PsiZip V1.2F ------------ Release date: 08 May 1997 Description ----------- PsiZip is a compression and file packaging utility for the Psion Series 3a, 3c and Siena palmtop computers. It is compatible with PKZIP v2.04g (PKWARE) for MS-DOS, Windows, UNIX, OS/2, and VMS systems, and also ZIP 2.0.1 (Info-ZIP) for MS-DOS and Windows. It is the ONLY program to provide effective and fast zip compression AND de-compression on the Psion! The PsiZip application includes many new and innovative features, of which these are just a few: * Improved compression. PsiZip makes use of the latest "Deflate" compression algorithm. * Unzip support. PsiZip also has the needed algorithms to support the unzipping of zip files. * Subdirectory storage. PsiZip can find and store subdirectory pathnames within a zip file. Files can then be restored to their original subdirectories, or the subdirectories may be re-created. * Password encryption. Sensitive data files can be scrambled with password protection (Registered users only!) Installation ------------ PsiZip is distributed as a single zip archive. You will need an Unzip program which can cope with standard zip formats to unzip the archive. Examples include WinZip (Windows) or the original PKUnzip (MS-DOS), but there are programs available which run on almost every computer type. Then follow these 3 simple steps: 1. Unpack PsizipXX.zip to an empty directory and check the contents. If they are not as follows, then the archive is either damaged or has been tampered with: Psizip.app The PsiZip application Readme.txt This readme file 2. Copy Psizip.app into an \APP\ directory on any of your Psion disks. NOTE: Psizip.app is suitable for storage on Flash SSDs. 3. Install PsiZip from the System screen with Psion-I. or use the menu and select Apps | Install (on English Psions). Memory requirements ------------------- PsiZip itself uses about 80k of memory when running, plus about 48k for archive actions (Add, Delete, Extract, View, Test, Comment) and 12k for every additional 100 files in an archive. This option can be set via 'Set preferences' (Psion-Q or Menu, Special | Set preferences | Total files). This allows values from 100 to 500 for the maximum number of files in an archive. PsiZip also makes a temporary copy of each archive it works with in a disk/directory that the user specifies (again using 'Set preferences') So, if the disk for the temporary files is set to the Internal disk, and the archive is also on the internal disk, then the amount of memory required for PsiZip to run will be this: Roughly 128k of internal memory for PsiZip program itself + Space for a temporary copy of archive + Space for the final archive file. To make sure the actual program has enough System Memory from the internal disk, the disk for temporary files can be set to an SSD disk (via 'Set preferences'). If you do use an SSD then it MUST be a RAM SSD. If you use a Flash SSD, then any temporary files created will be deleted, but space will not be recovered until you re-format the disk (See the Psion User Manual for details about Flash and RAM SSDs). To give the user even more flexibility, PsiZip also allows you to use a remote drive or the Cyclone floppy disk drive as a store for temporary files (although this will slow down the compression process). After the archive operations are completed, all temporary files are deleted. NOTE: If you set the path for temporary file to the same directory as the one which holds the final archive, the temporary copy of archive is not copied and then deleted, it is just renamed. The amount of space needed for the temporary files and the final archive and also the amount of compression obtained will depend on the files you wish to compress: Program files (.OPA, .APP, .OPO and .IMG) typically compress by about 5% to 10% Other files (such as .TXT, .SPR, .AGN,...) can be compressed by up to 60%, and in some cases even more! How many files can PsiZip allow in a zip archive? ------------------------------------------------- A zip file may contain a maximum of 500 file entries under PsiZip. The actual maximum value depends on the length of the file names (including the full path if stored) and file comments. PsiZip requires 12k system memory for every 100 files, thus 500 files requires 60k system memory. Usage summary ------------- The following options are available both on the menu and by using the relevant hotkeys. PsiZip has been designed to be very easy to use and comes with an intuitive User Interface. As a result, you should be able to use PsiZip without even reading this file or the Help screens. Full on-line help is also available within the program - just press the 'Help' key. Use: * 'New archive' to create a new zip archive, then.. * 'Add file' to add files to the archive. Note the 'Options...' line in the resulting dialog. The options allow you to: 1) Select whether PsiZip stores the directory of the files that you are adding 2) Select an option to add a comment to each file. 3) Select whether each file will be password protected (and therefore encrypted) 4) Allows you to select if files are 'Stored' or 'Compressed' * 'Open archive' to open an existing zip archive * 'Extract file' (or just press Enter over a file or selected files) to extract file(s) from the archive. * 'Delete file' (or just press Delete over a file or selected files) to delete file(s) from the archive. * Left, Right, Home and End to move around the displayed columns. * Up and Down to move rows. Menu... ---- Archive ------- Archive | New Archive Create a new archive. Archive | Open Archive Open an existing archive. Archive | Close Archive Close the currently open archive. Archive | Information Display information about the open archive Archive | Move Archive Move archive to a different disk or directory Archive | Copy Archive Copy archive to a different disk or directory Archive | Rename Archive Change the name of the current archive Archive | Delete Archive Delete an archive Actions ------- Actions | Add file Add files to the open archive From the 'Add file' dialog, there are further settings which can be selected by pressing Tab on the 'Options...' line: 'Select by' When this option is set to 'Directory' , PsiZip will search the source directory for subdirectories. If any subdirectories are found, PsiZip searches them for files. If a further level of subdirectories is found in a subdirectory, PsiZip will search these as well. NOTE: Full paths are not stored when the 'Save dir info' is set to 'No' 'Compression' PsiZip provides two different methods of compression. To output the smallest files possible, specify the 'Compress' method. Using 'Store' (no compression) is useful when archiving files which will either not compress or compress very little. This would generally be true when archiving ZIP, ARJ, GIF, JPG files as these are already compressed. By specifying no compression PsiZip will store the files directly rather than first attempting to compress them. 'Save dir info' This option sets whether full path names are stored with each file. 'File comment' This is pretty obvious, it allows you to write a comment onto each file as it is stored. This can be useful if you want to write a small reminder about the contents of each file in case you forget. 'Password' (Registered users only) By specifying this option you may encrypt data as it is compressed by PsiZip. This feature of PsiZip causes the information contained within a zip file to be 'scrambled'. A file which has been scrambled will be unreadable until extracted with the same encryption key (which is derived from the password which you supply). Actions | Delete file Delete file(s) from the open archive Actions | Extract file Extract file(s) from the open archive Again, there is a sub-option from the Extract file dialog: 'Restore dir info' This option uses the path names that have been stored in the zip file by PsiZip. If the stored paths do not exist in the destination directory, they will be created. Actions | View file View files in the open archive using Word or Program editor (which is set via 'Set preferences') Actions | Tag all/Untag all Select/Deselect all files in an archive Actions | Test archive Test the integrity of an archive and check for errors. Actions | Archive comment Add/Edit the archive comment. Special ------- Special | Set preferences Sets the preferences for PsiZip. All settings are saved to the file \OPD\Psizip.ini on the default disk. These are the options available: 'Style' Set the font style (eg Swiss/Roman, Bold...) 'Columns' Allows you to set which columns of information are shown on the PsiZip screen. 'Grid lines' Sets/reset the grid lines for the main screen (i.e. if they're shown going up, down or both) 'View file in' Select the file viewer to use (Word or Program Editor are the only choices at present). 'Total files' Defines the maximum number of files PsiZip will allow in the archive (100-500). Every 100 files takes 12k system memory, thus setting 500 files takes 60k additional system memory. If you never use archives with more than 100 files in them, then set 'Total files' to 100. 'Temp dir' Sets the path for the temporary files. Special | Zoom in/Zoom out Change the screen's font size. Special | Register Allows you to enter a registration code for PsiZip. Once PsiZip is registered, this menu item will no longer be shown. 1) Enter your personal registration code EXACTLY as supplied using upper or lower case as required. 2) Press Enter Special | About Display the About screen with version, copyright contact details and registration information. Special | Exit Exits PsiZip. Tips & Tricks ------------- Creating the temporary files on alternate disk ---------------------------------------------- Every time a zip file is updated, PsiZip creates a temporary work file. When the modifications to the zip file are successfully completed, the original zip file is replaced with the temporary work file. This means you must have at least as much additional disk space available as was used by the original zip file. For Example: If you have an existing zip file of 50k, and you are adding another file to it that takes 10k compressed, you need additional workspace of at least 60k during the update process. The 'Set preferences', 'Temp dir' option allows you to create the temporary zip file on a disk different from the one on which the original zip file resides. This allows you to update large zip files when space is limited, such as a large zip file on a internal disk. If the temporary directory is on a RAM SSD, PsiZip's operation becomes slightly faster. Add comments for new files -------------------------- Each individual file contained within a zip file may have a comment attached to it. Comments are useful for identifying files, especially if you need to go back months later to look at a file, or if you are sending the file to someone else. Each comment may be up to 128 characters long, including spaces and punctuation. Add comments to a zip archive ----------------------------- Each zip archive file may have a comment embedded into it. A comment may be added to an existing archive, or added when an archive is first created. It can be up to 1024 characters long. PsiZip provides a built in editor (with Bring, Copy and Paste functions) for you to create an appropriate comment. Bug Reports / Comments ---------------------- Please send all bug reports and comments to the author (Serge Shestopalov) at the address shown in the Support section below. Registration ------------ PsiZip is Shareware, which means you can try the program before deciding to purchase it, and you may give copies of the trial version to other Psion users to try. However, you cannot legally continue to use the program if you decide not to register it, nor may you give copies of the registered version or the registration code to others. You may use the trial version for 30 days, and I will provide assistance to get the program to work with your Psion during that period, but further support is available only to registered users. The registration fee is UKP £15 or USD $25 for cash, if you use a registration service then the fee is as shown below. Payment can be made by... * Cash only (no cheques please) sent to Serge Shestopalov Balvu 15-56 Riga, LV-1003 LATVIA EUROPE * GO SWREG on CompuServe, using the ID number 13291 ($29.50) * Using the RegNet service on my World Wide Web page ($29.50) *Important note*: Please do not send cheques. The local banks all charge an excessive amount to cash them. The easiest way to register is by sending cash in a good STRONG envelope (between two pieces of paper so you cannot see through the envelope). Once registered, you will receive a personal code to free PsiZip from the nag screen and limitations. There is no need to re-install. Please include you full name and the version number of PsiZip. Support ------- This product is supported via e-mail only. Please send all messages to: Internet: dustman@stoat.riga.lv CompuServe: 100526,1317 The latest version will always be available from my Web page: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/Serge_S/ Disclaimer ---------- Although the program has been tested extensively, there is no guarantee that it is error free. Please make backup copies of all your important data! The author will not be liable for any damage or consequential loss caused by any error, defect or failure of the application. History ------- 11/10/96 - v1.0 PZip release, Zip only. 01/12/96 - v1.1 alpha release: GUI added, still Zip only. 24/02/97 - v1.2a beta release, Unzip added. 08/05/97 - V1.2F final released Thanks ------ To my beta testers.... - Jochen Siegenthaler (100127.3167@compuserve.com) - Phil Spencer (nicko@nildram.co.uk) - Steve Litchfield (slitchfield@cix.compulink.co.uk) ----------------------- PsiZip and this readme file are Copyright (C) Serge Shestopalov 1997. All Rights Reserved.