Conference 7.286::atarist

    The ARC I have uses a UNIX-style interface e.g.:-
    
    
    List the commands
    
    -h
    
    
    Verbose list archive contents to screen
    
    -vh <arc-file>
    
    
    Extract from archive
    
    -xh <arc-file> [<destn>]
    
    The h switch makes ARC pause on completion so you can read the screen
    when running from the desktop.
    
    Brian.
    

    You should copy all files to a fresh disc and then De-ARC them.
    
    If you still have a problem with the STOS ones, let me know
    and I can mail you them if all you want is the accessory disc..
    
    Chris

Hi,

	Re .1 - Chris, I don't have a command line interface available 
(apparently anyway) !  All I have managed to get running is a Dialog box 
with all the various command options drawn as buttons. - I have tried Listing 
(h) in various modes, but no matter what I choose, I always get ExitCode -66 &
no new files created on disk.

	Re .2 - this MAY be the write answer - maybe ExitCode -66 means 
something like "insufficient space available on disk"   ???

Anyway, I'll have a further play over the weekend, & if I make any progress or 
find further problems I'll post 'em here ...

Thanks for the responses 

				Steve

    Steve,
    
    Take it slowly, stay cool.
    
    re .1   I was referring to the first copy of ARC you mentioned.
    
    You don't need a CLI to use the base ARC program. The .TTP means "TOS
    Takes Parameters" i.e. a (usually) a non-GEM program which needs a
    command line. GEM *will* allow you to start up such a program from the
    Desktop.
    
    Just:- 
    
      Double-click on ARC.TTP.
    
      Type the command line into the dialogue box that is displayed.
    
      Press Return.
    
    
    Arc files are (usually) highly compressed, so you may need lots of dosk
    space to expand one. The ARC Verbose List command (see .1) should tell
    you what is in the arc file, and what it expands to.
    
    BTW: re-reading .0, it looks like you missed the '-' before the
    switches on the command. E is (usually) the same as X i.e. extract
    files.
    
    re: error -66
    
    According to my information, -66 is an error code form GEMDOS which 
    means "Bad executable format". I would guess this means that something
    is wrong with a program being loaded from disk. Not sure how you provoked
    it though.
    
    Hope this helps,
     
    Brian.

>    re: error -66
>    
>    According to my information, -66 is an error code form GEMDOS which 
>    means "Bad executable format". I would guess this means that something
>    is wrong with a program being loaded from disk. Not sure how you provoked
>    it though.
    
	Maybe the copy of ARC.TTP is bad.  How long does it take after if
	finishes loading, before it gives you that error?  Maybe you
	need a new copy of ARC.TTP.  I would reccomend that if you
	don't have a PD CLI that you use DCCOPY.  It is easy to use and will
	handle alot of the frustation for you.

							Jim Patterson

    If you need the stuff from the STOS acc disk the offer still stands...
    
    	Chris

    Chris - thanks for the offer, but I don't need to now.
    
    Everyone else - thanks for the advice.  
    
    	I've managed to get everything De-ARCing at last !   :-)
    
    I seem to have two quite different implementations of ARC.TTP
    
    	o	The one which comes with STOS Basic on the Accessories Disk
    	o	The one I was lent, which only seems to run if it's called
    		from ARCSHELL.PRG. This copy also relies on a data file
    		called ARCSHELL.ARC.
    		This was the version with the dialogue box, which only ever
    		seems to result in "ExitCode -66" (This MAY mean
    		"Insufficient free space" - I may investigate this later.
    
    Thanks to the replies given here I've got the STOS release of ARC.TTP
    running as described in the READ.ME file. It must be stripped down a
    bit, as it only takes "x file.ARC *.*" as parameters - no support even
    for the "h" directive !
    
    Steve Soutar.

    Hi,
    
    I've got an interesting problem.  I grabbed cocktail.lzh from usenet. 
    When I try to de-lzh on a blank floppy I get file exists for every file
    in the archive.  But if I answer Yes de-arc it, I get all the files
    de-arced okay.  Here's the rub, when I look at the file I see a unnamed
    file which looks like desktop.inf.  BTW, I'm using lharc 0.5 B
    
    Thanks for any help
    Joe

    I just read through the last 8 replies are could not find an answer to
    my problem with arc which is basically the same as .0
    I am new to the ST world, I copied down a version of ARC.TTP to my
    ST, however I don't know know to supplt it parameter becuase I 
    don't know how to get to a CLI. Do I need to get a program to do that?
    
    When I double on the ARC.TTP, I bet the license info on ARC and
    the USAGE info. I tried installing it and them clicking on the file
    I wanted to de-arc ( how lharc works) but nothing happens.
    
    How do enter the parameters.
    
    Thanks,
    
    Errol(who_is_just_about_ready_to_sell_this_machine)

>    don't know how to get to a CLI. Do I need to get a program to do that?
>    
>    When I double on the ARC.TTP, I bet the license info on ARC and
>    the USAGE info. I tried installing it and them clicking on the file
>    I wanted to de-arc ( how lharc works) but nothing happens.
>    
>    How do enter the parameters.

	You don't need a CLI, TOS can prompt you for the command line
	to pass to the program.  You tell TOS to do this by naming the
	file with a .TTP extension.

	Is the ARC program called ARC.TTP in your window?

	If is it, when you double click on the ARC.TTP, the system
	should give you a window asking for parameters before it even does
	any disk activity.

	The window you get should be called something like
	"Open Application", and it will prompt you for the parameters,
	you should type in the arc commands you want.  For example:

    Double click on ARC.TTP.
    <TOS opens window for parameters>
    Type "EH GENERIC.ARC *.*"
    <TOS loads and runs ARC.TTP from disk>
    <ARC (E)xtracts all the files from GENERIC.ARC listing them as it goes>
    <ARC (H)olds the screen asking you to hit return>
    Hit return when you are done looking at the screen
    <ARC exits>
    <TOS redisplays the desktop>

	Jim Patterson

    Thanks for the help, I guess I had a corrputed version.
    I do get the parameter box now with this file.
    
    Errol

    I am new to the ATARI world and I am having problems with ARC. I have
    an old copy of ARC.TTP and ARCSH198.PRG. I have been experimenting with
    ARC in an attempt to archive some files with no luck. I do not know the
    syntax and I am still confused having read this note.
    
    If I double click on ARCSH198.PRG, I get a wonderful formatted box with
    many smaller boxes which can be clicked on; I just can't drive it.
    
    If I double click on ARC.TTP, I get the usual parameter box; what next.
    Remember I am attempting do archive files not de-archive, that comes
    next.
    
    Help, Norman
    
    PS. I do not have any documentation on ARC.

    The easiest way *should* :-) be with ARCSHnnn. I've got a different
    version from you but...
    
    When you run it, there should be an option to tell it where your
    ARC.TTP program is (CONFIG button?). You need to set this then save the
    config data (another button?).
    
    To then use it, select the "Add to Archive" or similar option then
    click on the "ARC" button (normally hitting <Return> also does this).
    I'd expect that then you get a FileSelector into which you either
    select an existing archive (to add to it) or a new one (to create it).
    When you hit Ok on that, you should get a 2nd FileSelector, which you
    use to select the files to add. When you click OK, ArcShell will make
    up the command line and pass it to ARC.TTP to do the archive and then
    return to the FileSelector to let you add more. Click Cancel to finish
    the cycle.
    
    .12�    If I double click on ARC.TTP, I get the usual parameter box; 
      
    If you give it no params you should get some help text and I think
    that the command-line will be "a <archive-name> <file1> <file2> ..."
    but it's a lot easier to use ArcShell.

You can copy a short documentation file for ARC from -
	OLDTMR::$1$DUA8:[WALLACE.PUBLIC.ST]ARC.DOC


  Ray

    re .13, .14
    
    OK, I have got hold of a copy of "short notes document" (ARC.DOC). I
    have had success in driving ARC particurlary when using ARC.TTP, I am
    not 100% OFAY with using ARCSH198.PRG. The notes I have are OLD (like
    1987), the files I have are OLD (like 1988). Other than sending of my 5
    bucks or whatever, is there a more up-to-date copy I can get hold of.
    I have seen several references to ARC version 5.21!!!
    
    Many Thanks, Norman

ARCSHELL 2.1 (ARCSHELL.ARC) and ARC 6.02 (ARC602.ARC) are available in the
same directory as the ARC document file. I don't recall if this is the latest
version of ARCSHELL or not, but it is the latest version of ARC.

	Ray

    OK, I have managed to transport a number of ARC*.ARC files to here and
    from here onto a floppy. When I took this home I thought, how the heck
    do I dearc these. What I decided to do was use the ARC.TTP that goes
    with ARCSHELL version 1.98 (I had got this from some shareware
    company), to try and dearc the ARC602ST.ARC. Well, it seems to have
    worked (I think) although I am a little surprised that these two
    products which come from different authors seem to be compatible.
    The dearc (6.02) .DOC and .README are perfectly readable. I tried using
    the ARC.TTP (6.02) after quickly perusing the manual and found that
    unlike ARC.TTP (1.98), there is not a command qualifier to hold the
    information on the screen.
    For example (1.98)
    
    vh ARCSHELL.ARC    ! verbose listing and the info' stays on the screen
    
    Now with (6.02)
    
    arc x ARCSHELL     ! dearc ARCSHELL.ARC (info' appears on screen briefly).
    |||
    *** reading through this note I have just realised that I have given
    arc as a command (that is where the A and R are coming from. But
    reading the document suggested that this was the format of the command.
    
    The only bit I manage to pick out (at the top of the screen is something
    like "Cannot mix A and R" etc, etc. The info' fills most of the screen.
    
    Using ARC.TTP (1.98), I dearc'ed just the .DOC file from another arc
    (ARC.ARC). This document relates to ARC version 2.1B which appears to
    be a later version of 1.98 (same author(s) mentioned.
    
    In the document for ARC (6.02) it mentions ARC version 5.21.
    
    Now for the questions:-
    
    1) Is there anyting wrong with what I have done so far?
    2) How do I use ARC v6.02 to hold the info' on the screen?
    3) Is ARC 6.02 trying to tell me there is an error?
    4) I am totally confused about which ARC to use, what is up to date,
       what is compatible with what; can someone please advise.
    5) Do I need ARC v5.21?
    6) I have seen reference to LHARC, what is this?
    7) I have a copy of ARC.ZOO, what is this.
    
    Apologies for being verbose.
    
    Thanks in anticipation, Norman

    
    1) Is there anyting wrong with what I have done so far?
    
    No comment :-)
    
    2) How do I use ARC v6.02 to hold the info' on the screen?
    
    I think h is the hold-screen modifier.  
    So the command is arc xh file.arc *.*
    
    3) Is ARC 6.02 trying to tell me there is an error?
    
    Don't understand this question.
    
    4) I am totally confused about which ARC to use, what is up to date,
       what is compatible with what; can someone please advise.
    
    ARC stuff isn't too bad.  ARC602 will dearc just about every .arc file. 
    The biggest advantage it has over ARC521 is that it will dearc files
    with directory structures.
    
    ZOO seems to be the same as arc, but I don't have as much experience
    with ZOO.
    
    LHARC, ah lharc, This is the one for those .lzh files.  LHARC drives me
    crazy.  Different versions of the program decode different files.  Some
    files require old versions some require newer ones, this isn't the case
    with ARC and ZOO as far as I can tell.
    
    5) Do I need ARC v5.21?
    
    You shouldn't really.
    
    6) I have seen reference to LHARC, what is this?
    
    See 4 above.
    
    7) I have a copy of ARC.ZOO, what is this.
    
    Sounds like ARC compressed for people who have zoo but not ARC...
    
    
    Joe

    Many thanks for your reply.
    
    I have progressed somewhat. Using the ARCSHELL version 2.1B program and
    ARC602ST.TTP I can use arc from the GEM window (I have not tried all
    functions yet - will do in time). There is a facility to use an
    ALTERNATE arc, so what I did was configure the other ARC.TTP as the
    ALTERNATE. That appears to function as well when selected. I have just
    found out that this other arc is 5.21 (I have two versions of this with
    different dates).
    Also the GEM window has a box for LHZ arc which you can click on - I
    will investigate this next.
    
    Norman

>    arc x ARCSHELL     ! dearc ARCSHELL.ARC (info' appears on screen briefly).
>    |||
>    *** reading through this note I have just realised that I have given
>    arc as a command (that is where the A and R are coming from. But
>    reading the document suggested that this was the format of the command.
    
    This is the format ofthe command when you use a CLI.  If you are not
    using a CLI, but rather just double-clicking on the ARC.TTP you should
    leave the ARC off, and just use "x ARCSHELL".

    I have not used V6.02 myself, but I would be surprised if "H" (for hold)
    did not work as it used to.
    
	Jim Patterson