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New page: '''Testing tips''' If the program uses standard block loading then you can test the image is correct in the following way: * Start the Amstrad emulator, * Insert the tape-image to test...
'''Testing tips'''
If the program uses standard block loading then you can test the image is correct in the following way:
* Start the Amstrad emulator,
* Insert the tape-image to test,
* Reset the CPC
* At the "Ready" prompt type: <br/> |TAPE:CAT
* The following message will then be displayed: <br/> Press PLAY then any key<br/> [[Image:cat1.png]]
* Press a key, and then wait. After some time you will see a message similar to this: <br/> <nowiki><filename> </nowiki> <nowiki>block <block number> <file type symbol></nowiki><br/> Where:
** <nowiki><filename> is the name of the file on the cassette (maximum of 16 characters) </nowiki>
** <nowiki><block number> is the number of the current block being tested, </nowiki>
** <nowiki><file type symbol> is a 1 character symbol identifying the file type: </nowiki><br/> The following table identifies the common file types:
{| class="prettytable"
! <center>Symbol</center>
! <center>File type</center>
|-
| $
| Unprotected BASIC file
|-
| %
| protected BASIC file (the program can't be listed)
|-
| &
| Unprotected binary file
|-
| '
| Protected binary file
|}
[[Image:cat2.png]]
An example is:
HUDSON HAWK block 1 &
If the block is correct and the CRC checksum is valid, then "Ok" will be printed after the file type symbol. e.g.
HUDSON HAWK block 1 & Ok
If there is an error "Read error a" or "Read error b" will be displayed.
Why is this method good?
** It is ideal for testing programs that only use the standard loader, but may contain many parts that are not loaded immediatly. e.g. a multi-loader program, many seperate programs on the same cassette
** Some programs disable the cassette messages (e.g. messages like "Loading HUDSON HAWK block 1"), and it is not easy to identify the name or number of a bad block. With this method, the name and block numbers are listed.
** You can easily identify blocks that are missing (maybe they were not decoded by voc2tzx). e.g. <br/> HUDSON HAWK block 1 & Ok<br/> HUDSON HAWK block 3 & Ok<br/> In this example, block 2 of "HUDSON HAWK" is missing. This would result in a "Rewind tape" error.
** You can compare the list of blocks against the graphical display of the sound wave in a sound editor and identify any blocks that are not correct.
If the program uses standard block loading then you can test the image is correct in the following way:
* Start the Amstrad emulator,
* Insert the tape-image to test,
* Reset the CPC
* At the "Ready" prompt type: <br/> |TAPE:CAT
* The following message will then be displayed: <br/> Press PLAY then any key<br/> [[Image:cat1.png]]
* Press a key, and then wait. After some time you will see a message similar to this: <br/> <nowiki><filename> </nowiki> <nowiki>block <block number> <file type symbol></nowiki><br/> Where:
** <nowiki><filename> is the name of the file on the cassette (maximum of 16 characters) </nowiki>
** <nowiki><block number> is the number of the current block being tested, </nowiki>
** <nowiki><file type symbol> is a 1 character symbol identifying the file type: </nowiki><br/> The following table identifies the common file types:
{| class="prettytable"
! <center>Symbol</center>
! <center>File type</center>
|-
| $
| Unprotected BASIC file
|-
| %
| protected BASIC file (the program can't be listed)
|-
| &
| Unprotected binary file
|-
| '
| Protected binary file
|}
[[Image:cat2.png]]
An example is:
HUDSON HAWK block 1 &
If the block is correct and the CRC checksum is valid, then "Ok" will be printed after the file type symbol. e.g.
HUDSON HAWK block 1 & Ok
If there is an error "Read error a" or "Read error b" will be displayed.
Why is this method good?
** It is ideal for testing programs that only use the standard loader, but may contain many parts that are not loaded immediatly. e.g. a multi-loader program, many seperate programs on the same cassette
** Some programs disable the cassette messages (e.g. messages like "Loading HUDSON HAWK block 1"), and it is not easy to identify the name or number of a bad block. With this method, the name and block numbers are listed.
** You can easily identify blocks that are missing (maybe they were not decoded by voc2tzx). e.g. <br/> HUDSON HAWK block 1 & Ok<br/> HUDSON HAWK block 3 & Ok<br/> In this example, block 2 of "HUDSON HAWK" is missing. This would result in a "Rewind tape" error.
** You can compare the list of blocks against the graphical display of the sound wave in a sound editor and identify any blocks that are not correct.
