TOS4 Trap v1.0
--------------

[released April 4, 1994]

Copyright  1994 Trace Technologies

Program by Keith Gerdes


ARCHIVE CONTENTS
================

TOS4TRAP.TXT - this file
TOS4TRAP.PRG - TOS4 Trap v1.0


General info
============

  TOS4TRAP was scheduled to be part of a "Falcon-specific" utility
package I am currently working on.  Due to the present demand for
this program, I didn't think I should delay its release until the
entire package was ready.

  Look for details about the package in the near future.  Also, a
demo of one of the modules should be available at the time of release.

o What does TOS4 Trap do?

  Monitors certain GEMDOS calls to make passed parameters
"TOS4 GEMDOS compatible".

  When it runs, it checks the version of TOS and will not install
in memory if you do not have TOS 4.xx.

o Which programs are indirectly addressed by this system patch?

  Currently I am aware of:

  STalker - print block in terminal window
          - w/o TOS4TRAP, an error alert

  NeoDesk - delete folder  (NOTE: pre-NeoDesk4)
          - w/o TOS4TRAP, contents are deleted but the folder is not

  MaxiFile - delete folder
           - w/o TOS4TRAP, contents are deleted but the folder is not

  Desk Manager - file renaming
               - w/o TOS4TRAP, files are not renamed

  and others I would think.

o Shareware?

  You may evaluate this program for a 14 day trial period.  If you
find the program a useful addition to your system, you are expected
to register.
See the 'Contact Info' and 'Shareware' sections for further details.


Operation
=========

  TOS4 Trap installs a routine into the GEMDOS system vector, checking
for certain system calls matching specific input conditions.


Installation
============

  Copy TOS4TRAP.PRG to your AUTO folder.
  
  It should run early in the bootup sequence to allow monitoring of
other AUTO programs.  This does not mean first or second or any
particular location, just as long as it can do its job.


Usage
=====

  When run TOS4 Trap in the AUTO folder, it will stay resident
after execution.  You can run TOS4 Trap from the desktop, but
the ideal location is the AUTO folder with the rest of your
Terminate and Stay Resident (TSR) programs.


Configuration
=============

  None...


Errors
======

  If you do not have TOS 4.xx in your computer, TOS4 Trap will not
be installed in memory after it runs- ie. no "program info" will
be printed on screen.


Troubleshooting
===============

  You should not run into any problems with TOS4 Trap installed in
your system.  However, if you do find a conflict, try changing
the run order of your AUTO folder.

  Feel free to contact me for assistance.


Misc
====

  The above list of programs is by now means complete.  To keep it
up-to-date, please send feedback.


Technical stuff
===============

1) Wildcard characters in Fopen(), Pexec() and Frename()

  TOS4TRAP allows you to specify a wildcard (ie. ? or *) in a GEMDOS
Fopen [file open], Pexec [execute a process] or Frename [file rename]
system call.

  All TOS versions prior to TOS4 allowed wildcards to be used in a
filename passed to these calls.  This was not supposed to happen, so
TOS4 corrected the oversight- breaking some programs.

  For example, a common operation I used to perform was saving info
to a program which could be named either APP or ACC- ie.
Fopen(FILENAME.A??).  The correct method is to find a file match then
open that file- ie. Fsfirst(FILENAME.A??), Fopen(found filename).

  Another example: At the NewDesktop, try 'loading the desktop INF'
file with a filename NEWDESK.IN?.  TOS2 & 3 GEMDOS allowed this.
TOS4 won't.

2) Ddelete() with trailing backslash

  Under TOS4, you can delete a folder's contents without problem.
However, deleting the folder itself changed in TOS4.

  If a Ddelete() [delete directory] call is made with a trailing
backlash, '\', the backslash is removed from the path spec by
TOS4TRAP; enabling you to delete a folder in certain programs-
ie. NeoDesk and MaxiFile.

NOTE for 1) & 2): Changes are made by copying the path spec to local
memory, processing the path for TOS4 compatibility and then passing
this new path on to GEMDOS.

3) Fwrite (send data to printer)

TOS4 broke one type of GEMDOS printer output.

Using TOS4TRAP enables output in certain programs- ie. STalker.


Support
=======

  Great strides are taken to make sure TOS4 Trap will not cause
problems as a new addition to your system.

  If you do run into any difficulties, report them to me ASAP.

  You can reach me by phone, GEmail (includes Internet) and GEnie's
ST-RT, CAT2 TOP12.

- Keith Gerdes


       GEnie: K.GERDES
    Internet: k.gerdes@genie.geis.com
Tech support: (713)771-8332  [weekdays 1PM-5PM Central Time]


Shareware
=========

Registering is easy:

Send in the shareware fee of US$5.


What else do you get for your investment?
+ Tech support and bug fix updates!
+ Plus a special discount on a future product.


Please make payment by check (issued by a U.S. bank), U.S. funds
money order (drawn on a U.S. bank), or postal money order.
[NOTEs: GEnie gifts of time are not accepted.  And no credit card orders.]

Payable to:
 Trace Technologies or Keith Gerdes

Send to:
 Trace Technologies [TOS4TRAP]
 PO Box 711403
 Houston, TX  77271-1403


TraceTech products
==================

  TraceTech's products are compatible with all Atari ST/TT/Falcon
computers and all TOS versions.

Commercial:

* Data Diet v2  (++)

  A realtime file compression system.

  Use files the same as always, but have them occupy MUCH less disk
  space!  The programs you use don't know Data Diet is trimming away
  the fat, but you'll notice the difference right away.  Also includes
  DD Tools, DD INFo Editor and Squish v1.  A complete system for saving
  megabytes of storage space.

  Flexible user options put you in control of your data.  You can
  exclude files, folders and drives which you don't want compressed.
  You can even specify the compression type to use by several methods-
  filesize, extender, path name and program name.  And you have the
  choice of compressing your data in three modes- offline, realtime
  or program transition.

  Data Diet - simple to install, easy to use and flexible enough to
  adapt to your system needs.

  New for v2:
  Reserve memory, VROdisk, 3 more INF sections, DDINFOED, DD Tools
  operation filters, improved compression speed and percentage by
  utilizing available memory, etc.

(++) An upgrade from Data Diet v1 is available.
     Contact TraceTech.

* Data Rescue

  The complete realtime data recovery solution.

  o Realtime tracking
  ALL file and folder deletions are monitored so you can immediately
  rescue accidental deletions, or at any timespan afterwards assuming
  the associated data is still valid.

  o Efficient resident program
  The memory resident portion of Data Rescue occupies less than 10K
  of RAM.

  o Two delete tracking modes
  1) DAT tracks file AND folder deletions by using a small data file.
  2) RESCUEfolder is a trashcan system which moves files to \RESCUE
     upon deletion, with each folder intelligently maintained.

  o Intelligent maintenance
  Any time GEMDOS encounters an out of storage space error, the
  RESCUE folder is automatically purged of the oldest files and
  the aborted operation completed.  And on bootup each RESCUE
  folder is maintained by two criteria- file age and/or content
  size.

  o RESCUEfolder
  You can set any temporary paths used by programs to a RESCUE folder
  so that the temp files are automatically maintained for you.

  o Small DAT size
  The size of the DAT tracking file is constant and can be computed by
  taking the size of the drive in bytes and dividing by 512 for a hard
  disk or by 682 for a floppy disk.
  [ie. a 5Meg partition would have a 10K DATARESC.DAT file]

  o Deleted fragmented data
  Rescuing fragmented data is a breeze requiring NO user interaction!

  o Partial data recovery
  If part of a deleted file is overwritten, you can still rescue the
  available data.

  o Rescue Data
  And not to forget this user convenience- the first character in a
  name is encoded so the user does not have to remember it or even
  enter it when rescuing a file/folder.

  A specialized solution, not just another feature.

  [NOTE: Compatible with DATAlite2.]

* Squish II  (++)

  An executable file compression system.  Save storage space quick
  and easy by compressing your programs and accessories.

  Multitasking operation.
  Advanced windowed graphical user interface.
  Memory efficient design.
  Transparent, on-the-fly file uncompression in memory.

  Flexible user options.  You control the system!
  Recursive batch mode.
  Commandline support.
  Converts several "packed" formats:
   ie. PFX, Ice, Fire, BA, Pompey, Squish v1, etc.

  Faster and better compression than v1.
  Compression Factor is a user adjustment for the compression routine,
  ranging from 0 to 9.
   CF0 gives ~Squish v1.4 compression percentage, ~3x faster.
   CF3 gives ~PFX compression percentage, ~3x faster.

  Squish II includes these options:
  Turbo, Compression Factor, Set Fast bit, Clear Fast bit,
  Clear Heap, Recursion, Skip Squished, Squished Only,
  No CF Update, Keep TimeDate, Keep Backup, Specify Destination,
  Show Alerts, Excluded Filename List, Included Extender List,
  Excluded Root Folders and Exclude Filesize > xxxxK.

  Definitely NOT just another "packer"!

(++) An upgrade from Squish v1 (aka DC Squish) is available.
     Contact TraceTech.


Shareware:

* Load Aladdin

  Use ST Aladdin on your Falcon030.
  Use the extra serial ports on your MSTe or TT in ST Aladdin.
  Frees up the serial port on all Atari computers when not online.
   Enabling other programs to access the serial port when running
   ST Aladdin.
  And save connect charges with the included Idle Guard feature-
   automatically hangs up the modem after serial I/O has been
   idle X minutes.

* TOS4 Trap

  This program.


Projects in the queue: FastMenu, Missouri and the "Falcon" Utilities.


+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
This program is supplied in the belief that it operates as specified,
neither the company (Trace Technologies) nor the authors shall be liable
in any circumstance whatsoever for any direct or indirect loss or damage
to property incurred or suffered by the customer or any other person as
a result of any fault or defect in the goods or services supplied by the
company and in no circumstances shall the company be liable against
consequential damage or loss of profits -whether or not the possibility
thereof was separately advised to it or reasonably forseeable- arising
from the use or performance of such goods or services.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
This archive contains a SHAREWARE version of the program TOS4 Trap.  You
may freely distribute this archive in its _entirety_, but you cannot
charge for it or alter the programs or contents of the documentation in
any manner.  Trace Technologies retains all copyright exclusive rights
except exclusive distribution of this SHAREWARE version.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Reprint notice:

Permission to reprint this document must be obtained from TraceTech.
