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Monster Media 1993 #2
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MAKEBOO.DOC
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1993-05-28
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HISTORY
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[1] Original by Bill Catchings, Columbia University, July 1984
[2] DOS Version adapted from the DEC-20 code to run on Lattice-C (v 2.14)
on an IBM PC/AT under DOS 3.0. Alan Phillips, Lancaster University UK
[3] OS/2 2.x version adapted from Alan Phillips' code to run on 386/386
PCs running OS/2 by Dr. Abimbola Olowofoyeku, Keele University,
England, U.K. (May 1993).
An interactive mode has been added by me to cope with cases in which
there are insufficient/inappropriate/no command line parameters.
Compiled with EMX/GCC. The code has been amended to compile on any
ANSI compatible C compiler. The modified code has been compiled
without any changes on UNIX platforms with the Dynix C compiler,
and with the GNU C compiler. The amended source is available for those
who want it. Mail me: laa12@uk.ac.keele.seq1 (JANET).
The OS/2 version requires the EMX libraries (EMX.DLL and EMXLIBC.DLL)
for system calls. Both DLLs are supplied with the executables.
DOCUMENTATION (taken from the original C source code, and slightly edited)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
This program takes a file and encodes it into printable characters.
The idea behind this is similar to that which led to the production
of UUENCODE. The BOO encoding is comparable. The file is encoded by taking
three consecutive eight bit bytes and dividing them into four six bit
bytes. An ASCII zero was then added to the resulting four characters.
to make them all printable ASCII characters in the range of the
character zero to the character underscore. In order to reduce the
size of the file null repeat count was used. The null repeat count
compresses up to 78 consecutive nulls into only two characters. This
is done by using the character tilde (~) as an indication that a group
of repetitive nulls has occured. The character following the tilde is
number of nulls in the group. The number is also converted in to a
printable character by adding an ASCII zero. The highest number of
nulls is therefore the highest printable character tilde. This is
equal to tilde minus zero nulls or 78 nulls. Because of the three
byte to four byte encoding the repeat counting can only start with
the first character of a three byte triplet.
USAGE
-----
The best use for the BOO encoding is to send binary files by email.
First archive the binary files, using ZIP, ZOO, LHARC, etc., and
then run MAKEBOO on the archived file.
The syntax is MAKEBOO <inputfile> <outputfile>
If no parameter is supplied, or if only the input file is supplied,
the program will switch into an interactive mode and request the names
of the input file, and output file.
Example:
MAKEBOO TEST.ZIP TEST.BOO (encode test.zip into test.boo)
NOTE: there is a bug built into the EOF handling which causes the
output file to grow everytime a file is packed/unpacked. This is
because 2 nulls and a space are added at the end of each run. As
the data is past the end of the file, it does not affect the program
produced.
DISLCAIMER
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I am trying to provide OS/2 users with a service by porting this
utility to OS/2 and sending it to ftp sites. I DO NOT WARANTEE
ANYTHING about this program. I accept no responsibility for ANY LOSS OR
DAMAGE, financial, physical, emotional, marital, OR OTHERWISE resulting
FROM THE USE, OR THE PURPORTED use of MAKEBOO for OS/2, for any purpose
whatsoever. You use this program ENTIRELY AT YOUR OWN RISK.
If you do not like this disclaimer, then you are requested to please
DELETE ALL THE FILES from your disks IMMEDIATELY.
-------------------------
Dr. Abimbola Olowofoyeku
School of Law
Keele University,
England
Email: laa12@uk.ac.keele.seq1