
                   The Text Column Architect
                             COLS
                 COPYRIGHT (C) 1995 CHUCK BERNT
                       ALL RIGHTS RESERVED


  This program changes the columns in a text file.

   *  The user can instantly evaluate and compare QBASIC expressions
      right from the DOS command line.

   *  It can swap, add and delete columns in a text file.

   *  It can total and average (to the screen) any numeric column.

   *  It can calculate and insert any column that can be expressed 
      as a QBASIC expression of the other columns (including 
      logical expressions).

   *  Text may also be inserted.

   *  The columns can be defined (delimited) by white spaces, spaces,
      tabs, commas or any ASCII character or groups of characters.

   *  There are no file length limits.

   *  It has a short cut command line form for power users.

   *  It can be interrupted at any time by typing CNTRL+BREAK.

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  SHORT FORM OR COMMAND LINE FORM


      SYNTAX: COLS FILENAME OUTPUTCOL1 [OUTPUTCOL2] ... [OUTPUTCOL8]

        WHERE:

           FILENAME is the input filespec without the extension
            (.TXT is assumed).  The output filename will be the
            same FILENAME with the extension .LIS

           OUTPUTCOL can be any of the following three formats.

             1. Any text preceded with a T.  The text will be placed
                in the respective output column (without the T) in
                every output line (no embedded spaces, commas, etc.
                in the short form).

             2. Any input column number.  The input column specified
                will be placed in that output column.

             3. Any valid QBASIC expression without spaces.  Use Cn
                to represent input column n.  For example C1
                represents input column one.  All expressions must
                contain at least one Cn or C.  If your expression
                is not a function of the input columns, then add C
                to it.  C is equal to zero.


                         SOME EXAMPLES

                COLS FUN 1 2 3 TSUM C1+C2+C3
                COLS FUN 1 TAVE (C1+C2+C3)/3
                COLS FUN 1 TSQUARE C1^2 tbig-one c1^c1
                COLS FUN 1 2^C1

                I have included the file FUN.TXT so that you can
                checkout the above expressions (or any other
                expressions).  Go ahead and try them out but stay
                in the \cols directory for now (the last example
                will give you a power of two table).  FUN.TXT is
                also great for doing side by side comparisons of
                two expressions.

                The program should have automatically started your
                text editor on the output file after it generated
                the file.  If it didn't start it or it didn't
                start your favorite DOS editor, go to the second
                to the last line of the batch file (COLS.BAT)
                and change the word EDIT to the name of your
                preferred DOS editor.

                To repeat the last cols command line, just type
                "COLS L" or "COLS LAST" (the last command line
                used is stored on the disk).


               SOME SHORT CUT DEFAULT VALUES AND LIMITATIONS

              (Use the long form to avoid these limitations or
              you can make batch program adjustments to these
              default values.)

             1. You may use only legal command line text.  No
                embedded spaces, commas, equal signs, etc.

             2. The input files' column delimiter is set to be
                any number of white spaces in the short form.

             3. Input file checking is defaulted to "no" in
                the short form.

             4. Interim status reports are not available in
                the short form.

             5. You are limited to eight output columns in
                the short form.

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LONG FORM

SYNTAX: COLS

   The program will ask you questions and then guide you.  The
   automatic editor start is not available in the long form.  Go 
   ahead and try it but stay in the \cols directory for now.

   Well, what do you think?  If you feel that you can use it, you can
   make the COLS programs available from any directory on you drive.
   Just type PATH at the DOS prompt and choose a directory that will
   be around for a long time and COPY the COLS.BAT to that directory.
   That's it.  That's all there is to it.

   Please type the directory path below so that you can change the
   batch program if you need to later.

PATH TO COLS.BAT = 

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REGISTRATION OF THIS SHAREWARE

  COLS is offered as shareware and not freeware.  You
  may use and evaluate this version of COLS for up to
  30 days.  After this 30 day evaluation period, you must
  either register COLS by filling out and mailing in
  REGFORM.TXT or remove COLS (including the above COLS.BAT
  command) from your hard disk.  You may keep it on
  floppies or other storage media separate from your
  computer as long as you do not use it.  The shareware
  registration fee is only $5 per simultaneous user.
  I am relying on the users' honesty and good will
  to make this endeavor viable.

  If the response is favorable, I will develop a column-
  row interchange program that would then allow control
  of both rows and columns by the present COLS program.
  I would then make that interchange program available
  to those expressing an interest on the COLS REGFORM.

  Please feel free to pass on the program to friends,
  but please pass on the COLS14.EXE file since it has
  all the files your friends will need.  Please also
  mention to place the COLS14.EXE in the \COLS directory
  and to type COLS14 from that directory and then to
  read this README.TXT file.  

   

  This program is written in QBASIC and will only work on machines
  that have QBASIC (MS DOS versions later than 5.0).


  If have questions, please contact me at one of the following
  addresses.

                   Chuck Bernt
                   22365 El Toro Rd., # 118
                   El Toro, Ca. 92630
                   U.S.A.

      Compuserve: 74761,3356
        Internet: 74761.3356@COMPUSERVE.COM


            Thank you for evaluating this software.


  NOTES:

        1. When specifying an input column to place in an output
           column, you may also use an expression to select the
           input column.  For example 2, 1+1, 4/2 and 2^2-2 all
           specify the second input column.  So be aware if you
           forget to include a Cn or a C when you are creating a
           column you may end up just copying an input column to
           that output column.

        2. I have included the file FUNLOGIC.TXT so that you can
           compare logic expressions side by side.  Unfortunately
           QBASIC logic expressions normally use spaces to
           to separate operators and variables.  Since the command
           line does not allow spaces, the variables will need to
           be enclosed in parentheses when the command line form is
           used.  Qbasic uses false = 0 and true = -1.  This
           creates another problem when trying to get the columns
           to line up.  If the - in the output file is replaced with
           nothing, then the output file columns will line up.  
           If their is enough interest in logic expressions, I will
           remove the - sign requirement in the input and output files.
           You may want to check out the following logic expressions
           at the command line.  Don't forget to remove the minus
           signs (or change the 0s to space 0s) in the output file.

                               SOME EXAMPLES

           COLS 2 3 TAND (C2)AND(C3) TOR (C2)OR(C3) TNOT2 NOT(C2)
           COLS 1 2 3 TSMALLNET ((C1)OR(C2))AND(C3)
           COLS 2 3 TXOR (C2)XOR(C3) TEQV (C2)EQV(C3)

           The last example shows that the XOR and the EQV (or
           compare) are the complements of each other.  You may
           evaluate small logic networks using the FUNLOGIC.TXT
           file for perfect inspection (all possible inputs) or
           create your own input file for partial behavioral
           exploration of larger logic networks.


        3. The files FUN.TXT AND FUNLOGIC.TXT were included so that
           users could quickly explore any expression right from the 
           DOS command line using the COLS program.

           TO QUICKLY EXPLORE AN EXPRESSION FROM THE
           DOS COMMAND LINE -- TYPE:

                 A. CD \COLS

                 B. COLS FUN 1 2 3 expression
                               or
                    COLS FUNLOGIC 1 2 3 expression


           TO COMPARE TWO OR MORE EXPRESSIONS:
           Just add the expressions to the command line
           separating each with a space.


        4. At the risk of wasting a little bandwidth, I am
           also including two more fun files that might be
           helpful.

           MOREFUN.TXT is similar to FUN.TXT except
           that its three columns increase by powers of ten.
           You may want to be careful when you use MOREFUN
           since it contains a fair amount of horsepower: the
           last values are 10 to the 20 power.

           LESSFUN.TXT is the same as FUN.TXT except that all
           number are negative.  All the fun files stop at 20
           rows because that should result in one screen full of
           text without the need to scroll through the output
           file.  You may want to adjust that number. 

           These fun files may be easier to create using COLS
           then the new COLS user might expect.

           MOREFUN --> COLS FUN 10^C1 10^C1 10^C1 
           LESSFUN --> COLS FUN -C1 -C1 -C1