Re: [Ql-Users] UltimIDE and other updates...
Hi Dave, Are you going to have long file names, that is longer than the current length in SMSQ/E. Regards, Derek On 09/02/14 16:04, Dave Park wrote: From: http://sinclairql.com/wp/ Work has been ongoing, and we now have a preliminary schematic to work from. The next stage will be to layout a prototype PCB for testing. We've managed to source most of the components already so once testing is complete, we can quickly go to production. In a separate development we have been offered a new, highly developed V3 driver. The driver is in beta and will undergo heavy testing. This driver includes innovations that will be exciting for some users. Firstly, it allows raw access to the media so you can access alien file formats. This leaves the door open for others to write software to handle almost any format you can imagine. Second, we're hoping to arrange for this driver to be made available to existing QubIDE owners at very little cost. V2 QubIDE owners would just need a new EPROM. V1 owners would also need to replace their GALs with V2 GALs. [image: A snapshot of the softloaded version of the V3 driver.] *A snapshot of the softloaded version of the V3 driver.* In other news, I have sourced parts and PCBs for some Minerva Mk IIs. I will assemble and test them, then make them available with or without the I2C cable. Price will be £45 with I2C cable and £40 without, including shipping worldwide. They will be available in mid-March, but I will allow pre-orders so you can ensure you get one. QUANTA members get a 10% discount - to find the coupon code, register in the support forumhttp://sinclairql.com/forum/ and let me know you're a QUANTA member. Proceeds are going into the hardware development fund. A note on currencies: I price these items in USD ($), and the store converts these prices in real time to UKP (£) or Euros (EURO). Because currencies fluctuate in relative value, all prices are approximate. Finally, the battery adaptors have been mailed to me and I am just waiting for them to arrive. As soon as they do, I shall post photographs. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QPC2 v4.02 released
Marcel, I don't know how to start thanking you for all this - you have been a central pivot for the QL community for many years now with your work on QPC2, SMSQ/E, WMAN2 and everything else. Thank you. Seconded! Wolfgang ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] UltimIDE and other updates...
Derek, I guess it won’t. This has been discussed quite a bit in the past, but in my opinion, there’s no compatible way to overcome this limitation whithout a fundamental change in how device drivers work together with the operating system. The file/path name length in QDOS/SMSQE is deeply buried in the channel definition block which is not allocated by the device driver, but instead by the operating system itself. Without changing that part of the OS, the device driver can’t do much about it. Once the OS is changed, it would create files no longer accessible with the „original“ OS. What could be done, maybe, would be a similar kludge to what MS did when they introduced long file names - mainly „translating“ long names into short ones that can be handled by an unchanged OS. Short names would still be limited to the known path name length, though. Along that line, there used to be a promising extension named „QVFS“ by Hans-Peter Recktenwald that allowed the usage of longer path names as an „overlay“ on top of the actual device driver - The code is still around, but has never been widely adopted, because it was not exactly easy to handle. Regards, Tobias Am 11.02.2014 um 10:08 schrieb Derek Stewart de...@q40.de: Hi Dave, Are you going to have long file names, that is longer than the current length in SMSQ/E. Regards, Derek ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] UltimIDE and other updates...
Well, I think, the most problem is that, the Level 2 subdirectory names are part of the filename. It would be interesting to know, how this was done with the first hardisk systems (like Quest or similar). I think, a device can use its own way to manage this, as long as the OS can know, where to go (the WIN2 way for example). Or have a look at the TK3 sources. There, you could set (in the old TK2 way) a DDOWN test, where a BOOT was located and LRUN FLP1_BOOT and all files were able to find other files, even in the (old TK2 way) subdirectory test. That worked perfectly. Files in the root were always be able to be located with i.e. FLP1_\FULL_NAME. Cheers...Ralf - Original Message - From: Tobias Fröschle Derek, I guess it won’t. This has been discussed quite a bit in the past, but in my opinion, there’s no compatible way to overcome this limitation whithout a fundamental change in how device drivers work together with the operating system. The file/path name length in QDOS/SMSQE is deeply buried in the channel definition block which is not allocated by the device driver, but instead by the operating system itself. Without changing that part of the OS, the device driver can’t do much about it. Once the OS is changed, it would create files no longer accessible with the „original“ OS. What could be done, maybe, would be a similar kludge to what MS did when they introduced long file names - mainly „translating“ long names into short ones that can be handled by an unchanged OS. Short names would still be limited to the known path name length, though. Along that line, there used to be a promising extension named „QVFS“ by Hans-Peter Recktenwald that allowed the usage of longer path names as an „overlay“ on top of the actual device driver - The code is still around, but has never been widely adopted, because it was not exactly easy to handle. Regards, Tobias Am 11.02.2014 um 10:08 schrieb Derek Stewart de...@q40.de: Hi Dave, Are you going to have long file names, that is longer than the current length in SMSQ/E. Regards, Derek ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] UltimIDE and other updates...
On 11 Feb 2014, at 16:17, Ralf Reköndt ralf.rekoe...@t-online.de wrote: Or have a look at the TK3 sources. There, you could set (in the old TK2 way) a DDOWN test, where a BOOT was located and LRUN FLP1_BOOT and all files were able to find other files, even in the (old TK2 way) subdirectory test. That worked perfectly. Files in the root were always be able to be located with i.e. FLP1_\FULL_NAME. Some time ago went through the source code for TK3, cutting out the parts that - for me at any rate - did not work. Nowhere did I see coding which would get round the problem of filename size. But perhaps I missed it! George ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] UltimIDE and other updates...
Sandy's view is that we will support any software that is generally backwards compatible. We face enough challenges coming up with designing generally backwards compatible hardware that we can't worry about the OS or software except in the broadest terms. The only pieces of code we're actively working at now are the ones we need to develop in the immediate short term: IDE drivers and a very safe flash utility/ROM image manager[1]. Anything that moves us forward. I'd like to see long filenames. My preferred solution would be new code and a new format that can accommodate long names natively. The code would have to recognize both formats. New format partitions wouldn't necessarily have to be readable on old format machines, because we can bring the new capabilities to most older machines. Sandy will support this with our plan to offer upgrades for all existing QubIDEs at cost price, and to make sure the GPL'd code is easily available. Dave [1] Are you up to the challenge? :) On Tue, Feb 11, 2014 at 10:17 AM, Ralf Reköndt ralf.rekoe...@t-online.dewrote: Well, I think, the most problem is that, the Level 2 subdirectory names are part of the filename. It would be interesting to know, how this was done with the first hardisk systems (like Quest or similar). I think, a device can use its own way to manage this, as long as the OS can know, where to go (the WIN2 way for example). Or have a look at the TK3 sources. There, you could set (in the old TK2 way) a DDOWN test, where a BOOT was located and LRUN FLP1_BOOT and all files were able to find other files, even in the (old TK2 way) subdirectory test. That worked perfectly. Files in the root were always be able to be located with i.e. FLP1_\FULL_NAME. Cheers...Ralf - Original Message - From: Tobias Fröschle Derek, I guess it won't. This has been discussed quite a bit in the past, but in my opinion, there's no compatible way to overcome this limitation whithout a fundamental change in how device drivers work together with the operating system. The file/path name length in QDOS/SMSQE is deeply buried in the channel definition block which is not allocated by the device driver, but instead by the operating system itself. Without changing that part of the OS, the device driver can't do much about it. Once the OS is changed, it would create files no longer accessible with the original OS. What could be done, maybe, would be a similar kludge to what MS did when they introduced long file names - mainly translating long names into short ones that can be handled by an unchanged OS. Short names would still be limited to the known path name length, though. Along that line, there used to be a promising extension named QVFS by Hans-Peter Recktenwald that allowed the usage of longer path names as an overlay on top of the actual device driver - The code is still around, but has never been widely adopted, because it was not exactly easy to handle. Regards, Tobias Am 11.02.2014 um 10:08 schrieb Derek Stewart de...@q40.de: Hi Dave, Are you going to have long file names, that is longer than the current length in SMSQ/E. Regards, Derek ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm -- Dave Park Sandy Electronics, LLC d...@sinclairql.com ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] UltimIDE and other updates...
Hmm, I think I have sent this to you. You will find this in RAMTOOL_ASM, starting at the Label chgdev (as far as I remember). The whole thing was an idea of mine, Martin just ;-)) realised it. I just wanted to put all my QL-Games in separate TK2 subdirectories on my FLP, e.g. Cavern Metropolis Tankbusters and wanted to start every game with LRUN FLP1_BOOT (after an DDOWN xxx) and every game has to find corresponding files, even at MC level. And that worked on a standard QL (with SQB+mouse) without Level 2. Perhaps it does not run with this (but I think, it is changable). .Martin has enclosed all standard devices (RAM, FLP, MDV), except WIN, which of course should use its own way. At that time, we did not except this kind of Level 2 Cheers...Ralf - Original Message - From: gdgqler Or have a look at the TK3 sources. There, you could set (in the old TK2 way) a DDOWN test, where a BOOT was located and LRUN FLP1_BOOT and all files were able to find other files, even in the (old TK2 way) subdirectory test. That worked perfectly. Files in the root were always be able to be located with i.e. FLP1_\FULL_NAME. Some time ago went through the source code for TK3, cutting out the parts that - for me at any rate - did not work. Nowhere did I see coding which would get round the problem of filename size. But perhaps I missed it! George ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] UltimIDE and other updates...
Ralf, your description is pretty close to the „dev“ device, but I’m still missing long filename support? Tobias Am 11.02.2014 um 18:04 schrieb Ralf Reköndt ralf.rekoe...@t-online.de: Hmm, I think I have sent this to you. You will find this in RAMTOOL_ASM, starting at the Label chgdev (as far as I remember). The whole thing was an idea of mine, Martin just ;-)) realised it. I just wanted to put all my QL-Games in separate TK2 subdirectories on my FLP, e.g. Cavern Metropolis Tankbusters and wanted to start every game with LRUN FLP1_BOOT (after an DDOWN xxx) and every game has to find corresponding files, even at MC level. And that worked on a standard QL (with SQB+mouse) without Level 2. Perhaps it does not run with this (but I think, it is changable). .Martin has enclosed all standard devices (RAM, FLP, MDV), except WIN, which of course should use its own way. At that time, we did not except this kind of Level 2 Cheers...Ralf - Original Message - From: gdgqler Or have a look at the TK3 sources. There, you could set (in the old TK2 way) a DDOWN test, where a BOOT was located and LRUN FLP1_BOOT and all files were able to find other files, even in the (old TK2 way) subdirectory test. That worked perfectly. Files in the root were always be able to be located with i.e. FLP1_\FULL_NAME. Some time ago went through the source code for TK3, cutting out the parts that - for me at any rate - did not work. Nowhere did I see coding which would get round the problem of filename size. But perhaps I missed it! George ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] UltimIDE and other updates...
Yes, that was one thing, we hadn't thought about, as in the days of programming TK3, ther were no known OS whith long file names. But as I sais...it should be possible as long as the OS know about the real destination. But the dev device is not able to work on MC level, as far as I know... Just SBasic. The TK3 extension was. Cheers...Ralf - Original Message - From: Tobias Fröschle Ralf, your description is pretty close to the „dev“ device, but I’m still missing long filename support? Tobias Am 11.02.2014 um 18:04 schrieb Ralf Reköndt ralf.rekoe...@t-online.de: Hmm, I think I have sent this to you. You will find this in RAMTOOL_ASM, starting at the Label chgdev (as far as I remember). The whole thing was an idea of mine, Martin just ;-)) realised it. I just wanted to put all my QL-Games in separate TK2 subdirectories on my FLP, e.g. Cavern Metropolis Tankbusters and wanted to start every game with LRUN FLP1_BOOT (after an DDOWN xxx) and every game has to find corresponding files, even at MC level. And that worked on a standard QL (with SQB+mouse) without Level 2. Perhaps it does not run with this (but I think, it is changable). .Martin has enclosed all standard devices (RAM, FLP, MDV), except WIN, which of course should use its own way. At that time, we did not except this kind of Level 2 Cheers...Ralf - Original Message - From: gdgqler Or have a look at the TK3 sources. There, you could set (in the old TK2 way) a DDOWN test, where a BOOT was located and LRUN FLP1_BOOT and all files were able to find other files, even in the (old TK2 way) subdirectory test. That worked perfectly. Files in the root were always be able to be located with i.e. FLP1_\FULL_NAME. Some time ago went through the source code for TK3, cutting out the parts that - for me at any rate - did not work. Nowhere did I see coding which would get round the problem of filename size. But perhaps I missed it! George ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] UltimIDE and other updates...
I can't say this for UltimIDE, but UltraQ and QL2 will have their OS in flash. This means people will be able to run their own compiled systems, update their own drivers, and etc. I think it could promote a lot of new development work because it will become trivial to roll out a new driver or OS segment to lots of people very quickly, for the cost of a download. I suspect once SMSQ/E is ported, things will get quite interesting - it shouldn't just be one or two people maintaining the OS and tools we use. I know many more than that have the skills. Dave On Tue, Feb 11, 2014 at 12:54 PM, Ralf Reköndt ralf.rekoe...@t-online.dewrote: Yes, that was one thing, we hadn't thought about, as in the days of programming TK3, ther were no known OS whith long file names. But as I sais...it should be possible as long as the OS know about the real destination. But the dev device is not able to work on MC level, as far as I know... Just SBasic. The TK3 extension was. Cheers...Ralf - Original Message - From: Tobias Fröschle Ralf, your description is pretty close to the dev device, but I'm still missing long filename support? Tobias Am 11.02.2014 um 18:04 schrieb Ralf Reköndt ralf.rekoe...@t-online.de: Hmm, I think I have sent this to you. You will find this in RAMTOOL_ASM, starting at the Label chgdev (as far as I remember). The whole thing was an idea of mine, Martin just ;-)) realised it. I just wanted to put all my QL-Games in separate TK2 subdirectories on my FLP, e.g. Cavern Metropolis Tankbusters and wanted to start every game with LRUN FLP1_BOOT (after an DDOWN xxx) and every game has to find corresponding files, even at MC level. And that worked on a standard QL (with SQB+mouse) without Level 2. Perhaps it does not run with this (but I think, it is changable). .Martin has enclosed all standard devices (RAM, FLP, MDV), except WIN, which of course should use its own way. At that time, we did not except this kind of Level 2 Cheers...Ralf - Original Message - From: gdgqler Or have a look at the TK3 sources. There, you could set (in the old TK2 way) a DDOWN test, where a BOOT was located and LRUN FLP1_BOOT and all files were able to find other files, even in the (old TK2 way) subdirectory test. That worked perfectly. Files in the root were always be able to be located with i.e. FLP1_\FULL_NAME. Some time ago went through the source code for TK3, cutting out the parts that - for me at any rate - did not work. Nowhere did I see coding which would get round the problem of filename size. But perhaps I missed it! George ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm -- Dave Park Sandy Electronics, LLC d...@sinclairql.com ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] UltimIDE and other updates...
On 11 February 2014 12:00, Tobias Fröschle tobias.froesc...@t-online.dewrote: Derek, I guess it won't. This has been discussed quite a bit in the past, but in my opinion, there's no compatible way to overcome this limitation whithout a fundamental change in how device drivers work together with the operating system. The file/path name length in QDOS/SMSQE is deeply buried in the channel definition block which is not allocated by the device driver, but instead by the operating system itself. Without changing that part of the OS, the device driver can't do much about it. Once the OS is changed, it would create files no longer accessible with the original OS. What could be done, maybe, would be a similar kludge to what MS did when they introduced long file names - mainly translating long names into short ones that can be handled by an unchanged OS. Short names would still be limited to the known path name length, though. Along that line, there used to be a promising extension named QVFS by Hans-Peter Recktenwald that allowed the usage of longer path names as an overlay on top of the actual device driver - The code is still around, but has never been widely adopted, because it was not exactly easy to handle. Regards, Tobias Am 11.02.2014 um 10:08 schrieb Derek Stewart de...@q40.de: Hi Dave, Are you going to have long file names, that is longer than the current length in SMSQ/E. Regards, Derek Its a long time ago now, so I dont recall the details, but I believe I and others thought through ways to allow for long file names without breaking (all but a very few) existing programs. Ie, its not that difficult! I always thought it a bit of a mistake that each and every program that required access to the directory tree had to read the basic system structures. This is one of those things that should have been abstracted into system calls.. If 'we' upgrade the file system now, perhaps this could be done too? It would simplify writing new programs and make them future proof to boot. (Im expecting many of us will take up tinkering again when we retire! ;) Per ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] UltimIDE and other updates...
Hi, But the dev device is not able to work on MC level, as far as I know... Just SBasic. No. dev is a device. Works from everywhere. Wolfgang ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QPC2 v4.02 released
Dilwyn said - Marcel, I don't know how to start thanking you for all this - you have been a central pivot for the QL community for many years now with your work on QPC2, SMSQ/E, WMAN2 and everything else. Thank you. -- My sentiments too, Marcel, John in Wales ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
[Ql-Users] QPAC1 2
Hello all. I have put the latest releases of QPAC12 online at http://www.kilgus.net/smsqe/qpac2.html For the release Jochen provided me with the original disc contents and Text87 manuals for QPAC2, which I converted to PDF using QPCPrint. By the way, if anybody is waiting for QPCPrint to become free as well I can tell that this is not going to happen ;-) Actually the price will probably increase on the next release, if I ever find the time to work on it. Cheers, Marcel ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QPC2 v4.02 released
Dilwyn Jones wrote: We could perhaps look at modernising the documentation too, although that's a secondary consideration at th emoment, at least. If anybody wants to have a go at it, be my guest. I can provide the Text87 originals if that helps. Marcel, I don't know how to start thanking you for all this - you have been a central pivot for the QL community for many years now with your work on QPC2, SMSQ/E, WMAN2 and everything else. Thank you. You are all welcome. I've been working on and off on QPC and SMSQ/E for the least twenty years, or more then 1/2 my life, which is a frighteningly huge part of it ;-) But I really enjoyed most of it very much and wouldn't want to miss it :-) (And I hope that Kilgus junior is doing well and getting well acquainted with her QPC2 by now!) So far she only shares my interest in breasts, but there is still room for development ;-) Cheers, Marcel ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] QPC2 v4.01 released
Timothy Swenson wrote: Welcome to the world of fatherhood. I'd say that you have 18 years before you get rid of her, but my oldest is 22 and still living at home. That's not too bad, I extended my stay until I was 25 or so ;-) I can't believe it's been 14 years since you visited my place. My youngest was born after the West Coast QL show and she is now a freshman in High School. Wow, that is just... wow :-) Unfortunately I have a memory like swiss cheese but I do very much remember the hot-tub session in your backyard :-) Good luck and do try to get some sleep (yea, fat chance). It's the couch for me tonight as some hard work weeks in the software mines lay before me. So I might actually get some sleep, thanks :-) Cheers, Marcel ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm