DSKMGR - A Enhanced Disk Manager for the Portable Disk Drive DSKMGR.CO is a machine-language program which provides routine disk/file management capabilities for the Model 100 and the Portable Disk Drive 1. The program resides between 60700-62800 during operation and executes at 60700. The area between 62800 and MAXRAM (62960) is used by the program for buffers and temporary storage. DSKMGR is designed for users keeping a copy in low memory and LOADMing for actual use only. As a result, DSKMGR CLEARs the area between HIMEM and MAXRAM on exit to the Model 100's Main Menu. [ A modification to disable this capability can be selected when the .CO file is created.] Due to the number of ROM calls used by DSKMGR to reduce program size, it is currently implemented for the Model 100 only. If the press releases can be believed, DSKMGR should work with the new Model 102 but I have not confirmed that myself. At the present time, DSKMGR does not work correctly with the new TDD-2. If enough interest is expressed, DSKMGR may be updated later for the TDD-2. DSKMGR operates much like FLOPPY.CO (the software provided with the drive) with the following exceptions: 1) DSKMGR does not contain the Backup or Rename functions. The primary design consideration of DSKMGR was size and the limited requirements for these utilities led to the decision not to include them as part of the main program. 2) The program's Menu operates similarly to the system's Main Menu. Files are selected for saving by highlighting with the arrow keys/space bar and then pressing or F3. One of FLOPPY.CO's major drawbacks is the need to type in all file names with no file listings to work from. 3) The List function gives the user an opportunity at the end of each screen to name a file for loading from the disk. Pressing alone will continue the listing process. 4) DSKMGR was written to overcome some inherent weaknesses in FLOPPY.CO, specifically size and a lack of 'user-friendly interface'. However, new user comments and message threads here and elsewhere have led to two additional significant differences-- 1) .BA file loading by DSKMGR is compatible with SUPERA and other position-dependent BASIC program files; 2) DSKMGR will not 'grab' your telephone line, except upon exit to the M100 Main Menu. DSKMGR FUNCTIONS ================ [F1] List - Lists the names and sizes of all the files on the current disk. Files are listed in groups of 10 and the number of free bytes on the disk is given with the last group. The user is given a chance at the end of each group to name a file for loading from disk. Pressing alone will continue the listing. [F2] Load - Transfers a file from the disk to RAM. The user is prompted for the file's disk name and given an opportunity to give it a different name for RAM. DSKMGR v3.02 Page 2 [F3] Save - Transfers a RAM file to disk. The file is selected by highlighting its name on DSKMGR's menu, using the cursor exactly as it is on the Model 100's Main Menu. The user is then given a chance to rename the file for storage on disk. Pressing alone at the "Name on disk:" prompt will cause DSKMGR to use the file's RAM name. Pressing SHIFT/BREAK or CTRL-C will abort the Save. may be used instead of F3 to activate the Save routine. [F4] Sval - Automatically saves all visible RAM files to disk. The user is given a chance to rename each file just before it is saved to disk. Pressing alone will cause DSKMGR to use the file's RAM name. Pressing SHIFT/BREAK or CTRL-C will abort the rest of the Save All routine. [F5] Eras - Deletes a file from the current disk. The user is prompted for the name and asked to confirm the action. [F6] Kill - Kills the RAM file currently highlighted on DSKMGR's menu. The user is asked to confirm the action before it is carried out. [F7] Frmt - Formats the disk currently in the drive. The user is warned that any data on the disk will be lost and asked to confirm the action. [F8] Menu - Exits DSKMGR and returns to the Model 100's Main Menu. - Saves the file currently highlighted on the menu. May be used instead of F3. DOWNLOAD & INSTALLATION ======================= Due to the large number of questions surrounding the hex-conversion method of downloading previous releases of DSKMGR, I have chosen to make this version available as a BASIC program which will create the .CO program file. This has the added attraction of allowing certain user options to be specified at the time DSKMGR is created. This change should alleviate the other major source of problems -- using options that were previously carried in DSKMGR.ADD. A quick word here about downloading... I highly recommend using a file transfer protocol to get DSKMGR.302 rather than a simple ASCII capture download. The Christensen protocol (called XMODEM after the program where it was first implemented) is widely available, well-documented, and very reliable. DSKMGR.302 has an internal checksum that will verify the accuracy of the .CO file. If it reports a checksum error, DO NOT try to run DSKMGR.CO anyway! You will almost certainly be buying your Model 100 a round-trip ticket to the frozen North and your memos and spreadsheets will be the baggage that gets lost on the way. After downloading DSKMGR.302, load it into the BASIC interpreter and run it. The addresses where the program resides will be printed on the screen as each byte is moved into place. When the screen clears, the program will ask about three optional changes that can be made. DSKMGR v3.02 Page 3 As written, DSKMGR is self-clearing, i.e., on exit the variable HIMEM is reset to MAXRAM. This frees the 2.2K of RAM used by DSKMGR during execution. As a result of limitations in the 8085 assembly-language command set, .CO files in the Model 100 must be loaded to specific addresses before execution. Since the RAM just below the system variables is the last to be used for file storage, most programmers choose this area to assemble their programs. This also means most .CO files will conflict with each other. By clearing 'high memory' after use, DSKMGR insures its code is not corrupted accidentally by other programs and then executed. Some users have memory management techniques that assume .CO files will reside permanently above HIMEM. For those users, DSKMGR offers an option to defeat its self-clearing routine. To do so, just respond 'N' when asked 'Self-clearing?'. DSKMGR uses BEEPs to signal successful completion of commands and to announce error reports. If you prefer to use DSKMGR without the BEEPs, respond 'N' when asked 'Sound?'. Since DSKMGR was first released, other vendors have begun distributing the drive as well. One major difference between the TDD and these other drives is the transmission rate. The TDD has selectable baud rates and uses 19200 baud for normal transfers. Some of the others are hard-wired for 9600 baud. If your drive needs the slower speed, select 'N' when asked 'High-Speed?'. When the options are set, the program returns to the Main Menu. Two new files will be there -- DSKMGR.CO and DRIVER.DO. The .DO file is a program line to be loaded into BASIC and saved as DSKMGR.BA. After creating the BASIC file, the .DO file can be deleted. When run, the new BASIC program will automatically load and execute DSKMGR.CO. FINAL COMMENTS & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ================================= The reaction to DSKMGR over the past year has been overwhelming. There have been literally hundreds of Model 100 users who have chosen to use DSKMGR with their Portable Disk Drive. To all of you who have written to me with suggestions, questions, and words of praise, I would like to say thank you. Without your help and encouragement, DSKMGR would never have become what it is. However, the cost of supporting DSKMGR on-line has been enormous. For that reason, I am asking users to make a donation. Unlike shareware which specifies a registration fee for continued use after evaluation, all I am asking is this: If you are using DSKMGR, please consider what its value is to you and then consider making out a check. The level of support I can continue to give to DSKMGR as well as other new program developments will depend on you. As with previous versions of DSKMGR, this program is provided solely for personal use by members of this online service. Any other use or distribution, not-for-profit or otherwise, without prior permission is prohibited. No warranty exists, expressed or implied, as to the suitability of this product for its intended purpose. The user assumes all risk arising from the use of DSKMGR. J.K. Heilman CIS ID > 71216,1375 4577 Southland Avenue DELPHI > JKH Alexandria, Virginia 22312-1621 GENIE > J.K.HEILMAN DSKMGR v3.02 Page 4 DSKMGR ERROR CODES ================== DSKMGR uses two-letter error codes to reduce memory requirements. The following error messages are possible with DSKMGR: Ok Flashes briefly on the message line (Line 7) to indicate a function has been successfully completed. NR Drive is not ready. This error will be reported if the drive is not powered-up and connected to the computer before entering DSKMGR. Check power switch and cable connection, then try command again. CM Communications error. Results from a bad connection or similar transmission problem. Check cable and try again. AB Command aborted. Sent when BREAK or CTRL-C is pressed at a user prompt. FF File not found. AE File already exists. OM Out of space. Returned when there is insufficient room to save a file to disk or load a file into RAM. WP Disk is write-protected. The write-protection tab on the disk must be moved to the OFF position before data can be written to it. HT Hardware error. This is the one you don't want to get. Turn the drive off and on, then try the command again. If the HT error comes up again, you got TROUBLE! IO Input/Output error. This usually comes up when a read/write is attempted with an unformatted disk. It will also be reported if the disk has become corrupt. ND No disk in drive. BF Bad file type. This error prevents reading or writing a file that cannot be handled by the Model 100. FE File empty. Prevents saving a null file to disk.