* SEMONE * (VERSION 0.6) MANUAL


(1) * SEMONE * IS A COMPRESSION UTILITY. IT CAN TREAT (COMPRESS, DECOMPRESS,
ETC.) ONLY ONE FILE AT A TIME, THAT IS REFLECTED IN THE NAME "SEM + ONE".

(2) UTILITY * SEMONE * IS FREEWARE. IT CAN NOT BE USED FOR COMMERCIAL OR
OTHER PROFITABLE PURPOSES!

(3) UTILITY * SEMONE * MAY CONTAIN ERRORS. NOTE, THAT AUTHOR WILL NOT RESPOND
FOR ANY KIND OF HARM CAUSED BY USING IT! USE IT ON YOUR OWN RISK!


SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS:

* IBM PC compatible computer (286 and above).
* MS-DOS or compatible operating system
* 465 kb of conventional memory for full functioning
  (no EMS/XMS memory is required)

FEATURES:

* uses LZ-class algorithm with special multimedia enhancement mode
* has the possibility of treating files under limited memory conditions
* uses standard CRC-32 algorithm for integrity checking
* has internal error detection mechanism
* doesn't use EMS/XMS
* doesn't support long names
* Y2K bug free


USAGE:

   SEMONE <COMMAND> [-m<METHOD>] <FILE NAME|ARCHIVE NAME>  [ARCHIVE NAME]

  In order to compress a file you should enter it's name as third parameter
if METHOD parameter is used, or as second parameter in opposite case, and
archive name as fourth (or third) parameter which is optional. If you don't
specify fourth (or third) optional parameter, archive will be named in the
following way: <FILE NAME without extension>.ONE. For example, if you wish
to compress file PICTURE.BMP that is located in the current directory you
may write one of the following:

                SEMONE a -mm PICTURE.BMP PICTURE.BAK
                SEMONE a -mm PICTURE.BMP
                SEMONE a PICTURE.BMP C:\VOVA\PICTURE.BAK

  In second case archive name is PICTURE.ONE. In third case we don't specify
compression method (default method ("b") is in use), but we specify archive
path ("C:\VOVA\"). Archive will is put into this location. Command "a" means
archive creation.

  For extraction you should specify archive name as third parameter after
command "x" (to e(x)tract):

                SEMONE x PICTURE.BAK
                SEMONE x PICTURE.BAK C:\XOCE\

  In second case we specify the location where extracted file is put.

  You can use commands "p" (pack) and "u" (unpack) instead of "a" and "x".
If you do so, source file is removed after or during processing. Removing
during processing is used only if there is not enough free disk space to
complete the processing operation. It is very useful when you are short of
disk memory, but it can result in data loss if you are too short :) Being
notified of dangerous situation in multitasking system try to free some
disk memory simultaneously from another process.

  There are several compression methods you can specify. Fast compression is
achieved by specifying "-mf", normal in speed and quality - by "-mn" and the
best in quality (but slow) - by "-mb". For true color pictures (24-bit BMP)
and 8-bit mono sounds in WAV format there is a special multimedia mode
("-mm"). It detects multimedia sequences and usually compresses them better.
Unfortunately, the detection is sometimes mistaken, so it is recommended to
use the multimedia method only when you are sure about the data you intend to
compress. If you know the kind of data very well, you may specify the exact
compression parameters: for 24-bit BMP files  - "mm3" and for 8-bit mono
WAV files - "mm1". Examples:

                SEMONE a -mm PICTURE.BMP
                SEMONE a -mm3 PICTURE.BMP
                SEMONE a -mb PICTURE.BMP
                SEMONE a -mn PICTURE.BMP

  If you wish to store the file in archive without compression use method
"s" (specify "-ms"):

                SEMONE a -ms PICTURE.BMP

  You can test archives for damages using command "t":

                SEMONE t PICTURE.ONE

  To review the archive contents use command "i" ((i)nformation):

                SEMONE i C:\VOVA\PICTURE.BAK

  Commands "r" and "c" are designed for redundancy and CRC-32 calculation of
any file (not necessarily SEMONE archives). Examples:

                SEMONE r PICTURE.BMP
                SEMONE r PICTURE.ONE
                SEMONE c PICTURE.BMP

  Specifying "h" as second and the only parameter you obtain some hot help
information (usage and etc.). Example:

                SEMONE h


GENERAL NOTES

  For full functioning (compression/decompression/services) it is required
approximately 465 Kb, but for decompression and service functions you need
only 210 Kb.

  * SEMONE * can be russianized by editing DOS environment:

                set LANGUAGE=RUSSIAN
         or
                set LANG=RUSSIAN

AUTHORS NOTES:  This program is at the first development stage. There may
be some improvements in future versions. If you have comments, questions
or proposals feel free to contact the author.


                                                      Vladimir V. Semenyuk
                                                      semenjuk@yahoo.com
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