+FALCOR4 Posted May 26, 2018 Share Posted May 26, 2018 (edited) First, is there already a version of the MG Explorer for the Geneve out there? We haven't been able to find one yet. Is there any interest? Years ago Mike Dodd wanted to modify it to work on the Geneve. He spent some time recoding and returned a disk with his initial work. I have nothing after that and I don't know Mike's whereabouts/status today. So, if there is interest and if someone would like to take up the task I would be happy to post what I have. I haven't taken an in-depth look at the changes and I probably won't be able to engage too much on this project given time constraints. If you've good with coding, have good knowledge of the Geneve, have the time and want to take this on let me know. Here is a synopsis of the notes page that Mike sentat the time: NOTES ON GENEVE VERSION OF MG EXPLORERModified for the MYARC Geneve 9640 Computer by Mike DoddNature of this release of Explorer: This version will probably work on a 99/4A, butslllowwwllllyyyy, due to all CRU keyscans being removed.. It would be muchbetter to use Bytemaster's version of EXP for the /4A - this version wasmeant for the Geneve.. There are two versions on the disk: EXP and EXP1.. EXP loads at>B9C4 and is designed for operation from the Editor/Assemblerenvironment.. EXP1 loads at >A000 and is designed for the Extended BASICenvironment.. It can be loaded with the LEXP utility provided on theBytemaster release disk.. Both versions are >462C bytes long.. Changes: [1] EXP used CRU keyscan to check for CTRL 2-5 when in continuousexecution mode.. Changed to use normal keyscan link.. [2] EXP used CRU keyscan in memory editor to check for FCTN-SHIFTcursor movement.. Removed.. [3] EXP used CRU keyscan to scan for SHIFT when in continuousexecution mode, for purpose of placing in Turbo mode.. Removed.. [4] EXP had many "Anti-Piracy" checks, to prevent changing the loadinterrupt vectors, and looking at/altering EXP's memory.. These have beenremoved.. [5] All auto-repeat code has been removed - they were too fast onthe Geneve's higher speed, and the Geneve's IBM keyboard has auto-repeatbuilt in.. [6] If the PC reaches >02B2, indicating a keyscan, the Geneve willexecute the keyscan at high speed and return to *R11.. This was changed asthe Geneve's keyscan involves memory paging, and would page EXP out ofmemory, resulting in a lockup.. Unfortunately, this still does not workperfectly, and I'm not sure how to fix it.. The problem is this: when youSTEP an instruction, either in single step mode or continous mode, EXPscans the keyboard, using the standard link (see [1] above).. This keyscanalmost always grabs a new key first, before the AP program gets a chanceto read the keyboard.. Thus, when the AP program scans the keyboard, thekeyscan returns a status of >00, since, as far as it's concerned, thatkey was already pressed.. Which is true.. Then, of course, the AP programscans the status byte and sees that nothing has been pressed, and scansagain.. This can continue on forever.. I honestly don't knoww what thesolution to this is.. I am welcome to any ideas.. [7] EXP destroyed all memory when CTRL = was pressed to exit.. Thishas been removed, so that on CTRL =, EXP executes a BLWP @>0000.. [8] colors changed to suit my perverted tastes (I have a monochromemonitor).. You don't like them? Tough - wait for the final release ofthis.. I'll try to have easily changable colors in it.. Changes planned: [1] Would like to modify EXP to have option to execute DSR calls atfull speed, so that programs may call the DSR and still work on the EXP..This shouldn't be too difficult.. [2] Would like to modify EXP to reside in different memory pagesthan AP program, so that the AP program could take up as much memory asit wanted.. However, this may be next to impossible to do.. I'll have to doa detailed study of EXP's usage of AP memory.. If the only users of it areSTEP and DASSEM, it might not be too difficult.. Otherwise........ could be anincredibly neat trick.. Sure would be nice though - would make EXP theultimate debugger.. Keep in mind that unless change [2]above is accomplished, memory is very tight.. For that reason, such largefeatures as, for instance, disk catalogs, printer dump, help screens,etc.. will not be considered, _unless_ I can get the above change made..Even then, I will want to keep it to 32K maximum (it's about 17..5K now,so there would definately be room for expansion), counting code andbuffers.. BUT, I would not bet great amounts of money on the success ofchanging the EXP to reside in different memory banks, so keep itreasonable.. Edited May 28, 2018 by FALCOR4 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Opry99er Posted May 28, 2018 Share Posted May 28, 2018 I don't have a Geneve, but I think this would be an excellent addition to the "archives". There may not be anyone immediately wanting to take this on, but perhaps some day.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+FALCOR4 Posted May 30, 2018 Author Share Posted May 30, 2018 Agreed. I'll put my CC FDC in maybe this weekend and check the disk to make sure I captured all the material. Am using the Myarc FDC now and it's only a 16 sector/track on the DSDD but the disk from Mike is 18 per. Shouldn't make a difference just reading the disk but stranger things have happened...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+InsaneMultitasker Posted May 30, 2018 Share Posted May 30, 2018 Interesting... I know I've seen the above readme information before. I wonder if this program got out into a few hands long, long ago? Can't say that I recall running the program on my Geneve though back then I was busy with programming my own software. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+9640News Posted May 30, 2018 Share Posted May 30, 2018 The source code would be interesting to see and maybe there is something to be learned. However, I am not sure how likely someone would be to use it. I only say that because with the debugger for MAME, it is far more powerful than I think Explorer is. Beery Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+retroclouds Posted May 31, 2018 Share Posted May 31, 2018 The source code would be interesting to see and maybe there is something to be learned. However, I am not sure how likely someone would be to use it. I only say that because with the debugger for MAME, it is far more powerful than I think Explorer is. Beery Agreed, but if you think about debugging assembly on the TI-99/4a itself, it is more than impressive what they pulled of there. Do not have a Geneve, but would be interesting to see if explorer could be reassembled to run from the cartridge space. Combine that with a good programmers editor, an assembler running from the cartridge space and you have a heck of a programmers environment. That being said I learned TMS9900 assembly language on the PC with classic99. But I can imagine using the TI as my development box for retro programming. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+acadiel Posted May 31, 2018 Share Posted May 31, 2018 Falcor, was any of this on the hard drive image we released already? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+FALCOR4 Posted June 1, 2018 Author Share Posted June 1, 2018 (edited) Falcor, was any of this on the hard drive image we released already? No, it wasn't in the original files I pulled off the HD. I'm still finding all kinds of stuff from back then; I ran into this one on one of the floppies that Mike sent. I'll post it as soon as I know that I have it all. I was finally successful in getting everything off the drive, I sent you an email. GoTek to the rescue! Much thanks for that. Edited June 3, 2018 by FALCOR4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+FALCOR4 Posted June 3, 2018 Author Share Posted June 3, 2018 No, it wasn't in the original files I pulled off the HD. I'm still finding all kinds of stuff from back then; I ran into this one on one of the floppies that Mike sent. I'll post it as soon as I know that I have it all. I was finally successful in getting everything off the drive, I sent you an email. GoTek to the rescue! Much thanks for that. Acadiel, you have them now. I took a cursory look at the source files and didn't see anything wonky going on so I'm going to assume they are intact. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+FALCOR4 Posted June 13, 2018 Author Share Posted June 13, 2018 Looks like these files are good. Posting..... If you're out there, Mike Dodd, would love to talk to you DSKA0028.hfeDSKA0029.hfeDSKA0030.hfe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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