Ok, so there's this nice UNIX utility that allows you to split a file up into as many parts as you would like. Does the Macintosh have a similar function? Nope. Did someone else realize that people do occasionally need to split (text) files up into chunks on a Macintosh? As far as I can tell, nope.
Well, my winter semester just ended and I was uploading BinHex files to my UNIX account to send out to the world, when I found out that my mainframe doesn't like to receive files larger than 500K or so. So what do I do?
I decided to see how long it would take to write such a program. The answer : a little over 6 hours. Not bad for 4K of code. (Note: That was v1.0. I have now spent more time on later versions.)
What you now have is a program that will split files into whatever size segements you want, or it can fill disks with segments. Now watch out - Splitter will split anything with a data fork, and it treats everything as a text file, so don't split a MacWrite document and expect the segment files to be MacWrite documents themselves. If the file has a resource fork, Splitter ignores it. (Design note : I couldn't think of a "good" way to organize the splitting of resource forks, so I ignore them. Hey - I never wanted anything more than a text file splitter.) Again, Splitter treats everything as a text file, so if you want to split a MacWrite, Word, or WhateverWrite document, don't use Splitter unless you want two halves that aren't whole by themselves.
When you run Splitter by clicking on it, it will first give you a standard get file dialog. Next you will be asked if you want to split the file into a segment size specified by you or to fill disks with segments. Lastly, you will be given a save dialog. It will then split the selected file.
In the save dialog box, the suggested segment name will be the original filename with the segment number appended. ("Report" splits into "Report1", "Report2", ...) However, you can change this to whatever you like.
If you click on "Save All", all the segments will be saved in the same place as the first segment. If a duplicate filename is found during Save All, the operation will be halted. If you wish to overwrite a file, just use "Save", which will allow you to choose the filename and destination of every segment, along with overwriting existing files.
You don't have the "Save All" option when filling disks, for obvious reasons.
With System 7, you can drop any number of files onto Splitter and it will process them all, one at a time - first giving you the option to fill disks or choose the segment size, then Splitter asks you for the destination.
Splitter is freeware. All I ask is that if you distribute it, be sure to include this file, for the actual program has no help in it.
Splitter was tested on a IIsi and a PB160 in Systems 6.0.7, 7.0.1 and 7.1, with or without 32bit addressing. It works just fine under AutoDoubler and a ton of other INITs. (I can never remeber to call them extensions...)
If you do run into ANY trouble or if you'd like to drop me a suggestion (which I am certainly open to), please contact me at :
jtgorman@cs.arizona.edu
(Until May 15, 1993 - then I graduate - yah!)
If you need me later than the above date, there's always USmail :
180 West Country Club
Henderson NV, 89015
Have fun and I hope you find Splitter useful!
Taggart Gorman
3/12/93
Revision History
v3.0
Added the ability to fill volumes with segments and put in safeguards to keep users from creating segments on full volumes. (You should have seen what it did before I put in the safeguards. Ouch!) Fixed some more spelling errors.
v2.0.1 (not released)
Fixed three stupid spelling errors. Thanks to Charles Hoffman who pointed out the spelling mistake that prevented my wonderful icon for Splitter from showing up.
v2.0
Ah, Winter Break! Time to catch up on everything I have been meaning to do! I added some sensible features, like the ability to name the segments, and the ability to handle a disk full error. Hope this makes Splitter more of a program, instead of a temporary hack.
