ZipIt is a Macintosh program to zip and unzip files. It can be used in much the same way as other popular Macintosh compression programs are used, such as Bill Goodman’s Compact Pro. Documentation is provided in stand-alone format, so if you have problems using ZipIt, please refer to the documentation. (Note that there are multiple sections in the documentation. You may switch sections by choosing the appropriate chapter from the Chapter menu.) You may also contact me. Refer to the bottom of this document for my contact information.
You can automatically decompress an archive by dragging it onto ZipIt and then holding down the option key. Alternatively, if the archive is a ZipIt document, you can double-click on it and then hold down the option key. The ZipIt drop box, included in the Goodies folder, will automatically compress files. You must hav AppleScript installed. However, the drop box is not a supported product, so you are on your own if you discover bugs in it (unless the bugs are in ZipIt itself).
Segmenting should now work when saving to PC disks. However, if it does not, please choose Set Segment Size from the Zip menu, then save the segments to your hard drive, then copy them to PC floppy disks. If you encounter a problem saving segments to PC disks, please report it to me via email. Note that you can only segment archives in which all compressed files use the Deflation method.
Important note about segmenting: PKUnzip requires that all disks containing segmented archives be named PKBACK# XXX, where XXX is the number of the disk, starting at 001. In addition, all segments must have the same filename. ZipIt 1.3.5 will name the disks appropriately, but you must make sure that all segments have the same filename if you are planning to unzip your archive on a PC. Thanks to Blair W. Thornton and others for discovering this.
ZipIt on the Internet:
ZipIt has a WWW site, at http://www.awa.com/softlock/zipit/zipit.html. There is also a mailing list that you may subscribe to if you want to be informed via email about new versions of ZipIt; consult the above site for details. Also, the WWW site has a number of frequently asked questions that you may wish to consult before asking me for help. Finally, you may register ZipIt online at the ZipIt web site.
For customer support, please do not call SoftLock. They will not be able to help you. Instead, please send email to Thomas.A.Brown@yale.edu for the fastest response.
Expect long delays when registering via U.S. Mail. I would strongly encourage you to register via SoftLock, CompuServe, or NetCash if at all possible. You should expect delays of up to two months if you register via U.S. Mail. (I’m a college student, and am often overwhelmed by work!) However, please do send me email if you have waited for a long time for your password and have not yet received it.
You may now register over the World Wide Web. Visit the ZipIt web site at http://www.awa.com/softlock/zipit/zipit.html for details.
About the Goodies:
Also included in this archive is an AppleScript droplet, called ZipIt drop box, onto which you may drop any file (or group of files) and have ZipIt automatically zip those files. You must have AppleScript already installed in order to use the drop box. Thanks to Kem Tekinay for writing this useful tool. Finally, the file “macszip” is a Unix shell script which will zip, MacBinary, and send ZModem a set of files, with ZipIt as their creator. Thanks to Paul Gilmartin for writing this tool and also for the extensive beta testing he has done.
If you do not have AppleScript, you cannot use the ZipIt drop box. If you do not have a Unix account, you cannot use macszip.
Shareware:
ZipIt is $15 shareware. There are four ways for individuals to register. With a credit card, you may call SoftLock Services at 1-800-SOFTLOCK to receive your password instantly. ZipIt’s product number is 30021 in the United States and Canada, and 30022 abroad. You will also need to know your SoftLock ID; this is available on ZipIt’s registration screen. (SoftLock is for registration only; they cannot provide customer support.) Alternatively, you may register on the World Wide Web at <http://www.awa.com/softlock/zipit/zipit.html>. You may print out a registration form and mail it to me directly, along with a $15 check or money order. Please do include the registration form, and see the documentation (section entitled Registration) for more details. Finally, you may use NetCash. Send email to netbank-info@agents.com for more information about NetCash, and how to obtain some. You can obtain NetCash instantly, via email, if you have a US checking account and an Internet email address.
Registering via US Mail is discouraged. Manually entering registration forms is a time-consuming process, and there could be a significant delay before you receive your password. If you do choose to send me a check and a registration form, you should also send me the “preregistration form” that ZipIt will create automatically when you click “Print Registration Form” from within ZipIt.
ZipIt will offer to print a registration form for you. If you would prefer, you may use the SimpleText version of the registration form that is included in the archive, so that you may type the information in rather than entering it by hand. All registrations must be accompanied by a registration form.
FOREIGN USERS: Although the registration form asks that you not send cash through the mail, I understand that it is expensive to send international checks. I will, therefore, accept cash from foreign users, but I cannot be responsible if, for some reason, the money fails to arrive.
CORPORATIONS: The cost of ZipIt is $15 per individual. Organizations that wish to register ZipIt should pay $15 for each user who will be using ZipIt. For $225, a site license may be obtained for a small company at one physical site. This is intended for small sites, i.e., approximately 30-50 users. For more than one site, or for distribution arrangements, please contact me. Corporate registrations, including site licenses, should not use SoftLock.
FREDDIE USERS: If you are a registered user of Freddie 1.2.5 or above, consult the Freddie documentation for information on registering ZipIt. If you get errors from Freddie while ZipIt is unzipping your QWK packet, try again, but do not switch ZipIt into the background while it is unzipping. If it still does not work, try quitting all other applications except Freddie and ZipIt and trying again.
ZipIt may be freely distributed, so long as it is not sold for profit, and registration passwords are not distributed. Express permission is granted to online services and other shareware/public domain distribution avenues to carry ZipIt. Express permission is further granted to include ZipIt on CD-ROMs or floppy disks accompanying books, or on shareware collections, provided that no more than a nominal compilation and/or media fee is charged for these collections.
You can contact me at the following online locations (email greatly preferred):
