Lion Share/lionsharecd.iso/utils_mz/rvs100.zip/RVS.DOC

Text File | 1992-06-27 | 10KB | 233 lines

RVS-RView Shell, Version 1.00                          27-Jun-92


Shell for listing and viewing the contents of several archive types.
Designed to complement command-line RView (RV).  Employs external extractors
and an external viewer (all user-selectable) to extract and view compressed
files from within the program.  Currently supported are ARC, ARJ, LZH, LZS,
PAK, ZIP and ZOO.  Displays either ZIP- or LZH-style compression ratios.
Various sort options.  New:  Added a format specifier for RVS.CFG and two
switches for handling extractions to different drives/directories.  Updated
for ZIP 2.0's new "Super-fast" option.

Contents:
=========
Purpose
Display
Syntax
Switches
Configuration
Commands
Troubleshooting

Purpose:
========
I've never been a fan of any of the existing archive shells.  No criticism
intended, simply a matter of taste.  On the other hand, there are times when
I find my own command-line RView program (RV) inappropriate.  Thus, I
designed RVS to complement my use of RV, and to work the way I want it to.
My preferences probably don't even remotely resemble those of the
mainstream, so I don't expect RVS to become a mainstream archive shell.
It's a program which I find useful, and I offer it to others who might want
to share its use with me.

As with RV, filename extensions are ignored in determining archive types.

RVS is a free program.

Display:
========
The program displays either in color or "black-and-white" based on the video
mode at program start-up.  However, if the user has a color graphics card,
but no color monitor, the display may be improved by using the DOS command
"MODE BW80".  Conversely, color mode may be forced on by using "MODE CO80".

A command-line switch is also available to force black-and-white mode (see
"Switches").

EGA/43- and VGA/50-line modes are supported.  At program start-up, an
attempt is made to detect the actual number of lines on the screen, up to a
maximum of 50, and to adjust the display accordingly.

Refer to RV.DOC, distributed with the current release of RV, for a
discussion of RV's display (similar to that of RVS).

Syntax:
=======

        Usage:  RVS [switches] [filespec]

If no extension is specified for "filespec", ".*" is assumed.  If a valid
filename is specified unambiguously, the file is immediately displayed.
Either specifying "filespec" using wildcards, or specifying a drive or
directory name causes a scrollable directory window to pop up.  Simply
typing the program name is the same as specifying "*.*".

        Examples:       RVS C:          <- current directory of drive C:
                        RVS D:\         <- root of drive D:
                        RVS \PCPLUS\DL  <- DL subdirectory of \PCPLUS

Switches:
=========

/A        Alternate compression ratio.  ZIP-style compression ratios are
          displayed by default.  Use this switch to display LZH-style
          ratios.  (Tip:  Include this switch in RVS.CFG to always display
          LZH-style ratios.)

/BW       Black-and-White mode.  Provided as an alternative to using DOS's
          "MODE BW80" command.

/O[path]  Output path for extractions ("out_path").  For use in conjunction
          with the "%o" format specifier (see "Configuration").  If no path
          is specified, the current directory is used.  Also specifies which
          directory to use for temporary extractions when viewing, if /T is
          not used.

/Sx[-]    Where 'x' represents N/E/D/O/P/R/U, as follows:

          SN - Sort by Name (default)
          SE - Sort by Extension
          SD - Sort by Date/time
          SO - Sort by Original size
          SP - Sort by Packed size
          SR - Sort by compression Ratio
          SU - leave Unsorted

          Appending a hyphen '-' to the above switches will reverse the
          sense of the sort from ascending to descending.

/T[path]  Temporary extraction path for viewing ("temp_path").  For use in
          conjunction with the "%o" format specifier (see "Configuration").
          This could point to a RAM-disk, for instance.  This overrides the
          directory implied by the "/O" switch when viewing.

Tip:  When using the /O or /T switch, it might be better to end each "path"
designation with a backslash, '\'.  Note that, if "C:\TEMP" is the name of
your temporary extraction directory, "PKUNZIP archive.zip D:\temp" will work
but "LHA e archive.lzh D:\temp" will not.  For LHA, the trailing backslash
is mandatory.

Either '/' or '-' may be used to specify switches.

Entering an invalid switch causes the program to display a brief help screen
then exit.

        Examples:       RVS /h
                        RVS -?

Configuration:
==============
An optional configuration file containing user-selected default switches may
be created or edited with any editor or word processor which can save pure
ASCII text files.  This file should be named "RVS.CFG" and placed in the
same directory from which RVS.EXE will be loaded (DOS 3.0 and above).

Switches, including switch options, may be separated by spaces or placed on
separate lines.

In addition to specifying "true" switches, RVS.CFG should also contain lines
assigning which command to use for viewing extracted files, and which
commands to use for extracting files from archives.

The syntax for specifying the *single* view command is:

/V="command"

Where:  "command" should be set to the command line, including arguments, of
          the view command you wish to run.

"command" should at least include the "%f" format specifier, which
represents the currently highlighted compressed file.

Example:        /V="LIST %f"

The syntax for specifying the extract commands is:

/E<xxx>="command"

Where:  <xxx> is "arc", "arj", "lzh", "lzs", "pak", "zip" or "zoo".
        "command" should be set to the command line, including arguments, of
          the extraction command you wish to run for that archive type.

"command" would typically include both the "%a" and "%f" format specifiers,
which represent the archive name and selected compressed file, respectively.

The "%o" format specifier may also be embedded in extract commands.  It
indicates where in "command" either "out_path" or "temp_path" (see
"Switches") should be inserted when "command" is executed.  Please bear in
mind that some unarchivers may not support redirection of extractions to
different drives or directories.

        Examples:       /Earj="ARJ e %a %f"
                        /Elzh="LHA e %a %o %f"
                        /Ezip="PKUNZIP %a %o %f"

True switches should be placed on separate lines from those assigning
commands.

Incompatible switches used on the command line will override switches
included in RVS.CFG.  Switches are evaluated from left to right.

A sample RVS.CFG file is included in the distribution archive for RVS, which
the user may edit to "customize" RVS's behavior.

Commands:
=========
While viewing the contents of an archive, the following commands may be
used:

Pressing the letter 'E' will cause the currently selected file(s) to be
extracted by the appropriate extraction program specified in RVS.CFG.

By "currently selected" is meant either any tagged files, or the currently
highlighted file, if no files are tagged.

Files may be tagged either individually or by wildcard selection.  The <Ins>
key may be used as a toggle to select and unselect individual files.
Pressing <Ins> on an unselected file selects it.  Pressing <Ins> on a
selected file unselects it.  To select a group of files using DOS-type
wildcards, press the plus ('+') key.  This opens up an input window into
which a file specification may be entered.  To unselect a group of files,
press the minus ('-').  This opens up an input window similar to the one for
selection.  The suggested keys are the gray plus and minus keys found near
the numeric keypad of many keyboards.

Pressing the letter 'V' will cause the currently highlighted file to be
extracted and displayed by the appropriate commands specified in RVS.CFG.
The extracted file will be erased after exiting the view program.

Pressing the letter 'O' will allow the user to edit "out_path" on the fly.
Useful for temporarily overriding the /O switch setting specified either in
RVS.CFG or from the command line.

Pressing the letter 'T' will toggle the display between the default listing
and one showing full pathnames.  This command is only available for
supported archives types with paths stored.

Pressing <Esc> or the letter 'Q' will exit the program.

Troubleshooting:
================
This is by no means an exhaustive list, but here are some common problems
and their possible solutions:

LHA doesn't recognize either "out_path" or "temp_path":  Make sure your path
specifications for /O and /T end with the backslash, '\'.

"Sharing violation" when trying to extract or view an LZH file.  If
possible, try restarting the system without loading SHARE.EXE.  LHA, at
least up to Version 2.13, appears to open files in "Compatibility" mode.
When both RVS and LHA tries to look at the same file at the same time with
SHARE.EXE loaded, this error results.  If all else fails, use LHA from the
command-line.

--

                Raymond T. Kaya
                P. O. Box 1436
                Honolulu, HI  96806

                CompuServe:  71230,2500
                GEnie     :  R.KAYA1