A library of tap2sna.py recipes

[SkoolKid]

Just added the t2s2sna.py utility to the repository. It's a simple wrapper around tap2sna.py that runs it against either a local t2s file or a remote one in the t2sfiles repository. For example:

Code: Select all

$ t2s2sna.py manic-miner.t2s
Downloading https://github.com/skoolkid/t2sfiles/raw/master/t2s/m/manic-miner.t2s
Downloading https://worldofspectrum.org/pub/sinclair/games/m/ManicMiner.tzx.zip
Extracting Manic Miner.tzx
Program: ManicMiner
Fast loading data block: 23755,78
Bytes: mmm       
Fast loading data block: 22784,256
Bytes: mm1       
Fast loading data block: 32768,32768
Tape finished
Simulation stopped (PC at start address): PC=33792
Writing manic-miner.z80

Perfect if you can't be bothered to keep a local clone of the t2sfiles repository up to date for some reason @PeterJ amirite!

[Bedazzle]

@SkoolKid

What is a best way to create recipe for pure basic program?
Or even basic, that loads several code blocks, and then loads and runs another basic... ?

[SkoolKid]

What is a best way to create recipe for pure basic program?

The way I've done it is to use these options:

Code: Select all

--start 1343
--sim-load-config finish-tape=1

See, for example, urban-upstart.t2s.

1343 (0x053F) is the address of SA/LD-RET.

[Bedazzle]

Perfect loader




Jumbo2 on the left, Jumbo4 on the right

[SkoolKid]

Perfect loader...

Yes, that is definitely one of the most broken loaders (or tapes) you'll find anywhere in the archives!

The phantom typist in tap2sna.py 9.0 can come to the rescue, though:

Code: Select all

https://worldofspectrum.net/pub/sinclair/games/j/JumboStoomlok3737.tap.zip
jumbo-stoomlok-3737.z80
--tape-name "JUMBO.TAP"
--tape-sum 53e61fbb25d09447542b4caa472ee828
--tape-start 3
--start 1343
--sim-load-config finish-tape=1
--sim-load-config 'load=CLEAR 49151: LOAD "" CODE : LOAD "" CODE : LOAD "" CODE : LOAD "" CODE : LOAD "" CODE : LOAD "" CODE : LOAD ""'

[Bedazzle]

One more interesting case. After the game loads, and user presses "N" for not loading save, it looks like game is hung.
But... it is basic doing some very long calculations in background...

https://spectrumcomputing.co.uk/pub/sin ... t).tzx.zip
damned-forest.z80
--sim-load
--tape-name "The Damned Forest - Alternate.tzx"
--tape-sum c5798f6eeeefb60c7e860d3f1b12f0d8
--start 1343
--sim-load-config finish-tape=1

Loaded / Pressed "N" key / After some time calculating:

[SkoolKid]

Quick update on 128K games in the t2sfiles repository.

There are now 585 t2s files for 128K games in the repo, and I think I've t2s-ified every 128K-only game that actually can be t2s-ified.

For full details on what's in the repo (and what isn't, and why), visit the status page:

https://skoolkit.ca/t2sfiles/

[SkoolKid]

Achievement unlocked: Add 10000 recipes to the t2sfiles repository.

To be precise, there are now 10068 recipes in the repository. Full details as usual on the status page:

https://skoolkit.ca/t2sfiles/

[Bedazzle]

@SkoolKid

If game does internal check for 48K/128K, and switches between beeper/AY - what is a best practice for t2s file? Do I need to create two files for different machines?

[SkoolKid]

If game does internal check for 48K/128K, and switches between beeper/AY - what is a best practice for t2s file? Do I need to create two files for different machines?

I haven't done many 48K/128K titles yet, but yes, that was my plan: one t2s file for each machine, as already done with Chase H.Q. (for example).

• chase-hq.t2s (48K)
• chase-hq-128k.t2s (128K)

[SkoolKid]

I've just added separate status pages for each of the 16K, 16K/48K, 48K, 48K/128K and 128K machine types:

• https://skoolkit.ca/t2sfiles/16K/
• https://skoolkit.ca/t2sfiles/16K/48K/
• https://skoolkit.ca/t2sfiles/48K/
• https://skoolkit.ca/t2sfiles/48K/128K/
• https://skoolkit.ca/t2sfiles/128K/

@Bedazzle, my plan is to concentrate on the remaining 48K titles (https://skoolkit.ca/t2sfiles/48K/). Do you want to concentrate on one of the others so that we don't duplicate work?

[Bedazzle]

@Bedazzle, my plan is to concentrate on the remaining 48K titles (https://skoolkit.ca/t2sfiles/48K/). Do you want to concentrate on one of the others so that we don't duplicate work?

Yeah, splitting work is a great idea.

Usually before I start working on new titles, I get fresh list (save html), then clean out from there already done ones, and others, like "require contended ram", then these having 128K.
From remaining list trying to implement these I understand from versions point of view (if there is tap/tzx/z80 present, I always prefer tzx, then tap).
If there are different versions with different years and different publisher - at the moment I skip these, or do t2s for both.

Can you add pre-filtered list for TBI only?

[SkoolKid]

Can you add pre-filtered list for TBI only?

Yep.

• https://skoolkit.ca/t2sfiles/16K/TBI/
• https://skoolkit.ca/t2sfiles/16K/48K/TBI/
• https://skoolkit.ca/t2sfiles/48K/TBI/
• https://skoolkit.ca/t2sfiles/48K/128K/TBI/
• https://skoolkit.ca/t2sfiles/128K/TBI/

It's still worth checking the repo before starting on any game in these lists, because in some cases there is a t2s file for a game from a compilation tape, but not from the game's individual tape. Bear Island is a good example: there is a t2s file for its release in the Games Tape 1 compilation, but not for its individual tape. So Bear Island really shouldn't be in the 16K TBI list, but my list-making scripts aren't smart enough to work that out.

By the way, if there are multiple releases of a game, I prefer the original published version, but if that doesn't work for some reason, then a re-release is fine.

[Bedazzle]

It's still worth checking the repo before starting on any game in these lists, because in some cases there is a t2s file for a game from a compilation tape,

Yeah, already done several titles before figured that out.

By the way, if there are multiple releases of a game, I prefer the original published version, but if that doesn't work for some reason, then a re-release is fine.

It is a tough decision anyway. Who knows, what differences (if any, excluding changed Basic/turbolader) are between first release and releases several years later of the same game?
For example, original release of Heavy on the magick from Gargoyle have critical bug (incorrect password given), that was later fixed in Rebound release.

[SkoolKid]

Status page(s) update: Individual pages for each status and machine type are now discoverable (via links) from the main status page:

https://skoolkit.ca/t2sfiles/

So, for example, to see which games are un-t2s-ifiable because their tapes contain unsupported TZX block types:

https://skoolkit.ca/t2sfiles/UBT/

[Bedazzle]

I haven't done many 48K/128K titles yet, but yes, that was my plan: one t2s file for each machine, as already done with Chase H.Q. (for example).

But it does not work even with example provided

[SkoolKid]

But it does not work even with example provided

You need SkoolKit 9.0 (the current development version) for 128K support.

[Bedazzle]

You need SkoolKit 9.0 (the current development version) for 128K support.

Ahhh, I see. Thanks.

[SkoolKid]

There are now 12280 recipes in the t2sfiles repository. Details of what's done and what's not on the status page (as usual):

https://skoolkit.ca/t2sfiles/

Only 165 titles remain to be investigated for t2s-ifiability:

https://skoolkit.ca/t2sfiles/TBI/

[Bedazzle]

Only 165 titles remain to be investigated for t2s-ifiability:

Strange that Corsarios is marked as NTA, while it is present, and more - you already t2sified it.
I did it too, but put 23296 as start address.

Archive contains two files for different sides of tape (game part one and two), while each side includes two versions: first one is for 48K, while second is running correctly as +2A (black case).

[SkoolKid]

Strange that Corsarios is marked as NTA, while it is present, and more - you already t2sified it.

Only the 128K version is marked as NTA. I assumed that the 48K version is a pure 48K game (i.e. makes no use of 128K features). If that's incorrect, then I'll make a t2s for 128K.

At some point I'll review all the non-T2S statuses to see if they're correct.

[XvarZ]

Great tool!

But what am I doing wrong with the 128k t2s?
Either they result in a 1K file or crashes when I open the file in Spectaculator.
With vallation-128k.t2s for instance:



The 48k ones do not have any issues (at least all I tried worked fine).

I'm using the latest version from Github, v8.10.

TIA

[SkoolKid]

But what am I doing wrong with the 128k t2s?

[snip]

I'm using the latest version from Github, v8.10.

128K support was added in SkoolKit 9.0 (the version currently in development). You'll have to grab the latest code from the master branch to get Vallation 128K working.

[SkoolKid]

Status update on the status page!

I've now split compilations out into the individual titles they contain (where that's known either by me or by ZXDB). That's increased the TBI count a bit, but gives a better idea of what titles remain to be done.

https://skoolkit.ca/t2sfiles/

[XvarZ]

128K support was added in SkoolKit 9.0 (the version currently in development). You'll have to grab the latest code from the master branch to get Vallation 128K working.

Awesome!

Thanks a 1000000!