New version of Pasti.DLL: 0.3a

[ijor]

Pasti DLL version 0.3a1

Some small fixes and now compiled with a brand new compiler. Some older Windows versions then, such as Windows 2000, are not supported anymore.

Pasti DLL version 0.3a2:

Bug fix. Race Drivin' works.

PastiDll_03a2.zip

[Marakatti]

Great to see this still being developed, thanks

[Brume]

Thanks ijor
Testing it atm. Will post a report if I found something that doesn't work (but i'm pretty sure I won't find any bug).

[dlfrsilver]

It works nicely for me so far, thanks Ijor

[AtariZoll]

I found problem: Race Drivin' disk 2 (what is game, first is intro only) crashes soon after boot, with Pasti 0.3a . With older (like 0.2h) is OK.
Pasti images available at Atarimania.

[ijor]

Race Drivin' disk 2 (what is game, first is intro only) crashes soon after boot, with Pasti 0.3a .

I can confirm the bug, will fix it soon, thanks for the report. It's a bug introduced in this (0.3a) version. Should run ok with previous versions.

[ijor]

Version 0.3a2, with the bug fixed, is posted in the first message of this thread.

[Maartau]

Thanks Ijor

[tatouine]

Nice, thanks for your work.

[Mister DID]

Thks Ijor !!!

[Tramielson]

Hmm ... I need to try it. Thank you for all your effort Ijor

[tzok]

Is there any option to include support for Pasti images in FlashFloppy and/or HxE? I'm sure it would require a cooperation of developers on both "sides".

[TomH]

Is there any option to include support for Pasti images in FlashFloppy and/or HxE? I'm sure it would require a cooperation of developers on both "sides".

I've been sticking my nose into how to reconstruct a flux stream from Pasti files in the last few days and it seems to be non-trivial — these files are definitely easier for a whole-machine emulator to handle than a floppy emulator since the latter needs to reconcile the sector contents list with the track image whereas the former can just switch horses according to the state of the WD. It's also trivial to form a Pasti that can't be represented as a real flux stream, and probably even a real risk if/when third party tools manufacture Pastis from nothing, e.g. as part of a build process.

That being said, I'm not sure any cooperation is needed from Ijor's side thanks to DrCoolZic's documentation. I have found no problem doing the mechanics of file parsing based on that documentation, and all the data in the file has a well-defined meaning, being how a real WD reacted based on all of the available means of enquiry.

If memory serves then the HFE file format that is the HxE's most preferred source isn't capable of storing all Pasti images because it can't natively describe fuzzy bits or speed zones, it's just a regularly-clocked fully-defined bit stream per track. But that sort of conversion might be a way forward for using a certain subset of Pasti images with an HxE. If I have any success, I'll open source it.

[ijor]

Is there any option to include support for Pasti images in FlashFloppy and/or HxE? I'm sure it would require a cooperation of developers on both "sides".

HxC already supports Pasti images, although with some limitations. The GUI software can convert Pasti images to its native HFE format, that can also be used by FlashFloppy. It doesn't work with all the Pasti images though.

If memory serves then the HFE file format that is the HxE's most preferred source isn't capable of storing all Pasti images because it can't natively describe fuzzy bits or speed zones, it's just a regularly-clocked fully-defined bit stream per track. But that sort of conversion might be a way forward for using a certain subset of Pasti images with an HxE. If I have any success, I'll open source it.

Since quite some time there is a newer HFE format that supports both weak bits and variable bitrate. As I said above, the HFE software can already convert Pasti images, albeit with some limitations. It is even open source.

Not sure HFE is the best format though. Another possibility is to convert to an SCP image.

If you want to follow up, please open a separate specific thread. Thanks

[TomH]

If you want to follow up, please open a separate specific thread. Thanks

Insufficient to warrant a follow-up, but having checked the source of confusion it's that the HFE specs haven't been published for a while. So what I'm working with is outdated.

If I have any Pasti questions, I'll open a separate thread. I don't at present because what you've done is logical and straightforward, and very much on the enlightened side of history. Thanks for everything you've done here.

[dlfrsilver]

Is there any option to include support for Pasti images in FlashFloppy and/or HxE? I'm sure it would require a cooperation of developers on both "sides".

HxC already supports Pasti images, although with some limitations. The GUI software can convert Pasti images to its native HFE format, that can also be used by FlashFloppy. It doesn't work with all the Pasti images though.

If memory serves then the HFE file format that is the HxE's most preferred source isn't capable of storing all Pasti images because it can't natively describe fuzzy bits or speed zones, it's just a regularly-clocked fully-defined bit stream per track. But that sort of conversion might be a way forward for using a certain subset of Pasti images with an HxE. If I have any success, I'll open source it.

Since quite some time there is a newer HFE format that supports both weak bits and variable bitrate. As I said above, the HFE software can already convert Pasti images, albeit with some limitations. It is even open source.

Not sure HFE is the best format though. Another possibility is to convert to an SCP image.

If you want to follow up, please open a separate specific thread. Thanks

the HFE experimental v3 works with all the protections found here and there.