The disk pack formatter program, FMT, allows DB, DK, DM, DP, DR, and DY disks to be formatted and verified on an RSX-11M system that supports diagnostic functions. The disk packs may be completely formatted or formatted on an individual sector (or track for DM) basis via a manual mode option. Last track bad block information on the DM and DR disks is taken into account while formatting. On DY diskette's, the density can be set to either single or double without diagnostic support. The general form of the command line is: >FMT ddn:/switches where ddn is the device and unit number of the disk to be formatted switches is one or more of the following: /BAD - run the badblock locator task if installed after formatting /DENS - set diskette density /ERL - set maximum tolerable error limit /MAN - enter manual mode /OVR - override manufacturer's bad sector file /VE - verify /WLT - re-write the manufacturer's last track /@Y - use special mode for operation with IND All switches are qualifiers for FMT. Errors are normally retried once before an error message is printed. 2 BAD The /BAD switch will cause the badblock locator task, ...BAD, to be spawned after the format operation is complete. If BAD is not installed a warning message will be printed. 2 DENS The /DENS switch sets the diskette density to either single or double. The default density is single. The following are acceptable: FMT>DYn:/DENS=LOW !set to low (single) density FMT>DYn:/DENS=SINGLE !set to single (low) density FMT>DYn:/DENS=HIGH !set to high (double) density FMT>DYn:/DENS=DOUBLE !set to double (high) density 2 ERL The /ERL=n switch sets the maximum pack error limit. When this error limit is reached, the format operation is terminated. The default limit is 256(decimal) errors. Any value from 1 to 256 inclusive is valid. 2 MAN Enter manual mode. This mode permits individual sectors (or tracks for DM disks) to be formatted. The parameters entered are decimal unless prefixed with a pound sisn ("#"). >FMT DR1:/MAN/VE !Manually format and verify DR1 ** WARNING - DATA WILL BE LOST ON DR1: ** CONTINUE [Y OR N]? Y ENTERING MANUAL MODE CYLINDER = 12 TRACK = 2 SECTOR = 1 OPERATION COMPLETE 2 OVR Override the manufacturer's bad sector file on DM and DR disks. When writing the headers on those disks, any sector marked bad in the MDBSF will have its bad sector flags set in the header words. When a verification error occurs, a message will be printed if the sector is marked bad in the MDBSF. The /OVR switch will inhibit this MDBSF checking. >FMT DR1:/VE/OVR 2 VE Verify that the format operation was successful. This operation will vary depending on the type of disk that is being formatted. It will generally consist of reading back the headers and verifying that they were written correctly. >FMT DR1:/VE !Formats and verifies DR1 2 WLT The /WLT switch will cause the manufacturer's bad sector file to be re-written after the format operation has completed. The MDBSF will contain entries for each sector that was found to be un-formatt- able. Each bad sector will also be re-written so that it's header will be properly flagged as a bad sector. This switch also takes as an argument a decimal value which will be used as the pack serial number. Example: >FMT DR1:/VE/WLT=12345 This switch must be used in conjunction with the /VE switch. 2 @Y The /@Y switch puts FMT into a special mode of operation that is intended for use with the indirect command file processor. The mode causes no operational messages to be printed and no confirmation question to be asked. You are cautioned against using this switch, because packs can be destroyed by an incorrect command line. Manual mode is prohibited in this mode.