View source for NC100 IO Specification



---
Kev Thacker




Original NCIOSPEC.TXT follows:

The following notes describe the low level operation of the Amstrad Notepad
computers. They are intended for third party developers who want to program
the Notepad in machine code.

As always, I will try to help out if anyone has questions about this but I
cannot give an absolute guarantee to be able to provide support on the low
level operation of the machine.

It is our intention that these firmware routines and system variables should
be maintained in future issues of the software but we cannot give an absolute
guarantee about this.

Cliff Lawson                            CIS: 75300,1517
Notepad project manager                 email: cliffl@amstrad.com
Amstrad Plc                                    amstrad@cix.compulink.co.uk
169 Kings Road                          Phone: (+44) 277 208341
Brentwood                               Fax: (+44) 277 208065
Essex
CM14 4EF
ENGLAND


        I/O Specification for Amstrad NC100
        <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

All numbers are in hexadecimal unless suffixed with a "b" for binary or
"d" for decimal. (Address line numbers A19, A18, etc are in decimal).

                        SUMMARY
                        =======

Address                 Comment                 R/W
=======                 =======                 ===

E0-FF                   Not Used                -
D0-DF                   RTC (TC8521)            R/W
C0-C1                   UART (uPD71051)         R/W
B0-B9                   Key data in             R
A0                      Card Status etc.        R
90                      IRQ request status      R/W
80-8F                   Not Used
70                      Power on/off control    W
60                      IRQ Mask                W
50-53                   Speaker frequency       W
40                      Parallel port data      W
30                      Baud rate etc.          W
20                      Card wiat control       W
10-13                   Memory management       R/W
00                      Display memory start    W


                        In Detail
                        =========

Address = 00                                    Write only
start address of display memory
----------------------------------------------------------

        bit 7           A15
        bit 6           A14
        bit 5           A13
        bit 4           A12
        bits 3-0        Not Used

On reset this is set to 0.

The display memory for the 8 line NC computers consists of a block of 4096
bytes where the first byte defines the state of the pixels in the top left
hand corner of the screen. A 1 bit set means the pixel is set to black. The
first byte controls the first 8 dots with bit 7 controlling the bit on the
left. The next 59 bytes complete the first raster line of 480 dots. The bytes
which define the second raster line start at byte 64 to make the hardware
simpler so bytes 60, 61, 62 and 63 are wasted. There are then another 64 bytes
(with the last 4 unused) which defines the second raster line and so on
straight down the screen. That is (all numbers decimal):

                 byte00   byte01   byte02      byte60   byte61     byte63
Bit Number      76543210 76543210 76543210 .. 76543210 76543210.. 76543210

Pixel Number    01234567 89012345 67890123 .. 23456789  wasted .. wasted
(read bottom    00000000 00111111 11112222    77777777
to top decimal) 00000000 00000000 00000000    44444444

....and so on for subsequent lines. (Second line = bytes 64..127 etc.)


Address = 10..13                              Read/Write
Memory management control
--------------------------------------------------------

        10              controls 0000-3FFF
        11              controls 4000-7FFF
        12              controls 8000-BFFF
        13              controls C000-FFFF

On reset all are set to 0.

For each address the byte written has the following meaning:

        bit 7           together they select ROM, internal RAM, card RAM
        bit 6                   00b = ROM
                                01b = internal RAM
                                10b = card RAM

        bits 5-0        determine address lines 19 to 14.

Therefore, 00 is the first 16K of ROM, 01 is the second 16K, etc.
           40 is the first 16K of internal RAM, 41=second 16K, etc.
           80 is the first 16K of card RAM, 81=second 16K, etc.

So, for example, if you want to switch the third 16K of internal RAM so the
processor sees it at 4000-7FFF you would output the value 42 to I/O address
11.  42 has bits 7,6 = 01b and bits 5-0 are 00010b which is the third 16K of
internal RAM.


Address = 20                                    Write only
Memory card wait state control
----------------------------------------------------------

        bit 7 = 1 for wait states, 0 for no wait

On reset this is set to 1. The bit should be set if the card RAM/ROM is
200nS or slower.


Address = 30                                    Write only
Baud rate etc.
----------------------------------------------------------

        bit 7     select card register 1=common, 0=attribute
        bit 6     parallel interface Strobe signal
        bit 5     Not Used
        bit 4     uPD4711 line driver, 1=off, 0=on
        bit 3     UART clock and reset, 1=off, 0=on

        bits 2-0  set the baud rate as follows

                000 = 150
                001 = 300
                010 = 600
                011 = 1200
                100 = 2400
                101 = 4800
                110 = 9600
                111 = 19200

On reset all data is set to 1.

If programming the UART directly ensure that TxD clock is operating x16.

Address = 40                                    Write only
Parallel interface data
----------------------------------------------------------

The byte written here is latched into the parallel port output register. To
print it you must then take the Strobe signal (I/O address 30 bit 6) low and
then high again. If the printer sends ACK this may generate an IRQ if the mask
bit is set in I/O address 60 - IRQ mask.

Address = 50..53                                Write only
Sound channels period control
----------------------------------------------------------

        50      channel A period low
        51      channel A period high

        52      channel B period low
        53      channel B period high

On reset all data is set to FF. The top bit in the high byte (51 and 53)
switches the resepective sound generator on or off - 1=off, 0=on.

The frequency generated is determined as:

        Frequency = 1,000,000d
                    ----------
                    data * 2 * 1.6276

So if the data word programmed into 50 and 51 was 7800 (ie 50=0, 51=78) then
the frequency generated would be:

     freq = 1,000,000           =  1,000,000          = 1,000,000   = 10Hz
            ---------              ---------            ---------
            7800h * 2 * 1.6276     30720 * 2 * 1.6276      99,999.7


Address = 60                                    Write only
Interrupt request mask
----------------------------------------------------------

        bits 7-4        Not Used
        bit 3           Key Scan interrupt (every 10mS)
        bit 2           ACK from parallel interface
        bit 1           Tx Ready from UART
        bit 0           Rx Ready from UART

On reset all bits are 0. For each bit, 1=allow that interrupt source to
produce IRQs. 0 = interrupt source is masked.

Address = 70                                    Write only
Power off control
----------------------------------------------------------

        bits 7-1        Not Used
        bit 0           1 = no effect, 0 = power off

On reset this is set to 1.

Address = 90                                     Read/Write
IRQ status
-----------------------------------------------------------

        bits 7-4        Not Used
        bit 3           Key scan
        bit 2           ACK from parallel interface
        bit 1           Tx Ready interrupt
        bit 0           Rx Ready interrupt

When an interrupt occurs this port should be read to determine the source of
the interrupt. The bit will be set to 0 to identify the interrupting device.
The interrupt can then be cleared by writing 0 to that bit.

Address = A0                                     Read only
Memory card/battery status
----------------------------------------------------------

        bit 7           Memory card present 0 = yes, 1 = no
        bit 6           Card write protected 1 = yes, 0 = no

        bit 5           Input voltage = 1 if >= to 4 Volts
        bit 4           Mem card battery. 0 = battery is low
        bit 3           Alkaline batteries. 0 if >= 3.2 Volts
        bit 2           Lithium battery. 0 if >= 2.7 Volts

        bit 1           Parallel interface BUSY (0 if busy)
        bit 0           Parallel interface ACK  (1 if ACK)


Address = B0 - B9                                 Read only
Keyboard data
-----------------------------------------------------------

        B0..B9          each key of the 64 on the keyboard
                        will set a bit in one of these bytes
                        while pressed.

The gate array scans the keyboard every 10mS and then generates an
interrupt. The program should then read these 10 I/O locations to
determine which key(s) is pushed. When I/O address B9 is read the
key scan interrupt is cleared automatically and the next scan cycle
will start from B0.

Address = C0                                      Read/Write
UART control/data
------------------------------------------------------------

        C0              UART data register
        C1              UART status/control register

The UART is the NEC uPD71051. Programmers are advised to study the data
sheet for that chip for more information. The Serial interface requires
that the uPD4711 line driver chip be truned on by writing a 0 to bit 4 of
I/O address 30. While turned on power consumption increases so this should
only be done when necessary.

Address = D0                                    Read/Write
Real Time Clock chip (TM8521)
----------------------------------------------------------

        D0..DC          Data
        DD              Control register
        DE              Control register        (Write only)
        DF              Control register        (Write only)

See data sheet of chip for more information.

=================================================================

                NC100 operating system firmware
                <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

notes for external program writers
==================================

To get external programs executed on the Notepad you could either POKE
them into memory in BBC BASIC (or even use its built-in Z80 assembler)
and then CALL the entry point. However, this does have the drawback of
needing to transfer the code back to the machine each time it crashes
(as it inevitably will).

The simplest way to develop for the Notepad is to get a PCMCIA drive
for your PC and write a binary image direct to the card using that. If
this isn't possible then small programs (up to 16K) can be developed by
transferring the binary card image into the Notepad using Xmodem from
the PC. The use the "Make program card" feature in the File, transfer
menu to write that file onto a newly formatted PCMCIA RAM card.

In either case, to run the resultant code, you just press Function-X
(eXecute) and the first 16K page of the RAM card will be switched to
the Z80 memory map at C000..FFFF. A Check is made that location C200
holds the ASCII text "NC100PRG" and also that locations C210..C212
contains a long jump to C220. All being well, the Z80 starts executing
code at C210 so that, once you have control, you can take over
completely if you wish (driving all hardware functions directly). Most
people will probably want to cooperate with the in built firmware as it
provides most of the routines that one would require anyway.


The ASCII text "NC100PRG" must appear at C200h
program origin is C210h
program MUST start with jp C220h
the program name is at C213h, max 12 characters, zero terminated

                          org C200h
                          db "NC100PRG"
                          org c210h
                          jp start
                          db "PROGRAM NAME",0
                          org C220h
                  start

available workspace A000h to A3FFh (shared with other programs)
also A800h to AFFFh (this is overwritten if selectfile is called)
the program MUST handle yellow events :-
  either exit when Stop is pressed
  or check for yellow event with kmgetyellow and return if carry set

Serious developers may be interested in contacting Ranger Computers Ltd
on (+44) 604 589200 as they can produce a device that looks like RAM to
a PC but ends in a PCMCIA header plug that connects directly to the
Notepad's card slot and the "PC RAM" appears as card RAM to the Notepad.


The following sequence is a working(!) piece of code written for the
AVMACZ80 assembler on a PC, which, when assmembled produces a binary
file that can be programmed onto a PCMCIA card and executed. The
program just reads keys and prints them back until "Q" is pressed.

Notice that exit from the program is just by a RET back to the
operating system that called it:

;VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

        include "nc100jmp.inc"          ;The list of firmware routine
                                        ;addresses given later in this
                                        ;file


        DEFSEG  Fred, CLASS=CODE, START=0

        SEG     Fred    ;Seg will be linked to RUNSAT C000h

        jp      start   ;put a jump at the start in case this code is
                        ;ever programmed into a ROM page where the entry
                        ;will almost certainly be made at the more
                        ;normal C000.
        ds      509     ;waste first 512 bytes of card to start at C200
;
; following 16 bytes are Arnor's header for card at C200
;
        db      "NC100PRG",0,0,0,0,0,3,0,1
;
; then card program must start with this long jump at C210
;
        jp      start                   ;this is at C210h
        db      "CLIFFS PROG",0,0       ;0's pad to C220h

start:
        call    kmreadchar
        ld      a,c
        cp      "q"
        jr      z,finish
        call    txtoutput
        jr      start

finish:
        ret

        end

;^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
; code is assembled with:
;       AVMACZ80 TEST.ASM
;which produces a .OBJ file which is then linked to produce a .HEX file
;with the command
;       AVLINK @TEST.LNK
;where TEST.LNK contains:
;       TEST.HEX=TEST.OBJ -RUNSAT(Fred, 0C000h)
;finally the Intel .HEX file is converted to .BIN using a HEX2BIN converter
;The .BIN file is either written to the PCMCIA card using a PC based
;card drive or it can be Xmodemed across to the Notepad and written to
;the card using "Make program card". Finally, Function-X executes it.

In other assemblers you may not have "segments" and must use a direct
ORG to locate code at C000 but watch out for the resultant .HEX file
being padded out with 48K of "0"s from 0000 to BFFF!!


Alphabetic list of routine entry points
=======================================

To use any one of these routines just load the registers as described in
the following and then call the relevant address. Although the running of the
routine may involve a different ROM bank being switched in, this mechanism
is invisble to the caller. So, for example, to print a capital A one might use:

txtoutput       EQU     B833
                LD      A,"A"
                CALL    txtoutput

col1            equ B818h
col1text        equ B81Bh
diskservice     equ BA5Eh
editbuf         equ B800h
fclose          equ B890h
fdatestamp      equ B8C9h
ferase          equ B893h
fgetattr        equ B8CFh
finblock        equ B896h
finchar         equ B899h
findfirst       equ B89Ch
findnext        equ B89Fh
fnoisy          equ B917h
fopenin         equ B8A2h
fopenout        equ B8A5h
fopenup         equ B8A8h
foutblock       equ B8ABh
foutchar        equ B8AEh
fquiet          equ B91Ah
frename         equ B8B1h
fseek           equ B8B4h
fsetattr        equ B8CCh
fsize           equ B8B7h
fsizehandle     equ B8BAh
ftell           equ B8BDh
ftesteof        equ B8C0h
heapaddress     equ B87Eh
heapalloc       equ B881h
heapfree        equ B884h
heaplock        equ B887h
heapmaxfree     equ B88Ah
heaprealloc     equ B88Dh
kmcharreturn    equ B803h
kmgetyellow     equ B8D2h
kmreadkbd       equ B806h
kmreadchar      equ B9B3h
kmsetexpand     equ B809h
kmsettickcount  equ B80Ch
kmsetyellow     equ B8D5h
kmwaitkbd       equ B80Fh
lapcat_receive  equ B8D8h
lapcat_send     equ B8DBh
mcprintchar     equ B851h
mcreadyprinter  equ B854h
mcsetprinter    equ B857h
padgetticker    equ B872h
padgettime      equ B875h
padgetversion   equ B8DEh
padinitprinter  equ BA4Fh
padinitserial   equ B85Ah
padinserial     equ B85Dh
padoutparallel  equ B860h
padoutserial    equ B863h
padreadyparallel equ B866h
padreadyserial  equ B869h
padresetserial  equ B86Ch
padserialwaiting equ B86Fh
padsetalarm     equ B878h
padsettime      equ B87Bh
pagemodeon      equ BA49h
pagemodeoff     equ BA4Ch
readbuf         equ B812h
selectfile      equ B8C3h
setdta          equ B8C6h
testescape      equ B815h
textout         equ B81Eh
textoutcount    equ B821h
txtboldoff      equ B83Fh
txtboldon       equ B842h
txtclearwindow  equ B824h
txtcuroff       equ B827h
txtcuron        equ B82Ah
txtgetcursor    equ B82Dh
txtgetwindow    equ B830h
txtinverseoff   equ B845h
txtinverseon    equ B848h
txtoutput       equ B833h
txtsetcursor    equ B836h
txtsetwindow    equ B839h
txtunderlineoff equ B84Bh
txtunderlineon  equ B84Eh
txtwrchar       equ B83Ch


 Notepad memory map
 ==================
                          16K code/data sections always mapped to C000h
ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿        ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÂÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÂÄÄÄÄÂÄÄÄÄÂÄÄÄÄÂÄÄÄÄÄÂÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿
³   video RAM   ³        ³Protext ³Dictionary³Con-³Calc³Addr³Diary³ BBC  ³
³---------------³        ³        ³  data    ³trol³    ³book³     ³BASIC ³
³    RAM        ³        ³ 1 & 2  ³ 6 blocks ³    ³    ³    ³     ³      ³
ÃÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ´ C000   ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÁÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÁÄÄÄÄÁÄÄÄÄÁÄÄÄÄÁÄÄÄÄÄÁÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ
³stack/variables³       \
³---------------³ B000  | common RAM (accessible by all programs)
³    RAM        ³       /
ÃÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ´ 8000                        ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿
³               ³                             ³               ³
³    RAM        ³                             ³     PLS       ³
³               ³                             ³               ³
ÃÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ´ 4000   ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿    ³    spell      ³
³               ³        ³OS- remaps high³    ³   checking    ³
³    RAM        ³        ³---------------³    ³     code      ³
³               ³        ³ Startup code  ³    ³               ³
ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ 0      ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ    ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ

 general notes:
     most routines return carry set if successful
     unless otherwise stated assume AF corrupted, other regs preserved
     "all registers preserved" includes flags, but NOT alternate registers
     the ALTERNATE register contents can NEVER be assumed to be preserved
     (they are used as scratch registers in time critical routines)


==============
editbuf = B800
==============
 line editor with options
 zero-terminated string may be passed in buffer (HL)
 this will display the initial contents
 ENTRY - HL : pointer to input buffer
          B : size of buffer (excluding terminating zero)
                  A : flags.      b2=1 -> �� terminate entry
                                                  b3=1 -> input not echoed
                                                  b6=1 -> dotty background (character 176)
                                                  b5=1 -> edit unless characters entered
                                                  b4=1 -> delete trailing spaces
                                               Other bits must be set to zero.
 EXIT  - c=0 z=1 ESC pressed
                 c=1 z=1 empty string input
                 c=1 z=0 at least one character entered
                 HL preserved
                 BC = last key token (or -1 if ESC used to terminate)

===================
kmcharreturn = B803
===================
 returns a token to the keyboard buffer
 ENTRY - BC = the token
 EXIT - all registers preserved

================
kmreadkbd = B806
================
 Gets a key token if there is one, does not wait
 (Checks put back character and expands macros)
 Returns tick event tokens if enabled
 ENTRY - none
 EXIT  c=1 : BC = token (B=0 for simple character)
       c=0 : no key token available

=================
kmreadchar = B9B3
=================
 This routine is the same as kmreadkbd but macros are
 exapnded and one or two other "behind the scenes" tasks
 are performed. By using this routine you can be sure that
 the Ctrl+Shift+S screen dump mechanism works in your code

==================
kmsetexpand = B809
==================
 Defines a macro string
 ENTRY - BC = macro token (between 256 and 383)
               - HL points to new macro string (first byte is the length,
                               followed by the string - need not be zero terminated)
 EXIT  - c=1 if macro defined successfully
                 c=0 if insufficient room in buffer
                       (The buffer size is user configurable)

=====================
kmsettickcount = B80C
=====================
 Enables the ticker event
 There are 100 ticks per second
 When a ticker event occurs t.tickevent is returned by kmreadkbd
 ENTRY - HL : number of ticks before first event
                 DE : number of ticks between events
 EXIT - all registers preserved

================
kmwaitkbd = B80F
================
 Waits for a key token, uses kmreadkbd
 (Checks put back character and expands macros)
 Returns tick event tokens if enabled
 ENTRY - none
 EXIT  c=1 : BC = token (B=0 for simple character)

==============
readbuf = B812
==============
 line editor. See also editbuf.
 ENTRY - HL : pointer to input buffer (empty)
          B : size of buffer (excluding terminating zero)

 EXIT  - c=0 z=1 ESC pressed
                 c=1 z=1 empty string input
                 c=1 z=0 at least one character entered
                 HL preserved
                 BC = last key token (or -1 if ESC used to terminate)

=================
testescape = B815
=================
 tests whether an ESC key has been pressed (STOP or FUNCTION)
 waits for a key if one is found in the keyboard buffer
 ENTRY - none
 EXIT  - c=1 if no ESC key in buffer
                 c=1 if ESC key in buffer but STOP not pressed
                 c=0 if ESC key in buffer and STOP then pressed
                 A is preserved

===========
col1 = B818
===========
 if cursor is at start of a line do nothing
 otherwise move cursor to start of next line (within window)
 ENTRY - none
 EXIT  - none

===============
col1text = B81B
===============
 same as textout, but calls col1 first

==============
textout = B81E
==============
 displays string
 ENTRY - HL : pointer to zero-terminated string
 ***************************************************************
 WARNING - HL must not point into an upper ROM!
 ***************************************************************
 EXIT  - none

===================
textoutcount = B821
===================
 as textout, returns character count in B

=====================
txtclearwindow = B824
=====================
 clears current window and moves cursor to top left

================
txtcuroff = B827
================
 removes the cursor from the screen
 ENTRY - none
 EXIT  - all registers preserved

===============
txtcuron = B82A
===============
 displays the cursor on the screen
 ENTRY - none
 EXIT  - all registers preserved

===================
txtgetcursor = B82D
===================
 returns the cursor position
 ENTRY - none
 EXIT  - H = column (between 0 and 79)
                 L = row (between 0 and 7)
===================
txtgetwindow = B830
===================
 returns the window coordinates
 ENTRY - none
 EXIT  - H = left column (between 0 and 79)
                 L = top row (between 0 and 7)
                 D = right column (between 0 and 79)
                 E = bottom row (between 0 and 7)
                 c=0 if window is whole screen
                 c=1 if a smaller window has been

================
txtoutput = B833
================
 displays a character or acts on control code
 ENTRY - A = character
                               A=7 : beeps   A=10 : LF   A=13 : CR
                               All other values displayed as character (PC char. set)
 EXIT - all registers preserved

===================
txtsetcursor = B836
===================
 moves the cursor
 ENTRY - H = column (between 0 and 79)
                 L = row (between 0 and 7)
 EXIT - none

===================
txtsetwindow = B839
===================
 defines a new window
 ENTRY - H = left column (between 0 and 79)
                 L = top row (between 0 and 7)
                 D = right column (between 0 and 79)
                 E = bottom row (between 0 and 7)
 EXIT  - none

================
txtwrchar = B83C
================
 displays a character
 ENTRY - A = character. All values displayed (PC char. set)
 EXIT - all registers preserved

======================
txtboldoff      = B83F
txtboldon       = B842
txtinverseoff   = B845
txtinverseon    = B848
txtunderlineoff = B84B
txtunderlineon  = B84E
======================
 These six routines enable or disable various display
 attributes. They have no entry conditions and preserve all registers.

==================
mcprintchar = B851
==================
 sends a character to the printer
 ENTRY - A=character
 EXIT  - c=1 if successful
                 c=0 if not sent
                 A preserved

=====================
mcreadyprinter = B854
=====================
 tests whether the printer is ready
 ENTRY - none
 EXIT  - c=0 if busy
                 c=1 if ready
                 A preserved

===================
mcsetprinter = B857
===================
 sets the printer type to be used by mcprintchar and mcreadyprinter
 ENTRY - A=printer type, 0=parallel, 1=serial
 EXIT  - none

====================
padinitserial = B85A
====================
 initialises the serial port using the global configured settings
 turns on the UART and 4711
 do not call this until needed - to prolong battery life
 ENTRY - none
 EXIT - none

==================
padinserial = B85D
==================
 reads a character from the serial port
 ENTRY - none
 EXIT  - c=1 if successful, A=character
                 c=0 if no character read

=====================
padoutparallel = B806
=====================
 sends a character to the parallel port
 ENTRY - A=character
 EXIT  - c=1 if successful
                 c=0 if not sent
                 A preserved

===================
padoutserial = B863
===================
 sends a character to the serial port
 ENTRY - A=character
 EXIT  - c=1 if successful
                 c=0 if not sent
                 A preserved

=======================
padreadyparallel = B866
=======================
 tests whether the parallel port is ready
 ENTRY - none
 EXIT  - c=0 if busy
                 c=1 if ready
                 A preserved

=====================
padreadyserial = B869
=====================
 tests whether the serial port is ready
 ENTRY - none
 EXIT  - c=0 if busy
                 c=1 if ready
                 A preserved

=====================
padresetserial = B86C
=====================
 turns off the UART and 4711
 call this when finished using the serial port to prolong battery life
 ENTRY - none
 EXIT - none

=======================
padserialwaiting = B86F
=======================
 tests whether there is a character waiting to be read
       from the serial port
 ENTRY - none
 EXIT  - c=1 if character waiting
                 c=0 if no character waiting

===================
padgetticker = B872
===================
 returns the address of a 4 byte 100Hz ticker
 ENTRY - none
 EXIT  - HL is the address of the least significant byte

=================
padgettime = B875
=================
 reads the time and date from the RTC
 ENTRY - HL points to an 7 byte buffer to use
 EXIT  - HL preserved
                       data returned as above (see padsettime)

==================
padsetalarm = B878
==================
 sets the ALARM date and time (within next month)
 ENTRY - HL points to 3 byte data area
                 byte 0=date 1=hour  2=minute
 EXIT  - none

=================
padsettime = B87B
=================
 sets the RTC date and time
 ENTRY - HL points to 7 byte data area
                 bytes 0,1 = year (low,high)
                 2=month  3=date
                 4=hour  5=minute  6=second
 EXIT  - none

==================
heapaddress = B87E
==================
 obtains the address of a memory block for a given memory handle
 ENTRY - DE = memory handle
 EXIT  - HL = pointer to memory block

================
heapalloc = B881
================
 allocates a block of memory from the heap
 ENTRY - DE = number of bytes to allocate
 EXIT  - HL = memory handle in range [1,63] if successful
                 HL = 0 if failed
 Note:   heapaddress must be used to get a pointer to the memory block
                 Unless the block is locked with heaplock, heapaddress must be
                 called each time the memory block is used. IT MAY HAVE MOVED!

===============
heapfree = B884
===============
 frees a block of memory
 ENTRY - DE = memory handle, returned by heapalloc or heaprealloc
 EXIT  - none (preserves HL,BC)
 Note: the memory handle passed must be a valid handle returned by
               heapalloc or heaprealloc. This is not validated.

===============
heaplock = B887
===============
 locks or unlocks a memory block
 ENTRY - DE = memory handle
                 BC = non zero - the block is locked. It will not be moved
                          until unlocked so fixed addresses can be used as
                          pointers into the block
                 BC = 0 - the block is unlocked

==================
heapmaxfree = B88A
==================
 returns the largest block size that can be allocated
 ENTRY - none
 EXIT  - HL = largest free block size in bytes

==================
heaprealloc = B88D
==================
 changes the size of an allocated memory block
 ENTRY - DE = memory handle
                 BC = new size for memory block
 EXIT    HL = zero if failed to reallocate
                      The old block will not be freed but could have moved
                 HL = non-zero if successful
 Note: if the block is being expanded, it must be assumed that the
 base of the memory block will be moved (even if the block cannot
 actually be expanded) so heapaddress must be called afterwards.
 If the block is being contracted, the base will not move.

=============
fclose = B890
=============
 closes a file
 ENTRY - DE = file handle
 EXIT  - c=1 if successful, c=0 if failed

=============
ferase = B893
=============
 erases a file
 ENTRY - HL = zero-terminated filename
 EXIT  - c=1 if OK, c=0 if error (file not found)

===============
finblock = B896
===============
 reads a block from a file
 ENTRY - DE = file handle
               - HL = buffer
               - BC = number of bytes to read (> 0)
 EXIT  - c=1 if end of file not reached
               - c=0 if eof (or error?)
               - BC = number of bytes read
               - HL = address after last byte read
 KNOWN BUG (1.00,1.01) - finblock does not set the file position
 so repeated calls will always read from the start of the file
 Workaround: call fseek after calling finblock to set the pointer

============
finchar B899
============
 reads a byte from a file
 ENTRY - DE = file handle
 EXIT  - c=1 if successful, A=character
                 c=0, A corrupt if end of file reached
               other regs preserved

================
findfirst = B89C
================
 finds first file. setdta must have been called first
 ENTRY - none
 EXIT  - HL=0 if no files
               - HL points to file info structure if file found
               - 1st item in structure is the filename, zero-terminated
               -       (up to 12 characters long)
               - offset 13 is attribute byte
               - offset 14/15 is the file size in bytes

===============
findnext = B89F
===============
 finds next file. findfirst must have been called first
 ENTRY - none
 EXIT  - HL=0 if no more files
               - HL as findfirst if file found

==============
fopenin = B8A2
==============
 opens a file for input
 ENTRY - HL points to zero-terminated filename
 EXIT  - c=1 if successful, DE=file handle
                 c=0 if failed (file not found)
               DE corrupt if error
               A corrupt, other regs preserved

===============
fopenout = B8A5
===============
 opens a file for output
 ENTRY - HL points to zero-terminated filename
 EXIT  - c=1 if successful, DE=file handle
                 c=0 if failed (out of memory/too many files/file exists)
               DE corrupt if error
               A corrupt, other regs preserved

==============
fopenup = B8A8
==============
 opens a file for input and output.
 the file must exist already
 ENTRY - HL points to zero-terminated filename
 EXIT  - c=1 if successful, DE=file handle
                 c=0 if file not found
               DE corrupt if error
               A corrupt, other regs preserved

================
foutblock = B8AB
================
 writes a block to a file
 ENTRY - DE = file handle
               - HL = buffer
               - BC = number of bytes to write (> 0)
 EXIT  - c=1 if OK
               - c=0 if error
               - BC = number of bytes written
               - HL = address after last byte written

===============
foutchar = B8AE
===============
 writes a byte to a file
 ENTRY - DE = file handle
               - A  = character
 EXIT  - c=1 if successful
                 c=0, A corrupt if end of file reached
               A corrupt, other regs preserved

==============
frename = B8B1
==============
 renames a file
 ENTRY - HL = zero-terminated old filename
               - DE = zero-terminated new filename
 EXIT  - c=1 if OK, c=0 if error (file not found)

============
fseek = B8B4
============
 moves the file pointer to a position within a file
 ENTRY - DE = file handle
       - BC = offset from start of file
 EXIT  - c=1 if successful
         c=0 if offset past end of file (pointer not changed)
 KNOWN BUG (1.00,1.01) - leaves error messages enabled (fnoisy)
 Workaround: call fquiet after fopenout if necessary

============
fsize = B8B7
============
 finds size of file
 ENTRY - HL = zero-terminated filename
 EXIT  - c=1  HL=size in bytes, if found
               - c=0 if not found

==================
fsizehandle = B8BA
==================
 finds size of an open file
 ENTRY - DE = file handle
 EXIT  - HL=size in bytes

============
ftell = B8BD
============
 returns the value of the file pointer
 ENTRY - DE = file handle
 EXIT  - HL = current file position

===============
ftesteof = B8C0
===============
 tests whether end of file has been reached
 ENTRY - DE=file handle
 EXIT  - c=1 if not eof, c=0 if eof

=================
selectfile = B8C3
=================
 displays the file selector (clears the screen first)
 shows all files and allows a selection to be made
 using the cursor keys and RETURN
 ENTRY - none
 EXIT  - c=1 if a file selected (RETURN pressed)
                 HL = filename
           - c=0 if STOP pressed

=============
setdta = B8C6
=============
 set memory block to be used by findfirst/findnext
 ENTRY - DE= address of buffer (at least 35 bytes long)
                       buffer must be in common RAM (8000h-BFFFh)
 EXIT  - none

=================
fdatestamp = B8C9
=================
 sets file date/time to current date/time
 ENTRY - HL = zero terminated filename
 EXIT  - c=1 if successful
               - c=0 if not found

===============
fsetattr = B8CC
===============
 sets the attribute byte for a file open for output
 if the file is open for input only there is no effect
 ENTRY - DE = file handle
               - C  = attribute byte
                                       bit 0 = system file
                                       bit 1 = hidden file
                                       bit 2 = BASIC program
                                       bit 3 = binary file
 EXIT  - c=1 if successful
               - c=0 if not found

===============
fgetattr = B8CF
===============
 returns attribute byte of file
 ENTRY - HL = zero-terminated filename
 EXIT  - c=1  A=attribute, if found
               - c=0 if not found
               preserves HL

==================
kmgetyellow = B8D2
==================
 ascertains whether a 'yellow event' is pending
 (so called because the FUNCTION key is coloured yellow)
 a yellow event occurs (i) when the user has pressed one of the
 the FUNCTION+key combinations that cause an immediate context switch
 (FN+red, FN+green, FN+blue, FN+menu)
 or (ii) when the machine is powered up and (because the option to
 preserve context has not been set) needs to return to the main menu

 ENTRY -  none
 EXIT  -  c=1, BC=token if yellow event pending
                  An application should exit normally as quickly as possible
                       Any UNSAVED FILES should be SAVED AUTOMATICALLY!
               -  c=0, BC=0 if no yellow event pending

 Note: each of the yellow event keys return the ESC token (2FCh)
 An application should call kmgetyellow whenever an ESC is read,
 this distinguishes between a yellow event and an ordinary ESC.

==================
kmsetyellow = B8D5
==================
 sets up a yellow event. Specialised use only.
 ENTRY - BC = a yellow event token
 EXIT  - none

=====================
lapcat_receive = B8D8
=====================
 reads a character from the parallel port using Lapcat protocol
 ENTRY - none
 EXIT  - c=1 if successful, A=character
                 c=0 if no character read

==================
lapcat_send = B8DB
==================
 sends a character to the parallel port using Lapcat protocol
 ENTRY - A=character
 EXIT  - c=1 if successful
         c=0 if error

====================
padgetversion = B8DE
====================
 gets the firmware version number

 ENTRY - none
 EXIT  - HL = version number (*100)
              Thus, 1.03 returns 103

==================
diskservice = BA5E
==================
 calls a Ranger disk routine

 ENTRY - C = number of routine to call
         A, HL, DE passed to the disk routine
 EXIT  - c=1 if successful, HL may contain returned value
         c=0 if failed, A = error code (Ranger documentation)

        C = 0   r_test
            3   r_begin
            6   r_change_disk
            9   r_check_disk
            C   r_get_cd
            F   r_set_cd
            12  r_set_dta
            15  r_find_first
            18  r_find_next
            1B  r_save_file
            1E  r_retrieve_file
            21  r_set_attrib
            24  r_create_directory
            27  r_remove_directory
            2A  r_delete_file
            2D  r_rename_file
            30  r_finish
            33  r_disk_space
            36  r_install
            39  r_park_heads
            3C  r_format_track
            3F  r_format_done
            42  r_save_wordstar
            45  r_save_ascii
            48  r_begin_program
            4B  r_load_program

                System variables
                <<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>

The following are the RAM based variables used by the operating system. It
is hoped that they will always use these locations in subsequent versions
of the software - but this is not guaranteed.

B000   copyofmmu0      ds 1    ; copy of MMU0 since it's a write-only port
B001   copyofmmu1      ds 1    ; copy of MMU1 since it's a write-only port
B002   copyofmmu2      ds 1    ; copy of MMU2 since it's a write-only port
B003   copyofmmu3      ds 1    ; copy of MMU3 since it's a write-only port
                       	
B004   gotcontext      ds 1
B005   __savepearlmmu  ds 1    ; extra vars needed in case we mustn't save context
B006   __saveaf        ds 2
B008   __savehl        ds 2
B00A   saveaf          ds 2    ; to save context, we need to save all the registers ...
B00C   savebc          ds 2
B00E   savede          ds 2
B010   savehl          ds 2
B012   saveix          ds 2
B014   saveiy          ds 2
B016   savepc          ds 2
B018   savesp          ds 2
B01A   saveafdash      ds 2
B01C   savebcdash      ds 2
B01E   savededash      ds 2
B020   savehldash      ds 2
B022   savemmu0        ds 1    ; ... and the memory state
B023   savemmu1        ds 1
B024   savemmu2        ds 1
B025   savemmu3        ds 1
B026   savecritpc      ds 2
B028   savecritsp      ds 2
B02A   savingcontext ds 1
B02B   nmimagic        ds 4
B02F   nmichksums      ds 8    ; checksum bytes of first 8 roms
B037   criticalpc      ds 2    ; save pc,sp for recovery from NMI during IRQ
B039   criticalsp      ds 2
                       	
B03B                   ds 80   ; A small stack which we only use in initialisation.
                               ; It can't sensibly overlap with anything in case we get an NMI
                               ; requring immediate shut down after saving context.
                               ; Subsequent power on will have to restore the context
B08B   initstack
B08B   diagnostics?    ds 1    ; flag used in start-up, nonzero to do diagnostics
B08C   saveprinstat    ds 1
B08D   kbdstate1       ds 10   ; 1 bit per key, 1=down 0=up  corresponds to matrix
B097   kbdstate2       ds 10

PADKEYBUFLEN           equ 32          ; this MUST be 2^n for positive integer n
B0A1   padkeybuf       ds PADKEYBUFLEN*2

B0E1   padnextin       ds 1            ; offset into padkeybuf
B0E2   padnextout      ds 1
B0E3   padbufempty     ds 1            ; nonzero if empty
B0E4   lastkbdstate    ds 2
B0E6   thiskbdstate    ds 2
B0E8   caps.state      ds 1            ; 0=off FF=on
B0E9   savecaps        ds 1
B0EA   justswitchedon? ds 1
                       	
; variables above here are preserved after timeout
                       	
                       	
PADSERBUFLEN           equ 32          ; this MUST be 2^n for positive integer n
B0EB   padserbuf       ds PADSERBUFLEN
B10B   padsernextin    ds 1
B10C   padsernextout   ds 1
B10D   padserbufempty  ds 1
B10E   padserin_xoff   ds 1    ; non-zero when XOFF has stopped inward transmission
B10F   padserout_xoff  ds 1    ; non-zero when XOFF has stopped outward transmission
B110   disablexonxoff  ds 1    ; nonzero to disable software handshake
                       	
B111   ackirq          ds 1    ; set non-zero when ACK interrupt occurs
                       	
B112   rptdelay        ds 1    ; centisecs
B113   rptrate         ds 1    ; centisecs
B114   rpttimer        ds 1    ; count down timer for key repeat
B115   keytorepeat     ds 1    ; key number
B116   rptkeystates    ds 1    ; shift states
                       	
B117   rtcbuf          ds 13
B124   d.alarmday      ds 6    ; alarm day,hour,min ready for rtc chip
B12A   alarmhappened   ds 1    ; non zero when alarm has gone off, message pending
B12B   alarmhappenedgotmsg     ds 1    ; non zero when alarm has gone off, got message & pending
B12C   soundcounter    ds 1    ; non-zero if we're playing a tune
B12D   soundptr        ds 2    ; pointer to array of frequency,duration
B12F   soundrepcount   ds 1
B130   soundrepptr     ds 2
B132   poweroffminutes ds 1    ; configured time to power off
B133   minutesleft     ds 1
B134   minutecounter   ds 2
B136   eventhappened   ds 1
B137   preservecontext ds 1    ; 0=return to main screen at power on
B138   dontpreservecontext     ds 1    ; 1=dont preserve (diag/batt)
                       	
B139   mainprog        ds 1    ; 6=inbasic, 128=inexternal (foreground program id)
B13A   currentprinter  ds 1    ; 0 for parallel, 1 for serial
B13B   currentmenu     ds 2    ; pointer to current menu
B13D   wasmenusel      ds 1    ; after kmwaitchar this is 1 if menu used, 0 if not
                       							; need this in fsel to know whether redraw needed
                       	
B13E   lastsecond      ds 1    ; checked to see whether to update the time
B13F   clockon?        ds 1    ; uses in Protext, non-zero when clock is enabled
                       	
B140   sdumpname       ds 4    ; s.a, s.b, s.c etc. for screen dump name
                       	
                       	; force d.workspace to an 8 byte boundary
B148   d.workspace     ds 8    ; for massaged copy of symbol data (eg inverse/underline)
                       	
B150   d.datebuf       ds 9+MAXMONTHLEN        ; 27 January 1992
B162   d.asciitime     ds 12                   ; hh:mm:ss xm\0
                       	
B16E   currentcfg      ds cfg.len
                       	
B1BA   g.outstream     ds 1    ; bit 0 for screen, 1 for printer, 2 for file
B1BB   g.h.outfile     ds 2    ; file handle for charout if bit 2 set
B1BD   g.pos           ds 1    ; current column number (charout)
                       	
B1CE   def.fname       ds      MAXPNLEN+1      ; Name of current file being edited
                       			; first byte not zero if document open
                       			; (yellow/red goes to edit mode, transfer from addrbook works)
B1DD   def.first       ds 1
                       	
                       	
       ; DO NOT CHANGE THE LAYOUT OF THE FIRST 21 BYTES
       0024            	len.findinfo	equ 36
       000D            	o.findinfo.attr	equ 13
       000E            	o.findinfo.size	equ 14
       0010            	o.findinfo.time	equ 16
       0012            	o.findinfo.date	equ 18
       0023            	o.findinfo.mhandle equ 35
                       	
B1DE   d.findinfobuf   ds len.findinfo
                       	
       0002             o.file.size     equ 2
       0005            	o.file.mhandle	equ 5
       000D             o.file.attr     equ 13
                       	
       000D            	o.direntry.attr	equ 13
       000E            	o.direntry.size	equ 14
       0010            	o.direntry.time	equ 16
       0012            	o.direntry.date	equ 18
                       	
                       	
;       char name[13];  /* 12 chars plus \0 (the file we found) */
;       char attribute;
;       uint size;              /* filesize can't be bigger than 64k */
;       uint time,date; /* if we allow time & date stamping */
;       char flags;             /* memory block flags */
;       char handle;    /* memory block handle */
                       	
                       	;******************************************************************************
                       	; PEARL.TXT DATA
                       	
;; The following 8 bytes are saved for each stream
                       	
B202   d.thisstream    ds      8-8
B202   d.colrow        ds      2-2     ; keep next 2 together
B202   d.row           ds      1       ; 0-based within window
B203   d.col           ds      1       ;
                       	
B204   d.winlefttop    ds      2-2     ; keep next 2 together
B204   d.wintop        ds      1
B205   d.winleft       ds      1

B206   d.winsize       ds      2-2     ; keep next 2 together
B206   d.winheight     ds      1       ; height -1
B207   d.winwidth      ds      1       ; width -1
                       	
B208   d.winset?       ds      1       ; NZ if window
B209   d.state         ds      1       ; bit 7 if inverse on
                       	
;; The following are recalculated from the above (in txtstrselect)
                       	
B20A   d.colrowcount   ds      2-2     ; keep next 2 together
B20A   d.rowcount      ds      1
B20B   d.colcount      ds      1       ; how many more cols to print on this line
B20C   d.stream        ds      1       ; current stream number
B20D   d.fastpos       ds      2       ; needed for quick screen update
                       	
                       	
B20F   d.streamwsp     ds      8*NSTREAMS      ; 8 streams of 8 bytes each

B24F   d.dateptr       ds 2            ; non null for expanding time/date
B251   d.kmcharret     ds 2            ; Returned character
B253   d.kstate        ds 2            ; Key locks state
B255   d.caslocks      ds 1            ; Shift states set by sticky key press
B256   d.sticky        ds 1            ; non-zero in sticky key mode
B257   d.yellow        ds 1            ; low byte of yellow/other key token
                                       ; stored by p.xlattoken which then returns ESC
B258   d.calcmode      ds 1            ; nonzero if keyboard in calculator mode
                       	
B259   d.kmexplen      ds 1            ; expansion string length
B25A   d.kmexpptr      ds 2            ; expansion string pointer
B25C   d.expbuffer     ds 2            ; address of expansion key buffer
B25E   d.expbufptr     ds 2            ; pointer to free byte
B260   d.expbufend     ds 2            ; last byte in buffer
                       	
B2A1   macro_buf       ds 256
                       	
; file selector variables
B3A7   fs_clicat       ds      1       ; non-zero if CAT command, not fsel
B3A8   fs_showsizes    ds      1       ; non-zero if showing file sizes (pad default=off)
B3A9   fs_showsys      ds      1       ; non-zero if showing system files
B3AA   fs_curfile      ds      1       ; current file number offset from top left
B3AB   fs_topleftfile  ds      1       ; file number displayed top left
B3AC   fs_numcols      ds      1
B3AD   fs_colwidth     ds      1
B3AE   fs_numshown     ds      1
B3AF   fs_maxfiles     ds      1       ; max files that can be shown
FS_NUMROWS             .equ    7       ; display rows
FS_NUMCOLS             .equ    5
FS_COLWIDTH            .equ    16
B3B0   fs_handle       ds      2
FS_NUMSHOWN            .equ    FS_NUMCOLS*FS_NUMROWS
                                ; number of files shown
B3B2   fs_numfilerows  ds      1       ; rows of files in CAT command
B3B3   fs_startlist    ds      2       ; start of file list
                       									; zero if doing unsorted list
B3B5   fs_startdir     ds      2       ; start of directory entries
B3B7   fs_endlist      ds      2
B3B9   fs_numfiles     ds      1       ; number of files in directory
B3BA   fs_lastshown    ds      1       ; last filenumber currently shown
                       									; 	fs_topleft + FS_NUMSHOWN
                       	
B3BB   tickcount           ds 4    ; 32 bit counter needed for basic
B3BF   ticksleftuntilevent ds 2
B3C1   tickreloadvalue     ds 2
B3C3   tickeventpending    ds 1
B3C4   countdowntimer      ds 2
                       	
B3C6   savestream      ds 1
                       	
B3C7   password        ds 5    ; encrypted
B3CC   pwbuf           ds 5    ; clear
B3D1   realpwbuf       ds 5    ; the real password saved for encrypting
B3D6   haspassword     ds 1    ; non-zero if has password
                       	;passwdmsg		ds 2
B3D7   passwdlen       ds 1
B3D8   passwordlocked  ds 1    ; non-zero if locked (disallow soft reset)
B3D9   editingsecret   ds 1    ; non-zero when editing secret file (can't delete it)
B3DA   inmenu?         ds 1    ; non-zero when inside menu - macros disabled
                       	
B3DB   macro_count     ds      1
B3DC   recording?      ds      1
B3DD   macro_token     ds      2
                       	
B3DF   printfailed     ds 1            ; flag set by mccheckprinter
                       								; stops "finished printing" message
B3E0   wasmemoryerr    ds 1
B3E1   inprotext       ds 1            ; used in file selector, 0=was Fn-L, nonzero=Fn-2

**** End ****