



Portfolio Hints and Tips

From the Atari A.P.B . Volume 2, Number 1





If you want to get the current A.P.B. please send one U.S. Dollar to 

Atari Computer Corporation

1196 Borregas Ave.

Sunnyvale CA. 94089





The Atari Portfolio is a powerful tool. It will grow with your needs

and require only a basic understanding of proper computer care for 

trouble-free use.



The following are hints and tips for optimum productivity and enjoyment

from your Portfolio computer. Some users may consider the suggestions as 

basic computer knowledge. Others will benefit a great deal as they use 

the Portfolio more and more.



* If you seem to have difficulties with Serial Interface file transfers, 

make certain the Serial Interface is initialized. This can be done within 

the RS-232 port option in the SET UP menu. Also make certain the baud 

rates on both computers are set the same.Install peripherals and Memory 

Cards only while the screen of the Portfolio is turned "OFF". This 

avoids occasional electrical static during installation and better 

ensures that the operating system of the Portfolio " knows" that these 

devices are installed.



* If your batteries appear to offer unreliable operation, gently tilt 

the Portfolio from side to side. Should you suspect that the batteries 

may not be firmly in place, then responsibly bend the positive metal

connector in the battery compartment outward to induce a tighter battery 

fit. Some "AA" batteries are slightly different in length depending on 

manufacturer and job lot.



 * When installing batteries in Memory Cards, mark a date eight to ten 

months later on the label in pencil. Reference that date for battery 

replacement. This time frame should apply to all size cards. If using 

a Memory Card (which is highly recommended), set the size of your " C:" 

Drive to 8K. If you plan to use the Calendar/Diary alarm functions, 

then set the "C:" Drive to 16K. From that point on, read and write your 

data files directly to the "A:" Drive. Refer to the FDISK command for 

setting the size of the "C:" Drive.



* The Portfolio User's Manual will make no attempt to teach the use 

of DOS, Spreadsheets or Word Processing. These subjects sometimes 

justify accredited college courses depending on the level of expertise 

you wish to apply. It is suggested that users visit their local library

or bookstore for books on these subject(s) if additional information is 

required.



* Using the Editor, write the following batch file and save it as 

A:\AUTOEXEC.BAT. The line: A:\Update requires that an update program 

be moved to your RAM card from the FILE MANAGER card. If you do not 

have the UPDATE.COM program, then omit line 3 below from your batch file.



       @Echo Off

       Prompt=$p $

       A:\Update

       Cls

       App



* Some Portfolio manuals contain an error in reference to the creation 

of a CONFIG.SYS file. The proper entries are as follows:



       FILES=20

       BUFFERS=32

       COUNTRY=00l



* If a MEMORY FULL error is encountered, try changing the BUFFERS=32 

entry in the CONFIG.SYS file to BUFFERS=8 and warm or cold boot the 

computer without the FILE MANAGER installed.



* Once low batteries begin to disrupt operation, do not rely entirely 

on an AC adapter. Replace low batteries immediately even if the AC adapter 

is being used.



* The BATTERY LOW message is encountered only under specific circumstances.

Do not depend on seeing it during the limited time that the Portfolio is 

capable of detecting and displaying such a condition.



* You may change the battery in the RAM Memory Card without losing the 

data saved on the card. To do so, install the Memory Card in a Portfolio 

while plugged in an AC adapter. Press a key to turn "ON" the screen and 

replace the battery before the screen shuts itself off. Conservative

users may wish to copy the files to the "C:" Drive as a precaution. The 

battery used in a RAM Memory Card is a CR2016 and may be found in most 

electronics stores. You may prolong the length of time before the

screen shuts " OFF" by occasionally pressing any key.



* If you encounter a DEVICE WRITE ERROR while saving a file to the 

"A:" drive, check the write protect switch. Make certain it is turned 

"OFF". This may also occur if there is not enough room on the drive

for the file or the maximum number of files in the root directory may 

have been reached. If you installed the RAM Memory Card while the 

screen is "ON", the Portfolio may not know that the card is installed. 

In that case, try to save the file on the  "C:" Drive. A warm boot may 

be required if the operating system needs to be informed that the "A:" 

Drive is installed. When numerous files are being used, create and use 

subdirectories to store them.



* A DIVIDE BY ZERO or SYSTEM ERROR may occur for a number of reasons. 

If encountered, perform a warm boot and make an attempt to copy "C:" 

Drive files out to a Memory Card. Even if the operating system appears 

to be restored, perform a cold boot through the battery compartment 

to ensure that the problem has been adjusted internally.



* The Portfolio will make every attempt to reload the last file you 

used in each application. If an error occurs while the application

attempts to load the last file, delete the PERMDATA.DAT file within

the SYSTEM directory on the "C:" Drive. You may also change your

CONFIG.SYS file to set a lower number of buffers. Performing a warm

boot after doing so may release enough memory to load the data file

properly. You may also attempt to enter the application out of the

FILE MANAGER environment as the FILE MANAGER does require space in RAM.



* Many people misinterpret the SAVE YES/NO option when exiting an 

application incorrectly. When selecting "YES", the existing file on disk 

will be erased and a new file is created. If the file in memory is

incorrect, incomplete or corrupted, the old data will be permanently 

lost. It is suggested that you always answer "NO" when exiting applications 

to avoid this possibility. To save a file, use the F1 option labeled

as SAVE AS and deliberately name the file as you wish. The F1 window in 

all applications may also be accessed by pressing the Atari key.



* If you accidentally exit the FILE MANAGER and wish to have it operating 

again, turn the Portfolio off, install the FILE MANAGER ROM Card and type 

A:\fm at the system prompt.



* Avoid entering and manipulating files within the SYSTEM directory on the 

"C:" Drive. The only exception is the DIARY.DRY file which must be in that 

directory if you wish alarms to sound.



* To determine the available space on a Disk, use the DIR command from 

the DOS prompt. The CHKDSK command makes many calculations and assembles 

groups of numbers which are often confusing.



* The "ON" and "OFF" designations of the Portfolio refer to full operation,

not to complete power. A Portfolio which is turned " OFF" must still monitor 

alarms, data, date and time. This is important to know for expectations of 

battery longevity.



* The ADDRESS BOOK application may be used as a database for more than 

just names, addresses and phone numbers. You may also establish files for 

inventories, recipes and other subjects.



* If you detect a periodic "blip" across the screen while the Portfolio 

is turned "OFF", check the display modes within the SET UP menu. Make 

certain they are all set to normal or the batteries will drain at an

accelerated pace.



* You may sometimes experience system inconveniences in the operating 

system which can be enhanced or corrected. A small program exists in 

the public domain called: UPDATE.COM. A copy of this file may be found on 

the FILE MANAGER/TUTORIAL ROM Card. Later versions may be found on on-line

services and on the Atari bulletin board. If you are experiencing problems

which appear unexplained, obtain the latest version of this program and run 

it immediately following a cold-boot. See an earlier tip for automatically 

installing the UPDATE.COM program using an AUTOEXEC.BAT file.



* If you travel, you may wish to use clear packing tape and adhere a 

business card to the bottom of the computer by identification. A small 

address label might be placed on the inside of the battery and

expansion bus covers as well.



* To add a blank line between two existing lines in the Address Book, use 

the clipboard to "cut" a blank line you type at the end of the record, 

move the cursor to the new position and "paste" the blank line in place.



* If the non-weekend alarms in the Diary are not functioning on your 

machine, you may still simulate the same result by creating five separate 

weekly alarms; one for each day of the work week.



* The COS and SIN functions in the Spreadsheet sometimes return internal 

calculations and not the answers anticipated. Test your results when 

using these functions and use an alternative calculation if the operation 

is not responding as anticipated.



* You may enter almost any special character into the Text Editor you wish. 

This can be useful to create custom batch file screens or to mark specific 

positions for global search/replace routines when files are transferred to 

a desktop PC. To enter such characters, enter the NUM LOCK mode by pressing 

the Atari key while holding the Lock key. The cursor will change to a flashing 

underline. Then, while holding the Alt key, type the numerical character code 

(1-256; use the red numeric keypad). When you let go of the Alt key, the 

associated character will appear. To turn off NUM LOCK, press the Atari key

once again while holding the Lock key.



FDISK



SYNTAX:   FDISK [n]



Sets the size of the internal RAM drive. c:. to size n in kilobytes specified. 

The minimum value allowed is 8K bytes and the maximum is the maximum available 

internal memory minus an amount required by the applications and DOS

This maximum will be displayed if you try and set too big a disk size.



For example. the command:



     FDISK 16 [RTN]



sets the size of the RAM drive to 16K bytes Use of this command also performs 

a cold start  All files currently stored in the portfolio.s memory Will be 

deleted in order that the RAM drive may be re-sized 

This command should be used with care.



tion. If an error occurs while the application

