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Atari++ Easter Release 1.72


thorfdbg

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Hi folks,

 

please find the "Easter Release" of the portable Atari emulator, Atari++, on its usual webspace at

http://www.xl-project.com/

 

Besides many minor bug fixes, the major news for this release is support for the ATX file format, namely the emulator now includes emulation of disk timing, duplicate, missing or erraneous disk sectors and so on. It also includes support for "stuck" Player/Missile shift registers, a new type of break point, better control of the monitor window in Win, plus many many modifications of Os++, the built-in operating system. The most notable changes are that FMS++, the built-in DOS, finally allows to mix the directory modes with any regular file access modes - which fixes a series of long-standing bugs in all Atari DOSes I have seen so far, including 2.0S, 2.5, Os A/+ and probably many others. Dos 3 might be a notable exception here. Here is the change list:

 

- The binary file loader automatically generated when inserting a COM or EXE

into the disk drive and booting from it is now much shorter and requires a

lot less RAM. It requires now, however, an additional ESCape code and hence

emulator support. This will now also load binary files that require RAM from

0x800 and up.

 

- This release adds support for ATX files and includes an emulation of the

disk drive timing, handling of bad and duplicate sectors and a more precise

emulation of the SIO timing.

 

- An additional type of watch point was added: The default watch point now

only reacts on memory writes, whereas the new watch point continues to react

on reads and writes.

 

- Experimented a lot with the timing of the GTIA Prior writing and found that

the currently implemented logic is actually very close to the real system,

additional delay cycles make results only worse, not better. Thus, leaving it

as it is right now.

 

- The SDL StringGadget now reacts on Ctrl+Backspace and Ctrl+Delete and erases

its contents on this keyboard command.

- Added emulation for "stuck" Player/Missile shift registers when switching

from 4x or 2x expansion to the size register "2" value, which is almost, but

not quite 1x expansion.

 

- The built-in Os blocks NMIs now early in the reset cycle and by that tries

to work around bad display lists left over by buggy programs.

- Minor modification in the built-in FMS (Dos 2.++): CONFIG.SYS can now change

the position of the FMS buffers by poking into DiskBufferBase $710,$711 and

relocate them.

 

- Minor modification of the short VBI: GPrior, ColBK and Col1 are now only

reloaded if the graphics mode really requires it. This applies to fine

scrolling text modes, and the text window modes with the GTIA modes (modes

9+64,10+64 and 11+64). This fixes compatibility issues with Atari Tennis and

some Lucasfilms intros.

 

- Minor modifications in the FMS: Rename with wildcard was broken, and the FMS

no longer tries to load non-valid VTOCs. Invalid VTOCs are now reported as

error 178.

 

- The DUP COPY command avoids now trying to overwrite BASIC program memory

or other user memory protected correctly by setting APPMEMHI. Some cartridges

do not set this Os pointer correctly, though. Mac/65 does not. The new DUP

command NEW will erase user memory and make it available for COPY.

 

- Fixed a long standing bug of all Dos 2.XX compatible FMS'es: Directory

reading mode did not cooperate with any other operations that would access

the directory, and would invalidate the directory access channel. This is

no longer the case now. Additionally, reading the directory sets now the

EOF warning flag (Y = 3) correctly right before the EOF.

 

- The STATUS command, as specified by DOS 2.0S and DOS 2.5, was actually

quite unuseful as it required a file specification which was never supplied

by BASIC. The new implementation returns the status of the last CIO command

on the same channel if the channel is open, allowing BASIC for example to

access the near-EOF warning return code.

 

Happy Easter!

 

Thomas

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Excellent - thanks! OS source listing (with integral FMS) is especially interesting.

 

The FMS is really a long going story. This source goes back to 1990 (and even before) - the truely tricky part is to fit a feature-rich FMS into the 3K lo Os-area from c000 to cbff, it's pretty tight code, the Dos 2.0S FMS (and DOS 2.5) is almost 5K. Currently, two bytes ROM space left.

 

No, I afraid there is no easter egg to find.

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The FMS is really a long going story. This source goes back to 1990 (and even before) - the truely tricky part is to fit a feature-rich FMS into the 3K lo Os-area from c000 to cbff, it's pretty tight code, the Dos 2.0S FMS (and DOS 2.5) is almost 5K. Currently, two bytes ROM space left.

 

Interesting! We like tight code... I'm looking for hints on writing my own FMS (and SIO handler), so this is proving quite illuminating.

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?? So 1450XLD and 1400XL ROM working fine on Atari++ Emulator. Are you the author of this software on PC ? I will test them soon after download Atari ++...

 

Included V: SIO command working fine for voice ?

 

Did you try to type simple BASIC mode :

 

10 DIM A$(10)

20 A$="HELLO"

30 OPEN #1,4,0,"V1:PF"

40 PRINT #1;A$

 

Let me know if it is working to say computerized voice "Hello" via your monitor.

Edited by Caterpiggle
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?? So 1450XLD and 1400XL ROM working fine on Atari++ Emulator. Are you the author of this software on PC ? I will test them soon after download Atari ++...

 

I have here something that is called a 1450 rom. No, it does not install a V: handler into HATABS, so maybe this is the wrong ROM, or something else - that is why I ask.

 

No, I do not emulate the vortex chip in software. Yes, I am the author of the emulator.

 

I am not sure the V: is ROM-based, it is probably bootstrapped through the parallel port or SIO. No, I do not emulate any device on the XL parallel port interface, no documentation for such devices, sorry.

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You can find the Handler ROM in this post: http://atariage.com/forums/topic/186380-1450-xld-motherboard-build-assorted-questions/page__st__100?do=findComment&comment=2358222. It installs the T: and V: handlers into HATABS, plus includes the PBI code for the internal Floppy.

 

Vandal and I just used the ROM from a XL/XE for the OS...

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Ok, something new for the next release: Will include some goodies for Dos 2.++, in specific a CONFIG.SYS that relocates the disk buffers behind the Basic or any Oss super cart. The Fms will then only take 256 bytes of precious BASIC rom. That's almost, but not quite my personal record. Dos 2.XL took 163 bytes (but then conflicted with TurboBasic, which 2.++ does not).

 

There are probably a couple of additional goodies to come.

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