AutoArk 1.1 press release
EGO Systems
Copyright (c) 1995 Apple Users' Group, Sydney
Republished from Applecations, a publication of the Apple Users' Group, Sydney, Australia.
EGO Systems is pleased (and relieved) to announce that version 1.1 of AutoArk is FINALLY shipping!
If you've forgotten what AutoArk is (and who could blame you!), AutoArk is a file compression utility that works behind the scenes to automatically compress and decompress files on your Apple IIgs. With AutoArk installed, you can compress the files that you rarely use and regain the use of much of the space on your hard drive. When you need to use a compressed file, you don't have to run a separate utility, AutoArk will automatically decompress the file for you! And, when you've finished with the file, AutoArk will automatically recompress the file for you! (AutoArk also has the ability to password protect and encrypt any of your files!)
With that refresher on AutoArk out of the way, let's look at what's new in version 1.1!
* AutoArk is now 100% compatible with System 6.0.1 and the Finder. Specifically, you can once again double-click on an AutoArk file and it will be expanded and opened like it should be. (The previous version of AutoArk would re-compress the file before it could be opened.)
* Lots of small internal bugs have been fixed. This has given AutoArk a general improvement in overall compatibility and stability. For example, one of these bugs prevented you from using the ORCA/Shell "edit" command to edit a file that had been compressed with AutoArk. This now works like it should.
* Previous versions of AutoArk only re-compressed files when you returned to the Finder. This proved to be inconvenient for users of other program launchers, like ProSel. To fix this, AutoArk v1.1 lets the user specify a "home" application. When the user returns to this home application, AutoArk will recompress any files that have been expanded.
* If you don't like the idea of AutoArk recompressing files while you are in ANY application, you can also set AutoArk v1.1 to wait until you shut down your computer before it begins to recompress its files!
* The AutoArk new desk accessories have been enhanced to allow you to compress or expand entire folders and all of their contents.
* AutoArk now has additional Inter-Process Communication facilities to allow other programs to tell AutoArk to compress or expand a file.
* AutoArk v1.1 also comes with a new Finder extension, Smart Names, that works with AutoArk v1.1 to automatically compress or expand files simply by changing their names! For example, if you have a file named "Fred" and you change its name to "Fred.ark", Smart Names will instantly tell AutoArk to compress the file! If you delete the ".ark" from the end of the filename, Smart Names will tell AutoArk to expand the file! And, if you set up a folder with a name that ends in ".ark" Smart Names will tell AutoArk to compress any files that you copy into that folder! (If you have Balloon v2.0 installed, Smart Names will work with it also! Just use ".shk" instead of ".ark" and Smart Names will tell Balloon to compress the file!)
The regular price of AutoArk v1.1 will be US$35. As with our other products, this price includes surface mail shipping to Australia. (For Air Mail delivery outside North America, add US$3, for a total of US$38.)
If you are a previous owner of AutoArk, the cost to upgrade will be US$10.
If you want to purchase AutoArk v1.1 and Balloon v2.0 at the same time, we have a special deal on that too. The cost of the AutoArk & Balloon bundle is US$55. (Balloon is a new desk accessory that lets you open, create and otherwise manipulate ShrinkIt archives from INSIDE any IIGS desktop program. If you want more information on Balloon, just contact us at by one of the means shown below.)
We accept Visa and MasterCard for all phone orders. If you prefer to order by mail, send your check or money order (made payable to "EGO Systems" and in US funds only), or credit card information to:
EGO Systems
P. O. Box 15366
Chattanooga, TN 37415-0366
Internet: Diz@genie.com
423-332-2087 phone NEW NUMBER!!
423-332-2634 fax NEW NUMBER!!

THIS CONTENT COPYRIGHT © 2007, APPLE MACINTOSH USERS' GROUP, SYDNEY
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PLEASE CREDIT THE AUTHOR AND THE SOURCE: Applecations, publication of the Apple Users' Group, Sydney, Australia

THIS PAGE COPYRIGHT © 2007, ANDREW ROUGHAN