EasyLoad + Plus
(C) 2007 - 2010 by NBLA000 of Denial Group
What do you want to EasyLoad
today ?
Overview:
EasyLoad+
is a tool for the Commodore Vic-20 that add WEDGE COMMANDS
to quickly display dir, load files from disk drives and more, it add TURBOLOAD functions for many CBM drives,
1581 too and add useful FUNCTION KEYs macros
too.
System Requirements:
EasyLoad+
requires any Vic-20 with or without memory expansions if work in ROM and a Vic
with at least a memory expansion if work in RAM using a rom file image or the file version.
Versions:
There are many EasyLoad+
versions for many addresses and with some difference,
there is also a Mega-Cart version.
All versions include "core"
functions:
- Wedge commands
- TurboLoad
functions
- FKEYs macros
File version include an automatic
start Menu for:
- move and start EasyLoad
in RAM to many selectable addresses.
Additional program supplied
to display a full help page and credits page
4K ROM versions include a Menu
using (CBM+F7) for:
- move and start EasyLoad
in RAM to many selectable addresses
- display a brief help page without FKEYs explanation
8K ROM versions include a Menu
using (CBM+F7) for:
- move and start EasyLoad
in RAM to many selectable addresses
- display a full help page
- display
credits page
- launch
included Disk-Menu
(note, it erase the program in memory)
MC versions are intended for Vic-20 with Mega-Cart only, there is a ROM and a file version.
For the Mega-Cart file version:
LOAD it by using any memory configuration
from both normal or soft reset menus and RUN.
After launching a program, It may auto-restart (without re-load), just hold CBM key on
reset (or select VIC 32K +3K)
Please note that if you load a cart image
for BLK 5, you must reload EasyLoad.
To speedup loading for sd2iec based
drives, SD2IEC/uIEC/MMC2IEC/etc, or any other drives with JiffyDOS
ROM, please install latest SJLOAD patch for Mega-Cart (www.mega-cart.com)
All versions except file version can be used in ROM
and in RAM as ROM file image, the file version work in RAM, to work in RAM any
memory expansion is required, use the proper file image or select the proper
address where move to from MENU, see below.
All version have an easy to
remember SYS start point, if use a ROM for [A0-AF / A0-BF] or using the menu
move to [A0-AF] it start automatically or after a reset.
When from Menu you move EasyLoad+
in RAM to an address, it starts automatically, however
the moved version use "core" functions only without MENU (CBM+F7).
Quick
Start:
There are several ways to get to know EasyLoad+ quickly and easily, best is to use an Emulator (VICE
my favorite) and try the full 8K rom
version for [A0-BF].
Using Vice, from menu select File ==> Attach
Cartridge image ==> 4/8KB image at $A000 use the 8K rom
file "EasyLoad+[A0-BF][AUTO][8K].prg" and reset [ALT+R] for windows.
To test Turbo functions too, you need to enable
"True drive emulation" from "Options" menu and select
drive/s you want to emulate: from menu select Settings ==> Drive settings
Wedge commands:
Command: Action:
$X
where X may be a number from 4 to 255, display directory of drive X on screen,
X may be omitted so current drive is assumed.
if current drive is 0 (not selected) it use the first active
drive from #8 to #15.
Keys during dir display:
CTRL (slow-down the dir list speed)
RUN/STOP (break the dir list but don't display BREAK
message so preserve a row)
CBM (pause the dir list while pressing it)
The directory is displayed in Vic-friendly mode, one row for each dir element
except for disk name and files larger more then 99
blocks ?!?! so on screen
you may see at least 21 programs instead of 10 displayed from LOAD"$",8 + LIST
The directory is displayed on screen without using memory so you don't get
an OUT OF MEMORY error for loooong
directories on unexpanded vics and don't
delete current program in memory.
/"FILE"
Load file from current drive starting from basic start address
like LOAD"*",8 wildcard are allowed
if current drive is 0 (not selected) it use the first
active drive from #8 to #15)
%"FILE"
Load file from current drive starting from the original file address
like LOAD"*",8,1 wildcard are allowed
if current drive is 0 (not selected) it use the first
active drive from #8 to #15)
#X
where X may be a number from 4 to 255, select the current drive
#
display current drive on screen
@
"CMD" send a command
to the current drive and display answer from it
@
display current drive status (first time display the
drive model)
OLD
Restore the last program after a NEW or after a vic reset.
It can be used to restore programs loaded with a wrong memory configuration
too,
for example a 3K program loaded with a 16K
configuration, just use the proper FKEY
combination to set the vic
as 3K (F3+CTRL see below) and type OLD.
TurboLoad supported drives:
CBM 1540, 1541, 1541-II, 1570, 1571, 1581
Function Key Macros:
Function
Key/s: Action:
F1
If char under cursor is space load first file else load program on DIR
the file will be loaded starting from basic address like LOAD"*",8
F1+SHIFT
(F2)
If char under cursor is space load first file else
load program on DIR
the file will be loaded starting from the original address like
LOAD"*",8,1
F1+CBM
Like F1 but perform RUN after the loading process
F3
Display directory of current drive or first active drive if not selected
F3+SHIFT
(F4)
Display current drive on screen
F5
TurboLoad ON/OFF
F5+SHIFT
(F6)
Disable Function Keys Macros
RunStop+Restore
Restore TurboLoad and Function keys
F7
Perform RUN
F7+SHIFT
(F8)
Perform EASYLOAD reset
F7+CBM
Start the Menu (if available)
Menu functions:
Move EasyLoad (without MENU) in RAM to many
selectable addresses
Show help page (without FKEY explanation for 4K rom
versions)
Show Credits page (Full 8K rom versions only)
Launch DiskMenu (Full 8K rom
versions only)
F1+CTRL
Set vic as unexpanded and
perform EASYLOAD reset
F3+CTRL
Set vic as 3k expanded and
perform EASYLOAD reset
F5+CTRL
Set vic as 8k expanded and
perform EASYLOAD reset
F7+CTRL
Set vic as 16k expanded and
perform EASYLOAD reset
Notes:
Only F7+SHIFT (reset) works if a program run too, the
other function keys work in Direct mode on the vic
prompt only.
If a program change the IRQ address pointers at
$314/$315, function keys don't work, just press RunStop+Restore
to re-enable Function Keys and Turbo too.
If you got problems running some programs, disable
function keys by using F6 before RUN, there are some rare games that assume
that the IRQ address at $314/$315 is original.
EASYLOAD+ can move itself in RAM via MENU to many
selectable memory addresses but obviously selected memory cannot be used from
programs that you want to load, for example if you use a simple 16k expansion
and select address [50-5F] /BLK2
you may load
unexpanded and 8k programs only, set VIC UNEXPANDED (CTRL+F1) or VIC+8K
(CTRL+F5) before.
If you use a 24K/32K expansion and use the 8K rom file image at [60-7F] in RAM you can use Disk-Menu
but you must set VIC+16K (CTRL+F7) before, because it overwrite RAM where Easyload is located no problem if you use [60-7F] version
in ROM or if you use the 8K rom image at [A0-BF] in
ROM or RAM.
Typical
scenarios:
Vic+3K
memory expansion:
You may use the file version and load easy and
fast unexpanded programs.
LOAD the EasyLoad+ file
version, RUN and select address [04-0F] (3K ram expansion address)
EasyLoad+
starts automatically using SYS4000, to inhibit EasyLoad+
overwrites you need to unexpand
the VIC using
(CTRL+F1), now you are ready to use EasyLoad+ safely.
Remember to type SYS4000 and unexpand
your vic (CTRL+F1) after
each reset.
Vic+8K
memory expansion:
You may use the file version and load easy and
fast unexpanded programs.
LOAD the EasyLoad+ file
version, RUN and select address [30-3F] (2nd half 8K ram expansion address)
EasyLoad+
starts automatically using SYS16000, to inhibit EasyLoad+
overwrites you need to unexpand
the VIC using
(CTRL+F1), now you are ready to use EasyLoad+ safely.
Remember to type SYS16000 and unexpand
your vic (CTRL+F1) after
each reset.
Vic+16K
memory expansion:
You may use the file version and load easy and fast unexpanded and 8K programs.
LOAD the EasyLoad+ file
version, RUN and select address [50-5F] (last part 16K ram expansion address)
EasyLoad+
starts automatically using SYS24000, to inhibit EasyLoad+
overwrites you need to unexpand
the VIC using
(CTRL+F1) or set VIC+8K (CTRL+F5), now you are ready to use EasyLoad+
safely.
Remember to type SYS24000 and unexpand
your vic (CTRL+F1) or set
VIC+8K (CTRL+F5) after each reset.
Vic+24K
memory expansion (not very typical):
You may use the file version or ROM file images
for [60-6F] or [60-7F] and load
easy and fast
unexpanded, 8K and 16K programs.
To use the ROM file image, just LOAD
"IMAGE-NAME",8,1 and type SYS28000 to start.
or LOAD the EasyLoad+ file version, RUN and select address [60-6F] or
[70-7F]
EasyLoad+
starts automatically using SYS28000/SYS32000, to inhibit EasyLoad+
overwrites you need to unexpand
the VIC using
(CTRL+F1) or set VIC+8K (CTRL+F5) or set VIC+16K (CTRL+F7), now you are ready
to use EasyLoad+ safely.
Remember to type SYS28000/SYS32000 and unexpand your vic
(CTRL+F1) or set VIC+8K (CTRL+F5) or set VIC+16K (CTRL+F7) after each reset.
Vic+32K
memory expansion (very lucky people):
you
have all Vic+24K options but best thing is to use ROM file images for [A0-AF]
or [A0-BF]
or use the
file version moving to [A0-AF] and load easy and fast unexpanded, 8K/16K and
24K programs.
To use the ROM file image, just LOAD
"IMAGE-NAME",8,1 and reset or type SYS45000 to start.
You may LOAD the EasyLoad+
file version too, RUN and select address [A0-AF], EasyLoad+
starts
automatically
using SYS45000, now you are ready to use EasyLoad+
without problems, you cannot load
cartridge
images obviously since they use [A0-BF] address too but there is an
alternative, see below.
Vic+32K+3K
memory expansion (vic full
expanded):
You have all Vic+32K options plus you may load
easy and fast 3K programs using CTRL+F3 before.
Using the Menu (CBM+F7 for ROM file image) you may
move EasyLoad+ to [04-0F] (3K ram expansion address)
so you are
able to load easy and fast cartridge images too.
Best EasyLoad experience:
I get my best and satisfying experience using the EasyLoad+ 8K ROM version [A0-BF] with the Eslapion's Ultimate Expander using the ROM option and 3K ram expansion too (Full version), i'm able to load Easy and Fast everything just use the
proper Vic configuration before (CTRL+F1/F3/F5/F7), if i
forgot to change the Vic configuration before to load the program, just change
the configuration after and type OLD command.
I may load cartridge files too, just power on VIC
using BLK5 switch to ROM, press CBM+F7 for the menu and move to [04-0F] (3K ram
expansion), now EasyLoad+ resides in RAM so switch
the BLK5 to RAM and i'm ready to load Cartridge file
images.
Another best way to get satisfying experience is to
use it with the Mega-Cart, you don't
need to use any switch just select EasyLoad+ or hold
F7 key on boot and you are ready to use it to load everything, cartridge images
too, just press CBM+F7 and move to [04-0F] (3K ram expansion).
Since Mega-Cart contain almost all vic
released carts, do you need to load cartridge images ?
Credits:
Fastloader
code based on a standalone loader by Anders Carlsson
originally assembled on VICI INTERUM MMII
demo
1540/41/70/71 code based on a loader written by Marko Mäkelä
1581 loader code and some optimization by Pasi Ojala
16 chr$
filename routines by Anders Carlsson
The 1540/41/70/71 - 1581 split code, file name fix and
some other optimization by me
“OLD” command based on unnew
routines by Daniel Kahlin
vic20 Disk-Menu
by Leif Bloomquist /V1 and Anders Persson
/V2
thanks
to the Denial Community