Index of /atarilibrary/atari_cd01/APPS/XFORMER.263
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CONTROL.ACC 22-Jul-1989 07:05 20k
DEMODISK.SD 22-Jul-1989 06:57 90k
DESKTOP.INF 22-Jul-1989 07:05 1k
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STXF21.DOC 22-Jul-1989 06:58 31k
STXF22.PRG 22-Jul-1989 07:03 181k
STXF_FXP.PRG 22-Jul-1989 07:04 47k
ST XFORMER 2.21 README file
---------------------------
by Darek Mihocka, Oct. 10, 88
This disk contains this README file, STXF22.PRG, STXF_FXP.PRG.
None of the STXF files are public domain, and as such, they must not be
uploaded or traded anywhere.
I apologize to those people that registered way back in August and
September. Any registrations received after September 19 have been held on
to so as to receive the version 2.2 update and 2.2 manual, rather than the
2.1 update and manual.
Here is a summary of changes from version 2.10:
- Limited Commodore 64 emulation was added. It requires that you
copy over Commodore ROMs (same as with the Apple emulator).
This feature was actually added in version 2.11 and sent to
registered users. However, after months of banging my head against
a brick wall with both Apple and Commodore, I have decided to phase
out the Apple and Commodore emulation, and concentrate on the
100% speed Atari emulator, to be known as Xformer III.
This will be the last "large" version of the emulator, and future
updates to 2.x will be smaller and Atari 800/800XL/130XE only.
- Someone noticed the RESET key didn't work when in 800XL mode.
Sure enough, the RESET key is slightly different on the XL/XE's
than on the 400/800's. This is now fixed. In addition, when in
400/800 mode, pressing F2 or SHIFT-F10 will give a cold reset,
in effect conveniently rebooting the Atari 400/800.
- Some people have reported printer problems, and I have had some
problems myself. The "P:" device emulation is now fixed up,
so that programs like ANALOG's "G:" driver will work (an excellent
utility which makes your printer print in the 8 bit screen font).
- Many people complained that it was a hassle to have to go to the
menu bar for every single operation, such as rebooting the 8 bit,
or changing virtual disks. The Atari configuration dialog box now
contains the "Reboot" and "Continue" buttons, which are identical
to their menu bar counterparts. Also, the "Reconfig" button from
version 2.1 was eliminated because reconfiguration now takes place
as soon as buttons like "48K" "400/800" etc. are clicked on.
- The 2.1 manual has been accused of being "for experts only".
True, it assumes that anyone using the emulator has had some
prior experience with the real 8 bit computers. I am updating
the 2.2 manual to cover the basics in more detail, as well as
offering more information on the use of the emulator.
- and, last but certainly not least, the most incredible enhancement
to the emulator since the speed increase of 2.0. The ability to
connect most 8 bit disk drives directly to the ST and use them
with the emulator. This is done by means of a custom cable that
which I also make. This means, throw away your null modem cables
forever. Now, the emulator can boot directly from any density
floppy, including most copy protected disks. I purchased an
XF551 drive and also borrowed various disk drives, an 810, a 1050,
and an Indus GT, to test this new feature. They all worked fine.
DOS 2.0 in single density, DOS 2.5 in enhanced density, and SmartDOS
in double density to name a few of the DOSes I tested. Using
Diskcomm becomes a joke. And, virtual disk drives are still
supported, so that you can mix and match virtual and real disk
drives. All this is fully documented in the 2.2 Users Manual, and
if you haven't already done so, and use the emulator regularly,
please register your copy of the emulator.
- the File Xfer Program now updates the free sector count in a .SD
file when a file is merged in. This is a bug I thought was already
fixed.
- version 2.21 has a few small changes from 2.2, one of them being
that the < and > keys now work correctly, and the others deal with
minor changes to the interface cable handler.
I have been asked about other features that will be added. As mentioned,
I have decided to call it quits on the Apple and Commodore emulators.
Deep down, I am a hard core Atari 400 user anyway. The next update will
be Atari 8 bit only, and with the memory saved, there will be room for
the extra 64K to support 130XE emulation.
Another goal is to have one version that runs on both 512K and 1 meg
machines, instead of the current split with Xformer II and Xformer Junior.
Included on the disk is STXFJR.TOS, which runs on 512K and solely off the
cable. A 512K version with most of the features of the bigger emulator is
in the works.
Also, enough people have asked for monochrome support, that I will
expand the monochrome support in that next version.
This next version will be known as Xformer 2.5, and will look different
from version 2.2. Expected release date is January, 1989.
The remainder of this file contains some of the information that was
contained in the ST Xformer Interface Cable announcement, for those
people already not familiar with it.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Always wished there was an easier way to transfer files from your
8 bit floppies to the ST? Are null modem cables just not your style?
Finally! Move all your Atariwriter and other word processing files to
the ST. Graphics screens and icons. Database files and spreadsheets.
It's ready! About a month ago I first announced the development of an
interface to allow STs to communicate with 8 bit disk drives, like
the 810, 1050, and XF551 drives. I will start shipping them on Oct. 3.
The interface consists of a cable that connects between the ST and the
disk drive, and allows for two way disk and file transfers, with the
proper software. This software is in several forms, for different users.
Because the cable does not necessarily require that it be used with the
ST XFORMER emulator, it is going to be sold separately from any software.
To be fair to current registered users of the ST XFORMER Atari 8 bit
emulator, they will have first crack at the cables. To qualify, you
must have already registered your copy of Xformer 2.1 ($20). (I have
your names on file, so don't cheat!) The cable will then cost you $20 US
(or $25 Canadian). In conjunction with the release of the cable, a new
version of the ST XFORMER will be made available on Oct. 1, and as usual,
will be made available on Compuserve, Genie, and Delphi. XFORMER 2.2 will
have all of the features of version 2.1x with the added capability of
using the cable to boot the Atari emulator directly from an 8 bit drive.
(Even from copy protected disks, although not all of them)
The few users who have just registered recently for version 2.1 are being
kept on file until October and will receive version 2.2, since other
enhancements have been added to the program.
This leaves tens of thousand of ST and 8 bit users who do not qualify.
For you folks, the cable is $25 US (or $30 Canadian), and of course, you
will have access to ST XFORMER by modem or by registering. Registration
for the XFORMER is $20, but since I am eager to get more users, you can
get the cable, XFORMER 2.2 and the printed manual for $40 US (or $45
Canadian).
For those people who want the cable to transfer files, but are not
interested in the emulator, I have a utility for you! The XFORMER Quick
Transfer Utility allows you to grab files of entire disks and transfer
them quickly. Those of you who saw the several megabytes of 8 bit ANALOG
files that I recently uploaded to Compuserve and Genie may be interested
to know that each floppy disk took under two minutes to transfer to the ST
(the same time it takes to read the disk into a sector copier on an 8 bit).
Imagine how quickly you can transfer your entire 8 bit library to the ST
(where, one day, you will decide to run it on the emulator).
The current limitation is that the disks must be in DOS 2.0 format to
allow the files to be extracted, although when you use the emulator,
the disks can be formatted almost any DOS, and can even be boot disks.
I am still working on several other major utilities, including one that
allows most other ST programs to read and write directly from the 8 bit
disk drives, and more. When it is ready, I will let everyone know.
To order, send a MONEY ORDER or (no personal checks from the US!!! because
Canadian banks are not too swift at processing them) to me:
Darek Mihocka
310-D Bluevale St. N.
Waterloo, Ontario N2J 4G3
CANADA
Thank the almost 100 registered users of ST XFORMER who motivated me (and
demanded!) that this interface be created.
Pricing is as follows.
Registered users:
-----------------
US $ Canadian $
ST XFORMER Interface Cable 20 25
ST XFORMER 2.2 update
(with new Xformer Junior
and the Quick Transfer Utility) 10 10
(note, users who just registered in the last couple of weeks will
get the update free in October)
Non-registered users:
---------------------
US $ Canadian $
ST XFORMER Interface Cable 25 30
Quick Transfer Utility 10 12
ST XFORMER 2.2 registration 20 20 (shareware)
All 3 of the above 40 45
Please add $3 per order for my postage and shipping costs.
I would like to get users groups involved in this. I have visited about
half a dozen local user groups and found a lot of interest in the emulator
and interface. The problem was that many of the users, both 8 bit and ST,
do not have access to Compuserve or Genie, or even a modem, and so, were
unaware of the existense of the emulator. Therefore, I would like to
give discounts to large orders placed through user groups, because it
helps me.
Call me by voice for further details. (519)-747-0386.
Thanks again for your support.
&