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1993-06-21
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REPLICA.COM
Version 1.0
Fast Diskette Copying Utility
Copyright 1993, Life Sciences Software
SHAREWARE NOTICE
Replica.COM is a shareware program. If you continue to use it after
a reasonable trial period, you are expected to become a registered user.
Consistent with Life Sciences Software's policy, this evaluation copy is the
full-featured program. It's not limited in any way and has no annoying
delays or nagging messages to frustrate you into registering. The assumption
is that if you continue to use it, it means you want it and need no prodding
to register. Registration brings you telephone technical support, the
personal satisfaction of supporting shareware, a substantial discount on
future versions, and assurance that you have the latest version. To register,
please fill out the form included with these files and send it to Life
Sciences Software with a check or money order for $20.00. If a later version
than this one exists on receipt of your registration and payment, that's the
one you'll receive, on the diskette size of your choice (5-1/4 or 3-1/2) plus
a printed instruction manual. The registration fee includes the cost of
mailing.
FEATURES OF REPLICA
Replica is a diskette copying utility with the following features:
Automatically saves diskette image files to your hard disk.
Instead of getting a fresh copy from a master diskette for
subsequent copying sessions, all you need to do is copy an
image file that's already on your hard drive. A directory of
image (.RPL) files created by Replica is displayed whenever
the program is run.
Excellent speed. One of the fastest programs of its kind.
Copying time is as little as 25 sec to a preformatted 360k
floppy and 43 sec to a preformatted 720k floppy, although
the speed may vary depending on drive speeds. If a diskette
is not formatted, Replica will format it automatically then
copy a diskette image to it (formatting approximately doubles
the overall copying time).
Uses expanded and/or DOS memory to store the diskette image
for maximum copying speed. A source .RPL is accessed only
once, and multiple copies are then made from the image stored
in your computer's memory.
Keeps the diskette drive motor turned on continuously while
copying to multiple diskettes, thus eliminating the need to
wait for the motor to get up to speed before copying can
start whenever a new diskette is inserted. This feature alone
can reduce copying time per diskette by 20 percent or more.
Clock time continuously displayed. Elapsed time in seconds
also continuously displayed during copying.
Easy intuitive operation.
HOW IT CAME TO BE
As a shareware author, I often need to make multiple copies of
diskettes to send to people who register for my other programs. Several
disk copying programs are available, and some are quite good. However, the
tendency of several of these programs to prompt for each and every diskette
copy made, plus an overabundance of options, finally got to me. What a
nuisance that is when there are, say, 50 or more diskettes to be copied! I
decided to write a copying program that asks at the outset how many copies I
want to make and a couple of other questions, then gets on with the task
without further ado, leaving me with no other duties but to replace copied
diskettes with fresh ones as fast as I can. The result was Replica. I hope
you like it.
RUNNING REPLICA
Replica should be run from a hard disk, since the image files it
creates are about the same size as the floppy disks they represent. You
should create a separate directory to hold both the program and the diskette
image files it will create, and you should always run the program from that
directory. The batch file INSTALL.BAT makes that setup easy for you. It
creates a directory call REPLICA on your C:\ drive, copies all the Replica
files to it, then switches to that directory.
Whenever you want to run the program, switch to its directory and
type REPLICA at the DOS prompt. The loaded program displays three options,
and you can choose among them either by scrolling with the up or down arrow
key to highlight your choice and pressing Enter, or by pressing F1, F2, or F3.
The choices are as follows:
F1 - Save a diskette image, copy now
This means copy the contents of a diskette to an image
file in the current directory of your hard disk, then
transfer that file to one or more floppy diskettes during
the current session. This image file can be reused in
later Replica sessions by using F2, below. Note: All Replica
image files automatically receive the extension .RPL.
F2 - Copy an existing diskette image
This means transfer an .RPL file saved from a previous
Replica session to one or more diskettes.
F3 - Copy a diskette image, copy later
This means copy the contents of a diskette to an image
file in the current directory of your hard disk, for
transfer to diskettes later, using F2.
Note that F2 can copy .RPL files made either by F1 or F3.
Selecting any of these options brings a prompt for the diskette
drive letter of your choice, which will be either a target or a source
depending on the action you select. Type the letter designating the floppy
drive and press enter.
Immediate Copying (Options F1 and F2)
If you have selected option F1 or option F2 (make duplicate diskettes
now), your first prompt will be for the target diskette drive. Your second
prompt will be for the number of copies you want to make. Your third prompt
asks if you want verification while you copy. The default is No verification,
which you can get just by pressing Enter. Skipping verification brings you
maximum copying speed. If you want verification, type Y and press Enter
(this choice will approximately double the copying time).
The final prompt is for a name for the diskette image (.RPL) file to
be saved and/or copied. Existing .RPL files in the current directory are
displayed on the screen in alphabetical order. Type in a file name following
the normal 8-character DOS convention for file names. The extension should
always be .RPL, but there's no need to type it in since the program will
supply it if you leave it out. You may need to select image file names that
include some reference to the diskette drive. For example, if your drive A
uses 5-1/4" diskettes and your drive B uses 3-1/2", it would be good practice
to include the drive letter in the .RPL file name since a diskette image file
should always be copied to the same kind of diskette it came from. For
example, an .RPL file for drive A, a 5-1/4" diskette, might be labeled A-Files
while one for drive B, a 3-1/2" diskette, might be labeled B-Files.
Creating a Diskette Image File to Copy Later (Option F3)
If all you want to do is capture a diskette image file for later
copying (or compression into an archive for modem transmission to another
Replica user), choose option F3 on the screen menu. This brings only two
prompts: the source diskette and your choice for the name of the resulting
.RPL file in the current hard drive directory.
Using the Sample Diskette Image Files (360K.RPL and 720K.RPL)
The Replica distribution package contains two image files, 360K.RPL
and 720K.RPL. As indicated by their names, they are image files of a 360kb
5-1/4" diskette and a 720kb 3-1/2" diskette respectively. Both contain
the same three files -- a registration form in WordPerfect 5.0 format
(REGISTER.WP5), a registration form in Microsoft Word 5.0 format
(REGISTER.WD5), and a registration form in ASCII text format (REGISTER.ASC).
Use Replica's F3 function to transfer one of the .RPL files to an appropriate
diskette drive on your system. You can then use either of two very popular
word processing programs to print out the registration form and mail it to
Life Sciences Software. Alternatively you can copy the REGISTER.ASC file
to your printer using the DOS command COPY REGISTER.ASC PRN.
DISCLAIMER
Although thorough tests have found no ill effects from using Replica,
Life Sciences Software makes no claim that the program will work on all
systems and will not be responsible for any damage to data or any other
losses that result from its use.
PERMISSION TO DISTRIBUTE
Replica and its associated files may be freely distributed as
shareware provided they are not altered and all are distributed together.
Sale rights are retained by Life Sciences Software. Commercial services
specializing in shareware program distribution are permitted to distribute
these files provided they notify recipients of their responsibility to
register shareware programs with their authors.
Thank you for supporting shareware.
Pete Petrakis
Life Sciences Software
8925 271st St., N.W., Suite 112
Stanwood, Washington 98292