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The Best of Select: Games 3
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z80faq.doc
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1993-05-02
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Sinclair ZX Spectrum Emulator 'Z80' v2.01 - 3/5/93 - by G.A. Lunter
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Z80 - Frequently Asked Questions
1 - How to print the diagram of the tape-interface
as shown in DIAGRAMS.Z80, or make other screendumps.
2 - How to LLIST and LPRINT to a printer
3 - How to build the tape-interface
4 - What to do if the Zandbergen joystick doesn't work correctly
5 - How to get other emulators or spectrum programs
6 - How to contact the author (new email adress)
7 - Manic Miner and Jetset Willy run too fast!
8 - How to save a .SCR snapshot to tape or .TAP file
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
ad 1. How to print a screendump
You can't use COPY (the 48K version at least) to make a screendump.
COPY is intended only for the original ZX-printer. The design of the
ZX-printer is completely different from printers nowadays. However,
there are two other ways to make screendumps.
When the Interface 1 appeared, it was possible to attach a serial
printer to the RS232 port of the Interface 1. The emulator can
redirect the RS232 to the serial port of the PC, a file or a
parallel (printer) port.
The SamRam can make a screendump on a dot-matrix printer. It is
programmed for a Star SG-10. If you have a different printer, there
is two other ways to print screendumps. See below.
Example 1: (Screendump for Star SG-10 compatible matrix printer)
Redirect the Spectrum Interface 1 RS232 output to LPT1 by
pressing F4, O, L, 1.
Load a .Z80 file, and wait for the picture you want to print
to appear.
Switch to SamRam mode by pressing F10, H, 3, CTRL-ENTER, and
generate an NMI by pressing X, N.
Press P, then 1 for printing the screen.
Example 2: (Screendump for EPSON compatible matrix printer)
Redirect the RS232 output to LPT1 by pressing F4, O, L, 1.
Load a .Z80 file, and wait for the picture you want to print
to appear.
Save it as a .SCR screendump by pressing F10, X, S, name
Switch to Spectrum 128K mode (F9, 5, ENTER)
Choose '128K BASIC' from the menu, and type PAUSE 0:COPY,
and press ENTER once.
Press F10, X, L, name, to load the screen snapshot back into
memory.
Go back to the emulator (ESC, ESC) and press any key to start
printing.
Example 3: (Screendump for all other printers)
Follow the steps from example 2 up to the saving of the .SCR
screen snapshot.
Leave the emulator.
Run CONVERT on the .SCR file to generate a .GIF or a .PCX file,
for example
CONVERT b g screen.scr screen.gif, or
CONVERT b x screen.scr screen.pcx
Find another program that can print the .GIF or .PCX file
(Windows for instance can handle .PCX files)
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
ad 2. How to LLIST and LPRINT to a printer
As told above, you have to redirect the output of the Interface 1
RS232. In the emulator, press F4, O, L, 1. Like on the real spectrum
with Interface 1, if you want to print to the Interface 1 RS232, you
have to open the #3 channel. In Spectrum Basic, type: OPEN #3,"b" or
OPEN #3,"t" for basic listings (LLIST). (Press SHIFT-ALT-4 for
OPEN #)
In this way you can print anything as long as your spectrum program
supports printing to the Interface 1 RS232 and your model printer. For
example, it is perfecty possible to print a textfile on your printer
with Tasword 3, or make a printout with Art Studio.
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
ad 3. How to build the tape-interface.
Two different diagrams for the tape-interface are shown in
DIAGRAMS.Z80, along with a partlist. The second diagram is much
easier to build than the first diagram, and works as good and
sometimes even better. Some parallel ports don't work correctly with
the first diagram. The easier, second diagram should work in all
cases.
It is not possible to order the tape interface through the author of
the spectrum emulator. If you are unable to build one yourself, try
asking a friend. The diagram is very simple and should not be to hard
to build, not even for an unexperienced person.
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
ad 4. What to do if the Zandbergen joystick doesn't work correctly
On a fully implemented pc-joystick port, two analog joysticks can be
attached (on one plug!). A number of multi-io cards can handle only
one analog joystick. However, the Zandbergen joystick needs a fully
implemented joystick port. If only two directions (out of four) work,
your joystick port is not usable. Use an analog pc-joystick instead.
The joystick port of a Sounblaster is fully implemented and ok to
use.
If you have more than one joystick port in your pc, you have to
disable one.
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
ad 5. How to get other emulators or spectrum programs
You can tranfer your own spectrum programs to the pc by using the
tape-interface. I'm sorry, but I can't send you disks filled with
spectrum programs. If you want other spectrum emulators (for pc,
atari, amiga), programs that emulate other computers or more spectrum
stuff, call the Tatort BBS:
Tatort BBS Groningen
+31-50-264840
v22, v22bis, v32, v32bis, MNP2-5, v42, v42bis (300-14400)
At the time of writing 24 hours a day, but subject to change. Please
try calling between 22:00 and 9:00 first.
Also, if you have internet access, SIMTEL 20 mirrors have a directory
emulators (nic.funet.fi, wuarchive.wustl.edu)
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
ad 6. How to contact the author.
You can contact Gerton Lunter by email or normal post:
Internet email: gerton@rcondw.rug.nl
Post adress:
Gerton Lunter
P.O. Box 2535
9704 CM Groningen
The Netherlands,
or leave a message on the bbs.
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
ad 7. Manic Miner and Jetset Willy run too fast!
True. Most of the time these games are either producing sound or
executing an LDIR instruction to update the screen. Since this
instruction can be emulated with a single REP MOVSB instruction of
the 8086, emulation is suddenly very fast. Without sound, Manic
Miner and Jetset Willy were two of very few games that were
actually playable on a 8 MHz PC, and of course I don't want to slow
down the emulator on slow machines!
If you turn the LDIR emulation switch on, the LDIR instruction will
behave somewhat differently, important for well-protected programs.
As a side effect, it will then also run at the right speed.
───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
ad 8. How to save a .SCR snapshot to tape or .TAP file
First make the appropriate choises in the tape menu, F7. Then type
SAVE "name" SCREEN$. Press ENTER, and then press F10 in the one second
gap between header and data block. When saving to tape you can easily
see it; when saving to disk, after pressing ENTER give the emulator a
split second to save the header to disk before pressing F10.
Now load the .SCR snapshot into memory, and continue saving.