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#77266 - 02/12/12 01:46 PM Software dumping for MESS softlist?
The Flying Ape Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 03/18/07
Posts: 197
Loc: Providence, RI
OK, so I have the wherewithal (ZoomFloppy, 1571 w/ JiffyDOS, XML creation) required to dump some original floppies I possess (and willing to do work for anyone else's collection).

How do I get this info upstream to the MESS project, for this example, Firebird's Elite Gold for C64?

To test, I created a (replacement) c64_flop.xml (below) and ran it as: mess c64n eliteg

Then on C64 typed: LOAD "*",8,1

This "gold" release prompts you to use "FAST LOADER (Y/N)", for which "Y" will start to work but eventually fail, but "N" runs perfectly. Note that its built-in fast loader works fine with VICE x64 using its drive's TRUE EMULATION mode on.
Code:
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!DOCTYPE softwarelist SYSTEM "softwarelist.dtd">
<softwarelist name="c64_flop" description="Commodore 64 diskettes">

        <software name="eliteg">
                <description>Elite Gold</description>
                <year>1985</year>
                <publisher>Firebird</publisher>
                <info name="video" value="NTSC" />
                <part name="flop" interface="floppy_5_25">
                        <dataarea name="flop" size="333744">
                                <rom name="elite_gold[firebird_1985].g64" size="333744" crc="5cd56a89" sha1="6238d1730a2f8129dcb1f53d47c0c0e9570f2c73" offset="0" />
                        </dataarea>
                </part>
        </software>

</softwarelist>


Is there ANY way of having mess read more than one XML file for a system, i.e., like rompath option is there an equivalent way to do a softlistpath option? Renaming XML files in place is a drag and can lead to a bad error.

Can I send the dumped files to someone interested in discovering with its FAST LOADER option fails?
Code:
$ ll
total 408
-rw-rw-r-- 1 rhurst rhurst 333744 Feb 12 08:08 elite_gold[firebird_1985].g64
-rw-rw-r-- 1 rhurst rhurst   3335 Feb 12 08:07 elite_gold[firebird_1985].log
-rw-rw-r-- 1 rhurst rhurst  69963 Feb 12 08:07 elite_gold[firebird_1985].nbz
-rw-rw-r-- 1 rhurst rhurst    743 Feb 12 08:20 elite_gold[firebird_1985].xml

Thanks in advance.

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#77270 - 02/12/12 05:08 PM Re: Software dumping for MESS softlist? [Re: The Flying Ape]
Darkstar Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 04/19/05
Posts: 293
Loc: GERMANY
Normally you send your dumps upstream to one of the various dumping projects (SPS, Redump, ...)

MESSdev gets the data for the softlists from there from time to time.

Also, for SPS, your g64 dump will not be sufficient, so you'll have to redump it (don't know about the other dumping projects though, they might accept .g64)

oh, and you *do* know that you don't need a softlist to play any game dump you made yourself in MESS? You can simply load regular disk images from your HDD

-Darkstar

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#77272 - 02/12/12 05:37 PM Re: Software dumping for MESS softlist? [Re: The Flying Ape]
The Flying Ape Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 03/18/07
Posts: 197
Loc: Providence, RI
I see. Just looked at SPS and they're re-doing things in "IPF" ... and the thinking there is it will get adopted in emulators, beyond Amiga? What's MESS plans with that?

I have found g64 dumps of commercial disks (using nibtools) work well with VICE; I get varying mileage from MESS and was looking to help them with specific use-cases. From what I am hearing from you, MESSdev inherits data for the softlists from some established dumping project -- but does anyone then QA the entries that it works with MESS?

Yes, I do know mess command-line, but the trend and attitudes here are pushing softlists. Hmmm.

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#77273 - 02/12/12 05:40 PM Re: Software dumping for MESS softlist? [Re: The Flying Ape]
R. Belmont Offline
Very Senior Member

Registered: 03/17/01
Posts: 13210
Loc: USA
MESS supports IPF already for Amiga and Atari ST; that support will eventually spread to all of the disk controllers.

Regarding submission of dumps, generally you PM etabeta, he's the softlist guy.

And as far as softlists, while they're preferable for dumps that are already out there, there's no reason not to test them first with the normal -flop option smile

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#77283 - 02/13/12 06:35 AM Re: Software dumping for MESS softlist? [Re: The Flying Ape]
Curt Coder Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 02/18/05
Posts: 401
Loc: Finland
ZoomFloppy dumps (*.log + *.nbz) should be submitted to Pete Rittwage @ C64PP first.

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#77372 - 02/16/12 06:16 PM Re: Software dumping for MESS softlist? [Re: The Flying Ape]
The Flying Ape Offline
Senior Member

Registered: 03/18/07
Posts: 197
Loc: Providence, RI
Done, thanks Curt.

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