One such BIOS is the Advent TurboRom, written by Plu*Perfect Systems
for the family of Kaypro computers.  It automatically identifies 11
formats (Kaypro, Advent, Osborne, Ampro, Xerox, etc.).  A companion
program, MULTICPY (sold separately), allow TurboRom-equipped Kaypros
to format disks in foreign formats, and to make exact copies of entire
disks in those formats.  And the TURBOSET utility allow the user to
specify some 90 foreign formats, making nearly every 5 1/4" MFM-coded
soft-sector format disk directly usable on a Kaypro computer.

MULTICPY and TURBOSET use a database (in dBase II format) of physical
and logical disk formats.  Because the database is extensible, new
formats can be added.  At Plu*Perfect Systems we use MULTICPY to
produce distribution disks in many popular formats.  If you have
an unusual one, and can supply the physical and logical disk
parameters and a sample disk, we can probably add it.

If your BIOS isn't this up-to-date, it is possible to temporarily
replace its disk driver functions with a special application program
long enough to copy files to or from a foreign format disk.  Such a
program must be written for your specific computer's hardware.  Two
popular utilities of this sort are UniForm (MicroSolutions) and Media
Master (Intersecting Concepts).

You will find a cross-format tool is essential if you need to exchange
data on a format not supported by your computer.  The TURBOSET
approach is the most flexible.  It lets you use the foreign format
disk with any regular CP/M program, just like your native-format
disks.  With the other tools you load the format-conversion utility,
copy the needed file(s) to or from your native-format disk, remove the
utility, and then run your regular programs.

Advanced CP/M, ZSDOS and File Systems, Bridger Mitchell