
Getting Started...
------------------

  64COPY is an all-in-one file converter and  DOS  maintainenance  package.
Its intended use is to convert the various files that  exist  for  the  C64
emulators. Files like D64, D71, D81, T64, X64, LNX,  ARK,  ARC,  SDA,  LBR,
SPY, CPK and all the ZipCodes (Diskpacked, Sixpacked and Filepacked) can be
converted to whatever format you need for your favorite  emulator,  or  for
use on the real C64. You still need to get whatever  emulator  package  you
want in order to use the files you have as 64COPY does  not  provide  *any*
emulator functionality.

  Now, seeing as you have already unpacked the archive  that  64COPY  comes
in, all you have to do is either execute "64COPY" or "64MAIN"  to  get  the
program started.

  The small executable "64COPY.EXE" is a loader,  which  will  execute  the
main program "64MAIN.EXE". The benefit to using the loader is that when you
execute operations from  the  64COPY  command-line,  the  program  will  be
un-loaded from memory before the operation begins, thus freeing up most  of
the memory.

  Using "64MAIN.EXE", you are using the program in "resident"  mode,  where
it will  stay  in  memory  all  the  time,  making  executing  command-line
operations much more difficult.

  The only really necessary file is "64MAIN.EXE".  All  the  other  support
files will be created when either the program needs them  (.EXT),  or  they
will be created when you exit the program.


Here are some of the functions that 64COPY handles internally...

  * Windows95 (and later versions) long filename compliant

  * Convert D64, D71, D81, T64, LNX, SDA, ARK, ARC, LBR, SPY, X64, CPK  and
    the ZipCode family to other formats (F11)

  * Create & format image files (D64, X64, T64, LNX, D71, D81)

  * CheckDisk (D64,X64,D71,D71), CheckTape (T64) and CheckZip (ZipCode), to
    verify and correct errors in these archives (on ALT-F3)

  * 6502 disassembler (on SHIFT-F4)

  * Disk HEX Editor (on ALT-F4, when in a D/X64)

  * An extensive Disk (D64/D71/D81/X64) directory customizer (on SHIFT-F2)

  * Disk BAM and error-byte editor

  * PETASCII to ASCII text file conversion (on SHIFT-F9)

  * View the ICON and other info on GEOS files

  * DOS Text file editor (on F4)

  * DOS file viewer (on F3)

  * HEX editor (on ALT-F4)

  * DOS copy/move/delete/attribute commands

  * Fully user configurable (colors, settings)

  * Fully editable panel layouts

  * Five keyboard macro strings, with 200 keystrokes each


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FAQ and answers
---------------

  Most of the problems that you might encounter are  problems  I  have  not
been able to duplicate, but I hope I have fixed. Here are the  most  common
questions I have been asked, or most common problems I have had to fix.


Q. How does the HELP work (and where is it)?

A. Virtually all the HELP for 64COPY is online. Run the program first,  and
   press the F1 key to bring up the HELP window. You will either  be  in  a
   topic or the main index. If you are in  a  function  (converting  files,
   text editor), calling HELP will bring up help for that topic. If you are
   sitting at the command-line, then HELP will come up with  the  index  of
   topics. Either way, you can still get the index, and look for  what  you
   want from there.

   If the HELP file doesn't  exist  (64COPY.HLP)  then  help  will  not  be
   available, and you will get a warning that help cannot be found as  well
   as where the help file should be. If the HELP file version is wrong, you
   will also get a warning.

   If you can't get the program to run, so as to  display  the  HELP,  then
   there is very little I can do. I would request that you mail me with the
   details in this event as I would like to know about it, and try  to  fix
   it.



Q. I ran my virus scanner, and it reported the "xxxx" virus in one  of  the
   executables.

A. Unless you use the virus scanner F-PROT to make  your  reports,  I  will
   take no action towards checking or  verifying  that  the  virus  exists.
   *All* of the reports that have been sent to me  have  been  from  either
   McAfee Scan or Norton Anti-Virus, both of  which  I  do  not  trust  for
   accurate reporting of viruses (false positives).

   I always have the latest release of F-PROT, and I  trust  it  much  more
   than *any* other scanner on the market, including the  retail  ones.  If
   you want action taken, use F-PROT and then send the report to me.



Q. When I start the program, the screen saver starts up almost immediately.
   What can I do to stop this?

A. This was due to a bug in the "inactive time" calculation  for  when  the
   screen saver will  activate.  If  this  happens  (and  it  shouldn't  in
   versions past 3.00 beta 10), there are several ways to prevent this...

   1. Goto the  configuration  page  (ALT-F6)  called  "Screen  Saver"  and
      disable the saver (the best method).

   2. Move the mouse to the bottom right corner of the screen. This is  the
      "save never" corner, and will disable the saver, but that is not  too
      useful if you want to use the mouse.



Q. When I am doing XXX operation, the program hangs. Why?

A. This is most difficult to answer as a number of factors are coming  into
   play. It may be that there is a bug that you have found, and I will have
   to track down. It would be best if you can duplicate the problem,  as  I
   will not be able to fix it (easily) if I cannot see it happen.

   If you can duplicate the problem, mail me  with  the  all  the  details,
   order of operation, etc. If you don't have the latest version,  I  would
   recommend getting that first, as I may have fixed it already (and not be
   aware of it!)



Q. When I am doing  XXX  operation,  I  see  garbage  on  the  screen,  but
   everything seems to work ok. Why?

A. Once again, like  the  previous  question,  this  requires  that  it  be
   duplicatable. If it is, mail me with  what  you  were  doing,  where  on
   screen the corruption starts and ends, etc. Even if I  cannot  duplicate
   it, I can likely attempt to fix it.



Q. Are you going to support the new GCR formats coming  out  for  C64S  and
   CCS64?

A. Quite simply, no. Miha has not released the layout of his format, and  I
   have only heard of the one for CCS64.  In  either  case,  after  lengthy
   discussions with other users and utility authors, I  have  come  to  the
   conclusion it is not worth supporting. If you have a program  which  can
   only be run from a GCR image, there should be *no* reason to have to see
   it or edit the image  as  working  with  the  image  will  likely  cause
   corruption.

   At the absolute most, I will allow "read-only" support (like  I  do  for
   SixPack), just so files can be copied out, but  this  is  contingent  on
   getting the specifications for the format.



Q. What will happen if I delete any of the  external  support  files  (like
   "64COPY.INI") when 64COPY is active?

A. Nothing bad will occur at any point. Once the program  is  running,  all
   the support files have been read, the settings are in  memory,  and  the
   files are no longer used. When  you  quit,  the  files  will  simply  be
   written out as if they don't exist.

   If you delete a file when not in 64COPY, and start the program up again,
   it will detect the missing file and use default values. The  applies  to
   any of the support files.



Q. How come if I change the screen  height  (ALT-F9),  and  then  quit  and
   restart the program, the screen height is not what I changed it to?

A. When 64COPY is started for the *first* time (i.e. no  "64COPY.INI"  file
   exists), the screen height is recorded, and 64COPY will always start  up
   in that mode, unless you change the height setting in the  Configuration
   window (ALT-F6), Visual options page, Screen Height section.



Q. 64COPY won't recognize the F11/F12 keys on the keyboard. Why?

A. It seems that there are some rare BIOS's that are  not  100%  compatible
   with the method I use for scanning for the extended keys, and  therefore
   I can't fix this. However, there are ways around this. Since 64COPY  has
   a working MENU system (using the F9 key, or with the mouse), you can use
   the menus to accomplish nearly all that would normally need to  be  done
   with the keyboard.



Q. What would registering the program get me?

A. Physically,  in  your  hands,  nothing.  The  program  has  no  crippled
   features, and contains no registration  routine  or  serial  numbers.  I
   would not send you a "registered" version as it  doesn't  exist,  but  I
   will send you the latest version if you don't already have it.

   However, I would very much like to see people register the program  with
   me, as it shows some appreciation for the work which goes  into  writing
   extensive utilities such as this. If you do decide  to  send  something,
   please   make   it   a   money   order,   as   cashing    out-of-country
   (out-of-continent?) personal cheques from  might  present  problems  for
   both of us.



Q. How do I get the latest version of the program?

A. There are two ways:

   1. EMAIL me with a request for a new version. Assuming I am available to
      send it, I will. If you're lucky, I might even send a  newer  version
      than whats available on the 'net!.

   2. Download it from  Pontus  Berg's  site  WWW.FAIRLIGHT.TO.  This  site
      should have the latest public release.



Q. How can I contact the author?

A. You can send me EMAIL at the address:

     "schepers@ist.uwaterloo.ca"

   or by regular snail-mail post at:

     Peter Schepers
     1227 Nellis Street, unit 4
     Woodstock, Ontario,
     Canada
     N4T 1N8

