ZIP.DOC ------- Instructions for ZIP.COM Fast File Transfer Utility version 2.22 (25 Apr 2006) (c)1988-2006 E. Meyer Requires: * Two PC compatible computers with DOS 3.x or above (or equivalent functionality, i.e. Windows 95/98) * Serial or Parallel PC-to-PC connection cable ================================= CONTENTS ================================== 1. INTRODUCTION: About ZIP; Copyright and Licensing 2. BASIC OPERATION A. Setting port and speed B. Transferring files C. Directory management 3. SELECTIVE TRANSFER AND BACKUP A. Selecting files manually B. Reconciling and backup C. Backing up subdirectories 4. ADDITIONAL FEATURES A. Waiting for connection B. File and directory options C. Screen output modes D. Clock synchronization 5. EXPERT USAGE A. Command-line operation B. Summary of options C. Automation (Redirection, @files, Batch files) 6. UTILITY PROGRAMS A. Duplicating ZIP (ZIPDUP) B. Changing defaults (ZIPSET) 7. TECHNICAL INFORMATION A. General B. Compatibility C. Ports and cables D. HP95/100/200LX palmtops E. Error messages ============================= 1. INTRODUCTION =============================== Anyone working with two computers probably needs to transfer files between them regularly, for backup and other purposes. Swapping removable media quickly grows tedious, since floppy disks are very slow and don't hold much, and larger removable media have never become well standardized. Keeping track of new or modified files on each computer gets to be a challenge, too. ZIP is a tiny, fast DOS utility to transfer files between two PC compatible computers over a direct cable connection (serial or parallel). ZIP works under either DOS alone or Windows 95/98, and can be especially useful for transferring files between DOS and Windows systems. It has an interactive menu mode, while individual operations can also be performed with command-line syntax that's well suited to batch file automation. ZIP transfers files between computers as easily as COPY does between disks, with options for file backup and reconciling directories. It works efficiently even on long-outdated PCs, laptops, palmtops, and other handheld devices. ZIP has a very simple set of features; but compared to other file transfer software it requires a negligible amount of disk space, you don't have to remember to load or install anything first, and it doesn't consume memory or resources when not actually in use. ZIP can transfer files considerably faster than most DOS software, especially the file upload- download protocols of telecom programs; its actual throughput typically ranges from about 10 to 20 kilobytes/sec on serial ports, or 40 to 60 k/sec on parallel ports, depending on the hardware used. Obviously a parallel connection is more efficient, but if you don't have convenient ports available, a serial cable remains an option. (Like other DOS software, ZIP can't access the newer USB interface.) ZIP's fundamental purpose remains supporting what are now called "legacy" ports and computers: it's intended for light- to moderate-duty file transfer between DOS computers, or DOS and Win9x. It's not designed to clone huge hard disks, or to handle directories with thousands of files or hundreds of subdirectories. ZIP has only limited support for Windows long names when used between two Win9x systems, and often doesn't work reliably under Windows NT/2000/XP (see COMPATIBILITY). (Note: ZIP.COM has no connection to other more recent products with sim- ilar names, including the file archive utility "PKZIP" by Phil Katz/PKWare.) REVIEWS AND RECOMMENDATIONS "lightning fast and simple to learn... simply dazzling... ZIP provides the fastest file transfer between PCs using the tiniest amount of disk space... a simple, lean, and very effective program, not to mention the fastest of all the programs we looked at for this review." -- B. Alvernaz, Quantum PC Report, June 1992 ZIP has been included on the HP Palmtop Paper's subscriber disk for Hewlett-Packard 95/100/200LX palmtop users, and on disk along with: "DOS 6.0 Power Tools" by John Goodman & John Socha (Bantam Books) "DOS Stuff Microsoft Forgot" by Tim Stanley (Que Books) "The Little Laptop Book" by Steve Cummings (Peachpit Press) ZIP has received many good reviews, including a five-star "*****" rating for many years on ZDnet from Ziff-Davis, publishers of PC Magazine. The author, Eric Meyer, has programmed in languages from APL to Z80; his other software for IBM PC compatibles includes the VDE editor/word processor and numerous smaller utilities. He firmly believes that simple, effective software should remain easily available to users of all kinds of personal computers. FILES YOU SHOULD HAVE Be sure you have all the files that should be included in this package: ZIP.DOC - This documentation file. ZIPxxx.NEW - Update notes and version history. ZIP.COM - The file transfer program. ZIPSET.COM - The default option setting utility. ZIPDUP.COM - The initial duplication utility. ZIP.ICN - An icon for the HP100/200LX Application Manager. FILE_ID.DIZ - Standardized description for online libraries. COPYRIGHT AND USAGE POLICY The ZIP programs and documentation are copyright (c)1987-2006 Eric Meyer, all rights reserved. They may be freely used and distributed, but only in complete and unmodified form. Software libraries are granted permission to charge up to US $6 for providing a copy to customers, or up to $30 if part of a CDROM collection. ZIP may not otherwise be sold for profit without written permission of the author; please write for terms. DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY: This software is provided at no charge, and you undertake to use it at your own risk. The author does not warrant its suitability for any partic- ular purpose, and assumes no liability for damages of any kind resulting from its use. The correct description of ZIP is "copyrighted freeware". "Free" means only that payment is not required for its use; this material is not to be considered in the public domain. For suggestions on where to find updates online, see the ZIPxxx.NEW file. As of December 2002, shareware support is no longer offered, and any further development will likely be limited to minor fixes. Eric Meyer 3045 4th Street Boulder, Colorado 80304 USA apteryx@compuserve.com ============================ 2. BASIC OPERATION ============================= In order to use ZIP, you must have a copy of the same version of ZIP.COM on both computers, and an appropriate data-transfer cable connected between them (see PORTS AND CABLES). There are several ways to get ZIP.COM itself onto a second computer in order to begin using it: if possible, a removable disk is the easiest. Otherwise you can use any other file-transfer software already installed, like Windows Direct Cable Connection, or the upload- download protocols of serial telecom software like ProComm or HyperTerminal (recommended settings: 19200 bps, 8 bits, No parity, 1 stop bit). As a last resort, you can use the included ZIPDUP utility (see DUPLICATING ZIP). ZIP offers a choice of two user interfaces: you can just type "ZIP" at a DOS prompt for simple menu-driven manual use; or any individual operation can be performed as a single DOS command, as described below under COMMAND-LINE OPERATION. The menu looks like this: Send Fetch Directory dElete serVer Options Receive Log Compare Time Unlink Quit : Each operation is selected by pressing the highlighted (usually first) letter. Pressing "O" gives a further options menu: Port: COM1 Bps: 115200 Create dirs: NO Exit time: --- Hidden files: NO overwrite Read/only: NO System files: NO copy Archive bit: YES Mark as archived: YES Once again, the highlighted letter selects a setting to change, and indicates the possible alternatives. ZIP also has two different basic modes of operation: client/server mode is usually most convenient, since all commands can be issued on a single keyboard (the "client") while the other ("server") responds automatically to them. Alternatively, you can use a more symmetrical approach (well suited to batch file automation), issuing complementary ZIP commands to send and receive on each computer. ----------------------- A. SETTING PORT AND SPEED --------------------------- A PC may have up to four serial or parallel ports, designated COM1 through COM4 and LPT1 through LPT4, respectively. ZIP doesn't probe your ports itself, in order not to interfere with other programs or devices that may be using them, so you must tell it which port to use on each computer. Most users connect to the same port every time, perhaps even leaving a cable in place, so this is normally something to set once and leave alone. You will see a note in the ZIP signon message giving the port (and if serial, speed) currently selected. By default ZIP is set for COM1; you can change that with ZIPSET. Otherwise, if you want to try another port temporarily, choose "O"ptions from the menu, then select a port. (On the command line, specify option /1-8.) Ports not enabled on your computer are not accepted. If in doubt as to which port designation corresponds to each connector, consult your manual or just experiment. Serial connections allow a choice of transmission speeds (baud rates), but most users should never need to adjust this. ZIP normally works at the maximum 115200 bps (bits/sec); use of slower settings is not recommended unless transfer doesn't seem to be working reliably at full speed. The same speed must be set on both ends. In menu mode, choose "O"ptions, then select a speed. (On the command line, use option /B.) The default speed can also be changed with ZIPSET. --------------------------- B. TRANSFERRING FILES --------------------------- Once you have the appropriate port selected, you can SEND a file simply by choosing "S"end from the menu and entering filename(s). You will be prompted for a destination directory (if not the receiver's default), and options (unless ZIP is set not to do so). Both may be left blank to simply send a file. (Command line: type ZIP FILENAME.) You can RECEIVE files with either "R"eceive or ser"V"er (command line /R or /V), as you prefer: Receive makes sense for one quick file transfer, while Server is useful if you have several things to do, or need other functions that actually require server mode. If you choose Receive, you will be prompted for a directory to receive files into, and then options (if any). If you use server mode you just need to terminate it when finished, either by pressing [Esc], or with "U"nlink (command line /U) from the client. You can also FETCH files from the server with "F"etch (command line /F), which works much the same way as Send, accepting filenames and options or a destination directory. You can specify file(s) to be sent or fetched with a single filename, or a filespec like "*.DOC", or a list of several filespecs separated by commas. A path is required only if the files aren't in the default directory. The filespec "*.*" may be abbreviated as "."; or, if you're using options, you can type just a slash and options, and *.* will be assumed. Files are sent to a destination directory specified by the sender, or otherwise to a default directory specified on the receiving end, or if none, to the receiver's current directory. During file transfer, ZIP shows each filename in succession, including its full source or destination directory. Files within a group are listed and processed alphabetically; the size of each is shown in kilobytes (1k = 1024 bytes), and progress is indicated by updating the amount sent until the transfer is complete. Long names (LFNs) also display, if present and supported on both ends. If necessary, ZIP can be interrupted by pressing [Esc]. Don't disturb the cable during file transfer, as a reboot may be needed to regain control. NOTES: If your cable is the wrong type or isn't connected to the ports ZIP is trying to use, the initial message "Ready" or "Waiting" remains on screen and nothing further will happen; correct the problem and try again. If ZIP halts due to an error during file transfer (or if you interrupt it yourself), you can easily continue that process where it left off. If you were using the /T option, just repeat the same command; if you weren't using /T, repeat with /N (see RECONCILING). CAUTION! Just as with the DOS COPY command, files sent with ZIP can overwrite any of the same name that exist on the other computer, without warning or confirmation. Several options described below, including /N,/T,/P, can control or prevent overwriting as desired for various purposes. Be careful not to inadvertently destroy important files, especially files like CONFIG.SYS or COMMAND.COM that may differ in the root directory of each computer's hard disk. ------------------------- C. DIRECTORY MANAGEMENT --------------------------- The menu also offers several directory management commands: Directory, Compare, dElete, and Log allow you to list or delete files and change directories without exiting ZIP.COM. These functions can also be applied to the other computer if it has ZIP running in server mode. (They are available on the command line as options /D,/C,/K,/L.) Whether or not ZIP can see Hidden or System files, and whether it can delete Read/only files, are user-configurable options. Directory The "D"irectory command gives an alphabetized file listing, including total size and free disk space. You will be prompted for a (single) filespec; if you just press [Enter], ZIP lists all files (*.*) in the default directory. Subdirectory names, if any, display with a backslash "\". The option "/A" is also allowed after the filespec, in which case only files with the Archive attribute are shown. This can serve as a preview of files that would be transferred with the /A option in effect. dElete The d"E"lete command prompts for a (single) filespec to delete; as always, a path and/or wildcards may be included. The default directory applies if none is given. CAUTION: ZIP doesn't prompt for further confirmation before deleting specified file(s); be careful, especially when using wildcards. Log You can always type the full path information for any files you want to find or transfer, but if you're going to be working with a different directory for a while, it's more convenient to change ZIP's default directory with the "L"og command. You will be prompted for the new drive and/or directory, or can just press [Enter] to check the current directory. (There is an option setting to have the directory you specify created if it doesn't already exist.) The Log command doesn't actually change the current DOS directory, just ZIP's own default. ">" for server With any of these commands, you can also type a ">" before an argument to indicate that it applies to the server computer. This can be done either alone, or following a request on the client end: Directory: \WORK\*.BAK client alone Delete: >B:\BACKUP\OLD.FIL server alone Log: \WORK>B:\BACKUP both As a convenience, since the two computers may have a similar directory structure, you can also type a quote mark (") to log the same default directory for the server. Log: >" log same dir on the server as client Log: C:\WORK>" log C:\WORK on both Log: C:\WORK>D:" log C:\WORK on client, D:\WORK on server Compare If your other computer is running ZIP in server mode, you can also compare the contents of directories, showing files that appear in one but not the other, or that exist in different versions. Common identical files are not shown. (This can serve as a preview of what files would transfer if you use the /N or /T option.) Note that only timestamps are compared, not file contents. When you select "C"ompare, you will be prompted for the files to compare. If you just press [Enter], ZIP compares all files ("*.*") in the default directory on each end. Besides a filespec, you can also use a ">" to specify a different directory on the server: Compare: >\BACKUP client *.* with server \BACKUP\*.* Compare: *.DOC client *.DOC with server *.DOC Compare: *.DOC>\BACKUP client *.DOC with server \BACKUP\*.DOC ZIP gives two listings: first files on the client that don't match up with those on the server, and then vice versa. If a file appears on both but in differing versions, it will be flagged with a "+" or "-" to indicate which appears to be the later (+) or earlier (-) version, by timestamp. (Note on long names for Windows users: short DOS names like BOARDM~1.DOC for "Board minutes 17 Apr 2002.doc" are assigned to similarly-named files depending on their order of creation in a particular directory, meaning that the same file might be referenced as BOARDM~1 on one end and BOARDM~2 on the other. If you run Compare in such a situation you may see "+/-" flags on different short names, because ZIP matches the LFNs and sees that "+BOARDM~2.DOC" is actually a revision of "-BOARDM~1.DOC".) ==================== 3. SELECTIVE TRANSFER AND BACKUP ======================= A. SELECTING FILES MANUALLY If you want to transfer only certain files from a group (*.*, *.DOC) with ZIP, you can ask to be prompted to confirm each file individually, pressing a key (Y/N) to determine whether each file is to be sent. After the file (or for receiving, directory) names, specify the option: /P = PROMPT to confirm files individually (In menu mode, if you haven't entered options with a slash "/" you may be prompted for them, and can just enter "P".) As the transfer proceeds, in addition to "Y" or "N" for each file shown, you can also reply "*" to end the prompting process and accept all remaining files, or [Esc] to abort the operation. If /P is in use on the receiving end and "N" is entered, the message "" appears on the sending end. /P can be used independently on either or both ends, but has no effect in server mode. ------------------------- B. RECONCILING AND BACKUP ------------------------- By default, ZIP simply transfers all files specified, whether or not they may overwrite any that already exist on the receiving end. When you wish to exercise control over what's sent or overwritten, after the names of files to be transferred, you can specify one (or two) of these options: /N = send only NEW files /E = send only EXISTING files /T = TIMESTAMP determines overwriting /A = send only files with ARCHIVE attribute (In menu mode, if you haven't entered options with a slash "/" you may be prompted for them, and can just enter the letters.) These options can be specified only on the client or sending end. Briefly: /N sends only files that are absent in the destination directory, never overwriting anything. /E sends only files that do already exist (in some version) there; it's normally used in combination with /A or /T, seldom alone (and obviously not with /N). /T prevents overwriting an existing file unless the version to be sent has a more recent timestamp. /A sends only files that have the DOS "archive" attribute set. The point of these options will become clearer as their typical uses are explained. Reconciling (/N,/T) When the contents of two similar directories might differ and you want to make them identical, you need to send from each only the files the other lacks. Most simply, you can do that with one transfer in each direction (send, then fetch or receive) using /N: it won't waste time sending files that are already there. However, it also won't distinguish between different versions of the same file; if that might be an issue, you can use /T instead, which will send not only files that are completely new, but also versions that are more recent than those on the receiving end. (Note: /N or /T can also be a handy way to continue a previous transfer that was interrupted for some reason, since they avoid repeating the files that were already sent.) Incremental Backup (/T,/A) If you have two computers, you don't need any special hardware to back up your work; you can just ensure that any new or modified files on one system's hard disk are backed up to a corresponding directory on the other's. It's most efficient to do this incrementally, by transferring only the new/changed files each time rather than the entire directory contents. ZIP gives you a choice of two methods: first, you can rely on the file timestamps maintained by DOS, using the /T option to send whichever files have recently been created or modified. This method is the simplest and most convenient for casual backup purposes. (Use of /T may be inadvisable if file timestamps or the system clock haven't been properly maintained, for example on older computers without battery backup for the clock.) The other alternative is /A, which relies on the Archive "attribute" maintained in each file's directory entry by DOS. Whenever a file is created or modified, this attribute is automatically set by DOS. (It can also be set or cleared manually with utilities like the DOS command ATTRIB.) This attribute is intended for use by backup software, like the XCOPY command (see its archive/mark options /A,/M) or ZIP, which can copy just files with this attribute and then clear it to indicate they have been archived. This is what /A does in ZIP (the choice as to whether the attribute is cleared on files sent is internal; see OPTIONS). Note that the file directory commands also accept the /A option, to preview which files would be archived. (/A isn't quite as easy to use as /T. You must be sure that file Archive attributes are properly set, both initially and thereafter; and use of multiple archiving schemes becomes difficult, since once the attribute is cleared, it's cleared.) NOTE: Both backup methods (/T,/A) assume that only one copy of each file has been modified since they were last identical. ZIP doesn't examine the actual contents of files, so if different changes have been made to the copies on each end, ZIP can't reconcile them; it just overwrites one of them with the other. You should avoid working on the same material on both computers in between backups, which gets very confusing anyway. Partial Backup or Transfer (/E) There may be times when you don't want to back up the entire contents of a directory, as happens with /T or /A alone: for example, you may want to back up some subgroups of files within a directory to different floppy disks; or perhaps there are certain files present that you prefer not to back up at all. You can accomplish this by combining the /E option with /T or /A: only new versions of files that already exist on the destination directory will be sent. Thus with /ET or /EA, the contents of the backup directory automatically determine which files will be backed up into it. (That's the most common use of /E. But it could also be handy combined with /P, for example in a large file transfer where there may be just a few existing files that you wouldn't want to overwrite: if you use /P alone, you could spend a lot of time going through the whole file list and pressing "Y". Instead you can use /EP to make choices only among those files that require attention, and then do a second transfer with /N to send the rest quickly.) ------------------------ C. BACKING UP SUBDIRECTORIES ----------------------- In many situations, you may want to set up or maintain a (fully or partially) matching set of subdirectories on two computers. While you could use the above methods to accomplish this one subdirectory at a time, ZIP offers an option to do it automatically. In either menu or command-line mode, after the transfer filespec, specify: /S = process all SUBDIRECTORIES (In menu mode, if you haven't entered options with a slash "/" you may be prompted for them, and can just enter "S".) This option can only be specified on the client or sending end. Like the /S option of the DOS XCOPY command, this causes the given command to be processed on files in a directory, and then also throughout all its subdirectories. The source directory is first put in correspondence with the destination directory, and thereafter ZIP will either seek or create subdirectories of the destination directory to match those of the source. Suppose the two computers have the following directories: Sender: C:\ Receiver: D:\ \WORK \BACKUP \PROG \PROG \ACCT \ACCT The command "ZIP C:\WORK\*.* /S[D:\BACKUP]" will begin by transferring files from C:\WORK to D:\BACKUP, then C:\WORK\PROG to D:\BACKUP\PROG, and so on. If any target directory (like D:\BACKUP\PROG) doesn't already exist, the Options menu choices "create dirs: Yes, Just" (or the corresponding /I,/J options), which can also be selected by default with ZIPSET, will cause it to be created; otherwise, the operation simply terminates with an error message. The /S option can be combined with any of ZIP's other file transfer options. It's most commonly used for backup purposes either together with /I or /J when you're trying to establish a corresponding directory structure in the first place, and want the required directories to be created; or after that with /T or /A, to back up files within those directories according to their timestamps. CAUTIONS: with /S, complete specification of drive and path for both source and destination directory (even if identical!) is strongly recommended to avoid any confusion or unanticipated results. (ZIP could easily create an entire new subdirectory tree where you didn't want it.) Always be careful when sending files to the root directory of a hard disk; critical DOS files such as AUTOEXEC.BAT, CONFIG.SYS, or COMMAND.COM might get overwritten. A good way to avoid this danger when backing up an entire drive is to use /P together with /S. You can control each file sent to the root directory individually, and when that's done, press "*" to continue through remaining directories without further prompting. ========================= 4. ADDITIONAL FEATURES ============================ A. WAITING FOR CONNECTION Normally, once a process is initiated ZIP will wait indefinitely for a connection with another copy of ZIP to be established; as soon as ZIP is run on the other end, the operation will proceed. However, in some circumstances this behavior may not be desirable: for example, a batch file containing ZIP commands would just stall if ZIP wasn't running on the other computer. So an option is provided to have ZIP give up and exit (returning a Connect Error, which you can test for) if a connection is not promptly established. In menu mode, select "O"ptions, then "E"xit time, and select an interval, 0-9 minutes or None. (Command line: /X0-9.) An exit time of 0 can be used once you already know ZIP is running in server mode on the other end, or to test whether it is (for example, with ZIP /DX0). Server mode also terminates automatically if no commands have been received within the specified exit time. ---------------------- B. FILE AND DIRECTORY OPTIONS ------------------------ ZIP allows you to specify how you want it to handle DOS file attributes. By default, ZIP doesn't list or transfer Hidden or System files; an error occurs if you attempt to overwrite or delete a Read/only file; all file attributes, including Archive, are copied as they were on each source file; the /A option marks source files as archived by removing that attribute; and an error occurs if a destination directory doesn't already exist. Each of these settings can be changed as you prefer. These choices may be specified independently on either end; the settings on the client or sending end govern each operation. To examine or alter them, in menu mode, choose "O"ptions. For file attributes, there are five settings: include Hidden files? overwrite Read/only files? include System files? copy Archive bit? Mark as archived? (when /A in use) Press a letter "H,S,R,A,M" to change any of these from YES to NO. For directory creation, there are three alternatives: "Y"es - whenever corresponding directory doesn't exist "J"ust if needed - only when required for an operation to succeed "N"o - don't create directories (report error if nonexistent) The "Y,J" settings both affect requests to log or send files to a directory that doesn't already exist; in addition, "Y" will create corresponding directories during a subdirectory (/S) transfer operation even when no files will be sent to them. This suits it to situations where you initially need to establish an identical directory structure. ZIPSET can be used to select the defaults of your choice for all these options. (There are also command-line options /I,/J for directory creation, but none for the file settings.) -------------------------- C. SCREEN OUTPUT MODES --------------------------- ZIP can display several colors or shades of text on computers with color or greyscale capability via the PC BIOS. However, you can also select plain DOS (monochrome) output instead if you prefer. This may be desirable on screens that are hard to read or can't display different colors or video attributes effectively; it's also necessary if you wish to redirect screen output (see AUTOMATION). Use the command-line option /M to change the output mode from its usual setting. Normally color is the default and /M selects mono, but if you like you can reverse this behavior with ZIPSET (which also chooses text colors). ------------------------- D. CLOCK SYNCHRONIZATION -------------------------- It's advisable to ensure that the system clocks on your computers agree closely with each other; if they differ significantly, the timestamps on files may not accurately indicate which computer has the later revisions. Therefore, the first time you perform an operation which involves file timestamps -- a directory Compare (/C), or a file transfer by timestamp (/T) -- ZIP compares the two system clocks. If they differ by more than a certain amount, the "clock synch tolerance", a warning is given. (This tolerance, 5 minutes by default, can be changed or disabled with ZIPSET.) If a file transfer is beginning and you think the results might be undesirable, you can abort the operation by pressing [Esc] and investigate further. To bring the two clocks into agreement, instead of having to quit ZIP and use the DOS commands TIME (and/or DATE) on each computer, you can synchronize the clocks automatically using ZIP itself. With your other computer running ZIP in server mode, just select "T"ime from the ZIP menu. The current system time (and date) will display, and you will be prompted for any correction: To synchronize, enter new time or press [Enter]: [Enter] alone uses the client's current time. You can also press [Esc] (as always) to quit. Time may be entered in either 12 or 24-hour format as desired: "1:47p(m)" is equivalent to "13:47". (On the command line use /Y, which doesn't prompt for a time, just using the current one.) NOTES: When you press [Enter] alone, the time is read once again before it's sent. The synch function also resets the date on the server to match, although the prompt doesn't accept date corrections. ============================= 5. EXPERT USAGE =============================== A. COMMAND-LINE OPERATION As mentioned above, any individual ZIP operation can be performed from the DOS command line without entering menu mode. The usual application for this is batch files (see AUTOMATION), but there are also times when manual use of command-line syntax is convenient. For example, you could do a quick little file transfer simply by typing something like: Laptop: "ZIP REPORT.DOC" Desktop: "ZIP /R" The menu commands for the following operations have already been described; here are the command-line equivalents: Send > ZIP fspec /[dir] Directory > ZIP /D[fspec] Fetch > ZIP fspec /F[dir] dElete > ZIP /K[fspec] Receive > ZIP /R[dir] Log > ZIP /L[dir] serVer > ZIP /V[dir] Compare > ZIP fspec /C[dir] Unlink > ZIP /U Time > ZIP /Y The option letters mostly agree with the menu letters, except /K (Kill) and /Y (sYnch). (Send requires no option, being the default operation.) The transfer operations also accept an optional directory name in square brackets "[dir]" to specify a destination, as does /C for a server directory to compare to. (For /V, this is a default directory.) Directory, delete and log commands take an argument in square brackets after the option letter, and they apply to the server only. (Ordinary commands like DIR, DEL, or CHDIR may be used to perform these operations in client or receiver mode.) /U can be used by itself or combined with another operation, in which case it releases the server after that operation is complete. The send/fetch filespec can be a single FILE (including path), or a GROUP specified by wildcards (eg, *.BAK), or an "@FILE" (see AUTOMATION), or a LIST of any of these delimited by commas. In such a list, each item assumes or continues the same path as the previous one, unless the new one begins with a drive or root directory. Thus the list d:\bak\list,rvws\*.txt,index,\*.doc refers to files D:\BAK\LIST, D:\BAK\RVWS\*.TXT, D:\BAK\RVWS\INDEX, D:\*.DOC. The Option menu selections for the following settings have already been described; here are the command-line equivalents: /1-8 = port (1-4=COM1-4, 5-8=LPT1-4) /Bnn = serial speed "nn" BPS (nn=115200, 57600, 38400, 19200, 9600, 4800, or 2400; may be abbreviated to as few as 2 digits) /Xn = EXIT time, "n" minutes (n=0-9) /I = create IDENTICAL directories /J = create directories JUST as needed (These configuration options can be used even when you invoke ZIP in menu mode, as an alternative to the "O"ptions command.) The file selection options /E,/N,/P,/T,/A and the subdirectory option /S are used after the filename on the command line just as they can be in menu mode. Of these, only /P may be used when receiving. For a brief help message explaining command-line syntax and options, you can type "ZIP /?". Here are some usage examples: SENDING FILES: C> zip b:myfile *.doc send files B:MYFILE, B:*.DOC C> zip *.bak /[b:\recs] send files C:*.BAK to directory B:\RECS C> zip my.* /5 /p send files C:MY.* over port LPT1, prompting to confirm each file individually C> zip *.* /n send all files that don't already exist in receiver's default directory C> zip a:*.doc /et send all files A:*.DOC of which an older version exists on the receiving end RECEIVING FILES: C> zip /r3 receive files on port COM3 C> zip /rp[\temp] receive, with default directory C:\TEMP, prompting to confirm each file individually SUBDIRECTORIES: C> zip \work\*.* /si[f:\work] duplicate the entire subdirectory tree from C:\WORK on down, to receiver's drive F: C> zip \*.* /st[d:\cbkup] back up all new or modified files on drive C: (based on "t"imestamp) to corresponding directory tree D:\CBKUP... ENTERING SERVER MODE: C> zip /v /2b38 /x3 server mode, at 38400 bps on COM2, and quit with error after 3 minutes if no connection C> zip /v[d:\temp] server mode, with default directory D:\TEMP EXCHANGING FILES WITH SERVER: C> zip b:\recs\my.* /f[\orig] fetch files MY.* from server directory B:\RECS into client directory C:\ORIG C> zip my.txt,my.bak /u send MY.TXT and MY.BAK to server's default directory, then unlink server OTHER OPERATIONS WITH SERVER: C> zip /ad[\work\*.bak] show all server files \WORK\*.BAK with the Archive attribute C> zip /k[junk] delete server file JUNK C> zip *.txt /c[\mydir] compare *.TXT with server's \MYDIR\*.TXT C> zip /lj[c:\recs] log server directory C:\RECS, creating it if it doesn't already exist -------------------------- B. SUMMARY OF OPTIONS ---------------------------- The following options may be used in either menu or command-line mode: /E,/N Existing or New files only /T more recent Timestamp only /A Archive marked files only /P Prompt to confirm each /S process Subdirectories These command-line options are replaced by menu choices in menu mode: {none} "Send" files /R "Receive" files /F "Fetch" from server /V "serVer" mode /D[fspec] "Directory" from server /L[dir] "Log" dir on server /K[fspec] "dElete" files on server (Kill) /C[dir] "Compare" with server dir /Y "Time" synchronization with server /U "Unlink" server /1-8 port COM1-COM4, LPT1-LPT4 \ /Bnn speed 2400-115200 Bps \ /Xn eXit time 0-9 min > "Options" submenu /I create Identical dirs / /J create Just when needed / These options are available only on the command line: /M Monochrome (DOS) output /? program information and brief instructions These options are available only in menu mode or via ZIPSET: "Options": include Hidden, System files overwrite Read/only files copy Archive bit, Mark as archived These settings are available only via ZIPSET: Prompt for options Beep when long transfer finished Quit upon unlink Clock synch tolerance Display colors ------------------------------ C. AUTOMATION -------------------------------- There are several ways in which complex repetitive tasks, like regularly backing up specific groups of files, can be performed more easily with ZIP, by taking advantage of its own features (indirect filename lists in "@files") or those provided by DOS (batch files, input/output redirection). Redirected Output Standard DOS command line output redirection (">") can be used with ZIP. Thus, for example, "ZIP /D[*.*]/M >ZOUTPUT" can be used to capture the output of a ZIP directory listing in a file ZOUTPUT, to be examined or processed later. (As a side effect, nothing displays on the screen; you can also use ">NUL" to simply suppress output, if desired.) Note that for output redirection to work, ZIP must be using plain DOS output, not color output; this can be selected with the /M option (as in the example just given), or set as the default with the ZIPSET utility. Redirected Input Because ZIP accepts standard DOS input redirection ("<"), you can automate a frequently performed sequence of tasks (sending groups of files to different directories, etc) by running ZIP in menu mode with redirected input, for example "ZIP