Long Filename Browser for ZX-UNO / esxDOS

[keithshaw3]

Great, thanks for the info, its an absolute godsend having the file browser showing the full names and is worth the workarounds just for that.

I'm also having an issue where some .sna files are not loading but I will do a clean install and check everything again and let you know how I get on

Keith.

[akeley]

Hi folks, I've just got ZX Uno. I'm struggling to get the esxDOS working though. It loads and runs through the checklist, but when I try Ctrl Alt F5 from Spectrum level, it only displays black screen and a couple of highlight bars.

I've tried all the esx versions and am not sure what to do now. The forum is in Spanish so I thought I ask here first, maybe you have some ideas?

[keithshaw3]

ok, I have done a fresh install and still have a few niggly issues.

Now when I press the NMI button mid-game it now takes me to your NMI and not the original one as it did before, so I am unable to save a .sna file?

.sna files are not loading, could this be a 128K/48K thing? also, these are not my saved files but others I acquired if that helps...

when I press Shift-N it still drops me to basic and when I press the button I then get the old NMI as I should.

the only files I can load are .tap files. .z80,.sna, and .tzx files just take me back to the root of the folder I was in ( is this correct as of this version?)

one .sna file for bomb jack gave me the following error ( see screenshot)

Sorry for the long list but I hope it helps you bug find or just confirm that its something to do with just me

[bob_fossil]

Hi folks, I've just got ZX Uno. I'm struggling to get the esxDOS working though. It loads and runs through the checklist, but when I try Ctrl Alt F5 from Spectrum level, it only displays black screen and a couple of highlight bars.

I've tried all the esx versions and am not sure what to do now. The forum is in Spanish so I thought I ask here first, maybe you have some ideas?

Definitely sounds like an esxdos mismatch with the ZX-UNO. What version of the ZX-UNO firmware are you running? It's displayed when you get the ZX-UNO splash screen after doing a hard reset. I'm on EXP27-300320 (Bios v0.76). If you want to run EXP27 you need to flash the firmware with the latest BIOS as EXP27 uses different keyboard handling and you can end up with a ZX-UNO with a keyboard that enters garbage characters. Speaking from experience there.

[azesmbog]

maybe you have some ideas?

There is only one idea.
Update esxDOS to version 0.87
This is the best variant. But you need to update the files on both SD and FLASH. It's not so easy. Or still pick up the 0.86 version on the SD-card

[bob_fossil]

ok, I have done a fresh install and still have a few niggly issues.

Now when I press the NMI button mid-game it now takes me to your NMI and not the original one as it did before, so I am unable to save a .sna file?

.sna files are not loading, could this be a 128K/48K thing? also, these are not my saved files but others I acquired if that helps...

when I press Shift-N it still drops me to basic and when I press the button I then get the old NMI as I should.

the only files I can load are .tap files. .z80,.sna, and .tzx files just take me back to the root of the folder I was in ( is this correct as of this version?)

one .sna file for bomb jack gave me the following error ( see screenshot)

Sorry for the long list but I hope it helps you bug find or just confirm that its something to do with just me

If you put my SYS/NMI.SYS file on your SD card you'll get my NMI browser when you press this button. This doesn't support snapshot saving (yet) but has LFN support. I added the feature Shift+N to switch over to the default NMI handler (or Dr Slump's) which saves snapshots but only supports 8.3 filenames. As far as I can tell on my setup and from other posts in this thread, this is working for people. It's not something I use a lot as I'm happy with using my NMI as is.

What version of the .dot command SNAPLOAD do you have in your /BIN folder? Mine is 6656 bytes long (v0.3.13). Can you load in the .sna files from BASIC using SNAPLOAD? This is what I use to load .z80 and .sna files in. .tzx files are not supported (.pzx is if you have a ZX-UNO via the loadpzx .dot command). I don't have any issues loading .sna or .z80 files here. Can you upload a set of .SNA files (like Bomb Jack which don't work on your setup) somewhere and I can have a look?

[keithshaw3]

I will upload some .sna files tomorrow to dropbox for you to test.

I had to swapping of NMI's working great earlier between yours and Dr Slumps then back again to yours using J from his, then it all just stopped again and started crashing back to basic again.

my snapload is 66,220 bytes v0.3.13, I will try direct from snapload tomorrow and report back

[keithshaw3]

Three .sna files below, the batty file works, the bomb jack file does not and is the same one I got the error from, the other bomb jack file SNAP0000 is one I created which also does not work.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/lwwhx3gul1qnk ... 9.sna?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/rje9y0lz4nw2b ... k.sna?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/cegq6tme48n5s ... 0.SNA?dl=0

I can't seem to figure snapload out at all, it won't load anything and I get an error is the following correct?

.snapload -l filename?

[Spezzi63]

Hi Keith,
I tried to reproduce errors.
But the snaps always start without problems.
Note: snapload command - size is 6.50 KB (6,656 bytes)
What size of SD card are you using?
Did you have the TFW8b.com installation package?
Greetings,
Guenter

P.S. bob_fossil: Where did the "x" for EXIT go ?

[keithshaw3]

Hi,

Its the card supplied from TFW8B 14gb but formated and loaded with lite combo-086 from their web site.

I have done another fresh install this morning using the lite combo files and adding the files from file browser latest version then added the original NMI.sys renamed to .ORG and it still dumps me to basic first before having to press the button to get to browse.

where can I download a new snapload file from incase its that?

Thanks again for everyone's help

K

[Spezzi63]

Hi,
again just for me
So renamed the original NMI.sys in the sys directory to NMI.ORG
And the NMI.sys from the BROWSE_v0.06.zip package into the sys directory
copied where the NMI.ORG file is now also available.
Then triggered NMI
Is something going on?
Greetings,
Günter

Update:
NMI: Is something going on ?
I can't find any references to an existing 14GB card ?
Can you test another card (maybe 8GB maximum size) ?

[keithshaw3]

yes, correct

Just for clarity I put all the files from Browse 0.06 package onto the card replacing as instructed.

[keithshaw3]

I've just tried a 4gb card and it's doing the same thing, I have though just noticed that when the DIVMMC is booting from a hard reset I get an error loading RTC.SYS??

[bob_fossil]

P.S. bob_fossil: Where did the "x" for EXIT go ?

After I introduced the ability to redefine controls for v0.6 I changed all the existing keys like Q,A,X and P
to require shift - to try and stop key clashes with what the user may have defined. So you should be able to exit by pressing Shift and X.

[bob_fossil]

New test version available here.

Tried all the 3 supplied .sna files on both SpecEmu and my ZX-UNO (with the latest dev build and v0.006) and they worked without issue.

So, with the help of a 3 headed space dragon - I had another peek inside the standard NMI.SYS and found yet another undocumented esxdos API call that was being used in it's .sna file loader. I've since modified the code to work in a similar fashion and .sna / .z80 file loading still appears to work from both the .dot command and NMI on SpecEmu and my ZX-UNO. Maybe this will solve the problem? I'm out of ideas if it doesn't as it's all working here.

[XoRRoX]

I also had the problem of not being able to load .sna and .z80 files and with the latest test version, it does work
(Retro Virtual Machine, Spec128k).

It seems that files with names that exceed the max display size do not load, for example: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1987)(US Gold).tap

- Would it be possible to remember the position in the folder list on the last (at least) 2 levels, instead of 1?

I think a folder structure like this is common:

Code: Select all

Games
 \A
  \Abadia Del Crimen, La
  \Arkanoid
  \.....
  \Agent-X - In The Brain Drain Caper
  \Agent-X II
 \B
  \......

And after having run one of the files in the

Code: Select all

Agent-X - In The Brain Drain Caper

folder and going up a level, the browser now jumps all the way back to the 1st entry on the first page, having to navigate all the way back to where one was to go into

Code: Select all

Agent-X II

folder.

[keithshaw3]

New test version available here.

Tried all the 3 supplied .sna files on both SpecEmu and my ZX-UNO (with the latest dev build and v0.006) and they worked without issue.

So, with the help of a 3 headed space dragon - I had another peek inside the standard NMI.SYS and found yet another undocumented esxdos API call that was being used in it's .sna file loader. I've since modified the code to work in a similar fashion and .sna / .z80 file loading still appears to work from both the .dot command and NMI on SpecEmu and my ZX-UNO. Maybe this will solve the problem? I'm out of ideas if it doesn't as it's all working here.

Great work

This sorted out the .sna and .z80 file load issues I will also bear in mind the file length in the future just in case that's a problem as well.

So now I need to sort being dumped back to basic when I SHIFT_N to the original NMI.

ok I've sorted the RTC issue, it seems to have been asking for a file from the Dr Slump package and now I've installed that I get no error.

I managed to get it to switch between the two NMI's once then tried in-game , it failed and now just dumps me back to basic again when I switch from TEST007 to Dr slump, it does, however, switch the other way with no issues.

I get some more success if I start off with Dr. Slump then switch to TEST007 it then switches back without resetting to basic, but only once then it fails if I try again.

Very confusing...

K

[akeley]

Definitely sounds like an esxdos mismatch with the ZX-UNO. What version of the ZX-UNO firmware are you running?

There is only one idea.
Update esxDOS to version 0.87

Thank you for replying.

I should've said I did try to put different esxDOS versions on SD, including 0.8.5, which is apparently the one in Uno (according to the guy who built it). So in theory one of them should match it, but didn't.

I have also tried to update esxDOS before and it didn't work. Just tried again and it did - turns out I was naming the file wrong. So it's working OK now (0.8.7)

My firmware is EXP26 190218. I guess I could try and update it, but where do I find the update file? Is that the FIRMWARE.ZX1 from this github repo?

I undestand that then I could try you awesome new browser? esxDOS is great'n all, but ability to see the long filenames would be a game changer for me (literally). I have 14k+ files on my SD and trying to read these names in 8 letter format is a pain.

I also second the request for some sort of position memory.

[mention]keithshaw3[/mention] if you mean RTC error in esxDOS booting sequence, then it's quite common (and harmless).

[keithshaw3]

@keithshaw3 if you mean RTC error in esxDOS booting sequence, then it's quite common (and harmless).

That's good to know, it seems to have sorted itself out now, see the previous response.

[bob_fossil]

My firmware is EXP26 190218. I guess I could try and update it, but where do I find the update file? Is that the FIRMWARE.ZX1 from this github repo?

I undestand that then I could try you awesome new browser? esxDOS is great'n all, but ability to see the long filenames would be a game changer for me (literally). I have 14k+ files on my SD and trying to read these names in 8 letter format is a pain.

I also second the request for some sort of position memory.

@keithshaw3 if you mean RTC error in esxDOS booting sequence, then it's quite common (and harmless).

You can get the EXP27 files from here:

http://www.zxuno.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=3993

You need to be on the latest ZX-UNO firmware otherwise the keyboard won't work correctly - which I think is the FIRMWARE.ZX1 you linked to. As long as you have esxdos NMI working now, you should be able to use the new browser. You don't need the EXP27 core but it does fix some Z80 emulation issues.

[bob_fossil]

It seems that files with names that exceed the max display size do not load, for example: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1987)(US Gold).tap

- Would it be possible to remember the position in the folder list on the last (at least) 2 levels, instead of 1?

I think a folder structure like this is common:

Code: Select all

Games
 \A
  \Abadia Del Crimen, La
  \Arkanoid
  \.....
  \Agent-X - In The Brain Drain Caper
  \Agent-X II
 \B
  \......

And after having run one of the files in the

Code: Select all

Agent-X - In The Brain Drain Caper

folder and going up a level, the browser now jumps all the way back to the 1st entry on the first page, having to navigate all the way back to where one was to go into

Code: Select all

Agent-X II

folder.

I tried loading the following file off my test SD card:

Code: Select all

TAP/Games/new/Dizzy VII - Crystal Kindom Dizzy (2017) v1.0.2.tap

which displays with the '...' truncation in the browser and it loaded correctly. The browser always uses the underlying 8.3 filename when launching a file so it shouldn't matter what is shown on screen. Does the .tap load outside of the browser - e.g. with the .tapein command? What was the full path of the file on the disk?

I can add position remembering. How many levels should it remember - 2, 4, 8? You can always use cursor left and right to fast scroll pages in the browser or Shift + Q / A to jump to the first / last entry in the list.

[Spezzi63]

@keithshaw3 if you mean RTC error in esxDOS booting sequence, then it's quite common (and harmless).

That's good to know, it seems to have sorted itself out now, see the previous response.

Dummy RTC.SYS
https://tinyurl.com/yat4kxfz

[keithshaw3]

thanks, that will come in handy

[XoRRoX]

Some files not loading - probable cause: RVM

I think I discovered the reason for the issue for files not loading; it seems to have to do how Retro Virtual Machine is reading the file system.
With the following folder structure:

Code: Select all

...\Indiana Jones - El Idolo de Oro\
...\Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis\Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis (1992)(US Gold).Tap
...\Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade\Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)(US Gold).Tap

In the title of the browser, the folder names both show as /ZXSPECTR/J/INDIANAJ/

When I navigate to any Indiana Jones folder other than Ed Idolo de Oro and return to BASIC by pressing break and CAT, it's showing the Ed Idolo de Oro folder.

In Retro Virtual Machine when I do a CAT in the folder where the Indiana games subfolders are, it's showing 4 x INDIANAJ while on my real hardware (+2B & divMMC) that's shown as INDIANA~1, INDIANA~2.

I don't have my Uno at hand so not able to test how it's on that, but I suspect it's the same as the divMMC and thus no problem.


Store selection position

I tend to say "all" but don't know the implications on the code so will go with "as much as possible"


Slow down key repeat.

The navigation keys repeat from the moment they're pressed, causing it sometimes to skip over the file intended to be selected. What about building in some sort of delay before repeat, like in Spectrum BASIC?

[bob_fossil]

Store selection position

I tend to say "all" but don't know the implications on the code so will go with "as much as possible"


Slow down key repeat.

The navigation keys repeat from the moment they're pressed, causing it sometimes to skip over the file intended to be selected. What about building in some sort of delay before repeat, like in Spectrum BASIC?

I've implemented store selection position in a way that works without levels. However, it only works for folders. So if you navigated inside the folder:

Code: Select all

\Tapes\Games\A\Agent-X - In The Brain Drain Caper

and then selected '..' or pressed delete to go back to the 'A' folder, the selection will now be on the 'Agent-X - In The Brain Drain Caper' folder entry, rather than on the first '..' entry. This only works for folders - to remember the position of a file, I'd need to store away the path and file index and reload that in when you restart the browser. Hopefully this is better than nothing. This option is disabled by default (it does require extra processing to figure out which entry it needs to move back to). To enable it, run the brwscfg .dot command, enable the 'Remember last folder' setting and save.

I've also increased the delay when moving the selection.

Test version with these two changes can be downloaded here.

Would appreciate feedback, especially for the increased delay on the selection movement.