Once upon a time Hewlett-Packard sold pocket calculators based on a proprietary "Nut" CPU.
This CPU worked in famous
HP-41C/CV/CX
and the "Voyager" series
(HP-10C,
-11C,
-12C,
-15C, and
-16C).
With the time the firmware of these machines leaked out what resulted in emulators,
simulations,
virtual remakes.
The firmware interpreter I publish herewith is a great grandchild of those, and in contrast to my feasibility study
NutEm on the mainframe it's now NutEm/PC with several enhancements
worth to mention.
The HP41 series is extensible by many plug in ROMs and devices.
ROMs add more firmware or additional software or both and run at once in this program.
Devices add some special hardware which needs to be simulated to work in a remake.
NutEm/PC comes with four devices, the Time Module, the
HP-82143A Printer (w/o graphic), the
Card Reader and "Blinky" IR Printer Module.
The later two are distributed separately.
My goal is not to be a better emulator than the well known
but to have a toy that serves as a simple aid for testing.
For some time now there exist other quite suitable simulations/emulators/virtual remakes
of those HP calculators prolonging their time of use.
Nonetheless I publish my NutEm/PC, may be someone else may find it practical too
to waste some time with it.
Simulations of CR and IR printer module are
distributed separately.
Install it
There is no automated installation procedure.
Unzip ooNUfip.ZIP to a directory named at will, a directory of its own or not, it's up to you.
Note:
Keep the organization of subdirectories, 'HTML' at least, otherwise you have plenty to trim
in the CFG files.
If you move 'HTML' or its content you even have to modify the program or hit F1 is of little help.
First Run and Subsequent Runs
Open ooNUfip.CFG first using a text-only editor of your choice and
if necessary adapt it to your installation.
For further explanations see comments therein or section
Config File in Detail.
In future do this step for modifications only.
To have a distinct CFG file for a different model I suggest to file it with a new name
you then use as argument when starting NutEm/PC.
NutEm/PC is a console application which displays some information, warnings
and trace output only on the console window.
"Real" errors will be shown in a dialogue in the middle of the screen.
If not interested in those informations of minor importance, you may prepare one or several
shortcut links which start NutEm/PC to your flavor without console window.
Start ooNUfip.rx either by
- open a command window in the directory where you installed NutEm/PC and
enter (without quotes) "ooNUfip" or "REXX ooNUfip.rx",
it depends on your choice of suffixes at installation of ooREXX,
- start the windows explorer, navigate to the directory where you installed NutEm/PC and
double-klick ooNUfip.rx or right-click it and select open
(alas drag-n-drop of a CFG file to the REXX program does not work),
- single-click a shortcut link you prepared before.
NutEm/PC optionally takes one argument and/or several options (one at a time).
More tailoring is done within an CFG file.
[REXX] ooNUfip[.rx] [CFG-fileID] [ #KEY]
- CFG-fileID
- a file-ID or name of a CFG file ('.CFG' will be appended if missing), default is 'ooNUfip.cfg'.
- KEY
- This option is obsolete in that it is now available interactively.
But I won't remove it to keep NutEm/PC backward compatible.
Separated by ' #' (blank and "Gartenzaun" = garden fence, croisillon) one single designation
representing a key that will be "held down at on time".
Meaningful for the Voyagers are one of ',./*-+'
(dot or comma to change the decimal separator, dash to get a reset, slash for a keyboard test,
the rest for single or endless self-testing).
'BA' (back arrow) induces a complete reset (MEMORY LOST) of HP41.
With a PANAME ROM plugged one of '.,AKMTV' are also operatively,
see Appendice ON of its manual.
For subsequent runs you don't need to edit CFG files unless you like to change something.
Config File in Detail
The manifoldly features that make up an emulated calculator are too much to be handled as arguments.
NutEm/PC reads a "config file" that determines all aspects of a session, or run (younameit).
The details:
- File-ID
- Filename and -type at will, but if type is .CFG filename is sufficing as argument for NutEm/PC.
- Content
- The .CFG file may contain comments, blank lines, section headers, keywords, and assignments.
- Comments
- a semicolon, ';' (w/o quotes), and all to the right of it in its line is ignored.
It has no effect on subsequent lines.
- Blank lines
- Blank lines are ignored.
- Section headers
- Section headers are set in squared brackets.
These are:
- [MODEL]
- This section must contain one of the keywords
HP41
10C
11C
12C
15C or
16C to define, which calculator model to emulate.
- [RAM]
- One single entry only:
fileID of RAM file, possible with path or location and path, filetype at will, .RAM proposed.
- [ROM]
- List of ROM fileIDs, prefixed by page (hex) and primary/secondary tag
and arbitrary "chipID" for same-time bank-switched ROMs.
HP41 ROM files are copies of single 4k pages, either for primary bank (tag 0)
or secondary bank (tag 1).
In contrast, ROMs of the Voyagers are in one file each.
About the ROM file format see here.
The "chipID" groups ROMs which are bank-switched together.
An example:
[ROM]
;page p/s cID fID
0 0 .\Coconut\hpcx0.MClst
1 0 .\Coconut\hpcx1.MClst
2 0 .\Coconut\hpcx2.MClst
3 0 CX .\Coconut\hpcx3.MClst
;4 0 .\Coconut\service.MClst
5 0 CX .\Coconut\hpcx5.MClst
5 1 CX .\Coconut\hpcx5sec.MClst ; bank 2
6 0 .\Coconut\pr1e.MClst
8 0 ADV .\Coconut\adv1.MClst
9 0 ADV .\Coconut\adv2.MClst
9 1 ADV .\Coconut\adv2sec.MClst ; bank 2
A 0 .\Coconut\voranoge.MClst ; use only on a 41CX
B 0 .\Coconut\rbx1b.MClst
C 0 .\Coconut\ppc10.MClst
D 0 .\Coconut\ppc20.MClst
E 0 .\Coconut\crdr1g.MClst
F 0 .\Coconut\zen.MClst
Example for a Voyager:
[ROM]
* * .\Voyagers\hp10c.MClst
- [PERIP]
- List of additional peripherals (HP41 only).
This section is "deprecated" as all peripherals are guessed self-acting by their ROMs when included.
Could be used to override automatism.
Possible keywords (each on a new line): TIME, HPIL, THPR (thermal printer), and BLKY (IR printer module).
- [INI]
- Few assignments in the format 'separator-name-separator-value', each on a new line.
Separators may be any single character not present neither in name nor value.
Recognized names and their possible values are:
DECSEP – . | , — decimal separator for 'Copy complete X-register',
default is comma (Voyagers only, on HP41 flag 28 is relevant).
PSS – ((numeric value)) — seconds to show "splash screen" at start-up.
Default delay is 1.6 seconds what may be waaaay too long.
TYTRA – TRACE | FULLTRACE — get a simple firware trace
or get one with CPU registers included.
Example:
[INI]
/tytra/TRACE ; Display commands on CRT
;/tytra/FULLTRACE ; Display commands on CRT, also CPU registers
/decsep/.
/pss/0
- [MNL]
- Reference to manuals in system menu by assignments (format same as in section [INI]).
If nothing is set the system menu will show a link to
literature.hpcalc.org to lookup the manual in question there.
Recognized names (set one or none) and their possible values are:
ALLIN – ((subdir)) — will show one item in system menu, that opens a
Windows explorer at 'subdir'.
This option is handy if there are more formats than PDF to lookup.
SHOSOM – ((subdir)) — will show up to six items in system menu,
which reference associated PDFs found in 'subdir' – associated by means of
the first number in a PDF's filename, it must match the number in calculator's designation.
Example:
[MNL]
/shosom/.\mnl
- [BLKY]
- HP41 only, ooNUreFIP.rex only, that is 'fork 2' of NutEm/PC
('fork 1', or ooNUfip.rx, lacks the IR printer module simulation).
Few assignments to define where to find the IR printer simulation and how to connect it.
Dedicated HP82240B printer simulation
may be started automatically but will not be closed self-acting at session end.
The example ought to be obvious enough:
[BLKY] ; connectivity of IR printer module
/port/5025
/dip/127.0.0.1
/IrPrIPa/C:\PRGM\HP-Emulators\HP82240B ; IR Printer Installation Path
Connectivity
NutEm/PC is currently not equipped to simulate HP-IL and link to Virtual IL.
The only connectivity is necessary when the IR printer module is in use.
The corresponding settings in .CFG file are shown in section above.
Controls of this program
Keys: F1 - show this help file (if your PC affiliated suffix HTM with a browser),
F2 - displays the About information,
F10 - activate menu (HP41 only),
Shift+F10 - (also Shift+M) activate menu (Voyagers only),
Ctrl+C - copy display to clipboard,
Ctrl+X - copy X-register full precision clipboard,
Ctrl+V - use clipboard content as input (see note 3),
Backspace = Back Arrow,
Pause = Enter,
End = R/S,
Return - hit the selected button,
Esc - ends the program,
Underscores in the button's caption denote which key will press it (see note 1).
Buttons: Same as role model.
System Menu: Underscored letters indicate which key will launch an option
Quit w/o saving RAM - ends NutEm/PC keeping RAM of previous session
Reset Nut cycles counter - zeroes CPU count
Show program... - displays user program (see note 2)
Copy figure as displayed - copy display to clipboard
Copy complete X-register - copy X-register full precision clipboard
Paste number to X-register - use clipboard content as input (note 3)
Sho BS image... - show reverse side of role model (note 4)
1 - Mnl_1.PDF \
2 - Mnl_2.PDF - manuals found in directory set in .CFG file,
3 - Mnl 3.PDF /
or - Related Manuals... - show directory as set in .CFG file,
or - Manuals online... - show https://literature.hpcalc.org
More details... - same as F1 (see note 5)
About... - guess what...
Notes:
- The buttons' caption change according the shift status and with it the acceleration keys.
On HP41 shift and alpha is relevant, on Voyagers it is f-shift, g-shift, user mode.
- This menu item is only available for Voyagers, to list programs on an HP41 use a printer.
- The number from clipboard is interpreted to detect thousand's separators, comma, sign and exponent.
What may not belong to the figure will be missed silently.
This fuzzy logic is not perfect, so use with caution.
An HP41 in alpha mode will put it as text to the alpha register, characters will be uppercased.
(A ZEN ROM may disturb this process.)
- This menu item requires suffix .GIF to be linked with a viewer (if none available a browser might do).
- This menu item requires suffix .HTM to be linked with a browser.
Mighty Mouse
Besides the easy handling by keyboard or mouse the later offers two additional options:
- For the HP41 hit-n-hold is an important element of the man-machine-interface.
For most keys (ON is one of the exceptions) keeping a key held down it first shows the function it will execute,
and, if still held down for a moment, NULL will be displayed to indicate, you may release the key now
with no further action than NULL disappearing.
The Voyager models offer hit-n-hold for few keys only to allow a prolonged readout, e. g. 'View Mantissa' (Clr Pref)
or MEM (storage status).
- {ON+key} is a gesture for rarely used features like changing the decimal separator on Voyagers
or reset HP41 to factory-set. This option is available if the simulated machine is off, if the Ctrl key is held down,
with a right mouse click (if reversed 'the other right') to the calculator's button in question.
(Paname ROM is respected.)
About The ROMs
For a first try this NutEm/PC comes bundled with few ROMs, including a CX enabled to display lower case letters
(a pacht from Jean-François Garnier).
More to find
- for HP41
- within V41 and
here and
there, and if still not enough
more here;
- for the Voyagers
- here and
there, see also
on this pen drive.
NutEm/PC uses ROMs in a "human readable" format as shown above,
columns 1..4 address,
column 5 blank or a colon,
columns 6..8 command,
address and command values in hex.
If comments follow they may start minimum at column 10, separated from commands by one or more blanks.
So ZEN ROM decoder print-out will do.
The ROMs that come with NutEm/PC bundle are
unchanged for HP41,
patched for Voyagers to fix a
stack-lift bug
in HP-11C and -16C.
In addition you may apply a pause patch to get – regardless the speed of your PC –
a 1.2 seconds delay for PSE, MEM, and View Mant (by ClrPref).
To do so replace the C=C-1 X in the delay loop by 1F0, an invalid opcode.
Following an example for the HP11C, similar at different spots for the others.
original: patched:
0D11 046 C=0 X 0D11 046 C=0 X
0D12 21C PT= 2 0D12 21C PT= 2
0D13 210 LC 8 0D13 210 LC 8
0D14 266 C=C-1 X 0D14 1F0 ** loop patch **
0D15 3FB JNC -01 0D14 0D15 3FB JNC -01 0D14
The Time Chip Simulation
The way the TIME CHIP test of service ROM comes to TIME IC OK is a little bamboozlement.
With a service ROM 2A in place I do similar reversing like VW and other cars who change
motor regulation as soon as they detect to run under test conditions
– what is by far more than just a dirty trick.
My reasoning is, when executed in a simulation Nut CPU commands all take different period of time
due to their complexity and implementation, moreover the simulation runs on a multitasking
system with its typical uncertainty.
So it is quite impossible to have the simulated time chip in sync with the wall clock time of the host-PC.
Consequently I use the virtual Nut CPU as time standard, 64 command cycles (word time) take 1/100th second,
no matter how long this lasts.
By that the very pernickety service ROM passes all tests and shows TIME IC OK after all.
Neither test content nor addresses are stored within the time chip simulation,
otherwise I could fake the test entirely by jumping to the wanted result at once.
Without service ROM, time and date of the host-PC are master, what makes SETIME and SETDATE of virtual HP41 useless.
Features, Constraints, Known Bugs
- Features worth to mention:
- Hit-n-hold — the important element of the user interface,
functional when using the mouse to operate the calculator
(if you prefer to handle by key board you probably like it speedy,
hence no hit-n-hold at this),
{ON+key} available by Ctrl + right mouse button,
key captions changing with shift status,
fuzzy logic for pasting numbers,
41's beeper someway imitates the role model only
but at least you are warned when typing the 24th character in alpha,
executing TIME CHIP test of service ROM 2A shows "TIME IC OK" - hooray!
Time with SW (stop watch) and alarms — accurate to a fifths of a second
(that is the pace maker's watch frequency at idle time),
HP41 with 82143A printer – translating 'synthetics' to human readable,
eg. RCL M in place of RCL [ like the role model,
CR shows file types in lists of LIF disk dumps,
CR quickens handling of long lists by enhanced keyboard control,
Voyager program listings shown with ZENROM style mnemonics,
Voyager's display may blink, now also under this emulation,
display of CPU count, resettable in system menu,
trace log shows display changes and read values of RDROM what simplifies to locate code sections,
in trace log POWOFF is shown as two byte command,
modification of setup with ease using the text editor of your choice.
- Constraints, missing, annoying:
- The surface looks nasty — by design, to make it distinguishably different (nevertheless
NutEm/PC is an emulator of the CPU-simulating kind),
moreover, a photo-realistic skin enforces also a display looking real beyond reproach,
no graphic on 82143A printer — use my
oo82162A IL2IR bridge, works best with
V41,
no HP-IL for now — instead use
Emu41 or
V41,
NutEm/PC is distinctly faster than the originals — albeit about 1600 times slower than
the PC versions from HP (find 12C and 15C with others in
this package).
- Bugs:
- Not all bugs are fixed, two showed only once and never again, so they could bite once more.
Another one bites at fast scrolling (using the mouse wheel) a list of LIF disk dumps.
I should implement a throttle to limit new requests for time-consuming evaluation of LIF disks.
So you are warned, do not use NutEm/PC for serious work, don't even think about it.
I programmed it only to get some insight and nice trace logs, nothing else.
Manuals of The Role Models
NutEm/PC links in the system menu to related manuals.
Options may be set in three ways, for details see CFG file section [MNL].
- Amass all kind of files you like within quick reach in one directory.
A single menu point in system menu will show it in Windows explorer.
This option is favourable if there is more you need than just PDFs,
e. g. the "HP-41 Quick Ref, Card for Synthetic Programming.GIF" or .JPEG or whatsoever.
- Collect all relevant PDF manuals related to machines NutEm/PC emulates in one directory.
The first number in the filenames must match the model number,
e. g. for "HP11C USR MNL Rel 15-12-85.PDF" it is the '11'.
Up to six PDFs belonging to the actually emulated calculator will be linked directly in the system menu.
- Choosing none of the a. m. options the menu point 'Manual...' links to
literature.hpcalc.org where the manual(s) in question may be found.
In addition to this site following some more references.
If no PDF is referenced directly it's a format to read online (download possible).
- HP41
- HP-41CV Owner's Handbook and Programming Guide
HP-41CX Quick Reference Guide
In case you like to know more there is a torrent about
almost all HP41.
- Voyager
- HP-10C Owner's Handbook
HP-11C Owner's Handbook and Problem Solving Guide (PDF, 11 MB)
HP-12C Financial Calculator User's Guide (PDF, 2.1 MB)
HP-15C Owner's Handbook (PDF, 6.5 MB)
HP-16C Computer Scientist Owner's Handbook (PDF, 2 MB)
The fine print
(i) Do not use this program.
(ii) Any damage you cause with this program, intentional or by chance, is a violation of clause (i). Thus all consequences are completely at your own risk.
(iii) If you manage to improve this program you have to inform me as stipulated in following THE Q PUBLIC LICENSE (QPL).
(iv) In addition applies the QPL below:
THE Q PUBLIC LICENSE version 1.0
Copyright (C) 1999 Trolltech AS, Norway.
Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute this license document.
The intent of this license is to establish freedom to share and change the software regulated by this license under the open source model.
This license applies to any software containing a notice placed by the copyright holder saying that it may be distributed under the terms of the Q Public License version 1.0. Such software is herein referred to as the Software. This license covers modification and distribution of the Software, use of third-party application programs based on the Software, and development of free software which uses the Software.
Granted Rights
- You are granted the non-exclusive rights set forth in this license provided you agree to and comply with any and all conditions in this license. Whole or partial distribution of the Software, or software items that link with the Software, in any form signifies acceptance of this license.
- You may copy and distribute the Software in unmodified form provided that the entire package, including - but not restricted to - copyright, trademark notices and disclaimers, as released by the initial developer of the Software, is distributed.
- You may make modifications to the Software and distribute your modifications, in a form that is separate from the Software, such as patches. The following restrictions apply to modifications:
a. Modifications must not alter or remove any copyright notices in the Software.
b. When modifications to the Software are released under this license, a non-exclusive royalty-free right is granted to the initial developer of the Software to distribute your modification in future versions of the Software provided such versions remain available under these terms in addition to any other license(s) of the initial developer.
- You may distribute machine-executable forms of the Software or machine-executable forms of modified versions of the Software, provided that you meet these restrictions:
a. You must include this license document in the distribution.
b. You must ensure that all recipients of the machine-executable forms are also able to receive the complete machine-readable source code to the distributed Software, including all modifications, without any charge beyond the costs of data transfer, and place prominent notices in the distribution explaining this.
c. You must ensure that all modifications included in the machine-executable forms are available under the terms of this license.
- You may use the original or modified versions of the Software to compile, link and run application programs legally developed by you or by others.
- You may develop application programs, reusable components and other software items that link with the original or modified versions of the Software. These items, when distributed, are subject to the following requirements:
a. You must ensure that all recipients of machine-executable forms of these items are also able to receive and use the complete machine-readable source code to the items without any charge beyond the costs of data transfer.
b. You must explicitly license all recipients of your items to use and re-distribute original and modified versions of the items in both machine-executable and source code forms. The recipients must be able to do so without any charges whatsoever, and they must be able to re-distribute to anyone they choose.
c. If the items are not available to the general public, and the initial developer of the Software requests a copy of the items, then you must supply one.
Limitations of Liability
In no event shall the initial developers or copyright holders be liable for any damages whatsoever, including - but not restricted to - lost revenue or profits or other direct, indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages, even if they have been advised of the possibility of such damages, except to the extent invariable law, if any, provides otherwise.
No Warranty
The Software and this license document are provided AS IS with NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING THE WARRANTY OF DESIGN, MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
Choice of Law
This license is governed by the Laws of England (if not yet part of Spanish East Indies)
