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dcm2dsk2.txt
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1995-04-22
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103 lines
DiskCommunicator to SIO2PC partition converter
---------------- -- ------ -------------------
(5 minute documentation)
Problem:
DiskCommunicator chokes when trying to read or write SIO2PC partitions.
This appears to be due to DiskCommunicator attempting to detect a "Happy"
drive, and the SIO2PC responding with a response that DiskCommunicator
does not understand. This also appears to be a problem with the UltraSpeed
OS+ and the Black Box OS, both also from Bob Puff. Please note that I am
not trying to place "blame" for the problem, just noting where it occurs.
Solution:
Rather than having to fight with virtual partitions and DiskCommunicator,
I figured it would be easier to reverse engineer the DiskCommunicator format
and convert the files to partitions myself under PC DOS instead. The result
is DCMTODSK.
Usage
-----
Just type "DCMTODSK <diskcomm file> <SIO2PC file>" and the converter does
the rest. If there are any problems with the file, the converter will let
you know.
Note
----
This program has not been widely tested, especially with double density
DiskCommunicator files. I am currently releasing this version as a beta,
and hope to add additional functionality to it in the future. This will
depend on, of course, the response from the user community. As is, it is
a very rough, albeit functional, hack and lacks any serious error checking
or user interface.
DISCLAIMER: THIS PRODUCT IS PROVIDED "AS IS", AND INCLUDES NO WARRANTEES.
THE AUTHOR WILL NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGES THAT OCCUR THROUGH
THE USE OF THIS PROGRAM.
Now that that's out of the way, on to bigger and better things.
Revision Info
-------- ----
0.1 (beta) Initial release
7/24/94
0.2 (beta) Fixed a major bug dealing with DiskComm files with sectors
9/7/94 greater than 512. Any sector >512 would end up being written
back into the first 512 sectors of the partition. Fixed.
Thanks to Bill Kendrick for pointing this one out.
Improved the speed of the partition zeroing routine. This
removes most of the pregnant pause at the beginning after it
tells you what kind of disk you're converting.
Increased output consistency.
Support
-------
I can be reached through the Internet at nienna@tigger.indirect.com. I also
read the Info-Atari8 digest and comp.sys.atari.8bit newsgroup. PLEASE
mail me with any comments, suggestions, bug reports, or anything else of
interest related to the Atari 8-bit. I am especially interested in back
issues of the Atari8 digest.
I can also be reached as "Phred" on the Star Net IV BBS (305-868-0211) or
via US snail mail at:
Jason Duerstock
10240 SW 96th Terr
Miami, FL 33176-2706
Future plans
------ -----
As mentioned above, I plan to add more robust error handling and possibly
a user interface. I also have code written to support SpartaDOS "SCOPY"
files and may also add that to this program if there is sufficient demand.
Final note
----- ----
As this is a beta, I am not currently asking for any shareware fees or the
like. However, I will certainly not refuse any donations, be they financial
or in the form of hardware or software.
To Nick Kennedy, if you can read this: thanks for the great SIO2PC! The
registration should be on its way to you any day now. If you are interested
in including this and/or SCOPY support in the SIO2PC, just let me know and
I'll be glad to let you know how the file formats are set up.
Well, I guess that's it for now. Oh, one other thing: if anyone has ANY
information on the various SIO commands for the "Happy" drive, PLEASE PLEASE
_PLEASE_ let me know. I want to know how these work, and I would be VERY
interested in integrating them into a version of SIO2PC.
Okay. That's really it for now. I hope to hear from everyone soon!