TOOLS.TXT rev 96-09-25
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     THIS DOCUMENT IS COPYRIGHT (C) 1988, 1996 BY HERNE DATA
     SYSTEMS LTD.  THE MATERIAL CONTAINED HEREIN MAY BE FREELY
     USED FOR PERSONAL INFORMATION ONLY.  IF YOU REPRODUCE IT,
     THIS COPYRIGHT NOTICE MUST NOT BE REMOVED.  THIS MATERIAL
     MAY NOT BE EXPLOITED FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES.
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Herne Data Systems Ltd., 
PO Box 250, Tiverton, ON N0G 2T0 CANADA.  
Voice/fax 519-366-2732, 
e-mail hernedata@mail.bmts.com, 
internet: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/herne_data

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C-128 CP/M Hacker's Toolkit


version 2

User's Guide

 

(c) Copyright 1988, 1996
 Herne Data Systems Ltd.



Hacker's Toolkit is a collection of 7 utilities for the C-128 in
CP/M mode.  They provide system extensions for video, serial bus,
and disk drives, as well as memory exploration tools. The tools
work with all standard versions of C-128 CP/M.  Instructions for
each of the utilities is described below.


The Fine Print
==============
 
C-128 Hacker's Toolkit is a copyrighted program written by Miklos
Garamszeghy for Herne Data Systems Ltd.  You may reach us at:

          Herne Data Systems Ltd.
          PO Box 250
          Tiverton, ON N0G 2T0 CANADA

          voice/FAX (519) 366-2732
          
          e-mail:   hernedata@mail.bmts.com or
                    72060.1153@compuserve.com

          http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/herne_data
                                                                  
     ============================================================

     Note:     C-128 Hacker's Toolkit is no longer fully
               supported by Herne Data Systems Ltd.  We regret
               that we are unable to provide any future updates
               to the program.  However, it is being released as
               "freeware" for the benefit of those who may still
               have a use for it.   (Visit our website, or
               contact us by e-mail if you find any of the
               programs useful.)

     ============================================================

DRIVE.COM
=========
Some older CP/M software does not recognize drive M: (the C-128
CP/M RAM disk).  This program allows you to change the disk drive
assignments used by C-128 CP/M mode.  By changing the RAM disk to
a lower drive letter, say C: or D:, the older software will
usually work with the RAM disk.

  SYNTAX:
    DRIVE                displays summary help screen
    DRIVE RESET          Restore default drive assignments
    DRIVE ?              Get current drive assignments
    DRIVE x/z            Swap logical drive letters x and z

  Example:
    DRIVE M/D            Device 11 is now drive M: and the RAM
                         disk is drive D:

Note:     You should avoid re-assigning drive E: (the virtual
          drive) because it may cause problems with the operating
          system.


EXP.COM  
=======
EXP is the C-128 CP/M Memory Explorer.  It will allow you to view
and/or edit any part of C-128 CP/M memory space, including RAM
disk memory and 80 column video memory.  EXP is designed to work
with an 80 column display, in ADM emulation mode.

When the memory display is shown on the screen, the following
keys can be pressed:
 
Key  Function
====+===============================================
S    set new memory parameters  [mode:address:bank]
      mode:  I = Z80 I/O ports,  M = main memory
             R = RAM disk,       V = VDC memory
             C = 8502 memory
      address:  0 to FFFF for all modes
      bank:  0 to 3 for M or C;  0 to 7 for R
E    go to edit mode            
^H   for help screen
P    toggle printer on/off       
Q    quit, return to CP/M
+    read next 256 bytes         
-    read previous 256 bytes
====+===============================================

The heart of the EXP display is the S key.  By specifying the
memory parameters, you can jump to any location in the CP/M
memory space.  An example of a memory specification would be:
M:800:0 which would display address hex 800 on bank 0 of the main
memory.  (This is normally part of the CP/M system area.)  You
can download a C-128 Memory Map from our website at:
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/herne_data/cpm.htm
that will give you a list of many interesting areas to look at. 
Use the + and - keys to move forward and backward in memory, one
page at a time.  The P key will toggle the "echo to printer" mode
on and off.

The EDIT mode allows you to edit the displayed memory range as
ASCII text.  Move the cursor around ASCII display on right hand
portion of screen using cursor control keys <UP>, <DOWN>, <LEFT>
and <RIGHT> at the top right of the main keyboard.  Type in new
ASCII text where required.  Press <ESC> to return to memory
display mode without keeping changes; or <TAB> to keep changes.
Press <SHIFT>-<CRSR-LEFT/RIGHT> at bottom right of main keyboard
to go to PATCH mode for editing HEX codes.

The PATCH mode allows you to edit the displayed memory range as
HEX data.  Move the cursor around HEX display on left hand
portion of screen using cursor control keys <UP>, <DOWN>, <LEFT>
and <RIGHT> at the top right of the main keyboard.  Type in new
hex digits where required.  Press <ESC> to return to memory
display mode without keeping changes; or <TAB> to keep changes.
Press <CRSR-LEFT/RIGHT> at bottom right of main keyboard to
go to EDIT mode for editing ASCII text.

Control-H will display context sensitive help screens.


MOVEROM.COM
===========
Move-ROM creates an image of the Z-80 ROM from BANK 0  (address
000 to FFF) in BANK 1 (address 4000 to 4FFF) where it can be
examined using SID.COM or a similar program.  Once the ROM image
has been created, you will also have the option to save it as a
disk file.



XFORM81.COM
===========
The early versions of C-128 CP/M did not support the 1581 3-1/2
inch drive.  XFORM81 provides formatting support.  It should be
used in conjunction with PATCH81.COM, which adds 1581 support to
the CP/M operating system file CPM+.SYS.

The program operates through a series of menu screens.  The first
screen prompts you to enter a drive letter for the 1581 drive,
such as B:.

The next screen prompts you to insert a blank disk into the
drive.

A status screen is then displayed until the disk formatting has
been completed, at which point you will be asked if you wish to
format another disk.

Note that the MG-1581 format is not compatible with the
"official" Commodore 1581 CP/M format used in the later releases
of C-128 CP/M.  However, you can still maintain support for it
using the Jugg'ler program.  (Available from our web site).


PATCH81.COM
===========

This program should be used to patch the C-128 CPM+.SYS file to
allow full support of the 1581 disk capacity.  The new disk
format, called <MG1581>, is similar to EPSON QX-10, but has
twice the disk capacity.  New disks can be formatted using the
XFORM81.COM program.

PATCH81.COM uses a series of prompt screens.  The first prompt
will ask you to select a drive which has the CPM+.SYS file on it.

NOTE:     Use work disks only! Do not use PATCH81 on your
          original system disks unless you are sure that you do
          not want to keep the original version of the CPM+.SYS
          file.  Always make a backup of your original CPM+.SYS
          file before running PATCH81.

The second prompt asks you to insert the CPM+.SYS disk into the
selected drive.

A status screen is displayed as the file is read and the patch is
made.

You must re-boot the CP/M system before you can use the new disk
format. The modified file will indicate 1581 compatability in the
boot up message.


SCREEN.COM
==========

Screen Switcher will switch between the 40 and 80 column screens,
or turn them both on at the same time.

Type in         To
----------------------------------------
SCREEN          See what is on
SCREEN 80       Turn on 80 column screen
SCREEN 40       Turn on 40 column screen
SCREEN BOTH     Turn on both screens    
----------------------------------------


SPORT.COM
=========
This program allows you to send commands to or read messages from
serial bus devices in C-128 CP/M mode.

Syntax:
    SPORT /D<device> /S<secondary address> {/C<command string>}

 Examples: 
SPORT /D8 /S0F /C'I0'    sends the string 'I0' to the command
                         channel on disk drive device #8.

SPORT /D9 /S0F           will read the error channel on device
                         #9.

SPORT /D4 /S1B           will open device #4 (printer) with a
                         secondary address of 27.

SPORT /D8/SF/C'U0' A     will send the command string 'U0'
                         followed by the byte hex 0A (decimal 10)

Note:     all values for /D, /S, and byte portions of /C should
          be in hexadecimal format.$

SPORT will display the result code, if any of the command that
was passed to the device.

