OWS version 1.00 (Pre release) By Michael Pendec (C) 1993 (CPS) Creative Productions Software The Manual 0.99 Introduction ........................................ 1.0 What is a Warper? ................................... 1.1 What can i use it for ?.............................. 2.0 How to Start ........................................ 2.01 Defaults ............................................ 2.02 Examples ............................................ 2.1 Hardware Requirements! .............................. 2.2 Bug Reports ......................................... 2.3 Future Updates ...................................... 2.4 Workbench version ................................... 3.0 BBS owners .......................................... 4.0 OWSCHECK ............................................ The Commands: 5.0 Help ................................................ 5.01 ? ................................................... 5.1 Read ................................................ 5.11 Write ............................................... 5.2 Repack .............................................. 5.3 View ................................................ 5.31 Full ................................................ 5.32 Test ................................................ 5.4 Append .............................................. 5.5 Encrypt ............................................. 5.51 Decrypt.............................................. 5.6 Low ................................................ 5.61 High ................................................ 5.7 Lower ............................................... 5.71 Upper ............................................... 5.8 From ................................................ 5.9 To ................................................ 5.10 Cmode ............................................... 5.11 Text ................................................ 5.12 Notext .............................................. 5.13 Nopause ............................................. 5.14 Mfm ................................................. 5.15 Indexmode ........................................... 5.16 Gap ................................................. 5.161 Defgap .............................................. 5.17 Len ................................................. 5.18 Sync ................................................ 5.19 Nodos ............................................... 5.20 Diskbuffer .......................................... 5.21 Dmar ................................................ 5.211 Dmaw ................................................ 5.22 Listtrk ............................................. 5.23 Noverify ............................................ 5.24 Appendtext .......................................... *************************************************************************** 0.99 Introduction. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ This program is written entirely in 680x0 assembler, for optimal speed. This disk packer was intended to do better in both compression and flexibility, but due to the range of packers and their efficiency in packing data, the speed is not that good, but works just like the OLD dms. The packer i am using, was acceptable, By adding several useful commands, like the MFM reading, and other commands, the OWS is the most flexible disk packer out for amiga. The OWS also works with High density disks, which is a brand new AmigaDOS standard for Amiga. People can expect a more detailed explanation for the diskpacker when the final version is released. The packer will be changed for the final release, because of the slow packing speed. 1.1 What can i use it for ? ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The OWS can read normal AMIGA DOS diskettes, including the new High Density format diskettes. NONDOS diskettes like IBM, atari diskettes can also be packed. 2.0 How to Start. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Load the program and write a "?" after. As shown below: "OWS ?" Some help will pop up. Continue reading for futher information about the commands. 2.01 Default. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ OWS has some default options which are already set. Normally you would pack a whole disk and this is set as default. Reading from track 0 to track 79. 2.02 Examples. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ You have a disk which is normal dos, BUT has a single NONDOS track here's what to do: ex. >>>> OWS READ MFM FROM DF0: in case the disk is a normal AmigaDOS diskette, you can just leave out the MFM option. ex. >>>> OWS READ FROM DF0: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- And for more experienced users. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- You know that the tracklength of the disk, AND SYNC of the tracks. ex. >>>> OWS READ FROM DF0: MFM LEN 1900 SYNC 4489 NODOS Now you want to write the file you just read. ex. >>>> OWS WRITE If you know that your drive doesn't support the length that the data is read with, you can change it. ex. >>>> OWS WRITE LEN 18B0 2.1 Hardware Requirements! ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The OWS takes up a lot of memory for loading, 1 Megabyte is required minimum, and then you need two drives at least if you only have 1 megabyte memory. For writing LONG tracks you need a special drive(Read Glossary). Not a hardware dependent add-on(interface) , but a drive which can be adjusted to write more than the normal drives(you can slow down the speed on these drives). Kickstart 1.2 and up. Writing of High Density files needs a HD drive. *Information about the High Density drive can found in the Glossary.* 2.2 Bug Reports. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ If you find some bugs, please send your report to the address you can find in the program, or at the end of this documentation. You can also write OWS in your CLI, without any extensions to get the address. 2.3 Future Updates. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Updates of the program, will probably come, because there's always something new coming up, ie: new diskformats for maybe Kickstart 4.0. At the moment, the program does not detect the length of a track but that feature will soon be included. 2.4 Workbench version. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ No Workbench version is planned yet, but if people want a version which runs in workbench , iconbased, they must write to me. If i receive enough requests for a workbench version, i will probably make a workbench based version. 3.0 BBS OWNERS NOTE. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Use the test option for verifying the OWS file for possible CRC errors. Also adding of DISPLAY.ME files can be done, read about this later in the documentation. You can also use the OWSCHECK program, if memory is low. 4.0 OWSCHECK. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ This program checks the OWS file for possible errors. ex.1 >>>> OWSCHECK TEST **************************************************************************** The Options. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 5.0: Help. ^^^^^^^^^^ It speaks for itself. You will get some information about the available options. 5.01: ?. ^^^^^^^ Same as help. 5.1: Read. ^^^^^^^^^^ Use this option when you want to pack a disk, just like in the famous DMS, but without the LOW, HIGH option. ex.1 >>>> OWS READ 5.11: Write. ^^^^^^^^^^^^ Use this option when you want to pack a whole disk, just like in the famous DMS. ex.1 >>>> OWS WRITE 5.2: Repack ^^^^^^^^^^^ The option repacks a file which is already packed with OWS. You can choose between the compression methods explained later in this documentation. (FOR USE IN FUTURE UPDATES) ex.1 >>>> OWS REPACK TO 5.3: View. ^^^^^^^^^^ This option views a file which is packed with OWS. You get more info about it in this documentation. ex.1 >>>> OWS VIEW Viewing a OWS file would look like this: > File: test.OWS Size: 10338 Created: 1993 Jan 23 20:13 > Lowtrack in Archive: 0 Hightrack in Archive: 0 > Packed Bytes: 10260 UnPacked Bytes: 11264 > Serial Number of Creator: 0 > Machine Used: AMIGA > Diskette Type: 1 Megabyte Diskette (879K) > Machine CPU: 68020 > CPU Coprocessor: NONE > Time to Create Archive: 00 mins. 01 secs. > Version Number of Creator: 1.00 > Version Needed to Extract: 1.00 > Disktype of Archive: KICKSTART 3.0 DIRCACHE > Compression Mode Used: LZ > General Info: NONE 5.31: Full ^^^^^^^^^^ Use this with the VIEW option and you will get a more specific explanation about the file. You can see the efficiency of packing each track, and what kind of track it is, and if they are ok. ex.1 >>>> OWS VIEW FULL example screenshot. > > DOS Track 0 Side 2 Org. Size 11264 Pack Size 10248 Gained 10 TRK=OK > 5.32: Test ^^^^^^^^^^ Use this option when you want to check the file for possible errors. ex.1 >>>> OWS TEST 5.4: Append ^^^^^^^^^^^ If you have partly packed some tracks, and you want to pack a single track or several tracks, you can append this or these tracks to the original file. ex.1 >>>> OWS APPEND < FILENAME> 5.5: Encrypt ^^^^^^^^^^^^ DEFAULT: = no encryption When you want to protect a file, you can use the encrypt command. ex.1 >>>> OWS READ < FILENAME> ENCRYPT 5.51: Decrypt ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ DEFAULT: = no decryption This option is used when you want to write an encrypted file. A wrong password will result in a file error. ex.1 >>>> OWS WRITE < FILENAME> DECRYPT 5.6: Low ^^^^^^^^ DEFAULT: = 0 This command is used when you want to pack a disk or write a disk, and you want to start from a track higher than 0. ex.1 >>>> OWS READ < FILENAME> LOW 2 >>>> OWS WRITE < FILENAME> LOW 2 5.61: High ^^^^^^^^^ DEFAULT: = 79 this command is used when you pack a disk or write a disk, and you want to finish from a track lower than 79. ex.1 >>>> OWS READ < FILENAME> HIGH 10 >>>> OWS WRITE < FILENAME> HIGH 10 5.7: Lower ^^^^^^^^^^ DEFAULT: = BOTH SIDES Some diskettes like on ATARI ST or IBM PC or like the multiformat diskettes by Rob Northen Computing used on the front pages of computer magazines, only use the lower side. Here is when this command comes in handy. It only reads the Lower side. >>>> OWS READ < FILENAME> LOWER 5.71: Upper ^^^^^^^^^^^ DEFAULT: = BOTH SIDES Just like the option LOWER, but in this case, it reads the upper side. >>>> OWS READ < FILENAME> UPPER 5.8: From ^^^^^^^^^ DEFAULT: = DF0: When you want to read the diskette from a drive other than DF0: >>>> OWS READ FROM DF1: 5.9: To ^^^^^^^ DEFAULT: = DF0: When you want to write the diskette to a drive other than DF0: >>>> OWS READ TO DF1: 5.10: Cmode ^^^^^^^^^^^ * NOT IMPLEMENTED YET * 5.11: Text ^^^^^^^^^^ You can add a text to the file, which will be displayed when unpacking the file. >>>> OWS READ TEXT 5.12: Notext ^^^^^^^^^^^^ You can choose not to display the textfiles added to the OWS file, which then will be skipped if NOTEXT is choosen. >>>> OWS WRITE NOTEXT 5.13: Nopause ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ This option disables the "press return" request after a displayed text. >>>> OWS WRITE NOPAUSE 5.14: MFM ^^^^^^^^^ Use this option when you want to read a NONDOS diskette, like IBM, ATARI, or any other NONDOS diskette. >>>> OWS READ MFM 5.15: Indexmode ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ When you're packing a NONDOS disk and you don't know the info about the diskette, you can choose the INDEXMODE, and you will get the disk packed. Normally these files would be around 1.0 Megabytes and upto 2.4 megabytes large, depending on the size of the tracks. More info about this later in this documentation. NOTE: CAN ONLY BE USED WITH THE "MFM" OPTION. >>>> OWS READ MFM INDEXMODE 5.16: Gap ^^^^^^^^^ If a diskette is not indexed, you can choose a gap for the writing of the data. The value MUST be in hexadecimal form, and must be written as four digits. NOTE: CAN ONLY BE USED WITH THE "MFM" OPTION. >>>> OWS WRITE MFM GAP 0400 5.161: Defgap ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ This option works in the same way as the GAP option, but set to a default value: 0300. NOTE: CAN ONLY BE USED WITH THE "MFM" OPTION. >>>> OWS WRITE MFM DEFGAP 5.17: Len ^^^^^^^^^ DEFAULT: = 18B0 When writing a OWS NONDOS file, you can choose to specify the length of the tracks for the whole disk. Value MUST be in hexadecimal, and must be written as four digits. NOTE: CAN ONLY BE USED WITH THE "MFM" OPTION. >>>> OWS WRITE MFM LEN 1800 5.18: Sync ^^^^^^^^^^ DEFAULT: = 4489 When reading/writing the NONDOS data, a sync for identification is needed. It is default set to 4489, but is changeable to other identifiers. NOTE: CAN ONLY BE USED WITH THE "MFM" OPTION. >>>> OWS READ/WRITE MFM SYNC 2112 5.19: Nodos ^^^^^^^^^^^ If you know that the disk is completely full of nondos data, not readable data, you can set this option. Only track 0 side 0 (BOOTTRACK), will be read as dos if it is, and the rest of the tracks will remain mfm data. NOTE: CAN ONLY BE USED WITH THE "MFM" OPTION. ex. 1 >>>> OWS READ MFM NODOS 5.20: Diskbuffer ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ DEFAULT: = 16K For computers with less memory, but using an external floppy drive as the destination, they can choose extended diskbuffering so it only writes a few times to the destination disk. Maximum size is 48 kilobytes. ex. 1 >>>> OWS READ DISKBUFFER 30 5.21: Dmar ^^^^^^^^^^ If you are reading/writing special format disks like IBM diskettes, you may want to change the dma status. This is possible. Enter the dma value and OWS reads with this information. Use it carefully. Value MUST be in hexadecimal, and must be written as four digits. NOTE: CAN ONLY BE USED WITH THE "MFM" OPTION. ex. 1 >>>> OWS READ/WRITE DMAR 9500 5.211: Dmaw ^^^^^^^^^^^ This works in the same way as above mentioned, but writes with specified DMA status instead of reading. Use it carefully. Value MUST be in hexadecimal, and must be written as four digits. NOTE: CAN ONLY BE USED WITH THE "MFM" OPTION. ex. >>>> OWS WRITE MFM DMAW 9100 5.22: Listtrk ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Like the APPEND option, you can append different tracks but specified as shown below. This is only for multiple reading of 2-3 different tracks, not 50. But this is up to you. Remember the CLI command line only accepts 255 chars. ex. >>>> OWS READ/WRITE LISTTRK 14.0,15.1,21.0,30.1 this ex. would read/write: track 14 side 0 track 15 side 1 track 21 side 0 track 30 side 1 The list ends with a return or a blank space . 5.23: NOVERIFY ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ If you want to turn off the verify option, you must choose this option. All writing has verify turned on, to ensure the safety of the written data, why loose data? If a verify error occurs the text information about the track will stay one line above the status line. 5.24: APPENDTEXT ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ For those who want to add extra display texts to the OWS file, you can use this command to do this. ex. >>>> OWS APPENDTEXT READ TEXT **************************************************************************** Glossary ******** Nondos ------ A diskette which is not compatible with the AmigaDOS standard. High Density ------------ A HD is a diskette with double capacity. HARDWARE Details: If you want to buy such a drive for your amiga , the type of the drive is : CHINON FB 357B (DUAL SPEED) A High density drive from a PC won't work. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ If you use OWS on a regular basis, please consider a $35 registration fee to help support future releases. For a registration fee of $55 or more, you will receive the latest versions of OWS plus extra utilities and programs not available elsewhere, when available (See documentation for more details). Send a Check or Money Order (US Dollars please.) along with your name, address, phone number, and computer configuration to: CPSoftware C/O Michael Pendec Islandshøjparken 5, ST. TH. DK-2990 NIVÅ, NIVERØD DENMARK Or you can contact me on the following bbs, by writing a letter to, MICHAEL PENDEC. Perto's Asshole BBS +45-86720273 16k8 DUAL FIDONET: 2:230/815 Perto's Asshole BBS +45-86720274 14k4 HST FIDONET: 2:230/816 Perto's Asshole BBS +45-86293910 9k6 V32b FIDONET: 2:230/817 ----------------- XenoLink Europe Support BOARD -------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The AmigaDOS trademark is, (C) Copyright 1985 - 1993 Commodore-Amiga, Inc. All Rights Reserved OWS And Its Code is, (C) Copyright 1993 - CPSoftware Inc. All Rights Reserved ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you use this program, please correspond with the author, and support him to ensure future updates of such a wonderful utility. All suggestions for improvement welcome. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------