


                                 Emulator86

                                version 0.50
                                5 March 1998


                               (C) Kirk Meyer
                               kirk@ticalc.org



--- Introduction ---------------------------------------------------------

    Emulator86 is a program for the computer (not the calculator). It
    allows you to emulate your TI-86. It is a free program for your own
    non-profit use. Emulator86 requires Windows 3.1, 95, or 98, and I am
    pretty sure that it will NOT run on Windows NT. In order to make it
    compatible with NT would mean a major performance hit, so it will
    probably remain uncompatible.

    Here is the full system requirements list:
    * Pentium 90MHz or faster (should work on fast 486s)
    * Windows 3.1, 95, or 98, but NOT Windows NT
    * 640x480x256 display; higher resolutions help a lot
    * TI GraphLink software installed (a font is needed)

    Here are just some of the features of Emulator86:
    * Fairly fast and accurate TI-86 emulation
    * Load *.85? and *.86? files right onto the emulator
    * Easy to remember keyboard controls with redundancies
    * Interface similar to MDI, lets you hide things you don't need
    * Grayscale support
    * Debugger, including "Step Over" and "Skip" features, traps, and a
      full-featured disassembler featuring "infinite" breakpoints
    * Memory viewer, with easy memory editing and conversion feature
    * Support for TI's Graph Link
    * Screenshots. Right click on the screen to save a screenshot.
    * Waitstates for those of you with those supercomputers.
    * Probably some other stuff...


--- New in this Version --------------------------------------------------

    * Realistic mode, including virtual keypad support. Not only that, but
      if you right click on a virtual key, it tells you what key(s) to
      press on your keyboard to get the same effect!
    * Contrast effects, streaking and all.
    * Better grayscale support. Not only that, but Mario and Defender
      work as well. Programs such as Daedalus seem to exhibit no flicker
      at all.
    * Ability to clear all breakpoints at once


--- Future Versions ------------------------------------------------------

    * Windows help file
    * Ability to save and load RAM images
    * Checking on file formats when loading variables
    * Different variable loading mechanism
    * Emulator8x
    * Serial and parallel link support
    * Z80 / ABS / ASIC -> emulator addressing converter
    * BIN <-> HEX <-> DEC converter


--- Getting a ROM Image --------------------------------------------------

    Emulator86 requires that you download your calculator's ROM image to
    your PC. If you have a Graph Link or a parallel link, use Randy
    Gluvna's ROM86 (available at ticalc.org). If you have a Graph Link,
    you can use any comm program that does not kick out nulls to receive
    the ROM. With a parallel link, use either dumpxp or dump-it, both
    available also on ticalc.org

    Please do not send me email asking how to get a ROM image. If you do
    I won't be very happy. IT IS ILLEGAL TO USE THIS PROGRAM WITHOUT
    COMPLETELY OWNING A TI-86 GRAPHING CALCULATOR.


--- Installation ---------------------------------------------------------

    Right now there is no setup for Emulator86, although there will be in
    the future. For now, perform the following simple steps. First, create
    a directory on your hard drive called "emu86". Then copy executable
    (and this file as well, if you want) to that directory. Also copy into
    that directory your ROM dump (which must be named TI86.ROM). Then go
    and create a shortcut to "\emu86\emu86.exe" and put it somewhere in
    your group or folder of choice.


--- Controls -------------------------------------------------------------

    Any letters, numbers, and symbols you can find on both your keyboard
    and the calculator keyboard should be recognized as such. Since shift
    does not count as a key you may use shift as normal to get symbols
    such as the caret. IMPORTANT! The TI-86 starts in an off state. You
    must push ON (\) in order to use it. Some other keys:

           <F1>, <F2>, <F3>, <F4>, <F5> - same as on calculator
                             arrow keys - same as on calculator
                           <Space>, <-> - little minus: (-)
                  <NumPad ->, <Shift -> - bigger minus: -
                                 <Ctrl> - 2nd
                                  <Esc> - EXIT
                                  <Tab> - MORE
                                    <`> - ALPHA
                         <">, <Shift X> - x-VAR
                         <G>, <Shift E> - EE
                     <Delete>, <Insert> - DEL
                                   <F6> - GRAPH
                                   <F7> - TABLE
                                   <F8> - PRGM
                                   <F9> - CUSTOM
                            <Backspace> - CLEAR
                                    <\> - ON


--- Other Information ----------------------------------------------------

    I haven't written a full readme yet (that's for the Windows version of
    the help file), so I figured I would just let you figure out the rest.
    Most of the things such as the memory editor and debugger are fairly
    intuitive as to how they work if you are a programmer. If you aren't a
    programmer, then you don't need them!

    Oh yeah, I guess you might want to know what the "Step Over" / "Skip"
    debug instructions do. "Step Over" is just like "Step Into" except if
    you use "Step Over" when its about to execute a call, it will run the
    entire call without tracing through it and you will be at the next
    program location. "Skip" lets you skip out of a routine. The easiest
    example of this is, push "Break". You are now at the interrupt (0038)
    and now push "Skip", you are now out of it. "Step Over" and "Skip"
    have other uses with the stack too, but I'll talk about those once I
    get the Windows help file done.

    And don't try to load non-variable data with the loading command, as
    there's no protection against that yet. And also, don't try to load an
    .85B; the results could be interesting. Also, linking may not work if
    you have a slow computer. For optimal results with linking, set the
    screen size to 100%


--- The fine print -------------------------------------------------------

    This program is provided to you for your convenience, free of charge.
    I can not and will not be held responsible for any damage or loss this
    product may cause, either directly or indirectly. If my program screws
    anything up, you are on your own. You may not sell this program to
    others for money. It is intended to be freely distributed. AGAIN, IT
    IS ILLEGAL TO USE THIS PROGRAM WITHOUT COMPLETELY OWNING A TI-86
    GRAPHING CALCULATOR.
