Epson PX-8 User Manual page 91

The contents of the directory stored in RAM (RAM directory) are accessed each
time a tape file is read from or written to, that is the directory is updated in
RAM. This means that the contents of the tape directory must be replaced with
the contents of the RAM directory before removing the tape, otherwise it would
not be possible to access the files.
The tape can be REMOVEd by one of the following methods:
i) By pressing the ~ and
I
SHIFT
I
keys simultaneously in the System
Display mode .
ii)
By executing the REMOVE statement in BASIC.
Because of the danger of replacing tapes or mounting them when another is
already mounted, the System Display will not allow any operation other than
removing a tape, once a tape has been mounted.
IMPORTANT:
It is best to get into the habit of checking whether a tape is mounted or not.
AL WA YS press CTRL and HELP to check the status of the tape before
REMOVAL or INSERTION of a new tape. This is especjally important since
the tape could have been MOUNTed without you remembering having done so,
for instance by a DIR access.
<!>
WARNING:
If you change a tape without executing the REMOVE statement in BAS-
IC or using the REMOVE on the System Display, you will not only des-
troy data on the new tape, but you will also destroy data on the old tape.
When you REMOVE a tape either in BASIC or through the System Display,
the following will occur:
1)
If
the tape has only been read, or the directory simply loaded into RAM:
i) If the REMOVE was executed from the System Display, the screen will
clear for a moment and the word "remove" displayed briefly. The dis-
play will then change back to the System Display.
ii) If
the REMOVE was executed from the BASIC command line, the cur-
sor will simply return after printing "Ok".
iii) If
the REMOVE was executed from a BASIC program, it will continue
from the next line.
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iv) The EJECT button can then be pressed and the tape removed or replaced.
The directory will not be written to the tape, in any of these cases.
2) If a file has been written to the tape, deleted or renamed, or the file new
attribute is set, the directory has to be rewritten.
i) The tape will rewind.
ii) If
REMOVE was executed from the System Display, the screen will clear
and then display the word "remove" to show that the tape is being re-
moved. If the REMOVE was executed from BASIC the cursor will disap-
pear (if the command was issued from the command line) or the program
will wait for the directory to be rewritten.
iii) The REC light will go on and the directory in RAM will be written onto
the tape.
iv) When the directory has been written back to the tape, the REC light will
be extinguished. The System Display will return if that is where the RE-
MOVE was initiated. If the BASIC command 'REMOVE' was used, either
the cursor will return if REMOVE was executed from the command line
or it will continue with the next line of the program. '
v) The EJECT button can then be pressed and the tape removed or replaced.
g) Checking if the tape is mounted.
If
you need to know if the tape is mounted, press the
I
CTRL
I
key together with
the
I
HELP
I
key to show the System Display. Look at the bottom line. If it says:
/remove
this indicates that the tape directory has been mounted. You can use
I
ESC
I
to
return to whatever else you were doing, or press the
I
SHIFT
I
and [fill key
to REMOVE the tape.
h) Using software with the Microcassette drive
The microcassette drive can be used in the same manner as a disk device. The
drive name H: is assigned to the microcassette drive.
1) Obtaining a directory of the Microcassette tape
Type DIR H: in the CP/M operating mode (that is, when the system prompt
A> is displayed). The tape directory is automatically accessed and the names
of all files recorded on the tape are listed on the screen as shown below.
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