[Coco] DOS patch programs

[Christian Lesage]

Roger Taylor wrote:
> At 02:04 PM 4/4/2009, you wrote:
>> Roger Taylor wrote:
>>>
>>> Also, CoCo 3 users trying to patch their Disk BASIC ROM while it's 
>>> in RAM and saving out the image to burn to an EPROM should know that 
>>> the ROM won't run right on a CoCo 1 or 2.  The correct way to patch 
>>> the Disk BASIC "2.1" ROM is to run an All-RAM routine first that 
>>> recopies the original BASIC, ECB, and Disk BASIC ROMs into RAM, 
>>> perform the patches, then save the images.  Depending on the 
>>> situation and the ROMs in use, this might not work sometimes....
>>>
>>> A cure I came up with is a new feature in CCASM that lets you write 
>>> DOS patch programs that are merged with an existing ROM image file 
>>> to create a ready-to-burn ROM.  For example, a typical CoCo 3 DOS 
>>> patcher is a LOADM'able file with multiple ORG statements that jump 
>>> around the DOS ROM/RAM making changes.  CCASM assembles the LOADM 
>>> file then overlays it with a copy of Disk BASIC 1.1.  The resulting 
>>> ROM is naturally compatible with all CoCos that can use a disk 
>>> controller.
>>
>> That's an interesting feature, but how do you do that? Using the 
>> "includebin" directive?
>>
>> Christian
>
>
>
> CCASM has a new -rompatch switch.  It's not public ready yet because 
> it uses hardcoded paths to "decb11.rom" and saves out the new ROM as 
> "coconet.rom" no matter what.
>
> When it's ready, game paks and other DOS ROMs can be patched or have 
> code written/overlayed into a new ROM image.
>

I'm eager to try that! BTW, when will CoCoNet be released? It's been 
announced for a while. Or maybe it's already available somewhere?

Christian