Page 1 PKPRESS.DOC PKPress 2.1, Copyright 1993, Maritime Computer Services First - PKPRESS.EXE must be in your path, and PKZIP and PKUNZIP ABSOLUTELY MUST BE IN YOUR PATH!!! Also, FIND.EXE, a DOS external command should be in your path (DOS). Second- I recommend that you TEST pkpress on a sample subdirectory to insure system compatibility. Warning- Make sure that you do not process any archives OF pkzip. For example if you have pkzip 1.1 zipped up for backup or for available download, change the extension from ZIP temporarily. Self-extracting files are OK (most pkzip archives are) - they will automatically recognized. Pkpress is a command line utility that will increase your drive space. It's main function is to recompress files created with PKZIP with maximal compression. After you specify which directories to process, the program will uncompress each zip file, save the comment, volume label, and path information, if appropriate. It will then recompress the files using Pkzip's maximal compression. If the file has already been compressed with maximal compression, PKPress will let you know and it will skip the file -- this saves a lot of time, and after you use it the first time, even optimizing and entire drive won't take very long! It will only do those files that have been added since! This can save MEGABYTES of hard disk space. The program displays a status screen while processing that will let you know what is going on. The program will then tell you how much disk space was saved. There is an explanation of the status screen below. Version 1.7 can still be run from a batch file, because it exits to DOS automatically upon completion. For sysops, you can put this in your nightly event to process the new uploads directory, or the whole drive. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Usage is very simple: Type PKPRESS and the drive & directories you wish to process: pkpress c: - process drive c pkpress d:\dl01 - process directory dl01 and all directories underneath it on drive d: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- This program will work equally well with PKZIP 1.1 or 2.04g. However, if you use version 2.04g, you will have the added benefit of converting any 1.1 files to 2.04, which will save even more DISK SPACE. Page 2 PKPRESS.DOC If you choose to use PKZIP 1.1, and PKPRESS comes across a 2.04g file, which 1.1 won't be able to unzip, it will give you the same message you get when 2.04 comes across a 2.04 with maximal compress - "File already has Max Comp" - and it will skip it. Status Screen Explanation: Current File : Zip File Processing Now Uncomp. Size : Size of this file, uncompressed Labels Stored : Was it zipped with -$ ? Paths Stored : Was it zipped with -rp ? Zips Uncompressed : The total amount of uncompressed space every zip file processed would take up. The rest is fairly self-explanatory. Compatibility : Pkpress will NOT work with 4DOS or DR DOS. If you use a CFG file for a registered version of PKZIP, you may want to know the command line parameters used by PKPRESS (unregistered): Pkzip : --- -+- -)- -ex -m -vt -vb (-rp -$) <-- if necessary Pkunzip : --- -+- -)- -en (-$ -d) <-- if necessary If you use a configuration that you think may affect this, please consider changing it, temporarily at least. The program will override most normal configurations, but I guess it is possible to be affected by an off-the wall one. Files that you should have: PKPRESS.EXE The program executable PKPRESS.DOC This file PKPRESS.HST Version history of PKPRESS FILE_ID.DIZ Description file ORDER.FRM Order form for registration PKZIP is (c)1993 by PKWARE, Inc. PKPRESS is (c)1993 by Maritime Computer Services This program is fully functional and not crippled in any way. I only ask that if you use it, please register it. PKpress is shareware, not freeware. Registration is ONLY $10.00 (US) - help support shareware authors! Registration will also give you extended access to our support BBS, and free upgrades of newer versions - and there will be newer versions with more functions. The Glazer's Guild BBS (803) 249-6829 Maritime Computer Services PO Box 2354 N. Myrtle Beach SC, 29598 Page 3 PKPRESS.DOC To register, please send check or money order to the above address. You will receive access to the Guild, and free updates for new versions. Please include the program name, version number, along with your pertinent information : (name, address, phone, etc.). Please use the order form, ORDER.FRM for faster processing on your registration. ** Registration will remove the pkpress "ad" appended to comments in each ** zip file and the processed zip file will have the file date of the most ** recent internal file. Unregistered versions use today's date on all ** processed files. You will also receive support via our BBS. DISCLAIMER: We ("Maritime Computer" or "Michael W. Graham") are not responsible for any damages of any kind, including profit losses and data losses, that relate directly or indirectly to these programs and files. You may distribute this program, as long as it is in unmodified form with all the files originally included. Do not "reverse engineer" or unassemble this program. This program and associated files may not be distributed for a fee without express written consent from the author. Note : We reccommend that you do NOT use PKPress on network drives - only local drives. Also, DOS 5.0 or higher is advised, but not necessary. Make sure all files necessary are in your path. If you are having problems, make sure that there is only one version of PKZIP and PKUNZIP in your path. Do a DIR PKZIP.* /S, etc.