LFNAlias Version 1.0

User Guide
The LFNAlias Main Window
SST LFNAlias Main Window Main Menu Convert Panel Output Editor Go To Panel Find Panel Status Bar Main Menu Convert Panel Output Editor Go To Panel Find Panel Status Bar
Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.10



The Main Menu
Main Menu Main Menu Main Menu Main Menu Main Menu Main Menu Main Menu Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.20
Lists the available actions/commands that can be performed/executed in the Main Window in form of six pull-/dropdown menus. These being, from left to right, the File Menu, Edit Menu, Tools Menu, History Menu, Options Menu, and Help Menu.
The Main Menu can be activated/opened either by means of clicking on it with the mouse, the F10 key on the keyboard, or the keyboard shortcut that opens one of its sub-menus.

The Main Menu's File Menu
File Menu Consists of commands with which folders and files can be selected, loaded, opened, created, saved, printed, and the current LFNAlias session can be terminated.
The Main Menu's File Menu can be opened either by means of the mouse or simultaneously pressing the ALT + F keys on the keyboard.
The menu's individual commands can also be invoked through the keyboard shortcuts specified to the right of the respective command.
Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.30
Menu Item Triggered Action
Browse to select ... Displays the Browse for Files or Folders Dialog with which a folder or file can be selected, the absolute/fully qualified path of which is then entered into the Folder/File Path and Name Combo Box, located in the Convert Panel.
This menu item is permanently enabled.
New Creates a new output file.
This menu item is permanently enabled.
Load ... Displays the Load Output File Dialog, with which a file can be selected and loaded into the Output Editor.
This menu item is permanently enabled.
Recent Opens a submenu that contains a list of the ten (10) most recently edited/saved files.
This menu item is only enabled if at least one file was successfully loaded or saved since the list of recently opened files was last cleared by means of the Recent ⇒ Clear command/menu item.
Recent ⇒ Clear Deletes the list of the 10 most recently edited/saved files in the Windows registry and removes the corresponding menu items from the Recent menu item's submenu (i.e. the menu items immediately below the Clear menu item).
This menu item is only accessible if the Recent menu item is enabled.
Recent ⇒ file path and name Opens the respective file and moves the selected menu item to the top of the list.
If the selected file cannot be loaded (for example, because it was renamed, moved, or deleted), the Load Recent File Error Dialog is displayed.
Print ... Prints the current contents of the Output Editor, on the printer selected in the Print Dialog.
This menu item is permanently enabled whenever the Output Editor has the input focus. Otherwise, it is disabled.
Save Saves the current contents of the Output Editor to disk.
This menu item is only enabled if the current contents of the Output Editor have been modified since they were last saved.
Save output as ... Displays the Save Output Dialog, with which the contents of the Output Editor can be saved to a file.
This menu item is permanently enabled.
Open Opens the folder or file, currently selected/highlighted in the Output Editor. The folder or file is opened in/with the applcation associated with the file extension of the selected/highlighted file system object. Typically, this is Windows Explorer for folders. For folders this is typically Windows Explorer.
Open with ... Opens the file, the path of which is currently selected/highlighted in the Output Editor, with a particular or new (third party) application, selected from a list of available appliactions in the Open With Dialog.
This menu item is only enabled if a path to an existing file is selected/highlighted in the Output Editor. Otherwise, it is disabled.
Open Location Opens the parent folder of the path to the folder or file, currently selected/highlighted in the Output Editor. If the selected/highlighted path is a root folder, the selected folder itself is opened.
This menu item is disabled unless the path to an existing and accessible file or folder is selected/highlighted in the Output Editor.
Open in console Opens the folder of the path, currently selected/highlighted in the Output Editor, in a Windows, command line console/window.
This menu item is only enabled if a path to an existing folder is selected/highlighted in the Output Editor. Otherwise, it is disabled.
Open in PowerShell Opens the folder of the path, currently selected/highlighted in the Output Editor, in a Windows, PowerShell console/window.
This menu item is only enabled if Windwos PowerShell is installed and a path to an existing folder is selected/highlighted in the Output Editor. Otherwise, it is disabled.
Properties ... Displays the Windows Properties Dialog for the folder or file, currently selected/highlighted the Output Editor.
This menu item is enabled whenever the path to an existing and accessible file or folder is selected/highlighted in the Output Editor.
Exit Closes the instance of the LFNAlias application, in which the command is executed.
This menu item is permanently enabled.

The Main Menu's Edit Menu
Edit Menu Contains menu items with which the text in the Output Editor, Folder/File Path and Name Combo Box, Line Number Combo Box, and Find Combo Box can be selected and/or modified. It also provides commands with which the Output Editor can be searched, or a particular line in it, can be previewed and/or scrolled into view.
The Edit Menu can be opened either by means of the mouse or simultaneously pressing the ALT and E keys on the keyboard. All actions can also be invoked by means of the respective keyboard shortcut.
Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.50
Menu Item Triggered Action
Undo Restores the text in the Output Editor to that prior to the last (manual) modification. It is only enabled if the text in the Output Editor is modified by the user. It is not enabled if is modified by the application, for example when LFNAlias adds a converted path to the text.
Redo Restores the text in the Output Editor to that after the last, manual modification. It is only enabled if the text in the Output Editor was modified by the user and this modification was subsequently reverted (i.e. the Undo functionality was used).
Cut Combines the functionality of the Copy and Delete menu items. It copies the text marked as selected, from the edit control that currently has the input focus to the Windows clipboard and then deletes it.
Copy Copies the text marked as selected, from the edit control that currently has the input focus to the Windows clipboard.
Paste Inserts the text on the Windows clipboard into the edit control that currently has the input focus. If portions of, or the entire text, in the target edit control is marked/highlighted as selected, the text from the clipboard will replace the selected text. Otherwise, the clipboard text is inserted at the current position of the caret.
Note: That, if the clipboard contains multiple lines of text and the edit control into which it is to be inserted can only display a single line of text (e.g. the ... and ... combo boxes), only the first line will be inserted.
This menu item is only enabled if the Windows clipboard contains plain text.
Delete Removes the selected content from the edit control that currently has the input focus.
Find Displays the Find Panel, with which the Output Editor can be searched for text. If the Find Panel is already open, the input focus is shifted to its Find Combo Box.
Provided the Output Ediror isn't completely empty, this menu item is permanently enabled.
Find Next Searches the Output Editor for the first occurrence of the text specified in the Find Combo Box, between the current position of the caret and the end/bottom of the document.
Find Previous Searches the Output Editor for the first occurrence of the text specified in the Find Combo Box, between the current position of the caret and the beginning/top of the document.
Close Find Panel Closes the Find Panel.
Go To Opens the Go To Panel and if the Line Number Combo Box's edit field contains a valid value, the resüective line in the Output Editor is highlighted. Should it be necessary, the line is also scrolled into view.
This menu item is only disabled if the Output Editor is void (i.e. contains no printable and/or non-printable characters whatsover). Otherwise it is always enbabled.
Close Go To Panel Closes the Go To Panel
This menu item is only ebabled while the Go To Panel is open.
Select All Marks/highlights the entire contents of the edit control that currently has the input focus as selected.
This menu item is not enabled, unless either the Folder/File Path and Name Combo Box, the Output Editor, the Line Number Combo Box, or the Find Combo Box currently has the input focus. the respective control isn't empty, and the entire contents in the control aren't already selected.
Clear Selection Removes the highlighting that marks text as selected from the edit control that currently has the input focus. Removing the selection highlighting from the contents of an edit control has no effect on the text itself, other than that it is no longer displayed differently (typically inverted).
However, only text that is marked/highlighted as being selected, actually is selected. Therefore, removing the selection highlighting from the control's entire text also means that menu items that depend on text being selected (e.g. Cut, Copy>, etc.) are disabled for that edit control, for as long as no text in it is selected. The Clear Selection Menu Item itself is only enabled as long as the edit control that has the input focus contains text and at least one character (printable or not) in it is marked/highlighted as selected.
Read Only Determines whether or not the contents of the Output Editor can be modified. If this menu item is preceded by a check mark or bullet/ball, the contents of the Output Editor are write protected and the pertinent menu items (e.g. Cut, Copy, Paste, etc.) in the Main Menu are disabled.

The Main Menu's Tools Menu
Tools Menu Conists of the menu items/commands that trigger the application's primary functions. These being the conversion of paths and file system objects' names from one form into another.
It can be opened either by clicking on the menu item with the mouse or by simultaneously pressing the Alt and t keys on the keyoard.
This menu's functionality is also accessible by means of the F5 through F7 function keys on the keyboard.
Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.70
Menu Item Triggered Action
Convert Converts the representation of the file system object in the Folder/File Path and Name Combo Box into the supported complementary forms. If successful, the output of the conversion is written to the Output Editor. Selecting/clicking this menu item is equivalent to pressing the Convert Button.
This menu item is only enabled if the Folder/File Path and Name Combo Box contains text.
List special folder paths Lists found special folders' paths in the Output Editor.
Special Folders are special purpose folders with standardized names in standardized locations, normally created by the operating system, during its installation or when user accounts or Windows features are added. This command lists these folders' paths in the long and short, 8.3 name format, together with the GUIDs and/or CSIDL_XXXX names, by which they are referenced internally by the operating system.
This menu item is permanently enabled.
Lists environment var. paths Translates all environment variables that represent paths into fully qualified/absolute paths and lists them together with their DOS, short file name equivalents.
This is a permanently enabled menu item.
Create Relative Path(s) Forms the relative path from the currently selected base path to the path specified in the Folder/File Path and Name Combo Box, and the relative path from the path specified in the Folder/File Path and Name Combo Box to the currently selected base path.
The base path can be selected by means of the Base Path sub-menu items in the Options Menu.

The Main Menu's History Menu
History Menu Contains menu items with which the texts that were recently searched for, the representations of the file system objects that were successfully converted, and the line numbers in which the caret was recently positioned can be deleted.
Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.90
Menu Item Triggered Action
Converted Paths ⇒ Clear List Removes all entries from the drop-down list of the Folder/File Path and Name Combo Box and deletes the corresponding values in the Windows registry.
Find ⇒ Clear List Removes all entries from the drop-down list of the Find Combo Box and deletes the corresponding values in the Windows registry.
Line Numbers ⇒ Clear List Removes all entries from the drop-down list of the Line Number Combo Box.
However, unlike the drop-down lists of the Main Window's other combo boxes, the entries in the Line Number Combo Box's are bound to a specific file.

The Main Menu's Options Menu
Options Menu Contains menu items that can be used to (temporarily) override certain, configuration defaults and open the Preferences Dialog. It can also be used to select an alternative base path.
The Main Menu's Options Menu is opened either by means of the mouse or simultaneously pressing the ALT + O keys on the keyboard.
Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.100
Menu Item Triggered Action
Zoom Opens a sub-menu, in which the zoom factor with which the Output Editor's text is displayed, can be selected.
This menu item and all menu items in its sub-menu are permanently enabled
Zoom ⇒ Zoom in Selects the next higher zoom level, incoreasing the magnification of the text in the Output Editor.
This menu item is only enabled as long as the maximum zoom level (200 %) has not been reached.
Zoom ⇒ 200 % Magnifies the text n the Output Editor to twice the normal size.
Zoom ⇒ 150 % Magnifies the text in the Output Editor to one and a half times the normal size.
Zoom ⇒ 100 % Displays the text in the Output Editor at its normal size.
Zoom ⇒ 75 % Reduces the size of the text in the Output editor to three quarters of the normal size.
Zoom ⇒ 50 % Reduces the size of the text in the Output editor to half the normal size.
Zoom ⇒ 25 % Reduces the size of the text in the Output editor to one quarter of the normal size.
Zoom ⇒ Zoom out Selects the next lower zoom level, reducing the magnification of the text in the Output Editor. This menu item is only enabled as long as the minimum zoom level (25 %) has not been reached.
Auto Complete Opens a sub-menu in which the AutoComplete feature can be turned on or off.
Auto Complete ⇒ On Activates AutoComplete, for paths typed into the Folder/File Path and Name Combo Box ..
If this menu item is checked, the AutoComplete feature is enabled and typing the leading portion of an existing path into the Folder/File Path and Name Combo Box will open a drop-down list, containing the names of the (child) folders and files that would complete the already entered part(s). This feature constitutes an alternative, thereby reducing the necessity to use the Browse for Files or Folders Dialog, in determining a file or folder's path.
This is a permanently enabled menu item.
Auto Complete ⇒ Off Deactivates the AutoComplete feature of the Folder/File Path and Name Combo Box. If this menu item is preceded by a check mark (or bullet), a drop-down list containing paths and/or folder and file names that would complement the already entered parts is not displayed.
This menu item is permanently enabled.
Base Path
The Base Path Sub-Menu

Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.103
Opens a sub-menu that contains menu items with which the path to use, when de-referencing and creating relative paths, can be selected.
A base path, as used in the context of the LFNAlias application and documentation, is a fixed (generally, a non-root) location in the folder structure. Relative to this folder all other folders and files on the same drive are unmistakably defined and can therefore be specified in form of a relative path. LFNAlias requires and uses the base path(s), selected in this menu item's sub-menu, to convert relative paths into fully qualified/absolute paths and fully qualified/absolute paths into relative paths.
This menu item is permanently enabled.
Base Path ⇒ Browse to select Opens the Browse for Folder Dialog, with which a new, alternative base path can be selected. The selected path then replaces the existing menu item, immediately below the Use App. Path menu item. If this, user defined menu item doesn't exist, it is added.
The Browse to select menu item is a permanently enabled menu item.
Base Path ⇒ Reset Removes the user defined, alternative base path menu item from the menu and makes the path to the folder from which LFAAlias is being run, the active base path.
This menu item is only enabled as long as the user defined, alternative base path menu item is available.
Base Path ⇒ Use App. Path If this menu item is checked, the application uses the path to the executable as the base path, when creating relative paths.
Although this menu item is permanently enabled, whether it is checked or not depends on ...
Base Path ⇒ user defined path Selects the user defined path as the base path to use, when creating relative paths.
This menu item is only available if an alternative base path has been selected/specified in the Browse for Folder Dialog. The selected path is then made the menu item's caption. The menu item is also automatically checked, when added or modified and remains available and selected across application restarts. It can be removed by means of the Base Path ⇒ Reset menu item.
File System Redirection Opens a sub-menu, containing two menu items with which file system redirection can be turned on or off.
File system redirection is required by 64-bit Windows versions in order to run both 64 and 32 bit programs, without requiring 32 and 64-bit files to have different names or (the application to) use a different namespace (i.e. folder structure and names). This is achieved by redirecting requests by 32-bit executables for (operating system) files located in the %windir%\System32 folder and sub-folders to another folder (specifically from %windir%\System32 to %windir%\SysWOW64). However, this redirection can be disabled on a per process basis, allowing 32-bit programs to access the 64-bit folders and files.
This menu item is only enabled, if LFNAlias is running under a 64-bit operating system. Whether or not LFNAlias is being run on such a system can be easily determined by referring to the header of a newly created output file in the Output Editor. If the header includes the statement "Application is a 32-bit process running on a 64-bit machine", LFNAlias is running under a 64-bit operating system and this menu item, together with its two sub-menu items, should be enabled.
File System Redirection ⇒ Disabled Deactivates file system redirection for the LFNAlias instance in which this command is executed.
This menu item is only accessible, if LFNAlias is running under a 64-bit, Windows operating system.
File System Redirection ⇒ Enabled Activates file system redirection for the LFNAlias instance in which this command is executed.
This menu item is only accessible, if LFNAlias is running under a 64-bit, Windows operating system.
8.3 Name Support
The 8.3 Name Support Sub-Menu

Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.105
Opens a sub-menu with which support for short, DOS, 8.3 file names on local, NTFS drives can be activated and deactivated.
Note, these settings are system wide settings. That is, changes to the 8.3 name support are not limited to the current process or the logged on user. Furthermore, they are also persistent, in other words: Any changes are preserved even when the system is restarted/rebooted.
8.3 Name Support ⇒ System Vol. Only Activates support for 8.3 file names on the drive/volume on which the operating system (i.e. Windows) is installed and deactivates support for short file names on all other local drives/volumes.
The menu item is always enabled, but it is only checked if support for short, DOS, 8.3 file names is enabled exclusively on the system drive/volume. Otherwise it is not checked.
8.3 Name Support ⇒ Enable on All Drives Enables/activates 8.3 name support on all local, NTFS drives.
The menu item is disabled whenever supoort for 8.3 names is enabled on all drives. It is enabled otherwise (i.e. if support for short file names is enabled on one or more specific drives only or completely disabled).
8.3 Name Support ⇒ Disable on All Drives Disables/de-activates 8.3 name support on all local, NTFS drives.
This menu item is enabled while support for 8.3 names is enabled on at least one, local, NTFS drive/volume.
Preferences ... Opens the LFNAlias' Preferences Dialog

The Main Menu's Help Menu
Help Menu Facilitates access to the LFNAlias' offline help, version information, and the LFNAlias Home Page.
Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.110
Menu Item Triggered Action
Help Open the LFNAlias offline help.
LFNAlias Home Page Opens the LFNAlias's home page on the Internet.
Check for Updates Opens the LFNAlias's home page on the Internet.
About ... Displays the Version Info Dialog, from which the product, application and operating system (i.e. Windows) version can be retrieved.



The Convert Panel
Folder/File Path and Name Text Folder/File Path and Name Text Folder/File Path and Name Combo Box Folder/File Path and Name Combo Box Browse Button Browse Button Convert Button Convert Button
Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.120
The Convert Panel provides the means to enter, select, edit, and convert the representation of a file system object into (its) compelementary form(s). In most cases, this will probably be a fully qualified path to a folder or file. However, it can also be an environment variable, such as %WINDIR%, a path based on/containing an environment variable, such as %HOMEPATH%\Documents\SampleFile.txt, or a Globally Unique Identifier (GUID), by which a known folder is referenced internally by the operating system.
It is located at the top of LFNAlias' Main Window, immediately below the Main Menu, but unlike the Find and Go To panels it remains permanently visible (i.e. it cannot be closed).

The Folder/File Path and Name Text
Folder/File Path and Name Text
Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.121
Merely indicates where the path of the folder or file to convert can/should be entered.

The Folder/File Path and Name Combo Box
Folder/File Path and Combo Box Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.122  
 
Folder/File Path and Combo Box with drop down list Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.123 Folder/File Path and Combo Box with AutoComplete drop down list
Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.124
The Folder/File Path and Name Combo Box is the control into which you can enter a representation of the file system object to convert.
Although, folders' and files' aliases can (also) be determined directly in the Output Editor, the Folder/File Path and Name Combo Box has the advantage that the folder or file does not have to be accessed, as it suffices to enter its path in the combo box's edit field. If performed, the subsequent conversion attempt(s) will ascertain the file or folder's existence and/or accessibility.
It has the additional advantage that it can also convert
Environment variables
Paths based on or containing environment variables
Relative paths
Globally Unique Identifiers (GUIDs) representing folders known to the system ("Known Folders")
CSIDL_XXXX constants or their nurmerical equivalents
Fully qualified/absolute paths into relative paths
However, it has to be stressed that the application can only convert existing file system objects' identifiers, as it does not make very much sense to convert nonexistent folder or file names. Furthermore, the following conventions/precepts apply to the identifiers specified in the Folder/File Path and Name Combo Box:
Paths may be specified using either Windows path separators (i.e. backslashes: "\") or Unix path separators (i.e. slashes "/"), or a combination of both. Paths that contain blanks/spaces may, but do not have to be enclosed in quotation marks (").
Environment variables must be enclosed in percent signs ("%"), irrespective of if they are specified individually or as part of a path. All characters, printable or not, between the percent signs, are considered part of the environment variable.
CSIDL_XXXX values may be specified using either the constant names, as defined in SDK header files (e.g. "CSIDL_MYPICTURES", without the quotation marks), or as a numerical values in decimal (e.g. 39) or hexadecimal (e.g. 0x27) notation. If a hexadecimal notation is used, the prefix may be either a "$" or "0x" and the specified value may be any up to and including a 32-bit value.
Globally Unique Identifiers (GUIDs) may be specified using upper or lower case characters, or a combination of both, but must include opening and closing brackets ("{" and "}", respectively, without the quotation marks) and the separating hyphens/dashes ("-" also without the quotation marks).
If a file or folder happens to have the name of a CSIDL_XXXX constant (e.g. "CSIDL_MYPICTURES", without the quotation marks) or is a GUID (e.g. "{62AB5D82-FDC1-4DC3-A9DD-070D1D495D97}", without the quotation marks), it must be specified as a fully qualified path (e.g. "C:\Users\Sample User\Documents\Pictures\CSIDL_MYPICTURES", with or without the quotation marks) or as a relative path that begins with a reference to the current or a parent folder (e.g. ".\{62AB5D82-FDC1-4DC3-A9DD-070D1D495D97}" and "..\..\..\SampleFolder\CSIDL_MYMUSIC", respectively, and with or without the quotation marks).
Blanks
A path, or any of the other supported forms, can be entered either by typing it in on the keyboard, or it can be selected from the last successfully converted items (if any) listed in the drop down list. It is entered automatically into the edit field (whereby any existing text in it is replaced), whenever the Browse for Files or Folders Dialog is closed by means of its OK Button.
If Auto Complete is active (see The Main Menu's Options Menu), entering a path by means of the keyboard is further simplified by the suggestions provided in the automatically displayed drop down list, whenever the leading portion of an existing path is typed into the edit field (see Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.123, above).
Alternatively, text selected in another control, dialog, or window, either in the LFNAlias' Main Window or another application, can also be either copied and pasted or dragged and dropped into the Folder/File Path and Name Combo Box's edit field. But, there is a significant difference between pasting and dropping text; whereas pasting text will replace the text that is selected in the edit field, dropping it will not. If the edit field contains text, the dropped text is always inserted at the point at which the mouse button is released, even if this happens to be between two letters of a word which was marked/highlighted as selected.
Although, selected text can also be dragged from the Folder/File Path and Name Combo Box's edit field and dropped in other controls or windows, in order to otherwise preserve the normal behaviour of the combo box, this requires pressing the shift key on the keyboard, to initiate the drag operation. Moreover, text dragged in/from the edit control cannot be dropped in it. In other words; drag and drop cannot be used to edit the text in the combo box's edit field itself.

The Browse Button
Browse Button
Fig. 2.1.1.2.1.1.0.130
Opens the Browse for Files or Folder Dialog with which the long file name version of the path to convert can be selected into the Folder/File Path and Name Combo Box.

The Convert Button
Convert Button
Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.135
If active (as in Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.135) when pressed, attempts to convert the given representation of the file system object in the Folder/File Path and Name Combo Box into the known, complementary form(s).



The Output Editor
Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.140
As indicated by the name, the Output Editor is the control that receives the output generated by LFNAlias.
But, so that the information of more than one conversion can be displayed at a time, and that it can be easily stored, retrieved, viewed, enhanced, and modified, we have integrated this functionality into a simple editor. This has the additional benefit that the LFNAlias' output can also be viewed, edited, and merged with the information in, and produced by many other applications.



The Output Editor's Context Menu
The Output Editor's Context Menu The Output Editor's Context Menu provides an alternative and more convenient means by which the commands that can be utilized from within (and applied to) the Output Editor can be invoked. It combines the pertinent menu items and functionality from the Main Menu's File and Edit menus.
Specifically these are: The
Undo
Redo
Cut
Copy
Paste
Delete
Find
Find Next
Find Previous
Close Find Panel
Go To
Close Go To Panel
Select All
Clear Selection
Open
Open With ...
Open Location
Open in Console
Open in PowerShell
Properties,
and
Read Only
menu items, for a description of which, click on the link in the above list.
Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.147



The Go To Panel
Go To Panel Line Number Combo Box Line Number Combo Box Go To Button Go To Button Line Text Preview Field Line Text Preview Field Close Go To Panel Button Close Go To Panel Button
Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.150
Provdes the means to preview the text and position the caret in a specific line of the Output Editor.

The Line Number Combo Box
Line Number Combo Box
Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.152
Determines the text of which line (if any) is displayed in the Line Text Preview Field and the caret will be positioned in when the Go To Button is pressed.
The Line Number Combo Box serves and can be used for several purposes:
1. To highlight/select and position the caret in a particular line number.
2. To view/preview the text of a specific line number, without having to scroll to it.
3. To (termporarily) preserve a line's text so that the original text can be referred to and/or copied after the line was modified.
4. As a (simple) bookmark repository.

The Go To Button
Go To Button Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.153
Positions the caret in the line (number) specified in the Line Number Combo Box.
If the line number entered/selected in the Line Number Combo Box is larger than zero (0) and smaller or equal to the number of lines in the Output Editor, the application will mark/highlight the specified line and position the caret at the end of it. If necessary, it will also scroll the line into view.
If the line number entered/selected in the Line Number Combo Box is zero (0) or larger than the number of lines in the Output Editor, the Go To Button is (automatically) disabled. It is also disabled if whenever the Line Number Combo Box's edit field is empty.

The Line Text Preview Field
Line Text Preview Field Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.154
Displays the current text of the line specified in the Line Number Combo Box.
The text in this field can be selected and subsequently either copied or dragged to other applications or editable controls in the LFNAlias' Main Window. For example, the selected text could be either dragged and dropped or copied and pasted in the Find Combo Box or a destkop publishing application, such as Microsoft Word.

The Close Go To Panel Button
Close Go To Panel Button Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.155
Closes the Go To Panel.



The Find Panel
Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.160
The Find Panel implements the controls with which the Output Editor can be searched for text.

The Find Combo Box
Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.161 Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.162
Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.163  
Defines the text, the Output Editor will be searched for when either the Find Next or Find Previous button is pressed.
This can be any single line of text and does not have to be a path or other representation of a file system object, as in the descriptive figures, above. It can be entered either by typing it in on the keyboard, selecting a text previously searched for from the combo box's drop down list (as in Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.162), a copy and paste operation, or per drag and drop from another LFNAlias edit control or another application.
If the convert combo box ...

The Find Next Button
Find Next Button
Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.164
Searches the Output Editor for the text in the Find Combo Box, from the current position of the caret to the end of the document. If the text is not found between the caret's current position and the end of the document, the search automatically continues at the beginning of the first line.

The Find Previous Button
Find Previous Button
Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.165
Searches the Output Editor for the text in the Find Combo Box, from the current position of the caret to the beginning of the document. If the text is not found between the caret's current position and the beginning of the document, the search is automatically continued at the end of the last line.

The Match Case Check Box
Match Case Check Box Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.166 Match Case Check Box, checked Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.167
 
Determines whether a case sensitive search is performed or not.
In the default state, in which the Match Case Check Box is not checked (as in Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.166), upper and lower case characters are considered as being identical. Conversely, if the the Match Case Check Box is checked (as in Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.167) the search differentiates between upper and lower case characters.
For example: If you were to search for the text Example Text to Find and the Match Case Check Box is not checked, the search would also highlight the next occurrence of eXample teXt To finD, examPle texT to fInd, and all other combinations of upper and lower case characters with the exact sequence of letters, as in Example Text to Find. Conversely, if the Match Case Check Box is checked, only exact matches of Example Text to Find will be found and highlighted.

The Close Find Panel Button
Close Find Panel Button Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.168
Closes the Find Panel.



The Status Bar
Status Bar Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.170
The Status Bar provides information on the current position (specifically, the line and column number) of the caret in the Output Editor. It also displays information on the number of occurrences (if any) of the search text that were found in the Output Editor.
If text is selected in the Output Editor and parts of, or the entire, selected text constitutes a valid path, the selected text is duplicated in the Status Bar's Path panel.


Topic Hierarchy: LFNAlias  •  Support  •  User Guide  •  Table of Contents  •  Description  •  Main Window
 
See Also: Using LFNAlias, Load Output File Dialog, Save Output Dialog, The Browse for Files or Folders Dialog, The Browse for Folder Dialog, The Open With Dialog, The Preferences Dialog, The Version Info Dialog, Load File Error Dialog, Load Recent File Error Dialog, Print Error Dialog.  

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Page/URI last updated on 11.07.2023
 
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