1999-09-09 23:20:00 +00:00
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<HEAD>
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2000-02-10 17:00:00 +00:00
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<TITLE>X-BOOT 5.0 Manual</TITLE>
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1999-09-09 23:20:00 +00:00
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</HEAD>
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<BODY BACKGROUND="6502proc.gif">
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<CENTER>
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2000-02-10 17:00:00 +00:00
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<H1>X-BOOT version 5.0</H1>
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1999-09-09 23:20:00 +00:00
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by <A HREF="mailto:pfusik@elka.pw.edu.pl">Fox/Taquart</A><P>
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<HR>
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</CENTER>
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<H2>INTRODUCTION</H2>
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2000-02-10 17:00:00 +00:00
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This tool converts Atari executable file (.OBX) to Atari disk image (.ATR),
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which can be used in an emulator. For loading executable into real Atari
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1999-09-09 23:20:00 +00:00
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you need no .ATR, try using <A HREF="xload.htm">X-LOAD</A>.
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<H3>CHANGES</H3>
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2000-02-10 17:00:00 +00:00
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<H4>Version 5.0</H4>
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<UL>
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<LI> long file names support
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<LI> more flexible syntax: <TT>obxmask atrfile</TT>
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and <TT>obxfile atrpath</TT> can be used
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<LI> internal write protection set in generated disk images
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<LI> headers with end address less than start allowed
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<LI> Unix-like <TT>-p</TT> option allowed
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</UL>
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1999-09-09 23:20:00 +00:00
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<H4>Version 4.0</H4>
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<UL>
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<LI> wildcards support - now you can convert a set of files
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<LI> .ATR name not required - name can be taken from executable
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<LI> no length limit - files longer than 60k allowed
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<LI> truncated executables handling
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<LI> checking for memory conflicts
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<LI> better errors handling
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</UL>
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<H4>Version 3.2</H4>
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<UL>
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<LI> .OBX is default extension of Atari executable
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</UL>
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<H4>Version 3.1</H4>
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<UL>
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<LI> first release
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</UL>
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<HR>
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<H2>USAGE</H2>
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2000-02-10 17:00:00 +00:00
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This is syntax for running X-BOOT:<P>
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<TT>XBOOT [/p] obxfiles [atrpath][atrfile]</TT><P>
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1999-09-09 23:20:00 +00:00
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Parameters in brackets are optional.<P>
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2000-02-10 17:00:00 +00:00
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If file name extension is omitted, the default .OBX or .ATR is added.
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If no <TT>atrpath</TT> is given, disk images are written by default in
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the directory where executables are.<P>
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If file name contains spaces, you should enclose it in quotation marks.<P>
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<TT>/p</TT> switch (or equivalent <TT>-p</TT>) forces writing 'professional loader',
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which allows you to load code/data under ROM and disables ROM and interrupts
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while starting program. By default, standard loader is used, which can load any
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Atari executable not demanding DOS nor any special loader.<P>
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1999-09-09 23:20:00 +00:00
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Both loaders disable Atari Basic, so you needn't hold OPTION key while
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booting.<P>
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2000-02-10 17:00:00 +00:00
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Below are some examples:<P>
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<DL>
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<DT><TT>XBOOT -p test</TT>
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<DD>Converts <TT>test.obx</TT> to <TT>test.atr</TT> in current directory
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using professional loader.
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<DT><TT>XBOOT d:\games\*.xex \atrs\</TT>
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<DD>Converts all files in <TT>d:\games</TT> with <TT>.xex</TT> extension
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and writes disk images to directory <TT>\atrs</TT> on current drive
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using standard loader.
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<DT><TT>XBOOT "c:\test\Very Long File Name.AtariExecutable" /p</TT>
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<DD>Converts <NOBR><TT>c:\test\Very Long File Name.AtariExecutable</TT></NOBR> to
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<NOBR><TT>c:\test\Very Long File Name.atr</TT></NOBR> using professional loader.
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<DT><TT>XBOOT d:* /p .</TT>
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<DD>Converts all .OBX files in current directory on <TT>d:</TT>
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to current directory on current drive using professional loader.
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</DL>
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1999-09-09 23:20:00 +00:00
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<HR>
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<H2>DETAILS</H2>
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Produced ATR is single density and as short as possible.
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Loader occupies one boot sector.<P>
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X-BOOT does not write executable in ATR as Atari file.
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2000-02-10 17:00:00 +00:00
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You can't read it from an Atari DOS nor extract it somehow or other.
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1999-09-09 23:20:00 +00:00
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You can only run it by booting.<P>
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2000-02-10 17:00:00 +00:00
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For more details, read sources of loaders:
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1999-09-09 23:20:00 +00:00
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<UL>
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<LI>Standard: <A HREF="xbootstd.asx">XBOOTSTD.ASX</A>
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<LI>Professional: <A HREF="xbootpro.asx">XBOOTPRO.ASX</A>
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</UL>
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Loaders are so simple that they even do not detect end of file. Instead,
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2000-02-10 17:00:00 +00:00
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they are modified when end of file is reached. Disk image contains one
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1999-09-09 23:20:00 +00:00
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additional block, which doesn't belong to executable file, but changes
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loader to run program instead of initializing.
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</BODY>
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</HTML>
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