kl99

There is an official way to run a TI Basic Program (non XB) from GROM and it is described in the TI Home Computer Software Development System Programmer's Guide (28pages). The Document was resurrected by Jim Fetzner and I can post it in case there is interest. In addition I remember reading about success in converting a running XB program to cartridge format. However I found nothing in The Cyc. But there is even proof about some existing tool if you load Chainlink Master Solitaire (js99er.net), which is an XB game in binary cartridge format and it is starting by showing "CART CONV BY TURSI". I guess Tursi can shed some light about his tool "MakeCart".

Hi Jim, see this for more documents on hex-bus protocol (also called IPB Intelligent Peripheral Bus). http://www.ti99.eu/?page_id=25&lang=en Klaus

Haha! Wanna bet? Just kidding, your comment made me laugh.

ORIGINAL XB ROM SOURCE CODE by Rich Gilbertson As I was re-writting XB for my RXB (RichGKXB) I decided you can help me with the project by having the code and viewing it. These Archived files TIXB-ROM01 and TIXB-ROM02 are the Source code for the XB Module. The TIXB-ROM01 file is 862 sectors and the TIXB-ROM02 is 894 sectors. To Assemble the files I used the FunnelWeb Assembler with a Horizon 4000 Ramdisk, control files on disk 6 and set the Object file on disk 7 (127 sectors). The list files are both over 1430 sectors so unless you have DSQD you will not be able to create a single list file. I have extracted the original 990 Mini-computer Source code with all the Debugger code inserted through out the code so it can be Assembled on a TI or Geneve. Getting a absolute duplicate of the version 110 XB module was not easy as there was a modification to the code just before the TI-99/4A was introduced. The original code also included some Macro Fortram code to assist in short hand methods for TI programmers to write the code. I had to decode many sections then insert comments as to what was going on. There are some sections that I placed a ????????? or ? on the comment line as it is beyond me as to why that code was there. You will also find some lines that TI programmers themselves did the same thing! After you Assemble the code you will find very few loaders that will load the object code correctly. I finally turned off the RXB GRAM power-up routine and loaded the object code with the REA EA3 loader. Other loaders deleted at least one byte while loading. I loaded the Object code into my GRAMULATOR ROM bank 0 and swapped banks to load both banks. The reason I created the code to only load in 8K chunks is becuase the Geneve, GRAMULATOR, GRAM-KRACKER, PGRAM and RXB Cartridge all have two (2) 8K pages instead the original TI XB cart that was three (3) 4K pages with only upper pages 1 and 2 switching places. Of course that means the lower 4K pages are the same in my code. If you have any modifications you would like to see please send them to me as the XB GPL Source has to be re-written also in order to be bug free. (XB fetches bytes directly from ROM) I intend to create 80 column support in RXB and fix many of the little bugs I have found in XB. Many other ideas are things like you can either use line numbers or lables, merge in programs while running a program, or save programs (or sections) from a running program. Send me your modified code so we can all benifit, send to: Richard Lynn Gilbertson Phone: **** ****

Here is the demonstration done by speccery,

The silver one has another Program Title for the Master Selection screen. Besides that there is no difference, it is the licensed XB. The golden one includes several Subprograms from ApeSoft. Further there was an upgrade path for the ones that bought the silver one and wanted the features of the later released golden one. It included the label, and the Eproms. Both are dumped and contained in your TI99W Suite, by Cadd Electronics, if I remember right. The golden one for sure. Talking XB: I have got a pre wedding gift from Ermano Betori when we had the TI Treff the last weekend: a cartridge called Extended Basic Plus, Copyright 1987 by SebaSoft. I couldnt find any reference to it except in this file: https://github.com/mamedev/mame/blob/master/hash/ti99_cart.xml However I think that particular .xml definition file mixed up ApeSoft Banks with the ones from this Extended Basic Plus. After my honeymoon I will be able to dump both modules (golden and sebasoft) and verify it. BR Klaus

@RXB: we should include thanks to Mike Wright as his Cyc Suite was containing that huge index txt file of all his private disks and only with that precise meta data (Diskname, Filenames, ...) I could then search my hard drives for a copy. Btw: Every binary search tools fails on .arc files (or .arc TI File on a DSK) as .arc files don't reveil their contained TI Files in clear text. I really need to include support for .arc decoding in my Web99 Tool to unhide more such treasures. In parallel you should receive an email from Mike Wright with the 3 disks I asked for in your name. He already replied to me he wants to help, but didn't attach anything, so he is probably going the direct route to you. To sum it up, do we now have ALL original source files in those ARC files that are necessary to compile XB? So Grom and Rom Sources? What is that XBRom Source.zip file you posted on facebook TI99ers? https://www.facebook.com/groups/2209774843/10155281604479844/ If I got it right, the Source Files contain the untouched code with a merge of the original comments by TI and you. Is that correct? Did you remove any original comments, or only added comments where there were none? Maybe you can share the whole story of what happened one more time. Talking the 990 mini computer original source code, the 2 books you bought,... Did the book contain more than the above? Did the book include specifications as well or source code only? The diskname of the XBROMSRC.DSK is XBROMS012. Did you have 11 more Disks? What is(was) on them? Is there still data lost that was shared or uploaded? Be as extensive as possible. BR Klaus

I got no reply yet from the owner of that file. But I continued my search over the copies of disk-image collections. They all seem to originate from an upload to ftp://solutions.solon.com/pub/ti99 RXB1002.ARK TITECHMN.ARC TIXBROMS.ARC XBROM110.ARC CONSOLE.TXT DISK-CAR.TXT RS232SRC.TXT

I don't have these file as I only have a txt file containing these listed entries, it is some sort of directory index in txt format of his TI disk archive on the pc. I just sent a mail to the owner of that file to help us get the actual files.

Are we talking these files/disks? I might know who to ask for these then. More later... Checksum Filename Type Size P B Diskname PC Filename 275170633 XBGROM3 INT/FIX128 231 XBGROMS ..\XBGROMS.DSK 624830275 XBGROM4 INT/FIX128 296 XBGROMS ..\XBGROMS.DSK 603017639 XBGROM5 INT/FIX128 270 XBGROMS ..\XBGROMS.DSK 917119298 XBGROM6 INT/FIX128 169 XBGROMS ..\XBGROMS.DSK 204166271 XBROM0 INT/FIX128 328 XBROMS ..\XBROMS.DSK -298225384 XBROM1 INT/FIX128 340 XBROMS ..\XBROMS.DSK 1538052480 *READ-ME DIS/VAR 80 13 Y XBROMS012 ..\XBROMSRC.DSK 990561544 ARCHIVER PROGRAM 26 XBROMS012 ..\XBROMSRC.DSK 204166271 TIXB-ROM01 INT/FIX128 328 Y XBROMS012 ..\XBROMSRC.DSK 1782979693 TIXB-ROM02 INT/FIX128 340 Y XBROMS012 ..\XBROMSRC.DSK What about these? -1344488280 GPLDEMO1 INT/FIX128 88 PC99 ..\totalark.dsk 581046879 GPLDEMO2 INT/FIX128 155 PC99 ..\totalark.dsk -1183416786 GPLMAN1 INT/FIX128 463 Y PC99 ..\totalark.dsk -812703662 GPLMAN2 INT/FIX128 477 Y PC99 ..\totalark.dsk -682866851 README1ST DIS/VAR 80 9 PC99 ..\totalark.dsk -1681270476 RYTEDATA INT/FIX128 181 PC99 ..\totalark.dsk

I am searching for this document as well! Here is my compilation of the internal TI documents that are known to exist, the link goes directly to the BASIC section: http://www.ti99.eu/?page_id=25&lang=en#bb840c19da9e440a94ba32236a226ea2 [The automatic opening of documents from your local copy of your The Cyc no longer works due to security restrictions of the browsers.] Another method to catch information as long as the document stays absent is trying to get the information from the 99/8 documents and commented source code files.

from the TI-99/4 and 99/4A Personal Computer System Software Comprehensive Specification Document: ( ftp://ftp.whtech.com/datasheets%20and%20manuals/Specifications/TI-99_4%20and%2099_4A%20Personal%20Computer%20System%20Software%20Comprehensive%20Specification%20V1.0%2002-25-1983.pdf ) This means we talk about VDP Ram.

thanks for sharing the article.

we have booked for Rome! I am only missing Chicago this time because of honey moons!

I have quickly edited my former entry to now include 11 items. You will get a P.M. for the payment. BR Klaus

Hi, I will buy from you the following TI-99 titles, one of each: 2 Addition and Subtraction 1 (green/white) 3 Alligator Mix (blue/white) writing on shell 5 Decimals 1 (white Scott Foresman label) 2 Early Learning Fun (green/white) 2 Early Learning Fun (green/black) 2 Household Budget Management (mauve/white)2 Multiplication (black/white) 3 Reading Fun (green/white) 3 Reading On (white Scott Foresman label) 3 Scholastic Spelling Level 5 (black/white) 3 Scholastic Spelling Level 6 (black/white) I can pay per paypal and have an american shipping address. BR Klaus

actually it is a different VDP, the TMS9928A, which has no composite video out but a component video signal as direct VDP output.

4 Gamevision Cartridges were released with a label at the bottom in 1979/1980. Make if five if you count in the Gamevision Demonstration cartridge. All were actually from Milton Bradley. I don't know about the involvement of the name or company Gamevision. Maybe they wanted to establish a brand across different Home Computers for Milton Bradley Games? http://ti994.com/1979/cartridges/ Anyway, they were quickly replaced with TI standard PHM cartridges and labels. If it comes to Yahtzee, there is actually 5 different cartridges to collect, the: - Gamevision Cartridge - TI classic Black Label on Black Shell Cartridge - TI classic Black Label on Beige Shell Cartridge - TI Red Label on Black Shell Cartridge - TI Red Label on Beige Shell Cartridge For Connect Four this goes even further, since a label variant for the Red Label was identified, one showing the Trademark text, one without the Trademark text.

Munch Man is with red label or with black label? Black shell or beige shell? Physical Fitness is with green label or with black label? Black shell or beige shell? TI Invaders is with red label or with black label? Black shell or beige shell?

In 1992 my brother had computer science and his high school teacher was so kind and donated his "old" TI-99 setup to us. He heard that our family uses the TI-99 as only computer and thought his equipment was best used at our place. If I remember right, this was when we got the very first PEB. At school however no TIs were used in any schools. However I was in a project class to use a TI-92 graphic calculator for mathematics, for the final two years of high school (1997-1999). I fall in love again with TI. The clarity of the manual reminded me a lot on the 99/4a guidebook. I not only learned TI-Basic for that unit but also to program it in Assembler, even though it was a motorola 68k Cpu.

True, the Sony PVM (Professional Video Monitors) are deep but provide the best picture you can get. On the other hand if only used with a TMS9918A for composite they might be a overkill and can't undo the noise introduced by the VDP already. I ordered myself some TMS9928A which run NTSC/60Hz and YPrPb and hope to get the best of both worlds: original 60hz speed and a component signal. With a TMS9929A (any european TI) my Sony BVM (Broadcast Video Monitor) is showing a spectacular picture! Alternative would be the get a original TI monitor, both types limited to NTSC and composite.

I informed retrorgb about your product, he has a matching target audience and usually around 3500 views on his videos. starting from 07:50 min BR Klaus

order for Austrian TI Group sent

please add http://www.ti99.com and http://www.ti99.eu thx, Klaus

I did a list of the TI-99/4 manuals that are from that old style of cartridge manufactoring here, the latest additions are not yet photographed: http://www.ti99.eu/?page_id=3611&lang=en Such manuals only refer to the TI-99/4 keyboard shortcuts inside. They are missing the Solid State Command Module text in the black bar. PHm3041 Adventure arrived that late that it actually refers to the 99/4A keyboard shortcuts as well.