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Monster Media 1996 #15
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PCBWRAP.CMP
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1996-04-10
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4KB
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103 lines
Comparison between PCBWrap and COPYDESC
===============================================================================
PCBWrap is similar in function to Jim Robeson's COPYDESC v1.02, but
more powerful *and* smarter. I have collected his statements about
COPYDESC below, and follow each with comments about how PCBWrap
compares.
This comparison reflects the truth of that saying: "imitation is the
sincerest form of flattery", so it should not be considered an insult
to Jim Robeson or COPYDESC.
Features of COPYDESC:
[by Jim Robeson; The Cricket BBS, Pacific Grove CA, 408-373-3773]
1) converts short lines to long lines
*** PCBWrap ditto.
2) adjustable positioning of
- 2a) new text by the user
*** PCBWrap ditto. [I handled this somewhat differently.]
- 2b) '|' character by the user
*** PCBWrap ditto. [I handled this somewhat differently.]
3) The program is free.
*** PCBWrap ditto. [I can't imagine charging for it either.]
4) includes Turbo C source.
*** PCBWrap includes Pascal (BP7) source. [It's all I know, but it works.]
5) parses the text so everything fits properly
*** PCBWrap ditto. [Removes existing preceding "|" characters and spaces.]
6) packs the text so everything fits properly
*** PCBWrap ditto. [Multiple spaces are changed to single spaces.]
7) It might work in the PCBTEST environment, but I haven't tested it that way.
*** PCBWrap ditto. [I don't have a clue as to what this is.]
8) "I do know that it stuffs blanks between split-line hyphenated words.
Since that doesn't bother me, consider that "by design". <g>"
*** PCBWrap is smarter, and does *not* stuff the blanks.
[It did bother me.]
9) Also, it might try to compress unique separator lines.
*** PCBWrap shouldn't, due to the extensive validating it does.
10) The test for the "first-line" of a description includes:
- 10a) a numeric in column 21,
*** PCBWrap is more thorough, by testing for a 7-digit numeric value
(the filesize) ending in column 21. If it is less than 7-digits,
it can only be preceded by spaces.
- 10b) a '-' in each of 26 & 29,
*** PCBWrap ditto. PCBWrap also checks for spaces in columns 22 and
23 (between the filesize and filedate).
- 10c) and an "acceptable" DOS filename character in column 1.
the '&' is not acceptable
no lower case alpha allowed ....
*** PCBWrap accepts *any* non-space or non-control character in column 1.
More flexible, but not necessarily good. For my purposes, it is
preferable.
11) description data in line one is NOT re-packed, it is taken as-is.
*** PCBWrap is smarter, and does repack all information in line one -
but only after column 33.
12) Words might get added to line 1
*** PCBWrap ditto. This is what both of these programs are supposed
to do, squeeze more text on each line, including the first.
13) If run without arguments, a bit of help appears.
*** PCBWrap ditto, PCBWrap also will show help related to specific errors.
14) "This version will blow up if more than 39-40 lines are found in
any single file description. If a "hang" is experienced, check
the input file for really long descriptions. You could lower the
number of lines! If I continue to modify this, I will add a test
for this condition. Meanwhile, now you know too!"
*** PCBWrap is smarter, and can handle descriptions containing *any*
number of lines.
15) As lines are being read into the buffer, test for buffer overrun.
If yes, spit out a message, pack what we have, and treat the remainder
of that set as comment lines.
*** PCBWrap is smarter, and can handle descriptions containing *any*
number of lines. It does not need a buffer, but processes the
lines dynamically.
16) Is a column 79 blank [added] in some cases, and if so, is that bad?
*** PCBWrap *never* adds blanks, and never writes lines with trailing
whitespace.
Finally, as stated before, PCBWrap will also optionally (by default)
remove all the "Files:..." and "Uploaded by:..." lines while
reformatting the file, which is a feature not included in COPYDESC.
All this in only about half the bytes!