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######## ################## ###### ###### ##### ##### #### #### ## ##### #### #### #### #### #### ##### ##### ## ## #### ## ## ## ### ## #### ## ## ## ##### ######## ## ## ## ##### ## ## ## ## ## ##### ## ## ######## ## ## ## ### ## ## #### ## ## ##### #### #### #### #### ##### #### #### #### #### #### ###### ##### ## ###### ###### Issue #7 ################## Feb. '94 ######## ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Editor's Notes: by Craig Taylor (duck@pembvax1.pembroke.edu) This net-magazine is still alive after over two years suprising even myself. There should be more to come also!! And it's been late everytime it's been released. :-) I dunno - I'm trying not to make that a tradition but next time I don't think I'm going to set any firm dates so it can't possibly be late. Lesee, first to address some questions and queries that have been going on over the network: - The C project that I mentioned a while back is now officially defunct, dead, resting in peace... whatever you want to call it. There may be other individuals working on their own version of an ANSI C compiler but the group that was setup is no longer. Basically, it was a problem of too many programmers, too few managers (and we know programmers *grins* - They all want to do it their way. Incidentilly - my way _was_ the best. ;-) ) - The C65 exists but there are very few of them out there and GrapeVine no longer sells them (out of stock I believe). It was only made in small quantities for prototype work. There have been numerous individuals reading comp.sys.cbm that see mention of the C65 and assume that this creature Commodore released. Commodore sold a warehouse and its contents to Grapevine and Grapevine stumbled across them and sold 'em. They are functional but due to the low number of them available I doubt that there will be any C65 targated applications. (Someone prove me wrong, please?) - Geesh - That stupid article about the 1351 mouse that I kept promising from issue 2 on I've officially declared dead. It may come around later but for now it's dead. It's existed as a promise in one form or another since issue 2 so this message officially kills it. - Also there was some confusion last time about my wording about not writing any more articles and such (or rather, not as many as I had been). Basically, yes - I'm still going to do C=Hacking - it's just that because of time, frustration, school and jobs that I don't have as much time to devote to researching and writing articles. That's all that I meant to say - some people were concerned that C=Hacking was no longer going to be released... As always, here's the obligatory begging for authors on any type of software or hardware project that involves the Commodore computers. Please, Please if you or your user group has any information or material concerning the Commodore computers that you think may be appropriate for C=Hacking let me know via e-mail at duck@pembvax1.pembroke.edu. I'm looking for anything from hardware schematic, programming theory to actual programming techniques, programs. The articles in this issue of C=Hacking I'm especially pleased with. There are two articles concerning the VIC chip and its operations that detail how certain "magical" techniques are performed. Also, Marko Makela has written a very detailed, interesting article on various memory techniques for the C-64. We also have a summary of the ACE programming / operating system and a referance guide on how to write applications for it. I've also included an InterNet guide that I've started writing to show individuals how to use the InterNet to get Commodore-64/128/Vic-20 related material. Included within that is a list of FTP sites containing numerous programs. ============================================================================= Please note that this issue and prior ones are available via anonymous FTP from ccosun.caltech.edu (among others) under pub/rknop/hacking.mag and via a mailserver which documentation can be obtained by sending mail to "duck@pembvax1.pembroke.edu" with a subject line of "mailserver" and the line "help" in the body of the mesage. ============================================================================= NOTICE: Permission is granted to re-distribute this "net-magazine", in whole, freely for non-profit use. However, please contact individual authors for permission to publish or re-distribute articles seperately. A charge of no greater than 5 US dollars or equivlent may be charged for library service / diskette costs for this "net-magazine". ============================================================================= In This Issue: Commodore Trivia Corner This section of C=Hacking will contain numerous questions that will test your knowledge of trivia for the Commodore computers. Each issue they'll be answers to the previous issues questions and new questions. How much do you know? InterNet Resources for the Commodore 64 / 128 V1.0 This article goes into detail about the available resources on the InterNet and is meant to introduce people to the wonderful, wacky world of the InterNet. It covers what the InterNet is, what capabilities it has and how to access those capabilities. In addition, it also includes Howard Herman's latest list of File Transfer sites for the Commodore computers. Hiding kilobytes Most Commodore 64 programs do not utilize even nearly all of the 64 kB random access memory space. By default, there are only 44 kilobytes of accessible RAM. This article describes how you can take the hiding 20 kilobytes to use. FLD - Scrolling the Screen This article, using a technique described by Pasi Ojala in the last issue of C=Hacking, gives an example of a program using Flexible Line Distance technique. Tech-tech - more resolution to vertical shift At one time half of the demos had pictures waving horizontally on the width of the whole screen. This effect is named tech-tech and it is done using character graphics. How exactly and is the same possible with sprites ? ACE-128/64 PROGRAMMER'S REFERENCE GUIDE (version 0.9, for Release #10) This article explains the complete system interface for the ACE-128/64 computing environment. It is intended to be used by programmers for developing software to run on top of the ACE kernel. ACE is a program for the Commodore 128 and Commodore 64 that provides a command shell environment that is similar to that of Unix. =============================================================================== Commodore Trivia Corner by Jim Brain (brain@mail.msen.com) Everyone who reads this article has had, or presently owns a Commodore computer of some kind. I own more than one, which is not uncommon among Commodore enthusiasts. Well, I bought my first Commodore computer in 1982, a brand new Vic-20 with some game cartridges. I had wanted an Atari, but father knew best and he told the then 11 year old son that computers would shape my life more than any game machine. Well, it is 11 years later and a Computer Engineering Degree earned, and I have spent many a night during that time playing on many models of Commdore equipment. Now, I would like to share the knowledge I have with you in an interesting way. As you now know a little about me, let us see how much you know about the machines and company that binds us all together. The following is an installment of Commodore Trivia. These questions have been gleaned from books, magazines, persoanl knowledge, work on the machines in questions, and other fellow commodore users happy to share interesting bits of semi- useless knowledge concerning the CBM systems. This installment consists of two parts, the December 1993 edition complete with answers and the January 1994 edition without answers. Each new issue of Commodore Hacking Magazine will contain more questions, as well as answers to the previous issue's questions. Each new edition is also posted every month on the 12th of the month on the Usenet newsgroup comp.sys.cbm. Winners will be announced on the newsgroup, and prizes may be awarded. For anyone wishing to submit answers from this article, please email your responses with question numbers preceeding each answer to : brain@msen.com The answers to this edition will be posted on the 12th of February in comp.sys.cbm with the next edition of questions. Have fun trying to answer the questions and feel free to send me a note with new questions. I can always use them. [Ed's Note: In addition, the mailserver that I have setup for C=Hacking will make provisions to allow individuals to retrieve the newest set of questions and last month's answers. Currently not implemented, it should be available soon. Details in the next issue. Also due to C= Hacking being published fairly irregularly and not every month the column here will contain answers to the last issue of C=Hacking's questions and have new questions for the month that it's released in.] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Here are the answers to the 10 questions in Commdore Triva Edition #1 for December 1993. [that were posted on comp.sys.cbm] Q $000) Commodore started out into computing with the PET series of computers. I am not sure if the first ones had PET emblem, but nonetheless, What does P E T stand for? A $000) Personal Electronic Transactor Since the acronym was made up before the expansion, the following are also valid: Personal Electronic Translator Peddle's Ego Trip Q $001) Commodore planned to manufacture a successor series to the successful Commodore 64 home computer. Both were intended to be Business machines. We all know this resulted in the Commodore Plus 4, but what were the machines originally called and what was the difference between the two? A $001) the 364, which had, among other things, a larger Plus 4 style case that housed the regular keyboard plus a numeric keypad. the 264 turned into the Plus 4, with 64K of RAm. We will never know much more about the 364, since it got scrapped. Q $002) How much free memory does a Vic-20 have (unexpanded)? A $002) Oooh! There are many answers for this. The VIC has 3583 bytes of RAM for BASIC The VIC has 4096 bytes of RAM for ML The VIC has 5120 bytes of RAM. 4K of RAM + 1K for Video. Q $003) What early 80's Commodore software company had a Light Bulb as a company logo? A $003) Skyles Electric Works. The Vic-20 came out with a few peripherals I want the model numbers for the : Q $004) Disk Drive A $004) VIC-1540 - Same as 1541, only faster serial spped. Q $005) Cassette Player A $005) VIC-1530 Q $006) Printer A $006) VIC 1515, which, by a miscommunication, could only use 7.5" paper. Evidently, someone thought 8.5" meant full width of paper w/ perfs! This printer was quickly supplanted and overtaken by the 1525, which should own this title in the first place! Q $007) 16 K Ram Expansion. A $007) VIC-1111 Q $008) Commodore Introduced 3 printers that used the same printer mechanism. What are the model numbers. A $008) MPS 802 (Square Dots, Serial), CBM 1526 (Round Dots, Serial), PET 4023 (Round Dots, IEEE-488). Q $009) What is the diferences between the printers in #9 A $009) MPS 802 (Square Dots, Serial), CBM 1526 (Round Dots, Serial), PET 4023 (Round Dots, IEEE-488). ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Here are the questions for Commodore Trivia Edition #2 for January 1994. Q $00A) What was the Code-Name of the Amiga while in Development? Q $00B) What is Lord British's Real Name (The creator of the Ultima Series)? Q $00C) What is the POKE location and value that will fry an early model PET? Q $00D) On the Plus 4 and C-16, the VIC chip was replaced with the TED chip. What does TED stand for? Q $00E) Commodore Produced a Letter Quality Printer in North America (maybe elsewhere) for the Commdore Serial Line. Name it. Q $00F) What is the version of DOS in the 1541? Q $010) What is the Version of BASIC in the Plus 4 and the C-16? Q $011) What are the nicknames of the original three custom Amiga chips? Q $012) Commodore produced a 64 in a PET case. What is its name and model number? Q $013) Commodore sold a 1 megabyte floppy disk drive in a 1541 case. Give the model number. Q $014) What does GCR stand for? Q $015) Commdore produced a drive to accompany the Plus 4 introduction. Give the model number. Q $016) What does SID stand for? Q $017) What does the acronym KERNAL stand for? Q $018) What version of DOS does the 1571 have? Q $019) What other two Commdore Disk Drives share the same DOS version number as the 1571? Q $01A) How many files will the 1571 hold? Q $10B) How many files will the 1541 hold? Q $01C) What did Commodore make right before entering the computer market? Q $01D) Commodore introduced an ill-fated 4 color plotter. Give the model number. Q $01E) Some formats of CP/M write disks using the MFM format. What does MFM stand for? Q $01F) On the Commodore 128, the user manual left two commands undocumented. One works, and the other gives a not-implemented error. Name both commands and what each one does or does not do. Some are easy, some are hard, try your hand at it. Jim Brain brain@msen.com ============================================================================= InterNet Resources for the Commodore 64 / 128 V1.0 by Craig Taylor (duck@pembvax1.pembroke.edu) [This article is placed into public domain by the author. Copying encouraged] The Internet Let me start this article with a quote by another author that everyone should heed when dealing with the InterNet: "One warning is perhaps in order---this territory we are entering can become a fantastic time-sink. Hours can slip by, people can come and go, and you'll be locked into Cyberspace. Remember to do your work! With that, I welcome you, the new user, to The Net." brendan@cs.widener.edu - Author, Zen and the Art of the Internet What is the InterNet? What exactly is the InterNet? Imagine if you will, when you were a kid stringing wires between houses in your neighborhood so that you could talk with the kids that lived beside you. You could talk to those beside you but not the ones that lived across town. Now, suppose that you wanted to relay a message to a buddy across town. The only feasible way would be to send a message to the guy next door; then have him send it to the correct person. This is the basic system of the Internet. Computers connected to other computers that are connected to others. In the above paragrph communication was limited because of geography - how close individuals were. The InterNet system; while geography does play a factor, relies more on how the sites grew up and were established as to how messages will get passed back and forth. There are also other networks hooked up to the InterNet that provide auxilary services to their local group of computers. One large one is BITNET and UUCP. Various bbs's also carry items from the InterNet such as the BitNet news. In addition, online services such as Genie, Compuserve, and others offer "gate-ways" or ways of getting access to the resources of the InterNet. Access To The InterNet Gaining Access to the InterNet There are several ways of gaining access to the InterNet. Your local college may be your best low-cost opportunity. Typically, if you are a student or faculty or staff, you may qualify to have an account that allows you to access all the InterNet facilities described above. If you don't fall into any of these categories your next best bet is an online service such as America Online, Genie, or Compuserve as these all support what is known as an InterNet gateway - allowing you t o access the InterNet through t hem. (At this time, I don't believe Prodigy has an InterNet gateway - if I'm wrong I'm sure I'll get tons of mail. Other online services also exist - I've only listed what I consider the "primary" ones.) Once you've gotten access to the InterNet you may be asking "Okay, I know what the InterNet _can_ give me - how do I do it?" Unfortunately, because the InterNet is run on differant computer systems this will vary from system to system. Your best bet would be to examine the documentation and help screens associated with the online service or college's facilities. Study them over until you can quote them backwards (well, not quite that much) - Study them over until you understand what they are saying. Also, having someone who is already experienced with the InterNet aid you in your explorations is a great help. What is E-MAIL? There are numerous individuals using the InterNet each day. Each is also able to write the other through the use of Electronic Mail or, as it's commonly called "e-mail". To send a message to me you'd use your mail program (the actual procedure varies depending on what type of machine you use) and tell it to send the message to my user name, "duck" at my site that I login at - (currently going to Pembroke State University) hence "pembvax1.pembroke.edu". So the full address with an "@" sign the computer needs to use to know how to seperate the computer name and the user name is "duck@pembvax1.pembroke.edu". It's easy to talk to somebody in Mexico, Germany, Australia with this method and it's quicker than the U.S. Postal system (which, on the InterNet you'll see referred to as Snail Mail (or s-mail) due to it's slow delivery time compared to e-mail). Projects, Questions, Answers, Ideas and general chit-chat on how the family is doing, etc can be relayed over the InterNet. There are also numerous abbreviations and notations that are used in E-Mail. Some of them are: ttyal8r - Talk to you later rtfm - Read the *uckin' manual imho - In My Humble Opinion rotfl - Rolls on the Floor Laughing lol - Laughs Out Loud. l8r - Later ;-) - (winks) :-) - (smile) :-( - (frowns) There are _many_ _many_ more - you can also find a huge list of the smiley faces (turn your head sideways and look at the ones in parenthesis above) on the InterNet. You may also hear the phrase "my e-mail bounced". What this means is that your message, much like a bounced check, did not work right and it was returned to your account. Typically this happens because of incorrect addresses, or an incorrect user name. Email Servers Another large way of getting information is from individuals running what are E-Mail servers from their accounts or from specific accounts. From Email servers you may request certain files; catalogs of programs that are availble for request; send messages to be distributed to other individuals and automatically subscribe yourself to the mailing list for new items. The only Email Server specifically designed for the Commodore computers is one ran by the author. It major intent is that of distributing the Commodore Hacking magazine as well as programs that are in the magazine. To get help on how to use it send a message to the author in the following format: To: duck@pembvax1.pembroke.edu Subj: MAILSERV Body of message: HELP This specific mailserver is ran twice a day so you should get your reply within approximately 12 hours. Please be sure to have a subject line of "MAILSERV". If anyone knows of any other Email Servers existing for the Commodore computers please let the author know. NewsGroups One of the primary purposes of the InterNet is for educational research and discussion. For this purpose, there are currently over 2000 newsgroups established dealing with a wide range of social, politicial, science, computer and educational topics. Some of these range to inane, whimsical, to practical and useful. Two of these for the Commodore 64/128 line of computers are: comp.sys.cbm comp.binaries.cbm The names for the newsgroups start with a short abbreviation such as "comp" for computers, "sci" for science, "bio" for biology, etc... The second group of letters stand for the type of newsgroup "sys for system, binaries for binaries etc..." while the third describes it better - "cbm" in this case for Commodore Business Machines. The newsgroup, Comp.Sys.Cbm supports discussion about anything under the sun involving the Commodore 8 bit line of computers (and lately, even talking about the old old ancient calculators that Commodore mae that might not have even been 8 bit). Comp.Binaries.Cbm allows programs to be "posted" or made available to everyone who wishes them. There are programs available that will let you take the "encrypted" text-only version of the program that you see on the screen and convert them into the correct binary p rogram. Basically the rules for newsgroups are: 1) Enjoy yourself, 2) Don't harass others and 3) Try to stay on topic. Newsgroups are read by many many people - typically you'll get a response to an inquiry within only an hour or so - sometimes even sooner. But because they're read by so many people chatter or "babble" as it's known, is also discouraged. Don't hesitate to post any questions, concerns or comments but make sure in each message that you post that you have a reason to post. So What's Out There? So why should you be interested in the Internet? Imagine, if you will, being able to ask questions to numerous individuals, download the latest in shareware and public-domain software, know the "rumours" and topics before they exist all for free? (Or at least, only for what your "hookup" method charges - see Gaining Access to the InterNet latter). That's what's out on the Internet. Any question you have - there is sure to be an answer for - any software you're looking for you stand an extremely good chance of finding something along the lines of your needs. The major benefit of the Internet as I see it consists of the continued support for the Commodore computers. Because all these differant means of obtaining information are not sponsored by any one specific company or individual the Commodore 8-bit line of computers are guranteed continued support over the Internet. In addition, because the Internet strongly frowns upon Commercial advertising you won't find numerous ads or any other material urging you to "buy this, buy that" like you will on some other serv ices. FTP Sites FTP stands for File Transfer Protocols and is a method of obtaining programs that are stored on another system's computers. There are numerous FTP sites out there in InterNet land - one of the best currently available for the Commodore computers is that of R.Knop's site at ccosun.caltech.edu. [ The following is a list of FTP sites for the Commodore 64 and 128 computes and is currenty maintained by Howard Herman (h.herman@GEnie.geis.com) and is used with his permission. He usually posts an updated list to comp.sys.cbm newsgroup every month or so.] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is the list of FTP sites containing software and programs specific to the Commodore 64 and 128 computers. I will try to keep this list as current and accurate as possible, so that it can be a useful resource for users of the newsgroup. PLEASE cooperate and send E-mail to me with any corrections and updates. If a site has closed or no longer carries CBM software, let me know and it will be deleted. If you uncover a site not listed, tell me so that it can be added. ----- To use this list on a UNIX system, just type 'ftp <sitename>', where <sitename> is any of the sites listed below. Use 'anonymous' as your login, and your E-mail address for the password. You can change and list directories with 'cd' and 'dir', respectively, and download files to your system using 'get'. Be sure to specify either 'binary' if you are getting a program, or 'ascii' for a text file before you begin the download. ----- In addition to the sites listed below there are hundreds of other FTP sites on INet with interesting files covering every topic imaginable. Take some time to seek out and explore these too. Enjoy! ----- Host sol.cs.ruu.nl (131.211.80.17) Last updated 00:39 4 Sep 1993 Location: /pub/MIDI/PROGRAMS DIRECTORY rwxr-xr-x 1024 Aug 26 09:58 C64 Location: /pub/MIDI/DOC FILE rw-r--r-- 40183 Jan 19 1993 C64midi-interface.txt Host uceng.uc.edu (129.137.33.1) Last updated 04:38 6 Sep 1993 Location: /pub/wuarchive/systems/cpm/c128 FILE rw-r--r-- 24576 Nov 6 1986 c128-mex.com Location: /pub/wuarchive/systems/cpm/c64 FILE rw-r--r-- 1615 Mar 14 1984 c64-cpm.msg FILE rw-r--r-- 1536 Feb 9 1985 c64modem.com FILE rw-r--r-- 4199 Feb 10 1984 c64modem.doc FILE rw-r--r-- 19200 Feb 9 1985 md730c64.com FILE rw-r--r-- 2192 Oct 1 1984 md730c64.doc Location: /pub/wuarchive/doc/misc/if-archive/infocom/tools FILE r--r--r-- 5798 Aug 5 14:42 c64todat.tar.Z Host aix370.rrz.uni-koeln.de (134.95.80.1) Location: /.disk2/usenet/comp.archives/auto/comp.sys.cbm DIRECTORY rwxrwxr-x 384 comp.sys.cbm Host ftp.csv.warwick.ac.uk (137.205.192.5) Last updated 00:00 18 Jan 1994 Location: /pub/c64 FILE rw-r--r-- 909 Jan 8 19:52 C64progs.doc FILE rw-r--r-- 19558 Jan 8 19:49 backgamm.sfx FILE rw-r--r-- 21384 Jan 8 19:49 chequebo.sfx FILE rw-r--r-- 11449 Jan 8 19:49 countdow.sfx FILE rw-r--r-- 18136 Jan 8 19:49 draughts.sfx FILE rw-r--r-- 5011 Jan 8 19:49 loader.sfx FILE rw-r--r-- 17423 Jan 8 19:49 whitewas.sfx Descriptions: ============ backgamm - Backgammon board game chequebo - Cheque Book Organiser, written in basic with UK pound sign as currency, but could be changed to suit another. countdow - LOAD"count example",8,1 and watch the countdown during loading. draughts - Draughts board game. loader - Press RESTORE key and MENU on disk will be automatically re-loaded. whitewas - Colour squares board game. Location: /tmp/c64 >Temporary files stored here. If /tmp directory not found, try >again at another time. /tmp directory not always available. Host clover.csv.warwick.ac.uk (137.205.192.6) Last updated 13:29 27 Sep 1993 Location: /pub/c64 FILE rw-r--r-- 812 c64progs.doc FILE rw-r--r-- 73696 c64progs.sfx Host nexus.yorku.ca (130.63.9.66) Last updated 00:00 21 Dec 1993 Location: /pub/Internet-info FILE rw-r--r-- 6308 commodore.ftp >An older version of this listing. Host rigel.acs.oakland.edu (141.210.10.117) Last updated 01:42 3 Sep 1993 Location: /pub2/cpm DIRECTORY rwxr-xr-x 1536 Jun 4 1992 c128 DIRECTORY rwxr-xr-x 512 c64 Location: /pub2/cpm/c64 FILE rw-r--r-- 1615 Mar 14 1984 c64-cpm.msg FILE rw-r--r-- 1536 Feb 9 1985 c64modem.com FILE rw-r--r-- 4199 Feb 10 1984 c64modem.doc FILE rw-r--r-- 19200 Feb 9 1985 md730c64.com FILE rw-r--r-- 2192 Oct 2 1984 md730c64.doc Host oak.oakland.edu Last updated 00:00 18 Dec 1993 Location: /pub2/cpm >For CP/M software, most all of which will run on the C128. Host src.doc.ic.ac.uk (146.169.2.1) Location: /usenet/comp.archives/auto DIRECTORY rwxr-xr-x 512 comp.sys.cbm Location: /usenet/comp.archives DIRECTORY rwxr-xr-x 512 commodore-64-128 DIRECTORY rwxr-xr-x 512 May 3 1991 c64 Location: /media/visual/collections/funet-pics/jpeg/games DIRECTORY rwxr-xr-x 512 Mar 20 05:48 c64 Location: /media/visual/collections/funet-pics/jpeg/comp/games DIRECTORY rwxr-xr-x 512 May 6 03:55 c64 Host tupac-amaru.informatik.rwth-aachen.de (137.226.112.31) Last updated 04:59 7 Oct 1992 Location: /pub/rz.archiv/simtel/cpm DIRECTORY rwxr-xr-x 512 c64 DIRECTORY rwxr-xr-x 512 Sep 21 20:56 c128 Host wuarchive.wustl.edu (128.252.135.4) Last updated 02:40 23 May 1993 Location: /systems/amiga/incoming/misc FILE rw-rw-r-- 21815 Jan 23 14:26 C64View.lha FILE rw-rw-r-- 120 Jan 23 14:26 C64View.readme Location: /mirrors/cpm DIRECTORY rwxr-xr-x 512 c64 DIRECTORY rwxr-xr-x 1536 Nov 22 1992 c128 Host watsun.cc.columbia.edu (128.59.39.2) Last updated 02:07 8 Sep 1993 Location: /kermit2/old DIRECTORY rwxrwxr-x 1024 Jul 12 18:30 c64 Location: /kermit/bin Host cs.columbia.edu (128.59.1.2) Last updated 01:29 12 Sep 1993 Location: /archives/mirror1/kermit FILE rw-rw-r-- 15016 Aug 24 1988 c644th.prg.gz FILE rw-rw-r-- 733 Sep 29 1992 c64help.txt.gz FILE rw-rw-r-- 6095 Sep 29 1992 c64ker1660.sda.gz FILE rw-rw-r-- 5904 Sep 29 1992 c64kerfast.sda.gz FILE rw-rw-r-- 26484 Sep 29 1992 c64kerv22a.sda.gz FILE rw-rw-r-- 42552 Sep 29 1992 c64kerv22b.sda.gz FILE rw-rw-r-- 31982 Sep 29 1992 c64slkv22s.sda.gz Host plaza.aarnet.edu.au (139.130.4.6) Last updated 00:00 28 Dec 1993 Location: /pub/kermit/c FILE r--r--r-- 3073 Aug 16 1988 c64boot.bas FILE r--r--r-- 1547 Aug 16 1988 c64boot.c FILE r--r--r-- 1151 Aug 16 1988 c64boot.clu FILE r--r--r-- 3002 Aug 16 1988 c64boot.for FILE r--r--r-- 3315 Aug 16 1988 c64boot.sim >There are more Kermit files which are not listed. Be sure to >get the complete set of C64/128 Kermit files. Host flubber.cs.umd.edu (128.8.128.99) Last updated 00:00 03 Jan 1994 Location: /rec/newballistic FILE rw-r--r-- 8576 Mar 23 21:21 balistic.c64 -------------------------------- Host f.ms.uky.edu (128.163.128.6) Last updated 00:00 28 Dec 1993 Location: /archive/c64.zip Host ftp.funet.fi (128.214.6.100) Last updated 06:11 22 Mar 1993 Location: /pub/pics/jpeg/games DIRECTORY rwxrwxr-x 512 Mar 20 02:07 c64 Location: /pub/misc DIRECTORY rwxrwxr-x 512 Mar 13 23:30 c64 Location: /pub/kermit DIRECTORY rwxrwxr-x 1024 Jan 13 1992 c64 Location: /pub/amiga/audio/misc/sid-tunes FILE rw-rw-r-- 671490 Jun 18 1992 C64MusicShow-1.lha FILE rw-rw-r-- 316521 Jun 18 1992 C64MusicShow-2.lha /pub/cbm Host nic.switch.ch (130.59.1.40) Last updated 00:39 31 Aug 1993 Location: /mirror/kermit/bin Host gmdzi.gmd.de (129.26.8.90) Last updated 01:08 1 Aug 1993 Location: /if-archive/infocom/tools FILE rw-rw-r-- 5668 Apr 27 15:00 c64.to.dat Host micros.hensa.ac.uk (148.88.8.84) Location /kermit DIRECTORY rwxr-x--- 1024 Nov 11 09:20 c64 Host wilbur.stanford.edu (36.14.0.36) Location /pub/emulators DIRECTORY rwxr-xr-x 512 Jun 30 00:57 c64 Host syrinx.umd.edu (128.8.2.114) Last updated 00:00 28 Dec 1993 Location: /rush/c64-sounds Host tolsun.oulu.fi (130.231.96.16) Last updated 01:53 6 Sep 1993 Location: /pub DIRECTORY rwxr-xr-x 1024 Jul 15 1990 c64 Location: /incoming DIRECTORY --------- 1024 Jun 20 1992 c64 /pub/amiga/4/c64trans.zoo /pub/c64 >Uploading to /pub/c64 is disabled because of lack of disk space. >However, for downloading it is still fully accessible. >Currently there is no administration for /pub/c64. >/pub/amiga is active, though. Host ccosun.caltech.edu (131.215.139.2) Last updated 00:00 31 JAN 1994 Location: /pub/rknop Location: /pub/rknop/misc > 64/128 programs can be found within directories according to > function. When searching, be sure to check related directories. Host ucsd.edu (128.54.16.1) Last updated 04:46 6 Sep 1993 Location: /midi/software DIRECTORY rwxr-xr-x 512 Jan 27 1992 c64 Host cs.dal.ca (129.173.4.5) Last updated 01:36 12 Sep 1993 Location: /comp.archives DIRECTORY rwxrwxr-x 3584 Apr 7 04:05 c64 pub/comp.archives/comp.sys.cbm Host ccnga.uwaterloo.ca Last updated 00:00 01 Jan 1994 Location: /pub/cbm/vbm110.uua > For VBM Bitmap Viewer version 1.10 Host bert.psyc.upei.ca Last updated 00:00 31 Jan 1994 Location: /pub > All the releases of the major demo parties of '93 -------------------------------- Send all info regarding changes/additions/corrections [to the FTP list] to: 72560.3467@CompuServe.COM or: h.herman1@GEnie.geis.COM ============================================================================= Hiding kilobytes by Marko M"akel"a <Marko.Makela@Helsinki.FI> Most Commodore 64 programs do not utilize even nearly all of the 64 kB random access memory space. By default, there are only 44 kilobytes of accessible RAM. This article describes how you can take the hiding 20 kilobytes to use. _Memory management_ The Commodore 64 has access to more memory than its processor can directly handle. This is possible by banking the memory. There are five user configurable inputs that affect the banking. Three of them can be controlled by program, and the rest two serve as control lines on the memory expansion port. The 6510 MPU has an integrated I/O port with six I/O lines. This port is accessed through the memory locations 0 and 1. The location 0 is the Data Direction Register for the Peripheral data Register, which is mapped to the other location. When a bit in the DDR is set, the corresponding PR bit controls the state of a corresponding Peripheral line as an output. When it is clear, the state of the Peripheral line is reflected by the Peripheral register. The Peripheral lines are numbered from 0 to 5, and they are mapped to the DDR and PR bits 0 - 5, respectively. The 8502 processor, which is used in the Commodore 128, has seven Peripheral lines in its I/O port. The seventh line is connected to the Caps lock or ASC/CC key. The I/O lines have the following functions: Direction Line Function --------- ---- -------- out P5 Cassette motor control. (0 = motor spins) in P4 Cassette sense. (0 = PLAY button depressed) out P3 Cassette write data. out P2 CHAREN out P1 HIRAM out P0 LORAM The default value of the DDR register is $2F, so all lines except Cassette sense are outputs. The default PR value is $37 (Datassette motor stopped, and all three memory management lines high). Like most chips in the Commodore 64, the 6510 MPU uses the NMOS (N-channel metal oxide semiconductor) technology. The NMOS switches produce strong logical '0' levels, but weak '1' levels. The opposite is the PMOS (P-channel metal oxide semiconductor) technology, which cannot pull strong signals low, but is able to drive them high. The CMOS technology (complementary metal oxide semiconductor), which combines these two technologies, is able to drive both logical levels. Because most integrated circuits in the C64 use the NMOS technology, all hardware lines that are not outputs are driven to +5 volts with a weak current. This is usually accomplished by pull-up resistors, large resistances between the hardware lines and the +5 volt power supply line. The resistors can be inside a chip or on the printed circuit board. This allows any NMOS or CMOS chip to drive the line to the desired state (low or high voltage level). The difference between an input and an output is that an output uses more current to drive the signal to the desired level. An input and an output outputting logical '1' are equivalent for any other inputting chip. But if a chip is trying to drive a signal to ground level, it needs more current to sink an output than an input. You can even use outputs as inputs, i.e. read them in your program. You can use this feature to distinquish between the left shift and the shift lock keys, although they are connected to same hardware lines. The shift lock key has smaller resistance than the left shift. If you make both CIA 1 ports to outputs (write $FF to $DC03 and $DC01) prior reading the left shift key, only shift lock can change the values you read from CIA 1 port B ($DC01).) So, if you turn any memory management line to input, the external pull-up resistors will make it look like it is outputting logical '1'. This is actually why the computer always switches the ROMs in upon startup: Pulling the -RESET line low resets all Peripheral lines to inputs, thus driving all three processor-driven memory management lines high. The two remaining memory management lines are -EXROM and -GAME on the cartridge port. Each line has a pull-up resistor, so the lines are '1' by default. (In the Commodore 128, you can set the state of these two lines prior to selecting the C64 mode, provided that you write the mode switch routine yourself.) Even though the memory banking has been implemented with a 82S100 Programmable _Logic_ Array, there is only one control line that seems to behave logically at first sight, the -CHAREN line. It is mostly used to choose between I/O address space and the character generator ROM. The following memory map introduces the oddities of -CHAREN and the other memory management lines. It is based on the memory maps in the Commodore 64 Programmer's Reference Guide, pp. 263 - 267, and some errors and inaccuracies have been corrected. The leftmost column of the table contains addresses in hexadecimal notation. The columns aside it introduce all possible memory configurations. The default mode is on the left, and the absolutely most rarely used Ultimax game console configuration is on the right. (There have been at least two Ultimax cartridges on the market.) Each memory configuration column has one or more four-digit binary numbers as a title. The bits, from left to right, represent the state of the -LORAM, -HIRAM, -GAME and -EXROM lines, respectively. The bits whose state does not matter are marked with "x". For instance, when the Ultimax video game configuration is active (the -GAME line is shorted to ground, -EXROM kept high), the -LORAM and -HIRAM lines have no effect. default Ultimax 1111 101x 1000 011x 001x 1110 0100 1100 xx01 00x0 10000 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- F000 Kernal RAM RAM Kernal RAM Kernal Kernal Kernal ROMH(* E000 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- D000 IO/C IO/C IO/RAM IO/C RAM IO/C IO/C IO/C I/O -----------------------------------------------------------------------------