››››     DiskFormer 0.90 12/94›     ›                                    Notes:›          DiskFormer is used to convert and tranfer disks and files for use›     with PC XFormer Atari 8bit emulator programs.  This is not a manual,›     it hopefully will give you enough information to use this version of›     the program.  Do not select "Not Available" as a source - It is to use›     diskcomm files as the source, and doesn't work completely yet.  Do not›     choose "Custom" for baud rate - it is unimplemented.  If you find any›     bugs not covered here please let me know.  Mail feedback (Positive or›     negative) to cp576@cleveland.freenet.edu.  This program is freeware. ›     PC XFormer 2.0 and 2.5 are freeware programs and PC XFormer 3.0 is a›     commercial program available from Brach Always Software, 14150 N.E.›     20th St., Suite 302, Bellevue, WA 98007  (206) 369-5513.›     ›                                 Capabilities:›          Welcome to Diskformer - The Atari disk conversion and transfer›     utility.›     ›     DiskFormer is able to read from these formats:›     (1) A Physical Disk in Single, Enhanced, or Double Density›     (2) A .XFD XFormer Disk Image (3 densities)›     (3) A .ATR SIO2PC/XFormer Disk Image (3 Densities)›     ›     Input can be from disk or file or for .XFD and .ATR files input can be›     from R1: using standard XMODEM protocol›     ›     ›     DiskFormer is able to write to these formats:›     (1) A Physcical Disk›     (2) A .XFD XFormer Disk Image›     ›     In the case of .XFD, DiskFormer can transmit it via standard XMODEM›     through an R: device.›     ›     ›                                 Requirements:›     (1)  Atari 8 bit with 48K and Disk Drive.›     For transfer capabilities you also need:›     (1) RS232 interface and R: handler for the Atari.›     (2) Another computer (IBM compat. if you are transfering files for use›     with PC Xformer) with a serial port and communications software›     capable of doing standard XMODEM file transfers.›     (3) Null Modem cable or adapter and any other necessary adapters or›     cables to hook the two together.›     ›     ›                                 Installation:›          Copy the R: handler to a filename of your choice (DISKFORM.COM›     for example) and append DISKFORM.EXE to it.›     ›     ›                                   Loading:››››››››››››››          Load the file (DISKFORM.COM) and the R: handler should load›     followed by DISKFORMER.  BOBVERTER with a home built type R-Verter›     type interface was used in the development of this program.›     ›                                     Use:›          Select the Input Type and Output Type using "I" and "O".  Set the›     Input (Source) and Output (Destination) drives with "S" and "D".  If›     an input or output type is an XMODEM type transfer, the corresponding›     drive doesn't matter.  The Input and Output Types both cannot be an›     XMODEM type.  Doing so, will cause the menu to be redisplayed when›     initiating the transfer.  You can change the R: device by pressing R:.›     This will usually always be R1:.›          When the output is an .ATR or .XFD file you must have the file›     written to a disk that is larger than you are converting from.  You›     could convert a disk to an .XFD file on a large ramdisk and then use a›     terminal program to transfer the file (Using other protocols if need›     be).  Be warned, The version of BOBTERM I have will add an extra block›     to the end of the file even though an .XFD file is an exact multiple›     of 128 bytes.  .ATR files will probably have padding on the end to. ›     PC XFormer will not recognize this file as a disk image unless you are›     able to remove the extra bytes after the transfer.  Diskformer will›     not add extra bytes at the end of the .XFD files.  Since Diskformer›     cannot write to .ATR files, you don't have to worry about them. ›     Hopefully PC XFormer 3.0 or future versions will be smart enough to›     look at the filename to see if its a disk image instead of looking at›     the filesize.  Most conversions will prompt you for the density of the›     disk image since it is impractical in some cases for the program to be›     able to determine it.  Using the wrong conversion or wrong density›     will result in a defective transfer or generate an erro - Note: A›     table of file sizes follows this paragraph.  When the output is a›     Diskette you may elect to format or not format the disk.  Don not›     choose format unless the format is the correct density of the file›     being transferred.  Pressing Shift-Y will format in Ultra Speed›     (Diskformer cannot do Hi-Speed transfers though).  This is intended if›     you have an O.S. that supports ultra speed or a driver you may load.›     ›     Image Type    File Size   secs used   secs used ›                               on ED disk  on DD disk›     ----------    ---------   ----------  ----------›     SD XFD File    92160      720-738     360-364›     SD ATR File    92176      720-738     360-364›     ED XFD File   133120      won't fit   520-526›     ED ATR File   133136      won't fit   520-526›     DD XFD File   184320      won't fit   won't fit›     DD ATR File   184336      won't fit   won't fit›     ›     ›                                   Transfers›          It is recommended you start the transmitter first.  If DiskFormer›     is sending, wait until it says "Waiting for Receiver" before starting›     the receiver.  DiskFormer will wait forever and will never time out. ›     Hopefully the terminal program on the other end is forgiving enough to›     wait for the Atari to access its slow drives.  If the other computer››››››››››››››     times out, see if you can increase the number of errors or timeout›     values.  Future versions of DiskFormer will allow you to decrease the›     buffer size, reducing the load/save times.  You can do this to some›     extent, by leaving BASIC on, or storing other values in location 106.›     ›                           Simplified Instructions:›          The primary purpose of this program is to send a disk to a PC›     XFormer equipped PC or receiving a disk back so we cover that here. ›     You must have a handler loaded prior to loading DISKFORM.EXE or have›     the DiskFormer program appended to one.  Obviously you must have the›     two computers connected by a null modem cable and a terminal program›     capable of Standard-XModem send and receive.›     ›     Sending a Disk:›     (1)Set the Input type to Diskette with "I".›     (2)Set the Output type to .XFD-XMODEM(R:) with "O"›     (3)Set the Baud rate if other that 19200 baud.  It must be set the›     same as that of the reciever.›     (4)Set the Source Drive with "S".›     (5)Press Start›     (6)Insert Source disk in the drive you choose, press a key›     (7)When "Waiting for Receiver" appears, start XMODEM recieve on the›     other computer.›     (8)When the transfer is complete, press any key.›     ›     See TroubleShooting below if you have any problems.›     ›     Receiving a Disk:›     (1)Set the source to .XFD-XModem(Rn:) or .ATR-XModem(Rn:) depending on›     the extender of the file using "S".›     (2)Note the file size on the other computer and use the table›     presented earlier to determine the density type.  Write it down or›     remember it.›     (3)Set the destination ("D") to Diskette.›     (4)Set the Baud Rate ("B").  It must match the sender.›     (5)Press Start›     (6)Start the sender.›     (7)Insert Destination and press a key›     (8)Wait for the Format Disk Prompt.  Unless the disk is already›     formatted to the correct density, press "Y".  If the sender times out›     because of the time required to format the disk, format the disk in›     advance.  You will also be prompted for the density, press "S" for›     single, "E" for 1050 double (enhanced), or "D" for double.›     (9)When the transfer is complete, press any key.›     ›     Read the next section if you have any problems.›     ›     Trouble Shooting:›          If no blocks are transferred, check connections and baud rates.›     ›          If you get any errors and no blocks are transferred, verify the›     reciever is set to standard XModem and not XMODEM-CRC.›     ››››››››››››››          If the receiver times out while your atari is reading from the›     disk, see if the timing or max errors can be changed on the receiver. ›     Or, try booting with BASIC and loading the program from DOS.  If you›     have a large ramdisk, set the output to .XFD File (Dn:) and set the›     destination to the RAMDISK.  Use a terminal program (Or DiskFormer if›     you set the source appropriately) to transfer the file.›     ›                                 Permissions:›     This program may be freely distributed, but not sold alone or›     conjunction with any other product without permission.  Program and›     documentation Copyright 1994 Kenneth Siders.›     ›                                                                           ›