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WHAT:
	CHOPPER is a tool to 'CHOP' files into smaller pieces, which can then be regrouped using the standard DOS "COPY/B" command. At this time, the "make regroup batch" option is dependant on the 'makbatch.exe', which you will find in the zip file. This option will automatically generate a batch file to combine the pieces back to the original file. i am working on merging these two programs for future versions.

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WHY:
	Because every program deserves a 'reset' 	option???

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HOW:

Installation:
	Put "CHOPPER.exe" and this text file into any folder, then run the program. (Be sure to keep MAKBATCH.EXE with CHOPPER. The two are such good friends, you know...)

Uninstallation:
	Why ?

USE:
	First, double-click the program (natch). Then select a file to chop by either typing the path of the file, or drag/drop the file, into the first text box, or use the browse button next to the text box. 
	Next, select an EXISTING output path. This can be done by either typing the path, or drag/drop the DIRECTORY into the second text box, or use the "browse" button. Please do not use a file for an output path, as this will result in an error. As an added little extra, if you double-click the second text box the path of the file in the first text box will automatically show, an will be selected (hihi...I thot that was COOL !). 
Next, you will need to select a size. Click on one of the options:

	The first option will chop into 1.30mb pieces 		(for Floppy disk).

	Second option will chop to .99mb (some web 		servers have 1mb limit). 

	Third option, the "Custom" option, allows you to 	specify your own size. If you click this option, 	the size entry box will automatically show, as 		will the "OK" button. Please enter the size in 		bytes, with no commas, then click "OK". At this 	time, the box and button will disappear, and the 	label will show the size you selected, instead 		of sayng "Custom".

	# of Pieces: This option allows you to specify 		how many pieces the file will be CHOPPED into. 		CHOPPER will guess the size (just kidding. 		CHOPPER detirmines the size approriately)


BATCH OPTIONS:
	These detirmine how the batch file will be created. A "Standard" batch is one that simply copies all the pieces together. If their are more than 10 pieces, MAKBATCH will write the batch to copy 10 pieces at a time into dummy files (if there are more than 100, the dummy files will be copied into Xtra dummy files). The standard batch option tells MAKBATCH to write a simple batch file that does not delete these dummies. The "Advanced" option produces a batch that will delete the dummies when they are no longer needed. The pieces themselves will be retained, however, in case the target file is corrupted for some reason.

RETAIN EXTENSION:
	Checking this will tell CHOPPER to retain the original exetnsion in naming the pieces. In other words, if you have a file named "test.zip", and you checked the "Retain extension" option, the pieces will be named "test.zip.001" and so on. The batch is also written for this, as I made sure to upgrade MAKBATCH first.


COMMAND LINE PARAMETERS:
CHOPPER now supports Command ine ops. In order to take advantage of this, use the following syntax in your command line:

</a filename><[/M][/f][/C-size][/P-piecenum]>[/AM,/A,/M]


</a filename> This is mandatory:

/a		This tells CHOPPER to execute in "Auto" 		mode. It is required for command 			performance.

filename	Full path of the file you want to chop. 
		This is also mandatory.


<[/M][/f][/C-size][/P-piecenum]> Choose 1 option from between the "[]":

/M		Option to chop to 1 meg pieces.

/F		Option to chop to fit Floppy disk.

/C-size		Custom size option, where "size" 			indicates the size, in bytes, you want 			the pieces to be. (only integers, with 			no commas please)

/P-piecenum	Option to specify number of pieces 			instead of size, where "piecenum" 			indicates how many pieces you want.


[/AM,/A,/M]: Completely optional, but only choose 1, if any:

/AM		For batch options, indicates you want
		an "Advanced" batch, and you want to
		retain the original extension in the
		piece names.

/A		Produces an Advanced batch, but does not
		retain the original extension in the
		piece names.

/M		Retains the original extension, and
		produces a Standard batch.

COMMAND LINE NOTES:
All parts of command must be seperated by "/", with no spaces between, except for the "/A filename". If there are any mistakes, the program will report an error, then abort the CHOP. please make sure you specify a legal filename (existing), size/piecenum (max 999 pieces, minimum 1 byte size). If you try to CHOP a 1gigabyte file into 1meg pieces, it will not work. There are more than 999 megabtes in a gigabyte, so please pay attention. Also, you cannot CHOP a 99 byte file into 100 pieces...Again I say, please pay attention to your command.
Using the command-line option, CHOPPER will create a directory named after the filename (ie filename "test.zip" directory "\testpieces"). If you use the "/M" option in the batch portion of the command, the directory name will also contain the extension. ("\test.zippieces"). This option will not be available without the command-line option. I'll fix this for next release (if I remember..hihi)


MISC NOTES: CHOPPER is limited to 999 pieces. If the size you select is too small, the "Custom" option will automatically show the minimum size the pieces can be chopped to (I think it calculates for 998 pieces). 
	CHOPPER does not check for errors until you click one of the "Size" options, so make sure you select a valid file and path before doing so. The best way to insure this is to use the browse button or drag/drop method.
	Prior to clicking the "CHOP NOW" button (which will not be available until you're ready to chop), you can make whatever changes (see below about the "RESET" button) and SAVE DATA (see below) all you want. Once you click "CHOP NOW", nothing can be done until the file is chopped. I'm working on a "Cancel CHOP" option (see FUTURE UPGRADES below). 

THE MENU:

	FILE:
		RESET:
		This is my fav button. If you CHOP a file, and want to chop another one, ya gotta click the "reset" option first. This just sets all the important variables back to nil or 0. The file and path you selected will stay the same, but you can change them to whatever, then select a size and chop another file. I suppose I could make this automatic, mebbe next release. 
Use this option any time you have selected a size, and decide you want to CHOP a different file (whether you've chopped one or not). Otherwise, CHOPPER will use the variables detirmined from the previously selected file & path.
		SAVE DATA:
		This option is for testing purposes, debugging, etc...Clicking this will prompt you with a "Save As" dialogue. Select a folder and filename, and CHOPPER will print some data to that file. Cancel the Save As, and a message box will say "Aborted save" (course, no data will be saved).
		EXIT: 
		You can exit the program 1 of 4 ways: Clicking the "Exit" button, hitting the "Escape" key, Choosing "file", then "exit" from the menu, or clicking the "Close program" (the "X" at the top/right of the program window). 

	VIEW:
		COMPACT:
		(Default) Hides the "Details" portion of the program.
		DETAILS: 
		Shows the "Details" portion. This shows various variables for debugging info. You can save this info to a file by clicking the "Save Data" button (or by selecting the "Save Data" option from the menu). For more info on the "Details" portion, see "Details.txt".

	HELP:	This text serves as the HELP, for now..
		ABOUT: 
		Standard "About" dialogue, with "System Info" button. Please select this option at least once, as it is responsible for about 15K of the programs size...Let me know if you like it or not. Enough "I like the 'About' box" emails, and I might include it in the next release. Enough "It SUCKS !" emails and I won't...


FUTURE UPGRADES:
	SPEED ! My first goal, aside from general de-bugging, is to make CHOPPER faster ! For now, we'll hafta tolerate with CHOPping a 20mb file in about 15 seconds (pentium290, 64mbPC100 RAM, IDE UDMA33). 
	I might enable batch chop operations, so that multiple files can be chopped by clicking "CHOP NOW" once. Send some "I want the batch chop ability" email if you want it or could use it. 
	"CANCEL CHOP" option is in the making. Once done, clicking this during the actual chopping process (after you click "CHOP NOW" and before the "DONE" message) will stop the CHOP process and prompt for delete pieces already made. (This is a MUST, and would be incororated into the batch chop so that you could either stop the whole batch process, or just the current one. 
	I'm considering an option which would enable you to drag one or more (if "Batch CHOP" is enabled) and drop them into the CHOPPER icon, to auto-chop according to a pre-detirmined size (default to fit floppy?). 
	I will consider any idea submitted by you, so don't be shy with the mail. scatatacs@hotmail.com


LIMITATIONS:
	At this writing, CHOPPER is limited to 999 pieces. As far as size is concerned, CHOPPER cannot chop a 1 byte file. Attempting to do so is...silly ! I've tested CHOPPER on files from 4 mb to 1 gb, successfully. 	The only other limitation CHOPPER has is due to your available disk space, so please make sure you have enough space available (free space should be >= the size of the file you want to chop, plus a little extra if the "Make batch" option is available and requested...)
	I've tested CHOPPER on a variety of filetypes, including .txt, .zip, .exe, & .jpg extensions. I cannot be certain it will work on all files, but I see no reason why it wouldn't.
	Testing has been done on files up to 1.13 gig, all successful. Results from using DOS File Compare (FC.exe) reported 0 differences, both on binary compare, as well as ASCII compare, on all sizes tested. 
	I won't pretend to be able to test all possibilities using this program, so please keep an eye out for bugs. And make sure the chop was successful before deleting the original.
	CHOPPER will NOT modify the original file (it is opened in 'read only' mode), but if you chop a file named, say, 'test.006' into 6 pieces, and the output path is the same as the file you're CHOPPing, your original file will be overwritten. I think I can fix this, but it hasn't been done yet. 
	By the way, you use this program at your own risk. I will assume no responsibility for operator headspace errors ! (or any other errors, for that matter)


ERRORS, BUGS, and other screwups:
	If you find an error, bug, or other screwup (This is my first VB program..."HELLO WORLD" don't count...so I'm sure they're there) please follow the "Save Data" instructions above, and email that file, along with a note about what happened, what buttons were pushed, etc...to scatatacs@hotmail.com. 



CREDITS:
	First, I thank the Lord for giving me the books, 	computer, the patience, and the brain-power.

	Second, I thank my wife for putting up with me 		and my pooter, and all the late nights I spent 		in the closet...

	Also, I thank my friends, for patiently 		answering all my stupid questions, for their 		support, and for just being there...
	RAMSES, in a global aspect. 
	GIMME, because that "Re-Dim" thing brought it 		all together ! MANY TIMES !
	"DAD"...Yeh, CASA, you helped too ! 
	All my friends from the "Prof's", you know who 		you are...
	Lastly, I would like to thank (in an immature 		way), my UN-friend, DUNE...you F%#KER ! 
	OOPS ! Almost forgot..Thanks to Daddy, for 		knockin Mom up...hihi..and 	
	Thanks to Mom, for not gettin an abortion ! (don 	think it ever crossed her mind !)

COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS, BITCHES, and/or $$$ should be sent to:
	scatatacs@hotmail.com

LATER ALL: S>M>SC@