Anybody using CiderPress?

[thefcpguy]

Does anyone know of a good walkthrough online for CiderPress (the Windows software that allows you to read from and write to ProDOS volumes)? I have CP running in Parallels with a ProDOS formatted Compact Flash card in a USB reader, and it sees it just fine. I'm just a little foggy on the process of successfully getting stuff on it.

The fabulous site What is the Apple IIGS? (http://www.whatisthe2gs.apple2.org.za/) has some prebuilt 32MB drive images that I'd love to be able to copy onto my CF card, but I get strange error messages in CiderPress that tell me I don't have enough room to do this.

Thanks in advance!
Bill

[Wholly Mindless]

I use it often under windows on my laptop. Are there particular images you'd like us to look at? You can also use those images with emulators such as bernie...

[thefcpguy]

Alex does a great write up on the CFFA card for the IIgs (which I've owned for a while now) and he went to the trouble of creating a series of 32MB images that can be transferred to the CF card.

ProDOS supports a maximum volume size of 32MB, so my 128MB flash card is divided into four discreet volumes. Volume 1 has a functional install of GS/OS 6.0.1, and the other volumes are empty. I'd like to get several of those pre-built images into those volumes.

Thanks,
Bill

[Wholly Mindless]

One thing you'll find is that the last volume is not a full 32meg. This bit me when I tried to put a built image on it. The other three worked great.

(BTW, do you have the newer firmware on your card and if so, is the performance benefit noticeable?)

[thefcpguy]

I do have the newer firmware, and to be honest I don't see any noticeable improvements. My machine is stock 2.8Mhz, so "speed" is a relative term! ;-)

[Wholly Mindless]

Mine too. Transwarps are so expensive when they show up.

Were you trying to put that image on the last partition of the drive or was it one of the others? (It's been a little while since I last messed with it)

I do agree that the site you mentioned is awesome. Virtual Apple is really a lot of fun too.

[thefcpguy]

I tried it on a few different partitions and it would just error out telling me there was not enough space. I wasn't sure if I had to select every file within the image or just choose the image itself and hit "go." In traditional Windows fashion the 120 tiny buttons at the top of the CiderPress window were not the most intuitive.

Virtual Apple is good times- I hope they get the GS section working on a Mac soon!

[Wholly Mindless]

it does take a while to be comfortable using it. One thing I've found is that sometimes even if it "fails" the copy is actually usable. I wouldn't trust it for backups but for goofing around it can be safe.

[thefcpguy]

I'm all for goofing around!