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Info-Atari16 Digest Vol. 92 Issue 005
Info-Atari16 Digest Tue, 7 Jan 92 Volume 92 : Issue 5
Today's Topics:
.mac on st's
Airball Help
At-Speed
Atari 1040 Stfm for sale
AUTO Folder Programs -- How do they replace system functions?
Calamus/Outline
Complete ATARI Mega 2 ST System for $890 or best offer
Doug Harrison still supporting Opus?
Dungeon Master - HELP!!
Falcon
Getting back here from shell
GNU C++ at atari.archive (2 msgs)
Help - 520ST bombs at boot time
Help with vax out...again.
Hermes UUCP package
History of Atari
How can you get Composite Video from Atari 1040ST (3 msgs)
IBM software emulator (2 msgs)
MBBS upgrade (2 msgs)
Mega 4 & laser for sale
MultiGEM & Datadiet
NEW Atari 1040STe for Sale
PD C compilers for ST (3 msgs)
PYM Demo on Terminator
scanning frequencies of TTM194
Searching xlispref author Tim I. Mikkelsen
Specification for OMTI 5400 needed
STBook (Notebook computer)
TT/030 why the ST RAM?
TTM194/5 Scan Rates
Uniterm on larger screens?
uniterm problem.... HELP PLEASE
VDI question
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----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 7 Jan 92 05:04:18 GMT
From: nevada.edu!jimi2!equinox!cs.unr.edu!chan@uunet.uu.net (Kaho Chan)
Subject: .mac on st's
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
After rediscovering my Picswitch viewer (views many picture formats), I soon
discovered that printing out MAC (.mac) pictures gave me the best quality out
of the rest of the formats (.pi*, .pc*, etc)... on a printer I just recently
purchased.
So I asked around for .mac pictures... (ftp sites, etc)
What I found out was that most MAC files are compressed either in .SIT
(Stuff It) or .HQX (Compact Pro ???)...
..and not in the usual .ARC, .LZH, etc...
Anybody have any answers to this problem?
Please email or post.
chan@mammoth.cs.unr.edu
Kaho Chan<=============
------------------------------
Date: 7 Jan 92 09:46:04 GMT
From: mcsun!sun4nl!star.cs.vu.nl!rcpijst@uunet.uu.net (Pijst RC)
Subject: Airball Help
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
Some time ago I played Airball but I haven't finished it.
I found all the attributes descibed in the magic book except
one, the flask. Does anyone know where I can find it?
Thanks,
Renate Pijst
------------------------------
Date: 6 Jan 92 05:37:55 GMT
From: mcsun!unido!uniol!hb.maus.de!s2.maus.de!Uwe_Poliak@uunet.uu.net (Uwe
Poliak)
Subject: At-Speed
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
m>My question is. Was the TC Power-Emulator Memory Manager originally sold
m>with
m>the AT-Speed board? Has it been separated to make the boards price more
m>attractive?
Hi,
my Question is : What is the "TC Power-Emulator Memory Manager" ?
thanx, -up-
------------------------------
Date: 7 Jan 92 07:11:08 GMT
From: ub!galileo.cc.rochester.edu!news@rutgers.rutgers.edu (Ling Cherd Ho)
Subject: Atari 1040 Stfm for sale
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
For sale:
Atari 1040 STFM
1 Meg of RAM
Internal 720K drive
$225 + Shipping
------------------------------
Date: 6 Jan 92 14:04:31 GMT
From: mcsun!uknet!yorkohm!minster!mjl-b@uunet.uu.net
Subject: AUTO Folder Programs -- How do they replace system functions?
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
In article <F6TyDB2w164w@ersys.edmonton.ab.ca> mforget@ersys.edmonton.ab.ca
(Michel Forget) writes:
>marco@sys6626.bison.mb.ca (Marco) writes:
> [stuff deleted]
>> Well, as you say you could use evnt_keybd() to do this from an ACC. To do
>> this from an AUTO program, would, I beleive require you to intercept the
>> TAB keypress.This would prevent the TAB from getting to the GEM program
>> which you said we were running. I think the best way is to have it as an
>> ACC and then evnt_keybd() (or evnt_multi()) for something such as
>> alt-TAB, this way, because no program I no of uses alt-TAB you don't have
>> to worry about interceppting it...
Using evnt_keybd() from an accessory won't work, because only the "currently
active" program gets keypress information from GEM (Don't ask me for a
accurate description of "currently active"!)
>> | John Perry*Voice (204)783-0812*Internet marco@sys6626.bison.mb.ca |
>
>Perhaps, but the idea is to create a program that does this without using
>up an .ACC slot. There are only six of them, so it wouldn't be a good
>idea to waste one on a trivial task. Aside from that consideration, I
>also talked about other programs that couldn't function as accessories,
>such as a program that allows you to replace the file selector with one
>of your own choosing. The best solution for this would be to tell the
>system that the file selector routine is not at the default location, and
>then terminate execution using the ptermres() system command so that the
>memory occupied by the alternate selector is not erased or used by
>another program. The only question is how to tell the system to jump to
>a different location when it needs the file selector.
You do it by intercepting the GEM TRAP vector and waiting for an
fsel_input() AES call.
>This is only one
>example. Hotkeys from the desktop should also be possible, but how do
>you tell the system to wait for a keypress, and then to execute a program
>when one is found. I suppose what I am looking for is a book that would
>tell me all of this information, or as much as is available.
To "hot-key" your program, you need to intercept the IKBD (intelligent
keyboard controller) interrupt and look at keypress information as it
arrives.
><< mforget@ersys.edmonton.ab.ca >>
><< ersys!mforget@nro.cs.athabascau.ca >>
><< Michel Forget >>
><< "Do not meddle in the affairs of Wizards, >>
><< for they are not happy campers!" - UNKNOWN >>
Mathew
| Mathew Lodge | "What do they call you, boy?" "Kate." "Isn't |
| mjl-b@minster.york.ac.uk | that a bit of a girl's name?" "... it's |
| Summer: lodge%alsys@uknet | short for 'Bob'" -- Blackadder II |
------------------------------
Date: 2 Jan 92 03:46:00 GMT
From:
noao!ncar!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!wupost!waikato.ac.nz!aukuni.ac.nz!kcbbs!status!u
rsulus@arizona.edu (malcolm fletcher)
Subject: Calamus/Outline
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
Does anybody know where I can get my hands on an English version of OUTLINE
it is a software package that works with |Calamus to allow some very fancy
type text operations, ie circling text, fading text out to a point etc The
version I've seen is a demo, very impressive, but completely in German, I've
managed to get some sence out of it, and what I've seen I like, I have not
seen the software advertised anywhere and hope that someone reading this
will know of the program, Where can I get an English Version, What sort of
price can I expect tp pay?
Thanking you'all in advance...
Fletch..
PS Happy New YEARs
And now for a word from the sponcer...
*=> malcolm fletcher , (Where is Runicman? somewhere near Taupo?)
*-> The Atari box in Auckland NZL. Return mail via kcbbs.gen.nz!status!ursulus
------------------------------
Date: 6 Jan 92 17:57:16 GMT
From:
noao!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!network.ucsd.edu!orion.oac.uci.edu!nntpsrv@ar
izona.edu (James Tang)
Subject: Complete ATARI Mega 2 ST System for $890 or best offer
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
For $850 you will get the following:
(I'll pay shipping UPS)
ATARI MEGA II ST:
Motorola 68000 cpu
2 Megabyte RAM on board (2048 KByte)
1 3.5 disk drive (additional port for second floppy drive)
MIDI ports built in
DMA port
1 serial port
1 parallel port
2 mouse/joystick port
realtime clock with battery back-up
keyboard/mouse/2 joysticks
blitter graphics chip
3 sound channels
ATARI Color Monitor (SM124)
Tweety Board installed (for stereo sound and connections to stereo
systems)
85 MEGABYTE SCSI external Harddrive
28ms seek time
ICD FAST DMA/SCSI ADAPTER Card
ST REPLAY4 Sound Digitizer
2400baud external modem
All original system software included.
All of my atari software (shareware, games, and utilities) included.
All manuals/cables included.
(basically, everything you will need to get the system up and running
in 10 minutes)
If you are interested please drop me a line and make an offer.
thanks,
Wayne
wngai@bonnie.ics.uci.edu
wngai@net1.ics.uci.edu
------------------------------
Date: 6 Jan 92 15:22:03 GMT
From: aurs01!whitcomb@mcnc.org (Jonathan Whitcomb)
Subject: Doug Harrison still supporting Opus?
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
In article <1992Jan4.074805.28485@eagle.lerc.nasa.gov>
fsctc@lercuts.lerc.nasa.gov (Clarence T. Chang) writes:
>Does anyone know whether Opus' author Doug Harrison is still in the business
>of upgrading Opus 2.2 to 2.3?
I believe Doug Harrison wrote Lookit & Popit, distributed by Codehead software.
You might want to try to contact him through them.
**********************************************************************
Jonathan Whitcomb UUCP: <whitcomb%aurgate@mcnc.org>
Alcatel Network Systems Delphi: JBWHIT
Raleigh, NC GEnie: J.WHITCOMB3
------------------------------
Date: 6 Jan 92 16:46:43 GMT
From: mcsun!uknet!sersun1!okes@uunet.uu.net (Oke S)
Subject: Dungeon Master - HELP!!
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
To free the power gem, cast the spell Zo Kath Ra. This creates a lump of plasma
in your hand or on the floor. Pick it up and click it on the power gem. The
plasma
should disappear and you can see the gem clearly. Now click the Firestaff on the
gem.
Simon.
------------------------------
Date: 6 Jan 92 06:51:43 GMT
From:
noao!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!midiline!jared@arizona.edu
('286 Highlander)
Subject: Falcon
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
I have FALCON version 1.0 for my ST. Docs and all. I really like the
game, but it's so hard to play, and the loading time is all but
mind-bending to wait through...
Is there another version available (an upgrade?) which allows for putting
it onto a HD or otherwise enhances gameplay? Is Spectrum Holobyte even
supporting the Atari ST any longer?
Reply in Email ("MAIL") if'n you please would!
------------------------------
Date: 6 Jan 92 05:52:11 GMT
From: psinntp!mpoint!rkallen@uunet.uu.net (Russell Kallen)
Subject: Getting back here from shell
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
I ~Z'd to exit the EMACS tutorial and was returned to the shell. When I tried
to return to the news reader (nn) I was prompted that "another nn process was
occurring" (already running). What is the direct route back here when that
occurs? Thanks.
------------------------------
Date: 6 Jan 92 05:37:43 GMT
From: mcsun!unido!uniol!hb.maus.de!bn.maus.de!Klaus_Guhr@uunet.uu.net (Klaus
Guhr)
Subject: GNU C++ at atari.archive
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
Hi Flip,
cmedley@wam.umd.edu at So, 04.01.92 05:46 in ATARI.ENG
c>I checked, and xfile.o is contained in one of the .olb files in the C++
c>distribution, but I don't have the source and I'm wondering if soemthing
c>else could be causing this error if the libraries are correct (which they
c>probably are). I'm expecting that there is probably a problem in my
c>setup (I'm using a Mega ST 2 with Gulam as my shell).
Please send me your GULAM-SETUP, often it's a big problem to find the
right solution.... ;-(
I've initiated in Germany 'THE GNU-Project' on MAUS-NET.
It's a news - group like GNU.GCC.HLP on Usenet, but there we
also gather the great GNU-WARE stuff incl. sources.
If interest, mail me your problems. I'm glad to help you... :-))
Or see us in GNU.GCC.HLP....
Bye,
Klaus
###########################################################################
## Klaus Guhr MausNet: Klaus Guhr @ BN ##
## Marktstrasse 33 Domain: Klaus_Guhr@bn.maus.de ##
## W-5300 Bonn 3, Germany Phone: ++49-(0)228-485360 12-20h ##
###########################################################################
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 7 Jan 92 03:35:14 PST
From: boyce@sifvs3.SINet.SLB.COM (David Boyce)
Subject: GNU C++ at atari.archive
To: info-atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
"Flip" Medley writes:
>I've been having a rough time getting GNU C++ installed on my system, and I
>think I finally have everything in order, except that when I compile a
>program, I get an error saying that in xfile.o, _vfscanf is not defined.
Your GCC libraries are out of date. vfscanf() was added to libc specifically
to support G++. You need a version of the libraries from about last June
onwards. (Patchlevel 69+)
- Dave
------------------------------
Date: 6 Jan 92 17:58:29 GMT
From:
noao!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!ut-emx!ibmchs!auschs!awdprime!maurice.austin.ibm.com!
maurice@arizona.edu (maurice franklin)
Subject: Help - 520ST bombs at boot time
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
Help!
I have an Atari 520ST which has faithfully served me almost 5 years.
When I came home the other day (having left it running, as usual),
the disk drive light was on but there was no sound of disk access.
Turning on the monitor I found two bombs sitting there. I suspected
a house power outage had simply forced a reboot, but there hadn't been
any loss of electricity.
Now, whenever I boot (hard or soft), I get the red lines across the screen
like I always have (I've always thought of this as an "image" of memory -
is this correct?), screen clears, disk light comes on (again, no mechanical
activity in drive), and two bombs pop up.
In order to try to eliminate one possible cause, I poped out the ROM chips
and tried to boot off of a TOS.IMG disk. I don't get the red line screen
(if memory serves, I didn't get that before I installed the ROMs, but that
was a *long* time ago), the disk light does NOT come on, and I get nothing
on the screen (no bombs).
So, do any of you experienced STers out there have an idea as to what part
of the system might be sick (i.e., does "two bombs" really mean anything).
Or should I just take this as a sign that it's time to go buy a new machine
(probably a 386 - sorry Atari, I thought this was going to be a good personal
system in '86, but, at least in the U.S., it hasn't really taken off).
Thanks for any help.
Maurice Franklin Systems Performance & Modeling Department
Advanced Workstation Division, IBM Austin, Texas (512) 838-8598
Internet: maurice@hwperform.austin.ibm.com
Disclaimer: Above opinions represent neither IBM's nor anyone else's
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 6 Jan 92 01:34 EST
From: <PALM_ERD%CTSTATEU.BITNET@YALEVM.YCC.Yale.Edu>
Subject: Help with vax out...again.
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
Could someone compile this, and send me the UUENCODED
file. This program help us poor VAX users, download from FTP
sites in binary form, istead of that ass-backwards UUENCODING
scheme that takes up mail space and is hassle to combine 10
files together because the FTP site splits the files into 42K
segments.
----------- program included after this line --- #include
<stdio.h> #include <string.h> #include <stdlib.h>
void main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
char ext_sect[513],*out_name,*p;
FILE *in_file,*out_file;
long sect_no,length,i,last_len;
if(argc<2 || argc>3)
{
fprintf(stderr,"Usage: VAX_OUT infile [outfile] \n");
exit(1);
}
if(argc==2)
{
out_name = malloc(strlen(argv[1])+6); /* leave space for "out.f" */
strcpy(out_name,argv[1]);
p = strrchr(out_name,'\\'); /* find find dir-list end */
p = (p==NULL) ? out_name : p; /* if no dirs -> just name */
strcpy(p+1,"out.f"); /* replace name with out.h */
*(p+6) = '\0'; /* add string delimiter */
} /* destinetin path entered */
else
out_name = argv[2];
if((in_file = fopen(argv[1],"rb"))==NULL)
{
printf(" Error:opening : %s = %s \n",argv[1],strerror(errno));
exit(1);
}
if(setvbuf(in_file,NULL,_IOFBF,(size_t)513*100))
{
printf(" Error:creating in_buffer = %s \n",strerror(errno));
exit(1);
}
fseek(in_file,0,SEEK_END);
length = ftell(in_file);
rewind(in_file);
sect_no = length/513;
last_len = length % 513;
if((out_file = fopen(out_name,"wb"))==NULL)
{
printf(" Error:opening : out_file = %s \n",strerror(errno));
exit(1);
}
if(setvbuf(out_file,NULL,_IOFBF,(size_t)512*100))
{
printf(" Error:creating out_buffer : %s \n",strerror(errno));
exit(1);
}
printf("\n********** split start **********\n");
for(i=0;i<sect_no;i++)
{
fread(ext_sect,513,1,in_file);
printf("+");
fwrite(ext_sect,512,1,out_file);
}
if(last_len)
{
fread(ext_sect,last_len,1,in_file);
fwrite(ext_sect,last_len,1,out_file);
}
printf("\n********** split end **********\n");
fclose(in_file);
fclose(out_file);
}
------------------ end ----------------------------
thanks.
------------------------------
Date: 6 Jan 92 21:19:27 GMT
From: imagen!atari!apratt@sun.com (Allan Pratt)
Subject: Hermes UUCP package
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
martini@cloud9.in-berlin.de (Martin P. Ibert) writes:
>The "Mercury" UUCICO has been under constant development, is now at version
>3.21 and runs just fine at 19200 baud via a T2500 or via a direct serial
>line. Seems to be hard to beat in C.
That's not the point. The point is that UUCICO is (well, was) written GFA
BASIC, and GFA BASIC doesn't work in a lot of environments that people use:
MiNT, TT RAM, etc.
To be fair, OLDER VERSIONS of GFA BASIC suffer from this, but that includes
the version that UUCICO for Mercury was compiled with, last I saw. I don't
know if newer GFA BASIC compiled programs are 32-bit clean and/or do not
access memory they don't own, or make other unreasonable demands of the OS.
============================================
Opinions expressed above do not necessarily -- Allan Pratt, Atari Corp.
reflect those of Atari Corp. or anyone else. ...ames!atari!apratt
------------------------------
Date: 6 Jan 92 17:15:14 GMT
From: mcrware!mwca!bill@uunet.uu.net (Bill Sheppard)
Subject: History of Atari
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
In article <52382@cup.portal.com> Rick_Michael_Cortese@cup.portal.com writes:
>...The 2600 was not the first cartridge game. I believe the Fairchild
>Channel F has that distinction.
Actually, I believe the first cartridge-based game was the Magnavox Odyssey.
My uncle bought us one of these - it had basically the same level of graphics
as Pong, but had cartridges (actually, just edge connectors with various
interconnections, no silicon on the cartridge) and translucent screen overlays
to place on your TV (held by the picture tube's static charge) for "color".
Games included ping-pong, handball, and a few other variants.
My uncle amazed my brother and I by reverse-engineering the thing and
designing new cartridges for it, including a volleyball sort-of-thing.
It was some time after this machine, as I recall, before cartridges resurfaced
in the Fairchild or RCA machines.
--
##############################################################################
# Bill Sheppard -- bills@microware.com -- {uunet,sun}!mcrware!mwca!bill #
# Microware Systems Corporation -- OS-9 / OS-9000 / CD-RTOS -- (408)980-0201 #
############# Opinions expressed are my own and usually wrong ################
------------------------------
Date: 6 Jan 92 17:49:28 GMT
From:
noao!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!qt.cs.utexas.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!caen!uflor
ida!mailer.cc.fsu.edu!sigma!boyd@arizona.edu (Mickey Boyd)
Subject: How can you get Composite Video from Atari 1040ST
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
In article <1812@isgtec.UUCP>, ken@isgtec.UUCP (Ken Newman) writes:
>
>In article <1992Jan2.135950.4630@syma.sussex.ac.uk>, lezo@syma.sussex.ac.uk
(Lez Oxley) writes:
>> I would like to connect a colour TV (Matsui Model 1455) to an old-style
>> 1040ST which doesn't have an RF socket.
>> ...stuff deleted...
>> Has anyone managed to get a composite video signal out of a 1040ST? Is
>> it even theoretically possible?
>
>On old ST's without the RF modulator, the composite video signal is not
>connected at all - that signal comes from the (absent) RF modulator.
>So, you can't do it, unless you buy an outboard modulator that can take
>the RGB and convert it to composite video and/or RF.
Hmmm, is this what the Video Master (from Practical Peripherals, the folks
that make the Monitor Master) does? I have been toying with the idea of
hooking my ST to the big TV for games and such, but I have a Mega2. Would
the purchase of a Video Master allow me to get good quality output on a
commercial TV?
--
---------------------------------+-------------------------------------
Mickey R. Boyd | "Come to your senses professor
FSU Computer Science | Fernberg. You did not transcend
Technical Support Group | the time-space continuum. You
email: boyd@nu.cs.fsu.edu | got drunk in a topless bar."
---------------------------------+-------------------------------------
------------------------------
Date: 6 Jan 92 22:53:28 GMT
From:
noao!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!wupost!ukma!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!cleveland.Freenet.Edu
!at731@arizona.edu (Troy L. Nothnagel)
Subject: How can you get Composite Video from Atari 1040ST
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
In a previous article, ksommerville@cix.compulink.co.uk (Keith Sommerville)
says:
>I am sure that this signal was only available on STFM's. I know this
>doesnt make a lot of sense, cos the composite signal has nothing to do with
>a modulator, but I am sure that this is the case.
>
The composite works just fine on the STe, too.
What _I_ am wondering, is if there's any way to hook it up to S-VHS. I
know absolutely nothing about the S-VHS except that it's a five-pin
plug, so I've no idea...
--
Troy L. Nothnagel
at731@cleveland.Freenet.Edu
"And for a gorilla, his English wasn't half bad." - Den of Earth
"No, now go away or I shall taunt you a second time-a!" - Guard, MP&tHG
------------------------------
Date: 6 Jan 92 23:37:24 GMT
From:
noao!ncar!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uwm.edu!ux1.cso.uiuc
.edu!firenze!wmagro@arizona.edu (William Magro)
Subject: How can you get Composite Video from Atari 1040ST
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
In article <1992Jan6.225328.1688@usenet.ins.cwru.edu>,
at731@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Troy L. Nothnagel) writes:
|> The composite works just fine on the STe, too.
|>
|> What _I_ am wondering, is if there's any way to hook it up to S-VHS. I
|> know absolutely nothing about the S-VHS except that it's a five-pin
|> plug, so I've no idea...
The five pin plug you are referring to as S-VHS is actually called
S-Video. S-VHS is a SuperVHS recording standard which is incompatible
with the Current VHS standard (S-VHS decks can read VHS tapes, of
course, but not the other way around). S-video is a video _signal_
standard, in which the chrom. and luminence signals (what usually
make up 'composite') are left in their raw form. This improves the
signal by removing one more layer of modulation. The s-video signal
maps more directly onto what is going on internally in a tv's
electronics. Whether you would gain anything by converting composite
to s-video then piping it into your SVHS deck or nice monitor TV is
questionable--the TV and vcr do just that to the composite signal
they get as input. If you somehow turned your raw RBG signal into
a s-video signal (i.e. before the composite out of the ST) you might
have better luck.
--B
------------------------------
Date: 6 Jan 92 11:09:24 GMT
From:
noao!asuvax!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.
edu!malgudi.oar.net!yfn.ysu.edu!ysub!psuvm!frmop11!dearn!dmswwu1c!zwq017@arizon
a.edu (Bjarne Pohlers)
Subject: IBM software emulator
To: Info-Atari16@naucse.cse.nau.edu
In article <1992Jan02.171151.14033@disk.uucp> unknown@disk.uucp (unknown)
writes:
>
> Hmm, I've a few questions about IBM emulation:
>Why not just make a program that converts an IBM program to an ST runnable
>one? I'm not really concerned with graphical programs, just basic IBM
>compat. ones.. Wouldn't it be possible to load the program into memory
>and spend a few minutes to convert it? Then you could have a somewhat
>faster application, and it could be used without loading a special emu.
It is nearly impossible to write such a program. You could try to
replace every IBM-instruction with a sequence of 68000-instructions
but the problem is: the convertion program cannot differ between
instructions and data in the other program. And then (if that is
possible, e.g. TEXT and DATA are not mixed) what about some
hardware-addresses stored in the DATA-part and accesed indirect. How
to convert these? There are many problems to convert such a program,
too many for a computer. Imagine, you had as much memory as a computer
(which you do) you would not be able to convert a program without
thinking. These are also the reasons why there are not any perfectly
working disassemblers.
>If the problem is a legal one, is there any documentation on how to make
>one of these types of programs? Or are there any "underground" versions
>of such a beast?
Of course, not. You could only try to disassemble a program and convert
the instructions to 68000 (that means: write a compiler for
IBM-instructions), but that will not work perfectly.
So an emulator is the better way.
>Finally, I'll buy a used (BUT WORKING) copy of a good IBM software emulator
>if the price is right. If we come to an agreement, you have to send the
>disk first, so I can check it out.. (I never claimed to be trusting) :)
>Better yet, if anyone just wants to throw away their emulator, I'll pay
>for postage! :)
If you really want to run IBM-programs on your ST at an acceptable
speed then you should think about a hardware-emulator.
>--
>Shawn Beltz :) :) :) I may not agree with what you have to say
>unknown@disk.UUCP but I'll fight to the death for your right
>uunet!coplex!disk!unknown to say it... -- Someone I agree with!
--
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