RSC-Forth CF Card Mass Storage Driver

Description

Provides a user mass storage driver for RSC-Forth that allows it to access a compact flash card.

Files

• forth_cf.f - The main driver
• cfinfo.f - Compact Flash card information
• tests.f - Misc. testing words

Hardware Requirements

• A computer capable of running Rockwell RSC-Forth
• A compact flash card mapped into memory somewhere

The development work on this driver was done primarily using the Glitch Works R65X1Q single-board computer available here: https://www.tindie.com/products/glitchwrks/glitch-works-r6501qr6511q-single-board-computer/

The compact flash adapter used is a stack-on expansion board also provided by Glitch Works. It is available here: https://www.tindie.com/products/glitchwrks/glitch-works-compactflash-adapter-for-glitchbus/

How To Install

1. Modify the IOPAGE constant in forth_cf.f to match your hardware setup. For a GW-R65X1Q-SBC, the default value does not need to be modified.
2. Set up your terminal emulator software to provide around 25ms character delay and 250ms new line delay. This may need to be tweaked depending on the board
3. Paste the modified forth_cf.f file into the Forth prompt. The statement at the end of the file automatically activates the driver and initializes the CF card.

Please Note: This is not a permanent install. Whenever RSC-Forth is cold started, you will need to install the driver again.

At this point the driver should be functional. Chapter 12 of the RSC-Forth user manual provides instructions on using mass storage for reading/writing screens, large data storage, etc. The manual can be found here: http://www.smallestplcoftheworld.org/RSC-FORTH_User%27s_Manual.pdf

Getting Started

You should probably start by wiping some fresh screens in order to test the CF card. Here is an example WIPE word:

HEX
: WIPE ( BLOCK-NO --- )
  BLOCK 400 BLANKS UPDATE FLUSH
;

To use this word, provide it with a screen number to completely wipe (fill with space characters). 10 WIPE will wipe out screen 10 for use.

The contents of a screen can be listed with the LIST word.

10 LIST<cr>
SCR # 16 
  0 
  1 
  2 
  3 
  4 
  5 
  6 
  7 
  8 
  9 
 10 
 11 
 12 
 13 
 14 
 15 
OK

RSC-Forth includes a very simple line editor, >LINE, that uses the last LISTed screen. Provide it with the line number to edit on top of the stack and then type out the text that you would like to place on that line.

3 >LINE THIS IS LINE 3!<cr>
OK
10 LIST<cr>
SCR # 16 
  0 
  1 
  2 
  3 THIS IS LINE 3!
  4 
  5 
  6 
  7 
  8 
  9 
 10 
 11 
 12 
 13 
 14 
 15 
OK

This should be enough to test the CF card.

Included Words

CFWAIT ( --- )

Waits for the CF card to become ready, indicated by the BSY flag going clear.

CFERR ( --- )

Prints "CF CARD ERROR!" if the CF card is in an error state.

?CFDRQ ( --- !DRQ )

Returns a boolean true when the CF card is not expecting any data transfers. Return false when the CF card is expecting data transferred to/from it.

CFLBA! ( LBA. --- )

Takes a 32-bit unsigned double word and writes it to the CF card's LBA registers.

CFREAD ( ADDR --- )

Reads into memory starting at ADDR from the CF card until the CF card no longer has data to transfer.

CFWRITE ( ADDR --- )

Writes into memory starting at ADDR to the CF card until the CF card no longer expects data.

CFINIT ( --- )

Initializes the compact flash card. This must be run prior to attempting data access! The CF card is placed into LBA mode with 8-bit data transfers.

CFR/W ( MEMADDR BLOCK# READ --- )

The mass storage driver for RSC-Forth. When READ is true, a read operation is performed. Otherwise, a write operation occurs. The 1024-byte block, specified by BLOCK#, is transfered to/from the memory location starting at MEMADDR. This mass storage driver interface is RSC-Forth specific as far as I can tell.