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GENFIX.TXT
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1996-03-12
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Generic STOS Fixer v1.00
========================
Contents:
---------
+ Introduction.
+ Usage instructions.
- drag & drop.
- command line.
- GEM based.
+ Limitiations.
+ Falcon Compatibility.
+ Known Bugs/problems.
+ Legal stuff.
+ Credits.
+ Contact info.
+ Advertisements.
Introduction:
-------------
When STOS was written, it was decided that to improve the speed of some
commands the addresses of certain routines in the Operating System could
be stored in a table at the beginning of the program to prevent them having
to be looked up each time it is run. However, as these addresses change
with every new release of the Operating System STOS had to be updated.
While Mandarin still supported STOS this was OK, as they simply released
a new version with the updated table, along with any bug fixes. However,
as Mandarin no longer support STOS there have been no official releases
containing new tables for any version of TOS greater than TOS 1.62. To
get around this problem, any compiled STOS program can be 'fixed' which
simply means replacing the table with a suitable table for the OS version
- this is essentially what Mandarin would have done.
At this time, there are two STOS fixers available (with numorous versions),
the latest version of each is called STOS Fix 3. However, neither of these
is perfect. One, by Robert Quezada, only fixes the STOS program for the
CURRENT version of TOS, thus making it necessary for the end user of the
program, not the author to fix the program - this seems rather unprofessional.
The other (so I am told - I don't have it), from Goodmans PDL, is only
available from Goodmans, and is not available via FTP on the internet. Also,
it places an advert for Goodmans PDL on any STOS program fixed with it -again,
not very professional.
So, the solution is the Generic STOS Fixer. This fixes a STOS program for any
10 versions of TOS (unfortunately, at this time there are 14 versions, not
including MagiC). Which versions are used is determined by the DEFxxxx.DAT
files in the same directory as GENFIX.PRG, where xxxx is the TOS version
number, and also the settings if you have used the GEM interface.
Supplied with this program are DEFxxxx.DAT files for all existing TOS versions
from TOS 1.0 through to 4.92 except TOS 3.05 and 3.06 (if anyone has a TT, and
has a joystick, please get in touch - I would like to obtain these versions.)
Which files are ommitted is up to the person fixing the program (I recommend
authors do this before releasing software..) but I would recommend leaving out
TOS 1.1, as this is very rare (I didn't even know 1.1 existed!), and also
TOS 2.05 and 3.05 as these versions have been superceeded by updated versions.
TOS 4.92 is only available on disk, so this can be safely left out, as someone
with this version will also have another 4.0x version.
One interesting point is that if a STOS program is fixed for TOS 2.06, then it
appears to work under GEMulator - the ST emulator for the PC made by BraSoft.
I am currently in the process of trying to establish if STOS will run under
STonX - the ST emulator for Unix machines (eg Linux, SGI's, Sun's etc.) After
the success under GEMulator, I suspect that it will work.
To make STOS itself run, it is necessary to fix the BASIC206.PRG file. This
can be done in exactly the same way as any other STOS program. The only
exception is that it appears that this can only be fixed for 8 OS versions.
Usage instructions:
-------------------
This program will work in a number of ways -
1) Drag a file to the program icon (TOS 2.06 or greater required). This will
start up the fixer, which will attempt to fix the program. The DEFxxxx.DAT
files will be taken from the CURRENT directory - ie. the top window if this
option is set (or the applications directory, otherwise).
This does NOT start a GEM based version, and may well corrupt the screen
if running under MultiTOS if not installed as a TOS application.
2) Enter the filename on the command line.This is very similar to the previous
method. Once again, this is not a GEM based method, and is suitable for
running from a command shell (eg BASH/KSH/CSH under MiNT).
3) Double click on the program icon. This will start up the program as it
would any other. A GEM based shell is provided, which eases use of the
program. Note that it will be difficult (if not impossible) to use this
method in a resolution with < 640 pixels horizontally.
Simply select 'Fix' to fix a STOS file - select the file to be fixed in the
file selector, and let the fixer do its stuff.
On selecting the 'OS Versions' button, the dialog will change to enable you
to select which OS versions will be used when fixing programs in this
session - note that this info is not stored, and so you may need to set it
every time. The scrolling list on the left contains the names of all of the
DEFxxxx.DAT files that were found. Those that are highlighted (ie. black)
will be used when patching. The 'default' file is the one that STOS will
use if the OS version found is not one of those given in the table. To set
the default, simply click on the arrow pointing right. This will set the
default to the version imediately next to the arrow.
Limitations.
------------
This program will not necessarily fix a program which has already been fixed
by either this fixer, or either of the other two fixers available - always fix
straight after compilation to solve problems of this kind.
Also, programs which have been packed will not be fixable - use NewDepack from
Sinister Developments to decompress the program. (this program is no longer in
development as SD. have left the Atari scene. However, Mike Watson of Sinister
Developments is prepaired to try and answer any questions via email at the
address: mike@sindev.co.uk)
Programs which use extensions may still not work after being fixed - check the
Falcon compatibility section below for more details.
I cannot garauntee that all programs can be fixed. However, if after fixing it
successfully works on your machine, it probably works under all OS versions
that you have specified. If STOS Fix 3 by R.Quezada does not fix a program, it
is highly unlikely that this program will have any more luck.
Falcon Compatibility.
---------------------
The Falcon has a number of major changes from the ST - this causes programs
which have been writen without considering these changes likely to cause a
crash. However, it is possible to write a program in STOS that will work
without problems on the Falcon.
The things to consider with regard to the Falcon are:
1) Dont pack your program with the 'Atomic Packer' as this crashes the Falcon.
- use PACK ICE instead. (Interesting note: in Top Notch's Missing Link
Extension documention they say that the Falcon is very compatible - guess
which packer they used to pack the install program!)
2) Run the Falcon with a clean setup - hold down control while booting. This
will start the Falcon in ST-Low resolution, with no desk accessories/auto
boot programs but with the hard-drive active. Holding down 'Alternate' will
also disable the hard-drive.
3) Rename your program from PRG to TOS - This will cause the graphics commands
to work better. Always do this as there is no advantage to being a PRG file
(unless its a GEM program, which is currently impossible for a STOS
program).
4) When using extensions, try and use Falcon tested commands - some extension
authors have done some nasty things which crash the Falcon. The following
extensions have been tested on the Falcon, and work without problems:
Maestro, Control, Extra, Ninja Tracker, Falcon (obviously), Compact,
Blitter and Compiler.
The Missing Link works, although a couple of commands do not - namely the
music/sample playing routines.
The STE Extension, and any other STE extension probably work on the Falcon,
although there are slight differences in the way hardware scrolling works,
and also the lowest frequency provided on the STE DMA hardware (8khz) is
not valid, and will not generate any sound.
The following extensions do NOT work on the Falcon, and so should be
avoided.
STOS Tracker (the one that uses .ABK files).
If at all possible you should try and get your STOS programs tested on a
Falcon before releasing it. However, if you cannot it is still worth doing the
above so that you have a higher chance of it working correctly.
Known bugs:
-----------
Sometimes there are minor redraw bugs, with the window slightly too small.
This mainly occurs after an UN-Iconify (under AES 4.1).
There may or may not be window bugs on ST's. This is because my windowed
dialogue routine assumes the width of the window bar is 16pixels. This may not
be the case on older OS versions - but I dont have an ST handy to test this.
The entire program is loaded into memory - thus making it difficult to fix
BIG programs on a 520 (or maybe even 1040). [Thats fine with me - I have 4mb,
and may soon have more! :-)]
If you find a bug, then don't hesitate to contact me (Anthony Jacques) at the
address below...
Legal stuff:
------------
This program is released as FREEWARE. As such, this program may be distributed
in any form (PD libaries, electronic file transfer, coverdisks etc.) so long
as none of the files enclosed are modified, or omitted.
Also, there is no waranty that this program will work - explicit or implied.
This program directly modifies program files - thus there is a potential for
programs to be damaged - you fix programs AT YOUR OWN RISK. Always run
this program on a backup.
Although this program is Freeware, any donations are welcome, and would be
greatfully recieved. :-)
Credits:
--------
Original fixer code: Les Greenhalgh
(in STOS)
C implementation: Anthony Jacques
DEFxxxx.DAT files
created by: STOS Fix 3, by Robert Quezada
Thanks to everyone who sent me the DEFxxxx.DAT files so that I could build up
a complete collection... (excluding TT Tos).
Contact info:
-------------
Anthony Jacques:
70 West Avenue,
Oldfield Park
Bath
Avon BA2 3QD
England
term-time 95/96:
25 Balleratt Street
Levenshulme
Manchester
England
email: jacquesa@cs.man.ac.uk
WWW: http://www.cs.man.ac.uk/~jacquesa/
Les Greenhalgh:
24 Park Avenue
Rudloe Manor
Corsham
Wiltshire
SN13 0JT
England
Robert Quezada:
I have no contact address for Robert - the email address in his
STOS Fix 3 documentation is no longer valid.
Well, thats about all you need to know....
Anthony Jacques, 11/2/96
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Advertisements....
STOS Falcon Extension v1.3 - shareware (5 pounds registration)
+ true colour sprite routines - now including Tempest 2000 style
fragment, and a real-time sprite scaling engine.
+ DSP playback of 4-32 channel modules at 50khz 16-bit stereo.
+ full access to the sound system (including dsp processing).
+ 4 to 65536 colour graphics routines.
+ Playback of FLI and FLC animations in truecolour.
For more information, contact:
Anthony Jacques, 70 West Avenue, Oldfield Park, Bath. BA2 3QD
http://www.cs.man.ac.uk/~jacquesa/ or jacquesa@cs.man.ac.uk
STOS Mailing list.
Are you a STOS user who is online? Well, if you have internet access, then you
can join the STOS mailing list and take part in STOS discussions/ask questions
to some of the best STOS programmers around - Tony Greenwood of STOSSER
Software, Martin Cubitt author of the Extra Extension, ()rm of Digi Tallis and
Anthony Jacques author of the STOS Falcon Extension, as well as many others.
For more information, email: jacquesa@cs.man.ac.uk
To subscribe send a mail to: stos-request@man.ac.uk with the word subscribe in
the body of the email.
STOS FTP site.
The biggest FTP site on the InterNET for STOS software is ftp.uni-kl.de STOS
stuff can be found in the pub/Atari/programming/STOS/ directory. If you are
using a WWW-browser such as Netscape, then the address is:-
ftp://ftp.uni-kl.de/pub/Atari/programming/STOS/
STOSSER WWW pages.
The biggest STOS related World Wide Web pages on the STOSSER homepage and can
be found at http://www.airtime.co.uk/stosser/ and contain links to all other
STOS related pages, and has lots of information about STOS products.
Bad Mood.
This is an internet project to create a Falcon (and perhaps TT/Eagle/Medusa)
version of Doom. At the moment this is in its early stages, but it is already
possible to wander around light-sourced, texture-mapped Doom, Doom 2 and
Heretic levels. This is a game which ALL Falcon owners will be interested in..
It has been tested on both the BlowUP-FX card, and also on the Afterburner040.
for more information, visit: http://rand.thn.htu.se/~johan/bad_mood.html or to
join the Bad Mood mailing list, email bad_mood@rand.thn.htu.se with the word
subscribe in the subject line.
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