Does anyone have any idea how useful this would have been?
"Got a 6128? Now you can have two 64 K machines, thanks to this excellent Ram-splitter - it lets you run two progs at once.
Loading: FLIK is on side 2 of the covertape. and is best transferred to disk Then type RUN "FLIK.BAS"
In response to a reader's request, we've put this great little utility for 128K owners (written by Richard Moulton) on the covertape. It lets you hold two programs in memory at once, and flick between them with a single keypress in effect, splitting your 128K CPC into two 64K machines. Once its loaded, all you have to do is press CTRL. SHIFT and TAB together, and the two environments will be exchanged. So. for example, you could have a word-processor in one bank, and a game of Tetris in the other The only proviso is that the disk drive should not be in use when you Flik. Apart from that: have fun."
From http://cpcrulez.fr/applications_util-flik.htm (http://cpcrulez.fr/applications_util-flik.htm) (where also the utility can be downloaded):
Quote
This program will work on all Amstrad CPC6128's, it requires at least 128k.
I don't know if it works on an expanded CPC464, if someone can test this and
let me know I'd appreciate it.
When this program is installed an exact copy is made of the first bank of 64k
and placed into the second bank of 64k. And when you press CONTROL+SHIFT+TAB
keys the first and second banks of memory are exchanged, so you have two
independant areas to work with. This means that at the time you installed
FLIK all programs currently in memory will also exist in the secondary area.
The code is fully relocatable, well not quite. It must not be loaded into the
area of &4000-&7FFF, at the moment there is no check that it is loading itself
into a valid area of memory so be careful.
One bug I know at the time of release happens when you flick over to an
alternate session with the disc drive in use, this generally causes the machine
to lock. Before flicking to the alternate session first ensure that the disc
drive(s) have stopped. If anyone knows how to check if a disc drive is in use
I'd appreciate it if you could leave a message.
FLIK has been placed into the public domain, this means the program may be
copied and passed on as long as it is not sold for profit.
I welcome all bug fixes and ideas for updates, if you could leave a message
for me on Preston ROS BBS (0772 651698 - Sysop:Tony Walker) detailing the bug
or update you SHOULD receive a reply shortly afterward.
The description is a bit different...
Original source (A.A.) or Website.............Who can I trust these days!
AA in it's later days had more waffles than Birds Eye in my honest opinion.
I loved the mag, don't get me wrong, but they were known for peddling an amount of bullshit too.
It's an interesting curiosity, but not really "useful" in much of a meaningful sense. You can swap between two BASIC programs, which is nice I suppose, but if one of those crashes the machine or locks up you've lost what you were doing in both. And forget about anything that pushes the system out of the way (like games) or that might use the banked memory itself. Ultimately there comes a point when you need everything (applications and the system) to be "in on it" and agree consistent behaviours.
And yet, how many BASIC programs have we seen that bring down the entire system? Not that it can't happen, but...
I think the keypress sequence was what set this program apart from other similar programs (128k Memory Swapper from AA50 Type-Ins & Bankswop in AA58 Type-Ins, which use RSXs to switch memory!), so you could go from your Homework to a game of Space Storm II in midstride.
...BOSS KEY!
Heh, I remember Leisure Suit Larry's boss key, it switched the game screen to a spreadsheet-like one. :D
Indeed :) Many Sierra games did that IIRC! But, at least with some titles, if you enabled Boss mode you couldn't get back to the game :doh:
I remember playing with this for a while after it arrived on my AA covertape. Didn't really find a use for it, and after about a week never loaded it again. Was a fun curiosity for a while until the novelty wore off.
Quote from: Gryzor on 08:05, 30 January 18
And yet, how many BASIC programs have we seen that bring down the entire system? Not that it can't happen, but...
I was mostly thinking of if you're playing around writing BASIC code which maybe calls the odd bit of machine code and you get it a bit wrong....
But yeah, for entirely BASIC programs that aren't gonna go wrong, where you only need two and they can't just be renumbered and merged into one load - then it works. I remember playing around with it and thinking it was cool, but as blackdalek says it loses it's novelty factor quickly.
What about bankman?
I don't think bankman used a hot-key to swap banks, like Flik did.
I remember switching with |bankman if I'm correct. That was my first animation technique with 2 frames ;D
Can't really tell though if I ever made a choice in programs.
I'll give it a try in a couple of days.
Yes. I believe an RSX command was the only way to switch banks with bankman. I could be wrong though.