ReComment - a .ZIPfile Comment Processor 4/27/90 Version 1.05 - Copyright 1990, Michael C. Loewen ----------------------------------------------------------------- ReComment is a utility which allows you process .ZIP file comments, in a manner which is particularly useful to BBS operators. I wrote this program to replace a somewhat cumbersome procedure on my BBS, involving removing/replacing .ZIP comments and timestamping, which was being performed by several different utilities. ReComment allows me to perform all these operations in 1 step, while also allowing me to log .ZIP comments to a file for later viewing. With more and more sysops adding comments to the .ZIP files on their systems, it's interesting to note from where the files uploaded to your system are coming. ReComment allows you to perform the following operations on a .ZIP file: 1. Remove a comment from a .ZIP. 2. Add a comment to a .ZIP with no existing comment. 3. Substitute a new comment for an existing comment. 4. Copy comments to a logfile, for later inspection. 5. Change the .ZIP timestamp to that of the most recent file within the .ZIP. Command Line Options ---------------------- -n do NOT remove existing comment. This option overrides -s. -o Change .ZIP file timestamp to that of the most recent file within the .ZIP -l LOGFILE Log existing comments to a text file, LOGFILE. Comments are appended to an existing file, or a new file is created if the specified file does not exist. -s COMMENTFILE Substitute (add) a comment contained in COMMENTFILE to the .ZIP. If there is no existing comment in the .ZIP, the new comment is added. If there IS an existing comment, it is replaced. COMMENTFILE may be created with any ASCII or ANSI editor. Note: if the replacement comment is the SAME as the old comment, it will not be replaced or logged. You can use wildcards on the command line for the .ZIP files. Command line options may be used in any order, with the following restrictions: 1. If -l is used, the log file name must follow it. 2. If -s is used, the comment file name must follow it. 3. The first argument which does not begin with a '-' is assumed to be a .ZIP filename, along with everything following it. Program Defaults __________________ Program operation defaults to that of a simple comment stripping utility: 1. Remove existing comment. 2. Do not log comments. 3. Maintain the .ZIP file timestamp. Environment Variable RECOM ---------------------------- If you prefer, you can specify a default set of options in an environment variable, RECOM. Set RECOM equal to the options you wish to use, exactly as you would use them on the command line, with one restriction: you may not specify .ZIP files in the RECOM variable. Note: if you elect to use the RECOM variable, and also specify the same options on the command line, the command line options will override the variable settings. Please note that ReComment does NOT process comments attached to individual files within the .ZIP: it only works with comments attached to the end of the .ZIP. Also, ReComment does not, at this time, support self-extracting .ZIP files. This will be implemented in a later version. Examples __________ ReComment allows a certain flexibility in its operation, by using the options in various combinations. Some examples are: Command Line Operation recom *.zip Removes comment, maintains .ZIP timestamp. recom -o *.zip Removes comment, sets .ZIP timestamp to most recent file in .ZIP. recom -n -o *.zip Changes .ZIP timestamp, only. recom -l logfile *.zip Remove comment, log it to logfile. recom -s cfile *.zip Replace comment. recom -l logfile -s cfile *.zip Replace comment, log old comment. recom -n -l logfile *.zip Log existing comment, do not remove. BBS Hints ----------- ReComment can be used on a BBS in several ways. On my system (PCBoard 14.2), with ProDoor 3.1, I made an entry in the PROUTEST.BAT file, to automatically process .ZIP files when they are uploaded. Such an entry might look like this: rem -- replace comments in uploads; RECOM is from RECOM105.ZIP chkpath recom %0 >>%1 recom -o -s c:\pcb\icslabel -l c:\pcb\cmntfile %2\*.zip >>%1 An alternative, and possibly more useful method, would be to make an entry in your EVENT.SYS file, to process your upload directory on a daily basis. This entry might look like this: recom -o -s c:\pcb\icslabel -l c:\pcb\cmntfile c:\upload\*.zip Software Availability ----------------------- The latest version of this software is available on several systems, among them: The ICS Round Table - State College, PA (814) 231-2568 The Magnetic Bottle - State College, PA (814) 231-1345 I can be reached (Mike Loewen) on either of these systems for questions, comments, suggestions, etc.. I can also be reached through the RIME (RelayNet International Message Exchange) Shareware conference. Many thanks to Bill Mertens, sysop of the Magnetic Bottle, for testing the software and his many helpful suggestions, and to Frank Maczaczyj, sysop of the Random Access BBS (814-371-5881) for his help in testing. If you find this program to be useful, any contributions will certainly be welcome, in order to support the continued development of this, and other software. Contributions may be sent to: Michael C. Loewen RD4, 461 Plum St. Bellefonte, PA 16823 I strive to develop a quality product, and I believe that this software is fully functional as stated in the documentation. However, it is not possible to test the software in all situations, and there may be something lurking deep down which might surface unexpectedly. Should you discover a defect in the program, please contact me on the ICS Round Table, so that I might correct the problem. Version History ----------------- 1.04 (03/25/90) - initial public release. 1.05 (04/27/90) - bug fix. Changed the manner in which comments and log files are searched for CTRL-Z characters: comments with multiple CTRL-Zs were sneaking through. Also found a logic flaw which would cause ReComment to ignore a request for timestamp change in .ZIP files with no comment attached. Now, for the legal stuff: Disclaimer: ----------------- The author makes no warranties, expressed or implied, as to the quality or performance of this program. Your use of this program constitutes your release of the author from liability or litigation for any indirect or consequential damages arising from the use of this program or its associated files. In no event will I be liable to you for any damages, including any lost profits, lost savings or other incidental or consequential damages arising out of your use of inability to use the program, or for any claim by any other party. Copyright/License ------------------- This document and the program file RECOM.EXE ("the software") are copyrighted by the author. The copyright owner hereby licenses you to: 1. use the software; 2. make as many copies of the program and documentation as you wish; 3. give such copies to anyone; 4. distribute the software and documentation via electronic means. No fee may be charged for this software, beyond the cost of the media. Also, the software may NOT be distributed as part of any software package for sale, unless specific permission is first obtained in writing from the author. Your use of the program constitutes your acceptance of the terms and conditions stated above. No copy of the software may be distributed or given away without this document, and this notice must not be removed. ----------------------------------------------------------------- ReComment - a .ZIPfile Comment Processor 4/27/90 Version 1.05 - Copyright 1990, Michael C. Loewen