ExecROM v1.2e

A new version of ExecROM has been released. New in this version:

Support to set the Japanese Character set using the /J option. The /B option will be ignored in this mode. Now games like Final Zone and Young Sherlock can be played on western MSX models with the correct character set instead of the usual crippled text.
Support for external palettes for MSX1 games, besides CoolColors.
If a file ROM_NAME.PLT is found, it will be loaded as a palette, so you can build a custom palette for every game. As a bonus there are a lot of classic 8-BIT system palettes bundled in the package. You can enjoy discovering what your favorite MSX1 game would look on Apple 2, Commodore 64, CGA, ZX-Spectrum and many more. There's also the original TMS9921 palette in the package, which will allow you to play the MSX1 games on a MSX2 or higher exactly as it was on the original MSX1.
Fixed the bug that caused data corruption when loading big XPC patches under MSX-DOS1. This solves the GRADIUS2.XPC problems many people reported.

This release was a joint effort of DJC (Japanese character set and external palette routine) and FRS (external palette routine, XPC bugfix and classic 8-BIT palettes).

Relevant link: ExecROM

Comments (10)

By hap

Paragon (2043)

05-04-2009, 01:33

Support to set the Japanese Character set using the /J option. The /B option will be ignored in this mode. Now games like Final Zone and Young Sherlock can be played on western MSX models with the correct character set instead of the usual crippled text.

I thought games use the BIOS to import the font. If that's correct, and since the BIOS is a ROM, how did you work around this problem? Purely out of interest.

By sd_snatcher

Prophet (3675)

05-04-2009, 04:28

I forgot to mention that palette files are compatible with the GraphSaurus format. You can build your palette using GraphSaurus and use it on ExecROM.

DJC also plans to publish a tool to edit palette files.

By Manuel

Ascended (19688)

05-04-2009, 17:29

A tool like this: http://bifi.msxnet.org/paledit/ ? I'd suggest: spend that time on something else :)

By sd_snatcher

Prophet (3675)

05-04-2009, 21:00

A tool like this: http://bifi.msxnet.org/paledit/ ? I'd suggest: spend that time on something else
In fact, he did made the tool for himself about 2 years ago, but just didn't published it yet. :)

By muffie

Paladin (933)

05-04-2009, 21:21

Dont you happen to have a version filled with lots of debug messages, do you? My real turbo-r st, have some problems with some roms that does not occur when using emulators: same .dsk, same execrom, same dos, same BIOS (dumped mine) and... works on emulators, freezes on my tr...

By sd_snatcher

Prophet (3675)

07-04-2009, 00:19

Dont you happen to have a version filled with lots of debug messages, do you?
Sorry, but there's no version like that.

My real turbo-r st, have some problems with some roms that does not occur when using emulators: same .dsk, same execrom, same dos, same BIOS (dumped mine) and... works on emulators, freezes on my tr...
Hummm. Is your MegaRAM ok? What MegaRAM model do you have? Have you tested it with testRAM? (on the Turbo-R, off course)

By Manuel

Ascended (19688)

07-04-2009, 11:39

In fact, he did made the tool for himself about 2 years ago, but just didn't published it yet.

Yeah, but that BiFi palette editor got released about 4 years ago
Ah well, let's reinvent more wheels! ;-) (As long as you have fun!)

By muffie

Paladin (933)

07-04-2009, 13:11

@frs

Well, the problem happens without megaram. When using execrom and one of my conversions: The Three Dragon Story.
As I said, using the exact same DSK, works on BlueMSX and OpenMSX (using A1ST emulation and my bios files) but freezes on my real tr.

Funny thing is: I have two megaram carts: One ACVS 512k, wich works perfectly on my A1F (runs MG2 perfectly using execrom) but works very unstable on the A1ST: Only in z80 mode and only 256k are recognized...

The other megaram, Playcon, which is only 256k, works perfectly on both computers.

I'm pretty sure that's a weird problem on my TR...

The sources for this execrom version are available? What do you normally use to assemble?

By Fudeba

Expert (113)

08-04-2009, 16:00

Manuel, "DJC" in this case, is me.
My palette editor was made about 4 years ago. In fact, I was finishing it when BiFi released its Palette Editor.
There are some differences between them, and I think it's nice to have choice.
Why so many years to release a software? Because it had a strange bug that plagued some MSX, but not others. FRS found out what was the problem and then I am giving the software the final touches (bells and whistles) so it can be released.

BTW: the problem was the I was setting DTA after defining the FCB parameters, and it looks like BDOS from some manufacturers didn't like this. FRS just swap it, setting DTA before the FCB definition and everything is fine now. Anyone knew about this "weirdness" of some BDOS (including turboR)?

About character map, the idea was ... a cheat. What about copying the ROM to RAM, replacing the charset and then modifying all addresses pointing to the ROM slot so they point to RAM? Well, that's all. It's simple, but it works.
Of course this will not work with ROMs doing things in a hard-coded fashion... but most old games (all I tested) do it the "right" way...

By muffie

Paladin (933)

13-04-2009, 12:14

WTF!!! He'll never answer my question...

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