🚀 go-pugleaf

prepress@nic.cerf.net (Robert Crowe) writes:

>	I know there's been a discussion going on about compression
>utilities, and I've found it very informative.  I am interested
>in purchasing one of two utilites, either AutoDoubler (AD) or More Disk
>Space (MDS), and I have some specific questions about the two.

I only have MDS so I will only respond regarding what I know about
that program... Also note that I am not at my Mac so I'm working from
memory (which is failing, failing, failing,...)

>1) Does AD or MDS change a file's type?
>	If the file's type is changed, "utilities like On Location and
>	Disinfectant can't read their contents."  This also means that
>	you can't compress things like After Dark modules and 
>	Word dictionaries (according to Pogue).
>	Also, I would want to be able to use Symantec Antivirus for Mac
>	to scan a disk with compressed applications, is this possible
>	with AD or MDS?

MDS does not change the file's type

>2) Does AD or MDS check for file integrity after compression (checksum)?
>	Pogue complained that Superdisk didn't check data integrity,
>	so this question is directed more toward MDS.

Not sure if MDS does or doesn't

>3) Does AD or MDS delete a file before saving the compressed verstion?
>	Again, directed at MDS, since Superdisk did this (bye bye file
>	if power went down before Superdisk was done).

Pretty sure that MDS does not delete original before compressed version
is saved

>4) Does AD or MDS change a file's icon after compression?
>	Purely a question of aesthetics.

No, MDS does not

>5) MDS states that it uses some type of standard compression, and
>   this means that a file can be decompressed without MDS being 
>   present.  Is this true?  If so, how "standard" is this algorithm
>   (ie are they using an algorithm Apple will support in future system
>   releases)?

MDS has an option to "make apps transportable" - basically an application
can be transferred to another machine without MDS and still remain
compressed, yet usable. You can generate SEA for documents but I'm
not sure if the "transportable apps" option (which is transparent)
works for documents.

>I am leaning toward AD, and I am very interested to see if it 
>addresses any of the issues listed above.

>--
>Mark Bubien,                     Voice:   (619) 931-2695
>Pre-Press Technologies.        Email: mark%benton@peregrine.com
>2443 Impala dr.
>Carlsbad, Ca 92008.
-- 
*                            *  Definition of a DOS Bigot:            *
*  Craig A. Heilman          *  One who has never used a Macintosh or *
*  craigh@cserver.plexus.com *  programmed a Macintosh, yet insists   *
*                            *  that DOS boxes are "better."          *