Beyond Compare for Windows95/98/NT4
32-bit version 1.8 beta4, released 7-Feb-99
by Scooter Software


Installation
------------
To keep the download small, this packaging of Beyond Compare does not
use an install program.  The included files (listed below) should be
unzipped into a directory of your choice, for instance C:\BEYOND32.
Use a different directory if you would like to keep your non-beta
version of Beyond Compare.

  BEYOND32.EXE     The Beyond Compare program file
  BEYOND32.HLP     The help file
  BEYOND32.CNT     Help contents file
  README.TXT       This file
  VERSION.TXT      History of changes

A desktop icon can be created for BEYOND32.EXE by dragging from the
Windows Explorer.


Release Notes
-------------
February 7th - 4th beta:
  Incorporate Orpheus virtual listbox to eliminate 32500 line cap.
  Support color printing of reports.
  Add support for rules-based content comparison.
    (Add RulesQC=1 to Directory Window section.)
  Add "Copy to Folder" function.
  Allow touching files on both sides.
  Refresh directory display after Open With, or if file viewer detects
    date change.
  Optionally ignore CtrlZ (end-of-file) code.
  Change legend based on folder comparison criteria.
  Document "older than cutoff" feature as "older than or same as".
  Fix problem retaining Just Matching filter between file viewer sessions.
  Fix overlap of filename and size in directory display.
  Fix statusbar display of bytes used/free, for cases where scientific
    notation used.
  Fix viewer toolbar so that both Thumbnail View and Show Whitespace can
    be selected at once.
  In viewer, mouse clicks on header were skewed by thumbnail width.
  Fix thumbnail view initialization.

January 5th - 3rd beta:
  Fix keyboard behavior of "Compare To".
  Fix thumbnail view for various display filters.
  Set current directory as startup default, rather than ".\".
  Move Touch feature to File menu, and add it to popup menu.
  In file viewer, do not suppress the clipboard dialog if selection is
    all matches.
  Pass current rules to plugins (supported by new LongView plugin).

This beta is for Windows 95/98/NT only.  I have no immediate plans for
releasing a 16-bit version of 1.8 (for Windows 3.1 users).  Version 1.7
for Windows 3.1 may be the end of the line for the 16-bit version of the
program.  In future releases I plan to rely more on techniques that are
specific to the 32-bit platform, such as multi-threading.  I will continue
to support the 16-bit version and provide additional maintenance releases
as necessary.

Please let me know what you think of the changes in this release or if you 
encounter any problems.


What's New Since 1.7c
---------------------
Directory Compare Improvements
Copy to Folder function lets you copy selected files to a third folder.
New Touch Files feature lets you set a specific timestamp on a group of
files.  The directory compare "Link" feature has been renamed to "Compare
To".  It also supports a "Quick Compare To" option.  The Quick Compare
report now lists reasons for mismatched files.  In the main window,
pressing the first letter of a filename automatically starts the Find
Filename feature.  In the appearance options, you can select horizontal
striping of the comparison display to enhance readability.  The "Set as
Base Folder" function changes both sides at once, unless they are the same
folder on the same drive.  During file copies, if user responds "no" to
creating a subdirectory, BC won't ask again for that subdirectory.
Change legend wording based on folder comparison criteria.  Refresh
directory display after Open With, or if file viewer detects date change.

Command Line Options
The following command line switches have been added:
"/syncright" and "/syncleft" initiate unattended directory syncing.
"/expandall" invokes the Expand All Subfolders feature.
"/fileviewer" starts the built-in file viewer, skipping the main directory
compare window.

File Viewer Features
A new "thumbnail" view summarizes differences in the files.  The 32500
line limit has been eliminated.  Added Just Matching filter to file
viewer.  Added support for EBCDIC in file viewer.  If you setup an "open
with" application to accept two files, then the file viewer will pass both
files, and (if configured) both line numbers.

General Features
Support color printing in reports.  Optionally ignore CtrlZ (end-of-file)
control code.  Content comparisons (such as Quick Compare) can use the
file viewer rules for ignoring minor differences, by editing Beyond32.ini
and adding RulesQC=1 to Directory Window section.

Bug Fixes
Added ShowOlder and ShowNewer to saved initial condition.
Added protection against hangup when directory compare window overflows.
Fixed Synchronize Left menu item.
Fixed bug that caused StartCol to be ignored if StopCol = 0.
Fixed "chunk error 2" fault on large files with mixed line termination.
Fixed possible hang on startup when auto-expanding folders.
Fixed overlap of filename and size in directory display.
Eliminate occasional scientific notation for display of bytes used/free.
Describe "older than cutoff" feature as "older than or same as".


To Contact Us
-------------
If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, contact
Tim Thousand at:

	Scooter Software
	2828 Marshall Court, #208
	Madison, WI  53705-2276

	web site:  http://www.scootersoftware.com
	email:     t1000@scootersoftware.com