Wallpaper #07 06 ноября 1999

TR-DOS

Letter to the room - CompoWellcome about the new firmware TR-DOS v6.05E

            4. LETTER TO THE NUMBER



   From the Editor: CompoWellcome continues
delight us with their new firmware ROM.
Detours traveled this message
before us. But that is another story ...



(C) CompoWellcome


      TR-DOS v6.05E vs TR-DOS v5.13F

                   or
 Everything you wanted to know about the TR-DOS 6.05E,

           but were afraid to ask.


   In connection with the release of Uzbekistan spektrumistov 
(in number of four units) in Fido, it was decided to proudly 
announce to the the whole world (Spectrum) that not only

in so far (or close, as anyone)
Russia made new PZU'shechnye gadgets to our computer. What I 
wrote earlier about this firmware in Wallpaper'e - full suxx, 
because the first count only on the local public and Second was 
a long time and is not it :-). 


   So, we proceed to the consideration and comparison of 
various bells and whistles in DOS'ah 05.06 and 5.13.



                -= CUT =

   For nesveduyuschih: TR-DOS 5.13F - new
:) Firmware DOS'a (and only) with different twists from Russia, 
and TR-DOS 6.05E thing local production ;-))).



                -= CUT =

   Immediately say, that in our firmware
subjected to change not only the DOS, but also
BASIC 128 (instead of 128 Basic'a ​​can use MadRom).

   Must first admit that
most of the ideas did not own
production, and are taken from various
DOS'ov. After that, everything was stuffed into
TR-DOS 5.04E (if not mistaken). Yes, and the article used 
excerpts:) from the description of DOS'a, for which its author 
(DOS and descriptions) thanks a lot!



              Item No. 1.


  Formatting floppy disks in 3 versions:


   ORIGINAL - the usual format;


   TURBO - formatting the disk with the other
location of the sectors, which leads to an acceleration of read 
/ write drive is approximately 2 times; 


   FAST-TURBO - formatted similarly
TURBO, but without the test operation (if you
confident in the quality of your floppy disks), while
accelerated by the operation itself formatting.


   Turbo format 6.5 DOS'a inferior format DOS'a 5.13, as is 
done without bias sectors. Thought about it was, but Because of 
extremely rare use of commands TR-DOS 'FORMAT' (mainly for 
those purposes the Honey Commander) implemented nebylo.



   Bybor format is available on request
DOS after you enter the normal command FORMAT
keys <1> <2> or <3>. Klavisha  cancels the command. When 
formatting Your Message is issued about the number of formatted

currently tracks and side of the disc.
After the end of the formatting is issued
a request to repeat it.


              Item No. 2.


   When writing the file to disk in case
file with that name on disk is the DOS prompts to erase the old 
file. If You will answer <Enter> or <Y> old file

will be erased and replaced will be recorded
new file if it is not longer than the old one.
If a new file is longer, it will be
recorded as usual with the first free
disk sectors, and will appear in the directory
an erased file. Release a little glyukovato. Gluck climbs at a 
record-same file, but with a smaller length. File a written but 
the length of the new file will be equal length of the old.


   Analogues in TR-DOS 5.13 is not available.


              Item number 3.


   In the description of the DOS 5.13 write: 'Removed
self-test drive. Drives shall
All 2h80, step 6 ms'. Imho, do so
impossible. Not once have a situation (on different machines) 
when the drive has been reset during the first call has 
steadfastly refused to Bosko output at zero track. Arises

basically if before kakayanit prog
managed to drive them to the end of the disc.
In DOS'e 5.6 we returned the self test, only
shortened it.


              Item No. 4.


   Uskorennaya command MOVE. In the usual version of the DOS 
MOVE command is the longest on time work, in addition it seems 
that the drive is worth more than work. This is because each

times when moving a file is
Read the catalog and write to it. In this
version of reading and writing the catalog are made once. 
Directory information is stored in RAM, and all catalog 
operations (Only in the team MOVE) produced in

RAM, which speeds up the work of the team, averaging 3 - 4 
times, and in some cases and more. 

   Analogues in TR-DOS 5.13 is not available.


              Item number 5.


   A new command - rename
Disc: MOVE "name". In this case, the command MOVE
not satisfied, but just the name of the disk is replaced by 
"name". 

   Analogues in TR-DOS 5.13 is not available.


              Item Number 6.


   In DOS 6.05E changed command editor
line. First, eliminate unpleasant
which occurs at the entrance to the DOS at 128
mode. Second, eliminate the influence of editing keys, which 
move cursor to the line in 48 mode. And the most important part 
- the possibility of calling previous command by pressing 
<EDIT>. If you want to repeat the operation, or repeat it

with a slightly modified parameters, you can call it 
immediately after pressing <EDIT>. If you do something typed on 
the command line, the key <EDIT> does not work (in the standard 
version is invokes the line of BASIC programs).


   Analogues in TR-DOS 5.13 is not available.


      Item No. 7 (the largest).


   DOS 6.05E course supports RAM-disk based on the additional 
RAM up to 1024k. In this case 4k away under a directory and 
some other features and the remaining free memory allocated by

workspace RAM-disk. To initialize the RAM-disk, use the command
FORMAT "d: name". Next to the D: drive can be
treated as a floppy, with the
only difference is that this disc can not be
change and the power is turned off the information on it is 
lost. 

   Nice feature is that
dumping information on the D: drive is
intact, and possible future work with
them without surgery FORMAT.

   For systems programmers, it is important that
work with the RAM-disk does not differ from that of the usual 
drive through the input # 3D00, # 3D03, # 3D13, and when you 
contact the DOS to routines running at the level of work disk 
sector. Program read and write sectors of work even if the D: 
drive is not been 'formatted'. User in this

case has all the memory RAM-disk, but without
file organization.

   Programs using direct programming K1818VG93 naturally do not 
work. 

   Under the RAM-DISK, by default, is given
not all of 1024K of RAM, but only the older 512K.
Lower 512K set aside for resident (see below). In consequence 
of this had to do the ability to read from the port # 7FFD 
(hardware, like - see below) to determine the current page of 
the lower 512K of RAM. 


                -= CUT =

   I personally use the software definition of the current 
page, although of course it can not track the state of the 
second screen (as it should?). But this is someone like

more like it.


                -= CUT =

   Thanks to what is possible from the RAM-DISK'a run not only 
the 128K program (eg Land of Myths).


   Port of extended memory is used
# 7FFD. If someone wants to can make a
(Installer supplied).


     Item number 8 (much less).


   Magic'i ... Well what can I say? Entirely
and completely blows from DOS 5.13;).
IMHO, rulnye possible (and I quote an excerpt from the 
description 5.13): 


   "Significantly enhanced features magic knopischi. When 
pressed, the complex is suspended and waits: 


  1 - run the standard procedure of saving, but still there, 
and when loading is reduced and adjusted Register R.



  2 - the same, but the stack is placed in
bottom of the screen. Designed for burglary.


  3 - Go to the STS. BANK = # 57


   Two numbers on the stack, and a few bytes
of attributes - depending on the position of the stack. Before 
entering the STS is extinguished muzykalka. PC in STS'e shows 
the place to stop, but not always. You can find out exactly 
under the stack. 


  4 - Return to the program. Serves as a pause.


   In some prog worth checking
address the transition to tyrdose (# 0066), and if
Magik custom, then bummer. In this
versions of such tests do not find differences:
interception carried out at the beginning of zasiraniya
the stack. "


              Item number 9.


   You have access to all registers of the controller K1818VG93 
already in two ways. Pull the from the different versions.



   The first method (skorpionovsky):


       # 3FF0 OUT (C), A: RET

       # 3FF3 IN A, (C): RET


   The second (very strange) through new
syscalls # 3D13:

 # 0D - Register D contains the lowest address
Port E data register in it. If necessary and chief port 
address, it is indicated in register B. 

 # 0F - Register D contains the lowest address
port, the output of the register data from E
him. If necessary and chief port address, it is indicated in 
register B. 


   And two more (in the appendage):

 # 10 - Calling the subroutine entry # 3FBA.
In the HL register address field data, DE
- Waiting time VG93 preparedness.

 # 11 - Calling the subroutine reading # 3FD5.
In the HL register address of the buffer time in DE
standby readiness VG93.

  Analogues in TR-DOS 5.13 is not available.


             Item number 10.


   Certainly Fixed bug TR-DOS'a
work with a large group of sectors 5 and 6 teams from # 3D13 
(sm.ZF # 3). 


             Item number 11.


   There is a built-in Mini-boot which
run from the TR-DOS command to '8 '(the former team of 80). 
Really don `t know who was the author of this rubble, but we 
have finished a bit (sorry. ..). Due to the fact that the 
switch to drive 'B' can not quickly quickly, it implements 
autosearch drives in the drive 'A' and 'B'. For example go to

DOS (disk in the drive 'B') press '8 'and
through two or three seconds boot itself switch to it! And 
select the current drive in boot'e possible keys 1-4, and the 
key 'D' - Reset Dos. 

  In DOS 5.12 was there seems to be a small copier, which 
judging by the description of version 5.13 thrown ... 


             Item Number 12.


   Similarly, version 5.13 DOS thrown in our memory test, the 
filling of which is done via the command PUSH, as a consequence 
speed RESET-DOS rose nemeryannom ... A also, through PUSH 
cleared memory when resetting of the BASIC 128, with similar 
consequences:). 


             Item No. 13.


   Again, as in version 5.13 greatly accelerated reading from 
the drive. Much faster to read even a program like iS-DOS and 
Honey Comander'e, not to mention programs like Conver Comander, 
Real Comander or command TR-DOS LIST etc.


   Accelerate the entry, as shown by experiments, unfortunately 
not. Some drives do not have time to unwind drive, the 
consequences of this horrible ... 


             Item number 14.


   Some minor glyuchki
TR-DOS (which was no longer remember). And just as in DOS 5.13 
on a team you can NEW to know the last modified date code.



   The so-called 'Rodionovskaya vector
Interrupt # 0900 - # 0A00 'was not affected,
All programs using it are normal.


        Additional features

     received a small change

   BASIC 128 with TR-DOS 6.05E.


              Item No. 1.


   Naturally maintained by a resident
Honey Commander, but due to change
BASIC 128 get into it with any
reset (other than the 48-th ;-), unlike version 5.13, which 
intercepted a resident is possible only when RESET-DOS. 
Capabilities resident in our version is much expanded to 
intercept discharges can absolutely any program with minimal 
memory. Enough to place on at # FFF0 at page 31 (# 1F) line

characters 'Residentpresent!' (No spaces), and immediately 
after a reset control will be sent to the address # C000 of the 
same page.



    Under this resident had already converted:

 Real Comander, Conver Comander, FPM (two
 version), Luxe Copy, Direct Comander, bo ot Turbinova and boot 
Rodionova, STS. 


   Maybe something else I missed.
Use of such programs has not
an example is more convenient. Additionally, Conver and
Luxe Copy embedded gasilka screen.


              Item No. 2.


   There is a software RESET-DOS with a choice of any drive, if
reset, hold down 04.01
(1-drive A, 2-B, etc.). Unfortunately
only works on those machines where the keyboard at work dos not 
blocked (PROFI, PENTAGON, ATM ...). Also much easier to work 
with RAM-DISK'om (not have to write constantly '* "D"' ;-).



              Item number 3.


   If the screen saver from the BASIC 128 when choosing
item '128 TR-DOS 'press is not just ENTER, and with the 
CAPS-SHIFT'om (you can EDIT :-), it automatically when you exit 
to DOS from the current drive will be running the file boot. 
Just like in Scorpio, only more correct. 

  Self-a 'Tape Loader' from the screen saver kicked, but worth 
'48 TR-DOS '. 


              Item No. 4.


   Pressing 5 + RESET resets the neglect of all residents. Very 
rarely happens (when you copy the entire disk for

times) is killed by some residents, so that
after reset comp goes into full meditation, remove it from 
which one can only Off.



   Of course, many of the items lose their relevance when using 
MadRom, but All the same it is not at all, and more

part of the improvements I made when not
suspected the existence of such a thing as
MadRom.


               Installer


   The installer comes in the form of source code to the Storm. 
After compiling it creates a working file for flashing the ROM. 
Full delivery firmware must contain the following files:


 128_resd.P 16K BASIC128 Resident
 128_norm.P 16K BASIC128
 dos6_05e.P 16K TRDOS Resident
 dos_inst.C source installer DOS
 mad_inst.C source installer MADROM
 md615d5 ^. P
 md896d5 ^. P firmware MADROM
 md896d5v.P


                             Appendix


       Scheme is read from the port # 7FFD.
(Required only for computers with 1024K
RAM) and if there is a hunt to track coc
         Toyan second screen:)


                             IR22

                      Q0 March 2 D0

                            D0 Q0
 Output port Q1 TM9 May 4 D1

      # 7FFD D1 Q1
 D62 for the Pentagon. Q2 July 6 D2

                            D2 Q2

                      Q3 September 8 D3

                            D3 Q3

                         December 13 D4

                   +5 V on the D4 Q4

                         14 15 D5

                            D5 Q5
 Released TM'ki port bit0 17 16 D6
 memory expansion D6 Q6
 up to 512K. bit1 18 19 D7

                            D7 Q7

  1N ROM 27512 January 11

                            OE PE

     LE1 LL1

  A1 1 March

        1 1 1 3

  A15 2 on LA3 2

            1

              '3

       LE1 2 on
/ IORQ 5

        April 1
 / RD 6 on



   Port becomes active only in
DOS'e, therefore, make no incompatibilities
can. Check for proper assembly of the port
You can check my TEST v4.22.

   For a more comfortable working with RAM-DISK'on
I wrote a program from, as in IS-DOS, IMAGE.
It also allows you to save on the RAM-DISK
floppy disk, restore it from disk and
simply copy any disc into memory.
Works, of course, only with TR-DOS
6.05E and RAM-DISK'ami of 512, 384 and
128K. RD at 896K is not supported due to lack meaning.

   All the flash and the accompanying software is absolutely 
free, you will find they will be able to Station Zero BBS 
TashZXNet. 


  Whereupon, Au revoire!



   Editors note: by itself can add that popolzovavshis this 
firmware for about six months, we found that this cultural and 
rudder fareva! In the version for 512K Ram is a cactus that 
RAM-drives from Honey Commandera and DOSa match. That is, there 
was as though the IDE. So that this firmware version we are 
working its recommendation.