Posted By
IstvanV
on 2007-07-15
19:35:56
|  plus4emu 1.2.0 beta
A beta release of version 1.2.0 is now available for download at http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=192837. While it does not have all the planned features yet, and some bugs may possibly need to be fixed, it already includes some changes that might be worth checking:
* many improvements in the TV emulation; to enable all the new features, use OpenGL mode and set the display quality to 3 (requires OpenGL 2.0 or newer and shader support)
* added a tedmon-like monitor to the debugger; it supports all the commands, including assemble, but there are also some improvements and additional features (use ? to print the list of commands, or ? N for help on command N)
* it is now possible to set breakpoints on TED video positions in the debugger
* trace command in the monitor for logging CPU instructions to a text file; when debugging the main CPU, the TED video position at the first cycle of each opcode is also logged
* the file I/O ROM module now also includes a tape turbo; to enable it, set $0647 to $17, $27, $37, or $47 to select speed (from slowest to fastest), and use device 7 when saving
* tape playback and recording can be sent to the sound output
* the RAM startup pattern has been made configurable
* various bug fixes
Note that a binary package is only available for Windows at this time.
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Posted By
IstvanV
on 2007-07-16
10:28:54
| Re: plus4emu 1.2.0 beta
The Linux binary packages (32 and 64 bit) are now updated as well.
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Posted By
Litwr
on 2007-07-17
02:25:26
| Re: plus4emu 1.2.0 beta
Thank you for so big job! 
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Posted By
Chronos
on 2007-07-17
02:57:28
 | Re: plus4emu 1.2.0 beta
i think dcd will be happy with debugging features and me too for active developers its a must have everytime to fight against the bugs.. as you see on scenecon - the time is always precious..
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Posted By
Litwr
on 2007-07-17
05:39:37
| Re: plus4emu 1.2.0 beta
Your emulator is real "die hard" thing! It is the first real +4 emulator for Linux!!! I can run your binary with first attempt! GUI is very good! The image of plus4 screen is the best - the pictures are the same as at "iron" computer!!! However, printers, plotter, and lightpen support is still missed. 
BTW, what do you think about VICE and XMESS projects? Your codes may be easily integrated with them...
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Posted By
IstvanV
on 2007-07-17
12:00:03
| Re: plus4emu 1.2.0 beta
The 1.2.0 final version will probably have lightpen support - based on Trojan Light Pen, since I have already found out how to implement that (although the mapping from mouse to $ff1d/$ff1e position will assume that there are no extended borders etc.). For printer emulation, I think I may try implementing the 1526 at hardware level, since it apparently only needs 6532 emulation and the motors etc., other than a 6502 compatible CPU and the 6522 which I already have. Of course, presenting the results of the printing to the user is also an issue.
I do not know about XMESS, but VICE is written in C, and has a different architecture, so porting code is not entirely without difficulties. Also, the development goals of VICE may be different, since it is faster, but less accurate.
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Posted By
IstvanV
on 2007-07-18
18:20:34
| Re: plus4emu 1.2.0 beta
The lightpen emulation has been added to the SVN sources.
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Posted By
DanSolo
on 2007-07-19
16:59:32
| Re: plus4emu 1.2.0 beta
Er, where's the "do something" button?
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Posted By
DanSolo
on 2007-07-19
17:04:50
| Re: plus4emu 1.2.0 beta
Dammit, I'm a serial answer-my-own-question-one-second-later type. Renaming the install folder is a big no no. All OK!
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Posted By
IstvanV
on 2007-07-20
17:35:28
| Re: plus4emu 1.2.0 beta
I made some progress with the printer emulation, but it seems uncertain if the current idea of hardware level 1526/MPS-802 emulation is really good. I was able to get it to work to some extent, but all programs I tried so far that can print graphics print strange characters instead; printing text seems to be mostly OK. Maybe this model is not really well supported ? If that is the case, emulating it is not very useful.
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Posted By
IstvanV
on 2007-07-21
09:44:51
| Re: plus4emu 1.2.0 beta
Well, with a modified ROM version it does seem to work better, so emulating the MPS-802 might be acceptable for now.
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Posted By
SVS
on 2007-07-23
02:28:40
 | Re: plus4emu 1.2.0 beta
IstvanV: Please consider the MPS803 emulation. That printer was better supported and used at old times. There was a black version too, in order to accomplish the Plus4 style.
I did code an expansion for it, you could use it for deep test emulation. See at:
http://plus4world.com/software/MPS803_Expansion
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Posted By
JamesC
on 2007-07-23
08:27:07
| Re: plus4emu 1.2.0 beta
The 1526/MPS802 only prints characters unless the CHR$(254) function is used to define a graphic. Even then, only one graphic caracter per line is allowed unless you "cheat" by having a Return without a Linefeed.
Really, the 802 is meant for printing text. The 801 or 803 are more suitable for printing graphics.
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Posted By
IstvanV
on 2007-07-23
09:06:03
| Re: plus4emu 1.2.0 beta
Yes, I know that this model is not as well supported as the MPS-801 or MPS-803. The reason why I emulate it is that the 1526/MPS-802 is the only one for which I have found schematics, firmware, and full, commented assembly sources of firmware so far, making the implementation the easiest. For the other models, I could not find as much information, and some of them also seem to use a non-6502 compatible CPU.
Nevertheless, I may have a try at the MPS-803 later, if I can find sufficient information.
The MPS803 Expansion indeed does not work at all when using the original 1526 ROM. However, I was able to get this output when using a custom ROM that adds support for printing graphics:
http://www.sharemation.com/IstvanV/printer1.png
the modified ROM is in this package:
http://www.cbmhardware.de/dlmanager/download.php?id=228
Note that I used a font converted from the Plus/4 screen font, since the expansion download did not include a font (or maybe I just did not find it):
http://www.sharemation.com/IstvanV/testfont
By the way, when printing text, the even and odd rows seem to be off by one pixel horizontally. Is this normal, or a bug in the emulation that should be fixed ? Here is a picture:
http://www.sharemation.com/IstvanV/printer2.png
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Posted By
SVS
on 2007-07-23
10:09:24
| Re: plus4emu 1.2.0 beta
IstvanV pls. note that my MPS803 Expansion was coded *for* the MPS803 graphic firmware that, if I'm not wrong, is very different than MPS802/1526 one.
After loaded, MPS803 Expansion runs in background and works intercepting any text sent to the printer, then converts it in a graphic stream. The convertion is done using one of the available fonts (I did draw 5 if I remember).
In the screenshot you enclosed many effects are missing (expansion, half-expansion, etc.).
If you are not able to DL the fonts, I'll search them for you, OK?
(the software accepts proportional fonts too!) 
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Posted By
Ulysses777
on 2007-07-23
10:13:08
| Re: plus4emu 1.2.0 beta
For what it's worth, the MPS 803 uses an NEC μPD7811G MCU.
I don't suppose anyone knows how to read the internal ROM of this thing? (if it's even possible)
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Posted By
Chicken
on 2007-07-23
10:36:22
 | Re: plus4emu 1.2.0 beta
Another popular printer used with the plus/4 was the Seikosha SP 180 VC. It has a MPS 801 mode. Some computer store chains (eg Vobis in Germany) bundled the SP 180 VC with the plus/4 and a 1551 drive.
So supporting the MPS 801 would be nice but I have no idea about the CPU inside.
Anyway, checking the screen shots I thought "This is pretty cool" Well done Istvan!
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Posted By
IstvanV
on 2007-07-24
08:16:17
| Re: plus4emu 1.2.0 beta
Since the 1.2.0 version is otherwise mostly ready for release (only some minor tweaks, testing, and documentation need to be done), I will include the already working - although I am still not sure if the line alignment problem shown on the second screenshot should be there or not - MPS-802 hardware emulation for now, and look at the other printer models later.
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Posted By
SVS
on 2007-07-24
08:38:05
| Re: plus4emu 1.2.0 beta
@IstvanV:
1) the fonts files for MPS803-Expansions are ready and will be online sooner.
2) I don't understand what is the alignement problem in the second screnshot (the listing is related to my utility FONT-CREATE). Pls. clarify
Tnx
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Posted By
IstvanV
on 2007-07-24
09:52:50
| Re: plus4emu 1.2.0 beta
I meant the effect that can be seen on this zoomed image:
http://www.sharemation.com/IstvanV/printer3.png
The arrows show the direction in which the head is moving. Does the MPS-802 really print like this, or should I change the emulation ?
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Posted By
Chicken
on 2007-07-24
10:01:43
| Re: plus4emu 1.2.0 beta
I was just about to answer to that one. Glad that I've checked the thread before
Unfortunately, I have no idea if the MPS 802 really prints like that.
Istvan...
Yes, I think you should go ahead and release v 1.2.0
Printer emulation is not THAT important (even though, it's a very interesting feature) and the MPS 802 emulation already shows that it can be done.
Btw, has anyone ever connected a printer with a (CBM) serial port to a PC? Maybe with something like an X[X]1541 cable?
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Posted By
IstvanV
on 2007-07-24
16:20:08
| Re: plus4emu 1.2.0 beta
I have found some code listing in an old magazine that (from the character set) looks like it was originally printed with an MPS-802. It does seem to have the effect, although not as obvious as in the emulator, more like a half pixel or so.
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Posted By
JamesC
on 2007-07-24
21:26:27
| Re: plus4emu 1.2.0 beta
I am ~95% sure that the 1526 prints as pictured in Istvan's screenshots. And yes, it prints one line left-to-right and the next line right-to-left.
I have owned 2 of the 1526 but never an 802; the 802 might have the problem fixed.
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Posted By
IstvanV
on 2007-07-25
14:44:23
| Re: plus4emu 1.2.0 beta
OK, I do not change it then.
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