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MAGAZINE
FOR ALL TIMEX AND SINCLAIR COMPUTERS
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(503) 824-2658 CompuServe ID# 71350, 3230 TIME DESIGNS MAGAZINE is published bi- monthly and is Copyright ©1987 by the Time Designs Magazine Company, Colton, Oregon
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Vol.3 No.5
EDITOR’S FORUM
It's very hard to think about doing anything con- structive with your computer during the summer when so many other things confront you that are much more appealing. But never-the-less, I usually use this time of the year to work on one particular project. Something to keep the fingers limber--the brain from going stale, anything to prevent having. to re-learn even the simplest procedures by the time "indoor" weather comes around again.
On this thought, I've compiled a list of some suggested summer computer projects:
1. "Key-in" (and de-bug) one of those extra long program listings that have appeared in TDM or other pub- lications.
2. Make one of Tim Stoddard's modifications to your computer, or build a kit. (Note: If you don't have ex- perience in this area, get help from someone who does.)
3. Buy your computer a present. How about a disk drive system or new 80 col. printer? Familiarize your- self with the DOS (Disk Operating System), or all of the features of the printer.
4. Tackle Syd Wyncoop's series on 2Z80 Machine Code in TDM (the first lesson is in the March/April '86 issue).
5. Explore a field of interest you are not familiar with, such as word processing, another computer language (FORTH, PASCAL, C, etc.), computer graphics, artificial intelligence, and telecommunications.
6. Write a program.
If your feeling very ambitious this Summer, you could also join a computer club, start your own Sinclair user group, revitalize the one your already a member of, start a BBS, and even organize a local Sinclair computer fair.
I would be interested to hear what you came up with this summer. If you have a tip or short program to share with others, send it in, and I'll print as many as possible in an upcoming issue.
A lot of news items have been filtering across my desk lately, and I'll try to keep you posted in the "For Your Sinclair" section. The TS world does not’ stand still. Many of you already know that the fine British magazine, ZX COMPUTING MONTHLY, is no longer being pub- lished. We here at TDM, feel this has created a_ real void for "serious" Sinclair computer users in the U.K. Plans are being carried out presently to unite what we are doing over here, with this international community and perhaps even entice the major hardware and software developers to take part.
Another problem that has erroded over the past couple of months, is the lack of a reputable repair service for our Timex Sinclair computers. I am _ per- sonally looking into this matter to see if it could be rectified. If you know of anyone who even repairs these machines as a hobby, please drop me a line.
Hope you enjoy the JULY/AUGUST issue. Find some shade, a hammock, a tall glass of ice tea, and give it a good read. We'll be back next issue.
Tim Woods Managing Editor TIME DESIGNS MAGAZINE
T'S Machines Thrive In South America
When the Timex Computer Corporation here in the States closed their doors for good, a rumor was going around that thousands of TS2068's had been "dumped" upon the South American consumer electronics market. But the rumor couldn't be substantiated and was soon forgotten. Later on, an “unauthorized" Spectrum clone was dis- covered in Brazil, along with a dubious software supply. The manufacturer of the Brazilian Spectrum hed even im-
proved some of the bugs in the original Sinclair ROM. Versions of this improved ROM found it's way here in the U.S., and some Spectrum Emulator boards for the 1TS2068 featured the chip.
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The extent of the Timex Sinclair market in South America wasn't realized until just recently, and it appears that the TS activity is in Argentina, the most educated country in Latin America (and ranks very high world-wide). Christian Pusso, Director of the largest computer publication in Argentina,
called "K64", re- cently reported to TIME DESIGNS, "The market here in Argentina is strongly formed by Commodore 64, 128, MSX
compatibles, Timex Sinclair, Atari 800/130, Apple Mac- intosh, IBM PC's and its clones...all assumed to be a total of 500,000 home and PC users".
Laws are very strict in some of the South American countries on importing large quantities of computer goods, forcing many manufacturers (including Commodore) to license existing companies within the country to assemble the computers and then distribute them. In this case, the CZERWENY (an odd-sounding name) Company is licensed through Timex (and more than likely, Timex of Portugal) to manufacture the CZ1000 (the TS1000) and the CZ2000 (the TS2068). Other Timex "clones" and Spectrum clones are widely available...along with stock (U.S. versions) of the Timex Sinclair line.
Many South Americans are discovering the powerful capabilities of the TS machines, and their lower cost is especially appealing. Many computer dealers feature add- ons and software. Devices to convert the 2068 into a
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Spectrum, like emulators and twister boards are the most popular. Spectrum games and other programs are readily available.
The impact of this South American Timex Sinclair "connection" may be far-reaching. The need for an in- formation exchange is great, and currently there is a great interest in programming and low-cost disk drive systems.
Sinclair Clones In The Kremlin
TDM contributor, J. Kevin Paulsen, brought this to our attention: In the March 16th issue of INSIGHT Magazine (published by The Washington Times) an article on the Soviet Union's attempt at catching up with the microcomputer technology race was featured. The in- teresting article pointed out how the Soviet's have surpassed the West in many areas except for the de- velopment of inexpensive personal computers for the masses. The author reports that, "It is a system in which access even to typewriters and copying machines is carefully guarded, out of fear of dissident and other unofficial communications. Printers are not available on the open market, and computer components are prohibit- ively priced".
But the most surprising revelation is that the Soviets have started to manufacture computer "clones". "Smaller computers with brand names such as Agat, Iskra, and Electronika began to dribble off assembly lines, closely resembling machines from IBM, Apple Computer Inc and Sinclair Research Ltd.".
Newest Sinclair
TDM correspondent, Bob Lussier, supplied us with information on the new SPECTRUM PLUS 3 computer which will replace the current 128K+2 model shortly. The computer makes history as the first Sinclair with a disk drive unit, and it is also a return to the old black styling we had grown accustomed to, plus’ several other new features makes this the ideal personal computer. It's sad though to think that Sir : Clive had no hand in this latest version of the time-tested ZX Spectrum. Instead, the for- ward marketing strategies of Amstrad are the driving forces behind this new micro.
Along with the built-in 3" Amstrad floppy drive, there is also a built in Centronics printer port, an auxiliary disk drive port for adding a _ second drive, MIDI port, RGB monitor con- nection, twin joystick ports, and standard cassette tape I/O ports. The DOS is a version of Amstrad's own Ams-— DOS, but has been modified, and uses the old Microdrive commands exclusively. The price of the Spectrum Plus 3 is £249, and includes a_ disk with six games, plus a joystick. The Spectrum Plus 2 now sells for £149. For further info, you can write to: Sinclair, Brentwood House, 169 Kings Road, Brentwood, Essex CM14 4EF, U.K.
CP/M is compatible with the built-in disk operating system, but Amstrad has released no plans to offer a CP/M emulator. However, outside developers are currently
a Zt
More Computer Fests Announced
“Mini-Fair” Comes to the Northwest
Plans abound for regional and national TS computer fests. It has been said that the future of our Timex Sinclair community depends on gatherings such as_ these. Now more users will be able to attend this next year due to a variety of locations currently being proposed.
The three user groups from the Bay Area of Northern California are currently making plans for a "Silicon Valley TS Computer Fest" to be held somewhere in the South Bay Area, and a suggested date of June 1988. The region offers itself as an excellent family vacation spot, as well as the "bargain hunter's dream"...several large electronic parts houses are nearby. For further information write to: Norm Lehfeldt, 757 Guerrero, San Francisco, CA 94110.
Four user groups from Florida are currently working on details for the "Sunstate TS Winterfest '88" to be held in Orlando, Florida, either at the end of February or first part of March 1988...an exact date has not been set yet. The Central Florida area is the number one vacation destination in America, with Walt Disney World nearby. Along with U.S. dealers of Sinclair merchandise, the planning committee will invite companies from the U.K. as well. A 24 hr. BBS has been set up to serve as an information exchange on the Winterfest. The phone number is: (904) 775-0093 (7/1/N). Or write to: Mary- Lynn Johnson, 249 N. Harden Ave., Orange City, FL 32763.
Good News for TS users in the Northwest--the "Timex Sinclair Mini-Fair" will be held on Saturday, September 26th, 1987, in Seattle, Washington. Hours are 10 am to 5:30 pm, and small admission charge of $2 per person ($3 for family) will be charged at the door. Five user groups from the region will be participate, along with at least six TS dealers. The TS Mini-Fair is sponsored in part by Time Designs Magazine and RMG Enterprises. Nine guest speakers are planned for a wide variety of Sinclair topics and interests. As of this writing the exact location had not been established. For further in- formation write to: TDM, .29722 Hult Rd., Colton, OR 97017.
Other TS computer fests have been discussed for both the Midwest again, and one for the Eastcoast. Watch this space for further developments.
working on such a system. In fact, most of the large software houses in Great Britain are enthused about the new Spectrum and are gearing up for production of new game software supplied on the 3" disk format. To quote one source, "From a software point of view the 128K Plus 3 means that huge games--similar to the best of the US Commodore 64 disk-based programs will be possible. The way these work is to load in sections of the game as you play--deleting those areas of the game you've already played through from memory, as you go".
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Product/Dealer News
Larry Kenny of LARKEN ELECTRONICS told TDM about the plans for the 256K RAMdisk for the TS2068. It will use static-type RAMs complete with battery back-up. It will require users to purchase the Larken cartridge, as it contains the commands for the RAMdisk. Larry strongly urges any 2068 user who is interested in increasing their memory up to 256K to write to him, as he is com- piling an "inform when ready list", plus it will give Larry an idea of how much interest there is in this product. Also available now, are two new versions of the Larken EXTENDED BASIC/DOS CARTRIDGE, one for users of the Aerco FD-68, and another for Ramex Millenia K/SPDOS Disk System owners. Both versions feature full Spectrum compatability and NMI (non-maskable interrupt), plus improves the original DOS. For further details and prices, write to: Larken Electronics, RR#2, Navan, Ont., Canada, K4B-1H9.
WEYMIL CORPORATION (Box 5904, Bellingham, WA 98227) has released the DELTA DEVICE, a -non-volatile memory system for the TS1000. A small circuit board contains 32K RAM divided into four 8K blocks which can be in- dependantly switched via a DIP switch to various lo- cations in the Sinclair memory map. Memory is backed-up by a battery. Included is the Rigter Operating System (ROS), which is a data handler/directory system manipu- lated by simple commands. Application of the Delta Device includes the ability to store several programs and recall them instantly. Price: $75.00 plus $5 (S&H).
In last issue's product/dealer news column, we reported on the excellent expanded new version of THE GUIDE TO TS TELECOMMUNICATIONS, but we incorrectly stated the price as $5...the correct price is $7.50, and worth every penny. The book is strongly recommended to
anyone wanting to learn how to use modems with their Sinclair computer. Lots of information for the advanced user too. Send for your copy: Pete Fischer, P.O. Box 2002, Tempe, AZ 85281.
Bill Jones (author of SMART TEXT) is starting a newsletter called: "TS-2068 Safe Disk Up-Date". Emphasis will be on programming, as well as the Oliger Disk Drive System. It will be published quarterly, and the annual subscription price of $12.00 includes unique dividers and punched pages to fit a 3-ring binder. For further information write to: TS-2068 Safe Disk Up-date, 1317 Stratford Ave., Panama City, FL 32404.
Silicon Mountain Computers (C-12, Mtn. Stn. Group Box, Nelson, B.C., Canada VIL 5Pl1) has released an ex- cellent new modem terminal program for the TS1000 called ZX-TERM*80. The software package uses genuine hi-res graphics to provide up to 80 columns of text (!) and windowing. Features include XMODEM protocol for uploads and downloads, printer support, Upper/Lower case char- acters, Westridge or Byte-Back compatible, and much more. Price: $24.95. Write for complete details.
Robert Hartung reviewed the Spectrum program, BETA BASIC in the MAY/JUNE '87 issue of TDM. A new version (4.0) is available for Spectrum's with 128K. Price is £15.95 and is available from: Betasoft, 92 Oxford Rd., Moseley, Birmingham, B13-9SQ, U.K.
Markel Enterprises. has a new address: 4712 Avenue "N", Suite 383, Brooklyn, NY 11234; and also a new BBS for Timex Sinclair users, called SINCLAIR AT NIGHT (718) 627-1293 (settings are 8/1/N).
RMG Enterprises has a Timex Sinclair BBS-—(503) 656-8072, hours from 9 pm to 10 am (settings are 8/1/N).
Variety Sales (325 West Jersey St., #2D, Elizabeth, NJ 07202) is giving a free British Sinclair magazine (while supplies last) with each order received and the customer mentions they saw mention of Variety Sales in TDM.
Sir Clive's new battery powered laptop computer, the Z88 has had some delays in delivery due to "bugs" in the software. All problems should be corrected by the time you read this. There is a limited special offer price for the Z88--only £229.95. Write to: CAMBRIDGE COMPUTERS LTD., Cambridge, CB4 1BR, U.K.
Sunset Electronics (and some selected dealers) have new dust covers for your Timex Sinclair 2068, 1000, 1500, 2040 printer, and the QL. Made of quality fabric, these attractive covers prevent damaging liquid spills, and harmful dust. The logo tells everyone your proud to own a Sinclair. Write to Sunset for complete price list: 2254 Taraval St., San Francisco, CA 94116. Telephone- (415) 665-8330.
Users Group Update
Have we listed your group recently? Send. us the club's name/address and get noticed!
Southeastern Michigan Computer Organization Timex Sinclair Special Interest Group
c/o Barry Carter, newsletter editor
Box 614
Warren, Michigan 48090
P.O. Box 199
GUTS/SV (Group Using TS of Silicon Valley) c/o Bill Miller
6675 Clifford Drive
Cupertino, California 95014
P.O. Box 88361
Clackamas County Area TS Users c/o Rod Gowen
1419 1/2 7th Street
Oregon City, Oregon 97045
706 S. Mason
Kansas Area Timex/Sinclair Users Group c/o Paul Reynolds
4557 Cherry
Wichita, Kansas 67217
Vashon Island Sinclair Timex Association c/o Tony Willing
Seattle Area Timex User Group c/o John Scearce
Tri-City Timex Sinclair User's Group c/o Mike Davis, President
Saginaw, Michigan 48602
TAS-BAM User's Group P.O. Box 48961 St. Petersburg, Florida 33743
Vashon, Washington 98070
Sun Lake User Group
Bill Ward, Secretary
1200 Lake Drive
Grand Island, Florida 32735
Seattle, Washington 98188
Timex Sinclair User Group-Philadelphia P.O. Box 53490 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19105
Westmoreland Computer Users Club Timex Sinclair Special Interest Group P.O. Box 3051
Greensburg, Pennsylvania 15601
WMJ DATA SYSTEMS
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6
TS Communique
By Joe Williamson
A forum for people having problems with their 1000, 1500 and 2068. If you would like to ask a question, send it to:
TS Communique c/o Time Designs Magazine Co. 29722 Hult Road Colton, OR 97017
I bought a QL and would like to know how to hook it up with my Zenith Data Systems RGB Monitor. If you can supply any help, I would be very grateful. Thank you.
Larry Anderson Davenport, IA
Dear Larry,
From the pin-out you sent for the Zenith monitor, the following connections should work. Be careful in soldering so that there arn’t any frayed wires or solder bridges causeing shorts between pins.
QL Signal Zenith Monitor
2 Ground 16 & 19
3 composite video 20
4 composite sync 1 . 5 vertical sync 14
6 Green 5
7 Red ee
8 Blue 6
If this does not lock the picture into sync, try connecting pin 4 of the QL to pin 1 & 14 and eliminating the pin 5 connection of the QL. Also, I showed the connection of composite video so you can display either RGB or monochrome video which may help with certain video modes. -Joe
I am using a Timex 2068 computer, @driving a brand- new Magnavox monochrome monitor (Model BM 7622), working mainly with MSCRIPT word processing software. I continually notice the following symptoms:
1. Usually, the malfunction first appears as a flickering of the screen display. After about ten minutes, the video signal is lost and the screen shows only a normal raster (blank lit screen). Sometimes the signal is not entirely lost; very dim words and letters of the text are visible on the screen.
2. Manipulating the brightness and contrast controls of the monitor does not restore the video signal to normal. Turning the monitor power off then on again does not restore the display.
3. Turning the 2068 off then on generally restores the signal to normal, but then of course everything in memory is lost.
4. The remedy that seems to work most of the time is to pull out the plug from the 2068 monitor jack and then plug it in again, whereupon the video signal usually returns to normal strength.
5. The symptons described above are the same whether I am using a three-year-old 2068 or a two-month-old 2068, a fact which seems to indicate that the Magnavox monitor {is at fault. However, there still could be something about the 2068 monitor output circuit which is causing the problem.
6. The output from the RF jack of the 2068, which feeds an ordinary television set, remains constant and strong without any of the symptons described above.
Seymour Miller Forest Hills, NY
Dear Seymour,
Because you have the problem with both computers, It would be most reasonable to think that there is a problem with the monitor or the monitor cable. Try jiggling the cable at both ends to see if the symptons come and go or replace the cable. To see if the problem lies In the computer, try another monitor. If there is a problem with the computer, there are several places to
ea H Ni 7 yas YTS)
check. Video is processed in the SCLD and comes out on pin 33 and on the RGB lines (pins 48, 47, & 46). You would need an oscilloscope to check for activity on these pins.
The video then goes through the sync & white level control, VRI (try adjusting it to see if this clears up the problem) and feeds the base of @5. the signal comes out on the emitter and feeds the emitter of Q4 and out the collector of Q@4. From here, the video feeds both the RF modulator and the video output circuit consisting of @3 and Q4 which have been known to cause problems. The video signal feeds the base of Q3, out from the collector, feeds the base of @2 and out on the emitter through C58 to the video out put jack. Determining where the video is found and then lost can tell you where the fault is quite easily (one of the easier circuits to follow). I have seen alot of video problems traced to the SCLD Cunfortunately) and Q2 & Q3.
As I stated before, your problem sounds like it is in the monitor or cable. Look there first! -Joe
I read the letter from Mel Routt in the first TS Communique. I seem to have the exact same problem with MSCRIPT. I have an Aerco parallel printer interface connected to a Blue Chip M120/10 printer. I get the
random printout glitches on both tape and disk versions of MSCRIPT. Tasword II and anything typed from Aerco RP/M work fine. I am also looking for a CP/M word Processor.
For some reason the print from my Alphacom 32 is smaller than usual. The letters vary in size during the printout. This happens on both the 2068 and the 1500 so the problem is in the printer. Is there a solution for this?
IT have an Aerco FD-68 Disk Interface connected to a Zenith ZVM-131 RGB monitor. I can see faint lines moving on my video. In RP/M, the letters appear to shimmer. This appears to be some sort of interference. The cable from the FD-68 to the monitor is shielded so the interference does no.come from there. Someone told me that it may be coming from the 2068 power supply. Is a better power supply available?
Dave Bennett Lemoyne, PA
Dear Dave,
Mel Routt wrote us back and said that since he received Version 5.2 of MSCRIPT, the problem has disappeared. So try trading up for the new version. The Alphacom 32 problem sounds like a damaged Pin heater. Your best bet is. to replace the whole unit. The interference problem sounds like a buss loading problem or poor sync. If the problem is there with only the disk interface connected, more than likely it is from poor sync being stripped from the video. Try adjusting the sync and White level adjustment inside the computer just to the top upper left of the speaker designated as VRIi. If this doesn’t help, you may need to check the actual sync stripping circuit on the disk interface. If you have an oscilloscope, look at the sync line. You should have clean, steady negative peaks with no tearing where the peak starts or ends. -Joe
In your Banner program for the 2040 printer (TS 1000) in SUM Magazine, May 1986, I can’t get past the line:
30 LET LEN=LEN M8
It comes up with a syntax error. I have tried several things such as "" etc. to no avail.
A. L. Francis Yucaipa, CA
Dear Mr. Francis,
LET and the 2nd LEN are both key words and need to be entered as a single keystroke. The first LEN is a variable and is just typed in L-E-N. -Joe
STARFLEET 2068 is an all BASIC, low-resolution graphics, shoot 'em up space wars game for the Timex Sinclair 2068. The program listing and CK-TYPE output (to aide your typing/debugging of this program--see May/June '87 issue of TDM) is printed below. STARFLEET 2068 is also available on tape from Lemke Software (2144 White Oak, Wichita, KS 67207) for $9.95 ppd., in case you want to try this game, but don't. have the time to key it in.
Scenerios In the late 1990's, NASA finally perfected the first WARP DRIVE engine. Earth Federation, a joint US-Canada-European space agency quickly arose to control deep space exploration. Over the first several decades, 9 major STAR BASES were constructed; 1 at the edge of our solar system, and 8 others nearly equidistant from this home base. The year is now 2068 AD. After nearly 70 years of exploration, it was beginning to look like we were alone in the galaxy...until THEY appeared. They made no effort to answer our communications, gave no sign of peaceful intent--and as far as we know, might be purely mechanical (computerized) devices. They simply came, de- stroying everything in their paths. They caught us by surprise. After 70 years of uninterrupted peace in space, Earth Federation had only 1 armed Star Ship left in space active service--the STRATA-GEM. The ship was hastily fueled, its crew briefed, and as the aliens were about to attack Star Bases 1 and 8, the STRATA-GEM was launched to meet the attackers. YOU are the CAPTAIN. Battle Stations are sounding. Good Luck!
Armaments: The Strata-Gem has Electro-Magnet "shields" to repel the enemy weapons. Full strength is 10. If they go to zero, good bye!
Weapons: You have Photon Torpedos (for longer range shots) and Phasor weapons.(for closer range shots). The number of each depends on the level of difficulty.
Sensors: Sensor range is 3 parsecs, at full strength, but will vary on shield strength (ship damage).
Engines: You have WARP Speed capability (Warp 1 to 3). You have 20 units of fuel. (Note: the faster you go, the more fuel you use!!) WARP 1 moves you 1 parsec (row and/or column) per move, WARP 2 moves you 2 rows and/or columns per move, etc. If you run out of fuel, good bye!
Docking: You must DOCK to refuel, repair, restock armament, etc. The Star Base will not lower its shields (necessary for you to dock) if there are enemy ships in the quadrant.
Surprises: Yes, there are a few. If a Base refuses to lower it's shields, try-try again. You may have just been a "Bad Captain" and need to pay penance! There are 6 levels of difficulty!
How to Play.
STARFLEET 2068 has 2 screens, the navigation screen and the weapons/tactical screen. The navigation screen shows you a map of the galaxy: stars, bases, your ship, the enemy ‘ships. The weapon/tactical screen showS you a "close-up" view around your ship, also the range of your sensors (a circle). Anything inside this circle is "fair game" for your weapons.
On the Navigation screen, "HELM AT YOUR CONTROL" will flash, telling you that it is your turn to make a move. Use the joystick to command your ship to make a move. You can change the WARP SPEED by pressing numbers 1 to 3. Press "D" to DOCK, press "W" to go to the WEAPONS screen.
3
FLEET cuibb
SPACE ARCADE GAME
by STAN LEMKE
NOTE: to DOCK, you must "fly" your ship into the STAR BASE User Defined Graphic you wish to dock with. Then on _ the next turn you command "D" (dock). DON'T try to fly thru stars or other ships!. Press "0" (zero) for no move, as_ in station keeping.
On the Weapons screen, you will see the map "close- up". Here you will see that Docking really places you just beside a STAR BASE. "WORKING!" will flash when you first go to this screen. The program is calculating the range, distance, position of everything for this new display. When the screen is completed, you will see your ship (center of the circle) with a" " User Defined Graphic flashing on it. This is your weapons "cross-hairs" for aiming at a specific target. Use your joystick to position this on the target of your choice. When ready, press fire. At any point prior to pressing fire, you can select your weapon: press "IT" for torpedo, "P" for phaser weapon. If you shoot at yourself, this is a signal to abort the shot. Press "N" to go to the Navigation screen.
The program (listing).
Type in the program, SAVE it to tape with RUN 4040 [ENTER], (you start the program with RUN [ENTER]). LOAD in the CK-TYPE program (see May/June '87 issue of TDM) and run it to help you find typing errors. Correct these as required, and re-SAVE the new copy.
This program uses 13 User Defined Graphics as 8x8 pixel Sprites. These are easily identified in the program listing as single INVERSE VIDEO letters (A thru M). I did this by re-defining each UDG as the inverse of its letter. This has no effect on the CK-TYPE, and requires no action on your part except that each time you encounter an IN- VERSE VIDEO character, you know it is a User Defined Graphics character (and which UDG character) and you must type it in with the "GRAPHIC" cursor command.
The program also abounds with REM statements. are quite helpful for programming/debugging purposes, if you remove these from your "working" copy, increase the program speed by at least 25%!!
These but you will
SHEE FH SEES EH EH ELSES
19 REM +44 28 REM STAR ae See ee ee
RE "Bee PRINT aT B 31;" TRE ‘ 8,8; Tas’ aaa a RN
210 PRINT AT ¢ hii: RETURN 228 PRINT AT 1 hi)l;TAB 31;"
6,10; "Time =“; FN RETURN
IN ete th coe et fl
IND & RE 258 REM se 250 REM
else THEN
run ou fatis
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B30 REM 24 242 REM 258 PRIN Pti TRB 18;
S68 PRINT 7 4
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be €=8 SUB cer E28 i420 REM
THEN PRINT AT bf fe SUB 182:
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and were Vapori The Federat HEELERS HH RHE
tara T AT 28,28; wer their are enemy": hips in the quadrant #212: PAUSE 92: 60 3u 9@: GO SUB Baa: Go To 112e 14688 NEXT J: IF dac UB 2828: PRINT AT ae fohit is verified." is initiated.":
5 NT (RANDa4a) -
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bo fie tRND218
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“Boo: Backing orbit is
PRINT #8;AT 2,
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ut ty ais impossible UE my PAUSE 52 us 7 BO SUB Zia: So 5 358: Go To
1i48a@ RE
149@ REM $24 Ck i5a@a REM
IF fueleeaa THEN LET fuel LET muf=2
IF shomsh THEN LET IF snomsn THEN LET IF ptompt THEN LET eo yoga THEN LET
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REM 2% PR
60 SUB Bea: : $0 SUB 2348 2380 LET p
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2330 PRINT AT
2542 REM
2258 REM #2#% Hit
2252 REM
2372 LET cx=FN Ft x2}: LET dmg=a: firngt+Js ee
Something?
lee oy
xO
LET hit= 28:
ra) i Wie
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T is9{if+j-irng} 2388 IF j>tirng+Jjs) (Oe eeiene ala).
2398 IF ABS fcox-f(i,B)
2402 NEXT J
THEN LET i=9
1350 1 FOR a= rAd at) Ls 1 THE
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44
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> LET Uliie|a: =@: LET bti-if,2)= PRINT AT 2,43 ,8 03,23; ¢ 5 P : : GO To 2982 pare REM
#2828 REM 2822 Ben ##2e Select
al
ve rm =
aha rad
Weapon 2%
so files
“hg o- SHE EI
OR bg="P"
oR ce ee PRINT AT 1s, Warp Brive” 60 TO 752
2030 RETURN
2298 IF wpn=1 THEN PRINT AT INVERSE 4; "Arming Photon Torpe
THEN PRINT AT i; ‘Charging Phaser TNUERSE @; TAB 31;
Biae iF -wpnse
2712 REM e728 REM 728 REM e7¢8 FOR i=1 TO if: LET Fti.3} > NEXT i: LET ranksrank+i: IF score>=59 THEN 6O TO) 2758 CLS : PRINT AT 2,8; SREEEHEHEEEEEEEE LEE LEH HHH tulations!
¥E Successfully defended deration against 12 enemy hips. “3; °°3" Far your great ory aver the enemy, an Council
the rank ieee k-1)2415441) Ta x ep up the good “Work! The ne ve OF Ships has already be atted on the tong range nsors. EEZTFTTETEE PRINT if;
LASH 1, "Press Enter": CLS REM REM #22 Next UWsave ##+ REN PRINT AT 5,8; “#++24%% SXEFRSZTTEHATEEEZEHH The Foe en Council would Like to rm you that your ceive new shields Star Base stop. aormation received he next wave of PS have improved
range.
arefull HEEHLESES SEPFLEELFHEEHEHESTHHE": FRINT AT 1,418; PAPER @; INK 7; FLASH 1;” ress Enter": PAUSE @: CLS
281@ RESTORE 35a: IF Boot 2 aor b 22108 THEN LET bi=5: LET be= 28209 FOR isi To 412: REAG a:
i} i: LET bi=bi-t
trank-Li: IF 6
Got AW more +4%
sory ae TY UD te de
their weap Be
P
(bi-d): CrET i “FOR istbe+ii T
NEXT i: LET m LET mpt=S+rank—-2
eo TO
if
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a7a REM #42 ALL Bone! +++
2398 CLS : PRINT AT 2,8; "+ FLEFEEEEESEL EE SHSHLAL ETH tulations!
ve successfily deration against vaders! go hot
shot!
A : 60 TO 3518 2980 GO SUB 198. PRINT AT 16,8;T AB S1,"° ": GO To 17ae 2912 REM
#2O20 REM #44 Alien Weapons #24 2922 REM £2948 GO SUB dmg =8 - FOR J 2
ME+RNDerank s rT Loacx=FN cir ET xG=FN dtlocx)
¥: PLOT THK inks;
x3, yo %3,43: ix4-x3), Og1- NUERSE 2: PRINT AT ast >; INK inkS; "EB": PRINT AT 2
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£950 NEXT J:
B 188: PRINT 19,8, "Damage beot<e -'yhris* its ah shietd’
Oo SUB 25a = 2960 LET sh= Sigs dmg: <8 TH N CLS
£EEEE ; elds gone down. ergenc yo pra scedures are in errect.
bandon Ship [f1! HEHREEEES SEEEEEELAEEEE SESS EEHEEE": GO TO
60 SUB 3 2010 LET Baca REM
CF cri PRI Ako; 2407-5 bisa: S+5GN Bi: f i f Mo 1 5s 373 3 Git (isd oO 3 Ab Fli,d} A ND { i} Fli,f)¢ TH EN PRINT AT Fii.,d),Fti,2); Fi ink3;" ": LET fti,1)=INT ea }4113+56N_ (RND-.5) 414+rank i, Liiva): NT iF +i i44+56N nk s2- 3 fel: : 1,6 Ci43 NK inks; 7 x IT LiF 3 1/S)¢edtil: LET xcsINT ttf Be paced take Ne LET tti)=FN oc } + 3148 REM
S158 REM ¢22 Ships 4 & 31658 REM 2178 IF tiiio@ AND AND (fF ti,d)>=8 AND ND (fF (i,2)>=8 AND F EN PRINT AT Fti,d), ink3;" ": LET Fi, 14(1345GN (RND-.5)s1 2))72): LET Ff ti,2) <I 18+56N (AND-.5)4i4ran f2): PRINT AT Fli,d), inkS; “id: LET xr SInt i/S)4d(1}: LET xc=InT B) 73) 4d (2): LET ( (ii =FN + 2180 REN 3198 REM #22 Ships 5S & 18 #24 32828 REN 3218 IF
AND (fF (i,2)>=@ AND fti,#) HEN PRINT AT Fli,1),Fti,B}; Roink3;" ": LET Fti ji) =INT
“Vy He bey a
fy |.
Z+~. end
Aes
nh
ti
2)4+(9-SGN (RND-.5) 4 (34rank /2) +R D-Fli,ti) 72): LET Fti,B)=INT tft 112) + (164 (Ser ank 2) sRNDS5GN TRANG ~.S)-fti,2i) var: PRINT AT fF ti,d} 2F Ci, Rd; eee ae OES T_ttrti, =FN cixer 3220 IF THEN GO 3238 60 » SUB T £€i,8) 221 =8: i,3)=18 9,16; @; "Bt: Rok=L : 6O Bu i) i T gtji} d=ajit 240 NE o T irisj 3 2 Geoea REM geoe8 RF 32728 RF Be28 For LET kig@= 74} _ AR i bo Ta 23590
238 near k
3322 RE 2312 REN ee
Base 2328 REN 3338 FOR k=1 To 60 LET k1i@=k+20: If (i ,13 24) AND Fli,fisfigtkias GO TO 33748 3048 NEXT & 43 30528 GO SUB i NT An enemy ship le star and was éd AT f(i,2},f ti R GO SUB 238: PAUSE i128:
8 OR score=19 GR scare resoa OR scores49 GR score
; Bi) pan et §iSia): ‘ 5 PIM Fae:
4
REM 35238 REM z22 4-0 4a Bene
3552 pet
353 $ 1i2,8,4 6.2 6,255,1,8,4 Ba, 1% pes 6,16,9,1,8, 268,43 242 2126,24,8,4 8,665,126, gis 208,280,098 ,6: 28,123,129, 3, 28,125 ,38,4 252,8,1,8,128, $,129,48,82 4,24,24,3,1,8, 9,66,8,24,2 98,24,3,8,1,8, a @,8,8,3,855,i2 36@a REM
2519 REM #22 Init. Position x24 362@ REM
3620 DATA INT 7,7,.7,7,7,85,25,2 :25,25,82,158,282,405,464,394,26 8138278
2662 REM #42 Init. Variables #z# 3678 REM
3588 LET qd=i: ink@=?: LET i LET ink3=i:
LET scaore=s@: LET ‘3 2 LEE es k4=d: LET inks ink?s?: LET
r$il TG Sa@i= pisin Comm adore tear dmiral Vice A dmiral Admi Fleet Ad mirat Gs d PAPER 12: INK 2692 CLS : tidi=s@: LET tie
roa tidi=s@: LEP tid} =a: ter t (Spe =e: i=]
LET t (8) =s7: @)=16: LET @: LET tiisi
3788 REN O7418 REM #324 Poke UDG 4% 3728 REM 27238 FOR is@ To 7 POR
3748 READ g: 3
3758 READ g: 3 758 READ g: 3 778 READ g: g 782 READ g: 3 728 READ gs: 3 8228 READ gs: 3 818 READ ¢: 820 READ g: 828 READ ¢: O48 READ g:
GoSa READ g:
3858 NEXT i
3870 INK 2: PRINT
R_@; INK 7;
ET rank=i: Alert! Alert!
Star Cruisers i
Federation’s t
Captain oF ti
Gem. You must
our Last hop Good Lucki"
LET cxsi4de2 134 (AND-.5): bad: NEXT a: Fuel=28: LET LET msn=2: S: LET pt=mp amph: LET miu 2898 LET wis
LET See ee 32298 NEXT §: 39418 FOR isi “: NEXT a: Fe
agli} =": ?: LET pas fEN c as tFN apa aa oe ceil “TO
éo “TO 3962 39398 CLS G948 PRINT AT @,28;" SHEFSFLEELEEESTETHE cessfully destroyed"; INT s enemy ships!"j,°;, "Thankyou goad game! Press Ent continue. SHFEHHHE SFEHTELZEFE ASH RHTALAL Mis time: “j;FN Ati;" seconds"; SESEEEFELEREEE SE£FS¢HSEHHE PAUSE @: IF INKEY$=CHRS 13 THEN CLS : GO TO G5ia 3950 REM #4% get ready +++ 39598 cLs_ : PRINT AT 18,12; FAPER 2; INK 7; EEG sH I; “Alert!” ga7a souNG 7,62;3,15 3988 FOR j=i Ta 3: FOR ise5e@ To 120 STEP +5: SouND @,i: NEXT i: PAUSE 4: NEXT j 3999 PRINT AT 13,7; FARPER 7; FLASH 1; "Battle Stat y 4080 FOR j=1 TO 3: FOR i=B5a To ia@ STEP -5: SOUND @,i: NEXT i: PAUSE 4: NEXT J 4812 SQUND 6,8;9,8;12,8 4022 POKE 23674,8 : PORE POKE 23572,2 4298 GO TO 54a 4848 SAVE “Star Fileet"
CK Type
Line Bytes Sum
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How does it work’?
Here is a brief description of the major sections (and a little philosophy) behind what makes this program work. This won*t tell you everything you’ll need to know about writing a game program, nor everything there is to know about this program, but it will tell you enough to make changes to this one, and even cheat if you want too!
Lines 10 — 50: Title/Copyright notice. He sure to include this!
Lines 60 — 120: These calculations are used over and over in the program. To save memory, they are defined as functions. They are used to calculate row/column position from x/y pixel position and visa versa.
Line 130: This line reads the system ’frames*’ counter and calculates system time in seconds. It is used to calculate the GAME time, and also the elapsed time from your last move. If you take too much time to make a move, the aliens will take their turn. The time to make a turn is shorter as the level of difficulty goes up!
Line 140: This line re-directs the *RUN’ command to the program initialize routines starting at line 3510. (These are at the bottom/end of the program because they are not used very often, the routines that are used the most are at the top/beginning of the program to help speed things up!)
Lines 150 - 220: These lines *CLEAR® away old messages and = print the Elapsed Game time.
Line 230: This sets the SOUND command for the ‘’soft’ exploding ship.
Lines 240 —- 310: This section checks how much fuel you have left. It also prints the *fuel gage* marker in the appropriate color, GREEN for lots of fuel, YELLOW for mid-tank, RED for low!
Lines 320 -— 3460: These lines print the Weapons Status.
Lines 370 - 460: This section converts the ALIENS, STAR’ BASES, STARS, and YOUR SHIP coordinates from the Screen Location array (Ld) to their row/column coordinates. Then the Navigation screen is printed. NOTE: to check the position of a star, base, etc. against any other object, you must compare the row and column, or x and y positions, this is 2 coordinate comparisons per object. When you start checking 10 ships for collisions with 9 bases, 11 stars, and your ship, it becomes very time consuming. Therefore, I created a single array (L), that defines a combined Row/Column location as a single value, thus reducing the comparison time to half its former time! The time to calculate this is easily compensated because there are a lot more comparisons than calculation loops!
Lines 470 - 510: This section reads the joystick using an IN/OUT command. This simultaneously reads both joysticks and is much faster than a STICK command that reads left only or right only. This method allows you to use left or right joysticks without any program speed penalty!
Lines 520 — 610: *LOCKING ONTO TARGET!’ While this message is flashing, these lines are checking to ’*’see’ if there are any objects between your ship and the selected target. This is done using the POINT (X,Y) command. If FOINT is 1, there is an object at that X,Y location. If FOINT is ©, no object. The first object encountered is set as the real ‘target’.
Lines 620 - 740: This is the NAV. screen menu. Just press the letter associated with your choice: N - Nav, W - Weapons, D — Dock
Lines 750 — 880: ’HELM AT YOUR COMMAND’. It’s your move! Lines 8970 — 1010: Move. Have enough fuel? Reposition your ship. Lines 1020 — 1090: Check if you *hit’ anything when you moved.
Lines 1100 — 1140: Move the Aliens. 53 aliens move clockwise around the screen, 5S aliens move counter~clockwise.
Lines 1150 - 1280: Check if the Alien ships collided with your ship, or any of the Star Bases. The Star Bases are destroyed when the Alien Ships get close enough to “dock’. When a Star Base is destroyed, the next Star Base becomes their target. When Star Base 9 (home base) is destroyed, your ship becomes the final target!
Baca Bai 3 2 434 2922 56 4 ei a2 29190 2 4 2 434i 2920 23 Pa 518 341236 2238 2 ai 2 431 2940 475 4 Bi ease 2950 36 : 2 431 2552 254 513 33961 2970 2 434 2980 are él eeg3e 2900 2 2 43 3080 api Sis 3d12a 43 a 3020 2 a2 2030 Bi 2 3048 2 527 34391 12 3858 545 56 4274
Lines 1280 - 1390: Alien attack. If you get tco close to the aliens (even in Nav mode), they will attack you!
Lines 1400 — 1470: DOCK. Check if you are in Star Base orbit, if alien ships are too close, etc.. Begin refuel, repair, etc. if
35190 276 18046 DOCKed. 3528 e 461 3528 22 25665 Lines 1480 - 1570: This section limits the fuel, armament, etc. Sap r=] aa. carried for each level of difficulty. 355. 258 La7ad 2560 2 431 & nt — 4355 ai Lines 1580 — 1420: Prepare to select your target. g578 26 ety ae 2 & Sad 7 Lines 1630 -— 1700: This section catalogs all the stars, aliens, ao 2 431 2 17a and bases relative to your ships’ present location. . aor 7 ? Bee ' . : 3 : 7403 a 3 iva Lines 1710 - 1850: This section counts how many stars, aliens, and re < S41 1a B77 Bee. bases are visible on the weapons screen, then creates the screen so 3 4ai 3 A 276 278 i 5a 25 2a 3 : 5 pecan 70 2 1 2548 18 a46 Lines 1860 -— 2010: This section reads the joystick commands and Bea Ra 3558 5 4 moves the ‘cross-hair’ UDG used to select the target. The M/C Bag seed 3260 So 5 routine at 61241 makes a duplicate of the weapons screen in *high’ 2: 431 See _ i8s memory. The UDG cross-hair is moved to wherever you command it. eee 18 pea Basa 6s The M/C routine at 61253 replaces the original screen, erasing the 5750 19 Tso7 AD oF cross-hairs, allowing you to print it at another location quickly, S749 43 A971 ‘ 52 giving you fast response to joystick commands. Bae ais i973 63 76a i3 1975 ii i i i ; 3778 i3 i377 i¢ Lines 2020 - 2110: This section allows you to select which weapon =
you want. It also prints your selection.
Lines 2120 - 2180: FIRE! Is your target in range? Do you have RESOl IRCES mao FOR YOUR SINCLAIR Lines 2190 - 2250: Fire Fhoton Torpedo. Any left? Torpedo is
displayed as a blinking *dot’ as is crosses the screen.
Lines 2260 — 2330: Fire Fhaser. Any left? Fhaser is displayed as a BOOKS
line. OFFICIAL 2068 TECHNICAL MANUAL............$25.00
Lines 2340 - 2610: Hit something? This section determines if you actually hit a anything, and what it was. Tf you hit an alien
ship, its damage is computed. Alien ship damage is additive. You CONTROL THINGS with your may score 30% on it with a first hit, 80% on a second hit.... the Timex/Sinclair by RL Swarts sieeenS)D OO
two hits will score a *kill’. Did you hit a star? a star base?
Lines 2620 - 2700: This subroutine determines the outcome of a
collision with an alien ship. The alien is destroyed, but what is the damage to your ship???
ZX81: Programming for Real Applications by Randie Hurley includes 12 Software Programs
i — 2850: ' : 1 + £44 ‘ Lines 2710 2850: Got 10 more aliens! Level of difficulty is on a Cassette Tape
increased.
Lines 2860 - 2900: Victory! Got *em all! Build a Microcomputer - Controlled Robot by B.C. TaYlOl n.d | 7.OO
Lines 2910 — 2960: Aliens shoot at your ship. Damage?
Lines 2970 ~- 3240: When you are in the Weapons mode, the aliens The Best of TIME DESIGNS Volume 1...
try to surround you. This section of the program controls each of the alien ships, and places them at prescribed points around you with some random deviations from these locations. The exact
9 1.00
Taking the Quantum Leap
positions also vary with the level of difficulty! Despite the Dy MIKE de SOS... eeccssssssssessssees alsotiinng20OO complexity of each move, the wait is very short... less than a Secondper “ship: SPECIAL PACKAGE DEAL:
“ t ” a” Lines 3250 - 3470: Check alien ship collisions: hit your ship? Both “Control Things and 2X81 $10 destroy a star base? Lines 3520 - 4040: Program initialization section. TIME DESIGNS
INE
Line 3550: This is the data and read/poke routine to set up the MAGAZ machine code programs used with the weapon screen. BACK ISSUES Line 3590: This is the data that defines all 13 UDG sprites. $3.00 EACH Line 3630: This data defines the screen location (L) of the 9 star Nov/Dec 85 Vol. 2 bases and 10 alien ships.
Jan/Feb 86 March/April 86 May/June 86 map into place. July/August 86
Line 4020: This line pokes the ’frames’ system variable with oO Sept/Oct 86
Lines 3700 -— 3860: These lines FOKE in the UDG values.
Line 3910s This line creates a$. This array contains the navigation screen definition: screen border, star location, etc. This string is printed, and gives the appearance of scrolling the
(zero), reinitializing the game timer.
Nov/Dec 86 Vol. 3 Jan/Feb 87 March/April 87 May/June 87
I hope you enjoy playing Star Fleet... at least as much as I. did writing it! OK, beam me up Scotty!
26115 so72 : 2a t5075
aaa 3380 | Be; «aaa SAVE $1.00 when you order
gee aia as =e all six Volume Two issues!!
a sips TIME DESIGNS MAGAZINE CO. 2: 3 : & 1485
euis Bisa: 50 5152 29722 Hult Rd., Colton, OR 97017 asi Saga: 2 Pet (503) 824-2658
25805 3459 is ibis ~*~
183s 3528 2 481 } o
Part II
Judging by all the mail, it appears that a good many 2068 users have been interested in alternatives to Sinclair's original font for quite some time! And that's exactly what we will be discussing this time. Stay tuned!
Now, in all those letters no one mentioned a little bug I ran across in the BASIC program of Part I. That's too bad--I usually send such computer pest controllers a tape of utilities or at least a thank-you card!
The bug is a small one in line 61. This line is supposed to print an equal sign-~-I say supposed to. If one examines the new characters in Figure 3 in the same article he won't find an equal sign. Line 61 has "DRAW 0,2" twice. Change these to "DRAW 2,0" and the program will perform as intended. Soon we'll be looking at some slick code that will make worrying about such inherent hoohaa of BASIC a thing of the past.
So now that the bug is out of the way, most of my mail is answered and my new son's sleeping through the night, I will dive headlong into this next level of CLASSY FRONT END. We will try to progress slowly enough so as not to lose anyone. So even those less _ familiar with programming. are invited to follow along.
In designing a Machine Code utility one faces the inevitable quandry of too many desires and not enough space. I wrote a wish list of features and then settled from that on a "short list" of must-haves. These fell into three catagories (being BASIC compatible, being flexible and easy to use). When we finally finish the program it will include the following features:
A. BASIC COMPATIBLE reads coordinates/text from BASIC
ds
2. is callable from BASIC
3. allows use of 2468 symbols, too B. FLEXIBLE 4. able to reside anywhere in memory 5. all symbols changible by the user 6 7 8 9
C. EASY TO USE short enough to load quickly
provides complete set of symbols runs much faster than BASIC keeps track of screen coordinates
One of the most constraining to achieve as it turns out is #4. Without fixed addresses for each byte the program has used two unused bytes at 23728 and 23729 (5CBO and 5CBl hex) to store it's location as a ref-— erence. But more on that later.
Some who wrote me asked about "printer compata- bility". As you will notice this does not appear on the "short list". Now CLASSY FRONT END is really a screen print environment, not another printer font. It is true that CLASSY is compatable with the 2040 printer--several letters I received were in NEW 2068 MEDIUM printed on thermal paper which thrilled me (thanks, guys!).
But opening the old can. of printer-compatability- worms is not what I want to do. Lest some would feel hung out to dry, take heart that CLASSY keeps track of text in its own font as well as the Sinclair font. Be-
14
BY PAUL BINGHAM
cause of this, any printer should be able to print in its own font style by using standard ASCII codes. And I'm sure you can, too. Just consult your interface and printer manuals.
Foremost in the design of the machine code program is how we will store as well as display the graphic data for our new font. Our 2068 we know has a_ character table in ROM starting at 15616 (3D00 hex). Here the 2068's 95 symbols are stored. The PRINT routine starting at 8537 (2159 hex) looks up the codes stored in this table for each symbol it prints.
It works something like this: first the routine finds exactly where the code for the actual symbol begins in the table. Next it reads the first of eight bytes of code. This is always a number between O and 255. Remember reading someplace that all bytes contain eight bits? It is true--by using this code the 2068 figures out which bits are set or not set and then the PRINT routine darkens in the corresponding eight pixels on the screen. By doing this with each of the succeeding of the eight bytes, the PRINT routine assembles a pixel pattern a line at a time on the screen. By this method the 2068 can store the graphic information for the 64 pixels of each symbol.in only eight ‘bytes! Clever these British...
To know just which code number represents which pixel pattern is fairly easy to figure out. The program in Listing #1 entitled "Z80 bit patterns" will let our 2068 do it for us. Be sure to have enough printer paper on hand as the 2040 printout is almost three feet long. (You will certainly need this if you do any alterations or customizing of the font as listed.)
Listing l PATERN COPE BITS SET
esecoces Seeceaceal eeoeo0aie Seeeeooait eeeecoiea SSeco1a1 82000116 @SeGeolii 88861880
Ch sf CON be
i REN Z88 Bit Paterns
18 FOR t=65358 TO 65391: READ GO: POKE t,o: NEXT t: BATA 255,12 8,1268,128,128,125,255,6.,255,254 2,254,254 ,254,254,255,6.,128,123, 128,128,123,128,128,6 8 LPRINT AT 6,5; "PA
TERN COCE BITS SE 3@ FOR f=8 TO 255: POKE 16384, fF: LPRINT " ar Ro isi T
2 FO
46 LET bi} =POINT (i-1,175)
5S@ IF bli} =@ THEN LPRINT CHRS 144;,: GO TO 7@ 6@ LPRINT CHRS 145; 78 NEXT i: LPRINT CHRS 146;" F;AT @,20;b(1);b(2);b(3);,b(4); 5S); b(6);b(7};b(6): NEXT F
; bt
But, you'might ask, the 2068 uses eight by eight sized symbols. One of CLASSY's functions is to get away from that! Indeed some of CLASSY's symbols are only three pixels wide. However, all of CLASSY's symbols are eight pixels HIGH. By doing a little extra code man- ipulation using the instructions (covered nicely by Syd Wyncoop in his past articles), we can produce our patterns up instead pf across. This is similar to the method some side-ways printer dump utilities one sees on the market are using.
Examine the complete NEW 2068 MEDIUM font in Figure 1. Note the sequence of bytes for each symbol. The font is nearly identical with the one in Part I with only changes being to characters 126, 199, 200 and 201. The actual data for the font is to be found in Listing 2. Character 32 (a space) is missing as it is only zeros and a simple increment of the printing coordinate will take care of it.
Figure 1
then three
This may seem
a If the character were only three pixels
like a waste of space, but if we want to change a symbol later and it was say 5 wide instead of the original 3,
wide it would have a 3 in the first byte, codes for the pattern and the rest zeros.
od
inp
aan up each symbol.
G666e enm eracr
it
Then we will probably get
Due to the length of the actual code for CLASSY (it
comes in at just over 1.5K), we will be discussing
alterable character table with 98 symbols just about the for the next two installments.
same length as Sinclair's original ROM table. Only this
we'd be in real trouble. What we end up with is a new, time with a little more pizzaz!
t make
The first byte
The symbols are each stored, as in the 2068 itself,
in eight byte chunks: (refer to Figure 2). tells how wide the character is to be. What follows are
the bytes (up to seven as in the case of #126) tha
into "windowing", etc. If you can't wait until next time, I would be happy to send you an advanced copy of the dissassembled listing. Just send one dollar ($1) to: Paul Bingham, P.O. Box 2034, Mesa, AZ 85204. For the program on tape send $5 (for all those who sent for CLASSY from Part I, you need only send $3 for the tape). See you next time!
Figure 2
MEMORY MAP OF FONT TABLE:
125 CHARACTER 126 127
succeeding bit patterns
character width
eight bytes
Listing 2
1 REM CLASSY FRONT END FONT
1802 CATA 3,8,94,94,8,8,9,98.,5,8 @,0,7,0,8.,6,34,255,34,34,255 -,6,0,44,116,255,74,48,8 DATA 7,0,12,16,182,58,94,54 @,124,214,54,80,0.,3,0,4,3 @.,4,0,68,126,129,0,8,8., ,126,68,8,8,8
TA 6,8,18,4,31,4,18,8.,6, 124,16,16,8.,3,8,144,112 2,5,8 28,08,
es 8
abo -
)24,24,24,24,0,8.,3 a,2
oo ORR Be
1030 DATA 4,8,96,24,6,0,9,0.,6,28 ,60,126,82,74,58,2.,4,0,68,126,6 4,0,0,0.,5,08,188,93,82,76,0,8.,6 34, 74,125 ,58,8
G46 CATA 5,8,24,28,126,16,0,a., 5,0,46,78,74,58,6,8.,6,08,56,124, 74,74,48,8.,5,28,2,214,26,14,0,8. 3 ; 4,74,52,8
4 ,12,94,82,82,68,0., 3,0,48,49,8,8,98,6.,3,8,168,184,a »@,8,68.,5,0,24,60,182,129,0,0.53 .40,48,408,8,8,8,08
1868 CATA 5,8,129,182,68,24,8,0. 76,8,4,2,82,94,12,8.,7,6,4,58,42 ,122,66,58.,5,8,124,126,18,18,12 4,9.,6,8,125,126,74,74,52,0
1878 DATA 5,8,58,126,66,66,36,8. ,6,0,126,126,656,66,60,0.,6,0,126 .226,74,74,65,8.,6,8,126,126,18 10,2,0.,6,0,68,126,66,82,116,28 185@ DATA 5,8,126,126,8,8,126,a. .5,0,66,126,125,66,8,8.,6,0,48,6 4,64,156,62,8.,6,2,126,126,24,36 ,66,0.,6,8,125,126,64,64,64,98 4898 DATA 7,8,126,126,4,8,4,126. ,6,8,126,126,12,48,126,8.,6,28,620 ,126,66,66,60,8.,6,8,126,126,13, 418,12,0.,6,8,62,126,82,98,252,0 1168 CATA 6,9,126,126,138,50,1283, ®.,6,0,44,118,74,74,48,8.,6,2,2,
126,126,2,2,8.,6,8,62,126,64,64, 62,8.,7,8,6,38,128,96.24,6
1118 DATA 7,8,52,126,64,45,64,62 -,;7,8,66,192,623,24,36,66.,7,2,6, 12,120,1228,4,2.,6,8,98,114,98,738 :79,0.,3,8,255,129,8,8,0,0
1128 DATA 4,2,6,24,96,0,0,8.,3,8 »129,255,8,8,8,28.,7,8,62,30,38,6 2,114,32.,6,128,128,128,128,128, Reo Cra tC RoR eRe Aes plats Saas 1138 CATA _5,0,48,126,72,120,08,0. :5,0,126,72,128,46,6,8.,5,0,48,1 28,72,72,8,8.,5,8,48,128,72,126, 6,@.,5,8,48,122,164,88,8,0
1148 DATA 4,2,2,126,18,8,6,0.,5, 8,176,248 ,288,248,8,8.,5,0,126,8 23,112,8,8.,4,8,72,122,64,0,8,8. 23,128,1253,122,8,6,8,8
15@ DATA 5,8,126,16,48,72,08,8., @,66,126,64,8,8,8.,7,8,120,128 122,8,112.,5,8,128,120,8,112, »5,86,43,123,72,46,8,08
CATA 5,8,248,72,128,48,98,8. 48,128,72,248,8,8.,5,0,128, 8,8,8.,5,3,82,388,120,48,0, 2126,72,6,6,8 5,89,56,128,64,120,8,8. 96,24,28,8.,7,0,56,120 Cahier tee tac gee te yes : 2
- BOM BO. Pi
er OUR BUS Oe
$4,96,56,2,08 2,72,104,83,72,0,0., 1,8.,4,@,255,255,0,0
1@8,56,31,56,108,68
ATA 5,9,24,60,231,36,0,0., 5,85,178,85,178,255,0.,3,28,2 2@,8,8,8.,7,24,48,96,48,8,4,
G roar)
1, 6, 3,
@ 1 6 2 S i 6 4 2
RGB Interface For The TS2068
Tim Stoddard
RGB vs Other Methods
Ever since I purchased my TS2068 I have longed for a REAL RGB interface. Sure, the display is OK on my 19” Sony, but the color is "washed out” and there is that ever-present background hash. I thought that by attaching a composite monitor to the monitor jack would at least clean up the hash....but no, the hash remains! Thus began my work on THIS article.
Composite video is simply a combination or mixture of the three basic signals common to all CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) based display devices. First, there is the VERTICAL SYNC which is used to ‘lock’ the picture vertically. Second, there is the HORIZONTAL SYNC which ‘locks’ the picture horizontally. Then there is, of course, the VIDEO INFORMATION which supplies the actual picture.
COMMON TVs
In the case of color displays there are three methods of getting these signals to the monitor or TV. In the begining.......there was the RF modulator. This is simply a VERY low power broadcasting station! All three basic signals are combined to from the COMPOSITE signal, and then ‘broadcasted’ via a cable to your favorite TV. You, in turn, select channel 3 or 4 and, voila! The 'Gulpman’ appears on your screen. The advantages to this type of interface are ease of hook-up, cost, and availablity of the common color TV. The disadvantages are the BANDWIDTH of this type of interface are LOW. This is seen as poor picture quality and ‘washed out’ color. There are two reasons for this; 1) The tuner circuitry in the TV and RF modulator in the TS2068 cannot handle the high resolution modes that our computer is capable of. 2) The 'common' TVs’ CRT DOT-PITCH is not good enough for high-resolution color images. (More on this later). Then there is that ANNOYING ’ background hash’!
16
COMPOSITE MONITOR
The second method is to send the composite signal directly to the TVs' CRT circuitry, bypassing the tuner and the computers’ RF modulator. This method works quite well because we are bypassing all that circuitry. The display looks MUCH better but the color is still ‘washed-out’ due to the fact that the DOT-PITCH of the TV is large. Also, the circuitry needed to combine the color/syne signals in the computer end, and the circuitry needed to separate the color/sync signals in the monitor end, add to the distortion of the display and color. I probably would not have noticed this except that I also have a QL with its’ RGB monitor and there is just no comparing the RGB with a standard monitor or TV. So the Monitor connection is much better than the RF modulator but, still, is not the best interface available.
RGB_MONITOR
The third method is, by far, the most impressive in that the quality and control of the color signals are absolute. Thie is accomplished by sending the three color signals SEPARATELY to the monitor along with a COMPOSITE SYNC signal containing the VERT and HORZ syncs. The disadvantages to this method are the multi-wire cable needed to connect the monitor and the cost of the monitor. Why is the RGB monitor more expensive? Most of the cost of an RGB monitor is tied up in the CRT RESOLUTION and circuitry to support it. A typical TV has a DOT-PITCH ( DOT-PITCH is the distance between adjacent CRT pixels ) of about .85mm, where a good RGB monitor such as the QL Vision monitor has a dot-pitch of .38m. You can really see the difference! ; :
So we have two goals here; one, to convert our machines to RGB and two, to get rid of that ANNOYING ‘background hash’!
CONSTRUCTION
r = This circuit was derived from a circuit appearing in the 2068 [ Technical Manual, page 57 and was modified to work with the QL Vision monitor, although with the proper connector, it should work for any RGB monitor. If you don’t have this book, GET IT! This is the single most useful book for the 2068 and is published by TIME DESIGNS MAGAZINE. atch]
RF Hodulatar
Hous tick
We need a VERY CLEAN supply for this circuit to eliminate the | eo)
|
background hash. This hash is generated by the computers’ SVITCHING REGULATOR. To accomplish this we will be ‘double regulating’ the supply to the RGB sync circuit. This circuit just extracts the SYNC signals from the TS2068 COMPSITE out-put. The color signals already exsist in the TS2068!
+12 VOLT REGULATOR FPEGURE Hi +1le Regulatar Using proper static precautions, remove the top keyboard case and then the internal PCB, Using figure #1, locate and remove the 78L12A regulator. It looks like a garden-variety transistor. Use a solderwick or solder-sucker to remove the solder from the regulators PCB holes and then r gently remove the wire leads. Next, install a 78M12 or 7812 regulator in its’ place using figure #2 as a guide to orienting the new regulator. NOTB | that I'm showing the BACK-SIDE of this regulator UP. Now cut a 12" piece of | insulated wire and solder on end to the regulator as shown in figure #2. | Leave the other end free for now. Leaving the PCB out of the case and : making sure the PCB is insulated from contacting any metal, connect your TV and power up the computer. You should get a NORMAL display with the Sinclair copywrite notice. If you don’t POWER OFF!!!! Then check the orientation of the new regulator again and correct. If you have a voltmeter you can also check the output of this regulator to insure that it is at +12 volts, This point is the same point as the wire that was attached to the regulator in figure #2.
RF Modulatar |
Using the schematic in figure #3 assemble the circuit on a small fa en e ees piece of perf board. Then pick an area inside the case to mount the small | FEGURE #2 Hew Regutlatar perf board assembly, (I used the area just above the right hand joystick connector.) Use a small piece of two-sided foam tape to mount the perf board. Next, attach the +12 volt wire previously soldered to the new +12 = BivE volt regulator and solder it to the proper point on the perf board (The input of the 78L05 voltage regulator). Now run a small wire from the computer's composite out shown in figure #4 to capacitor Cl on the perf board (see schematic in figure #3). Now run a ground wire from the perf board (emitter of Q2) to a ground point on the computer PCB. A good place is the ground plane just above the right joystick connector, Take the 6-wire shielded cable and solder the wire you'll be using for the COMPOSITE SYNC to the perf board (collector of Q2). Salder the wires you'll be using for the Red, Green, Blue signals to the computer's PCB at the points shown in figure #4, then solder the wire to be used for monitor ground AND the SHIELD wire to the main ground point in the computer which is located in the center of the computer PCB. It has a large wire soldered there with many other smaller wires and a cap attached to it. Lastly attach an 8 pin DIN socket to the other end of the 6-wire cable, or if you'll be using a different monitor, the proper plug to match that monitor.
GREEN
ComMPasTE = SYNC
GRound/s Hed
QL Monitor Connections
Q3 #12 vors Fro TS2068 #12 your REGVLATR, 3 xu3 Reassemble the computer into the case and pick a place to route the 4 ¥x wire out of the back of the computer (I chose the center-back of the case). yp 3 <j Connect a TV and power supply to the TS2068 and power up. You should get 5st Sor the copyright notice as normal. Power off and connect the RGB monitor ( you ——] & > can leave the TV connected) and power up again. You should get some sort of GQueune. 3 ¢ 5 Sy display on the RGB. Adjust the potentiometer R3 to get a stable Com pos (TE 2 display...NOTE NO BACKGROUND HASH!!!This circuit is designed for low-going VIDED
composite sync monitors which comprises about 90% of the RGB monitors (See FiGveé #4) available. If yours is one of the 10%, drop me a line and I'll help you SYNC out! All parts are obtainable at Radio Shack, including the 8 pin DIN level ae
socket. One source is a Tandy 1000 keyboard extension cable which has both Figure #3 AbjusT = SynucHed a male and female in-cable connectors plus a 6-wire shielded cable for Pic TURE $14.95 as part number 26-1389. If you want only the female connector they
only stock the PCB mountable connector and you'll have to ORDER that as
part number AJ7550 for $1.00 (It's a replacement socket for their Tandy
1000 computer!).
CoMprsivTe IK
LETTERS, NEW BBS, OFFERS!
Thanks for the many letters you have sent in support of my articles! I have improved the TS2016 ram pack upgrade to allow usage with the TS1500. Thanks to reader Earl Dunnington of Boynton Beach, Florida, for inspiring me to accomodate the TS1500. For those of you wishing the latest improvements in the upgrades for the ram pack or any other of my articles, just send me a SASE and I'll return the latest info. Also Mark Fendrick, columnist for Computer Shopper, has started up a new Sinclair BBS called “SINCLAIR at NIGHT’. He has generously named me as the ZX81/TS1000 conference leader, so you can find me daily on that BBS. Please call in on this board and support these great little machines! Hours are 2300 to 0600 daily, phone 718-627-1293. There curently are also TS2068 and QL sub-boards
FIGURE ta
(conferences) with new conferences added to the arrival of new computers +15 volts to
such as the THOR. You'll also find any late-breaking info about my articles P.c.6B.
on that BBS in the ZX81/TS1000 conference. For those of you who are not
hardware oriented, I am extending an offer I started with the Vancouver Dock Connector
Sinclair User Group to upgrade either the TS2016 ram pack for $25 US, or
the TS1000 internal 64K upgrade for $40 US. Just mail the ram pack or
computer or both (as many did in VSUG) and I'll convert and return via
insured mail. It would be a good idea to check with me ahead of time to see
how "swamped" I am. You can do this by mail (85-48 66th Road, Rego Park, 7} 7 NY, 11374), Compuserve (ID 73127,2664), or on the "Sinclair at Wight" BBS.
i+
Adding Professional Features to TASWORD TWO
By Duncan
If you have ever used a word processor for a more expensive computer, like an Apple //e, you have noticed a few features not found on Tasword Two. I requiarly use PFS:Write on the Apple //e in my planetarium. (I apologize for having another computer in
addition to my beloved TS2068. My only excuse is having to have the Apple to interface with a laser video disc player.)
Both word processors include many identical features: help screens; word wrap; fast cursor movement by character, by word, by line, by page, and to the beginning or end of the text file; character and line insert and delete; block move and copy; left, center, and right line formatting; reformatting of text after
insertions or deletions; optional right Justification; embedding
of printer control codes within the text file; and search and replace. Whew! Tasword Two is truly amazing, considering that it needs 88K
less room that
memory and costs $118.08 less than PFS:Write, but there is for improvement. There are number of features PFS:Write has are not included with a stock version of Tasword Two.
The modifications I have made allow Tasword Two to use tape or (Aerco FO48) disk for loads and saves, catalog either of two disk drives, "reboot" either drive, print headers and footers, print multiple copies with all the pages properly numbered, skip perforations after a selectable number of lines, and count the number of words in a text file.
I’m greatly indebted to articles in the February/March 1986 issue of ZX Computing and the May 1985 issue of Sinclair User. Thanks to Mike deSosa for sending me the latter article.
The ZX Computing article was, of course, written about Spectrum version of Tasword Two. I had to modify the machine code for the word count routine before it would work correctly on the TS2668. This has appeared previously in Time Designs.
The Sinclair User article, by John Lambert, is the earliest source I’ve seen for selectable lines per page, page numbering, multiple printouts, headers, footers, and custom color selection for the screen. The listing, however, has a number of bugs.
The footer and pagination don’t always appear in consistent positions at the bottom of the page. The page count is off under certain conditions. The LPRINT command to print the footer Is Ignored by the TS2068 version of Tasword Two. Finally, a list of
the
addresses to poke with new values to change the paper and _ ink colors of the text file, the prompt area at the bottom of the screen, and the margins is incomplete. The information below will "correct" the listing in Sinclair User.
Any modifications to Tasword Two should be preceded by the Incorporation of as many memory saving tricks as possible. Mike
de Sosa is responsible for several. He used tokens and variables to represent often used GOSUB lines and frequently used numbers
for TABs and calculations. Here is a fairly complete list. @® = NOT PI 12 = tw 64 = sf 4600 = Ft 1 = SGN PI 14=w 858 = ef 4908 = gs i@=t 31 = th 956 = nf 7006 = nt
One could also have used variables for @ and 1, say "z" and "o."”
Some additional memory was saved by reducing the amount of text in screen prompts and in the menu. I don’t believe any clarity is lost by these changes.
Another change I made renders Tasword Two compatible with a word processor whose default page format is a one-inch margin at the top and bottom of the page. The margin area is usually where headers and footers are printed. In Keeping with convention, two blank lines are printed, then the header, and then three blank
lines. Six lines equals one inch. Then the text file starts. The header is printed on every page in the document, but it uses up no space in the text file.
The footer is likewise separated from the last line of the text file on a given page by three blank lines. The footer Is printed next. Then the current page number and total number of pages in the document is printed on the next line. Finally a form feed is sent to the printer. This effectively leaves one blank line after the automatic page numbering.
When I first typed in the Sinclair User listing, the footer would not print out at all. This is why Mike sent me the article in the first place. Repositioning a USR call solved the problem.
The original Sinclair User listing allowed for the number of lines per page to be specified along with Tasword’s line spacing choice. It failed to take into account the extra blank lines needed to Keep the footer in a consistent place when line spacing is greater than one.
I€ a document has a one inch margin at the top and bottom, then 54 lines of text will fit on a standard page. If the line spacing is one, then.everything gets printed in the right place. If the line spacing is three, then Tasword prints a line and skips two lines until it gets to the 18th line ¢54/3=18).
It prints the 18th line, then thinks, “I’m through printing lines on that page," fails to put in two blank lines, and prints the footer. This puts the footer and page numbering two lines higher than it should be. An addition to line 298 tells Tasword to print "line spacing minus one" blank lines between the last line of text on the page and the footer and pagination.
Another problem occurred when the Sinclair User calculated how many pages it would take to print an document, given the user-specified lines per page and the
listing entire line
R. Teaque
spacing. If the text just happened to fill the final page of a multi-page document, the page counter calculated one page too many. An addition to line 25@ prevents “one" from being added to the page count if the total number of lines divided by the lines per page is an Integer. ,
The final consideration is the alteration of the screen colors. POKE the following addresses to change the text area to
your choice of paper and ink, where "C" is calculated by the formula "C = (8 * paperd+ink."
POKE 58512, 54 POKE 58521, 54
POKE 58513, C POKE 58522, C For example, to use red paper with black ink, you use the
formula "C = (8 * 2) + @ = 16."
A surprise may await you after you’ve changed the text area paper and ink colors. If you try to set left and right margins, your text may disappear or your margins may be Invisible if you chose certain incompatible combinations. To alter the paper and Ink colors in the margins for suitable contrast and visibility, POKE the following addresses with your selection according to the aforementioned formula.
POKE 58508, 54 POKE 58509, C
POKE 58517, 54 POKE 58518, C
Now that you’ve customized the text area and margins,
you can alter the ink and paper of the bottom two lines where line and column numbers, justification, word wrap, and Insert mode
status are shown. To alter the two status lines, POKE new values into the respective addresses. The value of "C" is calculated in the manner shown previously.
POKE 59993, C (top) POKE 64578, C ‘(bottom
The final touch-up is color selection for the 64-column and 32-column mode borders. You can change the following addresses to indicate your choice of BORDER color’. The value of "B" equals the paper color you want. Thus “B" ranges from @ to 7.
POKE 64516, B ¢64-column)> POKE 68641, B ¢32-column>
Continued on Page 20...
LARKEN ELECTRONICS DISK INTERFACES
woonnnon= LARKEN 2068 / spree DISK SYSTEM -----------
- The system consists of the LKDOS cartridge and a Double Density rear disk interface. 800K on a Quad Drive
~ Fully 3068 / Spectrum compatible / 0S-64 compatible
- It uses all standard (Token) keyboard cassette commands CAT MERGE ERASE FORMAT LOAD SAVE PRINT and more Uses NO RAM space . HAS 8K ROM and 8K RAM on board NMI heaory Save Feature :PUSH-BUTTON eropeas transfer A KEMPSTON compatible ia ete port is also on the IF. Also, 10 Extended Basic Commands for Graphics, Utilities and up to 3 scrolling Windows on the screen . An Aerco compatible printer driver is also in the Lkdos Cartridge
The disk interface is a compact rear mounted board that can support 1 to 4; 3” 3.5" or 5.25" SS,DS or Quad Drives
- Easy to setup . 90 day guarantee
xx ATTENTION ¥4%% AERCO FD68 and RAMEX DISK USERS
The LKDOS cartridge is now available for your disk IF’s . It will allow your disk systems to be fully Spectrum and OS-64 compatible and Larken disk compatible and have all the commands mentioned above . Also a SNAP-SHOT save button can added . RAMEX users will now be able to use all the memory . AERCO users can now have all of the above features plus the Lkdos uses the Aerco Ram as a RAM-DISK !
PRICES : (US) 2068/Spectrum Disk System
Add $5 S&H LKDOS Cartridge. (Aerco,Ramex) ZX-81 Disk Controller 256K Non-Volatile Ram Disk (TBA) Drive Floppy cable #8.00
% LARKEN ELECTRONICS RR#2 NAVAN ONTARIO CANADA K4B-1H9 %
$119.95 $65.00 $99.00
FOOTE SOFTWARE
The FOOTE PRINT PRINTER INTERFACE
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@ works in both 2068 and Spectrum mode
® compatible with OS-64 & Spectrum emulators
e EPROM socket and on/off switch on board
© works with both Tasman and Aercodriver software
® plugs into cartridge dock—door completely closes with cable running back under computer
@ frees up rear edge connector allowing other peripherals to be used; less chance of a crash
@ print driver software for LPRINT, LLIST, and COPY included for 2068 and Spectrum modes
— FootePrint Interface w/software & cable $45 SOFTWARE = 182068 TS1000 eo otePrint with OS-64 option included . $65°
Bare board & instructions only .......... $ 20° recnremrar eprents ee ree $7.95 Cable only for use with bare board ....... $1500 Calorie Counter......ccccccc----89.95 $5.95 Zero Insertion Force Socket option add $10 U.S.A. (Pres. & States 8 Caps.)....89.95 $5.95 Gambler (poker).......cccccscceseceeees $9.95 THE BEST OF CHR$ (char. 8 graphics generator) $12.95 Hangman & TIC—TAC—TOLE................ $5.95
Brother M1109 Dot Matrix Printer, compact, low fe SINCLAIR/TIMEX USERS MAGAZINE
noise, 100 CPS, both Parallel and Serial inter~ faces, multiple typestyles with near letter quality print mode and 4k memory buffer, comes with tractor feed unit......... $249.95
A compilation of the best articles, reviews, programs, The Best of SUM and hardware projects
Some sample articles include: Building Your Own Spectrum Emulator, Repairing Your TS-1000, Word Mie Bestel oye ral Processing Reviews for the 2068, UDGs on the TS- 1000, Extensive Review of the Zebra Disk System, Adding a Keyboard to the 2068, and Enhancing the A & J Microdrive. 112 pages
Articles include Building an EPROM Program- mer, Sprites on the 2068, Adding RGB to 2068. QL Word Processing, What's Available for TS-1000, and muchmore. 60 pages
Price: $11.95 Price: $7.95
FOOTE %%, SOFTWARE P.O. Box 14655 — Gainesville, FL 32604 904/462-1086 (6 pm - 9 pm EDT)
All prices are pre-paid and include shipping charges. Florida residents must add 5% state sales tax.
The final modifications I’ve made to my copy of Tasword pee Bel PEVAL TE MOVES” BOOB involve the use of my Aerco FD68 Disk system. The save and load 705 MOVE “tasword. bin") 52610,12 routines allow both tape and disk to be used. The difference is 2ee eS ares p in the use of an "#" to prefix disk file names or to catalog the 720 PRINT SNOT pt; AT NOT PI,NOT disk before loading or merging a text fille. At Tasword’s “STOP" PI
3 Press ENTER to go back to menu, PAUSE NOT PI: GO TO VAL "
zee LET bSFN P(VAL "62216"): CL 1005 PRINT AT VAL “S",NOT PI; "Na
me text file-Prefix * for disk": LET ist: LET j@=NOT PI: GO suUB
menu, you can also use appropriate Keys to catalog drive A (<=), catalog drive B (>=), or reboot (<>).
lf you’d like to save yourself some typing, I’11 supply a tape or disk of my modifications to the BASIC portion of Tasword for $6.08 postpaid. I’11 also include the machine code routine
which provides a count of the number of words in the text file gs when you go to the main menu. Contact me at 3308 Bluemont Drive, pert aU ON eet PRINT AT su pans Memphis. Tennessee (38134). Pry" Here are some notes on the program lines: ne = 2 " Bo: paQeneN LET tens=a-c: GO TO VAL 1029 IF LEN NOT PI THEN chs 15 - 26: variables defined for memory savings a Der yen’ Se Re iNT pee eae p71, [aGGEE mem": 60 To UAL ee 25 tomy choice of STOP menu paper and ink colors “First page ', GO SUB 96: Go Siu 1@25 IF as(SGN_PI) ="#" THEN LET : USR 52618 is for the word count routine n oeees (et bint nowy LET istw: LE 95 : establishes "<=" key to catalog drive A _240 LET. L_ag-SGN PI: LeT i og SS°HRGe RAGL EBIRS Bap tEER 106 : establishes ">=" Key to catalog drive B ra Sohes can a Sleds eo sue "1040" 105 : establishes "<>" key to reboot selected drive At a APSO LET ete sSAUE a SCORE? bs 208 : lines/page POKEd into unused address 33228 250 LET cosVAL af: LET end=st+l 1040 PRINT AT VAL_"S",NOT PI; a8; 225 : "len" = total characters to print oPE "Une “eaegs") esfo LET tet 1 Saved: "J AT t NOT PIjaj" bytes, 258 1 "pl" = total characters to print on each page T ((lenvpl)+(SGN PI AND lLensple> 1On0 OREN OST rine Sado ett ane i "tp" = total pages to print (if len/p! is not INT Areata FOR n=SGN PI TO eae; "2": LET isw: GO SUB UAL Bg an integer, then 1" is added to "tp"> Bo fest To end-sGn PIesTEP pi; Le 28%; IF isNOT PI THEN GO TO tet 265 : “aS" is temporarily the document’s header T b : LET x=VAL "60045": GO’ SUB Toten LEN a$>t THEN GO TO VAL 278 : 2 line feeds; the header; 3 line feeds nf; LET Cpscet+SGN PI: RANDOMIZE 419@ CLS_: PRINT "Start tape": vu 296 t proper # blank lines print if line spacing >1 CER p TOAL reoa so") TO NCES. PRENT Tiio PRINT A bia Pee eee 292 : "as" is temporarily the document’s footer .AT t, NOT _PI;"Key “q’ to halt pre Lapis [cnc saat oe) ee 294 : 3 line feeds; then the footer; SU te a er ies pee oe ees 2800 CLS PRINT AT VAL "S",NOT. 296 : then the pagination; then a form feed é€ 8 ";¢p: IF end-f<el THEN LET 6 a eae the pene of the eas 298 : USR 59806 moved here to allow "LPRINTs" above =end-f: LET fl=SGN PI: GO TO VAL 4 ? Fee Eee 299 : "€" is pages; "n" is number of copies DSS LET b=pl 201@ PRINT AT tw,VAL “2"; "Just p 728 : save BASIC <"boot" name for disk auto boot? 260 LET X=UAL “60@49": GO SUB Nn areas Ed) ENS 2A: weene 785 t save machine code (extra code for word count) f_ - i, ; SRer Mey alae 18608 ff: tape/disk text file save routines Son CBRINE CHS trenee tie Bo 5 2015 LET j@=NOT PI: LET i=VAL "1 2008 ff: tape/disk text file load/merge routines UB UAL "8000": CPRINT CHR tiCHR S5i5S9- SUE 98... $ t;CHRS t 20 IF ae x. HBS PRINT AT VA 8808 : GOSUB to center the header and footer 206 LET cC=PEEK VAL “s247aQ": F Lo"416",VAL "9 : 9888 : GOSUB frequently used by print options c<oNOoT or THEN LPRINT CHRS c Bs GO TO VAL "2030" " 289 RANDOMIZE USR VAL "60038" aot e ache oe CET aReo Ere eOe @ CLS : LET a<USR VAL “64330" 285 LET c=PEEK VAL “62471": IF he ely Te SA BRE fat eres c¢<>NOT PI THEN LPRINT CHR# ¢ + edt ete es BaO Te FLESEN PL OR PEER USL “g@ 2026 IF _b=109 THEN LET b=FN Pp (YR oe ee MRE ean MET ORM Leo oe BESS" SGN PT THEN FOR 92SGN Pi Tf &, 162216"); LET c=C(FN pivAL "62 ee PORE Unc “Sa605" UAL “BN: O ((pl-b) sPEEK URL "62235"/srePE 2240) +UAL "ee" ) es f-a): LET ag=a$ A " weer is “het EK VAL "62235"-SGN PI): LPRINT G ZSTRS (ath) el,+STRE ¢ LEAR VAL “sse79"), LET taval "19 Big te NESE e : 2029 CAT “ag",: GO TO t Sab Sh evAby Jee eee CeCe 292 LET a%="Type Footer Here" 2030 LET b=FN P(VAL “62216"): LO S00": Go SUB Fe UML hgsuoce sp} 294 LPRINT CHRS t;CHR& t;CHRs t AD agCODE (a+b), ( (FN pC(VUAL "6e22 DabSR USL SB e8t 8. Go TO t : GO SUB UAL "sao! 1"iett+twiaesf-a): GO TO t “BO CLS: LET a=sfsiINT tavef+vA 296 FOR 9=SGN PI TO VAL “25"+PE oe eee en eet aN coe EK VAL _"6a927": LPRINT " “j: NEX SEU aE ORE TE LORD hatte Pee Tog: LPRINT “Page # “;cp;"'ar "3 w=VAL "14": LET th=sVAL "S34": LET = age Sete et pep Eee NEURAL oSar tpiCHR$ tw 8@0@ FOR g=SGN PI TO (VAL "“SO"-L CET gssUAL "6000": LET nt=UaL © 298 RANDOMIZE _USR VAL_"S9ea6": EN a8) UAL "at: CPRINT & oii NEX esa? IF S=NOT PI THEN bo To mick IF INKEY$="4" THEN GO TO SGN PI T 9: LPRINT a$;CHRS t: RETURN -9s. 7 : : 295 \NEX? f> NEXT nn? GO TO SGN P Sore BeTGeN ) UNEN BED caeer 2. 25 PAPER VAL "“S'': INK _ NOT PI: rt CLS 2: GO SUB ft: PRINT AT VAL "4 ‘,NOT PI; "Edit file C";USR VAL " 52610";" words)"; TAB th; "YY"
26 PRINT ‘"Save file"; TAB th;"
5" PRINT ‘"“Load file”’;TAB th;"
we BYTE POWER is a highly sophisticated Me PRINT ‘"Merge file’; TAB th; conputerized nag nagazine on cassette for 49 PRINT ‘"Print file"; TAB th; the 1/5 2068 and Sinclair Spectrun. 45 PRINT ‘"Save Tasword FD68"; No longer will you have to type in 1 TAB th; "T" : . fastidious prograns...JUST LOAD AND Pe party Te ‘“Graphics/Printer”’;T é -opASsTAN: sage BYTE POWER is the ultinate beret with over 130 prograns per SS PRINT BASIC"';TAB th; "B 70 PRINT AT t+t, VAL "11") "BROS + fost of then in fest nachine language. such as Ss keu fl ther, CONSTRUX, SSP C3nall Screen Painter), HUNTERS. 60 LET ae pea ag IF ag="" THE FUNNY FACES are sone exanples of the hi uality prograns NSO. ORE eect. (er ccesee ae published in BYTE POWER Magazine. BYTE brings you this ght pRSVAL "9?" THEN LET b=beth+ quality progrenning at a very snall cost...
95 IF_b=VAL "199" THEN CAT “a: ---LESS THAN 39 CENTS A PROGRAM, based on a year subscription. ",: GO TO VAL "720"
200 TPB SVAL 200" THEN CAT “b: 1 Issue (Current or Back Iseues).........ccccccccceccc cee co $0 d0
VAL "728"
405 IF b=VAL "201" THEN CAT “bo 6 Issues (Starting with Current op any Back iseue)........$29.99 ot.bas", : 12 Issues (Starting vith Current or any Back issue).......949.99 Anne IF bSVAL "115" THEN LET is wren oy sibs
s ie se ce ass ae Sla'sie dinisisigns Sabig swe ou sbnes stele soe eecs'seses ROMS Atoeene b=VAL 106"" THEN LET i= Ciny 6 Back 4 in a high quality ving! albund
125 IF beVAL "116" THEN LET i =w
Gane IF beVAL "11a" THEN LET is ar gn fron oe eee et for Us ia ey al oes a AGtaces Ate od for 2068 and Sinclair Spectrum. Write for nore infornation me nants. b=VAL 121° THEN LET i=v hout issues and their contents.
15@ IF b=VAL "1@9" THEN LET i=t ane? ae bSUAL “103" THEN LET i =U ALSO AVAILABLE FROM BYTE POWER... gee eee. UREN ee aone DEMONSTRATION / CATALOG Tape. .......ccsccececescecescesces #200
160 IF i>NOT PI THEN PRINT AT i ithe PhpsH ooh Pe, curs (b-th-SGN BYTE POWERS FIRST CLASS FONTS...............$12.00 Postage Paid
a eae axe Conpilation of all FONTS used in BYTE POWER Magazine sae
198 GO TO VAL "6®@ " #98 Plus a uhole lot naref?? see
200 CLS_: GO SUB _ ft: PRINT AT VU AL _ "2",VAL "9"; "PRINT ORT TONS 24
BYTE POWER’S FIRST CLASS PROGRAMS CPROGRAM TAPE 1).....917.00 PP see 9 prograns for the ZH61 C1/3 1000-1500) on 1 tape sae
U.S. FUNDS ONLY
t+tw: LET x=VAL reSb20", LET. “"Lines/sPage=": GO SUB ef: LET. VAL "S": PRINT AT i,NOT PI; "L
spacing=1": GG SUB gs: GO
21@ POKE VAL "“62235",VAL ag: Veto cG PRINT AT i,NOT PI; "St
i sl": ‘
220 LET c=sf* (INT VAL a$-SGN Y: LET stec+FN pCVAL Baas ae : ET izstw: PRINT AT i,NOT PI;'
Sh Lineslast": GO SUB gs: tpt
Send Check or Money Order to...
BYTE POWER 1746 Keadowview Avenue. Pickering. Ontario. Canada L1¥ 368 BYTE POWER’S FIRST CLASS FONTS
OvOZIFACHIOIMOODD
TIME DESIGNS
News from Zebra Systems
Zebra Systems has excite- ment buzzing in the air! We've added new staff, new mailist capabilities and, our very own desktop pub- lishing group to keep our customers up to date on Timex Sinclair product changes, new product in- troductions, industry hap- penings, and more!
The recently released Summer Issue of the Zebra Systems catalog is our very first desktop publishing achievement, and we are very proud. It is attached here for your shopping con- venience, and we know you are going to like the prod- ucts and the prices.
We Need Your Help To Send You
Free Catalogs! During the first week of Ju- ly, Zebra Systems mailed out 8,000 free catalogs to our recent customers, those of you who requested catalogs, and T/S Clubs. We are well aware that our mailist has not previously been kept up to date with all your current mailing address informa- tion. For this reason, we are asking all Timex Sin- clair Users who wish to re- main on our mailing list and continue to receive our free Timex Sinclair Prod- ucts Catalogs to return the coupon on this page or, the back cover of the Summer Catalog just mailed to you.
=< Zebra S ystems, Inc.
eee 06 Jamaica Ave., SA ta NY es (718) 296-2385
Don't delay. We have al-
ready begun work on our
Fall 1987 Catalog. Attention Timex-
Sinclair Club Members We will gladly send you as many catalogs as you wish for your club meetings or for inclusion in your club mailings. Or, if you prefer, send us your club member- ship list, and we will mail catalogs directly to each member. In addition, our customers often ask us if we know of an active TS Club in their part of the country that they can par- ticipate in. If you have any doubts that we know about your club's existence, please write to us.
FDD User Newsletters Mailed
Zebra Systems recently mailed the first in a series of informative newsletters to all of the registered Ze- bra FDD Users. (If you own a Zebra FDD and did not get your copy, be sure to con- tact us immediately.) The newsletter received tremen- dous applause from those active FDD supporters. MTERM Price Drop!
As a correction to our Sum- mer Catalog we want to an- nounce that the prices on both MTERM/T and MTERM II have been dras- tically reduced. These are the prices we intended to have on catalog page 9:
oat
JULY/AUGUST 1987
MTERM/T is $8.95, and MTERM/II is $14.95.
Our Thanks
We would like to thank Frank Davis, Paul Holm- gren, and all of the other people who worked so hard to help make the 1987 MidWest Timex Sinclair Computer Festival such a great success.
ar. oil
I J Yes, I want to be on,
ithe Zebra Mailist. 1
potate 1Computer:
I ZX81/TS1000
' 781500
,—1S2068
1--QL
I__TS2040 or Alphacom 32. 180-Col.
aniee Interface___
Printer:__
IDo you ever call BBS's?__ | IComputer Club Member-!
ae” Larken Dis
When I was looking for a disk operating system, the first thing I wanted was a system that would work on ALL of the ROM configurations available for the TS2068. At that time, I was running MSCRIPT, TASWORD II witha Spectrum Emulator, and ZTERM modem software with the Zebra OS-64 cartridge. Secondly, I was looking for a system which would leave me the largest amount of RAM possible because I was working mostly with large data- base and word processor type programs. Finally, I needed a system that would be simple to use and also within my limited budget. I searched in vain until the answer appeared almost in my own back yard [Ed.- Mr. Solly currently lives in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada].
The new Larken DOS dveloped by Larry Kenny of Larken Electronics, was like having my every wish come true. The disk operating system (DOS) fits neatly onto a cartridge which loads into the Timex Command Cartridge port. For a little bit extra, a second socket, fitted with a switch, can be added to the cartridge, to hold an additional chip that the user may own, such as a Spectrum Emulator, or a Zebra OS-64.
The rear circuit card is a compact double-density disk drive interface which also has a Kempston joystick port and a Non-Maskable Interrupt. (NMI) push button. Because the DOS is “burned into its own EPROM, all the RAM of the computer is available to the user. The DOS is completely accessable whether you are using the standard Timex Sinclair ROM, the Spectrum Emulator ROM, or the Zebra OS-64 software ROM. Programs which are de- signed to run on both the TS2068 and Spectrum, need not be saved in two different formats to be re-loaded into each ROM configuration. A formated double-sided, double- density 80-track disk drive is capable of saving up to 800K of programs.
Converting programs to run on the Larken DOS, once the hardware is installed and the DOS is called into operation by RANDOMIZE USR 100: OPEN# 4, "dd", is essentially a snap. The Larken DOS uses the same Sinclair tokens (which are found on the 2068 keyboard), as the tape-driven systems. After learning a few simple instructions and four mnemonic extensions, I was ready to handle most programs. The necessary adjustments needed to convert tape drive commands to Larken DOS commands can be quickly illustrated by the following chart of equivalents.
Tape Drive Command
SAVE "Name" SAVE "Name" LINE 10 SAVE "Name" CODE
Larken DOS Command
PRINT #4: SAVE "Name. Bn" PRINT #4: SAVE "Name.Bn" LINE 10 CNo equivalent]
SAVE "Name" CODE s,1 PRINT #4: SAVE "Name.Cn" CODE s,1 SAVE "Name" SCREENS PRINT #4: SAVE "Name.Cn" SCREENS SAVE "Name" DATA A() PRINT #4: SAVE "Name.An" DATA A) SAVE "Name" DATA AF) PRINT #4: SAVE "Name.AS" DATA A¥() LOAD "Name" PRINT #4: LOAD "Name. Bn”
LOAD "Name" LINE 10 PRINT #4: LOAD "Name.Bn" LINE 10 LOAD "Name" CODE PRINT #4: LOAD "Name.Cn" CODE LOAD "Name" CODE s PRINT #4: LOAD "Name.Cn" CODE s LOAD "Name" CODE s,1 PRINT #4: LOAD "Name.Cn" CODE s,1 LOAD "Name" SCREENS PRINT #4: LOAD "Name.Cn” SCREENS LOAD "Name" DATA AC) PRINT #4: LOAD "Name.An" DATA A) LOAD "Name" DATA A¥() PRINT #4 LOAD "Name.AS" DATA A¥*%)
THE NEW LARKEN DISK-OPERATING SYSTEM: consists of two
k-Operating System
DAVID SOLLY
A "name" in LKDOS can be any combination of letters, numbers and graphics, up to six characters plus the appropriate extension. The "name" may also be in an alpha-numeric string so long as it follows the proper format and its total length is not longer than nine characters. If the "name" is to be stored in a DIM'ed alpha-numeric array, which I do not recommend although it can be done, then the array can not be any _ longer than nine characters of which the final three characters must be the proper extension.
The Larken DOS also has commands and error reports which are specific to its own operating system plus a number of .extended BASIC commands. Here are two examples of Larken commands:
PRINT #4: CAT "",
This is a very useful command that not only allows the user to see what has been stored on the disk but also, thanks to the use of unique extensions, what kind of files have been stored, the length in blocks of each file, and the total number of free blocks available. In the TS2068 ROM and the Zebra OS-64 mode, the user . can also specifiy which type of file he wishes to be listed by entering, for example, CAT ".B", when searching for just BASIC programs. Specific program names can also be searched in this manner. :
PRINT #4: OPEN# 3,"1p"
This command will allow you to LPRINT and LLIST to a full size printer that uses Aerco-type printer in- terface.
The extended BASIC commands available on Larken DOS allow the user to create geometric shapes with the DRAW and CIRCLE commands and then to fill them with any of 10 different patterns. Also available are a double POKE command (also known in some BASIC's as DOKE), window creating commands, and a command which will read and LPRINT an ASCII text file directly from disk.
Finally, the Larken DOS has a number of new error reports to make operations easier for the user. These reports are: § - Protect Error - File Not Found ~ Disk Full Wrong File Type - Invalid Command -~ Cat Data Error - CRC Error (number)
Larry Kenny told me that he plans to add sequential file capabilities and other disk support software to his Larken system.
The cost of the new Larken system for the TS2068 (which does not include the actual drives or disk drive power supply), is $119.95 (U.S.). Optional extra socket for add-on ROMs is $6.00. The system may be ordered directly from the manufacturers Larken Electronics, RR #2 Navan, Ontario, Canada K4B-1H9, tel. (613) 835- 2680; or several dealers have them in stock, including RMG Enterprises, Weymil Corp., and Variety Sales.
xECCH i
parts a) a cartridge board that fits into
the Timex Sinclair 2068 cartridge port which contains the DOS software, and b) a circuit card that plugs into the rear expansion slot, which is the actual disk drive interface. This card also has a feed-through connector for attaching other Timex peripherals.
The Disciple Disk-Operating System
TONY BROOKS
The Disciple Interface is primarily a disk in- terface, but it also offers several other features which probably make it the best value in disk interfaces for the Sinclair Spectrum currently available. The Disciple is intended for use on a 48K Spectrum. To use it on a TS2068, it requires the addition of a "twister" board and a Spectrum ROM or Emulator. I have found that the Disciple works with every combination of Spectrum ROM, ROMSWITCH, Emulator, and twistor board I have tried. I even had success with the TK9OX ROM from the Brazilian clone of the Spectrum. In this respect, the Disciple is much more tolerant than the Sinclair Microdrives.
The Disciple will support any of the popular size drives from 3 inches to 5.25 inches, in single, double or quad density. Up to two drives can be supported and they may have different specs. Thus drives of different sizes and densities can be used at the same time.
The DOS is supplied on a cassette tape. When I first received my Disciple, DOS version 2b was supplied
but turned out to be a very poor quality recording which took much effort to LOAD. This experience was shared by users who received this DOS version. I wrote to Rockfort Products about this tape, and promptly re- ceived a new tape with DOS version 2c on it. This new tape loaded just fine, and the new DOS version also solved one other problem, namely, the earlier DOS was prone to resetting the computer from time to time...the new version 2c DOS does not have this problem.
The advantage of having the DOS system on tape is that you can easily configure it to meet your own re- quirements. I think this is an improvement over those disk systems which have their DOS on EPROM, that is not so easy to change. Upon loading the system tape, you are asked a series of questions to configure the DOS to your disk set up and also to configure the built-in printer interface and network port. When this is done, you are asked if you wish to format a disc and save the con- figured DOS to that disk. Thereafter, the Disciple may be started up by inserting the system disk in drive 1 and hitting the RUN key on the 2068. Loading of the DOS and programs is very fast--a maximum of 3.5 seconds for a full 48K program. Thus from switching on the computer, loading the DOS and then a program takes less than 10 seconds. The DOS is resident in the Disciples memory and so takes up none of the memory (RAM) of the TS2068 or Spectrum.
I put a copy of the DOS on every disk since it only takes up 3K of disk space. The amount of space on a disk can be up to 720K after formatting. This is enough for fourteen 48K programs on a double-sided 80 track disk if one allows some space for the DOS. One program can have the title “autoload" and this will automatically load after the DOS. I put a one line autoload program to CATalog the contents of a disk on each disk I use.
I am using the Disciple with a single-sided 40 track 5.25 inch drive left over from an unfortunate ex- perience with the Kempston Disk Interface. I have turned most of my disks into "flippies" by cutting an extra notch in them so I can use both sides on a single sided drive. This means I have had the DOS on both sides of the disk but I can get a minimum of six 48K programs per disk.
The DOS uses two kinds of syntax. One is an exact clone of the Sinclair Microdrive syntax, the other is a "simplified" syntax. Both syntaxes may be mixed freely. The simplified Disciple syntax usually consists of placing "di" or "d2" between the instruction and the
aS a
filename. Thus loading .a Disciple disc. file can be achieved by using the command LOAD dl "filename", and formatting a disk with the command FORMAT dl. Programs can also be loaded by typing LOAD pn--where n is the file number given when you CATalog a disk. This CATalog function gives details of file type, and for code files their size and location. The microdrive syntax is very useful when transferring microdrive based software to disk since usually these programs will run from disk without any alteration. I was able to transfer micro- drive versions of TASWORD II and THE LAST WORD to disk and use them immediately without any change.
No disk system is of much use if you cannot trans- fer your software to disk fairly easily. The Disciple has one of those NMI "magic buttons" that are so popular on many mass storage interfaces. The Disciple magic button works as well as any, taking just a few seconds to save a program from ANY point. Such files takes up a full 48K of disk space regardless of file length. Since the Disciple takes up no 2068 memory it is also easy to transfer software by breaking it down into its component parts, but unless you feel a need to conserve disk space or like to analyize software, it is even easier to use the NMI button. 5.25 disks are so cheap that I don't feel much need to conserve disk space.
The Disciple printer port is a very tolerant beast. The microdrive versions of TASWORD II and THE LAST WORD I referred to above, both printed just fine, even though the former word processor was set up for a TASMAN B printer interface, and the latter program for a Euro- electronics ZXLPRINT III interface. It is also possible to dump a screen to a printer by simultaneously pressing CAPS SHIFT and the Disciple "magic button".
The Disciple has two standard Atari type joystick ports. The right hand port is said to be compatible with Sinclair or Kempston protocol--the left hand port is only Sinclair compatible. However, I have had problems getting the joysticks to operate properly using the Sinclair protocol. The right port has worked fine for me in Kempston mode.
I have not tried using the network facility very much. However, I have been able to send software from a 2068 fitted with Sinclair microdrives to the Disciple network port, and vice versa. I have also successfully sent programs from the Disciple to a QL.
Does the Disciple have any drawbacks? So far only one thing has disappointed me. I have been unable to operate the Disciple with any peripheral attached. This is not too serious since the Disciple has effectively replaced my separate joystick adaptor, printer inter-
face, Interface 1, and Multiface 1, However, I would like to have been able to use Multiface 1 and a light
pen interface with the Disciple. The Disciple does have an inhibit button which disables it and then one can use other peripherals, however this does prevent one from accessing software from disc which rather defeats the purpose of the disciple.
Overall the Disciple must be considered a good value with the cost at around $120.00 at current ex- change rates. I ordered mine direct from Rockfort Pro- ducts at 81 Church Road, London NW4 4DP, United Kingdom.
€MX Mouse
MIKE FELERSKI
From the time I first got my hands on the Zebra Graphics Tablet, I have been investigating the use of a mouse for my TS2068. Granted, the Zebra Track ball for the 2068 is quite impressive, but my search for a Mouse continued. After a little British research I found that the best choices for Spectrum mice are the Kempston and the AMX.
My choice was the AMX Mouse by Advanced Memory Systems mainly because it was available here in the states from Curry Computer, who highly recomended it. The Mouse Interface plugs into any Spectrum expansion
port, such as the RainbowInterface, and it operates in the Spectrum mode. The back of the Mouse adapter con- tains two sockets, one for the mouse itself, and _ the other is for a Centronics parallel printer cable (the Tasman cable works just fine.)
The software loads in several parts. The first
part asks whether or not you wish to save to microdrive. If you answer no then the software skips over loading the second part and goes on to load the third part which is the AMX ART program. As soon as the program has loaded, you are presented with boreded work area sur- rounded by Icons on the right and pul down menu headers above. In the center of the screen is a hand Icon which moves with the movement of the mouse. This pointer is used to select any of the Icons or the menu headers by just pointing to the desired function and pressing the leftmost button on the mouse.
Nova
The AMX ART program operates the same way as Mac Draw or Mac Paint on the MacIntosh. You can draw cir- cles, boxes, and lines. You may draw using a pencil or a spray can with any number of patterns and_ shades. Imput/Output includes the TS2040 printer, the Interface 1 serial printer port or the AMX printer port with the proper cable. Using the TS2040 printer you are only able to print the immediate screen area, but with a full size printer you are able to select the area you wish to print which includes a larger area than the screen.
In addition to the AMX ART program, there is also the AMX Colour Palette program which allows you to add color to your drawings. The CP program is disappointing only in that it only allows you to add color in large blocks. On the other side of the tape are the AMX control and Icon Designer programs which allow you to create your own mouse software. These I will discuss in the next article.
Over all I have been very impressed with the AMX Mouse. It provides an excellent mouse/Icon enviroment at a reasonable cost ($100 or less.) The only thing lacking in the system is a more detailed owners manual. In future articles I plan to discuss writing software for the mouse, and other software available for the AMX Mouse from other companies.
1000
Syd Wyncoop
Nova 1@@@ claims to provide the humble TS1@@@ with the ability to perform multi-tasking. In case you are unaware, the usual method to achieve multi-tasking is to use one of the newer
CPU’s. The reason is that they have the additional registers and have been specifically designed for multi-tasking. Obviously then, this is no small claim for the Z8@ CPU or the TS190d.
The tape comes with three versions of the program on it. The first version contains the machine code in an uneditable line @, to allow you to add your program lines. This version also contains an impressive demonstration routine. It would have been a nice touch to have provided the @ REM line by itself. As the program is delivered, you must delete all the unwanted lines.
Much of the how to use this program information must be from the demo, as the two page documentation is informative.
gleaned not very
Version 2 is an auto-relocatable version, you supply the address and it moves itself. Version 3 will load and move itself above Ramtop. All three versions require 5@@ bytes overhead with the loader. ?
The program boasts a real-time clock however, it is a clock and I would not find it of much use.
99 hour The clock readout is in the 99:99:99:99 format and appears in the upper
left corner of the screen. The clock requires its own string variable for communication with the user program. There is also a trace function which shows the Basic line being executed in the upper right corner of the screen. I like the
idea but found it to be of little value as presented.
Nova 12@@ claims up to 4@@% speed increases over the normal TS Basic. The time savings are obtained by manipulation of the display file size and I could not verify them.
The last feature is an auto-repeat on the keyboard. This I liked and found to be the most useful. It really speeds up keyboard entry.
All of these functions are controlled by poking various values into the program (to set program variables) before calling Nova 1922. Nova is then called with a variety of RAND USR calls, depending on the function desired. Nova 1008 will require a new
programming discipline. Briefly, you need to set variables to pass parameters to Nova, then make the RAND USR call with perhaps another parameter behind it. I think most beginning
programmers will be baffled by Nova 1@@@. The reason is that the program listing will not be very clear, due to the many and varied USR calls needed to make Nova 10@@ function.
Nova 19@@ appears to be pseudo-multi-tasking. I time to experiment enough yet so I cannot be
happening. It appears that Nova is capable of and a MC program concurrently, does therefore provide a limited. .
have sure
not had what is
running a but not two Basic programs. multi-tasking environment,
Basic Nova albeit
My copy came from Weymil Corp. via RMG Enterprises. advertised price I saw was $20.@@ and the ad was as as the documentation. However, better documentation, clear examples, and Nova 1@@@ could be a winner.
The last informative some good
o4
Beginning 280 Machine Code
LESSon BY SYD wYNCOOrF
It has been pointed out to me, by an astute reader, that I neglected to tell you to run your MC routines in SLOW, if you are using the TS19@0. Otherwise, you cannot see the display of any of my examples. Sorry about that.
This time we will discuss the I/O instructions. For those of you that are wondering what I/O means, it is Input and Output. When I was new to computerdom, I thought I/0 referred to my financial status.
To what are we Inputing and Outputing? The computer, but it is actually our old friend, CPU. The I/O instructions allow the CPU to receive or send information through the concept of PORTS and they accomplish this depending upon how the manufacturer made the hardware surrounding the CPU. For example, in our computers port FEh is used for the keyboard. There are others used by Sinclair for the 2040 printer, cassette, and on the 2068, for the bank switching and video mode changes. These are *hard-wired’ in the computer and supported by the operating system, therefore we cannot change them.
What is a PORT? Very simply, it is the doorway though which
information flows to and from the CPU and outside devices. There are 256 ports available to us on the 286 (there are really 65,536, but we will not consider them here). The ports are of course numbered 9-255, as they must be referred to in a single
byte. Think of each port as a door to a storeroom. Each door has a number on it, much like a motel would. Each storeroom can hold one byte of data at a time. The CPU can put data in or take data out, by referring to each port (door).
The I/O instructions are In and Out, respectively and there are two forms of the instructions, as detailed in the syntax chart. We are looking at some instructions that are almost english and fairly easily understood.
The forms In A,(n) and Out (n),A use the port specified by
n and reads (In) data into A or writes (Out) data from A. This is very similar to the Basic In and Out commands, except that the data is stored in the accumulator. None of the flags are affected by these instructions. For example: In A, (FFh) reads port FFh and places one byte of data into the accumulator Out A, (FFh) writes one byte of data from the accumulator to the device which is addressed by port FFh The forms In r,(C) and Out (C),r allow the flexibility of veading or writing data with any register. Caution, remember
that C contains the port address. The Out (C),¥r instruction does
not affect any flags, while the In r,(C) af teers Att the flags. % Carry, according to data which was rea n: se oR egister C must be loaded with the port address, prior to
use, as in these examples:
Ld C,FFh reads port FFh and places data
In B,(C) in the B register
Ld C,FFh writes data from the B register Out B,(C) to the device addressed by port FFh
You will note the I/O instructions assume you are communi- cating with some device (printer, monitor, disk, etc.) which is ’addressed’ by a port number. The port number is selected by the hardware manufacturer, just as Sinclair did in our computers. You can perform I/O operations on all ports however, the results are unpredictable without a device attached. This is due to lack of pull-up resistors on the data lines. Obviously, there will not be any communication if there is no device attached or an incorrect port number is used.
Since we have to contend with devices that are much slower than the CPU, we also have to consider timing. I will not get into this subject very deep, as this type of programming becomes very hardware dependent.
The timing problem is obviously one of slowing down the 1/0 operations, in an effort to match the device. Let’s consider the simple case of reading a switch. We might wish to read the switch once per second, to eliminate multiple switch closures (a good example is in debouncing the keyboard switches).
We can perform this type of delay by looping for a prede- termined time period. A simple delay routine that can be used, without destroying any registers is:
Delay Push BC ;save these registers
Ld B,xx ;xx = # of ms to delay Diy1 Ld C,yy syy = 1 ms delay count Dly2 Dec C ;loop for 1 ms
Jr NZ, Dly2
DJNZ, Dlyl j;loop for # of ms
Pop BC j;retrieve registers
Ret ;end delay
The value xx is the number of milliseconds to delay and yy is the number of loops needed for a delay of one millisecond. I will not take you through the steps of counting the delay as I wish only to demonstrate the technique. When you are ready to use this routine, you will not need my help with the values xx and yy.
Another method of delay can be used with ‘smart’ such as a printer. This method uses two separate loops, instead of the nested loops we just looked at. Our example assumes the printer (actually, it’s interface) is wired for port 7Fh and it sends a zero byte when ready to accept data.
devices,
25
NINE
Ready? Ld C,7Fh ;get port address
In A,(C) ;get ready status from printer Jr NZ,Ready? ;loop unless zero byte received Print Ld A,data j;get data byte to print Out (C),A ;send data to printer Ret ;end delay This method has the advantage of not sending any data, unless the device is ready, therefore no data is lost. Can you imagine how this article would look, if some characters were
lost in transit to the printer? No, that’s not what happened, I just write poorly.
There is another solution to this timing problem, which uses hardware. We will not discuss that here, but you should be aware of it.
You also note some 1/0 instructions on the chart that I have not explained. These perform block I/O operations and will be explained next time, with the rest of the block instruc- tions. They are included here so that it will be clear they are I/O instructions.
By now, many of you are undoubtedly trying to write your own MC programs. I wish to give some tips and hints, that will make the process less painful.
First, DO NOT attempt to write a large MC program on the first try. Instead, take the approach we have followed here and write small routines that do a specific job. They can be easily called from Basic and will return to the next Basic line. I would suggest you take a small working Basic subroutine and try converting it to MC. An arithmetic routine is the easiest to convert, as long as it does not contain special functions, such as SQR, COS, etc.
Write your MC in modules (subroutines) that can be easily tested and debugged. This also allows you to develope a library of known, debugged routines that can be used again. Look closely at the routines I have provided in this series. You will note that they are very similiar to each other.
I do not flow-chart and will not describe that to you. There are many good books on the subject. However, before you begin codeing your routine, there are some questions you need to answer or data to collect:
1)Purpose -what do we hope to accomplish?
2)Examples -what happens if? Sry soverat ectcbacte * = outine need upon entry?
Fever ute Ae ate foes. Fomad to calling program?
I also strongly encourage you to document you program. All of us have purchased programs that were not user friendly, in spite of it’s claims, and in addition, had no documentation. This is deplorable, but the biggest reason for documenting you
own programs is for ease of use. I have written code, been interrupted, and when I returned to it a few months later, I could not determine what the code did or why I wrote it that
way! Some essentials to proper documentation include:
Riverside
Software
Three New 2068 Programs
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BLAM II - Advanced Touch-Typing. Over 200 letter-sets. Four bomb-drop speeds. Type chosen set in time to destroy bomb! Keyboard/hands illustration can be called to show fingering for each set. All action in Machine-Language. WPM check. Practicing can be fun}
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$18 each (Mainers add 5%).
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1)Purpose -if the above questions were answered,
they should be included here ;Print Ascii Character In A,(n) ! Out A, (n) 2)Registers oupien ones nee weed which ones are JESS O OIC III 1K In r,(C) ! Out (C),r estroyed and which are preserved? 5 Ini ! . ce should they contain upon entry ;Inputs: A=decimal digit Inir i ks E and exit? ;Outputs: digit in A is printed Ina ! Outd 3)Inputs what data does routine need upon entry? ;Routines Called: Rom Print oh 2 4)Outputs -what data is returned to calling routine? ;Routines Called By: Bn2Dec Indr 1 Otdr 5)Routines Callled By -what routines use this one 7 Divide as a subroutine? ;Purpose: call rom print routine while 6)Routines Called -what routines does this one call? ; preserving the registers 7)Commented Source -an absolute necessity i This is not the only information that should be in your Print Push HL ssave all registers documentation, but it is enough to make that routine useful to Push BC you next time around. Without this information, you will not Add A, 3@h 32068 only develope a useful library of routines and will continually need imake an ascii character to reinvent the wheel. If you follow these suggestions, you will Add A,1Ch 31288 only find MC programming easy (well, almost) and if not, you will imake an axcii character soon give up in frustration. Rst 10h 3g0 print digit in A Now, how about a short routine? Let’s convert binary Pop BC ixestore registers numbers to decimal digits for printing. Pop HL The easiest way to accomplish this is by repetitively sub- PrDone Ret ;digit has been printed tracting powers of ten from our binary number and counting the 5 number of times the subtraction is possible, better known as End
division. For the more advanced, try doing this by using the shift and rotate instructions. I am using the subtraction technique, as the code is much easier to follow. There are several things to note. First, since each routine
;Set-up Demonstration is a separate module that could be called from anywhere, there DEO OK CCRC KK are a few unneccessary instructions. For instance, the Jp Print 3 is not needed at the DvDone label, as the Divide routine could ; Inputs: none simply ’fall through’ to Print. I used Jp to demonstrate the use ;Outputs: print decimal number of another routine’s Ret instruction, in place of a Call Print ;Routines Called: Bn2Dec and the subsequent Ret that would have been needed to end the ;Routines Called By: none Divide routine. Assume for a moment that Print does not follow ;Purpose: set-up hl for our conversion routine immediately behind Divide. Try to follow the program through and : see that the Divide routine uses the Ret instruction from the Org 753@h Print routine to return to the main routine, Bn2Dec. Set-up Ld HL,4@@@h j;hl=number to convert Also, I used the Rst 1@h rom print routine for compatibil- Call Bn2Dec j;go convert it ity on both the 1000 and 2068. Use of the rom routines often Done Ret sconverted and printed destroys the registers, therefore they were saved. Even BC,
which we could have discarded.
The source is written along the quidelines given above. You should note that the comments do not echo the instructions, except when it serves to clarify. I have seen many listings that
sthis is our return to ; basic
>
; look like:
hee routine really begins here Ld HL, 4900h -HL=4@00h
;Convert Binary to Decimal Obviously not very informative or useful.
JOC OCI OK RIOR KOK Several lessons ago, I made the rather obnoxious claim that 5 all arithmetic could be performed with addition. This routine ;Inputs: HL=Binary Number will perhaps clarify that statement. We needed to divide. We ;Outputs: decimal number is printed chose to subtract, to achieve this. We chose to add a negative ;Routines Called: Divide number, in lieu of subtraction. We divided!
; Print As a friend of mine says, "Th-Th-Th-That’s all folks!", ;Routines Called By: Set-up that is, until next issue.
;Purpose: convert binary number to decimal ; ascii characters for printing
Bn2Dec Ld BC,D8FGh ;-10,200 OUT SALE Call Divide j;go get 10°4 digit x e - Ld BC,FC18n ;-1,208 = Call Divide jgo get 1073 digit Ld BC,FF9Ch 3-108 iz ; Call Divide jgo get 1072 digit TS2065 SOFTWARE Ld BC,FFF6h 3-10 Call Divide ;go get 10°1 digit
eit “Opriint. 4g6 print 100 adele “DIAMOND MIKE” "GREAT GAMES AND GRAPHICS SHOW” ar iuekeieacan Each originally sold for $24.95, but get
5 FR OK KK ACK OK
both for just $9.95--while supplies last.
: Inputs: HL=Binary Number
; BC=10*x ;Outputs: A=decimal digit to print a jRoutines Called: Print "INTEGER BASIC COMPILER” ;Routines Called by: Bn2Dec fata - ;Purpose: divide binary number by power "?no ASSEMBLER” H of ten to obtain decimal digit . ‘ 4 by repetitive subtraction Both for £9.95 ¢Cwhile suppl ies last?}. Divide Xor A jelear our counter Includes 19 pages of documentation DvLoop Add HL,BC ;perform subtraction
Inc A ;count it
Jr C,DvLoop ;do again if possible og 1 :
Sbe HL,BC ;otherwise adjust the ARC SOFTWARE
Dec A ;counters for the extra 3 at F asad
subtraction 200 N. Main St.
Ret Z ;division not possible or | o
DvDone Jp Print ;@0 print it Scottsbur a: IN 47170
C212) 752-607)
TT & C SERVICES 2a LIBERTY TERRACE BUFF Loe MW 1442415
oh ES epee OO
ea 2 1 oh fedas aL tb == Fomr ey Foc sc cet ea loo cor a
poet coe clus cock ce Fo cor tb ia ee “To a rise s+ Com ea eer ce
Programming Concepts
by Albert F.
Our example program, ZX TIC TAC TOE (the listing appeared in May/June '87 on pages 21 & 22), has the LOAD
name "TTT". When storing a program on a cassette, it is better to give it a name, especially when the tape contains other different programs. The procedure is, of
course, to use a REM statement with the name of the pro- gram within a pair of quotations (see the chapter in the User Manual regarding LOAD/SAVE).
ZX TIC TAC TOE is self-running and this is possible because of line number 5. This line permits.the program to begin execution immediately after it is loaded. It also eliminates the danger of the user accidentally erasing any data contained in the variable store by entering RUN. Any program written with a SAVE command, after it is loaded, will begin to execute from the first line after this command.
Lines 7 through 12 are in charge of initializing the character array C$(9). This array is initialized before the beginning of each game with the numbers 1 through 9. These values are what first appear in each square of the game board and permit a player to make a move during a game. The way the loop is’ structured is interesting from a programming viewpoint. This way of initializing a character array is faster ans consumes less memory, than say, using LET and listing each in- dividual array element in consecutive order.
In lines 16 through 18 the number array N(9) is in- itialized with zeroes before each new game. This array appears in the driver by the name of COUNTR. This array is used by this routine to store how many times during a game a particular move is made. This is important be- cause it prohibits any one square in the game board from being used more than once during an actual game.
Line 34 initializes the number variable CTR, which is used to keep track of the total number of moves made during a game. When CTR equals nine, it cues the driver called DRW. This routine does what its name says: given 9 consecutive moves. and no winner, the game must end in a draw.
Line 35 is really interesting. This line lets the character variable F$, be used further down the program by pre-assigning it at the beginning of each game. F$ in this program acts as a "flag"--it tells the computer that a game has finished in either a win or a draw.
Lines 112 through 120 compose what is actually the main program within my overall program. It has 5 sub-— routines and two drivers (a clearer example of this will be shown later when we list the program "declarations"). After the last driver at line 119, terminates execution (i.e., when a game being played ends either in a win or a draw), then line 120 permits the start of a new game by letting the program re-execute again from line 7. This way of structuring a program, which involves in- tegrated multi-functional routines, is convenient in that it first allows a programmer to outline the main areas of his/her program, then the rest of the time can be devoted to writing each specific section of the over-— all work. (I credit this suggestion to Dr. William T. Kraynek, Associate Professor, Mathematical Sciences De-
partment, Florida International University, Tamiami Campus, Miami, Florida.) From lines 1001 to 1019, two things happen. Sub-
routine MSG prints a message on the screen for three seconds urging the player to beat the computer. After clearing the screen another set of instructions appear for 12 seconds informing the user how to stop and re- start the game. The length of time that each message
Rodriquisex
appears can be reduced by pressing any key, Space key, while each message is being displayed. messages are displayed once per each new game.
Lines 2001 through 2012 is the subroutine BRD. This section prints on the screen, once per game, the playing board. The vertical and horizontal lines of the board are made of the ‘characters "I" and "~" respectively. The routine is made of two FOR/NEXT loops and a "counter" by the name of C. The variable C is what informs the computer that three sets of vertical lines and two sets of horizontal lines have been printed and that it may proceed with its next instructions.
Lines 3001 through 3015 is the subroutine PSTN. This name, is actually an abbreviation for the word "position". This routine is continually called upon to display the actual moves that are either made or remain to be made before and during a game. The row coordinates from top to bottom are 2, 7 and 11; the column coordi- nates from left to right are 2,7 and 13. This routine prints the content of each element in the array CS(9) at pre-determined locations on the game board in row form, beginning with the highest and ending with the lowest row.
except the
These
Lines 4003 through 4010 is the subroutine INSTRCS, which stands for "instructions". Once per game, this section displays on the screen the name of the game, the year it was copyrighted, its author's name, who get to play with either of the:characters (in inverse video) "O" and "X" and who gets the first move. The player who is assigned "0", is the one who always gets to make the first move. Once a game begins, the instructions at the bottom of the screen (which report who moves with what and who makes the first move) are erased.
Lines 5000 through 5017 compose the subroutine RDAPRV. The basic functions of this routine are to read in the move made by a player during a game, then to de- termine if the move is included within the only accept- able kind of moves that should be made during a_ game. Only the numbers 1 through 9 are acceptable moves. This routine is what is called a "search" routine. It seeks to match what is entered with what can only be an acceptable move. If the move is acceptable, the game proceeds with the rest of the instructions in the pro- gram. If the move entered is unacceptable, then three things happen: an error message is displayed for two seconds, it self-erases and the player is allowed an- other move. Whether or not a move that is made is acceptable...what is entered by a player is always dis- played on the screen to let him/her know exactly what was entered.
The first driver in the program appears in lines 6000 through 6018. Its name is COUNTR. Its function is to NOT allow a player to make the same move, he/she or the computer makes, more than once. It too acts like a search routine by determining which acceptable move was entered, then it stores in the number array N(9) the number of times that move was made. If a move ina game is made twice or more, and error message is displayed for two seconds, self-erases and allows another move by calling subroutine RDAPRV. If the move that was made has not been made before, the program then continues.
We'll wrap up.our explanation of the example pro- gram next issue.
ALSO AVAILABLE FOR THE T/S 2068
POWERFUL AND INEXPENSIVE BUSINESS SOFTWARE FOR ZX81, T/S1000 and T/S1500 COMPUTERS
2X-TEXT
ZX—TEXT
COPYRIGHT (cc) 1983 ALBERT F. RODRIGUEZ
SELECT AN OPTION »WRITE »REAC/EDIT » PRINT + SAVE .CLEAR
“RMNSUEP BY ENTERING A NUMBER"
A word processor is to a computer user what a typewriter is to a typist. except that the former has more advantages than the latter. ZX-Text can operate in 16-64K RAM providing from 1300 to 6500 words per document. It features 6 different options: write, read, edit, print, save and clear text. Text is written on a per-line basis with quick speed and with horizontal back-space and delete capabilities being available. You can also access the editor directly from write mode and vice-versa. Text can be proof-read on a per-line basis allowing for enough time to determine if any editing is needed. The text editor allows a line of text to be deleted, inserted, replaced and listed for editing. You may also change a word or expression within a line, stop or start text while it is scrolling up the screen, begin reading text from the first line of the file, re- enter write mode from the editor, return to the main-menu or create a window so that you can read-edit two files simultaneously. The print option takes text displayed in 30-column format on the screen and outputs to either the ZX/TS printer. (With Memotech’s Centronics Parallel Interface 80-column and lower/ higher - case output is possible.) Files may be saved on tape cassette with the use of one single command, or by the same token they can be erased from memory / storage so that the full capacity of the program can be used for other purposes such as composing letters, reports, articles, memos, standard forms, instructions, ads, graphs, telephone directory, lists of customers, members, friends...etc. Also copies of files are always less expensive and easier to run than using a photocopier. Other advantages are savings in time, paper, ink, correcting mistakes and adding afterthoughts more efficiently than doing them through either handwriting or using a typewriter.
$16.95
ZX-CALC
tC) 1964 Ah. RODRIQUEZ is SREEREBE BUDGET
SERESE eRe
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POUNGZ [J io
p # GOOF WMO» WJ & CHO BOO OUT
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TRAP FRESS REA ER ER EE
HEN LECT fe ENTER/ERASE Tg} aad PRINT a mw CLEAR
An electronic spreadsheet calculator is the fundamental basic tool for summarising, reporting and analyzing in matrix form any accounting, mathematical or scientific manipulation of num- bers. ZX-Calc operates in 32-64K RAM and affords a maximum of 3360 characters / spreadsheet. The entire matrix consists of 15 columns (letters A-O) and 30 rows (numbers 1-30) with 8 characters/ Cell. Unlike other popular ESCs, ZX-Calc uses in calculations and within cells all 14 math functions on the ZX-81/TS1000. It offers a unique “SUM function that totals one or more rows/columns simultaneously. Parenthesis can be used within equations. There is no fixed limit on how many equations may be entered. Formulas may be stored in all 420 celis of the spreadsheet. The display affords 15 rows/colums. Loading of data into more than one cell can occur across/down one or more row/column simultaneously. With vertical windowing you can arrange a set of col- umns in any order, or practice using fixed-variable- alignment display formats. The menu offers 6 options: enter / erase, move, calculate, print, save and clear the spreadsheet. Enter/erase allows the entering, deletion or data alignment within a cell through the use of a mobile cursor. With the move option you may move around the entire sreadsheet to access any row, column or cell. The calculate option allows you to enter labels, values or formulas into a cell or write and enter equations that will act upon the data already within the spreadsheet. You can also enter bar graphs into acellinthis option. Absolute /relative replica- tion, down/acrossacolumn/row, is alsoallowed by this option. Also this option allows the auto- matic calculation of the entire spreadsheet with one single command. Print allows youto outputto either the ZX/TS printer the entire spreadsheet by column-sets and row-pages through use of the COPY command. The entire spreadsheet may be saved on cassette tape or you may clear all data from it or erase the program from RAM entirely. The most salient advantage provided by an ESC over specifically vertical applications software is that an ESC provides a reusable framework with which you can compose any specific financial model rather than just belimitedto only one stati- cally fixed format for storing, displaying and manipulating numerical data.
ZX-CALENDAR
APPOINTMENT MADE WYTHE 0417784
aa EVURN REED, CAREER Mi 8:30 ALM.
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Time management is an important aspect of any serious business and personal agenda. Planning how to spend our time leaves us better prepared before and while we are spending it and we remain better organized after we finish spending it. ZX-Calendar operates in 16-64K RAM affording 25 appointments in 16K, 100 in 32K or 180 in 48K and 64K. Each appointment record holds a maximum of 220 characters. The main menu includes enter, search/check/sort, change, save, clear and print any and all appointments made on a specific date or with any party. Output to either the ZX/TS printer is permissible. This program will permit you to remember to do something or to be somewhere important by cataloging your answers to six questions that you must account for in order not to waste time when it is scarce: when, with whom, at what time, for how long, where and what are you going to discuss and conclude when you get together with someone else? The program lets you permanently originate, record, classify, search, sort, calculate, modify, summarize, obtain a written report and store your answers to the preceding questions so that you will not forget what you decide to do with your time. This program identifies your time according to when you are going to spend it and with whom you are going to share it. Through these forms of labeling appointments you are able to verify or modify how your time is budgeted without wasting ink, paper or more time trying to remember what you said to yourself or what someone else said to you or where you placed certain written messages that you now can't find. With this program you will know where you can find exactly what you need to know about where you want to and have to be, or where you have been, before you get and after you got there. Thus, ZX- Calendar will let you plan your time so that you will never have to worry about what is ahead or what came before, for you will always know, by using it, to never be caught astray by any time-frame.
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L-1 © 1984
Ee “yy
CS
THE TS i500
C2401 “TS 1oo0>
USER PEa PAL
SOUR FLAP Pi Pia Rey
EARL V DUNNINGTON
In order to become more than a novice programmer, it is essential that you understand completely the structure of your Random Access Memory (RAM) and how it functions. This is also a prerequisite for future articles in this series. Much of the material presented in my articles is written to correct, what in my opinion are misconceptions spread or perpetuated by others. I urge you to try the routines presented as proof of the material. I use a TS1500 and this is the reason the ZX81/TS1000 are parenthesized in the heading. This is also another reason to try out the routines on your own computer.
The structure of a computers memory is known as its Memory Map. The BASIC system of the memory map of your computer extends from the fixed address 16384 up to the variable address of RAMTOP. This BASIC system is divided into various areas for filing different types of in- formation a diagram of these areas with their names can be found at the top of page 154 of the TS1500 and page 128 of the TS1000 User Manuals. It is important to un- derstand that this diagram is drawn as if all of the areas are in use at the same time, which is never the case.
Referring to this diagram, the Lower RAM memory extends from address 16384 upwards in addresses to the top of the Calculator stack. The Upper RAM memory ex- tends downwards from the actual address of RAMTOP to the bottom of the Machine stack. Each area in the Upper and Lower memory, other than the System variables area, expands when in use and contracts when not in use. The Display file when in the expanded mode is also a special case. When any of the areas in the lower RAM expand, they push all of the areas above it upward in memory and the Spare area becomes smaller. This is like an accor- dian file--when information is withdrawn the areas in the Lower RAM memory contract downwards pulling the areas above it down in memory. This is like a vertical file cabinet, the height of which is the available RAM, with an accordian file folder that works up and down, with the lower end glued to the bottom of the cabinet.
The two areas in the Upper RAM memory act in re- verse, pushing down into the spare area when in use and contracting back up when not in use. This is like a two division accordian file, the top of which can be fixed at any position below the top of the vertical file cabinet with the bottom free to move. This allows us to open up a third area for filing data or machine code routines. So we now have a vertical file cabinet with
Can'an external keyboard be wired up to a TS1500 in a similar manner as for a TS1000?
Don Berry Orlando, Florida
Tim Stoddard replies: To compare keyboard connections, position both the TS1000 and the TS1500 with their non- component sides up and the expansion connector away from you. The Larger connector is on the Left on both of the computers and {4 wined the same except for reversing wines 5 & 6 (counting Left to night) on the TS1500. The
A QUESTION FOR
Wo
ha
two accordian file folders. When the space between the two is less than 36 addresses, we get an "Out of Memory" error remark.
The names in capital letters below the arrow heads, or arrows as the case may be in your diagram are the names of what are known as the System variables. These consist of two bytes containing the address of the boundaries of the BASIC system areas. They are filed along with many others at fixed addresses in the Systems variables area. A list of the System variables and their addresses starts on page 160 of the TS1500 or page 134 of the TS1000 User Manuals. The BASIC commands to POKE or to PEEK the addresses are given at the top of the page.
Figure No.1 of this article is a diagram of the RAM portion of the memory map immediately after the computer has been turned on and the cursor appears on the screen or after NEW has been entered and the cursor appears. Compare it with the diagram in your manual. I immed- iately see some mental hands raised! Where is the Program area? Until a program line is typed and entered the Program area does not exist. Where is the Line being typed + work space? It also does not exist until one or more characters are typed into the computer. Where is the USR routines area? It also is non-existant unless actual RAMTOP is lowered in the case of the ZX81/TS1000 with or without the RAM pack or the TS1500 without the RAM pack. Why do you show the Display file as having 26 bytes or 793 bytes when the second paragraph on page 129 of the TS1000 and the fourth paragraph on page 156 of the TS1500 manuals say. "When the total amount of memory (according to the system variable RAMTOP) is less than 3.25K, a clear screen--as set up at the start or by CLS, consists of just 25 ENTERs."? In the minimum Display file mode, anytime a character is placed into the file it expands. During initialization a cursor character is placed by the ROM routine into the Display file, ex- panding it by one byte to 26. In the expanded Display file mode (the address in the System variable RAMTOP is 19712 or greater) the size of the file is 25 ENTERs + 32 times 24 space characters for a total of 793 bytes. As characters are entered into the file they just replace the spaces, having no effect on the size of the file. Under certain conditions such as during a SCROLL, the normal size of the Display file will change.
For those having a 2ZX81/TS1000 with a RAM pack attached, let's fool the computer into thinking you have less than 3.25 RAM. Turn on the computer. Type in and
Continued Next Page. TIM STODDARD
smakken connector 44 wired backwards in the 1500 com- paned to the TS1000. Following is a chart which compares the two computers. Hope this information helps.
fs] ai
fe fa nye
om oo cir cet
{ t
1 2. “ a i
UE hex
MEMORY MAP OF RAM IMMEDIATELY AFTER POWER UP
LOWER RAM MEMORY —_—————>]
System Display Variables Calculator variables file stack
one byte
125 bytes
26 or 7933 bytes
one byte (8h)
keuPPER RAM MEMoRY~>| Spare Machine GOSUB bytes depend stack stack upon address of RAMTOP
two two bytes bytes Machine
stack
pointer sp
FIGURE NO.
ENTER the following direct commands:
POKE 16389,72
CLS
Readers with a TS1500 should do likewise. just turn on the computer.
To prove that Figure No.l is correct, if we PEEK the address contained in the System variable E LINE and subtract 16384, then the result will be the amount of bytes from 16384 to E LINE. To do this type in and ENTER the direct command:
PRINT PEEK 16404+256*PEEK 16405-16384
The result should be 151. If you add up the bytes shown on Figure No.1 between address 16384 and E LINE using the minimum Display file figure, it is 152 bytes. The reason for this is that when you pressed ENTER both the direct command and the cursor character were erased from the Display file prior to the execution of the command. Why did the printing of the value returned and the error remark not upset the value? Because they were printed after the execution of the PEEK and subtract portion of the command.
Let's all fool the computer into thinking we have 3.25K of RAM. Type in and ENTER the following direct command:
POKE 16389,77
CLS
Repeat PEEKing the System variable and subtracting 16384 by typing in and ENTERing the same command used above. This time you should get 919 which agrees with Figure No.1 using the higher value for the Display file.
All others
T/S 1000/ZX81 PROGRAMMING SRAM HI=RES
PART By Fred Nachbaur
In this installment, we’ll start taking a closer Took at the BLACKJACK listing of Vol. 3, No. 4, to get an idea of what makes it all work. But before we get
down to brass tacks, a few other comments are in order.
TS206S83 USERS
Are you impressed with the 2068’s just a little confused about how to go
capabilities, but about using it to
the fullest? Well, don’t feel too bad; it’s actually a pretty complex machine. Even the way its display file is mapped can be pretty confusing. SRAM HI*RES, on the other hand, is simplicity itself. Its display file is arranged very simply as 176 (or 192) lines of 32 bytes each, going from left to right and top to bottom.
So why not dig up that old “doorstopper" and experiment with SRAM HI*RES for a while! Its ease of use and abundance of nifty commands will give you lots to
experiment with, and (more importantly) learn from. Once you’ve mastered SRAM HI*RES, you’l! be in a much better position to tackle the intricacies of the 2068. So here’s an "invite" to you 2068ers to join Come on in, the water’s fine!
in the fun.
If we type anything into the computer it will open up and be echoed in the Line being typed + work space area. Because of this we will enter the PEEK commands into a program line. This will not disturb the original displacement between E LINE and STKEND as after the Line being typed + work space area no longer exist and the Calculator stack has shrunk back to one byte. Type in and ENTER the following program line:
10 PRINT (PEEK 16412+256*PEEK 16413)-(PEEK 16404+256* PEEK 16405)-1
We have to add one because STKEND points to the last byte of the Calculator stack, not to the first byte of the Spare area. Now type RUN and press ENTER. The result should be one byte as shown on Figure No.l.
Turn off your computer and power up so as to have a fresh start. If we take the address contained in the System variable ERR SP and subtract it from the address contained in the System variable RAMTOP, it will check out the total number of bytes shown for the Upper RAM in Figure No.l. Type in and ENTER the following direct command:
PRINT(PEEK 16388+256*PEEK 16389)-(PEEK 16386+256*PEEK 16387) The result displayed should be a four.
It is important to understand that any additional memory above the actual address of RAMTOP is not con- sidered part of the BASIC system. This also holds for any additional memory in the 8K area between the ROM and the start of the System variables area at address 16384. (TO BE CONTINUED IN THE NEXT ISSUE)
if
WRX1S HI-RES AND
At this point, let’s give credit where credit is due. AS you may Know, SRAM HI*#RES Extended BASIC is a collection of new commands that make use of a high-res core routine developed by Mr. Wilf Rigter. This routine
is an invention anywhere as significant as the original "cheap video" system employed in the ZX81. Without this core routine, all the neat possibilities that SRAM
HI#RES has to offer would be completely useless. With no
other hardware requirement than a static RAM in the 8- 16K region, this routine is what gives your humble ZX/TS a whole new look, not to mention new worlds of
possibility.
The hardware aspect brings me to another point. You may have noticed that the BLACKJACK listing in the last installment was directly followed by Tim Stoddard’s 64K BUILT-IN RAM. I checked over the schematic, and guess what? Tim’s circuit will work fine with WRX16 and SRAM HI#RES with NO CHANGES! This is because the chips’ OE* Coutput enable?) is pulled low if EITHER the RD* line
INTERNAL 64K
Note that Tim guess what THRUST
goes low, OR the REFSH* iine goes low. reports compatibility with "THRUST"; is based on? You guessed it... WRXi6.
So, dig up a TS1000 somewhere (I’ve seen them sell for as little as $15), add about that much more in RAM chips, invest a couple hours of easy hardware hacking,
and add SRAM HI*RES. You now have a with high-res capability, at a total What a deal!
full 64K computer cost of under #60.
A QUESTION OF SYNTAX
What is meant by "syntax?" No, it’s not a payment to your government for vices like tobacco and beer. The dictionary defines it as "The arrangement and inter- relationship of words in phrases and sentences." The
computer definition could be worded very similarly; "The arrangement and interrelationship of commands and parameters in program statements." For example, there is
a definite way of plotting a pixel to the screen in Sinclair BASIC. You have to say, "PLOT x,y". You can’t say "x PLOT y" or "PLOT x AND y". If you don’t use the correct syntax, the computer won’t Know what you’re talking about; much as if you told someone, "Dog man bites." (Does dog bite man, man bite dog, or does dogman
generally bite?)
People who write extended language pacKages (as extended BASIC) for ROM-based computers have a bit of a problem. How do you add new commands to an immutable chunk of silicon? Obviously, we can’t Ceasily> change or expand the ROM itself. Fortunately, there are always other ways of doing things. You are probably used to passing your parameters ‘(like x and y in the PLOT example) using POKE, and executing the command with RAND USR.... Sure, it works. It works quite well. The problems are that this can be confusing (unless you use dedicated variables), and more importantly it’s very extravagant with memory. To take an extreme example,
let’s say you have to pass four parameters (as for a DRAW command). You might have to say something like, 1000 POKE 20001 ,X1 1010 POKE 20002,X2 1020 POKE 20003,Y1 1030 POKE 20004,Y2 1040 RAND USR 22000
If you’ll do a byte-count of these lines, you’!! find that to draw a single line on the screen from CX1,Y1> to (X2,Y2> takes a total of #8 bytes!! It
doesn’t take long to fill up 16K at that rate! In comparison, let’s look at how SRAM HI*RES would handle the same command:
1000 IF USR HR THEN LPRINT DRAW;X1,X2,Y1,Y2
Verify that this statement takes only 27 bytes. We can therefore do over 3-1/2 times as much drawing in a given memory space! If we condense the word DRAW to OD, then we save three more bytes, without affecting the operation of the command.
Another point has to do with expressions. In Sinclair BASIC, we can say exotic things like, "*PLOT
Z*¥ASN (X/2),Y+3/C(LN (C/D)>". Some extended BASIC systems require you to first assign the value of the expression to a single-letter variable, or POKE the expression into some machine-code variable first. Not SRAM HI#RES! To
change the above command to SRAM HI#RES syntax requires only that we precede it with "IF USR HR THEN..." That’s all it takes!
Consider the statement “IF USR HR THEN..." as nothing more than a prefix that tells your computer that it is supposed to do something in high-res. Don’t worry about “what if not USR HR?* etc. This syntax construct is nothing more than a bridge, or a door, into SRAM
HI#RES. There are other subtleties regarding high-res syntax, such as the significance of semicolons and commas in PRINT statements, which we’1ll get to in the
comfortable those IF USR HR THEN... prefixes; remember that
course of this series. For now, simply get with all
ALL they mean is that we’re doing something that we can’t do in normal BASIC.
Similarly, the prefix IF USR HR THEN LPRINT... is simply our way of adding new commands with the greatest
possible flexibility in using expressions. We call these the "Group 2" commands, as opposed to the "Group i" commands like IF USR HR THEN CLS, IF USR HR THEN PLOT Xs¥ and so on. Obviously, there are no Sinclair BASIC analogs to commands like SPRITE MOVE, DRAW, DEFINE UDG, etc.
eR)
THE AMAZING UDG
What is it that REALLY sets high-res BLACKJACK apart from previous Blackjack games for the ZX81/TS1000?
Is it the game itself? No. In fact, the core for this game was originally written on the first 2K TRS-80 pocket computer! It performed flawlessly, if with a few
less features. No, the appeal of high-res BLACKJACK is in the pictures of the actual cards themselves, right there on your TV screen. It is the GRAPHICS that turns a good but rather ho-hum game into something that will make your friends ooh and aah over your “monster doorstopper".
The Key to these pictures is a thing calleda "UDG", for "User-Defined Graphics." Though it sounds rather ominous and forbidding, it’s really very simple. A UDG is nothing more than a screen character that YOU define. Unlike the 128 fixed characters in your ROM, the 128 UDGs can be defined and changed at will. Every character, UDG or ROM-based, consists of eight rows of
eight dots, for a total of 64 dots. Each of these dots are either set C*ink"> or reset ("paper"). The possibilities are staggering. I once computed that if
you printed all the possible UDG’s on TS2040 paper, UDG’s per line, the length of 2040 paper you’d would equal the circumference of the orbit of Pluto.
The EASIEST way for a user to define UDGs is
32 need
by
using direct binary, as does the 2068. In other words, "OG" represents a reset pixel, "1" represents a set pixel. The only problem with this is that it is tremendously memory-inefficient. For each UDG definition, we would need 64 bytes, plus the “syntax overhead" (punctuation between groups, etc.) Well, so let’s use decimal numbers to give the value for each of the eight rows. After all, everyone has ten fingers, right? Unfortunately, 10 is not an integral power of 23 this makes decimal FAR more confusing, in the long run, than other bases like octal or hexadecimal. Pitt | fyity -BINARY- DEC.HEX. eae NVEBCE 11111111 255 FF a its git ae FET oosouse 46 25 i HA cleat 00010000 26 10 : oooioco0ii 19 i3 : 00001111 15 OF [ORO ak WR OR a a By Be canal AA. 00010101 2i is 00010101
WEIGHTS
IDEC.128 64 32
16
HEX. 80
ae
The maintaining hexadecimal.
most ease
while it>
I see an article by some neophyte,
memory-—efficient approach, of decoding is ‘you guessed
Time for a_ philosophical digression. cringe every time I arguing something to the effect of, us to use
"if God had wanted hexadecimal, He would have given us sixteen fingers," or “if my computer understood hex, I could enter hex numbers as program lines.” I cringe not so much because the author is missing the whole point, rather out of embarrassment because I once felt the same way. However, the deeper you delve into the workings of your computer, the more you are forced to realize that
it really IS a “base 2" device (i.e. nothing but ON or OFF>. It is very frequently REALLY handy and NECESSARY to be able to quickly convert between a number and its
binary equivalent, or vice versa. It is much, much easier to do such conversions using hexadecimal. If you really need the decimal equivalent, look it up ina
table or have your computer figure it out using one of the many conversion routines that have been published. A
case in point is defining UDG’s. Take a look at Fig. 1. The UDG character depicted there is an actual UDG used in the BLACKJACK program. If
you compare it to the screen dumps published in the last installment, you’ll see that this is the upper-left corner of the image of the KING card (the left side of the crown at the top of the card). Each row of pixels is "disassembled" in binary, then in decimal, then in hexadecimal. Note that, in the top row, all pixels are set (darkened). Note that each bit (pixel) in this row represents a power of two. The rightmost bit is 2*0=1, the next to the left is 2*1=2, the next is 2°2=4, and so on. So, to figure out the value in decimal, we have to add 1+2+4+84+16+32+64+128 and finally come up with 255. There MUST be an easier way.
Rest assured. There is an easier way. Simply split your image down the middle, as shown by the dotted line in the diagram. So now, each row of eight bits (= 1 byte> is broken into two rows of four bits (= 1 nybble). Now consider the following table of binary-hex equivalents:
o000=0 O001i=1 0010=2 0011=3 0100=4 0101=5 0110=6 0111=7 1000=8 100i1=9 1010=A 1011=B 1100=C 1101=D 1110=E 1L111=F
Commit this table to memory. Burn it into your mental EPROM. Practise it until you’re SURE that 1011 means "B". An easy way to cheat (comparable to counting on your fingers) is to remember that the “weights” {going from left to right) is 8, 4, 2, 1. So "1011" is 8, plus (no fours), plus 2 (9, AD , plus 1 ¢(B). Another way to cheat is to Keep the above table handy.
OK, now here’s the punch line. To convert a binary number to hex, simply break it into nybbles as described above, then convert each nybble to its equivalent single-digit hex mumber. The resulting two-digit hex number gives the hex equivalent! For instance, the third line in the diagram is binary 00101110. Breaking this into nybbles we get 0010 (2) and 1110 (E>) = 2E. It will take very little practise to get the hang of this; it
won’t be long at all before you can figure out the hex equivalent of any 8-bit binary number by = simple inspection. To figure this same number out in decimal,
we would have had to add 32+8+4+2. Don’t Know about you, but I’m tempted to reach for a calculator when I= see something like that.
How does this apply, in practise, to SRAM HI#RES and the BLACKJACK program? Take a look at line 97001. What we’re telling the computer here iss
IF USR HR THEN LPRINT U;
eaeee Center SRAM HI*RES]
(Define UDG] = 8, .e.2.. Estarting at space = CHRS 0] *00,00,00... etc.” Chex numbers for each row]
Note that the first eight entries, corresponding to the Sinclair “space” character, are all zero. In other words, our UDG CHR$ 0 is a space just like the “normal” character set. This is where the similarity ends.
Note that, as listed, the "separator" after the eighth hex pair is the graphic symbol on “1°. This was simply for my convenience in entering and debugging; in fact, the separators can be anything your heart desires. SRAM HI#RES completely ignores them. The point to remember is, that you can make your UDG definitions as long as you like. The LPRINT UDG; (or LPRINT U;> command Keeps processing hex numbers, assigning them in sequential order, as long as they are supplied. So, line 7001 defines the UDGs corresponding to all the characters from CHRS 0 ¢epace) through CHR® 9 (graphic on D). Line 9002 starts defining at CHR$ 10 (graphic on S). and continues to CHRS 19 ("<">. And so on, until all 128 possible UDG characters have been defined.
Before we end off, what do we mean by UDG’s "corresponding to" the standard Sinclair characters? Very simple. When using the UDG PRINT mode (selected by IF USR HR THEN PRINT;333;) then anything containing these characters will print as the corresponding UDG instead. For instance, if we said IF USR HR THEN PRINT333;CHRS 1, then the computer would print the UDG shown in the diagram of Figure 1.
VAPORWARE
From SILICON MOUNTAIN
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NERO—-UORD
- The word-processor for the compleat idiot. Revolutionary input routine obsoletes the mouse, joystick, light pen, trackball, and even the Keyboard! You don’t even have to Know the QWERTY keyboard! Alphabet and control icons continuously scroll across the MCWP (Master Control Panel Window). When the desired character is in the CSF (Cursor Selection Field), press the button on our DBI (Doorbell Button Interface) fCoanly $235.90).
DEBASED
- The file manager of the future! Uses the same input routine as NERD-WORD. Amazing new sort routine; simply print out your files, cut them up, and sort by hand (free tutorial included). Then use our Laser Wand (only $695.87) to read the sorted files back in!
MAIL—PURGE
- Interactively Jinks NERO-WORD and DEBASED. Comes with a pair of scissors and a glue stick for inserting your datafiles into text files. Our patented KAMIKAZE routine eliminates the need for a DELETE function; when the program figures that you’ve had your files long enough, it assumes that you’re tired of them and automatically purges them without saving. Even wipes out the program and gives you an op-art crash-screen!
BuUGS—-PUNNY
- The ULTIMATE computer game. You are supplied with 16K of pure machine-code; however, the bytes are completely scrambled. Your challenge is to arrange them into a working program. WE don’t even Know what the final program does! Comes with a packet of instant coffee, a box of double-stuf Oreos, and a pocket bottle of Extra-Strength Excedrin. We’l! even PAY YOU $10 if you send us a working copy of the solution!
We DO have TS1000 or TS1500. Send two IRC’s for free catalog.
several innovative software titles for your 2X8},
SILICON MOUNTAIN COMPUTERS: C-12, Mtn. Stn. Group Box Nelson, BC VIL SPi CANADA
REMEMBER: In SRAM HI#RES, you can generally use the same syntax constructs as you are used to in Sinclair BASIC. So, any of the following statements would be
perfectly valid, and would do the same thing:
LET At=CHR$ 1 IF USR HR THEN PRINT; 33 5;A%
IF USR HR THEN PRINT3333" ° IF USR HR THEN PRINT;33;CHR® (2*SINCPI/6)) NEXT TIME...
More on UDG’s ... SPRITES ... SRAM-HI#RES PHILOSOPHY
F-SAVE MAGIC ... MORE
al. ABACLUSYSFPREADSHEET
Mike de Sosa
One good indicator that QL Abacus COL SPREADSHEET in the States) is a quality program is the fact that, despite the proli- feration of other software for the QL, there is no other QL spreadsheet. It is a First-— class professional computer program. The Following is intended to go beyond the QL Abacus documentation in the Sinclair QL User Guide in helping you to optimize your use of this excellent program.
TROUBLESOHE COMMANDS AND FUNCTIONS
Amend is intended to change the formula in the current Ccursor) cell and other cells sharing that formula. CThe Formula--or data or text--is brought down onto the input line where it may be modified and reentered.) It is more efficient to change data or text in a cell by just reentering it.
€opy is used to copy the contents of one or a range of cells to another place on the spreadsheet. Specify the cell or range of cells to be moved, then the cell or upper left cell of the new range of cells. Formulas included will be adjusted For their new locations.
Design is used to set various parameters of the spreadsheet: the First value shown after each parameter is the value or option. If AUTO-CALCULATE
NEW BOOK
default
by
The Ultimate Resource For Your Sinclair QL!
TAKING THE QUANTUM LEAP:
The Last Word on the Sinclair QL by Mike de Sosa
The only QL book to cover the lastest advances in hardware and software. Chock full of useful programs and examples. Fully illustrated, 280 pages. No QL owner should be without it!
$26.00
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TIME DESIGNS 29722 Hult Rd. Colton, Oregon 97017 U.S.A. (503) 824-2658 (24 hour order line)
"TIPS" PART I
on input is set to ”NO,” the command Xecute is used to recalculate spreadsheet values. CALCULATION order row or column only pertains to the sequential order in which Calculations are carried out, which will not usually affect the outcome. GAPS between lines on printer is a very useful but often overlooked command. .
Echo is used to copy the data, Formula, or text of a single cell to another cell or a whole range of cells. Formulas are adjusted.
Files offers a submenu of Five File™ handling options. You may import or export data from/to other QL software programs and
other QL Abacus programs. Import/Export operations are not complex, but they are a little involved. Consult the @lL Abacus and
Information sections of the QL User Guide, the HELP facility of QL Abacus, and Chapter
12 of my book, if you have it, regarding such operations.
Grid is a key command used to modify the spreadsheet grid in three ways: to delete one or more rows or columns, adjusting shared formulas; to insert one or more new rows or columns, adjusting shared
Formulas but losing data and formulas in rows at bottom or columns at right which are pushed off of the spreadsheet; and to modify
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the width of one or more columns.
The Justify and Units commands work Similarly: the former is used to modify the default position of text or numbers in cells and the latter to specify how numbers are displayed within cells. In both cases, the range of cells is specified and whether or not the command applies to already Filled cells Cselects CELLS) or empty cells within that range (select DEFAULT).
Merge is used to combine data in two or more identicallu formatted Spreadsheets; the merged data may be added to or subtracted From data in filled cells. Formulas are lost. Since you may import and export data between QL Abacus programs, this may prove a more efficient or desirable way to do this.
Order is used to sort rows in ascending order based on values in a specified column. The ordering sequence is empty cells, numeric cells, and text cells Cin alphabetic order). In most cases, formulas are lost.
Note the various options available when using the Priné command sequence.
Hindow is used to split the spreadsheet horizontally or vertically into two movable segments so as to better display cell contents.
Xecute is used to recalculate all for- mulas in a spreadsheet only if AaUurTo- CALCULATE on input is not operative. It is also used to restart a spreadsheet program containing eskX) or eask&() Functions--in any event.
An Abacus Function converts one or more arguments into a returned value or performs some other function; Abacus Functions must be Followed by brackets, whether or not it requires arguments.
Askrétext) and askt(text), a prompt, request the input text string, respectively.
Ave(range) returns the average of the numeric cells within the specified range.
Count(range) returns the number of Filled data and text cells within the speci- fed range.
Max(range), mirntrange), and sum range? return the largest, smallest, and sum of all
"text” being of a number or
numbers in the specified range of cells, respectively.
Daten), daystltext), Bronth(n), and timev) may be used in many imaginative ways
in spreadsheets and spreadsheet programs. If(numeric expression, true, false) re-
turns the "true” argument if the numeric expression evaluates to other than zero or the "false” argument LE the numeric expression evaluates to zero. Text and
numeric true/false arguments may be mixed. IRRrange,; period) calculates the in- ternal rate of return--the equivalent inter- est rate--for the numeric data in the speci- Fied range Ceither a row or column segment). This data represents a cash flow for each of several payoffs separated by *period” months--period is the number of months, that is, a number. The example in the User Guide is adequate, if you need more explanation. Lookuplrange,offset,value) refers to an established reference table in the spread- sheet, returning a preset value corres- ponding to the argument value. The Function
requires three arguments: renge is the row or column segment containing the entering argument, offset is the number of rows or
columns separating the renge and the row or
34
column segment containing the preset Coutput) values, and entering argument. values must be
returned value is the Entering and output numeric, the former in ascending value. The example in the Abacus HELP facility is adequate ae Further explanation is needed. NPUCrange, percent, period) Net Present Value of cash amount oF money which must be invested now to produce a specified cash flow at some Futuredate, assuming a given interest rate). Three arguments are required: range is a row or column segment containing cash deposits
returns) the deposits Cthe
made at equal intervals of time, the period ; perceré is the assumed interest rate. Once again, the example in the User id is
adequate for a Fuller explanation. THE BOTTOM LINE
QL Abacus is a powerful manipulator of both text and numeric data which will prove highly useful to you in almost any pursuit. You may find it easier to lay out spread- sheets in the following sequence: headings and labels, first; formulas; data; and, Finally, editing the format.
TIP: Setting the OL clock is important to QL Abacus (Cand other programs). Amend your QL Abacus “boot” program to include the Following:
5 AT 6,5: INPUT “Set clock: YYYY,MM,DD,HH, MN,SS’\y\R\d\b\n\s 6 SDATE y,a,d,h,m,s
NEH QL PRODUCT: SPECIAL EDITION EDITOR
Digital Precision’s The Editor, a text editor program, was subtitled--somewhat prematurely many felt--as "CHUCK QUILL OUT!” It was not a WYSIWYG C”what you see is what you get”) editor and had no printer driver. BP’s improved text editor, Special Edition Editor, For use on expanded QL’s, is still not a WYSTWYG--why I don’t know--but it is a most comprehensive text editor, much more Flexible than QL Quill, and for those who are sufficiently capable and wish to take the trouble of learning a rather complex
system, this may be your cup of tea. Special Edition Editor should be especially useful to those who must
Frequently publish sizable documents such as Time Designs Magazine. This is especially true considering that it is designed to he compatible with DP’s new Desktop Publisher--said to be good on graphics but less so on text.
Special Edition Editor is far too complex to describe properly in a= short article. It now has a most comprehensive
printer driver. Suffice it to say that most of the shortcomings in The Editor have been
eliminated, that it has dozens of additional Features, and that it will do just about anything that you have in mind. For
expanded GL’s onlu! About $50 from Sharp’s. But I still wouldn’t chuck Quill out.
For all of Quill’s faults, WYSIWYG is the only way to Fly.
NEXT TIKEs QOL Easel/Business Graphics "Tips,” plus more new QL products information.
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QL Support
Have you heard the latest? A rumor has been cir- culating in Great Britain for a couple of months now, that Amstrad is rethinking their position on the QL. Amstrad executives have been keeping an eye on how the QL aftermarket support has been developing. Also, it has been common knowledge that Amstrad would like to market a 32-bit machine. Using existing QL technology which they obtained in a major buy-out of Sinclair last year, would save the company thousands of dollars. Having an established support base of software and add-ons is another big plus. Some improvements including the re- placement of the microdrives with a single built in disk drive, have been discussed.
Digital Precision has just released their DESKTOP PUBLISHER software package. It is reported to be a pro- fessional program, with text editing features that rival many similar programs available for the Apple MacIntosh
and IBM PCs. DESKTOP PUBLISHER is written code and requires a minimum of 256K RAM. dealers have the program.available for about $100. Another Desktop program, FRONT PAGE, has graded for use with additional RAM expansion cards.
in machine Several U.S.
been up- The
new version which incorporates extra ‘fonts and other
features, is called FRONT PAGE EXTRA.
The TRUMP CARD by Miracle Systems packs a lot of
punch in one circuit card that fits
into the QL ex-
pansion slot. When installed, it provides a full 896K
Qool QL
M.
Some of you who have never encountered heating problems with your QL before, might discover that about August 15, or the hottest day of the year, that your QL will suddenly blank out. Actually, it is not quite so "suddenly". There are usually small warning signals like a ripple on the screen or the colors may start to "swim". Unless you don't mind losing your data, once you observe these symptoms, it is best to quickly save your data, and turn the QL off for an hour or two.
If you take some of the precautions in this article to heart, there is a good chance that you will never have to worry about the heat problem. Indeed, if you are running an unexpanded QL, without disk drives, or add- itional memory, heat build up may be so minimal that you will never encounter any problem at all. However, add a disk drive, and you may run into problems.
Even if you do not currently have a heat problem, remember that any heat, over time, is the number one killer of all electronics. Static zaps a few, but heat kills all chips sooner or later. Keeping your QL cool can expand its life.
Rather than starting with the most complex fixes first, I think it wise to attempt to correct the problem with the smallest fix first. If that fails, then move on to more elaborate repairs. So lets begin "outside" the QL.
The first thing to do is, if your QL is not plugged into a quality surge protector, PLUG IT INTO ONE NOW! When doing so, make sure that the power cable running from the surge protector to the QL is not on any car- peting, nor is close to your monitor, or any potential source of static. As an additional benefit, should the power company decide to mess up your power, as they did mine, your QL should be protected. (My power company sent surges through my house that blew over 15 of my appliances including the refrigerator, intercomms,
RAM, a disk interface (up to two drives), RAMdisk soft-— ware, a print spooler, and Tony Tebby's TOOLKIT II soft-— ware on an EPROM. Most U.S. QL dealers have the TRUMP CARD in stock for around $300. Miracle Systems is also
working on. a MIDI Interface which will i oe be ready sometime
OL 2 TRUMP CARD |
MERSOLE SYRTEMS
VINCENT LYON
radios, a VCR, the furnace and other goodies. But, although my surge protector was burned, and no_ longer functional, my QL and disk drives were untouched.)
Secondly, get to know the ventilation system on your QL. If you look at the right side, just below the microdrive ports, you will notice a small line of openings. Beside being the speaker port, these openings permit the inflow of air that is supposed to flow over the heatsink, and exit on top at the rear. Noting that a convection flow of this size has, at best, minimal cooling capacity, NEVER PUT ANYTHING ON THE RIGHT TOP OF THE QL. In a few tests I have made, one single sheet of #20 Bond placed over the microdrives, raised the in- ternal temperature 18 degrees. It not only insulated the top of the case, it prevented the proper convection flow.
If you have done the first two things, and still encounter heat problems, there is a good possibility that the problem can still be solved for about $20.00, without opening the QL case. Run down to Radio Shack, buy a 3" brushless 9VDC fan (part #273-243). They list for $14.95, but have been on sale recently for $11.88. This fan operates on 7 to 13.8 VDC and supplies 27 CFM airflow. Then add a 9 volt power supply (part #277-1026) for about $4.95, and any switch you wish (less than $1.00), and you've got a system that should solve all your problems.
Hook the fan, through the switch to the power supply. Place it on your desk behind the QL, aimed at the right side heat vent. Before you turn it on, feel the cover over the microdrives. Turn on your fan and wait about five minutes and feel the microdrive cover again. It should now be cool to the touch.
While we are forcing the air ina reverse pattern to the normal convection designed with the OL, the flow is sufficient to really cool the QL, and possibly you as well. Remember that if you aim the fan at the front of the QL, you may be forcing dust into the microdrive ports, which could create more problems than over- heating.
I put one of these fans on line and put it through a few tests. With the computer on, but idle, the in- ternal temperature in the microdrive port was 104 de- grees. After the fan had.been running for five minutes, the temperature had dropped to 68 degrees. I then wrote a program to format a microdrive 15 times, and measured the temperature during the format (drives running create heat). On the 15th format, the internal temperature was still 73 degrees.
I have been advised that RMG Enterprises of Oregon City, OR is in the design phase of a cooling fan system designed specifically for the QL, and should run from the QL's internal power. So, in the future, there may be a system more efficient than this simple one. In the meantime, this seems to be all that is available.
So far, we have found some simple ways to keep a QOOL QL without resorting to opening the case and fiddling around with the insides. If all these have failed, and ONLY IF ALL THESE HAVE FAILED, then we are forced to open up the QL and begin to tackle the problem other ways.
The QL uses a one amp 7805 voltage regulator (you will see it attached to the heat sink behind the micro- drives). Since the voltage regularo is heat protected (if it overheats, it shuts down), this, while maybe not the cause of the problem, is certainly the heart of the problem.
The important thing to remember is that simple metal to metal contact is just not an efficient heat transfer system. Metal must be somehow "bonded" to the heatsink if heat is to transfer properly. At assembly, many QLs suffered the same fates. The heatsink compound used was of a type that dries and ages with heat, and in adequate amounts of the compound were used. As a con- sequence, the unfortunate voltage regulator is unable to transfer its heat to the heatsink.
Fortunately, for us, the fix is simple. Remove the heatsink from the voltage regulator. Scrape off any old heatsink compound, and clean both surfaces as much as posssible. Put a generous coat of any silicone based (it doesn't dry or crack) heatsink compound on the voltage regulator where it contacts the heatsink and _ reconnect the two. This increase of thermal transfer will permit the heat to flow to the fins of the heatsink, where your fan can efficiently carry the heat away.
Now, even if you're running 640K and three disk drives, you should have no heating problem. But, if you continue to encounter problems, there is an additional hardware fix published previously in QUANTUM LEVELS (Vol 1, No 2) by Tom Woods. I don't recommend that you attempt this fix unless all else has failed. It involves installing an additional 7805 voltage regulator, a capacitor and a diode to attempt solve the problem. The single case that I know of that tried this method was unsuccessul, probably because the simpler fixes, like a power surge protector were not attempted first.
If you wish further information on the final hard- ware fix, I suggest you contact Tom Woods at Quantum Levels, PO Box 64, Jefferson, NH 03583.
Common sense however, demands that I state, if you have done all outlined procedure, short of the hardware fix, and you continue to have heat problem, you would be well advised to contact A+ Computer Response and get a replacement Q L. If the fan and heatsink compound don't work, you may have serious problem. Historically, A+ has not been really prompt in replacing defective QL's (eight weeks is about standard), but right now, we users seem stuck with that situation.
It may be possible that your QL dealer can provide a temporary "back-up" OL for your use while yours is at A+ for evaluation.
As a final thought, (seems like I'm talking to my kid, now) I must stress the importance of cleanlinesss. Dust blocked vents cannot do their job properly. It may appear insignificant, but dust does inhibit air flow essential to cooling. It also has great insulating properties.
Here's hoping your QL is as QOOL as mine (knock on wood).
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Time Designs Tests
by
Mike de Sosa
This article inaugurates a new series in TDM: the most comprehensive report of the testing of new hardware and software for the Sinclair QL yet done in the states.
Each item reviewed will be awarded from
one to