Date   : Tue, 24 Mar 1987 08:52:09 EST
From   : Robert Bloom AMSTE-TEI 3775 <rbloom@apg-1.ARPA>
Subject:  RE: converting a CP/M operation to IBM PC

Herb et all,

> I currently run a Compupro S-100 system with CPM 2.2 or MPM 8/16 -- 8
> inch floppies.  Any ideas how I can transfer my important stuff
> (documents, spreadsheets, databases) to an IBM-compatible layout?

I have [had] the same problem (approximately - an Zenith AT clone 
and a CPM 3.0-like TurboDOS NorthStar Horizon.)  Both your and my 
systems have the same problem - your 8" floppies won't fit in the 
IBM drives (or at least not with using undo force :-) and the 
*hard*sectoring* of the NorthStar makes the 5-1/4 disks 
physically and mentally incompatible (sometimes I think I need a 
good divorce lawyer.)

So, put the two of them next to each other, run a nice 3 or 4 
wire cable between serial ports on each (pins 2,3,7, maybe 
reversing 2&3), obtain an commo program for each (preferabily 
with 'batch' capability) and transfer at the highest rate that 
they can manage.  My TurboDOS to Zenith connection runs at 38400 
baud (!), the NorthStar Advantage to Zenith a more prosetic 9600 
baud.  Text files worth best (natch) but there's no problem with 
binary files either - as long as you don't try to run programs on 
the wrong machine.

Works so good that I often download a batch of files to the 
Zenith, use pkarc to archive them, and then upload them back to 
the CP/M machine.  (I've might be called perverse - to me the IBM 
machine is the 'down' and the CP/M machine is the 'up'!)

bob bloom