BIN2TAP.TXT -- DOCUMENTATION FOR BIN2TAP.EXE

QUICK START

BIN2TAP converts the most common types of Exabyte 8mm tape drive firmware
(.BIN) files to SCSI load (.TAP) files.  BIN2TAP handles both old and new
format .BIN files.

Syntax:
BIN2TAP [/Q] [/Z] filename
  /Q = quiet mode.  Suppresses screen output.
  /Z = include zero padding at end of .TAP file.  Wastes disk space.
  filename is name of .BIN file (the .BIN suffix is optional).
  If .BIN file is an OLD format file intended for use with a 8500c,
  8505, or 8205, the file name MUST start with 8SE, 8CE, or 8VE
  The .TAP file name will be the same as the .BIN file, but with
  a .TAP extension.  See limitations below.


CONVERTING MULTIPLE .BIN FILES

To convert a large number of .BIN files to .TAP files, use the DOS FOR
construct or use the TAP.BAT file included with this release.


LIMITATIONS

.TAP files may contain a maximum of one set of control code (2 or 4 banks),
one set of servo code (1 bank), and one EEPROM image.  They contain no safety
check information for boot versions or compatibilty byte lists.  TAP files
are more limited in the way target products are specified.  Any information
in a .BIN file that cannot be contained in a .TAP file is discarded.  In case
a .BIN file contains more than one version of firmware, the first one
encountered is used.  Because old format EEPROM .BIN files have no internal
marker to distinguish what they can be loaded into, the naming convention for
these files must strictly be adhered to.  For new format .BIN files and other
kinds of old format .BIN files, the file names may be any valid DOS file name
with a .BIN suffix.

Because .TAP files have fewer checks to prevent loading into the wrong
device, greater care must be used.

If you don't use the /Z option on the command line, any SCSI loader program
must be smart enough to add the number of zero bytes on the end of the file
required by the SCSI interface of the device being loaded.  Adding these
zeroes on disk wastes a significant amount of space.  (ConqDiag.EXE is smart
enough to add these zeroes, so using the /Z option with ConqDiag.EXE is not
necessary.)


ERRORLEVEL RETURN VALUES

0:  Success!
1:  Syntax help message requested.
2:  User pressed break.
3:  Out of RAM!
4:  Unable to open input file.
15: Unable to reopen input file.
18: .BIN file validation failed.
22: Can't properly close output file (disk full or write protected?).
24: Bad new .BIN header.
25: Nothing in .BIN to convert.
Other values: an error occured.


LEGAL NOTICES

The user acknowledges that this software might be subject to U. S. Export
Regulations and it shall be the responsibility of the user to determine what
requirements apply with respect to this program.  For further information,
call Contracts Administration at (303) 417-7760 or Legal at (303) 417-7510.

.BIN to .TAP file converter (BIN2TAP) is Copyright (C) 1994-1995 Exabyte
Corporation.  All rights reserved.  This program and its documentation come
with no warranty expressed or implied.  It is up to the users to determine
suitability for use in whatever environments they may have.