Jan Venema (http://www.inter.nl.net/hcc/A.Jaw.Venema) recently made a new version of QLAY available (03 May 1998).
QLAY is a Freeware, QL emulator, and with the help of others, I received a copy of the most recently posted ZIP files — first, version 0.84, and subsequently, QLAY 0.85. For all practical purposes, QLAY requires a 486-or-better running at 66 MHz or faster with 8 Meg of memory. The emulation creates a 640K QL.
The most recent release of QLAY actually comes in two versions – the traditional DOS program and one that can be launched directly from within Windows 95.
That’s the good news. The better news is that Jan Venema has indicated that he is already working on the next version and it should be ready by the time you read this.
QLAY 0.85a
The DOS based code functions in a manner similar to the previous versions.
First you load the CWSDPMI.EXE file, and then the QL code and extensions are loaded, and then the NFA (Native File Access) code is loaded. The NFA code give QLAY the ability to access the host PC’s hardware and is a remarkable piece of coding.
Depending on the speed of your computer, the code is processed, and then the emulation begins.
The obvious change is the inclusion of the QLAY.RC file. This file is an ASCII script which is essentially a dedicated BATch file which both version 0.85a & 0.85b look for when the EXEcutable file is loaded. This is how the (stock) QLAY.RC file looks:
-r js.rom
-c c000@nfa.rom
-f 1000The syntax appears to be just different enough that I was not able to successfully load the TK2_EXTensions on the first several tries.
I finally e-mailed Jan Venema to get the “proper” syntax:
-r js.rom
-c 0c000@f:tk2.ext
-c c0000@f:nfa.rom
-d 2The new version comes with an image of the Dynamic RAM code; but, I have not been able to load it to date. This code (or, similar) is necessary if you want to use the XCHANGE program which sets up temporary files in RAM1_. All other tested programs ran, including the TURBO compiler.
Exit the emulation via CTRL_ALT_DEL key combination when loaded from within Win95.
To exit from a plain DOS load, I believe you have to reset the computer.
QLAY 0.85b
For reasons that are always suspect, I upgraded my IBM compatible PC recently and the OS with a copy of Win95. While subjecting myself to the OS upgrade was semi-traumatic (i.e., I inadvertently wiped out all my files!), having Win95 allows me to give the new QLAYW.EXE (a.k.a. QLAY 0.85b) a try.
QLAYW.EXE is designed to run directly from either a Win95 icon or from the Win95 DOS prompt.
When you load QLAYW.EXE, you will see a modest window with the following options: File, Screen, Language, Help.
Using the ‘File’ selection, you essentially verify (or, load?) the equivalent of the CWSDPMI.EXE code by selecting ‘Init!’. You then select ‘Go!’. Very shortly after that, you will see the familiar speckled Screen followed by the QL’s startup screen.
I was not able to load an image of my Minerva ROM code. I was told that this is only viable with the JSL1 (i.e., older) code (which I have). I have to presume that my Minerva code file was corrupted in the transfer.
Your language choice is English or German, with the default now being English.
I believe that all my problems can be related to implementation of the QLAY.RC file.
If your QL program uses ALT keys, then you will want to use the DOS version due to a key-stroke conflict which will exist with Win95.
Hey, I knew it could be done!
Many of you may recall that one of my biggest complaints about SMSQ [the OS used for the QXL & QPC emulators] is that it the display that is generated is less than I think it could be.
Jan Venema modestly states that “the Windows95 version has better display support.” With the Win95 version of QLAY, Jan Venema has demonstrated that the display is not only scalable, but that it can be done in an efficient manner. In version 0.85b, the screen can be selected before the emulation OR during the emulation. The five display sizes which he has provided are:
Size 1: 512 x 256 Size 2: 512 x 341 Size 3: 768 x 512 Size 4: 1024 x 683 Size 5: 1024 x 768
The great news is that ‘Size 3’ actually fills the usable screen space (9.5″x6.75″; or, ~11.75″ diagonal on a 14″ VGA monitor). I have to mention that the first several times I switched to ‘Size 3’ that it was just a little larger than the available screen space. Initially, I would estimate that ‘Size 3’ was being displayed as one line higher than a normal screen, and one character wider.
This over-fill stopped after I added the CWSDPMI.EXE file to the same directory as the LAYW.EXE program. Coincidence? I’m not sure. I haven’t removed the file to verify this.
‘Size 4’ & ‘Size 5’ definitely over-fill a standard VGA screen. ‘Size 1’ is similar to the image created by SMSQ, but the vertical is slightly compressed due to the “top line” being occupied by the control bar (7.5″x3.75″).
‘Size 2’ is taller than the standard QLAY (0.85a) display and the SMSQ display (7.75″x5″)
The font quality varies, with the font created in ‘Size 3’ as best described as being a compromise (1/4″ font height). The font in ‘Size 1’ & ‘Size 2’ are similar to CSIZE 0,0 (1/8″ & 3/16″ font height, respectively); and, the font in ‘Size 4’ & ‘Size 5’ appear to be similar to CSIZE 2,1 (5/16″ & 3/8″ font height, respectively).
As one might suspect, there is a price to pay for the scalability of the screen display with the larger displays using more of the host’s resources. Ergo, the larger the display selected, the slower the emulation.
As I mentioned, the size can be switched at any time during the emulation when using version 0.85b; so, the smaller size can be selected when greater speed is required, and to the full screen mode at other times.
Task Switchable
Both versions are easily task switchable from within Win95 by using either the ALT_ESC or the ALT_TAB key combination; or, the pointer arrow with QLAYW.EXE if your task bar is visible. Of course, use the CTRL_ESC key combination to load other programs; or, the pointer arrow with QLAYW.EXE.
QLAY 0.85b is unstable if other programs are dormant in the background; but, Venema assures me that this problem will have been fixed with subsequent releases.
Minerva Compatibility
Only the older (JSL1) Minerva code works. Even so, I was not able to load the Minerva ROM image that I made. I will try this again at a later date.
QLAYT
QLAYT.EXE is currently an essential DOS utility for effectively using QLAY. The QLAYT.EXE is found on earlier ZIP files, so you should ensure that if you are downloading from Venema’s web site.
There is a QLAYT program which I believe is for use with LINUX, and this should not be confused with the QLAYT.EXE program. QLAYT allows you, first and foremost, to add programs to the active directory file (QLAY.DIR).
With the anticipated addition of QDOS floppy access, you should be able to add files to your hard drive directly from floppy. The most important thing to know is that if you want to INSERT a file into the QLAY dir, the DOS syntax is as follows:
C: QLAYT -i QLATter -d 31790QLAYT switches are case sensitive. Note the file being inserted into the existing QLAY.DIR file is “QLATter” which has a size of ‘31790 bytes’. The file size on some files does NOT need to be declared.
Limitations
Some of the documentation presumes you know more than I do. The QLAY.RC file requires the syntax be written a bit differently than in the past.
TK2_EXTensions must be provided by the user.
QLAYW.EXE is designed to run without the CWSDPMI.EXE file, but it appears to be more stable when it is accessible by the QLAY.RC file.
Sub-DIRectories are not currently supported.
While I don’t know how to use the virtual “mdv” drives for storage (this is probably something that I should learn how to do in the near future because I believe these can be used as effective substitutes for sub-DIRectories), and QLAY’s I/O is still limited. While floppy access should be implemented by the time you read this, QLAY still does not have SERial access; but, presumably this will be a future function.
Why QLAY?
I have been told that there is another Freeware, QDOS emulator (WinQL — written by the author of the emulator that runs on the 68000-based MACs), but, I haven’t seen a copy, yet; so, I do not know what limitations exist with it (if any). The question that I am sure that some people will ask is “Why would I want to use QLAY?” (or, any other emulator).
There are actually reasons that QLAY, as tested, is more than adequate for most people who need to use a QDOS emulation. The fact that files are created saved to your hard drive in DOS format may be a benefit for some people because it eliminates the file conversion step.
For example, I recently prepared a manuscript which began in Quill, but which I later imported into Works for formatting and printing; and, I was glad for the better fonts available through Windows (having said that, I have to admit that I have not used or seen any of the output generated by the programs from PROGS; so, I don’t know what I am missing with regard to QL-to-printer output).
If you have a proprietary program that was written to run on QDOS, you no longer need to be concerned with porting it over to run on a PC since you can simply run it using the QLAY emulation. Or, for example, if you do not have the PC version of the PSION Suite, but prefer to use DBEasy (as I do) for your database needs, then QLAY will allow you to continue to do so.
If a program will run on a standard QL, then more-than-likely, it will run with the QLAY emulation; but, the exception might be older games which require a key.
Unlike the QPC emulator, all versions of the TURBO compiler work. Unlike the QPC emulator, QLAY is (currently) Freeware.
All in all, I think that QLAY is excellent QDOS emulator for a person with a suitable host PC who has a need to access existing QDOS programs and files.
HAPPY TRAILS,
AND COMPUTING, TO YOU ….