atrax27407 Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 Has anyone tried Fred Kaal's Module Creator program? I have been experimenting with it for a copuple of days and could use some tips - particularly converting single 8K files to something I could use in my eprommer. It sure eliminates lot of the work when doing multi-file EPROMs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atrax27407 Posted March 17, 2014 Author Share Posted March 17, 2014 I'm not sure what the problem is. I am NOT running Module Creator from my hard drive but rather from a flash drive designated as drive "g". I have changed the pathway in modulecreator.yab to: @1="g/modulecreator" It loads fine from there but I keep getting a persistant linker error when I try to process a file. Any suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperious Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 (edited) The only files I could get it to work with were the disk utilities from His website, everything else "Linker error" I also noticed I always ended up with a 32kB file even with less than 16kB worth of files. If You read the *.ler file in notepad it says v9t9 file header not found. According to the docs it should work with E/A #5 files only. I suspect the v9t9 file header missing is the main problem, unless there is a util for that you would likely need programming skills. Edited March 17, 2014 by Imperious Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atrax27407 Posted March 17, 2014 Author Share Posted March 17, 2014 I just tried it with an 8K file with a V9t9 header created with TIDIR. The results are the same - a linker error. I suspect that it might be ONLY for 32K files. Anything less generates a linker error and fails. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperious Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 (edited) I just created a successful 32k bin file of Parsec extracted the contents of the modules compilation disk USGROP317B with ti99sim's "disk" command line util (shorten the filename then remove the dsk extension first), then loaded the individual Parsec Fiad files into win99/4a's Diskmanager and removed the protection, followed by extracting the non protected files to a fiad, then removing the .fiad extension. Module creator then created the bin file with Linker errors, but when I loaded it into Classic99 after editing the ini file, it worked. Haven't tested all that much of the game, but 1st level seemed ok, make that 2nd level too. That's a lot of stuffing around with 3 different emulators, but doesn't take very long once You get the hang of it. Buck rogers didn't work, but will try a different disk file later. Might try the bin file in one of my Jon Guidry v3 boards at some point too. added this to the classic ini file to get it working. [usercart1]name=PARSECrom0=3|0000|8000|I:\Emulators\computer\classic99\PARSEC1.bin Edit where needed obviously. Edited March 17, 2014 by Imperious 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asmusr Posted March 17, 2014 Share Posted March 17, 2014 If you get the error "v9t9 file header not found" you can use Ti99Dir to convert TIFILES to V9T9 files, but then I get another error "Too many banks <5> used by program, maximum allowed is <4>.". This is strange since it should be able to handle up to 16 banks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atrax27407 Posted March 17, 2014 Author Share Posted March 17, 2014 Files shorter than 32K still don't work. I guess I'll have to use the old approach by adding a GPL header to the dis-assembled file and then putting them together before saving as a program image file. I don't know if Fred monitors this site but maybe he will chime in. His input would be helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazoo Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 I just created a successful 32k bin file of Parsec extracted the contents of the modules compilation disk USGROP317B with ti99sim's "disk" command line util (shorten the filename then remove the dsk extension first), then loaded the individual Parsec Fiad files into win99/4a's Diskmanager and removed the protection, followed by extracting the non protected files to a fiad, then removing the .fiad extension. Module creator then created the bin file with Linker errors, but when I loaded it into Classic99 after editing the ini file, it worked. Haven't tested all that much of the game, but 1st level seemed ok, make that 2nd level too. That's a lot of stuffing around with 3 different emulators, but doesn't take very long once You get the hang of it. Buck rogers didn't work, but will try a different disk file later. Might try the bin file in one of my Jon Guidry v3 boards at some point too. added this to the classic ini file to get it working. [usercart1] name=PARSEC rom0=3|0000|8000|I:\Emulators\computer\classic99\PARSEC1.bin Edit where needed obviously. So there exists a non-grom version of Parsec? Please point me towards it or upload it here. .dsk version would be nice. Thanks, Gazoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imperious Posted March 22, 2014 Share Posted March 22, 2014 There isn't a Parsec.dsk as far as I know, or have come across, but You will find it in the USGROP317B.dsk in the zip file I have uploaded. Here is also the bin file I created as well. It's a shame there is no Alpiner on disk anywhere. I did read that It as well as Tunnels of Doom is too Grom heavy, but there is a dsk version of TOD around. Any gifted person here like to try and convert Alpiner? Would be really great if that could be done. Modules_on_Disk.zip PARSEC.bin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazoo Posted March 22, 2014 Share Posted March 22, 2014 There isn't a Parsec.dsk as far as I know, or have come across, but You will find it in the USGROP317B.dsk in the zip file I have uploaded. Here is also the bin file I created as well. It's a shame there is no Alpiner on disk anywhere. I did read that It as well as Tunnels of Doom is too Grom heavy, but there is a dsk version of TOD around. Any gifted person here like to try and convert Alpiner? Would be really great if that could be done. The 'ground' characters in Parsec in this version are improperly defined. The data is probably being read from Grom and is reading from whatever cartridge is in use. I wonder if anyone's tried to fix this? Gazoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega-TI Posted March 22, 2014 Share Posted March 22, 2014 So there exists a non-grom version of Parsec? Please point me towards it or upload it here. .dsk version would be nice. Thanks, Gazoo ParsecOnDisk.zip Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ti99iuc Posted March 22, 2014 Share Posted March 22, 2014 (edited) So there exists a non-grom version of Parsec? Please point me towards it or upload it here. .dsk version would be nice. Thanks, Gazoo at the bottom of this page i collected a lot of Parsec Versions, there is a CNN modified Parsec too ... scroll the page at the Download Section Edited March 22, 2014 by ti99userclub Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RXB Posted March 22, 2014 Share Posted March 22, 2014 So there exists a non-grom version of Parsec? Please point me towards it or upload it here. .dsk version would be nice. Thanks, Gazoo I see from the GPL code for GROM 3, 4 and 5 so that would be at 6K per GROM or 18K of GPL and 8K or Assembly. Turning 6K of GPL code into Assembly normally would take about 9K of Assembly space if you are really good at Assembly, and lucky. So if very good and lucky you could fit all that Parsec GROM into 27K but with LOWER 8K support where does the ROM page go? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tator Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 I've been playing around with Fred Module creator. Had the same problem regarding linking error, my problem was that the files were located in a folder with a space, ie: Target files, I renamed the folder to Targetfiles and it worked fine! Don't know if that is related to your error, but would like to share the tip to help you to troubleshoot. Best Tato Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CantStopClicking Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 I've been playing around with Fred Module creator. Had the same problem regarding linking error, my problem was that the files were located in a folder with a space, ie: Target files, I renamed the folder to Targetfiles and it worked fine! Don't know if that is related to your error, but would like to share the tip to help you to troubleshoot. Best Tato Good tip! I've been messing with the ModuleCreator as well but, I flat out can't get more than one program to work. My goal was to put these two apps on a EPROM: 1) DM2K and 2) DSK-2-PC No dice. Compiles just fine, no errors, but the second app won't work. I've tried many combinations of just Fred's utilities and the only way I can find to make any of them work is; singly (is that a word?) burned to EPROM. Soon as I add a second app, it won't work. And I mean it compiles fine, with no errors, just wont work on the TI (the 2nd app or 3rd never tried more). My ULTIMATE goal would be this combo: 1) Editor / Assembler II 2) DM2K 3) DM1000 4) DSK-2-PC Might be oversized, so I could drop #4 or #3. BUT, that would be totally awesome! Cheers! -Dano Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asmusr Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 See https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/TI99-4A/conversations/topics/84910 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Lee Stewart Posted August 7, 2016 Share Posted August 7, 2016 Fred Kaal (@F.G. Kaal) has graciously updated Module Creator 2.0 to force loading of an even number of bytes. This insures that Module Creator 2.0 can successfully convert an E/A5 program with an odd number of bytes (such as can happen with some exports from Harry Wilhelm's (@senior_falcon's) XB Compiler) to operable ROM binaries, including those targeted to the FlashROM-99 cartridge. Thanks, Fred! You can download the current Module Creator 2.0 from the “Modules” page of Fred's website. ...lee 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shift838 Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 I have used Fred's new Module Creator to create multiple modules for use with the FlashRom99. Kudos to Fred! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shift838 Posted August 20, 2016 Share Posted August 20, 2016 (edited) If anyone wants to use Freds program to create FR99 compatible binaries. This is how I have done it. Remember that the EA5 files must be in V9T9 format or you will get an error. I do not include any check boxes. just all default to ensure I get a 32k binary file. Browse to the first file for the EA5 program Enter your project name Enter your Module Name you want to see on the menu See screenshot. Once created and no errors you can just copy and drop it on the SD card for the FlashRom99 Edited August 20, 2016 by Shift838 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F.G. Kaal Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 Good tip! I've been messing with the ModuleCreator as well but, I flat out can't get more than one program to work. My goal was to put these two apps on a EPROM: 1) DM2K and 2) DSK-2-PC No dice. Compiles just fine, no errors, but the second app won't work. I've tried many combinations of just Fred's utilities and the only way I can find to make any of them work is; singly (is that a word?) burned to EPROM. Soon as I add a second app, it won't work. And I mean it compiles fine, with no errors, just wont work on the TI (the 2nd app or 3rd never tried more). My ULTIMATE goal would be this combo: 1) Editor / Assembler II 2) DM2K 3) DM1000 4) DSK-2-PC Might be oversized, so I could drop #4 or #3. BUT, that would be totally awesome! Cheers! -Dano Just curious why this shouldn't work. Created a NON-inverted module with Dm2k, Dsk2Pc and DM1000 and tried it on my Emulator Ti99/4w. Don't see any problems here, all programs start as expected. But when creating an inverted module with the same programs only the first program seems to work. There is something wrong here. But adding Editor / Assembler II is something that can not be done with the "Module Creator" because Ed/Ass II is allready a module. Fred Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F.G. Kaal Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 And the problem lays in the fact that Dsk2Pc and Dm1000 are to small, something get confused when adding empty pages in reversed order. When selecting one of these programs in the module menu the first thing that happens is that many >0000 words are copied to the >2000 area instead of the original code. The >2000 area ends up at the >A000 area. Creating a NON-inverted module all is fine. Well ... this is some other fine mess I brought myself into. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sinphaltimus Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 Well ... this is some other fine mess I brought myself into. Lol! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F.G. Kaal Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 Fixed it. Added linker L99 v 1.6.3 in the ModuleCreator 2.0 download. If an inverted module is created (an) empty page(s) (or bank(s)) must be added in front of the program that is less then 4 pages (or banks) and not at the end of the program to create an 32Kb binary. ModuleCreator can create a module file out of 1, 2, 3 or 4 Editor/Assembler option 5 programs. The maximum size the module creator can handle is 32Kb - 4x the size of the modfunc.a99 code and this depends on the number of programs and the length of the titles in the menu. This is roughly 4x >1E80 bytes = >7A00 or 31232 bytes. If some more PROM space is needed the flag "TI994 EQU 1" can be commented out. Fred 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Ksarul Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 Thanks, Fred! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airshack Posted June 25, 2020 Share Posted June 25, 2020 On 8/20/2016 at 8:46 AM, Shift838 said: Browse to the first file for the EA5 program Where the EA5 file(s) is/are located seems to make a big difference. For some reason I couldn't get Module Creator 2.0 working unless I placed ALL of he EA5 files into a project folder inside the Modulecreator_20 folder. Also, the Modulecreator_20 folder had to be in my root directory. Using Windows10. Not sure why it wouldn't work until I did all of the above? Maybe that's covered elsewhere and I missed it. Yes, thank you Fred! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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