binder@fizbin.DEC.COM (NOW willya gimme some fightin' room?) (12/17/86)
A few weeks ago, I posted a query for information on how the Applicard
controls the Apple hardware. I followed that query with a posting of general
info sent to me by Jim Gilbert. I've now got the PCPI OEM package (they
charged me $45.00 for it), and I thought it might be useful to describe what's
in it. I can't give in-depth coverage, because it's a non-disclosure package.
Contents of 31-page manual, by chapter:
1. BIOS Information
2. Apple I/O Processor Command Structure [ In detail, with examples ]
3. I/O Byte
4. Hardware [ General - nothing deep about the Applicard ]
5. Debugging Drivers [ Not intuitively obvious because of CP/M's
handling of RESET and because of the Applicard/Apple port ]
6. Assembler [ Cross-assembler for 6502, runs under CP/M. Similar
to M80, not syntax compatible with native Apple assemblers like
LISA or EDASM ]
7. Linker [ Similar to L80 ]
8. GENMAP [ A bitmap generator for driver construction ]
9. Other files
The package contains two disks, one of utility files like the assembler and
linker; and one of source files, including useful Z80 and 6502 routines,
driver examples and the complete source for APLFLPY.DVR. Some of the
package's documentation is in disk files rather than being printed in
hardcopy.
Some of the information in the manual is somewhat unclear, and you may have
trouble using it unless you're an in-depth hacker willing to play around. The
manual itself is a several-generations Xerox copy, and it's hard to read.
Cheers,
Dick Binder (The Stainless Steel Rat)
DEC Enet: ASD::BINDER
UUCP: { decvax, allegra, ucbvax... }!decwrl!asd.dec.com!binder
ARPA: binder%asd.DEC@decwrl.ARPA