8-BIT ARCX HELP FILE››     Some users seem to be having more problems than necessary with the›ARCX.COM utility in extracting files from the archived format.  This is not›because of necessarily bad files but unfamiliarity with the ARCX.  ARCX is a›relatively simple utility and I think this is where the confusion comes from.››     When you download a file be sure to give it an extender of .ARC to›indicate that it is an archived file.  ARCX can not extract files from within a›archived file if the archived file has the same extender as the file(s) inside›the archive.  An example of this is FOOTBALL.ARC inside of which is a file›named FOOTBALL.BAS.  Some have given the archived file a name of FOOTBALL.BAS›and ARCX cannot extract from this file since the true filename stored inside›the file is FOOTBALL.BAS.››     When you load ARCX make sure you do not have basic engaged.  On an 800›remove the BASIC cartridge, on XL/XE models hold down the OPTION key when you›boot up the computer to lock out BASIC.››     Now that you have your downloaded file named correctly and ARCX booted›ARCX is going to give you a short menu.  A "+" would give you a directory of›ARC'd files on the disk.  ARCX prompts you with a ">" for a filename to›extract, type it in as in the following example:››>Dn:FILENAME.ARC and hit RETURN›Destination drive #  (Type in the drive you wish the file sent to.)›Screen off for speed?  (Answer either Y or N.  Use N to watch extraction.)››     ARCX will now analyze the file and determine which ARC procedure was used›to compress the program, then begin to extract various amounts of bytes and›write them to your destination drive.  DO NOT hit the RETURN key or any other›key as all the deARC process will be done automatically by ARCX and then you›will be returned to the menu so you can extract another file or hit RETURN to›exit to DOS.››     Only one DOS seems to not be compatible with ARCX, and that is SmartDOS at›this point.  I recommend you use SpartaDOS or use Atari DOS 2.x as these seem›to be the most reliable DOS.››     I hope this short help file will solve your problems by giving you an›example of how to properly type in the filenames and extenders.  Remember to›always give your downloaded ARChived file the extender of .ARC.  If you have›done this then when you give the filename to extract ARCX will default the›extender correctly to .ARC and extract the file(s).››           Leo Newman - SysOp - HELP BBS  316-683-7514 - 300/1200 Baud›››››››››››››››››››››