Introduction

CBMXfer is a front-end to several command-line utilities for transferring files and working with disk images. CBMXfer makes using those utilities easy by providing a familiar windows interface that removes the need to learn the commandline syntax of each program. CBMXfer also includes a multi-format file and picture viewer.

The 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).
• NIBTOOLS - Utilities to transfer images via parallel port. Supports protected disks.
• IMGCOPY - Utility to image IEEE and 1581 disks.

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 files (BASIC, SEQ, Binary, ML, Chr Sets, and Images). Supports all all machine types
• Simple file operations like copy, delete, rename
• Launch VICE and attach disk images plus autorun
• Zoom Floppy supported.
• Supports 1581 partitions with OpenCBM
• Format disks
• Supports IEEE drives with Zoom Floppy

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. The viewer also contains portions of code from CBM2BMP 1.1 by Peter Weighill.

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 Window XP/2000/Vista/7 (SEE NOTES!)
• VB6 runtimes (included with most versions of Windows).
• Command-line utilities as required for your usage.

Optional:

• A Commodore IEC drive (1541/1571 etc), OpenCBM, X-Cable or Zoom Floppy adapter.
• A Commodore IEEE drive (4040,8050 etc), OpenCBM, Zoom Floppy adapter with IEEE connector.
• A Commodore IEEE drive (4040,8050 etc), CBMLink, CBMLink cable or adapter, Commodore Computer
• Vice 2.3 or higher (includes C1541 utility) for viewing disk images and running emulation
• Nibtools for drives with parallel connection, for making NIB or G64 files.
• Commodore disk images (D64/G64/D71/D80/D81/D82/NIB/NBZ)
• Commodore picture files (ART,CDU,KOA,GEO and others)

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.
• Compatible with VISTA and Windows7 (32 and 64 bit).

Download

Current release: CBMXfer 0.31 (Jan 18,2012) - Complete package.

Current release (update): CBMXfer 0.31.1 (Jan 23,2012) - EXE only. Quick fix for NON-STANDARD disks with NIBTOOLS

Previous release: CBMXfer 0.30.7 (Mar 20,2011)

New Features:

• IEEE drive imaging with IMGCOPY and Zoom Floppy with IEEE connector.
• Improved drive detection
• Format disk with any supported drive
• Batch image creation

Links

Here are additional links to other information:

• Lief Bloomquist's Page - Original writer of GUI4CBM4WIN.
• 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 welcome all feedback, positive or negative, comments, suggestions, or requests for features! Thanks!

Send to: Steve Gray(sjgray@rogers.com)

Last updated: Jan 23/2012, 10:10pm EST