DCS Axiom development

[alberthrocks]

Sparking from this topic (http://www.omnimaga.org/index.php?topic=7480.msg139537;topicseen#new), I've decided to try and see if I can write a DCS axiom! However, my assembly is terrible, so I will need LOTS of help with it. From the messages in the thread, it seems that our assembly devs are puzzled at how to write an Axiom, but could easy make an ASM program. Hopefully, from this topic, a quick start/manual can be written on how to write Axioms. THEN our awesome assembly programmers' powers can be unleashed!

OK, so let's get started!

First off, I'm basing my Axiom from the MemKit template. My assembler is SPASM (part of the WabbitStudio suite), OS Linux.
I also am using http://dcs.cemetech.net/index.php?title=GUI_API for reference on how to use the DCS' GUI libraries in assembly.
With that, I'm currently just trying to write example code for myself (and probably others).
I'm focusing on: http://dcs.cemetech.net/index.php?title=GUI_API#Adding_GUI_Elements

Here's a code snip from the API docs:

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ld hl,SmWinData ld de,SmWinDataEnd-SmWinData ld a,GUIRSmallWin call PushGUIStack ld hl,winButtons ld de,dat_end-winButtons ld a,GUIRWinButtons call pushGUIStack ld hl,0 call GUIMouse ret SmWinData:      .db 5,5     ;the x and y coordinates relative to the LCD of the top-left of the window      .db $F8,$88,$88,$88,$F8   ;a square icon      .db "My Window",0    ;the window title SmWinDataEnd: exitMyProg:   call ResetAppPage   ret winButtons:  .db 00100000b      ;only displaying a close button  .dw 0              ;null pointer  .dw 0              ;another null pointer  .dw exitMyProg     ;we'll jump to exitMyProg when this button is clicked dat_end:

Of course, we really don't want internal data, but the data for the arguments the user provides!

In the end, after a back and forth on IRC, I've gotten this code:

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.nolist #include "ti83plus.inc" #include "Axe.inc" #include "dcs7.inc" .list #define B_CALL(xxxx) rst 28h \ .dw xxxx  .dw AXM_HEADER  .dw Ax1_End  .db AXM_ALL  .dw tok_DrawL ;DlgBox()  .db AXM_INLINE  .db AXM_1ARG  .org 0  ; OLD CODE:  ; call OpenGUIStack  ; ld hl,SmWinData  ; ld de,SmWinDataEnd-SmWinData  ; ld a,GUIRSmallWin    ; OK, so let's first get stuff ready! (Open the GUI stack!)  call OpenGUIStack  ; Text is stored in HL already, no need to move it around!  ; Save hl!  push hl  ; Now find the length of the string arg!  call sub_Length  ; Copy it to the correct place...  ex de,hl  ; ...and bring back the string arg!  pop hl  ; Set window type!  ld a,GUIRSmallWin    ; Push the GUI!  call PushGUIStack    ; Now, add the close button to the window.  ld hl,winButtons  ld de,dat_end-winButtons  ld a,GUIRWinButtons  call pushGUIStack  ; Now, render the GUI and give control (mouse) to DCS!  ld hl,0  call GUIMouse  ret exitMyProg:   call ResetAppPage   ret winButtons:  .db 00100000b      ;only displaying a close button  .dw 0              ;null pointer  .dw 0              ;another null pointer  .dw exitMyProg     ;we'll jump to exitMyProg when this button is clicked dat_end: Ax1_End:  .dw AXM_END .end

Unfortunately, this crashes! Is there any errors that should be fixed?

[kindermoumoute]

Thank to launch this project, I hope you will succeed !

[alberthrocks]

Thank to launch this project, I hope you will succeed !

Thanks kindermoumoute! Don't expect it to be fast though - it's going to be a tough thing to make (at least for me).

So, does anyone has any ideas why this is failing?
Also, if you think you're faster at making this all work, the code is licensed under GPL v3, so feel free to take it and work on it!

[alberthrocks]

Bumpity bumpity bump. Any fix for the crashing code above?

Also, this project is 100% open source (and free, obviously)! That means that this project is open for any collaboration, and I'd love to get some help for this Axiom. If you want to help out, hop right in!

[Munchor]

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call OpenGUIStack  push hl  call sub_Length  ex de,hl  pop hl  ld a,GUIRSmallWin    call PushGUIStack    ld hl,winButtons  ld de,dat_end-winButtons  ld a,GUIRWinButtons  call pushGUIStack  ld hl,0  call GUIMouse  ret

This seems like fully working to me. So, I have no idea of what the problem might me. Maybe ask for help at Cemetech too, they have some Assembly experts over there

[Munchor]

I may have an idea (Kerm Martian's actually).

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; OK, so let's first get stuff ready! (Open the GUI stack!)  call OpenGUIStack  ; Text is stored in HL already, no need to move it around!  ; Save hl!  push hl  ; Now find the length of the string arg!  call sub_Length  ; Copy it to the correct place...  ex de,hl  ; ...and bring back the string arg!  pop hl  ; Set window type!  ld a,GUIRSmallWin    ; Push the GUI!

When you call OpenGUIStack, it probably deletes what's in hl, so then you can't really push it.

[alberthrocks]

OK, I've (hopefully) fixed it! Unfortunately, I'm *really* busy atm, so I didn't have time to test.
From what you've said above, I've followed this logic:

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; Save hl!  push hl  ; Now find the length of the string arg!  call sub_Length

The argument is saved, and we call sub_Length to figure out the length of that string argument.
It gets pushed back to HL, so I pushed HL to a stack to save the argument.

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1 2	; Copy it to the correct place...  ex de,hl

I exchanged the new HL with DE, where it's supposed to go. Now the length is saved!

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1	call OpenGUIStack

Since we don't need HL anymore, we're can call it and let it destroy things!

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1 2	; ...and bring back the string arg!  pop hl

And of course, HL is save and sound.... right?

Hopefully that logic will work!
I've attached the compiled 8Xp - simply add #Axiom(DCSAXIOM) to your code, and then
use DrawL("hello world!") to test!

Beware that this may crash your calc, so please, please, PLEASE back up your stuff before proceeding.
Thanks to KermMartian for the tip!

EDIT: Silly me, forgot to actually attach something!
Also, you can view the entire code here:
http://code.google.com/p/axe-gui-libraries/source/browse/src/dcs7axiom/DCSAxiom.z80

EDIT 2: Apparently DE is also destroyed too (according to http://dcs.cemetech.net/index.php?title=OpenGUIStack), so I've added a push/pop de into the code and recompiled - hopefully this is the panacea to the crash? (Reattached program with changes)

[Munchor]

Very nice alberthrocks! I gotta check that and try and add CloseGUIStack.

[kindermoumoute]

Up ?

[DJ Omnimaga]

IN summary, this is an Axiom to use Doors CS GUI libraries and such things, right?

[alberthrocks]

Yup!
It's still a heavy WIP, but it will be ready soon!
Thank you guys for reminding me! It'll be a while before this takes off due to much projects and HW from school, and tests next week. I'm literally swamped to death... X_X

[DJ Omnimaga]

When do you finish school?