The Sinclair QL Forum

Derek_Stewart wrote: Fri May 03, 2024 9:40 am

t0nyt wrote: Fri May 03, 2024 8:54 am

Derek_Stewart wrote: Fri May 03, 2024 8:46 am Hi,

The QL ROM header is an automatic way for the operating system to load code extensions to extend the system.

See the QDOS Technical Guide or SMSQ/E Reference Guide for more details of the ROM Header specification.

You can load in the ROM code and use EPROM_LOAD, which sometimes works, but this maybe only in SMSQ/E.

But the ROM code can be loaded to a memory and a call can be made which is equivalent to the ROM header jump code.

Hi Derek,

It's the CPMulator ROM I'm working with, so no header involved

I did look at EPROM_LOAD but it's SMSQ/E (as far as I can tell) which I don't have as it doesn't run on standard QL as far as I know?

Many thanks
Tony

Hi Tony,

Sorry to be vague, I used to use CPMulator v2.00, there is a small boot loader that is required to modify the CPMulator startup, when the ROM is in ram. Which works in SMSQ/E, Minerva.

I would post a full working copy of the emulator, but I am not sure if the Sandy software is still copyright.

Hi Derek,

Is the "small boot loader" copyright please? Anything to help point me to where to too look would be great if possible please

Many thanks
Tony

The reason I’m working on this is so I don’t have to remove QIMSI and plug in the Sandy cartridge every time I want to use it

But just as importantly I’m learning a lot of things as I go along, so even if it’s a dead end it’s not a waste of time

Hi,

Here is a screen shot of CPMulator v2.00 running in sQLux

I will establish status and upload it here if I can.

Hi,

It seems that the Sandy CPMulator is still copyright.

Which is a curious and sad thing, because cp/m was liberate as OpenSource years ago...

This versión work with disk directly? or do the same that success, that create a file with the cpm filesystem and difícult the share between CP/m and QDos or other os?

I would expect that CPMulator uses the ROM as either part of the code and/or look-up tables for Z80 emulation because the ROM slot access is about 1.8x faster than RAM where the code is normally loaded, which would be a big issue to get the emulation fast enough...
I am not surprised it is not made to initialize as a QL ROM extension, as it really is not, just a helper for the EXE.

Hi,

The Sandy CPMulator uses the QDOS filesystem with CP/M files prefixed with a @ character. So not really interacting with the disk system.

I can download many Gigabytes of VP/M software that is free, where as the Sandy CPMulator, Digital Precision Success CP/M emulator are both still copyright.

Personally, I bought both emulators and can run them on all QL platforms. The programme to run the ROM image was given to me many years ago to allow the Sandy CPMulator Z80 romto soft loaded from an image of the ROM cartridge.

Clearly, this means the system can only be used if the user has a legitimate copy of the Sandy CPMulator.

The D.P. Success CP/M emulator in my opion is better and does nog need a ROM. Success, stores the CP/M files in a contai er in the QDOS filesystem, called "cpmfiles".

So Success does not use the disk controller as well. Files have to be i ported into "cpmfiles"