1. What is ZIDRAV? 
2. Unix port
3. Installing
4. Usage
5. Bugs & TODO
6. Authors, WWW, license etc.

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1. What is ZIDRAV? (text from zidrav.txt from Windows version)

ZIDRAV stands for "Zorba's Incredible Data Repairer And Verifier", and is an 
extremely useful tool for cross-checking files that have been transfered via 
HTTP, FTP, or some other method. What it does, is generates a checksum file, 
and then by comparing that checksum with the original file, it creates a patch 
file that can repair the corrupted file. Very cool, and saves re-downloading.


2. Unix port

The unix port of ZIDRAV was created from original Windows version. The only
changes are removed GUI stuff and fixed one severe bug (for detail look at
'5. Bugs & TODO' part). 
This means the unix version is fully compatible with the Windows version.


3. Installing

Please see INSTALL file.


4. Usage

For list of possible options run 'zidrav -h'. 
Cosmin Stroe was so nice to write a man page with detailed documentation.
There is also zidrav.txt file that comes from Windows version, you can read 
it's '2. Quick Start' part. 


5. Bugs & TODO

Unix version doesn't have any bugs i know of. For a list of things to do, 
look at TODO file. Any help (especially documentation fixes!) appreciated.

Windows version (up to and including 3.3) of ZIDRAV have bug which makes
it impossible to create a valid checksum or patch file. 
This only happens if size of the file is multiple of blocksize 
(e.g. blocksize = 16K, file size = X * 16K, where X is a natural number). 
If you're creating checksum file with unix version of ZIDRAV, and the 
person with not corrupted file uses Windows, you can use '-b' switch
to change the blocksize and thus avoiding the problem.

Up to and including Zidrav4Unix version 1.1 it was impossibile to exchange
patches between little and big endian systems (for example i386 vs PPC 
architecture). Making patched for the same architecture (e.g. PPC to PPC) 
was possibile.
This was fixed in Zidrav4Unix version 1.1.1, but you need to manually choose
BIG ENDIAN and compile Z4U for this architecture. Please read INSTALL for
details.
This also means that if you have new Z4U v1.1.1 or later compiled for 
BIG ENDIAN you won't be able to exchange patches with other people using *OLD*
Z4U on the same architecture. Make them upgrade or recompile Z4U for 
LITTLE ENDIAN.
To sum up: probably you don't need to worry. Most people use LITTLE ENDIAN 
computers. They don't need to do anything. You need to act if you are using 
some exotic architecture like PPC (e.g. MacOS X).

6. Authors, WWW, license etc.

ZIDRAV's author is Ben Wilhelm (zorbathut at uswest.net) 
Unix port was done by Piotr Krukowiecki (piotr at krukowiecki dot net), 
Official WWW page is http://sourceforge.net/projects/zidrav
ZIDRAV is distributed under GNU GPL license


