Re: Getting Large Files off DOS 3.3 volumes?

[gids.rs@sasktel.net]

On Apr 17, 9:55 am, A2Aviator <a2avia...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Is there a utility that can be launched from within any booted DOS
> 3.3, that can write to a ProDOS disk?
>
> Or.. any DOS 3.3 utility that can patch a DOS 3.3 in memory to write
> to a 3.5" disk based DOS 3.3 volume, and can those be read by
> something to get the files to ProDOS?
>
> --
>
> I have some large text files on a split DOS 3.3 volume, in effect, the
> same as the Sider 'Super Volume', but these are only double sized, not
> the full 400K.
>
> The file is the size of two floppies, the DOS 3.3, they are random
> access text files.
>
> I'm not totally sure of the structure of the files, though I could
> write a cheesy BASIC program that for-next loops and closes the file
> at a predetermined amount of records, and then opens it again at that
> point, and prompts for a new disk.

For the most part, DOS 3.3 needs to be patched to read from a device
that is any larger than 140 kb, such as AMDOS or UniDOS, which can
access 3.5 inch drives and creates 2x 400 kb partitions on one 800 kb
disk.  You don't mention what kind of drive you are using or the kind
of DOS that creates or stores data on the "double sized" volumes.  But
if you can split the files on your double sized volume, and copy those
files to a normal 140 kb disk, then Copy II plus, is the best software
to transfer your files to a Prodos disk.

If you like applesoft programs, then Nibble Express XI has a great
program that runs under Prodos called "Prodos Linker" that allows you
to Load, Bload and Catalog DOS 3.3 disks from Prodos.

If none of the above work and you have an Apple IIGS, then you can
move data around through the monitor.
1) You would have to first boot into DOS 3.3 and bload your file (you
will have to create the file in parts small enough to fit into memory)
2) go into the monitor at the prompt by typing "call -151"
3) use the move command to move the file to another page of memory
like so " *2/800<0/800.9600M"  (you don't have to type in the star, it
signifies the monitor prompt"
4) boot into prodos
5) move the file back into main memory " *0/800<2/800.9600M"
6) save your file to prodos disk
7) you can append the split files using the b-command to create one
large file on the larger Prodos disk

Just a note:  Random Access files created under DOS 3.3 don't quite
work properly under Prodos.  The reason escapes me right now but you
will need a utility that converts Random Access (DOS 3.3.) to Random
Access (Prodos).

Good Luck!

Rob