== How to build a RS232 - Interface for the CPC-Series! ==

=== Schematic and source code ===

First about the connection plan: You need a power supply that supports +9V,-9V and 5V. Connect all pins. You have to connect D0..D7 from the adressbus with the Z80 STI. You have to connect D0 with pin 21, D1 with pin 22, ..., D7 with pin 28. That's all.
Now you can plug in the interface in the CPC. Switch the power on. If the CPC doesn't work normal please switch the power off and you have to watch for faults in the connection of your interface :-(. If everything is ok then you have to copy the assembler code and do the next test.

WARRANTY: There is no warranty of any defects of your CPC!!! On my CPC everything works fine and I hope that you won't have any problems with this RS232-Interface.

Second part: How to program the interface. (The assembler code is saved in RS232.ASM)

Z80-STI: 50 to 19200 bps (5,6,7 or 8 bit, 1, 1 1/2, 2 stopb., all parity flags) 24 registers, use 16 registers (direct) with F8E0-F8EF, the last 8 registers can be used indirect with a special register

The meaning and the adresses of the registers:

register 0, port adress F8E0:
This register transfers data from and to a indirect register.

register 1, port adress F8E1:
This register transfer the data from and to the I/O port of the chip. If you
use V24 you can request handshake signals from this port. In this interface
the following bits have this meaning:
Bit 0: DTR (Data Terminal Ready)
Bit 1: RTS (Ready to Send)
Bit 2: CTS (Clear to Send)
Bit 3: DSR (Data Set Ready)
Bit 4-7: not used

register 2-7, port adress F8E2-F8E7:
These registers are used by the interrupt handler. If you want to know
what you can do with this registers please write to Mostek for support.

register 8, port F8E8:
Bit 3-7 are used by the interrupt handler. With bit 0-2 you can choose the
indirect register.

register 9, port adress F8E9:
Controll register for timer A and B. You needn't to use the timer for a V24
interface.

register 10, port adress F8EA:
Timer B value

register 11, port adress F8EB:
Timer A value

register 12, port adress F8EC:
USART-register. Change the connect-parameters.

Bit 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
x x x x x x x 0
^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
| | | | | | 1=even
| | | | | | 0=odd
| | | | | 1=Parity on
| | | | | 0=Parity off
| | | Startbit Stopbit Format
| | | 0 0 = 0 0 synchron
| | | 0 1 = 1 1 asynchron
| | | 1 0 = 1 1 1/2 asynchron
| | | 1 1 = 1 2 asynchron
| 0 0 = 8 Bit
| 0 1 = 7 Bit
| 1 0 = 6 Bit
| 1 1 = 5 Bit
please always set on 0

register 13, port adress F8ED:
Receiver status. You need only the following bits:

Bit 0: Receiver-Enable, set to 1 if receiving is possible.
Bit 1: Memory full "1" or not "0". (If 8 Bits are received then the interface send memory full).

register 14, port adress F8EE:
Sending status. Again you need only two bits:

Bit 0: Sending-Enable, must set to "1" if sending is allowed.
Bit 7: Memory full "1" or not "0". This bit can be used to ask if a word is send or not.

register 15, port adress F8EF:
This is the send and receive register. Here you can get a word or send a word.

Indirect registers (Choose them with register 8):

register 0: Not used.

register 1: Data for Timer D.

register 2: Data for Timer C.

register 3: Not used.

register 4: Not used.

register 5: Not used.

register 6: I/O-Port (receive or send). High means sending, low receiving.

register 7: Used for Timer C and D. Reset with "1".

For more exact informations please write to Mostek and ask for support for the
Z80-STI. You also can look at the assembler code.

== About the assembler code ==

The program RS232.ASM installs 2 new BASIC commands (|FORMAT, |RECORD, |SEND).
Here you can read the description about this new commands:

'''|FORMAT''', number of bps, number of stop-bits, data bits, parity on/off, parity even/odd

Number of bps:

0 = 50 bps
1 = 75 bps
2 = 110 bps
3 = 150 bps
4 = 300 bps
5 = 600 bps
6 = 1200 bps
7 = 2400 bps

Number of stop bits: 1 = 1 stop bit
0 = 2 stop bit

Data bits: 0 = 7 data bits
1 = 8 data bits

Parity: 1 = even
0 = odd

Parity: 1 = on
0 = off

Normally, you use 8N1 for connection with BBS's you can initialise this with
|FORMAT, number of bps, 1, 1, 0, 1.

'''|RECORD''', @a$
The incoming chars will be read in a string. Control codes will be send to the
string, too, because sometimes you need it for binary transmissions.

'''|SEND''', @a$
The string is send until it ends, except you press ESC. The program will not
send CR or LF, so you can use this for binary transmission.

== Last words ==

This interface is described in the book "Maschinenspracheprogramm und Hardware-
erweiterungen fuer Schneider CPC's" from the IDEA Verlag. I hope that every-
thing is ok with the circuit plans and that you don't have a broken CPC when
you use it ;-).

Sorry for bad english. (Please help me to find my faults).

If something in my circuit plan is not ok please write to

Tim Riemann

Gartenweg 3

35114 Haina-Kloster

Germany

eMail: TCS-Software@t-online.de

== Used components: ==

1-Z80-STI (or MK 3801-4)

1-SN 75189

1-SN 75188

1-74 LS 30

1-74 LS 138

1-74 LS 20

1-74 LS 04

1-74 LS 32

1-25pin SUB-D connector (male)

1-connector for the expansion port

== Downloads ==

[[File:Rs232cpc.lzh]] - All info and files on topic

File:Apricot xen.jpg

2010-04-16T07:47:43Z

ZilogMonkey:

File:Apricot f1.jpg

2010-04-16T07:45:47Z

ZilogMonkey:

Apricot PC

2010-04-16T07:39:06Z

ZilogMonkey:

[[Image:Apricot_pc_1.jpg|thumb|Apricot PC|right|250px]]

[[Image:Apricot_f1.jpg|thumb|Apricot PC|right|250px]]

[[Image:Apricot_xen.jpg|thumb|Apricot PC|right|250px]]

== Apricot Computers ==

'' Apricot Computers was a British company that manufactured business personal computers. It was originally founded in 1965 as "Applied Computer Techniques (ACT)".
History

''ACT released their first microcomputer in 1982. Although the computer was built by another company, it was marketed under the ACT brand. Towards the end of 1982, ACT signed a deal with Vistor to distribute the "Victor 9000", but under the name "Sirius 1" in Europe. Its price tag in the UK was £2754 and was a commercial success. In the US, however, it was not popular, possibly because was not an IBM-compatible PC.''

''In September 1983 the Apricot PC was released, based on an Intel 8086 microprocessor running at 4.77MHz. It ran MS-DOS or CP/M but was not compatible at a hardware level with the IBM PC. The graphics quality was critically acclaimed, with a 800 x 400 resolution and a keyboard with 8 "normal" and 6 flat programmable function keys along with a built-in LCD screen (40 characters / 2 lines) which displayed the function of the keys. Microsoft Word and Multiplan were supplied with the Apricot PC.''

''In 1984 ACT released a home computer, the "Apricot F1". It ran MS-DOS with "Activity", a GUI front end; like the Apricot PC, it was not IBM PC compatible. The machine was only successful in the UK. It was bundled with software for graphics, communication, word processing and system tools. The same infra-red trackball pointing device used with the Apricot Portable was also available for the F1. Also in 1984, the Apricot Portable was released, with an infra-red keyboard, a voice system, 5MHz CPU, 640 x 200 LCD display for £1965.''

''In 1985 ACT was renamed "Apricot Computers". By this time, the F1 had become one model in the F Series; other machines in the series were the F1e (a cheaper F1 with less RAM); the F2 (with two floppy drives) and the F10 (with a 10Mb hard drive and a more conventional-looking infra-red keyboard). The Activity GUI was replaced by GEM.''

''The last Apricot computer not to be IBM compatible was the XEN (October 1985), a 286-based system intended to compete with the IBM AT and running Windows 1.0. It was superseded in 1986 by the XEN-i, the first in a line of IBM compatible systems.''

''Although Apricot's proprietary computers were successful in the UK, the IBM PC had achieved critical mass in the US market before Apricot could make a dent. Eventually, Apricot switched to production of IBM compatibles, but was eventually bought by Mitsubishi and closed down. ''

Apricot PC

2010-04-16T07:33:48Z

ZilogMonkey: /* Apricot Computers */

An

== Apricot Computers ==

'' Apricot Computers was a British company that manufactured business personal computers. It was originally founded in 1965 as "Applied Computer Techniques (ACT)".
History

''ACT released their first microcomputer in 1982. Although the computer was built by another company, it was marketed under the ACT brand. Towards the end of 1982, ACT signed a deal with Vistor to distribute the "Victor 9000", but under the name "Sirius 1" in Europe. Its price tag in the UK was £2754 and was a commercial success. In the US, however, it was not popular, possibly because was not an IBM-compatible PC.''

''In September 1983 the Apricot PC was released, based on an Intel 8086 microprocessor running at 4.77MHz. It ran MS-DOS or CP/M but was not compatible at a hardware level with the IBM PC. The graphics quality was critically acclaimed, with a 800 x 400 resolution and a keyboard with 8 "normal" and 6 flat programmable function keys along with a built-in LCD screen (40 characters / 2 lines) which displayed the function of the keys. Microsoft Word and Multiplan were supplied with the Apricot PC.''

''In 1984 ACT released a home computer, the "Apricot F1". It ran MS-DOS with "Activity", a GUI front end; like the Apricot PC, it was not IBM PC compatible. The machine was only successful in the UK. It was bundled with software for graphics, communication, word processing and system tools. The same infra-red trackball pointing device used with the Apricot Portable was also available for the F1. Also in 1984, the Apricot Portable was released, with an infra-red keyboard, a voice system, 5MHz CPU, 640 x 200 LCD display for £1965.''

''In 1985 ACT was renamed "Apricot Computers". By this time, the F1 had become one model in the F Series; other machines in the series were the F1e (a cheaper F1 with less RAM); the F2 (with two floppy drives) and the F10 (with a 10Mb hard drive and a more conventional-looking infra-red keyboard). The Activity GUI was replaced by GEM.''

''The last Apricot computer not to be IBM compatible was the XEN (October 1985), a 286-based system intended to compete with the IBM AT and running Windows 1.0. It was superseded in 1986 by the XEN-i, the first in a line of IBM compatible systems.''

''Although Apricot's proprietary computers were successful in the UK, the IBM PC had achieved critical mass in the US market before Apricot could make a dent. Eventually, Apricot switched to production of IBM compatibles, but was eventually bought by Mitsubishi and closed down. ''

File:Apricot pc 1.jpg

2010-04-16T07:32:16Z

ZilogMonkey: uploaded a new version of "File:Apricot pc 1.jpg"

Apricot PC

2010-04-16T06:49:59Z

ZilogMonkey: Created page with ' An == Apricot Computers == '' Apricot Computers was a British company that manufactured business personal computers. It was originally founded in 1965 as "Applied Computer Te…'

An

== Apricot Computers ==

'' Apricot Computers was a British company that manufactured business personal computers. It was originally founded in 1965 as "Applied Computer Techniques (ACT)".
History

ACT released their first microcomputer in 1982. Although the computer was built by another company, it was marketed under the ACT brand. Towards the end of 1982, ACT signed a deal with Vistor to distribute the "Victor 9000", but under the name "Sirius 1" in Europe. Its price tag in the UK was £2754 and was a commercial success. In the US, however, it was not popular, possibly because was not an IBM-compatible PC.

In September 1983 the Apricot PC was released, based on an Intel 8086 microprocessor running at 4.77MHz. It ran MS-DOS or CP/M but was not compatible at a hardware level with the IBM PC. The graphics quality was critically acclaimed, with a 800 x 400 resolution and a keyboard with 8 "normal" and 6 flat programmable function keys along with a built-in LCD screen (40 characters / 2 lines) which displayed the function of the keys. Microsoft Word and Multiplan were supplied with the Apricot PC.

In 1984 ACT released a home computer, the "Apricot F1". It ran MS-DOS with "Activity", a GUI front end; like the Apricot PC, it was not IBM PC compatible. The machine was only successful in the UK. It was bundled with software for graphics, communication, word processing and system tools. The same infra-red trackball pointing device used with the Apricot Portable was also available for the F1. Also in 1984, the Apricot Portable was released, with an infra-red keyboard, a voice system, 5MHz CPU, 640 x 200 LCD display for £1965.

In 1985 ACT was renamed "Apricot Computers". By this time, the F1 had become one model in the F Series; other machines in the series were the F1e (a cheaper F1 with less RAM); the F2 (with two floppy drives) and the F10 (with a 10Mb hard drive and a more conventional-looking infra-red keyboard). The Activity GUI was replaced by GEM.

The last Apricot computer not to be IBM compatible was the XEN (October 1985), a 286-based system intended to compete with the IBM AT and running Windows 1.0. It was superseded in 1986 by the XEN-i, the first in a line of IBM compatible systems.

Although Apricot's proprietary computers were successful in the UK, the IBM PC had achieved critical mass in the US market before Apricot could make a dent. Eventually, Apricot switched to production of IBM compatibles, but was eventually bought by Mitsubishi and closed down. ''

2009-01-13T12:05:03Z

ZilogMonkey: New page: The mouse the came with GEOS The Amstrad CPC suffered from the same problem as the Commodore 64. Both computers was lunched before the era af Graphi...

[[Image:Geos mouse.jpg|thumb|The mouse the came with GEOS]]

The [[Amstrad CPC]] suffered from the same problem as the [[Commodore 64]]. Both computers was lunched before the era af Graphical User Interfaces, and therefore lacked a propper pointing device from the beginning.

To make the use of the Commodore more modern, GEOS was invented in an attempt to mimic the most common Graphical User Interfaces of the time ([[GEM]] and [[Finder]]). To make the interaction with GEOS like that of its counterparts a mouse had to be supplied with GEOS. This mouse although designed for the Commodore 64 can be connected to a Amstrad CPC and used with the operating system [[FutureOS]], as drives for the GEOS mouse apparently already exists in [[FutureOS]].

[[Image:Geos screenshot.png]]

GEOS for the Commodore 64

== Links ==

[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GEOS_(8-bit_operating_system) About GEOS for the Commodre 64]]

[[Category:CPC History]]

File:Geos screenshot.png

2009-01-13T12:02:27Z

ZilogMonkey:

FutureOS

2009-01-13T11:35:32Z

ZilogMonkey:

[[Image:Future OS-Logo.gif|thumb|FutureOS-Logo]] [[Image:Future-os.jpg|thumb|400px|FutureOS main screen]]

== Introduction ==

'''FutureOS''' is an operating system for the Amstrad [[CPC6128|CPC6128]], [[Plus|6128Plus]], [[C-ONE|C-One]] and [[CPC TREX|T-Rex1]]. The version for the CPCPlus supports some of its special features. FutureOS is developed by [[TFM|TFM]] of [[FutureSoft|FutureSoft]] in [[Z80|Z80]] assembler. Its development continues from 1989 up to now (2008). FutureOS allows the user to control the computer with with an icon section and a file section; it can deal with files up to 4 MB big in one piece. It has a dynamic memory management system, which divides RAM into 16 KB blocks. Further it supports a variety of hardware expansions. FutureOS is delivered together with basic utilities in the same ROMs.

== Requirements ==

The core of the OS needs 64 KB ROM. Compatible products are EPROM-cards, the [[Inicron ROM-RAM-Box|ROM-RAM-BOX]], [[SYMBiFACE II|SYMBiFACE II]], [[Ramcard 128|RAMcard]], Jareks [[CPC.Flash|Flash-ROM]] or similar products. If you don't own such a card, you can take a look at '''FutureOS''' by using a compatible CPC Emulator ([[WinCPC|WinCPC]], [[CaPriCe|Caprice]], [[WinApe|WinApe]], [[!CPCemu|CPCEmu]]).

The core of the OS itself is executed directly in (Pseudo-)ROM or [[Dobbertin EPROM 224|EPROM]] (in four 16 KB blocks). It jumps between the ROMs with the help of a little common area. Therefore the numbers of the four 16 KB ROMs are hardcoded.

'''FutureOS''' uses 2 KB (&B800...&BFFF) of the first 64 KB; the rest of the RAM is available to applications. Additional RAM can be reserved for DIRectory buffering. Furthermore the OS uses memory management, file-handling and specialized Low/Mid/High-level routines to access the hardware.

'''FutureOS''' can be launched from AmsDOS with the RSX commands |OS or |FDESK. If you use |FDESK you can leave '''FutureOS''' and get back to BASIC where you have stopped before - the first 48 KB (not the screen) have been preserved.

'''FutureOS''' only runs well on a [[CPC6128|CPC6128]] or 6128plus (not CPC464 or 664), because of their support for RAM configuration C3 (essential for the mouse pointer).

== User Interface ==

The user interface (UI) of FutureOS presents the user with three fixed sections: an icon section (upper half of screen), a file-name display and selection section (lower half of screen) and a message line (bottom). The user can browse through directories of discs and hard-disc partitions. A cursor arrow is used to select devices, functions or files; this cursor arrow can be controlled with a joystick, mouse, trackball, light-pen or the Grafpad II.

Applications can call the UI as a subroutine (the OK icon can be used to return to calling application). The icons are fixed, so the layout remains stable throughout its use.

Files can be viewed on-screen (scroll up and down) or printed. File headers can also be viewed. When typing a text file it is possible to set the number of columns and lines of the window the text is displayed in.

== [[Image:CBM.png|thumb|right]]CBM ==

There is another surface for FutureOS, the command bar menu [[CBM|CBM]]. It consists of several flexible pull down menus and file selectors. You can easily use [[CBM|CBM]] for your own programs. Since all programs that use [[CBM|CBM]] look similar its also easy to use different programs in an intuitive way.

== File system ==

The file system of FutureOS can handle multiple simultaneous floppy disc drives and hard disc partitions. After the selection of a device FutureOS reads and buffers the directory entries of the medium. Integrated utilities like the multi file copy can copy files from physical sources to different physical destinations in one run.

The file system is compatible with the CPCs native data-, file- and format structures (f. e. File header, Disc formats). It is not compatible with native [[AMSDOS|AMSDOS]] or [[CP/M|CP/M]] programs.

Filenames can use all 256 different characters and user areas from 0 to 254 (except for &E5, which is reserved for deleted files). Unlike Amsdos, a file that is erased under FutureOS is not shifted to user &E5, but is physically removed from the directory. File headers are displayed as AmsDOS files or the icon-like file-header of a FutureOS program. An AmsDOS file header has 128 bytes of which are unused. FutureOS makes use of those unused bytes so that files have a length definition of 24bit and can have a physical RAM select. Therefore a file can be defined to be loaded everywhere in the external RAM. Also a FutureOS file-header can contain a graphical icon, a textual icon or a short description of the file.

== Hardware ==

The OS supports many of the hardware available for the CPC. One of the ambitions of FutureOS is to support all hardware available. Hardware expansions usually need drivers that can be flexibly added to an OS. Contrary to this approach, a goal of FutureOS is to provide a monolithic architecture where all drivers are implemented in a hardcoded way.

*''Disc drives and hard discs:'' FutureOS supports up to eight drives and up to four hard disc partitions. It buffers the directories read from any mass storage device in the expansion RAM.

*''Plug and Play:'' If a hardware expansion is connected to the CPC FutureOS will automatically detect that expansion, initialise it and make it available to the user. The architecture of the OS allows you to add and remove hardware on purpose. The user can switch external hardware on or off in the configuration bytes (use ConfigOS utility).

== Supported Hardware ==

'''8 bit printer ports '''

*8 bit printer port 6128 Plus
*8 bit printer port patch ([[8255|PIO]])

'''Drives '''

*3" A, B, C and D drives (C, D need hardware patch)
*3.5" and 5.25" drive
*Atari ST 80 Track DS B-drive
*[[Dobbertin|Dobbertin]] D-DOS Double drive. Up to four drives 80 track, DS
*[[Dobbertin|Dobbertin X-drive]] 80 tracks, DS
*[[F1|Vortex disc drives FI-D, F1-S, F1-X, M1-D, M1-S, M1-X]]

'''Expansion cards '''

*[[SYMBiFACE II|SYMBiFACE II]]

'''Floppy discs, formats: '''

*Data
*IBM
*System
*Vendor
*Vortex

'''Graphic Tablet'''

*Hegetron [[Grafpad II|Grafpad II]]

'''Hard-disc '''

*[[Dobbertin Harddisc|Dobbertin HD20]] (72 KB/s data transfer rate)

'''Joysticks '''

*Analog Joystick (6128 Plus)
*Digital Joystick 1
*Digital Joystick 2

'''Light-Pens '''

*[[Dk'tronics Lightpen|Dk'tronics]]
*Happy-Computer
*Lindy

'''Memory expansions '''

*[[Dk'tronics memory expansion|Dk'tronics]] 64-512 KB and compatibles ([[Dobbertin Memory Expansion|Dobbertin]], [[SYMBiFACE II|SYMBiFACE II]], [[Inicron RAM-Box|Inicron]], [[RAM7 2Mb memory expansion|RAM7's RAM expansion]])
*[[CPC4MB|Jareks 4 MB RAM expansion]] up to 4 MB

'''Mice'''

*[[AMX Mouse|AMX_Mouse]]
*[[Atari-ST mouse adapter|Atari ST]] (Schneider Magazin)
*[[CPC-Mousepack]] (Reisware)
*[[CPC-Mousepack 2.0]] (Reisware)
*[[GEOS mouse]] ([[Commodore 64|C64]])
*[[SYMBiFACE II:PS/2 mouse|PS/2 mouse]] of SYMBiFACE II 

'''Real-Time-Clocks'''

*Dobbertin Smart Watch (at ROM select 15)
*[[SYMBiFACE II:Realtime clock|SYMBiFACE II]] 

'''Trackballs'''

*[[Atari-ST mouse adapter|Atari ST]] (Schneider Magazin)
*[[Marconi|Marconi]]

== Utilities ==

There exist tools like copy, format, verify or directory refreshing. Multiple files can be copied between different physical media in one go.

A small machine monitor is also provided. This monitor provides features like CPU register editing, I/O ports, memory editing and display and manipulation of the ASIC contents (6128 Plus). Memory blocks can be copied or initialised. It is possible to call a routine with defined CPU registers and memory.

== Developing for FutureOS ==

You can developp very freely, even the RST vectors are free usable. Also the second register set of the Z80 is freely usable.

*''Z80 Assembler:'' You can use an assembler for AmsDOS or for CP/M. Switching between AmsDOS and FutureOS is fast and using |FDESK allows to come back to AmsDOS with the first 48 KB or RAM remaining untouched.

*''Programming in C for FutureOS:'' With [[FIOLIB|FIOLIB]] it also possible to use C as a programming language.

== Applications / Demos / Games / Programs ==

The following programs can be downloaded at the FutureOS homepage, see Weblinks below.

*Captain Future demo
*[[CBM|CBM]] (pull down menu library)
*Darth Vader demo
*[[FilmeMacher|FilmeMacher]] (movie player)
*[[FIOLIB|FIOLIB]] (C library)
*[[Flash ROManager|Flash ROManager]] (management of Jareks Flash ROM expansion)
*Fractal demo
*[[FuturePlayer|FuturePlayer]] (MP3 and WAV player)
*[[FutureView|FutureView]] (disc mag)
*[[Gerelakos|Gerelakos]] (RPG under construction)
*[[GMSK|GMSK]] (sprite converter)
*[[GSED|GSED]] (Graphic Playground Editor for 2D / 3D games)
*Meg Ryan sample demo
*[[Return of the Sisters|Return of the Sisters]] (a Giana Sisters Clone)
*[[ROManager|ROManager]] (management of the [[SYMBiFACE II|Symbiface]] Pseudo-ROMs)

== Conclusion ==

FutureOS is designed as an OS with fast routines and support for nearly all CPC expansions. It has specialised file handling and memory management capabilities that support programs up to 4 MB. The idea is that development of games, graphic tools, word processors, sound (especially MP3), management of big amounts of data, and programming languages are possible in this environment. At this point, the user can listen to MP3 files, work with graphic, use C programs, watch movies & demos and play games. 

== Web links ==

*[http://www.FutureOS.de FutureOS homepage]
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FutureOS/ FutureOS Downloads & Mailing list]

[[Category:Operating_System]] [[Category:CPC_Plus]] [[Category:FutureOS]]

File:Geos mouse.jpg

2009-01-13T11:33:22Z

ZilogMonkey: The GEOS mouse, came with the GEOS bundle for the Commodore 64. The GEOS mouse can be used on the Amstrad CPC together with FutureOS.

The GEOS mouse, came with the GEOS bundle for the [[Commodore 64]]. The GEOS mouse can be used on the Amstrad CPC together with [[FutureOS]].

CPC-Mousepack 2.0

2009-01-13T11:24:42Z

ZilogMonkey: New page: The mouse that came with the CPC mousepack A mouse for the Amstrad CPC. The CPC mousepack was manufactured by the German company Reisware and a sim...

[[Image:CPC mousepack 5.jpg|thumb|The mouse that came with the CPC mousepack]]

A mouse for the Amstrad CPC. The CPC mousepack was manufactured by the German company [[Reisware]] and a similiar product to the more known one from the British company [[Advanced Memory Systems]] the [[AMX Mouse]].

Mousepack came with software. But nothing else is nown about this product. Please supply!

== Pictures ==

<gallery caption="CPC Mousepack 2.0">
Image:CPC mousepack 1.JPG|The box and contents
Image:CPC mousepack 2.jpg|Back of boxcover
Image:CPC mousepack 3.jpg|Front of boxcover
Image:CPC mousepack 4.jpg|Box open
</gallery>

[[Category:Hardware]] [[Category:Peripherals]]

FutureOS

2009-01-13T11:05:45Z

ZilogMonkey: /* Supported Hardware */

[[Image:Future OS-Logo.gif|thumb|FutureOS-Logo]] [[Image:Future-os.jpg|thumb|400px|FutureOS main screen]]

== Introduction ==

'''FutureOS''' is an operating system for the Amstrad [[CPC6128|CPC6128]], [[Plus|6128Plus]], [[C-ONE|C-One]] and [[CPC TREX|T-Rex1]]. The version for the CPCPlus supports some of its special features. FutureOS is developed by [[TFM|TFM]] of [[FutureSoft|FutureSoft]] in [[Z80|Z80]] assembler. Its development continues from 1989 up to now (2008). FutureOS allows the user to control the computer with with an icon section and a file section; it can deal with files up to 4 MB big in one piece. It has a dynamic memory management system, which divides RAM into 16 KB blocks. Further it supports a variety of hardware expansions. FutureOS is delivered together with basic utilities in the same ROMs.

== Requirements ==

The core of the OS needs 64 KB ROM. Compatible products are EPROM-cards, the [[Inicron ROM-RAM-Box|ROM-RAM-BOX]], [[SYMBiFACE II|SYMBiFACE II]], [[Ramcard 128|RAMcard]], Jareks [[CPC.Flash|Flash-ROM]] or similar products. If you don't own such a card, you can take a look at '''FutureOS''' by using a compatible CPC Emulator ([[WinCPC|WinCPC]], [[CaPriCe|Caprice]], [[WinApe|WinApe]], [[!CPCemu|CPCEmu]]).

The core of the OS itself is executed directly in (Pseudo-)ROM or [[Dobbertin EPROM 224|EPROM]] (in four 16 KB blocks). It jumps between the ROMs with the help of a little common area. Therefore the numbers of the four 16 KB ROMs are hardcoded.

'''FutureOS''' uses 2 KB (&B800...&BFFF) of the first 64 KB; the rest of the RAM is available to applications. Additional RAM can be reserved for DIRectory buffering. Furthermore the OS uses memory management, file-handling and specialized Low/Mid/High-level routines to access the hardware.

'''FutureOS''' can be launched from AmsDOS with the RSX commands |OS or |FDESK. If you use |FDESK you can leave '''FutureOS''' and get back to BASIC where you have stopped before - the first 48 KB (not the screen) have been preserved.

'''FutureOS''' only runs well on a [[CPC6128|CPC6128]] or 6128plus (not CPC464 or 664), because of their support for RAM configuration C3 (essential for the mouse pointer).

== User Interface ==

The user interface (UI) of FutureOS presents the user with three fixed sections: an icon section (upper half of screen), a file-name display and selection section (lower half of screen) and a message line (bottom). The user can browse through directories of discs and hard-disc partitions. A cursor arrow is used to select devices, functions or files; this cursor arrow can be controlled with a joystick, mouse, trackball, light-pen or the Grafpad II.

Applications can call the UI as a subroutine (the OK icon can be used to return to calling application). The icons are fixed, so the layout remains stable throughout its use.

Files can be viewed on-screen (scroll up and down) or printed. File headers can also be viewed. When typing a text file it is possible to set the number of columns and lines of the window the text is displayed in.

== [[Image:CBM.png|thumb|right]]CBM ==

There is another surface for FutureOS, the command bar menu [[CBM|CBM]]. It consists of several flexible pull down menus and file selectors. You can easily use [[CBM|CBM]] for your own programs. Since all programs that use [[CBM|CBM]] look similar its also easy to use different programs in an intuitive way.

== File system ==

The file system of FutureOS can handle multiple simultaneous floppy disc drives and hard disc partitions. After the selection of a device FutureOS reads and buffers the directory entries of the medium. Integrated utilities like the multi file copy can copy files from physical sources to different physical destinations in one run.

The file system is compatible with the CPCs native data-, file- and format structures (f. e. File header, Disc formats). It is not compatible with native [[AMSDOS|AMSDOS]] or [[CP/M|CP/M]] programs.

Filenames can use all 256 different characters and user areas from 0 to 254 (except for &E5, which is reserved for deleted files). Unlike Amsdos, a file that is erased under FutureOS is not shifted to user &E5, but is physically removed from the directory. File headers are displayed as AmsDOS files or the icon-like file-header of a FutureOS program. An AmsDOS file header has 128 bytes of which are unused. FutureOS makes use of those unused bytes so that files have a length definition of 24bit and can have a physical RAM select. Therefore a file can be defined to be loaded everywhere in the external RAM. Also a FutureOS file-header can contain a graphical icon, a textual icon or a short description of the file.

== Hardware ==

The OS supports many of the hardware available for the CPC. One of the ambitions of FutureOS is to support all hardware available. Hardware expansions usually need drivers that can be flexibly added to an OS. Contrary to this approach, a goal of FutureOS is to provide a monolithic architecture where all drivers are implemented in a hardcoded way.

*''Disc drives and hard discs:'' FutureOS supports up to eight drives and up to four hard disc partitions. It buffers the directories read from any mass storage device in the expansion RAM.

*''Plug and Play:'' If a hardware expansion is connected to the CPC FutureOS will automatically detect that expansion, initialise it and make it available to the user. The architecture of the OS allows you to add and remove hardware on purpose. The user can switch external hardware on or off in the configuration bytes (use ConfigOS utility).

== Supported Hardware ==

'''8 bit printer ports '''

*8 bit printer port 6128 Plus
*8 bit printer port patch ([[8255|PIO]])

'''Drives '''

*3" A, B, C and D drives (C, D need hardware patch)
*3.5" and 5.25" drive
*Atari ST 80 Track DS B-drive
*[[Dobbertin|Dobbertin]] D-DOS Double drive. Up to four drives 80 track, DS
*[[Dobbertin|Dobbertin X-drive]] 80 tracks, DS
*[[F1|Vortex disc drives FI-D, F1-S, F1-X, M1-D, M1-S, M1-X]]

'''Expansion cards '''

*[[SYMBiFACE II|SYMBiFACE II]]

'''Floppy discs, formats: '''

*Data
*IBM
*System
*Vendor
*Vortex

'''Graphic Tablet'''

*Hegetron [[Grafpad II|Grafpad II]]

'''Hard-disc '''

*[[Dobbertin Harddisc|Dobbertin HD20]] (72 KB/s data transfer rate)

'''Joysticks '''

*Analog Joystick (6128 Plus)
*Digital Joystick 1
*Digital Joystick 2

'''Light-Pens '''

*[[Dk'tronics Lightpen|Dk'tronics]]
*Happy-Computer
*Lindy

'''Memory expansions '''

*[[Dk'tronics memory expansion|Dk'tronics]] 64-512 KB and compatibles ([[Dobbertin Memory Expansion|Dobbertin]], [[SYMBiFACE II|SYMBiFACE II]], [[Inicron RAM-Box|Inicron]], [[RAM7 2Mb memory expansion|RAM7's RAM expansion]])
*[[CPC4MB|Jareks 4 MB RAM expansion]] up to 4 MB

'''Mice'''

*[[AMX Mouse|AMX_Mouse]]
*[[Atari-ST mouse adapter|Atari ST]] (Schneider Magazin)
*[[CPC-Mousepack]] (Reisware)
*[[CPC-Mousepack 2.0]] (Reisware)
*[[GEOS]] (c64)
*[[SYMBiFACE II:PS/2 mouse|PS/2 mouse]] of SYMBiFACE II 

'''Real-Time-Clocks'''

*Dobbertin Smart Watch (at ROM select 15)
*[[SYMBiFACE II:Realtime clock|SYMBiFACE II]] 

'''Trackballs'''

*[[Atari-ST mouse adapter|Atari ST]] (Schneider Magazin)
*[[Marconi|Marconi]]

== Utilities ==

There exist tools like copy, format, verify or directory refreshing. Multiple files can be copied between different physical media in one go.

A small machine monitor is also provided. This monitor provides features like CPU register editing, I/O ports, memory editing and display and manipulation of the ASIC contents (6128 Plus). Memory blocks can be copied or initialised. It is possible to call a routine with defined CPU registers and memory.

== Developing for FutureOS ==

You can developp very freely, even the RST vectors are free usable. Also the second register set of the Z80 is freely usable.

*''Z80 Assembler:'' You can use an assembler for AmsDOS or for CP/M. Switching between AmsDOS and FutureOS is fast and using |FDESK allows to come back to AmsDOS with the first 48 KB or RAM remaining untouched.

*''Programming in C for FutureOS:'' With [[FIOLIB|FIOLIB]] it also possible to use C as a programming language.

== Applications / Demos / Games / Programs ==

The following programs can be downloaded at the FutureOS homepage, see Weblinks below.

*Captain Future demo
*[[CBM|CBM]] (pull down menu library)
*Darth Vader demo
*[[FilmeMacher|FilmeMacher]] (movie player)
*[[FIOLIB|FIOLIB]] (C library)
*[[Flash ROManager|Flash ROManager]] (management of Jareks Flash ROM expansion)
*Fractal demo
*[[FuturePlayer|FuturePlayer]] (MP3 and WAV player)
*[[FutureView|FutureView]] (disc mag)
*[[Gerelakos|Gerelakos]] (RPG under construction)
*[[GMSK|GMSK]] (sprite converter)
*[[GSED|GSED]] (Graphic Playground Editor for 2D / 3D games)
*Meg Ryan sample demo
*[[Return of the Sisters|Return of the Sisters]] (a Giana Sisters Clone)
*[[ROManager|ROManager]] (management of the [[SYMBiFACE II|Symbiface]] Pseudo-ROMs)

== Conclusion ==

FutureOS is designed as an OS with fast routines and support for nearly all CPC expansions. It has specialised file handling and memory management capabilities that support programs up to 4 MB. The idea is that development of games, graphic tools, word processors, sound (especially MP3), management of big amounts of data, and programming languages are possible in this environment. At this point, the user can listen to MP3 files, work with graphic, use C programs, watch movies & demos and play games. 

== Web links ==

*[http://www.FutureOS.de FutureOS homepage]
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FutureOS/ FutureOS Downloads & Mailing list]

[[Category:Operating_System]] [[Category:CPC_Plus]] [[Category:FutureOS]]

RDOS

2009-01-13T10:57:09Z

ZilogMonkey:

RDOS is a DOS expansion, programmed by the german software company [[Dobbertin Memory Expansion|Dobbertin]]. It provides a 444 KB RAM disc under BASIC, [[CP/M 2.2|CP/M 2.2]] and [[An Introduction to CP/M Plus on Amstrad Computers|CP/M Plus]]. From BASIC the RAM disc can be accessed by the [[RSX|RSX]] command IC.

 

[[Category:Expansion ROM]]

XEO3

2008-11-18T17:13:48Z

ZilogMonkey: /* About */

Xenon Tri Oxide

== About ==

This is the home of the '''unofficial''' Amstrad CPC+ version of XEO3.

XEO3 is a next-gen shoot-em-up game currently under production. It is a project initially aimed at the Commodore Plus/4 8-bit computer, but a CPC Plus version is under development as well.

more to come...

== Screen shots ==

<gallery caption="XEO3 - CPC+ early development screenshots">
Image:xeo3 1.jpg|
Image:xeo3 2.jpg|Ingame main screen - Hardware scrolling proof of concept
Image:Xeo3 3.jpg|Graphics converted from the Commodre +4
Image:Xeo3 4.jpg|More ingame graphics
</gallery>

== Video previews ==

Test of pixel accurate hardware scolling of the CPC+

{{#ev:youtube|uVSjRVXRGx8|256}}

== Links ==

http://www.xeo3.org/ - Official XEO3 homepage

http://xeo3-cpc.blogspot.com/ - Development blog for the former CPC XEO3 project (Some nice info on hardscrolling on the old gen cpc)

== Downloads ==

[[Category:CPC Plus]][[Category:Video contents]]

XEO3

2008-11-18T17:08:42Z

ZilogMonkey: /* Video previews */

Xenon Tri Oxide

== About ==

This is the home of the '''Unofficial''' Amstrad CPC+ version of XEO3.

XEO3 is a next-gen shoot-em-up game currently under production. It is a project initially aimed at the Commodore Plus/4 8-bit computer, but a CPC Plus version is under development as well.

== Screen shots ==

<gallery caption="XEO3 - CPC+ early development screenshots">
Image:xeo3 1.jpg|
Image:xeo3 2.jpg|Ingame main screen - Hardware scrolling proof of concept
Image:Xeo3 3.jpg|Graphics converted from the Commodre +4
Image:Xeo3 4.jpg|More ingame graphics
</gallery>

== Video previews ==

Test of pixel accurate hardware scolling of the CPC+

{{#ev:youtube|uVSjRVXRGx8|256}}

== Links ==

http://www.xeo3.org/ - Official XEO3 homepage

http://xeo3-cpc.blogspot.com/ - Development blog for the former CPC XEO3 project (Some nice info on hardscrolling on the old gen cpc)

== Downloads ==

[[Category:CPC Plus]][[Category:Video contents]]

XEO3

2008-11-18T17:07:37Z

ZilogMonkey: /* About */

Xenon Tri Oxide

== About ==

This is the home of the '''Unofficial''' Amstrad CPC+ version of XEO3.

XEO3 is a next-gen shoot-em-up game currently under production. It is a project initially aimed at the Commodore Plus/4 8-bit computer, but a CPC Plus version is under development as well.

== Screen shots ==

<gallery caption="XEO3 - CPC+ early development screenshots">
Image:xeo3 1.jpg|
Image:xeo3 2.jpg|Ingame main screen - Hardware scrolling proof of concept
Image:Xeo3 3.jpg|Graphics converted from the Commodre +4
Image:Xeo3 4.jpg|More ingame graphics
</gallery>

== Video previews ==

{{#ev:youtube|uVSjRVXRGx8|300}}

== Links ==

http://www.xeo3.org/ - Official XEO3 homepage

http://xeo3-cpc.blogspot.com/ - Development blog for the former CPC XEO3 project (Some nice info on hardscrolling on the old gen cpc)

== Downloads ==

[[Category:CPC Plus]][[Category:Video contents]]