ZXDB downloader

version:0.4 (beta)
author: Hood
release: 10.01.2025
download: ZXDB downloader 0.4 (beta)


Dear Wifi enthusiasts,

have you ever dreamt of an extremely easy way of getting games and running quickly? Well, this dream has now come true:))

Heavily inspired by Remy's Sharp ZXDB downloader for ZX Next, I created the same program for our wifi module in eLeMeNt ZX and MB03+. I would love to thank Remy Sharp for running this online database and making its usage real on a ZX Spectrum.

Now, what is ZXDB database? It is places on Remy's zxdb.remysharp.com server. Remy got a brilliant idea to mirror the ZX database on a server, and keep it in a simplified way. All games are stored in a ZX Spectrum readable and runable formats (mainly, TAP, TZX and SNA formats). In one step you search for game of your interset. In the second step you download it and run. And that's it. No transfers, no format extraction, no memory card memory removal. It's just between you, your ZX and wifi module:)

The ZXDB downloader exists for almost 4 years on ZX Next, and now I have brought it to live also on eLeMeNt ZX and MB03+ platforms. Keeping it same simple as Remy's downloader.



What is in the zip package?

In the package you find four versoins- except for that each one is suitable for different HW and SW configuration, all of them behave the same way. At the end of their names, they have 5 letters, which have the following meaning:

  • MBBSD version for wifi module in MB03+ and BSDOS
  • MBESX version for wifi module in MB03+ and esxDOS
  • ELBSD version for wifi module in eLeMeNtZX and BSDOS
  • ELESX version for wifi module in eLeMeNtZX and esxDOS

    Do not worry if you run eLeMeNtZX and MB03+ together and both are fitted with wifi modules. ZXDB downloader can cope with it.



    Features and behaviour

    Upon its run, the program connects to zxdb.remysharp.com server and pops up a Search input line for you. Here you may directly enter a search of your wish. Upon entering it, the program returns pages of results. 10 results each page. Use arrows left/right to navigate through results page up/down. With up/down arrows you move cursor to your desired file. Now you have 2 options. Either press D to download the file only. Or press enter to download it and run at the same time. I believe the later will be mostly used option. This is most convenient way. In BSDOS version 0.4 can only download and run TAP files. It cannot run snaps Z80 and SNA. While esxDOS version can run also snaps. Neither of versions can cope with TZX files. Only ZX Next can run them.

    In BSDOS, ZXDB version 0.4, extracting TAP can sometimes fail. It is because I use old TAPmaster tool, which cannot cope with files bigger than cca 42 kb in its size inside the TAP. If such thing happen, not only the downloaded file will not be extracted, but also BSDOS will be corrupted and you have to reboot. I need to write a brand new extracting TAP tool and put it in the next version.

    In BSDOS version, you can decide, wether to delete TAP after having beeing extracted (default option) or not. And that is all. Indeed, you do not need more action to have fun. This tool is ideal for gaming parties with your friends.

    In both, BSDOS and esxDOS versions, use nmi menu where you can select the target place where files will be downloaded and/ or downloaded and run.



    Searching

    Searching in ZXDB is not full text. If you look for Tau Ceti game, you have to type "Tau". Upon typing "ceti" your search will not be successful. Similarly, if you look for the famous Sentinell (the one with Tim Follin's 6 channel beeper music), you have to type "the sentinel". Searching is case insensitive. Search for "the way of the" will most probably find the title "The Way of the Exploding Fist". If you search for "s", tens of pages will be returned to you as all titles starting with "s" will be returned.

    As for titles in the databse themselves, several titles cannot be found. Game "F.I.R.E" or "Chemi Chaos" rank among those. Unfortunately, Remy is too busy to get these thing sorted out. However, ZXDB still offers many many famous and less known titles at our hand.



    Version 0.4 beta

    Although 0.4 is still beta, I decide it to release it for your enjoyment and testing. It works pretty smoothly and seemingly without big error. Although I cannot exclude some.



    Acknowledgements

    Remy Sharp, Busy for his excelent routine for running the file from BSDOS.




    Hood, 10.01.2025