Presentation - FUT v2.01

 g================================================================+       
      | DESCRIPTION OF THE "FORMAT UTILITY" PROGRAM version 2.O1 |##     
      +================================================================+##     
        ######################################################     
                                                                
(C) 1994 Vladimir Larkov        
----------------------------------------------------------------
To: Users ordinary and extraordinary.                     
What: Instructions for using the new version of the format utility.      
For what: So as not to study it at random. More than
I am sure that everyone has this software. But I'm also sure that
if not all, then the overwhelming majority asked the question -
how does it behave in situations of Disk Error when Restoring a disk and
with Ignore in the same mode. And how to translate me-
nice things if you didn’t learn English at school, butFrench, for example.
And quite a lot of such questions arise if the program is
kana with many menus and service modes. It's not in the "Appendix"
for the above reason, but now everyone has help.       
                                                                
                           -----------                          
                                                                
               GENERAL INFORMATION AND A BIT OF HISTORY.                
                                                                
     FORMAT UTILITY program is designed for formatting,
checking and restoring floppy disks, i.e. for the same as DCU N.
Rodionov, but many functions are implemented much more conveniently, and
some are simply not available in DCU and similar programs.            
                                                                
     The very first versions (1.O2, 1.OZ, 1.O4) were working,
were not intended for mass distribution. Wide
They reached the masses due to the excessive gullibility of the authors. Then belt
I've seen "FORMAT UTLITY" in a more complete form. That program
Ma did not have a version, but she had a quote from copying. What's the time?
there were a number of hacked versions of it, not always successful
nykh. Nowwe have version 2.O1, which has stepped far forward.      
                                                                
     Original (author's) FORMAT UTILITY v2.O1 has no
Quotes from copying, at the author's discretion, distributed freely
on shareware terms. Work on version 2.O1 was completed on the 4th
November 1994.                                               
                                                                
     The program is designed to work with standard TR-DOS
versions 5.OZ, 5.O4T. When using the left versions of DOS it worked
Ability is not guaranteed.                                    
                                                                
     A special pleasure is the presence of Save setup, i.e.
you just need to select all the settings once, then save them
thread, and I don’t need to install them every time. By the way, I don't recommend it
I tinker with and modify the program loader, you may lose
this opportunity!                                                
                                                                
     In addition, you specify formatting options,
bepku and restorations are separated, you also process them separately
errors.  That is  for each of these functions its own
values, and their reactions to disk errors.After launch, a window with information about the authors will appear, click
any button, the “sausage” with the name of the program will go down,
I can work.   First of all, the program checks for the presence
Kempston Mouse Interface, and if found, you get a lot
a pleasant opportunity to work with a mouse. Subject to availability
mouse, the program is also controlled by: Sinclair and Kempston joystick
kami, or S,X,O,P,Space. All ongoing operations can be interrupted
Vatya by pressing BREAK. At the same time, statistics on
already treated area of the disc.                                
                                                                
 In addition, the program cannot be fooled by trying to enter
incorrect values for some functions. In some cases
you will be cursed with the appropriate judgment, in some cases - at you
They will just squeak and nothing bad will happen.                  
                                                                
     The BREAK key is polled correctly, i.e. during pectab-
radios during operations, the interruption of which may result in loss of information
tion, BREAK is not polled.  In cases where the performed
the operation cannot do anything bad, it is interrupted
right there.All information about the disk is taken from its system area, and,
It is quite natural that if the system area is destroyed, you will not
You will see, for example, a list of files on which an error occurred. EU-
whether the program is suspicious of the values it pro-
read from the system area of the disk, then it will warn you about this
dit.                                                            
                                                                
     So, the program has started, the “sausage” has fallen down, everything is ready
to work.                                                       
                                                                
                                                                
 At the top of the screen you will see the line:            
                                                                
         g============================================================+         
         | Format Check Restore Options About... |         
         +===========================================================+         
                                                                
This funny line can be considered the main menu of the program. Up-
The control is achieved by using the arrow, which you need to
I roll to the line I like and press “fire” on it. It's easy and
understandable.The program has a fairly extensive system for setting options,
I’ll get together with which the inexperienced user will immediately be pleased
not easy, so in this description we will consider in detail
all functions.                                                    
                                                                
     Let's start with the Options menu, since this is where all the parameters are set.
parameters for subsequent operations.                               
                                                                
                                                                
                        1. OPTIOUS MEUU                         
                                                                
 Options - a window appears in this menu:                  
       +--------------+                                         
       | 4O Tracks | - 4O tracks                             
       | 8O Tracks <| - 8O tracks                             
       | Double side <| - Two sides                           
       | Single side | - One side                          
       | Fast disk | - "Fast" disk (same as in DCU)   
       | Wormal disk <| - "Normal" disk| Extra size <| - Maximum number of tracks        
       | Wormal size | - Standard number of tracks         
       | Format... | - Setting formatting options   
       | Check... | - Setting up scan parameters         
       | Restore... | - Setting up restoration parameters      
       | Save setup | - Saving settings in a file.        
       |              |                                         
       | Select drive | - Drive selection                       
       +--------------+                                         
                                                                
     The first six lines of this menu, I think, do not need
special comments, as well as the bottom one.                 
                                                                
                                                                
 1.1. OPTIOUS/Format Options.                  
                                                                
By selecting Format... you are taken to the format settings menu
tuning:                                                      
                                                                
     +----------------------------+                             
     |       Format Options ||                            |     +---------+             
     | Reformat cycles : 1 |     | Simple |             
     | Check criterion : Double | --> | Double |             
     | Special menu on error OFF|     | Treble |             
     | Save extra tracks info OFF|     | 1 of 2 |             
     | Reformat confirm menu OFF|     | 1 of Z |             
     | Standard disk name OFF|     | Adaptive|             
     | Input standard disk name |     +---------+             
     +----------------------------+                             
                                                                
   Here you can select the settings that determine the process
formatting:                                                 
                                                                
 1. Reformat cycles - number of reformatting cycles
ka: enter a number from 1 to 9. For normal-color disks, we recommend -
x 1, for very bad ones enter more, up to 9.           
                                                                
 2. Check criterion - verification criterion. Selected in the appeared-
Xia window from:                                                     
                                                                
    Simple - each sector is checked 1 time, if not read -
xia,considered broken;                                            
                                                                
    Double - each sector is checked 2 times, if at least one
if it is not read, it is considered broken;                             
                                                                
    Treble - each sector is checked 3 times, if at least one
if it was not considered, it is considered broken;                             
                                                                
    1 of 2 - each sector on the track is checked twice if
even though it has been read once, it is considered good;                 
                                                                
    1 of 3 - each sector on the track is checked three times, if
even though it has been read once, it is considered good;                 
                                                                
    Adaptive - a "cunning" algorithm from DCU: first the track reads -
once, if it didn’t count the first time, then follow again
two attempts, the sector is considered good if it was counted twice out of
three.                                                           
                                                                
 H. Special menu on error - output when there is a menu error: Retry/Abort/
Ignore. If this function is turned off, the menu is not displayed, auto-
automaticallyfollows Ignore and bad sectors will be shown in
at the end of the test in the statistics window.                           
                                                                
 4. Save extra tracks info - record in the system sector with a different
by valuing #DF two bytes for the number of formatted sectors. Before-
A very useful function. DCU does this too, and some hardware
lockers can use these two bytes to control and correct
changing, if necessary, the number of free sectors on the dis-
ke (for example - F Commander).                                    
                                                                
 5. Reformat confirm menu - when this option is enabled, when
If you try to format a formatted disk, you will see a warning message.
The message reads "Warning! This drive is already formatted." and smo-
you can either start formatting or give up - what if you
Mistakenly stuffed your favorite disk? If you are sure that you are not
format the desired disk, you can turn off the option.                
                                                                
 6. Standard disk name - if this option is enabled, then when
When you go to format the disk, you will not be prompted for a name,
all disks will be named the same, by default - diskname.  
                                                                
 7. Input standarddisk name - enter a standard disk name by
default.                                                      
                                                                
                                                                
                  1.2. OPTIOUS/Check Options.                   
                                                                
By selecting Check... you will be taken to the menu for setting up check parameters.
ki:                                                             
                                                                
                 +----------------------------+                 
                 |        Check Options |                 
                 |                            |                 
                 | Check criterion : 1 of 2 |                 
                 | Auto-interleave OI |                 
                 | Read disk parameters OI |                 
                 | Del.files in report OFF|                 
                 +----------------------------+                 
                                                                
 1. Check criterion - similar to the same item in Format
Options, only for checking the disk;2. Auto-interleave - automatic detection of disk interleave
regardless of Fast/Uormal selected in the Options menu. After
After completing this step, work with the disk will occur with maximum
Simalune speed.                                            
                                                                
 H. Read disk parameters - determination of parameters (number
tracks and sides on the disc) also regardless of those selected in
Options, which is very convenient, only possible if the system is not killed
ny sector.  Note: If your drive is formatted to max.
the number of tracks is small, then set Extra size in the menu
Options.  This function detects 4O/8O tracks, not extra
size.                                                           
                                                                
 4. Del.files in report - whether or not I show deleted files in
window with statistics after checking the disk.                       
                                                                
                                                                
                 1.Z. OPTIOUS/Restore Options.                  
                                                                
When you select Restore... you can specify the settings forpectabpa-
tions:                                                            
                                                                
                 +----------------------------+                 
                 |       Restore Options |                 
                 |                            |                 
                 | Reading attempts: OZ |                 
                 | On read fault: user menu |                 
                 | Writing attempts: Z |                 
                 | Don`t R/W free area OFF|                 
                 | Del.files OFF|                 
                 | Dirinfo in menu OI |                 
                 | Extra checking OFF|                 
                 +----------------------------+                 
                                                                
 1. Reading attempts - number of reading attempts: sets -
from O1 to 99; A large number can only be recommended for
a lot of dead disks.                                            
                                                                
 2. On read fault - reaction to read errors - selected from:   
                                                                
       user menu - if there is a reading error, a menu will be displayed, in
which will be used to select further actions (their description
see clause 4.1);                                              
                                                                
       autoignore - if an error occurs, the menu is not displayed, automatically
do ignore;                                                  
                                                                
       autoskip - if there is an error, the menu is not displayed, it is automatically de-
let's skip.                                                      
                                                                
 H. Writing attempts - number of writing attempts - from 1 to 9,
If your disc doesn’t burn after 9 times, feel free to bury it.       
                                                                
 4. Don`t R/W free area - when this option is enabled (ROI) on the disk
Restoration of the free area will not be carried out. In this
In this case, free area means unoccupied
the space behind the last file as well as sectors from 10th to
16th on the system track. The option is useful for saving time,
for example, if you want to recover files to be overwritten on
another disk, then why waste time restoring an empty space?
ta.                                                             
                                                                
 5. Del.files -works when the previous option is enabled; turn on
Checking this option in this case appends the remote files to
free area. Which also saves time if you have deleted files
fishing doesn't bother you. In addition, this point, regardless of
The previous one allows the display of deleted files in the restoration menu
from a separate file.                                               
                                                                
 6. Dirinfo in menu - when this item is resolved in case of errors in
the menu will be shown in which particular file or free space
An error occurred, which will help you decide exactly what to do:
unnecessary file or free space can be ignored, and expensive
The file is dear to my heart, it makes sense to try to restore it.    
                                                                
 7. Extra checking - the usual restoration cycle looks like this: Read
tion, Formatting, Checking, Recording. When allowing this op-
tion, one more check will be added to this cycle, which allows
strengthening quality control.                                      
                                                                
                                                                
                         2. FORMAT MEUU So, you have installed everything related to formatting in
OPTIOUS, you can proceed to formatting the disk.               
                                                                
       +------------------+                                     
       | Without checking | - without verification                      
       | With checking | - with verification                       
       +------------------+                                     
                                                                
     Formatting without checking makes sense if you choose
confident in the quality of your floppy disk, this item is effective
corresponds to a similar point in DCU.                          
                                                                
     Validated formatting allows you to control how
quality of formatting, in addition, the program uses algorithm
rhythm, with the help of which it is possible to format and restore
disks that DCU or ADS do not pick up. It lies in the fact that
when a dead space on the disk is found, the program physically moves
sectors along the track, trying to find a normal section. This way
So, I can format disks with minor damage
(usually the most common problem is a scratch, so
such a narrow scratch is quite successfulcosts this program
frame).                                                        
                                                                
     When you go directly to formatting, it appears
window looks something like this:                                      
                                                                
                 +----------------------------+                 
                 |                            |                 
                 | Head O O12З456789ABCDEF |                 
                 |        ================== |                 
                 | Head 1 О12З456789ABCDEF |                 
                 |                            |                 
                 |  ######################### |                 
                 |                            |                 
                 |  Formatting track nn (nnn) |                 
                 +----------------------------+                 
                                                                
The bottom line informs about the current operation, after the word track
followed by the physical track number that is currently being processed
its logical number is indicated in brackets. Strip schematically
shows the progress of the process. Details at the top of the window
The current track is shown. Head - disk side number,numbers from O to
F corresponds to sectors (in the program itself they are designated quad-
patukamu). Good sectors are painted green, red
- bad. When bad sectors appear, there is no need to go to court.
It is important to write down their numbers; after completing the procedure, it will display
window with statistics something like this:                       
                                                                
                    +---------------------+                    
                    |                      |                    
                    |    Check Report |                    
                    |                      |                    
                    | Forw Back File |                    
                    |                      |                    
                    |nnn О12З456789ABCDEF |                    
                    |nnn О12З456789ABCDEF |                    
                    .......................                     
                    |nnn О12З456789ABCDEF |                    
                    |nnn О12З456789ABCDEF |                    
                    |                      |                    
                    |  Bad sectors nnnn |                    
                    |                      |                    
                    +---------------------+Scrolling through the list - Forw - forward, Back - backward. On the left but-
measure of tracks, bad sectors in the form of filled squares, ho-
roshie - in the form of hollow. Below is the total number of bad sectors.
If the disk directory is not corrupted, then you can switch File/Disk,
and look through broken files, i.e. files in which they are located
these bad sectors.                                              
                                                                
                         Z. CHECK MEUU                          
                                                                
Check - disk check. Here the window of the next view awaits us.
yes:                                                             
                                                                
                      +-----------------+                       
                      | Start checking |                       
                      | View old report |                       
                      +-----------------+                       
                                                                
 1. Start checking - I will start checking. The display is the same as
when formatting. After completion - exit to the already familiar window
withstatistics.                                                 
                                                                
 2. View old report - view old statistics. If you are already
checked or formatted the disk, then the statistics will not change anywhere
Lasya, you can do it just once (or a couple, but at least a hundred times) npocmot-
retu.  Convenient even if you accidentally exited npocmot-
ra.                                                             
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                
                        4. RESTORE MEUU                         
                                                                
So you checked the disk and... horror - your favorite file is not readable.
It's time for this disc to be healed. This is where it comes from
can Restore - disk restoration. Here's the window:                    
                                                                
                      +------------------+                      
                      |     All disk |                      
                      | Tracks from...to |                      
                      |  Specified file |                      
                      |Fails last check |                      
                      +------------------+                      
                                                                
     The external indication is the same as when formatting or pro-
bepke.                                                          
                                                                
 1. All disk - I will restore the entire disk.                        
                                                                
 2. Tracks from...to - restore the disc from some track to
so and so.  In the window that appears, enter the track numbers from which to
what a miracle will happen.                                         
                                                                
 Z. Specified file - I will restore a separate file. There's something waiting for us
window:                                                           
                                                                
                 +----------------+                             
                 | Enter name |                             
                 | Enter from CAT |                             
                 +----------------+                             
                                                                
 Enter name - enter the file name and its extension, start pectab-
walkie-talkies.Enter from CAT - a window appears with the disk directory for which
you can move (Forw - forward and Back - back), "fire" -
selecting a file and starting its restoration.                           
                                                                
 4. Fails last check - restoration of only those tracks on which
Bad sectors were detected in the last scan result. EU-
Naturally, this item is selected only if the
check and found bad sectors.                              
                                                                
                                                                
                                                                
              4.1. MESSAGES DURING RESTORATION.              
                                                                
     During restoration, if any operation fails,
tions, depending on what you have set in Options, may
The following messages will appear: EXTRACHECK FAILURE; FORMATTIUG
FAILURE; READIUG FAILURE; WRITTIUG FAILURE i.e. extra error
ka, formatting, reading or writing. The track on which
rum there was such a disaster and the sectors with which thistrouble has happened
la.  When the system track is live, a list of files is also displayed,
which are located in these sectors, or a message appears,
that the problem occurred in the directory area, or in a free area
(consists info file(s)/catalogue area/free disk area)           
                                                                
             Possible reaction to such messages:              
                                                                
Cancel extracheck - cancel extracheck.                        
Abort - abort the operation.                                      
Retry - I will repeat the operation.                                     
Reformat - I'll try to format this.                     
Ignore - I will ignore the error.                                   
Ignore to all - I will ignore all the following errors.             
Skip - I’ll skip the bad part.                                
Skip to all - I’ll skip all the bad parts.                     
                                                                
     ATTENTION!  When a specific error occurs (for example, reading
niya) you choose the reaction to this particular error, i.e.
you can cancel extracheck, ignore reading errors and omissions
Katya recording errors, etc.5. About... - information about...                  
                                                                
       +----------------+                                       
       | About computer |                                       
       | About diskette |                                       
       | About program |                                       
       +----------------+                                       
                                                                
1. About computer - information about your computer from the point of view
of this program.  By selecting this item you will be taken to the System menu
information. In this menu you can find out:                          
                                                                
     Computer type: - the type of your computer                
     Memory summary: - the amount of its memory                         
     TR-DOS version: - TR-DOS version                          
     AY-891О interface: - presence of music for you. coprocessor.      
     Printer adapter: - availability and type of printer interface     
     Kempston joystick: - presence of a Kempston joystick port.     
     Kempstonmouse: - presence of Kempston mouse interface (mouse).
                                                                
  Below is a schematic representation of the productivity of your
computer compared to the standard ZX Spectrum. Bottom two
the bars show the speed of your computer with ROM and
RAM.                                                            
                                                                
2. About diskette - information about the disk. Additional information pops up
veal menu:                                                   
                                                                
       +--------------------+                                   
       |  Disk parameters |                                   
       |  Brief filelist |                                   
 |  Full filelist |                                   
       |  Show del.files OI |                                   
       +--------------------+                                   
                                                                
     Disk parameters - disk parameters, such as:                 
      Drive name                                                 
      Number of sides and tracks on a disc                      
      Number of files                                         
      Quantitydeleted files                               
      Number of free sectors                             
      First free track                                     
      The first free sector on this track                     
      Total number of sectors                                 
      Disk interleaving - fast/normal            
       Also, if the floppy disk was formatted by DCU or
FUT, then the program will report about it.                           
                                                                
     Brief filelist - output of the disk directory (in three columns; output
file names and their extensions are displayed) Moving through a directory -
Forward - forward, Backward - back.                             
                                                                
     Full filelist - displays complete information about files (name, location
width, start address, length in bytes, length in sectors, first
track and sector from which the file begins). You can also switch
The number system I use is decimal/hexadecimal.          
                                                                
     Show del. files - whether it is shown in the two previous functions
deleted files.                                                
                                                                
H. About program -information from the authors about the program, conditions
distribution, etc.                                          
                                                                
                                                                
                      6. OTHER COMMUNICATIONS.                      
                                                                
     Among others, it is worth especially highlighting the saddest message -
The value that can only appear is: FATAL ERROR: unsupported
TR-DOS version.  Abnormal program termination.  Press fire to
reset. This message may appear if the program
I discovered a non-standard or ancient one on your computer
dos. Therefore, in order to avoid complications, she is forced to reset.
Flash the standard version of DOS (5.OZ or 5.O4T) and everything will be fine
OK!                                                             
                                                                
 Other categories like: drive is absent - absent
selected drive;  disk is absent - there is no disk; non
TR-DOS disk - the disk does not belong to the TR-DOS system - quite
nyatny, if you don’t understand, use the dictionary and translate it yourself. I'm
I'm tired of stuffing these 20 kilos. text, yeswhat's on this
Let me wish you all the best and end this significant
rules.                                                          
                                                                
     Description compiled O4.11.94 Vladimir Larkov, St. Petersburg. 
                                                                
The program is tested at 48k (Zone), 128k - Pentagon, Scorpion ZS
256, Sinclair-Profi 1O24k.                                      
                                                                
I would like to draw your attention once again:programs are distributed to
loviyah shareware (see earlier versions of DCU or dictionary, or ask-
those of Nicholas).                                                 
                                                                
                                     With best wishes, Vladimir.