Re: Reading Character Bitmap ROMs (was Re: Stuff)

[cdeschu@nyx10.cs.du.edu (Chris Deschu)]

In article <CMsuvH.J07@actrix.gen.nz>,
David Empson <dempson@actrix.gen.nz> wrote:
>In article <763387209.AA00717@quill.dps.com>,
>SLIXTER <SLIXTER@f312.n213.z1.quill.dps.com> wrote:
>> 
>>     There must be some way to read the ROM to get a font file of the
>> standard characters, 'cause that's what SuperConvert 3 does when you
>> convert a text file to a graphics file...  reads the ROMs, even says
>> so in the docs...
>
>On the IIe, you have the option of removing the character ROM and reading
>it using an EPROM programmer.  You can't do that on the IIgs, because the
>character ROM is built into the Mega II chip.
>
>There is definitely no way of reading the character ROM from software
>on the IIe.  I didn't think you could do it on the IIgs either...
>
>We learn something new every day.  I just spotted this interesting
>tidbit in the IIgs Firmware Reference:
>
>"C02C: CHARROM   Address for test mode read of character ROM".
>
>No information about how to use it, of course.  I expect that you have
>to enable test mode, then do the right sequence of operations to start
>reading the ROM.  The best way to find out how this location works would
>be to disassemble the self-test code in the IIgs ROM.
>
>Anyone game?
>-- 
>David Empson
>dempson@swell.actrix.gen.nz
>Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand

Here's a suggestion:
	I am fairly sure the //e card for the mac LC comes with a
special font that is used to display the text screen output from the
card. Find it, and just use Resource Spy to convert the font from
mac to a //gs font. There ya go. If you are successful, I'd appreciate
it if you would post it to the binaries, I could use it. If not,
maybe I'll give it a shot when I have more time. good luck!

--
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 |___              Chris Deschu                       cdeschu@nyx.cs.du.edu
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