xDrop 2.21 ========== XPK-based Workbench packer/unpacker. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Versions -------- 2.0 - First version, distributed with xpk 1.0 2.01 - Small bug fix (original window positioning was wrong) 2.02 - Memory leek fixed 2.1 - Layout slightly changed, larger listview, mode descriptor 2.11 - Bug causing Enforcer hit in panel disable code fixed (Ch. Schneider) 2.12 - Bug with long filenames fixed 2.20 - New option `Keep file dates' 2.21 - Now also keeps protection bits and file comments, displays name of selected packer if no icon name is specified in tool types ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Disclaimer ---------- xDrop is Copyright © 1992 by Martin A. Blatter. All rights reserved. xDrop may be freely distributed for non-commercial purposes only! The entire risk as to the quality and performance of this program is with you. The author assumes no responsibility or liability whatsoever with respect to your use or inability to use of this software. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Purpose ------- xDrop is an easy to use visual user interface to the XPK library system. It allows you to choose from different packers and different operation modes by a simple mouse click. It sports a Style Guide compliant user interface and uses Workbench 2.0's appicon and appwindow features to make operation as simple and convenient as possible. Through the use of Commodore-Amiga's commodities.library, xDrop can be installed on any hotkey and fully controlled with the Commodities Exchange program. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Requirements ------------ · Any Amiga · Kickstart 2.0 or higher · The xpk package (xpkmaster.library and at least one sublibrary) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Start xDrop ----------- xDrop can be used either from Workbench or from the CLI. * Workbench use Double click on the xDrop icon. An appicon will appear on the Workbench screen. If this appicon doesn't appear several things could have gone wrong: · Do you use Kickstart 2.0 or higher? · Is there any memory left on your system? · Do you have commodities.library (supplied with Workbench 2.04) in libs:? · Is the xpk package properly installed? Requesters will try to tell you the cause if xDrop fails to run. If the tool type `CX_POPUP' (see below for an explanation of tool types) is set to `yes', a configuration window will appear. See the section entitled `Configuration Window' for more information about this window. * CLI use Type 'xDrop' in any Shell window. An appicon will appear on the Workbench screen. To remove xDrop from memory, just press CONTROL-C in the Shell window where xDrop has been started from. Notice xDrop will use its pre-set default settings if started from the Shell. It is therefore recommended to launch xDrop from Workbench or the WBStartup drawer. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Operation --------- Operation of xDrop is very easy: To compress files: Just select one or more file icons (no drawers) on the Workbench, drag them to the xDrop appicon or the xDrop configuration window (if it's open) and drop them. The Progress Report Window (see below) will appear and the file will be compressed using the packer selected in the configuration window or pre-set with the XPK_METHOD tool type (see below for a discussion of tool types). To uncompress files: To uncompress a compressed file, drag its icon on the xDrop appicon or the xDrop configuration window (if it's open). You may drop arbitrary many icons (compressed or uncompressed) simultaneously on xDrop. Note that xDrop currently only handles single files (no drawers). You cannot concatenate several files to one archive like with lharc or zoo. To remove xDrop from memory: xDrop can be removed from memory at any time. - Use the `Commodities Exchange' program to kill xDrop - Send xDrop a CTRL-C signal with the `break' command. xDrop will exit gracefully. - Run another copy of xDrop. Both xDrop processes will quit immediately. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Configuration Window -------------------- The configuration window is divided into three visually separated parts labelled `Packer', `Settings' and `Description': ________________________________________________________________ | | | Packer Description | | ____________ ___________________________________________ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ------------------------------------------| | | | | | | | | Settings | | | | | | | | ________________________ | | ------------ | | | | | | |----------------------| | | ------------ |______________________| | | | | ____________ ____________ | | | Save | | Hide | | | ------------ ------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Packer The Packer list view allows you to choose from a list of available XPK packers and encryptors by clicking on its entry (the packer libraries are usually located in the drawer `libs:compressors'). The recessed box below the list view shows the selected packer. 2. Description This view-only box displays more information about the currently selected packer/encryptor consisting of the full name of the packer and two lines of additional information. 3. Settings The Settings part of the configuration window consists of two gadgets that can be ghosted, depending on the capabilities of the currently selected packer: A. Efficiency This proportional gadget allows you to manipulate the efficiency of the packer. The value for efficiency can be in the range from 0 to 100%. Neither must every packer support 100 different levels nor does every packer have more than one level. An ASCII name of the current efficiency level can be obtained by selecting the `Mode Info' menu. As of version 2.1, the ASCII name is now also being displayed at the left side of the proportional gadget. B. Password This string gadget allows you to specify a password for packers that support data encryption. The password may not be longer than 15 characters. 4. Buttons A. Save Saves the current settings to the xDrop disk icon. Keyboard equivalent: S B. Hide Hides the configuration window but doesn't quit xDrop. Uses the current configuration settings but doesn't save them. Keyboard equivalent: H 5. Close gadget The window close gadget does exactly the same as the `Hide' button. 6. Menus A. Project About - Displays information about the program and its author. Keyboard equivalent: Rt. Amiga - A Mode Info - Displays settings and additional information for the currently selected packer. Keyboard equivalent: Rt. Amiga - I Hide - Hides the configuration window but doesn't quit xDrop. Uses the current configuration settings but doesn't save them. Keyboard equivalent: Rt. Amiga - H Quit - Completely removes xDrop from memory. B. Option Keep Original - If checked, xDrop will save the original file and append `.xpk' to the filename for the compressed version of the file. Icons will be copied as well. The `.xpk' extension will be deleted when the file is going to be decompressed. If the menu item is not checked, xDrop will overwrite the original file with the compressed version. Keep File Info - If this option is enabled, the compressed file will get the same date stamp, file comment and protection bits as the original. This is very useful if you're processing files (e.g. different versions of a source code) and you're depending on the file date to tell which version is newer. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Progress Report Window ---------------------- While packing/unpacking, xDrop will show a progress report in a special window that appears in the upper left corner of your Workbench screen. A bar that moves from the left to the right shows the degree of completion. This will not work with all packers, some will only show a change when done. The progress report also shows the amount of bytes already processed, the total amount of bytes to be processed and the (de)compression speed. (De)compression can be aborted at any time using the close gadget; you will not lose any data. xDrop never overwrites the original file before having successfully completed the (de)compression. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tool Types ---------- The following tool types are supported: CX_POPUP - If you want the xDrop configuration window to pop up the first time xDrop is started, set this to yes: CX_POPUP=yes If you want xDrop to run in the background the first time it is being started e.g. if you're running it from the WBStartup drawer, set this to no: CX_POPUP=no CX_POPKEY - Key combination for the commodity `hotkey'. Default: CX_POPKEY=alt shift f9 CX_PRIORITY Commodity priority. Default value: CX_PRIORITY=0 XPK_METHOD - Sets the default packer. This tool type will be maintained by the configuration window and should not be changed by the user. XPK_METHOD=NUKE XPK_PRIORITY - Sets the task priority of the packing/unpacking task. Don't change this value unless you know what you're doing. Default value: 0 LANGUAGE - Determines the language to use for the user interface. Possible values: LANGUAGE=German LANGUAGE=English This tool type overrides global language settings. Remove it if you want to use the system's default language... ICONNAME - Allows you to specify the label string of the appicon. Example: ICONNAME=Slurp If this Tool Type is not given, the appicon will get the name of the currently selected packer. ICONXPOS - Specifies the desired x coordinate of the appicon. Note that as of Kickstart 2.0, Workbench may move your icon to another position than specified here. Example: ICONXPOS=600 ICONYPOS - Specifies the desired y coordinate where the appicon should appear. Note that as of Kickstart 2.0, Workbench may move your icon to another position than specified here. ICONYPOS=400 KEEPORIGINAL - If this tool type is set to `yes', xDrop will save the original file and append `.xpk' to the filename for the compressed copy of the file. Icons will be copied as well. The `.xpk' extension will be deleted when the file is going to be decompressed. If the tool type is set to `no' (the default), xDrop will overwrite the original with the compressed version. Example: KEEPORIGINAL=no If this tool type is not specified, it defaults to `no'. KEEPFILEINFO - If this tool type is set to `yes', the processed file will get the same date stamp, file comment and protection bits as the original. Otherwise, new files will get the current date and time and default protections. Example: KEEPFILEINFO=yes Default value is `no'. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Credits ------- Author: Martin A. Blatter Pfaffächerstr. 59 CH-8913 Ottenbach Switzerland E-Mail: blatter@amiga.physik.unizh.ch cbmvax!cbmehq!cbmswi!zethos!blatter Bug reports or suggestions are welcome but *please* use e-mail or snail mail (no phone calls!). Thanks. This program uses Relog AG's ITools(tm), the object-oriented user interface system by Christian A. Weber. Special thanks to - U. Dominik Mueller for parts of the manual. - Frank Neumann for the german manual.