If you do not own Microsoft Word, send me an e-mail message stating what word processesor you have and I will send a copy of the User's Guide in its format.
Please take the time to read the following notes. They are excerpts from the User's Guide which are important. The User's guide has not been update for versions 2.11 through 2.14.
For information on how to use the new features from 2.1->2.14, see the What's New
file included in this archive.
Distribution
------------
Binary Pump may be non-commercially distributed, provided that the archive remains intact. The archive should contain:
Binary Pump
Folder Assist
Icon Switcher
Binary Pump User's Guide
Read This
What's New
About Folder Assist
About Icon Switcher
Speaker
Scan Folders and Quit
Commercial distribution, such as the selling of this program on computer disks (e.g., floppy or CD-ROM), requires prior written permission from the author.
This manual may be copied for use with Binary Pump. Any other use (e.g., reproduction in one's article) is prohibited without prior written permission.
Disclaimer
-----------
Use this software at your own risk. I, the author, take no responsibility for any damage caused inadvertently or implicitly, by this program.
Shareware and Binary Pump
-----------------------------
In the early days of Binary Pump, when it only performed file identification, it was given away free. The original file identification mechanism took approximately 11 hours to complete and source code was also available.
After many more hours (and about half a year) the Filer was added with several additional features and Binary Pump is now taking a turn into shareware.
How Much?
------------
Binary Pump's recommended price is $20 US.
Please send to:
Eric Shieh
P.O. Box 1235
Danville, CA 94526
Or, on compuserve, SWREG ID 6444.
If you have an e-mail account, and would like upgrades sent to it, please include it with your payment. Note that some e-mail accounts have size limitations, and the total size of Binary Pump is fairly large.
What is meant by "recommended"? I basically do not want you to feel that "It's a great program, but not worth $20". If you really think Binary Pump is useful, I would rather you use it, and simply pay what you feel it is worth. I also understand that not all people have money. So, since most people have a skill or trade, I will take goods or services instead: if you are a photographer, send me one of your photographs, if you are a writer, send me one of your books, or if you are an account, well╔you can do my taxes or something.
What you get by registering Binary Pump:
--------------------------------------------
Ñ If you have an e-mail account, I will put your address on a mailing list so that you receive upgrades as soon as they are released.
Ñ Technical support via snail mail or e-mail.
Ñ New disks (containing the latest version of Binary Pump) or a printed and bound manual for the cost of materials and shipping only.
Ñ You can complain and holler about problems and I will listen.
I will always fix bugs. But complaints such as "I don't like╔" or "Why doesn't it do ╔" will be given priority if they are from registered users. You give to me, and I will give to you, that is the way it is supposed to work.
How to Reach the Author
--------------------------
E-mail is usually the best way to reach me.
Internet: eshieh@cory.berkeley.edu
WWW: http://www-inst.eecs.berkeley.edu/~eshieh
Compuserve: 76164,765
Snail Mail:
Eric Shieh
P.O. Box 1235
Danville, CA 94526
What Binary Pump Does
-------------------------
Binary Pump is a Macintosh utility which performs two basic functions: Identifying binary files and filing files into user defined folders.
Identifying Binary Files
-------------------------
The first major function of Binary Pump is the identification of binary files. Although this function is rather trivial for most Macintosh users, it is extremely useful for people who frequently exchange files with IBM PC, Unix, VMS, or any other non-Macintosh computer. Among computers, the Macintosh is fairly unique in that each file has a creator and that Macintosh files generally do not use (or require for that matter) file name extensions (e.g., .com, .exe, .Z, .zip, etc╔). Therefore, there is a disparity between the Macintosh and these other systems.
When transferring files between other machines, Macintosh users will often find themselves faced with the generic document icon. This is an indication the Macintosh is confused about what kind of file it is and what program created it. Thus, if you were to double-click on the icon (to try and open the file), you will more than likely get an error message stating that the correct application could not be found.
Binary Pump attempts to solve these problems by analyzing the contents of these files and setting their file type and creator correctly.
Binary Pump, is not a file format converter: it does not modify the file contents in any way, shape or form.
Binary Pump can also recognize and decode Macbinary files.
Filing Away
------------
In the process of organizing (or re-organizing) their files, people often designate certain folders for certain files. For example, creating a folder named Finance which should contain all files related to accounts, taxes, and payroll. Or, for the graphics artist, a folder named Flowers which should contain all files containing pictures of roses. The key word here is should; it is very easy to have several files, that should be in the same folder, scattered throughout a hard disk.
Binary Pump memorizes all those shoulds so that when you give it a file, it puts it in the correct folder. In this sense, Binary Pump is similar to a clerk: give it all your files and it will (hopefully) put them in the correct place. Binary Pump's file identification feature is also analogous to a clerk's labeling of files, or re-labeling of files (in case the label does not match the file's contents).
Let's Go
--------
File identification and Filing are performed through the same mechanism. This allows files which have been identified, to be automatically filed.
To process files with Binary Pump under System 7.0 or higher:
1. Go to the Finder
This is the program with various icons, from which you run applications.
2. Place Binary Pump (or an alias) in an accessible location.
The Desktop (the gray area) is usually the best place.
3. Locate and Select (highlight) the files you wish to identify.
4. Drag the files or folders to Binary Pump.
Binary Pump will then process the files.
You may continue working while Binary Pump processes files in the background. To place Binary Pump in the background, click on the desktop (the gray, background area of your screen). Be careful not to use the files which you gave Binary Pump to process.
Two situations arise under which your files may not be correctly identified:
Ñ Binary Pump does not recognize the file at all.
Ñ Binary pump recognizes the file, but does not set the creator to the desired application.
You will be able to immediately recognize these situations by the icon of these file types: the generic document icon doesn't change. To remedy this situation, see the section Setting up File Identification.
Setting up File Identification
-----------------------------
One of the easiest ways to configure Binary Pump is to have two different "model" files of the same type; files which already have the correct Macintosh attributes. Files created on a Macintosh have the correct Macintosh attributes. For example, choose two Photoshop PICT files, two standard Photoshop 2.5 (Photoshop's own file format) files, or two MS Word files.
To set up File Identification:
1. Choose File Identification╔ from the File menu.
This will bring up the Tags window.
2. Click on the Type╔ button and choose one of your "model" files.
This is not necessary if you already know the four letter type code.
3. Click on the Creator╔ button and choose the same file.
Again, this is not necessary if you already know the four letter creator code.
4. Click on the Scan 2 Files╔ button and choose your two different "model" files, one after the other.
This will automatically place a binary tag into the Tag field.
If you do not have two files to use, but know a file name extension (e.g., .jpg) instead, type it directly into the Tag field, and include the period (.) in the extension.
Note: File name extensions are case sensitive. For example, a distinction is made between .jpg and .JPG
5. Click on the New button.
This will create a new tag entry. Binary Pump will now recognize the new file format.
If Binary Pump beeps, the tag entry already exists. See below on how to edit existing entries.
To edit a tag entry:
1. Locate the existing entry in the tag list.
The tag list is sorted in ascending order according to the Type code.
2. Click on the entry.
The tag entry information will be loaded and displayed in the Tag, Type, and Creator fields.
3. Change the information in the Tag, Type, or Creator fields.
The Scan 2 Files╔, Type╔, and Creator╔ buttons may be useful in this step if you have a "model" file to use them on.
4. Click on the Replace button.
The old entry will be replaced by the modified entry.
Note: NOT ALL FILE TYPES HAVE BINARY TAGS! If you click on Scan 2 Files╔ and, after choosing two different files, the tag field is left empty, the file type does not have a binary tag. (Make sure the two files you chose are meant to be the same file type.)
Setting Up The Filer
--------------------
Terminology
-------------
The Filer is used to place files with user defined attributes, into user defined folders. Some of the attributes available are: File Name, Type, Creator, Modification Date, Creation Date, File Size, Finder Comments, Finder Label, and whether or not the file is locked.
Using logical statements, attributes can be combined to form logical combinations. For example, if the file name is "Fireworks" and the modification date is July 4, 1994 place the file into the folder "Fourth of July Celebration".
Logical statements combined with attributes are known in Binary Pump as .Rules.
A rule by itself doesn't do much. A destination folder, for example, would be extremely useful (and in Binary Pump's case, necessary). While we are at it, a type of action to perform would be nice also. Thus, in Binary Pump, Sets are amalgamations of rules, a destination folder, an action, and other user options.
Creating a New Set
-------------------
The Filer utilizes sets to figure out if a file should be moved, and where to move it.
To Create a new Set:
1. Choose Edit Sets╔ from the File menu.
This will bring up the Filer window.
2. Click on the Folder╔ button and choose a destination folder for the set.
3. Enter a Set name in the corresponding field, or click on the Helper Button to use the name of the folder.
The Set name is the name that will appear in the set list.
4. Choose an action.
Valid actions are:
Move-move the file to the chosen destination.
Duplicate-duplicate the file to the chosen destination.
Alias-create an alias of the file at the chosen destination.
5. Click on the New Rule button to create a new rule.
6. Choose the rule type from the second menu and enter the required information.
See the section Manipulating Rules for more information on rules.
7. Click on the New Set button located beneath the set list.
A new set will be create an will appear in the Set list.
To edit a set:
------------
1. Locate the existing entry in the set list.
The set list is sorted in ascending order according to pass number and set name.
2. Click on the set.
The set information will be loaded.
3. Change the information.
You may edit the name, edit the rules, add rules, or change any of the other set attributes.
4. Click on the Replace button.
The old entry will be replaced by the modified entry.
To Delete a Set
---------------
1. Locate and click on the desired entry in the set list.
2. Under the set list, click on the Delete button.
Note that the set information will remain loaded in the filer window. This allows you to "undo" the deletion by immediately clicking on the New Set button.
Known Problems
-----------------
The following is a list of known quirks currently in Binary Pump. Programmatically speaking, these have no quick and easy solution.
Ñ Finder comments from floppy disks cannot be read.
Avoid using the comment rule in the Filer if you plan to use Binary Pump to process files from floppy disks.
Ñ Finder labels are not updated until the file's folder is closed then opened.
This means you cannot change the label of a file and immediately use the Filer to place the file according to that label.
You should avoid changing the label of files on the desktop.
Ñ Duplicating/Moving original files over a Localtalk network is slow.
This has to do with Localtalk and Apple's implementation of file sharing. Ethernet should improve things.
It is still possible to place Binary Pump in the background, but your entire computer will run like molasses. I have moved several megabytes over a network with a PowerMac 7100, and things really slowed down. This has more to do with the speed of the network rather than the speed of the computer, so running things on a slower computer should yield approximately the same results.
Ñ Updating icons over a network is slow.
Normally, when Binary Pump identifies a file, or places an alias somewhere, you will see the new icon immediately. However, this is not always the case over networks. It should take about thirty seconds to a minute for the icons to update. During this period, the files will still have all of their old properties (i.e., when you try to open them, you may still get the "Application could not be found╔" error message). If you are in a hurry, a quick way to update the icons is to close the folder that the file is in, and then open it.
Ñ Binary Pump cannot mount Unmounted volumes.
When Filing, Binary Pump uses aliases to access destination folders and is therefore bound to the rules of aliases which cannot automatically mount volumes.
This restriction does not include removable media such as floppy disks, nor does it include Appleshare volumes.
