mINI
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Short English abstract - Note: I'm no native speaker so please excuse some poor phrases.

(*): Changes



What?
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'mINI' is a small dialog driven binary INI editor. It provides the basic functions like viewing, editing etc. and can keep all available INI files on your system to provide quick access. Furthermore you can export applications or whole INIs to Rexx code.

The files in this distribution:

	- \mINI.exe		Executable
	- \mINI.dll		Graphics-DLL
	- \mINI.txt		German docs
	- \mINI.ico		Icon
	- \mINIdata.ico	Icon for data files (*)
	- \history.txt		German revision history
        - \english\mINI.txt	This text
	- \english\history.txt	Revision history

NOTE: 'mINI' does make use of the highly recommended Freeware-DLL FastINI for Rexx from Dennis Bareis (http://www.ozemail.com.au/~dbareis/) if available. You are encouraged to get FastINI.DLL from the author's homepage (current version: fi_98148.zip).



Why?
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Nice question :-)
You obviously will have a good reason to look at INI files. There are many INI editors and viewers for OS/2 available so you can freely decide which one to use.
'mINI' doesn't provide sophisticated copy functions, can't clean up your system INI files and - if not using FastINI - is no performance wonder.
Doesn't matter: 'mINI' suffers my own needs, offers a nice looking GUI with treeview, can edit, view, delete ASCII and HEX data, exports Rexx code and provides quick access to all INI files.



How?
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There's no need for a special installation procedure. Just copy all the above files in one directory that suits you. In case of deinstallation - delete them.

Please take the time and get FastINI! Just unpack it and copy fastini.dll to a directory in your LIBPATH so 'mINI' can support the fast INI funcions of it.
To do so, start 'mINI' with parameter "-FASTINI".
You just don't need to install FastINI. In this case, RexxUtil is used which is not such fast...

Furthermore you can pass an INI file via command line or Drag&Drop on the program object to view the INI directly. This is usefull if you want to associate all *.INI files with 'mINI'. (*)
IMPORTANT: The program object or mINI.exe MUST have set the directory where 'mINI' resides as the work directory (program settings). Otherwise it will not find its own ressources. (*)

Usage should be easy. Just try it out.

On first start I recommend to search all available INI files on your HD ("add" "all") which may take some time. Once done these files are stored for further use and quick access. Of course you can manually "add" single INIs or choose the system ones, too.
"clear" clears the current file from list. "clear" "all" does what you would expect.

The AutoLocator ("Search") allows you to find specific INI files in very large lists and places the results in an extra list box for quick access (just select and hit "return").

"View" shows INI and provides the basic funstions via pop-up.

Rexx or ObjectRexx must be installed.

If you use Warp 3 or 4 it's a good idea to 'pack' the executable and the DLL with 'lxlite' by Andrew Zabolotny to save some space on your HD.

NOTE: If you don't know exactly what you are doing you can make serious damage when changing INI files. This is no special problem with 'mINI' but is valid for use of all INI editors. So please be careful.

That's it :-)



What else? (*)
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-Special thanks for reporting problems, comprehensive suggestions and friendly mail:
  Raphael Tennenbaum
  Raul E. Barragan
  Norbert Kohl
  Barbara Ann Baker
  Aglaja Przyborski



Who?
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mINI is a quick hack but was tested carefully under Warp 4 (German version) with FP1.

If you detect problems or errors or if you have suggestions, please let me know.

Have fun.

Kai Evers
email:	ke@LB.maus.de
www:	http://www1.stuttgart.netsurf.de/~kevers/

mINI is freeware and (c)opyright by Kai Evers.

Rexx export code based on Bernd Schemmer's (100104.613@compuserve.com) ConvINI:
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 /* Distribution:                                                      */
 /*   This code may be distributed freely and used in other programs.  */
 /*   Please give credit where credit is due.                          */
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Disclaimer:
Use at your own risk. The author shall in no event be liable for the accuracy of the retrieved data and the program code or for any damage that the software might cause directly or indirectly.
