Hey, I recently got one of these, and Wikipedia article on it says:

"The 1700 and 1750 had a resistor at position R4 that, according to Commodore engineer Fred Bowen, compensated for subtle differences in the expansion port on the C64 and C128. The 1764 lacked that resistor. Bowen and other CBM engineers recommended against using a 1764 with a C128 unless the resistor was added, or a 1700/1750 with a C64 unless the resistor was removed."

Anyone know what this is about?  I dont want to take a chance at damaging my 128 due to not having this resistor installed.

These things are always relative, of course, but Ive managed to put together a very basic C128 collection consisting of:

1 16K VDC C128
1 1571 Floppy drive
1 1581 Floppy drive - using custom build power supply from a PC
1 1764 RAM Expander - for some reason missing the case, but board plugs in and works fine
1 1351 compatible mouse
1 Flexidraw light pen
1 Aprotek Minimodem-C 1200bps
1 1084 compatible (40 and 80 column) monitor
Custom RS-232 connector for BBSing through the PC
XM1541 unit for connecting to PC running 64HDD
1 Commodore 16 computer


I think thats it for now.  If I were to post this out onto ebay, what do you guys think it might pull in?  Its really probably not a fair question... Ive seen REUs go for anywhere between $30 and $150.  I dont see them often, nor the 1581s, light pens, or the Commodore 16s.  Just trying to get a general guesstimate of what value there might be here. No intentions of actually selling though, so of course my own valuation is pretty high.

Might as well ask you guys too - whats in your collection ( minus software)? (I know its a scary topic for some, having boxes and boxes of stuff...)

Found this site:

http://members.optusnet.com.au/vortex69/DRIVERS/DRIVERS.htm

All sorts of drivers there.

http://cgi.ebay.com/XETEC-Lt-Kernal-Hard-Disk-20-Meg-Commodore-64-128-MIB_W0QQitemZ320222741844QQihZ011QQcategoryZ74945QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


I wouldnt mind it, but for the eventual price, 64HDD beats it anyway... it will be fun to see how high this one gets.

What do you use your 128 for?  I thought this might make a good poll topic, but I think there's alot here to add rather than stock choices.  Those who know me, know I enjoy programming the 128, and I like picking apart software to see how it was written. Ive always been intrigued by GEOS and how the whole event driven development works under the hood.  Being a much simpler system than, say, Windows, GEOS shows how a bare bones event driven operating system or shell works.  When I first tried to learn programming Windows under Win32, I was SO confused. But being a developer by trade, coding on the 128 reminds me why I do what I do - because it's creative and enjoyable.  And it's cool to see a 20+ year old machine do some of the same things that we consider "innovative" today.

Telecommunications was fun back in the day, but today the Internet makes it not very interesting anymore.  If local dial up BBSs still existed, Id definitely be a user.  Today people dont even ask for a modem to be installed in their PC anymore.

I also collect as much Commodore software as I can find, which makes sites like this very helpful. Nostalgia mainly - I dont play the games much.  And hacking to some degree, getting it to do things it wasnt meant to do (setting up 64HDD was quite cool).   Finally, since I have a larger payroll than I did when I was 10, Im having fun playing withe some of the toys I couldnt afford back then via ebay.

jerk.




(i feel better now.)

Hey guys, just wanted to toss out something that is evolving out of the edit128 application... looks like with the need for drop down menus and such, that Ive actually started a windowing library for the 128.  Its coming along slowly, but here's a sample of the code:

void main()
{
   Window win;
   Label label1;
   Label label2;
   Button btnOK;
   Button btnCancel;

   win.x1 = 10;
   win.y1 = 5;
   win.x2 = 59;
   win.y2 = 16;
   win.style = WINDOW_STYLE_REVERSE;
   win.bgcolor = COLOR_WHITE;
   win.mode = WINDOW_MODE_NONDESTRUCTIVE;

   Window_Initialize(&win);

   label1.x = 0;
   label1.y = 0;
   label1.text = "This is label1";

   label2.x = 2;
   label2.y = 4;
   label2.text = "This is label2...";

   btnOK.x = 12;
   btnOK.y = 8;
   btnOK.text = "    Ok    ";
   btnOK.onclick = NULL;

   btnCancel.x = 25;
   btnCancel.y = 8;
   btnCancel.text = "  Cancel  ";
   btnCancel.onclick = NULL;

   Window_AddControl(&win, &label1, 1, CONTROL_TYPE_LABEL);
   Window_AddControl(&win, &label2, 2, CONTROL_TYPE_LABEL);
   Window_AddControl(&win, &btnOK, 3, CONTROL_TYPE_BUTTON);
   Window_AddControl(&win, &btnCancel, 4, CONTROL_TYPE_BUTTON);

   Window_Draw(&win);

}

It uses the save / restore for a non destructive dialog window, and you can define event handler functions for things like buttons and textboxes.  Will post more when its more complete.  I think Contiki is already doing something like this, but its available if you would like to poke around with it.

Thanks

X

Ok, so I bit the bullet...ML didnt necessarily beat me, but its definitely not fun after awhile   So, Ive recoded the edit128 app using CC65.  For those unaware, its a MS-DOS edit.com clone.  The interesting part was delving into the world of function pointers to handle the drop down menus and their actions.  The code isnt the prettiest right now, but Ill clean it up in a few days and post it.  Stuff like this really helps get a grasp on how event driven apps work under the hood.  I will say this amount ML though - the code is MUCH smaller even though it wasnt the best code in the world either.  This is at a really good starting point as far as getting a community project off the ground, and so Im curious if any C programmers might be interested in helping get this thing finished up and improved upon.  Again, the ML version lives at:

http://www.scotthutter.com/c128/

and Ill put the C version up there soon.  Let me know if anyone is interested in helping out.

Thanks

X

Hey guys, working on my editor program, and Im having a hard time with upwards scrolling of the text window. What I imagine that I need to do, is (within the current window), copy line 22 to 23, then 21 to 22, then 20 to 21, etc.  Anyone know of a way to do this using the BASIC ROM?  I want to avoid trying to peek into VDC ram for this, and just let the ROM handle it.  Scrolling down is covered, but going up is apparently a problem. (obviously the screen editor doesnt do this, but im hoping there is a routine that copies a line to another line).

Anyone know how to perform SYS calls within cc65?

Anyone have a copy of Abacus's Becker Basic? Thanks in advance - Cant seem to locate a D64 for it.

So we all know why Vic-20 was named as such, the 64 and 128.  But with Amiga, Commodore went all weird on us.  First, there was the Amiga, renamed to the Amiga 1000.  Next was the 2000 I think...ok so far...then step back to the Amiga 500. A machine more powerful than the original. Somewhere they introduce the 2500.  Next would be the 3000 and 4000 series, um ok makes sense... Finally we get all flaky with the 1200 and 600.

Anyone have any insight as to whats up with Commodore's numbering system?

This one doesnt show up on searches for SX-64 because the auction was stated as "Commodore 64".  But its an SX-64.  I thought about it, but Im still trying to catch up with a plus 4 and vic-20.

http://cgi.ebay.com/commodore-64-computer_W0QQitemZ200196223209QQihZ010QQcategoryZ74945QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Copied from the LINKS section.  User Hannez has put together a great resource site for Power C here:

http://freenet-homepage.de/hannenz/powerc/powerc.html

I have this book on order, coming soon.  Would like to get it scanned or something.  It's pretty big, but would be worth the info I think.  I'll keep the group informed as I learn more.

Hey guys,

There has been some interest here on Super C and Power C. Im curious, for the developers out there, if writing a new C compiler for the 128 might be an interesting project? I am a coder at heart, but admittedly, Ive never written a compiler. Written a number of interpreters, but no compilers. C *seems* to me to be a much easier language to write a compiler for, especially with all the free C compilers (with source) that are out there.  Thoughts?

heheh... ok, Im going to toss my hat into this ring to help break the three way tie (see current scores)..

How many pages are in the GeoProgrammer's Reference Guide?

Based on my understanding of the threads, the current scores are:

"Legacy from the Plus/4" : micheal hart  (Edit: Point awarded to airship - see below) (Edit: Point disputed and removed lol!)
"Stop Me" : hydrophyllic
"Useless argument" : airship
"Heres another" : hydrophyllic
"128 trivia" : BilHerd
"Computer Crash" : Golan Klinger
"Two Button Joystick" : Golan Kinger
"New Quiz" : Guest
"C128 Schematic Blunder" : Mangelore

Hydrophyllic, Golan, and Airship are currently tied for the lead... need more trivia to break this tie!

Edit: Three way tie still exists! 

In 80 column 128 mode, type the following line and hit RETURN

POKE DEC("D600"),28:POKE DEC("D601"),63:SYS DEC("FF62"):SCNCLR

If the screen looks normal, you have 64K of video RAM. If the screen fills
up with zeros, you have 16K.

FINDING BASIC STRINGS FROM ML

BASIC's string descriptors are stored in the C64 and C128 in much the same way, the only major difference being where they are stored.
It is possible to get all the information about a string you may need, from its descriptor, amd it is not as hard to find as you might think.

First, we need to know a little about the descriptor. Each non-array  variable descriptor is 7 bytes long.  Here is what is stored in these 7 bytes:

1st byte contains the ASCII value of  the first letter of the variable. If  our string were AB$, then this location will contain a 65 ($41).

2nd byte contains the ASCII of the second character (letter or number) of the variable, (zero if none). Therefore, with the variable AB$ this location should contain a 66 ($42), BUT!!!

In order for BASIC to recognize this variable as a string, Bit #7 of the second byte is set. So, the value here is not 66 ($42), but 66 plus 128, or 194 ($C2). If the variable were just A$, then the value would be 128 ($80).

The other non-array variables are identified as follows:

Defined FN -Bit#7 of 1st byte set
Integer(%) -Bit#7 of both bytes set
Numeric    -Bit#7 of both un-set

3rd byte of the descriptor, contains the string length. This should help to explain why a string cannot be over 255 characters long.

4th byte contains the LO-byte AND..

5th byte contains the HI-byte of the  actual address in memory where the string data is stored. This address can be in the BASIC program area, or in the string storage area.

6th and 7th bytes are not used, and contain zeros.

Now we know what the string descriptor is. Now we will locate it.
The starting address of the non-array variable descriptors storage is pointed to by the pointers in VARTAB, and the end by the pointers in ARYTAB.

         C-64                          C-128
     --------------            --------------
VARTAB 45-46($2D-$2E)  47-48($2F-$30)
ARYTAB 47-48($2F-$30)  49-50($31-$32)

With this information, all that is necessary is to write a routine that will find the descriptor of let's say, A$ like this.

Search memory from the location pointed to by VARTAB to that pointed to by ARYTAB, looking for the bytes 65 and 128 ($41 & $80).
When these are found, then the next 3 bytes contain the string length, and the location in LO/HI byte order,  respectivly, of the string stored in the A$ variable.

INDIRECT Y addressing works well for this routine in the C-64, and in the 128, if you locate your code in BANK 1, since this is where the descriptor is stored in the C-128.

Of course, you can locate your code anywhere in memory, and use the KERNAL INDFET routine to get the descriptor.

Now you know where the string data is located, and how long it is, so you can manipulate it to suit your needs. Be aware that you can not make it any longer then it was originally defined from BASIC, or you'll clobber something else.

If you plan to manipulate the string from ML for future use in BASIC, you should make sure you initially define it long enough to suit. Any length up to 255 is
permitted. Something like this can be used.

     FORI=1TO255:A$=A$+" ":NEXT

6502:
http://www.6502.org/

6502 Instruction Set:
http://e-tradition.net/bytes/6502/6502_instruction_set.html

Second Book of Machine Language Programming:
http://www.atariarchives.org/2bml/index.php

Introduction to 6502 Assembly:
http://www.obelisk.demon.co.uk/6502/

C128 Assembly Programming
http://folkvagn.commodore64.org/c128assembly.htm

Hey guys, I've posted the source to a 6502 emulator C# class and a sample app on my site at:

http://www.scotthutter.com/c128/

Just rummaging through some stuff and figured I might as well update the page with some older projects Ive had laying around.  I havent done much with this particular project in about a year, but last I recall, it should be working 100%.  I remember I was considering writing a C64 emulator in C#, and wanted to work on the CPU core first. Do as ye will....  all I can tell you is that I learned A TON about the opcodes and such when I was working on this, and was a pretty fun project to work on, even though there is code for this all over the place.  Maybe someone might find it useful.

Thanks

X

Been thinking about the "child boards" feature of this new system. For those of us who do code, I think that maybe having child boards for C=128 languages would help to locate language-specific information or ask the right audience questions.  "128 Programming" would then be a catch all, general board.  Do you agree?  I envision something like..

128 Programming (general)
  |
  +--BASIC 7
  +--BASIC 8
  +--Assembly
  +--C
  +--GEOS
  +--Other
  +--Community Projects   <--- board for discussion of current projects we might be working on

I have a case where I need to use JMP's indirect ability, but in a manner similar to JSR/RTS, such as

1F00  do something...
1F40  JMP ($138A)    <--- Jumps to address pointed to by $138A
1F45  continue on...   <---- but i want to somehow come back here when done

Problem is, I want to be able to come back after doing the extra work...much like a JSR/RTS.  Can I somehow use PHP to save where I am, so that I can JMP back to where I came from?  JSR/RTS is what I really need to do, but I need to do it indirectly.

Anyone know how to properly include another source file in a 6502TASS assembly file?  The docs for this assembler state just this:

+--------------------+
|.include |(*)
+--------------------+
  Includes other source to the source. All labels are global and must be
  unique in both sources.

Given this:

.include consts.asm

This doesnt appear to work - the assembler always answers with

Assembling file:  main.asm
**Error** main.asm(1) Not defined CONSTS


Ive went with path and file extension assumptions, and renamed and moved the file, etc, but no luck.

The assembler is located at:  http://www.zimmers.net/anonftp/pub/cbm/programming/msdos/index.html

In the other thread about the 1551, it reminded me that the 16 does have an "expansion" port of some kind.  Would it be possible to run a modem out of this port?

Ok, I finally quit being lazy and created a C128 page on my website so I can publish code Im toying with.  Right now I have the current snapshot for the ms-dos like editor for the 128.  Guys, Im no expert, and this is my first big project with ML, so thats my disclaimer.  It doesnt do much right now other than set up the editor screen and allow text entry. Once I get all the character and scrolling routines in, Ill start work on the menu systems.  The source is included, so feel free to red-pen it and let me know what I could be doing better.  Thanks

http://www.scotthutter.com/c128

Anyone know the POKE for switching to fast mode?

Hey Lance,

I notice when loading a page, it's redirecting to no-ip.com, a dynamic ip.  Is the site not actually hosted on commodore128.org?

Noticed the graphic image at the top of the page seems to be rotating now.  Dunno if its intentional or Lance is swapping out some graphics. Pretty nice though - maybe we can get a photoshop banner competition going

Hey guys,nice to see this one pop up too.  I recently got a C16 from Ebay, but the thing doesnt appear to work.  It didnt come with a power supply, and I know its a different (reverse - shell is positive, center is neg) supply. I did hook up a power supply, correctly as best as I can tell, and still nothing. Any ideas or tips on what I can look for to get this old fellow working again? Not that it bothers me too much... its just more a collector item that Im holding on to, but it would be great if I was to get it working again.

Nice link.  Wonder if we could have something here in the site like this:

http://members.tripod.com/~Frank_Kontros/kernal/addr.htm

Ya know... just go to Commodore128.org to look up various kernal routines, instead of having to drudge through a list of bookmarks or favorites of other sites which may someday go away... all in one handy-dandy place...  Like a C128 Reference link or something...

Anyone know how to do this? Id like to be able to call BASIC 7's window command via assembly to limit where text goes.

If the plus 4 didnt have sprites, how did they manage to compensate for that?  Looking around I see that the plus4's game scene is actually well established.  Just curious how this was accomplished without sprites.

Its not a 128 or 64, but theres a really good VIC forum over at:

http://sleepingelephant.com/denial/

Reason I bring this one up is that there appears to be alot of 6502 coders there, so there's alot of interesting ML tidbits in the programming forums.  

Looks like a well developed community, and some of our regulars are members there.

In the midst of everything else Im doing, I ran into an issue with 64HDD thats kind of a mixed blessing... I have so many files and directories, that finding what I want is a pain. Im thinking of writing a DOS-like shell, with commands to manipulate and get around the drive.  (Commands like dir, cd, ren(ame), copy, etc).  Anyone know if something like this already exists (for 64HDD)?

Well, I tried it... battle after battle to get there (wasnt 64HDDs fault... numerous issues trying to get a DOS based PC...ugh).  Anyway, it works flawlessly.  Feels weird working with what is basically a new C= harddrive. Long filename support got me though.. I copied my D64 library out to a CD-ROM, and then onto the PC, but apparently the CD copy stripped away all the long filename stuff.  Vista gives you two CD creation options - readable on all machines, or open session - readable on XP and above.  Absolutely amazing work those guys did on the software.  Anyone have any advice or tips on using 64HDD?  Am anxious to see how GEOS handles it.

Hey guys in terms of relative rarity these days, what would you consider some of the most rare Commodore hardware?

I ask because I recently came into posession of a C16, and it looks like they are somewhat hard to find.  (C65 excluded of course).  From what I can tell, the 16 and plus 4 computers (and peripherals) are relatively rare, and PET computers from the earlier line.  Any thoughts?

Hey guys, can someone confirm that Little Computer People fails to run properly under 1.22?  1.21 seems to run it fine where 1.22 messes up the graphics.  Wondering if its my settings or the emulator.

By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent Thu Dec 27, 5:52 PM ET

DES MOINES, Iowa - His neighbors know him as Sam Nodle, but fans of the Commodore 64 computer, circa 1980's, knew him as their "Little Computer Person".  Nodle passed away at his home in Des Moines, after a long battle with the rare condition anulargro, refered to as "Green Face".  Nodle was 65.

Nodle is survived only by his pet dog, Barkley.  Services will be held on December 31, 4pm at the First Baptist Church in Des Moines.

I read the following off an old Slashdot article... can someone explain what this is about?

--------------

Well if you want to cook a C64, there is a BASIC command that may do it:

WARNING: Use of this is at your own risk! May destroy hardware! Not recommended for any machine you'd like to keep! I WILL NOT BE HELD LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGE WHATSOEVER

POKE 53270, PEEK(53270) OR 32

I did it and I could feel heat coming up from the keyboard and a smell like thermal paste overheating or something.

I turned it off very quickly and it did survive.

It was responsive and with a normal display right until I cut the power.

Some C64 docs say bit 5 of register 53270 is the reset bit for the VIC controller.

Some just say, ominously:

"ALWAYS SET THIS BIT TO 0!"

Why a reset bit would cause an overheat is beyond me. Anyone have a clue? I'd really like to know what is so bad about setting that bit. I was hoping it would just be a reset bit.

Curious, do any of you maintain a blog site or website (C= related of course).

Wow... so I actually in earnest did some poking around with GeoProgrammer today.  See if I could actually write something that would do something.  Man... without docs, its just not going to fly.  There is apparently alot to GeoAssembler and Linker that one must understand before the tools can be useful.  I assumed that even very simple ML programs (as simple as LDA #$00 and RTS) would at least assemble and link, but GeoProgrammer had its own ideas.  Docs are a must.  Then the pain of actual development on Vice or a real 128.  Certainly theres things you can do on VICE to speed up the emulator (I run GEOS at 200%, WITH emulated REU), and its still painfully slow when you're used to today's development environments.  It takes a patient person to do this kind of work on the real thing.  Im actually rather surprised that Berkley made developers use GeoWrite to do the coding in.  Its a fair enough word processor, but using it for development it is way overkill.  GeoWrite makes it more painful than it needs to be.

A few months back I messed around the cc65 and the geos library.  Gotta say... unless you like pain or *really* want to relive the old days, cc65 is probably the only way to do it anymore.  Im curious to hear of other's experience with it, if anyone has done so.

Hey guys, I dont have a copy of the documentation for GeoProgrammer, and as I understand, its pretty hefty.  Id love to get ahold of it, but I dont think its really available yet in any electronic form.  Searching around, I found some of the commonly used directives for GeoAssembler.  If anyone knows of any others, please add them here.

directives:

.if
.endif
.include
.header  ; begin Geos header definition
.endh     ; end Geos header definition
.byte "string", 123, $00
.block 123-300  ; skips a number of bytes
.macro  MacroName param1, param2..
.endm  ; end macro definition
.text "CBM text string"  ; assembles into CBM codes

I was out on cbm emulators newgroup and i noticed...its pretty quiet out there.  (other than some moron MI Persecution guy)... Which leads one to ask... is VICE pretty much finished?  Sure the occasional bug fix or two, but all in all - is there anything more they could add to make it better?  Whats on your wishlist for VICE at this point?

Hey guys,

Im working on a CBM disk image .NET library written in C#.  The signature for the methods currently are:

namespace CBMDiskImage
{
    interface IDiskImage
    {
        bool LoadImage(string filename);
        bool SaveImage(string filename);
        void FormatImage(string name, string ID);
        List GetDirectoryEntries();

        DriveStatus LoadFile(string filename, out byte[] data);
        DriveStatus RenameFile(string originalName, string newName);
        DriveStatus CopyFile(string srcFile, string destFile);
        DriveStatus SaveFile(string filename, byte[] fileData);
        DriveStatus DeleteFile(string filename);
    }
}

Right now, it works with D64 images, but I hope to add D71 and D81 images once its complete.  For the D64 images, CopyFile() and SaveFile() still need work... the BAM allocation and such.

Anyone who has written anything like this knows how somewhat complicated this part is (the BAM stuff).  My initial jump into the BAM was the completion of the Delete() method, and its working quite well, so Im on the right track I think.

Are there any other .NET developers out there who might be interested in jumping in on this project?  Thus far, Ive seen Java code as C code for these things, but nothing as of yet for .NET languages. Let me know and we will find a place to host this.  Maybe Lance could set up something while its in development and then we could later move it to sourceforge.

Hey folks, Im looking for a 1541-II at a fair price.  Im really needing the power supply actually.  Rather than fight the ebay bids, Im wondering if a kind, generous sole would consider giving one up to a good home.  PM me if you can help.  It is...after all... the season of giving :rodna:

thanks

Anyone know what Kickstart ROM is needed to run WB 2.04?  I have found 3.1 ROM, but I dont know if this will work in the A500.  I dont think the 1.3 ROM will run WB 2.04.

This link has many popular ADFs of Amiga apps.  You can find games just about anywhere, but few people post app software.  I think this is a bad thing for any aging platform.  Eventually they will disappear forever otherwise.  

http://www.pictureinthesky.net/applications.php

Hey guys,

I need a quick basic prog that will do the BAM calculation of blocks free on a 1541 disk. I know that the 4th byte of the BAM (T18, S0), added up is supposed to give this value, but Im way off for some reason. On the test/demo disk for the 1541, i keep coming up with 492 blocks free, instead of the 558 that is presented by the Commodore 64/128.

If you can help, thanks in advance.