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                                   SAPZ.COM                                   

             Size (recs) CRC   Version    Author/Latest Issue      Disk
               3k (17)   D88A  1.1        Gene Pizzetta 10/90      Z3COM12

  1- Syntax  2- Erasing Files  3- Datestamps  4- Relogging  5- Configuration  

   SAP-Z, based on SAP version 60,  is  a ZCPR3 utility that sorts and packs a
disk directory.   It reads the  disk  directory tracks,  sorts them alphabeti-
cally, erases the tracks with  E5's,  and  then  rewrites  them.   Sorting the
directory in this manner offers several advantages:  (1) it allows DIR to show
an alphabetized listing;  (2) it minimizes problems when using UNERASE; (3) it
speeds up access by directory programs;  (4) it assists on working directly on
the disk with disk utilities such as DU;  (5) it  prevents  somebody else from
reading files you erased;  and (6) it optionally erases all null (zero-length)
files, except disk labels starting with a special tag character.
:1

 Syntax   SAPZ dir:

   Either a DU or a DIR specification must be used; for safety, the default DU
is not assumed.   Only the drive is significant, but if only a user specifica-
tion is given, the default drive is selected.

   If no drive specification is given, a brief usage message is displayed.
 WHAT IT DOES 

   SAP-Z is a program developed through the  years to clean up the disk direc-
tory tracks of a  CP/M disk.   It works equally well on tiny  floppy drives or 
gigantic hard drives with a capacity in  excess of 100 megabytes.   The direc-
tory is checked to see how many files it contains and memory is checked to see
if it is  sufficient.   (At 32 bytes per filename more than 1500 filenames can 
be easily handled with a 50k TPA, and most users have more TPA than that.)

   The filenames are read into  memory from the  directory  tracks,  then  the
entire directory track area is  cleaned off  using E5h characters.   The file-
names are sorted using the same fast sort routine in current versions of Super
Directory (SD), and then  writes  them  back  to  the  directory in alphabetic
order.

   SAP-Z can do strange things if there are garbaged  entries on the directory
tracks, so it's best to use a program like CHKDIR first and make any necessary
corrections before running SAP-Z.
:2
 ERASING FILES 

   SAP-Z erases files  with  a filetype  of "$$$" and, optionally, erases null
("zero-length") files (see "Configuration", below).

   Many people use  names on their user  areas to  identify  that directory or
disk labels for cataloging with FATCAT, MCAT, or NCAT.  These are usually null
(zero-length) files:

     -UPLOADS       0k   ; for RCP/M directory identification
     #GAMES  .123   0k   ; for catalog programs

You obviously don't want these files erased by SAP-Z,  so ZCNFG can be used to
configure SAP-Z keep all null files,  erase all null files,  or erase all null
files except those beginning  with  your label tag character  (see "Configura-
tion", below).
:3
 DATE STAMPED FILES 

   SAP-Z preserves DateStamper file date stamps.  These routines were added by
Bridger Mitchell of Plu*Perfect  Systems.   After the  directory is sorted and
written back to the  directory  tracks,  the !!!TIME&.DAT  file is  sorted and
rewritten also, so all date stamps are kept in the right order.
:4
 RELOGGING 

   SAP-Z no longer requires  calling  RELOG  or  DISKRST  to reset hard disks.
Under CP/M's BDOS and under  ZRDOS,  SAP-Z  calls  function 37,  including all
drives in the vector,  followed by  a  call to  function 13.   Under ZSDOS and
ZDDOS, function 37 is bug-free,  so SAP-Z uses it to  reset only  the specific
drive it has just packed.
:5
 CONFIGURATION - 1/2 

   SAP-Z can be used without alteration on any size  floppy or hard drive.  It
is intended only for ZCPR3 and  a CP/M 2.2 compatible BIOS.   The program will
abort with a message if it run under  a vanilla CP/M system,  or if it  is run
under Z3PLUS.

   Two configuration options are  available and may be set using ZCNFG and the 
SAPZnn.CFG file.   Do not change the  name of the CFG file.   The name ensures
that ZCNFG will be  able to find the correct  configuration  file  even if the
name of SAP-Z is changed.

   The first  configuration  option  determines  whether null  files  will  be
erased.  By default null files are left alone.   A "YES" (non-zero value) here
allows them to be erased.
 CONFIGURATION - 2/2 

   The second  configuration  option  has no  effect  unless the  first option
(above) is set to "YES".  The option sets the tag character.   The tag charac-
ter is the first  character of disk  labels,  such as those used by cataloging
programs.   This character is usually "-" (2Dh), "#" (23h),  or "!" (21h).  If
this option is configured to a non-zero value, disk labels beginning with that
value will not be erased, even if Option 1 is "YES".  If you don''t want disk'
labels preserved, make this option null (00h).






