This program combines files for use with the VIX Manager. It is loosely
reminiscent of the WebPack program, and was started before WebPack was
finished (hence the similarities in the name). The main difference is that
there is more control over VIXPack files.
When you run !VIXPack, a window will appear in the centre of your screen.
This will contain the list of files that will be contained in the VIXPack
archive. A row of button icons at the top control several aspects of the
file. These are, from left to right :
Save - This will save the VIXPack archive
Erase - This will remove a file from the archive
Directory - This will produce a window which you can enter the final name of
the directory, when stored inside Voyager
Script - This will save a script file of the VIXPack archive
Before embarking on creating a VIXPack archive, you must bear in mind that
currently it does not support directories. The reason for this is to allow
developers to create VIX archives before 1.05 is released, when directories
will be allowed.
Adding files
~~~~~~~~~~~~
To add a file, simply drag it onto the bottom part of the window. It will
appear at the top of the list, along with a truncated version of its
filename to the right. You will notice that two of the three greyed out
icons will become un-greyed out, notably Save and Script.
You can select the file by simply clicking on it. When this occurs, you will
see that the erase icon is now clear, and you can remove the file from the
archive.
You can drag multiple files onto the archive; in which case, they will be
loaded in one by one.
Saving files
~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you have tried to save the archive, then the chances are you haven't
given it a directory name. VIXPack will produce an error to that effect. To
give it a directory name, click SELECT, or MENU on the directory icon on the
toolbar. This will produce a menu, which you can enter a RISC OS directory
name. This should be unique, and is not referenced by both Voyager and the
VIX manager, so you could use your initials, or the date, or a combination
of the two. If you want to have a meaningful directory name, email
jason@argonet.co.uk to find out if the one you want hasn't already been
allocated.
Now you can save. VIXPack, like WebPack, produces Data-type files. This is
because the VIX Manager will check the internal format to see if it is one
it recognises.
Loading directories
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To save time, you could drag the root of your VIX module to the main window, which will copy all the files inside the directory (but not subdirectories),
and will give the directory name as that of the directory itself. Note that
this is an addition merge, and the previous contents will not be erased.
If you are using C, then this allows you to use your building directory as
your release directory; VIXPack will not copy the source, or object files in
the "c", "h" and "o" directories.
Script files
~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you've got a complex set of files to copy inside the directory, you could
save a script file, which holds the main details of the archive. It is a
simple text file, similar in format to the !Info file. To reload a script
file, drag it onto the toolbar window; if you drag it onto the main window,
you'll add it to the files already there! This **is** a replacement merge,
so all other files in there will be removed when the script is loaded in.
Final notes
~~~~~~~~~~~
This software is provided "as-is", in a rough-and-ready form. The author
will be doing some more work on it, but only when he's got the time to do
it. The restrictions, however, can be worked around, and the program should
