Advanced Topics

You've mastered the basics. Now let's get fancy. This section covers advanced techniques, edge cases, and things you probably don't need but might find interesting. Or useful. Or both.

Custom Disk Sizes

Exact Sector Count Mode

The -x option creates images with exact sector counts, using non-standard sizes:

atrforge -x custom.atr file1.com file2.bas

This creates an image with exactly the number of sectors needed, which might not be a standard size. Useful when:

You need a specific size
You want to minimize disk space
Standard sizes don't fit your needs

Note: These non-standard sizes may not work with all emulators or systems. Test first.

Minimum Size with Exact Mode

Combine -s and -x for specific sizes:

atrforge -s 360000 -x disk.atr files...

This creates an image of at least the specified size, using exact sector counts. The size is in bytes, but the actual image will be rounded to sector boundaries.

Bootloader Relocation Strategies

When to Relocate

Relocate the bootloader when:

Your program loads at $600-$700
You get memory conflicts
Boot process fails
You know the load address conflicts

Relocation Options

Page 6 ($600): Usually safe, recommended first try

atrforge -B 6 -b disk.atr program.com

Page 5 ($500): Possible, but riskier

atrforge -B 5 -b disk.atr program.com

Page 4 ($400): Possible, but even riskier

atrforge -B 4 -b disk.atr program.com

Testing Relocation

Always test relocated bootloaders:

Create image with relocation
Test in emulator first
Verify program loads correctly
Check for memory conflicts
Test on real hardware if possible

Filesystem Optimization

Directory Structure

Organize files efficiently:

Group related files in directories
Keep directory depth reasonable (2-3 levels max)
Use descriptive directory names
Avoid too many small directories

File Placement

Put frequently accessed files in root
Put related files together
Consider access patterns
Balance organization with efficiency

Attribute Usage

Use attributes strategically:

Protect system files (+p)
Hide temporary files (+h)
Mark archived files (+a)
Don't overuse attributes

Batch Operations

Processing Multiple Images

Extract from multiple images:

for img in *.atr; do
    dir="${img%.atr}"
    mkdir -p "$dir"
    lsatr -X "$dir/" "$img"
done

Convert multiple images:

for img in *.atr; do
    convertatr --sector-size 256 "$img" "converted/${img}"
done

Creating Multiple Disks

Create disks for multiple programs:

for prog in *.com; do
    atrforge -b "${prog%.com}.atr" "$prog"
done

Batch File Updates

Update files in multiple images:

for img in *.atr; do
    atrcp newfile.com "$img:NEWFILE.COM"
done

Scripting Examples

Automated Disk Creation

Create a script for standard disk creation:

#!/bin/bash
# create_disk.sh - Create a standard disk image

DISK_NAME="$1"
shift
FILES="$@"

atrforge "$DISK_NAME" \
    system/ +p system/config.sys \
    "$FILES"

Usage:

./create_disk.sh mydisk.atr file1.com file2.bas

Disk Maintenance Script

Script to verify and report on multiple images:

#!/bin/bash
# check_disks.sh - Verify multiple disk images

for img in *.atr; do
    echo "Checking $img..."
    if lsatr --verify "$img" > /dev/null 2>&1; then
        echo "  OK"
    else
        echo "  FAILED"
    fi
done

Backup Script

Backup script for disk images:

#!/bin/bash
# backup_disks.sh - Backup disk images with timestamps

BACKUP_DIR="backups/$(date +%Y%m%d)"
mkdir -p "$BACKUP_DIR"

for img in *.atr; do
    cp "$img" "$BACKUP_DIR/${img%.atr}_$(date +%H%M%S).atr"
done

Integration with Other Tools

Using with Emulators

Most Atari emulators support ATR images directly:

Altirra
Atari800
Atari++

Just point the emulator at your ATR file. It's that simple.

Using with Disk Utilities

You can use atrforge images with other Atari disk utilities:

Extract files, modify on Atari, recreate image
Use Atari tools for filesystem operations
Combine atrforge creation with Atari-side modification

Using with Version Control

ATR images are binary, but you can:

Extract files and version control those
Keep ATR images as release artifacts
Use scripts to recreate images from version-controlled files

Advanced Conversion Techniques

Multi-Step Conversions

Convert in multiple steps:

# Step 1: Resize
convertatr --resize 1440 small.atr medium.atr

# Step 2: Convert sector size
convertatr --sector-size 256 medium.atr large.atr

# Step 3: Convert files
convertatr --convert-utf8 --resize 2048 large.atr final.atr

Selective File Conversion

Convert specific files only:

# Extract files
lsatr -X temp/ image.atr

# Convert specific files
atrcp --to-utf8 temp/file1.bas file1_utf8.bas
atrcp --to-utf8 temp/file2.bas file2_utf8.bas

# Recreate image
atrforge --to-atascii newimage.atr file1_utf8.bas file2_utf8.bas temp/file3.com

Performance Optimization

Large Image Handling

For very large images (approaching 16MB):

Process in smaller chunks if possible
Close other applications
Ensure adequate system memory
Consider splitting across multiple images

Batch Processing

For processing many images:

Process sequentially (not parallel)
Clean up temporary files
Monitor disk space
Use scripts for automation

Edge Cases and Workarounds

Non-Standard Formats

If you encounter non-standard ATR formats:

Try lsatr --verify first
Extract files and recreate if needed
Check if format is actually supported
Report unsupported formats

Corrupted Images

For corrupted images:

Try lsatr --verify to assess damage
Attempt extraction (may get some files)
Use convertatr to rebuild structure
Extract and recreate if possible

Very Large Files

For files approaching disk size limits:

Check actual file sizes
Use largest available disk size
Consider file compression (if supported)
Split files if necessary

Advanced Attribute Usage

Attribute Combinations

Strategic attribute combinations:

System files: +ph (protected + hidden)
Backups: +pa (protected + archived)
Temporary: +h (hidden only)
Important: +p (protected only)

Attribute Management

Manage attributes programmatically:

Extract files, modify attributes on Atari, recreate
Use scripts to set attributes consistently
Document attribute usage

Custom Workflows

Development Workflow

For development work:

Create development disk with tools
Extract source files for editing
Edit in modern editors (with UTF8 conversion)
Add files back to disk
Test in emulator
Repeat

Archival Workflow

For archiving old disks:

Verify images: lsatr --verify
Extract all files: lsatr -X archive/
Document contents
Create organized structure
Backup everything

Distribution Workflow

For creating distribution disks:

Organize files into directories
Set appropriate attributes
Create bootable image if needed
Test thoroughly
Create final image
Verify before distribution

Tips for Power Users

Automate repetitive tasks - Write scripts for common operations
Test everything - Especially boot files and conversions
Keep backups - Multiple backups, different locations
Document your process - Write down what works
Version control - Use git or similar for file management
Verify images - Always verify before using
Know your limits - 16MB max, understand constraints
Test in emulators - Before using on real hardware
Keep it organized - Good structure saves time later
Read the docs - Even power users need reference