Re: [Ql-Users] Q-emulator

[Daniele Terdina via Ql-Users]

Feel free to add more OS constants!

From: Ql-Users  on behalf of Graeme Gregory 
via Ql-Users 
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 2:25 PM
To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com 
Cc: Graeme Gregory 
Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] Q-emulator



On Tue, 19 Mar 2024, at 1:30 PM, Dilwyn Jones via Ql-Users wrote:
> I was given this file a few years ago. I'm sorry, I don't know if it's
> still accurate. Hope it helps.
>
> Dilwyn
>
> Q-EMULATOR TRAP CALL
>
> Use Trap #1 with D0.L = -26 to get some emulator info. The trap is
> designed to be usable by other emulators, but I don't think anybody
> else is using it, so it works only with Q-emuLator.
>
> In systems where the trap is not implemented you will get an error
> in D0.L (bad parameter, I think), in Q-emuLator you get 0 in D0.L.
> There are three commands, identified by the value in D1:
>
> ==
>
> D1.L = 0
>
> Currently returns 0 in both D1.L and D2.L. I don't remember anymore
> for sure what the intended meaning was :(. I think D1 was the version of
> the D0=-26 TRAP implemented by the emulator (for example in the future
> there might be a version 1 TRAP that returns extra info, or allows more
> values in D1.L), and D2 is probably reserved for future use. Just ignore D1
> and D2 and look only at D0 (0 = trap is supported, error = it is not),
> or directly call
> with
> D1.L = 1 or 2.
> ==
>
> D1.L = 1
>
> Returns in D1.L info about the host system:
> D1.L = $00aabbcc, where
>   aa = host OS
>0 = Windows
>3 = Mac OS
>   bb = host OS variant (for example, if aa was Unix, bb would
>identify whether it is BSD, Linux, etc.). Currently always
>zero.
>   cc = emulator ID
>1 = Q-emuLator
>
> Returns in D2.L the version of the emulator:
>   D2.L = $xxyyzzww, where
>  xx = major version number
>  yy = middle version number
>  zz = minor version number
>
> ww was supposed to be a global incremental number, but a 0-255
> range is probably too little, so you can just ignore it.
>
> D3.L = type of build
>   0 = alpha
>   1 = beta
>   2 = release
>
> For example,
>D2.L = $02010005 and D3.L = 2 means version 2.1
>D2.L = $01030218 and D3.L = 1 means version 1.3.2b
>
> ==
>
> D1.L = 2
> A1.L = pointer to memory buffer
> D2.L = length of buffer
>
> Fills the buffer with a short QL string identifying the emulator
> (for example "Q-emuLator 2.2").
>
> Returns a buffer full error in D0 if the buffer is smaller than the
> string (and the buffer content is not valid in this case).
> ==
>
> Hope this helps. Most of this is untested so you may find some bugs.
> The only piece of software currently using one of these traps is the
> Q-emuLator's mouse driver (it refuses to install and prints an error
> if it's not running in Q-emuLator).
>
Should be pretty simple to implement this in sQLux, just need documentation for 
the missing values for all the OSes sQLux runs on.

Graeme
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Re: [Ql-Users] Q-emulator

[Daniele Terdina via Ql-Users]

Hello,


I have now created a SuperBASIC extension here:

http://www.terdina.net/ql/soft/qemu_version_bin


It defines two functions:

IS_QEMULATOR returns 1 if running on Q-emuLator, 0 otherwise.

QEMU_VER$ returns a string with the emulator name and version. Currently only 
Q-emuLator supports it (but that could change) and on other platforms it 
returns an empty string.


Thanks,

Daniele



From: Ql-Users  on behalf of Urs Koenig (QL) 
via Ql-Users 
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 1:05 PM
To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com 
Cc: Urs Koenig (QL) 
Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] Q-emulator

Have a look at QL/E's QLEhelper_bas (or boot_verbose which uses the compiled
QLEhelper) where the command line option \QEMU does exactly this.

Inside QLEhelper_bas look at the PROCedure QemuLator_detect which uses that
Trap call. Feel free to copy, (amend) and use what you need in SuperBASIC.

> -Ursprüngliche Nachricht-
> Von: Ql-Users [mailto:ql-users-boun...@lists.q-v-d.com] Im Auftrag von
> Daniele Terdina via Ql-Users
> Gesendet: Dienstag, 19. März 2024 20:48
> An: ql-us...@q-v-d.com
> Cc: Daniele Terdina
> Betreff: Re: [Ql-Users] Q-emulator
>
> I can write you an extension for that later today.
>
> Thanks
> Daniele
> 
> From: Ql-Users  on behalf of desin via
> Ql-Users 
> Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 12:24 PM
> To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com 
> Cc: desin 
> Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] Q-emulator
>
>
>
> Am 19.03.24 um 19:25 schrieb Daniele Terdina via Ql-Users:
> > This is correct, thank you Dilwyn!
> >
> > If you'd like to test whether you are running on the Q-emuLator-specific
> version of SMSQ/E (file named SMSQ_QEM, that can only run on Q-
> emuLator), you can use MACHINE and check for code 26.
> >
> > On any version of QDOS or SMSQ/E, you can test whether you are running
> on Q-emuLator by setting D0=-26 (notice the minus sign), D1=1 and calling
> TRAP #1. On return, if the error code (in D0) is zero and D1.B is 1, you
are
> running on Q-emuLator.
>
> Thanks Daniele
> but how do it in basic ?
>
> Background
>
> A boot file that runs on most systems (native/emulated)
> on Q-emulator it must check what version of SMSQE
> is necessary
>
> Greetings from Switzerland
> Markus
>
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Re: [Ql-Users] Q-emulator

[Daniele Terdina via Ql-Users]

I can write you an extension for that later today.

Thanks
Daniele

From: Ql-Users  on behalf of desin via 
Ql-Users 
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 12:24 PM
To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com 
Cc: desin 
Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] Q-emulator



Am 19.03.24 um 19:25 schrieb Daniele Terdina via Ql-Users:
> This is correct, thank you Dilwyn!
>
> If you'd like to test whether you are running on the Q-emuLator-specific 
> version of SMSQ/E (file named SMSQ_QEM, that can only run on Q-emuLator), you 
> can use MACHINE and check for code 26.
>
> On any version of QDOS or SMSQ/E, you can test whether you are running on 
> Q-emuLator by setting D0=-26 (notice the minus sign), D1=1 and calling TRAP 
> #1. On return, if the error code (in D0) is zero and D1.B is 1, you are 
> running on Q-emuLator.

Thanks Daniele
but how do it in basic ?

Background

A boot file that runs on most systems (native/emulated)
on Q-emulator it must check what version of SMSQE
is necessary

Greetings from Switzerland
Markus

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Re: [Ql-Users] Q-emulator

[Daniele Terdina via Ql-Users]

This is correct, thank you Dilwyn!

If you'd like to test whether you are running on the Q-emuLator-specific 
version of SMSQ/E (file named SMSQ_QEM, that can only run on Q-emuLator), you 
can use MACHINE and check for code 26.

On any version of QDOS or SMSQ/E, you can test whether you are running on 
Q-emuLator by setting D0=-26 (notice the minus sign), D1=1 and calling TRAP #1. 
On return, if the error code (in D0) is zero and D1.B is 1, you are running on 
Q-emuLator.

From: Ql-Users  on behalf of Dilwyn Jones via 
Ql-Users 
Sent: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 6:46 AM
To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com 
Cc: Dilwyn Jones 
Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] Q-emulator

I think I forgot to mention that under the QemuLator specific version
3.38 from Daniele's website, the MACHINE function in SBASIC returns 26
for QemuLator. I don't know if the Gold Card and Aurora versions also
do this, sorry.

Dilwyn

On Tue, 19 Mar 2024 at 13:30, Dilwyn Jones  wrote:
>
> I was given this file a few years ago. I'm sorry, I don't know if it's
> still accurate. Hope it helps.
>
> Dilwyn
>
> Q-EMULATOR TRAP CALL
>
> Use Trap #1 with D0.L = -26 to get some emulator info. The trap is
> designed to be usable by other emulators, but I don't think anybody
> else is using it, so it works only with Q-emuLator.
>
> In systems where the trap is not implemented you will get an error
> in D0.L (bad parameter, I think), in Q-emuLator you get 0 in D0.L.
> There are three commands, identified by the value in D1:
>
> ==
>
> D1.L = 0
>
> Currently returns 0 in both D1.L and D2.L. I don't remember anymore
> for sure what the intended meaning was :(. I think D1 was the version of
> the D0=-26 TRAP implemented by the emulator (for example in the future
> there might be a version 1 TRAP that returns extra info, or allows more
> values in D1.L), and D2 is probably reserved for future use. Just ignore D1
> and D2 and look only at D0 (0 = trap is supported, error = it is not),
> or directly call
> with
> D1.L = 1 or 2.
> ==
>
> D1.L = 1
>
> Returns in D1.L info about the host system:
> D1.L = $00aabbcc, where
>   aa = host OS
>0 = Windows
>3 = Mac OS
>   bb = host OS variant (for example, if aa was Unix, bb would
>identify whether it is BSD, Linux, etc.). Currently always
>zero.
>   cc = emulator ID
>1 = Q-emuLator
>
> Returns in D2.L the version of the emulator:
>   D2.L = $xxyyzzww, where
>  xx = major version number
>  yy = middle version number
>  zz = minor version number
>
> ww was supposed to be a global incremental number, but a 0-255
> range is probably too little, so you can just ignore it.
>
> D3.L = type of build
>   0 = alpha
>   1 = beta
>   2 = release
>
> For example,
>D2.L = $02010005 and D3.L = 2 means version 2.1
>D2.L = $01030218 and D3.L = 1 means version 1.3.2b
>
> ==
>
> D1.L = 2
> A1.L = pointer to memory buffer
> D2.L = length of buffer
>
> Fills the buffer with a short QL string identifying the emulator
> (for example "Q-emuLator 2.2").
>
> Returns a buffer full error in D0 if the buffer is smaller than the
> string (and the buffer content is not valid in this case).
> ==
>
> Hope this helps. Most of this is untested so you may find some bugs.
> The only piece of software currently using one of these traps is the
> Q-emuLator's mouse driver (it refuses to install and prints an error
> if it's not running in Q-emuLator).
>
> On Tue, 19 Mar 2024 at 12:54, desin via Ql-Users
>  wrote:
> >
> > Hello
> > how can a basic program check if its running on Q-emulator ?
> >
> > Greetings from Switzerland
> > Markus
> > ___
> > QL-Users Mailing List
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Re: [Ql-Users] SMSQ/E 3.33

[Daniele Terdina via Ql-Users]

I decided to give a try to the Aurora version on Q-emuLator, but it stops when 
it encounters some "jsr $FE83" instructions... anybody knows what those are 
supposed to do?

Daniele

From: Ql-Users  on behalf of Wolf via 
Ql-Users 
Sent: Sunday, April 29, 2018 2:40 AM
To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com
Cc: Wolf
Subject: [Ql-Users] SMSQ/E 3.33

Hi all,

SMSQ/E 3.33 is out, get it as usual from
www.wlenerz.com/smsqe

What's new in this version :

Final bugfix for LRESPR in procedures (means everybody should upgrade)
Better QL networking.
Gold card is configured not to use ABC keyboard.
Improvements in standard QL EE.
Q68 & SMSQmulator better  handling.

The sources for the stand-alone TK II are included in the SMSQ/E sources.
Moreover, whilst they aren't really part of SMSQE, the new QL-SD drivers
are built on the basis of the SMSQ/E "dv3" driver acihtecture, so their
sources are also included in the SMSQ/E sources (remember, the compiled
drivers are at wlenerz.com/qlsd).

If you have a Qx0 machine and access to an EPROM burner, this may be of
interest to you : The Qx0 may now have a compressed SMSQ/E so newer
versions thereof fit in the standard EPROMs. There is a certain process
involved in making these EPROMs - but it is clealy described in the
"smsq_q40_boot_doc" or "smsq_q40_boot_txt" files in the SMSQ/E sources.

Finally, Q68 has better handling of some slower SDHC cards. Also, and
that is an officially unofficial and undocumented feature, the Q68 may
also be able to read most older SD (not SDHC) cards. However, make sure
that this actually works with your cards before using them in earnest.
Offficially, the Q68 still only supports SDHC cards.

Have fun!
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Re: [Ql-Users] Source code availability for Minerva v1.92 or v1.89?

[Daniele Terdina via Ql-Users]

In case you are using a ROM expansion, latest versions of Minerva have trouble 
with that.

Daniele

From: Ql-Users  on behalf of Martyn Hill via 
Ql-Users 
Sent: Sunday, February 25, 2018 6:51 AM
To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com
Cc: Martyn Hill
Subject: [Ql-Users] Source code availability for Minerva v1.92 or v1.89?

Hi everyone!

I'm looking to get a hold of the *source *for either of *Minerva v1.92
*or *v1.89*. We have v1.98 source available, which I have poured over
for /many /an hour...

Is anyone able to contact the QView team to ask, or else has a copy to
hand of either version of source code and has permission to release to a
enthusiastic tester?

Whilst I can continue using Min v1.92 +TK2 with full & reliable
networking, my aim is to run the latest Minerva**available - possibly
after hacking v1.98 or TK2 to restore /full /QLNet
compatibility**between them**- see below.*
*

*Context:*
In my on-going exploration and testing of the network on the BBQL, I
discovered an apparent incompatibility between Minerva v1.97 and 1.98
whenever TK2 (any version) is loaded when it comes to using LBYTES
specifically. Other uses of the NET driver work as more-or-less as
expected (OPEN, LOAD, SBYTES, etc), albeit with some additional latency
sometimes observed.

I posted a thread on the forum a while back but, at that time, I had
reservations about the hardware state of my own 2x QL motherboards (an
Iss7 and an Iss5 - both 'hacked' quite a bit.)

Since then, I have tested with other QL motherboards (Iss6 and another
Iss5 - no hacks) and made adjustments to the TK2 code to validate and
now have a degree of confidence that there really is something odd with
Minerva + TK2 /after /Minerva v1.92.

Specifically, when receiving via LBYTES (and SBYTES at the remote end),
Minerva 1.97+ on its own receives perfectly, but once the NET driver is
effectively replaced with TK2 (upto v2.23), issuing LBYTES will
completely hang the /receiving /QL - immediately and regardless of
whether the sending end has even started.

It doesn't seem to make a jot of difference what is running at the
/sending/ end - nor which issue of motherboard are at either end...

ROM (Rx)w/o TK2with TK2
-     ---
JS and MG  OK  OK
Min v1.89   OK  OK
Min v1.92   OK  OK
Min v1.97   OK  Hangs on LBYTES
Min v1.98   OK  Hangs on LBYTES

(I don't know how well that table will render...)

I have already hacked the TK2 (v2.23) NET driver source to allow both
the Minerva NET and the TK2 NET driver (renamed to 'TNT') to co-exist,
and also to allow both Minerva's LBYTES and TK2's equivalent procedure
(again, renamed.)

When using the Minerva NET driver, but still with TK2 loaded, normal
service resumes. The moment LBYTES is issued (again on Min v1.97/1.98)
but against the renamed 'TNT' driver, the receiver hangs again. As one
might expect from the above, Minerva v1.92 and 1.89 execute LBYTES
perfectly well using /either /NET or the TNT variant.

I suspect some combination of register or stack usage/dependencies that
are no longer as TK2 expects /after /Min v1.92, but after literally
man-days of cross comparing the various source codes available, I can't
nail it down and its bugging me :-)

What I am missing is a decent disassembly of one of the 'working'
Minerva versions, or better still, the source. Hence my request.

If I can't lay my hands on the source, I'll resort to running DEA or
IDIS against the Minerva v1.98 ROM, but that's tedious as hell :-)

Any takers?

Regards,
*Martyn Hill.*

--
"There are 10 types of people in this world. Those who understand binary and 
those who don't."

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Re: [Ql-Users] Email attachments

[Daniele Terdina]

There's no 100% security, but unzipping on a QL or emulated QL (Java-based or 
not) sounds like _extremely_ low risk, provided the uncompressed file is not 
used directly on the PC.






> Not sure how you come to that conclusion, I used to work on Java and it
> goes through a stringent security process.

AFAIK Flash used to be the most vulnerable software (when also taking user base 
into account), but since it lost favor Java has been the top or one of the top 
for a long time.
See for example: 
http://www.csoonline.com/article/2875535/application-security/java-is-the-biggest-vulnerability-for-us-computers.html

[http://core5.staticworld.net/images/article/2014/11/maria-trombly-headshot-closeup-100532712-byline.jpg]

Java is the biggest vulnerability for US computers | CSO 
...
www.csoonline.com
Java is the biggest vulnerability for US computers Oracle's Java poses the 
single biggest security risk to US desktops, says a new report




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Re: [Ql-Users] New QL

[Daniele Terdina]

Marcel, do you know if any free VHDL simulation/analysis tools exist that may 
be close to a code debugger (breakpoints etc., if that makes sense)?

I wouldn't mind giving the occasional look and fix some instructions, but only 
if there is an efficient way of doing it. Going through countless iterations of 
experiments and/or needing the hardware would exceed my available time.
 
Thanks,
 
Daniele
 
> Date: Sat, 22 Mar 2014 01:35:26 +0100
> From: ql-us...@mail.kilgus.net
> To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com
> Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] New QL
> 
> pg...@q40.de wrote:
> > In case you are thinking about hiring someone to design a better
> > CPU, I'm not sure if software developers are the ones to ask. This 
> > is not software, it's hardware design. I'm sure folks like Daniele, 
> > Richard and Marcel know a lot about 68K instructions, but it seems 
> > unlikely one of them would also like to learn chip design.
> 
> Actually I have dabbled with VHDL in University and would love to do
> more with FPGAs, but no, I have enough pet projects going as it is.
> Perhaps in another life ;-)
> 
> Without even having seen the code I guess the remaining bugs are in
> the processor flag handling. If you don't get them exactly right
> everything kind of works, but then after a few million flawless
> instructions some tiny thing breaks and things go down from there. I
> remember tracing thousands of lines side by side with a real QL to
> catch the remaining differences. But it did pay off, in the 18 years
> since the first release only a handful bugs have been found in the
> emulation core, most by George Gwilt. You should send him a board ;-)
> 
> Cheers, Marcel
> 
> ___
> QL-Users Mailing List
> http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
  
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[Ql-Users] Q-emulator 1.2 for OS X, Trial Mode

[Daniele Terdina]

A Q-emulator update is available for OS X 
(http://www.terdina.net/ql/MacQL.html).

The emulator has a trial mode now that allows unregistered users to run QL 
software on it. In trial mode, emulation is limited to a 128 KB QL and some 
advanced features are not available.

Daniele   
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Re: [Ql-Users] SMSQmulator

[Daniele Terdina]

> Question: how do you handle the case when a user wants to list a huge
> directory. Do you open every single file, check if there's a header
> and close it again?

Yes

Daniele   
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Re: [Ql-Users] SMSQmulator

[Daniele Terdina]

> Do you think you could send me a small file (one line basic would be 
> enough) with that, so that I could test it?

Sure, sending one off list.

Daniele   
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Re: [Ql-Users] SMSQmulator

[Daniele Terdina]

> Is there some documentation somewhere on its file / header format?

Hi Wolfang,

here are the details of how Q-emuLator stores files on the native file system:

QL files have a special piece of information associated with them, called the 
‘QDOS file header’.
The header stores such information as the file name and whether the file is an 
executable program.
Q-emuLator stores part of the header at the beginning of files. The header is 
present
only when it is useful, ie. only if it contains non-default information.
The header has the following format:

OFFSET  LENGTH(bytes) CONTENT
0   18“]!QDOS File Header“
18  1 0 (reserved)
19  1 total length_of_header, in 16 bit words
20  length_of_header*2-20 QDOS INFO

The first 18 bytes are there to detect whether the header is present (ID 
string).
The headers Q-emuLator supports can be 30 bytes or 44 bytes long (the value of 
the
corresponding byte at offset 19 is either 15 or 22). In the first case, there 
are 10 bytes with the values
present in bytes 4 to 13 of the 64 bytes QDOS header. In the second case the 
same piece of
information is followed by 14 bytes containing a microdrive sector header, 
useful for emulating
microdrive protection schemes. Additional header information (file length, 
name, dates) is obtained
directly from the file through the host file system.

Daniele   
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Re: [Ql-Users] QLPAK files

[Daniele Terdina]

Trying again, all formatting was lost in my last message:

> > Does anyone have information on how to create the QLPAK files for QemuLator?

Marcos Cruz reverse engineered the format in this thread: 
http://www.qlforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=160&p=852&hilit=qlpak#p852

In practice, these steps should be sufficient for most programs:
1. copy the .QCF (ql configuration, specifying emulation options) file you want 
to use in the same directory as the QL program
2. may need to edit the .QCF with a text editor, for example to remove 
references to file paths on you machine. Don't associate anything to MDV slots, 
by default the QLPAK will be mounted as MDV1
3. ZIP all the files together
4. rename from ZIP to QLPAK
5. Optional: if posting on a web page, associate the MIME type 
"application/x-qdos-qlpak" to the link. This is what enables the browser to 
automatically start Q-emuLator when clicking on the link. Hosting providers may 
disallow arbitrary MIME types by default, but there is usually a way to add new 
ones.

For more complex cases, there are .QCF commands to load a ROM from the QLPAK or 
to mount different parts of the QLPAK to different microdrives.

Thanks,

Daniele   
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Re: [Ql-Users] QLPAK files

[Daniele Terdina]

> Does anyone have information on how to create the QLPAK files for QemuLator?
Marcos Cruz reverse engineered the format in this thread: 
http://www.qlforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=160&p=852&hilit=qlpak#p852 In 
practice, these steps should be sufficient for most programs:copy the .QCF (ql 
configuration, specifying emulation options) file you want to use in the same 
directory as the QL programmay need to edit the .QCF with a text editor, for 
example to remove references to file paths on you machine. Don't associate 
anything to MDV slots, by default the QLPAK will be mounted as MDV1ZIP all the 
files togetherrename from ZIP to QLPAKOptional: if posting on a web page, 
associate the MIME type "application/x-qdos-qlpak" to the link. This is what 
enables the browser to automatically start Q-emuLator when clicking on the 
link. Hosting providers may disallow arbitrary MIME types by default, but there 
is usually a way to add new ones. For more complex cases, there are .QCF 
commands to load a ROM from the QLPAK or to mount different parts of the QLPAK 
to differe
 nt microdrives. Thanks, Daniele
  
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Re: [Ql-Users] Quanta Library Guide

[Daniele Terdina]

> SuQcess starts with testing the validity of devices and directories to 
> prevent it from crashing later.
> For this the TK2 commands FTEST and FTYP are used but these don't seem to 
> work on the device names used by Q-emuLator.
> Is this just an issue with the non-registered version?
> Is there any way to test for Q-emuLator from S*Basic so I can skip the 
> test and hope for the best?


The unregistered version tries to emulate the original file drivers, which are 
not "level 2".

On a registered copy of Q-emuLator, and with level 2 drivers enabled, 
FTEST("mdv1_") should return 0 and your check will succeed.

On the unregistered version it returns -7, and I think that's the correct 
behaviour: Although I can't currently check, I believe FTEST("mdv1_") would 
also return -7 when run on a QL, even if there is a cartridge in the drive. It 
would be interesting to check.

 

The problem is related to the FTEST command trying to open a file rather than a 
directory to verify its existance. In SMSQ/E a directory can be opened as a 
file, but in QDOS I don't think it can. The correct way to check for the 
validity of devices and directories would be to attempt to open a directory, 
not a file (TRAP#2 with D0=1 and D3=4 rather than D3=1).

 

 

There is no SuperBASIC keyword to test for Q-emuLator, but it would be easy to 
write one if needed, as there is a TRAP#1 command that can be used to detect 
Q-emuLator.

 

 

Daniele   
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Re: [Ql-Users] Quanta Library Guide

[Daniele Terdina]

> My tests were done on a W$-Vista with Q-emuLator 2.5 and 3.1., with JS and
> both the old DATA_bin and latest 2.13.
> Only 3.1 & JS produces the errors, the DATA_bin version makes no
> difference.
> I looks like something changed between Q-emuLator 2.5 & 3.1 to stop DBAS  
>  from working.
> 
> Bob
 I've looked into this and there is a change in behaviour in version 3.0 which 
causes this issue. The change was for compatibility reasons to allow some old 
games to run.  DATA_BIN is patching the directory device drivers to be able to 
intercept a special new I/O command. On a (JS) QL, I think this would _not_ 
work for the MDV driver as the device driver definition is in ROM and can't be 
patched (actually, it could still be patched, but only by using a different 
method). But it works for other device drivers like FLP that are defined in 
RAM. Up to version 2.5, the additional Q-emuLator device driver definitions 
(additional definitions are necessary as a JS ROM doesn't know about 'FLP' and 
'TCP', for example) were in RAM and DATA_BIN used to work fine, but later I 
changed the definitions to be in ROM and DATA_BIN is not able to patch the 
drivers anymore. The reason for the change is that the RAM definitions were 
causing incompatibilities with some old software that expected to
  find some QDOS data structures at fixed addresses in the QL memory, but the 
extra memory used by Q-emuLator's device drivers was causing these addresses to 
be off by a few bytes. Finally, I only activated this change for Sinclair ROMs, 
as those old QL programs wouldn't work on Minerva anyways, and this explains 
why DATA_BIN still runs fine under Q-emuLator 3 when using a Minerva ROM or 
SMSQ/E. I'll think about ways of mantaining compatibilities with both DATA_BIN 
and the old software that doesn't like extra drivers to be in RAM. In the 
meantime, the workaround on Q-emuLator version 3 is to use the Minerva ROM.  
Daniele  
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[Ql-Users] Q-emuLator blog and update

[Daniele Terdina]

Hello,
 
just wanted to announce the new Q-emuLator blog, at 
http://qemulator.blogspot.com/
 
This will likely be a low-traffic blog, mainly a place where to announce 
availability of new updates to existing users.
 
An update for Windows has just been released, and an update for OS X is in the 
works.
 
Thanks,
 
Daniele   
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Re: [Ql-Users] Fw: A runtime version of QPC2?

[Daniele Terdina]

> Something similar would happen with a free unlimited version of Q-emuLator
> (and the QLPAK format is perfect for that), but SBASIC could not be used,
> because of SMSQ/E.
You can use SMSQ/E with Q-emuLator, but even in a hypothetical world where a 
free Q-emuLator runtime existed, there would be at least three clauses in the 
current SMSQ/E license preventing users from redistributing SMSQ/E for free 
with their SBASIC code:The SMSQ/E binary can only be distributed by 
resellersResellers need to provide support for SMSQ/EResellers need to pay 10 
euros for each copy to Tony Tebby In other words, to distribute a free SMSQ/E 
runtime with your program, you would need to first register as a reseller (the 
easy part), cover for the 10 euros for each copy out of your pocket, and be on 
the hook to provide SMSQ/E support even though you are giving it away for free. 
Thanks, Daniele  
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Re: [Ql-Users] Delaying code

[Daniele Terdina]

> I have a similar issue when trying to play Lands of Havoc on q-emulator - if

Hi Rich, I've just looked into the Lands of Havoc issue, emulator screen 
refresh is not very smooth, I'll have a fix for that in the next update.
Thanks,
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Re: [Ql-Users] Delaying code

[Daniele Terdina]

Just posted to your blog:
For the timing, you need a few instructions of assembly code to be called 
during interrupt 2 (typically called every 20 ms) and increment a counter, that 
you can then read from SuperBASIC.
The only speed-independent QL games I know use either this method, or the STOP 
machine code instruction once they are done processing the current frame. STOP 
will essentially halt the processor until the next interrupt is received.
 
> From: lee.priv...@gmail.com
> To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com
> Date: Mon, 23 May 2011 22:45:21 +0100
> Subject: [Ql-Users] Delaying code
> 
> Based on the fact that Turbo'd programmes will FTL QL SuperBasic in
> newer emulators (a mistake of my far past programming examples) I find
> myself needing to put slow down routines in to the code so that when
> compiled or used on a PC 100 Gigahertz Super Duper all singing and
> dancing with go faster stripes down the side computer it will still
> run at the same speed (especially graphics or control operations). 
> 
> In the past on the original QL I have rather naïvely used a plethora
> of for/next loops (yes I know) to do this, The only thing I can think
> of now is to use something similar to TIMER (QuickBasic) which gives
> you the number of cycles since the machine has switched on. Cycles?
> what cycles? no idea, I think it's' fractions of milliseconds or
> similar, well this is what I need. Also in Quickbasic you can use this
> TIMER number as a really good randomiser seed number, however I
> digress. 
> 
> So if I want to move something across the screen at the same speed
> regardless of host speed how do I do it? 
> 
> Something like 
> 
> 10 FOR F = 1 TO 25
> 20 PRINT CHR$(31);
> 25 A$ = INKEY$ : do something else with this (stops me
> using the Pause command so…)
> 30 DELAY (100)
> 40 END FOR F
> 
> DELAY 100 gives a 100 millisecond delay
> 
> The QL doesn't seem to have anything suitable, DATE doesn't work,
> PAUSE doesn’t work if you press a key and I need to do that, so there
> must be a PEEK somewhere, or am I missing something simple, anyone?
> 
> Thanks, Lee
> 
> -Back to the QL-
> http://backtotheql.blogspot.com/
> https://sites.google.com/site/iwant2learn2/
> https://sites.google.com/site/theqlimagerepository/
> 
> 
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Re: [Ql-Users] Delaying code

[Daniele Terdina]

> > I think this is a problem with Q-emulator (maybe others) - I wonder if it is
> > linked to MOVE.W / MOVE.L trying to use an odd address (which was supposedly
> > not valid on the 68008, but somehow works on the standard QL!)
> 
> Hm? I'm pretty sure this has never worked on a standard QL.

68008 can't access odd addresses, but there's lots of buggy QL software that 
try. The memory access doesn't happen, but the QL can often just skip that 
instruction and continue. I believe the processor state at that point is 
undefined (for example the faulting instruction could have partially executed), 
which is an issue for emulators.
 
Daniele   
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Re: [Ql-Users] Delaying code

[Daniele Terdina]

> I was just going to say that the issue of DP's sprite generator flickering
> when the sprites move to the right, is surely just limited to emulated QLs?

Haven't seen the original message about flickering. It's often caused by 
programs erasing the bacground before redrawing a sprite. I believe it should 
be visible on QLs, too. For example try drawing many BLOCKs of width 1 in MODE 
8 on a QL, for each line the QDOS implementation of block will first fill eight 
horizontal pixels with the block color, then re-paint the original background 
over 7 of those pixels, causing flickering. If the display happens to output 
that screen line after QDOS has filled in the 8 pixels, but before it repaints 
the background, a small horizontal line should be visible for 20 ms (until the 
next screen refresh).
For machine code games, one possible way to completely avoid flickering is to 
use both screen pages, and switch screen during interrupt 2. For other 
programs, ideally they should draw the sprite and background at the same time, 
greatly reducing flickering.
 
Daniele   
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Re: [Ql-Users] Delaying code

[Daniele Terdina]

For Havoc it might be, but SSG doesn't access odd addresses, so that's not the 
issue. Only way to tell for sure would be to try it on a QL.
Daniele
 
> Date: Tue, 24 May 2011 20:19:35 +0100
> From: r...@rwapservices.co.uk
> To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com
> Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] Delaying code
> 
> Hmm - I doubt this is a DP limitation and 4 pixels fits in perfectly 
> with the issue on Lands of Havoc which runs perfectly on a standard QL.
> 
> I really think this is an issue with the emulation on q-emulator. I 
> have sent a copy of both programs to Daniele.
> 
> I could be wrong about the MOVE.W to an odd address, but does anyone 
> have any other suggestions?
> 
> Rich
> 
> On 24/05/2011 19:36, Lee Privett wrote:
> > There is a spam filter enabled for comments that maybe the issue there
> >
> > I am not so bothered about DPs flicker as much as I am about the
> > sprites 4 pixel jumping it does on the X-axis although I have yet to
> > test it on A QL only emulated. Since the AGM if still haven't unpacked
> > all the stuff I took up there :( and I have got lots of things to play
> > with :), Daniele took a looked at this and eventually came to the
> > conclusion it's a SSG limitation, hence I have gone back to native
> > drawing to the screen (a bit limited, not so pretty, but smoother
> > graphics) and hence my original quest to find a routine to delay
> > faster executions in order to keep a consistency on different systems.
> >
> >
> > Thanks, Lee
> >
> > -Back to the QL-
> > http://backtotheql.blogspot.com/
> > https://sites.google.com/site/iwant2learn2/
> > https://sites.google.com/site/theqlimagerepository/
> >
> >
> > -Original Message-
> > From: ql-users-boun...@lists.q-v-d.com
> > [mailto:ql-users-boun...@lists.q-v-d.com] On Behalf Of Rich Mellor
> > Sent: 24 May 2011 18:30
> > To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com
> > Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] Delaying code
> >
> > I had the problem that I tried to post a comment using my google
> > account, but it just kept showing a different security code to type
> > in!
> >
> > I was just going to say that the issue of DP's sprite generator
> > flickering when the sprites move to the right, is surely just limited
> > to emulated QLs?
> > I have a similar issue when trying to play Lands of Havoc on
> > q-emulator - if you are unlucky the character disappears from teh
> > screen completely unless you move slightly left or right.
> >
> > I think this is a problem with Q-emulator (maybe others) - I wonder if
> > it is linked to MOVE.W / MOVE.L trying to use an odd address (which
> > was supposedly not valid on the 68008, but somehow works on the
> > standard QL!)
> >
> > Rich
> > R
> >
> > ___
> > QL-Users Mailing List
> > http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
> >
> >
> 
> 
> -- 
> Rich Mellor
> RWAP Services
> 
> http://www.rwapsoftware.co.uk
> http://www.rwapservices.co.uk
> 
> -- Try out our new site: http://sellmyretro.com
> 
> 
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Re: [Ql-Users] Sir C on radio4

[Daniele Terdina]

> > Meh.
> >
> 
> Meh?


There's a web page for everything :): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meh

 

Daniele
  
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Re: [Ql-Users] How many time to get q-emulator licence ?

[Daniele Terdina]

Hi Jimmy,
 
sorry about that. I sent you the registration within a few hours from receiving 
your registration email (i.e. a couple of days ago, I think).
My only guess is that the email may have been intercepted by a spam filter 
along the way.
When I get home, I'll resend it from different email accounts and hopefully 
this time you'll receive it.
 
Thanks,
 
Daniele
 
> From: q...@jadiam.com
> To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com
> Date: Fri, 4 Mar 2011 08:35:39 +0100
> Subject: [Ql-Users] How many time to get q-emulator licence ?
> 
> Hi All,
> 
> 
> 
> Does anyone know if Daniele is very busy ? I bought a q-emulator license
> since Wednesday, and I wait for any email for q-emulator registration.
> 
> Well, I know that always a problem when we are busy as I'm afraid to have
> missed any QL2K registration license. So in the same way, if anyone need a
> license of QL2K already asked but not received and or get a copy of a
> previously requested license, feel free to ask it at - QL2K (at) jadiam .
> com -
> 
> 
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> 
> 
> Jimmy.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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Re: [Ql-Users] [ql-users] Backplanes...

[Daniele Terdina]

> A backplane allows you to place each card in its own slot. It multiplies the
> QL's expansion port into three, four or more ports. This means cards don't
 
Didn't Sinclair ROMs have a bug preventing usage of all expansion slots except 
for the first one?
 
Daniele   
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Re: [Ql-Users] Programming project request...

[Daniele Terdina]

You should decide if you want to compile the program. If you'll compile it with 
Turbo, integer arithmetic is much faster than floating point. But no need to 
append the % to the variables if you want to avoid the overhead when running 
the program without compiling it: you can just tell Turbo to treat normal 
floating point variables as integers by using the IMPLICIT% keyword.
 
Daniele
 
> Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2011 20:13:56 -0600
> From: plasticu...@gmail.com
> To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com
> Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] Programming project request...
> 
> Well, today was fun.
> 
> First, I re-discovered that integer handling is about 30% slower than
> floating point, which seems very counter-intuitive to me.
> 
> Second, I did some demonstrations to find out which was faster... large
> dimensioned arrays, or ALCHPing some memory and PEEK/POKEing it directly .
> Any guesses which was faster? If I need to store tables of data about
> temporary objects, it seems ALCHP is faster to handle the data, but harder
> to understand what's going on. Easier to defrag the objects when one ceases
> to exist (like a plane lands, or a card is used)...
> 
> I also was wondering... with the list distinctions of ql-users and
> ql-developers... The QL was always very hands on, and these days, every user
> needs to be their own developer. So, aren't we all developers, really?
> 
> Dave
> 
> On Sat, Jan 22, 2011 at 12:38 AM, Plastic  wrote:
> 
> >
> >
> > On Sat, Jan 22, 2011 at 12:23 AM, Rich Mellor 
> > wrote:
> >
> >> On 22/01/2011 06:03, Plastic wrote:
> >>
> >>> As for a SuperBASIC compiler...
> >>>
> >> Lightning is a utility which increase the speed of graphics and text
> >> routines in any program which uses the standard QDOS routines, it is not a
> >> SuperBASIC compiler.
> >>
> >
> > See, that's what I have to deal with. As soon as I'm told that I remember
> > it very clearly. Lightning was this really need tool that transformed my QL
> > by replacing the commonly used display routines (which were as general
> > purpose as possible and slow) with custom, up to 30x faster specific
> > routines. I know that! But I didn't until you said it.
> >
> > This kind of thing happens to me a few times every day right now.
> >
> > I have the Turbo Toolkit - but that is also on microdrive. Timothy
> > Swenson's email addresses that.
> >
> > Good links all... Following, reading and printing. Can't scribble pencil
> > notes in the margin of a PDF.
> >
> > Dave
> >
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Re: [Ql-Users] Mortville Manor for iPhone

[Daniele Terdina]

First time I hear about this developer, but I see no reason to doubt they 
either have or licensed the rights. The press release states that one of the 
original game authors helped testing the iPhone version.
Even in the 80s, looks like the game was sold for many more platforms under 
multiple publishers.
 
> From: ralf.rekoe...@t-online.de
> To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com
> Date: Wed, 5 Jan 2011 09:13:09 +0100
> Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] Mortville Manor for iPhone
> 
> Daniele Terdina wrote:
> 
> > Some QL users may remember the Mortville Manor game that was available on
> > the QL and other computers.
> >
> > Looks like a 3D version for iPhone is almost ready:
> > http://www.mortevielle.com/ (web site is in French, automated English
> > translation:
> > http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.aspx?ref=Internal&from=fr&to=en&a=http://www.mortevielle.com/)
> 
> Hmm, MM was written by Pyramide/France. Wonder about the copyrights...?
> 
> Cheers...Ralf 
> 
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[Ql-Users] Mortville Manor for iPhone

[Daniele Terdina]

Some QL users may remember the Mortville Manor game that was available on the 
QL and other computers.

Looks like a 3D version for iPhone is almost ready: http://www.mortevielle.com/ 
 (web site is in French, automated English translation: 
http://www.microsofttranslator.com/bv.aspx?ref=Internal&from=fr&to=en&a=http://www.mortevielle.com/)
 
Daniele   
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Re: [Ql-Users] Hi + graphics formats

[Daniele Terdina]

> I would like to do some bitmap pictures in 8 colour mode and am wondering 
> about the right file-format. I'm quite good in Photoshop and software like 
> this and also have Graphics converter here on my Mac. It would be great if 
> somebody could help me out telling me in which format I should save the files 
> and how I can open them afterwards with Qemulator. Thanks.

 
Hi Thorsten,
 
I think Graphics Converter can import QL screens, but not export them (unless 
that changed in the 10+ years since I last used it :)
 
Not sure what you mean by bitmap, for example I think SMSQ/E sprites have their 
own format. If you mean the format of the QL video memory (a picture that you 
can LBYTES into video memory), one possible way I've used in the past is to 
convert to the 8 colour palette in Photoshop, convert back to RGB and export as 
a RAW file, then write a small SuperBASIC conversion program that takes the RAW 
RGB file and converts it to the QL video memory format.
 
Daniele
 
  
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Re: [Ql-Users] Q-emuLator

[Daniele Terdina]

> I knew there must be a simple way of doing this - trouble is that I've 
> been using q-emulator for so long and never had to print from it, I have 
> forgotten most of what is in the manual!

In this case, it's just that printing to any PC printers (including USB and 
network printers) is a new feature, before version 3 (for Windows) a printer 
with a parallel or serial port was required.
 
Daniele   
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Re: [Ql-Users] Q-emuLator

[Daniele Terdina]

> Anyone know if Q-emuLator can print to a printer on a USB port? As far 

See the manual (chapter 6, I think), but this is the gist of it:
1) Prerequisite is to have the printer installed under Windows
2) In the QL Configuration window, make sure the serial port you'll use is 
redirected to the printer (it is by default for SER1 and SER2)
3) In the QL software, print to the SER port. If the QL software allows you to 
choose a printer, choose an old Epson model.
 
An easy test is:
OPEN#3,SER:PRINT#3,"HELLO":CLOSE#3
 
This should print "HELLO" to your PC printer (USB or otherwise)
 
 
As you say, the other way is to use the parallel port.
 
 
Daniele
  
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Re: [Ql-Users] Q-emuLator 3.0 for Windows

[Daniele Terdina]

> IIRC the older version that I was running (been a while since using it 
> or QPCII), did not support directories. Has that been fixed?

Accessing existing directories is supported, but creating new ones is only 
supported for the Mac/PC filesystem, not for QXL.WIN files. I think this is the 
limitation you remember, and it's still there (although it's on my todo list to 
implement it).
 
Daniele   
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[Ql-Users] Q-emuLator 1.0 for OS X released

[Daniele Terdina]

Q-emuLator 1.0 for Mac OS X is available at 
http://www.terdina.net/ql/EnterOSX.html.
 
It only works after getting a registration code, but I can send temporary 
registration codes to people interested in trying it (email me and please 
include your full name).
 
Thanks,
 
Daniele   
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[Ql-Users] Q-emuLator 3.0 for Windows

[Daniele Terdina]

Version 3.0 of Q-emuLator for Windows is now available 
(http://www.terdina.net/ql/Enter.html).
 
This is a paid update (except for users that registered in the last six months 
- they will receive a free update). The unregistered version (with limited 
features) can still be used for free.
 
New features in version 3:
 

The main window can be resized to make the QL screen bigger.
Compatibility improvements. 
Precise QL speed emulation. 
Dot matrix printer emulation. 
Mount .ZIP files as read-only disks. 
Use .QLPAK single-file QL software archives. 
Smart full screen upscaling.
Access microdrive images and floppy disk images. 
QL Sampled Sound System.
Improved display emulation when running on Windows 7 (and full screen mode 
fixed).
 
Thank you,
 
Daniele   
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Re: [Ql-Users] Zoostorm Freedom XL 10-270 netbook

[Daniele Terdina]

> Wonder if Daniele has any news for 
> us on how development of QemuLator is going?

Development is continuing. The OS X version that was seen at the Vienna meeting 
was close to complete (I still need to write the manual and do some testing, 
though). On Windows, all new features are done, but I'm currently rewriting the 
Windows 7 version of full screen emulation.
 
Thanks,
 
Daniele   
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Re: [Ql-Users] Qemulator

[Daniele Terdina]

> I am trying to use a QDOS formatted 1440 sector QL disk under Qemulator.
 
 
Hi Tony, to use floppy disks reliably, please upgrade to Q-emuLator 2.5 
(uninstall your current version from Control Panel, then install 2.5 from 
http://www.terdina.net/ql/winql.html, your existing registration code will 
continue to work), it has very important fixes related to floppy disks (a major 
bug was introduced after version 2.0, and fixed in 2.5).
 
If you still have problems or crashes with version 2.5, I'll be happy to 
investigate.
 


In general, trying to format disks on the PC (with the emulator) like you did 
is the recommended strategy... in my experience it's easier for QL disk drives 
to read floppy disks freshly formatted on the PC than it is for the PC drive to 
read old QL disks formatted by Miracle/Cumana/etc. cards...


 

 

> This formatted to something like 2760/2880.
> Odd as the USB drive and disk are HD.

 

This part looks fine to me. A HD floppy contains 1.4MB of data, equivalent to 
2880 512-byte sectors.

A DD floppy contains 720KB of data, or 1440 sectors;

 


 
Thank you,
 
 
Daniele
 


  
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Re: [Ql-Users] QL Emulators

[Daniele Terdina]

I've done some work on a OS X version of Q-emuLator, although it still very far 
from completion.

 

I uploaded a screenshot at http://www.terdina.net/ql/MacQL.html

 

Thanks,

 

Daniele
 
> Date: Sun, 25 Oct 2009 20:47:11 +
> From: darrenbran...@gmail.com
> To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com
> Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] QL Emulators
> 
> Hi Rich,
> 
> OSX is the Macintosh Operating System - I have it installed on a
> Powerbook (laptop) and a Mac G5 here.
> 
> I'm running 10.4.11 on the Powerbook and the G5 - this is known as
> Tiger (the last update to that version). The 10.5 version is called
> Leopard and the very latest, 10.6, is called Snow Leopard - this is
> only out about a month or so.
> 
> I can run Q-Emulator by Daniele Terdina on 10,4.11, and it works here,
> But dont have any newer versions to try. Hope that helps.
> 
> Darren.
> 
> 
> On 10/25/09, Rich Mellor  wrote:
> > Hi,
> >
> > Which emulators work on the latest OSX?
> >
> > A customer wants to play some QL games on such an emulator, but I can't
> > for the life of me think which ones work - presume OSX is Mac operating
> > system?
> >
> > Rich
> > http://www.rwapsoftware.co.uk
> >
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Re: [Ql-Users] Sinclair QL Software - WANTED

[Daniele Terdina]

> Tom Dolezal of Talent+ has confirmed that he has the rights to the 
> following software titles and it would be nice to get working copies of 
> some of these so that they can be re-released onto the market.


It amazes me how many QL software houses and authors seem to care so little 
about their own old software that they haven't even kept a single copy. :(

 

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Re: [Ql-Users] Commercial game copy protection mechanisms

[Daniele Terdina]

No, it's a (probably similar) sector copy utilty that I wrote to backup my 
original Psion Chess microdrive.

 

Daniele
 
> From: ralf.rekoe...@t-online.de
> To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com
> Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2009 20:44:42 +0200
> Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] Commercial game copy protection mechanisms
> 
> Expresso Coppee?
> 
> 
> - Original Message - 
> From: "Daniele Terdina"
> 
> I have a program for MDV backup. In some cases it can also recover 
> unreliable cartridges (it tries to read the data harder than COPY). 
> 
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Re: [Ql-Users] Commercial game copy protection mechanisms

[Daniele Terdina]

> The original mdv is failing to read correctly more and more often and I don't 
> think it will last much longer; so
> any help would be much appreciated.


I have a program for MDV backup. In some cases it can also recover unreliable 
cartridges (it tries to read the data harder than COPY).

If interested, please contact me privately.

 

Daniele

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Re: [Ql-Users] Commercial game copy protection mechanisms

[Daniele Terdina]

> the 80s. Anyway, "Wanderer 3D" writes directly in the screens area for speed 
> reasons on the QL and maybe do some other dirty things like disabling the 
> interrupts etc. So it might be better, to use it on a QL.


Works fine on emulators, too, provided they emulate the second screen.

 

Daniele

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Re: [Ql-Users] Commercial game copy protection mechanisms

[Daniele Terdina]

> The game is called Wanderer and was produced by a company called Pyramide.


Hello John,

 

I think Wanderer should work with Q-emuLator if you used the mdvtowin_exe 
utility to transfer the copy protection as you did.

 

Make sure you set the RAM to 128 KB. If it still doesn't work, please send me 
the Wanderer files you transferred to your PC and I can take a look at what may 
be wrong.

 

Thank you,

 

Daniele

 

 

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Re: [Ql-Users] Copying files from QL to PC

[Daniele Terdina]

The manual explanation is pretty clear (even mentions 'directory-type 
devices'), but IMO the examples are confusing. One example advises to use 
COPY_N to copy to SER without headers, while using COPY seems to have the same 
end effect. Another example uses COPY for NET and doesn't mention headers being 
lost (not 100% sure, but I don't think NET preserves them).

 

Daniele
 
> Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2009 00:50:16 +0200
> From: ql-us...@mail.kilgus.net
> To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com
> Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] Copying files from QL to PC
> 
> Daniele Terdina wrote:
> > [The QL User Manual implies that COPY also copies the headers, as
> > there is a COPY_N command to copy without headers, but it doesn't
> > seem to work that way]
> 
> Well, COPY does copy the header if it can, i.e. if the target device
> supports headers. If not, it behaves exactly like COPY_N. Headers
> never become part of the data stream.
> 
> Marcel
> 
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Re: [Ql-Users] Copying files from QL to PC

[Daniele Terdina]

> I am able to copy the complete file and if I do a copy mdv1_filename to scr_ 
> on the real and emulated ql's the 
> output on the screen appears identical; but when I try to EXEC the "target" 
> file (the copy) I get "bad parameter", 


As others explained, this is due to missing QDOS headers for the executables.

 

[The QL User Manual implies that COPY also copies the headers, as there is a 
COPY_N command to copy without headers, but it doesn't seem to work that way]

 

If you are transferring to Q-emuLator, you can copy the files with the 
QLToWin_exe utility (distributed with the emulator). This way, the headers will 
be preserved.

This utility works for individual files.. for groups of files, 
zipping/unzipping with the QDOS version of zip may be faster.

 

Daniele

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Re: [Ql-Users] Any Pharao fans out there?

[Daniele Terdina]

Thanks for your reply! It must have been hard to complete.. I remember the bad 
guys something materializing close to you near the edges of the screen... very 
hard to avoid. It was a nice and fun game.

 

Daniele

 
> Date: Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:48:53 +0100
> From: r...@qipod.wanadoo.co.uk
> To: danieleterd...@hotmail.com
> Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] Any Pharao fans out there?
> 
> Daniele Terdina wrote:
> > 
> > I wonder whether anybody completed the game...
> Surprisingly I did, and even without having to change the number of 
> lives...I still have my map which (drawn on A4 1/2cm squared paper with 
> sheets glued together to get the required size, using a purple felt tip 
> pen for the walls) around here somewhere.
> > I don't think I did even though I modified it to get infinite lives.
> > 
> > It's a long road to riches: http://www.terdina.net/ql/img/maze.png
> > 
> > (Starting point is in lower right corner)
> 

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[Ql-Users] Any Pharao fans out there?

[Daniele Terdina]

I wonder whether anybody completed the game...

I don't think I did even though I modified it to get infinite lives.

 

It's a long road to riches: http://www.terdina.net/ql/img/maze.png

 

(Starting point is in lower right corner)

 

 

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Re: [Ql-Users] Knight Flight

[Daniele Terdina]

> I'm still looking for Spook and Pharohs Tomb and probably one or two others 
> by a certain 
> Janko Mrsic Flogel.


Spook can be found here: http://www.dilwyn.uk6.net/games/index.html

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Re: [Ql-Users] MESS QL Emulator

[Daniele Terdina]

This web site seems to have the files for download:

 

http://www.emunews.eu/?page_id=10


 
> Date: Sat, 7 Mar 2009 09:12:08 +
> From: arnold.cla...@talk21.com
> To: ql-us...@q-v-d.com
> Subject: Re: [Ql-Users] MESS QL Emulator
> 
> I have tried but it asks for files QL.JS .IC33, QL.JS 8000.IC34 and 
> IPC0849.IC24
>  
> Arnold
> --- On Fri, 6/3/09, Dilwyn Jones  wrote:
> 
> From: Dilwyn Jones 
> Subject: [Ql-Users] MESS QL Emulator
> To: "QL-Users list" 
> Date: Friday, 6 March, 2009, 7:02 PM
> 
> Has anyone used the MESS (Multiple Emulater Super System - www.mess.org) QL
> emulator?
> 
> I am having problems with the devices and can't understand how to use them.
> 
> I can see how to mount MDV devices etc, but within the emulator I can't get
> any devices to read. DIR MDV1_, etc just fails with Not Found. So either I'm
> not using them properly, or it needs a particular type of MDV image, or it
> simply doesn't work.
> 
> (I had the emulator working when I wrote about itin Jun/July 08 Quanta but
> can't remember if ever I got MDV, FLP, etc or how)
> 
> -- 
> Dilwyn Jones
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> 
> 
> 
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[Ql-Users] Q-emuLator 2.5

[Daniele Terdina]

A new version of Q-emuLator is available: http://www.terdina.net/ql/winql.html.

 

It has faster emulation, a new installer and many bug fixes and small 
compatibility improvements.
It is recommended that you uninstall any old versions of the emulator before 
installing the new one.

 

"Standard QL" emulation is free with Q-emuLator, but registration unlocks 
additional features.

 

Thank you,


Daniele Terdina

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Re: [ql-users] Checking on Processor

[Daniele Terdina]

> The easiest way to distinguish between 68020+ and the others is:
> 
>   MOVEM.L A7,-(A7)
>   CMPA.L  (A7),A7
>   ADDQ.L  #4,A7   ;Reset A7 and leave condition codes
> unaltered
>   BEQ LOW ;Not 68020+

Interesting... this seems to be the opposite of what the M680x0 programmer's
manual states:
"If the effective address is specified by the predecrement mode ... ... For
the MC68020, MC68030, MC68040, and CPU32, if the addressing register is also
moved to memory, the value written is the initial register value decremented
by the size of the operation. The MC68000 and MC68010 write the initial
register value (not decremented)."

Daniele

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Re: [ql-users] Checking on Processor

[Daniele Terdina]

> Is there an easy way under QDOS to check which chip is in use - if it is a
> 68000 or 68008 I would use 2 (or 4) MOVE.B commands instead?  SMSQ does
> implement the processor in the system variables, but it is not present on
> QDOS alas.

Here is what smsqe does:

move#$3700,sr !
move.w  sr,d1
cmp.w   #$2700,d1; 68000?
beq.s   copy ; ... yes
move.w  #$2700,sr; ... no, reset to normal

There may be other ways, for example I think C68 has a CPU detection
routine.

However, another problem is that smsqe won't even check for the Aurora card
on 68000 systems, i.e. 68000 + smsqe + aurora is not currently a possible
combination.

Easiest solution to your specific problem (QWord on Q-emuLator) would be to
assume a 68000 CPU when running on Q-emuLator (as I believe you are already
testing for this platform). The worst that could happen is that if in the
future I start emulating a 68020 or 68040 in Q-emuLator, you would still use
four MOVE.B instead of one MOVE.L and on the 10GHz CPU PCs that we'll have
at that time your code will incur a penalty of perhaps a nanosecond ;)

Daniele


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Re: [ql-users] Programming question

[Daniele Terdina]

> screen mode on a standard QL.  By entering supervisor mode, the system
> variables are no longer accessible and the space (32768 bytes?) at $28000
> can be used as the second screen.  However, you have no access to TRAP

Entering supervisor is not enough: you also need to disable interrupt 2 on
non-Minerva QL, which Jan wanted to avoid to have his interrupt routine
called. If he can do without his interrupt routine, then it is easisly
feasible.
You can't use most TRAPs, but a few still seem to work, like the TRAP#1 used
to communicate to the IPC (D0=$11), useful to be able to directly read
keyboard status.

Daniele


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Re: [ql-users] QL hardware and stuff

[Daniele Terdina]

> I agree with your comment George, however, I wonder how many people might
> be interested in working on smsq/e if they could easily compile it on a
> non-68020+ environment.  Q-emuLator can run SMSQ/e Gold Card (it does not
> support 68020+) at least and it could possibly generate sufficient
> interest to persuade people to look at changing some of the other QL
> emulators to support SMSQ/e.

I also favor a build system that can run on all 68000 systems, including all
emulators.
Couldn't GWASL be used insteas of GWASS? I doubt SMSQ/E has any 68020+
instructions, except for a few to set the cache registers, but they are
coded as DC.W.


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Re: [ql-users] QL hardware and stuff

[Daniele Terdina]

> fiddle_de_dee MACRO par1,par2
> 
> would start a Qmac macro.
> 
> Later you might have inside this macro
> 
>   DC.L par1
> 
> GWASS would have
> 
> fiddle_de_dee MACRO
> 
>   DC.L\1

Are you sure this is the _only_ difference? If that's the case, I could
easily write a small program (probably a Perl script) to automatically
convert all sources from the first to the second format.

Daniele

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Re: [ql-users] Zip

[Daniele Terdina]

> Does anyone have any ideas on why this should be?

Maybe faulty RAM?

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Re: [ql-users] QL hardware and stuff

[Daniele Terdina]

 
> A major problem is that Qmac is VERY non standard with regard to its
> macros. That is why, probably at least 7 years ago now I started

What would prevent GWASS to be augmented to 'understand' Qmac macros? (In
general terms... I'm not familiar with either assembler having only used
Metacomco's assembler myself).

Daniele

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Re: [ql-users] Programming question

[Daniele Terdina]

I need it in order to be synchronized with TV ray. I need to switch
> screens every interrupt. Interrupt starts at the beginning of screen
> refresh (top of screen). This is used on many games and demos (ZX,
> Amiga...etc) to achieve smooth animation, because every screen update is
> synchronized with TV refresh.

You might try without synchronization first... depending on your animation,
tearing might not be that bad. There was also at least a good QL game using
the second screen with nice results.


Btw, at the end you can also reenable interrupts and return to SuperBASIC if
you saved and restored the sys vars area.


> >should be able to adjust timing in your code.
> 
> In my case it shall be easily possible, but more complex program would be
> hard to manually finetune.

Yes, if the program has different CPU loads at different stages, it would be
difficult to maintain the frame rate constant.
On the other hand, if the CPU load is about constant but you want to
maintain the frame rate on systems with different CPU speed, you might
insert a idle loop at the end (of your frame-drawing routine), and choose
the number of idle iterations at the beginning by benchmarking your program
while you show a splash screen and interrupts are still enabled (to use them
as timers).


> >If you allow interrupts, even if you remove all other polled tasks from
> the
> >chain, QDOS will still access the second screen area, for example it will
> >increment the SV.POLLM variable.
> 
> --> Do you know how many bytes is absulutely minimum for the interrupt
> handler?

I don't know without trying it. But I have a book called 'QL Advanced User
Guide' that has a weird program that allows you to use the part of the
second screen that's not used by system vars. According to the book, system
vars take 5KB. The program works by always showing screen #0 initially,
synchronizing with the 50-60Hz interrupt to detect the start of screen
refresh, then if screen #1 is to be shown, the program waits until it knows
the screen is refreshing the lower half and switches to it at that point.
However, there are two drawbacks that make this program more of a curiosity
than really usable:
1) the wait is done by busy waiting:
MOVE.W #1360,D0
DBRA D0
This means that you spend most of the time busy waiting, while not wasting
time was exactly the reason you wanted to directly use the second screen.
2) you can only use approximately the lower half of the screen.


> That might be possible with Gold Card, but plain QL is simply too slow for
> it.You can hardly move 32k in 1/50sec.

If you have to move memory, also try MOVEP as it may be faster.



Finally, here is some code from the QL interrupt handler (you can get a
commented ROM disassembly from here: http://www.terdina.net/ql/jsrom.zip):


L00352 MOVEM.L D7/A5-A6,-(A7)   * INTERRUPT 2 handler
XL00352 EQU L00352

   MOVEA.L A7,A5
   MOVEA.L #$00028000,A6
   MOVE.B  $00018021,D7
   LSR.B   #1,D7
   BCS L02ABC   * gap interrupt
   LSR.B   #1,D7
   BCS L02CCC   * interface interrupt
   LSR.B   #1,D7
   BCS L02CD8   * transmit interrupt
   LSR.B   #1,D7
   BCS L00900   * frame interrupt
   LSR.B   #1,D7

Perhaps you might be able to poll for the frame interrupt by looking at this
register $18021 even with interrupts disabled??? But I'm not sure it would
be set if interrupts are disabled, and you would still have to do some
occasional polling, and find out how to clean up the HW registers manually.


Daniele

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Re: [ql-users] Programming question

[Daniele Terdina]

You should disable all interrupts to avoid QDOS writing on the second
screen.. why would you need to use an interrupt routine?
If you run your demo always on the same type of system (e.g. plain QL) you
should be able to adjust timing in your code.

If you allow interrupts, even if you remove all other polled tasks from the
chain, QDOS will still access the second screen area, for example it will
increment the SV.POLLM variable.

Daniele

> -Original Message-
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> d.com] On Behalf Of omega
> Sent: Thursday, February 22, 2007 12:37 PM
> To: ql-users@lists.q-v-d.com
> Subject: [ql-users] Programming question
> 
> Hello all,
> 
> I want to present kind of "demo" for QL on the retro-computing
> competition called Forever see: http://forever.zeroteam.sk
> I did some graphics already on PC and it looks good (looks cool in fact
> :-). But, I need to write special screen hadler with following conditions:
> 
> 1) I need to use both screens of the QL without affecting of the 2nd
> screen by system variables.
> (if there must be some variables, how much is the minimum for
> functionality interrupt handler?)
> 2) I still need to call my routine every interrupt (50/60Hz)
> 3) It must run on unexpanded QL with standard QDOS (sandyQboard
> optional), no aurora, no Q40, Q60, no (S)GC. Plain, pure, virging QL only.
> 4) Safe return to Qdos is not required.
> 
> Anyone has any idea if it's possible?
> 
> One more question, anyone tried to develop QL apps on PC? For example
> have you tried Easy68k? Currently I'm using macroassembler AS (by Alfred
> Arnold).
> 
> Thanks, Jan
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Re: [ql-users] Hardware and software - new horizons

[Daniele Terdina]

> The 10 Euro fee to TT ended a while ago and we reduced the price

If that's the case, the licence on the official SMSQ/E web site should be
updated to current version.

Daniele

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Re: [ql-users] Hardware and software - new horizons

[Daniele Terdina]

> It is, in this respect just the same as LINUX. Peter can be a reseller
> and give it away for free if he wants. We will not stop hi,

If I understand the licence correctly, resellers have to pay 10 euros to TT,
and I'm not sure whether there's also a fee for GD2 or other components, so
reseller can't give binaries away for free.

Daniele

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Re: [ql-users] SDGC

[Daniele Terdina]

It would be great to be able to fit a PC in a QL case, with a 100%
compatible QL emulator running on it and able to access the microdrives (or
better 1 mdv and a memory card reader in the right slot) and QL keyboard,
plus plenty of USB ports on the back for floppy disks, printers and other
devices. Lots of memory and a 1024x768 24 bit mode supported by the OS
wouldn't hurt either.

Not that it makes any sense (except for the QL case and mdv, you can already
get close to this with a Q60 or PC+emulator), but it would be pretty cool!
:)

Daniele

> -Original Message-
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> d.com] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Sent: Tuesday, February 13, 2007 7:16 AM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Re: [ql-users] SDGC
> 
> Rick Chagouri-Brindle wrote:
> 
> > I think so too . . . looking at it objectively if you replace too much
> > of the original QL you are no longer really using the QL, but the fact
> > that it is still in the black box is subjectively attractive.
> 
> I wonder if the QL motherboard needs to stay to keep the thing
> subjectively attractive. Or could the QL be filled with completely new
> life, just keeping the black case?
> 
> Peter
> 
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Re: [ql-users] PC to QL transfer

[Daniele Terdina]

> > That is the first time I have heard of a PC only accepting HD disks?
> HD
> > drives should be backwards compatible with DD disks.
> >
> > Maybe I should put up a QDOS HD floppy image as well as the DD one just
> in
> > case?
> He is dead right.  Qemulator warns about this and none of my machines
> accept DD disks.
> Apparently it is an XP issue.

XP can access both DD and HD QDOS floppy disks: DD disks are only a problem
with Win98 (and only QDOS DD disks.. PC DD disks work fine). And on Win98
there is a workaround: configure the floppy disk drive as DD in the machine
hardware setup.
Daniele

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Re: [ql-users] Q-emuLator version 2.4

[Daniele Terdina]

> An ealry version of SMSQ/e for the Q40 with colour drivers should work as
> well... AFAIR it didn't have any 040 specific commands apart from the
> cache that wasn't working right anyway ;-)

Hmmm... I doubt it would work as SMSQ/E for the Q40 would likely rely on Q40
HW registers not emulated by the emulator (only the Q40 video HW register is
emulated).

To run SMSQ/E with Q-emuLator and Q40/Q60 video, you would likely need to
create a special version of SMSQ/E for the Gold Card having the Q40 video
drivers instead of the Aurora ones.
Or, even better, a special version of SMSQ/E for Q-emuLator, which would
have other benefits like layout-independent keyboard emulation and better
compatibility with QemuFast.

Daniele

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Re: [ql-users] Q-emuLator version 2.4

[Daniele Terdina]

> I have the same question as Rich.  I've got 2.4 installed.  I select Q60
> ...
> I'm using SMSQ/E for the Gold Card (I think I am only off a version or two

That wouldn't work: SMSQ/E for the Gold Card doesn't have Q60 video drivers.
Select Aurora instead of Q60, and make sure you use the version of SMSQ/E
with the Aurora GD2 video drivers.
If this doesn't work for you, please let me know.

Q-emuLator emulates the Aurora and Q60 video cards, but if you just use
Sinclair or Minerva ROM images, these versions of QDOS don't know how to
draw to the extended graphics modes.
You need to either use QL software that directly accesses the extended video
memory, or a version of the OS that does the same, like SMSQ/E with the GD2
drivers for the video card you wish to use.

Daniele

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Re: [ql-users] Q-emuLator version 2.4

[Daniele Terdina]

> 2) 2MB crashes for some reason - it needs 3MB

If QWord works with 2MB when not running on Q-emuLator, perhaps you could
send me the version you are using for me to investigate the crash.

> 3) How do we access the new display modes?  Same pokes as on Aurora?

Yes.


Daniele

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Re: [ql-users] Q-emuLator version 2.4

[Daniele Terdina]

> No I would never write software which "assumes" - it does the standard
> test which is to write to $2 and read from the Aurora display address

To avoid any assumptions, you could test to see whether you are running on
Q-emuLator version 2.4 or later (there is a trap for that).

Of course, emulating HW screen "ghosting" where the same memory can be
accessed at $2 and st the video card's base address would be more
general and allow compatibility with software like Photon without having to
modify it.
I'd rather not emulate true "ghosting" as it would make video emulation
slower, but I might be able to emulate enough of it to be recognized by
applications like Qword (while keeping video emulation fast).


Daniele

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Re: [ql-users] Q-emuLator version 2.4

[Daniele Terdina]

> Ah - the Q60 version relies on SMSQ/e - whereas the Aurora version does
> not.

If the Aurora version of QWord assumes the Aurora card is always present and
it uses the 512x480 256 colours mode, than it should work "as is" on
Q-emuLator. If it tests for presence of the Aurora card it may work on not
depending on the type of test it does (and even if it doesn't work, it
should be easy to fix it on either the QWord or the Q-emuLator side). 

> However I cannot easily install the Aurora version without being able to
> create a directory in a QXL.WIN file.

Maybe you can copy the QXL.WIN content to a Windows directory?


Thanks
Daniele

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Re: [ql-users] Q-emuLator version 2.4

[Daniele Terdina]

> Great, this means that QWord should be able to run on it - I will have to
> try and sort this out.

Yes, the Q40/Q60 and Aurora versions should work on Q-emuLator.
You may have to modify them to use only the video and not other parts of the
Q60 HW/OS, though.


> However, even with level 2 drivers installed, MAKE_DIR and FMAKE_DIR do
> not exist as commands - thought these were part of the Level 2 drivers?

Trap IOF.MKDR is available. It would be easy to write SuperBASIC commands
that call it.
IOF.MKDR is available for Windows disks/directories and QDOS floppy disks,
but was never implemented for QXL.WIN files, mostly because of lack of
demand.

Thanks
Daniele

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Re: [ql-users] Q-emuLator version 2.4

[Daniele Terdina]

> Is it able to use these modes from QDOS, or does it need SMSQ/E for
> these modes?

Needs either SMSQ/E for the Super Gold Card (it now includes Aurora colour
drivers) or QL software that directly access the video hardware.
SMSQ/E for Q40/Q60 may also work (and give your more colors and resolution
than the SGC version) but I have not tested it.

Daniele

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[ql-users] Q-emuLator version 2.4

[Daniele Terdina]

A new version of Q-emuLator for Windows is available.
The main new feature is emulation of the Q60 video modes and some of the
Aurora video modes.

RAM available to unregistered copies has also been increased to 384KB to
allow users to run unzip_exe to expand archives of QL software downloaded
from the Internet.

You can download Q-emuLator 2.4 from
http://users.infoconex.com/~daniele/winql.html

Daniele

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Re: [ql-users] Q-emuLator 2.3.4 available for download

[Daniele Terdina]

> Tried to install unzip per your instructions and received
> "out of memory" error. Apparently need to upgrade for

I checked the copy of unzip that I use, and the executable is almost 110KB
long :(, so it won't fit in the RAM of a 128KB QL (only about 80KB are
available after excluding video memory and RAM used by the system).
I'll probably change Q-emuLator in the next version to allow again 384KB of
RAM so that users of the free version can run unzip.

Daniele

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Re: [ql-users] Q-emuLator 2.3.4 available for download

[Daniele Terdina]

> I downloaded and installed this version. What you get is basically a
> ...

Thank you for this mini-review, Dilwyn!

I'd just like to add that the main goal for Q-emuLator (and a big difference
when comparing it to QPC) is maximum compability with the original Sinclair
QL. I can run on it 100% of the QL software I used to run on my QL,
including many games that don't run on QPC, and a few that don't run even on
other emulators. At the same time it offers advanced capabilities like
access to Windows files and QXL.WIN drives and TCP/IP and mouse drivers. On
the other hand QPC is perfect for the user that wants to use SMSQ/E and
either use or write the latest QL software, so I think QPC and Q-emuLator
complement each other nicely.

Daniele

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[ql-users] Q-emuLator 2.3.4 available for download

[Daniele Terdina]

Q-emuLator version 2.3.4 for Windows has been released and can be downloaded
at http://users.infoconex.com/~daniele/winql.html.

The basic version is now available for FREE. It emulates the features of an
unexpanded QL (but can also access QL floppy disks and the Windows file
system) and its speed is limited to be roughly equivalent to that of a real
QL. Registration is still required to access all of the extra emulator
features and for much faster emulation speed.

QemuFast (a prototype of a version of Q-emuLator that runs four times
faster) is also available again, for registered users only.

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Re: [ql-users] QL disk transfer

[Daniele Terdina]

Note that for Q-emuLator there is also a simpler way: use the emulator to
copy the ql unzip program to the Windows file system, then just compress the
ql unzip executable with the windows version of Winzip, or don't compress it
at all. The executable can then be transferred (via normal Windows file
copy/internet download/etc.) to the PC of a user that needs it and still be
recognized as a QDOS executable by Q-emuLator.

> -Original Message-
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> d.com] On Behalf Of Timothy Swenson
> Sent: Friday, March 17, 2006 11:58 PM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Re: [ql-users] QL disk transfer
> 
> Using the idea from Dave Walker I have created a QL boot disk image using
> the RAWREAD utility. The end QLer will download this disk image file and
> RAWRITE program.  They will then put a formatted 1.44 Meg floppy in the
> disk drive and use RAWRITE to create a QL boot floppy.  This disk can then
> be used for a standard QL or many of the emulators that have floppy
> access.  I have put a number of files on the disk, including the PE, TK2,
> TTK, QLIB run, and other extensions.  I've also included QED and UNZIP.
> 
> I'll right up some instructions and send the whole lot to Dilwyn in a
> couple of days.  This should at least get us started on helping those new
> or returning to the QL.  With unzip on the disk, they will then be able to
> download anything to their PC, xfer it cross to the QL, and then unzip it.
> 
> To help read the PC floppies on the QL side, should I put MTOOLS on the
> boot disk too?  I think my next task is to document from the QL and/or PC
> how to xfer the .zip files to the QL.  Then I can see if I need MTOOLS on
> the disk or not.
> 
> The advantage of this disk image is that the person in the middle of
> nowwhere with an QL and Internet connection can get all they need off the
> net and don't have to wait for someone to send them a boot floppy.
> 
> Tim Swenson
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Re: [ql-users] Extracting QL Programmes from Microdrive to PC

[Daniele Terdina]

> There are basically only two types of programme I want transferred to CD,
> some SuperBasic programmes written by me, and some documents created in
> Quill by me.  (There are no commercial programmes)

These types of programs and data can be copied without problems. No need to
use QL zip/unzip or the Q-emuLator utilities to preserve header data. That
is only needed for executables (programs you run with EXEC/EXEC_W), some
copy protected files and data files produced by few programs like eye-q.

Daniele

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Re: [ql-users] Extracting QL Programmes from Microdrive to PC

[Daniele Terdina]

> A lot of mdv programs are protected via the "Software produktion kit"
> (SPK)
> from sinclair, checking the "magic number" from an mdv.
> 
> The SPK (written by Tony Tebby) uses a keyword "PROT" to format an mdv
> with
> the magic number of the original mdv during the copying process.

On a 128KB QL, there was also a way to do this from SuperBASIC without the
PROT keyword. If the QL had no resident code loaded, microdrive sectors
would always be loaded at the same address and a PEEK_W allowed to get the
"magic number". A POKE_W of the magic number at location 163886 (the "random
number" system variable) just before the FORMAT command would do the trick
to produce a microdrive having the same magic number.

The file utilities that come with Q-emuLator allow reading the "magic
number" (and some other info sometimes used in copy protection schemes) from
a QL with working microdrives (on any QL, not just 128KB QLs with no
resident code loaded) and embed it in the files themselves. These files can
then be transferred to any media (for example, a DVD burned on your PC or
Mac) and whenever they are accessed, Q-emuLator will simulate reading them
from a microdrive having the original magic number.


> Unfortunately, a lot of software (usually non "sinclair-branded" ones) on
> mdv uses very different protection mechanisms. "The Pawn" (Magnetic
> Scrolls)
> linked an own OS into the QL an switches QDOS off, "Tankbusters" and most
> "Talent" games had very hard mechanisms. I know (from one author), that
> Talent has given their mechanism to the authors to put it into the code.

I think at least Talent's Zkul only relied on the "magic number", and maybe
on some weird character in the cartridge name.

Other common (and easy to work around) protection schemes involved special
files with weird/special characters in their names or with no name at all,
or with special information in their file header (all of these can't be
copied by typing a simple COPY command). More complex schemes involved
reading data from MDV sectors that where marked as free or damaged on the
MDV map, or marking as damaged a particular sector number.

I also tried to create a protection mechanism based on formatting
microdrives with different characteristics (e.g. 256 bytes per sector
instead of 512), but never succeeded because of timing differences between
code running in RAM and ROM. Because of this problem, even the normal
sectors I would need to format (from my in-RAM code) with standard params to
hold the boot loader code would not be readable from the QL's microdrive
routines (in-ROM code).


> Beside the both mentioned programs, there was also "QLone+" from
> Ultrasoft,
> which was also able to copy mdv programs, which read the "magic number" in
> formatting a new cartridge with the same number.

I also wrote a similar program with my dad. It copied the magic number and
also allowed wery quick microdrive physical copies on unexpanded QLs by
reading/writing mdv sectors out of order. I used it extensively to back up
my microdrives, as I found them to be quite unreliable. Unfortunately the
program's interface is in Italian only, and I don't know if I still have the
sources, but if anybody needs a free tool to back up his protected
microdrives, and if such a free tool is not already available, let me know
and I'll try to find the executable.


Daniele

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