Author: Matt Deatherage
Year: 1991
... all there is to know about versions, version formats and version numbers on the Apple IIgs.
Apple II
Technical Notes
_____________________________________________________________________________
Developer Technical Support
Apple IIgs
#100: VersionVille
Written by: Matt Deatherage January 1991
This Technical Note is all there is to know about versions, version formats and
version numbers on the Apple IIgs.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Version Number Formats
There are three kinds of version numbers on the Apple IIgs. Two of the three
are documented elsewhere but are repeated here for convenience.
System Tool Set Versions
The Apple IIgs system tools use a one-word version number. The high-order four
bits of this word have special meaning. Bits 8-11 are the major version number
and bits 0-7 are the minor version number. This is illustrated in Figure 1.
+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
| F| E| D| C| B| A| 9| 8| 7| 6| 5| 4| 3| 2| 1| 0|
+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
| |_____|| Major | Minor |
| | | Release | Release |
| | |___________|_______________________|
| |
| +---- 1 = Special Features
+---------- 1 = Prototype
Figure 1-Toolbox Version Numbers
Note that this definition is different and supersedes the definition in the
Apple IIgs Toolbox Reference for system tool sets. Previous documentation
reserves only bit 15 as the prototype bit; this has been expanded. Bits 14-12
of user tool set version words have no special meaning; they are still part of
the major release.
Note: When comparing the major and minor release version numbers to check the
installed version of a system tool, mask off bits 15-12 first (for
example, by using an AND #$0FFF instruction).
SmartPort Or GS/OS Driver Versions
GS/OS drivers and SmartPort firmware drivers use an alternate one-word version
number, described in Figure 2.
+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
| F| E| D| C| B| A| 9| 8| 7| 6| 5| 4| 3| 2| 1| 0|
+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
|___________|_______________________|___________|
Major Minor $A = Alpha
Release Release $B = Beta
$E = Experimental
$0 = Final
Figure 2-GS/OS Driver And SmartPort Version Numbers
Apple IIgs Long Version Format
Long version format is a 32-bit (two-word) format similar to the standard
Macintosh version numbering scheme defined in Macintosh Technical Note #189,
Version Territory, except the four bytes are stored least significant byte
first, as is standard on the Apple II, and the values of the stage are
different. Figure 3 shows the format of a long version.
High word
+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
|1F|1E|1D|1C|1B|1A|19|18|17|16|15|14|13|12|11|10| ...
+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
| Major version | Minor v. | Bug vers. |
+-----------------------+-----------+-----------+
Major version |Minor | Bug version
(2 digits, BCD) |version (1 | (2 digits, BCD)
Example: |digit, BCD)| Example:
$25 = Version 25 |Example: | $4 = Version
|$0 = Vers. | x.y.4
x.0
Low word
+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
... | F| E| D| C| B| A| 9| 8| 7| 6| 5| 4| 3| 2| 1| 0|
+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+
| Stage | Must be zero | Release version |
+--------+--------------+-----------------------+
Stage: | | Release version (2
001 = develop | | digits, BCD)
010 = alpha | | Example:
011 = beta | | Long version value of
100 = final | | $25048006 = Version
110 = release 25.0.4f6
Figure 3-Long Version Numbers
Long version format allows for bug versions, unlike toolbox versions. Also, you
can do unsigned long comparisons of long versions to determine which revision is
later.
Note: If the version stage is 101 (release), the release version must be zero.
For example, you may not have version 25.0.4 release 16. "Release
version" implies that the product is no longer under development and has
no developmental version numbers.
System Version Numbers
The most important of the numerous version numbers in the system are the system
tool version numbers. These numbers, passed to LoadTools, LoadOneTool or
StartUpTools ensure that you're getting at least the version you want, or maybe
a later one. This mechanism is your primary defense against old system
software-by requiring the latest tool versions in your application, you are
notified by the Tool Locator early in your program if the system has the latest
system software installed or not.
Note that ROM 1 and ROM 3 have different version numbers for seven tools under
5.0.4-QuickDraw II, the Scheduler, ADB, SANE, Integer Math, Text Tools and the
List Manager. In each case, the ROM 01 version is lower and should be used in
your LoadOneTool, LoadTools or StartUpTools calls.
The current revision of Apple IIgs System Software is 5.0.4. The only system
tool to change from 5.0.3 to 5.0.4 is QuickDraw Auxiliary, which changed to
version 3.3. Assuming a correct installation, requiring QuickDraw Auxiliary 3.3
in effect requires System Software 5.0.4.
System Tool Set Versions
Number Tool ROM 1 ROM 3
--------------------------------------------
1 Tool Locator $0300 $0300
2 Memory Manager $0301 $0301
3 Misc Tools $0301 $0301
4 QuickDraw II $0305 $0306
5 Desk Manager $0303 $0303
6 Event Manager $0300 $0300
7 Scheduler $0200 $0300
8 Sound Tools $0303 $0303
9 ADB $0201 $0300
10 SANE $0202 $0300
11 Integer Math $0200 $0300
12 Text Tools $0201 $0300
14 Window Manager $0302 $0302
15 Menu Manager $0302 $0302
16 Control Manager $0302 $0302
18 QuickDraw II Aux $0303 $0303
19 Print Manager $0300 $0300
20 Line Edit $0302 $0302
21 Dialog Manager $0303 $0303
22 Scrap Manager $0300 $0300
23 Standard File $0302 $0302
25 Note Synthesizer $0104 $0104
26 Note Sequencer $0104 $0104
27 Font Manager $0302 $0302
28 List Manager $0301 $0302
29 ACE $0102 $0102
30 Resource Manager $0101 $0101
32 MIDI Tools $0103 $0103
33 Video Overlay $0101 $0101
34 Text Edit $0102 $0102
--------------------------------------------
GS/OS Version Numbers
Component Version
------------------------------
GS/OS 3.3
ProDOS FST 3.7
AppleShare FST 3.4
High Sierra FST 3.1
Character FST 3.0
SCSI HD Driver 1.0
SCSI CD Driver 1.0
AppleDisk 3.5 Driver 3.0
AFP Driver 2.2
RPM Driver 2.2
AppleTalk Main Driver 2.2
Console Driver 3.1
AppleDisk 5.25 Driver 2.4
UniDisk 3.5 Driver 2.22
------------------------------
CDev Version Numbers
CDev Version
-------------------------------------
Alphabet 1.0
AppleShare 1.0
AppleTalk ImageWriter 1.0.1
AppleTalk ImageWriter LQ 1.0.1
Direct Connect Printer 1.0
General 1.0
Keyboard 1.0
LaserWriter 1.0.1
Modem Port 1.0
Monitor 1.0
Mouse 1.0
Printer Port 1.0
RAM 1.0
Slots 1.1
Sound 1.0
Time 1.0
-------------------------------------
Further Reference
_____________________________________________________________________________
o Apple IIgs Toolbox Reference
o GS/OS Reference
o GS/OS Technical Note #1, Contents of System Disk and System Tools
o File Type Note for File Type $C7, Control Panel Devices