HxCFloppyEmulator is an open-source toolkit for creating, inspecting, and converting floppy disk images. It accompanies HxC floppy emulator hardware and firmware. Its desktop interface and command-line program support Windows, Linux, and macOS. They handle disk formats, filesystems, track data, and capture workflows.
Converting disk images
The interface opens an image through a file chooser or drag and drop. Loading a disk exposes its track count, sides, bitrate, and interface settings. Export selects a destination format and writes a new image. Choices include HFE, IMG, Amiga ADF, Atari ST, CPC DSK, and SuperCard Pro streams. Import and export capabilities depend on the individual format modules.
Custom disk geometry
The RAW loader interprets sector data through a disk layout. Presets supply known geometries, while custom controls set tracks, sides, sectors, sector size, encoding, bitrate, and rotational speed. Interleave, skew, sector numbering, and side order describe how sectors occupy the disk. An XML layout can supply these parameters. The same generator creates an empty disk, which the main window can export.
Batch jobs
Batch conversion accepts a source folder or a selection of image files. The converter traverses subfolders and writes images into the target directory through the chosen output module. Automatic loading identifies input formats; RAW mode uses the selected layout. A progress display distinguishes reading, writing, completion, and errors, while Cancel stops the job.
Files inside an image
The filesystem browser creates DOS/FAT or AmigaDOS disks and opens existing images. Dropping files or folders into its tree inserts their contents into the virtual disk. Get Files extracts a selection to a host folder; without a selection, it extracts the image’s files. Delete removes entries, and Save/Export writes the resulting image.
A separate simplified DOS Disk Image Browser concentrates on DOS-formatted HFE images. It selects images from removable media, extracts files, and accepts files and subfolders through drag and drop. Changing the disk selection or closing the browser saves modifications.
Reading tracks
Track Analyzer follows the selected track and side through disk data. Decoder controls interpret encodings such as IBM FM, IBM MFM, and Amiga MFM. Zoom and selection controls isolate part of the stream. Sector details show identifiers, sector size, and header and data CRC status. Hexadecimal and ASCII views expose sector contents alongside the graphical display. Image exports capture disk, track, or stream views as PNG or BMP files.
Editing disk data
The editing tools work below the filesystem level. Start and end markers define a track region for copying, pasting, filling, inserting, or deleting data. Other controls change bitrate or rotational speed, insert or remove tracks, and swap disk sides. Export then writes the edited disk through a format module.
Capturing physical disks
On Windows, the floppy dump window reads a physical disk through a PC floppy drive. Users choose the drive, track count, sides, double stepping, and retry count. Reading builds an image while a sector map and counters distinguish successful reads from errors. The main window can export that image afterward.
The Pauline interface connects to a network capture device through its IP address. Its controls select the drive, track range, sides, capture duration, and index delay. Read Disk requests the selected range; Read Track targets one track. The interface displays incoming track data and offers a Stop control for the capture.
Emulator configuration
SD emulator settings describe the target disk interface, drive behavior, startup selection, sound, and display options. Loading a configuration restores these choices; saving writes an HXCSDFE.CFG file for the device. Startup controls include last-image loading, indexed selection, and autoboot behavior.
The legacy USB HxC mode serves an image from the computer to its connected emulator. Interface, drive identification, double stepping, and buffer settings control this connection. Status fields report connection state and data transfer activity. This mode concerns the original computer-connected USB hardware.
Scripts and command line
The command-line program converts images, reports disk information, and lists format modules or interfaces. It can produce multiple output formats from one input. Filesystem operations list, extract, or insert individual files. Scripts automate toolkit operations, and the desktop interface can execute a script file.
Experimental web interface
An experimental browser build accepts image files through drag and drop and presents the toolkit interface within the page.
