JOYCE
the new PCW Emulator for Windows by John Elliott.
(Text revised 11.3.02)
John has developed his Joyce emulator v1.36 to a Windows version. After releasing several versions he has declared that JOYCE 2.0.0 is the final version. I've installed it on my PC and am thoroughly enjoying finding out what it can do. People have asked me why, when I have an original PCW, I need an emulator. I believe John has the same problem; people ask him why he bothers to write PCW emulators. If you don't understand, then it's a waste of time trying to explain. Why do people climb mountains or play chess or backpack? Why don't we all just stay in bed? I get a kick out of finding out how things work. I can only program in the most basic fashion but find it fascinating how a series of instructions can control a screen. I take my hat off to John for producing this sophisticated product. Newsgroups often have postings from people who have given up on their old computers, and regret it. Anyone can now relive the thrill of using their own preferred model of PCW or PcW (except the PcW16) even if they've long since given it away or otherwise disposed of it. Suitable boot disks and software can be obtained from SD Microsystems Ltd. or from others mentioned on my Sales and Wants page.
Whereas version1.36 and the preceding versions booted from Dos, this new version can be installed on the Program menu for instant access. I don't propose to go into details of what the program can do; your best course of action is to go on over to John's website as detailed later and download your free copy of the latest version, but before you do that please read on. I am writing here about my experience of getting JOYCE 1.9.3 up and running on Windows 95. I have since downloaded JOYCE 2.0.0 and installed it. It is very similar to JOYCE 1.9.3 but has some extra and improved features, such as emulation of the PCW9512 daisywheel printer.
Downloading JOYCE
I downloaded joyce193.zip (3.56MB) and unzipped it If you have Winzip or something similar you can unzip it with that, but being rather reactionary I put the file into a new folder in C: together with a copy of pkunzip, and unzipped it in DOS using the command > pkunzip -d joyce193. (If you just type pkunzip at the prompt then [RETURN] you'll see what the switch -d does)
At this stage I had a directory with the following files in it. If you're using a different version then there will be variations.
At the prompt I typed SETUP, as shown below in red, then pressed [RETURN]
C:/joyce193> setup which started the install wizard in Windows. This can equally be done from the RUN in the Start menu but it's quicker in Dos if you're there already. I chose the typical installation, accepted all the suggestions and finished up with the entry Joyce in the Start menu. The installation begins with a runthrough of the GNU licence and it's well worth reading all of this. The software is free but there are reasonable conditions for its use.
Running Joyce for the first time
On checking the Start menu, I found that JOYCE existed. There are three options: JOYCE Documentation, Start JOYCE (full screen) and Start JOYCE ( windowed) The Documentation (manual) is in PDF format so needs an Acrobat reader, and I printed it out. As with all new programs Joyce1.93 has many facets and a hard copy of the manual is always useful.
From the manual I learned that, as with Joyce1.36 I needed boot discs. I could have opted to use the boot discs I am already using on Joyce1.36 but instead decided to start from scratch again using PCW Start-of-day discs. Yes Joyce1.93 can use CP/M discs. One small problem for me; the 3.5" A: drive on my PCW8512 is set up with a side switch, ie. it mimics the 3" A: drive in that it formats to 180K each side (CF2) using a switch to change sides. As the PC doesn't have a side switch I had to ensure that the boot files were on the correct side of the disk, which I did using my PCW. This problem does not exist if you have Start-of-Day disks in CF2DD format. The manual offers several different alternatives for the generation of boot discs.
Starting Joyce for the first time in "windowed" mode brings up a dialog box asking for boot disks. I selected the "set up boot discs properly" option. A dialog box appeared offering several options. I chose the "Drive A:", inserted the CPM Start-of Day disc and clicked "Continue". A small form came up requesting a name for this boot disc so I typed in CPM3v1.4 and pressed [RETURN] the disc was copied and I repeated the operation with a Locoscript S.O.D. I could have added more at that time, but others can be added at any time. A word of warning; when asked for a name for the boot disc do not click the mouse or do anything except type in the name or that screen will disappear leaving your disc without a name. If this happens go back a step or two and try again. My instinct was to click the mouse to supply a cursor, but the cursor is already provided; rather a stubby one, like a PCW cursor.
JOYCE can be used just as a PCW if the "set up boot discs properly" is not taken. Ordinary 3.5" CPM boot discs can be used in the floppy drive of the PC but this method is painfully slow. It is strongly recommended to set up boot discs as DSK files.
On running JOYCE an opening screen appeared which showed my boot discs "1. CPM3v1.4" and "2. Locoscript.". Pressing numeral key 1 I was rewarded with the familiar horizontal lines running down the screen. DIR showed the contents of the boot "disc". Pressing F9 opened a menu along the top of the screen and by pressing F5 I got back to the opening screen, where I tried booting Locoscript. This time, after the horizontal lines and initial part of the welcoming screen, the program seemed to take a long time to get to the management screen, but when I booted my PCW from the same disc I understood why. Exactly the same period of time was needed to get to the management screen, but on the PCW there was much flashing,graunching and whirring of drives, whereas Joyce is completely silent. If anything Joyce is slightly faster on my PC. There's a facility to adjust the speed but I haven't got around to that yet.
Joyce works in the same way as your favourite PCW. For example, my emulation has 180K A: drive and a 720K B: drive, just like a PCW8512, and it works in the same way as my original PCW8512 except that the discs are held on the hard drive as files in .DSK format. I have converted a few discs from the original 3.5"DSDD floppies to .DSK format and can use them in the same way as the PCW. For example, I can boot Locoscript, then load a 720K .DSK into the virtual B: drive and use it just as on the PCW. I have converted a CHECKUP disc in this way and have tried out some of its features, mainly memory and display, but then I like to live dangerously. When I have gained more experience I'll try some of the other features to see what happens. As far as I can tell at this time Joyce is a pretty true emulation; I need to find it's limitations.
When using JOYCE, one has to remember to use it in the same way as a PCW. For example, a 720K format disc can't be used in the 180K A: drive. However, JOYCE will accept a number of boot discs including those for the PCW9512 etc. and I believe that JOYCE will take on the characteristics of the relevant PCW.
I am by no means familiar with JOYCE yet and have a lot to learn. It's like getting hold of a new machine. After a time certain actions become familiar and automatic but until that happens things are bound to go wrong. I'm looking forward to exploring JOYCE more fully. Why not go to John Elliott's website and download JOYCE 2.0.0 now?
Further notes
With earlier versions of Joyce I installed more than one copy. Each copy was set up differently for experimental purposes. However, when I did the same with JOYCE1.9.3 whatever boot disc I set up for one copy appeared on the other. John Elliott explained that the files for boot disks are always located in the directory MY DOCUMENTS and are available automatically to all copies wherever they may be situated; on any partition or even on a rewritable CDRom. Therefore there's no point in installing more that one copy.
I couldn't open JOYCE 1.9.3 in the full screen; I kept getting the message that the display on my monitor wasn't suitable. John explained that I needed DirectX drivers to run the program in this mode. I downloaded them free from the Microsoft website and I can now open Joyce either in full screen or windowed. There isn't much difference in appearance between "full screen" and "windowed" on my PC as the upper border of the window cannot be seen, but by putting the mouse cursor right to the top, pressing the LH button and dragging downwards the border is revealed. The border is furnished with the version number on the left-hand side and the usual minimise and cancel symbols at the right-hand side. This is useful for me as I can alternate between this and JOYCE. When I write something about JOYCE I can check it out immediately helping to cut out errors. With my memory that's a real plus.
JOYCE can accept many boot discs
and can display up to nine with access to others. Thus a good and quick way
is to make automatic booting discs of your favourite programs using PROFILE.SUB.
Such discs can be the same as used for the PCW and files can be loaded to the
M drive using PIP or other utilities. In fact JOYCE works uncannily like the
PCW once the menu which appears at the top of the screen and the different keyboard
layout have been mastered.
Ron King
Andover March 2002