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- ## Note this prgtext uses amigaguide for reading.
- ## This is kept in your utilities drawer of your bootdrive.
- ## You also need the amiga.library in your libs drawer.
-
- DiskMate Help
-
-
-
- DiskMateV4.0 ©93
- (Final Version)
-
-
- *------------ ---------------- --------------*
- |\/| __ __ _
- | | / ) /(__ / A3000/25Mtz
- ..| |AL /--\ / ___)/_ 6Meg/105Hd
-
- DownUnder | malh@thedoc.wnet | Amiga/Next
- DevelopMent | Malcolm Harvey | +65 75 726746
- *------------ ---------------- --------------*
-
-
-
-
-
- WhatIsIt
- Requirments
- History
- Controls
- Recognition Author
-
-
-
- DiskMate/WhatIsIt
-
-
-
-
- *---- DiskMate V4.0 ---------*
-
-
- * Multitasking
-
- * Multi drive Diskcopier Dos/NonDos
-
- * Multi drive Disk formatter
-
- * Multi drive Disk eraser
-
- * Disk Installer
-
- * Floppy disk Checker
-
- * Floppy disk Cruncher (DMS)
-
- *--- The Final Version ------*
- * *
- * Apart from any Bugs that *
- * anyone may find or quirks *
- * that need fixing....:-) *
- * *
- *----------------------------*
-
-
- *- DMS ©(SDS DiskSmasherUS) -*
- *- ASL ©(CBM Commodore US) -*
-
-
-
- Diskmate/Requirments
-
-
-
- * Programmed For O/S V2.0x/3.0x Beyond. *
-
-
- *------ NOTE: --------*
-
-
- Currently tested running on an Amiga
- 500/600/2000/3000/1200/4000.
-
- WARNING:Do not use nofastmem when using the
- prg as this removes/shifts mem etc, which
- is absolutly deadly with this type of prg.
-
-
- NOTE ABOUT LOADING:When loading the prg
- do not close the window which you loaded
- the prg from until you see the main copy
- window. Because it uses that window for
- its error requesters etc when loading.
-
- LASTLY:As this prg is PublicDomain and
- as such i cannot accept any responsibility
- for prg errors/faults/corruption that
- may happen by using this prg. Although I
- have tried to test its functions Fully.
-
-
- *---------------------*
-
-
-
-
- DiskMate/History
-
-
-
- *--- Diskmate History ---*
-
-
- * Version 1.01..*
-
- * Version 2.0...* (These versions never Released)
- (Or never really ment to be..!)
-
- * Version 2.0d..*
-
- * Did not write time and date upon formatting.
-
- * Could not write anymore than one dest device
- when doing a ram to dest copy.
-
- * Playing with the gadgets while operating
- prog caused disterous resaults.
-
- * Chkdisk Required 1meg Ram Buffer.
-
- * Name string Showed all extra bytes
-
- * Did not rcognize different disks if Formatted.
-
-
- * Version 2.0e..*
-
- * Fixed time/date routine.
-
- * Added A Src Ram Drive Gadget.
-
- * Implemented Multiple Dest from a Src Ram drive.
-
- * Fixed Chkdsk Buffer uses internal buffer now.
-
- * Fixed name String, Only prints Real length.
-
- * Added Install Drive Gadget.
-
- * Knows different Disks Dates now if Formatted.
-
-
- * Version 2.1..*
-
- * Implemented Multipass RamCopy.
-
- * Ghosts Gadgets Now When in Operation
-
-
- * Version 3.0..*
-
- * Added Copying to DiskFile and Back.
-
- * Added Copying to RadDrive and Back.
-
- * Added Retry Gadget for Copy Errors Etc.
-
- * Added Speech Routines.
-
- * Added 880k/1.76m Disksize Formats
-
-
- * Version 3.01..*
-
- * Added Trk Direction for floppydrives
-
- * Implemented built in help now
-
- * Fixed Retry Bug
-
- * Fixed Inhibit Drive Bug
-
- * Fixed Verify Error Bug
-
- * Prg Properly AutoCentres On Boot now
-
- * Uses WB Beep Function now for Errors
-
- * Implemented Multidrive Format
-
- * Fixed memory Allocation Checking
-
- * Added del function
-
- * Added dir function
-
-
- * Version 3.2..*
-
- * Added options ofs/ffs in Install function
-
- * Added ofs/ffs format option gadget
-
- * Added shell window gadget
-
- * Implemented Copying To/From Any Virtual Disk Device
-
- * Fixed Asl Bug now keeps path/filename immediatly
-
- * Added pattern gadget to asl requester which now
- looks for ext .dm which is attached to all files
- copied to hard disk etc using the file option
-
- * Fixed Stop Gadget (Dosn't Stop now for no Reason)
-
-
- * Version 4.0..*
-
- * Fixed Asl Crashing (Wont hang up now)
-
- * Now writes Boot/Root Blocks Properly
-
- * Vdisk Unit String now works properly to 99
- You can also use 04 or 4 for example 4 etc now.
-
- * Implemented Dos+ Copying Mode
-
- * Added Viewing of Boot/Root Block hex/ascii
-
- * Added Iconify Gadget
-
- * Implemented Crunch Routine (Uses DMS ©SDS Software)
-
- *----------------------*
-
-
-
- Diskmate/Controls
-
-
-
- *---- Prg Controls V4.0 ----*
-
-
-
-
- ? Gadget: * ?=help: Well this is the builtin help. Click on
- for help and click off again to quit. You can
- also get this by pressing the help key.
-
- Direction Gadget: * F/B=Direction. This gadget will let you toggle the
- trk direction of the floppydrives either forward
- or backward. This also works with rad.
-
- Dir Gadget: * DIR=Directory. This will bring up the Asl Requester
- which will let you have a look at a Directory of any
- device connected to you system.
-
- Del Gadget: * DEL=Delete. This will bring up the Asl Requester
- which will let you delete a file on any device
- connected to your system.
-
- S Gadget: * S=Stop. This gadget will let you escape from any
- drive accessing function in the program.
- Note: Although this happens almost
- instantly, at times you may have to hold
- it down for a sec, this is due mainly
- to the fact that it could be accessing
- a disk therefore you could have to wait
- till that disk whether reading or writing
- is finished before it gets the message
- to stop. For the techies>> The Main reason
- for this is that it would take quite a
- substantial amount of work to make it
- interrupt driven, ie: using Sendio).
-
- OFS/FFS Gadget: * OFS/FFS=Format Type. This gadget will select
- the format type when using tthe auto option
- in the erase routine or when clicking format
- to format a disk.
-
- ShellWindow: * ShellWindow=NewShell. This gadget will open
- up a newshell window.
-
- Magnify: * MagnifyBB=ViewBlock. This gadget will view
- the root/boot block of any src disk selected.
- The arrows in the viewing window will toggle
- the viewing between the upper/lower two sectors.
-
- I Gadget: * I=Install An AmigaDos BootBlock
- on the Selected Src Drive. You Can Select either
- ofs(old file system) ffs(fast file system) format.
-
- C Gadget: * C=Check. This Gadget is used to Check a disk in
- any of the Src Drives.
-
- SP Gadget: * SP=Speech. If this gadget it set on, it will
- speak any requester/name msg that will appear.
- (Note..If Translator.lib or Narrator.device was
- notfound the SP Gadget will be Ghosted.
-
- ID Gadget: * ID-Inhibit-Drive. In default mode this is set
- off which will mean when an operation is started
- eg: Diskcopy/Erase(kill) Etc, you will notice that a
- busy icon will appear on the WorkBench Screen for
- each Drive that is in use. And when that particular
- operation is complete, the busy icon will disappear
- and the disk(s) name(s) will appear again. If the
- ID Gadget is selected all drives in the system will
- go busy as described above untill deselected again.
- This gives you the option of having/not having the
- drives read each time you put a disk in a drives(s).
-
- * Note: For some reason even though the above works
- the drives still may wait a few secs before they
- recognize/read/write a disk with the drives busy.
- Its probably just something i am not aware of yet.
- I should have this fixed by version 4.0 though:-).
-
-
- A Gadget: * A=About. Well here I am.
-
- N Gadget: * N=Name. This Gadget will show you the name of the
- Selected Src Disk in the Status Window.
- (Note. With certain disks either Erased or
- NonDos, you will get the name NonDos.. Instead.
-
- StatusWindow: * As the name implies, will show all msgs here
- whether DiskCoping/Formatting or whatever.
-
- SrcDstGadgets: * These are The Gadgets in 2 columns on the far right
- of the program which deal with which particular
- mode you are using either Erasing/DiskCopy.
-
- When you Load the program Default, all the
- FloppyDrive(s) that you have in your system
- will either show up as usable/not ghosted or
- they will be set to ghost mode (unasable).
- They are fairly straightforward to use.
- For example to use the diskcopy mode, just
- select a src gadget and one or several
- destination gadgets and that's it. If you want
- To use the Single pass ram copy as well you
- can select the Ram destination Gadget as well.
- It will check to see if you have the memory
- for the ram buffer to copy to first, and if not
- it will give you a "not enough" requester. Else
- if the Buffer is big enough, when you select
- go it will copy to a ram buffer as well.
-
- Note: The ram gadgets src/dest will be ghosted
- or enabled depending on the available memory.
- If you don't have the available memory for a
- whole disk to copy to in one read, the ram
- gadgets will be ghosted and you will go into
- the multipass disk/ram copy. On the other
- hand if you did have the memory the ram gadgets
- will be enabled and this will copy the src to
- the ram buffer in one read. If the copier goes
- into the multipass mode, follow the approiate
- requesters to swap disks etc when required.
- Warning..If you have selected more than one dest
- disk, ie df1/df2 etc, Do not remove them until
- the message ok comes up in the status window,
- telling you that the copying is completed, else
- they will not be complete copies.
-
- If the prg reads the whole disk in on one pass,
- when and if the trk guage reaches across to
- 160 trks, all the other selected dest drives
- (if you were doing multiple dest of course) would
- be finished on the first pass - you would
- then remove from there apropriate drive(s).
-
- Now that you have read the src into ram, from
- now on, if you want a copy of the image in ram
- All you do is select src ram, then pick which
- drive from the dest drives 0/1/2/3 you would
- like that ram image written back too.
-
- Once this is done it will write the Ram buffer
- back to the disk(s) you have selected. The image
- in ram will always stay there, until you do
- another copy into ram again.
-
- Vdisk: If this src/destination gadget is selected the
- program will use your Virtual drive the same as a
- floppy drive would above. Note: The prg can
- only work with virtual disk devices of low density
- or (880k) size AmigaFormat.
-
- VdiskGaget: * Vdisk=Virtual Disk Drive. This Gadget will allow
- you to select a virtual drive eg: rad/fms/vdo etc
- for use just like a normal floppy-drive.
-
- Note: As these devices may never be 100% reliable
- although they usually work ok, use these devices
- with care. If you do use a vdisk these can prove
- to be a very fast copy way of copying multiple
- disks. What to enter in vdisk window when opened.
-
- VdiskName: RAD:/FF0:/VDO: ETC
- Vdiskdev: ramdrive.device fms.device etc
- vdiskunit: 0/1/2 etc for that particular dev above.
-
-
- File: If this dest gadget is selected the program will
- bring up the Asl Requester which will after entering
- a filename in the filename box wil then allow
- you to write a copy either a low/high density disk
- to a file which can be anywhere on your system's
- devices, eg: Harddrives/floppies or whatever.
- Depending on what size you have selected 880/1.76,
- the file will be either 901120/1802240 bytes in
- length. And on the other hand if you select file
- src, then a requester will pop up in which you can
- select a file to write back to your destination
- disks. WARNING:Make sure that you have the right
- size disk in the drive for that particular drive
- format, 880/1.76, Or else you will end up with a
- disk with only half the data and the wrong sec size.
- As a 800k writes 11*512 sec per trk, and a 1.76
- write 22*512 sec per trk, So make sure its right!!.
-
- Also if you tried to copy from a high-density file/
- disk src to a vdisk drive this would not be allowed,
- because the vdisk is only 880(1meg) in size. And the
- same goes for the Ramdrive. When the prg loads it
- will now check to see if it can get a 2meg buffer
- for the 1.76 disks. If it cannot it will get either
- the 1meg or 512k buffer instead. So if it could only
- get a 1meg/512k buffer you would not be able to copy
- a 1.76 disk to that buffer because it would be to
- small. (I really only wrote copying to ram with the
- High-Density disks for the users with Heaps of Ram,
- that is why i dident bother with the multipass High
- -Density to Ram Copy).
-
- Low/High: As Stated above this is the Disk format size
- selection gadget. Either 880(1meg)/1.76(2meg) Disks.
- Note: At the moment it wil only format to
- AmigaDos Format.
-
-
- If Erase(Kill) Mode is selected, all you do is
- select any Src drive(s) to erase and Select Go.
- This function or operation will completly wipe
- your floppy disk(s) like new. Note to make it
- usuable with AmigDos see AutoGadget Below.
-
-
- Dos/Dos+: * If the Dos Mode is Selected when copying for
- example the prg will verify that the Src disk
- Read ok and that the dest wrote ok.
- If the Dos+ Mode is Selected it will verify
- that the src read ok and that the dest wrote
- ok and then it will read the dest again and then
- compare the dest data with the src data and
- make sure they are the same.
-
-
- CrunchSwitchGadget: * On/Off=FileCrunch on/off. If off and you select
- a dest file gadget and you are in the diskcopy
- mode the prg will copy the src disk selected to
- a file on any device etc. In the off position
- the file will be either low(901120) or -
- high(1802240) Bytes in Length. If the switch is
- in the on position, the prg will use the DMS or
- (DiskSmasher Prg) in you sys:c Directory...The
- cli Version Turbo-Genericv1.11. It will then
- crunch the src disk to the file selected using
- the options in the Crunchoptions gadget. Note:
- if you have any other dest gadget selected other
- than the file gadget and you are using the on
- crunch option eg:(DMS Crunch) the Src disk will
- be read and packed first then the other drives
- will then be written too. So wait untill all
- drives are stopped and completed before you
- remove the floppy(s) or else you will definatly
- get some errors.
-
- If reading from a crunched file you can only
- select one dest floppy/vdisk device. As presently
- i could not write a routine that would work to
- my requirments successfully apart from some very
- messy code so i opted for one disk read/write
- to/from a dms file. If someone wants this to have
- multiple dests from a src dms file i would
- probably implement this sometime.
-
-
- CrunchGadget: * CrunchGadget=(PRG/DMS(Crunch)Options.
- If this gadget is clicked, it will open up a
- window which will allow you to change options
- that are used in the prg, either to do with the
- crunch (Specifically DMS) or the main prg itself.
- The DMS options are (NONE/HEAVY1/HEAVY2/BEST)
- crunch mode. Warning:Do not use Dms At all unless
- you have at least 1meg> of Ram: free after loading
- diskmate. Or else If you do and you dont have the
- ram you will find that it will pak but will
- probably or not write anything at all.
- (This is because DiskMate allocates buffers etc
- and if it gets the full 2meg(1802240) for a high
- density drive and you only have a 2meg machine
- well you wouldent have enough ram for dms to
- work properly.So Only use Dms If you have heaps
- of memory.)
-
- You can also see the action of the dms working
- with the text option on. This will cause it too
- come up with a window which you can see the dms
- output in.
- NOTE: To know what the cmode options mean above
- see the appropriate DMS documentation for their
- usage.
-
-
- AutoGadget: * This Gadget is used in conjunction with the erase
- (kill) function to let or enable you to format
- a disk when it has finished the erasing. Eg:
- To achieve this select erase mode, Set the Auto
- Gadget down or selected, select any Src Drive(s)
- to erase and then Select go. When the erase pass
- is complete, it will automatically format the src
- drives selected.
-
-
- VerGadget: * This gadget can be enabled on any mode. If you
- doing an erase(kill) it will check that the data
- got written ok. Or if you were using the DiskCopy
- mode, it will check both the reading of a src
- disk or and any dest drives as its copying.
-
- If You have the verify Selected you will get
- a blue bar under the trk bar if that sec(s) is
- ok, else if it had some error it will appear
- in grey. (NOTE: The Colours in the Program
- may vary depending on what colours you have
- set for your workbench colours.
-
- RetryGadget: * This gadget will only have any affect if the
- verify gadget has been enabled or set on. If
- it has then, if an error has been found the
- disk with the error will go back and try and
- read the trk/sec again, according to how many
- times that you have set the value next to the
- retry at. Using the up/down gadgets you can set
- this to a value from 0-9 retries.
-
-
- TrkGauge: * This displays where the disk has got up to.
- The Trk bar shows up in white and extends across.
- And as above the verify if set shows up below.
-
-
- FmtGadget: * This gadget will if selected format a disk
- in any src drive. When you select this Gadget
- a requester will come up with the option of
- either 1) Quick or 2) Complete format mode.
- if 1 is selected it will just format the Boot
- Block and Root Block. If 2 is picked it will
- format the disk(s) completely. Note: the quick
- option is only recommended for a disk that
- you know is ok before hand. As it does not
- write to any other sectors than the r/bb..
- (DO NOT USE IT FOR STORING VALUABLE DATA TO).
- or you may risk losing it. You have been warned.
- And also as above, the disksize Gadgets apply.
- So you can do either 800/1.76 disk format.
-
- Note.If the autogadget is selected when you
- selected fmt it will disreguard the autooption.
- And also the ofs/ffs gadget will set which
- type of format the disk will have when formatted
- if using auto or just clicking format directly.
-
- DiskFormats: If you have selected either diskcopy or c(check)
- Gadget(s) and you see that the disk access stop
- unusually early, this is because of a Track-
- Disk Device error, Probably a disk format
- unknown error, which will cause it to stop.
-
- Stopping: * Apart from pressing the stop gadget to stop
- some disk access, you can just remove a disk
- from any drive. I put this option in as
- you never know who might fool with your
- computer when you're in the next room! Although
- I wouldn't recommend you do the above at all!!.
-
-
- Quit: * To quit select the Close Box.
- Note: You can also use the Q or Esc Key.
-
- HelpKey: * Brings up the Info.
-
-
- Programmers/Helpers/Thankz
-
-
-
- *----------------*
-
- * Progammers Two people i want to thank are RayDuck and His Mate
- Daryl Bartlett. For all Thier help with programming
- and Infomation over the years. And another programmer
- who is probably the most amazing on the planet lord
- knows where he is though, none other than Kyle Hodgets.
- And three other guys, Tom Gubler Andrew Wright and
- Jason Bullin, for all their help with code and ideas
- to programming in general.
-
- * Helpers/thankz
- All Beta testing By Michael Harvey.
- Raylph Downs for his Suggestions.
-
- And Last Mareeca Duck And Judy Miners...:-)
-
-
-
- *----------------*
-
-
-
-
- Authors/Notes
-
-
- *--------------------------------*
-
- DiskMate v4.0
-
- ©1993 Malcolm Harvey
-
-
- Programmed 100% Assembly Language
-
- Programming/Graphics .. Malcolm Harvey
-
-
-
- Prg: * This prg has taken over 2000 hrs in Development
- time to make.
-
- * Amiga.......Amiga3000.
- 6meg ram.
- 105m QHD.
-
- * Assembler...Devpac.
- Debuggers...Monam.
- Metascope.
- * Editor......Cygnas.
-
- * Graphix.....Dpaintiv.
- Pixmate.
- Powerwindows.
-
-
-
-
- Bugs: * HopeFully Now None
-
- * If you do find any please send them to me
- via my address below. Happy Computing.
-
- Address: 4/39 Duet Drive
- Mermaid Waters
- GoldCoast 4218
- Qld Australia
-
- *-----------------------------------------------*
-