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1996-02-26
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Short: GUI for archivers LhA,LZX,DMS,xDM v1.3
Uploader: johnw@kvnet.org (John Wells)
Author: johnw@kvnet.org (John Wells)
Type: util/arc
Compressor Control Box - v1.3
Jan 20, 1996
by John Wells
This program is Copyright 1996 by John Wells. All Rights Reserved.
This program may not be sold, although a small charge for shipping,
handling, and media may be charged.
This program is a convenient interface for using several disk/file
archivers. Currently, Compressor Control Box (hereafter known as
CCB) supports the following archivers: LZX, LHA, DMS, and xDM (a
pleasing combination of PackDev and LZX).
First, a disclaimer:
The purpose of this program is to compress the contents of floppy
disks, hard drives, and other forms of temporary and permanent
computer storage. The author, John Wells, will not be held
responsible for any data lost through the (correct or incorrect)
use of this program, nor will he be held responsible for any
damages (financial or otherwise) resulting from the use of this
program.
Requirements:
Well, in order to use the supported archivers, it is important that
CCB be able to find them. A good place for them is your C:
directory. Of course, anywhere in your command path is sufficient.
I have included the latest versions of PackDev (v1.7) and DLDiz
(v1.7), which are needed for certain functions, PackDev for
(de)compressing xDM files and DLDiz for Viewing/Adding a
File_id.Diz to a file. The rest of the archivers should be easy
enough to locate. You will need versions of LhA, LZX, and DMS.
CCB has been extensively tested using the following: LhA v1.35, LZX
v1.20, and DMS v1.11. I would think that any newer versions of
those programs would work just fine as well.
CCB also requires the cando.library, v2.511+, which is NOT included
in this distribution, as I am not sure of the distributability (is
that a word?) of the library.
To make things a bit easier, just click on the included INSTALL icon
to put the included programs (PackDev and DLDiz) in your C:
directory.
CLI Usage:
not currently supported (it's an interface. That's the point!)
Workbench Usage:
If you want to see what is happening, I would use the CCB icon, but
if you don't need to see what is going on, just click on the
CompressorControlBox icon. The only difference is that the CCB
icon also opens up an output shell, so you can see what is
happening. I have noticed no noticeable speed increase in NOT
opening the shell, so it's a matter of personal choice.
I've tried to make it as easy to use as possible. Just follow the
5 steps shown on the interface, and you'll be set. In order, these
are:
1) Select Compressor. LhA, LZX, DMS, xDM, LhA-2-LZX, or DMS-2-xDM
LhA-2-LZX and DMS-2-xDM perform the conversion process in the
T: directory. I have found that you will need about 2.5 meg
free for converting a DMS file to an xDM file, and about 1 1/2
times the size of the LhA file for converting an archive from
LhA format to LZX. If you don't have enough memory to
transform the file, I suggest assigning T: to somewhere on your
harddrive. It will slow things down somewhat, but unless your
HD is REALLY cramped, you should have enough room there to
perform the conversion. Also, when converting from DMS to xDM,
I strongly recommend using RAD or an FMS-type drive for the
work drive. It will work using a standard floppy, but it is SO
SLOW! Do yourself a favor, and install FMSdisk today!
2) Select Operation. Compress, DeCompress, Test, View/Add Diz
View/Add Diz works as follows. If the file you checked doesn't
have a File_id.diz, CCB will open up a little window for you to
enter the description into. When you are finished entering
text, hit 'ESC x' to close the window and save the File_id.diz
to the file. Except for DMS. It is NOT cooperating at all!
It seems that in order to add a File_id.diz to a DMS file, it
must be unpacked and then repacked with the File_id.diz. But
don't worry. I'll figure out something! If the file DOES have
a File_id.diz attached to it, it will be displayed in the CCB
Output window.
3) Select Source File/Dir/Device.
Click on this, a requester comes up, allowing you to select the
SOURCE F/D/D. When using DMS or xDM, a requester will pop up
asking for the source (or destination) device, such as DF0 or
DF1, at the right time. Don't worry, you'll know it when it
happens! Just make sure there is a disk in the drive BEFORE
you click on Start!
4) Select Destination.
Another requester. When using DMS or xDM, a requester will pop
up asking for the source (or destination) device, such as DF0
or DF1, at the right time. Don't worry, you'll know it when it
happens! Just make sure there is a disk in the drive BEFORE
you click on Start!
5) Process Selection. Start or Abort
If you are DeCompressing an LhA or LZX archive, a requester
will pop-up, asking if you would like to create a drawer to put
the contents into. This keeps things from getting scattered
all over your drive, and makes it easy to get rid of files you
decide not to keep.
Want more info? OK, you've got it. If you select the Test
operation, no need to select a destination. Makes sense, right?
If using xDM, I strongly suggest assigning T: to somewhere on your
harddrive, as it can use up to 2 meg of RAM while processing a
file. Of course, if you have 3 megs or more free, don't worry
about it. The little memory display in title bar should give you a
clue as to whether or not you need to re-assign T: to your HD
That's it! If you have any questions or comments, or just want to
send a donation (A4000, Corvette, book, game, money, whatever)
please feel free to get in touch with me at the address below.
John Wells
2595 Vonoa Drive
Radcliff, KY 40160
e-mail: johnw@kvnet.org
Greetings, Thanks, and Other Stuff
I would like to thank those who have sent me e-mail, for the
kind words and support (and suggestions!), especially
ashley@apowell.demon.co.uk, who was the very first to send me a
message regarding CCB.
I would also like to extend my thanks to the following:
Stefan Boberg, author of LhA
Jonathan Forbes, author of LZX
SDS Software, author(s?) of DMS
Rasmus K. Ursem, author of DLDiz
Christian Wasner, author of PackDev
Jay Miner for creating a REAL computer!
Amiga Technologies for resurrecting Amy
INOVAtronics, Inc., developers of CanDo!
Adam Chapman, originator of the xDM concept
and Dirk Vael, who took it several steps further
HISTORY
v1.0 - 1 Jan 1996
Initial release
v1.1 - 9 Jan 1996
Finally found a way to fix the niggling problem with
selecting the device to use for DMS and xDM. The user can
now select ANY floppy-type device for use by CCB.
Added a 'history' function to the source/destination
requesters, so that the last directory used will be the
default (hope that is what you had in mind, Ashley!)
Fixed the 'View/Add Diz' option, can now view the
File_id.diz of LZX, LhA, DMS, and xDM archives, and can add
a File_id.diz to LZX, LhA, and xDM files. Sorry, nothing
for DMS (yet!).
Added a Memory display to the title bar, good for keeping
track of just how much ram you have left after crunching up
several disks or directories.
v1.2 - 14 Jan 1996
Spruced up the appearance of the GUI somewhat, added a
pop-up requester to the DeCompress option of LhA and LZX,
to ask the user if a drawer should be created to put the
contents into. Straightened up some code, got rid of some
excess, added the 'About' menu item. Just little stuff,
really. Oh, and I cleaned up this readme, too!
v1.3 - 20 Jan 1996
Finally found a way to make LhA and LZX compress a
directory and include the selected path ONLY, as well as
the .info for the drawer (if it exists). What this means,
is that you will no longer have files that un-compress to
something like: WorkBench:Games/FavoriteOfAllTime/blah
Instead, if you had elected to compress the drawer
'FavoriteOfAllTime/', containing 'blah' and such, it will
actually only have the path of 'FavoriteOfAllTime/blah',
just like it should! Also, I finally got around to fixing
up some of the pull-down menus, take a look at them.
v1.3 - REGISTERED VERSION
I decided to make the LhA-2-LZX and DMS-2-xDM options only
available to registered users, have to give them some kind
of benny for registering! Since v1.0 - v1.2 did not
support this repacking option, it looks like v1.3 will be
the first to give the un-registered users something to
think about. I find the option VERY handy, since it is SO
EASY TO USE! So come on, folks, go ahead and register. It
really is worth it! :)