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1993-06-27
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MFA
Minimizing File Allocator
DOS Version 1.1
(C) (6)1993 by Rafal and Wiktor Rzeczkowski
Foreword
--------
This program is the upgraded version of Minimizing File
Allocator\MFA V 1.0. It features an improved fault resistance, and
more concise and powerful menu structure.
Introduction
------------
Minimizing File Allocator, MFA, helps archive your files on
floppy diskettes. The files can be custom allocated both fast and
space-efficiently.
Unlike other file management programs, MFA proposes a
collection of files to be allocated on each destination diskette.
The collection is a "minimum" collection, i.e. it contains a
minimum number of files which, if stored, would leave the least
unused space possible on the destination diskette. The user can ask
MFA to generate subsequent "minimum" collections that meet some
additional conditions.
The input to MFA are DOS specifications of source files, each
of the specifications showing an absolute or relative path name,
and a file name possibly containing wildcards * and ?. In practice,
the source files are usually compressed and reside on the hard disk.
MFA allocates them to one or more floppy diskettes. Initially, the
diskettes must not necessarily be empty or have the same format.
MFA determines the best possible fit for each of them. In most
cases, you will be able to put away your archive diskette filled
with files that you accept to store together and having 0 free
bytes left on it.
Package Contents
----------------
Your MFA11.ZIP file includes the following files:
MFA.EXE - The program.
MFA11.DOC - This documentation file.
MFA11.REG - The registration form.
Registration
-------------
MFA is a shareware program. You may make a copy of it for a
two week evaluation and/or for a further distribution. However, if
you wish to use MFA beyond the evaluation period you should
register it. The registration fee is US $6. Registered users of MFA
V 1.0 may enjoy this MFA DOS Version 1.1 at no additional charge.
To register, please send a money order or a bank draft for US
$6 to:
Rafal Rzeczkowski
314 East 24th Street
Hamilton, Ontario
L8V 2Y6 Canada
For your convenience, in the enclosed file MFA11.REG a
registration form is provided. To get the form printed, at the DOS
prompt enter:
type MFA11.REG > PRN
MFA may be freely distributed. However, it may not be sold or
traded except by ourselves. A nominal copying charge may be made
not to exceed US $5. To copies distributed in such a way the
registration policy described here applies as well. Both files
MFA11.DOC and MFA11.REG must accompany each distributed copy of
MFA.EXE.
MFA is distributed as it is. Although it was thoroughly
tested, the authors assume no responsibility for any direct or
indirect harm resulting from its use.
Using MFA
---------
The best way to use MFA is to have a directory of compressed
files on your hard disk and run MFA from time to time to move all
or some of them to floppy diskettes.
To start MFA just enter the command MFA (or its equivalent) at
the DOS prompt. There are no command line parameters. If your MFA
copy is registered, you will be presented with the registration
message:
This copy of MFA is registered to
followed by your registration name. Otherwise a beep will be
produced, and the registration procedure will be attempted. Next,
you will be prompted to specify source files that you want the MFA
to take into consideration. You should enter DOS specifications of
these files. Either absolute or relative path names followed by
file names, possibly containing wildcards * and/or ?, are
acceptable in these specifications. For example:
C:\ZIPS\*.*
D:\MYFILES\ARCHIVES\*.ZIP
C:\DATA\A?.DOC
*.*
*.DOC
..\*.DOC
ZIPS
Note that a specification such as ZIPS\ does not include any file
name component and, therefore, is not valid. On the other hand, a
specification such as ZIPS is valid. However, since it does not
include any wildcard * or ?, it represents just one file named
ZIPS.
Generally, the source files should be on your hard disk. You
can have them on floppy diskettes, but the copying procedure may be
not feasible. It works best with source files on a hard disk.
Nevertheless, if you actually have your source files on floppy
diskettes, MFA will still be able to consider them and propose
minimum file collections fitting your destination diskettes. If
desirable, later you can copy these file collections manually using
any other file copy utility, e.g. XCOPY command of DOS.
You can have your source files in different directories. To
have them all considered by MFA, just specify them at subsequent
MFA prompts. MFA will propose the minimum file collections taking
into account all available files from all the specified
directories.
After you have completed the file specification step, be ready
with your destination floppies. MFA will ask you to insert each of
them in turn into disk drive A: or B:. MFA will then interact with
you to determine the best minimum collection for each diskette.
Once a minimum collection is offered, you can choose a next action
from a displayed menu. Just enter a single lowercase (or uppercase)
character to execute it. The meaning of menu choices is given
below.
w - Writes the present minimum collection of files to the current
directory in your floppy diskette.
m - The same as 'w', except that MFA deletes the source files in
the collection after the successful write.
v - Displays present minimum collection once again.
x - Excludes files from consideration for the current destination
diskette. Identifiers (FIDs) of files to be excluded can be
entered at the following MFA prompt. Pressing the Enter key
ends the FID input. None of the excluded files, unless
recalled (see choice r below), will be included in any next
minimum collection proposed for the current diskette.
r - Recalls previously excluded files. Reverses action x for
selected files.
n - Generates a subsequent minimum collection for the current
destination diskette. This collection may be not as space
efficient as the previous one.
c - Continues with a next diskette. Files in the present minimum
collection are accepted for the current destination diskette
(say, diskette #n). This acceptance means that the files will
no longer be considered for allocation in any other (next)
diskette. Also, no file in the collection is written on the
current destination diskette, #n. However, you may submit this
diskette to MFA again (e.g. as a next destination diskette
#n+1), and have MFA allocate other (not yet accepted) files on
this diskette as well.
e - Terminates the program.
If all remaining files are too big for current destination
diskette, the files are displayed and, and the empty collection of
files is proposed for this diskette. Further menu actions are then
allowed, including the recalling of excluded files.
You can use any diskettes that your A: or B: drive can accept,
e.g. 5 1/4" (360K or 1.2MB) or 3 1/2" (720K or 1.44MB) diskettes,
either as source or destination diskettes.
Copyright
---------
MFA.EXE Copyright (C) (6)1993 by Wiktor and Rafal Rzeczkowski
MFA11.DOC Copyright (C) (6)1993 by Wiktor and Rafal Rzeczkowski
MFA11.REG Copyright (C) (6)1993 by Wiktor and Rafal Rzeczkowski