[tape based type-in spreadsheet basic program for Atari 600XL or 800XL]

3 hours ago, MrFish said:

Yeah, I assumed as much; I tried using it (and SpeedCalc and VisiCalc) with Ace-80XL already and it was a no go.

 

I'm thinking it will be close to impossible to find a 40-column spreadsheet that will magically work with 80-column drivers of any sort. It would have to be designed with 80-columns in mind from the onset. It would definitely be a benefit for spreadsheets. It looks like we basically get 4 columns of cells otherwise.

 

If any of them use the default S: / E: drivers, they should be display agnostic.   Maybe SmartSheet, the BASIC program from Page 6, would work?

 

https://www.page6.org/archive/issue_22/page_31.htm

[tape based type-in spreadsheet basic program for Atari 600XL or 800XL]

1 hour ago, chevymad said:

Can't help thinking that if you can find a 16k program, there will still be no room for data. 

DataQue released a custom version of BCalc on a cart to support their '816 upgrade, but I think it was also compatible with a non upgraded computer.  Without DOS, there would be 8K or so for data - this assumes that the program properly confirms available RAM on boot.

[tape based type-in spreadsheet basic program for Atari 600XL or 800XL]

2 hours ago, MrFish said:

BTW, were there any spreadsheets that would run in 80-columns -- either software or hardware based?

 

Looking at the source code for BCalc, it appears to use a custom DL and custom screen handling, so it will not.

 

https://www.atarimagazines.com/analog/issue63/bcalc.php

[MIO Schematic]

2 hours ago, mytek said:

MetalGuy's version did use a single 1MB 30-pin SIMM memory module. But what I was referring to in my post was the original ICD produced design which sure looks like ZIP RAM chips to me, and I seem to recall Mike Hohman from FTE saying he also wanted to get rid of those and go with a single SIMM module instead. Because he said the ZIP RAMs were getting very expensive to replace, and produced a lot of heat as well, which was already an issue with over heating MIOs.

 

EDIT: The ZIP RAMs quickly fell out of favor and the DIP and SIMM variants started taking over, causing the ZIP RAMs to be phased out, making them unobtainium.

 

So basically my earlier statement was simply affirming MetalGuy's good decision to go with a 30-pin SIMM module for his 2006 're-design'.

 

ZIP (Zig-zag In-line Package) RAM - See Wikipedia

 

Original MIO with full 1 MB of RAM using the ZIP RAM modules

Original MIO stuffed with only 256K of RAM (8 x 256K)

Sidebar: Without even looking at the serial numbers, we can also tell that the 1MB model on top was an earlier serial number than the 256K one below, since it has the video port populated.

[Most High Score Enabled Titles Not Working :/]

Have you tried booting while holding down OPTION to disable BASIC?

[Monopoly]

1 hour ago, MrFish said:

You can always rotate your television.

 

 

Or a fine scrolling, wrap-around board along the bottom... breaking away from the visual representation of the board, though.

[Best way to implement jumptables?]

Another consideration: will this program be running in RAM or ROM?  Self modifying code won't work in ROM.

[800xl won't go into self test mode]

In BASIC, try this program:

 

10 PRINT PEEK(53279):GOTO 10

 

RUN

 

Check that the number is changing depending on which console key (START, SELECT OPTION) is being pressed.

 

[Preferred game disassembly/reconstruction toolchain?]

1 hour ago, MrFish said:

Found this on Github: Ghidra6502

Uh oh... you my be about to awake another recurring Atari Age topic:

 

Quote

Illegal opcodes aren't supported yet.

 

[Send data to an Arduino through the joystick port]

Years ago I found online (somewhere!) a STICK(1) to STICK(1) interface; as I recall, the TRIG line was used to signal data waiting.

[Atari: Grad school thesis (Weavemaster and Designer's Delight)]

On 7/21/2023 at 6:26 PM, davidcalgary29 said:

These auctions often remind me of the sci-fi novel A Canticle for Liebowitz: in the future, I can imagine religious cults being founded on obscure A8 carts -- burned with even more obscure art software -- that were found at garage sales.

 

Why wait for the future?

 

Imagine the schisms between the Star Raiders group and the Star Raider group!

 

[Drivers/fonts for software 80 columns]

There's also the FlickerTerm option - two charsets, one in the first four bits, the second in the last four bits, and swapping charsets and screen memory every VBI.  Screen flickers (hence the name) but only needs 2K screen plus 2K charsets, instead of the 9k that bitmapped requires.

[OPINION: Top 5 external peripherals for the Atari 8-bit Computer line]

On 7/15/2023 at 12:04 PM, MrMaddog said:

 

Or Black Box if you lived in the 90's.  : - )

 

MIO wins: External RAMDISK swapped to be boot drive, with homebrew battery backup in case of power failure, to run your BBS.

[1090XL remake]

All we need now is an SIO card to plug the 1090 into an 800 or a 400  

 

[Atari DOSes: DUP.SYS necessary?]

Mr Atari's LiteDos might be worth investigating to free up more memory.

[#FujiNet Game lobby starts to breathe, with Five Card Stud!]

This.  Is.  Awesome!

 

[The simultaneous multiplayer game list.]

33 minutes ago, MrFish said:

Ah, yeah... you're right. I'm not really a MULE player. So, I forgot that.

 

Not really a MULE player?

 

NOTE REALLY A MULE PLAYER??????

 

Ahem.

[Quick-and-simple Atari8 memory map?]

2 hours ago, Harry Potter said:

My target system is the 8-bit Ataris, both 800 and XL, but my MemXAtari library, when used, seems to work only on the Atari 1200XE.  I am using Dir2Atr to create my disk images, and I believe my OS files are for DOS 2.0 but am open to other OSes.  Rybags: I thank you for the info.  It should be useful.  BTW: what is the device E:?

So a system with 48K RAM.  For DOS 2.0S, are you using the default configuration, or are you adding additional drives and additional files (which affects the low memory)?

 

If your system only operates on XL/SE series computers, that suggests that it's actually using the 16K (well, 14K) RAM under the OS, meaning that the 400 and 800 will not work.  Does your compiler use RAM under ROM?

 

If you want additional RAM free, look for Mr Atari's LiteDOS, a DOS 2.0 / MyDOS compatible DOS that will free up an additional 4K of RAM.

[Quick-and-simple Atari8 memory map?]

What is your target system and operating system?

[Best method to detect an ATARI 130XE computer]

Are you also checking for ANTIC banking?  An expanded 800xl may or may not have that ability.

[Cartridge formats with SRAM or equivalent? (for saving game config, high scores, etc.)]

More info on Telelink II: https://atariwiki.org/wiki/Wiki.jsp?page=ATARI TELELINK II

 

User manual: https://atariwiki.org/wiki/attach/ATARI TELELINK II/Telelink_II_Owners_Guide-screen.pdf

 

The cart can store two different phone numbers.

[Cartridge formats with SRAM or equivalent? (for saving game config, high scores, etc.)]

TeleLink II was the original flash memory cart, from 1982.

 

http://www.atarimania.com/utility-atari-400-800-xl-xe-telelink-ii_16405.html

 

[Compiling a new Atari OS...]

There is a Hyper E: patch, that came in both a RAM resident and a "Copy into your own OS ROM" version; believe it was in ANTIC, but may have been ANALOG.

 

EDIT: No, it's John Harris, who included it with MAE.

 

https://www.mixinc.net/atari/mae.htm

https://atariwiki.org/wiki/Wiki.jsp?page=MAE Assembler

 

[Compiling a new Atari OS...]

1 hour ago, reifsnyderb said:

It's an important game.   🥺

 

It's the Most Important Game

[A8PicoCart - UnoCart on a Raspberry Pi Pico]

Who's taking the Pico W to make a PBI Fujinet ?