... dbb2dat ... sig2dat ... any comments?

[indiana_jones]

hi,

maybe the one or the other has thought of trying the tools that i programmed,
based on the idea of kewbase and with the help of AYB and buzz as my first
known beta tester and multi inter user face as the web manager.


may i ask you for little comments about it, if it does, what we thought or if it's
totally crap or just something between.

maybe more of you would try it, if they could be sure, the programs do
not contain any viruses, spyware or anything else what can screw up
computers or threads privacy - everybody has his own experiences this kind.

so if there are any skilled programmers who can check this, i would appreciate
if they could give a comment, if its okay or not.

i think for everyone, who put something worthy on the share, it would be a
precious thing, if he could be sure that his files if uploaded and shared again
could not be faked, screwed up and reshared this way - because he had
posted its signature on a trustfully place on the web or forum and all fakes and
crap are simply ignored by any uploaders since they have the wrong signature.

and if you took a signature from the web, you just have to wait and can be sure
you get the right file - which you can never be sure if you go on search results
- even if all visible parameters are correct, it could be a fake, but even if
a single bit was changed, it has a totally different signature.

maybe somebody had tried it and read this - i would kindly ask you for comment.
if it comes out, that it's worthy - we could goon and build a GUI around it and make
it suitable for common use.

indy



you can download dbb2dat and sig2dat from Morphia (http://www.magicalcheese.com/multi/) or VLAIBB Home

[Kewbase]

Hi Indy,

Even I have been able to make a datfile.

It's unbelievable. It works great. I use Grokster and
even Grokster accepted the handmade datfile.

One question though, where and with what program do you retrieve the signature of a file?

[indiana_jones]

hi kewbase - thanks for trying

along with the datfiles come files with the extension .txt they contain the signature
they could be directly fed to sig2dat either

be sure that you have dbb2dat 1.0.c - older versions are buggy

indy

[JohnDoe345]

Indy has just walked me through using the program. It helps if you know a little bit about how to use DOS. It's not too hard if you don't.


I'll try to explain the sig2dat file:

To get started, there are two files that you can download. The sig2dat file is the "client" side and would be use for people trying to create startfiles from given information. For example, all I have to do is give you a bunch of numbers and letters (similar to the ones you see at the bottom of indy's posts), and also the file size. These two pieces of information act like an ID number like your driver's license or social security number.

All you have to do is open indy's sig2dat file and type in the numbers and it creates a startfile for you. Then all you have to do is open Morpheus/Kazaa/Grokster and it will be in your traffic window ready for downloading.


So what is the dbb2dat file for?

The dbb2dat file is for users who want to make startfiles from files that they have already finished downloading. For example, if you have finished downloading the movie Lord of the Rings all you have to do is open the dbb2dat file and it will create the startfile along with a text file that gives you the file size and long number Indy calls the signature. It good that it gives you both because to give your friend the correct file to download you can either tell the two ID numbers or just email them the startfile you just created.

Your friend might not have the sig2dat tool, so also having the startfile means that your friend only has to copy it into their "my shared folder" and it will automatically work.


So how do you use it?

Ok here's the trick part, it may sound hard but it's not as difficult as it sounds. I'm going to try and create a better manual later. Download the two programs. (the links are in indy's post). Now follow these steps:

dbb2dat file:
1. unzip the dbb2dat program in your Morpheus folder
2. you will see 4 items: a startfile folder, a 10c_readme text file, a dbb2dat.exe file, and a dbb2dat.ini file

sig2dat file:
1. unzip the sig2dat program in your Morpheus folder also
2. you will see 2 items: a 10a_readme_sig2dat text file, and sig2dat.exe file


Ok now you got the programs in the right location, it's time to make startfiles: The following instructions depends on where you installed Morpheus. I've installed Morpheus in my program files in c:

1. you need to open MSDOS:
a. go to your start menu (left bottom corner of tool bar)
b. select programs-> then accessories-> then MSDOS prompt

2. it will give you a window and will mostly likely say c:\windows

3. type cd\ you should now see only c:\

4. type cd "program files"
or wherever you place Morpheus, you should now see c:\program files

5. now type cd morpheus
you should now see c:\program files\morpheus

6. find a file in My Shared Folder that you want to make a startfile
of, for example Lord of the Rings

7. type in dbb2dat "Lord of the Rings"
it is case sensitive so you have to use capital letter if your file
has them

8. it will give you a some information but what you need to check
is this:
info: write ".\startfiles\kazaadownload- Lord of the Rings.avi.dat

there will also be a readme file and a .avi.txt file

9. open your startfile folder and you'll see the startfile along with a text file. open the text file and you will find the two ID numbers that you can give to people if they have the sig2dat tool.

using the sig2dat tool

1. follow the instructions 1-5 above or just click on the sig2dat.exe icon (for some of you it will automatically bring up the DOS window and brings you where you need to be)

2. if you go through steps 1-5 again the you will see
c:\program files\morpheus...don't do steps 1-5 if you are already there

3. type sig2dat (double clicking on sig2dat.exe will also get you here)
it will give you some information and then write
enter download filename:

4. whatever you type here will be the name of the startfile
for example: typing in just the word Lord will give you this file name-> kazaadownload-Lord
typing in Lord of the Rings will get you-> kazaadownload-Lord of the Rings

5. next it will ask for the filesize and after that the signature (hex- hex) those two pieces of information was giving when you created the startfile from the dbb2dat tool

6. now start Morpheus and it should show up


Ok that was long but I think I explained it easy enough for almost everyone to try it out. Indy, if you see any problems then please add your comment.

[AYB]

Good stuff as always indy

I think the really exciting thing will be in the sharing of startfiles tho. If someone put together a professional website with a good database of signatures/file sizes which could be rated by other users ( or commented on, to confirm authenticity ) and to which they could submit to that would b gr8

A project I wouldn't mind working on if other ppl were interested?

[JohnDoe345]

hey Indy,

I've noticed that the file sizes your dbb2dat tool uses is not the same as Morpheus. It's the one Windows uses when you select a file and click on properties. It's the one in parentheses ().

I guess there is a conversion happening when it shows up in Morpheus because the numbers are different. I noticed this when I first created my website. The file size numbers are different then in window's properties.

The only reason I'm telling you this is because that would mean that I would have to report two file size numbers on my website because some people might not want you use your tool. Does your sig2dat tool work if users only put in the signature?

[JohnDoe345]

Originally posted by AYB
Good stuff as always indy

I think the really exciting thing will be in the sharing of startfiles tho. If someone put together a professional website with a good database of signatures/file sizes which could be rated by other users ( or commented on, to confirm authenticity ) and to which they could submit to that would b gr8

A project I wouldn't mind working on if other ppl were interested?

I have a website kind of like what you are talking about. It's not professional quality but it's been working. I only list the file sizes and not startfiles and only of movies. Don't have time to list everything. I only work on it on my free time. Also, I can't provide downloads of startfiles because I'm already reaching my data transfer limit.

It's called Morpheus Info and you can check it out at www.geocities.com/morpheusinfo

[goldie]

Indy - Squid was sweet enough to open the .dbb file and send them to me.

So I now have the .dbb files now I need the .sig unzipped and sent via e-mail.

ME's a lil devil with pointed ears and a tail.

If you can get the sig to me, I'll be able to play with you all.

[JohnDoe345]

hey everyone,

I put together a quick website that basically has the "how to" I posted above. The difference is that it has screen shots of the DOS window and I hope it makes it easier for everyone to learn. I did a little editing but the directions are pretty much the same.

Also, you can download both of indy's files at the website.

http://www.geocities.com/startfiles101/

Indy,

I have another question for you. I was testing the tools out a little more and I noticed it created a startfile of a movie I already deleted. I wonder if this is a bug? Anyhow, it's not a big deal because users can always delete the startfile. The programs work pretty well so far. Now only if you can get someone to create a GUI for you...the programs would be perfect after that.

[multi]

i thought i was missing something here
so i need to have sig 2 dat as well?
would you like me to try and get that one
put a link as well,(my meager offers of support)
i really think it may be in the future an indispensible tool
i will attempt it but as i told you indy cant connect to morpheus
(but havnt tried too hard as have some big download on an other app i am tying to reel in -& i am on dial up!)
also i do not really download movies or music very much
but as far as i can tell it could be used for any thing up for download-correct me here if thats wrong
i will have plenty of ideas for gui
cheers-multi

[indiana_jones]

hey johndoe

your website is really great a thing thank you very much!

concerning filesize:
morpheus is displaying kb (1 kb in windows is 1024 byte) thus it
displays windowsfilesize/1024 and bit of rounded to.
(maybe you could put this on your website too.

but i think especially for sw its interesting to have the exact size.

concerning old movie:
mopheus doesnt delete the info record from the dbb, if you remove a file.
maybe it does if you delete it in my media. otherwise the info
stays in the dbb and you only can get rid of it, if you delete the dbb and let
mopheus build them new.

concerning size and sig:
first i thought, that filesize also matters, but in fact the signature is the only
thing that counts. thus if you just enter 1 for size and the correct signature
it will do it anyway.

thanks to all for your positive comment.

indy - thinking 'bout GUIs

[indiana_jones]

hi multi

dbb2dat and sig2dat in fact fit together

... dbb2dat to create startfiles and extract signatures
.......you can post the startfile then or just the signature which is easier
.......because it's just a text-string

... sig2dat to make a startfile from a signature

if would be very nice if you add the sig2dat to your morphia.
morphia's a great pleasure anyway.

indy

Originally posted by multi inter user face
i thought i was missing something here
so i need to have sig 2 dat as well?
would you like me to try and get that one
put a link as well,(my meager offers of support)
i really think it may be in the future an indispensible tool
i will attempt it but as i told you indy cant connect to morpheus
(but havnt tried too hard as have some big download on an other app i am tying to reel in -& i am on dial up!)
also i do not really download movies or music very much
but as far as i can tell it could be used for any thing up for download-correct me here if thats wrong
i will have plenty of ideas for gui
cheers-multi

[BuzzB2K]

Originally posted by JohnDoe345
hey Indy,
Does your sig2dat tool work if users only put in the signature?

---------------------------------

For example, all I have to do is give you a bunch of numbers and letters (similar to the ones you see at the bottom of indy's posts), and also the file size. These two pieces of information act like an ID number like your driver's license or social security number.

I have allready created *.dat files without the file size. I wanted to see what the sig data in Indy's Signature was so I copied the Hex data and not having a file size I left it blank and was able to create a *.dat file and download the file!

Also I have a slightly different method of using sig2dat.

First you need to aquire the signature for a file (sig2dat1.0.a.zip)

This could be in the form of a textfile (kazaadownload-sig2dat1.0.a.zip.txt)

or as text in an email or even a posting in this forum:

>-------------------------------------------------------
File: <sig2dat1.0.a.zip>
Length: 350473 Bytes
Signature: 65-a1-30-74-2b-f7-2e-bd-87-1b-50-56-d5-d6-81-06-f5-29-8e-ab
>-------------------------------------------------------

which you would cut & paste into notepad and save with any name you want.

Either way you now have the data in a text file.

1. Navigate to C:\Program Files\Morpheus.

2. Go to Start - Run

3. Drag and drop the Sig2dat.exe file on the Run box.

4. Drag and drop your text file on the Run box.

5. Click OK.

Voila, one new kazaadownload-sig2dat1.0.a.zip.dat file in your download directory!

I figured out this method 'cause there was no way I was typing in that long Hex number! -

[JohnDoe345]

Originally posted by indiana_jones
concerning filesize:
morpheus is displaying kb (1 kb in windows is 1024 byte) thus it
displays windowsfilesize/1024 and bit of rounded to.
(maybe you could put this on your website too.

I forgot about windows using the different kb number. I need to definitely mention it on the website.

concerning old movie:
mopheus doesnt delete the info record from the dbb, if you remove a file.
maybe it does if you delete it in my media. otherwise the info
stays in the dbb and you only can get rid of it, if you delete the dbb and let
mopheus build them new.

I thought it might be something like that. It's not a big deal because like I said users can just delete the extra startfile. I guess I should warn them on the website.

concerning size and sig:
first i thought, that filesize also matters, but in fact the signature is the only
thing that counts. thus if you just enter 1 for size and the correct signature
it will do it anyway.

I've tried this out myself and notice that when in Morpheus it shows the file size as 0kb/0kb when normally it should be 0kb/124983kb (or whatever the size of the file is). But the instant that you start downloading from someone it changes the 0 to 124983. It just might be confusing for someone who doesn't know about it. I guess it's better to just have both if you can.

[JohnDoe345]

Originally posted by BuzzB2K
1. Navigate to C:\Program Files\Morpheus.

2. Go to Start - Run

3. Drag and drop the Sig2dat.exe file on the Run box.

4. Drag and drop your text file on the Run box.

5. Click OK.

I haven't tried it this way yet. Interesting technique, Buzz

I figured out this method 'cause there was no way I was typing in that long Hex number! -

Yeah, typing in that hex number can be a pain. I actually use the paste feature in DOS. I didn't know about it until Indy told me. So now I just cut and paste the file size and signature into DOS. Typing that long signature manually is asking for errors.

[BuzzB2K]

Originally posted by JohnDoe345


Yeah, typing in that hex number can be a pain. I actually use the paste feature in DOS. I didn't know about it until Indy told me. So now I just cut and paste the file size and signature into DOS. Typing that long signature manually is asking for errors.

I'm running XP, no DOS (I have a CMD window.)
Are you familar with Windows Powertoys?
(Unsuported programs from the MS Windows GUI team.)
The steps I actually follow are even quicker!

1. Right-Click on the Morpheus Icon on the Desktop.
2. Select Target>Open Container (this opens the Morpheus folder)
3. Right-Click on Sig2dat.exe
4. Select Send To>Command Line (this opens the Run Dialog with Sig2dat.exe on it)
5. Drag the textfile and drop it on Run.
6. Click OK

[Kewbase]

As much as I like Indiana’s high tech approach I think is makes things harder than it should be. I f you want to create a startfile the easy way why not use Morpheus, KaZaA or Grokster and forget the back to dos experience.

Once you have downloaded a file worth sharing you know all the details like file size, resolution etc. You run a search to locate that file again. You hit the download button and pause the download as soon as possible. The ready for use startfile is there in your shared folder. You only have to rename it to kazaadownloadxxxxx.dat to make it work in all three FastTrack clients. That’s all. Anyone can do this.

Of course you can add a little extra to the startfile by making it clean and autostart the download, but that is not really necessary to make it useable.

My “Creating startfiles for dummies” procedure can be found at www.museekster.com in the startfilessection.

[JohnDoe345]

Kewbase,

For most users your way is definitely easier. But with Indy's way I can just write the signature numbers on my website and users can create their own startfiles from that. That saves websites like mine from having to provide downloads. I see that you have added more startfiles to your site and that's great, but that's something I can't do on mine. I'm already reaching my data transfer limits from users just browsing my site.

Of course, it would come down to the user and which way they would want to do it. I think Indy is currently trying to make it easier to use for the average person.

Anyhow, both you and indy are doing a good job with the startfiles thing.

[JohnDoe345]

Originally posted by BuzzB2K


I'm running XP, no DOS (I have a CMD window.)
Are you familar with Windows Powertoys?
(Unsuported programs from the MS Windows GUI team.)
The steps I actually follow are even quicker!

1. Right-Click on the Morpheus Icon on the Desktop.
2. Select Target>Open Container (this opens the Morpheus folder)
3. Right-Click on Sig2dat.exe
4. Select Send To>Command Line (this opens the Run Dialog with Sig2dat.exe on it)
5. Drag the textfile and drop it on Run.
6. Click OK

About the Powertoys, if you are talking about TweakUI and the handful of other toys out there then yes, but I haven't really used them myself. Your way does seem a lot quicker. I'm going to have to try out those toys sometime.

[indiana_jones]

@buzz and Johndoe
from your ideas i tried the following and it worked at least with NT4-0
--- created a link icon to sig2dat on my desktop
--- dragged and dropped the .txt on this link
--- it just popped up and created that .dat file.

@kewbase
you probably right about downloaders. especially since your way doesnt
need any tool - that's a big advantage either.

but i think ddb2dat is a good tool for content creators, they have the
first, unique and original file on their disk and have to wait until
someone finds it (and you know how hard it is to find a unique file)

with dbb2dat, they can create a startfile without needing any search
results or what's, like john pointed out, is even easier just post the
signature in a forum like this or on a public webpage like johns or
yours.

further they can be assured, only exact clones of their files are spread
and reshared by users who use sig2dat , because all corrupt,
damaged, faked files for sure have a different signature and will be
ignored and not further spread - thus increasing the total efficiency of
the net too.


indy