AtoZ v2.0
----------
(C) Joe Mackay 1998-2000
Introduction
------------
AtoZ is a utility to transfer files between the Amiga and the
Cambridge Z88 portable computer via an RS232 serial link. It currently
uses the Z88's inbuilt "imp-export" protocol, although others may be
implemented in the future.
Disclaimer and Distribution
---------------------------
You use this software at your own risk. The author can accept no
responsibility for any data loss caused by this software.
This program is **FREEWARE**, but remains copyright of Joe Mackay. No
part of the program may be altered or modified in any way. It may be
distributed at will, provided the archive is left in its original state,
and no more than a nominal copying fee is charged by PD libraries. Amiga
magazines, if there are actually any left, may include this software
freely on their coverdisks if they so wish. The author also grants
permission for inclusion with Aminet CDs, and any Sinclair-related file
collections such as NVG and WOS.
This program uses Reqtools.library, which is included in the archive.
Reqtools.library is copyright (C) Nico François and Magnus Holmgren.
There, I've said it!
Features
--------
- Full CLI control, with file pattern matching
- Font sensitive resizable GUI (Gadtools - no Mooey here!)
- Can handle single or batch files
- Optional conversion of CR<->LF
- Selectable serial device, unit and baud rates
This is a complete rewrite. See the history below for some of the changes
in this version.
Requirements
------------
Any Amiga with KS2 or higher. A Z88 would be nice as well :-)
Oh, and you'll need a suitably-wired RS232 cable.
Known to have been tested on the following setups so far:
A1200, 68030/882 50MHz, 34MB, OS3.1/5, standard serial port (serial.device)
A1200, 68020/88228MHz, 6MB, OS3.0, ditto
Known problems
--------------
- Transmitting to the Z88 at a higher baud rate than 9600 may result in
a "Poor data received" error. This is probably a Z88 problem and I doubt
if it can be fixed.
- If the Z88 reports 'Poor data received', it tends to ignore the filename
of any files subsequently received, using the name of the last file instead.
As far as I can tell this is a bug in the Imp-Export popdown - just quit
and open it again.
- If you find that you can't close the transfer window, don't worry -
transmission still reacts to CTRL-C signals when using the GUI. This
shouldn't happen unless you're trying to send a very small file and the
Z88 isn't responding - I'll try and fix the problem for the next release.
To do
-----
This release of AtoZ is still fairly basic. Planned improvements are:
- Allow directory trees to remain intact
- ARexx support
- Support for the PCLink II protocol
Some other possible features:
- Implement a new protocol to allow remote browsing of directories at
both ends
- Pipedream conversion
- Localisation?
Credits
-------
Thanks to...
- Dominic Morris for his feedback, bug reports and suggestions.
- Simon N. Goodwin for contacting me about the general crappiness of
AtoZ and (somehow) inspiring me to work on it again.
- Steve Smith for the AtoZ webpage.
- Owen Birnie for offering me his MWB icon.
- All the people behind the AFC classes and the EasyGUI system for Amiga E.
- Clive Sinclair and Cambridge Computers for such a nifty portable
computer!
History
-------
2.0 (06/07/00) - Complete rewrite from scratch. Erm, sorry it took so
long. University work (and a fair bit of laziness)
meant this had to be shoved on the back burner for a
while.
- Added ability to select baud rate.
- Added proper progress indicators and a transfer window.
- Added wildcard pattern-matching.
- Added file-transfer list.
- End-of-batch signals are now always sent.
- Sending binary files can be up to 4 times faster now.
The Imp-Exp protocol insists that non-printable chars be
sent as a longer sequence of characters - however, the Z88
will happily accept the characters 0-31 on their own (apart
from ESC). Of course, the Z88 will still send these chars
as slowly as before.
- Wrote a rather pointless Installer script.
- Too many other major and minor internal changes to mention.
Suffice to say they're Good Things (tm).
1.21 (24/07/98) - Fixed small but immensely annoying bug where the
prefs file wasn't being loaded.
- Yes, I know the version numbering is wrong.
1.2 (22/07/98) - Added the ability to free/allocate the serial device
from within the program.
- Switched to reqtools.library for better multiple file
selection.
- Added CLI control.
- Added the ability to save the event history as a plain
text file.
- Fixed a silly bug from v1.1 where AtoZ wasn't recognising
"end of batch" signals from the Z88.
- Added hidden stress-relieving feature (see if you can find
it!)
1.1 (27/06/98) - Improved device handling, thus allowing support for
third-party serial devices and (hopefully) increasing the
transfer speed.
- Data transfers can now be aborted.
- Numerous internal changes.
- Patronising {amigaguide} documentation now included :-)
- Not released due to an Aminet bodge :-(
1.0 (23/05/98) - First release.
|
