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- TITLE : SAP60.DOC help file
-
- FROM ; IRV HOFF
-
- DATE : 27 JULY 87
-
-
- NOTE: As distributed, this program
- erases zero-length files not
- having a '-' in front of the
- file name. This can easily
- be changed with byte 0103h.
-
- WHAT IT DOES:
- -------------
- SAP60 (Sort And Pack the disk directory) is a program developed through
- the years to clean up the disk directory tracks of a CP/M disk. It works
- equally well on tiny floppy drives or gigantic hard drives in excess of
- 100 Mb capacity. It will check the directory to see how many files it
- contains, check memory to see sufficient is available. (At 32 bytes per
- file name it can easily handle more than 1500 files names on a typical
- 50k TPA - most users have more TPA than that.)
-
- It reads the filenames into memory from the directory tracks, cleans off
- the entire directory track area with E5's throughout, uses the same fast
- sort routine in current SD (Super Directory) programs and then puts the
- names back on the disk in alphabetic order.
-
- HOW TO USE IT:
- --------------
- The program automatically works on the current drive unless you specify
- a different one. In the following examples we assume you have renamed
- the program SAP.COM - it will tell you what version it is when it starts
- running:
-
- B>SAP <ret> - current drive
- B>SAP D: <ret> - with or without colon
- B>SAP d <ret> - upper or lower case
-
- It also has a small (but hopefully adequate) help guide available:
-
- B>SAP ? <ret> - displays a help guide
-
-
- ERASING ZERO-LENGTH FILES:
- -------------------------
- It erases files with an '$$$' extent and optionally erases 'zero-length'
- files. That's worth some discussion.
-
- Many people use names on their user areas to identify that disk:
-
- - .123 0k (for catalog programs, etc.)
- -UPLOADS 0k (for RCPM disk identification, etc.)
- -MODEMS 0k (perhaps to name a diskette
-
- You obviously don't want "these zero-length" files erased by a disk
- utility program such as this. Any files with a leading '-' will be re-
- tained. You can optionally delete any other zero-length files or keep
- them:
-
- ERAZRO DB NO does not erase them
- ERAZRO DB YES erases any non '-' zero-length files
-
- You can change byte 0103h in a moment's time with SID or DDT to which-
- ever you prefer, then save 8 pages when finished. (The program is a bit
- under 2k object code length.)
-
- 0103h 00 keeps all zero-length files
- 0103h FF erases any non '-' zero-lengh files
- (use anything other than 00h)
-
-
- TIME-DATE STAMPED FILES:
- ------------------------
- Since v50, SAP supports the Plu*Perfect (c) time and date stamping pro-
- gram. These routines were added by Bridger Mitchell of Plu*Perfect. At
- the same time he replaced the Shell-Metnzer sort that Sigi Kluger had
- added in v38 with one directly from the Super Directory (SD) program.
- It is substantially faster than that used SAP programs prior to v50.
-
- ADVANTAGES:
- -----------
-
- This program reads the disk directory tracks, sorts them alphabetically
- and then replaces them on the disk after first erasing the entire direc-
- tory area with E5's. This erasure clears all previous file names that
- might remain after the new list is replaced. Sorting the directory in
- this manner offers several advantages:
-
- 1) allows 'DIR' to show an alphabetized listing
- 2) minimizes potential problems when using "UNERASE" pgms
- 3) speeds up access via 'SD' and other special programs
- 4) assists on working directly on the disk with 'DU', etc.
- 5) prevents somebody else from reading files you erased
- 6) option of erasing all files of zero-length (except those
- starting with '-' for catalog use with MAST.CAT or to
- name your disks, identify user areas, etc.
-
- SUMMARY:
- -------
- This program can be used without alteration on any size floppy or hard
- drive. It is intended only for CP/M-80 v2.2. The only option involves
- zero-length files. As mentioned that option is very easy to change in a
- moment's time. It also supports disks using Plu*Perfect's time and date
- stamping program.
-
- Note: There were several conflicting versions of
- the SAP program including at least two v50
- programs. One would not work with 8080 or
- 8085 processors and required the Z80MR as-
- sembler. That got confusing as it can only
- assemble .AZM programs which nearly every-
- one now associates with "crunched files".
- This version hopefully coordinates all of
- the more desirable features of these var-
- ious programs.
-
- end
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------