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Wincode: Multi-Purpose Encoder/Decoder for Windows
(C) _Snappy_ (1993-1996)
------------------------------------------------------------
written by George H. Silva
***PLEASE DISTRIBUTE FREELY WITH ALL FILES INTACT***
Files: WINCODE.EXE the main executable program
WCENGINE.DLL dynamic link library of coding functions
WCEHOOK.DLL dynamic link library of menu hook functions
WCEFMEXT.DLL File Manager Extension dynamic link library
WCHLPKEY.DLL Help file option dynamic link library
WCESOCK.EXE a companion Winsock e-mail/post daemon
WINSORT.EXE a companion file-sort utility
UNINSTLL.EXE Wincode package UnInstall program
ZIPLINK.EXE executable link to PKZIP/PKUNZIP
ZIPLINK.PIF ZIPLINK.EXE program information file
VSWLINK.EXE Windows executable link to VSDLINK
VSDLINK.EXE executable link to DOS Virus Scan software
VSDLINK.PIF VSDLINK.EXE program information file
VSDLINK.DAT VSDLINK Virus Scanner exit codes
MACAPPFC.DAT MAC Finder information database
SUM.EXE a BONUS "sum -r/size" DOS utility
README.NOW important info file
README.TXT this file
HELPME.HLP Wincode basics and information for obtaining
the real HELP file (WINCODE.HLP)
INSTALL.EXE the Install/Upgrade program
INSTALL.HLP the Installer HELP file
INSTALL.INF the Installer information file
CHECKSUM.REF checksum reference file
FILE_ID.DIZ BBS identification file
****************************************************
PLEASE SEE THE FOLLOWING FILES FOR MORE INFORMATION:
README.NOW
HELPME.HLP (formerly HELPME.TXT -> now a Windows HELP file)
VSDLINK.DAT
****************************************************
This file contains the following information:
I. About Wincode
II. Wincode Features (very brief list! - MANY NEW FEATURES :-)
III. Coming Soon
IV. Requirements
V. Installing/Running/UnInstalling Wincode
VI. Availability
VII. Note to HELP Registered Users
VIII. Copyrights
NOTE: There is alot of helpful information in the file HELPME.HLP. You can
now automatically access this file from Wincode by selecting any "Help"
option (this file is now the "default help file" if you are not a registered
user - if you are registered, this file is not needed since it duplicates
portions of the *real* HELP file :-).
I. *** About Wincode ***
Wincode is a Windows 3.1x program which converts 8-bit BINARY (EXE, COM,GIF,
etc) files to 7-bit ASCII (Text) files (and vice versa) through a process
known as bit-shifting. Wincode currently supports UU/XX/Base64 (MIME 1.0
conformant) and BINHEX encoding/decoding. This BINARY/ASCII conversion allows
you to send and receive binary files via e-mail or any other ascii-based
communications system. It provides a quick and easy way to distribute programs
to people all over the world (it takes a few minutes, on average, for e-mail
to reach across the world). UUcoding is a common practice on many Internet
NewsGroups in which users wish to exchange binary data. Base64 coding is used
by MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) conformant e-mail software as
a method for attaching binary data to ascii e-mail. BINHEX is a popular
encoding algorithm used mainly on Apple Macintosh computers. All these methods
perform the same overall function (i.e. allow binary data to be safely
transmitted through e-mail) but require different formatting algorithms (e.g.
BINHEX supports Run-Length Encoding).
Wincode and the associated executables and DLLs (NOT including the HELP file)
are distributed as FREEWARE. However, we want to make a distinction: the
program is FREEWARE, but it is NOT Public Domain. _Snappy_ still retains the
Copyright to the source code and to the use and distribution of the program.
The HELP file is available for a small fee ($10.00 US) but is NOT required for
Wincode to function correctly. Ordering the HELP file also entitles you to
future updates and e-mail based support. The $10.00 fee is mainly to offset
development costs and the amount of personal time invested. See below and the
file HELPME.HLP for more information on obtaining support.
Wincode is 100% compatible with all standard UUcoders, MIME 1.0 conformant
software and BINHEX 4.0 coders. The MIME (Base64) support was developed under
the guidelines of RFC 1521 (September 1993) and is subject to our understanding
of the document. We welcome all comments and error corrections. We have tried
to incorporate as many extra features as possible to make the en/de-coding
process painless. The average user may not need/use all of Wincode's features,
but they *are* Free!
NOTE TO DEVELOPERS: WCENGINE.DLL contains ALL of Wincode's 'working' code
(currently) accessed through 80 functions/procedures. We created this SIMPLE
interface to allow Developers to integrate the Wincode Engine into any
program. We will provide the API and royalty free usage to interested
developers under certain conditions. Please contact the _Snappy_ development
team for more details:
development@snappy.globalone.net
II. *** Wincode Features (very brief list!) ***
- Full featured Windows 3.1 program
- Easy access ButtonBar for hassle-free operation
- Drag and Drop support (use for batch en/de-coding -> Wincode also
allows multi-file selection from File Open dialogs)
- SMART decoding (handles single files, multi-part files, can
determine what is encoded or not, etc. -> see the HELP file for
more information)
- Fully configurable...We're not joking!
- EMBL UUcode compatible
- Supports UU, XX or User defined En/De-coding
- Supports Base64 (MIME conformant) En/De-coding
- Supports BINHEX En/De-coding (with option to include MAC finder info
when encoding to make decoding on a MAC *very* easy!)
- Supports En/De-coding to/from the Clipboard!
- Supports automatic CODE TYPE detection (just use Auto Detect).
- Supports automatic ZIP/UNZIP (requires PKWare's ZIP/UNZIP 2.0)
- Supports automatic Virus Scanning (requires a DOS Virus Scanner -
see the VSDLINK.DAT file for more information)
- Application menu hooking option to integrate Wincode's menu
- Includes INSTALL program for upgrades
- Includes UNINSTALL program for removal
- Integrated file-sorting companion program (separate
executable for easier upgrading) which handles MANY types
of file header formats
- Integrated Winsock compatible e-mail/post daemon (separate
executable for easier upgrading) to allow for automatic e-mailing
and posting of encoded documents (see Requirements)
- Multimedia support - see the HELP file for details
- It's ALL FREE...
III. *** Coming Soon ***
- Improve the ability to decode MULTIPLE file code-types
automatically. This feature is currently BUILT-IN to Wincode
as the AUTO-DETECT option but it uses a simple 16K buffer check.
What this boils down to is that you can, for example, select a
BINHEX file, three UUEncoded files and two BASE64 files - and
Wincode will be able to decode them all in one drag/drop or file
decode selection. No more changing the CODE TYPE for each file.
- User suggestions...?
IV. *** Requirements ***
- IBM compatible running DOS 3.3 or higher
- 286 or higher processor with at least 2MB memory
- Windows 3.1/3.11 running in standard or enhanced mode OR Win95
- About 1.5MB of disk space without HELP file (~2.0MB with HELP file)
(Sorry about the disk space - this should be reduced in the coming
months with the release of Delphi32)
- ***NOTE*** To use Wincodes built-in E-Mail/Post capabilities, you
must have a Winsock setup. This means that you are using a Windows
Socket stack (WINSOCK.DLL) of some sort connected directly to the
internet (ethernet, SLIP, PPP, TwinSock, TIA, SLiRP, etc). The
E-Mail/Post Daemon is a Winsock v1.1 compatible app and has been
tested with Trumpet Winsock, SunSoft PCNFSPro Winsock, and Winsock
running under Win95. Improper or missing Winsock setup will only
result in harmless error messages :-)
V. *** Installing/Running/UnInstalling Wincode ***
If you have not already done so, expand the ZIP archive into a temporary
directory (or a floppy-disk). Start Windows, select FILE|RUN from Program
Manager or File Manager and type in the full path of the INSTALL.EXE program
(run it). The INSTALL program will copy/expand all the files to a directory
you specify (overwriting older files), upgrade your WINCODE.INI (if you are
running an older version of Wincode) and create a Program Manager Group and/or
icon. See the HELPME.HLP file for basic instructions on using Wincode.
***IMPORTANT NOTE: ALL files (listed above) must be present in the same
directory for Installer to function properly. You should INSTALL first,
then move selected files to directories of your choice (i.e. delete the
README.TXT, place SUM.EXE in your DOS directory, etc.). The install program
uses the Windows LZEXPAND.DLL to decompress and copy the required files. If
you receive any error messages during install, please contact _Snappy_ for
assistance.
Wincode can now be un-installed in 2 easy steps. First, run Wincode and
select 'Options|Configuration...' (CTRL-F) from the menu. You will see the
configuration dialog which has an 'UnInstall...' button. Choose this to select
the UnInstall method. The UnInstaller will remove/copy/list all files
included in the Wincode package. However, it does NOT remove itself OR the
directories that Wincode may have used. Therefore, the second step is to
remove these directories and UNINSTLL.EXE from your drive. Wincode should now
be completely erased from your drive.
VI. *** Availability ***
Recent versions of Wincode (or other _Snappy_ software) are always
available at the following locations:
- The Internet - the _Snappy_ Software site! All of our software is
available by three different methods:
1) WWW forms - point your browser at: http://snappy.globalone.net/
and check out our HomePage!
2) Anonymous FTP - visit us at: snappy.globalone.net
3) Automated e-mail - send a request to our server and receive an
encoded copy by e-mail. Visit our HomePage for more info or send
a BLANK e-mail to: snappy@snappy.globalone.net for a TEXT copy
of our HomePage.
In the future, we will try to establish mirror sites for our software.
Please visit our HomePage for recent developments...
- CompuServe (check the WinShare forum; keyword: Snappy, Wincode, etc.)
- America Online (keyword: Snappy, Wincode, etc.)
VII. *** Note to HELP Registered Users ***
If you are a registered user but have not received your HELP file, *please*
contact us at: support@snappy.globalone.net with your registration info
(name, address, e-mail address, etc). Many orders arrived with illegible
and/or missing e-mail addresses. _Snappy_ uses your e-mail address as your
user registration code. Further, some orders were shipped but *not received*.
We can't track mail failures (we don't have the resources :-( ) so we rely
on customers to please get in touch with us if they have a problem.
Please note that registration is a ONE-TIME fee. In other words, your initial
registration keeps you in our database to be eligible for future HELP file
updates! However, it is up to YOU to keep us up to date with your registration
info (e-mail address) and to request the HELP file updates from our server
(this is now a built-in feature of Wincode).
We will be opening a phone line for support starting in February, 1996. Check
out our HomePage for details!
XIV. *** Copyrights ***
Wincode is a TradeMark of _Snappy_ Software.
- portions of this program are copyright (C) 1983,1995 Borland
- Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation
- PKZIP/UNZIP are copyright (C) 1989-1993 PKWARE Inc. All Rights Reserved.
- GIF is a service mark of CompuServe Incorporated
- WordPerfect is a registered trademark of Novell, Inc.
- Procomm Plus for Windows is copyright (C) 1992-1993 Datastorm Technologies, Inc.
- Star Trek: The Next Generation is a registered trademark of Paramount
Pictures
- The Simpsons is trademark and copyright (C) Twentieth Century Fox Film
Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
- Pinky and the Brain is copyright (C) Amblin Entertainment in association with
Warner Bros. Animation
- DOOM is copyright (C) 1993 Id Software, Inc.
Copyrights or Trademarks referenced in any material accompanying this software but
not mentioned above have been omitted in error. _Snappy_ observes and respects
all copyrights and trademarks.
Have fun!
_Snappy_ Software ;-)
_Snappy_ Info: snappy@snappy.globalone.net
Wincode Info: wincode@snappy.globalone.net
Bug reports: bugs@snappy.globalone.net
FeedBack: feedback@snappy.globalone.net
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[GHS 12/31/95]