matthew180 Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 I don't think you should change anything because: 1. The flexibility of placing the name table on 1K boundaries is a good feature. 2. The software that sets those bits can easily be patched. 3. It is not desirable to have several functionally different firmware versions. Well, #1 would have to override #2 and #3. If that is the case then I'll leave it alone. Also, I should have checked my HDL first because apparently I was aware of this problem. I sacrificed the 3rd table locations to deal with the issue, but it still bit me in the ass thanks to some 9938 programmers setting "01" in the LSbits of VR2 instead of "11" like the datasheet specifies: -- 80-column use of VR2: -- The 9938 indicates that the LS 2-bits of VR2 must be "11" for 80-column mode. -- That means 4K boundaries for 80-column mode since only 2-bits are left of -- the NTBA part of VR2, at least for the F18A since it does not have the -- expanded memory space and extra address bits. Since it seems existing software -- will set VR2 to "xx11", i.e. "0011" for a 0K offset name table, this condition -- is trapped here and the "11" if forced to "00" as if it were ignored. Otherwise, -- the extra bits are used to allow more options for 80-column name table placement. -- -- The table is 1920 bytes in 80x24 mode, and 2400 bytes in 80x30 mode. -- -- Original 9938 4-bit NTBA of VR2: 0011 = 0K, 0111 = 4K, 1011 = 8K, 1111 = 12K -- F18A 4-bit NTBA options: -- 0000 = 0K -- 0001 = 1K -- 0010 = 2K -- 0011 = 0000 = 0K -- 0100 = 4K -- 0101 = 5K -- 0110 = 6K -- 0111 = 0100 = 4K -- 1000 = 8K -- 1001 = 9K -- 1010 = 10K -- 1011 = 1000 = 8K -- 1100 = 12K -- 1101 = 13K -- 1110 = 14K -- 1111 = 1100 = 12K process (gmode, ntba) begin text_cols <= "0101000"; -- 40 text_ntba <= ntba; if gmode = 9 then text_cols <= "1010000"; -- 80 if ntba(2 to 3) = "11" then text_ntba <= ntba(0 to 1) & "00"; end if; end if; end process; . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TI-Sissy Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 Sissy, You can get a monitor pretty cheap or free.. People like the wide screens and are dumping the standard 4:3 format monitors. I actually have an extra. thanks but we are going to get a 50 inch tv for christmas this year the ti will be hooked up to that. so tv first then f18. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slinkeey Posted November 9, 2013 Share Posted November 9, 2013 Sounds Good!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazoo Posted November 10, 2013 Share Posted November 10, 2013 What evidently was happening (according to Mike's assumptions and plenty of assumption on my part) was that some bits normally unused and invisible by the 38/58 have been re-purposed in the F18? So when the hardware platform changed the software caused the F18 to go into a bad mode that normally wouldn't happen with the 38/58? If so that's not really a "bug" but more of an unintended consequence of changing hardware behaviors without patching the software. But like you said everyone has their perception. I guess Tony's was from the vantage of an old school 9900/9995 9918/38/58 programmer and he got a bit defensive at your statement that the old stuff was and had been buggy for decades. Thank you Marc. It's nice to see that there's SOMEONE, albeit maybe only one person here, that can read a post and understand the intent without immediately attacking the poster and twisting the intent of the original post. Kudos to you, upstanding human being. Gazoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Vorticon Posted November 11, 2013 Share Posted November 11, 2013 (edited) So I found out that Preditor actually has an 80 column option originally designed for the 9938. I tested it on real hardware, and it actually works great with the F18A! However, under Classic99, this does not work for some reason. I have attached the DSK image for the program. It autoloads under XB. PREDITOR.ZIP Edited November 11, 2013 by Vorticon 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted November 11, 2013 Author Share Posted November 11, 2013 So I found out that Preditor actually has an 80 column option originally designed for the 9938. I tested it on real hardware, and it actually works great with the F18A! However, under Classic99, this does not work for some reason. I have attached the DSK image for the program. It autoloads under XB. COOL! Another one for the list! Thanks for taking the time to check it out and give us the word. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertLM78 Posted November 11, 2013 Share Posted November 11, 2013 I'm getting jealous seeing all of these 80-column display screenshots - I need to get an F18A - ASAP! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tursi Posted November 11, 2013 Share Posted November 11, 2013 However, under Classic99, this does not work for some reason. I have attached the DSK image for the program. It autoloads under XB. My first thought is that it can't actually write the configuration back to a disk image under Classic99 (and it seems to crash when it tries). Moving outside of that to a folder, it does have a number of issues - quit crashes, 80 column mode crashes on startup. I'll have to take it apart and see what's wrong with Classic99. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+arcadeshopper Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 So I found out that Preditor actually has an 80 column option originally designed for the 9938. I tested it on real hardware, and it actually works great with the F18A! However, under Classic99, this does not work for some reason. I have attached the DSK image for the program. It autoloads under XB. added preditor and bawriter to the ftp 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted November 12, 2013 Author Share Posted November 12, 2013 Spell-It! is another POTENTIAL program for the F18A list. I downloaded the "SI-DD.DSK" from this link: ftp://whtech.com/word%20processors/Spell-It!/ and it works fine in 40 columns, but it screws up in the 80 column setting. I've only tried it in CLASSICC99 so far because I've still not received my replacement Nano-PEB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted November 12, 2013 Author Share Posted November 12, 2013 Does anyone have a copy of the Spell-It! users manual that they could scan in? The one <HERE> is missing pages 3,4,7 & 8. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RXB Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 OMG I do have the manual in my stack, will have to dig it up to make a PDF of it. Problem is it is in the Attic somewhere. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+InsaneMultitasker Posted November 13, 2013 Share Posted November 13, 2013 Here is John Birdwell's HF Sector Editor. Loads in Classic99, someone needs to test on the real iron. HFSEC-ARK.zip 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+arcadeshopper Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 Works Great! Here is John Birdwell's HF Sector Editor. Loads in Classic99, someone needs to test on the real iron. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+arcadeshopper Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 Tried it, did configure and set to 80 col.. prog comes up in 40 col. Greg Spell-It! is another POTENTIAL program for the F18A list. I downloaded the "SI-DD.DSK" from this link: ftp://whtech.com/word%20processors/Spell-It!/ and it works fine in 40 columns, but it screws up in the 80 column setting. I've only tried in in CLASSICC99 so far because I've still not received my replacement Nano-PEB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted November 16, 2013 Author Share Posted November 16, 2013 Here is John Birdwell's HF Sector Editor. Loads in Classic99, someone needs to test on the real iron. Hey, Hey, Hey!!! Guess what? THANK YOU! It works! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tursi Posted November 18, 2013 Share Posted November 18, 2013 (edited) I've fixed the Classic99 bug that was causing PREditor to fail there - it was not recognizing that the two LSB were set to 00 on the F18A if they were written as 11. (Technical aside, Classic99's 80 column support is a hack and isn't perfect, but that will work in the next release). I noticed that quitting PREditor (alt-Q) or exiting the configuration seemed to crash, and it did the same thing on my hardware. I noticed that the programs both exit by jumping directly back to the GPL Interpreter - seems to work okay from Editor/Assembler, but not XB. I made a small patch that changes it to reset the console instead, attached here (with instructions on how to apply the patch yourself if you like). The archive contains TIFILES format files, but you can easily copy them back to disk image with TI99Dir or other tool. preditor-quitfix.zip I had no luck with the spelling program... Edited November 18, 2013 by Tursi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Vorticon Posted November 18, 2013 Share Posted November 18, 2013 I've fixed the Classic99 bug that was causing PREditor to fail there - it was not recognizing that the two LSB were set to 00 on the F18A if they were written as 11. (Technical aside, Classic99's 80 column support is a hack and isn't perfect, but that will work in the next release). I noticed that quitting PREditor (alt-Q) or exiting the configuration seemed to crash, and it did the same thing on my hardware. I noticed that the programs both exit by jumping directly back to the GPL Interpreter - seems to work okay from Editor/Assembler, but not XB. I made a small patch that changes it to reset the console instead, attached here (with instructions on how to apply the patch yourself if you like). The archive contains TIFILES format files, but you can easily copy them back to disk image with TI99Dir or other tool. preditor-quitfix.zip I had no luck with the spelling program... Thanks! I did not experience any crashes with PrEditor, but likely because I run it exclusively from the EA cartridge. I will apply your patch tonight. I'm also going to try and scan the manual and post it here unless it's already out there. I still think it's one of the best editors out there. By the way, the manual states that PrEditor can take advantage of the extra 4K of RAM in the Mini Memory module, but provides absolutely no instructions on how to do so.Same thing with the extra 8K in the Supercart. One can pick either of these memory models in the configuration utility. Any idea how to load PrEditor with the Mini Memory? Nothing I tried worked... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tursi Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 YLOAD, I guess? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted November 20, 2013 Author Share Posted November 20, 2013 I'm also going to try and scan the manual and post it here unless it's already out there. SOUNDS GOOD! I'd like to download a copy when you are done. I don't know if I'll ever be any good at it, or will even get to it any time soon, as I have other projects in the works, but someday..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted November 23, 2013 Author Share Posted November 23, 2013 Does anyone have any new program suggestions for 80 column conversion? I know Telco has been asked for, but I'm not sure if anyone has picked this one up for modification yet. Does anyone remember? Not being an assembly programmer, I don't know how difficult it's going to be. Besides the windowing routine having to be de-activated, I have no clue what would be involved in making it go 80 columns and still have all the modules and menus working properly. I remember being REAL FOND of Telco! At the time I was the ONLY remaining TI user in Longview, WA... all the BBS systems were PC's. The ANSI, VT52 and VT100 emulations sure came in handy! Actually I'm looking forward to seeing it operation for the first time in over 24 years. I'll be getting a REAL P-Box soon and will be able to see the data taken from my old working copy from 1989 that was stored away. Dano was able to read my old DSDD diskettes and back them up for me before the disks did the "Mission Impossible Routine" (self-destruct). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Vorticon Posted November 24, 2013 Share Posted November 24, 2013 I noticed that quitting PREditor (alt-Q) or exiting the configuration seemed to crash, and it did the same thing on my hardware. I noticed that the programs both exit by jumping directly back to the GPL Interpreter - seems to work okay from Editor/Assembler, but not XB. I made a small patch that changes it to reset the console instead, attached here (with instructions on how to apply the patch yourself if you like). The archive contains TIFILES format files, but you can easily copy them back to disk image with TI99Dir or other tool. I got around this morning to applying the patch using DSKU and it works as advertised. I had not known about this little bug having never tried using PrEditor from XB. Thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted January 1, 2014 Author Share Posted January 1, 2014 Programs that exploit the F18A Video Upgrade As of (01/01/2014) 80 Column Programs/Utilities 4A DOS / Command DOS 80 Column Display Author: Monty Schmidt BA-Writer 80 Columns in editor Author: Paolo Bagnaresi Modified By: Tursi Boot 80 Column Display Author: John A. Johnson Modified By: Tursi CF2K 80 Column Display (in ‘View’) Author: Fred Kaal fbForth 80 Column Display Author: Lee Stewart MLC “My Little Compiler” 80 Column Display and extended operations (Most extensive use of the F18A to date) Author: Guillaume Tello Preditor 80 Column Display Author: (NEED DATA HERE) - I'll edit it later! Sector Utilities 80 Column Display Author” John Birdwell TI-Microsoft Multiplan (80 Column Hack) Hacker: Unknown Turbo Forth 80 Column Display Author: Mark Wills Enhanced Graphics/Games Titanium Extra Sprites Author: Rasmus Moustgaard Scramble Enhanced Graphics Author: Rasmus Moustgaard I've heard some rumors about Telco being modified for F18A use, but as of 01/01/2014 it's not confirmed. If you have any information, or updates to this list, please let us know. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willsy Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 Kevan, You could add: fbForth Author: Lee Stewart As it now runs in 80 column mode on both the F18A and 9938 based systems. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted January 1, 2014 Author Share Posted January 1, 2014 Kevan, You could add: fbForth Author: Lee Stewart As it now runs in 80 column mode on both the F18A and 9938 based systems. DONE! Thanks for the info! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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