-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 04/26/90 ACOS QuickLoader v1.0 Written by -DC- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- For those of us who are still stuck with a //e or a //c without a large ramdrive to keep our segs on, or even a IIgs, ACOS Loader runs much too slowly. Depending on the number of segments on one's system, it could take several minutes for the loader to check all those ".s" files and determine whether they have been modified or not. Instead, we need something that will help speed up this process, or by-pass it altogether if not needed. Thus ACOS QuickLoader. It's quite simple, really. And I can't understand why Greg buddy and/or L&L didn't do it before. Probably for the same reasons that ACOS has so many minor bugs in it. But that's another story. As anyone with some ProDOS directory knowledge knows, when you update a file in a directory, it also updates when the last time that directory was modified. This can be viewed in a CATALOG command, or even... an MLI "GET_FILE_INFO" command. So why, I ask, would you want to check all those files in a subdirectory to see if they've been modified when the date of the subdirectory itself hasn't changed from the last time you looked?! No need to check all those files when you know none of them have been modified, right? This is what ACOS QuickLoader determines. The only requirement is that you have a ProDOS compatible clock. I can't see very many people running a BBS without a clock these days, so I doubt this will be much of a problem to anyone. ACOS QuickLoader will read your subdirectory's last modified date and then check it against a previously read date to see if any of those files have been touched. If not, then it runs the regular ACOS Loader without the file check routine. In other words, it runs your BBS without checking those ".s" files. This can save a LOT of time and hard disk wear. If the two dates do not match, then it will run the ACOS Loader like always, allowing it to check all the seg files as usual. To use this program, you should first copy all your seg files onto a seperate and exclusive subdirectory for seg files ONLY. Most people probably have already done this. This should be done for the sole reason that if you play with any of these files in this subdirectory (i.e. other files besides seg files), you will update the subdirectory's modification date and the ACOS QuickLoader program won't be as efficient. But if you have only seg files and compiled files in the subdirectory, the only time the modification date will be changed is if you modify one of your segment files (of course, if you delete or rename a file, you'll also update the modification date). Putting the ACOS.SYSTEM and ACOS.OBJ files on this subdirectory is fine, unless you reconfigure your system often using the CONFIG.SYS program (thus updating the date of the subdirectory by re-saving the ACOS.OBJ file). The next thing you need to do is load in ACOS QuickLoader from BASIC. If you do a "LIST 5" command, you will see three variables: A$, B$, and C$. You will need to set these variables to meet your set-up. Reference below: A$ - Set this to the prefix of where your segment files are located. (example: "/SIDER/SEGS") B$ - Set this to the prefix and filename of the normal ACOS Loader program. (example: "/SIDER/SEGS/ACOS.SYSTEM") C$ - Set this to a data prefix so that the quickloader can store a text file on the prefix to keep track of the date. (example: "/SIDER/DATA/MOD.DATE") If you were to have the above setup, you would type this at the "]" BASIC prompt: 5 A$="/SIDER/SEGS":B$="/SIDER/SEGS/ACOS.SYSTEM":C$="/SIDER/DATA/MOD.DATE" You will then need to save the program back to your drive with the new information. C$ can be set to any filename you wish. Remember that the quickloader will run the ACOS Loader in "normal" mode any time the subdirectory with the seg files is modified. So don't be too alarmed if it runs in normal mode without you having modified any of the segs. It simply means that either a seg was compiled (and saved to the subdirectory), or that you modified a file under that subdirectory, whether it be a seg file or otherwise. This program will work with both v1.2 and v2.01d5 versions of ACOS. It may also work with newer versions, depending on whether or not the locations changed in the loader's code, or the code changed itself. If you have any questions or problems with this program, I can be reached on any of the systems listed below under the name Disk Crasher. -DC- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Shooting Star BBS/PAE ProDOS - 3/12/2400 bauds - //e only..........206/838-7686 Covert Society BBS/Tac - 12/24/9600 bauds..........................206/946-6666 Saturn's Rings BBS/Tac - 12/24/9600 bauds..........................206/824-9846 "Kiss their ass and they kick yours. Kick theirs and they'll be kissin'!" -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=WTTJ=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=