4ARCCONV Easy archiving with 4DOS Release 1.0, 21/6/93, By E.T.C Brief introduction 1) What this package is? This package contains several script files for 4DOS (If you don't know what 4DOS is, you'd better download it first before you continue). The scripts included enable the user to handle archive files very comfortably. By handling, I include creating, extracting, converting from one archiver to another, logging conversions (and optionally calculating statistics on them). By comfortably, I mean that in very few keystrokes, the scripts can do various, possibly tedious tasks, and try to do it in the easiest way (for the user, not the computer). It enables the user to automate many of his/her archiving- chores. Currently, it recognizes most DOS archive formats, and some of UNIX's. 2) For whom is this package? The need for these scripts arose from the frequent appearance of new archivers, or new version of archivers: I was always inclined to convert my archive files to a tighter or a faster archiver when one appeared. Besides, it helped me keep most of my archives in one, standard format, no matter in which format I obtained it. Therefore, I think power-users may benefit most from this package. Much of the power of this package is its modifiability and uniformity, (which is probably the main advantage of BTM scripts over executables). However, I wrote it to be as simple, user friendly, and modifiable as I could (Though not in the cost of functionality). This makes this package usable and comprehensible, in my opinion, even to DOS & 4DOS newbies (well, I'm a 4DOS newbie too, I think :-). I'm not a great believer in menus and windows. I like simple and clear command line interface. If you agree, this is the archive handler for you. If you don't agree. this package may still offer you things others don't. Why use this package when there are so many other programs and 4DOS scripts around? Here are my answers: - It has some useful features others don't. - It's real easy to modify, unlike .EXE files, or some 4DOS scripts. - It's FREE! - Simple, short, command line interface, This enables batch processing! 3) What can I do with these scripts? The following scripts are included, in increasing order of complexity: -DA.BTM: This script unpacks an archive. For example, you type DA TEST.ZIP, and the script will figure out how to unpack it, (using the extension, or with a default archiver if no extension is given), and will unzip the archive to the current directory. Of course, you may pass extra options to the archiver, like DA -q TEST.ZIP, etc. It also enables you to set the de-archiving defaults. For example, DA.BTM is set by- default to create all subdirectories in the archive, whenever relevant. The main advantage of this script is that it offers a uniform interface to all DeArchiving - Once you install an archive-unpacker, and add it to DA.BTM (which is really easy), you can forget how to operate it. -A.BTM: This script is the opposite of DA: it creates archives. You can choose which archiver to use, or ignore it and let it use its default archive. Although you can pass to it an archiver's specific options, there's a 'global' option for A.BTM: -r. This option indicates that all subdirectories are to be included as well. Also, if no filenames to archive are given, it'll try to store all files. Note, that this will require from you a little effort when adding a new archiver that hasn't got the option -r, or must have filenames to store given to it, but there are various examples how to do it inside A.BTM. (This is needed for TO). Run A with no arguments to see the syntax description. -TO.BTM: This is the most useful script: It enables you to convert with little effort and with various error checks from one archive type to another. For exact syntax, run TO with no args. Note that if you don't specify to which archive format you wish to convert, there's a default value you can set (e.g typing TO *.ZOO will convert all the ZOO files in the current directory, and convert them to your default archive format). TO's options include deleting the original archive, or the smaller- archive (with prompting, or without, for batch mode). Furthermore, it can keep a log of the conversions, which can be later processed by COMPSTAT.BTM If you choose to enable the logging in TO.BTM, then the file COMPSTAT.BTM is created, which is a script that uses COMPSTAT.AWK to generate a table of percentage gained in average. by converting from archiver x to archiver y. You can easily determine which archivers will appear in the table, by I think the default ones cover the major archivers. Most documentation for these scripts are within. Just run them with no args, to get a good description of syntax and options. Compstat doesn't have doc, but I don't think it needs any: It just creates a table where the entry tells what's the % gained in avg by converting from format x to format y. If you want to tinker with it, first read gawk's manual, then consult me. IMPORTANT NOTE: You cannot use compstat without a GAWK compatible program. (It may work on AWK as well, but I haven't tested it). GAWK is GNU's version of the AWK interpreter, and can be found in any major ftp site. 4) Installation Easy does it. Just type install, and answer the questions. The scripts will be assembled according to your answers. (I know this isn't the most efficient way of doing it, but remember: modifiability and simplicity...) It would be a good idea now to visit the .BTM files with an editor. Though the files are ready to run, and quite usable, you may want to change their default archiver (Do this by modifying the statement DEFAULT= in the beginning of the file to any other usable label, according to the example given). You can also change the archiver's default options . For example, PKZIP currently uses maximum compression by default. You can change it to minimum- time compression, or anything else, inc. no default options. 5) Legalities Hate this part... Well here goes: I give no warranty whatsoever, expressed or implied about the correctness or fitness for a particular purpose of this package, or any part of it, inc. the documentation. If you use any part of this package you consent not to find me liable for any damages resulting from misuse, abuse, or any usage at all of it. Since I free you of any financial obligations for usage of this package, I expect you to do the same. If you don't like it, don't use any of the files. If you are not sure, backup your hard-disk :-). I assume no obligation to assist, support, fix bugs, or add documentation, except for what's written in paragraph 6 below. This means you CAN ask me to help, but I cannot guarantee that I'll be able too. You may distribute and use this package freely as long as: a) All files are included. b) This file is included UNMODIFIED. c) You must comment any modification you make in the original files (yeah, of course you're allowed to tinker with it). 4DOS is a registered trademark of J.P. Software ARJ is a registered trademark of Robert K. Jung PKZIP is a registered trademark of PKWARE Any other trademarks found herein are the property of their respective owners. 6) Registration / Reaching me. I don't ask for any money at all. However, there's some 'special' registration which entitles you to free upgrades on new releases/bug fixes by email only, provided that I have an email account. In order to 'register', all you have to do is send me mail with a critique: suggestions or bug report, tell me what you dislike, what should be documented in more detail, or anything you find relevant. You will be included in a mailing list. If the mailing list grows too big, I'll just send updates when new versions are uploaded somewhere, instead of mailing it. P.S - If there's general demand, I'll try to make TO.BTM run over a sub-tree as well, so if you want it, let me know. NOTE: Any of the above can be changed without prior notice ('cause I'm not a very good lawyer, that's why...) I can be reached at: Email: etc@cs.huji.ac.il Smail: Eitan Frachtenberg, P.O box 163, Jerusalem, Israel. Have fun!