Date   : Mon, 27 Jul 1992 09:59:38 -0400
From   : Jay Sage <sage@ll.mit.edu>
Subject: Re: Help with Amstrad 8256

   Joe R Szurek asked about moving LocoScript files from a PCW8256 to a PC. 
I have a PCW8256 and recently performed this task for someone who paid me to
do it.  It is painful but can be done.

   There are two problems.  One is to get information from the PCW's 3"
diskettes onto PC diskettes.  Some people have added 3.5" or 5.25" drives to
their PCWs, and then it is easy (assuming they still have a 3" drive --
which many don't).  I have a serial interface and made the transfers using
telecommunications software and a null-modem cable.  This task can be made
easier by collecting all the files one wants to move in one user area on one
diskette (or as many as are needed to hold the files).  I had to collect
lots of individual files from many user areas, and this added a lot of time
to the task.

   I had contracted to move the files as is.  The person had not even told
me with what applications the files had been created.  As it turned out,
some were LocoScript files and others were dBase files.  Although LocoScript
provides its own operating system and file system, the disks are fully CP/M-
compatible and can be operating on in CP/M mode with a telecomm program. 
The 'groups' correspond to user areas.

   Later, the person realized that he could not use the LocoScript files on
his PC.  I recommended that he purchase LocoScript for the PC, especially
since he was familiar with and liked the program, but he declined.  I am not
sure what he is doing with the files -- probably nothing.

   To satisfy my own curiosity, I worked out the procedure for converting
the LocoScript data into a form usable on a PC.  I soon found that
LocoScript, as I expected, has a menu choice to convert files.  There are
two conversion options.  One simply generates the equivalent ASCII file,
stripping out binary headers and special formatting characters.  The other
essentially prints to disk.  That is, it generates an ASCII file with text
whose appearance approximates the printed page that LocoScript would
produce.  Ideally one would probably perform both conversions before moving
the files over to the PC.  Unfortunately, these conversions have to be
performed manually on each file; there is no *.* option.  To speed things up
(LocoScript is a lovely program, but, like WordStar, not terribly speedy), I
moved the original files to the RAM disk and worked there.

>> Do you need a special interface to connect a modem to the 8256....If so,
>> where do you get it and what price?

   Yes, a special interface card is required.  Elliam Associates may have
them.  If not, you'd have to order them from England.  Unless this is going
to be a continuing need, it would probably not make sense to go this route. 
Better to pay someone to convert a few diskettes.

-- Jay Sage