¢¢¢¢ DISK2XFD v0.90 Copyright 1994 Ken Siders¢ This program is freeware and my be distributed, but not sold. The¢ only restricition is the file DISK2XFD.ARC is kept intact and¢ unchanged.¢ ¢ DISK2XFD.COM - the program¢ DISK2XFD.DOC - this file¢ ¢ From now on DISK2XFD will be referred to as D2X.¢ ¢ Introduction¢ ¢ D2X will convert a single sided single, enhanced, or double¢ density disk to XFD format for use with PC-Xformer. I believe¢ ST-XFormer also uses the same file format. The output can be to a¢ disk file (on the same or different disk) or via XMODEM to an R:¢ device. All you need to use to use Xmodem is to append D2X to an R:¢ handler (or be sure one is booted) and specify R: as the output file,¢ link the two computers together, and have a terminal program on the¢ other side that has Xmodem receive. D2X uses standard XModem with a¢ checksum not the XModem-CRC. If anyone wants CRC or other protocols¢ send me info on how the CRC code is calculated as well as other¢ differences. It is up to you to get an interface and rig up a null¢ modem cable. This is descibed in many sources and not repeated here. ¢ I could provide docs on how to build an interface using a¢ max232/icl232 ic, a 74LS03 ic, and few support components. I actually¢ built one into DB9 hood that has a IBM compatable output (with 9 pin¢ ports). I don't think I would ever try this again though. Although I¢ build this one myself using a SX212 to figure which SIO pins are used¢ for which functions. I believe this type of interface is described¢ somewhere.¢ ¢ D2X to a disk file¢ ¢ The format to use is:¢ DISK2XFD [options] outputfile¢ ¢ With Atari or MyDos you will be prompted for the [options]¢ outputfile part with a "DISK2XFD>" prompt. The output file must¢ specify the disk number use D1:name (or any other drive) not D:name or¢ name. D2X uses the drive to find out if disk swaps will be required. ¢ Options are:¢ -Sn Set source drive (n is 1 to 8). The default is drive 1. The¢ drive must be a real drive or an O.S. simulated RAM drive that¢ emulates a real one. DOS type RAM drives will not work since they are¢ only emulated on the CIO level and not SIO level.¢ ¢ -W causes DISK2XFD to reprompt when done so you can translate¢ multiple disks without reloading the program.¢ ¢ Caveats: Even though the file size is a multiple of 128 bytes,¢ Bobterm and possible others adds an extra block to the end, making the¢ filesize 128 bytes bigger and XFormer would not recoginize it as a¢¢¢¢¢¢¢¢¢¢¢¢¢¢ disk. I tried De-term and it did not append the extra bytes. ¢ Hopefully future versions of XFormer will be more flexible about disk¢ and file sizes.¢ ¢ If the source and destination is the sam drive, you will prompted¢ for disk swaps. D2X compresses blank sectors in memory to save disk¢ swaps on disks that are not full. This does slightly slow disk¢ writes. Future versions won't compress empty sectors if swaps are not¢ required to speed output.¢ ¢ D2X to R:¢ ¢ The line format is the same as above except with additional¢ options listed below. The following options are ignored on disk¢ output.¢ ¢ -R Reduce Timeout. The disk will be read and written in small¢ chunks. Use this option if XModem times out on the receive end¢ waiting for the slow atari disk drives. Most terminal programs can be¢ configured to eliminate this by increasing the maximum number of¢ retries, but some probably can not be.¢ ¢ -Bnn Baud rate. Sets the baud rate to send. Default is 19200 baud¢ (this will usually be 9600 baud on devices not supporting 19200 baud).¢ Values are: 15=19200 14=9600 13=4800 12=2400 10=1200 8=300. These is¢ the value stored in aux1 on an xio 36 call. Other values may be¢ possible - see your manual. The baud rate of D2X must match that of¢ the reciever.¢ ¢ After the option, use R: as your output file. Do not start the¢ receiver yet. Start up D2X with the appropriate options and R: as the¢ filename. The disk will be read and you will receive a message¢ telling you it is waiting for the destination. On the receiving¢ computer, Start XModem Download. This must NOT be XModem-CRC but¢ standard Xmodem (or XModem-Cksum). To abort the transfer any time,¢ press and hold OPTION until the transfer is cancelled. This should¢ automatically abort the receiver. If it doesn't, manually abort the¢ receiver. You should also be able to abort a transfer on the receiver¢ in. If D2X doesn't abort wither press OPTION on the Atari or type a¢ couple control-X's on the receiver.¢ ¢ Caveats: D2X does not add extra data to the end of the file so¢ the problem mentioned above does not exist. The biggest problem is¢ that some terminal programs may not support standard XModem.¢ ¢ Additional Information.¢ ¢ This program was tested on an Atari 800XL and a 1050 disk drive¢ with US-Doubler. The serial interface was a home build interface¢ (Rverter or SX212 type). It was tested with the BobVerter handler¢ from Bobterm. On the IBM end I used Crosstalk for windows as the¢ receiver. I couldn't use the terminal program that comes with Windows¢ because it only supports XModem-CRC and YModem. I had no problems¢¢¢¢¢¢¢¢¢¢¢¢¢¢ with transfers up to 19200 baud.¢ It should work with any 850 compatable R: handler that doesn't¢ occupy any memory above location $2400. Some interfaces may not¢ support rates above 9600 baud.¢ ¢ Send comments, problems of any kind to:¢ cp576@cleveland.freenet.edu¢ ¢ Include you votes for any of the following. If any already exist let¢ me know too.¢ ¢ Other possibilities:¢ ¢ XFD2DISK - xfd to disk possibly with XModem recieve. I will do this¢ first, since I need it. Is there any other way to get a file out of a¢ disk image?¢ ¢ DISK2ATR,ATR2DISK - What is in the 16 byte header of an .ATR file?¢ ¢ DCM2XFD/XFD2DCM - Discomm to XFD file and vice versa. This would¢ probably be useful more as an IBM program. It probably wouldn't be¢ too difficult to add to DISK2XFD. I spent a while decoding DISKCOMM¢ files, might as well put it to use.¢ ¢ On single drive systems with a command line type DOS, start it up¢without parameters so you can swap disks.¢¢ ¢Other Programs to look for. All support command line and menu based DOS's.¢¢KEDIT E: based text editor supporting 40/80 column screens and horizonal¢ scrolling to 127 characters.¢¢KASM Atari Macro Assembler and RA65 compatable M.L. Macro Assembler.¢ Assembles to loadable or relocatable files.¢¢KLINK LINK65 compatable linker. Links files generated by RA65 and KASM.¢¢KCONVERT Fast ascii<-->atascii converter.¢
