!Zipper v1.03

This is a simple front end to the Info-Zip absolute executables (ouch!) produced
by Karl Davies and Sergio Monesi for the Acorn, since I couldn't find one on the
various Acorn software archives I decided just to knock up a quick one for speed
of use.

Please email me at rab2@doc.ic.ac.uk or protronics@comports.com with any reports
of bugs, suggestions, credit card details (!) and the like.

-----INSTALLING------------------------------------------------------------
Firstly copy this directory out of the archive and to somewhere useful on
your harddisc (will work on floppy but may be slow!)
Then get HENSA package d076 - The InfoZip executables and put
them in the directory !Zipper.Zip (overwrite the file that's already there
- it's just to stop the process crashing when It can't find the Zip executable)
You should then be able to run the !Boot file, then run !Zipper
and it 'should' work perfectly!!
I have tested with the InfoZip executables as of 30th March 1995
any newer versions SHOULD work since I havn't done anything
particularly weird or naughty in the manipulation of the executables

-----THIS IS FREEWARE, Well sort of! --------------------------------------

As  freeware, please don't muck  about with the  program, supply  any editions
'as is', with no charge being made for the software itself (apart from maybe
a SMALL copying charge) the ZIP executables (if included) can be distributed
seperately (and I have no problem with them being distributed together!) under
the conditions set out in the associated ReadMe file.

If you do want to muck around with my bit of code, please do mail me first just
so I know what changes you want to make (so I don't bother doing the same work
myself) besides I like to know that it's appreciated. You are welcome though to
use it as an example of good programming (not that it is!) or something to
scrounge programming ideas off (e.g. pane window redraw code algorithms...)

This should run straight away on most RISC OS machines, if there are any problems
please do tell me ('cos I can only test on RISC OS 3.6 and 3.7) and I will do my
best to correct them.

As this is only v1.03 please don't expect anything totally brilliant, it works
OK and hasn't crashed my machine yet (at release level anyway) but it shall
improve - oh yes!, see the 'features to be added' list at the bottom.

Please don't use it for anything illegal or anything like that. That is both
a disclaimer and advice 'cos it's not a good idea to break the law (most of
the time) in the same vein don't try doing anything silly (it's fairly robust
but that's no guarentee).

I make no guarentees as to the functionality or availablilty of this software
i.e. if your HardDisc explodes as a result of using it, IT'S NOT MY FAULT.
but mail me and let me know about this if you have any problems or suggestions.

if you really can't get access to e-mail
I am at 'snail mail' at :
   11 Purcells Avenue
   Edgware
   Middlesex
   HA8 8DR
   
but it's very slow and I only pop home there every few weeks so don't expect
any miracles on that front!

Hope you like the front-end, hope it works!
Peace be with you!


History (i.e. what I think is clever in this version) :

v1.00 (10/1/97)
  Conditions on Window Re-Open & Redraw (doesn't update unless it really has to)
  Drag a sprite implemented (all three lines of it!)
  Wrote the outline code!
  Currently only does compression - Use sparkplug to decompress for the moment
  Input files are listed as leafname only

v1.01 (13/1/97)
  OK it's only three days since the last one but hey!
  Now is called !InfoZip 'cos PKZip was copyright PKWare
  Doesn't store the preceding directory structure - uses Dir to select
    directories containing thingies to be compressed
  Switches on Hourglass during Zipping
  Have corrected it so that it actually packs directories and applications
  Have corrected error where initial prompts disappeared - was due to a small
    error with string termination.
  Have got a StrongARM (not arf mate!) so it might be compatible.
  Have called it v1.01 to impress people of the mammoth progress I make.
  
v1.02 (18/2/97)
  Is definately SA compatible!
  Set up funzip to automatically unzip GZip(&020) typed files from 'filename'
  to 'filename_' on a double click (only change in !Run though)
  Implemented Delete option for all files AND single files
  Now runs in a TaskWindow, and displays a nice friendly message to tell you
  to close it when it has finished.
  Started to look for places to distribute from...

v1.03 (27/3/97)
  Renamed to !Zipper to avoid confusion with the InfoZip programs themselves
  Added selectable compression ratio
  Started to panic about exams so stopped there and went to bed.

Bugs to be corrected/Features to be added :

  Resizes window for file deletion
  Preserving *dir status
  More info on compression statistics (results)
  Conversion of Zip output to a more graphically readable format
  Projected estimates of Zip file size
  Decompression (using Unzip)
  Progress indicator bar
  Resizable main window
  Filer message drags (for use with over filer etc...) (currently only to filer)
  Usage of Info-Zip in RAM to speed up execution (using RAMFS transmit)
  Encryption options and other options to be added
  
Work!, Work!, Work!  

See You all Later!
-- 
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Richard Barber             protronics@comports.com
rab2@doc.ic.ac.uk          http://www.angelfire.com/ok/protronics/
          18/2/97          Ephesians 3:14-19
