How to contribute for a computer like Oric & add a media type from HxC drive

[dvallet]

Hello,

Regular user of Oric, i wanted to know how to contribute to the tosec files for this computer.
I've a lot of files to implement on the database.

I intend also to catalog the .hfe files made for HxC floppy drive emulator (which works also for amstrad, amiga, st ..)
Do you think that the media information instead of disk should be :
  - hfe : which is the extension of the file
  - hxc : which is the name of the extension

I've made an attachement with the structure i intend to build.

Best regards, i like your job.
Didier

[PandMonium]

Hi Didier, welcome aboard!

Any help is appreciated around here. As far as I know, nobody is currently working on Tangerine Oric dats, the last person touching them was Cassiel (i think). If you wish and have the time, you can be the maintainer of such system and reorganize all of it.

If you're new to TOSEC or even dats/roms in general, my first suggestion would be to:
1) get a look at existing Oric dats in TOSEC - we only have three named "Various" holding everything unsorted
2) understand what TNC (tosec naming convention) is and get an idea on how it works - the convention standards used to name our files, where you should add all the relevant info
3) learn how to create datfiles - you can either edit the datfiles manually in a text editor (powerful but prone to mistakes) or simply rename the roms and zips and then use a tool to create datfiles based on folders content.


After you get over all this you are free to pick the datfiles we have and split them in new folders (categories) like you describe and rename the files. Create a first batch of dats and we will eventually check for mistakes (you can do it yourself too with our tool). The process is really just dat: reorganize the files in new dats and submit them to a future release.

As for your technical question about, I guess any of the two options would be acceptable. Do you think one is more correct than another (e.g. hfe)?

Please keep posting if you need any more information or help

[dvallet]

Ok, i'll try to review the Tangerine Oric dat files.
I'm using datworkspro and clrmamepro to modify/create the dat files.

1) get a look at existing Oric dats in TOSEC - we only have three named "Various" holding everything unsorted
DONE, i've all the roms from these 3 dats files.

2) understand what TNC (tosec naming convention) is and get an idea on how it works - the convention standards used to name our files, where you should add all the relevant info
YES, that's why i'm a fan of TOSEC DATs, the name convention is clear and complete

3) learn how to create datfiles - you can either edit the datfiles manually in a text editor (powerful but prone to mistakes) or simply rename the roms and zips and then use a tool to create datfiles based on folders content.
I've to acquire some experience about that.

[PandMonium]

Great!
Feel free to nag us around here for explanations or tips about the TNC or dat creation. We also have a tool that can be used later to validate the tnc names (in datfiles).

[Cassiel]

Hello dvallet and welcome to the TOSEC project!

We would be delighted to have you contribute. The Oric DATs have not received proper attention in a long time. My involvement in the past with Oric has simply been to try and keep them in line with any recent TNC changes (such as adding MD5/SHA-1 hashes, split by file type etc.) and adding some 'unsorted' images before they got lost.

In truth, the whole hierarchy needs redoing if you are enthusiastic to do this. 

Like PandMonium has said, the best way to proceed is to check the existing Oric images and rename/categorise them using the TNC. Then you can also start adding new images too.

Feel free to create DATs as you go along and share them for review. I find it easiest to rename the actual uncompressed files (in folders split by category) as I go along, then create the DAT in ClrMame Pro using Dat2Dir option. Please find the 'settings' file for CMP here: http://redsplinter.com/tosec/dir2dat.zip

Regarding HxC floppy drive emulator, can you please use [HFE] as this is the actual file format extension.

Later on I will also PM you a link for our 'TNC Dat Explorer' which you can open DAT files in, and browse the data somewhat. It also includes a build it 'checker' to spot any TNC/renaming errors. Please bear in mind this is an internal tool (for now), and should not be shared outside of the project.

If you have any questions then please feel free to ask, and feel free to share what you have done even if it is WIP so we can make sure you are going in the right direction and offer any advice. 

[dvallet]

Hello,

Thanks for the Dir2dat files.
It works fine. I'll continue to create my dat files then add some software.

I think it'll be better when i'll control the file names with your tool TNC DAt explorer

[dvallet]

Hello,

I'm working slowly but it advances ... i've named my files 0...9 and A.
B is on going

I hope i'll finish my first dat within a month

[PandMonium]

That's great news Be sure to test your renaming from time to time in order to check for errors and make sure you really understood all the TNC complexity (with the TDE app for examples )

[dvallet]

with the TDE app for examples )

Thanks, but i haven't find this. Where can i have the tde app to test my renaming choices.

[PandMonium]

check your pm then.

[dvallet]

Thanks a lot, it works fine.

I've a request to extend the field "system" in the tosec definition. I've put it in the good topic.

[dvallet]

Hello,

Just a report on my tangerine / oric dat.
WIP : 1343 files are scanned and named.

I'm sure i'll have more than 2000 files at the end of the project.

[PandMonium]

Those are great news! Hope you're getting used to TNC, any doubts you might have just post around.

[Cassiel]

If you want to send any WIP DATs for use to have a look at then please feel free...

[dvallet]

Now ... 1774 files are named but i've made a mistake in the order of the flags, i've to read them again.
This is my first dat test, and i'm not very confident with the date structure name.

As i've asked in the tosec naming creation, i think it's a good thing to add in the system flag :
Oric1
Atmos
Telestrat
Pravetz

to add an information if the software is specific to one of these computers.
It's very necessary for Oric1/Atmos specific files. Sometimes softs are compatible with Oric1, or Atmos, or both. It's similar with A500, A500+ ...


To resume, to improve my dat, i've some questions :

1/ what is the good definition of the header
2/ i really need to add the oric/tangerine family computers to the system flag (especially Oric1 and Atmos)

Thanks a lot for the feedbacks, i'll post more after correction of my flags and understanding the header definition.
Didier