Short: GUI for archivers LhA,LZX,DMS,DSQ v1.5 Uploader: johnw@kvnet.org (John Wells) Author: johnw@kvnet.org (John Wells) Type: util/arc Compressor Control Box - v1.5 Feb 12, 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 DSQ. 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. General Info: Ok, so what are these compressors? Quick summary. LhA is an archiver that takes groups of files and compresses them into one single file, thereby reducing the total size and making it easier to store said files. LZX is the latest generation file-archiver, featuring faster and better compression than LhA. DMS is an archiver designed to compress entire disks, resulting in a single file that is easier to store and transfer. DSQ (short for DiskSqueeze!), is the modern-era disk compressor. Dirk Vael originated the concept with DiskSqueeze!, and I was hooked. More reliable than DMS, it also features better compression, using LZX and PackDev. I have not done a full implementation of DiskSqueeze! here, for that, please get the original by Dirk Vael. Look on Aminet under util/arc for the latest version. Requirements: I'm not sure, but I don't think CCB will run on pre-2.04 systems. I don't know anyone still using 1.3! It does work on 2.04 thru 3.1 DMSDescript (v1.1) (Included) View/Add File_id.diz to DMS files PackDev (v1.7) (Included) (De)Compress DiskSqueeze! files DirII (Included) Create Files.dsq for DiskSqueeze! DMS (v1.11+) (Not included) (De)Compress DMS files LhA (v1.38e+) (Not included) Manipulating LHA files LZX (v1.20e+) (Not included) Manipulating LZX and DiskSqueeze! files 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. CCB has been extensively tested using the following: LhA v1.38e and v1.50r, LZX v1.20e, 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, v2.511+, which is NOT included in this distribution, as I am not sure of the distributability (is that a word?) of the library. However, since v3.006 of the library IS freely distributable, I have included it to make the package complete. To make things a bit easier, just click on the included INSTALL icon to put the included programs (DMSDescript, DirII, and PackDev) in your C: directory. ToolTypes: CCB currently supports the following tooltypes: SOURCE=default source path. Default is DH1:Files DESTINATION=default destination path. Default is DH1:Temp TDIR=default Temporary T: path. Default is DH1:T VIEWER=default text viewer. Default is C:MultiView 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, DSQ, LhA-2-LZX, or DMS-2-DSQ LhA-2-LZX and DMS-2-DSQ perform the conversion process in the T: directory. I have found that you will need about 2.5 meg free for converting a DMS file to an DSQ file, and about 1 1/2 times the size of the LhA file for converting an archive from LhA format to LZX. If you don't have enough memory to transform the file, I suggest assigning T: to somewhere on your harddrive. It will slow things down somewhat, but unless your HD is REALLY cramped, you should have enough room there to perform the conversion. Also, when converting from DMS to DSQ, I strongly recommend using RAD or an FMS-type drive for the work drive. It will work using a standard floppy, but it is SO SLOW! Do yourself a favor, and install FMSdisk today! The LhA-2-LZX and DMS-2-DSQ options also offer a 'batch' mode, for converting many files all at once. Unlike the 'single file mode', batch conversion does not show the resulting file-size difference between the original and new files, or offer the chance to delete one. All selected files will be processed, keeping the originals intact, unless an error is encountered, which will stop the conversion process. Each file will be shown in the 'Source' box as it is being processed, and if the conversion fails, that entry will remain shown in the box. 2) Select Operation. Compress, DeCompress, Test, View/Add Diz View/Add Diz works as follows. 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. If the file DOES have a File_id.diz attached to it, it will be displayed and you will be given an opportunity to modify it. 3) Select Source File/Dir/Device. Click on this, a requester comes up, allowing you to select the SOURCE F/D/D. When using DMS or DSQ, a requester will pop up asking for the source 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! 4) Select Destination. Another requester. When using DMS or DSQ, a requester will pop up asking for the 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! 5) Process Selection. Start or Reset All Reset All clears the current selection. If you are DeCompressing an LhA or LZX archive, a requester will pop-up, asking if you would like to create a drawer to put the contents into. This keeps things from getting scattered all over your drive, and makes it easy to get rid of files you decide not to keep. Want more info? OK, you've got it. If you select the Test operation, no need to select a destination. Makes sense, right? If using DSQ, 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. The 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 Registration Info: Registration is simple. I'm not picky. I will accept just about anything you consider to be of value. For example, I will gladly accept a registered version of a program YOU have written in exchange for the registered version of Compressor Control Box. If the exchange is handled via e-mail, I will continue to send updates as they are created, with no further fee due. Naturally, I will not turn down monetary offers, or boxes of cookies, a CD, whatever. I will supply the registered version ONCE by floppy, if you would prefer to do it that way. Updates will ONLY be sent out via e-mail. So be sure to give me your e-mail address when you register. 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: Ashley, for making the excellent AmigaGuide for CCB Stephen Davies, author of DirII Stefan Boberg, author of LhA Jonathan Forbes, author of LZX SDS Software, author(s?) of DMS Dirk Vael, author of DiskSqueeze! Christian Wasner, author of PackDev Jay Miner for creating a REAL computer! Amiga Technologies for resurrecting Amy INOVAtronics, Inc., developers of CanDo! Re/Y\o(/Y\ystic/X-DeSign), author of DMSDescript v1.1 HISTORY v1.5 - 12 Feb 96 Added 'batch mode' to the LhA-2-LZX and DMS-2-DSQ conversion routines, added tooltype support for defining the Source, Destination and temporary T: directories, as well as the ability to define where your favorite viewer is. If the ToolTypes are not found, the defaults of SYS: and C:MultiView will be used. Moved the 'Free Mem' indicator from the window title bar to it's location next to the 'Select Compressor' text for legibility. Re-arranged the 'History' in this document, to show the latest info at the top, removed the use of DLDiz (no longer needed), and enhanced the error-detection routines. v1.4 - 30 Jan 96 Ok, cleaned up the GUI, think I have the docs pretty well squared away now. I have (I think) complied with Dirk Vael's request to dump xDM and switch support to DiskSqueeze!, I hope he likes the way it has turned out. Fixed a bug in the creation of a new drawer for decompressing lha and lzx archives (thanks for spotting that, Ashley!), fixed the constant re-drawing of the program window, added the ability to delete the original or the new when converting from lha-to-lzx and when converting from DMS-to-DSQ. Added a bunch of progress indicators, so you won't think things are frozen when converting files, fixed the memory indicator (I hope), added a means of assigning T: to the hard drive if low on memory, fixed a serious bug in the DMS and DSQ routines (I won't tell what it was. If you found it, you know what it was). Changed the 'Abort' button to 'Reset All', which is what it was originally supposed to do (and now does). There might be more, but after 3 days sitting in front of Amy, I can't seem to remember! I would like to especially thank Ashley for doing the AmigaGuide for CCB. Looks great! v1.31 - 27 Jan 96 This was an emergency release, disabling the xDM portions of CCB. I received a message from the originator of xDM, Dirk Vael, asking me to remove xDM from the program. In haste, I simply disabled those functions pertaining to xDM and sent it out, to replace the v1.3 release. I'll get the GUI and docs cleaned up for the next release. v1.3 - 20 Jan 1996 Finally found a way to make LhA and LZX compress a directory and include the selected path ONLY, as well as the .info for the drawer (if it exists). What this means, is that you will no longer have files that un-compress to something like: WorkBench:Games/FavoriteOfAllTime/blah Instead, if you had elected to compress the drawer 'FavoriteOfAllTime/', containing 'blah' and such, it will actually only have the path of 'FavoriteOfAllTime/blah', just like it should! Also, I finally got around to fixing up some of the pull-down menus, take a look at them. One more thing. I found the program 'DMSDescript', which means that you can now View/Add a File_id.diz to DMS files. v1.3 - FIRST REGISTERED VERSION I decided to make the LhA-2-LZX and DMS-2-xDM options only available to registered users, have to give them some kind of benny for registering! Since v1.0 - v1.2 did not support this repacking option, it looks like v1.3 will be the first to give the un-registered users something to think about. I find the option VERY handy, since it is SO EASY TO USE! So come on, folks, go ahead and register. It really is worth it! :) v1.2 - 14 Jan 1996 Spruced up the appearance of the GUI somewhat, added a pop-up requester to the DeCompress option of LhA and LZX, to ask the user if a drawer should be created to put the contents into. Straightened up some code, got rid of some excess, added the 'About' menu item. Just little stuff, really. Oh, and I cleaned up this readme, too! 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. v1.0 - 1 Jan 1996 Initial release