From: ltchean@rambutan.iss.nus.sg (Lim Thye Chean)
Subject: AutoArk
Originator: ltchean@rambutan
Organization: Institute Of Systems Science, NUS
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1993 05:56:06 GMT

Subject: AutoArk 1.0.1
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
Organization: Institute Of Systems Science, NUS
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To those who like to know about AutoArk, read on...

(BTW, the name of the software is no longer AutoArc...)


I just tried AutoArk last night, oh boy, I am impressed. And I am also a
little disappointed, but that's no Econ's fault.

When AutoArk arrived, I just bought a new 120MB harddisk, replacing my
old 40MB, so it does not excite me a lot, especially after hearing bad
things about it, such as "you cannot do this... cannot do that..."

But after I used it for about an hour, I like it, and suggest everybody
in need of such utility to buy it. 

Here's why:

1. It looks really cool...

From the first moment after I run it, I like it. The interface is really
well done! The configuration dialog box is well designed, the colour
is nice, you can see that they must have put a lot of effort in the
interface design.

When you compress file, instead of using a thermometer, it uses a file
icon, fill up with blue ink. When the whole icon turns blue, compression
is done. When expand, the blue ink leaks, and the icon turn white again.
I think it looks great, especially when you are going to see this
dialog box for many times...

2. It works cool...

I didn't expect this, but this feature is there: even after you compress
the file, you can make the file appear in their usual icons. To many
users, by just looking at it, the compressed files look like the normal
one, only until you click on it, then you know. I think this is a big
plus! And you can get not only the new file size from the icon, you can
also get the original icon size, and the percentage of reduction.

It works for me fine, did not encounter any problem. All I need is to
select the application folder, and choose compress. That's it. AA will 
do the rest. 


Unfotunately, it is slow. The compression and decompression takes up a
lot of time, and I don't think this is the fault of AA. Perhaps I shall
blame my GS or my Rev. C SCSI. I have a 9 MHz Zip, compressing a near
800K sound file takes so long, I can go and take a bath.

Worse, compressing is not done only once. When you open a file, AA will
EXPAND it. Upon quitting, it will COMPRESS it again. So for my previous
example, everytime I want to load that sound file, I can take two baths.
So I suggest use AA only on those files that you will use only once in
your life time (like those PDs that you intended to keep).


Basically, AA works as advertise or better. Despite the lack of speed, it
is a very good program. Perhaps now somebody can do a review on
HardPressed?

--
    %% GS Lover Loves GS %%    Author of Super Magic 3 & Mandelbrot II GS
    %%  and Avatar too.  %%   
          Lim Thye Chean: Lim is my surname. My name is Thye Chean.
     My address: LTCHEAN@ISS.NUS.SG, or 9, College Green, Singapore 1129 
-- 
    %% GS Lover Loves GS %%    Author of Super Magic 3 & Mandelbrot II GS
    %%  and Avatar too.  %%   
          Lim Thye Chean: Lim is my surname. My name is Thye Chean.
     My address: LTCHEAN@ISS.NUS.SG, or 9, College Green, Singapore 1129 
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