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BobDevries

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Joined: 08/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 266

Posted: 01:35am 26 Apr 2012

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Hi all,

Nick suggested writing a CHIP-8 interpreter...

To do that, though, I'd need to have available some sort of byte array. I'd need at least 1024 bytes; that was the minimum size of the DREAM 6800 memory. The first 256 bytes were scratchpad and variables, the next 256 bytes were the screen ram and the rest was user programme space.

I suppose a string array could be used, but I'm a little at a loss as to how string arrays are implemented in MMBASIC.

The manual says that each string can be up to 255 bytes, but it seems that only MID$ can be used to access e single character of that array. If I used for example, a$(1), I get an error array must be dimensioned first. If I use DIM a$(255), I get out of memory error. It seems to me that it may be trying to set up an array of 255 strings of 255 characters each.

It would be lovely to have a BYTE size variable (and arrays) to use.

Thoughts, anyone?

Regards,

Bob Devries
Dalby, QLD, Australia

djuqa

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Joined: 23/11/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 447

Posted: 01:41am 26 Apr 2012

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256 Byte String Variable size
so maybe
1 string == Scratchpad
1 String == Screen ram
and have a string array for the Programme space.

write a simple user defined function that writes / read the string array as a linear address space.

VK4MU MicroController Units

BobDevries

Senior Member

Joined: 08/06/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 266

Posted: 01:56am 26 Apr 2012

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Hi djuqa,

unfortunately, the maximum string length is 255 bytes, not 256 (See Maximite Manual page 8). Even if the string started at byte 0, that character is not accessible since functions like MID$ can only reference from position 1.

Regards,

Bob Devries
Dalby, QLD, Australia

djuqa

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Joined: 23/11/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 447

Posted: 01:59am 26 Apr 2012

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OK setup up 1 Big String array
20 elements long = 255*20 == 5K Approx
write Function / statements to access it as a flat address space

VK4MU MicroController Units

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