Re: String Searching

[jp1@aol.com (JP1)]

 || What do the Net Apple IIGS users do to look for strings in files?
 ||
 || Does anyone know of a desktop tool for searching for strings in files?
 ||
 ||
 || - Jim Pittman - University of New Mexico - casa@unm.edu

The 'Deliverance' application published by (the once-prominent) Vitesse
was/is by far the most elegant string search capable desktop utility ever
written for the IIgs...IMO.  Deliverance was/is a volume directory
structure
repair utility, string/byte search & replace utility, byte editor, and
several other guises...

Deliverance allows one to open any file, directory, or volume--or
_combinations_ of any of these-each in its own movable, resizable window. 
Full cut/copy/paste within and from/to any open window is fully supported.
Data and resource forks of files are acessible independently, each in
individual windows.  The byte search/edit rotuine alows search/replace for
ASCII strings, hex strings, various 'programming math', etc.

Deliverance can operate at a very primitive (Stanley Kowalski-ish) level
to access wacked files and volumes that can't otherwise be read.

One of Deliverance's most advanced features is that any
repairs/modifications/edits to any file, directory, and/or volume are be
made _exclusively_ in RAM only unless and until the user directs
otherwise.
A very useful application of this feature is a 'trial' change to a file,
saving of the file to disk with some other name, then test of the change
to see if the 'fix' gave the desired result--all without making any
permanent
change to an on-disk file.

Deliverance was written by Chris Warner, a truly gifted programmer.  There
were plans for a follow-on version of Deliverance that would have made it
a real killer app...but it wasn't to be.  Chris was lured away from GS/OS
by an ability to make many times the income from writing game cartridge
code than the much too modest amount that Vitesse would pay, Vitesse began
to fold in on itself, the GS market began to go away...and some others.

Nevertheless, Deliverance can do things on a GS that I've still not yet
seen in the PC (DOS/Windows) world, and though I can't say for sure about
the Mac world (still have a bad taste in my mouth for ACI, so avoid Macs),
I have a hunch Deliverance hasn't been matched there, either.

Above is personal opinion and given FWLIW.

John P.  (who was there when it all happened)