What is ZOOSHELL? ---------------------------------------- ZOOSHELL is a GEM-based user interface for the ZOO archiver program. It works in conjunction with ZOO.TTP to create archives (collections of highly compressed files), extract files from archives, and perform related chores. ZOO archives can be recognized by the .ZOO extension in the filename. What is ZOO? ---------------------------------------- ZOO is an archive management tool similar to ARC, LHARC, ZIP, etc. It uses sophisticated data-compression techniques to squeeze information into as little storage space as possible. It also stores complete filename information, including subdirectories (folders), making it convenient to archive and restore an entire collection of files. ZOO differs from the other archivers in two big ways: It is widely available on minicomputers as well as on personal computers, and it is free of the incompatibilities that plague some other archivers. A ZOO file created on an IBM-PC can be unpacked on a DEC minicomputer. A ZOO file created on a Sun workstation can be unpacked on an Atari ST under TOS. ZOO version 2.1 implements a Lempel-Ziv compression method that packs files at least as tightly as any other archiver, and it usually performs better and faster. Why a shell for ZOO? ---------------------------------------- ZOO.TTP is an extremely powerful program, but with that power comes complexity. Because ZOO is intended to run on a variety of computers, it uses a common command-line argument syntax. In plain English, this means that you control ZOO by typing commands, including the names of the files you wish to manipulate. Since ZOO has many options and capabilities, the commands can be difficult to master and remember. On the Atari ST, command arguments are typed in a GEM dialog that pops up whenever you double-click on a .TTP program. Because of a peculiarity in early versions of TOS, many STs convert all command arguments to upper case. This is not compatible with standard ZOO, and ZOO can't ordinarily be run on older STs. ZOOSHELL provides a solution to both problems. It offers ease of use, and it passes command arguments to ZOO in an appropriate format. What can ZOOSHELL do? ---------------------------------------- ZOOSHELL provides you with access to the most frequently used ZOO commands. With ZOOSHELL, you can create archives, add files to archives, view or print directories of files that are stored in archives, add comments to archives, and even view or print text files that are stored in archives. You can't perform every possible ZOO operation with a point and a click in ZOOSHELL. There isn't enough room in a GEM menu bar for all of the possibilities, and even trying to list them would overload most users. If you need access to advanced ZOO functions that are not provided in ZOOSHELL, you can always run ZOO.TTP manually. Using ZOOSHELL ---------------------------------------- ZOOSHELL tries to find ZOO.TTP by searching the directories described in the environment variable PATH. Under GEM, the default PATH is somewhat less than ideal. You should use an environment-setting program such as ENVIRON.PRG in your auto folder so that ZOOSHELL and other programs can search a series of locations for standard files. (For example, I have PATH set to include C:\BIN\, so GEM will find resource files if I put them there.) If running ENVIRON.PRG isn't convenient, don't panic -- ZOOSHELL will put up a file selector if it can't locate ZOO.TTP on your system. This is a beta-test release of ZOOSHELL, and neither the program nor the documentation is in its final form. If you have comments, please send them to S.YELVINGTO2 on GEnie or steve@thelake.mn.org on the Internet. Disclaimer ---------------------------------------- ZOOSHELL is free software. It is provided without any warranty, express or implied. You use ZOOSHELL at your own risk. Neither the author of ZOOSHELL nor any other party is responsible for any unforseen consequences of the use of this program. Author ---------------------------------------- ZOOSHELL is the original work of Steve Yelvington, who places it in the public domain. -- Steve Yelvington Box 38 Marine on St. Croix, MN 55047 S.YELVINGTO2 (GEnie) steve@thelake.mn.org (Internet)