Creating Binary Images with CFG2BIN

CFG2BIN is a tool to create an OS image from a configuration file (.cfg).

Command syntax

CFG2BIN <file>

It will create the OS image file <file>.bin from the configuration file <file>.cfg

Contents of the Configuration file

Kernel

kernel=<full name of kernel>

Specifies which kernel to use. Normally kernel.exe is used, but a new kernel can be compiled and used for embedded systems.

Shutdown

shutdown=<full name of shutdown driver>

Specifies which driver to use in case of emergency system shutdown. Pcshut.exe is for the PC platform, and it simply dumps register contents and faulted threads on a text screen and halts the system

Device

device=<full name of driver>

Loads the specified device-driver file

Fonts

font=<full name of font file>

Loads a GEM font. These can be used to write graphics text and to change text mode fonts. Windows TrueType fonts can be converted to GEM fonts with TTGEM program by Tim Miller.

Set

set <variable>=<value>

Sets an environment variable. These are included in the environment seen by DOS programs, and could also be read by device-drivers. The case of variables and values are preserved and used. Dots can be used in variable names to create nesting.

Path

path <pathname>

Sets the PATH environment variable used by DOS for finding executable programs.

File

file <full path of file>

Puts an file on ramdrive. Ramdrive will always be at z:\

Run

run <full path to program>

Runs the program at system startup as a process. This is useful for auto-starting programs

Example of Configuration File

This is a typical PC system configuration file

font=sys8.gft
font=sys12.gft
font=sys14.gft
font=sys16.gft
font=sys17.gft
font=sys22.gft
kernel=kernel.exe
shutdown=pcshut.exe
device=font.rdv
device=time.rdv
device=emulate.rdv
device=multiplx.rdv
device=fs.rdv
device=dosdev.rdv
device=ems.rdv
device=xms.rdv
device=dpmi.rdv
device=drive.rdv
device=ramdrive.rdv
device=rdfs.rdv
device=focus.rdv
device=dos.rdv
device=bios.rdv
device=timer.rdv
device=key.rdv
device=mail.rdv
device=ne.rdv
device=pe.rdv
device=debugio.rdv
device=et3video.rdv
device=nomouse.rdv
device=floppy.rdv
device=printer.rdv
device=ide.rdv
device=fat.rdv
device=pccom.rdv
device=ppp.rdv
set PPP.PORT=3
set PPP.IRQ=9
set PPP.BAUD=38400
set IP=10.1.0.0
path z:\
file ndos.com
file ndos.ovl
file stateapp.exe
file test.exe
run z:\stateapp.exe
run z:\test.exe
run z:\ndos.com