SPLITZ & JOINZ is a program designed to split and join text files. The program is written in OPL and will only work on a Psion 3a.
2. Distribution
SPLITZ & JOINZ is shareware. This means you can test it during 30 days and if you like it and/or still use it after this test period, you are required to register it. The registration fee is 10 Swiss Francs or 5 UK Pounds. You will find my address as well as a simple registration formular at the end of this file. See section ``Registration'' for more information. The program can be distributed freely by any electronic mean (anonymous FTP sites, BBSes, packet radio ...) provided the file ``SPLITZ.ZIP'' stays intact. Software distributors can freely distribute this program on their shareware disks, provided that
You don't charge more than $5 for the service.
The file ``SPLITZ.ZIP'' stays intact (see section ``Installation'' for the file's contents).
You don't make any money out of it.
If you would like to put this program on a CD-ROM, please contact me first (see section ``Author'' for my address).
3. Shareware
This program is distributed under the term of ``shareware''. This means you can share it with other people and are even encouraged to distribute it to the maximum of people. You can then freely test the program for up to 30 days. If after this test period, you like and/or still use the program, you have to register it. See section ``Registration'' for more information.
4. Uses
I originally made it to avoid the 40k limit of the inbuilt applications like Word and OPL. It will process text files and split them ``intelligently'' after a LineFeed (LF) at about the size you specify. I used it for big text files I received while I had to use my Psion 3a for packet radio (a radio transmission mode for radio amateurs) while my Amiga's serial port was defectuous. You might also want to use it to split/join large text files if you are writing big articles on your Psion...
5. Installation
You should unzip the file SPLITZ.ZIP and get the following files
SPLITZ.TXT This file
SPLITZ.WRD This file for Psion Word
SPLITZ.OPA The program
All you have to do is copy the file SPLITZ.OPA to the \APP directory with whatever program you use to copy/move files from/to your Psion. You will then have to install the program with the System menu (Apps/Install) or by pressing Psion-i.
6. Memory requirements
SPLITZ & JOINZ will need only about 3k of your disk space. In addition, SPLITZ & JOINZ will need about 28k of free memory to be able to run. Also, don't forget that you need space for the output of the file you want to split/join.
7. Running the program
You will first get two dialogs with some information which you can pass by pressing ``Enter'' or ``Esc''. You then get the main dialog where you are requested to enter useful information. The first line asks for the source filename and it's location (Disk A, Internal, Disk B, event REM
:). You can use Tab or Control-Tab to get the usual Psion file requesters. The third line asks for the destination directory. The default is ``LOC
:M\'', although it will only show you ``\''. Once again, you can specify which drive the destination directory should be on. The fifth line asks you for the approximate size of the parts. This is only used if you split a file of course. SPLITZ & JOINZ will automatically detect if you want to split or join a file by looking at the source file. If the source file has an extension of the kind ``P0
?'', it will attempt to join the files previously splitted. Otherwise it will take the source file and attempt to split it. Note that the minimal split value is 8k. When joining, SPLITZ & JOINZ will automatically ask you for the new filename extension. When you enter it, you do not need to write a ``.'' in the dialog, but only the last three letters. The last line of the main dialog asks you if you want to delete the source file after use. If you answer yes, SPLITZ & JOINZ will delete the source file, but only if there were no errors during the process of splitting/joining.
Once you have entered everything, type ``Enter'' to start splitting/joining. If everything goes well, you will get a dialog saying ``No errors'' and eventually another line telling you which files have been deleted. If on the other hand, an error appeared during the process of splitting/joining, you will be informed by a requester and the program will end without deleting any files.
8. How the program works
8.1. Splitting
The program checks if it can read 8192 bytes (8k) of the source file without going over the split value (hence the minimal split value of 8k
; for the sake of speed). If it can, it reads 8k and writes them out to the destination file
; otherwise it reads one byte and checks if this character is a LF. If it is, it writes it to the destination file and closes it. It checks if there are any bytes left in the source file and if yes, creates a new part. The process then starts over.
8.2. Joining
Joining is much simpler in the way that it takes all the files with the same name and extensions ``P0
?'', starting at 1 and joins them together. Note that in the main dialog, you do not necessarily need to choose part1, as it will recognize any part.
9. Limitations and bugs
The minimal split value is set to 8k, otherwise the program would be somewhat slow. However, if you really need to split into smaller chuncks, this is possible, see section ``Registration''.
You cannot split a program into more than 9 parts, since the extensions are of the kind ``P0
No bugs have been found during testing, although I have never tried to run the program on a binary file.
10. Legal stuff
SPLITZ & JOINZ is provided ``as is''. This means, it does what it does, and I cannot be held responsable if it crashes your system, or causes any other dammages. If however you do have a problem with it, please report it to me and I will try to help you out to fix it.
11. Author
Snail mail
Daniel Pfund
19, ch. de Tirelonge
CH-1213 Onex
Switzerland
You can also reach me via E-Mail (preferred
``Pfund@uni2a.unige.ch'' or if this address doesn't work any more (in a couple of years) you can still write to me at
: ``hb9vbc@pccr01.cern.ch''. (Note the zero, not an o
12. Registration
The registration fee is 10 Swiss Francs or 5 UK Pounds. Please stay with these currencies, because it will make life much easier for me
;-) To register, please send me the formular at the end of this file. You can either send it to me via E-Mail or snail ``conventional'' mail. If you have an E-Mail address, I'll send you the registered program UUencoded at that address.
12.1. Benefits from registering
Why should you want to register
? There are several reasons to this
You will get a registered version of SPLITZ & JOINZ which will be personnalized with your name.
You will be able to choose which directory the program will default to.
You will be able to eventually choose a smaller minimum split size.
You will be able to choose the default split size.
The beginning and end ``shareware'' dialogs will be removed and thus give you a much smaller program.
You will get a DVI doc file (LaTeX typesetted with professional output).
Most of all, it will free your conscience and assure that I will make other shareware programs in the future.
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