View source for Testing tips to verify tape images (CDT)

[[Category:Cpctech.org]]

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'''''This article originally came from Kevin Thackers' archive at [http://www.cpctech.org.uk http://www.cpctech.org.uk].''''' </center></div>

If the program uses standard block loading then you can test the image is correct in the following way: 

* Start the Amstrad emulator, 
* Insert the tape-image to test, 
* Reset the CPC 
* At the "Ready" prompt type: <br/>  <pre>|TAPE:CAT</pre>
* The following message will then be displayed: <br/>  <pre>Press PLAY then any key</pre><br/> 

[[Image:cat1.png]] 


* Press a key, and then wait. After some time you will see a message similar to this: <br/>  
<pre><nowiki><filename> </nowiki>  <nowiki>block <block number> <file type symbol></nowiki></pre><br/> Where: 
** <nowiki><filename> is the name of the file on the cassette (maximum of 16 characters) </nowiki>
** <nowiki><block number> is the number of the current block being tested, </nowiki>
** <nowiki><file type symbol> is a 1 character symbol identifying the file type: </nowiki><br/> The following table identifies the common file types: 


{| class="prettytable"
! Symbol
! File type

|-
|$
| Unprotected BASIC file

|-
|%
| protected BASIC file (the program can't be listed)

|-
|&
| Unprotected binary file

|-
|'
| Protected binary file

|}

[[Image:cat2.png]] 

An example is: 

<pre>HUDSON HAWK      block 1 &</pre>

If the block is correct and the CRC checksum is valid, then "Ok" will be printed after the file type symbol. e.g. 

<pre>HUDSON HAWK      block 1 & Ok</pre>

If there is an error "Read error a" or "Read error b" will be displayed. 

Why is this method good? 

** It is ideal for testing programs that only use the standard loader, but may contain many parts that are not loaded immediatly. e.g. a multi-loader program, many seperate programs on the same cassette 
** Some programs disable the cassette messages (e.g. messages like "Loading HUDSON HAWK block 1"), and it is not easy to identify the name or number of a bad block. With this method, the name and block numbers are listed. 
** You can easily identify blocks that are missing (maybe they were not decoded by voc2tzx). e.g. <br/>
<pre>
  HUDSON HAWK      block 1 & Ok
  HUDSON HAWK      block 3 & Ok
</pre>
<br/> In this example, block 2 of "HUDSON HAWK" is missing. This would result in a "Rewind tape" error. 
** You can compare the list of blocks against the graphical display of the sound wave in a sound editor and identify any blocks that are not correct.