Instructions for using Tracker version 2.1
                           by The Duke of Downloads
                      

Overview:

     As far as we can tell this is the first program of it's kind for the
Amiga 1000.  It is a fully functional and reliable utility program that will
enable a user to convert a boot-load disk into a group of files and then to
allow those same files to be re-assembled into the original boot-disk.  This
program is by no means limited to only boot-load disks; it can also be used
to convert a disk full of files, subdirectories, and sub-subdirectories to a
disk containing just a few files.  The entire original disk structure is
preserved and when reassembled, the target disk will be an exact duplicate
of the original.  This utility will NOT duplicate any copy-protected disks
nor was it meant to.  It was made for the primary purpose of sending a
boot-load disk over a modem, for example Kickstart 1.2.  It is also perfect
for converting a disk that has maybe 120 files and 30 sub-directories into
say about 8 files which can then be ARCED down and sent over a modem without
the receiver having to re-create the disk structure manually.  The disk
structure is preserved within the files themselves.
     
     As usual you don't get something for nothing.  When you convert a disk
that is completely full or almost full, the resulting files will occupy more
than one full disk.  This is a result of some identifying track and sector
information written to the files in addition to the File Management System
overhead used for the DOS.  However when the files are ARCED down, they
should all be able to fit on one disk as well as being easier to send over a
modem.


Reading: The syntax is: TRACKER READ <track#> <track#> <filename>
Example: Tracker Read 0 9 DF1:File-1

     The track# has to be a number from 0-79.  In the example above, the
command would read the tracks 0 through 9 from the internal drive and write
the file to the external drive.  All track READ operations are from the
internal drive only, but the Tracker file(s) can go to DF0: DF1: or even RAM:



Writing: The syntax is: TRACKER WRITE <filename>
Example: Tracker Write DF1:File-1

     In the example above, the file will be read from the external drive and
the tracks will be written to the internal drive.  All track WRITE operations
are to the internal drive only, but the tracker file(s) can be on DF0: DF1:
or even RAM:


Operational Hints:

     Some disks are not completely full of data so it isn't necessary to read
all 80 tracks of the disk.  KickStart 1.x is a good example of this.  Only
the first 24 tracks of the KickStart disk contain data.  To be safe, the
first 30 tracks should be READ.  We have found the best way to convert the
source disk into Tracker files is to READ 10 tracks at a time.  In this way
the KickStart disk can be converted into only 3 files.  Each file will be
exactly the same length, at a little over 116k.

     If too many tracks are READ at a time, the resulting files become too
big to handle comfortably.  ARCing them takes too much time and sending them
over the modem is risky.  If you have ever dropped the carrier after
receiving 230k of a 232k file you know what I mean.  A full disk therefore
gets broken into 8 files of equal length and after ARCing, they can shrink
from ten to nearly fifty percent, depending on how much data was in each
track.  ARCing the tracker files isn't mandatory but it is worth the time and
trouble if you're sending them over the modem.  Especially at 1200 baud!

     If you don't know for sure which tracks contain data and which don't,
then do the whole disk 10 tracks at a time.  When you ARC the files, the
files having empty tracks will compress down to almost nothing.  If you know
how to use a sector map utility then you can save some time by READING only
the tracks with data in them.


In Closing:

     A lot of time and energy was put into this program, so the entire Amiga
community could benefit from the efforts of one man.  Lord Bradford is
quickly becoming a skilled master of "C" and the Amiga's hardware.  He is a
perfectionist who is not satisfied until his software is bug-free and easy to
use, so if you find a bug or have a suggestion leave a message on the AMIC
BBS in Santa Rosa CA.  (707) 579-0523  3/12/24 baud.

     Please seriously consider the five dollar donation for this software.
Over twenty-five hours was spent writing, testing, and debugging the code.
Even if a total of $100 (optimistic) was sent in, that is only $4.00 an hour
for a great deal of work.  The donation would be greatly appreciated not only
by Lord Bradford but by those of us who use his software.  If enough money is
received to get the Manx Compiler, he can compile more code in less time and
get some more useful software to the people who need it most..... YOU!!!!!



* Tracker is copyrighted by Wilson-Bartel Asociates 1986 
      and placed in the Public Domain.

   
* ARC is copyrighted by Raymond S. Brand and System Enhancement Associates
      1985, and 1986 and placed in the Public Domain.