JCSM Shareware Collection 1996 September/JCSM Shareware Collection (JCS Distribution) (September 1996).ISO/uother__/wff17m.zip/WFF.TXT

Text File | 1995-02-01 | 18KB | 397 lines

                                 What Floppy Format?
                        Copyright (c) Angel Babudro 1992-1995
                                 All rights reserved.

                             "Organic Computer Wizardry"
                            Box 132 * Paonia, CO 81428 USA


        I.   DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY

             THIS  SOFTWARE IS  PROVIDED  "AS IS"  WITHOUT  ANY WARRANTIES  OR
        CONDITIONS, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THOSE
        CONCERNING  MERCHANTABILITY  AND  FITNESS FOR  A  PARTICULAR  PURPOSE.
        NEITHER ANGEL  BABUDRO NOR ANYONE  ELSE WHO HAS  BEEN INVOLVED  IN THE
        CREATION, PRODUCTION, OR DELIVERY OF THIS SOFTWARE SHALL BE LIABLE FOR
        ANY INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES  ARISING OUT OF THE
        USE OR INABILITY  TO USE THIS SOFTWARE EVEN IF  ANGEL BABUDRO HAS BEEN
        ADVISED  OF THE POSSIBILITY  OF SUCH DAMAGES  OR CLAIMS.   IN NO EVENT
        SHALL THE AUTHOR'S  LIABILITY FOR  ANY DAMAGES EVER  EXCEED THE  PRICE
        PAID FOR  THE LICENSE TO USE  THE SOFTWARE, REGARDLESS OF  THE FORM OF
        CLAIM.  THE PERSON USING THE SOFTWARE BEARS ALL RISK AS TO THE QUALITY
        AND PERFORMANCE OF THE SOFTWARE.
             Some States do not allow the  exclusion of the limit of liability
        for consequential or  incidental damages, so the  above limitation may
        not apply to you.
             This agreement shall  be governed  by the State  of Colorado  and
        shall  inure to  the  benefit of  Angel  Babudro and  any  successors,
        administrators,  heirs and assigns.   Any action or proceeding brought
        by either  party against the other  arising out of or  related to this
        agreement shall  be  brought only  in  a  State or  Federal  Court  of
        competent jurisdiction located in Delta County, Colorado.  The parties
        hereby consent to in personam jurisdiction of said courts.


        II.  COPYRIGHT

             WFF  is owned and copyright  (c) 1992-1995 by  Angel Babudro, all
        rights  reserved.   You may only  use and/or distribute  WFF under the
        License terms below.


        III. LICENSE

             The following  terms  and  conditions  apply to  the  use  and/or
        distribution of What Floppy Format?:                        ___________________

             1.   WFF  is being  distributed as  copyright-protected Freeware.
        There  is no registration fee  and you are  licensed to use  it for an
        unlimited time.

             2.  All  files originally  distributed  as  part of  the  package
        (including this notice)  must be included  without modification.   The
        complete list of  files can be found in the  PACKING.LST file which is

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        part of this package.

             3.  Individual users may freely copy  this disk and share it with
        friends, family, and acquaintances.  Non-profit groups (including user
        groups and BBSs) may distribute copies of this disk.  A fee of no more
        than $5 may be  charged to cover disk copying costs.   If the files on
        this disk  have dates more than  a year old please  contact the author
        for a free update to the current version.

             4.  Disk distributors  and dealers  must have  written permission
        before selling copies of this software.   When you contact me you will
        receive a free copy of the latest version and you will be placed on my
        mailing   list  to  receive  updates  as  they  are  released.    Disk
        distributors may charge  no more than $10 per disk  for copies of this
        software.  If, as a distributor, you supply copies to other resellers,
        the end price to the user may not exceed $10.

             5.  You must obtain  written permission prior  to distribution as
        part  of any "bundled" packages (e.g., CD-ROM, placing on new computer
        systems, etc.).   Such permission is  often granted; the  author is  a
        nice guy - please write to him with your ideas.

             6. You must immediately  stop selling/distributing copies of this
        software upon notice from the author.


        IV.  TECHNICAL SUPPORT (HOW TO REACH ME)

             If  you have  questions or  need  help, just  send a  note to  me
        through the  mail or a BBS listed below.  Sysops and shareware vendors
        please see VENDOR.DOC for distribution information.

              Mail        Angel   Babudro,    "Organic   Computer   Wizardry",
                          PO Box 132, Paonia, CO 81428 USA

              Official Distribution Bulletin Boards

              My software  packages are  "free" downloads  on the  BBSs listed
        below  - you  need not  subscribe to  download my  shareware (although
        other files or  functions may require subscription).  I  use the first
        name  "Angelo" on BBSs  since it avoids gender  confusion (I'm used to
        both  names anyway).   Scan  for the  file name  WFF*.* to  locate the
        latest version.

        West Coast   Researcher's BBS (CA)             USR Dual [phone]
                     Enter "J;136"  to join  the OrganicSftwr  conference then
                     use "F"  to list files  and "E" to post  messages for me.
                     Over 4 gigabytes of files  on-line; anything you want  is
                     here.   Messages can  be sent  to this board  for me  via
                     FidoNet 1:102/1310.

                     Expanding Horizons (CO)         14.4k V.32 [phone]
                     This is my local BBS so it is the one I most often update

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                     and check  for messages.  Log  on to this board  with the
                     name  "OC WIZ" and the password "WHAT" - this will bypass
                     the  usual questionnaire  and  put you  in conference  #3
                     (Organic Soft)  so you can begin  downloading right away.
                     If  you log-on & register  with your own  name just enter
                     "J;3"  to join conference #3,  then type "F"  to view the
                     list of my software.

        East Coast   Excalibur (Central NY)            USR Dual [phone]
                     FREQ  (File REQuest)  from  this board  via RBBS  address
                     A:954/401,   FIDO  address   1:26501,   or  ICN   address
                     91:315/101.

                     Rusty 'n Edie's BBS (Ohio), about 100 phone lines:
                            USR HST 16.8                        [phone]
                            USR V.Everything 28.8               [phone]

                     WhiTech BBS (NC)      ZyXEL 14.4 V32b/V42b [phone]
                     File Request (FREQ) via Fido address 1:3636/2.

                     Software Creations (MA) -  over 120 lines.  "Home  of the
                     Authors" and home of  Night Owl CD-ROM, too.   (After the
                     trial period  I believe  you need  to  subscribe to  this
                     board to keep using it.)
                            USR Courier 2400 MNP5               [phone]
                            USR Dual Standard 14.4k             [phone]
                            USR HST/Dual Std 16.8k              [phone]
                            USR Dual Std v.32Terbo              [phone]


        V.       INTRODUCTION

                 WFF  is a  menu shell  for use  with Christoph  Hochst tter's
        FDFORMAT.  WFF is Freeware; it is my contribution back to all the fine
        programmers who have donated their labour in the form of public domain
        software.  Please distribute complete copies of WFF to bulletin boards
        and  friends  --  please shackle  any  temptations  you  might have  to
        eliminate or modify anything -- that wouldn't be nice. :)  I am open to
        donations if feel so inclined.  For the latest version of WFF order my
        Sampler Disk (see ORDER.FRM).

                 Now, let me tell you what it is that I've created.

                 What  Floppy Format? (WFF) is  an easy way  to quickly format
        floppies without remembering commands  and option switches for various
        disk types using FDFORMAT, a formatting utility written and donated to
        the  public  domain  by   Christoph  Hochst tter  (normally  found  as
        FDFRM16A.ZIP or FDFORM18.ZIP on  BBS's).  FDFORMAT is the  best floppy
        format utility  I've seen,  but  it's so  flexible  that there  are  a
        million and one  combinations of options.  So I wrote  WFF to allow me
        to  set & test  certain options, save  the options I  prefer, and then
        format a  disks without having  to remember any  of it.  I  don't even
        need to remember which drive is "A:".

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                 I use the extra high-density formats provided via FDFORMAT to
        archive old software, data, or Shareware - formatting to 1.72Mb really
        reduces the number  of disks I need!   FDFORMAT packs 1.48Mb on  a 5¼-
        inch disk and up to 1.72Mb on a 3½-inch disk.  With the CompatiCard IV
        floppy  controller  the  approx. 300-byte  TSR  isn't  needed  for the
        extended densities.  It's  the best disk capacity extender  I've seen,
        and it's public domain, too!  Can't beat it.

                 If you  can't find  it  on your  local BBS,  FDFORMAT can  be
        downloaded from the BBSs listed above.

                 By the way, I don't have  any interest in FDFORMAT other than
        using it.  I'll have to write a letter to the author some day...


        WARNING   WFF allows  you to  format disks in  drive letters        _______
                  other  than A: or B: by assigning drive A: to that
                  drive.   I did this so  that I could format  my 8"
                  drive (which is K: on my system) using FDFORMAT.

                  To  illustrate, my 8" drive  is K: so  WFF does an
                  "ASSIGN  a=k" before issuing the FDFORMAT command.
                  When FDFORMAT  is finished, an "ASSIGN" command is
                  issued by itself to remove the drive assignment.

        BEWARE    If you set  a hard  disk letter as  a floppy  disk        ______
                  drive I  have no  idea what will  happen (I'm  not
                  going  to  try it!).   So  be  careful if  you use
                  something other  than drives  A: and B:  -- double
                  check that it's a floppy disk letter you're using!


        File List        _________

              The files that make up What Floppy Format? are as follows:

              wff.exe     The executable file
              wff.txt     The documentation (this text) in ASCII format [*]
              wff.wp      The  documentation  (this  text)  in  WordPerfect  5
                          format (so you can format for your printer) [*]
              wff.new     Late-breaking news [*]
              file_id.diz Description file for BBSs [*]
              desc.sdi    Description file for BBSs [*]
              order.frm   Order  form  for  all   of  my  Shareware!    Please
                          TYPE ORDER.FRM > PRN

              These are the files which make up WFF.  When you  give copies to
        friends, BBSs, etc. please be sure to include all of these files.  The
        files marked with [*] can be deleted if disk space is a premium, but I
        ask that you  please keep ORDER.FRM handy in case  you or someone else
        you know wants to  contact me.  Since I am asking for no money for WFF
        I hope you will do this for me.  Thanks.


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        Using WFF        _________

              NOTE: It is best if WFF.EXE resides in a directory in your
              DOS PATH.   Otherwise you will have to  use "cd" to change
              to  that directory  each time.   To set your  path use the
              "set path=" command in your autoexec.bat file.

              Just  type WFF from the DOS prompt.   The first time you use it,
        WFF  will pop-up its set-up  screen for you to fill  in.  Just tell it
        whether  you have a monochrome or colour screen, which types of floppy
        disk drives  you have  (up to  4) and the  drive letters  (see WARNING
        above  about floppy  disk  drives),  and  the  path  to  the  FDFORMAT
        programme.   If FDFORMAT resides in  a directory which is  in your DOS
        PATH it  will automatically be  filled in.   Default  values for  disk
        verification  and sector sliding are also presented for you to change.
        If you aren't  sure what you want to  use, just leave the  defaults as
        they  are  -- the  default sector  sliding  values should  improve the
        floppy disk's speed on  any computer.  See the  FDFORMAT documentation
        for details about these.

              Directory Command -- While you are formatting disks you can press
        F5  between disks  to see  a directory  on the  screen.   This  is the
        directory command, and  parameters, you like to use.   You can use the
        DOS "DIR" command, or "NDIR" as I use, or "HDIR" or anything else.

              Root Dir  Files -- This is  the maximum number of  files the disk
        may  have in its  root directory (\).   In more  technical terms, this
        setting determines the size of the FAT (File Allocation Table).  Leave
        "112" for  default of  112 or 224,  depending on  disk type.   If your
        floppy disks tend to  have only a few  large files you can lower  this
        number to gain a couple  of kilobytes (I set  the value to 48).   This
        does  not affect subdirectories; only the number of files you can have
        in the root directory.

              After you've done  the set-up, just  pick the  size of disk  you
        want from  the horizontal menu  -- 3½-inch, 5¼-inch,  and 8-inch  -- and
        press RETURN.  You'll see a vertical menu of the densities  available,
        depending on  whether you have double-density  or high-density drives.
        Densities  which are not valid  for your drive(s)  cannot be selected.
        Highlight your selection and press RETURN.  That's all there is to it!


        Special Features & Functions        ____________________________

              Quick Format  -- If  you have verification  turned OFF,  FDFORMAT
        version 1.8 will  re-format a disk in  5-10 seconds by only  verifying
        already formatted tracks and clearing the FAT.

              Unconditional  Format -  Activating this  option (a  dot appears
        next  to  it) will  format a  disk  without checking  for  an existing
        format.  This eliminates the time FDFORMAT normally takes to check the
        disk,  however, if the  disk is already formatted  a Quick Format only
        takes  a few  seconds  whereas if  Unconditional  Format is  activated

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        FDFORMAT  will perform a regular  format (which takes  over a minute).
        Thus, if you  are formatting a bunch  of new, unformatted disks,  turn
        this  option ON to save time;  otherwise leaving it OFF will generally
        save time.

              Continuous Format -- After a disk is formatted you will hear some
        tones to tell you the disk is finished (so you don't have to watch the
        screen),  and a ticking will begin.1  This is to let you know that WFF
        is waiting for your response:

              1. You  can press Esc  to stop formatting  disks or F5  to see a
        directory of another disk.

              2. You can remove the disk.  This will initiate WFF's Continuous
        Format feature -- WFF will wait for you to insert another disk or press
        Esc to quit or F5 for a directory.

              Before inserting  another disk you can press the F5 key to get a
        directory of a disk.  WFF will prompt for a drive letter at the bottom
        of the  screen.   While it  is waiting  for the  drive letter  you can
        insert the disk you would like to view.

              NOTE  Both  FDFORMAT and  WFF test  the  disk drive.
                    Usually this causes no noticable delay,  but I
                    stumbled across a  combination of  electronics
                    that   took   16-seconds   to    identify   an
                    unformatted disk.  If this is happening to you
                    there  may  be  a  conflict  in  your  system;
                    experiment with card  settings (address,  IRQ,
                    etc.).  In my case it was an address conflict.

              Drawbacks -- I  designed WFF  to allow selection  of disk  drives
        based on size rather than drive  letter.  This avoids confusion  where
        one 5.25" and one 3.5" disk drive are used since you can't even assume
        that the top drive is A: (Tandy always broke that rule).   But, if you
        have  two of the  same drives (like  an old AT  or XT with  dual 5.25"
        drives)  there is  currently no way  to choose  between them.   I will
        spend the time to install this feature if someone asks me to.












                                    ____________________
               1  These sounds are only  audible if the  Sound option under
          "File" is turned ON.

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