============================== RAMPAK.ARK A Collection of C-128 Compatible CP/M PD Utilities Edited by: [CHUCK.WAGON] 07-06-87 ============================== RAMPAK.ARK is a collection of tried and tested C-128 Compatible Public Domain programs combined into a single ARK file which will create a self Booting Utility Disk to use with your 17XX ram expansion module. This means you should have a 1700 or 1750 Ram Expansion Module, other equipment required are at least 1 1571 Disk Drive and an 80 Column Mono or Color Monitor. The RAMPAK.ARK file Contains Popular Tele-Communications, File Handling, Translation, Filters and Word Processing Public Domain programs which can be instantaneously accessed using your 17XX as a True RAM DISK. This will allow you to use your 128 in its most Versatile and Powerful Mode as you will see once you get up an running. RAMPAK is designed with the Novice CP/M user in mind and includes a pre-written profile.sub file which will boot all of its utilities to your ram expansion module upon power up. Additionally the profile.sub file will shut off your 40 column screen and the write verify function of your 1571 disk drive to speed up and increase the efficiency of your System. When used in conjunction with the CP/M + Primers Series written by Michael Mantino (GEnie SYSOP) you can acquire the operating skills necessary to individually custom configure your own system and become a functional CP/M operator. PD Programs included in this file are: 1571.COM A Disk Drive Utility to shut off the write verify mode on your 1571 disk drive and speed up writing files to your disk. CONF2.COM An Updated file to Configure your 128 Operating System. CRUNCH23.COM Most widely used file cruncher used in CP/M mode to date. Creates CRUNCH files only. See also, UNCR23. D.COM A short but sweet Directory listing Utility. FILTX.COM A Nifty Text file Utility to strip control characters, high bits and fix orphan Line feeds. (My Favorite) FINDBAD.COM Finds bad disk sectors and locks them out. LBR.COM Will Un-Library Library files. LList.COM Will List Text files with Page Numbering, Custom Headings and Column formatting LT18.COM Will Un-Library, Un-squeeze &/or Un-crunch Text Files and send output to a Disk file or the printer. LU3.COM Creates Library files MEX.COM A Public Domain Communications Program more versatile than the IMP program supported by Commodore. NFORMAT.COM Updated Format Utility to allow formatting of Epson, Kaypro, Osborne and IBM CPM Disk with your 1571 Disk Drive. READCBM.COM A Great Utility to let you read Commodore formatted Disk in CP/M mode and transfer/translate text files and Binary files to your Ram Expander or second disk drive. READMSDS.COM Allows you to read an MSDOS formatted disk and copy files to your RAM DISK or second disk drive. Great for bringing home work from the office. SQ111.COM Squeezes (compresses) files on your disk. UNARC.COM Un-archives ARK Files downloaded from GEnie. UNCRUNCH.COM Un-Crunches Crunched (?Z?) Files downloaded from Genie. UNERASE.COM Un-erases (restores) files accidently erased with the CP/M Erase Command. Works on either your 1571 or RAM Disk. UNIDRIVE.COM Allows the use of Additionals CP/M MFM Formats not previously supported by the 1571. UNSQZ.COM Un-squeezes Squeezed files. (?Q?) downloaded from GEnie. VDE25.COM A WORD STAR (tm) look a like Public Domain Text Editor with custom installation provisions. Note: A Sepearate ARK File with the Documentation for the use of the above files is available see RAMPAKD.ARK. The Doc files are offered separately to conserve space on your RAM DISK and it is highly recommended that you down load that file. Getting Started: ---------------- Once you have down loaded this file you will need to Un-ark it. UNARC16.COM is file #3757 if you don't allready have a copy. The unarked files should be outputed to a CP/M System Disk (a Copy Not Your original) which contains at least the following files. 1. CPM+.SYS 2. CCP.COM 3. PIP.COM 4. SUBMIT.COM The best and easiest way to accomplish this is to pip (copy) the Ark file to your RAMDISK along with the UNARC Utility. Be sure these two files are on the disk in your A:Drive and type the following: PIP m:=a:rampak.ark PIP m:=a:unarc.com Once these two files have been copied remove the disk in drive A: and replace it with the newly created System Disk noted above. Now Logon to your RAM DISK by typing M: Type the following statement to UNARK the RAMPAK file to the A: Drive UNARK (or whatever you call the file on your system) RAMPAK.ARK A: Eg. UNARC RAMPAK.ARK A: If All is well and you get a message that the files are being unarked Go get a cup of coffee it will be a while till the process is completed. After you have finished Un-arking the files you are ready to play He!He! To Reset your CP/M System press the Control and Keypad Enter Keys together and you should now see the CP/M Logo message being displayed and the system booting up. Once the System has finished booting it will automatically look for the profile.sub file and execute the commands found in it in this case it will do all of the following: 1. Copy all the COM Files from your A: Drive to the M:Drive and then Logon to the M:Drive 2. Turn off the 40 column display, 3. Execute the 1571.COM file to shut off Write Verification. 4. Configure the system for a CBM printer, 5. Set Blue background and white cursor colors 6. Change the Baud RATE to 600 for quicker Screen Displays. 7. Erase the CCP.COM file from the M:drive 8. Execute the MEX.COM Communications program for you to go download some more files to play with. Note if you don't want to use MEX just type CPM to exit the program. 9. When you finish playing with MEX you will then also exit the Batch File (Which is what a submit or sub file really is) and find yourself with an M: Prompt where you can now access any of the utility programs in seconds. That's it. It sounds complicated but its not once you get the hang of it and in fact you might never go back to doing things the old way once you've gotten used to operating this way. I know I've been waiting a year for a decent RAMDISK program for the 128 in 128 mode and it still hasn't happened. Mean time I've been getting the most out of the system in plain ole Vanilla CP/M. By the way should you have to go into 128 or 64 mode (GOD FORBID) DON'T WARM BOOT the system. If you cold boot as noted above or hit the RESET button all of the files in your Ram Expander will remain intact as long as you don't shut off the computer you need only load your CP/M System to access them all again. Hope this gets some of you goin in the right Direction. It Should give you the big push if you've been thinking about playing with CP/M mode but haven't had the time to get started. I'm sure getting it all in one file and having the batch file written will save you hours of preparation and downloading time plus give you lots too play with and expand your personal computing skills. I know this is a big file to Down Load at one sitting however, if your really serious about getting into CP/M with or without a Ram Expander This File is an excellent one stop shop of proven 128 software and you will find all of the included programs helpful in both your Telle-communicating and Productivity endeavors. Enjoy And Thanks to all the FINE People who have made these programs available and Especially Michael Mantino [MICHAEL.M] for his fine articles. If You have questions on setting up your RAM EXPANDER or on using any of these programs feel free to drop me a line. I know what its like to be new to personal computing I was once too and sure wish I had some brains to pick so don't be bashfull it's your dime. Regards, [CHUCK.WAGON] -=:CARL:=-