This software automates text manipulation, conversion, and data extraction tasks through easy-to-use filters. It allows for manipulating tabular data and exporting it in XML/CSV format. Regular expression search/replace, adding/removing margins, and headers are some of the common tasks it can handle.
The software relies on combining processing filters to achieve the desired text manipulation, and users can mix and match these filters to suit their needs. Ferrite includes many easy-to-use filters such as adding and removing margins, headers, columns, numbering, and regular expression search and replace.
For power users, Ferrite has a scriptable interface using Javascript, allowing for customization of the filters. The software handles Unicode files with ease and can read Microsoft Excel-compatible CSV files. Additionally, it can parse text for field data using a regular expression separator, or extract field data from files with fixed-width columns.
Ferrite also includes a File Finder filter that can traverse directories of any depth and execute Javascript to select files based on conditions such as size, name, and date modified. The software has an in-place saver filter that writes changes back to the original file with a backup.
Users can select files for processing based on the presence or absence of a search pattern, and the software can convert line terminators between different platforms, such as Unix and Windows/DOS. Ferrite has built-in filters for outputting data as XML, or users can write Javascript code for complete flexibility. The software even includes a facility to create XML sitemaps for Google.
With Ferrite, users can save processing rules as workflows and re-execute them with a single click. Large files can be processed easily since the software is based on streaming records through processing filters, eliminating the need to load complete files into memory. Overall, Ferrite is an indispensable tool for anyone dealing with text processing and manipulation.
Version 1.4:
Aug 10, 2005
1. Usability enhancement: includes a built-in help view containing step-by-step instructions for common tasks.
Jul 25, 2005
Changes:
1. Added filter added to convert tabular data to Microsoft Excel's XML
format. Parse text using regular expressions, manipulate it using
powerful facilities in Ferrite and export to Microsoft Excel!
2. Template facilities added. Use data from input stream to fill-in
template text. Possible uses include: create custom mail messages,
form fill-in, etc.
Jul 07, 2005:
Extensions added:
* Add/Delete/Extract lines from the end.
* Search/Replace regular expression within each record.
* Search/Replace within one or more columns
* Add/Delete/Extract a range of lines.
* Create Google's XML Sitemap.
Jun 30, 2005:
* Added facilities for XML serialization using the static method
XML.serialize(). Accepts a W3C DOM object, which can be created
using DOMImplementation.createDocument().
* Menu item for selecting files in a hierarchy matching a Shell
Pattern.
Version 1.2:
Jul 07, 2005:
Extensions added:
* Add/Delete/Extract lines from the end.
* Search/Replace regular expression within each record.
* Search/Replace within one or more columns
* Add/Delete/Extract a range of lines.
* Create Google's XML Sitemap.
Jun 30, 2005:
* Added facilities for XML serialization using the static method
XML.serialize(). Accepts a W3C DOM object, which can be created
using DOMImplementation.createDocument().
* Menu item for selecting files in a hierarchy matching a Shell
Pattern.