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HxC Floppy Emulator's quick over-view from official website :
HxC Floppy Emulator (Rev. C)
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The aim of this project is to replace the floppy disk drive by an electronic device emulating the floppy disk drive. |
HxC Floppy Emulator Manager V3
HxC Floppy Emulator Manager V3 in action
This program is designed to run on Amstrad CPC computers. Its main purpose is to select disc images to be used by the HxC Floppy Emulator.
This third major version is a complete rewrite of the original software. It has been compiled against latest version of SDCC C compiler. It features a new user interface (thanks Ced !), better support of the HxC device (detection, release..) and some important bug-fixes. Finally, it now allows proper exit to BASIC (Amstrad CPC's default shell).
To use the software, user needs to launch it via the RUN"HXC" command. Once launched, the software will try to detect the HxC Floppy Emulator device. If detection fails, please refer to official documentation reference (suggestion: have a look on jumper settings). When device is found, the root directory of the FAT32-formatted SDCard will be listed.
Then user can navigate and edit slots through SDCard's folders by using the following keys :
This third major version is a complete rewrite of the original software. It has been compiled against latest version of SDCC C compiler. It features a new user interface (thanks Ced !), better support of the HxC device (detection, release..) and some important bug-fixes. Finally, it now allows proper exit to BASIC (Amstrad CPC's default shell).
To use the software, user needs to launch it via the RUN"HXC" command. Once launched, the software will try to detect the HxC Floppy Emulator device. If detection fails, please refer to official documentation reference (suggestion: have a look on jumper settings). When device is found, the root directory of the FAT32-formatted SDCard will be listed.
Then user can navigate and edit slots through SDCard's folders by using the following keys :
- Up/Down/Left/Right : navigate through folders
- Ctrl+Left/Ctrl+Right: select previous/next slot
- Space/Enter :
- if selection is a folder => enters it and shows its content
- if selection is a file => file will be assigned to current slot
Displaying list of slots
Alternatively, there are other keys available :
Once you are done, you can leave the software. When leaving, user can save or discard changes. The last assigned slot will be automatically selected. If no slots have been edited, then it will select back the original slot used before entering the manager.
- S : displays list of slots
- B : edit buzzer settings. User can turn on/off HxC Floppy Emulator's beep for UI operations and disc-accesses
- ESC : save changes and exit program
- H : displays Help
Once you are done, you can leave the software. When leaving, user can save or discard changes. The last assigned slot will be automatically selected. If no slots have been edited, then it will select back the original slot used before entering the manager.
One of my CPC has a Ramcard
With some dedicated hardware (Bryce's MegaFlash, Ramcard..), it's possible to extend original Amstrad CPC's features with ROMs. ROMs are embedded programs that are always available into separate read-only memory locations. They can be accessed at (almost ;-) speed of light, directly from BASIC without any disc loading.
One of the cool feature of the manager is to be also available as a ROM version. Using such hardware, user can type |HXC at any time (instead of selecting AUTOBOOT.HFE disc image and typing RUN"HXC"). User can find the ROM image inside the AUTOBOOT.HFE disc image under the filename HXC.ROM.
One of the cool feature of the manager is to be also available as a ROM version. Using such hardware, user can type |HXC at any time (instead of selecting AUTOBOOT.HFE disc image and typing RUN"HXC"). User can find the ROM image inside the AUTOBOOT.HFE disc image under the filename HXC.ROM.
Creating HxC Manager V3 using my own IDE, Phactory
I'm not planning to release new versions of the manager (other than maintenance releases, which hopefully should not happen since major testing has been done). This version is supposed to last for years, so let's hope everyone will like it in its current form.
Also, it's important to point that all pertinent features have been implemented and are already available today, in this version. Please don't request anything else. By example, there is a reason if the manager does not support alphabetical sorting : this would require first to completely parse a folder (could take minutes in worst cases), then sorts all its entries. Definitively, this approach is not be adapted to a Z80 3Mhz-based computer, that's why paging has been done instead.
So, that's it. If you have issues with the device itself, please ask your question in the dedicated HxC Floppy Emulator's forum. This also includes connection issues with the computer. If you experience issues with the manager, then feel free to contact me.
Also, it's important to point that all pertinent features have been implemented and are already available today, in this version. Please don't request anything else. By example, there is a reason if the manager does not support alphabetical sorting : this would require first to completely parse a folder (could take minutes in worst cases), then sorts all its entries. Definitively, this approach is not be adapted to a Z80 3Mhz-based computer, that's why paging has been done instead.
So, that's it. If you have issues with the device itself, please ask your question in the dedicated HxC Floppy Emulator's forum. This also includes connection issues with the computer. If you experience issues with the manager, then feel free to contact me.
Changelog
Version 3.0 :
- completely rewritten using Phactory IDE
- compiled against latest SDCC 3.X (was 2.X)
- new user interface (thanks Ced!)
- added better support of HxC device (detection, release..)
- returns to BASIC instead of resetting the machine
Version 2.4 :
- HxC Floppy Emulator device is now detected if configured as drive B:
Version 2.3 :
- faster launch
- fixed bug dealing with spaces in directory names
- new user interface using system font
Version 2.2 :
- fixed continuous reading (folders with 100+ files does not slowdown anymore)
- added minor enhancements to user interface
- fixed navigation problems
- buzzer can now be deactivated
- fixed garbage displayed on screen at startup
Version 2.0 :
- fast text output
- new user interface
Version 1.0 :
- Initial revision. Thanks Jeff !!!!!!!!!!
- completely rewritten using Phactory IDE
- compiled against latest SDCC 3.X (was 2.X)
- new user interface (thanks Ced!)
- added better support of HxC device (detection, release..)
- returns to BASIC instead of resetting the machine
Version 2.4 :
- HxC Floppy Emulator device is now detected if configured as drive B:
Version 2.3 :
- faster launch
- fixed bug dealing with spaces in directory names
- new user interface using system font
Version 2.2 :
- fixed continuous reading (folders with 100+ files does not slowdown anymore)
- added minor enhancements to user interface
- fixed navigation problems
- buzzer can now be deactivated
- fixed garbage displayed on screen at startup
Version 2.0 :
- fast text output
- new user interface
Version 1.0 :
- Initial revision. Thanks Jeff !!!!!!!!!!
