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Comp.Sys.Acorn FAQ List Posting (Part 3/4)

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Philip R. Banks

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Feb 1, 1997, 3:00:00 AM2/1/97
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Section 7: Network Resources.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

7.1) What archives/FTP sites are available?

See the regular (fortnightly) posting by Gerben Vos & Peter Naulls. This
posting is also available from an email server at MIT.

To request it from this server send an email to
mail-...@rtfm.mit.edu. No subject is needed and the body should contain
:-

send /pub/usenet/news.answers/acorn/archives

Or, alternatively, you could view it on the web at :-

http://lucy.cs.waikato.ac.nz/~pnaulls/acorn-archives/
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

7.2) What Acorn related companies are available on the net via email?

There are quite a few companies now on the net and reachable via email
with more joining as time passes. Here is the list of companies that have
given permission to be entered here in the FAQ. If the email address is to
a person rather than either an automated system or perhaps a group of
people I have placed the name of the person in brackets after the email
address description.

3SL Ltd :-

sa...@sssl.demon.co.uk Information about products and prices.

Acorn Computers (Uk) :-

customer...@acorn.co.uk Enquiries and product information.
RiscPC.t...@acorn.co.uk RiscPC information.

The Advisory Unit :-

in...@advunit.demon.co.uk General enquiries.
al...@advunit.demon.co.uk (Alun Hinder)

Aleph One :-

Sa...@aleph1.co.uk Information about products and prices.
Sup...@aleph1.co.uk After-sales support.

Alternative Publishing Ltd :-

sa...@apsoft.co.uk Sales, service and upgrades

ANT Ltd :-

sa...@ant.co.uk Sales and general enquiries.
sup...@ant.co.uk Technical support.

Archive magazine :-

pa...@argonet.co.uk Internet columnist (Dave Pantling)
paul...@paston.co.uk Editor (Paul Beverley)

The ARM Club :-

in...@armclub.org.uk Enquiries etc...

ARMage Software :-

arm...@armage.demon.co.uk Enquiries etc...

ARMed Forces Software :-

sa...@afsoft.demon.co.uk Sales and enquiries.
sup...@afsoft.demon.co.uk Product support.

Armstrong Walker Ltd :-

An...@armswalk.demon.co.uk Enquiries etc... (Andy Armstrong)
Ni...@armswalk.demon.co.uk Enquiries etc... (Nigel Walker)

Atomwide :-

Sa...@atomwide.co.uk Information about products and prices.
Sup...@atomwide.co.uk After-sales support.

Beebug Ltd :-

sa...@beebug.co.uk Sales.
in...@beebug.co.uk General enquiries.
ru...@beebug.co.uk Email for Risc User.
tech...@beebug.co.uk Technical enquiries for our products and items
purchased from Beebug.

Carlton Software :-

in...@carltsw.demon.co.uk General information.
sa...@carltsw.demon.co.uk Orders, and sales enquiries.
te...@carltsw.demon.co.uk Technical advice, and support for customers.

Castle Technology :-

Sa...@castlet.demon.co.uk Info, Products, Prices, Ordering etc.
Sup...@castlet.demon.co.uk Support issues etc.

CD Circle :-

cdci...@ims-bristol.co.uk Enquiries etc...

Clares Micro Supplies :-

DCl...@Clares.demon.co.uk General enquiries. (Dave Clare)
GO...@Clares.demon.co.uk General enquiries. (Gareth Owen)
DJac...@Clares.demon.co.uk Technical enquiries. (David Jackson)
Sa...@Clares.demon.co.uk Ordering and sales information.

Colton Software :-

in...@colton.co.uk Automated reply, listing services available.
sa...@colton.co.uk general sales etc.
sup...@colton.co.uk technical support on existing products.

Computer Concepts :-

in...@cconcepts.co.uk Automated reply, giving information.
sa...@cconcepts.co.uk For credit card orders of products.
sup...@cconcepts.co.uk Technical support for products.

Comspec :-

acorn...@comrad.comspec.com Canadian Acorn dealer. Enquiries about
Acorn hardware and products welcome
including USA enquiries. (Domenic
DeFrancesco)

Cumana :-

sa...@cumana.co.uk Sales and product information.
sup...@cumana.co.uk Product support.

Cumbria :-

sa...@cumsoft.demon.co.uk General sales enquiries.

David Pilling Software :-

da...@pilling.demon.co.uk All enquiries to this address.

Datawave Nederland :-

sa...@datawave.demon.nl Orders.
sup...@datawave.demon.nl Customer support.
webm...@datawave.demon.nl Private Enquiries.

Desktop Projects Ltd :-

in...@desktopp.demon.co.uk General enquiries
sa...@desktopp.demon.co.uk Sales information and orders
sup...@desktopp.demon.co.uk Customer technical support line

DoggySoft :-

sa...@doggysoft.co.uk Sales information and orders
sup...@doggysoft.co.uk Customer technical support line

i-cubed Ltd :-

adv...@i-cubed.co.uk Pre sales advice / general queries
sup...@i-cubed.co.uk After sales support / technical queries
sa...@i-cubed.co.uk Pricing / Availability / Dealers etc.

The Image Factory :-

imag...@ozemail.com.au Sales and support.

Innovative Media Solutions Ltd :-

sa...@ims-bristol.co.uk Enquiries etc...

Iota Software :-

sup...@iota.co.uk Enquires & support for Iota products.

Jaffa Software :-

a.j....@warwick.ac.uk Enquiries, etc...

Le Computer :-

in...@lecomp.demon.co.uk General enquiries.
sa...@lecomp.demon.co.uk Sales enquiries and orders.
van...@lecomp.demon.co.uk Special needs enquiries.

Longman Logotron :-

in...@logo.com General product information.
sa...@logo.com Sales enquiries and orders.
sup...@logo.com Product support enquiries.

Meu Cymru :-

in...@meucymru.demon.co.uk Enquiries etc...

Micro Laser Designs :-

in...@microlas.demon.co.uk General Enquiries
sa...@microlas.demon.co.uk Sales Enquiries
us...@microlas.demon.co.uk User Group Enquiries

Millipede Electronic Graphics :-

in...@milliped.demon.co.uk Product information.
sa...@milliped.demon.co.uk Orders and current prices.
sup...@milliped.demon.co.uk Technical support.
ric...@milliped.demon.co.uk If all else fails! (Richard Jozefowski)

Minerva Software :-

min...@zynet.co.uk Enquiries etc...

Mirage Enterprises :-

Sa...@spark.demon.co.uk Sales Enquiries
Sup...@spark.demon.co.uk Product Support

Moray Micro Computing :-

sa...@m-micro.demon.co.uk Sales Enquiries.

Norwich Computer Services :-

sale...@paston.co.uk Sales
tech...@paston.co.uk Technical help

Octopus Systems :-

sa...@octosys.co.uk Enquiries etc... (Paul Skirrow)

Old Mother Software :-

ma...@oldmothr.demon.co.uk General enquiries
in...@oldmothr.demon.co.uk Product information
te...@oldmothr.demon.co.uk Technical support

Oregan Software Developments :-

sa...@oregan.demon.co.uk General enquiries, product info and credit
card orders
sup...@oregan.demon.co.uk Technical queries

Paradise :-

in...@paradise1.compulink.co.uk Product Information
sup...@paradise1.compulink.co.uk Support/feedback.

PEP Associates :-

in...@pep-assoc.co.uk Product information.
sup...@pep-assoc.co.uk Product support.

Pineapple Software :-

sa...@pineaple.demon.co.uk Sales enquiries.
sup...@pineaple.demon.co.uk Info about products, support and enquiries.

Quantum Software :-

In...@quantumsoft.co.uk Info about products, version numbers, etc.
Sup...@quantumsoft.co.uk Technical support for customers.
Sa...@quantumsoft.co.uk General info about products and prices, etc.

RiscNet International :-

ris...@datawave.demon.nl RiscNet International Information.

Resource :-

In...@Resourcekt.co.uk General information etc...
Sa...@Resourcekt.co.uk Credit card orders.
Sup...@Resourcekt.co.uk Technical support.

The Serial Port :-

alt...@cryton.demon.co.uk Software support.
b...@cryton.demon.co.uk Retail enquiries.
j...@cryton.demon.co.uk To reach Jim Nagel, author of the Acorn
column in Computer Shopper magazine.
pc...@cryton.demon.co.uk Hardware support

Sherston Software :-

sa...@sherston.co.uk Sales and Product information.
sup...@sherston.co.uk Technical support/queries etc.

Soft Rock Software :-

soft...@argonet.co.uk Enquires, Sales and Product information.

Spacetech Imaging Technology :-

sa...@spacetec.demon.co.uk Sales and Product information.
sup...@spacetec.demon.co.uk Technical Support.

Stuart Tyrell Developments :-

In...@STDevel.demon.co.uk General Enquiries etc.

Supreme Software Systems Ltd :-

in...@supreme.demon.co.uk All Enquiries.

TBA Software :-

t...@tbalond.demon.co.uk All enquiries.

Thinx Solutions :-

Th...@spark.demon.co.uk Sales Enquiries and Product Support

Uffenkamp Computer Systeme :-

ucs...@ucs.de Product information, events et al.
usup...@ucs.de After sales support, technical queries.
ucso...@ucs.de Sales enquiries.

Uniqueway :-

in...@uniqway.demon.co.uk General queries, product related or
otherwise.
sup...@uniqway.demon.co.uk Support for products. (Serial
number should be quoted where
relevant.)
sa...@uniqway.demon.co.uk For credit card orders.

Vertical Twist :-

sa...@equinoxe.demon.co.uk Enquiries, orders etc.
tec...@equinoxe.demon.co.uk Technical support.

Warm Silence Software :-

Robin...@prg.ox.ac.uk Enquiries etc. (Robin Watts)

Werewolf Software :-

in...@werewlf.demon.co.uk General information (Dane Koekoek)
sa...@werewlf.demon.co.uk Orders, sales and enquiries (Dane Koekoek)
CDTsu...@werewlf.demon.co.uk Support for CDtracker and CDtracker Plus
(Malcolm Knight)
sup...@werewlf.demon.co.uk Support for any other products (Dane Koekoek)

Wyddfa Software :-

gwil...@cix.compulink.co.uk Enquiries etc. (Gwyn Williams)

Xavier Software :-

xav...@bangor.ac.uk Enquiries etc...

Zynet Ltd :-

zy...@zynet.co.uk Enquiries etc...

If you are a company and you would like to included in this list please
send me an email, to the address specified at the bottom of the FAQ,
detailing the email addresses and their general function. I will then
include them into the FAQ. However as a matter of policy I will only
include an address if I receive email from the owner, or a representative
for the owner, of that address.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

7.3) What are the submission addresses for comp.{binaries,sources}.acorn groups?

There are four addresses involved here. To submit files for the groups
send your email to :-

c...@bridge.wn.planet.gen.nz for comp.sources.acorn.
c...@bridge.wn.planet.gen.nz for comp.binaries.acorn.

For requests, comments and suggestions send email to :-

csa-r...@bridge.wn.planet.gen.nz for comp.sources.acorn.
cba-r...@bridge.wn.planet.gen.nz for comp.binaries.acorn.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

7.4) How to retrieve the FAQ from the source...

As I frequently update the FAQ between postings you may wish to get the
latest and most up-to-date copy of the FAQ before it next gets posted.
There are two ways to do this. Firstly read it off the web at
http://wn.planet.gen.nz/~banksie/Archives/FAQ/FaqHTML.html .

Secondly I maintain an email server on my personal machine for people to
use. Due to the various complications at my end, and a distinct desire to
minimise email charges incurred to myself, the email server shares my email
address with me.

To use the server send an email message looking something like this :-

To: ban...@khantazi.wn.planet.gen.nz
Subject: ServerMail
---message text begins---

Help:

In this case it will send a help file to you detailing how to use the
server. Be aware that the spelling and case of the subject line is very
important. My software searches for email with exactly this subject line
automatically once a day and it is case & spelling sensitive. Failure to
type this correctly will result in your message appearing in my normal
email list and depending on my mood may, or may not, be adjusted to reach
the email server.

The server understands and uses Reply-To: headers but has distinct
problems sending material to bang path addressed sites. (Well to be more
accurate it has problems sending to any site that has an ! in the email
address.) If you are using a site with such addressing then I am afraid the
email server will be unable to help you. Also please ensure that your From:
header, or your Reply-To: header if you using that, is valid. Email file
requests that bounce due to this tend to annoy me and repeat offenders will
be placed on the server's 'to be ignored' list.

As well as the FAQ and it's related files I store a small collection of
technical documents, 'special' data files and other generally useful data
on the server. To obtain a listing of all the sections available to you,
and the contents of those sections, send a message as detailed above but
instead of help put :-

Section: index

in the body of the message.

Please be aware that this server is at the tail end of a modem link so
while you are most welcome to use it I must ask that you try to source any
files from other sites before using this server and to strictly follow the
guidelines outlined above.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

7.5) What WWW pages are out there for Acorn topics?

Web pages are popping up all over the place these days, especially now
that Web client software exists for Acorn machines. This list of Web pages
is checked periodically by myself for validity but I make no claims that
URL's present here are currently valid. A more comprehensive list is
contained in the fortnightly FTP servers list maintained by Gerben Vos.

* http://www.acorn.co.uk/
Acorn Computers WWW pages.

* http://www.cybervillage.co.uk/acorn/
The Acorn CyberVillage pages - dealers, developers, information,
software and low cost web rental.

* http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk:80/Societies/Acorn/
The Acorn computer user WWW Server. - contains pointers to other Acorn
Web pages.

* http://www.a-e-g.demon.co.uk/
The Acorn Enthusiats Group pages.

* http://www.stir.ac.uk/~rhh01/Main.html
"Acorn On The Net" list page - contains pointers to other Acorn Web pages.

* http://www.ant.co.uk/
ANT Ltd web pages.

* http://www.armclub.org.uk/
The ARM Club home page.

* http://www.armage.demon.co.uk
ARMage Software WWW pages.

* http://www.afsoft.demon.co.uk/
ARMed Forces Software WWW pages.

* http://www.geko.com.au/riscman/
Australian Acorn Enthusiast Web site.

* http://www.carltsw.demon.co.uk/
Carlton Software's WWW pages.

* http://www.ims-cdc.demon.co.uk/cdcircle/
The CD Circle's WWW pages.
* http://www.cumana.demon.co.uk/
Cumana's WWW pages.

* http://www.datawave.demon.nl/
Datawave Nederland's pages.

* http://www.doggysoft.co.uk/
Doggysoft's WWW pages.

* http://www.ozemail.com.au/~imagfact/index.html
the image factory, DTP supplies for Acorn Computers.

* http://www.ims-cdc.demon.co.uk/
Innovative Media Solution's WWW pages.

* http://www.iota.co.uk/
Iota Software's pages.

* http://www.warwick.ac.uk/~csube
Jaffa Software's pages.

* http://www.csc.liv.ac.uk/users/u1smt/u1smt.html
"The Jungle" Simon Truss's web page containing pointers to a variety of
other web pages.

* http://www.hebbron.demon.co.uk/LEG/
Liverpool Enthusiasts Group (LEG) home page - information on the group,
previous meetings, and connected links.

* http://www.logo.com/
The Longman Logotron web pages.

* http://www.interpages.co.uk/acorn/
Mike Enderby's pages - including PC Card information, a mirror of the
FAQ and the Acorn games pages.

* http://www.zynet.co.uk/minerva/
Minerva Software's home page.

* http://www.octosys.co.uk/
Octopus Systems.

* http://www.demon.co.uk/oldmothr/
Old Mother Software.

* http://www.pineaple.demon.co.uk/
Pineapple Software.

* http://www.argonet.co.uk/users/dgs/pccard.html
Risc PC x86 Cards Information Pages - wide variety of info on PC cards,
including compatibility of games and other software.

* http://www.pobox.com/~netline
RISC User netline pages.

* http://www.datawave.demon.nl/~datawave
RiscNet International.

* http://www.argonet.co.uk/softrock
Soft Rock Software.

* http://www.stdevel.demon.co.uk
Stuart Tyrell Developments.

* http://www.octosys.co.uk/sarc.html
Suffolk Acorn Risc Club's pages.

* http://www.wss.co.uk/
Warm Silence Software.

* http://xavier.bangor.ac.uk/cgi-bin/xavier
Xavier Software Ltd's home page.

* http://www.zynet.co.uk/
Zynet Ltd's home page.

Note that, as with email addresses, I require either the owner of the
pages, or a representative of the owner, to email me if they wish to be
included in the list.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

7.6) What Acorn BBS's are there?

Is there a good Acorn BBS to call near me?

The following are all good Acorn Bulletin Boards to call. This list is
now maintained by me (Dane Koekoek), it is by no means complete and some
items of information may be missing. I will do my best to keep it
up-to-date with all changes.

If you spot any errors in the list, or have an addition to make to the
list, then please send an email to da...@werewlf.demon.co.uk ,
Fidonet#2:254/310 or online The Werewolf BBS.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BBS name Phone number Times Speeds Location
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acorn BBS +852 25477992 24 hour 300-21600 Hong Kong
Arcade * 0181 654 2212 24 hour 300-33600 Croydon, London
* 0181 655 4412 24 hour 300-33600
Archiboard Central * 01603 744231 24 hour 300-14400 Norwich
Archimedes BBS +31 35 6026500 24 hour 300-14400 Soest NL
Arctic * 0181 903 1308 24 hour 300-33600 West London
* 0181 903 1309 24 hour 300-33600
ARMature II +61 2 580-9938 24 hour 330-19200 Oatley,NSW
ARM Pit BBS * 01962 880003 22-08hr 330-14400 Malton, N.Yorks
The ARMpit +45 31675110 24 hour 330-14400 Denmark
The 23rd Hour * 01202 692394 24 hour 300-14400 Poole,Dorset
BrainStorm * 01732 886638 24 hour 300-14400 Wrotham, Kent
Digital Databank * 01707 323531 24 hour 300-28800 Welwyn Garden City
* 01707 329306 24 hour 300-14400
Digital Exposure * 01264 361212 24 hour 300-33600 Andover, Hampshire
Equinox * 01705 871531 24 hour 300-14400 Portsmouth
Galaxy * 01617 079306 24 hour 300-14400 Manchester
InterComm Central * 01819 598868 24 hour 300-14400 Mill Hill, London
Icarus Allsorts &&* 01977 620702 18-22hr 300-14400 Pontefract
Mage Online * 01812 526112 24 hour 300-28800 London
Northern ARM * 01274 530831 24 hour 300-28800 Bradford
* 01274 530841 24 hour 300-14400
PanGill * 01723 581460 21-07hr 300-14400 Scarborough
Plasma Sphere * 01925 757920 24 hour 300-33600 Cheshire
* 01925 757921 24 hour 300-33600
Prestonet * 01772 612462 22-07hr 300-28800 Preston
SchoolNet UK * 01603 507216 24 hour 300-28800 Norwich
Thunderbolt BBS * 01689 603608 24 hour 300-28800 SE London
The Sidings BBS * 0115 956 3481 24 hour 300-14400 Nottingham
The Werewolf BBS * 0181 289 6003 24 hour 300-33600 London
Western Schools +61 86 491384 24 hour 300-14400 Whyalla, SA
Wombat BBS +49 9286 97211 18-7hr 300-28800 Germany
World of Cryton * 01749 679794 24 hour 300-2400 Somerset
* 01749 670030 24 hour 300-28800
Yeti BBS +49 461 23272 22:30-9hr 300-16800 Germany
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

* BBS in the UK. If calling from outside the UK, prefix 44 and remove the
0 in front of EVERY UK number.

&& Ring voice first

A second list is maintained by Steve Pursey who can be reached via email
at st...@arcticbb.demon.co.uk or via Fidonet#2:254/86. Polite requests for
the list to him may well yield a copy of the list.

Alternatively, for those of you with WWW access a copy of this second
list can be found at http://www.cybervillage.co.uk/acorn/bbs.htm .
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

7.7) Where can I advertise second hand Acorn kit?

There are various web sites available now that list second hand adverts
without charge. If you are wanting to sell some equipment it may well be
worth your time trying them. They are :-

* http://www.armature.net.au/forsale/
* http://www.cybervillage.co.uk/acorn/archive/small.htm
* http://www.dircon.co.uk/dialprop/acornurl.html

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Section 8: Compatibility with other Machines.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

8.1) How compatible with other systems is an Acorn machine?

PC :- The Archimedes can handle DOS discs (720k; the A5000 and later
models can also handle 1.44M floppies). In RO3, this is built in, under RO2
you have to use one of the (PD) utilities. There are two PC (software)
emulators that can handle most PC software, three if you count the fact
that Acorn's offering is split into two emulator programs. There are also
PC cards, containing an 80x86 processor and other PC hardware, which uses
the Archimedes' disc and video. All emulators are multitasking (and not
PD). RiscPC machines, by adding a 486 processor card, can fully emulate a
PC.

Unix :- Unix software can be ported (and in fact many packages already
have been) with the help of UnixLib, which is PD. Memory-hungry ports, such
as gcc, can be run with the aid of !Virtual (also PD). Of course if you are
really desperate to run Unix software it might be advisable to buy RISCiX,
the Acorn flavour of Unix (suitable only for A5000 or older machines), or
perhaps use linux (suitable for older machines and SA equipped RiscPCs) &
RiscBSD (for RiscPC machines).

Mac :- Commercial software is available that can read HFS format discs,
including hard drives and CDROMs. For floppy discs this generally
encompases high density discs (1.44 MB format) and a limited subset of
double density (720 kb) discs. Essentially the software can read the disc
if the tracks have been laid down with constant angular velocity, rather
than constant linear velocity - which requires a variable speed drive to
work. Most Macintoshes default to CLV format discs when formatting double
density discs but some Mac software exists to override this and, in theory,
such discs are readable using the Acorn software. To be sure that the
double density disc is a CAV format disc, then formatting it first in your
Acorn machine is a good step and the disc will then work with Macintosh
machines. Also most modern Macintoshes can, like Acorn machines, read and
write PC format discs so transfer is possible via that medium as well.
There is no Mac emulator available.

Atari ST :- Like PC floppies, the Archimedes can read, write and format
ST-format floppies. No emulator for the ST is known.

Amiga :- The amiga uses an unusual disc format that is not easily read
by other machines. Accordingly there is currently no Amiga format disc
reader available. But Amiga's can read PC discs, so again transfers can
occur via that medium. There is no Amiga emulator.

Spectrum :- There are emulators around for this and Amstrad, the owners
of the Sinclair copyright, have released permission for the ROM images,
needed to run these emulators, to be copied and released with the
emulators.

Apple][ :- Again emulators are available for this. However they, like
the Spectrum emulators, require a copy of the ROM image to work. The
copyright of the ROM image for these machines, as far as I am aware,
prevents them being distributed, so you have to source your own copy of
them.

BBC B :- Once again emulators exist, including Acorn's own effort of
6502Host. The emulators are fairly good, offering a high level of
compatibility. See question 8.3 for more details about two commercially
available emulators. Also various programs do exist that allow the newer
Acorn machines to read BBC B format floppy discs.

GameBoy :- An emulator exists for this, capable of loading and using
most snapshots with sound correctly emulated. Snapshots seem to be fairly
freely available on the Internet and a search in any of the more capable
search engines should quickly turn up a set of sites with downloadable
snapshot images.

Amstrad CPC :- Emulators exist for these machines and Amstrad &
Locomotive Software have given their permission for the ROM images, needed
to make them work, to be freely distributable with the emulators.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

8.2) Is there a BBC BASIC for other machines?

The short answer is, yes.

Macintosh :- A BBC BASIC environment was released some years back as a
commercial product featuring compatibility with a limited subset of
OS_Bytes and other features for limited compatibility with a BBC Model B.

IBM Compats :- A version of BBC BASIC exists for these machines. Older
versions have provided an inbuilt BASIC editor, limited OS_Byte support,
some OSCLI commands and CGA standard graphics. Exactly what the latest
version supports I don't know, but to find out (and obtain a version of the
software) contact :-


M-Tec Computer Services,
The Market Place,
REEPHAM,
Norfolk,
NR10 4JJ,
United Kingdom.

Tel. (+44) 1603 870620
Fax. (+44) 1603 870436
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

8.3) Can I run 65Host on the Risc PC?

Officially, no. Unofficially there is a patch that enables the Emulator
to run fairly well. Unfortunately the patch does not correctly enable the
break key; however, it does substitute the Scroll Lock key, so you can
reset the emulator easily from inside the emulator. Furthermore the
emulator seems incompatible with the StrongARM, so even the patched copy
will not work if you have one fitted. Here is the patch :-

REM >HostPatch
REM RISC PC !65Host patch
REM Obtained from comp.sys.acorn.games
REM Provided by sti...@gladding.demon.co.uk (Tim Gladding)
REM of Cambridge, England
REM Tweaked to substitute ScrollLock for Break
REM by arc...@spuddy.mew.co.uk (Darren Salt)
SYS "OS_File",5,"<65Host$Dir>.!RunImage" TO t,,,,len
DIM data len
SYS "OS_File",255,"<65Host$Dir>.!RunImage",data
FOR ptr=0 TO len-4 STEP 4
word=data!ptr
CASE word OF
WHEN &E3520402, &E2600402, &E3510402: data?ptr=&05
WHEN &13A0000F: data?ptr=&0E: REM key code for ScrollLock
ENDCASE
NEXT ptr
SYS "OS_File",10,"<65Host$Dir>.!RunImage",&FFA,,data,data+len

It is a BASIC program - simply enter it into the BASIC editor of your
choice, let the filer see the copy of 65Host that is to be patched and run
it. A copy of the 65Host emulator can be found on the Acorn FTP site.

There is also a commercially available BBC emulator, called 6502Em,
available that works on the RiscPC range and boasts improved compatibility,
mostly with games, over the Acorn effort. It also is StrongARM compatible.
Contact Warm Silence Software for details.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

8.4) Can I read Acorn format discs on a PC?

Yes, a utility called BeebDos exists which claims to provide reading and
writing of BBC B format discs. It is a commercial program and was sold by
:-

MicroBoss Ltd,
Business Orientated Software Systems
Telephone: 01255 671095 (Uk number)
3 Hadleigh Road,
Frinton on Sea,
Essex,
CO13 9HG.

Unfortunately I am unaware if they currently still sell the program or not.

For the more recent ADFS format discs the shareware disc editor ANADISK
will cope with ADFS format discs, up to F format. This does not provide a
filing system, but rather allows sectors to be pulled off the disc and
saved as a file. Disc map and root directory information is stored at the
middle of the disc, on track 40. Generally this is useful only for
emergency measures when you really need that data stored on an ADFS format
disc.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

8.5) What software handles files with this extension?

This depends on the extension.

Presented below is a list of common file extensions and the software
that, in some way, handles the file. It is recommended, especially for
commercial software, that you verify that software will indeed perform the
functions you require on the file format. This list is intended as a
starting point to give the reader a pointer towards suitable software,
nothing more.

* AVI (.avi) , &FB2, Audio Visual file.

* MovieFS, commercial.

* BMP (.bmp) , &69C, Bitmap file (Windows).

* BMPSprite, freeware.
* ChangeFSI, commercial - supplied with RISC OS 3 and above.
* ImageFS, commercial.
* ImageMaster, commercial.
* Translator, shareware.

* DXF (.dxf) , &DEA, Drawing eXchange Format file.

* Draw, commercial - supplied with all versions of RISC OS.

* GIF (.gif) , &695, Graphics Interchange Format picture.

* ChangeFSI, commercial - supplied with RISC OS 3 and above.
* FYEO2, shareware.
* ProArtisan24, commercial.
* Spr_2_Gif, freeware.
* Translator, shareware.
* WebGif2, freeware.

* HTML (.htm, .html) , &FAF, Hyper Text Markup Language document.

* ArcWeb, freeware.
* Fresco, commercial.
* Webite, commercial.
* Webster, freeware.

* JPEG (.jpg, .jpeg) , &C85, JPEG format picture.

* ChangeFSI, commercial - supplied with RISC OS 3 and above.
* FYEO2, shareware.
* ProArtisan24, commercial.
* RapidJPEG, freeware.
* SwiftJPEG, freeware.
* Translator, shareware.

* MIDI (.mid, .midi) , &FD4, Musical Instrument Digital Interface file.

* ESPSynth, commercial.
* ReMidi, shareware.
* Timidity, freeware.

* MPEG (.mpg, .mpeg) , &BF8, Motion Picture Experts Group movie file.

* MPEG, freeware.

* Perl (.pl) , &A06, Practical Extraction and Report Language file.

* Perl, freeware.

* PostScript (.eps, .ps) ,

* GhostScript, freeware,
* RiScript, freeware.

* Quicktime (.mov) , &FB2, Macintosh movie file.

* MovieFS, commercial.

* SoundTracker (.mod) , &CB6, Sound Tracker file.

* AMFTracker, freeware.
* BASTracker, freeware.
* Digital Symphony, commercial.
* Harmony, freeware.
* MPlayer, freeware.
* ProTrack, freeware.
* ProTracker, freeware.
* S/Tracker, freeware.

* Tar (.tar) , &C46, Tape Archive.

* Spark, commercial.
* SparkFS, commercial.
* SparkPlug, freeware.
* Tar, freeware.

* Text (.txt, .text) , &FFF, text file.

* ChangeTxt, shareware.
* Edit, commercial - supplied with all versions of RISC OS.
* StrongEd, shareware.
* Uemacs, freeware.
* Zap, freeware.

* TIFF (.tif, .tiff) , &FF0, Tagged Image File Format.

* ChangeFSI, commercial - supplied with RISC OS 3 and above.
* Tiffin, freeware.
* Translator, shareware.

* Wave (.wav) , &FB1, Chunk based sound file.

* AudioWorks, commercial.
* MovieFS, commercial.
* Player, commercial.
* SoundCon, freeware.

* WMF (.wmf) ,, Windows Meta File.

* WMFtoDraw, public domain.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

8.6) Is there a version of Draw for Windows?

Yes. Oak released a program called Oak-Draw for Windows. This program
can load, save and manipulate Acorn Draw format files in the Windows
environment.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Section 9: Technical Details.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

9.1) How do I get a faster interrupt timer than the centisecond ones?

For this you require the use of IOC Timer 1, a 2MHz timer unused by RISC
OS and claimable by code for use. Details of how to program the timer are
available in the IOC datasheets, or you could look for various PD utilities
like TimerCtrl that handle the timer for you.

I am informed that the forthcoming Acorn TimeCode system now has laid
claim to Timer 1 and that software using it is deprecated. However if the
software properly obeys the claiming protocols in RISC OS this, hopefully,
shouldn't be a major problem.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

9.2) How can I create Interlaced GIFs on Acorn machines?

Two utilities exist to let you create these. spr2gif will take a sprite
and convert it to a gif file. It will interlace and render transparent the
gif as well. For the transparency it uses the colour of the first masked
pixel it encounters in the sprite - suitable for automated gif image
creating. (No need to twiddle with specifying transparency colours.)

The second utility, WebGIF, allows you to add transparency and
interlacing to your GIFs as well. However you have to specify the
transparency colour directly. Finally an increasing number of commercial
programs can create Interlaced GIFs, Photodesk 2 (as from v2.03) being a
prime example.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Section 10: Risc PC PC Card Details.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
When reading this section it must be remembered that all references to the
Emulator software featured in this section are to the Risc PC PC Second
Processor Card controlling software, and not to the older Software PC
Emulator software released by Acorn.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

10.1) What is the latest version of the Emulator software?

The latest, publicly released for all PC card owners, full version is
1.92 and it is available from the Alpeh1 FTP & Web site. (
http://www.aleph1.co.uk/ ) Features include memory up to 32Mb, fully
redefinable 256 colour modes and the addition of directly accessed SCSI
drives. (There is version 1.995 also available, although this is a beta
release and thus of dubious stability, use with caution.)

The very latest version of the software (v2.03) has been released
commercially as PCPro. This features SA compatibility, speed enhancements,
VESA video drivers, a debugged shared memory system for faster operation,
improved support for Windows 95 and a variety of other enhancements.
Details of this software can be found on the Aleph1 web site.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

10.2) Why does the serial port not work after using the card?

With v1.87 of the controlling software if you choose 'Direct Serial', to
enable the serial port under the emulator, and then quit the emulator it
doesn't correctly release the serial port back to RISC OS. However a
temporary patch is to uncomment the very last line of the !PC486.!Run file.

Run <Diva$Dir>.!RunImage
|uncomment the next line if you need to use the serial port after using !PC
| RMreinit SerialDeviceDriver

Namely uncomment the RMreinit SerialDeviceDriver so that the above looks
more like this.

Run <Diva$Dir>.!RunImage
|uncomment the next line if you need to use the serial port after using !PC
RMreinit SerialDeviceDriver

Then you should find control of the serial port returned to RISC OS
after you have finished with the emulator. As of v1.91 this has been fixed
and the serial port will be released properly. The latest version can be
obtained from the Aleph1 FTP site.
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