HD CATALOG is a freeware program designed specifically for use with the CMD's
HD Series* range of Commodore compatible Hard Drives. Those of you who have a CMD Hard Drive will
appreciate the benefits of having one of these machines. However, having one and managing it is a big
responsibility. The CMD Hard Drives do have their limitations - most notably the small number of partitions
available, the incompatibility of the Hard Drive with fast loaders and copy protected disks, and that awkward
Front Panel Partition Selection system that - while functional - can defeat the purpose of having a hard drive simply because
unless you are content simply with storing 1541 disks and never running them from the Hard Drive, it can result in you using your HD as an imitation of a 1541.
But what about trying to remember which partition that file or game you want to play is on? With the HD forcing you to
spread your software across 254 partitions. And then there are native mode subdirectories! Not to mention emulation partitions!
And how long have you waited while trying to load a native mode directory with over 200 files in it? Too long I bet!
That's where HD CATALOG comes in. HD CATALOG is a free program that enables you to keep track of all your
files on the HD. Since you must have bought the HD to cram hundreds of files on, HD CATALOG has been designed to keep track of
over 35,000 files! All you need is a spare native mode partition. HD CATALOG is a catalog program for exclusive use with CMD Hard Drives. It acts similarly to
other Commodore catalog programs such as DCMR and SuperCat, except that HD CATALOG has a few niceties that those programs could never handle!
How would you like to be able to bring up an alphabetized list of all the games in your Hard Drive, and then select the one you want to play?
Well, with HD CATALOG this is possible. It also contains utility function for printing out your catalog and viewing individual emulation partitions and
native mode subdirectories. And it's easy to use.
Some bugs that made HDCAT V3.0 unworkable with program files in Partition mode, have been killed.
The utility print module for whole catalogs hasn't been changed since V2.0, but on V3 it corrupted on this BASIC compiler (it stopped printing midway!), so I've changed compilers, and I now hope it works OK now on V3.2. Mind you, this hasn't been tested. On my catalog it would use so much paper, but once I test it again I will let everyone know.
For some reason in the disk info module, pressing the number 0 when entering subdirectory or partition number, the key goes into auto-repeat and goes out of control. Very minor bug.
Improvements since V2.0
Here's a list of the things I've been working on since version 2
Most bugs since V2.0 have been removed.
Number key usage in HD CATALOG menus have been enabled.
Those crazy joystick controls have been fixed!
The Disk Info module has been given a newer look. You can now enter the directory in a few keystrokes by typing in or using the joystick.
Page hotkeys have been implemented in the info module to jump directory pages.
Sorter detects JiffyDOS and resets the computer so that JiffyDOS can't cause a crash.
Bugs fixed in the rename function in the info module, and bugs fixed in the serach box of the boot module and floppy disk catalog viewer search box.
The disk catalog module has been given a complete overhaul. It now uses REL files rather than SEQ files. This saves on loading time, as well as compacting the data more efficiently. It now also gives sort info data on the floppy disk, and is now capable of using multiple disks in case the floppy disk fills up.
News about the next version
These are some of my future plans for work on HD CATALOG
The Boot module needs to reset the Computer, then load a program. At the moment, it can load most programs, but a few dislike the boot module being in memory when they are run.
Some way to collect files in nested subdirectories would be a nice addition.
A time/date sorter for the utility module is a tricky thing to implement. I've discovered a way to do this via HD DOS, but I have to worry about Millenium bugs with the HD clock. Funny, CMD should have saw this coming when they designed the HDs, but like many other companies, didn't..... No dramas though, except if I want to search directories by date....
Speaking of the clock, I have no routine available that allows the modules to work if the clock battery is dead, but then I can't test it anyway because my battery works and I'm not about to pull it out in order to test it!
I want to transfer the new fast-search rountine from the boot module into the utility module, so I can use it there.
I'd like that new disk catalog module to allow the user to print the catalog out, independant of the HD.
A boot module by disk and not sort would be an improvement too.
most of these ajusted selections for alpha,single,or by directory cataloging arragements need to be worked into the set-up module
*HD Series is a trademark of Creative Micro Designs, Inc.
