Short:    Easy Amiga <-> Z88 file transfer. v1.0
Uploader: mackay@sedgehill.lewisham.sch.uk (Joe Mackay)
Author:   mackay@sedgehill.lewisham.sch.uk (Joe Mackay)
Version:  1.0
Type:     comm/misc


AtoZ v1.0
---------
(C) Joe Mackay 1998

Introduction
------------
  AtoZ is a utility to transfer files between the Amiga and the 
Cambridge Z88 portable computer via an RS232 serial link. It currently 
uses the Z88's inbuilt "imp-export" protocol, although more are 
planned.

Disclaimer
----------
  This program is **FREEWARE**, but remains copyright of Joe Mackay. No 
part of the program may be altered or modified in any way. It may be 
freely distributed, provided the archive is left in its original state, 
and no more than a nominal copying fee is charged by PD libraries.

  You use this software at your own risk. The author can accept no 
responsibility for any data loss caused by this software.

  There, I've said it!

Features
--------
- Font sensitive resizable GUI (Gadtools)
- Can handle single or batch files
- Optional conversion of CR<->LF

Requirements
------------
  Any Amiga with KS2 or higher, and asl.library v38+.
  Only tested on one machine (KS3.1), so accurate bug reports are 
welcome!
  Oh yeah, a Z88 would be nice :-)

Usage
-----
  I'll improve this section of the documentation when I have time!
The program is very straightforward. The "auto" switch is used to 
select whether to send an "end of batch" signal at the end of batch 
transfers. When doing a batch transfer from the Z88 to Amiga, you must 
remember to select E)nd batch on the Z88 when it's finished.
  When transferring from the Amiga to Z88 you must set the Z88 to 
receive before starting the transfer. This does not apply to Z88>Amiga 
transfers.
  Note: only use the CR<>LF conversion on PLAIN TEXT FILES. Using it on 
anything else will very probably cause irreversible corruption!

Known problems
--------------
- AtoZ currently uses SER: rather than proper device handling. As such 
  the program will stop dead if any serial I/O is not answered; this 
  will be fixed in the next release.
- Data transfer is not as fast as it could be, this will hopefully be 
  fixed in the next release.
- Transmitting to the Z88 at a higher baud rate than 9600 may result in 
  a "Poor data received" error. This is likely to be related to the 
  above problem.

To do
-----
  This is a very early release of AtoZ, and is currently fairly basic. 
Planned improvements are:

- Improve transfer speed (better buffering)
- Add support for extra serial ports
- Allow changing of baud rates from within the program
- Add CLI options
- Allow directory trees to remain intact
- Improve multiple file selection, probably via Reqtools.library
- Support for the PCLink II protocol
- Implement a new protocol to allow remote browsing of directories at 
  both ends
- Pipedream conversion
- Better documentation!

Author
------
  You can contact me via e-mail at mackay@sedgehill.lewisham.sch.uk for 
any comments, bug reports or suggestions.
  If anyone feels like drawing a nice (preferably MagicWB) icon for 
inclusion with this program then please do!

Credits
-------
  Thanks to Clive Sinclair and (what used to be) Cambridge Computers 
for such a brilliant portable computer! Also thanks to all the people 
behind the EasyGUI system for Amiga E.

History
-------
1.0 (23/05/98) - First release