[Ql-Users] R: SMSQ/E bugs: is a fix possible? Probably not

[via Ql-Users]

Thank you all for the swift and helpful answers

I understand the QXL issues are really difficult to be managed also because
the interaction with the host PC and graphic card introduces a further level
of uncertainty in all the process, a real nightmare a part from the fact
that maybe there is not even a single user using a QXL as main or probably
even secondary QL system. Anyway I will check with Andrea Carpi whether he
could manage to retrieve some more information regarding his setup and
SMSQ/E version.

Nice to know the "initialise ROM" issue can be easily solved.

The DD disk bug is something which would deserve the fix, I understand from
what both Wolfgang and Marcel replied that even having the 2.91 or pre 2.91
sources (completely lost? Is there not any way to retrieve them from e.g.
Tony, Jochen or somebody else?) it might be really difficult to make any
troubleshooting, even worse considering not to have a SGC for the tests. I
really hope Marcel you will manage to get one soon!!!

By the way (sorry for the simple minded questions - my last assembler 68k
compile is dated probably 25 years ago and never looked at the SMSQ/E
sources), when introducing the modifications on the sources is there any
"source control" now? I.e. to avoid that in the future changes causing
"bugs" could not be tracked in the future like is the case for the DD one?

Cheers

Davide




-Messaggio originale-
Da: Ql-Users [mailto:ql-users-boun...@lists.q-v-d.com] Per conto di Marcel
Kilgus via Ql-Users
Inviato: giovedì 8 giugno 2017 13.39
A: ql-us...@q-v-d.com
Oggetto: Re: [Ql-Users] SMSQ/E bugs: is a fix possible? Probably not

Wolf via Ql-Users wrote:
> In the last months on the Italian Sinclair QL mailing list we had 
> quite a number of discussions on some bugs (?) that appeared in SMSQ/E 
> and were probably not promptly spotted because of the impossibility of 
> testing everything and lack of feedback from users (who maybe were not 
> upgrading regularly).

It's also mostly access to the required hardware. I was going to buy Jochen
Hassler's SGC but so far he wasn't able to find it! :-( Hope it turns up in
a box sometime.

I do have a QXL that was kindly donated to me 10 years ago or so, but I
don't really see much point in maintaining it.

>> 1) SMSQ/E for Aurora does not read anymore DD floppy disks. 
>> Everything was working till 2.91. From the tests did on some SMSQ/E 
>> version we found 2.95 has the bug, 2.98 crashes, 3.03 has the bug
> The version of SMSQE I got was 2.99.

The latest I have found in a quick search is 2.93. I probably have older
ones at least partly on some floppy discs. But the thing is 2.92 was the
introduction of the Q40 and if I remember correctly this was such a major
change in the sources that comapring 2.91 and 2.91 will not result in much
more enlightnment.

>> I guess it does not make sense to spend effort for SMSQ/E for QXL, 
>> but the issues on the GC/SGC/Aurora versions I think would deserve at
least a try.
> Both deserve a try, and both have already got a try from me, 
> unfortunately without success.

I will help once I get my hands on the hardware, but this can take a while.
And while I find the offers very kind I don't want to work on loaned
hardware, sorry.

Cheers, Marcel

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Re: [Ql-Users] SMSQ/E bugs: is a fix possible? Probably not

[Marcel Kilgus via Ql-Users]

Wolf via Ql-Users wrote:
> In the last months on the Italian Sinclair QL mailing list we had quite a
> number of discussions on some bugs (?) that appeared in SMSQ/E and were
> probably not promptly spotted because of the impossibility of testing
> everything and lack of feedback from users (who maybe were not upgrading
> regularly).

It's also mostly access to the required hardware. I was going to buy
Jochen Hassler's SGC but so far he wasn't able to find it! :-( Hope it
turns up in a box sometime.

I do have a QXL that was kindly donated to me 10 years ago or so, but
I don't really see much point in maintaining it.

>> 1) SMSQ/E for Aurora does not read anymore DD floppy disks. Everything was
>> working till 2.91. From the tests did on some SMSQ/E version we found 2.95
>> has the bug, 2.98 crashes, 3.03 has the bug
> The version of SMSQE I got was 2.99.

The latest I have found in a quick search is 2.93. I probably have
older ones at least partly on some floppy discs. But the thing is 2.92
was the introduction of the Q40 and if I remember correctly this was
such a major change in the sources that comapring 2.91 and 2.91 will
not result in much more enlightnment.

>> I guess it does not make sense to spend effort for SMSQ/E for QXL, but the
>> issues on the GC/SGC/Aurora versions I think would deserve at least a try.
> Both deserve a try, and both have already got a try from me, 
> unfortunately without success.

I will help once I get my hands on the hardware, but this can take a
while. And while I find the offers very kind I don't want to work on
loaned hardware, sorry.

Cheers, Marcel

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Re: [Ql-Users] SMSQ/E bugs: is a fix possible?

[Bob Spelten via Ql-Users]

Op Thu, 08 Jun 2017 00:38:56 +0200 schreef via Ql-Users  
:



Hi All (but especially Wolfgang, Tony, Marcel or anybody else involved in
SMSQ/E development and/or source maintainance),
(...)

1) SMSQ/E for Aurora does not read anymore DD floppy disks. Everything  
was working till 2.91. From the tests did on some SMSQ/E version we  
found 2.95

has the bug, 2.98 crashes, 3.03 has the bug


A quote from my email 17/03/2012
--->
This issue also was raised some years ago.
IIRC, the 2.91 source was not available to compare and check where it went  
wrong.

--->


2) SMSQ/E for QXL
in DISP_COLOUR 3:
- DISP_SIZE 512,256 - works OK
- DISP_SIZE 640,480 - works OK
- DISP_SIZE 800,600 - no error but the resolution is 640x480
- DISP_SIZE 1024,768 - no error but the resolution is 640x480

in DISP_COLOUR 0:
- DISP_SIZE 512,256 - works OK
- DISP_SIZE 640,480 - works OK
- DISP_SIZE 800,600 - no error but the screen is corrupted and unreadable
- DISP_SIZE 1024,768 - no error but the screen is corrupted and  
unreadable


So the maximum possible resolution is 640x480

Provided the SMSQE.EXE is correctly configured for the maximum size, the  
unknown factor is the hardware it's running on.

In mode 4, 1024x768 is not a problem here.
In mode 32 this results in 800x600 without screen corruption.
Both on my old hardware with 1MB graphics as on my current machine with  
2MB graphics card.
The RAM demand is quite high, even at 800x600 half my 8MB is gone after  
BOOT so it's debatable what the benefit is of m32@1024x768.



BAUD returns an error


No comment, never used the SER port from QXL.


3) SMSQ/E for Gold Card does not initialise external interface.

Up to v3.13 there was only 1 Gold/Aurora version so I have always used the  
Aurora .bin after that.
When this point came up recently I tested the current GoldCard.bin which  
did not see my ROMdisq after it was LRESPR'd from there.


I guess it does not make sense to spend effort for SMSQ/E for QXL, but  
the issues on the GC/SGC/Aurora versions I think would deserve at least

A try.
N.3 maybe is just a question of understanding whether it makes sense to  
keep all these versions and in case link again the "Initalise QL ROM"
where missing. The DD floppy bug would deserve a fix hoping all source 
codes of old versions are available as I think there are still quitesome  
users  with GC/SGC/Aurora with DD disks.


To answer Wolfgang's question: My QXL2 and Aurora systems are mainly used  
for testing and can, because of the slow speed compared to QPC2, be  
revealing in how PE menus are being build up.

As long as I can keep an ISA machine alive I will keep the QXL2 going.

Bob

--
The BSJR QL software site at: "http://members.upc.nl/b.spelten/ql/;
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