Date   : Thu, 09 Jul 1987 12:14:30 PDT
From   : Bridger Mitchell <bridger%rcc@rand-unix.ARPA>
Subject: Testsites for MS-DOS disk emulator?

I've developed a software extension to CP/M, tentatively called
DosDisk, that allows CP/M programs to use files stored on an MS-DOS
(PC-DOS) floppy disk _directly_ -- without intervening translation or
copying.  When DosDisk is loaded, you designate one floppy drive as
the dos drive.  Regular CP/M programs can then read, write, rename,
erase, and change the attributes of MS-DOS files, just as if they were
stored on a CP/M disk.  For example, you can edit MS-DOS text files in
place.

DosDisk differs from specialized CP/M file transfer programs (such as
UniForm or MediaMaster).  They require MS-DOS files to be copied to a
CP/M drive to be used.  DosDisk, in contrast, "mounts" the MS-DOS file
system on the selected drive, making that disk effectively part of the
CP/M system.

DosDisk requires:
   a Z80-type processor
   CP/M 2.2, 3.1, or equivalent
   about 3K + 2K for command processor
   a BIOS that can support MS-DOS DSDD 40 track 9-sector format.
   an assembly-language overlay to interface to the BIOS

When fully tested DosDisk is expected to be available as a low-cost
commercial or shareware program.

I'm looking for users interested in developing and testing the
interface overlay for a variety of CP/M computers.  Tests are
already underway for:
       Kaypros with TurboRom 
       Ampros
       SB-180's

Potential testsites should:
   have a computer other than one of the above
   also use MS-DOS
   have advanced assembly-language experience
   be willing to contribute overlay code
   have a BIOS with provision for specifying "foreign" disk formats 

If you're interested, please reply directly to me.  I'd also like to
hear from less technical users about the program's potential
usefulness to them.

--bridger mitchell
  bridger@rand-unix.arpa