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Friday, 21-Nov-2008 18:03:38 GMT

Z88 Computer Links

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Eazylink

I have got to say it's really easy to use and very fast. It's the full file transfer and backup solution I have been looking for but never found. Everything else is really inferior. A few clicks and your files are transferred between the PC and Z88 in a whiz. Best tool I ever brought for the Z88. I really do wonder how I lived without!

Best Regards, Steven Pannell - 04 June 2004 Technical Project Manager zooplus AG

upgrade from PC Link II

Run EazyLink on Linux with

Run EazyLink on Mac with

Eazylink is a new file transfer program that can send files to and from the Z88 and a PC that is running Windows NT, 2000, 98, ME or XP. It is fast, easy to use and copes with multiple files.

Key points

It works with a USB to Serial Converter – so even if your PC does not have a serial port, you just need one of those.
It retains the 12 character filenames that the Z88 uses
It is faster than PC Link II
It runs on Windows xp

The package comes with

a serial cable to link the Z88 to the PC computer (9/25 pin adapter supplied),
the Eazylink ROM to plug into the Z88
and PC program CD disk.

Overview

Z88

Backup

PC

Eazylink copies files to

You can - Delete, Rename, Send and Receive files, Create and Remove directories in those devices.

Send and Receive Files (Z88 to PC)

Backup Device
(Z88 to BD to PC)

You can select the following to backup your Z88 (using Wild cards if required):

Select RAM Device (Multiple RAM devices are selected one at a time).

Select Directories at a defined path

Select Files at a defined path

Select a File (or several Files)

Eazylink stores all the Z88 files on the PC in a simple database

Two windows are displayed. One is the Source and the other is the Destination Device.

A mirror image of your Z88's file and directory structure is created allowing files to fetched from the database when required.

Translating Files

Additional mirror images may be copied, by using different database filenames, allowing different backup versions or backups from different Z88s to be retained.

Restoring of files from the Backup Device re-installs original Z88 Date stamps on up-loaded files. Directories are automatically created by the EazyLink ROM on the Z88 in the RAM filing system. 12 character file names are now supported (unlike PC Link II which only supported the DOS format of 8.3).

Reorganising Files in the Backup Device

Using the Commands with the Source and Destination windows, files may be reorganised into different directories within the Backup Device itself. This powerful facility allows the Z88 user to organise files without using the Z88 for the first time. Combined with the Viewer, old files may be deleted or moved to different directories, clearing more space for new files to be created.

There are a number of ways that Eazylink can translate files whilst the file is being transferred from the Z88. These are:-

Auto CR to CR/LF for DOS and Windows

ISO LATIN 1 and IBM codepage 865 (Scandinavian)

with a User defined Translation Table

Viewer

A text file viewer is included to enable a quick look at files from the Backup Device.

Also included is the ability to view PipeDream files in "PipeView," a shareware Windows program from Dennis Gröning and a utility which loads or view files straight into the PC PipeDream DOS program.

In any of these devices, all devices and directories are displayed and managed using the familiar File Explorer Interface of Windows.

EazyLink has been provided with comprehensive on-line help (both as functional reference and context-sensitive help topics).

Computers with no serial port

USB Serial Adapter Here is the correspondance with Bob Calvert (19/12/2004) about this issue.

The only potential problem is how to connect the Z88 to the laptop -there doesn't appear to be a serial connector in sight!, but there are lots of USB ports. I have checked with several shops here and it is possible to get a serial to USB adaptor. So...could I ask if you have come across this problem already? Will a serial to USB adaptor work? I'm inclined to try it and see but would appreciate your advice.

Reply - USB Serial Adapter should work, but I have not received any first-hand reports. As long as Windows thinks it is a serial port you should be OK. You will have to try it and see. Let me know the result.

Just a quick email to let you know the Z88 to PC transfer works via the serial to USB adaptor. The trick is to ensure you know which coms port the PC decides to allocate! We are very pleased we can continue to use our Z88! Thanks for your help. Available here for £5.00 (inc VAT) with Eazylink - £10 on its own.

PL-2303 Software and Drivers Click here
Drivers supplied on the disk (zipped) 2M! Click here

PC Link II to Eazylink upgrade

If you already have PC Link II consisting of the following items you can purchase the Eazylink upgrade to save duplicating the hardware required.

Serial cable from the PC to the Z88 (make sure you have correct connector on the cable for your computer. It is either a 9 or 25 way male on the computer.)
PC Link ROM/EPROM (Please retun for upgrade)
and PC Link II software. (Supplied in PC Link II but not really needed for Eazylink)

Other Features

COM Ports

Clock

Battery LOW

File Transfer Log

Use any free serial COM port that Windows can see, unlike PC Link which can only use COM.1. Eazylink sets the time and date on the Z88 to the same as the PC. Eazylink will stop sending files to and from the Z88 when the battery on the Z88 is low. EazyLink also contains a file transfer log facility which remembers every file transfered.

Report of Files

A report can be requested that lists all the files in the Backup Device. The report may be sorted in ascending/descending order choosing one of the sorting criteria;

filename,
file size,
date transferred
and the Z88 file date stamp.

This report can then be printed and used as a hardcopy record of what files have been backed up for future reference.

An added bonus is that you also get the:-

PC Link II Software

with its own file translation programs.

These are

WordStar to PipeDream and
Lotus 1-2-3 to PipeDream,

so you can keep your page layouts. Even if you want to use Desk-Top Publishing programs, layouts can still be retained by importing a WordStar file into the program you use.

EazyLink ROM

The EazyLink ROM emulates 100% and performs 25% faster than the original PC Link ROM. Further, with the PC-LINK II emulation, you get transparent linefeed conversion and ISO LATIN I/DOS codepage translation during transfer!

In other words, you're still able to run the old PC-LINK II DOS program and PC PipeDream when using the EazyLink ROM in the Z88.

Existing users of PC Link II can upgrade to EazyLink cost effectively.

MAC Users and EazyLink

Although the Eazylink program does not run on the MAC, MAC users can enjoy the

faster transfer speed and the
automatic creation of directories

when files are transferred to the Z88. All you need is to upgrade your MAC Link ROM to EazyLink V5.0.4.

FAQ

MSJet35.dll

Recently I had to reinstall Windows (and of course everything else) ... and now EazyLink will install but won't run, complaining that it has an "incorrect" version of MSJet35.dll.

I have however now solved my problem, by downloading Microsoft's Jet Service Pack 3 from their website, which upgraded my copy of MSJet35 to version 3.51.3328.0 - and for some reason EazyLink is now happy.

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