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README.NOW
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********************************************************************************
*** READ THIS ENTIRE FILE BEFORE USING WINCODE v2.7.2 BETA ***
*** ***
*** THE V2.3 HELP FILE IS THE MOST RECENT (FREE) REFERENCE FOR USING WINCODE ***
*** THE V2.6 W95B HELP FILE IS THE MOST RECENT REGISTERED VERSION ***
*** ***
*** THE V2.7 SPECIFIC HELP FILE WILL BE AVAILABLE WHEN THE NEXT OFFICIAL ***
*** NON-BETA VERSION OF WINCODE IS RELEASED (2.7.3) LATER THIS YEAR. ***
*** WE WILL TRY TO PROVIDE ONGOING "INTERIM" RELEASES SO KEEP AN EYE ON ***
*** OUR WEB SITE FOR DETAILS... ***
*** ***
********************************************************************************
PLEASE SEE THE FOLLOWING FILES FOR MORE INFORMATION:
README.TXT
HELPME.HLP
VSDLINK.DAT
LICENSE.TXT
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:
---------------------
This is Wincode v2.7.2 *BETA*. It will EXPIRE on September 10, 1996. Why?
Because we do not want "unpolished" versions of Wincode floating on the net
coming back to haunt us! :-) Don't worry - Wincode is still FREEWARE and it
is NOT riddled with BUGS :-). This BETA release will allow you to enjoy the
new features now while we concentrate on polishing the product...and hey,
if you DO find a bug, let us know - we'll give you a free HELP file
registration...
Several new/improved features have been added to this release. Most notably,
this version has been extensively tested and optimized under Win95 (however,
no support for LFN, yet!). Also, we have added YACA (Yet Another Coding
Algorithm) and scripting support (see below). In the future, we will provide
native Win95/NT 32-bit versions. Keep an eye out for updated info. This can be
easily obtained by sending a BLANK e-mail to:
wincode@snappy.global2000.net
You will receive an auto-reply of the latest info on Wincode.
CTL3DV2
-------
The file CTL3DV2.DLL is used by Wincode to give it the "3D" look. This file,
however, is included with many other products and may already be installed
on your system. By default, the Installer will NOT copy this file to your
system. It may be in use by Windows and would yeild an (harmless) error. For
your benefit (read = Just In Case), we have included a RENAMED copy of the
file with the Wincode archive. If any Wincode dialog appears "old-style"
(i.e. white face and boxed edges), you can install the CTL3DV2.DLL. The
procedure is quite simple:
1) The file MUST be located in the Windows SYSTEM directory.
2) If you do not see the file there, copy the included file CTL3DV2.JIC to
your Windows SYSTEM directory and rename it CTL3DV2.DLL.
3) If you DO see a file there, check the version number and make sure it is
at LEAST version: 2.26.000. If not, rename it (for backup) and do
step 2 above.
4) Thats it!
ARCHIVING:
----------
In preparation for the coming releases, we have created a new file archive
naming system as follows:
WCxxxyzz.ZIP
where
WC = Wincode
xxx = the Wincode version number
y = R for official release or B for beta
zz = either 16 for 16-bit version (Win3.1x) or
32 for 32-bit version (Win95/NT)
For example, WC271B16.ZIP would be Wincode v2.7.1 for Win3.1x BETA release.
AVAILABILITY:
-------------
With the formation of the _Snappy_ Software internet site, users now have a
place where they are guaranteed to be able to get the latest news and updates
for _Snappy_ software. Please note that our "official" server is ONLY online
between midnight and noon Eastern Standard time 7 days a week. It is NOT a 24
hour server though we CAN receive e-mail round the clock. You may get a WARNING
message but please know that your e-mail *will* be delivered. Note that the
times listed here are maintained given that our internet provider is up and
running and our server is not in use for development...
Please send any feedback to:
feedback@snappy.global2000.net
Please send any bug reports to:
bugs@snappy.global2000.net
Check out our HomePage for further details at:
http://snappy.global2000.net/
PLEASE NOTE: There is now a _Snappy_ HomePage MIRROR site that is online
full-time (24 hours/7 days). We encourage you to please use that site whenever
possible - it will always have the latest release of Wincode and it is *MUCH*
faster for downloads. It can be found at:
http://www.global2000.net/users/snappy/snappy/
NEW FEATURES/OPTIONS:
---------------------
New to version 2.7.2 BETA:
- Yet another coding algorithm has been added: BTOA. As part of our goal to
support all Binary/ASCII conversion methods in one (quality :-) product,
Wincode now supports encoding/decoding of BTOA v4.0 and v5.2. This
algorithm supports simple compression, several checksum options and will
generally create encoded files that are smaller than other methods due
to its conversion algorithm (mod 85).
- We have changed the "File Open" dialogs to be more intuitive. There is now
a Code Type combo-box that will let you change the en/de-code type on-the-
fly. This feature *WAS* in previous versions of Wincode, however, it
required that you double-click the dialog title bar (it would cycle through
the code types). People wrote in that it was not very intuitive...so we
listened :-) You will notice that the "All Files" button is gone :-(
However, the "All Files" functionality (which is to "select" all files that
are of a given "type" - i.e. "*.txt") is *STILL* available. Just HOLD DOWN
THE CTRL KEY and select "OK" - Wincode will process "all files" of the
listed type.
- The AUTO DETECT decoding option will now try to detect the code type by
scanning the ENTIRE file. It will adjust the code type to the FIRST type
that it encounters. If there is more than one encoding type in a file
(*highly unlikely*), you will have to decode the non-detected portions
manually (better yet, try Winsort first which may help). Wincode tries to
recognize UUE, XXE, User Defined, BASE64 (MIME), BINHEX and BTOA. It can NOT
Auto-Detect "raw" BASE64 or BOO. These two coding types should NEVER exist
in a file which contains extraneous data - this makes it "nearly" impossible
to detect the algorithm! The detection scheme works by identifying certain
unique aspects of each coding algorithm. It is NOT fool-proof ;-) :-)
- Several bug fixes were implemented. Most notably we have again improved
Wincodes ability to handle MIME files (now recognizes some "non-standard"
headers - again, we don't agree with the programs that create non-standard
MIME files, but we do it for completeness sake ;-)
- MAJOR overhaul of the Wincode EPD. The E-mail/Post option has now become
both easier to use and intuitive. Wincode now has an "Address Book" which
can store addresses/descriptions etc. The Wincode EPD has been patched to
work with a few "problematic" SMTP servers we encountered plus it now can
handle CC:, BCC: and will deliver mail in a "bulk" fashion thus lessening
the load on your e-mail/newsgroup server.
- Scripting has been modified (as noted below) to work with the new Wincode
EPD. Notably, four commands are no longer valid (compared to version 2.7.1
BETA). This should not present much of a problem. We welcome any comments
to our changes...
The following notes have been kept for completeness sake...
(RE: 2.7.1 BETA/2.7.0 release)
New to version 2.7.1 BETA:
- Yet another coding algorithm has been added: BOO. This simple coding
algorithm was (is) used in cross-platform file transfer where software
could automatically encode/decode the data. It requires PREVIOUS knowledge
of the decoded files output size. Otherwise, inherent flaws in the coding
algorithm (NOT bugs in W