------------------------------------- ARC 128 information. 20jul87 - CS ------------------------------------- ARC is now available for the Commodore 128 in 128 mode. The C128 version of ARC is, of course, 100% compatible with the C64 version so anything that is created by ARC 128 can be dissolved by ARC 64 and visa-versa. Naturally, this will ALWAYS be the case! ARC 128 takes advantage of the C128's extra RAM and the 1571's burst mode to achieve an overall improvement in speed when creating and dissolving archives. ARC128 with a single 1571 will create an archive approximately three times faster than ARC64 with a single 1541 and approximately 20 percent faster than ARC 64 with a 4040 dual disk drive and C-LINK IEEE interface. A few other changes have been made to the ARC command. Pattern matching is enhanced ( "*.mus" will match all files ending with ".mus" ), input/output buffering reduces disk activity, and it is now possible to MOVE files into an archive (ARC then SCRATCH). The overall system (now called CS-DOS) has undergone numerous changes and is much improved. The basic feel of the program (syntax etc.) is somewhat like ARC64, most of the 64 version commands are "new and improved" and some new commands have been added. Some of the features offered by CS-DOS are as follows. 1) There are no 'built in' commands. All commands run as external commands (like ANALYZE or LU) and can be run from floppy, or can be transfered to an internal RAM disk where they behave just as if they were built in commands. This lets you pick and choose which commands you want or don't want and even lets you add some new commands of your own. ( Any PRG file  that fits can be installed in the RAM disk and executed simply by typing its name) You can save the entire RAM disk to floppy for later retrieval, and so build up a library of 'environments' for various purposes. 2) The RAM disk is configurable and can be as large or as small as memory allows and can reside in any one of the C128's banks (including ROM if you have an EPROM burner). CS-DOS does not presently support the 1750/1700 RAM expanders, but it will in future releases. 3) Output that would normally go to the screen (like ARC/L or LIST) can now be redirected either to the printer or to a disk file. 4) Input that normally comes from the keyboard can be redirected to a disk file. This allows for a powerful EXEC facility comparable to CP/M's SUBMIT or MS-DOS batch files. 5) FIND, CHANGE and SCROLL now support BASIC alot better, so the editor is no longer limited to just text files and can be used when editing BASIC programs as well. 6) GET, PUT and TYPE have been improved so that standard ASCII text files are easily dealt with. With the introduction of CSXARC, you'll likely be dealing with alot of them. All of Bank 0 is free so you can now edit text or BASIC files of up to 230-240 odd blocks. 7) Drive letters can be assigned to whatever (drive,device) you like. CS-DOS supports disks numbered 8,0 through 30,9 8) Several new commands have been added including verbose directory listing, BASIC variable dump, and several RAM disk related comands. 9) Both 40 and 80 column use is supported (although 80 columns is highly recommended) 10)A new command (CSXARC) has been added which allows you to dissolve archives created by the MS-DOS ARC programs. It can handle archives created by all versions of SEA's ARC utility version 5.20 or lower, or by Phil Katz's PKARC utility version 3.5 or lower. In other words, anything. If you're interested in C or Pascal or simply want to access the many thousands of text files presently archived by the MS-DOS ARC programs, then this command is for you. Lots of other small improvements have been made and all totalled, we think they add up to a pretty big improvement. We've been fortunate enough to elicit the aid of a very knowledgable and helpful beta test crew whose many suggestions and 'nit picks' have added much polish and resulted in a much finer product than we could have come up with on our own. (Thanks guys!!!!!) I think it's safe to say that if you LIKE ARC64, then you'll LOVE CS-DOS! CS-DOS is also designed with the future in mind. Since all commands are external, they're much easier to design, upgrade and maintain so many new and interesting features are slated for future versions of CS-DOS. Updates will be available to registered users for free via download from our BBS, or for a small fee via paper or electronic mail. If there is enough demand for it, a version of CS-DOS for the C=64 is planned. CS-DOS and ARC128 are NOT being distributed as freeware or shareware. They may not be duplicated and passed around, and they may not be posted on any electronic information retrieval system either public or private. To order your copy of CS-DOS/ARC 128, send a cheque made payable to to "Ampere Metal" to... Ampere Metal 80 Hale Road, Unit 4 Brampton, Ontario Canada L6W-3M1 The price is $30.00 (U.S. funds or equivalent) and includes the following: ------------------------ 1) Current program disk and printed documentation for ARC128/CS-DOS 2) Current program disk for ARC 64 with documentation on disk. 3) A permanent membership on our private bulletin board where updates will be available for download at no charge to registered CS-DOS users only. 4) Question/Answer support via Email, Papermail or voice telephone. If you live too far away and don't want to call the Bulletin board to obtain updates, they can also be purchased by mail for $10.00 U.S. (disk + manual addendum). We don't care how we get the update to you, as long as you foot the bill we're open to suggestion. So you can update to your heart's content until another SkyLab falls out of the sky and blows Ampere Metal to kingdom come. Note: all overseas orders must include an additional $2.00 to cover extra postage. Also: if you are already a registered ARC user, (as of 20 Jul 87) then your contribution was voluntary and since we appreciate that your contribution will count 100% towards CS-DOS. So to order, just send the difference between $30.00 U.S. and your contribution. If your contribution was $30.00 or more, a postcard indicating your current mailing address will suffice. When ordering, PLEASE include the following information for our records.... Full name and current mailing address. Type of Computer(s) you own or use frequently. Type(s) of Commodore disk drive(s) you will be using CS-DOS on. Do you own a 1750/1764, or do you plan to buy one? How did you FIRST find out about ARC? An EMAIL address where you can be reached... GEnie/PLINK (preferred), or CIS, or Q-LINK Also, any comments or suggestions you have for things you'd like to see in CS-DOS would be appreciated. This informatin will be helpful in setting priorities for future work on CS-DOS. The squeeky wheel gets the grease! CS