v1.2.0-Beta Release of the PowerShell Compact-Archive Tool

[SibTiger]

Information about this Release:

In this version of the PowerShell Compact-Archive Tool, I wanted to simplify the codebase and focus purely on doing one thing - just compile the ZDoom project and be done with it. No more, no less. While this tool can do so much more, such as compile ACS/BCS/et al. scripts, re-organize the project's file structure from a development environment to ZDoom's structure, provide efficient reports that shows the project's development cycle from Git, ability to support PK7, while also being completely user-friendly as a terminal program. This task in itself is extremely difficult and time consuming. With this release, while in Beta, I wanted to keep PSCAT codebase clean and straight to the point with its primary goal.

Overview of Changes:

• Project File is Officially Supported
• Simplified the codebase
• Fixed the Make script
• Removed the Ability to Generate Reports
• Removed 7Zip Support
• Removed Git-SCM Support
• Removed Windows Toast notifications
• Removed User Configurations
• Removed Settings

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Features in this Release

Enhancements:

• Project File is officially supported! While optional, a project can use a 'Project File' in their project's source files, which instructs PSCAT the following details: Project's Name, Compiled Output Filename, and Project's Homepage. If a project does not have this file, then PSCAT will use the root directory name as the project's name and compiled output filename. Define what Information will be Stored in PSCAT.Proj #118, Update Project Information Class #119, ProjectInformation - Resolve Special Cases in Project File #124
  • Further details to come later.

Changes

• Revised the Copyright date to 2025 for all files.
• Simplified the PowerShell Compact-Archive Tool codebase. Simplify Code Base #73
• Added various improvements within the ArchiveZip class. Inspect the DefaultCompress Class for Changes and Improvements #94
• Renamed the DefaultCompress class to ArchiveZip. This is to help simplify the class names and allow for easier expansion for different compression software tools \ modules in the future. Rename the Default Compress Class #95
• When generating new archive data files, the compression level will now be forced to 'Optimal' -- the highest possible in the Microsoft.PowerShell.Archive class. ArchiveZip - Compression Level is Default to Optimal #110
• The ArchiveZip class is now static, no longer needing to be instantiated at startup nor needing to use the singleton approach to obtain the object. Change Archive Zip Class to Static #115
• Revised the Builder to provide better messages and with the latest changes within the codebase. Update Builder with Latest Changes #123
• Brought back to check for PSCAT updates from the Main Menu screen. Missing Update Option in Main Menu #129

Bug Fixes:

• Resolved an issue with the Make script. When trying to make a new PowerShell Compact-Archive Tool build, the Add-Content CMDlet would still have the output file open while at the same time try to write the same output file in a new Add-Content call. Resolve an Issue with the Make Script #89
• Builder does not try to remove the temporary directory if something were to fail. Builder does not try to remove Temporary Directory if something fails #125

Removed:

• Removed a global variable LOGGINGLOCKKEY and replenished the same functionality as a member variable within the Logging object. This resolves an Unused Variable warning and localizes the variable to its correct scope.
• Removed the ability to toggle Windows Explorer features. Instead, this feature will be always enabled - regardless. This functionality, if available within the instance, will offer ease to all users with a familiar GUI for basic operations. Slightly minimize the terminal intimidation a bit.
• Removed 7Zip Support. This was removed to reduce the code complexity within the codebase. Remove 7Zip Support #75
• Removed Git-SCM Support. This was removed to reduce the code complexity within the codebase. Remove Git-SCM Support #76
• Removed the ability to create PDF's off from a text file using Microsoft Office Word. It is ultimately better to remove this functionality to help greatly reduce the code complexity within the codebase, and to move far away from Microsoft's products. Remove MSWord Dependency [PDF] when Creating Reports #83
• Removed the ability for the ArchiveZip to generate reports of a compressed file. This was removed to help reduce the code complexity within the codebase. Removing the Generate Archive Data File Report Feature #96
• Removed the ability for the ArchiveZip class to verify a compressed file. After much testing, I had concluded that the functionality to 'extract' an archive datafile that is corrupted - some how works according to Microsoft.PowerShell.Archive, yet 7Zip successfully pointed out every fault I was able to brainlessly inject in the hex-data of the compressed file. I have absolutely no trust with Microsoft.PowerShell.Archive's extracting capabilities. Also, just a reminder - there is no built-in verification method within that module as well. Remove [ArchiveZip]::VerifyArchive() #109
• Removed the User Configuration functionality entirely. Because there is really no configurable option within PSCAT, there's no need to keep this functionality within the codebase. Remove User Configuration Functionality Entirely #112, Remove User Preferences Class #121
• Removed Windows Toast notifications using BurntToast. Removed to help reduce complexity within the codebase. This feature was going to be primarily used for the Project Manager, but was removed. Remove BurntToast Dependency and Functionality Entirely #113
• Removed Settings entirely. Because there is really no configurable option within PSCAT, there's no need to keep this functionality within the codebase. Remove Settings #114
• Removed Project Manager [Alpha Builds]. This feature was going to be extremely expensive to fully implement it. Remove Project Manager #116
• Removed Common PowerShell Static Class [Alpha Builds]. This feature was going to be extremely expensive to fully implement it. Remove Common PowerShell Class #117
• Removed the ability to extract compressed files. Removed as there's no real need to have this function kept - yet unused. Remove [ArchiveZip]::ExtractArchive() Function #122
• Removed Deep-Clean Mode. Because User Configurations are no longer part of PSCAT in this version, this mode is no longer needed.

Merge Request History:

• Added Update PSCAT in Main Menu #130
• PSCAT Development Shift; 4.Dec to 13.Jan #128
• Changes and improvements from 27.Okt to 1.Dec from 1.2.0 PSCAT #93
• Added the ability to manage PSCAT Projects #74
• Mass Update Rollup #44

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Hash Verification

Algorithm	Hash Value
MD5	975ec539b0584dcda8042ba1d157a137
SHA1	c3c6c70254d33c4bdb84dc4286818a8889c8c46a

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Resources:

• Wiki: https://github.com/SibTiger/PowerShell-Compact-Archive-Tool/wiki
  • Wiki is currently being updated; please wait patiently...
• Full Changelog: v1.1.0...v1.2.0-Beta

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This discussion was created from the release v1.2.0-Beta Release of the PowerShell Compact-Archive Tool.