8bitfiles.net/archives

home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search

/ 8bitfiles.net/archives / archives.tar / archives / genie-commodore-file-library / Information / PROGRAMMING.SFX / 01programming < prev

Wrap

Text File | 1990-02-12 | 38.7 KB | 925 lines

rea 8 nor rea 12-13 nor rea 18-19 nor ************ Topic 8 Thu Jun 02, 1994 R.ROSENLOF [Wizardry] (Forwarded) Sub: 128 directory routine needed... Please read first post for specifics. :) 2 message(s) total. ************ ------------ Category 5, Topic 8 Message 1 Thu Jun 02, 1994 R.ROSENLOF [Wizardry] (Forwarded) *UP Hi folks! I'm working on a database program, and I'm in dire need of a VERY fast directory program that works in 128 mode. I'm currently using one that I d/loaded from Q-Link a few years back, but it's entirely in BASIC and a little on the slow side. I'd prefer a small ML type "wedge" that I could call up when needed. Nothing real fancy needed, just the ability for pattern matching and a simple method for tracking the filenames called up so that the user may select one or a multiple of files for batch features. If this program exists somewhere already, please let me know how to obtain it. If it doesn't, I'd be more than happy to pay someone to create it for me. E-Mail R.ROSENLOF, or respond to this post. Thanx!! Ron :) ------------ Category 5, Topic 8 Message 2 Thu Jun 02, 1994 CBM-ED [e.g.bell] (Forwarded) RR: RR> it's entirely in BASIC and a little on the slow side. I'd RR> prefer a small ML type "wedge" that I could call up when RR> needed Do you know much BASIC? Could you not edit the BASIC you have. There was a trick used years ago to greatly speed up BASIC type directory routines by kind of making them work a bit differently. The trick was to call the CHKIN routine with the correct channel in the .x register. This allows you to use GET instead of GET# which speeds things up a GREAT deal. At the end you have to do a CLRCHN also. To do this, you would: (after opening the file, of course) sys dec("ffc6"),,channel Channel would be the first number in the OPEN statement. For example: open 6,8,6,"$":sys dec("ffc6"),,6 Then you don't need GET#, all you need is GET. When done, you just: sys dec("ffcc"):close 6 I also have a routine that I don't intend to release, but I can tell you what I did if you are adventurous. I changed the BSOUT vector to my own routine, which buffered anything printed, then called the built-in C128 directory routine at, I believe, $A0bd. To use this, you have to open channel 0 if I remember correctly. Point is, you may have enough of what you need to do the job. One final thing you *may* be able to do is LOAD the directory into RAM 1 and process it from there. I'm not sure you can do that, though, w/o using BLOAD. How's all that for minimalist help... teach a man to fish... hehehe ------------ 5 | ************ Topic 12 Sun Jun 12, 1994 CBM-MARK (Forwarded) Sub: Sprites How do I disable them? 21 message(s) total. ************ ------------ Category 5, Topic 12 Message 1 Sat Jun 11, 1994 R.HUNTER21 (Forwarded) Can anyone tell me a really simple way to disable sprites in a particular game? I wanna finish Imossable Mission. And can't, unless I can cheat...<g> ------------ Category 5, Topic 12 Message 2 Sat Jun 11, 1994 THE.OUTLAW (Forwarded) I can relate to that.. I've played the game for over a year(off & on) <g> :> ------------ Category 5, Topic 12 Message 3 Sun Jun 12, 1994 R.HUNTER21 (Forwarded) I hate it. No game should be that hard. <G> I do not know anyone who has finished it. I remember on the super snapshot cart there was a way to disable sprites. There must be some routine I can follow to do it. I just wanna finish the game and put it away and forget about it. Ya know? ------------ Category 5, Topic 12 Message 4 Sun Jun 12, 1994 CBM-ED [e.g.bell] (Forwarded) I finished it many times. hehehehehe! I used to play it a LOT. It took awhile to figure out how to beat all of the rooms and to get things in that big master console, but you do know someone who has beaten it. It is one of only two games I've actually played to any extent. (The other was gamestar tennis, which I also beat once) Didn't the warp speed or final cartridge III have sprite collision disablers? What part of the game are you having trouble with anyway? ------------ Category 5, Topic 12 Message 5 Sun Jun 12, 1994 CMD-DOUG (Forwarded) Action replay does have a sprite killer for sure, and I'm certain that other cartridges do as well. It pretty much takes using a cartridge like this to interrupt a game and shut off the sprite collisions; it isn't something you could do otherwise without a lot of programming knowledge and/or some hardware hacking. Games shouldn't be easy to beat; why would you buy a game you can win in short time? Most people will lose interest in a game that they have beat (I'll note you as an exception, Ed). But then, games that take a while to get to the win or lose point may not be your kind of games, RH. I took me ages to beat IM as well, but it felt overwhelmingly good to beat it by that point. I don't think I"d have gotten any satisfaction at all by getting to the end only through making myself invincible. Just an observation. ------------ Category 5, Topic 12 Message 6 Mon Jun 13, 1994 R.HUNTER21 (Forwarded) Okay, so maybe its a patience thing. I don't know, I7ve been playing that game for years. And I don't think I've come close to finishing it. ::halp!:: I just wanna see the end of it. Or at least start with all the puzzel pieces. Then start playing. Okay, then explain. Gimmie a brief run down of everything I should do to finish that game with out cheating. Please? ------------ Category 5, Topic 12 Message 7 Mon Jun 13, 1994 CBM-ED [e.g.bell] (Forwarded) RH: It is almost essential that you do every room in the game. Some have no clues or puzzle pieces but there is no way to know that until you do them. There are two master console rooms that play sort of like simon says. These are good for stuff to knock out the robots, etc. Get as many as things as you can in here. I don't remember what all there is.. just the robot knock out things, but you need as many of these things as possible tho you can do it w/o too many. Pay *close* attention to the patterns of the robots. There are only so many patterns they follow, and this is (IMO) critical to getting through some of the rooms. Some consoles in some of the rooms can only be searched completely by jumping in and out, over the robots again and again until the search is complete. All of the above has to be done as quickly as possible, because as you know you are on a countdown clock. You have to get all the puzzle pieces AND put them together at the end. I think there are only like 4 puzzles and you have to fit each one together based on the pieces you pick up along the way. That will get you the password which gets you into the last door. May not have told you anything you didn't already know, but I think more than anything else, watch the patterns the robots take as they move around a room. It will give you a clue as to when they are going to turn and/or shoot. I'm not a game player at all, but I REALLY liked this game when I was playing it! ------------ Category 5, Topic 12 Message 8 Wed Jun 15, 1994 G.NOGGLE [Greg] (Forwarded) It is Cathy's(wife) and I favorite game to play together. But we moved setup a house,etc and took time off from it. We where getting decent at it. Now we can't even make it to the top 20 board that we are on. bummer :(. Greg p.s I know people(1) who have done it consisently. Of course this guy picks one game,and plays it to death,then moves on to the next. don't play this guy in a game he is working on unless you like to lose. I found this out. ------------ Category 5, Topic 12 Message 9 Wed Jun 15, 1994 R.HUNTER21 (Forwarded) Okay, how about this? There must be someway to stop the clock in the game. Surely SOMEONE could tell me how to find the routine in the game that runs the clock and tell me how to remove it. Of course I know nothing about ML. But I can follow instructions. I've been playing the game steady since this topic got started, and I'm not getting any closer to a soloution. ::Gonna boot it up now:: ------------ Category 5, Topic 12 Message 10 Wed Jun 15, 1994 CBM-ED [e.g.bell] (Forwarded) You have never said where it is you are getting stuck. The routine that runs the clock is probably generating an interrupt. However, I doubt that anyone has the time to get in there and find the routine and how to disable it. I kind of feel the way Doug does too... if you beat the game by disabling stuff, are you going to be satisfied? ------------ Category 5, Topic 12 Message 11 Thu Jun 16, 1994 R.HUNTER21 (Forwarded) Darn right. I've been playing the game for YEARS now. I'd like to see other aspects of the game. Not just running around getting killed by robots. :( Mind you, its not like I've stopped playing. Haven't TOTALLY given up. :) ------------ Category 5, Topic 12 Message 12 Thu Jun 16, 1994 CBM-ED [e.g.bell] (Forwarded) Sounds to me like what you need to do is to learn how to program ML, then go in and find the stuff you need and make the changes. That way, you'll be learning something in the process. ;) ------------ Category 5, Topic 12 Message 13 Fri Jun 17, 1994 C.OGLE2 [V128_B.Stick] (Forwarded) Hunter, I know just how you feel. When I was really into this game about 6 years ago, I was sooo happy when I finally won that I took a photograph of the ending scene (with the evil scientists saying 'No No No'). If you really want to see another aspect of the game, I could send you one :) Scott ------------ Category 5, Topic 12 Message 14 Sat Jun 18, 1994 R.HUNTER21 (Forwarded) Thanks alot Bell. I've always wanted to lean ML too. No one had the time to teach me though. I'm still not getting ANYWERE in that game. ------------ Category 5, Topic 12 Message 15 Sun Jun 19, 1994 S.FREDERICKM [Fred Stein] (Forwarded) I always liked the sound the robots make when they FRY you... ------------ Category 5, Topic 12 Message 16 Tue Jun 21, 1994 R.HUNTER21 (Forwarded) Actully Bell, I'm gonna do that, but I'm gonna do it on a seperate disk. I actully solved a couple puzzels today for the first time!!! ::beem:: ------------ Category 5, Topic 12 Message 17 Fri Jun 24, 1994 CBM-ED [e.g.bell] (Forwarded) Rachel: RH> I actully solved a couple puzzels today for the first time!!! RH> ::beem:: Nothing like getting there the hard way! :) And I am pretty sure there are only 4 puzzles.... or at least only 4 passwords.... and you only need one of them for any one game. The game just randomly chooses which one you need for any game.... but anyway, you are halfway there. :) The REAL trick to solving the puzzles is to complete all of the rooms quickly enough to allow you time to solve all of the puzzles you have accumulated along the way. And also make use of the master control room. I think I could get up to 7 items in there. Could never seem to remember the sequences much farther than that.... and those robot knockouts are very frequently the ticket for the really difficult rooms. ------------ Category 5, Topic 12 Message 18 Sat Jun 25, 1994 R.HUNTER21 (Forwarded) Ya, I have little stickers so I can keep track which tune to play next. I just number them 1 to 10 and stick em to the screen over the corect square. Last night I think I only had one more object to go. ------------ Category 5, Topic 12 Message 19 Mon Jun 27, 1994 R.HUNTER21 (Forwarded) Well, I got an anounsment to make...<G> Thanks to your words of wisdom I have finished Impossable mission. And your right, I'm totally satisfied with the effort I put into it. Thanks again for all your help!! ------------ Category 5, Topic 12 Message 20 Mon Jun 27, 1994 CBM-ED [e.g.bell] (Forwarded) Rachel: That's great! And it didn't take much time from the first post you made here until you got to the mad scientist! Congrats. Now watch. You're gonna go after him again and again until it becomes too easy to do it. :) ------------ Category 5, Topic 12 Message 21 Mon Jun 27, 1994 R.HUNTER21 (Forwarded) I wouldn't doubt it! :) I wanna make sure I didn't just fluke out. /s ------------ ************ Topic 13 Sat Jun 18, 1994 F.WILSON4 (Forwarded) Sub: Hi res mode I am looking for something that makes learning HiRes easy If you know of some thing E-Mail me or leave a message here Thank you 1 message(s) total. ************ ------------ Category 5, Topic 13 Message 1 Sun Jun 19, 1994 CMD-DOUG (Forwarded) Here's one suggestion: The Graphics Book for the Commodore 64 (Abacus). This is still available new from CMD and possibly SSI and other sources. CMD's price is $12.00 plus shipping. ------------ 5 | ************ Topic 18 Sat eb 26, 1994 E.RAFANAN at 03:32 EST Sub: Source code for GDS128 Thinking about selling source code for GDS128. 17 message(s) total. ************ ------------ Category 5, Topic 18 Message 1 Sat Feb 26, 1994 E.RAFANAN at 04:00 EST Way back in my college days, I wrote a program called GDS128. It was a GIF viewer/converter for the C128. Well it wasn't too bad of a program, but there were some rough edges. I was coding a "version 2", but I never had the time to finish it, and now I'm not all that interested in GIFs anymore. So I was thinking about selling the source coe. It has the routines for the GIF decoding routines, color conversions, VDC graphic screen access, menu and listbox routines, etc. Anyone interested? I haven't really made up my mind about this, but if there was enough interest, I would do it. The price would be reasonable - around $15 + disk. And in case you're wondering, I never made any money off of the program - I released it as "postcardware." I only requested a postcard if they found it useful. I got postcards from as far away as Australia, India, and Sweden! Must have gone out over the Internet or something. Oh, one more thing - the source is in Merlin 128 format. I could also include an assembly listing on the disk that non-Merlin owners could print out. Let me know if there's any interest. If not, no biggie. If so, maybe some talented programmer(s) can make use of it. ------------ Category 5, Topic 18 Message 2 Tue Mar 01, 1994 H.HERMAN1 at 07:54 EST Well, before you give up on a favorite like GDS, I sure would hope that you'd make it run with 89a GIF's. Maybe only to the extent that it does not reject them? huh? Please?? :) Howie ------------ Category 5, Topic 18 Message 3 Tue Mar 01, 1994 E.RAFANAN at 23:26 EST Well the problem is, I never have to time to work on it. It's like that old sayijng - You need to decide whether you want a comuter or a wife... Anyway, I want to get this source out to as many people as want it. That way, hopefully someone will be able to get another version out. Eric ------------ Category 5, Topic 18 Message 4 Sat Mar 05, 1994 BADCO at 21:45 EST Eric, I would be interested in the source code. Provided you could throw in a few photocopies of the info you used to create your disolve routines etc. And possibly names of contacts for further information :-) Just email me your address and I will happily send you a disk and $15.00. And it just so happens I prefer to program in MERLIN 128, oh and perhaps a little note stating what you were trying to do for your version 2 and how far you got :-) Sean ------------ Category 5, Topic 18 Message 5 Mon Mar 07, 1994 E.RAFANAN at 23:38 EST The source is pretty well commented - I had this bad habit of working on several projects at once, so I needed the comments to remind me where I was. <grin> I've can send you copies of LZW compression articles, as well as other bits and pieces that I picked up (GIF 87a document, etc.). As far as version 2, I wanted to convert GIFs to IPaint, but they beat me to it. I also wanted to handle "scrollable" displays, but never got around to it. :( Modifying the program shouldn't be that hard. I have it split up into modules - a menu module, decompression module, and display module(s). You can tinker with one and leave the rest alone (provided the EXTernal references into the module were kept the same). - Eric ------------ Category 5, Topic 18 Message 6 Tue Mar 08, 1994 BADCO at 02:23 EST Sounds great. The non scrolling abuility was something that always ticked me me off with GIFS on the 64. I DL'd your GDS but never used it because of the fact with only 16k VDC ram, was just easier to convert them to macs and view them. Since then I have gone to 64k VDC so will have to check it out again. Where do I send the disks and check? :-) Did you happen across any of the 89 GIF format articles? As that is a very probable thing that I would want to look into for upgrading the software. Just let me know where to send the disks, and who to make the check out to. ------------ Category 5, Topic 18 Message 7 Tue Mar 08, 1994 T.GOSSER1 [PowerUserMag] at 09:56 EST Hey Eric, Why dont you answer your e-mail? ------------ Category 5, Topic 18 Message 8 Tue Mar 08, 1994 E.RAFANAN at 23:21 EST Yes, I have the GIF89a specs too. Most of the new stuff would be very hard to do on the C128 (overlaying GIFs, multiple pictures, etc.). And I * do * answer my mail - maybe I sent it to the wrong person? ------------ Category 5, Topic 18 Message 9 Wed Mar 09, 1994 H.HERMAN1 at 05:08 EST Eric, The C64 GIF viewer has a patch, written by John Iannetta, which after it does its stuff on the Viewer, will let the C64 Viewer display 89a GIFs. Alas, John does not have a C128..... <sigh> :( Howie ------------ Category 5, Topic 18 Message 10 Thu Mar 10, 1994 BADCO at 00:06 EST Ok Eric, Sounds like a done deal for me then! Just tell me where to mail the check, or if you prefer ship it all out COD to me at Sean Peck 1169 Holly Street Westmoreland City, PA 15692 ------------ Category 5, Topic 18 Message 11 Wed Mar 30, 1994 D.TUOMI [Doctor] at 01:54 EST Are you selling the source code to multiple people? If so, who has the final rights to the program? Also, is the offer for it still open? Doc. ------------ Category 5, Topic 18 Message 12 Sun Apr 03, 1994 E.RAFANAN at 23:14 EDT Yes, I was planning to sell it to multiple people. Rights - I did not want to turnover the entire rights to any one person. More something like "I keep the copyrights, but you can use the source to develop your own programs that you can copyright yourself." (or something to that effect). As far as if the offer is still open, there's something in the works right now that I need to work out, so it's on hold at the moment. Sorry. Eric ------------ Category 5, Topic 18 Message 13 Tue Apr 05, 1994 S.GOLDSMITH2 [Iron.Man] at 02:01 EDT Eric, Here's what I use in my programmer's tool kits for the PC. This sounds like what your looking for: LICENSE AGREEMENT NOTICE TO USER: CAREFULLY READ THE FOLLOWING LEGAL AGREEMENT. 1. LICENSE GRANT. Steven P. Goldsmith grants to you, as an individual, a non-exclusive right to use one copy of the SOFTWARE associated with this license for use on your computer. This license to use the SOFTWARE is conditioned upon your compliance with the terms of this Agreement. You are entitled to distribute your executable programs compiled with the SOFTWARE on a royalty free basis. You cannot however distribute ANY source code, Pascal units or other documentation made with or included in the SOFTWARE. You agree you will only copy the SOFTWARE as necessary to use it in accordance with this license. 2. COPYRIGHT. The SOFTWARE is protected by United States copyright law and international treaty provisions. You acknowledge that no title to the intellectual property in the SOFTWARE is transferred to you. You further acknowledge that title and full ownership rights to the SOFTWARE will remain the exclusive property of Steven P. Goldsmith or its suppliers, and you will not acquire any rights to the SOFTWARE except as expressly set forth in this license. You agree that any copies of the SOFTWARE will contain the same proprietary notices which appear on and in the SOFTWARE. 3. LIMITED WARRANTY. Steven P. Goldsmith warrants that the SOFTWARE will perform substantially in accordance with the accompanying written materials for a period of ninety (90) days from the date of purchase. Any implied warranties relating to the SOFTWARE are limited to ninety (90) days. 4. STEVEN P. GOLDSMITH DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE SOFTWARE IS ERROR FREE. STEVEN P. GOLDSMITH DISCLAIMS ALL OTHER WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE SOFTWARE, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR LIMITATIONS ON HOW LONG AN IMPLIED WARRANTY MAY LAST, OR THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. THIS WARRANTY GIVES YOU SPECIFIC LEGAL RIGHTS AND YOU MAY ALSO HAVE OTHER RIGHTS WHICH VARY FROM JURISDICTION TO JURISDICTION. 5. NO LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES. IN NO EVENT SHALL STEVEN P. GOLDSMITH OR ITS SUPPLIERS E LIABLE TO YOU FOR ANY CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR INDIRECT DAMAGES OF ANY KIND ARISING OUT OF THE DELIVERY, PERFORMANCE OR USE OF THE SOFTWARE, EVEN IF STEVEN P. GOLDSMITH HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. IN NO EVENT WILL STEVEN P. GOLDSMITH'S LIABILITY FOR ANY CLAIM, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT OR ANY OTHER THEORY OF LIABILITY, EXCEED THE LICENSE FEE PAID BY YOU, IF ANY. 6. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This is the entire agreement between you and Steven P. Goldsmith which supersedes any prior agreement or understanding, whether written or oral, relating to the subject matter of this license. SG :) ------------ Category 5, Topic 18 Message 14 Tue Apr 05, 1994 C128.JBEE at 05:25 EDT Steve, I might borrow that one myself ;) ------------ Category 5, Topic 18 Message 15 Wed Apr 06, 1994 S.GOLDSMITH2 [Iron.Man] at 02:40 EDT JBEE, One good thing about working for a real estate software house is that they have all the legal and end user agreement docs. SG :) ------------ Category 5, Topic 18 Message 16 Tue Jun 28, 1994 CBM-DENNIS at 00:11 EDT I would also like to by a copy, and use it as a building block CBM-DENNIS. ------------ ************ Topic 19 Sat Mar 05, 1994 CBM-ED [e.g.bell] at 18:52 EST Sub: Burst Routines - How Do I Write Them The manuals for the 1571 and 1581 are not the best reference for using the burst read/write routines on the 1571 and 1581. Can someone help me learn to use these in my own code. 13 message(s) total. ************ ------------ Category 5, Topic 19 Message 1 Sat Mar 05, 1994 CBM-ED [e.g.bell] at 18:58 EST I am replying to a post from Sean Peck in category 8 inquring about burst routines... the question: SP> I would like to implement burst PROGRAM READ and PROGRAM WRITE SP> if there is a way of doing this, to speed up DL's, but from SP> what I see of the BURST commands it appears you can only do SP> block read/block write which would have high overhead on the SP> PC end of things for the limited use I want them for I think the best references available are those on the 1581 disk and in the manual. I have only used modified versions of that code to do the burst stuff... however, I would recommend against using them for several reasons. First, they will not work with the RamLink. Second, if you submit your programs to LoadStar, item 1 will cause a problem, and I speak from experience. This may be the case w/other publications also. They tend to encourage universal compatibility, which is mutually exclusive with burst routines. Everything can't use them, and there are a lot of RamLinksin use, and I'm sure more being sold all the time. And for a term program, you are writing for the widest possible audience. BTW, they won't work w/RamDos either. Third, more and more people are installing Jiffy Dos which I don't think uses burst routines either, tho I could be wrong on that. The above is just my opinion. :) ------------ Category 5, Topic 19 Message 2 Sat Mar 05, 1994 BADCO at 21:37 EST Well the problem is, my 81 refuses to load the example code for the burst routines off of 2 1581 demo disks. I know my 1581 is one of the bugged ones and I think it is part of this bug that has caused it not to load the example code properly, always turns to garbage part way through read of SRC files. I would like to use them to speed DL speeds, possibly if it is not to overtly unfeasable, which at my glance looks as though it is going to be, but still for prosperity I would like to understand them. On a semi related subject how would I use the U1 command from ML? I am working on reading an entire disk into memory, and then allowing copying of that entire disk from memory to one or more DISK DRIVES at the same time. I wrote a little ditty in Basic to read a disk sector by sector, but it is so slow it is unbelievable!!!!! Yet for some reason I cannot get the commands to send properly to the Drive in ML. Granted I have only played with it very limitedly, but With all the disk copying I do for the PCG I thought this sort of program would be great! But without being able to do the U1 stuff from ml, reading in the data from each sector is just too slow. On the topic of the NMI demo code, I know this might not be best place to put this, but I guess you can forward it appropriately. I was getting the entire transmit buffer to resend itself arbitrarily at High speeds (9600 and above) After over a month of thinking I was misaccessing the pointer to the start of Output buffer byte somewhere causing it to pass up the OUTPUT BUFFER end pointerbyte, thus causing the entire output buffer to be sent again.. it finally hit me what was wrong in the example code! The code you gave me did not turn off the SWIFTLINK interupts, if the current NMI was not created by a byte being recieved. It would jump this little bit of code, and check to see if a byte was in the output buffer and then transmit it if it was..... Problem was, if a byte was recieved during this small window of opertunity, the NMI currently executing would be interrupted by the RECIEVE NMI and the pointer bytes could get garbled thus causing the entire retransmission of the output buffer. This was why the problem occurred arbitrarily, and only at high speeds, as with th higher speed the greater the risk a byte would be recieved at the same or very close to the same instant one was being trans mitted. What I did was move the code to turn off SL interrupt abuility to directly follow the CLD command, then check to see if the interrupt was caused by a recieve from swiftlink or not. It appears to have fully solved the problem. Again this problem only appeared at high speeds, and generally on heavy ANSI board while using the FULL SCREEN EDITORS (greatest chance of recieving a byte while transmitting one) ------------ Category 5, Topic 19 Message 3 Sat Mar 05, 1994 M.RANDALL2 [Maurice] at 21:58 EST As far as I know, the 1581 burst source code is corrupted on all of the 1581 demo disks. However, Commodore also supplied burst code in a revised form in the C128 Developer's Package. There is code for both the 1571 and the 1581. It is in a format compatible with the HCD65 assembler which is the assembler supplied in this package. As far as uploading this source code goes, I don't know if Commodore considers that to be public domain or not. I'm sure that the assembler itself is not public domain, but if someone wants to check into whether or not the source code can be uploaded, I would be glad to upload it if allowed. The sad part is that this package is no longer available from Commodore. There is a lot of useful information in it for programming a 128. ------------ Category 5, Topic 19 Message 4 Sun Mar 06, 1994 CBM-ED [e.g.bell] at 08:31 EST Sean: SP> 81 refuses to load the example code for the burst routines off SP> of 2 1581 demo disks. I know my 1581 is one of the bugged ones SP> and I think it is part of this bug that has caused it not to SP> load the example code properly, always turns to garbage part SP> way through I don't think that is the problem. I bet you have a corrupted disk. Or at least a corrupted file. I had the same problem w/some of the files on my original 1581 demo disk. SP> how would I use the U1 command from ML Same as you would any string you send to the drive Sean. It must be null terminated and the numeric entries should be ASCII digits... on the last char in the string should be a <cr>. All channels must be opened first, exactly as in BASIC, and use normal ML kernal calls to do the open. You don't need the semi-colons (in BASIC or ML) and I don't think you need the colon either after the U1 or U2. 1] open command channel to device 2] open access channel to device 3] send u1 command (terminted w/a carriage return) to device 4] read in block of data from the access channel 5] close the access channel SP> reading an entire disk into memory, and then allowing copying SP> of that entire disk from memory to one or more DISK DRIVES How are you going to fit a whole disk into memory at the same time? wrt your experience with that SwiftLink shell... I can see what you are saying . And I even know why things were done the way they were. Originally, in BellTerm, my SL code did not use a transmit buffer at all. It just sent bytes out as received. When I did RTCM, I figured out how to add a transmit buffer, but what you have found is a holdover from BellTerm, namely the interrupt handling when not a received byte. I don't have a high speed modem or perhaps this might have come up sooner, tho I doubt it would have happened to me because RTCMaster only goes up to 9600 in any version because it was mainly written for GEnie, tho I can see where that may have been a bit shortsighted now. The change you mention is easily made and involves only my SwiftLink module. I'll have to make that change and send it along. I will dig up the code I uploaded awhile ago and make the change so that it is available to everyone. Thanks. btw, if you are wondering why I didn't just disable the NMI every time through that routine instead of when a byte was being received, I figured, at the time, that the cart was not the only source of an NMI. I was letting the RESTORE key pass w/o affecting the cart. Right or wrong, those are the stories behind it. Don't worry about posting my mistakes. :) I'm not the smartest guy in the world and I can prove it. :) Only way to hide them is to keep your work to yourself, and there is no fun, benefit, or profit in that. ------------ Category 5, Topic 19 Message 5 Sun Mar 06, 1994 CBM-ED [e.g.bell] at 08:55 EST Maurice: MR> the 1581 burst source code is corrupted on all of the 1581 demo MR> disks I must have gotten later disks or something cuz I have listed the source code out and even have printout of it somewhere in one of the piles in my office. :) MR> There is code for both the 1571 and the 1581. It is in a format MR> compatible with the HCD65 assembler which is the assembler MR> supplied in this package I have used the 1581 stuff and checked the source code of the 1581 module against the source code for the 1571 module, and parts of it are exactly the same... either the physical or the logical parts... can't remember. The 1581 package contains both. however, I never had any success getting the 1571 to work with the appropriate part of the 1581 package. :( MR> wants to check into whether or not the source code can be MR> uploaded, I would be glad to upload it if allowed That would be a no-no w/o written permission from Commodore, tho that may be obtainable... now I'm talking about what is in the Developers Package. This stuff is written on the inside of the intro pages. I have always taken it for granted, however, that the obj parts of the demo disk could be used in my stuff. There is burst code, REU code, and some fast loaders for the 64 among other things in the DevPac manual. To tell you the truth, tho, the part I have made most extensive use of since I got it is the reference section on how to call the BASIC 7.0 routines... esp. the math stuff. Other than all that, I've never been too impressed with DevPac because of all the steps involved in doing assemblies, using a separate editor (which is a topic all to itself. :) and the speed it has the reputation of not having. ------------ Category 5, Topic 19 Message 6 Sun Mar 06, 1994 BADCO at 23:31 EST You mean they actually had a development package for these babies? To think for the past I don't know how many years I have just been doing things the hard way! :-) I wasn't terminating the u1 commands with a CR, that must have been why I was getting wacky errors, such as FILE NOT FOUND and NO CHANNEL etc.. once I have time I will sit down and play with it again. Well, I was going to read the entire disk into the REU actually, and then write it back out to one or more drives, eliminates tying up one drive to always be your source drive. Just read every block in, stash to REU then write to every disk the user sets program for, making multi copies at once. I would like to enhance it so I could stick a NON FORMATTED DISK in and it would READ EVERYTHING from source disk and write everything as well, but my disk drive programming and understanding is not at that level. Would not know how to do that at present if I tried. As per your NMI wedge, I understand where you are coming from with why you had it set up that way, but I figured since it caused me a month of essentially no forward momentum trying to figure out the problem, you would be interested in it. (I have to get my girlfriend something special for putting up with me during that time too!) The problem may pop up at 9600 BPS, but I would doubt it will happen on GENIE as it does not have a full screen editor, so very little chance you will still be recieving ANSI string related to last character typed, when user hits the next key. And sharing this bug, was by no means trying to point out some sort of overall flaw or mistake on your part, but that little baby certainly did drive me bonkers!! (and obviously, I am not a programming genious either as it took me that long to track it down! :-) ) but if users of RTC Master complain of this sort of problem You can save yourself the problems I have had :-) ------------ Category 5, Topic 19 Message 7 Mon Mar 07, 1994 CBM-ED [e.g.bell] at 06:47 EST SP> You mean they actually had a development package for these SP> babies I'm sure you already knew about it. Most everyone just refers to it as DevPac. :) SP> to enhance it so I could stick a NON FORMATTED DISK in and it SP> would READ EVERYTHING from source disk and write everything as SP> well, but my disk drive programming and understanding is not SP> at that level At least for the 1581, I believe there is an example of doing that in the quick copier program on the demo disk. That program consisists of a basic shell and the ML code to do the transfers. It basically reads a track/writes a track, and I believe if it has a problem, at least in one circumstance, it formats that track. :) SP> doubt it will happen on GENIE I still have to wonder about it for a couple of reasons. George Hug posted a message once that among other things questioned the need to turn off the swiftlink interrupts at all in the wedge because he said that due to the way the 6551 operates, it could not be interrupted in the middle of an interrupt. I have a copy of that message around her somewhere... but if it fixed the problem, guess it is moot. :) ------------ Category 5, Topic 19 Message 8 Mon Mar 07, 1994 C128.JBEE at 12:45 EST I have modified the original 1581 burst routines to make them "original". I will upload a DevPak128 source file next week (no time to find it this week) that burst loads sectors into memory and then writes them to VDC memory to display Basic 8/RLE files. Fast enough to load and display a 640x440x2 Basic 8/RLE file in under 8 seconds on a 1581. Just drop me an e-mail next Thursday in case I forget. ------------ Category 5, Topic 19 Message 9 Mon Mar 07, 1994 BADCO at 19:08 EST Well I knew there was a DEVPAC somewhere, but never actually saw one. I am mainly writing this for 1541 format work, the copier that is, since that is the standard format the Pcg uses. I will keep an eye out. Currently up to my ears tweaking all the little things in GWterm for the release. /s ------------ Category 5, Topic 19 Message 10 Wed Mar 30, 1994 D.TUOMI [Doctor] at 02:00 EST Is there anyway to obtain a legal copy of the DevPac at this late date? Doc. ------------ Category 5, Topic 19 Message 11 Wed Mar 30, 1994 C128.JBEE at 02:27 EST Last time I checked it was discontinued. ------------ Category 5, Topic 19 Message 12 Tue Jun 28, 1994 CBM-DENNIS at 00:15 EDT Ed, I've got source code to some ML routines to perform burst read and write. It also detects which drive they are using and if it does not support the burst protocall it will use standard block read and write routines. If you want them I'll send them to you via USmail as I am still unable to upload to genie. This code was used to R/W IBM formated disks on the B-128 commodore computer. Let me know. CBM-DENNIS ------------ Category 5, Topic 19 Message 13 Tue Jun 28, 1994 CBM-ED [e.g.bell] at 06:10 EDT Dennis: I got some source code in the DevPac manual since posting this topic. Is your source code different/better than that? If so I would be interested. If it is the same, no point wasting the postage... tho it sounds difft. if it was for the B-128. ------------ 5 |