Introduction

CBMXfer is a GUI, or Front-End, to several command-line utilities. CBMXfer makes using those utilities easy by providing a familiar windows interface that removes the need to learn the commandline syntax of each program. These commandline utilities are:

• OPENCBM - transfers files/images to/from a real CBM drive connected via an 'X-cable' on the parallel port.
• CBMLINK - transfers files/images to/from a real CBM drive connected to a real CBM computer connected to the PC via a serial cable.
• C1541 - a utility from VICE that works with CBM Image Files (ie: D64,D71,D81 files).

What can I do with it?

• Transfer files to or from real CBM drives
• Create D64 and other images files from real CBM disks
• Write D64 and other files back to real CBM disks
• Transfer files from WITHIN Image Files
• View Commodore BASIC listings for all machine types
• Simple file operations like copy, delete, rename
• Launch VICE and attach disk images plus autorun

CBMXfer is written by Steve J. Gray and is currently in BETA. Features are still being worked on and tested. If you want to try the program now, in its BETA form, you may download the program. As it is BETA, some functions may not be available yet, or may not be working correctly. Use at your own risk!!

CBMXfer is based on GUI4CBM4WIN (G4C from now on) by Leif Bloomquist, Wolfgang Moser, and Spiro Trikaliotis. G4C 0.4.1 source code was used as a starting point for CBMXfer. Most of the G4C code has been heavily modified or rewritten.

CBMXfer was created separate from G4C for several reasons...

• I have some IEEE drives and need to work with D80 images.
• I want one utility for all transfers.
• The original G4C was written in VB6 but converted to VB.NET. I do not use VB.NET as it's too complicated and bulky.
• I want to expand it far beyond the original.
• I want a fun project to sharpen my programming skills.

What Do I Need?

• A PC running Window98 or higher (SEE NOTES!)
• The commandline utilities. Install each as required.
• A transfer cable. An XM1541 or XA1541 cable and/or CBMLink cable appropriate for your machine.
• A Commodore serial IEC Drive (for X-Cable).
• A Commodore IEEE drive and COMPUTER (for CBMLink cable).
• CBMXfer program with VB6 runtimes.

Notes:

• Old 'DOS' X-Cables like the X1541 or XE1541 will not work for Windows!
• The OpenCBM utility requires WindowNT or higher, so for most people this will be the case.
• If you do NOT need to transfer files via X-cable, or want to use the VIEWER features then Win95 or higher is fine.
• I recommend Windows XP for best results.
• Software has NOT been tested on VISTA.

Download

NOTE: CBMXfer runs on Windows 95 or higher and requires the VB6 runtimes (not included) to function.

Downloads:

• CBMXfer 0.27b -New Release with 1571 and VICE support (Dec 1, 2009)
• CBMXfer 0.25 -Previous release (Nov 30,2008)

Links

CBMXfer REQUIRES the commandline utilities to function. Here are links to the programs you need and other information:

• OpenCBM - utility to work with X cables in Windows.
• Lief Bloomquist's Page - Original writer of GUI4CBM4WIN.
• VICE - Multi CBM machine emulator - includes C1541 utility.
• CBMLink - For connecting a commodore computer to the PC and accessing it's drives
• X-Cables - Information on different X-Cables for hooking CBM drives to PC's.
• GUI4CBM4WIN - the old version that CBMXfer is based on

User Feedback!

I need some people to help beta test! Particularly the CBMLink functions and the Basic Lister! Please provide as much info as you can, and be very specific when reporting errors! Thanks!

Send comments or feedback to Steve Gray(sjgray@rogers.com)

Last updated: Dec 1/2009, 10:00am EST