Calling another program from a compiled Amos program...?

andyr · 23 October 2004, 23:34

I've discovered some old stuff I was working on with AMOS years ago and have now updated it - you honestly can't tell it's an Amos program!

Anyways, the whole things consists of 4 different programs which are loaded when required...

Intro
Main Menu
Highscore display
The main game

Each one runs great through amos and on their own when compiled - except I can't call one compiled program from another compiled one which, as you can probably guess, is a bit of a pain. I also can't call an amos program from a compiled program. I include all the amos libraries in the compilation.

I can't hold all 4 programs in memory and I can't merge them into one because it simply becomes too big (and I'm loading graphics and sound as and when needed - they are not stored with the programs)

Does anyone know a way around this? I've been told it's a good game and I plan to stick it on the internet for all to download but I don't want to end up cutting out effects, options, graphics and audio (in effect a crippled program) just so the whole will fit into memory and around the limitations of AMOS.

Hope all that made sense!!!

redblade · 24 October 2004, 09:25

do you need to copy data from one program to the other ???, ie say you set options in the "main menu". And you need these options in the "main game", i'm guessing you do?

If you do, you could try saving the data in a file in Ram:, and then reading the file in the next program.

But if you need to just execute the program, in dos.library I think there is _LVOExecute, and it executes the program.

But I guess this could be a problem as the origional may still be open and running when you execute the new program.

If this is the case, the new program could therefore send a port back to the first program that is running and it will then close.

I think UFO enemy unknown, works the way you want your program does. I hope some of this info maybe useful. I've never touched AMOS, just Assembler, and a bit of C, dropped E/Blitz Basic

andyr · 24 October 2004, 22:00

Thanks for your reply.

I've now got the intro, the main menu and highscore display programs merged but there's no way I can merge this program and the main game program - it's much to big!

All communication between the menu and the game is done by saving an small options file (.inf) on the disk and a which game to load file (I've used a slots system so this file is only 1 digit in length and is saved as an indicator in ram. If the file doesn't exist or equals 0 then a new game is required). Also, the high scores are saved as a simple text file on the disk.

Now, all I need to do is boot with the intro/menu program (which it does with no problems) and this program has to call the main game (which I can't get it to do at all!). When the game is finished it needs to call the intro/menu program.

I've done this before but then I used the RAMOS system. This was basically a disk that contained all the amos libraries but no editor. When booted it automatically loads and runs a program, interpreting it on the fly. You take quite a speed hit in doing this though and this program I'm working on now needs all the speed I can get! Also a RAMOS disk uses amos 1.3 and I'm using specific 2.x procedures.

Re: AMOS - I got into amos quite by accident. I'd only dabbled a little before with Amstrad CPC basic. Then Amos 1.3 came free with Amiga Format and I thought I'd give it a try. It was very similar in the way it worked to the Amstrad and I just simply became hooked. It's quite surprising what you can do with it with a bit of ingenuity and it's actually a real challenge. Also, a compiled Amos program runs rather fast!

I even wrote a windowing system that works great and more importantly damn fast! It was just a proof of concept because I was bet it couldn't be done! Here's a couple of screen shots of it...

http://www.andysplace.fsnet.co.uk/Wa...here/index.htm

I learnt a lot from this program about things like stacks, timers, interrupts and priorities. I've implemented the windows system in a new program I've started...

Why waste time doing this though? Well, for me it's a great way to while away a couple of hours making Amos do things it isn't supposed to be able to do!

redblade · 24 October 2004, 23:47

you windows os looks quite nice =].

hmm are you sure you want to put the two games in a AmigaDOS script.

and then put a loop on them ? but if a file exists then break the loop and exit back to dos.

Sorry Can't really help to much.

23 October 2004, 23:34	#1
andyr Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 97	Calling another program from a compiled Amos program...? I've discovered some old stuff I was working on with AMOS years ago and have now updated it - you honestly can't tell it's an Amos program! Anyways, the whole things consists of 4 different programs which are loaded when required... Intro Main Menu Highscore display The main game Each one runs great through amos and on their own when compiled - except I can't call one compiled program from another compiled one which, as you can probably guess, is a bit of a pain. I also can't call an amos program from a compiled program. I include all the amos libraries in the compilation. I can't hold all 4 programs in memory and I can't merge them into one because it simply becomes too big (and I'm loading graphics and sound as and when needed - they are not stored with the programs) Does anyone know a way around this? I've been told it's a good game and I plan to stick it on the internet for all to download but I don't want to end up cutting out effects, options, graphics and audio (in effect a crippled program) just so the whole will fit into memory and around the limitations of AMOS. Hope all that made sense!!!

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24 October 2004, 09:25	#2
redblade Zone Friend Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Middle Earth Age: 40 Posts: 2,127	do you need to copy data from one program to the other ???, ie say you set options in the "main menu". And you need these options in the "main game", i'm guessing you do? If you do, you could try saving the data in a file in Ram:, and then reading the file in the next program. But if you need to just execute the program, in dos.library I think there is _LVOExecute, and it executes the program. But I guess this could be a problem as the origional may still be open and running when you execute the new program. If this is the case, the new program could therefore send a port back to the first program that is running and it will then close. I think UFO enemy unknown, works the way you want your program does. I hope some of this info maybe useful. I've never touched AMOS, just Assembler, and a bit of C, dropped E/Blitz Basic

24 October 2004, 22:00	#3
andyr Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Manchester, UK Posts: 97	Thanks for your reply. I've now got the intro, the main menu and highscore display programs merged but there's no way I can merge this program and the main game program - it's much to big! All communication between the menu and the game is done by saving an small options file (.inf) on the disk and a which game to load file (I've used a slots system so this file is only 1 digit in length and is saved as an indicator in ram. If the file doesn't exist or equals 0 then a new game is required). Also, the high scores are saved as a simple text file on the disk. Now, all I need to do is boot with the intro/menu program (which it does with no problems) and this program has to call the main game (which I can't get it to do at all!). When the game is finished it needs to call the intro/menu program. I've done this before but then I used the RAMOS system. This was basically a disk that contained all the amos libraries but no editor. When booted it automatically loads and runs a program, interpreting it on the fly. You take quite a speed hit in doing this though and this program I'm working on now needs all the speed I can get! Also a RAMOS disk uses amos 1.3 and I'm using specific 2.x procedures. Re: AMOS - I got into amos quite by accident. I'd only dabbled a little before with Amstrad CPC basic. Then Amos 1.3 came free with Amiga Format and I thought I'd give it a try. It was very similar in the way it worked to the Amstrad and I just simply became hooked. It's quite surprising what you can do with it with a bit of ingenuity and it's actually a real challenge. Also, a compiled Amos program runs rather fast! I even wrote a windowing system that works great and more importantly damn fast! It was just a proof of concept because I was bet it couldn't be done! Here's a couple of screen shots of it... http://www.andysplace.fsnet.co.uk/Wa...here/index.htm I learnt a lot from this program about things like stacks, timers, interrupts and priorities. I've implemented the windows system in a new program I've started... Why waste time doing this though? Well, for me it's a great way to while away a couple of hours making Amos do things it isn't supposed to be able to do!

24 October 2004, 23:47	#4
redblade Zone Friend Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Middle Earth Age: 40 Posts: 2,127	you windows os looks quite nice =]. hmm are you sure you want to put the two games in a AmigaDOS script. and then put a loop on them ? but if a file exists then break the loop and exit back to dos. Sorry Can't really help to much.

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