ROM to RAM ToolKit Conversion
Re: ROM to RAM ToolKit Conversion
Silvester,
I may take the opportunity to ask, about DISA origins, the author, software house, and year of release.
As it seems there are quite a few tools available, and DISA among them may not have been preserved. We may then help Rich with contacting the author.
Many thanks
Thomas
I may take the opportunity to ask, about DISA origins, the author, software house, and year of release.
As it seems there are quite a few tools available, and DISA among them may not have been preserved. We may then help Rich with contacting the author.
Many thanks
Thomas
-
- RWAP Master
- Posts: 2893
- Joined: Sun Nov 28, 2010 4:51 pm
- Location: Stone, United Kingdom
- Contact:
Re: ROM to RAM ToolKit Conversion
DISA was written by Albin Hessler - I wonder what happened to him?
Rich Mellor
RWAP Software
RWAP Adventures
SellMyRetro
Retro-Printer Module - add a USB printer to your QL
Also Involved in:
Icephorm
RWAP Software
RWAP Adventures
SellMyRetro
Retro-Printer Module - add a USB printer to your QL
Also Involved in:
Icephorm
Re: ROM to RAM ToolKit Conversion
In fact, the QL C (Metacomco C) ROM is easily convertible into a LRESPRable file: I did it 28 (or so) years ago, to free the EPROM slot of my QL and use other toolkits together with QL C.
IIRC, beside an added initialization routine similar to the one already posted in this thread, I simply used a small SuperBASIC program to replace all occurrences of JMP/JSR 0x000[C|D]XXX (the ROM is only 8Kb big) with their (relative addressing) BRA/BSR counterparts. Since there are no table using absolute addresses in this ROM, this trick is sufficient to convert it successfully.
If the QL C ROM is now public domain, I could post the patched ("RAMable") ROM code here...
IIRC, beside an added initialization routine similar to the one already posted in this thread, I simply used a small SuperBASIC program to replace all occurrences of JMP/JSR 0x000[C|D]XXX (the ROM is only 8Kb big) with their (relative addressing) BRA/BSR counterparts. Since there are no table using absolute addresses in this ROM, this trick is sufficient to convert it successfully.
If the QL C ROM is now public domain, I could post the patched ("RAMable") ROM code here...
Re: ROM to RAM ToolKit Conversion
Hi,
This sounds interesting, but how about p1 and p2 binaries, they may also have absolute addresses referencing ROM? It may also depend on the actual QLC Rom version.
Meanwhile, I have discovered a similar solution to yours, copyrighted as IECsoft 1988, a Spanish software house? It loads ROM as is into RAM, marks its origin, and with this origin relocates all references in p1 and p2. It is designed for version 3.02.
Tom
This sounds interesting, but how about p1 and p2 binaries, they may also have absolute addresses referencing ROM? It may also depend on the actual QLC Rom version.
Meanwhile, I have discovered a similar solution to yours, copyrighted as IECsoft 1988, a Spanish software house? It loads ROM as is into RAM, marks its origin, and with this origin relocates all references in p1 and p2. It is designed for version 3.02.
Tom
Re: ROM to RAM ToolKit Conversion
I don't think so (LC1 and LC2 ROM SBASIC PROCedures were used to launch the passes, so they probably took care of that...)... Or, more exactly, I don't remember all the gloomy details (hey, it's been almost 30 years ago !tcat wrote:Hi,
This sounds interesting, but how about p1 and p2 binaries, they may also have absolute addresses referencing ROM?

v3.02, here....It may also depend on the actual QLC Rom version.
-
- RWAP Master
- Posts: 2893
- Joined: Sun Nov 28, 2010 4:51 pm
- Location: Stone, United Kingdom
- Contact:
Re: ROM to RAM ToolKit Conversion
Unfortunately, I have been unable to get a response from the former Metacomco directors, so their software remains protected by copyright.smsq4ever wrote: If the QL C ROM is now public domain, I could post the patched ("RAMable") ROM code here...
Maybe someone else needs to get involved trying to get responses out of Metacomco and Eidersoft.... as it might just be they don't like dealing with me (or more particularly a current QL dealer!)
Rich Mellor
RWAP Software
RWAP Adventures
SellMyRetro
Retro-Printer Module - add a USB printer to your QL
Also Involved in:
Icephorm
RWAP Software
RWAP Adventures
SellMyRetro
Retro-Printer Module - add a USB printer to your QL
Also Involved in:
Icephorm
Re: ROM to RAM ToolKit Conversion
I don't know how many DISAs there are but mine is DISA3 and was written by Jochen Hassler and was in the JMS catalogue.RWAP wrote:DISA was written by Albin Hessler - I wonder what happened to him?
From Marcel Kilgus's blog on EasyPTR I understood that Albin and Jochen know each other well and are two separate persons.
BSJR
Re: ROM to RAM ToolKit Conversion
Yes, that also seemed so mysterious to me....DISA and Albin Hessler.BSJR wrote:I don't know how many DISAs there are but mine is DISA3 and was written by Jochen Hassler and was in the JMS catalogue.RWAP wrote:DISA was written by Albin Hessler - I wonder what happened to him?
From Marcel Kilgus's blog on EasyPTR I understood that Albin and Jochen know each other well and are two separate persons.
BSJR
-
- RWAP Master
- Posts: 2893
- Joined: Sun Nov 28, 2010 4:51 pm
- Location: Stone, United Kingdom
- Contact:
Re: ROM to RAM ToolKit Conversion
Ah - you are right it was written by Jochen Hassler (the Sinclair QL Homepage wrongly lists it as by Albin Hessler)
Rich Mellor
RWAP Software
RWAP Adventures
SellMyRetro
Retro-Printer Module - add a USB printer to your QL
Also Involved in:
Icephorm
RWAP Software
RWAP Adventures
SellMyRetro
Retro-Printer Module - add a USB printer to your QL
Also Involved in:
Icephorm
Re: ROM to RAM ToolKit Conversion
Back in DJC days I used to sell DISA and got it from Albin along with Easyptr, Sermouse software etc., hence the mistake. I think the reference is with the demo version on the Demo Programs page, I'll check and correct that when I get home. (Mobile signal in most of north Wales is such c**p I can barely get online with tethered phone and there's no wifi here to help out so I don't want to try updating the website from here).RWAP wrote:Ah - you are right it was written by Jochen Hassler (the Sinclair QL Homepage wrongly lists it as by Albin Hessler)
--
All things QL - https://dilwyn.theqlforum.com
All things QL - https://dilwyn.theqlforum.com