SHARC v8.79
2/10/89

The SHell for ARC's

By: Jim Derr
Member of Association of Shareware Professionals



LIMIT OF LIABILITY

SHARC is distributed as-is. The author disclaims all warranties,
expressed or implied. The author will assume no liability for damages
either from the direct use of this product or as a consequence of the
use of this product.


SHARC is a shell program to make viewing and working with ARC files
user friendly. It is written in TURBOC with some screen I/O routines
written in ASM. In order for SHARC to function you must have Phil
Katz's PKARC and PKXARC (or PKPAK/PKUNPAK) programs, and Vern Buerg's
LIST program.

Please note that these programs are copyrighted and they can be obtain-
ed from most BBS's.

PKARC.COM/PKXARC.COM/PKARC.EXE/PKXARC.EXE/PKPAK.EXE/PKUNPAK.EXE

PKWARE, INC.
7032 Ardara Ave.
Glendate, WI. 53209

LIST.COM, by Vernon Buerg
456 Lakeshire Drive
Daly City, CA. 94015

ARC is a trademark of System Enhancement Associates Inc. Wayne, NJ

When running on a EGA or VGA system SHARC now supports 43 and 50 line
modes!!

SHARC is fast and lean. With it you can View, Extract, Add,
Freshen, Update, Test, and do about most everything that you've
become accus- tomed to doing with archive files. SHARC will search
your path looking for PKARC/PKXARC and/or PKPAK/PKUNPAK, and LIST.
If these programs can not be found, an error message will be
displayed, and the program will terminate.

To start-up SHARC simply enter "SHARC [d:\path\filespec]". You may
specify wild cards in the filespec. If you use wild cards in the
filespec SHARC will present you with a scrollable list of files that it
found matching the filespec. Also included in the file list will be any


SHARC VERSION 8.79 USER MANUAL



directories that SHARC found. The directory names will be enclosed in
greater than and less than symbols. I.E. . You can position the
highlite bar on a directory name and press the enter key to view the
files and directories that are contained in that directory. To move up
one level in the directory tree highlite the directory entry that
appears as <..>. As you change directories the full disk:\pathname
will be displayed on the main screen. In addition the disk:\path that
will receive extracted files is also displayed on the main screen. You
can than choose the file you wish to work on by moving the highlite bar
with the cursor keys and pressing the enter key. SHARC will then
present you with a screen showing the contents of the ARC file.


To perform a function, simply position the highlight bar and press the
key(s) that corresponds to the function you want to perform on that
member. Pressing the F1 key will open a window showing all valid
command keys.








































- 2 -


SHARC VERSION 8.79 USER MANUAL



The following functions are currently supported:

Viewing a file -
Simply press the return key or the V key. This will temporarily
unpack the file and will invoke the list program allowing you to
view the file on your screen. The temporary copy of the
extracted file will be placed in the current disk and directory
unless you specified a work disk to be used by using the
configuration program.

Extracting a single file - E.
This will extract the file that is being pointed to. The
extracted file will be placed on the current disk in the current
directory. You may optionally use the ALT-P command to direct
the extracted files to a different disk and/or directory.

Testing archive integrity - ALT-T
This will test the integrity of the archive file and will report
the results on the screen.

Display Info about archive file - I
This will display information about the archive file in a small
pop-up window at the top of the screen. The information will
include the number of files in the archive, the date of the
newest file in the archive, the total size of all the files in
the archive including the total expanded size and total
compressed size.

Delete a file from the archive - D
This will delete the selected file from the archive file. Before
the file is deleted a prompt will appear asking for verification
of the delete. In addition any files that were previously tagged
will have the tag cleared.

Delete a group of files from an archive - CTL-D
This command will prompt the user to enter a file-specification
pattern for the files to be deleted. I.E. *.DAT will delete all
files in the archive that have an extension of DAT. Before the
files are deleted a prompt will appear asking for verification
of the delete. More then one filespec pattern may be entered in
the prompt window thus allowing you to delete numerous files in
one operation.

Print a file from the archive - P
This will print the selected file from the archive file. The
file will be printed to lpt1.











- 3 -


SHARC VERSION 8.79 USER MANUAL



Add file(s) to archive - A
Update files(s) in archive - U
Move files(s) to archive - M
Freshen file(s) in archive - F
Each of these options will cause a small window to open at the
bottom of the screen. The window will prompt you to enter one
or more filespecifications. These filespecs can include drive,
path, and a filespec with wild cards. All files matching the
indicated filespec will be added, updated, moved or freshened in
the current archive file depending on which option you initially
picked. Any files that were previously tagged will have the tag
cleared.

For example if you enter a U to update files in the archive and
you enter c:\source\*.c d:\batch\*.c when prompted to enter a
filespec, than all files on the C drive in the source directory
that have a file extension of C, and all files on the D drive in
the batch directory that have an extension of bat, will be
updated in the current archive file.

List of files to add to archive - ALT-A
List of files to freshen in archive - ALT-F
List of files to move to archive - ALT-M
List of files to update in archive - ALT-U
Again each of these options will cause a small window to open at
the bottom of the screen. The window will prompt you to enter a
filespec. This filespec can include drive, path, and a filespec
with wild cards. When you press the return key another window
will pop-up on the left side of the screen showing you all the
files that were found that matched the filespec you entered. You
can then use the cursor keys to scroll the file list. Pressing
the space bar will toggle the tagged status of the current
highlighted file. When you are done tagging file press the
return key and all files that you tagged will be added,
freshened, moved, or updated in the current archive file.

Specify where to put extracted files - ATL-P
This options will prompt you to enter a drive and directory of
where to place files that you extract from the archive. This
location will remain in effect until you enter the ATL-P command
again and clear the drive and directory or you change to another
archive file. This command is used when you want to place
extracted files in a location other than the current drive and
directory.

Extract all files from archive - ATL-X
This command will extract all files from the archive file and
place them in the current disk:\directory unless you specified a
different extract location by using the ALT-P command.








- 4 -


SHARC VERSION 8.79 USER MANUAL



Delete all extracted files - ALT-D
This command will delete all files in the current
disk:\directory, or the one specified by the ALT-P command, that
are also contained in the archive file. NOTE: it does not
delete anything from the archive file. This is useful when you
extract file from the archive file and then you want to quickly
delete all the extracted files.
Execute a file in an archive file - R
This command will execute the EXE or COM file that is currently
highlighted on the archive file list. The EXE or COM file will
be extracted from the archive file and will be placed on the
current disk in the current directory. You will then be prompted
to enter any optional command line parameters that the program
is expecting. The selected program will then be executed. After
the program is run the extracted file will be deleted. NOTE: You
can specify a different disk drive to place the extracted file
on by using the SHARCFG program. This is useful when working
with archive files that are on floppy disks. If you specify
disk C as the work disk in the SHARCFG program the extracted
file will be placed on the C drive, will be executed from the C
drive, and then will be deleted from the C drive.

Speed search - ALT-S
This option will allow you to quickly find a file in an archive.
A window will pop-up asking you to enter the first letter or
digit of the file you wish to find. The list of files on the
screen will then be scrolled to the first file that starts with
the letter you entered.

Extract all tagged files - CTRL-E
This option will extract all files that you tagged in the
archive file. To tag a file simply press the space bar to
toggle the tagged status. When a file is tagged it will be
highlighted on the screen.

Untag all tagged files - CTRL-U
This option will untag all files that you previously tagged.

Update the archive files time and date - CTRL-T
This option will change the archive file's time and date to

match the time and date of the newest file in the archive file.

Show archive file comments - ALT-I
This option will display the archive file comment and each
comment that corresponds to every file in the archive file.

Add/update the archive file comment - CTRL-X
This option will allow you to add and/or update the comment
information for the archive file.

Add/update file comments - CTRL-C
This option will allow you to add and/or update the comment
information for each file contained in the archive file.




- 5 -


SHARC VERSION 8.79 USER MANUAL



Get password for the archive file - G
This option will pop-up a window and will ask you to enter a
password for the archive file. This password is used when
extracted or viewing files in the archive file. If the archive
file was initially built without a password do not enter a
password. The password remains in effect until you clear it by
entering this option again or until you change to a different
archive file.
Create a new archive file - C or F7
(USE C WHEN IN AN ARCHIVE DISPLAY WINDOW)
(USE F7 FROM THE MAIN DISPLAY WINDOW)
This option allows you to create a new archive file. First you
will be prompted to enter the drive, directory, and name of the
new archive file. Then you will asked if you want to add or
move files into the new archive file. You will also be asked to
enter an optional password. (If you enter a password all files
added or moved to the archive file will be encrypted using the
password. Do not forget the password you can not extract files
from the archive file without the password and there is no way
to determine the password if you forget it.) A window will then
be opened and it will ask you to enter the filespec of the files
you wish to add or move into the new archive file. This filespec
can include a disk, directory, and filespec with wild cards.
Another window will then pop-up on the left side of the screen
showing all files that matched the filespec you entered. Tag
the files you wish to add or move to the new archive file by
pressing the space bar. When you are done tagging file press
the return key and all tagged files will be added or moved into
the new archive file.

Show help screen - F1
This will display a help screen showing all currently supported
commands. Any command can be entered while the help screen is
displayed.

Temporary exit to DOS - F10
This will temporarily clear the screen and exit to DOS. You can
then execute and command you want. To return to SHARC type in
EXIT at the DOS prompt and press return.

Select a new archive file from original list - N

Select a new archive file - F2
This option will prompt you to enter a new disk, directory, and
filespec to find another archive file to work with.

View a file - F3 (AVAILABLE ON INITIAL SCREEN ONLY)
This option will allow you to view any file that is listed in
the main file window. Simply highlight the file you wish to
view by using the cursor keys then press the F3 key. The list
program will be invoked allowing you to view the contents of the
file.





- 6 -


SHARC VERSION 8.79 USER MANUAL



Delete a file - F4 (AVAILABLE ON INITIAL SCREEN ONLY)
This option allows you to delete the file that is currently
highlighted in the file window. Please note will be asked if
you want to delete the file. Respond Y if you wish to delete the
file, anything else will abort the delete.

Display files statistics - F5 (AVAILABLE ON INITIAL SCREEN ONLY)
This option will display the highlighted file's Date, Time, and
Size.
Sort the file list - F6 (AVAILABLE ON INITIAL SCREEN ONLY)
This option will sort the file list that appears on the left
side of the screen in ascending order. Any directories that are
found will be sorted on top.

Sort the Archive file list - F9
This option will allow you to sort the archive file list by
Name, Extension, or Date. A small window will open up asking
you how you want the list sorted. Enter a N, E, or D.

Edit the selected file - F8
This option will extract the selected file onto either the
default disk or the work disk specified via the configuration
program. It will then invoke the editor specified via the
configuration program passing the selected filename.ext to the
editor. When you exit your editor SHARC will then MOVE the
extracted file back into the archive and delete the extracted
copy. If an editor was not specified during the configuration
process this command will not function.

Specify an ARCHIVE file mask - Z
This option allows you to display only the files in the archive
that match the file mask. The file mask uses the same wild card
conventions as DOS.

Toggle overwrite mode - O
This option toggle overwrite mode on and off. When overwrite
mode is in effect an 'O' will apppear in the upper right hand
corner of the screen. When overwrite mode is in effect, and you
extract a file from an archive, it will be extracted even if it
already exists on the traget disk:\path.



Exit SHARC - ESC













- 7 -


SHARC VERSION 8.79 USER MANUAL




ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES

Sharc will recognize the following environment variables if they are
set:

BIOS This will force SHARC to use BIOS for writting to the screen.
MONO This will force SHARC to run in monochrome mode.
SHARCEX You can set this variable to the disk and path where you want
SHARC to write extrated file to.

Examples:
SET BIOS=Y
SET MONO=Y
SET SHARCEX=D:\WORK

(This tells sharc to write extracted files onto the D disk in
the \work directory. You can change this at any time after
executing sharc by using the ALT-P command.)

THE SHARCFG PROGRAM

I have provided a program that will create a configuration file that
is used by SHARC. The configuration program will allow you to
modify SHARC'S default color setting, tell SHARC the name of the
archive program, the name of extract program,, customize the number
of file per archive file SHARC can handle, customize the number of
files per directory SHARC can handle, and specify a work disk to use
when viewing and executing file from an archive file. This last
item needs a little further explanation.

When you start up SHARC it records the current disk and directory.
When you view or execute a file from an archive file SHARC
temporarily extract the file onto the current disk and directory.
This work fine as long as the current disk is your hard disk.
However if your current disk is a floppy and there is not enough
room on the floppy to build the extracted file than SHARC will not
let you view or execute the file. To get around this use the
configuration program and when the prompt:

ENTER WORK DISK DRIVE LETTER TO USE WHEN VIEWING/RUNNING FILE->

appears enter the disk drive letter of your hard disk or of your
second floppy disk drive. SHARC will then use this disk to build
the temporary extract files and will delete them when you are
finished viewing or running the selected file from the archive.

When running under EGA or VGA you can tell SHARC to go into 43 line
mode for EGA'S, and 43 or 50 line mode for VGA's. This is done via
the configuration program.








- 8 -


SHARC VERSION 8.79 USER MANUAL



COMPATIBILITY ISSUES

Sharc achives fast screen updates buy writing directly to video
buffer memory. If your machine is not 100% compatible you can force
SHARC to use BIOS routines to update the screen. This is
accomplished by setting an environment variable BIOS equal to Y.
I.E. SET BIOS=Y. Do this before executing sharc.

For monochrome monitors a similar method is employed set the
environment variable MONO equal to Y. I.E. SET MONO=Y.



Please let me know how you like SHARC.

Jim Derr
2425 Santa Cruz Ct.
Santa Rosa, Ca. 95401
CSERVE ID 76266,2634



As usual any and all comments are welcome. If there are some features
that are missing, drop me a note and I'll try to accommodate you if I
think the feature is generally useful.


WHERE TO FIND THE MOST CURRENT VERSION

The following BBS's will have the most current version of SHARC:

EXEC-PC ..................... 414-964-5160
MicroSellar ................. 201-239-1346
AV-SYNC ..................... 404-320-6202
Turbo Search ................ 617-545-9131
Vern Buerg's Bit Boutique ... 707-778-8944
Sonoma BBS .................. 707-792-0963

In addition it can also be found on COMPUSERVE in the IBMSYS forum.

I have spent many hours on this program trying to make it as easy to use
as possible and reasonably fast. I have also tried to be responsive to
user comments and requests. Also note that the program is not crippled
in any way. It is a fully functional program.

Since this program has developed into a major undertaking all I ask is
if you use it regularly PLEASE REGISTER YOUR COPY, and keep
shareware alive.









- 9 -


SHARC VERSION 8.79 USER MANUAL



COMMANDS SORTED BY DESCRIPTION

Add file(s) to archive A
Add/update file comments CTRL-C
Add/update the archive file comment CTRL-X
Create a new archive file C
Create a new archive file F7
Delete a file F4
Delete a file from the archive D
Delete a group of files from an archive CTL-D
Delete all extracted files ALT-D
Display Info about archive file I
Display files statistics F5
Edit the selected file F8
Execute a file in an archive file R
Exit SHARC ESC
Extract all files from archive ATL-X
Extract all tagged files CTRL-E
Extracting a single file E
Freshen file(s) in archive F
Get password for the archive file G
List of files to add to archive ALT-A
List of files to freshen in archive ALT-F
List of files to move to archive ALT-M
List of files to update in archive ALT-U
Move files(s) to archive M
Print a file from the archive P
Select a new archive file from original list N
Select a new archive file F2
Show archive file comments ALT-I
Show help screen F1
Sort the Archive file list F9
Sort the file list F6
Specify an ARCHIVE file mask Z
Specify where to put extracted files ATL-P
Speed search ALT-S
Temporary exit to DOS F10
Testing archive integrity ALT-T
Toggle overwrite mode O
Untag all tagged files CTRL-U
Update files(s) in archive U
Update the archive files time and date CTRL-T
View a file F3
Viewing a file V













- 10 -


SHARC VERSION 8.79 USER MANUAL



COMMANDS SORTED BY HOT-KEY

Add file(s) to archive A
Delete all extracted files ALT-D
List of files to add to archive ALT-A
List of files to freshen in archive ALT-F
List of files to move to archive ALT-M
List of files to update in archive ALT-U
Show archive file comments ALT-I
Speed search ALT-S
Testing archive integrity ALT-T
Extract all files from archive ATL-X
Specify where to put extracted files ATL-P
Create a new archive file C
Delete a group of files from an archive CTL-D
Extract all tagged files CTRL-E
Add/update file comments CTRL-C
Add/update the archive file comment CTRL-X
Untag all tagged files CTRL-U
Update the archive files time and date CTRL-T
Delete a file from the archive D
Extracting a single file E
Exit SHARC ESC
Freshen file(s) in archive F
Show help screen F1
Temporary exit to DOS F10
Select a new archive file F2
View a file F3
Delete a file F4
Display files statistics F5
Sort the file list F6
Create a new archive file F7
Edit the selected file F8
Sort the Archive file list F9
Get password for the archive file G
Display Info about archive file I
Move files(s) to archive M
Select a new archive file from original list N
Toggle overwrite mode O
Print a file from the archive P
Execute a file in an archive file R
Update files(s) in archive U
Viewing a file V
Specify an ARCHIVE file mask Z













- 11 -


SHARC VERSION 8.79 USER MANUAL




























































- 12 -


SHARC VERSION 8.79 USER MANUAL









Index


A G
Add file(s) to archive - A 4 Get password for the archive
Add/update file comments - file - G 6
CTRL-C 5
Add/update the archive file L
comment - CTRL-X 5 List of files to add to archive
- ALT-A 4
C List of files to freshen in
COMMANDS SORTED BY DESCRIPTION archive - ALT-F 4
10 List of files to move to archive
COMMANDS SORTED BY HOT-KEY 11 - ALT-M 4
COMPATIBILITY ISSUES 9 List of files to update in
Create a new archive file - C archive - ALT-U 4
or F7 6
M
D Move files(s) to archive - M 4
Delete a file - F4
(AVAILABLE ON INITIAL SCREEN P
ONLY) 7 Print a file from the archive -
Delete a file from the archive - P 3
D 3
Delete a group of files from an S
archive - CTL-D 3 Select a new archive file - F2 6
Delete all extracted files - Select a new archive file from
ALT-D 5 original list - N 6
Display files statistics - F5 Show archive file comments -
(AVAILABLE ON INITIAL SCREEN ALT-I 5
ONLY) 7 Show help screen - F1 6
Display Info about archive file Sort the Archive file list - F9
- I 3 7
Sort the file list - F6
E (AVAILABLE ON INITIAL SCREEN
Edit the selected file - F8 7 ONLY) 7
ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES 8 Specify an ARCHIVE file mask - Z
Execute a file in an archive 7
file - R 5 Specify where to put extracted
Exit SHARC - ESC 7 files - ATL-P 4
Extract all files from archive - Speed search - ALT-S 5
ATL-X 4
Extract all tagged files - T
CTRL-E 5 Temporary exit to DOS - F10 6
Extracting a single file - E. 3 Testing archive integrity -
ALT-T 3
F THE SHARCFG PROGRAM 8
Freshen file(s) in archive - F 4 Toggle overwrite mode - O 7



- 13 -


SHARC VERSION 8.79 USER MANUAL



U V
Untag all tagged files - CTRL-U View a file - F3
5 (AVAILABLE ON INITIAL SCREEN
Update files(s) in archive - U 4 ONLY) 6
Update the archive files time Viewing a file - 3
and date - CTRL-T 5




















































- 14 -