Programming:Cartridges - Revision history

Eto: added links to DES and Dandanator gerber files and documentation how to build

2022-07-25T13:20:54Z

added links to DES and Dandanator gerber files and documentation how to build

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:20, 25 July 2022
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	As the original media is harder to find (3" discs specially), cartridges are becoming one of the best options to distribute CPC software, for example:		As the original media is harder to find (3" discs specially), cartridges are becoming one of the best options to distribute CPC software, for example:

	* [http://www.dandare.es/Proyectos_Dandare/CPC_Dandanator%21_Mini.html Dandanator mini] –page only in Spanish–: is a cartridge format to be plugged in the expansion port that provides a number of generic and advanced features, including support for 512K of ROM (in 16K banks), and it works on any CPC without jumpers or special configuration.		* [http://www.dandare.es/Proyectos_Dandare/CPC_Dandanator%21_Mini.html Dandanator mini] –page only in Spanish– (*): is a cartridge format to be plugged in the expansion port that provides a number of generic and advanced features, including support for 512K of ROM (in 16K banks), and it works on any CPC without jumpers or special configuration.
	* [https://auamstrad.es/the-dandanator-entertainment-system/ DES]: the Dandanator Entertainment System, which is an interface that goes to the expansion port and supports cartridges. It has the same functionality as the Dandanator, with the difference that the expansion contains most of the functionality, and the cartridges are simpler –and cheaper–.		* [https://auamstrad.es/the-dandanator-entertainment-system/ DES]: the Dandanator Entertainment System (*), which is an interface that goes to the expansion port and supports cartridges. It has the same functionality as the Dandanator, with the difference that the expansion contains most of the functionality, and the cartridges are simpler –and cheaper–.
	* [https://abalore.com/plus2cpc.html Plus2CPC]: provides a cheap way to plug CPC Plus cartridges on any CPC and, '''as long as the cartridge doesn’t use any Plus features''', it will work. It also offers 512K of ROM, just like the Dandanator, and uses the regular ROM mapping functions of the CPC.		* [https://abalore.com/plus2cpc.html Plus2CPC]: provides a cheap way to plug CPC Plus cartridges on any CPC and, '''as long as the cartridge doesn’t use any Plus features''', it will work. It also offers 512K of ROM, just like the Dandanator, and uses the regular ROM mapping functions of the CPC.
	* [[M4_Board\|the M4 board]]: can load CPR files on any CPC.		* [[M4_Board\|the M4 board]]: can load CPR files on any CPC.
	* [[C4CPC\|C4CPC]]: can load CPR files on the GX4000.		* [[C4CPC\|C4CPC]]: can load CPR files on the GX4000.

			(*) Gerber files and documentation to build your own [http://www.dandare.es/Proyectos_Dandare/Descargas.html Dandanator] or [https://auamstrad.es/hardware/des-archivos-gerber DES] are available.

	== Strategy ==		== Strategy ==

Reidrac at 07:46, 4 June 2022

2022-06-04T07:46:28Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:46, 4 June 2022
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	ei		ei

	This is [[Programming:Crt0Cart\|an example of CRT0 for SDCC for a CPR]].		This is [[Programming:Crt0Cart\|an example of CRT0 for SDCC for a CPR]]. It shows how to setup the CPC when booting from cartridge.

	== References ==		== References ==

Reidrac at 07:22, 4 June 2022

2022-06-04T07:22:58Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:22, 4 June 2022
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	ei		ei

	~~TODO~~: ~~add code or link to info on how to setup the CPC when booting from~~ a CPR.		This is [[Programming:Crt0Cart\|an example of CRT0 for SDCC for a CPR]].

	== References ==		== References ==

Reidrac: some formatting

2022-05-30T14:43:15Z

some formatting

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:43, 30 May 2022
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	'''Important''': when mapping data on high ROM with video RAM on 0xc000 you won't be able to draw masked sprites directly from that mapped ROM (reading video RAM is required to apply the mask). Either don't use 0xc000 for video memory or make a copy of those sprites to RAM from 0x4000 to 0xbfff and draw them from there.		'''Important''': when mapping data on high ROM with video RAM on 0xc000 you won't be able to draw masked sprites directly from that mapped ROM (reading video RAM is required to apply the mask). Either don't use 0xc000 for video memory or make a copy of those sprites to RAM from 0x4000 to 0xbfff and draw them from there.
	However the RAM mode ~~&7FC3~~ allows you to move the V-RAM from ~~&C000~~ to ~~&4000~~, which allows it to be accessed directly from the upper ROM.
			However the RAM mode 0x7fc3 allows you to move the video RAM from 0xc000 to 0x4000, which allows it to be accessed directly from the upper ROM.

	It is '''easy to support both CPC+ and Dandanator from a single code base''' using macros and generating both CPR and Dandanator ROMs is trivial. For example, these [https://github.com/reidrac/cpr-tools simple tools to make/dump CPC+ CPR cartridge files] can generate both formats (use RAW and padding flags to get a Dandanator ROM).		It is '''easy to support both CPC+ and Dandanator from a single code base''' using macros and generating both CPR and Dandanator ROMs is trivial. For example, these [https://github.com/reidrac/cpr-tools simple tools to make/dump CPC+ CPR cartridge files] can generate both formats (use RAW and padding flags to get a Dandanator ROM).

TFM: /* Strategy */

2022-05-30T12:51:53Z

Strategy

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:51, 30 May 2022
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	'''Important''': when mapping data on high ROM with video RAM on 0xc000 you won't be able to draw masked sprites directly from that mapped ROM (reading video RAM is required to apply the mask). Either don't use 0xc000 for video memory or make a copy of those sprites to RAM from 0x4000 to 0xbfff and draw them from there.		'''Important''': when mapping data on high ROM with video RAM on 0xc000 you won't be able to draw masked sprites directly from that mapped ROM (reading video RAM is required to apply the mask). Either don't use 0xc000 for video memory or make a copy of those sprites to RAM from 0x4000 to 0xbfff and draw them from there.
			However the RAM mode &7FC3 allows you to move the V-RAM from &C000 to &4000, which allows it to be accessed directly from the upper ROM.

	It is '''easy to support both CPC+ and Dandanator from a single code base''' using macros and generating both CPR and Dandanator ROMs is trivial. For example, these [https://github.com/reidrac/cpr-tools simple tools to make/dump CPC+ CPR cartridge files] can generate both formats (use RAW and padding flags to get a Dandanator ROM).		It is '''easy to support both CPC+ and Dandanator from a single code base''' using macros and generating both CPR and Dandanator ROMs is trivial. For example, these [https://github.com/reidrac/cpr-tools simple tools to make/dump CPC+ CPR cartridge files] can generate both formats (use RAW and padding flags to get a Dandanator ROM).

TFM: /* Overview */

2022-05-30T12:47:50Z

Overview

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:47, 30 May 2022
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	== Overview ==		== Overview ==

	The main media to distribute software on the CPC ~~was~~ cassettes and 3 inch floppy disks. The Plus models, including the GX4000 console, introduced cartridges.		The main media to distribute software on the CPC were cassettes and 3 inch floppy disks. The Plus models, including the GX4000 console, introduced cartridges.

	As the original media is harder to find (3" discs specially), cartridges are becoming one of the best options to distribute CPC software, for example:		As the original media is harder to find (3" discs specially), cartridges are becoming one of the best options to distribute CPC software, for example:

Reidrac at 08:33, 30 May 2022

2022-05-30T08:33:08Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:33, 30 May 2022
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	The idea is mapping on higher ROM any of the banks as we need them, and we can use that data with RAM from 0x4000 to 0xffff, leaving on lower ROM the bank 0 with our code.		The idea is mapping on higher ROM any of the banks as we need them, and we can use that data with RAM from 0x4000 to 0xffff, leaving on lower ROM the bank 0 with our code.

	'''Important''': when mapping data on high ROM with video RAM on 0xc000 you won't be able to draw masked sprites directly from that mapped ROM (reading video RAM is required to apply the mask). Either don't use 0xc000 for video memory or make a copy of those sprites to RAM from 0x4000 to ~~0xc000~~ and draw them from there.		'''Important''': when mapping data on high ROM with video RAM on 0xc000 you won't be able to draw masked sprites directly from that mapped ROM (reading video RAM is required to apply the mask). Either don't use 0xc000 for video memory or make a copy of those sprites to RAM from 0x4000 to 0xbfff and draw them from there.

	It is '''easy to support both CPC+ and Dandanator from a single code base''' using macros and generating both CPR and Dandanator ROMs is trivial. For example, these [https://github.com/reidrac/cpr-tools simple tools to make/dump CPC+ CPR cartridge files] can generate both formats (use RAW and padding flags to get a Dandanator ROM).		It is '''easy to support both CPC+ and Dandanator from a single code base''' using macros and generating both CPR and Dandanator ROMs is trivial. For example, these [https://github.com/reidrac/cpr-tools simple tools to make/dump CPC+ CPR cartridge files] can generate both formats (use RAW and padding flags to get a Dandanator ROM).

Reidrac at 08:32, 30 May 2022

2022-05-30T08:32:09Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:32, 30 May 2022
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	\|}		\|}

	When a ROM bank is mapped into lower ROM (0x0000) or higher ROM (0xC000), reads will go to ROM and writes will go to RAM and mapped ROM is only seen by the CPU.		When a ROM bank is mapped into lower ROM (0x0000) or higher ROM (0xC000), reads will go to ROM and writes will go to RAM and mapped ROM is only seen by the CPU. This is important because the gate array can only see RAM when drawing the screen.

	This is important because the gate array can only see RAM when drawing the screen.

	The idea is mapping on higher ROM any of the banks as we need them, and we can use that data with RAM from 0x4000 to 0xffff, leaving on lower ROM the bank 0 with our code.		The idea is mapping on higher ROM any of the banks as we need them, and we can use that data with RAM from 0x4000 to 0xffff, leaving on lower ROM the bank 0 with our code.

	~~It is~~ '''~~easy~~ to ~~support both CPC+~~ and ~~Dandanator~~ from ~~a single code base''' using macros~~.		'''Important''': when mapping data on high ROM with video RAM on 0xc000 you won't be able to draw masked sprites directly from that mapped ROM (reading video RAM is required to apply the mask). Either don't use 0xc000 for video memory or make a copy of those sprites to RAM from 0x4000 to 0xc000 and draw them from there.

	~~Then~~ generating both CPR and Dandanator ROMs is trivial. For example, these [https://github.com/reidrac/cpr-tools simple tools to make/dump CPC+ CPR cartridge files] can generate both formats (use RAW and padding flags to get a Dandanator ROM).		It is '''easy to support both CPC+ and Dandanator from a single code base''' using macros and generating both CPR and Dandanator ROMs is trivial. For example, these [https://github.com/reidrac/cpr-tools simple tools to make/dump CPC+ CPR cartridge files] can generate both formats (use RAW and padding flags to get a Dandanator ROM).

	== Dandanator ==		== Dandanator ==

Reidrac: typo

2022-05-30T08:25:09Z

typo

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:25, 30 May 2022
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	\| 0x0000 \|\| 16K \|\| ROM \|\| Code		\| 0x0000 \|\| 16K \|\| ROM \|\| Code
	\|-		\|-
	\| 0x4000 \|\| 16K \|\| ~~ROM~~ \|\| R/W Data		\| 0x4000 \|\| 16K \|\| RAM \|\| R/W Data
	\|-		\|-
	\| 0x8000 \|\| 16K \|\| RAM \|\| R/W Data		\| 0x8000 \|\| 16K \|\| RAM \|\| R/W Data

Reidrac: typos

2022-05-30T07:09:48Z

typos

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:09, 30 May 2022
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	* [https://auamstrad.es/the-dandanator-entertainment-system/ DES]: the Dandanator Entertainment System, which is an interface that goes to the expansion port and supports cartridges. It has the same functionality as the Dandanator, with the difference that the expansion contains most of the functionality, and the cartridges are simpler –and cheaper–.		* [https://auamstrad.es/the-dandanator-entertainment-system/ DES]: the Dandanator Entertainment System, which is an interface that goes to the expansion port and supports cartridges. It has the same functionality as the Dandanator, with the difference that the expansion contains most of the functionality, and the cartridges are simpler –and cheaper–.
	* [https://abalore.com/plus2cpc.html Plus2CPC]: provides a cheap way to plug CPC Plus cartridges on any CPC and, '''as long as the cartridge doesn’t use any Plus features''', it will work. It also offers 512K of ROM, just like the Dandanator, and uses the regular ROM mapping functions of the CPC.		* [https://abalore.com/plus2cpc.html Plus2CPC]: provides a cheap way to plug CPC Plus cartridges on any CPC and, '''as long as the cartridge doesn’t use any Plus features''', it will work. It also offers 512K of ROM, just like the Dandanator, and uses the regular ROM mapping functions of the CPC.
	* [[M4_Board\|the M4 board]]: can load ~~CRT~~ files on any CPC.		* [[M4_Board\|the M4 board]]: can load CPR files on any CPC.
	* [[C4CPC\|C4CPC]]: can load ~~CRT~~ files on the GX4000.		* [[C4CPC\|C4CPC]]: can load CPR files on the GX4000.

	== Strategy ==		== Strategy ==
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	It is '''easy to support both CPC+ and Dandanator from a single code base''' using macros.		It is '''easy to support both CPC+ and Dandanator from a single code base''' using macros.

	Then generating both ~~CRT~~ and Dandanator ROMs is trivial. For example, these [https://github.com/reidrac/cpr-tools simple tools to make/dump CPC+ CPR cartridge files] can generate both formats (use RAW and padding flags to get a Dandanator ROM).		Then generating both CPR and Dandanator ROMs is trivial. For example, these [https://github.com/reidrac/cpr-tools simple tools to make/dump CPC+ CPR cartridge files] can generate both formats (use RAW and padding flags to get a Dandanator ROM).

	== Dandanator ==		== Dandanator ==
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	ld 0 (iy), c		ld 0 (iy), c
	ei		ei


	Unmap higher ROM (have regular RAM in 0xc000):		Unmap higher ROM (have regular RAM in 0xc000):
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	ei		ei

	== CPC+ carts (~~CRT~~) ==		== CPC+ carts (CPR) ==

	Bank switch higher ROM:		Bank switch higher ROM:
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	out (c),c		out (c),c
	ei		ei

			TODO: add code or link to info on how to setup the CPC when booting from a CPR.

	== References ==		== References ==