BBC Connect ----------- The BBC Connect project is a freeware BBC and Electron emulator front-end for Windows available at ninsei.emuunlim.com. BBC Connect supports: * BeebEm, B-Em and PcBBC - the BBC Micro emulators. * ElectrEm - the Electron emulator. BBC Connect provides a graphical interface (1024 x 768 optimised) to a user managed software database, enabling: * input and editing. * scrolling access. * sort by title and publisher. * selection and execution. * access to the BBC Microcomputer User Guide's complete Basic Keyword system. * access to all major disk image file standards. * direct access to Internet archived disk images. * automatic downloadable Internet database. Version 2.2 * Service release dealing with XP patches issues. * B-Em properties bug removed. Version 2.1 Database: * Internet database supports Stairway to Hell disk, tape and "collection" archives. * Automatic check for updated Internet database and option to download. * Bug in create new database routine removed. Version 2.0 Tested and supports Win98, Win2000 and Win XP. File system: * Support for B-Em. * Internet connectivity routines recoded. * Option to save downloaded disk images. * BeebEm loads disk0.ssd as default disk image. * bbc.ini file access recoded. Database * 8 Bit Software archives database updates. * Stairway to Hell archive database updates. * Option to check for updated Internet database and download. * Grid selection is optimised, includes Publisher and Software Title only. Genre is phased out. Version 1.92 File system: * Internet links to: - 8 Bit Software archives. - Stairway to Hell archives - 1480+ disk images. Version 1.9 File system: * Internet connectivity. * A common access interface established for local and Internet based data. * Internet links to: - 8 Bit Software archives (thanks to Chris). - BBC Lives! archives (thanks to Robert). - Dave's Emulator Page archives (thanks to Dave). - Only the Best BBC Software archives. - Stairway to Hell archives (thanks to Dave). * Debugged routines for processing various disk image formats. Version 1.8 File system: *Developmental Internet access - basic URL and File menu. A common access interface will be explored from BBC Connect 1.9 onwards. Significantly, any Web site may be accessed through HTTP. Thanks to Robert at BBC Lives! for his contribution. * Zipped "standard archive" (see BBC Lives!) file format is processed for BBC emulators. Note, a number of files do not comply with any apparent standards within this archive. * Directory view (catalogue) of 31 and 62 file .BBC, .DSD, .IMG and .SSD disk images (option to view in-game and scanned box images remains as default). * Option to rename disk titles. * Option to modify *OPT4 settings. Desktop: * User interface updated. Version 1.7 File system: In addition to the .SSD and .UEF file formats * .BBC file format is recognised on pcBBC. * .DSD file format is recognised on BBC emulators. * .IMG file format is recognised on BBC emulators, option to save updates on non-zipped (see below) disk image exit. * .ZIP file decompression is implemented for .BBC, .DSD, .IMG and .SSD. * Option to create 200Kb .IMG files for read & write. Version 1.6 Startup: initialisation sequence recoded. Help system: development continued. Version 1.5 (unreleased) Desktop: redesigned and optimised. Help system: restructured and re-edited. File system: JPEG and GIF files recognised. Database: option to save sorted data on exit. New record: option on desktop instead of the Edit window. Version 1.4 Includes a version of the BBC Microcomputer User Guide's Basic Keywords, accessible through Help. Version 1.3 Supports ElectrEm and the UEF format. Debugged and streamlined database management system. Expanded help file. Version 1.2 A unified file set for Win98 and Win2000. The project remains untested on other Windows platforms. Reduced setup file. Version 1.1 The first public release of BBC Connect.  A graphical interface (1024 x 768 optimised) to a user managed software database, enabling: * input and editing * scrolling access * sort by title, genre and publisher * selection and execution Supports BeebEm and pcBBC. Separate installation versions for Win98 and Win2000. See the BBC Connect Help for further information. Helpful comments and suggestions can be emailed to: ninsei0@hotmail.com Legal stuff ----------- You need to read the following statement prior to installing BBC Connect: "Whilst BBC Connect is freeware, no warranties are issued or implied. If you choose to install and test BBC Connect you do so at your own risk knowing that it is a free evaluation demonstration only. The BBC Connect project is not associated with Acorn Computers or the BBC Corporation. Installing BBC Connect assumes you have read and agree with this statement." WIP --- See http://ninsei.emuunlim.com/wip.html FAQ --- Q1. When I try to run this program I get the following error.- Run-time error '339' Component 'MSFLXGRD.OCX' or one of its dependencies not correctly registered: a file is missing or invalid. A1. Download http://ninsei.emuunlim.com/downloads/sys-files.zip Unzip and read Readme2.txt for instructions. Q2. Where can I download the latest VB6 Run-time libraries? A2. These are available for distribution at http://ninsei.emuunlim.com/downloads/vbrun60sp5.exe Q3. When I try to run BBC Connect I get the error message: "Run-time error '429. ActiveX component can't create object" Is there a solution? A3. This uncommon issue may relate to the need to register dao350.dll on some PCs. To register dao350.dll go to Start - Run and type: 'RegSvr32 C:\progra~1\common~1\micros~1\dao\dao350.dll' If this fails, check to see if C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\DAO contains the following files dao350.dll dao35.hlp dao35.cnt dao35.aw If not download http://ninsei.emuunlim.com/downloads/dao350.zip and unzip then read the dao350readme.txt. Q4. Why does BBC Connect not look right on my 1600 x 1200 resolution screen with fonts at 200%? A4. BBC Connect is optimised to work at 1024 x 768 resolution. However, BBC Connect will function at screen resolutions of 1400 x 1050 with small fonts. Q5. How can I make disk0.ssd the default disk image in BeebEm? A5. See the help file section on setting up BeebEm for details. Enjoy! © Brian Jones 2001, 2002