Nibtools on Mac

1. Introduction

Now that OpenCBM runs on Macs very well and really makes fun with the new XUM1541 based devices like ZoomFloppy the next step is to support Nibtools on Macs. The Nibtools are a set of tools that use the OpenCBM libraries and allow to retrieve accurate images from copy-protected or severly damaged disks. This only works if your Commodore floppy is connected via a parallel interface that needs to be added to the device.  See the C64Preservation site if you want to get more information on nibtools.

2. Software Installation

  • The Nibtools on Mac require OpenCBM on Mac installed first. See my OpenCBM on Mac page for details.
  • You also need MacPorts but thats already installed in the previous step
  • First create a new empty directory:
    > mkdir nibtools
    > cd nibtools
  • Now download a Portfile into it: You can either pick a Portfile for a sucessfully tested snapshot (30.1.2011) hosted here on my Site:
    > curl -O https://www.lallafa.de/files/nibtools/Portfile

    or you pick the most recent version from Nibtools’ SVN Repository:
    > curl -o Portfile https://www.lallafa.de/files/nibtools/Portfile-svn
  • Now call MacPort’s port tool and install the Portfile from this directory. Give your user’s password when asked. You can ignore the warnings issued in the first lines.
    > sudo port install
    Warning: No port opencbm found in the index.
    Warning: No port opencbm found in the index.
    --->  Computing dependencies for nibtools
    --->  Fetching nibtools
    --->  Verifying checksum(s) for nibtools
    --->  Extracting nibtools
    --->  Applying patches to nibtools
    --->  Configuring nibtools
    --->  Building nibtools
    --->  Staging nibtools into destroot
    --->  Installing nibtools @0.5.0_493
    --->  Activating nibtools @0.5.0_493
    --->  Cleaning nibtools
  • Ok, that’s it. Nibtools is installed on your system! Have a look to see whats installed:
    > port contents
    Port nibtools contains:
    /opt/local/bin/nibconv
    /opt/local/bin/nibread
    /opt/local/bin/nibrepair
    /opt/local/bin/nibscan
    /opt/local/bin/nibwrite
    /opt/local/share/doc/nibtools/readme.txt
  • Have a look at the readme.txt to get more information on the package.

3. Usage Examples

  • Read a disk and create an disk image: Insert disk and call:
    > nibread <diskname>.nib
  • Write a disk image back to a blank disk:
    > nibwrite <diskname>.nib
  • Have Fun with Nibtools!

11 thoughts on “Nibtools on Mac

  1. Pingback: Nibtools on Mac added and OpenCBM on Mac updated « Lallafa’s Blog

  2. Awesome, thanks for doing this! I’ve been using nibtools on a borrowed PC, and once my ZoomFloppy arrives, I can use my Mac instead.

    thanks again!

  3. I’m getting errors following the install instructions. Can you give me some guidance?

    MacTel:nibtools $ sudo port install
    Password:
    Warning: No port opencbm found in the index.
    Warning: No port opencbm found in the index.
    —> Computing dependencies for nibtools
    —> Fetching nibtools
    —> Attempting to fetch make.patch from http://distfiles.macports.org/nibtools
    —> Attempting to fetch make.patch from http://aarnet.au.distfiles.macports.org/pub/macports/mpdistfiles/nibtools
    —> Attempting to fetch make.patch from http://arn.se.distfiles.macports.org/nibtools
    —> Attempting to fetch make.patch from http://svn.macports.org/repository/macports/distfiles/nibtools
    —> Attempting to fetch make.patch from http://svn.macports.org/repository/macports/distfiles/general/
    Error: Target org.macports.fetch returned: fetch failed
    Error: Status 1 encountered during processing.

  4. Hi there,

    When I enter the *** command I run into problems. Terminal returns:

    —> Computing dependencies for nibtools
    Error: Dependency ‘opencbm’ not found.
    Error: Status 1 encountered during processing.
    To report a bug, see

    Can’t figure the problem! Any hep appreciated… 😉

  5. When I enter the sudo port install command I run into problems. Terminal returns:

    —> Computing dependencies for nibtools
    Error: Dependency ‘opencbm’ not found.
    Error: Status 1 encountered during processing.
    To report a bug, see

    Can’t figure the problem! Any help appreciated… 😉

  6. Robert, this error message tells you that the depening OpenCBM package was not installed first.
    Just follow the first link on this page in the 2. Installation section to find my OpenCBM page.
    There the installation instructions can be found

  7. Thanks for that! I had originally installed OpenCBM but for some reason was still encountering the errors. I just worked backwards from that deleting the problem files and did a re-intall and it all seems fine.

    Now to run the program and see if I can get something to transfer across… 😉

  8. The system returned to me an error with both Portfiles…
    “Warning: No port opencbm found in the index.
    Warning: No port opencbm found in the index.
    —> Computing dependencies for nibtools
    —> Fetching nibtools
    Error: Target org.macports.fetch returned: Subversion check out failed
    Log for nibtools is at: /opt/local/var/macports/logs/_Users_mrk_nibtools/nibtools/main.log
    Error: Status 1 encountered during processing.
    To report a bug, see “

  9. Just tried with:

    > curl -O http://www.lallafa.de/files/nibtools/Portfile

    /nibtools > sudo port uninstall nibtools

    /nibtools > sudo port install
    Portfile changed since last build; discarding previous state.
    Warning: No port opencbm found in the index.
    Warning: No port opencbm found in the index.
    —> Computing dependencies for nibtools
    —> Fetching archive for nibtools
    —> Attempting to fetch nibtools-0.5.0_493.darwin_9.i386.tbz2 from http://packages.macports.org/nibtools
    —> Fetching nibtools
    —> Attempting to fetch make.patch from http://www.lallafa.de/files/nibtools
    —> Attempting to fetch nibtools-r493.tgz from http://www.lallafa.de/files/nibtools
    —> Verifying checksum(s) for nibtools
    —> Extracting nibtools
    —> Applying patches to nibtools
    —> Configuring nibtools
    —> Building nibtools
    —> Staging nibtools into destroot
    —> Installing nibtools @0.5.0_493
    Error: Dependency not found
    —> Activating nibtools @0.5.0_493
    —> Cleaning nibtools

    /nibtools > port contents
    Port nibtools contains:
    /opt/local/bin/nibconv
    /opt/local/bin/nibread
    /opt/local/bin/nibrepair
    /opt/local/bin/nibscan
    /opt/local/bin/nibwrite
    /opt/local/share/doc/nibtools/readme.txt

    /nibtools > sudo port install
    —> Computing dependencies for nibtools
    —> Cleaning nibtools

    Now it seems that has been installed… greetings from Hokuto Force! 😉

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