ProfitPress Mega CDROM2 …eeware (MSDOS)(1992)(Eng)/ProfitPress-MegaCDROM2.B6I/UTILITY/ARCHIVE/ZIPOFF.ZIP/ZIPOFF.DOC

Text File | 1991-07-04 | 9.8 KB | 217 lines

                   ZipOff:  A third party PKZIP(*) extender
                   ----------------------------------------

                                                 A .ZIP backup program
                                   Written and Copyright (c) 1990-1991
                                                    by Morgan Schweers

INTRODUCTION
     The ZipOff program is designed primarily for taking large .ZIP
files and splitting them among multiple disks.  The goal here,
however, was to make each disk have a valid and readable .ZIP file.
(As opposed to simply splitting the file at some point, and having
to recombine before use.)

HISTORY
     There are many ZIP splitters already available.  Given this,
you might wonder why I released this one.  In my experience, all
the .ZIP splitters out so far either require there to be large
amounts of drive space available, or they do not produce readable
ZIPs.
     Many of the ZIP splitters already out there require two to
three times the space used by the .ZIP for their buffering.  Since
none of the splitters came with source, I was unable to determine
the reason for this usage.
     In the mean time, I had a 15Meg long .ZIP file created as a
backup of one of my drives.  I wished to split this off onto
seperate disks, yet still have access to the data that was in it.
That's how this program came into existance.

HOW TO USE
     The program is designed for ease of use, really.  The standard
means of operation is the default, and requires no options.  The
command line format is as follows:

     zipoff {source file}[.ZIP] {destination path} [options]

     The destination path *MUST* include a drive specification,
if operating in standard mode.  Both the source file and the
destination path *MUST* be in the command, and *MUST* be in that
order.  The options can be spread among the commands, and
accept both the dash and the forward slash as delimiters.

     Options cannot be stacked on one delimiter, and each parameter
and option must be seperated by at least one space.

     Values which go along with options *MUST* be flush against the
option letter.

     The options are as follows:

            -m####      The #### is the maximum size for the
                                output ZIPfiles in bytes.

        -bNAME        This makes 'NAME' the default six-character
                                base for the output ZIPfiles.

        -n        Non-Interactive mode.  (Works only with -m)

     The -m#### option was mainly designed for splitting a large ZIPfile on
disk into many smaller ZIPfiles.  It expects that you have the space available
and will eventually die if you don't.

     If you are splitting to a non-removable media, or a removable media with
enough space to hold the files, you can give the -n option.  This is, however,
only valid with the -m#### option.  The program (by default) calculates the
disk space available before starting a copy.  If it stops, then it has filled
the disk.  Then -m#### option simply creates the files with that size.  It
stops once it has reached that size limit, and prompts you to continue.  This
usually isn't necessary, thus the -n option.

     The option you're most likely to be using is the -bNAME option.  It sets
the six character basename from NEWZIP to whatever you specify.  If you
specify a NAME longer than six characters, it truncates and warns you that it
has done so.

     If an incorrect number of parameters are given (such as none), the
program will display a help screen with the information on how to run it.

     To do backups, my recommeded procedure is to clear off a good 20-25
Megs of space on one drive.  Then do a

     PKZIP -arpwHS cdrive.zip c:\*.*

     This will ZIP up the entire C drive, into a zipfile named CDRIVE.ZIP
in your current directory.

     Then, after thats done, you can use the ZipOff program as follows:

     ZIPOFF CDRIVE.ZIP A:

     It will load in the ZIPfile, sort it, and you'll take it from there!

     This program works really well in conjunction with programs like
MaxiFormat and FDFormat.  These programs format more space on disks than
DOS normally does, adding as much as 400K to the floppies.

     I would recommend, BTW, that you register PKZIP.  It's a good thing
to do, and it'll give you this warm fuzzy feeling.  :-)  Read the section
on registration for info on my opinion about registering this program.

SUPPORT
     I'm willing to provide whatever support I can, but I'm not a company.
If you want support, there are two main ways I can give it.  One is if you
are on the Internet, you can send me mail at the address listed at the
bottom of the document.  I respond to those usually very quickly.
     The other option isn't all that wonderful.  If you're not on the
network, all I can offer is a bug-reporting service.  Write me at my home
address (listed at the bottom) and I'll check out and try to fix the bug.
If you include a Self Addressed Stamped Disk Mailer, I'll try to send you
a disk back when it gets fixed.  No guarentees, however.

     Read the disclaimer, and be warned!  I am *NOT* liable for any damages
caused by this program to your machine.  I have tried VERY hard to make
everything work right, but your machine may be just that touch different
that makes something go wrong.  Moreover, it's impossible for me to test
the program in all situations, and on all files.  Bugs may have slipped
through.  Nothing *SHOULD* be critical, since it's a reasonably careful
program.  However, that bug is not dead which can eternal lie, and with
strange electrons, even this code may die.

     Once upon a time, I wouldn't have bothered to include a disclaimer,
but with the litigation I've seen recently, I feel I have to.  Down with
Lawyers and Insurance companies!

DISCLAIMER
     This program is Copyright (c) 1990-1991 Morgan Schweers.
     This disclaimer is Copyright (c) 1983 Regents of the University of
California.  All rights reserved.  They neither endorse, nor promote this
product, however.

     Redistribution and use in source and binary forms are permitted
provided that the above copyright notice and this paragraph are duplicated
in all such forms and that any documentation, advertising materials, and
other materials related to such distribution and use acknowledge that the
software was developed by Morgan Schweers.  My name may not be used to endorse
or promote products derived from this software without specific prior written
permission.  THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED ``AS IS'' AND WITHOUT ANY EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTIBILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

REGISTRATION
     There is none.

     The program is, essentially, freeware.  I would really appreciate some
donation (around $5.00 would be great!) if you use the program much.  (For
example, if you back your HD up with this.)  My network connection costs
me around $15.00 per month, so you'd be paying 1/3 of my connection for a
month.

     If you're not willing to send $5.00, though, I'd appreciate a postcard
if you found the program of use.  Really.  I collect them.  (No, my name's not
Craig Shergold.  ;) )  Just mention on it that the program was Zipoff, and
write any comments you'd like to make!

     If, however, you're looking to use this on a company scale (I.E. It's
important to your business, or some-such) I'd expect some reasonable
compensation.  I leave it up to you, really.

     You may NOT sell this program.  You may NOT SELL this program.  You
may NOT SELL THIS PROGRAM.  (Get the picture?)  It is my code, and I want
all people to feel free to use it.  Shareware distributors may include it
on Shareware disks, as long as the disks are priced reasonably.  (Under
$5.00 each.)

     If you wish to use any of my code in a commercial application, please
get in touch with me.

VALIDATION
    The program has had a validation code added to it with the ViruScan
package from McAfee Associates.  Here also are the validation values using
the VALIDATE program.

    File Name:  ZIPOFF.EXE
             Size:  28,777
           Date:  7-4-1991

    File Authentication:
         Check Method 1 - 787B
         Check Method 2 - 00E7

FEEDBACK
     I appreciate feedback, and would be happy to hear of suggestions for
features, or warnings of bugs.  Bugs especially!  I supply the source,
because I think it's a neat hack, and so anyone else interested in writing
ZIP-handlers can check it over.  Furthermore, if you find a bug *AND* fix
it (AND send me the source, the bugfix appropriately commented with your
name) I'll leave it in there, when it's re-released.  I do ask, though, that
you send bugfixes through me rather than just redistributing them.

     I strongly recommend that you 'PKUNZIP -t' the .ZIP files that result
after a split.  The test feature of the PKUNZIP is your security that the
archives are okay.  If there's a problem, try doing the split once more.
If the problem persists, please do a
     PKUNZIP -V {original-zipname} > BUG.TXT
and mail it to me at my network address, or (if you want to) at my home
address.  Also tell me which version of the product you are running.

     I tried to make the program bullet-proof.  I'm rarely successful in that,
since bullets are so ingenious.  ;)  If you do come across a problem, please
feel free to drop me a line either on the postcard, in a letter, or by Internet
mail.

     My addresses follows.  Thanks muchly for taking the time to read the
documentation!  (It's more than I usually do, I admit...)


                Morgan R. Schweers
                400 Riverside Court #210
                Santa Clara, CA  95054

                [e-mail]       (Preferred)
                [e-mail]    (Will do in a pinch)


(*)  PKZIP, PKUNZIP, ZIP, and PKWare are probably all copyright PKWARE INC.