Hello all. This is a new program which is intended mainly as a programmer╒s utility. It allows resource files to be compressed and decompressed using the LZW compression method. If you want to use this code in your own program to reduce the size of the program on disk, you can send for source code to the program for $25. An example of run-time decompression is Solarian II, which compresses all of its pictures and animation resources to save a total of around 300K. Decompression doesn╒t take long, and it can save a lot of space, especially for graphics.
You can use this program as much as you like for no charge. The only charge is for the source code.
The program compresses all of the resources in a file individually and appends a ì to the beginning of their type name. For example, PICT becomes ìPIC. When the resources are decompressed, they regain their original type name. Names, ids and flags should be fully preserved. Suggested filenames for compressed files end in .lzw. Try not to decompress a resource that isn╒t compressed. It will be bad.
LZWRes is configured to use a minimum of 800K in MultiFinder. In practice, this may be too much or too little. A good way to estimate is: <Size of biggest resource>*8+150K. If you run out of memory, you may get an error box or it may just bomb (usually error id 25).
The normal way to use LZWRes is to first set up a file with everything you want to compress or expand, and then run the file through LZWRes. Set up the file in ResEdit, most likely.
This program is quite likely buggy, so try to back up files before compressing or decompressing. It shouldn╒t munge a file even if it crashes, though. At least it never has to me.
Of note: Solarian II╒s resources are of a slightly different format. To decompress them, insert the original type name (i.e. ╒PICT╒ or ╒anim╒) between bytes 3&4 (between longword 0&1) using ResEdit. Then it should decompress correctly.
There is a color icon in LZWRes╒ resource file which may be copied into ColorFinder, etc. Or converted to an icl8. Or whatever.
Send bug reports, source code requests (1 800K disk, 3 if you want other programs I╒ve written as well), program ideas, love letters, hate mail, and so on, WITH AN SASE, to:
