(ab)Using my A2Pi

[Charlie]

Thanks Iain

The file you're after is DEFSLOT; the first two digits being the slot number, eg:
0300- 10 20 BPL $0322
0302- F8 SED
0303- BE A9 04 LDX $04A9,Y
0306- 4C F5 BE JMP $BEF5
...as seen when you view the file in Ciderpress.
In my case I've got my card in slot 1 so the first number is "10", slot 2 is "20", slot 3 is "30" etc...

You want to extract it as a raw binary file and edit the first number in a HEX editor... or do what I did which was to fire up the Applewin.exe emulator and "RUN CONFIG" to set the slot number I wanted - actually much less hassle.

I hope that helps.

does this help, for raspbian anyway :

https://www.raspberrypi.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=9817

and, charles do you know please which a2pi file stores the slot? I run config in the 32mb image but as we've discovered its read only. I've got the sd card open in ciderpress but dont know which file to edit. my pi is in slot 3.

ta !

 

[iainjh]

thanks charles, I have discovered the joys of apple2win and its now working. time to play!

 

[Charlie]

thanks charles, I have discovered the joys of apple2win and its now working. time to play!

...what a ru**dy b*ll-ache scummy old Linux is!
So far:
-A2PiOS updated & Pi3 support enabled
-RetroPie installed
So...
-My Apple IIe now boots direct to GSOS
-Exit GSOS to Linux Desktop by pressing <Open Apple><Option/Closed Apple><4>
Ok, let's get RetroPie up and running...
-Open terminal & type "emulationstation"
...epic fail, errors. Ok, much googling later I see X has to be closed first, then start RetroPie *sigh*
-Shutdown -> Exit to command line
-type "emulation station"...
Hurrah! It works!

Right, what I need is to create some kind of desktop short-cut to perform the above commands, right?

Wrong!
There seems to be no simple way to do this in Linux, so after much, much more mostly fruitless reading it seems making a short-cut is possible via the command line... what madness is this..?
Ah, another problem:
i need to issue two commands and the above system only allows for one command to be issued...
...so the 'short-cut' needs to invoke a Bash script (that I will also need to sus-out how to do, and where to put it)
Much mostly-fruitless reading, again, later...
*sigh*
Um, how does one actually exit X from the command line? Yes, you guessed it there is no obvious & simple way to to this!!! After yet more mostly-fruitless reading it seems one way to do this is "pkill x" - of course, silly me!!!

So...
My Bash script, to be called by the "short-cut", both of which need to be written in something like nano for some reason are done.
-Run the "short-cut" and...
Nothing! *SIGH*

Yes, much mostly fruitless reading once again and I forgot to chmod the files, silly me.

And...
-After an annoying pop-up asking what I want to do (I thought chmod +x fixed that?) X drops to the command line and...
...I still have to type "emulationstation" to get RetroPie to start EVEN THOUGH the command is clearly in the Bash script!!!

You know, s*d it! Life is too short to mess about with this nonsense, for now I'll just call RetroPie manually EVERY TIME I want to use it and curse Linux EVERY TIME for the horrible POS that it is!!!

Time for a bit of calming therapy in the shape of some M$ Windows use...

Um,
If anyone who can actually make sense of Linux, and is prepared to forgive my lack of "religious conviction" with regard to this (p)OS, would be kind enough reply with a step-by-step guide (sans Linux geek-o-babble) on how to perform this "trivial" task I'd be eternally grateful.

 

[Charlie]

Quick update:
I found this very useful web page - obviously written by someone who understands Linux but has yet to disappear up their own but-hole in a cloud of Linux geek-o-babble.
https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/12713/run-emulationstation-from-x-script


I followed the advice to the letter (changing every instance of /home/pi/... to /home/apple2/... to allow for the changed directory structure of the A2Pi version of Raspbian)


The good news is I now have an icon on my backdrop called "Play console" to take me to RetroPie that throws up no errors and drops "X" to the command line...
...the bad news is while I can type "emulationstation" to start RetroPie no problem what this script was meant to do was do that bit too!


Looking carefully through the code I can't see any reference to "/home/pi/..." that I haven't replace with /home/apple2?... so the only other thing I note is the warning that
"The console in tty1 MUST BE logged in and free to use. As my setup uses autologin into X, it's taken care of (raspi-config -> 3. boot options -> B1. Desktop/CLI -> B4. Desktop autologin).
If you use console autologin and another tty than the first to "startx" (like tty6), that's fine too.
If no autologin, do it manually or tamper with the TTY number in the bash script (hardcoded) to use another TTY."


Ok, it seems I am using TTY1 (what ever that is!) so I guess it must not be free... I shall tamper (oo-er) with my bash script and see where that gets us - wish me luck.


PS
In my younger (and equally sad) days I played a lot of Dungeons & Dragons roll playing... All of this Linux stuff smells of magic to me.
"Don't try to understand it, there is no rhyme or reason to it. It's magic, if you learn the spell by heart it just works" - BAH!

 

[Charlie]

Ooo, I hadn't realised how long it's been since I logged in. Oh-well back to clogging the forum up with (currently) Apple II related stuff.

After much Linux-related messing about (oh, how I despise this utter failure of a pOS) I finally rolled a version of the latest A2Pi OS that I'm happy with:

-Pi's config.txt updated for a bit of overclocking
-OS updated to be sure it's fully Pi3 compatible
-Updated boot logo and as much boot-up command-line nastyness removed as I could be bothered to squash (bl**dy Linux!)
-OS boots to Emulationstation and all the latest RetroPie goodness
-Exiting Emulationstation auto-starts the IIgs emulation as per the 'official' A2Pi OS
-Updated (improved?) HDD files and lots of extra software for the IIgs mode
-Option+Open Apple+4 exits IIgs mode to the Linux desktop (some, mostly cosmetic, changes made here)

It all works like a champ, but be warned only tested on a Pi3!!! (I suspect the overclocking options will need changing for other models)

So, if anyone is interested I'll post an image of the install somewhere (8mb SD minimum required)...
...given the image size I suspect it will take forever to download the image direct from my server - can anyone recommend a sensible / fast place to post the file?
(I guess I could .torrent it, but at least initially that's still going to have an issue with my slow-ish connection)

PS
Running a Pi3 inside an Apple II is a REALLY bad idea if not done properly
PPS
Heat-sinks and active cooling sensible too...
PPPS
I also have an updated copy of the Apple II client software (either floppy image or better-yet HDD image). No functionality changes but, I think, prettier and maybe more helpful.

 

[Charlie]

PS:
Another option is to roll you own Apple2Pi OS / RetroPie hybrid, actually quite easy.

Grab the latest Apple2Pi OS from here:
-https://ultimateapple2.com/forums/forum/main-forum/apple2-pi-rev-4-5-newest-2017-card
-Stick it on an SD card and run on a Pi2, or lower
-Optionally do a full update, as per the Raspbian website, and then it should run fine with a Pi3
-Boot your A2Pi OS and navigate to:
https://github.com/RetroPie/RetroPie-Setup/wiki/Manual-Installation
-The instructions and downloads will guide you though manually adding RetroPie to the A2Pi Raspbian distro
-Don't allow the RetroPie set up to set itself as the default boot as you'll end up with the RetroPie boot screen
-Boot A2Pi OS as normal to the IIgs emulation
-Apple+Option+4 to exit to the Linux GUI
-Start a Bash terminal and run 'sudo raspi-config'
-Choose the boot options and go for auto-boot RetroPie / Emulationstation
-Reboot

On next boot you'll get the normal RetroPie
-Do whatever setup you wish here
-When done F4 (Apple+Option+4) to exit RetroPie
-The computer will automatically run IIgs emulation as per standard A2Pi OS
-Another Apple+Option+4 will drop you to the Linux desktop

Lovely!

 

[TheCorfiot]

Hi Charles

Try uploading to Dropbox and then just post a linky here

I have a Pi2 in mine and don't plan to change to a 4, if your image works fine with a Pi2 then I wouldn't mind having a go

 

[Charlie]

Yes, I have a Dropbox account. I'll go upload 'my' version & post a link when it's up.