Re: Robo-1000 and IIgs compatibility?

[Hugh Hood <hughhood@earthlink.net>]

Steve,

I'd be happy to share the details of the software patches for the Robo CAD
1+ and CAD2 programs. After all these years, it's neat that anyone cares.

Do you recall which version of the Cad 2 software you have?

The latest version of the Drafting software was 2.7, while the latest
version of the Plotting software was 2.6. These support the mouse in
addition to the 3-axis joystick, and eliminate the disk-based copy
protection.

Since I only patched those versions, I suggest that I just send you disk
images of both the unpatched disk and the patched disk.

If you'll take the images and put them side-by-side in a modern hex editor,
I think you'll be able to see what I did. Frankly, I can't remember much
about them now.

IIRC, I did these one long weekend when my wife was out of town. (I mean,
what else should a man do on a long weekend with his wife out of town)?

Basically, I did disk searches for bytes that accessed the annunciators,
either NOPped ($EA) or jumped around the suspicious code, and tried again.

Robo did a good job putting in several separate checks for the hardware
dongle. Three or four, I think, all in different areas of the disk.

Here's a little more background -- Robo used a cut-down variant of DOS 3.3
for memory efficiency. They also hid some boot-up items in the screen holes,
and implemented some other of the 'usual suspects' from the copy protection
heydays. 

You're a clever guy - find a way to patch around the Saturn 128K ram card
support (substituting either some RamWorks style bank switch card or IIGS
expanded memory back and forth moving) and I'll spring for a dinner out.

Heck, for that matter, has anyone here got any good ideas for patching a
program so that it intercepts calls to the Saturn card, jsr's to some small
routine to emulate a 16K bank switch, move the memory, etc, and rts?

As always, I digress.

Let me know if you'd like the images, and I'll get them to you.






Hugh Hood


P.S. - Disclaimer for 'legal' types

Hardware protection interface modules/dongles for the Robo Apple II packages
have been unavailable for many, many years. The patches discussed here allow
continued use of the software (and access to valuable engineering drawings
saved in a native Robo format not usable by any modern computer) in the
event of the failure or loss of the hardware module.




in article 8fadnVFagPAOoyPSnZ2dnUVZ_sydnZ2d@giganews.com, Steven Hirsch at
snhirsch@gmail.com wrote on 5/24/12 8:58 AM:


> On 05/24/2012 09:55 AM, Hugh Hood wrote:
> 
>> Back to your question -- The interface stuff, IIRC, is there not only to
>> support the 3-axis joystick from the gameport, but also to power their
>> 'protection' scheme dongle, which uses the annunciator line, etc. in
>> conjunction with a software check. I _think_ the power line is just to run
>> the light, but it may be to power the resister pack in the dongle.
>> 
>> Many years ago I tired of that setup and just patched the code so that it
>> was no longer required, both for the CAD 1+ package and for the CAD 2
>> package. If you'd like the details, let me know. It makes these runnable
>> without that blasted dongle on any computer that would otherwise support it.
>> For example, I use CAD 1+ on a IIGS (the 'plot' portion of the package - I
>> have many legacy drawings).
> 
> Ugh.  I have honestly never tried to use the Cad 2 package, but I know I do
> not have the dongle.  Would you mind sharing the details on your patch?
> 
>