DraCoNize, an AmigaOS customization software for DraCos

[gulliver]

I have spent some time tweaking my DraCos. And since every now and then I see some users popping up with the hope they can get some help on how to properly configure AmigaOS for the DraCo, I thought of creating a simple installation program that may help them to achieve this.

But this project means some work, so before that, I thought about asking opinions and if someone would think it is worth doing it in the first place.

Program overview:

"DraCoNize" will provide you of an easy way to adapt an existing
AmigaOS system for the use on a MacroSystem DraCo non-linear video
editing workstation.

Between many other things, it will offer options to install audio and
video drivers, add programs that support the DraCo special features,
and finally modify your startup-sequence to have proper DraCo support
enabled.


Probable features:

-Supports clean AmigaOS 3.1, 3.5 and 3.9 instalations.
-Attempts to integrate in customized AmigaOS enviroments as best
as possible.
-Can also be run on a real Amiga or on an Amiga emulated enviroment,
and then have the drive transfered to a DraCo.
-Sets up the latest Toccata soundcard drivers available (v14.1).
-Sets up CyberGraphX v1.1 for the Altais graphics card.
-Softkicks DraCo rom v1.5, which is the latest.
-Comes in a double density Amiga floppy format (880KB) which gives
it a lot of flexibility and plenty of room for manipulation.
-Generates proper DraCo mountlist for cdrom, ms-dos floppies, and
draco floppies (in SYS:Storage/DosDrivers/).
-Includes several DraCo special tools such as: DraCoFloppy, DraCoLook,
DraCoMouse, DraCoSCSI, DraCoSerNum, DraCoSystem, and DraCoZ2Control.
-Specialized DraCo commands are also installed: DraCo060Emu, DraCoAlert,
DraCoCache, DraCoDebug and DraCoSetPatch.
-Installs the latest draser.device and drapar.device.
-Almost all actions require user confirmations so that partial installs
or rebuilds can be succesfully achieved.
-Toccata AHI drivers and settings will also be offered at some point.

Of course, nothing is set in stone yet, I just need opinions and interest.

Thanks in advance.

[Michael]

MovieShop included ?

[gulliver]

No, as Movieshop requires much more space than what it is available in a single floppy.

But, I guess I could offer Movieshop v4.8 in another 1 floppy (Amiga DD) set that could integrate with DraCoNize. It would not be difficult.

[Cylon]

Originally Posted by gulliver

No, as Movieshop requires much more space than what it is available in a single floppy.

But, I guess I could offer Movieshop v4.8 in another 1 floppy (Amiga DD) set that could integrate with DraCoNize. It would not be difficult.

MovieShop is about 30MB in size, while the main program is roughly around 1MB. I can't see fitting those onto one DD floppy disk.

[gulliver]

Originally Posted by Cylon

MovieShop is about 30MB in size, while the main program is roughly around 1MB. I can't see fitting those onto one DD floppy disk.

No, MovieShop was never 30MB.

Examples:

MovieShop 5.2 = 2.9 MB
MovieShop 4.8 = 2 MB
MovieShop 4.3 = 2 MB
MovieShop 3.4 = 762 KB
MovieShop 2.6 with no effects = 530 KB
MovieShop 1.1 with no effects = 361 KB

And then you can even compress all files and considerably reduce size much further.

[Cylon]

Originally Posted by gulliver

No, MovieShop was never 30MB.

Examples:

MovieShop 5.2 = 2.9 MB
MovieShop 4.8 = 2 MB
MovieShop 4.3 = 2 MB
MovieShop 3.4 = 762 KB
MovieShop 2.6 with no effects = 530 KB
MovieShop 1.1 with no effects = 361 KB

And then you can even compress all files and considerably reduce size much further.

Ok, but you have to consider a full installation, not just the contens of the disks.

[gulliver]

I have considered a full install. But it seems your installation is full of additional stuff that was not present in the original floppy/CDrom distribution. For example: you have Adorage Magic, which was an add-on by ProDad, and then you have a drawer called "CGMPIC" (22MB) which was not part of the MovieShop software. Furthermore, you seem to have installed MovieShop Operator disks 1 thru 8 which were additionals to the standard Operators set.

BTW, what is inside that CGMPIC drawer?

Anyway, if you can upload it to The Zone! in various archives or somewhere else so I can take a look, I would apreciate it.

[gulliver]

Update:

I found some time to work on DraCoNize, and it has reached beta status.

All features I mentioned have been implemented. All I need is just to test
it a little bit more, just to be sure there are no disastrous bugs.

I also managed to add a few more features:

-CyberGraphX v3 (instead of the ancient v1.1)
-Picasso 96 v2.1e support
-Autodetection of both RTG systems
-Autodetection of AHI
-DraCoNize GlowIcons are offered as optional to the standard 4 color icons.
-DraCoLook is offered to be activated upon boot

[jaesonk]

If I already have AmigaOS3.9 installed via the CASH Multimedia release, can I still use DraCoNize for some new features? I also already have CGFXv4 installed.

BTW, is there a hack to by-pass the key needed to run MS5.x on a DraCo?

[gulliver]

Originally Posted by jaesonk

If I already have AmigaOS3.9 installed via the CASH Multimedia release, can I still use DraCoNize for some new features? I also already have CGFXv4 installed.

BTW, is there a hack to by-pass the key needed to run MS5.x on a DraCo?

If you have the 3.9 CASH MULTIMEDIA, I find there is no reason to use DraCoNize, since you got CGX4 + AHI and many things built-in. If on the other hand you want to build a better and more updated 3.9 for your DraCo, then you should definately use it.

For the time being there is no way to bypass the movieshop.key. But I am sure that if you ask around EAB there are some good coders that might help you out on this, if you are willing to actively test it.