*************************************************************************** * Don't forget to assign MRBackup: to the directory where MRBackup lives! * *************************************************************************** These docs will help you use the latest version with any new features we have added or changed. If you have any further questions on how to use any of these new items, please call out technical support department. 12-21-91 V1.07.19e * NOTE *: To use the new compressor with MRbackup, you must now assign MRBackup: to the destination that MRBackup and the compressor reside. If you do not the compressor will not run correctly. CHANGE: The MRBackup installer now creates subdirectories named MRBackup:Catalogs and MRBackup:Lists_and_Logs. The default area for saving catalogs is MRBackup:Catalogs. If this directory is missing, the default directory becomes MRBackup:. CHANGE: If no preferences directory is specified on startup, the directory MRBackup:Prefs is chosen. If, for some reason that directory is not available, MRBackup: is chosen. Thus, the default preferences file is either MRBackup:Prefs/MRBackup.init or MRBackup:MRBackup.init. The S: directory is no longer automatically referenced. CHANGE: Well, what good is all this "WorkBench Smartness" if MRBackup can't save an icon with the preferences file? Now when you Save Preferences, you'll also be creating an icon. The "template" for this icon comes from MRBackup:Prefs/MRBackupDefaults.info If it can't be found, no icon will be created. Using an external icon in this manner allows you to replace ours with your own. CHANGE: Some additional tweaks of the user interface have been added to enable/disable certain menu items and option gadgets, depending upon the backup mode currently selected and the state of MRBackup (idle, starting a backup, starting a restore). 11-29-91 V1.07 CHANGE: The color scheme has been totally redone to conform to the WorkBench 2.0 configuration. This means that your existing color scheme(s) will appear differently than they did. CHANGE: You can now do a restore even without a catalog file. To invoke this option, click Cancel in the file requester that requests the catalog name. A new requester will pop up asking "Restore without catalog?" A YES response will allow the restore to proceed. CHANGE: MRBackup now uses two distinct file areas for referencing preferences files and "work" (temporary) files. The defaults for these are as follows. For the preferences directory, if the logical name "MRBackup:" exists, it is used. Otherwise, the system-defined logical name "S:" is used. For the work directory, if the directory "MRBackup:Work" exists, it is used. Otherwise, the system-defined logical name "T:" is used. These defaults may be overridden in two ways. Two new Tool Types entries have been added to the WorkBench icon for MRBackup. The ToolType "PREFS=" specifies the default directory for MRBackup preferences and filter files. The Tool Type "WORK=" specifies the default work directory for MRBackup temporary (read/write) files. The "DIR=" Tool Type has been preserved for compatibility and is the equivalent of the "PREFS=" Tool Type. When starting MRBackup from the CLI, you may use "-p " to specify the preferences directory and "-w " to specify the work directory. The "-d" option has been preserved for compatibility and is equivalent to the "-p" option. The use of separate preferences and work directories allows you to store the preferences files in a "read only" area while designating a "read/write" directory or partition for use as a work area. 11-16-91 CHANGE: Verify Backup now attempts to verify compressed files. This capability is still being developed, but should be stable enough to be used. CHANGE: The Utilities now display a busy pointer when an file processing button is being serviced. 11-09-91 CHANGE: MRBackup's method for managing the catalog (internally) has undergone radical change. This has resulted in enhanced reliability and improved performance. CHANGE: A new Verify Backup command has been added. THIS COMMAND IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION. Some features are not yet completed. In particular, the Verify Backup command currently does not verify files that have been compressed, though that feature will be added in the near future. CHANGE: A new filter, the Restore Filter, has been added. The restore filter was added primarily to provide a means to select individual files for restoration under ARexx control. The restore filter has all of the same characteristics as the backup filter (separate :INCLUDE: and :EXCLUDE: sections). CHANGE: Two new ARexx commands have been added to facilitate use of the Restore Filter: getrfilterpath setrfilterpath These work in the same manner as getbfilterpath/setbfilterpath, respectively. 10-29-91 CHANGE: Here is a sample mountlist entry for MRTape-Handler with new synchronous and asynchronous capabilities: /* This is a mountlist entry for the SCSI tape handler provided with */ /* MRBackup. Pay particular attention to the StartUp message. Its */ /* format is: */ /* "////" */ /* */ /* where */ /* is the total amount of buffer memory, specified */ /* in K (K = 1024); */ /* */ /* is the SCSI device driver name; */ /* */ /* is the SCSI unit number; */ /* */ /* is the SCSI logical unit number (not currently used but */ /* must be set to zero); */ /* */ /* is a set of bits controlling certain tape drive options */ /* The bit values, which may be added together are: */ /* */ /* 1 asynchronous mode, 0 = synchronous mode */ /* 2 use on-board buffer, 0 = don't use on-board buffer */ /* */ /* Example: to enable async mode and the on-board buffer, the */ /* value would be 3 (1 + 2). */ /* */ /* Other flag bits will be provided as new features are added. */ MRTAPE: Handler = l:mrtape-handler StartUp = "64/scsi.device/4/0/3" Stacksize = 4000 Priority = 10 GlobVec = -1 # 8-14-91 CHANGE: Append tape is working - mostly. We have a means for appending save sets to the end of tape and for retrieving any save set (currently by number where 0 <= number <= number_of_savesets - 1). The device name you specify controls how the tape is accessed. For write operations (backups): MRTAPE: causes the tape to be written from the beginning, erasing old data. MRTAPE:A causes the data to be written at the logical end of tape. For read operations (restores): MRTAPE: reads from the beginning of tape. MRTAPE:number reads from saveset position , where can be any value 0 <= number <= number_of_savesets - 1. MRTAPE: and MRTAPE:0 are handled identically. About the handler.... The current version of mrtape-handler represents a complete rewrite of the earlier code and sports many new features, several of which were designed specifically to support MRBackup Professional. It is known to support the following SCSI tape drives: Wangtek 5XXX ES This drive has an on-board 64K byte cache. Specify "64" as the buffer size if you can afford it (this results in 128k bytes being set aside by the handler, so plan accordingly). I believe you'll get optimal results with MRBackup if you also set "his" buffer size to 64K. This results in an optimal double-buffering arrangement. Data Cartridge Technology MCD-40 (and -20) This drive uses a fixed-size block of 8192 bytes. Specify "8" as the buffer size in your mountlist entry. This drive does not seem to provide any reasonable asynchronous behavior. I was quite disappointed with its performance compared to the Wangtek or the Sony. Archive ???? Sony SDT-1000 (added 03/30/91) On the SONY DAT drive, it is currently assumed that the drive defaults to "variable block size" mode. Since this is the vendor-preferred mode, MRBackup uses it. The drive is a real performer, though settling time after a rewind is a bit unsettling. :-) Tandberg 3600 series This is quite similar to the WangTek drive. It has an on-board 64K byte cache, though only 60K is really available for buffering. This one may have a few glitches when run in asynchronous mode. Commodore A3070 series. Basicaly the same specs and functionality as the Tanberg drive. Most other drive types and styles are also supported. Call us if you have any questions as to whether your drive has been tested. The use of the word "handler" is significant. This is not a "device driver". It responds to AmigaDOS I/O packets. Implementing tape support in this way (as opposed to embedding SCSI direct calls within the MRBackup Professional program) provides a large degree of device independence for MRBackup Professional. MRBackup Pro simply writes a stream of data (encoded in MRBackup's "FastDisk" format) to the Backup Path. This may just as easily be the SER: device, a file (local or networked) or some other device configured to respond to standard filesystem calls. To determine the version number of MRTapeHandler, view the handler with any binary file editor and look for a string that begins with the letters "$VER:". You may also use the "version" command under WorkBench 2.0. If you have any questions, problems or concerns, please let us know. Thank you! TTR Development, Inc. 608-277-8071 TTR New Products and Announcements! ----------------------------------- * PRESS RELEASE * 22 November 1991 TTR Development, Inc. is proud to announce the addition of these new and exciting products to their diversified product line.... Available now Diamond Store 20 3.5" floptical drive. Each 3.5" floppy disk now holds up to 20 meg per disk! Works also in DD and HD modes as well! Comes complete in internal and external configurations! Now available for Amiga, Macintosh and MSDos! Call for pricing. ** PRESS RELEASE 29 November 91 ** 68040 accelerator!!! TTR Development, Inc and RCS Management, Inc are proud to announce a product distribution agreement between the two companies! TTR will now be offering the 'FUSION FORTY 68040 ACCELERATOR' in the United States and RCS will be offering the new DS20A Floptical drive in Canada! Because of this agreement, TTR and RCS are able to offer the Amiga community very powerful products in both countries for unbelievable prices! For a limited introductory period, TTR is offering special Holiday prices through December 30, 1991: Fusion Forty Configuration Retail Special Holiday Prices 1) W/4 Meg 32 bit high speed ram $1799.95 $1599.95 2) W/16 Meg 32 bit high speed ram $2243.95 $2043.95 3) W/32 Meg 32 bit high speed ram $2835.95 $2635.95 The 'FUSION FORTY' offers Amiga users unparalleled performance for any type of application you might have. Here are some specifications: 1) MC68040 running at 25 Mhz! 2) Capable of 20+ Mips and 3.5+ Mflops! 3) Cache Sizes of 4 Kbytes x 2! 4) Burst mode! 5) 32 Meg expansion ON the card! 6) 68000 switch for game players! 7) Utilizing GAL technology for low heat! 8) Asynchronous design for compatibility! 9) Tested compatibility with Video Toaster, Professional Page, Imagine and many other software and hardware configurations! 10) One year warranty plus TTR's exclusive 30 day, money back guarantee! Dealer and Distributor inquires welcome! For more information contact TTR on BIX in TTR.Support or call us at 608-277-8071! Other new Products now available!! Thromulus - The Enemy Within! Retail Cost $44.95 A new strategy game pitting human or computer opponent in a battle of the bloodstream. Move and grow your pieces in a attempt to control the majority of the play board. The player with the most controlled areas wins. Different board variations allow for almost unlimited types of playing boards. Includes a built in board editor for hours of fun creating your own board puzzles which can be traded with friends! The game includes Amiga drawn and designed graphics, animation and full stereo sound. Fully hard drive installable, Thromulus is sure to give hours of entertainment! Brigade Commander Data Disk 0002 Future Wars - The Red State Retail Cost $29.95 The United States of America has been overrun by Red State forces. What remains of the US Military has been pushed back into Canada. Now with the aid of the Canadians, the remaining forces have decided to return and try to take back the land. Following a crisp storyline of hypoth- etical situations, this second disk in the Brigade series, allows the player to play along the storyline and see how they might do using what equipment might be available. Includes topographically correct maps for many areas of the United States. Also includes some new weapons systems that are actually still under development today. Shipping 1 December 1991 4-Get-it! Retail $44.95 A new strategy game designed by TTR in which the player must remove all tiles from the screen. By matching like tiles, the player can clear the board. However, with hidden, exploding, sticky and even more special tiles, the job gets much harder as you move up levels. Add to that many other special functions and features and this game is sure to cause many late night playing sessions! Utilizing 256 color graphics, stereo sound and animated movement, this game is pleasing not only to the mind but the eyes as well! AudioLab Retail $69.95 The new generation in Audio manipulation software for the Amiga! Now work with true 16 bit music samples. Has a built in Sampling interface, MIDI in and out, True harmonic Graphic Equalizer, Envelope Generator, Full Stereo mixing, WaveForm Generator and Fourier analysis for analy- zing your mixes! Allows for up to 16 edittable samples on the screen at once! Samples can be editted individually and/or simultaneously! Works with most current digitizing systems and midi systems. Will also support newer audio boards as they appear on the market. For more information, Contact TTR Development, Inc. (608) 277-8071 Voice (608) 277-8073 Fax (608) 277-8072 Support BBS