home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
The Datafile PD-CD 3
/
PDCD_3.iso
/
comms
/
u2
/
!U2
/
Manual
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1993-05-26
|
14KB
|
325 lines
+-------------------------------------+
| Manual for ALT-itude Software's !U2 |
+-------------------------------------+
This software is FREEWARE.
It may be freely distributed so long
as no money is exchanged, except
to cover costs of distribution
ie post & packing or the
cost of the disk and
all the files are included in
the distributed version.
This software is (C) 1992-3 ALT-itude Software
You are not *required* to register your copy, but doing so will enable us to
send you any upgrades as and when they become available, and to send us your
comments etc.
1. Introduction
---------------
!U2 is a RISC OS, multi-tasking binary to ascii convertor, using uuencoding
and decoding routines derived from those written by the University of
California for UNIX-UNIX transfers.
The raison d'etre behind such conversions is most e-mailers' inability to
reliably handle any non-ascii characters; ie those with hex values outside
the range &032-&127.
!U2 is not the fastest uuen/decoder available under RISC OS (nor is it by
any means the slowest!), but it _does_ have more features than any other
we have come across, and we like it ;-) !
!U2 has two filetypes defined by it (these filetypes are subject to
verification by Acorn - we haven't asked them and they might want us to
use something else...):
&00D - Decoded - a general (binary) decoded file
&00E - Encoded - a U2Encoded file
A U2Encoded file is, in essence, no different from an ordinary uuencoded
uuencoded file, but there are some RISC OS specific subtleties which are
explained below.
!U2's sprites are designed to be used with !DeskPatch. If you don't have
!DeskPatch, then don't worry - you won't notice anything amiss, but you're
missing out on a lot!
2.Usage
-------
2.1 General
-----------
Double-click on the !U2 icon to load it, or double-click on an Encoded file
if !U2 has already been 'seen', this will load !U2 and begin decoding the
file.
To encode a binary file, drag it to the icon; to decode an encoded file,
either double-click on it or drag it to the icon.
!U2 supports Ian Ashley's uuencoded filetype, &7FE, and treats plain text
files (&fff) as encoded. The latter can be loaded either by dragging to the
icon or double-clicking while holding down <CTRL>.
To decode a file encoded across several parts, place the parts, named in
order, in a directory and drag the directory to the !U2 icon. Decoding will
be slightly quicker if you name the directory and parts to similar names,
eg. files named Picture/01, Picture/02,... and the directory named Picture.
This isn't strictly necessary, but is advisable.
2.2 Processing Options.
-----------------------
2.2.1 Encoding Options
----------------------
The encoding options are controlled by the Options dialogue box (opened by
selecting 'Options...' in the iconbar menu) and by the 'Split' entry and
submenu.
The Options dialogue box buttons perform the following:
o <file>/uue - names the encoded file as a (truncated) form of the
original filename, appended with /uue for compatib-
ility with other systems (/ becomes replaced with .
on UNIX/DOS systems).
o Enc_xx/uue - names the encoded file with an incremented number.
o Include Filetype - includes the filetype of the original file in the
encoding.
'Split' will split the encoding across several files. This is particularly
useful if you wish to encode a file which is several hundred kbytes big, as
most e-mailers have a maximum size of file which they will mail. If ticked,
!U2 will create a directory (called <file>~) and spread the encoding across
files named <file>/00, <file>/01, etc. If the original file starts with '!',
!U2 will replace this with a '>' so as to avoid any truck with problems with
application shells.
The Split submenu contains three entries: 'Lines', KBytes', and a writeable,
numeric entry. This enables you to enter a number to govern the size of each
part of the split encoding, and whether !U2 interprets this number as the
size of each part in lines or KBytes. 1300 lines is approximately equal to
80 Kb, and is the default. !U2 will default to a value of 4k (66 lines) if
a lower value is entered. The number shown is the size of the parts as
specified by which entry is ticked. If you enter a number, then click on the
unticked entry, the number will change. (Try it - you'll see what we mean.)
You should note that RISC OS (3.10 and earlier) allows a _maximum_ of 77
files per directory. !U2 will inform you if you enter a value which would
result in more than 77 parts.
A U2Encoded Sprite with 'Split' and 'Include' selected will begin
something like this:
+--BEGIN-Cut here-[screen part 01 of 01]----------------------+
begin ff9 screen
M`0```!````#\GP``[)\``'-C<F5E;@```````#````#/`````````!,```"L
M````K`````P`````____`/___P#=W=T`W=W=`+N[NP"[N[L`F9F9`)F9F0!W
and end something like this:
M=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W
"!P!W
`
end
+--END-Cut here-[screen part 01 of 01]------------------------+
whereas if neither are selected it looks like this:
+--BEGIN Cut here [ screen] ------------------------------------+
begin 660 screen
M`0```!````#\GP``[)\``'-C<F5E;@```````#````#/`````````!,```"L
M````K`````P`````____`/___P#=W=T`W=W=`+N[NP"[N[L`F9F9`)F9F0!W
and this:
M=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W=W
"!P!W
`
end
+-- END Cut here [ screen] -------------------------------------+
If you choose a size which is a little too close to a factor of the total
encoded size, then the 'cut' lines may say the wrong number of parts, eg
they may say 'part 03 of 04' when there _are_ only 3 parts. Don't worry
about this - !U2 will do a full encoding or none at all. You might want to
choose a different size, though, or inform whomever is receiving the parts
that you really have sent all of them!
Other uudecoders will treat the hex number in the 'begin' line as the
access codes for the file. Other Acorn uudecoders will look for the filetype
in an extra line at the start of the file. We decided to have the filetype
included in the 'begin' line. However, we recognise that if this file is
decoded on a non-Acorn system, or with a different decoder then this might
cause problems with file access, which is why you have the choice of
including the filetype or not.
The filename of the binary file is included in the encoding. To make things
as easy as possible for the user, any '/'s in the Acorn filename will be
written as '.'s in the encoded file. (!U2 retranslates these characters on
decoding.) Not doing this would cause problems with decoding on non-Acorn
systems.
2.2.2 Decoding Options
----------------------
The encoding options are controlled by the Options dialogue box (opened by
selecting 'Options...' in the iconbar menu).
o Original - names the decoded binary file from the name
included in the 'begin' line of the encoded
file. Don't use this if the file doesn't have
such a name in the encoding.
o Dec_xx - names the decoded binary file with an incremented
number.
o Set Decoded Filetype - sets the filetype of the decoded file, either by
reading it from the encoded file or by having it
entered in the writeable icon on the dialogue
box.
o Read - will cause !U2 to look for the filetype in the
'begin' line. Don't use this if the file was not
encoded by !U2 with the 'Include' option set.
Enter the filetype by hand as detailed below.
o User - will cause !U2 to look for the filetype in the