#AREAD/AWRITE help
32 messages in this thread
I've got a Logitech ScanMan hooked up to my Bridgeboard. My plan was to
convert the TIFF files produced by the scanner to ILBM files using an old
PC graphics utility called Graphics Transformer (which actually utilizes
Hijaak), and then transfer them to the Amiga side using AWRITE. However,
when the files get to the Amiga side, they are SEVERELY TRUNCATED. (One
was only 6 bytes long.)
Is there a problem with AREAD/AWRITE under WB2?
Also, is anyone aware of any newer IBM or Amiga graphics conversion
utilities?
Finally, if AREAD/AWRITE doesn't work, could someone suggest another means
of getting this data across? (I have CrossDOS, but I've heard it doesn't
work, either.)
Thanks in advance…..Nancy
– Nancy D. Lorieau
– Whapping from Sunny Edmonton, AB, Canada
Nancy,
Are you using the /b option when you use Aread/Awrite? It will handle a
binary file properly and do the CR/LF conversion necessary. Otherwise you
will only get junk on the other side.
Nancy,
I kow nothing about AWRITE/AREAD. But if you do get your TIFF files onto
the Amiga side, I recommend several ways to convert them to IFF files other
than to rely on PC utilities.
There is a program in the AmigaArts forum here called Tif2IFF (or something
like that). It works quite well. It is a CLI-only program.
Much more robust, flexible and expensive than that is ASDG's Art Dept
Professional.
Rich
Hi Nancy…
Are you using the "/b" switch with AWRITE? You need it for binary files
(programs and graphics).
AWRITE c:\testfile dh0:testfile /b
There's also something called ATCOPY which does a very good job, but the
shareware version doesn't handle large files. And the guy in Germany who
developed it seems to have moved and disappeared.
Cross-DOS works fine, especially the newest version. Though you need to
have the right size disk on the Amiga side. If you have the files on 5.25"
disks and you only have 3.5" drives on the Amiga side, you can't access the
disks.
Marion
CROSSINGS
Newsletter for the Bridgeboard, etc.
Are you using the /b switch on AREAD and AWRITE?
Also there should be no problems with ARead or AWrite under 2.0, I use it
all the time with no problems.
Greg
Greg Givler – CBMSER Sysop
Commodore Product Assurance
Ok, if you use Aread & Awrite all the time, perhaps you could help me with
a problem that I am having. I am tring to move a WP file form the IBM side
to the Ami side (I have WP for Ami, and IBM at work) but every time I try
to use aread or awrite, I get a "server not running run PCdisk on the
Amiga" Well I have run PCdisk, Dosserver, and just about anything else I
could find. It did not work. I also have running (in case they
conflict??) a SMT no slot clock (on the BB), and raw.com to speed speed up
the cursor (also on the BB). Any suggestions? Thanks, Gary
Well, lets see what version of AmigaDOS are you running. If you 2.0 or
higher, you may have a problem. If you have an accelerator that turns
datacaching on on the MMU that may also be the problem. If you have an
accelerator you ahve to have your datacaches turned off, you can do that
by either running, SetCPU NoCache or CPU NODATACACHE BEFORE the
binddrivers command in your startup-sequence. This could be causing the
problem with the server not being found by the system.
Greg
Greg Givler – CBMSER Sysop
Commodore Product Assurance
Thanks, Greg.
I've been having that same problem ever since I installed 2.0. This is
the first time I've seen a possible solution. The bridgeboard works fine
except for AREAD and AWRITE. Sure hope this works.
—Betty
Greg…
That's not the whole story, though. Ever since I upgraded (030, WB2.04),
my Bridgeboard has been flakey. I often have to reboot two or three times
before I can get the Janus services working properly. I've used ENFORCER
QUIET, and tried CPU NODATACACHE, and the problem is still there, even with
my new 386 BB.
Marion
Hmmm… Interesting, I have never had any flakeyness on the A3000 or 3000T
in my office. I don't have a bridgeboard for my 2000 at home. Maybe it is
one of those, it only happens on certain machines problem.
Greg
Greg Givler – CBMSER Sysop
Commodore Product Assurance
Greg…
It might be my machine (it's pretty old, but it's a standard motherboard).
More likely, I think, is my unusual configuration–I boot from a Syquest,
then switch to RAD as the SYS so I can use other Syquest cartridges. When I
put BINDDRIVERS at the end of USER-STARTUP, as in the INSTALL program, the
386 was hopeless. Now it's much more reliable. But if I have to reboot from
RAD, the 386 doesn't like it.
I'm trying to find a pattern in all this that I can put in print. I'd
appreciate any suggestions.
Marion
CROSSINGS
Newsletter for theBridgeboard, etc.
Well here is a possible solution, you can run Binddrivers multiple times
without a problem, that is my solution in the Install for 2090A and other
multi-boot partition drives.
Greg
Greg Givler – CBMSER Sysop
Commodore Product Assurance
I only have 2.0, no accelerator (I'd like to have one though). So, what is
the problem with 2.0 and the Janus services?? I could really use acce.
Gary
I know of no problem. We never had any reports that I know of. That
doesn't mean that they don't exist, just that I don't have any knowledge
of it.
Greg
Greg Givler – CBMSER Sysop
Commodore Product Assurance
Greg, I am a little confused. In your orginal reply to my question on how
to get Aread/Awrite to work, your fist sentence said: "It depends on what
dos you are using, if you are using Amiga dos 2.o or hihger you may have
problem." Now you are saying you know of no problem?? I think we
misunderstood each other. I have 2.04, and I cant get aread/awrite to work.
I do have the new janus kit for 2.0. I must be doing something wrong
then?? Althoug clicking on Dosserv and then going on to the Bridgeboard to
transfer files seems simple. You can user Awrite/Aread with ram: cant you?
Thanks, Gary
gary,
I use an 8086 BB with WB2.04 and the older Janus software. Aread/Awrite
both work without problems. It does work with Ram:.
I use an AT BB under 2.04, and on a 2500. Janus 2.0 with DOS 3.3. And
AREAD and AWRITE have not worked since I installed 2.04.
—Betty
I have heard that there is a problem when you format and install 2.04 and
then try to re-install the BB software. For that reason I did not reformat
the HD on that machine although I did install 2.04. I think I set enforcer
to "quiet". The machine is an old A2500/020.
I didn't format the BB disk, either. In fact, it has its own hard disk.
Neither did I reformat the Amiga drive from which I boot the Bridgeboard.
And I have Enforcer Quiet set. I have a 2500/030.
—Betty
Gary,
With Dos 2.04, there are problems with installing the software and running
PCPrefs. Perhaps that's what Greg meant. Anyway, I also found AREAD/AWRITE
a little flakey after I upgraded to 2.04 and an 030 board. It seemed as if
the Bridgeboard was booting too fast for the Amiga, and it didn't know the
DOSserv was available. I found rebooting the BB usually solved it.
BTW, you don't have to click on DOSserv–it's called automatically by
AREAD/AWRITE. And yes, you can use AREAD/AWRITE with RAM.
Marion
CROSSINGS
Newsletter for the Bridgeboard, etc.
Thank you. Perhaps Greg did mean the preference problem w/2.04 I did get
the upgrade to the janus software to get aroung that I will try rebooting
the bridge board after booting the amiga. Thanks, gary
The problem that I have encountered with ARead and AWrite is that if you
are on a 2.04 system with an accelerator, then you need to run Enforcer
quiet option. This is because by default the OS now turns the datacache
for the 680×0 processor on, where as 1.3 did it only if you explicitly
told it to. But if I remember correctly you have an unaccelerated system.
Therefore I am not sure what the problem is.
After you have clicked on DOSServ does it show up in a Status command?
It is possible that the program is not running for some reason. Also you
may consider running the program from the startup-sequence, well
user-startup in 2.0 🙂 And see if it works better that way. It shouldn't
make a difference, but when your grasping at straws it is best to try and
grasp them all. 🙂
Let me know if any of this helps.
Greg
Greg Givler – CBMSER Sysop
Commodore Product Assurance
I havent thought of checking with a Status command to see if it (the
dosserv) program is actually running. I will try that I will also try the
startup-sequence 'straw' if it is running. Thanks for your help Greg, Gary.
Greg,
Since I upgraded my A2000 to 2.04 (with ROM) ARead/AWrite have ceased to
work properly for me as well. The system usually starts to work and then
hangs. Note that this is with the older software (i.e. not Janus 2.1)
that came with my A2286.
(Now you know of 2 reports. 😉
David
Dave,
For what it's worth, aread and awrite under 2.04 on my 2500/20 work
just fine. With the old 2.0 and the new 2.1 Janus software.
Don
You just seem to have a magic touch, Don. They worked fine for me under
1.3, but I have never been able to get the file server to work since I
installed 2.04. The rest of the Bridgeboard works fine, just not the file
transfer.
—Betty
Betty,
Get the latest Janus software from your dealer. It's the software
that comes with the '386 BB. Everything works fine under the 2.04 ROM.
Don
Don,
What do you have on your Amiga side? Any accelerator or anything? With
mine, it started acting up when I upgraded to 2.04 and an 030 board at the
same time, and it was hard to tell where the problem came from. I found I
could usually solve it by rebooting the BB, sometimes more than once.
Also, you have a 2088, don't you? Maybe that has to do with it too–it
always was a more reliable board.
Marion
CROSSINGS
Newsletter for the Bridgeboard, etc.
Don,
Yes, the problems don't seem to hit everybody for some reason. You have
an XT BB, no? Maybe that's part of the equation. If I remember
correctly, you have a 4.1 (or 4.2) motherboard. Mine's a 4.3. It'd sure
be nice to figure this one out and get going again, since not having
ARead/AWrite significantly reduces the usefulness of the bridgeboard for
me.
David
David,
Check with your dealer…see if they've gotten (or can get)
permission to copy the disks that come with the '386 BB.
BTW, yes…I've got a very early 2000 (now a 2500/20) and I've
still got the original BB ROMs (also very early BB).
Don
Don,
Thanks for the suggestions. I've already made that dealer check that you
spoke about, and the answer is no. I'll just have to wait until C=
decides to sell the Janus 2.1 packages.
It does seem though, that the people with troubles have A2286 or A2386
bridgeboards, so maybe that's a clue.
David