
ProDOS is the official Apple ][ DOS which came after DOS 3.3. Do not confuse
"ProDOS" and "ProntoDOS". ProntoDOS is a slightly modified DOS 3.3 which 
provides
much faster disk I/O than standard DOS 3.3. ProDOS is a whole new disk operating
system.

ProDOS has lots of nice features-- mainly, you can create sub-directories,
diskettes ("volumes") can be named, and ProDOS works well on hard disks. The GS
System 6 Finder can handle ProDOS files and launch programs from ProDOS
diskettes. ProDOS shares many commands with DOS 3.3, too; so, it is not 
difficult
for DOS 3.3 users to get started with the newer operating system.

All Apple II's, from the 64k Apple II+ through the IIgs, can run versions of
ProDOS up through version 1.9. Versions 2.x.x require a 128k Apple IIe, IIc, or
IIgs.

Creating bootable ProDOS diskettes is a bit more bother because, unlike DOS 3.3,
ProDOS is not automatically written to protected sectors on the diskette via an
INIT command. (ProDOS does not have an INIT command.) 
Instead, ProDOS is in a file on the diskette and so is the ProDOS 'connection' 
to
BASIC, called BASIC.SYSTEM. 

To make new bootable ProDOS diskettes, the easiest approach is to use Disk
Muncher or some other whole-disk copier to just copy a bootable ProDOS diskette.
You can delete the files you don't want from the copy. 

Another option is to use Copy II+ (ProDOS version) to FORMAT a ProDOS diskette.
(FORMAT writes blank tracks so that the diskette can be used to hold files.)
Then, copy BASIC.SYSTEM and PRODOS to the new diskette. On a IIgs, all of these
operations are easily handled via the Finder. 

If you want ProDOS to boot and start a BASIC program, then both PRODOS and
BASIC.SYSTEM must be present. (BASIC.SYSTEM should be the first .SYSTEM file on
the diskette.) The "hello" program on a ProDOS diskette is named "STARTUP". This
is the program which will be run upon booting the diskette. 



PRODOS COMMANDS
===============

CAT or  
CATALOG

Provides a directory listing.  CAT give an abbreviated listing that
will fit on a 40-column screen.  CATALOG provides a more complete
listing for 80-column screens

PREFIX

This is the ProDOS equivalent of the MS-DOS CHDIR, or CD.
Note: ProDOS uses  "/" to indicate directorys while 
      MS-DOS uses  "\".  I'm sure they did this to mess us all up!

CREATE

This is the ProDOS equivalent of the MS-DOS MKDIR, or MD.

RENAME

Renames a file.  Same as what was in AppleDOS 3.3.

DELETE

Deletes a file.  Same as what was in AppleDOS 3.3.

LOCK

Locks a file.  Same as what was in AppleDOS 3.3.

UNLOCK

Unlocks a file.  Same as what was in AppleDOS 3.3.

VERIFY

Verify that a particular file exists.  In AppleDOS, VERIFY would check
to see if each sectore was readable.  I'm not sure if ProDOS does this
or not.

- (DASH)

Executes a file regardless of what type it is.

RUN

Runs an Applesoft BASIC program.
Note: Integer BASIC is *NOT* supported in ProDOS.

LOAD

Loads an Applesoft BASIC program.

SAVE

Saves an Applesoft BASIC program.

BYE

Exits BASIC.SYSTEM to run another .SYSTEM file.

EXEC

Executes a text file.  Same as what was in AppleDOS 3.3.

BRUN

Executes a binary file.  Same as what was in AppleDOS 3.3.

BLOAD

Loades a binary file.  Same as what was in AppleDOS 3.3.

BSAVE

Saves a binary file.  Same as what was in AppleDOS 3.3.


Deferred Execution ProDOS Commands
==================================

For the most part, these are the same a AppleDOS 3.3.  The noteable
exceptions are;

CHAIN

Leaves current BASIC program to execure another *without* erasing
program variables.  This was part of AppleDOS 3.3 but only worked in
Integer BASIC.

STORE

Allows you to save on disk the names and values of all variables in a
BASIC program.  With ProDOS loaded you override the command of the
same name that is available in Applesoft.  The Applesoft versions does
the same but *only* to cassette tape.

RESTORE

Complimentary function to the STORE command.

FLUSH

Forces ProDOS to write data to disk from temporary buffers without
closing files.

