Welcome to File_Collector
                      The front end for Arc/Zoo/Lharc
                               Version 1.04
                                   By
                               Jamie Mueller

IMPORTANT: File_Collector makes EXTENSIVE use of the PIPE: device--so 
MAKE SURE that the PIPE: device is working before you use File_Collector. 
(A simple test is to "DIR >PIPE:a" and then "type PIPE:a" if you don't
get any requestors and the type command gives you the directory then your 
pipe device is working)

CAUTION: Please make sure the archive & source/dest paths start with a 
drive name (e.g. 'df0:...')--especially so if you are running 
File_Collector from the Workbench. If you do not, File_Collector might 
appear to lock up occasionally--do not fret, File_Collector is waiting 
for some input from the pipe: device. To remove F_C from this 'lock up' 
condition go to CLI and type something similar to "dir >pipe:fcout" (you 
should see the directory on the File_Collector screen--if this does not 
help, then you are locked up and have to reboot (sorry).

Also important: File_Collector doesn't seem to like being run from the 
Workbench--I don't know why, but then this is only version 1.00 <grin> 
This is why you don't see a .info file here either.

I wrote File_Collector to make things easier to arc/unarc, zoo/unzoo, 
and/or lharc/unlharc. Since these programs all use a similar interface 
(but different enough to make it confusing) I thought I'd "Amigatize" 
them and consolodate them into a single 'element'.

First things first: the File_Collector screen: in the upper left hand 
corner you will see a small Gadget (EVERYTHING you see is a gadget) 
--labeled 'Zoo' when you first boot the program--this is the 'mode' 
gadget, it tells you which program you are using (e.g. Arc, Zoo, or 
Lharc). You can change the mode by clicking on the gadget, but this is 
really of no use because File_Collector sets the mode according to the 
file extension of the arc/zoo/lzh.

The area labeled "Archive Name" is where you set the name of the Archive 
you are working with. You can do this in two ways: 1) Click in the box 
and type in the name of the arc/zoo/lzh including a path to get there 
(e.g. "ram:music.lzh") or 2) click in the drive box on the left and use 
the file requestor to 'navigate' your way to the arc/zoo/lzh and then 
click on the gadget labeled '>>>>' to the left of the "Archive Name" box.

Once you have set the Archive name you're ready to have some fun. (if you 
noticed when you set the name, File_Collector recognized the type of 
arc/zoo/lzh and set the 'mode' to that)

To extract the arc/zoo/lzh either type in the destination path in the 
"Source/Dest path" box or use the requestor and hit the ">>>>" button to 
the left of the "Source/Dest path" box. Then hit the "Extrct" button and 
watch the window on the bottom while it extracts the files.

To create an arc/zoo/lzh type in the name in the Archive box (including 
the extension and path--e.g. "ram:music.zoo") and use the file requestor 
to pick the files and click the "Add" button for each file. NOTE: since 
File_Collector does not process the file name in the "File" box you can 
put wildcard characters there (at least if the version of arc/zoo/lharc 
you are using recognizes them).

NOTE: to lharc/zoo up paths set the "Source/Dest Path" box to the 'root' 
of the files you wish to lharc/zoo up and go from there. For instance you 
want do zoo the directory 'music' on dh0: which looks like this:

DH0: 
   music (dir)
      songa      songb     songc
      instruments (dir)
         insta       instb      instc
      misc (dir)
         stuff       morestuff

you would set the "Source/Dest Path" to "DH0:music" and then click in the 
"Drawer" box, clear it, and hit return (this will display the files in 
"DH0:music") now you go about selecting files and hitting the "Add" 
button. Just remember to never specify "DH0:music" in the "Drawer" box.

To specify a file to Delete from the arc/zoo/lharc use the "File" box and 
hit the "Delete" button.

"Test" and "View" require no 'arguments' so just clicking on them will 
execute that command on the selected arc/zoo/lzh. NOTE: since Zoo does 
not have a "Test" command the "Pack" command is implemented instead--this 
was necessary because when you delete some files from a .zoo it must then 
be 'packed'.

I also hope you remembered to put Arc, Zoo, and Lharc in your C: 
directory so that File_Collector can find them.

I hope this little utility makes life for you just a little bit easier..

                          Jamie C.Mueller  <- GEnie

P.S. I zoo'ed these files with File_Collector <grin>

New to 1.01: Both the '>>>>' buttons now work correctly (sigh), and the 
file 'search' is speeded up.

New to 1.02: More improvements to '>>>>' buttons. New 'Help' and 'Trash'
buttons (trash deletes a file off of disk, NOT in an archive). Plus
a scrollback 'knob' for re-viewing work, etc.

New to 1.03: Icon support added--File_Collector will now run from the 
Workbench. NOTE: File_Collector opens a small window on the Workbench 
screen this is for 'error' output from arc/zoo/lharc; for instance when 
you create a new .arc file you will see 'Creating arc ....' in that 
window (a message from the arc program).

New to 1.04: Extract bug fixed when working from the Workbench.