PRODOS FILE NAVIGATOR 3.0
(c) 1998-2004 Kreative Software

I'm probably too late, but I have finally stopped procrastinating, learned how to use the ProDOS MLI, and finished version 3.0 of ProDOS File Navigator.

I rarely write documentation for my software, much less *good* documentation, but I think this software is so deserving of it that I'll make it as good as I can.

ProDOS File Navigator is a very user-friendly utility to manage, view, and launch your ProDOS files.

(A simple, concise explanation of a simple, concise program.)


Here's what ProDOS File Navigator 3.0 can do:

* Catalog the entire ProDOS file system, up to and including the list of online disks.

* Display the available, used, and total disk space.

* Lock, unlock, rename, and delete files; rename disks.

* Create new subdirectories.

* Display information on a file.

* Change a file's file and/or auxiliary types.

* Copy files through copy and paste commands.

* Launch SYS, BIN, and NCF (Navigator Command File) files.

* View lo-res graphics, double lo-res graphics, standard hi-res graphics, and double hi-res graphics files.

* View and scroll through text files up to 9.75K, with word wrap.

* Display the mnemonics for all 137 currently defined ProDOS file type codes.

* Display GS/OS mixed-case file names.


ProDOS File Navigator is started like any other .SYSTEM file. It will start in whatever directory the prefix is currently set to. If no prefix is set, it will start at the list of online disks. At the top of the screen is the current directory and the available, used, and total disk space. At the bottom of the screen is the list of commands you can perform, with the letter to press in inverse text. Pressing M for the More command will display another line of commands. The bottom of the screen is also where any prompts for more information, such as a new file name for the Rename command, will appear. In between is the file list, which displays up to 54 files with their file type mnemonics and lock status (a file name with an asterisk next to it indicates a locked file). Files are selected using the arrow keys. The currently selected file is inverted.

Switching directories is done with the Execute command. The Return key can also be used to switch to a higher-level directory. Back will move back to the previous level, and Online will move back all the way to the list of disks. The Prefix command will ask you for a path and move to that directory. The Esc key will also move back a directory level.

Lock and Unlock will lock and unlock a file, respectively. The lock status is determined from the write flag of the file's access byte. Lock and unlock will affect the rename, delete, and write flags.

Rename will change the name of either a file or a disk. If a new name is not specified, the rename operation is cancelled.

Delete will delete a file or a whole directory. Before deleting the file, PFN will ask you if you really want to delete it. Entering anything beginning with Y will delete it. Anything else will cancel.

Create will create a new directory. If a name for the directory is not specified, the operation is cancelled.

View will view text files and lo-res graphics, double lo-res graphics, standard hi-res graphics, and double hi-res graphics in BIN files. The graphics mode of a BIN file is determined from the size of the file in blocks; 3 or 4 blocks is lo-res, 5 or 6 blocks is double lo-res, 17 or 18 blocks is standard hi-res, and 33 or 34 blocks is double hi-res. Text files may be viewed up to 9.75K; if a text file is any bigger, the rest of the file cannot be viewed. While a text file is being viewed, the arrow keys will scroll through the text. The left arrow key will scroll to the top of the file, and the right arrow key will scroll to the bottom. Any non-arrow key will return to the file list. The space bar may also be used for the View command.

Execute will switch directories, or launch any SYS, BIN, or NCF file. The Return key may be used for the Execute command, although it won't execute BIN files; you need to explicitly press E to execute a BIN file. This prevents accidental execution of binary files that aren't actual code.

Info will display information about the selected file, including lock status, file type (both the mnemonic and hexadecimal number), auxiliary type, size in blocks, size in bytes, and modification and creation dates.

Change Type asks for a new file type (in hex) and auxiliary type for the currently selected file. If either type is unspecified, it will not be changed.

Copy will save a reference to the currently selected file in what is called the File Clipboard; it will not actually copy the file (yet). The File Clipboard will hold the last file that was selected for a copy. To indicate that the file was successfully saved in the File Clipboard, a smiley face will appear at the bottom of the screen for two seconds. To copy the file in the File Clipboard to another directory, switch to that directory and select the Paste command. The file will be copied to the destination directory in 8K passes. (Note: This will not properly copy extended files with resource forks; only the data fork will be copied.)

The About command will display information about ProDOS File Navigator, the system on which it is running, and the peripheral cards that are installed.

And finally, the Quit command will quit ProDOS File Navigator and return to Apple's program selector (under ProDOS 8) or the Finder (under GS/OS).


I briefly mentioned NCF files. NCF stands for Navigator Command File. It is exactly like a regular BIN file, except that it can't be executed by anything other than ProDOS File Navigator. Also, PFN will execute an NCF file if you press Return. The file type for an NCF file is $66. NCF files may assume that they have access to all of PFN's routines, starting at $4000, and data and string tables, starting at $6000. NCF files may just be a short subroutine, like the File.Type.Table included with PFN. They may install resident code above $7000 and modify PFN to add more commands. For more information, see the separate programming manual.
