Chapter 2 CD emulation operating procedure

This chapter explains the operating procedures for the following three types of emulation models.
The operating procedures are almost the same, but the files required to run emulation are different. These files are generated by the emulation preprocessor.

●“Direct DOS file access”

A collection of data files before becoming a CD image and a CD configuration information file are required.
This CD configuration information file is generated using the CD builder XBLD from a script file. This is explained in Section 2.1.

●“Real-time emulation”

Prepare a file that contains the CD image as is.
This CD image file is generated using the CD builder XBLD from a script file. This is explained in Section 2.2.

●“CD image partial update”

A CD image file, MS-DOS file of the modified part, and update information file are required.
Create an update information file using the CD image partial update tool VCDUTL .
The parameters when running emulation are also different. This is explained in Section 2.3.

Figure-3. Outline of operating procedure

2.1 When emulating as an MS-DOS file

This section explains the operating procedure for "Direct DOS File Access".

[Step 0]

If a file with the project name as the body and the extension "DSK" exists, delete that file.
If this file exists, "Direct DOS file access" will not work. This file was generated when we previously performed "Real-time emulation" in the next section.

[Example 0]

C:\> DEL△TSTGAME.DSK[ENTER]
    ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾

[Step 1]

Decide on a project name.
It is used as the body part of the file name of MS-DOS files. Please follow the MS-DOS file conventions.

[Example 1] TSTGAME

The explanation in this chapter uses "TSTGAME".

[Step 2]

Create a script file.
The script file specifies the data arrangement on the CD to be created.
How to write the script is explained in the "CD Builder User's Manual" .
The file name of the script file should be the project name with the extension "SCR" added.

[Example 2] TSTGAME.SCR

[Step 3]

Start CD Builder (XBLD.EXE) with the "-p" option.
When you enter the command as shown in the example, CD Builder (XBLD.EXE) starts and creates the files necessary for emulation.

[Example 3]

C:\> XBLD△-p△TSTGAME[ENTER]
    ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾

[Result 3]
A PVD file that stores CD volume descriptor information and an RTI file that describes CD configuration information are created.

• PVD file: TSTGAME.PVD
• RTI file: TSTGAME.RTI

[Step 4]

Set to English environment.
The virtual CD emulator does not work in Japanese mode, so set the display to English mode. Type the following command line:

C:\> CHEV△US[ENTER]
    ‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾

[Result 4]
If you are in Japanese mode, the screen will flash and a prompt will appear at the top of the screen.

[Step 5]

Start the virtual CD emulator (VCDEMU.EXE).
By entering the command as in the example, the virtual CD emulator will start and perform "direct DOS access" operation.

[Example 5]

C:\> VCDEMU△TSTGAME[ENTER]
    ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾

[Result 5]
The initial screen of the virtual CD emulator will be displayed.
Virtual CD emulator is running.

[Step 6]

Start the operation from the target box.
Commands received from the target box, data transfer status, error messages, etc. are displayed on the virtual CD emulator screen. Please refer to Chapter 3 for the display contents.

2.2 When creating a CD image

This chapter explains the operating procedure for "Real-time emulation".
If you are already using "Direct DOS File Access", start from step 3.
If you have not done so, please perform steps 1 and 2 in the previous section.

[Step 3]

Start CD Builder (XBLD.EXE) with the "-r" option.
When you enter the command as shown in the example, CD Builder (XBLD.EXE) starts and creates the files necessary for emulation.

[Example 3]

C:\> XBLD△-r△TSTGAME
    ‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾

[Result 3]
DSK file that stores the CD image and
An RTI file is created that describes the CD configuration information.

• DSK file: TSTGAME.DSK
• RTI file: TSTGAME.RTI

Execute steps 4 to 6 in the previous section to perform emulation.

2.3 When updating part of the CD image

This chapter explains the operating procedure for "CD image partial update".
This can be used if you are already using "real-time emulation".
Pre-processing for "real-time emulation" must be performed and a file with the extension "DSK" must be generated. Perform steps 1 to 3 in the previous section.

[Step 4]

Start the CD image partial update tool (VCDUTL.EXE) with the "-f" option.
When you enter the command as shown in the example, the CD Image Partial Update Tool (VCDUTL.EXE) starts and creates the files necessary for emulation.
If this preprocessing is performed without the "-f" option, only files for "real-time emulation" will be generated (modified). In this case, perform "real-time emulation" from step 4 in the previous section.

[Example 4]

C:\> VCDUTL△TSTGAME△ISOFILE.DDD△DOSFILE.D01
    ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
    DOSFILE.D02△-f△TSTGAME.PAT[ENTER]
    ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾

This example shows how to replace the DOS file DOSFILE.D01 in the data files that make up the ISO9660 file ISOFILE.DDD in the CD image generated by TSTGAME with the DOS file DOSFILE.D02.

[Result 4]
Update information file: TESTGAME.PAT will be generated.

There are no rules for the file name of update information files.

[Step 5]

Set to English environment. (Refer to the previous two items)

[Step 6]

Start the virtual CD emulator (VCDEMU.EXE) with the "-u" option.
If you enter the command as in the example, the virtual CD emulator will start and perform the "partial CD image update" operation.

[Example 6]

C:\> VCDEMU△TSTGAME△-u△DOSGAME.PAT[ENTER]
    ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾ ‾

[Result 6]
The initial screen of the virtual CD emulator will be displayed.
Virtual CD emulator is running.

[Step 7]

After this state, start operations from the target box.
(Refer to the previous two items)