CompuServe Thread

Monty, You have actually got past the hardest part of communicating online – the download. Now to actually use those programs that you have downloaded, you need to do some decompressing. All files stored here on CIS (and other BBS' for that matter) are all compressed to save on space and down/upload times. The majority of the files here in the Amiga sections are all compressed using LHA (some are LZH and others DMS – later on these). The program you need to decompress LHA files is one you have already downloaded – LHA138.RUN. This is a self-extracting file (ie it extracts itself). To decompress the file you need to: 1. Copy the LHA138.RUN file to RAM:. The easiest way is to open the drawers to where you have LHA138.RUN stored. Remember, the file will not have an icon so it will not readily show up. To have it shown you need to to set the 'Show all' feature (when you are in the drawer where LAH138.RUN is kept, hold down the right mouse button and move the pointer up to 'WINDOW'. A menu will open and down near the bottom will be a selection called 'SHOW >>'. While holding down the right mouse button (RMB) move the pointer down to it. A new menu will open with two selections in it. Select 'All files' by highlighting it and let the RMB go. All files in the drawer – whether they have an icon or not – should now be shown). To copy the LHA138.RUN file to RAM: will just require you to move the mouse pointer over the LHA138.RUN icon now shown and press and hold the left mouse button (LMB) and drag it so that the icon is over the RAM: icon on you main workbench screen and let go the LMB. LHA138.RUN is now in RAM: 2. To decompress the file open a SHELL and type RAM: at the prompt. It will change the prompt to RAM disk>. 3. Type LHA138.RUN and press return. The file will extract itself into RAM: 4. The LHA file that was extracted now needs to be in the path that your computer uses to find it's needed files. The easiest is to place it in the C: drawer (this holds your systems' commands). To do this, from the SHELL that you opened to decompress LHA138.RUN, type – 'COPY LHA C:' (without the quotes of course). LHA should now be in the C: drawer. Now all you will have to do the decompress files that have a .LHA or .LZH extension is to copy the files to RAM:, open a SHELL, change the directory to RAM: and type: LHA x anyfile.LHA note: substitute 'anyfile' for the program name that you downloaded. There are a few graphic frontends for this operation which make it a little easier. Trent 'Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori'