@3Andy's Quick And Dirty Guide To Using Crunch-Mania for DMC Files !
   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  @5Please note that @1Crunch-Mania @5is available from all good PD Libraries
  and don't forget that you get it @3FREE @5when you order your REGISTERED
  version of @1DMC@5. (or the Deluxe Version)


  First of all I must say that I would advise you ALL to use this packer
  on ALL of your files for @1DMC@5. Not just your text files, all your IFF
  pics and music files too !

  Most of all I would totally recommend that you use this packer to crunch
  your configuration file. @1(DMC.2)

  @5Why ?  Well if you don't crunch it, chances are that it may take a while
  for it to be set-up on Amiga's without a fast processor. eg. A500's.

  I know that most files take longer to load when crunched, but with 
  @1Crunch-Mania@5, @1DMC.2 @5works up to 10 times faster at setting-up !!!
  If you don't believe me then just try out this simple test:-

  Save your configuration file as normal to disk when you have finished
  editing it of course. Now load @1DMC@5.
  Time how long the configuration file takes to set-up after loading.

  Now load @1Crunch-Mania @5and crunch the configuration file @1(DMC.2)@5.
  Load @1DMC @5and now time it !  Amazing eh ?

  Obviously the bigger your configuration file, the longer it takes to
  set-up. 

  Now I'll explain how to crunch all your files using @1Crunch-Mania @5:-

  Load @1CRUNCH-MANIA. @5You will see a button marked @3DATA. @5You MUST
  select this before loading your files.

  Now load any of your files into the cruncher using the @3LOAD @5option.

  When the file has loaded you can now choose to press the @3CRUNCH @5button.

  A BAR at the bottom of the screen will show you how long before the
  crunching is complete.

  When it is finished, save your (Crunched) file to disk.

  It's as easy as that.

  @5So here's just a quick recap .... Load CRUNCH-MANIA : CLICK ON DATA :
  CLICK ON LOAD AND SELECT A FILE : CLICK ON CRUNCH : CLICK ON SAVE :

  It's as simple as that. Just like using any other program.

  Don't be put off by all the other functions as you don't need to bother
  with them just now.  Trust me.  They are for more advanced users etc.
  Unlike you or I !?!?!

  
  Now you may be saying to yourself, what if I want to De-Crunch one of my
  files at a later date to edit it etc.

  Well fear not ye old humble Amiga servant !

  Here's what to do .....

  Load @1Crunch-Mania@5, Click on @3DATA @5and then click on @3LOAD @5and
  select your crunched file.

  Instead of clicking on CRUNCH, just click on the @3SAVE @5button and your
  file will be saved as a normal De-Crunched file.

  So once again here is a quick recap:

  @5Load CRUNCH-MANIA : CLICK ON DATA : CLICK ON LOAD AND SELECT A CRUNCHED
  FILE : CLICK ON SAVE AND SAVE IT TO DISK.  It will be saved uncrunched.


  Don't be afraid to experiment with @1Crunch-Mania @5and you should be able
  to use it with ease.

  Now then, now then, as it happens .... etc. @1DMC @5will NOT be able to
  load all your crunched files !!!

  So how does it manage it then ?  Well, by running a small utility that
  comes with C-Mania called @1RTDD (Real Time Data De-Cruncher)@5.

  This utility MUST be run before the @1DMC.1 @5file.

  What this utility does is tricks the computer into thinking that all DATA
  files that have been crunched with @1Crunch-Mania@5, are not !

  In other words, it will automatically De-Crunch them on loading.

  When this file is run, any crunched files will automatically be 
  de-crunched when they are loading, thus fooling the computer into
  thinking that they are normal files.  Magic stuff !!!

  @5So there you have it folks.


  Of course @1Crunch-Mania @5could be used to crunch anything you like.
  eg. Your Demos, pictures, music files etc.

  Maybe you use @1DPAINT @5quite a lot and want to crunch all your pictures
  to save disk space. Go on - do it. Obviously @1DPaint @5can't load crunched
  files either, so all you have to do is run @1RTDD @5before you load
  @1DPaint@5.  Now it will be able to load your crunched pics. Easy. 

  The same applies to almost anything you use like Text Editors etc.

  The list could be so long that it would take me hours to type it all
  in here. (So I won't)


  @3Crunch-Mania  -Vs-  PowerPacker
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  @5One of the most commonly used crunchers was @1PowerPacker@5. This is now
  available as a Commercial release. (Shareware Versions are still around
  though).

  Although @1PowerPacker @5is a great program and has a whole load of features,
  I now use @1Crunch-Mania @5due to its ability to crunch files far smaller
  than @1PowerPacker @5can !!! (Yes even the commercial version of PPACKER)

  All the files that I ever crunched with @1PPacker @5were never as small as
  when I used @1Crunch-Mania@5. (and it's not Commercial !)

  Another point here is, @1RTDD @5is super fast at de-crunching.

  Yes @1PPacker @5has similar utils to do the job for files crunched with it,
  but they too are not as fast or as good as @!RTDD @5!

  One PPacker de-crunch util I used to use was @1PowerPackerPatcher (PP)@5.
  this was O.K. but always gave ReturnCode Errors when run from the
  Startup-Sequence ! (It still worked though !)
  It also had to be RUN using the RUN command !  @1RTDD @5doesn't. Just type
  RTDD and it will run itself etc.

  @1PP @5was also very slow at De-Crunching the @1DMC.2 @5file !!!

  So the choice is really up to you. I still use @1PowerPacker @5for some
  things, but I must admit, after using @1Crunch-Mania @5things have never
  been a problem.

  I now have the @3REGISTERED VERSION @5of @1CRUNCH-MANIA @5direct from the
  author and it was worth the money. (30 DM about £13.00 all in)


  @1Andy Gibson - AGAS Inc. 1994.       :)

  @5You can return to the @3INDEX @5now.