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MSDOS : C-128 Interface 

    By: Carl F Howard      
        [CHUCK.WAGON]     
           05-27-87
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     It  is  becoming  more  common in this day and age not to  just  own  one 
Personal Computer but in fact 2 and maybe more. A recent survey showed that as
much as 66% of those people who own one P.C. usually have, or buy a second one.
Many of us started out with a Commodore 64 or 128 as our first PC and have for
various  reasons moved up to an MSDOS Compatible machine,  mainly due  to  the 
Power  and  relatively Inexpensive prices for which a Clone may  be  Purchased 
these  days.  Even   the folks  at Commodore have seen Blue and come out  with 
their own versions of MSDOS machines.

      If your like myself, you find yourself with one machine for Play and one
for Work.  However there are lots of things that you can do with both machines
For  example,  word  processing and data base chores can be  handled  on  both 
machines and although the Commodore Program files are not compatible with an
MSDOS  machine  most Commodore Data files I found,  are easily converted  into 
Standard ASCII files and are very usable on my clone.

      Many MSDOS Word processing programs can handle ASCII text files and have
both  importing  and exporting capabilities for files in this  format.  As  an 
example,  I use Time Works Word Writer - 128 on my C-128. The Sequential ASCII 
files  created by Word Writer can easily be used with both the CP/M and  MSDOS 
Versions of Word Star and these files can easily be used with another  popular 
MSDOS  Program  FIRST  CHOICE by PFS.  The Key to Compatibility  here  is  the 
necessary conversion too a Standard format which is of course ASCII.  One Note 
on  the  negative side however is that when swapping Text files  between  word 
processors  you will have too run your files through a filter program to Strip 
Printer Control Characters,  if you have used them, and re-insert the codes in 
your new format.  This however is a small and easy price to pay when  compared 
to manually retyping entire documents.

      I  have  also had a great deal of success with The Shareware Program  PC 
File by Jim Button.  This Program available here on GEnie in both the CP/M and 
IBM  versions  is a very easy to use Data Base program which can  easily  swap 
data  files between either Mode.  additionally the IBM version  has   Powerful 
Importing  Utility  features  which with a little practice can  allow  you  to 
convert  just  about any kind of formatted ASCII text file in to a  Data  Base 
file. This means that those Large Data Files Which were taking you for ever to 
sort  on  your C-64  and 1541 can now take just seconds on your MSDOS  machine 
(I'm  not exaggerating  the  difference  in  disk  drive speeds  is  awesome). 
Additionally the IBM version features a 32,000 plus record capacity which will 
tackle  just  about any Home or Small Business application you could  imagine.                                      

     The  problem  with conversion of files is that even with the now  popular 
Traslation  programs for the C-128 such as "Cross Link" and "Big Blue  Reader" 
there  are  still  some very definite "file size" limitations for  making  the 
tansfers.  Also if you don't own a 1571 Disk Drive or a C-128 there is no  way 
of  physically transferring files with a C-64 and 1541.  As a result,  you may 
find  as another very desirable and inexpensive option is to Connect your  two 
Machines together and let them chat directly.  In fact one of the first things 
I  did  shortly  after buying my Clone was to run out to  my  Local  Commodore 
Dealer  and  Purchase the Aprotek Universal RS-232  Expansion  Interface  (You 
should be able to purchase this or a comparable unit for between $30 and $50).

     The Aprotek Interface connects to the User Port of your 128 or 64 and has 
an  extension slot in its rear end so you can still use your existing modem or 
printer  interface.  A  Cable running from the side of the  interface   has  a 
Standard  DB-25  Serial Connector that plugs into to the Serial Port  of  your 
Clone.  You  then set Switch 1 on the interface to "Inverted" and Switch 3  to 
Printer  B" load up your favorite Communications Software on Both Machines and 
your ready to make your file transfers.

     It really is that simple.  Note You Do not Need a modem on Either Machine 
to make this hook up,  You just need Terminal Programs to make your transfers, 
similar  to how you currently upload and download files here  on  GEnie.  Also 
Your  Clone  Must have A Serial Port,  This shouldn't be a problem since  most 
Clones  Equipped with a Multi-I/O Board feature this option.  As a  matter  of 
fact I don't have a Modem in my clone. I let my C-128 do all my Communications 
work and then transfer files via the Interface to the Clone.  This may sound a 
little  cumbersome  but you can crank both the Commodore and the Clone  up  to 
2400  Baud (provided your software will allow it) so the second transfer  goes 
rather  quickly.  As  you  can see this little investment in hardware  on  the 
Commodore can save you a $100 or more for that second modem for the clone  and 
you can still do all your On-Line chores as usual. 

     Anyway, thats it for this time, as you can see I've tinkered with my toys
quite extensively and picked up a trick or two along the way.  If you have any 
questions  concerning  Commodore/CPM/MSDOS compatability feel free to drop  me 
Some E-Mail and I'll be happy to be of whatever help I can.


Regards...

 -=[CARL]=- 

74000,3077 ON CIS

[CHUCK.WAGON] ON GEnie