AutoArc is designed to help people who archive a lot of software and get sick of using extra directories to get the archives the same name, and who get sick of creating archives, opening them, then dragging files.
AutoArc should work with all versions of ArcFS read/write from 1.00 upto the current version. (It has only been tested with 1.09 and 2.02).
AutoArc functions with all versions of RISC-OS from 2.00 onwards, but if you are using RISC-OS 3.10, the template file "Templates3" will be loaded. This makes use of 3D icons, which are built into RISC-OS 3.10.
The Main Menu
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The menu is accessed as usual by clicking the MENU button over the icon bar icon. The options provided are:
Info ⇨ Leads to info box which leads to SJPD info box
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Compressed When ticked CFS# will be added to the front of the pathname
Auto save When ticked objects will be auto-archived to themselves
Arc access ⇨ Leads to the Archive access box
Save setup Saves the current setup
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Quit Quits the program
'Compressed' option
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If you tick this option then 'CFS#' will be added to the front of the source filename. It should be used if you have, say, a disc full of programs compressed with Computer Concepts' Compression program, and you want to change them to the more compact ArcFS format. It simply allows you to drag the files from the ADFS viewer so you don't have to wait 4 years while the CFS viewer updates. If you don't understand the above then don't use this option.
'Auto save'
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When this option is ticked, the files will automatically be archived to the same place, ie the source will be wiped & replaced with the destnation. This is equivalent to clicking 'OK' or pressing return in the save box without changing the filename. I usually have this turned on but if you are unsure or want to keep the original then turn it off.
When this option is on, you may drag more than one source file to the icon and they will be processed one after the other. This is handy if you have a large number of programs you want to archive.
Beware that using this option can be dangerous when archiving large items with small amounts of free memory. See "WARNING" lower down this file.
Access privilages
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The 'Arc access ⇨' option leads to a window where you can set the access privilages for the archive files created when archiving. The 'owner read-access' is always on because there's no point turning it off.
Saving setup
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Just choose 'Save setup' and the current status of the 'Compression' and 'Auto save' menu options and the current access privilages will be saved to inside the !AutoArc directory. These will then be restored next time AutoArc is loaded.
Auto Archiving
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Once you've set your menu and access options, drag what you want to archive (app, dir or file) to the icon. If 'Auto save' is on then the process will begin straight away (with multiple files if they were dragged). If 'Auto save' is off then a save box will appear. Drag the Archive icon somewhere or enter a new pathname to save the output somewhere else. Just press return or click 'OK' to overwrite the source.
The Hourglass
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During the archiving operation the hourglass will be displayed. When copying is in progress, both LEDs will be on. When compacting is in progress just the bottom LED will be on. This can give you a rough idea of what is happening.
WARNING
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If you use !Memphis then don't use 'Auto save' or save the file to itself unless you are sure there is enough memory in the sprite area, or you may lose your programs. If, while archiving, you get an error and your file has disappeared, try looking for the system scrap file - it should be an archive containing your program. You can sometimes get errors in the middle of an AutoArc process, and this may result in half your app being where it was, and the other half in the scrap file.
Even if you don't use MemFS, make sure that there is more than enough free RMA for ArcFS (less of a problem on RISC-OS 3). Attempting to AutoArc files that are too large to be processed by ArcFS will almost certainly result in losing the file altogether. For large files, either AutoArc to somewhere else, or take a backup before AutoArc'ing a file to itself.
FLOPPY USERS: When AutoArc archives back to the original file, the ScrapFile is used as a temporary store for the Archive. This will result in a great deal of disc swapping. Also, if there isn't enough room for the archive on the disc containing the scrap file (!System or !Scrap), you will probably lose the file. So, DON'T ARCHIVE BACK TO THE ORIGINAL WITH A FLOPPY ONLY SYSTEM UNLESS YOU ARE SURE THERE'S ENOUGH SPACE FOR THE SCRAPFILE AND YOU DON'T MIND SWAPPING DISCS A LOT.
I take no responsibility for loss of data due to the use or misuse of this application.
Version history
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1.00 This was a quick application made when I had 36 discs of demos to
convert from CFS to ArcFS. The menu was only a quit option and the
CFS option was chosen from the RISC-OS action window (yuk!) and you
couldn't see what you were doing and my friend pressed the wrong
button and we wasted ages (about 20 discs were just archives of
compressed files). I then decided to write a better one!
1.50 Menu options 'CFS' and 'Verbose' (now removed) were added but no
info box or save box (but at least I could tell if CFS was selected
or not by the tick!).
2.00 This version. With info box, Compression, Auto save, Arc access and
Save setup options and also with save box so you could save to
somewhere else if you didn't want to wipe the original.
2.01 A slight update from version 2.00, but I can't remember what!
2.10 Now allows windows to be dragged around by their 'unused' parts. On
RISC-OS 3.10 machines, an alternative template file is used with 3D
bordered icons. Pressing return in the save box now actually presses
You may not add any files of your own to the !AutoArc directory.
This applcation may not be sold for a profit. If you want to use it in your P.D. library of upload it onto your B.B. then that's fine, so long as you do not charge for the application in any way, and you DON'T add any extra files to the !AutoArc directory. You may make a small charge for P&P and media though.
Apart from that, please copy this application to everyone you know!
If you have any bug reports or ideas for improvements then PLEASE write to the address below. Send a disc & SAE and I'll send some more of my stuff. If you are sending a disc then please include an S.A.E. or I'll make a profit of 1 disc! Donations also welcome!
Simon Hatliff
4 Elmlands Grove
Stockton Lane
York YO3 OEE
I can also be contacted on The World of Cryton BBS, user 812.
