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                           MakeLink Replacement v1.0
                         "Use the power of softlinks!"

                         --- Freely Distributable ---

                           © 1994 The Beet Research
                         written by Grzegorz Calkowski

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DISCLAIMER
----------

    The  program  executable  and  information  above  is provided "as is".  No
representations   or   warranties  are  made  with  respect  to  the  accuracy,
reliability,  performance,  currentness,  or  operation  of  this  software and
information,  and  all  use is at your own risk.  The author doesn't assume any
responsibility  or liability whatsoever with respect to your use of the program
and information.


COPYRIGHT
---------

   MakeLink  Replacement  is just Freely Distributable.  NOTE, you may not copy
and/or distribute this program without this doc file!


REQUIREMENTS
------------

    MakeLink  requires  at  least V37 (2.04) Kickstart as in V36 softlinks were
broken.


DESCRIPTION
-----------

    MakeLink  was  developed  as replacement for orginal C='s makelink command.
The  orginal  one lacks of one very useful feature - doesn't support softlinks.
This  is why the replacement was made.  Yes, but what advantage softlinks give?
With  them,  you can make a link ACROSS devices.  For example across partitions
of  your  harddisk  or  even across floppy disk and harddisk partition!  In the
last  case  when you "cd" dir linked to a floppy you will be asked to insert it
if it's not mounted.  Technically it's possible, because softlinks are resolved
at access time while a hardlink is equivalent to the dir/file itself.

    As in V37, V39 and V40ß (40.1) (I didn't test it on the latest V40 release)
softlinks  are  NOT  fully supported by OS.  MakeLink supports *ONLY* softlinks
for directories.  To make a link to a file a hard one must be used.  Well, it's
possible  to  make softlink to a file but the link will be created as directory
(!) and, surprise, the file can be accessed by entering such a directory!  It's
not only strange but also has quite important limitations - no arguments can be
parsed  and  even such link cannot be copied!  Only can be executed from Shell.
As  it  is  REALLY  strange  behavior  I  deciced  to not allow it.  Note, even
softlinks are not fully implemented they are _SAFE_ to use.

    WARNING!!!

    One  word has to be said about hardlinks.  Kickstart file systems versions,
    including  V37,  V39 and V40.1 (ßeta) have a _BUG_ in handling of hardlinks
    which  CAN cause SERIOUS corruption of your harddisk and even system can be
    UNABLE to validate such volume!!!  It can happen when you create a hardlink
    to  a  file  and  remove  this  file  while  the hardlink still exists!
    So generally:  DON'T USE IT :-(.
    
    Note,  that  the  new  MakeLink  is only 52 bytes longer than orginal one!!
(without   additional  comments  it's  even  shorter!   100%  assembly...   :).
MakeLink was tested with Enforcer and no hits were encountered.


USAGE
-----

    Command template: 

	FROM/A,TO/A,HARD/S,FORCE/S, where:

	FROM		name of the link
	TO		dir/filepath to be linked to
	HARD		if specified hardlinks will be used
			by default soft-links are used
	FORCE		required for directory links

    MakeLink  is  supposed  to  be used in nearly exact way as the orginal one.
The  only  difference  is you have to specify HARD if you want to use hardlinks
instead  of  soft  ones.   Note that this switch exists in orginal makelink but
even if not specified hard links are used.  IT'S THE DIFFERENCE.


EXAMPLARY USAGE
---------------

    makelink a_soft_link MyDir FORCE

	Creates a softlink named "a_soft_link" in current directory to
	directory "mydir". Note the FORCE keyword must be specified.

    makelink sys:another_soft_link mydisk: FORCE

	Creates a softlink in SYS: to volume entitled "mydisk".

    makelink floppy df0: FORCE

        Creates a softlink to _ANY_ floppy disk inserted in df0:

    makelink links_here/a_hard_link :mydir HARD FORCE

 	Creates a hardlink in dir "links_here" to directory named "mydir"
	placed in the root. Note the FORCE keyword must be specified.

    makelink a_file_link tools/myfile HARD

	Creates a hardlink to file "tools/myfile".  Note the file and the link
	_MUST_ exists on the same volume just due to nature of hardlinks.
        See warning above.


NOTE
----

    I'm  sure  there  are other makelink replacements which supports softlinks.
As  I  haven't any I decided to code my own.  (I live in small village and as I
haven't direct access to Internet or any BSS I do not so often get hot stuff...
I have to rely on slooow snail-mail chanells... how sad...8·|. )


CONTACTING THE AUTHOR
---------------------

    Any ideas or bug reports will be sincerely welcomed.  Just drop me a piece
of paper.


		Grzegorz Calkowski
		Rzedowice
		ul.Dobrodzienska 8
		42-780 Dobrodzien
		POLAND
		
		(snail-mail rules...ahem..suxx!)