Threaded Mode | Linear Mode

PeterP · 12-14-2023, 06:37 PM

Hi, I am using my HP41CY in the office every day. its powered neatly by the USB Powersupply from Diego.

I would like to have an easy way to move different roms from the computer into the RAMBOX of the CY. Exchanging progam code would be a nice plus but are of secondary interest.

What is the most elegant set-up possible today for me to do so - from a modern Apple computer.

Any tips will be much appreciated (even though they might be detrimental to my work productivity at times...)

Cheers,

PeterP

Sylvain Cote · (This post was last modified: 12-15-2023 04:18 PM by Sylvain Cote.)

Hello Peter,

To transfer files between the HP-41 and my MacBook Pro intel, I use the following:

82160A - HP-41/IL interface
PIL-Box - HP-IL/USB interface
pyILPER - virtual HP-IL peripherals
lifutils - LIF/41/71/75 files utilities

Formatting a virtual tape

Create a LIF volume file of 128KB that can hold a maximum of 64 files

Code:

lifinit -z -m cass tape01.dat 64

Set LIF volume name to TAPE01

Code:

liflabel tape01.dat TAPE01

Show lif volume catalog

Code:

lifdir tape01.dat

Code:

Volume : TAPE01 , formatted : 14/12/23 23:00:00

Tracks: 2 Surfaces: 1 Blocks/Track: 256 Total size: 512 Blocks, 131072 Bytes

0 files (64 max), last block used: 0 of 512

In pyILPER,

add a mass media (aka drive) peripheral and give it a name (ex.: TAPE)
restart pyILPER
select your drive tab (ex.: TAPE)
set the "Drive Type" to "HP82161A"
change the "LIF Image File" to "tape01.dat"

Transfer HP-41 program(s) from the computer to the HP-41

Computer side

Write your program in a text file
Ex.: cat hello.txt

Code:

LBL "HELLO"

"HELLO !!!"

AVIEW

END

Compile the HP-41 program from a text file to a raw file

Code:

comp41 <hello.txt >hello.raw

Add a lif header with a name

Code:

raw41lif HELLO <hello.raw >hello.lif

Add lif file to the lif volume

Code:

lifput tape01.dat hello.lif

Show lif volume catalog

Code:

lifdir tape01.dat

Code:

Volume : TAPE01 , formatted : 14/12/23 23:00:00

Tracks: 2 Surfaces: 1 Blocks/Track: 256 Total size: 512 Blocks, 131072 Bytes

HELLO       PGM41          24/256

1 files (64 max), last block used: 10 of 512

HP-41 side

Read HELLO program from tape to main memory

Code:

"HELLO"

LOADP

XEQ "HELLO"

Transfer HP-41 program(s) from the HP-41 to the computer

HP-41 side

save WORLD program from main memory to tape

Code:

"WORLD"

WRTP

Computer side

Catalog lif volume

Code:

lifdir tape01.dat

Code:

Volume : TAPE01 , formatted : 14/12/23 23:00:00

Tracks: 2 Surfaces: 1 Blocks/Track: 256 Total size: 512 Blocks, 131072 Bytes

HELLO       PGM41          24/256

WORLD       PGM41          20/256

2 files (64 max), last block used: 11 of 512

Save WORLD program to a raw file

Code:

lifget -r tape01.dat WORLD world.raw

Decompile the HP-41 program from a raw file to a text file

Code:

decomp41 <world.raw >world.txt

cat world.txt

Code:

LBL "WORLD"

"WORLD"

AVIEW

END

Transfer HP-41 ROM from the computer to the HP-41

Computer side

Show ROM content

Code:

rom41cat <math.rom

Code:

XROM 01,00 Entry = 0068 (Mcode) -MATH_1D

XROM 01,01 Entry = 006b (Focal) MATRIX

...

XROM 01,44 Entry = 0df3 (Focal) TRANS

XROM 01,45 Entry = 0f50 (Focal) *FN

Convert ROM file to ERAMCO

Code:

rom41er MATH1D <math.rom >math.lif

Add ROM lif file to the lif volume

Code:

lifput tape01.dat math.lif

Catalog lif volume

Code:

lifdir tape01.dat

Code:

Volume : TAPE01 , formatted : 14/12/23 23:00:00

Tracks: 2 Surfaces: 1 Blocks/Track: 256 Total size: 512 Blocks, 131072 Bytes

HELLO       PGM41          24/256

WORLD       PGM41          20/256

MATH1D      X-M41        5121/5120

3 files (64 max), last block used: 31 of 512

HP-41 side

load MATH1D ROM from tape to rambox page

Code:

"MATH1D"        // ROM filename

12              // page to store ROM

READPG          // read ROM file and save it to the specified page

Transfer HP-41 ROM from the HP-41 to the computer

HP-41 side

Save a ROM page from rambox page to the tape

Code:

"MYROM"         // ROM filename

13              // page of the ROM to save

WRTPG           // save ROM at page to the tape

Computer side

Catalog lif volume

Code:

lifdir tape01.dat

Code:

Volume : TAPE01 , formatted : 14/12/23 23:00:00

Tracks: 2 Surfaces: 1 Blocks/Track: 256 Total size: 512 Blocks, 131072 Bytes

HELLO       PGM41          24/256

WORLD       PGM41          20/256

MATH1D      X-M41        5121/5120

MYROM       X-M41        5121/5120

4 files (64 max), last block used: 52 of 512

Get MYROM ROM from lif volume to a ROM file in ERAMCO format

Code:

lifget -r tape01.dat MYROM myrom.er

Convert the ERAMCO file to a ROM file format

Code:

er41rom <myrom.er >myrom.rom

Show ROM content

Code:

rom41cat <myrom.rom

Code:

...

edit: add more information for pyILPER

PeterP · 12-15-2023, 02:31 PM

Sylvain, wow, this is perfect and something I can implement given I have all the pieces. Thank you so much!
And even more so for the wonderful detail and structure in how you have laid this out for me. Thank you for taking the time!

Now I just have to come up with a good answer to "so what is this old black box connected to that smaller grey box connected to that kind old looking calculator doing on your desk?

Cheers

Peter

Bill Duncan · 12-16-2023, 12:52 AM

Awesome instructions!
Thank you so much!

(12-15-2023 05:09 AM)Sylvain Cote Wrote: Hello Peter,

To transfer files between the HP-41 and my MacBook Pro intel, I use the following:

82160A - HP-41/IL interface

PIL-Box - HP-IL/USB interface

pyILPER - virtual HP-IL peripherals

lifutils - LIF/41/71/75 files utilities

Formatting a virtual tape

Create a LIF volume file of 128KB that can hold a maximum of 64 files

Code:

lifinit -z -m cass tape01.dat 64

Set LIF volume name to TAPE01

Code:

liflabel tape01.dat TAPE01

Show lif volume catalog

Code:

lifdir tape01.dat

Code:

Volume : TAPE01 , formatted : 14/12/23 23:00:00 Tracks: 2 Surfaces: 1 Blocks/Track: 256 Total size: 512 Blocks, 131072 Bytes 0 files (64 max), last block used: 0 of 512

In pyILPER,

add a mass media (aka drive) peripheral and give it a name (ex.: TAPE)

restart pyILPER

select your drive tab (ex.: TAPE)

set the "Drive Type" to "HP82161A"

change the "LIF Image File" to "tape01.dat"

Transfer HP-41 program(s) from the computer to the HP-41

Computer side

Write your program in a text file
Ex.: cat hello.txt

Code:

LBL "HELLO" "HELLO !!!" AVIEW END

Compile the HP-41 program from a text file to a raw file

Code:

comp41 <hello.txt >hello.raw

Add a lif header with a name

Code:

raw41lif HELLO <hello.raw >hello.lif

Add lif file to the lif volume

Code:

lifput tape01.dat hello.lif

Show lif volume catalog

Code:

lifdir tape01.dat

Code:

Volume : TAPE01 , formatted : 14/12/23 23:00:00 Tracks: 2 Surfaces: 1 Blocks/Track: 256 Total size: 512 Blocks, 131072 Bytes HELLO       PGM41          24/256 1 files (64 max), last block used: 10 of 512

HP-41 side

Read HELLO program from tape to main memory

Code:

"HELLO" LOADP XEQ "HELLO"

Transfer HP-41 program(s) from the HP-41 to the computer

HP-41 side

save WORLD program from main memory to tape

Code:

"WORLD" WRTP

Computer side

Catalog lif volume

Code:

lifdir tape01.dat

Code:

Volume : TAPE01 , formatted : 14/12/23 23:00:00 Tracks: 2 Surfaces: 1 Blocks/Track: 256 Total size: 512 Blocks, 131072 Bytes HELLO       PGM41          24/256 WORLD       PGM41          20/256 2 files (64 max), last block used: 11 of 512

Save WORLD program to a raw file

Code:

lifget -r tape01.dat WORLD world.raw

Decompile the HP-41 program from a raw file to a text file

Code:

decomp41 <world.raw >world.txt

cat world.txt

Code:

LBL "WORLD" "WORLD" AVIEW END

Transfer HP-41 ROM from the computer to the HP-41

Computer side

Show ROM content

Code:

rom41cat <math.rom

Code:

XROM 01,00 Entry = 0068 (Mcode) -MATH_1D XROM 01,01 Entry = 006b (Focal) MATRIX ... XROM 01,44 Entry = 0df3 (Focal) TRANS XROM 01,45 Entry = 0f50 (Focal) *FN

Convert ROM file to ERAMCO

Code:

rom41er MATH1D <math.rom >math.lif

Add ROM lif file to the lif volume

Code:

lifput tape01.dat math.lif

Catalog lif volume

Code:

lifdir tape01.dat

Code:

Volume : TAPE01 , formatted : 14/12/23 23:00:00 Tracks: 2 Surfaces: 1 Blocks/Track: 256 Total size: 512 Blocks, 131072 Bytes HELLO       PGM41          24/256 WORLD       PGM41          20/256 MATH1D      X-M41        5121/5120 3 files (64 max), last block used: 31 of 512

HP-41 side

load MATH1D ROM from tape to rambox page

Code:

"MATH1D"        // ROM filename 12              // page to store ROM READPG          // read ROM file and save it to the specified page

Transfer HP-41 ROM from the HP-41 to the computer

HP-41 side

Save a ROM page from rambox page to the tape

Code:

"MYROM"         // ROM filename 13              // page of the ROM to save WRTPG           // save ROM at page to the tape

Computer side

Catalog lif volume

Code:

lifdir tape01.dat

Code:

Volume : TAPE01 , formatted : 14/12/23 23:00:00 Tracks: 2 Surfaces: 1 Blocks/Track: 256 Total size: 512 Blocks, 131072 Bytes HELLO       PGM41          24/256 WORLD       PGM41          20/256 MATH1D      X-M41        5121/5120 MYROM       X-M41        5121/5120 4 files (64 max), last block used: 52 of 512

Get MYROM ROM from lif volume to a ROM file in ERAMCO format

Code:

lifget -r tape01.dat MYROM myrom.er

Convert the ERAMCO file to a ROM file format

Code:

er41rom <myrom.er >myrom.rom

Show ROM content

Code:

rom41cat <myrom.rom

Code:

...

edit: add more information for pyILPER

Sylvain Cote · 12-16-2023, 12:57 AM

(12-15-2023 02:31 PM)PeterP Wrote: Sylvain, wow, this is perfect and something I can implement given I have all the pieces. Thank you so much!

(12-16-2023 12:52 AM)Bill Duncan Wrote: Awesome instructions! Thank you so much!

Glad I could help

(12-15-2023 02:31 PM)PeterP Wrote: Now I just have to come up with a good answer to "so what is this old black box connected to that smaller grey box connected to that kind old looking calculator doing on your desk?

Well, this is out of my reach. Wink

hesc · 01-20-2024, 12:29 PM

LS,
I wrote a lot of programs for my old HP41CV (which is dead since yesterday, 44 years old…, but I have a second one) and had some experience to copy these programs, making use of an HP-IL HP41 interface and a so-called Pil-box. For that purpose, I made use of a file transfer program Ilper.exe. The transfer was not very stable, because sometimes it did not recognize COM 5 (my USB, I believe) and also gave an error at the end sometimes.
However, some years ago I was successful in transferring programs in that way and used a file conversion program named HP41UC. I made notices of it and made the use of option /l to /t, i.e. *.lif to *.txt. For some reasons that does not work anymore, but I still had the *.dat file from the original file transfer and a *.txt file from the conversion result. In the meantime I looked at the *.dat file and copied it to a *.BIN file and a *.RAW file. In that case the transfer to the *.TXT file worked, but with some typical headers.
Question to you is:
What is the original file format resulting from the HP41 to HPIL transfer and what kind of headers are connected to the raw and bin format?
Do you have an idea why the transfer is not very stable? Do you think there is a mismatch in serial? Settings or so?
Now, I am using an older Windows computer. The *.exe work under a DOS environment. I tried a parallel desktop with windows 11 on my Mac Studio, but then the *.exe do not work. Has someone an idea how to solve these problems?
Sorry for the long intro… Hope you have time to answer…
Kind regards,
Henk Schellen

hesc · 01-22-2024, 06:57 PM

Dear Sylvain,

This is a beautiful overview for people like me who do not have a lot of experience with the exchange of files between different systems. I was able to exchange files between my HP41 and windows and now with your help I am able to transfer files between my HP41 and my Mac, making use of

82160A - HP-41/IL interface
PIL-Box - HP-IL/USB interface
pyILPER - virtual HP-IL peripherals
lifutils - LIF/41/71/75 files utilities

I wonder if you have an analog overview for transferring files/programs between my HP71B and my Mac.
Thanks on forehand.

Kind regards,
Henk Schellen

Sylvain Cote · 01-23-2024, 01:24 PM

Hello Henk,
I do not have any free time right now, I will post an answer to your last two messages in a couple of days.

hesc · 01-23-2024, 05:45 PM

Dear Sylvain,

Thank you. I look forward to it.

Kind regards,

Henk

Sylvain Cote · (This post was last modified: 01-24-2024 02:05 AM by Sylvain Cote.)

Hello Henk,

(01-20-2024 12:29 PM)hesc Wrote: What is the original file format resulting from the HP41 to HPIL transfer and what kind of headers are connected to the raw and bin format?

HP-41 compiled program file formats

Code:

.RAW →                    [compiled code] + [1-byte checksum] + [trailer]

.BIN → [ 2-byte header] + [compiled code] + [1-byte checksum] + [trailer]

.DAT → [ 4-byte header] + [compiled code] + [2-byte checksum]

HP-IL formats

Code:

.LIF → LIF file   - a file with a 32-byte lif header

.DAT → LIF volume - a virtual cassette or floppy disk

Code:

.LIF → [32-byte header] + [file data]

.P41 → same a .LIF

.PAK → same a .LIF

.DAT → [256-byte system record] + [n * 256-byte unused/reserved records] + [n * 256-byte directory records] + [n * 256-byte file data records]

More information can be found here:

HandHeld Products - 41 User Code Compiler Reference Manual
Leo Duran - HP41UC (User's Guide & source code)
Craig A. Finseth - LIF: The Logical Interchange Format
Joachim Siebold - LIF Utilities (Readme)
Ansgar Kückes - The HPDir Project
Dan McDonald - HP-IL Files: Where, What, Why, How, etc.
Sylvain Côté - Diego Díaz - Clonix & NoV modules HHC/HPCC 2020 Presentations (contains the description of several file formats)

(01-20-2024 12:29 PM)hesc Wrote: Do you have an idea why the transfer is not very stable?
Do you think there is a mismatch in serial? Settings or so?

I have never used HP41UC so I cannot help you here.

floppy · 01-24-2024, 10:33 AM

(01-22-2024 06:57 PM)hesc Wrote: I wonder if you have an analog overview for transferring files/programs between my HP71B and my Mac.

A mac is expensive. A ligther version is possible ;-)
https://www.hpmuseum.org/forum/thread-19...#pid181142

hesc · 01-24-2024, 02:55 PM

Dear Sylvain,

Thank you for the overview. In the meantime I solved my connection problems between HP71 and Mac. Yesterday, I published a new tread on it. If you have time, would you please have a look at it foor possible corrections?

Thanks,
Henk