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The Datafile PD-CD 1 Issue 2
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PDCD-1 - Issue 02.iso
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utilities
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003
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bulktext
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!BulkJoin
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1994-05-03
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BulkJoin - pack ASCII files into single "BulkText" file
-------------------------------------------------------
This utility will combine a number of individual ASCII
files together into a single "BulkText" file. This file
can then itself be packed into a ZIP or similar archive.
The advantage of combining the small files first, is
that this is much quicker and the final archive file is
smaller. A single file is also much more convenient for
uploading to a mainframe. The corresponding BulkSplit
utility will unpack the "BulkText" file again,
recreating the original files.
BulkJoin also converts newline characters encountered in
the input into DOS CRLF characters.
BulkJoin should only be used to combine ASCII files.
Results are unpredictable if it is used on binary files.
How to use BulkJoin
-------------------
Install the BulkJoin icon on the icon bar in the usual
way. Click select once on the icon to open the setup
dialog box. Drag the input directory(ies) and/or file(s)
to the box labelled "Input" and select/deselect the
recursive processing of subdirectories via the option
button. Then click on the "Run" button to begin
processing.
When BulkJoin has finished, a save box will be displayed
allowing you to drag the output file to your destination
of choice. By default, the output file name will be
"BulkText".
Using BulkJoin from the Command line
------------------------------------
BulkJoin can also be used from the command line (or more
likely, from within command scripts).
Syntax: *BulkJoin [path.]object [[path.]object ...]
-o [path.]file [options]
The arguments consist of one or more arguments
specifying the input files (any number are allowed),
followed by the output file specification plus optional
processing options.
object: Specifies the input text file(s) as one of the
following:
(a) a non-wildcarded file name
(b) a non-wildcarded directory name
(c) a wildcarded name.
In case (a) the file is copied/added to the
output file.
In case (b) all files in the specified
directory are copied/added to the output file.
If the RECURSION option is specified, all files
in all subdirectories are also processed.
In case (c) all matching files are copied/added
to the output file. If no matching files are
found, then the first matching directory name
is taken and all files therein are
copied/added. If the RECURSION option is
specified, all matching files are copied/added,
plus all files in all matching subdirectories.
file: Specifies the non-wildcarded output file name.
path: Specifies the directory to be searched for the
file/directory described above. If omitted the
current directory is searched.
options: Specifies processing options which can be one or
more of the following:
-a - ADD mode; input files will be added to the
end of an existing output file. Otherwise
any existing output file will be
overwritten.
-r - RECURSION mode which causes all eligible
files in all subdirectories to be
copied/added.
-t - TEST mode; a list of files to be
copied/added is displayed but no output
file is actually created; useful for
checking when specifying a directory or
wildcarded filename as input.
Example:
*BulkJoin adfs::4.$.source -o adfs::4.$.bulksource -r
Technical information
---------------------
Bulkjoin inserts a special marker between the individual
files that it packs into the output file. This marker
has the format:
@@@@---> filename
In the (unlikely) event that this combination of
characters occured at the beginning of a line in one of
the files being processed, the associated BulkSplit
application would treat it incorrectly as the start of a
file.
BulkJoin was written in C and compiled with the
AcornSoft ANSI C Compiler Version 4. It requires the
Acorn Floating Pointer Emulator and Shared C Library
relocatable modules to be installed. The !BulkJoin
application runs under the Acorn DDE environment.
Copyright notice
----------------
BulkJoin is FREEWARE. The copyright remains with Paul
Witheridge.
Permission is granted by the author to any recipient of
this material to use and make/disseminate copies of the
application provided that no charges are made for doing
so except (a) to cover any cost of media or postage, or
(b) nominal fees levied by public domain libraries, and
that this notice is included with all copies.
Paul Witheridge
1 Ragmans Close
Marlow Bottom
Marlow
Bucks
SL7 3QW
27 July 1993