Table of Contents

Compression Window

General application information

PKZip

Registration

Shareware

Tutorial

Uncompression Window


Shareware and Registration

ASP Ombudsman

Definition of

Disclaimer\Agreement

Registration


DEFINITION OF SHAREWARE

Shareware distribution gives users a chance to try software before buying it. If you try a Shareware program and continue using it, you are expected to register. Individual programs differ on details -- some request registration while others require it, some specify a maximum trial period. With registration, you get anything from the simple right to continue using the software to an updated program with printed manual.

Copyright laws apply to both Shareware and commercial software, and the copyright holder retains all rights, with a few specific exceptions as stated below. Shareware authors are accomplished programmers, just like commercial authors, and the programs are of comparable quality. (In both cases, there are good programs and bad ones!) The main difference is in the method of distribution. The author specifically grants the right to copy and distribute the software, either to all and sundry or to a specific group. For example, some authors require written permission before a commercial disk vendor may copy their Shareware.

Shareware is a distribution method, not a type of software. You should find software that suits your needs and pocketbook, whether it's commercial or Shareware. The Shareware system makes fitting your needs easier, because you can try before you buy. And because the overhead is low, prices are low also. Shareware has the ultimate money-back guarantee -- if you don't use the product, you don't pay for it.


DISCLAIMER - AGREEMENT

Users of TLCPak V1.0 must accept this disclaimer of warranty: "TLCPak V1.0 is supplied as is.  The author disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, including, without limitation, the warranties of merchantability and of fitness for any purpose.   The author assumes no liability for damages, direct or consequential, which may result from the use of TLCPak V1.0."

TLCPak V1.0 is a "shareware program" and is provided at no charge to the user for evaluation.  Feel free to share it with your friends, but please do not give it away altered or as part of another system.  The essence of "user-supported" software is to provide personal computer users with quality software without high prices, and yet to provide incentive for programmers to continue to develop new products.  If you find this program useful and find that you are using TLCPak V1.0 and continue to use TLCPak V1.0 after a reasonable trial period, you must make a registration payment of $10.00 to Software Engineering and Fabrication.  The $10.00 registration fee will license one copy for use on any one computer at any one time.  You must treat this software just like a book.  An example is that this software may be used by any number of people and may be freely moved from one computer location to another, so long as there is no possibility of it being used at one location while it's being used at another. Just as a book cannot be read by two different persons at the same time.

Commercial users of TLCPak V1.0 must register and pay for their copies of TLCPak V1.0 within 30 days of first use or their license is withdrawn.  Site-License arrangements may be made by contacting  Software Engineering and Fabrication.

Anyone distributing TLCPak V1.0 for any kind of remuneration must first contact Software Engineering and Fabrication at the address below for authorization.  This authorization will be automatically granted to distributors recognized by the (ASP) as adhering to its guidelines for shareware distributors, and such distributors may begin offering TLCPak V1.0 immediately (However Software Engineering and Fabrication must still be advised so that the distributor can be kept up-to-date with the latest version of TLCPak).

You are encouraged to pass a copy of TLCPak V1.0 along to your friends for evaluation.  Please encourage them to register their copy if they find that they can use it.  The basic $10.00 fee provides registered users with legal use of their copy of TLCPak V1.0 and a method of receiving product support for 1 year.  For a registration fee of $25.00 all registered users will receive a copy of the latest version of the TLCPak system, written documentation and an upgrade to the next version when (if) it becomes available.

Product support will be provided for a minimum of 1 year after registration.  Additional support will continue for "Current" versions of the product for as long as the product exists.  One may always upgrade to the current version for a nominal fee.  Support will be available via telephone, written communications (letters), and through Compuserve.

Support includes answering questions and fixing serious bugs during the minimum three month period.  For problems involving a specific hardware or software environment or feature, Software Engineering and Fabrication may choose not to modify the program.  In that case, if the report is within three months after purchase, then Software Engineering and Fabrication shall offer to refund the user's purchase price.

Any money sent to Software Engineering and Fabrication to register an unsupported product shall be promptly returned with an explanation that the product in question is no longer supported.

If there are any known incompatibilities with other software or hardware or major or unusual program limitations will be noted in the documentation that comes with the shareware (evaluation) program.

Please write to Software Engineering and Fabrication to make suggestions for improvements to this product and/or suggestions for new software.  Your input is considered extremely important.


ASP Ombudsman

    "This program is produced by a member of the Association of Shareware

    Professionals (ASP).  ASP wants to make sure that the shareware

    principle works for you. If you are unable to resolve a

    shareware-related problem with an ASP member by contacting the member

    directly, ASP may be able to help. The ASP Ombudsman can help you

    resolve a dispute or problem with an ASP member, but does not provide

    technical support for members' products.  Please write to the ASP

    Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road, Muskegon, MI 49442 or send a CompuServe

    message via CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536."


Registration

Registered users will receive my CompuServe id, phone number, information on how they may receive a finders fee, and a mail notification of new software available.

For continued use and software support, you must register.  To become a registered user of this product send the following information and fees to:

Software Engineering and Fabrication

E 408 Silver Pines

Colbert, WA 99005-9606

Your Name:____________________________________________________

Address:     _____________________________________________________

City, State, Zip ___________________________________________________

Product Name: ______TLCPak_______Ver 1.0________________________

Number of Network terminals:__________

Recommended Improvements:___________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________

Registration Fee	10.00

Network Terminals * 1.00	_____

Documentation  ($5.00)	_____

Upgrade	($10.00)	_____

State Tax	_____	(Washington state residents )

_______________

Total

Other products by Software Engineering and Fabrication:

TLCFind is a windows (3.0 standard or enhanced) program which may be used to find a file on any directory by file name or text contents.  The text search may use logical Ands and/or Ors.  The  files found in the search have their names stored in a list box.  The text of any of the files in the list box can be read and/or searched.  Same registration fee schedule as TLCPak Ver 1.0..

License Agreement

After you register your product, Software Engineering and Fabrication, grants you the right to use one copy of TLCPak V1.0 on as many terminals as you paid for ($1 per terminal) on a single network.  You may not sell, rent or lease TLCPak V1.0.  You may copy and distribute the product in its entirety for others to evaluate.


Prelude

The purpose of this program is to allow you to compress and uncompress files from the windows environment using the familiar window type controls.  The program can be used as a front-end to PKZip/PKUnZip (registered shareware produced by PKWare Inc.) or as a stand-alone system using the TLCPress.DLL to provide compression and decompression.

This introductory section provides a brief description of the application, an explanation of the terminology and conventions used in this document, a list of the main program features, and the installation instructions.


The Application

This program requires the operating environment of Microsoft Windows version 3.0 or later operating in standard or enhanced mode.

The computer must be compatible with an IBM AT (80286 or better CPU).  It must have at least 2 Megabytes of RAM, one floppy disk drives, and one hard disk.  The system expects a VGA monitor, but will work with any windows compliant monitor.  As is true of nearly all windows programs 4 Megabytes of RAM and a fast hard disk drive (28 milliseconds or better) is recommended.  No pointing device is required, but a mouse is fully supported and will be quite useful.

If you use this program to call PKZip or PKUnZip your system must also meet any additional requirements specified by those utilities. TLCPak10 was tested using version 1.1 of PKZip.


Terminology
Terminology and Conventions

Items from a Windows type menu will be shown as the name of the menu item in bold-face type.  For example, the Windows menu item File is File.  Submenu items are shown with a bar between the menu names.  For example. the Windows submenu item Run that is in the main Windows menu File is written as File|Run.

Keys on the keyboard are shown in bold-face type and capital letters (A).  Function keys are shown as two characters (F1). Dedicated keys are shown with an underline (ALT or SHIFT).  When the Alt, control, or shift key is indicated, that key must be pressed and held down before the next key in the sequence is pressed.  For example, SHIFT F1 means for you to press the shift key down and while holding it down press the function key marked F1.


Program Features

The function of this program is to provide you with a means of compressing and uncompressing files using the windows metaphor.

The program may be used as an interface to PKZip which is a shareware program from PKWare, Inc.  Nearly all of PKZip's features are supported.

The program does not require you to use PKZip, there is a native compression and decompress algorithm available.  The current algorithm will normally achieve a better compression than does PKZip, but it is slower.

Keyphrase encryption is supported.

Files from multiple directories can be compressed into a file on any specified directory.

Files can be excluded by type, or by name.

File comments (up to 256 characters) may be added to the compression file.

Additional comments (up to 256 characters) can be added for each of the compressed files.

A special view procedure allows you to see the comments, file time\date, original size, compressed size, percent of compression, and whether the file is encrypted.

There is a full on-line context sensitive help system.


Program  Installation

This section explains how to install and start the program, TLCPak10.

If you received the file in compressed form, you must uncompress it before installation.  There is sufficient space on a floppy disk to uncompressed a compressed version.  It is, however, faster and normally more convenient to copy the compressed file to a directory of your hard disk before decompressing.

When you have an uncompressed version, you will see the following files:

1.  TLCPak10.EXE

2.  TLCPak1C.DLL

3.  TLCPres1.DLL

4.  TLCPak.HLP

5.  PKALL.PIF -- used only with PKZip

6.  Pk386.PIF  -- used only with PKZip in enhanced mode

7.  ReadMe.TXT

Copy the first 6 files to a directory in the windows path.

You may now launch the program from the main window of Windows by pressing ALT FR to execute the File|Run menu.  The menu will request the name of the program that you want to run.  When it does, enter TLCPak10.  For more convenience you may want to add the item to you launch window.

The ReadMe.Txt contains information that was not available at compilation time about the program.

The first file, TLCPak10.EXE, does not actually have to be in a windows path.  But if it is not you must provide the full path name when executing the program. Additionally, TLCPak10 may place a data file named PKTLC.INI in your system directory.  Several temporary files are written to disk and erased prior to program termination.


TLC Pak 1

The main window of the program, which is the one that first appears after execution, provides the input dialog for you to compress files.  This window has a caption at the top of the window which reads, "TLC Pak 1".

The top menu bar consists of three items, Options, Uncompress, and Help.

To select files to be compressed, use Browse or Add button.

To chose a destination file use the Select button.

To start the compression, use the comPress button.

To clear the selected list box, use the clear List button.


Help Options

The Help menu provides four submenus.

About, provides copyright type of information.

Help Using calls the windows help system with a request for it to explains how to use window help files.

Pressing F1 or selecting the menu item Help Context directly brings up the help system with information related to the portion of the program that had the input-focus just before you called for context sensitive help.

The menu item Help Index starts the help system at the beginning of the TLCPak10 help file and allows you to select the type of help you want from a list.


Options in the Options Menu

Clear List

remove Dir

remove Except

remove Files

Set

stOre data

Use

Quit


Clear List
Clear List, a menu item in TLCPak1's Options menu, removes the file names from the list box labeled "Files to be compressed".  This list box is at the bottom of the TLC Pak1 window.


remove Dir
remove Dir, a menu item in TLCPak1's Options menu, removes the text that is in the text window of the combo box titled Where.  The data in the text window may be saved to a file (See menu item stOre data).  All text saved in this manner will be returned to the combo box's list box on start-up.


remove Except
remove Except, a menu item in TLCPak1's Options menu, removes the text that is in the text window of the combo box, Except.The data in the text window may be saved to a file (See menu item stOre data).  All text saved in this manner will be returned to the combo box's list box on start-up.


remove Files
remove Files, a menu item in TLCPak1's Options menu, removes the text that is in the text window of the combo box, Files. The data in the text window may be saved to a file (See menu item stOre data).  All text saved in this manner will be returned to the combo box's list box on start-up.


Where

The Where combo box is used to store a list of collections of directories.  The collection of directories shown in the text box portion of the combo box is the collection of directories that will be used in the search for files to be compressed.  The search starts when you select Add.


Files

The Files combo box is used to store a list of collections of file names or types.  The collection of files shown in the text box portion of the combo box is the collection of files that will be used in the search for files to be compressed.  The search starts when you select Add.


Except

The Except combo box is use to store a list of collections of file names or types.  The collection of files shown in the text box portion of the combo box is the collection of files that will be excluded during the search for files to be compressed.  The files are excluded from the main list box upon pressing the return key.  The search is context sensitve.


Set
Set, a menu item in TLCPak1's Options menu, brings up a dialog box that allows you to set the options that you want for the current compression.  The default values are frequently the correct settings and no requirement exists to set new values.


Store Data
stOre data, a menu item in TLCPak1's Options menu, causes the current text items in the combo boxes, Files, Where, and Except to be saved to disk file.  This text will be added to the list boxes each time the program is started.


Use
Use, a menu item in TLCPak1's Options menu, allows you to select the PKZip or TLCPress  compression methods without going to the Set menu item.  The system can be toggled between PKZip and TLCPress compression methods by selection CTRL Z or CTRL P.  The change also modifies some values allowed in PKZip that are not used in TLCPress.


Quit
Quit, a menu item in both TLCPak1's and Uncompress File's Options menus, causes the program to terminate and clear memory.


Browse
The Browse option allows you to select files from a list of directories and drives, and a list of files in those directories.  The selections during any one browse session are immediately displayed a list box in the browse dialog window.  All selected files are immediately listed in the main list box.  Choosing the Browse option to select files will bring up the dialog box.


Add
The Add option searches for the files specified in the Files, Where, and Except combo text boxes.  All selected files are immediately listed in the main list box.


subDir
The only check box displayed with the TLCPress compression option, subDir, allows you to specify if the subdirectories of all the directories that you have listed in the text portion of the Files combo box are to be searched.


Select
The button marked Select allows you to select the file from a list of files that will contain the compressed files.  When you have selected the file name, it will appear in the text edit box below the label deStination.  If you would rather, you could simply type the name of the destination file in the text edit box.


comPress
The comPress button causes the program to compress the files selected and then save the compressed files under the file name specified in the deStination text box.


Set Box
Set Dialog Box -- TLCPak1 Options|Set

This dialog box allows you to select a variety of compression options.  You may select an include method, a compression, a time stamp, Full Path, Remove Source, Encrypt, File Comments, Program Comments, and masking options under PKZip.


Include by

Exactly one option in this category will be active.  This set of options determine the method used to include the file names listed in the selected list box.  Files may be Added, Updated, Freshened.  A back-up type from PKZip is also available.


Add

This option will add files to a previously non-existent compression file or add new files to an existing file.  Compressed files of the same name which already exist in a compression file will be overwritten.  All files listed in the list box will be compressed and saved in the compression file.  This is the default option.


Update

This option can only be used to add files to an existing compression file.  Only files in the list box that do not currently exist in the compression file and those that have a later date than their counter parts in the compression file will be compressed.  This option is like the Add option but only files with a later date will overwrite files of the same name.


Freshen

This option requires that the compression file already exist and is used to overwrite files that are already in the compression file.  Only the files that are in the list box may be used and then only if the date on the file is later than the date on the file in the compression file.  This option is similar to the Update option except that files in the list box that are not already in the compression file are ignored.


Selective BACKUP

This option is only supported under PKZip.  See documentation from PKWare Inc. for details on this option.


Compression Method

All options shown in this category except for TLCSize and TLCSpeed are supported only under PKZip.   See documentation from PKWare Inc. for details on this option.


TLC Size

TLC Size compression uses a form of the Huffman compression algorithm.  The compression achieved with this algorithm is often 5 to 10 % better than with PKZip.  It is also slower.


TLC Speed

The TLC Speed algorithm does not compress as well as either PKZip or TLC Size, but it is significantly faster than TLC Size and sometimes faster than PKZip.


Time

Exactly one option in this category will be active.  This set of options determine the time and date that will be assigned to the compression file.  The time stamp may be New, Last File, or No Change.


Newer

This option causes the program to use a normal DOS file date and time.  That is, the systems current date and time will be assigned to the compression file.


Last File

This option causes the program to assign a file date and time to the compression file equal to the file date and time of the most recent file added, updated, or freshened during the current session.


No Change

This  option causes the original file compression date and time to be maintained for the updated file.


Full Path

This option determines whether the full path name of each compressed file will be save in the compressed file.  If you want to be able to compress files from multiple directories into one file and then be able to restore the files back to their original directories, this is a convenient option.


Remove source

When active (checked) this option causes the program to delete the source file after compressing it.   All of the file names in the list box are erased from the directory.


Encrypt

When this option is checked, an additional label and text box are exposed.  In order to encrypt the compressed files, you must enter an encryption key phrase into the keyword text box.  If no phrase is entered or the phrase is less than 8 characters, a warning dialog is displayed and the encryption option is canceled.

The encryption scheme used is relatively simple.  Although it is unlikely that anyone with a just pencil and paper could decode such an encrypted file, it is certain that the CIA could break the encryption in short order.  If you have a plain text file and an encrypted file that contain the same data, anyone can reproduce your encryption key.  If you use that same key to encrypt other files, that same "anyone' could then decode the encrypted file.  Encryption is only of value if you protect your key.

This exact same keyword must be entered to decrypt the file.  This keyword is not kept any place.  If you forget the keyword, do not expect to be able to recover the data in the file.


File Comments

This check box determines if the program will wait for you to enter comments about the compression file into the compression file.  Compression file comments can be changed when any file is added to, updated, or freshened in the compression file.  Comments can be up to 256 characters.  If you elect to add comment, a dialog box opens, you add your comments, and select done.


Program Comments

Exactly one option in this category will be used.  This category of options allows you to add comments (up to 256 characters) to the compression file for each of the compressed files added to the compression file.  If you elect to add comment, a dialog box opens, you add your comments, and select done.

The three possible option for program comments are None, All Files, or New Files Only.


None

This option does not allow any comments to be added.


All Files

This option allows you to enter comments for any file that is added, updated, or freshened in the compression file.


New Files Only

This option allows you to enter comments only for new files being added to the compression file.


Uncompress Files
TLC UnPak Window

A primary window of the program, which first appears after you select the Uncompress menu option, provides the input dialog for you to uncompress files

The Uncompress File window, consists of a menu bar, 10 command buttons, three text edit boxes, two list boxes and 3 labels.

The top menu bar consists of three items,Options, Compress, and Help.


Options in Uncompress Menu

The Options menu in Uncompress File contains the following options:

Choose By

Set

Use

Quit


Choose By
Choose By, in the TLC UnPak Options menu, allows you to chose one of two items in a submenu.  The first submenu item is All files which causes all files in the compressed file to be listed in the selected list box.  The other menu item, Type, initially itemizes all files of the source file into the source list box.


Uncompress Set Options
Set allows you to chose 1 item at a time from a menu list.  A checkmark in front of the item indicates that the property is active.  All other uncompress properties are off.  Additional properties are available when PKUnZip is selected.

Decrypt

Make Directories

Newer Files

Overwrite

Use Full Path


Decrypt

This option is the counter part to compress's encrypt option.  When you check this option, a dialog box is presented to allow you to input the decrypt keyword.  This keyword must be exactly the same as the keyword entered for the encrypt keyword.  This keyword is not kept any place.  If you forget the keyword, do not expect to be able to recover the data in the file.  This option is off by default.


Make Directories

This option causes the program to create any directories needed to establish the path specified.  See the option on using full paths before using this option.  This option is off by default.


Newer Files

This option allows the program to overwrite newer files without question.  If this option is not checked and you attempt to uncompress an older file on top of a newer one, a dialog box will be presented to validate the overwrite.  When this option is checked, no validation occurs - the newer file is simply destroyed.  This option is off by default.


Overwrite

This option allows the program to overwrite older (or same date\time) files without validation.  If this option is not checked, a dialog box will be presented to validate the overwrite.  This option is on by default, since overwriting an older file is normally the correct response.


Use Full Path

This option causes the program to combine the path name in the To Directory text box and the saved path name in the selected list box.  When this option is active, the program will delete the disk name from the saved path name and append the remainder of the path to the path name in the To Directory text box.  For example, if the text box contained the path "C:\document" and the saved path name was "D:\data\Mart89.Ltr".  The program would look for the path "C:\document\data\".  If that path exists or if the Make Directories option is checked, the program will decompress the file to that directory.  If the Make Directories option is off, a dialog box will request instructions about whether it should make the new directories.  If this option is off, you will not be allowed to place a non-existent path name in the To Directories text box.  This option is off by default.


Unpack Buttons and Boxes

Window

Buttons	Associated Boxes

Source Browse	source file text

To Directory	destination text

Uncompress

View

Purge

Add	Modify

Delete	Modify

Include	Desination List   Source List

Remove	Desination List   Source List

Reset	Desination List   Source List


Source Browse
The first button, Source Browse, is used to find the source file that contains the compressed files that are to be uncompressed  The text box directly under this button will contain the name of the selected file.  If you prefer, you can type the name of the source file directly into this text box.


To Directory
The button To Directory is used to select the directory to which the uncompressed files will be written.  The name of the selected directory will appear in the text box directly under this button.  If you prefer, you can type the name of the directory directly into this text box.  If you use the FULL PATH option, the text box contains just the base part of the directory.


Uncompress
The Uncompress button causes the files selected in the  selected list box to be uncompressed on the directory selected.  The actual directory selected depends upon the selection in the To Directory, the Options|Set|Use Full Path menu item, and the directory saved (shown in the list box).


View
The View button displays a series of screens showing the file's remarks, time, and date, and each compressed program's remarks, time, date, original size, compressed size, and percent of compression.  Additionally if the program was encrypted the check box is checked.


Purge
The Purge button allows you to remove from the source file all compressed programs listed in the selected list box.  This option permanently removes the compressed files.  There is a query dialog box that will check to be sure you did not hit the button by accident.


Modify
The Modify option uses a text box and two command buttons.  You can move files between the source and selected list boxes by using this option.  Type the desired category into the text box and select Add (move files into selected list box) or Delete (move files into the source list box).


Include
The Include button moves the selected file in the source to the selected list box.  If no file is selected the last file in the source list box will be selected.


Remove
The Remove button moves the files in the selected list box to the sourcelist box.  If no file is selected the last file in the selected list box will be selected.


Reset
The rEset button moves all of the files from the selected list box back to the source list box.


Selection List
Selected List

This is the list box labeled, "files that will be uncompressed"


Source List

This is the list box labeled, "files remaining in source list"


Combo box down arrow

You may click on a Combo Box's down arrow to open the list box portion of the combo box.  You may "select" any item in the list box by clicking on it.  When selected, the item moves into the edit text portion of the combo box.


Directory Select

The Directory select dialog box allows you to select the directory that will serve as the base directory for the files that are uncompressed.

Highlight the desired directory name and press ALT O to select and exit.  Press ALT C  exit without selecting a directory.


Tutorial

This section provides a tutorial of simple compression and uncompression, partial uncompressing, viewing, and purging methods.


Quick Compression

This section provides step by step instructions of one method for compressing files.  Before following this chain of actions, set a bookmark for easy return.

1.  Select the source files (files to be compressed).

2.  Select the destination file (compression file).

3.  Select comPress button to start compression.


Source Selection

Chose a method of selection.

You may (Browse) search a directory list for each file you want.

You may (ADD) to the list of selected files by selecting a file or file type and directory list.


Selection by Adding

1a.  Type ALT F to move the input focus to the Files text edit box.

1b.  Enter the name of the file to be found.

1c.  Press TAB to move to the next input item which is the subDir check box.  Press TAB again.

1d.  Enter the directory on which the file resides.

1e.  You may TAB to the Except box if desired.

1f.  When all three text boxes are set the way you want them, press ALT A.

If the list box is empty, you must start over.  If, however, the program did find the files, they will all be listed.  Read through the names of the selected files, if there are some that you do not want to compress, they can be removed.


Select destination

Once all the file names are correct, press ALT S.  This will place the input focus in the deStination text box. You may select the destination file name by typing or you may press ALT S again (then Enter) and select from a directory list.


Start the compression

The final action necessary to compress files is to click on the command button comPress or press ALT P.

A message window will open over the top to the Where and Except text boxes.  This message window will provide you with a status of the compression process.  After each file is compressed the window will briefly show the size of the file and its percent of compression.


Select destination by typing

Type the full path and file name of the file to hold the compressed files.  Such as, C:\documents\Jun20.pdh. The file name may or may not exist, but the path name must be valid.  That is, you must have a path named "C:\documents", but there does not have to be a file in that directory named "Jun20.pdh".  If that file does exist, the newly compressed files will be appended to it.  If that file does not exist, it will be created.


File type

The file can be a file, afile type, or file types to be compressed.  If you want to compress a file named "Test1.Txt", type test1.txt.  If you want to compress all files with the "Txt" extension, type *.txt.  If you want to compress all files with either the "Txt" extension or the "Doc" extension, type *.txt;*.doc.  You may have multiple types but each name must be separated by a semicolon.


subDir Check box

The default for this check box is checked.  If you do not want the subdirectories of the directories that you will put in the Where text box, press the space bar to toggle this option.  When the check box is appropriately marked press TAB to move to the Where text box.


Selecting the directories

You must enter a least one directory path name; you may add more than one by separating the names with a semicolon.  If the files that you want compressed were on the disk drive labeled "C" and under the directory "\documents\", type C:\documents.  Press TAB to move to the next input field.


Setting the Except data

The next text box, labeled Except, may be left blank.  But suppose that you did not want to copy any files that contained the letters "TEST".  You could type, *TEST*, to prevent such files from being included.  Once again, you may use a semicolon to separate multiple sets of names.


Starting the search

This will cause the program to search the directories for the specific files requested.  Any such files will be added to the files to be compressed list box.  If no files are found, the input focus goes to the empty list box.


Remove unwanted files

To remove unwanted files, double click on them with the mouse.  If you prefer using the keyboard, use the up and down arrow keys to select the unwanted file names and the press the space bar or the enter key to remove the file from the list.


Quick Uncompress
Quick Uncompression

This section provides step by step instructions of a method of uncompressing files.

1.  Press ALT U or click on the Uncompress menu item to bring the Uncompress Files window into view.

2.  Select the compression file by typing or from a list.

If that file exists as a proper compression file, the names of all of the compressed files contained in it will be listed in the "Selected" list box labeled, Files that will be uncompressed, the text box under the command button To Directory will contain the same path name as was used for the source, and the input focus will be on the Uncompress command button.

3.  Press ENTER to uncompress all of the files into the default directory.


Select compression file by typing

2a.  Press TAB to move the focus to the Source text box.

2b.  Type the full path and file name of the file you want to uncompress.  Such as, C:\document\Jun20.pdh.


Secect from a list

2a.  Press Enter to bring up the Source Browse dialog box.

2b.  Select the Disk, directory, and file name.

     The file extension  type can be changed by selecting the File Name window and entering *.ext where ext is the desired extension.


Patial Decompression
Partial Decompression

If you do not want to decompress the entire list of files, move the names of the files that you do not want to uncompress to the "Source" list box.

You may elect to decompress the majority, a few files, or some types of files.


A few files

If you only want to uncompress a few files, the easiest way to proceed is to use the rEset command button and then move the desired files back to the "Selected" list box.

1.  Press ALT E or click on the rEset button.  All files names move to the "Source" list.

2.  Use the mouse to double click on the desired file names.  If you prefer to use the keyboard, select the "Source" list box with ALT L, use the arrow keys to highlight the desired file names and then press the space bar to move the name.  Alternately, you may press ALT I or click on the Include command button, to move the currently selected file name.


Majority uncompressed

If you want to uncompress the majority of the files in the list, use a similar procedure to move the unwanted file name from the "Selected" list to the "Source" list.

1.  Use the mouse to double click on the unwanted file names.  If you prefer to use the keyboard, select the "Selected" list box with ALT F, use the arrow keys to highlight the unwanted file names and then press the space bar to move the name.

2.  Alternately, you by press ALT R or click on the Remove command button, to move the currently selected file name.


Uncompress by type

If there are groups of file types that you want to select or unselect.  Use the Modify option.

1.  Press Alt M or click in the associated text box.

2.. Type the file types to be moved.  For example, if you want to move all files with the number 18 included in the name, type *18*.  Additional names may be used if separated by a semicolon.

3.  Press ALT A to move the specified file types from the "Source" list to the "Selected" list.  To move the specified file types the other way press ALT D.


Select by View

You may not be able to remember what each of the files have in them.  If comments were added during the compression phase, you may want to view those comments and decide if the file is to be extracted.

1.  Move all file names that are to be "Viewed" into the "Selected" list box.

2.  Press ALT V or click on the View command button.

3.  The first dialog box shows the general file information.  Press ALT C to cancel this display.

4.  The next and all successive displays in this series show the data specifically related to one of the compressed files.  If this is a file that you want to extract, press ALT C to continue to the next listing.  If you do not want to extract this file, then you may remove it from the "Selected" list box by pressing ALT U or by clicking on the Unlist command button.  This action removes the file name from the list boxes, but it does not purge it from the compression file.


Purging the File

To permanently remove a file from the compression file, place the name of the file in the "Selected" list box and select the purge option.

1.  Move all files to be permanently deleted from the compression file into the "Selected" list box by any of the methods previously discussed.

2.  Select the purge option by pressing ALT P or clicking on the Purge command button.

3.  If you really want to do this, then select the yes option (ALT Y) in the dialog box that appears.  If you have changed your mind, select the no option (ALT N).


TLCPak 1
TLC Pak1: Main program window

{bml TLCPak1.bmp}


Pak1 Settings

{bml set.bmp}


Multiple File Selection

{bml browse.bmp}


Uncompress Files window
Uncommpress Files window

{bml uncomp.bmp}


UnCompress Set Menu

{bml menuset.bmp}


Open File

{bml source.bmp}


Select File

{bml select.bmp}


File Comments dialog

{bml remfile.bmp}


Program Comments

{bml remprog.bmp}


Purge Query

{bml purgok.bmp}


PKZip compression settings
PKZip Compress Setting

{bml zip2.bmp}


PKZip uncompress options menu

{bml zip3.bmp}


PKZip compress main window

{bml zip1.bmp}


Get directory
Dialog to get the target directory

{bml getdir.bmp}


Using Browse
Using Comress Browse option

The Browse command option can be used to open a dialog box that allows you to individually find files to be compress and add them to the "Selected" list box.

You may select files in the normal ways.  You may select the file with the keyboard; use the up\down arrow to  highlight it, and then press the RETURN or  the space bar.  You may use the control button (and mouse) to highlight multiple separate files or you may highlight a series of files by highlighting one on the end and then while holding the shift key down higlight the one on the other end.

Files when selected during a browse session are stored in the "Selected Files" list box in the dialog window as well as in the "Selected" list box in the main window.  Any file in the list box of the dialog box can be removed by double clicking on it or by highlighting the file and pressing ALT R.  If no file is highlighted, the last file in the list is removed.

Files can not be selected if they are already in the main window "Selected" list box.


Case Sensitive

It is important to notice that files entered into the "Selected" list by browsing are in lowercase letters while those entered by using the Add command are in uppercase letters.  The path name is always lower case.  This fact makes it easy to selectively delete files using the Except text box.  Even after files are entered into the "Select" list they can be removed using the Except option.  Just enter the data and press return.

Data in the text portion of the three combo boxes (Files, Where, and Except) can be saved to a data file by using the menu option Option|stOre data.  The name of the data file is PKTLC.INI and will be save on the windows\system directory.  The information from this file is read each time the program is loaded.  The information can then be found in the appropriate list box portion of the combo boxes.  To move data from the list box portion of the combo box to the text portion, click on it or highlight it and press the space bar.  If you no longer want to save a piece of data in the combo box, bring it into the text box and then remove it by using the Options|remove (Dir, Except, or File) option as appropriate.


Open Dialog
Open a file

The dialog box to open a file requires that the file currently exists.

You may changes disk drives or directories by highlighting the desired drive letter or directory name and pressing the space bar (or by double clicking on the symbol).  Alternately, you may simply type the path into the File Name text edit box and press return.

You may specify which files are to be viewed by entering a file type in the File Name text edit box.  For example to see all files with the zip extention, type *.zip and press return.  To see all files use the *.* notation.

When the proper file name is highlighted press return (or ALT O).  Use the escape key or type ALT C to cancel the dialog box.


Selecting a file

The dialog box to select a file does not require that the file currently exists, but the path must exist.

You may changes disk drives or directories by highlighting the desired drive letter or directory name and pressing the space bar (or by double clicking on the symbol).  Alternately, you may simply type the path into the File Name text edit box and press return.

You may specify which files are to be viewed by entering a file type in the File Name text edit box.  For example to see all files with the zip extention, type *.zip and press return.  To see all files use the *.* notation.

When the proper file name is highlighted press return (or ALT O).  Use the escape key or type ALT C to cancel the dialog box.


PKZip/PKUnZip

There are some differences in windows and operations when using PKZip.

On the TLCPak1 main window, there are two additional check boxes.  The first check box, hiddeN, is used to search on hidden files and the second check box is used to search on System files.

On the compression setting window and the uncompress set menu, there is an additional catagory for masking files.

Since PKZip and PKUnZip are DOS files, the windows environment is temporarily abondoned when the call is made to execute the PKZip files.  When you use PKZip under the Standard mode of windows and when you use options that require an input from the use (even in Enhanced mode), PKZip is executed in a full screen DOS window.  At the end of the run, to exit the DOS window and return to TLCPak program, press Enter.

When operating in Enhanced mode, if there is minimum chance that the user will be requested to enter data, PKZip is executed in a minimized window.  The minimized window will perform its duties, destroy itself, and return to TLCPak.  When TLCPak continues, it will present a text window showing the results of PKZip's execution.  If the program seems to be hung, perhaps PKZip is requesting an input from you.  This should only happen if PKZip runs out of space on the disk that you selected for PKZip to write.  If this happens, double click on the minimized DOS window; and perform the required response, and press return.  Of course, you will not be able to see the prompt that PKZip has output, but you should know what the program is requesting based upon what you have told it to do.

Remember PKZip is also a shareware product.  If you use it, you are encouraged to register your copy.  Minimum registration for PKZip is $25.00 and it is worth it.