Changes to V3.91 (02/16/94) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Fixed floppy recognition code. argh! ************************************************************************** Changes to V3.9 (02/15/94) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- * Goodbye floppy problems...hello 'multi-os.device'! It's done! Integrated the long awaited multi-os.device support. This device driver now handles all of the floppy functions (SYBIL.library is no longer used). The multi-os.device is a standard Amiga device driver that goes into your DEVS: directory, just as other any device driver does. So what does it do? Well, in short, multi-os.device has the ability to read/write/format IBM 720K, IBM 1.44mb, MAC 1.44mb, Atari ST 360K, Atari ST 720K, Atari ST multi-sector, EMPLANT, and AMAX disk formats using the standard Amiga disk drives (1.44mb requires high density drive). This device driver should also now let those people with the Power Computing's high density external floppy drive use it with the emulation. Since we don't have one, it has not been tested... but, as long as the patches put in by the Power Computing software patch trackdisk.device, everything should work fine. Multi-os.device uses full track reads/writes, meaning that interrupts, and DMA contention no longer have any effect on floppy access. Because of this, the MAC's mouse pointer moves freely and the Amiga can be accessed without the 'lockup' experienced with the previous floppy code. The speed of the device driver is completely dependant on the speed of the version of trackdisk.device you are using (v2.x or v3.x OS), as multi-os.device does all of it's reading/writing using the commands: TD_RAWREAD and TD_RAWWRITE. No other functions of trackdisk.device are used. Typically, you'll average 21K per second reads and writes using EMPLANT, AMAX, or IBM 720K formats (writes with IBM disks will be slower due to the fact that all writes must start on the index mark). Multi-os.device can be used with CrossDOS. Just replace the device name (mfm.device) with 'multi-os.device' and set the FLAGS to be 3 if you are going to be using low-density IBM disks, or 10 if you are going to be using high-density IBM disks. The speedup you'll get using multi-os.device will definately be noticeable, especially when it comes to writing data. Reads are approximately 20% faster, and writes can be up to 250% faster depending on the disk format (low/high density). * Added Amiga parallel support! You can now use your Amiga's parallel port to print from the emulation. Make sure that you setup your device driver (parallel.device/unit 0 is the default Amiga parallel port). You can use any parallel device driver you would like. Port 'A' is typically used for modems by the MAC, however, it can also be used for printers too, since you can only print via the serial ports with a real MAC, either port can be used. Most people using AppleTalk are forced to use Port 'A' for their printing as a printer can not be used on the AppleTalk port (Port 'B') without disabling AppleTalk. THIS IS NOT THE CASE WITH OUR EMULATION! You can still have your printer data go out to the Amiga's parallel printer port AND have AppleTalk active, all while using Port 'B', this frees up an extra serial port. Make sure that you select CHOOSER and select the proper port (one that matches the port selected in the emulation setup menu). YOU WILL NEED THE APPROPRIATE MAC-SIDED PRINTER DRIVER!!!! Even though the printing is being re-directed to the Amiga's parallel port, you still need a printer driver for the MAC. If you do not have the proper printer driver, you will not be able to print (but then again, you wouldn't be able to print with a real MAC without the proper driver). We have tested the parallel support with many public domain drivers and Power Print (highly recommended). WARNING: If you are using Power Print with background printing on, make sure that you remove the Apple 'PrintMonitor' program... it conflicts.. took us awhile to figure out that one, since it only conflicts when printing to Port B (we are sure it has to do with our AppleTalk over-ride... and the PrintMonitor program is not happy about it). :-) * AMIGA SERIAL PORT SUPPORT HAS NOT BEEN IMPLEMENTED AT THIS TIME. IT WILL BE IN V4.0. * Added support for 96 bit precision floating point math routines. We found that a few programs (mostly Cad or engineering types) use the extended precision floating point. Any program that attempted to use these routines would have probably 'bus error'd. * Added ability to use the 'Forced Quit' option of System 7.0 and later. Pressing the OPTION-COMMAND-ESCAPE (ALT-AMIGA-ESCAPE) will pop up a requestor asking you if you are sure you want to force the quitting of the currently running application. If you select QUIT, the application will be forced to stop whatever it was doing and finder will become active. This is a HANDY option for those programs that are not very well behaved. If you find a program has a fit about running, or you seem to be 'hung' (but the mouse still moves), try this out! You should be able to get back to the desktop and save whatever you have. WARNING: This is not a license to play "let's try to crash the MAC". If the machine hangs, and you need to Force Quit to regain control, be assured that something is corrupted somewhere. You should save any data you have open (as a different name from the original, just in case what got corrupted were open files), quit immediately, and reboot the Amiga. * Added debugger support. If there is a debugger trap call, the standard programmer's box will appear. If you are not familiar with the functions of this box, DON'T PLAY AROUND WITH IT... just flip screens and POWER-OFF. * Fixed a few problems with window code. Nobody reported the problem, but it existed... sometimes windows would have a bar across the top when the window should have been a nice thin lined box. The problem was pretty serious, and programs such as 'Color 7' crashed because of it. * Changed the cache control (yes, again). After obtaining a LOT of programs with obvious cache problems, we were able to pinpoint the problems and correct them. * Re-wrote hard drive, floppy, and file transfer I/O routines. Transfers are now instant. Instead of signalling, we actually make the MAC do the transfers, a trick we once deemed impossible due to the MAC actually being in SuperVisor mode. Access times are incredibly quick compared to previous versions. If you believe in benchmarks - Speedometer reported RAD: (in MAC format) as getting a 6.3 rating with v3.8 of the emulation software, and is now getting 8.8 with v3.9. Likewise, the seektimes went from 3.21ms to .062ms. * Changed file transfer routines completely. File transfers can be used without MultiFinder. The speed of transferring is substantially faster than before. You can now select up to 256K of transfer buffer memory (although, there appears to be little difference in speed compared to the 64K maximum in previous versions).