********************************************************************** B.E.C. Networks Limited Paul Bianciardi Share Find 1.2 - README ********************************************************************** DISCLAIMER: ----------- Share Find, accompanying support software and literature (known here in as the 'product') is provided 'as is', and is not guaranteed to be accurate or correct in any way. B.E.C. Networks and Paul Bianciardi accept no responsibility to the use of this product, or to the accuracy of any of the information provided by it. This product is not to be distributed in any way, without prior consent from Paul Bianciardi of B.E.C. Networks Limited. For more details on this, or product details: visit http://www.becnetworks.co.uk or email: paul@becnetworks.co.uk) (c) Copyright 2001 - B.E.C. Networks Limited - All Rights Reserved ********************************************************************** README ------ Installation and Files ---------------------- Share Find is provided by the following files: SHAREFIND.EXE Main application executable BORLNDMM.DLL Support DLL file CC3250MT.DLL Support DLL file README.TXT This file All of these files can be put into the same directory, such as: C:\Program Files\B.E.C. Networks\Share Find or the .DLL files can be put into a common directory, which is included in the PATH. Then simply place a shortcut the SHAREFIND.EXE either on your desktop or in your start folder, for easy access. See http://www.becnetworks.co.uk for more information. Using Share Find ---------------- Use Share Find in conjunction with the Teletext share price output, created by a PC TV card (e.g. by Hauppauge, on Ch 4 pages 533 - 537). Share Find will expect the structure of the share price information to be as follows (an example page is shown, with a leading space represented by an underscore _ ): _BritGlbIT 100½ BrunnerIT 484 +5½ _BritSmlrC 73½ Bryant Gp 146½ +4½ _BrixtnEst 241½ BS Group 160 _BroadcslW 23½ BSkyB 1121 +10 _Broadcstl 48½ BSoftB 85 _BroadgteW 23½ BSS Grp. 365 +2½ _BroadgtIT 97½ BT 572 -5 _Brockhptn 320 +25 BTG 1450 +37½ _BrockhtnA 105½ -1 Buckland 4¼ _BrookeInd 32½ BucklndWt 2 From this, you can see that the structure is as follows: - first 10 characters company name (includes leading space) - character 11 space - next 4 characters current price (shown as a fraction) - character 16 space - next 4 characters price change (shown as a fraction) - character 21 space - next 9 characters company name - character 31 space - next 4 characters current price (shown as a fraction) - character 36 space - next 4 characters price change (shown as a fraction) As long as the format of the Teletext output file is in this format, Share Find will be able to search through the file, look for the company or companies you have specified and output the price in a format that can be pasted into a spreadsheet. Note that any non-share price information (such as adverts) are ignored as they do not conform to the above structure. Note that the output from Share Find will be the share price, in decimal form. The price change is ignored, and any fractions are converted into decimals. 1. In Share Find, your need to input the name of the company you wish to search for. This needs to match the spelling as it will appear in the Teletext file. e.g. British Telecom is shown as BT. Input the company name, or list of company names in the left hand column of Share Find. Put one company name on each line. Blank lines can be included if you wish. (Note that the output will appear in the same order, including blank lines, as the input - this makes it simpler to line up if you are outputting the values into a spreadsheet). 2. This list of company names can be saved into a file, called a share set file, for later retrieval. This saves you from having to input the names each time, and allows you to maintain multiple share sets (e.g. private portfolio, company portfolio etc.). Use the "Save Share Set" and "Load Share Set" buttons to save and load these company names to and from Share Find. 3. Once you have the company names in the left hand column, click on the "Open & Discover" button. This will present you with a browse window. Select the Teletext file or files for Share Find to search. 4. The output will appear in the right hand column of Share Find. If you selected multiple input files, they will appear in separate columns in the output field. In this case, it is useful to have ticked the "Include the date in the output" box before clicking on "Open & Discover" to include column headings with the date of the input text file (based on the Teletext file name). 5. If you wish to use the information output by Share Find into another application, click the "Copy Output" button to make the data available in the clipboard to paste into any Windows application (e.g. MS Excel). The output format (in terms of blank lines and columns for multiple input files) will be maintained in the data for pasting. This is particularly useful when pasting into spreadsheets. 6. At any time, you can clear the list of company names and the corresponding output by clicking on "Clear Input/Output". Alternatively, clear the output only by clicking on "Clear Output". Note however, that even if there is output in the right hand column, searching another file or set of files using "Open & Discover" will automatically clear the output field. At anytime, the status of Share Find (such as if a file is being searched) will be shown, along with the filename being searched. The currently opened share set file is also shown. The last share set file opened (if there is one), and whether or not to include the date in the output, is remembered each time Share Find runs. This saves you having to load the share set each time you run Share Find, if you work on the same set of company names ********************************************************************** (c) Copyright 2001 - B.E.C. Networks Limited - All Rights Reserved **********************************************************************