Short:    GUI for archivers LhA,LZX,DMS,xDM  v1.0
Author:   John Wells

                   Compressor Control Box - v1.0
                            Jan 1, 1996
                           by John Wells

This program is Copyright 1995 by John Wells.  All Rights Reserved.
This program may not be sold.

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).

The  purpose  of this program is to compress the contents of floppy
disks,  hard  drives,  and  other  forms of temporary and permanent
computer  storage.

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
v1.21,  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 PacDev in your C:
directory.

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  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!)
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

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)

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, don't worry about it.

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