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09 Application Software
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WS.DOC
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WS DOS 4.1 by Sid Davis
(WSoft)
WS DOS 4.1 is the latest version of the program WS DOS which I originally
made
in 1992. It's purpose is to give you the oppurtunity to use the faster burst-
mode capability of 128-mode when loading 64 programs, and to be there waiting
for you when you are ready to use it again. After the program is loaded from
disk, it is copied into the bank 1 of the 128, where under normal
circumstances,it can't be disturbed. If you spend most of your computing time
in 64-mode, you
will be glad to know that you wont have to re-load WS DOS again to load
another
program. Simply hit the reset button and it's there again, in 40 or 80
columns.
When I originally made the first version, I had quite an interest in CP/M. I
decided that I would mimic this sort of atmosphere in WS DOS. Also, I had
just
purchased a RamLink, and was kind of used to the DOS commands there too. This
is the reason for the name WS DOS (turn the W upside down), and the DOSWEDGE-
style commands. I hope you enjoy using it as much as I did making it. Anyway,
on to the documentation.
The following is a list of command characters used by WS DOS, followed by a
short description of each.
Command chararacters are:
CHARACTER FUNCTION
@ disk commands and error-fetching
^ (arrow UP) LOAD and RUN a 64 program
/ LOAD/LIST a file
$ show directory
? find the address-mark of a file
* copy a file to the opposite drive (8 or 9)
# device toggle
% edit/display autoboot filenames
! retrieve autoboot data from disk
_ (arrow LEFT) save current autoboot data to disk
HELP displays a short help screen
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--Descriptions:
(@) If entered alone, this command will attempt to check the error status of
the disk drive currently being used. If you follow this character with a
normal disk command (like "@s:test"), that works too. I have made WS DOS
to check what kind of disk-command you are entering. If you try to enter
a SCRATCH or NEW command ("s:?" or "n:?"), the program will react with
"are you sure", to give you time to be certian about what you want to
do.
(arrow UP)
This command, followed by the name of the file you wish to RUN, will load
your file in fast C128 "burst" mode (if you are using a 1571,1581,CMD HD,
or CMD FD 2000/4000 disk-drive. If you have a Ramlink, you wont need WS
DOS
anyway). After the program is loaded, the faster 2MHZ is turned on and
the
screen blanks while the program is transfered to $0801 (2049 decimal),
the
default basic area of the 64. Then the RUN routine is executed, starting
the program immediately.
(/) This character functions exactly the same as the BOOT (arrow UP)
function,
but does not RUN the program. If you keep your finger on the CONTROL key
during the load, you can LIST the program after the loading is done, and
C64 mode has activated itself.
($) Will display the directory of the current disk drive. Pattern-matching
is
fully supported, all you need to do is enter the pattern-string right
after the command character.
(#) Switches WS DOS to read from either device 8 or 9. Simply enter the
device
number after the character. Example- "#9" to switch to device 9.
(*) Followed by a filename of a file (which must be present on the current
drive), this function will copy a file to the opposite disk drive.
(%) If you don't like to enter DOS commands all the time, and like things
a little more automatic, you can use this character to match 10 keys
of the 128 (keys 0-9) with a filename on the disk. Everytime WS DOS is
activated (or reactivated) it will look onto drive 8 for a filename of
"%". If it is present, your file-data for that disk is loaded into
memory. At this time the keyboard is checked. If you are pressing a
number key (0 to 9), the program immediately jumps to the BOOT routine,
which in turn loads the file, goes to 64-mode and starts the program.
If you enter the "%" character alone, all the program does is LIST
the edited filenames you have edited. If no data is in memory to be
displayed, NO DATA appears to inform you of that. To use the autobooter,
you must first edit a "%" file onto your disk. To edit a key, follow the
character with the key to be edited (0-9), a colon (:), and the
filename.
Example: To edit key 1 enter
%1:yourfilename
and press return. The next command will save your edited autoboot-key
data
*note* ... You only need 2 blocks of space to save the "%" file to
disk.
(!) Enter this character alone to load autoboot data (file "%") from the
disk.
(arrow left)
...Will save the "%" file to disk, which is described above. For some
reason I am not aware of, you must enter the command "@i" before saving
with this
command, else you will (often) get a "FILE EXISTS" error from the drive.
(?) Many files on any given disk are often data files, character sets, sub-
routines for another program, etc. It's not a good idea to use the BOOT
function on these (duh). But what if yer not sure? By entering this
command (followed by a filename), the oppurtunity is given to you to
examine the
load-address of a file, which consists of the first two bytes. On a C64,
this address is normally 2049 ($0801). Most C64 programs which load and
run have 2049 as an address-mark, since this is the normal starting
point
of BASIC. However (as Jim Butterfield pointed out to me), a BASIC
program
can also be from a VIC-20, a PLUS-4 or whatever. This address-mark can
give you a good clue as to whether your BOOT will be a successful one.
If you get the message:
$0801 2049 ok
... Well, you say pretty safely that that program will load and run on a
C64. Otherwise, it's left up to you to know the BASIC start of another
machine, in case you have a favorite file from one of those. All of the
neccesary preparations are taken before the program is started in C64-
mode, like the re-linking of the basic lines, so if you are booting an
old PET program, go ahead (it should work).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--Keys:
...The following keys are pre-defined in WS DOS:
F1 key: displays the directory from the current disk drive.
F3 key: displays the error status of the current disk drive.
F5 key: toggles to device number 8
F9 key: toggles to device number 9
HELP key: displays a short HELP screen for reference purposes. You can
also
read the HELP screen by entering "help" at the DOS prompt.
Well that was about it! If anyone is interested in the prog, I do
upgrade
it from time to time. Actually I've already made the 4.2 version, but
there are a few bugs, and I have little time (excuses excuses). E-mail me
at
102541,420 and let me know how I can make it better. I wrote all the
code
for WS DOS myself but decided to spread it on the electronic airwaves
for free. Copy it, spread it, post it but don't SELL it.
Later
Sid Davis (102541,420)
alias WOHNZIMMERSOFT (WS)
...that means Livingroomsoft...