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Text File | 1990-03-28 | 24.1 KB | 661 lines

Program : DFormat.EXE Program : DFormat.EXE Description : The Fast and Easy Floppy Disk Formatter Description : The Fast and Easy Floppy Disk Formatter Created : April 17, 1989 Created : April 17, 1989 Revised : March 28, 1990 Revised : March 28, 1990 Comment : Comment : Table of Contents Table of Contents What is DFormat? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 What is DFormat? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 DFormat License Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 DFormat License Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Product Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Product Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Registering DFormat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Registering DFormat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Operating DFormat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Operating DFormat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Drive to Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Drive to Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Logical Drive Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Logical Drive Reference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Type of Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Type of Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Volume Label . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Volume Label . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Set Verify Flag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Set Verify Flag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Fast Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Fast Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Quick Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Quick Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Cyclic Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Cyclic Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Exit to DOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Exit to DOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 The ESCAPE Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 The ESCAPE Key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Error Handling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Error Handling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Copyright 1990, TOADWare Software Systems Copyright 1990, TOADWare Software Systems Page - 1 Page - 1 DFormat - The Fast and Easy Floppy Diskette Formatter DFormat - The Fast and Easy Floppy Diskette Formatter Copyright 1990, TOADWare Software Systems Copyright 1990, TOADWare Software Systems Page - 2 Page - 2 DFormat - The Fast and Easy Floppy Diskette Formatter DFormat - The Fast and Easy Floppy Diskette Formatter What is DFormat? What is DFormat? DFormat is a full-featured floppy diskette formatting utility. It achieves its utility through a menu driven interface and provides the means to easily and quickly format 5 1/4" (360KB or 1.2MB) or 3 1/2" (720KB or 1.4MB) diskettes. Formatting speed is roughly twice that of the normal DOS format utility. After using DFormat once you will not return to the DOS Format utility for floppy diskettes again. Because of Copyrights and such DFormat will only allow you to format data diskettes only (non-bootable). A special boot sector is placed on the disk to inform the operator to place a bootable diskette in the drive and continue. Within this boot sector is a un-initialized 10 character serial number. This is used by MSTRCPY (another TOADWare Software Systems product) to serialize a diskette. - - N O T E - - - - N O T E - - At no time will the operator be allowed to format a fixed At no time will the operator be allowed to format a fixed media device (Hard Disk, Tape Drive, etc..). DFormat will media device (Hard Disk, Tape Drive, etc..). DFormat will only format floppy disk drive. only format floppy disk drive. DFormat will execute on any computer using DOS 3.0 or later, having a minimum of 256K of RAM, and a standard floppy diskette controller. Color video will give a more acceptable display but monochrome is also allowed. DFormat License Terms DFormat License Terms DFormat along with all supporting documentation is copyrighted by TOADWare Software Systems, and all rights are reserved (1990). It is licensed specifically for evaluation use by all IBM PC/XT/AT and compatible owners and operators as Shareware for a period of time not to exceed 30 days. As Shareware, DFormat may be freely copied by individuals, Computer User Groups, and Bulletin Board System (BBS) operators for transmission to others for evaluation. Copyright 1990, TOADWare Software Systems Copyright 1990, TOADWare Software Systems Page - 1 Page - 1 DFormat - The Fast and Easy Floppy Diskette Formatter DFormat - The Fast and Easy Floppy Diskette Formatter No charge of any amount may be made by anyone for DFormat without the express permission of TOADWare Software Systems, with the following exceptions : Bona fide organized computer user groups and/or clubs may charge a nominal copying and handling fee for the purpose of distributing Shareware copies of DFormat to their members. BBS operators who operate on a subscription basis may include copies of DFormat on their boards for downloading by board subscribers. All others are encouraged to make copies of DFormat and pass them along (without charge) to their friends, associates, or acquaintances for the purposes of evaluation. Anyone distributing the Shareware version of the DFormat Package must inform the recipent that the Package is NOT free software and if used beyond the 30 day evaluation period it must be paid for. Warranty Warranty DFormat is provided AS IS without any warranty, either expressed or implied, including but not limited to fitness for a particular purpose. Product Support Product Support Because of the 1. Cost, 2. Time required, and 3. Effort needed. I cannot support or help any one that has not registered a copy of DFormat. Registered users will receive information on how to get support. Registering DFormat Registering DFormat DFormat is a Shareware product. It is NOT public domain software. TOADWare Software Systems urges those who find DFormat to be of sufficient utility so as to use it on a regular basis to become a registered user by sending the registration fee of $15.00. Registered users will receive a copy of registered version of DFormat on disk and one free upgrade. Also, registered users are offered discounts on other TOADWare Software Systems products. Copyright 1990, TOADWare Software Systems Copyright 1990, TOADWare Software Systems Page - 2 Page - 2 DFormat - The Fast and Easy Floppy Diskette Formatter DFormat - The Fast and Easy Floppy Diskette Formatter To Register the data diskette version of DFormat simply mail a check or money order in the amount of $15.00 (plus $2.00 for shipping and handling) payable to : Richard A. Nichols Richard A. Nichols TOADWare Software Systems TOADWare Software Systems 12138 Persimmon Terrace 12138 Persimmon Terrace Auburn, CA 95603 Auburn, CA 95603 You can also send your name and address and be placed on our mailing list to receive our catalog and newsletters. DFormat will be shipped first class mail within 4 to 6 weeks of receipt of the registration fee. Operating DFormat Operating DFormat DFormat is menu driven and therefore quite easy to use. The main menu contains the following selections: Drive to Format Drive to Format Logical Drive Reference Logical Drive Reference Type of Format Type of Format Volume Label Volume Label Set Verify Flag Set Verify Flag Fast Format Fast Format Quick Format Quick Format Cyclic Format Cyclic Format Exit to DOS Exit to DOS Movement thru the menu system is very simple, infact you have three methods for selecting a function! 1.) Use the cursor keys to move the cursor bar to the desired function and press Return to select. 2.) Use the mouse (if one has been installed) in place of the cursor keys. 3.) Press the key matching the first entry on each menu lie. Menu items are selected either by moving the cursor bar to the desired item and pressing return (MOUSE LEFT BUTTON) or by pressing the character key corresponding the highlighted option. You can also move back to the previous menu level by pressing the ESC (MOUSE RIGHT BUTTON). All menu items are augmented by a help line that is written on the 25th line of the screen. Copyright 1990, TOADWare Software Systems Copyright 1990, TOADWare Software Systems Page - 3 Page - 3 DFormat - The Fast and Easy Floppy Diskette Formatter DFormat - The Fast and Easy Floppy Diskette Formatter Drive to Format This option allows the user to select the Drive to Format drive to be referenced in any of the following options. Logical Drive Reference This option allows the user to select the Logical Drive Reference alphabetic reference for the selected drive. Simply put, use this option to insure that each of the physical drive references match the logical drive reference you are use to using (i.e. drive 1 is 'A'). Type of Format This option allows the operator to select the Type of Format density of the diskette to be formatted. N O T E - Be very careful using this option! You can N O T E - select disk formats that are higher than what the disk drive will allow and it will appear that DFormat is working correctly. Also, the higher density formats (720KB, 1.2MB, and 1.44MB) use 80 track drives. If you try to format these higher density formats on a standard 360KB drive you can do physical damage to the disk drive its self. Volume Label This option allows the operator to change the Volume Label default volume label for the selected disk drive. Each of the disk drives can have it's own default label. Set Verify Flag This option allow the use to set the verify Set Verify Flag flag which tells the program to verify each disk write. If good quality diskettes are used then this option will only double the time required to format a diskette. Fast Format This option will format an entire diskette at Fast Format roughly twice the speed of the DOS format utility. If any files are found on the diskette the operator will be shown a list of those files and be prompted whether to continue or abort the operation. Copyright 1990, TOADWare Software Systems Copyright 1990, TOADWare Software Systems Page - 4 Page - 4 DFormat - The Fast and Easy Floppy Diskette Formatter DFormat - The Fast and Easy Floppy Diskette Formatter Quick Format This option allow the operator to quickly re- Quick Format format a previously formatted diskette. This option formats the Directory (and FAT) areas of the diskette. This is the same as the DOS command DEL *.* but gives the added security in that a file cannot be un-erased. If any files are found on the diskette the operator will be shown a list of those files and be prompted whether to continue or abort the operation. Cyclic Format This option allows the user to batch format a Cyclic Format large number of diskettes. If a diskette has not been previously formatted then a fast format will be performed. If a valid directory area is found then a quick format will be done. After each diskette is done the program will sound a tone and wait for the operator to insert a new diskette. Pressing any key will start the program again or pressing the ESCape key will stop the Cyclic Format and return you to the main menu at the end of the current operation. Be Careful! This option does not warn you if Be Careful! the disk to be formatted contains data! Exit to DOS This option will return the user to DOS. If Exit to DOS any of the default parameters have been changed the operator will be given a chance to update the configuration information of the program. The ESCAPE Key The ESCAPE Key The ESC key can be used to exit from just about any menu or operation. It will also abort formatting with an error message. Error Handling Error Handling We have tried to make DFormat as bullet proof as possible and have provided for an Error Box to pop up in the event a critical error is encountered. The operation currently in progress will usually be terminated if an error occurs. Copyright 1990, TOADWare Software Systems Copyright 1990, TOADWare Software Systems Page - 5 Page - 5 DFormat - The Fast and Easy Floppy Diskette Formatter DFormat - The Fast and Easy Floppy Diskette Formatter Help Help DFormat contains two levels of context sensitive help. The first is available for the current operation by pressing the F1 Key, a F1 window will pop up with help information pertaining to the current operation. The second level of help is a general pick list of valid help topics. At any time you wish to access the help system for all of the operations simply press the Alt-F1 Key. A window containing a Alt-F1 pick list of all of the available help topics will be shown and by moving the cursor bar to the proper item and pressing the return key you will be shown that help topic. Pressing the ESC Key will allow you to leave the current help ESC sub-system and return to the function it was called from. Copyright 1990, TOADWare Software Systems Copyright 1990, TOADWare Software Systems Page - 6 Page - 6