From 20aba7cceecad6c8bce5dba8990ea69e49137cd8 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: "B. Watson" Date: Fri, 21 Nov 2025 03:57:48 -0500 Subject: Refer to Atari programs by original names (LZ and DZ, not ALF and UNALF). --- src/unalf.rst | 24 +++++++++++++++++------- 1 file changed, 17 insertions(+), 7 deletions(-) (limited to 'src/unalf.rst') diff --git a/src/unalf.rst b/src/unalf.rst index d766f5d..32a3982 100644 --- a/src/unalf.rst +++ b/src/unalf.rst @@ -26,11 +26,13 @@ unalf [**--help**] [**-aehtklLopqtv**] [**-d** *dir*] [**-x** *wildcard*] *alf-f DESCRIPTION =========== -**unalf** lists or extracts the contents of an *ALF* archive. +**unalf** lists, extracts, or tests the contents of an *ALF* archive. *ALF* is a compressed archive format similar to **arc**\(1), though not compatible with it. It was used on the Atari 8-bit platform -beginning in the late 1980s. +beginning in the late 1980s. The Atari executables are **LZ.COM** +for the compressor and **DZ.COM** for the decompressor. **unalf** is a +port of **DZ.COM** for modern operating systems, with added features. Extracted files are written to the current directory by default. Existing files are backed up by default (by adding a **~** @@ -231,7 +233,7 @@ Besides the standard error messages such as "no such file or directory": cause these errors. If you have an ALF file that does this, try it with the Atari - **UNALF14.COM** and see if it has the same problem. If it doesn't, + **DZ.COM** and see if it has the same problem. If it doesn't, you've found a bug in **unalf**, please send me the .alf file via email (see **AUTHOR**, below). Actually, I'd be interested to see the .alf file even if it doesn't work on the Atari either. @@ -257,7 +259,7 @@ Besides the standard error messages such as "no such file or directory": NOTES ===== -This **unalf** is 100% compatible with the original Atari **UNALF14.COM** +This **unalf** is 100% compatible with the original Atari **DZ.COM** aka **DZ.COM**, with the following differences: - There is no interactive mode. The file to extract must be given as @@ -271,15 +273,23 @@ aka **DZ.COM**, with the following differences: - Turning the screen off for speed makes no sense on modern operating systems, so there's no option for that. -Neither this **unalf** nor **UNALF14.COM** actually use the dates/times +Neither this **unalf** nor **DZ.COM** actually use the dates/times stored in the archive. Extracted files will have their timestamps set to the current date/time. +A note about the Atari filenames: **DZ.COM** is sometimes found on +old disk images as **UNALF.COM**, and **LZ.COM** is sometimes called +**ALF.COM** or **ALFER.COM**. I've used the original names partly +out of respect for the original author, and partly to avoid confusion +between my **unalf** and the Atari one. + COPYRIGHT ========= -The original AlfCrunch for the Atari 8-bit was released into the Public -Domain. Portions of the Atari AlfCrunch code are included in **unalf**. +The original AlfCrunch (**DZ.COM** and **LZ.COM**) for the Atari +8-bit was released into the Public Domain. Portions of the **DZ.COM** +code are included in **unalf**, converted from 6502 instructions to +C macros. **unalf** is released under the WTPFL: Do WTF you want with this. -- cgit v1.2.3