C O M - P A C K v 1 .

0
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Copr. 1989
by
Jack A. Orman

* What is COM-Pack?

This is a short utility program which will combine up to

sixteen .COM files into one central library for storage.
Programs can be run directly from the library.

* What's the advantage?

A file stored on a hard disk takes up a cluster of disk

space no matter how short the file may be. That means
that if you have a utility program of 7 bytes, it will
still use a full cluster! On most hard drives there is 2k
or 4k per cluster, and your 7 byte .COM file will tie up
2048 or 4096 bytes of disk space! That's 2041 or 4089
bytes of empty and wasted disk space!

By storing a collection of short .COM files in a COM-Pack

library, you can save most of that wasted space!

* How does it work?

COM-Pack can be used to create an executable file with any

legal DOS filename which can combine up to 16 COM
programs and use only the disk space which is required to
hold the library program.

Example: The enclosed sample library called "EPRINT" is

composed of ten short COM files to set the print
functions of an Epson printer. Each of the printer
control COM programs is about 50 bytes in length;
however, when saved to a disk, each of the programs uses
a full cluster of disk space. On my hard drive this
amounts to 20480 bytes of disk space to store the 10
programs that occupy a total of 501 bytes. Only 2.44%
of the disk space is being used!

The EPRINT library which contains all ten of the

printer programs -ready to run- is only 1286 bytes and
occupies but a single cluster of the hard drive. I've
saved 9 clusters of space, or a grand total of 18432
bytes!

Floppies have 1024 byte clusters, but a substantial

savings is also possible when using COM-Pack with
these disks.

* Limitations?

Yes, there is a limit of 16 files that can be stored in a

single COM-Pack library, and the total length of the
library must not exceed 64k, just as with any other DOS
command program. Only EXE programs can exceed 64k without
 using some form of overlays.

You can create as many COM-Pack libraries as you need,

each with a 16 file/64k limit. Obviously, if they are
stored in the same directory, they must have different
names.

* HOW TO USE COM-Pack

1. To create a new library.

Execute COM-Pack as follows:

COM-Pack parm1 parm2 <enter>

where parm1 is the name of the library that you wish to

create. Parm1 must be a legal DOS filename with the .COM
extention.

Parm2 is the name of an existing COM program that you

have stored on disk which you want to add to the COM-Pack
library.

Either parm1 or parm2 (or both) may contain DOS paths or

drive designations. NOTE: Both parm1 and parm2 will
require the .COM extention.

When the command is executed, COM-Pack will reply:

"Library not found! Create it?"

This allows you to double check the name of the file

being created. You should see this message any time you
are trying to create a new library! Merely hit the 'Y' key
to complete the creation process. Hitting 'N' will cause
the program to prompt you with:

"Do you want to enter a new file name?"

This allows you to change the filename that was entered

on the command line, should it be incorrect. Hit 'Y' to
continue and 'N' to abort the COM-Pack process.

2. To add programs to an existing COM-Pack library.

Execute COM-Pack as follows:

COM-Pack parm1 parm2 <enter>

where parm1 is the name of an existing library that you

wish to add files to.

Parm2 is the name of an existing COM program that you

have stored on disk which you want to add to the COM-Pack
library.

Both parm1 and parm2 will require the .COM extention.

COM-Pack will load the existing library and add the new
 program without disturbing the previous contents.
It also adds the name of the added file to an internal
index.

Parm1 is the name that will be used as the filename of

the library, just as parm2 will be the name that is
stored in the library index. If you wish to have a
program stored in the library with an alternate file
(such as a shortened one), use the DOS rename command to
change the name of the file before executing COM-Pack.

3. To run a program from the COM-Pack created library.

Library_name filename parameters <enter>

where Library_name is the DOS name of a previously

created COM-Pack library which contains the program
specified by 'filename'. The parameters are those which
would normally be used with the program specified by the
filename.

Example:

I've created a library which contains the programs,

TSRMAKER, PRNMAKER, DOCMAKER and CRT31. The name of
the library is 'AS.COM'. I want to run the program
CRT31 from the library to change border colors.

The regular CRT31.COM program would be run by

entering:
CRT31 BO 1 <enter>
which would change the border color to blue.

To run the same program to set a blue border from my

COM-Pack library, I would use:

AS CRT31 BO 1 <enter>

Notice that the .COM extention is not required for the

file that is stored in the library.

4. To see a listing of the files that are stored in a

COM-Pack library.

Library_name -H <enter>

This will display a list of the programs which are

stored in the library.

5. COM-Pack does not erase or modify the orginal program

that is being added to the library; it merely copies it
into the library file.

* Comments
I would like to hear your comments on this or any
other programs from ARMADA SOFTWARE. Suggestions of
new features, bugs that may be detected, or just
your impressions and thoughts about the program are
welcome. The author may be reached at the address
 below or via:

DELPHI at e-mail address: JAO

GEnie at e-mail address : J.ORMAN
Compuserve at user i.d. : 72261,677

* Copyright Notice

These programs and the documentation are the

copyrighted property of Jack A. Orman and are not to
be resold without express written permission. The
complete archive MAY be uploaded to a BBS or
commercial information service if all of the files
are included and are not modified in any way.

* Shareware Notice

COM-Pack.arc is from the ARMADA UTILITIES Disk #2 which

may be obtained by sending a $20.00 check or money
order to:
Jack A. Orman
ARMADA SOFTWARE
Box 858
Southaven, MS 38671

* ARMADA UTILITIES Disk #2 contains:

BOOT-C .arc BOOTREX .arc

COP .arc EKHO .arc
EOF .arc NOLF .arc
SIGNAL .arc LOCATE .arc
DISKOPT .arc PRNmaker.arc
TXTmaker.arc MAILIT .arc
COM-Pack .arc and more!

* ARMADA UTILITIES Disk #1 available for $20.00 contains:

ALTPAGE .arc AUTHOR .arc

BOOT .arc CASE .arc
CASIOID .arc CRLF .arc
CRT31 .arc CURSOR .arc
DOCMAKER.arc FRQCNV4 .arc
FXPRNT22.arc MIDIPOP .arc
PRINTIT .arc RB1000 .arc
TSRMAKER.arc README
TSRHELP .DOC