---
name: "dskform"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "libdsk-utils"
version: "1.5.9+dfsg-1+b2"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/dskform"
---

# dskform(1)

floppy or image file formatter for emulated machines

## NAME

dskform - floppy or image file formatter for emulated machines

## SYNOPSIS

**dskform** \[*-format FORMAT*\] \[*-type TYPE*\] \[*-side SIDE*\] \[*-comp COMP*\] \[*-retry COUNT*\] \[*-fat12*\] *DISKIMAGE*

## DESCRIPTION

Dskform is a formatter which formats floppy discs or disc images for use with emulated machines such as the ZX Spectrum +3, Amstrad CPC, and various Acorn machines. It does **not** create a filesystem on the disc or image.

## OPTIONS

- **-format FORMAT**

  Specifies a disc format to use. See the section DISK FORMATS for more information.

- **-type TYPE**

  Determines which driver is to be used to format the disc or image.

  - **auto**

    Select according to the disc image file. This is the default.

  - **dsk**

    Use the DSK (CPCEmu format) image driver.

  - **edsk**

    Use the extended version of the DSK format.

  - **floppy**

    Use the floppy driver.

  - **myz80**

    Use the hard disk (MYZ80 format) image driver. (This format cannot be autodetected.)

  - **cfi**

    Use the CFI (DOS fdcopy format) image driver. (This format cannot be autodetected.)

  - **apridisk**

    Use the ApriDisk image driver (used for archiving Apricot floppies). (This format cannot be autodetected.)

  - **raw**

    Use the raw driver.

- **-comp COMP**

  Compress the disc image that is being generated (has no effect when formatting a real floppy disc).

  - **sq**

    Huffman compressed (SQ / USQ).

  - **gz**

    Gzipped (gzip / gunzip).

- **-retry COUNT**

  Set the number of times to attempt a format operation in case of error.

- **-side SIDE**

  Determines which side (0 or 1) of the disc is to be formatted.

- **-pcdos**

  Create an empty PCDOS (FAT12) filesystem on the disc image.

- **-apricot**

  Create an empty Apricot MSDOS filesystem on the disc image.

## DISK FORMATS

- *pcw180*

  PCW or IBM; 180K. This is the default format.

- *cpcsys*

  CPC or +3 System

- *cpcdata*

  CPC or +3 Data

- *pcw720*

  PCW or IBM 720K

- *pcw1440*

  PCW16 or IBM 1440K

- *ibm160 ibm320*

  IBM 160K or 320K (CP/M-86 or DOSPlus)

- *ibm360*

  IBM 360K (DOSPlus)

- *ibm720 ibm1200 ibm1440*

  IBM 720K, 1200K or 1440K (144FEAT)

- *acorn160 acorn320*

  Acorn ADFS 'S' or 'M'

- *acorn640*

  Acorn ADFS 'L'

- *acorn800*

  Acorn ADFS 'D' and 'E'/'E+'

- *acorn1600*

  Acorn ADFS 'F'/'F+'

- *pcw800*

  PCW 800K (XCF2DD)

- *pcw200*

  PCW 200K (XCF2)

- *bbc100*

  BBC Micro DFS (single sided, 40 tracks)

- *bbc200*

  BBC Micro DFS (single sided, 80 tracks)

## AUTHOR

John Elliott \<seasip.webmaster@gmail.com\>.

Darren Salt wrote the man pages.