XChange V1.03

Program and Documentation
Copyright 1989
Scott Samet
1:135/990

It seems that each week brings a new and better file compression
utility. XChange allows you to automate the conversion from one
compression system to another. It can be used for a one-time
conversion of an entire collection, or as a periodic procedure to
convert new uploads.

While there are already batch files and simple programs to accomplish
this task, XChange has a number of advantages:

o NESTED FILES - It's common for a compressed file to
contain compressed files as members. XChange will (upon
request) convert nested files.

o WILDCARDS - XChange accepts wildcards and will convert
entire groups of files in a single run.

o SUBDIRECTORIES - On request, XChange will search
subdirectories (to any depth) and convert every file it
encounters. By pointing XChange to the root directory
and requesting subdirectory processing, it will convert
an entire volume.

o NATIVE UTILITIES - XChange invokes your standard packing
and unpacking utilities for each format. You aren't
depending upon unfamiliar programs to convert your files.

o EXTENSIBLE - A configuration file allows you to tailor
XChange so it supports compression methods that haven't
even been written yet.

o ERROR CHECKING - XChange checks the error codes for each
step. Errors will be logged and XChange will process the
next input file.


WARRANTY

This program is distributed on an "as-is" basis. There are no
warranties expressed or implied. In consideration of a license to use
this copyright program, the user accepts full responsibility for all
consequences of its use.







LICENSE

This program may be distributed on magnetic media or by modem,
provided it is distributed in its complete and unaltered form.
"Unaltered form" does not preclude the use of well known library or
compression programs, as long as the files can be restored to their
original state.


INSTALLATION

Installation consists of placing XChange.Exe and XChange.Cfg in some
directory accessible via your DOS PATH command. Type, print, or use a
text editor to view the XChange.Cfg file. It consists of several
groups of three lines. Here is a sample of one such group:

.ARC
>PKPAK -NC -OT /A $N *.*

The first line starts with ".ARC". This indicates that this
particular group applies to any file with the ".ARC" file type.

The second line starts with ">", indicating the line refers to
inserting files into an ARC. There are no spaces following the ">".

The remainder of this line consists of the DOS command needed on your
system to insert files into an ARC. The file name of the ARC will
replace the "$N".

The third line is like the first, except that a "<" in the first
position indicates the line is used to extract files from an ARC.

Additional control-line groups are used for each of the other
compression types to be supported. The program supports up to 10
compression methods.

Use a text editor to make any needed changes to the config file. For
example, you may wish to alter the ARC section to use ARCE and ARCA:

.ARC
>ARCA $N *.*

You may also add control lines to support addtional compression
methods, such as DWC. XChange supports up to ten compression methods.

All conversion programs used MUST return a zero return code for
successful completion and a non-zero return code in the event of any
errors. PAK 1.0 does NOT meet these requirements. A later version of
PAK should be used.







OPERATION

XChange [switches] [Filespec[/Filetype]]...');

Switches may start with slash or hyphen:

-S Subdirectories searched
-N Nested files are processed (e.g. ARCs within ARCs)
-K Keep original file
-R Repack files even if same type
-H Halt on conversion error instead of skipping file
-Lfile Log results to 'file' instead of StdOut
-Cfile Configuration read from 'file' instead of XChange.Cfg

is name of new compression method. All eligible files will
be converted to this format.

Filespec is a DOS file spec. Wildcards are permitted. The optional
Filetype forces the file to be processed as the specified type.

Examples:

o XChange PAK *.ARC *.ZOO

Convert all ARC and ZOO files to PAK files. The original
files are deleted after conversion.

o XChange /K PAK *.ARC *.ZOO

Same as the previous example, except the original files
are kept after conversion.

o XChange PAK *.SRC/ARC

All SRC files will be treated as ARCs and converted to
PAK files. The SRC files will be deleted and the
resulting files named PAK. You may wish to rename the
files back to SRC after running XChange.

o XChange /S ZOO C:\*.ARC

Convert all ARC files to ZOO. Start with the root
directory of drive C: and search all subdirectories.

o XChange /N ZIP C:\FILES\OPUS*.ARC C:\FILES\OPUS*.ZOO

Convert all ARC and ZOO files in C:\FILES to ZIP format.
Any nested files (ARC within ARC or ZOO within ZOO) will
also be converted.






o XChange /N /S PAK C:*.ARC C:*.ZOO C:*.ZIP -LD:XChange.Log

Convert all ARC, ZOO and ZIP files in all directories of
drive C: to PAK format. Summary information about the
conversion is written to D:XChange.Log.


COMPLAINTS and SUGGESTIONS

Send any complaints to NUL. They won't be diginified with a
response. Constructive suggestions can be sent to 1:135/990
until I get so fed up with Fight-O-Net that I drop my node
number. At that point you can look for me in the EggNet nodelist
or glue a stamp to the back of a snail directed to:

Scott Samet
PO Box 162082
Miami, FL 33116-2082



HISTORY

V1.03 03/18/88:
First general release