Short: GUI for archivers LhA,LZX,DMS,xDM v1.1 Uploader: johnw@kvnet.org (John Wells) Author: johnw@kvnet.org (John Wells) Type: util/arc Compressor Control Box - v1.1 Jan 9, 1996 Compressor Control Box - v1.0 Jan 1, 1996 by John Wells This program is Copyright 1996 by John Wells. All Rights Reserved. This program may not be sold, although a small charge for shipping, handling, and media may be charged. This program is a convenient interface for using several disk/file archivers. Currently, Compressor Control Box (hereafter known as CCB) supports the following archivers: LZX, LHA, DMS, and xDM (a pleasing combination of PackDev and LZX). First, a disclaimer: The purpose of this program is to compress the contents of floppy disks, hard drives, and other forms of temporary and permanent computer storage. The author, John Wells, will not be held responsible for any data lost through the (correct or incorrect) use of this program, nor will he be held responsible for any damages (financial or otherwise) resulting from the use of this program. Requirements: Well, in order to use the supported archivers, it is important that CCB be able to find them. A good place for them is your C: directory. Of course, anywhere in your command path is sufficient. I have included the latest version of PackDev (v1.7) as it seems to be tough to find. The rest of the archivers should be easy enough to locate. You will need versions of LhA, LZX, and DMS. CCB has been extensively tested using the following: LhA v1.35, LZX v1.20, and DMS v1.11. I would think that any newer versions of those programs would work just fine as well. CCB also requires the cando.library, which is included in this distribution as well. It can be found in the LIBS drawer in this archive. Or, if you like, just click on the included INSTALL icon to put the library in your LIBS: directory, and PackDev in your C: directory. v1.1 - You will also find a drawer containing DLDiz v1.7, which also needs to go to somewhere in your path. The install script will copy DLDiz to your C: directory for you. CLI Usage: not currently supported (it's an interface. That's the point!) Workbench Usage: If you want to see what is happening, I would use the CCB icon, but if you don't need to see what is going on, just click on the CompressorControlBox icon. The only difference is that the CCB icon also opens up an output shell, so you can see what is happening. I have noticed no noticeable speed increase in NOT opening the shell, so it's a matter of personal choice. I've tried to make it as easy to use as possible. Just follow the 5 steps shown on the interface, and you'll be set. In order, these are: 1) Select Compressor. LhA, LZX, DMS, xDM 2) Select Operation. Compress, DeCompress, Test (View/Add Diz soon!) v1.1 - View/Add Diz now works! If the file you checked doesn't have a File_id.diz, CCB will open up a little window for you to enter the description into. When you are finished entering text, hit 'ESC x' to close the window and save the File_id.diz to the file. Except for DMS. It is NOT cooperating at all! It seems that in order to add a File_id.diz to a DMS file, it must be unpacked and then repacked with the File_id.diz. But don't worry. I'll figure out something! If the file DOES have a File_id.diz attached to it, it will be displayed in the CCB Output window. 3) Select Source File/Dir/Device. Click on this, a requester comes up, allowing you to select the SOURCE F/D/D 4) Select Destination. Another requester 5) Process Selection. Start or Abort v1.1 - When using DMS or xDM, a requester will pop up asking for the source (or destination) device, such as DF0 or DF1, at the right time. Don't worry, you'll know it when it happens! Just make sure there is a disk in the drive BEFORE you click on Start! Want more info? OK, you've got it. If you select the Test operation, no need to select a destination. Makes sense, right? When using DMS or xDM to Compress, only DF0: is valid, any other source will be ignored. (Working on a way to make it use other devices, such as DF1:, but haven't figured it out yet. But I will!) When using DMS or xDM to DeCompress, only DF0: will be accessed for the destination (same problem as above, working on it) v1.1 - Fixed the problems discussed in the above two paragraphs If using xDM, I strongly suggest assigning T: to somewhere on your harddrive, as it can use up to 2 meg of RAM while processing a file. Of course, if you have 3 megs or more free, don't worry about it. v1.1 - Little memory display in title bar should give you a clue as to whether or not you need to re-assign T: to your HD That's it! If you have any questions or comments, or just want to send a donation (A4000, Corvette, book, game, money, whatever) please feel free to get in touch with me at the address below. John Wells 2595 Vonoa Drive Radcliff, KY 40160 e-mail: johnw@kvnet.org HISTORY v1.0 - 1 Jan 1996 Initial release v1.1 - 9 Jan 1996 Finally found a way to fix the niggling problem with selecting the device to use for DMS and xDM. The user can now select ANY floppy-type device for use by CCB. Added a 'history' function to the source/destination requesters, so that the last directory used will be the default (hope that is what you had in mind, Ashley!) Fixed the 'View/Add Diz' option, can now view the File_id.diz of LZX, LhA, DMS, and xDM archives, and can add a File_id.diz to LZX, LhA, and xDM files. Sorry, nothing for DMS (yet!). Added a Memory display to the title bar, good for keeping track of just how much ram you have left after crunching up several disks or directories. Greetings, Thanks, and Other Stuff I would like to thank those who have sent me e-mail, for the kind words and support (and suggestions!), especially ashley@apowell.demon.co.uk, who was the very first to send me a message regarding CCB. I would also like to extend my thanks to the following: Stefan Boberg, author of LhA Jonathan Forbes, author of LZX SDS Software, author(s?) of DMS Rasmus K. Ursem, author of DLDiz Christian Wasner, author of PackDev Jay Miner for creating a REAL computer! Amiga Technologies for resurrecting Amy INOVAtronics, Inc., developers of CanDo! Adam Chapman, originator of the xDM concept and Dirk Vael, who took it several steps further NOTE * * * * I just learned that the cando.library v2.511 needed by CCB may NOT be PD or distributable, so I am removing it from the distribution until I can find out. This will NOT prevent users who HAVE cando.library v2.511 (or higher?) from using CCB. Thank you!