Creating .ROM files for HP41 ?

[François]

Hello,

Further to advices found on the forum for creating my
own .rom files, I've started working with EMU41 which
works great but I'm unable to solve the following problems.
1) I've downloaded the machine code for hp41cx
(5 * 8k rom files) but I'm unable to merge these files into
one .ROM file and then convert it with CLBIN41.EXE
Can I use directly .ROM files in EMU41 ?
2) I've not find the necessary rambox.bin file.
Where can I find it or create it ?
3) Can I load .ROM files directly in V41R8 or does it accept
only .MOD files In this case, how can I convert .ROM to
.MOD files ?
Thank you by advance for advices, I'm very new in this domain.
I own my 41cx since 1984 but don't know anything about machine
langage.

Francois (loooking for a charging port cover ...)
France

Edited: 7 Dec 2005, 3:16 p.m.

[J-F Garnier]

Bonjour Francois,

I can answer the questions relative to Emu41:

1) I've downloaded the machine code for hp41cx (5 * 8k rom files) but I'm unable to merge these files into one .ROM file and then convert it with CLBIN41.EXE Can I use directly .ROM files in EMU41 ?

ROM files are compatible with Emu41, you can load them directly without merging or converting them. Just pay attention that Emu41, as a DOS application, doesn't accept long filenames so you have to shorten some ROM filenames to 8 characters (e.g. xfuns3-2d.rom).

The only exception are bank-switched ROMs, that you *have* to merge into a single file so Emu41 can recognize the bank switching scheme. To merge files, you can do at Windows Command Box level:

copy time-2c.rom /b + xfuns5-2D.rom /b cxtime.rom

Finally, the Emu41.ini file for CX machine becomes:

0 4 nut0-N.rom

1 4 nut1-F.rom

2 4 nut2-L.rom

3 4 xfuns-2d.rom

5 8 cxtime.rom   the only ROMs that *need* to be merged

The other ROM that need to be merged are: the Advantage ROM (merge the 3 4k-blocs) and the Hepax (merge the 4 4k-blocs)

2) I've not find the necessary rambox.bin file. Where can I find it or create it ?

The Rambox code is part of the Rambox and is included in the ramboxii.dat file (both banks of page 8).

J-F

Edited: 8 Dec 2005, 6:53 a.m.

[François]

Merci Jean Francois et félicitations pour EMU41,
I've succeded in declaring the rom files for
41 cx and merging the xfuns rom files into one.
It works great and I find all the modules in cat 2.
For the rambox, I've declared 10 64 ramboxii.dat it's ok.
After, I've created a user code software rom using
INITPG LDPGM XQ>XR SUMPG ENDPG All works great.
I can list my programs in the RAMBOX 64a module and they
are stored in the mldlram.dat file.
After, the problems begin. I copy the mldlram.dat in
emu41in.dat file and execute LOWER and UPPER.
Then rename emu41out.dat in module.bin and convert it
in module.rom. But I'm unable to declare and see my module
in cat 2 either declaring module.bin or module.rom
I think I miss a little detail somewhere but I'm unable
to find where. If someone could help me ....
Thank you again
Francois

Edited: 8 Dec 2005, 3:57 p.m.

[J-F Garnier]

For the rambox, I've declared 10 64 ramboxii.dat it's ok

The 64k rambox *must* be declared as:

8 64 ramboxii.dat (starting from page 8, up to page 15)

I understand that your goal is to create a custom ROM module. It's a good idea to use the mldlram.dat file. You just have to override 2 free pages of the rambox, by adding *after* the rambox declaration:

10 8 mldlram.dat for instance

After, the problems begin. I copy the mldlram.dat in emu41in.dat file and execute LOWER and UPPER. Then rename emu41out.dat in module.bin and convert it in module.rom.

You are refering to the LOWER and UPPER utilities described in Christoph Klug's document. I advise to include a CLRDEV function (X-I/O module) after the SELECT function and at the end of each utility, to be sure to reset input file pointer and then close the output file (flush any data in internal/system file buffer).

Tell me if this helps !

J-F

[François]

Thank you Jean Francois

I've looked rapidely at my problem.
I'm able to create .BIN files with my code inside but when I declare
it in EMU41, it doesn't appear in any cat but can be exectuted.

Best regards
François