David Tubbs writes:
> As a matter of interest I think the economical and time-saving approach is > to let QXL format a file > create a dummy file of sufficient length. > In PC mode use a hex editor to overwrite with required data !
qxltool does pretty much just that - saving you the trouble of knowing the format plus a great deal of other complications ;)
In the old days I became very conscious of how and where data are stored on media. Remember the Psion chess MDV, a special routine for copying for a turbo load, just the right interleave factor ? !
Later I wrote routines for disk copying sector by sector, and duplicating track 0 so it could be written back in event it gets smashed - the usual failure of a floppy.
I find I had not forgotten all the relevant considerations.
The two executables I sent you must be run under Windoze, not SMSQ, yes? (just double checking)
Ofcourse ! A fruitcase yes, not a complete nut.
> In the end, for sure, after using latterday m/c's the poor old thing chugs > along pretty slowly, but DOES what I cannot achieve in the MS environment.
The raw speed of the QXL isnt too bad compared to a PC (one old enough to sport an ISA connector, anyway) as SMSQ/QDOS code is usually much more efficient. However, it may appear sluggish due to the QXL<->PC communication (the screen data has to be refreshed through an 8-bit channel ever so often). There are ways and means of improving this somewhat, but I cant remember how, just now. If you run QXL under MSDOS it should feel a lot slicker.
Am I right in thinking that all of this was much improved in SMSQ/E?
Seems it has to run in DOS, but it is just the later QXL code rather than a /E, I doubt there is much speed enhancement, tho' I have done no benchmarking.
I did see that option, the grey cells recoiled, but now you encourage me to have a go and cash in a bit of excess time !If your economical sense does not permit you to fork out on SMSQ/E from a reputable dealer (such as QBranch) - which also buys you manuals and support - you can just download the sources and compile them yourself. Full instructions on how to do this are available with the sources and, with a little extra effort, all can be done using tools that are freely available.
D
PS, My broadband con' has just come alive, just waiting for setup info.
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