
INTRODUCTION
SuperZip 1.0 is a Windows front-end program for the PKWare compression/decompression utilities.  It has been tested on versions as late as 2.04g and worked without major hitches.
It will allow you to zip, unzip, make a self-extracting zip file, create a directory, delete file(s), and several other useful things, all while saving you the tedium of shelling out to DOS and typing long command lines.

THE UBIQUITOUS DISCLAIMER
I guarantee nothing about this program except that it will take up space on your hard-drive.  Neither the author, nor Studio, Eh? Productions, are liable for any damages that might ensue from the use of SuperZip including, but not limited to, loss of work, loss of data, loss of time, nor loss of mind.
I HAVE tested the program thoroughly and my only hope is that it works for you as well as it has for my friends and I.

SHAREWARE NOTICE
This program is distributed as ShareWare.  While it IS a copyrighted program, you may freely distribute this program providing it contains ALL of the files under the heading "Included Files", and providing you don't charge more than a nominal fee (no more than $3.00) for it's distribution.  You are granted a license to try out SuperZip for a reasonable period of time, no more than 30 days.  You must then register the program or remove it from your machine.

FILES INCLUDED IN ARCHIVE
SUPERZIP.EXE
SUPERZIP.PIF
SZHELP.IDX
SZHELP.HLP
SHERDN01.VBR
INSTALL.EXE
README.1ST

THE COMMAND BUTTONS
I've tried to keep SuperZip as intuitive as possible.  To that end, most of the work is accomplished by the eight command buttons near the top of the screen.  These are described below.

UnZip a Zipfile
This is the command button to the far left with the opening zipper on it.  Using this command is done in three simple steps:
1.  Highlight a zipfile (by clicking on it with the mouse) in the list box under "Zip Selection".  (NOTE: The list box on the "Zip Selection" side will only display files with the .zip extension).
2.  Set the "Files Selection list box to the directory that you want the unzipped file(s) to end up in.
3.  Click on the UnZip button.  You will get a brief DOS window while the PKWare is actually working.  It will vanish as soon as the unzipping is done and the "Files Selection" listbox will update to reflect the new files.

Zip file(s) up
This is the button just to the right of the UnZip button.  It has a closed zipper on it.  Using it is just four steps:
1.  Set the list box on the "Zip Selection" side to the directory you want your zipfile to appear in.
2.  Set the "Files Selection" listbox to the directory that contains the file(s) you want zipped.  If you wish to zip ALL of the files in the directory; don't highlight anything.  PKZip will automatically include all of the files in that directory.  If you only want to zip SOME of the files in the directory, highlight just the files that you want included in the zipfile.  Press the left button on the mouse while on the first file you wish included and drag the mouse down until the last file you wish included is highlighted.  If there are files in between the first and last that you DON'T want to include in the zipfile, you may un-select them by holding down <CTRL> and clicking on them with the mouse.
3.  Click on the Zip command button.  You will get a dialog box asking you to enter the name you want for the zipfile.  Type it in... you don't have to worry about adding the .zip extension, the program will do that for you if you forget.  If you've accidently left a zipfile highlighted (see section on adding files to a zipfile, below) don't worry, just type right over the default filename.
4.  Click OK in the dialog box (or hit <ENTER>.  As with UnZip, you'll briefly get a DOS window.

Add Files to a Zipfile
1.  Select the zipfile you wish to add or update in the list box under "Zip Selection.
2.  Select the file(s) you want to add or update by highlighting them in the list box under "Files Selection".
3.  Click on the Zip button.  When the dialog box comes up your selected zipfile will whow up in the text box.  If you haven't selected one, type in the name of the zipfile you want to add to.  If you've accidentally selected the wrong zipfile, just type the correct name in over the default.
4.  Click on the OK button in the dialog box or press <ENTER>.
NOTE: This also works to update a file that you've changed.  It will simply overwrite the old version of the file within the zipfile.

Delete File(s)
1.  Select the file(s) you want to delete on the "Files Selection" side by highlighting them.
2.  Click on the "Delete" button (the nifty trash can with the file in it).  You will be presented with a dialog box that says "O.K. to delete (N) files from (Path)?", where (N) is the number of files you've highlighted and (Path) is the directory they're in.  The dialog box also has three command buttons; "Yes", "No", and "Cancel".
If you choose "Yes", the selected file(s) will be deleted and you will be returned  to the main screen.
If you choose "Cancel", you will be returned to the main screen with no action taken on the files.
If you choose "No", the filename(s) will be presented to you one at a time, in a different dialog box.  Each time you will have the option of deleting the file (Click on "Yes"), or leaving it alone (Click on "No").  When you have gone through the entire highlighted list, the program will return you to the main screen.

Make a Directory
1.  Set the "Files Selection" side to where you want to put the new directory.  (At this point you can only use the "Files Selection" side to create a new directory.  The new directory will be available from both sides once it's created).
2.  Click on the "Make Directory" button (it has an illustration of a directory tree).  A dialog box will appear, stating the present path, and asking for a name for the new directory.  If the path is incorrect you may choose "Cancel" (or hit <ESC>) and go back to step one (or go on to another process).  If the path is correct enter the new directory name and click the OK button int the dialog box (or hit <ENTER>).

Make a Self-Extracting Zipfile
1.  Set the "Files Selection" side to where you want your 'self-extracting zipfile' to end up.  (See Note below).
2.  On the "Zip Selection" side, select the zipfile you want to make self-extracting.
3.  Click on the "Zip2Exe" button (this has the zipper, the number 2, and the little exe symbol from File Manager).  Your 'self-extracting zipfile' will have the same name as the zipfile you made it from, except the extension will be .exe instead of .zip (i.e. TEST.ZIP will become TEST.EXE).  The original zipfile will be left unchanged.
NOTE:  IF you are trying to create a 'self-extracting zipfile' you will need to have the file PKSFX.PRG in the root directory of ALL drives you will be using.  See the PKWare documentation for details on PKSFX.PRG.

View Contents of a Zipfile
1.  Highlight a zipfile on the "Zip Selection" side.
2.  Click on the "ViewZip" button (magnifying glass).  You will get a brief DOS window.
3.  When the DOS window goes away you will find the the drive, directory, and file list boxes have all vanished from the "Zip Selection" side.  They have been replaced by:
a)  A label telling you what zipfile (and it's path) you're viewing.
b)  Two new command buttons (for details see below).
c)  A list box showing the names of the files contained in the zipfile.
From here you can either hit the "Close Zip" button and return to the main screen or you can choose to "Extract Selected Files".

Extract Selected Files
1.  While viewing a zipfile's contents, set the "Files Selection" side to the directory where you want the extracted file(s) to end up.
2.  Highlight the file(s) you want to extract.
3.  Click on the "Extract" button.  It will extract the files in one of the familiar DOS windows and return you to the main SuperZip window.  As with "UnZip", if you hit the "Extract" button without highlighting any of the files, the program will do a full unzip of the selected zipfile.

Fix a corrupted Zipfile
1.  Highlight the corrupted zipfile on the "Zip Selection" side.
2.  Click on the "ZipFix" button (this button has the file and wrench on it).  PKZip will create a file called ZIPFIX.ZIP in the same directory as the damaged zipfile.

Exit the Program
I think you'll figure that part out by yourself!

THE MENU BAR
In the unregistered version, the Menu Bar has five selection, each described below.

Menu Bar: File
At this point, File only contains the command "Exit"... it works just like the button.  File will have more selections in future upgrades.

Menu Bar: Set Flags
The "Set Flags" dropdown menu contains "Opening Directory" and "Extra Compression".
Clicking on "Opening Directory" will present you with a sub-menu of two choices, "Last Used" or "User Defined".
Clicking on "Last Used" will set the directory that SuperZip opens on to the last directory used on the "Zip Selection" side.
Clicking on "User Defined" will prompt you for the default directory that you wish SuperZip to open up in.
In either case, the presently selected mode will have a checkmark next to it.
These choices are also in the install program, but I put them here so, if you change your mind, you don't have to re-install the program!

Clicking on "Extra Compression" will toggle the checkmark next to it.  If the checkmark is present, PKZip will use it's "maximum compression" setting.  If no check mark, PKZip uses "normal" compression.  Normal compression is the default when SuperZip first opens.

Menu Bar: Help
Oddly enough... clicking on this selection brings up the help screen that you're presently looking at.

Menu Bar: About
Clicking on this brings up a small display box with info on SuperZip.

Menu Bar: Register
Clicking on this selection will bring up a dialog box asking you to enter your registration code.  You may enter it or cancel.  Once you've entered the proper registration code, this selection will vanish from the program.

BUGS?!?!
The only remaining bug that I've found is the empty DOS window that comes up when you 'view' a zipfile.  As far as I can tell, it's a bug in VBasic itself.  I'll fix it as soon as the folks at MSoft do.
If you find a bug, please feel free to contact me, either at my address or my bbs.  Those who report a bug in the program (as opposed to their machines!  :) ) will receive a free registration.  I think I'd best limit this to the FIRST person who sends in the report!  :)

FUTURE UPGRADES
If I get a positive response re: registrations, I'll be adding:
1.  A Search function.  Ideal for when you just can't remember where the heck that file you want to zip/unzip is.
2.  Configuration options so you can choose between all of the PKWare command line switches.
3.  Just about any reasonable feature that my registered users seem to need (and that I'm capable of coding!)

SPECIAL THANKS!
Special thanks go to Jim Dick for invaluable programming advice.
Don Glover, who turned me on to Visual Basic in the first place.
Stan Orchard, for being the best beta-tester with the most lucid notes.
Ed Beam, Geoff Reed, Angi Smith, and V. Jarecki for tips that sent me looking down the right 'coding avenues' when problems reared their ugly heads, and who patiently beta-tested all the weird little interim versions.
Various folk on the various computer networks who were equally generous with their time and knowledge.
And lastly, the un-named person who wrote "EZHELP" in VBasic 1 and released it as freeware.
THANKS!

THE "BARTERWARE" CONCEPT
If you're a ShareWare programmer, I'll happily trade you a registered copy for a registered copy.  Please note that this is a straight-across trade.  If you've written a $99 piece of shareware please do not expect me to send you a registered copy and $87!  :)  By the same token, if you've written a $2.50 program (hey! I just registered one like this the other day!), I'll still trade you copy for copy.  My own crazy idea.  But I likes it!  :)

SUPPORT
Support can be obtained either by writing me at the address below or by calling my bbs...
THE LEFT-HAND PATH
(206) 783-4668
If you write, please enclose an SASE.
And don't worry about whether you're registered or not.  I'll try to answer any and all questions that I receive, providing the SASE is there.

HOW TO REGISTER
To register please make a check or money order for $12.00 payable to:
Mark Alan Pruitt
and send it:
c/o Studio, Eh? Productions
2318 Second Ave.  #337-A
Seattle, WA  98121
Include your name printed EXACTLY as you entered it in the Install process.  I will send you your registration code by return mail.
Once you've registered, all future upgrades (if any) are registered as well.  It will be your responsibility to acquire any later versions of SuperZip.  I'll not be sending announcements through the mail.
If you send me a postpaid mailer with a disk in it, I'll be happy to send back the latest version.
Orders accompanied by a cashier's check or money order will be processed within 48 hours of their receipt.  Orders accompanied by a personal check will be processed within 48 hours of the check clearing the bank (usually this takes up to ten days).
I hope you enjoy SuperZip and find it useful!