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                                 PopInfo v3.1

                       © Copyright 1989 Jonathan Potter

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A WorkBench utility to show you the info that WorkBench doesn't!

This program is NOT Public Domain, but is freely redistributable, as long as:
   a) A MAXIMUM of $10 (if any) is charged for copying fee
   b) This documentation and the source codes accompany the executable
      (the source codes may not necessarily be included on any disk based
       magazines, where space may be tight)

USAGE: PopInfo [-n]

PopInfo is a small utililty meant for use in the WorkBench. You may start
PopInfo from Workbench, or from the CLI.
When run, a "icon" will open in the top left corner of the WorkBench screen.
The fact that it is fairly small means that it does not eat up chip memory
when you are not using it. You can drag this "icon" around by the "Pop" bar
at the top of it.
To activate PopInfo, simply click on the "icon". A large window will "Pop"
open, containing useful information about the computer. The information 
contained is as follows :

Unit  : This is the device name, eg DF0:, VD0:, etc..
        If no disk is present in the drive you will see "No disk present in
        drive" following the unit. If the disk is a Kickstart disk you will
        see "Kickstart disk", "Unreadable disk" if the disk is unreadable,
        or "Not a DOS disk" if the disk is a non-DOS disk. 
Bytes : The total number of bytes available on the unit (a lot more useful
        than blocks!) It is interesting to note that the 880K per disk we
        are supposed to get is actually around 837K...
Used  : The total number of bytes used on the unit.
Free  : The total number of bytes free on the unit.
Ers   : The total number of hard errors on the unit.
WPS   : For Write Protect Status, this is either R/W (Read/Write) or R O
        (Read Only)
SBB   : Only applicable for disk drives (at the moment...) indicates whether
        the disk has a Standard BootBlock. N/A will appear if the unit is
        not a disk drive. No indicates a non-standard bootblock, and Yes
        indicates a standard Commodore bootblock (YAAY!). NBB indicates
        No BootBlock (ie the disk is not installed). The [-n] option when
        running PopInfo stops any bootblock checking, so you will see N/C
        (No Checking) for disk drives. VIR indicates a currently
        recognisable virus has been detected. PopInfo currently recognises
        the SCA, BYTE BANDIT, BYTE WARRIOR, OLD NORTHSTAR, NORTHSTAR,
        REVENGE, OBELISK, PENTAGON, SYSTEM Z, HSC, DISK-DOKTOR, GRAFFITI,
        16 BIT CREW, PHANTASM, ULTRAFOX, and LAMER EXTERMINATOR viruses.
        Which virus it is will be displayed in the BootBlock window
        (see below) when/if you view the bootblock.
        No (for non-standard bootblock) appears in pen colour 2, and
        VIR (for virus) appears in pen colour 3.

Also displayed is Chip RAM free, Fast RAM free, total RAM free, and the
current system time. (now in stunning technicolour!)

At any time, while the info window is active, a press of the space bar takes
you into the BootBlock section. A large (screen sized) window opens, which
displays half (at a time) of the bootblock, both in hex and ascii. The
BootBlock window starts off with the bootblock of DF0:.
On the right hand side of the BootBlock window are several gadgets,
specifically, DF0:, DF1:, DF2:, DF3:, BLK, SAVE, LOAD, WIPE and EXIT.
DF0: to DF3: select which bootblock is currently displayed (note : If any of
these drives are not available, the gadget is disabled).
BLK (either BLK1 or BLK0) allows you to view the other half of the bootblock.
SAVE allows you to save the bootblock to a disk file, and LOAD allows you
to restore a saved bootblock to a disk. Both SAVE and LOAD present you with
a file requester, which prompts you to enter a filename.
WIPE installs the currently selected disk. Both LOAD and WIPE ask for
verification before carrying out your instruction.
EXIT exits the BootBlock window and returns you to the info window.
PopInfo automatically checks the memory for any of the currently known
viruses, when run, and erases them if found.

Back at the info window. Down in the bottom right hand corner (nicely
contrasted with the sizing gadget) is a custom gadget that at first says
POP. When the gadget does say POP, and you deactivate the info window (by
clicking outside it) the window will pop back to the original icon. HOWEVER!,
if you click on the POP gadget, it changes to STAY. When the gadget is STAY,
the info window hangs around DYNAMICALLY UPDATING even when you do
deactivate it! Nifty, huh?

While the time and memory are constantly updated when the window is open,
the device information isn't (unless new devices are added while the window
is open - PopInfo detects this and adjusts accordingly). However, you can
force an update of the info by pressing the right mouse button when the
PopInfo window is active. All the information is updated if diskchanges
are detected. 
You can also resize the info window, depth arrange it, close it, etc...

Well, enjoy the program (ie Use It!!)...

Please address any author correspondance (bug reports, comments,
(maybe any spare cash??), praise, etc..) to


                         Jonathan Potter
                         3 William Street
                         Clarence Park, 5034
                         South Australia
                         Australia

                 phone : (08) 2932788    7.30pm -> 10.30pm CST weeknights
                                           10am -> 10.30pm CST weekends