[IntyBASIC] - A more colourful font

GroovyBee · February 15, 2016

I thought this would be more useful in a thread on its own. The example shows how to copy the upper case letter cards "A" to "Z" and digits "0" to "9" from the font in GROM into GRAM and then make use of them.

Screenshot :-

Source code :-

Gram2GromFont.bas

Any problems or questions let me know.

carlsson · February 16, 2016

Cool! And in case you want a bit of italics, I just made this variation. It takes a little longer to run, thus I needed to split up the calls.

REM -------------------------------------------------------------------------
REM PrepareTheFont - Copy the GROM cards of interest into position in GRAM.
REM -------------------------------------------------------------------------
REM
REM Notes:
REM - In IntyBASIC 1.2.4 this function generates 6 warnings due to forward
REM   references at the assembly language phase. *These are safe*, but always
REM  check the project's *.lst file (just in case).
REM - Takes 3 VBLANK ticks to execute.
REM
REM Input:
REM Nothing!
REM
REM Trashes:
REM #junk
REM
REM -------------------------------------------------------------------------
PrepareTheFont: procedure
 
' Copy "A" to "L" into GRAM at index DEF00.
#junk=usr COPYFONT("A",DEF00,12)
 
' Copy "M" to "Y" into GRAM at index DEF12.
#junk=usr COPYFONT("M",DEF12,12)
 
REM The ML routine takes more time, so the calls need to be split further
 
    ' Copy "Y" to "Z" into GRAM at index DEF24
    #junk=usr COPYFONT("Y",DEF24,2)
 
' Copy "0" to "9" into GRAM at index DEF26.
#junk=usr COPYFONT("0",DEF26,10)
 
end
REM -------------------------------------------------------------------------
REM PrepareTheFont - END
REM -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
REM -------------------------------------------------------------------------
REM COPYFONT - Copy GROM cards to GRAM.
REM -------------------------------------------------------------------------
REM
REM Notes:
REM - Takes 1 VBLANK tick to execute.
REM
REM Usage:
REM USR COPYFONT(A,B,C)
REM
REM Input:
REM A - Starting card in GROM to copy data from (source).
REM  B - Starting index card in GRAM to copy data to (destination).
REM  C - Number of consecutive cards to copy.
REM
REM Returns:
REM Nothing!
REM
REM Trashes:
REM r0, r1, r2, r4, r5
REM
REM -------------------------------------------------------------------------
    asm COPYFONT: PROC
asm pshr r5
 
asm ; Convert 1st parameter into an offset in GROM.
asm sll r0, 2
asm sll r0, 1 ; A=A*8
asm addi #$3000, r0 ; A=$3000+(A*
asm pshr r0 ; Stack it!
 
asm ; Convert 2nd parameter into an offset in GRAM.
asm sll r1, 2
asm sll r1, 1 ; B=B*8
asm addi #$3800, r1 ; B=$3800+(B*
asm pshr r1 ; Stack it!
 
asm ; Save the 3rd parameter (length) for later.
asm pshr r2 ; Stack it!
 
asm ; Wait for VBLANK to occur.
    asm call _wait
 
asm ; Get the card's GROM/GRAM start addresses and the number of cards
asm ; to copy from the stack.
asm pulr r1 ; No of cards to copy.
asm pulr r5 ; Destination data pointer in GRAM.
asm pulr r4 ; Source data pointer in GROM.
 
asm ; Copy the data from GROM to GRAM (a cards worth at a time).
    asm @@CopyLoop:
    asm repeat 3 ; Modified (*)
    asm mvi@ r4, r0
    asm slr r0,1 ; Shift right (*)
    asm mvo@ r0, r5
    asm endr
    asm repeat 2 ; (*)
    asm mvi@ r4, r0
    asm mvo@ r0, r5
    asm endr
    asm repeat 3 ; (*)
    asm mvi@ r4, r0
    asm sll r0,1 ; Shift left (*)
    asm mvo@ r0, r5
    asm endr
    asm decr r1
    asm bne @@CopyLoop
 
asm ; Work completed!
asm pulr pc
asm ENDP
REM -------------------------------------------------------------------------
REM COPYFONT - END
REM -------------------------------------------------------------------------

carlsson · February 16, 2016

Or if your Intellivision is on a diet (adjust calls accordingly):

   asm @@CopyLoop:
    asm repeat 8
    asm mvi@ r4, r0
    asm movr r0,r2
    asm slr r0,1
    asm andr r2,r0
    asm mvo@ r0, r5
    asm endr
    asm decr r1
    asm bne @@CopyLoop

You can even combine my two variations for a funky, slender, slated font that only remotely looks like the GROM font.

Edited February 16, 2016 by carlsson

fsuinnc · February 16, 2016

All of this is very cool. Thanks.

GroovyBee · February 16, 2016

If its OK with you carlsson, I'll add your changes into the next version and allow the programmer to select the font style too.

carlsson · February 16, 2016

Absolutely! I was just dabbling with whatever CP1600 instructions are available to see what kind of result I could obtain.

+DZ-Jay · February 16, 2016

I have to ask, what is the reason you copy fonts from GROM into GRAM? If you're making your own fonts for your game, wouldn't it be more effective and practical to define your own character set in ROM to your specifications?

-dZ.

GroovyBee · February 16, 2016

I have to ask, what is the reason you copy fonts from GROM into GRAM? If you're making your own fonts for your game, wouldn't it be more effective and practical to define your own character set in ROM to your specifications?

Its just so that you can use more than the first 8 colours. Some people like the Inty font ya know .

GroovyBee · February 16, 2016

Thanks to carlsson's code you can now select between one of three fonts styles :-

Source code :-

Gram2GromFont.bas

@nanochess: Feel free to include this in the IntyBASIC distribution.

+nanochess · February 16, 2016

Almost I had forget my experiments with fonts years ago based on Texas Instruments datasheet default 8x8 font.

I could not resist the temptation to add a 3D effect and use the new CALL syntax of IntyBASIC v1.2.5

Gram2GromFont.bas

GroovyBee · February 17, 2016

I took nanochess's version and added a simple GRAM font string printer :-

Gram2GromFont.bas

First Spear · February 17, 2016

(redacted)

Edited February 17, 2016 by First Spear

GroovyBee · February 17, 2016

It also uses commands that are only available with the latest IntyBASIC compiler. You can get IntyBASIC 1.2.5 from a link in the 1st post here.

catsfolly · February 17, 2016

This is a cool hack, but...

Shouldn't the file be called "Grom2GramFont.bas"? That what it is called in the source code:

REM Module:			Grom2GramFont.bas
REM
REM Description:	An example of using the GROM font when its been copied to GRAM.
REM Author(s):		Mark Ball, carlsson and nanochess (both from AtariAge)
REM Date:			16/02/16
REM Version:		1.02F

A Gram to Grom Font converter would be a pretty nice trick...

Catsfolly

Kiwi · February 17, 2016

I woke up with an idea how to do this in IntyBASIC. No assembly requires.

mode 0,15
include "constants.bas"
for c=0 to 239
    #BACKTAB(c)=GRAM+CS_LIGHTBLUE+(c*
    next c
	wait
	for #pointer=0 to ((64*-1)
		wait
		#junk=peek($3000+#pointer)
		poke($3800+#pointer,#junk)
	next #pointer
loop:
goto loop

It works. I could make it faster to handle wait when a variable = to the other variable. Then reset that variable.

EDIT changed the 64*8 to ((64* -1) to stop it from writing into the space graphic

Edited February 17, 2016 by Kiwi

catsfolly · February 17, 2016

Here is a version that supports a vertically flipped font, which could be used to provide a "mirror reflection" of the regular font (maybe for a title screen for example).

Not sure how generally useful such a thing would be, but i might use it...

Perhaps it would look better combined with the italics effect...

Grom2GramFont.bas

Catsfolly

Kiwi · February 17, 2016

It could be use as the lettering is over a lake. You could place a blank tile advance colorstack at 200 if the 2nd colorstack is one of the three blue.

GroovyBee · February 17, 2016

I woke up with an idea how to do this in IntyBASIC. No assembly requires.
mode 0,15
include "constants.bas"
for c=0 to 239
    #BACKTAB(c)=GRAM+CS_LIGHTBLUE+(c*
    next c
	wait
	for #pointer=0 to 64*8
		wait
		#junk=peek($3000+#pointer)
		poke($3800+#pointer,#junk)
	next #pointer
loop:
goto loop
It works. I could make it faster to handle wait when a variable = to the other variable. Then reset that variable.

With some unrolling you can do more work per loop (not tested) :-

    #src=$3000
    #dest=$3800
    for #c=0 to (64* step 8
        poke(#dest,peek(#src))
        #dest=#dest+1: #src=#src+1
        poke(#dest,peek(#src))
        #dest=#dest+1: #src=#src+1
        poke(#dest,peek(#src))
        #dest=#dest+1: #src=#src+1
        poke(#dest,peek(#src))
        #dest=#dest+1: #src=#src+1
        poke(#dest,peek(#src))
        #dest=#dest+1: #src=#src+1
        poke(#dest,peek(#src))
        #dest=#dest+1: #src=#src+1
        poke(#dest,peek(#src))
        #dest=#dest+1: #src=#src+1
        poke(#dest,peek(#src))
        #dest=#dest+1: #src=#src+1
    next #c

Kiwi · February 17, 2016

With some unrolling you can do more work per loop (not tested) :-

    #src=$3000
    #dest=$3800
    for #c=0 to (64* step 8
        wait
        poke(#dest,peek(#src))
        #dest=#dest+1: #src=#src+1
        poke(#dest,peek(#src))
        #dest=#dest+1: #src=#src+1
        poke(#dest,peek(#src))
        #dest=#dest+1: #src=#src+1
        poke(#dest,peek(#src))
        #dest=#dest+1: #src=#src+1
        poke(#dest,peek(#src))
        #dest=#dest+1: #src=#src+1
        poke(#dest,peek(#src))
        #dest=#dest+1: #src=#src+1
        poke(#dest,peek(#src))
        #dest=#dest+1: #src=#src+1
        poke(#dest,peek(#src))
        #dest=#dest+1: #src=#src+1
    next #c

It needed a wait in the loop, otherwise it'll partially write the data to the dest before being denied write access. However, with the wait is faster and can write 8 lines of data a frame.

+nanochess · February 17, 2016

Ok, I could not resist the temptation to add a digital font using half of the thinning from Carlsson

Grom2GramFont.bas

GroovyBee · February 17, 2016

I took catsfolly's version and added a reflected font, as well as adding a title to each of the font styles :-

Source code :-

Grom2GramFont.bas

GroovyBee · February 17, 2016

Ok, I could not resist the temptation to add a digital font using half of the thinning from Carlsson

:lol: I'll add this to the next release (which might drop out later).

+nanochess · February 17, 2016

I'll add this to the next release (which might drop out later).

Damn! cross-post! now I will have to wait for adding it to IntyBASIC :lol:

pimpmaul69 · February 17, 2016

Nm. I was wrong.

Edited February 17, 2016 by pimpmaul69

GroovyBee · February 17, 2016

Damn! cross-post! now I will have to wait for adding it to IntyBASIC

I'll leave the update for a couple of hours just in case anybody else comes up with a new font mangling algorithm. Who knew so much mileage could be had from the built in font .

[IntyBASIC] - A more colourful font

Recommended Posts

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Join the conversation

Recently Browsing 0 members