Difference between revisions of "En:EP32 manual"

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English version is just being translated from Hungarian, please be patient!
 
 
 
=Introduction=
 
=Introduction=
The EP32 and the [[EP128Emu manual|EP128emu]] Enterprise emulators exist for PC. EP32 is the work of Béla Vincze (Egzo) and can be run only in Windows operating systems. It has somehow more modest capabilities than EP128Emu but it is easy to configure and anyone can learn using it easily. It can be downloaded here:  http://web.axelero.hu/egzo/ep/ep32-120.zip After downloading it doesn't need to be installed, it can be run at once.
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The EP32 and the [[EP128Emu manual|EP128emu]] are Enterprise emulators for the PC. The EP32 is the work of Béla Vincze (Egzo) and can be run only in Windows operating systems. It has somewhat more modest capabilities than the EP128Emu but it is easy to configure and anyone can easily learn to use it. You can download it from here:  http://web.axelero.hu/egzo/ep/ep32-120.zip   After downloading it doesn't need to be installed, and it can be run at once.
  
  
 
=Some essential information=
 
=Some essential information=
After starting the emulator, first an emulated memory-test of some seconds can be seen (like in the real Enterprise computers) and an ENTERPRISE inscription appears flashing in different colours. You can go on by pressing any key and you enter the BASIC as default where basic commands can be given. You can read about these commands in the Enterprise Programming Guide (available here in PDF format: http://ep.homeserver.hu/PDF/Enterprise_Programming_Guide.pdf ).
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After starting the emulator, you will first see an emulated memory-test for a few seconds (as in the real Enterprise computer) and an ENTERPRISE logo appears flashing in different colours. You can continue by pressing any key, and as the default you will enter BASIC, where Basic commands can be given. You can read about these commands in the Enterprise Programming Guide (available here in PDF format: http://ep.homeserver.hu/PDF/Enterprise_Programming_Guide.pdf ).
  
  
 
=Loading Enterprise programs into the emulator=
 
=Loading Enterprise programs into the emulator=
Beginners mostly would like to try the programs downloaded from the net. The easiest way to do this is to emulate an Enterprise computer with a cassette tape recorder.
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Beginners would mostly like to try out programs downloaded from the net. The easiest way to do this is to emulate an Enterprise computer with a cassette tape recorder.
  
  
 
==Emulation of a machine with a cassette tape recorder==
 
==Emulation of a machine with a cassette tape recorder==
In the beginning the programmes could be loaded into the Enterprise using a tape recorder, the floppy disk and drive spreaded only later. When emulating a machine with cassette tape recorder the emulator reads files from the hard drive of PC. To emulate a machine with cassette tape recorder you have to do the following:
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In the early days of the Enterprise, programs could only be loaded into the Enterprise using a tape recorder; the floppy disk and hard drive capabilities appeared later. When emulating a machine with cassette tape recorder, the EP32 actually reads files from the hard drive of the PC. To emulate a machine with cassette tape recorder you have to do the following:
  
1. Copy the program to be tried into a certain directory, with all its files of course. (Having downloaded a rar or zip file it has to be unpacked first.)
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1. Copy the program to be loaded into any chosen directory, with all its files, of course. (If you have downloaded a rar or zip file, it must be unpacked first.)
  
2. Using the emulator choose '''Hardware''' menu and '''load memory config''' then choose '''original EP with tape'''. (Thus you can emulate an Enterprise with a single cassette tape recorder.)
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2. Run the emulator, choose the '''Hardware''' menu and '''load memory config''', and then choose '''original EP with tape'''. (This will emulate an Enterprise with a single cassette tape recorder.)
  
3. In the '''File''' menu choose '''Select directory for tape''' and point the directory where the desired files have beed copied previously into (see the first step here).
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3. In the '''File''' menu choose '''Select directory for tape''' and point to the directory where the desired files have been copied previously (see the first step above).
  
''Attention! Putting the different files of the desired program into sub-directories within the chosen directory, the emulator cannot load the program!Copy all the files into this directory and don't create another directory within it with this purpose.''
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''Attention! If you put any files of the desired program into sub-directories within the chosen directory, the emulator will not be able to load the program! Copy all the files into the same directory and don't create any sub-directories within it.''
  
  
Thus if you give the ''START'' command (in BASIC) (or press 1 on numeric keyboard) after starting the emulator, a window will appear where you can select the file you want to load. When loading a game this file should be one with ''COM'' extension because it is either a stand-alone program or a loader which loads e.g. ''PRG'', ''SCR'' files. These last mentioned file types cannot be run in themselves. (Do not be confused by the fact that PC DOS programs also have the extension COM.)
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Now if you give the ''START'' command (in BASIC) (or press 1 on the numeric keyboard) after starting the emulator, a window will appear where you can select the file you want to load. When loading a game, this file should be one with a ''COM'' extension, because it is either a stand-alone program or a loader, which will load e.g. ''SCR'' and ''PRG'' files. These last mentioned file types cannot be run by themselves. (Do not be confused by the fact that PC DOS programs also have the extension COM.)
  
Besides the ''COM'' files you can directly load files with ''TRN'' (game with eternal life), ''BAS'' (basic programs) and ''EXT'' (system extension) extensions.
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As well as ''COM'' files, you can also directly load files with the extension ''TRN'' (game with eternal life), ''BAS'' (basic programs) or ''EXT'' (system extension).
  
  
Emulating a machine with cassette tape recorder saving files is unfortunately not possible. So do not write programs this way because you cannot save them! Furthermore the programmes which run only with a machine with floppy drive do not work this way (there are only a few programs like that). If you want to save using the emulator (e.g. a basic program) you have to emulate a machine with floppy drive because the emulator cannot save files into the PC's hard drive (into "cassette tape"), files can be saved only to a floppy disk.
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When emulating a machine with cassette tape recorder, it is unfortunately not possible to save files. So do not write programs within this type of emulation, because you will not be able to save them! Furthermore you can not use tape recorder emulation for programs which run only on a machine with floppy drive (there are only a few programs like that). If you want to save a program (e.g. a basic program) using the EP32 emulator, you must emulate a machine with floppy disk drive.
  
 
==Emulation of a machine with a floppy drive==
 
==Emulation of a machine with a floppy drive==
You have to have a floppy drive in your PC even if it is a more and more out-of-fashion device. To emulate a machine with a floppy drive you have to do the following:
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You have to have a floppy drive in your PC, even though this device is becoming more and more out-of-fashion. To emulate an Enterprise machine with a floppy drive you must do the following:
  
1. Using the emulator choose '''Hardware''' menu and '''load memory config''', then select any of the configurations differing from the ''original EP with tape'' (all of them emulate a machine with a floppy drive excepting this one).
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1. Using the emulator choose '''Hardware''' menu and '''load memory config''', then select any of the configurations other than ''original EP with tape'' (all of them except this one emulate a machine with a floppy drive).
  
2. In '''File''' menu at '''configure disk drives''' you can associate the PC floppy disk drive(s) to the emulated Enterprise drives. Instead of drive floppy image file can be set as well. Using a floppy image is faster but you cannot save to it (it's "write protected").
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2. In the '''File''' menu, at '''configure disk drives''', you can associate the PC floppy disk drive(s) with the emulated Enterprise drives. Instead of a floppy drive, you can select a floppy image file. Using a floppy image is faster but you cannot save to it (it's "write protected").
  
Emulating a machine with floppy drive, you have first to copy the files of the program desired to the floppy disk, of course.  '''It's essential that before starting emulation of a machine with floppy drive all the Windows programs be closed that may use the floppy drive. Even in the Explorer the floppy content should not be open. Run the emulator only after closing the programs mentioned!''' Otherwise the emulator won't read the floppy at all.
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When emulating a machine with floppy drive, you must first copy the files of the desired program to the floppy disk, of course.  '''It's essential that before starting emulation of a machine with floppy drive, you must close all Windows programs that may use the floppy drive. Even in Explorer the contents of the floppy drive should not be displayed. Run the emulator only after closing all such Windows programs!''' Otherwise the emulator won't read the floppy at all.
  
Saving files this way, they will appear on the floppy disk. If you want to check from Windows Explorer what the emulator saved to the floppy disk, you have first to close the emulator, otherwise Windows won't detect the new files on the floppy disk. The emulator entirely blocks floppy drive so we can't access it meanwhile with another software.
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You can save files with this type of emulation, and they will appear on the floppy disk. If you want to check from Windows Explorer what files the emulator has saved to floppy disk, you must first close the emulator; otherwise Windows won't detect the new files on the floppy disk. The emulator entirely locks the floppy drive, so you can't access it from any other software while the emulator is still running.
  
  
On how to use floppy drive you can read in the [http://www.ep128.hu/Ep_Konyv/Exdos.htm Enterprise EXDOS felhasználói kézikönyv]. (Sorry, Hungarian only.)
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For instructions on how to use the floppy drive, see [http://ep.homeserver.hu/Dokumentacio/Konyvek/EXDOS/EXDOSeng.htm The Enterprise Disk System Manual].
  
 
==Using a floppy image==
 
==Using a floppy image==
Floppy image készítéséhez a DOS alatt működő CPDRead programra van szükségünk ([http://www.enterpriseforever.org/letoltesek_downloads/epimgconv-t358.0.html;msg9978;topicseen#msg9978 Innen] letölthető).
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A floppy image is loaded into a virtual floppy disk drive (rather than a real hardware floppy drive). To create a floppy image, CPDRead software is needed, which runs in DOS mode. (You can download it [http://www.enterpriseforever.com/letoltesek_downloads/epimgconv-t358.0.html;msg9978;topicseen#msg9978 here]).  [http://www.ep128.hu/Emu/VFD21.rar Virtual Floppy Drive] is a suitable alternative.
  
Az emulátorban a ''File'' menüben a ''configure disk drives'' menüpontot választva beállíthatjuk, hogy milyen betűjelű meghajtóként szeretnénk az image fájlt használni. A ''drive a:'', ''drive b:'', ''drive c:'', ''drive d:'' valamelyike alatt jelöljük be az ''use disk image''-t, és az ''insert'' gombbal keressünk rá az elmentett image fájlra! A ''remove'' gombbal eltávolíthatjuk virtuális meghajtónkból az image fájlt.
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A drive letter can be assigned to the image file in ''File'' menu, ''configure disk drives''. Under one of ''drive a:'', ''drive b:'', ''drive c:'', ''drive d:'' tick ''use disk image'', then click ''insert'' button to add the previously saved image file. Use the ''remove'' button to remove the image file from the virtual drive.
  
Ismét megjegyeznénk, hogy ha floppy image fájlt használunk, nincs lehetőségünk elmenteni az emulátorral a fájlokon végzett módosításainkat az image fájlba.
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Note again: when using a floppy image, it's not possible to save modifications to the image file! You will only be able to save files using real floppy disks.
  
 
=Links=
 
=Links=

Latest revision as of 22:55, 16 February 2011

Introduction

The EP32 and the EP128emu are Enterprise emulators for the PC. The EP32 is the work of Béla Vincze (Egzo) and can be run only in Windows operating systems. It has somewhat more modest capabilities than the EP128Emu but it is easy to configure and anyone can easily learn to use it. You can download it from here: http://web.axelero.hu/egzo/ep/ep32-120.zip After downloading it doesn't need to be installed, and it can be run at once.


Some essential information

After starting the emulator, you will first see an emulated memory-test for a few seconds (as in the real Enterprise computer) and an ENTERPRISE logo appears flashing in different colours. You can continue by pressing any key, and as the default you will enter BASIC, where Basic commands can be given. You can read about these commands in the Enterprise Programming Guide (available here in PDF format: http://ep.homeserver.hu/PDF/Enterprise_Programming_Guide.pdf ).


Loading Enterprise programs into the emulator

Beginners would mostly like to try out programs downloaded from the net. The easiest way to do this is to emulate an Enterprise computer with a cassette tape recorder.


Emulation of a machine with a cassette tape recorder

In the early days of the Enterprise, programs could only be loaded into the Enterprise using a tape recorder; the floppy disk and hard drive capabilities appeared later. When emulating a machine with cassette tape recorder, the EP32 actually reads files from the hard drive of the PC. To emulate a machine with cassette tape recorder you have to do the following:

1. Copy the program to be loaded into any chosen directory, with all its files, of course. (If you have downloaded a rar or zip file, it must be unpacked first.)

2. Run the emulator, choose the Hardware menu and load memory config, and then choose original EP with tape. (This will emulate an Enterprise with a single cassette tape recorder.)

3. In the File menu choose Select directory for tape and point to the directory where the desired files have been copied previously (see the first step above).

Attention! If you put any files of the desired program into sub-directories within the chosen directory, the emulator will not be able to load the program! Copy all the files into the same directory and don't create any sub-directories within it.


Now if you give the START command (in BASIC) (or press 1 on the numeric keyboard) after starting the emulator, a window will appear where you can select the file you want to load. When loading a game, this file should be one with a COM extension, because it is either a stand-alone program or a loader, which will load e.g. SCR and PRG files. These last mentioned file types cannot be run by themselves. (Do not be confused by the fact that PC DOS programs also have the extension COM.)

As well as COM files, you can also directly load files with the extension TRN (game with eternal life), BAS (basic programs) or EXT (system extension).


When emulating a machine with cassette tape recorder, it is unfortunately not possible to save files. So do not write programs within this type of emulation, because you will not be able to save them! Furthermore you can not use tape recorder emulation for programs which run only on a machine with floppy drive (there are only a few programs like that). If you want to save a program (e.g. a basic program) using the EP32 emulator, you must emulate a machine with floppy disk drive.

Emulation of a machine with a floppy drive

You have to have a floppy drive in your PC, even though this device is becoming more and more out-of-fashion. To emulate an Enterprise machine with a floppy drive you must do the following:

1. Using the emulator choose Hardware menu and load memory config, then select any of the configurations other than original EP with tape (all of them except this one emulate a machine with a floppy drive).

2. In the File menu, at configure disk drives, you can associate the PC floppy disk drive(s) with the emulated Enterprise drives. Instead of a floppy drive, you can select a floppy image file. Using a floppy image is faster but you cannot save to it (it's "write protected").

When emulating a machine with floppy drive, you must first copy the files of the desired program to the floppy disk, of course. It's essential that before starting emulation of a machine with floppy drive, you must close all Windows programs that may use the floppy drive. Even in Explorer the contents of the floppy drive should not be displayed. Run the emulator only after closing all such Windows programs! Otherwise the emulator won't read the floppy at all.

You can save files with this type of emulation, and they will appear on the floppy disk. If you want to check from Windows Explorer what files the emulator has saved to floppy disk, you must first close the emulator; otherwise Windows won't detect the new files on the floppy disk. The emulator entirely locks the floppy drive, so you can't access it from any other software while the emulator is still running.


For instructions on how to use the floppy drive, see The Enterprise Disk System Manual.

Using a floppy image

A floppy image is loaded into a virtual floppy disk drive (rather than a real hardware floppy drive). To create a floppy image, CPDRead software is needed, which runs in DOS mode. (You can download it here). Virtual Floppy Drive is a suitable alternative.

A drive letter can be assigned to the image file in File menu, configure disk drives. Under one of drive a:, drive b:, drive c:, drive d: tick use disk image, then click insert button to add the previously saved image file. Use the remove button to remove the image file from the virtual drive.

Note again: when using a floppy image, it's not possible to save modifications to the image file! You will only be able to save files using real floppy disks.

Links