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- Contents of this Package
- ------------------------
-
- read.me This file: contents, deSCRNCHing info, etc.
- scrdoc.com Documentation, SCRNCHed
- scrnch.com SCRNCH program
- scre2b.com Convert .EXE to .COM
- scrb2e.com Convert .COM to .EXE
- testr.bat For testing Run Mode exit .TXT files
- testw.bat For testing Write Mode exit .TXT files
- compress.bat SCRNCH an .EXE or .COM program in Run Mode
- scrxr.stb Program portion of Run Mode sample exit
- scrxw.stb Program portion of Write Mode sample exit
- scrxr.txt Text portion of Run Mode sample exit
- scrxw.txt Text portion of Write Mode sample exit
- scrxr.bin Run Mode sample exit
- scrxw.bin Write Mode sample exit
- prtparm.com A sample program to be SCRNCHed
-
-
- What to do first
- ----------------
-
- At the DOS prompt, type SCRDOC. You will see instructions
- telling you how to create the documentation file.
-
-
- Introduction to SCRNCH
- ----------------------
-
- SCRNCH is a data compressor designed for people, such as software
- developers, who need to send programs or files to a large number
- of people cheaply. It provides a high degree of compression and
- the ability to customize the self-extracting compressed file.
- SCRNCH takes its time to produce optimal compression, but
- decompression is automatic and very fast. Graeme W. McRae is a
- Member of the Association of Shareware Professionals.
-
- Keywords: SCRNCH DATA COMPRESSOR COMPACT SCRUNCH COMPRESSION
- COMPRESS SELF EXTRACTING SELF BOOTING
-
-
- Common Difficulties
- -------------------
-
- If you're SCRNCHing a large file, be sure to use the .EXE extension
- on the output file. The .COM extension will be accepted, but the
- resulting .COM file will be too large for DOS to execute.
- Example: scrnch /e manual.doc mandoc.exe
-
- If you're SCRNCHing a data file (that is, in Write Mode) you
- almost certainly want to use the /e option. When in doubt,
- try it, and you'll see what it does for you!
-
- If the file you SCRNCHed was a binary file, then it might contain
- the Ctrl-Z character. If the user tries to deSCRNCH the file to a
- character device, such as standard output, he might see an
- erroneous "Disk Full" message. To avoid this, include
- instructions for the user explaining how not to deSCRNCH binary
- files to the terminal or to the printer. On the other hand, if
- the file you SCRNCHed was a text file, then it is perfectly OK
- for the file to end with Ctrl-Z, and the user will not see any
- error message.
-
-
- Troubleshooting
- ---------------
-
- If you don't get the expected result, perhaps there is an error.
- Look for the following error messages:
-
- Program too big to fit in memory.
-
- If the program is a .COM file and it is larger than 64K, you
- should rerun SCRNCH, specifying the .EXE extension on the
- output file. If the program you're trying to run already
- contains the .EXE extension, this message can mean there is
- an error in the .EXE header. Large .EXE files don't work
- properly under the IBM Workstation Program; try rebooting
- without it. Or perhaps the program really is too big to fit
- in memory.
-
- Out of memory.
-
- This means you must remove some resident software from
- memory. Try rebooting, perhaps from the DOS distribution
- diskette, and then try deSCRNCHing again. You need at least
- 140K available to run SCRDOC.
-
- Bad copy.
-
- This means your copy of SCRDOC.COM has an error in it. You
- should obtain a new copy.
-
- Error writing.
-
- Perhaps there is a problem with the disk drive or media
- you're writing to. Narrow down the problem by using other
- programs (e.g. the DOS COPY command) to attempt to write to
- the same disk.
-
- Disk full.
-
- You'll have to clear away some space, and then try
- deSCRNCHing again. If you're using a floppy disk, be sure
- it is formatted properly.
-
- If you're deSCRNCHing to the console or to the printer,
- this message may be erroneously issued. You may ignore it.
-
-
- History
- -------
-
- 01/31/88 SCRNCH Version 1.00 released.
- 02/12/88 Version 1.01 fixed a but that prevented SCRNCHing files
- larger than 1 meg.
- 02/21/88 Fixed misleading documentation regarding .EXE output files.
- 03/03/88 Fixed erroneous "bad copy" message in >64K Run Mode
- 03/03/88 Improved deSCRNCHing performance (size increased slightly)
- 03/26/88 Write Mode now requires no more than 140K to deSCRNCH
- 03/28/88 SCRE2B and SCRB2E added to package, Version 1.02 distributed.
- 04/04/88 Fixed bug where COMPRESS.BAT deleted .EXE output