BACKUP utility RP AUTOMATION DEC 1988

Preliminary Documentation

1.0 Introduction

This set of programs provides a mechanism for copying files

from one diskette to another using the VAL II system. This

utility assumes that two disk drives are being used, one in

the standard floppy port and the other in the ACCESSORY port.

2.0 Subroutine Description

The following subroutines are provided in this package:

Name Description

uti.backup This is the program that the

user needs to EXECUTE from the

VAL II monitor ("." prompt).

Ensure that no PC program is

executing when performing this

function.

uti.delete.w These programs are not to be

uti.flpdir.r EXECUTE'd by the user. They are

uti.flperr used internally by the routines

uti.flpin that perform the COPYFILES

uti.flpin.cmd function.

uti.flpout.r

uti.flpout.w

uti.flpout.out4.in.r

uti.flpout.out4.in.w

uti.flpout1.r

uti.flpout1.w

uti.format.w

uti.get.string

uti.get.string.upper

uti.no.bd

uti.openr.r

uti.openw.w

uti.print.file

uti.rblk.r

uti.rdfiles.r

uti.restore.saved.data

uti.type.string

uti.use.all

uti.wblk.w

uti.wfiles.w

uti.zall.top

3.0 Software Installation

The software is installed using the following procedure:

1) Load the RP_BACKUP.V2 file from floppy. This is

done by typing:

LOAD RP_BACKUP.V2

2) Execute the program by typing:

EXECUTE RP.BACKUP

3) Answer the questions appropriately when asked to do so.

4) Ensure that the second disk drive is connected to the

ACCESSORY PORT. This is the destination drive, where

the files are written to.

4.0 Software execution

1) The program will ask for a prompt when the first disk

is installed in the floppy disk drive. Pressing <RETURN>

at this point causes the floppy disk directory to get

listed on the CRT screen.

2) Select which files are to be copied. When all files to

be copied have been entered, press <RETURN> at the next

prompt. If all files on the diskette are to be copied,

then type an asterisk "*" instead of all of the filenames.

3) The files will then begin to get read from the first

floppy diskette. When all files have been read, or when

the allocated area in VAL gets filled, then the program

will start writing the data to the disk drive that is

connected to the ACCESSORY port. This reading and writing

process continues until all files have been transferred

to the new diskette.

4) When all selected files have been read and written, then

the program finishes and returns to the VAL II monitor.

5.0 Special notes

1) When a file is read from the first diskette, the

filename is displayed along with the block count.

2) When a file is written to the second diskette, the

filename is displayed along with the block count.

3) If the diskette to be written to is not formatted as a

VAL disk, then the program will query the user whether

to FORMAT the diskette or RETRY. This gives the user

the option to change to a different diskette if desired.

4) If a filename already exists on the second diskette, then

the program will query the user whether to REPLACE the old

file with the new one, to SKIP the file, or to RETRY writing

the file. This gives the user the option to change to a

different diskette if desired.

5) If any of the specified files are not found on the

diskette, then the program will simply ignore those

files.

6) If a file is not completed before the allocated area of

memory is filled up, then when the first diskette is

read again, the message is:

Continuing to read <filename>

instead of:

Reading <filename>

and a similar message is generated when writing the

file.

6.0 Variable names used

There are many real variable used within this set of programs.

They are reserved and should not be used. All variables used

start with the ASCII string "uti." (E.G. uti.bs.sp.bs[] is an

array that is used.

7.0 Messages

"*** Floppy error nn ***"

Error messages that are sent from the floppy disk drive

are output along with the floppy error code that was received

by the VAL system. This code corresponds to the internal

floppy error that has occurred:

2 = File already exists (creating new file with same name)

3 = File does not exist (opening file for reading)

4 = Communications error between VAL & floppy

5 = Disk full (writing to disk)

6 = Communications error between VAL & floppy

7 = Communications error between VAL & floppy

10 = Communications error between VAL & floppy

11 = Communications error between VAL & floppy

12 = Floppy not ready

13 = Floppy read error (diskette may be bad)

14 = Communications error between VAL & floppy

41 = No STX received during block transfer

42 = Incorrect checksum received during block transfer

"Cannot open WRITE file. Type <CR> to retry, <F> to FORMAT DISK:"

This message signifies that an error occured when trying

to write the first file on the diskette. If an "F" character

is typed (followed by a <CR>), then the diskette will get

FORMAT'd. Otherwise, the program will assume that the user

changed the diskette and will retry the writing procedure.