im having problems getting games to run on q-emulator

[ed77]

ive downloaded zip files from the dilwyn software page and extracted them to a directory and then attached the directory (im not sure you are supposed to do this) i can get it to display the files by using dir mdv1_ but the games either dont load or only half load. lrun (filename) just reports bad line. i know i should possibly be extracting the files though the emulator using an extractor but i dont know where to begin with this. its really confusing.

[Cristian]

Please indicate the name/link of one of the games you're unable to run.
Some general information:
- you can LRUN only SuperBasic programs;
- for executable apps, you must use EXEC;
- the SuperBasic programs may be unzipped on Windows/Mac OS as usually, but...
-...other non-Basic zipped software have to be unpacked under Qdos (native or emulated), or with proper Windows apps, or attached to a mdv slot of Qemulator (registered version only, please see the manual).
I hope this can help

[ed77]

Please indicate the name/link of one of the games you're unable to run.
Some general information:
- you can LRUN only SuperBasic programs;
- for executable apps, you must use EXEC;
- the SuperBasic programs may be unzipped on Windows/Mac OS as usually, but...
-...other non-Basic zipped software have to be unpacked under Qdos (native or emulated), or with proper Windows apps, or attached to a mdv slot of Qemulator (registered version only, please see the manual).
I hope this can help

this one:

http://www.dilwyn.me.uk/games/adventures/quest.zip

does q-emulator come with superbasic?

[Derek_Stewart]

Hi,

I had a quick look your problem with the quest.zip programme.

The quest.zip file when extracted gives:

Quest_mdv_boot

It seems extracting the zip archive file: quest.zip in Windows, or in my case Linux, extracts the files with dot extensions, the QL uses the underscore.

The Superbasic file: quest_mdv.boot listed in the screen dump wants to load: mdv1_ql_bin

But the extracted file as dislayed in the screen dump is: ql.bin

So clearly this is not going to work.

If the ZIP archive had been attached to the Q-emulator drive, which needs registration, the file would be shown correctly and the game would run. See attached screen dump of Q-emulator attached ZIP file in MDV slot:

Quest.zip attached in Q-emulator MDV1 slot

If registration of Q-emulator is not an option, the archive file quest.zip must be extracted with a QL version of unzip, in a QL environment, or rename all the files in the quest.zip file to suit the superbasic startup files.

[Cristian]

does q-emulator come with superbasic?

Since SuperBASIC is the BASIC interpreter included in the ROM firmware of the Sinclair QL, all QL emulators include SuperBasic.

Yes, Derek is right: the problem is about the dots.

The game you linked loads and runs even with the unregistered version of Qemulator. Here is the procedure I adopted:

- unpack the file “quest.zip” into a folder with your PC/Mac;
- replace each dot (.) in the filenames with an underscore (_);
- attach the folder to Qemulator’s mdv1 slot;
- type the following:

LRUN flp1_quest_flp_boot

and press ENTER

If you haven’t already done, I recommend you to read the QL user manual and Qemulator manual

[ed77]

thank you, it works.

im having problems with this file now:

http://www.dilwyn.me.uk/games/adventures/advent1.zip

ive changed all the dots to "_" but im getting bad parameter error. the menu loads ok but not the games.

[Chr$]

ive changed all the dots to "_" but im getting bad parameter error. the menu loads ok but not the games.

That's because those games have executable files that are loaded by each Superbasic boot file (and those boot files are loaded by the main menu i.e the main 'boot' file).

As mentioned, when you unzip a qzipped executable file (and all Dilwyn's zips are qzips) with Windows or anything that isn't a QL system, it mucks up the file header and they won't work.

Try these here that are .mdv format, not qzips. Attach as mdv image:

http://www.dilwyn.me.uk/vdrive/index.html

[ed77]

yeah, ive tried these but id like to get the text adventures to work

[Derek_Stewart]

Hi,

As part of another project, I may have the programmes in "advent1.zip" separated into MDV images.

If these ard acceptable, I will post them here.

[ed77]

Hi,

As part of another project, I may have the programmes in "advent1.zip" separated into MDV images.

If these ard acceptable, I will post them here.

thank you