For the first time in history, Apple II files compressed using ShrinkIt can now be browsed online using the Spyglass disk browser at Mac GUI Vault. With Spyglass, Apple II disks can be examined online, the files opened and displayed as ASCII text, BASIC listing, hex, or 65C02 disassembly as appropriate. Spyglass will also convert Apple II lo-res, hi-res, and Print Shop graphics to PNG images. Spyglass gives every file a URL so anyone can link to a file within any standard disk image, and now within any ShrinkIt archive.
Spyglass, which launched in beta form in fall 2013, initially supported only disk images in DOS 3.3, ProDOS, and Apple Pascal formats. Today's update adds support for Executioner, Binary II, and BinSCII encodings in addition to NuFile (ShrinkIt support). Finally, there is preliminary support for CP/M disk images which will be improved shortly.
The following link points to an assembly language source file for the Z8530 communications chip, archived within a ShrinkIt file.
Mac GUI Vault now has thousands of additional files which work with Spyglass. When browsing the downloads at Mac GUI Vault, look for the large gray "Look inside with Spyglass" button for files which are compatible.
Spyglass can also be used on any compatible file hosted outside of Mac GUI Vault. Simply paste the URL (HTTP or FTP) on the main Spyglass page.
Following are several sample ShrinkIt files. Click the large gray Spyglass button at left to browse:
http://macgui.com/downloads/?file_id=31480 - Click Download on README or SHK3.DOCS to get the raw ASCII text
http://macgui.com/downloads/?file_id=33056 - Paste the basic program in your emulator and type RUN
http://macgui.com/downloads/?file_id=3663 - View catalog of shrunk DOS 3.3 disk
http://macgui.com/downloads/?file_id=8240 - Source code
http://macgui.com/downloads/?file_id=1994 - AppleWorks files are converted to ASCII text
Improvements on the to-do list include better support for ShrinkIt whole-disk archives, beyond just showing a catalog, as well as support for the dynamic LZW/2 compression algorithm.