Return to - Site Home - Software Index
The use of a spool file to record errors in PreDesk has been mentioned several times on The Iyonix Smartgroup. As set up here the spool file is inside !Boot and is called BootSpool.
In PreDesk create an Obey file called !!!!!Spool, with enough !s to make sure it is first, containing these lines :-
spool <Boot$Dir>.BootSpool
time
and a directory called ~~~Spool, with enough ~s to make sure it is last, containing an Obey file called !Run with these lines :-
spool
settype <Boot$Dir>.BootSpool text
saves the writing that went to the screen but did not stay long enough to be read.
It should look like this screendump of the PreDesk directory.
N.B. If an error does occur as the files run then a spurious SWI &4258B not known error is also shown. The preceding real error is the one that needs addressing. This has also been discussed on the Iyonix Smartgroup.
There is a minor snag with the BootSpool arrangements in that if there is an error in the PreDesk directories then the BootSpool file is left open, the ~~~Spool directory with the close instruction is not reached. A file closing utility is required. The fact of the file being open is an indication that an error has occurred. The file is also full of garbage, but the error is preserved. It is not a problem the method still works. There is a better way but I would not dare to suggest modifying BootRun.
BootRun Boot:Utils.UnplugTbox
BootObey Choices:Boot.PreDesktop
AddToRMA 768
spool <Boot$Dir>.BootSpool
time
echo ---- Running PreDesk files
Repeat BootLoad <Boot$ToBeLoaded> -files
echo ---- Running PreDesk directories
Repeat BootRun <Boot$ToBeLoaded> -directories
spool
settype <Boot$Dir>.BootSpool text
A sensible thing to do is to is to check for errors immediately after making changes to PreDesk. If that is done then the next bit is superfluous.
BootSpoolRD is a BASIC program that reads the BootSpool file. It first closes the file if it has been left open by an error in the directory phase and then reports any errors it finds. If there are errors the BootSpool file is displayed. It can be installed in Boot.Tasks.
This download is intended for the Iyonix. It does work with OS4.0x. Select has its own arrangements that are incompatible with this. The download zip contains :-
Download here. (2kB)