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PC-SIG Diskette Library (Disk #3482)
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LM.DOC
/---------------------------\
| Lha Master - version 1.1b |
| by |
| Usoft |
\---------------------------/
CONTENTS
--------
I - What is Lha Master, and what is Usoft?
II - Operation of Lha Master.
III - Ordering information
IV - Future products
V - Technical notes, credits, revision history, etc.
SECTION I
---------
What is Lha Master?
Quite simply, Lha Master is a shell for Lha (by Yoshi). Lha is a
file archiver and compressor. Lha is similar to PKZip (by Phil
Katz), but Lha achieves higher compression ratios. That is to
say, Lha can make your files smaller than PKZip can, giving you
more free disk space than you had before. Lha is a command-line
program, with many different switches. Lha Master, however, is a
menu-driven program. Very similar in use to Microsoft Works or
Quattro Pro, Lha Master makes use of pull-down menus, while
allowing keyboard shortcuts. This makes Lha easy to use and puts
the power of Lha into the hands of all computer users.
NOTICE: Lha Master must have Lha to run correctly! Lha can be in
the same directory as Lha Master, or in a directory
listed on your PATH statement. If you do not have a
copy of Lha, registering Lha Master will bring you the
latest version of Lha Master as well as a copy of Lha.
What is Usoft?
Usoft is a software company founded in 1991 by Steven R.
Mathesius. Usoft was created in the hopes of providing software
that everyone could use. Lha Master is the first product
released by Usoft. Usoft encourages Users to comment on Lha
Master (from here on known as LM) and any other Usoft products.
Send comments to the address listed in section III below. In
short, Usoft was created to be the software company where U ARE
THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR.
SECTION II
----------
Use and operation of Lha Master:
LM is very simple to use! I hope you don't even need to read
this. But just in case, I'll detail how to use LM. When you
start LM you will see a notice informing you that you are using
an evaluation copy (unless you've registered!). Simply click on
Ok or press ENTER after reading the notice to see the main
screen. At the top of the screen is a bar, with two titles:
Archive and Help. Press ALT to activate the menus. When Archive
is highlighted, the menu will drop down, displaying menu options:
ADD FILES
EXTRACT FILES
LIST FILES
DELETE FILES
-------------
EXIT
To create a new archive choose ADD FILES. A dialog box will
appear, asking if you wish to create a new archive or add files
to an existing archive. We want to create a new archive, so
simply hit enter. A new dialog box appears, requesting the name
of the archive you want to create. Type in the name you want the
archive to have. You can also enter a path. Note that the
default extension is LZH. You don't have to enter the LZH, just
a file name. Press enter or click on Ok, and another dialog box
appears, requesting the files you want to compress. Simply
pressing enter here will compress all the files in the current
directory. You can enter a name of one file you want to
compress (e.g., test.doc), a name with a wild card (test.*), or
two wild cards (*.*). You can also enter a path in front of a
file name or wild card. Once you have entered a file or wild
card press enter. Lha Master will put Lha to work, and compress
the files you indicated.
If you chose ADD FILES from the ARCHIVE MENU and then chose ADD
TO AN EXISTING ARCHIVE, the procedure would differ little. You
would still be asked to enter an archive name, but after you
enter the archive name a list box would appear, allowing you to
choose which archive from that list you want to work with. After
you have chosen the archive you wish to work with, a dialog box
requesting file information would appear. Again, LM would put
Lha to work, but instead of creating a new archive, Lha would add
the files you indicated to an existing archive.
The EXTRACT FILES, LIST FILES, and DELETE FILES commands work
very similarly to the ADD TO AN EXISTING ARCHIVE command.
EXTRACT FILES would extract files from an archive, LIST FILES
lists files in an archive, and DELETE FILES deletes files from an
archive.
The best way to really learn how to use Lha Master effectively is
to experiment. Lha Master won't format your hard drive, or
delete files (except those in archives), so don't worry. Lha
Master is versatile but simple. Try creating an archive in a
different directory, compressing files from another directory,
while you are in yet another directory. Lha Master is easiest to
use when you put LM.EXE in a directory listed on your PATH. Then
no matter which directory you are in you can simply type LM and
Lha Master pops up, ready to go. This makes it easy to compress
files in every day use. If you happen to be in the WORD
directory and decide that you have 72 letters that you probably
won't need, simply type LM, and compress them into an archive!
When you want to look at them, use LM again and extract them (or
one of them). LM is so simple you'll probably find yourself
compressing things quite often.
SECTION III
-----------
Ordering information:
Ordering Lha Master brings many benefits to U, the User:
* The latest, registered version of LM on disk, delivered to
your door.
* Notices of upgrades
* Notices of new products
* A feeling of pride and a clear conscience in that you did
the right thing and registered.
* Eternal thanks from me, Steven R. Mathesius
By registering shareware you encourage programmers to use
shareware as a distribution method. Not registering will save
you $10.00 now, but discourages programmers from developing
better products, and instead encourages them to produce
commercial software (usually with a price tag upwards of $30.00).
So come on, order LM!
The version you receive on disk will be the latest version. The
pesky registration notice (at startup) will be removed, and the
ABOUT LM dialog box will display your name. The main screen will
also display your name (and company if you indicated a company on
the order form).
To order Lha Master:
Have your printer on-line and have paper loaded, and then from
the DOS command line type ORDERME
OR
Send a check or money order for $10.00 (or more!) to:
Usoft
329 N47th Rd.
Mendota, IL 61342
Be sure to include the shipping address, daytime phone, and
preferred disk size (3.5" or 5.25"). Thanks for registering!
Notice to corporate or educational institutions:
The normal registration fee is $10.00. If you are registering
for more than one computer the fee varies. Pricing structure is
show below:
* Site license for the use of Lha Master:
(includes one program disk)
2 to 10 computers ..... $8.00 each
11 to 25 computers ..... $7.00 each
26 to 99 computers ..... $5.00 each
For registering 100 computers or more write for pricing
information. Extra program disks are available for site licenses
at the price of $2.00 per computer.
You are free to copy and distribute Lha Master for NONCOMMERCIAL
use if, and only if:
No fee is charged for use, copying, or distribution.
Lha Master is not modified in any way.
Disk vendors and user groups may charge a nominal fee not to
exceed $10.00 for expenses and handling while distributing Lha
Master.
SECTION IV
----------
Future products and upgrades:
What can U expect from Usoft in the future? In the near future U
can expect LM to include features to test the integrity of an
archive, and to create a self-extracting archive, and several
other new features. On-line help will be expanded and upgraded.
The user interface will be improved. Point and click file selection
will be added. Support might be extended to include not only Lha
as the primary file compressor, but also ZIP, ARC, ZOO, PAK, ARJ,
etc. In the long-term U could see a Windows version of LM, an OS/2
2.0 specific version of LM, educational products, and OS/2 2.0 based
applications. Usoft is committed to providing what U, the Users
want. If U ask for something, Usoft will try to provide what U
want. If U want something specific, don't hesitate to ask, Usoft
is always looking for new programming opportunities. I feel that
OS/2 2.0 is the operating system of the future. OS/2 2.0 is much
better than DOS, or DOS/WINDOWS. In light of that, Usoft will be
working on several OS/2 2.0 based programs. The first OS/2 2.0
based program from Usoft will probably be LM. A character-mode
version of LM will be available shortly for OS/2. A true OS/2
2.0 based version of LM, using the graphical user interface is
still several months away however. Again, I want to hear what U,
the Users have to say, so please write.
SECTION V
---------
Technical notes and credits:
Lha Master was programmed in BASIC using the Microsoft
Professional Development System, version 7.1.
Lha Master will soon be available in an OS/2 version. This
version will be a straight port from the DOS version, and will
not take advantage of OS/2 2.0's multithreading capabilities or
graphical user interface. A later version of Lha Master will be
OS/2 2.0 specific, and will be programmed to use multithreading
and the graphical user interface.
KUDOS TO:
---------
God, for being God.
Scott Mosier, for beta-testing and offering ever insightful
wisdom and programming help.
Kelly Davis, for beta-testing and programming help.
IBM, for developing OS/2 2.0, the ultimate operating system!
REVISION HISTORY:
Version .9 - All major functions operable. Build from here!
Version 1.0 - Stable enough to call a product, many bugs to fix...
Version 1.1 - First public version, screen clearing codes fixed,
mouse support improved, on-line help added.
Version 1.1b - Fixed mouse support at startup: Don't have to run
credit screen for mouse to work! Fixed ListFile
function.
DISCLAIMER:
Usoft hereby disclaims all warranties relating to this software,
whether expressed or implied, including without limitation any
implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular
purpose. Usoft will not be liable for any special, incidental,
consequential, indirect or similar damages due to loss of data or
other reason.
Lha Master - version 1.1
(c) Copyright Usoft 1992
VENDOR.DOC
NOTICE TO DISK VENDORS:
-----------------------
You are free to copy and distribute Lha Master for NONCOMMERCIAL use if, and
only if:
* No fee is charged for use, copying, or distribution.
* Lha Master is not modified in any way.
A nominal fee not to exceed $10.00 for expenses and handling while distributing
Lha Master may be charged.
You are free to compress/archive Lha Master for distribution if the following
files are included in the archive:
LIST.COM
LM.DOC
LM.EXE
ORDER.FRM
ORDERME.BAT
VIEWDOC.BAT
README.BAT
README.NOW
This file, VENDOR.DOC, need not be included in the archive.
Please see LM.DOC for instructions and further information. Thank you!
NOTICE:
Lha Master muust have access to LHA.EXE in order to run correctly. if you do
not have Lha in your disk collection I strongly encourage you to include it.
For your convenience I have included a copy of the latest version of Lha and
its associated files in a directory on this disk.
If you wish to distribute Lha you can find the latest version and its files
in the A:\LHA directory. These files are direct from an archive and all files
associated with Lha are included in this directory. I in no way am
responsible for distributing Lha. I am merely aiding disk vendors that may not
have the latest version of Lha in their disk collection.
LHA IS NOT A PART OF LHA MASTER! Lha is a completely separate program, written
by a different programmer (Yoshi). If you are going to distribute Lha and Lha
Master on the same disk, please make it clear that they are different programs
from different authors. Thank you!
Directory of PC-SIG Library Disk #3482
Volume in drive A has no label
Directory of A:\
LM DOC 12814 10-16-92 6:48p
LIST COM 20951 9-03-90 7:51a
LM EXE 131658 10-15-92 3:53p
README BAT 46 10-09-92 6:27p
ORDER FRM 1997 10-08-92 4:54p
ORDERME BAT 211 10-03-92 1:18p
README NOW 1108 10-12-92 12:06p
VIEWDOC BAT 43 10-09-92 6:27p
VENDOR DOC 1643 10-16-92 7:00p
GO BAT 96 4-12-93 4:28p
10 file(s) 170567 bytes
145408 bytes free