Readme file for AntConc 2.0

Developed by Laurence Anthony
Dept. of Information and Computer Engineering
Okayama University of Science
1-1 Ridai-cho
Okayama 700-0001
Japan
August 22nd, 2002

AntConc 2.0 is a simple concordance program written in Perl using ActiveState's excellent Komodo 1.2 development environment. The program can be launched by simply double clicking on the file "antconc2_0.exe" which can be downloaded from the Laurence Anthony laboratory website at antpc1.ice.ous.ac.jp. The program can run under any windows environment including Win 98/Me/2000/NT. If a user finds any problem launching the program under a particular Windows OS, please inform me using the email address below.

Currently, AntConc 2.0 can generate concordance lines either from a single text or a set of texts stored in a single directory. A single text to be analysed can be chosen by selecting 'Open File' from the 'File' menu. Similarly, a set of texts can be chosen by selecting 'Open Dir' from the 'File' menu. A list of the chosen files  is displayed in on the left of the main window, below the name of the chosen directory (if appropriate). The output display can be saved by selecting 'Save Output' from the 'File' menu. The color used to highlight the search term in the concordance lines can be changed from the default color 'blue' be selecting the 'Highlight Color' option in the 'Options' menu.

A new option in AntConc2.0 is a sort feature, whereby the results can be realligned in alphabetical order according to either the target word, or words to the left or right of the target word. The word on which to rearrange the concordance lines is chosen via the button bar at the bottom of the main window.

To produce a set of concordance lines of text, a user needs to perform 4 actions:

1) Select either a single file or set of files stored in a single directory (see above)
2) Enter a search term on which to build concordance lines in the entry box on the left of the button bar.
3) Choose the number of text characters to be outputted on either side of the search term, using the increase and decrease buttons on the right of the button bar (default value is 20 characters)
4) Click on the 'Start' button in the main window to start the concordance lines results generation
(Note: The concordance generation can be halted at any time by clicking on the 'Stop' button in the main window)
5) Select a target word on which to rearrange the concordance lines. 0 is search word, 1L, 2L.. are words to the left of the target word, 1R, 2R .. are words to the right of the target word
6) Click on the 'Sort' button to start the sorting process.


AntConc 2.0 can be used freely for non-profit research purposes, and freely distributed on the condition that this readme file is attached in an unaltered state. The software comes on an 'as is' basis, and the author will accept no liability for any damage that may result from using the software. Although there is no support available for AntConc 2.0, the author would be happy to hear comments and/or suggestions from anyone using the software, and will try to fix any bugs etc. when time is available.


Revision History

2.0	Added new sort feature, for rearranging concordance lines.
	Tidied up the interface.
	Made the system more robust for novice users. (Now bad input will not cause the system to crash so easily).

1.1	Added binding to allow return key to launch concordance search.
	Also, recompiled software so that no console is required.

1.0	First version

Laurence Anthony
anthony@ice.ous.ac.jp