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1995-04-22
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Date: Wed, 27 Apr 1994 08:45:13 +1000 (EST)
From: Mark Perry <mperry@cairo.anu.edu.au>
Subject: Superdos docos!
To: Tim <timuszyn@cse.utoledo.edu>
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII
SUPERDOS
SuperDOS V5.1 was designed for the more advanced user who needs a DOS
with true double sided, double density operation. The aim was to keep
the program short and powerful. Until now Atari DOS 2 seemed to be the
most convienient DOS to use but was only capable of single density and
was memory inefficient. Other double density DOS's are available but
they use heaps of memory or are extremely slow because you need to load
a file to perform each function.
SuperDOS combines many functions (and more) from some of these giant
DOS's into an easy to use, menu driven DOS needing slightly more memory
than Atari DOS 2.0S but using seven sectors less on the disk and therefore
taking less time to load. With 64K RAM XL/XE and all SUPERRAM models,
DUP is hidden in RAM under the OS or in the ramdisk and available
imediately with NO loss of the resident program. The 256K SuperRAM ramdisk,
plus 130XE, Axlon, Bucholtz, Newell, Peterson and RAMbo ramdisks are
supported.
Features
1. SuperDOS for Atari 400/800/600XL/800XL/65XE/130XE computers, Atari 810,
1050, XF551 and compatible disk drives.
2. Single, Enhanced and Double density plus double sided, double density
operation.
3. Handles up to 4 disk drives plus a ramdisk plus up to 8 concurrent files.
4. Auto density enables SuperDos to automatically configure to the density
of the disk in the drive.
5. With auto density you can copy files from single to double density (or
vice versa) with only one drive.
6. RESTORE deleted or open files, either from SDUP menu or BASIC with XIO
commands.
7. Use upper, lower case, inverse characters or numbers even as the first
char of a filename.
8. Short SYS files allows maximum use of disk space and memory.
9. Variable XL/XE key delay and repeat rate.
10. Ramdisks: SuperRAM & Peterson with 256K, 130XE with 64K or Axlon,
Bucholtz, Newell, or RAMbo with 180K. Enables instant loading of files.
11. Autoload all files with "RAM" filename extenders from drive one to the
ramdisk during boot process.
12. With SuperRAM or 64K RAM, SDUP is available the instant you type DOS and
the resident program is saved. No MEM.SAV waiting.
13. Use single keystrokes to list drrectory or select items.
14. Copy to or from casstette "C:" device using long or short IRG. Copy all
SYS files except DOS.SYS using wildcards.
15. A verification prompt message gives you a chance to change your mind
about copying a file.
16. Write DOS.SYS file only or format a disk with skewed sectors using
SuperMAX, US Doubler or Atari XF551.
17. Copy sectors and display bad sector numbers. Copy only the used sectors.
18. Option to format destination disk during disk copy. It formats in the
same density as the source disk.
19. Enter sector numbers in hex or decimal. Default is hex use # for decimal.
eg #370.
20. Write with or without verify. Toggled from SDUP menu.
21. Drive status (density, sides) is displayed on top of the screen above
SDUP menu.
22. Concise menu with plenty of room for directory listings. There are 2
columns on dirs.
23. Annoying Atari 4 line scroll removed.
24. A red screen border indicates next operation may write to the disk.
Purple for format.
25. A red or green screen border to indicate write or read in next operation
of copy file disk or sectors.
26. A binary save that even saves carts.
27. A copy from DOS 3 using 1 or 2 drives and wildcards.
28. SuperBIN - a boot program to display a menu of file names and load and
run the bin file you choose.
29. Display the conmfiguration block of drives. (not 810 or 1050)
30. Trace and link data of files and patch around bad sectors.
31. Option to display deleted or open filenames.
32. Alter the number of open file or drive buffers from the AUX menu.
33. Choice of resident or non-resident SDUP. Enables instant access to DOS
menu on 400/800 or option to disable the ramdisk.
34. SUPERBAS - an AUTORUN.SYS file to display a menu of BASIC programs to
load and run.
35. I/O defaults to the ramdisk if one is available.
36. Use ESCAPE when booting to format a ramdisk leaving all normal 130XE
banks free (requires 128K)
THE VARIOUS DENSITIES
There are 4 standard disk formats used by SuperDos, Atari and Atari
compatible disk drives.
1. (S)INGLE - 720 sectors of 128 bytes. 810 format.
2. (E)NHANCED - 1024 sectors of 128 bytes. 1050 format.
3. (D)OUBLE - 720 sectors of 256 bytes. SuperMax, Us Doubler, Happy format.
4. (X)TENDED - 1024 sectors of 256 bytes. SuperRAM, 130XE & Peterson
ramdisks.
5. (2) SIDES - 1440 sectors of 256 bytes. Atari XF551 format.
LOADING SUPERDOS
Works the same way as DOS 2 with these extra steps:
1. During the boot process (after about 5 sectors) a test is made for
SuperMAX or Atari XF551 and the baud rate is adjusted.
2. With 64K RAM XL/XE, the "SDUP.SYS" file is now loaded and hidden in the
RAM under the OS or in the ramdisk.
3. With SuperRAM, the 130XE or other ramdisk, the ramdisk is initialized
(if ESC was pressed the 1st 4 130XE banks are not used) and all files with
the ".RAM" extention are copied to the ramdisk.
Press BREAK to abort it.
4. Continue as DOS 2. Load and run "AUTORUN.SYS" and pass control to
cartridge or SDUP.SYS.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU TYPE DOS
The same thing happens no matter how much RAM your Atari has.
1. A check is made to see if "SDUP.SYS" is still intact in RAM under the OS
OR in bank 2 of the SuperRAM ramdisk OR it is in the resident program
area. If it is then the DOS menu appears instantly.
2. If SDUP.SYS in not in RAM then it is loaded from drive 1.
3. If the disk in drive 1 does not have SDUP you are returned to the calling
program.
GUIDE TO THE SUPERDOS MENU
At the top of screen you'll see the status line. It indicates which drives
are available and the density of each of them.
At the prompt "SELECT ITEM OR RETURN" the following commands are available.
Only one keystroke is required.
#1-4 List the directory of drive 1 to 4.
#5-8 List the contents of the ramdisk.
A. DIRECTORY Also may be used with the ramdisk. The directory listing may
have some info you have not seen before.
"- DELETED .TXT 014" Deleted file
"? OPEN .TXT 000" File opened but never closed.
" <TWO .TXT>011" This file uses sectors beyond 720 and
only available in Enhanced density or
2 sided.
Use the /N option to skip OPEN and DELETED files
(eg "D1:*.*/N,E:")
B. CARTRIDGE XL/XE users have the option of enabling or disabling BASIC.
C. COPY FILE Copy AND duplicate file. A red or green border will indicate
the next read/write operation.
1. You may enter one OR two filenames seperated by a comma.
a. Enter one filename for one drive copy. eg "D:TEST"
b. Enter two filenames for two drive copy.
eg "D1:TEST,2:TEST"
c. Enter two filenames (one or two drive copy) to APPEND
or RENAME while copying.
2. Auto-density configures SUPERDOS and the drive to the
density of the DISK in the drive. You can then copy
between densities with one drive.
3. The cassette "C:" device may also be used. The default is
short IRG (Inter Record Gap). This is the same as BASIC's
CLOAD and CSAVE. To specify long IRG use /L.
eg "D:TEST,C:/L" copies the file from disk to cassette
using long IRG.
4. Wildcards may be used in both source and destination
filenames.
5. All "SYS" files except "DOS.SYS" may be copied using
wildcards.
6. The wildcard mode displays the verification prompt "TYPE
"Y" TO COPY - D1:TEST". Press "Y" to copy the file or any
other key to go onto the next file.
7. To use the wildcard mode to copy all the matching files
after the first "Y" resp