ICL One Per Desk / BT Merlin Tonto
Introduction | OPD News | OPD Projects | Manuals | Tips | Accessories | Software | OPD Links
Software
The OPD is equipped with an expansion slot which accepts a variety of
ROM packs and add ons.
Each ROM pack has between two and six slots which accepts ROM capsules
or hardware add ons such as disc drives.
Software was originally released on ROM capsule or microdrive, but we
have subsequently transferred this to disc.
- For a full list of OPD software, please visit the OPD section of the RWAP website.
- Information on the OPD Disc Library
- How to exchange data between an OPD, QL and PC
Rom Capsules
The PSION Xchange office suite is available in ROM, and there
are optional ROM capsules for messaging, terminal emulation and diary
management software. Terminal emulation software (VT-Link, Termilink,
ICL-Link), messaging software and business software such as Action
Diary and Project Planner were originally released on ROM capsule,
but have been successfully transferred to disc.
Microdrive Software
ICL and BT provided each machine with a set of four microdrive cartridges,
containing the 'Welcome Guide', ICL BASIC, a suite of configuration software
(CONFIG CONPRN, CONTEL) and XChange help files.
ICL BASIC is a subset of Sinclair's SuperBASIC and it's possible to run
some modified QL SuperBASIC programs on the OPD. ICL BASIC was originally
loaded from microdrive, but it's now available on either ROM Capsule or
Teledrive disc format.
OPD Disc Library
The majority of OPD software and documentation is available in Teledrive
floppy disc format.
The OPD disc library contains :
- OPD documentation, articles, notes and tips in Quill format
- OPD software transferred from microdrive and ROM capsule
- SuperBASIC programs
- PCML related utilities (Teletoolkit, Teleloader)
- CP/M boot discs and CP/M software
- ROM image files copied using SuperBASIC
We're hoping to follow the example of the QL community in making the
OPD Disc Library available in electronic format.
Disc images will be available for download from the QUANTA website, in
PCML Teledrive, QL (QDOS) and PC formats.
Exchanging Data between
an OPD, QL and PC
If you have a Teledrive, it's fairly straightforward to transfer files
between an OPD, QL and a PC.
The Teledrive disc format is largely compatible with MS-DOS, if you follow
these simple steps.
Dave Walker's excellent utilities, OPD
/ QL Interchange and Multi-DiscOVER,
enable one to transfer Xchange and SuperBASIC files between a PC, QL and
an OPD.
- OPD / QL Interchange : Utility which converts Xchange (Quill, Archive, Easel) documents and SuperBasic programs between an OPD / Tonto and a QL.
- DiscOVER/Multi-DiscOVER
: Extremely useful QL utility which allows one to read and write
different disc formats.
Multi-DiscOVER can handle CPM, PCML Teledrive, BBC DFS, BBC ADFS, Unix CPIO, Spectrum/Sam Coupe formats.
Appendix: Copying OPD/Tonto disk files from Teledrive to PC/IBM DOS disks.
- Rename the OPD/TONTO files to DOS format using TELETOOLKIT as follows:
a) Pad the main name to 8 characters with spaces.
b) Remove the 'dot'
c) End with the three character file extension e.g. FILE.doc becomes FILE****DOC - Format a 720k 3.5" disk on the target PC
(note : a disk formatted on the OPD/TONTO would have two CAT! Files which can cause problems on some PCs). - Put the PC formatted disk into the TELEDRIVE and using TELETOOLKIT copy the renamed OPD/TONTO files on to the PC disk.
