Copyright: Copyright (c) 1993 Martinsen's Software


Contents
Martinsen's Software PackIt! 1.11

Overview

To learn how to use Help, press F1.

Features

Command Line Arguments

Compress

Compress Mode

Drag & Drop

Exit

Expand

Expand Mode

Force expand.exe

Help

Prompt for Filename

Setup...

Status Bar

Transfer Buttons


Overview

Since the release of the Windows 3.1 Software Development Kit by Microsoft Corporation in 1992, many professional programmers have been using a common compression program called Microsoft Compress.  Compress is a MS-DOS command line program that encodes files using the Lempel-Ziv Encoding algorithm.  Although this compression technique is not exactly the best algorithm know to man, it is widely used by professional programmers.  However, there are two common complaints EVERY Compress user has: 1. Why can't I compress multiple files using wild cards?, 2. Why didn't Microsoft create a Windows version of Compress?

Although I can not explain why Microsoft neglected these basic features, I have developed a solution to these problems:  Martinsen's Software PackIt!.  PackIt! is a Windows front-end to Microsoft Compress and Expand.   It's basic features include:

1.	Command Line Arguments.

2.	Compression and Expansion of multiple files at once inside Windows.

3.	Drag and Drop from File Manager.

4.	NO DOS Windows! (Enhanced Mode Only)

5.	Super-Fast file expansion using LZExpand.dll.

6.	And much more!

For users of Compress, I am sure you will agree that PackIt! is an answer to your prayers.  However, if there is a feature you feel is missing from this application, please contact us so that we may consider adding this feature to a future version.

We hope you enjoy this program, and we would love to hear your feedback.  You may reach us via EMAIL on America On-line (RonMart), CompuServe (71202,1750) or on Internet (RonMart@aol.com).  If you do not have access to any of these service, please feel free to call or write us at:

Martinsen's Software

5501 Tullis Drive

Building 2, Suite 304

New Orleans, LA  70131

(504) 394-6045

Windows, MS-DOS, Windows Software Development Kit 3.1, Compress, Expand, and LZExpand are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

All other names are trademarks of their respective owners.

PackIt! is a registered trademark of Martinsens Software.  All rights reserved.


The PackIt! Window

NOTE: Clicking the right mouse button on the gray part of the form will activate the options menu.  Clicking the right mouse button while holding the shift key on the gray part of the form will activate the file menu.


Command Line Arguments

To Compress a file:

/c:SOURCEFILE>DESTPATH

Parameter	Description

=======================================================================

/c:	This tells PackIt! that you want to compress SOURCEFILE

   	to the directory listed in DESTPATH

SOURCEFILE	This is the name AND path of the file you wish to compress.

(Example D:\AUTOEXEC.BAT)

>	This separates the SOURCEFILE from the DESTPATH.  IT IS REQUIRED!!!

DESTPATH	This is the directory where you want the uncompressed file compressed

to.

EXAMPLE: The command, "/c:d:\autoexec.bat>a:\", (DO NOT TYPE QUOTES) would compress the file d:\autoexec.bat to a:\autoexec.ba_. (NOTE: PackIt! ALWAYS uses the -r option for compressing files.)

To Expand a file:

/e:SOURCEFILE>DESTPATH /p /f

Parameter	Description

=======================================================================

/e:	This tells PackIt! that you want to expand SOURCEFILE

   	to the directory listed in DESTPATH

SOURCEFILE	This is the name AND path of the file you wish to expand.

These files usually end with a "_" .(example c:\autoexec.ba_)

>	This separates the SOURCEFILE from the DESTPATH.  IT IS REQUIRED!!!

DESTPATH	This is the directory where you want the compressed file expanded to.

/p	Prompt for destination filename.  This causes PackIt! to display a

dialog box for each of the files you wish to expand asking for the

destination filename.  This parameter is OPTIONAL.

/f	Force expand.exe.  This parameter uses expand.exe instead of the faster

lzexpand.dll to decompress files.

EXAMPLE: The command, "/e:c:\autoexec.ba_>d:\", (DO NOT TYPE QUOTES) would expand the file c:\autoexec.ba_ to d:\autoexec.bat (Assuming the file was compressed using the -r parameter, otherwise it would be uncompressed as d:\autoexec.ba_.  When in doubt use the /p parameter to prompt for the filename.).


Compress

Compresses the files listed in the "Location of Files to Compress" list into the destination drive and directory.

NOTE:  This feature requires that compress.exe to be located in the directory specified by Options Setup.


Compress Mode

Displays the Compress Button and turns the current state to COMPRESS MODE.


Drag & Drop from File Manager

You may drag one or more files into PackIt! for compression or expansion.  When the files are dropped, PackIt! will ask you if you would like to Compress the files.  If you select yes, the files will be compressed.  Otherwise, you will be asked if you would like to expand file the files.  If you select yes, the files will be expanded.


Exit

Exits the application.


Expand

Expands the files listed in the Location of Files to Expand list box into the destination drive and directory.

NOTE:  This feature requires that expand.exe and lzexpand.dll to be located in the directories specified by Options Setup.


Expand Mode

Displays the Expand Button and changes the current state to EXPAND MODE.


Help

Menu Item	Description

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONTENTS	Available only in retail version.

SEARCH...	Available only in retail version.

HELP ON HELP	Displays help on how to use the Windows Help Engine.

ABOUT PACKIT!...	Displays information on your version of PackIt!.


Force expand.exe

This feature allows the user to use expand.exe instead of lzexpand.dll when expanding files.    This feature is slightly slower, but may be necessary for certain files that will not decompress properly with lzexpand.dll.

This feature requires that expand.exe to be located in the directory specified by Options Setup.

NOTE:  Some executable files will appear to extract without error using lzexpand.dll, but when you try to run them you will drop to DOS and an error will occur.  In this case, be sure to expand the file again with the Force expand.exe option checked.


Prompt for Filename

If you select this options, then when you are expanding files a dialog box will prompt you for the filename of the expanded file.  A default name will be provided.


Setup
Setup...

Sets the location of COMPRESS.EXE,  LZEXPAND.DLL (LZEXPAND.DLL MUST reside in your WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory ONLY!), and EXPAND.EXE.  If any of these items are not set properly, then your PackIt! WILL NOT work properly.


Drives

Displays the currently selected drive.

The left drive list box contains the drive where your source files are located.

The right drive list box contains the drive where your newly compressed or expanded files will be located.


Directories

Displays the currently active directory.

The left directory list box contains the directory where your source files are located.

The right directory list box contains the directory where your newly compressed or expanded files will be located.


Source Files

This list box displays a list of files available to compress or expand.  Double clicking a filename will add it to the list of files to be compressed or expanded.


Location of Files to Compress/Expand
Location of Files to Compress/Expand List Box

This box contains the complete path of the source files to compress or expand.


File Type

This box filters the type of files displayed in the Source Files list box.


Compress Expand Buttons

This single button performs different actions depending upon the current state of PackIt!.  If the current state of PackIt! is in the compress mode then the files in the Source Files list box will be compressed, otherwise they will be expanded.


Status Bar

The first (and longer) section of the status bar displays information on the currently active control.


Drag Mode

This section has two states: BLANK and DRAG MODE.

BLANK - This means the DRAG MODE is OFF.

DRAG MODE - This means that the DRAG MODE is ON.

While in the Source Files list box you can click your RIGHT mouse button to turn the DRAG MODE on.  The right portion of the status bar will display DRAG MODE (as pictured above).  You may then drag and drop the files into the Location of Files to Compress (or Expand) list box.


Transfer Buttons

This button will move ALL of the files from the Source Files list box to the Location of Files

to Compress/Expand list box.

This button will move the selected files from the Source Files list box to the Location of

Files to Compress/Expand list box.

This button will remove the selected files from the Source Files list box.

This button will remove ALL of the files from the Source Files list box.


File Menu

Compress - This is the same as pressing the Compress Button.

Expand - This is the same as pressing the Expand Button.


Options Menu

Compress Mode - This item changes the current state of PackIt to Compress Mode.

Expand Mode - This item changes the current state of PackIt to Expand Mode.

Prompt for Filename - This item forces the user to supply a filename when expanding files.

Force expand.exe -  This item forces PackIt! to use expand.exe instead of the faster LZExpand.dll for situations where LZExpand.dll might fail.

Setup... - This item sets the location of compress.exe, LZExpand.dll, and expand.exe.