Jampacker
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| THE JAM PACKER V4.0 |
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Release Date: 17.06.1991
The JAM Packer is an executable/datafile and whole disk
compression program. A full GEM user interface provides convenient
and user-friendly operation.
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| OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS |
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PACK METHOD
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Four compression methods are implemented.
LZH - This is a modified version of the method used in the first
Lharc series. LZH provides reasonably fast and very
efficient compression, though it does take longer to
uncompress than any other method available in the JAM
packer.
LZW - This method provides fast and reasonably efficient
compression. It has the fastest decompression speed. It is
ideally suited for when fast de-compression speed is more
important than smaller compressed file size (eg. on a hard
disk).
V2 - Compresses very slowly, but de-compression speed is much
better than LZH. It can also compress files smaller than
LZW, but not quite as good as LZH. Since the introduction
of the ICE pack method into the JAM packer, V2 is
essentially redundant. In a future upgrade it will be
removed and replaced by something much better.
ICE - This method is used in the Pack-Ice packer and is based on
V2, though it slightly improves on V2 in both time taken to
compress, time taken to de-compress and compressed file
size.
FILE PACKER
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PROGRAM/DATA
Two types of files can be packed. "Data" files are simply
compressed. "Program" files are compressed and the necessary
code to de-compress and run them is included in the file.
FLASH/HEADING
If a Program file is packed, then you can choose whether or not
the screen will "Flash" when unpacking and whether or not the
"Heading" will appear when the file unpacks.
NOTE: Packing resource, data, dictionary, help or any other support
files for a program will cause that program to fail. If you
think about it, this obviously cannot work as the program using
these files has no idea they're packed or how to unpack them!
Also note that program files may not decompress and run
properly from some shells (notably the Laser C shell).
ABORTING A PACK
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Holding down the ALTERNATE key during a pack will cause it to be
aborted. You are not given the option of resuming, so make sure
that when you hold down ALTERNATE, you really do want to stop the
current pack.
This option also works when in the "Disk Packer", though only
when data is being packed, not when reading or writing to the
disk.
DISK PACKER
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This option has been updated significantly since V3.0 and now
works properly.
The "Disk Packer" reads in a whole disk and packs it into a
single file. This is useful for transmission of entire disks via
modem and archival purposes among other things. You can choose
either of the four pack methods to be used during the disk pack,
or alternatively you can choose no compression from the "Disk
Packer" box.
USE BOOT
If the "use boot" box is selected, the format of the disk is read
from the boot sector. Only use this option if you are absolutely
sure that the disk has a valid boot sector, otherwise the results
will be unpredictable.
If the "use boot" option is not selected, the JAM packer attempts
to determine the format of the disk by itself. There is no
guarantee that it will get it right, though if any mistake is
made, it will be to pack too much data, rather than not enough.
USE FAT
If this option is selected, it is only active if the "use boot"
box is selected. It ensures that data clusters which are
allocated by the FAT (File Allocation Table) are the only data
packed. This is useful if you have deleted files from a disk, as
although deleted, the data will remain on the disk until
over-written by another file.
FORMAT
This is used during a disk unpack only. If the "format" box is
highlighted, the disk will be formatted to the appropriate format
before data is written to it.
Note: 11 sector format is not supported, so if you have disk
packed an 11 sector a track disk, make sure you have formatted
the destination disk 11 sectors a track with a program such as
Fastcopy III.
NO PACK
Select this option when you want a fast conversion of a floppy
disk into a file. No compression is used, the data from the disk
is just copied into a file.
MULTI-PACKER
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The "Multi-Packer" is a handy feature when a large number of
files need to be packed. Wildcards are supported. Choose your
source directory and type in the file name template to be used.
Eg. "*.*" will pack all programs in the selected directory;
"*.DAT" will pack all programs with a ".DAT" extension.
PACK PROGRAMS
If the "Program" button is selected then files with the extender
".TOS", ".TTP", ".PRG" or ".APP" will be packed as programs
(executables which will uncompress and run), as if they were
selected individually from the normal pack box as "Program"
files. Otherwise, they will be packed as data files, which will
not automatically uncompress and run.
The packed files overwrite the original files.
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| FILES CONTAINED IN THIS PACKAGE |
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JAMPACK4.PRG - The JAM packer program.
JAMPACK4.DOC - What you are reading now.
DEPV2.S - Assembly depack source code for V2.
DEPICE.S - Assembly depack source code for ICE.
DEPLZW.S - Assembly depack source code for LZW.
DEPLZH.S - Assembly depack source code for LZH.
LDRUNLZH.S - Trap #1 file load/depacker.
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| DISCLAIMER |
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We take no responsibilty for any damage which may arise from the use
or misuse of this program.
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| LICENSE |
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You may make copies and distribute this program, as long as the
program and documentation file remain unchanged, and no profit is
obtained.
This program is shareware. If you find it useful, please send us
something, be it money or words of encouragement, it doesn't matter.
Bug reports and suggestions for improvement are also welcome.
Write to us at either of the following addresses.
+-----------------+ +-----------------------+
| Andrew Knipe | | Tim Knipe |
| P.O. Box 369 | | RSD Maiden Gully Road |
| 367 Collins St. | | Bendigo, 3551 |
| Melbourne, 3000 | | Victoria |
| AUSTRALIA | | AUSTRALIA |
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