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AFMT Atari ST User's Manual AFMT
NAME
afmt - menu/command line driven floppy disk formatter
SYNOPSIS
afmt [ [-dtfsvy] <drivespec> ]
DESCRIPTION
afmt formats floppy disks in the manner specified by either the
commnand line given to it or by the menu options.
Command line usage:
Options
-d double sided
-t ten sectors per track
-f optimised FAT size
-s sector skewing
-v verify disk after format
-y format immediately without confirmation
Valid drivespecs consist of a single drive letter followed
optionally by a colon. Drive B is only valid if it exists.
Optimised FAT size means that instead of wasting unused sectors,
the size of the FAT is reduced (it goes on a diet :-) to an amount
proportional to the number of clusters on the disk.
When verifying a disk (in either mode) damaged tracks are shown
in reversed video. If you really want to know the exact track,
counting the dots is made easier by marking every tenth track ':'.
Menu usage:
If the program is run with no command line it enters menu mode.
In this mode the name of the program itself determines the default
options. The program looks for a filename matching 'afmt*.tos'.
The '*' part being the options, if any, from d, t, f or s.
The users favourite option settings can be saved by pressing F10
on the menu page. This will rename the program appropriately.
I remember someone on the net suggesting this, so there it is.
While in menu mode the amount of disk space that will be available
to the user is shown (in kilobytes) next to the format option (F6).
BUGS
Unlike the desktop formatter, the verify function is done separately
and only if asked for. Also it's easily upset when asked to verify a
protected disk. These problems are no big deal I guess.
Currently the program does not copy disks. For 9SPT disks I don't
really see a problem there, but the desktop drag A to B function
will not copy 10SPT disks. It actually ignores the 10th sector. Have
the new ROMs taken this into a account? Do Atari care about 10SPT?
Other bugs? Well I have not found any recently, but would welcome
bug reports and also the occasional pat on the back if all goes OK.
But just in case there are some real bummers in there ...
AFMT Atari ST User's Manual AFMT
DISCLAIMER
This program is in the public domain. It may be freely distributed
to anyone, but at no cost and under the conditions that it is
accompanied by this document (Both of which shall remain unmodified).
Obviously it is going to be difficult to guess about a command line
mode without this document!
I make no warranty with respect to this program, and disclaim any
implied/explicit suggestions of usefulness for any purpose.
Use this program only if you are willing to assume all risks, and
damages,if any, arising as a result, even if it is caused by
negligence or other fault.
AUTHOR
Neil Forsyth JANET: neil@uk.ac.hw.cs
1F3 ARPA: neil@cs.hw.ac.uk
6 Spittal Street UUCP: ..!ukc!cs.hw.ac.uk!neil
Edinburgh
Scotland
United Kingdom
EH3 9DX
Printed 01/08/88