VERSTAMP 1.0

As many of you know, document files from WordStar 5.0 and above have a
128-byte header at the beginning.  The fifth byte in that header 
represents the version of WordStar used to create the file.  It's 50 
hex (P) for 5.0, 55 hex (U) for 5.5, and 60 hex (`) for 6.0.
 
Well, a bunch of utilities use that byte to identify a WordStar file, 
and a lot of them don't recognize 5.5 or 6.0 files because the byte is
something other than "P".  For instance, Legacy (the Windows 
word processor) won't import a WordStar 6.0 file because it doesn't like 
the ` byte.
 
The VERSTAMP utility can "stamp" the header of a WordStar document with 
any desired version-identification byte, for use with programs that
require WordStar files to have a particular version code byte.

VERSTAMP Usage:

   Mode 1:  verstamp filename.doc
               Reports WordStar version number - 5.0 or 5.5 or 6.0
   
   Mode 2:  verstamp filename.doc 50
               Changes version number in existing file - 
               specify 50 or 55 or 60

   Mode 3:  verstamp file1.doc file2.doc 55
               Copies file1.doc to file2.doc - 
               changing to specified version code
 

VERSTAMP Notes:

VERSTAMP Mode 1, in most cases, will report if a file is NOT a 
WordStar 5.0 / 5.5 / 6.0 file.  However, if you explicitly
use Mode 2 or Mode 3 on a non-WordStar file, VERSTAMP will change the 
byte as you have instructed.  Be careful.

If the version is changed in an existing file (Mode 2), the file 
date/time stamp is also changed to the current date/time.

If the file is copied and changed (Mode 3), the new file is given the 
current date/time stamp.

In Mode 3, there is no check to see that enough disk space remains to 
copy the file.  Be sure you have enough disk space to hold the copy.


This program is free - but donations will not be refused!
Robert Onda / P.O. Box 611 / Lanham, Maryland, USA  20703-0611

This version of the VERSTAMP program was written by Robert Onda from
an idea/request by Robert J. Sawyer, sysop of the WordStar forum
on Compuserve (and noted science-fiction author).  Parts of this 
"documentation" are adapted from his original messages.
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