Re: Getting started with MicroDrive / ProDos

["Bill Buckels" <bbuckels@mts.net>]

"savant42" <jbrashars@gmail.com> wrote:

>I tried using ciderpress to create a "games" directory on the main 
>partition, and adding a .dsk file of a game...

I don't really know where to start... I feel so weary for you... so I'll 
just give you an overview of what I do and leave it at that.

1. I use my CF card for mostly for bootable ProDOS partitions for my 
Microdrive but find it darned convenient to store disk images upon to create 
real floppies or to store and transfer disk images from real floppies back 
to my PC.

2. Ciderpress is fabulous for copying and pasting between Microdrive Volumes 
and files and directories in SHK archives and disk images stored on my PC. 
Just open them simultaneously and paste between them.

3. To get familiar with Ciderpress which is a very very full featured tool, 
try playing with many different disk images in a good emulator like 
AppleWin. I did this for years... (and in several other emulators). I also 
worked with alternate tools like Apple II Oasis just to get the feel of 
things...

4. You got DSK2FILE and Diskmaker 8 bundled on your CF card with your 
Microdrive. Those are your native diskimage tools:

This document (link below) has some background info for you as well:

http://www.aztecmuseum.ca/applecpm/AztecCPMToApple.pdf

In it I talk about my approach... and also a little about the Microdrive:

Converting back and forth from Disk Images to Real Apple II Disks

Two popular native Apple II utilities (DSK2FILE and DISKMAKER.8) can be used 
to create real DOS 3.3 disks and Apple CP/M disks from disk images. DSK2FILE 
requires
typing. DISKMAKER.8 is menu-driven to a greater extent and easier to use for 
this reason. DISKMAKER.8 is used exclusively for creating disks from disk 
images.
DSK2FILE can also be used to create disk images from disks. The disk images 
created by DSK2FILE can be used in either.

DISMAKER.8
http://www.markpercival.net/DM8/

DSK2FILE
http://a2central.com/?p=131

The Microdrive

Historically a serial cable (called a "NULL Modem" cable) was used to 
transfer files between the Apple II and other computers. In recent years the 
use of memory cards to
transfer data between computers has become standard. One such card, the 
Microdrive, allows a compact flash (CF) memory card to be plugged
into a Windows XP computer or an Apple II and comes with DISKMAKER.8 and 
DSK2FILE. It also comes with the Ciderpress program which allows files to be 
moved
back and forth between the Windows computer and the CF memory card. This 
greatly simplifies moving files back and forth between the Apple II and the 
Windows computer.

http://www.reactivemicro.com/product_info.php?cPath=1_29&products_id=31

5. Gonna leave this there. You need to wrok with all these things for 
awhile. Have fun.

Regards,

Bill