Category Archives: News

Archive Extractor

A Windows program from Norman Dunbar to examine the internals of a QDOS Archive file. Originally written to help Norman to track down just how corrupted an Archive database file of his was.

Norman has included the source code on GitHub. It’s written in C++ and he has included a link to download the free Borland C++ compiler version 10.1

Norman has also included information on the Archive data file and header formats, intended to supplement and replace some out of date Archive file format information on other websites.

https://github.com/NormanDunbar/ArchiveExtractor

charConvert For Windows

Peter Sulzer writes:

I have written a character conversion Application for windows, which can convert single chars to any substitution.

I have written it for my homepage, to translate all German Umlauts to html escape sequences (e. g. ‘ä’ to “ä”), but if you edit the *.ini-File, this program can also be used, to convert from QL character set to the ANSI character set of windows. It can convert a lot of different characters in one “run” (there is a table, where you can add substitutions, or add them to the *.ini-file).

It is a program with GUI (a WPF application), the working routine runs as a separate thread (doesn’t block the UI) and it can substitute whole directories (unfortunately it currently doesn’t recurse into subdirectories).

If anyone wants to test it, there is a preliminary download for QL users

http://peter-sulzer.bplaced.net/htdocs/downloadInc.php#charConvert

Screenshots of all my programs can be found on the “Startseite” (http://peter-sulzer.bplaced.net), example:

There is one self extracting RAR-archive for the executable and a ZIP-archive with the source (published under the GNU GPL V1 or newer). The *.exe and *.ini file in the source archive can be found in subdirectory charConvert/bin/debug. You must also copy the subdirectory “de-DE” below the directory where charConvert.exe is stored if you want to get the German version (default is English).

The program should be pretty self explanatory. The *.ini file must be in the same directory as the *.exe. WARNING: There are file managers for Windows (e. g. Q-Dir) which don’t pass the program directory to the program. Then the *.ini file cannot be loaded. The normal Windows File manager does it correctly.

SuperBasic Online Manual

Norman Dunbar writes:

I’ve done some more work on the SuperBasic Online Manual. Some of the introductory chapters and appendices had formatting errors in that lines of code were rendering as plain text. These have been fixed.

I also took the liberty of adding DJToolkit version 1.16, the latest version, to the manual. Well, if I can’t blow my own trumpet …..

As usual, the build is automatic and there is html, pdf and epub files to download if you want your own local copy.

http://www.rwapsoftware.co.uk/SBASIC_reference_manual_online/

SuperBASIC Online Manual

RetroBBS

In the last issue we mentioned that Simone Voltolini has been busy setting up a bulletin board system reachable via Telnet or via QTPI on the QL (with TCP/SER support on a PC and a serial cable).

Simone quickly added:

  1. a) Textual Web Navigation (Unix Lynx)
  2. b) IRC client (very basilar but works!!!)
  3. c) Weather forecast (from now only for USA & CANADA)

The official e-mail of the BBS is active and can send and receive:

outsoft@retrobbs.sinclair.homepc.it

Further updates on 4th November:

  1. a) E-mail client where will be soon connected the 2 italian Sinclair ML lists so all can read and reply as “Sinclair_BBS” user
  2. b) IRC client new version: super fine and with auto log as “Sinclair_BBS” user on QL channel 😉 Simply need to make a /join #qlforum to chat ^_^
  3. c) RSS feeds client just connect on out Preservation project feeder + QL Forum too!!!

And again on 19th November:

  1. a) Linux applications operable via Sinclair Machines (Calendar, Calculator, network analyzer, the ARPANET)
  2. b) such FXnet newsgroups, Usenet (with the legendary COMP.SYS.SINCLAIR) and active Retronet for messages both in reception and sending customized per user
  3. c) Inter chat that allows you to connect all of the Mystic BBS group and chat with them as well as see which users of each BBS is connected or not to the system in real time
  4. d) text-based Web browser that allows your to be able to surf the internet Retro Machines
  5. e) Electronic Mail: dedicated box BBS connected with Italian and English Mailing list Sinclair with the possibility of user response with the BBS
  6. f) IRC finally available and connected directly to QLFORUM English channel
  7. g) Feeds associated with Italian ML and our project Preservation QL
  8. h) over 32,000 files available for our beloved (for still being tested right now, are not enabled downloads for copyright reasons and material selection)

Other interesting features are in development.

You connect with the Linux terminal or Mac via telnet or via the web directly clickando the link http://telnetbbsguide.com/bbs/sinclair-retro-bbs/

With Windows, you can download TeraTerm which is a great free terminal and log on by typing the address and selecting the standard Telnet port 23 connection.

For connecting to it directly via a Sinclair machine please watch Simone Voltolini’s video here (in Italian for now):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvgtBJeej9M

Jan Bredenbeek has updated his QLTERM program to make it possible to connect from a QL using a terminal application via a serial port to another machine: https://files.bredenbeek.net/s/hbqfO4RAV38nvRI

The Italian Average QL User

A survey of Italian QL users found that:

By analyzing the answers it was found that the “average Italian QL user” has had (and still has) more than 2 QLs and only one-third of the sample had a single QL. As their preferred emulator, QPC and Qemulator are head-to-head, with little more than 10% using Qlay. Other emulators are just unused.

As for the additional devices, no QL user has ever maintained his computer in its basic version. Therefore, the “average configuration” is as follows: QL with Minerva ROM, Qubide, Gold Card and Trump Card.

Also interesting is to note that the QL or its emulator are mainly used almost daily or monthly, and users programmed in Superbasic in the past even if there is more than a third of them who still works on the code today.

Finally Black Phoenix is considered an interesting system, but it’s not used by the most because it does not replace a normal PC. A third of users utilize it as an alternative to PCs for personal data while another third is not interested in the project.

Survey source: http://www.hunggartorino.it/ql/survey-the-italian-average-ql-user/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+hunggartorino%2FeVOl+%28Quantum+Technology+-+Sinclair+QL+%28EN%29%29

To help any new Italian QL users, Davide Santachiara compiled this little list of online QL facilities in Italy.

There is an Italian mailing list. To subscribe just send an email to sinclair-italy-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Quantum technology web site: http://www.hunggartorino.it/ql/language/it/

Ergon Development web site: http://www.sinclairql.it

QL/E v3.15

Codenamed “Grey heron”, Edition 1611 of QL/E is out now from Urs König.

QL/E is a modern and compact ready to run QL Environment (applications, demos, desktops, games, tools, utilities). QL/E comes loaded and pre-configured with a good selection of programs including a nicely setup desktop built using QPAC, QTop, Qascade and QDT. QL/E includes the the latest versions of the virtual QL machines (aka emulators) QPC2 and SMSQmulator and the operating system SMSQ/E.

The main change is that it comes with brand-new versions of SMSQ/E and SMSQmulator (September/October 2016) from Wolfgang Lenerz plus the very latest IPNet from Martin Head.

Support for the various QL compatible platforms (QPC2, SMSQmulator, QXL, QPC1, QemuLator, uQLx, QL-SD) has been vastly improved.

Plus QL/E can now be fully and easy be configured.

Go and get it here:

http://sinclairql.net/repository.html#QLE

Screenshot from QL/E

Black Phoenix 1.3.2

The QL software compilation Black Phoenix version 1.3.2 codename “Adelchi” (after a late Italian QL user, Adelchi Moscardini), was released on November 20 during the thirteenth Italian Sinclair QL meeting by Giorgio Garabello.

Further information about Black Phoenix on http://www.hunggartorino.it/ql/black-phoenix-1-3-2-all-the-news/

Probably the most prominent change is the new WiQget feature. These are small standalone programs (like “Widgets”, from the name WIndows gaDGET originally) which exist in a bar towards the right of the screen, piling on top of each other without overlapping where possible.

WiQgets are little programs whose job is to stay on the desktop providing different kind of information. Every WiQget has a single job: one can have a WiQget which shows a calendar, another one which gives the current time/date and so on. Many WiQgets might fulfill the same task, simply showing the same results in different ways. It’s up to the user to choose what WiQget to use.

Every WiQget is simply a colored rectangle 250 pixels wide, showing some kind of data. Colors used are taken from the loaded system palette, so they depend on the loaded theme. There are no titlebars or pushbuttons. By hitting DO on any point of their surface, a tiny menu appears on their surface with six icon, each one of them devoted to a specific function.

Sample WiQgets screen dump

Other changes in this version of Black Phoenix are to the button frame – “Active Buttons” – and the new Extended Themes. These build on the colour themes implemented in the Window Manager 2, by adding desktop wallpapers, desktop icons, system fonts and more.

Black Phoenix can be downloaded from http://www.hunggartorino.it/ql/black-phoenix-en/

RWAP Software 30th Anniversary

1st November 2016 marked the 30th anniversary of the launch of RWAP Software and as part of the celebrations Rich Mellor released some of his titles as freeware and held a competition to win some QL software.

Software released included the StoQL screen converter, Quick Mandelbrot III, 3D Terrain, Sidewriter sideways spreadsheet printer, RWAP Software versions of QL Payroll and QL Cash Trader, QL Genealogist and the ProForma Epson Esc/P2 colour driver.

These are all available to download from my website – have a look at the List Of Site Updates page http://www.dilwyn.me.uk/history.html to find out which package is available from which pages.

To win the competition you had to name your favourite game and why, and where possible include a link to the game description on QL Wiki.

The winner of the competition was Giorgio Garabello from Italy. However, Giorgio felt unable to do justice to winning the full set of 9 game collections, worth over £200, so he kindly offered to share the prize with six other worthy participants.

Italian QL Meeting

The 13th Italian QL meeting took place on Sunday 20th November 2016 at the DTM Technologies premises in Modena.

Organiser Davide Santachiara reported after the meeting that 9 people attended from all over Italy, with others attending remotely via WebEx conference. Many others apologised that they were unable to attend on the day, showing that there was still a healthy interest in QL meetings in Italy.

An English session was held in the afternoon so that QL users outside Italy could take part. It was a pretty busy day and the start time for the English session was delayed slightly to 3pm. A total of 18 people took part in that.

Davide expressed thanks to Jan Bredenbeek, Marcel Kilgus, and Urs König for their contributions to the discussions. They talked about their story, past projects, QL meetings around Europe,  Fidonet BBS, ZX81, Giro d’Italia, MIST, and also talked about ongoing and future projects like Urs König and Giorgio Garabello’s QL distribution packages, Black Phoenix, The Distribution and QL/E.

This was the 13th Italian QL meeting, first one being in Gardone Riviera (1989).

Davide says that pictures and videos taken at the meeting will be made available in the coming weeks – keep an eye on the web page http://www.sinclairql.it/

Q68

Peter Graf issued the following list of features of his proposed FPGA-based Q68 QL compatible board, via QL Forum. Peter says that a version of SMSQ/E is being ported to it, and work is well advanced save for the lack of a mouse driver and ethernet driver at the time of writing. Peter has in the past worked on porting a QLwIP driver for the ethernet system, but it only ever existed for QDOS systems.

Preliminary specs:

  • Plain 68000 core, running approximately at QXL speed
  • 32 MB SDRAM
  • PS/2 keyboard and mouse
  • Two fullsize SDHC card interfaces
  • SER
  • Ethernet
  • Battery buffered realtime clock (battery separate from clock device)
  • Stereo sampled sound output
  • 1024×768 VESA VGA signal, QL modes in hardware, Q60 highcolor modes
  • 8×10 cm board size, fits existing case
  • Extension bus, 8 bit data width
  • Single 5V power supply

 

Remarks:

  • Maybe Ethernet will exist, but not become a specified feature
  • Will run SMSQ/E with high colour drivers
  • QDOS Classic and Minerva exist, but may not be released+maintained for lack of time
  • Sound quality may be reduced during SDHC card access
  • Further video modes better suitable for Full HD Monitors in consideration for later upgrade
  • Cache and 68020 support in consideration for later upgrade
  • Maybe Q68 will only be possible as tinkerer/community project without official support
  • Q68 is far slower than a Q60! Highres+highcolor screen modes can significantly reduce system speed

 

There is no news yet as to when the board is likely to make an appearance (a prototype was shown at the QL meeting in Edinburgh a while back), nor who might be building and selling the boards. Peter did caution that although work on porting SMSQ/E was ongoing, all this is subject to his time and health permitting.

Prototype redesigned Q68 board

Q68 board (left), unconnected inside a QL case