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1984-01-31
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C O N V E R T
SUBJECT PAGE
I. Specifications
a. Compatible MS-DOS computers..............................1
b. CP/M diskettes converted.................................1
c. Functions of Convert.....................................1
d. What Convert can't do....................................2
e. Special cases............................................2
II. Operations
a. Getting started using Convert............................3
b. How to stop Convert......................................3
c. The Convert display......................................3
d. Changing the CP/M drive..................................4
e. Changing the CP/M disk type..............................4
f. Errors...................................................4
g. Formatting a CP/M diskette...............................4
h. Displaying the directory of a diskette...................5
i. Deleting files on a diskette.............................5
j. Copying files between CP/M and MS/DOS....................5
k. Returning to DOS.........................................6
l. Designing a new CP/M diskette format.....................6
III. Appendix
a. Diskette type characteristics............................8
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Page 1
I. SPECIFICATIONS
a. Compatible MS/DOS computers
Convert requires 64k of RAM memory, 2 floppy drives, and the
MS-DOS operating system.
Convert runs on most MS/DOS computers including:
Chameleon Eagle PC-II
Columbia Hyperion
Compaq IBM
Corona Sanyo
CP/M diskettes converted
Convert converts the following CP/M diskette types:
Access Matrix 9 ss NEC PC ss
Chameleon or IBM ss NEC PC ds
Chameleon or IBM ds Osborne dd
Columbia CP/M-86 v.1.5 Otrona CP/M ds
Cromemco ds PMC-101 ds
DEC VT-180 ss Sanyo MBC-1000/1150
Epson Valdocs or CP/M-B Superbrain 20 (jr.)
Epson CP/M v. A Superbrain 30
HP-125 ds Systel ds
Kaypro 2 ss Televideo 802
Kaypro 4 or 10 Toshiba T-100
LNW ss TRS-80 Model 4
Lobo MAX-80 ss Xerox 820 dd
Morrow ss Zenith Z-100 ds
NCR Decision Mate 5 Zorba 7 dd
Also you may define and use up to 10 additional diskette types
c. Functions of Convert
Format CP/M diskettes
Display the directory of CP/M or MS/DOS Diskettes
Delete files on CP/M and MS/DOS diskettes
Copy files from a CP/M diskette to a MS/DOS diskette
Copy files from a MS/DOS diskette to a CP/M diskette
Define new CP/M diskette types
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Page 2
d. What Convert can't do
Convert can not read diskettes created by operating systems
incompatible with CP/M or MS/DOS, i.e. TRSDOS.
Convert will not translate 8080 or Z80 programs to run in an
8086 environment. Convert moves files, it does NOT translate
them!
Convert can not read or write "single density" formats (about
80k per diskette, i.e. Osborne sd and Xerox sd) or "quad den-
sity" formats (about 700k per diskette, i.e. Eagle II, Altos
and Rainbow) or "hard sectored" formats (Heath and North Star)
or special patented formats (Apple and Victor).
e. Special cases
Convert may have trouble reading diskettes preformatted on
CP/M machines, especially on a Lobo MAX-80, Zorba 7 or a Kay-
pro 4 or 10. If so, the diskettes must be formatted by Con-
vert before copying files, etc.
Convert can NOT format Toshiba diskettes. Format Toshiba
diskettes only with a Toshiba machine.
Cromemco diskettes may be read by Convert only if the
diskettes were formatted on a Cromemco machine and then re-
formatted by Convert. After doing this special formatting
procedure, the diskettes may be read and written by both Con-
vert and the Cromemco.
You may have trouble reading MS/DOS diskettes after using Con-
vert, if you returned to DOS by rebooting the computer or
pressing Escape. Return to DOS by selecting function 9 at the
function menu, or, if you must reboot or use Escape, turn the
power off and back on and reboot the system.
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Page 3
II. Operations
a. Getting started using Convert
Before using Convert, copy the program to a spare program
diskette or hard disk and place the original master diskette
in a safe place.
Do not make copies and give them to your friends! Integrity
benefits everyone!
Start Convert as you would any other program by placing the
Convert program in the drive of your choice and typing:
Convert <Return>.
You may remove the Convert program disk while executing Con-
vert, except if you are updating the permanent CP/M type
definition with function 7.
b. How to stop Convert
You may press Escape while using Convert to stop a selected
function in progress. Usually Convert will stop immediately,
but if you are copying files, Convert will stop at the end of
the copy action in progress.
c. The Convert display
The display of your computer is divided into 4 areas while
using Convert.
The top line of the display is a status line. It shows which
drive is assigned for CP/M diskettes and what type of CP/M
disks are expected in the CP/M drive.
The second through 20th lines are an information area used to
show useful information, for example, a list of CP/M types to
chose from.
The 21st through 24th lines are used to display the list of
possible functions. When displaying a directory, this list is
turned off so that a larger directory may be displayed. Sub-
sequently selecting function 8 will redisplay the list.
The 25th line is a question or request line. Requests for
user responses will be displayed on this line. Also, during
the execution of some functions, the user will be advised of
the activity taking place, or of problems, via this line.
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Page 4
d. Changing the CP/M drive
Initially drive B is selected as the CP/M drive. This means
that Convert looks for CP/M compatible disks only in this
drive and for MS/DOS disks in all other drives. Placing CP/M
or MS/DOS disks in the wrong drives may damage the data on
your disks, so be careful!. If you wish to assign a different
drive for CP/M compatible disks, select function 1 and enter
the identifying letter of the drive you choose.
e. Changing the CP/M diskette type
Initially IBM double-sided CP/M disks are selected as the CP/M
disk type. This means that Convert looks only for IBM disks
in the CP/M drive. Placing a different type of CP/M disk in
the drive may damage the data on your disks, so once again, be
careful! If you wish to assign a different type of CP/M disk
to the CP/M drifve, select function 2 (a list of possible
types will appear in the information area of the display), and
enter the character corresponding to the type you choose.
f. Errors
If Convert detects a problem reading or writing a disk, you
will be asked if you wish to abort, retry, or ignore, the same
as MS/DOS does. Retry if you simply needed to close the door
or insert the disk, otherwise abort and try to execute the
function again or follow the instructions, for example, "run
diagnostics."
g. Formatting a CP/M diskette
In order to move files to CP/M disks, you must have formatted
disks of the correct type. Convert will format CP/M disks for
you, except for Toshiba disks, which must be formatted by a
Toshiba machine, and Cromemco disks, which must be formatted
by a Cromemco machine and then reformatted by Convert.
To format a CP/M disk, select function 3, place a blank disk
in the CP/M drive, and answer the question "Ready to format a
disk" by pressing <Y>. If you do not want to format a disk,
press <N>. While formatting, Convert will keep you advised of
its progress by displaying the track and side being formatted.
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Page 5
h. Displaying the directory of a disk
You may wish to list the files on a CP/M or MS/DOS disk while
using Convert. To list the directory of a disk: select func-
tion 4 and enter the character corresponding to the drive con-
taining the disk. The names of the files on the disk will be
listed in four columns, with file sizes rounded up to the
nearest K or kilobyte. Then the total space on the disk, the
amount used, the number of files, and the remaining available
space will be displayed. The function list is removed from
the display so there will be more room for listing the files.
i. Deleting files on a disk
You may wish to delete or remove files from a CP/M or MS/DOS
disk while using Convert. To delete files: select fundtion 5,
enter the character corresponding to the drive containing the
disk (the directory of the disk will be listed as function 4),
and enter the name of the file or files to be deleted. You
may use the standard MS/DOS wildcards * and ? to specify a
group of files. Convert will delete the files and confirm
this by listing the directory of the disk after the delete,
and noting the number of files deleted.
j. Copying files between CP/M and MS/DOS disks
The main purpose of Convert is to move or copy files between
CP/M and MS/DOS disks. You may copy from one CP/M format to
another CP/M format by first copying your CP/M disk to MS/DOS,
changing to the new CP/M format, and then copying from MS/DOS
to CP/M.
To copy files between disks, select function 6, enter the
character for the drive to copy from, and enter the character
for the drive to copy to. Convert will list the files on the
drive to copy from. Enter the name of the file or files to
copy (you may use the standard wildcards * and ?). Convert
will list the files on the drive to copy to. If you used
wildcards, Convert will ask that you confirm that the files be
copied to the new disk with the same file names. If you did
not use wildcards, you may enter a different name for the file
on the new disk. Be sure there is enough remaining space on
the disk you are copying to.
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Page 6
k. Returning to DOS
When you are finished using Convert, select function 9 to
return to DOS.
In an emergency, you may exit from Convert by pressing
CTL/ALT/DEL. This may confuse the operating system, so always
turn power off and back and reboot the system before executing
another program after an emergency exit.
l. Designing a new CP/M disk format
A very useful feature of Convert is the ability to define your
own CP/M disk types. This allows you to customize Convert to
read, write, and format new and different CP/M disk types as
they are introduced.
To define a disk type, you must obtain certain information
about it first. If you have access to a CP/M machine which
uses the type, most of the information may be obtained by
executing the CP/M command STAT/DSK:<RETURN>. A list of disk
type characteristics will display, note the values for:
kilobyte drive capacity, 32 byte directory entries,
records/extent, records/block, (logical) sectors/track, and
reserved tracks.
If the kilobyte drive capacity is less than 128, the disk is
single density. If it is greater than 400, the disk is quad
density. If the disk is single density, quad density, or hard
sectored, Convert can NOT reproduce it. The disk label should
note if the disk is hard sectored. Disks with a capacity
between 256 and 400 may be quad density; this can usually be
confirmed by reading the specifications in the computer users
guide.
The rest of the required information may usually be obtained
by reading the computer user's guide or by calling the manu-
facturer.
You must determine the number of physical sectors/track. If
this value is not available, the sector size in bytes is
known, you may calculate it as follows:
physical sectors per track = logical sectors per track
x (128/sector size in bytes)
The sector order is the order in which the CP/M computer reads
the sectors on the disk. This is sometimes called slew
factor. This is usually 1, 2, 3, etc., in other words, in a
direct linear order. The first sector is usually 1, but on
some machines is 0.
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Page 7
If you can not determine the order from the manufacturer or
the documentation, you may determine it by experimentation.
First define the type with a sector order of 1, 2, 3, etc.
After completing the definition, copy a text file of more than
5K in size from MS/DOS to the new CP/M type with Convert. On
the CP/M machine, view the text file. If you get a "BDOS
error sector not found" message, probably the first sector is
0, not 1 -- or 1, not 0. Or the number of physical sectors is
really more than believed.
If part of the text disappeared, the number of physical
sectors is probably less than believed. If the order is
really 1, 2, 3, etc., part of the text will be out of order.
The next most common order is odd sectors first, then even
sectors. You may redefine until the proper order is
discovered, or you may locally deduce the correct order by
drawing a map of the results of the attempt, using 1,2,3 and
analyzing it.
You must determine if data on the disk is "inverted". This is
a highly technical question and may be determined by talking
to the manufacturer or simply trying not inverted and then
inverted. If you pick the wrong answer, the directory of a
CP/M disk will list as strings of illogical characters.
When you have all of the information about a disk type, pick a
name of no more than 19 characters for the type, and select
function 7. Select the number of the type which you are
defining, then one item at a time enter the correct defini-
tions. When all of the definitions are correct, press RETURN
and save the changes on the Convert disk by pressing <Y>.
Test your new disk type by copying text files of more than 5K
in size between CP/M and MS/DOS, and verifying that the files
look the same on both machines. Especially look for missing
or out-of-place text.
Some disk types have one-of-a-kind anomalies which Convert
does not know about, and these disks will never work with Con-
vert. Most notable in this category is Apple.
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Page 8
APPENDIX
Disk type characteristics
1. Name_____________________________________________________
2. Kilobyte drive capacity ______________
3. 32 byte directory entries ______________
4. Records/extent (128 or 256) ______________
5. Records/block (8 or 16) ______________
6. Logical sectors/track ______________
7. Reserved tracks ______________
8. Physical sectors track ______________
9. Sector order ______ ______ ______ ______
______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______
______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______
1O. Inverted data (yes or no) ______________
This information must be determined when defining a new
disk type.
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