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1991-08-15
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239 lines
KOPYCAT File-Copying Utility
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Version 2.5
91-08-15
KOPYCAT is a file-copying program designed for single-floppy
systems. It can also be used as an ordinary copy program.
Assuming you have a hard drive and one floppy drive, how do
you copy a file from one disk to another? The normal procedure
would be to:
1) insert the source disk
2) copy the file onto your hard drive
3) swap disks
4) copy the file from your hard drive onto the floppy
5) delete the file from your hard drive
Even with drives of different sizes a similar scenario occurs. Both
situations involve a lot of disk shuffling and file fiddling.
With KOPYCAT, here's what happens:
1) insert your source disk
2) tell KOPYCAT which file you want to copy
3) swap disks when prompted
4) press <ENTER>
That doesn't look like a terrific energy saving, but after trying
both methods I'm sure you will agree KOPYCAT makes life a lot
easier.
As an added feature, it even lets you make more than one copy of a
file. Just keep swapping disks and tell KOPYCAT you want to `Make
another copy', and it will. No need to read the source file over
and over ... it's already in RAM.
Finally, KOPYCAT retains the file attributes of the original file
(Archive, System, Read-Only, Hidden) and also duplicates the date
and time.
Usage
^^^^^
* * * NEW FEATURE * * * beginning with version 2.3
KOPYCAT now accepts up to 2 command line arguments. These are a
filename to copy FROM and a switch to turn off the integrity
checking. They can be in
either order, and are not case sensitive. The switch to turn off
integrity checking is '-v' or '-V'. For example, if you were to
type:
kopycat -v myfile.doc or
kopycat myfile.doc -V
you would bypass the integrity check AND the opening screen, and be
presented with a prompt for a file to copy TO. The FROM prompt
would be filled in with 'myfile.doc'. By using the '-v' switch
during all runs of KOPYCAT, you can compress KOPYCAT.EXE using
PKLite or Diet or other similar programs. Remember to un-compress
it if you want to check it once in a while. If the integrity switch
is left out, KOPYCAT will go through with it, and if all is OK,
pass on to the opening screen.
When you run KOPYCAT * without * the integrity check, it checks
itself for tampering, either from a virus or someone fiddling with
my program. If the program finds a problem, it will abort.
Remember, if you have squeezed KOPYCAT.EXE, you must unsqueeze it
before checking the integrity, or it will definitely fail.
Depending on whether you provide a filename on the command-line or
not, you may be presented with an opening screen and a brief
description of the program. After pressing a key you are prompted
for a filename to copy FROM.
Let's say you have a file on a floppy disk (MYFILE.DOC) and you
want to copy it to another floppy disk. At the first prompt, you
would type `a:\myfile.doc'. KOPYCAT looks for the file on drive A:
and if it finds it, copies it into RAM. You are then prompted for
the name of the file you want to copy it TO.
At this point you have a couple of options. Pressing <ENTER> will
recall EXACTLY what you typed in at the first prompt. This is
useful when you are copying a file to another floppy disk and want
to retain the same name. You can also rename the file while
copying, or type in any other location you wish. For this example,
you could just press <ENTER> and the line will be filled in with
`A:\MYFILE.DOC'.
*
* *
* * *
Don't be alarmed when the drive light goes on before you are
prompted for the Target disk. I'm checking to see if the drive
is actually a removable media or not. I do this simply to
avoid asking someone to `Insert Target disk in Drive C:'. A
small thing perhaps, but I like it. If enough people complain
about it, I'll rearrange things. If there is no disk in the
target drive, KOPYCAT will eventually ask you to insert one.
* * *
* *
*
Next you are prompted to insert the target disk. Press a key when
you have done this, and KOPYCAT first determines if there is enough
room to make the copy. If not, you are notified, and prompted for
another disk.
If there is enough room, KOPYCAT next checks the directories you
named. If they don't exist, KOPYCAT will ask you if you want to
create them. If you answer affirmative, things move along. If you
answer negative, you are brought back to enter a file to copy TO.
If the file you want to copy TO already exists, you will be
informed, and given a choice to replace it or not. It doesn't
matter whether the file is Read-Only, Hidden, System or any
combination. If you answer `yes' to replace it, KOPYCAT first
erases the file, then checks to ensure there is enough space on the
disk to continue with the copy.
Upon successfully copying your file, you are asked whether you want
to make another copy, copy another file, or quit. Making another
copy is slightly different from copying another file. The first
choice means you want to make more copies of the SAME FILE. The
second choice is when you want to copy a DIFFERENT FILE.
What KOPYCAT Does ...
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Only legal characters for filenames are allowed. This includes some
of the Alt-numeric keypad codes.
If it can't find the file you want to copy FROM, it will tell you,
and after a brief pause, prompt you again.
If it can't find the Target Drive you specified, it will tell you
and ask you again for the file to copy TO.
If there isn't enough memory in your system to copy the whole file
into RAM, KOPYCAT will tell you, then prompt you for another file.
If there is not enough space on the Target Disk, KOPYCAT informs
you, and prompts you to insert another disk.
If the file exists on the Target Disk, KOPYCAT tells you, and gives
you the option of erasing it or not.
If you give it non-existent sub-directory/ies to copy a file TO,
you will be informed, and asked whether you wish to create it/them.
If you answer in the affirmative, KOPYCAT will create the sub-
directory/ies, then copy your file.
Remember that directories are technically files, and as such they
are limited to 11 characters long and blank spaces are not allowed.
In addition, if the name is longer than 8 characters, it must have
a `.' after the 8th character, or else it gets truncated. A
directory name like `MYTOOLBOX' will get chopped to `MYTOOLBO',
however `MYTOOL.BOX' would be OK. Check your DOS manual for more
information on subdirectories. Also, DOS limits the number of
subdirectories you can have off the root. Different versions of DOS
do different things. For now, check it out. In future versions of
KOPYCAT I may include routines to check this for you.
If the disk you want to copy a file TO is write-protected, you will
be informed, and given an opportunity to remove the protection.
When you exit the program all memory used by KOPYCAT is freed up.
What KOPYCAT Doesn't ...
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
KOPYCAT does not copy multiple files. In other words you can't
answer something like `a:\*.exe' to the first prompt. Perhaps in a
future release.
KOPYCAT does not use spill files, or temporary files.
KOPYCAT does not massage directory names to conform to DOS
standards. It is your responsibility to pass a legal name to
KOPYCAT. In future releases, I may include routines to check this
for you.
Legalese ...
^^^^^^^^^^^^
KOPYCAT is copyright by me (Amer Neely) 1990 - 1991 but is
distributed as shareware. That means you can use it and give copies
to your friends or upload it to electronic BBSs'. If you do please
include this file along with the executable. If you like the
program please consider sending me a monetary contribution. The
amount is up to you. Make a money order or cheque payable to:
Amer Neely / Softouch Ltd.
P.O. Box 1538 Station B
London Ontario CANADA
N6A 5M3
I have done my best to see the program operates in the manner
described and is well-behaved. In the event of real or perceived
data loss or damage, or hardware damage, you the user assume all
responsibility.
Professor Timo Salmi of The University of Vassa, Finland, has
kindly given me permission to use some of his Turbo Pascal
routines. He is a prolific writer of Turbo Pascal units and is also
the moderator of the anonymous ftp site `garbo.uwasa.fi' on the
Internet. Thank you Professor Salmi.
William C. Thompson deserves mention for his XCRT unit. This is an
extension to the normal Turbo Pascal CRT unit. Some handy routines
in there. I use the box-drawing procedure, slightly altered to work
on either mono or color systems. He can be reached at
`wct@po.cwru.edu' on the Internet. Thank you Mr. Thompson.
KOPYCAT History ...
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
2.5 Fixed bug allowing a non-existent drive to be entered as a
Target Drive.
2.4 Fixed box-drawing routine so it works on color systems.
2.3 Added command-line arguments (filename and/or integrity
switch). Better check for write-protection on Target Disk.
Started including this file with distribution.
2.2 Tightened up file reading/writing code. Eliminated a lot of
extraneous code.
2.1 Not sure what I did here. Guess that shows how well I document
my work!
2.0 First release to general public.
Amer Neely
91-08-15
bcnu...
+--------------------------------*------------------------------+
| Life is a fractal ... | Amer Neely |
| | P.O. Box 1538 Stn. B |
| in Hilbert Space! ;-) | London ON CANADA N6A 5M3 |
| | CIS: 71650,763 |
+--------------------------------*------------------------------+