TITLE : SAP60.DOC help file FROM ; IRV HOFF DATE : 27 JULY 87 NOTE: As distributed, this program erases zero-length files not having a '-' in front of the file name. This can easily be changed with byte 0103h. WHAT IT DOES: ------------- SAP60 (Sort And Pack the disk directory) is a program developed through the years to clean up the disk directory tracks of a CP/M disk. It works equally well on tiny floppy drives or gigantic hard drives in excess of 100 Mb capacity. It will check the directory to see how many files it contains, check memory to see sufficient is available. (At 32 bytes per file name it can easily handle more than 1500 files names on a typical 50k TPA - most users have more TPA than that.) It reads the filenames into memory from the directory tracks, cleans off the entire directory track area with E5's throughout, uses the same fast sort routine in current SD (Super Directory) programs and then puts the names back on the disk in alphabetic order. HOW TO USE IT: -------------- The program automatically works on the current drive unless you specify a different one. In the following examples we assume you have renamed the program SAP.COM - it will tell you what version it is when it starts running: B>SAP - current drive B>SAP D: - with or without colon B>SAP d - upper or lower case It also has a small (but hopefully adequate) help guide available: B>SAP ? - displays a help guide ERASING ZERO-LENGTH FILES: ------------------------- It erases files with an '$$$' extent and optionally erases 'zero-length' files. That's worth some discussion. Many people use names on their user areas to identify that disk: - .123 0k (for catalog programs, etc.) -UPLOADS 0k (for RCPM disk identification, etc.) -MODEMS 0k (perhaps to name a diskette You obviously don't want "these zero-length" files erased by a disk utility program such as this. Any files with a leading '-' will be re- tained. You can optionally delete any other zero-length files or keep them: ERAZRO DB NO does not erase them ERAZRO DB YES erases any non '-' zero-length files You can change byte 0103h in a moment's time with SID or DDT to which- ever you prefer, then save 8 pages when finished. (The program is a bit under 2k object code length.) 0103h 00 keeps all zero-length files 0103h FF erases any non '-' zero-lengh files (use anything other than 00h) TIME-DATE STAMPED FILES: ------------------------ Since v50, SAP supports the Plu*Perfect (c) time and date stamping pro- gram. These routines were added by Bridger Mitchell of Plu*Perfect. At the same time he replaced the Shell-Metnzer sort that Sigi Kluger had added in v38 with one directly from the Super Directory (SD) program. It is substantially faster than that used SAP programs prior to v50. ADVANTAGES: ----------- This program reads the disk directory tracks, sorts them alphabetically and then replaces them on the disk after first erasing the entire direc- tory area with E5's. This erasure clears all previous file names that might remain after the new list is replaced. Sorting the directory in this manner offers several advantages: 1) allows 'DIR' to show an alphabetized listing 2) minimizes potential problems when using "UNERASE" pgms 3) speeds up access via 'SD' and other special programs 4) assists on working directly on the disk with 'DU', etc. 5) prevents somebody else from reading files you erased 6) option of erasing all files of zero-length (except those starting with '-' for catalog use with MAST.CAT or to name your disks, identify user areas, etc. SUMMARY: ------- This program can be used without alteration on any size floppy or hard drive. It is intended only for CP/M-80 v2.2. The only option involves zero-length files. As mentioned that option is very easy to change in a moment's time. It also supports disks using Plu*Perfect's time and date stamping program. Note: There were several conflicting versions of the SAP program including at least two v50 programs. One would not work with 8080 or 8085 processors and required the Z80MR as- sembler. That got confusing as it can only assemble .AZM programs which nearly every- one now associates with "crunched files". This version hopefully coordinates all of the more desirable features of these var- ious programs. end ------------------------------------------------------------------------