Autor
| BIN COM ROM and MSX-Pad
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enribar
msx lover
Posts: 124 |  Postado em: 03 Outubro 2008, 09:40 |
Hi to all, I need a help:
what are the differences between BIN, COM and ROM files? I find utilities to convert BIN->COM and BIN->ROM, but nothing for the reverse COM -> BIN.
Another question: is it possible to obtain a BIN or ROM compiled file in MSX-Pad? Does the TP cross-compiler allow to this operation and how?
Thankyou in advance for you help.
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enribar
msx lover
Posts: 124 | Postado em: 03 Outubro 2008, 10:07 |
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sjoerd
msx addict
Posts: 450 | Postado em: 03 Outubro 2008, 13:56 |
Well, not only the file format is different, but the whole operating system. COM files expect a dos environment; BIN files probably expect the bios and basic roms switched in. Converting those files to other formats sounds unnecessary to me. A ROM file is just a memory dump of an msx cartridge.
A bin file has a header, starting with FE followed by start, end and execute addresses. COM files don’t need a header because they always start at 100h. Just changing the first byte is not enough. You have to put a complete header in front of the file, and change all addresses in the file.
I do not know how to make bin or rom files with tp. What is wrong with com files anyway? 
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enribar
msx lover
Posts: 124 | Postado em: 03 Outubro 2008, 14:43 |
Hi sjoerd, thankyou for the answer.
The main reason to make bin files and not com files is that there are many people developing software in Turbo Pascal.
But it seems that TP creates only com files. If we can compile in BIN format we can convert files in ROM, and then... More MSX software on carts! :-)
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Sd-Snatcher
msx freak
Posts: 255 | Postado em: 05 Outubro 2008, 00:23 |
This only can work if these programs never use DOS functions.
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Yukio
msx professional
Posts: 824 | Postado em: 05 Outubro 2008, 01:47 |
Maybe you could use something like this:
the Embedded Pascal
Just use something that could compile files to create Z80 BINary files. |
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ARTRAG
msx master
Posts: 1737 | Postado em: 05 Outubro 2008, 17:16 |
Enrico, you cannot convert a COM to BIN or ROM, sorry.
COM files relies on msxdos (or on CPM in case of TP) while BIN and ROM files relies on the BIOS or directly on the HW.
Not only, it is also a matter of size and memory organization:
COM files start at 100h in RAM, thus can use about 55K or ram.
They can allocate variables where they like inside that area.
BIN files start below 8000h and have to fit in less that 28K of ram
variables can be where they like inside that area.
ROM files work in ROM and, unless using page mapping, cannot pass 32K or 48K
variables are grouped in the area below 8000h of C000h
The sole thing you can really do is to develop in TP
a program that once compiled is organized like a BIN or a ROM file
so not a general solution, just a project that outputs a BIN or ROM files
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