DTP Toolbox/DTPToolbox.iso/utilities/archiveutils/dmsui/english.doc

Text File | 1992-08-03 | 17.9 KB | 438 lines

               DMS userinterface v2.0

             (c) 1991-92 Mathias 'Ice' Axelsson

                  Released 920803


   About this program

    What you need to run this program is, for the first, an Amiga
    with 512k of RAM and a diskdrive. Furthermore you need the DMS
    package (Generic version) which can be found at any PD library.
    Both v1.03 and the new v1.11 is supported by this program and
    you _MUST_ have the generic (CLI) version of the DMS program.
    You may also need the UnWarp program which is also to be found
    in any PD library (but it's not necessary to run DMSui).
    The DMSui program is just a userinterface to make the whole
    thing a lot easier, using requesters to get files and so on.
    DMS userinterface is from this point refered to as DMSui.

   Getting started

    To install this program on your HD just run the script 'Install'
    using either 'execute Install' or just doubleclicking the icon
    from the workbench.
    This will copy the necessary files to your HD paths, making it
    easier for you to just run the DMSui program.

    After that you have to copy the DMSui program to your HD. Put it
    in the C: directory or anywhere you like in your path.

    To install DMSui on your Workbench just drag its icon to the
    desired drawer.

    At last you need to install the DMS program. Put it in the C:
    directory or in any other directory (It's just to specify that
    directory in the preferences in DMSui). You may also need to
    install the UnWarp program. Put that file in the same directory
    as the DMS program.

    Now the installation is complete and you can run DMSui.

   Different fileformats

    In version 2 of the DMSui program I have made a lot of changes.
    The mayor change from v1.4 is that I now have written an own
    filerequester which can handle files from different directorys
    (This is explained fully later in this documentation).
    There are three types of files supported by DMSui. These are
    .paths, .files and .clist. A quick description of these is:

    .paths means a textfile containing the different directorys
           to scan for files.

    .files means a file containing a list of the scanned files and
           which directory they belong to.

    .clist means a textfile containing names of the files you want
           to be selected in the filerequester.

   Disclaimer

    DMS userinterface v2.0 may me freely distributed by any PD library
    as long as no charge is taken for the program. DMSui is a SHAREWARE
    product which means that if you use it a lot you should register
    and pay the shareware fee which at the time is 100 SKR for people
    living in the Nordic countries and 20 US$ for Europees and other
    countries. The registration gives you one free upgrade of the
    program (when I have finished it). I have spent a lot of time
    programming and improving this program so please support my
    program and pay the shareware fee. PD libraries are free to contact
    me for distribution.

   Documentation

    First I will explain the fileformats fully, because these are the
    mayor improvement in this upgrade. In DMSui v2.0 you can use my
    own filerequester which makes it possible to see all files you have
    in the different directorys in one filerequester. This is useful
    for people running BBS:s and people with big HD:s. You can specify
    all the directorys you have files in and let DMSui scan the files
    for you and you don't need to search for which directory you have
    put a specified file in.

    Paths file
       This file is a textfile which contains the different directorys
       to be scanned for files. It can look as follows:

       DH0:BBS/Upload
       DH2:NewUploads/
       DH1:Board1/NewUploads/TempStorage

       As you can see it doesn't matter if you put a slash at the end
       of the path because DMSui can handle both. If you, for any
       reason, would like to skip a directory you can put a semicolon
       in the beginning of the row like this:

       ;DH2:NewUploads/

       This makes the DMSui skip this directory when it scans for files.
       If you make one empty row all the rest directorys will be skipped.

    FList file
       This is a file which contains all the files that have been found
       during the scan. It also contains data on which path it was found
       in and the filesize.

    CList file
       This file is much like the paths file except that this file
       contains a list of filenames to be marked in the filerequester
       (Only in the filerequester I have written). This is useful if
       you would like to unpack a lot of disks and don't want to sit
       and select all the files by hand.

    Now I will explain all the functions in DMSui.

    Filename
       Here you can type the name of the file you want to process. You
       must specify the path as well or DMSui will assume that the file
       will be in the current directory. You can choose the filename by
       either clicking the stringgadget and type the names by hand or
       you can click on the GET gadget to the right of the stringgadget
       to get a filerequester to choose the filenames for you. If you
       choose to use the filerequester you can multiselect up to four
       files that you want to choose by holding down the SHIFT key and
       licking on the filenames. The filenames are used as follows:

       Read:   If you specify more than one filename the DMSui program
              will split up the disk into two parts, the first with
              starttrack to 39 and the second with track 40 to end-
              track. Even if you have selected more than two names
              only the two first names will be used. Also, if you have
              selected starttrack to a greater value than 39, or end-
              track to a lesser value than 40, the program will only
              use the first name.

       Write:  When you use write all the four filenames will be used.
              The program will unpack all the four files to one disk
              (except when you use multiple disk mode, which is
              explained later on). Be carful when you unpack four
              files to one disk as the program will unpack the files
              in the order you selected them, ignoring if the file
              will overwrite old data.

       Repack: When you use repack you also must set the outfile. If
              you select only one file that file will be repacked to
              one file, but if you select one or more files, the files
              will be unpacked to the repack device and then packed
              so it will only be one file.

       Test:   If you use test all filenames are used.

       Text:   If you use text all filenames are used.

       View:   If you use view all filenames are used.

    Outfile
       This works exactly the same as filename except this time you can
       only select one file. Pressing the GET gadget to the right brings
       up the filerequester. This filename is used when you repack a
       file.

    Textfile
       Same as outfile. This is the textfile that is to be included
       when you pack a disk. The textfile is used when you pack disks
       and when you repack more than one file into one file.
       (PS. It's not used when you repack one file to outfile DS.)

    Password
       If you type _ANY_ text in this gadget the file will be decrypted/
       encrypted with this text as the password. Useful if you like to
       protect your disks from unauthorized persons.

    Low track
       This is actually two gadgets, one dragbar and one stringgadget.
       This is used to select the starting track for the DMS program.
       You can either use the dragbar to select the track number or
       you can click in the stringgadget and type the tracknumber.
       There is a small problem when you click in the stringgadget,
       if you type anything and the screen flashes, try typing DEL or
       BACKSPACE to erase the old number.

    High track
       Exactly as low track, but this time you choose the ending track
       for the DMS program.

    Crunch mode
       Here you select which degree of crunching you would like to use.
       In the old 1.03 version of DMS there were 5 degrees of crunchmode,
       from NONE to DEEP, but in the new 1.11 version there is only
       three modes, BEST, HEAVY1 and HEAVY2.

    Crunch device
       This is which device that is to be used when you read/write files
       that you want to unpack/pack.

    Repack device
       This is which device that is to be used when you repack two or
       more files into one file. You should use RAD: or any fast
       device for this option.

    Load Paths
       This brings up a requester which prompts you to choose a '.paths'
       file to load into memory. If you have loaded a '.paths' file
       already that file will be discarded.

    Load FList
       This works like 'Load Paths' except now you choose a '.files'
       file to load.

    Scan devs
       This makes the DMSui program scan for any new devices that may
       have been mounted since you started the program. At startup the
       DMSui program will look for which devices you have and setup
       Crunch/Repack device so they only show the DOS devices which
       contains 80 tracks (880k). This option is useful if you, after
       startup, mounts RAD: or any other device and would like that
       device included in the device gadgets.

    Scan files
       This brings up a requester which prompts you to select a file-
       name of the new '.files' file that is to be created. After that
       the program will scan the directorys for files and save them
       on disk. If you haven't loaded a '.paths' file this will not
       work because the '.paths' file is used to see which directorys
       is to be scanned. All files are stored on disk, not only the
       DMS or WRP files (This is to make the file compatible with
       another of my programs, IceCopy, which uses all files). Only
       the DMS and WRP files will be shown in the filerequester.

    Set Prefs
       This brings up a window where you can set your preferences.
       More on this in the preferences section.

    Load CList
       This brings up a filerequester which prompts you to select a
       '.clist' file to load. After that a window is opened and you
       are shown which files that are not found in the requester.
       (This may sound a little bit weird, but you see how it works)
       This makes the program select all the files specified in the
       '.clist' file in the requester. This option is only enabled
       when you have selected 'Multipel disks' and only when you use
       my filerequester.

    Read
       Starts the DMS program and starts to pack a disk to a file.
       See the DMS.doc file in the DMS package for more info.

    Write
       This writes the selected files to the disk. The DMSui program
       can unpack both .DMS and .WRP files (but then you need the
       UnWarp program) so you don't need to bother which of the two
       types the files is.
       See the DMS.doc file in the DMS package for more info.

    Repack
       This repacks the Filename/s into one files (outfile). If more
       than one filename is selected the files are unpacked to the
       repack device and then packed to the outfile.
       See the DMS.doc file in the DMS package for more info.

    Test
       This tests the selected files to see if they are intact.
       See the DMS.doc file in the DMS package for more info.

    Text
       This displays the texts included in the selected files.
       See the DMS.doc file in the DMS package for more info.

    View
       This displays information about the selected files.
       See the DMS.doc file in the DMS package for more info.

    About
       This brings up a window with info about the programmer (me)
       and how to contact me. Click the mouse to close it.

    Multipel disks
       This option is only used when you use my filerequester (see
       the preferences section). This makes it possibel for you
       to select a lot of files and then unpack them without having
       to select the files between every disk. Before each file you
       are prompted with this:

       Unpacking file:
       Test.DMS (i.e)
       Press RETURN to start, ESC to skip! CTRL-C or CTRL-D to abort!

       which makes it possible for you to skip a file or abort the
       whole operation.

    Wait
       This option enables the KEYS/MOUSE function in the preferences.
       When the DMS has finished its job, you will be prompted with
       either 'Press RIGHT mousebutton to continue!' or 'Press RETURN
       to continue'. If you don't select this option the window will
       close automatically.


   Preferences
       When you select 'Set Prefs' a window will appear where you can
       set you preferences. I will now discribe the functions in that
       window.

       There are a few lead texts above the gadgets. These are:

       DMS flags
       DMSui flags
       Window settings
       Default setup
       User paths

       First, under the DMS flags, you have five flags that you can
       set for use with the DMS program. See the DMS.doc file for
       more information about these.

       Secondly, under the DMSui flags, you have four flags that you
       can set. These are Video mode, Input mode, Requester mode and
       DMS version. Video mode means PAL or NTSC and resizes all
       requesters to either 256 or 200 lines. The output window is
       also changed to either 256 or 200 lines.
       Input mode is used with the 'Wait' flag and you can switch
       between MOUSE and KEYS.
       Requester mode is used to select if you want to use the
       req.library requester (DIRS) or my filerequester (REQS).
       If you choose to use my filerequester the thing that will happen
       is this: When you click on the GET gadget to the right of the
       filename gadget you will get my filerequester instead of req
       librarys requester.
       DMS version is used to set which version of the DMS program
       you use. This makes the Crunchmode change because in v1.03
       there was five types of crunchmode and in v1.11 there is
       only three.

       After that you have the window settings. This is used to set
       the coordinates of the output window. The Y size changes when
       you change Video mode.

       Then we have the Default setup. Here you can type which
       '.paths' file is to be loaded on startup. If you don't specify
       anything here, no file will be loaded. You can also select
       which '.files' file is to be loaded.
       In the 'Name' gadget you can specify the name of the DMS program.
       This is useful if you have more than one version of the DMS
       program installed and have another name on the other copy.

       At last there is the user paths. Here you specify which paths
       that is to be searched when you start the DMS program.
       Current directory and C: is _ALWAYS_ used, but if you put the
       DMS program in the C1: directory you must type that path here.
       You have ten different paths at your service and you can type them
       in by clicking in the stringgadget and then use the arrows to
       scroll in the list or you can press the GET gadget.
       If you press the GET gadget a requester will appear, making it
       possible for you to select up to ten different paths (it starts
       counting from the path you have activated in the stringgadget)
       by just selecting the desired directory and pressing 'Ok'. The
       requester will reappear until you press cancel or closewindow.
       When you are finished selecting paths you will be asked to set
       the default directory for infiles (filename). Press 'Yes' if you
       want to set it or 'No' if you don't. After that the same thing
       is asked about outfiles and textfiles.

       When you are finished with the settings you can select OK, Save
       Prefs or CANCEL. If you select OK the settings will be used. If
       you select Save Prefs the settings will be saved to the file
       'S:DMSui.prefs' and used. Pressing CANCEL terminates the settings
       and uses the old settings.


   Some hints and other stuff
    To clear a stringgadget, just activate it and press AMIGA-X.

    If an error occure when starting the DMSui program from Workbench
    the error will be displayed in the Workbench title bar, so just look
    there if you don't get the program to work properly from Workbench.
    If you put the DMSui program somewhere else than in the same
    directory as the DMSui.info file, then you must tell the DMSui.info
    file where to get the DMSui program from. This can be made from
    either Workbench or CLI. From Workbench just activate the DMSui icon
    and the go to the menu in Workbench where you find an option called
    'Info' or 'Information'. Now you can enter the proper path and
    filename in the stringgadget called COMMAND.
    If you want to change this thing when using CLI then just start
    IconEd or any other icon-editor and edit the COMMAND string.

    One final note, if the DMS program fails when you use the DMSui
    program    then just type 'endcli [RETURN]' and the program will
    continue.

    This was about all of the docs. Use this program as much as you
    want and spread it around the world. If you have any suggestions
    of how to improve this program or if you find any BUGS then just
    leave a note to me (Ice) on:

    Guru's Dream

       Node 1:  [phone] (HST DS 16.8 kbps)
       Node 2:  [phone] (2400 bps -> 16.8 kbps)
       Node 3:  [phone] (HST 16.8 kbps)
       Node 4:  [phone] (HST 16.8 kbps)

       Handle: Ice

    Nordiska PD

       Node 1:  [phone] (2400 bps)
       Node 2:  [phone] (2400 bps)
       Node 3:  [phone] (2400 bps)
       Node 4:  [phone] (2400 bps -> HST 14.4 kbps)
       Node 5:  [phone] (2400 bps)

       Handle: Mathias Axelsson

    Current line

       [phone]

       Handle: Mathias Axelsson

   I will soon get a Fidonet address. Until I get that you can use
   the number 2:204/458 (Current Line).
   That was all the documentaion for this version of DMSui. I'll be back!

   Signed Ice August 3rd 1992.

   Contact me:    Mathias Axelsson
           Skirtorpsvägen 18
           S-641 35  KATRINEHOLM
           SWEDEN

           [phone]

   And please support me. If you don't pay the fee then give me disks or
   whatever, anything is welcome. I would like to see how many users there
   is so please send a postcard to me with a little greeting on it.