

                                   MAXI Form
                                   ^^^^^^^^^
                                     
                                     
                                  User Notes
                                     
                                (version 1.54)
                                
                                  89-April-4
                                     
                                     
                       <c> 1988 Herne Data Systems Ltd.
                                 P.O. Box 714
                                  Station 'C'
                          Toronto  Ontario   M6J 3S1
                                     
                                 (416)535-9335



If you are not yet a registered user of MAXI Form, please consider becoming
one.  The cost is low (only $10.00) and the benefits are many.


                           New Features of v1.54
                           =====================

MAXI Form v1.54 has the following new features and improvements over v1.52:

        - Supports formatting 420k disks in 1.2 meg drives.

        - Improved error detection and handling routines.

        - On screen display of type of disk being formatted.  (This lets you
          know how MAXI interpreted your command line switches).

        - Automatically re-tries formatting a track up to 3 times before
          reporting an error (with verify option on).
      
        - Improved version of SMAX compatible with more hardware BIOS's.

        - Automatically determines if you have correct DOS version (3.20 or
          later).



The Fine Print:

    This summary documentation package is provided solely for the benefit
    of getting new users familiarized with the features of the MAXI Form
    program.  Complete printed documentation is provided to all registered
    users along with notification of and discounts towards future updates.

    MAXI Form is intended to format blank disks only.  Because it will
    destroy all existing data on a floppy disk, Herne Data Systems assumes
    no liability for losses caused by misuse or abuse of this product.
    This responsibility rests solely with the end user.

    Please note that MAXI Form relies on quirks in the MS-DOS/PC-DOS
    operating system and BIOS ROM's.  Although it has been tested on a wide
    variety of systems with DOS versions 3.2x and later,  it cannot be
    guaranteed to work with all systems, especially ones which have been
    heavily customized and modified (including the installation of non-
    standard disk drives and controller cards) by the user;  nor can it be
    guaranteed to work with future releases of MS/PC-DOS.  (Some DOS
    releases may require the use of the special device driver program
    SMAX.COM (outlined later in the documentation) for reliable performance
    with some hardware systems.)

    This documentation assumes that the reader is reasonably familiar with
    MS-DOS concepts and terminology and has a basic understanding of how to
    use his/her computer.

MAXI Form is a copyrighted program produced by Herne Data Systems Ltd..  It is
distributed through user groups and bulletin board systems on the basis of
'user supported software' or shareware.  While the program and this summary
documentaion may be freely copied and distributed (provided that the copyright
notices are NOT REMOVED), each end user is requested to register his or her
copy with Herne Data Systems Ltd. along with a one time fee of $10.00 (in
either US or CDN funds).  Payment of the registration fee entitles the user to
a copy of the printed documentation package as well as technical support.



Introduction:
------------

Are you tired of running out of space on your floppy disks?  How would you like
to fit 420k on a 360k disk, 800k on a 720k disk, 1.4 meg on a 1.2 meg disk, or
an incredible 1.6 meg on a 1.44 meg disk? 

Sound impossible?  Well not any more!!  If you are using DOS version 3.2x or
later, then the innovative new shareware program from Herne Data Systems called
MAXI Form is just the thing for you.  Using MAXI Form for all your floppy disk
data storage needs is like getting an extra one and a half disks FREE with
every box of floppies that you buy!! 



NOTE:    In most cases,  NO SPECIAL SOFTWARE DRIVER PROGRAMS ARE REQUIRED TO
         ACCESS THESE DISKS FROM DOS.  However, in cases where reliable
         standalone operation cannot be achieved (it is a complex function of
         ROM BIOS details, DOS version and disk controller characteristics),
         the simple device driver SMAX.COM can be used to patch the BIOS code
         and provide resident support.  

MAXI Form is self documenting to the extent that it can be used by experienced
MS-DOS users and a suggested registration fee of $10.00 provides you with full
printed documentation.

In order to use MAXI Form you will need a 100% IBM compatible computer (PC, XT,
AT, PS/2, Convertible, etc) with at least one 360k 5.25 inch, 1.2 meg 5.25
inch,  720k 3.5 inch or 1.44 meg 3.5 inch floppy drive.  The 1.44 meg drive
can be used to format 800k 3.5 inch disks; and the 1.2 meg drive can also be
used to format 420k disks.  (Please note that 420k disks formatted in 1.2meg
drives may not work on all 360k drives.  This is due to a physical limitation
of the 1.2 meg drives, i.e. the read/write head is only half the size as that
on a standard 360k drive.)  External 5.25 inch drives for the PS/2 and most
laptops are also supported under the given versions of DOS.

Unfortunately, MAXI Formatted disks sometimes do not work reliably with some
customized OEM versions of MS-DOS. In these cases you will need to use SMAX.COM
outlined later.

MAXI Form works with all standard display adaptors and monitors



Starting Up MAXI Form
---------------------

MAXI Form relies on command line switches to specify its input parameters.  If
you simply type in:

MAXI   <--         (note: in this documentation the symbol   <--  is used to
                   denote the "return" or "enter" key.)

you will be greeted by an extended sign on message which gives the shareware
details and a summary of the command line options.  The general syntax for the
command line options is:

    MAXI   {drive:} [/3] [/H] [/L] [/V]   <--

Where    {drive:}  is either A: or B: corresponding to the physical disk drive
                   on which you wish to perform the formatting operation.  Use
                   of other drive letters will result in an error message.
                   This parameter must be explicitly included. MAXI will not
                   assume a default value for the drive.

         /3        is used to denote a 3.5 inch (720 k or 1.44 meg) disk drive.
                   This will give an 800k disk or a 1.6 meg disk.  An 800k disk
                   can also be formatted on a 1.44 meg 3.5 inch drive.

         /H        is used to denote a high density (1.2 meg) AT type 5.25 inch
                   or 1.44 meg PS/2 type disk drive.  This will give a 1.4 meg
                   disk or 1.6 meg, respectively.

         /L        is used to denote a 420k disk in a 1.2 meg drive.  This
                   should not be used in combination with the /3 or /H.

         /V        is used to denote a "format with verify".  With this option,
                   the sectors on each track are read back in just after the
                   formatting to make sure that they are OK.  A message will be
                   displayed during the formatting cycle indicating if any
                   tracks had detectable errors.  Note that cylinder 0 is
                   always tested for errors regardless of the setting of this
                   switch.  If errors are found on track 0, the formatting
                   operation is aborted.  /V will automatically re-try a format
                   on a track up to 3 times before reporting an error.  A
                   format operation done without the verify option is
                   considerably faster than one done with the verify option.

The /3, /H /L and /V switches are optional.  Spaces are not required between
multiple switches.  If only the drive letter is specified, then MAXI Form will
default to a 420k disk with no verify.

Note:    MAXI Form does not check to see what kind of drive is connected as the
         specified device.  This allows you the flexibility of, for example,
         creating an 800k 5.25 inch disk in a 1.2 meg drive or an 800k disk in
         a 1.44 meg drive.  DO NOT SPECIFY AN 80 TRACK DISK TYPE FOR A 40 TRACK
         (360K 5.25 INCH) DRIVE.  THIS MAY CAUSE THE DRIVE TO PHYSICALLY JAM
         UP.


When it is ready to go, MAXI Form will prompt you to insert a disk into the
specified drive.  At this point, you can either insert the disk and press   <--
to procede, or press the <escape> key to abort and return to the DOS prompt.

When the formatting is complete, you will be asked to enter a volume label of 1
to 11 characters.  (This is similar to the DOS FORMAT program with the /V option
specified.)



Using SMAX.COM
--------------

SMAX.COM is a memory resident device driver which can be used to improve disk
reliability with some combinations of hardware and DOS.  It is a simple TSR
(terminate but stay resident) program which patches into the BIOS disk
interrupt vector (interrupt hex 13) and changes the EOT (end of track, or last
sector in a track) parameter when it detects a disk read or write operation.

To determine whether or not you need to use SMAX, perform the following simple
test.  Format a disk with MAXI then try to copy a number of relatively long
files (eg over 16k bytes long) to the new disk using the DOS COPY or XCOPY
command or equivalent.  If you get an error message (such as 'general failure
reading drive ...' or 'sector not found') then you need to install SMAX to use
the MAXI formatted disks.

To install SMAX automatically on a cold boot, just insert the following line in
your AUTOEXEC.BAT file:

    SMAX  <--

SMAX should only be used with MAXI version 1.5 and later.  Earlier versions of
MAXI Form itself will not run properly with SMAX resident in memory.  However,
the disks produced by earlier versions of MAXI will work fine when accessed
under SMAX.  In addition, SMAX will not interfere with the operation of normal
DOS disks or hard disks.



