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-
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- ReComment - a .ZIPfile Comment Processor 4/27/90
- Version 1.05 - Copyright 1990, Michael C. Loewen
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
- ReComment is a utility which allows you process .ZIP file
- comments, in a manner which is particularly useful to BBS
- operators. I wrote this program to replace a somewhat cumbersome
- procedure on my BBS, involving removing/replacing .ZIP comments
- and timestamping, which was being performed by several different
- utilities. ReComment allows me to perform all these operations
- in 1 step, while also allowing me to log .ZIP comments to a file
- for later viewing. With more and more sysops adding comments to
- the .ZIP files on their systems, it's interesting to note from
- where the files uploaded to your system are coming.
-
- ReComment allows you to perform the following operations on
- a .ZIP file:
-
- 1. Remove a comment from a .ZIP.
- 2. Add a comment to a .ZIP with no existing comment.
- 3. Substitute a new comment for an existing comment.
- 4. Copy comments to a logfile, for later inspection.
- 5. Change the .ZIP timestamp to that of the most recent file
- within the .ZIP.
-
- Command Line Options
- ----------------------
-
- -n
- do NOT remove existing comment. This option overrides -s.
-
- -o
- Change .ZIP file timestamp to that of the most recent file
- within the .ZIP
-
- -l LOGFILE
- Log existing comments to a text file, LOGFILE. Comments are
- appended to an existing file, or a new file is created if
- the specified file does not exist.
-
- -s COMMENTFILE
- Substitute (add) a comment contained in COMMENTFILE to
- the .ZIP. If there is no existing comment in the .ZIP, the
- new comment is added. If there IS an existing comment, it
- is replaced. COMMENTFILE may be created with any ASCII or
- ANSI editor. Note: if the replacement comment is the SAME
- as the old comment, it will not be replaced or logged.
-
- You can use wildcards on the command line for the .ZIP files.
- Command line options may be used in any order, with the following
- restrictions:
-
- 1. If -l is used, the log file name must follow it.
- 2. If -s is used, the comment file name must follow it.
- 3. The first argument which does not begin with a '-' is assumed
- to be a .ZIP filename, along with everything following it.
-
-
-
- Program Defaults
- __________________
-
- Program operation defaults to that of a simple comment
- stripping utility:
-
- 1. Remove existing comment.
- 2. Do not log comments.
- 3. Maintain the .ZIP file timestamp.
-
- Environment Variable RECOM
- ----------------------------
-
- If you prefer, you can specify a default set of options in an
- environment variable, RECOM. Set RECOM equal to the options you
- wish to use, exactly as you would use them on the command line,
- with one restriction: you may not specify .ZIP files in the RECOM
- variable. Note: if you elect to use the RECOM variable, and also
- specify the same options on the command line, the command line
- options will override the variable settings.
-
- Please note that ReComment does NOT process comments attached
- to individual files within the .ZIP: it only works with comments
- attached to the end of the .ZIP. Also, ReComment does not, at
- this time, support self-extracting .ZIP files. This will be
- implemented in a later version.
-
- Examples
- __________
-
- ReComment allows a certain flexibility in its operation, by
- using the options in various combinations. Some examples are:
-
- Command Line Operation
-
- recom *.zip Removes comment, maintains .ZIP
- timestamp.
-
- recom -o *.zip Removes comment, sets .ZIP
- timestamp to most recent file
- in .ZIP.
-
- recom -n -o *.zip Changes .ZIP timestamp, only.
-
- recom -l logfile *.zip Remove comment, log it to logfile.
-
- recom -s cfile *.zip Replace comment.
-
- recom -l logfile -s cfile *.zip
- Replace comment, log old comment.
-
- recom -n -l logfile *.zip Log existing comment, do not
- remove.
-
-
-
- BBS Hints
- -----------
-
- ReComment can be used on a BBS in several ways. On my system
- (PCBoard 14.2), with ProDoor 3.1, I made an entry in the
- PROUTEST.BAT file, to automatically process .ZIP files when they
- are uploaded. Such an entry might look like this:
-
- rem -- replace comments in uploads; RECOM is from RECOM105.ZIP
- chkpath recom %0 >>%1
- recom -o -s c:\pcb\icslabel -l c:\pcb\cmntfile %2\*.zip >>%1
-
- An alternative, and possibly more useful method, would be to
- make an entry in your EVENT.SYS file, to process your upload
- directory on a daily basis. This entry might look like this:
-
- recom -o -s c:\pcb\icslabel -l c:\pcb\cmntfile c:\upload\*.zip
-
-
- Software Availability
- -----------------------
-
- The latest version of this software is available on several
- systems, among them:
-
- The ICS Round Table - State College, PA (814) 231-2568
- The Magnetic Bottle - State College, PA (814) 231-1345
-
- I can be reached (Mike Loewen) on either of these systems for
- questions, comments, suggestions, etc.. I can also be reached
- through the RIME (RelayNet International Message Exchange)
- Shareware conference.
-
- Many thanks to Bill Mertens, sysop of the Magnetic Bottle, for
- testing the software and his many helpful suggestions, and to
- Frank Maczaczyj, sysop of the Random Access BBS (814-371-5881)
- for his help in testing.
-
- If you find this program to be useful, any contributions will
- certainly be welcome, in order to support the continued
- development of this, and other software. Contributions may be
- sent to:
-
- Michael C. Loewen
- RD4, 461 Plum St.
- Bellefonte, PA 16823
-
-
- I strive to develop a quality product, and I believe that this
- software is fully functional as stated in the documentation.
- However, it is not possible to test the software in all
- situations, and there may be something lurking deep down which
- might surface unexpectedly. Should you discover a defect in the
- program, please contact me on the ICS Round Table, so that I
- might correct the problem.
-
-
-
-
- Version History
- -----------------
-
- 1.04 (03/25/90) - initial public release.
-
- 1.05 (04/27/90) - bug fix. Changed the manner in which comments
- and log files are searched for CTRL-Z characters: comments with
- multiple CTRL-Zs were sneaking through. Also found a logic flaw
- which would cause ReComment to ignore a request for timestamp
- change in .ZIP files with no comment attached.
-
- Now, for the legal stuff:
-
- Disclaimer:
- -----------------
- The author makes no warranties, expressed or implied, as to
- the quality or performance of this program. Your use of this
- program constitutes your release of the author from liability or
- litigation for any indirect or consequential damages arising from
- the use of this program or its associated files.
-
- In no event will I be liable to you for any damages, including
- any lost profits, lost savings or other incidental or
- consequential damages arising out of your use of inability to use
- the program, or for any claim by any other party.
-
- Copyright/License
- -------------------
- This document and the program file RECOM.EXE ("the software") are
- copyrighted by the author. The copyright owner hereby licenses
- you to:
-
- 1. use the software;
- 2. make as many copies of the program and documentation as you
- wish;
- 3. give such copies to anyone;
- 4. distribute the software and documentation via electronic
- means.
-
- No fee may be charged for this software, beyond the cost of
- the media. Also, the software may NOT be distributed as part of
- any software package for sale, unless specific permission is
- first obtained in writing from the author.
-
- Your use of the program constitutes your acceptance of the
- terms and conditions stated above. No copy of the software may
- be distributed or given away without this document, and this
- notice must not be removed.
-
- -----------------------------------------------------------------
-
- ReComment - a .ZIPfile Comment Processor 4/27/90
- Version 1.05 - Copyright 1990, Michael C. Loewen