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 BscIt v2.0b1 - prerelease beta notes
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 1. Introduction

    BscIT allows you to decode and encode: base64, binscii, uucode.

    a) Base64 notes

       Base64 is an encoding scheme used by MIME message systems, what
       you might get if someone attached a file to your email.       

       Decode does not automatically support files that have been split
       into multiple parts. Encode does not properly set the MIME type,
       generate a complete MIME message, or split large files.

    b) Binscii notes

       Binscii is an encoding scheme used primarily by Apple II users,
       it has a slightly higher overhead but has good split file support
       as well as error detection.

    c) UUcode notes

       UUcode is an encoding scheme originating on Unix machines.

       Decode does not automatically support files that have been split
       into multiple parts. Encode does not split large files.

 2. Speed (decoding a 64k binscii file)

    BscIT uses highly optimized assembly to do it's conversions, what
    does that mean to you? Generally, a 2-3x faster translation.

    BscIT     BinSCII   GScii+    Sscii
    -----     -------   ------    -----
      18s         56s                         1.0 MHz
       8s         25s      23s      28s       2.8 MHz
       3s         10s      11s      14s       7.0 MHz

 3. How it works

    A. Decode

       This is pretty easy, select the file(s) with the browser and it will
       decode them into the chosen directory. Note that when launching icons
       from the Finder only one file can be processed at a time and the
       program will end when it is finished (unless you hold down the Cmd
       key when the program starts up). Press "D" to switch to Decode if
       you have used Encode.

    B. Encode

       Press "E" to switch to Encode. This brings up the encode options
       (see below). Press Return to accept the options or any other key
       to edit the defaults. Pressing Cmd-E will automatically jump to
       editing the options.

    C. Options

       a) Format

          Select which format to encode with: binscii, base64 or uucode.

       b) Type

          Select whether the file is formatted for Apple or Unix.

       b) Segments

          This is how many binscii segments will stored per file. The main
          benefits to storing multiple segments per file are speed and not
          gumming up your directories with lots of little files. You can
          choose from 1-9, or "?" which lets it store up to 256 segments in
          one file (4 megabytes).

       c) Size

          This is how big the binscii segment will be. The default, 16k, is
          the best; smaller sizes may allow you to better use binscii in a
          bulletin board environment. The binscii header is fairly large so
          stick with the largest size if at all possible.

4. The browser

    The browse-king mini-browser represents the state of the art in mini-
    browsers in the prodos 8 environment. Um, yeah. Anyway, functions are
    mostly patterned after the gs/os open file dialog. Here are the commands
    this time around.

    - Up and Down move up and down the list of files.

    - Left moves back one directory level.

    - Space allows you to mark multiple files.

    - Tab lets you select from a list of online volumes.

    - Cmd+Left|Right switches to the previous|next online volume with files.

    - Return and Right select a directory or file.

    - D sets Decode mode.

    - E sets Encode mode.

    - Ctrl-Z toggles between normal and showing all files.

    - Esc exits the program.

 5. Comments

    Any comments can be sent to my friend's address:

    ericlob@concentric.net