demarco@cpsc.ucalgary.ca (Vince Demarco) (02/17/89)
UltraFormat - The ProDOS formatter
By Christopher Lau
Copyright 1989
UltraFormat 0.99f - Preliminary Documentation
---------------------------------------------
o What is UltraFormat?
ProDOS UltraFormat is a Shareware Program to format 40 tracks on a
standard 5.25 inch diskette. The Shareware fee is $6.00 and entitles
you to the full source and updates. (shareware notice at the end)
o What features does it have?
ProDOS UltraFormat has the following features:
- Formatting capability up to 40 tracks if your drive can access all
40 tracks
- Track lockout for //c and similar drives that cannot access a specific
track
- Disk Use map, like the one in Copy ][ plus
- Disk information display
- Auto/Manual disk verify/bad block marking
- Can be run from BASIC or from ProDOS BYE- extra features if run from BASIC
o Why and when should I use UltraFormat?
You should use UltraFormat when you need to have more storage space without
wanting to spend more for a UniDisk 3.5, or even if you already have a 3.5"
drive, UltraFormat gives you 20K more capacity per disk- 20K extra that you
could fit that last chapter of your memoirs on... for BBS sysops, 20K extra
for messages and files... The uses are endless!
o How fast is UltraFormat?
Very fast! On a standard Apple //e, it will format a disk without verify in
less than 15 seconds, slightly longer with verify...
o Is it compatible with the rest of my programs?
With a one-byte patch to your ProDOS system file, all disks formatted with
UltraFormat are totally compatible with 99% of Apple software- exceptions are
many diskette copiers, disk compaction utilities and software that does not
use the ProDOS kernal for diskette access.
Patch for ProDOS 8 v1.2 to current
----------------------------------
This patch allows ProDOS to access all 40 tracks on a disk:
]bload prodos,a$2000,tsys
]call-151
*58E3:40
*<ctrl-c>
]bsave prodos,a$2000,tsys
End of UltraFormat documentation
UltraFormat is distributed as Shareware, you may try it for 10 days and if you
like it, please send $6.00 to the following address:
Christopher Lau
Ultron MicroWare
2423-52nd Avenue S.W.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
T3E 1K5
Be sure to include your own address as well as a net address where you can be
reached.
UltraFormat Copyright 1989 Christopher Lau