Chip: Special Tips & Tricks for Windows 95

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Text File | 1996-05-07 | 19.8 KB | 446 lines

******************************************************************************** *** READ THIS ENTIRE FILE BEFORE USING WINCODE v2.7.2 BETA *** *** *** *** THE V2.3 HELP FILE IS THE MOST RECENT (FREE) REFERENCE FOR USING WINCODE *** *** THE V2.6 W95B HELP FILE IS THE MOST RECENT REGISTERED VERSION *** *** *** *** THE V2.7 SPECIFIC HELP FILE WILL BE AVAILABLE WHEN THE NEXT OFFICIAL *** *** NON-BETA VERSION OF WINCODE IS RELEASED (2.7.3) LATER THIS YEAR. *** *** WE WILL TRY TO PROVIDE ONGOING "INTERIM" RELEASES SO KEEP AN EYE ON *** *** OUR WEB SITE FOR DETAILS... *** *** *** ******************************************************************************** PLEASE SEE THE FOLLOWING FILES FOR MORE INFORMATION: README.TXT HELPME.HLP VSDLINK.DAT LICENSE.TXT WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: --------------------- This is Wincode v2.7.2 *BETA*. It will EXPIRE on September 10, 1996. Why? Because we do not want "unpolished" versions of Wincode floating on the net coming back to haunt us! :-) Don't worry - Wincode is still FREEWARE and it is NOT riddled with BUGS :-). This BETA release will allow you to enjoy the new features now while we concentrate on polishing the product...and hey, if you DO find a bug, let us know - we'll give you a free HELP file registration... Several new/improved features have been added to this release. Most notably, this version has been extensively tested and optimized under Win95 (however, no support for LFN, yet!). Also, we have added YACA (Yet Another Coding Algorithm) and scripting support (see below). In the future, we will provide native Win95/NT 32-bit versions. Keep an eye out for updated info. This can be easily obtained by sending a BLANK e-mail to: wincode@snappy.global2000.net You will receive an auto-reply of the latest info on Wincode. CTL3DV2 ------- The file CTL3DV2.DLL is used by Wincode to give it the "3D" look. This file, however, is included with many other products and may already be installed on your system. By default, the Installer will NOT copy this file to your system. It may be in use by Windows and would yeild an (harmless) error. For your benefit (read = Just In Case), we have included a RENAMED copy of the file with the Wincode archive. If any Wincode dialog appears "old-style" (i.e. white face and boxed edges), you can install the CTL3DV2.DLL. The procedure is quite simple: 1) The file MUST be located in the Windows SYSTEM directory. 2) If you do not see the file there, copy the included file CTL3DV2.JIC to your Windows SYSTEM directory and rename it CTL3DV2.DLL. 3) If you DO see a file there, check the version number and make sure it is at LEAST version: 2.26.000. If not, rename it (for backup) and do step 2 above. 4) Thats it! ARCHIVING: ---------- In preparation for the coming releases, we have created a new file archive naming system as follows: WCxxxyzz.ZIP where WC = Wincode xxx = the Wincode version number y = R for official release or B for beta zz = either 16 for 16-bit version (Win3.1x) or 32 for 32-bit version (Win95/NT) For example, WC271B16.ZIP would be Wincode v2.7.1 for Win3.1x BETA release. AVAILABILITY: ------------- With the formation of the _Snappy_ Software internet site, users now have a place where they are guaranteed to be able to get the latest news and updates for _Snappy_ software. Please note that our "official" server is ONLY online between midnight and noon Eastern Standard time 7 days a week. It is NOT a 24 hour server though we CAN receive e-mail round the clock. You may get a WARNING message but please know that your e-mail *will* be delivered. Note that the times listed here are maintained given that our internet provider is up and running and our server is not in use for development... Please send any feedback to: feedback@snappy.global2000.net Please send any bug reports to: bugs@snappy.global2000.net Check out our HomePage for further details at: http://snappy.global2000.net/ PLEASE NOTE: There is now a _Snappy_ HomePage MIRROR site that is online full-time (24 hours/7 days). We encourage you to please use that site whenever possible - it will always have the latest release of Wincode and it is *MUCH* faster for downloads. It can be found at: http://www.global2000.net/users/snappy/snappy/ NEW FEATURES/OPTIONS: --------------------- New to version 2.7.2 BETA: - Yet another coding algorithm has been added: BTOA. As part of our goal to support all Binary/ASCII conversion methods in one (quality :-) product, Wincode now supports encoding/decoding of BTOA v4.0 and v5.2. This algorithm supports simple compression, several checksum options and will generally create encoded files that are smaller than other methods due to its conversion algorithm (mod 85). - We have changed the "File Open" dialogs to be more intuitive. There is now a Code Type combo-box that will let you change the en/de-code type on-the- fly. This feature *WAS* in previous versions of Wincode, however, it required that you double-click the dialog title bar (it would cycle through the code types). People wrote in that it was not very intuitive...so we listened :-) You will notice that the "All Files" button is gone :-( However, the "All Files" functionality (which is to "select" all files that are of a given "type" - i.e. "*.txt") is *STILL* available. Just HOLD DOWN THE CTRL KEY and select "OK" - Wincode will process "all files" of the listed type. - The AUTO DETECT decoding option will now try to detect the code type by scanning the ENTIRE file. It will adjust the code type to the FIRST type that it encounters. If there is more than one encoding type in a file (*highly unlikely*), you will have to decode the non-detected portions manually (better yet, try Winsort first which may help). Wincode tries to recognize UUE, XXE, User Defined, BASE64 (MIME), BINHEX and BTOA. It can NOT Auto-Detect "raw" BASE64 or BOO. These two coding types should NEVER exist in a file which contains extraneous data - this makes it "nearly" impossible to detect the algorithm! The detection scheme works by identifying certain unique aspects of each coding algorithm. It is NOT fool-proof ;-) :-) - Several bug fixes were implemented. Most notably we have again improved Wincodes ability to handle MIME files (now recognizes some "non-standard" headers - again, we don't agree with the programs that create non-standard MIME files, but we do it for completeness sake ;-) - MAJOR overhaul of the Wincode EPD. The E-mail/Post option has now become both easier to use and intuitive. Wincode now has an "Address Book" which can store addresses/descriptions etc. The Wincode EPD has been patched to work with a few "problematic" SMTP servers we encountered plus it now can handle CC:, BCC: and will deliver mail in a "bulk" fashion thus lessening the load on your e-mail/newsgroup server. - Scripting has been modified (as noted below) to work with the new Wincode EPD. Notably, four commands are no longer valid (compared to version 2.7.1 BETA). This should not present much of a problem. We welcome any comments to our changes... The following notes have been kept for completeness sake... (RE: 2.7.1 BETA/2.7.0 release) New to version 2.7.1 BETA: - Yet another coding algorithm has been added: BOO. This simple coding algorithm was (is) used in cross-platform file transfer where software could automatically encode/decode the data. It requires PREVIOUS knowledge of the decoded files output size. Otherwise, inherent flaws in the coding algorithm (NOT bugs in Wincode) CAN produce decoded output that is 1 to 3 bytes LARGER than the original encoded file. Most files can tolerate the appended NULL bytes, but it is not recommended. - Improved "Concatenation" option. Actually, this option has been extended to allow for file "splitting" as well. The splitting feature can be used to overcome the BOO limitations stated above. - Several fixes and code optimizations. Especially with regard to Win95. NOTE: The following scripting section reflects the v2.7.2 BETA standard. It does not represent the original text included with Wincode v2.7.1 BETA. - New simple YET powerful scripting ability. Wincode can now function using a scripted language. This feature allows for repairing of damaged files (see below) but also allows you to "program" Wincode. The scripts take the following form (a more EXTENSIVE explanation will accompany the OFFICIAL (non-BETA) release of Wincode - sorry!): - All scripts begin and end with a keyword WINCODESCRIPT located in the FIRST column of a text file (it can be ANYWHERE in the file as long as the keyword starts in column one). - The following commands are recognized (items in brackets MUST be provided). Anything that is not a "command" is treated as a comment: CLOSE - close the Wincode application. CONFIG [filename] - [filename] is a preconfigured WINCODE.INI file that Wincode will dynamically load into memory and use. DECODE [filename] - [filename] will be decoded immediately using the active configuration (if not part of "GROUP" - see below). ENCODE [filename] - [filename] will be encoded immediately using the active configuration (if not part of "GROUP" - see below). EPD [ON/OFF] - toggles the Wincode E-Mail/Post Daemon option. The "E-Mail/Post TO:" dialog will appear (when files are encoded) to allow you to select a receiver/newsgroup. GROUP - used to mark a subset of files that will be treated as a "group" (i.e. a "batch job"). This is used for specifying a series of files that will be ZIPped into one file then encoded. Valid values are either "ENCODE" or "DECODE" followed by the file specification. The "group" ends with the keyword "GROUP" at which point Wincode will process the batch job. MINIMIZE - this minimizes the Wincode application window. REPAIR [CREATE/FIX] - this is a special script language keyword RESERVED by Wincode to create "Repair" scripts. Wincode can use these scripts to repair "damaged" decoded files. A scenario is given below... RESTORE - this maximizes (opens) the Wincode application window. UNHOOK - this unhooks the Wincode application. UNZIP [ON/OFF] - toggles the Wincode UNZIP After option. ZIP [ON/OFF] - toggles the Wincode ZIP First option. - Example: ; here's a sample script WINCODESCRIPT ; first lets minimize wincode to get it out of the way :-)... MINIMIZE ; lets grab a few files, zip them up and encode them ; toggle zip option ZIP ON ; start a group of files GROUP ; grab some files (this doesn't encode them till the next "GROUP" keyword) ENCODE c:\autoexec.bat ENCODE c:\config.sys ; end the group of files GROUP ; at this point, Wincode processes the files as a batch job... ; thats done... ; now lets post a DOOM wad file... ; ZIP is still ON from above! ; enable the e-mail/post daemon EPD ON ; encode and send it! ENCODE c:\doom\mydoom.wad ; At this point, Wincode prompts for a destination. Enter the proper ; newsgroup and away we go :-) ; thats done ; ; etc, etc - you get the picture right? ; ; lets see wincode again :-)... RESTORE ; done! WINCODESCRIPT - NOTE on scripts: all changes to the Wincode options (i.e. enabling posting, zip options, etc) exists ONLY during the execution of the script. When Wincode is finished, it reloads a copy of the orginal configuration BEFORE the script was executed... - As mentioned above, there are now new scripting commands which allow Wincode to REPAIR damaged files. How? Well, it is best explained in the following scenario. Note that this requires interplay with the person that originated the encoded file. The lines in the scenario below represent the ORDER of events, where * = receiver and + = sender: * I receive a 3MB (!) encoded file from a friend and try to decode it. * Wincode is chugging along when it realizes that the last 100K is missing or damaged. Agh! I just spent 30 minutes downloading this e-mail from "your-favorite-inet-provider-here" which cost me $XX.XX! * Luckily, I had both "Error Checking" and "Create Report Files" enabled. I see in the report file that Wincode has created a Repair Script(!) located in the same directory as the recent damaged output file. This is called the "CREATE" repair script. * Now what? Well, I take this tiny (100-200 byte!) file and mail it to the friend that sent me the original 3MB file. I SAVE THE DAMAGED DECODED FILE (YOU DO NOT NEED THE ENCODED ONE :-). + (S)he takes the Wincode Script and feeds it to Wincode. This is done by selecting File|Script... or Drag & Drop and checking the "Script" option. + Wincode prompts for the original "template" data file (i.e. the file which was originally encoded and mailed to me). My friend enters the FULL path using the convenient dialogs :-) + Wincode analyzes the file, comparing it to data it has stored in the repair script. If all is OK, it does two things: 1) creates a new Repair script called the "FIX" script 2) extracts and encodes the portion of the orginal file that was damaged in the receivers (my!) copy. In this scenario, it is around ~130K worth of data. + My friend takes these two files and e-mails them back to me. * After a 1 1/2 minute download of the files (vs 30 min. for original file), I am ready to repair the data. * I save the two separate files in the same directory as the original damaged decoded file (for neatness :-) * I open Wincode and feed it the NEW script file. * Wincode first prompts me for the location of the DAMAGED file I wish to fix (which I SAVED above). I give it a full path and it once again verifies the data. * Now Wincode prompts for the location of the "repair data". This is the small 130K data file my friend sent back. * Wincode then starts patching the original file. When done, it re-scans the ENTIRE output file and verifies the data. If all went well, I have now fixed the damaged file and saved a few online buck$ :-) Simple, no? The events, in "flow-chart" form, are: ----------- ------------------- ----------------- --> |decode data| --> bad? --> |script file created| --> |mail to orginator| ----------- ------------------- ----------------- | | | -------------------------------------------- good? |use script to create new FIX script and data| | -------------------------------------------- | | | ------------------------------------ | |mail fix and repair data to receiver| | ------------------------------------ | | | ------------------------------------------ | |use script and data to repair damaged file| | ------------------------------------------ ------------- | |happiness :-)|<-------------------------- / ------------- New to version 2.7.0 RELEASE: - YES, it now supports BINHEX ENCODING and DECODING! We have even included an encode option that will allow you to add the correct MAC Finder info (See the HELPME.HLP file 'A Simple Encode Example' Note for details). The BINHEX algorithm supports RLE (Run Length Encoding) which can dramatically reduce the size of the resulting encoded file (ZIPped files do not benefit much, however). - The AUTO DETECT decoding option will now try to detect the code type of the file. It tries to recognize BINHEX and BASE64 but will default to UU/XX/ User Defined code type. The detection algorithm is VERY simple and only scans the first 16K of each input file. - If you have a Winsock setup, Wincode can now automatically handle e-mailing and Posting of encoded documents. Just drag and drop :-) If you do NOT have a Winsock or are not planning to use Wincodes e-mail/post features, then you can delete the files WCESOCK.EXE to conserve disk space :-) - Now includes integrated Virus Scanning using a DOS based virus scanner. - Winsort now can filter out HTML conversion codes. This allows one to decode files that were saved using a WWW browser. To see this effect, try using one of the many Net Search engines to locate an encoded article from an Internet Newsgroup. When you save this article (or retrieve it from the cache), it will contain special HTML escape codes which corrupt the encoded data. Winsort can now rescue these files. - The Hooking feature has been updated to fix two major incompatibilities. First, it is now more "aware" of the types of Windows it can and cannot hook. This resolves the issue with the Dropper application. Second, and most importantly, the "grayed menu" bug has been fixed. There is a NEW option, 'Double Hook Menu', in the Hook Tuning section. Enabled the double hook and Wincode will dynamically monitor the applications menu and make adjustments as needed. This works great for MDI applications (e.g. Free Agent) which change the main menu when different windows are selected. If the Wincode menu disappears, just click the menu and it will reappear! - The HELPME.TXT text file has been converted to a Windows HELP file. This FREE Help will now start any time an unregistered user selets a Help option within Wincode. - revamped interface to the latter Windows 3.11 "look" - yes, Win95 is here but we have updated Wincode to use the 3-D look. You will need CTL3DV2.DLL to take advantage of this feature. This DLL is a part of many newer Microsoft application distributions. - new Configuration dialog - tabbed notebook. Makes life much easier :-) - Use of Common Dialogs for file encode/decode. In fact, if you select 'File|Encode' or 'File|Decode' you can also now change the CODE TYPE by double clicking the dialog TitleBar... - Improved speed. Code was ported to Borland Delphi (which explains the larger file size - sorry!) and there will be a TRUE Win95 32-bit version available soon after Borland releases Delphi32 (Delphi 2.0 is scheduled for release on March 1, 1996). - Fixed Code bugs and the "disappearing Wincode" bug... - Improved the interactive Drag and Drop code to allow selection of different Code Types for encoding vs decoding. - Added links to the Auto E-mail/Post engine. - Expanded the ButtonBar and menus to include a few other essential features. - Many internal updates and code enhancements that will come as a nice surprise to hardcore Wincode users... :-) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- [GHS 05/08/96]