mvdsteenoven Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 BootLoader BASIC is the answer to two requests on the ATARIAGE forums; To be able to start BASIC programs when turning on the Aquarius computer just like a cartridge and to have the most common used machinecoded routines available. After experimenting with a script to convert a .CAQ file into a .BIN file, BootLoader Basic v2.0 is now the new version to create bootable BASIC programs on the Aquarius. Together with the Virtual Aquarius, BLBasic provides a complete environment to create, test and dump your BASIC programs. BLBasic v2.0 adds the following new commands and functions:- GET - Get (an area of) the screen into array Syntax: GET (x1,y1)-(x2,y2), array- PUT - Put array back to screen Syntax: PUT (x1,y1), array, action- SCR - SCReen scrolling or background color Syntax: [ UP | LEFT | DOWN | RIGHT | color ]All these commands can be used in your own ROM file as well.To create your own BASIC ROM:Load the BLBASIC.ROM in the Virtual Aquarius.Next load your BASIC program by typing, quick type or loading cassette.Type the command LDUMPIMPORTANT: Before pressing RETURN check the Virtual Aquarius printer settings!Go to Configure -> Printer and configure the "Filename for Printer Output"Make sure you send the output to a new file (!)After checking the printer settings press RETURN at the LDUMP commandRename the output file extension from .txt to .rom or .bin and load the file into the Virtual Aquarius.NOTE: After the LDUMP statement the created ROM will be in a "STATIC" or "FINAL" state and cannot be changed. Any changes should be done against the original source code (cassette file or quick type text file). BLBasic v2.0.zip The zip file includes the following:README.TXT - this textBLBASIC.ROM - ROM to load into the Virtual AquariusBLB-Manual.pdf - An enhanced manual in PDF format with many examples and technical informationManual Examples - A folder with all examples from the manualDemo - Demo BLBIRD.TXT to test BLBASIC/LDUMP functionalitySOURCEv2.0.ZIP - Z80 assembly code to create BLBASICVersion release:v1.0 - 04/01/2014 - First releasev1.1 - 08/01/2014 - Bug fix; Set RESTORE and redirect intermediate mode Bug reported by "pset" at atariage, dd. 07/01/2014v2.0 - 14/12/2014 - Added commands 3 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/232773-aquarius-blbasic-v20/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaybird3rd Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 Thank you, Martin! I'm glad to see you back with a new Aquarius project; I'm finally finding the time to get back to it myself. Good choice on the new commands: being able to copy and move arrays of characters and do four-direction scrolling opens up lots of exciting possibilities. I'll give this a try next week! Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/232773-aquarius-blbasic-v20/#findComment-3133190 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvdsteenoven Posted December 14, 2014 Author Share Posted December 14, 2014 Hope you'll like it! Regs, Martin 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/232773-aquarius-blbasic-v20/#findComment-3133210 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquaman Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 Great job Martin! These new commands are very much appreciated! Also I really like the professional touch you have given this project by adding that nice Aquarius style manual Hopefully more people will give programming on the Aquarius a try now.It has never been any easier to make some nice things happen in Basic. Keep up the good work Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/232773-aquarius-blbasic-v20/#findComment-3133817 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pset Posted December 24, 2014 Share Posted December 24, 2014 Bravo on this, great stuff. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/232773-aquarius-blbasic-v20/#findComment-3139006 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvdsteenoven Posted December 24, 2014 Author Share Posted December 24, 2014 PSET reported a bug with BLBird. Turns out if you start Virtual Aquarius and start immediate a ROM created with BLBASIC (like BLBird) it will report a FC error when a PUT command is used. If you start Virtual Aquarius, load BLBasic v2.0, press ENTER, and then load BLBird -> everything runs fine. In other words, the PUT command was not correctly initialised in BLBoot modus. This is a bugfix v2.1 for BLBasic, it only contains the ROM and source. Please use BLBasic v2.0 for the manual and examples. BLBasic v2.1.zip Kind regards, Martin 2 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/232773-aquarius-blbasic-v20/#findComment-3139181 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pset Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 If you type "Scroll Left" Or "Scroll Right" or even "Scroll bob" etc and hitting return causes the screen to goe black. You can type CLS in the black screen mode to recover your Aquarius, but we lose bug hunting details. Here's some wonderful Aquarius colors to scroll 5 CLS 10 A = 12289+39 15 B = A + 1024 20 FOR X = 0 TO 15 30 FOR Y = 1 TO 39 35 POKE (B+Y),X+Y 200 R=INT(10*RND(1)+1) 400 NEXT Y 450 SCR DOWN 500 NEXT X 600 GOTO 20 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/232773-aquarius-blbasic-v20/#findComment-3143515 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pset Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 Oh never mind that SCROLL bug, I see its setting SCR OLL and OLL = 0. Changing background color is a handy function. Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/232773-aquarius-blbasic-v20/#findComment-3143763 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mvdsteenoven Posted January 1, 2015 Author Share Posted January 1, 2015 Oh never mind that SCROLL bug, I see its setting SCR OLL and OLL = 0. Changing background color is a handy function. Indeed, the Aquarius BASIC interpreter doesn't need spaces between commands and/or variable name. It recognises SCR as the statement but didn't recognize OLL and asumes it is a variable (OL as Aquarius only accepts 2 letter variable names). So this is standard behaviour. You can play around and use commands like SCRUB or SCREENWIPE Regs Martin 1 Quote Link to comment https://forums.atariage.com/topic/232773-aquarius-blbasic-v20/#findComment-3144050 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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