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Re: Flopper

Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2016 9:49 pm
by StarshipUK
XorA wrote: All the code exists to do this nice and easilly, but I won't have time for a while, but take the mdvtool that MIST guy wrote and combine it with qltools for making .img files and your sorted, instant zip->.img file converter.

I will eventually do this, but be nice if someone else could :-D
Does this mean the files will need more work then simply copying them across? That mdvtool mentions microdrive images (MDV FIles?) to erase data from the MDV file and write it to a ZIP file. I don't really understand as I do not have any MDV files and the files are already inside standard windows ZIP files. I am trying to write disk images and not microdrive images. I don't think I have come across any MDV files yet. So will I just need to use QLTools to convert ZIP>IMG file then?

Re: Flopper

Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2016 10:22 pm
by RWAP
StarshipUK wrote:Thanks. I read the guide. It explained how to copy the files using the HxC software, but does not provide a step-by-step of what I need to do in qemulator to create the blank raw disk and copy the files from the ZIP files to the blank raw disks. I am guessing there are some specific commands involved and it is not as easy as just dragging and dropping. All it says is:
"what we did was to create a blank disk image and then use qemulator to copy existing files and programs across". It would be great to have a step by step for newbies that have not used the QL before of how to do that.
I see what you mean - I will upload a blank disk image file when I get chance (or someone else can).

If you have the registered vesion of q-emulator, start the emulator and press F1 or F2.

Drive slots appear as black blocks (numbered 1 to 8) underneath the main screen.

Then click on the slot 1 and attach the blank disk image as drive 1.
Click on slot 2 and attach the zip file as drive 2.

Then type:
WCOPY flp2_ TO flp1_

That is all you need to do.

If you do not have the registered version of q-emulator, you cannot attach a zip file directly to the emulator, so you would need further instructions as to how to unzip the file inside the emulator first of all.

Re: Flopper

Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2016 10:41 pm
by StarshipUK
RWAP wrote:
StarshipUK wrote:Thanks. I read the guide. It explained how to copy the files using the HxC software, but does not provide a step-by-step of what I need to do in qemulator to create the blank raw disk and copy the files from the ZIP files to the blank raw disks. I am guessing there are some specific commands involved and it is not as easy as just dragging and dropping. All it says is:
"what we did was to create a blank disk image and then use qemulator to copy existing files and programs across". It would be great to have a step by step for newbies that have not used the QL before of how to do that.
I see what you mean - I will upload a blank disk image file when I get chance (or someone else can).

If you have the registered vesion of q-emulator, start the emulator and press F1 or F2.

Drive slots appear as black blocks (numbered 1 to 8) underneath the main screen.

Then click on the slot 1 and attach the blank disk image as drive 1.
Click on slot 2 and attach the zip file as drive 2.

Then type:
WCOPY flp2_ TO flp1_

That is all you need to do.

If you do not have the registered version of q-emulator, you cannot attach a zip file directly to the emulator, so you would need further instructions as to how to unzip the file inside the emulator first of all.
Thank you for the information. I don't have the registered version yet. It sounds the blank disk image is created using the HxC software rather than q-emulator? I am sure when I try it, it will all make sense. Do the games packs you sell come in a format ready to use for what I am trying to do? (QL, Joystick Adaptors (currently being made), Trump Card, HxC Floppy Drive (or Gotek) to load games).

Re: Flopper

Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 8:11 pm
by dilwyn
Attached are DD (720K-1440 sector) and HD (1440K-2880 sector) blank QL disk images created in QemuLator. I had to zip them as the Forum doesn't allow .img files to be uploaded directly.

I have never used HxC or Gotek, so no idea how suitable these images might be.

If anyone wishes to create blank images in QemuLator (must be a registered copy) - click on a drive slot, select the CREATE command, FLOPPY IMAGE, the filename dialogue appears, tell it where to create the disk image and give it a filename, then in the dialogue box which appears enter a medium name and select DD (Double Density) or HD (High Density) disk image, finally click OK.

Re: Flopper

Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 8:51 pm
by RWAP
Thanks Dilwyn - that has saved me a little job - those disk .img files are fine for using with my instructions for converting to HFE format using the HxC Software on the PC.

As for whether my games box-sets come in a format ready to be used with the HxC....

No - as the games box-sets are provided on QL formatted floppy disk.

If people want the disks converting to HFE format I could do that - it would probably be useful (when I get time), although I don't know how many people use the HxC with the QL.

Re: Flopper

Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 9:48 pm
by dilwyn
RWAP wrote:Thanks Dilwyn - that has saved me a little job - those disk .img files are fine for using with my instructions for converting to HFE format using the HxC Software on the PC.

As for whether my games box-sets come in a format ready to be used with the HxC....

No - as the games box-sets are provided on QL formatted floppy disk.

If people want the disks converting to HFE format I could do that - it would probably be useful (when I get time), although I don't know how many people use the HxC with the QL.
Not knowing enough about HxC and Gotek...if those images I made are OK, would it work if I just unzipped individual games on my site to individual disk images? Would they work as QL type executables or would they have to be QemuLator format executables? What about the device name in the disk images - FLP or something else for HxC?

Re: Flopper

Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2016 10:16 pm
by dilwyn
I meant for general disc image use, I'll have a look at the HxC article for making HxC images.

Re: Flopper

Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2016 8:31 am
by RWAP
dilwyn wrote: Not knowing enough about HxC and Gotek...if those images I made are OK, would it work if I just unzipped individual games on my site to individual disk images? Would they work as QL type executables or would they have to be QemuLator format executables? What about the device name in the disk images - FLP or something else for HxC?
Yes, you can just unzip individual games to individual disk images (.IMG) files as if you were copying them to floppy disk so the device name is indeed an issue as they need to use FLP as per a floppy disk.

Even worse - q-emulator reports an error if you try to use FLP_USE mdv because it does not need that command! Perhaps Daniele just needs to implement this command as a null command?

Those who want to use these disk images with the HxC and/or Gotek, would then need to convert the disk images using the HxC software - I think they both use the same .HFE format for images, but have never used a Gotek.

Re: Flopper

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2016 6:00 am
by StarshipUK
Derek_Stewart wrote: Hi,

The Gotek drives I have are the 1.44Mb models with a 3 digit display.

I will see if it work on a Trump Card, since if HD drives are attached a Trump Card, they are seen as DD drives. So maybe the 1.44mb Gotek could work as a 720K drive.

I checked ebay and the Floppy Emulators (Gotek) are still the same price of £12.37-£12.50 shipped from China.
Hi Derek,

Been doing more Gotek research and it seems Amiga (and other retro machine users) users have a preference for the specific model: SFRM72-FU-DL for some reason.

Did you have a chance to see if your 3 digit 1.44Mb Gotek Drive will work with a Trump Card as a 720k drive?

Re: Flopper

Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2016 9:19 am
by Derek_Stewart
Hi,

Sorry I have been a little busy with other things.

I have a Gotek flashed for the Amiga, wihich is a 3 Digit 1.44mb drive.

The other unflashed Gotek I have is the same type as the Amiga one. I will try this out and report back.

But in a message from QLObi
I have both a 1.44Mb connected to a Goldcard and a 720kb connected to a Trumpcard. Both working fine ! A physical floppy is in paralell jumpered to B to allow transfer with a floppy.
His configuation allows to work with some older Software which doesn't like to be rerouted from FLP1_. (EKOTEk flight sim, FTC and a lot of older softw.)

At the Edinburgh meeting was to few time to show and test everything.
You need to preformat the USB stick on a PC with the supplied programm.
I will have a look at this over the next few days, I have a Trump Card and a Gold Card so can test the adapter on a range of Floppy densities.