One of the truths about computer systems is that no hard disk is large enough. I started with 20MB and thought it was too large at the time (!); now my 80MB drive must be carefully watched lest it overflow. Jim Alley has three hard disks (165MB total) to keep up with his heavy graphic demands. But we must all admit, regardless of how disciplined we are, that there are files on our hard drives that could be moved to floppies, even if at some future inconvenience.
SuperDisk! To The Rescue
This is where SuperDisk! from Alysis Software Corporation can help. SuperDisk! is an online file compression INIT which can compress and decompress files with surprising speed. This is somewhat different than our old friends StuffIt and Compactor; those programs are aimed more at archiving by collecting several files together and compressing them into a separate document. SuperDisk! works on only one file at a time (although it can handle an entire folder’s contents) leaving a compressed version of the original. In that regard SuperDisk! competes directly with DiskDoubler.
Working Its Magic
SuperDisk! is very well integrated into the Macintosh System (System 7, too) and is invisible until needed. To compress a file simply append “.s” to the filename. SuperDisk! flashes into action and compresses the file. If you append “.s” to a folder’s name, each file in the folder is compressed and any files added to the folder are compressed when added. If you are saving a file, naming it with “.s” on the end saves it in compressed format from within any application.
There is no change to the file’s icon when it is compressed; only the “.s” gives away its true status. This is very nice, as all applications can “see” their own documents and open them normally; SuperDisk! jumps in and decompresses as the file is opened. Files in compressed folders retain their original names so you must look at the folder name in that case.
The manual warns users not to compress the System Folder, SuperDisk! itself, or your entire hard drive. The program will not allow you to compress the System folder or the System File to protect you from yourself. There is also a warning about compressing open applications or files. It will compress anything else, including applications, and I have seen no problems on the many files I have compressed and later decompressed.
Under Control
A control panel interface is provided to set operating options for SuperDisk!. Here you set the compression method—none, tight, or tighter—you want to use. Each level of compression makes progressively smaller files and takes longer using more memory. Setting your preference here is a little confusing because changing one parameter, such as speed, changes the remaining two automatically. You cannot select tight compression and fastest speed, for example. It would have been better to provide only the selection of compression effect and eliminate the memory and speed controls.
SuperDisk!’s online help is included in the control panel window. When first opened the help window gives general information but changes to specific information about each option as that option’s button is selected. The interface here is the 3-D rage that has infected the Macintosh community from the NeXT bunch and “buttons” are a little non-standard for the Macintosh world.
Other Goodies
You can create auto-expanding documents from the control panel to give to others who do not have SuperDisk!. This is especially handy for uploading files to bulletin boards. There is also an option to assign passwords to compressed files to limit access to sensitive data.
The small manual provided is a testimony to the simplicity of this program. It explains all I needed to know on 37 4 1/2 by 7 1/2 inch pages. It includes an index as well as troubleshooting and question and answer sections.
Also included are two additional small applications, The Complete Delete and Tops Renamer. The Complete Delete does that; it deletes sensitive files so they cannot be recovered using disk utilities such as MacTools Deluxe. Tops Renamer just renames the TOPS 3.0 INIT to avoid a conflict with SuperDisk! (You could do this yourself more simply.)
Performance
The charts shown here document the blazing speed of SuperDisk!. DiskDoubler has been around for some time and has become a favorite of many (including myself) for its effective compression and high speed. The two programs are compared in these charts and SuperDisk!’s speed advantage is clear. The first chart shows the time needed to compress various files at both programs’ settings for most and least compression (smaller numbers are better). The second chart shows the compression/speed ratio for each case (higher numbers are better). SuperDisk! is easily the most effective overall.
Safety is a question for all compression utilities; a power failure or software crash during compression/decompression could result in data loss. SuperDisk! keeps a second copy of a file being compressed in the System Folder until the compression is completed successfully. If a crash occurs you have this copy to fall back on. SuperDisk! does not verify the compressed file when finished as DiskDoubler does; I have not had a problem, but that is an extra level of security not provided.
Oddities
The smooth integration of SuperDisk! also provides some surprises. If you copy a compressed file to a floppy disk from your hard disk, SuperDisk! first decompresses the file, then the Finder copies it, and finally SuperDisk! recompresses it on the floppy! You have to turn compression off in the control panel before copying compressed files. Telecommunication is the same way; transmitting a file will decompress it before sending; not what you’re looking for in that circumstance. The manual recommends creating a self-expanding document for this case.
There are some incompatibilities. The read me file included on the distribution disk lists Adobe Type Reunion version 1.0 (upgrade to 1.0.1 or later to fix), CClock, MacTools disk partition INIT, Symantec Anti-virus for the Macintosh under MultiFinder, Microsoft Word version 4.00C or earlier, and HyperCard with a compressed home stack. Several programs cannot “see” their files in the open file dialog box; they are WriteNow 2.2a, SuperPaint 2.0 (System 6 only), Inspiration 3.0, and WordPerfect.
The Future
Alysis says that future versions of SuperDisk! will include auto-expanding folders, image and sound-optimized compression, MS-DOS compatibility (who cares?), tighter compression, and of course, faster compression. When I spoke to the knowledgeable support person, he told me that there were also plans for a Finder “hot key” to compress files.
Availability
SuperDisk! should be available from all the usual sources by this time. Users Group members can get SuperDisk! for $59.00 by calling Alysis direct at 1-800-825-9747. SuperDisk! comes with a thirty day satisfaction guarantee; just return it for a full refund if you don’t like it.
[Late Flash: Alysis has announced the upcoming release of SuperDisk 2.0, and SuperDisk Utilities (for version 1.7) is available now on America Online and other services. –Ed.]
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The article above is reprinted from Mac Monitor, the newsletter of The Savannah Macintosh Users Group. It may be reprinted in a single issue of newsletters published by non-profit user groups. Payment shall consist of a single issue of the newsletter in which the article appears, sent to the following address:
