File Conductor
The File Conductor is a file manager for Commodore 128 computers. It can run as a loadable program, an internal function ROM or external function ROM. It is capable of copying, moving, deleting, renaming and making directories.
Compatibility
The kernal is used for all file handling to provide maximum compatibility with a range of devices. This means that you will need JiffyDOS or other similar speed DOS replacement if you want copying to be reasonably fast. There is no built in turbo loader or saver.
Supported file formats are PRG, SEQ and REL. USR is only supported if used as a sequential file. Most notably GEOS USR files won't be supported and neither the WARP25 files produced by later versions of Action Replay.
Special devices
- The 1581 partitions are treated like directories in general, but partitions can't be created or deleted with this program.
Unsupported devices
- The ROM version variants aren't compatible with RAMLink due to how RAMLink overrides the ROM. The PRG variant supports RAMLink though.
- 1541U2+L doesn't handle drive commands with unit numbers so this won't work (only with a mounted disk image).
- Pi1541 doesn't handle loading directory as a sequential file so this won't work (only with a mounted disk image).
Quick Reference
You can basically control everything using just CURSOR keys and the RETURN key. The RETURN key brings up a menu with actions to perform. There are more keys to learn that will speed up your work.
Press CURSOR UP/DOWN to walk between entries. Press CURSOR RIGHT to enter a directory/partition/drive. Press CURSOR LEFT to walk to parent directory/partition/drive. Toggle between the two listers using TAB or LEFT ARROW. Press F1 or COMMA to move the cursor a screen worth of files upwards. Press F7 or PUNCT to move the cursor a screen worth of files downwards. Press F7 or PUNCT to move the cursor a screen worth of files downwards. Press S to sort a lister (doesn't modify the directory on the drive).
If there are a lot of files or partitions it might not be possible to have all of them in a lister at once. In that case they will be presented in pages. When moving past the first or last file in a lister, new entries will be loaded.
When viewing a directory, you can select multiple files or directories using the SPACE bar. Press RETURN to bring up a menu with actions. If no files are selected the actions operate on the highlighted file/directory/partition.
When viewing a dialog, select an option using CURSOR UP/DOWN keys. Start the action using the RETURN key. Pressing STOP or ESC closes the dialog.
You can select a partition or drive unit with the number keys. You will need to use these to switch drive on dual-drive floppy disk systems.
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