Search and Replace for Multiple Text Files

Today I needed to search through a series of text files, find a word (in this case a username), and change it to something else.  I could have easily (albeit time consuming) opened each file in notepad and run a search and replace, but I had hundreds of files to interrogate and change.

I came across a freeware program called grepWin to help me.  grepWin allows you to quickly and easily search for and replace text strings in multiple text files.  ...and for the advanced users, grepWin allows you to search and replace text using regular expressions.  How cool is that?!?!?!?!

grepWin is a must have utility for anyone that has to deal with text files on a regular basis.

Desktop Icon Hack Revisited

I recently wrote about a cool way to position the icons on your Windows desktop with a little freeware program called IconLayout.  This neat little app allows you to;

1. Shrink your desktop icons
2. Align the icon text to the right of the icon graphic
3. Save and restore how your icons are laid out on your desktop

IconLayout did a fine job with #1 and #2, but I found that it did not do a very good job with #3.  After a reboot, after a screen resolution change, or an inadvertent scramble of my desktop, and most of the time, IconLayout would not restore the icon layout to the way I wanted it.  Quite frustrating.

This lead me on a search for a new program that does the same, albeit more reliably.  After a few hours of searching, I found a neat little program that fits the bill.  The program is called D-Color XP.  The D-Color XP author pitches the apps ability to change the appearance of the desktop icon text foreground and background colors.  Nice to do, but not exactly what I wanted it for.  In addition to changing the color of icon text, D-Color XP can;

1. Shrink your desktop icons
2. Align the icon text to the right of the icon graphic
3. Save and restore how your icons are laid out on your desktop

...all for the right price: free.  I have been using D-Color XP for a few days now and it's been working flawlessly.  If you are looking for the same functionality in a small, reliable, freeware program, I'd highly recommend giving D-Color XP a try.

You can configure D-Color XP to load when Windows starts.  When it runs, it arranges your desktop icons and docks itself in the Windows system tray.  Following is a quick screen shot of D-Color XP in action.