CP/M 3.1 for Apple II + Softcard

[Bobbi]

I stumbled across a port of CP/M 3.1 to the Apple II + Softcard platform (here http://cpm.z80.de/download/apl2cpm3.zip). When running it, I ran into a problem where the system clears the screen on warm boot. This makes it hard to use because every time you run a transient CP/M command it immediately clears the screen before you can read the output!

I managed to patch CPM3.SYS so that it no longer reinitializes the 80 column hardware on warm boot. This stops the screen from clearing.

Having fixed this, I decided to clean up the disk images and make a proper distribution. I have reorganized the files onto seven Disk ][ images. Disks 1-3 contain all the executables for CP/M 3.1, disk 4 has the help system and some documents and disks 5-7 have the source code for all of the modifications made to adapt CP/M 3.1 to the Softcard.

I also replaced the original German language help text with an English language version and replaced a couple of binaries that were localized to German. The system is (almost) entirely English-speaking now!

I uploaded the files to Asimov (they are probably still in incoming.) The filename is CPM3.1_Z80_Softcard.zip

The system does not use banked memory and has a TPA of just 46K. However I think this is a unique port of CP/M 3.1 to the Apple II. I am not aware of any other.

Enjoy!!

[Steve Nickolas]

On Sun, 29 Sep 2019, Bobbi wrote:

> I stumbled across a port of CP/M 3.1 to the Apple II + Softcard platform
> (here http://cpm.z80.de/download/apl2cpm3.zip). When running it, I ran
> into a problem where the system clears the screen on warm boot. This
> makes it hard to use because every time you run a transient CP/M command
> it immediately clears the screen before you can read the output!

IIRC, I got it from someone on comp.os.cpm and passed it on to Gaby. It's
been years, but I was a middleman in getting it circulated.

-uso.

[Marco Verpelli]

I don't know much about CP/M, I only used it for the wide availability of languages.

If I remember correctly this version wants the Z80 card in slot #4.

I ask you if it is possible to write a patch to modify it for slot #5.

All this to make it more friendly with AppleWin and not having to constantly change my usual configuration with the mouse in slot #4

Thanks

[Patrick Schaefer]

Am 30.09.2019 um 00:39 schrieb Bobbi:

> I stumbled across a port of CP/M 3.1 to the Apple II + Softcard
> platform (here http://cpm.z80.de/download/apl2cpm3.zip).

The file names are still from my old inventory system. I have received
these disks from someone at our local computerclub in Aachen (Werner?),
but never really used them. I don't know how they made it into the
internet. Here is the description from my database:

200.9.306 CP/M 3 Loader / BIOS
200.9.307 CP/M 3 GenCPM / Assembler
200.9.308 CP/M 3 Utilities 1
200.9.309 CP/M 3 Utilities 2

(200 is the storage location, "9" means CP/M tools, 3xx is a sequential
number, and A/B the disk side).


Patrick

[Bobbi]

It probably wouldn't be too hard to patch it to move the Z80 to another slot. Just a matter of fixing up the address for the card's I/O space wherever it appears. I may take a look at it when I get a chance (no promises though!)

[Bobbi]

It is fascinating to learn more about the origin of this set of disks. From the readme files and comments in the code I can see it was originally ported to the Apple II + Softcard by a Werner K.G. Muenchheimer in Aachen, Germany in 1989.

[Steven Hirsch]

The official Softcard CP/M system had code to search for the card and didn't
care what slot it was in. Should be possible to incorporate that logic into
the CP/M 3 port. Contact me privately if you're unable to locate the original
sources (which should be out there on the interwebs).

[Marco Verpelli]

Fine thanks. No hurry

[Patrick Schaefer]

Am 30.09.2019 um 14:29 schrieb Bobbi:

> On Monday, 30 September 2019 03:22:09 UTC-4, Patrick Schaefer wrote:

>> The file names are still from my old inventory system. I have
>> received these disks from someone at our local computerclub in
>> Aachen (Werner?), but never really used them. I don't know how

>> they made it into the internet. (...)

> It is fascinating to learn more about the origin of this set of
> disks. From the readme files and comments in the code I can see it
> was originally ported to the Apple II + Softcard by a Werner K.G.
> Muenchheimer in Aachen, Germany in 1989.

Yes, it was Werner from whom I got the disks. The dsk images have been
created in August 1998. After I discovered ADT, I archived all my floppy
disks at that time. MS-DOS did allow only 8+3 letters for the file name,
therefore the inventory number was used. Same to my ROM collection,
these had filenames like "3410080B.BIN".

Now we know that Steve sent the files to Gaby, and I remember having
sent them to somebody from csa2 in the beginning of this century.
However, I did not find the email with this topic.


Patrick

[Bobbi]

If Werner is still around, please let him know he did a nice job with the port to the Softcard! I have been enjoying reading his code.

[Steve Nickolas]

I was young and dumb then - early 20s. Looking back from 39, things are a
bit different.

They say hindsight's 20/20 and I prolly should've asked before just firing
away.

-uso.

[Tom Lake]

I'd like to see that done, too! Both the AppleWin emulator and my physical IIe have to have the Softcard in slot 5.

Tom L

[retrogear]

> I'd like to see that done, too! Both the AppleWin emulator and my physical IIe have to have the Softcard in slot 5.
>
> Tom L

Would it be as simple as in CONFIG.LIB setting a$cpu to C500 and z$cpu to E500 and rebuild everything? That library gets pulled into making the bios

Larry G

[retrogear]

That did it. I made those 2 changes to CONFIG.LIB then ran SUBMIT LDR and SUBMIT CPM, then PUTSYS and copied CCP.COM and the new CPM3.SYS so now CPM 3 boots in AppleWIN with the SoftCard in slot 5 ...

[desiv 1]

Is there anywhere that the Slot 5 version of CP/M is available for download?
As CP/M is now apparently free, I would hope releasing this wouldn't be an issue... (Not that getting CP/M was ever a problem, but. ;-)

With my Mockingboard in Slot 4, my Softcard is in slot 5, and I wouldn't mind playing with version 3... Never used it back in the day...

Thanx

[retrogear]

[retrogear]

On Tuesday, October 18, 2022 at 11:25:28 AM UTC-5, desiv 1 wrote:

I still have my work disks, make_bios3, make_cpm, make_ldr and the booter. Gmail me at larrygr510.

Larry G