Synopsis:
========

The RAT Random Analysis Tool
-------

Rat(C) Copyright Bill Buckels 2013. All Rats Reserved.
Random Analysis Tool to determine record length, field layout, view data,
dump data and obtain stats for DOS 3.3 Random Access Text Files (RATF's).
Usage:    rat filename -l(record length 1-256) (-options)
          rat filename configfilename (-options can be in config file)
Options: -n(number of records to list) -r(from record 0-32767) -r(to record)
         -b(byte offset field list) i.e. -b0,10,20
          note: byte offset can be used to select fields of interest only
         -a select all records (by default only active records are displayed)
-s -d -v slot drive volume i.e. -s6 -d1 -v254
command line record length and options are preceded by a dash as shown.
config file options are of the form l=(record length), etc. (name=value pairs)
additional config file option i.e.      h=FieldName,FieldName,FieldName
field header option when used with i.e. b=0,10,20
Output:   7 bit ascii to the screen, can be redirected: rat > tofile

The RAT is a command line program for the Aztec C65 DOS 3.3 "Unix-like"
Shell written in Aztec C65 (CII Version). It is both a diagnostic tool for
determining the contents of a DOS 3.3 Random Access Text File (RATF) and a
file dump utility for RATF's.

The RAT's file dump comes in 3 flavors:

Diagnostic: Long List of Anotated Field Data Based on Record Length Only.
Export:     Comma Separated Value (CSV) Format Based on a "field map". 
            Suitable for importing into a DataBase.
Rescue:     A Long List of each active text field in the RATF.

The RAT's options can be specified using the command line, a config file, or
a combination of the two. When using a config file, only the file name of
the RATF being read followed by the config file name needs to specified...
all other information that can be entered on the command line can be in the
config file, which uses the same single character commands as their command
line equivalent.

RD Random Dump Hex Viewer
--

RD(random dump)(C) Copyright Bill Buckels 2013. All Rats Reserved.
Usage: rd options file1 [options] [file2] ... [> myfile.txt]
This program performs a dump in hex and ascii of the specified
file(s) to the standard output. Default is to the screen but can
also be redirected to a file, a printer, or through a filter program.
Options: r p w l o h t - options with values cannot be combined.
+  switch on - options without values can be combined i.e. +rpt
+r switch - view file as random access text file
+p switch - view file a page at a time - Q or ESC to exit
+w(value  - decimal) - display width 1-16 (default 16)
+l(value  - decimal) - record length 1-256 (off by default)
+o(value  - decimal) - view file beginning at offset (default is 0)
+h(value  - hexadecimal) - same as above
+t switch - view file as 7 bit values (strip hi-bits - all files)
-  switch off - options can be combined or separate i.e. -rp or -r -p
Over-rides: +s(slot 4 5 6 7) +d(drive 1 2) +v(volume 1-255)

RD is a command line program for the Aztec C65 DOS 3.3 "Unix-like"
Shell written in Aztec C65 (CII Version). 

RD has more features than a typical hex viewer including user defined screen
width and has some of the same features as the RAT like record length, but
is more general and provides a view of all DOS 3.3 file types, although it
too works with RATF's.

Like the RAT, RD's output can be redirected to a disk file. But unlike the 
RAT, RD's output is purely diagnostic. 

CHTYPE Command Line Utility to Change DOS 3.3 File Type
------

Usage:     chtype filename -tfiletype (-options)
Filetypes: -tT -tI -tA -tB -tR -tS -ta -tb (case sensitive)
Options:   slot drive volume i.e. -s6 -d1 -v254 (default)
Filetype and options are preceded by a dash as shown.

CHTYPE is included on the RANDOM33.dsk which is the DOS 3.3 distribution
disk the RAT and RD and their demo files are on. It is also distributed
separately. CHTYPE can be used to change a RATF from a text file to a type S
file for DOS 3.3 applications written in other languages like C that expect
sequential text files only.

End of ReadMe

Bill Buckels
bbuckels @escape.ca
August 2013
