Conference 7.286::atarist

1029.0. "MS-DOS disk I/O emulator" by YNOTME::WALLACE () Thu Dec 06 1990 17:50

The basis for a MS-DOS disk i/o emulation system (C source files only) can be
copied from -
	OLDTMR::$1$DUA8:[WALLACE.PUBLIC.ST]MSDOS_EM.ARC
After you unARC the files, start by reading FILES.MEM and go from there.

This/these programs will compile and run on three system/os', VAX/VMS, ST,
and MS-DOS.

MSDOS_EM was originally posted by Otto Makela (the author) to the Usenet
alt.sources news group. In it's original form it only ran on MS-DOS systems
and not bug free at that.  Over the last few days I have made a lot of bug
fixes and added the low level I/O routines so it can run on VMS and the ST.

The "user interface" is still in a very crude form. To give you an idea, there
are actually three separate main programs for reading, writing, and erasing the
disk. To specify a MSDOS file name you have to type it like it is stored on
disk, ie: "FILE    EXT" as apposed to FILE.EXT. Even with it's current crude
interface, I have transferred a number of files between the VAX and the ST
using these programs. Note that the three main programs are small (dozen or so
lines) source modules which make calls to the larger common source file.

I'm posting this with the assumption that there are some people who are not
content with PCDISK and may want to take these files and improve the
interface so that we have a better way of using floppies for transferring files
between the ST and VMS.

If anyone decides to work on this, we can use replies to this base note for
any discussion, questions, suggestions, release announcements, etc..

It's also a good way to learn a little about the ST and MS-DOS file system in
the comfort of the VMS environment.  You do NOT need any special privileges to
use these files under VMS and the only thing you can possibly screw up on the
VMS system is your disk that you put in the VAX floppy drive :-)

Any takers for this project?

	Ray

I've found and fixed a few more bugs in this software. If anyone is
interested, let me know (here or by mail) and I will make the new version
available.

	Ray