Locoscript/Rocket set to vanish?
Foz
you do word processing without being able to see what you are
doing?" (in reference to formatting, layout, etc)
So I harkened back to my PcW days, and tried to explain Locoscript -
except that I couldn't remember the details, other than it was simple
and effective. Okay, not a problem, the PcW was my parents and it and
all the disks were in the attic. Next to some rather large audio
speakers. Crossing my fingers but no, all the discs are now useless,
including my original start of day disks. Bugger.
Not a problem, I remembered that Locomotive Software still sold all
the good software. Oh. They don't anymore. Not since the start of 2010
anyway.
So now what? Is software that they sold, such as Locoscript & Rocket
destined to be a faint memory? Or could we still buy the disk images?
Or does anyone know if there are plans to make it PD for us nerds to
drool over like Creative Technology did with Microdesign?
Oh yeah, and one last question - I could have sworn that Creative
Technology released a GUI for the PCWs CPM environment - does anyone
have any information about it?
Brian Watson
"Foz" <fozz...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:cfaefe13-0c62-4657...@c13g2000vbr.googlegroups.com...
> Not a problem, I remembered that Locomotive Software still sold all
> the good software. Oh. They don't anymore. Not since the start of 2010
> anyway.
So, has SD closed down?
Eventually the cost of printing the manuals (esp for the CP/M version of
Protext) was what persuaded Peter Campbell and I to make the programmes
"free to download."
--
Brian (formerly of Protext Software)
www.imagebus.co.uk/shop
Foz
> "Foz" <fozzed...@gmail.com> wrote in message
No, just the PCW stuff - Locoscript PC is still available. I've asked
about the disk images and cost, and I'll see about getting the PC
version as the same time too.
~ Foz
Foz
> Eventually the cost of printing the manuals (esp for the CP/M version of
> Protext) was what persuaded Peter Campbell and I to make the programmes
> "free to download."
>
> --
> Brian (formerly of Protext Software)www.imagebus.co.uk/shop
Hmmm I can find the DOS version, but where could I get the PCW
version? I'm trying to reassemble the PcW to "show off" how things
used to be done. :)
Brian Watson
Well my CPC Plus has just died and my CPC is gathering dust somewhere.
I mention this only because I used both to duplicate the CP/M Protext discs
for use on a CPC or a PCW/PcW.
Can someone else help Foz with a copy, please?
--
Brian
"Fight like the Devil, die like a gentleman."
www.imagebus.co.uk/shop
IOBA
"Brian Watson" <Br...@imagebus.co.uk> a �crit dans le message de news:
ZNWdnXBk7f2oi2nW...@bt.com...
http://web.ukonline.co.uk/cliff.lawson/files.htm
--
IOBA
Foz
> "Brian Watson" <Br...@imagebus.co.uk> a écrit dans le message de news:
> |
> | Well my CPC Plus has just died and my CPC is gathering dust somewhere.
> |
> | I mention this only because I used both to duplicate the CP/M Protext
> discs
> | for use on a CPC or a PCW/PcW.
> |
> | Can someone else help Foz with a copy, please?
> |
> | --
> Have a look therehttp://web.ukonline.co.uk/cliff.lawson/files.htm
>
> --
> IOBA
I can only see Amstrad PC and PcW16 references, nothing for the
general PcW (I have the 9256) - am I overlooking something?
~ Foz
IOBA
"Foz" <fozz...@gmail.com> a �crit dans le message de news:
271df975-c0b6-4279...@y21g2000vba.googlegroups.com...
I can only see Amstrad PC and PcW16 references, nothing for the
general PcW (I have the 9256) - am I overlooking something?
Sorry I thought PcW16 was the one you're interested with.
I used to have links for PCW, that i'll try to find back.
meanwhile, what about downloading joyce, the PCW emulator ?
I'm afraid neither LocoScript nor CP/M are abandonwares, so I can't send you
a DSK file :-(
--
IOBA
Foz
> "Foz" <fozzed...@gmail.com> a écrit dans le message de news:
> 271df975-c0b6-4279-87c8-d9e39a22a...@y21g2000vba.googlegroups.com...
>
> I can only see Amstrad PC and PcW16 references, nothing for the
> general PcW (I have the 9256) - am I overlooking something?
>
> Sorry I thought PcW16 was the one you're interested with.
> I used to have links for PCW, that i'll try to find back.
> meanwhile, what about downloading joyce, the PCW emulator ?
> I'm afraid neither LocoScript nor CP/M are abandonwares, so I can't send you
> a DSK file :-(
>
> --
> IOBA
CPM I'm sorted with - ZPM3 is a suitable substitute. Sure I lose
Mallard Basic, but as all my own programs have also been lost thanks
to that ruddy speaker wiping/corrupting all of my disks, I'm not too
bothered. Shame too, one of my last bits I did was a Sim-Hotel for a
school project that used a bunch of cool bits, like a loading screen
from MicroDesign, popup windows, etc, all done in Mallard Basic. Maybe
I have another disk with a copy that I haven't checked yet, I only
checked the ones I labelled.
As I said, I've emailed Locomotive and I have got a response "Thank
you for your email. We need to check if we can still supply the PCW
dsk images and will get back to you."
If they can, great! If not, I'll have to have words with them about if
they wouldn't mind making it PD, so people who do have the DSK files
can share. At least with Joyce I can write back to a floppy disk ! :D
~ Foz
IOBA
"Foz" <fozz...@gmail.com> a �crit dans le message de news:
dd027762-79d5-4007...@q23g2000vba.googlegroups.com...
As I said, I've emailed Locomotive and I have got a response "Thank
you for your email. We need to check if we can still supply the PCW
dsk images and will get back to you."
If they can, great! If not, I'll have to have words with them about if
they wouldn't mind making it PD, so people who do have the DSK files
can share. At least with Joyce I can write back to a floppy disk ! :D
=====================================
Well, if i can see a facsimile of a mail from Locomotive where they say
they're OK with that, be sure i'll send you dsk file...
new link : service manual for the PCW 9512 here
http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr/amstrad/manuals/service/pcw/9512.pdf
don't mind the ".fr" in the link, the manual is in english. You just have to
change 9512 for 8256 if you wanna get the 8256/8512 manual too.
--
IOBA
John Elliott
: Oh yeah, and one last question - I could have sworn that Creative
: Technology released a GUI for the PCWs CPM environment - does anyone
: have any information about it?
The Network. <http://www.seasip.info/network.png>
--
John Elliott
Thinks: This is what a nice clean life leads to. Hmm, why did I ever lead one?
-- Bluebottle, in the Goon Show
Brian Watson
> ... I've emailed Locomotive and I have got a response "Thank
you for your email. We need to check if we can still supply the PCW
dsk images and will get back to you."
> If they can, great! If not, I'll have to have words with them about if
they wouldn't mind making it PD, so people who do have the DSK files
can share. At least with Joyce I can write back to a floppy disk ! :D
What I/we did with the CPC/PCW Protext programs was hold on to the copyright
(I still have the legal docs for it and a VERY good patent lawyer) but make
it clear that there was no objection to people copying/sharing them on a
strictly not-for-profit basis.
Maybe Steve Denson (nice bloke) could be prevailed upon to do something
similar for the PCW versions of the Loco programs?
Foz
If they do (eventually) go PD, I hope they'll state it here and on
their website. I have been looking at the PcW16 via xanne, and I have
to admit, it is impressive :D. Did any extra programs for the 16 ever
get released?
@John
O_O that's the fella - I saw it once in a PCW mag before I switched
to the Dark Side that was the PC, and I couldn't remember if it was a
hoax or not. Didn't it require 512kb of ram to run with Creatives own
MD though? Or was it usable with 256kb of ram?
@Brian
Sorry, I'm not good on the who's who - who is Steve Denson?
The long and short is that I'm trying to make my PcW 9256 a
demonstration machine on how things used to be done. Protext,
Microdesign, Network, Tweak are all prime examples to "show off", as
is Locoscript and Rocket, but I'm waiting on the Loco to come back -
maybe today will be a good day :)
Unfortunately, I have to discount Flipper for the demonstration, as I
only have 256kb of ram :(
Who made/owns Flipper anyway? I haven't seen it anywhere for buying or
downloading, so I don't think Loco used to sell it.
Foz
PCW Plus. "We recommend a hard driver and 1.5 - 2.0mb of ram"
*Chuckles*
I think I'll have to leave that one alone for my 9256 as I highly
doubt I'd be able to find a ram pack these days, or a PCW hard
drive. :)
I have to ask though, is there a place to get all the applications
that Creative Technology released, I only know about MD 2&3, Tweak
(used MD2 & Tweak, and dreamt of getting an upgrade so I could use
MD3) and as it has been confirmed now, the Network, I was wondering
what else they did :)
~ Foz
Jacob Nevins
>Who made/owns Flipper anyway? I haven't seen it anywhere for buying or
>downloading, so I don't think Loco used to sell it.
"Software Imperative", wasn't it? Same folks as Rocket?
I never got any of their stuff, but it sounded interesting.
*f/x: googles* This seems to be the chap wot done it:
<http://www.andywilton.com/h3_cv.htm>
Foz
Foz
impression that SD Micro was selling Rocket before they pulled the PCW
plug. Wondering why I didn't see Flipper, I looked at the Internet
Archive and I appear to have gotten that wrong. It's just all of the
Locoscript stuff.
So, my question is: who sells Rocket? Or is that in the Unknown status
of Abandonware or has it been released in the PD?
Checking Andy Wiltons site, there is no reference to it apart from his
CV, and if he has already given his permission, I don't want to bother
him with an email.
John Elliott
: I have to ask though, is there a place to get all the applications
: that Creative Technology released, I only know about MD 2&3, Tweak
: (used MD2 & Tweak, and dreamt of getting an upgrade so I could use
: MD3) and as it has been confirmed now, the Network, I was wondering
: what else they did :)
I've got DSKs of MD3, Font and Shade Designer, MicroDisplay, Network
and Tweak 3. And somewhere I've got a JOYCE instance where they're all
installed in a hard drive and launch from the Network desktop. But I
obtained those files by imaging real floppies, rather than downloading
them.
Foz
Well, I have been looking on ebay for people throwing their old
systems - and there is an 8512 going... complete with Locoscript 3,
but 3" discs? *wince*
I'd love to get it, but I can't really afford the space between a PC,
a laptop, a Mac and a 9256...
I'm keeping an eye out on there anyway for something that turns up...
Foz
Now, I fully expect CP/M to start without any difficulty, so my
question is, will Locoscript 2 for the 9512+ work with the 9256? Even
though the printer isn't a daisywheel or bubblejet?
Also, with the 9512+ LS2, did you still have to get Locospell as a
separate package?
John Elliott
: Result! Someone is selling the 9512+ start of day discs on eBay! ^_^
: Now, I fully expect CP/M to start without any difficulty
You may be disappointed. Dot-matrix PCWs won't boot from daisywheel boot
floppies, and vice versa.
Foz
>
> You may be disappointed. Dot-matrix PCWs won't boot from daisywheel boot
> floppies, and vice versa.
What?!? You are joking right? I was just expecting printing trouble
from Locoscript!
Ok... so I need to wait longer on ebay, unless someone else is willing
to part with their start of day discs.
~ Foz
John Elliott
: On May 23, 11:42ï¿œam, John Elliott <j...@seasip.demon.co.uk> wrote:
: >
: > ￜ You may be disappointed. Dot-matrix PCWs won't boot from daisywheel boot
: > floppies, and vice versa.
: What?!? You are joking right? I was just expecting printing trouble
: from Locoscript!
No, I'm not joking. The boot ROMs are different. You may be able to get
CP/M to boot if you tweak the boot sector; haven't tried with LocoScript.
For dot-matrix PCWs the boot sector checksum needs to be 0FFh. For
daisywheel PCWs it needs to be 01h.
Foz
>
> No, I'm not joking. The boot ROMs are different. You may be able to get
> CP/M to boot if you tweak the boot sector; haven't tried with LocoScript.
> For dot-matrix PCWs the boot sector checksum needs to be 0FFh. For
> daisywheel PCWs it needs to be 01h.
Well, doesn't that suck? Do you have a link about the boot information
of the different PCWs? Or just the info itself? I think I'll get the
discs, and see if I can get it working (as I have no further response
from Locomotive...)
Also, is there a way in Joyce to force the emulation mode to a
specific PCW, or a compile flag or something so I can try it out
without knackering my 9256?
John Elliott
: Well, doesn't that suck? Do you have a link about the boot information
: of the different PCWs? Or just the info itself? I think I'll get the
: discs, and see if I can get it working (as I have no further response
: from Locomotive...)
I don't know if it's written up anywhere, but I had to know all this at
the time I wrote JOYCE. You can find Jacob Nevins' disassembly of the PCW8256
boot ROM at <http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~jacobn/cpm/pcwboot.html>; I
believe the same boot ROM is used in the 9256 and 10. In the 9512 and 9512+,
a couple of bytes are changed; in particular, the byte at 0080h changes from
INC A to DEC A.
: Also, is there a way in Joyce to force the emulation mode to a
: specific PCW, or a compile flag or something so I can try it out
: without knackering my 9256?
JOYCE checksums the boot sector and automatically changes the PCW type if
necessary.
Foz
> I don't know if it's written up anywhere, but I had to know all this at
> the time I wrote JOYCE. You can find Jacob Nevins' disassembly of the PCW8256
> boot ROM at <http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~jacobn/cpm/pcwboot.html>; I
> believe the same boot ROM is used in the 9256 and 10. In the 9512 and 9512+,
> a couple of bytes are changed; in particular, the byte at 0080h changes from
> INC A to DEC A.
Thanks - I'll get it out! ^_^
> : Also, is there a way in Joyce to force the emulation mode to a
> : specific PCW, or a compile flag or something so I can try it out
> : without knackering my 9256?
>
> JOYCE checksums the boot sector and automatically changes the PCW type if
> necessary.
What I mean is, force it to be in a particular state (in my case
anything but the 9512/9512+), so if I get it wrong, it would refuse to
boot, or maybe... is there a way to tell what method has been used to
boot (i.e. did it use the 9512 method or something else)?
John Elliott
: What I mean is, force it to be in a particular state (in my case
: anything but the 9512/9512+), so if I get it wrong, it would refuse to
: boot, or maybe... is there a way to tell what method has been used to
: boot (i.e. did it use the 9512 method or something else)?
JOYCE doesn't include a copy of the boot ROM, and doesn't boot like a
normal PCW. If you do have a copy of a real PCW boot ROM, it's possible to
use it like this:
1. Prepend two zero bytes to the file, eg
dd if=/dev/zero of=00.bin bs=1 count=2
cat 00.bin 9512rom.bin > 9512rom.ems
2. Start JOYCE from that ROM image:
xjoyce -E 9512rom.ems
3. While the screen is flashing, insert the correct disc image.
Foz
You can still buy the start of day dsk files from their website for
£10!
For me, I'm getting it bundled with the Locoscript PC collection usb
stick. Rock on!
Foz
conversion from PCW to PC), and I have the start of day dsk files
(Loco 4 w/LSpell & CP/M)
Well, I would be happy if it wasn't for the fact that for some reason
the CP/M disc (a 720kb) is missing some rather bits that I remember on
my 9256, for instance: Logo, GSX and perhaps most importantly of all:
Help. The total disc contents is a mere 220kb.
I asked about this and the response I got wasn't encouraging:
"All the CP/M files were included as per the Amstrad original disc
although it could be they left out some of the utilities on later
versions."
Well, I only know of one PCW that was newer than my 9256 that had CP/M
(the almighty 10), and I sure don't remember people asking "where is
XXX on the CP/M disc?". Or is my mind playing tricks on me?
So, does anyone know of where I might find the supplemental files
(either PD or for sale) that are missing?
Also, I inquired about the other software that they used to sell, i.e.
Rocket, but that is definitely a no go - only the start of day dsk
files are available.
John Elliott
: So, does anyone know of where I might find the supplemental files
: (either PD or for sale) that are missing?
Someone posted a link to a PCW10 boot floppy on here last year, and that
has 586k used, 120k free.
Don't know if the link still works, but it was in this thread:
Foz
chance on my 9256 yet), and I'm not sure what the problem is...
The PcW10 CP/M dsk is version 1.12, the version I received is 1.15.
v1.12 will accept different dsk files (i.e., change of A, or inserting
into B)
v1.15 will not accept any other dsk. At all. In any drive.
Does anyone have a clue what the problem may be?
IOBA
"Foz" <fozz...@gmail.com> a �crit dans le message de news:
bfa55364-55ca-46a7...@m21g2000vbr.googlegroups.com...
I understood you're trying to use that disk with Joyce, not a *real* PCW ;
maybe your Joyce version is too old (John will tell us). That's the first
point
The second is "what the hell are you trying to do ?" I can't imagine a newer
CP/M version won't recognize older apps ; Does the one you're trying to use
need the CP/M disk to be in the driver ?
I don't understand : The CP/M disk I use with Joyce is version 1.4 (I have
v 1.0 too) ; never had to face that kind of problem. What is that v 1.15 ?
--
IOBA
Foz
> The second is "what the hell are you trying to do ?" I can't imagine a newer
> CP/M version won't recognize older apps ; Does the one you're trying to use
> need the CP/M disk to be in the driver ?
>
> I don't understand : The CP/M disk I use with Joyce is version 1.4 (I have
> v 1.0 too) ; never had to face that kind of problem. What is that v 1.15 ?
What I'm trying to do is something so trivial it shouldn't even be a
question.
Here is a bit more info, maybe John will recognise the problem:
- As the 1.15 dsk was missing some apps, I wanted to copy in the apps
from another source - in this case a PcW10 CP/M 1.12 dsk file.
- I booted into 1.15, and then inserted the 1.12 dsk into drive B.
- Then I tried to change the current drive to B, to which I got the
message "Drive B is not ready".
- Ok, I went and double checked that the correct dsk was inserted into
drive B. But Joyce declared it as empty. Weird.
- So I did it all again, but double checking before pressing enter on
the "B:" command that the correct dsk file was inserted and it was...
press enter and the same result occurs - the dsk has been mysteriously
ejected automagically.
- I assumed that something was blocking the B drive. No problem, I
ejected the 1.15 dsk, and inserted the 1.12 dsk into A, followed up
with a DIR... and the same results happen - the dsk is ejected.
How odd. So I booted from the 1.12 version, and inserted the 1.15 dsk
into B, and then the magic "B:" to change drive... and no problem!
IOBA
"Foz" <fozz...@gmail.com> a écrit dans le message de news:
3f371b67-1cf4-4258...@e5g2000yqn.googlegroups.com...
On Jun 2, 7:54 pm, "IOBA" <i...@ioba.fr> wrote:
How odd. So I booted from the 1.12 version, and inserted the 1.15 dsk
into B, and then the magic "B:" to change drive... and no problem!
======================================
So you can now copy from A: to B: right ?
Won't help, but show you you're not going nuts : I downloaded and installed
v 2.2.2 of Joyce... I can't read the drive B: anymore :-((
Example :
Boot CP/M on A:
Insert PCW Office in B: Dir B:...error B:office... error
Eject office from B:
Eject CP/M from A:
Insert Office in A:
Office --> Office Menu
Where is my B: drive ?
Johhhhhhnnnnn ! Heeeellllllppppp !!
--
IOBA
Brian Watson
> @IOBA
> If they do (eventually) go PD, I hope they'll state it here and on
> their website. I have been looking at the PcW16 via xanne, and I have
> to admit, it is impressive :D. Did any extra programs for the 16 ever
> get released?
>
> @John
> O_O that's the fella - I saw it once in a PCW mag before I switched
> to the Dark Side that was the PC, and I couldn't remember if it was a
> hoax or not. Didn't it require 512kb of ram to run with Creatives own
> MD though? Or was it usable with 256kb of ram?
>
> @Brian
> Sorry, I'm not good on the who's who - who is Steve Denson?
The boss of SD Micros and inheritor of the Locoscript range for PCWs.
Sorry for the delay, I've been away for a while.
I have no idea why there seem to have been an outbreal of @ symbols, by the
way, or what they signify.
> The long and short is that I'm trying to make my PcW 9256 a
> demonstration machine on how things used to be done. Protext,
> Microdesign, Network, Tweak are all prime examples to "show off", as
> is Locoscript and Rocket, but I'm waiting on the Loco to come back -
> maybe today will be a good day :)
I suppose spending money is out of the question?
If all you want to do is demonstrate it, you don't need to go through all
that "are they free/PD?" stuff.
> Unfortunately, I have to discount Flipper for the demonstration, as I
> only have 256kb of ram :(
As I said, you could spend some money (on eBay) and buy some RAM.
> Who made/owns Flipper anyway? I haven't seen it anywhere for buying or
> downloading, so I don't think Loco used to sell it.
Sorry, I can't help with this but I see someone else has.
Foz
> I have no idea why there seem to have been an outbreal of @ symbols, by the
> way, or what they signify.
I had 3 people to respond to and thought it would be better to
encapsulate it all in one message, rather than 3 separate messages,
therefore the @ symbol was to note who I was directing the next
section to. :)
> > The long and short is that I'm trying to make my PcW 9256 a
> > demonstration machine on how things used to be done.
>
> I suppose spending money is out of the question?
Not at all - I've already paid for the start of day dsk files from SD
Micro, and I've bought the 9512+ start of day disks off ebay
(unopened!)
> If all you want to do is demonstrate it, you don't need to go through all
> that "are they free/PD?" stuff.
My wallet isn't limitless, so if there is a pcw hard drive going for
£400, I'll have to pass! ;)
No my question is to do with if they are freely available, where are
they? If not pd/freeware, who do I pay?
> > Unfortunately, I have to discount Flipper for the demonstration, as I
> > only have 256kb of ram :(
>
> As I said, you could spend some money (on eBay) and buy some RAM.
I haven't found any (yet) I'm keeping my eyes peeled though.