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Commander - Help!

Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 11:42 am
by angus
I have finally got round to updating the firmware on my ZXPand and the boot screen now proudly says "Version 2.62 TROLL". So I decided to try ZXPand Commander to more easily navigate the SD card. It loads up and I can access the help page but the windows are empty, no "..", no files, no directories.

Any thoughts?

Re: Commander - Help!

Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 12:56 pm
by angus
Additionally I have tried making a new directory which appears to go OK....I am prompted to name it and when I press Newline an "OK" dialogue box pops up....but there's no new directory created.

I am using an old small capacity 16Mb SD card, which works fine with the BASIC commands. Issue 1 Zeddy with the unpatched Klutzed ROM. Is there something I am doing wrong?

Re: Commander - Help!

Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 1:45 pm
by mrtinb
Can you try different SDs?

I remember reading somewhere a newly formatted SD formatted with a dedicated SD program, and not just the formatter of Windows/macOS.

Make sure the files on the SD is no longer than 8.3. This limitation for the name of the SD card as well.

And try both FAT16 and FAT32.

Re: Commander - Help!

Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 2:13 pm
by angus
Thanks for the reply!

I just tried formatting a different 128Mb SD card with a dedicated formatting program, and Commander still behaves the same way. I copied a few .P files and a couple of directories over to the SD card too. Commander loads, I get an OK dialogue box then the two windows. I can move the highlighted (well, black) bar up and down but there's nothing in any of the "slots". Not even . or .. I can try creating a new directory with Shift-K and it goes through the motions but nothing is visible to Commander, BASIC or Windows.

Re: Commander - Help!

Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 2:40 pm
by mrtinb
I have only tried with 4 GB and 16 GB. I have never tried with small SD cards.

Do you format them with FAT12, FAT16 or FAT32?

Re: Commander - Help!

Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 2:43 pm
by angus
FAT 16

Unfortunately the next size up that I have is 64Gb for my DLSR

Re: Commander - Help!

Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 2:47 pm
by mrtinb
Maybe you can try if it is possible to format it as FAT32, and see if that changes anything.

Re: Commander - Help!

Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 3:08 pm
by angus
I dug out a 4Gb micro SD card that I used to use with a phone, and a full size adapter. Formatted that as FAT32 and I still have the same issue. The ZXPand is reading the card, I can navigate using the ZXPand BASIC commands but Commander isn't working. I even ensured that I downloaded Commander again to be sure.

Empty windows and "0 ITEMS 0 BYTES"

Re: Commander - Help!

Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 3:18 pm
by mrtinb
The only thing I can find in the manual is this, and it looks like you follow that:
GETTING STARTED
Most cards come pre-formatted. In the rare case this isn't true or you want a fresh start then you can format the card. You can use any of the standard FAT format types: 12, 16 and 32 are supported. Windows based PCs can generally format cards directly. Mac users should download the SD Association formatter.

Once formatted, you can save some ZX81 programs to your card. These are widely available around the internet. They typically have the extension ā€˜.Pā€™. If you come across files with the .81 extension, these should be renamed to have a 'P' extension ā€“ the formats are identical.

Long filenames are not supported. Filenames should use a maximum of 8 characters followed by the extension, the DOS short name standard.

You may want to organise your files on the card by creating directories, again using a maximum of 8 characters maximum in the name, and putting a few files in each. This should make finding the file you want much easier.
Maybe someone else has any ideas?

Re: Commander - Help!

Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 3:22 pm
by mrtinb
Are you using the latest version of ZXpand Commander?