MAGA: d
a TS2068 :
ae "5 THE SH UBLISHING |
x UPDATE COMPUTER SYSTEMS »
UPDATE COMPUTER SYSTEMS is Edited and Published by Carol and Frank Davis of P.O. Box 1095, Peru, Indiana 46970. Phone number is 317-473-8031, with normal phone hours being between 5S P.M. and 9:30 P.M. Eastern Time during the week and Noon to 6 P.M. on weekends. When we are not there or unavailable, please leave a
message with our answering machine, you'll be answered by mail.
Mailing date for all issues is the fifteenth of the issue month. At times due to Postal Holidays, or the 15th falling on a weekend (bulk mail not accepted on weekends) they will be received at the Postal Unit the next business day. Please allow two to three weeks from this date before assuming your issue is not on its way to you. The Postal service tells us it can take as long as 6 weeks via bulk mail. For thos wanting speedier service we can arrange your issue to go by First Class Mail, but that will raise the price of your subscription by $3.00
The magazine is published on a quarteriy basis in the months of
October, January, April and July. All subscriptions begin and end at the same time...first issue being October and all renewals coming due after receipt of the duly issue. The cost is $18.00 U.S. for a one year subscription for North America, and for tho outside of this area $20.00 U.S. We accept personal and business checks, money orders, and Cash. We do not accept credit cards at this time, due to costs. Back issues,
where available can be obtained from us, at regular pric
Assistance in Pubiishing this magazine is provided by Eliad P. Wannum, poet, computer user and ail round good guy. The magazine is made possible by the regular contributors such as Peter Hale, Bill Cable, Al Feng, Bob Hartung to name a few, and by the many contributions of other writers and programmers. Your contributions to this magazine are welcome. This is truly a magazine BY THE USER AND FOR THE USER OF SINCLAIR, TIMEX AND CAMBRIDGE COMPUTERS. When we cover other operating systems such as CPM or MSDOS it will be in relationship to our computers) or emulators for our systems to run their software. We primarily cover disk ba systems and software for the 32068, Spectrum, QL, Z8B...and wiil cover 1tems on the TS1000 if disk drive based or in relationship to using it with the above mentioned computers. we dé accept reviews of peripherals that are useable by our systems, such as scanners, printers, modems, etc. Submissions should be on disk or hard copy (two copies and at least NLQ, no draft mode). If there is artwork, please let ous know in what order it should be used, and provide it as a saved screen or hard copy screen dump. The format is very relaxed. Just pay attention to the width of the pages and allow 3/4 inch top and bottom, and make the left and right margins wide enough to accomodate a 3 hole punch that does not cut out some of the text. We have enlarge and reduction capacity to adjust a page, but may lose some print legibility in the process. Most important is legibility. Draft quality dot matrix does not reproduce well. Print size preference is ELITE 12 characters per inch. PICA 10 characters per inch is okay also, but please no condensed print. Please do not make programs submitted on cassette tape under any Circumstance, disk or hardcopy” only. Exceptions to this would be the wafers used on the Rotronics Wafadrive for the Spectrum or TS2068 with emulator. 288 programs on disk may be in either IBM or QL format or hardcopy
TS2068 programs may be LLISTED in 32 chr. Lines.
UPDATE COMPUTER SYSTEMS PAGE DIRECTORY, JANUARY 1992
The computer that an article concerns is marked by using the following mark at the start of the page number-TS2068 = *,QL = # ,288 = % ,TS1000=*. There will be no mark if the article or ad applies to all or several different computer systems.
Inside Front Cover contains magazine basic information
Page No. 1---Directory Page No. 2---The Editor Speaks by Frank Davis *Page No. 3---Graphic Screen Dump by A. Kahale
Page No. 4---Editorial-The Year of Discovery by Bill Ferrebee Page No. 5---RMG Ad *Page No. . 6---Wall Street, Here We Come!% by A. Kahale Page No. 9---Back Issues of UPDATE *Page No. 9---Household Accounts on the TS2068 by Basil Wentworth “Page No. 10---The Print Factory Graphics-an Ad by John McMichael «Page No. 11---Byte Power Ad *Page No. 12---More About Daisy Smart Text, Part of the Hybiscus Ensemble by Bill Jones , *Page No. 16---12 Volt Modification by William McKelvey “Page No. 17---FD-ZX Floppy Disk Interface by Don Lambert %Page No. 19---Z88 ASCII Translation Programs by Dave Bennett %*Page No. 20---A Few Z868 CLI Applications by Dave Bennett %*%Page No. 21---Z88 Spreadsheet Use from Z88 Fax News Page No. 22---Requests from UPDATE Subscribers Page No. 22---Composite Monochrome Signal to a TTL for TS1000 and QL by Jim Harrell Page No. 24---Computer Meandering by Eliad P. Wannum *Page No. 25---New Commands Effective with JLO Safe V2.6 by John Oliger (more updates to come) Page No. 27---Ed Grey Enterprises Ad Page No. 29---Mechanical Affinity Ad #Page No. 30---QL Solitaire-A Review by Peter Hale #Page No. 31---Sorted Directories by,Bob Hartung : 4 #Page No. 33---Cable Column-Archive Series by Bill Cable #Page No. 35---EMSoft Joins DJC 7 Page No. 37---EMSoft Ad #Page No. 38---Video Interface with QL Computer ; *Page No. 41---Sinclair Desktop Publishing Journal by ' Mike Felerski #Page No. 46---QL Desktop Publishing by Frank Davis Page No. 48---Sinclair Publications-A Review by E.P.Wannum #Page No. 49---Quanta Library Update #Page No. 50---Quanta Application Back Covers ---Issue Disks for TS2068 and QL
All material used in this publication is copywritten and remains solely in ownership by either the Magazine or the author. To reprint from this magazine please contact either the magazine or specific author. All Issue Disks are copyrighted and remain the property of the software author. All hardware advice is followed at the users sole risk. Where needed please consultant competent help on ali hardware modifications or projects. Most of all enjoy the magazine and may it greatly enhance your use of your computer.
THE EDITOR SPEAKS
Welcome once again to the pages of UPDATE. This is the 6th issue that Caroli and I have produced since taking this over from Bill Jones. By the way, Bill Jones is also a_ subscriber. Those who use Sinclairs in North America can be proud of all he did to encourage North American production of programs for the TS2068, Z88 and the QL. I want to continue that tradition.
Several people, such as Kenton Garrett, Rob Martin, Bob Dyl, Peter Hale, to name a few, have over the past few months asked me why we do not have any North Americans putting together hardware and software to rival that for the Spectrum and the QL. Those are very good questions. We have access to a lot of technical data and hardware here in North America. Why are we not using it? We have some excellent programs from Peter Hale, Bill Cable, Al Feng for the QL...but the last game I recall was Mark Stubers war games for the QL, several years ago. If we can get some good games, arcade or adventure, we will do what we can to get them heard of outside of the U.S.A. and Canada. If you have an idea or are working on something, there are people who can give you support. f
The same goes for the Spectrum. With a good Spectrum emulator on your TS2068, you can write programs for the Spectrum. This can be done. There is still a large market outside of our continent for this type of software. We are hampered here by the differences in our disk interfaces for the TS2068, so I think right here at home we need a program that will allow an Aerco to read and run programs made to run on Larken, Oliger, Ramex, or Zebra interface. Would it really be that difficult? It would be nice to be able to take a disk from the Toronto club in Larken format and be able to use it in Indiana on an Oliger without have to redo the Basic on it = and change the DOS commands.
What about hardware? Bill Pedersen has for years tried to get someone to build his board to use IBM peripherals. Would it be nice to put a hard drive, or a scanner on your TS2068? I have long heard that we Sinclair users are cheap skates. Well guess what, IBM compatible IDE hard disk cards are cheap also. They can be gotten for anywhere from $29 to $100. 1 see IDE compatible hard drives for $75 to $200 everytime I go to a computer show or a ham radio show.
Please give this matter some real consideration.
NOTES FROM BOB HARTUNG
Too late to change in his article on “Sorted Directories", Bob called to tell me that line 120° should be "GOTO 210",rather than what is in the listing. Please note this change
before typing in this program. a A 2068/QL MONITOR --Bob Hartung--
The Winter catalog for American Design Components lists a close-out sale of Magnavox Model 80 monochrome (amber) monitors for $59.00 plus 10% shipping, and $3.00 handling per order. This composite monitor has an excellent "gray-scale" 900 X 350 resolution and a 2000 character, 25-line display. It may be connected to the 2068 composite output with a patch cable having two RCA phono plugs, and to the QL monitor socket using pins 2 (GRD) and 3 (COMPOSITE MONO) as shown in QLUG Concepts diagram, ps 33.
Address: P.O. Box 2601, Secaucus, NJ 07096-2601. Phone: (800) 776-3700. FAX: (201) 601-8990. AMEX, VISA, Mastercard.
1 REM YANDY OMPI@5 PRINTER DRIVER GRAPHIC SCREENS DUMP — 2 FEN Abed Kahale 10/91 CATUG for the Tandy DMP1@5 4 REM CLEAR 64769: REM Start address-1 byt ‘A. Kahale cATUG 5 REM RANDOMIZE USR 188: LOAD *PORVR.CC*CODE 64770 335 W. Newport Rd. 10 PAPER 1: INK 9: BORDER 1: CS Hoffman Est., IL 60195 28 RANDOMIZE USR 108: OPEN #3, *LP* 30 RANDOMIZE USR 188: POKE 1872,@: REM NO LINE FEED 5 RANDOMIZE USR 108: POKE 16@93,32¢ REM LPRINT & CHRS sent to printer 88 LPRINT CHRS 182 REM Line feed
This printer is not supported by any software that I know of, having a non Centronics protocol but a fairly good 7 pin head dot matrix with graphics capability. The 176 vertical pixcels 69 REM LPRINT CHRS 27;GiRs 19: REM PICA gives elongated pict divided by 7 do not result in an integer Me
number. Sa, after a two hours sessian 88 LPRINT CHR$ 27;CHR$ 23: REM ELITE gives correct picture with Bob Swoger, the following program 0 REN LPRINT CHRS 27;CHRS 28: REN CONDENSED gives narrow pi was developed and it worked, but stow, “ture on
15 minutes for the screen dump. Later 95 RANDOMIZE USR 180: LOAD *B. C$*SCREENS
on, I was able to convert the working 108 LPRINT CHR$ 18: REM Puts printer in graphics sode
part of the program to M.C. using the [0 REN RANDOMIZE USR 64778 - Timachine compiler. Now it only takes 2@ 126 REN 'INT RyC)Bt REM TIMACHINE Ingtuctions’ ,
seconds for Brooke$ minus a piece of 138 REN! LPRINT chins 15@ REM ! OPEN #: REM TIMACHINE starts . 155 FOR Y=@ TO 175 STEP 7: LET RE175-Y: REM vertical pixels fr om the top 160 FOR C=8 TO 255: REM Horizontal pixels 178 LET B=8 188 LET B=B+POINT (C,R-1) 190 LET B=B+2#POINT (C,R-2) S 200 LET B=B+4#POINT (C,R-3) 218 LET B=B+B#POINT (C,R-4) ‘220 LET B=B+LO#POINT (C,R-5) § 238 LET B=Bt32#POINT (C,R-6) 248 LET B=BtG4#POINT (C,R-7) 258 LET B=Bt128 235 IF IN 127(>188 THEN GO TO 255: REM Checks if busy 268 LPRINT CHRS By, 278 NEXT C 280 LPRINT CHRS 275CHRS 9OSCHRS 2 EM carrige return 298 NEXT Y 308 LPRINT CHR$ 273CHR$ JQ: REM Back to character sode S18 REM ! CLOSE #: REN TIMACHINE ends c 328 STOP .
EDITORIAL~ "THE YEAR OF DISCOVERY" BY KILI. FERR
1992 marks the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus. Little did he know then how developed that "new land” would become over the years!
Here in 1992 we are being challenged with new, exciting discoveries. We are expanding our travel scope to the outer limits of space. Scientists are rushing to find cures for diseases that didn’t even exist 20 years ago. And our friends in other lands are discovering something for the first time that
most of us take for granted... freedom.
Let’s make 1992 a "year of discovery” for Sinclair Let’s expand our abilities to use our computers. It seems almost weekly 1 hear about a new use or enhancement being made. Just
as I start thinking that weve exhausted the capabilities of these computers, someone comes along to rekindle my interest.
You are a dedicated Sinclair user. Just by reading this, you have told me that you still actively use your T/S. Many have given up on Sinclair, thinking that IBM holds the answer. What“s the old adage about a flock of sheep following the leader off of the edge of a cliff?
The mass population has forgotten the ZX-81, T/S1000, Spectrum, T/S2@68, QL and Z-86. - But the “core” of the apple holds the seeds. It is from this core that the future tree grows.
l am not trying to cay that we can regain the number of users we had in the past. That would be like trying to convince people to turn their Z28°s (Japanése car) in for Studebakers.
But I do believe we can keep the interest alive for those of us still using our Sinclairs. And who knows, maybe by sharing our love of our T/S with others, we can gain a new crop of users
If you have a program you"ve written, share it with us. If you have an idea for a program, let us know. Maybe someone else is willing to write it.
If you are an electronics hacker, let us know if you’ ve built that "black box" everybody wants. If you want a "black box”, tell us what you want in it.
To sum it up, let°s communicate with each other and discover our full potential as Sinclair users. May you have a safe and successful voyage in 1992!
EDITOR’S NOTE: Bill currently writes a column for the magazine Computer Monthly, put out by Vulcan's, of P.O. Box 7@62, Atlanta, GA 30357-0062. He writes the Timex-Sinclair column for them. He also runs Mountaineer Software and is well known for his graphic and font creations for the TS2068. We thank him for his creation of the new cover on UPDATE Magazine, and for his contributions to Sinclair computing. Carol Davis
4
IF MOT, WHERE HAVE VOU BEEN!
WE HAVE BEEN SERVING THE T/S COMMUNITY SINCE 1981 ANO WE ARE NOW THE WORLD'S LARGEST TIMEX/SINCLAIR DEALER!
FOR JUST $3.50 (REFUNDABLE) YOU CAN GET A CATALOG ANO PRICE SHEET SO VOU CANESEE WHAT wEe||HAVE TO OFFER TO FILL YOUR NEEDS. FROM-PRINTERS ANO INTERFACES (T.0-0ISK>
SSORIVES AND RAMOISK, 1419 1/2 7TH STREET OREGON CITY. OR 97045 503/655-7484 NOON-10PM PT T-S FAX 503/655-4116 24 HOURS
Wall Street, Here We Come! Byr~ A. Kahale 335 W. Newport Ra.
Hoffman Est., IL 60195 {788 885-4337) What everyone has been waiting for..... Widding aside, there are a few inovations that might be of use to sone T/S users. I decided that my 2068 can be put to more serious use. I rolled my oun programs to analyze the market, not being a programmer, it took me about 3 months to have a program to meet my needs} the program was revised numerous times, then revised again...! you know the story. Presently, I daily update 17 programs to chart the Dow Jones Ind. and various stocks (275K worth]. The program below represents a stock charting.
Ofinterest are program lines 520 - 580, the highest and the lowest numbers to be plotted are established; the difference is then plotted within the screen limits by lines 660 & 670 that also draw a Vertical Line Chartj the OVER 1 command line 100 is in effect. Line 648 DRAWs the bar from @ to the high (H) point and line 67@ UNDRAWs from @ to the low (L) point. The numbers were INPUTed into DIM(125) arrays, starting at line 4080. The Moving Averages are plotted by lines 720 to 825. Thanks GOTO Bob Swoger for a faster moving average algorithm. Lines 2218 to 2318 print the scale values to the left of the screen and lines 5800 to 5075 draw and plot the scale tick marks at the screen borders and color lines.
& differenf type of graph is plotted by lines 1458 to 1478 as shown on the bottom of the (O BY) chart.
The menu starts at line 128, at line 250 the INKEY$ CMD is used for efficiency, The arrays are updated daily by lines 1800 - 1988 by dropping element #1 and adding element #125 where the 2068 is SLOW. The array elements can be reviewed by lines 2169 - 2182. GOTO 98 must be used for the menu, otherwise the variables will be lost.
BTecth«
AnakusSis &
CATUG
§ REM LAAAXAAAAAIALAALLLY Stock Chart AURLEAALLLZEACLAIAL 48 DIM H(125)s DIM L(125)2 DIM €(125)8 DIM Vi125)2 DIM Q(125)
98 CLS ¢ PAPER SGN PI: BORDER SGN PI: INK VAL "9": POKE 23687 718: POKE 23658)82 POKE 23617)236 95 BEEP .03,40: BEEP 85,42! BEEP .03,45 108 OVER 1: LET G=98 LET H=108 110 DEF FN I(ND=INT (N#LB+.5)/18 128 PRINT PAPER PIs" Advance Micro Devices .
122 PRINT * TECHNICAL ANALYSIS! 125 PRINT '* = Abed Kahale 1987 rev.6* 130 PRINT * 60 TO 92 TO Start ": REM 57$;'91°
TOPS AeLELEL CLA SE CEELCAECLEELA LM 160 PRINT °"1. Start NEW chart? 178 PRINT °*2. Add NEW DATA 188 PRINT "3. See charts" 198 PRINT "4, OBVS ~
208 PRINT **5, Backup*
218 PRINT "6, See DATA
228 PRINT **7, Correct DATA 238 PRINT "8, Date ?
248 PAUSE NOT PI
245 LET AS=INKEYS
250 IF AS="1" THEN GO TO VAL "4008"
260 IF AS="2" THEN GO TO VAL "1798"
60 TO VAL "588"
60 TO VAL "847"
SAVE "AMD. BB*: VERIFY **
0 TO VAL *2168"
310 IF AS=*7" THEN GO TO VAL "1882"
328 REN IF AS=*8" THEN INPUT "DATE?... "328
HO IF AS=*L* THEN RANDOMIZE USR Hi LOAD "CBU. BB* 350 IF AS="S*_THEN 60 TO VéL *2378"
360 IF AS="C* THEN CLS ¢ RANDOMIZE USR H: PI
378 GO 10 6
500 CLS 2 REM LINE CHART aeeeee -
"5 (38562- FREE )/1€33"K"
C. CAT." L. CBU S. Save"
CAT °",? PAUSE NOT
eu a Onan r
r=)
S S ae 1. @
ray a ua Oo
Selsursvatl
pe
SOS>PRINT AT SGN PYeVAL "14° 5 (QC121)4Q(122)+Q(123)4Q (124 940125) 3"H/Vol" 518 GO SUB VAL *5e00" 120 LET L=H(1) 538 LET S-L(1) 54@ FOR N=2 TO 125 55@ IF H(N)>L THEN LET L=H(N) 568 IF L(N)<S THEN LET S=L(N) ‘578 NEXT N 598 LET D=L-S 598 PRINT AT NOT PI,VAL *4*} PAPER VAL *2°;* AMD (CCL25)-C(124)05" — "3CCL25)5 REM "42H; 91" 603 GO SUB VAL '2210° 658 FOR Ne16 TO 125 640 PLOT 2#N+1, ((168/0)#(H(N)-S))¢
“EN
DRAW By ~(168/D)#(H(ND
~$)
670 PLOT 2#N+L, ((168/0)#(L(N)-S))* DRAW @, ~(168/D)#(L(N) -§)
70O PLOT 2#Ne2, ((168/D)#(C(N)-5))
710 NEXT N
720 PEEP 1,45: REM MOVING AVE, ###*# Repetitious lines
have been deleted t#e##
810 LET Tl=@: FOR Nei TO 49: LET TT=TT+C(N) NEXT N 812 FOR N=5Q 70 125
814 LET TTSTT+CiNt
816 LET T=1T/50
828 PLOT 24N+2, (188/D)#(T-S)
622 LET TT=TT-CiN-49)
825 NEXT N
27 PRINT AT VAL 'ZO",VAL *25°3"S9-"3FN I(T)
S40 PRINT #RNDj* M.A, 10153 5B": BEEP VA LIS VAL "38" 845 PAUSE VAL "200": IF INKEY$="2" THEN COPY
847 GO SUB VAL *1240°
650 REM VOLUME #eeetatee
884 LET L=Q(1)! LET S=Q(1)
886 FOR N=2 TO 125
888 IF QiN)>L THEN LET L=Q(N)
898 IF QiN}<S THEN LET S=Q(N)
€91 NEXT Ni LET DaL-S
892 FOR Nef Td 125: PLOT 2#N, ((58/D)#(Q(N)-S))+702 DRAW 8,-(58/D)#(Q(N)-S)! NEXT N
1228 BEEP SGN PI,NOT PI! PAUSE VAL *20Q": HEN COPY
1238 @ 10 6
1248 DIM M(122)3 REM ORY s48tee 1258 FOR N=t TO 14
1268 LET M(ND=V(ND +E. 28V (N41) +1, 1278 NEXT N
1298 FOR N=15 TO 122
IF INKEY$="Z° T
SAV (N42) +24 (NFS)
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atl —h lay i ih I, ‘Mii
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A2Z9Q2LET MOND=M(N-4) /24V(N) +1, S#V (NEL +1, SEVINEZ) +24V (N43) 1308 NEXT N
1318 LET Ki=M(1)
1320 LET Fl=M(1)
1338 FOR N=2 10 122
1348 IF M(N)>K1 THEN LET Ki=M(N)
1350 IF M(N)<F1 THEN LET Fi=M(N)
1360 NEXT N
1370 IF Ki<@ THEN LET Kis
1388 IF Fi2@ THEN LET F1=0
1390 LET HI=Ki-Ft
1408 CLS
1482 GO SUB S000
1405 PRINT AT NOT PIySGN PI; PAPER PI;" OBV 1450 PRINT AT 21-(8/Hi#(Q-F1)), 5"
1468 FOR N=17 TO 122
1465 PLOT 2*N+6,4#(18/HI#(M(N)-F1)) 2 DRAW By —4#(18/H1#(M(N)-FI)
1428
1471 NEXT N
1473 LET L=C(1)* LET S=C(1)
1475 FOR N=2 TO 125
1476 IF C(N)>L THEN LET L=C(N)
1477 IF C(N)<S THEN LET S=C(N)
1478 NEXT N
1488 LET D=L-S
1481 FOR N=1 10 125
148Z PLOT 2*N,4#((28/D) #( C(N)-S)423) 1483 NEXT N ‘ 15@@ RETURN
1798 CLS i REM UPDATE settee
1888 FOR N=1 TO 124
1818 LET H(N)=H(N+1)
1820 LET L(N)=LAN+1)
1838 LET C(N}=C(Nt)
1840 ut ule vine
Wall by LARKEN ‘CIRCLE x,x,8
1858 LET Q(N)=Q(N+1)
1878 NEXT N
1888 CLS
1890 BEEP .1,38! PRINT "AMD's INPUT "H""H(125),?*L°°L(125 DyTPCE CCL) V"V(125)2 LET Q(125)20(125)
1900 IF C(125)=C(124) THEN LET V(125)=NOT PI
1918 IF C(125)<C(124) THEN LET V(125)=-V(125)
1939 PRINT ’” PAPER 63°1. Add more DATA *'’"5. Correcti on ~ Reenter ""’*S, SAVE"
1968 PAUSE NOT PI
1970 IF INKEY$="1" THEN GO TO VAL "1800"
1988 IF INKEYS="5" THEN GO TO VAL "1882"
1985 IF INKEY$="S" THEN 60 TO 2378
2018 GO TO G? REM DATA s#iHHHHE
2168 CLS + FOR N=185 TO 125
2178 PRINT Nj" "3H(ND$" "SL(N)3* "§ BRIGHT SGN PI3C(N)$ BRIGHT NOT PI5* "3V(N)3* "3Q(N)
2180 NEXT N
2198 PAUSE NOT PI: GO TO G: REM SCALE #ereeae
2218 PRINT AT SGN PIyNOT PI3FN I(L)
2228 PRINT "FN I(D#.9+5)
223 PRINT *FN I(D*.8+S)
2242 PRINT FN 1(D#, 745)
2250 PRINT "FN 1(D#.6+S) -
2268 PRINT ’FN I(D#,5+S)
2278 PRINT "FN I(D#.4+S)
2288 PRINT "FN 1(D#,3+5)
2290 PRINT "FN I(D#.2+5)
Did bk
30-Week WAL BS76.1
LUE Erb
Close s=2914.4
2298 PRINT "FN 1(D#.248) 2300 PRINT *FN 1(De. 148)
2310 PRINT "FN 1(S)
235 RETURN
2378 RANDOMIZE USR Hi SAVE “AMD.BB* LINE 90: BEEP VAL *.1*,NOT Plt RANDOMIZE USR Ht LOAD *L.BI*
4000 CLS PRINT "USE 1808°S FOR VOLUME?
4810 FOR Y=1 TO 125
4820 INPUT "HIGH" *H(Y)?*LOW"?L(Y)? "CLOBE®* CCV)? VOLUME? VCY) 2 L. ET QY=V(¥)
4030 IF C(VD=C(Y-1) THEN LET VCV)=0
4Q48 IF CAY)<CLY=1) THEN LET V(Y)=-¥(Y)
4050 NEXT Y
4960 6 TO 6
5002 DRAW 255,NOT PI: DRAW NOT PI, 175¢ DRAW -255)NOT PI? DRAW N OT PIy-175
5010 FOR 7-18 TO 250 STEP 10
5028 PLOT 241: NEXT Z
5@38 FOR 7=10 10 258 STEP 48
504@ PLOT 1,2: NEXT Z
S050 FOR 7-8 10 160 STEP 8 / 5068 PLOT 254,72! PLOT 1,2 i
5@78 NEXT 1
5875 FOR N=2 TO 21 STEP 2: PRINT AT NyNOT PI§ PAPER NOT PI3* "2 NEXTN
‘5082 RETURN
4-Heek miees Auerage
Font byZUNK
*EXTRA® ™*EXTRA*
BACK ISSUES OF UPDATE MAGAZINE
For those who are new to UPDATE and want to be able to get back issues that they may have missed, we will be offering the following for a short time only. This offer is good only till the end of March 1992. Any one back issue for only $4.50, or 4 issues for $16.00. We have available the following issues.
October 1991, July 1991, April 1991, January 1991, October 1990, April 1990, July 1989, and April 1988.
If ordered, these will be sent to the requested address by first class mail. From what we last heard from Bill Jones he did net indicate that he had any more back issues from when he was publishing UPDATE, so I assume these are the last issues available, other than by buying used copies from friends.
Now of course you may start or renew a subscription to UPDATE at any time and receive all of the back issues of the year in which you started the subscription. We may once _ in, awhile be a week or two late getting the magazine out,but we will not leave you in the lurch like some have in the past.
We also have available for you copies, itst Edition, of the QL Survivors Guide, for $7.00 postage paid. Find out where the hardware,software,repair facilities, user groups and magazines are that cover the QL worldwide.
od HOUSEHOLD ACCOUNTS ON THE TS2968 Basil Wentworth
Here is a little program that I use to keep a record of the costs of living. It’s extremely simple, and includes in Lines 1359 to 1599 a technique that I haven’t seen used elsewhere, but have found extremely useful. (I call it "flabby ware", in contrast with "firmware". ) "
' . Lines 519 through 619 keep a record of the expenses you enter, Plus a running total. When you have' finished all entries, a null (press “ENTER” without any number) shifts you down to Line 1999. Here the monthly average for the year is computed and displayed, along with the total for the current month. Lines 1359 to 1509 ' prompt you (with a display like the illustration titled "READOUT AFTER FIRST MONTH") to update line 9999 in preparation for next month. You should start the year with M=% and AV=6, as shown, and then re-adjust these values every month to agree with the numbers displayed by Line 1399. The program should be re-SAVEd, of course, after Line 9996 has been updated.
Lines 999% and 9919 are the SAVE routine for the OLIGER disk system. You should use whatever commands your own system requires.
Like any record-keeping system, this one depends on systematic entry of data, every month. Jocelyn doesn‘t let me forget.
9
598 GO SUB 9999 519 REM put at end of program in order to make line 159% more convenient
53 CLS
54@ PRINT ,@
558 LET t=@
56@ INPUT “spent?
fo)
if thr
" THEN GO TO 1999 58@ LET t=t+VAL at
594 REM cumulative total for month
60@ PRINT VAL a%,t
619 GO TO 544
1996 LET ty=m*av+t
1916 REM total for the year, including the current month 1959 LET m=m+1
119% LET-av=ty/m
1118 REM monthly average, cluding current month 1159 LET av=.@1*INT (19@*av+.5) 1179 REM rounds off average to nearest cent
in-
129@ CLS : PRINT "MONTHLY MONT H av. /MONTH"
1250 PRINT "BILL";TAB 26;" FOR Y EAR"
134@ PRINT ‘T; TAB 11;m;TAB 21;av 135@ PRINT ‘ FLASH 13;">>>"5 FLAS H @;"ADJUST ""M"" and "“"AV"" in 9999"
1388 PRINT -
159@ LIST 9996
2668 STOP
999G SAVE /"H" LINE 1
9@1G VERIFY 7"H": BEEP .3,12: BE EP 1,12
992 REM format for SAVE with OLIGER disk system
9958 STOP 9990 LET M=:
LET AV=@: RETURN
PROGRAM FOR HOUSEHOLD ACCOUNTS
MONTHLY MONTH AV. /MONTH BILL FOR YEAR 166.21 1 106.21 >>>ADJUST "M" and “AV" in 9996 999G>LET M=@: LET AV=@: RETURN
READOUT AFTER FIRST MONTH
Put some punch in your
PRINT FACTOR Ye graphics!
Gbectontt Colectionia? Collection#3
Miscellaneous Misc. Men/Boys Funny Female Faces Women/Giris Transportation Male Faces Digitized Misc. Sports Funny Computers Holidays Zodiac Signs Food Holidays Xmas Transportation Xmas Over O different large & small
aphics in each collection!
$12.95 ppd each, $19.95 ppd for two, all three collections for $26.95 ppd. [Check or money order onty,] Available on tape or 5 1/4." DSDD or OLIGER disk - please specify.
Send order to:
John McMichael, 1710 Palmer Dr, Laramie, WY 82070
10
or
=
BYTE POWER Super Special!!! All BYTE POWER titles at 50% off...
Now
12 BYTE POWER Magazines (Back issues) .............. $27.50 6 BYTE POWER Magazines (Back issues) .............. $16.00 1 BYTE POWER Magazine (Back issue) .................... $3.00 18 Class Pack (6 back issues in vinyl album) ...... $20.00 Mega Pack (12 back issues in 2 vinyl albums)...... $31.50
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Dear TS-2068 User,
I want to take this opportunity to share with you some thoughts about TS-2068 Comput ing. We TS-2068 users have likely become the most sophisticated and capable of all who use computers. Most of us could be described as "Amateur Programmers", and we have also learned mich about “interfacing”. We had to learn and to improvise to make our old Cassette based computer into a powerful Disk System. nd before that we had to improvise to make our computer do Printing with a Centronics Printer. Each of us have learned more about Programming and Interfacing than 95% of the world's users of computers ever learn. Our efficiency of learning is amplified by our Hobby Interests, which is the greatest of all motovating factors, even greater than the profit motive.
While I was learning the TS-2068, doing little crummy letters on the TS-2040 printer, and waiting eons for Cassette to load, I was in my glory! 1 am sure that some of your past experiences are also nostalgic. Then I started on the "Smart Text" program, mostly as a Learn by Doing project. I became fascinated by programming, and wondered how to make the TS-2068 "do more" than the small softwares available would provide. The practicality of increasing the scope of TS-2068 software became real only after Disk Drive Capability was developed. But by that time all of our industry programmers had abandoned the TS-2068 for more lucrative fields. There just has not been any "Full Function" software developed for the TS-2068, and UNTIL NOW, the capability of the TS-2068 Disk Drive system has not been exploited.
The TS~-2068 is a strange critter! Its FREE MEMORY limitation prevents the development of MACHINE CODE programs that are comprehensive in functions. Comprehensive CODE Software just takes too much memory to develop. While BASIC is slower, Basic does provide the means of "integration" needed to SHARE the limited FREE Memory with a multitude of individual programs. AND, the "user friendliness" of Basic allows programs to be developed without the elaborate "error trapping” that is absolutely required in Machine Code. Code programs CRASH when un-protected errors occur. This is the reason why so much memory is required for Code programs- to protect against errors. So, while programming for most other computers is done in Machine Code, the TS-2068 capabilities can only be exploited by using BASIC as the primary language, plus small code programs for support.
Most of the TS-Z2068's ROM programming is devoted to the “Support of BASIC Programming”. Our Disk Drive System is designed to be Commanded BY BASIC Programming. But, until now, BASIC has not been the primary Programming language for most TS-2068 Software. The result has been a library of TS-2068 Software that has very limited capability to do just a
ke
single purpose. Some of these small softwares do a fine job in their limited scope. And most are quite snappy in their speed of operation. The DAISY.B6 Concept was conceived to be a "Systems Software" that does most jobs that anyone would want to do with a computer, an "all purpose software" if you will. Daisy is programmed about 98% in BASIC. : ‘
You may want to compare Daisy with something as a starting point. The only software that I am aware of having similiar concept is the "LOTUS" software "1,2.3" and "Symphony" for the’ IBM Systems. I have operated both of those softwares enough to become profficient. Those two titles are "all purpose" software costing around $1200 each. Of course I'd be silly to say that Daisy equals the capabilities of Lotus 1,2,3, but the concept is the same and Daisy strives to be in the same ball park, even with our early age computer. The principle strengths of Daisy is its DATA BASE MANAGEMENT and DISK DRIVE MANAGEMENT, for which we will coin a term, "DDBMS" for “Disk Data Base Management System’. For the TS-2068 to manage complex DATA BASES there must be complete "DISK DRIVE INTEGRATION", because of the limited FREE MEMORY of the Computer.
Daisy is also a Word Processor, which also integrates DISK DRIVE in the management of word processing. And, Daisy is a DESK TOP PUBLISHING software whose features can be used to DESIGN SPECIAL PRINTING tasks. Daisy is also a "Control System" which can Manage other softwares MERGED to it, and also manage the data products of other softwares. DAISY IS BIG! While it may be a bit confusing while getting started, the Friendliness of the software soon will take one into some sophisticated operations. Daisy will help you do 95% of the functions that you use your computer to do. AND, I believe that you will learn a lot about programming as you learn to use the Daisy System. Daisy is designed to DOMINATE your TS-2068, to be loaded once in the morning and stay in the computer, to accomplish all tasks needed.
Frankly, without the Daisy ~ Smart Text software combination, I would have long ago departed TS-2068 operation and picked up with another computer. I took "time out” and learned to use the Sinclair QL. And, I bought and used an IBM AT 286 System. I like the QL but Daisy allows me to do more with the TS-2068 in a better organized manner than I can do with the QL. And, I gave the IBM AT to my Son who needed it in his senior year of his Business Management courses. I operated the IBM enough to realize that the TS-2068 is hard to beat, even though the IBM clock speed is TEN TIMES that of the TS-2068. I believe that the TS-2068, with DOS, is the very best HOBBY COMPUTER in existance! I hope that Daisy will help you to achieve some of the satisfaction that I have realized while operating the TS-2068. I challenge you to learn the Daisy system so that you can do just that.
Sincerely,
Bill Jones
More Features Added
this to the
June sade major Daisy Program, *TURBO=3*
in
Having just update revisions two comes along- added. Now er “Turbo=2"
“INPUT EDIT“, the Data ba
Mode either
sore
the
“inpt.B6". two
re min Turbo=o m to Turbo=l. If you
mode the mode
had been in
changes to
takes place Menu*.
switcharoo ected “Print “Turbo=1" or Printing Program “, and “wdpro.66" MERGES The mode chang you had been in Turbo=0 mode you a
in Turbo=2 mode. If you had bi Turbo=1 mode you now in Turbo=3 mode. After the: automatic Turbo Changes the Daisy program remains in its
Turbo Mode TURBO=3 mode
in about 3K less Text Data Capacity than it would b n Turbo*l or Turbo=2.
These chan operation flow Base Management and Printing. always a Option at the Office Tools Henu to change Turbo Modes by Menu selection.
“Dbx.B6&" New Program
The NEW Data Base Software “Dbx.B6™ now replaces the “mail.B6 programs. This Obx.B6 program is, quite frankly, the best “Record” data b; program that
I am giving Dbx.Bé to
ever seen. readers of Update Magazine in the
July 1990 issue. It is a Key-in Project and a Tuterial on SORTING. Please the pages in Update magazine and
place your Oaisy Manual. “Dbx.Bé™ either by MERGING to Office Tools
y be LOADED
Since the
@ to be MERGED
Merge or Independant
“Dbx.86" and operate it as software type: RANDOMIZE bx -B6". <GO TO 1975>. efficient
To Loao stand-alone usR 100: Load it running type program epitomiz: of results TS-Z068 programs. AND, the data base is the most flexible for “all purpose use” than any other TS-2068 “record type”
The Capacity of the Data upon how large the RECORD that you yourself establish. A “one line Tel¢ list“ could contain up to 1000 names and phone nuaber The SEARCH Function is fantastic:
The Record Data Base
Then to start This
bases.
The data base is the “09¢)~ character array and is dimensioned to the user*s desires. @ normal 08 for mailing lists would be “4 lines of 31
The next will be
operating as an Record of 31 characters. capacity varies when Obx.B6 is MERGED to the Daisy prograas. In the Turbo=0 mode, when MERGED, the capacity of records is 192 Records. When Merged to Daisy in the Turbo=1 mode capacity is 131 Records, and when merged in the Turbo=zZ mode the capacity is 163 records.
Competing for FREE MEN
Characters per line. hard to bell: Wh independant
When creating Data Base Records to with the Daisy program (Mail Merge.
use or just Records for Printing, one must be aware that other data bases created by the Oaisy program COMPETES for FREE
if you want to letter then the - must be le:
For
“record data than the total progras. For Text File @axiaum size “Mail Merge” file would be reduced by 4000/124=24. (24 less records than the Obx.Bé Capacity).
example. of 4000 characters,
Print Style Macro
More Macros: Added to this set of disks are several “Macro” utilities. One is a “Printer Style Macro”. Thie one is a delightful bit of programming that gives you several new ways of printing both TEXT and HEADERS. Two
groups of utilities are in program lines 2416
2438, and 2610 through first group (2416-2438) is cheduling Headers” and is din the manual Tutorial. atest addition.
Subscript Macro
The “Subscript Macro", Lines 2610-2618. was designed to give a nice “small print*® column, and gatching LARGE HEADERS. I_ will explain by “Go sus Entry <GO SUB 2610> Sets up for Printing of a special Style SET ELITE
through
Points". Coluan It first
40 character coluans, per page (allowing bottom margine). TAB to print is Tas 6 for a left column to print. <GO SUB 2610> to do this type of column can be done anytime while in the OIRECT MODE (Break-in).
Special Headers Too
<GO SUB 2610> can be ed to the Column Print” in the user “usrpgm.86". Still this Macro is to the styles, and print a Header. works this way: HEIGHT and then ets the “coluan
OR, “schedule programming lines of another way of using <GO SUB 26102 to set then <GO SUB 2616> to Macro at line 2616 It first SETS EXPANDED EXPANDED WIOTH, then r: center" to half", then it does a <GO SUB 262Z2> to PRINT THE HEADER. When that is done Line 2622 comes into play CANCEL DOUBLE HIGH and COUBLE WIDTH
reset column center to “previous”. you'll be back into the nice “Subscript Macro”.
Key Variables
Mention tha the “Page or - must be set into variable The Header prints in reference to @g-. Also the “HEADER OATA™ must put into “MS" first, av <LET QQ=page Center: LET s$="Header": GO SUB 2616>. This routine at line 2616 can be us separately to “Schedule Giant Headers Try that in the Oirect mode with any print styl A more detailed run-down on this “Subscript Macro” is given in the July 1990 issue of Update Magazine You can add that article to your manual.
Printer Control Codes
COMMANDS to the Printer to SET ELITE, SET SUBSCRIPT. SET DOUBLE HIGH. SET DOUBLE WIDE, and to CANCEL each, is the codes used with my EPSON Compatable "KXP-1124" You may need to edit th with tho: EPSON compatables should work as is.
Details
The programaing at Line #2622 does the following: 1. Cancels Subscript: 2. Cancels Oouble Hig 3. Cancels Oouble Wid 4.Restores Line Spacing to 3/16
The
inch (60 lines per Page). The way to use this line is to <GO SUB 2622> fro eit
a line of programming in the “usrpgm.B6
program lines. Now lets see how these two groups of “Print Macro Programs* can be used.
Using Direct Mode
OIRECT MODE: <GO SUB 2610) to set
szose text thie page.
text using the Daisy nenu will print in the format shown in
spacing
HEADERS in the Direct Mode: 2416> prints large headers a:
in this page. Note that the head: TWO PAGE LINES, vo a line space and after the headers is appropriate. <GO SUB sp> gets 2 line spac: This is
than LPRINT because the line is
counted for page control.
Header Position
<GO_ SUB 2416> prints a Double High
Header for whatever print style your is in. This uses the “current*
or variab. ¢aq) for
reference and Current Print Style.
$GO SUB 2436> prints a GIANT HEADER, and
t returns to The header siz
upon your Current
position of the Header print is “PAGE CENTER” if NOT in the (format Menu) sode of Column Printing. If in the Coluan Print Mode as set at the Format menu. the giant header prints at “Column Center”. :
Expand Width Problem
must be careful to not exceed number of characters in the header EXPANDS beyond column width.
Column width = 50, then the max characters in the header 40 characters for FULL or about 12 to be centered in the Column Print
one
number (PICA) PAGE over Node.
width, the coluan
Escaping the Macro
<GoO SUB 2622> returns to Normal
“Sub: ipt Macro” (line
place; you in ELITE
standard style because ELITE Subscript wae set when you (GO SUB 2610 >. Also, the line spacing is re-set back to 3/16 inch lines to give a normal page lensth
Also, if you had been in DOUBLE HIGH or OOUBLE WIDTH character aode tho printer settings would be cancelled. ;
Auto Macros
Print in
of 60 lines.
Macros were the Automatic Yo be SCHEDULED *usrpgm.B6" lines (line 2182 2276). For Exaaple This Paragraph will be the fifth para of the doc that I°m typing- or “H#(S)". I will edit line #2188 (that schedules Hs(5) to print) and make it read: $2188 LET aS="AUtO Scheduling”: GO SUB sp: GO SUB 2616: GO SUB sp: LET we=hs(5): GO SUB tels GOSUB sp>
How it Works
aboye action flow will: 1. Get a Line space (GO SUB sp), 2. Get a Large Header (GO SUB 2616): 3. Get a Line space (GO SUB sp): 4. Put the H8(5) data in "ws" (LET we=hs(5): 5. send the data to be printed (GO SUB tel): 6. Get a line space before the next paragraph is printed (GO SUB sp). any of the ‘usrpgm.B6" lines can be edited and ‘print scheduling” inserted for print out during a Auto Print Event.
Walk before Running
This treatsie will come as a shocker becaus it takes you into advanced operations before you have read the manual or practiced using the Daisy system. Juet insert the page in the back of the book to “get rountuit™ at the proper time. It will eventually become 4 valuable guide to doing SPECIAL PRINTING. Also you can learna bit about PRINTER PROGRAMMING for style change sanipulations within an operating
These designed Printing within through
special for use environment-
The
were done ed above. Data wore schedu.
automatically printed “from Disk
13
12 VOLT MODIFICATION
This little mod. helps clean up the picture and the con- puter runs cooler, especially if you have more than one peripheral attached.
Using proper care open your beloved 2668. Using figure #1, find the 78L12 voltage reg- ulator, It looks like = an ordinary transister (only good for millianps}. Using great care renove it, Hake sure the holes are cleaned out, How install the
7OHi2 Clarger for more current).
Radio Shack part #276-1771 about $1.20, Use figure #2, note that it is the BACK of the regulator that. should be facing up.
Hou for the test. tove everything auay fron the cir- cuit board, without the keyboard attached, power up. Your 2068 should display the copyright notice. If it does not, pouer off _immediately!! Check the orientation of the 7812. If you have a volt meter check the input. and output.
After all goes well put your 2068 back together and gaze into your nice clean picture,
By William E. MCKeluey
Inspired by Tim Stoddard TIME DESIGNS Vol.3 No.5
INSIDE YOUR 2@68
RF MOOULATOR
Joystick Sieee co
Figure #1
RF MODULATOR aus
7en12 back is facing uP
Figure #2
Power Supplies available William E. M°Kelvey 744 Wall Road
Spring Lake Heights, NJ 07762
(201) 974-0297
FD-ZX FLOPPY DISK INTERFACE
UNGFFICIAL TECHNICAL MANUAL AND FURTHUR INFORMATION FOR THE FD-ZX FLOPPY DISK INTERFACE THE ZX8i RERCO DISK SYSTEM
BY
DONALD S. LAMBERT 13@1 KIBLINGER PLACE AUBURN, IN 46726 TELE: (219) 925-1472
WITH HELP FROM THE FOLLOWING: , Saat RICHARD MATEJOVIC FRED STERN FRANK DAVIS JERRY OF AERCO
THIS IS A PUBLIC DOMAIN PUBLICATION. FEEL FREE TO COPY AND OR PASS GN REALIZING THAT NO ONE ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DAMAGE TO HARDWARE QR SGFTEWARE RESULTING FROM USE GF INFORMATION PRESENTED HERE.
This publication is dedicated ta the FD~ZX Flappy Disk users. This is ta be = source of information for the FD-ZX users. If you know of anyone using the ZX81 and the AERCD disk interface please let them know of this publication and/ar let me know of them by supplying me with their mailing address.
For these still using the ZX81 (MicroAce, ZX8@ with 4K ROM, ZxXB8@ with BK ROM, the ZX81 ard the T/S 122 ard possibly the T/S 15@@ (1 do rot believe the PC83@@ will work since the hardware is different) AERCO is still manufacturing them alowg with avything else they have manufactured for the T/S computers. I believe that the price is arcund $179.@@ but am net sure. That is just far the interface, BOOT disk and necessary ' cables, the disk drives, case and power supply are extra. The on beard EPROM for the disk comtroller has ta be programmed for the disk drives you will use. Alsa, the disk drives have to have a minor alteration done ta get the +5 and +12 volts supply to the disk controller board. The interface will handle any Shugart standard drive but you have to have all drives the same speed arid the same track access time. The drive sizes run from 3 inch te 8 inch (single denisty only on the 8 inch) and the speed from G© to 30 msec and the tracks 35/42/82. I am mot absolutely sure that single sided and double sided disks carn be used together. It is best ta call them for furthur information. The address and a working telephone number as of @2 28 1991 is:
AERCO (ACME ELECTRIC ROBOT CO); BOX 16293; AUSTIN, TX 7876@; TELE: (S12) 451-5874.
The FD-ZX EPROM nermally cccupies the region from 12K (12288) decimal ta 14K (14336) decimal (38@@ tc 34@@ HEX) but carn be ordered special to put it in another location which may require a change cn the board. The special EPROM can be at (8/1@/14K) but ther the all USR calls must be changed accordingly. (*#* I wonder if more than cre EPROM could occupy the toard se that different disk drives ccould be used? ***) If yau are
17
UPDATED MARCH 1,195:
FD-ZX FLOPPY DISK INTERFACE
using 64K the particular area of the 8 ta 16K that the EPROM uses will have tc be switched cut.
The T/S 2@4@ printer may cause prablems with its electronic noise.
The DOS cecupies 8K sc a mirumun cof 16k RAM has ta be installed te use the system BOOT disk. (#** Can one fly blind anc use USR calis ta SAVE and LOAD sc that more than GK can be it a program with crly 16K ram added? ***)
TI bought my sytem sight unseen from a perser ain California. He was reluctant ta ship since he could not get the BOOT disk to LOAD. I agreern to accept it as is. I alse had problems with the BOOT disk only since I had the drive case apern I could see the warm an the disk track mechanism avd it seemed ta be slow or jerky. Sa I put in a blank disk and rar it awhile with the RAND USR 133@3 till it seemed more perky and ther it would LOAD the HOOT disk. After a little playing with the sytem I wert to the SMUG FEST and net long after that we were irvolved in buying a house and packing ta mere and just a few days ago I got the ald AERCO system cut and started ta play with it again. I did note that the storage space on the disk was small but sc it is with the Larker: ZX81 system. That and net being able ta name the file at the time of SAVE like om other systems did turn me aff criginally. And my system has a single sided disk drive cmly. But recently I tried ta SAVE a pragram ar the Larken system and it would net SAVE ard I learned that I had ta POKE iv the starting address and the length af the machine cade ta SAVE a pragram with machine cade. And two FD-ZX disk drives are in the lacal users group plus there is ancther user in LISTirng. Sc it was with renewed interest that I got back to the FD-ZX floppy system.
But the disk drive an my system bugged me, and ther I gat a mare recent copy af a FD-ZX manual and le and beheld I saw that with my system the maximum number of pages with a single sided drive is 4 ard 16 with a deuble sided drive and with the new manual it gives 1@ for single sided and 22 for double sided drives — but the marual alsc calls cut the S pages as maximum for 35 track single sided and 16 for double sided 35 track and 10 for single sided 4@ track and 2&@ for deuble sided 4@ track. find in my manual and the newer manual the USR calls for 35 track 8 pages and 16 pages are the same. Gre mystery sclved, I have a 35 track single sided drive. My marual alse referenced te 8 inch drives which are single density and fram casual comversation I believe are 35 track drives. Sa i will need ar EPROM ta be able ta charge cover ta 4@ track drives. And pessible a rew HOGT disk, I suspect that if 1 SAVEd the BOOT program ta cassette and reLOADed after I have the 4@ track EPROM ther I would have it. He easier with a BOOT disk in 4@ track though. As I wrote before it cenld be deme with USR calls but you could nat read the directary sa yau
would be working blind.
I have heard of scmecne that has wrote a routine ta name the directary as you SAVEd the page. I will try to get a capy af that oragram.
like the Larkern, SADOS will SAVE machine cede with no pokes. That
would be better than Larker and besides ©! pages om a disk over 16 is much better, ar sheuld I say 19 since one is the BOOT program.
16
UPDATED MARCH 1, 1991
286 Ascii Translation Programs
How is it that different computers can ‘talk' to each other? A standard was developed called Ascii, Each letter, number and symbol is assigned @ rumber from 0 to 255, Numbers from 0 to 125 consist of the syubols on your keyboard. Numbers above that are different for each computer .
When you have a text file it is sometimes called an Ascii file. It just consists of the letters orm your keyboard. Usually formatting commnds for the word processor are not included.
So it should be simple to send Ascii btext files from one machine to another. No. There is one difference in Ascii files from different machines. Ther an invisible character on the end of each line. Different machines use different characters.
Each line on a 255 Plain Text file has a Carriage Return (CR) on the end. The QL uses a Line Feed (LF) and the PC uses a Carriage Return and a Line Feed. (CR + LF). Text files on the Macintosh use a Carriage Return (CR) like the 288.
The following program was originally written by Phil Wheeler to add a Line Feed to a 268 Plain Text file so that the file could be printed.
‘ I modified the program to convert a Z68 Plain Text file to an Ascii file that could be used on a QL or s PC. There is no conversion needed to send ‘Ascii text files back and forth between a 268 and a Macintosh. By Dave Bennett 10 *NAME QLLF ' 3 REM Modified version to produce QL compatible ascii files ie LF on end . of each line. 20 BS=CHR&( 1)+"B' : FLS=CHRS( 1) +R" 30 CLS: PRINT TAB( 31,0)BS"Z88 QLLF Utility"Bs
40 PRINT TAB(16,2)"File to process <ENTER to end>: ";:INPUTFS 50 IF FS="" THEN CLE:END ELSE PRINT TAB(16,3)" Output File: " ; : INPUTGS
60 F=OPENIN( F€):G=CGPENOUT(G$)
70 PRINT TAB(35,5)FLS"Working..."FL®
80 H=BGETHF:IF H=10 THEN 120
85 IF H<>13 THEN 90 ELSE BPUTHG,10:GOTO 100
90 BPUT#G,H
100 IF EOF#F THEN CLOSE#0:PRINTCHRS(7);:GOTO 30 ELSE 80
120 PRINT CHR®(7)TAB(14,5)B8"This file ALREADY has at least one LF=CHRS(10) in it"BS:CLOZE#0 : END
10 *NAME CRLF 15 REM Modification of Z&8 ADDLF Utility 18 REM Produces PC compatible ascii file - CR and LF on end of each line. 20 BS=CHRS( 1)+"B" : FLS=CHRS(1)+"F" 30 CLS:PRINT TAB(31,0)B$"Z88 CRLF Utility"BS 40 PRINT TAB(16,2)"File to process <ENTER to end>: "j:INPUTFS SQ IF Fgé="" THEN CL8:END ELSE PRINT TAB( 18,3)" Output File : "3: INPUTGS 60 F=GPENIN( FS) :G=OPENOUT( G6 ) 70 PRINT TAB(35,5)FLS"Work 80 H=BGET#F:IF H=10 THEN 120 65 IF H<>13 THEN 90 ELSE BPUT#G,13:BPUTHG,10:GOTO 100 90 BPUT#G,H 100 IF EQF#F THEN CLOSEtG:PRINTCHRS(7);:GOTO 30 ELSE é0 120 PRINT CHRS(7)TAB(14,5)B$"This file ALREADY has at least one LF=CHR#(10\ in it"BS:CLOSE#¢: END 19
4 Few Z66 CLI Applications
Here are a few applications for the Z86 CLI. The CLI is a built-in Macro Language. It is similar to Macros on other machines. You car program the CLI's or you can open a file and all your keystrokes are gaved. When you execute the file it appears that the commands are typed on the keyboard VERY rapidly.
This file sets the baud rate on the Z66:
9600.cli
Un U"USB00US6007E
Bubstitute whatever Baud Rate you need. such as 1200, 2400 ete
When you select files on the Z86 you must type the full file name unless you have alresdy selected the Device/Directory. There are two defaults to select on the 288. One default is in the Filer end the other is in the Panel. This CLI sets both defaults for you. So after you execute this file you only have to type the file name that you want to use.
2.cli *
“UTETR”R°R°R*R”RX27E“As™D~D" DR” R°R7R-R-RXQ7E
Substitute 1 and 0 for the 2 in the file. Put 1 and O.cli in 'RAM.2. Put 0 and 2.cli in :RAM.1. Put 1 and 2.cli in :RAM.0. Just Execute the files to set the default for one of the other devices.
Here sre a few useful CLI files if you use a modem on the 265. Wher you are online with the Z88 and you want to save the incoming text from the Modem, press the [] (Square) key, the + key and the § key. Everything that appears on the screen is saved into a file called iRAM.-/S8.SGN. When you want to end the text that is saved press [1-8. Now execute the following CLI file. (s.cli) It will copy the file to ?RAM.1 and to Pipedream. It will aiso erase the original :RAM.- file. It is important that all :RAM.- files are erased as soon as you use them. There is a buy in Version (2.2/3.0) of the OZ operating system. If you have a :RAM.- file present and_you do @ soft reset it tends to screv-up the computer. You can have-all sorts of strange problems! So it is best to delete any :RAM.- files ae soon as you are finished with then.
s.cli
WA-SISV™R°RR™RTR™R™X-“ETR™E*L [COT RAM, 1/5. txt“ E~E"R°E”L I ERTE : ISV"RTRR°R"R’R*XITE #PIFLe. txt “EI NS0~Dya"E
And lastly here is = OL] file to delete that :RAM.- file so that you wont have any weird problems.
e.cli
ELE
AM .-/*-ENTESC
Type the files in Pipedream end save as plain text then Execute from the Filer! ao----- The End !! {| 1 ------- By Dave Bennett
A program to make spreadsheets easier
For those occasional times when you run across a neat spreadsheet that is listed in a book or magazine in some- thing like the format below, this program will make your life easier.
Al “This ls a spreadsheet!”
O56 (A2+A4)/.34
and so on.
Just type it in and save it. Change the occurrences of CHR$(32) to a space with a
Names & numbers
Macro Systems
Salt Lake City UT (801) 575-8855 Fax: (801) 364-6050
Sharp's Inc.
Box 326 Mechanicsville VA (804) 730-9697 Fax: (804) 746-1978
quote on both sides of it.
When running, type careful- ly and follow instructions. Z88 'TENNIES This program is not flaw- Cy
less and it's offered as a start-
ing point. a Good luck!
1 CLS: PRINT “SPREADSHEETER cc. 1900 C. Claar":'L$="": NUM-«1: “NAME SSer
2 PRINT: INPUT "Destination File "; FILES: IF FILE$="": VDU7: .GOTO 2: ELSE: DS% = OPENOUT(FILE$): PRINT#DS%, “#P"
3 PRINT: PRINT “Begin entry. Type END when done.”: PRINT =“ EXAMPLES: AA17 }'This Is a string.” = 58 DS55+4E55 16 <--- Width of COLG to 16" |
4 PRINT “Source Line #°; NUM;: INPUT L$: NUM=NUM¢+1: IF IN- STR(L$.CHR$(32))=0 AND L$ <> "END" AND L$ <> *": VDU7: NUM-=NUM-1: PRINT “MUST HAVE ASPACE!":GOTO4 =.
5 IF L$ <> "END" AND L$ <> “"; GOTO 7: ELSE: CLS: PRINT "NOTE: Most typing errors will be detected by this program or by PipeDream.": CLOSE#DS%
6 PRINT TAB(5,2); “To make use of what you've just done:”; TAB(8,3); "1. Be rough on ONE copy of PipeDream";
IG
TAB(8,4);*2, Add enough rows and columns to allow for spread- sheet you entered”; TAB(8,5); ‘3, Go to the Filer and Execute the CLI file’: END
7 IF AANSTR(LS$,7) = 1: C$ = MIDS(L$, 2, INSTR(L$,CHR$(32})-2): WS = RIGHTS(LS, LEN(L$) - INSTRILS, CHR$(32))+1): L$ ="|W" + WS + "~DY" + C$ + "~E": GOTO 10
8 IF INSTR(L$, CHR$(34)) <> INSTR(L$, CHR$(32) ) + 1: S$ = LEFTS(L$, INSTA(L$,CHR$(32))-1): C$@RIGHTS(L$, LEN(LS) - INSTAILS, . CHR$(32))):L$="|CGS" + S$ + “~E" + *|X" + C$ + “-E":
‘010
9 IF INSTR(L$, CHR$(34)) « INSTR(L$, CHR$(32)) + 1: S$ = LEFTS$(L$, INSTR(L$,CHR$(32))-1): C$ = RIGHT$(L$, LEN(L$) - INSTR (L$,CHA$(32))-1): IF INSTR(C$, CHA$(34)) » 0: VDU7: PRINT “MISSING A QUOTE": NUM»@NUM-1: GOTO 4: ELSE: CS=LEFTS(CS, LEN(CS) - 1): $= “|CGS” + S§ + *“E" + C$: GOTO 10
10 PRINT#DS%, L$: GOTO 4
Do you belong to QUANTA yetr
The QL User and Tinkerer Association is an independent QL User
Group based in the UK. includes more than 60 in North America.
Worldwide membership of more than 2000 Annual membership of
£17.00 may be charged to Visa/Mastercard by writing Philip Borman,
1 Newtown Road,
RAUNDS, Northants, NN9 6LX, Telephone (0933) 460690.
United Kingdom. Benefits of membership include the monthly .
newsletter of tips and reviews by airmail and access to over 20 Megabytes of free software in the QUANTA library.
21
REQUESTS FROM UPDATE SUBSCRIBERS by Frank Davis
We have had a few requests over the last year of things that our readers would like to see covered in our pages. As I have neither the time or expertise to write for all of them, Iam throwing them out to the general readership and vendors to come up with some material on these subjects.
Harry Spencer, dr of Huntsville Alabama, would like to see us have some articles on Forth as a programming language on the Sinclair line of computers. He also requests that we not make the print too small, so that he can read it.
Howard Chegwidden of Dover, New Jersey, asked for more issue disks for the Aerco FD-68. He also asks if when we do list a TS2068 program for typing in, that we please list what changes are necessary, line by line, to get it to run on the FD-68. We have brought back one Aerco disk in this issue if you check the back pages. Next issue we will be bringing back at least one other one, plus some FD-68 listings.
Carl Rink of Sunnyvale, California, would like to see any suggestions for emulation of MSDOS programs on the TS2068 format and is using Larken. I do believe that in the User Group library of the Toronto Sinclair Club they have a program to read MSDOS disks on the Larken. He would like any suggestions from people who want to work on an emulator for this. I notice that he uses an Olivetti Inkjet printer, so he may be interested in our new issue disk for CAD which is available with an Olivetti CAD version driver. This printer is excellent for graphics and printed circuit board work.
Eliad P. Wannum has reminded me to tell all of you QL users out there to occasionally take out all of your microdrive cartridges and either load them a few times or do a few DIRs on them, even if they are archival or not used very much. If allowed to sit too long without the tape moving, then the tape inside will start to stick together and that mdv cartridge is lost, along with all data on it. Also, do not store them in an overly warm place, as well as keeping both mdv cartridges and disks out of direct sunlight. The ultra violet light tends to break down all plastics over time. Store in the dark or covered.
Does any one out there know if 288 FAX NEWS is still publishing? How about any other 288 newsletters or magazines? Also, several of our readers want to know on what BBS or data services they can find sections or boards dealing with the 288. Last of all, where do you send a°Z88 to get it repaired? It appears that Mark Stuber is still advertising the Z88 for sale in ads in Computer Shopper. Macro Systems is still selling 288s. Anyone else?
CONNECT A COMPOSITE TTL MONITOR TO A TS1000/QL by Jim Harrell -
I have included a schematic of a circuit I built to connect a composite monochrome signal (TS1000/QL) to a TTL input monitor. The circuit strips the sync pulses and then’ separates the horizontal (H) and vertical UV 2% and generates the CH) horizontal pulses while the (V) is active. Most TTL monitors require continuous (H) horizontal pulses to provide a signal to generate the high voltage to the CRT (cathode ray tube). The TS1000 stops sending (H) pulses while the (V) pulses are active. The circuit provides the inverse of the H & V signals too. Some TTL monitors need them to be inverted from what the TS1000 or QL provides. For any assistance on this you may send a SASE to Jim at 3545 S. Dupont Ave. #2, MPLS, MN 55408-4022. Jim promises soon to give us an article on repairing QL microdrive units.
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COMPUTER MEANDERING by E.P.Wannum
I am back again to share with you both those things I have found out about Sinclair computers and those questions I still have unanswered. These thoughts are not particularly ordered, but that is why I call them meanderings.
First of all a tip for those who are fairly new to the QL and who have heard other users talking about what ROM version they are using. Did you ever get curious at that time as to “which version do I have?" How to find out? Fire up your computer and type in the following: PRINT VERS, and then hit the enter key. In the upper left hand corner of the screen you should see something like: AH, JM, JS, JSU, MG, MGUK, or MGUS, etc. Now ask your favorite QL guru just what that means. These are all different versions of the operating system and built in Super Basic for your computer.
Now I am going to alternate with a question. I recently got together with Frank Davis and he showed me some used Schoen keyboards: that were meant to replace membrane and keys used on the QL. These are a few years old, and need some minor repair to the connectors. What he did not have was instructions or any data sheets on them. Anyone out there who has this information or other data on them..... please contact us or send us a copy so we can get them up and running.
I have a similar request on the ABC MEGA RAM board. Both
Paul Holmgren and I have one each already installed in computers
that appear to be working, but not accessing the extra RAM. 1 have been told that the command RAMEX will access the extra memory. I still need to know information as to how this partitioned up and how to add the ‘other two possible megs of memory. You probably guessed we have no docs for these also.
Here’s a tip for those of you that have and use Tony Tebby’s Super Toolkit II. After initializing TK II, amd you have a disk that is full of files, here is a useful trick to limit the amount of files you need to check when you do a DIR (the command used to get a listing of files on a disk). For example you only want to know about DOC files on the disk, so type in WDIR flp1_DOC, and it will list out only those files ending in the DOC suffix.The same goes for ABA, etc. I have found this does not work on my Gold Card version of TK II, so perhaps there has been a change somewhere along the way. I will jet you know more on this if I find out. The ROM version on my Gold Card is 2.25, so perhaps this is just another bug in it. One thing I' have noticed in it that I consider a bug is it’s disregard of 360K disk drives. It will not format disks on them as 360K (720 sectors). It tries to format them as 720K disks and falsely tells you that you have 1440 sectors. You will have problems if you try to use this disk. This also creates read/write problems when trying to use the standard 360K disks while using PC Conqueror or Solution or the CPM emulators on the QL. I wrote to Miracle about this and hope for a new ROM soon. 720, 1.4 and 3.2 drives seem to have no problem with this ROM version on the Gold Card.
While on the subject of Toolkit II, did all of you know that with TKII you can overwrite existing files, and are politely asked if you wish to do so? When you do not have this utility and are just in Super Basic, you are told you can not overwrite the existing file. This makes TKII very handy for updating existing files.
Miracle Systems has been shipping the 3.2 drives to work with their Gold Card and have sort of promised to have their new VGA Graphics card out for the QL later this year. Besides 256 colors it will also have a parallel port and a true serial port for the OL. The QL is not dead!
NEW COMMANDS EFFECTIVE WITH JLO SAFE V2.6
The following conmands have been added to JLO SAFE V2.6. All previous commands are still available with no changes:
1) CAT /n This new command will change the way JLO SAFE performs a CATalog. The command is similar to DIR W on an MSDOS computer. Argument n must be in the range 0-255 or number out of range error. Default CAT /n value of zero sets SAFE to perform a normal CATalog as it has always done in previous versions. A value of n greater than zero specifies the number of columns for SAFE to perform an abbreviated wide CATalog listing. Each column of this abbreviated catalog requires 16 character positions. Thus, you can get 1 or 2 columns on the screen in 32 column mode or 1-4 columns on the screen in 64 column mode. If output is sent to the printer via opening channel#2 to the Oliger printer port, you can print as many columns as your printer can handle (or you desire). Once an argument other than zero is used in this command, the computer will remember the number of columns requested and perform wide CATs at this setting on future uses of CAT and CAT /. To return SAFE to its normal CATalog mode, perform a CAT /n with an argument of zero. EG: CAT /2 CAT /O CAT /cols
2) RUN /"FN" CODE This command will load a BYTES machine code file into the B Bank buffer at location 3800H, and CALL it. Exactly 1760 (O6E0H) bytes will always be loaded to this location. If the actual file is shorter, additional bytes will be whatever is physically on the disk following the file. If file is longer than 1760 bytes it will be truncated. At the time of calling the machine code, Basic’s pointers will point just past the CODE token following the filename. In this way, the machine code loaded at 3800H can further interpret the line to perform as desired. After the CALL, all bytes will be skipped by SAFE until an end of statement marker (CR or “:7) is found. In this way, SAFE itself could be expanded further or machine code can easily be run without use of home ram or the hassle of where to load & how to access. Bear in mind when writing machine code to be run in this way, that the SAFE B Bank WILL be turned on at time of calling your code. Access to the normal Basic rom must be made using SAFE°s RST 20H call ran function. Example programs demonstrating how this is accomplished is included on a separate sheet. EC: RUN /"BIUESCR$"CODE RUN /"My way"CODE 1234567890
3) GosuUB / This command does exactly what RUN /"FN"CODE above does, but skips the actual loading of the machine code. It is used to reCALL machine code previously loaded via RUN /"FN"CODE. If the RUN / command has not been executed since power-up, the report "FILE NOT FOUND" will be returned. Again, further arguments can be added to the line and SAFE will skip them after the call and at syntax check time. Your machine code will NOT be called except at run time. EG: GOSUB / GOSUB / "I will need this text for my machine code"
4) The British pound sign has been made a single character “wild card" that will match any other character.
5) An attempt was made to park the drive“s head on track 1 instead of track zero as SAFE use to leave it. Hopefully, this will result in making the system less likely to corrupt the very important track zero CAT entrys and disk information areas, at the expense of making the system more likely to corrupt your first file. Of course, the corruption should very rarely ever occur in the first place, but I felt it wise to at least attempt to leave the drive “parked” NOT qver the CAT entrys when SAFE gives up control of the computer.
Although items #2 & #3 are geared towards the more technically oriented user, I feel their availability will benefit the non-technical user via RUN / & GOSUB /' subroutines developed by the more advanced users for use by all. Update magazine would be a good place for this kind of exchange to take place. If you come up with something interesting, send it to Frank Davis at Update and share it with us all.
Thanks, -John Oliger 29
This little routine will take the text starting at variable TEXTBEG and send it to the screen. This routine is intended to be used with the Oliger SAFE DOS RUN /"FN" and GOSUB / commands. End of text is marked with a 00 character.
ORG 3800 All RUN/GOSUBS must start at location 3800H START 2000 Rom will start at 2000H 3800 SSWRITE LD DE, ODAF Spectrum clear screen routine LD A, (378A) Get Timex/Spectrum flag AND A Test flag JR NZ,SPEC 380C Jump if Spectrum ron LD DE,O8EA Timex CLS routine 380C SPEC PUSH DE Address to call onto stack RST 20H Clear the screen LD DE,1601 Spectrum open channel #A routine LD A, (378A) Get Timex/Spectrum flag AND A Test flag JR NZ,SPEC2 381A Jump if Spectrum rom LD DE,1230 Timex open channel routine 381A SPEC2 PUSH DE Call address to stack LD A,02 Set for channel #2” RST 20H 7 Open channel #2 LD HL, TEXTBEG Point to start of text 3821 SENDLOOP LD A, (HL) Get character AND A Test character RET Z Done if CHRS$ 0 INC HL Bump PUSH HL n Save pointer LD HL,0010 Point to Basic’s print chr A routine PUSH HL Call address to stack RST 20H Print the character POP HL Retrieve pointer JR SENDLOOP 3821 Loop to send next character
Start of text to print
382E TEXTBEG DB “This text is being generated by a machine language routine” DB “being. accessed.and run by the JLO SAFE RUN / command.“ DB “This is- just a little demo of something that ‘can- be DB “accomplished via use of this command.” DB “It is hoped that really innovative uses are made of this new” DB “command, and that those who DO come up with some good uses send~ DB “me and perhaps UPDATE MAGAZINE a copy for others to benefit! DB “Best of luck & have fun, -John Oliger” DB 00
Z80 CODE FROM .3800 TO .39D5
ERRORS = 0 BYTES ASSEMBLED = O1D6
26
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Eq orey Enterpr Eno eo [ei
an tape 38H
pal tapes. ea
AERCO, S&H
(LEDOS SD ugiaie eee tee: 8 S2H
ri “ulator y or Ses ne eh 38H
Erihancer?... 52H
34 - 32H
Coanvert. 7 r S&H an this Tet “SEH a
CR/M CE ftware (new). cs...
CP/M-26, CP/M ~8a)
ors CCPL and BOs imated Debugger ‘803 : rf “cham or DO: .
ttetetetaes
288 5.00
this tiet
jete listing of CP/M software availabl | (Neews manu Cor send SASE w/ 52 cents a har doopy?.
format. NCLATR Hardware. ..eaee
Used/Tested, CPU/Kybd on 3 Yuues Tested w/CPU, Manual, Cabl Tested w/CPU, Manual, PS Tested w/ CPU Manual, PS Printer wh 1 “hed paper.
ly Only used? Ware is subject
w+htetee
BS Disk Drive Interface......... Board. rid
ILO bepane son
°B’ with J
* Combtuat
s A and B
CP/M software available on any UNIFORM Supported
Eq Grey Enterprises’ Price List fall/Wanter ‘91 Boards A, B, Expan., and cable... .$156.00/ Fortess
allel (Centronics) Pr are Board. .- Board with Assembled and Te Centronics Cable fo
sectrum Joystick Fort
NOTE: The ILO Printer Port and availab with old edge traces for an additinc card.
ANY JLO pr canbina of in the cantiguous st S&H = $5.00,
**Other T/S ecific BVGaaeeeee wee
I/F ae 7/0 Card Asgenbly Trstructin ans w/2O50 Modens Ss (new, untested? ween SSIS.
ecific Software and Be
tested): Flight Simulator
Horace Goes Gulpman
Hungry Horace Grafist
YURSD “ Spelling 1 Circuit Board Scrabble Wordcrass Penetrator ~ Casing
Androids Guardiar
Keyboard Tutorial, Turtle Graphics, Home Acct. (1 tape?
T/S1@06 Software Cused, tested):
Checkbook Manager Automata le Analyzer Home Improvement Flanner Hot Z (T/51 860)
The Organizer - Ledger/Journal Inventory Acct Invoice Central
NOTE: All of the above software titles are priced at $5.00 eac h
or any & for OO, S&H is $2.56 for first cassette plus cents for each additional title All] tities are subject availability, give alternate choices if possible. NOTE: titles are missing documentation...
Timex/SINCLAIR Books: T/S2068 Beginner/Intermediate Guide ...- T/S2068 Intermediate/Advanced Guide .. both of the above books” Munchers ; The Ultimate T/S Games Book .. Vu-Calc and Mu-File, Getting Serious w/ T. Tantalizing Games fdr T/S2080 s Profile M4. nelair S Spec trun omputing The Hac reas Handbaoe Your TS AIR 1606: Astronam ubrout ines: an T/ Into Yo a Manual Manual Manual .
specifics 1$6! 60
+ $5.00
~£4.50 4.§
THe ee tetetetet eee Ata then ALDEATA LAR eget fe <
NOTE: _utless herwise indicate toim gt comeaition aeihel Pp are &
Mingmunm S&H
Hardware? Cable Ge" 36
MECHANICAL AFFINITY CATALOG
' ‘ , The following are now available from Mechanical Affinity for your Sinclair home or business computer. Most items listed are available in quantity. Orders may be placed by check or money order to either Paul Holmgren,5231 Wilton Wood Ct., Indianapolis In, 46254 317-291-6002 , ....0or to Frank Davis, 513 East Main St., Peru, In 46970 317-473-8031. Do not make the check out to Mechanical Affinity. All funds are in U.S. dollars, and include postage paid except where noted to include additional packing and insurance. BOOKS
SYNCWARE NEWS Vol. 1 $8 All volume 1 issues bound in one book
TOURING THE TS2068 ROM OPERATING SYSTEM by WIDJUP $12
QL TECHNICAL GUIDE $15
QL SERVICE MANUAL $12 extras & new items
Replacement or backup power supply for the QL, no serious user should be without one. Available for only $15.
Micro Drive Cartridges 4 for $15
MDV labels, 3 sheets for $1.25. For the QL.
QL replacement membranes for keyboard $15.
Disk Drives, half height 3 1/2 and 5 1/4. Order from Paul at $55
@ for 3 1/2 or 5 1/4, or $165 for dual 3 1/2’s w/ case & power.
Panasonic KX-3131 Daisy Wheel Printer, with extra ribbons and print wheels for $115, includes P. & H. Parallel Interface.
Towa Daisy Wheel Printer with extra ribbons and print wheels, parallel interface, QUME compatible for ribbons and print wheels. For only $115, includes P. & H.
5 1/4" 360K or 729K disks with Tyvek sleeves-- 100 for $18.00
IBM Keyboards, 101 keys PC-AT types, for $15 each.
LOTUS 1-2-3, new never used fullpackage with registration papers for only $75. For IBM or Compatible or @L IBM Emulator. Commodore 1520 Color Plotter Printer with John McMichael Board
that allows this to be used on TS2068 with Oliger motherboard. Includes software, all for only $100. Rotronics Wafadrive, two 128K stringy floppy drives, parallel and serial printer ports, Spectrum mode only, for $90. NEW GOLD CARD FOR THE QL. THIS ALLOWS YOU TO HAVE 2 MEG OF MEMORY, 16 MEGAHERTZ SPEED. upto 4 times the present speed of your QL, AND USE UPTO THREE DRIVES INCLUDING THE 1.4 AND NEW 3.2 MEG DRIVES. HAS FULL TK2 AND EVEN INCLUDES THE CODE FOR OPERATING A’ WINCHESTER HARD DRIVE (hard drive interface and hard drive not included). All of this for only $500 plus $10 for insurance and handling. We take care of any import duty. Prepayment and please allow extra time for shipping.
Full Trump Card, with TK2, and capable of 2 drives, giving you a full memory of 896K. All for only $225, insured.
Add on for QL Trump Card to allow you to use upto 4 drives and latest operating system upgrade for only $40.
NEW FOR THE Z88! Soft carrying case for the 288. Protect your notebook sized computer from accidents and the elements. This case is also handy for those with the Laser PC3, Compumate 3 or PC4. $10
' ; '
QL SOLITAIRE A REVIEW by Peter Hale
Games are not my forté, but I had seen the game of Solitaire on a friend's PC-Clone under Windows 3.0 and my father used pass cloudy afternoons in the summer playing the game with real cards,
So I bought a copy of version 1.0 for the QL from Sharp's for $19.95. It was entertaining but lacked the addiction of one variable offered on Windows - the option to play by Las Vegas gambling rules. This option is now available in version 2.01.
The game many know as Solitaire is just one of a number of solo card games and is actually called Canfield or Klondike. The deck is layed out in seven columns. The first column has one face up card; the second has one faceup and one face down, and so on through to the seventh column. The rest of the deck is placed face down.
The object is to move aces to the foundation and then build the suites through to kings.
Points are given for various achieve- ments 10 points for playing a card from the deck to the layout, 20 for exposing a face down card in the layout
and 40 for playing a card to the foundation. To play, select whether to turn the
cards over three at a time or one at a time. If you choose the latter, the easy way, the points are halved.
On screen in white-on-green are the key codes for effecting the moves. Press D to move a card from the deck and an arrow lights under the deck. Press the number of the column to which you want to play it; F to play to the foundation; V to view the next card or cards in the deck.
A card can be played to the foundation only if there is already a card in the
same suite one number lower. To play to the layout, there must be an exposed card one number higher and of the opposite color.
Cards can be moved from column to column to expose face down cards or from a column to the foundation.
The program keeps score. If you reach an impasse, press Q to Quit the particular game. If your score qualifies you, you may enter your name on the high score table. You can play again as often as you like.
Version 2.01 now has Las Vegas rules as well. In Vegas or other gambling houses you 'buy' the deck for $52. For each card that you play to the foundation, you get back $5. The program stores a running tally of your losses and gains between sessions.
It is a particularly addictive form of playing. Some would have you believe that the current recession is tied to the release of Windows 3.0 and the preoccupation of gamblers in the workplace. I will let you decide.
Version 2.01 runs on an unexpanded QL with any ROM. A TV does not do justice to the very sharp graphics of the card faces, but it works. As with Windows 3.0 version, QL Solitaire multi- tasks. .
It is from Softshoe Software and is compiled with Q-Liberator. It comes with a short instruction manual and _ is available on a choice of disks for $19.95 ppd (plus $4.00 for micro-cartridge) from EMSoft, P.O. Box 8763, BOSTON MA 02114-0037.
DAE
MAGAZINE .
50
SORTED DIRECTORIES Bob Hartung, 2416 N. County Line Rd. E., Huntertown, IN 46748
There are times when it is desirable to have files saved in an alphabetic order for greater ease in accessing them, or simply for cosmetic reasons. This is made possible by the following listing,
which is an adaptation of the LPRINT@ 0 program I gave in the 1/91 UPDATE issue (p. 31).
Because some parts of the original listing have been revised and renumbered, it may be easier to enter DIRdatCOPY from scratch rather than trying to add it to the old one. Both programs will be in- cluded on my QL ISSUE DISK if purchased from UPDATE after 1/15/92. Earlier ver- sions of either my QL or 182068 Oliger ISSUE DISK will be updated for $2.00 P & H each if you will send me (not UPDATE) a5 1/4" 88-track copy of your original.
To use DIRdatCOPY, key 1 to transfer directory data from the selected source drive to a RAM1 file. Key 2 to re-order the DIR data and re-save it to RAM1. Key 3 to copy sorted files from drive 1 to drive 2. Key 5 to access the LPRINT@_0O routine for printing out ASCII files or listings with selected column length, width, and left margin. Key 7 to view the contents of the DIR data file in RAM1. If you do not have RAM disk: or TK2, change the listing as noted in REMarks. Change OPEN OVER to OPEN_NEW.
DIRdatCOPY
1@ REMark For microdrives change lines 2
®, 58, 68 from flp to mdv and all RAM1 r
eferences to mdv1
2@ FLP_USE flp: TK2_EXT: MODE 4: WTV
36 INPUT 'Enter YOUR printer codes in pr ompt'\' or delete lines 39-4 if not nee
ded'\\'For CPI: P=1% M=12 Panel-set Cond ns/Draft'\'Key ENTER to skip printer-set '\cpi§$: IF cpig="" THEN GO TO 58
4@ OPEN #7,ser1: PRINT #7,CHR$(27);cpi$: CLOSE #7; CLS
5@ CLS: CLS #@: INPUT #0;'Data source dr ive #';drv$: cmd$='flp' & drv$ & '_'
6@ CLS: CLS #@: PRINT 'Source drive is ' 3(drv$)\\'@ - QUIT'\'1 - Load DIR into R
AM1'\'2 - Re-order DIR in RAM1'\'3 - COP
Y sorted files from flp1_ TO flp2_'\'4 - RAM1 DIR data print-out'\'5 - Listing o r ASCII file print-outs'\'6 - Reset data
31
source drive'\'7 - View RAM1 DIR data' 7 mu=CODE(INKEY$): IF mu=@ THEN GO TO 7 8 8@ mu=mu-48: IF mu='@' THEN STOP 96 IF mu=1 THEN GO TO 559
108 IF mu=2 THEN GO TO 68%
110 IF m THEN GO TO 868
128 IF mu=4 THEN y$="": GO TO 24@
138 IF mu=5 THEN GO TO 199
149 IF mu=6 THEN GO TO 5%
15@ IF mu=7 THEN CLS: VIEW RAMi1_dirdat: INPUT #0;'Key ENTER for menu ';cpi$
16@ REMark If TK2 or RAMdisk is not avai lable, use the lines following this REMa rk and 178 REMark : 158 IF mu=7 THEN CL S: OPEN_IN #7,flp1_dirdat
170 REMark : 176 IF EOF(#7) THEN CLOSE # 7; PRINT #@;'ANY KEY FOR MENU': PAUSE: G 0 TO 6@: ELSE INPUT #7,P$: PRINT P$: PAU SE 198: GO TO 178
186 GO TO 69
199 PRINT #@;'Key F5 TO SCROLL TK2 DIREC TORY': DIR cmd$
208 INPUT #0; 'File name for print-out: ‘;y$: cmd$=cmd$ & y$
219 INPUT #@;'Use cross-slash ® y/n? 'j;c
zg
226 CLS #6: curln=@: remln=@: REMark cur rent line; remaining line
230 IF mu=4 THEN OPEN_IN #8,RAM1_dirdat: GO TO 258
248 OPEN_IN #8,cmd$
258 OPEN #7,ser1 .
268 CLS: INPUT ‘Enter zero to cancel ';(
y$)\\'No. lines this page-column: ';line s: IF lines=@ THEN CLOSE #7: CLOSE'#8: G
0 TO 58: END IF
» 278 INPUT “Columns per line: ";col
286 INPUT 'Left-margin setting: ';1m: 1m =lm-1; lmg='': lm$=lm$ & FILL$(' ',1m)
298 INPUT 'Key ENTER to skip title-print
any chr to print ';t$: IF t$ <>''
THEN tl$='': tlg$=tl$ & FILL$(' ',INT(col /2+1m)-INT(LEN(y$)/2)): PRINT #7,t1$;y$\ : PRINT #7\: END IF
3@@ REMark EPSON translation of cross-sl
ash character for zero
318 LET zr$=CHR$(27) & 'R' & CHR$(4) & C
HR$(92) & CHR$(27) & 'R' & CHR$(@)
326 cnt=@: IF t$<>''THEN cnt=2: END IF : REMark count print-lines «© i
338 IF remln<>@ THEN cnt=cnttcurln-remln > GO TO 488
349 IF EOF(#8) THEN CLOSE #7: CLOSE #8:
GO TO 5@: END IF 35@ IF cnt>=lines THEN GO TO 268: END IF 368 INPUT #8,p$: IF LEN(p$)=@ THEN p$="
'
376 1p=LEN(p$)
380 IF p$(1p)=' ' THEN lp=lp-1: END IF
398 IF cz$=='y' AND lp<=col THEN cnt=cnt
+1: PRINT #7,1m$;: FOR x=1 TO LEN(p$): I
F p$(x)='6' THEN PRINT #7,z2r$;: NEXT x:
PRINT #7: ELSE PRINT #7,p$(x);: END FOR
x: PRINT #7:END IF : END IF
408 IF cz$=='n' AND lp<=col THEN cnt=cnt
+1: PRINT #7,1m$;p$(1 TO 1p)
419 IF 1p<=col THEN GO TO 348
428 curln=INT(1p/col)
43@ DIM lin$(curln,col)
448 FOR n=@ TO curln
459 LET clp=col*n+1: IF clp>lp THEN LET
clp=lp
468 lin$(n,1 TO col)=p$(clp TO 1p)
47@ END FOR n
486 FOR k=remln TO curln
499 IF cz$=='y' THEN PRINT #7,1m$;: FOR
x=1 TO col: IF lin$(k,x)='®' THEN PRINT
#7,zr$;: NEXT x: PRINT #7: ELSE PRINT #7 »lin$(k,x);: END FOR x: PRINT #7: END IF : END IF
500 IF cz$=='n' THEN PRINT #7,1m$;lin$(k » 1 TO col)
518 cnt=cnt+1: IF cnt>=lines THEN remln=
k+1: IF remln>curln THEN remln=6: END IF : GO TO 260: END IF
52@ END FOR k
538 remin=@
54@ GO TO 346
55@ REMark DIR data to RAM1_
568 OPEN_OVER #5,RAM1_dirdat
57® DIR #5,cmd$ F
58@ CLOSE #5
598 GO TO 62
600 REMark Re-order DIR -in RAM
618 PRINT #0;'Please wait for re-orderin
628 DIM £$(268,30)
63@ OPEN_IN #5,RAM1_dirdat
649 FOR n=6 TO 200
65@ IF EOF(#5) THEN CLOSE #5: LET dirend =n: 60 TO 689
668 INPUT #5,f$(n,1 TO 30)
678 END FOR n
680 REMark DIR sort
698 LET m=dirend: s=m: cnt=@
708 LET s=INT(s/2): IF s<1 AND NOT cnt T HEN GO TO 780: END IF
71@ IF s/2=INT(s/2) THEN LET s=s+1: END
728 FOR n=2 TO m-s 738 LET cnt=@
748 LET j=n
758 IF £$(5,1 TO 4)>£$(j+s,1 TO 4) THEN LET x$=£$(j,1 TO 38):LET £$(j,1 TO 38)=f $(its,1 TO 38): LET £$(j+s,1 TO 30)=x$: LET j=j-s: LET cnt=cnt+1: IF 3>@ THEN GO TO 758: END IF : END IF
769 END FOR n
77® GO TO 768
786 REMark Save re-ordered DIR to RAM1 796 OPEN_OVER #5,RAM1_dirdat
892 FOR n=@ TO dirend
816 IF CODE(f$(n,1))=@ THEN GO TO 836 826 PRINT #5,f$(n,1 TO )
838 END FOR n
84@ CLOSE #5
858 GO TO 60
86@ REMark COPY source drive 1_ TO dest drive 2_
878 CLS
889 AT 18,0: PRINT 'Place SOURCE media i n drive 1 & DEST media in drive 2'\'Key F to format drive 2 media'\'Press any ot her key to start copying'
898 fdt$=INKEY$: IF CODE(fdt$)=@ THEN GO TO 899
998 IF fdt$=="F" THEN CLS: INPUT #0; ‘Ent er DRIVE 2 format title: ';fdt$: PRINT # 6;'Please wait -- FORMATTING ';fdt$: FOR MAT "flp2_" & fdt$: CLS #@: GO TO 88¢ 91® FOR n=2 TO dirend
926 IF CODE(£$(n,1))=6 THEN GO TO 946 938 COPY flpi_ & £$(n,1 TO ) TO flp2_ & f£$(n,1 TO )
948 END FOR n
956 GO TO 68
966 REMark ENTER sv to save listing
97® DEFine PROCedure sv: SAVE f1p1_DIRDA TCOPY: END DEFine
Og
Inter! I} ‘eport
? 15 Kilburn Court , Newport, Rl 02840 USA
$2
CABLE COLUMN By Bill Cable
ARCHIVE SERIES PART 7 : ORDER,LOCATE,RESET COMMANDS
The ability to conceive of and make use of order is one of those magical results of the mingling of the humans mind and language. A trick that allows even a vast collection of items to be organized and used in productive ways. Order is based on some some common descriptive property of the items of interest that can be given rank, A hierarchy rule is established providing a process for setting up the order.
Databases are computer programs designed to handle information in a record/field structure. Each item is composed of a group of descriptive features called fields which remain linked or tied together as a record. A similar example is the row/column layout of a spreadsheet. Each record could be a row defined by the values across its fields (columns). File cards are another equivalent example where each record is a card with areas on the card defined for specific types of information (fields). In either example we maintain the record integrity by always keeping the field values of each record together. We would keep rows together in the spreadsheet and we wouldn't let the file cards be cut into pieces. It is easy to see ordering the rows in the spreadsheet by a particular column or ordering file cards by a particular entry could be extremely useful.
‘The FIND and SEARCH commands covered last issue are
brute force commands not dependent on order. They work sequentially record by record until a match is found. They are adequate for moving about smail databases. For large databases they are not fast enough for efficient work. Even though a computer is fast it can be overwhelmed by sheer volume just like a human. No matter how fast a program may be, sequential text searching becomes inefficient when the data becomes large enough If there are 100 records FIND and SEARCH work okay. If there are 1000 records and the match is near the end they are too slow.
Imagine a phone list on paper in columns of name, city, and phone number with 1000 entries in random order. If you were given a name and told to find the phone number you would take a long time finding the phone number unless if was near the beginning of the list. If the information was in an ARCHIVE database and you used the FIND command you would find it much faster than your paper search but if it was near the end it would still take several seconds. Now imagine your paper list was ordered by name like a phone book. You could find any number almost as fast as the FIND command in the unordered database. ARCHIVE benefits in a similar manner if its database is ordered. Just like you it doesn't have to start at the beginning and
33
tediously check each record, It jumps in the middle and if the name is before its guess it goes more towards the beginning else it goes more towards the end and so on. Like you it finds the name in several comparisons instead of hundreds. In fact in an ordered database the size is almost irrelevant for locating on the ordered field(s) just like a phone number can be found in a phone book quickly no matter how large the phone book.
The sequence in which records physically occur in a database is called the physical order. One would expect records would be in the database in the order they were entered called the historical order. There are a few complications in ARCHIVE that could make the physical and historical order slightly different. Because ARCHIVE allows variable length fields it must keep a lookup list pointing to where each record starts since there is no other way to locate them quickly, If at some later time the length of a record is increased by appending information to a field then it no longer fits where it was so ARCHIVE moves the record to the end and an unused gap is left in the file which ARCHIVE remembers. Later if a new record will fit in that gap ARCHIVE will put it there. All this is invisible to the user. This lookup list of where each record begins is actually part of the database file itself. The dreaded ‘wrong file type’ error that occurs when an opened database is changed and then not closed is explained by the fact that the new lookup list was not rewritten back to the file. ARCHIVE had marked the file as being in the state of alteration and now knows the lookup list didn't get updated. Since there is the possibility of an inconsistency it refuses to use the database file.
Not only can databases make good use of order but they can actually do the ordering very quickly. It would take us ages to take a random 1000 entry phone list and order it by name. ARCHIVE can do it in a few seconds. What is interesting is that the records are not actually moved when ordering is done. Instead the lookup list is just changed so that it is ordered. The first entry in the lookup list points to the smallest name (alphabetically speaking) and the second entry points to the next smallest name, etc. Ordering the lookup list is much more efficient than moving records around in the file to order them. All this is transparent to "the user. All we know is that we have order and can take advantage of it.
PREPARATION . in the description below I will underline what you should enter to participate in the examples. It is always a good idea to use a copy not the original. Start ARCHIVE, access GAZET_DBF with the LOOK command, and display it. look "()gazet"<ENTER> Q}=device, mdv1_,etc 2 <ENTER
ORDER COMMAND
ARCHIVE uses two types of ordering. For text fields it uses alphabetical order based on ASCil values (O"<"9"<"A"<"Z"<"a"<"b" etc) and for numeric fields it uses numeric values (-1<0<1] etc). Note that as text “15">"140" because "15">"14". A complete ASCII table is listed on pages 5-9 of CONCEPTS of your QL manual. The decimal column is the common ASCII value for the characters although the values above 127 are not universally accepted ASCII character values, Interestingly. ARCHIVE allows you to customize the sorting order with the CONFIG_BAS program. See the INFORMATION section of the QL manual page 9.
The ORDER command takes the following form: order fldl:a or d,fld2;a or d,fld3;a or d.fld4:a or d Where fld1 would be the name of the most important field for order and "a" would mean ascending order and "d" would mean descending order and fld2 would be the next most important field for order and so forth. A maximum of 4 fields can be used. In most cases you would not want to order on more than 1 or 2 fields. Order by country name : order countryS.asENTER> semicolon is separator fitstsENTER> next<ENTER> <ES><ENTER> - (repeat <F5><ENTER> many times) dast< Now let us order by continent and population : firstcENTER> next<ENTER>
> (repeat <F5><ENTER> through several continents) last<ENTER>
Notice that ordering is fast. This means that you can easily reorder for specific purposes. Ordering is only 8 characters deep on each field. That would mean that "Sinclair QL" and "Sinclair Z88" would not be separated by ordering if they were entries in the same field of 2 different records. Once you order there is no available way to display what the order is so you have to keep track of it yourself. Notice that FIRST and LAST depend upon the current order. The commands that move us around the database use whatever current order exists. FIND and SEARCH start at the first record as defined by the current order and work through the records by they current order trying to find a match. When we ordered by continent and population we did population in descending order so that the largest countries in each continent would appear first. Ordering is the most powerful feature of databases and can be used in very sophisticated ways.
LOCATE COMMAND The search command that takes advantage of order in a database is called LOCATE. Its form is:
locate "text1","text2","text3","text4”
Where text! would be text to locate in the first ordered field and text2 would be text to locate in the second ordered field and so forth. Naturally if only one field were ordered you would only use textl. LOCATE is case sensitive so if what you are searching for has upper case characters you must also use upper case with locate. If one of the fields were numeric you would use a number without quotes instead of text. You can leave off field levels to locate on starting from the least important. Most of the time you will only order to 1 or 2 levels anyway. In any sort of database with peoples names you cannot just order by last name an expect to find people immediately. People have the same last name and they have last names that match up to 8 characters (LOCATE won't work beyond 8 characters). You could order on Jast name and first name to separate on most people. If you try to use LOCATE and the database is not ordered you will get error 8 variable not found.
Assuming that you have just done the examples above with gazet above Jet us use locate : "ASIA" 40<ENTER
This locates the country in ASIA that has a population equal to or less than 40 (we ordered it descending). Compare the speed with the search command:
‘ inentS="ASIA" and =40<ENTER Follow along
order continent$.a.pop.a<ENTER>
Above we located asian country pop>=40
See how much faster LOCATE is compared to FIND. When you use FIND it cither makes a match or doesn't. If no match was found (found()=0) then your current record (the one displayed) will not change. With LOCATE you will always be moved to the closest match even if there is no exact match and the found() function is not affected.
RESET COMMAND The RESET command will remove any order in a database
~ and leave the database in its physical order. It is usually ~
34
used in context with the SELECT (not yet covered). teset<ENTER> locate “a"<ENTER> Next time more on ORDER and introducing SELECT. Until then Happy Archiving!
error 8
EMSoft JOINS DJIC
EMSoft division of Estate Management Services in Boston has announced that it will handle selected titles of QL software from Dilwyn Jones Computing, the Welsh distributor of QL Software.
Programs available are those felt to be of interest in North America, but special orders are welcome. See the ads in QL World. Retail prices are approximately those advertised in the UK so there's no need to convert to British currency.
The following titles are available:
QUICK POSTERS is a very neat utility for printing bordered posters from a QL. The interface is similar to Quill's.
It simplifies the design and printing of
single page posters on 8.5" by 11" Paper using the native fonts. in printer.
The user selects a character or
characters to serve as a border design. Then design on-screen the text desired. Double-wide appears double wide, as do extra high characters. Character size can be changed with a feature similar to Quill's paint. Italic and other fonts are accessible. A handy feature lets you view the layout of the full page in a pop-up window.
The program is designed for Epson compatible printers capable of Quad- height, double-wide fonts, and a num- ber of printer drivers are supplied as well as an editor for creating custom drivers.
Sample files show application for Posters, Bumper Stickers and Disk labels. Needs only 128K. Price $19.95.
FILEMASTER is a unique file ‘handling utility distinguished by full screen displays of directories in up to 4 column screens and 6 columns on paper. Files can optionally be ordered on screen and is automatic to the printer. It is very quick.
Use cursor keys to select the files for copying or deletion then activate the designated function.
Also available are features for printing
disk labels and sleeve inserts. Media can be formatted from within the program. Excellent error trapping,
Requires ram disking but is supplied with Public Domain software for dynamic ram-disk. Requires 256K. Price $23.95.
SUPER DISK INDEX is a program for maintaining a complete record of all files on all disks. Up to 999 disks/ microcartridges can be indexed before a separate index file must be opened.
Each medium is assigned a number. SDI assigns the next available number on the queue; you have to put it on the disk label.
The data file stores all file names, but optionally you can exclude specific file names for security reasons. An index can be printed to hard copy (both Epson and non-Epson printers are supported) in up to seven columns depending on the length of the longest file name and the fonts available on your printer. File names can be ordered or not as desired.
Once a disk directory is added to: the index it is possible to locate it and the disk on which it is stored. The search is very, very quick and with less than 100 disks screen handling is more of a limit than the search. Search is independent of the case of letter used and partial names are all that is needed if you forget the full name of a file.
Has excellent error trapping and is a fine complement to Filemaster. Requires 256K ram. Price $23.95.
THE GOPHER is a utility to find lost files. You know. You forget the name of a specific document but remember some unique words in it. Just pop the disk/microcartridge into the drive and send GOPHER to find it. Takes less than one minute for a full 1440 sector
35
disk and works on hard disks as well.
If that is too slow, you can search only files that have specific characters in their names (e.g. _doc files) or only a part of each file, such as the beginning of letters when searching for the name of a person.
Up to one hundred characters can be specified in a search string and case can be ignored or not as desired.
It is Turbo-compiled but has some of its own custom extensions as _ well. Requires only 128K. Price $23.95.
QL BASIC REPORTER is an executable, multi-tasking SuperBASIC programming aid. It only requires that the program be in memory. No SuperBASIC programmer should be without it, and if you frequently compile programs, it will help clean up the original.
What does it do?
1. Reports all names used in arrays.
2. Reports all defined variables (includ- ing numeric/string, FOR, REPeat) as well as the option to locate all unset variables. Those are the ones that you spell wrong when you typed them in but didn't notice.
3. Reports the line numbers of Super- BASIC Procedures or Functions or both. 4. Reports line numbers from which all (or a user defined list) of Procedures and Functions are called.
5. Reports the Keyword list.
6. Reports all machine code extensions (See TKIIT EXTRAS) AND THEIR ADDRESSES.
A trace function is built in as an aid to debugging a running program. It reports the current line number in the upper left corner of the screens
Requires only 128K. Price $19.95.
TRANS 24 is for all graphic and DTP program users with 24 pin printers. Sure the 9 pin dumps that come with the program work, but the resolution is less than the printer is capable of.
TRANS 24 gets high resolution without jagged edges.
TRANS 24 works with standard QL screen files as well as Graphic-QL, PCB Designer 1 and 2, Professional Publisher and Desktop Publisher 2, QRAM screen dumps, Sidewinder files and _ Easel dumps.
This is a filter program that requires TKII (but a software file of the necessary commands is supplied if you still don't have it on ROM.)
It does not work directly from within a program. It operates on a file saved to medium (ram disk as well.)
It is suitable for Epson LQ printers, and SQ and GQ printers under LQ emulation, Star LC2410 and NEC P2200. Thus, virtually all 24 pin printers including the popular Panasonic KXP- 1124 and 1124i are supported.
Needs only 128K. Price $19.95.
All these titles are available from EMSoft. P.O. Box 8763, Boston, MA 02114-0037. (617) 889-0830 on your
choice of disk. If microcartridge are desired, please add $4.00 per title or send a blank, formatted one with your order.
Ed Grey Enterprises QUALITY COMPUTER PRODUCTS
On Line Support: The Grey Matter BBS 213-9716260 (CALAN)
Sales and Information: (213) 759-7406 P.O. Box #2186 Inglewood, CA 90305 Software © CPIM
WS * Hardware *
36
EMSoft Software for the G&L that realiy works
in-stock from Software®? the best value WYSINYG QL word-processor: text8? v 3.01 with @typ spell checker, several new features (and unlimited North America help.) text®! v 3.01 (R) T mdvs $99.95 WYSIWYG wordprocessor & Qtyp spell checker fountext#8: graphic driver 4mdvs 49,95 WYSIWYG output to 9 or 24 pin with 32 fonts
Now has
founted*#: screen font editor 1mdv 29.95 Make text87 custom fonts 2488: 24 pin driver 5 mdys 29.95
for text87 only
Order two or more Software’? titles and take 10% off the second title, 15% off the third and fourth, Boutal, Chris QL_GENEALOGIST (2nd ED) (R) 54.95 Family history with UK royal family demo
ASK about SECOND EDITION upgrade 23.95 CAPE Software RECIPE ver 2.0 NEW Tmdy 19.95 Recipe card file _dbf and demo EMSoft
WAILBAG ver 3,1 Tmdy 24.95 Mailing list dbf with demo QLAMD_LORD ver 3.1 (R) Tmdy 24,95 Real Estate management _dbf TRUST_FUND ver 3.1 Tmdv 24.95 Stock, Bonds etc _dbf with demo
INVENTORY ver 1.3 Timdy = 14.95 Personal property record keeping dbf EMSoft title upgrade(with original) 4.95 TAX-1-QL/91 Tmdv 24.95 1991 IRS tax template _aba
MJM Software CAM MASTER demo --JSU only; 384K Ram) 9.95 CAM MASTER site license 2850.00 Platypus Software
QLUSTer Tmdy = 12.95 ExECutable, multi-tasking files handling QLUMS i Tmdvy 19.95 Pseudo MS-DOS file handling on a QL
MS-QL 1nK (R) 1 mdv 24.95 Read/wr ite/format QL/MS-00S/Atar i-TOS DISCOPY Tmdv 14.95
Fast copier between QL/MS-DOS/Atar i-TOS
MS-QLINK with DISCOPY 2mdvs 34.95 Sector Software FILES2: Taskmaster Files upgrade 1 mdv 26.95
Now multi-tasks in ANY environment (R) Williams, Richard
TABDEDITOR (R) 2mdvs 34.95
Friendly Editor with vertical block defini-
tion & 8 columns in 19” with word wrapping
37
Wood & Wind Computing CHAOS BUSTERS
29.95" SuperBASIC to ARCHIVE utilities & DBEasy
DBEasy: UN or Expanded QL 3mdvs 21.95 User friendly front end for ARCHIVE (R)
OBProgs lmdv 19,95 § useful ARCHIVE utilities DBTutor: UN or EXpanded QL 3mdvs 24.95 Archive "Flash card” to teach yourself HELPER 1 mdv 9.95 SuperBASIC filehandling utility
DILWYN JONES COMPUTING FILEMASTER 1mdv 19.95 File handling utility THE GOPHER Tmdy 23.95 File finding utility QL BASIC REPORTER lmdv 23.95 $8 Programming aid QUICK POSTER 2 mdvs 19.95 Easy to use poster/bumper sticker prog SUPER DISK INDEX Tmdy 23.95
The easy file cabinet for all your files TRANS 24 Tmdvy 19.95 24 pin printer filter for 9 pin Graphics
BOOKS & MAGAZINES Syntax magazine set & Foyt book 29.95 All 48 monthlies, 3 quarterlies & book
Syncware News 19.95 Al] 30 issues (5 vols - 6/vol) , Quantum Levels 19.95
All 12 issues (2 vols - 8/vol) SPECIAL THRU 02/28/92 postmark Any 2 sets take off $10.00; all 3 for 49.95 The Secret Guide to Computers 15.00 Oelightful, entertaining and informative HARDWARE T/S BUS Connector /Extender (3 paok) 13.95 T/S BUS Connector /Extender 34(3 pack) 26.95
All prices are postpaid in N.A. (but subject to change without notice.)
Choice of disk size/format; add $4.00 per mdv (See number of indvs required next to price) Send #10 SASE for review (R), if available.
FREE CATALOGUE
EMSoftt P.O, Box 8763 BOSTON MA 02114-0037 (1-617) 889-0830
VIDEO INTERFACE WITH THE QL COMPUTER
Using the QL with color or monochrome monitors not sold specifi- cally for it may require some care in making the initial connec— tions. Here is some information that should help you or your computer monitor or electronics dealer in making these connec- tions.
Use with the Television Set
Choosing F2 on the initial screen will give you the U.S. NTSC TV mode. The QL works well with a TV set, though it is the rare set that will adequately display characters in the high-res mode (Mode 4 or Mode 512). You should probably stick to Mode 8/Mode 256.
Use with a Monochrome Monitor
To connect to a monochrome monitor, use pins #3 (live, or the center of an RCA phono plug) and #2 (ground, or the outside of an RCA plug), as shown in the accompanying diagram. You can use an 8-pin or a 3-pin DIN plug.
Use with an RGB Monitor
Make connections as shown below via an 8-pin DIN plug. Use an RGB TTL monitor (be sure you don't have the rare RGB analog type).
Use with a Composite Color Monitor
Sinclair does not recommend this video alternative. You must use extreme care here. A PAL-(British color system) compatible moni- tor may work, and some VCR's composite video input, but an NTSC (U.S. system) monitor will not, without substantial alterations.
Using a Monitor on TV Setting
You can overcome the overscan problems that may occur on a monitor (causing you to lose the left-most and right-most portions of the screen) by pressing F2 for TV at power-up. Then you can select Mode 512 to get high resolution.
36
MONITORS: TECHNICAL NOTES
Horizontal Resolution
The horizontal resolution of the QL is 512 pixels across the screen. This means that a monitor used with the QL should have a shadow mask resolution adequate to cope with this. For a 14-inch monitor, this resolution should be at least one dot every 0.43mm (known as "medium resolution" in England, and "high resolution" in the U.S.); one dot every 0.3lmm (“high resolution" in England) is better still. Monitors with standard T.V. tubes (one dot every 0.85mm) are usable, but can suffer from poor distinction of ver- tical lines. ; :
Frame Rate
The QL in monitor mode runs at 50Hz non-interlaced, with 312 lines per frame, of which 256 are active. U.S. monitors usually require adjustment of the "Frame Hold" or "Vertical Hold" signal in order to synchronize on the 50Hz signal. They also usually require adjustment of the vertical picture size. Most U.S. monitors have these adjustments available without removing the cover.
Note that the U.S. QL in T.V. mode runs at 60Hz, and that this includes the initial sign-on message which asks you which mode you require. Ideally, a monitor should be capable of synchronizing to both 50Hz and 60Hz to get the sign-on message right; however, it is not a serious problem if this is not the case.
Overscan
The width of active video used on any scan line is over 51 micro- seconds; rather longer than most computers. This means that the QL picture tends to overscan; that is the edges of the picture are lost. Most monitors can have their horizontal picture width adjusted, but this usually requires an adjustment inside the moni- tor.
It is of course possible to use a monitor by pressing F2 for T.V. at start-up, and then typing mode 0 to get the higher resolution. This avoids problems of frame rate and overscan with a U.S. moni- tor.
Connections and Pin-Out Data
The 8-way DIN connector on the U.S. QL contains the following con- nections: Red, Green, Blue, composite color video in place of the +5V.
The composite monchrome video signal is irrelevant to color moni- tor interfaces.
The Ground Red, Green and Blue signals can be hooked up directly.
39
The Sync signals vary from monitor to monitor. Usually, monitors which ask for Horizontal Sync will accept Composite Sync, so it is merely necessary to invert the Sync signals if they are of dif- ferenct polarities to those provided by the QL (this is sometimes required for both syncs, sometimes for one, and sometimes for neither). On U.S. QL's where the +5V signal is provided on the DIN connector, this can be done with a-signal IC: the easiest is a 74LS04, but many other IC's can be used with appropriate adjust- ment to the pin-out.
QL SIDE MONITOR SIDE
ny 2 vsYNCcH —--———> 74LS04 : ————VSYNCL 3 4 csyNCcL —————__—___—> _—_——— CYNCL 7 | (use only for GND __—_ HSYNCH ) - Wire Pin Function Signal Color Signal Level 1 PAL cemposite PAL orange 1V pk-pk into 75 ohms 2 GND ground green 3 VIDE composite monochrome video brown lV pk-pk into 75 ohms 4 CSYN composite sync _ yellow 0-5V TTL (active low) 5 VSYN vertical sync blue 0-5V TTL (active high) 6 GREE green red 0-5V TTL (active high) 7 RED red white 0-5V TTL (active high) 8 BLUE blue purple 0-5V TTL (active high)
Diagram of Monitor Connector as Viewed from rear of QL. Showing pin number and functions:
Ey Ghia Le
7 Paes saainer poe. AY 1 sssseqces 6 (green)
3 (composite s------© 0g ff >>-----! 8 (blue) “"-1 (composite PAL) eer \ 4 (composite synch)
5 “(vertical sync) 2 (ground)
46
a)
The Sinclair Desktop Publishing Journal
Volume 2 Issue 4 Fall 1994 Ehitedad By Mike Felerski
From the Editor
The year 1991 began by coming in like a lamb. By late summer, it began to go out like a lion. This is the end of the second year for the Sinclair Desktop Publishing Journal. | promised that if there was enough interest in the publication and enough material that I would continue to publish the Journal.
After reviewing the year, the nice comments from readers and the material I have which is still unpublished, it looks like 1992 will be our third year of publication!
1 hope over the two years the Journal has been out that we have learned together about desktop publishing on the Sinclair computers, | know I have. And I look forward to improving not just my writing skills but also my format and layout.
So look out for the first issue of 1992! I hope to look at Gray Scale with ColortoGrey, ZPrint8Q, Art Studio and Word-Maeter, I am also looking at more articles on TSI000 publishing with Master-Scribe and some new fonts. Finally, as usual, ther are some big changes coming, so look out for ‘92!
Mike Felerski, Editor.
im Thhis Issue ~ 1991, A Quick Year
~ Those Zebra Icons
- File Transfers
- A £ Apology
- Print Factory Graphics
~ Ward-Master Graphics
~ John MCMicheel’ Graphics
~ What Are These Double Icons?
Larken/Print Factory Companion File Transfer Programs
When you receive The Print Factory Companion series of graphics, fonts and SCREEN$s/Super SCRFEN$s they are contained on four cassette tapes. Since 1 own @ Larken disk interface connected to dual 35" 720K floppy dick drives, my first thought when I sat down the package was how would I transfer the data files to disk?
For the SCREEN$s | decided to use a utility 1 created called "TSX" or TS Transfer. I also knew that I had modified The Creator program (from The Print Factory) so that it would Seve Graphic Design Files (and, of course Super Sets) from either disk or cassette.
(See Transfer, page S)
Those Zebra Icons:
As far as | can tell, the first graphic standard created for the TS2068 (and Spectrum for that matter) was created by Zebra Systems Inc. of New York. These graphics were called Icons and now are often refered to as “Zebra Icons". There were 23 original Zebra eons which were provided with Zebra Systems Greeting Card, Poster and Banner Designer tric of programs.
(See Zebra Icons, page S) SDPI Adaress
1284 Brushwood Aveue Cincinnati, OH 45224
(Please enclose a LSASE)
44
The Making, of thats: Icesaune>
This issue of the Sinclair Desktop Publishing Journal was created using Word-Master for the first and fifth pages, The Print Factory's ‘First Edition” for the Second and fourth pages and The Print Factory's "The Press" (in three separate parts) for the third page.
Graphics were provided via Larken DOS SCREEN$ “Snaps” and/or edited with a Larken compatible version of Art Studio. The information boxe on page S was created using Byte Power's IBM font (in Art Studio) and a Word-Master box.
The program listings on page S were actual listings converted to text data files via the Larken DOS sequential file commands, They were then touched-up using MScript (for the Larken) and then directly LOADed into Word-Master where they were LINKed to the existing page five text file.
A ££ Apology - Once can be covered by the statement, “A typo". When it is twice, there is no excuse. In the lest two issues | have hed a slight problem with my £s and my te Because of Word-Master, every time I want to use a # to indicate “number” I get a £ This is_ because £ is m and # is a backward apostrophe (unlike the TS2068 keyboard).
Maybe this ts easy to keep track of if you live in Great Britain, but here, it just drives me nuts So, 1 epologixe and promise to keep my £s and us straight from now on.
~-MJF.
Sinclair Desktop Publishing Journal Fall 1991 Page 2@
i the G h Fil GRAPH ICD zing mesvp sys. grands, Beaiar Asse
One of the most important features of The Print Factory suite of
Programs is their ability to use various sizes of graphics on a page. The original Print Factory package included seven graphic design files with a total of 168 graphics. Some samples of these original graphics are displayed to the left and below to the
& By A By right of this text.
The files range from Animals G Nature to 9 Hone & Office, and a smattering of Comics/Cartoons and @ 9 Digitized pictures to boott But as any true desktop { publisher Knows, 168 graphics is just a tease. And we ey {
needed moret Enter The Companion...
The Companion not only included 11 new Super Set fonts, but, also offers 136 more graphics besides its 36 Super Large { Soreens and is 66 Standard SCREEN¢ files. The Graphic Design include Figures Csuch as the sports examples in the bottom left corner of this page), Office, Nature, Religion, and three files of General all purpose graphics such as the sandwich below.
9
The Super Sets included in the collection are very impressive. I find them the most useful. There are eleven Super Set fonts in the set, of which one of then is used on this page Cthe GRAPHICS title above). They range from 32 point super bold characters to 56 point super fancy to 16 point unique character fonts.
The Super Large Screens are fascinating. Some of then have been featured on the covers of the Toronto Timex Sinclair Users Group
newsletter: Sinc-Link. — One final note: In the overall collection waa of graphics and Super Sets, most of the
j + graphics are @-dimensional. The pemaining are Inet 3-D by the use of shading. I guess that it is safe
to say that my favorite parts of the Companion series are the Super Sets followed by the \_e Graphic Design files and then the Super Large
aA Screens. Thus, I rate The Companion as a
SDPJ "Must Have" product.
42) : :
The_Sine lair Desktop Publishing Journal Fall 1991 —___Page 3 Creating Graphics for Print Factory with The Creator By Mike Felersti
Si Sets and t Designs? pais The Creator uses simple “pixel-on, pixel-off" point d click, has its own Design. File nanagenent enu Sha’ lets the user define each Graph Design’s size for efficient menory managenent. Each individual Prin Bectory Graphic Desi in can be as small as 154. Fgrebs character Ci.e. 8 pixels by Pixels) or all the way up to 12x characters.
ince many SCREEN$s are larger than 12x24 characters, four Graphic esigns may be needed to convent a SCREENS. An éxe5pie would be a CREENS which is really only 18 characters taj} i uch a SCREENS could be converted by The Creator Say in First ditign, (inte foun Graphics. The first would be a full dexea, tne id he third Clower left quadrant) would be 6x24, and
gd course, other combinations would his example utilizes ape nenory managenent teghni ques
o he Creator to save Graphic Besign
menory space.
To the left of this text is an actual CLarken> SoRRENS ‘Snape of the Main Menu/Screen of The Creator. ,The
Nap was taken while editing a Super Set font. Th jain oneep is tually made up of three parts: e title at the 2 the working area to the left wigh the full view window on the right and the options bar on the botton.
When “Clicked” on, the title ‘produces @ window proclai g the author and yersion number e work area is used o create the Grap ic Cpixel-on/off), with the full view window showin he entire Graphic and not just the character work area.
The options be at the botton of the Main Screen allows the user to pove-
rotate, edit and store the Graphics in memony : Graphic sizes are also selected here as well as file I/O.
fas graphic programs go, it is straight forward and comfortable
to use. It does lack some of the sophisticated features of SCREENS graphic prograns. But, if any of those features are truly needed, those special graphics could be designed with, say Art Studio, and imported into The Creator,
Let's Talk Briefly Ahout Hord-Master Graphics...
The Print Factory Graphic Designs or Pixel Print_Icons, jaster does not use a specific type of graphic. Instead,
le andling menu of Word-Master allows the user to load & SCREENS pture exactly what portion the user wishes to use. This is done nN adyustible window which adjusts on a per character basis.
eature acts similap to The Print Factory programs by conseryin uter menory space. Renenber, the nore Rah thieh is used to store gpzehics. the SF eC T, there is for Text, In the case of Word-Master
For nore information about Word-Master 3 Kk Dehany and sone oe the graphics available, 6 Ruy pford contact RMG Enterprises or: jedwoo ery CA 94061
43
The Sinclair Desktop Publishing Journal Fall 1991 Page 4
Usually this stuff doesn’t excite me but, it looks like this John McMichael has sonething here...
Graphic Design Files for The Print Factory fanily of prograns fs Reviewed By Mike Felerski
THERE ARE CERTAIN TIMES IN THE LIFE OF A TIMEX/SINCLAIR COMPUTER OWNER
WHICH TRULY STAND OUT IN HIS/HER MIND. For ME, THESE INCLUDE THE FIRST ZeeRA SYSTEMS CATALOG I EVER RECEIVED, THE DAV MY DISK SYSTEM ARRIVED H CANO IT WORKED THE FIRST TIME), AND MY FIRST ISSUE OF THE Desxens. i To THESE I 40D ANOTHER MOMENT: JoHnN MeMrcH4eEL’ S ADVERTISEMENT IN Uppate '
MaGazINE FOR HIS NEW GrapHics COLLECTIONS: i
WHY WAS THIS MOMENT SO SPECIAL? BECAUSE IN THIS AGE OF VANISHING
SINCLAIR PRODUCTS, THE HORD NEW NEARLY KNOCKS THE SINCLAIR USE RIGHT
OUT OF HIS/HER CHAIR! THIS IS A GREAT FEELING MAINLY BECAUSE EVERY COUPLE OF MONTHS oR 80, I START GETTING THAT OH SO FAMILIAR FEELING THAT THIS IS IT, THERE JYUST WON’T BE ANYMORE SOFTWARE FOR my compuTEeR! So THANKS GO OUT TO JOHN MCMICHAEL FOR PACIFYING ME OVER THE NEXT
COUPLE OF MONTHS.
JoHN OFFERS THE OWNERS oF BvTE PoneR’s THE PRINT FACTORY SERIES OF PROGRAMS A SET OF THREE GrapHic DESIGN ' CoLttections. EACH COLLECTION CONTAINS AROUND 140 GRapHics IN 16 DESIGN { FILES. Eacu FILES FALLS UNDER ONE OF 15 OIF FERENT TVOES! Men/Bovs, | Women/Grris, ANIMALS, FUNNY, Sports, TRANSPORTATION, CompuTeRs, Foon, i Horzrp4ys, CHristmas, MaéLE FACES, FEMALE FACES, ZODIAC SIGNS, DIGITIZED |
MISCELLANEOUS AND MISCELLANEOUS.
THE GRAPHICS ON THIS PAGE REPRESENT SOME OF THE @-D, 3-D AND SHADED GRAPHICS FROM ALL THREE COLLECTIONS, THERE IS AN EXTENSIVE COLLECTION orf GARFIELD GRAPHICS AND OTHERS FROM IBM PUBLIC DOMAIN LIBRARIES WHICH JOHN CONVERTED AND ADYUSTED FOR USE WHITH THE EL) Print Factory. EACH COLLECTION Is $12.95, es W ANY @ FoR $19.95 AND ALL THREE FOR $26.95 ep, =| = had John McMichael, 171@ Palmer Dr, Larane, HY 82670
44
Recently it has come to light that many users of Pixel Print are unaware that there are/were “Double Icons" available for loading into Pixel
Conpanies Mentioned
RNG Enterppises
io Eira i (583) 655-7484 Softuare Parkersburg, 04 (3A) 424-7272
Phone:
Nountai 743 HLT Str
Phone:
Tramsfer- (from page 1)
This left me only with transfering the Letter Perfect fants and The Press double height fonts. In order to do this, | created the following two programs: DHFmov.Ba and LPFmov.Ba which | have listed below. ‘So have fun and enjoy_
37 PRINT AT 31'Font Length: “Jen;" Bytes” 40 INPUT "Save Name? “st SO PRINT AT 5\1;'Disk Save: “ss SS PRINT : PRINT "Start Tape Now’: PRINT 60 LOAD I$ CODE son00 70 RANDOMIZE USR 100: SAVE s$ CODE SO00Qlen 80 PRINT #0\Press A Key or BREAK to Stop": PAUSE 0 9 CS:G0 TO 2 |9999 RANDOMIZE USA 100: SAVE “LPFmov.Ba"
SS REM This program LOADs “ Double Height Print
Factory Fonts and SAVEs them to Disk
10 CLEAR 49999
20 INPUT “Load Name? “3$
30 PRINT AT 14;"Cassette Load: “3s
40 INPUT “Save Name? “st
SO PRINT AT 3,;Disk Save: "s
SS PRINT : PRINT “Start Tape Now": PRINT
60 LOAD !$ CODE Son00
70 RANDOMIZE USAR 100 SAVE s$ CODE 500001536
80 PRINT #0Press A Key or BREAK to Stop’: PAUSE 0.
90 CLS: GO TO 2
9999 RANDOMIZE USR 100: SAVE “DHFmov.Ba"
Note. The Letter Perfect fonts have the following lengthe. BOLD ts 1839, BOLD 2 is 1899, TALL is 2257 and AVANTI is 1365 bytes.
4S
@L DESKTOP PUBLISHING by Frank Davis
This issue I want to cover several programs related to creating pages on the QL, after all the object of DIP is the creation of a "page" which,can contain graphics and text mixed together.
First of all just a few short items. I am looking to get a copy of Publishing Office-Ice by Eidersort. [t was part of the suite of programs created for use with the ICE front end for the @L. I have been told that it can also run without ICE. I have heard that it was a fairly simple to use DIP and one that was easily overlooked as it came out at the same time that Fidersoft was getting out of the market. Anyone who has a copy that they dont mind parting with, I will pay a reasonable fee to acquire it Cor accept it as a donation). I have yet to acquire the program Page Designer 2, but am still trying to find it.
In an earlier issue I told you that the program Overdrive was for putting graphics or screens in with your Quill files, Well,.,that was correct, but that is not all. You can also use it to put a screen dump ina printer file for Archive and for Abacus. It will put the screen dump wherever you have placed the name of the file in curly brackets. When you combine that with something like Quill and some of the utilities given by us in the past to use 2 columns in Quill, then you have a fairly simple DIP setup, and one that is not all, that difficult to master, All you would need then ig a collection of Clip Art, to use, or create your own with a program such as Sye-Q@ or the Painter, This would get you started in desktop publishing on the cheap. Archive with graphics is neat also.
A program well worth the attention of those wanting to ‘da DIP on the QL is Grafix by Chas. Dillon. It is a printer driver program for dumping graphics screens produced with Front Page Extra, Desk Top Publisher and Professional Publisher. It is avatliable from Digital Precision, and we even still have a few copies left of it at Mechanical Affinity. This program works with dot matrix printers. This program gets you away from the fact that most DIP programs have a fixed page size for hard copy. It also caters to more printers than the printer drivers that came with the above mentioned programs. Please be aware of the fact that this program requires memory expansion of at least 15@K over the unexpanded QL. While looking through some of my saved DIP files I have found that a typical page can run upto almost 100K. They do eat up memory! So far I have not heard of any dot matrix printer that this program has not been made toa work on. This is cheaper than a new printer! :
Another good screen dump program that can be used with most dot matrix (I am not sure if all applies in this case) is the program Omnidump. This is one of the easiest to use dump programs I have yet to encounter. So far the only printer I have not been able to get 1t to dump a Front Page file to is my Olivetti Ink Jet printer. I am still holding onto hope for this one, I believe this one is also available from Digital Precision and from Mechanical Affinity. This program is not limited toa DTP, It can be used with screens created by other art programs or that you have received as files on a disk. If you find this one as a used program then I recommend that you not get it if 1t is before version 2.0; in fact if you can find it then hold out for at least version 2,@1. It seems more flexible.
46
Quite recently J was asked on two separate occasions if there was anything new out for DIP on the QL. As it was put by one person, "Front Page, Page Designer, etc. are all DIF programs that have been around for years! What is new?" Well, while it is true that they have been around for years, ‘some ha've been improved upon. Digital Precision offers an upgrade on all of their programs that they have changed, and Frofessional Publisher is one of these. They also have a program called Professional Publisher Toolbox. :This contains several beautiful high definition fonts, along with some new small fonts, more clipart, and utilities to handle Sector Software clipart and other forms of QL art. With this utility you can take any part of a screen from Professional Publisher and place it into a graphic program like the Painter or Eye-Q for manipulating. To find out more about this or to order you may contact them at: Digital Precision Ltd, 222 The Avenue, London E4 9SE, or call 081-527-5493. They also have available a Font Enlarger program that retails for #19,95, and Special Desktop Publisher (never heard of this one!) for #39.95. They seem to have a full stable of DTP programs and utilities.
Dilwyn Jones Computing is selling "The Clipart", which has 3 full 720K disks full of QL clipart for DTP. This can be : ordered direct from them at DJC, 41 Bro Emrys, Tail-y-Bont, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 3YT, or perhaps you tan get this from EMSoft of Boston (see their ad this issue) as they are now carrying some of Dilwyn Jones products. From overseas the price 1s #12. He also has an excellent poster program by the name of Quick Posters for #10 on disk,
From C.G.H. Services we have 5 disks of QL clipart available on the subjects of Sports, whimsies, office, Viz, and general for #6 each. I am not sure just what Viz or whimsies are. Perhaps I will know by next issue. Software can be ordered trom them by writing to C.G.H. Services, Cwm Gwen Hall, Pencader, Dyfed, Cymru, SA39 9HA or by phoning to England at @559-384574. They also carry a large line of other inexpensive software. In addition they also have a public domain library available for a fee.
With all new subjects we find that they all develop their own jargon, words that are either new to us or that have a changed meaning. Desktop Publishing is no exception. Here are Just a few of them and an explanation of what they mean to us on the QL.
BRUSH: this is a pattern that is contained {n an 8X8 pixel square, which can be placed on a page repeatedly, in various contiguous positions so as to give the effect of a painter’s brush. Most DTP programs and graphics programs have several different brush styles.
CLIP ART: this is a type of art file that contains figures and symbols that come in handy to illustrate text. You can place the chosen figure anywhere on the Page by using the cut and paste method. Generally you will find different library files containing all of one, or related subjects under the same heading. The file could be called Transportation or Food, etc. You are able to access a library and choose the file you need, then "lift" it out of the library and place it where you choose on the Page. Generally a library is just a screen filled with various pieces of clip art. :
CLEAR: this is the act of covering the current Page you were viewing, or a selected part of it, with the currently chosen paper color. This erases anything printed or drawn there.
Bye till next time with more QL DIP! FWD
SINCLAIR PUBLICATIONS, A SHORT REVIEW by Eliad P. Wannum
Every now and again, someone will ask me, “Where can I find out more about Sinclair computers?" Now, to me the obvious well rounded choice is UPDATE Magazine! But of course, I have just a wee bit of prejudice in this matter, so I tell them = about it...plus a few others to give a balanced picture. These are some that I find useful. I am not going to mention QL World till I find out what their future is, as they are part of the Maxwell fortune, and just a wee bit in limbo at the moment. I will = say that I hope they survive the mess they got with the death of the mega-publisher Maxwell, and perhaps even come out of this stronger than before. They deserve to prosper and grow.
I will not be including user group or club newsletters in this listing. We have many fine ones in North America and in other parts of the world. What I will include are those publications done by groups or individual companies as a business or as a hobby.
Very new on the scene is ZX-91, the new newsletter for the Sinclair ZX81 / Timex 1000. It looks to be good for those who use this computer. To receive a copy, send a SASE envelope if you are .Canadian, or a self addressed envelope = and an INTERNATIONAL REPLY COUPON (available from your local post office) if you live elsewhere. I+ is available from Andre Baune, 304 Scott, Chateauguay, Quebec, Canada J6J 4HS.
For the QL we have the International QL Report, published by SeaCoast Services, and available from them by ordering from them at SeaCoast Services, 15 Kilburn Court, Newport, RI 02840, U.S.A... They publish 4 to 6 issues a year, depending upon the amount of material received, and it averages 12 to 20 pages an issue. The price is $14.95 per year for the U.S., $16.95 per year for Canada, and $28.00 for the rest of the world. All funds are in U.S. dollars. They have put out 5 very good issues so far and have lived up to their name as being International in their coverage of the QL.
The QL Hacker’s Journal, available from Tim Swenson, 4773 W. Braddock Rd. #3, Alexandria, VA 22311, is to be given a_ good
report for those who are actual programmers on the QL. If you program on the QL and are looking for others who can give you support,this is a good place to look. They are "into"
MicroEmacs, the language C, Pascal,and how to really use them, — as well as solving software problems. They are not into just using off-the-shelf software, and would like to have readers who can contribute to the Journal. As Tim said in a recent issue, it gives him the chance to write the kind of articles he wants. At this time the price seems to be for free. I have been lucky enough to get Frank to share his issues with me.
Computer Monthly has a fairly regular column written by Bill Ferrebee. It has appeared almost every. month. In this column Bill covers new program reviews for the TS1000, Spectrum and the TS2068. He also covers Sinclair publications and user groups for the above mentioned computers, as well as the QL and the 288. He usually tries to throw in at least one short type-in public domain program every issue. He has been a big supporter of TS2068 Desk Top Publishing, using Sinclairs and of UPDATE Magazine. Computer Monthly also is an excellent replacement for Computer Shopper (it is the type of mag they used to be before they did away with the Classic Computer coverage. )
Next issue I will visit the QUANTA mag and user group newsletters for North America and perhaps a few from overseas.
QUANTA’s Nov. 1991 revisions of the Library added files to 9 disks and added 3 new disks to the library.
Disk Name contents Free Sectors DUAL_GUIDE....( Archive based Library Guides )........... 650+ C.A.D_1.......( Computer Aided Design ).............- eeese 312
COMMS_XFER1...( COMMunicationS/transfer ).revised Nov.91. 309 COMMS_XFER2...( a BBS program )New Nov.90.revised Nov.91. 429 EDUC_1........( EDUCational ).............revised Nov.90. 345 GAMES_GEN1....( GENeral games ) 222
GAMES_GEN3 wee -++.--New Nov.90.revised Nov.91. 963 GMS_STRAT1....( GaMes advent/STRATegy Jeepers nee eee 108
GMS_STRAT2..... 105 GMS_STRAT3... 75 GMS_STRAT4..... eeeresine ‘revised’ Nov.90&91. 546 GRAPHICS_1....( Graphics programs ) eee 231 GRAPHICS_2.....scccccccccccrccccece 435 KERMIT_1......( Kermit for the QL ) 99 KERMIT_2. eee 825 KERMIT_3....... 354 LANGUAGES_1...( Forth, C, etc )....... 264 MANDEL_1......( MANDELbrot programs ). -revised Nov.90. 138 MANDEL_2.. 02-2 cc eee c cece scene renner ese ennceee New Nov.90. 12 MATHS_1i.. 186 MATHS_2...-..206- 888 MISC_DEMO_1...( MISC & DEMOnstrat n ) 729 MISC_DEMO_2.. 87 MISC_DEMO_3. 228 PAGE_DES...... ( Version 1 ). 60 PRT_FONTS_1...( PRinTer utilities & FONTS ).. oe 243 PRT_FONTS_2. Se er ee ea ee
PRT_FONTS_3. revised Nov.90&91. 744 PSION_1.......( PSION utilities etc )...... cs cece even eee 144 PSION_2.. «.-revised Nov.90. 195 PSION_3.. «...re-issued Nov.90. 345 PSION_4.. -+-.-New Nov.91.
-( JM ROM decoded Us:
SPECIALS_| O.. SPECIALS_1. SPECIALS _2. SPECIALS_3.. SPECIALS_4.. SPECIALS_5.. UTIL_DRCPY.. UTIL_EMACS....( Micro EMACS V3.9 SOURCE FILES )..... UTIL_EMAC2....( Run version. NON-SOURCE + new doc’s ). UTIL_GEN_1....( General utilities )...........2.......- UTIL sGENE 2s. a aca cosyec ceeds wie eieia ie dtietal aisyare:s. ..revised Nov. 90. 96 UTIL_GEN_3.. seeeee--- revised Nov.90. 333 UPI (GEN Ase oars: sess. 0 5:54 aes ove 0 Wie bua ese ena send eee -New Nov.91. 954 UTIL_TKMC_1...( ToolKits/MachineCode ). teeth wets na. «20% UTIL_TKMC_2... ccc e eee c eee cece eee eeeee revised Nov.90. 903 Paul Holmgren, U.S. Librarian, 5231 Wilton Wood Ct. Indianapolis, IN. 46254«
.-( Reserved - T. TEBBY + TRAPS ONLY ).. -( Specialist programs )........e.eeeeeee --revised Nov.91. 108 +-revised Nov.91. 276 o+e-e--New Nov.90. 315 e+e---New Nov.91. 330 ( DiR & CoPY UTILities )....revised Nov.91. 552 . 36
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TS2008 ISSUE bisks 7
These disks contain at least one major piece of software written specifically for disk drive and are guaranteed to be worth the money. The rest of the disks are filled with various utility programs taken from the issues of UPDATE anda few surprises thrown in. Half of the money goes to the author and is meant to encourage new programming for the TS2068 that makes use of the various disk drive systems. Presently we are offering disks for the Larken and Oliger Interfaces, but have programs available for the Aerco (one is available in this issue and more will be made if wanted). All are $20.00 per disk (add $1.00 Canada) and include postage and handling. The programs have been Temporarily lowered in price to make them more widespread among the TS2068 Users! Both 3 1/2 and 5 1/4, 40 and 80 track available. Please add $5.00 for mailing to other countries. We accept personal checks, company checks, money orders and cash.
1) MITCHELL BUDGET DISK, with wide spreadsheet printer driver, MS-TAS and various other utilities. Available as either Larken or as Oliger format. a
2) Bob Hartung DOSDEX UTILITY ISSUE DISK, a complete disk
management group of programs for the Oliger Interface only. This includes Multi-Manager for file handI ng, double column for Tasword, Beta Basic demo, to name a few recent updates.
3) MAIL MERGE ISSUE DISK, Oct 87 and Jan 88 issues of UPDATE utilities added to fill out this disk. Includes a tutor program for the Mail Merge program, List Looker, Purity, J-Utilities and Extra Memory Utilities. This is available also on Aerco disk.
4) OLIGER DISK DRIVE BBS PROGRAM, this allows users of the Oliger interface to be able to operate a disk based bulletin board from the TS2068. The disk is also filled with many other Oliger disk routines and tips on using the Oliger System. New by Paul Holmgren. Can use upto four DSQ@D disk drives.
S)The HYBISCUS ENSEMBLE, consisting of two separate, but complimentary sets of programs. A) Daisy.B6 Ensemble, and B) Udbm.B6 Ensemble. LKDOS only, $22 each or $36 for both. The best file and database available for Larken, by Bill Jones. The price remains the same on this one, no change. Wordprocessor included.’
6)WIDJUP’S CAD PROGRAM, to give you professional results on the’ TS2068 for computer aided design. This program comes to us from William J.Pedersen. It can be used to create user friendly printed circuit boards and does not require added memory in order to be used. Two versions are available, but both are limited, at this time, for use with the Larken Disk Interface. We hope to soon have an Oliger version from Bill. Version #2 is for the Olivetti Ink Jet Printer, and Version #3 is for IBM compatible Printers. More on this next issue. NEW!
UPDATE COMPUTER SYSTEMS invites you to submit software programs that may become Issue Disks. Please submit program on disk, with documentation and article to accompany the program. We are here to get North American software available and known. We also solicit minor programs, tips and utilities for'print in future issues of the magazine. Please do not! submit unlistable programs or copy protected programs.
These disks contain at least one major piece of software written specifically for disk drive and are guaranteed to be worth the money. The rest of the disks are filled with various utility programs taken from the issues of UPDATE and a_ few surprises thrown in. Haif of the money goes to the author and is meant to encourage new programming for the QL that makes use of the disk drive systems, and microdrives on both the expanded and unexpanded QL. Where possible we will give a version for each of
these configurations. Some of the programs take advantage of TK2
by Tony Tebby. All are 20.00, except @Luster, which is $15.00; includes P & H, add $1.00 CAN. Available as 3 1/2 or 5 1/4 disks. Add s¢ for mailing te other countries. We accept personal checks, Company checks, money orders as weli as International
Po al Money Orders, but no charge cards. If ordering on MDV, then please include one that is already formatted, so we will know it will run on your QL. Due to the expense of MDVs this is necessary. if two MDVs are required we will state so in the ad.
1) HARTUNG UTILITY ISSUE DISK- Several excellent programs such Address, and Q@SO files. All are in and tricks for programmers. Requires r a ven to learn. Recently updated
a bese, ef hints superbas
e stand alone Superbasic. Lot some knowledge
by Bob Har file can be used as inventory program. cit can pra Bok ereen or paper printouts can be by Aipha surt, last. nane
programs along
2) CABLE ARCHIVE [SSub DISK- Contatr
with Doc files to get you guing ng of the Archive preg language @len hag Tacket, ping Doc file, to give
you multi-tasking on your QL (much cheaper than GRAY or Taskmaster). Included is Arithmetic, a Superbasic program for math, along with wath dirict This is for both the advanced and beginner user and reatiy extends the use of Archive. To order wo formatled mieredrives, too much for one!
on micredrive send t
by AL Feng utilities toa unciutter your COPY, OELETE, FORMAT, PRINT, VIEW, plus extended ese of some Too! Kit 2 commands. TK2 is required. These are TURBO ccmpiled for speed. Multitasks and uses minimal key ses. Includes Fast-isk and Vegemat2, a super clone making
pre program. Also Snap Shot-a directory column or condensed printout program.
4) BOS ENULATOR COMPANION ISSUE DISK by Al Feng- Just released
in Oct. issue. Make better use of Solution, PC Conqueror, DisCover, XOVER, QLuster and scr_codes. If you are going to use the emulators, then check this out, you won’t regret this buy.
5) @LuMSi DOS by AL Feng- a MSDOS simulator and front end program for the GL, also includes other programs by AL Feng for file management and cloning of programs. A Great Learning Tool
UPDATE COMPUTER SYSTEMS invites you to submit software programs that may become Issue Disks. Please submit program on disk, with documentation and article to accompany the program. We are here to get North American software available and known. We solicit programs, tips, reviews and utilities for future issues.