Date   : Wed, 08 Jan 1997 21:07:19 +0000
From   : deweger <deweger@...>
Subject: Re: Archive format expansion

Robert Schmidt wrote:
> 
> deweger wrote:
>> [cut me describing an !STARTUP file that's almost like an !BOOT file]
>>
> Now, how about renaming this file to !BOOT, instead of inventing a new
> name for the wheel?

Agreed, an !STARTUP file is only useful for e.g. building a menu.
I've been convinced. If ppl do not plan any extensions like building
a menu or other emulator-specific extensions, the boot option
in the !BOOT.INF file is the best solution.

> By supporting an OPT4 option in the !BOOT.INF file, you automatically
> also support games which already come with a !BOOT file, which can be
> *RUN, CHAINed or *EXECed.

Yep.

> I don't share the fascination of "being able to" or "supporting" the
> creation of multigame disks with menus. 

Well, neither do I, but I try to be constructive to other ppl's
problems, and it's you who brought up the menu "problem" :)

> and that will be all I ever need.

Agreed. And a beautiful woman. Or two. Or three.

> Loads of stuff would be handy, but do you really consider it handy
> enough to warrant a new "standard" file?  I wouldn't.  I know what a
> game's name is from the ZIP file name.  We're not kids playing these
> games for the first time - we are BBC enthusiasts who can finish Castle
> Quest blind folded (ha! ha!), and relocate BASIC programs with one
> hand... :-)

The first point is true. The second as well, but I hate to do that.
Btw.,
this is a good point for Tom. Some DFSs (notably Watford DFS) have
commands *MLOAD and *MRUN. Apparently these proggies first load a
program
high, then switch to tape, move the program down and (for *MRUN) run
it. Maybe Tom could make *MLOAD and *MRUN standard DFFS commands that
are simply synonyms of *LOAD and *RUN (because the new version of DFFS
--hopefully--has PAGE already at &E00). That would save a lot of trouble
in running many games from the archive that use the *MLOAD and *MRUN
commands.

> OK, the option is not *BBC* specific - it is *DFS* specific, but I can
> hardly spot the difference.

It appears I was wrong and the *OPT4 parameter *is* stored on disk. 
This is a strong argument in favour of this parameter in the !BOOT.INF
file.

> Now, I never progressed past the stone age tapes

We forgive you as long as you keep up the WWW pages.

> OK... I won't say anymore about combining games.  I don't need it nor
> want it, so I can't really care less... :)

Good. So if some emulator authors want to support the *OPT 4 parameter
in !BOOT.INF files (Robert's last suggestion for the syntax is allright
with me), I'll adapt my XFer transfer proggie as soon as I have time
and Robert will start adding !BOOT files to every game in the archive.
Won't you, Robert? :)

Mark.