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FIRMWARE 3.1 / Lower ROM / Megaflash

Started by TotO, 14:54, 18 October 12

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TotO

Here a new work with SyX about the CPC Firmware "v3".

FW 3.12

Quote
Fix the RSX use for ROM located from 16 to 31 (thanks redbox)

This Firmware was designed to get a better support of RAM and ROM expansions. Looking the future, not the past.
It don't work with BASIC 1.0 and no more support Tape by default. (need a ROM to manage it, that allow to improve it as new storages too)

So, the actual target is all CPC with BASIC 1.1 and floppy or HxC drives.
FEATURES
Quote- Display RAM (up to 576K)
- Display CRTC version
- Initialize up to 32 ROM*
- Boot with [ESC] initialize only ROM 0 & 7
- Mouse support under BASIC (see the previous FW test)
- Fix the FR chars table, so all keys are properly displayed.
- CTRL+keys give usefull chars
CTRL KEYS
Quotectrl+2 = ½ (half)
ctrl+3 = ¾ (three quarters)
ctrl+4 = ¼ (quarter)

ctrl+a = α (alpha)
ctrl+b = β (beta)
ctrl+c = © (copyright)
ctrl+e = € (euro)
ctrl+m = µ (micro)
ctrl+n = ~ (tilde)
ctrl+o = Ω (omega)
ctrl+p = π (pi)
ctrl+s = Σ (sigma)
ctrl+v = √ (tick)
ctrl+x = ✗ (cross)

ctrl+? = ¿ (inverted question mark)
ctrl+! = ¡ (inverted exclamation mark)
Enjoy and thank you for your feedbacks ! :) 

* The 32 ROM init actually only work on a real hardware with the Megaflash and FlashGordon boards.
Most emulators are not supported.
"You make one mistake in your life and the internet will never let you live it down" (Keith Goodyer)

gerald

- Support MegaFlash 32 ROMs under BASIC : does that mean it initialize the 32 rom ? or that you can program the megaflash rom with it ?

Any plan for sharing source ?

@gryzor / markus, any plan for svn server on cpcwiki ?

TotO

#2
Fixed.
Init 32 ROM at boot or only 0 and 7 if ESC is pressed.

Sorry, but no source sharing for now, because it's WIP.
But, the SVN server for CPCWiki dev is a nice idea. :)
"You make one mistake in your life and the internet will never let you live it down" (Keith Goodyer)

SyX

#3
And the most important thing, TotO had all these nice ideas ;)

PD: I'm using exclusively this rom since the last two weeks and only use the original rom for checking compatibility :)

MacDeath

does it need any rombox or you must replace the original physical rom on the motherboard ?

SyX

You can make that or use one the lovely LowerROM boards of Bryce :) (a few weeks ago he asked here for people interested in one for making a new batch)

Kris

Useful !!! that's great job...and there are so many things to implement ...I think many of us will have ideas in the next few days :)

Bryce

The modifications are frozen for now as far as I know. No further mods planned. At least for this batch of LowerROMs. The people who have ordered one should PM me and let me know what they want on their EPROM (2 versions of Firmware/BASIC fits on the device, selectable with a jumper). I have just finished building the first devices, I should have all finished by next week.
I also think they have ran out of space in the ROM?

Bryce.

SyX

It's freezen for now, but we hope to get feedback to improve the project. 

With respect to the rom space, the old versions were where we ran out of it, and the reason why we decided to remove the firmware tape routines; now, we have 1.465 bytes free, more than enough for new features, but they need to be great for justify the bytes used :)

00WReX

Very cool guys, very cool  8)   :)

Nice work SyX & TotO  ;)

Cheers,
Shane
The CPC in Australia...
Awa - CPCWiki

TFM

Check out the ROMs I uploaded, they take away ,p protection and such stuff. They may be of interrest for your project. Sorry can't write more here, still working...
TFM of FutureSoft
Also visit the CPC and Plus users favorite OS: FutureOS - The Revolution on CPC6128 and 6128Plus

TotO

#11
Quote from: Bryce on 20:34, 18 October 12The modifications are frozen for now as far as I know. No further mods planned. At least for this batch of LowerROMs.
Yes, it's the first release and we use it since 2 weeks w/o problem.
We don't plane to release v3.2 w/o new significative features.
No other update will be done before the end of the world year.
"You make one mistake in your life and the internet will never let you live it down" (Keith Goodyer)

TotO

#12
A "tip" for french users.
If you order the Bryce's LowerROM and ask to program it with:
- Firmware EN
- Firmware FR

Then, the jumper will act as a QWERTY/AZERTY switch! ;)
(for the same computer with compatibility, or if you got both type)
"You make one mistake in your life and the internet will never let you live it down" (Keith Goodyer)

TotO

Two screens, booting with and without the [ESC] key.
(AMSDOS ROM 7 & PARADOS ROM 6)

"You make one mistake in your life and the internet will never let you live it down" (Keith Goodyer)

TFM

Did you try to use ParaDOS on ROM select 7?
TFM of FutureSoft
Also visit the CPC and Plus users favorite OS: FutureOS - The Revolution on CPC6128 and 6128Plus

TotO

Sure, why?
I just put Parados at ROM 6 to be able to disable it with ESC, w/o loosing a DOS at boot...
"You make one mistake in your life and the internet will never let you live it down" (Keith Goodyer)

TFM

TFM of FutureSoft
Also visit the CPC and Plus users favorite OS: FutureOS - The Revolution on CPC6128 and 6128Plus

00WReX

Hi TotO & SyX, not sure if there is any documentation regarding all the differences between FW3.1 & the original Amstrad FW.

I Just went through the CTRL+<key> combinations and noted them down for anyone that is interested...

ctrl+1 = ¡ (inverted exclamation mark)
ctrl+2 = ½ (half)
ctrl+3 = ¾ (three quarters)
ctrl+4 = ¼ (quarter)
ctrl+e = € (euro)
ctrl+o = Ω (omega)
ctrl+p = π (pi)
ctrl+[ = Ɵ (theta)
ctrl+a = α (alpha)
ctrl+s = Σ (sigma)
ctrl+x = ✗ (cross)
ctrl+c = © (copyright)
ctrl+v = √ (tick)
ctrl+b = β (beta)
ctrl+n = " (quotation)
ctrl+m = µ (micro)
ctrl+/ = ¿ (inverted question mark)

Please correct me if I am wrong or have missed any.
This is with the EN firmware.

Cheers,
Shane
The CPC in Australia...
Awa - CPCWiki

Gryzor

Oooh I'm getting this on mine.
Nice choice of colours, btw! (though I probably like QCMD's more).

The extra characters are nice (oh, euro! Just in time to see it collapsing, but our humble CPCs will have its symbol :D ), though couldn't you make the F key (or other combos) perform actions, like the most frequent commands one uses?

Thanks for the hard work guys!!

SyX

Quote from: 00WReX on 13:24, 22 October 12Hi TotO & SyX, not sure if there is any documentation regarding all the differences between FW3.1 & the original Amstrad FW.
Thanks 00WReX!  :)

It's the only thing undocumented yet, aside from the info that TotO put in the first post.

Quote from: 00WReX on 13:24, 22 October 12Please correct me if I am wrong or have missed any.
This is with the EN firmware.
You are not missed any in the english firmware :) A few one of these were already in the original spanish rom, and we like them. The french and the spanish version include a few extras, mainly the french to be more logical, as TotO always said me :)

And as everything is open to your suggestions :)

IMPORTANT: This firmware is compatible with any 6128/6128+ basic rom. The 464/664 basic rom crash, but the same happen with the original 6128 firmware. Of course, it's possible to make a 464/664 version and give support to other languages, if enough people ask.

TotO

#20
Quote from: 00WReX on 13:24, 22 October 12
Hi TotO & SyX, not sure if there is any documentation regarding all the differences between FW3.1 & the original Amstrad FW.

I Just went through the CTRL+<key> combinations and noted them down for anyone that is interested...
Please correct me if I am wrong or have missed any.
This is with the EN firmware.

I just speak about that in the afternoon. I don't take the time to add it, and though to do it this evening...
Thank you for doing it ! :)

- CTRL+N is not " but ~
- CTRL+/ because ? symbol is on the same key on EN keyboard.
- CTRL+1 because ! symbol is on the same key on EN keyboard.
- CTRL+[ because... It's a Buuuuuuuuuuuuug. :-\

All those shortcuts are common to all versions and are now updated to the first post of the topic! :)
"You make one mistake in your life and the internet will never let you live it down" (Keith Goodyer)

RockRiver

Thank You!!! another time, TotO & Syx for your CPC dedication. You are great.

Quote from: Gryzor on 13:55, 22 October 12
The extra characters are nice (oh, euro! Just in time to see it collapsing, but our humble CPCs will have its symbol :D
Ha, Ha!!! (Spanish banks need Euros, me too  :P )

Gryzor

No, but seriously, why not have predefined commands?

TotO

#23
May be, because I'm not enough lazy to though it was a priority?  ;D
Or because, that need more reflections to add that on the first version.
"You make one mistake in your life and the internet will never let you live it down" (Keith Goodyer)

Bryce

It would be nice to have commands like CAT, LIST |A, |B or |CPM as function keys. Not sure about BASIC commands, but OS type commands definitely :)

Bryce. 

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