In the beginning ....

Towards the end of the 1990's Thierry Peycru decided to experiment with the 1M INTEL flash chip. Using the existing 32K EPROM PCB and using dental moulds to make the physical card, he proved that the Z88 could be used to program the chip using a BBC BASIC program.

Although that program worked what was needed was a Z88 application, Gunther Strube volunteered to write this and the subsequent revisions of the BBC BASIC Flashstore.

Theirry's introduction read

Thanks for purchasing the 1M (1024K) or the NEW 512K RAM/Flash card. 

Now, you will have a lot of room to save your files. 
The Z88 erases the Flash card, you no longer need an EPROM Eraser.

• FAST ERASING - takes less than ten seconds to erase 1024K bytes.

• FAST SAVING - takes three seconds to save a 20K file.

• LOW POWER - takes a tenth of the power used by a standard EPROM.

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Flash Cards & EPROMS

Unlike RAM packs, FLASH CARDS AND EPROMS retain their memory even when power is removed. This makes them the ideal small file backup device for the Z88.

Individual files do not get deleted on their own. When you save the same file again to the card, the new file gets saved and the old file gets marked as deleted. It is still there taking up space and can be recovered. There is even an 'Erase file from Card' in FlashStore but again this only marks the file as deleted. The only way of removing files is by formatting the file area which removes all the files.
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Flashstore the application

The BBC BASIC Flashstore was then re-written and is now supplied as an Application. It is like the Filer (on the Z88) to save and fetch files.

This introduces a new concept for the Z88. In the past, applications used to be in a ROM and the files were stored on a separate EPROM. Flashstore splits the Flash card into two areas.

• The ROM area which the Z88 recognises, is where FlashStore and other applications are stored.
• The FILE area (the area that is left over) is where files are stored. This is the area that gets formatted (erased) when you want to clear the Flash card. Fortunately the Flash card can be erased in 64K sectors, allowing applications and files to be on the same device. Where the split is depends how many applications there are and where the 64K split line occurs. This FILE area is calculated by Flashstore when the Flash card is formatted and is displayed in the right-hand window.

Intel ceased making Flash EPROM chips in 2002. AMD produced similar chips, but these were obsoleted in around 2004. Gunther Strube re-wrote this program to add support for additional clone flash memory chips sold by other manufacturers, and added other features. The package size of the available chips also continues to shrink. Rakewell has continued to evolve the flash card design to make use of these.

As of 2018 SST was the prevalent flash chip type, but this caused some issues since it is not fully AMD AM29F compatible. Support was added by Martin Roberts and Gunther Strube to OZ 4.7.1, and to the in-development OZ 5.0, but this meant that it would not be possible to write to an SST card from a stock Z88 running the typical OZ 3.0. So a Z88 user that accidentally erased their SST flash card containing a newer OZ would be completely stranded unable re-program the card.

Fortunately in 2022 Patrick Moore backported and adapted the flash improvements from OZ 5.0 to the Z88 standard library, updating the device support for all of the flash memory tools running from any OZ version:

• FlashStore
• FlashTest
• RomCombiner
• RomUpdate

Rakewell supplies 1M and 512K flash cards, and also hybrid cards which combine 512K RAM and 512K flash. EPROMs

Flashstore is able to fetch files on EPROM packs in any slot. You should continue to use the Filer rather than Flashstore for all the other functions.
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ABOUT

The version number of the application is found by pressing the 

 key when in the main screen of Flashstore.
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Messages

All messages are factual i.e. they tell you what is happening. What they don't tell you is what you should do if you get an unusual message.
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File not found.

Usually caused by a spelling error. Use the interactive FILE AREA window to 'point & shoot screen' so that it picks up the correct name.
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Last file failed

Usually happens when the target file has no room to be saved.
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Messages you should not normally see

File not saved properly

File not saved properly - will be re-saved. Error. File was not marked as deleted.

This message indicates that the Flash card is not working correctly, usually because of a dirty card slot connector. If this message comes up a lot, please contact Rakewell so that we can check the card.
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File in Use

If this appears you have a file that has not been closed properly, usually by the Filer. You can clear this either by doing a soft-reset or PURGE in the INDEX.
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Disclaimer

We will not in any event be liable for any loss, including consequential loss, caused by any error, defect or inaccuracy in our hardware and software, including but not limited to loss of profit or
loss of contracts.
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FAQ

1. Do I need to format the Flash Card before I can start saving files to it? 
   No. You will notice that there are some files that have been included on the Flash Card that you may find useful. One of these files is this User Guide. Use the Catalogue files to see what there is.
2. Does the format only wipe out the text files? i.e. does formatting leave the 64K of applications untouched? 
   Only the File Area is formatted. Applications remain on the Flash card.
3. When I FETCH something from the Flash card, where am I fetching it to? 
   To the default RAM device as set on the Panel S or to the Default RAM device set by this application.
4. Is this the same as loading a file into Pipedream? i.e. I can FETCH my documents from the EPROM? 
   You need to use the RAM device as an intermediate device when either fetching or saving files.
5. Can I EXPORT files from the EPROM directly to my PC or do I have to load them into :RAM.0 or :RAM.1 first? 
   Yes, but only if you are using OZ 4.3 or Eazylink v5.1. Contact Rakewell for upgrade details.
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Design and contact details

Design Zlab - Thierry Peycru and Xavier Thomas
Software Zlab - Thierry Peycru
Interlogic - Gunther Strube
Production Rakewell Ltd - Vic and Gill Gerhardi, Tony Firshman

Rakewell Ltd Tel +44 (0) 1296 632491
E-mail: vic@rakewell.com
Web: http://www.rakewell.com/
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