First steps with ZXmore:
The ZXmore can be operated as desired with manual switching of the ROMs or alternatively
with soft switching via the keyboard with ZXmaster.
ROM Switch
Position 1-7 choose a specific ROM firmware which
must have been programmed before in the flash
ROM.
Only 8 positions are used from that switch, 8-F have
the same function as 0-7. Position 0 selects the
ZXmaster control software which allows soft switching
and even multitasking on request.
Position 1-7 are useful only for ZX80 and ZX81
compatible ROMs because of a default setup after
switch on for RAM and ROM size and position and
some other control signals. Manual programming of
the internal registers is described in the appendix.
A colored LED (rgb) shows the active instance with a different color regardless if the instance
is running from the manual switch or from ZXmaster control software:
0 = dark/off
1 = blue
2 = green
3 = cyan
4 = red
5 = violet
6 = yellow
7 = white
Manual switching has the highest compatibility because the ZXmaster control routines are not
used and can not disturb any unknown program with some maybe hidden feature / hardware
control. But some functions are not available in manual operation liek change of keyboard,
switching of instances, USB drivers for loading/saving data and some special display modes are
maybe not available.
Additionally the parallel operation of several instances is not available and after every switch
the system is reset and does a new power-up (clear of RAM, etc.).
Reset switch
The reset switch functions different depending on the context used. In manual operation
(position 1-7) the switch does a cold start of the running instance. When pressing in position 0
the ZXmaster switches back to instance 0 and does a warm start only. In this context the
instance information, status, RAM contents, etc. are not destroyed and can be continued when
switching back to these instances later. The last running program will be continued.
It is possible and likely that the last running instance where reset was pressed is lost or
crashed as the last status could not be catched by the ZXmaster firmware and a restart may
fail. But all other instances are „frozen“ and can be continued after switch back safely. Due to
the concept with own and dedicated RAM areas the other instances can not be disturbed under
normal circumstances.
V1.9 - 06/2016
ZXmore & ZXmaster – user manual
page 6 from 29
