of the basic operation would be to place all of these files into a folder and point the program at this input folder, and then select the required output folder, and then run the conversion.   This simple operation reduces the need to do separate conversions or file manipulations by hand. 

"Convert PC --to-- Unix/MAC" (Option 3) -- Converts PC Text Files to Unix/MAC Format and adds an  Output EOL character = LF for Unix or CR for MAC.

 

    BASIC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

WinFileConv is designed to run on Windows 95 and later Operating Systems.

WinFileConv requires 800x600 screen resolution to display properly.

 

    BEFORE Installing an upgrade for WinFileConv: (Original installs skip this step.)

You MUST go to your Control Panel and choose Add/Remove Programs.

Then select WinFileConv, and Click on the Add/Remove button.

If prompted, click YES to All - to remove All Shared Files that are not in use, including the WinFileConv.exe executable.

If you get a message that the WinFileConv dir or some of its components could not be removed, just press OK, as you may have saved or renamed new files, that the uninstall process does not know about.

Allow the Uninstall process to complete, then exit Control Panel.

 

SECTION II  -  INSTALLATION

    KEY  WinFileConv Files:

Files installed in the default C:\Program Files\WinFileConv  Install Dir

Special Required Files (That are not included in the installation):

Other Files:

These two files are included in the  WinFileConv Install zip file, and also get installed.

Users SHOULD READ these before doing the actual installation, especially the first two sections in the MANUAL on READ ME FIRST, and INSTALLATION.

    

     WinFileConv -  INSTALLSHIELD  INSTALLATION

Create a Temporary Installation Directory such as "C:\Install_WinFileConv".

Unzip the  WinFileConv Install  .Exe or .Zip File in the Temporary Install Directory which you have made.

Run Setup.exe, and follow the Install Process, pressing NEXT, etc., as needed. 

If you get a screen that has UPGRADE,  REMOVE or UNINSTALL, etc., CANCEL/EXIT the Install Process.  Then go to your Control Panel and choose Add/Remove Programs, and REMOVE WinFileConv First.  Then restart the Installation again.

Indicate YES to Accept the License Agreement, and Continue the Installation.

Fill in your Customer Information on the screen.

PROPOSED - DESTINATION FOLDER - NOTES:

You can use the default ("Drive:)\Program Files\ WinFileConv" Proposed Destination Folder.

      (ie) ("C:\Program Files\WinFileConv" = OK

Continue pressing NEXT on the following screens, making any changes needed, until the Installation is finished.

You may get a prompt that you need to Restart your Computer for all the Install Changes to take effect.  It is best to do so at this point to accomplish a complete WinFileConv Installation.

 

SECTION III  -  USING  WinFileConv

    INITIAL STARTUP

To Start, run the  WinFileConv.exe file from the START PROGRAMS -  WinFileConv option, or Explorer, or create a shortcut.

When you initially load  WinFileConv, you will see the MAIN SCREEN, with a set of initial defaults and the following messages in the Yellow Status box:

WINFILECONV.WFC Load Defaults File not found at -- C:\Program Files\WinFileConv\WINFILECONV.WFC

Initial Load Defaults used.

Select desired Defaults in White Text Boxes and do File / Save Initial Defaults 

Enter your Initial Load Defaults, and then do File/Save Initial Defaults, and your WinFileConv.WFC  Initial Defaults File will be created.

 

    WinFileConvert - MAIN SCREEN

MENU LIST

    FILE_MENU

EXIT

Close and Exit  WinFileConv.exe

SAVE  INITIAL DEFAULTS

This will Save your Current Defaults in  WinFileConv.WFC, which will be in the same Install Dir as  WinFileConv.exe. This is the Saved Defaults File that will be loaded when WinFileConv.exe starts up.

SAVE CUSTOM DEFAULTS

This brings up a Save As - File Window in the same dir as  WinFileConv.exe.

You can use this option to Save your Current Defaults with different descriptive file names you can remember.  But always remember to use the (*.WFC) ext.

It is best to Save these files in the same dir as  WinFileConv.exe, then it will be easier to keep track of them.

LOAD CUSTOM DEFAULTS

This brings up an Open - File Window in the same dir as  WinFileConv.exe

Select the desired (*.WFC) File containing a set of defaults, and Load it.

   HELP

 WinFileConv  MANUAL -- This manual in HTML format

ABOUT  WinFileConv

Basic info about  WinFileConv including Copyright, Author, Version, and Basic Description of the program

 

MAIN SCREEN FEATURES

     WinFileConv Defaults File: (Label + Text Box)

This shows your currently loaded (*.WFC) defaults file

It is updated when you load WinFileConv, or Load/Save a new Initial or Custom Defaults File.

You can use File/Save Custom Defaults and File/Load Custom Defaults to create and use as many Defaults
files as you need. 

They must be saved in the WinFileConv Install Dir where the WinFileConv.exe program is located,
(ie) "C:\Program Files\WinFileConv".

These can then be used with the Command Line Processing options (1-3).

NOTE:  Do not edit the .WFC -- Defaults  files manually, as you can easily cause problems running WinFileConv if you use a manually modified .WFC file.

 

    Convert Files Input Directory -- (Label + Text Box)

This shows your Current Input Directory/Folder that will be used for files to be processed and converted.  You can use its Browse button to select a new Directory Path.

BROWSE Button:

This brings up an Open File window, that allows you to Select the Mapped Drive, Directory, and Wildcard value for the files that you want to Convert.  It starts with the Current Files Dir.

Double Click on the desired directory in the Directory List Box to Select that directory.

On the right side is a box that shows the files that will be displayed for a given wildcard value, that you can modify in the FileList (*.*) Value box on the bottom of the screen.

Click on <Select Displayed Files> to select the Files to Convert, or Double Click on a single file to select it.

Press <CANCEL> to return to the Main Screen.

 

    Convert Input File Name  -- (Label + Text Box)

This shows the Filename or Wildcard value for the Files to be converted.   It is also updated when you select a new Convert Files Dir.

Wildcards = OK, and "*.*" Convert File Names are valid).

 

    Convert Files Output Directory -- (Label + Text Box)

This shows your Current Output Directory/Folder where converted files will be placed.  You can use its Browse button to select a new Directory Path.

BROWSE Button:

This brings up an Open File window, that allows you to Select the Mapped Drive and Directory, where the converted files will be placed.   It starts with the Current Files Dir.

Double Click on the desired directory in the Directory List Box to go to that directory.

Click on <Select Output Dir> to select the Output File(s) Directory.

Press <CANCEL> to return to the Main Screen.

NOTE:  The Input and Output Directories MUST be Different, to avoid the possibility of overwriting
the original copies of the files to be converted.

 

    Output File Extension -- (Label + Check Box)

          Use (A-Z), (a-z), (0-9 ) or Underscore chars only.

You can use this field to specifically identify an extension for the converted Output file(s).


This replaces the hard coded .WFC ext in WinFileConv 2.50.

 

    Replace Non-Printable 0-31, 127-255 Chars with Spaces  -- (Label + Check Box)

This option, when checked, causes the program to replace any 0-31 Control Chars or 127-255 Non-Printable chars with spaces in the converted file.   This option can be used if needed to "Clean Up"  files during the Conversion process.

 

    Fixed Line Width (1 - 2048) -- (Label + Text Box)

This is the value for the Fixed Line Width/Record Length, that will be used in for Fixed Length Files that are processed using "Convert Fixed Length Files" (Option-1) .

 

    Input -- End of Line Char (EOL) -- CR, LF, CRLF, NONE -- (Label + List Box)

The EOL char that is at the end of the fields in Input Fixed Length file(s) to be processed. using "Convert Fixed Length Files" (Option-1)

 

    Output -- End of Line Char (EOL) -- CR, LF, CRLF, NONE -- (Label + List Box)

The EOL char to be attached to the fields in converted Output file(s) for Processing Options (1) or (3).

 

    CONVERT FILE PROCESSING Options:

Convert Fixed Length Files (1)

Converts Fixed Length Text Files, and uses Fixed Line Width, Input & Output EOL Char. 
(1) = Cmd Line option.

This can be used to Convert Fixed Length Text Files without any CR or LF -- EOL characters to PC -- CRLF format.  Some user programs may assume a set record length for these types of files, but other programs may see them as one long line.  This option will reformat the data to your specified record length so it may be used by other programs without any other special handling.

 

Convert Unix/MAC --to-- PC (2)

Converts Unix (LF) or MAC (CR) Text Files to PC Format (CRLF). (2) = Cmd Line option.

This option will also pass PC = (CRLF) files through to the Output Directory without converting them.

So you can put all your files with any LF, CR, or CRLF = EOL chars in the desired Input Directory,
and process them all at once, and put the converted files in the chosen Output Directory.

This will pass through but will not convert Fixed Length Files that do not have any LF, CR, or CRLF = EOL characters. You must first preprocess them with Option (1) to insert the desired LF, CR, or CRLF characters, and make their Output directory = the Input Dir that you will use with Command Option (2).

 

Convert PC --to-- Unix/MAC (3)]

Converts PC Text Files to Unix/MAC Format and uses Output EOL = LF for Unix or CR for MAC.
(3) = Cmd Line option.

To use this option the [Output -- End of Line Char (EOL)] -- MUST = CR or LF

NOTE:  Be sure to move your converted files to a  safe location as they will be overwritten in the Output Directory when you do the same processing the next day.

    

    CANCEL  BUTTON

Press this button to CANCEL Convert Files processing.  Depending on where the program is at in the Conversion Process, it may hesitate a bit before responding, but that is normal.

 

    Yellow Status Message Box

This box displays normal runtime Status Messages, and Error Messages if needed on the status of the Conversion Process.

WinFileConv Status Log  -- is a file that is created in the WinFileConv  Install Dir with a Date/Time stamp in its name, for each Convert Files run.   It has a copy of the same status information that appears in the Yellow Status Message box. 

Its format is:  WinFileConv_08-05-2005 01_52_27.Log

The Date part has dashes in it and the Time part has underscores in it, as that is what the Windows Filename process allows.

You can go to the WinFileConv Install Directory and delete these when no longer needed.

 

    WinFileConv (X) -- Upper Right corner Control Box Option

This (X) option can be used to Exit the WinFileConv program in case of a run away processing option, although it should not normally be needed.

 

    WinFileConv -- Form Resizable Fields:

The following field is resizable when the WinFileConv form is resized.

     Yellow Status Message Box 

 

COMMAND LINE PROCESSING

You MUST have at least one "*.WFC" file saved in your "C:\Program Files\WinFileConv" Install Dir, such as WinFileConv.WFC for example, before you can use WinFileConv Command Line Processing. (Ref: SECTION III  -  USING  WinFileConv - INITIAL STARTUP) above.

You can use File / Save Custom Defaults to create as many custom "WinFileConv_xxxx.WFC" Defaults Files as needed, and they must be saved in the WinFileConv Install Dir where the WinFileConv.exe program is located.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

In File/Run, a Windows Shortcut, or an O/S or Application Batch Scheduler program, set up your
Command Line as Follows:

"C:\Program Files\WinFileConv\WinFileConv.exe" Winfileconv.WFC 1

with the full program path name in double quotes, and then a valid Winfileconv.WFC file and then Command Processing option 1, 2, or 3, both without quotes.

In a Windows shortcut, you will also need to specify:

"C:\Program Files\WinFileConv"

in the Start In: directory.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

A status log with the Date/Time in its name will be created for each run, and be placed in the "WinFileConv Install Dir", such as "WinFileConv_08-05-2005 01_52_27.Log".

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

NOTE:  WinFileConv.exe is marketed using a product from Protexis.com, which will allow new users a 30 day free trial.   Whenever it is run during the trial period, an initial screen will prompt users to Try It or Buy It.  You can click on the desired option, and then continue the program's operation.

After the program is purchased, this initial prompt will disappear, and both the Main WinFileConv program and the Command Line Processing will work normally.  Command Line Processing should then run silently in the background. 

 

SECTION IV  -  ERROR NOTES and MISC INFO

    WinFileConv ERROR NOTES

While running a Convert Files Process, most of its errors will be displayed in the Yellow Text Status Message box, and included in the WinFileConv Status Log, with an Error Number and Description.

Other serious error messages here, and error messages elsewhere in the program may be displayed in a gray popup Error Message Box, with an Error Number and Description.  You can SCREEN PRINT these Different Error Messages and send them to the Email address on the <bbussell.airweb.net>  web site for further evaluation as necessary,.

 

    MISC INFO

None at this time