---
name: "workbone"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "workbone"
version: "2.40-9"
release: "Debian 5.0 (Lenny)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/workbone"
---

# workbone(1)

an interactive text-mode program for controlling and playing audio CD Roms under Linux.

## NAME

workbone - an interactive text-mode program for controlling and playing audio CD Roms under Linux.\

## SYNOPSIS

**workbone** \[ -v \| -h \| -q \| -a \| -p track \| -d device \| -t \]\
            \-v : version\
            \-h : help\
            \-q : fast start (no wait for init)\
            \-a : use 7-bit ascii for display \
            \-px: play track x non-interactively\
            \-dx: use device x rather than /dev/cdrom\
            \-t : show terms of license\

Type **workbone** to start program. Engage the NUM LOCK on your keypad. From inside  **WorkBone** pressing DEL on numeric keypad will display a help menu. While running,  **workbone** will display the current track number and both total CD elapsed time and current track elapsed time.\

## DESCRIPTION

**WorkBone** is an interactive TEXT-MODE program for playing audio CDs under Linux. It is implemented as an interface to the module "hardware.c" from the elaborate X11 CD program known as WorkMan.

By  *design,*  the **WorkBone** *utility* is an  *intentionally* minimalist CD control panel. A clear  template is displayed to guide you.  Extraneous features of the X11 WorkMan such as shuffle play and CD databases are  *intentionally* not supported. The aesthetic appeal of simplicity versus features and bloat has been our design goal. **WorkBone** is ideal for those who just want to play music with minimal fuss.\

## USAGE

If no device is specified with the -d switch,  **WorkBone** expects to find the device: /dev/cdrom (linux) or /dev/rsr0 (other). If you don't have this device, change to /dev and soft link your current cd rom device to 'cdrom'. For example, if you currently call your cdrom device 'mcd0', then do the following:

               cd /dev\
                ln -sf mcd0 cdrom

Alternatively, just edit 'hardware.c'  to reflect the name of your cdrom device and recompile.

In the interactive mode, **WorkBone** uses the numeric keypad as a control panel to allow you to move track to track, play, pause, stop, and resume playing of audio CDs. Make sure you have your NUM LOCK engaged when using **WorkBone.** A graphical template is displayed to guide you. Running times are also continuously updated and displayed.  Note that total CD elapsed time includes times for non-audio data tracks in addition to playable tracks.  Pushing the DEL key on the numeric pad will bring up a help screen.

```
                 +---- number pad -----+
                 |                     |
                 |    7     8     9    |
                 |                     |
                 |    4     5     6    |
                 |                     |
                 |    1     2     3    |
                 |                     |
                 |    0          del   |
                 |                     |
                 +---------------------+

the '9' key on the keypad is "play"
the '8' key on the keypad is "pause/resume"
the '7' key on the keypad is "stop"
the '6' key on the keypad is "next"
the '5' key on the keypad is "replay"
the  4  key on the keypad is "previous"
the '3' key on the keypad is "go forward 15 seconds"
the '2' key on the keypad is "hard abort" (music stops)
the '1' key on the keypad is "go backward 15 seconds"
the '0' key on the keypad is "soft exit" (music continues)
the '.' key on the keypad is "help"
```

## HARDWARE

**WorkBone** works with most CD-ROM drives (it has been tested on Mitsumi FX001D, Plextor SCSI-12, Lite on maX 20, even the IMS CDD2000 CD-Writer), but your mileage with some other drives may vary. In particular, some CD Rom drives such as old *NEC* drives use proprietary non-standard audio routines. **WorkBone** itself uses only generic calls and functions as per WorkMan proper. The display code was written specifically for the Linux console. Portability was not a concern. :-) However, the \`-a' option will put  **WorkBone** into the 7-bit mode for use with any terminal, and using the \`-p' switch, it will even run without a terminal. ;).\

## COPYING

**WorkBone** is  **copyrighted** free software provided WITHOUT warranty of any kind, NOT EVEN the implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for  any particular purpose. Use at your own risk.

The routines in **WorkBone** may be used in compliance with the provisions of the FSF **GNU General Public License**  version 2. This software should have come with a copy of the GNU General Public License. You may obtain a copy of this license by writing to:\

 Free Software Foundation, Inc.,\
  675 Mass Ave,\
  Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.\

## BUGS

**WorkBone** has been tested with Linux kernel 1.0.9, late versions of kernel 1.1.x, kernel 2.0.31 and several 2.1.x kernels. **WorkBone** might not display the template properly on early versions of 1.1.x. The fix is to upgrade your kernel or use  **WorkBone's** \`-a' flag to enable ascii 7-bit characters. \
 It will compile with libc 4.x, 5.x and 6.x (glibc 2.x).

Note that  *some* **NEC**  CD drives  *do not work properly*  because they use their own proprietary audio routines.

Please e-mail any bug reports, fixes or improvements that you might have.  **Unauthorized hacks** and un-coordinated releases of  **WorkBone** are  **not appreciated!**\

enjoy.\

Thomas McWilliams \

thomas.mcwilliams@f615.n109.z1.fidonet.org\
 Amateur Radio KI4N\

**WorkBone** is currently maintained by Bernhard Rosenkraenzer (bero@bero-online.ml.org). Please e-mail bug reports, suggestions, etc. there.