Emulator/Guide

Z PMD 85 Infoserver

Verzia zo dňa a času 18:13, 26. apríl 2008

We often meet problems that peoples don't know use PMD 85 and they haven't basic knowledge about loading programs and games from tape. We notice a basic description that directly related to way of work with our emulator.

The PMD 85 exist in several models and unfortunately usage was from model to model slightly different. But general usage is same and not too complex. Next important fact is, that every new model of PMD 85 or it's compatibles brings some differences in work with them and also HW/SW changes makes some kind of uncompatibility between every single model. This is reason, that no every program runs on every model of PMD 85.

PMD 85 computer uses basicaly files of two types:

• "?" - programs in machine code - these can be loaded only from Monitor by using MGLD  command
• ">" - programs in BASIC language - these can be loaded only from BASIC interpreter by using LOAD  command

Other types are usually source files for various system programs.

loading of program (game) in machine code

Step-by-step guide:

• in "Settings dialog" choose in "Model" tab model of PMD 85.
• ROM file should be related to selected model (e.g. PMD 85-2 has "monit2.rom").
• checkbox "Insert ROM Module" must remain unchecked.
• click OK to leave "Settings dialog" and then press Alt-F5  (Reset).
• system message ++ Os ready ++  will be shown on console line.
• press Alt-T  to show the "Tape Browser".
• click "Insert tape" and choose *.ptp package with "?" files.
• select (double-click on) game/program, on the left of name appears small triangle what is loading cursor. You can remember file identification number (noted first before type and name -- xx/? NAME).
• for faster loading switch on "Flash load" button on right side below the "Tape Browser" window.
• switch to main window of emulator and enter to console line command MGLD xx, where xx stands for file identifiacation number, confirm command with EOL  (Enter).
• on left side below the "Tape Browser" window click on "Play" button and game will be loaded.

After the game or program is loaded, often some instructions appear on screen, but most commonly in Czech/Slovak language. There are some most important words that you should have to know.

some PMD 85-1 rules:

• MONITOR (console) will starts after reset (without ROM Module inserted), or from BASIC with MONIT  command.
• file identification number xx can be in range from 00 to 63 (with leading zeroes) and it must match to header of loaded program
• between MGLD  command and file identification number must be exactly one space.
• when program hasn't AutoRun, it can be started with JUMP xxxx  command, where xxxx stands often for hexadecimal start address of block header (in "Tape browser" windows it's value in "Begin" column). If start address is 0000h it can be started with SHIFT + DEL  (in emulator Shift + Delete) hotkey.
• between JUMP  command and address must be exactly one space.

some PMD 85-2 and PMD 85-2A rules:

• MONITOR (console) will starts after reset (without ROM Module inserted), or from BASIC with SHIFT + RCL  (in emulator Shift + PageUp) hotkey.
• file identification number xx can be in range from 00 to 99 (with leading zeroes). When number is 00 will be loaded next program after loading cursor.
• between MGLD  command and file identification number not have to be exactly one space.
• for program starting holds same as for model PMD 85-1, except fact that between JUMP  command and address not have to be exactly one space.

some PMD 85-3 rules:

• MONITOR (console) will starts after reset (without ROM Module inserted), or from BASIC with SHIFT + RCL  (in emulator Shift + PageUp) hotkey.
• because PMD 85-3 model has another memory setout (basic MONITOR is located from 0E000h address), but programs expecting MONITOR located from 8000h address. For that reason is required switch to compatibility mode by JUMP FFF0  command.
• otherwise is all same as PMD 85-2(2A).

BASIC programs loading

Programy v BASICu sú typu ">". Nahrávajú sa príkazom BASICu LOAD x, kde x je číslo nahrávky. Číslo nahrávky môže byť 0 až 63 pre PMD 85-1, resp. 0 až 99 pre ostatné modely, pričom to môže byť ľubovoľný výraz, ktorého výsledkom je číslo z uvedeného rozsahu. U PMD 85-1 platí, že číslo nahrávky musí zodpovedať skutočnému číslu nahrávaného programu. U ostatných modelov možno zadať číslo 0, pre nahratie ľubovoľného programu, bez ohľadu na jeho číslo. Spustenie programu je notoricky známym príkazom RUN. Ak sa meno programu začína hviezdičkou, tak sa program spustí sám (neplatí pre PMD 85-1).

Samotný Interpreter BASICu sa naťahuje z ROM Modulu. V prípade PMD 85-1 je potrebné v MONITORe zadať príkaz BASIC G, u ostatných modelov je po Resete BASIC automaticky natiahnutý z ROM Modulu do pamäti a spustený.

PASCAL programs loading

Pascalovské programy sa ukladajú v blokoch po 512 bytov (prvý je typu "P" a nasledujúce typu ":" s rovnakým menom), takže pri nahrávaní programu sa očakávajú postupne všetky bloky. Postup pri nahrávaní je teda takýto:

• v prieskumníkovi pásky zvoľte režim "Páska sa automaticky zastaví na bloku, na ktorom stojí kurzor"
• LOAD kurzor (malý čierny trojuholník) nastavte na začiatok programu (double-click)
• kurzor v zozname nastavte na nasledujúci program (za posledný blok ":" nahrávaného programu) alebo na začiatok pásky, ak je to posledný program na páske
• zvoľte povel Citaj a zadajte meno programu
• spustite pásku, automaticky sa postupne nahrajú všetky bloky a vypíše sa "Koniec čítania"
• pre spustenie programu zvoľte povel Rob
• pred nahratím nového programu je nutné predošlý zmazať povelom Novy, inak sa novo nahratý program pripojí na koniec existujúceho (nie je potrebné zadávať meno)

Autorom Pascalu pre PMD 85 je RNDr. Peter Tomcsanyi. Pascal sa zavedie do PMD 85 z ROM modulu, potom sa treba riadiť samotným interpreterom.

Je určený pre modely 2, 2A a 3 (pri PMD 85-3 je treba najprv prejsť do režimu kompatibility zadanim JUMP FFF0 v monitore), pričom pri modeloch 2A a 3 sa využíva rozšírená pamäť.