Click here to download latest version (HxC Manager V4.1)
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 V4.1
HxC Manager V4 in action
This program is designed to run on Amstrad CPC/Plus computers. Its main purpose is to select disc images to be used by the HxC Floppy Emulator. Please take note this is also compatible with all the Gotek devices.
This fourth major version is a complete rewrite of the original software.
The most noticeable improvements in this version are:
This fourth major version is a complete rewrite of the original software.
The most noticeable improvements in this version are:
- User can now edit up to 20 slots (previous version: 15 slots was the max.)
- New UI, removed old "demomaker style" presentation, now displaying more files on screen (with longer filenames)
- DEL key added to move back to parent folder while navigating
- The manager now skips DSK files when using a HxC SD/Slim device
- The Help page now reports the firmware version + build date of the Manager
- Switched compilation to SDCC 4.2.0 (resulting better Z80 implementation)
- Now compiled using RASM from roudoudou (previous version: Pasmo)
- Now compressed using ZX0 packer (previous version: the good old Bitbuster)
- Smaller binary (11KB) resulting a faster load from BASIC prompt (previous version: 16KB)
The "Help" page now reports the Firmware version + build date
To use the software, user needs to launch it via the command RUN"HXC". Once launched, the software will try to detect the HxC Floppy Emulator/Gotek device. If the detection fails, please refer to official documentation reference (suggestion: have a look on jumper settings). When a device is found, the root directory of the FAT32-formatted storage (SDCard, USB key...) will be listed.
Once the device is detected, the user can navigate and edit slots through the folders by using the following keys :
Once the device is detected, the user can navigate and edit slots through the folders by using the following keys :
- Up/Down/Left/Right : navigate through folders
- DEL : go back to parent directory
- 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
Now up to 20 slots can be edited in the Manager V4!
Alternatively, there are also other keys available :
When leaving, 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 the buzzer settings. User can turn on/off HxC Floppy Emulator's beep for UI operations and disc-accesses
- ESC : save changes (or not) then exit the program
- H : displays Help
When leaving, 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.
Old photo of one of my CPC having a Ramcard and a HxC Floppy Emulator
With some dedicated hardware (X-MEM, M4, ULIfAC, USIFAC, Bryce's MegaFlash, or even the original Ramcard...), it's possible to extend original Amstrad CPC/Plus'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 the BASIC prompt without any disc loading.
One of the nice 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 HXCV4.ROM.
One of the nice 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 HXCV4.ROM.
Note on the file sorting unavailable in the manager:
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 sort all of its entries. This approach is not be adapted to a Z80 3Mhz-based computer with 64KB of RAM, that's why unsorted paging has been applied instead (ordered by file write on the SDCard/USB storage).
A work-around for this is to sort the files directly on the SD Card/USB key. Such programs exist for all the operating systems, for example Debian Linux has the fatsort program for this purpose.
Finally, 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.
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 sort all of its entries. This approach is not be adapted to a Z80 3Mhz-based computer with 64KB of RAM, that's why unsorted paging has been applied instead (ordered by file write on the SDCard/USB storage).
A work-around for this is to sort the files directly on the SD Card/USB key. Such programs exist for all the operating systems, for example Debian Linux has the fatsort program for this purpose.
Finally, 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 4.1 :
Version 4.0 :
Version 3.0 :
Version 2.4 :
Version 2.3 :
Version 2.2 :
Version 2.0 :
Version 1.0 :
- crash-fix + new keys for the Amstrad CPC 464 users: Shift+LEFT/RIGHT to select slot, COPY key to assign to current slot
- upgraded from SDCC 4.2 to SDCC 4.3 (provides slightly better ASM code for faster FAT32 parsing)
- does not assume anymore that AMSDOS ROM is at ROM 7
Version 4.0 :
- User can now edit up to 20 slots (previous version: 15 slots was the max.)
- New UI, removed old "demomaker style" presentation, now displaying more files on screen (with longer filenames)
- DEL key added to move back to parent folder while navigating
- The manager now skips DSK files when using a HxC SD/Slim device
- The Help page now reports the firmware version + build date of the Manager
- Switched compilation to SDCC 4.2.0 (resulting better Z80 implementation)
- Now compiled using RASM from roudoudou (previous version: Pasmo)
- Now compressed using ZX0 packer (previous version: the good old Bitbuster)
- Smaller binary (11KB) resulting a faster load from BASIC prompt (previous version: 16KB)
Version 3.0 :
- completely rewritten using Phactory IDE
- compiled against latest SDCC 3.X (was 2.X)
- new "demomaker-style" 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 !!!!!!!!!!
