#Download PD files???
16 messages in this thread
Hi,
I'm a (very) new Amiga user running an A-2000. As an experienced MS-DOS
user, I have long been a CompuServe afficionado. My modem and
communications software is all on my MS-DOS machine, however. I have
discovered (obviously) that I can still talk Amiga on CIS, but wonder about
downloading Amiga public domain files. If I use an MS-DOS machine to
download an Amiga utility from CIS – how can I get it to run on my Amiga.
Assume that my MS-DOS 3.5 inch floppy (to which I will copy the Amiga
utility) will be unrecognizable by the A-2000. (I obviously am resisting
the idea of buying an Amiga modem and Amiga communications software, since
I already have both running on my MS-DOS machine.) Is there an easy way to
get the A-2000 to recognize files from an MS-DOS machine?
Any replies will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
John
If you are using an external modem on your PC, then you can easily hook it
up to your Amiga as well… just run a serial cable from each computer to
a switchbox. There are tons of _excellent_ freely redistibutable telecomm
programs in Library 5 of AmigaUser… I recommend BacTalk, as it supports
XPR protocols, including CIS-B+.
Now, you may be surprosed to learn that your Amiga can indeed read msdos
disks. Since the internal drive in your A2000 is not a high density drive,
you'll be limited to reading/writing 720K 3.5" floppies, but that
shouldn't be to much of a problem for you. For ease of use and support,
you should pick up CROSS-DOS from Consultron. There is a demo version of
it in the BB/AMAX library of AmigaUser that has the write function
disabled… but you should get the full package, as it only costs $25 or
so. With Cross-Dos installed, you'll be able to download to a 720k 3.5"
disk in your PC, and then just pop the disk in to your Amiga and COPY the
file to wherever you want.
Hope this helps.
Michael
…..on AutoPilot
Michael,
I too am looking to download files. I have access to Amiga
telecomm. software but am quite curious about Cross-Dos as I have both a
DOS and Amiga machine. Have you used Cross-Dos? What is it all about?
Bob Kuzmeski
Cross-Dos is an MS-DOS filing system for the Amiga. You simply copy the
program to your hard drive (or boot disk) and put MSDOSFileSystem in your
L: directory, mfm.device in your DEVS: directory and have MountMF command
in your C: directory. Then, all you need do is issue the MountMF command
(either directly, or in your startup-sequence, and your attached Amiga
drives will now be able to read and write MSDOS formatted DSDD disks. You
refer your DF0: drive as DI0: and then next drive as DI1:, then DI2:.
Because it is a filesystem, it is completely transparent to the user. You
can put an MSDOS disk that contains an Amiga program you downloaded form
CIS AmigaForums in your internal drive (DF0:) and then use the COPY
command to move the file to your hard drive: COPY DI0:<filename> DH0:
slick, eh?
Cross-Dos 4.2 cost about $26 mail order (that's _not_ a misprint).
Cross-Dos 5.0 which is due out in about ten days, will alos read and write
High Density disks if you have one of the new CBM High Density disk drives
(also due out very soon). For $59.95, you can get Cross-Dos 5.0 _and_
Cross-PC, a software only XT emulator for the Amiga.
Consultron, the publishers/distributors fo Cross-Dos and Cross-PC, are a
very small but _very_ good company. Their software is one the few _must
have's_ for the Amiga.
Michael
…..on AutoPilot
Michael,
So cross-DOS will take any Amiga program and turn it into DOS and
vice-versa? Could I use it to make CIM for the Amiga? Will it allow me to
view GIF files? Is it the easiest way to download software from CIS? I'm
having an extremely difficult time downloading!
You've piqued my interest,
Bob K.
Can you tell us what software, modem and computer model you are using?
Michael
…..on AutoPilot
I have a Smarteam 1200 baud Hayes compatable modem and use Acess! and
Handshake for telecomm but don't know much about either one. I would like
to download GIF files for use with D-PaintIII.
Bob
Robert:
Access!, I believe, supports CIS-B protocol… and you should use that for
downloading files from CIS. READ THE DOCUMENTATION for Access! If you
don't have it, let me know and I'll send it you via EMAIL.
While there are plenty of GIF files in the the graphics forums (GO
GRAPHICS) that are uncompressed, most of the files in the Amiga Forums are
stored in compressed format to make downloading much faster and less
expensive. Look in AmigaUser for a file called ARCHLP.EXE. It is a self
running tutorial on how to decompress acrhived files.
Also look in AmigaUser for DOWHLP.EXE which will give you tips on
downloading from CIS. You can pratice downloading files FREE OF CHARGE in
the PRACTICE FORUM (GO PRACTICE). The sysops there are very good at
helping new users become accustomed to the ins and outs of
telecommunications in general, and CIS in particular, however, they do not
know much about the Amiga… that's what WE are here for!
BTW, you may also want to spring for at least a 2400 baud modem (which you
can buy new for well under $100 or used for under $50… the connect
charge for 1200 baud access is the same as it is for 2400 baud access…
so downloading at 2400 baud will not only be much faster, but also cost
you MUCH less!
Good Luck!
Michael
…..on AutoPilot
Michael,
Thanks again for the info. I don't have docs. on Access! so if
you,ve got 'em I'll make it up to you somehow. Also, what do you know about
Whap!?
Robert:
Sorry for the long delay in answering your querry (I've been out of town
for a few days). I'll get back to you shortly regarding the Access! docs.
Whap is another subject… and a MUST have program if you're planning on
using CIS forums cost efficiently… again, I'll comment more later.
Michael
…..on AutoPilot
Michael,
Tanks for all your help and for offering the Access! documents to
me. I've downloaded the Whap! demo and am not quite sold just because the
demo doesn't do anything. Does it allow me to just point and click my way
through Compuserve?
Bob
Robert,
"…So cross-DOS will take any Amiga program and turn it into DOS and
vice-versa?…"
NO, it will not convert executable programs into a DOS program and vice
versa. What it does is allow you to read and write to MS-DOS formatted
disks. This way you can transfer data between formats, move programs, for
example, that you've downloaded on an MS-DOS machine's floppy drive to your
Amiga and vice versa. But the program must be written for the Amiga (or
MS-DOS) system specifically for it to work. Gee I wish it were possible to
do what your thinking, but it just ain't so.
Chris
I man can dream, eh?!?
Robert,
"…I man can dream, eh?!?…"
I guess you mean A man can dream, eh?!?… yes he can, I just dream of
never having another Termination problem, read/write error, disk block
error, Dhn: not intialized"…etc. rather than a magic program that
converts programs to run on whatever platform I happen to be using that
day. [sigh]
Chris
Robert,
CrossDOS lets your Amiga READ MS-DOS disks, but it does not change binary
files into programs that can run on the Amiga. MS-DOS and Amiga use two
different processors and are completely different. You just cannot run a
program written for one on the other.
You can, however, put any kind of file on an MS-DOS disk and, with
CrossDOS in your Amiga, copy that file to an Amiga disk and from there on
you can unpack it and use it if it is something written for the Amiga, or
you can read it if it is a text file.
John,
You have two choices. One costs money, the other doesn't, but costs
time…
First, I assume the modem is internal. if not, just move the modem over to
the amiga, and go. The two platforms use the same cables, modems,
printers… i.e. most extra hardware that doesn't require CPU or OS. The
terminal software is availible at any amiga store, user group, etc.
The above paragraph checks the #1 rule for troubleshooting: check the
obvious first. I occasionally forget to do that…
Now for the two solutions. First, Multi-dos is a public domain program (or
shareware, I don't really remember) that should be availible at your users
group or amiga store. It is also availible here, but it won't do you any
good if it's in IBM format. The second method is a commercial program
called Cross-Dos. Both of these programs are supposed to be invisible to
the user i.e. you just put the disk in, and do normal read/writes to the
disk.
As you can probably tell I have used neither of these, so… I've
downloaded multi-dos, but STILL haven't used it.
Ken Korty
– via Whap!