diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'instructions.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | instructions.txt | 180 |
1 files changed, 180 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/instructions.txt b/instructions.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f475a4e --- /dev/null +++ b/instructions.txt @@ -0,0 +1,180 @@ + DSVIC + ---------==============================--------- + + Copyright 2010 Ian Cowburn + ianc@noddybox.co.uk + + +1. LICENSE +---------- + + The code to DSVIC is released under the GNU General Public License. See + the text file COPYING for details. + + Other included software is provided in good faith, is not released under + the GNU General Public License, and is copyright their respective authors. + + VIC-20 ROM (c) 1981 Commodore Business Machines + + +2. DSVIC +-------- + + DSVIC is an emulation of a VIC-20 and is is supplied in two main forms, + as a native Nintendo DS executable and a version with a Gameboy Advance + wrapper (in case your Ninentdo DS homebrew device only supports running + GBA executables). + + In addition to this two different versions are supplied, one which + initialises the FAT library and one which doesn't. They are identical save + for this, and separate ones are supplied in case the FAT library + initialisation causes problem on your homebrew device: + + dsvic.nds - Nintendo DS version + dsvic.ds.gba - As above with a GBA wrapper. + + dsvic-nofat.nds - Nintendo DS version; no FAT library initialisation. + dsvic-nofat.ds.gba - As above with a GBA wrapper. + + I'm probably being overly paranoid there, but better safe than sorry. + + In any of the following sections where files are mentioned it obviously + doesn't apply to the 'nofat' versions. + + +3. Using DSVIC +-------------- + + When run DSVIC displays a splash screen with copyright information and + whether the FAT library has been able to find a supported device for the + loading of external tapes. + + Once the A button has been pressed the VIC-20 resets and displays itself + on the top screen, and a soft keyboard is displayed on the bottom, touch + sensitive, screen. + + Also at this point, if so configured, a default memory snap will be loaded. + See the "Memory Snapshots" section for more details. + + When using the soft keyboard by default the shift keys are 'sticky' and + once used will stay held down until pressed again. + + At the bottom of the keyboard is an area where you can click to bring up a + menu. Either use the stylus, or the joypad and button A to select an + option from the following choices: + + RESET VIC-20 + This resets the emulated VIC-20. + + SELECT CART + Selects the built-in cart to use (DSVIC has a number of VIC-20 + cartridge games built into it). The next section has extra + information on the loading of games. + + CONFIGURE + Lets you configure settings (see last section for settings). + + If you press SELECT to exit the configuration screen then the + configuration is saved into the file /DSVIC.CFG which is read on + start-up. + + SAVE MEMORY SNAPSHOT + Saves a memory snapshot. This option only works if a FAT-enabled + version of DSVIC is being used. See the "Memory Snapshot" section + for more details. + + LOAD MEMORY SNAPSHOT + Loads a memory snapshot. This option only works if a FAT-enabled + version of DSVIC is being used. See the "Memory Snapshot" section + for more details. + + CANCEL + Cancels the menu. + + + +4. Using the internal cartridges on DSVIC +----------------------------------------- + + Games on the VIC-20 were supplied on cassette or cartridge. + + DSVIC includes a few cartridges that are selectable from the menu. Follow + the on-screen instructions to select the game. A quick description and + the controls to use are displayed on the top screen. + + +5. Using external images on DSVIC +--------------------------------- + + <TODO> + + If you are using the version of DSVIC that allows the use of FAT devices, + and you device is supported, they you can load any old tape. + + FAT support is via the new DLDI interface, so you may need to dynamically + link in the appropriate FAT driver. Details are available here: + + http://chishm.drunkencoders.com/DLDI/index.html + + Note that the default driver linked in is the Datel Max Media Dock + (Compact Flash) -- solely as that's what I have. + + Simply place the .P file (VIC-20 games are usually distributed as .P files + that are simply an image of the memory that would have been dumped to tape) + and either put it in the root directory of the FAT device or in a directory + called VIC-20SNAP. + + Alternatively if you can't remember the names of files, loading "*" will + give you with a file selector to select the tape file with. + + It can't be at all guaranteed that all original VIC-20 games will work as + expected. After all, DSVIC isn't really a VIC-20. + + +6. Configuration Options +------------------------ + + STICKY SHIFT + + This option allows you to decide whether the shift key on the soft + keyboard is sticky (toggles when you press it) or acts like the other + keys. You should never need to make it non-sticky unless a game needs + it. + + <TODO> + ALLOW TAPE SAVE + + If enabled this means that files saved with the SAVE command will + try and create a .P file in the VIC-20SNAP directory, or the root + directory. You can SAVE "*" to bring up the file selector. + + If not enabled attempts to SAVE files from BASIC will be silently + ignored. + </TODO> + + LOAD DEFAULT MEMORY SNAP + + If enabled DSVIC will look for a memory snapshot called AUTO.V20 in + either the root directory or the VICSNAP directory. + + See the "Memory Snapshot" section for more details on snapshots. + + +8. Memory Snapshots +------------------- + + DSVIC supports basic memory snapshots. When you select "SAVE MEMORY + SNAPSHOT" from the main menu DSVIC will prompt for a filename (only up + to 8 alphabetical characters). Once entered the snapshot will be saved + in the directory VICSNAP with an automatically added .V20 extension. + + If this save fails, an attempt is made to save the snapshot in the root + directory of the device. + + On selecting to load a memory snapshot a file selector is displayed. On + selecting one of the snapshots it will be instantly loaded. + +------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +$Id$ + + vim:expandtab:spell |