CBM-Command

CBM-Command
Developer	Payton Byrd, Greg King
Company
Publisher
Release	2010
Licence	Freeware
Platform	VIC-20, C64, C128, Plus/4, PET/CBM
Genre	File Manager
Operation
Media
Language(s)
Information	Freeware, Dokumentation Vladimir Jankovic

Introduction

CBM-Command is an orthodox file manager similar to Norton Commander. It was written in April 2010 by Payton Byrd and Greg King with CC65. CBM-Command can perform the following operations:

• Copy files individually or in batches
• Delete files individually or in batches
• Rename individual files
• Create disk images (D64, D71, D81) from disks
• Write disk images to disks.
• View text files

Start

The orginal program is loaded with LOAD"LOADCBMCMD",8 and started with RUN. The CBM-Command starter detects the current computer system and loads the right main program.

Operations

Generally, with CBM-Command the keys CRSR ⇑ ⇓  are used for scrolling through the directory in the active window or to select a file.
The keys CRSR ⇔  to change the active window (left/right).
The key SPACE  is used to mark and select files. Selection will be used for batch operations as copying, renaming or deleting files.
The 8 important program commands can be seen in the last row of the screen.
In the first row of the screen shows the actual selected file with its filename and needed blocks.
In the last row of the window you see the actual drive number (left) and the free blocks of a directory (right).
You can use all keys for entering texts into an input window.
Security queries or starting operation(s) will be started with the key RETURN  or canceled with the keys RUN/STOP  or ↑  (ESC ).
A selected file (PRG and SEQ ) can be opened with the key combination SHIFT +RETURN  in the built-in text viewer.

Shortcuts and hotkeys

Commands for changing the window:

D  - change drive at left window

E  - re-read drive at left window

SHIFT +D  change drive at right window

SHIFT +E  re-read drive at right window

In the last row of the screen, you see these commands permanently:

F1  / H  HLP - Help, open the program help in the text viewer

F2  / Q  QUIT - exit the CBM-Command after a security query

F3  / D  DRV - Drive change

F4  / R  REF - Refresh the actual disk drive or directory

F5  / C  CPY - Copy the selected or marked file(s)

F6  / N  REN - Rename the selected file

F7  / M  MDR - Make Dir, create a sub-directory (only useable at the right DOS-System / disk drives)

F8  / L  DEL - Delete the selected or marked file(s)

Other commands:

SPACE  - mark or unselect a file

A  - mark all files

S  - unselect all files

+  - next directory page

-  - last directory page

↑  - jump to the start of a directory (first file)

SHIFT +↑  - jump to the end of a directory (last file)

SHIFT ++  - open a sub-directory or disk image

SHIFT +-  - close a sub-directory or disk image

SHIFT -X  - write a disk image

X  - create a disk image

O  - copy a completet disk (it works only with real disk drives with 2 devices)

@  - input a DOS-command, for example N:TEST,99 for formatting a disk.

SHIFT +G  - Go to 64 (only on C128)

SHIFT +RETURN  - open a selected text file in the text viewer

RUN/STOP  / ↑  / ESC  - Stop, cancel or change to the main program

Configuration and customizing

The CBM-Command Configuration Manager is loaded on a C64 with LOAD"CBMCMDCFG.C64",8. In the manager the user can change the colours (key 1  to 9  with a colour palette), the hotkeys and the standard disk drive (disk drive number; (key L  left drive R  right drive). The function keys cannot be modified !
The customize changes will be permanent after saving with the key F2  !

The screen of the CBM-Command Configuration Manager

In the row at the bottom you see the follow commands:

F1  HELP

F2  QUIT - exit the CBM-Command Configuration Manager

F3  SAVE - costumize changes in the config file

F4  KEYS - change the hotkey commands

The hotkeys can be changed:

1. Start the hotkey manager with F4 
2. Select a command with the cursor keys and hit RETURN .
3. A window appears and you see the current hotkey for this command in hexadecimal code and as sign.
4. Press a new key or key combination (it will show under new) and hit the key RETURN .

Target Platforms

Start screen of CBM-Command

1. Commodore 64 - standard version with 40-column display
2. Commodore VIC-20 with 32K expansion - basic version with 22-column display and one window
3. Commodore 128 - visually enhanced version with 80-column display and use the full clock frequency of 2 MHz for faster operations.
4. Commodore Plus/4 - this version is nearly identical to the C64 version, but it uses the full 121-color palette of the Plus/4
5. Commodore PET

Links

• Commodore Free Editorial issue 44, September 2010
• Download of CBM-Command (D64) at cbmcommand.codeplex.com (Official Project Website)
• documentation (Official Project Website)
• CBM-Command Facebook group
• Google group of CBM-Command
• Video at YouTube Video tutorial at youtube
• Github repository (migration from Codeplex)