home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- REPLACEMENT STOS LOADER - Mike Horwell Sept 1992
-
-
-
-
- The current STOS loader is BASIC206.PRG, replace it with BASICMJH.PRG and
- STOS will work with ANY version of TOS. It's as simple as that.
-
- Now for the technical stuff.
-
- The old loader contained a table large enough for 8 entries containing a
- TOS version identifier and 7 addresses. These addresses relate to input and
- output routines and buffers so that the mouse, joystick and keyboard can
- be used in STOS.
-
- These address change with each version of TOS, requiring an upgrade in order
- to make STOS work with the new TOS. However, there are now 11 different
- versions of TOS as well as a few 3rd party TOS versions such as EOS.
-
- The modified loader has had the table removed as well as the code which
- tries to match the TOS version in the table and copy it to a work table.
- Instead, code has been inserted which asks the operating system for the
- addresses of tables and calculates the addresses needed by STOS and inserts
- them into the work table. However, there could still be problems with this.
-
- Firstly, the input/output tables returned by the OS calls have to be in the
- order for all versions of TOS so that the necessary addresses can be
- calculated correctly. Currently, all versions except TOS 3.06 (and
- presumably TOS 2.06) adhere to this. In TOS 3.06, the last address has to
- be offset by 2 as there appears to be a counter in the middle of one of the
- tables.
-
- Secondly, it is assumed that the layout of the tables will not change in
- future TOS versions. If they do, the old method will have to be used again.
-
-
- Whether you use this loader or not is up to you. If you do, I will not be
- held responsible for any damage that may occur as a result of using this
- program - however unlikely it should be.
-
- If you have any problems contact me on CIX, my handle is mhorwell
-
- or write/phone me at
-
- M.J. Horwell
- Barbary Park
- Trematon
- Cornwall
- PL12 4RT
-
- tel Plymouth (0752) 840012
-
-