STMIDIEX (Copyright 1988,1990 by Harry Wootan) -------- Version 1.40, 9/8/90 STMIDIEX is a midiex sysex librarian for the Atari ST. It was developed using GFA BASIC and is distributed as shareware by Polk Products. If you find that you can use STMIDIEX, please send a $5.00 contribution (or any amount you feel led to send) to me at Polk Products P.O.Box 36782 Birmingham, AL 35236 U.S.A. (Note: You can print this address, along with your version number, from the "ABOUT STMIDIEX" drop-down menu selection in the program. Nice and convenient to help you remember!) STMIDIEX may be copied for your own or others' use. It may be uploaded to any BBS for downloading by other parties. HOWEVER, this document file (STMIDIEX.DOC) must accompany any copy of STMIDIEX. =================== UPDATES: =================== 9/8/90 Version 1.40 -- Speeds up the sysex receive processes (which I had "inadvertently" slowed down with the 1.20 changes). Enlarges the MIDI receive buffer to better accommodate the larger sysex messages that can now be received. Display a status as messages are sent or received -- the number of MIDI bytes sent or received (about every 2 seconds). Fixes bug in saving received messages exceeding 32000 bytes in length. Fixes a memory-hogging problem that cropped up in a "beta" version (1.30/1.31) when receiving multiple sysex messages. 7/29/90 Version 1.20 -- Removes limitation on size of sysex message handled. Old limit of 32000 bytes replaced by "unlimited" (dependent on memory). Also removes limitation of 6 messages received via MULTIPLE RECEIVE option. New limit is 512 messages, each of which can be up to 32000 bytes in length. Provides "delay switch" to allow pauses of 100ms or 250ms (or no pause) between transmitted sysex messages. Allows loading of ANY file -- even non-sysex files. Only a warning is provided if the file is not the correct format. (This eliminates need for converter program for "bad old files".) 3/4/90 Version 1.10 -- Minor cosmetic changes. Includes STMXCONV.PRG to convert "bad" earlier STMIDIEX files into usable sysex files. 3/3/90 Version 1.08 -- Adds screening of controllers. Fixes related bug that saved "non-sysex" files (with no X'F0' in first byte). Those files actually were sysex files with one or more bytes appended to the beginning. These appended bytes resulted from controller messages sent to STMIDIEX during the receipt of sysex messages. 11/12/89 Version 1.07 -- Converts to GFA BASIC Version 3.0 from Version 2.0. 9/16/89 Version 1.06 -- Cleans up monochrome screens. (Sorry, I had forgotten.) =================== STMIDIEX - Description ---------------------- STMIDIEX is designed for either mouse-oriented or keyboard-oriented use. It runs on either a color monitor (medium resolution only) or a monochrome monitor. STMIDIEX allows the exchange of sysex files that are stored in the midiex format, which is the "pure" sysex format as transmitted via MIDI. Files that are found on many BBS's can be loaded to your MIDI devices by using STMIDIEX, even if the files were originally saved on another computer (eg. IBM, MAC, etc). STMIDIEX provides the following features: receive sysex via MIDI, save sysex file, load sysex file, and transmit sysex via MIDI. The following briefly describes these (and other) functions. STMIDIEX - Functions -------------------- Use the available HELPS for details on the use of STMIDIEX. Or refer to the descriptions given below. Most functions can be accessed via mouse clicks OR via keyboard commands (single characters). For each function, the keyboard equivalent for selecting the function is given in parentheses after the function name. (The keyboard equivalent is also provided in the text of the drop-down menus.) - LOAD FILE (L): Select a previously saved sysex file (or a file downloaded from a BBS) for loading into STMIDIEX. - SAVE FILE (S): Save a file that contains a sysex message that has been received as a single sysex message via MIDI. - RECEIVE (R): Receive a single sysex message via MIDI. STMIDIEX will wait 10 seconds for the sysex message to begin. A single sysex message received via this option can be any size, depending on your ST's available memory. NOTE: A RECEIVE does NOT cause an automatic SAVE of the received data. - TRANSMIT (T or X): Transmit via MIDI the sysex message(s) that were last loaded. Multiple messages can be sent ONLY if they were previously saved in a single "combined" file, in which case that file can be loaded and then transmitted. Some MIDI devices require a brief pause between sysex messages that are received by the device. If your device requires such pauses, you can toggle a delay switch by pressing "D" on the keyboard anytime the menu bar is active. A brief message on the screen will indicate whether you are setting the delay to 100ms, setting it to 250ms, or setting it to be OFF. The default is OFF. Use the delay switch only if necessary. You may need to experiment to determine whether the delay is needed for your device. Using the delay switch can cause the total time required for sending a sysex message to double. - MULTIPLE RECEIVE (M): Receive one OR MORE sysex messages via MIDI. STMIDIEX will wait 10 seconds for the first sysex message to begin. Up to 512 separate sysex messages can be received via this option. EACH of these messages can be up to 32000 bytes in length. The number of messages that can actually be handled depends the size of each message and your ST's available memory. After selecting MULTIPLE RECEIVE you'll be prompted with a second selection. Use the mouse (or keyboard equivalent) to select either 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 messages. If you need to receive more than 5 messages (or if you don't know how many you'll need to receive), then select "TO" (TimeOut). With the "TO" option STMIDIEX will continue to receive sysex messages until 3 seconds has elapsed without a message appearing. After STMIDIEX has received the multiple sysex messages, you'll be prompted to save the messages. Select either "SEPARAT" or "COMBINE" to save the multiple messages as individual files or as a single combined file. Selecting "SEPARAT" will provide a prompt for each message showing the length of teh message and asking for the filename. - PURGE MIDI BUFFER (P): Cleans STMIDIEX's MIDI buffer of any "left- over" MIDI data. (Note: It's wise to use this feature is you think you have somehow become "out of sync" with your MIDI device -- such as would happen if you send a message from your MIDI device BEFORE you are ready to receive it with STMIDIEX.) - ALL NOTES OFF (space): Sends a Note-Off message for each note on each MIDI channel. Use this to free up any notes that become "stuck" on. Thanks for using STMIDIEX. Harry Wootan (GEnie--> H.WOOTAN; CIS--> 71451,700)