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From: MORRISON%ucf1vm.cc.ucf.edu@ncsuvm.ncsu.edu (Aaron)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.cbm
Subject: Re: Questions about c64 archives ?
Message-ID: <90348.104839MORRISON@ucf1vm.cc.ucf.edu>
Date: 14 Dec 90 14:48:39 GMT
References: <1990Dec13.224253.12999@cbnewsh.att.com>
Distribution: na
Organization: University of Central Florida--Computer Services
Lines: 65

In article <1990Dec13.224253.12999@cbnewsh.att.com>, nms@cbnewsh.att.com
(n.m.scribner) says:
>
>I have been trying to download some c64 utilities from
>the anonymous FTP sites, and have some simple questions
>about the use and dissection of archived programs.
>The questions pertain to  *.arc *.lnx and *.sda files.
>
>1. Do all these archive type files need to be FTP'd
>in Binary mode, or will ASCII work fine?
>

Use Binary on *all* program files, Commodore or not.

>2. Do regular, non-archived c64 programs need to be
>FTP'd in Binary mode.
>

See answer to #1

>3. What is the archive program associated with each of
>the three types?  I figured out that a program called "lynx9"
>is supposed to be used with *.lnx, but don't know about *.arc.
>I speculated that *.arc files are self-defining or self-dissolving
>in the sense that when loaded and run on a c64, they will
>expand the archive.  What's the real story?

*.lnx  Lynx files (think of "links" 'cuz that's what it does)
*.arc  Archive files - compresses the files: works much like PKARC etc
             for MS-DOS machines
*.ark  Similar to *.arc only uses a completely different program.

*.sda  Self-Dissolving Archive - file is compressed in an *.arc format and
             a small ML program is tacked on the beginning to dissolve it
             when loaded and runned.
*.sfx  SelF-eXtracting LHARC.  Variation on a theme.  compressed in the LHARC
             format, dissolved when runned.

ARC 's are created/dissolved by a program called uniquely "arc".  there are
             different versions out - the latest I've seen is 2.50, the most
             popular is 2.30.  There is also a 128 version (ARC128 v2.41) that
             is very nice.

The *.sda files are small programs (around 4 blocks) that the archive is
   added to.  Look for the SDAx.xx variety (or the like) for these files.
   These also come in multi computer varieties (seen 64, 128, Pet, and +4
   versions.

Lynx can be dissolved by Lynx ix and possibly ARKIVE (I dont remember)

The *.sfx files - I havent got a working version of this thing yet.
                    {I think I forgot to set the FTP to binart :-) }

>
>4. Are there any special instructions needed for downloading or
>loading or running the various archives and programs on the c64?
>
>Thanks for any advice.
>Neal Scribner (nms@homxb.att.com)

Not really.  Most are self explanatory.

 - Aaron :)

MO