| ARC is a utility for creating one compressed file out of several
files. For example, I might wish to distribute a utility along
with some documentation, an Icon, the source, and an executable.
Rather than upload three binary files and one text file, I would
do the following from the CLI:
ARC a PLINGSNART.ARC FILENAME.EXE FILENAME.TXT FILENAME.INFO FILENAME.C
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
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add ARChive name executable docs Icon source
The ARC program would have to be in my C: or root directory, and
the program would proceed to build an ARChive called PLINGSNART.ARC
in the current directory. PLINGSNART.ARC can now be uploaded and
downloaded with ease. The ARChive would also have been compressed
from 20-50% in size, saving download time and dollars.
Once another user has downloaded PLINGSNART.ARC, he would also need
the ARC program to de-ARC the ARChive. To do this, he would do...
ARC e PLINGSNART.ARC
^
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extract
It is best to de-ARC in RAM, since it goes many times faster than
on floppy.
ARC has a limit on how many characters a component filename may
have. If the files you wish to lump together have long filenames,
most people rename them as ARCFILE1 ARCFILE2 ARCFILE3 etc..
Then, one would include a small batchfile in the ARChive called
'Execute.me' , which simply renames them to their original filenames.
Now, the problem of where to get the ARC program... all the dial-in
networks have it, but it might cost a fortune from the UK. If you
have the VT100 terminal program, you can download it from a VAX
using XMODEM or KERMIT transfer protocols. If you don't have a
terminal program, you're in a Catch-22.
I've been thinking about putting together a disk for new AMiga users
containing all the needed stuff to get started, such as a few terminal
programs, ARC, and some useful CLI aids, like Conman. My experience
is that it takes weeks for interoffice stuf to make it across the
pond, so it might be easier if someone over there could help out.
If you can't get any help, let me know and I'll put together a disk.
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