Wincode: Multi-Purpose Encoder/Decoder for Windows (C) Snappy_Inc. (1993,1994) ------------------------------------------------------------ written by George H. Silva ***PLEASE DISTRIBUTE FREELY WITH ALL FILES INTACT*** Files: WINCODE.EXE the main executable program WCODEDLL.DLL dynamic link library of coding functions HOOKDLL.DLL dynamic link library of menu hook functions WINSORT.EXE a companion file-sort utility ZIPLINK.EXE executable link to PKZIP/PKUNZIP ZIPLINK.PIF ZIPLINK.EXE program information file SUM.EXE a BONUS "sum -r/size" DOS utility README.TXT this file HELPME.TXT Wincode basics and information for obtaining the HELP file (WINCODE.HLP) INSTALL.EXE the Install/Upgrade program INSTALL.HLP the Installer HELP file INSTALL.INF the Installer information file CHECKSUM.REF checksum reference file ***SEE THE HELPME.TXT FILE FOR MORE INFORMATION*** This file contains the following information: I. About Wincode II. Wincode Features (very brief list!) III. Coming Soon IV. Requirements V. Installing/Running Wincode VI. BONUS 'sum -r/size' Utility VII. Availability VIII. Other Snappy_Inc. Software IX. Mailing List X. Known Limitations XI. Note to AOL Users XII. Copyrights I. *** About Wincode *** Wincode is a Windows 3.1 program which converts 8-bit BINARY (EXE, COM,GIF, etc) files to 7-bit ASCII (Text) files (and vice versa) through a process known as bit-shifting. Wincode currently supports UU/XX and Base64 (MIME 1.0 conformant) coding. This BINARY/ASCII conversion allows you to send and receive binary files via e-mail or any other ascii-based communications system. It provides a quick and easy way to distribute programs to people all over the world (it takes a few minutes, on average, for e-mail to reach across the world). UUcoding is a common practice on many Internet NewsGroups in which users wish to exchange binary data. Base64 coding is used by MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) conformant e-mail software as a method for attaching binary data to ascii e-mail. Both methods perform the same overall function (i.e. allow binary data to be safely transmitted through e-mail) but require different formatting algorithms. In the future, Wincode will also support BINHEX coding and *may* even handle the actual "e-mailing" of the data... Wincode and the associated executables and DLLs (NOT including the HELP file) are distributed as FREEWARE. However, we want to make a distinction: the program is FREEWARE, but it is NOT Public Domain. Snappy_Inc still retain the Copyright to the source code and to the use and distribution of the program. The HELP file is available for a small fee ($5.00 US) but is NOT required for Wincode to function correctly. Ordering the HELP file also entitles you to future updates and e-mail based support. The $5.00 fee is mainly to offset development costs and the amount of personal time invested. See below and the file HELPME.TXT for more information on obtaining support. Wincode is 100% compatible with all standard UUcoders and MIME 1.0 conformant software. The MIME (Base64) support was developed under the guidelines of RFC 1521 (September 1993) and is subject to our understanding of the document. We welcome all comments and error corrections. We have tried to incorporate as many extra features as possible to make the en/de-coding process painless. The average user may not need/use all of Wincode's features, but they *are* Free! NOTE TO DEVELOPERS: WCODEDLL.DLL contains ALL of Wincode's 'working' code (currently) accessed through 66 functions/procedures. We created this SIMPLE interface to allow Developers to integrate the Wincode Engine into any program. We will provide the API and royalty free usage to interested developers under certain conditions. Please contact Snappy_Inc for more details. II. *** Wincode Features (very brief list!) *** - Full featured Windows 3.1 program - Easy access ToolBar for hassle-free operation - Drag and Drop support (use for batch en/de-coding -> Wincode also allows multi-file selection from File Open dialogs) - SMART decoding (handles single files, multi-part files, can determine what is encoded or not, etc. -> see the HELP file for more information) - Fully configurable...We're not joking! - EMBL UUcode compatible - Supports UU, XX or User defined En/De-coding - Supports Base64 (MIME conformant) En/De-coding - Supports En/De-coding to/from the Clipboard! - Supports automatic ZIP/UNZIP (requires PKWare's ZIP/UNZIP 2.0) - Application menu hooking option to integrate Wincode's menu - Includes INSTALL program for upgrades - Integrated file-sorting companion program (separate executable for easier upgrading) which handles MANY types of file header formats - Multimedia support - see the HELP file for details - It's ALL FREE... III. *** Coming Soon *** - BINHEX en/de-coding support. - The ability to handle actual "e-mailing" of encoded data files. - User suggestions...? IV. *** Requirements *** - IBM compatible running DOS 3.3 or higher - 286 or higher processor with at least 2MB memory - Windows 3.1/3.11 running in standard or enhanced mode - About 500K of disk space without HELP file (~750K with HELP file) V. *** Installing/Running Wincode *** If you have not already done so, expand the ZIP archive into a temporary directory (or a floppy-disk). Start Windows, select FILE|RUN from Program Manager or File Manager and type in the full path of the INSTALL.EXE program (run it). The INSTALL program will copy/expand all the files to a directory you specify (overwriting older files), upgrade your WINCODE.INI (if you are running an older version of Wincode) and create a Program Manager Group and/or icon. See the HELPME.TXT file for basic instructions on using Wincode. ***IMPORTANT NOTE: ALL files (listed above) must be present in the same directory for Installer to function properly. You should INSTALL first, then move selected files to directories of your choice (i.e. delete the README.TXT, place SUM.EXE in your DOS directory, etc.). The install program uses the Windows LZEXPAND.DLL to decompress and copy the required files. If you receive any error messages during install, please contact Snappy_Inc for assistance. VI. *** BONUS 'sum -r/size' Utility *** We have included a small DOS executable which will quickly calculate UNIX 'sum -r/size' checksums. This program is useful for checking the integrity of files that have been transferred over communications lines that are questionable (or, to some extent, checking for virus infections). Wincode supports both line and/or file Checksum checking while decoding and will insert Checksums (line and/or file) while encoding. This utlity is provided as a stand-alone DOS program. For program usage, type 'SUM' (with no parameters) at the DOS prompt. The included file 'CHECKSUM.REF' contains the proper checksum values for all of the files in the Wincode package. VII. *** Availability *** Recent versions of Wincode (or other Snappy_Inc software) are always available at the following locations: - CompuServe (check the WinShare forum; keyword: Snappy, Wincode, etc.) - America Online (keyword: Snappy, Wincode, etc.) - The Nebuolic Cheese BBS [SysOp: Stephen Lau] phone# (415) 949-1788 - located in the Los Altos, Ca. area (USA) (this is an Official Snappy_Inc. Software Release Site for the West coast; We're the East coast release site - see below) - The Internet - OK, so this isn't *very* specific...but, if you have access to the internet, ARCHIE for: WNCODExx.ZIP where "xx" is the version number, i.e. WNCODE26.ZIP for version 2.6 We will also try to upload current versions to: ftp.cica.indiana.edu VIII. *** Other Snappy_Inc. Software *** We generally develop utility programs for Windows 3.1. We currently have a handful of programs that we're working on (including a Windows Program Uninstaller) which we will release as FREEWARE. We welcome all ideas for future projects. IX. *** Mailing List *** We have been trying to maintain a mailing list of all users who have offered advice, bug reports or helped in BETA testing. Being on this list entitles you to FREE upgrades (personally e-mailed pre-releases) and support. (in other words, you don't have to download Wincode from the Internet or an Online Service/BBS). For more information see the HELPME.TXT file. X. *** Known Limitations *** 1) Network Users: If Wincode is having problems opening and/or finding files on a networked drive, edit the WINCODE.INI file and change/add the following line: Network=1 This will activate a bypass which allows Wincode to view the file differently (i.e. not as a "DOS" file). If you still have problems, please contact Snappy_Inc. with a detailed description. 2) Certain video hardware/software combinations (such as ATI cards/drivers) are known to cause irregular displays of various Wincode dialogs. Common symptoms include misaligned text, irregularly spaced progress bars and "absent menus". The Hooking feature is also not fully supported by all applications. If you have problems hooking and application, try using the "Tune.." options. If you experience any other difficulties, please let us know. These known problems do NOT affect Wincode's coding functionality. XI. *** Note to AOL Users *** Here are answers to two common problems experienced by AOL Users: 1) When downloading USENET posts from AOL, be certain that you receive the ENTIRE message. You do this by pressing the 'More...' button until it disappears or grays-out. AOL downloads files in 28K chunks and usually does NOT receive the entire post when you select it. We have been told that the 'Logging' option is the way to go for capturing LARGE files. For more info, please contact the AOL support personnel. 2) If you want to Hook the AOL menu, use 'America Online' as the Application Name (do NOT include the quotes). The point is that there are TWO spaces between 'America' and 'Online'. XI. *** Copyrights *** - portions of this program are copyright (C) 1991,1993 Borland - Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation - PKZIP/UNZIP are copyright 1989-1993 PKWARE Inc. All Rights Reserved. - GIF is a service mark of CompuServe Incorporated - WordPerfect is a registered trademark of Novell, Inc. - Procomm Plus for Windows is copyright 1992-1993 Datastorm Technologies, Inc. - Star Trek: The Next Generation is a registered trademark of Paramount Pictures Have fun! George.--- Snappy_Inc. ;-) Main Internet Address: George.Silva@wadsworth.org (preferred) CompuServe: 74640,1647 (74640.1647@compuserve.com) America Online: Snappy (Snappy@aol.com) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- [GHS 10/31/94]