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ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN LIMA NEWSLETTER JUNE 1987


           A REVIEW OF "DISK INFORMATION MANAGER"

                      by Charles Good

    There are several disk managers available to TI users
including DM1000 and TI's Disk Manager II module.  These
managers do housekeeping functions such as disk
initialization, file and whole disk copying, changing
names of files, etc.  There are several good disk sector
editors available which can examine and modify the
contents of disk sectors.  Such programs include DISKO,
the DISK FIXER, and DISK+AID.  There is, however, only one
TI program I know of that works as both a disk manager and
a disk sector editor.  This program is the public domain
DISK INFORMATION MANAGER, or DIM.

    DIM loads from option 5 of the E/A module.  It will
not load from FUNNELWEB or from a moved E/A file in a Gram
Kracker.  The operation of DIM requires pressing the CTRL
key and one other key to access commands.  The FCTN key is
only used with the arrow keys to move the cursor.
Documentation is rather sparce, but there is always an on
screen display of the options immediately available at
various points in the program.  With this on screen
display you can usually figure out what to do next.  DIM
accesses only drive numbers 1-3.  This is a disadvantage
for those with more than a total of 3 drives and
ramdisks.

    Using DIM as a disk manager you can initialize disks
in single or double sided and single or double density
format.  If you don't specify a disk name, the disk is
initialized without any disk name.  As the disk is
automatically verified after initialization you see a
graphic shape that is eraced from the screen pixel by
pixel as each sector is verified.  You can rename disks,
delete files from a disk, and copy single files or an
entire disk file by file.  Unfortunately, files larger
than 45 sectors cannot be copied.  This is a significant
limitation.  Copying from DSK1. to DSK2. or visa versa is
easy.  Copying using only one drive is harder since there
are no prompts that say when to insert the master and copy
disks.  To copy with one drive do not use the CTRL A or
CTRL 0 commands.  Move the cursor next to the file to be
copied (FCTN E and X).  Then press CTRL C(opy) and ENTER.
Next indicate the copy disk will be in DSK1 and with the
master disk in DSK1. press ENTER.  The drive whorles.
Replace the master disk with the copy disk and press ENTER
again.  The drive whorles again and the file is copied.

    One interesting feature of DIM, not found on other
disk managers, is the ability to store right on the disk
extra information about each file.  You can display a disk
directory by pressing ENTER three times after loading DIM
and inserting a disk to be cataloged.  You can add three
fields of extra information to each file of this catalog.
CTRL 1,2 or 3 displays one of these fields next to the
file name and CTRL T(ab) moves the cursor to the field.
After data is typed in the field, you need to press ENTER.
Field #1 is a file description of up to 8 characters.  The
second information field shows the type of file.  Choices
are Xbasc, Basic, Assmbly, Data, Source, and Object.  You
enter the first letter (X,B,A,D,S,O) to show the file
type.  The 3rd information field contains a date.  After
entering this extra file information the catalog may be
output to a printer (CTRL O, then PIO, then ENTER) or a
D/V 80 disk file [CTRL O(utput), then DSK1.xxxxx, then
ENTER].  This disk file (a good name would be CATALOG) can
than be read any time with TI-Writer.  You can also output
the catalog and information fields to a special disk file
called *CATALOG [CTRL O(utput) then, CTRL S(ave)].
*CATALOG is a 2 or 3 sector program image file that is
loaded and displayed the next time you use DIM to catalog
the disk.  Data in *CATALOG can only be read with DIM.  A
sample DIM catalog output to a printer is shown below.

    A really interesting feature of DIM when used as a
disk manager, is DIM's ability to dump a while disk or
selected files to tape in one smooth operation.  As far as
I know, no other software has the ability to dump a whole
disk to tape.  To dump a whole disk press CTRL A(ll) to
mark all files less than 46 sectors long for copying.  A
small "c" appears next to each file.  You can then scroll
up and down (FCTN E and X) and press CTRL 0) to unmark
those few files (such as the disk LOAD program) that you
don't want to copy.  When you are ready to copy press CTRL
R(ecorder), press cassette record, press ENTER, and go
have a cup of coffee.  There is no need to mess with the
cassette or the keyboard any more until all the files are
copied one after the other in alphabetical order to tape.
The recorder then stops and you are instructed to press
CS1 stop and then press ENTER.  It takes DIM about 15
minutes to dump a SS/SD disk to tape.  DIM does not verify
the tape, but as long as I use good quality tape I have
had no problem with this lack of verification.  As a user
group librarian I do a lot of disk to tape transfers for
our members who don't have disk systems.  DIM makes it
sooo easy! The successive files are spaced very closely on
the tape, with only about one tape count number between
files.

    You can use DIM to dump E/A #5 program image files to
tape.  These files can then be loaded back using only a
console, the E/A module, and 32K.  This works great for
those who have built 32K into their consoles, or those
without a disk system and with a 32K side car as their
only peripheral.  To load these E/A #5 files press 2 for
E/A then press 5 for RUN  PROGRAM FILE.  When asked for
FILE NAME type "CS1.X" and follow the tape loading
instructions.  If you just type CS1 you can only load one
E/A #5 file.  If the software you want to load consists of
a series of files (such as ADVENTURE1 followed by
ADVENTURE2) then you need to use CS1.X for the file name.

    DIM will dump any kind of file to tape, including
file structures that arn't supposed to be compatable with
tape such as D/V 80 or I/F 200.  These files dump to tape
just fine, but you can't get them back off the tape into
the computer.  To get a relocatable D/F 80 assembly
language program onto tape and then back into the computer
you first have to convert the D/F 80 files to PROGRAM
image format using the SAVE utiltiy that comes with TI's
E/A package, or the FWSAVE utility that is part of
FUNNELWEB.

    DIM does everything other sector editor programs do,
and sometimes a little bit more.  You can select a sector
for examination and editing immediately after selecting a
drive number.  Or from the DIM catalog you can get a list
of sectors occupied by each program (CTRL L(ook)).  You
can then display these sectors on the screen and modify
them if you choose in either HEX or ASCII.  The screen
display shows BOTH HEX and ASCII at the same time.  You
don't have to switch back and forth between the two, but
you do have to switch back and forth between the first 128
bytes of a sector and the last 128 bytes of the selected
sector (CTRL 0 and 8).  DIM is the only sector editor
program I know that shows both ASCII and HEX at the same
time.  You can dump the entire sector (no split between
the first and second 128 bytes) to a printer in both ASCII
and HEX side by side with CTRL O(utput).  If you have
anything in the information fields of the catalog you can
optionally add this to the bottom of the sector printout.

    In summary, I don't use DIM for my routine disk
management because DIM is limited to manipulating only
files smaller than 46 sectors and only drives 1-3.  I LOVE
the ability to dump all or most of a disk to tape.  The
ability to put E/A #5 assembly programs on tape helps some
of our group's tape only members.  User Group librarians
and those in charge of making tapes for members take note!
DIM is my favorite disk editor.  It is better than DISKO
(even the enhanced disko that comes with FUNNELWEB) in
that it displays both ASCII and HEX side by side and has a
built in printer dump.

    DISK INFORMATION MANAGER  can be obtained from the
Boston Computer Society for $3 plus $1 postage and
handling.  Ask for public domain disk #43 which contains
DIM and other goodies.  Send your check to:
                   Boston Computer society
                   TI User Group
                   One Center Plaza
                   Boston MA 02108
DIM can also be obtained from the FREE ACCESS LIBRARY for
a small copying fee.  Phone Guy Romano at 415-753-5581
Mon-Sat 9-4 Pacific time and ask about obtaining program
H171.