README for TransFast
====================

Welcome to  TransFast! a revolutionary product capable of effecting an immediate change in the amount of information transferred over various communications networks, and drastically influencing transfer speeds. No matter what transfer method you use -- HTTP Download, FTP, Attached file (email), or any other method -- TransFast will speed up file transfers and save you downloading time (sometimes up to 99% !!!). 


Contents
--------

 1. Introduction
 2. Basic Concepts
 3. Tips (Very important! Please pay attention!)
 4. Year 2000 Compliancy
 5. Installation
 6. Uninstalling
 7. Ordering Information 

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   ============
1. Introduction
   ============
Generally, when a file is updated, most of the original information will continue to exist in the new file. Nevertheless, when transferring files between a central site and a client, the entire newly updated file is transferred. This results in the needless transfer of huge quantities of information, and creates noticeable overloads in existing communications channels. 

The transfer of superfluous information by a large number of users needlessly overloads the network, slows down the flow of information through the network, and may occasionally cause the system to fail. Anyone downloading software from the Internet knows that it is often a lengthy process to complete the download.

In recognition of this problem, B.I.S. Advanced Software Systems Ltd. has developed TransFast, a revolutionary product capable of effecting an immediate change in the amount of information transferred over various communications networks, and drastically influencing transfer speeds.

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   ==============
2. Basic Concepts
   ============== 
<Delta Files>

The software is comprised of two components:

* Component 1:	Delta Builder (Compress) -  usually runs where the new Updated File/Folder is created.
  ------------

The Delta Builder component accepts two files as input:

· Base File  (Old version)  
· Updated File  (New Version)

These files may be of any type: 
 	+Executable object codes
 	+Data files
 	+Software source files
 	+Documents
 	+Graphic files

Upon input of these two files, TransFast computes a Delta file which reflects the difference between the Base file and the Updated file.

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Instead of transferring the entire new Updated File/Folder, only the Delta File/Folder can be transfered.
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* Component 2:	Restore (Decompress) -  usually runs on the Client side after receiving the Delta File/Folder.
  ------------

The Restore component accepts two files as input:

· Base File (Old version)
· Delta File (which has been transferred)

Upon input of these two files, TransFast computes an Updated File.

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The Delta Builder and the Restore components can work on three type of files:

· Single Files
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When building a Delta file from single Base and Updated files, TransFast computes a Delta file by comparing the Base file to the Updated file.  

· Directories (Folders)
-----------------------
When building a Delta folder (directory) from Base and Updated folders, TransFast computes a Delta folder by comparing each of the files in the Base folder tree to the same file name in the Updated folder tree respectively. The Delta folder will contain the same structure tree (with same names) as the Updated folder.
 

· Archived Directories (Folders)
--------------------------------
The Archived Directory option places the Base and Updated folders into Archive files and creates a Delta file between the two archived files. 
This is useful when there are similar sections in different files of the folders.


An example of the TransFast process:
*****************************************

*To build a Delta file from single files:
-----------------------------------------

When entering the TransFast program, click on the 'Create Delta' icon.
A dialog box will open with Single File already checked.

Click BROWSE under BASE NAME to locate oldmanual.doc under the created TransFast folder. 

Click BROWSE under UPDATED NAME to locate newmanual.doc under the created TransFast folder.

Click BROWSE under DELTANAME to specify manualdlt.dlt under the created TransFast folder.

Upon clicking APPLY, the TransFast process begins.

Upon completion, there will be a dialog box listing the date of the process, total size of the Base, Updated, and Delta files, and rate of compression accomplished by the TransFast process.

*To Restore Updated file from the Base file (Old version) and Delta file:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

When entering the TransFast program, click on the 'Restore from Delta' icon.
A dialog box will open with Single File already checked.

Click BROWSE under BASE NAME to locate oldmanual.doc under the created TransFast folder.

Click BROWSE under DELTANAME to locate manualdlt.dlt under the created TransFast folder.

Click BROWSE under UPDATED NAME to specify newmanual1.doc under the created TransFast folder.

Upon clicking APPLY, the TransFast process begins.

Upon completion, there will be a dialog box listing the date of the process, total size of the Base, Updated, and Delta files, and rate of compression accomplished by the TransFast process.

To verify if the newly created Updated file newmanual1.doc is identical to the original newmanual.doc, open DOS and perform a File Comparison (FC) between the two files.

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   ====
3. Tips 
   ====
>>>Best results (smallest Delta Files) are achieved when running the Delta Builder on non-compressed (unzipped) and unencrypted files. Two similar files may look very different if they are compressed (Zip, Arj, etc.) or encrypted.

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>>>It is recommended that you save the non-compressed (unzipped) TransFast set-up folder for future updates. Rather than downloading the complete TransFast setup folder in future versions, B.I.S. will provide a zipped set-up Delta folder, which you download and unzip. Then, you perform a TransFast restore:
***The current TransFast set-up is your base file. 
***The new unzipped delta folder provided by B.I.S. is your delta file. 
***The new directory that you want to include in it the new version of TransFast is your updated file.
 
--------------------------------------------------

>>>If the updated object is an archived folder (directory), use the Directory option to create a Delta Folder. You will receive better results (i.e., smaller Delta files) by running the Delta Builder on Base and Updated directories, rather than running it on Base and Updated archives (Zip, Arj, etc.) of these directories.

Important Note :
----------------
If you are using Installation Software (such as Install Shield) to prepare your Setup/Install file, we recommend that you use the NOCOMPRESSION option of the Install Software, to prevent it from compressing your product files. The Installation Software will create a Setup folder which contains the uncompressed files. This Setup folder will then be used as a Base Folder when you create your next version.  

You can Zip the Setup folder to compress and archive it for downloading the Base version. When you create your next version, follow the same procedure to create a new Setup Folder (uncompressed). Use the TransFast Delta Builder to create a Delta Folder between the 2 Setup Folders (versions). Then Zip the Delta Folder and let the Clients download it and unzip it on their side to have the Delta Folder. The Client will then be able to use TransFast Restore to build the new Update Setup Folder from his previous Base Setup Folder and the downloaded Delta Folder.   

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>>>Use a Long term Base File method for files which are frequently updated. Whenever you have a new updated file/folder, build a Delta File/Folder which will use the same Long term Base File/Folder, instead of building a Delta File/Folder for each two versions of the file. This will enable you to maintain just one Delta File/Folder on the Server. 

The Client (who must have a copy of the Long term Base File) will always be able to download the Delta File/Folder from the Server and use TransFast Restore to restore the most updated version, regardless of the current version.

Example: The January version of the Catalog and Price list, which is updated monthly, may be used as a long term Base File. A Delta File, based on January version, can be built every month and stored on the Server. The Client downloads the Delta File and Restores the most updated version by using the same January copy as a Base File.

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>>>The TransFast manual is available in pdf format in the Start/Programs/TransFast program. To read the manual, you must have Acrobat Reader installed on your computer.

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   ====================
4. Year 2000 Compliancy
   ====================
TransFast is fully Year 2000 compliant.

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   ==========
5. Installing
   ==========
Click TransFast.zip to extract the zipped file and then click the Setup.exe (from the extracted folder) to run the Install. Follow the directions in the setup file. 

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   ============
6. Uninstalling
   ============
You can uninstall TransFast by using the Uninstall TransFast program icon in the Start button/Programs/TransFast submenu.

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   ====================
7. Ordering Information
   ====================

TransFast Windows Application is offered free of charge from the B.I.S. website:
http://www2.bis.co.il/pages/d.html.

You are welcome to visit our website's home page: http://www.bis.co.il/

For more information on the TransFast OEM component or integrating TransFast with QDL, please contact:

sales@bis.co.il 

or

Sales Department
B.I.S. Advanced Software Systems Ltd.
Technology Park, Building 1
Manhat, Jerusalem 91487
Israel
www.bis.co.il
+972-2-679-6888
 
