Asc2Com (MorganSoft)

From Just Solve the File Format Problem
(Difference between revisions)
Jump to: navigation, search
(Created page with "{{FormatInfo |formattype=electronic |subcat=Executable envelopes |extensions={{ext|com}} |released=1989 }} '''Asc2Com''' is a DOS utility that converts a text document to a [[...")
 
(2 intermediate revisions by one user not shown)
Line 7: Line 7:
 
'''Asc2Com''' is a DOS utility that converts a text document to a [[DOS executable (.com)|COM]] file that, when executed, displays the text in a viewer. It was developed by MorganSoft. It supports a number of different viewing styles and options.
 
'''Asc2Com''' is a DOS utility that converts a text document to a [[DOS executable (.com)|COM]] file that, when executed, displays the text in a viewer. It was developed by MorganSoft. It supports a number of different viewing styles and options.
  
 +
== Discussion ==
 
The software was originally in the form of a command-line utility named '''Asc2Com'''. Later versions include both a menu-driven utility named '''Asc2Com''', and a command-line utility named '''A2C'''.
 
The software was originally in the form of a command-line utility named '''Asc2Com'''. Later versions include both a menu-driven utility named '''Asc2Com''', and a command-line utility named '''A2C'''.
 +
 +
Depending on the version, and the options used when generating the COM file, it may have a feature (Alt-F or Alt-W) to write the text to a disk file. Run the file, and try pressing F1 for help.
 +
 +
== Format details ==
 +
Version 2.00+ has an option to compress the embedded text with [[LZW]].
  
 
== Identification ==
 
== Identification ==
More research needed. For versions that have been tested, generated files contain one of the following ASCII strings somewhere in them:
+
It appears difficult to precisely identify files made by Asc2Com.
* "{{magic|Com File  Generated by ASC2COM}}"
+
 
 +
Generated files usually contain one of the following ASCII strings somewhere in them:
 +
 
 +
* "{{magic|Com File  Generated by ASC2COM}}" (Used by older versions.)
 
* "{{magic|Com File generated by ASC2COM}}"
 
* "{{magic|Com File generated by ASC2COM}}"
 
* "{{magic|File made by ASC2COM}}"
 
* "{{magic|File made by ASC2COM}}"
 +
 +
Known exceptions:
 +
 +
* Compressed v2.01 files contain "{{magic|ASC2COM  V2.00,COMPRESS}}".
 +
* Compressed v2.05 files contain "{{magic|ASC2COM  V2.01,COMPRESS}}".
  
 
== Software ==
 
== Software ==
* Asc2Com:
+
* Asc2Com
** {{CdTextfiles|somuch/smsharew/UTIL1/ASC2COM.ZIP|v1.10}}
+
** {{CdTextfiles|somuch/smsharew/UTIL1/ASC2COM.ZIP|v1.10b}}
** {{CdTextfiles|rbbsv3n1/atnu/asc2com.zip|v1.25}}
+
** v1.25 and v1.25b (no copy found)
 +
** {{CdTextfiles|rbbsv3n1/atnu/asc2com.zip|v1.30}}
 +
** v1.50 (no copy found)
 +
** v1.65 (no copy found)
 +
** v1.66: {{CdTextfiles|pcsig12/WOR/DISK1948.ZIP|DISK1948.ZIP}} → ASC2C166.LZH
 +
** v1.75: [https://archive.org/details/frostbyte_1980s_DOS_collection Frostbyte's 1980s DOS Shareware Collection] → floppyshareware.zip → LUNACY/ASC2C175.ZIP
 +
** {{CdTextfiles|pier01/007a/asc2c176.exe|v1.76}}
 +
** {{CdTextfiles|bbox4/fileutil/a2c200.arj|v2.00}}
 +
** v2.00f: {{CdTextfiles|pier01/035a/a2c20f.exe|a2c20f.exe}} - Patch to upgrade v2.00 to v2.00f
 +
** {{CdTextfiles|pier01/035a/a2c201.zip|v2.01}}
 
** {{CdTextfiles|psl/pslv2nv10/UTILS/DOS/FILEVIEW/ASC2COM.ZIP|v2.05}}
 
** {{CdTextfiles|psl/pslv2nv10/UTILS/DOS/FILEVIEW/ASC2COM.ZIP|v2.05}}
 +
 +
== Sample files ==
 +
* {{CdTextfiles|psl/psl9310/DOS/PRGMMING/BTX.ZIP|BTX.ZIP}} → *.COM
 +
* {{CdTextfiles|simtel/stmsdos9709/disk1/DISC1/FINANCE/AMORT21.ZIP|AMORT21.ZIP}} → *.COM
 +
* {{CdTextfiles|simtel/stmsdos9709/disk1/DISC1/BUSINESS/TMCAP311.ZIP|TMCAP311.ZIP}} → *.COM
 +
* {{CdTextfiles|simtel/stmsdos9709/disk1/DISC1/SCREEN/FRAMEGRB.ZIP|FRAMEGRB.ZIP}} → INFO1.COM
 +
* {{CdTextfiles|cavebbsfiles/tw2002/twplanet.zip|twplanet.zip}} → README.COM
 +
* {{CdTextfiles|pier01/009a/ada301a.zip|ada301a.zip}} → README.COM (Made by v1.25?)

Revision as of 16:10, 15 July 2024

File Format
Name Asc2Com (MorganSoft)
Ontology
Extension(s) .com
Released 1989

Asc2Com is a DOS utility that converts a text document to a COM file that, when executed, displays the text in a viewer. It was developed by MorganSoft. It supports a number of different viewing styles and options.

Contents

Discussion

The software was originally in the form of a command-line utility named Asc2Com. Later versions include both a menu-driven utility named Asc2Com, and a command-line utility named A2C.

Depending on the version, and the options used when generating the COM file, it may have a feature (Alt-F or Alt-W) to write the text to a disk file. Run the file, and try pressing F1 for help.

Format details

Version 2.00+ has an option to compress the embedded text with LZW.

Identification

It appears difficult to precisely identify files made by Asc2Com.

Generated files usually contain one of the following ASCII strings somewhere in them:

  • "Com File  Generated by ASC2COM" (Used by older versions.)
  • "Com File generated by ASC2COM"
  • "File made by ASC2COM"

Known exceptions:

  • Compressed v2.01 files contain "ASC2COM  V2.00,COMPRESS".
  • Compressed v2.05 files contain "ASC2COM  V2.01,COMPRESS".

Software

Sample files

Personal tools
Namespaces

Variants
Actions
Navigation
Toolbox