New Utility Z80onMDR - Transfer Z80 snapshot to Microdrive Cartridges

People are still making stuff for the Sinclair related machines. Tell us about new games and other software that runs on the Spectrum, ZX80/ZX81, Pentagon and Next.
User avatar
TomD
Manic Miner
Posts: 367
Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2018 9:47 am
Location: Leeds UK
Contact:

New Utility Z80onMDR - Transfer Z80 snapshot to Microdrive Cartridges

Post by TomD »

With the growing popularity of the excellent vDrive https://vdrivezx.com/vdrivezx/ I've adapted one of my utilities to create Microdrive cartridges from Z80 snapshots. Anybody that has tried to copy tapes to Microdrive is aware of the challenges especially with the later custom loaders and the aim of this utility is to make it as easy as possible to get games onto cartridge, including the ability to create compilations with a nice menu etc...

Currently in beta and 48k snapshot only but if you want to try it out you can using the following link https://tomdalby.com/other/files/Z80onMDR.zip

TomD

Code: Select all

+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Z80onMDR v0.7 (c) 2020 Tom Dalby
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| Usage: Z80onMDR [global options] snapshot.z80 [snapshot settings]
|
| [global options]
|   -m NAME - specify Microdrive Volume & Output Name, length 10 alphanumeric
|             only. Will truncate if >10 and remove non-alphanumeric chars.
|             This will also be the Menu name in batch.
|             <Default is take name from 1st z80 file>
|   -f      - override estimated size check if showing Microdrive oversize.
|
| [snapshot settings]
|   -n NAME - specify filename, length 10 alphanumeric only.
|             Will truncate if >10 and remove non-alphanumeric chars.
|             <Default is take name from the z80 file>
|   -s FILE - add a custom loading screen. Screen must be in binary .scr format
|             and exactly 6912bytes long.
|             <Default is use screen from Z80 file>
|   -b      - force buffer storage to screen area (with corruption), useful if
|             the game will not work due to the gap actually being used
|
| Batch Mode is activated if more than one z80 snapshot specified, example:
|   Z80onMDR snapshot1.z80 -s screen1.scr snapshot2.z80 Games01
|     which creates an MDR with snapshot 1 & snapshot2, snapshot1 has an
|     alternate loading screen and filename, menu & volume name are Games01
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Retro enthusiast and author of Flynn's Adventure in Bombland, The Order of Mazes & Maze Death Rally-X. Check them out at http://tomdalby.com
User avatar
jpnz
Manic Miner
Posts: 305
Joined: Tue Nov 14, 2017 4:07 pm
Location: Hamilt[r]on - City Of The Future - NZ

Re: New Utility Z80onMDR - Transfer Z80 snapshot to Microdrive Cartridges

Post by jpnz »

Thanks for posting, I can see this being very useful.

I've had a couple of turns with this and can't quite seem to get converted snapshots to run correctly from cartridge.

My last attempt was Manic Miner - Z80 snapshot, resultant MDR and TXT output attached - it's as if the decompression isn't quite right.

One other observation, the BASIC files on the cartridge are hard-coded to load from drive 1.
You could determine which drive is currently active then use this as a variable, e.g.

Code: Select all

LET d=PEEK 23766: LOAD *"m";d;"somefile"
Cheers!
User avatar
TomD
Manic Miner
Posts: 367
Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2018 9:47 am
Location: Leeds UK
Contact:

Re: New Utility Z80onMDR - Transfer Z80 snapshot to Microdrive Cartridges

Post by TomD »

jpnz wrote: Tue Sep 29, 2020 6:16 am Thanks for posting, I can see this being very useful.

I've had a couple of turns with this and can't quite seem to get converted snapshots to run correctly from cartridge.

My last attempt was Manic Miner - Z80 snapshot, resultant MDR and TXT output attached - it's as if the decompression isn't quite right.

One other observation, the BASIC files on the cartridge are hard-coded to load from drive 1.
You could determine which drive is currently active then use this as a variable, e.g.

Code: Select all

LET d=PEEK 23766: LOAD *"m";d;"somefile"
Cheers!
Thanks, I will look to add that PEEK to make it work with other Drives. Also I've updated the utility and fixed a few bugs, one of the bugs was with v2 z80 snapshots as it was compressing them out of order. This seems to be the issue as I've tried your file with the new version and it works. It does go to basic with a STOP statement but if you type RUN 30 it launches Manic Miner fine. The z80 snapshot does the same.

You can grab the latest version 1.2 using the same link. The new version also now works with 128k snapshots in case you want to plug it into a Toastrack, it also turns off bank switching for 48k snapshots so things like the UPG games work on 128k machines.

TomD
Retro enthusiast and author of Flynn's Adventure in Bombland, The Order of Mazes & Maze Death Rally-X. Check them out at http://tomdalby.com
User avatar
TomD
Manic Miner
Posts: 367
Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2018 9:47 am
Location: Leeds UK
Contact:

Re: New Utility Z80onMDR - Transfer Z80 snapshot to Microdrive Cartridges

Post by TomD »

Thanks to [mention]jpnz[/mention] I've now added the PEEK to the basic loaders so you can now run from any Microdrive. Also fixed a small bug and added a new option to move the launcher code around to help with screen corruption.

New version 1.3 can be downloaded using the following link https://tomdalby.com/other/z80onmdr.html

TomD
Retro enthusiast and author of Flynn's Adventure in Bombland, The Order of Mazes & Maze Death Rally-X. Check them out at http://tomdalby.com
User avatar
jpnz
Manic Miner
Posts: 305
Joined: Tue Nov 14, 2017 4:07 pm
Location: Hamilt[r]on - City Of The Future - NZ

Re: New Utility Z80onMDR - Transfer Z80 snapshot to Microdrive Cartridges

Post by jpnz »

TomD wrote: Wed Sep 30, 2020 8:13 pm Thanks to @jpnz I've now added the PEEK to the basic loaders so you can now run from any Microdrive. Also fixed a small bug and added a new option to move the launcher code around to help with screen corruption.

New version 1.3 can be downloaded using the following link https://tomdalby.com/other/z80onmdr.html

TomD
Great stuff, thanks! Will take a look over the weekend
User avatar
TomD
Manic Miner
Posts: 367
Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2018 9:47 am
Location: Leeds UK
Contact:

Re: New Utility Z80onMDR - Transfer Z80 snapshot to Microdrive Cartridges

Post by TomD »

Have adapted the utility to create OPUS Discovery Disks instead of Microdrives for anybody that wants to try it. Download available using the following link https://tomdalby.com/other/files/Z80onOPD.zip

TomD
Retro enthusiast and author of Flynn's Adventure in Bombland, The Order of Mazes & Maze Death Rally-X. Check them out at http://tomdalby.com
User avatar
jpnz
Manic Miner
Posts: 305
Joined: Tue Nov 14, 2017 4:07 pm
Location: Hamilt[r]on - City Of The Future - NZ

Re: New Utility Z80onMDR - Transfer Z80 snapshot to Microdrive Cartridges

Post by jpnz »

TomD wrote: Wed Sep 30, 2020 8:13 pm Thanks to @jpnz I've now added the PEEK to the basic loaders so you can now run from any Microdrive. Also fixed a small bug and added a new option to move the launcher code around to help with screen corruption.

New version 1.3 can be downloaded using the following link https://tomdalby.com/other/z80onmdr.html

TomD
Tested under emulation, and with a toastrack plus vDrive - works like a charm

Thank you!
User avatar
TomD
Manic Miner
Posts: 367
Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2018 9:47 am
Location: Leeds UK
Contact:

Re: New Utility Z80onMDR - Transfer Z80 snapshot to Microdrive Cartridges

Post by TomD »

Updated OPUS support so it now can create 720kB DSDD disks. Download from the usual link.

TomD
Retro enthusiast and author of Flynn's Adventure in Bombland, The Order of Mazes & Maze Death Rally-X. Check them out at http://tomdalby.com
User avatar
TomD
Manic Miner
Posts: 367
Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2018 9:47 am
Location: Leeds UK
Contact:

Re: New Utility Z80onMDR - Transfer Z80 snapshot to Microdrive Cartridges

Post by TomD »

MGT Plus D version also now ready and on the website https://tomdalby.com/other/z80onmdr.html

TomD
Retro enthusiast and author of Flynn's Adventure in Bombland, The Order of Mazes & Maze Death Rally-X. Check them out at http://tomdalby.com
User avatar
TomD
Manic Miner
Posts: 367
Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2018 9:47 am
Location: Leeds UK
Contact:

Re: New Utility Z80onMDR - Transfer Z80 snapshot to Microdrive Cartridges

Post by TomD »

I received a couple of requests for a utility to just create the program loader menu I've used in Z80onMDR for transfer to disk, so I've created MenuDSK to do this. It can handle up to 20 menu entries using the mock 128k menu style (shown below). It is wrapped in a basic loader and this can then be output to a variety of disk types (PlusD, OPUS, +3) plus also to tape for easy transfer to real drives.

Image

Download at the usual link https://tomdalby.com/other/z80onmdr.html

TomD
Retro enthusiast and author of Flynn's Adventure in Bombland, The Order of Mazes & Maze Death Rally-X. Check them out at http://tomdalby.com
User avatar
Hedge1970
Manic Miner
Posts: 388
Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2019 2:41 pm

Re: New Utility Z80onMDR - Transfer Z80 snapshot to Microdrive Cartridges

Post by Hedge1970 »

TomD wrote: Mon Oct 05, 2020 10:08 pm Updated OPUS support so it now can create 720kB DSDD disks. Download from the usual link.

TomD
I wonder if anyone uses the Opus. I tried but it was too far removed from all my other software and requires a quite large foot print on the desk so ended up going back to a standard-ish set up.
User avatar
TomD
Manic Miner
Posts: 367
Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2018 9:47 am
Location: Leeds UK
Contact:

Re: New Utility Z80onMDR - Transfer Z80 snapshot to Microdrive Cartridges

Post by TomD »

Hedge1970 wrote: Sat Oct 17, 2020 7:10 pm
TomD wrote: Mon Oct 05, 2020 10:08 pm Updated OPUS support so it now can create 720kB DSDD disks. Download from the usual link.

TomD
I wonder if anyone uses the Opus. I tried but it was too far removed from all my other software and requires a quite large foot print on the desk so ended up going back to a standard-ish set up.
I believe there are still a few dedicated users, in fact I only created the OPUS version on request from somebody. I actually don't own one myself.
Retro enthusiast and author of Flynn's Adventure in Bombland, The Order of Mazes & Maze Death Rally-X. Check them out at http://tomdalby.com
User avatar
TomD
Manic Miner
Posts: 367
Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2018 9:47 am
Location: Leeds UK
Contact:

Re: New Utility Z80onMDR - Transfer Z80 snapshot to Microdrive Cartridges

Post by TomD »

New version out which helps with some of the name clashes being seen when creating compilation cartridges.

v1.7 added option to specify output filename, better file naming & improved menu

Grab from the normal link https://tomdalby.com/other/z80onmdr.html

TomD
Retro enthusiast and author of Flynn's Adventure in Bombland, The Order of Mazes & Maze Death Rally-X. Check them out at http://tomdalby.com
User avatar
TomD
Manic Miner
Posts: 367
Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2018 9:47 am
Location: Leeds UK
Contact:

Re: New Utility Z80onMDR - Transfer Z80 snapshot to Microdrive Cartridges

Post by TomD »

Big thanks to Chris Dymond who has helped me iron out some bugs in the code which prevented some games working. Compatibility even higher now.

Grab v1.8a from the normal link https://tomdalby.com/other/z80onmdr.html

In addition I've updated all the other utilities from the same suite
  • Z80onOPD for the Discovery OPUS
  • Z80onMGT for the MGT Disciple/+D
  • Z80onTAP for Tape (slightly pointless and just for completeness)
z80onDSK uses a completely different compression routine so is unaffected.

Finally there is a new utility that simply creates menus for the disks. Useful if you create compilations disks outside of these utilities but like the menu system I use.

TomD
Retro enthusiast and author of Flynn's Adventure in Bombland, The Order of Mazes & Maze Death Rally-X. Check them out at http://tomdalby.com
User avatar
TomD
Manic Miner
Posts: 367
Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2018 9:47 am
Location: Leeds UK
Contact:

Re: New Utility Z80onMDR - Transfer Z80 snapshot to Microdrive Cartridges

Post by TomD »

New version of Z80onMDR uploaded fixing the issue of it not liking a capital Z in z80 issue. I also corrected a typo in the help which had -s for screen instead of -l

Grab from the usual place https://tomdalby.com/other/z80onmdr.html

TomD
Retro enthusiast and author of Flynn's Adventure in Bombland, The Order of Mazes & Maze Death Rally-X. Check them out at http://tomdalby.com
User avatar
TomD
Manic Miner
Posts: 367
Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2018 9:47 am
Location: Leeds UK
Contact:

Re: New Utility Z80onMDR - Transfer Z80 snapshot to Microdrive Cartridges

Post by TomD »

Actually thinking about it a little more (and reading the comments on WoS), a better solution might be to just use a Raspberry Pi Zero (wi-fi), coupled with the Nano. I've got a spare one lying around so will have a play once the rest of the hardware arrives.

TomD
Retro enthusiast and author of Flynn's Adventure in Bombland, The Order of Mazes & Maze Death Rally-X. Check them out at http://tomdalby.com
User avatar
TomD
Manic Miner
Posts: 367
Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2018 9:47 am
Location: Leeds UK
Contact:

Re: New Utility Z80onMDR - Transfer Z80 snapshot to Microdrive Cartridges

Post by TomD »

I've released a new version on Z80onMGT which fixes an issue when you get more than 20 files on a disk, thanks to Howard for pointing out the bug. As usual grab the new version on my website https://tomdalby.com/other/z80onmdr.html
Retro enthusiast and author of Flynn's Adventure in Bombland, The Order of Mazes & Maze Death Rally-X. Check them out at http://tomdalby.com
User avatar
TomD
Manic Miner
Posts: 367
Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2018 9:47 am
Location: Leeds UK
Contact:

Re: New Utility Z80onMDR - Transfer Z80 snapshot to Microdrive Cartridges

Post by TomD »

I've release the source code on GitHub to a "lite" version of Z80onMDR which only coverts one single Z80 snapshot to a Microdrive cartridge. Even though it lacks the ability to build compilations I've added a lot of the recent improvements to the file structure which have dramatically improved loading times.

As an example loading Chase HQ 128k version used to take 2mins 40secs and now only takes 20secs a whopping 8x faster!

If you are interested you can check it out here https://github.com/TomDDG/Z80onMDR_lite

TomD
Retro enthusiast and author of Flynn's Adventure in Bombland, The Order of Mazes & Maze Death Rally-X. Check them out at http://tomdalby.com
User avatar
TomD
Manic Miner
Posts: 367
Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2018 9:47 am
Location: Leeds UK
Contact:

Re: New Utility Z80onMDR - Transfer Z80 snapshot to Microdrive Cartridges

Post by TomD »

New version (v2) of Z80onMDR uploaded adding the file interleaving from the lite version.

Grab from the usual place https://tomdalby.com/other/z80onmdr.html

TomD
Retro enthusiast and author of Flynn's Adventure in Bombland, The Order of Mazes & Maze Death Rally-X. Check them out at http://tomdalby.com
User avatar
TomD
Manic Miner
Posts: 367
Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2018 9:47 am
Location: Leeds UK
Contact:

Re: New Utility Z80onMDR - Transfer Z80 snapshot to Microdrive Cartridges

Post by TomD »

v2.1 of Z80onMDR has now been released. This version introduces a new 3 stage loader which removes the screen corruption on loading, but still retains very high compatibility (older launcher remains for those tricky outliers)

The new launcher restores the entire memory apart from a tiny piece of code below the stack which, due to its size, is ok in the vast majority of cases. Thanks to Henk de Groot for all his suggestions and help in testing.

Grab it at the usual place https://tomdalby.com/other/z80onmdr.html
Retro enthusiast and author of Flynn's Adventure in Bombland, The Order of Mazes & Maze Death Rally-X. Check them out at http://tomdalby.com
User avatar
TomD
Manic Miner
Posts: 367
Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2018 9:47 am
Location: Leeds UK
Contact:

Re: New Utility Z80onMDR - Transfer Z80 snapshot to Microdrive Cartridges

Post by TomD »

v2.2 of Z80onMDR has now been released adding optimisations to the file interleaving for vDrive which now loads the snapshots much quicker.

I've also updated Z80onTAP to bring in the new changes.

Grab it at the usual place https://tomdalby.com/other/z80onmdr.html
Retro enthusiast and author of Flynn's Adventure in Bombland, The Order of Mazes & Maze Death Rally-X. Check them out at http://tomdalby.com
User avatar
TomD
Manic Miner
Posts: 367
Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2018 9:47 am
Location: Leeds UK
Contact:

Re: New Utility Z80onMDR - Transfer Z80 snapshot to Microdrive Cartridges

Post by TomD »

TomD wrote: Sat Mar 19, 2022 10:19 pm v2.2 of Z80onMDR has now been released adding optimisations to the file interleaving for vDrive which now loads the snapshots much quicker.

I've also updated Z80onTAP to bring in the new changes.

Grab it at the usual place https://tomdalby.com/other/z80onmdr.html
v2.2a released to fix a bug in v2.2 which overwrote a single byte which in some cases could cause crashes. If you've converted anything with v2.2 please re-do with v2.2a
Retro enthusiast and author of Flynn's Adventure in Bombland, The Order of Mazes & Maze Death Rally-X. Check them out at http://tomdalby.com
User avatar
TomD
Manic Miner
Posts: 367
Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2018 9:47 am
Location: Leeds UK
Contact:

Re: New Utility Z80onMDR - Transfer Z80 snapshot to Microdrive Cartridges

Post by TomD »

v2.3a released which adds loading screen compression so you can fit more on a cartridge. Also better handling of the stack which is used for the launcher.

Grab it at the usual place https://tomdalby.com/other/z80onmdr.html
Retro enthusiast and author of Flynn's Adventure in Bombland, The Order of Mazes & Maze Death Rally-X. Check them out at http://tomdalby.com
User avatar
TomD
Manic Miner
Posts: 367
Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2018 9:47 am
Location: Leeds UK
Contact:

Re: New Utility Z80onMDR - Transfer Z80 snapshot to Microdrive Cartridges

Post by TomD »

v2.4 released with further improvements to the 3 stage launcher to increase compatibility. Thanks to Steve for sending me some very tricky z80 snapshots. These had stack in screen and program counter in stack among other interesting challenges on where to put the loader.

In the end I had to revamp to loader so it could adjust its size and also split itself into parts to fit. End result is, in the vast majority of cases, the only memory difference is a very small 32byte piece of code below the stack. Compatibility as a result is very high and the older screen based loader is still available for those that are a bit more tricky. Grab at the usual place http://tomdalby.com/other/z80onmdr.html

I've also update Z80onTAP to do the same and also added the ability to extract the loading screens from Z80 snapshots and put these in a TAP file either as a compressed loader or normal screen.

TomD
Retro enthusiast and author of Flynn's Adventure in Bombland, The Order of Mazes & Maze Death Rally-X. Check them out at http://tomdalby.com
User avatar
TomD
Manic Miner
Posts: 367
Joined: Tue Nov 13, 2018 9:47 am
Location: Leeds UK
Contact:

Re: New Utility Z80onMDR - Transfer Z80 snapshot to Microdrive Cartridges

Post by TomD »

v2.5 released which adds ability to convert SNA snapshots as well (48k & 128k).

Grab it at the usual place https://tomdalby.com/other/z80onmdr.html
Retro enthusiast and author of Flynn's Adventure in Bombland, The Order of Mazes & Maze Death Rally-X. Check them out at http://tomdalby.com
Post Reply