User`s guide

On a PC, NuLib can create disk images from 8-bit ShrinkIt whole-disk (.sdk)
files (but not from .sdk files which were produced by GS-ShrinkIt). These
images will be in ProDOS order. You can convert a .po disk image to a DOS 3.3
order .dsk by using a disk copier like Disk Muncher on an emulator to copy from
the .po image to a .dsk image.
On ftp sites, DSK files are usually in a ZIPped form to conserve space. For
example, on the Asimov site, narfgames.dsk.gz is a DSK file of the narfgames
disk which has been g-zip compressed. Other archive sites may use standard ZIP
compression and the file name might be "narfgame.zip" or "narfgame_dsk.zip". On
a PC, WinZIP will uncompress g-zipped and ZIPped DSK files.
A DSK file can be converted to actual diskette form on an Apple II using
DSK2FILE or (GS-only) ASIMOV. If a 5.25" .dsk disk image file is transferred to
your Apple II using ADT (or ADTgs for IIgs), it is automatically converted and
written to 5.25" diskette. For more about ADT and ADTgs see Telecom-1.
Most 5.25" DSK (.dsk and .do) files are of a DOS 3.3 or some related DOS
disk. The target diskette should be INITed for DOS 3.3. (or, it can be formatted
using Copy II Plus, etc.) and you should use the default DSK2FILE or ASIMOV "DOS
3.3 Order" setting. If a disk image file has a .po suffix, use the DSK2FILE or
ASIMOV "ProDOS Order" setting.
Note: In most cases it is okay to use either a DOS 3.3 or ProDOS formatted
diskette as the target (and; the target disk does not need to be empty of any
files). However, ProDOS formatting uses a default Volume Number of 1, which is
different from the DOS 3.3 default of 254. Since ProDOS stuff does not care
about Volume numbering and DOS 3.3 stuff may, the target disk should generally
be one INITed with the default Volume Number-- e.g. INIT HELLO .
Here is a quickie step-by-step guide for getting a 5.25" DSK disk image
file into useable form:
1. Download the file in binary mode from an ftp archive site via ftp:// ...
2. If file length is not 143,360, use WinZIP or equivalent to unZip it.
3. Transfer the DSK file to your GS via Mac diskette or a NULL modem transfer.
One way or another, the file needs to end up on a ProDOS diskette or ProDOS hard
disk volume on the GS.
4. If you are using DSK2FILE, jot down the complete path name of the DSK file
(e.g. /RAM5/NARFGAMES.DSK ) because DSK2FILE will ask you to type it in.
5. Insert the formatted 5.25" target diskette into Drive 1 (Slot 6). This
diskette needs to be 16-sector formatted. Plain DOS 3.3 formatting with the
default Volume number is, generally, best and easiest. (You can boot a DOS 3.3
or Prontodos disk and do an INIT HELLO to format a 5.25" diskette.)
6. Start DSK2FILE or ASIMOV. Normally, you will accept the defaults (5.25", DOS
3.3 order). If you know the DSK is a ProDOS image in ProDOS order-- like the
file name ends with ".PO", select "ProDOS Order". (ProDOS disk images are,
fairly often, in DOS order to make them more universally transferable.)