+hloberg Posted April 7, 2019 Share Posted April 7, 2019 I was going through WHTECH a little while back and came across what looked like and early version of XB25, 24 (?) that had a lot of the subroutines that are in XB 25 but you didn't have the rom or grom but was in disk form. One subroutine was a 40 column text that I want to use. I just went back and I can't seem find it anymore (did I imagine it?). anyway, anyone know of a good 40 column routine for XB or know what the file that I might have found? note: I did find XB24 for Geneve but that won't work in XB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackbox Posted April 8, 2019 Share Posted April 8, 2019 In RXB 2012 you could switch to text mode with CALL POKER(7,244,1,240) - reversed with CALL POKER(0,0). Two disk packages spring to mind for 40 column Extended Basic with CALL LINK versions of the graphics commands to use in text (40 column) mode--- Oak Tree Systems Display Enhancement Package or Paragon Computings Enhanced Display Package(Note how close those names are!)Paragon's version also gives you access to read and write to vdp and change the vdp registers as well as adding 40 column mode and improvements and 40 column equivalents to the various graphic commands. I have the Paragon disk online for emulators, and will be adding documentation in the next week or so. s 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RXB Posted April 8, 2019 Share Posted April 8, 2019 (edited) In RXB 2012 you could switch to text mode with CALL POKER(7,244,1,240) - reversed with CALL POKER(0,0). Two disk packages spring to mind for 40 column Extended Basic with CALL LINK versions of the graphics commands to use in text (40 column) mode--- Oak Tree Systems Display Enhancement Package or Paragon Computings Enhanced Display Package (Note how close those names are!) Paragon's version also gives you access to read and write to vdp and change the vdp registers as well as adding 40 column mode and improvements and 40 column equivalents to the various graphic commands. I have the Paragon disk online for emulators, and will be adding documentation in the next week or so. s RXB 2019 now has CALL VDPSTACK(address) so this makes using Text Mode in XB a little more easy to do as you can move the VDP STACK out of way. There is still issues with some XB routines as they use some buffers in VDP where TEXT mode resides: [0209] *********************************************************** [0210] * VDP addresses [0211] 02E2 NLNADD EQU >02E2 New LiNe ADDress [0212] 02FE ENDSCR EQU >02FE END of SCReen address [0213] 0371 LODFLG EQU >0371 Auto-boot needed flag [0214] 0372 START EQU >0372 Line to start execution at [0215] 0376 SYMBOL EQU >0376 Saved symbol table pointer [0216] 0382 SPGMPT EQU >0382 Saved PGMPTR for continue [0217] 0384 SBUFLV EQU >0384 Saved BUFLEV for contiue [0218] 0386 SEXTRM EQU >0386 Saved EXTRAM for continue [0219] * SAVEVP EQU >0388 Saved VSPRT for continue [0220] * ERRLN EQU >038A On-error line pointer [0221] 038C BUFSRT EQU >038C Edit recall start addr (VARW) [0222] 038E BUFEND EQU >038E Edit recall end addr (VARA) [0223] 0392 TABSAV EQU >0392 Saved main symbol table ponte [0224] 0396 SLSUBP EQU >0396 Saved LSUBP for continue [0225] 0398 SFLAG EQU >0398 Saved on-warning/break bits [0226] 039A SSTEMP EQU >039A To save subprogram program ta [0227] 039C SSTMP2 EQU >039C Same as above. Used in SUBPRO [0228] * RXB PATCH CODE * MOVED TO >03B8 SIZXPT (Size ACCEPT AT) [0229] * MRGPAB EQU >039E MERGEd temporary for pab pt [0230] 039E PMEM EQU >039E UPPER 24K MEMORY [0231] 03B8 MRGPAB EQU >03B8 MERGEd temporary for pab ptr [0232] *---------------------------------------------------------- [0233] * Added 6/8/81 for NOPSCAN feature [0234] 03B7 PSCFG EQU >03B7 [0235] *---------------------------------------------------------- [0236] * RXB PATCH CODE SWAP CONFLG & >35D7 FOR CONSOLE MENU FLAG [0237] * Flag 0: 99/4 console, 5/29/81 [0238] * 1: 99/4A console [0239] 03BB CONFLG EQU >03BB [0240] *---------------------------------------------------------- [0241] * Temporary [0242] 0374 NOTONE EQU >0374 NO-TONE for SIZE in ACCEPT us [0243] * in FLMGRS (4 bytes used) [0244] 0388 SAVEVP EQU >0388 [0245] 038A ERRLN EQU >038A [0246] 03AC ACCVRW EQU >03AC Temoporary used in ERRZZ, als [0247] * used in FLMGRS [0248] 03B0 VALIDP EQU >03B0 Use as two values passing fro [0249] 03B2 VALIDL EQU >03B2 VALIDATE code to READL1 [0250] 03BC OLDTOP EQU >03BC Temporary used in ERRZZ, also [0251] 0820 CRNBUF EQU >0820 CRuNch BUFfer address [0252] 08BE CRNEND EQU >08BE CRuNch buffer END [0253] 08C0 RECBUF EQU >08C0 Edit RECall BUFfer [0254] 0958 VRAMVS EQU >0958 Default base of value stack [0255] 0390 CNSTMP EQU >0390 Use as temporary stored place [0256] 03C0 VROAZ EQU >03C0 Temporary VDP Roll Out Are [0257] *********************************************************** Edited April 8, 2019 by RXB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
senior_falcon Posted April 8, 2019 Share Posted April 8, 2019 Depending on your requirements, you might give The Missing Link a try. TML uses bit mapped mode and on the same screen you can have: 8x8 characters, 6x8 characters, 5x7 characters, 4x6 characters or you can make custom character sets from 1x1 to 8x12. One limitation is that you cannot scroll. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+9640News Posted April 8, 2019 Share Posted April 8, 2019 I have no idea if this program will help you, but check out the file 40COLMN.ARK. You should be able to find it in the sitelist of files on whtech, or do a search for the file on my BBS (9640News.ddns.net:9640). I did a file search for "40 column", and had a hit. It was listed as an XB program, 5K in size archived. Hopefully, it will help you out. Beery Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+hloberg Posted April 8, 2019 Author Share Posted April 8, 2019 (edited) thanks, all good suggestions. I thought of TML but since I know I have seen a 40 column routine out there somewhere TML was my fall back. found the 40colmn.ark on whtech, it's under the geneve section. might work? In RXB 2012 you could switch to text mode with CALL POKER(7,244,1,240) - reversed with CALL POKER(0,0). Two disk packages spring to mind for 40 column Extended Basic with CALL LINK versions of the graphics commands to use in text (40 column) mode--- Oak Tree Systems Display Enhancement Package or Paragon Computings Enhanced Display Package(Note how close those names are!)Paragon's version also gives you access to read and write to vdp and change the vdp registers as well as adding 40 column mode and improvements and 40 column equivalents to the various graphic commands. I have the Paragon disk online for emulators, and will be adding documentation in the next week or so. s found the oaktree under PC99...vendors on whtech. doesn't look like there are any manuals so that might be an issue & may or may not be the display ench. Edited April 8, 2019 by hloberg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+hloberg Posted April 8, 2019 Author Share Posted April 8, 2019 (edited) question, any 40 column routine will eat into the VDP area. will it also eat into the XB variable/string area also? If I remember right the 40 column uses just a little more space than the 32. edit: reading the column40 docs it looks like it cuts into the disk buffers a little but doesn't mention nothing else. Edited April 8, 2019 by hloberg 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+9640News Posted April 8, 2019 Share Posted April 8, 2019 thanks. I'm holding RXB & TML back as options if I can't find the 40column utility I thought I had in some form in the past. What I'm doing is just converting a BASIC program from an Atari 8-bit and formatting be easier if I could find a 40 column utility for the TI99. I'll try the 40colmn.ark I found on whtech under Geneve section & see if that works. Hopefully, it will work. I know when I searched for it on my BBS, it came up under a TI-99/4A group so the file (~6K) may be in either multiple locations or, worked for both platforms. Beery 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+hloberg Posted April 9, 2019 Author Share Posted April 9, 2019 (edited) here it is. it is the one I remember, I think. it's just a 40 column routine. I made up the manual from the demo. It's a XB load file. only takes a couple seconds to load. Here are the commands: CALL LINK("FORTY") - start 40 columnCALL LINK("CLS") - 40 column call clearCALL LINK("DISPL",X,Y,"DISPLAY STRING") - 40 column 'display at'CALL LINK("INPUT",X,Y,INPUTSTRING$) - 40 column 'accept at'CALL LOAD(12350,16*(FOREGROUND-1)+(BACKGROUND-1))::CALL LINK(FORTY") - change fore and background colors in 40 columnCALL LINK("BSCRN") - back to graphics mode there is another 2 disk 40 column with a lot more features, I'll look in to it later but it's more than I need for now. 40 column manual.txt 40COLMN.txt Edited April 9, 2019 by hloberg 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackbox Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 How did this code not appear more widely? I like to know sources so... check out: COMPUTER BRIDGE (Volume 3, Number 12, December 1984) Page 2 (User group magazine from St Louis) Also published in "Dr Tamashiro's TI Travels 1984-1988" which is quite a treasure house of code. s 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
senior_falcon Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 I think you will find that this is unstable. By having the screen start at V0000 you will overwrite VDP starting at V0370 and that area is reserved for XB use. I have a better solution for you and should be able to post it tonight. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+hloberg Posted April 9, 2019 Author Share Posted April 9, 2019 (edited) How did this code not appear more widely? I like to know sources so... check out: COMPUTER BRIDGE (Volume 3, Number 12, December 1984) Page 2 (User group magazine from St Louis) Also published in "Dr Tamashiro's TI Travels 1984-1988" which is quite a treasure house of code. do we have something like Atarimania for the TI99, an organized and noted database of software & books. WHTECH is fine but it's hard to find anything, and a there are a lot of other resources spread all over the internet. Edited April 9, 2019 by hloberg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+hloberg Posted April 9, 2019 Author Share Posted April 9, 2019 I think you will find that this is unstable. By having the screen start at V0000 you will overwrite VDP starting at V0370 and that area is reserved for XB use. I have a better solution for you and should be able to post it tonight. OK, since you bought it up & I'm still learning the TI99 after being away from it for many years; briefly what is @ V0370 and what are you doing to fix it. Are you moving XB pointers or the screen pointers or am I completely off course? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tursi Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 There's a nice set called XXB that adds stable 40 column text (and some other routines) to Extended BASIC, I used it for a long time. Try here: http://atariage.com/forums/topic/258949-40-column-text-mode-in-extended-basic/?hl=%2Bxxb&do=findComment&comment=3630058 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackbox Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 OK, since you bought it up & I'm still learning the TI99 after being away from it for many years; briefly what is @ V0370 and what are you doing to fix it. Are you moving XB pointers or the screen pointers or am I completely off course? Briefly and simply - 0370 is a memory address in hex notation and the V stands for VDP RAM, which is the internal console ram. It differs from CPU RAM (mostly external) and GRAM (mostly in modules). Recommend you read from top to bottom of the READ THIS FIRST thread http://atariage.com/forums/topic/267055-new-to-the-group-ti-994a-faq-hardware-and-software-resources-read-first/ There are a lot of links to Manuals and other media goodies on the forum at: http://atariage.com/forums/blog/567/entry-12507-strips-cards-manuals-labels-3d-objects-more-updated-03262019/ My personal list of useful websites would be: a href="http://ftp.whtech.com/"is full of books, magazines, manuals, and programs (you have found this one!) a href="http://www.hexbus.com/tibooks/" TI Books as PDF files (LOTS) Ron Reuter's a href="http://www.mainbyte.com/ti99/" Mainbytes Thierry Nouspikel's a href="http://www.unige.ch/medecine/nouspikel/ti99/titech.htm"Tech Pages</a>- serious stuff. a href="https://www.ninerpedia.org/wiki/Main_Page">Ninerpedia</a>is a principal resource for TI emulation with MAME, and also has lots of other info- registration is required to post, otherwise unrestricted. a href="http://www.ti99iuc.it/web/index.php?pageid=155&pagina=database_ultimi&sezione=2#">ti99iuchas some clean documenation to download, some disks to download (for emulators) and lots of information- like how to get composite video from a PAL console- it is in Italian, but there are translation engines, and you will quickly learn the important words... a href="http://tigameshelf.net/"TI Gameshelf is less taxing, a collection of games in bin format for Mess and other emulators, or the FG99 module, and some disk files for emulators. No registration required a href="http://www.99er.net/" 99er.net is not an easy site to find things on but there is plenty there. I mean PLENTY. Make sure to use the section "TI99 Database". oops- not forgetting my own little offering at a href="http://shawweb.myzen.co.uk/stephen/TI.htm"which has well over a hundred pages of TI information. enjoy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+hloberg Posted April 9, 2019 Author Share Posted April 9, 2019 There's a nice set called XXB that adds stable 40 column text (and some other routines) to Extended BASIC, I used it for a long time. Try here: http://atariage.com/forums/topic/258949-40-column-text-mode-in-extended-basic/?hl=%2Bxxb&do=findComment&comment=3630058 THATS IT! that was what I saw a while back that looked like XB26 with 40 column. repost: XXB-Display-Utils-TRAVER.dsk XXB-Ext-Ext-Basic-Barry-Traver.DSK XXB-Ext-Ext-Basic-Barry-Traver.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Ksarul Posted April 9, 2019 Share Posted April 9, 2019 How did this code not appear more widely? I like to know sources so... check out: COMPUTER BRIDGE (Volume 3, Number 12, December 1984) Page 2 (User group magazine from St Louis) Also published in "Dr Tamashiro's TI Travels 1984-1988" which is quite a treasure house of code. s I don't think I have ever seen "Dr Tamashiro's TI Travels 1984-1988" Is that a book, a pamphlet, or a series of articles in some newsletters? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
senior_falcon Posted April 10, 2019 Share Posted April 10, 2019 CALL LINK("TEXT") puts you into text mode. Warning: text mode is an area in which the Extended BASIC programmer must walk with care. Two things to remember: (1) You must use CALL LINK("GRAPH") or its equivalent in order to return safely to graphics mode; and (2) any kind of error in text mode can throw you into never-never land! Many CALLs accessed while in text mode create a screen "glitch;" so CALL LINK ("KEYR";RESPONSE$) is provided to avoid that problem. (One limitation that comes with working with text mode from Extended BASIC is that apparently all CALLs to user-defined subprograms will cause such glitches.) Doesn't sound all that stable to me. Just be patient a little longer. What I will post does not have any of these problems. It will be ready tonight or tomorrow. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+hloberg Posted April 10, 2019 Author Share Posted April 10, 2019 CALL LINK("TEXT") puts you into text mode. Warning: text mode is an area in which the Extended BASIC programmer must walk with care. Two things to remember: (1) You must use CALL LINK("GRAPH") or its equivalent in order to return safely to graphics mode; and (2) any kind of error in text mode can throw you into never-never land! Many CALLs accessed while in text mode create a screen "glitch;" so CALL LINK ("KEYR";RESPONSE$) is provided to avoid that problem. (One limitation that comes with working with text mode from Extended BASIC is that apparently all CALLs to user-defined subprograms will cause such glitches.) Doesn't sound all that stable to me. Just be patient a little longer. What I will post does not have any of these problems. It will be ready tonight or tomorrow. very cool. thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
senior_falcon Posted April 10, 2019 Share Posted April 10, 2019 (edited) It's late and so I will just post this and let you read the docs. Have fun. Here is a demo for T80XB. The utilities are virtually the same, except for 40 columns instead of 80. T40XB.zip Edited April 10, 2019 by senior_falcon 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Opry99er Posted April 10, 2019 Share Posted April 10, 2019 Whaaa???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackbox Posted April 10, 2019 Share Posted April 10, 2019 (edited) I don't think I have ever seen "Dr Tamashiro's TI Travels 1984-1988" Is that a book, a pamphlet, or a series of articles in some newsletters? You can find the book towards the end of a very long page at http://www.hexbus.com/tibooks/ in a downloadable pdf format. s Edited April 10, 2019 by blackbox 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RXB Posted April 10, 2019 Share Posted April 10, 2019 (edited) XB was never ever designed to deal with Text Mode, on the other hand video upgrade chips 9938 and 9958 are very much compatable. The extra VDP RAM made switching to 256 colors per pixel very easy to do from XB with CALL LINKs, but could have been done from XB GPL. I have constantly complained we need a 1 Meg VDP Hardware like the TIM card. A TIM card like version would allow normal XB and change all commands increased by a factor of 4. I would increase 24x32 to 96X128, characters, and colors would increase from 16 to 256, additionally we could add a real mouse interface. This would make Text mode look crappy in comparison as you can do graphics and text more than 80 character lines. (128 characters s longer then 80 character lines and you have borders on both sides also 96 rows is better then 40) A bonus is the character buffer for edited lines would be increased from tokenized 152 bytes to 256 bytes, text would be 512 byte lines. (Tokenized lines are what are saved to disk, text is untokenized so we can read it.) Edited April 10, 2019 by RXB 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+hloberg Posted April 10, 2019 Author Share Posted April 10, 2019 XB was never ever designed to deal with Text Mode,.. ..... that has always been my biggest complaint with TIXB. The TI was the only computer (that I'm aware of) that the majority of it's video capabilities were not accessible from it's advanced BASIC. which leads me to a question, if TI, when the memory expansion was attached, had moved all the tables to the main memory out of the VDP, would that have worked? that way all the VDP could been used for graphics. I know now that would cause a lot of compatibility issues but if it been done form the getgo would it worked? as for the tables cutting into the main programming area, it wouldn't been any different than the other computers of the era. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+hloberg Posted April 10, 2019 Author Share Posted April 10, 2019 It's late and so I will just post this and let you read the docs. Have fun. Here is a demo for T80XB. The utilities are virtually the same, except for 40 columns instead of 80. thanks! looks great. can't wait to try it'll out. make the Atari conversions a lot easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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