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1993-01-15
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DETAG V1.10 Copyright (c) 1993 Copy Con Incorporated Page 1
DESCRIPTION
-----------
DETAG deletes and/or copies taglines from QWK message archives. DETAG
automatically determines the compression type, calls the appropriate
unarchiver to extract MESSAGES.DAT, and strips the taglines. If any
taglines were deleted, DETAG optionally makes a backup of the original
QWK file, then calls the appropriate archiver to replace the old
MESSAGES.DAT with the updated one. DETAG can handle wildcards, with an
optional Yes/No prompt before stripping each file.
REQUIREMENTS
------------
DETAG runs under DOS 2.0 or better. DETAG also calls various file
archive/unarchive programs, depending on the compression type used on
your QWK archives; DETAG can handle ZIP, ARJ, LZH, ARC/PAK, and ZOO
archive types. You won't necessarily need every program listed in
DETAG.CFG; you probably already have the ones you need, since you are
able to read QWK message archives in the first place. If the programs
are not in your path, or if you use programs other than those listed
in DETAG.CFG (like NoGate's PAK or SEA's ARC), then you will also need
an ASCII text editor to edit DETAG.CFG.
DISCLAIMER
----------
DETAG is distributed on an "AS IS" basis without warranty, expressed
or implied. Considerable testing effort has been expended, but the
user is advised to check the program's suitability before relying on
it. The user assumes full risk as to the results of using this
program. In no event shall the author be liable for any incidental or
consequential damages arising from the use, or inability to use this
program.
REGISTRATION
------------
The unregistered version of DETAG is freely distributable and fully
functional, and may be used for a 30-day trial period. If you plan to
continue using DETAG, you are obligated to pay the modest registration
fee of $15. Registered users will receive an individually serialized
nag-free version of DETAG, a free upgrade, and $5 subsequent upgrades.
All registration information is contained in the DETAG.REG file. If
that file is missing, register by sending your name, address, and a
check or money order for $15 in US dollars to:
Copy Con Incorporated
PO Box 23255
Baltimore MD 21203-5255
Please specify 3.5" or 5.25" diskette. MD residents add 5% sales tax.
Thank you for supporting Shareware.
DETAG V1.10 Copyright (c) 1993 Copy Con Incorporated Page 2
INSTALLATION
------------
To install, copy both DETAG.EXE and DETAG.CFG into your path. If your
archivers/unarchivers are not in your path, or if you use programs
other than those listed in DETAG.CFG (like NoGate's PAK or SEA's ARC),
then you will need to edit DETAG.CFG with any ASCII text editor.
DETAG.CFG contains the locations and command line options of your file
archivers/unarchivers. A typical line in DETAG.CFG would look like:
LZH = C:\ARCHIVES\LHARC.EXE a /mt !A !F
Each config line can be broken into parts; using the example above:
LZH = Operation being performed. Operations are UNZIP and
ZIP, UNARJ and ARJ, UNLZH and LZH, UNARC and ARC (for
ARC or PAK compression), UNZOO and ZOO. Not every
operation needs to be specified in DETAG.CFG.
C:\ARCHIVES\ Program location. If no location is specified, DETAG
will search your path for the program.
LHARC.EXE Archive/unarchive program name. If a program location
has been specified, the program name must directly
follow the program location, as in the example above.
a /mt Program options. Although the rest of the config line
is not case-sensitive, some archive/unarchive
programs use case-sensitive options, so this part of
the config line will be sent exactly as is.
!A Will be replaced with the QWK archive name.
!F Will be replaced with MESSAGES.DAT filename.
After making all desired changes, save DETAG.CFG in ASCII format, in
the same directory that DETAG.EXE is in.
OPERATION
---------
DETAG is activated from the command line, using the format
DETAG filespec [options]
The filespec can include a path, and can also contain wildcards. If no
extension is specified, an extension of ".Q*" will be appended before
searching for matching files.
DETAG V1.10 Copyright (c) 1993 Copy Con Incorporated Page 3
OPTIONS
-------
The options can be in any order (even before the filespec), and are
not case-sensitive. Option descriptions are as follows:
/C Config file path. This option is usually not needed unless
your DETAG.CFG file is not in the same directory as your
DETAG.EXE file, or if you are using DOS version 2.x (which
cannot determine the path of the program being run). The path
must directly follow the /C (no spaces). Trailing backslashes
will be added automatically, if needed.
/N Do not create backup files. By default, the original QWK file
will be copied before being updated; use this option to skip
that step. When backups are made, the first letter of the
backup file's extension will be changed to a B. Example:
PROG0101.QWK will be copied to PROG0101.BWK before being
updated. If the original QWK file's extension started with a
B, the backup file will start with a C. if the original QWK
file had no extension, the backup file will have an extension
of BWK.
/O Tagline output device or filename. As the taglines are being
stripped, they will be written to whatever device/file is
specified here. Default is none. If an existing file is
specified, the taglines will be appended to that file.
/P Prompt before stripping each file. This option is useful when
you want to strip taglines from all but a few QWacK packs.
Type 'Y' for Yes, 'N' for No, 'A' for All, 'C' for Cancel.
/Q Quiet mode. By default, DETAG will display progress messages,
and will also show you what each archive/unarchive program is
doing; use this option to attempt to surpress these messages.
DETAG's progress messages, and all archive/unarchive program
progress messages as well, will be redirected to NUL, although
output from some programs cannot be redirected. The only
messages displayed by DETAG will be warnings and error
messages, both of which are directed to STDERR.
/R Read only - do not delete taglines. By default, any taglines
encountered are deleted; use this option to read the taglines
without deleting. You will most likely also want to use the /O
option to route the taglines elsewhere, unless you just want
to find out how many taglines are in a QWK file.
/W Work directory. By default, MESSAGES.DAT is extracted to the
current directory for processing; use this option to specify
an alternate location, like a RAM drive for faster operation.
DETAG V1.10 Copyright (c) 1993 Copy Con Incorporated Page 4
MESSAGES
--------
DETAG messages come in three flavors: progress, warnings and errors.
Progress messages tell you what step DETAG is in.
"Calling (program)" is shown before DETAG attempts to run a file
archiver/unarchiver.
"Stripping taglines..." is shown when the process of stripping
taglines from MESSAGES.DAT has begun.
"X tag(s) stripped." is shown upon completion of tagline stripping.
X is replaced with the number of taglines stripped.
"Copying (file1) to (file2)" is shown when backing up the QWK file.
Warnings are displayed when DETAG has problems with a particular QWK
file. Warnings will not halt the program; when processing multiple QWK
files, DETAG will skip the current file and go on to the next one if a
warning is encountered. If any warnings occur during processing, DETAG
will return an errorlevel of 2 to DOS, unless overridden by an error.
"Unknown archive method used for (QWK file)" is shown when the QWK
file does not appear to have been archived by any of the supported
archive types. (Let me know the archive type, and if I can track
down the specifications, I'll most likely add support for it.)
"(config option) not defined in config file" is shown when the
archive type has been determined, but there is no config option in
DETAG.CFG corresponding to the archive type.
"Not enough memory to call (program)" is shown when there is too
little RAM to run an archive/unarchive program.
"Unable to extract MESSAGES.DAT from (QWK file)" is shown when a
file unarchiver returns an error code when trying to extract
MESSAGES.DAT from a QWK archive. The actual error will have been
displayed by the unarchive program prior to this message.
"Cannot open (filename)" is shown when DETAG cannot open a file in
the desired mode, such as if trying to delete taglines from a
read-only file, or if an archiver/unarchiver is not found. If the
latter, check the config options in DETAG.CFG to make sure they are
pointing to the proper programs.
"Error creating backup file" is shown when DETAG is unable to copy
the original QWK file prior to update. (out of disk space?)
"Unable to update (QWK file)" is shown when a file archiver returns
an error code when trying to add the updated MESSAGES.DAT file to
a QWK archive. The actual error will have been displayed by the
archive program prior to this message.
DETAG V1.10 Copyright (c) 1993 Copy Con Incorporated Page 5
MESSAGES (continued)
--------------------
Errors are displayed when there exists a condition severe enough to
stop DETAG from continuing. Processing will stop immediately and an
errorlevel will be returned to DOS.
Lvl Description
1 Help screen. Not actually an error; the help screen is shown
when no command-line arguments are given.
2 A warning has occurred. Warnings will not halt the program, but
the errorlevel will be set to 2, unless overridden by an error.
3 "Ctrl-break pressed" is shown when DETAG receives a ctrl-break
or ctrl-c from the keyboard. If DETAG is running a program, the
program will receive the break signal instead of DETAG.
4 "No filespec found" is shown when options have been specified
without a filespec.
5 "Invalid option: (option)" is shown when DETAG runs across an
unsupported option.
6 "Cannot open (config file)" is shown when DETAG.CFG is not in
the same directory as DETAG.EXE, or if DETAG.CFG is not in the
directory specified with the /C option.
7 "Cannot open (tagline file)" is shown when the device or file
specified with the /O option cannot be opened for writing.
8 "No files match (filespec)" is shown when no files match the
given filespec. (recursive enough? ;^)
9 "Not enough memory" is shown when DETAG is not able to allocate
enough RAM prior to processing.
10 "Invalid work directory" is shown when the drive or directory
specified with the /W option cannot be accessed.
EXAMPLES
--------
DETAG
displays a help screen.
DETAG * /p /wd:
deletes taglines from all files matching a "*.Q*" filespec, making
backup copies along the way, confirming (/P) before processing each
file, and specifying the D: drive as the work directory.
DETAG progcrnr.qwk /oprn /q
deletes taglines from file PROGCRNR.QWK, sending all taglines found
to the printer (/O), and surpressing progress messages (/Q).
DETAG V1.10 Copyright (c) 1993 Copy Con Incorporated Page 6
EXAMPLES (continued)
--------------------
DETAG exec* /r /oc:\slmr\taglines.mr
reads without deleting (/R) taglines found in "EXEC*.Q*" files, and
appends the taglines to an existing tagline file (/O).
DETAG cci /n /cc:\utils
deletes taglines from "CCI.Q*" files without making backups (/N),
and specifying that DETAG.CFG is in the C:\UTILS directory (/C).
NOTES
-----
DETAG is most successful in stripping taglines with the format
* QWK Reader 1.00 * This is a standard tagline.
where * can also be the "square" symbol (ASCII 254). DETAG can also
strip most non-standard taglines, but due to the proliferation of QWK
file readers, there will always be new non-standard tagline formats
popping up; DETAG will be updated continuously to handle new formats.
The QWK format is Copyright 1987 by Sparkware.
All program names mentioned in this document are either Copyright or
Trademark of respective owners.
SUPPORT
-------
If you have questions, comments, suggestions, bug reports, et cetera,
feel free to contact me by one of the following methods:
1: By modem at The Programmer's Corner (301-596-7692 or 410-995-6873).
Send a message to RD Thomas in the General conference, and check
back in a couple of days for a reply.
2: By modem in the RIME Shareware conference (RD Thomas ->1520). If
you do not receive a reply within a week, it is because there are
still some kinks to be worked out at this node; try contacting me
via methods 1 or 3.
3: By US Mail at the address given on the first page. If you would
like a reply, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
* DETAG 1.10 * Looking forward to hearing from you.
This document can be printed by typing "copy detag.doc LPTx" at the
DOS prompt, where x is the number of the printer port to be used.