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1990-05-25
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TURTLE
Version 2.15 May, 1987
A hard disk backup utility by:
George R. Woodside
5219 San Feliciano Drive
Woodland Hills, Ca. 91364
TURTLE - Copyright 1987 by George R. Woodside.
License granted for unlimited use, copying, and distribution. Not for sale.
IF YOU READ NOTHING ELSE,
AT LEAST READ THIS!
To get started without reading any more of the documentation:
1) Copy TURTLE.PRG, TURTLE.RSC, TTLEXEC.TTP,and the proper
RAMdisk into the same directory. The RAMdisks are:
TRDNSS.PRG - Single sided disks, normal format
TRDNDS.PRG - Double sided disks, normal format
TRDTSS.PRG - Single sided disks, "TWISTER" format
TRDTDS.PRG - Double sided disks, "TWISTER" format
2) Change the file type of any accessories to something other than
.ACC to prevent them loading.
3) Remove all programs from your /AUTO folder except the hard disk
boot program.
4) Power off your system and wait 10 seconds to insure a clean boot
(especially if you have a reset-proof RAMdisk).
5) Restart your system, and open the directory with TURTLE.PRG and
the other files.
6) Double click on TURTLE.PRG to start.
7) Select the necessary options. They are all described in their
dialog boxes, and again under the HELP menu.
8) Select BACKUP under the FILE menu to begin writing disks.
Notes:
Only the RAMdisks supplied with TURTLE will work. Do not
attempt to use any other RAMdisk.
The keyboard is scanned between files. You may cancel TURTLE at
any time by pressing CONTROL-C, or press A or B to indicate a
new disk is ready at any time.
INTRODUCTION
TURTLE is an extremely fast hard disk backup utility program.
It requires no special hardware, and the floppies written are
standard TOS disks. To accomplish this speed, certain simple steps
must be taken. TURTLE requires just about all the RAM you have
(for double sided disks). You should disable any accessories, and
remove any unnecessary programs from your AUTO folder, before
running TURTLE. You may re-establish your accessories and AUTO
folder programs once the backup is complete, but TURTLE will need
the RAM during the backup. The speed of this program will make the
minor inconvenience of a little file manipulating well worth it.
How can it be so fast, and still write standard floppies?
TURTLE creates a RAMdisk that has exactly the same characteristics
as a standard diskette. It copies files from the hard disk into
the RAMdisk, writing as many files as can be fit into each disk.
When the RAMdisk is full, it dumps it as a track-by-track image to
a floppy. It writes as many copies as you have requested, with or
without formatting the floppies. The result is identical to a
floppy that was written directly, except that no time was wasted
moving back and forth to the directory and allocation tables, or
waiting for the proper sectors to be available during disk
rotation. The time difference is staggering. The only catch is
that you must insure that all the RAM is available before you
begin. That is very easy, and very well worth it.
Why call it "TURTLE"? Well, backing up hard disks is always
a slow task, so the name fits. Since there are already several
programs available with the name "BACKUP", I had intended to call
this one "HARDBACK". Since turtles have hard backs anyway.....
DESKTOP
TURTLE runs from the standard GEM desktop. It may be
executed by double-clicking on the TURTLE.PRG file. The resource
file TURTLE.RSC must be in the same directory as TURTLE.PRG, as
must be the backup utility TTLEXEC.TTP and the proper RAMdisk:
TRDNSS.PRG - Single sided disks, normal format
TRDNDS.PRG - Double sided disks, normal format
TRDTSS.PRG - Single sided disks, "TWISTER" format
TRDTDS.PRG - Double sided disks, "TWISTER" format
TURTLE requires a large amount of memory to use the RAMdisk and
execute at the same time. You should disable any accessories and
remove any non-critical programs from your AUTO folder before
attempting to execute it. You must have a 1 megabyte machine, or
larger, to run TURTLE.
It includes an ABOUT menu item under the DESK menu to
identify itself. Clicking on it will display a normal dialog box,
identifying the date and version of the program.
Under the FILE menu is the usual QUIT item, to terminate the
program without executing a backup. There is also a BACKUP menu
item, to initiate a backup, and a SYSTEM RESET item. The SYSTEM
RESET item is there to make it easier to free the RAM necessary to
execute a backup, and insure that the folders accessed before
TURTLE is executed do not interfere with the backup. It is a good
idea to do a reset just before beginning TURTLE to clear the
folder limits (see the warning below). Since a manually
triggered system reset, by pressing the reset button, will
not clear the bits in the drive allocation map, this system reset
function will clear the bit associated with drive M: before
executing the reset. If you are using a reset-proof RAMdisk,
however, there is no choice but to power off your system and
re-boot (without the RAMdisk) to free the memory.
OPTIONS
TURTLE runs from the desktop, using standard GEM drop-down
menus for entering options. There is a HELP menu item for each
OPTION item, to provide information at any time.
Archive:
This option inhibits a normal function, setting the
archive bit. When a file is copied, TURTLE will set the
bit unless the ARCHIVE option has been used to disable
the feature. This bit can be used to instruct
subsequent backups to copy only the files which have
changed since the last time TURTLE (or some other backup
utility which set the archive bit) was executed. The
default for this switch is to set the archive bit. When
the checkmark is displayed beside the Archive option,
the archive bit will be set on all files copied.
??? Copies:
This option is used to generate extra copies of any
disk written during backup. Normally, only one copy of
each disk is written. To request additional copies,
enter the number of copies desired. The default
for this option is to write one backup copy. The menu
item changes to reflect the number of copies selected.
Format:
This is the diskette format option. TURTLE assumes that
the disks to be written to are already formatted, unless
this option is used to override that assumption. When
disks in the "TWISTER" format are used, they must
already be formatted. TURTLE will not format "TWISTER"
disks. It is not necessary that the disks be erased,
since anything on them will be over-written. It is never
harmful to use the format option, but it will cause the
program to run a bit slower. The default for this option
is to write to floppies without formatting. When
the checkmark is displayed beside this option the
diskettes will be formatted before they are written.
Full Backup:
This option is used to indicate whether the backup
should be full (all files in all the named directories)
or incremental (only the files in the named directories
which have been altered since the last backup). This
can shorten the time required to back up a drive
when few files have been changed. It does require,
however, that the user keep the original backup,
plus the intervening incremental backups, to be able to
re-construct the contents of the drive. The default
for this option is to backup all the files in the
paths entered. The menu item will change to Incremental
when that mode is selected.
Double Sided:
This option is used to indicate that the backup will be
done to double-sided disks, rather than single sided
disks. It is imperative that the proper option be
selected, matching the diskettes to be used. If the
backup is executed with the wrong diskette option, the
backup will not be useable and may create errors during
floppy writing. The default for this option is to write
double sided disks. When single sided disks are
selected, the menu item will change to reflect that
option.
Disk Numbers:
This option is used to define the number assigned to the
first diskette written. Normally, diskettes are
numbered beginning with one. However, if a backup is
being executed by paths (to avoid the 40 folder limit),
subsequent paths may be better organized if the numbers
assigned to the disks are sequential. This option will
offer a dialog box which can be used to set the number
assigned to the first disk written. The default is to
start numbering disks with 1. When the checkmark is
displayed beside this option, some number other than 1
has been selected to begin assigning to disks.
Path:
This option is used to specify the disk path to read.
All files (or all non-archived files if INCREMENTAL is
set) in the named path will be read and copied to the
diskettes. Only the files in the named path will be
read or marked with the ARCHIVE bit (if ARCHIVE is
enabled). The default for this option is the path from
which TURTLE was initiated. When the checkmark is
displayed by this option, the path has been changed from
the default.
Files Only:
This option is used to limit the path following option
of TURTLE. Normally, TURTLE will begin at the path
named, and follow all folders in that path, copying all
files in all folders (unless INCREMENTAL is set). Then,
after all folders in the path have been copied, all the
files in the named path are copied. Using the FILES
ONLY option will prevent TURTLE from opening any of the
folders in the path. Only the files in the named path
will be copied. The default for this option is to open
the folders, and back up all the files in the folders as
well as those in the path. When the checkmark is
displayed by this option, only the files in the path
named, but not those in the folders, will be backed up.
Verify:
TURTLE writes diskettes as direct images of disk tracks
built in memory on the RAMdisk. When the RAMdisk is
full, it is copied, track-by-track, to a floppy disk.
The track copy function does not read data back to see
if the disk write was successful. If you wish to re-read
the data after it is written to the floppy, select the
Verify option. This option defaults to write the floppy
without re-reading it. When the checkmark is displayed,
the data will be read back after writing.
EXECUTION
Before TURTLE can be executed, your system must not be in low
res mode, and there must be an adequate amount of memory
available. You must disable any accessories or unnecessary "AUTO"
programs to insure that there is space available for TURTLE to
execute. This includes autoboot programs and folder fix programs
such as GEMBOOT and FOLDRXXX. They consume memory that is required
for the RAMdisk. TURTLE contains code to help avoid folder
crashes.
===>>> WARNING!!! <<<===
There is a problem in GEMDOS dealing with folders (sometimes
referred to as sub-directories). GEMDOS becomes unstable when too
many folders are accessed. Currently, 40 folders is assumed to be
a safe limit for folders on a system. TURTLE uses some techniques
to make the folder problem less severe. When you specify the path
you wish to backup, there may be folders in that path. Folders
which reside directly in the path name may themselves contain
other folders. TURTLE will "clear" the folder count each time it
completes backing up a folder which resides directly in the named
path. TURTLE can not clear the folder count during the backing up
of any other folder, only when it finishes a folder at the "top"
of the named path. For example, if drive "C:" contains 80 folders,
and many of those contain more folders, like this:
C:\FOLDER00 (contains 15 more folders)
C:\FOLDER01 (contains 12 more folders)
C:\FOLDER02 (contains 24 more folders)
C:\FOLDER03 (contains no more folders)
C:\FOLDER78 (contains 31 more folders)
C:\FOLDER79 (contains 13 more folders)
and you instructed TURTLE to back up drive "C:", you would
encounter no problems. As TURTLE backed up C:\FOLDER00, the folder
count would climb to 19 (15 folders, C:\, C:\FOLDER00, M:, and
M:\FOLDER00). On the RAMdisk, only the folders in the path being
are counted. All other folders on the RAMdisk are removed from the
count as soon as they are completed. When the last file of
FOLDER00 was copied, before FOLDER01 was started, the folder count
would drop to 3 (C:, C:\FOLDER01, and M:), then rise to 4 as soon
as M:\FOLDER01 was created. Drive C: itself could contain any
number of folders, as far as TURTLE was concerned. You would
probably have problems with other programs, however, so this is
still not considered wise. If any single folder at the top level
of drive C: contained more than 40 folders, though, you could
experience problems with TURTLE. If this is the case, you must
back up drive C: by selecting groups of folders, then re-running
with the single folders which contain more than 40 folders. If
FOLDER31 contained 90 folders (counting all folders contained
within those folders), you would have to back up all folders
except 31, then back up FOLDER31 by itself. The PATH dialog box
has been widened to make this easier. The simplest way to explain
this is to think that the 40 folder limit has been moved one level
of folders lower in the path that you enter. It may be easier to
grasp the idea if you watch the folder count climb as the backup
is running, then suddenly drop as a folder is completed.
Once TURTLE begins, it will start copying files, even though
there are no disks ready. Do not be concerned. TURTLE will be
establishing the RAMdisk images, and no floppies are required
until the RAMdisk is full. Once the RAMdisk is full, it will be
dumped to the floppies, and will post messages to identify which
disk is which in sequence. If you do not stay ahead of TURTLE in
keeping disks ready, it will start ringing the console bell until
you return, and provide more diskettes.
TURTLE will keep all the files in a folder together, in an
identically named folder, on the floppy image. Of course, a
single hard disk folder may be split across several floppies. If
no files are to be copied from a folder, no empty folders will be
created. The sequence of the files in the folder will be the
largest file that fits first. This allows TURTLE to use the
floppies as efficiently as possible. TURTLE will not attempt to
copy a file that is too large to fit on a blank floppy, but will
log a message on the screen (remember that each folder requires
1K, so there is less space available when folders are nested).
THE DISPLAY
TURTLE maintains an informative display during the backup
process. It requires lines of 80 characters, so you must not be
in low res mode. At the top is the sign on banner, and the
current version number. Next is the status line for the floppy
drives. Each drive will always have a status indicated:
DISK NEEDED
Used only at startup. Be sure an appropriate disk is
inserted, and press the key corresponding to the floppy drive
(A or B, upper or lower case). When a disk has been
inserted, and the proper key pressed, the status will change
to READY. You may change disks any time that the disk access
for the floppy drive is not on, and press the keys at any
time. TURTLE is designed to allow you to set up two disks
and walk off. It will use them both, then start ringing
bells to let you know when it needs a new pair. It will let
you know what order the disks were written in. If you stay
ahead of TURTLE in keeping disks ready, it will alternate
between drive A and B. If both disks are full, it will use
whichever one you key in as ready first. If you do not have
a second drive, do not press the "B" key, and TURTLE will
work with drive "A" exclusively. If you re-use the same
disks for backup, with labels on them, it is very easy to
keep them in sequence.
FULL Disk ## Copy #
Informs you that the floppy in the designated drive is full,
and must be changed. The ## is the number of the disk in
sequence, and the # will show which copy it is, when multiple
copies are requested. You may change a disk at any time, and
press the keys at any time, so long as you do not attempt to
remove a disk while the drive's access light is on.
READY
You have indicated that a blank disk is in the drive, ready
for writing. When the RAMdisk is full, this drive will be
written to. If both drives are READY, TURTLE will write to
whichever one was not used last.
DISK ERROR
Well, these things happen. TURTLE is very good at
recovering, however. Since the entire image of the floppy is
in the RAMdisk, just insert a new floppy in the drive, press
RETURN, and TURTLE will start writing that copy over. Just
discard, re-cycle, or furiously mangle the disk with the
error. It is unimportant. Your backup will be perfectly
valid, no matter how many diskette errors occur. Ignore any
disks with errors, and keep the ones TURTLE identified as
FULL. When an error occurs, you must replace the disk in the
drive with the error, and press RETURN. TURTLE will not go
off writing on other (possibly labelled) disks and leave bad
ones lying around. This helps keeps things orderly.
TERMINATION PENDING
You have pressed the terminate key "T". TURTLE will finish
writing the current disk (however many copies were
requested), then stop executing. If the Archive bit was
being set, only the files copied will be marked as archived.
All files copied will have been properly marked, so the
backup may be restarted at a later time, and the remaining
files will be copied.
Read error. Options: A=Abort Backup. S=Skip this file:
A read error has occurred on the hard disk. TURTLE is unable
to backup the current file. You may abort the backup by
pressing A (or a). The abort is immediate. Files in the
RAMdisk are not copied to floppies. You may skip the file
with the read error by pressing S (or s), and the backup will
continue with the next file.
Other lines on the display are clearly labelled: the input
request being processed, the current path being copied, the number
of files in the path, how many remain to be copied, and byte
sizes. There is a folder count displayed. Remember that it is
only the number of folders read or written by TURTLE, and only
during the current execution. There is a log of files that have
been copied, and their sizes. It starts at the middle of the
screen, and scrolls down. The file being copied is the one at the
top of the list, and it will scroll down and off the page as
subsequent files are copied.
KEYBOARD
While the backup is running, TURTLE keeps checking the
keyboard. You can type in commands at any time. TURTLE will see
them within one or two seconds, as soon as the current disk I/O
operation is completed. All commands are a single letter, and do
not require that the RETURN key be pressed. The following commands
are active at any time, except when a disk I/O has occurred:
A (or a) - a floppy disk has been inserted in drive A, and is
ready for use.
B (or b) - a floppy disk has been inserted in drive B, and is
ready for use.
T (or t) - terminate the program after the current floppy
disk. All copies requested will be written before termination
occurrs. If the ARCHIVE option was requested, only the files
backed up are marked as archived.
Control-C - Cancel the program immediately. Files copied
into the RAMdisk are not copied to a floppy.
CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE DEPARTMENT
TURTLE could not function without the use of its RAMdisk.
This one has special functions and characteristics I have added to
support TURTLE. TURTLE absolutely will not work with any other
RAMdisk, so don't bother trying. This particular RAMdisk is a
highly modified version of one originally written by Landon Dyer
of Atari, and placed in the public domain. My thanks to Landon
Dyer for the use of his work.
SUMMARY
TURTLE works quite well, and with (I think) amazing speed.
It is even smart enough to not copy unused tracks at the end of a
diskette, but it will format them if formatting has been requested
(who needs a partially formatted disk?). The most important thing
is to be sure you free enough RAM to build the RAMdisk and run the
program before beginning. TURTLE is fairly bullet proof, and is
very informative while running. You can kill it at most any time
by pressing Control-C, and it will stop almost immediately. You
can request that it stop at the end of all copies of the current
disk by pressing "T". You do not have to wait for it to need
disks to make them ready, you may press the appropriate keys
whenever you have inserted the disks.
TURTLE is really only a GEM desktop front end for the program
which does the backup work, called TTLEXEC.TTP. TURTLE writes one
command line, then uses it to invoke TTLEXEC.TTP to do the real
work. You can use TTLEXEC.TTP from the command line without using
TURTLE if you like. See TTLEXEC.MAN for documentation.
TURTLE is over a quarter million bytes of source code, which
is not included in the .ARC file. The programs are copyrighted,
but released for public distribution. TURTLE is not to be sold
except for nominal charges for media, reproduction, and/or connect
charges while downloading.
If TURTLE gives you any trouble, or you have any suggestions,
please feel free to contact:
George R. Woodside Compuserve 76537,1342
5219 San Feliciano Dr. GEnie G.WOODSIDE
Woodland Hills, Ca. 91364
USENET: ..!{trwrb|philabs|csun|psivax}!ttidca!woodside
ot included in the .ARC file. The programs are copyrighted,
but released for public distribution. TURTLE is not to be sold
except for nominal charges for media, reproduction, and/or connect
charges while downloading.
If TURTLE gives you any trouble, or you have any suggestions,
please feel free to contact:
George R. Woodside Compuserve 76537,1342
5219 San Feliciano Dr. GEnie G.WOODSIDE
Woodland Hills, Ca. 91364
USENET: ..!{trwrb|philabs|csun|psivax}!ttidca!woodside
