[SOLVED] Files on the Amiga

[chobani]

When I try and do basic file operations on the Amiga, I get the result file not found. Is there any notation, folder mapping, no file extensions, or case sensitivity I need to know about?  I can compile fine and run on all the other targets, hopefully I just need to know something basic.

I'm not using any kind of folder structure, all the files live in the same directory. Thank you!

Just something like this:

Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]

1. var
2.   InFile: TextFile;
3.  
4. begin
5.  
6.     AssignFile(InFile, 'text.txt');
7.  
8.     // Open the file for reading
9.     Reset(InFile);
10.  
11.     // Keep reading lines until the end of the file is reached
12.     while not Eof(InFile) do
13.     begin
14.       ReadLn(InFile, S);
15.       Write(S);
16.       if Not(Eof(InFile)) then WriteLn;
17.     end;
18. end.
19.  

[TRon]

When I try and do basic file operations on the Amiga, I get the result file not found. Is there any notation, folder mapping, no file extensions, or case sensitivity I need to know about?  I can compile fine and run on all the other targets, hopefully I just need to know something basic.

Default Amiga used filesystem does not have case sensitive filenames or other special things that you need to be aware of as the RTL should take care of everything automatically for you (path/drive/assign separator conversion etc).

Going by your code I would assume the issue is that you forgot to close the handle. Which means the file is "in use" the second time you try to open it and that might fail. You would have to check IOresult for that.

Edit: an example on how to use IOresult can be found here: https://www.freepascal.org/docs-html/rtl/system/reset.html

[chobani]

I appreciate the quick reply, I just typed that up real quick and forgot the close, but I am closing it and I am checking the file result which is why I know it's not finding it.

This is the actual code and what I get is Error file not found [whatever is passed] only on the Amiga, but works on Linux, Windows, etc.

Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]

1. procedure DisplayFile(AFilename: String);
2. var
3.   InFile: TextFile;
4.   S: String;
5.   Ch: Char;
6. begin
7.   // Set the name of the file that will be read
8.   AssignFile(InFile, AFilename);
9.  
10.   // Embed the file handling in a try/except block to handle errors gracefully
11.   try
12.     // Open the file for reading
13.     Reset(InFile);
14.  
15.     // Keep reading lines until the end of the file is reached
16.     while not Eof(InFile) do
17.     begin
18.       ReadLn(InFile, S);
19.       Write(S);
20.       if Not(Eof(InFile)) then WriteLn;
21.     end;
22.  
23.     // Done so close the file
24.     CloseFile(InFile);
25.   except
26.     on E: EInOutError do
27.     begin
28.       WriteLn('Error reading "' + AFilename + '": ' + E.Message);
29.       WriteLn('Hit a key to continue');
30.       Ch:=ReadKey;
31.     end;
32.   end;
33. end;    
34.  

[chobani]

It also fails with that result on first call.

[TRon]

What happens if you use a fully qualified filename e.g. with drive (or assign):path/filename.extension ?

I do not have my Amiga or emulator around here to be able to check/test atm so unless someone else is able to chime in you would have to wait a at least a day for verification from my hand.

BTW: which exact version of Free Pascal are you using that seems to show this behaviour ?

[chobani]

I'll have a test ready to try that later today, but you bring up a good point. I am using a VM that someone set up for cross compile to Amiga and it's using 3.0.0. I started with that just to make sure it was possible, but I could try and update the box or do a cross compile install on my own if you think it's the FPC version causing an issue. I'll report back tonight on using the fully qualified name.

[dseligo]

I don't know Amiga's file system, but you may try something like this to see what fpc see of files:

Code: Pascal  [Select][+][-]

1. var sr: TSearchRec;
2.  
3. If FindFirst ('*', faAnyFile, sr) = 0 then
4.   repeat
5.     Writeln (sr.Name);
6.   until FindNext(sr) <> 0;
7.  
8. FindClose(sr);

Maybe you have some attributes set on file that prevent reading it?

[chobani]

That's a great idea, thank you. I'll try that too.

[TRon]

A word of warning wrt using FindFirst/FindNext combination: back in those days there was disambiguity when to call FindClose  (always or only after a successful findfirst). I do not remember exactly when that was fixed.

[TRon]

I am using a VM that someone set up for cross compile to Amiga and it's using 3.0.0.

You are probably referring to ALB42's virtual Lazarus setup, see https://blog.alb42.de/virtual-lazarus/

I started with that just to make sure it was possible, but I could try and update the box or do a cross compile install on my own if you think it's the FPC version causing an issue. I'll report back tonight on using the fully qualified name.

It is also possible to update the FPC installation in your VM, although in that case I would probably opt for making a second install for FPC (in order to not break anything else that relies on the specifc FPC version 3.0.0). For an updated version of FPC, see https://blog.alb42.de/fpc-amigaaros-m68k/

Building your own (up to date) cross compiler has preference. In case you run into issues then make sure to post the build-log with the error (besides mentioning your host configuration, build options and what binutils (and version) you use, gnu or vasm/vlink).

[TRon]

@chobani:
Verified your code to be working with Free Pascal 3.2.2 on OS3.x (see attached picture).

[chobani]

Ah!  Thank you so much!  Part of my issue is that I am doing this for Amiga enthusiasts and I haven't been able to find my way around an Amiga. So I am taking your suggestions, compiling them, and then asking for them to be tested on Amigas. So I guess what I am going to have to do is figure out how to make my own cross compiler instead of depending on ALB42's (you were right on that as well). I just have not had very much success setting up cross compiler and was trying to go the path of least resistance.

[Bogen85]

All this makes me want to buy the kickstart ROM images and get an emulator.

This is very cool!

[PascalDragon]

All this makes me want to buy the kickstart ROM images and get an emulator.

You could also use AROS which provides the same API

[TRon]

Ah!  Thank you so much!  Part of my issue is that I am doing this for Amiga enthusiasts and I haven't been able to find my way around an Amiga.

You're welcome.

An A500 mini or emulator will do as well.

So I am taking your suggestions, compiling them, and then asking for them to be tested on Amigas.

Then I would assume the Amiga enthusiasts can test as well 

So I guess what I am going to have to do is figure out how to make my own cross compiler instead of depending on ALB42's (you were right on that as well). I just have not had very much success setting up cross compiler and was trying to go the path of least resistance.

On the same page from ALB42 is also a more up to date docker container.

Personally I have no experience with it but you might want to try it. The time it cost me to understand/setup docker container I find better spend compiling a cross-compiler and configure things the way I like them to be but that is just a personal preference.

In case you do wish to create your own cross compiler then ALB42 has that covered as well, see https://fpcamigawiki.alb42.de/index.php?title=Installation_Classic

I do not know what kind of experience you have with setting up cross-compilers but in case those instruction raises more question then it solves then feel free to drop a note.

The only thing I would do differently from those instructions is to not depend on your distributions package manager to install Free Pascal, but instead setup everything yourself from source. It circumvents your distro from updating your FPC installation unexpectedly (yes, I know you can prevent that), it also circumvent your distro from dictating the locations where to put all the Free Pascal related files. On top of that, creating your own setup allows you to place it everywhere you want to (home directory for example) or copy it over to another installation/distro.