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nodoubt73
March 1st, 2004, 07:44 AM
Hi all,
I recently entered the wonderful world of Acorn Archimedes machines.
I actually own 2 Acorn A3010 units, and am on shopping for further
toys (RiscPC and A5000).

I still know few things about this nice OS, and am just learning with
manuals and online resources.

Ofcourse, to get it running, I am downloading some applications and/or
games from the net, and I am pretty happy there are a lot of online
resources around.
I usually download files in ZIP format, using a Windows machine,
then unzip the content into a floppy (the A3010 has no hardisk)
and try running the sw on the Acorn.
I've learned that this RiscOS has file types, and this is somekind of data that's stored on the file name itself (like win/dos files extensions).
I've already set the type of some applications or games, mostly like
guessing or taking, as reference, some acorn software I got on acorn
formatted disks.
I've understood about the Basic type, the Obey type, the Sprite type,
Module type and so on.
The problem is that on small applications (like a 5-10 files one) things are pretty simple, but when I start converting complex stuff (with a lot
of files inside the "!<appname>" folder) the problem start to be boring:
1) I have to manually set a lot of file types (boring)
2) Most of times I cannot guess the proper file type

Moreover, there is another strange trouble:
I got applications containing the file "!RunImage".
The acorn reads it as "!RunIm~1", so I rename as "!RunImage", but
all I get left is "!RunImag" (8 char file name). And this is a problem
when the original files inside my zips are like this:
combodata
combodata1
How to rename these so that they are DIFFERENT FILES actually?

And back to original problem:
how to unzip the applications to a floppy keeping the original file types??

Thanx ina advance.
Luca
Terry Yager
March 1st, 2004, 08:08 AM
Hi all,
I recently entered the wonderful world of Acorn Archimedes machines.
I actually own 2 Acorn A3010 units, and am on shopping for further
toys (RiscPC and A5000).

<snip>

Thanx ina advance.
Luca

Hi luca,

Sorry, I can't help with your Acorn problems, I have zero knowlege of such machines. I see from your sig that you have a Z88. I haven't had mine for very long, and am still learning about it (when I can find the time). Mebbe we can exchange information (you could teach me?). Looking forward to hearing from you.

--T
nodoubt73
March 1st, 2004, 09:11 AM
[quote=nodoubt73]Hi all,
Hi luca,

Sorry, I can't help with your Acorn problems, I have zero knowlege of such machines. I see from your sig that you have a Z88. I haven't had mine for very long, and am still learning about it (when I can find the time). Mebbe we can exchange information (you could teach me?). Looking forward to hearing from you.

--T

Hi there,
actually I own it, but not really... I mean, I just won it on ebay
and it's on its way to me, see it:
http://cgi.ebay.it/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3080074042

I am already on with a data exchanger between the z88 and the archie.

I found online some very interesting resources, I can forward you
if you need...
Terry Yager
March 1st, 2004, 10:28 AM
[quote=nodoubt73]Hi all,
Hi luca,

Sorry, I can't help with your Acorn problems, I have zero knowlege of such machines. I see from your sig that you have a Z88. I haven't had mine for very long, and am still learning about it (when I can find the time). Mebbe we can exchange information (you could teach me?). Looking forward to hearing from you.

--T

Hi there,
actually I own it, but not really... I mean, I just won it on ebay
and it's on its way to me, see it:
http://cgi.ebay.it/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3080074042

I am already on with a data exchanger between the z88 and the archie.

I found online some very interesting resources, I can forward you
if you need...

That's a really nice-looking unit. I see that it comes with an 128K expansion cartridge too, that's good. The machine only comes with 32K internal, unless it's been modified.
I already have so many Z88 links that I haqd to give them a folder all thier own in my bookmarks. There's plenty of on-line resources available. One of the most interesting is Rakewell Ltd, a UK company that is still supporting them. Do you have the emulator yet? (There's actually 2 of them, one for Win and one for DOS). I can dig up the link if you want to play with the emu while you wait for the real thing. They both seem to be pretty accurate emulators, at least to the extent possible.

--T
nodoubt73
March 1st, 2004, 10:34 AM
That's a really nice-looking unit. I see that it comes with an 128K expansion cartridge too, that's good. The machine only comes with 32K internal, unless it's been modified.
I already have so many Z88 links that I haqd to give them a folder all thier own in my bookmarks. There's plenty of on-line resources available. One of the most interesting is Rakewell Ltd, a UK company that is still supporting them. Do you have the emulator yet? (There's actually 2 of them, one for Win and one for DOS). I can dig up the link if you want to play with the emu while you wait for the real thing. They both seem to be pretty accurate emulators, at least to the extent possible.

--T

yes, please, give me the emulator link...
Terry Yager
March 1st, 2004, 10:44 AM
yes, please, give me the emulator link...

Ok, here's the one for Windows, I'll go back and find the one for DOS:

ftp://ftp.komkon.org/pub/EMUL8/Other/Z88.zip

Ummm, I can't seem to locate the one for DOS, but here's a page full of links. Lots of interesting stuff here:

http://www.algonet.se/~dennisgr/z88links.htm

I could send ya the .zip file of it if ya pm me with your email.

BTW, I didn't see any user manual mentioned in the eBay listing. I have one, if you have any questions I can look up. (I haven't found the User's Manual on-line anywhere yet, but there is a very good html-ized version of the Service Manual, in case ya ever need to fix anything). Rakewell's does stock the User Manual, IIRC, if you want to buy one tho.

--T
Terry Yager
March 2nd, 2004, 09:00 AM
nodoubt,

Here's another link you might find interesting, while you wait (patiently, I trust) for your Z88 to arrive. It's a "closed" Yahoo group, so you'll have to apply for membership, but it's worth the trouble. Thier archives go back to about 2002, so you can begin at message 1 and read 'em all.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/z88development/

--T
dongfeng
March 2nd, 2004, 03:42 PM
It's a long shot, but I don't suppose you have "Sheep Racing" for the Archimedes?

Many hours were wasted on that game in "computer club" lunchbreaks :lol:
CP/M User
March 2nd, 2004, 09:09 PM
"dongfeng" wrote:

> It's a long shot, but I don't suppose you have
> "Sheep Racing" for the Archimedes?

If there was any doubt about it, then there
would be nodoubt about it! ;-)

Heh,
CP/M User.