Code-2-TXT_v1.3.0.0

Code-2-TXT v1.3.0.0 - Release Notes

This release reworks the options dialog around the most common workflow, replaces the Windows folder picker with the classic tree dialog, fixes a picker bug, and overhauls the README.

New

• Classic folder-tree picker on Windows. Folder mode now opens the classic
  tree dialog (a plain expandable folder tree where clicking a folder selects it)
  instead of the modern Explorer-style window, where opening and selecting a
  folder were the same confusing action. On non-Windows systems, or if the native
  dialog is unavailable, it falls back to the standard directory dialog. No new
  dependencies.

Changed

• Folder mode is now the default and is listed first in the options window;
  main-file mode is second.
• Output splitting is on by default. The "Respect .gitignore" option is
  therefore enabled when the window opens, since folder mode is the default.
• OK and Cancel buttons swapped so OK sits to the left of Cancel. Enter still
  confirms and Escape still cancels.

Fixed

• Folder picker no longer opens twice. Previously the picker could reappear
  after you had already chosen a folder. It now reliably opens once and honors
  your selection.

Documentation

• README rewritten with a clear top-to-bottom flow: what the program is, quick
  start, what it does, the options window, output format, building, technical
  reference, and troubleshooting.
• Added a troubleshooting section and a placeholder for the options-dialog
  screenshot.
• Corrected the Python requirement to 3.13.12 exactly (was incorrectly listed
  as "3.9+"), matching the release build policy, and removed an unnecessary note
  about installing tkinter (the build bundles it).

Requirements

• Building the .exe requires Python 3.13.12 specifically; BUILD_EXE.bat
  verifies this and stops on any other version. Build dependencies are pinned in
  requirements.txt. The app has no runtime dependencies beyond the Python
  standard library.

Code-2-TXT_v1.1.0.0

Code-2-TXT v1.1.0.0 - Release Notes

New features

Options dialog. Replaces the old yes/no mode prompt with a single window containing radio buttons for Main-file vs Folder mode (each with an inline explanation), a checkbox to enable output splitting, and a spinbox for lines-per-part (default 5000, min 100, max 100000). OK/Cancel with keyboard shortcuts (Enter/Esc).

Output splitting. When enabled, the combined output is split across numbered part files (name.part01of03.txt, etc.) near the chosen line target. Splits land on file boundaries where possible. If a single file is larger than the threshold, it's split across parts on line boundaries with explicit continuation markers (FILE START (CONTINUED), SEGMENT n of m, FILE SEGMENT END (MORE IN NEXT PART)) so the pieces can't be mistaken for separate files. Reassembling segments in order reproduces the original file byte-for-byte. Each part ends with a summary footer listing its own entries and the full layout across all parts.

Single-file mode preserved. Splitting off keeps the original behavior: one combined file with an === MANIFEST === listing all entries.

App icon. The window and the built .exe carry an embedded icon.ico (appears in the taskbar, file explorer, and Properties > Details).

Hidden console. The frozen .exe builds as a console app for diagnosability but hides its console window at launch via SW_HIDE, so no black background window or taskbar entry appears for users.

Build system

Reproducible Windows build (BUILD_EXE.bat). Pins Python to 3.13.12 exactly; if absent, prints the python.org download link and stops. Creates and activates a venv, installs pinned build dependencies from requirements.txt, then runs PyInstaller with -F --noupx --clean --console --version-file version.txt. Detects icon.ico and adds --icon / --add-data when present, so the build works with or without the icon.

version.txt is the hand-edited VSVersionInfo(...) block passed directly to --version-file. Edit the four numeric tuples and the FileVersion/ProductVersion strings to bump the version, then rebuild — Windows shows it under Properties > Details.

requirements.txt pins pyinstaller==6.16.0 and pyinstaller-hooks-contrib==2025.9. The app itself has no runtime dependencies beyond the Python standard library.

.gitignore added for build output (build/, dist/, *.exe), the venv, regenerated specs, Python caches, editor/OS noise, and the tool's own combined/split output files.

Documentation

README updated to cover the options dialog, the split-output format, the segment markers used when a single file is too large, and the build steps.

Code-2-TXT_v1.0.0.0

Release Notes – Combine Text GUI (Specialized) EXE

Build Type: Windows standalone executable (PyInstaller)
Interface: GUI-only (tkinter)
CLI: None

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Overview

This release packages the Combine Text GUI tool as a single Windows executable, eliminating the need for a local Python installation. The application provides a safe, dependency-aware way to combine text and script files while explicitly avoiding firmware and binary content.

---

Key Features

Dual Operating Modes

• Main-File Mode

  • Select a primary script file
  • Automatically discovers and appends referenced files
  • Breadth-first traversal with strict safety limits
  • Main file is always included first

• Folder Mode

  • Recursively combines all text-like files under a selected folder
  • Skips common build, VCS, and virtual environment directories

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Safety & Filtering (Intentional Behavior)

Always-Excluded File Types

The following extensions are never included, regardless of content:

.hex, .bin,
.s19, .s28, .s37,
.srec, .mot,
.xbin,
.ihx, .ihex

Firmware Detection

Files are excluded if their contents match:

• Intel HEX records (:10...)
• Motorola S-Record formats (S19...)

This detection is content-based, not extension-based.

Binary Protection

Files are skipped if they:

• Contain null bytes
• Fail text heuristics
• Exceed binary character thresholds

This prevents accidental inclusion of compiled objects or encoded data.

---

Output Format

Each included file is wrapped with clear metadata and boundaries:

===== FILE START =====
Path: relative/path/to/file
Absolute: full\absolute\path
Size: #### bytes
Encoding: detected encoding
----- BEGIN CONTENT -----
(file contents)
----- END CONTENT -----
===== FILE END =====

A manifest listing all included files (in order) is appended at the end.

---

Internal Limits (Hard Caps)

These limits are enforced to prevent runaway traversal:

• Maximum referenced files: 2000
• Maximum dependency depth: 10
• Wildcard expansion: scoped and limited
• Bare filename searches: capped

---

Packaging Notes

• Built with PyInstaller
• Includes embedded Python runtime
• No external dependencies required
• No command-line arguments supported
• GUI-only by design to avoid path and shell issues

---

Known Limitations

• No CLI mode
• Not intended for firmware, binaries, or hex dumps
• Dependency resolution is heuristic-based, not language-aware

---

Intended Use Cases

• Codebase snapshots
• Script dependency audits
• AI / LLM context preparation
• Documentation and archival
• Reviewing automation workflows

---

Compatibility

• Windows 10 / 11
• 64-bit systems
• No Python installation required

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Disclaimer

This tool prioritizes safety, determinism, and clarity over aggressive inclusion.
If a file is excluded, it is intentional.

Use at your own risk. No warranty is implied.