MAP.BIN

Door meits

Scribe (6530)

afbeelding van meits

11-01-2011, 20:33

Hello...

At the moment I'm working on a demo which runs in MSX Basic and supports Moonblaster 1.4 music (MSX-Music / Music module).
To meet some possible wishes of MSXDOS2 users (e.g. for installation and running the thing from a HD or CF) I try to implement MAP.BIN.

Various attempts result in hilarious errors which makes me wonder if there's some catch I don't know of.

Are there certain rules I've to keep in mind when using MAP.BIN?

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Van Manuel

Ascended (19270)

afbeelding van Manuel

11-01-2011, 23:07

People with HD or CF will run the program from a DOS (MSX-DOS 2) environment anyway. So, why not make a BAT file which starts up the demo, which includes MAP.COM?

Van NYYRIKKI

Enlighted (6016)

afbeelding van NYYRIKKI

12-01-2011, 11:00

I'm pretty sure, you can find MAP.BIN easily if you download some of my MSX tR demos (Diary? Alt98 demo?) -> See downloads.

I don't remember there was any trick making it, but in the other hand... it was over 10 years ago...

Van meits

Scribe (6530)

afbeelding van meits

12-01-2011, 17:12

I found some MAP.BIN files...

The listing I work with is rather long. I check if it needs to be loaded. When the Moonblaster 1.4 tune should start, it's mute.
The disk I got it from is ROM#1 (diskmagazine, also available in the download section here). I noticed they got an autoexec.bas which only loads MAP.BIN and then the next basic file.

Then there's another MAP.BIN I found on MGF's Houzmania which I loaded before I manually starten autoexec.bas... Because nothing happened when the music part should start, I pressed ctrl+stop and checked the listing which was totally garbage.

I think I'll opt for Manuel's suggestion, considering the fact that the HD/CF users will boot a .BAT file with MAP.COM in it.

Unless I find or are given the ultimate solution.

Van mth

Champion (507)

afbeelding van mth

13-01-2011, 00:07

If possible, please fix the replayer so it doesn't read the mapper I/O ports. MAP.COM/BIN is a dirty trick that will fail on turbo R machines with more than 512K internal.

Van RetroTechie

Paragon (1563)

afbeelding van RetroTechie

14-01-2011, 14:37

Are you sure MAP.BIN is even necessary? Question

Back in the days I used a TSR to play MoonBlaster music in the background while doing other stuff (edit / assemble / debug cycles for example), and IIRC this TSR didn't involve MAP.BIN (or .COM) being loaded always.

I might be mistaken, but if not then maybe the source code for this TSR player could be dug up, and you'd have what you need without resorting to dirty hacks Crazy like MAP.BIN.

Van meits

Scribe (6530)

afbeelding van meits

14-01-2011, 15:42

If possible, please fix the replayer so it doesn't read the mapper I/O ports. MAP.COM/BIN is a dirty trick that will fail on turbo R machines with more than 512K internal.
I wish I could fix the replayer. I've never come any further than basic and the last project I did was back in 1997. So even my basic skills are rusty Tongue

Are you sure MAP.BIN is even necessary?

Back in the days I used a TSR to play MoonBlaster music in the background while doing other stuff (edit / assemble / debug cycles for example), and IIRC this TSR didn't involve MAP.BIN (or .COM) being loaded always.

I might be mistaken, but if not then maybe the source code for this TSR player could be dug up, and you'd have what you need without resorting to dirty hacks like MAP.BIN.
When using the original basic replayer of Moonblaster 1.4 in DOS2, you will crash without MAP.BIN/COM. That TSR was probably built around a better replayer.

It would be awesome if somebody was willing to build a brandnew basic driver for Moonblaster 1.4. One which supports DOS2 and has a hertz equalizer (50/60hz).

Now I read MAP is a dirty trick (which I never was aware of). I decide not to use it because it won't benefit at all and on top of that it's a dirty hack Big smile

Van Manuel

Ascended (19270)

afbeelding van Manuel

14-01-2011, 21:53

RT, aren't you confused with MicroMusic?