FIND Version 0.0 - Fast File Finder
Freeware from Kirk Lawrence
CP/M-86 Edition

FIND searches all user areas on a drive for a user-specified filespec.
Files matching the filespec are listed on the screen, along with the
drive letter and user number where they're located.

   Syntax: FIND [d:]filespec

The drive letter [d:] is optional.  If the drive is not specified, the
default drive is assumed.  Wildcards (* or ?) are fully supported.

Examples:

    FIND MODEM9.CMD  finds all occurences on the default drive of
                     files named MODEM9.CMD

    FIND A:MOD*.*    finds all occurences on drive A: of filenames
                     beginning with the letters "M-O-D."

    FIND *.A86       finds all occurences on the default drive of
                     filenames with the extension ".A86."

    FIND M:*.*       finds ALL files on drive M:.


THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND "FIND.CMD"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FIND is roughly based on the CP/M-80 program FILE.ASM, originally written
by R. Rodman, and translated to CP/M-86 by Alex Soya.  FILE.ASM, in its
floppy-disk-based simplicity, was a good idea: it searched all user areas
of all drives for any incidences of a user-specified filespec.

But problems began to occur as others started making "improvements" to the
original concept.  By the time the program got to me, it had gone through
so many convoluted incarnations and system-specific alterations, that it had
become almost totally unusable.  A fresh start was needed.

FIND.CMD is that fresh start.  FIND clears away all the extraneous and
questionable "features" and customizations which were added over the years,
and restores the original, simple concept of searching a drive for a user-
supplied filespec.

In undertaking this revision, I've had to make certain technical and
aesthetic judgement calls.  You may or may not agree with them.  All
I can say is, they work for me...and if they also work for you, you're
welcome to use FIND.CMD.  Here are the judgments:

  1. FIND.CMD is optimized for use on the IBM-compatible computer.  The
     machines from the early-to-mid-1980's which used various schemes of
     proprietary architecture (such as the CompuPro, to name only one),
     have pretty much gone the way of the dodo.  In order for CP/M-86
     programs to retain any relevance today, they MUST run properly on
     IBMs and compatibles.  Compatibility with non-standard, "odd-ball"
     machines is of only secondary interest.

  2. FIND.CMD searches ONLY the drive which is specified (or the default
     drive, if no drive is specified).  This is MUCH more logical and con-
     venient than having the program arbitrarily search ALL disk drives.
     Oftentimes, especially in a hard disk-equipped machine, one or more
     of the floppy drives will be empty.  Arbitrarily searching all drives
     can cause frustrating and search-stopping errors when an attempt is
     made to access an empty drive.

  3. FIND.CMD shows ALL matches of the specified filespec, INCLUDING files
     with the "system" attribute set.  Since FIND is designed for personal
     use, and not for BBS use, there's no reason NOT to show "system" file-
     matches.  Indeed, the arguments in favor of showing "system" files on
     a hard disk, particularly, are overwhelmingly compelling.

  4. FIND.CMD has no provision for excluding certain user areas from its
     file search, as some of its predecessors did.  Since the object of
     the the program is to locate files WHEREVER they might be on a disk,
     it makes no sense to restrict the user areas which can be searched.

FIND.CMD is free.  As is always the case with "freeware," there are absolute-
ly NO guarantees whatsoever.  If you run FIND.CMD on any computer, you do so
strictly and entirely at your own risk and peril.  Your use of FIND.CMD shall
be prima facie evidence under law that you understand and accept these terms
and conditions.