Search Engine Discussion

[xxgeek]

When using a search engine would it be better to have a long list, or a shorter list, of results.

For instance when searching the help files with jbsearch using the word "print" we get just about every help file in the resulting list because the word "print" is in almost every help file page. We end up with a lot of irrelevant results. Many of the JB commands are in the help pages as example code, and can create long result lists.

Would it be better to have the shorter list, of relevant results?
How about a button to choose "deep dive" for the longer list, and default to a shorter list? Or just live with the long lists of results as default?

One quick question while I'm here.
I have a list in an array, but because I coded to ADD cundo's method of searching(resulting in long lists at times) to a new method I get duplicates in the list.

How do I remove the duplicates, leaving just one instance in the array's list

[xxgeek]

Here is the code so far.

This is the original code posted by cundo, with changed method getting short list.
Once I get this done right, I'll move on to adding the Tutorial search as well.

' another help file viewer
' (C) 2020 by cundo
' find this code and discussion at justbasiccom.proboards.com
' version: 1002
'nomainwin

 if VAL(Version$)<2 then
   notice "Just BASIC 2.0 required"
  end
 end if
if fileExists(StartupDir$, "jbasic.exe")=0 then
     notice "Please, run this bas file or tkn from ";_
     "the Just BASIC IDE (launch it from the desktop or the start menu)"
     end
end if

   WindowWidth = 228 : WindowHeight = 514
   UpperLeftX= 1 : UpperLeftY= 1
   dim ar$(500),searchList$(500), info$(0,0), searchList1$(500)
   global helpFilePath$
   helpFilePath$ = StartupDir$;"jb2help\JustBASIC_2_web"
   helpFileMenu$ = "amber_menu.htm"


if fileExists(helpFilePath$, helpFileMenu$)=0 then
     notice "Program Terminated";chr$(13);_
     "Couldn't find the help files"
     end
end if

 open helpFilePath$; "\"; helpFileMenu$ for input as #1
   txt$ = input$(#1, lof(#1))
 close #1

 ' do a lower case version of the html file
 ' to avoid discrepances or whatever.
 lowerTxt$= lower$(txt$)

while 1
 scan

   startAt = c+1
   a = instr(lowerTxt$, "href",startAt)
   b = instr(lowerTxt$, ">",a+1)
   c = instr(lowerTxt$, "</a>",b+1)

   if a=0 or b=0 or c= 0 then exit while

   hrefA= instr(lowerTxt$,chr$(34),a+1)
   hrefB= instr(lowerTxt$,chr$(34),hrefA+1)
   idx = idx +1
   ar$(idx)= trim$(mid$(txt$,b+1,c-b-1));chr$(0);_
   trim$(mid$(txt$,hrefA+1,hrefB-hrefA-1))

 wend

   listbox #main.listbox1, ar$(, lbDoubleClick, 8, 48, 200, 400
   textbox #main.tb 8,49,148,32
   listbox #main.listbox2, searchList$(, lbDoubleClick, 8, 96, 200, 352
   button #main.contents, "&Contents", buttonClick, UL, 8, 8, 80, 30
   button #main.search, "&Search", buttonClick, UL, 90, 8, 90, 30
   button #main.help, "?", buttonClick, UL, 182, 8, 26, 30
   instructions$ = "Select an item from the ";_
               "list to view the article on your web browser."
   'statictext #main.st, instructions$,12,460,180,32
   button #main.default, "&Go", buttonClick, UL, 160, 49, 46, 32

   open "JB Help" for dialog_nf as #main
   #main "trapclose quit"
   #main "font Arial 12"
   #main.listbox1 "singleclickselect"
   #main.listbox2 "singleclickselect"
   #main.listbox2 "hide" : #main.tb "!hide" :  #main.default "!hide"
wait

sub quit h$
    close #h$ : end
   end sub

sub buttonClick h$
   select case word$(h$,2,".")
   case "contents"
       #main.listbox1 "show" : #main.listbox2 "hide" :  #main.tb "!hide" :#main.default "!hide"
    case "search"
       #main.listbox1 "hide" : #main.listbox2 "show" : #main.tb "!show" : #main.default "!show"
       #main.tb "!setfocus"
    case "help"
       notice "Help";CHR$(13);_
       "From the Contents list, single click an";_
       " item and the web browser will display the topic.";_
       CHR$(13);CHR$(13);_
       "From the Search list (empty at start), write";_
       " a word, and press the Enter key or press the Go button, to search.";_
       CHR$(13);CHR$(13);_
       "How to append this program to the Just BASIC Run menu for easy access.";_
       CHR$(13);_
       "1) Tokenize this program's code: Run menu > Make *.tkn File.";_
           " Use any name for the file,";_
           " remember where this file is, and how it is named.";_
           CHR$(13);_
       "2) Select the menu Setup > External Programs";_
       CHR$(13);_
       "3) Click on the New button, choose a name of your liking to create a new item.";_
       " This is the name that will appear under the JB's Run menu. So choose a descriptive name.";_
       CHR$(13);_
       "4) Select the created item.";CHR$(13);_
       "5) Click on the Browse menu, and look for your previously created tkn file on step 1.";_
       CHR$(13);_
       "6) Just BASIC will tell you should restart the Editor."
  trace 2
    case "default"
       #main.tb "!contents? searchFor$"
       searchFor$=trim$(searchFor$)
 if len(searchFor$)>2 then
        cursor hourglass
        dim searchList2$(500)
           for b = 1 to 500 ' so so
               if ar$(b) ="" then exit for
               fileToOpen$=  word$(ar$(b),2,chr$(0))
               open helpFilePath$; "\"; fileToOpen$ for input as #2
                   contents$ = input$(#2, lof(#2))
                   if instr(lower$(contents$), lower$(searchFor$)) then
                       count2=count2+1
                       searchList2$(count2)= ar$(b)
                   end if
            close #2
           next b
           for b = 1 to count2
     searchList2$(count2) = ar$(b)
           next b
       redim searchList$(1000)
       files helpFilePath$;"\html", info$()
        numFiles = val(info$(0,0 ))
        dim dummy2$(numFiles)
        dim dummy$(numFiles)
     for i = 1 to numFiles
           x = 1
           fileToOpen$ = info$(i, 0)
           open helpFilePath$;"\html\"; fileToOpen$ for input as #2
              contents$ = input$(#2, lof(#2)) : close #2
              if instr(lower$(contents$), lower$(searchFor$)) then
                dummy$(i) = helpFilePath$;"\html\"; fileToOpen$
                   listName$ = dummy$(i)
                      open listName$ for input as #1 : isOpen = 1
                        while not(eof(#1))
                             line input #1, dum$
                             dummy$(i) =  dum$
                            if instr(lower$(dum$), lower$(searchFor$)) then name$ = dum$ : count = count + 1 : close #1 : isOpen = 0  : exit while
                            if x = 5  and instr(lower$(dum$), lower$(searchFor$)) then name$ = dum$ : count = count + 1 : close #1 : isOpen = 0  : exit while
                            if x = 8 then name$ = dum$ : count = count + 1 : close #1 : isOpen = 0  : exit while
                           x = x + 1
                       wend
                      if isOpen = 1 then close #1 : isOpen = 0
                     if x = 5 then name$ = word$(name$, 2 , "<TITLE>") : name$ = left$(name$, len(name$)-8)
                  if x = 8 then name$ = word$(name$, 2 , "<title>") : name$ = left$(name$, len(name$)-8)
                searchList$(i) = name$
              end if
    next i
    for b = 1 to count2 +count
     searchList2$(count2 +count) = ar$(b)
           next b
          for a = 1 to count2 + count
       next a
       for x = 1 to count + count2
       copy$ = searchList2$(x)
       if copy$ = "" then exit for
       print "copy = ";copy$
              for t = 1 to count + count2
       if copy$ = searchList2$(x) then copy =  copy + 1 : if copy > 0 then [next]
              searchList$(t) = copy$ : print "searchList$(t) = ";searchList$(t)
              [next]
          next t
      copy = 0
       next x
        sort searchList$(), 0, count2 + count' + 10
         #main.listbox2 "reload"
        cursor normal
       else
        notice "Please write down more than 2 characters."
 end if
   end select
end sub

   sub lbDoubleClick h$
       #h$ "selection? selection$"
        files helpFilePath$;"\html", info$()
        numFiles = val(info$(0,0 ))
   for i = 1 to numFiles
           fileToOpen$ = info$(i, 0)
             open helpFilePath$;"\html\";fileToOpen$ for input as #3
              contents$ = input$(#3, lof(#3))
           if instr(lower$(contents$), lower$("<TITLE>";selection$;"</TITLE>")) then
                  fileToRead$ = helpFilePath$;"\html\"; fileToOpen$
                  close #3 : searchlist = 1 : exit for
           end if
      close #3
   next i
       if selection$ = "" then exit sub
  if searchlist = 1 then
     searchlist = 0
      if fileExists(helpFilePath$;"\html", fileToOpen$) <> 0 then
         run "explorer.exe ";fileToRead$
          else
           if fileExists(helpFilePath$;"\html",fileToOpen$) = 0 then
              fileToOpen$= word$( selection$,2,chr$(0))
               fileToOpen$=replace$( fileToOpen$ , "/", "\" )
              run "explorer.exe ";helpFilePath$;"\";fileToOpen$
              #h$ "select 0"
           end if
     end if
  else
           fileToOpen$= word$( selection$,2,chr$(0))
            fileToOpen$=replace$( fileToOpen$ , "/", "\" )
              run "explorer.exe ";helpFilePath$;"\";fileToOpen$
              #h$ "select 0"
 end if
   end sub

   function fileExists(path$, filename$)
       dim fileExistsInfo$(0,0)
       files path$, filename$, fileExistsInfo$()
       fileExists = val(fileExistsInfo$(0, 0)) 'non zero is true
   end function

   function replace$( text$ , this$, tothis$ )
    while 1
       if instr(text$, this$) then
           f = instr(text$, this$)
           lenght=len(this$)
           text$ = mid$(text$,1,f-1);_
               tothis$;mid$(text$,f+lenght)
           else
            exit while
       end if
     wend
    replace$=text$
   end function


[tsh73]

How do I remove the duplicates, leaving just one instance in the array's list

one of ways is with SORT

N=20
dim a$(N)
dim b$(N)

'make lot's of duplicates
for i = 1 to N
   a$(i)=chr$(65+int(rnd(0)*5))
   print i, a$(i)
next

print" --------------"

'sort
sort a$(), 1, N

'skip all duplicates
prev$=""
K = 0
for i = 1 to N
   if prev$<>a$(i) then K=K+1: b$(K)=a$(i)'print a$(i)
   prev$=a$(i)
next

'unique results
for i = 1 to K
   print i, b$(i)
next


Another way is by keeping "happened" list
(this will preserve order of things)
(care must be taken about list delimiter, I used "|")
N=20
dim a$(N)
dim b$(N)

'make lot's of duplicates
for i = 1 to N
   a$(i)=chr$(65+int(rnd(0)*5))
   print i, a$(i)
next

print" --------------"

happened$="|"

'skip all duplicates
K = 0
for i = 1 to N
   if instr(happened$, "|";a$(i);"|")=0 then
       happened$=happened$;a$(i);"|"
       K=K+1: b$(K)=a$(i)
   end if
next

'unique results
for i = 1 to K
   print i, b$(i)
next


[tsh73]

Would it be better to have the shorter list, of relevant results?
How about a button to choose "deep dive" for the longer list, and default to a shorter list? Or just live with the long lists of results as default?

Please post some examples of short and long lists
or a link to original code to compare

[xxgeek]

Thanks tsh73 I'll work on that tonight.

My code above creates the shorter list.
The original code creates the longer list.

We tried searching for print and didn't get PrinterFont$ from original code, so wanted to fix that, not only for a "print" search, but in case other keywords were missing relevant help pages too.
What I am trying to do is use both cundo's method along with my own to create the lists of search results. JB help pages are not all written the same, so a bit of maneuvering was needed. Got that done. But my new lists were short because I didn't remove the "copies" properly.
Thanks again. I should have this done within a day or 2. Then on to add the Tutorial search with the new coding.

Original code ' another help file viewer
' (C) 2020 by cundo
' find this code and discussion at justbasiccom.proboards.com
' version: 1002
nomainwin

 if VAL(Version$)<2 then
   notice "Just BASIC 2.0 required"
  end
 end if
if fileExists(StartupDir$, "jbasic.exe")=0 then
     notice "Please, run this bas file or tkn from ";_
     "the Just BASIC IDE (launch it from the desktop or the start menu)"
     end
end if

   WindowWidth = 228 : WindowHeight = 514
   UpperLeftX= 1 : UpperLeftY= 1
   dim ar$(1000),searchList$(1000)
   global helpFilePath$
   helpFilePath$ = StartupDir$;"jb2help\JustBASIC_2_web"
   helpFileMenu$ = "amber_menu.htm"


if fileExists(helpFilePath$, helpFileMenu$)=0 then
     notice "Program Terminated";chr$(13);_
     "Couldn't find the help files"
     end
end if

 open helpFilePath$; "\"; helpFileMenu$ for input as #1
   txt$ = input$(#1, lof(#1))
 close #1

 ' do a lower case version of the html file
 ' to avoid discrepances or whatever.
 lowerTxt$= lower$(txt$)

while 1
 scan

   startAt = c+1
   a = instr(lowerTxt$, "href",startAt)
   b = instr(lowerTxt$, ">",a+1)
   c = instr(lowerTxt$, "</a>",b+1)

   if a=0 or b=0 or c= 0 then exit while

   hrefA= instr(lowerTxt$,chr$(34),a+1)
   hrefB= instr(lowerTxt$,chr$(34),hrefA+1)
   idx = idx +1
   ar$(idx)= trim$(mid$(txt$,b+1,c-b-1));chr$(0);_
   trim$(mid$(txt$,hrefA+1,hrefB-hrefA-1))

 wend

   listbox #main.listbox1, ar$(, lbDoubleClick, 8, 48, 200, 400
   textbox #main.tb 8,49,148,32
   listbox #main.listbox2, searchList$(, lbDoubleClick, 8, 96, 200, 352
   button #main.contents, "&Contents", buttonClick, UL, 8, 8, 80, 30
   button #main.search, "&Search", buttonClick, UL, 90, 8, 90, 30
   button #main.help, "?", buttonClick, UL, 182, 8, 26, 30
   instructions$ = "Select an item from the ";_
               "list to view the article on your web browser."
   'statictext #main.st, instructions$,12,460,180,32
   button #main.default, "&Go", buttonClick, UL, 160, 49, 46, 32

   open "JB Help" for dialog_nf as #main

   #main "trapclose quit"
   #main "font Arial 12"
   #main.listbox1 "singleclickselect"
   #main.listbox2 "singleclickselect"
   #main.listbox2 "hide" : #main.tb "!hide" :  #main.default "!hide"

   wait

   sub quit h$
    close #h$ : end
   end sub

   sub buttonClick h$

   select case word$(h$,2,".")
   case "contents"
    #main.listbox1 "show" : #main.listbox2 "hide" :  #main.tb "!hide" :#main.default "!hide"
    case "search"
    #main.listbox1 "hide" : #main.listbox2 "show" : #main.tb "!show" : #main.default "!show"
    #main.tb "!setfocus"
    case "help"

       notice "Help";CHR$(13);_
       "From the Contents list, single click an";_
       " item and the web browser will display the topic.";_
       CHR$(13);CHR$(13);_
       "From the Search list (empty at start), write";_
       " a word, and press the Enter key or press the Go button, to search.";_
       CHR$(13);CHR$(13);_
       "How to append this program to the Just BASIC Run menu for easy access.";_
       CHR$(13);_
       "1) Tokenize this program's code: Run menu > Make *.tkn File.";_
           " Use any name for the file,";_
           " remember where this file is, and how it is named.";_
           CHR$(13);_
       "2) Select the menu Setup > External Programs";_
       CHR$(13);_
       "3) Click on the New button, choose a name of your liking to create a new item.";_
       " This is the name that will appear under the JB's Run menu. So choose a descriptive name.";_
       CHR$(13);_
       "4) Select the created item.";CHR$(13);_
       "5) Click on the Browse menu, and look for your previously created tkn file on step 1.";_
       CHR$(13);_
       "6) Just BASIC will tell you should restart the Editor."


    case "default"

    #main.tb "!contents? searchFor$"

       searchFor$=trim$(searchFor$)

       if len(searchFor$)>2 then
        cursor hourglass
         redim searchList$(500)
           for i = 1 to 500 ' so so
               if ar$(i)="" then exit for
               fileToOpen$=  word$(ar$(i),2,chr$(0))
               open helpFilePath$; "\"; fileToOpen$ for input as #2
                   contents$ = input$(#2, lof(#2))
                   '#main.texteditor contents$
                   if instr(lower$(contents$), lower$(searchFor$)) then
                       count=count+1
                       searchList$(count)= ar$(i)
                   end if
            close #2
           next i
           #main.listbox2 "reload"
        cursor normal
       else
        notice "Please write down more than 2 characters."
       end if
    end select
   end sub

   sub lbDoubleClick h$
       #h$ "selection? selection$"
       if selection$ = "" then exit sub

       fileToOpen$= word$( selection$,2,chr$(0))

      fileToOpen$=replace$( fileToOpen$ , "/", "\" )
      run "explorer.exe ";helpFilePath$; "\"; fileToOpen$

   end sub


   function fileExists(path$, filename$)
       dim fileExistsInfo$(0,0)
       files path$, filename$, fileExistsInfo$()
       fileExists = val(fileExistsInfo$(0, 0)) 'non zero is true
   end function

   function replace$( text$ , this$, tothis$ )
    while 1
       if instr(text$, this$) then
           f = instr(text$, this$)
           lenght=len(this$)
           text$ = mid$(text$,1,f-1);_
               tothis$;mid$(text$,f+lenght)
           else
            exit while
       end if
     wend
    replace$=text$
   end function

And the original with Tutorial search added (old method)


'JB v2.0 Help and Tutorial Search
'Created by cundo - Editted by xxgeek - added Tutorial Search

global q$, fileToCheck$, helpFilePath$, resetsearch
 JBpath$ = "c:\Program Files (x86)\Just Basic v2.0"
 tutorialPath$ = JBpath$;"\jbtutorial\index.html"
 openhelp$ = JBpath$;"\jb2help\JustBASIC_2_web\amber_menu.htm"
 helpFilePath$ = JBpath$;"\jb2help\JustBASIC_2_web" : helpFileMenu$ = "amber_menu.htm"

nomainwin
   WindowWidth = 700:WindowHeight = 580
   UpperLeftX= int((DisplayWidth-WindowWidth)/2)
   UpperLeftY= int((DisplayHeight-WindowHeight)/2)
   BackgroundColor$ = "lightgray"
   ForegroundColor$ = "black"

[resetsearch]
  if resetsearch = 1 then count = 0 : startAt = 0 : idx = 0 : hrefA = 0 : hrefB = 0 : a = 0 : b = 0 : c = 0
 dim helpList$(500), searchList$(500)
 open helpFilePath$;"\";helpFileMenu$ for input as #1
 txt$ = input$(#1, lof(#1))
 close #1
 lowerTxt$= lower$(txt$)
while 1
 scan
   startAt = c+1
   a = instr(lowerTxt$, "href",startAt)
   b = instr(lowerTxt$, ">",a+1)
   c = instr(lowerTxt$, "</a>",b+1)
   if a=0 or b=0 or c= 0 then exit while
   hrefA= instr(lowerTxt$,chr$(34),a+1)
   hrefB= instr(lowerTxt$,chr$(34),hrefA+1)
   idx = idx +1
   helpList$(idx)= trim$(mid$(txt$,b+1,c-b-1));chr$(0);_
   trim$(mid$(txt$,hrefA+1,hrefB-hrefA-1))
 wend

if resetsearch = 1 then [reloadSearchLists]

'jbsearch by cundo
   listbox #main.listbox1, helpList$(, lbDoubleClick, 20, 80, 325, 410
   statictext  #main.searchtext, "Search For KeyWord(s)", 355, 40, 160, 20
   statictext  #main.searchheader, "Just Basic v2.0 Help and Tutorial Search", 200, 7, 360, 20
   statictext  #main.searchin, "Search in >>", 23, 41, 85, 20
   statictext  #main.clickTip1, "Single Click to Select", 120, 67, 170, 15
   statictext  #main.clickTip2, "Single Click to Select", 435, 102, 170, 15
   statictext  #main.or, " or", 210, 38, 20, 20
   textbox #main.tb, 510, 35, 155, 25
   listbox #main.listbox2, searchList$(, lbDoubleClick, 345, 115, 325, 370
   button #main.search, "&Start Searching in JB Help", buttonClick, UL, 400, 70, 220, 25
   button #main.contents, "&JB Help File", [helpfiles], UL, 110, 35, 90, 25
   button #main.tutorial, "JB Tuto&rial", [tutorial], UL, 245, 35, 90, 25
   button #main.tutorial, "Open JB Tutoria&l", [opentutorial], UL, 185, 505, 120, 20

   button #main.openhelp, "Open JB Help", [openhelp], UL, 55, 505, 120, 20

open "JBSearch by cundo" for window as #main

#main "trapclose [quit.main]"

       #main.listbox1 "singleclickselect"
       #main.listbox2 "singleclickselect"
       #main "font arial 10 Bold"
       #main.listbox1, "font arial 12 bold"
       #main.listbox2, "font arial 12 bold"
       #main.clickTip1, "!font arial 8 bold"
       #main.clickTip2, "!font arial 8 bold"
       #main.searchin, "!font arial 12 bold"
       #main.search, "!font arial 12 bold"
       #main.searchheader, "!font arial 12 bold"
       '#main.jbforums, "!font arial 8 bold"

'reload search and help lists if selected path changes from Help to Tutorial
[reloadSearchLists]   'wait here for input event
  if resetsearch = 1 then
     #main.listbox1, "reload"
     #main.listbox2, "reload"
     resetsearch = 0
     #main.tb, "!setfocus"
 end if
wait

'xxgeek code
[tutorial]
resetsearch = 1 : helpFilePath$ = JBpath$;"\jbtutorial"
  helpFileMenu$ = "index.html" : #main.search, "&Start Searching JB Tutorial " : goto [resetsearch]

[helpfiles]
resetsearch = 1 : helpFilePath$ = JBpath$;"\jb2help\JustBASIC_2_web"
  helpFileMenu$ = "amber_menu.htm"
   #main.search, "&Start Searching in JB Help"
   goto [resetsearch]

[openhelp]
if fileExists(DefaultDir$, "htmlviewer.exe") <> 0 then
run "htmlviewer.exe ";openhelp$
      else
       run "explorer.exe ";openhelp$
  end if
wait

[opentutorial]
  if fileExists(DefaultDir$, "htmlviewer.exe") <> 0 then
         run "htmlviewer.exe ";tutorialPath$
         else
          run "explorer.exe ";tutorialPath$
  end if
wait

[forumlink]
run "explorer.exe https://justbasiccom.proboards.com/"
wait

'quit program, save the current selected List first, and kill all htmlviewer
'windows if User chose to as well
[quit.main]
    close #main
   end

'the following are cundo's jbsearch code edited by xxgeek
'subroutine to search selection Help, and or Tutorial
sub buttonClick h2$
  select case word$(h2$,2,".")
 case "search"
    #main.tb "!setfocus"
    #main.tb "!contents? searchFor$"
       searchFor$=trim$(searchFor$)
       if len(searchFor$)>2 then
        cursor hourglass
         redim searchList$(1000)
         for i = 1 to 1000 ' so so
               if helpList$(i)="" then
               result$ = "yes"
               #main.tb "!setfocus" : exit for
               end if
               fileToOpen$=  word$(helpList$(i),2,chr$(0))
                print helpFilePath$; "      "; fileToOpen$
               if fileToOpen$ = "http://www.justbasic.com" then fileToOpen$ = "index.html"
                  open helpFilePath$; "\"; fileToOpen$ for input as #2
                   contents$ = input$(#2, lof(#2))
                   if instr(lower$(contents$), lower$(searchFor$)) then
                       count=count+1
                       searchList$(count)= helpList$(i)
                  end if
            close #2
        next i
             if count = 0 then prompt "No Entries Found for " + chr$(13) + searchFor$ + "       TRY AGAIN?" ; result$
               sort searchList$(), 0, count
            #main.listbox2 "reload"
        cursor normal
       else
       result$ = "yes"
        prompt "                3 Character Minimum"+chr$(13) +"                          TRY  AGAIN?";result$
       end if
    end select
   end sub

'subroutine to open selected search item in a browser (htmlviewer if exists\default if not)
   sub lbDoubleClick h2$
       #h2$ "selection? selection$"
       if selection$ = "" then exit sub
       fileToOpen$= word$( selection$,2,chr$(0))
       if fileToOpen$ = "http://www.justbasic.com" then run "explorer.exe ";fileToOpen$ : wait
      fileToOpen$=replace$( fileToOpen$ , "/", "\" )
      if fileExists(DefaultDir$, "htmlviewer.exe")  <> 0 then
      print "fileToOpen$ = ";helpFilePath$;"\";fileToOpen$ 'for testing with mainwin
      run "htmlviewer.exe ";helpFilePath$;"\";fileToOpen$
       else
       run "explorer.exe ";helpFilePath$;"\";fileToOpen$
      end if
end sub

function replace$( text$ , this$, tothis$ )
    while 1
       if instr(text$, this$) then
           f = instr(text$, this$)
           lenght=len(this$)
           text$ = mid$(text$,1,f-1);_
               tothis$;mid$(text$,f+lenght)
           else
            exit while
       end if
     wend
    replace$=text$
 end function

'function for checking file existence
function fileExists(path$, filename$)
 dim info$(0, 0)
 files path$, filename$, info$()
 fileExists = val(info$(0, 0)) 'non zero is true
  end function


[Rod]

Bit late to the party but context sensitive would help. Yes print gets about every paragraph in the help file but printing is an entirely different action. Action or context?

I have often thought about a visual help file. A form that contains controls that expand as you hover to lead you down the command set you need. So a combobox expands to show or list combobox command statements. A graphicbox expands to quite a list.

The other thing I have played with is a side bar or dialog that reads what you type and lists the associated command set. So type combobox and all combobox commands are listed in the side bar.

However Cundo gave us a great utility.

[xxgeek]

Nov 4, 2022 20:41:10 GMT Rod said:

Bit late to the party but context sensitive would help. Yes print gets about every paragraph in the help file but printing is an entirely different action. Action or context?

I have often thought about a visual help file. A form that contains controls that expand as you hover to lead you down the command set you need. So a combobox expands to show or list combobox command statements. A graphicbox expands to quite a list.

The other thing I have played with is a side bar or dialog that reads what you type and lists the associated command set. So type combobox and all combobox commands are listed in the side bar.

However Cundo gave us a great utility.

I may try some of those ideas one day Rod.
For now though, I have a lot on my plate to deal with, not to mention coding.

Indeed cundo gave us a great utility. Without it, I wouldn't be near the level I'm at now with JB coding. Still a way to go for me....Not got into graphics at all yet, other than playing in graphics windows for my next surprise (coming soon)

The main thing with cundo's version is some relevant help files were being overlooked. For instance, a search for printer, pri, print etc didn't pull up the PrinterFont$ page, and it really should. That's a relevant page. Other pages may have been missed as well, who knows. cundo was getting the list from the index file, and PrinterFont$ isn't in that index page, maybe others too.

My last attempt to add Tutorial search works well, but I added a button to switch from JB help to JB Tutorial. The version I'm working on now will not need a second button to switch, and it will include searches in Help, FreeformHelp, and Tutorial, covering all possible Help pages, using the FILES command, instead of reading the index page list.

Don't get me wrong Rod, I have tons of respect for cundo and his work.
I've learned a lot from cundo, and appreciate all his posted code.
Like most everything else in life, the search engine can be improved and really should be to be MOST effective. Who knows, cundo may be working on it as we speak.

Presently I have freeformHelp and JBhelp working, providing lists a bit longer than the original code with some key words. I still need to get the Tutorial help included.
I'm glad I got this figured out. I didn't like the bulky look of my added Tutorial search with the extra buttons for switching from Tutorial to JB Help.

cundo's slim look is so much better.

Rod, you or cundo would probably have this done in an hour or so. I'm still learning so it may take a day or 2 more, unless I think of something else to add, then we're looking at a week or so.........