Drive Divertor - Written by Stuart Coates
Version 1.30 - 7 October 1991
The Drive Divertor allows you to run software that is designed
for floppy only systems on a hard disk. This is achieved by
intercepting any disk accesses at GEMDOS level before the
Operating System gets its hands on them. When a command is
intercepted it is examined to see if it needs diverting, it not
the command is executed as normal otherwise it is modified and
then executed.
How to use the Drive Divertor:
Either:
1. Rename DIVERT.TOS to DIVERT.PRG and place it in the AUTO
folder on your boot disk.
2. Double-click DIVERT.TOS from desktop.
When loaded the program will ask you for a source drive and a
destination drive. When you have entered these the program will
now terminate and continue to divert all accesses to the source
drive onto the destination drive.
Compatibility:
The Drive Divertor gets its hands on disk accesses by re-
directing the TRAP #1 vector. If you have any other programs
that alter this vector (QuickST, TurboST, and some disk caches)
then I recommend that they are ran (in the AUTO folder) before
the divertor so that they don't interfere with any registers or
stack data. The divertor should be compatible with all versions
of TOS since it preserves all registers and stack contents, and
makes no un-documented calls (it's STe and probably TT friendly).
If you discover a program that doesn't work with the divertor
then please let me know and if possible send me a copy so that I
can fix the problem.
The Drive Divertor will not work with programs that access the
disk controller directly like some copiers and emulators do. Any
program that uses 'Standard' Atari TRAP #1 calls should be
intercepted without any problem.
About Drive Divertor:
Drive Divertor is Shareware, which means that you may distribute
it freely, but if you find it useful you are expected to send a
small registration fee. The registration fee for this product is
10 pounds sterling. Registered users will receive all updates,
technical support, and any other programs that I have written.
Magazines may publish this program on cover disks only with my
permission, and payment of a small fee.
Send all correspondence to:
Stuart Coates
9 Links Road
Kibworth Beauchamp
Leicester LE8 0LD
ENGLAND U.K.
CompuServe 100010,2106
Bath BBS (0225 840060)
(E-Mail to Stuart Coates)
Disclaimer:
Although I have tested this program I cannot be held responsible
for any damage that is caused through its use either properly or
improperly. If you do experience any problems then contact me
and I'll try to fix it.
Program Credits:
All Design / Coding..............Stuart Coates (The Hitchhiker)
Original Idea......................................Tony Chapman
Encouragement............All the Guys on Bath BBS (0225 840060)
Inspiration........................................Jimi Hendrix
Yngwie J Malmsteen
Distribution.......................................Teddystacker
Steve Coats (Arcade Fantasy Sysop)
Thanks go to........................HiSoft (Devpac, Lattice C5)
Abacus Software (ST Internals)
The Coca-Cola Company (Diet Coke)
Thanks also go to all of the guys on CompuServe (GO ATARIPRO) for
making the divertor program of the month in August 1991.
Program History:
Version 1.00 - 17 August 1991
Version 1.10 - 19 August 1991
A problem was found with programs that TRAP #1 while in
supervisor mode - this problem has been fixed.
Divertor now works on the ST's desktop - diverting almost
anything. If you divert drive C: -> F: and then double click C:
a directory of F: will appear.
GEMDOS functions $36 and $47 (Dfree and Dgetpath) are now
intercepted correctly.
Version 1.20 - 26 August 1991
Compatible with more programs.
You can now temporary switch Divert off using the DIVRTOFF.PRG
program. Divert can be switched back on by running DIVRTON.PRG.
If you run DIVERT.TOS more than once to divert several drives
then DIVRTOFF.PRG and DIVRTON.PRG will only disable / enable the
latest divert. DO NOT RUN DIVRTOFF.PRG OR DIVRTON.PRG WITHOUT
DIVERT.TOS INSTALLED - YOUR MACHINE MAY CRASH...!
Version 1.30 - 7 October 1991
Although it's now larger on disk, it takes up less memory, only
792 bytes when installed...!