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DISK WITCH
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VERSION 3.0.0
DOCUMENTATION
Copyright 1989-1992 Gary F. Desrochers All rights reserved
This is documentation for versions 3.0.0 and beyond. Due to
the major changes in the design, the documentation needed to
be changed also.
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Program By Gary F. Desrochers
Documentation By Gary F. Desrochers
Genie Mail Address: G.Desrochers
Address :
Gary F. Desrochers
17752 W. 14th Avenue Apt #3
Golden CO. 80401
Internet address: gdesroch@slate.mines.colorado.edu
____________________________________________________________
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This program is ShareWare with the exceptions and special
thanks to the people listed below:
Tom Vanderpool
Eric C Mueller
Dean Esmay
Bruce S. Klutchko
Jurgen Woretshofer
Bill Tudor
Jerry Hewet
*D. G. Shields*
Also, thanks are also given to the testers for version 3.0.0.
Of those testers for version 3.0.0, I would like to thank
individually:
Dale Shields - What can I say. He is an excellent bug finder
(Expert Bug and spelling checker (Thanks Dale!) He found
Catcher #1) a big bug that still did not allow DW to accesss
other FST's. It had to do with spaces but it
would have been a disaster to send it out with
that bug. He also mentioned that the program
does not follow Apple's Human Interface
guidelines. If you have any strong feeling for
or against any key presses that DW uses then
please tell me. And a lot of other small bugs.
Eric D. Shepherd - The new textreader. By new I mean loading
(Expert Bug everything into memory. The search function
Catcher #2) within the new textreader. Using the Open
Apple 1 - 0 keys in the old and the new text-
reader. The line separating the text and the
command line at the bottom. The check mark in
the new selector. While he did not have all
the new ideas he did express to me what he
didn't like and coerced me into doing it.
He also found a couple of other bugs.
Mark de Jong - Found alot of bugs associated with networks.
(Expert Bug Without him what this version does allow for
Catcher #3) with networking is attributed to him. He and
Dale convinced me to get rid of the beeping when
moving the mouse in the main menu. He also
had the suggestion about exit and OA-. exiting
DW when in the main menu. And other bugs.
Mark Spaeth - You would not be able to change the auxtype
(Runner Up #1) and filetype without him. He also provided
the new 3.5" disk icon for DW.
Peter Watson - He came in late to the testing but came up with
(Runner Up #2) some of the changes with this version and came
up with some for the future version.
Other mentionables:
Kevin O. Lepard
Salvator A. Buttice
Steven Eric Schwarts
And if you have already payed for a previous version.
Why do I put the aknowlegements first? I do so because they
are more important then anything else. If it weren't for the
people above there would be no Disk Witch.(Or at least a very
buggy version.)
If you like it then please send me $10.00 for my time
spent creating it. If you do not like it then please pass
it on to someone who would or just use it to delete or format
over itself. (See even in destroying itself it is helpful)
If you see something that can be improved then write to me and
tell me what it is. Remember it is your ten bucks.
SHAREWARE is put out by authors of a program and it is
expected of people that if they keep it they will pay the
shareware fee. Let's face it most authors get only a small
percentage of what they should. Please support your
shareware authors when at all possible.
I have gotten a couple of letters asking me to send them
a newer version when sending me their shareware fee. I am sorry
but it isn't my policy to send out newer versions at no cost.
If it was, it would probably make me broke. When I make a newer
version of Disk.Witch I place it on many of the major informational
services. It will definitely be put it on GEnie in the A2 directory
and while I still have net access I will put it on internet at
various FTP sites. Old versions have appeared in A2-Central on
disk. I cannot say in any way shape or form that it will ever
appear there again. For updates look on GEnie and on FTP sites
on the net. If you do think that you want a newer version then
send me an extra $2.50 and that should be enough to cover any
mailing and disk cost. I will even return the 2.50 back to you
if you want me to if you already have the newest version (that
only costs me 25 cents) or you could have me keep it and send
you out the next newer version.
____________________________________________________________
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The story:
Once upon a time (ProDOS 16 time) in a deep dark cellar
(my basement), there lived a person who loved computer
games. While playing one of these games he decided to save
his game, but he needed a disk. He was unable to find out
which of his disks were blank and which had important stuff
on them. So he thought of the worst thing that could
happen. You got it, to lose his place in the game. So he
used the games utilities and formatted his disk and saved
his game. Which disk do you think he formatted? Well, he
wasn't sure either but later he couldn't find his backup of
the game he was playing. (I know, it wasn't very smart to
not label it.) He asked himself "why can't someone list
directories of their disks at any time?"
The solution:
He needed a Disk Witch! But where was he to find one? He
had never heard of one. After searching high and low (on
bulletin boards), he still did not find one. He got so
desperate he decided he would teach his own computer to
become a disk witch.
Newer Versions:
The old Witch wasn't good enough so dunk it and get a newer
one. Cruel but effective.
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Within this packed file there should be:
- DW.CDA (a classical desk accessory, CDA for short)
Since the two different files were confusing to some
people I had to get rid of one of the versions (A or B).
Now there is only one type and it can be used with GSOS
and ProDOS 8. Disk Witch no longer uses ProDOS 16 calls
in fact it now cannot be used without GSOS v6.0 and above.
If you want this type of program for ProDOS 16 you need an
earlier version then 2.1.0.(Remember GSOS replaces ProDOS 16)
- DW.S16 (a s16 file)
- If you are into them, there is an Icon for Disk Witch
- Disk Witch documentation in a Text file Format.
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Requirements:
A IIGS (kind of obvious) with at least 50K of extra
memory.(Mouse Optional Huh?) Check your system software
requirements. Whatever FST needed in GSOS to read the
disk you are trying to read, needs to be installed.
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The program:
This program is a CDA which is installed during the
startup of your computer. It allows for the following file
utilities to be performed from just about anywhere (while
using GSOS or ProDOS 8):
Directory Display
Attributes - Change Attributes of files/directories
Deleting of files/directories
Renaming of files/directories/volumes
Formatting/Erasing Disks
Copying files
Making subdirectories
Reading text/Appleworks/Teach files
Changing Prefix's
Each of these are described below. Of course, while using
GSOS you can access any file system that there is a FST for.
In ProDOS 8, ProDOS file system is the only one that can be
accessed.(Maybe DOS 3.3 in the future. What do you think?)
This can also be used with P8CDA.
____________________________________________________________
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Concepts:
First some important concepts should be clarified.
Exiting:
I have tried very hard to make it so that whenever
a Open Apple Period is pressed this means that you want to
go back to the main menu. An Open Apple Period stops the
process being performed and brings the system (and your disks)
to a acceptable state. An OA-. or esc while in the main menu
exits from the program.
Editing:
Editing has two modes. Overstrike and Insertion.
There is no filtering of keypresses with the exception of
figuring out whether the key can be displayed. This is
important for all the old users of Disk Witch that knew that
if they made a wrong character when editing a field DW
would tell them by not allowing it. Also there are other
keys that can be used while editing. The key options that
can be used within Disk Witch are:
Normal everyday keys: Type as normal.
Open Apple E: Alternates between Overstrike and
Insertion mode.
Control Y: Clears to the end of the editing line.
Open Apple Period: Exits the editing with an error that
should return you to the main menu.
Right Arrow: Moves to the right.
Left Arrow: Moves to the left.
Delete: Deletes the character to the left of
cursor.
Using the mouse:
Key presses that can be generated by the mouse and how to
make them.
Left Arrow: Move the mouse to the left.
Right Arrow: Move the mouse to the right.
Up Arrow: Move the mouse away from you.
Down Arrow: Move the mouse toward you.
Return: Click the mouse Button.
Special Keys:
Generating a selection without doing a return. A Open
Apple Click. This is used within the Selector screen for
multifile selection.
Inside Selector you can select all files in the directory
or deselect all files in the directory with the Open Apple A
key combination. This is not a selection or deselection it is
actually an invert operation. Every file that was selected before
is deselected and every file that was not selected before becomes
selected. For more information on the Selector see that
section below.
____________________________________________________________
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Screen Display:
Those of you that used DW before will like the new
interface that DW has. I tried to maintain the same key
presses as before and also allow for people to use the open
apple and closed apple and the numerical key pad. The mouse
still acts the same with the exceptions noted above. Oh I
was suppose to be talking about the screen.
The text tools (yes I wrote my own except for starting
the text screen up) have been expanded to allow for windowing
and the like. This gives DW a pleasant feel to it. The
windowing feature allows also for faster updates due to not
having to update the entire screen.
The lower portion of the screen is the working part
of DW. It shows what needs to be shown and updates the box
title to inform you where you are.
The upper portion of the screen is the information part
of DW and is always there unless you are reading a text file.
It is updated at important intervals like copying and reading
directories.
It contains on the left:
Total Memory - This should display the total memory in your
computer.
Free Memory - This will show the Free memory in your computer
with a few exceptions.
Largest Block - This shows the largest block of free space
that you have.
The middle is just the middle. It shows the version number
and the name of the program. It also is the place to look for
what operation you are doing!
The right:
Clock - Shows the time on your computer.
Real Free Memory - This shows the true free memory in your
computer. When using GSOS go by this but this
will not
Active OS - This shows what Operating system you have active
when running DW.(Should be right until another
version of ProDOS 8 comes out. Who thought of
the new version number setup anyway.)
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Main Menu:
The main menu in DW is just what it says. It is a menu
that gives you the option of going to any of the file utilities
that you want. You can use the cursor keys, the mouse or the
letters shown to move through the menu. Return or mouse click
selects the option you want. From here most of the options go
right to the Selector with the exception of setting a prefix.
____________________________________________________________
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Selector Display:
This part of DW will show what files are in the directory
which you wanted to look at. Hey! It even remembers the last
directory listed. This was asked for in the older versions
and this one has it! There are unlimited number of volumes and
unlimited number of files in a directory listing. The old
DW transversed the blocks on the disk to figure out what was in
the directory but the newer version does no such thing. The newer
versions (starting v3.0.0) use read in ProDOS 8 and GetDirEntry
in GSOS. This should allow for it to work better on Appletalk
networks. The following keys are allowed and do the following:
Tab Key:
The volumes are displayed first but if anytime afterwards
you want them displayed again then just press the tab.
Return Key:
This depends on the selection type. This key either will
select the file to process or get you to the next subdirectory,
just put the cursor on the directory you want and hit return.
Also look at Space key and the Open Apple A below. Notice for
directory selection you can select the 'this directory' at the
beginning of the directory listing.
Escape Key:
The escape backs up a directory but if you are at the
volume directory, escape now will bring you to the volume listing.
Slash Key:
Causes files to be listed using the alternate display form.
Space Key: (Also Open Apple Return)
The space key will put an asterisk after the filename
that is outlined. What this means is that you are able to
now select multiple files and the return key will be the
selector for all files that you place a check mark next to.
This only allows you to select files in the directory that
you first pushed the space bar in. To be able to move into
other directories, unmark all the files that you previously
marked.
Open Apple .:
Cancel out of the procedure you are in.
Open Apple a:
This combination will invert the selected files. This
means if all files are not selected then it selects all files.
If one file is selected then all other files are selected and
the selected file is unselected. (Thus the a part of the key
combination.)
The Multi-file option allows for multiple files to be
carried with you as you move to the proper procedure. Then
the procedure will perform its work one at a time. What this
helps with is that you no longer need to return to the
volume and directory selection process for each file.
The Mouse can be used instead of the keyboard for the
following keys:
Right Arrow Key - Move mouse to the right.
Left Arrow Key - Move mouse to the left.
Up Arrow Key - Move mouse up.
Down Arrow Key - Move mouse down.
Return Key - Press mouse button.
Space Key - Open Apple Return.
The things that are displayed during the directory
listing are 'this directory', file name, file type, storage
type, the modification date and time, how many blocks are
taken up by the file in the data fork, how many bytes for
that file in the data fork.
There is also an alternate display mode. Inside the
alternate display mode you can see the file name, the file
attributes, the creation date and time, the blocks used by
the resource fork, the byte length of the file resource fork.
The file/directory name is displayed in the upper and
lower case format used in GSOS but it will not show the
upper and lower case from a Appleworks file because they
do not use the same format as GSOS.
The file attributes shows all of the used bits in the
attributes byte. All this shows is if the individual bits are
on/enabled (1) or off/disabled (0). The invisibility bit
shows some programs, if in the on (1) state, to ignore the
file when taking a directory. The destroy-enable bit
means that a file can be deleted, when on (1), and not
deleted, when off (0). The rename-enable bit says if
the file can be renamed, when on (1), or not renamed, when
off (0). The backup-needed bit is set to off (0) if the
file has been copied by a back up program, this program does
NOT change this bit, and is set to on (1) if the file has
been changed since last backup. The read-enable tells
the operating system if the file can be read from, when on
(1), or not, when off (0). The write-enable tells the
operating system if the file can be written to, when on (1),
or not, when off (0).
Any Auxtype that is zero and resource length of Zero
will not be zero but will display as blank.(less clutter)
This is the same for resource size and blocks.
____________________________________________________________
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Directory:
This is now just the selector. You can move among the
files and directory but you are not able to select anything.
___________________________________________________________
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Change Attributes of Files/Directories:
This feature allows for the locking, unlocking or the
individual selection of each attribute of files and
directories. This program cannot lock or unlock a volume
directory because this is performed by you using the tab on
the disk.
Now this part of the program is actually called the
attribute screen. This is because using the highlighted
keys you can change one attribute or all using the U for
unlock and the L for lock. This includes the Invisibility
attribute of a file making it invisible to some new programs
including the finder. Just change what you want and select
with the return key. If you just want to change the active
status of the file an 'a' also changes the attributes back
to what they were.
Totally unlocked is when a file is destroy, rename,
and write enabled. If it finds the file not totally
unlocked then it will unlock it. If it finds the file
totally unlocked then it will fully lock it.
The activation and deactivation of for initial load
status of the following file types:
STR $B6
PTI $B7
NDA $B8
CDA $B9
DVR $BB
LDF $BC
FST $BD
CPD $C7
ICN $CA
can be changed.
In version 3.0.0 and beyond you can now change the auxtype
and the filetype. Type T for changing the auxType and F for
changing the Filetype. This is one field that when open apple
period is typed you don't end up at the main menu. Also all
numbers need to be in Hex. If you make a mistake then the
string you entered will be erased and the old hex number will
be in it's place.
___________________________________________________________
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Renaming Volumes/Directories/Files:
What this part of the program does is just what it
says, it renames volumes, directories, and files. To select
a file outline the file and hit return. To select a volume
or sub directory then you must have the 'This Directory'
outlined and then press return. This will bring you to a
screen which will allow you to change the name of the file.
You can use this feature to move a file from one directory
to another on the same disk while in GSOS or ProDOS 16.
When changing the name of a file you can use both upper
and lower case letters. While in ProDOS 8 the lower case
letters will be made into upper case before the name is
changed but GSOS will rename the file with the style you
input.
In other words if you have:
/Blank/Helping
And what shows up below it is:
/Blank/
/Blank/Help
If while using GSOS you want to move the file or if you want
to move it and rename it this is the option to do that. The
slash option again brings up the selector menu to allow you
to select which directory you want to move it to. Then rename
will again allows you to type in the name you want.
In other words if you have:
/Blank/Helping
And what shows up below it is:
/Blank/
I have pressed slash and selected a directory further on.
/Blank/Mydir/
/Blank/Mydir/Help
____________________________________________________________
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Deleting Files/Directories:
This feature allows for the deleting of both files and
empty directories. You cannot delete the volume directory.
The only way to do that is to format or zeroing the disk
and then there is still a volume directory on it.(A never
ending circle.) Remember if a subdirectory cannot be deleted
then look at its attributes because this program will not
allow for a locked subdirectory to be deleted.
____________________________________________________________
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Making Subdirectories:
The making of subdirectories is something that I
thought ought to be added. All it does is produce a
subdirectory within the parent directory selected. To
select a parent directory you must outline the
/DirectoryName and hit return and then name it. That's all
there is to it.
____________________________________________________________
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Formatting Disks:
The formatting of disks is just in case you need to
format a disk. This feature is the only one that allows for
empty or none formatted disks in the disk drives to be selected.
This feature also dumps the volume display every time you enter
it. This means you no longer have your last directory remembered.
At the volume display choose by drive or disk what you want to
format and then hit return. Then type in a name and you are on
your way. It can be used on a Ram, Ram5, 5.25", or 3.5" disk
drive. In GSOS you can not format ROM disks or any disk larger
than 5 megs. In ProDOS 8 you can not format disks greater then
5 megs.
While in ProDOS 8 please, since it is almost impossible
to have tried every setup at this time, ensure there is no
disk in any drive that you don't want formatted. This means
to take out any disk or turn off or backup any hard drive or
ROM disk before trying to format a disk drive for the first
time.(I have had one person who formatted his ROM Disk
because before release 2.0.3 the program didn't recognize
Drive 2 in that slot.) After you have done it once and it
has worked it shouldn't matter later. I am also giving
credit to Jerry Hewet who produced the original Hyperformat
routine which this program uses to format 5.25" disks while
in ProDOS 8.
When you type the disk you want you will be asked if
you want to use the old name or type in a new one. If you
want you can rename the volume. The next question is if
you want to format or erase the disk. The erase only zeros
out the bitmap and clears the volume directory. This is
faster then a format and easier on the disk and disk drive.
____________________________________________________________
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Reading Text/Appleworks Files:
This reading of text files can do files with the SRC,
TXT, AWP filetype. The selection of files is the same as
the procedure described above. If you made a mistake with
the file type it allows you to return to the directory
display to pick another. There are two different categories,
AWP files are one and TXT and SRC files fall into another.
AWP Files
This program can do all Appleworks word processor files
up to and including version 3.0. Follow the prompts at the
bottom of the screen. Unfortunately due to memory
restraints you can only scroll one direction. For AW 3.0
files Disk Witch now supports formatted tabs.
TXT files
or
SRC files
or
GWP files with Auxtype $5445
($5454 = TE short for TEACH)
This part of Disk Witch now has two parts to it. There
is the old textreader and the new textreader. The old text
reader is for people who don't have much memory while in DW
or if it is a big file. The old textreader doesn't take up
anymore memory then DW already has. The new textreader tries
to load the whole file into memory and if it can't starts up
the old textreader. Also, the old textreader is a lot faster
then the new textreader. The new textreader is a little
slow when it comes to loading a very large file.(over 200K)
You should notice no difference in loading in small files.
There are big benefits to the new textreader. These are that
you can scroll both ways and (Trumpet please) you can search
(case sensitive) for text (and even do a second search with the
same string). So whichever you like. You can override having
DW try to load the file and just jump to the old textreader by
Pressing the o or O key at the screen asking you if you have
the right file. Have fun.
Small Memory Text Reader (old textreader):
This program allows for these type of files to be
scrolled though. The down arrow will scroll the screen.
The Escape key allows for leaving while in the middle of the
file. You can now position yourself at any % file position
by typing in the major percentage number first and then the
minor percentage number second. That does not mean that you
can't stop in between because you can. Look on the bottom
of the screen to see what mode you are in (X 10% or X 1%)
and if you are in the X 1% mode it shows you the last X 10%
percentage chosen. You can toggle back and forth using the S
and L keys. And that is it, the prompts at the bottom of
the screen will change to tell you any changes. For instance
the percent file position or the end of the file in which
case the down arrow command will disappear. Later I will
add a feature to type out these files. What do you think?
Also, you can now use the Open Apple keys 1-0 for 0 to 90
percent. OA1 = 0% and OA0 = 90%. The line you are on will
be displayed on the screen.
Large Memory Text Reader (new textreader):
This program allows for these type of files to be
scrolled though. The down and up arrow will scroll the
screen even in when reading AW files. The Escape key allows
for leaving at any time. You can use the Open Apple keys 1-0
for 0 to 90 percent. OA1 = the top of the file and OA0 = 90%
file position. Also you can search through the file for a
string (This is a Case sensitive search). You can search for
a string of up to 60 characters. Use the Open Apple F (or f)
key combination which will make the command line to clear and
then type in the string you want to search for and hit return.
To research for the same string again then use the Closed Apple
F (or f) keys. Both these types of searches put the line with
the first occurrence on the top line of the screen. When a new
search is initiated it starts on the second line of the
screen. Two points that should be mentioned. For very large
files, the loading may take a while. Also, for large files
there is a delay for the first time you press a open apple
number key it may take a long time to find the position. Right
now it remembers the position in the file where that key is
after the first search. The line that is at the top of the
screen is the line that that you are at that is diplayed at the
bottom of the screen. I may in the future allow for people to
go to the line of thier choice.
I have been asked to make the new textreader into a editor.
What do you think?
____________________________________________________________
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Copying Files:
This was first featured in Version 2.0.0 and was added
to DW. The selection of files you are probably use to by
now. If not read above or just play around you can always
escape out of where you are. It first asks you for the file
to copy. It then asks you for the directory to copy it to.
It DOES handle sparse files. It uses as much memory as it
can find. In ProDOS 8 it copies files 2K at a time and for
sparse files it copies only one block of a file at a time.
You can copy between drives as well as from and to the same
drive. Please follow the prompts when copying from and to
the same drive.
DW will only allow for the copying to a directory with
no file of that name in it or to a directory with a file
with the same name that !CAN! be deleted. It will allow you
to copy locked files but again it must be to a file that is
delete-enabled and from a file that can be unlocked to make
it read enabled. It will not allow you to copy a directory.
I am still in the process of adding copying of directories.
Remember if you are just moving a file from one directory to
another directory on the same disk while in GSOS then use
the rename feature of this program.
Starting version 2.0.5 there is a new selection if the
file already exists on the disk. Now it allows for the
renaming of the new file name to what you want.
Starting version 2.1.0, when copying sparse files, it
now prints copying sparse files at the top to the left of
the from header. Also it now tells what it is trying to
do, either copying data or resource forks while in GSOS.
- Starting version 2.2.0p you can perform a copying
procedure on multiple files. After the multiple file
selection the copy procedure will ask if you want to check
each file, copy with no check, and copy and remove any files
if necessary, or master escape if you really messed up. If
you choose the copy no check, the procedure will ask for a
target directory and then copy. If you selected the check
each file, the procedure will then ask you for the target
directory. Now, this target directory is the directory for
the file name at the top of the screen under the data block.
When it gets to the next file it will ask you if you want
that file to go to the last target directory, select A NEW
ONE, skip that file or another master escape. The copy and
remove file if necessary is just what it says. It will copy
the files and if the file exists then it will delete it.
___________________________________________________________
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Prefix
This command is used to view the prefix that you want
to look at and change it if you want. To look at the prefix
then (except in ProDOS 8 which there is only one prefix)
scroll through them with the arrow keys. If that is all you
wanted to do then return to the main menu. If you wanted to
change it then hit return and go through the procedure of
selecting a disk and a directory on it. You can also change
the @ prefix but I do not suggest it.
___________________________________________________________
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Misc. stuff new in and since version 3.0.0:
A new memory management system. A new windowing feature
for different types of screens and such. A new key input
routine that allows the use of key any key combinations. A new
one line editor. Unlimited volumes and files in a directory.
8k file names in GSOS. A new text reader that allows for seaching
through files for strings.
___________________________________________________________
^
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If you like it, another way to tell me is on Genie
EMail G.DESROCHERS.
Starting version 2.1.0, Disk Witch uses an even more
improved text tools. They are still the ones that I was
using before but using a listing put out by Bill Tudor,
which I will thank him very much for now (Thank You Bill
Tudor), of some texttools he created I stream lined what I
had made a bit. My texttools may be still be a slight bit
slower (milliseconds) than the ones he created but they are
also different. (For example my text tools allow for
printing a character a number of times down as well as
across from within a C-string or using one byte or two byte
Pascal strings). Bill Tudor if you read this I love the way
you do menus using your texttools even though I couldn't
get into it, it was great.
Well that's about it I hope you like it. I wrote it
using Orca/M which I recommend for anyone who wants to get
into Assembly language. As of this release, all known bugs
that were associated with it are fixed. I have tested it
out extensively and have fixed any bugs that I have found
also. I have tried to make it as easy as possible to use
while just about impossible to make a mistake. I hope it
can help people do something that cannot be done with any
other program.
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Errors with other programs:
As of this release I have tested Disk.Witch out with just
about every program I have and the programs that it does not
work with are as follows:
- Shrinkit Version 3.0.2 and later - Just gives a
ProDOS busy at the main menu of Shrinkit due to the MLIActiv
of ProDOS 8 being set. Just go anywhere other then the
main menu and you can call DW (Why would anyone want to use
DW while in Shrinkit anyway unless renaming files?)
- Roger Wagner's Desktop File Control (NDA) - Unknown
reason and it only happens on some systems. (I think this is
fixed now.)
- GNO - GNO uses the busy flag a lot so there is very
few times that you can get into the CDA. I suggest (and so
does Jawaid) to use the SYS version of Disk Witch.
- One person has said that he has had problems when on
line within ProTERM.
- There is a problem when formatting HFS volumes with
no disk in the drive.
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DISK WITCH
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ORCA/M is a registered trademark of Byteworks, Inc
Apple, GSOS, ProDOS 8, ProDOS 16, IIgs, are registered
trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.
Appleworks GS and Appleworks are registered trademarks of
Apple Computer, Inc., licensed to Claris Corporation.
ShrinkIT is a registered trademark of L+L Productions, Inc.
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Below this line there are old problems with DW. Most of these
may not even apply anymore due to a major upgrade after v3.0.0.
They are for informational purposes so that you can see a list
of problems in the past. At the very end is a brief summary of
new things added and improvements in versions since v3.0.0.
Major problems with previous Versions prior to v3.0.0:
Version 2.0.1:
Fixed = Format option in ProDOS 8 formats drive one only.
This is a problem with people having more than one smartport
disk drive per slot. This is fixed so now you can format two
drives per slot while in ProDOS 8.
Fixed = Hard drives could be formatted. This is fixed by
allowing no volume to be formatted that is greater than 5
megs while in GSOS or ProDOS 8. The problem, as explained in
the format option, with 5.25 is now eradicated because a
Rom, 5.25" or > 5 meg cannot be formatted while in GSOS
using this program.
Fixed = Path names greater than 256 characters are truncated
at 256. Fixed as of release 2.0.3 no pathnames are allowed
greater than 256 characters. This allows for at least 16
levels of directories (every directory and disk name being
16 characters including slash) and at most 128 levels of
directories (every directory and disk name being 2
characters long) the total number depending on name length.
(In ProDOS 8 this is 64 characters due to the operating
system which has always allowed only 64 characters)
Fixed in version 2.0.4 = Theodore M. Feinblatt brought to my
attention that if he accessed Disk Witch while in GSOS then
went to ProDOS 8 and Appleworks it would crash on him in the
main menu. Sorry about that Theodore I hope you like the
new version it fixes this bug.
Fixed in version 2.1.0 = Fixes the bug that sometimes puts
the arrow for the volume display at the bottom of the screen.
Fixed in version 2.1.0 = ProDOS 8 prefix didn't work. Does
now.
Fixed in version 2.1.0 = ProDOS didn't notice a disk being
switched while in the directory display part of Disk Witch.
Now will notice it and tell you.
Fixed in version 2.1.0 = Didn't notice formatted tabs in AW
3.0 Files.
Fixed in version 2.1.0 = Copying disks while in GSOS used to
rely on just max block and file size. If on the first pass,
and the first pass only, the max block call returned the
largest block and it happened to be in special memory which
Disk Witch cannot use, when Disk Witch tried to get a handle
for that block it would fail and stop copying. Now it
switches over to copying by 2024k at a time transferring over
to the other method when it can get a block the size of the
rest of the program.
Fixed in version 2.2.0p = Some hard drives were creating
many partitions and not using them but they were
showing up as devices which made the volume list very
long. This is now fixed by not displaying them.
Fixed in version 2.2.0p = All names in the directory listing
were getting there first letter upper case no matter what.
This is now fixed.
Fixed in version 2.2.0p = Many many little bugs that were
found with the addition of the multi-file option.
Fixed in version 2.2.1p = Many other little bugs.(squash!)
Fixed in version 2.2.2p = Many other little bugs.(squash!)
Fixed in version 2.2.3p = Many other little bugs.(squash!)
One of which, a bug which when copying files the files
creation time and date and time were changed. This is now
fixed.
Fixed in version 3.0.0 = Many new bugs were introduced with
the dunking of the old Witch. For this reason the bug fixes
for this version are the ones above and many many more. I had
8 people working finding bugs in this version. I hope we found
them all.
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In Version 3.0.0:
The volume command was removed.
The text tools were changed so that programming is easier
and windowing could be used.
Interrupts are no longer disabled while not waiting for a
keypress. This also meant a total rewrite of the installation
module. It is better now and does not take up as much stack
space.
Pathnames (except for ProDOS 8 which it is 64 characters)
can now be 8k long.
A new type of memory allocation scheme is used. It still
uses the memory manager but most memory is accessed as a linked
list. What this means is that while before only a limited amount
of memory could be used because of the use of thrashing tables,
the newer type can use an unlimited amount of memory. This will
be seen mostly in the coping of files in ProDOS 8. Before if
copying a big file while in ProDOS 8 it would take a lot of
passes no matter what size memory you had. GSOS still copies in
chunks not blocks as in ProDOS 8 so you won't see it there.(that
is unless you are used to fragmented memory)
Each part of the program is now modulized. This means that
the system loader does not need to put it all into one bank. It
can be dispersed throughout memory. This allows for better memory
usage.(For those with small memory requirements.)
Allows for new selection screens to attempt to conform (at
least a little) with other selection techniques.
The selector now allows for any number of volumes. Before
if there were a lot of volumes created (due to Appletalk) in GSOS
it would cause Disk Witch to crash.
The selector now does not work block by block so there are
no more blank spaces in the listing of the directory. It now works
entry by entry.
The accessing of directory blocks is not done by the readblock
ProDOS command. This is also because of Appletalk. It now uses the
read command.
A new command (one) line editor. It allows for stuff as described
above in the docs.
A new type of textreader was added.
Because when formatting files in GSOS the format call uses the same
text screen as the Desk Manager does when calling the CDA menu. This
means that if you call the CDA menu from ORCA then format a disk using
the format call and then return to ORCA shell you will end up with Disk
Witch (or any other CDA that uses the format call from within it.)
screen rather then the screen you left with. For this reason I perform
the changes to what FST you want from DW's own interface. No big deal
really. Just in case you are wondering.