

                             'emphf.device'

                       Copyright 1993 By Jim Drew


What is a HardFile?

A HardFile is a file of any length that appears to a hard drive to the
Amiga's OS.  HardFiles are block-level devices, having DOS-ENVC entries
like normal hard drives.

HardFiles are used by Commodore's Bridgeboard system and PC-Task (software
IBM emulator written by Chris Hames).

The HardFileSetup program was designed to make things easier on the user.
It has the ability to create hardfiles of user-defined length and also
create the mountlist associated with the hardfile.


CREATING YOUR FIRST HARDFILE
----------------------------

Run the 'HardFileSetup' program.

Choose the HardFile type you want to use by clicking on the rotating
gadget below the text 'HardFile Type'.  You can choose either EMPLANT,
PC-Task, or Bridgeboard.  When you click on PC-Task or Bridgeboard,
you will notice that the 'FileSystem' box's contents changes to
'CrossDOSFileSystem'.  This is because these FileTypes are MS-DOS based.

Once you have selected the HardFile type, select the size of the
hardfile you wish to create.  If you have selected PC-Task or Bridgeboard
as the file type, you can only increment in 1 meg blocks.  If you
selected EMPLANT as the file type, you can increment in 64K blocks.

Once the size has been selected, choose the FileSystem that this device
will be using.  If you leave the FileSystem box blank, then FastFileSystem
will be used.

If you selected EMPLANT as the file type, then the file generated by the
'Create HardFile' option will be called, 'EmpHardFile*' (where the * is
the UNIT number).  If you selected either PC-Task or Bridgeboard as the
file type, then the traditional filename of 'hardfile*' will be
generated (again, with the * being the UNIT number).  Please remember that
only 16 units (0-15) are supported and you can not have the same unit
number for a different file type.  For example: EmpHardFile0 and HardFile0
could not be mounted at the same time or a conflict will occur due to
both devices using unit 0.

When you select 'Create HardFile' a PATH requestor will appear, asking
you where you want the file created.  Once you have selected the PATH,
a window will appear showing you the pending operation's information.
If it is acceptable, click on the 'OK' gadget, if not, click on the
'Abort' gadget.

If you click on the 'OK' gadget, any previously created hardfile with
the same name will be erased and then a new hardfile will be created.
Once the hardfile has been created, there will be about a three second
pause and then you will see the main menu again.

Now that you have created the hardfile, you should immediately create
the mountlist (don't alter any gadgets at this time).  Click on the
'Create Mountlist' gadget.

You will see a window open and a text requestor asking for the name
of the device will appear.  Enter the name that you want to call your
device (DH0:, VD0:, SH6:, etc.) and press RETURN.  Click on 'OK if
you are ready to create the mountlist or 'Abort' if you change your
mind.

Clicking on 'OK' will bring up a file requestor asking you where you
want the mountlist saved to.  Mountlists usually are stored in your
DEVS: directory.  That's it!  Exit the setup program.


USING THE NEWLY CREATED DEVICE
------------------------------

The first step in using the device is making an assignment.  In order
to use the emphf.device, you must assign EMPHF: to the same place where
your HardFile was created.  For example, if you created a hardfile on
your DH1: partition, then your assignment would be:

assign EMPHF: dh1:

If you created an MS-DOS compatible file (PC-Task or Bridgeboard file
type), then you must use this assign:

assign HF: dh1:

Once the assignment has been made, you need to MOUNT the device.  If
you used the device name of 'Test', then you would mount the device
like this:
 
mount Test: from devs:MountList_Test

Now, if you type:

cd Test:

You should get a system requestor telling you that the device is non-DOS.
You must format the device before you can use it (except PC-Task and
BridgeBoard file types...DON'T format them!).  You can use the Amiga's
FORMAT command for this.

Once the device is formatted, you can treat it just like a hard drive.
