Geos files cannot be transferred while in Geos format. It is necessary to convert them into Sequential file format before they can be up- or downloaded. Due to the fact that some terminal programs make it extraordinarily difficult to download these Sequential files without ASCII/PETSCII translation, we have chosen to ARChive all converted GEOS files. This has the added benefit of making the files shorter, and thus quicker to download. This file will explain the process of converting and transferring Geos files using Xmodem protocol. CONVERTING FILES You will need CONVRT.BIN from LIB13. Download this as a program file to a Geos work disk using Xmodem protocol. This program will create a Geos program on your work disk that will convert between Geos format and SEQ format. You will need to convert every program you download or upload, except, of course, CONVRT.BIN. To get a working copy of the convert program follow these instructions: 1. Download CONVRT.BIN to a Geos work disk. Name it CONVRT.ARC on your disk. 2. Run ARC230.BIN (in CBMART's LIBrary 1) against it to extract the actual CONVERT program file. Brief instructions for using ARC are included at the end of this file. 3. The resulting file will be named CONVERT. Do not rename it. Leave the ARC file in place for now. This will protect you in case the CONVERT file is somehow lost or damaged in the next step. 4. Double-click on the C64 icon for CONVERT. The computer will reset, the drive will run for a short while, and it will be necessary to turn the computer off and on again. Re-boot GEOS and you should see a GEOS icon in place of the C64 icon for CONVERT. To convert a file: 1. When you download the file, read the individual instructions carefully. All GEOS files will be in either ARC or SDA format. SDA files must be RUN from BASIC to extract the components. ARC files must be processed with ARC, as in step 2, above. If unsure of a particular file, leave a message addressed to SYSOP. 2. Place the extracted file on the Geos work disk with the CONVERT program. 3. If you are preparing a file for upload, rename the file to a name that is all upper case letters. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU RENAME THE FILE AS TERMINAL SOFTWARE WILL NOT RECOGNIZE GEOS LOWER CASE. 4. Double-click on the CONVERT icon. This will place two menu icons in the upper left corner of the screen. 5. Click on the convert icon and you will be presented with two choices. Choose the appropriate conversion by moving the mouse cursor over the item and pressing the mouse button. 6. If preparing a file for upload, you will be presented with a list of Geos file applications. Choose the correct description, again by clicking the mouse button on the item. 7. You will then be presented with a list of eligible filenames. Click on the filename you wish to convert, then click on OPEN. The rest of the conversion is automatic. When the conversion is complete, click on the FILE and QUIT icons to return to Desktop. 8. If you are preparing a file for upload, you may now compress the file with ARC, or build an SDA file. If you prefer, the Sysops will be happy to perform this step for you. This may, however, delay our making the file available to the other members of the forum by a day or two. UPLOADING USING XMODEM To upload a converted file using Xmodem: 1. From the LIB13: prompt, enter upl. You will be prompted for: filename - enter the filename as you wish it to appear on CIS. Use the normal conventions for filenames, and use a '.BIN' extension. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE FILE BE UPLOADED USING A BINARY EXTENSION. protocol - choose Xmodem (Modem7). type - Choose BINARY. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE UPLOAD BE PERFORMED USING A TYPE OF BINARY. 2. When prompted by CIS, choose the upload function of your terminal software. You must ensure that the translation function of your terminal software is turned OFF. There is usually a prompt of some sort that asks something to the effect of 'ASCII/PETSCII?' Answer NO to this prompt. 3. When your terminal software prompts you for file type answer: Sequential - if you have not made an ARC or SDA file. Program - if you have mad an ARC or SDA file. The major problem area of uploading Geos files using Xmodem is the translation. If the translation function of your terminal software is not turned off, the uploaded file will be useless. Make sure that you upload the file WITHOUT translation. With most programs, it is easier to do this for Program files than for Sequential files. If you are uncertain how to build an ARC or SDA file, leave a message addressed to SYSOP. DOWNLOADING USING XMODEM As with uploading, the big problem is translation. Make sure the translation function of your terminal software is turned OFF. To download a Geos file using Xmodem: 1. Choose the file you wish to download using either the 'bro' or 'dow' function of CIS. 2. When prompted, choose Xmodem(Modem7) protocol. 3. When CIS is ready to send, and you have received the prompt to begin download, place the Geos work disk with CONVERT on it in the drive and enable the download function of your terminal software. Download the file as a PRoGram file with translation turned OFF. 4. When the download is complete you may sign off the service and perform the rest of the operation offline. Take the appropriate extracting action for the file, as shown in the individual file description. Boot GEOS and double-click on the CONVERT icon. 5. Click on the convert icon in the top left corner and choose SEQ to GEOS. 6. You will be presented with a list of eligible files to convert. Click on the filename you just extracted, then click OPEN. 7. The rest of the conversion is automatic. When complete, click on the FILE and QUIT icons to return to Desktop. Good luck! Steve Nye/Sysop Ed Flinn/Sysop Note: You may want to look at the VIDGEO.DOC file for some general information. Date: 12/18/88 00:44 EST ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ A short course on de-arcing files: 1. Download ARC230.BIN from LIB1 as a PRG type file. If using VIDTEX, download as ARC230,P. 2. Any arced file to be un-arced must have an '.arc' extension in its filename on your disk and be a PRG type file. 3. Disable or remove any FastLoad type cartridges. 4. Load and Run ARC230.BIN. Screen will turn black; characters white; READY prompt will return. 5. Put disk with arc file in drive. 6. Insure that there is plenty of room on disk to accommodate un-arced files. 7. Issue command to un-arc: arc/x filename[.arc]. '.arc' is optional in command syntax but must be in the filename on disk. 8. ARC230 now un-arcs your arced file. 9. That's it. -steve
Amiga7878