bridger%rcc@RAND-UNIX.ARPA (Bridger Mitchell) (07/09/87)
I've developed a software extension to CP/M, tentatively called DosDisk, that allows CP/M programs to use files stored on an MS-DOS (PC-DOS) floppy disk _directly_ -- without intervening translation or copying. When DosDisk is loaded, you designate one floppy drive as the dos drive. Regular CP/M programs can then read, write, rename, erase, and change the attributes of MS-DOS files, just as if they were stored on a CP/M disk. For example, you can edit MS-DOS text files in place. DosDisk differs from specialized CP/M file transfer programs (such as UniForm or MediaMaster). They require MS-DOS files to be copied to a CP/M drive to be used. DosDisk, in contrast, "mounts" the MS-DOS file system on the selected drive, making that disk effectively part of the CP/M system. DosDisk requires: a Z80-type processor CP/M 2.2, 3.1, or equivalent about 3K + 2K for command processor a BIOS that can support MS-DOS DSDD 40 track 9-sector format. an assembly-language overlay to interface to the BIOS When fully tested DosDisk is expected to be available as a low-cost commercial or shareware program. I'm looking for users interested in developing and testing the interface overlay for a variety of CP/M computers. Tests are already underway for: Kaypros with TurboRom Ampros SB-180's Potential testsites should: have a computer other than one of the above also use MS-DOS have advanced assembly-language experience be willing to contribute overlay code have a BIOS with provision for specifying "foreign" disk formats If you're interested, please reply directly to me. I'd also like to hear from less technical users about the program's potential usefulness to them. --bridger mitchell bridger@rand-unix.arpa