CosmosEx and GFA Basic

[czietz]

Over in the German forum (https://forum.atari-home.de/index.php/t ... #msg260134) there is a user who observed that GFA Basic (multiple versions including 3.6TT) hangs when used with the CosmosEx as keyboard replacement. The same versions work when he connects the original keyboard. Someone else added that GFA Basic sends a command to query the joysticks; and then the question came up whether said command is correctly handled by the CosmosEx.

Now I wonder - considering that GFA Basic is not an obscure program: Is this a known issue? Is there a firmware fix or workaround?

PS: Note that I don't have a CosmosEx and cannot test anything myself.

[lp]

Probably could patch his editor with one well placed nop.

[czietz]

Probably could patch his editor with one well placed nop.

Do you know where that NOP needs to go? Otherwise, I'll have a look later. (However, I think this might be something the CosmosEx developers should test and possibly fix, as well.)

[lp]

Do you know where that NOP needs to go? Otherwise, I'll have a look later. (However, I think this might be something the CosmosEx developers should test and possibly fix, as well.)

Well from my point of view CosmosEx needs fixed. GFA works everywhere else as is. I only work with 3.6 (English) so it depends on what version he wants to use and what language, obviously that would change the offset for the nop. Do you know his preference?

[czietz]

Well from my point of view CosmosEx needs fixed. GFA works everywhere else as is.

I fully agree. In fact, I'm wondering why this was not already found and fixed on the CosmosEx side a long time ago. GFA Basic is not exactly a "niche" program.

I only work with 3.6 (English) so it depends on what version he wants to use and what language, obviously that would change the offset for the nop. Do you know his preference?

Sorry, I don't. But then again, there's a German saying (also used figuratively) that one has to eat whatever is put on the table. Hence, if you know how to patch 3.6 English without much effort, I would post that over in the German forum.

[lp]

At the highlighted line place a nop and eliminate the loop that waits for the reply.

gfa-patch.png

Disassembly is the English 3.6 version that is 104597 bytes.

[czietz]

Thank you!

Found the place in the file, put in a NOP, and gave it to the CosmosEx user. Hopefully he'll report back.

[Cyprian]

Probably could patch his editor with one well placed nop.

I wonder why it works fine with the TOS and CosmosEx needs that NOP.

[ThorstenOtto]

GFA-Basic sends a command to the IKBD to query the joysticks, then waits for a reply. The CosmosEx does not send a reply, so GFA waits forever.

[czietz]

Found the place in the file, put in a NOP, and gave it to the CosmosEx user. Hopefully he'll report back.

He did: He confirmed that with this single NOP-patch GFA Basic runs when using the CosmosEx as keyboard replacement. For reference: You can find the version where I applied the NOP as suggested here: https://forum.atari-home.de/index.php/t ... #msg260160

Thanks again.

[lp]

He did: He confirmed that with this single NOP-patch GFA Basic runs when using the CosmosEx as keyboard replacement. For reference: You can find the version where I applied the NOP as suggested here: https://forum.atari-home.de/index.php/t ... #msg260160

Thanks again.

Nice. What's the odds of getting CosmosEx corrected? Don't have one myself, just curious.

[simonsunnyboy]

The user reports that it is working though STICK() and STRIG() functions are not working anymore acording to czietz.
this is a strong indication that the CosmosEX is at fault there...even if GFABASIC could time out the wait for an reply from the IKBD.

[wietze]

Are we able to submit a pull request to kookie?