ACF Notes 1.0.6 [Program Update]

[Steven Burn]

Program Name: ACF Notes
Version: 1.0.7
Release Date: 17-03-2004
Homepage: http://www.it-mate.co.uk/support/acfnotes.asp
Download: http://www.it-mate.co.uk/support/acfnotes_download.asp
Size: 1.69MB (exe install)/ 1.69MB (cab install)/ 42.0kb (no install)

ACF (Alt Comp Freeware) Notes is a small and simple plain text editor,
developed at the request of an alt.comp.freeware newsgroup subscriber.

Updates

Minor bug fixes
Added Shortcut for "Save and Exit" and "Exit" menu items
Added Undo option for "Replace" and "Replace All"
Added Optional/toggleable line numbers

Notes:

If you would like to request a feature, please mention it over at the
forum if possible (it's easier to keep track of requests in the forum, than
it is in this newsgroup). Additionally, if you'd like to report a bug,
please mention it at the forum if possible.

www.it-mate.co.uk/forum


--
Regards

Steven Burn
Ur I.T. Mate Group
www.it-mate.co.uk

Keeping it FREE!

Disclaimer:
I know I'm probably wrong, I just like taking part ;o)

 

[Steven Burn]

The hard part must be in my request that the Undo for a Replace All
undoes everything in that command. Instead of requiring 500 undo
presses. Majority of text editors fail to pull off that feature.
Yet I have seen exception around. Right now I just launched five
small editors.

Karen, until I realised that I was going about it the hard way, I thought it
was going to be a nightmare to add, but alas, I'm confident that the latest
update (just uploaded), has a fully working "undo" feature for both
"Replace" and "Replace All". If there are any problems, please feel free to
shout at me ;o)

As they say errr.... somewhere, I don't give up easily ;o)

--
Regards

Steven Burn
Ur I.T. Mate Group
www.it-mate.co.uk

Keeping it FREE!

Disclaimer:
I know I'm probably wrong, I just like taking part ;o)

 

[omega]

Karen, until I realised that I was going about it the hard way, I thought it
was going to be a nightmare to add, but alas, I'm confident that the latest
update (just uploaded), has a fully working "undo" feature for both
"Replace" and "Replace All". If there are any problems, please feel free to
shout at me ;o)

I am trying it right now. When I hit undo after a replace all, it undoes
only one of the replacements, then after that undo goes grey. As well,
if I do something like, hit replace, replace, replace, and then hit
undo, I again get only one undo available, before grey.

Hmmm. And now I'm typing text. Undo happened once. Then I typed some
more text. No undo. Saved to disk. Typed some more text. No undo. Did
some backspace, and other. Still greyed. So, well, to be direct, once
you've taken some rest time, and for your next update, I'd like to see
some development of the undo in general.

I mean if a text editor won't make sure to handle all my mistakes, and
let me constantly change my mind, then I'd be lost, you know.

 

[Steven Burn]

I am trying it right now. When I hit undo after a replace all, it undoes
only one of the replacements, then after that undo goes grey. As well,
if I do something like, hit replace, replace, replace, and then hit
undo, I again get only one undo available, before grey.

Hmmm. And now I'm typing text. Undo happened once. Then I typed some
more text. No undo. Saved to disk. Typed some more text. No undo. Did
some backspace, and other. Still greyed. So, well, to be direct, once
you've taken some rest time, and for your next update, I'd like to see
some development of the undo in general.

I mean if a text editor won't make sure to handle all my mistakes, and
let me constantly change my mind, then I'd be lost, you know.

Karen,
At present, when you do a "replace all", it backs up the current
document, replaces your strings, then enables the Undo button. If you hit
the "Replace" or "Replace All" button again __before__ you click Undo, the
previous changes are over-written by your last modifications.

As soon as I've gotten a coffee, I'll start working on changing the Undo
button to account for any and all situations (I could just count the number
of times the "Replace" or "Replace All" buttons are pressed, then call the
"Undo" function however many times you've done it, but that would crucify
the memory).

I'll also add a "Re-open" button to re-open the original document (like in
Mercury Editor) ;o)

--
Regards

Steven Burn
Ur I.T. Mate Group
www.it-mate.co.uk

Keeping it FREE!

Disclaimer:
I know I'm probably wrong, I just like taking part ;o)

 

[omega]

As soon as I've gotten a coffee, I'll start working on changing the Undo
button to account for any and all situations

[...]
That would be good. Right now I am getting almost no undo functionality
when just using the regular editor window to type, paste, delete, etc.

Multi-level undo I consider very important...

Regarding memory use, I've noticed some editors let you configure it in
options ("undo buffer"). When not a user preference, I haven't noticed
what it is most programmers do: have it unlimited, or have it set at some
threshold the programmer judged to be in our best interest.

In addition to multi-level undo... I would like also to have enabled
undo-after-save (majority allow it, but not all).

 

[Steven Burn]

As soon as I've gotten a coffee, I'll start working on changing the Undo
button to account for any and all situations

[...]
That would be good. Right now I am getting almost no undo functionality
when just using the regular editor window to type, paste, delete, etc.

</snip>

I didn't realise you wanted the Undo in the main window enhanced aswell
(just thought you meant the Replace/Replace all one). I'll work on that one
too ;o)

Multi-level undo I consider very important...

Regarding memory use, I've noticed some editors let you configure it in
options ("undo buffer"). When not a user preference, I haven't noticed
what it is most programmers do: have it unlimited, or have it set at some
threshold the programmer judged to be in our best interest.

</snip>

I suppose that would depend on the programmer, and the program, but afaik,
most have a threshold.

In addition to multi-level undo... I would like also to have enabled
undo-after-save (majority allow it, but not all).

</snip>

I'm not quite sure what you mean here but, are you wanting the ability to
undo a "Save" and/or "Save As"?

--
Regards

Steven Burn
Ur I.T. Mate Group
www.it-mate.co.uk

Keeping it FREE!

Disclaimer:
I know I'm probably wrong, I just like taking part ;o)

 

[omega]

I didn't realise you wanted the Undo in the main window enhanced aswell
(just thought you meant the Replace/Replace all one). I'll work on that one
too ;o)

I want it ALL. At least, I want to undo it all. Even if I cannot redo
it all. ...

I'm not quite sure what you mean here but, are you wanting the ability to
undo a "Save" and/or "Save As"?

What I was referring to is that a few editors only allows undo back to the
point of the last save to disk. Others are indifferent about when the loaded
document is saved, and undo remains available regardless. It's this second
way that I find vastly preferable.

 

[Rob]

Mike,
I'm a little confused about how your wanting the line numbers
displayed? (probably because I've not long woken up....)

It sounds like someone wants an HTML editor. Notepad was never designed
with that in mind. In my mind asking for an editor with line numbers etc is
asking for more than a mere Notepad replacement.

That is the biggest problem I have with text editors. There are so many
designed for different purposes. Some are designed as true Notepad
replacements for editing simple text. (Often such editors have spell
checkers). Others are designed to be used by programmers to edit programs
(including HTML). IMHO, text editors designed for programming are really
NOT Notepad replacements.

Rob

 

[Keenan P.]

I want it ALL. At least, I want to undo it all. Even if I cannot redo
it all. ...


What I was referring to is that a few editors only allows undo back to the
point of the last save to disk. Others are indifferent about when the loaded
document is saved, and undo remains available regardless. It's this second
way that I find vastly preferable.

Look dammit, either you do or you undo.....
POKOtakingmymedsnow
--
P. Keenan - Webmaster
Web Page Design
Manitoulin Island, Canada
http://manitoulinislandwebdesign.it-mate.co.uk/
(e-mail address removed)

 

[John Fitzsimons]

I'll look into adding the replace/replace all undo in the next update ;o)

A good idea. Particularly if you add regular expression searches.

Regards, John.

 

[ms]

Mike,
I'm a little confused about how your wanting the line numbers
displayed? (probably because I've not long woken up....)

--
Regards

Steven Burn
Ur I.T. Mate Group
www.it-mate.co.uk

Keeping it FREE!

Disclaimer:
I know I'm probably wrong, I just like taking part ;o)

Steve, I mean a continuing indication at the very top in the upper
toolbar area (File, Edit, etc.). It looks like empty space exists in the
upper right corner, handy for this. I use line numbers constantly when
editing a file. Look at Edxor http://freezip.cjb.net/freeware/ as an
example. Editpad has it in the same location.

I'd suggest that Mercury Editor be modified in the same way. With a
smaller monitor, I like to maximize the working space in the screen.

Thanks,

Mike Sa

 

[ms]

It sounds like someone wants an HTML editor. Notepad was never designed
with that in mind. In my mind asking for an editor with line numbers etc is
asking for more than a mere Notepad replacement.

That is the biggest problem I have with text editors. There are so many
designed for different purposes. Some are designed as true Notepad
replacements for editing simple text. (Often such editors have spell
checkers). Others are designed to be used by programmers to edit programs
(including HTML). IMHO, text editors designed for programming are really
NOT Notepad replacements.

Rob

Line numbers are existing features of most all plain text editors I've
seen, nothing to do with html editors.

Notepad replacement is just a label. I look at a text editor for what it
does, not what it's called, and there are several small versatile
editors (Edxor, Metapad, etc.) around.

Mike Sa

 

[Steven Burn]

Steve, I mean a continuing indication at the very top in the upper
toolbar area (File, Edit, etc.). It looks like empty space exists in the
upper right corner, handy for this. I use line numbers constantly when
editing a file. Look at Edxor http://freezip.cjb.net/freeware/ as an
example. Editpad has it in the same location.

I'd suggest that Mercury Editor be modified in the same way. With a
smaller monitor, I like to maximize the working space in the screen.

Thanks,

Mike Sa

I've just had a look and realised what you meant. Unfortunately, I have
absolutely no idea how to do what your wanting, other than re-writing my own
toollbar completely (at the moment, I'm using a standard toolbar, with my
own custom menu items).

--
Regards

Steven Burn
Ur I.T. Mate Group
www.it-mate.co.uk

Keeping it FREE!

Disclaimer:
I know I'm probably wrong, I just like taking part ;o)

 

[Rob]

Line numbers are existing features of most all plain text editors I've
seen, nothing to do with html editors.

Notepad replacement is just a label. I look at a text editor for what
it does, not what it's called, and there are several small versatile
editors (Edxor, Metapad, etc.) around.

Mike Sa

Hi Mike,

My point I was trying to make is that it is impossible to design one text
editor that all users will be happy with. A user who wants to edit a simple
text file in his native tongue is not likely going to be happy with a text
editor designed for use by programmers like SciTe. (And vice versa).

That is one reason there are so many text editors. There are even
different programmer's text editors out there. Some better suited for
certain languages.

I doubt when MS designed Notepad, it thought it would be used be serious
programmers.

Since notepad had one serious limitation (namely it could not load files
beyond a certain size), "Notepad replacements" came on the scene to overcome
this nasty limitation. (I can remember when I wanted to open up a text
user manual in Notepad and being told that it is too big!). Most of these
"notepad replacements" even had a option where it would physically replace
Notepad on the PC with the new program. (e.g. Wordtabs).

Most of the new text editors I see now are not designed to actually replace
Notepad but are intended to stand along side Notepad. (e.g all the various
text editors designed for programmers). Of course, there is nothing wrong
with this... I use a variety of text editors for different purposes..

Rob

 

[Bjorn Simonsen]

I've just had a look and realised what you meant. Unfortunately, I have
absolutely no idea how to do what your wanting, other than re-writing my own
toollbar completely (at the moment, I'm using a standard toolbar, with my
own custom menu items).

Maybe, just maybe, an alternative could be - if possible: Look at the
PFE and its "mode groups" (see help file)- and implement something
similar. In short mode groups lets you configure various "defaults"
for various file extensions. Fx for bat/cmd/html I have among other
things "show line numbers" turned on, wrap off etc, for txt not..and
so on.

All the best,
Bjorn Simonsen

 

[Bjorn Simonsen]

I use line numbers constantly when
editing a file. Look at Edxor http://freezip.cjb.net/freeware/ as an
example.

Show caret position (or perhaps "cursor" for you), is another term for
this I guess. Shows the line number and column number where the caret
(cursor) is.

All the best,
Bjorn Simonsen

 

[jsimlo]

The hard part must be in my request that the Undo for a Replace All

undoes everything in that command. Instead of requiring 500 undo
presses. Majority of text editors fail to pull off that feature.
Yet I have seen exception around. Right now I just launched five
small editors.

Ted Notepad fail

try to use "extended replace" (from tools menu) in ted notepad:
- it works with actual selection
- does it faster than standart replace all
- works with multiple lines of "find what"/"replace with"
- undoes all at once, as you wished...

http://jsimlo.sk/notepad/

jsimlo

 

[Steven Burn]

Show caret position (or perhaps "cursor" for you), is another term for
this I guess. Shows the line number and column number where the caret
(cursor) is.

All the best,
Bjorn Simonsen

I added that a while ago (it's shown in the caption, next to the filename)

--
Regards

Steven Burn
Ur I.T. Mate Group
www.it-mate.co.uk

Keeping it FREE!

Disclaimer:
I know I'm probably wrong, I just like taking part ;o)

 

[ms]

Hi Mike,

My point I was trying to make is that it is impossible to design one text
editor that all users will be happy with. A user who wants to edit a simple
text file in his native tongue is not likely going to be happy with a text
editor designed for use by programmers like SciTe. (And vice versa).

That is one reason there are so many text editors. There are even
different programmer's text editors out there. Some better suited for
certain languages.

I doubt when MS designed Notepad, it thought it would be used be serious
programmers.

Since notepad had one serious limitation (namely it could not load files
beyond a certain size), "Notepad replacements" came on the scene to overcome
this nasty limitation. (I can remember when I wanted to open up a text
user manual in Notepad and being told that it is too big!). Most of these
"notepad replacements" even had a option where it would physically replace
Notepad on the PC with the new program. (e.g. Wordtabs).

Most of the new text editors I see now are not designed to actually replace
Notepad but are intended to stand along side Notepad. (e.g all the various
text editors designed for programmers). Of course, there is nothing wrong
with this... I use a variety of text editors for different purposes..

Rob

Quite right. I have probably 15 text editors of some sort, have to
filter that down soon. But some of them are (for me) a single purpose
use. Enample: Notetab Lite I use to eliminate spaces in text, not for a
general text editor. I've come across several that open large files
quickly, but you can't change the default font.

Mike Sa

 

[Steven Burn]

Program Name: ACF Notes
Version: 1.0.8
Release Date: 18-03-2004
Homepage: http://www.it-mate.co.uk/support/acfnotes.asp
Download: http://www.it-mate.co.uk/support/acfnotes_download.asp
Size: 1.69MB (exe install)/ 1.69MB (cab install)/ 42.0kb (no install)

ACF (Alt Comp Freeware) Notes is a small and simple plain text editor,
developed at the request of an alt.comp.freeware newsgroup subscriber.

Updates

Added: Re-open Original menu item

Allows you to re-open the original file (backed up when you open the file)

Fixed: Overflow when loading large file's

I changed the loading procedure in 1.6 to keep it simple and unfortunately,
it apparently didn't like my changes, so have changed it back to the
original

Fixed: Autosave bug

For some reason, it wasn't registering the toggle, so have fixed it

Notes:

*******************
Find and Replace dialog
*******************

I've looked at the "Undo" button when using Replace and/or Replace All, and
can't find anything wrong with it.

The standard procedure for using this is;

1. Load the Find and Replace dialog
2. Click replace or Replace All
3. ACF Notes backs up the file as it was __before__ you clicked
Replace/Replace All

If you click Replace or Replace All again __before__ you click Undo, the
__last__ replace action overwrites the previous backup. (I am working on
modifying this so it backs it up each time individually)

*******************
File backups
*******************

Backups of the file's are stored in the \Res_\ sub-folder. This folder is
NOT automatically cleared when you close ACF Notes for now, but will be in
the next update

*******************
Column/line/line count
*******************

The current line/column and line count can be found in the ACF Notes caption
bar, next to the title

*******************
General
*******************

This release is ONLY a bug fix release, with the exception of the new menu
item. Unfortunately, the largest file I have to test it with is a 12MB file,
so have not been able to test it with anything larger than that.

--
Regards

Steven Burn
Ur I.T. Mate Group
www.it-mate.co.uk

Keeping it FREE!

Disclaimer:
I know I'm probably wrong, I just like taking part ;o)