README

MINP

A custom input driver for Pascal/MT+ for the MBC line of computers.

By D. Collins (C)2021   Here is a small module for Pascal/MT+ which makes using the serial input directly on a MBC style computer very simple.  It uses the port array which is very fast to grab data from the terminal directly, and bypases much of CPM by useing a very low level operation to do so.  This means if you are trying to grab characters at speed for instance if you are writing a game, you do not have to write custom BIOS code to do so.  There is a table which must be linked along with this module in order to provide access to the extended keycodes -- it's not required to use the module if you are trying to keep your code small. however the table is very small, only a few (96) bytes - plus the code to manage it which is only a few lines. 

UPDATE *** Added Documentation for Hooking up my GPIO Games Adapter ***

GPIO Games Adapter Connections:

<pre>MBC Expansion Port
GPIO GAME ADDAPTER CONN.
UP = U DOWN = D LEFT = l
RIGHT = R FIRE = F
555 TRIGGER = TRG (HIGH TRIGGERS)
555 EXPIRED = EXP (LOW = EXPIRED
HIGH = RUNNING)
PASSIVE BUZZER = SND

VCC F U D L R GND
| | | | | | |
+5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 GND

• GPIO PORT A
• GPIO PORT B
  | | |
  EXP TRG SND </pre>

Files List:

.erl :  a V20-MBC 8080 Relocatable file suitable for linking, may very well work on the MBC2 but it's not been tested. .R86 : a V20-MBC 8086 Relocatable file suitable for linking. Depending on your memory map this may or may not work on other platforms, most likely will not work under dos. .def : a define file (minp.def) must be added to the top of the source code block after your declaration block using {$I minp.def}, added in code to declare all of the procedures and functions from the module. .tdf : an internal type declaration file that adds code to declare common types. .vdf : an internal variable declaration file that adds code to declare common variable types. .pas : source file written in pascal.

Usage:

Simply link minp.erl/.r86, and a table file (ktbl8080.erl or ktbl8086.r86) to your main source code after including the .def file after your declaration block (minp.def).  If you do not include the table module you will get a warning about a missing symbol if you do not use appropriate switches to clear unused symbols.  if the extended keycodes are needed you will have to define the table pointers in memory before using them by calling the kmkptrs procedure.

Symbol Explanation:

Inkey <function :integer >   :  return the ASCII value of key pressed, else return 0. This returns the value of the key currently being pressed.  I have tested it alongside bios & bdos related commands, and it appears to function properly.  This doesn’t require a separate table file to function.   Extinkey <function : integer> : return the ASCII Value or a value 1-16 according to the following list. F1,RT,F2,LF,F3,F4,F5,DN,F6,F7,F8,F9,HOM,INS,DEL,UP,END,PGUP,PGDN This will return the key currently being pressed, and zero if no key -or- zero if some other escape sequence is returning from the terminal not on the list. If it is on the list it will return a value 1-16 (left to right on the above list)  You must call kmkptrs before using this command to declare the lookup table in memory. It is slightly lower as it scans the whole table until it finds the key that was sent. It does this by pulling 4 bytes from the terminal (if it detects an escape command), and then compares that sequence to an array until it finds a match. The returned values for the directional keys are the same values returned off of the custom joystick board which is part of a different project.   Getjoy <function :integer> : returns the value of port A on the bus expander. This simply returns the value of port A on the bus expander. Included is a simple schematic and a gerber of a very out-dated joystick interface.  The Gerber is untested, and I have a much better fully working interface that will get released once I have completed porting the sound/time modules.    Kmkptrs <procedure> : sets the location of the extended keymap in memory. This defines the table for the extended keymap, please call this before using extinkey.  

MIT License Copyright (c) 2021 Dave Collins Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions: The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software. THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.