UHARC GUI v2.0 for WinXP Readme File

UHARC GUI v2.0 for WinXP - Readme File

1. Introduction

UHARC GUI v2.0 is a GUI (Graphical User Interface) for the command-line
based UHARC 0.4 BETA High Compression Multimedia Archiver by Uwe Herklotz, and supports
some exclusive features, such as Self-Extracting archives. The required UHARC 0.4 BETA
command-line module is included.

2. Files

UHARC GUI.EXE ... The UHARC GUI 2.0 executable (by MuldeR and BRHACK)
UHARC.DLL ......... The UHARC 0.4 BETA command-line module (by Uwe Herklotz)
SFX.DLL ............. The SFX Compiler 1.0 command-line utility (by BRHACK)
SFX.ICO ............. The icon file that is used for SFX archives (Can be replaced, but both icons must be same size!)
UNINSTALL.ICO ... The icon file that is used for uninstallers (Can be replaced, but both icons must be same size!)
README.HTM ...... The Readme file you are reading at this moment
UHARC.HTM ....... The Readme file of UHARC 0.4 BETA (by Uwe Herklotz)

3. Manual

3.1 Create Archive

This will create a new UHARC 0.4 archive (.uha) and add the selected files to this
archive. Note: It's not possible to add files to an existing UHARC 0.4 archive,
because UHARC only supports solid archives.

Source Directory:
The directory from which the files are added to the archive. Note: All files within this
directory will be added to the archive. If you enable Include Subdirectories the files
within the directory's sub-directories will also be added.

Output Archive:
The UHARC archive that will be created. Note: This file should be on a drive, that has
write-access and contains enough free space (for example: Hard-Drive, not: CD-ROM)

Compression Mode:
The compression mode, which UHARC will use. You can select on of the following modes:
- ALZ:3 (the best compression, but very slow)
- ALZ:2 (good compression, UHARC's default)
- ALZ:1 (the faster of the ALZ's)
- PPM (not as good as ALZ:3, but a little faster)
- LZP (the worst compression, but also the fastest)
- Uncompressed (no compression at all, files are only stored on the archive)

Dictionary Size:
The dictionary size, which UHARC will use. A larger dictionary will result in a better
compression, but will also slow down the compression/decompression process. A smaller
dictionary will speed up the compression/decompression process, but will also result in
a worse compression.

Multimedia Compression:
If you enable the multimedia compression, UHARC will detect some types of multimedia-files
and use a special compression for them. This will result in a better compression, but will
also slow down the compression/decompression process.

Password Protect Archive:
New feature for version 2.0, protects the archive with a password.

3.2 Extract Archive

This will open an existing UHARC 0.4 archive (.uha) and extract all files from this
archive to the selected directory.

Source Archive:
The existing UHARC archive that will be opened and extracted.

Output Directory:
The directory where the files will be extracted to. Note: If the archive contains
sub-directories, they will be created automatically.

Archive is Password Protected?:
Use this option if the archive to extract is protected by a password.

3.3 Create SFX

An exclusive feature that creates an UHARC 0.4 Self-Extracting archive, which is an
win32-Portable executable (.exe-file). If a user gets such a file, he just needs to run it to
extract it's contents. UHARC is not required to extract the SFX.

Output File:
The SFX archive that will be created. Note: This file should be on a drive,
that has write-access and contains enough free space (for example: Hard-Drive)

Compression Mode, Dictionary Size & Multimedia Compression:
Please see "3.1 Create Archive"

Title:
The title of the self-extracting window.

Startup Message:
A message that is displayed before the SFX starts up. Leave this field empty
if you don't want the self-extracting to show a message.

Output Directory:
The default setting for the directory, where the SFX will extract the
files to. Note: The user can select the directory, where the files will be extracted
to himself. If you enable Extract To Temporary Folder the SFX will
extract the files to a temporary directory, run the program specified at
Program To Execute, wait for this program to exit and then remove all files
that have been extracted before. Note: Some options will be disabled if you enable
the Program To Execute option.

Program To Execute:
The full path of an executable, that will be launched by the SFX after the
extraction-process has completed. Required command-line parameters can be included.
Note: The SFX will wait for the executable to terminate.

File To Open:
The full path of a file, that will be opened by the SFX before it exits. Note:
This does not have to be an executable, it can be any kind of file.

Create Uninstaller:
An uninstaller that the SFX creates after the extraction process has completed.
The uninstaller will be created in the directory, where the files have been extracted
to and it's called UNINSTALL.EXE. This uninstaller removes the directory, where the files
have been extracted to, including all files and subdirectories! Start Menu entries and/or
Desktop icons will also be removed.

Create Desktop Icon:
A Desktop icon the SFX creates after the extraction process has completed.
Specify the name (not a file name or path) of the icon at Icon Name and the
full path of the file to which the icon should refer at Target File.

Create Start Menu Entry:
An entry within the user's start menu, which the SFX creates after the
extraction process has completed. Set the name (not the path) of the Start Menu folder in
which the shortcuts should be placed at Start Menu Folder Name. You can add as many
shortcuts as you whish. To add a shortcut, set the name (not the file name or path) of the
shortcut that should be created at Shortcut Name, set the full path of the file to
which this shortcut should refer at Target File and click Add. You can remove a
single shortcut by selecting it from the list and clicking Remove, or remove all
shortcuts by clicking Clear.

Variables:
You can use the following variables when setting a path:

<INSTDIR> ........ The directory, where the SFX extracts the files to
<EXEDIR> ......... The directory, where the SFX itself is located
<PROGRAMFILES> ... The user's Program-Files directory
<DESKTOP> ........ The user's Desktop directory
<WINDIR> ......... The user's Windows directory
<SYSDIR> ......... The user's Windows-System directory
<TEMP> ........... The user's Temporary directory (for temporary files)
<STARTMENU> ...... The user's Start menu directory
<SMPROGRAMS> ..... The user's Programs directory within the Start menu
<SMSTARTUP> ...... The user's Autostart directory within the Start menu
<QUICKLAUNCH> .... The user's Quickstart-Bar directory

The following example for Program To Execute will run NOTEPAD.EXE form the user's
Windows directory and load README.TXT from the folder where the files have been
extracted to:
<WINDIR>\NOTEPAD.EXE <OUTDIR>\README.TXT
Note: SFX archives aren't compatible with Password Protection.

4. Version History
v1.00
-The first version of this program that has been released.
-This version is for testing only.
-Some basic functions still don't work.
-Still lots of bugs that are to be removed.

v1.01
-The final version, which should work without critical problems.
-The program has been optimized.
-All basic functions are now working properly.
-Most bugs have been removed.

v1.02
-A new feature has been added: self-extracting archives.
-A completely new user-interface has been created.
-Some smaller bugs have been removed.

v2.0
-Version developed by MuldeR and BRHACK,
-GUI redesigned.
-New SFX Compiler.
-SFX GUI upgraded.
-ALZ:1 and 2 modes added.
-More dictionary options.
-Password Protection for .uha files added
-UHARC 0.4 BETA Readme file included.
-ReadMe File Updated
-Some BugFixes

5. Credits

UHARC - High Compression Multimedia Archiver 0.4 BETA
Copyright (c) 1997-2001 by Uwe Herklotz
FOR TESTING AND EVALUATION ONLY / NOT FOR COMMERCIAL USE

UHARC - Graphical User Interface v2.0
Developed by MuldeR and BRHACK
The GUI for UHARC by MuldeR is FREEWARE
Special thanks go out to Uwe Herklotz
Contact and Support: MuldeR2@gmx.de
brhack@telemovil.net
Updates: http://www.BorschdFresser.de.vu
http://www.brhack.thisbelongsto.us