Including PD Roms

[hansschmucker]

I've just had a look at Zophar's Domain (it's been a while since my last visit) and I checked the PD Roms section. Question... do you think it would be a good idea to include some PD Roms in the LJP archive... this way people would know where to put files, which format and so on. Also, they'd have something to do until they've *cough* found their cardrige reader.

I've put a few SNES PD Roms up here: www.little-john.net/files/_PD_SNES.001.zip
It's just 500kb, with the games ranging from 45kb to 236kb, so if we chose only one or two games per platform, it wouldn't add much to the download size.

[metaview]

I think, it's a good idea.

[_Em]

I do too

[Tinnus]

Maybe, but then people could say "why isn't there Super Mario World in the list of SNES games?"

Anyway, if we do that, I'd say put the smallest ones (that are any good, that is). There are several systems, and hence, several roms to include. If we add 500kn per system, the download file (which is already big enough) will get severely bigger.

Remember there ARE still people with dial-up or not-so-wide-band today (especially since LJP is targeted for the whole world).

edit: typo

[countbuggula]

Good point. I've been downloading the latest releases on my Treo, which with EVDO only takes a few seconds, but start putting in more ROMs and that'll slow way down. I think we can probably balance it out though, because I like the idea of including them. Maybe just one ROM for one or two systems so people can verify that LJP actually works.

[metaview]

Nope, just have the ROMs separate. Make a collection of 2 or 3 PD-ROMs for each system to download. Maybe each single ROM as .zip, which people can just install on there card and test LJP.

[hansschmucker]

I think it would be best to have a "Starter Kit" and a "Light" version... that way people who know what they are doing can download the version without ROMS, while newbies can download a version with everything they need to get started...

[_Em]

That reminds me... Henk's builds don't contain the documentation. This could be one of the reasons we're getting a lot of newbie questions with the latest releases.

[metaview]

what are docs for? :-)

[_Em]

reading
-Check out the contents of the RC2 zipfile and you'll see what's been missing since then.

[hansschmucker]

Your post came a few seconds too late... I've added a little readme of my own to 1.0RC8 (on little-john.net), so now I'm going to check what other info is in the RC2 archive.

[_Em]

We should probably add things like the NVFS config guide etc. too....

[hansschmucker]

OK, just checked out the RC2 README and it seems most of the important stuff is in my README as well, so now we can take out time to decide what we really want it to contain.

[hansschmucker]

Miles ahead of you :

This is the README.TXT which contains only the MOST important information about LJP. We strongly

suggest that you visit www.little-john.net/ for the latest News, Documentation and Downloads.
From there you also have access to the current BugList and the Forums.

Index..............

Little John Palm
*Update Notice
*Installation Instructions
*Frequently Asked Questions
*How to get LJP running smoothely on Tungsten E2, T5, T|X, Lifedrive, Treo 650, Treo 680 and other

NVFS devices?
*What does 'Error while loading PNO' mean?
*What is UDMH?
*What devices require UDMH to run LJP?
*What devices do NOT require UDMH to run LJP?
*Why does my Zodiac reset with a "Not signed" message?
*I am using UDMH and it still says that I don't have enough memory?
*There is no sound on my Sony Clié

========Little John Palm========
Little John PalmOS (or LJP in short) is a multi-system emulator for PalmOS 5.0 (or newer) devices.

Currently it emulates the following systems:

* Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)
* Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES)
* Nintendo Gameboy/Gameboy Color (GB/GBC)
* Sega Genesis/Megadrive
* Sega Master System (SMS)
* Sega Game Gear (GG)
* Bandai Wonderswan/Wonderswan Color (WS)
* NeoGeo Pocket/NeoGeo Pocket Color (NGP)

Features:

* Sound (except WS)
* Multiple screen modes (zoom/smoothing)
* Adjustable/auto frameskipping
* SRAM support
* Multiple Save/Load state
* Turbo mode
* Support for zipped roms


===Update Notice===
Make sure to delete the application file and all INI files contained in /Palm/Programs/LJP and its

subdirectories on ALL cards, including any internal memory cards.


===Installation Instructions===
1. You need a device with PalmOS 5.0 or better, and an SD card or internal file system (Tungsten|T5,

LifeDrive, Zodiac)
2. Install "ljp.prc" using "install tool" & "hotsync" or copy it in "/Palm/Launcher" on your SD card
3. Upon first launch, it will create all the needed directories & register the .zem extension so you can

hotsync the .zem files directly (the .zem files are the 'emulation modules')
4. Copy "ljp-stuff.zem" and the modules you want (nes->ljp-nes.zem, gb->ljp-gb.zem, ...) in

"/Palm/Programs/LJP" (NOT in the system directory, for example "/NES") or use the install tool &

hotsync. If you use hotsync to do this, be sure to run LJP once before to register the .zem extension.

(needed after each crash/reset too!)
5. Copy your roms in the right folder, depending on the system (see directories layout below) using

either a smart card reader or the "mp3" trick (rename the ROM file to .mp3, .prc or .pdb, hotsync it to the

SD card and use a program like FileZ (freeware) to rename to the original extension and to move the file

to the right directory). There's also a (shareware) program called Card Export (from Softick) which turns

your Palm-powered PDA into a card reader. LifeDrive/Tungsten|T5 users can also take advantage of

Drive Mode to access the SD card/internal volume directly.

Directory Layout

* NES : "/PALM/Programs/LJP/NES"
* SNES : "/PALM/Programs/LJP/SNES"
* GB/GBC : "/PALM/Programs/LJP/GB"
* GENESIS : "/PALM/Programs/LJP/GENZ"
* NGP : "/PALM/Programs/LJP/NGP"
* WS : "/PALM/Programs/LJP/WS"
* SMS/GG : "/PALM/Programs/LJP/SMSGG"
* Atari 2600 : "/PALM/Programs/LJP/VCS"

Each directory has 2 subdirectories :

* Roms : put your zipped/unzipped roms here
* Saves : savestates/sram backup files are here

For example: Put your NES ROMs in "/PALM/Programs/LJP/NES/Roms", GBC ROMs in

"/PALM/Programs/LJP/GB/Roms", etc

To Zip your rom, use a standard zip (report shows StuffIt on mac does not work). Winzip is fine on

windows.


===Frequently Asked Questions===
=How to get LJP running smoothely on Tungsten E2, T5, T|X, Lifedrive, Treo 650, Treo 680 and other NVFS

devices?=

1. If you're on a LD, update to ROM version 2.0 (it claims to be for English versions only, but it really

works on all LDs. This will allow LJP to notice multiple button presses at once.
2. Install LJP and ROMS
3. Delete background apps that eat Dynamic RAM, like ZLauncher or PicselViewer. Alternatively, move

them to card with PowerRun or a similar tool, or use UnCache to prevent them from loading at reset.
4. Install UDMH (it's shareware, so'll have to pay 10 bucks or so if you want to use it forever)
5. Install MemUnfragment (Free, runs hidden in background after installation) or UnCache (Shareware)
6. Install Imazeki's DBCacheTool. Don't use autoclear. Instead use the DA to clear the RAM right before

you launch LJP.
7. Install DALauncher to access the DA from the command bar.
8. Do the following: Clear the DBCache. Reset your Palm. Clear the DBCache again. Make sure UDMH

is enabled. Run LJP and load a small SNES ROM (such as Super Mario World) to test your setup. SNES

needs at least 6,300,000 bytes of "Max alloc" (as seen by DBCacheTool) in 1.0RC2; it needs at least

8MB DB Cache in 1.0RC3 to 1.0RC7.


=What does 'Error while loading PNO' mean?=

Short answer: an error while loading the required data to run the game.

Long answer: a PNO can be thought of as a mini-application, which in this case is the individual

emulation module (GB, NES etc). The main application (the launcher) gets input from the GUI and fires

off the PNO, that is, the sub-application, which in turn emulates the desired system.

For a mini-app to be launched properly, it must be copied entirely to dynamic memory (think of this like

the RAM in your computer), which is limited. Also, some data required for the emulation has to be

copied to this area, not to mention that some space must be left free for in-emulation requirements

(screen buffer, etc). So basicly, sometimes your Palm runs short of dynamic memory and there is not

enough space to load the PNO (the PNOs are actually the .lem files). When this happens, LJP gives an

error.

Solution: Use UDMH


=What is UDMH?=

Unlimited Dynamic Memory Hack is a program that changes the way the OS handles the memory in a

way that other applications can use bigger chunks of Dynamic RAM. It can be found at

palmpowerups.com and is required by the current version of LJP for most device/emulator combos.

UDMH is shareware, so you'll need to pay $10 in order to use it beyond the trial period.

=What devices require UDMH to run LJP?=

* Treo 600 (all)
* Treo 650 (SNES)
* Zire 31 (all)
* Zire 71 (all)
* Zire 72 (SNES and Genesis)
* T|E (all besides GB and NES)
* T|T (all)
* T|T2 (all)
* T|T5 (all besides GB and NES)
* T|TX (all besides GB and NES)
* LifeDrive (all besides GB and NES)
* iQue 3600 (unknown)


=What devices do NOT require UDMH to run LJP?=

* Treo 680
* Treo 700p
* Tapwave Zodiac 1/2


=Why does my Zodiac reset with a "Not signed" message?=
The Zodiac had or rather has a very good copy protection that requires applications that want to use its

advanced features to contain a signature. Since Tapwave is gone, there's nobody left to sign LJP, but

luckily this protection has now been circumvented.

You have to install PopAccess (http://www.zodiacfrance.com/modules/mydownloads/singlefile.php?

cid=11&lid=78) which removes the protection.


=I am using UDMH and it still says that I don't have enough memory?=

First off, Unlimited Dynamic Memory Hack uses free memory and reallocates (sort of ) so that it is read

as Dynamic Heap.

1. Free up space. UDMH cannot create dynamic ram if there is no memory to create it from. Simply

delete some programs. Note: deleting software will only help directly on pre-NVFS devices. If your device

is an NVFS device, see How do I get LJP running on Tungsten E2, T5, T|X, Lifedrive, Treo 650, Treo 680

and other NVFS devices?
2. Try going into UDMH and altering the memory it shows for LJP. Open UDMH, then tap config, then

scroll down until you see LJP (If it isn't there, tap "Add" and select it). Select it and press "Modify". Now,

where it says "Show ..... K of dynamic memory write down 999999. Try it by launching LJP. The number

behind RAM: should have increased. You may want to lower this since it uses all free memory as

Dynamic Heap.


=There is no sound on my Sony Clié=

CLIE NX, NZ and TG can use "Modern-Clie-Audio" (http://www.aibohack.com/clie/modclieaud.htm) to

turn on audio.

[_Em]

One nitpick: you say "using a smart card reader" -- I've had a LOT of exposure with smart card readers; usually they take cards shaped like a credit card that have a chip on them and a copper contact plate at one end. I think you mean memory card reader or just card reader.

[hansschmucker]

I don't say anything... this is all from the Docs Wiki

[_Em]

Another nitpick: My system has separate SMS and GG folders.

[_Em]

Guess we need to fix it then

I'll probably find more bugs. Guess we should put the documentation into Mantis for bug tracking.

[hansschmucker]

Fixed in the Wiki and the Readme

[_Em]

What devices require UDMH to run LJP?
TX only requires it for SNES and Genesis IIRC.

[hansschmucker]

Added a Wiki page for the README, so now you can fix it yourself

little-john.net/wiki/index.php?title=README.TXT

[_Em]

"SNES needs at least 6,300,000 bytes of "Max alloc" (as seen by DBCacheTool) in 1.0RC2; it needs at least 8MB DB Cache in 1.0RC3 to 1.0RC7. "

RC7c and RC8 need around 6,8000,000 bytes.

[_Em]

"Install Imazeki's DBCacheTool. Don't use autoclear. Instead use the DA to clear the RAM right before you launch LJP."

An alternate is to use Alexander Pruss' OffFlush and FlushDA. The latest version is quite stable.

[hansschmucker]

Grr.... why didn't you fix it in the Wiki before I copied it?

[countbuggula]

Added 755 to devices that don't need UDMH

[hansschmucker]

Could you please update little-john.net/wiki/index.php?title=UDMH as well, please...

Please don't just change in the README. but try to fix it on the source page as well.

[Tinnus]

The one who wrote "smart card reader" was yoyofr, that's from the original readme ;D

Nope, just have the ROMs separate. Make a collection of 2 or 3 PD-ROMs for each system to download. Maybe each single ROM as .zip, which people can just install on there card and test LJP.

The idea (as I got it) was exactly that people would use the included PD roms to find out where to put their own, so that kinda defeats the purpose.

"Starter Edition" and "SmartGuy Edition" sounds good to me

(MS would probably sue us over using "Starter Edition" though )

[countbuggula]

hansschmucker said:

Could you please update little-john.net/wiki/index.php?title=UDMH as well, please...

Please don't just change in the README. but try to fix it on the source page as well.

Done. Thanks for reminding me.

[metaview]

tinnus said:

The idea (as I got it) was exactly that people would use the included PD roms to find out where to put their own, so that kinda defeats the purpose.

Ok, I've missed this :-) I cancel my suggestion and vote for the starter/smart guy edition :-)

[hansschmucker]

OK... I'm looking through the Roms on ZD and try to find worthy candidates... GB, NGP, NES and GENZ are unproblemtaic, SNES is a little harder and for the rest I'm still looking for actual games... any suggestions would be very welcome.