The Atari Compendium/The Atari Compendium (Toad Computers) (1994).iso/files/umich/diskutil/hramdisk.arc/HRAMDISK.TXT

Text File | 1988-06-19 | 9.3 KB | 202 lines

            HybriSwitch Ram Disk Documentation
                  version 1.0 - 06/19/88
               Copyright 1988 John Eidsvoog


    This is a stand-alone version of the HybriSwitch Reset-proof Ram Disk.
It is different from other 'reset-proof' ram disks in that they require an
extra reset when installing.  The HybriSwitch Ram Disk is able to accomplish
the same task without having to reboot.  Reset-proof means that the files will
still be intact after a 'warm' reset.  A 'warm' reset happens when you push the
reset button (assuming that certain system variables are intact), or upon
recovering from some crashes.  This means that if a program crashes, or hangs,
you can reset and recover your files from your ram disk.  After a warm reset,
HybriSwitch Ram Disk must run again in order to re-install the ram disk.  This
will happen automatically if you keep it in your AUTO folder.

    This program has been released in the public domain.  You may
distribute it freely.  Please, for everyone's benefit, make sure that this
doc file is included.  This version has been released as an ARC file called
HRAMDISK.ARC, containing: HRAMDISK.PRG and HRAMDISK.TXT.



WHAT IS HybriSwitch:

    HybriSwitch is a multi-application manager that allows you to have
multiple programs in memory and switch instantly between them.  It is available
through dealers of Hybrid Arts products.

Current programs supporting HybriSwitch include:

   Hybrid Arts Products:
    MidiTrack ST - family of sequencers
    GenPatch ST  - generic MIDI librarian, works with ALL instruments!
    EZ Score+    - scoring program, laser-like output from 9-pin printers
    Ludwig       - real-time composition

   Other:
    ArcShell by Charles F. Johnson.  The Rolls-Royce of ARC utilities.

    Developers are invited to contact Hybrid Arts, Inc. at [phone]
for information on implementing some of the powerful features of HybriSwitch.
While HybriSwitch only allows one to reenter compatible programs, it can still
run ANY 'legal' ST program and upon quitting, reenter any compatible program.
Up to 16 programs may be in memory at one time.  There is also a 'shared data'
mechanism which allows programs to exchange data.  For instance, Ludwig, (a
real-time composer), can compose its songs directly into the MidiTrack song
buffer.  They can then be edited, have tracks added, or whatever.

    HybriSwitch has a duplicate of this ram disk built right into the
program.  When you run HybriSwitch with this ram disk installed, a message
will appear showing that the ram disk has been recognized, and it will re-
install it if it hasn't yet been re-installed.



SETTING UP HybriSwitch Ram Disk:

    Copy the file HRAMDISK.PRG into your AUTO folder (make a folder on
your boot disk named AUTO).  Whenever the ST boots up, it runs all programs
with the extension .PRG in the AUTO folder.  If you are booting from hard disk,
your AUTO folder will need to be in your boot partition.  You may also run
HRAMDISK.PRG directly from the desktop.



USING HybriSwitch Ram Disk:

    When HRAMDISK.PRG is run from the AUTO folder, it will pause for about
5 seconds.  If you don't respond by pressing a key or moving the mouse within
5 seconds, the program will proceed automatically with the rest of your bootup
procedure.  The action that will be taken will be noted at the bottom of the
screen by one of the following 2 messages:

        (on time-out, will automatically install)
                     or
        (on time-out, will automatically by-pass)

    As soon as you press a key or move the mouse, this message will dis-
appear, the time-out will be aborted, and you will have as long as you want to
decide what to do.  The following are valid keys:

    <Control> C-P                  = set the drive letter to use
    1-9, A-W (upper or lower case) = install, using the size shown on screen
    Esc, or Undo                   = quit without installing ram disk
    Arrow keys and mouse movements = move the cursor around on the screen
    Space bar                      = does nothing (expect abort time-out)
    Help, or any other key         = display information about the program
    Delete                         = do a cold boot (if already installed,
                                                     and pressed before run)

    Every time HRAMDISK is run, it saves the current size chosen, the drive
letter selected, and whether the ram disk was installed or by-passed.  Then the
next time the program is run, the previous settings will be used as default
values.  If you do not want this information saved every time, you must write-
protect your disk.  It is still much more preferable (to me) to have your
'favorite' drive and size appear as the default size and action each time you
run it, and if you're not there to respond within 5 seconds, it'll go ahead and
do the same thing you did last time.

    Once you install the ram disk, a message will appear showing the
selected drive and size, e.g.:

    1102 K ram disk installed as drive E

    This same message will appear every time HRAMDISK runs after a 'warm'
reset.  It is your way of knowing that your ram disk and files are still there.

NOTE:   It is still possible that a system crash will trash your files, even
    though they appear to be all right.  This can't be helped.

    In order to use the ram disk from the desktop, you will have to install
a drive icon.  Do this by clicking on an existing drive icon.  It will become
selected by inverting its colors.  Now go up to the Options drop-down and
click on 'Install Disk Drive...'.  A dialog box will appear.  Enter the drive
letter that you have chosen for your ram disk, and the name you'd like to
appear on the icon.  Make sure you click the mouse on 'Install' because using
the 'Return' key will 'Cancel'.  If you have problems, your Owner's Manual
describes this whole process.

    The ram disk may be used as any other disk drive, but you will not be
allowed to do a disk copy by dragging its icon to another drive icon.  Copies
must be made by dragging files.  You can, however, drag a floppy disk icon into
an open window of the ram disk.  This will initiate a copy of all the files on
that disk.



REMOVING HybriSwitch Ram Disk:

    In order to remove this ram disk, you must do a 'cold' reset.  One way
to do this is to turn off the power switch in the back of your ST.  To insure
that you truly have a 'clean' machine, you must wait at least 5 seconds, maybe
10, before turning it back on.  If this seems a nuisance, just be aware that
this feature, depending on your individual ST, might make it possible to
recover files on your ram disk even if the machine is turned off for a few
seconds!!  You can also do a cold reset by running HRAMDISK from the desktop.
The alert box that appears will show 'Cold Boot' as one of the choices.  One
final way to remove the ram disk is to press the 'Delete' key before HRAMDISK
runs (re-initializing the ram disk).  This key must be pressed before the
installation message appears.


ABOUT FATs:

    A FAT is a File Allocation Table.  It specifies which sectors
(clusters) are used and in what order.  To make the most efficient use of
memory, the size of our FAT is calculated based on the size of the ram disk
chosen.  This way a small ram disk only uses one sector per FAT instead of
wasting 7 or 8 sectors required for a large one.



MISCELLANEOUS:

    This ram disk only allows sizing by 64K increments.  HybriSwitch allows
you to configure to any size.  If you install a ram disk from HybriSwitch that
is between the available sizes of this ram disk, the warm reset install message
will show the next lower size.  The same size ram disk will still be used
internally.  To find out the exact number of bytes available, you should do a
'Show Info' from the desktop.

    To save time and space, this program only recognizes certain ROM
versions.  If an unknown ROM version is used (future Atari releases), the
ram disk will still work fine, it will just reset the system and reboot like
all the other reset-proof ram disks.  If a memory block the size of the ram
disk is not available immediately below the screen, you will have the option of
reseting or cancelling.  This will be caused if TopDown is used.

    TopDown is an AUTO program that forces other AUTO programs and
accessories to run at the top of memory.  This allows you to use as many
accessories as you want (up to six) with programs which must load at a
specific address.  This includes many games and some programs written in Forth.
Usually these programs would just crash if you run them from the desktop with
accessories in memory, or give you a message warning you of a memory conflict!

    A side benefit of TopDown is that it will cut your hard disk boot up
time approximately in half!  This is because there is far less free memory for
the system to clear for each AUTO program and accessory that runs.  To order
TopDown, send $20 to:

        Eidco Resources
        P.O. Box 4336
        N. Hollywood, CA 91607



    While HybriSwitch Ram Disk program is public domain, it is still:

            Copyright 1988 John Eidsvoog

             and may not be sold or distributed
                  commercially without my written consent.


  P.S.    Even though this program is free, any donations ($10-15) sent to the
    above address will hasten updates, register you as a user, and be
    greatly appreciated.  Thank you.