Re: [Ql-Users] Fw: query
Op Fri, 13 Apr 2012 02:13:03 +0200 schreef Rich Mellor r...@rwapservices.co.uk: On 12/04/2012 14:44, Dilwyn Jones wrote: Message: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc4Xoz75yHI please help surely someone can convert a microdrive into a compact flash and sd memory read/write does she still need the 6808with 8bit bus - this video was 8bit ide for 8bit z80 machine was there no software that used the network? didnt anyone bother to sort out the video ram add a second video ram page or more modes please even the amstrad +2ab3grey keyboards were slightly nicer - simple decent keyboard? did she have a keypad conenctor like the 128? no one bung a 68090 on there! Can anyone come up with a suitable reply to this enquiry? Not sure where to start (apart from mentioning the QL-SD card project). Dilwyn Jones Just a thought on video modes... An excerpt from the QL Wiki talks about several solutions to this.. * A program in the Quanta software library allows you to split a screen vertically in two, with one half displaying MODE 4 and the other half displaying MODE 8 - http://www.quanta.org.uk/?id=88 * A program Dithvide allows two images to be interlaced, tricking your mind into thinking that there are more colours - http://omega.webnode.com/products/product-2/ * The THOR XVI home computer included a MODE 12 command, which provided 16 colours on screen at 256x256 pixels * The Aurora Motherboard, which provided up to 768 x 576 pixel displays at 256 colours Actually Aurora can use up to 1024x768 only in mode 4 under SMSQ/E. But its mode 256 reduces the resolution to 512x480. To complicate matters and confuse the public, Auroras mode 16 was never implemented in SMSQ/E. And GD2 defines Auroras mode 256 as the new mode 16 (QLT v8i1 page 52). * The SMSQ/e Operating System, which, when used on Q40, Q60, QPC2, the QXL or Q-emuLator, can display 16 bit colour support at very high resolution. I believe Q40/60 is limited to 1024x512. I doubt QXL will go beyond 1024x768, it's limited by the (old ISA) parent hardware and its own 4 or 8MB memory. QPC2 is only limited by its modern parent hardware, and can then also do mode 16 (256 colours). By the way, I can't get the Quanta library guide to work on Q-emulator for some reason (cannot open flp1_libguide_dbs error -15 when it tries to open the database...) Are you shure you have the DBAS extension loaded? Is it Q-emulator or Norman's Libguide_exe? If so you can try SuQcess (plug) to see if the dbs is valid. Bob -- The BSJR QL software site at: http://members.upc.nl/b.spelten/ql/ ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Fw: query
On 13/04/12 13:44, Bob Spelten wrote: Are you shure you have the DBAS extension loaded? The flp's boot file should do that automagically, if I remember correctly. (I checked, yes it does!) Is it Q-emulator or Norman's Libguide_exe? If so you can try SuQcess (plug) to see if the dbs is valid. Works perfectly on QPC. Although my libguide is very old! Cheers, Norm. -- Norman Dunbar Dunbar IT Consultants Ltd Registered address: Thorpe House 61 Richardshaw Lane Pudsey West Yorkshire United Kingdom LS28 7EL Company Number: 05132767 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Fw: query
On 13/04/2012 15:43, Norman Dunbar wrote: On 13/04/12 13:44, Bob Spelten wrote: Are you shure you have the DBAS extension loaded? The flp's boot file should do that automagically, if I remember correctly. (I checked, yes it does!) Is it Q-emulator or Norman's Libguide_exe? If so you can try SuQcess (plug) to see if the dbs is valid. Works perfectly on QPC. Although my libguide is very old! Cheers, Norm. I have just checked - it works on Q-emulator with Minerva, but not with a JS ROM for some reason -- Rich Mellor RWAP Services Specialist Enuuk Auction Programming Services www.rwapservices.co.uk ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Fw: query
By the way, I can't get the Quanta library guide to work on Q-emulator for some reason (cannot open flp1_libguide_dbs error -15 when it tries to open the database...) The error message you should see is as follows: Cannot open file_name for READ access. Press ENTER ... - which means that there was a problem opening the file in normal QDOS read only mode. Cannot open file_name as a database. (nn) Press ENTER ... - which means the file opened correctly in QDOS mode, but the opening of it as a database failed. -15 is Bad Parameter, which is coming back, I suspect from the attempt to open the file as a database. in DBAS, that means, according to the docs, Not a database. Interesting! I wonder if the database file has somehow been corrupted? Are the first 4 characters DBAS? The file header is documented in the file organize_doc which should be in the DBAS disc in the Quanta library. Cheers, Norm. -- Norman Dunbar Dunbar IT Consultants Ltd Registered address: Thorpe House 61 Richardshaw Lane Pudsey West Yorkshire United Kingdom LS28 7EL Company Number: 05132767 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Fw: query
On 13/04/12 16:01, Rich Mellor wrote: I have just checked - it works on Q-emulator with Minerva, but not with a JS ROM for some reason Hmmm. I developed it on a JS ROM, all those years ago! I've just checked in QPC, VER$ says HBA - so not a JS ROM here then. Cheers, Norm. -- Norman Dunbar Dunbar IT Consultants Ltd Registered address: Thorpe House 61 Richardshaw Lane Pudsey West Yorkshire United Kingdom LS28 7EL Company Number: 05132767 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Fw: query
On 13/04/2012 16:02, Norman Dunbar wrote: By the way, I can't get the Quanta library guide to work on Q-emulator for some reason (cannot open flp1_libguide_dbs error -15 when it tries to open the database...) The error message you should see is as follows: Cannot open file_name for READ access. Press ENTER ... - which means that there was a problem opening the file in normal QDOS read only mode. Cannot open file_name as a database. (nn) Press ENTER ... - which means the file opened correctly in QDOS mode, but the opening of it as a database failed. -15 is Bad Parameter, which is coming back, I suspect from the attempt to open the file as a database. in DBAS, that means, according to the docs, Not a database. Interesting! I wonder if the database file has somehow been corrupted? Are the first 4 characters DBAS? The file header is documented in the file organize_doc which should be in the DBAS disc in the Quanta library. Cheers, Norm. You are correct - the full error is: Cannot open flp1_libguide_dbs as a database. -15 Press ENTER ... The database starts with DBAS As I say, the program runs fine under Minerva and I have opened it and resaved it. It still will not open under a JS ROM on q-emulator. -- Rich Mellor RWAP Services Specialist Enuuk Auction Programming Services www.rwapservices.co.uk ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Fw: query
On 13/04/2012 16:03, Norman Dunbar wrote: On 13/04/12 16:01, Rich Mellor wrote: I have just checked - it works on Q-emulator with Minerva, but not with a JS ROM for some reason Hmmm. I developed it on a JS ROM, all those years ago! I've just checked in QPC, VER$ says HBA - so not a JS ROM here then. Cheers, Norm. Hee hee - QPC does not run QDOS - only SMSQ/e -- Rich Mellor RWAP Services Specialist Enuuk Auction Programming Services www.rwapservices.co.uk ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Fw: query
On 13/04/12 16:06, Rich Mellor wrote: You are correct - the full error is: Cannot open flp1_libguide_dbs as a database. -15 Press ENTER ... The database starts with DBAS As I say, the program runs fine under Minerva and I have opened it and resaved it. It still will not open under a JS ROM on q-emulator. The source code isn't complicated. Open the file as a qdos file first, then take the 32 bit channel number and use that to open the file as a database. If the database id returned is negative, we have an error, bale out after displaying the error. So the problem must be/is in the DBAS library or Q-Emulator I think, especially as it opens fine in other ROMs. Difficult one to solve I think. Cheers, Norm. -- Norman Dunbar Dunbar IT Consultants Ltd Registered address: Thorpe House 61 Richardshaw Lane Pudsey West Yorkshire United Kingdom LS28 7EL Company Number: 05132767 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Fw: query
On 13/04/12 16:08, Rich Mellor wrote: Hee hee - QPC does not run QDOS - only SMSQ/e I hate it when that happens! Thanks for being gentle with me! Mind you, it shows how well Marcel has done with QPC when it just works and just works in a manner that makes me think it's still QDOS. Ditto for SMSQ/e of course! Cheers, Norm. -- Norman Dunbar Dunbar IT Consultants Ltd Registered address: Thorpe House 61 Richardshaw Lane Pudsey West Yorkshire United Kingdom LS28 7EL Company Number: 05132767 ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Fw: query
On 13/04/2012 16:10, Norman Dunbar wrote: On 13/04/12 16:06, Rich Mellor wrote: You are correct - the full error is: Cannot open flp1_libguide_dbs as a database. -15 Press ENTER ... The database starts with DBAS As I say, the program runs fine under Minerva and I have opened it and resaved it. It still will not open under a JS ROM on q-emulator. The source code isn't complicated. Open the file as a qdos file first, then take the 32 bit channel number and use that to open the file as a database. If the database id returned is negative, we have an error, bale out after displaying the error. So the problem must be/is in the DBAS library or Q-Emulator I think, especially as it opens fine in other ROMs. Difficult one to solve I think. Cheers, Norm. I have tried a few different configurations.. It works on MG ROM, and even Tyche ROM and a TB ROM (not sure what that one is). But not AH, JM, or JS ROMs. -- Rich Mellor RWAP Services Specialist Enuuk Auction Programming Services www.rwapservices.co.uk ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Tyche ROM
BTW: Does anybody knows, if this Tyche-ROM is a complete new QDOS? And what are the differences? Faster? Better...? Things that do not run? Chreers...Ralf - Original Message - From: Rich Mellor It works on MG ROM, and even Tyche ROM and a TB ROM (not sure what that one is). ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Tyche ROM
On 13/04/2012 16:46, Ralf Reköndt wrote: BTW: Does anybody knows, if this Tyche-ROM is a complete new QDOS? And what are the differences? Faster? Better...? Things that do not run? Chreers...Ralf - Original Message - From: Rich Mellor It works on MG ROM, and even Tyche ROM and a TB ROM (not sure what that one is). ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm Some more details on Tyche appear at: http://www.sellmyretro.com/offer/details/Extremely_Rare_Sinclair_TYCHE_ROM-1452 -- Rich Mellor RWAP Services Specialist Enuuk Auction Programming Services www.rwapservices.co.uk ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Tyche ROM
Ah, thank you. I had a quick look through the code. There seems to be a backup routine and a few unknown keywords like TODIR, UPDIR, seems a bit like DNEXT of TK2. Would be interesting to know, if there is code for hard directories. Cheers...Ralf - Original Message - From: Rich Mellor Some more details on Tyche appear at: http://www.sellmyretro.com/offer/details/Extremely_Rare_Sinclair_TYCHE_ROM-1452 -- Rich Mellor ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Fw: query
I have tried a few different configurations.. It works on MG ROM, and even Tyche ROM and a TB ROM (not sure what that one is). But not AH, JM, or JS ROMs. -- Rich Mellor For what it's worth, I get exactly the same results on Qemulator v 3.1.2 with the JS ROM image, and likewise it works OK on the Minerva image. I tried a copy of the LIBADMIN package which Quanta uses to update the library guide, that gives the same error message with JS. Yet I am sure I remember using it on my Minis-QL when I was librarian, but I'm not 100% sure as you could change ROM version on that (I set it up so I could use JM/JS/Minerva for software testing), so it may not have been JS when I used LIBADMIN, although that was the usual ROM I had in it. Only other thing I can think of is to check memory configuration used with the JS system as I'm sure I remember at one stage that there was a patched JS ROM which worked with 4MB or more - it's on my website ROMs page - although I'm not sure which version of the JS Daniele supplies with Q-emuLator. Dilwyn ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Fw: query
Rich Mellor wrote: I did speak to Peter Graf about this a couple of years ago - and he said that [an SD card microdrive cart] would just be too expensive a solution, even if it were feasible. I can see why that would be - there'd be some complex high precision engineering required, and you'd only sell a few dozen of them at best, even if you could set the price at something the hobby world is likely to stand - and after all that, how many QLs still have decently clean read heads, after X miles of MDV cart has passed through them. IMHO, a far better - and much easier - approach would be to make an SD card drive which plugged into the microdrive expansion slot appeared as MDV3,4,etc. I can't imagine the logic is that difficult, and I suspect an Arduino could bit-bash it with ease. Not sure if that's a new idea of if something already exists? (the QL-SD card project that Dilwyn mentioned?) Cheers, Ade. ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
Re: [Ql-Users] Fw: query
Norman Dunbar wrote: Mind you, it shows how well Marcel has done with QPC when it just works and just works in a manner that makes me think it's still QDOS. Ditto for SMSQ/e of course! Actually I hope it works much better than QDOS ;) The SBASIC command line history in SMSQ/E is something I'm particularly proud of and wouldn't want to live without anymore (yes, I know about the HISTORY extension for QDOS). Marcel ___ QL-Users Mailing List http://www.q-v-d.demon.co.uk/smsqe.htm
