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Enigma Simulator for RISC OS
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This is the home page of the Enigma Simulator for RISC OS.
Although RISC OS is not a widely spread Operating System, it was very
popular in British schools in the 1980s and 1990s.
RISC OS is now an open-source operating system aimed to run on
ARM-based platforms.
I wrote the Enigma Simulator for RISC OS back in 2001 and it was
the first advanced graphical Enigma simulator that supported all
known Enigma models. I got infected by the 'Enigma Virus' after my
first visit to Bletchley Park in the UK
and wanted to create a reliable Enigma simulator with realistic
graphics. Writing good software is not an easy task, but since
I do this for a living, I thought I should give it a try.
The Enigma Simulator for RISC OS, presented on this page, is believed
to run on all recent versions of RISC OS and will be maintained in
the forseable future. If you have any questions or remarks, please
do not hesitate to contact me.
Please note that this software will only run on RISC OS. Users
of Windows or Macs, please check out the links at the bottom of
this page.
August 2001 / September 2009
Paul Reuvers
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The image on the right is just to give you an impression of the
software's cosmetics. It is a misconception to believe that there
is only one Enigma. In fact, many variants of the Enigma machine
exist and messages encrypted on one machine may not decode correctly
on another. The Enigma Simulator for RISC OS simulates all Enigma
models that are currently known.
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Naval Enigma M3
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Naval Enigma M4
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G-312 Abwehr
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Steckerbrett
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You may install the software on your RISC OS system, by downloading
it from the link below. A full installation requires about 2MB of
memory. Please note that you may require some additional software
in order to use all features of the program. This additional software
is also available from the links below.
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Features implemented in this version
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- Fully functional Enigma simulation
- Selectable Enigma model (each having a completely different behaviour)
- Support for virtual Enigma machines
- Multiple variants (skins) per model
- Realistic keyboard and lamp panel
- Graphical Steckerbrett
- Mouse and keyboard operation
- Realistic sound samples
- Direct message windows
- Full control over wheel order etc.
- Configurable stecker board
- Scrambler viewer
- Wheel viewer
- Support for foreign languages
- HTML User Manual
- Interactive help
- User choices
- Configurable text buffer
- Serial port support
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- Advanced editing in message window
- Enigma Uhr box (very rare item)
- Enigma Printer box (very rare item)
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- IYONIX pc and RISC OS 5
Version 1.20 onwards is 32-bit compatible and can be used on the new IYONIX pc.
Sound is supported by using DataPlayer.
- Risc PC and RISC OS 3
The software has been written and tested on a SA Risc PC with RISC OS 3.71.
All animations and sound samples are running in the way they were intended.
Especially the smooth scrolling wheels/windows on the Enigma surface show
off quite nicely on this machine.
- Risc PC and RISC OS 4
!Enigma version 0.30 and later have all been tested on a Risc PC running
RISC OS 4.02, just to see how the graphics behave. Some smaller madification
have been made to the software (version 0.40 onwards) to cope with the
changes in Wimp behaviour in RISC OS 4. Overall speed of the program is
slighly better than under RISC OS 3.
- Kinetic Risc PC and RISC OS 4.03
!Enigma version 0.40 or later works perfectly well with a Kinetic Risc PC.
Overall speed is better than on a standard Risc PC.
- A7000 and RISC OS 3.71
Version 0.40 of !Enigma was the first one to be tested on a brand new
A7000 and the results are remarkably good! Running in a screen mode with
1024 x 768 pixels and 256 colours, the animations are almost as good as on
a Risc PC. This makes !Enigma perfectly suitable for use in schools.
- R7500 RiscStation and RISC OS 4.03
!Enigma is now running very well on an R7500 although I had to tweak
the software a little bit to work around a RISC OS 4 anomaly.
Please note that on this machine the sound plays at about 80% of its normal speed.
- A4 and RISC OS 3.11
As some users have reported incorrect menu behaviour on RISC OS 3.1x machines,
I'm testing all current versions on my A4 portable (yes it still works!).
Despite the poor resolution of the build-in LCD screen, the speed is quite
amazing. The program can be used perfectly well, although you may have to
scroll the main window every now and then. Currently I've noticed that the
Steckerbrett doesn't work correctly on this machine. To be investigated...
- A5000 and RISC OS 3.11
!Enigma is reported to work correctly on an A5000. Please note that
a minimum of 2Mb is needed for the software, so you would probably
need a 4Mb machine.
- A3000 and RISC OS 3.10
I got a report from a user in Ghana (!) that it runs perfectly on this
combination as well. Doesn't this show the rather long life cycle of
Acorn machines? It also shows how well older Acorn machines can be used
for educational purposes.
- VirtualA5000 and RISC OS 3.10
Users of Windows®, please read this: A fully featured software emulation
for an
Acorn A5000 and RISC OS 3.10 is now available from UK based
company VirtualAcorn.
The software is supplied on CD including the Enigma Simulator for RISC OS.
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Simulators for other platforms
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