THE BRIDGE TERMINUS(c) V2.5A
Copyright 1991 by S.T.Calise
Mailing Address: 673 Herbertsville Road, Brick NJ 08724 USA

Read further for QUICK START installation and run.


PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

THE BRIDGE TERMINUS(c) is a SHELL utility for ARC,
LHARC, PAK, and PKZIP archivers. THE BRIDGE features easy to use
flat archive menu driven compression and extraction routines.
It effectively deals with existing archives that have included
path information and allows pathname inclusion during compress
operations by toggled insertion of user defined custom parameters.
It's ideal for the everyday user who is interested in 'getting
the job done' . It is not necessary to have ALL of the archiver
programs that are suppported by the BRIDGE. Users may select
the archiver of their choice and all BRIDGE operations, i.e.

extract, compress, SFX creation, filtered directory displays,
etc. will then be directed to the selected type. TERMINUS
accepts custom parameters and allows for user tailoring of most
operations. Hands-free toggled virus detection is provided for
both compress and extraction operations. McAfee's VIRUSCAN
program is called up to scan all files extracted and those files
which have been tagged for compression. THE BRIDGE uses an easy
system of flexible defaults which are auto-configured when
the program is first run to help speed up program installation.
A path pick list is used to store frequently selected paths and
provide the user with quick selection of source and target
directories.

Full extract submenu functions, i.e. tag, view, test etc. , are
offered for SDNet/Works! archive files(files with the SDN extension)
when the selected archive type is set to PAK.

THE BRIDGE was designed to run from a hard disk but will
work satisfactorily if installed on a high capacity floppy. It
caters to the low-end of the video standard spectrum by
offering compatibility with IBM MDA monochrome, IBM CGA Color
and those systems that utilize the IBM CGA standard but employ
a money saving green, amber or white monochrome display device.
TERMINUS may be worked from the keyboard or by a Microsoft
compatibile mouse.

This program does not attempt to incorporate every possible
archive option offered by PKZIP, PAK, LHARC, or ARC. Instead,
it offers a modest selection of menu powered options that can be used
with ease in today's computer and telecommunication environments which
demand user competence in the areas of file compression, extraction
and computer virus infection prevention.

THE BRIDGE TERMINUS(c) is simple, easy to use, it gets the job done!



********************

The BRIDGE TERMINUS(c) may not be used in a business, corporation, government
or agency environment without a negotiated site license. All rights are
strictly reserved! Read BRT.DOC for further information.

********************


***** HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS:

640K BYTES MEMORY (512K MIN)
HARD DRIVE - OR ANY COMBINATION
OF HARD DRIVE AND/OR HIGH CAPACITY FLOPPY(S)*
(IBM MDA) OR (CGA C80) TEXT MODE/EMULATION REQ.
MS COMPATIBLE MOUSE OPTIONAL


***** QUICK INSTALL:


The BRIDGE TERMINUS(c) is a SHELL and needs the following programs
for FULL access to ALL functions(see note):

PC/MS DOS V2.11 - 4.X
VIRUSCAN(tm) 6.3vXX or higher by McAfee Associates
PKZIP v1.1X by PKWARE, INC.
PAK v2.51 by NoGate Consulting
LHA212 by Haruyasu Yoshizaki
ARC602 by Systems Enhancements

Make sure you have the following files from each(* see below *) of the
above in the same subdirectory for hard disk installation or on the
same (* see note *) floppy for quick start and access to ALL TERMINUS
functions:(NOTE: Only one type of archiver is needed if you do not
anticipate using the remaining other types that are supported.)

PKZIP files needed : PKZIP.EXE; PKUNZIP.EXE;
ZIP2EXE.EXE; PKZIPFIX.EXE
All version 1.1x

McAfee VIRUSCAN files needed: SCAN.EXE

BRIDGE TERMINUS files needed: BRT25A.EXE; BRTHELP.EXE;
BRTDPF.EXE;

MS/PC DOS files required : COMMAND.COM (floppy installation)

PAK Compression Utility : PAK.EXE v2.51
(command line verison without
custom configuration)

Yoshizaki LHA212 : LHA.EXE v2.12

ARC602 SEA Compression Uty. : ARC.EXE, MKSARC.EXE




** FLOPPY START:


Start BRIDGE TERMINUS by typing each line followed by :

A:
cd\
BRT25A.EXE

ALL of the above may be placed into a DOS batch file for faster
execution. (Read BRT.DOC for more information)

** HARD DISK START:

Assuming you have placed the required files on DRIVE #C in a
subdirectory named TERMINUS you may start TERMINUS by typing
each line followed by

c:
cd\
cd\terminus
BRT25A.EXE

Change the line C: to D: or whatever the drive letter designation
you installed TERMINUS on. Change the line cd\terminus to
cd\whatever where 'whatever' is the subdirectory where you placed
the TERMINUS programs.

** NOTE #1:

Floppy installation in a system without a hard drive or if you boot
off a floppy from drive #A(start your system by placing your DOS
system disk in drive #A) requires that you MUST place COMMAND.COM
on the TERMINUS disk and that this disk must be placed in the BOOT
drive. Systems with 720K, 1.4MEG, or 1.2MEG BOOT drives will be able
to place all of the above files on one disk. Systems with 360K BOOT
drives and no hard drive will not be able to run THE BRIDGE TERMINUS
satisfactorily and without sacrifice of certain options.

** NOTE #2:

Running TERMINUS from a hard disk does not require that all needed
files be placed in the SAME subdirectory. Each archiver MAY have its
own subdirectory and this flexibility is provided in the default table
to help identify where the needed files are located at.



** NOTE #3:

It is not necessary to have ALL the archiver programs supported by
the BRIDGE TERMINUS. The minimum requirement is all the needed files
for just ONE archiver. Run the BRIDGE after installing TERMINUS and
all other needed files. Press F5-CHANGE DEFAULTS while you are in the
main menu. Change the STARTUP ARCHIVE TYPE to the archive type which
you intend to use with the BRIDGE. All BRIDGE operations will then
be directed to that archive type.

** NOTE #4:

FLOPPY installation: The disk with ALL BRIDGE files and the
archiver(s) of your choice must be placed in DRIVE #A. Also, do not
remove this disk from DRIVE #A until you have quit the BRIDGE and
the drive busy light is off. The BRIDGE saves it's PICK list to the
disk when you quit the program.

** NOTE #5:

Online configuration of defaults and program locations has been
improved to help provide successful installations. A bug which MAY
have caused SCAN.EXE not to be executed has been eliminated.

Please take the time to read the INSTALLATION procedures found
in BRT.DOC . The TERMINUS is error trapped for MISSING program
files(PAK.EXE, SCAN.EXE, etc.) and will refuse to perform functions
associated with the required files if they don't exist in the DEFAULT
specified subdirectories. REMEMBER: TERMINUS is not a stand alone
utility, it is a SHELL/MENU for PKZIP, PAK, VIRUSCAN, LHA212, and
ARC602.

The BRIDGE v2.5A first checks for missing programs before you
reach the main menu screen. A check for missing programs is also
performed each time you exit the default area or return from your
shell / file utility.

The first time you run BRT25A.EXE make sure you go no further
than the MAIN MENU before you press F5 and make the needed additions
or corrections to the DEFAULT TABLE.

*****
IF you have IBM CGA C80 mode compatibility(you can run programs
which require color 80 column text IBM CGA mode) but utilize a money
saving green, amber, white etc. monochrome display, start TERMINUS
like this:

A> BRT25A.EXE cga255 (press return)

*****
Version 2.5A has TWO HELP keys, F10 which is displayed
in the lower function menu bar and F1. Each key produces the same
result.

***** VERSION 2.5A Path Finder now scans and sorts up to 400
subdirectories. A manual entry option has been added so that
users may enter subdirectory names not found in the sorted list.

***** UPDATE/UPGRADE Policy has been liberalized. Please read
BRT.DOC for more information.