Re: Bought a IIe Microdrive card --- How teh hell do you use it ??

["Warren Ernst" <wernst@gmail.com>]

You're confusing file storage and Program Launching.

You can save files all over the microdrive to your heart's content -
use a modern folder structure to keep things organized.

That said, in the 8-bit world, to make things easier, there is
something generically called a "program launcher" that can launch any
program you want with a minimum of keystrokes. It works by being
pre-set with a list of executable programs and their locations, and it
displays them in some sort of menu, but some just scan a location
(disk) for executable programs (system files, actually) and list them.
ProSel 8 is the most popular program selector that I first described.

However, what you're probably thinking you want is the Apple II
equivalent of a DOS prompt. If so, then use a program launcher to
launch "BASIC.SYSTEM." You'll then get a "]" prompt and and you load,
save, and write all the files and Basic Programs you want. You can
change directories as you wish and launch programs stored there too.

To then leave the Basic prompt, use the "BYE" command. This will return
you to the program selector.

A program like Copy II Plus makes it a million times easier to copy
programs and files from floppy disks to folders on the microdrive card.
ProSel comes with a similar program.

Hope this helps,
Warr


BLuRry wrote:
> > > Are you saying the only way to add software to the drive is a program like
> > > CopyII+.
>
> The way I copy additional programs to my //e is as follows:
>
> 1) Go to ftp.apple.asimov.net
> 2) Download a bunch of stuff that may or may not be interesting, and
> use AppleWin to pick through whatever looked interesting and figure out
> which disk images are prodos.
> 3) Use ciderpress to convert the raw disk images to shrinkit file
> archives (If I remember correctly, you have to extract the files first
> and then add them to a new shrinkit image -- I could be wrong)
> 4) Use hyperterminal (on the pc) and Z-Term (on the apple) to transfer
> the shrink-it archives to the apple
> 5) Decompress the shrinkit archives to my //e drive in a subdirectory
> somewhere
> 6) Play around with the //e until I find myself wanting more, and go
> back to step 1.  :-)
> 
> -B