This is the history of Risc Tracker, right back to it's first crappy version. It's probably not compleate as there are many small things I change/add that I forget to put in here...
1.01 - Origanal version that only played symphony files, 1.00 was a test version. This version was reasonably stable and included some nice features.
1.10 - Latest version, this now plays tracker files as well, also a few small bug fixes and the code was tidied slightly, also a pane style options window
with some new options was added. This version also checks for other programs
which use the same modules so as to avoid a system crash.
1.11 - Added support for message translation, started to change the interactive
help for message trans. I only got round to this on the information section
on the main window, I will do the rest later. This help is better because
it changes with the status of the program. For example, if you put the
pointer over the 'PAUSE' indicator it could read 'This icon is grey because
the current track is not paused.' but if you then pause the track and check
again it will read 'This icon is red because the current track is paused.'
2.00 (Rewrite) - Loaded !RiscTracker, thought 'what a load of s**t' and decided to re-write it.
2.01 (12:05 am) - Realised version I had just sent to the Datafile didn't work,
this was due to the fact that the program didn't crunch very well. Went into
wild panic and fixed the problem. Also the default option for the speaker isn't
off! It seems pretty stupid to have a music player that turns the speaker off
as standard!!!
2.10 - Fixed bug with the pause icon not lighting up correctly. (Wrong version of Risc Tracker support module had been distributed!) Added tracklist feature so you can list tracks in a window, and click on the one you want.
2.11 - Fixed bug that caused an error to be generated if you loaded a tune to play without first loading a program. (Thanks to the Datafile for spotting this!)
2.12 - Speeded up the opening of the tracks window, the calculation is now done when you load a program, not when you open the window. This is because I assume you will use this window far more than you will load a playlist!
Also removed the unused messages from the messages file.
Corrected problem with tracklist window not being updated on ram transfer.
2.13 - Fixed bug that caused RiscTracker to be re-loaded on a song double click (Thanks again to the Dave of the Datafile!).
Also fixed problem with tracklist window not being generated when you scan for tunes.
Added small basic program so that whatever types are defined in the 'types' file have the appropriate 'Alias$@RunType_xxx' variable set.
2.20 - Started work on a programing feature, added VUBars, added QTM.
The search feature now works everytime you open the window, files are found if a playlist is loaded.
Changed the Settypes prog, it now sets the File$Type_xxx variable as well.
Also started work on converting the help to work better with the latest version of !StrongHlp.
Fixed a few small memory allocation bugs, ie with tracklist window.
Centered some icons and made others work better with fonts (Risc PC)
Changed its status to 'freeware' as PD software means that I have given up copyright!
2.23 - Pause indicator now goes off if you skip to the next track while paused. Now reads PD Tracker setup files. More information available in the manin window by clicking on the NEW toggle size icon. The save box no longer has a toggle icon as I haven't implemented the 'Send to editor' feature yet!
Volume saved along with options, and displayed as % in main window, also settable from the options window.
2.25 - Tracks can now be stored in sprite memory on pre RPC machines, this reduces RMA fragmentation. Small change to support module.
2.26 - QTM tracks can now be loaded into the sprite are if the RMA manger from Topix isn't loaded as this is what caused the problem. This is not really a problem as with the RMA manager you get the module space back anyway.
2.27 - Little feature added. If a playermodule isn't loaded it's loaded as needed, BUT if it is loaded the version number is checked and if it doesn't match the ones known by Risc Tracker it is quit and the correct module loaded from within Risc Tracker. This means if you have been using another application that uses a different version of a playermodule (eg !PDTracker uses 1.30 of the symphony mod, I don't) and it has been left in memory then it will be quit and the new module loaded. This may not sound important but several modules have changed their SWIs so if an older one is in memory it will be quit.
2.28 - The speaker is now correctly set when the program starts up.
2.29 - The desktop save file now saves the path of the current playlist file also, so if the program is saved using the desktop save you will end up with the same program file.
2.30 - A few small errors fixed, the new version of DSym added, DXem added, some more bugs cleared up, some code converted to ARM code. The usual run of the mill kind of update. Oh, yes, some sprites are squashed as well.
2.31 - Re-designed options window and a new tools feature added. Plus some bugs fixed.
2.32 - Thanks Dave (of the Datafile PD library) for finding a bug. The program now correctly reports an error if it cant get enough sprite area. Also it correctly releases the sprite area if it is quit with a track still playing.
2.33 - The menu in the main window is correct, added channel control, fixed options window bug. Added F1 strong help option (not fully implemented yet!) also re-designed help file a little. Now correctly loads new PDTracker setup files.
2.34 - Removed extended information from main window, added key shortcuts, added ^F1 extended information, fixed small problem with key scanning routine, added option so that keys are only received if pointer in window. Changed options window so that general options appear first, instead of startup options. Memory allocation problems are now sorted out, I hope. These were not just related to the RPC as I thought but showed up more commonly on a RPC due to it’s smaller page size. Also sorted out another memory problem with memory not being given back when I had finished with it.
2.35 - Now attempts to shrink RMA after a module quits. Quite usefull really!
2.351 - No new additions, but !StrongHlp has been removed from the directory, and the program now searches for it in the directory !RTracker is in, as well as in !RTracker. Also the StrongHelp file has been slightly re-designed.
2.36 - Roosters module added, this collects some of my common wimp function together into a module, coo! Loading speeded up slightly, help file re-written, Ram transfer problem sorted out!! (Program runs faster now!) 'Save as default' option added to save the default playlist.
2.37 - Help file finished off, dynamic ares added for Risc OS 3.5+ machines, basic CD support added with the aid of CDThing. Patch for CD filer added, which can be left in memory. It can also be patched without loading the full program. Nice memory grabbing high colour intro sprite added for those lucky people with lots of colours.
2.38 - Fixed unknown or missing variable error with DXen. Also module wasn't killed properly. Machine doesn't lock up if you quit with a tune in the memory!
2.39 - Hmm, some tracks DO NOT like being run from dynamic memory! If you try to load one you will get the option to try RMA. Risc OS 3.5 error window used if you are using that fine operating system! (Or later)
2.50 - Big jump to indicate two new tune types (ta da!) Now supports Matrix files (nice sound quality) and Scream Tracker (which are converted to matrix) although some features are missing! Also looks for old Risc Tracker DAs on startup and asks them nicely to leave the memory!
3.00 - Never released 2.50, while waiting for some more matrix info I decided to add basic CD Support. Matrix features mostly there, but you cannot fast forward or rewind through a song while it is paused.
3.10 - Locking up of machine fixed, roll up icon on toolbar. CDFilter is allways loaded from the version of RT that applied the patch. This is mainly so that when I am developing I don't load the development version accdently when I want to play some funky music. Help file updated, interactive help sorted out. Window section added to options window.
HUGE EMBARRASING 'OH HELL I'VE JUST RELEASED THIS VERSION ON HENSA' TYPE BUG FIXED. The cdvolume routine should not trash the machine now! (It didn't on ROS 3.6, but it did on just about everything else AFAIK!), oh yest, some new features have crept up:-
Toolbar can be rolled up
Extra 'Windows' option window added
Ptrtip control. If it's enabled pressing ADJUST+MENU will pop up a
control window around the pointer
Named CDs
CD Thing has a toggle size icon so it can be minimized to show only the time.
'Fast response' option removed 'cos it's crap, program allways Wimp_PollIdles.
3.11ß - Added close icon to toolbar, to re-open main window.
3.12ß - Pop up menu now works, tracklist window is updated correctly on swap from CD to tracks. You can move the toolbar by dragging with adjust. There is a 'remove iconbar icon' option, for when yo've got the toolbar open. If you swap to an undefined CD the tracklist window is updated. Playing a track with no repeat stops at the end of the track, not 3 secs into the next one!
3.13ß - !CDThing now updated. (See it's !Help file) ^O for options added. Single play should stop at the end of the track. Templates repared. Name changes when not shuffling.
New: Pressing Stop when stopped in CDMode ejects the CD. Pressing Stop again closes the drawer (If it is supported), pressing play closes the drawere and starts playing.
3.14ß - Loading a tracker file now reverts to track play when in CD mode.
Intro scan now doesn't skip tracks.
FF and REW don't work when paused with Matrix files. Before they changed the number, which caused the song to skip when unpaused. (Matrix can't be FF or REW when paused.)
Fixed problem with program being flagged as off when program started.
When playing a program with repeat, the first track starts after the last track ends.
+10 button now needs double click to select track 10.
3.15ß - Changed lots of stuff, fixed tlist menu, stop now clears playlist as well.
3.16ß - More changes to RTMod.
3.17ß - Changed way memory is reserved for track scanning. Changed size to show length in CD mode. Changed pop up menu items to work OK. Added CDFlag for datadisc with tracks on it.
3,18ß - Oh, did some stuff. Modified data CD support so a message is given to user to inform them of CD.
3.19ß - CD option is not avalable if there's no CD Rom. The value to nudge track 1 by is configurable, and is enabled in the options window. Digital symphony loading tidied up. New QTM module introduced (1.27). Selecting menu options doesn't just pass on the keypress.
3.20 - Fixed problem with empty CD Rom drawer. Release version.
3.21 - Fixed repeat one CD track causing stop instead. Also size of disc is corectly displayed.
3.22 - Noticed a bug in Risc OS 3.7 that prevented the display from being updated when the pointer was in the window. Added workaround.
3.23 - Removed above fix, should provide slight speed improvements on Risc OS 3.7 machines without StrongARM. The bug only occured in the beta release of Risc OS 3.7 and as Risc OS 3.7 has been released properly, (and I now have it!) this bug should not be a problem. Fixed problem with track time not being updated on CDTrack change, it is also now cleard when you eject the disc. Fixed problems with FF and REW on StrongARM. (My CDRom got compleatly confused, and refused to even eject the disc!) Finally fixed bug that cause a silly number to be displayed as the time on a track change.
3.24 - Added StrongARM versions of Matrix modules.
3.25 - Added CD Resume feature, fixed problems with tracklist memory. (I hope)
3.26 - Problem with tracklist memory fixed, thanks Tom! Program now also returns the track name as 'Track n' if a track isn't defined. (Thanks Tom). CD files can now also be stored in Boot:Choices.RTracker, but they're still distributed inside !RTracker.
3.27 - Added sample list feature. (Fixed a few obscure bugs.) QTM songs don't get stuck anymore. (I hope!) New repeat behaviour, if repeat is turned off RT will play all tracks until the last one, then stop. If you just want to play one song select the '1' option, an extra click on repeat. (Just a red 1 displayed.) New versions of Digital Symphony and Tracker modules. (Volume can be used on Risc PC with trackers.)
