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===
alf
===

-------------------------------
create Atari 8-bit ALF archives
-------------------------------

:Manual section: 1
:Manual group: Urchlay's Atari 8-bit Tools
:Date: |date|
:Version: |version|

SYNOPSIS
========

alf [**--help**] [**-a** | **-o** ] *alf-file* *file* [*file* ...]

DESCRIPTION
===========

**alf** creates *ALF* archives.

*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. The Atari executables are **LZ.COM**
for the compressor and **DZ.COM** for the decompressor. **alf** is a
rewrite of **LZ.COM** for modern operating systems, with added features.

By default, the *alf-file* is created, and the *file*\s are compressed
and added to it. If *alf-file* already existed, it is backed up by adding
a **~** to the filename.

OPTIONS
=======

-a
  Append to *alf-file*. The files are added to the end of the archive. Be
  careful not to add a file with the same name as as existing member of
  the archive.

-o
  Overwrite *alf-file* if it exists; do not make a **~** backup.

EXIT STATUS
===========

0
  Success.

1
  Fatal error (I/O or bad command-line arguments).

NOTES
=====

This **alf** is *intended* to be 100% compatible with the original
Atari **LZ.COM** aka **ALF.COM**, with the following differences:

- There is no interactive mode. The file to create and the files to add
  must be given as command-line arguments.

- **LZ.COM** always appends to a file that already exists. This **alf**
  overwrites (making a backup) by default, and can append with the **-a**
  option.

Note that **alf** is a complete reverse-engineered rewrite in C, *not*
a port of the original 6502 code as **unalf** is. It's still being
tested, and may still contain bugs.

Performance is *horrible*, O(n^2) or worse. This shouldn't be a real
problem on modern multi-GHz CPU, especially since most Atari 8-bit
files are small (usually under 64KB). Compressing a 1.3MB text file
takes 5 seconds on the author's (rather modest) Intel i7 workstation.
A 50KB file takes 0.2 seconds, which is more typical of the files
you'd actually use this with.

COPYRIGHT
=========

The original AlfCrunch (**DZ.COM** and **LZ.COM**) for the Atari 8-bit
was released into the Public Domain. **alf** contains no code from
AlfCrunch.

**alf** is released under the WTPFL: Do WTF you want with this.

AUTHOR
======

The original AlfCrunch for the Atari 8-bit was written by Alfred, who
can be reached via the AtariAge.com forums with the username "Alfred".

This **alf** was written by B. Watson <urchlay@slackware.uk>.

SEE ALSO
========

**unalf**\(1), **alfls**\(1)

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