Commodore CASSIOPEI, User Manual

Page: 32 / 76

Note:
In some very rare situations, it isn't possible to load a .TAP file game directly after selecting it in
the via the menu (file selection via the CBM computer). The only way to solve this is to reset the
CBM computer and the Cassiopei (simply turn your computer off and on) and then load the file
directly. Since the game has already been selected in the menu program, there is no need to select it
again and therefore you can just type LOAD on your CBM and then press PLAY on the Cassiopei.
The game will now load directly and without the menu program.
You may wonder how this is possible, the answer to that question most likely lies in the fact that the
game you are trying to load requires certain memory areas of the CBM computer to contain exactly the
CBM computers default values. However, by loading the menu program some memory locations are
altered and this may interfere with the .TAP file game loader. Although the Cassiopei menu program
does attempt to set the memory to their default values just before exiting the menu program and loading
the selected file, it is still possible that some memory locations (as used by some .TAP loaders) remain
affected.
7.1 Swapping/flipping the tape (change TAP file during playback)
When you are in a TAP-file game and you must change to a different TAP file, simply because the
TAP images of the game you are playing is split up into 2 different TAP files (a TAP-file for side A
of the tape and a TAP-file for side B of the tape). Or perhaps you must insert a data cassette,
because your application uses a TAP for the program and a TAP for the data. Although writing to
TAP files is not possible for various reasons.
One method would be using the Cassiopei menu itself, but this menu isn't available in the TAP
playback mode, therefore you must reset the Cassiopei. Then by pressing the settings button
entering the menu and selecting the new TAP file followed by pressing play on the Cassiopei to
start the TAP file. Unfortunately… some games and programs will keep the motor signal active
even if you aren't in play/wind/rewind mode. The active motor signal causes the Cassiopei to think
that it is in CPIO command-mode (CPIO the protocol the Cassiopei uses to communicate with the
CBM computer), with the direct result that the complete interface almost completely freezes up
making it impossible to change a TAP file.
7.2 Stopping the TAP file mode
The TAP file mode can only be stopped by resetting the Cassiopei, which can be done by turning
your CBM OFF and ON or by pressing the “Reset”-button on the Cassiopei.
2019-10-27 Page 32 of 76 CASSIOPEI v2.0