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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