Okay, this is pretty easy.  Wonderful directory utility, great archiving
format.  I hope a UNIX version is written soon so the Aminet can start
importing them.  I and all the local Amiga SysOps immediately switched all
our board files to it, no hesitation.  Convert the 1.4-meg LHA "World Fact
Book" to an 850k LZX file.  Do the same with the 1.4-meg LHA "World Fact
Book" in AmigaGuide format.  That's over ONE MEG saved with just two files,
that's good enough for me.


  The trick here is that you hex edit the "SID2.desc" file in the s direc-
tory.  When you look at it with the hex editor, you'll see the various binary
signatures of the various files SID recognizes.  In the last section, #4,
you'll see the various archivers.  Change both of the "ZOO"s to "LZX".  The
"Zoo archive" isn't important, it's the other one, the identifier that makes
it work.  

  Close SID down and fire it back up.  It has a "Load Desc" menu entry, but
it doesn't work.  We want it to recognize the new SID2.desc file.

  The "Zoo archive" is what you see (now follow this carefully) in the
LISTARC's Launch window in the sub-command box where all the archivers are
listed.  If you had the Zoo command there before, it should now say "LZX
archive".  If it doesn't, hit ADD and pick it from the list.  Put "LZX x" (or
"l") in the "Associated Command Line" box.  If you already have it listed,
hit EDIT and change the "Zoo x" (or "l") to "LZX x" (or "l").  Hit OK and go
save the buttons config. 

  Whatever you have listed in the LISTARC command is what runs when you
double-click on an archived file.  He calls it "LISTARC" because he assumes
you want it to list the contents of files, but I use it to decompress files,
so I make it "LZX x".  

  You leave the "LHA x" (or "l") in the Default Command box up above, since
that's still what we mostly decompress (or list).

  That should do it!  Double-click on an LZX file and see what happens.  


  Trouble-shooting:
  
  If it still says "binary file", then you didn't hex edit the SID2.desc file
correctly.  If it says "LZX archive", but doesn't do anything, that means
it's recognizing the file, but you don't have the LISTARC box set up correct-
ly.  That's the LISTARC function, not the LAUNCH function, but it still has a
Launch box you go into.  You should see the "LZX archive" and the "LZX x" (or
"l") option in the sub-command box. 


  Notes:

  You can try hex editing a different part of the SID2.desc file, of course.
I first tried Arc, but couldn't get it to recognize the file.  Then I tried
the ZOO spot and worked.  If you, personally, decompress many many ZOO files
daily, then try something else. ;)

  To decompress the occasional (real) Zoo file you come across, you'll need a
separate standard Launch button, no big deal.

  For LZX's compression string, you should be using:

                    LZX -r -x -e -Y -3 a %i.LZX

  If you happen to have the registered version, make sure to add a "-a -m".
Yes, they make a difference when compressing, hard as it is to believe.  

  Enclosed:

  Some of my config files.  Check out the Sort and Filter buttons for
examples of the %f and %i wildcards, if you don't know how to use them.

  Note that many of my pull-down menu functions are executions of script-
files, rather than actually running the tool.

  Example:  I usually decompress files in SD0.  Let's say I decompress a MOD.
I pull down the menu to Audio/PPlayer (PowerPlayer) and let it fly.  A
scriptfile is executed, which is simply two lines:

CD SD0:
Run Audio:Tools/PPlayer

  Up pops PowerPlayer, and when I hit the Load requester, there's the MOD,
ready and waitin'.  Also, if some tool is looking for some .DAT file nearby,
CD'ing to the directory first in a scriptfile takes care of that, too.

  Many of my buttons won't work for you as I keep a bunch of tools in Rad.
I start up SID by executing a scriptfile, which checks Rad for one of the
tools.  If it's not there, it copies them all over.  If it is, it skips to
the EndIf command.  It also checks to see which OS I'm running, and copies
the appropriate Ed program to Rad.  I just love smart scriptfiles. :)  I use
Rad instead of SD0 as Rad works with both OS 1.3 (default) and the 3.1 kick-
file I generally use.

  That's it!

                               **  THE BENCH//\/\\ASTER  **

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(408) 238-5885
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