SofaRun 7

SofaRun has been updated to version 7.0.
Here are the changes since the initial 6.0 release from 29/12/2019:

Play Sega Master System games with the Playsoniq extension.
Internal support for SG-1000 and Sega Master System ROMs using new SofaSMS tool (another specific post will be created about that). As this is now an internal SofaRun support, default settings and per-game settings can be specified.
SofaRun does not exits anymore when trying to return to a deleted directory or ZIP file.
Extensions are preserved for cached / uncompressed files (were always ".UNZ" before). Should solve issues with programs relying on the extension.
The "PROGRAM" enviromnent variable is now set to the called program (was always "SR.COM" before).
Delay for probing joysticks in SofaRunIt (used for swapping disks) are now calibrated at start (should work on all turbo machines).
Support for JoySnes. In consequence, "JoyMega" naming in INI files and display has been changed to a more generic "Joy2Key".
Temporarily changed splash screen message to also mention "Lazy Hedgehogs" . The support of the "Pause button" through joystick and FM emulation for SMS is quite handy, as having the same things on Master System implied hardware modifications on the joystick inteface, and of course having a Japanese Master System for FM sounds.
Sound support for SG-1000 games with SofaSMS is based on Tiny Yarou work, with some improvements - OTIR instructions through sound chip is now supported. Games like SG-1000 Galaga are working well with sound on standard MSX 1 machines.

Relevant links:

Reacties (32)

Van mariocavalcanti

Expert (112)

09-06-2020, 23:46

Great news! Thanks, Louthrax.

Van djh1697

Paragon (1694)

10-06-2020, 00:54

Nice work, though I would be able to play SMS games, but then realised i needed another cartridge. I cannot get Zanac-ex.rom to work? Too late now, time to sleep

Van ToriHino

Paladin (814)

10-06-2020, 10:56

Looks good! And great integration of the Playsoniq as well.

Van Gloriou

Master (204)

11-06-2020, 10:03

Awesome work Louthrax
Thank you very much!

Van edoz

Prophet (2458)

11-06-2020, 10:25

Very nice! Currently my playsoniq is in repair as it was broken I love to test this new feature!... I was reading about the pause SMS button. Is it also possible to define a keyboard key for this? There are some SMS games, like Alex the Kid, which you need for game options.

Van sd_snatcher

Prophet (3609)

11-06-2020, 14:39

SofaRun is probably the most used MSX app these days. I see it running on nearly all MSX machines on user meetings.

Thank you for each new version, Louthrax!

Van gaula82

Resident (45)

12-06-2020, 16:44

Sorry for the cross-posting (I am not sure the older SofaRun 7.0 thread is read anymore):
Can you guys please point me to the ready-to-use concatenated DSKs for SofaRun usage?

Van journey

Hero (570)

14-06-2020, 13:11

Hi!

BREAKER (ROM version)
https://www.msx.org/forum/msx-talk/software/breaker-rom-version

I am unable to start the game correctly.
any clue?

MSX TURBO-R ST + MFRSCC+ + SOFARUN 7

Thanks for the tips!

Van bitsofbas

Resident (57)

17-06-2020, 23:52

Awesome stuff. Thanks so much for continuing to update this!

Got one nit to pick though, seems like ESC on the splash screen is no longer available. I miss that!

Van mesiasmsx

Prophet (3438)

18-06-2020, 11:13

Please i want use with Flash Jacks.

Van Louthrax

Prophet (2435)

18-06-2020, 13:24

journey wrote:

Hi!

BREAKER (ROM version)
https://www.msx.org/forum/msx-talk/software/breaker-rom-version

I am unable to start the game correctly.
any clue?

MSX TURBO-R ST + MFRSCC+ + SOFARUN 7

Thanks for the tips!

I think the ROM conversion uses an "MSX-DOS 2" disk emulation, which can not work because two MSX-DOS 2 instances can't work at the same time).

So there's no solution for that, but you can still launch the original .DSK Breaker file ? Let me know if this does not work.

Van Louthrax

Prophet (2435)

18-06-2020, 13:26

bas.alicante wrote:

Awesome stuff. Thanks so much for continuing to update this!

Got one nit to pick though, seems like ESC on the splash screen is no longer available. I miss that!

Yeah, I removed that because I was sometimes pressing the wrong button on the joystick, causing me to get up from my Sofa to relaunch SofaRun CTRL+C should work, maybe I'll add a different handling for [ESC] and joystick (B) button in a next release.

Van Louthrax

Prophet (2435)

18-06-2020, 13:29

mesiasmsx wrote:

Please i want use with Flash Jacks.

It works with FlashJacks if you configure a slot to "Konami SCC", SofaROM will convert the ROMs to work for this mapper, most of the games should be OK.

Of course the perfect solution would be for SofaRun to re-configure the FlashJack to the real ROM mapper, but that seems hard to do (not sure if FlashJacks accepts "on the fly" configuration changes, that is usually done at power-up time with the configuration files...).

Van bitsofbas

Resident (57)

19-06-2020, 00:28

Louthrax wrote:

Escaping with the keyboard alone would be fine, no need to hook it up to the joystick at all. As you say, you'd have to get up if you exit accidentally. -- In my case, I always autoexec.bat into SofaRun, but sometimes I have to do something else and that's when I'm at the keyboard anyway. Having to go through the UNZIP progress for nothing is annoying

Cheers!

Van bitsofbas

Resident (57)

19-06-2020, 01:35

( Oh, forgot to mention, CTRL+C doesn't work here! )

Van gaula82

Resident (45)

19-06-2020, 02:03

@Louthrax: Can you please point me to these already-concatenated DSKs to use with SofaRun? Thanks!

Van GreyFoxNL

Rookie (23)

01-07-2020, 18:38

First of all, thank you so much for SR Louthrax. It is awesome!!! Also the very regular updates are great!!!
I have to agree with Bas however on this one. I have SR set up in a similar way. I also miss the esc function.

Van hando

Supporter (3)

14-08-2020, 07:28

I recently became a Sofarun user!
I use it to play a lot of disks and rom games.

By the way, I recently got my hands on a cas game.
I created an image of cas in Windows and was able to successfully launch the game in Sofarun.
The game is a two-tape set, instructions to replace the cassette tape in the middle of the game as the story progresses.
(or replaced with side B).
I do not know how to switch cas files in the middle.
It would be nice if I could switch the combined files like the DISK game if possible.

This is a translation by DeepL

Van AxelStone

Prophet (3189)

14-08-2020, 21:56

sd_snatcher wrote:

SofaRun is probably the most used MSX app these days. I see it running on nearly all MSX machines on user meetings.

Thank you for each new version, Louthrax!

Is a very easy-to-use software, ideal for everyone (new users and experts). You can easily charge roms, dsk, cassetes only clicking on button.

I didn't expect to have so nice loader for MSX in 2020...MSX never dies!

Van Louthrax

Prophet (2435)

15-08-2020, 08:14

Hi Hando,

You can concatenate your 2 .CAS files into a single one, with a command like

copy /B SIDEA.CAS+SIDEB.CAS ALLTAPE.CAS

(in Windows).

Let me know if this works!

Van hando

Supporter (3)

15-08-2020, 15:55

Thank you, Louthrax!
Actually, I've already tried that.
The way I tried it is on Nextor, though.
concat /B tape1.cas+tape2.cas game.cas
That's how I did it, but I think it probably means almost the same thing.
But this method didn't work, I checked using MSXCastools and the files were recognized, but
Perhaps the program had a specific name for the program to skip.
The screen said "Replace it with Tape2 and then press the Play button."
Eventually I used the binary editor to combine the startup program from Tape1 (the Basic program and some machine language files) with the beginning of Tape2.
That allowed me to play the game to the end.
Depending on the type of game, I think you can simply combine the cas files, but that seems to depend on the game.

Van QBee Sam

Champion (281)

16-08-2020, 15:20

Since SR 6.0 i got a "*** Out of TPA memory" once I left to Nextor, I can't join again SR and I have to reset to make it work again. With SR 7.0 I can't join at boot, I get directly the "*** Out of TPA memory".

TPA memory issue details with mem

TPA memory issue details with memory
Any clue?

Van Louthrax

Prophet (2435)

16-08-2020, 20:08

Can you try launching using SR /I ?

If this does not work, could you send me the contents of you autoexec.bat and sr.ini files ?

You computer is a TurboR right ? What extensions / flash rom have you plugged in ?

Van QBee Sam

Champion (281)

18-08-2020, 00:19

Louthrax wrote:

Can you try launching using SR /I ?

If this does not work, could you send me the contents of you autoexec.bat and sr.ini files ?

You computer is a TurboR right ? What extensions / flash rom have you plugged in ?

I saw no changes, I've removed "Settings" and "Save" directories to avoid problems with previous versions, but nothing changed. Then I've tested with a fresh installation and it works! (with and without Wozblaster Enhanced on slot 2) so I've tried to remove my personal entries on "EXTENSION" section, and worked again, so I supposed the problem are the number of extensions to manage. ¿Maybe allowing wildcards will help to avoid the problem?, something like:

SC?=A:\BIN\SCVIEWERCOM %f

instead of

SC5=A:\BIN\SCVIEWERCOM %f
SC8=A:\BIN\SCVIEWERCOM %f
SCC=A:\BIN\SCVIEWERCOM %f

Computer is Turbo R GT with FlashJacks 1.7.1 and Wozblaster Enhanced.

Autoexec.bat
path a:\;a:\mm\;a:\bin;a:\sofarun\;a:\binarios\utiles\;a:\extdos2\;a:\mfm\;a:\binarios\roboplay\;
set prompt on
set date=dd-mm-yy
set expert on
mode 80
if exist next_dsk.dat del next_dsk.dat
mapdrv c: 2 1 0
mapdrv d: 3 1 0
mapdrv e: 4 1 0
mapdrv f: 5 1 0
SR /I

SR.INI
####################################################################
[SYSTEM]
####################################################################

# Path where your save files (PAC-SRAM (.SRM), ROM or Game Master
# files, user disks (.USR)) will be placed (current directory if
# not defined).
SAVEPATH=A:\SAVES

# Path where ZIP-extracted files (.UNZ) and patched ROMs (.PRM) will
# be placed (current directory if not defined).
TMPPATH=A:\TMP

# Path where game (.GST) and SofaRun (SR.SST) settings files will be
# placed (current directory if not defined).
SETTINGSPATH=A:\SETTINGS

####################################################################
[QUICKLAUNCH]
####################################################################

# %s: SofaRun directory (e.g. A:\SOFARUN\)
# %c: COMMAND2.COM path (e.g. A:\COMMAND2.COM) 

BASIC=%c basic
RUN"CAS:"=%c BASIC %sCASRUN.LDR
BLOAD"CAS:",r=%c BASIC %sCASBLOAD.LDR
CLOAD=%c BASIC %sCASCLOAD.LDR
HIDtest=%sHIDTEST.COM
Reset=%c reset
SofaSet=%sSS.COM
#_LD=%c BASIC %sCALLLD.LDR
#Update local=%c A:\DEVICES\GR8NET\UPDLOCAL.BAT
#Update remote=%c A:\DEVICES\GR8NET\UPDREMOT.BAT

####################################################################
[EXTS]
####################################################################

# *1: internal ROM (ROM image) handling
# *2: internal CAS (tape image) handling
# *3: internal DSK (disk image) handling
# *4: internal ZIP (zipped file) handling
# *5: internal VGM (VGM music file) handling
# *6: internal MIG (MSX image) handling

# %s: SofaRun directory path (e.g. A:\SOFARUN\)
# %f: Selected file path (e.g. MYGAME.ROM)
# %c: COMMAND2.COM path (e.g. A:\COMMAND2.COM) 


#ROM=*1; Carga ROM SofaRun
CAS=*2
#DSK=*3; Carga DSK SofaRun
ZIP=*4
VGM=*5
VGZ=*5
MIG=*6; Visor SofaRun

BAT=%c %f
BAS=%c BASIC %f





LDR=%c BASIC %f
COM=%f
TXT=%sAKID.COM %f;Edit
INI=%sAKID.COM %f;Edit
BAT=%sAKID.COM %f;Edit
AD4=%sADAM.COM %f
AD5=%sADAM.COM %f
AD8=%sADAM.COM %f

# Personalizados -=QBee=-
# Cartuchos
ROM=A:\BIN\FROM.COM %f; Carga FlashJacks
ROM=*1; Carga ROM SofaRun
ROM=A:\BIN\FROM.COM /S13 %f; Carga SubSlot 1-3 FlashJacks
ROM=A:\BIN\FROM.COM /S23 %f; Carga SubSlot 2-3 FlashJacks
ROM=A:\BIN\FROM.COM A:\SOFARUN\SROM.GM1 %f; Con GameMaster 1
ROM=A:\BIN\FROM.COM A:\SOFARUN\SROM.GM2 %f; Con GameMaster 2

# Discos
DSK=A:\BIN\FDSK.COM %f; Carga FlashJacks
DSK=*3; Carga DSK SofaRun

# Binarios
BIN=A:\BIN\BINLDR.COM %f; BLOAD Para DOS

# Graficos
BMP=A:\BIN\BMPLAY.COM %f
MAG=A:\BINARIOS\VIEWERS\BLS.COM %f
MAX=A:\BINARIOS\VIEWERS\BLS.COM %f
MIF=A:\BIN\MIFVIEW.COM %f
MIG=A:\BIN\MIGVIEW.COM %f; Visor MFR
GE5=A:\BINARIOS\VIEWERS\BLS.COM %f
GIF=A:\BINARIOS\VIEWERS\GIFI.COM %f
JPD=A:\BIN\JPD.COM %f
PIC=A:\BINARIOS\VIEWERS\BLS.COM %f
SCA=A:\BINARIOS\VIEWERS\BLS.COM %f
SCB=A:\BINARIOS\VIEWERS\BLS.COM %f
SCC=A:\BINARIOS\VIEWERS\BLS.COM %f
SC5=A:\BINARIOS\VIEWERS\BLS.COM %f
SR5=A:\BINARIOS\VIEWERS\BLS.COM %f
SC6=A:\BINARIOS\VIEWERS\BLS.COM %f
SC7=A:\BINARIOS\VIEWERS\BLS.COM %f
SR7=A:\BINARIOS\VIEWERS\BLS.COM %f
SC8=A:\BINARIOS\VIEWERS\BLS.COM %f
SR8=A:\BINARIOS\VIEWERS\BLS.COM %f
S10=A:\BINARIOS\VIEWERS\BLS.COM %f
S11=A:\BINARIOS\VIEWERS\BLS.COM %f
S12=A:\BINARIOS\VIEWERS\BLS.COM %f
SC2=A:\BINARIOS\VIEWERS\SC2VIEW.COM %f

# Videos
EVA=A:\BIN\EVAFJ.COM %f

# Sonido
AY=A:\BIN\ROBOAY.COM %f
BGM=A:\BIN\MPX.COM %f; MPX
BGR=A:\BIN\MPX.COM %f; MPX
D00=%sROBOPLAY.COM %f; ROBOPLAY
DIX=A:\BIN\XPLA.COM %f
DRO=%sROBOPLAY.COM %f; ROBOPLAY
KSS=A:\BIN\KSSPLAY.COM %f; KSS Player
MBM=%sROBOPLAY.COM %f; ROBOPLAY
MFM=%sROBOPLAY.COM %f; ROBOPLAY
MWM=%sROBOPLAY.COM %f; ROBOPLAY
MGS=A:\BIN\MUPLAY_P.COM %f; MuPlay
MGS=A:\BIN\MPX.COM %f; MPX
MID=A:\BIN\MIDIPLAY.COM %f; MIDI Play
MID=A:\BIN\MIDPLAY_P.COM %f; MID Play
MID=A:\BIN\ROBOPLAY.COM %f; Con RoboPlay
MIO=A:\BIN\MUPLAY_P.COM %f; MuPlay
MOD=%sROBOPLAY.COM %f; ROBOPLAY
MOD=A:\BIN\NMP2.COM %f; NOP MOD PLAYER v2
MPK=A:\BIN\MUPLAY_P.COM %f; MuPlay
MPK=A:\BIN\MPX.COM %f; MPX
MUS=%sROBOPLAY.COM %f; ROBOPLAY
OPX=A:\BIN\MPX.COM %f; MPX
RAW=%sROBOPLAY.COM %f; ROBOPLAY
SID=A:\BIN\ROBOSID.COM %f
SOP=%sROBOPLAY.COM %f; ROBOPLAY
PCE=A:\BIN\PCMPLAY %f
PCP=A:\BIN\PCMPLAY %f
PCK=A:\BIN\PCMPLAY %f
PCM=A:\BIN\PCMPLAY %f
PSG=*5


# Emuladores
SG=%sSG1000.COM %f;Run with SG1000 MMM
SG=%sSG1000F.COM %f;Run with SG1000 Franky
GB=A:\BIN\JACKSBOY.COM %f
GBC=A:\BIN\JACKSBOY.COM %f

####################################################################
[PALETTES]
####################################################################

# Palette configurations
#
# Format is =*16
#
#  is the name displayed in SofaRun.
#
#   is composed  of 3  digits between  0 and  7, in  RGB
# order. For example 700 is red, 070 is green, 007 is blue, and  777
# is white.

CoolColors=  000 000 253 364 125 236 521 357 632 742 762 774 142 524 555 777
MSX1=        000 000 051 263 237 347 632 167 732 743 552 663 041 635 666 777
Gray scales= 000 000 444 555 222 333 222 555 333 444 555 666 333 444 666 777
Green scales=000 000 040 050 020 030 020 050 030 040 050 060 030 040 060 070

Van Louthrax

Prophet (2435)

23-08-2020, 16:31

Hi QBee Sam,

That's an interesting bug you raised here. You indeed have a big INI file here, but it should fit in memory I guess, unless you browse a big ZIP file or directory at SofaRun start. That's why I suggested the SR /I option which does not jump into previous location, but maybe your root or default directory is also crowded with lots of files ?

I'll make some tests with your INI file, it's also possible that SofaRun has a memory allocation bug somewhere...

Van QBee Sam

Champion (281)

23-08-2020, 20:22

Louthrax wrote:

Hi QBee Sam,

I'll make some tests with your INI file, it's also possible that SofaRun has a memory allocation bug somewhere...

Well, almost the same ini is working on SF6 but only at 1st run, and about the root files, at the moment is 68 files, maybe I can remove some to test, I'll try tomorrow if possible, thank you.
65 files at root

Van Takamichi

Hero (596)

12-09-2020, 17:15

Can Sofarun from drive B:? I am using Rookie Drive that A: is a tiny workspace and the B: is the main storage. I copied all sofarun files to B:/sofarun and tried to launch a rom but I get *** Unable to create A:\SETTINGS\SR.SST . Attempt to "Apply" a setting results same. Is there any workaround?

Van sdsnatcher73

Prophet (3810)

12-09-2020, 18:40

Takamichi wrote:

You have to edit the 2 INI files and change all A:¥ to B:¥

Van Takamichi

Hero (596)

13-09-2020, 18:54

Thanks, I rewrote SR.INI and SROM.INI and I am not getting the error anymore.

Whatever, I cannot get Commando, Family Stadium, Labyrinth and Xevious Fardraut roms run on Sofarun. I tried all rom variants from Planetemu as well as rom dumped from the Commando cartridge, but all of them failed, some of them in different way from the other. The environment was unmodified FS-A1GT + Sofarun in diskette/Sunrise ATA-IDE/Rookie Drive. Changing CPU mode to Z80 didn't help. Am I doing something wrong?
I noticed instead of Sofarun menu I can boot Commando/Xevious/Family Stadium (but not Labyrinth) by SROM /D0 /Z1 command line to set memory mapper instead of turboR mapper as the preferred device and not to run the game at R800 speed. But how can I set so from Sofarun menu, and how can I enable Find Music Module feature with SROM commandline? I want to use sofarun instead of real game cartridge because I want to MSX AUDIO enabled with the Music Module cartridge.
Note: Family Stadium is a special cartridge that freezes after the opening logo if no FDD is available. Probably because of this, SROM can boot it from a FD but fails from large storage media.

Van The Apeman

Master (240)

14-10-2020, 08:21

YSIII - Wanderers of YS seems to have problems changing disks. The disk file has four disks. When it needs me to get the user disk, I press 5+Enter, but it tells me the disk is write protected. When I turn off write protection, the game appears to overwrite itself somewhere at the start of the file, because it won't run anymore.

This problem occurs both with the original as with Oasis' translation.

Van Fabf

Champion (266)