INTRODUCTION: First we would like to suggest that you create a GEOS CONVERT Work Disk from one of your GEOS Backup Work Disks and include on this GEOS disk at least DESK TOP, geoPaint and possibly the geoWrite Application files. You will be able to upload and download directly from and to this GEOS CONVERT Work Disk using VIDTEX4.2. PURPOSE of the GEOS CONVERT program/ICON: Files in the GEOS format cannot be uploaded or downloaded to CompuServe or other Telecommunications Networks. They must first be converted to a C64 SEQuential file with the GEOS CONVERT program. While it is easy to transfer these SEQuential files with Vidtex, it is extraordinarily difficult with some other terminal programs. We have therefore chosen to ARChive all converted GEOS files in our LIBrary. While this will require an extra step on your part, it will have the benefit of making the files smaller, and thus quicker to download. Brief instructions on using ARC are included at the end of this file. If you require further help, leave a message addressed to SYSOP. Members can now use CONVERT to transfer their own or known "Public Domain" input devices, printer drivers, geoPaint graphics, text created with geoWrite, or GEOS programs. Also you can transfer Font files but ONLY if they are your own "custom designed" Font files. Since everyone has GEOS to begin with there is no reason to upload Berkeley's distributed printer drivers, etc. And, naturally, you cannot upload any of Berkeley's copyrighted programs. DOWNLOADing the GEOS CONVERT file named CONVRT.IMG in DL 13 using VIDTEX4.2 directly to your GEOS CONVERT Work Disk. Insert your GEOS CONVERT Work Disk. At the DL 13 ! Access prompt, enter -- bro convrt.img After the DESCription displays, select to DOWnload this file. When VIDTEX4.2 asks for a filename for your computer, enter -- convrt.arc VIDTEX4.2 will proceed to automatically download convrt.img as a PRoGram type file to your GEOS CONVERT Work Disk. When this download is completed, log off and follow the following instructions. CONVERTing the C64 CONVERT program itself to a GEOS Application program/ICON: This is a one-time procedure only. You now have downloaded the convrt.img file to your GEOS CONVERT Work Disk and it must be converted to a GEOS Application program/ICON so that you can in turn use it to convert other files for uploading and downloading in DL 13. 1. Extract the CONVERT file from convrt.arc. See the end of this file for brief instructions on this. 2. Boot GEOS (load"geos",8,1) and close your original GEOS "key disk." 3. Insert your GEOS CONVERT Work Disk and Open this disk. 4. You will now see your extracted CONVERT file as a C64 ICON named CONVERT. 5. Double click on this C64 CONVERT ICON. This double click will automatically convert itself into a GEOS Application ICON. This automatic conversion will dump you to the Basic screen after it completes converting itself. 6. Boot GEOS again from your GEOS "key disk" and close it. 7. Insert your GEOS CONVERT Work Disk and open it. 8. You should now see a GEOS CONVERT ICON (with a double-pointed arrow). If you find this GEOS CONVERT ICON is not present, then something went wrong with your download. You will need to download the convrt.img file again or leave a message to Sysop in Subtopic 13 and we will answer you quickly. This convrt.img file is a very short file so it won't take long to download it again and start over. Since ARC checks file integrity while extracting, this should be a very rare occurence. 9. This GEOS CONVERT ICON will now work like any GEOS Application through the pull down menus at the top of the screen. DOWNLOADING GEOS SEQuential files from DL 13 - The GEOS Connection: 1. Insert your GEOS CONVERT Work Disk. You will download to this disk. 2. Select the file you want to download with VIDTEX4.2. 3. Then choose the DOWnload option from the Disposition prompt that follows the DEScription after the BROwse command or, if you know the filename already, enter -- dow filnam.IMG or dow filnam.BIN 4. When VIDTEX4.2 asks for a filename for your computer, enter the name you want for the file on your GEOS CONVERT Work Disk. Be sure to add the ,p to your filename for any .BIN files, since you must force Vidtex to download these ARC or SDA files as PRoGram files. 5. This completes your VIDTEX4.2 downloading for this GEOS SEQuential file. 6. When you log off from CompuServe you will need to extract the component files and then follow the instructions below under "USING the CONVERT GEOS program/ICON:" to convert this C64 file to a GEOS File. UPLOADING GEOS SEQuential files to DL 13 - The GEOS Connection: 1. Insert your GEOS CONVERT Work Disk. You will upload from this disk. 2. You will have already CONVERTed the GEOS file you want to upload to a C64 SEQuential file with the GEOS CONVERT program (see instructions below) on your GEOS CONVERT Work Disk. 3. Then at the DL 13 ! Access prompt, enter -- upl filnam.img This is your C64 CONVERTed GEOS file on your GEOS CONVERT Work Disk. 4. When VIDTEX4.2 asks for a filename for your computer, enter the name of your C64 file in UPPER/case letters as it is on your GEOS CONVERT Work Disk. 5. VIDTEX4.2 will upload this file automatically with the correct file type so that it can be downloaded properly by our Members. 6. This completes your VIDTEX4.2 uploading on your GEOS file. 7. Next you must enter your file's brief DEScription and then the KEYWORDS. Always be certain to include in your KEYWORDs and DEScription the type of file you have uploaded - e.g. geoPaint, geoWrite, etc. It would be a help to also list the GEOS name you used when you created your original file because when it has been downloaded and CONVERTed from a C64 SEQuential GEOS file it will carry your creation name for the GEOS ICON on the Members' GEOS Work Disk. Another bit of information to include in your KEYWORDs is the GEOS Version number you used when creating your file -- just entering V1.2 or V1.3, etc. will be sufficient. USING the CONVERT GEOS program/ICON: 1. Boot GEOS from your original GEOS "key disk" and close it. 2. Insert your GEOS CONVERT Work Disk and open it. 3. Double click on the GEOS CONVERT ICON. 4. The upper left-hand corner will display two boxes: file convert 5. Click on "convert." 6. Two options will be displayed: GEOS to Commodore SEQ file (for Uploading files from GEOS Work Disk) SEQ back to GEOS file (for Downloaded files on GEOS Work Disk) 7. Converting C64 GEOS SEQuential files downloaded from DL 13: a. Click on "SEQ back to GEOS file." b. A box will be displayed listing all of the C64 SEQuential files on this GEOS CONVERT Work Disk. Click on the name to CONVERT and then click on OPEN. c. The file will be converted to a GEOS file/ICON and a box will be displayed in the center of your screen stating "Converting..." d. When completed, click on "file" in the upper left-hand corner and then click on "quit." This will take you back to DESK TOP. e. Your C64 SEQuential downloaded ICON will now display as a GEOS ICON for the appropriate applicaion. The original C64 ICON for this converted file will be gone. f. Now you can use this GEOS ICON as a GEOS file. For example, if you downloaded a geoPaint graphics file it can be displayed by double clicking on geoPaint and clicking on its name or just double clicking on the individual GEOS Graphics ICON will display it (provided the geoPaint Application is on this GEOS Work Disk). 8. Converting GEOS files to C64 SEQuential files for uploading to DL 13: a. Click on "GEOS to Commodore SEQ file." b. A box will be displayed asking for the type of GEOS file to convert: Application Data File Print Driver Input Driver Basic Program Assembly Program Data File c. Click on "Application Data File" for geoPaint and geoWrite GEOS files or the appropriate type. d. Next the GEOS filenames for that type will be displayed. e. Click on the filename to convert and then click on OPEN. f. After the conversion is complete, click on "file" in the upper left-hand corner and then click on "quit." This will take you back to DESK TOP. g. Your GEOS ICON for this file will be replaced by a C64 SEQuential ICON and the GEOS ICON will be gone. h. This C64 SEQuential ICON filename on your GEOS CONVERT Work Disk will be the filename you use when uploading with VIDTEX4.2 to CBMART's DL 13. In order to allow Vidtex to access this file, it must be renamed now to all UPPER/case. This corresponds to all lower/case in normal C64. It is much easier to perform this renaming from within GEOS. Remember to use a six-character DL filname with and extension of .img i. You may now process the file into an ARC or SDA file if you wish. If you prefer, the Sysops will be happy to do this step for you, although this may delay us making the file available to all our members by a day or two. If you require assistance in building an ARC or SDA file, leave a message addresed to SYSOP. CONCLUSION: Data Library 13 named "The GEOS Connection" i...
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