The KNIFE2.COM program, described in the manual as running only under the
CP/M 2.2 operating system, has been updated to work with both CP/M 2.2 and
the newer CP/M Plus operating system supplied with CPC6128 and PCW8256
machines.
When KNIFE2 is loaded (please see the manual), it detects automatically
which system it is being used under and alters its sign-on messages
accordingly. Note that apart from this ability to run under both operating
systems, KNIFE2 version 2.11 is very similar in operation to earlier versions
except that it has a new command:
CTRL-N Search for next
Issuing this command causes the last string searched for (ASCII or byte
sequence) to be searched for again from the next sector onwards. The search
operates in an identical manner to that invoked with CTRL-F or CTRL-G. If
there is no previous search string, the command is ignored.
Using KNIFE2 on the PCW8256
===========================
Although KNIFE2.COM will run quite happily under CP/M Plus on the Amstrad
PCW8256 machine, many of the key codes are entirely different. Hence, we
have configured a new version, called KNIFE2J.COM, which runs on the PCW8256.
It is identical to the normal KNIFE2.COM program except that some of the
key combinations used are necessarily different; please refer to the list
below for the correlation between KNIFE2 and KNIFE2J command keypresses.
Please note that the key codes for both KNIFE2 and KNIFE2J may be altered by
you using the supplied KNCONFIG.COM program. If you do alter any key codes,
please be aware that the list below is thereby made meaningless!!
PCW8256 owners should remember that the 'CTRL' key found on the earlier
Amstrad machines (the CPC464, CPC664 and CPC6128) is exactly the same as
the 'ALT' key on the PCW8256's keyboard.
KNIFE2 KEY KNIFE2J KEY
---------- -----------
left arrow left arrow
right arrow right arrow
up arrow up arrow
down arrow down arrow
SHIFT-left f8/f7 key
SHIFT-right f2/f1 key
SHIFT-up boxed 'minus' key
SHIFT-down boxed 'plus' key
TAB TAB
ESC STOP
COPY EXTRA-A
CTRL-F EXTRA-F
CTRL-G ALT-G
CTRL-N ALT-N
CTRL-Q ALT-Q
CTRL-S ALT-S
CTRL-T ALT-T
CTRL-W ALT-W
KNCONFIG
--------
This program has been provided to allow you to configure KNIFE2 to use the
key codes you want to use. It is very simple to use; type its name at the
prompt:
A>knconfig
This starts the program. KNCONFIG contains extensive instructions on its use,
so it should be straightforward to use. Note that it allows you to alter a
version of KNIFE2 on any disc and under any name, so it does not need to be
copied to every disc you have KNIFE2 on.
KNCONFIG also allows you to alter the maximum number of tracks which KNIFE2
expects to find on a disc. Please do not alter the current value unless you
are certain of what you are doing. If there are not as many tracks on the
disc as KNIFE2 thinks, it may cause the drive to 'seek' too far in to the
centre of the disc, making a horrible noise and not being too healthy for the
drives. KNIFE2 (and KNIFE2J) as supplied WILL NOT do this, as they have the
number of tracks correctly set.
HiSoft cannot accept liability for equipment or data damaged by the use of
the programs (or copies thereof) on this disc.