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Conference hydra::amiga_v1

Title:	AMIGA NOTES
Notice:	Join us in the NEW conference - HYDRA::AMIGA_V2
Moderator:	HYDRA::MOORE

Created:	Sat Apr 26 1986
Last Modified:	Wed Feb 05 1992
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	5378
Total number of notes:	38326

2966.0. "PowerPacker V2.3a Don't Leave Home Without It!" by DICKNS::MACDONALD (WA1OMM 7.093/145.05/223.58 AX.25) Fri Sep 29 1989 09:59

PowerPacker V2.3a

This may be the most useful utility available for the Amiga. It is
completely menu driven and has a built-in (moronically simple to use)
scripting routine for doing batch jobs. What does PowerPacker do? Well,
it takes any Amiga executable and crunches it to about 50% of its
original size. You typically use it for files larger than say 1800
bytes. Despite the crunched size, the file still remains executable!
For example, I crunched SEDT down to about half its size. Platinum
Works! is now 400K rather than 800K!! The savings is dramatic. It is now
possible to add VLT and SEDT along with QMouse to an ARP Workbench
V1.3.2 disk that has had the executables crunched.

I have feed up huge chunks of space on my hard disk by crunching
everything in site. For you floppy-based users, GET IT! It's free!

BTW, PowerPacker V2.3a has one of the nicest and quickest user interface
designs I've seen in a long time!

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
2966.1	Look out! Behind you!	SUBURB::BOYDA		`Fri Sep 29 1989 11:18`	4
	Where do we 'floppy disk based users' obtain a copy of this most useful utility ???? Al.
2966.2		WJG::GUINEAU	Impossible Concentration	`Fri Sep 29 1989 12:15`	4
	There's a POWERPACKER22A.ZOO on WJG::AMIGA:. This looks like 2.2a whereas the base note says 2.3a... Jon
2966.3		DICKNS::MACDONALD	WA1OMM 7.093/145.05/223.58 AX.25	`Fri Sep 29 1989 12:22`	1
	2.3a is the latest.
2966.4	PowerPacker questions...	SMAUG::SPODARYK	Binary Throttle	`Fri Jan 05 1990 16:46`	10
	Where would V2.3a be located? Is this primarily useful for 'crunching' executables? Can I 'crunch' my IFF pictures, and then have PowerPacker 'expand' them automagically for viewing with something like Superview? What kind of performance hit does the 'de-crunching' phase take when you want to run an application? ~Steve
2966.5		POBOX::ANDREWS	I'm the NRA	`Fri Jan 05 1990 19:17`	11
	It can crunch executables and text files, but you have to use the 'more' program included to view those files. It won't do iff pictures, but I have seen one that does something like that. If I run across it soon, i'll upload it. It does seem make some programs load faster, but the de-crunch part sometimes offsets that speed. I have noticed that many crunched programs eat memory but does not give it back. Dunno the reason why.
2966.6		DICKNS::MACDONALD	WA1OMM 7.093/145.05/223.58 AX.25	`Mon Jan 08 1990 10:45`	26
	>> It can crunch executables and text files, but you have to use the >> 'more' program included to view those files. You need ppmore to view the "crunched" text file. Of course, you can decrunch it and use any standard text file viewer. >> It won't do iff pictures, but I have seen one that does something >> like that. If I run across it soon, i'll upload it. IFF files don't seem to compress. For some reason, they tend to expand when these compression programs are used. >> It does seem make some programs load faster, but the de-crunch part >> sometimes offsets that speed. Hmmm .. I doubt that they load faster. The file is actually decrunched into memory and then run, so naturally it takes a few moments longer. But, you'd need a pretty accurate stopwatch to notice the difference on smaller programs. >> I have noticed that many crunched programs eat memory but does not >> give it back. Dunno the reason why. I haven't noticed that. Have you tried "cleanram" or "flush" to free up memory? Have you tried running the same programmed decrunched to compare memory loss?
2966.7		SMAUG::SPODARYK	Binary Throttle	`Mon Jan 08 1990 11:41`	13
	I grabbed PowerPacker 2.3b off of one of the Fish Disks (#253, maybe) and have played with it a bit. It does seem like a real nice utility, and I have crunched some of my larger applications down to ~1/2 their original sizes. However, it doesn't seem to crunch anything compiled with Lattice C. It comes back with an 'unknown hunk' type error. I know the program will remove symbol/debug information to save space. How is the compression related to the types of hunks it finds in the executable? What compression/compaction algorithms might it use? ~Steve ( no problems with PowerPacker 2.3b and memory usage )
2966.8	Some IFF already compressed.	AYOV28::ATHOMSON	C'mon, git aff! /The Kelty Clippie	`Mon Jan 08 1990 11:42`	13
	re: -.1 �>> It won't do iff pictures, but I have seen one that does something �>> like that. If I run across it soon, i'll upload it. � �IFF files don't seem to compress. For some reason, they tend to expand �when these compression programs are used. Some IFF files are already compressed, any attempt to compress them further will only expand them (as the 2nd compressor writes it's unpacking info as a 'header' to the file). This is also why .zoo files containing lots of IFF files are so much bigger comparatively. Alan T.
2966.9	new version available	AUNTB::PRESSLEY	pin heads are people too...	`Fri Mar 09 1990 08:53`	4
	I uploaded a copy of powerpacker v2.3b. auntb::$1$dus13:[pressley.amiga.public]