[continued from previous message]
- Supports any combination of serial bus (SIO) and parallel bus disk drives
- Supports 8 physical drives (1-8), and 10 logical drives (D0:-D9:)
- Data on the disk is physically orgainzed into sectors:
SD disks: sector = 128 bytes
2D or DD disks: sector = 256 bytes
- Data on the disk is logically organized into blocks:
SD disks: 6 sectors/block, or 768 bytes/block
SS/2D or SS/DD disks: 3 sectors/block, or 768 bytes/block
DS/DD disks: 12 sectors/block, or 3,072 bytes/block
- Five disk drive types supported:
A. SS/SD 810: 708 sectors
708 sectors / 6 sectors/block = 118 blocks
118 blocks * 768 bytes/block = 90,624 bytes
B. SS/2D 1050: 513 sectors
513 sectors / 3 sectors/block = 171 blocks
171 blocks * 768 bytes/block = 131,328 bytes
C. SS/SD Percom compatible: 708 sectors
708 sectors / 6 sectors/block = 118 blocks
118 blocks * 768 bytes/block = 90,624 bytes
D. SS/DD Percom compatible: 711 sectors
711 sectors / 3 sectors/block = 237 blocks
237 blocks * 768 bytes/block = 182,016 bytes
E. DS/DD Percom compatible: 708 sectors
708 sectors / 6 sectors/block = 118 blocks
118 blocks * 3,072 bytes/block = 362,496 bytes
- Allocation of blocks is controlled by the contents of a sector called the
Volume Table of Contents (VTOC). (A large VTOC may occupy two sectors.)
- File directory cannot contain more than 128 entries
- Filesystem could support disks up to 384KiB (drac030, AA Forums 2010.07.21)
- DOS 2 to DOS 4 Conversion Program
- DOS 3 to DOS 4 Conversion Program
SmartDOS Beta Test Version 1.5R (C)1984 John Chenoweth & Ron Bieber
SmartDOS (C)1984 John Chenoweth & Ron Bieber
distributed by Rana Systems 6.1D
SmartDOS (C)1984 John Chenoweth & Ron Bieber
for The Programmer's Workshop 8.2D
--------------------
- Disk drive types supported:
1) Atari 810 (& compatible)
2) SSDD 5.25" Single-Sided, Double Density
- Disk allocation/filesystems:
1) Atari DOS 2.0 Single Density
2) Atari DOS 2.0 Double Density
- First Atari DOS to be "Density Smart" (changing between the disk drive's
density settings dynamically, in accordance with the format density of the
inserted media, without user-intervention)
- Menu additions that allow sector copying, drive speed checking, bad sector
testing, write verify on/off, and drive reconfiguration
- Original Master diskette, shipped with earlier SmartDOS versions, contains:
DOS.SYS, DUP.SYS, DEFAULT, ARCREATE.BAS, RS232.ARx, AUTORUN.SYS
- DOS.SYS is Atari DOS 2.0S version under license from Atari.
- Disk is used only to create a Working Master diskette.
- Working Master diskette, created using the AUTORUN.SYS file on the Original
Master diskette, or shipped with later SmartDOS versions, contains:
DOS.SYS, DUP.SYS, DEFAULT, ARCREATE.BAS, RS232.ARx
- DOS.SYS is proprietary SmartDOS version.
- ARCREATE.BAS is used to create a file that will autorun a BASIC file upon
system boot.
- Multiple autoload file support, for files named *.AR1 through *.AR9
- RS232.ARx loads the R: handler from the 850 interface ROM.
- Should be renamed RS232.AR1 to be autorun by SmartDOS
- Supports both warm and cold re-boots of the system
- Shipped with: Rana 1000, Astra 2001, Astra 1001
Mach DOS v2.1 XL (c) 1984 stace
Mach DOS v2.6 XL (c) 1984 stace
MachDOS v3.7a (c) 1985 stace
-------------------------------
- By Hadley V. Stacey
- Early versions supplied with the NCT 810 Turbo (1984 units); later released
directly into the public domain
- Disk drive types supported:
1) Atari 810 (& compatible)
2) SSDD 5.25" Single-Sided, Double Density
3) DSDD 5.25" Double-Sided, Double Density
- Disk allocation/filesystems:
1) Atari DOS 2.0 Single Density
2) Atari DOS 2.0 Double Density
3) DOS 2.0 Double-Sided, Double density
- Intelligent detection and support for double density and double-sided disks
- v.3.7a RAMdisk types supported: 130XE, Axlon, Mosaic, Intec boards as well
as the 800+ and MACE modifications
- RAMdisk is D4:
- Mach File disk image files
- [SELECT] key toggles menu on-screen
SpartaDOS Version 1.1 Copyright (C) 1984 by ICD, INC.
SpartaDOS Version 2.3b D Copyright (C) 1985 by ICD, INC.
SpartaDOS Version 2.3b C Copyright (C) 1985 by ICD, INC.
SpartaDOS Ver 2.3e 1-Nov-85 D Copyright (C) 1985 by ICD, INC.
SpartaDOS Ver 2.3e 1-Nov-85 C Copyright (C) 1985 by ICD, INC.
SpartaDOS Ver 3.2c 30-Jan-86 Copyright (C) 1986 by ICD, Inc.
SpartaDOS Ver 3.2d 17-Feb-86 Copyright (C) 1986 by ICD, Inc.
SpartaDOS Ver 3.2f 25-Feb-94 Copyright (C) 1994 by FTe
SpartaDOS Ver 3.2g 04-Jun-94 Copyright (C) 1994 by FTe
SpartaDOS Ver 3.2gx 04-Jun-94 Copyright (C) 1994 by FTe ---------------------------------------------------------------
- Originally developed by Mike Gustafson of Spartan Software of Minnesota/
ICD, and shipped alongside US Doubler as ICD's first two products in 1984.
- Often included with US Doubler
- Version 1.1:
o Requires 24KiB RAM 400/800/XL/XE
o Supports 5.25" and 8" floppy disk drives, single- or double-sided,
single or double density (35, 40, 77, or 80 tracks)
o Supports 4 disk drives
o SPCOPY command for single or dual drive transfers between SpartaDOS
and/or Atari DOS 2 compatible formats
o Available AT_RS232 R: handler for ATR8000 support
o Available RDAXLON command sets up a 112KiB Axlon RamDisk
o Disk allocation/filesystem: SpartaDOS File System (SDFS) version 1.1
o 128 or 256 bytes/sector
o Four sector types:
- Bit maps. Contain a list of bits corresponding to all sectors on
the disk, indicating whether each sector is currently in use.
- Sectors 1-3 are boot sectors, containing the boot record accessed
by the Atari OS at system power-up. (OS reads 128 bytes/sector)
- Sector maps. Contain a list of data sectors making up a file,
plus links to previous and next sector maps.
- Directory data sectors. Contain a directory file, consisting of
information about each file in the director, and information about
any subdirectories
- User data sectors
o Subdirectories supported, up to 128 files per directory
o Time/date stamping
o Disks have volume names
o Up to 16MiB per drive
- Several flavors of Version 1.1:
o STD_HS.DOS (original name) or SPEED.DOS (later name)
- Full version including UltraSpeed support
o STD.DOS (original name) or STANDARD.DOS (later name)
- Full version except without UltraSpeed support
o RO_HS.DOS (original name) or NOWRITE.DOS (later name)
- Miniature version; can only read from disk; UltraSpeed supported
o RO.DOS (early distribution only)
- Miniature version; can only read from disk; no UltraSpeed support
o NOCP.DOS (later distribution(s) only)
- No command processor (but can both read/write); UltraSpeed supported
- Tries to load an AUTORUN.SYS file before it passes control onto the
cartridge
- Changes for Version 2.3, packaged as the SpartaDOS Construction Set:
o Requires a 64KiB XL/XE
o An enhanced Atari DOS 2 handler: Can read, write, and run Atari DOS 2
formatted diskettes in both single and double density
o Supports 8 disk drives
o UltraSpeed High Speed built in
o 14 new internal command processor commands
o 8 new XIO functions
o Extra 4KiB program area
o RDBASIC sets up an 8KiB RAMdisk on any XL/XE computer
o RD130 sets up a 64KiB RAMdisk on a 128K XL/XE computer
o Disk allocation/filesystem: SpartaDOS File System (SDFS) version 2.0
- Generally compatible with SDFS version 1.1, but some changes to data
contained in boot sectors mean that SDFS 1.1 disks should be used
with DOS versions supporting SDFS 2.0 only with caution.
- Two flavors of 2.3 (2.3b, 2.3e) versions:
o XD type (XD23B.DOS or XD23E.DOS) is the full powered DOS; recognizes
the STARTUP.BAT file when booted and priority is given to DOS (rather
than the cartridge).
o XC version (XC23B.DOS or XC23E.DOS) is the same as XD versions except
AUTORUN.SYS is recognized when booted and control priority is given to
the cartridge.
- Changes for Version 3.2, packaged as the SpartaDOS Construction Set:
o Better time and date support (internal TD, TIME, DATE commands)
o Internal R-Time 8 interface
o Internal JIFFY clock interface (for non- R-Time 8 users)
o Internal 32 character keyboard buffer (and KEY command)
o Automatic mini-buffer system for fast byte PUT and GET functions
o New vectors added for machine language support
o Control returned to DOS if DOS was active during RESET
o Supports both a STARTUP.BAT and an AUTORUN.SYS file
o Compatible with BASIC XE, 1200XLs and many modified Operating Systems
o BASIC ON/OFF command operation from within a batch file (not end only)
o NOISY I/O flag recognized
o Support for the Supra Hard Disk Interface
o All command entry in upper or lower case
o Full read capability for Atari DOS 2.5 type enhanced density format
- Several notable patches to SpartaDOS 3.2d have been developed, such as:
o Bob Woolley created a patch utility program that will modify SpartaDOS
3.2d to support the XF551's high speed I/O
o "SpartaDOS 3.2z" was the result of a patch developed and distributed by
Computer Software Services (CSS, Bob Puff) for SpartaDOS 3.2d to allow
SpartaDOS to support the CSS Multiplexer (MUX).
See:
http://nleaudio.com/css/products/Mux_docs.htm
- Rights purchased from ICD by Fine Tooned Engineering (FTe, Mike Hohman) in
1993 (November?).
- FTe SpartaDOS 3.2g changes included:
o Support for a ninth drive, D9:
o D: means current working drive, instead of D1:
o Full support for upper/lower case
o CWD, CREDIR, DELDIR commands changed to CD, MD, RD
o TDLINE Y2K bug fixed
o 1200XL function keys work properly
SpartaDOS 3.2gx differs only in that it locates the disk buffers under the
OS to save RAM. 3.2gx is intended for use in systems that include a
parallel device (MIO, Black Box); it is not compatible with BASIC XE nor
any other programs using RAM under the OS.
- Many disk-based SpartaDOS versions are available for download from
Thunderdome, kept by SysOp Fox-1:
http://mixinc.net/atari/a8men.htm
Direct link:
http://mixinc.net/atari/download_a8/sdsys.htm#top
SuperDOS V2.9 (C) 1986 Paul Nicholls
SuperDOS V4.3E(C) 1986 Paul Nicholls
SuperDOS V4.3T(C) 1986 Paul Nicholls
SuperDOS V4.4 (C) 1988 Paul Nicholls
SuperDOS V5.0 (C) 1988 Paul Nicholls
SuperDOS V5.1 (C) 1988 Paul Nicholls
SUPERDOS V5.2 (C)2012 JAMES BRADFORD
------------------------------------
- Developed by Paul Nicholls for Super Products (Australia), Happy Computers
(USA), Technical Support (USA), Antic Arcade Catalog (USA)
- Disk drive types supported:
1) Atari 810 (& compatible)
2) Atari 1050 (& compatible)
3) SSDD 5.25" Single-Sided, Double Density
4) Supermax high speed (versions 4.x and up)
5) XF551 high speed (versions 5.x)
6) US Doubler UltraSpeed (versions 5.x)
- Disk allocation/filesystems:
1) Atari DOS 2.0 Single Density
2) Atari DOS 2.0 Double Density
3) Atari DOS 2.5
4) "Atari DOS 2 Skewed Sectors" for Supermax drives
Antic: "Skewed sector disks read and write much faster than standard
format disks (while Atari DOS 2.0 and 2.5 can still read and write
them)."
- Menu driven. Density-smart: Automatic density detection.
- Fully RAM-resident. Highly configurable.
- Supports four floppy disk drives and assumes that any drive reference above
4 is a RAMdisk.
- RAMdisk support is provided for the Atari 130XE and upgrade formats
including 128KiB and 256KiB Axlon, 256KiB XL and 320KiB XE.
- V5.0 changes:
1. Full support for the Atari XF551 disk drive, including Double-
sided/Double density and high speed transfer.
2. Complete XF551 compatibility with previous disk drives. Double
density drives can read files on Double-sided disks (just as
Single density drives can read Enhanced density disks).
3. High speed transfer and skewed sectors for US Doubler, XF551, and
SUPERMAX.
4. Full sector count displayed, no more 999+.
5. Full support for Newell 256KiB memory upgrade for 800XL.
6. Hold down [Esc] during boot up to reserve the 130XE memory banks
for your program. 256KiB and 320KiB computers can use BASIC XE and a
RAMdisk.
7. Bug in RAMdisk reboot (coldstart) routine fixed.
8. The right margin is no longer set to 37.
- Rights and source code purchased by James Bradford (1994?)
- V5.2 changes:
- Modded slightly to increase the RAMdisk speed
- Disabled the Axlon banking access
- Available:
http://www.atariage.com/forums/topic/197622-superdos-ramdisk-speed/
BiboDOS V 5.1N (p) E.Reuss (c) 1987 COMPY SHOP
BiboDOS V 5.2F (p) E.Reuss (c) 07/1987 Compy-Shop
BiboDOS 5.4RF (p) E.Reuss (c) 06/1988 Compy-Shop
BiboDOS 6.4RF (p) E.Reuss (c) 06/1988 Compy-Shop
BiboDOS 5.4AN Turbo-BASIC-Version/R-Disk Jan/89
Bibo-DOS 7.0 (p) E.Reuss (c) 1990 by J.Kruszona
--------------------
- XL/XE only
- Densities supported: single, medium, double
- Disk allocation/filesystems:
1) Atari DOS 2.0 Single Density
2) Atari DOS 2.5 Enhanced Density ("Medium Density")
3) Atari DOS 2.0 Double Density
4) "Atari DOS 2.0 Quad Density" (XF551 DSDD 360KiB)
- Version 6 and up only
- Extension to above standards:
Long/large directories (128 files per disk)
- N versions without high speed support
- F versions support high speed with the Speedy 1050 and Happy
- R versions support 64KiB, 128KiB, or 256KiB RAMdisk
- 130XE and Compy-Shop memory upgrade types supported by default;
can also be customized to support other memory upgrade types
Turbo-DOS XL/XE 1.5 (1988 February)
Turbo-DOS XL/XE 1.7 (1988 August)
Turbo-DOS XL/XE 2.0 (1989)
Turbo-DOS XL/XE 2.1 (1990)
--------------------------
- Developed by Martin Reitershan, Herbert Barth, and Frank Bruchhaeuser
for Martin Reitershan Computertechnik
- Supports a wide range of relatively advanced hardware while maintaining a
very high degree of compatibility with Atari DOS 2.5.
- Master-Disk produces 4 different versions:
1) Normal Version
2) HS: Version for 1050 with Happy or Speedy 1050
3) XF: Version for XF551 high speed
4) EX: Full version (all three versions)
- Andreas Koch contributes:
supports 256KiB Xtra RAM / RD and supports use of batch files; has converter for DOS 3 and DOS 4; supports 4 formats, up to DSDD 360KiB; does not use RAM under OS ROM; DUP uses a Command Processor; all commands are available via
HELP key; works with XL/XE computers only, does not load/boot on Atari
400/800.
- Atari DOS XLE (1990), developed by Reitershan, was built upon Turbo-DOS.
BW-DOS Ver. 1.00 (C) BEWESOFT 1994 (Jiri Bernasek)(94-06-16)
BW-DOS Ver. 1.10 (C) BEWESOFT / ABBUC 1994 (94-07-14)
- Update #1 Released: 4/95
BW-DOS Ver. 1.30 (C) BEWESOFT 1995 (Jiri Bernasek)(95-12-17)
- Update #2 Released (with Ver. 1.30): 95-12-17
------------------
Another popular, powerful DOS is BW-DOS (it is pronounced "Bay Vay Dos"), freeware by Jiri Bernasek - BEWESOFT.
Disk allocation/filesystem: SpartaDOS File System (SDFS) version 2.0
Andreas Koch writes: "SpartaDOS compatible. Does not use any speeder internally, but comes with external XF551 speeder. Supports 4 drives and RAMdisk, comes with RAMdisk driver for XE compatible RAMdisks up to 1MiB; supports 4 densities: a) Single (90KiB), b) Enhanced/Medium (130KiB), c)
Double (180KiB) and d) DSDD (360KiB); does not use any RAM under OS ROM (so it works on an Atari 800 and with Turbo-BASIC XL); unlike SpartaDOS most commands are external, thus the DOS is only 5KiB short; supports a PAL clock (made by ABBUC regional group "ARGS"); comes with many great utilities (which can also be used with SpartaDOS)."
- Ver. 1.10 distributed by ABBUC as the "Jahresgabe" 1994
- BW-DOS Update #1 Released: 4/95
- New versions of: MENU, RAMDISK, DIRMAST.
- New commands: MOVE, RTIME8, ARGSRTC
- New driver: ARGSPRN
- New program: BWDFUNCT.BAS
- New in BW-DOS 1.30:
- Reading the last byte of a file is now indicated by status 3.
- Installation of new "E:" drivers is now allowed.
- The command "TYPE" is no more limited to 64 characters per line.
- The method of handling the allocation pointers (positions 18 and 20 in
sector 1) was changed. The new method provides much better protection
of the directory-area on disk, and so the directories are not mixed
between data sectors as often as under older BW-DOS versions or
SpartaDOS. This results in faster access to directories. 100% read/
write compatibility with every SpartaDOS versions 2.x and later
retained.
- BW-DOS Update #2 Release: 12/95 with BW-DOS 2.30
- New versions of: BACKUP, COPY, UNERASE
- New commands: DOSDRIVE, NEWED
- New driver: RAMBOX
Available:
http://wiki.strotmann.de/wiki/Wiki.jsp?page=BEWE%20DOS%201.30%20Manual
------------------------------
Subject: 7.3.5) What should I know about filenames and filename extensions?
Atari disk operating systems generally support file specifications in the form of a filename of 1 to 8 characters, with an optional filename extension of
zero to 3 characters.
Valid characters for use in filenames/filename extensions:
(varies somewhat by DOS version)
- The letters 'A' to 'Z'
- The digits '0' to '9'
(Many DOS versions do not permit filenames to start with a digit.)
- The underscore character ('_') (DOS XE,SpartaDOS,RealDOS)
- The "at" symbol ('@') (DOS XE)
Spaces and other characters are generally not permitted.
Filenames, including filename extensions, are generally arbitrary, but file naming conventions can be helpful. The most common method is to reserve specific extensions for certain types of files. The following list contains some of the more commonly used extensions and their typical corresponding file types.
Filenames reserved by some DOS versions for files to be automatically run at system startup are listed here as well.
File formats are binary unless described below as "text" where:
- Binary format files are made up of a sequence of bytes of any value from
0-255.
- Text format files (technically, a special case of binary files) are
limited to printable/displayable alpha-numeric characters and symbols,
organized into lines.
.ACT Action! program source code
.ALF AlfCrunch archive file containing one or more compressed files
.AMP Antic Music Processor file
.AMS Advanced MusicSystem file or Advanced MusicSystem II file
.ARC Archive file containing one or more compressed files, compatible with
the multi-platform SEA ARC format. On the Atari, best supported by
SuperARC/SuperUnArc or the SpartaDOS X ARC external command.
.ASM Assembler Editor program source code, LISTed. ATASCII text.
.ASC ASCII text file
.ATA ATASCII text file
.BAS BASIC SAVEd program. Less common: .SAV
.BAT Batch file of DOS commands (DOS XE,SpartaDOS,RealDOS). ATASCII text.
- AUTOEXEC.BAT batch file runs at system boot
(DOS XE,SpartaDOS,RealDOS)
.BIN (1) File transferred using CompuServe CIS 'A' Protocol. Fully supported
on the Atari by TSCOPE/MSCOPE/RSCOPE; also download support by Express!
3.x (file naming convention used on CompuServe before February 1987); or
(2) a ROM dump file as described in another section of this FAQ list
regarding file formats for entire disks/tapes/cartridges.
.BXL BASIC XL SAVEd program
.BXE BASIC XE SAVEd program
.CMD Batch file of DOS Commands (XDOS). ATASCII text.
.COM DOS external Command (DOS 2.5,DOS XE,SpartaDOS,RealDOS,XDOS)
.CTB Compiled Turbo-BASIC XL program
.DAT Data file (typically created/used by another program)
.DCM Disk Communicator 3.2 disk image file. Less common: .DSK or .DC3
.DOC Documentation text file (perhaps ASCII or ATASCII)
.DOS DOS system file (SpartaDOS,RealDOS)
.EXE Executable ('Load and Go') machine language (object code) program
.HLP Help text file (perhaps ASCII or ATASCII)
.LGO LOGO SAVEd workspace file. ATASCII text.
.LST LISTed BASIC program. ATASCII text. Less common: .LIS
.M65 MAC/65 SAVEd program source code
.MIC Micro-Painter picture file ("uncompressed"; 62 sectors under DOS 2.0S).
Format, minus color data, also supported by Illustrator versions using
the filename PICTURE and [Insert] to save file or [Clear] to load file. .MUS Music Composer file
.OBJ Object code (machine language) file (not 'Load and Go')
.OBX Modern naming convention for an object code (machine language) file (not
'Load and Go'). Used to discourage modern computers from thinking that
Atari .OBJ files might be MS-DOS/MS-Windows object code files.
.PIC Micro Illustrator/KoalaPainter/AtariArtist "compressed" picture
.PLT PILOT SAVEd program. ATASCII text.
.PRN Text file formatted for copying to Printer (perhaps ASCII)
.SAV File named MEM.SAV may be employed by DOS to preserve the contents of
memory to disk when DUP.SYS (DOS 2.0,DOS 2.5) or KCP.SYS (DOS 3) is
loaded into memory.
.SCP SpartaDOS SCOPY disk image file. Used with SCOPY, an external command
distributed with SpartaDOS 3.2.
.SFX Self-Extracting archive file. Created with the CTH SFX program.
.SYS DOS System file or driver
- AUTO.SYS can be used to automatically poke data in RAM locations on
system startup (DOS I)
- AUTORUN.SYS binary file is launched on system boot
(DOS 2.0,DOS 3,DOS 2.5,RealDOS,XDOS)
- AUTORUN.SYS batch file of DOS commands runs at system boot (XDOS)
.TUR Turbo-BASIC XL SAVEd program. Less common: .TBS
.TXT Text file (perhaps ATASCII or ASCII)
.UTL A DOS external utility program (DOS 3)
.XEX Modern naming convention for an executable ('Load and Go') machine
language (object code) program. Used to discourage modern computers
from thinking that Atari .EXE files might be MS-DOS/MS-Windows
executable programs.
.XMO Binary file, uploaded/download using XMODEM file transfer protocol
(file naming convention used on CompuServe before February 1987)
Additional file extensions associated with Atari picture formats are listed at the website for RECOIL (Retro Computer Image Library), a viewer of pictures in native formats of the Atari 8-bit (and other platforms) for modern computers:
http://recoil.sourceforge.net/
Additional file extensions associated with Atari music formats are listed at the website for ASAP (Another Slight Atari Player), a player of Atari 8-bit music for modern computers:
http://asap.sourceforge.net/
File extensions associated with Atari disk image, cassette image, or cartridge ROM formats normally used with Atari emulators, rather than on the Atari itself, are described elsewhere in this FAQ list.
------------------------------
Subject: 7.3.6) What Atari programs can use MS-DOS 5.25" or 3.5" diskettes?
Except for recent versions of SpartaDOS X, Disk Operating Systems designed for the Atari are not designed to use MS-DOS format floppy disks directly, in part corresponding to the fact that disk drives designed for the Atari do not normally support such disk formats.
This section highlights software programs designed to run on the Atari that allow the Atari to use an MS-DOS formatted floppy disk in combination with a disk drive also supporting such formats.
Solutions involving modern storage devices with firmware that emulates Atari floppy disks, so that the devices can be used by Atari DOS versions using native Atari DOS filesystems, are described elsewhere in this FAQ list.
IBMXFR IBM Transfer Program, by Happy Computers, Inc.
- For use with the Happy 1050 Enhancement upgrade for the Atari 1050
- Can read/write 5.25" SS-DD MS-DOS format 180KiB floppy disks
IBM DOS and IBM 360, by TOMS
- Available on ROM in TOMS Turbo Drive LDW, TOMS Multi Drive LDW, and
TOMS Multi Drive 1050 disk drive upgrades
- Can read/write 5.25" SS-DD MS-DOS format 180KiB floppy disks
IBMST, by TOMS
- Available on ROM in TOMS 720/720C/720CR floppy disk drives for the Atari
- Can read/write:
- 5.25" SS-DD MS-DOS format 180KiB floppy disks
- 5.25" DS-DD MS-DOS format 360KiB floppy disks
- 5.25" DS-DD Atari ST (MS-DOS like) format 720KiB floppy disks
IBMREAD.COM IBM/ST Transfer Utility, by Computer Software Services (CSS)
- Supplied on disk with the XF Update, XF Single Drive Upgrade, and
XF Dual Drive Upgrade for the Atari XF551
- With XF Update, can read:
- 5.25" SS-DD MS-DOS format 180KiB floppy disks
- 5.25" DS-DD MS-DOS format 360KiB floppy disks
- With XF Single Drive Upgrade or XF Dual Drive Upgrade, can read:
- 3.5" SS-DD MS-DOS format 360KiB floppy disks
- 3.5" DS-DD MS-DOS format 720KiB floppy disks
- Supports the increased sector density of the 'twister' ST disk formats
(10 sectors/track)
- Supports ASCII->ATASCII text conversion
BBXFER.COM, version 1.9, by Computer Software Services (CSS)
- Available on ROM in CSS Black Box/Floppy Board interface combination
- Can read/write:
- 5.25" SS-DD MS-DOS format 180KiB floppy disks
- 5.25" DS-DD MS-DOS format 360KiB floppy disks
- 5.25" DS-HD MS-DOS format 1200KiB floppy disks
- 3.5" SS-DD MS-DOS format 360KiB floppy disks
- 3.5" DS-DD MS-DOS format 720KiB floppy disks
- 3.5" DS-HD MS-DOS format 1440KiB floppy disks
SpartaDOS X, by DLT Ltd.
- Can read MS-DOS FAT12 (as of SDX 4.46) or FAT16 (as of SDX 4.47)
format storage media, including floppy disks and hard disks
- Hardware device must support 512-byte sectors
- SDX detailed elsewhere in this FAQ list
------------------------------
Subject: 7.4) Are there Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) for the Atari?
Section started by: Andreas Koch
Other contributors: Mathy van Nisselroy, Kathleen Ferrante
G.O.S. by Total Control Systems (David Sullivan)
- Public domain program released 1986 (written in Action!)
Window XL/XE (c)1986, by Joerg Forg / Megamania Soft inc.
- Andreas Koch writes: a Turbo-BASIC XL GUI with some nice add-ons, like
calculator, editor and other things.
RAOS (Rat Actuated Operating System) by Zobian Controls
- Marketed 1986/1987 for use with the company's SuperRAT or earlier RAT
mouse controllers (neither of which shipped)
- Was to include Z-DOS desktop (DUP.SYS replacement)
- Never shipped
XL-TOS by Marc Ebner
- Published in Atari Magazin, 1987/01 Jan/Feb, with supplements published
in issues 3/4-87 Mar/Apr and 5/6-87 May/Jun.
- Andreas Koch writes: the BASIC file, which consists of many data lines
creates a short object code file); unfortunately this GUI only looks
good, it loads almost nothing...
GOE (cartridge), developed by Total Control Systems (David Sullivan)
- Written in Assembly
- Promoted by Merrill Ward & Assoc. / Shelly Merrill as "ST Jr." early 1988
- Demo version(s?) released by TCS fall 1988
- Full cartridge version never shipped.
Diamond GOS, developed by Reeve Software / ReeveSoft (Alan Reeve)
(co-marketed by USA Media / Shelly Merrill as "ST Jr." Aug 1988 - Apr 1989)
- Supports: DOS 2.5 and compatible, SpartaDOS, DOS XE
o Diamond GOS version 1 (1988)
- Diamond DeskTop 1.0 (disk) DUP.SYS replacement
o Diamond GOS version 2 (1989) package:
- Diamond DeskTop 2.0 (cartridge) + Utility Diskette
- Diamond Programmer's Kit (Programmer's Manual)
- Diamond Paint (disk)
o Diamond GOS version 3 (1991) package:
- Diamond DeskTop 3.0 (cartridge) + utility diskette
- Diamond Paint (disk)
- Diamond Write (disk)
Atari Desktop, by Piotr Bieniek (c) 1992 ABC Software (Poland)
Andreas Koch writes: includes editors, converters, file copiers, sector
copy, tape+turbo tape copy, small games, CMC finder and player and much
much more; works with 64KiB RAM and keyboard input; disk manuals only in
Polish language...
Screen Aided Management (SAM) by RaindorfSoft for Power Per Post (Germany)
- It is available in two different versions:
a) Atari magazin type-in listings or Lazy Fingers disks (public domain)
b) Commercial version 2.0 which has many add-ons
- Supports: Atari DOS 2.5
- V1.25i, 1994 is available from DGS,
http://www.dgs.clara.net/
DGS SAM page:
http://www.dgs.clara.net/sam.htm
BOSS-XL by Mirko Sobe (MS Software)
- Requires 64KiB XL/XE
- Supports: ATARI-DOS, Turbo-DOS
- Current Version: v4.5 Edition 2000 (primary development 1993-1997)
- System Software:
- File Manager (Desktop was the BOSS-XL V2.0)
- BOSS-font editor (XE-version)
- Icon Editor (XL-/XE-Version)
- Written in Turbo-BASIC XL
BOSS-XE by Mirko Sobe (MS Software)
- Requires 64KiB XL/XE, 128KiB or more recommended
- Supports: ATARI-DOS, Turbo-DOS
- Current Version: v8.1 Edition 2000 (developed 1997-2000)
- Written in Turbo-BASIC XL
- System Software:
- BOSS parameter
- BOSS-font editor (XE-version)
- Icon editor (XL / XE version)
BOSS-X by Mirko Sobe (MS Software)
- Requires 128KiB XL/XE, 256KiB or more recommended
- Supports: MYDOS 4.50 and above; Atari ST Mouse
- Current Version: 10:33, 2003 (developed 2000-2003)
- Written in Turbo-BASIC XL
- System Software:
- File Manager
- BOSS parameter
- BOSS-font editor (X version)
- Icon editor (X version for colored symbols)
- BOSS-X framework
- multiple screen savers
ST-TOS a small BASIC program, that looks like a GUI; it can merely load
BASIC files and do a few DOS commands, like lock, unlock, delete and such...
BASIC desktop, a GUI written in BASIC just as a sample, what can be done
with an 8-bit computer; this one loads BASIC and text files (maybe also ML
files);
DCS, the desktop construction set from Tom Hunt; there are 3 different
versions available, a) for DOS 2.5, b) for MyDOS and c) for Sparta-DOS; I have tested the Sparta DOS version, which worked with batch files and could easily load some ML files, text files and BASIC files (which were already on the DCS disk); it also works with high densities and/or hard disk partitions up to 16MiB and supports subdirs of course; hmm, freeware or shareware ?!?
ATOS - GUI by Tom Hunt/Closer To Home.
1) Lets you use any demo or intro as a screen saver!!
2) Works with all Atari hardware, BB, MIO and Hard drives, SpartaDOS support
3) Lets you run files like full games and demos and then
return back to the desktop. It uses Overlays.
TRS Desktop by Tristesse (By Epi, Pin, Trub) (2005)
- A graphic user interface for SpartaDOS X to be used with hard drives.
-
http://www.atari8.info/trsdesktop.php
-
http://trub.atari8.info/sdx_files/TRS_desktop_v09d_alfa.zip
GUI project demo, by Jonathan Halliday (2012)
- A work in progress
------------------------------
Subject: 7.5) What should I know about R: and T: modem device handlers?
The Atari computer Operating System does not provide a modem device handler. Modems can be connected to the Atari in several different physical ways: via
an 850 interface or equivalent, via a joystick/controller port, or via the SIO port. For each way a modem can be connected to the Atari, application
software code specific to that type of modem must be utilized by the computer to communicate with the modem.
Some Atari programs, especially commercial telecommunications programs, simply support one or several specific modem types, incorporating the necessary modem-specific software routines internally.
Some programs, especially earlier public domain/freeware/shareware programs,
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