ROMTER operation guide

The usage of the RT.EXE:

Command format: RT [filename.ext] [/I] [/R] [/C] [/U] [/?]

RT.EXE requires a configuration file located in the same directory. The default name is ROMTER.INI. In general, it will activate the reset signal first and download the image file for each ROMTER unless an option is entered to override this download action.

/I Requests the parameters for initialization and configuration and create a configuration file with the name [filename.ext]. You can edit these information directly by using a text editor if you know where each parameter is located in the file.

/R Referring the configuration file to activate a reset pulse for all the ROMTERs which are connected to this printer port.

/C Referring the configuration file to check the SRAM chip installed in the ROMTER. This option is only for testing purpose.

/U Referring the configuration file to upload one section of the emulated EPROM and store it into a file. This option will be very helpful when in situation where a large EPROM is emulated and a small section of data is repeatedly modified for testing. The user only need to build a new parameter file for controlling the downloading of this small, repeatedly changed portion.

/? Shows the command format and simple explanation.

The meaning of each parameter in configuration file:

1. Printer port#：The printer port number (1..3) used to connect the ROMTERs.
2. Reset level：The signal level you want to activate during the download period.
(0 for low; 1 for high)
3. EPROM type：Select the EPROM type to emulate.
4. ROMTER ID#：The ROMTER's ID#(0..3) which this session will deal with.
5. File format：File format selection. It will influence the meaning of the next item.
If the file format is binary,
6. the Loading offset in this EPROM socket:
The offset location in this EPROM socket where the download file will start to fill in.
This offset doesn't related to the address of the target system's memory space.

If the file format is HEX or S-Record,
6. the EPROM start address in the target system's memory space:
This is the starting address where this EPROM locates in the target system's memory
space. This value must be expressed in hex format and capitalized.

7. ROM image filename：file name for this download session.
8. Download more(Y)?：After this session is complete, you can start another one. "Y" answer will repeat the questions starting from item 4. The parameters 1, 2 and 3 will remain the same.

Command examples:

1. RT <Enter>
Downloading by referring the default ROMTER.INI configuration file.
2. RT proj1.ini <Enter>
Downloading by referring the PROJ1.INI configuration file.
3. RT proj1.ini /I <Enter>
Initializing the PROJ1.INI file and downloading it.

SRAM chip replacement:

By changing the SRAM chip installed in the ROMTER, the user can expand the emulation size that ROMTER emulates. When this chip is changed, jumper JP3 may have to be changed also to reflect this new size. (The SRAM socket is a 600mil DIP for 90ns version)

Files in the disk:

1. RT.EXE ---- The program for operating the ROMTER.
2. ROMTER.INI --- The default configuration file (ASCII type). This is the file which the RT.EXE refers to at each time it starts. We recommend the user preserve this default filename for normal usage. Its contents can be edit by a text editor, or be viewed by executing a dummy "RT <enter>" command.
3. FED.EXE, FED.DOC, FEDSETUP.EXE, LICENSE.DOC ---
A shareware utility for editing any forms of file. If you want to use it continually,
don't forget to register.

Note:
1. Data can not be transferred normally when the target's power is off because the ROMTER is primarily energized by the target board. Any existing data in the ROMTER "seems" can be preserved when the target power is off, as long as the PC printer port remains connected and the PC is in operating. Although this feature has been proven many times without failure during extensive factory testing, we can not guarantee this condition will always prevail.

2. The ROMTER uses a 32 pin DIP plug to connect to the target system. If a 28 pin EPROM is emulated, the upper 4 pins (pin 1, 2, 31, and 32 which are located at the red marked side of the flat cable) must be left opened. We suggest that user stack one extra 28 pin IC socket onto the ROMTER's plug. This way makes connection to the target system easier.

3. There is a pull-up array resistor(RS1) installed on the board for address lines A13..A18 to handle those unused pins(such as NC, VPP, PGM etc..) in the EPROM socket. (Its value is 10K for earlier versions shipped before mid 1996 and 100K for later version). If there are any such pins on the emulated socket, they must be left open or pull to high to proceed proper emulation. For some systems which require these lines be pulled down externally(such as of Z8681 CPU), the user has to pay attention to his pull-down value.

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