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DiscInfo user guide
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User, please note
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DiscInfo is Freeware, i.e. it is free software, but not public domain.

Copyright notice
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The copyrights (c) of this program belong to John Kortink. All rights are
reserved.

You may not make changes to this program (except for documented configuration
changes). If you distribute it, you may only distribute the complete and
unchanged original copy (as you first received it). You may distribute this
program freely, but must obtain written permission from me if it is to be
distributed as part of, or alongside, any product that is meant to generate
profits. This program is provided 'as is'. Fitness of this program for any
particular purpose is not implied. Using it is entirely at your own risk.


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// Introduction
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Features :

- Provides low level disc information (like size, physical configuration,
  structure and location of the disc map, etc.).

- Displays a graphical representation of the disc map contents (relative
  locations of free and occupied space, defects etc.).

- Can produce a text file containing all the low level information and a list
  of all disc objects and their physical location.

Discs must reside under a FileCore based filing system (e.g. ADFS or RAMFS).

Note that the information presented by DiscInfo is very 'involved' and is not
discussed any further here. For more details, please refer to the chapters
about FileCore (pages 2-195 and 5a-169 onwards) of the RISC OS Programmer's
Reference Manual.


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// Compatibility
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DiscInfo should be compatible with :

- RISC OS 3.1 and later
- ARM 2 and later processors (26-bit architectures only)


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// Using DiscInfo
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Start !DiscInfo. Click MENU on DiscInfo's iconbar icon.

DiscInfo's iconbar menu pops up, showing the following entries :

- 'Info' and 'Quit' require no explanation.
- Clicking 'Control ...' opens the 'Control' window.

Clicking either SELECT or ADJUST on DiscInfo's iconbar icon will (re-)read the
selected disc's information and (re-)open the 'Disc Information' window.

The windows mentioned are discussed in detail below.


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// The 'Control' window
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You will find two sections in this window, 'Disc specification' and 'Log file'.

The 'Disc specification' section allows you to select the disc to be examined.
The disc's filing system and drive number may both be selected from a list by
clicking SELECT or MENU on the appropriate menu icon and selecting an entry.
Note that only filing systems that are present and FileCore based are listed.

The 'Log file' section allows you to specify a file name for the log file and
enable logging. A log file captures all the information shown by the Disc
Information window in text form. To enable logging, ensure the option icon is
ticked. The log file's full file name may be entered in the writable field.
Alternatively, drag the text file icon to a Filer window to fill in '<Filer
window's path>.Log'.


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// The 'Disc Information' window
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This will display information about the disc selected in the Control window.
To understand the information shown in this window please refer to the RISC OS
Programmer's Reference Manual (pages 2-195 and 5a-169 onwards).

The disc map (if it's the 'new' type) is displayed graphically. Every map bit
is represented by a single, coloured pixel. If a map bit corresponds to a part
of an object, the pixel is white (object numbers > 2) or cyan (object number
2). Free space bits are black. Defect bits (object number 1) are red.

The disc map display may be 'zoomed' by clicking on the 'up' and 'down' icons
just below the red square.


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// Epilogue
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Updates of DiscInfo (if any appear) will be made available by (in order of
preference) :

- World Wide Web : visit web.inter.nl.net/users/J.Kortink
- Electronic mail : email kortink@inter.nl.net

Enjoy !


John Kortink



