NuFX Messenger ============== "NuFX" is the name given to the file format used by ShrinkIt, the standard archiving utility for Apple II's. When you pack files or a disk with ShrinkIt, the archive file you create is a NuFX file. One of the features of the NuFX format is that it supports "messages" contained within the archive file. That is, by using an appropriate utility, you can embed a small piece of text within a NuFX archive before uploading it, and the person who downloads it can read your text by using a similar utility. Because this message is a part of the NuFX file, rather than a separate, compressed file within the NuFX file, it can be read without unpacking anything from the archive. GS-ShrinkIt supports messages directly; you can read or write a NuFX message by opening an archive and then clicking on the "Info" button when a file with a little document icon displayed to the right of the filename is highlighted. The current 8 bit version of ShrinkIt does not support message editing or viewing, however, and it is this "gap" that NuFX Messenger fills. NuFX Messenger allows owners of 8 bit Apples to read and write NuFX messages. All archives created with version 3.0 or later of the 8 bit ShrinkIt include a small amount of space set aside for a message. This space allows up to 200 characters of text, and the message is "attached" to the first file in the archive. When archives are created with GS-ShrinkIt, messages can be up to 1000 characters long, and GS-ShrinkIt can be set either to attach a message only to the first file in the archive, or to attach one to each of the files in the archive. Limitations =========== NuFX Messenger can only display a single message per archive -- the one attached to the first file (or "item") in the archive. As noted above, if the archive was created with GS-ShrinkIt, it is possible that all of the files in the archive will have separate messages attached to them. NuFX Messenger can only display or write messages up to 7 lines long. Each line can have up to 79 characters, so the maximum message length is about 553 characters. As was also noted above, archives created with GS-ShrinkIt can include messages up 1000 characters long. I expect that these limitations will not be too troublesome; most users of GS-ShrinkIt will only want to attach a small message to the first file of any archive they are going to be distributing. (If they attach any message at all.) In any case, I may address these limitations in a future version of NuFX Messenger. Using NuFX Messenger ==================== NuFX Messenger is a Applesoft program. It requires an enhanced //e, a //c, //c+, or IIgs. When launched, it presents a display very much like ShrinkIt's File Dialog screen. If you use the 8 bit ShrinkIt (3.0 or later), you'll find NuFX Messenger familiar. This display is used to select the archive file that you want to read the message of, or write a message to. In addition to the File Dialog options found in ShrinkIt (TAB to change drives, ESC to close, RETURN to open), there are three other "buttons" on NuFX Messenger's screen: Quit to ProDOS: OA-Q (Open Apple-Q) This is the equivalent of "Q-Quit" in ShrinkIt's main menu. It returns you to your program selector. Quit to BASIC: OA-B Ends the program with Applesoft active. Typing "BYE" will then return you to your program selector. Launch ShrinkIt: OA-L Because it's very likely that you will want to use ShrinkIt after you have used NuFX Messenger, I have included an option to launch ShrinkIt directly. To use this option, however, you will first have to do a little editing of NuFX Messenger's code. This is very easy if you have any experience with Applesoft. At the beginning of NuFX Messenger's listing is a line reading SH$ = "". Put the full pathname of your copy of ShrinkIt between the quotation marks, enter SAVE NUFX.MESSENGER, and you're done. You can use the pathname of ShrinkIt itself; you don't have to use the SHRINKIT.SYSTEM file that's usually needed when launching ShrinkIt from BASIC. Reading or Entering a Message ============================= Any archive that you select with NuFX messenger must be one that was created with ShrinkIt 3.0 or later, or GS-ShrinkIt. It can be a .SHK (straight NuFX) file or .BXY (NuFX within Binary II) file. NuFX messenger will let you know if you select a file of the wrong type. After selecting a file, you will be sent to a new display. The upper portion of this screen is entitled "Current message:" and the lower part "Enter new message:" If there is a message in the archive you selected, it will appear (slowly -- this is an Applesoft program) in the upper half. In the lower half of the screen you can enter a new message if you like. The editor for entering your message is very simple. Its only "features" are word wrapping (you don't have to press to end each line), and delete. As mentioned, ShrinkIt 3.0 archives allow messages up to 200 characters long. The editor won't let you enter a message longer than the maximum the archive permits. At the bottom of the message editor screen two options are shown: Save New Message: OA- (Open Apple-) This will write your new message to the archive, replacing the old message (if there is one). Cancel: OA-. (Open Apple-period) This will return you to the File Dialog with no changes made to the archive. Important! ========== ShrinkIT is a trademark of L&L Productions. //e, IIgs, etc. are trademarks of Apple Computer Incorporated. ShrinkIt, GS-ShrinkIT and NuFX were developed by Andy Nicholas. NuFX Messenger was developed by Karl Bunker (me). I am solely responsible for any problems you may have with NuFX Messenger. Andy Nicholas is NOT responsible for any problems with NuFX messenger. Etcetera: ========= This program is Freeware. I'd like to hear of any problems you may have with it, or comments you have about it, but I don't want any money for it. (Heck, it only took 3 days to write.) Karl Bunker GEnie: K.BUNKER CIS: 71540,1767