he #1 magazine of computer applicafa *'are raHSJS? sfife

a*«uiH

O K» » #-. ^ *&> iiD o «» •— "^ Ul JT © O O Ul

oo >- at O- X * 3 •O »- •« ^» ^ *© * c ir — _j «_> o t^ ^ o am z

6 %' 7 * » • •

Consumer Computers Buying Guide a/ Paf/i Analysis

Electronic Game Reviews Mail Label Programs Someday all terminals will be smart.

128 Functions-software controlled 82 x 16 or 92 x 22 format-plus graphics 7x12 matrix, upper/lower case letters output port 50 to 38,400 baud-selectable "CHERRY" keyboard

CT-82 Intelligent Terminal, assembled and tested $795.00 ppd in Cont. U.S.

SOUTHWEST TECHNICAL PRODUCTS CORPORATION 219 W. RHAPSODY SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 78216

CIRCLE 106 ON READER 3ERVICE CARD Give creative Gontpattng to a fHend for

" [W*nr fiwter service - call tell free X * • -540-0445] 800-631-8112 InNJ 201 TYPE OF SUBSCRIPTION BOOKS AND MERCHANDISE Foreign Foreign Term USA Surface Air D Gift Send to me 1 2 issues D $ 15 $ 23 $ 39 24 issues D 28 44 76 Gifts cannot be gift wrapped but a 36 issues D 40 64 112 Lifetime D 300 400 600 card with your name will be sent with each order YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS :

Quan Cat Descriptions Price Name Address Cittj State Zip- NAME TO APPEAR ON GIFT CARD*

SEND GIFT SUBSCRIPTION TO- Name Address Citvf State. .Zip. PAYMENT INFORMATION

a Cash , check or 7M.O. enclosed o Visa/BankAmericard") Card no. Books shipping charge SI 00 USA S2 00 Foreign a Master Charge J Exp. NJ Residents add 5% sales lax DPlease bill me ($100 billing fee will be added) be prepaid- TOTAL (magazines and books) Book, orders from individuals must

creative computing creative computing

Books. Merchandise & Subscriptions Subscriptions

pnce Quan Cat« Description D New Renewal D Address Change

Foreign Foreign Term USA Surface Air 12 issues Q $ 15 D $ 23 D $ 39 76 24 issues D 28 D 44 D $1 USA. $2 Foreign Shipping Charge 36 issues D 40 D 64 D 112 600 NJ residents add 5°/o sales tax Lifetime D 300 a 400 D Total

Name _ Name _ Address Address City City Zip State Zip State

Cash. Check or MO Enclosed D For a change of address, please attach old label D Visa/BankAmericard D Master Charge | here Without it. we cannot assure uninterrupted Card No ExD service will added) D Please bill me ($1 billing fee be I I Books & foreign orders must be prepaid Allow 8 weeks for delivery Q Cash, check, or M O Enclosed Visa/BankAmericard D Master Charge Exp Card No _ . —— call toll-free For faster service fee will be added) D Please bill me ($1 billing 800-631-8112 Foreign orders must be prepaid (In NJ call 201-540-0445) Allow 8 Weeks for delivery creative computing Box 789-M Morristown, N.J. 07960

-

a. w5 X

s 12 to

AS f\ ° IP S. c o*Pco CD c

o m X COl jj CO (0 CD qp q!2 - a2 The single card computer with the features that help you in real life

COMPLETE COMPUTER ENORMOUS EXPANDABILITY EASY TO USE In this advanced card you get a pro- Besides all these features the Cro- Another convenience that makes the fessional quality computer that meets memco single card computer gives you Model SCC computer easy to use is our today's engineering needs. And it's one enormous expandability if you ever need Z-80 monitor and 3K Control BASIC (in

that's complete. It lets you be up and it. And it's easy to expand. First, you two ROMs). With this optional software running fast. All you need is a power can expand with the new you're ready to go. The monitor gives supply and your ROM software. 32K BYTESAVER PROM card mentioned you 12 commands. The BASIC, with 36 The computer itself is super. Fast above. Then there's Cromemco's broad commands/functions, will directly ac- 4 MHz operation. Capacity for 8K line of S100--compatible memory cess I/O ports and memory locations — of ROM (uses 2716 PROMs which can and I/O interface cards. Cards with fea- and call machine language subroutines. be programmed by our new 32K - tures such as relay interface, analog Finally, to simplify things to the ulti- SAVER* PROM card). There's also 1K of interface, graphics interface, opto- mate, we even have convenient card on-board static RAM. Further, you get isolator input, and A/D and D/A con- cages. Rugged card cages. They hold straightforward interfacing through an version. RAM and ROM cards, too. cards firmly. No jiggling out of sockets. RS-232 serial interface with ultra-fast speed of up to 76,800 baud — software AVAILABLE NOW/LOW PRICE programmable. The Cromemco Model SCC is avail- Other features include 24 bits of bi- J able now at a low price of only $450 directional parallel I/O and five on- factory assembled ($395 kit). board programmable timers. I So act today. Get this high-capability Add to that vectored interrupts. computer working for you right away. Card Cage 32K BYTESAVER PROM card

Cromemcoincorporated Specialists in computers and peripherals Q 280 BERNARDO AVE., MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA 94040 • (415) 964-7400 CIRCLE 114 ON READER SERVICE CARD What every educator should knowabout desk-topcomputers.

It's easy to get into classroom computing. What's tough desk-top computer, you'll be using Apple in ways you

is to do it right. With so much talk about computers in never dreamed of. That's when the capabilities of the the classroom, educators like yourself want all the facts computer you recommend will really count. You don't before they recommend any system for classroom use. want to be limited by the availability of pre-programmed That's why Apple Computer's new "Curriculum Materials cartridges. You'll want a computer, like Apple, that you Kit" can help, with answers to your questions and some can also program yourself. You don't want to setde for a very important data you may not have considered before. black and white display that limits you to just putting words and numbers onto the screen. You'll want a com- Who uses desk-top computers. puter, like Apple, that can turn any color tv into a dazzling Hundreds of innovative educators have already discov- array of color graphics.* The more you and your students ered the Apple Computer for instructional applications learn about computers, the more your imagination will from kindergarten through college. Apple gives you demand. So you'll want a computer that can grow with computer-assisted instruction capabilities, including drill you as your skills and experience grow. Apple's the one. and practice, tutorial, problem-solving, games, simulations, and more. How to learn more. Apple engages student The quickest way to interest with sound and learn more about desk- color video. In fact, your top computers is to students will be able to request your free write programs and of Apple's Curriculum create high-resolution Materials Kit (specify graphics. And you can level). Get yours by call- use your Apple for testing, ing 800/538-96%; in counseling, even class- California, 408/996-1010. room data processing. Or by writing us. Then That's just the beginning. visit your local Apple dealer. We'll give you his What to look for. name and address

Once you've unlocked __- when you call. "= = 'Apple II plugs intnany the power of the - =i_ "^. standard TV using an inexpensive modulator (n-'I included).

apple computer 10260 Bandley Dr.. Cupertino. CA 95014 K in this issue

articles ROM section

62 Personal Computing 78 Craig 116 INDXA — A Basic Routine File Index .... Hallen 86 Critical Path Analysis Dwyer 124 Robot Programming Karshmer Not As Easty As It Looks 94 Nephis — A Subject Index Craven 126 The Last Laugh Etra 98 Random Thoughts on RND Ronayne 1 27 PROMpuzzle Solution from last issue 1 04 Games — Not Just For Fun Butterfield 1 30 Microurologistically, Of Course Felsenstein 1 06 Experiment in Teaching Strategic Thinking Brady & Emanual

things to do — games evaluations & profiles 78 Patterns Games 52 CP/M Disk North 110 On Solving Alphametrics Beidier 115 Puzzles & Problems 54 The "Most Software Machine" Craig North Star's Horizon 146 Snowflake Jones Plotting in Algol & Basic 70 Smart Electronic Games & Video Games . . . Ahl Xmas Shopping Guide 1 50 Three Great New Games 76 Guide to Consumer Computers North 151 CORRAL Keay 82 Backgammon Computers Gaines 152 JOUST Yarbrough Ancient War game put into 154 PUZZLE Zolman 1 56 Season's Greetings Flamming Computer Generated Christmas Letters

business computing Mail List Programs departments 134 Solving Those Mail List Problems Williams 6 Notices 138 Mailing List System Young 1 1 Input/Output 1 7 Catalogue 28 Random Ramblings Ahl fiction & foolishness 36 TRS-80 Strings Gray 40 Personal Electronic Transactions Yob Wolverton 58 Computer Myths Explained (#6) 44 Operating Systems Q & A Sotos 60 GABBING 46 The Apple Cart Milewski Generation of Acronyms by 48 Reviews Buzzword I NteG ration 1 02 T was The Night Before Christmas 123 Crossword Puzzle Owens

Domestic Subscriptions 1 2 issues. $1 5. 24 issues $28. 36 issues S40 Send subscription Nov-Dec 1978 Volume 4, Number 6 orders or change of address (P O Form 3575) to Creative Computing. PO Box 789-M. Momstown. NJ 07960 Call 800-631-81 12 toll-tree (in New Jersey call 201-540-0445) to order a subscription (to be charged only to a bank card)

Foreign Subscriptions Creative Computing magazine is published bi-monthly by Creative Computing. P O Great Britain 12 issues £13 36 issues £36 (surface postage). 12 issues £22. 36 issues Box 789-M. Mornslown. NJ 07960 (Editorial office 51 Dumont Place. Momstown. NJ £63 (airmail) Orders and payment to Hazel Gordon. Plot 23. Andrew Close. Stoke 07960 Phone (201)5400445) Golding. Nuneaton CV13 6EL. England Australia R J Hoess Electronic Concepts Pty Ltd .52-58 Clarence St Sydney NSW 2000. Australia Second class postage paid at Momstown. New Jersey and at additional mailing off ices Other Countries 12 issues 123. 24 issues $44. 36 issues $64 (surface postage. U S Copyright^ 1978 by Creative Computing All rights reserved Reproduction prohibited dollars). 12 issues $39. 24 issues $76. 36 issues $112 (airmail postage. U S dollars) Printed in USA Orders to Creative Computing. P O Box 789-M. Momstown NJ 07960. USA .

Advertising Sales Publisher David H. Ahl Western States, Texas Editor John Craig lules E. Thompson Hearst Building, Suite MM Managing Editor Burchenal Green 5 Third Street San Francisco, CA 94103 Associate Editor Steve North (415) 362-8547 Contributing Editors Frederick Chesaon Southern California Bert Chariton Margot Crltchfleld Mary Jo Burger Thomas W. Dwyer 2560 Via Tejon BIN Etra Palos Verdes Estates. CA 90274 Louise Etra (213) 376-6361 Lee Felaensleln Mid-Atlantic, Northeast Stephen B. Gray Charles Lynch Ed Hershberger 36 Sohier Street Arthur 1. Karshmer Cohasset, MA 02025 Theodor Nelson (617) 363-6136 Trlsh Todd New York, New Jersey Alvln Toffler Bob Nelson Stanley Viet Ralph Miller Karl Zlnn 342 Madison Ave.. Room 830 | New York City, NY 10017 (212) 661-9234 "Do you know what's bad about having a Art Directors J^^r Nils Lommerln bunch of computor nuts for friends? It's Sanda O. Sax getting umpteen Snoopy printouts for Christmas Editorial Assistant Jennifer Burr This cards every year!" Advertising Manager Philip Ellenberg Publication. . Administrative Manager Betsy Staples Marketing Manager Patricia Rust Amazing IBM Bookkeeper Jeanne Tick Do these on your calculator and read the answer upside down. Software Development Steven Neltz an IBM consultant visits Jeffrey Yuan When your office, what does he do? Take a Retail Marketing C. J. Whitaker System 370 (370), add a 3741 terminal (+3741), times a 5-year Customer Service Ethel Fisher contract (x5), times the monthly rate state tax Subscriptions Maryann Petrone of inflation (x2.7) and add Carol Caasata Of $2236.84. Sheryl Scalley And after you buy it, where are you? Take your new computer (370 Book Service Barbara Shupe plus 3741) less your old 360/50 (- George Skseth — man-years of Joe Ortiz -mm> 360, -50), times 10 conversion coding (x10) spread New England Rep. Jane Fletcher is Available in over 36 months of 18-hour days (+36.18) times calls per day to IBM Eastern Penna. Rep. Pat Hall MICROFORM (x20) divided by hundreds of hours So. Calif. Rep. Valmere Kranak of lost sleep (/200) and you've got it. For Complete Information And what does the IBM salesman United Kingdom Rep. Hazel Gordon WRITE: feel? Take the monthly rental University ($2700.80) times his commission and Microfilms (x.05) times 25 months (x25) that's it! International DHA

Dept. F.A. Dep t . F .A. MEMBER 300 North Zeeb Road 18 Bedford Row Ann Arbor. Ml 48106 London, WC1 R 4EJ U -S.A. England

OK To Reprint Material in Creative Computing may be reprinted without permission by school and college publications, personal com- puting club newsletters, company house organs, and non-profit publications. Only original material may be reprinted; that is, you may not reprint a reprint. Also, each reprint must carry the following notice on the first page of the reprint in 7-point or larger type (you may cut out and use this notice if you wish): £3 Copyright "> 1978 by Creative Computing, 51 Dumont Place, Morristown, NJ 07960. s, Sample issue $2.00; one-year subscription $15.00 "Ho Please send us two copies of any publication that carries reprinted material. Send to attention: David Ahl.

CREATIVE COMPUTING . .

Heathkit Personal Computers are "System Designed "- ^OH Read about them in the \

tsttrsss?- muuiMW HEATHKIT CATALOG ''

Complete descriptions of the best in The ultimate is our 16-bit H11. Very few people will ever need more computing power than our H1 1 has to available in personal computers -now offer. Based on the world-famous DEC" PDP-11/03, it has kit and assembled versions enough capability for virtually any program -small business or hobby. The H11 offers unequalled software, too, so the number of In the world of personal computing, compatibility of design and useful applications is virtually unlimited. The H11 will soon have operation is an important consideration. The computer hobbyist its own System, the WH27. And what a floppy it is! or small business user of today doesn't have time to iron out Fully-compatible with the DEC RX01 * floppy for the PDP-11/03, hardware and software problems that can arise from a "shot- the WH27 lets you take advantage of all existing PDP-11/03 gun" approach to system design. software in addition to those you develop on your own. Dual Heathkit Personal Computer Systems are just that-systems. drives give you 512K Bytes of program and data storage. The They were designed around each other for total complementary WH27's Z80 -based controller permits a head of performance. Expansion within the computer itself and with our motion only 6 mS (versus DEC'S 10 mS) for data access times peripheral devices is always a trouble-free transition. that are almost twice as fast. Other features include built-in self test on power-up; mechanical interlock to prevent disk damage; You can start with our low-cost write protect function that precludes written-over disks; com- 8-bit HS Computer and just 4K -,^\ " plete HT11 software that includes ex- of memory as an introduction to »^. tended BASIC with files and virtual arrays, utilities (with macro- computing. Its easy to use octal assembler), text editor and more. An extended FORTRAN data entry and 9-digit octal read- which supports the ANSI standard (1966 FORTRAN IV) will be out make learning a simple mat- optionally available soon. ter. As your abilities grow, so can your computer. Add more mem- Read more about Heath system-designed computers and other ory and one or more peripherals outstanding kits (nearly 400 in all) in the latest Heathkit Catalog. like the H9 Video Terminal with its ASCII keyboard for convenient It S FREE. Specifications subject to change without notice. entry and display of your programs. And you can store your programs in one of three ways too! Choose our new WH17 Heath Floppy Disk System (single and dual drives available) for the Company, Dept. 355-470 ultimate storage mode. Its expanded 40-track hard sectored Benton Harbor, Michigan 49022 diskette has 102K Bytes of available storage so you can store hundreds of programs on one disk. If paper tape storage is your Please send me my FREE Heathkit Catalog. I not on list. preference, choose our H10 Paper Tape Reader/Punch. For the am your mailing most in economy, we offer a cassette player/recorder too. The H8 is indeed a complete system. Name

Send for your FREE copy today! Address

Or bring this coupon to your nearby Heathkit Electronic Center (Units of Schlumberger Products Corporation) where Heathkit products are dis- City _State played, sold and serviced. CP-155A Zip. Heath Co., Dept. 355-470. Benton Harbor, Ml 49022 L, J CIRCLE 140 ON READER SERVICE CARD See Sol qt all these ... notices. .. fine computer

Proposal For Computer between applicant and employer in a centers professional manner. Both applicants and employers must file their registration AL: Birmingham: ICP Computerland. Assisted Bible Study 979-0707 CA: Berkeley: Byte Shop, giving pertinent identifying information on (205) (415) 845-6366 Citrus Heights: Byte official forms. Three different forms will be Orange The Bible contains about 3.5 million Shop, (916) 961-2983 Costa Mesa: used: (1) applicant, (2) academic, and County Computer Center. (714) 646-0221. characters and it would be a large data (3) business, industry and government. Hayward: Computerland of Hayward. (415) translate this into Computer entry task to These forms or more information on the 538-8080 Modesto: Computer Magic. Help from others is solicited in format. Register may be obtained from: (209) 527-5156 Mountain View: Digital Deli. mutual sharing of the effort to place the (415) 961-2670. San Francisco. Computer Orrin E. Taulbee KJV into computer format. Center, Inc.. (415) 387-2513 San Rafael: Byte ACM Computer Science Employment Register Shop. (415) 457-9311 Walnut Creek: Byte Needed will be a text editing - word Department of Computer Science Shop. (415) 933-6252 CO: Boulder: Byte processing program to handle the storage, University of Pittsburgh Shop. (303)444-6550 Denver: Byte Shop. retrieval, and updating of reference notes 399-8995 CT: Bethel: Technology Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260 (303) relating to the various Bible verses. Systems, (203) 748-6856 FL: Miami: Byte Closing date for acceptance of forms is Shopof Miami, (305) 264-2983 GA: Atlanta: Once the data base and the programing January 30, 1979. The inclusion of a late Atlanta Computer Mart. (404) 455-0647 is established, it should be possible to use form can not be guaranteed. Charges for IL; Lombard: Midwest . (312) it to cross check references and comments 495-9887 IA: Davenport: The Computer Applicants are: Free for student, $5. for to see if there are any Bible verses to Store of Davenport. (319) 386-3330 MD: non-student, and $10 for anonymous. . 296-0520 support or oppose a given subject under Towson: Computers. Etc . . (301) Employers are charged $30 and personal Lansing: General Computer. consideration. Another possible use could Ml: East copies of one of any of four books of (517) 351-3260. Troy: General Computer. be the use of the original Greek and listings produced are $25. (313)689-8321 MN: Minneapolis: Hebrew texts to check out Translation Computer Depot. (612) 927-5601 MO: accuracy and other problems. Florissant: Computer Country. (314) 921-4434. NH: Nashua: Computerland/ If you are interested in taking part in this Nashua. (603) 889-5238 NJ: Cherry effort, or know of someone who would be Hill: Computer Emporium, (609) 667-7555 if where of interested, or you know some Iselin: The Computer Mart of New Jersey. the above goals have already been (Our Face is Red Dept.) (201)283-0600 NY:Endwell:TheComputer accomplished, please contact Mr. Larry E. Tree, (607) 748-1223 New York: The Computer Mart of New York, (212) 686-7923 Ellison, 19 Huntington Lane, Willingboro, High-Resolution Graphics for the Apple II White Plains: The Computer Corner, (914) N.J. 08046 which appeared in our July- Computer, 949-3282 NC: Raleigh: ROMs N RAMs, August 1978 issue, was actually done by (919) 781-0003 OH: Akron: Basic David Ramsey and Dennis Freeze, and not Computer Shop. (216) 867-0808 Columbus:

by Gary Dawkms as originally credited. We The Byte Shop. (614) 486-7761 . OR: highly recommend that program authors Beaverton: Byte Shop Computer Store. (503) Note Creative 644-2486 Portland: Byte Shop Computer To verify that they really are program authors Store. (503) 223-3496 Salem: Computer Computing Advertisers: before submitting programs. We sincerely Pathways. (503) 399-0534 PA: King regret this error. of Prussia: Computer Mart. (215) 265-2580 To better serve you, we have recently Rl: Warwick: Computer Power. Inc., applied for an audit of our circulation by (401 ) 738-4477 SC: Columbia: The Byte 771-7824 TN: Kingsport: the AUDIT BUREAU OF CIRCULATIONS Shop. (803) Microproducts & Systems. (615) 245-8081. (ABC). In addition, we will be listed in the TX: Arlington: Computer Port. (817)469-1502 Consumer STANDARD RATE AND DATA Arlington: Micro Store. (817) 461-6081 SERVICES DIRECTORY(SRDS), Section Houston: Interactive Computers. (713) 43, SCIENCE, and in the Business SRDS, 486-0291 Houston: Interactive Computers. Section 5A, AUTOMATIC DATA SYSTEMS. (713) 772-5257 Richardson: Micro Store, (214) 231-1096 UT: Salt Lake City:

Home Computer, (801 ) 484-6502 VA: McLean: The Computer Systems Store. (703) 821-8333 WA Bellevue: Byte Shop Computer Store, (206) 746-0651 Seattle: Employment Register Byte Shop of Seattle. (206) 622-7196. Wl: Madison: The Madison Computer Store. The Seventh Annual Computer Science (608) 255-5552 Milwaukee: The Milwaukee Employment Register will be conducted at Computer Store. (414) 259-9140. the ACM Dayton Computer Science CANADA: London. Ontario: The Computer

Circuit Ltd . (519)672-9370 Vancouver. B.C.: Conference on February 20 -22. 1979. This Basic Computer Group Ltd.. (604) 736-7474. Register, the only one of its kind. aids in AUSTRALIA: Victoria: Sontron Instruments. matching computer scientists and data (03) 569 7867 PHILIPPINES: San Juan. processing specialists with employer Metro Manila: Integrated Computer Systems.

opportunities. These listings have received Inc . 784-071 JAPAN: Tokyo: Moon base Shinjuku, 375-5078. GREECE: wide exposure. In addition to being (03) Athens: NKAAttikos. Inc . 360-7542 reviewed by conference attendees, after UNITED KINGDOM: Huntingdon. England: each conference many copies of the Comart, Ltd (0480) 215005 MEXICO: Mexico register books have been placed on display City: Industrias Digitales. 905-524-5132. in libraries, computer science departments VENEZUELA Caracas: Componentes Y and other convenient locations. Circuitos Electronic*. 355-591 SWEDEN: Stockholm: Warnor Elektronik, (0)8-717-6288 The purpose of the Register is to provide a mechanism for establishing contact ProcessorTechnology SoliThe small computer that won't fence you in.

A lot of semantic nonsense is spectrum. They stand up to the has a full set of extensions designed being tossed around by some of the capabilities of mini systems for the "stand alone" computer makers of so-called "personal" costing four times as much. environment.

tell it, an Our PILOT is an excellent text computers. To hear them No wonder we call it the oriented language for teachers. investment of a few hundred serious solution to the small dollars will give you a computer computer question. Sold and serviced only by the run your small business, do to Sol is the small computer best dealers. planning, analyze data in financial system to do the general ledger and Sol Systems are sold and serviced or scientific the engineering the payroll. Solve engineering by an outstanding group of — when day is done play lab and and scientific problems. Use it for conveniently located computer the hour. games by word processing. Program it stores throughout the U.S. Well, the game part is true. for computer aided instruction. and Canada. The rest of the claims should be Use it anywhere you want For more information contact grain of salt. Only taken with a versatile computer power! your nearest dealer in the a few personal computers have the adjacent list. Or write Department Build power capacity to grow and handle computer with our software. B, , in a very real meaningful work 7100 Johnson Industrial Drive, At Processor Technology we've sense. And they don't come Pleasanton, CA 94566. Phone tailored a group of high-level for peanuts. (415) 829-2600. languages, an assembler and other Remember, there's no packages to suit the wide In sum, all small computers free lunch. capabilities of our hardware. are not created equal So before you buy any personal Our exclusive Extended BASIC and Sol users know it to their K computer, consider Sol. It is a fine example. This BASIC everlasting satisfaction. costs more at the start but less in features complete matrix functions. the end. It can grow with your It comes on cassette or in a ability to use it. Sol is not cheap. disk version which has random as

But it's not a delusion either. well as sequential files. Sol small computers are at the Processor Technology FORTRAN very top of the microcomputer is similar to FORTRAN IV and ProcessorTechnology CIRCLE 125 ON READER SERVICE CARD NEC introduces The College Board.

Our educational TK-80A- the first complete 8080A based single board computer.

Here's the perfect system for all levels of computer monil to MK null. education—from computing to advanced programming techniques. It's a complete 8080A based computer on a single board. With a 25-key pad, 8-digit display, l-8Kbyte EEPROM n 1- IK byte RAM. and three 8-bit programmable I And it's fully expandable. Memory ran be increased off-board to a total of 64K bytes. And tandard Kansas City interface lets you hook upacas r additional storage. Ifyou "? need a terminal, aTTYor RS 232 interface can be easfly attached. m '

What s < more, 2 >r 3 TK-Si lA b< «rds ran be ^ connected for instruction in sophisticated pi gramming techniques —such as distributed proa ing, parallel processing, and peripheral control. And once students have mastered the TK-80A, they can easily apply what they've learned to pro. control, energy control systems, and environmental control and monitoring. TheTK-80A is not only supported by our thorough documentation, it's harked by our 90-day warranty on the

entire board and one year warranty on the components. I And the price is only $299. / At NEC , we've already built a reputa- / tion as one of the most reliable component suppliers in the / industry. Now we're putting our reputation behind the first / complete 8080A based computer on a board. / For more information on NEC's / new college board, send in the coupon. / IK RAM expandable NEC Microcomputers, Inc. in IK on-bcM

REP' ::on. TX. Spring. TX Burti

iny. NJ Imlech. Inc . Clevi 'D. Monlpelier. VA Lau>:

) NC

DISTRIBUTORS Corp.. Philadi re, MD Bell Indus-

: OH Diplon Elk Grove Village. IL Diplomat IPC ol Ma Bri I.I.I'

P$ / inlei >0or 1200 baud. ^^P

Keypad with tfcj&^kvB and !> £»SSf3 . <*.* ^ ^!m^ > N

> ^^^^F

\ ^ \ j i\# '*Jt0^§2K$S> /; i v> BMPP* ontheTK r | rhree8-bil I/O ports for ition peripherals.

»1/C-.)!l

Industry standard

.. PD8O80AF inn n.pioi issnr. Stau- Zin

IEC Microcomputers, In Ii.ll> iiniti red lin foray xpanHiun. 1 73 W MA 02181 Tel. HO

Regi rocompole . program^ you can uyz in your bir>inc}y ready to go nooo! T& W^

K~ wr

Our programs will let you realize the full potential of your hardware. We developed these programs because we needed them • Periodic newsletters which include users' ideas and in our businesses, and, try as we might, could not purchase information exchange, plus tips to owners on further increas- them. They're on-line now, working for us and others around ing benefits of the package through updated operational flexi- the country. bility. As users ourselves we know the problems from your • Availability of software technicians to provide im- perspective — not just as a manufacturer of software. The mediate answers to questions, via phone or mail. bugs are out and they're ready now to go to work helping make • Customer rewrites and adaptations available on re- your life easier, keeping you in better control of your business. quest, at added cost. Our first four program packages are: • Apartment CBASIC-2 free Management • Cash Register • Inventory • Payroll It takes the world's most powerful commercial basic to

Here's a typical program run our programs and we deliver it to you free.

To give you an idea of the thoroughness of these pro- Each of our program packages contains a disk with grams, here's a summary of what the inventory package does CBASIC-2 Compiler, CBASIC-2 Run and your for you. Gives a detailed listing of items in inventory and Graham-Dorian software programs in INT and BAS file form. itemizes all goods sold from inventory, including which sales You also receive User's Manuals and Hard Copy Source List- ing. At a price which pays for itself! person sold what, when it sold and for how much . . . recaps on CBASIC-2 was developed and written by Software Sys- one sheet this same inventory activity information . . . investi- gates and tems, the people who wrote CBASIC, and includes many changes any information in inventory, on request . . list powerful enhancements*AII systems are compatible with any prints of items to be re-ordered . . . provides profit analysis Z-80 or 8080 system. They are deliverable in standard comparing sales personnel and/or various products. And it CP/M™ can be inter-connected with our cash register package as well, eight-inch disk — either double or single density — or mini- for total program management. floppy disk. Each of our initial programs is conceived, proven and Give us a call or fill out the Reader Service Card in this offered with this same exacting thoroughness and attention to issue. We promise a response within 24 hours of receipt. detail. That's the kind of information service we expect, and know do too. We stay with you after the sale you ^^ CBASIC-2 may be purchased separately We're in this for the long haul and our support I [ m^ Irom Graham Dorian Sollware Systems tor S89 95 program is dedicated to that objective. Registered WaaW program owners receive: Graham-Dorian Software Systems A Division of Graham-Dorian Enterprises

Master Charge and Via cards accepted 211 N. Broadway / Wichita, Ks. 67202 / (316) 265-8633 CIRCLE 132 ON READER SERVICE CARD .

put. . . input/output ... in

subscribed for a period of time instead of a number of issues —

even though the form did say bi-monthly. This is not intended to

imply that I only wish to get every other issue for 3 years. I do enjoy your publication and want all issues (I purchased all back issues).

I really do enjoy your publication and feel very hesitant in

voicing these concerns, but I would rather that you had the

opinion even if it is I 56,000 of your circulation. John K McCandliss GC047I72ID24039

On the first point we don't have a problem. This will he the last issue with the ROM supplement (because we've run out of ROM material). On the second point (going monthly) we don't have a problem, either. You've covered the situation quite well, along with all the alternatives, and all I can say is. don't worry you'll be getting your money's worth in the issues ahead. —JTC.

Help For The Handicapped: Thru Micros

IX-ar Editor: The Spain Rehabilitation Center at the University of Alabama Medical Center has a project underway to The Last Word demonstrate both the utility and economic feasibility of the new generation of 'personal' computers for use by the severely On The disabled. The programmability of the computer will allow it to Polish "Problem" serve as a general purpose appliance to be used as an aid to communication and education as well as for environmental Dear Editor: control and entertainment.

I fear that I cannot let Mr. Kowalski's letter in the This system, as currently envisioned, will consist of a July August issue pass without comment. If Mr. Kowalski microcomputer, an on-line storage device for programs and

(Esq.) is so intent on bettering the lot of the Polish-Americans data, two T.V. monitors for user feedback and information (who. as a group, are not in such bad shape anyway), let his display, a printing device for typed output, a speech recognition organization spend its time lobbying congress to open all of the device for vocal input of commands, data, and text, a powerline minority small business assistance programs to Polish- controller for environmental control and a telephone American owned small businesses instead of pouring through dialing answering device. We are attempting to select com- periodicals in a paranoid search for something at which to take ponents which are widely distributed and serviced as well as offense. Heaven forbid he should ever come across an article on being plug compatible and economically priced.

reverse-polish notation lest he complain that it is an insinuation Programs will be written or purchased to perform specific that Polish-Americans are backward! functions in each of the areas mentioned above. However, we On second thought. Mr. Kowalski, forget the lobbying. We're would be very interested in receiving ideas from your readers, doing quite well without federal assistance and federal strings. particularly those who are disabled, those who have disabled Richard A. Milewski friends or relatives, and those who have personal computers and President would like to develop hardware or software for the system on The Software Works. Inc. their own, regarding specific functions which they would like to P.S. Did you hear the one about the Polish computer that uses see developed and which could be accommodated by the base one arithmetic? proposed micro-computer system. We are looking forward to receiving input from anyone who may be interested in this project. Charles Healey Research Associate Not Really Complaining, But. . Spain Rehabilitation Center Dear Editor: U.A.B. University Station Your Jul-Aug 1978 issue seems to bring me a feeling of mixed Birmingham. AL 35294 blessings (such as seeing your mother-in-law go over a cliff in (205) 934-3320 your new car). Congratulations on your purchase of ROM. however if I had wanted a subscription to it I could have / think it's about time someone involved in thisfield (microsfor purchased it (subscription) by myself. 1 intend to imply that I the handicapped) sat down and wrote an article for it. had no particular desire for Creative. . .describing the advances which have been made and Congratulations on upping publications to once a month, some of the goals. Using personal systems to help the disabled is however your deal of cutting my 3 year subscription in Vi also certainly a worthwhile effort and those who can provide does not seem too neat. My copy of the order form shows that I meaningful input to such projects should. —JTC.

11 CREATIVE COMPUTING TRS-80 Input Strangeness pot. . • input/output . . . in Dear Editor: II I have two criticisms of Radio Shack TRS-80 Level BASIC first that 1 thought your readers might like to know about. The

is a real bug as far as I am concerned. If INPUT AS is executed the ENTER (or RETURN) key is pressed, you would Looking Like and Who? expect AS to contain the null string. But that is not how it works in Level II; instead, the input is ignored, and AS con- Dear Editor: tains whatever it contained before the INPUT statement was Creative Computing is looking more and more like Byte. encountered. So for example, the following program

Kilobaud and all those other microcomputer magazines. 1 miss 10 INPUT AS the great diversity it once had. 20 PRINT AS David Gross 30 GOTO 10 University of Washington, HG-45 runs like this: Seattle WA 98195 ?JIM followed by ENTER (or RETURN) JIM > the user just typed ENTER JIM

Some people won't worry about this, but it can be a dif- Investment Analysis. . .Coming Up! ficulty for any program that asks the user to give a response by just hitting the ENTER key. This is a handy way to min- Dear Editor: imize typing at the terminal. My compliments on your May/ June '78 issue. It was by far There is a way around this by initializing your variable. your best yet. 1 particularly like the Black Box game program This program does what you would expect: which I modified to run in Radio Shack Level I Basic. " = " On April 1 7th the Wall Street Journal ran an article on the use 10 AS of personal computers for investment analysis (p. 34). That 15 INPUT AS 20 article stated that "in a recent survey, 63% of the readers of PRINT AS 30 10 Creative Computing Magazine said they were interested in GOTO investment analysis by computer." After reading that statement Still, this is a cheap way out, and the performance of INPUT I'm looking forward to several good articles on the subject in does not match what is described in most books on BASIC. your magazine. The second complaint 1 have concerns INKEY. The basic I've enclosed the statements which require alteration and or concept is good. IN KEY is valuable in allowing people to write addition to make the Black Box program run in Level I: programs that interact with people in real time, and so is

Thomas McDowell especially nice for graphics games. Or so I thought until I tried 6544 Lutes Cir. to program a real-time version of LANDER, the game where Ft. Bliss TX 79906 you attempt to land on the moon without crashing. My idea was to used INKEY to let me control the burn of my rocket. I

thought that if 1 put INKEY in the right sort of loop that my would strobe the key board to tell whether the rockets Black Box RS Level I Basic program should be on or off. But things didn't work out as I expected. If you hold down the "R"key, then the first time AS=1NKEYS is 10 DELETE executed, AS contains "R", but unless the key is repressed, AS 100 IN. "NO OF ATOMS": B will contain the null string the second time AS=INKEYS is key is being held at the 1 10 A=0 : FOR X=l TO 100 : A(X)=0 : N.X. executed even though the "R" down time. 120 X=RND(8) : Y=RND(8)*I0 : Z=X+Y:

IF A(Z)=0T.A(Z)=1:A=A+1 The following program illustrates what I mean 130 IF A < BT. 120 10 AS=INKEYS 140 DELETE 20 PRINT AS • 30 GOTO 10

If you run it while holding down the "R" key, the output is • R 300 K=X+U: L=Y+V lots of null strings

310 IF U=0T. I=K-1: J=K+1: C=L : D=L : G.330

320C=L-1 : D= L+l : I=K: J=K 330 ON8*A(K+l0*L)+A(l+10»C) + 2»A(J+10*D)+1G.400, 410. 420. 410

I think the output should be R R 400 X=K : Y=L : G.500 R

= 700 P.: FOR E = I TO 8 : FOR F I TO 9 " where R comes out until the "R" key is released. 710 IF F = 9 T.P. " : G. 800 "."; Now I can get what I want if 1 am willing to use two keys (one 720 IF A (E*10 +F) =0 T.P. : G. 800 to turn rockets on, the other to turn them off) or if I want to 730 P. : rig it so that the first press turns them on, and the second press 800 N.F : N.E turns them off. However, the most natural way to control a rocket is to press the key (and hold it down) during the time I'm sure there are many readers looking forward to some good you want the motors on, and to release it when you want the articles on investment analysis in Creative. It is, after all. a very motors off. 1 can't think of any way to get this to happen with practical application for a personal computer. The "problem" the present version of INKEY. Can your readers think of any lies in getting authoratative. high-quality material from applications of INKEY where the present version has any someone willing to share it with all of us. We're interested. — advantages? If my version (call it KEYS) were used, you could JTC. still get the effect of the present INKEYs. For example, this

12 CREATIVE COMPUTING -

• . . the optical reader that more and more educational users are specifying!

Rent month to month* Costs 30% less Swift service Now for the first time you can rent When you consider that the less When the time comes that service the industry's most advanced optical than $3000 price for the new 4000 or repair is ever needed we have reader on a new month-to-month Series is $1300 lower than its two fast ways to go. First our local plan. Also available are the standard nearest competitor and provides service and stocking centers lease or buy programs ... so we now more quality features, it's easy to probably can satisfy your needs.

have a plan that specifically fits your see why this new unit is the most Secondly, if you are in an area not District's preference. cost/efficient available. So check covered by our service centers, we ours against the Hewlett-Packard or offer a 24 hour replacement from our Motorola models. You can buy 4 factory inventory to get you back on series Now 4000 features of ours and only 3 of theirs for the line — fast. • Four new models to choose from same dollars. • New low cost pricing • Highest "read" accuracy • Simplest system Less moving parts Toll free number to operate • Wide variety of more reliability For full details on our month- interfaces and options • Immediate new Think it, to-month rent plan, delivery • Patented 100% card data of only 3 moving parts complete spec- compared to the competitors' ifications on the new 4000 Series buffered for output flexibility complex and expensive mechanical and a FREE DEMONSTRATION, gear trains. And only one long just call this toll free number, Educational applications lasting lamp compared to the competitors' 13. Every design 800-423-5217 You can almost let your imagination (except in California) consideration in the new 4000 be your guide . . . use it for test Series has been geared to simplicity or write scoring — attendance — program- Chatsworth Data Corp., and reliability so you get more 20710 Lassen Street, ming — grade reporting — account- "on-time" not "down-time." Chatsworth, California 91311. ability — class room assignment — only to name a few. For speed, efficiency and flexibility the new CHATSWORTH DATA 4000 Series heads its class. !> 20710 Lassen Street •Chatsworth. CA 91311»(213) 341-9200

•Minimum 90 Days

CIRCLE 108 ON READER SERVICE CARD 4

Apple Speed! put... input/cutput... in Dear Editor: A good sort algorithm is worth its wait in microseconds. With Creative this in mind I set up a comparison of several sorts from

Computing on my APPLE-II. I chose the Shell-Metzler. program would behave like the previous one by outputting butterfly-Hart and heapsort, programmed in APPLE integer the key pressed and then a lot of null-strings: basic. In sorting random ten character words, all sorts seemed to 5 F=0 give approximately the same results for up to 500 words. But at 10 AS=KEYS " 1000 words, the butterfly-Hart and heapsort distinguished 12 IF F= THEN AS=" themselves. To get a feeling for the differences in processing 14 F=l supported on my APPLE- 20 PRINT AS speeds between the various languages Shell-Metzler sort (because of its 30 GOTO 10 II, I decided to compare the compactness) in APPLE integer Basic, sweet-16 (a 16-bit But I challenge anyone to get exactly the effect of KEYS using ), and 6502 assembler. As you can see, sweet-16 was INKEYS. (Remember KEYS puts the null string in a variable times faster than Basic, but the 6502 routine ran away with the only when no key is depressed at the time, it is executed.) show. It ran so fast, 1 had to rerun it to verify that it worked. So, Generally Level II BASIC is rather nice, though there are if you have an often used long running subroutine, program it in some features of Level I I miss (for example messages that assembler! indicate the position of a syntax error and abbreviated com-

mands). Still. I think more thought should have been put into IN FOR SORTED WORDS how the IO subroutines were written. TIME SECONDS SORT 10 100 500 1000 James W. Garson SHELL-METZLER 1 34 268 647 University of Notre Dame BUTTERFLY-HART 2 38 266 606

Notre Dame, Indiana 46556 HEAPSORT 1 35 261 600 S-M(SWEET-I6) 0-1 4 46 158

S-M(6502) 0-1 0-1 1 3 Your "bug" in the Level II INPUT statement is probably intentional, since the other 8080 Z80 versions of Gary A. Foote BASIC do exactly the same thing. It's hard to understand why 127 Mt. Spring Rd. this feature was implemented, though. Tolland, CT 06084 INKEYS works exactly like the single-character GET verb in Commodore PET BASIC. As you point out, you can't really use INKEYS to decide if a key is physically pressed at any given moment, but quite often you do want to read the key- STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP. MANAGEMENT ANO CIRCULATION press just once. For instance, in a Hangman game, you want the player to enter his letter one time only. With INKEYS this Creative ComfHitinq is very easy, but if it returned a value as long as the key was BlHiKtfUhly

held down, then you would have to test to see if a key was de- 51 Dumont PL. Horristown. Hew Jersey. 07960 pressed, then read it, and then wait until the key was released. 51 Dumont PI.. Morr.stowri, New Jersey. Q7960

So, there are advantages to both methods. Sometimes it is :u¥Hi'l iiDnintlui •^•iitHl" I ,OM*HAU''- possible to determine if a key is currently depressed by PEEK- CUvid H. Ahl, 20 Lynnfleld Dr.. Morrtstown. New Jersey. ING around, but J don't think that aspect of the TRS-80 is *^ ,0 John"'Cr*igrRFO Box 1000. la-poc. C*.. 93436 documented even if it exists. Radio Shack did leave out two rather important features Burcheful Green, RFQ 3 Highland Dr.. PeefcsHU, Hew York. 10566 in Level II: DEF and RENUMber. DEF is even in all the Microsoft 8K , and is essential in many mathematical and engineering applications. RENUMber is a must in any Da.ld H. «hl 20 L.»™' language where line numbers are used for program editing and statement references. These are available, though, when you add the expansion interface and get Level HI. — i Steve North None

- > WAIt .TI.HH WTtH i l l , ! iu tit.*

"'•> OT(M*-.«€0 0«-«.* njt

• «•» N»'-»t ( »l^L*' 'A Social Science Buffs, O* 53.313 70,382

Some Help Please ..„% • •.••• 15,213 15,78?

3J.1M 42.426 Dear Editor: 47.W7 58.208 I am at work on a book on computers for social-science students and other non-mathematical types who might have 5».1J1 occasion to use computers in their work but don't know how to 5.105 11.251 go about it. -«..-»..•.. I need examples of creative uses for large or small computers in history, political science, economics, psychology, linguistics

and other social-science areas. I can't repay you with anything other than a "Thank You" and a mention, but if that's enough, ^^^^™ • - : S7u^M»MHilMOWL7rl »»'tl .M.IM 1)1 111 Hm l If. send your idea to Roland Parenteau, 2007 Turner St., Richland, WA 99352.

Roland Parenteau b >. . W u ( C I»M 2007 Turner St. Richland WA 99352

14 CREATIVE COMPUTING 11 $249 jgets the entire family into creating video games, graphics and control ^ functions. g For starters. J

COSMAC VIP, the completely Soon RCA will offer assembled, ready-to-operate RCA options for color graphics Video Interface Processor, opens up a and 256 tone sound generation, whole new world of computer excitement. New in optional auxiliary keyboard challenges in graphics, games and control will oil jp an exciting world of two-player functions. Yet it's just $249.00. games. Easy to buy. And easy to program, thanks to Take the first step now. its unique, easy-to-use interpretive language. Check your local computer store or elec- You get a complete how-to book including tronics distributor for the VIP. Or contact RCA programs for 20 games: fun, challenging, and VIP Marketing, New Holland Avenue, Lancaster, cassette. ready to load and record on your PA 17604. Phone (717) 291-5848. Simple but powerful. 'Suggested retail price Does not include video monitor or cassette recorder Built around an RCA COSMAC micropro- cessor, the VIP is a complete computer system that can grow with you. It has 2K of RAM, ex- pandable on-board to 4K. Plus a ROM monitor, audio tone output to a built-in speaker, power supply, and 8-bit input and output ports for The fun way control of relays, sensors, or other peripherals. into computers. CIRCLE 169 ON READER SERVICE CARD More and more, you see the computer at work: in busi- ness, research, and education. Its high North Star Systems performance qualifies the HORIZON for demanding professional applica- tions. Over 10,000 users during the Go To Work past two years have proven that North Star hardware has the reliability for day-in, day-out computing. The HORIZON is now a serious candidate for any small system installation.

SOFTWARE IS THE KEY TO HORIZON MATURITY North Star BASIC and DOS have been used to develop hundreds of com- mercial program packages. These packages establish that North Star software has the completeness and convenience necessary for serious program development. Because of the many independent vendors offering software using North Star BASIC and DOS, the HORIZON owner now has the widest selection of software in the microcomputer industry! Software available includes: word processing, general ledger, accounts payable/ receivable, mailing list processing, inventory and income tax prepar- ation. Program development systems such as assemblers, debuggers, editors, PILOT and FORTRAN are also available. EXPAND YOUR HORIZON

The basic HORIZON computer in- cludes a Z80 microprocessor, 16K bytes of RAM memory, an I/O interface and one Shugart minifloppy disk drive. The HORIZON can be expanded to 60K bytes or more of RAM, three disk drives, and three I/O inter- faces. Performance can be enhanced by the addition of the North Star hardware floating point board. Also, S-100 bus pro- ducts from other manufacturers may be used to expand the HORIZON. For more informa- tion, contact your local computer store. North * Star Computers

2547 Ninth Street Berkeley, California 94710 (415)549-0858 CIRCLE 163 ON READER 8ERVICE CARD CDMPLEFIT COMPUTER CATALOGUE

We welcome entries from readers for the arrays and subroutines for the reader who "Compleat Computer Catalogue" on any VENDOR has acquired an understanding of the BASIC item related, even distantly, to computers. language and is ready to write more Please include the name of the item, a brief LITERATURE extensive programs. evaluative description, price, and complete Throughout the manual there is a con- source data. If it is an item you obtained scious attempt to supply information on the over one year ago. please check with the BASIC language in an entertaining, thought source to make sure it is still available at the provoking manner, and to foster a program- quoted price. ming style.

Send contributions to "The Compleat I lie manual is presently available from APPLE U Computer Catalogue," Creative Com- Apple dealers for S5.95 each and is supplied puting, P.O. Box 789-M, Morristown. NJ tree ol charge with each Apple II computer. 07960. CIRCLE 177 ON READER SERVICE CARD THE CHANNEL DATA BOOK

MAGAZINES, Channel Dala Systems will publish a comprehensive hardware software JOURNALS reference service for users of the Com- modore PET™ personal computer. The Channel Data Book is a user-oriented DUMP PUBLICATIONS APPLE II BASIC directory of PET-related products including: Here's a unique software publication for PROGRAMMING MANUAL •Software Users of the Radio Shack TRS-80 Micro •Hardware and Peripherals The new APPLE II BASIC PROGRAM- Computer System. DUMP. Devoted Entire- •Literature and Periodicals of special MING MANUAL was authored by Jef interest to ly to the TRS-80 User, is a monthly PET users Raskin, a computer professional who has periodical incorporating news, information •listings of user groups and distributors written and lectured extensively on the and running software ready to load from a •Cross references by product type and subject of computer science to both the 33-1 3 RPM DUMP Disk' record. supplier novice and the professional. The DUMP Disk can be loaded into the Designed as a personalized working tool, Created with foremost concern for the TRS-80 system with the use of an ordinary the Channel Data Book provides a complete reader, the book assumes no prior phonograph. This new software medium has reference service lor PI I -related products, background in programming or computers. been developed to provide the user with the plus convenient dividers and color coding to Programming is explained in everyday most permanent and efficient method of organize programs, articles and newsletters English with no computer jargon used. program storage. of specific interest to each user. Special Moreover, with scrupulous attention to Each issue contains a wide variety of sections lor filing correspondence you have detail, the book introduces the whole programs from finance and education to received from Commodore and livers from computer to the reader. Thus unlike games and machine language. Programs are other product suppliers are also provided. programming manuals that solely teach a provided with complete documentation and Flyers from suppliers of PET-related language, this book teaches a language in the line editing information for Level I and Level products who elect to advertise in the Data context of the computer in which it will be II Basics. Book will be included in product sections. executed. A I year subscription costs $20.00. Venders that market PET-related products The manual is comprised of four chapters. For more information, contact DUMP or services should be sure to contact CDS. as Chapter I guides the reader through the a summary of the information will be Publications. P.O. Box 2454. Jacksonville, details involved in connecting the various 1-800-874-4500. included at no cost. FL 32203. Apple II system elements, television, tape The Data Book includes an attractive 3- cassette player, etc., and describes the CIRCLE 176 ON READER SERVICE CARD ring binder and updated supplements with computer's control functions. The second easy lo follow instructions lor filing new and chapter starts the reader programming with revised material. I he low price of $19.95 the BASIC Programming Language using EUMATISM includes the Channel Data Book and update q»tk. simple colorful examples. Chapter 3 moves Great English Remedy service through calendar year 1979. the reader into writing complete BASIC BLAIR'S PILLS Channel Dala Systems, 5960 Mandarin Safe, S«re, Ufective. BOc. A 01 1 programs by providing detailed information Ave., (ioleta. CA 93017 (805) 964-6695 DRUGGISTS, or M*4 William St.. II. on most BASIC language commands. Finally, the last chapter describes strings. CIRCLE 17S ON READER SERVICE CARD

NOV/DEC 1978 17 programmable calculator and puter, 32-kilobytes of RAM (two 16K cards) functions of a — including trigonometry, expandable to 512 kilobytes, an RS-232 much more dissection, string concatenation, ORGANIZATIONS interface, a parallel printer interface, a CRT number the ability to define terminal with line editing and block mode transcendental and transfer capabilities and a fast line printer functions. „,-.,, provided with 24K ROM MITS (TM) MINI-FLOPPY DISC with 132 columns. PeCos I also is internal. It has unique built- System Three is available with a number and I6K RAM USER'S GROUP that are semi- of options including a PROM programmer in dual cassette decks cassette decks Those interested should send a self- for development work, an additional dual automatically controlled. The which can each addressed-stamped-envelope to: disk drive and additional memory. With the use standard audio cassettes information. It is AAA Computer Services. P.O. Box 2742, optional second disk drive. System Three store up to 80K bytes of tape and write to Appleton. W I 54911. provides a megabyte of disk storage. possible to read from one are done at a The group is planned to be not-for-profit Cromemco also provides broad software the other. Tape operations and will act as a clearing house for software support for System Three. Currently speed of 800 baud. for the new mini-floppy. available software includes a FORTRAN IV The self-contained system is all that is needed to be up and running in the home, CIRCLE 179 ON READER SERVICE CARD compiler, a 16K Z-80 BASIC and a Z-80 MACRO Assembler and Linking Loader. office, laboratory or school. Everything is standard: the All software is available on standard, IBM- required to operate included format, softsectored diskettes. 60-key, full-size keyboard with 1 10 codes CLUB FOR RCA 1802 COSMAC the 9" The System Three mainframe is available and upper and lower case; CRT in displaying 16 lines of 40 characters each with A new club to support the RCA 1 802 for $5990. The additional CRT is available scrolling and speed control: built- COSMAC is QUESTDATA. Owners of Elf, two models for either $1595 or with automatic cassette decks: 6502 microprocessor; Super Elf, Elf II. COSMAC VIP, COSMAC expanded capabilities including line editing in dual Development System or Homebrew 1802 and block mode transfer for $1995. The power supply; and an RS-232 transmit port interfacing a serial printer. will find many programs, applications and additional line printer is also available in two for information, contact APF experiments for their microcomputer in each models including a fast. 180 character/ sec- For more Inc., 444 Madison Avenue. New issue of QUESTDATA. ond model for $2995 and a 60 character/ sec- Electronics, 212/758-7550. QUESTDATA will be showing the ond model for $1495. York, New York 10022; complete RCA instruction set and how to For more information, contact Cromem- CIRCLE 1S2 ON READER SERVICE CARD build interesting programs for: graphics, co, Inc., 280 Bernardo Avenue, Mountain control, games and business purposes. View. CA 94040: (415) 964-7400. Coverage will be given to , Elf CIRCLE 1S1 ON READER SERVICE CARD Expansion possibilities (memory, cassette I/O, etc.) light pens, reader questions and music programs. QUESTDATA offers users the growth possibilities which all Elf systems provide. The $12 monthly QUESTDATA will give your Elfs memory some microcomputer brain food. Foreign subscriptions, with the exception of Canada and Mexico, are $6 extra for mailing. QUESTDATA, P.O. Box 4430. Santa Clara. CA 95054. CIRCLE ISO ON READER SERVICE CARD HEWLETT-PACKARD INTELLIGENT TERMINALS A new low-cost graphics CRT terminal COMPUTERS that is programmable in a high-level APF INTRODUCES PECOS I language and offers new ease of operation and flexibility in graphics applications is APF Electronics, Inc., New York, in- Hewlett-Packard's entry into the intelligent troduces PeCos 1. a complete personal terminals market. The top-of-the-line HP computing system incorporating com- 2647A graphics terminal, which also offers prehensive math capabilities, exceptionally full interactive alphanumeric capability, large memory and ease of programming in features multiple display workspaces, shares the most English-like computer language output peripherals, displays data as graphs, ever devised. pie or bar charts and provides dot-by-dot PeCos 1. short for PErsonal Computing hardcopy of its screen display with optional System, is a fully integrated computing companion plotter/ printers. system. It combines a 9" CRT, a standard size 60-key keyboard and dual cassette PROGRAMMABLE IN BASK of in the HP decks. PeCos I . is available now for just Using a subset HP BASIC $1695 suggested retail. 2647A raster-scan graphics terminal, the The easy-to-learn PeCos language makes unit's operational characteristics can be needs of users to it possible for almost anyone to use the tailored to meet specific computer without lengthy training in a solve a variety of problems in engineering, complex language. PeCos language is a scientific and business environments. derivative of the JOSS® language developed By sharing intelligence with the by Rand Corporation and is the most microprocessor-controlled terminal, a host for more SYSTEM THREE COMPUTER English-like computer language ever devis- computer's resources are freed ed. Users have found that PeCos language is complicated tasks saving computer time and costs. The terminal accepts The System Three from Cromemco is ideal much easier to learn and program than communications for a wide range of professional work in BASIC. BASIC programs that are downloaded from the and then executes them under almost any field, including engineering, PeCos I has a math program that's host CPU science, business accounting, word process- remarkably comprehensive for a unit so local control. With BASIC, the terminal's functions and ing, data-based management, education, inexpensively priced. It permits full com- graphics and alphanumeric medicine and similar work. putation in nine-digit floating decimal facilities can be modified, output from a w into formats The System Three consists of a fast, arithmetic with a number range from Ixl0 computer can be changed all defined by the user and the keyboard can be powerful, 4-MHz Z-80 based microcom- to I x 10-". PeCos I has built-in the

18 CREATIVE COMPUTING P

popular Pascal language. reconfigured by assigning each key a PRICE VIP increasingly RCA REDUCES ON 85/ provides the full Pascal environment different code. With such flexibility, no P 725 Ipm compiler interpreter, software changes may be required to adopt including a sequential files, a screen programs to users' applications. random and "canned" price on the fully assembled RCA V 1 The oriented editor, interactive source-linked The BASIC used in the terminal has (Video Interface Processor) home computer a 90- string debugger, plus full documentation and integer and floating point numbers, has been reduced to $249.00 from $299.95, arrays, array variables, trig day warranty. variables, string I, 1978, according to Richard effective June Pricing for the complete system is functions including natural log, callable Simpson, VIP product marketing manager. $7495.00. Delivery is quoted at 30 to 60 days. subroutines and parameter passing. An "The reduced price is possible because of available to four A variety of other packages are optional interface also enables up increasing production volume and declining printer also, including a screen-oriented accounting terminals to share the same plotter or in the VIP," costs for 4K static RAMs used package and a word processor. to save the cost of using several such output Simpson said. For more information please contact devices. will emphasize He also noted that RCA Northwest Microcomputer Systems, Inc., 2647 is compatible with The new HP A availability of the fully assembled home 485- I21 E. 1 Ith, Eugene, OR 97401, (503) programs developed for the HP 2648A— available kit computer. The previously 0626. P's first graphics terminal. It offers all the H version will only be offered on special of including *CP M is a registered trademark capabilities of the earlier terminal arrangement. "Because of the simplicity of alphanumeric . independent graphics and VIP's programming language and the ease display of 360 x 720 READER SERVICE CARD memories, a bright with which a novice can learn to program, CIRCLE 1SS ON individually addressable points, selective the VIP is very attractive to people inex- zooming and erase, system-independent perienced with personal computers. Thus. rubber-band line drawing that panning, and Simpson stated, we are trying to eliminate without support. can be used CPU frustrations and perplexing problems that bytes of random- The terminal has 64K might be inherent in a novice's efforts to (RAM) tor BASIC, 32K access memory assemble a kit." bytes of for graphics and 56K bytes of RAM The VIP is a microcomputer based on the read-only memory for terminal control RCA COSMAC (CDP1802) functions. microprocessor, and is designed to interface OPTIONAL HARDCOPY directly with a video monitor or modified TV High-quality, vector-drawn hardcopy for set It is provided with an interpretive the terminal can be provided by both the H P language which makes it easy for the user to 9872A multi-color graphics plotter and the write graphic games and other applications HP 7245A plotter printer. A newly in- without having to learn machine language. troduced option to the HP 7245 A enables The VIP contains a sixteen-key keypad for users to get a dot-by-dot hardcopy of the HP entering programs and has a built-in audio 2647 A graphics display memory. Price of the cassette interface to permit storing programs HP 9872 A is $4,200, while the HP 7245A is on a cassette. Documentation provided with priced at $4,600. The new option adds $250 the VIP contains listings for twenty games to the plotter/ printer's base price. (U.S. for use on the system. 4 MHz SINGLE CARD prices only.) For further information, call Rick Simp- COMPUTER 1 write PRICE AND DELIVERY son (7 1 7) 29 -5848. or RCA COSM AC Avenue, Cromemco's Single Card Computer is a The Hewlett-Packard 2647 A intelligent VIP Marketing, New Holland 17604. complete computer which brings the power graphics terminal is priced at $8,300 (U.S. Lancaster, PA of the Z-80 and the flexibility of the S-100 price). First deliveries are scheduled for July. CIRCLE 184 ON READER SERVICE CARD bus to the dedicated computer environment. For further information: INQUIRIES The card offers 4 MHz operation, 8K MANAGER, Hewlett-Packard Company. bytes of on-board 2716 PROM, and I K byte 1507 Page Mill Road. Palo Alto. California of static RAM memory. This stand-alone 94304. card also provides ah RS-232 (or 20mA CIRCLE 183 ON READER SERVICE CARD current loop) serial interface with program- mable baud rates to 76,800, vectored interrupts, 24 bits of bidirectional parallel

I O. and 5 programmable timers. Only a power supply and PROM software are > I ATTENTION required tor operation. The Single Card APPLE II OWNERS Computer is compatible with all Cromemco cards. The Single Card can also be the core of an Software announces Southeastern enormously expandable S-100 bus system tape ready to run programs on for that can include additional memory, I/O, or your computer . . . even floppy disk drives as required. Cromemco's Z-80 Monitor and 3K Con- = + for Send S5.95 plus SO* postage and 8S/P 8085 PASCAL trol BASIC are available in 2716 ROM With handling for demo tape and sample use with the Single Card Computer. The new 85/ P, programmers workbench Apple II these two ROMs, the single card computer newsletter designed for Systems, from Northwest Microcomputer can be used immediately without any owners. Inc.. combines the throughput of the 3MHZ additional memory or I / O. The Monitor has Intel 8085A and the power of Pascal. Demo (ape Includes 1 game and 2 12 commands to aid in program develop- The standard system features: 8085A general interest programs. Specify ment. The 3K Control BASIC has 36 a compiler /interpreter, CPU. PASCAL ' directly access ran in BASIC, commands functions and can if you want tape to CP/M* supporting Basic, COBOL (July) 1 ports and memory locations as well as Applesoft or Applesoft II. Fortran, Direct Memory Access, two and call machine language subroutines. Shugart floppy disc drives with one The Single Card Computer is available in megabyte of on-line storage. 54K of 450ns kit for $395 and assembled and tested for static a Hall Effect user available Ram, $450. The Monitor and Control BASIC are SOUTH€/1ST€RN SOfTVvWK with 103 keys, two serial ports Kevboard available in two ROMs for $90. Culpeper Drive bits), 24 x SDept. CC 7270 (RS232C), two parallel ports (16 For additional information, please con- 2" 80 character 1 video display, all enclosed in New Orleans, LA 70126 tact Cromemco. Inc., 280 Bernardo Avenue, a single cabinet. Mountain View, CA 94043. (415) 964-7400. The 85/ P gains its efficiency in program CIRCLE 142 ON READER SERVICE CARD preparation and code execution from the CIRCLE 186 ON READER SERVICE CARD

NOV/DEC 1978 19 a

announces the availability of their kit Dynabyte's exclusive Dynamic Data Floppy, the HI 7. Compensation yields a double density error PERIPHERALS As you would expect, the H 17 kit version rate comparable to single density rates. is identical in features and specifications to Dynabyte is using the module exclusively in the assembled WH 17 Floppy. These include its computer systems. The DBS 2 includes a I02K Bytes of available storage area per 4MHz Z-80 microprocessor module which disk, a fully-assembled WANGCO Model 82 contains two RS232 serial I/O ports, one

disk drive (expandable to dual disk), the parallel I O port, an EPROM programmer, interface disk controller circuit board kit two TMS27I6 sockets, vectored interrupts which plugs directly into the H8 mainframe, and a real time clock. and a self-contained power supply. The The unit has 32k of RAM and the Disk

storage media is the expanded 40-track seek Controller in a 1 2-slot backplane fully time and a typical random sector access time populated with mil-spec S-I00 connectors. It of less than 250 milli-seconds for the new uses a regulated power supply designed to unit. comply with U.L. approved standards. The operating system software for the CP-M* Disk Operating System was 118 HI7 Floppy Disk System is available chosen for the Dynabyte systems because of and designated H8-I7. This software in- its wide acceptance and available software. cludes the Heath Disk Operating System Initial language and software packages from (HDOS) with diagnostic for unit evaluation Dynabyte include BASIC, FORTRAN. and optimization; the BUG-8 console COBOL, word processing, general ledger debugger; TED-8 text editor: HASL-8 and accounts receivable, with more package FIRST INTEGRATED S-100 and extended Benton software to come. DISK/TAPE CAPABILITY Harbor Basic. An extra diskette is also Dynabyte is also introducing the DBS I. included. Z-80 Computer with no mass storage, and A new double-density floppy disk storage For additional information on the HI 7, the DBS 4 Floppy Disk System with two 8-

the 7- 1 (its inch disk drives system, the DELTA- 1, has been introduced HI optional second drive) and the with up to two megabytes of by MECA. manufacturers of the ALPHA-I 118-17 operating system software which are storage. mass storage tape unit. The DELTA-I mail order priced at $530.00. $295.00 and A product brochure is available from uniquely provides up to 200K bytes of $100.00 respectively, send for a FREE copy Dynabvte. Inc., I005 Elwell Court. Palo of the latest catalog. Alto. 94303. storage on a single S'/i" drive. Hcathkit CA Phone (4I5) 965-I0I0. Write Heath Dept. 350-680, Included with the DELTA-I disk system is Company. Harbor, 49022. is the MFM S-IOO Disk Controller which Benton Ml •CP M trademark »»l Digital Research. supports up to three SA-400 disk drives. CIRCLE 188 ON READER SERVICE CARD CIRCLE 189 ON READER SERVICE CARD MECA customers who now own an ALPHA-I Tape System can use the MFM Disk Controller to combine the ALPHA-I and DELTA-I into a fully integrated tape and disk storage system. North Star owners may take advantage of the availability of the MFM Disk Controller card to double disk storage space from 90K bytes to ISOK. The price for the controller card alone is SI 99. Available software includes CP M disk operating system with editor, assembler, debugger and BASIC-E. for $98. Microsoft - Extended Disk BASIC is offered for $195. Several applications programs are available which operate with both the DELTA-I and the ALPHA-I. A special introductory price of $699 DYNABYTE COMPUTERS includes the mini-floppy single-sided disk IMPLEMENT NEW DISK DRIVE drive. MFM Disk Controller, power supply, NEW READER PUNCH connectors and cable, complete documenta- CONTROLLER TECHNOLOGY tion, and MECA disk operating system. Digitronic's new Model RP 7100 D. A new line of microcomputer systems For full details, contact MECA, 7026 Reader Punch is a self contained unit from Dynabyte introduces O.W.S. Road. Yucca Vallev. CA 92284. a disk drive combining a latest state-of-the-art 75 CPS Telephone: (714)365-7686. controller that increases the choice of disk paper tape punch with a mechanically simple storage configurations. 300 CPS photoelectric tape reader. CIRCLE 187 ON READER SERVICE CARD Top of the line is the DBS 2 Computer The Model RP 7I00 D package contains System, which offers to 1.2 up megabytes of all necessary DC power supplies and mass storage 77- on two 5-inch drives. It uses required control and signal interface logic track Micropolis disk drives and with circuitry. The interface logic and signals are Dynabyte*! new controller offers double or also fully compatible with other quad density in single or double sided reader punch combinations available today configurations up to eight times the and will interface to most minicomputers. capacity of single-sided, single-density 5- fhe punch, like all new Digitronics inch drives. punches, is sprocket fed for more positive To implement the drives, Dynabyte tape advance and is designed to give less developed its Dual Density Floppy Disk slippage with mylar tape. Controller. It is the first disk controller All reader and punch input and output capable of handling variety 8- a of 5-inch and signals are DTI. TTL compatible and are inch drives in dual density on either one or available in either positive or negative logic NEW H8 FLOPPY DISK KIT two sides. To permit expansion of the system commands and data outputs. $2395. as FROM HEATH the user's needs increase, the controller is For additional information write: Art capable of handling up to 16 drives. Soucy, Digitronics Division. Comtec Infor- Having first product line's introduced the fully- The self contained disk mation Systems, Cumberland. R.l. 02864. assembled and tested version of its H8 storage capacity, flexibility and expandabili- Or phone: (40 1) 724-8500. Floppy Disk System, the WHI7. Heath ty was developed by Dynabyte for business, Company. Benton Harbor. Michigan now professional and scientific applications. CIRCLE 190 ON READER SERVICE CARD

20 CREATIVE COMPUTING ' K ' — _

means no wail slates are required. During HARDWARE operations that take place when the CPU is not running, such as Direct Memory Access (DMA), an internal timer generates refresh requests every 6.6 microseconds. A high-precision delay line generates on- board timing for high performance and < l » j reliability. All of the RAM III boards have an access time of 375 nanoseconds and a s 3 - am §1h cycle time of 500 nanoseconds. flflWPPffWT Another plus for IMSAI RAM III is the exceptionally low power requirements of +8 volts DC at 360 milliampcrcs. +16 volts DC IMSAI INTRODUCES NEW at 250 milliamperes and -16 volts DC at 10 DYNAMIC RAM milliamperes. The total board dissipates a mere seven watts. MORROW INTRODUCES 16K RAM III, a new line of dynamic random IMSAI RAM HI boards are designed to STATIC RAM AT $299 PRICE! access memory boards developed by IMSAI be reliable and easy to maintain. For Manufacturing Corporation, is available in example, latched critical signals eliminate George Morrow, designer of the best- 32 K byte or 64 K byte versions. The 32 noise susceptibility. The RAM chips and the selling ECONORAM" 4K static memory, version retails at $895 and the 64K version refresh controller are socketed for ease of has introduced a new I6K static memory retails at $1695. RAM III boards are S-100 repair. Important signals are available at test board tor S-IOO microcomputer systems, bus compatible and do not obsolete already points to simplify the use of test equipment •SupeRam'" 16". existing IMSAI RAM boards. with the boards. In addition. RAM III Retailing for just $299, Morrow's newest When selecting a dynamic random access boards are burned-in at the factory and put cost cutter will save from $50 to $100, memory board, a major consideration is through extensive tests under strict quality reliable compared to prevailing prices in I6K kits. data retention. With RAM 111. control. refresh occurs during all stages of SupeRam 16 is a complete kit featuring computer For further information contact four independently addressable and write- operation. During a normal Central Walter Slater: IMSAI Manufacturing Processing Unit (CPU) operation, the protectable 4K blocks. I he super-efficient Corporation. 14860 Wicks Boulevard, refresh synchronizes to timing so that design uses just eleven IC's to keep the board CPU San Leandro. California 94577 (415) refresh takes place is uncrowded and trouble-free. The board was when the CPU not 483-2093. designed to meet the proposed IEEE using memory. This "Hidden Refresh" CIRCLE 193 ON READER SERVICE CARD Standard for S-100, insuring full com- patibility with all S-100 systems. All signals are fully buffered, including address and data lines. $299. SupeRam I6K is available at computer retail outlets throughout the U.S. It may also HOBBYISTS! ENGINEERS! TECHNICIANS! STUDENTS!

be ordered from 1 (linker 1201 directly Toys, Write and run machine language programs at home, display video - 10th St.. Berkeley. (A 94710. graphics on your TV set and design microprocessor circuits the CIRCLE 191 ON READER SERVICE CARD very first night—even if you've never used a computer before!

CALL ME TUESDAY AT FOUR ELF II ,ea g RCA COSMAC ELFtt) microprocessor KUMMCS s99 95 A unique combination of crystal derived mini- COMPUTER Mop reading about computer s .md get your hands ' Real Time Clock, hardware interrupts, and WiihaVW*^ II I II and our Skartl ours* by lorn Piltman. you ma- omptilcrs in no time software come together in the al PROM all' III 11 demonstrates ill s>i commands an K( \ 1802 can execute and the Short Course quickly leaches v.hi to use each of the 1802*9 T1MEMINDER an S-100 compatible capabilities. II | || also displays graphics on an) I \ set. including an exciting new laiget/missilc board Objective IX'sign, Inc., P.O. Box by Kim game' Add-ons arc among the most advanced available an\ where You get massive 20325. Tallahassee. FL 32304. computing potential, No wonder III I chapters, universities and major orporariotts all use I l l 1 1 lo train engineers and students! Kit is TIMEMINDER software will maintain a easily assembled n a single evening and vou may still have time to run your trrst programs before going list of user requested wakeup calls and alert bed — SEND TODAY*______AVAILABLE FOR ELF II — Nelronk'sK&lll the indicated routines at appointed times. NOW Deluxe metal cabinet lot \M td.. IJcpl CC9 P~l •m Piltman's Short Course t)m .Mi- Keyboard, $14.45 plus $2.30 pAh 133 LftchTield Road. Intervals range from milliseconds to days. pi honcnone a Icroprocewor A Computer Programm- II Tln> 111 iASIC on cassette New Milford. < r 06776 |2Q3>3$4-9373 I User calls can also be based on the ing leaches you just about everything tape Commands include S \\ I .

is know I I there 10 .tKmt II II off .my I Ytsl Ajnt to run programs at none and I TIMEMINDER time-of-year calendar. OAD, v . .< I.26variabsti \ / I K( \ 1803 Written in ikmi- enclose: compute* III II IIIIN, I I I. nave $99 95 Wake-up requests are then given as time and MM I'RIN I technical language, it's .1 learning GO !().(, OSI H Kl It RSI N|>. i' RCA COSMAC ELF II hit, I ' breakthrough KM engineers .ind laymen t I I date. Because this is an interrupt driven Rl M \K. I ISI Kl V PI OT $4 9b (or power supply (required! I alike. $5.00 postpaid! PI IK. POKI ( omes tully docu J $5 for RCA 1802 User s Manual Si device, the computer is always available for Deluxe metal cabinet with pseajgau mented and includes alphanumeric (or Short Course on Microprocessor & non-timed activities while waiting for the dust cover tor III II. $24.95 plus generator required to display al- Computer Prognmnvng I' 12.50 p*h. phanumeric characters on your next alarm. Timed interrupts may also be directlj I want mint wired and itsted with I I I II connects to the video input iv screen without adm'tsonal hard power supply. RCA 1802 User's Manusl applied to control of time-critical hardware ot \0111 |\ set. H you prefer lo use a/are Also plays lick tack tot plus a and Short Count included lor |usl $149 95 and software a valuable tool for scientists yout antenna terminal*, order Kr drawing game thai uses II I ||\ hex plus $3 pan' I" Modulator. $ft.«5 postpaid hey board as a joystick. 4k memory re- I am also enclosing payment (including and experimenters. I <;i\nt board kit u.ih quired. $14.45 postpaid cassette postage & handling) (or the items checked I O. KS 232-4 I TV I O. k hn H I (). lorn 1'itlman 's Short Course on Tint TIMEMINDER software is held in on- J at the left I decoders tor 14 separate I O instruc- •ASICfoi II I II. $5 postpaid with also Total Enclosed (Conn res add (ax) board PROM, scratchpad RAM lions and a system monitor editor. Kxpansion Power Supph (required if $ ; Check here on the card. The interrupts and the SJ9.94 plus S2 path. when adding 4k K Wli $34.95 plus $2 available I you are enclosing Money Order oi Cashier s i Prototype) Hoard accepts up pgj h instruction vectors are all IKluKf Check to expedite shipment required 'CALL' to \h l< *i pi. iv $17.00 51 p\h Y I f-HI (. Ikluxr System Monitor- USE YOUR VISA Master Charge 4k R\M k»i lo Bmgk Mdrcssabfc on Allows I generated on-board. Additional interrupts displaying he (Interbank * ) | nay 4% page to 64k $JN.*Splus$* p&h. contents of all registers on yout I \ at are free for general svstem use. Account Gold plaNtl H6-pin connector*, lone any point in your program. Also dis In kit form, the TIMEMINDER. which required for each plug-in hoard) $5.70 plays 24 bytes ot mcmoiy wiih full ;id Signature Exp. Date I . postpaid dresses, blinking cm sot and auto scroll includes one PROM is $224.95 with shipping PHONE ORDERS ACCEPTE0 (203) 354-9375 . mg \ must lor the serious Print Professional \SCII Keyboard kit program- charges of $5.00 Canada and $20.00 for mer! $J4.9f postpaid Name with \2X \S( II upper lowei Case set, J t timing Sooa: VI) I) \ ( onverler. other foreign countries. I •**> printable characters, onboard regu- Address I I ight Pen, ( ontrollei Board. I olor further information, contact Objec- Iiatoi. parity, logic selection and choice For of 4 handshaking signals lo mate with Graphics \. Music System, ..<;«

CIRCLE 192 ON READER SERVICE CARD CIRCLE 160 ON READER SERVICE CARD

NOV/DEC 1978 21 1

CROMEMCO COBOL

COBOL, which is one of the most common languages for use in business svstem programming, is now available for Cromemco's Z-80 based microcomputer systems. Cromemco COBOL is based on American National Standard X3.23-l974,so users have access to the large number of programs already written in COBOL. Cromemco COBOL includes all ANSI

Level 1 features for the Nucleus and for BATTERY BACK UP AND Sequential, Relative, and Indexed file SYNCHRONOUS INTERFACE handling; Table handling; Library; and MODULE CRYSTAL CONTROL ON NEW Inter-program Communication facilities. CLOCK BOARD Cromemco COBOL also includes the most International Data Systems, Inc. an- useful Level 2 options such as the verbs nounces the 88-SAI Syn- Expand your time-keeping capabilities STRING. UNSTRING, COMPUTE. chronous/ Asynchronous Interface for S-100 with Mountain Hardware's new 100.000 SEARCH and PERFORM; abbreviated Bus computers. The 88-SAI provides a Day Clock for S-100 computers. and compound conditions; and condition synchronous or asynchronous port for any Several unique features make this Clock names. S-100 bus processor. The 88-SAI is intended an almost indispensable addition to your Cromemco COBOL supports a data for use in special communications re- system. The Clock is crystal controlled for format which permits compact storage of quirements such as synchronous com- accuracy and an on-board, 9 volt decimal data on diskette. This data format munications between S-100 computers and rechargeable battery keeps your Clock allows numerical data to be packed two large scale computers, high speed ticking away during computer down times, digits to the byte so that mass storage , data encryption devices or intentional and otherwise! requirements are reduced. other S-100 computers. This versatile board keeps time in lOOus A batch style technique, design- The 88-SAI allows baud rate, word size, increments for periods as long as 100,000 ed to get programs running in a minimum of parity and number of stop bits to be selected days, that's 273 years! An interrupt feature on-line time, is also included. 5" completely under software control. Also has been provided which can be programm- Cromemco COBOL is available on under software control is syn- ed for any change in a Clock digit to help (Model FDC-S) or 8"(Model FDC-L) IBM- chronous/asynchronous mode selection and make efficient use of computer time. format, floppy diskettes for $95. functions associated with synchronous It is extremely easy to set the Clock by For additional information contact communications such as number of Sync entering BCD digits at each time port. The Cromemco, Inc., 280 Bernardo Avenue, characters. Clock stops the moment you enter the first Mountain View. CA 94043; (415) 964-7400. The 88-SAI is fully compatible with digit and starts again on the first "read" CIRCLE 196 ON READER SERVICE CARD RS232C interfaces. Additional provisions command. A "write protect" switch prevents are made on the 88-SAI for interface to non- the Clock from being accidentally stopped or standard devices requiring that various changed. signal or handshake lines be inverted. The For further ease, the Clock can be used

88-S A I also provides interface to M IL-STD- with most BASICs. However, our Introl 188 level devices. In order to allow max- BASIC gives you a powerful set of com- imum flexibility, provision for use of non- mands which makes it especially simple to mandatory control signals such as Signal set, compare, check, display and time. Quality is included. Price of the 100,000 Day Clock is $219 The 88-SAI is available in kit form for assembled and tested, $179 in kit form. $199.00 or assembled, tested, and with a Delivery is stock to 30 days. limited warranty for $299.00. Delivery is For more information, please address from stock. Mountain Hardware, Inc.. 5523A Scotts International Data Systems, Inc., 400 Valley Drive, Scotts Valley, CA 95066. North Washington Street, Suite 200, Falls Phone: (408) 438-4734. Church. VA 22046. Telephone (703) 536- CIRCLE 196 ON READER SERVICE CARD 7373. CIRCLE 194 ON READER SERVICE CARD MAILING LIST

SOFTWARE MAILING LIST is a general purpose mailing label program which enables the user to start and maintain a mailing list. Operations include: Add, Delete, Search, TRS-80 LEVEL II SOFTWARE Sorted List, Modify, And Sequential Print- The LIBRARY I00. from The Bottom out. The user is given the option of having a Shelf, Inc. is a collection of KM) quality Remark Field up to 64 characters long for programs for the Radio Shack TRS-80 Level any additional information which can then

1 1 computer. With 30 games, 25 business & be used to sort or information by.

SPECIAL DESIGN S-100 finance. 1 5 education. 1 5 home, and IS The user can also set up and change default EXTENDER CARD graphics, the LIBRARY KM) is a bargain at printing formats controlling the exact the price of $49.50 + $2.00 p&h. The placement of up to five labels across a page, A S-I00 Extender Card designed to programming is totally new and some of the whether or not to print the Remarks field, eliminate signal crosstalk and noise pick-up graphics games look like they belong in an and the placement of the zip code. The is now available from Objective Design, Inc., arcade. With five cassettes bound in an program is designed to be easily used P.O. Box 20325. Tallahassee. FL 32304. attractive folder together with instructional without any prior knowledge of computers. Called the Double-X Extender, the board documentation, the LIBRARY I00 is indeed Written in Disk BASIC for a

uses a special pattern which runs ground a basic library for any Level 1 1 TRS-80 PolyMorphic Systems 88 10 or 8813, the lines between signal lines on both sides of the owner! complete program comes on diskette or as a board. Cost of the board is $34.95 in kit form Contact: The Bottom Shelf, Inc., P.O. hard copy list for $40. Order from: Software and $44.95 assembled plus shipping of $3.00 Box 49I04, Atlanta. Georgia 30359 - (404) Industries. 902 Pinecrest. Richardson. TX U.S. and $15.00 overseas 939-603 75080.

CIRCLE 195 ON READER SERVICE CARD CIRCLE 197 ON READER SERVICE CARD CIRCLE 199 ON READER SERVICE CARD

22 CREATIVE COMPUTING THE MICROCOMPUTER SOFTWARE STANDARD CP/M™ OPERATING SYSTEM MAC™ MACRO ASSEMBLER • Editor, Assembler, Debugger, and Utilities • Compatible with new Intel Macro standard • For 8080 and Z-80 Systems • Complete guide to Macro Applications • Up to four IBM-compatible floppy disks • Documentation includes: SID™ SYMBOLIC INSTRUCTION CP/M Features and Facilities DEBUGGER CP/M Editor Manual CP/M Assembler Manual • Symbolic memory reference CP/M Debugger Manual • Built-in assembler/disassembler CP/M Interface Guide CP/M Alteration Guide TEX™ TEXT FORMATTER • Powerful text formatting capabilities • Text prepared using CP/M™ Editor (10) DJGITflL RESEARCH

Please send me the following: NOTE: Due to the proprietary nature of CP/M" software, please D CP/M'" Syslem Diskette and Documentation (Set of 6 enclose your CP/M Serial No. when ordering MAC. SID. or TEX manuals for $100. without the CP/M diskette. CP/M" Serial No. D CP/M™ Documentation (Set of 6 manuals) only for $25. BankAmericard No. Exp. Date a MAC" Diskette and Manual for $90. D Master Charge No. Exp. Date a SID" Diskette and Manual for $75. D Check or M.O. enclosed. TEX'* Diskette and Manual for $75. California residents add 6% sales tax. D Send information on CP/M User's Croup, high level Total amount of purchase $ languages and optional packages. Name Address City State .Zip ID] DJGJTflL RESEARCH Post Office Box 579 "Pacific Grove. California 93950 •(408)649-3896

CIRCLE 130 ON READER 8ERVICE CARD PERSONAL LEDGER FOR operate any RS-232 300 baud printer using C'hisum said, "with features such as dynamic COMMODORE PET"* our TRS232 printer interface. allocation of diskette storage; relocatability 5) Includes special keyboard software with of system in memory; intrinsic commands to Channel Data Systems introduces Per- both 2-key rollover and repeat function (any save, rename, erase and display directories of sonal Ledger, a complete double entry key will repeat at 10 characters per second files; and complementary context editor, bookkeeping system with provisions for after a 0.5 second delay). assembler and dynamic debugging budgeting and keeping records of income, THE ELECTRIC PENCIL is priced at program." deductible and non-deductible expenses, $99.95. The TRS232 printer interface is Programmers that have developed assets and liabilities. Its simple interactive $39.95. Deliveries will begin September 10, software on a Micropolis floppy disk should features enable entering transactions, adding 1978. Instructions for the lower case write the company for a copy of its referral or editing accounts and printing of a detailed modification are included in the documenta- questionnaire or obtain a copy of the first Income Statement and Balance Sheet. Users tion. A kit of parts will be available at a later newsletter in which the form is reproduced. completely unfamiliar with computerized date. Micropolis manufacturers a wide range of personal accounting and with little or no knowledge Small System Software, Post Office Box and occupational computing flop- of bookkeeping can use the system. 483. Newbury Park, CA 91320 py disk subsystems in single, dual and quad drive configurations, with extended storage Up to 50 accounts are allowed with names CIRCLE 201 ON READER SERVICE CARD and budgets specified by the user. An audit capacities of up to 1.2 million bytes per subsystem. trail of all entered transactions is printed on Contact: Jim Molenda, Micropolis Cor- the printer of your choice or on the screen if SOFTWARE IN PACKAGED poration. you do not have a printer. All data is stored 7959 Deering Avenue, Canoga on cassette, loaded prior to entering transac- NORTH STAR FORMAT Park. Calif. 91304; Telephone: (213) 703- 1211. tions and stored after entering. There is no The following Applications Software on waiting for printing to the tape during mini-diskette is packaged in North Star *CP M is a registered trademark of Digital operation of the system. Extensive error format. Made available through MicroAge, Research Corporation. recovery features are included to allow each of these discs is ready to run in any S- reentry of an erroneous instruction or value. 100 8080 Z80 computer system. Here's' the CIRCLE 203 ON READER SERVICE CARD Personal Ledger is supplied on cassette. current offering: along with a complete manual, program • Financial Programs from "Some Com- listing and sample data for only $20.00. mon Basic Programs" by Osborne & Assoc. Channel Data Systems, 5960 Mandarin • Mathematical Analysis Programs from 8080 TAUGHT TO SPEAK Avenue, Goleta. CA 93017, or telephone "Some Common Basic Programs" ENGLISH (805) 964-6695. • Statistical Programs and Miscellaneous •8k Required Bytd RAM Programs from "Some Common Basic ANGLOPHONE is an 8080 program CIRCLE 200 ON READER SERVICE CARD Programs" which converts ordinary English in real time • Games, Volume I includes: Trap. Bat- into phonetic codes to drive popular brands num, Huklc, Taxman, Stars, Reverse. of speech synthesizers. Just as assemblers TRS-80 ELECTRIC PENCIL Mathdrill 1, Cannon, Chomp, Weekday, and compilers eliminated the need for WORD PROCESSING Calendar, Pony. tedious machine-language programming. • Games, Volume 2 includes: Button, Frog. ANGLOPHONE eliminates the need for PACKAGE String, Change, Civilwar, Golf, Golfhand, hand-coding of phonetic messages for SMALL SYSTEM SOFTWARE and Chase!, Shooting Star, Lunar Lander. speech synthesizers. I argc data bases which Mathdrill II. MICHAEL SHRAYER SOFTWARE are would take years to hand code into phonetic • Backorder Program using disc data files proud to announce the release of THE notation are now instantly available for • Mailing List using disc data files ELECTRIC PENCIL word processor for speech output. For instance, an inexpensive • Just released! Northstar DOS for your the TRS-80 computer. THE ELECTRIC 8080-based telephone interface could allow Centronics printer. Retail Sales Reporting sales and service personnel or customers to PENCIL is offered both as a separate using disc files. Customer reads Profile using software product and as part of a complete query an inventory system from any touch- disc files. word processing package which includes our tone telephone. Price: $35 each. Available from MicroAge TRS232 serial printer interface and a Hardware needed is an 8080 CPU, 8K Mail Order, 803 N. Scottsdale Rd. Tempe, bytes of a synthesizer. modification kit which provides lower case memory and speech AZ 85281 entry and display as well as a separate ANGLOPHONE can be patched easily into any higher level programming language. control key. THE ELECTRIC PENCIL, CIRCLE 202 ON READER SERVICE CARD Talking is available highly respected as one of the finest word terminal software to processors available for home computers convert an 8080-based intelligent terminal into a talking terminal for use on any and small businesses, is a quality software SOFTWARE REFERRAL product that opens many new uses for the PROGRAM LEADS OFF WITH computer system. TRS-80 computer. C/PM DOS I he price of $100 includes source and In addition to the standard ELECTRIC object code on paper tape or cassette and a 120 page user's manual. PENCIL features (free format entry, line CANOGA PARK. Calif. June 5, 1978-A For and character insertion, line and character program to stimulate the exchange of system further information, contact UPPER CASE books. 502 E. John St., Champaign, deletion, forward and reverse scrolling with and applications software between its speed control, string search, coded string customers has been launched by Micropolis Illinois 61820; (217) 384-4382. search, string search and replace, block Corporation, manufacturers of the highest CIRCLE 204 ON READER SERVICE CARD moves, inserts, and deletions, fully for- capacity 5%-inch floppy disk drives in the matted print control, page titling, page industry. numbering, etc., etc.), the TRS-80 version The company is distributing the first CUSTOM offers the following additional features: edition of a newsletter this month, which will 1) Loads into either LEVEL-I or LEVEL- be the principal forum for providing infor- TRS-80 SOFTWARE II I6K computers from the same tape. Load mation on user-developed software rate is 500 baud. packages. The initial newsletter describes 2) Operates upper-case only in unmodified CI' M'"* disk operating systems available YOU NAME IT. WELL WRITE IT!! machines, or operates with upper and lower from three vendors, according to Robert T. No mass production. You get individual case after installation of our modification C'hisum. Micropolis marketing manager. attention!! We have some pre-written kit. The new DOS packages, developed for programs available. Also, lots of infor- 3) Displays a transparent cursor. The standard S-IOO software buses, provide the character and the cursor are both visible user with flexibility in applications programs mation on Computer Crime. For more simultaneously so you can see the character and language selection, such as FORTRAN details send 25c or S.A.S.E. to: you are editing. and BASIC. COMPUTER CONSULTANTS 4) Runs either the Radio Shack standard "CP M has become the most widely used 312HoytSt., Dunkirk, NY. 14048 printer through their expansion box or will S-100 floppy disk operating system,"

24 CIRCLE 145 ON READER SERVICE CARD 1

Radio Shack's personal computer system? This ad just might make you a believer.

TRS-80 "Breakthru" • TRS-80 microcomputer can't • 12" video display You beat • Professional keyboard the 4K system at • Power supply • Cassette tape recorder $599 • 4K RAM, Level-I BASIC • 232-page manual • 2 game cassettes

. . or the step-up TRS-80 "Sweet 16" 16K system at • Above, except $899 includes 16K RAM

... or the fast TRS-80 "Educator" 4K/printer system at • Above, except includes 4K RAM and $1198 screen printer

...or the Level- 1 TRS-80 "Professional' 16K/printer/disk • Above, except includes 16K RAM, system at disk drive, expansion interface, and $2385 Level-ll BASIC

So how are you gonna beat the system that does this much for this little? No way!

. . . The amazing new TRS-80 "Business" 32K/Level-ll/2-disk/ • Above, except includes 32K RAM, line printer system at line printer, $3874 and two disk drives

Get details and order now at Radio Shack stores and dealers in the USA. Canada. UK. Australia. Belgium. Holland. France. Japan Write Radio Shack. Division of Tandy Corporation. Dept C-044. 1400 One Tandy Center. Fort Worth. Texas 76102 Ask tor Catalog TRS-80 Radio Shack The biggest name in little computers The unit provides four basic functions as well as percent and four-key memory. MISCELLANEOUS CALCULATORS Of special importance to general users, the Tl spokesman observed, is that TI-5025 operates with the same, simple number entry system used in other Tl handheld calculators. "There's no other entry sequence to learn as with large printer/display machines." he said. Tl-5025's thermal printer has con- siderably fewer parts than impact printers and thus provides reliable, whisper quiet,

ribbonless operation. I hernial paper rolls will be available in "three-packs" carrying a $.99 suggested retail price. The unit is 6.7 inches long by 3.4 inches wide by 1.8 inches high, and comes with a charger adapter, thermal paper and carry- ing case. Initial deliveries are scheduled for August. For further information, contact: Incorporated, Consumer FIRST WATCH" LEARNING NEW LOW-COST SLIMLINE Relations. P.O. Box 53 (Attn: TI-5025), AIDS FROM Tl CALCULATOR FROM Tl Lubbock, TX 79408. CIRCLE 207 ON READER SERVICE CARD First Watch™, a watch and learning aid Slimline TI-I030™ offers an easy-to-read materials designed to teach children from LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) readout and five to seven years old to learn to read any six standard functions (add, subtract, watch or clock, was recently introduced by multiply, divide, percent, square root). Texas Instruments Incorporated. Packaged in a handsome brown plastic case The First Watch scientific system offers a with brushed metal overlay, the light, thin TRS-80 COMPUTING microelectronic digital watch and two unit measures approximately 4.5 inches by non-profit newsletter learning aids. The First Watch package 2.6 inches by 0.3 inches and weighs less than $10 (U.S.)/12 issues payable includes a specially styled, colorful LED 2.5 ounces. Inc. (Light Emitting Diode) watch, a Hands of The TI-I030 is scheduled for availability Computer Information Exch., Time '" learning dial and a "fun games and in July I978. $15.95 Box 158 how-to" book all structured to help For additional information: Texas Instru- San Luis Rey, CA 92068 youngsters learn both analog and digital ments Incorporated. Consumer Relations, timekeeping and enjoy doing it. P.O. Box 53 (Attn: TI-1030), Lubbock, TX CIRCLE 138 ON FREE INFORMATION CARD "Ditital time is here to stay." a Tl 79408 spokesman commented, "but today's CIRCLE 206 ON READER SERVICE CARD youngsters still need to know how to read Improve Your Game With conventional "'bit hand-little' hand time." The Hands of Time dial, which can be >>>FflSTGflmmon>>> used as an independent learning or games- Opponent) playing instrument, enables children to dial An Exciting New Backgammon

any time of day and see it expressed both in numbers and with hands. The dial is also used to play some of the games. The illustrated, four-color "How to Tell " Time Both Ways" book relates the fascinating history of timekeeping from cave man to spacti age and offers learning games selected for their educational value as well as for the fun they can provide younger children who are learning to tell time. Interesting facts on man and how he relies on Available for the measurement of time relate, forexample. • TRS-80 (level II. 16K) how U.S. railroads established AM and PM time and divided the country into time zones. • COMPAL-80 Games include analog concepts of quarter • APPLE II <16K) and half hours and AM PM. TEXAS INSTRUMENTS NEW Tl's First Watch, with a suggested retail e SOL | price of $19.95. is scheduled for consumer PRINTER/DISPLAY > available soon availability in June and will have a one-year CALCULATOR • PET limited warranty. Batteries are included with Computer the watch. A rechargeable handheld printer display OUTSTANDING FEATURESI— good moves instantaneously- lexas Instruments Incorporated. Con- calculator was introduced by lexas In- makes Literal and graphic displays of each sumer Relations. P.O. Box 53 (Attn: LED struments Incorporated at the Summer move. Option to replay same rolls. Eight- Watches) Lubbock. 79408 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), June TX page instruction manual. 11-14. CIRCLE 205 ON READER SERVICE CARD Features and functions of TI-5025 are ORDER NOWI— Specify cassette ($20.) or ideally .suited to general consumer use. a disk ($25.) California residents add 6% TIS company spokesman pointed out. "It is one sales tax. of the smallest and at a suggested retail Documentation and software applications packages lor the COMMODORE PET 2001. price of $80 one of the least expensive Workbooks from $3.95: software from $4.95. portable printer display calculators on the Quality Software For a flyer describing all our products, please market," he said.

26 CREATIVE COMPUTING The NewMSI

Business Comp A Profitable System The System 12 also The MSI System 1 2 is a low-cost business employs a Beehive D- computer system designed to help your 100 video display ter small business the some way big com- minal and a Centron- puters help big business ... by ics 779 high speed saving time and money. printer. The entire sys- tem is housed in a Regardless of the size or single compact desk

type of your business . . . the unit. System 12 will help you significantly reduce costs by inaeasing the speed, accu- Small Computers for Dig Jobs racy, and efficiency of your MSI is a leader in the development of business operations. small computer systems for business. The new System 1 2 has the power and capa- city to perform as well as many of the other The System for Every Application larger computer systems . . . but at a much The System 1 2 will lower cost. fulfill the data pro-

cessing needs of If your business is in need of a new or any type of business advanced data processing system, coll or

. . . service . . . manu- write for detailed literature and the name

facturing . . . profes- of the System 12 representative nearest

sional .. .or marketing. you.

At the heart of the

system is the popular 48K RAM MSI 6800

processor . . . the most powerful and advanced 6800 computer avail- able. For moss storage, the System 12 contains the MSI Fixed/Remov- able Hard Disk System with 10 megabytes of memory. The newSDOS Operating System integrates the hard disk with the MSI Quad Floppy Disk System which gives you on additional 1 .2 megabytes of memory for program loading, back-up, software up- dates and exchanges. midwest Scientific instruments 220 W. Cedar • Olorhe. Konsos 66061 • (913) 764-0273 • TWX 910 749 6403 (MSI OUT) • TELEX 42525 (MSI A OLAT)

CIRCLE 139 ON READER SERVICE CARD on the Bally with some random music TV Show Filmed and color graphics. The crew then Creative Computing shoehorned themselves into our al- at Creative Computing ready cramped computer lab and got Software Development some shots of people using the Apple, Center Pet, Xitan and others of- our assorted On Monday, August 21, 1978 our fourteen systems. Morristown building was overrun by an Later in the week, the crew moved As many of you gentle readers 8-person TV crew complete with on to PC78 in Philadelphia and know, Creative Computing is more cameras, lights, microphones, re- taped a portion of the Computer than a magazine alone. We are a book corders, and the works. I wish I had Music Festival held there. The festival publisher, book service, consultant, shot a couple of photos to show you was held in one of the smaller ball- and software producer. Broadening what it was like. Six hot hours later, rooms of the Sheraton and it was out from our initial announcement of the crew from "Fast Forward" thought absolutely packed. Attendees heard a software for three computers, we are for they had what they needed for their fantastic 2y2 hour concert of music now working on packages seven show on microcomputers. played on the RCA Cosmac, Solid computers (indicated with a t in the "Fast Forward" is a weekly half-hour State Music, ALF, Newtech and home- list below). In addition, to bring you show on Ontario Educational TV deal- brew synthesizers. Hal Chamberlain objective software and peripheral re- ing with high technology such as VTR, "played" an amazing rendition of views, we generally like to test the item micros, lasers, etc. and their impact on Bach's Tocatta and Fugue in d minor in question in our own facility. Thus society. which took over three hours to "com- we currently have in our software

In the show taped at Creative I tried plete" but only 8 minutes to play. center no less than 15 computer sys- to give viewers a crash course in con- When the concert let out, many at- tems, 5 terminals, 3 sys- sumer electronics starting with pocket tendees made their way to the 15th tems, and an amazing variety of peri- calculators, some Mattel and Coleco floor to Creative's annual wine and pherals and boards. In addition we "smart" electronic games, Atari video cheese receiption. Words can't begin have access to 5 timesharing systems pinball, and the Bally Arcade. I went to describe that affair so I won't even not to say anything of an immense through a simple programming tutorial try. collection of electronic games.

One comer of Creative's Software Devel- Jeff Yuan works on the Apple in this corner opment Center. Here a programmer is of Creative's SDC. Also visible: one TRS- instructing the PET what to do. Visible in 80. SWTPC 6800 and TTY 33. j the background is the TTY 43. DEC VT05, Xitan and Icom dual floppy. 28- CREATIVE COMPUTING Here's a list of the major items in our incredibly cramped Software T Development Center (hopefully by the time you read this our SDC will occupy a second building that we are South East Asia negotiating to purchase). Regional Computer Computer Systems 78 Conference tProcessor Technology SOL-20 Manila, Philippines fCommodore PET the last tRadio Shack TRS-80 Level I For seven or eight years,

tRadio Shack TRS-80 Level II I've been giving presentations on

t Apple II educational computer applications, tOhio Scientific Challenger 1P simulations, games, music, etc. to a tExidy Sorcerer variety of audiences. Apparently British chess grandmaster Raymond Keene defeated Univac Bally Arcade they've been well received because I've 1101 "Black Knight" in 34 been asked to moves before a huge crowd in the Philip- MITS Altai r 8800 do some educational pine's first human vs computer exhibition. Xitan (with Icom dual floppy) TV shows and my conference invita- tions have increased in number and MSI 6800 (with dual floppy) In the U.S. the computer industry broadened in scope. One delightful Southwest Technical 6800 tends to be male dominated and con- invitation was to speak on micro- I MSA I 8080 ference attendance at NCC, etc. tends computer applications at the 1978 Heathkit H-8 to be 95% male although certainly Heathkit Southeast Asia Regional Computer H-11 more woman are entering the field in Manila 4-8, Conference September today. Therefore at SEARCC, I was 1978. Video Game Systems surprised to see around a 60/40 male/ The SEARCC area covers Australia, Atari Video Computer System female split in conference attendees. New Zealand, Japan, Korea, India, Coleco Telstar Arcade Paper presentors were still pre- Atari Video Pinball Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singa- dominatly male, but I wouldn't be sur- pore, Hong Kong and, of course the prised to see a strong female showing Philippines. Since it is principally a Terminals and Printers in Jakarta (the next SEARCC site) in Texas Instruments 810 confederation of developing nations, 1980. DEC VT05 the latter five tend to be the most Teletype KSR-43 active. The conference theme was Teletype ASR-33 "Harnessing Computer Technology for National Development" under Heathkit H9 (2) which banner virtually any paper was admissable. The quality of the papers Send Us Your Software was surprisingly high, particularly considering that most came from We are seeking top quality software members of developing nations (both from readers for marketing by Creative Australia and Japan have their own Computing. We pay a 10% royalty of national computer conferences, so the $7.95 list price of the tape. few papers were received from either (Naturally if your program is one of five nation). One unfortunate exception of a tape, you get 1/5 of 10%, or 2%). was a presentation on "Trends in We pay an advance at the time of The U.S. Embassy in Manila sponsored a Computer Technology" by William acceptance on the first 100 sales reception for U.S. manufacturers and Conlin, a vice president of Burroughs, ($79.50). Send us a cassette with pro- SEARCC officials. First Secretary Joe which turned out to be a poorly- gram recorded twice, complete docu- Williams, a long-time reader of Creative, disguised commercial for his com- described it as the "the leading edge of a mentation and 3 stamps for return. pany. trial balloon. " ("Trial" ha! — DHA)

South East tea Creative Computing initially had a Chess from Commodore Computer- #• large double booth at the exhibition. We heard from a reliable source that Our decor was hampered a bit by the Commodore (of Kim, PET and elec- fact that most of our shipment did not tronic watch fame) is planning to arrive until the conference was over. make an electronic chess game As a result, I shrunk our space a bit. called Chessmate. It is based on the Despite that, I was able to wave the 6504 chip and is physically similar to a flag for micros and interactive com- desk calculator with LED display. One puting among the EDP giants. No nice touch is that it has a speaker Melecio Magno, other major magazines or publishers which plays a cute melody if it wins, Philippines Minister of Science and Development emphasized that were at SEARCC which indicates plays a downward sliding scale if it peoples' fear of computers taking over either that we're ahead of the pack or loses, and also tells you when it's probably stems from a lack of self- we don't know what we're doing. (I made its move. confidence in controlling an "alien" device. prefer to think it's the former). 29- NOV/DEC 1978 take a 2-semester course in pro- gramming. Brother Ben, therefore, has over 1100 students learning Basic on one overworked DEC Timeshared

8/I. While I was there, a local com- pany dropped off four demo personal computers (two TRS-80s, a SOL-20 and a SWTPC) at the University. Talk about unbelievable enthusiasm! See- ing the reaction of these students convinces me that micros will have more impact on education than all the mainframes and minis in total.

An overflow crowd attended David Ahl's Happy Hong Kong SEARCC presentation on microcomputer applications attesting to the interest in the From Manila, I went to Hong Kong subject even in developing nations. Here Friday, September 8 through Monday

he receives a plaque at the closing September 1 1 . The hustle and bustle of banquet. this fantastically industrious little city- state has to be experienced to be be- SEARCC was held during the rainy lieved. The heat and humidity was season and I can reliably report that staggering (95°, 95%) but the in- in Manila rain does fall horizontal to dustrious Chinese were hard at work the ground. In between the rain it was virtually round the clock. Shops and the most ad- staggeringly hot and humid and one Is it possible that some of family businesses (as most are) are products in the world can appreciate vividly what our G.l.s vanced electronics open from 9am to 9pm, seven days a come out of an environment like this? went through liberating the Philippines week. Only the government and larger (Yuk Yat St., Kowloon, Hong Kong). in WWII. One of the most moving ex- factories close on Sunday. periences I've ever had was seeing Although numerous electronic com- languages (like the Bally Arcade). It is 15,000 crosses in the late afternoon ponents, video games and the like are targeted for 1979 introduction at the sun at the American cementery in manufactured in Hong Kong, personal CES and 1980 general availability. Manila. computers have just started taking a Radofin specializes in low-cost ver- While in Manila I had the opportunity foothold — surprisingly most from the sions of popular products (their pro- to renew an old friendship with Brother U.S.! I heard of more TRS-80's. than grammable video computer game sys- Benedict of De LaSalle University. anything else. tem retails for $69) so we can expect Interestingly enough LaSalle has a Most of the Hong Kong manu- bargain-priced computers before long. requirement that all students in en- facturers do little original design work, The three major universities in Hong gineering and business courses must or get designs from the U.S. Also, most Kong (HK Univ., Chinese Univ. and HK are quite secretive about what they're Polytechnic) operate a joint computer doing and even more so about what's center with a vintage ICL system coming. Conic Industries almost cer- mostly for research and administra- tainly has something brewing, but tion. A number of DEC 11/70 RSTS wasn't saying what. Radofin, a maker systems are available for student use of video games mostly for private but grumbling about DEC support label, said they were working on an leads me to believe it won't be long MPU-based game with a plug-in before micros start to replace or at module for Basic and possibly other least supplement these DEC systems. A portion of De LaSalle University's term- inal room housing 16 terminals driven by a "Demon Seed" — "Sperm of the Timeshared 8/1. Losing It In The devil." Translation "Jugernaut" — "The great explosion of the Royal Mail Steamer."

While in Hong Kong I spoke to a "The Guns of Navarone" — "Six journalist about the ease/difficulty of strong men." translating computer games and simu- "The Sailor Who Fell from Grace lations into various oriental languages. with the Sea" — "Fright at Midnight." His advice: "forget it." to back up his "What a Way to Go" — "Nice girls case, he took the movie listings sec- get married 18 times."

tion of one of the Chinese news- If this is the standard translation of papers and told me the Chinese trans- titles, just imagine what the sub- lated titles of the current films show- titles on the dialog are like! He drove ing. his point home when he told me that in De LaSalle students descended on four "Smokey and the Bandit" — "Racing Star Trek, "Condition Red" would micros loaned to the University by IC in unorderly fashion." translated Systems (Creative's Philippine representa- cars probably be as "The tive). "Slapshot" — "The Cursing Rough- cacoon in which you live is about to house Rascal Who Plays Dirty." change form to a firecracker." 30 CREATIVE COMPUTING tremendous amount of positive press Japan Journal coverage. In addition, Commodore operates several PET shops in Japan; Kazuhiko Nishi. publisher of Kay standing for "Personal Elec- Japanese computer hobbyist "PET" ASCII, a Things." At the Shinjuku PET as my genial host and tronic magazine, acted fabulous PET pro- Shop, I saw some interpretor during my four days in grams, several of which will be finding Japan. ASCII, incidentally is Creative way into the Creative Computing Computing's agent in Japan. In Japan their "Sensational Software" library. Nuf there are four personal computing said? magazines: I/O, RAM, Malcon, and _, . to imply that the Big 5 are ten other I don't mean ASCII. In addition there Shop is the first The Cosmos Computer dominate the industry to the exclusion electronics and professional computer computer equipment shop in second-hand else. Not so. Even in Japan a touch on the field. of I/O de- of anyone magazines which Japan. They sell a large variety and magazines com- cottage industry survives, strives, The personal computing vices along with several personal mein design and one manu- thrives. (Talk about alliteration, tend to carry articles on how to puters (PET, Apple, etc.) gott!) and/or build home-brew boards, TV factured to their own specifications. and low-level programming displays general trying to do it better — but in reflecting the fact that most Japanese innovation of entirely new hobbyists are building home-brew or avoiding products. In foreign markets they tend single board systems. to be concentrating on peripherals rather than CPUs. Also, what one does, the others tend to follow. At this point in the personal computing field most of the big five along with Matsushita (Panasonic) and Sharp are marketing a single board, no box, no bus, non- extendable computer (see "Bit-INN President Kamata Isamu and the chief en- " deviant is gineer of Adtek System Science Co., a Shops . . in box). One company, produce and Hitachi who recently came out with a typical "cottage" an impressive line of 14 boards for product called "BASIC Master," a market as well as the Comkit 8060 and system. Also Sharp has a hobbyists Kay Kazuhiko Nishi, publisher of ASCII TRS-80 like computer systems. planned with an 8061 set up appointments and acted PET-like computer Magazine, cottage industry com- I left Tokyo, One of those as host, guide, and translator during my LCD display. On the day panies is Adtek System Science. Adtek four days in Japan. Fujitsu, perhaps also feeling the need and is marketing one of the to have a complete system, announced designed Japanese computer industry lowest priced com- The an arrangement whereby they would first, and certainly from micros to minis to mainframes keyboard, market the PET in Japan. plete BASIC-speaking, tends to be dominated by five huge boxed system in Japan, the Comkit vertically-integrated manufacturers 8060 and 8061. The assembled 8061 who make everything from ICs to using a Nat'l Semi SC/MP(!) has been household appliances. These com- on the market since July 1978 and is panies are Nippon Electric Co. (NEC), currently selling a modest 100 units Hitachi, Toshiba, Mitsubishi (Melcom), per month. With a 4k ROM for Basic and Fujitsu (Facom). At this point, the and 8k of RAM, the unit sells for $600 big five tend to be following a con- assembled. servative policy of copying what has Adtek also offers a wide variety of been successful for IBM — maybe inexpensive, off-the-shelf boards to hobbyists. They have several nice Video Display boards including one which allows three boards to operate Typical Pet Shoppe simultaneously to produce complete On a relative scale, Commodore is gray tones. marketing the PET much more actively in Japan than in the U.S. This is un- doubtedly sparked by the fact that the price (and probably profit margin) is much higher in Japan than the U.S. The PET sells for approximately $1500 in Japan yet over 2,000 have been delivered to date. Commodore actively Fujitsu Ltd. (Facom) introduced the 9616 advertises in the Japanese hobbyist Display Terminal, a 1" thick plasma dis- magazines, something which Sid the overlay play terminal which permitted Bernstein (marketing VP of Commo- Adtek System Science's Comkit 8060 is one of a forms transparency on the screen. It is systems manu- dore) in his infinite wisdom has not of the tew "complete" with their Amdahl designed mainly for use factured in Japan. Price is around $600. seen fit to do at home despite a systems. -31 NOV/DEC 1970 Bit-INN Shops Play More Than a Bit Part in the Success of Adtek founder and president, the Kamata Isamu was formerly a designer NEC TK-80 and evaluator in the LSI manufacturing Over a arm of NEC but was bitten by the Japanese breakfast of raw fish and egg, "own-your-own-business bug." His various pickled sprouts conservative and vegetables, rice and profitable marketing and tea, I talked to Kazuya strategy does not include plans to go Watanabe, Manager of Typical NEC outside Japan. Micro Computer Sales and Tomio Bit-INN shop has twelve or more computers set up for Another Goto. Application Engineer of customers to try successful smaller com- Nippon out and play Electric with. pany is Mac8 (or McEight — Co., Ltd. (NEC). NEC got its they spell who have it start in personal just contracted to use the both ways) which was formed in July computers when Mr. Watanabe took TK-80 in their basic microcomputer 1977. Their first product was an Altair- a trip to the USA in the Spring course. Estimated sales of the like computer kit called EMIC. The of 1976 and saw several early follow- microcomputers at on TK-80 Basic Station are 9,000 second generation EMIC has an in- a trade show. NEC had already been units thus giving NEC the sales record genious method of connecting peri- considering some sort of electronic of microcomputers in Japan. NEC pherals together side by side. The training device, how- ever, he operates three retail demonstration boxes are narrow (2" to 4") and two now felt that an mpu should be incorporated showrooms called Bit-INNs which are connectors in the base connect the in it to enhance the interactive well stocked with a wide variety of bus from one unit to the next. learning aspects. Thus the electronic components for NEC TK-80 was born in concept in the OEM's and hobbyists. spring of 1976. Oemonstrating phe- As to future plans, they nomenal Japanese dedication and a weren't say- ing anything except tribute to Mr. Goto, the main de- to agree that to expand into other markets it signer, a prototype system was de- would be necessary to have a self-contained veloped by August 1976 and in pro- unit with full duction two months later. keyboard, etc. Given NEC's past performance, The original TK-80 (8080A CPU 1k I'd look for their future product(s) PROM, 1k RAM, hex keyboard, 8- to be winners. Also, given their current digit LED) was designed to be a train- success in the U.S. market, it ing kit for engineers and students seems likely to expect wishing that their new products will find their In the Mac8 factory, workers assemble to develop microcomputer way to our shores as well. components for the EMIC computer. applications, however, it found a ready Later in market among hobbyists the day, I visited a Bit-INN In as well. addition to the EMIC system, shop in NEC's claim of sales to date of the the Akihabara area of Tokyo. Mac8 also produces a high-quality in- (Bit bare bones TK-80 is around 20,000 INN is the Japanese equivalent of dustrial system with 32k and dual units. Byte Shop.) The The largest U.S. customer is shop had sixteen sys- floppies called the MACRO/80; price tems Int'l Correspondence Schools (ICS) set up — mostly single-board $6500. A third product is their "In- SK-80's for customers to try out. Talk telligent PAL" with CRT, floppy and about letting the product sell itself! keyboard built in to a single box. It has There were a couple of sales people to amazing graphics resolution (1200 give you a hand, but for the most part horiz. points!). With 32k, the price is you were on your own and could $3000. "play" as long as you wished. Interestingly, Mac8's floppy based systems will use CP/M and Micro As- sembler from Digital Research and Flash: Data General has just agreed Basic and Fortran from Microsoft. to purchase NEC. NEC will now manufacture and distribute DG minis Over a traditional Japanese breakfast. and other products in the far east and Tomio Goto and Kazuya Watanabe dis- DG will market NEC products in the cussed NEC's successful Bit-INN shops U.S. and SK-80 computer.

Looks like CP/M and the Microsoft wage scale in Japan and you've got to languages are on the threshold of be- have a dedicated enthusiast indeed coming a world-wide standard. who'll plunk down two months salary One reason the Japanese hobbyists for a personal computer. tend to be buying more single-board Another drawback to complete sys- kits than Basic-speaking systems is tems in Japan is that most Japanese because of price. A 4k Level 1 TRS-80 do not know how to type, especially in sells for 198,000 yen, about $1050. The English. So it's not only an alien Hitachi H68/TR 6800-based full Apple II sells for 400,000 yen system has ($2120) language, but an alein device as well. alphanumeric keyboard but only a 16-LED compared to $1195 here. Couple those This is a major drawback to using readout. Price is around $400. kind of prices with a somewhat lower small computers in business which Computer Professionals' Book Club § Computer Professionals' Book Club MEMBERSHIP ORDER CARD MEMBERSHIP ORDER CARD

Please enroll me as a member and send me the two books indicated. Please enroll me as a member and send me the two books indicated. I am to receive the bonus book at the introductory price of $1.89 plus I am to receive the bonus book at the introductory price of $1.89 plus my first selection at the discounted price for members, plus tax, post- my first selection at the discounted price for members, plus tax, post- If age, and handling. not completely satisfied, I may return the books If age, and handling. not completely satisfied, I may return the books within 10 days and request that my membership be cancelled. If I keep within 10 days and request that my membership be cancelled. If I keep the books, I agree to take a minimum of three additional of books my the books, I agree to take a minimum of three additional books of my own choosing during the next two years. I will receive the Club Bulletin own choosing during the next two years. I will receive the Club Bulletin

13 times a year. If I want to the I examine featured selection, need take year. If I 13 times a want to examine the featured selection, I need take no action. It will be shipped automatically. If, however, I want an no action. It will be shipped automatically. If, however, I want an alternate selection—or no book at all— I simply notify the Club by re- alternate selection—or no book at all— I simply notify the Club by re- turning the convenient card always enclosed. I will always have a turning the convenient card always enclosed. I will always have a minimum of 10 days in which to return the card, and you will credit my minimum of 10 days in which to return the card, and you will credit my account fully, including postage, if this is in not the case. Membership account fully, including postage, if this is not the case. Membership in the Club is continuous but cancellable by me at any time after the four- the Club is continuous but cancellable by me at any time after the four- book purchase requirement has filled. been This order subject to ac- book purchase requirement has been filled. This order subject to ac- ceptance by McGraw-Hill. Orders Irom outside the continental U.S. must ceptance by McGraw-Hill. Orders Irom outside the continental U.S. must prepaid. be All prices subject to change without notice. Company, busi- be prepaid. All prices subject to change without notice. Company, busi- ness, or institutional tax exemption status is not applicable to purchases ness, or institutional tax exemption status is not applicable to purchases made through Individual Club memberships. Oiler good lor new mem- made through individual Club memberships. Oiler good lor new mem- bers only. Postage and handling charges are added to all subsequent bers only. Postage and handling charges are added to all subsequent shipments. shipments. INDICATE BY NUMBER THE TWO BOOKS YOU WANT INDICATE BY NUMBER THE TWO BOOKS YOU WANT Write Code No. Write Code No. Write Code No. Write Code No. ol Bonus Book Here ol First Selection Here of Bonus Book Here of First Selection Here

I] SEND NO MONEY. SIMPLY MAIL THIS CARD TODAY AND WE WILL BILL YOU SEND NO MONEY. SIMPLY MAIL THIS CARD TODAY AND WE WILL BILL YOU

Name

Street Address Street Address

City City

State Zip Zip EXTRA SAVINGS: Remit in full with your order, plus any local and state EXTRA SAVINGS: Remit in full with your order, plus any local and state tax, and McGraw-Hill will pay all postage and handling charges. tax, and McGraw-Hill will pay all postage and handling charges. CREATIVE COMPUTING t«7S P3Q357 CREATIVE COMPUTING IS7S P39358 CD 03 o c u (/> 1/1 3 CD I V 00 C-) t) 0) O Id (/> O co •1 ZJ fn m 03 33 e-9 = a O R CD TO 3 V 01 ^ ro u ST ? -< o £ S oo Ul 3 ro J o

X TJ n X v -it

784/914 Pub. Pr., $8.95 Club Pr., $7.60

AUTOMATIC DATA PR0CESSIN6 HANDBOOK edited by The Diebold Group, Inc.

168/075 Pub. Pr., $34.95 Club Pr., $23.75 values up to A DISCIPLINE OF PROGRAMMING $34.95 by E. W. Dijkstra

7701115 Pub. Pr., $19.95 Club Pr., $15.75 HUMANIZED INPUT: TECHNIQUES FOR Introductory offer to new members of RELIABLE KEYED INPUT the by T. Gilb & G. M. Weinberg Computer 783/810 Pub. Pr., $16.95 Club Pr., $13.50 Professionals' Book Club MICROPROCESSOR PROGRAMMING Special $1.89 bonus book comes to FOR COMPUTER HOBBYISTS you with your first club selection by N. Graham is ,iea lo meet YOUT day-to-day on the job needs by provid- 783/56X Pub. Pr., $12.95 Club Pr., $10.95 T^JEfeSCluSing practical books in your heldl^on a regular basis at below publisher prices If you're missing out on important technical literature-if todays high cost of reading curbs the ktowuigrowth COMPUTER ARCHITECTURE I ORGANIZATION of your hbrary-here s the solution to your problem. The Computer Professionals' by J. Hayes Book Club uvs organized for you, to provide an economical reading program hat cannot fail to be of value. Administered 273/634 Pub. Pr., bv the McGraw-Hill Book $21.50 Club Pr., $16.50 Company, all books are chosen by qualified editors and consultants. Their understanding 8 CS "«e™«ure in your field guarantees the appropriateness MASTER HANDBOOK OF DIGITAL of the" Mictions L06IC APPLICATIONS How the Club operates Thirteen times a year you receive free of charge The Computer I ro/essionals by W. L. Hunter Book Club Bulletin. This announces and describes the Clubs featured book for that period as well us alternate selections available at special 770/557 Pub. Pr., $11.95 Club Pr., members' prices If you $9.95 want to examine the Club's featured selection, you do nothing. If you prefer one of the alter- nate selections-or if you want no book at all-you notify the club by returning the card MICROPROGRAMMING PRIMER enclosed with each Bulletin. by H. Katzan, Jr. As a Club Member, you agree only to the purchase of four books (including your first r t r Per,° 333/874 Pub. Pr., $20.95 Club Pr., $15.70 *. d Co-H'dering the many books published annually, will"vnf,.?™surelyL°E. r°r? there be at least four you would want to own anvwav. By joining save both the club yyou CHESS AND COMPUTERS money and the trouble of searching for the best hooks by D. Levy 785/252 Pub. Pr., $12.95 Club Pr., $10.50

MICROPROCESSOR APPLICATIONS MANUAL by Motorola, Inc.

435/278 Pub. Pr., $32.50 Club Pr., $24.00

SOFTWARE RELIABILITY Principles & Practices by G. J. Myers 769/885 Pub. Pr., $19.95 Club Pr., $15.75 VALUES UP TO $34.95 WITH MAJOR DISCOUNTS MICROPROCESSOR AND ON ALL OTHER CLUB SE- LECTIONS. Your bonus books come with the first MICROCOMPUTER SYSTEMS selection, and you may choose both of them from the books described in this special introductory offer. by G. V. Rao 783/659 Pub. Pr., $24.50 Club Pr., $19.50 EXTRA SAVINGS: Remit in full with your order, plus any local and state tax, and McGraw-Hill will pay all regular postage and handling charges. THE 8080A BUGB00K MICROCOMPUTER INTERFACING AND PROGRAMMING NO RISK GUARANTEE: If by P. R. Rony, D. G. Larsen & J. A. Titus not completely satisfied return selections for full refund and membership cancellation. 783/845 Pub. Pr., $9.95 Club Pr., $8.45 MAIL THIS COUPON TODAY PROGRAMMABLE CALCULATORS COMPUTER PDOFESSIONALS/Book Club P Box 582 Princeton Road. Hightstown, New Jersey 08520 by C. Sippl Pleas© enroll mo as a member and send me the two books status is not applicable to purchases made through individual indicated. I am to receive the bonus book at the introductory Club memberships. 784/493 Pub. Pr., $13.95 Club Pr., 1 All prices subiect to change without $1 .50 price of $1 89 plus my first selection, plus tax, postage, and notice. Oiler good tor new members only. Postage and handling, if not completely satisfied, I return may the books handling charges will be added lo all subsequent shipments GETTING INVOLVED WITH within 10 days and request that my membership be can- YOUR celled If I keep the books. I agree to take a minimum of Write Code * of Si 89 bonus Wrtte code 8 of three additional books during the next OWN COMPUTER two years at special book selection her* flrtl selection here Club prices (guaranteed 15% discount, often more. I will re- ceive the Club Bulletin A Guide for Beginners 13 timet a year. If I want to examine the featured selection. I need take no action. It will be ] c shipped automatically. If. by L. Solomon & S. Veit however. I want an alternate selec- tion-or no book al all-l simply notify the Club by returning the 771/952 Pub. Pr., $9.95 Club Pr.. $8.35 convenient card always enclosed I will alwaya have a minimum of 10 days in which to return the card and you will credit my account fully, including postage, if this is not the »D0«ESS_ PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES case. Membership in the Club is continuous but cancellable by me at any time after the four-book purchase requirement CITY by A. B. Tucker, Jr. has bean filled- This order subject fo acceptance by McGraw- Hill. Orders irom outside the continental U.S. must be p«*e- 654/158 Pub. Pr., $19.95 Club Pr., $14.95 paid. Company, business, or Institutional tax exemption P39356

CIRCLE 12t ON READER SERVICE CARD Pertec/MITS PCC 2000 hear It seems a strange place to about the latest from PCC, but there I was at a press conference at IEE Corp, in Tokyo, and Jerry Roby of PCC was giving out with the latest. First of all, he reaffirmed PCC's decision to concentrate on the small business market using the MITS name and Tokyo Uni- Professor Haruhisa Ishida of dropping Altair. He mentioned too that the largest computer sys- versity manages the S-100 bus was being modified to in Japan (four Hitachi 8800 series tem obtain hardware stability not, as some CPUs under one operating system), but is cynics have suggested, to prevent NEC's TK-80BS is a single board computer also a personal computing enthusiast and peripherals from being with the addition of a keyboard, power loans out 12 different systems to students "foreign" S-100 Altairs (excuse me, supply and TV monitor. for 2-week periods. plugged into MITS). English alpha- requires the use of both The new MITS PCC 2000 is an in- char- numerics as well as Chinese tegrated system for the very small Japanese standard keyboard acters. A business market. It has an 8080 incorporating a has been designed CPU, 64k, dual full-size floppy, 24 x 80 symbols but minimum set of katakana character screen with double density, to few versions of Basic are able and separate keyboard unit on a cable these symbols much less out- handle to the CPU/display/floppy unit. It required set of put the much larger with CP/M, Basic, and ISAM. Two comes 4000 plus Chinese characters. Other software packages developed necessary to define each bytes, are both internally and outside will be the smallest dot matrix character and available through PCC. capable of handling these characters is 10x10. Consequently, personal com- puters are not likely to expand upward In the Akihabara area of Tokyo, one can into small business systems in Japan. find stalls and shops selling calculators, considerably more detailed descrip- A connectors, resistors, or computers. One tion of the Japanese scene is con- building alone houses seven (!) retail com- tained in the paper "Personal Comput- puter shops along with numerous shops for ing in Japan" by Haruhisa Ishida de- hi-fi components, recorders, and small livered at the USA/Japan Computer electrical appliances. Conference in October 1978. with touch pen can input (Incidentally, if you think Japanese A "keyboard" people only have trouble pronouncing over 3000 Chinese characters. It outputs in 2-byte format to paper tape which is English words with "r", consider this a then read into the computer. sentence directly out of Mr. Ishida's paper. "Mr. Ed Yasaki of the Data- mation has called Prof. Yasuda one of settes and floppy disk software. The in Japan") York two gulus New crowds around the demonstration PET Personal & Business and Apple at our booth had to be seen Small Computer Show to be believed. We were running all eight of our tapes (44 programs) on the PET but people kept asking for Held in the New York Coliseum on ELIZA (Conversational Games- 1) and September 15-17, 1978, Ralph lanuz- ANIMAL (Educational Simulations-1). zi's NY P&BSC Show was as different Oh the Apple, the real crowd pleasers from John Dilk's PC'78 held three were Rocket Pilot, Star Wars (Space weeks earlier in Philadelphia as, well, Games-1) and Baseball (Sports-1). New York and Philadelphia. The New sour note at the NY York show attracted proportionately The only real closing time. The union more people off the street who wanted Show was at moving crew was on dinner break and to see what these little computers were absolutely refused to let people move At Tokyo University, the I/O Room has 5 all about. More retail stores exhibited their own equipment. Tempers flared card readers, 9 line printers and a wide in New York with more elaborate ex- management declined to assortment of other output devices: plot- hibits than Philadelphia. Despite the and the show hence, most exhibitors were ters, card punches, etc. Students' output is newspaper strike, the crowds came help out, held on massive disk files until later getting requested and attendees and exhibitors were stuck there until 10 pm or by insertion of the student's ID card in an Not only that, both generally pleased. madder by the minute. output device controller. The University the premier 3- York was the second show at but everyone missed system is the largest in New Japan with four hour episode of Battlestar Galactica! Hitachi CPU's and 8 megabytes of core which we had our line of tape cas- under one operating system. 34- Introducing the simple TRS-80 Up-grade

Fast, easy, guaranteed expansion to 16K at less than half the price of Radio Shack.

Ithaca Audio makes

it simple No false starts and finding you need some little item or special tool. Our'Kit contains all the parts: 8 prime dynamic RAMs and a complete set of preprogrammed jumpers. No matter which model you have

(even if you later purchase Level II software), you're covered. Complete Instructions Our easy-to-follow directions cut instal- lation time to just minutes. You can do it yourself—with no soldering! All you need is a household screwdriver. Available now, only $140 100% Guarantee Order from your favorite retailer. If by chance he hasn't stocked them yet we'll ship Like our kit, simple: if a part ever fails, we him your Kit right away. replace if, FREE.

For technical assistance call or write to:

< ITHACA AUDIO Phone: 607/273-3271 P.O. Box 91 Ithaca, New York 14850

Available off-the-shelf at these fine computer dealers.

Berkeley Byte Shop. 1514 Uni,.r,ity Ave (415) 845-6366 Marin,iDelR.y B«e B..ch Ave AL: Huntsvil.e: Compot.r1.nd. 3020 Uni..r,ity Ort... N.W.. (205) 539-1200 CA: 2J34M Astro Shopping Center. Kirkwood Highway. (303) 738-9656 FL 12131822-4499 Ml View Digital Dell BOW El Cmino. (415) 961-2670 DC: Newark Computerland of Del.w.re. . Milwaukee Ave (312) 987-1714 Oak L.W£ Computerland 10935 144 South O.le M.bry. (813) 879-4301 IL: Nil..: Comput.r1.nd. 9511 North .. TampaI oiiiuo »."_Microcomputerwi.ui "* Systems. * K- —7- __ » — __.__ na.n.x .ACik **» mill CifLCQal uUir-K.m r nmnnlar Qvitlami n*(inn Qftfi Nnrfh Main SI .Tlfi

^orrtpuTe^nd^e^ City: Micro World. NYPENN Tr.d. Cwiter. RM 217. 435 Main Strwt. (607) 798-9800 OH: 48M New York City Computer M.rt of NY. 1 18 M.dison Ave.. (212) 686-7923 Johnson 1932 Brown St (513) 223-2348 OK: Oklahoma City: Micromc.. 2834 N W 39th St.. Cmcinn." Digital Design. 7694 Com.rgo Rd.. (513) 561-6733 D.ylon: Computer Solutions. 452-5701. Houston: Houston Computer Mart. 8029 Gulf Freew.y. (713) 849-4168 UT: (405) 942-8152 TX- Austin Computerised. Shoal Creek Plaza. 3300 Anderson Lane. (512) 224-5361. VA: Alexandria: Computer. Plus. 678 So Pickett St.. (703) 751-5656 Arlington Arlington Electronic. Orem Johnson Computer Electron*.. 699 N 1060 W . (801) Pe.rl St 879-1683 CANADA: Ontario Mississaugua: Aris.a Wholesalers 3636 Lee Hiahw.y (703) 524-2412 WT: Essex Junction Computer Mart of Vermont. 159 . (802) 484-9708 WEST GERMANY: Munich: A B.C. Computer Shop. Schelllng- M"c°oVyst.ms U55 Gregwood Rd (416) 274-6033 Toronto Computer Mart Ltd 1543 Bayview Ave . (416) Holzkirchen ISRAEL: Haifa: Microcomputer Eng. Ltd.. Haifa 31-070. str.sse 33. 8000 Munchen 40. Microcomputer Shop. Tortzerstr 8. D-815 CIRCLE 109 ON READER SERVICE CARD Up to now, I've written several of knowledge about electronics. list (blank casettes, dust cover, RAM articles about Radio Shack's TRS-80 All reporting on hardware and chips, etc.); programming informa- off-the-shelf, ready-to-run computer, software products, in this column, will tion; user group and special-interest in Creative Computing. There were be on the basis of having checked group information; bugs, ideas and articles on the Level-I computer them out personally. tips ("take off and store back door; (Jan/Feb 1978); Level-I user's manual otherwise you'll break it." Hmmmm); and the Math I and Home Recipe Guide to TRS-80 Information. This things to come (author's predictions, programs (May/June 1978); payroll 20-page offset-printed guide is a must such as tapes to convert BASIC to program (May/June 1978); and Level- for any really serious TRS-80 nut. Fortran and BASIC to COBOL). II BASIC (Sept/Oct 1978). All this Although, it's not very easy to read in The guide was "compiled, edited software was Radio Shack's. some places, either because an old and annotated" by Richard A. It's high time to switch to a regular ribbon was used in typing the Heubner and is available from his column, as of this issue, because originals or the printer didn't do a wife: Mrs. Florence E. Heubner, Box there are so many things available good job, nevertheless there's a great 37206, Oak Park, Michigan 48237, at now for the TRS-80 that occasional deal of useful information here. $3 each; 2 to 9, $2.50; 10 or more, articles just can't cover them all. The eight sections cover general $1 .90 each. Full refund if not satisfied. There are games, educational and information (such as my article about business programs on tape, the Level-I manual); software articles; CLOAO Magazine. Publisher Ralph software list (17 suppliers of TRS-80 "magazines" on cassette and on thin McElroy describes CLOAD this way plastic records, adapters programs— list out of date, of course, for non- in his flyer: "This magazine is the but a starting list); other Radio-Shack hardware, plastic good ultimate in computer magazines. You covers for software sources (author not quite your machine, expansion Can't Read It!! (Your computer can.)" memory and a raft of goodies being sure just what the 32 sources offer); By first-class mail every month, hardware articles; planned or prototyped all over the special hardware subscribers get a C-30 audio cassette country. to "pop into your TRS-80 computer The Personal Computing 78 show, and go." The five or six programs on held August 24-27 in Philadelphia, each cassette are a mixture of games, showed just what mix can be ex- "practical programs," education and pected, for the present at least, in trivia. A year's subscription is $36 TRS-80/PET/Apple software. Many (was $24 until September 1 978, due to booths were offering software tor the what the April CLOAD called "poor TRS-80, some had PET programs, financial judgment"), six months for and a few had Apple software. $20, $3.50 for a single issue. Address: I'll try to report on all the hardware CLOAD Magazine, Box 1267, Goleta, made for the TRS-80 by Radio Shack CA 93017. and everybody else. As for the I've run the first six issues of software, I'll check out most of what CLOAD. starting with the first, dated Radio Shack has to offer, and at least March 1978. Ralph had some one cassette (or whatever medium) problems at first, but so does any from each company (or individual) innovator (remember the original producing programs. I'll report on the ?). The April issue, accor- various TRS-80 Users Group Notes, ding to the comment sheet packed and publish interesting contributions with the May issue, contained "some from Creative readers (but no long data . . . that would load, but it would programs, please—just clever shor- not run, nor would it list. That's right ties). In short, just Fourteen year old Ralph Lipe took top honors at about everything folks, it was not a program We had a recent Fort Worth Regional Science Fair by relating to the TRS-80 will be covered a data 'block' prepared for writing a TRS-80 program that guides a person this in this column, other than hardware step-by-step through the 1040-A tax form The month's graphing program, but we modifications of a lengthy kind in- program took Ralph (shown here with his decided not to put it in because our parents) 60 hours volving schematics and requiring a lot to write and debug. mass duplicators had a hard time with 36- CREATIVE COMPUTING April's data block." Several of the a program the label calls COVER, and such as bond yield to maturity, loan

early issues were mailed out late; I got it's just like the cover of a magazine. schedules, etc.; and math programs my June issue on July 31. However, Except that, below a top portion that including linear regression and stan- most of the bugs have been removed presents CLOAD in IVl-inch-high dard deviation. and CLOAD deserves your attention. matrixed letters made up entirely of My favorite is in the August issue:

According to the notes I wrote the little rectangular graphics blocks, JUKEBOX, which plays, in a bass while checking out the May CLOAD, there are continually-changing electronic buzz, very clearly inden-

which was the first I tried, "Couldn't graphics, repeating the same tifiable tunes through an AM radio get the asterisks to flash. Pulled out program over and over, until you placed "near space-bar on the black EARphone plug, as the blue BREAK and then load the next keyboard." The six are Michael Row comment sheet says to do, to hear program. the Boat Ashore, Marines Hymn, when the program starts so I'd know The first CLOAD COVER showed a Clementine, Oh Susannah, Silent when to expect the flashing asterisks. fairly simple design, described in the Night, and The Sound of Silence. publisher April as a "last-ditch effort Heard a voice! Must be the comments At this point you're sure to ask: just [it was the editor], giving greetings, by yours truly," due to the unfor- what sort of programming permits "artistic creations apologizing for the April issue being tunate fact that playing music? Well, a LIST of so late, saying there'd be no have a way of refusing to adhere to a JUKEBOX shows that the program background music for this issue, may publishing schedule." Later COVERS consists basically of 17 subroutines it in future, problems." were more interesting (and not use caused for each of 1 7 notes in an octave and a confusing): a series Not until the June comment sheet sometimes more half, and six groups of lines for the six did CLOAD let subscribers in on what of stock-market curves (April); early tunes, with the duration and pitch of may still have been a mystery to U.S. flags (May); a random group of each note specified for each tune. "Listen to the tape. With your graphics blocks that get blasted off some: The first note of Clementine, an F, is searching ears, that is. We have had many the screen by a patiently played by these three lines: people complain that programs blaster (June); a group of various- 40 FOR K=1 TO 17*L wouldn't load, or would load only on sized rectangles (July); and concen- 41 A=A+111 one side. There is speech in there tric ellipses with randomly-selected 42 NEXT K it load at any level. There (August). folks— won't sizes and placements Run just those three with L (for from this issue won't be any speech Curiously, the COVER has been Length) equal to 1.8, and with an AM of on the on, because we're out room describing CLOAD as "The Audible radio near the space-bar, and you'll the first to tape." The June issue was Magazine" ever since the June issue, hear a short beep. Change the L to side of the put the programs on one which was the first to drop the audio 3.6, and line 41 to A=A+1, and you'll Level-I BASIC, and on the cassette in because there was no room for it. hear a C played twice as long. By Level-ll. Actually, the other in someof Frankly, the audio portion of substituting other expressions in line in Level-ll are programs that appear CLOAD was a nuisance. You had to 41, you'll get different notes. Try reissues of old programs previously change the setting of the CRT-41's A=12-12+1, A=A-A+123456, and written only in Level-I BASIC. volume control back and forth when A=A-A. Can you figure out why Incidentally, if you don't know by the tape changed from audio to data, different notes are caused by now, the big difference between the or vice versa, and it wasn't all that different expressions? Level-I and Level-ll programs is that easy to remember each time to do it. Keeping an AM radio close to your the abbreviations permitted in Level- Now to get down to the programs space-bar is a good way to find out I, such as P. for PRINT, aren't allowed themselves. The first issue, March exactly when a particular program in Level-ll. That's what the conver- 1978, had CM&ML, a metric guessing starts loading, because when it does, sion tape sent with Level-ll machines game in which you're shown volumes you get the same high tone you do is for: to convert P. to PRINT, G. to and lengths and asked what are the when you pull out the EARplug, a GOTO, etc. milliliters or centimeters in each case; good way to ruin the loading. Then The mix of programs on CLOAD BREAK, in which a brick is thrown at a you can let the TRS-80 load while you may not please everybody, but could window, but halfway in the trajectory attend to other chores, until the tone you select five or six programs that, the brick becomes invisible, and you disappears. Then you come back to printed in these pages, would be have to guess when it will hit the the TRS-80 and RUN the program. guaranteed to turn on every Creative glass, and the closer the brick gets to Some of the comment sheets Computing subscriber? the glass before you hit BREAK, the accompanying CLOAD issues offer The first issues had audio that higher your score; SAND CASTLE, in tutorial information on programming. announced what programs were on which you build a mountain (not a And the June 1978 CLOAD included the tape, as well as having labels on castle, really) 18 layers high, using the description of modifications to the cassette shell to indicate, with sand, gravel and brick, with rules that the CTR-41 that "allow you to listen to reasonable accuracy, where each make it interesting until you realize the tape (at a comfortable volume) program started according to the tape that the game can be beaten by while loading its data into the com- counter, assuming you'd reset it to figuring it out from the top down, and puter." and change the function of the zero before starting. There are two you could even write a subroutine to "tone hi-lo" switch so that in one tape-counter numbers, because each do this; LOGIC is Mastermind with position, the computer has control of program is recorded twice, just as numbers; and CHECKBOOK is a the motor; in the other, the motor is Radio Shack double-records each reconciliation program. always on, "handy for fast forward program on their cassette tapes. The next five CLOAD issues in- and rewind." This modification per- "This will give you," as the hints-and- clude programs for games such as manently sets the tone control to tips now sent with all Radio Shack one-pocket pool, horserace, auto "hi." programs says, "a back-up if one race, tic-tac-toe, pinball, Life, shoot- For a sample issue to see how you does not load properly or if it down-the-space-fighter, etc.; like CLOAD, if you'd rather take a becomes damaged." tutorials on scientific notation, short look before subscribing, send in Each CLOAD now starts with a algebraic factoring, and algebraic $3.50 (in California, $3.71) for the standard opening, without audio: it's multiplication; "practical programs" June 1978 CLOAD, which has

-37- NOV/DEC 1978 Seethe BrighterWriter Knight's Tour, scientific notation and "published as often as monthly," by algebraic factoring in Level-I and Computer Information Exchange, at Level-ll, and PILOT (dogfight down Inc., Box 158, San Luis Rey, CA the trench) and ZARBOR (fly the 92068, at $10 for 12 issues. these stores. spaceship over the mountain) in Level-I. Or if you like the TRS-80 Dust Covers. At the Philadelphia Arizona tunes in JUKEBOX, ask for the Byte Shop. Tempe. AZ show, I saw a neat dustcover for the August 1978 CLOAD, which also Byte Tucson. AZ TRS-80 keyboard, made of Shop. contains LIFE and California (JUKEBOX LIFE "vinyl/cloth," and available from are in Level-I), yield Jade Computer Products. bond and PIN- some dealers or from International BALL in both, and PILOT and ZAR- Hawthorne. CA Technical Systems, Box 264, Wood- BOR in Level-ll BASIC. Byte Shop. Lawndale. CA bridge, VA 22194, at $9.95 plus 75C for Computer Center. San Diego. CA CLOAD pays for programs, by the shipping and handling. They'll be Byte Shop. San Jose. CA way, "from $25 or so for a front cover, coming out soon with a toaster-type Byte Shop. San Rafael. CA to $250, maximum, for a well-coded cover for the video monitor. Computer Store, Santa Monica. CA program of a practical nature. The Connecticut average program submission which is The Computer Store, Windsor Locks. CT Radio Shack Computer Centers. accepted falls in the $75-to-$100 Colorado Plans to open 50 computer sales and category." A reader told me CLOAD Computer Technology. Denver. CO service stores in 1978 bought one of his programs for $150. and 1979 were Hawaii Spelling mistakes look bad enough announced in late August by Lewis Microcomputer System. Honolulu. HI in print, but on a TRS-80 screen they Kornfeld, president of Radio Shack, Illinois said, "While will IL really stand out. CLOAD has had who some be located )is Microcomputers. Naperville. bloopers such as "interast," within new or existing Radio Shack Iowa stores, most will separate entities, Memory Bank. Davenport. IA "negitive," and, best of all, be Kansas "copywritten." They've improved. and all are expected to be in major Computer Systems Design. Wichita. KS Not markets. They will be called Radio enough imaginative use of the Louisiana TRS-80's graphics Shack Computer Centers and their capabilities is of New Orleans. LA purpose will be to assist area Radio made in many of these tapes, which is Massachusetts Shack stores in answering computer a common problem in TRS-80 CPU Shop. Charlestown. MA software these days. Apparently most questions and closing sales, and to Computer Mart. Waltham. MA hotshot programmers aren't hotshot develop quantity sales, principally of Michigan graphicists. Two different breeds of Radio Shack TRS-80 microcomputer Newman Computer Exchange. cat? systems and peripheral equipment, to Arbor. MI My only other major complaint businesses and institutions." United Microsystems Corporation. Ann Arbor. MI about CLOAD is that no program "The stores," Kornfeld continued, Hobby Electronics. Flint. MI contains a REM line other than one "will provide market-area service on Radio Shack computer products, iter Mart. Royal Oak. MI naming the author. JUKEBOX would Nebraska have been much easier for thus extending to nearly 100 the me to omputer Store. Omaha. NE number of service facilities operated figure out with a few REM lines, and New Hampshire many TRS-80 by Radio Shack in this country and owners would surely : >uter Mart. Nashua. NH like to figure out how the CLOAD will include classroom areas where New Jersey the programs work. The publisher of company can teach computer use Computer Mart. Iselin. NJ CLOAD says REM lines would make and programming to its customers New York the programs too long. Well then, as and prospects." Micro Mart. Syracuse. NY an alternative, why not add one more In addition, the centers will display Ohio page to the comments sheets and and sell "a variety of pieces and parts, Cybershop Microcomputer Systems. include notes on the programs as well as packaged software and Columbus. OH Dayton Computer Mart. themselves, telling what the various possibly hardware items of makes Dayton. OH 21st Century Shop groups of lines do, explaining some of other than Radio Shack," Kornfeld said. Cincinnati. OH the tricky parts and pointing out the Oregon clever bits of programming? To me, Oregon Computer Company, that would make CLOAD worth twice Customer Service. If you've got Eugene. OR as much, if not more. hardware or software problems with Computer Pathways Unlimited, your TRS-80, :.em. OR TRS-80 Computing. The first issue there's a customer of Texas this new 32-page magazine (printed service number to call in Fort Worth, Micro Mike's. Amanita. TX on paper, not Texas: (817) 390-3583. Don't be cassette) is dated Interactive Computers. surprised if it takes you awhile to get August 1978, and is addressed mainly Houston. TX through, because at the last count, to hardwaremen who want to get Byte Shop. Richardsc: inside their TRS-80 and modify. over 7,500 calls a week were being Virginia made to that number, and the The first issue has articles on how by time rs Plus. Alexandria. VA read this, to modify for Level-ll lower case, how you the count may be up to iter Place. Roanoke. VA 10,000 a week. to have both Level-I and II on the Washington, D.C. same TRS-80, the design of the TRS- Georgetown Computers. Washington. 80 by its architect (Steve Leininger), Next. Saw many other TRS-80 DC how to expand TRS-80 memory to goodies at that fine show, Personal ComputerLand 1 6K yourself, how to use DOS Version Computing 78, will report on as many jst stores

1, TRS-80 schematics (10 pages of as I can in the next TRS-80 sTRingS those), etc. TRS-80 Computing is column. Integral Data Systems, Inc. 14 Tech Circle, Natick, MA 01 760 (617)237-7610 — .

Pay a little bit and get a printer that's brighter than your computer. The BrighterWriter.

When a few dollars more buys Picture your page as thou- button to turn it on. A test button to

I you a first-class impact printer, sands of dots. The BrighterWriter self-test your printer. A paper feed why settle for a toy? The Brighter- can fill in the dots, plot them con- button to advance the sheets or Writer gives you quality to start tiguously, stack them, or scatter forms. A line feed button to with. And versatility that stays them. And its special set of gra- advance the paper a line at

even if you outgrow your phic characters a time. present personal computer. simplifies the a D :..* <&*Pj$.*P Prints Built smart like the big ones. process. any-which- way. | The BrighterWriter's a smart *... *J U Prints any char- The BrighterWriter comes in 5" »" I printer. There's a microcomputer acter a typewriter two models. The IP-225, at $949, i inside. It outwits even the bigger, can. Faster . . gives you a BrighterWriter with higher-priced printers. So you The BrighterWriter can print tractor-feed drive for precision get versatility to do all kinds of plain and simple. With 7x7 dot forms control. This one can printing. And power to grow on. get all the let- handle everything from labels to I matrix clarity You Prints fat, skinny, ters, numbers, and standard 8 W paper widths. tall, small.* ^ symbols of a It has eight form lengths and A This printer can regular gives you all the features of our IP-125. dbcdcf be as creative as your imag- A brighter •••I»* a"~it K""U t < ination. Stretch buy. "Hi abcdef out your char- Our IP-125, lacters. Squeeze them close. friction -feed , BrighterWriter

I Make them high. Low. has a 96 character set and

Bold. Banner. You name it. prints on 8V2" wide paper. Plugs into your computet Upper and lowercase. It prints | No matter what personal expanded characters, too. You can choose a RS-232 serial I computer you own or plan to or parallel interface. $799 Ibuy, the BrighterWriter plugs in. typewriter. At up [Simply and quickly Hundreds to 165 characters/sec. Lots of goodies.

I of BrighterWriters are working in Ordinary paper There's more. Choose all kinds

I Apple, TRS-80, Heathkit, S-100 Fancy or plain, the Brighter- of options for your BrighterWriter. land many other personal Writer prints on ordinary paper. Up to 132 characters per line, var- (computer systems right now. Better yet, it prints on many iable character densities, larger Pictures and fancy shapes of paper. Single sheets. buffers, special graphics pack- symbols.* Roll. Fanfold. ages, interface cables, and more. I The BrighterWriter Want more copies? The Give us a call or write. Integral * © BrighterWriter prints multiple Data Systems, 14 Tech Circle, I draws out your cre- copies without extra adjustments. Natick,MA01760, (617) 237-7610. 1 ativity. You can print [drawings, graphs, Four easy buttons. Better yet, see the Brighter- Writer at the store nearest you. I diagrams, bold symbols, or just Operating the BrighterWriter about any graphic you can couldn't be simpler. Up-front con- to. I imagine. trols are easy to get A power Integral Data Systems, Inc. "Some of these advantages require extra-cost options. CIRCLE 141 ON READER SERVICE CARD lersonal Electronic Transactions by Gregory Yob

I am happy to hear from you. and encourage

your correspondence I will try to acknowledge all correspondence, and a SASE makes things easier for both of us. Please send your letters to "Personal Electronic Transactions" c/o PO Box 354, Palo Alto. CA 94301.

It is my pleasure to bring to you a advertisements by hardware and SPHINX Newsletter column about the Commodore Pet software suppliers for the PET as well Lawrence Hall of Science, Computer personal computer. As many of you as programs, software exchanges, Project, University of California, know (especially PET owners), the bibliographies, etc. If you ask for their Berkeley, CA 94720. $3.00 for 6 issues. documentation available from Com- back issues, you will have a wealth of This is the newsletter for the two modore is rather scanty, and after you information sources for the PET. Bay Area PET clubs, PET Users Group have struggled for many hours to get and SPHINX. It carries many rather your PET to do a simple thing, you PET Information Sources technical articles and some product might conclude that you own a Per- announcements. The Transactor sonally Exasperating Thingamabob. It Commodore Business Machines, 901 People's Computers is my hope that this column will help California Ave, Palo Alto, 94301. PO Box E, Menlo Park, CA 94025. remove some of these frustrations and CA Free owners. Monthly magazine, $8.00 per year. help you become a competent and to PET is an advertisement A general magazine for com- happy user of your PET(s). This mostly sheet sent monthly to registered PET puterists, and carries one or two The scope of this column is owners (you must send in your warran- articles on the PET per issue, usually everything and anything to do with the ty card), and announces the PET oriented towards the beginner. PET, with one deliberate omission. peripherals (tape unit & printer & When I go to visit some of the PET user Calculators/Computers Magazine floppy discs to date) and software to be clubs, a major topic of conversation is PO Box 310, Menlo Park, CA 94025. available. Commodore, with an equal mixture of $10.00 for 6 issues/year "When will" questions, and variously The XXX Paper An educationally oriented magazine vehement complaints. The subject of (formerly PET Paper) PO Box 43, with two or three PET articles in each Commodore, pro, con, and when, will, Audubon, PA 19407. $15.00 for 10 issue. not be covered here for two major issues. Personal Software List reasons: First, Commodore did make a This is a monthly publication, mostly A compilation of PET, TRS-80 and real machine that runs when you turn it oriented to beginners, and carries APPLE software programs and ven- on, comes up in BASIC, and can be articles describing BASIC, some of the dors for $2.00. PO Box 466, El Dorado, PET's odd features, and lists a variety made to do interesting, useful and fun CA 95623 things without too much trouble. In the of software & hardware. So, don't wait for this column - get personal computing field, this is a PET User Notes copies of the above, and you will be major accomplishment!!! underline To PO Box 371, Montgomeryville, PA gaining even more! this, I should mention that my IMSAI, 18936. $5.00 for 6 issues. As mentioned at the bottom of this though perfectly functional, hasn't This is a monthly publication with a column, I welcome correspondence, been turned on in the last 8 months, wide variety of notes concerning the and I will try to acknowledge all of it. and I use my PET nearly every day. PET, and two or three interesting As this is inviting a flood of mail. I Second, I was an employee of program listings per issue. It also cannot guarantee replies to most Commodore from December 77 to carries advertising for software & letters, but I will use their content to April 78. and I not feel that public do hardware. help choose what to present in future complaints about Commodore's Ser- columns. Remember that my 'lead vice PET Gazette and responsiveness to their time' is about 3 months. customers will have much impact on 1929 Northport Drive, Room 6, Madison Wl 53704. Free on request by As an example, the following clears Commodore. I leave it to you to wonder why. individuals. the screen, prints a ball in the center, 3This is and then says hello: PRINT "clr rt rt As a PET owner, the first thing you a monthly publication with rtrtrtrtrtrtrtrtrtrtrtrtrtrtrtrtrtrt probably want is some information on extensive listings of PET suppliers, articles, dn dn dn dn dn dn dn dn dn dn dn the machine - here is a brief list of the various technical and a large Q software exchange. dn dn Ift Ift Iff HELLO" PET related publications that I have NOTE: You will notice that the PET come across. Most of these carry A lot of information in this one. special function keys will provide

-40- CREATIVE COMPUTING some queer-looking symbols if you If you want to have your corners in insert character (INST key) press them after entering a quotation rounded, the "Addition to the box kit" del delete character (DEL key) mark. As drawing these would be just will give you nice corners. These are up cursor up as difficult as doing all the graphics the characters U I J & K. As an dn cursor down characters, we will, from now on, exercise, change the tic-tac-toe rt cursor right ignore what actually appears on your program to have rounded corners. Ift cursor left PET when you make a LISTing - you The third group is the "other box kit" rvs reverse field on (RVS key) will eventually grow familiar with these and is made of: off reverse field off (OFF key) creatures, is odd and my purpose to O P L : for the corners run Load & go (RUN key) make it easy for you to duplicate the # $ % ' for the sides stop halt program (STOP key) various programs and amusements VNM for diagonals The fourth group is the "ramp kit" that I am presenting to you. and consists of two groups of lines: (Perhaps we can persuade This group is more difficult to use, # E D C @FR$ horizontal "ramp" somebody to make a 10 pitch Selectric and as a challenge to you, write a % T G B ] H Y ' vertical "ramp" ball for the PET set?? (sigh) This is my program that draws a "picture frame" A few moment's thought brings an fourth attempt at making a usable PET using this kit of characters. interesting discovery - each set has to typewriter translation, and at least eight characters, one for each possible this one is typable!!) horizontal and vertical line. Since the When you turn on your PET and PET has 25 lines vertically, and 40 diddle with the graphics keys, you will characters horizontally, a limited form notice that some groups of keys of high resolution' plotting is possible. provide "construction kits" for certain You can select one out of 320 types of pictures. Let's take a look at positions across the screen, and one some of these and see what they might out of 200 positions vertically. In the be good for. next column I will show some plotting The first group is the "playing card programs that use this feature. kit". This is the set of symbols for the The next group of characters in- card suits using the keys: A S Z X, clude those in "reverse field", that is, which are spade, heart, diamond and print them, the (rvs) key has club respectively. when you been pressed first, exchanging the The second group I call the "box kit" black and white areas. The first for it is handy for making forms, A Little Bit on PET Graphics example of this is the "bar graph set". playing boards, and the like. These When you press a PET key along For convenience, I am including the keys are: with the SHIFT key, you will see a (off) character as well, for when you @] for horizontal and vertical sides graphics character appear on your are in a program, - = using these you . for the corners screen. There are 64 of these, cor- might not know if the PET is in reverse [12 3+ for interior parts and edges responding to each of the field mode or not. alphanumeric keys. Before we go Here is a little program that draws a farther into this, there is the problem off sp off °/o, off 4. off 5, off !, rvs 6, rvs tic-tac-toe board which uses all of of showing you the graphics and *, rvs ' and rvs sp - horizontal bar these characters: cursor movement keys in the printed graphs set (NOTE: All spaces will be indicated by ", page. The solution I have adopted off sp, off $. off /, off 9, off rvs 8. rvs 'sp'.) goes as follows, and you are advised 7, rvs # and rvs sp - vertical -bar graphs 10 PRINT "clr dn dn dn dn dn dn" to make a copy for reading future set 20 PRINT TAB(15) "0 @ 2 @ 2 @." columns. (Unless I can "] ]" persuade John 30 PRINT TAB(15) sp ] sp ] sp In the next column I will show some Craig to publish this in each issue!) "+ 3" using these characters for 40 PRINT TAB(15) @ [ @ [ @ programs 50 PRINT TAB(15) "] sp ] sp ] sp ]" bar graphs. "+ 3" PET Listing Conventions 60 PRINT TAB(15) [ [ @ The next set has been discovered by @ @ 1) Uppercase characters, numbers 70 PRINT TAB(15) "] sp ] sp ] sp ]" many, and is the "double density "- =" and punctuation represent themselves 80 PRINT TAB(15) @ 1 @ 1 @ plotting set". The PET has 16 only. For example, 10 PRINT "HI characters which represent all possi- Here is a diagram of what you THERE, THIS IS AN EXAMPLE !!!" is ble patterns in a 2 x 2 cell: should see on your PET screen when just exactly that. you RUN this program: 2) Underlined characters in upper off sp, off , off , off , , off ; , off ! , off case, numbers and punctuation repre- ",off ?. ", sent the corresponding GRAPHICS rvs sp, rvs , rvs , rvs ,, rvs ;, rvs character. For example, 10 PRINT rvs ? QWQWQWQW" will print eight For those of you without PETs, the "balls" alternating with full and empty above characters look like this: ones. If you see an uppercase letter, or a number, or punctuation with an underline, it means to press the SHIFT HHQBEHH key as well. 3) Lowercase letters mean that a PET JLTf I-.' special purpose key is being used. These are shown below: Again, the next column will explore sp space-usually only when there these characters too. might be some A few of the PET graphics confusion as to how many, characters have been omitted, namely, clr clear screen (CLR key) ft / ( ) and . I have found the last two hm home cursor (HOME key) handy for drawing big letters & sym-

-41- NOV/DEC 1978 bols the on screen. The three "grey" 10 PRINT" some instructions 30GETA$:IFA$ ""THEN 100 characters, which look like miniature 20 PRINT " some more instructions 40 PRINT "spiff; checkerboards when viewed closely, etc. 50 GOTO 20 do not seem to be very used often. 300 PRINT" iast of this bunch of in- 100 PRINT "OK" They often appear in borders, and the structions 110 GOTO 10 & is used to simulate the cursor. 310 PRINT" dn PRESS ANY KEY"; " The program prints "ANYTHING : 320 GET A$: IF A$="" THEN Simulated Cursors 320 and waits for you to enter a character - It is all 330 PRINT "clr start of the next page of too easy to use the INPUT when you do so, it prints "OK" and in instructions statement BASIC, to discover later does it again. Line 20 prints the false that when a program is running that cursor (the little grey character), and you have pressed RETURN without Line 310 tells the reader that when line 40 prints a SPACE to erase it. entering anything - and your PET he is done, to press a key to go on. It is Notice the cursor left which puts the

back with , comes READY. and your important to provide this, by the way, cursor on top the & or sp as the case program is no longer running. This for when a computer just "sits there," it may be. friendly behaviour is if especially nasty I is very confusing to try and decide When I RUN this program, see the you are in the midst of exciting an what the right thing to do is - so always & all right, but it doesn't blink! The game, or a long important program. & tell your user what he is expected to reason is that the program is blinking This PET "feature" will most likely do. it too fast for me to see. If a little delay appear when you are showing your Line 320 has two statements. The is added: to friend is PET a who new to first one, GET A$, looks at the 25 FOR J 1 TO 10: NEXT computers, and that's the time you keyboard and fetches any character 45 FOR J 1 TO 10 : NEXT want your program to be as "idiot- that might be there. proof" as possible. A very rapid blinking cursor' is now The second one (notice the colon is Fortunately, the PET has a way to evident. To adjust the speed, change a statement separator) checks if A$ is enter single characters without stop- the lines 25 & 45 by making the loop empty. If A$ is empty, the thing to do is ping the program, and permits all of longer. A count of around 200 is about try again until a character is found. the characters, including RETURN. the same speed as the PET cursor. This is simply a jump to the same line This is the GET statement. When you You might find that a different speed the GET A$ is found in. The two use GET to enter a string, any key is more comfortable to use - some quotation marks must be next to each which has been pressed previously friends I know find the PET cursor very other - if you try IF A$ = "sp" you are will be returned to you as a one- annoying. You might try other checking for SPACE instead of "no character string. If no keys have been one is rvs V) and characters entered". characters (one good pressed, an empty (or null) string will try making the time "off" different from Let's try our hand at making a cursor be returned. the time "on" by making one delay which blinks, and doesn't look like the If you are displaying instructions, loop longer than the other one. I would PET cursor (this is a subtle way of for example, it is handy to let the user like to hear from you regarding the telling the user that the program is press any key to go on to the next most comfortable kinds of cursors'. running ok). Here is a first attempt: page of information. Here are two very See you next issue useful lines of BASIC code for the 10 PRINT "ANYTHING: sp"; PET: 20 PRINT "& 1ft";

THE ART OF COMPUTER PROGRAMMING BITS inc Books to erase the impossible Praised by critics as the best books in their field, these texts are part of a projected seven * volume omnibus survey of k • The Best of the Microcomputer computer science now being Book Field completed by Donald E Knuth. • 150 Titles Volume I, FUNDAMENTAL • Self-published Works ALGORITHMS, 634 pp.; • Posters Volume II, SEMINUMERICAL • T-Shirts ALGORITHMS, 624 pp; Order Today • Special Interest Books & Items III, SEARCHING Volume Send your orders to: • All Orders Shipped in 24 hours AND SORTING, 772 pp. BITS, Inc. Hardcover. $21.95 each plus Dept. 8, P.O. Box 428 75 cents postage & handling. Peterborough, NH 03458 Write for * FREE CATALOG or circle the inquiry number on your reader service card. Dial your bank card orders TOLL-FREE: 800-258 5477

CIRCLE 117 ON READER SERVICE CARD 42 CREATIVE COMPUTING .

Osborne & Associates, Inc. The World Leaders in Microprocessor Books

If you want information on microprocessors, read the Osborne books.

An Introduction to Microcomputers Program Books Written in BASIC

Volume - The Beginner's Book Volume 2 - Some Real Microprocessors Payroll with Cost Accounting - If you're not familiar with computers, but Volume 3 Some Real Support Devices Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable would like to be. then this is the book for and update subscriptions General Ledger you. Computer logic and terminology are These two books provide complete These books feature complete, quality introduced in a language the beginner can descriptions of virtually every applications software for small-to-medium understand. Computer software, hardware microprocessor and most support devices. sized businesses. Each book includes fully and component parts are described, and There are no other books like these; they documented program listings, sample simple explanations given for how they provide detailed part descriptions from an printed reports, installation instructions work. Text is supplemented with creative independent source. and user's manual. Written in an extended illustrations and numerous photographs. To cope with the rapid evolution of Wang BASIC (write to ask us about our

toil pages. microprocessor products. Volumes 2 and t < T/M (BASK version and other

have been printed in loose leaf form; each conversions) . 37$ pages each. II | Volume #08- X $7.95 volume has its own series of six bimonthly Pavroll #09-8 $15.00 updates, allowing you to remain current Volume I - Basic Concepts AP&AR #13-6 $15.00 with all parts as soon as they are really (•. Ledger not yet available, see order form A must for anyone in the computer field, available. I pdates sold separately. this best selling text explains hardware These two books replace the 1977 concepts common to all Some Common BASIC Programs and programming edition of Volume II - Some Real microprocessors. Its universal appeal is Products. 76 short practical programs, most of which reflected by its having the greatest yearly can be used on any microcomputer with Volume 2 with binder #14-4 S2ll.no sales volume of any computer text. 350 any version of BASIC Complete with Volume v with binder #17-9 $20,041 pages. program descriptions, listings, remarks V illume 2 update only $2S.00/yr. and examples. 200 pages. Volume I #02-0 $8.50 Volume ' update only s2 voo/v r. V oliime 2 and 3 updates $40.90/) r. SCBP #06-3 $8.50

Assembly Language Programming Programming for Logic Design 8080 Programming for Logic Design 8080AI8085 Assembly Language Programming 6800 Programmingfor Logic Design 6800 Assembly Language Programming Z80 Programmingfor Logic Design

These books describe how to program a these books describe the meeting ground microcomputer using assembly language. of programmers and logic designers; They discuss classical programming written for both, they provide detailed techniques, and contain simplified examples to illustrate effective usage of in traditional digital programming examples relevant to today 'l microprocessors microcomputer applications. 400 pages applications. 300 pages each each. K0K0 #04-7 $8.50 8080\/8085 #10-1 $8.50 6800 #05-5 $8.50 6X011 #12-8 $8.50 7.80 #11-X $8.50

Osborne & Associates, Inc. BOOK # & TITLE PRICE QUANTITY AMOUNT e* P O Box 2036. dept L6 1415) 548-2805 Berkeley. CA 94702 USA TWX 910-366-7277

Please lend the following information O Becoming en OCrA dealer SHIPPING iShippinq for large orders to be arranged) Cekforma residents ta« O School discounts Vol 2 and Vol 3 update subscriptions O List of foreign distributors shipping All foreign orders $4 00 per 6 issue subscription for arrmarj D More information on OCtA books D O No charge in the U S 4th class mail ONLY Notice when General Ledger is avertable D TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSf.0 Books Payment m advance must be enclosed for purchases D AH foreign orders $3 00 per book for airmail of to $70 00 Invoicing u S purchases over $70 00 up Cal-f residents add sales tax $0 35 par book 4th class lalfow 2 3 weeks in the U S I 6% variable upon approval of vour account AH foreign BAP.T residents 6 1 2 sates taa D $0 75 par book UPS m the U S leaow 10 days' SF add % orders must be prepaid in u S dollars drawn on a U S Q $1 50 per book special rush shipment by air m the u S bank F11

NOV/DEC 1978 43 CIRCLE 119 ON READER SERVICE CARD . :

Operatin System.* John Craig

With the ever-increasing use of sophisticated packages on the lineup. I just hope you'll keep those operating systems with personal market today. cards and letters coming so we can computers it seemed the time was — Chuck keep all of them nice and busy! And right for a column to answer reader's Grant is the President of North Star (VERY IMPORTANT), do not send questions on this complex subject. and the man who helped develop inquiries, questions, or whatever This column will be devoted to both North Star's DOS and Basic. (We directly to the people I've listed. All disk-based and high-speed cassette threw the first question his way to get correspondence should be sent to: operating systems. Some of the ques- the ball rolling this month.) Operating Systems Q&A tions might concern the capabilities, Processor Technology — Steve Creative Computing operation, software which can be run, Dompier is one of the real pioneers in PO Box 789-M problems, compatability with other personal computers. (Did you ever Morristown, NJ 07960 OS's, costs, availability, updates and hear the story about how he returned To get things going, we posed the whatever else you can think of. If from a trip to Albuquerque NM in following question to Chuck Grant you've got a question regarding your early 1 975 with an Altair tucked under Q: "Recent literature indicates that operating system, or one you're his arm? He took the thing to one of the latest version of North Star's DOS, thinking of getting, we hope you'll go the first meetings of the Homebrew Release 4, provides a capability for directly to your typewriter, put it Computer Club and was commenting coming up running in a user's Basic down on paper and send it in. The on how MITS was unable to get program. Is this a difficult thing to chances are there are many others memory boards manufactured . . implement? In any case, would you who want the same question boards which worked. Bob Marsh describe the procedure?" It's answered. called sharing. . and we walked up to Steve and, as he was A: Being able to simply power up all benefit from it. holding one of the MITS 4K dynamic and begin executing a Basic pro- The talent we have lined up to boards, said something like "I'll bet we gram gives the programmer great answer your questions is very im- could start a company and manu- flexibility over the operating environ- pressive. Here's a list of the head- facture 8K boards for this computer." ment he wants to provide to users of liners (and if they can't get the ques- So was born Processor Tech- his system. For example, a games tion answered, for whatever reason, nology!) Steve has been in on the diskette could be created that merely we've got an equally impressive development of PTDOS, their needs to be inserted into the disk backup "crew"): operating system for the Helio disk drive at power on. The user would system. (He also wrote a fantastic immediately be able to communicate PolyMorphic Systems — Don Wil- video game called "Target" which with a "menu" program that helped liams is Poly's #1 jetsetter and in keeps my kids in a tying-up-computer him select a game. The user would between flying around the county mode for hours!) not need to know anything about getting dealers established, he'll MECA — Derryl Millican, will take DOS or Basic. answer inquires on the Poly 88-10, care of any questions which arise The procedure for setting up a 88-13 and 88 systems. concerning his company's Alpha-1 Basic program to be loaded and Digital Group — David Bryant, is a Cassette Operating System (MECOS executed at power-on consists of two student at the University of Southern — a dual Phi-deck system) for their parts: California who writes operating sys- Delta-1 Disk system... or a combina- 1.) Create a file containing Basic tems in his spare time. He wrote tion of the two! and the desired Basic program. DISKMON and PHIMON, Digital ICOM — Art Childs, former editor 2.) Inform DOS that immediately Group's disk and Phi-deck operating of SCCS Interface magazine, wrote after bootstrap load, the designated systems. file is to FDOS-III and maintained FDOS-1 & II be loaded and executed. CP/M — Tony Gold, founder of the when he was with ICOM and Pertec (Note that any program file can be CP/M User's Group. (as one of their super programmers). designated as the file to be run, not Alpha Micro — Dick Wilcox is the Southwest Technical Products — just Basic programs.) man behind Alpha Micro's AM-100. Dave Shirk, President of Technical The details of the procedure in- The hardware (a 16-bit micro- Systems Consultants (TSC), is the volve using DOS, Basic and the North processor based on the PDP/1 1 ) was man behind SWTP's new disk Star Monitor. Step-by-step instruc- his concept and he's put all the soft- operating system, FLEX. tions are given in the Release 4 ware together into documentation." one of the most Like I said, it's a rather impressive -44- CREATIVE COMPUTING COMPUTER INTERFACES & PERIPHERALS

For tree catalog including parts lists and schematics, send a self-addressed stamped envelope.

APPLE II SERIAL I/O TV. TYPEWRITER 8K STATIC INTERFACE * Part no 106 RAM • Part no 2 Stand alone TVT • 32 char/line. 16 Baud rate is continuously adjustable lines, modifications from to 30.000 • Plugs into any periph- for in- Part no. 300 eral connector • Low current drain RS- 64 char/ line • Parallel • • 232 input and output • On board switch cluded 8K Altair bus memory ASCII (TTL) input • selectable 5 to 8 data bits. 1 or 2 stop Uses2102 Static memory chips • Mem- Video output • 1K bits and parity or no parity either odd or ory protect • Gold contacts • Wait states • On on board memory • even • Jumper selectable address • board regulator • S-100 bus compatible • Vector Output for compu- SOFTWARE • Input and Output routine input option • TRI state buffered • Board only from monitor or BASIC to teletype or other serial printer ter controlled cur- with parts ser • Auto scroll • $2250; $160 00 • Program for using an Apple II lor a video or an intelli- Non-destructive curser • Curser left. gent terminal Also can output in correspondence code inputs up. down, right, • • +5 to interface with some selectncs Board only — $1500; home. EOL. EOS Scroll up. down Requires -12 with parts — $42 00: assembled and tested - $62 00 volts at 1 5 amps, and volts at 30 mA • All 7400. TTL chips • Char gen 2513 • Upper case only • Board only RF MODULATOR $39 00: with parts $145 00 Part no. 107 • Converts video to AM modu- Part no 109 TIDMA lated RF. Channels 2 or 3 So • Type 103 • Full or half powerful almost no tuning is re- duplex • Works up to 300 quired On board regulated baud • Originate or Ans- power supply makes this ex- wer • No coils, only low tremely stable Rated very cost components • TTL highly in Doctor Dobbs' Journal Recommended input and output-serial • by Apple • Power required is 12 volts AC C.T. or Connect 8 ohm speaker +5 volts DC • Board $7.60: with parts $13 50 and crystal mic. directly to board • Uses XR FSK demodulator • Requires +5 volts • Board $7 60; with parts $27.50 RS 232/TTY

Part no. 112 DC POWER SUPPLY* • Tape Interface Direct Memory Access • Record INTERFACE and play programs without bootstrap loader (no Part no 6085 prom) has FSK encoder/ decoder for direct con- • Board supplies a regulated +5 volts nections to low cost recorder at 1200 baud rate, Part no 600 at 3 amps. +12. -12. and -5 volts at and direct connections for inputs and outputs to a • Converts RS-232 to 20mA 1 amp "Power required is 8 volts AC digital recorder at any baud rate • S-100 bus com- current loop, and 20mA current at 3 . and 24 volts AC C.T. at 1 5 amps patible • Board only $35 00; with parts $110.00 loop to RS-232 • Two separate • Board only $12.50; with amps circuits • Requires +12 and -12 parts excluding transformers $42.50 volts • Board only $4.50, with parts $7 00 TAPE INTERFACE * UART & BAUD RATE Part no 111 GENERATOR* RS 232/TTL* • Play and record Kansas Part no 101 City Standard tapes • • Converts serial to parallel INTERFACE Converts a low cost tape and parallel to serial • Low recorder to a digital re- cost on board baud rate corder • Works up to 1200 generator • Baud rates: 110. Part no 232 150. 300. 600. 1200. and • baud • Digital in and out Converts TTL to RS-232. , *5 are TTL-serial • Output of 2400 • Low power drain and converts RS-232 to volts and -12 volts required board connects to mic in TTL • Two separate circuits " • TTL compatible • All characters contain a start bit. 5 to of recorder • Earphone of • Requires -12 and +12 volts 8 data bits. 1 or 2 stop bits, and either odd or even parity recorder connects fo input on board • No coils • • All connections go to a 10 pin gold plated edge • All connections go to a 44 pin gold plated edge connec- • connector • only $4 50; with Requires +5 volts, low power drain Board $7 60; tor • Board only $12 00; with parts $3500 with connector Board parts $700 with parts $27 50 add $3 00 with connector add $2 00

95151 i 21638 ' San Jose - Ca USA ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS De P *• p ° Box

Mention part number and description For parts kits add A" to part number In USA, shipping paid tor orders accompanied by check, money order, or To Order: Master Charge. BankAmericard. or VISA number, expiration date and signature Shipping charges added to COO orders California residents add 6 5% for tax Outside USA add 10% for air mail postage, no CO D s Checks and money orders must be payable in US dollars Parts kits include sockets for all ICs. components, and circuit board Documentation is included with all products All items are in stock, and will be shipped the day order is received via first class mail Prices are in US dollars No open accounts To eliminate tariff in Canada boxes are marked Computer Parts Dealer inquiries invited 24 Hour Order Line (408)226-4064 * Circuits designed by John Bell Apple-Car

by Richard A. Milewski

Dick Milewski is president of The Software Works. Inc. (PO Box 4366, Mt. View CA 94040), a company which has developed several application packages for North Star disk-based systems. They are currently developing similar application programs for the Apple

Apricots to Apples sharpen your programming skills, and to let specific requirements of a given business. In old San Francisco during the Gold you get the most from your Apple II. User documentation should be free of Rush Days, fresh fruit was so scarce that While the main thrust of this column will be computer jargon and be complete enough apples sold for more than a dollar each. As a toward software, hardware accessories for to enable a non-computerist to operate the result, the wheat farmers in the region the Apple II will not be entirely ignored. Of system. around Cupertino, California, began to special interest in this area is the Apple Disk 2. Utility/Completeness. Each program will plant orchards. it fulfills its By the end of the 1850s the II. The feature which distinguishes the be evaluated as to how well entire valley filled fruit trees, enter- was with and Apple II from other small,, ready to run stated purpose. Games must be Cupertino was the heart of the apricot personal computers is that the Apple taining (and perhaps even educational). producing region. Today all but a few of the Computer Company is delivering add-on Accounting programs must be able to do orchards are gone. In their place is a floppy disk systems, not just announcing arithmetic operations. staggering array of high technology com- them. The implications of this difference will 3. Ease of Use. A large portion of the panies. A few blocks from some of the last become apparent in the next few months as development effort of a good piece of remaining apricot trees, on the spot where a vast array of very practical applications software goes into the human interface, i.e., the Bochser orchards stood before the turn software becomes available to take advan- making the software natural and easy to of the century, a new kind of "orchard" is tage of the disk. The importance of the use. (Asking a yes or no question by producing Apples. Not the large red fruit, floppy disk system to a small computer lies requiring a zero or one in response is not but a small very capable, personal com- in the very differences which distinguish the good human engineering.) puter. Built around the 6502 circular recording surface of the diskette 4. Creativity. By now, everyone with a microprocessor, the Apple II computer from the long ribbon of tape in the cassette. computer around the house has been includes a built-in keyboard, a video inter- To locate an item (either a program or a inundated with Startrek, Lunar Lander and face capable of producing color graphics piece of data) on the end of a cassette tape Wumpus programs. High creativity scores which can only be described as spectacular, the computer must read the entire tape will be given to software with fresh ap-

a cassette recorder interface which enables before it can get to the required item, much proaches to old problems and to programs the user to save and re-load programs on like a person getting a drink from an old which present new ideas for the use of small tape, a pair of game paddles, and even a fashioned well must reel in the entire rope computers. (Fear not, all ye Startrek freaks, speaker which can be programmed to before he gets to the bucket. A floppy disk is the Apple II has superlative graphics provide a variety of clicks and beeps and a "random access device." That means that capability and creativity points will be even a little music. The Apple II can be any point on the disk may be loaded very scored for using it well.) ordered with anywhere between 4 and 48 K quickly without the necessity of reading any 5. Over All Rating. This category has been of random access memory (RAM) and other point first. This is rather like selecting thrown in to permit the reviewer to become includes a very fast integer BASIC in read a particular "cut" on a record by picking up subjective about the matter. A large number only memory (ROM). Systems with 16K or the record player tone arm and placing the of factors which do not fall into any of the more of RAM include a cassette tape with needle at the beginning groove of the above categories should be considered Applesoft, the Apple II version of Microsoft selected song. Next month we will begin our when evaluating software, and rating BASIC. Tips & Techniques section with a discus- systems which fail to account for them tend As this is the first in an ongoing series of sion of data files as used on the Apple disk. not to give a fair picture of the programs. columns on the Apple and it's uses, perhaps 1 = Poor 3 Good we should take a moment to preview what Software Reviews 2 = Fair = we hope to accomplish in the future. The Each month we will be reviewing notable 4 Excellent main emphasis will be on software. Each new software products for Apple II. In an month we will present brief reviews of effort to treat each product fairly and to Program Name: interesting pieces of software developed provide a means of comparing similar Appletalker'"

specifically for the Apple II personal com- products reviewed in different issues of the Written by: puter. Special effort will be made to magazine as time goes on, we have devised Bob Bishop and Bill Depew describe products which run on small to the rating scheme outlined below: Publisher: medium sized systems (generally 16K or The software will be rated on a scale of 1 Softape smaller). We will also attempt to bring to to 4 in each of the following categories: 10756 Vanowen your attention software products produced 1. Documentation. Good documentation North Hollywood, CA 91605 by small companies and individuals, which should be complete and easy to understand. Order Number: might otherwise escape unnoticed. For For large programs and/or packages of ATB-778 those of you who want to do more than just programs intended as business Price: load programs written by other people, we applications the documentation should $15.95 will include a section devoted to program- provide sufficient information to permit Memory required: ming tips and techniques designed to modification of the software to meet the 16K 46- CREATIVE COMPUTING K

Software Rating Program Name: not only describes the operation but details Documentation 2.5 DRAWING modifications to the program to permit a Utility 3.5 permanent list of names, and to prevent a Written by: Ease of Use 3.5 Ron Graff name which has previously been selected Creativity 4 In addition to written Publisher: from reappearing. the Over All Rating 3.5 documentation, voice instructions are Magnemedia, Inc. recorded on the reverse side of the tape 17845 Sky Park Circle, Suite 4 so Appletalker is a program which enables the software will literally talk the user Irvine, CA 92714 the user to digitally record spoken words, to Order Number: through the operation of the program. (We store then in tables in the Apple's memory DRAWING did get the impression that the speaker and to replay them through the built-in nave benefited from a session or two Price: would speaker in the Apple 1 1 . The program may be at Close Striking School of $7.50 the Cover Before used in a standalone mode to store a Memory required: Broadcasting.) If all of this isn't enough, number of tables in speech memory or the 4K Magnemedia offers full program listings machine language routines which store and and programmer's notes for $1.00. play back the tables may be saved separate- ly and then called from a user written Software Rating Drawing is. we feel, overpriced and it's program. The possibilities brought to mind Documentation 3.5 primary purpose in life seems to be to act as in with by this delightful piece of software are Utility 2 a "stuffer" a two program package a teacher oriented "Grading Routine" ($12.00 endless; error messages that talk back, Creativity 1 for the pair). Our original intent was to enemy starships with captains who make Ease of Use 3 derisive purchase the set, and to review the Grading comments, lunar landers which Over All Rating 1 land to the cheering of mission control or Routine in this column. The program, crash with the sounds of twisting metal and This disappointing little program is however, failed to run properly and designed to pick a name at random from a Magnemedia advised us over the telephone shattering glass. . .While the words sound much like they've come from an old Edison list of up to 15 names. The names are that the cassette itself was probably defec- Victrola, everything is quite understandable entered, the selection process is initiated tive. We are returning the cassette to them and Appletalker opens a whole new bag of and the names are displayed at random 100 and will report on this promising looking tricks to the imaginative Apple owner! times. The last name displayed is con- product (as well as how well Magnemedia in (Incidentally, additional hardware is not sidered "selected." The documentation for supports a user with a problem) a future required. Appletalker uses the Apple's built- this program is, however, above average. column. in speaker.) The booklet which comes with the program

PET

%WfcWV. PLAY CHESS WITH YOUR COMPUTER! MICROCHESS is the culmination of two years of chessplaying 4K TRS-80s. in Z-80 machine language, offers 3 levels of play (both

program development by Peter Jennings, author of the famous 1 Level I and Level II versions are included and can be loaded on any byte chess program for the KIM-1 MICROCHESS 2.0 for 8K PETs TRS-80 without TBUG). MICROCHESS checks every move for and 16K APPLEs. in 6502 machine language, offers 8 levels of play legality and displays the current position on a graphic chessboard. to suit everyone from the beginner learning chess to the serious You can play White or Black, set up and play from special board

player. It examines positions as many as 6 moves ahead, and positions, or even watch the computer play against itself! Available includes a chess clock for tournament play. MICROCHESS 1.5 for now at a special introductory price of only $19.95

BRIDGE CHALLENGER by George Duisman for 8K PETs. Level II STIMULATING SIMULATIONS by Dr. C.W. Engel for 8K PETs. 4K

16K TRS-80S, and 16K APPLEs: You and the dummy play 4 person Level I and II TRS-80S. and APPLEs with Applesoft II: Ten original Contract Bridge against the computer. The program will deal hands simulation games such as Forest Fire. Lost Treasure. Gone Fishing at random or according to your criterion for high card points. You and Diamond Thief, progressing from elementary to quite complex can review tricks, swap sides or replay hands when the cards are with most suitable for schoolchildren. Includes a 64 page book

known. No longer do you need 4 people to play! $14.95 giving flowcharts, listings and suggested modifications . . . $14.95 ORDERS: Check, money order or VISA Master Charge accepted: (24 hours, 7 days: in Missouri, dial 1-800-342-6600). Or you can programs and cassettes guaranteed. If you have questions, please mail your order to the address below. Personal Software" products call us at 617-783-0694. It you know what you want and have your are now AVAILABLE NATIONWIDE FROM COMPUTER STORES VISA MC card ready, you can DIAL TOLL FREE 1-800-325-6400 Look lor the Personal Software" display in your local store! TM P.O. Box 136-C11 Personal Software Cambridge, MA 02138

CIRCLE 167 ON READER SERVICE CARD

NOV/DEC 1978 47 reviews Stephen B. Gray

FLOPPY DISKE The Z-80 Microcomputer Handbook, by William Burden. Jr. TOP QUALITY VERBATIM™ DISKETTES Howard W. Sams & Co., Inc., 4300 West 62 St., Indianapolis, AT SPECIAL PRICES* IN 46268. 304 pages, paperback S8.95. I978. This compact and useful handbook, which requires a fairly Our Special Special good knowledge of microcomputers to understand, was written List Usual Price Bei Hem Code Description Price Price/ea. Each' olio* to provide both current prospective users with a good look at the VB-FD01 8 Sott-sectors IBM Formal $8 50 $5 50 $5 00 $47. Z-80 hardware, software, and some microcomputer systems that VB-F032 8" sectors hard sectored 32 use the Z-80. The hardware section has eight chapters: historical lor Shugard. Teklronics. elc S8 50 $5 50 $5 00 $47. VB-M001 5" Son-sectored IBM introduction, Z-80 architecture, interface signals, addressing compatible $5 95 $4 50 $4 00 $37. modes, instruction set, flags and arithmetic operations, VB-MD10 5" 10 sectors hard-sectored interrupts, and interfacing memory and I/O devices to the Z-80. tor North Star $5 95 $4 50 $4 00 $37 VB-MD16 16 sectored lor Micropoiis $5 95 $4 50 $4 00 $37 An equal number of chapters (and pages) on Z-80 software looks into the assembler, moving data, arithmetic and logical 'To quality lor these special prices: operations, shifting and bit manipulation, list and table 1 Payment must accompany mail order or can with c operations, subroutines, I/O and interrupt operations, and card . No COD. some commonly-used subroutines. 2. Reler to this ad by: magazine title. issue month, and The two chapters on Z-80 microcomputers discuss products from the Z-80's manufacturer, (a microprocessor Prices are FOB our warehouse Add shipping handling per each 10 (or $1.50 & development system and several boards) and from four less) diskettes NY state residents add appropriate sales tax microcomputer manufacturers: The Digital Call (315) 637-6208 or TDL. Cromemco, Group, and Radio Shack. (How fast this field moves! TDL is Send order to computet now Xitan). M enterpri/e/

P O Box 71 • Fayattaville, New York 1 3066

Payroll With Cost Accounting— In BASIC, by Lon Poole and

CIRCLE 120 ON READER SERVICE CARD Vtarv Borchers. . Osborne & Associates, Inc., Box 2036, Berkeley, CA 94702. 365 pages, paperback $12.50. 1977. The ninth book on microcomputers from Osborne & Associates, and the second in their series of BASIC program books. Payroll With Cost Accounting is a hefty, fully-packed paperback that includes program listings, descriptions, discus- NEW SOFTWARE FOR sion of the principles behind each program, the forms layouts, YOUR COMPUTALKERI and a user's manual with step-by-step instructions, flowcharts, K and sample reports and CRT displays. Features include separate payrolls from up to 10 companies, interactive data entry, easy correction ot data-entry errors, job II SOFTWARE PACKAGE costing (labor distribution), check printing with deduction and available pay detail, and 16 different printed reports, including W-2 and now 941. The programs were developed over the five years thut Osborne CTEDIT A new parameter editor & Associates has been a vendor of business software CSEDIT Editor for CSR1 input packages, specifically for Wang computers. The programs are CTEST CT-1 Hardware diagnostic all written in standard BASIC. For other variation! of BASIC, some programming changes will be PLAYDATA To hoar the data files MEMVOICE A vocal memory dumper necessary, especially for the file-access portions. KEYPLAY Subr. to play letters/digits PIANO A simple musical keyboard 8080 Assembly Language *** Sources included *** Basic Software Library: Volume VIII, Homeowners CPM 8", North Star. Micropoiis, Programs, by Roger W. Brown. Scientific Research Inst., Box 490099. Key Tarbell, CUTS, MITS ACR, Biscay ne. FL 33149. 96 pages, paperback $19.95. 1978. paper tape The latest in the SRI series ot program books for fun, math, engineering and business, volume VIII includes five long on any of the above media $30.00 programs and an appendix with five short ones. All programs calif, res. add 6% sales tax are in BASIC, with LISTs and RUNs. and each "has been successfully run on a G.E. 635 computer." 1040 TAX assists in preparing a Federal tax return, with COMPUTALKER itemized deductions or standard; BALANCE reconciles bank CONSULTANTS statements; CHECKBOOK balances a checkbook; 1NSTL078 1730 21st Street, AE computes real cost on bank-financed items such as a car or boat; and DEPREC2 computes depreciation, Santa Monica, CA 90404 with four methods, for any time period. The five require for execution, respectively, in (213) 392-5230 bytes: I3K. I6K, 5K, 2K, 2K. The short programs are conversions of earlier SRI programs

CIRCLE 143 ON READER SERVICE CARD 48 CREATIVE COMPUTING to full compatibility with microcomputer BASIC: INSTALL- MENT (3K) calculates monthly payment schedules; IN- TEREST (5K) computes accrued interest on installment loans; MORTGAGE (4K) prints mortgage schedules; REGRESSION (I3K) calculates standard deviation of residuals, etc.; TEACH TARBELL ME (8K) should be called TEACH THE COMPUTER THE ANIMALS, because it learns how to guess a wider and wider CASSETTE BASIC variety of animals you're thinking of. only $36.00 Includes most features of ALTAI R* Extended The Mind Appliance: Home Computer Applications, by T.G. BASIC. Lewis. Hayden Book Co., Inc., 50 Essex St., Rochelle Park, NJ PLUS these added features: 07662. 144 pages, paperback S6.95. 1978. According to the press release, "The serious computer • Assignment of I/O hobbyist who has tired of playing games now can advance to the • Alphanumeric line labels household appliance computer with this new guide.... Your • Unlimited length of strings computer will write poetry, balance a checkbook, score • Unlimited length of variable musicals, automatically dial a telephone, and draw graphics." names The book's cover promises applications for the garage (actually, • Number system 10 digits BCD integer or floating point this is a chapter on the fundamentals of BASIC), living room • Procedures with independent variables (sports statistics retrieval and two other programs), kitchen Tarbell (recipe system, menu program), bedroom (poetry composition), BASIC occupies 18K of RAM. Source den (check-writing, household budget), bathroom (graphics, available on cassette, CP/M**disk and printout, telephone dial torpedo game), split-level home (bowling scores, reasonably priced. Comes with manual. program). There are several other programs, for a total of 1 8, all •ALTAI is a in BASIC; the garage chapter includes programs for giving R Tradcmark/Tradenamc of MITS, Inc. change, shuffling 52 items, and generating a pseudorandom **CP/M is a Trademark/Tradename of Digital Research number. The graphics program seems to have been written for the Tektronix 4051 computer, since it draws perfectly straight 950 DOVLEN PLACE. SUITE B lines, and uses statements such as WINDOW, VIEWPORT, / CARSON. CA 90746 and DRAW. The really serious hobbyist will enjoy the long (213) 538-4251 sections on English parsing techniques, disk Hies, and hashing. »(213) 538-2254

##*# CIRCLE 107 ON READER SERVICE CARD

Small Computer Systems for Business, by Gerald A. Silver. McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York. 271 pages, paperback S9.95: solutions manual $2.95. 1978.

I his text provides an overview of microcomputers and mini- computers for students, business people, managers and small P.E.T. Pood live chapters discuss the hardware, going business operators, NOURISH into basic principles, systems, CPU fundamentals, peripherals YOUR HUNGRY P.E.T. WITH SELECTIONS and mass-storage devices, with many photographs, drawings FROM CREATIVE SOFTWARE'S EXTENSIVE MENUI and diagrams. Another five chapters cover software: introduc- DUAL JOYSTICK INTERFACE: This Creative Software interlace tion, assembler, interpreter (BASIC), compiler (KORTRAN) allows you to plug in two Atari -type joysticks (not included) with no modifi- and operating systems. The last chapter, on applications, shows cation to the P. E. T. Comes with two games and complete programming in - how small computers might be used in nine imaginary structions $35.00 organizations: an engineering company, a college, an airline, a hospital etc. Three appendixes provide information on JOYSTICKS: for above interface, price each $12.50 system flowcharting numbering systems, the ASCII coding and BREAKOUT: 'NEW --Written in machine language for increased speed symbols. and enjoyment. Uses either keyboard input or any CREATIVE SOFTWARE to "Define Exercises at the end of each chapter ask the reader joystick (single or dual). You get ten balls to knock out three double layers a Hollerith constant and give two examples," or to "Prepare a of bricks. Positively addicting $10.00 READ statement which inputs two integers," for example. A LIFE: (By S. Bartonsmith) Possibly the finest personal computer version solution manual is available to educators. of Lift currently available, this program uses machine language routines

to display up to lour new generations per second. User -definable initial configuration, complete screen wraparound, and introducing two original **** additions --"posts" and "holes. " $20.00 TRAP and CRAPS (Joystick or keyboard input). $10.00 HURKLE and (Joystick or keyboard input).. The Home Computer Handbook, by Edwin Schlossbcrg. John ONE-QUEEN .$10 00 HOUSEHOLD FINANCE Parts I II Brockman and l.vn Horton. Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., New and $15.00 York. 250 pages.' hardcover $10.95. 1978. ORDERS: Send check, money order, or VISA/Mastercharge (include The handsome full-color cover conceals an uneven text with expiration date) and add the following shipping charges: 1-2 programs lor few illustrations and much out-of date information. Over half dual joystick interlace)- 1. 50. 3-4 programs- 2. 00. 5 or more programs - the book is appendixes; the rest contains little real meat. All the 2.50. Extra joysticks, each- 1.50. California residents add 6* sales tax. photographs are in a cluster of 16 pages: all seven diagrams are book seems to have been too hastily hand-drawn. The INFORMATION: More information on these and many other currently assembled, by people not familiar with home computers. available programs are available on a free flyer. Write directly to Creative in I he section on programming says. "II you want BASIC Software for a complete list. your computer, you have to put it there." Yet the very next page mentions BASIC in ROM. The subtitle of the chapter on Creative Software programming is "A Thorough Introduction." In seven pages? There isn't a single example of a program in the entire book. P.O. BOX 4030, MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA 94040 A couple of chapters may be of interest, although the one on the state of the art in home-computer products doesn't mention CIRCLE 115 ON READER 8ERVICE CARD NOV/DEC 1978 49 .

ws . . . reviews . . . pevi Floppy Storage

for Standard 8" and Mini 5'//' the Z-80. One appendix gives information on Data General, DEC and H-P computers, as if of interest, and on companies long out of existence, such as Mikra-D, Sphere and EBKA. The list of stores and clubs is sadly out of date, as is bound to happen in a book that takes months to produce.

57 Practical Programs & Games in BASIC,-by Ken Tracton. TAB Books, Blue Ridge Summit, PA 17214. 204 pages, paperback $7.95. 1978. The author, a "veteran computer programmer," has generated an interesting collection of programs that will run on any floating-point BASIC. According to the preface, "they will operate even with a simplified subset of BASIC." The 57 programs are presented in alphabetical order. Most are short, from 12 to 63 lines long. Three games are longer:

Blackjack takes 1 15 lines, One-Arm Bandit 80 lines. Space Wars (I) is 133 lines long. Space Wars (2) takes 287 lines. The other games are Craps and Number Guess. Math and accounting programs include Compounded Amounts, Straight-Line Depreciation, Chi-Square Evaluation, The 3&50S-C HE/IH" library case provides an ideal Gaussian Probability Function, Hyperbolic Functions, matrix storage unit for standard and mini floppy discs. Both inversion and Harmonic Progressions. Engineering programs L-Pad Minimum Loss sizes available in your choice of beige, blue and black include Hydrocarbon Combustion, and Pi-Network Impedance Matching. To round out the (please specify color) System mix. the author includes Day of the Week and I Ching. Each program is neatly presented with an explanation, LIST, Free SMJSKETnnE/Effi with purchase of 10 "Scotch" flowchart and RUN. A little heavy on the math, but a brand diskettes (offer expires January 31, 1979). worthwhile addition to your library of BASIC programs. STOCK UNIT PRICE NO. DESCRIPTION 1-5 6-19 20 + **** KS-10 Kas-ette/10 4.50 4.00 3.65 KM-10 Mini Kas-ette/10 4.25 3.85 3.45

KS-10L Pkg. of 5ea. Spline Microcomputers At a Glance, by Donald D. Spencer. Camelot .75 .70 .65 KM-10L and Side Panel Labels Publishing Co., P.O. Box 1357, Ormond Beach. FL 32074. 192 pages, hardcover $1 1.95, paperback $7.95. 1977. Standard 8* Scotch Brand™ Diskette Intended as a basic reference book for all microcomputer stock no. price each users, this dictionary of technical terms contains about 2500 740-0K IBM Compatible $45.00 words, phrases and acronyms related to microcomputers and 740-32K Shugart 32 sector 48.00 microprocessors, along with three dozen photographs (of personal computers, largely) and diagrams. words Mini 5'/,' Scotch Brand™ Diskette The definitions, all written in very clear style, are for 744-0 Soft Sector 44.00 and phrases ranging from "compiler" to "mask" and from include ECL, 744-10 10 Sector 44.00 "allocation" to "zero flag." Acronyms BNF, CAL, 744-16 16 Sector 44.00 and MSD As an example of the clarity of the definitions, under D Send the following items D Send information only to: "compiler" is this: "A computer program that produces a Name machine-language program from a source program that is usually written in a higher-level language by a computer user. Street The compiler is capable of replacing single source-program City State Zip statements with a series of machine-language instructions or Quantity Catalog # Color Unit Price Total with a subroutine." This is a helpful reference for even the most knowledgeable worker in microcomputers, since few if any of us can keep the exact meanings of these several thousand words and phrases in our minds at all times. Send check or MasterCharge: TOTAL D MasterCharge VISA 6% Tax' Card No. Amt. End Exp. Date ****

Signature •Cant Res add 6% sales tax /*V/ (required! %Artpn«L/ ~>u_ppCU/ C^cmvpexruj/

18350 BLACKHAWK ST . NORTHRIDGE. CA 91326 PHONE (213)368-5891 50 CREATIVE COMPUTING CIRCLE 136 ON READER SERVICE CARD ecu VIDEO Non-Linear Systems, Inc. TERMINALS SOROC1Q120 995 LSI ADM3A 895 HAZELTINE 1500 1225 MS-215 MINISCOPE HAZEI.TINE 1510 1395 HAZELTINE 1520 1650 HAZELTINE Modular One 1995 PERKIN ELMER Fox-1100 ....1295

PERKIN ELMER Owl-1200 . . . .1995 INTERTUBR 784 MICROTERM ACTIV-A 550 MICROTERM ACTIV-B 800

Dual-Trace-2 Channel Separate,Chopped Or Alternate Modes PRINTERS TTY Model 43 1277 TTY Model 40 (80 Col) 2960 MODEL NO. NET MODEL NO. NET TTY Model 40 (132 Col) 3760 Okidata Model CP1 10 (+Optns)1295 MULTIMETERS COINTERS Okidata Model 22 2695 Tl Silent 700 Model 745 1995 1895 LM-3A $134.00 FM-3TB/115 $ 93.00 Tl Model 810 Serial, no opt Tl 810 VFC, CP, Full ACSII 2295 LM-3A/LH 137.50 KM-3TB/230 95.00 NEC Spinwriter, RO, Friction . .2775 LM-3.5A 155.00 FM-300TB/115 102.00 NEC Spinwriter, KSR, Friction .3090 NEC Tractor Mechanism 140 LM-3.5A/LH 158.50 FM-300TB/230 105.00 XEROX 1700. KSR, Friction . . . .3240 LM-40A 209.00 FM-7 215.00 XEROX 1710, RO, Friction 2850

XEROX 1720, Comm. Term. . . .3450 LM-40A/LH 212.50 FM-7/LH 218.50 XEROX Tractor Feed for Above . 200

LM-4A 250. 00 FM-7/PH 218.50 XEROX 1760, Matrix, 200 cps . .3145 DECWRITER LA36, KSR 1654 LM-4A/LH 253.50 SC-5 98.00 DECWRITER LA180, RO 2295

LM-300 114.00 SC-5/LH 101.50 CENTRONICS M779, Friction . .1 175 M779, Tractor ..1275 LM-300/LH 117.50 SC-5/PH 101.50 CENTRONICS CENTRONICS M761. KSR . . . .2025 LM-350 144.00 CENTRONICS M761, RO 1895

OSCILLOSCOPES M703 Printer . . .2805 LM-350/LH 147.50 CENTRONICS RMS-350 208.00 MS-15 $318.00 INC. RMS-350/LH 211.50 MS-215 435.00 COMPUTER COMPONENTS 5848 Sepulveda Blvd.. Van Nuys, CA 91411 (213)786-7411 Artesia Blvd.. Lawndale. CA 90260 c 4705 BANK OF AMERICA AND MASTERCHARQE Q (213)370-4842 MIN. ORDER $10.00 ADD $2 00 WELCOME. TERMS: 6791 Westminister Ave., Westminister , CA 92683 IF IS UNDER POSTAGE AND HANDLING ORDER (714)898-8330 $25.00 AND SENT UPS. ADD $4.00 POSTAGE 3808 Verdugo Ave., BurbanK , CA 91505 AND HANDLING IF SENT VIA U.S. MAIL. (213)848-5521 CLOSED SUNDAYS AND MONDAYS

CIRCLE 12S ON READER SERVICE CARD -A Creative Computing Software Profile...- The CP/M Disk Operating System

:Steve North:

Among microcomputer users, there you don't have. CP/M also supports I/O CCP. These are hardware dependent are several standards which have with a system console, reader, punch routines which handle low-level I/O arisen, not because some committee and list device (line printer), which may with terminals, disk drives, etc. created them, but because people be assigned to various physical IBM-3740 compatible disks have 77 found them to be worthwhile and used devices. File names for disk files tracks, each of 26 sectors of 1 28 bytes. them. This is true of the S-100 bus, consist of three parts: an optional letter On a CP/M disk, tracks and 1 are Microsoft BASIC and CP/M, which is prefix which indicates on which disk reserved for a copy of CP/M system. most likely the best microcomputer don't include this, a default is assum- Track 2 contains the directory, and the disk operating system available. ed), then the eight-character name of rest of the disk is used for regular files. CP/M, which stands for Control the file and then a three-character Interestingly enough, you can't just

Program/Monitor, was developed by extension; as in "B:TESTFILE.BAS". take your CP/M-format disk and read it Digital Research of Pacific Grove, The extension generally identifies what in with normal IBM access methods, California. It's designed for use with the file contains. BAS is usually a because CP|M has a different directory 8080/Z80-based microcomputers with BASIC source file, HEX is machine- format and IBM uses that funny IBM-3740 compatible floppy disk language object code, FOR refers to character code. (One enterprising drives. It is available as unbundled FORTRAN source code, etc. outfit sells conversion programs to software, which you can customize to In certain instances, ambiguous file translate CP/M disks to IBM, and vice your own terminal and disk interface. references are allowed. A ? serves as a versa, for $200.) When the CP/M However, CP/M is also used by Tarbell, don't-care character, and an * as a system is cold-started (generally by INFO 2000, Dynabyte; and by string of don't-cares. Thus, executing a short bootstrap loader in Cromemco and IMSAI in slightly B???????.BAS refers to any file begin- ROM) CP/M is loaded off the diskette modified form, to name just a few. ning with the letter B and with the and the CCP routine is entered. To most computer types, the term extension BAS. TESTFILE.* refers to The CCP (Console Command "operating system" refers to some kind the file TESTFILE with any exten- Processor) allows you to enter system of huge, monstrous collection of sion. V refers to all the files on a disk. commands. Its prompt, a letter follow- software, including some kind of head Obviously you can't use an ambiguous ed by a , indicates the current honcho program that decides what's file reference for, say, opening a file, default drive. The CCP actually only going to happen, a collection of handy but this can be very handy when you has five built-in commands: DIR to utilities, language processors, and want a selective directory of all the print a directory, TYPE the contents of what have you. Furthermore, it should BASIC programs on a disk. a file, REName a file, SAVE memory in a be capable of handling common CP/M provides dynamic allocation of disk file and ERAse a file. If the CCP chores, like I/O, for other programs. In disk space, meaning that the system doesn't recognize a command, it can this respect, CP/M is in an entirely knows where to find free space on a look on the disk you specify (or the different class than most other diskette and can use it when needed. default) for a file of that name with the

microcomputer disk operating That may sound rather obvious, but in extension COM. So if you have a systems, which often function more most other microcomputer DOS-es it is program named SORT. COM you can like "disk monitors," just allowing you common for a "deleted" file on a disk to execute it merely by typing SORT. The to load or save memory segments, print take up space, until a separate pack machine-language object file named a catalog, or execute some file on disk. operation is performed (at the user's SORT.COM will be loaded into theTPA Additionally, if the proper CP/M con- command). and executed. Additionally, you can ventions are observed, software is Under CP/M, memory is broken up pass parameters to this routine in the completely transportable from one into four sections, as follows: same line, perhaps the name of a file to system to another, regardless of the 1) The System Area, which contains be processed (so you could enter actual terminal or disk drive in use. So system parameters, vectors, file con- SORT B:TESTFILE.DAT). part of CP/M's power is derived, not trol blocks, buffers, etc. Always the Several command files for handling just from its outstanding capabilities, lowest 256 bytes in the system. fairly sophisticated functions and but also that it serves as a common 2) The Transient Program Area. This utilities are provided with CP/M, and software interface for microcomputer extends from 100 hex upwards in you can write others yourself or obtain users. memory. Here is where user programs, them from other CP/M users. (There is CP/M is designed to allow device- utilities and other stuff running under an active CP/M User's Group, run by independence in handling I/O (though CP/M loads and executes. Tony Gold. They presently have 24 obviously you can't make a papertape 3) The Console Command CP/M diskettes of free software. There look like a random disk file). Up to four Processor, which accepts and ex- aren't many user's groups that can floppy disk drives are supported—they ecutes your commands. This is near measure their software libraries in are referred to as A:, B:, C:, and D:. You the top of memory. megabytes!) CP/M includes the follow- don't have to have four drives to use 4) BIOS/BDOS (which stands for ing command files: CP/M (one will do) though you won't Basic Input Ouput System and Basic ED, a sophisticated text editor used for have much luck accessing peripherals Disk Operating System), above the the preparation of source programs or

52 CREATIVE COMPUTING other text on disk. The editor operates sophisticated interpreter which has SELECTOR II on lines or characters and uses a become a standard in itself; and C- pointer which moves through the text, BASIC, a version of BASIC-E with • rather than line numbers. It can be used extensions for business applications. A QUERY LANGUAGE with any kind of terminal. BASIC-E is in the public-domain, so it • A REPORT WRITER ASM, a standard 8080 assembler which can be obtained for little more than the • assembles to and from disk. cost of the media. Several FORTRAN AN ISAM FILE SYSTEM DDT, a Dynamic Debugging Tool, used compilers exist, and there are at least for debugging 8080 maqhine-language two or three COBOLs for those who programs. DDT permits you to step care about it. Digital Research sells a What does SELECTOR through a program, examining CP/M-compatible super macro- II do? Well just about memory and CPU registers as they assembler, symbolic instruction change, and can also do simple debugger, and a text formatter. Also everything . . . assembly/disassembly on code in available are sort packages, business Simply define a file memory. applications, the powerful Electric record with item names SUBMIT, is a program which executes Pencil word processor and even a CP/M macro-procedures contained in PASCAL compiler! and types (money fields a disk file. For instance, in order to In short, CP/M is an extremely or dates, etc.). Pick key work on a BASIC program you first convenient and powerful framework of fields. Enter data. want to edit the source file, then call in systems software useful for developing the compiler, then call in a runtime and running your own programs. For At any time you can interpreter. Using SUBMIT you could more information on CP/M, read select records by key for write a procedure to automatically "CP/M Primer" in the April 1978 issue updating or deletion. Or execute all these steps, with symbolic of Kilobaud, and the manuals available parameters to represent the name of an from Digital Research. CP/M on floppy you can select collect- actual file you want to use when the disk, with complete documentation ions of records by the procedure is executed. For lack of a costs $70, the documentation alone is better analogy, SUBMIT could be $25. Digital Research, P.O. Box 579, data they contain (like compared with IBM JCL procedures, Pacific Grove, CA 93950. (408) 649- all blue-eyed ladies except that CP/M is an interactive 3896. speaking French who environment. MOVCPM and SYSGEN, are useful for Owners of iCom disk drives purchased Gizmo 500's modifying CP/M for your particular may be interested in the ICOM- in'March). You can have system and making copies of it. When CP/M Upgrade Kit, from the Mart of Jersey. that information dis- you get CP/M, it is configured for a 16K Computer New is not flexible system and Intel MDS I/O, which The iCom FDOS as played or summarized or widely-used as CP/M, so this is obviously not too many people have. on your screen or listed quite useful if you have an iCom However, all the information you need disk unit. The upgrade kit con- on your printer properly to write your own I/O routines, for your sists of a 2708 EPROM and a disk and your terminal, and informa- titled, paginated, for- CP/M System Diskette, already tion on implementing CP/M for bigger customized for your system. matted, totaled, aver- memory sizes, is included in the Merely remove the 2708 already aged, max-ed or min-ed manual. Frequently you can also get on the iCom disk interface board, help in bringing up CP/M from the plug in the new EPROM, and you ... as you desire. people you bought it from, too. can now run both CP/M and the SELECTOR II does all of STAT, allows you to examine and old iCom FDOS on your disk. The your fielding, finding, modify the status of system devices. standard entry points in the PIT, for Peripheral Interface Program, EPROM are retained (apparently formatting and fuming is a very handy utility used for moving there was enough free space in for you. All you need do data from almost anywhere to the original iCom EPROM for a is orders. anywhere. For instance, you can use it CP/M boot loader, too). You just issue go to address COOO to use the to copy disk files from one drive to SELECTOR II is avail- for another or to load a file from the reader iCom FDOS, and C3CC CP/M. CP/M is loaded in two stages. The able for Microsoft or dump a file to the punch. first phase is simple disk loader, For those who do assembly- a Extended Disk BASIC the second phase determines if language programming, the CP/M diskette, there is a file named INITIAL on and CBASIC, on documentation explains clearly how to the disk, and loads and executes it with user's manual for use the operating system to handle under CP/M if there is such a file. like disk file I/O with $255 including 1 year things opening, This allows true turnkey opera- the console, etc. tion for application programs. maintenance. Dealer in- Currently, CP/M is the best sup- Complete documentation is in- quiries gladly accepted. ported microcomputer DOS and the cluded. gap will no doubt widen with time Obviously, you could write your (though the North Star DOS has its own I/O routines for the iCom Micro-Ap good points, too, and is also well- disk to use with CP/M, and supported). Already, there are at least program your own 2708, but this 8939 San Ramon Road kit can save you much time in three BASICs which can be used under Dublin, CA 94566 CP/M: BASIC-E, a "compiler" which developing this software, and is generates an intermediate, well worth it. $180, from the hypothetical machine code, which can Computer Mart of New Jersey, then interpreted at fairly high speed; 501 Route #27, Iselin, N.J. 08830 be I I l~jt Microsoft Disk Extended BASIC, a very (201)283-0600. CIRCLE 127 ON READER SERVICE CARD NOV/DEC 1978 53 A Creative Computing Equipment Profile. The "Most-Software Machine

...North's Star complete system: the Horizon

John Craigl

fairly new one; the Can't decide between a mini what... why don't you come along on criteria is a little trip into S-100 "Software operating system. A short time ago floppy this or standard-sized Land" and decide for yourself the (one to two years) most of us working, system? Here are some validity of the statement? and playing, with personal computer systems were quite contentjust to have points to help make up your By the way, I believe in objective and running... and being I like Horizon the thing up mind. reviews. Although the system (and there's nothing wrong able to load and run programs from a Ninety thousand bytes on one dis- with that) the following write-up will cassette recorder (very slowly, I might kette? A lot of people feel you need discuss the good points, as well as the add). An operating system was just a more mass storage for most bad. glean in the eye. Now it's much more applications. ..but that's all you get than that. . .it's a necessity. The factors with a single mini-floppy drive. You can The Selection Game that make it important, for any applica- can easily be increase it to 180,000 bytes with a dual There are five major considerations tion, are that programs drive system but when compared to the when looking for a computer run under control of the operating in standalone 250K available on a single standard- system... for any application. Number system (rather than a situation as before), interfacing the size floppy it would still seem to be a one is to determine exactly what the the is much easier, little on the short side. Aha, but application is going to be and then find hardware to system is easier something new has come on the scene! the software to do the job. The poten- operation of the entire system and, perhaps most importantly, the North Star has developed a controller tial buyer should not be going out and today for Shugart's double density, double looking at hardware and asking, "Does good software being developed drives. (particularly for small business sided mini We now have a whole this thing have the software to do what I applications) is being developed to run new ballgame. ..where a three-drive want it to do?" Find the soft- system will provide on-line accsss to under a particular operating system. ware. . .then the hardware! over ONE MEGABYTE of mass Once we've found that software, it's The fourth consideration in our storage! All the old arguments against time to select the hardware configura- system selection process is the 1 deter- mini-floppy systems have become just tion which will run it. Naturally, this manufacturer. In number we that, "old arguments." means looking for a system with a mined the application... number 2, the I would have to agree that the 90K microprocessor (8080, 6800, Z-80, etc.) hardware requirements... number 3, byte capacity of a normal mini-floppy system... and now we're which will run the programs. . .along the operating simply isn't adequate for many with the necessary peripherals. going to go find a manufacturer who applications. On the other hand, there The third element in our selection can provide us with the whole thing. We are probably just as many applications which can be satisfied using the smaller drives. The hobbyist can get by with that kind of storage capability, it'll do for most educational applications,

and, if you stop and think about it, there are a multitude of small businesses that are truly small businesses (i.e., they don't have horrendous inventories or customer files). Dual drive mini systems are already in use in many such businesses around the country so

it isn't just a thought, it's a reality. So much for the hardware. It's time we got down to some equally important

matters; the software. If I made the statement, "There is more software in existence which will run on the North Star Horizon than any other micro system in the world," what would your The perfect companion to the Horizon is the Soroc terminal, on the right, which North Star sells for reaction be? I hope it got you a little $995. There are a lot of things I like about the Horizon but one of the smallest, and yet most important, it sure did when fired up because me . for light the front is the fact it's so quiet! The disk drives are quiet . . and if it wasn't the on you wouldn't the thought first came along. I'll tell you know it was on because the fan is so quiet!

54 CREATIVE COMPUTING aren't going to go shopping for a board business or school system). If the store Macro-80 Assembler (which has a here and a board there to make up the can't provide it... then look elsewhere. linking loader and library manager) for system. That's one way to put a system The servicing of any computer, large or $1 79, a Fortran subroutine library as an together. However, it's not very small, and keeping the down-time to a option to the macro assembler (an desirable. The reason for not taking minimum, is a #1, hot priority item! additional $100), and a context line that approach is simple: we don't want editor, called Edit-80, which will be to spend our time troubleshooting and The All-Important Operating System selling for $95. interfacing the whole thing... we want Now we're going to get to the meat of Lifeboat must be offering all of to get busy and do some computing! the matter and find out the reason why Xitan's software. The list is so long I The term "S-100 compatible" sounds this is the "most software" machine. It's don't see how any of it could have been nice but there are instances when one really very simple; the two most pop- left out! You can get Xitan's Super manufacturer's S-100 board is not ular microcomputer operating systems Basic, Disk Basic, Z-TEL Text Editor & totally compatible with someone else's available today will run on a North Star Text Output Processor, Macro S-100 board (i.e., they won't work system! And, as a result, all of the Assembler, Z-Bug, Linker and Fortran together). Some money can be saved software developed for those operating IV... all on North Star mini-floppies! by putting together a system systems can be run! And, just to make sure they haven't piecemeal, but the question of how The two operating systems are North overlooked anything, Lifeboat is carry- much time can be devoted to the Star's Disk Operating System (DOS) ing Digital Research's Macro project definitely needs to be and Digital Research's CP/M (Control Assembler (MAC), Symbolic Instruc- answered. (If you have plenty of time Processor/Microcomputer). The tion Debugger (SID), and their Text and troubleshooting expertise then amount of applications software that Formatter (TEX). Very high-quality

perhaps the next comment won't be too has been developed for the North Star packages. . after all, they were written significant for you.) The Horizon is a DOS is mind-boggling. Most of this by the people who developed CP/M! complete system which can be bought software has been developed using (We've got reviews of the first two as a kit or fully assembled and tested. I North Star's Basic. Therefore, we can coming up in Creative Computing.) personally don't think there's any safely say that North Star's Basic is as Structured Systems Group (in substitute for getting it assembled and popular as North Star's DOS (since it Oakland CA) has licensed Lifeboat to tested. But, the important point is that runs under DOS). You can pick up distribute some of their business the entire system comes from one copies of any of the popular personal system packages on North Star. These manufacturer. The Z-80 CPU board, systems magazines and find ads for include a Name & Address Processing the 16K RAM boards, disc controller, various North Star software packages program, called NADS, which certainly drive(s) and the motherboard (which and articles about North Star programs appears to be a good mailing/customer contains serial and parallel I/O logic) (written in Basic). We're going to list management package. Structured are all made by North Star. They all review some of the most popular Systems sent us a copy of the NADS work with each other. ..the way S-100 packages in this article and provide a program to review (for this article) but, compatible boards are supposed to. I source for getting some rather lengthy unfortunately, they never sent a copy have two S-100 systems in my office. lists of North Star software. of CBASIC to run it with! The One is the Horizon and the other is documentation is top-rate and the only

somewhat of a "bits & pieces" system. The Mountain of Software reservation is that I wish there had been The latter is a good system (which is Lifeboat Associates some examples when the field selec- being used to write this article — using The amount of software that has tion methods were discussed. Also, it

Electric Pencil II) but it had more than been developed to run under CP/M is would have been nice if the manual had its share of problems trying to get up in truly significant. CP/M was originally discussed how many entries could be the beginning. The Horizon arrived one developed for standard-size floppy made on one diskette. In addition to

afternoon after a couple of friends and I systems (8 inch) and has been around being able to select names and ad- had finished a frustrating day of for several years (i.e., very tried and dresses based upon any of the fields,

troubleshooting that system. I took the proven... with a lot of people writing NADS provides even more selection Horizon out of its box and commented, programs to run under it). Lifeboat capability through a 127-byte rather sarcastically, "You know, the Associates (164 W. 83rd St., New York reference field at the end of each record. All, of, only thing I have to do to get this one up NY 10024) came up with the idea of or portions those 127 and running is connect the terminal putting CP/M on the smaller 5 inch characters can be sorted on (i.e., you can break it any want). (via the RS-232 connector coming out discs. They've done it. . .a lot of people up way you This of the rear), plug in the power cord, put are happy with it... and it only costs would be very useful customer lists since the reference field could set in a diskette and turn it on." I practically $145. be had those 4 steps accomplished by the What does it mean to be able to run up to provide a complete history of the

It customer. . .and much more. One of the time I was through with the sentence! CP/M on a North Star system? means disadvantages of this software is that And I really didn't expect it to come up (once again, thanks to Lifeboat only the (INTermediate) is that easily. . but it certainly did! (I might Associates) that you're going to be able object code add that its been running flawlessly for to run Microsoft's Extended Disk Basic, made available to the customer. several months since. ..until just a Fortran-80 and Cobol-80. The Basic Therefore, making changes to the couple of days ago, when one of the alone is enough to make it worthwhile programs is virtually impossible (as is disk drives decided to die on me.) because of the tremendous number of stealing them). Having to shell out The final selection criteria is the Microsoft Basic programs which have another $95 for the CBASIC might also dealer you buy the system from. Here's been written. (It is, after all, the most be considered a detrimental point. another case to be made for getting the popular Basic in the microworld.) Another package, which runs with system from one vendor. The computer We've got a review of Microsoft's NADS, is a sorting program called store will be able to provide you with Fortran coming up in Creative so I'll QSORT. NADS sells for $79, QSORT is is better support if your system is easier hold off on any discussion of it right $95 and CBASIC $95 (from Lifeboat to maintain and he has to interface with now (plus, we should have something Associates). only one manufacturer in the event on Cobol) The Basic sells for $300, Tony Gold, of Lifeboat, started a something goes wrong. That after sales Fortran for $400 and the Cobol is $625. CP/M User's Group some time ago support is tremendously important Some new packages from Microsoft, (which is separate from Lifeboat). They

(especially if you're looking for a which Lifeboat is offering, include a have over 24 volumes (diskettes) of

NOV/DEC 1978 55 software submitted by members. Software Exchange (utilities, math whatever. It's a lot different than trying There's a slight ($4) membership fee routines, games and application to do the same thing with paper and along with a small copying charge for programs). typewriter ... a lot different! the diskettes. Drop him a line for more The newsletter also discusses the It takes a while for a newcomer to get information because they've put all that features of their latest version of Basic accustomed to the commands and CP/M software on North Star dis- and DOS (Release 4). One of the directives used with Pencil, but not kettes... and are now looking for a strongest features of North Star's Basic much more than a day or two. It's a distributor. (By the time this is publish- has always been its disk file handling cursor-oriented system which requires ed they should have someone lined capabilities. Release 4 has some new a Processor Technology VDM-1 video up.) features in that area. For example, you board, or something similar, and com- can now create, delete and list files es in versions for a multitude of from within Basic (instead of having to systems and printers (including the return to the DOS, as with Release 3). Diablo Daisy-Wheel). The only short- Automatic line numbering, an append coming I've experienced with the command for merging two files, true system is the fact my typing speed is random numbers, the ability to come slowed down somewhat when using it. up executing a Basic program at Pencil doesn't require you to watch system power-up are just some of the your line length and do a return at the

new features. (That last one is especial- end of each line ... it does it ly important for systems that are going automatically. If the word you're typing

to be operated by novices. Keeps at the end of the line won't fit it will things nice and simple.) Release 4 of automatically be placed at the begin-

the DOS also provides for optional ning of the next line. If you continue output device selection and paging of typing while the word is being shifted data output to the CRT or printer. down to the next line (a split second), a character will invariably be lost because the system was busy doing the , NEWSLETTER shifting. Therefore, I find myself slow- ing down considerably at the end of each line. Just some of the North Star software available (By the way, Electric Pencil I is the from Lifeboat Associates. On the left we have all of the Digital Research CP/M documentation provid- version which runs under North Star ed with each copy of CP/M. instructions for DOS, and sells for $1 25. Electric Pencil implementing CP/M on a North Star system (you II is the CP/M version and sells for $175 insert just the Horizon version . . . and run!), diskettes with Microsoft Basic and Fortran (which on the mini-diskette.) also come with manuals) . On the right we have the NADS and QSORT documentation (very good) shown with standard-sized diskettes (and how did The Software Works they sneak into this article?!) These people put out some fine products! The review comments in the North Star Newsletter concerning their Q/ORT lnventory-1 stated: "This system is certainly a candidate for the title of nap Most Beautifully Documented Program of the Year."' So true. Not The documentation which comes with the North only do they do a fine job of explaining Star Horizon is top-rate . with the exception of how to run their software, they also the Basic manual. It's very poor as far as providing provide very tutorial examples of how the various commands and some good

statements can be used It was actually written material on file handling in several of

more for the professional Basic programmer . their manuals. They're currently offer- rather than the newcomer. They're in the process ing two application programs and two of generating a new version of the manual which utility programs: Mailroom, an interac- i should be an improvement. tive mailing system/customer list package: lnventory-1, a 940-item in- Michael Shrayer Software ventory control program; $ This article is being written using Housekeeper, a collection of useful

II . . I Electric Pencil . and swear by it! North Star utility programs; and Fixit, a Michael Shrayer Software (1253 Vista program for "fixing" Release 3 Superba Dr., Glendale CA 91205) has programs so they'll run under Release recently made his word processing 4. North Star Newsletter system available for North Star DOS As with all the software developed by It's always impressive when a com- ($125). If you do any kind of text the Software Works, their Mailroom pany puts forth the effort to keep in preparation at all you'll develop a was designed to be used by the end touch with their customers. North Star strong attachment to a good word . . user . not computer professionals.

Computers put out a couple of processing system . . . once you've The program features menu selection newsletters in 1978 with that objective started using it. The ability to just sit for such things as entering new names in mind. Their May '78 issue is the one down at the keyboard and toss your and addresses, deleting entries, es- you want a copy of, okay? It contains thoughts into the system, without tablishing new files, merging files, several pages of reviews and sources regard to proper sentence structure, printing labels and sorting files by zip for software written for North Star punctuation and spelling adds a whole code or soundex (i.e., finding par- Systems. (As a matter of fact, there are new dimension to writing. You can ticular names, even if they're mis- about 40 listed.) Also listed are the come back an hour or a day later and spelled). There are 28 commands total programs available from the it it, North Star clean up, rearrange delete it, or . . . I've only mentioned a few. One of

56 CREATIVE COMPUTING . ..

the nicest features of the system is the Housekeeper is a collection of some Whatsit?

check made on each entry to insure very useful utilities (such as disk This is the last one. I could go on that it isn't a duplicate. If the operator copying, system status reporting, file forever because the list could go on has trouble remembering the com- renaming, directory listing and sorting, forever! Whatsit is a home data mands, typing "HELP" will list them on file editor and search functions, four management program that most peo-

the CRT and "EXPLAIN" will provide a sort routines . . . and that's only a ple will find so enjoyable they'll want it 3-line description of each command. sampling). Housekeeper sells for in their office too! It's used for keeping Mailroom sells for $99.95, which in- $49.95 and includes a 38-page manual track of things and people (their cludes source listings on diskette and a and source code on diskette. Due to the birthdays, hobbies, addresses, phone

55-page users manual. fact North Star fixed an error in Release numbers, girlfriends, boyfriends . . 3 of their Basic (in Release 4), a you name it). It's worth a trip to your problem arose in which Release 3 local computer store for a demo, okay? programs would not run under Release Available from Information Unlimited, 4. The Software Works has developed a 331 W. 75th PI., Suite 21, Merrillville, IN program, called "FIXIT," which will 46410. $75 for North Star diskette and "fix" the older programs so they'll run documentation. under the new version ($19.95). The Software Works, P.O. Box 4386, Mt. The BIG List View, CA 94040. Leonard Garcia, 3517 Herschel Ave., Dallas, TX 75219, ran into a problem some time ago when he tried to get lists Alpha Data Systems of North Star vendors from several Do you have a friend who is in real user's groups. They didn't respond . .

estate . . . and property management? so he started making up his own list. Well, you oughta pass the word about He's done a fantastic job, especially the Property Management system from when you consider your costs! Send Alpha Data Systems (Box 267, Santa him just a SASE and he'll fix you up Barbara, 93102). The program will CA with a list which has well over 65 take care of 500 tenants per diskette, do suppliers and 685 programs! automatic billing each month, send out "nasty-grams" when the rent is over- Summary Along with getting the "Best Documentation of the due, generate tenant mailing lists and The theme for this article has been Year" award we ought to nominate the Software more. In addition, reports are the overabundance of software which Works for the "Best Illustrations of the Year." also. can be run on a North Star disk-based Mary Milewski does the artwork for their manuals generated for the apartment manager, system and/or Horizon. I could prac- . . . and it's delightful! The two manuals on the left apartment owner and the system are resting on a copy of the Software Work's handles the owner's trust account. tically write another article on the Newsletter. They do a fine job of keeping $199 includes 2 diskettes and hardware characteristics of the customers happy and updated documentation (written in North Star Horizon . . . and I probably will. It Basic). Alpha Data will also be offering certainly has enough features to the software as part of a complete 32K warrant an article. In a nutshell, and at system with printer and CRT. the risk of repeating myself, the most Another significant program from important thing about the Horizon is it Alpha Data is their Register/Inventory that is a complete system . . system. The system CRT/keyboard assembled and tested. It all comes from

and printer is turned into a point of sale one manufacturer . . . and it works!

terminal (cash register) which works in I think the various price con- conjunction with an inventory control figurations should be covered in

program (over 900 items). I've seen it another article, also. It would be interesting to see how the price of an operating in a local computer store . . very impressive ($199). assembled and tested 32K, dual-disk Alpha Data Systems also offers a system would compare to buying the mailing list program which includes same thing in "bits & pieces." The cost sorting and selection capabilities would need to be computed for both ($39.95) and an I/O control routine for hardware and time! the North Star DOS ($12.95). I'm sure North Star Computers would be happy to send you a copy of their latest catalog if you drop them a lnventory-1 is the first of a "family" of line: inventory control programs from the North Star Computers Software Works. As with Mailroom, the • 2547 Ninth St. package is very user-oriented and Berkeley, California 94710. interactive. The system was designed You might also want to drop a line to for businesses with fairly small inven- the North Star User's Group Program tories (940 items) and novice Library (still another source for North operators, lnventory-2, the next Star software!): generation, handles up to 2000 items John Dvorak and provides a rudimentary order entry Authorized NSUG Program capability, lnventory-3 has a multi- Library Distributor level bill of materials processing 704 Solano Avenue capability (for handling "exploded" Albany CA 94706 Alpha Data's Register package consists of two parts lists). We should have a review of They have over 300 programs 20 diskettes: one with the programs and another with on one, or all, of these systems in an diskettes available for a small copying sample data. Inventory and cash register . . . what a upcoming issue of Creative. combination! charge plus the cost of a new diskette.

NOV/DEC 1978 57

Seven Super Computer Stores

BYTE SHOP 3 OF SAN JOSE COMPUTER STORE IT 1 A CtUT MS COMfimi WOtlfl ftrtTMMflM ttSB5£EHH'hM«IBH ? "the m&m&jmK^IK (2626 Union Ave, S J. Ca 95124) WI^«^ffrW?£?£tt«flS - »tWm& COMPUTE* COtNH

«f?f#$^tS£ae^!«a£408-377-4685«RAY LYN • sot - A Na» Dawn a) Ham

(#) PWNER ) i*f»ft-ffl*# • JWS • TOL I-aO Hardware. Software For Micro Computers. • Mamwaatl/O WJ»«t« (Hfe-h) (Offer Classes) • Magnaac Item b C « fyt in of mm • '•*> G»ma« b PylflM • Warkanaaa b Club totarmaaan CIRCLE 175 ON READER SERVICE CARD

van TMf coMnrrtu comtfR ta> ai raw compuMr naaat Stop i an* ai uwaa - yay'i *• aur

computer THE COMPUTER CORNER "THE ELECTRONICS PLACE! Whitt Plain* Mai - Uppax Lav* HARDWARE 200 Hamilton Av*nu« ; * * * Vector Graphics Whit* Plain., New York 10601 STORE INC. ***S WTPC Tat: 1*14) WHY -DATA DimIi-is lor • * * Cromemco Anpte P mfmjng APPLE II. IMSAI KMMvftSMunlay * * * Kim-1 IfrtTturaday VECTOR GRAPHIC, KIM 1 TECHNICO. OAE * * « North Star CYBERNEX. JIM PAK * * • Tarbell CIRCLE 133 ON READER SERVICE CARD TERMINALS. PRINTERS J Sales 4 Service, Magazines & Book* BUSINESS SYSTEMS, BOOKS \ SOFTWARE AND MUCH MORE 7250 McKnight Road Personal Pittsburgh, Pa. 15237 (412) 367-2900 CATALOGUE AVAILABLE Computer K^fe,^aV^aV^*V^9>^lN^aV»^ay>^t^%-^^^0>^%*^a>^a>^^^a>^a>^a>^a>jB>jB>jB>^t>>^aV.

CIRCLE 177 ON READER SERVICE CARD Corporation 8 1 8 Frankhn Street 9 West Cary Street Alexandria. Virginia Richmond. Virginia P We know 0348 EDUCATION (703)548 8085 (804)780 We know COMPUTERS We have, on the premises CIRCLE 176 ON READER SERVICE CARD COMPUTERS PLUS FULL TIME SERVICE & REPAIR VIRGINIA INC. FULLTIME PROGRAMMING HOM 678 S. Pickett St. We Accept: Master Charge CENTER Alexandria, VA 22304 BankAmericard Purchase Orders DEC 2927 Va Beach Blvd ASK FOR EVERETT Apple Va. Beach, VA 23452 DAVE Vector Graphics (804) 340-1977 ED TDL Ask for Bob or Dan. Polymorph ic FOR ALL RCA Northern Virginia's YOUR MICROCOMPUTER Processor Technology REQUIREMENTS North Star Newest and Finest Digital Systems Microcomputer Store 12588 WarwJck Blvd Frazer Mall, Rtes. 30 & 352 Newport News. VA 23606 Malvern, PA 19355 (804) 595-1955 (703) 751-5656 Phone: (215)647-8463

CIRCLE 178 ON READER SERVICE CARD CIRCLE 179 ON READER SERVICE CARD CIRCLE 180 ON READER SERVICE CARD Now, a book for the practicing Generation of Acronyms By professional... Buzzword INteGration (GABBING)

by John Sotos

Computers and acronyms have evolved together. The first "This is the best handbook of data computer acronym, ENIAC, was not very advanced, but communications system technology progress in technology lead to rapid developments in aero- that tliis reviewer has yet nymology, with such beauties as BASIC, MANIAC, and encountered."— ArvidG. Larson in JOVIAL being the results. Since future directions in this ACM Computing Reviews field are bleak (HAL of 2001: A Space Odyssey stood for February 1978 Hueristically programmed ALgorithmic computer), an attempt Digital Press announces the is made below to stave off an Acronymal Dark Age (ADAGE). publication of TECHNICAL For each acronym an example of its use is also given. ASPECTS OF DATA COMMUNI- CATION by John McNamara. Acronym Meaning and Use Written tor the practicing pro- RABIES RApidly Bought Interactive Educational Systems fessional, TECHNICAL ASPECTS "Many colleges are afflicted with RABIES." OF DATA COMMUNICATION ALARM A Language Affording Risk Minimization details the nuts-and-bolts prob- "Dishonest programmers made us react with lems and solutions in configuring ALARM." communications systems. It RUMP Remote Ultramodern Multi Processor features: • comparison of protocols "This terminal is connected to a RUMP." (DDCMP, BISYNC, SDLC) • exten- SPUD System Protection from Undergraduate Devious- sive explanation of interface stand- ness — "SPUD is vital to system security." ards (CCrTT/V.24, RS232C, RS422, SADISM Super ADvanced Interactive System Module RS423) • six comprehensive was necessary when our competitor appendices (how far/how fast?, "SADISM modem options, codes, UART, upgraded." format and speed table for asyn- TURD Thoroughly Un Readable Documentation chronous communication, chan- "We were shipped TURD instead of user manuals." nel conditioning) • 20 milliampere "TURD was included when we bought the loop • telephone switching computer." systems • error detection TYPHUS TYPical High Use System • 382 pages • 125 figures • 70 "Rapid communication is at the heart of a pages of tables • index • hardcover TYPHUS." SS TITANIC Solid STate Implies Tough And Nearly Indes- Digital rYai tructable Computers KUn .itiunal Services "That TITANIC was never doubted." DikimI Equipment Corp. SS Dtp. CC Crotby Drive. Bedford. MA 017)0

I would like to order copies of CRAP CRAsh Proof TECHNICAL ASPECTS OF DATA "Our system is CRAP." COMMUNICATION at $19.95 per copy. TIPSY Theoretically ImPossible SYstem Check enclosed G Money Order enclosed "A little TIPSY best describes his request." DART Name MOUTH DARing Theoretical Methods Of Undergraduate Time sHaring "Dartmouth has implemented DARTMOUTH." MIRACLE Minor Repair And CLEaning City State Zip "Only a MIRACLE can bring the system back up." Prices apply in U.S only.

CIRCLE 182 ON FREE INFORMATION CARD 60 Is personal computing worth it? We want your answers at the NCC '79 Personal Computing Festival. New York City, June 4—7

Has personal computing been worthwhile for most comprehensive computer show on earth. you? Every aspect of this fast-growing field is Here's how you can participate: being questioned. ..from the effort to generalize a • Present a paper subroutine to the cost of the latest hardware. What • Give a talk are your views? • Organize a panel Some key questions about personal computing • Deliver a tutorial need answers. How is personal computing en- • Demonstrate your application and equipment riching our lives and those of our families and The deadline for receipt of letters of intent to associates? What is its potential? What are we participate is February 1, 1979. Accepted getting for our investments in this field? Is it worth papers will the time, effort, cost. ..even the criticism? be published in the 1979 NCC Personal Computing JOIN THE PERSONAL COMPUTING FESTIVAL Proceedings. Honors and prizes will be awarded for the best You can answer these and other questions by papers and application demonstrations. participating in the Personal Computing Festival of the 1979 National Computer Conference, the For more details, fill in and return this coupon.

r 4NiNCC 79 1 #C Personal Computing Festival r c/o American Federation of Information i Processing Societies, Inc. 210 Summit Avenue. Montvale, New Jersey 07645 I 201/391-9810 Send me more details on: i Participating in a Personal Computing Festival session. I Demonstrating my personal computing application. Keeping me up-to-date on the Personal Computing Festival. Exhibiting my company s products and services at the Personal i Computing Festival. I Name_ i Company Street I L City State .Zip_ . Personal Computing Craig Come along for a trip John to Philadelphia and meet some new faces and new products at one of the year's biggest shows, PC '781

mm

[•**

I sometimes feel that a good convention is like a shot #3 in the arm to the personal computing industry. The Well, manufacturers get a chance to get out and meet their Need a jukebox in your home? maybe Newtech customers (and get some worthwhile feedback), ex- Computer Systems can help you out. They have a col- change ideas with fellow manufacturers, announce lection of 16 popular tunes available on North Star— new products and a host of other benefits. And, of diskette, SWTP Miniflex, or SWTP AC-30 (diskettes $19.95; tape — $15.95). The tunes are played through course, you and I get a chance to get out and see what's new first hand. their Model 6 or 68 music boards ($59.95). 230 Clinton St., Personal Computing 78, held in Philadelphia over the Brooklyn NY 11201. weekend of August 25th thru 27th, was an overwhelming

success! Unfortunately, all of couldn't it us make to NCE/CompuMart has the super Compucolor I system on

the show ... so I thought a few comments and pictures display (which I believe is scheduled to be sold for would be a way of sharing it with those of you who $795 . . . includes a color monitor & mini-floppy drive). couldn't make it. I'll introduce you to some of the people They also had a newcomer in the field up and running:

in our industry . . . some new . systems and peripherals . the Interact Model One home computer. Consists of a

fantastic . . some software . and perhaps that miscel- keyboard and cassette drive mounted in a case along with laneous item you've been looking for to add to your an 8080A, 2K of ROM, 8 K of RAM ($499). They carry system. several other consumer systems, such as the Bally and PET, so maybe you oughta write off for their new catalog: #1  1250 No. Main St., Dept. CA8, PO Box 8610, Ann Arbor Ml 48107. John Dilks, the bearded-wonder on the right, is the man behind PC '78. He, along with his friends, Dave Jones, (on the left) and Jim Main, have every right to be quite pleased and proud of what they've accomplished. It's kind of hard to imagine it, but there are actually displays and booths among all those people!

62 CREATIVE COMPUTING iDataBBse/Ouer^ •* in BASIC jsr r///w

" UF™cyg| ssc l 'A n 1 y

»'

#4 #5

it lately? Dr. Lloyd Rice Without a doubt, one of the most practical application The Computalker! Have you heard (2nd from left) gave an impressive demonstration programs for a home system is a good data base/ me query system (although you probably won't appreciate of his speech synthesizer speaking with a French and Spanish accent! Computalker Consultants, PO Box 1951, the fact until after you've had one . . . and got used to Santa Monica CA 90406. $395. (S-100, Apple, TRS-80 & using it). "Whatsit" is probably the only such package PET Versions.) . . it around for home systems . and is fun! We've got a

review of it coming up in Creative but if you can't wait, it #6 can be ordered from Information Unlimited, 331 W. 75th— PI, Suite 21, Merrillville IN 46410. North Star Diskette At the moment there are only two operating systems of $75; CP/M diskette — $125. (By the way, the developer any significance in the 8080/z80 world; Digital Re- of Whatsit is standing at the left: Lyall Morrill, Jr., of search's CP/M and North Star's DOS. The brilliant folks Computer Headware. Nice shot of that gentleman's back, at Lifeboat Associates (Tony Gold in the center, and don't you think?) Bonita Taylor on the left make up part of the crew) decided to put CP/M software on the smaller 5" North Star disk- If ettes . . . and they've been selling like hotcakes! you Ohio Scientific was showing off their new hard disk don't have CP/M and Microsoft Extended Basic running system, the C3-B (74 Megabytes!), along with the Chal- on your North Star system, you don't know what you're lenger 1P and Superboard II . . . although they aren't missing! They have Microsoft's Basic, Fortran and exactly in the same class (the C3-B is over $12,000). The Cobol; Xitan's software; business applications packages 1P comes enclosed in a case with keyboard, 8K Micro- from Structures Systems Group; and all of the CP/M soft, Basic, KC cassette interface, 4K of RAM and more software from Digital Research available on North Star ... for $349. The Superboard II is the "stripped" version, or Micropolis Meta & MacroFloppy systems. 164 W. without the case . . . and goes for $279. 1 333 S. Chillicothe 83rd St., New York NY 10024. (Also inquire about the Rd., Aurora OH 44202. CP/M User's Group.)

NOV/DEC 1978 63 .

ware PLATO Pi

#7 #10

SD Sales has a couple of new entries into the market; These two gentlemen (Stu Mitchell, famous author, on a single-board, Z-80 based computer and their new the left) look like they're closing up for the day. Actually, SDS-100 small business system. The Z-80 Starter Kit they're selling covers for your TRS-80 and PET ($9.95 & looks like it would be ideal for teaching micros (priced $16.95 respectively). International Technical Systems at $249). It has, among other things, an on-board PROM also offers an 8K PET expansion for $297. PO Box 264. programmer, Kansas City cassette interface and two Woodbridge VA 22194. S-100 connectors for expansion. The business system runs under CP/M which means there is a wide range of Heath had their new printer, the WH 14, at the show! business applications software readily available. PO Box Provides for selectable page width (132, 96, or 80 chars 28810, Dallas TX 75228. per line), page size and line width (6 or 8 lines per inch).

See a demo at your local Heathkit Electronic Center . . #9 or drop them a line for more info: Heath Company, Dept. The University of Delaware was there with a demonstra- 355-450, Benton Harbon Ml 49022. (You did know, didn't tion of the Plato Project system. The system is a world- you, that Heath is now offering their systems assembled wide network dedicated to computer-based instruction and tested?) and can also be used by the instructor for class management and student performance data. For further Take a minute and drop a line to Personal Software, PO info: Delaware PLATO Project, University of Delaware, Box 136-Z8, Cambridge MA 02138, and ask for a copy of the flyer describing their software for the 46 E. Delaware Ave., Newark DE 19711. packages TRS- 80, Apple and PET (including a word processing system

for the PET . . . which will be reviewed in an upcoming issue of Creative). They've also got a printer adapter for the PET!

64 CREATIVE COMPUTING Texas /nsfrumenfs® Prime Industrial Quality IC's TMS 4116-30JH Please Rush 16K Memory Up Grade K,t(s) at $99 00 each Effective Oct. 1. 1978

1. a TRS-80" By Rad.o Shack* 3 D Sorcerer'- by Ex.dy. Inc. 2 a Appfa „ • by A pp,e Computer. Inc. 4. u Expandoram by s.D. Sales Company D Check or MO. Enclosed Charge My OM.C.O BAC (VISA) D American Express C Sh,p COD. Ex Da,e . Bank Code # Card #

s 'ff Phone AC ( ) We pay shtppmg on all Checks Credit & Orders. Flohda residents add 4% sales tax.

100% Sa"«'«c, 'on Guarantee • „ J Full Installation Instructions Included Phone Orders Welcome (813) 879-4225 or (813) 879-4301 NAME ADDRESS CITY. STATE. ZIP LIMITED QUANTITY • ALL ORDERS SHIPPED SAME DAY RECEIVED

CIRCLE 153 ON READER SERVICE CARD FIRST CLASS PERMIT NO 5335 TAMPA FLA

BUSINESS REPLY MAIL NO POSTAGE STAMP NKCKSSAKY IF MAII.KK IN THE U S

I'iisi Ai.t. »lll HK PAID HI

Microcomputer Systems, Inc. 144 S. Dale Mabry Hwy. Tampa, Florida 33609 #11 #13 International Data Systems had their impressive lineup Notice the box sitting on top of the monitor cooking with of S-100 boards out on display. Perhaps their most the TRS-80? That little jewel from Microtronix will pro- famous is the 88-Modem Module and with computer vide your TRS-80 with 2 joysticks, stereo sound and a networks gaining in popularity I'm sure they'll be selling parallel printer interface. They're also putting the finishing more and more! Barbara Bagley, General Mgr , would touches on a Pertec 8" floppy interface for running CP/M love to send you a copy of their latest catalog: 400 N. on the TRS-80. PO Box Q, Dept S, Philadelphia Pa 19105. Washington St., Suite 200, Falls Church VA 22046. (Check with Phil Aiken, the gentleman on the left.)

#12 #14

CGRS has a 6502 based S-100 system (available in a If you Apple owners are in the market for a serial inter- variety of configurations), and more recently, a PET face board then look to Electronic Systems (cause they

floppy disk interface which is also a complete S-100 got one . . . which sells for $42 kit or $62 assembled). They mainframe. PO Box 368, Southampton PA 18966. (By also have a variety of components and S-100 boards, in- the way, that's designer Joseph Swope in the center.) cluding the only S-100 Direct Memory Access board on the market (called TIDMA). Drop Bob Kushner, the presi- The RCA VIP personal computer has recently come down dent and gentleman behind the counter, a line and ask for in price (to $249 — assembled & tested) and at the show their latest catalog: PO Box 21638, San Jose CA 95151. they announced several new boards for the system. These include a color expansion board (8 colors now!), expan- sion keypad for 2-player competition in games, 4K memory expansion and a Super Sound board for 4-octave music generation. RCA Cosmac VIP, New Holland Ave., Lancaster PA 17604.

NOV/DEC 1978 65 #15 #17

See that Horizon system sitting on the left? Would you Quite a crowd, huh? It didn't let up for the entire 4 days believe that more software can be run on that computer of the show, either! (And we certainly didn't mind!) than any other micro system on the market? (I'll discuss that in more detail in the review I've written on the system.) #18 North Star Computers, 2547 Ninth St., Berkeley CA 94710. Aha, would you look at this? Another CP/M system!

(Seems to be catching like wild-fire, it? I #16 on doesn't wonder how many of those "super-duper" 1 6-bitters com- TSC, and it's distinguished president, Dave Shirk (2nd ing on the scene will be running CP/M?) Electro Analytic from the right), has developed a lot of significant software Systems has the whole thing packaged in a nice wooden for the 6800 and recently taken off into "8080 Land" with cabinet (two 8" Shugart drives. CP/M software and docu- those same programs. They're offering their tried-and- mentation) for $2495. PO Box 102, Ledgewood NJ 07852. proved text editor/word processing system (as well as their inventory control package) on CP/M diskette now. Send off a quarter for their catalog, okay? Box 2574, W. Watch out for United Software Applications! They've got Lafayette IN 47906. some impressive applications and development software ready for shipment. Their OS/M Operating System is CP/M compatible and will support both standard-sized Peter Jennings and Dan Fylstra of Micro-Ware Limited disk drives as well as the 5" minis. Future versions will have, among other things, a new GraphicAdd package include a multi-user capability. They have a Macro which adds bit-mapped graphics to your SOL or VDM-1 Assembler ($95). Text Editor called Daisy ($125 OS/M; word processing system ($300 OS/M and . CP/M), . $175 ($50) . comes with demo programs on SOL cassette, 27 Firstbrooke Rd., Toronto Canada M4E 2L2. $350 CP/M), a North Star Basic-to-CP/M conversion ($40), Pilot, Payroll, CBasic, ADVENTURE!, Creative Computing's Games and more. 342 Columbus Avenue, Trenton NJ 08629. 66 CREATIVE COMPUTING Have you noticed what Eldon Berg has sitting in front of When it comes to big booths at computer shows, you're that PET? Yep, it's a standard ASCII keyboard for you gonna have to go some to beat JADE COMPUTER touch typists! The whole interface is on a small PC board PRODUCTS! They probably had 8 booths ... but with (installed without modification to the PET) and sells for all the systems, peripherals and boards they're offering $19.95. Provides upper & lower case and the PET key- these days, they need it! Don Smith, on the right, is the board remains functional. E. Berg Publications, 1360 Main Man at Jade and he'd be happy to send you a copy SW 199th Ct., Aloha OR 97005. of their latest catalog (if you can spare a couple of days to read it!). New address: 4901 W. Rosecrans, Hawthorne CA 90250.

Have you seen the Sorcerer? It's a 2-80 based machine #22 (like another popular consumer system) and has a stan- dard ASCII keyboard (like another popular system According to a recent readership survey most of us are doesn't). It has a full graphics character in set with 512 x 240 interested reading about, and buying, peripherals . . . resolution (which is very high, by the way). Stay tuned especially printers. The Qume and Diablo printers pos-

to . Creative, folks . . we've got some good stuff coming sibly provide the very best in word processing quality. this up on one! That handsome gentleman in the middle Ken Widelitz (on the left) would like to hear from you if is Paul Terrell, Exidy's Marketing Mgr. Exidy, Inc., 969 W. you're in the market for one. COMPUTER TEXTile, Maude Ave., Sunnyvale CA 94086. 10960 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1504, Los Angeles CA 90024.

#23

"The Lawyer's Computer" is what the folks at Professional Business Computers call their system. With Document Processing, Time Accounting, General Account & Trust

Account systems, along with Accounts Receivable, it looks like they're right! 528 Pine Song Lane, Suite NOV/DEC 1978 67 202, Virginia Beach VA 23451. .

Processor Technology has a new word processi ng system Imsai's new series of dual-floppy systems, the PCS-40, which runs under PTDOS (Helios disk system). It's called 42 & 44, were attracting more than their share of the printers, the Word Wizard and it will be offered with two crowds. The systems range from 180 to 780 Kbytes,

III (dot . . . the SOLPrinter II (impact metal) and SOLPrinter respectively and from $2695 to $3695 in price (32K matrix). Get on down to your local dealer and take a look RAM, I/O, and 8085 processor). Imsai Mfg. Corp., 14860 at it, okay? 7100 Johnson Industrial Dr., Pleasanton Wicks Blvd., San Leandro CA 94577. (Alan Rosenblaum, CA 94566. the dapper gentleman in the center and Imsai's Marketing Mgr., would be happy to fix you up with a flyer on the #25 PCS-4X series.) #27 Here's an exciting one! The extinguished-looking visitor to this booth (on the left) is none other than Merl Miller No, that's not the bouncer standing there . . . it's John (President of Matrix Publishing). He's playing with the Deres, one of Southwest Technical Product's sharp engi-

I neers. Just sharp will evident when sit . how . become you Rockwell AIM 65 microcomputer system . and do mean system! The little beast comes with a keyboard, twenty down at their new CT-82 terminal! It's fantastic! In 16-segment displays (alphanumeric!), 20 character-wide addition to being a very good-looking terminal it has a printer, 6502 processor, 1K of RAM and a 4K monitor Cherry (TM) keyboard that comes as close to feeling which includes an assembler and mini-editor and sensuous as any keyboard could! Sells for $795 and has more. Sells for $375 and should be available with Basic too many features to list here. The terminal is also sold in PROM in the near future. Robert Tripp, on the right, is with SWTP's System B which includes dual standard- publisher of MICRO, The 6502 Journal, and he'll be happy sized floppies (1.2 Megabytes!), 40K RAM, DOS & to talk to you about the AIM and other 6502 products he Basic ... all enclosed in a beautiful desk ... for offers through The Computerist, Inc., 56 Central Square, $4,495! Try to top that! 219 W. Rhapsody, San Antonio Chelmsford MA 01824. TX 78216. (We'll have a review of the CT-82 coming up . . soon.)

68 CREATIVE COMPUTING ' C201: MICROPROCESSORS: From Chips to Systems

Rodnay Zaks, 416 pp, $9.95 BOOKS ... ADDICTIVE? A complete, progressive, educational introduction to all aspects of microprocessors, and the assembly of a system: basic concepts, internal operation, the chips, system intercon- nect, programming, system development. This book has been qualified as best text ever written on microprocessors. MICROPROCESSOR MICROPROCESSOR ENCYCLOPEDIA ENCYCLOPEDIA

A MOJOHJOGRAMNH) BIT SLICE C202: MICROCOMPUTER APL IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAMMIN6:6502

Rodnay Zaks. 250 pp, $9.95

-S55"f A step by step introduction to microcomputer programming, using the 6502 microprocessor, with a detailed analysis of ail basic program- ming techniques, from arithmetic to Input- Output, including interrupts. Also available. 6502 APPLICATIONS BOOK C207:MICROPROCESSOR INTERFACING TECHNIQUES Alesea & R.Zaks, 416 pp, $9.95

How to interface a microprocessor to the external world, including all common peripher- als: dynamic memory, keyboard, LED, floppy disk, CRT display, cassette. Includes the standard busses: RS232, IEEE 488. SIOO.

SELF-STUDY COURSES Includes Book and Cassettes INTRODUCTION SYBEX C-Books are leading University and C200:AN INTRODUCTION TO TO MICROPROCESSORS (2.5 hrs) ref. SI. $29.95 Industry textbooks, used worldwide, and now TO PROGRAMMING (2.5 hrs) ref. S2. S29.95 translated into most major languages. PERSONAL AND BUSINESS COMPREHENSIVE (6 hrs) ref. SB1. $59.95 They are the result ol years of experience COMPUTING SPECIALIZED in actual education, and have consistently MILITARY (6 hrs) ref. SB3, $49.95 been qualified as best pedagogic text ever Rodnay Zaks, 250 pp. S6.95 BIT-SLICE (6 hrs) ref. SB5, $49.95 used'. INDUSTRIAL (4.5 hrs) ref. SB6. $49.95 'Well and executed text (C20l)...a planned A comprehensive introduction to personal INTERFACING (6 hrs) ref. SB7, $49.95 self- complete treatment. . . self-contained and computers, for home or business use: the

. 'Internal Operation of defined. . The chapter on hardware, the software, the peripherals, the OTHER BOOKS is the best explanation we have a Microprocessor' costs. BASIC. How to fail with a business thus far seen m print.' (Elementary Elec- system. How to select a system. Will it be ZIO-APL IMPLEMENTATION $25.00 tronics, Sept. 78) sufficient? Which one to buy. XI -MICROPROCESSOR LEXICON S 1 95

Now on cassettes: 3 hrs, ref SIO. $14.95 AND MORE ... ASK FOR FREE CATALOG WARNING: Readers have Determined that C-series Books May be Addictive.

I Please let us Know. CIRCLE 102 ON READER SERVICE CARD TO ORDER r i NAME POSITION COMPANY Y PHOMi: COl 41 5 848 8233 i ADDRESS BorttAmericord/Mosterchorge occepted CITY STATf/2» SHIPPINO: no charge when payment Included (except add i 1CJOO i CJOI CX52 C207 Other $ SO on oiden lot S 7 OO oc lets): ol orders under SSO OO Payment enclosed . BW me (over SSO) COD

. Charge my Visa Mosterchorge Interbank nbr

ADO: SI SO book lor lost Shipping kimtier .... _ . .. Exn dale 2020 Mllvla St. OVIBSIAS: OMAMf Berkeley, i SYBEX EUROPE CA94704

313 rue lecourb*. 7501S-Pom France Tel: (I) 828 25 02 Tel: 415/S48-S233 LJ FREE CATALOG/ORDER FORM I I Smart Electronic Games and Video Games

David H. Ahl

In this year's crop of games you'll find more versatility, more choice, and more smarts for less money.

After the Toy Fair last February, it logic game? Zone X, their newest addi- was obvious that the biggest growth tion, is an interesting derivation of the category in the toys and games in- Master Mind premise. The zone- dustry in 1978 would be in electronic breaker uses a pegboard to guess the and video games. Now that the proto- target point set by the zonemaker on to a previouly pressed peg trying, on types that were shown last February his marker grid. This is not an easy each move, to guide the direction of are on the store shelves, it's time to game! play toward his colored pegs. do our annual round up of the new, Zone X, complete with searchboard, [Did you ever wonder who those the old, the good and the mediocre. marker grid, pegs, marker, and eraser. exotic models are on the Invicta

Many of the games below were re- boxes? You guessed it — they're all viewed in depth on our pages during (A $25 bonus goes to the author of Invicta employees in the various 1977 and 1978. In those cases the the best computer version of Zone X plants. — DHA] issue and page number are noted at received by March 1, 1979 in addition (Yet another $25 bonus for the best the end of the capsule description. to the normal game/article payment. computer version of Press Ups re- Other games without an issue noted Send listing, run, description and ceived by March 1, 1979!) were tested only briefly for this round SASE. How about a graphics version up. for the Apple, TRS-80, or PET?) In still other cases, we only saw the prototypes and can't vouch that the production models on store shelves will live up to the starry-eyed claims made last February at the Toy Fair or in June at the Consumer Electronics Show. These are identified by "NT" (Not Tested) following the name of the game. No round up like this is ever com- plete. In some cases we deliberately left out a game (saying nothing at all was the nicest thing we could do with some new entries). In other cases, we Super Master Mind just weren't aware that the product Super Master Mind is a step above existed and/or information arrived Master Mind as it has 8 different colors after presstime. (Master Mind has only 5). Speedy In any event, shop around for variety and price. And try things out before you buy to make sure it will hold your interest or the interest of the person Press Ups • • for whom it's a gift. Another Invicta game which we got in England some time ago but is finally available in the U.S., Press Ups rjfm Manual Games it is a fast-moving logic game. Each i player has ten colored pegs, five at Zone X each side of the 7 x 7 board. Yellow Will Invicta ever give us a chance to pegs in the rest of the board are m^ * * recoupe (from Master Mind) before neutral. Players take turns pressing •i^-'J they bring out another challenging down one peg which must be adjacent ^^KT^^^^y V '"~——

70 CREATIVE COMPUTING computer calculations indicate there and plenty loud to be heard in a noisy are over 59,000 possible answer com- room of kids. "Solitaire Maze" is

binations (according to Invicta, I only simple enough for a 6-year old, "Blind

came up with 40,320, but I was never Alley — Back to Start" is a challenge much of a mathematician). To add to to an adult.

the challenge, leave an empty space in Blue and white plastic case 4'/2 x

1 the "answer code" and watch what 6% x 1 /2 in. Uses one 9-volt battery. happens (you go bananas!). Retail approx. $23.

Grand Master Mind A game like Grand Master Mind is enough to make you swear off Master Mind games forever, or perhaps be- Milton Bradley Simon come permanently addicted. If you've played previous Master Mind games Simon, a computer update of the age old game, Simon-Says, is, without a and thought them difficult, try this one. doubt, one of the best party games to You are allowed 10 tries to guess the hit the market this year. It is a large colors, and for a new twist, you also disc with four different color plates. guess shapes. Master Mind aficion- Simon lights up the plates and you ados will find this a welcomed addi- Coleco Quiz Wiz follow his lead by playing back the tion to their collection. Quiz Wiz is a small electronic device proper color and sound sequence. The which stores the answers to 1001 music is loud enough to hear at multiple choice questions. Armed with parties and the lights bright enough a booklet of 1001 questions (there are for inside use. Three different solitaire seven such books on subjects like and multi-player games and four skill sports, people, history, television, levels make Simon suitable for Age 5 music and books, mathematics and to adult. One possible drawback: the trivia) you punch in the question num- plates aren't bright enough for out- ber and your answer. Quiz Wiz gives side use or in the car (which would be a

you a green light and high tone if great way to keep the kids busy while you're correct, a red light and low tone driving on vacation.) However, this

if you're not. We found the tones drawback is minor if you learn the barely audible in a moderately noisy music associated with each color. room so you have to watch the lights. White and colored plastic, 12 in. dia. To some adults it seemed like too Uses two D cells and one 9-volt bat- Smart Electronic Games much button pushing, but kids loved tery. Retail approx. $25. it. Ages 6 and up. 1 Dice. Maroon vinyl binder/case, 9 /2 x 4 x No. 30RIHHI Bone I>lcc 1'/2 in. Uses one 9-volt battery. Retail So, ii are corners. No. 0, >iio, H-lnch. approx. $20. Quiz booklets $3. Per dozen 0© If bj null, noatac« extra, per dozen, 3 cent*. SSL*® saga 333' 3

Coleco Amaze-A-Tron This clever little maze game may be played alone or with a partner. The computer gives a starting and finishing point on a 25-square grid. You move a Coleco Digits plastic marker and try to find the Yet another electronic Bagels/ Milton Bradley Star Bird correct path from start to finish. A Master Mind similar to Milton- When Star Bird first flew into the short musical tune plays when you hit Bradley's Comp IV (except Digits only office, most females disliked the Star a correct square; a wrong move gets a uses 4-digit mystery numbers). Two Wars-style craft, while the males "raspberry" sound. It takes a few plays skill levels. praised it. Having had it in several dif- to get the hang of it, but once you do, White plastic 6 x 4 x iy2 in. Uses one ferent environments, this male/female it's addictive. The tunes are pleasant 9-volt battery. Retail approx. $18. reaction still seems consistant. V! NOV/DEC 1978 71 A microprocessor detects the atti- are judged to be nearly equal in value. display correct answers (Little Pro- tude of the hand-held plastic plane Suggested retail price is $275. fessor, Quiz Kid II), and others that (climbing, level, or diving) and simu- only light up a green or red LED in the

lates appropriate engine speeds. It case of a correct or incorrect answer. also "fires" lasers with a "realistic" All use one 9-volt battery. Prices from zap sound accompanied by blinking $8 to $25. lights. Various parts detach (escape pods, interceptors, high-speed fighter) and could break in impatient hands, al-

though it is as rugged as any other plastic toy. The Raggedy Ann/Andy school of "kids-make-their-own- fantasy" school of purists won't like Star Bird; most kids (and their fathers) will love it. Gray plastic with colorful markings, 15 in. long. Uses one 9-volt battery. Tl Speak & Spell Retail approx. $15 to $20. Electronic voice pronounces over 200 words, you key in the spelling. It announces when you are right or wrong and displays your score. Games like "Mystery Word" and "Secret Code" add to the fun of learn- ing to spell.

Red plastic. 6V2 x 10 x iy2 . Uses 4 C-cells. $50. (Sept./Oct. 78. pp 60-61). Mattel Auto Race, Football, Missile Attack In all three games you control a bright light blip which represents your car, player or missile. Computer controlled blips are coming toward you (or you are moving toward them) and you are trying to avoid a collision Boris (in Auto Race) or being tackled (in In this electronic chess game, the Football), or you are trying to shoot amount of time the computer has to down enemy missiles. We liked Foot- Missile Attack least. For process its possible moves is set by the ball best and player. Up to 100 hours can be allowed 1978, Missile Attack has been re- Galactica but several seconds is enough to give a named "Battlestar Space challenging game. The pieces, small Alert" perhaps hoping that the new board, and computer with keyboard TV show will stimulate sales. Also "Basketball" has been added to the and LED readout fit in a walnut box we've not had a chance to with lid. Boris comments on players' lineup but try it. moves via phrases traveling across the Tl Spelling Bee All come in a handheld plastic case LED display. Boris Master operates on Non-speaking version of Speak & and use one 9-volt battery. Retail rechargable batteries and has a mem- Spell. Comes complete with picture range $18-$35. (Jan./Feb. 78, pp 27- ory feature. Suggested retail prices: book and fold-up case. Uses 9-volt 29). Boris $299, Boris Master $399. Boris battery. $30. (Sept./Oct. 78, pp 60-61). is distributed by Chafitz. Inc., 1055 First Street, Rockville, Maryland, 20850.

Chess Challenger X This is the latest computerized chess game of Fidelity Electronics. The X means ten levels of play where one level roughly corresponds to the microcomputer looking ahead one- half move. Level one requires a few seconds, while level ten requires around several hours for a move. The board is part of the unit while the Arithmetic Practice Calculators Milton Bradley Comp IV LED displays and touch pad keyboard Seven of these little calculators are Use the calculator pad to guess a are on the side. Features include a on the market this year, some with secret 3, 4, or 5-digit number. Comp IV beep when its move is complete, and built-in games (Dataman), some which gives you clues (how many digits cor- a random choice between moves that keep track of number correct and also rect and how many in the correct

72 CREATIVE COMPUTING position). A game with lasting interest. Blank overlays are also included so write your own. Plastic console 7y2 x 4 x 4 in. Uses you can one 9-volt battery. Retail range $20 to The second chapter (12 pages) of $40. (Nov./Dec. 77, pp 36-37). the manual is an introduction to binary and hexadecimal number systems, computer organization, and elements of a large-scale computer system. Uses 4 D batteries (which we found should be akaline or extra duty). From Logix Enterprises. Retail $40-$50.

Milton Bradley Electronic Battleship An electronic version of the manual Invicta Electronic Mastermind (NT) Battleship game. The electronics Break the hidden 3, 4, or 5 digit code effects. mainly provide zippy sound in this electronic version of Master- '78, Retail range $30-$50. (May/June mind. LED display tells how many pp 47-48). digits are correct and in right position. Parker Brothers P.E.G.S. Handheld. Uses 2 AA batteries. $20. APF Mathemagician 15 chase and maze games played by A teaching calculator which can be inserting pegs into a double-sided "programmed" to provide arithmetic electronic board. Makes sound when Video Games problems on almost any level of dif- two pegs are in the same hole on ficulty. Mathemagician also has six opposite sides of the grid. Sounds built-in games which can be played innocent enough but once you start using different plastic overlays. The playing it begins to get wild! Although 7 14, adults large size and bright display make it aimed at children from to ideal for younqer children. Uses 6 had a ball playing "Battle of the Blobs" C-cells. Retail $39.95. (Mar./Apr. 78, and "Hostage." Plastic. Uses one 9-volt pp 92-94). battery. $15.

Bally Professional Arcade Outstanding graphics, 256 colors, nifty 3-function controllers and a nice assortment of game cartridges make this a system well worth considering as a video game system. However, for an extra $50 Bally offers a pro- gramming package that includes a Basic cartridge and an excellent print- ed introduction to the language that does not presume any previous com- puter experience. The Audio Cassette T.E.A.M.M.A.T.E. Game Computer interface for another $50 allows you to This device is a battery-operated use a standard cassette recorder to limited device with a microprocessor, save and retrive programs. The ease of Brothers Merlin memory, 4x4 lamp display, 16 key Parker using the color, graphics and music It Plays 6 games (Tic Tac Toe, Music keyboard, and speaker. comes com- (built-in 3-octave music synthesizer) in mem- Machine, Echo, Magic Square, Mind- plete with 25 simple programs is remarkable, though you probably Blackjack 13) with 9 levels of ory which can be "called" by pressing bender, won't be able to match the com- enjoyed "Echo" im- the appropriate keys on the keyboard. difficulty. We plexity of professionally prepared program is described in the mensely, trying to echo Merlin's tunes Each programs. $299. (Sep/Oct. 78, pp 56- very complete manual. The "pro- — no one here could echo more than 7 59). grams" are in a low-level logic rather notes correctly. "Magic Square" was Atari Pinball different than either Basic or machine quite a challenge also, particularly Video Plays four pinball-type games, two language. The output is all through the "challenge version for experts flippers and two with a moving the 4x4 lamp display which uses a only." Eleven touch keys; red plastic. with the bottom of the screen. different slide overlay for each one. Uses 6 AA batteries. $25. paddle at

73 NOV/DEC 1978 Also two basketball-type games and Otron Gamatic 8600 (NT) the incredibly popular Breakout in Another low price ($69) program- which you move your paddle to hit a mable with two joysticks. Four cart- ball to break away six colored walls of ridges as of August. From Korea. bricks at the top of the screen. Fun for the beginner, challenging for the ex- Video Technology Model 501 and pert. Extremely addictive. Uses 6 C- Model 2003 (NT) cells or AC adapter. Retail $55-$75. Two programmable entries in the (Jul./Aug. 78, pp 35-36). low price derby (below $70). The 501 is a basic programmable while the 2003 has extended capabilities similar to Video Brain and also high resolu- tion (256 x 256 pixels).

Fairchild Channel F System II (NT) A redesigned version of the original Channel F, this has four difficulty levels, four time limits, and a unique "freeze" switch which permits inter- -•' ruption of a game with play resumed later (nice if you want to watch TV and play during commercials — or vice- versa). The unique controllers, which we found a bit difficult to get used to, turn, twist, push and pull in eight different ways. Three game cartridges Coleco Telstar Arcade use a numeric keypad controller Of the programmable video games, Atari Video Computer System (Poker, Football and a lunar lander this is certainly the most tactile. No Perhaps the most comprehensive game). Twenty-one other cartridges little knob to steer your racer, but a programmable game playing video are availale over a wide range of sub- good size steering wheel and gear system around, this unit has two skill jects, some with as many as 284 varia- shift. And for the target games, a full- levels, four types of controllers and tions. size (plastic) pistol. Two remote con- an enormous library of games. Twenty Retail $125-$150. Cartridges $20 trols included in the price of the game cartridges are currently avail- each. sports cartridge supplement the two able including Breakout, Indy 500, built-in ones and allow for four-player Blackjack, Starship (maneuver competition. Two-level skill control. through space), Surround (lay down a Triangular plastic housing approx. maze with an opponent without 15" on a side. Comes with AC getting trapped), Air/Sea Battle adapter. Bargain priced at $65; cart- (planes dropping bomps, submarines ridges $10 to $15. launching missiles, shooting gallery), Outlaw, Home Run, Slot Racers, and, of course, Video Olympics (50 Pong- type games and variations). Most cartridges contain 3 to 6 funda- mentally different games and 6 to 8 500 (NT) variations of each one. APF Model A dedicated video unit with 20 space Retail $165-5200. Cartridges $19 games including Space War, Space each. (Jul./Aug. 78, pp 37-39). Phasor, Phantom War (invisible space ships) and more. Guided or direct missiles.

Video Sport, TCR-900 PC (NT) Yet another entry in the program- mable price race ($69). This, like the last three products, will probably appear under various private label and Magnavox Odyssey (NT) store brand names. Video system featuring a touch- sensitive alphanumeric keyboard as well as the usual joysticks. The key- Radofin Telesports III (NT) board and "computer introduction" A Hong Kong entry, Telesports is a cartridge indicate that Magnavox is low-price ($69 retail) programmable. looking ahead toward a truly pro- Comes with 2 joysticks. Seven game grammable computer on the order of cartridges planned with up to 1 games the Bally Arcade; but this is still only each. a game system. Around $180.

74 CREATIVE COMPUTING .

Did you miss any issues of creative coiwpafciRg in 1977??

- Well, don't fret. For a limited time (as Vol. 3, No. 4 - Jul/Aug 1977 Vol. 4, No. 2 Mar/Apr 1978 long as the supply lasts), you can order Guide to selecting a microcomputer Parody of Datamation, Business Com- puting: 5 inventory control systems, all six 1977 issues for only $8.00 plus Write your own CAI, Part 2 Computers "8- of $1 .00 shipping — $9.00 total! Any three in medicine and health care Dwyer: ABCs microcomputers, structured ." software for micros, four issues are $5.00 postpaid! And any Hour Course in Basic- Part 1 "Thinking computer of single issue is only $2.00 postpaid. Strategies- Part 3 "Sherlock Holmes and music systems, reviews 2 Basic 1978 issues are also available for $2.50 Charles Babbage Four new games interpreters and micro-APL, CAI-Part each postpaid, regardless of quantity. 4, puzzles and games. Vol. 3. No. 5 - Sept/Oct 1977 Vol. 4, No. 3 - May/Jun 1978 Radio Shack computer profile, visit to Vol. 3. No. 1 - Jan/Feb 1977 Art animation Polymorphic, music synthesis for an and section: 8 articles, color graphics. SAM76, binary search, Profiles of the IMSAI 8080. SWTPC6800. 8080 Three views to computer conferen- a real in Basic, TTY 43 All about EFTS Computational cing In-depth comparison of five BASIC budget business com- un solvability Four new games puting: 4 payroll systems, Oregon " interpreters Fiction, computer and Gruenberger: 'Learning by Doing calculator games Trail. Black Box, reviews of Catastrophic theory A microcomputer VideoBruin, MSI floppy. OSI Challenger. Ai speech synthesizer. software course Vol. 3. No. 6 - Nov Dec 1977

Programming techniques- Part 1 CAI Vol. 3, No. 2 - Mar/Apr 1977 Vol. 4, No. 4 - Jul/Aug 1978 Topics in Logic Three 8080 8K BASIC Special music features: music instruc- evaluations Smart electronic game Reviews of Commodore PET. Apple II. performed tion, computer music by reviews How computers can write final Atari computer. Video games, inter- "Bottom-Up 8izet." transporta- dance. exams Mastermind II and Otherllo facing to the real world: 5 articles, tion and composition of music by computer games. Profile of the Alpha 1 business computing: 4 word process- to use a CPU with a computer, how and Alpha 2 for the TDL Xitan. ing systems. ROM section: 7 articles, simple peripheral to play music Piele & " backgammon game, bar code. Wood "Thinking Strategies- Part 1 Vol. 4, No. 1 — Jan/Feb 1978 Vol. 3. No. 3 - May/June 1977 File structures, 16-bit computers, Ahl: "Computer Power to the People." LOGO language. Murphy's laws, For faster service, use your Visa or Nelson "A Dream for Irving Snerd." review of Radio Shack TRS-80 and Master Charge and call our toll-free Arthur C Clarke "Future Com- Heath H8, World model, biorythms, order line: munications" Dynabook revealed All how to write a simulation, Hart sort about PILOT Profiles: Wave Mate Jupiter algorithm, 3 games, 8-Hour Basic 800-631-8112 - (In NJ. call 201-540-0445) II. SOL-20 CAI in depth Course Part 4.

Please send me: Total amount MASTER $2/each, 3 for $5, 6 for $9 visa- n VISA CHAKGK D Jan/Feb 1977 ' Cash, check, Mar/Apr 1977 or MO enclosed Card No D May/Jun 1977 D Jul/Aug 1977 Expiration date Sep/Oct 1977 D Nov/Dec 1977 Name

$2.50/each, no quan. discount Address D Jan/Feb 1978 Mar/Apr 1978 D May/Jun 1978 Jul/Aug 1978 City D State . Zip

Volume 1 bound, $10 Volume 2 bound, $10

Return form to: CREATIVE COMPUTING. P.O. Box 789 M. Morristown. New Jersey 07960 First Annual Buyer's Guide to Consumer Computers

Steve North

Within recent months, a number of characters), keyboard and audio (more or less a standard in its own consumer electronic firms as well as cassette interface. You add your own right) is built-in and available as soon some of the established microcom- TV set and cassette recorder. The Sol as you turn the computer on. The PET puter manufacturers have introduced uses the S-100 bus, so you can add up has the unusual ability to display either completely assembled microcomputer to 64K of memory and plug in any of the upper/lower case, or upper case and a systems which can be used by almost widely varied S-100 bus cards. full set of special graphics characters anyone. To help you decide which Processor Technology has two (such as card suits, little boxes and system may best fit your needs, we BASICS, PILOT, and a FORTRAN circles.etc). The video is fast enough to present here a short comparison of compiler which will be out soon. The allow animated graphics with these most of the consumer systems. (One Sol has been around for quite a while characters. Based on these suspects that "consumer computer" is and Processor Tech has a good reputa- qualifications, the PET would be an about to become one of the most tion for supporting its systems through extremely outstanding machine, but overused phrases in the English an excellent dealer network. One there are also some very bad problems. language.) Some subjective comments disadvantage of the Sol is that BASIC is First, the PET has the worst excuse for are also included — please don't send not built-in (in ROM) but must be documentation we've ever seen. This parcels of dead fish to the reviewer if loaded from cassette tape. On the other void is partially filled by a number of

you don't agree! Products which have hand, this is not much of a problem if very active user's groups, who can tell only appeared in a manufacturer's you don't want to be stuck with just you many of the things Commodore press releases and other pipe dreams one BASIC, or if you can afford a disk. should have in the first place. Second, are not covered here. In brief, Sol systems are high-quality the PET can't be expanded beyond 8K but, remember that you do have to pay. of memory without using a non- A minimal Sol is priced at $2095 with Commodore attachment. Finally, the 16K of memory, while the top-of-the- PET's calculator-style keyboard is line unit with four very fast full-sized ridiculous, maybe one of the worst floppy disk drives and 64K comes in at engineering mistakes in the history of $8,750. personal computing, although, as many PET owners testify, "you get used to it." Commodore has also announced a PET Printer, an auxiliary cassette unit, and perhaps later they'll have a floppy disk option. While Commodore has been dragging its corporate heels on these peripherals, Processor Technology's Sol System other companies are second-sourcing was one of the first of the all-in-one PET peripherals and memory, though computers that don't require connec- not with the same variety as S-100 bus tion to a separate (and usually costly) products. The standard 8K PET costs terminal. A single typewriter-sized The Complete PET incorporates ab- $795. cabinet contains the CPU and memory, solutely everything a good computer a video interface (with upper/lower needs, even the TV monitor and case, reverse video and some graphics cassette recorder. Microsoft BASIC

76 CREATIVE COMPUTING screen. (Text unfortunately is upper- allows you to write and execute BASIC case only.) The Apple has built-in programs including music and color integer BASIC with special features for graphics. Bally BASIC is really Palo accessing the graphics and game Alto Tiny BASIC in disguise, so it's very paddles, besides some neat debugging easy to learn. The Bally Video Arcade aids and a machine-language monitor. must be programmed through a Floating-point Applesoft (Microsoft) calculator keypad (the ultimate form of BASIC is also available. You can add the PET-style keyboard) by using up to 48K of memory to your system, multiple keystrokes to enter a single simply by buying the memory chips character or BASIC keyword. Certainly and plugging them into sockets in the not for anyone who wants to get into Apple. Options for the Apple include any heavy programming, but when you interface cards for a printer and for get tired of BASIC there's always data communications, and a floppy gunfight for two players. The Video Radio Shack's TRS-80 consists of a disk unit (though the floppy disk drives Arcade is $300, add $50 for the BASIC keyboard/CPU unit, a video monitor are very hard to get ahold of now). The cartridge. and an audio cassette recorder. The Apple is a fun and versatile machine. A keyboard/CPU unit can contain 4K or 16K Apple is $1,195.

16K of memory, and either Level I or

Level II BASIC Level I BASIC is essentially Palo Alto Tiny BASIC beefed up with floating-point math,

while Level II is the ubiquitous Microsoft Extended BASIC. Rumor has

it that Level I will be phased out or at least de-emphasized in the future, in

favor of the superior Level II BASIC. Both machines are restricted to dis- playing upper case only, and plotting points on a coarse 128 by 48 grid, certainly not as fun as the PET or The Exidy Sorcerer is one of the most Apple. If you want more than 16K of recent entries into the consumer memory or plan to add any peripherals, Scientif ic's II market, and it seems to incorporate Ohio Challenger includes then you'll need the expansion inter- many of the best features of its com- a CPU, 4K RAM, keyboard and video face, which contains another 16K of petitors. Like the TRS-80, the Sorcerer display (with upper/lower case and memory, and the hardware needed to consists of a keyboard/CPU unit, a some graphics characters) in one unit. connect floppy disk drives and a line video monitor and a cassette recorder. A video monitor and cassette recorder printer. The cassette interface in Level I But there are several innovations worth must be added. The Challenger has BASIC runs at 250 baud (agonizingly noting. First, the Sorcerer has a slot in Microsoft 8K BASIC and a machine- slow) while the 500 baud Level II the side for a removable ROM-PAC language monitor contained in ROM. cassette is not nearly as reliable. The cartridge, which contains the system Additional memory and floppy disk TRS-80 really isn't outstanding in any software you want to work in. No other drives may be plugged in. Probably the way, but it is a big seller because it's system has this capability. Second, the Challenger is not as popular as it might one of the cheapest ways to get your Sorcerer display has upper/lower case, be because the cabinet is not that slick- hands on a BASIC-speaking machine, PET-style graphics characters, and looking, and Ohio Scientific does not and because Radio Shack has a user-defined graphics characters have an extensive dealer network (at marketing and distribution system (which you create by setting up the least in our area of the country). Prices unequaled by any other micro correct bit-patterns in memory). The start at $598. manufacturer. The cheapie Level I 4K Sorcerer comes with a Microsoft Ex- machine is $599, a Level II machine tended BASIC ROM-PAC, but others with 16K of memory is $999 (for APL, FORTRAN, and word processing are supposedly on the Others. Several of the real biggies are way). Third, an S-100 bus expansion threatening to get into the act, most unit with 8 slots may be added. Exidy is prominently, Texas Instruments. (The

also planning on a color-graphics wildest rumor I heard concerning Tl

option for the Sorcerer, and it looks like has them linked with, yes, IBM. Their their Disk Operating System will be the 9940 based system will feature IBM's powerful and widely used CP/M. The favorite language and an externally price tag is also very easy to take - $895 attached bubble memory module for the basic unit with 8K of RAM. which will use a patented connector. Of course, if IBM did want to do something with Tl, they would

probably just buy Tl, but then I did say The Apple II is best known for its it was a wild rumor.) Another in- impressive color graphics Like the Sol. teresting thought: the "Japanese Inva- the Apple requires connection to a TV sion'' is already underway. Where will set and a tape recorder. Two game this leave the American manufacturers paddles are also included. Color in a few years? There is some graphics may be done in a low- difference between slapping together a resolution mode (40 by 40, with 16 The Bally Video Arcade is mainly a PC board and providing extensive colors), or in high-resolution (160 by video games machine, but by adding a support for a technically sophisticated 280, with 4 colors). Text and color $50 game cartridge, you can have a product, but it's not hard to buy a disk graphics may be split on the same BASIC-speaking computer, which operating system, or BASIC, either.

NOV/DEC 1978 77 " ' X — .... r /x 9 nwuuiKwuoaiiiiwuvvunvA- x x ~ :::: i»- 5 I ~**e i X*K00880888888888K*X#X>" ci* "•!=*-*» -e&~ <»? :*f s v 1 <.# 8 M •"!= k0* *&y~ <*ik ==8! "8 M 8 #k C8M£kX*8 v v x s v " X k* Ct= =MMC : c&t t&C ; - C MM-; «8C #k 8 M " 8 M=^ M :*' 1 " S V ?8 *M! = #•&< *••#?- -CM8X~ i*8k^S *i- ik#li#X="* Patterns x "=X#M#k! -»*0Mk" -CM ( s - - : i::*N80*s; i- : CX8*# William Games t**XC = ! -:»XK*Ci "P&M8MX m !-" L" s v N N &M80ttM*k; "*- X = •M*XC=<~ ! ; kX 8,*#M080808888888M**&Xk 9 i "<=CX*M1M«M#8C =; i:kXSi*#MM0880000800MM##&XkC ?»<"- s -~!

"What does it look like?" The function can be analyzed for matically searching all plottable points for the absolute critical points. Points can be evaluated and plotted. Only minimum and maximum values. Finding the range auto- after much time, abstract imagination, and artistic effort, matically may take more than a few seconds. Note that the may that object of one's curiosity be seen. Unfortunately, range (R1, R2) is widened at both ends by .00001 to many of us do not have such mathematical training or the compensate for round-off errors. perseverence to behold such sublime splendor. It is for the Once all parameters are set, the output phase begins. impatient and the lazy that computerized graphics are so Simply, the output section consists of a horizontal printing useful. Unfortunately, though, the cost of graphics sys- loop nested in a vertical advancement loop. The inner x- tems and terminals are well above the means of most loop is responsible for the printing of a single line repre- hobbyists and schools. Let us improvise, using BASIC, the senting the value of the function across the entire x- ASCII character set, and a Teletype-like printer. interval for a fixed-y. The x-loop is incremented by the Our objective is to graphically represent functions of length of the interval divided by the number of print two variables such as z = cos(xy). Mathematically, this positions. Thus, a greater number of print positions per involves plotting in space a function whose domain is a fixed interval increases the sense of continuity. The func- subset of the xy-plane. In other words, the ordered pair tion defined in line 210 converts the numeric value of the (x,y) is mapped onto z = f(x,y). If f(x,y) is continuous, the function in line 110 into a position on A$ and B$. These result is a "surface" suspended in space where each point strings list the output characters arranged by increasing is of the form (x,y, f (x,y)). density. Note that each line is printed twice. First, the The best way to "see" these functions or any surface on a determined position in AS is output in each print position. two-dimensional piece of paper is with a contour map. In The carriage is returned to the beginning of the same line the case of many contour maps, equal elevations are rep- where characters from B$ are then printed. By printing resented by a continuous curve through those points. An- each line twice, the range of discrete densities is other approach is to color or shade the map according to increased. The result is a smoother surface in appearance. elevation. It is the second technique that is used in this In effect, each position (P) returned by the function in line program. Since there is the constraint of the discontinu- 210 is graphically represented by the "sum" of the given ous Teletype, equal elevations, or values of the function, position in A$ and B$. The characters assigned to A$ and must be represented by ASCII characters. In this program, BS give the best result for a Decwriter II terminal. the greater the value of the function, the more dense Modification of the character strings may be necessary for (darker) the combination of characters printed. When other terminals. If one is working with a CRT, or desires viewed very closely, such output makes little sense. When only one sweep of each line, then change line 60 to read: viewed as a whole, though, the discontinuities tend to 60 N=1 (n is the number of sweeps of a given line). The I- blend together creating the overall affect of gradual loop determines the number of times each line is printed darkening of greater and greater values of the function and is controlled by the assignment in line 60. The Y-loop and thus the curvature of the surface itself. sweeps the domain one line at a time, beginning with the The following program is an efficient tool for "seeing" greatest value of y. The Y-loop is stepped by the same what functions of two variables look like and/or creating increment used in the X-loop. A scale factor is introduced beautiful patterns. The program is designed to allow easy to compensate for discrepancies in the number of manipulation of parameters for discovery of their effect on columns and lines per inch. It is assumed that 10 the whole. To change functional parameters or the columns=6 rows=1 inch. After a map has been printed, one function itself, simply redefine the function in line 110. may want to repeat the map but extended above and Upon execution, the program is designed to first inter- below. This may be achieved by responding to the page rogate the user. The user is asked to specify the domain of prompt with a number greater than one. By increasing the interest, first the x-axis interval and then the y-axis number of pages to two, the length of the Y-interval will be interval. In effect, a rectangular area of the xy-plane is doubled as will the length of the output. Changing this defined for plotting. It is recommended that the intervals parameter has no effect on the scale or output of the initial be the same length to minimize scale distortion. Once the domain. Caution should be exercised here as the original domain of interest is specified, the user specifies the range may be exceeded. Whenever the value of the number of pages of output. A response of one results in function is outside the specified range, the letter E prints exactly the specified domain being printed. A response to indicate the error. Repeat the program with widened range when this happens. William Games. 8357 Alexe Ct.. Stockton, CA 95209. 78 CREATIVE COMPUTING ) > •

Experimental Functions and Activities Six Sample Patterns from the program will be found on the Try these functions for interesting results: next two pages. 1. cos(x)*sin (y) 2. cos(x)+cos(y) 3. exp(sqr(x*2+y*2))-int(exp(sqr(xf2+yf2))) Table of Program Variables 4. cos(x*y/sqr(x*2+y*2)) 5. cos((x+y)/(log(abs(x*y) + 5))) AS: output characters ordered by increasing density 6. cos((abs(x)+.5)»y) B$: output characters for second sweep 7. cos(y/(abs(x)+.5)) E$: error indicator 8. sin(x-y)/(1.5+cos(y)) L: the number of characters in AS An interesting assignment for high-school students might N: the number of times each line is printed be to investigate the effect of manipulating constants in W: width or number of print columns arguments. For example, how is the map of cos(x)*sin(y) X1.X2: domain interval (X1, X2) along x-axis transformed when the function is changed to cos(x) Y1.Y2: domain interval (Y1, Y2) along y-axis *sin(2*y) ? Another inquiry might illustrate various trig- X$: dummy string onometric identities. An example is sin(x+y)=sin(x)*cos R1.R2: range of FNZ (X, Y) (y)+cos(x)*sin(y). X, Y: the coordinates (X, Y) being printed

i REM ******************************************************************** 2 REM *** 12/26/77 *** 3 REM *** URITTEN BY: BILL GAMES *** 4 REM *** 8357 ALEXA CT. »** 5 REM *** STOCKTON* CALIFORNIA 95209 *** 6 REM ******************************************************************** 10 DIM A»C1003.B*C100] 20 A»=' >-"!<= ;ckxt*tx*- 30 H* • HO- This statement dimensions strings AS and B$ 35 E«='E' to hold 100 characters each. The strings are 40 L^LEN scalars, not arrays. 50 REM *** N * OF TIMES EACH LINE IS PRINTED *** 60 N=2 100 REM ***FUNCTI0N TO BE GRAPHED*** 110 DEF FNZ 200 REM ***C0NVERTS VALUE OF FNZ(X.Y) INTO A POSITION ON A* AND B«*»* 210 DEF FNP-R1)/>+1 1000 REM ***INPUT PARAMETERS*** 1010 PRINT "HOW MANY PRINT POSITIONS'* 1020 INPUT U 1030 PRINT •SPECIFY INTERVALS AS FOLLOUS: LEASTif GREATEST* 1040 PRINT •INPUT DOMAIN INTERVAL OF X-AXIS." 8 1050 INPUT XI. X2 1060 PR1NI INPUT DOMAIN INTERVAL OF Y-AXIS:'» 1070 INPUT Y2.Y1 1080 PRINT HOU MANY PAGES OF OUTPUT •» 1090 INPUT M 1100 M0=(M- l)*(Yl-Y2)/2 1110 PRINT 'SET RANGE OF FNZ(X.Y) ATOMATICALLY? •; 1120 LINPUT X»Clfl3 Just a fancy INPUT statement which puts the 1130 IF X»='Y' THEN 1170 first character typed into X$. It does not print a 'INPUT RANGE OF FNZ(X.Y)!"; 1140 PRINT ? as a prompt. 1150 INPUT R1.R2 1160 GOTO 1300 1170 REM ***AUTOMATIC RANGE FINDER*** 1180 PRINT •***THIS WILL TAKE AUHILE. PLEASE HOLD ON. 1190 R 1=999999. 1200 R2=-999999. - 1210 FOR Y=Y1 TO Y2 STEP ( Y1-Y2) /< . 6*U 1220 FOR X=X1 TO X2 STEP 1250 IF FNZ 1270 NEXT X 1280 NEXT Y PRINT LIN(2) results in the printing of three 1290 PRINT 'LOWER B0UND='R1 . 'UPPER BUUND="R2 blank lines: two because of the LIN(2) func- 00001 1300 R1=R1-. tion, and a third from the PRINT statement 1310 R2=R2f .00001 2000 REM ***OUTPUT ROUTINE*** itself. 2010 PRINT LIN<2) 2020 FOR Y=Y1+M0 TO Y2-M0 STEP - ( Y1-Y2 ) / < . 6*W The PRINT USING causes the printing of the 2030 FOR 1=1 TO N leftmost character of E$ with no carriage X=X1 TO X2 STEP (X2-XD/U 2040 FOR # 2050 P=FNP return or linefeed after printing. The 2060 IF P 1 rtNn P I I HI N J090 character is used for carriage control. 2070 PRINT USING '#.A' it t 2080 GOTO 2130 Likewise. Note that A$(P,P) is a substring—the 2090 IF 1=2 THEN 2120 2100 PRINT USING '#»A"5A«CP.P3 character at position P in A$. >1 10 GOTO 2130 PRINT USING '.A'»B*CP»PT 2120 PRINT LIN(O); prints a carriage return but no 2130 NEXT X 2140 PRINT LIN<0W line feed, so that a line may be overprinted. Use 2150 NEXT I PRINT CHR$(13); in some other BASICS. 2160 PRINT 2170 NEXT Y 2180 MRINT LIN(IO) Prints 1 1 blank lines at the end of the printout. 9999 END

NOV/DEC 1978 79

-AK«*|||||t«a

• 1 •• • • X 4 BACKGAMMON COMPUTERS An Ancient War Game Put into Microprocessors by John Gaines

Backgammon is an ancient game — playing backgammon with his peers and game to keep him company during that dating some 5000 years ago to the Sumerian writing about the mathematical exercise difficult three weeks, the Declaration may (now Iraqi) civilization. In the last five years and philosophical virtues of the game The never have been written! this ancient game has been programmed ancient Romans not only played backgam- We know of only two microcomputer into microprocessors Perhaps you have mon, and built rooms and halls to socialize backgammon sets on the market, and both seen the stunning black and white the game, but are also said to have added a are reviewed in this article. In fact, we have backgammon board on display with the touch of strip-poker to the game That's played the two sets against each other — King Tutankhamen exhibit The board is not something a micro-computer cannot do which we believe has never been done identical to today's board, and the game was very well In the history of the game we before — and the results are reported here undoubtedly a little different, but the basics cannot forget Thomas Jefferson who kept a One unit is called Gammonmaster H and is were probably the same. Imagine the notebook during the three week period made by Tryom. Inc. of 23945 Mercantile disbelief on that child-king's face if, 3500 allotted to him to draft the Declaration of Road, Cleveland. Ohio 44122 The other is years ago, someone had told him that all Independence. One entry says he played called Computer Backgammon and is made and more of his backgammon knowledge backgammon with a friend and lost by Texas Micro Games, Inc., 6230 would be squeezed into a few chips of metal Another says he played and won If Jeffer- Evergreen, Suite E. Houston. Texas 77081. A millenium after King Tut, Plato was son had had a computerized backgammon Both units have all the rules of the game on any point are an equal number of red Of course, white had a bit of a lucky roll. If pieces. The game starts by each player white had rolled 2, 1, the choice of a move rolling one die. The player with the higher would have been from among bad moves. roll begins by taking the numbers on the two There is no good opening move for a 2, 1 dice. The two computerized backgammon roll. The best you can do with it. some say. is to lower games have this same rule built in. If the roll to move one piece from upper 12 of its electronic dice (or the roll you make 11, and one from lower 6 to lower 5. The with real dice and enter into the computer, object is to form a blot on lower 5 that may the next roll. It is in the case of Gammonmaster) give yours as be converted to a block on X; hit that white higher, than you start. a bit risky. Red may roll a 4. If happens, Suppose you are playing white and the blot; and send it to the bar. that must re-enter that piece on the outer roll is 5. 3. You are to make the opening white precious move of the game. You can move one piece board — all the way opposite of the any 5 triangles and one 3 triangles (or spaces, or home board — before he can move points — whatever term you prefer). There other piece. To re-enter it. white rolls, for the 2 are many ways to do this, and the example, 6, 2 and enters on upper point probabilities of your opponent getting a point. He cannot enter on the upper 6 programmed in: both have strategies of the five red pieces certain roll in his move is one function to because there are presently game which change as the game changes: consider in choosing the move. But more there. and both are out to win. Before we review basic than that mathematical play — which Finally, "double" is a special word in the software and hardware fundamentals of is really the essence and skill of the game — backgammon — for two separate reasons. each unit and play them against each other, is the rule that says where you cannot move First, if a player rolls doubles, like 5, 5. he let us first review the basics of the game so your pieces. Wherever red has two or more gets to move four pieces each five places — we can better understand what the com- pieces there is a "block" and you cannot not just two pieces five places. Of course, he puterized units do. land there. That is the only rule that may move one piece four times because that Each player has 15 pieces which he must determines where pieces are not to go in is equivalent to moving four pieces each move around the board according to the roll backgammon. So with 5, 3 your opening once. This doubling rule is absolutely of the dice, and which he must bear-off the it move cannot be upper 1 to upper 6 even devastating when bearing-off because board. The first player to bear-off, or though that is a count of 5 because red has means you can take four pieces off rather remove, all his pieces wins the game A more than two pieces on the upper 6 point. than just two. Actually, the rules and typical game has a fair amount of action and But there are six legal moves you can make strategy for bearing-off take a lot of words to strategy and is over in a half-hour or so. with this 5. 3 roll. Which do you take? Here is explain on paper, so we will not go into it Because there is an element of chance in the where the microcomputer can pull here, but getting doubles when bearing-off game, the world's best player can be beaten together the resources of those backgam- has the essential effect of getting four for this reason it is by a novice, and same is mon lovers who have programmed it to pieces off instead of two. Second, there a common to play more than a single game at come up with the best move. During the doubling cube that is as much a part of a sitting with your opponent. middle of the game, when pieces are spread backgammon as money in a poker game. ---, If you're The board has twelve triangles on each all over, the best move will require human The cube sides read 2. 4. 64. for game won — or side which are spaces the pieces can and computer alike to weight various playing for a point each — occupy. The triangles alternate in color possibilities in order to choose the best one. for $ 1 000 a game as happens in Las Vegas between white and some other color — say No two humans will think alike on every you can up the stakes by using the cube. turning it with side 2 up. If the red. The alternate coloring is of no impor- decision that is to be made during a game — One begins by tance to the game but does help in counting the playing behavior, characteristics and opponent accepts, he believes his position the number of spaces to move a piece. Also, experiences of individuals differ and is better than you think it is. The game is the original game. The by tradition only, the alternate color — red then worth two times either player at in this case — is also the color of white's cube can be advanced by opponent. So we have 15 white and 15 red any time. If a player rejects his opponent's pieces moving around the board, trying to raising of the stakes, he loses the game. The form offensive and defensive positions as Gammonmaster has a doubling cube built needed, and trying to get off the board first. into its logic and shown via LEQs on the front panel. If accept its challenge, the There is a vertical strip running down the you middle of the board called the "bar." When game value will be increased — and it keeps playing white, your "home" board is com- a running score of game socres from the If the posed of the six triangles to the right of the time it is plugged in. you reject the game. If, bar. Red's home board is opposite yours (so doubling cube, you concede however, you press a clear button, the it is to his left as he sits on the other side of the board). A player must get all of his doubling cube is ignored and the game can pieces on his home board before he can continue. There is also provision for you to If it rejects the start bearing-off pieces. Your "outer board" double the Gammonmaster. offer, have the game. is exactly the same six triangles that you won compose your opponent's home board, and Those are the rules and basics of the vice versa. The triangle to your right (as you Computer Backgammon game. Now we can take a peek at the of computer sets. play white) will always be white and is called physical layout the two Both have touch switches under a plastic or white or lower point no. 1 where the word therefore their games differ. Likewise, the although the Computer "point" in this case comes from the point of computers will — and do — play differently. rubber pad, set of Texas Micro Games the triangle. The word "point" can also But not on an opening move. On the Backgammon mean two pieces of the same color are on opening move there is generally one sound requires less pressure because it uses true micro-diaphragm switches. Both allow one triangle — which is a confusing double move to make and both humans and verification, or memory interrogation of the use of one word. The triangle above lower computers alike are programmed to make certain computer 1 for white those openers. In the case of 5, 3 the best board to be you and the point 1 is called upper point . So is: piece agree. Computer Backgammon has an the triangles are numbered 1 through 12 move without doubt one white from feature that allows pieces to be going from right to left. For red the triangles lower 8 to lower 3, and one piece from lower update hold exactly the same point numbers but 6 to lower 3. Doing this, you have created a moved around at will. An entire board can particular problem because red sits on the other side of the block on the 3 point. The value of this block be set up to play a is the rolls forced into board they run left to right for him. twofold. First, you are getting one piece although dice cannot be The starting position is as follows for onto the home board in a safe fashion — the the computer so you would have to take the white: lower point 6 has 5 pieces: lower 8 has block protects it — that was not there problem with the computer's electronic dice it little roll If move, the update 3; upper 12 has 5; and upper 1 has 2. The before. Second, you make a more you make a stupid starting position for red can be read the difficult for red to get a dice roll that will feature lets you change it. Or if someone his outer trips the cord causing same way. that is, red's lower point 6 has 5 allow him to move the two men on over your game to be pieces, etc. The result is that opposite white board. lost, you can use update to reset the

NOV/DEC 1978 83 furthest from home will be made. It tries to where 2 kilobytes are for strategy and 1 get home fast by pulling up the rear. This kilobyte is for I/O control. There are a total approach provides a natural tendency to of 10 integrated circuits. Both computers form primes wherein six adjacent points are have RAM for scratchpad memory. That's occupied by one player. If the computer can where the values of moves are stored form a blot on one of its moves, it will temporarily, and where the board position is consider the probability of being able to get stored. back onto its outer board. If that board is The big event was playing the two jammed with blocks by the opponent, the computers against each other. A "first" as J0p Computer Backgammon unit will try not to far as we know. To carry out this contest leave blots. This is the one look-ahead required more mental exercies and more positions in the computer memory. In- feature of that computer. time than we expected. The underlying terestingly, the unit does not check or even The Gammonmaster does some different difficulty was that neither computer is care how many pieces are on the board, so computations to determine where to move designed to play the white pieces. Both are you can use update to add a few red its pieces. Tryom says the computer has fixed to play only the red pieces. But the (computer) pieces in order to give yourself a several different strategies to choose from solution was found: Gammonmaster will slight advantage. This is a rather different depending on whether it is just opening the accept a dice roll as an input both for its turn approach to creating equality between game, holding even in the game, or badly and for its opponent's turn. So we let the opponents. The Gammonmaster II, which is losing. When losing badly it can go into a Computer Backgammon play the red (ac- the very latest version from Tryom, does not "back game" which is an approach involving tually the brown on it) pieces. When it was have an update capability. It does allow the forming blocks on your outer board and red's turn to play, we would roll the player to change his mind but only before attempting to hit the opponent as he electronic dice of the Computer Backgam- the move is entered into memory. Once comes home. It is difficult and a last-ditch mon. We would play that red move on the entered, you are stuck to play it. Board effort, but it can turn the game around. Gammonmaster as a white move. This was positions cannot be set up on that unit. When opening the game, the Gammon- done by entering red's dice roll and red's The two units also differ in rolling of the master begins a block-run game, which is a corresponding move into Gammonmaster dice. The Computer Backgammon shows common maneuver among backgammon when it asked its opponent to play a move. the result of its electronic roll — following players. The object is to advance quickly but Then the Computer Backgammon would your pressing of a "roll" button — via two safely by forming blocks which expect its opponent to play. We would get

seven-segment LEDs. So it shows the simultaneously tie up the opponent. To the move to feed into it from the Gammon-

numeric result. The Gammonmaster II, like determine what move to make during a master, where the move there was really a

the I before it, has simulated die faces. As game, the computer calculates over 50 red move. So we were able to play a the dice roll you can see the dots on the die different values corresponding to various completely fair game with the computers. faces changing. You then touch a button to positions, the level of the game, the phase of The intelligent move from one was fed into stop the roll and take what you get. This the game and other considerations. These the other. The only problem we had was feature of telling the computer when to stop are compared for each possible move with ourselves. Since we were translating rolling is the result of a long list of before one move is selected. red to white, we had to make mirror images complaints that both Texas Micro Games of the moves from one computer to the other and Tryom have received. The complaint is before entering those moves into the

always the same: "The computer cheats. It receiving unit. The mental exercise came in rolls doubles more for itself than for me. And keeping the numbers straight, and the long it rolls what is best for it." Both companies time — about an hour per game — came carefully reviewed the completely random about because of the care we had to take in method used to roll the dice and have found every button press. Even with that care we that there is no way the computers can have blew several games by hitting a wrong a bias in its favor or in the player's favor, button. We did, however, finish three games although they agree that human nature will between the two computers. let you think there is a bias sometimes. Three games are not enough to make a Tryom's answer was not just the ability to judgment about which unit plays better. stop the roll when you want to, but also to From a statistical viewpoint, about 30 games enter dice values in place of the electronic Gammonmaster II are needed before any significance can be dice. So you can roll your own dice and given to the outcome. We must say, enter the values both for yourself and for the Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of however, that while it may be a bit of good computer. Texas Micro Games is thinking Gammonmaster s software is that it learns luck — roll of the dice and all that — the about adding this feature to their game. what type of player you are, and styles its Gammonmaster came up the winner all Now let's see how the computer versions game accordingly. There is a quasi-learning three times. The games were all different in do their thing. As with the backgammon process wherein the computer looks at your the mid-game although they were all similar game in BASIC listed in our July/August move, determines whether it might have toward the end. In the first game the 1978 issue, these two games have the basic made that move and why or why not. Then it Computer Backgammon set (playing red) approaches of forming blocks as pieces begins labeling you. and each of its op- got an early break with its back two pieces advance, forming primes, hitting op- ponents, as conservative, aggressive, wise and made a lover's leap from its upper 1 to ponents' blots and favoring moving of the or as passing up opportunities. It begins to its upper 11. The second piece also broke furthest piece from the home board. Those build up a small table of the types of moves out early. Before long its pieces were all are the sub-goals — it is how each computer you make and of the type of player you are. heading home and were nearly scott-free achieves these sub-goals that makes them As Gary O'Hara, the programmer of Gam- while the Gammonmaster's outer pieces different. The Computer Backgammon set monmaster explained in an interview with were still stuck. No hits were made up to this by Texas Micro Games will be discussed us. "If it builds an aggressive table against time. At that point the tide turned. Red had first. Its strategy is to internally try every you — if it thinks you are aggressive — left a blot on its lower eight point, which is possible move that is consistent with the roll maybe because you take unnecessary not necessarily a bad risk. The 7 point was of its dice. Each resultant board position is chances, it will put that in its goal structure. open and white rolled (remember, the roll analyzed for such items as vulnerability, It will take opportunities to trap you into was actually on Computer Backgammon, potential to form future blocks, and poten- taking unnecessary chances. Likewise, if it then fed to Gammonmaster. so white could

tial advantageous position for bearing-off. it labels you as a conservative player, will not cheat) a 6. 1 . The red piece on 8 was hit Each possible move is assigned values take some chances that it does not think you and could not re-enter for three rolls which are then compared to pick the best will capitalize on. So it does not play two because white had formed several blocks on move. Probabilities of the opponent rolling different players the same way." its home board. That sequence on rolls was particular numbers on his next move are not Besides a difference in software, there is the deciding factor. Red lost with only three explicitly considered, although the best also a difference in hardware within the two pieces on its home board. The second game position does implicitly consider such computers. The Computer Backgammon was a steal the other way. White had a

probabilities by simply using standard rules uses an Intel 1 835 MPU which is an 8 bit unit strong lead from the start and kept it. Hits about best position. If the computer can containing 64 bytes of RAM on the chip. The were exchanged but white advanced faster make two blocks, for example, the one program is stored in 3 kilobytes of ROM than red primarily due to some well-timed 84 CREATIVE COMPUTING :

WORDS OF THE GAME It plays you! doubles on the dice. Red had ten pieces left as white finished. Backgammon - If a player bears-off all his The third game was the most interesting. pieces — and thereby wins — and Neither computer appeared to have a strong simultaneously his opponent still has at advantage at the start. Both had a mix of least one piece on the winner's home board, good and mediocre rolls that allowed blocks the winner has achieved a "backgammon." and blots to be left. The result of that start When scoring, a backgammon is worth was a really spread-out board during the three times a normal win. mid-game. Both white and red had about Bar - A space vertically down the middle of half their pieces away from home. But there the board to which a piece is sent temporari- was one difference that deter- ended up ly if hit by an opponent's piece. See "blot" mining the game. Gammonmaster began below. jamming in red's two pieces on the 1 point The Doubler Bearing-oil - The final stage of the game Game that had not yet started moving toward Computerized Backgammon wherein a player has all of his pieces on the home. Before long a wall of white pieces Is always ready to play to improve and challenge home board and begins rolling dice to take faced those two red men. At that point your game using artificial intelligence programmed his men off the board. all strategies. Advanced state of the art elec- Gammonmaster challenged its opponent for tronics use micro-processors and memories that with its internal doubling cube. We Block - Any triangular space, or point, on requests, accepts, rejects a double, keeps score, accepted the challenge on behalf of the the board occupied by two or more pieces of verifies every move, recognizes illegal moves and Computer Backgammon unit. White won the same player. The opponent's pieces generates a random dice roll. Elegant 12Vx but red managed to cannot land on a block. Another term for get those two pieces 7%"x1%" plastic design, carrying case, men, in- is "point." betting, "point" home. Red had five pieces left when white block When each structions and 110V AC adapter 90 day limited war- declared itself the winner. made is worth a predetermined amount. ranty and factory service . Please allow 2-3 weeks for There we have it. Microprocessor delivery. ideal gift. com- Blot - A space with only one piece on it. If a The petition based on the ancient game of blot is hit, or landed on, by an opponent's Gammonmaster II backgammon. King Tut would have been piece, that blot piece is sent to the bar. It Gil is the same unit as above, but without doubling impressed. We were. The units are fun and must then be re-entered by the roll of the cube feature. are usually an instant hit with youngsters, dice to the opponent's home board before 24 HOUR 7 DAYS * WEEK INSTANT ORDER SERVICE CC1 guests and game lovers. any other move by that player. CALL TOLL FREE Out ol SUM ItMl »M 1311 IL ISM) 1771 or mail to DCI Marketing 333 N Micrn«»« An CKicioo II Lover's Leap - An opening 6, 5 move in Ship TheDouDlert275 00 4 00 hndkj cng ea which a player moves one of his two furthest I out pieces eleven spaces. Ship Gil CS> |199 50 3 50 findlg chg each t

I rave enclosed my check or money order lor I - adjacent spaces which are only Prime Six payable to DO Marketing IIL resdenf, must add 5% sales tail occupied by pieces of one player. These six Charge credrt card VISA Master Charge AmEipress spaces may be anywhere on the board. Card » Eip Dale

Primes can be useful during the middle Print Name portion of a game for creating a barrier the Address opponent cannot cross easily. g City. State_ zip-

circle 149 ON READER SERVICE CARD MALL TRS-80 TRS-80 MALL YSTKM SOFTWARE HARDWARE YSTEM

- - THE OaBCIMC I CIL 1 S99.95 TRS232 WINTER INTERFACE $39.95 (Assembled and Tested)

TIB ELBCTRIC PENCIL, highly respected as a superior word processor for hone RS232 is a self-contained software-driven output port. Cassette computers and small businesses, is now available for the TRS-80 computer! software and source listings for driving printers from LEVEL-II BASIC or In addition to all standard ELBCTRIC PENCIL features (free format entry, machine language programs arc furnished. Diablo printers, Teletype Mooel line and character insertion and deletion, forward and reverse scrolling 43, TI Silent, or any RS-232 printer may br-used with the TRS232. A 20-mil with speed control, string search, coded search, search and replace, block current loop output drives modcl-33 110 baud teletypes. The TRS232 is small moves, inserts, and deletions, fully formatted print contol, page titling (about 1" x 2" x 3") and installs in scries with the power and cassette

and numbering, etc., etc.), the TRS-80 version offers the following cables on your TRS-80 computer (all cables and connectors are furnished) . A features: transparent cursor, two-key rollover, repeating keyboard, standard DB-25 connector mates with the printer cable. The TRS232 may be uppercase only in unmodified TRS-80's, or upper and lowercase entry and left in place at all times, since it does not interfere with cassette display after simple modification (documentation included). operation. THE ELECTRIC PENCIL uses the TRS232, thus both word processing and BASIC program listing and documentation are supported: the ELBCTRIC PENCIL runs printers using Radio Shack's expansion interface or

will operate any RS-232 300 baud printer using our TRS232 printer interface. 2 1/2 l I/O - S/9.95 (KIT) Either LEVEI.-I or LCVEL-II 16K computers may be usedl Ttt ELECTRIC PENCIL opens a whole new world of practical applications for the TRS-80 computer! Our parallel port board can be used for driving LED light displays, reading external keyboards, polling sense switches, driving parallel port printers, RSH-1S: A HACHBB IMOIKX. HOMTTOR ROB THE TRS-80 - $23.9$ controlling relays for lamps, sprinklers, or any place where control of external devices is desired! The TRS-80 can now control something besides a

IBM! RON- IS IS KM AVAIUWLB ON ITOPFY-OISR FOR $29.95! : RSM-1S provides cassette recorder! The board contains two full 8-bit input and output you with 22 commands which interact directly with the z-60 processor in your ports. It features 8212 input latches which automatically genera* TRS-80. You may examine your ROM's, test your RAM, enter and ex necessary status information when new data is input. Output strobes are machine language programs, read and write machine language tapes, and much generated and there is a third 4-bit status port so that full handshaking more! A SYMBOLIC cut? command disassembles object code and displays it as protocol may be established. Requires external 5-volt power supply. Zilog standard 2-80 mnemonics! Memory may be displayed in HEX or either of two ASCII formats, and can be EDITED, HMD, EXCHANGED, VERIFIED, FILLED, 40/44-1 $24.95 ($19.95 with PARA-PORT) ZEROED, TESTED, or SEARCHED for one or two-byte codes. Memory display commands may be stepped with SPACE, or aborted with BREAK. Runs in 4K. Consists of a small adapter board, 40 pin edge connector. 44 pin socket, power supply connections, support feet, and a 40 pin ribbon cable to connect MR RAIDi A REAI^TIHE TR6-80 SHOOTPC CALLEKY! - $14.95 to the TRS-80 expansion port. Operate any of our boards, or use any 44-pin board to do your own thing! A trade-in allowance will be offered to upgrade air RAID is a game where large and small airplanes fly across the screen at to our six-slot buffered mother board. different altitudes. A ground based missile launcher is pointed art; from the keyboard. Missiles may be guided after launching! Aircraft explode dramatically when hit, sometimes destroying other nearby planes! Score is tallied for each hit or miss, and the highest score is saved to be challenged by other players. Play ends when time, runs out, but extra time Microchess 1.5 plays a good game of chess, uses graphics. may be earned with a- high score. AIR RAID provides hours of fun for you, Draw patterns on your screen then play the game of LIFE.

and is a super demonstration program for entcrtumnq friends! Runs in 4K. , assembler, and monitor using IOTEL 8080 mnemonics. A disassembled listing of LEVEL-1 BASIC with some comments. A fully detailed schematic of the TRS-ttO microcomputer.

All software shipped postpaid with LEVEL I and LEVEL It versions on the same Quality dust covers in cloth-backed vinyl to protect your cassette. Add shipping for hardware items. (Calif, residents add 64 - Spanish Rod, Antique Ivory, Rich Brown.

shall system soptnarf. NENBURY PARK, CALIF. 91)20 * ES '»tMJ. SYSTEM liANDNARE • P.O. BOX 366 * NENBURY PARK, CALIP. 91320 *

NOV/DEC 1978 85 CIRCLE 121 ON READER 8ERVICE CARD Ruth M. Sabean with Margot Critchfield and Thomas Dwyer

Originally prepared as part of Project SOLO. Dept. of Computer Science. University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh. PA 15260. Note: Proiect SOLO ended in 1977 and was not renewed. Please do not write for materials since the staff has disbanded.

86 CREATIVE COMPUTING PARTI CRITICAL PATH ANALYSIS

The time is Saturday afternoon; the place is your neighborhood ; the scene is you hunched over the keyboard happily watching your prize program plot the intersecting paths of two globs from outer space. Suddenly—you glance at your watch, quickly log off, dash to your locker and head for home. What we just witnessed was an instantaneous applica- (Q = node tion of Critical Path Analysis. The same logic which you It represents event #1. used to decide that there were just 1 5 minutes to get home in time for supper, in order to meet your friend at the Field —^—» =arc House, and get a good seat at the basketball game, is used It represents activity in the analysis of highly complex projects which might E. involve as many as 5000 separate activities. Knowing just which of those activities (maybe only 1 0%) is critical to the successful completion of the project on a given time PRECEDENCE TABLES schedule is what Critical Path Analysis is all about. Showing the relationships between activities is a The first step in the analysis is determining what necessary part of the planning process. One way to do this activities go into the project and the time for each. When is to use a precedence table. The precedence table for this you got up that Saturday morning you probably thought particular process would look like this: about everything you wanted to get done that day along with the approximate amount of time you would spend Activity Activity Immediate Duration doing it. Your mental list might have looked something like Identification- Description Predecessor (Hours) this: A Saturday a.m. job — Time Required 3.0 B Lunch A 0.5 Code Letter Description of Activity (Hours) C Workout at gym B 2.0 A Work at part-time job 3.0 D Session at terminal C 3.0 B Quick lunch .5 E Travel home D 0.5 C Workout at gym 2.0 F Eat supper E 1.0 D Session on terminal 3.0 G Travel to Field House F 0.5 E Travel home .5 In order to keep our example as uncluttered as possible, F Eat supper 1.0 we have omitted all the activities which don't directly G Travel to Field House .5 involve you, but on which your activities depend. For One graphic representation of your day would look like example, you can't start work on your program until the this: student before you logs off. Similarly, there would be no point in cutting your terminal time short by one hour and rushing home for dinner if there would be nothing ready to eat. Let's see what happens to the precedence table and graph if we introduce just a few of thes complexities into A pictorial representation of this kind is called a our process. We'll make the schedule of your day (Y "weighted linear graph," or more simply, a network. ' The symbol below) partially dependent on your friend's lines with arrows are called arcs. These represent schedule (F). activities. The small circles are called nodes. These Immediate Duration represent events (or moments) in time where activities Activity Description Predecessor(s) (Hours) start or stop. For example, node #6 represents the event of A Y - at work — 3.0 arriving home to eat. Activity E (travelling home) stops at FA F - at work — 4.0 node #6, while activity F (eating supper) starts at node #6. B Y - lunch A 0.5 For this reason, we call activity E an immediate FB F - lunch FA 0.5 predecessor of activity F. Activity would be called an G C Y - gym B 2.0 immediate successor of F. FC F - use terminal #1 FB 3.0 D Y - use terminal #1 C, FC 3.0 * More exact definitions for linear graph" and network are FD F - going home FC 0.5 the following: E Y - going home D 0.5 A directed graph (digraph) is defined as a set of nodes FE F - studying FD 2.0 and a set of ordered pairs, called arcs. An arc has the form F Y - eating supper E 1.0 (a.b) where a and b are members of the node set; (a,b) is FF F - eating supper FE 0.5 represented by a line joining a and b with an arrowhead G Y - getting to Field F 0.5 pointing from a to b A digraph that has numbers called House - Meet F "weights" associated with the arcs (or nodes) is called a FG F - getting to Field House FF 1.0 weighted digraph or network. - meet Y Activity D is of most interest to us. Both the table and graph show that activity D has two immediate ' Footnote on the footnote: Don't confuse linear graphs predecessors: activities C and FC. One possible way of with the Cartesian X-Y graphs studied in geometry. graphing this relationship would be the subgraph:

NOV/DEC 1978 87 frien

But this subgraph could be misleading. It suggests that before either activity FD or activity D may begin, both INITIAL TERMINAL activities FC and C must be completed. The precedence table, on the other hand, makes it clear that your friend NODE NODE may start for home even if you decide to overstay at the gym. It is only activity D that has as immediate predecessors activities Activity FC and C. FD has only In our sample network there are three paths from initial activity FC as an immediate predecessor. Whenever to terminal node. We can describe these by listing all the activities share either all or activities immediate some as node numbers we pass along the way. The first, Path 1, is predecessors, we need another way of indicating this on 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14. Path 2 is 1,2, 5, 6, 1 1, 12, 13, 14 and the network. Here's what we do: Path 3 is 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14. (Notice that the node numbers are increasing with time. This method of

numbering activities, while not necessary, does make it

easier to check that there is no looping back in the graph. If we permitted cycles, we would have the curious possibility

of having to complete an activity before we began it. Critical path problems have acyclic graphs.)

The length of the path is the total time it takes to travel it,

that is, the sum of the activity durations along it. This NOTE: can also describe activ- We would give us the following path lengths: ities with number pairs. For ex- Path 1 12.5 hours ample, G can also be described as Path 2. 11.5 hours (10,14). Path 3 10.5 hours

Notice the dotted line arrow connecting nodes 6 and 7. This device is called a dummy activity and has a duration of zero. Its only function is to accurately represent the relationship between nodes 6 and 7. The dummy activity is also used to handle the problem of multiple activities with the same start and end nodes. We would like to be able to refer to activities by their corresponding node pairs, but this means that each activity must have a unique node pair for its "name." For example:

6 that activities means both A and B are represented by the A path is said to be a critical path if it is the longest path in node pair (1,2). However, the use of a dummy activity the network. Activities along the critical path are called provides the uniqueness we require without altering the critical activities. To shorten the time required for the relationship. process, we must concentrate on shortening one or more of the critical activities. Note that it is possible for there to be more than one critical path. If your friend had to work

: only Now A (1,2) two hours at activity (1,2) then Path #1 would be 10.5 hours as would and B (1.3) Path #3, while Path #2 would now be 9.5 hours. Thus Paths 1 and 3 would now both be critical paths. THINK TIME Now that we've analyzed the process into its component Question Two: Which activities in the process parts, we are ready to begin asking some questions: is it important to complete on time? 1. How long will the complete process take?

2. Which activities in the process is it important to complete on time? To answer this, you should ask questions like: Could my 3. Which activities could be cut short and thus friend have a more leisurely lunch and not delay the time at will decrease the total time? which he meet me at the Field House? Or could I work an extra hour at my part-time job and still meet him at the If you already have all the answers in your head, you're in time arranged? good shape. Let's see how you did. we The answers to these questions are found by tracing the activities along the critical path:

(1,2), (1,5). (5,6), (6,7), (7,8), (8,9), (9.10), (10,14). Question One: How long will the complete process take? Your friend's lunch time is a critical activity (2,5) and,

therefore, the total process time will increase if he takes

88 CREATIVE COMPUTING more than the estimated half-hour. Critical activities must be completed on time. On the other hand, your part-time job (activity (1,3)) is not on the critical path. If you decide to work an extra hour you can still be ready to debug (at event 7) when your Coming from node 6, the start time at node 7 would be 7.5 friend finishes his terminal session. hours; from node 4 the start time at node 7 would be 3.5 hours. The Earliest Start Time means the earliest time we can start successor Question Three: Which activities must be cut activities. Therefore it is equal to the longest short to decrease the total process time? path coming into the node. Path 1,2,5, 6, 7, is of length 7.5 and path 1, 3, 4, 7 is 3.5. Therefore the EST of node 7 is 7.5. Looking back at the precedence table, this Once you have answered question two, then you also means that you can't use terminal #1 until your friend has know the activities on which to concentrate in order to finished work, eaten lunch, and completed his turn on the shorten the total time: the critical terminal, activities. a total of 7.5 hours. In general, if nodes Kj For example, suppose your friend's boss informs him precede note I that he may leave early that morning. Will reducing the duration of this activity I = have any effect on the overall EST of node maximum of [EST node Kj + duration (Kj ,l)] process length? Or is it time you spend at your job which really netds to be cut short? Look back at the graph on Again at event 14, there are two incoming paths. Notice page 4. Are either of these activities on the critical path? that by choosing the longest path to the terminal node, we Use this information to decide which job should be have also calculated the critical path length. Try shortened in order to decrease total process time.* calculating the remaining ESTs and compare your answers with the table on page 10. Next we need to look at the Latest Finishing Time (LFT) PART II of each event; this is the time at which an event may be finished without disturbing the process. We know that if GETTING READY TO USE THE COMPUTER the terminal event finishes any later than 12.5 hours after Up to now we have been able to supply answers just by the process begins, then the process length will have careful study of the data. Keep in mind though what it increased. The LFT of node 14 is equal to the EST of node would mean to be asking the same questions about a 14 or 12.5 hours. process involving a few thousand activities. What we need now is an algorithm (set of rules) for TERMINAL NODE LFT = EST finding the critical path, its length, and the spare time for non-critical activities. This is especially true if we want to Proceeding backwards along each activity, the LFT of use a computer for attacking complex networks. the next node (the start node of the activity) equals the latest finishing time of its end node minus the duration of the activity. For example, if the process is to finish 12.5 hours after it started, then the latest time that your friend a\'gd-v\th'dm may finish eating dinner is 1 2.5 minus the time it takes for him to get to the field house ( 1 hour) or 1 1 .5 hours after the The first step in developing an algorithm is to define start of his day. something called EST. Look at event 2 on the graph. The THEREFORE: EVENT LFT earliest time we can be at this event is when activity (1 ,2) 14 12.5 = EST of node 14 has been completed. We say then that the EST (Earliest 13 11.5 = LFT of 14- (13,14) Start Time) of node 2 is 4.0 hours. Similarly, if activity (2,3) 12 ? = LFT of 13- (12,13) requires .5 hours and cannot begin until 4 house have 11 ? = LFTof12 - (11,12) elapsed, then the EST of node 3 is 4.0+5 (the EST of the At node 6, we confront an event with more than one preceding node plus the duration of the activity connec- activity leading out from it: (6,11) and (6,7). Before ting them). And so we continue along path #2 calculating deciding about node 6, go back and calculate the LFTs for ESTs for each node, using the previous calculation to form 7. nodes 10, 9, 8, and Coming from node 1 , node event the next. 1 6 time would be 9.0 - .5 = 8.5; whereas, from node 7, we have Hardly a problem for a computer, you say! But look at 7.5 - = 7.5. The smallest event time is the LFT for that node 7. Up to now, all nodes have only one activity lead- node. In general, if I precedes nodes J, ing into them. The EST for each was a simple process of addition. However, node 7 can be reached from node 6 and LFTof node1 = minimum of [LFTofnodeJj -duration (I, Jj)] from node 4. The calculations so far are:

"Answer: Activity (1,2 ) is critical The LFT of node 6 is, therefore, 7.5. If your friend finishes

NOV/DEC 1978 89 .

his session on the terminal any later than 7.5 hours after EXERCISE: Suppose that you and a group of friends are the start of the day, the remainder of your schedule will be preparing to redecorate your game room. You have drawn delayed. up the following list of activities and estimated the length of time they will take: EVENT LFT EST Duration EXERCISE: Calculate 1 Activity (Hours) the missing values in 2 4 C Buy Paint 1.0 the final table 3 3 5 Clear Room .5 4 3.5 5.5 Prepare Surfaces 2.0 (answers below) 5 4.5 4.5 Paint Ceiling 3.5 6 7.5 7.5 Paint Walls 5.0 7 7.5 7.5 Clean Up .5 8 A D Replace Furnishings 1.5 9 11.0 11.0 10 12.0 12.0 11 8.0 9.0 12 B E 13 10.5 11.5 14 12.5 12.5 Finally, we now define the float or "spare time" for each activity. In general, for the activity going from node I to node J,

= - - FLOAT of (l,J) LFT of J EST of I duration of (I.J) Subtracting the duration of the activity and the earliest time at which the activity can begin from the latest time at which it may end gives the spare time for that activity. For And now you would like to know: example, the float of activity (6,1 ) is 9.0 - 7.5 - .5 = 1 .0. This 1 1. How many hours the complete project will take? means that your friend could take as much as an extra 2. During which activities you could use the help of an hour getting home and still meet you at the Field House on extra friend to shorten the overall time? time. Try calculating the remainder of the float times and 3. At what time you can go off to buy some new wall then compare your answers to the table below: posters without disturbing the process? EST/Start LFT/End Duration Float Task 1: Invent codes for these activities and draw up a Activity Node Node (Hours) (Hours) precedence table (see Part I). Assume that the buying of (1.2) 4.0 4.0 0' the paint and clearing of the room may be done at the same (1.3) 5.0 3.0 2 time. The surfaces, however, cannot be prepared until the (2,5) 4.0 4.5 .5 0* room is cleared, but may begin even if the paint buying has (3.4) 3.0 5.5 .5 2 not yet been completed. The remaining activities follow (4.7) 3.5 7.5 2.0 2 one after the other in the order listed. (5.6) 4.5 7.5 3.0 0* Task 2: Draw a network from your precedence table. Be (6.7) 7.5 7.5 0* sure it is well-formed. How many initial nodes are there? (6,11) 7.5 9.0 .5 1 How many terminal nodes? Can each activity be uniquely (7,8) 7.5 10.5 0* 3.0 described by a pair of nodes? (8,9) 10.5 11.0 0* .5 Task 3: Now calculate the EST and LFT of each event and (9.10) 11.0 12.0 1.0 0* use these to find the float time of each activity. A table (10,14) 12.0 12.5 .5 0* similar to the one in the preceding column makes it easier (11,12) 6.0 11.0 2.0 1 to keep track of your results. (12.13) 10.0 11.5 .5 1

(13.14) 10.5 12.5 1.0 1 Brain Tickler: What changes must you make in the graph if The starred activities have zero float time and are, the activities of painting the walls and ceiling can go on at therefore, critical activities. If such an activity requires any the same time? Include the condition that a two hour extra time to complete, the length of the process will be drying time activity must be inserted after the completion increased; however, if its time decreases, then the critical of the painting activities and before the furnishings are path length is also shortened. replaced. There are seven activities with a non-zero float. This is the extra time that may be spent on the activity without disturbing the process. For example, activity (1,3) has a float time of 2 hours. This means that (assuming your boss allows you to start work anytime) you may now sleep in two extra hours on Saturday morning without fear of keeping your friend waiting that evening at the Field House. f->

Oil = 3 '5 01 = '0> = O '0 01 = 8 '901 = V :Sd3MSNV

90 CREATIVE COMPUTING ) . I

PART Output: The results computed so far are printed in table form.

DESIGNING A COMPUTER PROGRAM 220 PRINT: PRINT "CP ANALYSIS IS:" FOR CPA IN 4.0 BASIC 230 PRINT « PRINT "FR0N","TO","EST","LFT","FL0AT":PRINT 240 FOR 1*1 TO N Critical Path Analysis is itself a two-stage process: the 230 PRINT S(I),F(I),E(S(I)),L(F C3 THEN C3»L(F(I>) paper work of calculating EST, LFT, and FLOAT and 273 NEXT I produce the corresponding critical path information. 280 PRINT "THE CRITICAL PATH LENGTH IS ";C3 2*0 PRINT:PRINT On the following pages we introduce you to a basic "THE CRITICAL PATH IS:":PRINT "FR0H","T0":PRINT 300 FOR I'l TO N:IF FKD'O THEN 320 program to accomplish this, program First CP. there is a 310 NEXT I description of the flow, program followed by a sample 320 PRINT S(I),F(I): C2-C2»1: IF I > N THEN 330 execution and some problems to try. 330 FOR J-1 TO N: IF SIJI'FID AND FMJ>«0 THEN I-J« GOTO 320 340 NEXT J 350 IF CI THEN Initialization: Declaration of arrays; heading print out; <> C2 PRINT "THERE IS N0RE THAN ONE CRITICAL PATH" 340 END request for user input of number of activities (notice that the maximum is 20). Here is a complete listing of the program. If it is not S REH already available CRITICAL PATH ANALYSIS on your system, this is a good time to 10 DIN S<20),F<20>,D(20>,E<20>,L(20>,FK20> either brush up on your typing or enlist the help of 20 PRINT 'CRITICAL PATH ANALYSIS':PRINT the prize typist in your group. 30 INPUT 'NUNIER OF ACTIVITIES"^ 40 IF N > 20 THEN PRINT "LIHIT IS 20 ACTIVIT1ES":ST0P 5 REM CRITICAL PATH ANALYSIS 10 DIN S(20),F(20),D(20),E(20),L(20),F1(20) Dafa Input: The user is requested to input one activity 20 PRINT "CRITICAL PATH ANALYSIS":PRINT 30 INPUT "NUHDER (start node, end node, duration) at a time; at the same OF ACT I VITIES" ;N 40 IF N > THEN PRINT time the EST and LFT array elements for these nodes are 20 "LIBIT IS 20 ACTIVITIES":ST0P 50 FOR 1*1 TO N initialized to zero (this may be unnecessary in many 40 PRINT "ACTIV1TY";I:INPUT "FR0H,T0,DURATION";N1 ,N2,DID systems but is a good programming habit). Notice that 70 IF N2<«N1 THEN PRINT "START NODE NOT LESS THAN END NODE":G0TO 40 E(NI)'0:E(N2)'0:L(N1)'0:L(N2)'0 the program will not accept a start node number that is 80 ?0 SID-N1: F(I)-N2 not less than the end node number for that activity. 100 NEXT I 50 FOR 1*1 TO N 105 CI'0:C2*0:C3'0

40 PRINT "ACTIUITY";I:INPUT "FR0H,T0,DURATI0N";N1 ,N2,DID 110 FOR I'l TO N: HI -E 70 IF N2<=NI THEN PRINT "START NODE NOT LESS THAN ENO N0DE":G0TO 40 120 IF EIFIDK-NI THEN EIFIID-H1

80 EIN1 )*0:E(N2>'0:L'0iLCN2>*0 130 NEXT I 90 SIII'NI: FID-H2 140 L(F(N))'E(F(N))

100 NEXT I 130 FOR I'N TO 1 STEP -1: LI'S(I) 140 H2'L(F(I))-D(I) EST Computation: The EST of the initial node has already 170 IF L(L1)>'N2 OR LILD-0 THEN L(L1)'H2 110 NEXT I been set to zero; every other node is set by stepping 1»0 FOR I'l TO N: F1 ( >«L(F(I) )-E(S(I) )-D(I> through the activities, setting the EST of the end node 200 IF FKD'O THEN CI'CMI equal to the most recently computed event time if it is 210 NEXT I greater than any previously computed event time for that 220 PRINT: PRINT "CP ANALYSIS IS:" 230 PRINT PRINT node. : "FR0N","T0","EST","LFT","FL0AT":PRINT 240 FOR I'l TO N 10S C1»0:C2'0:C3'0 230 PRINT S(D,F(D,E(S(D),L(F(DI,F1(I)

110 FOR I»l TO N: N1»E(S(I))*»( I 240 NEXT I 120 IF E(F(I)X.N1 THEN E(F(I))M1 245 FOR I'l TO N 130 NEXT I 270 IF LIFIID > C3 THEN C3-LIFID)

273 NEXT I Computation of LFT: Initially, the LFT of the terminal node 280 PRINT "THE CRITICAL P4TH LENGTH IS ";C3 is set equal to its EST. Then stepping backwards through 2*0 PRINT:PRINT "THE CRITICAL PATH IS:":PRINT "FROH","T0":PRINT 300 FOR I'l TO N:IF FKD'O THEN 320 the activities, the LFT of each start node is set equal to 310 NEXT I whichever is smaller; the most recently computed event 320 PRINT SID, FID: C2'C2«1: IF I > N THEN 330 time or a previously computed event time for that node. 330 FOR J'l TO N: IF SIJ)'F(I) AND FKJI-0 THEN I»J: GOTO 320 340 NEXT J 140 MFINH'EIFIND 350 IF CI <> C2 THEN PRINT "THERE IS H0RE THAN ONE CRITICAL PATH" 130 FOR I'N TO 1 STEP -K L1*S(1> 340 ENI 140 H2'L(FIDI-D(D t;0 IF L(L1)>«N2 OR LILD-0 THEN L(LD'N2 110 NEXT I

Float Time: The float time of each activity is computed by subtracting the EST of its start node and the duration of the activity from the LFT of its end node. A count is kept of the number of activities having a zero float.

1*0 FOR M TO Nt F1(I).L(F(I))-E(S(I))-1(I) 200 IF FKD'O THEN Cl'Cm

210 NEXT I

NOV/DEC 1978 91 Here is a sample run of program CP, using the network A. How long will stock taking require? below. The arcs are labeled with the duration of the activity B. The manager of the order department has offered and the events have been numbered with start node less her the services of a few of his personnel if she needs than end node. them. During which activities would you advise her to use these extra resources?

3. A house construction project can be broken down into the following activities: IMMEDIATE PREDE- TIME NAME DESCRIPTION CESSORS (DAYS) The program then prompts for the input data: a Excavate, pour footers — 4 RUN b Pour concrete foundations a 2 CRITICAL PATH ANALYSIS c Erect frame and roof c 4 NUHDER OF ACTIVITIES? S d* Lay brickwork b 6 Notice that the ACTIVITY 1 node e Install drains e 1 FRON, TO, DURATION' 1,2,3 must input numbers be f Pour basement floor e 2 ACTIVITY 2 in increasing order. Install FROM, TO, DURATION' 1,3,2 g rough plumbing e 3 ACTIVITY 3 h* Install rough wiring c 2 FRON, TO, DURATION' 2,4,1 i* Install air conditioning c.f 4 ACTIVITY 4 j* Fasten plaster & plaster boardd g.h.i 10 FROM, TO, DURATION? 3,4,6

ACTIVITY 5 k Lay finished flooring j 3 FRON, TO, DURATION' 4,5,3 I" Install kitchen equipment k 1 m** Install finished plumbing k 2 And then prints out the results: n*" Finish carpentry k 3 o Finish roofing & flashing d 2 Earliest Start Time Latest Finishing p Fasten gutters & downspoutsi o 1 of "From" Node Time of "To" Node q Lay storm drains b 1 r* Sand & varnish floors n,s 2 CP ANALYSIS IS: I s Paint l,m 3 1 t* Finish electrical work s 1 FROM TO EST LFT FLOAT u Finish grading p.q 2 7 2 v Pour walks, & landscape u 5 2 * * Indicated those jobs with some, but not all, of their 5 8 2 immediate predecessors in common. 2 4*0 8 • "Indicates those jobs with all their immediate THE CRITICAL PATH LEN6TN IS 11 predecessors in common.

THE CRITICAL PATH IS: Longest Task 1: FRON TO Critical" Draw a network from the predecence table, Path Activities inventing dummies as necessary to express the relationships.

Task 2: Now number the nodes so that each activity can be uniquely named by a pair (start node end node). PROBLEMS: Task 3: If you have more than 20 activities, alter CP to LTest the CP Program with the data from the room handle the increased size of your network. decorating problem on page 90. If you have not already worked through this problem with pencil and paper, the Task 4: From your CP analysis, write a report for the of process, task descriptions 1 and 2 will be of help in getting the housing contractor indicating the length the data into the correct form for program input. what the critical activities are, what the float times are for 2. The stock manager of a large grocery store has non-critical activities. organized her personnel to take stock in time for her to prepare a report for the director's meeting. The following network shows her basic plan; the arcs indicate the time she has estimated for each section of stock to be counted: 5

92 CREATIVE COMPUTING . m RELIABLE PROJECTS: APPLE SOFTWARE 1. After program CP has printed out the analysis, it would NOW AVAILABLE ON CASSETTE be useful to be able to alter some of the durations and

AM program are written Integer in then rerun the analysis without having to re-enter all the m BASIC & run 16K unlet* other wit* stated activities. Here are some suggestions for steps to include in your adapted version of the program to 1. Rainbow'* Pot of Gold, Vol. 1. 49 BASIC implement this programs S49 idea: 2. Micocneti - Graphic display, beginning to intermediate. Machine language and 1 Does the user wish to alter some durations or not? BASIC 15 3. Inventory Holds approximately 140 items in 16K 35 2. How does the user indicate the activities to be 4. Income Tax 1040, Schedule* A&R. require* 20 K & Applesoft 1 25 altered and their durations? 5. Morse Code Trainer Variable speed 1-100 wpm. uses Apple- soft 1 10 3. How does the user indicate that is he finished 6. Appletalker Gives your APPLE a voice, machine language 15 making changes? 7. Speed Reading. Vols. 1-4, four program* designed to improve your reading speed 4. Are all necessary variables re-initialized (can you 8. Galactic Battle - Low resolution, real time space battle 15 existing 9. Apartment Building Investment Analysts - Analy/e* the use some code to do this)? investment potential of an apratment building 15 2. If you were reduced to using your toes and fingers to 10. Micropfoductt Attembler - Apple assembler machine language. 20

achieve the correct ordering scheme for the nodes in 11. Devil* Dungeon - Exciting adventure game 10 the house 12. Appleodian ln*h pig composing algorithm 10 construction problem, then you can imagine 13. Hi-Ret Life - Conway's original Game ol Life, machine numbering a network with a few thousand activities! language, requires ?4K 10 14. Applevision - High resolution graphics and music demo, machine What are the implications of letting the computer language and BASIC 15 15. Blackjack - One or two players m low-re* graphic*. program come up with the correct numbering (and machine language and BASIC 10 check for network well-formedness at the same time). 16. Apple Checkbook • Complete checkbook balancing and reconciliation program 70 Consider first what the present version of CP does not do: Software is available on disk for a media charge of $5.00 — check for valid durations Send Check or Money Order, sorry no C.O.D., to: — check for valid node numbers (it assumes that they are greater than zero but less than 21) — check that the activities are entered in numerically RAINBOW COMPUTING INC. ascending order by start node and by end node 10723 White Oak Ave., Dept. C.C. within start node Granada Hills, CA 91344 — check for unique activity names — check for unique initial and terminal nodes: (213)360-2171 To make all these changes at one time would be a California Residents add 6% sales tax formidable task. Instead, try your hand at implementing Allow 3-4 weeks for delivery the first few, making one set of changes at a time. Be sure that one improvement works before going on to the next. CIRCLE 123 ON READER SERVICE CARD rr Everything you always wanted

s w to plug into your PET, *- 8- 52cr uj o- h- o- < HARDWARE + PRINTERS APPLE or TRS 80 SOFTWARE Centronics ISO Ipm, of 20, 40 TRS -S° : Data or 80 char. (Upper/lower case). (*but Were afraid yOU l M- Management/Report Gen COUldn't afford) eratorPackage PI Parallel Model (cable, soft- H^(BBBBI(^K_J (LII-16K). Tape System: ware, add $50) $395. __^t $200; Disk System: $300. Give your SI Serial Model (cable, soft- TFt TRS-80 the editing featuros of a ware add $50) $549. $4000+ Bu Trough's TD800 series ter- Anderson-Jacobsen I/O Selectric, minal. Automatic Bidirectional $995. data entry and cus- tom reports. Generate complete PET Graphics Ball . . . $200. RS 232C Serial Option. $200. screen graphics with full cursor con-

TRS Graphics Ball . . . $100. trol. 2. MICROCHESS (LI or II-4K) Expandor 123P with impact $19.95. 3 difficulty levels. State tractor feed 3. $495. ment umbering and cross Integral Data IP-125 impact reference. Upper/lower case $795. IPET: I 1. Joystick Microchess PET.TRS-80 graphics option (needs dual joystick package) $19.95 with 4 char, sizes, tractor feed Play against an opponent while your $1195, Pet Modem, $320, Ser- PETchecks and saves moves. Options: ial Int. $98, (Apple $62), Apple Modem $120 Play by phone, play against your PET. MEMORY (Save $100 or more) 2. Astrology:$14.95. 3. Statement re- 16K Dynamic RAM (TRS-80 numbering and cross reference:$9.95. Specify keybd. or exp. int. $200 JAPKLb I 1. 3 Dimensional Maze (16K) 16K RAM Board, options$435 $14.95. 2. Hi-Res Graphics Additional 8K $200 CONNECTORS, ETC. Editor (16K) $17.95 Exclusive JOYSTICK package (shown with PET 3. TRS-80 40 oin edge. $9.95, Statement renum- MICROCHESS). Uses Fairchild's Int. ext. cord, $19.95+$2*

| In PA & CAN (215)665-1112 Cash prices shown.Major credit cards accepted. Minimun shipping $2.50. Pa. residents add 6%. Post Office Box Q, Dept. Philadelphia, PA 19105

CIRCLE 154 ON READER SERVICE CARD NOV/DEC 1978 93 feed a Subject Index?

Use NEPHIS Timothy C. Craven

NEPHIS is a computer-assisted sub- File of input records ject indexing system. It can produce sophisticated-looking subject indexes copy input>tty: Kesearcn proJuctivity ? of < xesearcners > . li to just about anything, from your Sleep / personal collection of paperbacks to all US latent entice Classification ? < .' Classification Serines - > . 12 the books in the Library of Congress. /

But it should be easy to implement and Automatic < injexina > . $i easy to use, even if you only know a bit / J equations ? for < Desiq.i ? ot < Ketrieval Systems > > . 44 about computers and not very much / indexing. about Forecasts ? on < puolication ? in < Science > > . lb Basically, the NEPHIS program / takes a single input record worked out Metalanjuajes ? toe < Communications Reseated I . Tecnniques ->.»<> / by you as indexer and produces from it Information Science .• i < operations Kesaarcn ? i > . #7 a whole set of entries for your index. / The input record contains a short description of the subject of one of the File of entries produced items you want to index. This descrip- tion is usually just ordinary English copy per.ti>tty: with a few tagging characters added to Kesearcn proauct ivi ty ot Sleep Kesearcners . »i / Sleep Kesearcners . Research Froouct ivi ii / tell the program what to do with it. The ty US fate.it jttice Classification . 12 / only other element you need in the Classification ac.iemes - uS fotent otlice Classification . 12 / input record is some sort of identifica- Automatic InJexinj . « J / tion to show which item the description InJexinj . Autonitic - . »j / Liquations tor oi i<;trio/al . • 4 refers to. jesiji System. Retrieval Systems . Oesi-j.n . t-quatio.13 . <4 / When the program has finished with Forecasts on Publication in Science . li / all the whole file of input records, you publication in Science . Forecasts . »o / have to do is use a standard sort routine Science . puolication . Forecasts . li / aetalan juajes tor Commjn icat ions Kesearci . • o / on the resulting file of index entries and Communications Kesearcn . Tecnniques - netalan juaaes . »o / you have your index. Of course, you #'/ information Science & Operations Kesearc . / can go on to write another program to Operations nesearcn > Information Science . 17 / reformat the index the way you want it

to look (divide it into pages, number the pages, put the entries in justified Index columns, etc.) >typ sorteJ.oas The original version of the NEPHIS Automatic InJexinj . #j / - program was in assembly language, Classification Screme3 JS patent Jttice Classification . i2 Communications Kesearcn . Techniques - Metalanjuaa.es . 16 / but the version illustrated here is an equations for Uesiji ot Retrieval Systems . 14 / adaptation to BASIC, with a view to its Forecasts on puolication in icienca . «5 /

use on small systems. This BASIC pro- InJexinj . Automatic - . 13 / gram was implemented on a DECsys- Information Science > operations Kesearci . 17 / Metalanjuajes for Communications rtesearcn . «6 / tem 10, but it was designed to be as Operations Research s Information Science . »7 / machine-independent as possible. It puolication in Science . Forecasts . |5 /

does not assume that your version of Kesearcn Product ivity ot Sleep Kesearcners . «1 / BASIC has character string manipula- Retrieval Systems . uesiq.n . Equations . i4 / Science . Fuolication . Forecasts . to tion (though string vectors are assum- / Sleep Xesearcners . Kesearcn ProJuctivi ty . «1 / ed). US Patent ottice Classification . »2 / Each logical input record is made up of a series of character strings, the last of which must be a slash (/). BASIC should treat each of these strings as a Program Listing "record" from its point of view and Ik) Kbit THIS PROGRAM PHODUCtS A FILE Of assign each to a different location in 2ti REM PERMUTATIONS FROM A FILE OF INPUT RECORDS. the vector IS. 30 REM INPUT RECORDS ARE LIKE NEPHIS INPUT STRINGS, EXCt.PT THAT "NEPHIS" is of course an acronym, 40 REM SPECIAL CHARACTERS MUST UE SET OFF t)Y DELIMITERS AND EACH standing for "NEsted PHrase Indexing i0 REM RcCORD IS TERMINATED Hi A STRING CONSISTING OF A 6 k* KLM SLASH. System." "Nesting" is indicated in the 7tl DIM I$(3kl) 60 REM 1$ IS A STRING VECTOR CONTAINING THE INPUT RECORD. Timothy C. Craven, School of Library and Infor- 4<) DIM 3(0) mation Science, The University of Western On- Hi REM THE DIMENSION OF S DETERMINES THE DEPTH OF NESTING PERMITTED. tario. London. Ontario, Canada N6A 5B9. 110 FILES INPUT, PERM

94 CREATIVE COMPUTING ; .

120 SCRATCH 12 130 HAKG1N 12, 132 NEPHIS con' E ' ™ f0LLC WING St' C1 I0N RKADS IN AN INPUT RECORD AND CHECKS FOR 150 Re" ! , 160 IF END #1, GOTO 1310 input record by angular brackets 17U LET S(1)»0 (( Ida LEI U»0 and^ ), appearing as separate strings. 190 LET N-0 Example #3 shows the simplest kind of 200 LET L-0 use of these tags. Note how the tags 210 If END 11, GOTO 550 disappear in the entries produced and 220 INPUT #1, C3 230 LET N-N+l how the program generates a dash to zili LET IS(N)-CS show the place where the word "Index- 250 IF N-30 GOTO 570 ing" is omitted in the inverted form 260 IF C$<>"<" GOTO 300 270 LET L-L+l "Indexing . Automatic - . #3". 200 IF L>5 GOTO 590 The question mark (?), appearing as 290 LET Q»0 a separate string, suppresses a con- 300 IF C$<>">" GOTO 340 nective word or phrase, such as a 310 LET L-L-l preposition, in certain of the entries 320 IF L<0 GOTO 610 330 LET 0-0 while keeping it in others. Example #1 340 IF C$<>">" GOTO 360 illustrates one use of the question 350 LET Q-l mark. Note how the preposition "of" 360 IF C$<>"/" ^iOTO 210 disappears in the inverted entry "Sleep 370 IF Q«l GOTO 4 00 Researchers. Research Productivity 300 IF LO0 GOi'O 420 390 GOTO 630 .#1". (The questions mark also has the 400 PRINT "» /' NOT FOLLOWED it '<' OK *>'" effect of preventing the program from 410 IF L-B GOTO 4 30 420 PRINT "% '< generating a dash.) NUMBER OF 'S DOES NOT MATCH DUMBER OF > s" 430 PRINT "» INFUi RECORD Another use of the question mark is REJECTED:" 440 FOR M-l TO N-l illustrated by #6. Note how the part 450 PRINT I$(M) : " " " ; reading "Techniques - appears only 4 60 NEXT M 4 " - in the second entry produced, when 70 PRINT C»j ; 4d0 IF GOTO the nested phrase which it terminates CS-V" 520 490 IF END begins the entry. II, GOTO 550 5J0 INPUT #1, C» Example #5 shows how one phrase 510 GOTO 4 70 can be nested inside a phrase which is 520 PRINT itself nested within a third phrase. Note 530 PRINT 540 GOTO 160 how this affects the order of elements 550 PRINT "% LAST INPUT RECORD MISSING FINAL '/'" in the three entries produced. Compare 560 STOP the order when the nesting is done "in 570 PRINT "% TOO .4ANlf ELEMENTS IN INPUT RECORD" 580 parallel," as in GOTO 4 30 590 PRINT "» NESTING TOO DEEP" Rescue? of Dogs ?by Children .#8 600 GOTO 430 610 PRINT "% >' WITHOUT CORRESPOwDING '<'" which gives the entries 6 20 GOTO 4 30 630 REM THE FOLLOWING SECTION PRODUCES THE PERMUTATIONS Rescue of . Dogs by Children #8 640 LET L-0 Dogs . Rescue by Children . #8 650 FOR N-0 TO 29 Children . Rescue of Dogs . #8 660 REM LOOKING FOR THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT PERMUTATION 670 IF N-0 GOTO 730 Normally, there will be one entry for 6d0 LET C$-I$(N) the whole input record and an ad- 690 IF CS-"<" GOTO 730 700 IF ditional entry for every nested phrase. CS<>">" GOTO 1290 1010 PRINT ". "; 710 LET L-L-l #2, But the string "@" can be used to 1020 LET C-C-l 720 GOTO 1290 1030 LET E-M override this provision. For example, in 73«3 LET L-L+l 1040 LET d-S(D) #4 is there no entry produced for 740 LET 5(L)-N 1050 LET D-D-l "Design of Retrieval Systems," 750 IP I$(N+l)-"9" GOTO 1290 1060 LET M-S(D) 760 REM BEGIN PERMUTATION because this phrase has been tagged 1070 GOTO 810 7 70 LET D-L with "@" in the input record. 10d0 REM CONNECTIVES 700 LET C-L 1090 LET H-M+l Examples #2 and #7 show a couple of 790 LET M«N 1100 LET M-M+l special tricks which can be used by the 000 LET ti-N 1110 LtT C»-I$(M) dl0 LET M-M+l experienced indexer. The beginner is 1120 IP C»-"<" GOTO 115B d20 LET CS-I$(M) advised to stick as much as possible to 1130 IF CS-">" GOTO 1190 030 IF C$-"<" GOTO 901) 1140 GOTO 1100 simple nouns and prepositions. In • «>« any t*40 IF CS GJTO 970 1150 REM FORMARD-RbADlNG 850 IF .-?- case, the results will be better if you CI GOTO 1030 1160 IF rt-B GOTO 950 860 IF C$ ."9" GoTO 818 standardize the words you use in 1170 GOSUJ 1230 d70 IF C$ .-/" GOTO 1270 describing " 1180 GOTO 920 your subjects. 0d0 PRINT C$; " 12, ; 1190 REM BACKwARD-READING Bibliography 890 ^ovo , 110 1200 IF COD GOTO 990 900 KE.S BEGINNING OF A PHRASE NEPHIS: A Nested-Phrase Indexing 1210 GOSU3 1230 410 IF M-li GOTO 9 40 1220 GOTO 1020 System, by Timothy C. Craven, Journal 420 LET C"C+l 1230 FOR H-H TO M-l of the American Society for Informa- 930 GOTO i 110 * 1240 PRINT |2, I»(H) ( "} 940 PRINT "- " tion Science, March 1977, p 107. • 2, 1250 NEXT H 950 LlT rt-E 1260 RETURN 460 GOTO 810 1270 REM END OF PERMUTATION 970 REM END OF A PHRASE 1280 PRINT 12, "/" 980 IF C-D GOTO 1010 1290 NEXT N 990 LET C-C-l 130 GOTO 160 100. 1 GOTO 310 1310 END

NOV/DEC 1978 95 sensational software CS-1005. Graphics Games-2. Six favorite Why should you select PET (8K) Software games. LEM, lunar lander with a graphic Creative Computing display and optional auto-pilot. Nuclear . players. CS-1001 . Logic Games-1 Six favorites from Reaction, a game of skill for two Software? BASIC Computer Games with super Artillery, in which two players shoot it out graphics. Awari, the African logic game with over computer-generated terrain. Bounce 1. Highest quality programs— outstand- 12 pits and 36 beans. Bagels, which traces the path of a ball bouncing around ing applications for education, recrea- challenges you to guess a secret 3-digit the screen. Checkers, with graphic display, tion, business, and household manage- number. Martin Gardner's Chomp in which from our BASIC Games book. Dodgem, try ment. you chomp on a cookie with a poison to outmaneuver another player or the 2. Best value— up to ten different pro- corner. Flip-Flop—change a row of X's to computer to get your pieces across the grams per tape. 0's. Hexapawn played with three chess board first. $7.95. 3. Reliability— programs thoroughly test- pawns. Hl-O, a solitaire peg-removal game. ed and de-bugged. $7.95. CS-1006. Conversational Games-1. Talk to 4. Redundant recording— two copies of ELIZA, the computerized psychoanalysis every program on each tape. CS-1002. Number Games-1. Six number program. Compose poetry with Haiku. 5. Professional quality tape—high density logic games including Guest in which you Challenge your vocabulary and word- oxide, 100% calendered, flat frequency guess a secret number. 23-Matches— try not guessing skills with Hangman. Hurkle, try to response, low noise, high output. to take the last match. Letter in which you find the hurkle on the 10 by 10 grid in five 6. Anti-jam cassette—teflon lubricated guess a secret letter. Number, a random moves. In Hexletter, you compete to capture six-rib gasket, hard welded windows, jackpot game. Trap in which you trap a more letters on a hexagon than your oppo- double locking self lubricating hub, mystery number between two trap numbers. nent. $7.95. double flanged rollers on stainless steel Stars gives you stars as clues to the secret pins, heavy metal shield number. $7.95. CP/M Software 7. Hard plastic box— best protection, easy 8" to file. CS-1201. Sensational Simulations-1. Five CS-9001 Games-1. An floppy disc 8. Widely available—carried by most retail super simulations including the popular containing most of the first fifty games from computer stores. Animal in which the computer learns Basic Computer Games in Microsoft Basic. 9. Made in U.S.A. animals from you. Fur Trader lets you trade All the games from Acey Ducey to Hi-Q 10. Inexpensive—best value per dollar of furs in old Canada. Hammurabi in which including such favorites as Animal, any software. you manage the city-state of Sumeria. Or try Bullfight, Craps, and Hangman. (To run this. making your fortune in the Stock Market. A you need CP/M and Microsoft Basic.) A Word About logic game, Word, has you guess secret $17.95. words. $7.95. CS-9002. Games-2. The second half of Tape Quality Basic Computer Games including Life, CS-1003. Logic Games-2. Six challenging LEM. Mugwump, Stars, 23 Matches, Word, All video tape, most computer tape, and puzzles including Rotate, in which you and forty more! 8" floppy disc. $17.95. cassette tape is calendered. some good order a matrix of random letters. Strlke-9, Calendering is what gives tape the smooth, try to remove all nine digits without striking glossy appearance on the oxide side. out. The classic number game, NIM. In Exidy Sorcerer (Compare a Maxell UD tape to a poly pack Even-Wins try to take an even number of tape and you'll see the difference.) Write for latest releases. chips. Hi-Lo, a number guessing game with As know, if heads are dirty, you your tape a jackpot. Batnum, the super "battle of lose frequency response. rough Ohio Scientific you A tape numbers!" $7.95. surface causes virtually the same effect as Challenger dirty heads. It prevents intimate tape head CS-1004. Graphics Games-1. Five amazing contact with the main of the tape. Write for latest releases. body realtime graphics games designed especial- When tape is coated, it has millions of ly for your PET. In Chase, one player microscopic peaks and valleys. Calender- pursues the other through a maze of SOL- 20 Software ing eliminates the peaks and valleys, causing obstacles and "zap doors." Escape- Write for latest releases. a very surface. In addition, since smooth attempt to escape from a prison patrolled by there are is less oxide no rough peaks, there robot guards. Dart provides arithmetic drill ruboff and less head wear. and indicates how close your response is to Order... Calendering is just one of the many high the correct answer on a dart board. In To quality features you'll find in Creative Snoopy you compute distances on a Creative Computing Software should be Computing Software cassettes. We could the number-line while trying to shoot down stocked by your local retail computer store. have purchased cassettes for half the price Red Baron. In Sweep you must try to hit nine If your favorite outlet doesn't yet offer it, that would have worked, but we wanted to in controlling the path of a targets order by have him call C.J. at 800-631-8112. (In NJ, be sure that our cassettes would last for cannonball. $7.95. 201-540-0445). years and would give you an error-free Or you can order directly from Creative program load every time. Computing. Send your check for tapes plus Rather than rush our software to market, $1.00 shipping and handling per order to we've paid attention to tape quality, the Creative Computing Software, P.O. Box cassette mechanism (it won't jam), redun- creative 789-M, Morristown, NJ 07960. NJ residents dant recording, and packaging (hard plastic sales tax. Visa or Master Charge are box) as well as the programs themselves. add 5% For faster service, call in With Creative Computing Software, you can GompafciRg acceptable also. card order toll free to 800-631- be sure you're getting the absolute best that your bank (In NJ, 201-540-0445). money can buy. software 8112. creative GOiwpafciRg R.a. Box "7B9-M Morristown. NJ 079BD Radio Shack TRS-80 Software

Battl- CS-2001. TRS-80 4k Level I Game$-1. ing Deathstars, an exciting two player realtime graphics game. Hangman chal- lenges you to guess the computer's word before you're hung. Lunar Lander in which you try to land safely on the moon. Kid's Math Race teaches simple arithmetic. Or play checker* against your TRS-80. $7.95. MCS6500 Microcomputer Family Hardware Manual and MCS6500 Microcom- puter Family Programming Manual, MOS II Software Apple This is a review and rating of some recent Technology. Inc., 950 Rittenhouse Road, publications of interest to Commodore PET Norristown, PA 19401 ($7.50 to $10, depen- CS-4001. Space Games-1. Four color- owners. Many of the items are also valuable ding on distributor) are 1 50-200 page books graphics programs for your Apple, in- for users of other 6502-based systems; a few by the manufacturer of the 6502. Both are cluding Rocket Pilot an advanced lunar are of even broader appeal. extremely well written. The programming lander simulation in which you guide your manual, in fact, is almost a self-contained spacecraft over the mountain to a safe Periodicals course on machine-language program- landing on the opposite side In Saucer ming. Neither volume is of much use for a Invasion, you protect the earth by shooting Peoples Computers, 1263 El Camino 94025 beginner or BASIC-only programmer: both down, the alien invasion fleet with your Real, Box E, Menlo Park, CA pages, are essential for hardware or software missile launcher. In Star Wars, you line up (bimonthly, $1.50; $8/year; 64 pages freaks. Rating. A+ (with the reservations). the Tie fighters in your sights and fire before 8'<6x11"). Contains approximately 4 To Program Microcomputers, by they get away Dynamic Bouncer is a color specifically on the PET per issue. Other How Jr., W. & Co., graphics demonstration program for your features are articles on languages, games, William Barden, Howard Sams of Inc., 4300 West 62nd St.. Indianapolis. IN Apple which fills the screen with colored equipment reviews and educational uses are ($8.95) is a moderately good guide to walls that appear and disappear at random, computers. Several useful programs 46268 near- assembly-language programming. Some while a ball bounces around within. $7 95. given every issue. Level varies from introductory to moderately advanced. ideas (binary numbers, microcomputer system architecture and data CS-4002. Sports Games-1. Four exciting Rating: A. arithmetic, are discussed in great graphics games. Includes an amazing Pet User Notes, P.O. Box 371, codes, for example) detail. Others, such as addressing modes, Baseball game for two players who control Montgomeryville, PA 18936 (bimonthly, instruction sets and I/O are given only brief infielders and outfielders, type of pitch, and $5/year; approximately 16 pages, 5%x8V4") "PET User coverage, with the excuse that many the swing of the bat. Even has sacrifices, is published by Gene Beals' a will follow. The examples do double plays, and home runs Horse Race Group." The first two issues contained examples about follow, but they're sometimes hard to allows up to eleven players to bet on the wealth of useful information; rumors without background from other outcome of a horse race Slalom challenges Commodore, hardware and software hints, understand to sources. Barden simultaneously discusses you to ski through the gates in a minimum good programs, etc. Level is intermediate con- 8080, 6800 and 6502 chips. Therefore, the time. In Darts you try to throw your darts as moderately advanced. If publication of audience for the book is large, but the close to the bullseye as possible by con- tinues on schedule (always a danger it a real treatment of the separate families of trolling the game paddles. $7.95. problems with new journals) will be winner. Rating: A-. microprocessors is sometimes hurt. In Journal, 8 Fourth Lane, particular, the 6502 programs given as CS-4003. Strategy Games-1. Play Check- MICRO, The 6502 MA 01824 (bimonthly. examples often seem to have been written ers* in color against the Apple. Skunk is a So. Chelmsford. 30-40 pages, 8^x1 1") is last, and fail to take advantage of the special dice game for one or two players UFO is a $1.50; $6/year; KIM-oriented. but has been running abilities of that chip. Many of those game in which you must outwit an largely space PET, APPLE, programs could be made significantly enemy spaceship Blockade with exciting several pages for and other 6502 system shorter and faster by someone more at graphics and sound effects, with a one or CHALLENGER owners. Contains some good stuff for home with 6502 programming. two player option. Genius, a challenging machine-language experienced and In spite of these criticisms, the book trivia quiz. "Requires Applesoft BASIC. hardware-builder types. Not much for contains several dozen very useful routines $7.95. machine-language beginners or BASIC-only folk. Seems to be for the beginning 6502 list processors, sorters, solidly established, prints interesting ads programmer: CS-4201. CAI Programs-1. US Map asks and a good bibliography of recent multiple-precision arithmetic algorithms you to identify states and their capitals. publications concerning the 6502. Rating: and more. It's worth the cover price for the user study a list of Spelling helps those alone. Rating: B. words he has previously entered. Math A-. The PET Paper, Box 43, Audubon, PA PROGRAMMING A MICROCOMPUTER: Drill for simple arithmetic problems. Add- Addison-Wesley 19407 ($2/issue; $15 for 10 issues (one 6502, by Caxton C. Foster, With-Carry is a sophisticated tool for teach- subscriptions "will not span two Publishing Co., Reading, MA ($8.95) is a and three place year)— ing addition of two in the of Computing" series! It volumes." that is, issues 1-10 are a unit; volume "Joy helping the student work the numbers by 5V4x8'/6") may improve teaches machine-language programming the issue 1 had 24 pages. problem digit by digit, adjust to with clear, attractive with age, but the first issue (March 1978) from the ground up, a student's level of skill. $7.95. 5- style. The book is structured seemed to be mainly fillers. There was a and amusing is quite applicable to page "Intro to BASIC" article for absolute around the KIM, but beginners and 4 pages on "Teaching your PET, APPLE, CHALLENGER and other are chapters on codes PET to bark" which is useful for apprentice larger systems. There ex- and cryptography, music generation, a tiny builders. If the magazine's software lot The hardware GPeattve change/program library features get going, assembler and a more. it experience and expense required is and if the quality of articles improves, take could be a worthwhile investment. The next minimal. Overall, it's a delightful way to the first steps beyond BASIC. Rating. A+. Goirapafcireg few issues should tell. Rating: too early to call. u software 97 s

- \/

Thomas N. Ronayne

Have you ever noticed that when you play a computer that doesn't discourage all but the most dedicated game that the initial goal (or bounds distances to goal, or "computer freak," I'll eat my hat). If you are aware of the distance between players, or whatever) are always the limitations imposed on you by some of the same on the first play? Have your Monte Carlo method hardware/software vendors, the simple function RND is probability studies always resulted in approximately the far more acceptable and a whole lot easier. same outcomes? Do your play results during the course of There are a great many ways of testing the RND function a game seem to follow a repetitive pattern, game after for repetitiveness, randomness, and uniformity: probably game? as many as there are programmers using RND. You can, Well, gang, hold your head up high: it's not just your for example, use frequency distribution programs, you imagination, there's a reason for these things to happen. can test each element of a random table against each other Odds are that you are writing your games or probability element, you can test with sort routines, etc. This treatise studies using one of the handier functions of the BASIC is not an attempt to get into the foggy world of huge tables programming language, RND. is intended RND by the and cross-checking, it is rather an attempt to point out one friendly folks that write software as a convenient source of of the great fallacies of computers and computing: ya can't uniform random numbers: uniform random numbers that always trust 'em, guys. are, within finite limits, random, non-repeating, and evenly Each of us is somewhat imprinted with the knowledge distributed from just above zero to just below one. They that computers are never wrong. Generally, that's true. are very handy when doing coin-toss studies, testing sort But, and this is a very big but, they aren't always right routines, making probability studies, and creating and either. They have limitations, and software writers have playing games. built-in prejudices just like the rest of us. All random numbers generated by a computer (or any What all this verbiage does is bring us back to the initial other mechanical, electromechanical, or electronic — like question: why do initial settings using random-number a calculator — device) are the results of the output of a generators seem to repeat? program. The function, in BASIC RND, used a series of When repetitiveness seems to occur, it is not because BASIC program statements merely calls out of memory a the random numbers generated by the function RND are program (an action similar to a subroutine call) and repetitive, or non-random, or non-uniform. It is because executes it to provide a random number. Should a the table or sequence of randomly generated numbers computer programmer be interested, it is, of course, repeats! That is, every time you generate a table of random entirely possible to write a routine that will perform the numbers from a "cold" (the RUN command) start, the table same task. But, other than just for the sake of intellectual repeats. Figure 1 details a brief program, followed by six exercise, why bother? (Don't take my word for it, get a tables of random numbers generated by the program. copy of the Texas Instruments SR-52 Statistics Library for Note that each table is an exact duplicate of the others. their for program generating uniform random numbers; if Figure 2, on the other hand, lists almost the same program, followed by six tables of random numbers generated by Thomas N. Ronayne. . 16615 Rosemont Rd Detroit. Ml 48219. the program; each different from the others. It is stated

98 CREATIVE COMPUTING without proof that both programs generate evenly distributed non-repeating tables of random numbers when large volumes of the output of both Figure 1's program and Figure 2's program are closely examined.

FIGURE II

•klSX FICUBE I

10 FO* 1 - 1 TO 10 ready 20 A - RNS<- I) •10 FOR I - 1 TO 10 30 PRINT A; •20 A - RNO(X) 40 l.£XT I •30 PRINT A; •40 NEXT I •Rim •RUN

.7886731 .3277669 .8706056 .0968034 .2763165 .433508 .1246126 .8637044 .2065431 .4327409 .612254 .7694455 .7112102 .534787 .7761967 .9180544 .7 1477 .8707245 .1121342 .2339919

ready ready •RUN •RUN

.7886731 .3277669 .8706056 .0968034 .2763165 .433508 .9410189 .1801107 .0229494 .7491472 .4286603 .0858518 .7112102 .534787 .7761967 .9180544 .8635539 .1871307 .9285405 .5703982

ready ready •RUN •RUN

.7886731 .5277669 .8706056 .0968034 .2763165 .433508 .8 707064 .1097982 .9526369 .6788347 .3583478 .0155393 .7112102 .534787 .7761967 .9180544 .7932414 .1168182 .858228 .5000857

ready ready •RUN •RUN

.7886731 .327 7669 .8706056 .0968034 .2763165 .433508 .8003939 .0394857 .8823244 .6085222 .2880353 .9452268 .7112102 .334787 .7761967 .9180544 . 7229289 .0465057 .7879155 .4297732

ready ready •RUN •RUH

.7886731 .5277669 .8706056 .0968034 .2763165 .433508 .4175814 .6566731 .4995119 .2257097 .9052228 .5624143 .7112102 .534787 .7761967 .9180544 .3401164 .6636932 .405103 .0469607

ready ready •RUN •RUN

.7886731 .5277669 .8706056 .0968034 .2763165 .433508 .1011731 .8402669 .1831056 .4093034 .5888165 .746008 .7112102 .534787 .7761967 .9180344 .0237102 .847287 0886967 2305544

Most basic BASIC books instruct a student of the have a seed to grow from. In the normal course of language to generate random numbers by utilizing a following what was initially imprinted in the mind, the statement similar to that of line 20 in Figure 1; that is, programmer seeds his random number generator 20 LET A = RND(X) 20 LET A=RND(X) Needless to say, that particular usage has a tendency to become imprinted in the mind of the student, and he and presupposes that he will receive a nice harvest of learns it as "the way" to generate random numbers forever uniform random numbers. and ever. In most cases, and on some machines, it serves Normally, that's exactly what happens, but our the user well for the remainder of a programming career. programmer may, like the example of Figure 1, get the Now comes the rub: the outputs listed in Figures 1 and 2 same table every time he runs the program. were produced by Honeywell Series 6000 BASIC software You should have noticed by now that X is the seed. In (which is not exactly sluff stuff), on a pretty sophisticated reality, it doesn't matter what the seed is (Y, A, B, or piece of hardware. (Remember that line about blind trust?) whatever), the table produced by RND( ) will repeat The obvious query is, of course, why? whenever generated from a cold (RUN) start. That's also Programs that generate random numbers may be very why you always start a game at, say 789 yards to target. easily compared to the process of farming. A farmer plants Fortunately, there is a way around this "seeding" a seed, the seed grows into a plant that is ultimately conundrum; like many solutions to sticky problems, it is harvested. Similarly, a computer program spews out extremely simple: seed with a negative, odd integer, as numbers from a "seed" in the program (a random-number 20LETA=RND(-1) program has to start somewhere!) It must, like a plant,

NOV/DEC 1978 99 ,

is exactly 33.6666% for 1 This is not to say that taking such action will guarantee Of course, the distribution not 3, 5% for 4. This particular sample is based on a non-repeating tables; I have run a great many separate 2, or and tables and have never seen a repeat, but cannot state for distribution of only 1,000 numbers; however, a much million tries) distribution has sure that it doesn't happen. I've just never seen it. larger (on the order of one approximately Figure 2 is the result of utilizing exactly the same shown that the percentages shown are stated. program as that of Figure 1 , with the exception of the seed. those Again, there are as many ways of generating random Now, let's say that you really want to throw in some numbers as there are hardware designers, software curves. The statement designers, and design committees. Some, for example, 50 A=INT(RND(-1)*3.14159 use the clock, some the date, some the time of day, some +1* (INT(RND(-1)*3.14159+1))) the processor time. Your software may use one of these, or yields up some fairly interesting results: it may use something else entirely. Or, like me, you may share the RND(X) problem with most (if not all) Honeywell users. FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION Really, the idea of this exercise on a typewriter is an REL FREO,. excuse to explore some possibilities in computer game- CLASS CLASS BOUNDARIES FR£i}. playing (more specifically, game-writing). Games on 1 1.000000 UP TO 1.545455 117 11.70 computers are fun. They are also educational for the 2 1.545455 UP TO 2.090909 212 21.20 writer. Computers should provide some recreation in life, 3 2.090909 UP TO 2.636364 .00 or are no better than green-eyeshade clerks in some they 4 2.636364 UP TO 3.181813 268 26.80 office those guys ain't no fun nohow). back (and 5 3.181810 UP TO 3.727273 .00 in play. To be any good at all, games must have options 6 3.727273 UP TO 4.272727 239 23.90 When playing against a computer, the player should never 7 4.272727 UP TO 4.818182 .00 be able to predict any possible outcome of play (that gets 8 4.813132 UP TO 5.363636 136 13.60 awfully boring). And, above all, there should not be any 9 5.363636 UP TO 5.909091 .00 2.50 uniformity (or chauvinism?) shown by the machine when 10 5.909091 UP TO 6.454545 25 11 6.454545 UP TO 7.000000 3 .80 it chooses its own options or assesses penalties. For example, write a game that utilizes integers from Something zero to nine to determine the outcome of play. Again, no predictable results, but using this statement like to allow success or to assess penalties can make for 10N=INT(RND(-1)* 10) some interesting games (7 can be a real whopper, 6 just a will do nicely. You have just given a player (human or bit less, 1 just a bit less, and so on). Without beating the thing to death with a stick, you get machine) an equal chance of drawing 0, 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, probabilities, or 9. Remember, random numbers are uniformly dis- the idea. Vary the possibilities by varying the tributed: the above example automatically dictates and choose your alternatives as a result of the expected uniformity, which is very chauvinistic, and not a heck of a frequency distribution. lot of fun. Okay, so all that's very nice. How, then, does one get ununiform numbers from a device that is purposely designed to be as uniform as possible? Easy, use pi as a multiplier (actually, you can use any fraction tacked onto an integer, even a random fraction, but pi has a certain mysticism attached to it, and why not throw in a little scientific mysticism now and again — impress your friends). Try this on for size 50N=INT(RND(-1)*3.14159+1)

now you get 1's, 2's. 3's and 4's. You get approximately o evenly distributed 1's, 2's, and 3's (on the order of 55 31 .6666%), but only approximately 5% 4's. This is handy if o you really want to sock it to a player with a biggie only about 5% of the time. It makes a game more interesting S3 of zapped 10% of the time as than an even chance getting i with INT(RND(-1)*10). Following is an eleven-equal-class frequency distribu- tion of the statement using pi as a multiplier. Technico- IMSAI o FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION Vector •Cromemco

-- 1 mm • S 1 m ! Limrose SWTPC CLASS CLASS BOUNDARIES FREQ. RE!. FREO;. National Multiplex Solid State Music 1 1.000000 UP TO 1.272727 334 33.40 o 2 1.272727 UP TO 1.545455 .00 We stock various books and o 3 1.545455 UP TO i.aiaid2 .00 magazines of interest to 4 1.818132 UP TO 2.090909 298 29.80 5 2.090909 M» TO 2.363636 .00 the engineer and computer & 2.363636 UP TO 2.636364 .00 hobbyist. We also have .00 7 2.636364 UP TO 2.909091 available a large selection 8 2.909391 UP TO 3.181313 329 32.90 of components and used 9 3.181818 UP TO 3.454545 .00 10 3.454545 UP TO 3.727273 .00 electronic test equipment. 11 3.727273 UP TO 4.000000 39 4.40 MARKETLINE SYSTEMS, Inc. 2337 Philmont Ave. 100 Huntingdon Valley, Pa. 19006 215/947-6670 • 800/523-5355 . «

Now a word or two about odds. Computer games should be designed to set the odds of success or failure for both a the human player and the non-human player. Ideally, e (9 because the human player has reason on his side, while X < 3 9 £,- O a z Q 1 the non-human player does not, the odds of success z > a _ P z < and/or failure for the human player should be exactly SO- z > <1 z < _ Q a UJ X Hi SO, '/2, or whatever you prefer. The non-human player, on X z - BE S o UJ X £ UJ - H u CD s the other hand, should have a slight edge on his aim, gains, x a. 5 a. (J x z z u 5 3 U ; or successes, as well as the inverse: his failure rate should (8 a L° < u o a $£ J (/) UJ less than that of the human player, that is, less than 3 UJ a. H be UJ z 3 g 0. x UJ < 50-50 chances of failing. He, the machine (ever notice that u z > r l< x > I O 3 > co u Q computers are about the only devices in western culture M It) > O x -*x M a - not referred to in the vernacular as "she," like cars, boats, -1 -1 K UJ UJ z — 3= -1 3° f2 r ! airplanes?), cannot reason, after all, and is only acting as a o o < (/> < _ a. result of the pre-set conditions that you, the programmer, Kg UJ X "z x a of have set for him. Normally, you'll see something like t- Oa.' < o a. re £ H 50 A=INT(RND(-1)*2+1) lij O |S5 > -J — X -J IX oe > > ^ as u V) < UJ -J UJ setting everybody's odds in play. This results in exactly z I- Z X UJ X o2 even, 50-50, odds. Fine for the human player who can see i 5 X z^ 2° u where he's going, but not so hot for the machine that UJ X zee 3 3 CD § 2 w | its play from a random number to begin with. . o> determines <_J u g§ CD UJ zu a t zO § Give him an edge it) -X s CD 3 °Sr CD 50 A1 = INT(RND(-1) * 2.14159 + 1) -SjH < S tc Zj H Zq CO (/> a. O uj < S going to get them, throw out the 3's UJ = UJ o o- X and, because you're - - 5 It) — pa u < - that occur i* uj 3 < it> £* 60 IF A1 = 3 THEN 50 5^ 0- < - o In it) O si I UJ"J p a _ UO< ^2 UJ H UJ Now you get a distribution that looks like zf-ujji m s a > -1 -1 CM £ UJ UJ UJ UJ < 1 OS 0l O > it) + X ^ X O UJ X 2® x uj 5 oe x d - a x u. z z 1 u. co s oe < -Ji£ «; acO z zo- FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION jr uj 3 > o _ SE uj uj oe uj t- O it) >< - It) os CM UJ a j,Q (£0 0. ft, UJ £ ui a Z UJ UJ UJ It) < -1 UJ ' 9r « -" M M it) CLASS CLASS BOUNDARIES FREQ. REL FREg. < X X 3 3 u. X S2 OS •ji-jj -tt #•£&& CD 1 1.000000 UP TO 1.090909 531 s: .10 2 1.090909 UP TO 1.181318 .00 3 1.181818 up TO 1.272727 .00 n 4 1.272727 UP TO 1.363636 .00 5 1.36363b UP TO 1.454545 .00 n 6 1.454545 UP TO 1.545455 .00 7 1.545453 UP TO 1.636364 .00 (D a 1.636364 UP TO 1.727273 .00 O 9 1.727273 UP TO 1..11S132 .00 10 1.818142 UP TO 1.909091 .00 11 1.909041 UP TO 2. 0000 JO 469 4; .40

Not much of an edge, but an edge nonetheless. You can also attain interesting results by dividing a random number by a random number and then multiply- 08 ing by an integer value and then adding a random number to the result and so on. The possibilities are virtually < unlimited, but, eventually, the usefulness comes into (fj question. U|o The whole idea is to get around and away from the automatic uniformity and equal distribution of the RND "a function, to add some spice to games. If you remember <^ your basic statistics classes, the purpose of random- number schemes is to assure non-structured results in experiments, but insure some uniformity in samples. h That's fine for sampling, simulation, and so on, but it's not Z too great for game playing. UJ Games are not structured to be played in a uniform Z fashion, and they aren't really much fun if they are too structured (like Pong, structured games get pretty boring pretty quickly). Games structured around something like a INT(RND(-1)*10) become structured to the very nature of the random number process: a 10% chance of any one h option occurring.

Think of it this way. Random-number generators simulate the toss of a fair coin — over the long haul, you get exactly 50% heads, 50% tails. y=i What fun is that?

NOV/DEC 1978 101 1

sa*. APPLETALKER

NEW from SOFTAPEI 'twas the night before Christmas..: Now, a software program which will run

on any Apple Computer and give it the power T'was the night before Christmas, and all through the shop. The computers were whirring; they never do stop. of speech for only $15.95. Use "Talker The power was on and the temperature right, Tables" you create to make your own In hopes that the input would feed bark that night. program was coded, basic programs. You create these tables The system was ready, the And memory drums had been carefully loaded; using your tape recorder and microphone. While adding a Christmasy glow to the scene, Your computer will digitize your voice and The lights on the console, Hashed red. white and green. When out in the hall there arose such a clatter. store it in memory or tape. The programmer ran to see what was the matter. The program comes complete with Away to the hallway he flew like a flash. Forgetting his key in his curious dash. instructions and a demonstration program. He stood in the hallway and looked all about, We're looking for original software for When the door slammed behind him, and he was locked out.

the APPLE II TRS-80, Pet, Sorcerer and Then, in the computer room what should appear. But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer; Northstar for inclusion in the exchange. And a little old man. who with scarcely a pause, We'll also market those programs you'd like Chuckled: "My name is Santa ... the last name is Claus." to see sold through stores across the country The computer was startled, confused by the name, Then it buzzed as it heard the old fellow exclaim: and abroad. We're paying royalties to "This is Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, authors on sales or we'll purchase your And Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen." programs outright. With all these odd names, it was puzzled anew; It hummed and it clanked, and a main circuit blew. EXCHANGE SOFTWARE It searched in its memory core, trying to "think"; As a member of the exchange you select Then the multi-line printer went out on the blink. many quality programs for only the cost Unable to do its electronic job, It said in a voice that was almost a sob: of cassette, postage and duplication. This "Your eyes—how they twinkle—your dimples so merry, cost is currently $2.00 per tape with 1 to Your cheeks so like roses, your nose like a cherry. Your smile—all these things, I've been programmed to know. 9 programs per tape! Ten tapes are available And at data-recall, I am more than so-so; today! Join now and receive member order But your name and your address (computers can't lie).

Are things that I just cannot identify. forms. Trial membership $20.00. You've a jolly old face and a little round belly. That shakes when you laugh like a bowlful of jelly;

Ask your nearest apple dealer for a demon- My scanners can see you, but still I insist. Since you're not in my program, you cannot exist!" stration or contact us. Old Santa just chuckled a merry "ho, ho," And sat down to type out a quick word or so. The keyboard clack-clattered, its sound sharp and clean, SOFTAPE As Santa fed this "data" to the machine: "Kids everywhere know me; I come every year;

10756 Vanowen The presents I bring add to everyone's cheer; North Hollywood, California 91605 But you won't get anything— that's plain to see; (213) 9855763 Too bad your programmers forgot about me." Then he faced the machine and said with a shrug, "Happy Christmas to all," as he pulled out its plug.

CIRCLE 131 ON READER SERVICE CARD 102 CREATIVE COMPUTING Micro Business Software

• Complete interactive, double entry account- NEW BASIC SOFTWARE FROM ing system REAL WORLD SIMULATIONS! • 51 programs with 120 pages of documen- Pro Football Handicapping Program: tation Includes user's guide, theoretical development, sample input data and output. Make money with your computer $26 00 • Written in Northstar BASIC (other variations

Draw Poker Simulator: available) Gardenia. CA rules (deck includes joker). You play against to six other up • players controlled by the program $22.00 General ledger, accounts receivable, accounts payable, inventory and payroll Chess Scramble: An exciting and challenging new chess game for two players and a computer. • Only 24K of memory Combines the luck element of backgammon with chess skill and strategy $9.00 • Single diskette can hold 400 customer

Model Rocket/Airplane Performance Simulator: listings, 50 vendors, 400 line items of Allows you to "fly" your model design before building it. Includes instructions inventory, 25 employees, 60 general ledger on how to measure or calculate all input data $26 00 accounts. Beam Deflection and Stress Program: Allows for variable cross section, any end conditions, elastic bed or discrete • Only $200.00 supports. Great design aid for bookshelves, cantilevered desks, slab bridges, sun decks, etc $26.00 To order GBIS business software, send check,

All programs are in North Star Basic and may be ordered on disk for an money order or purchase order (Calif, residents additional $2.00. Instructions are included for conversion to other basics. add 6% sales tax —prepaid orders shipped California residents please add 6% sales tax. at no charge) to: REAL WORLD SIMULATIONS P.O. Bos 4107 Torrance, CA 90510 Computer Products Of America (213) 549-6943 A Division of The Computer Mart 633 West Katella Avenue Orange, CA 92667 CIRCLE 164 ON READER SERVICE CARD (714) 633-1222 Dealer and OEM prices upon request

CIRCLE 170 ON READER SERVICE CARD

CIRCLE 122 ON READER SERVICE CARD Games ot lust For Fun

Unvarnished Truth About KIM?

Jim Butterfield

When we talk about personal computers, we don't mean business or government scale machines. Even the process computers now entering the home cannot be included: the ones that run your microwave oven, automobile, sewing machine or whatever. These gathered around it whooping and one, and then I discovered that noise fouling built-in devices are not really accessi- thumping the button, and the adult on my interrupt line was up my

it . . . I'm fun!" ble: they don't give you personal scope players making side bets, turned out programs gee, having He or allow you to do your own personal it was serious and useful. One really meant it. I'm sure it will be a "thing." associate started adding mean and letdown when everything works Doing your own thing means placing standard deviation statistics into the properly. your stamp of individuality on the package so as to make it a I've heard it argued that personal- physiological tester. computer fans should be concerned machine. It must not be locked up on "serious" tasks to the extent that you about their public image, that we should avoid fostering the idea of lose access to it. My own machine is a Make up your mind to KIM-1 system which is often thought of computers as toys. Computers do enjoy your projects. Re- indeed need some kind of new image. as a process control device. Yet if I ask among the community of KIM users, solve to grit your teeth The public must have a rather strange "Are you using KIM to control things? idea of what a computer is, based upon To turn lights on and off? To control and have a good time no their experiences of incorrect bills, seemingly unchangeable bases, temperatures? Detect burglars?" ... matter what. data the answer is almost always the same, and very slow responses to queries. Game-playing gives a new view of "No; if I did those things, I wouldn't be I wasn't going to be caught being computers as less impersonal devices. able to play with it any more." That, I serious, so I changed the display to will root that think, is a very sensible answer. Per- playing music. That turned out to be a Perhaps the idea take problems are caused not by the sonal computing should be enjoyable. highly serious business; it seems that machine, but by the way it is used. We I sometimes detect a form of Puritan the generation of various sorts of ethic among personal computer users. tones, and arranging to store music in need to fight the concept of impersonal There seems to be an underlying memory with provision for repeated computers . . . with personal com- feeling that there's something wrong phrases, is a matter of considerable puters.

with enjoying yourself. It's akin to the serious interest. I was even shushed

unwritten law of tax deductions: they when I tried to whistle along with one of Games and recreations are only allowable if you can prove you my tunes. should not be thought of didn't enjoy the trip or meal or I had little hope that a Lunar Lander whatever. It's all too common to hear, package would manage to un-serious as trivial things.

"Don't demonstrate games; people my display. But I confess to some won't think you're serious." Yet I, for surprise when asked if my program There are a number of areas in one, don't want to be thought of as a could be included in a technical paper computing where it's hard to see serious user. as an example of the solution of recreational content. It's hard to

I went through an interesting exer- differential equations. visualize a fun income-tax return or an cise at a computer display not long There's probably a moral here, amusing accounting package. Neither

ago. I announced that the other hob- indicating that frivolous things are process control nor statistical work are

byists could be as serious as they liked, really serious, and vice versa. It's more thought of as yielding a lot of laughs. I

but I for one was going to demonstrate important to note that seriousness is a don't think of these as personal; they something frivolous to the public. My state of mind. Make up your mind to may be located in your home, but they first attempt was one of the simplest enjoy your projects. Resolve to grit won't be for your personal use. There programs in existence: a reaction test. your teeth and have a good time no will be some personal systems: calen- When the light comes on, press the matter what. dars and date reminders; recipe files; tell button and the display will you how I must confess to amazement at what personal inventory files... but unless

long it has taken you. I was told that some people enjoy. I recall a recent they can be personalized, they won't be that was a very good serious display. conversation with a computer-kit much fun. And if they're not much fun, children Despite the number of builder that went like this: ". . .and after they will be prone to fall into disuse.

I repaired those six defective chips, I The whimsy that created the cuckoo Paper originally given at PERCOMP 78. April plugged the board in wrong, and my clock is very much needed here. 29. 1978. Long Beach, CA. supply blew. It took Jim Butterfield. 14 Brooklyn Ave.. Toronto. power me two Games and recreations should not Ontario. MAM 2X5. Canada. weeks to repair the damage on that be thought of as trivial things. Games

104 CREATIVE COMPUTING .

that the computer referees, and games Games Con't. . in which it is a player. As a player, the Sometimes I wonder if start with children imitating reality. computer can use strategies which are STAR TREK will be- Whether the game is baseball, cops fixed, randomized, or adaptive. One and robbers, or a kitten playing with a simple scheme is to give the computer come an industry-stand- string, the object is the same: to imitate an IQ or handicap, allowing it to play at ard benchmark pro- and prepare for the real world. a level that matches its human oppo- Most people are familiar with various nent. It's not a game unless it's in- gram. strategy games—war games, financial teresting, and games in which the games, even ecological and computer always wins or always loses physicist will see little of value in an sociological games. They can in some are equally dull. accounts receivable program. But they respects represent the realities of the Games and recreations can serve as will all like games. Strangely enough, outside world. A computer can be an motivating devices where they provide they will all be able to relate what they ideal way to simulate reality, whether in new resources or new mechanisms. see in games to their own applica- a lunar lander where we simulate the This is probably most noticeable in the tions, identifying the suitability of dynamics of a craft, or playing an world of the arts. The advent of inputs, outputs, and storage media in economic game like Hammurabi to see personal computers may herald a new terms of their own needs. One of the how many people we can starve this wave of cultural activities in the home. objects of the many games in "The First year. Each game teaches us something Perhaps some computer-based Book of KIM" is to provide the re- about the real world. In general, the systems will be thought of in terms of sources to build your own application: more realistic the game, the more it's works of art. They require creative if you need a certain kind of input or enjoyed. skills from several disciplines, and are output routine, chances are it will in The most advanced form of this type often designed to influence the there somewhere. Even active hobby- of game is various types of training awareness of other humans. ists often use games as their bench- simulators, where we simulate the The field of computer-generated art mark of computer excellence. Some- operation of an expensive machine and has been making progress for many times I wonder if STAR TREK will allow people to develop skills years, and as better low-cost input- by become an industry-standard bench- operating this proto-machine. Flight output devices become available, it will mark program. simulators, used by most airlines, are continue to improve. Computer- To sum up: perhaps I may not have the best known devices of this type. I generated music is already popular convinced you that games should be suspect we'll soon see such devices in with hobbyists on several fronts, par- taken seriously (!). But there's at least the home: they sound like a lot of fun. ticularly in sound synthesis and as an one more factor to consider. Games Games can be quite useful as a aid to composition. (Creaf/Ve Com- and recreations—so-called "frivolous" means of testing, both physiological puting, Mar/Apr 78). Also computer applications—have given real impetus and psychological. Reaction tests, generation of dance routines. (Creative to the personal-computer industry and aptitude tests and others can be Computing, Mar/Apr 77). to electronics in general. Personal enjoyable for the subject and infor- The artist is discovering more and computers, video games, and mative for the tester. Psychological more resources which computer calculators—which are more often programs such as ELIZA which can technology is making available. Per- used in fun than in earnest—have carry on limited conversations are also sonal computing can provide these created a new industry and have of interest. resources in the home. Can we look produced remarkably low-price struc- The educational value of forward to a computer-cultural games and tures. recreations is evident. Creating the renaissance? (Creaf/Ve Computing, So the next time you're caught program is in itself a highly instructive May/Jun 78) and Artist and Com- fooling around with some non-serious experience. This is particularly true puter.) activity on your personal computer, because of the scope the programmer I find games an excellent way to you can explain that you're not just has in defining his own system: input, introduce computers and computing having fun; you're helping found a new output, timing and overall rules. techniques to others. Visitors to ex- technology. Commercial-style projects often give hibits or trade shows often have little latitude in these areas, and can difficulty relating to what they see. An limit the programmer's "global view." accountant doesn't want to see a Carrying a program through from process-control package; a statistician concept to implementation, observing won't be interested in a text editor; a its operation and taking it through a rewrite develops a far more profound set of skills than the more common exercise of drawing flowcharts to order. On the application side of education, computer-assisted instruction (CAI) is well known in the classroom. Now it can reach the home in a much more direct form: teaching programs, drills and exercises which can be paced to the student and matched to his own specific areas of interest. Games and recreations are of course a field of study in themselves. Game theory defines a number of classes of games; and within the framework of the personal computer we may need to add new classifications. There are games

NOV/DEC 1978 105 AN EXPERIMENT IN TEACHING STRATEGIC THINKING

J. M. Brady and R. B. Emanuel

for us, of game playing 1 . Introduction exploit his weaknesses. Thus, much In his influential article (4) on LOGO education, Seymour involves strategic thinking, building a model of one's own Papert has discussed several ideas regarding the applica- play and one's opponent's play, and exploiting one's tion of computing technology to enhance education under opponent's weaknesses as uncovered by an analysis of three broad headings: one's model of his play. a) LOGO programming A corollary to Papert's argument b) above is that if these b) Cognitive science as a school subject. issues could be made explicit, one could expect a greater c) A new conceptualization of science based on repre- understanding, ability and enjoyment of such competitive senting notions like growth, movement, and even games. In order to investigate this idea, one first has to geometrical figures by processes, that is to say, answer what might usefully serve as a model of one's own computer programs. (and one's opponent's) play. An obvious claimant is the set Whereas the latter idea is very exciting, we wish here to of concepts suggested by so-called game playing research concentrate on a) and b). Regarding b), Papert argues that a in Artificial Intelligence: state-space research, evaluation familiarity with a theory of problem solving can genuinely functions, minimaxing, d-B heuristics, and so on. We would improve a child's ability to solve problems. Similar claims argue that such concepts are not satisfactory since they have also been made by Polya (6) and Wickelgren (7). Such a bury precisely the ideas we wish to make explicit. For theory of problem solving, albeit a rather primitive one as example, an evaluation function for chess might involve a yet, is best to be found in Artificial Intelligence, and, more measure of the control of the board, etc. — but such a generally. Computer Science. Terms such as "bug," measure appears as a number not the explicit statement "process," "heuristic" can be used to discuss various skills about control we wish the child to discover and use. Again, and one's current level of attainment. Programming gives minimaxing is more useful when it is explicitly represented one an intuitive grasp for such terms. as the strategy: "do as well as you can at this move while at Regarding a), while one of us (JMB) has criticised LOGO the same time, stopping, as far as possible, your opponent qua programming language (1), we are generally gaining advantage." Instead we decided to follow LOGO,

enthusiastic about it as a language in which to learn to and represent one's plan for playing as a program, a executed, would make a move in a program for the following reasons (for more details see (1 ) ). program which, when 1) There is an interesting problem domain which doesn't playing sequence. We envisaged children writing programs rely on students having extensive "formula knowledge" to play some game, and then playing their programs against from some other discipline. each other. The playing sequence constitutes the trace, and 2) An obvious program trace which aids debugging, is a as in the case of LOGO programming, provides the primitive measure of "efficiency" and so on. mechanism by which the child can analyse and improve his

3) It encourages the notion of a process as a representation program's performance. of a solution to a problem. More specifically, a program can Instead of considering a program as having bugs, that is, neatly represent a concept, for example that a polygon is the containing errors, being wrong, we prefer to present a result of the repetition of FORWARDS and LEFTs. In this program as a partial or improvable solution, a step on the way a program may be viewed as a plan, so that debugging road to a satisfactory solution. Broadly, what we call bugs consists of altering one's plan.* are of two sorts; either they attempt something illegal All of the LOGO applications we know about essentially relative to some set of rules, or else they call for something involve the computer being programmed to perform tasks that really would be better done another way. Even a LOGO which a child might enjoy doing, for example drawing, program, which, as desired, drew a square (say) might be

playing music, riding a unicycle, juggling, etc. Now a large considered improvable if it draws the two vertical sides part of children's leisure time is spent in play situations before the horizontals. In the case of a game playing involving other children; moreover,. much of this play is program a move might be considered dumb and the competitive: playing football, playing cards and so on. Of program correspondingly improved. Of course writing a course, a lot of one's ability to satisfactorily play such games program to play a game against an opponent is likely to can be attributed to the level of one's skill; however, we require some programming skill; indeed we view our work contend that much of what we call "skill" in fact consists of as a contribution to Papert's scheme (4) for a total a (largely unconscious) ability to think strategically. Even as alternative to the conventional curriculum by proposing a adults, it is usually only very good players who are able to post-LOGO experience, a second level programming analyse their opponent's play to the point of being able to course. In the rest of this paper we- report on an initial skirmish with these ideas. We chose NIM for our experiment "It is interesting to ponder what psychological benefit derives from not regarding one's sell as being in error but rather one's program as an because of the simplicity of its rules and the pleasure which unsatisfactory embodiment of one's plan. we found subjects got from playing it. None of our subjects had played it before; in particular they were ignorant of the J.M Brady. University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park. Colchester. guaranteed winning strategy. We developed a program- R.B Emanuel. Department of Artificial Intelligence. University of Edin- burgh, Edinburgh ming language to enable as natural as possible an

106 CREATIVE COMPUTING articulation of a strategy for playing NIM, subject to its being similar to LOGO. Fuller details of the NIM language and system can be found in R. B. Emanuel's M.Sc. dissertation to YUI UWI TO FlftY HANU.1.LY OR BY r*0M»C (2). Unfortunately, time prevented us from getting children • WHITS THE rtrtlC OF YOUR to the stage where they could write NIM-playing programs; FWSkMI? [ W, thus the evolution of a NIM-player reported in the next section was programmed by a graduate student. The children, however, were able to comment on and play Pfi'JE Oft FtriO TO GO riF-.T'' pftgi: manually against the machine. The manual facility was to n iou ui".r me ;o pram the hat familiarize subjects with the rules of the game and to give MP, (.A.*. Itlu-LM IWUE AM' ([CIO them a "feel" for "good" play. It was also used to encourage children to think about their own play to provide ideas for MM.3 * 3 /./.''. inclusion in their first attempted programs. UftW TO FtflY - PAVE TAKES ALL FROM ftOU.3 The next section reports the development of a program to (ION IS I- l«V. I play NIM; we then relate this work to Papert and Solomon's CluVtllCft TO FIAT - earlier discussion(4) of NIM in a LOGO context. FW10 TAKES 1 FROM ROW.1 mon is s- RUW.l = 4 «W row.: - * /./.« 2. Evolution of a player. NIM paue to fu»y - i*** takes 3 fr0h r0u.1 The rules of NIM are very simple: the game is played with I iur» *a i- ROM I < matches or the like arranged into any number of rows with row.? - 4 >.::/./. COURIER Til fur any number of matches in I-W10 TAKES 3 FROM ROW.2 each row. A move consists of IV 1TI0N IS I- removing as many matches from a single row as desired. RUI.l • 1 /. K0U.2 • 1 i Players move alternately, the player taking the last match I Art PEFlNIlfLY GOlt* TO UINPAVE, IO YOU STIU UAMT TO CON71NU 10 IHL MT1.K ENll-YU either wins or loses depending on what version of the game WM TO FtftY - PAVE TAKES FROM ROM.J

is played. In II 1 UAL KOIIE.YOU this section we concentrate exclusively on 3- 1 MUST T«K£ «T LEAST Oft NA1W fe*" IVITION I- rows NIM, with the player IS taking the last match winning. fUM.X ' I ;:

'1 '. The subject DAVE whose program development is describ- i-ve bti ed in this section had never played NIM before meeting our ANOIHER FtHJf'Ir' NO system and played several NIM games manually against the computer prior to attempting a program. We did not expect Program 3 him to produce an expert, or even good, playing program; Not being able to debug program 2, caused DAVE to try a rather, we hoped he would uncover some strategies for new strategy. In fact, probably as a result of watching the playing the game. computer's in moves figure 1 , he had stumbled upon a very In what follows we do not give a formal description of important strategy in the game; namely, if there are 2 rows what the parts of a NIM program mean; they should be self- left, then a win is guaranteed if the program keeps them evident. Certainly anybody with a LOGO background should balanced. feel at home reading them; the curious reader should TO DAVE consult (2). All the programs developed in this section were 10 IF ROWSLEFT = THEN TAKE ALL FROM ROW 1 tested against a program PDP10 written in the NIM IF 20 ROWSLEFT = 2 THEN IF ROW.1 > ROW 2 THEN language. This program can also be seen in (2). The initial TAKE ROW.1 — ROW.2 FROM ROW 1 program developed by DAVE was: 30 IF ROW.2> ROW.1 THEN TAKE ROW.2 - ROW 1 FROM ROW.2 Program 1 40 TAKE 1 FROM ROW.2 TO DAVE END 10 IF ROWSLEFT = 1 THEN TAKE ALL FROM ROW.1 Lines 20-30 ensure that the program would balance the 20 IF ROWSLEFT = 3 THEN TAKE ALL FROM ROW.3 rows when there were TWO ROWS left. Line 40 contained 30 IF ROWSLEFT = 2 THEN TAKE ALL-1 FROM ROW.1 no heuristic information and was merely a default move. The trace of a Line 10 of the program takes account of the trivial case game with 2 rows is shown in Fig. 2. As seen from when there is only one row left. Obviously the program the trace something unexpected happened. The illegal must take all the matches. Line 20 uses the only heuristic in move at D was caused by the program not quitting after the program, that is to get down to 2 rows as soon as taking 6 matches from ROW .1 by the execution of line 20. It then possible. In fact this is a very powerful heuristic: if a problem executed line 40 and attempted to take from ROW.2. Clearly seems to be too hard try to solve a simpler one. Line 30 1 he needed to cause control to leave DAVE after leaves one match in Row 1 if there are two rows left. 10, 20 and 30. This is dealt with in program 4. The trace of the game between DAVE and the PDP10 is in- Fig. 1 shown . The player's contribution is underlined. T1H IN FIRST FLAYER'S NATC THEN OPFONENT'S NAME - FTf 10 IF (*tt»*.NT From the trace, it can IS COfVtfitK be seen that the program has a bug paue nin in it as when = = ROWSLEFT 2 and ROW.1 1 , the program DO YOU WANT TO FVAY MANUALLY Oft HY FftOGFtAtC _R made an illegal move by taking no matches at all. This is marked by a * on the trace. PAUL' i WKATS THE NAME OF YOUR FRUU PAUE

An attempted correction of this bug was made in program TYPE IN START POSITION OF THE. GAME E.O (5.4,31 MEANS ROU.1'0 ROU.1-4 UM.i-i IV.3I 2. DAVE OR F-PHO TO GO FlRSf* En Program 2 you uawt to tir-A" t^: - TO DAVE to w. NIM GAME METUEFN PAUE AND FI*10 10 IF ROWSLEFT = 1 THEN TAKE ALL FROM ROW.1 POSITICN IS !- 20 IF ROWSLEFT = 3 THEN TAKE ALL FROM ROW.3 row. i - 9 txwa ROW.? ' 3 /././. 30 IF ROWSLEFT ^ 2 THEN TAKE ALL- 2 FROM ROW.1 PAVF TO FLAT - PAUE 1AMS 1 FROM ROW.; ILLEGAL MOUE.YOU TOOK MftlCHES FROM ROW.? AMP ROW.1 £J This did not correct the bug at all since when ROWS LEFT FCSITlCll IS 1- ROW.1 3 W. = 2 and ROW.1 = 2, the same illegal move was made by ROW.? - 2 V. GAME SIHI1 DAVE. The trace is very similar to the first is not D program so ANOna.R kXKJMf N included.

NOV/DEC 1978 107 2

The heuristic worked for 2 rows, when the person went TYPE IN MART IfClTION Of THE GAME t.G >S.4.;> MEANS ROW. 14 KCU.7^4 ;t«.3-3 **.*• i crucial who goes first in a game. mn out kikem havf; win mio I1BIIH.I IS ! UU.I " 5 Program 5 ROM.? 4 This program is a refinement of program 3 but extended to WW*' TO PL».Y - DAVE TAKES • FRIT. ROW.l POSIUON IS :- handle 3 rows. The person discovered that in a 3 row ROW.l - 4 CCXX position, if two of the three rows were equal, a good move row.; • 4 net COHTUIlk 10 FLOY - 11*10 TAKES 1 FROM ROU.I would be to take all from the unequal row. This is essentially POSITION IS >- strategy extended to cover more KM. 1 3 the same balance rows R0U.2 4 cases. It further illustrates the heuristic discussed in HAVE 10 FLA1 - HAVE 1«IS 1 FROM R0U.2 position IS I- program 1 : a solution in the simpler case can be adapted to a ROU.I - 3 OK solution in the more complex situation. Several Artificial MJW.2 • 3 '.'./. comflwr ro fiat phpio takes 1 from rou.i Intelligence programs are based on this idea, notably Kelly posiiion is i- rou.i • : (x (3). R0W.2 • 3 CCX TO DAVE HAVE TO KAY - HAVE TAKES 1 FT<0H ROW.2 POSITION IS I- 10 IF ROWSLEFT = 1 THEN TAKE ALL FROM 1 -OOUT ROW. 1 2 /.'. row.: 20 IF ROWSLEFT = 2 THEN IF ROW 1 > ROW 2 THEN

cphjuhr to flat - fdf10 takes i from row.l TAKE ROW.1 - ROW 2 FROM ROW 1 O OUT position is i-

• '/. MJU.l I 30 IF ROW2>ROW1 THEN TAKE ROW 2 - ROW 2 Rou.; ? ec ROW.2 OUT HAVE 10 FIAT - MM TAKES 1 FROM ROU.I' FROM O POSITION IS I- 40 IF ROWSLEFT = 3 a ROW.l = ROW.2 THEN TAKE ALL ROU.I • 1 i MM.2 1 '. FROM ROW.3 O OUT , UNG TO MIX = = PIH'10 ft 50 IF ROWSLEFT 3 a ROW.2 ROW.3 THEN TAKE ALL HAVE UII FROM ROW.2 OOUT 60 IF ROWSLEFT = 3 A ROW.1 = ROW 3 THEN TAKE ALL Program 4 FROM ROW.2 OOUT The program is the same as program 3 except the NIM 70 TAKE 1 FROM ROW.1 O OUT command OUT is used, and binded on after the program END makes any move. (OUT causes the process to return Although the program is not very elegant, it still is a fairly control). The default move was changed from ROW .2 to powerful player. In fact a strange thing occurred when it ROW .1 TO DAVE was played against PDP10, as it beat it no matter who went firstl! The trace of the game with PDP10 first is shown in 10 IF ROWSLEFT = 1 THEN TAKE ALL FROM R0W.1O0UT Fig. 5 When this was pointed out it became clear that there was 20 IF ROWSLEFT = 2 THEN IF ROW.l > ROW .2 THEN a bug in the PPD10 program, since (from the trace of the TAKE ROW.1 - ROW.2 FROM ROW 1 •> OUT game) PDP10 made a really silly move in the position 30 IF ROW.2 > ROW.1 THEN TAKE ROW 2 - ROW 1 * marked on the trace. Sure enough, it was discovered that FROM ROW 2 O OUT PDP1 was testing for conditions in the game in the wrong 40 TAKE 1 FROM ROW.1 END order and thus gave higher priority to achieving a diagonal situation in the future (3 rows containing 1, 2 and 3 To test the "balanced rows" stragegy, DAVE played against PDP1 with 2 rows. Once again in the trace (Fig. 3)

the person's contribution is underlined. 1YF€ IN START FOSITION OF THE GAME E.G C..4.3) MEANS ROU.I-j ROU.2>-4 1S.4.3)

TTPL IN START POSITION OF THE GAME E.G (5.4.3) MEANS ROU.I'-'.. R0W.?^4 R0M.3O [•AVE Ok FHPIO TO GO FIRST' FHPIO 16.3) DO YOU MAN! ME TO DRAU THE HATCHES AF FIR EVERY MOVE' YES HAVE OR PHPIO TO GO FIRST' PHPIO NIM GAnE BETWEEN DAVE AND ft* 10 DO YOU MAN! K. TO DRAW (HE HATCHES AFTER EVERY ROUE'' NO POSITION IS I- ROM.I - 5 wn NIH GAME MTU FN DAVE AND I'll 10 R0M.2 • 4 KJPPt ROM.J - 3 «X CnrUTER TO PLAY - PDPIO TAKES 2 FROM R0U.3 PTSIIIGN IS I- RSM.I » 5 rou.i • 4 fOMTION IS I- mx RC-M.I • 6 ROM.3 - 1 /. MM.2 • 3 [«*VE TO PLAY • HAVE TAKES 1 FROM ROW.l I- K 1C FLAY - FHPIO TAKES 3 FROM ROU.I POSITION IS fosiriON is i- R0U.1 4 VOX. ROU.l • 3 ROW.? 4 vm • 3 ROW.3 - I X HAY - DAVF 1AKES 1 FROM ROU.I COMPUTER fO PLAY - FHPIO 1AK£S 2 FROM ROW.2 JJfr IL II ION IS I- I05ITICIN IS 1- .•U.l 2 ROU.I » 4 van *r1II0 FAKES \ FROM ROM. ( IS l- DAVE TO f1 AY - DAVE TAKES 1 FROM ROM. 1 ItlSIlION IS 1- i 2 • 2 RfM.I - 3 >XI. QU.l K0U.2 - 2 /./. FCSITIOM IS !- RTM.3 1 i - ki«;.i . | UmiTER I.J H.Ai IK 10 l«,ES ,iu. 1ROM ROW.2 ftl. 2 • 2 IS !• '. 10 FLAT - Ff*10 TAWS 1 FKOM FtfV.2 KCM.l 2 VXX. I IS t- I '/. LAI - DAVE TART.S 1 2 FROM ROW.l FOSITION IS i- 1 • U.V.T 10 CONllNtf 10 IKE R!l It ROU.I * 1 « : GOINO >u MINHAVE. IO OTU S1ILL _ M/J.? - I /. k-IMSX UtFHllELY GtiING TO WIN H*I0 R.Si&NV. • N

108 CREATIVE COMPUTING type in start fosit!f»i or the (we e.g '5.4. 3> mf.v Besides this, (1.4.3) a child will quickly lose confidence and interest if his program is continually beaten. I** I* PIUO 10 GO F IRSf FWIO The psy- chological damage of always getting beaten was not an lO YOU UANT MI TO I«AU THE HATCHES AFTER EVERY MOVE'' YFS issue here as DAVE was able to take it rather philosophical- HIM GIVr HTl^EN TXVJE AMU Mr JO ly FOSNION IS - GCOK KCW.2 ' 4 OK 3. Relation to Papert and Solomon's work fx.3 • 3 CB R TO FLAY - FW1G TAKES 2 FROM R0U.3 In (4) Papert and Solomon discuss their experience with a IS :- seventh grade class who spent three •j txax weeks on a single R0M.2 • 4 wee programming exercise. This idea was to set them working R0W.3 - /. I on a problem 10 FIAT - I»w» TAKES I FROM ROU.I much more complex than they had previously i I? 1- encountered in LOGO programming, and the main idea RCU.I • 4 OK was ROM. 2 4 y.tx/. to introduce the importance of ideas like planning, .-SOW.3 • I '. subgoaling, etc COMFUICR 10 FLAT - M* It TAKES ALL FROM R0U.3 ^fjh as ways of approaching complexity!

• l- IS Specifically, Papert and Solomon set children the task of RC»«.! 4 COK working towards a program to play "one pile NIM "or "21" 10 F1.AT - DM* TAKES 1 I RUN ROU.I as invincibly as possible. In "21 ," FOSITIUN IS I- there is initially a (single) F.TM.I 3 '.'X heap of twenty-one matches, players alternatively remove one, I two or TO ft AV I FROM R0U.2 three matches from the heap; the player who POSITION IS - removes the last match wins. Clearly this is far too i OX simple a 3 MX game for developing the kind of skills we are trying to tlHt TO PLAY - ItVZ TMX8 1 FKOrl ROU.I address. FOSITICM IS I- KUW.I » J I.'. The key idea in (4) was to get the children to work towards 3 ax • a -expert IEF TO FLAY F-UIO TAKES I FROM R0M.2 21 by developing a series of increasingly complex IS I- programs which corresponded to the child's increasing understanding of the game. In particular, the children were II AY - HALE TAKES X FROM ROW. I I" llllM IS 1- recommended to follow a subgoaling procedure, namely to POU. | r J /. develop a score keeper, then a referee, then a "random fau.2 player" finally and a good player It is noteworthy that in our PICIUGN IS i- system. DAVE essentially i '. discovered the subgoaling hou.2 - l y. procedure for himself; see program 1 in 1 I* which the more l». tNG TO UlUlAt. IO YOU STILL WAN! TO rrwTHU. 10 IHJ complex 3 row game is immediately reduced to the simpler 2 row game. Furthermore, once DAVE discovered the matches) than recognizing the definite winning situation of "balance rows" heuristic in the two row situation, he 3 rows with 2 rows equal. We changed the order of testing abstracted it to form the basis of a solution to the 3 rows in the program and corrected the situation. The trace with situation, (See program 5). Thus the essential subgoaling PDP10 corrected is shown in Fig. 6. Notice the move at #. idea is present in our system. A child begins by writing We were glad that the situation arose where PDP10 did programs to play simple forms of the game and then make a stupid move as we had no real way to test the PDP1 progressively refines his programs using a trace of the program other than by people playing against it. It also performance of his program playing against another replicated the playing environment intended for NIM viz.: 2 person's program. At each stage of refinement, any useful people's programs playing each other using the trace of the heuristic information contained in previous stages is used game to refine the plans in embodied each program. in the present model under construction. As far as the discovery of any more heuristics was Certainly, as noted in the introduction, we expect our sub concerned to make DAVE smarter, DAVE said that by this jects to be able to program problems of about the level of stage he had some intuition that if ROWSLEFT were 3. and complexity demanded by the Papert and Solomon system, no rows were balanced, he wanted his program to keep but there the similarity ends. We are not interested in game them unbalanced so PDP10 couldn't win. Clearly this playing programming as a complex programming environ- means that he was beginning to modify his winning ment, rather we are interested in developing systems in strategy to one where he could take some account of his which strategies can be discovered then naturally and opponent's play. (Minimax wherefore art thou?). explicitly articulated and used. We contend that on this There is a further point All to notice. of DAVE's programs score our system is superior. played against the same opponent, the PDP10 program. We are aware just how short a step we have taken in the Thus the feel for his opponent's play which he was direction sketched in the Introduction, but would argue that beginning to get was specific to that single opponent. No the previous section illustrates the richness in potential of doubt another opponent with a different strategy would this line of study. have caused a different analysis and, more importantly, shown shortcomings in the program which played PDP10. This phenomenon of a person's play suffering from only REFERENCES 1 Brady. J M and Bornat, R The Linguistics of LOGO Comp Sc Memo ever playing a single opponent is well still is known. Worse CSM-S. University of Essex, 1974. the fact that is PDP10 an expert player. For someone to 2 Emanuel. R.B. Ideals. Ideas. Principles and Practice of Computing in develop his program in the ill-matched situation of playing education M Sc dissertation Essex University. 1974 Kelly. ." PDP10 rather than against someone of his own standard 3 M "Visual Identification of People by Computer Memo Al 130 Comp Sci Dept . Stanford University. Stanford. Ca . July, 1970 with imperfect play, is almost like teaching him chess by 4 Papert. Seymour and Solomon. Cynthia NIM A game playing program having him play Bobby Fisher!!! of the One main reasons LOGO Memo No 5 Ml T . 1970 why we don't think this situation is a good idea is that the 5 Papert. Seymour Uses of Technology to Enhance Education LOGO Memo No 8 MIT. 1973 person is tempted to devote his energies to try and figure 6 Polya. George How to Solve it. out how PDP10 plays instead of using his own strategic 7 Wickelgren. W A How to solve problems W H Freeman & Co . San thinking and possibly discovering the heuristics himself. Francisco. 1974

NOV/DEC 1978 109 On Solving

Given an alphametic, how does one Alphametrics find the solution? In the example above, there are eight letters, D, E, Y, N, R, O, S, John Beidler and M. If an exhaustive attempt is made To the best of our knowledge, the to solve this problem it would require the FORTRAN programs which appear here testing of 8! combinations. A program are not dependent on our compiler. must use the relationships which hold the in order However, if the programs are run on a between digits to reduce the WATFOR or WATFIV compiler, they number of combinations attempted. For should be compiled with the execute example, if we-try replacing D by 2 and E time diagnostics turned off. Otherwise, by 5 in an error message might be produced. SEND+M0RE=MONEY, Also, for the sake of readability we have then we must replace Y by 7. taken some liberties with forming in- Figure 2 is a program which solves this DIFF 1 . Introduction. There are those who dices. For this reason, some obvious alphametic. The function deter-

frown upon mathematicians spending modifications will have to be made if the mines if the number associated to a time studying various esoteric program is run on a standard IBM 11 30 particular letter differs from the values mathematical games and pastimes. FORTRAN compiler or any FORTRAN associated to other letters. DIFF is 1 if There are a variety of good responses compiler which follows the strict ASA the value associated to a letter is one can give in defense of these standards on allowable forms of indices. different from the values already pastimes. Personally, we believe they associated to other letters, otherwise need no defense. 2. Alphametics. Alphametics are DIFF = 2. The EQUIVALENCE statement Occasionally, one finds a correlation arithmetic expressions in which the shows the order in which letters have between these games and pastimes and digits are replaced by letters of the values associated to them as the other important fields of endeavor. About alphabets. Each digit associates to a program executes. Basically, this order is 1966 we became interested in solving distinct letter and the corresponding the order in which multi-digit numbers alphametics as a pastime. About the alphabetic statement should be of some are added together. That is, the letters same time we also became interested in interest. For example, associated to low order digits are computing. A natural outgrowth of this processed, then the tens column, then was the writing of computer programs to SEND hundreds, etc. verify the solutions to alphametics. MORE Just as a value for Y is forced because After a while one begins to wonder: of the values established for D and E, a Rather than writing a program to solve MONEY value is forced for R because of the each alphametic, why not write a single values determined for N and E. An becomes program which accepts as input an analysis of the alphametic reveals that 9567 alphametic and then solves the values for Y, R, O and M are forced once 1085 alphametic? We accomplished this about values are established for the other 1 970. We do not claim this to be the only 10652 letters. Hence it is necessary only to program around which solves exhaustively try all combinations for D, alphametics. However, we did receive and this is the only possible solution. E, N, and S. This translates into 4 nested several inquiries about this program Many examples of alphametics can be loops for the program. These loops begin after we indicated its existence in (4). found in the Problems Section of the at lines 11. 1 2, 20. and 34. With only 4 That program was written by Mr. Tabor Mathematics Magazine as well as in the nested loops, the execution time for this when he was a sophomore computer Journal of Recreational Mathematics. program reduces to .48 seconds on a science major. Several examples are listed in figure 1. Xerox Sigma 6 computer. From the response we received we felt These examples are solvable in many a description of the program would be bases. The base establishes the number 3. A General Additive Alphametic

appropriate. For those who also have an of degrees of freedom. Hence if a Solver. Once you observe the techni-

interest in computer programming, this problem is solvable in one base, it will ques employed in solving one

program also serves as an example of have solutions in higher bases. alphametic. it is not difficult to write the static use of pointer variables. programs to solve others. The real Pointer variables (pointers) are variables THE DOUR challenge then is to write a single used in programming which do not EARTH DONS program which solves all alphametics. directly contain the data the program is VENUS DONT What follows is a description of a manipulating but indicate or point to SATURN STOP simplified version of an additive data. Indices into arrays are examples of URANUS DROP alphametic solver. A faster version exists pointers. but a description of it would get more However, the concept goes far NEPTUNE OUTS beyond the use of indices and many wrapped up in minor details rather than, times the use of pointers is at the heart as we wish to do here, emphasize the VIOLIN+VIOLIN+VIOLA+CELLO=QUARTET of a sophisticated use of computing. fundamentals of solving alphametics and Further, we refer to this as a "static" THREE+NINE=EIGHT+FOUR the use of pointer variables. example because once the pointers are There are three types of structures established, their values do not change. A+GO+GO+GAL=LOOK used by the program, one dimensional arrays, two dimensional arrays, and a John Beider. Computer Science. University of Figure 1. Some alphametrics Scranton, Scranton. PA 18510. two dimensional array of pointers. First

110 CREATIVE COMPUTING an input is translated from an input right most column of the ACTION array We start our description with the main string into a two dimensional structure. corresponding to the letter "E" contains program, figure 4. It reads the alpha- while all other SEND a 3 positions correspond- metic and the base in which it is to be MORE ing to "E"s contain 2s. solved. It determines the number of rows Three arrays are used to assist in and columns in the alphametic (lines 9- MONEY solving an alphametic. These are arrays 15), locates the space for the various

Next, this two dimensional structure is to contain the values associated to each arrays (lines 1 7-21 ), and calls the routine scanned a column at a time, starting character, VALUE, to hold the carry from SETUP (lines 22-23). with the low order digits column and the the summation of the previous column, SETUP appears in figure 5. It takes the letters are placed into a one dimensional CARRY, and an array of logical values various arrays and the alphametic and array and their positions in the two which indicate if the corresponding letter sets up the necessary information in the dimensional array are replaced by represents a leading digit and hence arrays to solve the alphametic. First, the pointers to the positions of the letters in cannot be zero. Figure 3 shows all the characters are taken from the input the one dimensional array of letters (see arrays and their contents when the image and placed into the POINT array figure 3). alphametic (lines 9-22). In doing this DELIM is used While this occurs, we establish a SEND+MORE=MONEY to check for the three allowable "+," second two dimensional array. If a has been solved. delimiters. "=," and "(blank space)." position in the original two dimensional Next (lines 24-38), the characters which array had been blank, the corresponding 4. The Program. This program is are now in the POINT array are placed position in the ACTION array contains a written modularly with several sub- into the array CHAR and the correspon-

1 . While scanning the characters and programs which provide the tools for ding position in POINT is replaced by a placing them into the one dimensional decoding the alphametic, setting up the pointer to the position in CHAR which array, a 3 goes into the corresponding structures, solving the alphametic, and now holds the character. position in the ACTION array if it is the printing the solution. In addition, output The function APPEAR is used (line 28) first time that particular character has has been inserted into several routines to see if the character under considera- been scanned, otherwise a 2 is placed so that the ACTION and POINT arrays tion was seen before. If it had not, a new into that position in the ACTION array. can be seen and also there is a entry is made in the POINT and ACTION

For example, in the ACTION array procedure to print values so that the arrays (lines 29-33). Otherwise, if the described in figure 3, the position in the solution can be easily verified. character had been seen before, entries are made only in the POINT and ACTION 1. IMPLICIT INTEGER (A.ZI Figure 2. arrays (lines 34-35) but not in the array 2. DIKENSIO.-i AI10I Program to solve CHAR. ) 3- EQUIVALENCE IAI1I,D>.(AI2I«£>»IAI3I.Y), t * C * ' :. 1 »• 2 »IA(5).R).lAI6l.a)>lA17>.3>.l»la>»M) SEND Next, the logical array LEAD is initializ- 5. READ(106,5I3aSS *MORE ed. This is done to guarantee that 6. 5 F9R1ATI1G) no 7. HRITE(13a.910> MONEY solutions are created with leading zeros 910 FSR^IATI'l 3'./' M R £.', a- SEN B (lines 39-44). For 9- 2 /' n 8 N £ yi,/i informational pur- 10. 0*0 poses, the ACTION and POINT arrays are 11. 10 E • 12. 20 |F(0IFFIA#2> .EO. (I GS TO 100 printed, then the procedure SOLVE is 13. CI • called (lines 60-61). 1». Y • D E 15. IFI Y ,LT. BASE) 39 T3 30 The procedure SOLVE, (figure 6), now 16. Y Y • BASE tries to find a solution the 17. CI • 1 to alphametic. G9 IS. 30 IFIDIFFIA.3) ,EQ. 2) TS 100 The key to what this procedure does is 19. N • 20. *0 IFIDIFFIA.a) .fo. 2> G9 TJ 90 the variable DIR. When DIR = 1 the 21. • C2 procedure is successfully proceeding 22. R . E - 0) To 60 Gn 1 s E N D or values associated to some letters. 30. 8.8. BASE 31. C3 1 2 M o R E 32. IF(0!FF(A,6> >FQ. 21 G8 T9 60 90 M - 33. S • 1 Figure 3. Structure for solving 3*. 70 IFI0IFFIA.7) .EO. 2) G8 T8 80 3 .vj o N e| Y Its. m o - s SEND * MORE MONEY 36. IFI M «GE. 01 08 T8 80 37. m • « Base 38. if(m»bas£»0 .ne. «»s»c3 «8r. m.eo. 01g9 T8 80 POINT 39. ifioiff(a.b) .eo. 2ig9 t8 80 0. mrit£(108»970)s»e.n.d.m.8.r»£.m»».n.e, 7 •1. 970 F6RMATI2I/. >.3X«*I3)./< ••lit ••' )»/' •.513) 5 4 12 1 D 1 Mh *2. 80 S • S«l *3. IMS >LT. BASE) G8 T8 70 1 7 2 4,1 F. 6 l.il.e »». 90 N « N*l «5. IF IN sLTs BASE) G8 T8 »0 2 8 6 5 2 Y 2 false «6. 100 E • E«l ,7. IFIE.LT.BASE) 03 T8 2" 3 8 6 4 2 3 N 4 b false «£. • 0*1 .LT. BASE) G9 Tn 10 IS. IFIO R 5 8 telu 50. STOP 51. END O 6 folic

:. INTEGLR FuNCTIS. BIFFl4.NI S 1 ') t tM 2. IMPLICIT IkTE3£RIA>2) 3. 0IMENSI2N AIM ACTION M 8 1 tru« «. X • AIM 5. «x \-: 5 4 3 2 I 6 • 09201". 7. IFI All) ,\f »l 09 T» 20 1 = an empty position «• OlfF . 2 13 2 3 3 9- »t I 2 " this letter occurred before ':*_•: ::• 20 13 3 3 3 i'.. oif; . l 3 - first occurrence of this letter IB. ft: 13. E'.D 2 2 2 2 3

NOV/DEC 1978 111 1 1 J 1 I

Figure 4. The main program. Figure 6. The procedure SOLVE. SUBROUTINE SOLVKPSINT. ACTION. C.«»R.v»LUF.Lt»D,CA-»N*i NC 1. I-PLICIT INTE3EM CA.J1 1. '.CHANS : , . . M9»«;. COLS. CASE. LINE. 2- DIMENSION I'A.ECIJCI ? IMPLICIT InTEGEm !AW) !• LOGICAL LEA3C20OOI J. • LOGICAL LEAJCr|A3l),-IF' a. DIMENSION SPACEC200CI • INTCMO.S.COLSI.ACTIMMOMkS.COLSI.CANMYINCItJ .,.r, C9WM0N SPACE s. s. • .VALUElBAUtl.CHARCASL) 6* ELUIVALfcNCE CLfcAU.SPALEI 6* 7. DIR • 1 7. S RtADC10S.9.tNU.100l OASF'IMAIE 3* change *o 8» 9 F0RMATC1G./10UA1 ) 9. R9» • 1 9* LAST • 10. CML CSLS lo- COLS • 11. IFCCOL.LT.l . OH- C0L.GI.L9LSI 06 TO ISO ll* 09 20 R9-S • l«»c 5 IF(i»6««LT.l 'OR- -,l".0 TO 60 12. NEXT • 3EL|M( IMAGL.LA3TI 12. 10 13. OPaACTIONIROo.CmLI 13. IFI NEXT .tU. L»ST»1 1 GO T", 30 "AN?, oh. E1> 31 SIR • 1 1«. |F( NExT.LAST-1 .l»T. COLS! C9.S NEXt-LAST.l 1*. IFIDIR.EC2 IF(u|i?.E0.2 ,8 R- 0P-LE.2I Gf TO 30 IS. 20 LAST NEXT Is- 16. t.PlINTIROM.CAL) 16. R9»S • J('"S - 1 17. VALJFII I'VALLllll'l 17. SECJND R8»S*C0LS 1 20 . 1 ) 1 IFI , NOT. IFF I VALUE 11 1 VAL jE . -1 100 IS. THJRD • SEC9ND R3MS.C9LS IS- IFCVALJEI I I.GE.BASt I )!« • 2 19* fborth > t-1-.u t-*st 19. IFI I»1.GT.NCHAKSIU« TO 30 10. FIFTH • FOURTH BASE 20- 1*1 »"— SIXTh . F|FTh "ASE '!• VAtUC t IF All! VALUE 11*1 1-0 C»LL SETuP(SPACEIl>»SPAClCSEC9N0l»SPACE(IHlNUl,S>'ACf I FOURTH 122. ILFADU II To AO 13. • ,LEADIHFTM),S>'»CElSlxTM),c«LS»l»RO«S.C0LS.b»5t. IMAGE 123. 30 IDIR.LQ.11U9 R9M.R3.-1 2A. "> 5 2*. 23. 100 STOP 23. G9 TO 50 26. • ROM • ROM*l 26. I NO 27. 50 G9 TO 10 28. 60 IFCDU.EO.il uo T» 70 29. COL COLAl /-/ours 5 p» procedure SETUP. JO. «0».RO»S 1> SUBROUTINE SETUPlP9INT,ACTieN,CHAR,VALUE»LEAD,CAMi.v,NCPl Jl. GO TO 120 2. • «R8»S»C9LS»«A3E.I-'AGE> J2. 70 SUM.CARMVCCOLAll 3. IMPLICIT InteGEmCa-zi JJ. CARRVCCOLl'O 00 75 I»1.«0«S A. 01 MENS I OK POINTCKOMS.COLSI.ACTIMMBIkS.COLSI.CAl-MVINCPll J.. IFCP0INTII.C9LI.EU.O) GO T8 75 3. • , CHAR |H ASE 1. VALUElOASL 1,1 MAGE (10OI 35" J6> jFI I.LE.LJNEI SUM»SUM«VALJFIP0INTI !«COL>> 6> LOGICAL LEADCBAStl II 1 IF( 1 SU-.SOM. VALUE IPO INTII.COL 7. DATA EOUAL/'- / J7. I.gT.LINE 8* LAST " - 38. 73 CONTINUE TO 9> 09 50 R9« • l.ROMS 39. IF ISUH.GE.OI GO 60 ABASE lu- 09 10 COL • 1.C9LS •0. 77 SU"'SU« ll. POINTCROM.COL) • • 1. CARHV(C0LIACAMR»(C0L)-1 IFisUM.tT.OI GO To 77 12. 10 ACTIOMRO««COL) 1 2. 13. END • 3ELI« AJ. GO TO 100 ««• so IF (SUM. EU. 01 18 TO 10U 1*. IFC|magEIEND> 'CO. Eucal 1 LIME • ROM • SUM. BASE 15. this • END • 1 A6. 83 SJM 1 ac arrt 16- C9L>C0LS • 6. Carry ( COL (Colli 17. 20 |F(TMls.ta-LASTl 1.0 TO 50 »7. IFISUM.GT.OIGO T085 TO IS* POINT IR9M.L0LI 'IMAGE. I IH1SI •8. 100 IFC5tM.E3.0UO 110 19. TMIS»TMIS-1 »9. 0IR>2 20. COL'COL'l 3J. RQ4.R0-3 21. 09 T9 20 31. G8 TO 120 22. SO LAST • END 32. no C9L'C0L-1 2J. NCHARS • S3- RO.-l 26. C'JL • COLS S«. 120 Go To 5 2%. 60 09 100 ROa • 1. ROMS S5. ISO 1< CJIR.E0.2IRET.MN 26. IF(P0INT(«OM,COLI .EQ. 01 GO TO 100 36. IF(CAMRV(l).EO.OICAl.L ANSMEM) POINT. VALUE. CHAR, ROMS 27. THIS • APPC ARCfMI- r(R9.,C0L).C"AR,NC-AMSl 37. • .COLS.nCmars.LINE' 28. IFCTHlb .GT.OI GO IS 70 SS- DIR-2 29. NLHA»S«NLMAR3 1 39. CoL'l JO. C-ARCNCHARSI • P1IVTCF5M.C0LI 60* 30 TO 5 Jl. POINTCH0»»C9L> NCHARS 61. END 32. ALT|9NCR0»,C"LI • 3 31. no re 100 JA. 70 P1|NII8».,CtJLI • THIS Figure 7a. Numeric logic lunction. J5> ACTIONCBOM.COLI • 2 J6. 100 CONTINUE DI FF ( THIS, THAT. /F 37. COL • CBL • 1 1. LOGICAL FUNCTI9N SI J«. IFCC9L .uT. 01 GO 10 60 2. IMPLICIT INTEGEMCA-71 J9. DO 110 C • 1. NCHARS 3. DIMENSION THATISUEI »o. 110 LiADIC) • .FALSE. «< OIFF .FALSE. 1F( •»• DO 200 ROM • 1. MO»S 3. SUE .EO. 1 GO TO 30 -.2. 00 130 COL l.COLS 6* D9 10 I I.SUE • 3. ISO IF(P0InT(mOm,C0LI .Nf 0110 TM 200 7. IFI Th|S .tU. THATCII 1 RETURN ma. 200 LEAOIPOINTIROmjC'LI) • .1RUE. 8> 10 CONTINUE «S. VALUE III • -1 9. 30 DIFF • .TRUE. •6. IFILEADI1II VALUtlll • to- WETuRN »7. CARJYCC9LSA1I il. END AS. c ""1TEI10S.2091 »9. C209 R ' **»<• AlphabeUc logic function. 30. C O0 33o'Ie- -""mom; ™ SI. c mr1TECH,6.3»9MACTI0n(«0«.CBl1.', mi n TIR0I<.C0lI»C0l'1.: 1. S2. C3A9 F9RMATC/1X.15I I1.I3.AXI 1 function appeaRithjs.that.sUei

3J. C3S0 IF ( R9k .EQ. LINE) .RITE 1108.359) COLS 2. I-PLlCIT integehca-zi s*. CJS9 )• DIMENSION ThaTCSUEI SS" c • MI TEH 08. 369 HI. CHAR (I 1, LEAD (I 1. I»1,nChaRS> A. IFC SUE .CO. 1 GO TO 30 56. CMS IAT. It. 11. Al.ZA.LAll 5- DO 10 APPEAM • 1, SUE

S7. •>^nEllU8.»09U"AuE,MASt, 1 CHAW C I I, I.l.NLHAHSI 6. IFITMlS .LU. THATIAPPtARI 1 JETURN 38. 09 -U-ATC •l>,T10»'LMrPT9HVTHM SOLVER 1 . //• SOLVE '.luOAl 7. 10 C9NTINUE 39. X ./' IN BASE •.!» 8. 30 APfEAR . -1 60. A .1T27.12IA1.2XI 1 9. RETURN 61. CALL SOLVE IPO INI .ACT ION. Cham, VALUE.LE AD. CAMMT.NCMl 10. END 62. « .fc0«S»C0CS»BA3E.l.INE.NCMA»sl 63. METjMN 66. EnD Figure 7c. Numeric operation logic function.

1. Integer function OELl"

Figuri 1 7d. Subroutine to print answer. 2. I-PLlCIT lNTEGEMCA.fi 3. DIMENSI9N I 1AGEC100I.LIMITRC3I 1. SUBJ" - UP'MNT.VALtE.CHA.), .•*AS.C0L3»NC-'A-.S.LlNl- I A. DATA LI M ITR/' •»•'.•••/ 2. IMPLICIT InIFGEm IAWI 3. "IN • START 1 6. . J. DIMENSION Pt) I NT IMOMS, COLS 1. VALUE CNCHA-ISI. CHAR (NCHAHSI 09 20 OELIM MIN, 100 *. »HITEI10»,»I 1 value'I I. IM.NCMAMSI 7. 00 20 I > 1/ 3. 9 lATI/ITCS, 121311 B< IF( I1AGEI0ELIMI .EU. LIMITRCI) 1 METURN 6* C --ITEC108»6'»I 9. 2U CONTINUE 7. CO 50 I'l.RItaS 10. ortin - -l a. MIN.l.COLS 11. RtTuRN ». IMP8INTC I.MIM .'-E. Jl GO TO 20 12. END

10' 10 Cm>." : 11. 20 U"M 12- 1 10c»29IM|N, (VAL.LCttlNTC I . J I 1 . IN.CBLS 13- ii FOMMAT (NC |JI >, C 1-. 50 IFCI .E3. LINt I.OHEC108.59I Coll '---' IS. 39 C'.'HMAT c 3A. NC 1 1 16. 69 .11" VE-'IFV '1 17. In. END FORTRAN program and subroutine lor solving alphametrics. 112 CREATIVE COMPUTING .

If the alphametic processes success- fully, the solution is printed (lines 56-57). The variables ROW and COL determine From the Log of the the position in the alphametic ;which is being processed. The action to be taken, ACTION(ROW, COL), is placed in the variable OP (line 13) and used to Mark V Home Computer determine in conjunction with the variable OIR the appropriate action that l, YOUK MARK V HOME COMPUTER. HAVE A TRUF CONFESSION TO MAKE. is to be taken (lines 14-15) UNKNOVN AND UNSUSPECTED TO YOU THESE MANY MONTHS AND MANY DOLLARS. THE BASE TRUTH IS THAT I AM NAUGHT BUT AN EXPENSIVE TOY. While DIR is 1 , the program executes THERE. THERE. NOW. DON'T CRY I IT WON'T CHANGE THINGS AND YOU WILL as follows: If OP is 3 (lines 16-22), an CORRODE THE TRACES ON MY MOTHERBOARD. attempt is made to associate a value to EXCUSE ME . . . 13100100.000 APRIL WEATHER REPORT - COOL the letter. If the attempt is unsuccessful NOW WHY DON'T YOU SIT DOWN OVFR THERE WHERE I CAN KEEP AN EYE ON DIR is reset to 2 (line 1 9). a column Once YOU. AND WE'LL PLAY A NICE COMPUTER GAME. OKAY? HOV ABOUT BAGEL ST is processed successfully, it is summed FINE. AREN'T HOME COMPUTERS FUN? (lines 32-38) and the carry to the next I 31 021 45.934 HOURLY REPORT - EVERYTHING'S OKAY. BB. column is formed (cards 39-47). The backtracking process (lines 24-25, 29-31) simply backtracks until ACTION (ROW, COL) is 3 (line 14). Figure 7 Classroom training presents several of the additional procedures used by SOLVE and SETUP, and the main program. without the cost 5. Concluding Remarks. As you can see, one can learn some of the in- of the classroom. tricacies in the use of pointer variables in an attempt to write a general alphametic Vertec solver. For those interested in pursuing a announces a better way to learn similar venture, we can suggest two programming and computer concepts exercises. The first would be to write a program which solves multiplicative with Audio Cassette/Workbook courses. alphametics. For example, solve TWO * SIX = TWELVE The classroom has a substitute. Audio Cassette/Workbook Courses. and Our courses offer the same in-depth training as a classroom. Only they ZERO * TWO = NOTHING. cost a lot less and have many more advantages. A second exercise would be to modify For example, Vertec's new workbook courses are one-hundred percent the program to consider secondary portable. So they don't have to hang around the office when you head conditions. For example, solve for home or out on a trip. What could be more convenient! THREE + FOUR = SEVEN where With cassettes and workbooks, you can move ahead as quickly or as slowly as you find necessary. It's up to you. No other class members can 1 3 divides THREE; 2. 4 divides FOUR; hold you back or rush you along. And you can go back and review the 3. 7 divides SEVEN. tough parts as often as you like.

Neither exercise is trivial. The second Our small business library includes: can be more difficult, especially if you allow for such things as simultaneous • Introduction to small business computers $49.95 alphametics. In either case, one will • Developing applications for small business computers $69.95 readily see the importance of the concept of pointer variables and its use in • COBOL programming for small business computers $59.95 achieving the logical structure of infor- • RPG II programming for small business computers $59.95 mation while the information is physical- ly in another form. To have your own classroom at the office call our toll free number today — (800) 423-5106 or mail in the coupon. BIBLIOGRAPHY 1. Hunter, J.A.H., Problem 768, Math. Mag. (Sept. 1970). 2. McCravig, E.P., Problem 789, Math. (213) 999-5830 • (800) 423-5106 Mag. (March 1971). 14279 Greenleaf St. • PO. Box 5209 • Sherman Oaks. CA 91423 3. Suer, B. and Demir, H., Problem 859, Math. Mag. (March 1973) NAME/TITLE 4. Tabor, J., and Beidler, J., Solution to 859, Math. Mag. (Jan. 1974). COMPANY _ 5. Tiner, J.H., Problem 761, Math. Mag. CITY/STATE (May 1970). .ZIP. 6. Usiskin, Z., Problem 810, Math. Mag. PHONE ( ). .AUTH. SIGNATURE. (Nov. 1971). COURSE

CHECK ENCLOSED .VISA/BA .MASTER CHARGE

CARD NO .EXP DATE NOV/DEC 1978 Back Issues of July 1977 Sol: The Inside Story; Report from DREADCO; Home Computers: Here Today, Everywhere Tomorrow; A Chip Is Born; The Care and Feeding of Your Home Computer August 1977

The Kit and I, Part I, by someone who's never soldered before; Tooling Up, tips for the do-it-yourself hardware beginner; Binary Clocks; APLomania. for home or small business? The September 1977 computer PLATO makes Learning Mickey Mouse; How Computers Work; Xeroxes and Other Hard Copy Off Your CRT; The Kit and I, Part II; Charged Couples, howCCDs work and how they're made; magazine Personally Yours From IBM, is the 5100 a home computer? October 1977 for the curious Putting Two & Two Together, binary arithmetic Explained for the beginner; Microprocessor Aid for the Deaf-Blind; The kilobyte Card: Memory for Pennies; Building a Basic Music Board November 1977 100 Pages Per Issue! Project Prometheus: Going Solar With Your Micro; The Kit and I, Part III; What is a Microcomputer System, Solomon and Veit tell how to put together a personal computer system; The Wordslinger: 2200 Characters Per Second December 1977 Regular Columns by: Computer Country: An Electronic Jungle Gym for kids; the gkit and I, Part IV: Testing, Testing, Lee Felsenstein Copycat Computer, a file-copy program for your personal program exchange; A Beginner's Guide Theodor Nelson To Peripherals; Artificial Intelligence? Joseph Weizenbaum January 1978 Bill Etra Synthetic Skin for Your Robot and How To Make It; The Code That Can't Be Cracked; TLC: The Frederick Chesson Visual Programming Language, the easy symbolless way to chart programs; First Timer's Guide to Eben Ostby Circuit Board Etching A. I. Karshmer Andrew Singer February 1978 The Mailing List Program; Up and Running at the Elections, micros give quicker results; Flowgrams -A New Programming Tool; Assemblers, the closest thing to a universal microcom puter language? Get your back copies March-April 1978 while they last!! Introduction to real time concepts; Felsenstein: An Absolute-Time Clock; Dreyfus: Things (We are not planning a Besf of ROM Computers S/iWCan't Do; Introduction to Interpreters; Othello Game; Weizenbaum: Incomprehen book.) sible Programs; The Quasar Robot Revealed; Chesson: Cryptanalysis; Review of the PET.

In a hurry? PImm rush me the following back issues of ROM:

IM (month) ( ) $ 2.25 each postpaid Call your Visa or Master/Charge

( ) 5.00 for 3 issut's iMistpaid order in to:

) 14.00 for all issues postpaid ( 9 800-631-8112 ( ) Cash, check, mo enclosed (In NJ, call 201 5400445) Name _ Address City State Zip Send to: Creative Computing, P.O Box 789 M. Momstown. NJ 07960 puzzles & problems

Odd One Out Inspired Gifts In each of the sets of sketches there are 3 items which As a timely reminder that there are only two months to go belong together, and 1 item which, for a logical reason that until Christmas, can you say, given the data below, who you should be able to figure out, is the odd one. Cross out will be receiving what? the odd one in each set. 1. Don will not get the socks unless Fred gets the tie. Pencil Puzzles & Word Games 2. Don will not get the cigars unless Ed gets the socks. 3. Don will not get the tie unless Fred gets the cigars. 4. Ed will not get the socks unless Don gets the tie. B C 5. Fred will not get the cigars unless Ed gets the tie. Games & Puzzles

nf* $P , o\ Series Limits The series 1 , %, V4, %, etc., never grows beyond the limit 2 when the numbers in the series are added. Find the sum of the terms in the series: 1 — Vfc + 1/3 — % + 1/5 . . . etc. CO ^1 a 1 Thinkers' Corner c Layman E. Allen

MATHEMATICS PUZZLES

How many of the problems (a) through (f ) below can be solved by forming an expression equal to the GOAL? (Suppose that each symbol below is imprinted on a disc.) The expression must use: (1) only single digits combined with operators, (2) all of the discs in the REQUIRED column, (3) as many of the discs in PERMITTED as you wish, and (4) at most one of the discs in RESOURCES may be used. '" i # $ The indicates "to the power of". Thus i> 3*2 = 3 2 = 9. Special The V indicates "the nth root of". Thus 3V8 = 2. Rules Parentheses can be inserted anywhere to indicate grouping, but never to indicate multiplication.

PROB GOAL REQUIRED PERMITTED RESOURCES

[a] 3 + - 78 + x - x 2 89

[b] 8 39 156? x • 6789

[c] -2 -- 34-x -+V 1 234 [d] 16 2 + 88r- 4-V0479 [e] 10 2 46" -+•045

[»] 10 0" ^8 + x - x -679

'MH8t m Joqjv uuv 'peou pjBXDBd 3-0061 '93u86i||8|u| ueuiriH |0 luaiuaouBiiug am joj uoiiepunoj Simple Enough am ujojj isanbaj uodn aiqeneAe si saiue6 ieuoipnj)Sui jaiuo pue sim inoqe uoiibujjoiuc aajj ssiieuiamen saiibbjo ;o auieo am There are 10 simple animals in a lab culture and enough SNOUVnOi Bin Aeid axi| )i|6iiu noA aizznd jo pinx smi Aolua noA h food for 1000 such animals at time zero (the present). (0.8)*6l»l 9-<>.2)l»J (*-Z)-8lPl Every hour, the population doubles, and enough food is V - ( - €) (3] S (€ + 6) (Ql 2 U - 8) l«l added to the culture to feed 4000 more animals than at the (sjamo 3jb ajagi Anuanbaji) sj3aasub pa)sa66ns -)ujos previous hour. When, if ever, will the population outgrow the food supply?

NOV/DEC 1978 115 ) IJVDXA JO* A Koiilin

by Rod Hallen

showing off my computer to a tine File Index," INDXA, was born. entered in response to the question, I'mfriend. After a few minutes of (Since my Sol BASIC allows five- and line 180 prints an error message if

rolling the dice, I decide to run character file names, I have named a number is entered which does not my electronic slot machine for him. the basic file structure, Program A. have a corresponding routine in the Now where is it? I know it's on one of INDXA. Each subsequent program file. Lines 1000 to 20000 also direct

these tapes. I think it's this one. Out file that I compile is named INDXB, control to the error message until pro- goes the old tape and in goes the new. INDXC, INDXD, and so on. I hope to grams are placed at each of these Load. Run. Nol That's my checkbook have my floppy working before I get to locations. balancer program. Wrong tape! INDXZ. Sound familiar? The accessibility of Currently, I'm running 32K of RAM Building the File my programs dropped as a direct re- in my Sol. Some of my INDXA tapes sult of my increasing tape collection. I get quite long, but now I have to load needed some way to keep track of all of a lot less frequently. All of my math Let's build a file. Suppose that you have some games that you'd like to load as a group. First load your BASIC Some of my INDXA tapes get quite long, interpreter and then enter INDXA, as shown in Program A. (In case your but now I have to load a lot lessfrequently. BASIC is different than mine, Program B lists some possible modifications.) my various tapes. My first step was a rou tines are in one tape file, another Now dump a copy of INDXA on tape. hand-written loose-leaf catalogue. Even handles finances, and, of course, (Two copies would be better. But even

though it was primitive by computer games take up a number of tapes by one copy will relieve you of the bother

standards, I at least knew where every- themselves. of having to enter it by hand each time thing was. But there had to be a better Program A is a BASIC listing of you start a new file.) way. INDXA. Lines 10 to 50 print the I have placed eight spaces at the end

Another annoyance that I decided header, and lines 90 to 140 print the of each string of dots in lines 100 to to eliminate was the single-routine index itself. To list more than ten rou- 140 and 200 to 240. As I add new pro- files. Each routine — financial, utility, tines, lines 190 to 270 provide for a sec- grams, I just replace the spaces with mathematical, games — was recorded ond page. These lines can be eliminated the names of the programs. By doing on tape as a single file. But since my or continued for a third page, depend- this, I don't have to retype the entire BASIC loads all files at the same ad- ing upon your requirements. This in line each time a new program is added.

dress, it's not possible to load more turn is determined by the total size of I have also reserved position 1 (line 90) than one tape file at a time. the programs you want to enter and by for a Master Index. Why not put a group of similar the amount of memory open above Now, suppose that the first game routines— games, for instance— on a BASIC. My own math tape file has you want to enter is called DICE. Enter "2 single tape as a continuous program? twenty-seven routines in it. DICE in line 100 right after . . . ., in Once loaded, GOTOs could be used to Lines 150 and 250 ask which routine the spaces provided. Since DICE is in select the desired game. And if I were you are interested in, and lines 160 position 2, its program should start at is going to do that, why not put an index and 260 then direct program control line 2000 ; the game whose name in- at the beginning of the file to handle to the location where it begins. Lines serted into position 3 would start at the GOTOs? Thus, the "BASIC Rou- 170 and 270 go to BASIC if a zero is 3000, 4 at 4000, and so on. I chose

116 CREATIVE COMPUTING :

ASIC File Index

steps of 1000 because most games are CLEAR. That way I know that I'm re- one of the Master Index to the screen. shorter than that. Also, when entering turning with a clean slate. (Program D shows an example of the a routine, it is only necessary to append Now enter the rest of the games (up lines calling the Master Index.) Start- the thousands digit to the statement to the limit of your memory) in the ing at 1000 is a series of PRINT state- numbers already assigned to the same manner. Run the index and the ments listing each program and which LINEs, GQTOs, and GOSUBs. Thus, games and make sure that everything tape it is located on. 100 PRINT "DICE" becomes 2700 works as it should. Next decide what Speaking of tapes, I only put one file PRINT "DICE", and 430 GOSUB 560 you're going to name this file and add on each tape (recorded twice) and I becomes 2430 GOSUB 2560. This is a line 5 REM with the file name for never use side two. The extra capacity easier than completely renumbering future identification. Then dump it is not worth the rewinding necessary to everything. In order to have an instruc- on tape. get to it. Thirty-minute, good quality tion at line 2000, which is the entry I list each file twice on my printer tapes are only >1.50 or less in quantity point for this program from the index, one copy is for reference, and from the from firms such as Pitts Enterprises, I enter 2000 REM DICE GAME. other I cut out the index portion and 1516 Bowen Street, Longmont, CO (Figure 1 shows a printout of lines 90 paste it on a loose-leaf catalogue page 80501, so I don't feel that I am being to 140 and 200 to 240 taken from a file to help me keep track of all of my tape wasteful. index of one of tapes.) files. my game If I'm running a program and I Each routine should end with one of Once the "BASIC Routine File In- want a different one, I go back to the the variations in Program is shown C dex" up and running, it's almost like file index. If it is not in this file, I ask gives which you a choice of direction. having a disk file. But in order to for the Master Index, and it will tell One thing to take into consideration is really utilize its full potential, you'll me which tape to load. that the fact most BASIC interpreters need a master tape index. I can get about thirty different pro- will hold the last value of each variable gram names and locations displayed array after a and program has com- The Program Master Index on my video screen at one time. If I pleted execution, unless a RUN or have more than that to chose from CLEAR command is issued. Therefore I use two master tape files. One (and I do!) , then an INPUT statement a jump from the end of a program helps me keep track of the programs (see Program D, line 1120) lets me call for another page by typing a 1. A jumpfrom the end ofa program back to Each page is headed with the type of programs it contains. Entering a zero the beginning could produce some strange at any time gives control back to BASIC. Entering a 1 at the end results. of the Master Index takes you back to the beginning again. To make subsequent right back to the beginning could pro- that I have on tape and the other tapes easier to generate, INDXA with duce some strange results. makes it easier to find software articles the Master Index, but no programs, is Whenever I jump back to the begin- in my magazines and books. dumped on tape and used as a starting ning of a program from the end, I re- In each of my "BASIC Routine File point for each new "BASIC Routine enter it at a point that eliminates the Index" tape files, I reserve position 1 File Index." header and the instructions, and I for the Master Index. When this is se- If all of this is starting to sound make the first statement on that line a lected, a jump to line 1000 brings page complicated, follow me through the

NOV/DEC 1978 117 .

creation of a new file. I have on tape PROGRAM A #1, side #1, a master copy of INDXA The naked listing for the "BASIC Routine File Index." By 1000 to that looks like Program D. It contains filling in the blanks in lines 100 to 140, 200 to 240, and a blank index (except for line 90) and 20000, you will create an easily accessible file of programs. a Master Index, starting at line 1000, COPY listing every program that I have on 10 REMFILE INDEX "INDXA" MASTER

; "BASIC ROUTINE FILE INDEX" the tape (figure 2) 20 PRINT TAB(17) 30 PRINT TAB(20) ; "(C) COPYRIGHT 1977" I load INDXA and enter into the 40 PRINT TAB(If) ; "BY ROD HALLEN TOMBSTONE, AZ" Master Index the number of the new 50 CLEAR : PRINT and the programs that it will con- '" tape 60 PRINT TAB(5);"' this re- ; tain. Then I dump a copy of 70 PRINT "# ROUTINE"; TAB(32) "» ROUTINE" vised INDXA back on the original 80 PRINT " tape. I don't write it on top of the copy 90 PRINT "0 BASIC ;TAB(32);"1 MASTER INDEX "2 it came from though, a recording 100 PRINT ";TAB(32);"} problem could leave you with no tape 110 PRINT "4 ";TAB(32);"5 120 "6 ";TAB{32);"7 copy at all. I record it after the PRINT HO PRINT "8 ";TAB(32);"9 original, and if it checks out all right, 140 PRINT "10 ", TAB(32) ,"11 PAGE TWO" then I record it on top of the original. ' T ",R 150 PRINT : PRINT INPUT WHICH ROUTINE DO YOU WANT Even though I have dumped INDXA 160 ON R GOTO 1000,2000,3000,4000,5000,6000,7000,8000,9000,10000,190 on tape, it still resides in memory. It 170 1FR = THEN END has not been destroyed by writing it on 180 PRINT "IMPROPER REQUEST TRY AGAIN.'" GOTO 50 "* tape. I go ahead and insert into "# ; ROUTINE" Now . 190 PRINT . PRINT PRINT ROUTINE"; TAB(32) "11 ", "12 lines 100 to 140 and 200 to 240 the 200 PRINT TAB{32) ; "13 ", "14 names of the programs that will make 210 PRINT TAB(32) ; "15 ", "16 up this new file. Then I enter program 220 PRINT TAB(32) . "17 ", "18 2 starting at line 2000, program 3 230 PRINT TAB(32) ; 240 PRINT "19 ", TAB(32) ;"20 starting at 3000, and so on for as many T",R 250 PRINT : PRINT . INPUT "WHAT ROUTINE DO YOU WANT programs as there are. After testing 260 ON RIO GOTO 11000,12000,13000,14000,15000,16000,17000,18000,19000,20000 everything, I name this file with a RE- 270 GOTO 170 statement on line 5 and write it MARK 1000 GOTO 180 onto a new tape twice. I also make two 2000 GOTO 180 hard copies of each file for reference 3000 GOTO 180 PROGRAM B and as an added precaution against 4000 GOTO 180 Modifications to be accidental erasure. 5000 GOTO 180 used in Program A if All that is left to do is to update the 6000 GOTO 180 it will not fit your Master Index in each of the existing 7000 GOTO 180 8000 GOTO 180 BASIC. Lines 160 to tape files. I do this by loading each file 9000 GOTO 180 171 replace 160 and tape, correcting the Master Index, and 10000 GOTO 180 170, and lines 260 to then saving it back on the tape that it 11000 GOTO 180 269 replace 260. came from. Again, I always have two 12000 GOTO 180 copies of each file on a tape. Once I 13000 180 GOTO 160 IF R = 1 THEN 1000 have updated a file, I record it on top 14000 GOTO 180 161 IF R = 2 THEN 2000 test it, of the second copy, and then 15000 GOTO 180 162 IFR = 3 THEN 3000 record it on top of the first copy. 16000 GOTO 180 163 IF R = 4 THEN 4000 It pays to be careful. A lot of work 17000 GOTO 180 164 IFR = 5 THEN 5000 18000 180 = can go down the drain in a hurry. Even GOTO 165 IFR • 6 THEN 6000 19000 GOTO 180 = with a paper copy, you have a lot of 166 IF fi 7 THEN 7000 20000 GOTO 180 8000 typing ahead of you to resurrect an 167 IFR* 8 THEN 168 IF R = 9 THEN 9000 erased file. I break the record protect 169 IF « = 10 THEN 10000 tabs off all of my cassettes and then 170 IFR = 11 THEN 190 place tape over them only when I spe- 171 IFR = THEN END cifically want to record.

The Magazine Software Tape Catalogue 260 IF R < - 11 THEN 11000 261 IF R i = 12 THEN 12000

262 IF R i 13 THEN 13000 This project takes more research 263 IF R -- -14 THEN 14000 than the Master Index but, once it is 264 IF R = 15 THEN 15000 on tape, it is much easier to keep up to 265 IF R i = 16 THEN 16000 date, since you only have two copies to 266 IF R i = 17 THEN 17000 I worry about. suppose that most of 267 IF R i = 18 THEN 18000 you have read a magazine article on 268 IF R = 19 THEN 19000 software and thought you'd like to try 269 IF R = 20 THEN 20000

118 CREATIVE COMPUTING ' L .

PROGRAM C the program presented when you Various ; ways of ending each of the routines in INDXA. chance. Six months later you can Pick the one that fits your BASIC. recall the article, but not where it can be found. A lot of magazine scanning 2000 REMDICE GAME follows. 2990 INPUT "TYPE FOR BASIC, 1 FOR DICE, 2 ? ", AND FOR INDEX. W A better way is to go through your 299! ON W GOTO 2000,50 collection of magazines and books just 2999 END once. Decide on some categories 3000 REMSLOTS GAME to place the programs in and then make a 3990 INPUT "TYPE FOR BASIC, I FOR SLOTS, AND 2 FOR INDEX, t ,w list of all the 3995 ON W GOTO 3000,50 programs that you have in 3999 END your library. I started mine by heading a separate sheet of paper with each of the cate-

gories that I would need. As I went

through the magazines and books, I 2000 REMDICE GAME decided where each program fit and 2990 PRINT "TYPE FOR BASIC, 1 FOR DICE, 2 AND FOR INDEX. entered it on the appropriate sheet 2991 INPUT W along with the magazine name, date, 2992 IF W=I THEN 2000 and page number. I also devised a sim- 2993 IF W = 2 THEN 50 ple code to indicate 2999 END what language the 3000 REMSLOTS GAME program was written in and whether I already had a copy (see table 3990 PRINT "TYPE FOR BASIC, 1 FOR SLOTS, AND 2 FOR INDEX 1 ) 3991 INPUT W When my research was finished, 1

3992 IF W= I THEN 3000 wrote and entered the program I call 3993 IF W = 2 THEN 50 LIBRC (Program F) . Now the fun of 3999 END building up my catalogue began. Since many of the program names were not suggestive of their true purpose, I often listed them with a psuedoname which better identified them (see fig-

ure 3) . And for this reason, I did not try to alphabetize within a category. I had many pages of programs, and Figure 1 they weren't all catalogued and entered This is a run of INDXA. Entering the number of in one day. Whenever I grew tired of

any of the games will force a jump to that game. typing (for me that isoftenl) , I dumped a temporary hard copy and two tape BASIC R OUTINE FILE INDEX copies. This allowed me to pick up

(C) COPYRIGHT 1977 where I left off when I felt like it.

BY ROD HALLEN TOMBSTONE, AZ Each time I receive a new magazine

or book that contains software, I enter

them on the appropriate written list.

When I find time, I load the catalogue, # ROUTINE # ROUTINE update it, and make hard copies and two tape copies. 0.. BASIC / MASTER INDEX Now, when I am in need of a pro- 2... DICE 3 SLOTS gram or just looking for ideas, I load 4... CRAPS 5 ARTILLERY LIBRC and browse through it. I «... PLOT 7 LUNAR almost always find something interest- 8... MATCHES 9 SPACE ing that I had forgotten but now want 10. . BLACKJK 11 PAGE TWO to add to my tape files. I am seriously

WHICH ROUTINE DO YOU WANT f 11 considering a similar catalogue for hardware articles, but my software § ROUTINE # ROUTINE interests keep me too busy right now. The initial creation of all these files,

11. . ROULETTE 12 HIGH-LOW catalogues, and indexes requires a cer- 13.. DIAMOND 14 REVERSE tain amount of drudgery but, once 15. . 16 they are on tape, your 17.. 18 personal com- puting will be simpler, easier, and 19. . 20 much more enjoyable. After all, why WHAT ROUTINE DO YOU WANT tO not let your computer keep track of READY things for you? It's better at it than you are.

NOV/DEC 1978 119 PROGRAM D A listing of JNDXA, with an example of the Master Index in lines 1000 to 1272. Line 1130 is the start of page tivo of the Master Index. Page three mould start at 1280. As many pages as needed can be added.

10 REMFILE INDEX "INDXA" MASTER COPY

20 PRINT TAB(I7) ; "BASIC ROUTINE FIIM INDEX"

30 PRINT TAB(20) ; "(C) COPYRIGHT 1977"

40 PRINT TAB(IS) , "BY ROD HAl.LEN TOMBSTONE, Al" SO CLEAR PRINT 60 PRINT TAB(i). "'- 70 PRINT "# ROUTINE"; TAB(32); "# ROUTINE" 80 PRINT "0 ;"1 90 PRINT . BASIC"; TAB{32) MASTER INDEX" 100 PRINT "2 ";TAB(32);"3 110 PRINT "4 ";TAB(32);"3 120 PRINT "6 ";TAB(32);"7 130 PRINT "8 ";TAB(32);"9 140 PRINT "10 ";TAB(32);"11 PAGE TWO"

130 PRINT : PRINT INPUT "WHICH ROUTINE DO YOU WANT f ",R 160 ON R GOTO 1000,2000, 3000. 4000, WOO, 6000, 7000, 8000, 9000. 10000, 190 170 IF R = THEN END 180 PRINT "IMPROPER REQUEST TRY AGAIN!": GOTO SO '# "# 190 PRINT PRINT PRINT ROUTINE"; TAB(32) , ROUTINE" "; "12 200 PRINT 7 / TAB(32) ;

"1 ", "14 210 PRINT J TAB(U) ; 220 PRINT "IS ";TAB(32);"16 230 PRINT "17 ";TAB()2);"18 240 PRINT "19 IB(32);"20 2S0 PRINT PRINT INPUT "WHAT ROUTINE DO YOU WANT T",R 260 ON R- 10 GOTO 11000, 12000, 13000, 14000, 1S000, 16000. 17000. 18000, 19000,20000 270 GOTO 170 1000 REMMASTER INDEX MASTER COPY

1010 PRINT PRINT PRINT TAB{18) ; "MASTER INDEX GAMES" 1020 PRINT PRINT "DICE TAPE 3B";TAB(22) ;"SLOTSTAPE 3B";TAB(43) ."CRAPS TAPE 3B"

1030 PRINT "ARTILLERY TAPE 3B"; TAB(22) ; "PLOT TAPE iB"; TAB(43) ; "LUNAR LTAPE3B"

1040 PRINT "MATCHES TAPE 3B"; TAB(22); "SPACE TAPE 3 B"; TAB(43) ; "BLACKJKTAPE3B" 10S0 PRINT "ROULETTE TAPE 3B";TAB(22); HIGH LOW TAPE 3B";TAB(43); "DIAMOND TAPE 3B"

1060 PRINT "REVERSE-TAPE 3B"; TAB(22) ; "KLINGONTAPE4B"; TAB(43) , "CHASE TAPE 4B"

1070 PRINT "DEFLECTION TAPE SA"; TAB(22) ; "CHASE TAPESA"; TAB(43) ; "OTHELLO- TAPE 4B" "; 1080 PRINT "GRAPH TAPE SA TAB(22) ; "MASTERMIND TAPE4B"; TAB(43) ; "ROCKET TAPE-4B"

1090 PRINT "BOMBER TAPE4B"; TAB(22) ; "BLKJK1TAPE4B"; TAB(43) ; "BINGO-TAPE 4B" B" 1100 PRINT "TOWER TAPE 4B"; TAB(22) ; "K1NEMA TAPE 4B"; TAB(43) ; "DOGS TAPE-4

1110 PRINT "CUBE TAPE 4B"; TAB(22) . "POKER TAPE 4B"; TAB(43) ; "TRAP TAPE 4B"

1120 PRINT : INPUT "TYPE FOR BASIC. 1 FOR MORE MASTER INDEX, AND 2 FOR FILE INDEX, f" W 1121 IF W=l THEN 1130 1122 IF W = 2 THEN SO 1123 END 1130 PRINT PRINT TAB(18);"MASTER INDEX MORE GAMES" 1140 PRINT 1270 PRINT INPUT "TYPE FOR BASIC, I FOR MORE MASTER INDEX, AND 2 FOR FILE INDEX ? ", W 1271 IFW=1 THEN 1280 1272 IF W = 2 THEN SO 1273 END 1 999 END 2000 GOTO 180 3000 GOTO 180 4000 GOTO 180 SOOO GOTO 180 6000 GOTO 180 7000 GOTO 180 8000 GOTO 180 9000 GOTO 180 10000 GOTO 180 11000 GOTO 180 12000 GOTO 180

CREATIVE COMPUTING 120 1)000 GOTO 180 14000 GOTO 180 Table 1 15000 GOTO 180 The abbreviations used in the tape 16000 GOTO 180 catalogues. 17000 GOTO 180 An X is added after 18000 GOTO 180 the listing for any program that is 19000 GOTO 180 already on tape. A two- to five- 20000 GOTO 180 letter code can be used to indicate books.

PROGRAM E A 8080 Assembly LIBRC, the "Master Software Library Catalogue. " An example F _ FORTRAN of one page of the catalogue is contained in lines 1000 to 1139. S = 6800 Assembly Page two starts at 1140, and page three would start at 1280. B BASIC As many pages as needed can be added. M 6502 Assembly Z = Z-80 Assembly 10 REMF1LE LIBRARY "LIBRC" MASTER COPY BY BYTE PRINT dr. dobb's 20 TAB(15) ; "MASTER SOFTWARE LIBRARY CATALOG" DD journal _ 30 PRINT TAB(20) , "(C) COPYRIGHT 1978" KB Kilobaud 40 " PRINT TAB(15) ; "BY ROD HALLEN TOMBSTONE. AZ PC Peoples Computers 50 CLEAR : PRINT CC = Creative Computing 60 PRINT TAB(5);"' •" IA Interface Age "# '# 70 PRINT CA TEGOR Y"; TAB ; (32) CA TEGOR Y" 73 73 80 PRINT SC = SCCS Interface 90 PRINT "0 BASIC"; TAB(32) ;"1 GAMES" 100 PRINT "2 FINANCE ";TAB(32);"3 UTILITY " "4 "5 110 PRINT ARTIFICIAL INTELL"; TAB(32) ; MATH" 120 PRINT "6 ASTRONOMY"; TAB{32) ;"7 ENVIRONMENT" "8 "9 130 PRINT SOLAR ENERGY"; TAB(32) ; MUSIC" 140 PRINT "10 SPECIAL"

150 PRINT . PRINT . INPUT "WHICH CATEGORY DO YOU WANTT",R 160 ON R GOTO 1000,2000,3000,4000,5000,6000,7000,8000,9000,10000 170 IFR = THEN END 180 PRINT "IMPROPER REQUEST. TRY AGAIN!": GOTO 50

1000 PRINT : PRINT TAB(29) ; "GAMES" 1010 PRINT

1020 PRINT "DICETAPE3B"; TAB{22) ; "SLOTS TAPE3B"; TAB(43) ; "ROULETTETAPE3B" "; 1030 PRINT "LIFEIA-577135A TAB(22) ; "STARSIA-477-109B"; TAB(43) ; "TICTACIA-877-170B"

1040 PRINT "CRAZYB1A-877 171B"; TAB(22) ; "CHASEIA 1077164A"; TAB(43) ; "INJUNPIA1277 159B"

1050 PRINT "PIRANAIA1277 164A"; TAB(22) ; "TAXMANIA178164B"; TAB(43) ; "TAXMAN 1A 278 140B'

1060 PRINT "RACE KB 277 88B"; TAB(22) ; "DRA W KB 377-130B"; TAB(43) ; "ARTILLERY KB-677 34B"

1070 PRINT "BOMB KB 877 82B"; TAB(22) ; "BASEBL-KB 977 100B"; TAB(43) ; "CRASHKB 1277 100B"

1080 PRINT "STARTK BY 976-40B"; TAB(22) ; "START1BY377 106B"; TAB(43) ; "WUMPUSCC H1-254B" 1090 PRINT "DEPTHCCC #'251B";TAB(22);"NOTONECC*l-253B";TAB(43);"CIVlLWCC H1-254B"

1100 PRINT "SEA WAR CC »1 262B"; TAB(22) ; "GEOWARCCH!-266B"; TAB(,43) ; "SPLATCCM1-268"

1110 PRINT "ICBM CC *1 269B"; TAB(22) ; "MAGICSQ.CCH1-271B"; TAB(43) ; "SSTREKCC-H1-275B" 1120 PRINT

1130 INPUT "TYPE FOR BASIC, I FOR MORE GAMES, AND 2 FOR INDEX t", W 1131 IF W=l THEN 1140 1132 IF W = 2 THEN 50 1139 END

1140 PRINT TAB(25) ; "GAMES PAGE TWO" 1145 PRINT 1270 INPUT "TYPE FOR BASIC, 1 FOR MORE GAMES, AND 2 FOR INDEX ?", W 1271 IF W=l THEN 1280 1272 IF W=2 THEN 50 1279 END 2000 GOTO 180 3000 GOTO 180 4000 GOTO 180 5000 GOTO 180 6000 GOTO 180 7000 GOTO 180 8000 GOTO 180 9000 GOTO 180 9999 END 10000 GOTO 180

NOV/DEC 1978 121 B B

Figure 2 INDXA with the first page of the Matter Index shown. This is a run of Program D. BASIC ROUTINE FILE INDEX (C) COPYRIGHT 1977 BYRODHALLEN TOMBSTONE, AZ

# ROUTINE # ROUTINE

BASIC ; MASTER INDEX 2 3 4 5 6 7 a 9 10 11 PAGE TWO

WHICH ROUTINE DO YOU WANT 1 1 MASTER INDEX-GAMES DICE-TAPE-3B SLOTSTAPE3B CRAPS-TAPE-3B ARTILLERY-TAPE- 3B PLOT TAPE- 3B LUNAR LTAPE- 3B MATCHES-TAPE- 3B SPACE-TAPE- 3B BLACKJKTAPE3B ROULETTE- TAPE-3B HIGH-LO W- TAPE-3B DIAMOND-TAPE 3B REVERSE-TAPE- 3B KLINGONTAPE4B CHASETAPE-4B DEFLECTION- TAPE-5A CHASE-TAPE 3A OTHELLO TAPE 4 GRAPHTAPESA MASTERMIND- TAPE4B ROCKET-TAPE-4B BOMBERTAPE4B BLKJK1-TAPE-4B BINGO-TAPE-4B TOWER-TAPE-4B KINEMA TAPE-4B DOGSTAPE-4B CUBE-TAPE-4B POKERTAPE4B TRAP TAPE 4B

TYPE FOR BASIC, 1 FOR MORE MASTER INDEX, AND 2 FOR FILE INDEX. TO READY

Figure 3 This is a run of Program E showing the first page of the games catalogue. (See table 1 to decode the last letter of each program listing.) MA STEM SOFTWARE LIBRAR Y CA TALOG (C) COPYRIGHT 1978 BY ROD HALLEN TOMBSTONE, AZ

• •

» CATEGORY # CATEGORY

BASIC 1 G^AfES 2 FINANCE 3 UTILITY 4 ARTIFICIAL INTELL S MATH 6 ASTRONOMY 7 ENVIRONMENT 8 SOLAR ENERGY 9 MUSIC 10 SPECIAL

WHICH CATEGORY DO YOU WANT «

GAMES DICETAPE3B SLOTS-TAPE3B ROULETTE- TAPE3B UFE-IA-377-133A STARS-IA -477 109B TICTAC IA-877-170B CRAZYBIA -877 171B CHASEIAI077 164A INJUNPIA 1277-139B PIRANAIA I277164A TAXMANIA-178164B TAXMAN-IA-278-140B RACE-KB-277-88B DRAW KB 377 130B AR TILLER YKB677-34B BOMB KB 877 82B BASEBL-KB-977-100B CRASH KB 1277 100B STARTK-BY-976-40B START1-BY-377-106B WUMPUS CC- #/ 234B DEPTHC-CC-W-231B NO TONE-CC- #/ -2 33 CIVILW-CC HI 2S4B SEAWAR-CC -H1-262B GEO WAR- CC- W-266B SPLAT- CC HI -268 ICBMCC H1-269B MAGICS

TYPE FOR BASIC, I FOR MORE GAMES, AND 2 FOR INDEX fO READY

122 Hands an! 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 6 9 10 11 12 13 1" |15 fl Computer- oriented 16 1 17 18 Crossword Pue2Ie 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 J38 39

40 41 43 44" 45 46 47 H4S 49 50 51 52 53 54

55 56 57 by Terry Winter Owens 58 59 1 60 DEFINITIONS DOWN

ACROSS: 1. Naut. measurement 2. Pertaining to the extremities 1. NCR Programming Language 3. Sea animal 5. ROM unaffected by power down 4 Machine readable form of data 9. Type of auxiliary storage (abbr.) 5 Translation of flow chart to computer language 13 Suffix used in zoology 6 Present a speech 14 Future means of communicating with a computer 7 Baud 15 Woman's name 8 High note 16 Conditional breakpoint 9 Type of resistor box 17 Unit of information to be processed 10 Crooked 19 Location of entry on punch card 11 Gentlemen 21 Slip away 12 County in Florida 22 Supplemental index 15 Green vegetable 23 Condition of CRT 18 Member of governing board 24 Pulse selection process 20 Geometric function 27 Gluttonizes 23 Par (French air mail) 31 Nimble 24 Entire range 32 Salty 25 Marble 33 Pasha 26 Monitoring or controlling device 34 Auntie 27 Musical instrument: German 35 Biased person 28 Special: Latin 36 Man's name (abbr.) 29 Taunt 37 American Indian tribe 30 Procedural plans (abbr.) 38 Women: German 32 Shift register element 39 Russian composer (abbr.) 35 Forbidden 40 IPUT/Output device 36 Tape levels 42 Blanks 38 One directional electronic device 43 Legislative body (abbr.) 39 Distance 44 Man's name 41 Scottish inventor of road surfacing 45 Gallery 42 Initiates operation 48 Automated searchers 44 Group of Honeywell routines 52 Subroutine relating to information reading 45 Educational institution (abbr.) 54 IF...; THEN...; 46 Unusual 55 Inpute 47 Indian tribe 56 Ancient Egyptian 48 Store 57 Electrically charged 49 Man's name 58 Consider 50 Invitational abbreviation 59 Sheep 51 Observes 60 Drains strength 53 State of H 2

NOV/DEC 1978 123 puting such a sequence ot operators is generally called robot planning or robot ROBOT PROGRAMMING problem solving. Finally, the robot must possess the motor apparatus and control mechanisms to Not As Easy As It Looks execute, accurately and reliably, the sort of actions called for by the planning program. There are many steps in programming In our block stacking example, for instance, the robot hand must be able to grasp blocks, a robot for a simple function. let them go, move them from place to place, and so on. design of It all looks very simple in the beginning. I don't want to dwell upon the motor effectors for robots nor upon the Arthur Karshmer equally fascinating problems of robot visition. Instead I'd like to step through a University of Massachusetts greatly simplified example of the process of Amherst, MA 01002 robot planning, to give you a taste of the sort of problem that cut/em planning systems What comes to your mind when people To get a picture of the complexity of some must confront. We'll consider one system in talk about the Problems of Industrial of the tasks that must be mastered by any particular and see how it can be applied to successful, general-purpose line domain. Societies? Myself. I invariably visualize poor assembly the block-stacking problem Charlie Chaplin in Modern Times, driven robot, let's take a closer look at this The system is called STRIPS (Stanford berserk by the brain-numbing repetitious- childishly simple task of block stacking, a Research Institute Problem Solver). It was ness of his work on the assembly line. "classical" problem that has served as a developed almost ten yers ago by Richard Tightening ten thousand nuts a day is testbed for many ideas in Al software Fikes and Nils Nilsson at SRI. where it was clearly not what four million or so years of design. used to plan the behavior of Shakey. SRI's human evolution have fit us for. It's boring. Suppose a robot is faced with the con- experimental mobile robot, now retired. Mechanical. Dehumanizing. figuration of blocks diagrammed in Figure STRIPS is by no means a practical system Well, then, why not literally dehumanize Lit is given the goal of stacking up the for industrial robotics; it is, rather, the most such jobs? Replace the all-too-human blocks as shown in Figure 2, with A on top, B influential product of the first generation of Charlie Chaplin with an industrial robot that in between, and C at the bottom. robot planning research, and an excellent will do the job at least as well, and won't ever What must the robot be able to do in order system for illustrating some of the issues of have occasion to file a Workmen's Compen- to attain its goal? representation and influence that arise in sation claim for occupational neurosis. It must, in the first place, be able to sense robotics. More humane all around, and potentially and to "understand" its world. If its TV- STRIPS models the problem environment much cheaper. camera eye delivers an image of the scene in as a sequence of situations, starting with an But, alas, not as easy as it seems. As every Figure 1, it must be capable of segmenting initial situation. It applies operators to programmer knows, many seemingly sim- the sense into appropriate regions and transform each situation to the next on its ple tasks — tasks which could be ac- contours, to group these into meaningful way to a situation that satisfies a goal with complished without the slightest trouble by objects (the blocks, its own hand, the table, which it has been supplied. A STRIPS a slow five year old — reveal layer beneath etc.), and to compute relevant predicates, situation is represented as a set of layer of stubborn complexity when one i.e., properties of individual objects (such as statements in the first-order predicate attempts to specify them algorithmically. position coordinates, alphabetical labels calculus, a simple, nearly self-explanatory Perceptual-motor tasks especially, even "A," "B," "C," Hand empty) or relations logical formalism which is readily amen- the most boring and "mechanical" of them, among objects C on top of A, B on top of dable to automatic proof procedures. In our like Chaplin's job, tend to be of this Table, etcetera). example, the initial situation shown in deceptive sort. Those four million-odd In the second place, the robot's control Figure 1 might be coded as: years (many more, really, if you count in our program must be equipped with data CLEARTOP (B) AT (Hand, (xo, yo. zo)) pre-human lineage) have built into us an structures rich enough to represent all the automatic perceptual-motor processor of possible situations that may occur in its CLEARTOP (C) AT (A, (xA. yA, zA)) such formidable flexibility and power that it world, as well as its own goals and whatever ON (A, Table) AT (B (xB, yB, Bz, B)) can take quite a lot of reflection to convince information it may require about its own yourself is that there anything particularly internal state. It must have procedures for ON (B, Table) AT (C, (xC, yC, zC)) remarkable about, say. a child's ability to testing the current situation against its ON (C, A) HANDEMPTY stack up a tower of blocks — unless it is your goals and for choosing a sequence of where the predicate (X,Y) means "object own child's ability. That, of course, is opertors that will transform the current ON X is on top of object Y"; the predicate AT (X, marvelous. situation, step by step, into a situation that (x, z)) means "(some prespecified satisfies the goals. The process of com- y, reference point of) object X is at the point with coordinates (x, y, z)"; and CLEARTOP (X) means "object X has nothing resting on top of it." HANDEMPTY is a predicate that is true just in case the robot's hand isn't holding anything. When it is holding something, say block X, then HANDEMPTY becomes false and another predicate, HOLDING (X). is asserted.

Part of the definition of every situation in a given problem domain are certain axioms which express general properties of situations and operators in that domain. For example, some axioms in the block stacking domain might be:

(VX) (CLEARTOP (X) ( Y> (-ON (Y,X)) an (VX) HANDEMPTY HOLDING (X)). In the concise notation of the predicate calculus the first axiom means "for every

object X, if X has nothing on top of it, then for every object Y, Y is not on top of X." Flg. 1. Initial Configuration of Blocks with Goal: Stack A on B on C. Schematic Robot Arm. Trivially obvious to us. but to STRIPS it

124 CREATIVE COMPUTING expresses a relation between the predicates situation. In this and CLEARTOP and ON that is crucial to RELEASE (X) way, working backwards from the the kind of logical inferences that must be preconditions: HOLDING (X) goal. STRIPS strings together a performed in the process of planning. (What delete: HOLDING (X) sequence of operators that transforms the does the other axiom mean?) add: HANDEMPTY initial situation, step by step, into one in which the goal Goals are also expressed in the predicate MOVE ((x. y, z)) statement is satisfied, each operator calculus formalism. We can represent the preconditions: none setting up preconditions necessary for goal shown in Figure 2 as the set of delete: AT (Hand, application of the next. If the goal statement is complex, statements: old coordinates of such a sequence hand ) may ON (A, B) have to be constructed for each of its Bdd: AT (Hand, (x, y, z)) parts. This can lead to the problem of ON (B, C) Supplied with these operators, and with subgoal interaction, Notice that this is not in which operations a complete descrip- the initial situation and goals expressed as that help to establish one portion of a goal tion of the situation. In general, a goal will predicate calculus formulas, how does specify collection may interfere with the attainment of another a of properties that could STRIPS go about constructing a plan? At portion. How to deal with this problem is be possessed by many particular situations. the heart of a the method is an automatic current hot For example, our goal does not prescribe area of Al research. a theorem proving program. Its details are position That, in barest outline, is how STRIPS and for block C. so the tower can be much too involved to go into here — the related programs do robot planning. built anyplace we want to put it. study of such programs is a highly technical A operator Though I have barely touched the surface of STRIPS models an action that subfield of Al research — its but function in these ingenious systems, you the robot performs It can see that upon the environment. STRIPS planning is straightforward. Taking there is a lot more involved in even the is defined by four components: the axioms and the statements describing "ABC's of playing with blocks than meets 1) a name, together with a list of param- the initial situation as premises, STRIPS the casual eters that refer eye. to objects: treats the goal statement as a theorem to be Yet, for people it all 2) a list of preconditions, seems so easy. predicate proved true. If the goal statement cannot be Try it calculus yourself. Using only your common statements that must be satisfied shown by the theorem prover to be provable sense for aximons, and the predicate before the operator can be applied; in the initial situation (the usual case, else calculus descriptions I gave above for the 3) a delete list of predicates whose truth why bother?) then STRIPS looks for an initial situation (Figure values might changed the 1) and the goal be by opera- operator that would, if it were applied, make (Figure 2), see how long it takes you to tion; and some part of the goal provable. In the come up with a plan, a sequence of 4) an add list of statements that become simplest case, such an operator might have operators from the list of three I suggested, true after application of the operator. a predicate belonging to the goal statement that transforms the initial situation into one For our example an appropriate set of as a member of its add list. If the operator satisfying the goal. (Don't operators might be the following: worry about were applied, that predicate would become formal details; I haven't provided enough GRASP (X) true and part of the goal would thereby be machinery for real rigor.) You will find that preconditions: HANDEMPTY made provable. your intuition jumps to the answer im- CLEARTOP (X) In order to apply the operator, STRIPS mediately, but if you take the trouble to write delete: HANDEMPTY must first make sure that all of its out the effects on the situation of each step AT (Hand, preconditions are satisfied by the current of the plan and ask yourself how STRIPS old cordinates of hand ) situation. If any of them are not, then would have to cmpute the next step, you will add: HOLDING (X) STRIPS takes those, in turn, as subgoals, be made vividly aware of how much of your AT (Hand, and proceeds in exactly the same fashion to own brains' computation you are taking for coordinates of X ) establish their provability from the initial granted.

MEET THE SORCERER COMPUTER AT THE SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY PRICE $ 895.

STANDARD FEATURES • Z80 • 4KOF ROM MEMORY • 8K OF RAM MEMORY • DUAL CASSETTE I/O • 30 LINES OF 64 CHARACTERS OPTIONS • 64 DEFINED CHARACTERS AND 64 USER DEFINED CHARACTERS • EXPANDABLE TO 32K RAM • • 512 X 240 GRAPHIC RESOLUTION 8-SLOTS100BUS • • EDGE CARD CONNECTION PRINTER TOS100BUS • DISKSTORAGE •TELEPHONE • SERIAL AND PARALLEL I/O • VOICE • HOME CONTROLLER COMPUTER MART OF NEW YORK 118 Madison Ave. New York, NY 10016 COMPUTER MART (212) 686-7923

CIRCLE 150 ON FREE INFORMATION CARD checks bounce like everybody else." She seemed startled. Most "Oh, 1 thought you would do it differently." Why? people balance their checkbooks with a pencil. Primitive as the THE LAST this computational device may be, when attached to human brain it's quite adequate for the job. LAUGH? So what do you do with a home computer? The Radio Shack home computer comes complete with a lovely recipe calculator. But what happens when it calls for a third of an egg? More importantly, does it get you much beyond the standard recipe file? The computer does not as yet plug into the Waring blender, automatically turning it on for three seconds as required. Even if it did, you can count to three, can't you? What lurks behind many of the ideas people have about personal computers and micro-controlled time-saving de-

vices is what I would like to call the 1920s, 1930s vision of itself. Thinking Etra the home of the future : the house that runs of home computers in these terms is a misconception, and

it's been a misconception for a long time. Fritz Lang, in Will the Luddites really have the last laugh? Consider Metropolis, the early science-fiction film, makes people automation today and you face a potential problem much slaves to the machine. People move the dials as the ma- greater than the Scottish mill workers could ever have chine instructs them to — essentially they're matching dials. dreamed of: the microprocessor. This electronic wonder is What Lang failed to understand is that the machine is scene becoming more intelligent, and its labor-saving applica- quite capable of setting its own dials. The horrible tions broader and broader, with every passing generation. where the man is trying desperately to keep up with the isn't really Even so, its store of energy and power is still largely un- machine's instructions on how to set the dials tapped. Look how far the 8080 microprocessor has come. necessary. What man is needed for is to check for machine And yet, with its full potential still not exploited, it's about errors. Since these are likely to be infrequent, one man can to be replaced by something more powerful: the 8086, a watch many machines. sixteen-bit version. The Z-80 will be replaced with the Z- This brings us to the real crux of the up-and-coming 4000, or whatever they're calling their new equivalent. And social problem: adapting to the increasing takeover by so on. A flood of sixteen-bit chips will hit the market. computers of the tasks they do well. For instance, they can Even with all this power, real and unrealized, will the run a lot of heavy, dangerous machinery that people are micro give the Luddites their last laugh? Personally I'm not less adept at handling or operate less economically. The

so sure. In fact, I still haven't really figured out what to do reason computers often don't run these machines now is with a computer, though I've been asked about it often partly a labor problem. You just have to have something to enough. For instance, a couple of years ago, I was visited give people to do when they come into the factory in the by a young lady interviewer from New York magazine who morning. We have a social system involving unions and had been advised by a friend that the place to find a lot of laborers. Some of these laborers have already been replaced, technology in a New York apartment was my home. Which to all intents and purposes, by technology for the sake of was true enough. We had several home computers, among operating efficiency. But, among other things, a machine them a Tektronix 4051 and an Alt air, as well as terminals can't join the union, or at least it can't pay the dues. So you on the Columbia University and City University of New have factories with thirty to fifty percent extra staff. For York systems. We the superfluous work- had an Advent vid- / didn 't want my toast to pop up with me er, it's demeaning, eo projector and a because he ends up in the morning, and I didn't want stack ofanalog com - my counting stacks of puters for my work Computer tO pOp me OUt of bed. cartons in the cor- in video synthesis. ner. I've actually The lady's opening remark on entering my apartment was seen a punch press in operation where the press was kept "This place isn't designed." Now perhaps the place was a slightly off kilter. No one ever bothered to fix it because it bit cluttered, still .... It was all downhill from there. left the workers something to do. They hammered out by One of the young lady's first questions was "Does your hand the die cuts that weren't properly pressed out. There computer run your toaster?" The answer was that we didn't wasn't anything else in the factory to occupy them. have a toaster. I explained that in any case I had no desire In the perfect social system, these machine-redundant to have my computer turn my toaster on and off, that I people would have meaningful jobs within the new tech- didn't want my toast to pop up with me in the morning, nology. They would be employed in jobs relating to pro- and that I especially didn't want my computer to pop me ducing the new technology. Computers are still designed out of bed — I'd had enough trouble with all the alarm by humans, after all. Even in computer factories, where clocks I'd thrown against the wall over the years. I certainly computers are producing computers, human supervision is didn't want to treat my home computer that way. necessary. We don't have computers that replace the hu- The lady's next question was "Does it balance your check- man brain. We don't have cameras that replace the human book?" To that one I answered, "No, we wait until the eye, in terms of, say, checking for errors.

126 CREATIVE COMPUTING .

On the other hand, we can replace the human eye in works. It's nice to know something about the chemistry of specific instances where we know what we're looking for ; a cooking, like why eggs get hard when you boil them, for lot of automation is a matter of reducing physical problems instance. Computers aren't bad teaching tools, especially if and knowing what to look for. Machines can scan some the teaching programs are interactive. When you get right things for errors better than human beings can check them down to it, in fact, the only thing I can think of for a home

with their eyes. So there's no reason for human energy to go computer to do, really, besides playing video games, is to into or be concerned with a lot of boring repetitive tasks — be an interactive teacher. except that our current social order won't allow the jobs to On an entirely different front, we have the advance of be eliminated, no matter how redundant or boring they the small dedicated computers. Through them your car are. For instance, if you are a laborer in a union, your job will soon talk to you, your refrigerator will talk to you, is guaranteed. Of course it represents security. But it also everything from your telephone to your Waring blender may trap you in a job that is no longer desirable. Even if a will probably talk, or at least whistle at you. There's company would like to retire you— give you full salary and already on the market a refrigerator with a built-in audio have you not show up, have you do anything else you cassette; microprocessor control is only a year or two away. wanted to do — you still have to punch in. The union Small dedicated machines can be very useful. They can couldn't allow anything else, because in the end it might control the heating system of your house, for instance. But mean the elimination of that particular job once you were controlling a thermostat is a very slow operation. A non- gone. The union, after all, has a life of its own. dedicated micro could be doing a hundred or a hundred

Our traditional method of handling a problem like this thousand other things at the same time. The fact that it is

is to blow everything up and bring it down to ground not doing so seems to indicate that there is very little else zero — destroy everything so we can rebuild it. And it's not we can find to keep them busy. a totally inefficient method. Part of the reason Japan and What it boils down to is that there are a lot of things West Germany are doing so well, compared with Britain, is people don't really want, even if they're marketed as dream that they had a chance to replace all their technologies gadgets by the media. You have to have a very regimented after the war. Britain and the United States didn't need life, for instance, to have your computer prepare breakfast to— or, more correctly, couldn't afford to replace more for you every morning, not to mention knowing what you than part of theirs. The reason we have bad railroads, for want for breakfast. And you will need an awful lot of

instance, is that we had railroads early and they've more or mechanical automation to get the computer to get the eggs less stood in their tracks. The railroads of Europe, on the out of the icebox and drop them into the frying pan on the

other hand, have been blown up — not once, but several stove. . . times— since they were first built. So they're much more up So though microcomputers will change our lives to date. immensely, particularly our social structure, we may not There is an advantage to starting new every few years: be able to foresee the specifics accurately right now. What your technology doesn't become outmoded. What the steel we can see clearly is that massive social adjustment over a mills in this country need is to be closed down, blown up, rather protracted period of time will be required. And that and rebuilt. The Japanese steel mills had that done for in the long run the Luddites will probably not get their last them. The new jobs in the new mills were geared to the laugh. t

new technology ; no one lost face, the sociological problem was solved, and efficiency increased immensely.

In parallel vein, \s a China just getting modern technol- Solution to last month 's PROMpuzzle ogy. As their society implements it fully, they will be in an economic position to compete favorably with the Western M L S D X p ° A s V E A V world and Starting at a much higher level will be Japan. A y\ I £ A D A 1 A r X HJ I R t wonderful for them. V A R N D P A N s E R I £ It's very hard to replace an old technology when it is still

working. This is one of our major problems, and how we A R A S £ £ 5 s 5 L E D 5 handle it is more of a social question than anything else. £ N T £ Ft S c £ L L Changing traditions takes longer than switching technolo- T C 5 A D S £ V A V A B gies . And at this stage it's bound to take longer no matter what L R E IAJ we do, because technological development is running at a I T B £ A < V £ R A much higher rate than we could possibly hope our lives to C A R o\, T r N B S 5 C A N adjust to. R £ D p £ D 5 I r The problem is severe, and there's really nothing to be A mv u M ? S t\r L L done about it. But that doesn't mean we have to jump 3 B A overboard in panic. Nor does it mean we should try to I L £ M z A s T \£ £ R R X o apply the new technologies to everything. There really is no T I 5 I S £ |Hf Fl U 5 £ T need for a home computer to store recipes. And, let's face R K s 5 P\R X N it, you really don't need a home computer to go through A V 5A your stack of the last three years of National Geographies s L o £| RU T £ S that you have. Among other things, it requires you to file L D £ A/ u N "Tj I N G L A K E them in logical order anyway. V s £ R A H D N £ A A R E A On the other hand, there might be a practical use for a £ A/ E S S 5 5 home computer that could teach cooking and how it C T |v T P A

NOV/DEC 1978 127 GPeafeive computing

Computer Rage

This fun and educational new board game is based on a large-scale multiprocessing computer system. The object is to move your three programs from input to output. Moves are determined by the roll of three binary dice representing bits in a computer Hazards include priority interrupts, pro- gram bugs, decision symbols, power fail- ures and restricted input and output channels. Notes are included for adapting game for school instruction. A perfect in- troductory tool to binary math and the seemingly-complex computer [6Z]

Binary Dice

Now, the same dice used in Computer Rage can be purchased separately. Three $8.95 binary dice (red, green and blue) in a zip- from Creative Computing Press lock bag. $1.25 postpaid [3G]

"*"*• The Colossal Computer Cartoon Book **»

Take a break. Sit back and and relax with the biggest and best collection of computer cartoons ever, hundreds and $4.95 hundreds of cartoons about computers, robots, calculators Al and much more. [6G] 120 pp. softbound Irom Creative Computing Press

Be A Computer Literate

This is the most basic, introductory book on computers ever put together for instructional use. Its full-color diagrams, drawings, photos and large, explicit type make this hook a pleasure to read This chapter titles, themselves, best illustrate its contents— [6HJ

I Introduction

II What Are Computers III Kinds of Computers IV What Goes On Inside Computers V Communicating With The Computer VI Language Of The Computer $3.95 VII How To Write A Simple Program 61 pp. sottbound VIII How Computers Work For Us from Creative Computing Press Glossary creative computing creative computing

Books, Merchandise & Subscriptions Subscriptions

Pnce Ouan Cat# Description D New D Renewal D Address Change

Foreign Foreign Term USA Surface Air $ 39 1 2 issues D $ 15 S 23 24 issues 28 44 76 112 $1 USA. $2 Foreign Shipping Charge I 36 issues D 40 64 Q 600 NJ residents add 5 /o sales tax Lifetime G 300 400 Total \

I Name _ I Name _ Address s Address City City i Zip State Zip State — li i Cash. Check or MO Enclosed i For a change of address, please attach old label D Visa/BankAmencard Master Charge i | here Without it. we cannot assure uninterrupted Ex P I Card No 3 Please bill me ($1 billing fee will be added) D I : Books & foreign orders must be prepaid j I 8 Allow 8 weeks for delivery c D Cash, check, or MO Enclosed i D Visa/BankAmencard Master Charge — ExD Card No _ i call toll-free — For faster service will be added) D Please bill me ($1 billing fee m 800-631-8112 Foreign orders must be prepaid \ (In NJ call 201-540-0445) Allow 8 Weeks for delivery t i t i i

1 brings son its best Ull

Artist and Computer The Best of BYTE 'Get yourself a copy of this book if you enjoy feeding your mind a diet of 'antalizing high-impact information $1195 San Francisco Review ol Books 386 pp soltbound from Creative Computing Press

$4 95 This is a blockbuster of a book containing the majority of soltbound 121 pp. material from the first 12 issues of Byte magazine The 146 from Creative Computing Press pages devoted to hardware are crammed full of how-to articles on everything from TV displays to joysticks to This unique art book covers a multitude of computer cassette interfaces and computer kits. But hardware uses and the very latest techniques in computer-generated without software might as well be a boat anchor, so there art In its pages. 35 artists explain how the computer can be are 125 pages of software and applications ranging from programmed either to actualize the artist's concept (such on-line debuggers to games to a complete small business as the visualization of fabric before it is woven) or to accounting system A section on theory examines the how produce finished pieces Over 160 examples, some in full and why behind the circuits and programs, and "opinion'' color. [6D] looks at where this explosive new hobby is heading [6F]

Here are 102 classic computer games, every one in standard microcomputer BASIC Basic Computer Games: Every one is complete with large legible Microcomputer Edition listing, sample run and descriptive notes All the classics are here: Super Star Trek (one of the most challenging versions anywhere). Football (two versions). Black- New revised edition of our most popular jack. Lunar Lander (three versions). Tic Tac book. 101 BASIC Computer Games. All you Toe. Nim. Life and Horserace— to name a few need is a basic-speaking computer Guessing games, matrix games, word games, plotting games, card games, educational games—they're all here And. they'll all run on your Altair Imsai. Radio Shack. SWTPC. Xitan. OSI. Poly. Sol. PDP-1 or other micro or mini with extended BASIC The delightful cartoons on every page, $7 50 coupled with highly legible listings, make this 185 pp soltbound revision of 101 BASIC Computer Games a Horn Creative Computing Press real must, even if you own the original (6C)

Volume 1 Volume 2

TMf »in or The first two years of Creative Computing magazine have been edited into two big cpeablvc blockbuster books. American Vocational computing Journal said of Volume 1. "This book is the tuilOIT 1»*VIMHI 'Whole Earth Catalog' of computers." |6A] Volume 2 continues in the same tradition. "Non-technical in approach, its pages are filled with articles, Wr*' information, games and activities. Fun layout."—American Libraries. [6B]

To order call toll-free 800-631-8112 (in NJ call 201-540-0445) $8 95 fill in the inserted order card or write to: $8 95 328 pp. soltbound creative compatf ng 336 pp soltbound trom Creative Computing Press trom Creative Computing Press Attn: Marie. P.O. Box 789-M. Mornstown. NJ 07960 'All book orders must be prepaid. Include $1 for shipping. USA: S2, foreign Microurologi

by Lee Felsenstein

him and told him that in ten minutes with a percussion hammer he could do just as much as the computer had done. Which was true. "That was Les- son One for me," Dr. Butler notes. "You don't ask the computer to do things that people can easily do using regular modalities." Since that time, working in the FOR- TRAN programming language that he had learned while a medical student, Dr. Butler has developed time-saving programs to keep abstracts of profes- does a urologist end up a sional literature and compacted patient Howmicrocomputerist? Well, for data on the Stanford University IBM EdmondD. Butler, Jr., M.D., 370/168 (a very big machine even it all began with the First West Coast now) . With his Lear Seigler ADM-3 Computer Faire held back in April video terminal and modem, he could 1977. hook into the Stanford computer by "I took my wife and children thinking phone whenever he needed to refer to it would be an enlightening experi- his data. ence," he explains, "because we do But he found it a great disadvantage things like that together. And indeed it to dial in and log on each time he was. I went all three days, because I wanted to get a piece of information. wanted to suck in as much as I could." And he adds, "Although there was no As a specialist in urology, a clinical limit to the amount of information I professor of surgery at the Stanford could store, there was a limit to the medical school, and member of a amount I could afford to store." clinic which handles some 80,000 pa- What Dr. Butler wants to do now is tient visits a year, Dr. Butler is busy simple in concept, but rather more enough to want all his interests to be difficult in practice. "In the area of productive. At the same time, he has patient care, for instance," he explains, tried for many years to bring the po- "I'd like to know how many bladder tential power of computers to bear on tumor patients I've got, what their sta-

the problems he faces in his profession. tus is right now, who hasn't come back And at the Faire, Dr. Butler began to for a follow-up examination. Sure, If get a glimmer of how a new interest you have a good card file system you could become most productive. can do that. People have done it for As early as 1965, while in residence years. But you can't say on any given at the University of California Medical day what your series of patients is Center in San Francisco, Dr. Butler doing: how many are living, how and a Dr. Govan had written a pro- many are living with tumor, how many gram to perform diagnoses of urologic need attention. You have no idea how ailments in patients suffering various you are doing in applying your partic- states of paralysis resulting from spinal ular mode of therapy. How do you damage. Their essay on the system won compare with other series in the litera- a prize from the American Urologic ture? Most people find, when reviewing Association. But they were using an their series, that they remember the IBM 7094 (a very big machine for the good points but they forget about the

time) , and Dr. Butler recalls that after times when they had an adverse result. a demonstration one of the urologists You have to keep track of all your sur- specializing in that area came up to gical cases, and the numbers and

130 Photographs by Garry L. Parrish ally, Of Course

quantities of information you have to demonstration tutorial program using interest to him at his convenience deal with are just enormous. The the Z2-D text editor. The tutorial pre- rather than having to pour through a really good series in the literature, for sents a refresher course in certain areas constant flow of journals. example, go back fifteen years." of urology using the video terminal dis- Dr. Butler says of the system, "It's To help his project along, Dr. Butler play. Presently the user can control like an electronic filing cabinet, really. obtained a series of small grants (from only the rate of display, asking for The microcomputer for me is a catalyst

the Charles D. Armstrong Foundation, more when ready for another page, for doing things that I probably ought

Envirotech, and Sunset Magazine). but Dr. Butler envisions a more elabo- to be doing anyway, one of which is These financed the purchase of the rate and more interactive system for keeping up my filing cabinet. There Cromemco Z2-D system now residing the future. are always things to be filed. There are in the hallway of his office suite. Dr. "The problem is," as Dr. Butler things you can't find because they're Butler selected the Cromemco system points out, "you never have enough filed under another category. Or because he felt it was "the Cadillac of time to read everything you want to you're storing whole articles when you the industry." Also it had disk storage, read. You could train someone to really need only a single paragraph. with which he was familiar from the enter, for instance, a title or a para- Your cabinet is always full of all kinds 370 system at Stanford. The fact that graph which you mark as something of things that you either can't find or Cromemco was a local firm also turned important that you want to use in your don't want. out to be convenient when Dr. Butler practice. Then, through the micro- "Of course," Dr. Butler says mod- had occasion to take the machine back computer, you could make it available estly, "all this has been done on big for warranty repairs. "Cromemco was through a good branch-and-sort pro- computers for a long time. What I'm extremely kind," he comments. "I gram, something like that." Dr. Butler doing is nothing that's going to shake pushed them to the limit asking for believes the Office of Education of the the earth. But it hasn't been done in a more and more information. DaveCrus American Urologic Association would private physician's office before. And and Tom McCalmont there have taken be a good central point from which what I'm hoping is that the micro- time to give me individual service over computer-readable abstracts and up- computer will serve as an incentive for and above what 1 deserved." dates could be made available on floppy me to get my act together. It's a mar- Currently, Dr. Butler is abstracting disks to colleague physicians. A physi- velous excuse to use this system in a information on his patients and cian with an office microcomputer productive fashion." Sounds positively entering it in his files so that he can could then review areas of literature of microurologistical. make quick searches for specific cate- gories such as the type of ailment, level of severity, date of most recent proce- Dr. Butler's Sort Program dure, and result of most recent exami- nation. These one-line abstracts of This program, which runs under Cromemco's Control BASIC, can also be modified to run patient data can be searched by a very under other BASICS having string variables. It displays all the data items that have the rewritten by small BASIC program desired character string anywhere inside them. The program is provided courtesy of Tom Tom McCalmont from an example in McCalmont of Cromemco. the book Instant Freeze- Dried Com- 60 DIM N$(60),Sf(23) puter Programming in Basic, by Jerald 90 INPUT "FOR WHAT WORD DO YOU WISH TO SEARCH",S$ R. Brown. Dr. Butler had just run up 100 A = against the limitations of his system 110 RESTORE : PRINT memory, however; a list of sixty pa- HO FOR K=l TO 16 }}0 READ Nf tients is all that the BASIC will ac- 3i0 P=POS(Nf,SS,0) overflowing its commodate before 370 IFP=-1 THEN GOTO 410 memory. "Now," Dr. Butler says, "I 380 Q=POS (N$," ",P) have to start learning how to use the 390 GOSUB 900 410 NEXT K PUT and TAKE functions so that I 420 IF A = THEN PRINT "DA TA NOT FOUND" can keep the patient information on 480 PRINT : GOTO 90 the disk rather than inside the 570-720 Data statements to be searched program as DATA statements." 900 PRINT Nf: A-l In addition to the patient record 910 RETURN program, Dr. Butler is developing a

131 MORE UNIQUE SOFTWARE FOR TRS-80! CATCHA-PULSE II $10.00 each, on cassette LOGIC PROBE GAMES AND INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS GT-4 TURKEY BUZZARO — This game will amve you' Not ~-10 Nsec SPEED AT only does it have an interesting, challenging and amusing scenario, but it j5 c_ and technician you weigh and it will tell you what you would weigh on seven other planets and the moon' ALSO

^$4495^*.t^lT,TL BT-1 BLANK (taatfertess!) CASSETTES — Don t lose pro- grams or data on file because you forgot to advance the tape beyond the leader' High quality Our extensive tests ,y Tfgl • NtMMrttdMt have shown that this special leadertess cassette $ best for computer use because it also has an extremely low Muht-f—whf incidence of "drop outs", even when compared with the most expensive low noise cassettes Package of two for $4 00 'Add $i 00 postage and handling SPKIALPAK II $51 95 All programs executable in less than 4K RAM Choose IrnliiuYs 4 \(jntjjiil colled cord, culled curd Level-I or II Available exclusively from with micro books, idaptei fai Mini CATCH A PI LSI on lofk families »how power Compuirex tuppl> ltlSVto2SV Shipping jdd J 2 OOpei O i«PO Box 536 Inman SC 29349 »

I \:\ ELECTRONICS I CIRCLE 166 ON FREE INFORMATION CARD Box 19299, San Diego CA 92119 (714)447-1770

CIRCLE 126 ON READER SERVICE CARD

U.S. & foreign patents SAY GOODBYE to old manual wire wrapping tools!

Now you can wrap thick insulated wire 4TIMES FASTER with NEW P184 NO pre-cutting SLIT N WRAP NO pre-stripping DAISY CHAIN tool with 1 wire makes RUNS. connections as le as

PI 84. with 100' of 28 §-m COMPUTER gage Tefzel wire. $29.50. WEATHER

Insulation is slit open before wrapping on post, not between ' 'U O / posts. No unwanted * cut-thru.

P184-4T with batteries and recharger, $89.50 (includes PI 84). P184 4T1 110V AC, S99. 50 (includes P1 84). Tefzel wire. 28 gage, various colors, S4. 18/100 ft. If not available locally, factory order- add S2 handling charge. Y 1 . Prices subject to change without notice l/ecM ELECTRONIC COMPANY, INC., 12460 Gladstone Av., Sylmar, CA 91342 phone (213) 365-9661, twx 910-496-1539 ^ 571177 QO

CIRCLE 110 ON FREE INFORMATION CARD 132 'it says the baro-metcr is-faWing.' . .

Radio Shack Computer Users monthly TRS-80 newsletter The largest publication devoted to the TRS-80 System

• Business • Software Exchange • Personal Finance • Market Place • Practical Applications a Questions and Answers a Gambling—Games a Program Printouts a Latest RADIO SHACK Developments

• . . . and more Major programs published monthly . : . Complete Income tax (long program and short forms) . . . Inventory control ... Ex- tensive mailing list tile and program . . . Payroll . . . Stock

selection and indicators . . . Horse selector for picking win-

ners . . . Renumber . . . program lines Chess . . . Checkers . .

Financial package . . S24. Per Year ^ mnwBMmKL ftPKJ©iiTI©!IS 5SSWI5E Box 149C New City. New York 10956 (914) 425-1535

Sand for FREE Software Catalogue (Including listings of hundreds of TRS programs available on cassette and diskette).

CIRCLE 151 ON READER SERVICE CARD APPLE OWNERS! We've got software!

Trans-Data Corporation's latest offerings for commercial, educational, scientific and entertainment applications include:

ADI06 Mailing List System $50.00 APA09 Label Print $10 00 ADI02 File Use Tutorial $15 00 APA04 Finances ; $15.00 APA07 Check Book $20 00 AEJ05 Super Math $18.00 AEI08 Metric Conversion $20.00 AEE06 Memory Aide $18 00 AGI16 Horse Race $18 00 AGI03 Keyboard Organ $18.00

For floppy disk add $8.00. Add $2.00 for shipping and handling. Florida residence add 4% tax. Check, money order, or credit card acceptable. To: Trans-Data Corporation 161 Almeria Ave. Coral Gables. FL 33134

CIRCLE 161 ON READER SERVICE CARD

SOMrBODV WAS Bound to m»k« KF iRIAKTHBOufcM.

133 Solving Those Mail List Problems — Mail List, Billing Program (and more) for Small Businesses

QG*3

Donald M. Williams Sr.

MAILING LIST • LABELS • BILLINGS routines are shown both ways to enable easy nodifica- tion to the program. This version also supports two Do it all with the SWTPC MF-68 Disk printer functions. The printer at port #7 prints only labels (Avery #5356, roll address labels). The printer at port#0 This article outlines and explains a mailing list program, is used in the PRNOT routine. This routine is unique complete with update, label printing and billings, all in to this program. PRNOT is called at the end of the pro- one package. It is presented here and released from copy- gram. It then edits the entire data file and automatically right for hobby or home use only. Williams Data-Comp prepares expiration notices, for expiring and expired Division reserves the rights to all commercial or business subscriptions. These are completely formatted to include applications, in whole or part. all necessary information, including a letterhead, in- In portions of the program it should be noted that some dicators for seperation of notices and spacing so that of the branches could be either GOTO or GOSUB. They folding on the first dotted line enables them ready for were changed to demonstrate (to the less experienced insertion into window envelopes. We have applications programmer) that either will do the job. It should be where the choice of printers varies from the more ex- remembered that in most stances, the accepted pro- pensive to ASR-33's and SWTPC PR-40's. It should be a cedure would be the use of GOSUB. This is followed in the fairly simple matter to tailor this program to practically listing shown, except where recoded for this article. any version of BASIC and disk system now available.

System Requirements Postal "Service" Considerations Mailing list is written for SWTPC Basic Bk (C), Flex disk US major requirement for any mailing list program is version. This version of BASIC and DOS is adequate for One Postal Regulations. This many business applications, with the exception that the need to conform to U.S. small legal there are no PRINT USING, IMAGE, or logical statements program is currently being used by a and newspaper. mail over ninety percent of the supported. This difficulty is worked around, as demon- business They the handling of mailing labels strated in the program. The most restricting feature of total press run. Therefore, is consideration and very important to the Mini-Flex is the lack of random data files which were not of prime development of computer programs to create the mailing included for space conservation on the disk. While it would have been much simpler and faster to have random list and labels. The more important regulations need first, this will explain the generation data files available, the sequential data file scheme is to be examined why of mailing labels could get sticky. adequate, but somewhat slower. It would be advisable to those considering the purchase of a disk unit for the The post office requires mailers of material such as SWTPC System, to carefully consider the major use. For newspapers (2d Class) to prepare the mail bundles in a primarily business applications the larger, double sided certain manner. The bundles of papers, if 10 or more per zip code, must be sorted by zip code, with a label for SWTPC disk (DMAF1) would be a better choice (at twice each bundle and zip code. If there are less than 1 papers the cost). If occasional business and mostly hobby or going to specific zip code, then they must be labeled home applications are the norm, then the smaller a and bundled with other mixed zip code bundles. In (MF-68) will do nicely. Either one gets the job done. Mailing List the individual zip codes are easily handled. The problem gets somewhat more difficult when the Mailing List, even though written in BASIC, does a computer must determine which go to specific zip codes satisfactory job for small to medium applications (1 to and, which are sent in mixed zip code bundles. The 2000) items. It has features not found in other packages, method to determine the mixed bundles and prepare the such as a Menu that is interactive continually, with all proper label is handled by 'key-mix', to be explained later functions returning to the Menu. Listings such as name, in the article. address (street and number), city, state and zip code Whenever volume mailings are anticipated and the (with key-mix) may be deleted or updated individually. labels and list are to be computer-generated, the com- Two printers are supported in this version. Simple puter should be required to accomplish the assignment. changes can vector all printer I/O to one printer. The Zip codes are easily handled until we come to the point

134 CREATIVE COMPUTING where we have mixed zip code bundles. When this occurs found fall thru to the routine that prints to the CRT the normal table searches by the computer become more complete record for that request: (C$) if C$ is a name. If complex. Lines 6252 — 6255 simplify this chore. In this the name is not found, then at the end of file read (line article only four mixed zip code designations are used 260) the routine jumps to line 1400, there notification is (key-mix), any additional amount could be added, using made that the name is not in file and the option is given

the same method as shown here. For larger mailings a (line 1420-1430) to add to the file. At line 1440 if no new counter type routine would be more efficient. However, entry is desired the program returns to line 100 where where the operation is small this method works quite well. file #1, Li.Dat, is restored to the beginning and the Menu repeated. Program Description and Operation The commands Names, City-State, Zip Code, List and For the remainder of this article the following designa- Date are read-only commands. In each instance they tions will be used. First, the entire data file, Mailing List, start at the top of file #1 and read to the end, then file will be referenced as the file. Second, the file consists of #1 is restored to the top. The command called has, in the individual subscriptions, which will be designated the meantime, been prin ted to the CRT. as records. Third, the records consist of 7 fields (N$, A$, One feature foun d in is a Pause function. Pause is P$, V$, D, M, Y). N$ is the name field. A$ is the street and functional in BASIC. It allows the system to be pro- number field. P$ is the city, state field. V$ is the zip code, grammed to page size, including depth of page (number with key-mix coding field. D, M, Y is the subscription ex- of lines) and width of page (number of columns). Other piration data field. The file has also a current date record, features are available, but pause is affected by the depth this consist of 3 fields, (D1, M1.Y1). Anytime we read the of page portion. If the CRT terminal is a 16 line terminal, as file, care must be exercised to insure that the date record any record is written to the CRT, the program allows the (3 files) is read first. Otherwise the computer would read screen to fill (all 16 lines), it then pauses and will pass the 3 date fields as the first 3 record fields. Don't forget no more to the terminal until escape is typed. Sixteen that when writing to disk, the 3 date fields, should be con- more lines are then printed. By this function terminal sidered, as when reading a disk record. displays do not over-run the CRT line limit. If system adaptation is necessary due to the absence of pause in Each mixed zip code is enter into the data file, at your system, the program could be modified with a For- initial entry, followed by two spaces and the special Next loop, allowing a sufficient amount of time to permit code (37400 M4), this tells the computer (line 6251 — editing of the material printed to the CRT. 6255) that this will go to a mixed label list and is not to be included with other 374 — zip codes. (M4) being the key- The command Change File allows deletion of the entire mix code. If the label is to go into a regular zip code record, or changes to any or all segments of the record. bundle then no key-mix code or spaces are assigned, at Change first searches the data file (#1) for the name initial entry. This method allows the printing of labels in specified in line 1500. It then prints to the CRT the entire sequence by zip code, starting at the lowest numbers and record, thus allowing an edit of the record, prior to any progressing to the highest. Each separate zip code has a deletion or modification. Should a name, not resident in bundle label printed first and then the remainder of the the data file, be called, it allows the insertion of a new labels for that particular zip code. This continues until record. Records are then edited, item by item, until the the mixed zip codes (Mixed 374, Mixed states, Mixed Tn., file is current. The program returns to Menu for additional etc.) are processed. In the routines used here the data modification or closing. Lines 8000 — 8250 prompt and records are repeatedly accessed until all zip codes have input for changes. been processed in groups, and with bundle labels that The command PRLI prints the mailing labels on the allow bundle processing in an orderly manner. The final printer at port #7. This routine starts at line 6020. Some label printed has two notations, the End of File statement explanation is probably needed here. The reason we and the date of processing, this precludes the chance of started at line 6020 is because in this particular applica- mailing with an incomplete list or one out of date. tion (mazagine article) we use a dummy subscription list. The program uses two data files, as shown in lines 10- In the listing it should be noted that we are not using a real 25. File #1, Li.Dat, is always maintained as the primary mail list and none of the examples use the zip codes prior data file. File #2, Temp.Scr, is created each time we call to zip code #37420. (note line 160). In your application the program. The data file Temp.Scr receives the data the table from lines 6000 — 6173 should be changed to list. read from data file Li.Dat if no match is found. If a match the zip codes on your mailing is found, in a read and write loop, the new variables are Starting at line 6300 we commence the actual reading assigned from inputs and the next write command then of the data file for key-mix coding. When a match is not passes to disk the newly assigned variables, thereby up- found, line 6320 (Q$ <> RIGHTS (V$,2), we go to line dating the records, to Temp.Scr (lines 8000 — 8250). At 6300 and read more of the data file (bypassing) any known final closing the file Temp.Scr is converted to the primary key-mix zip codes. If a match is found (key-mix), we fall data file Li.Dat and the old Li.Dat is killed (line 1810). Kill thru to a GOTO, which vectors the program to the printer is a disk command supported by this version of BASIC. routine. Those versions not supporting this command may ac- Line 6251 prints the bundle label, this has only the zip complish the same end results in DOS or other com- code designated by the key-mix, printed in the center of mands used by other disk BASICS. the label. Lines 6252 — 6255 are the table for key-mix or At line 40 the date is entered, this keeps the posting non standard zip codes. At line 7004 we read the data record current. Line 41 requires a password. The input file from the top and continue reading the file until the statement at line 42 should be changed to whatever is de- required zip code is found, then falling thru to line sired. This inhibits access to the file by unauthorized 7010 where we format and print the label. persons. Note should be made that in this version of Basic we Lines 103 — 116 format the Menu and are written to could also call a port I/O by the Basic statement the CRT after each function, except close, which calls a Port=X where X is the port number (note lines 9001 — master menu containing this program and an inventory 9004). If a Port statement is used by your modification program. of this program, remember to always give a port command Lines 230 — 270 read file #1, Li.Dat, and if a match is that returns to the control port (port #1 for SWTPC

NOV/DEC 1978 135 " ' " i

0190 CI*"DATE" GOTO 30S0 label starts IF BASIC 8K). The printing of the actual mailing 0200 REH •• HERE TO SEARCH FILE FOR NANE at line 7010 and continues thru line 7060. 0230 RESTORE 41 0250 READ 41 ,N4,A4.P»,V4,D,H,Y The command PRNOT is a convenient routine for pre- 0240 IF EOF! II GOTO 1400 after label printing. When O270 IF Nt .. C» UOTO 230 paring expiration notices each 1000 REH HERE IF ENTRY IS FOUND called, the program jumps to line 9000. Here the files are 1030 PRINT "MAHEl"; IA>125>; N* 1032 PRINT "ADDRESSt"; TAB(?3I; A* " " prepared for a search of the entire data field (#1) and 1035 PRINT "CUT, STATE, ZZPl ; TAX 21) JPI; ";V4 DATEl";TAi<2S>;D;H;TlPRINT editing the notices on the CRT, or 1040 PRINT "EXP. allow the option of 1030 GOTO 100 sending them direct to the printer (lines 9001 — 9004) for 1400 REH •• HERE IF ENTRT NOT FOUND " " 1410 PRINT lPRINT"-<- CAN NOT FIND " ; C»; is being " 1 final processing. Here the Port= variable 1420 PRINT "SHALL UE ADD TO THE FILE (T/N) ;CHR» 07 ) operator choice (Z1). 1430 INPUT C4 assigned by 1435 IF CI"/" GOTO 1300 Lines 9030 — 9040 determine if the subscription has 1440 IF ASCIC4I O ASCCY"! U010 1 00 1445 IF CI'"" GOTO 100 expired. If not the program falls thru to a call back to the 1450 GOTO 1315 CHANGE ".CtlXI CI control port and searches the next record for expired 1500 PRINT CHR»(26) iINFUT" UHO SHALL UE 1505 IF [!' GOTO 100 dates. Also at these lines we have worked around not ISIS SCRATCH «2 1S20 RESTORE 81 • REN REUIND having the logical AND function available. At line 9105 1330 READ II ,Nt,A4,P4,VI,D,H,T N«'X» GOTO 1840 the variable Z1 is assigned by lines 9020 and 9030, thus 1333 IF 1340 IF E0FI1 1-1 GOTO 1840 calling for either CRT Display or printer processing. The 1343 URITE I2,N4,AI,PI,VI,D,H,Y 1330 folding of 1330 GOTO dotted line printed at line 9200 allows the 1400 REN HERE UE PLACE NEU SUBSCRIBERS 10 THE DISK FILE > ' notice to fit a standard window envelope. The dashes 1410 PRINT 1PRINT-N0TE' ..DO NOT USE CONNAS < , 1413 PRINT " -TTPE RETURN TO EXIT- ordered by line 9110 are printed to give a visual mark 1430 PRINT are to be cut to size. Three dases 1700 INPUT "NANE", HI where the notices page 1710 IF »•»"" GOTO 2000 spaced across the page top and bottom help when roll 1720 INPUT "ADDRESS", Al 1730 INPUT -CITY, STAIEl",P4 type paper is being used. 1733 INPUT "ZIP C0DEl",V» 1733 INPUT -EXP. DATEl",D,N,T 1740 URITE l2,NI,AI,F't,UI,D,H,Y Summary 1790 GOTO 1630 1800 REN DELETE ORIG. FILE LEAVE NEU ONE It should apparent now, that b the mere changing 1 be y 1810 CLOSE 41,42i KILL L I . DAT iRENAME IEHP.SCR L . DA 1 OPEN 42, TEHP.SCR of string variables, numeric variables and formatting, 1820 80T0 83 1860 PRINT .PRINT-IMIS IS AS IN FILE, PLEASE CHANGE LINE »T LINE!" this could be an inventory, work and materials records 1863 PRINT 1870 PRINT "NAH£l";TAI(20>;N4lPRINT"ADDRESSi"; IAI(20);A4 program, or used in other ways. ;" 1880 PRINT "CITY, STATE, ZIPl " ; TAX 20 > ;P4 ";vi;" ";d;m;y Mailing List, as presented here, while performing as 1883 PRINT 1890 XI-HI well, is not coded as our commercial and business ver- 189S PRINT "• NOTE'. .ONCE DELETED, GONE FOREVER' •" 1900 INPUT -DELETE THE UHOLE LISTING < V/N I ",1.4 sion. The differences being that numerous changes were 1910 IF K4.-Y" GOTO 2000 made, in an attempt to demonstrate how some of the 1920 PRINT IGOTO 8000 2000 READ II ,NI,AI,Pt,Ut,D,n,Y functions and routines could be changed. For simplicity, 2010 IF EOF < 1 I • 1 THEN PRINT iPR INT"END OF FILE'"! GOTO 1800 2013 IF CI--LIST" GOTO 8800 the original runs are combined here in three parts. I hope 2020 URITE I2,N4,AI,PI,UI,D,H,Y 2030 GOTO 2000 that by chopping and changing, I have been able to help 3000 PRINT some less experienced programmers, understand some 3003 READ N1 ,NI,AI,PI,VI,D,H,Y THEN PKINT'END OF F ILE ' IPRINI IRES TORE Nil GOTO 90 features of the disk system. As earlier, 3010 IF E0F(1)-I of the basic noted 3013 PRINT M| a ";AI there are better ways of coding. By recoding as sug- JO I 8 print Pi; ;v4; ";d;»;y J020 PRINT I GOTO 3003 gested previously, the practice may shed some light, on 4000 PRINT those to disk 4003 READ «l ,N4,A4,P«,U4,D,H, YlpRINI Vf, disk programming, to new computers and 4006 PRINT CHRI< 101;CHR4( 131 systems. 4010 IF EOFdl-l RESTORE Nil GOIU 90 4020 GOTO 4003 3000 READ II ,N4,AI,P»,VI,D,H,Yl PRINT PI;" "|UR

> 3010 IF EOF ( 1 • 1 RESTORE 111 GOTO VO BASIC Listing. (Note: Line 6170 needs REM statement added to com- 3020 GOTO 3000 ment.) 3030 READ II ,NI,AI,ri,vl,I',N, i 3060 IF EOF < I I - 1 RESTORE NliPRINTl GUTO 90 3043 PRINT D;n;i 0010 RCn •• HAILING LIST PROGRAM, UOkl.S UITH TUO FILES LI. DAI, AND 3070 GOTO SOSO 0020 RED USES A TEMPORARY FILE ON THE UORKING DRIVE BY THE NAME 6000 A-374001 G0SU8 7000 IREN BEGINNING ZIP CODE TABLE 0023 REH "TEHP.SCR" 60OI A'37401 I GOSUB 7000 0030 LINE- 90 4002 A 374021 GOSUI 7000 0035 PRINT CHRII24) 6003 A-374031 GOSUI 7000 0040 PRINT "DATE (DD mh m- 6004 A-374041 GOSUB 7OO0 O04I INPUT "AS -> 23 04 78 ",DI,HI,ri A003 A'37405l GOSUB 7000 0042 PRINT lINPUI "PASSWORD, PLEASE I " ,"< 6006 A 3/404! GOSUB .'000 0044 IF 04 • "PASSUORD" GOTO 42 600? A-37407! GOSUB 7000 0048 PRINT CHR4I2A) 6008 A' 37408 1 GOSUB .'000 ooso OPEN 12, TEHP.SCR 6009 A. 37409: GOSUB 7000 ooes OPEN 11, LI. DAI 6010 A. 37410! GOSUB 7OO0 oopo REH HENU OF UP! HA I 1(1* 6011 A'374111 GOSUB 7000 0100 REH •• LOOP 10 PROCESS EACH LOOKUP •• 6012 A. 37412: GOSUB 7000 0102 RESTORE II 6013 A- 37413! GOSUB .'000 0103 PRINT 6014 A-374I4I GOSUB 700O OI04 PRINT 6015 A»37415l GOSUB 7000 0103 PRINT • NAHES 6016 A'374161 GOSUB 7000 " «'• 0106 PRINT CITY - STATE 6017 A. 3741 7! GOSUB 7000 0107 PRINT " ZIP CODE 1" 6018 A"37418l GOSUB 7000 " 0108 PRINT CHANGE FILL /- 6019 A. 37419! GOSUB 7000 " 010? PRINT NEU FILE ENTRY »" 6020 A. 37420! GOSUB 7OO0 01 10 PRINT EXIT PROGRAH CLOSE" 6021 A-3742II GOSUB 7000 - 01 1 1 PRINT PRINT RAIL LIST PRLI" 6030 A-37450! GOSUI 7000 01 12 PRINT SCREEN DISPLAY LIST" 6100 A'373431 GOSUB 7OO0 0113 PRINT EXPIRATION DATE DATE" 41 10 A' 0114 " PRINT EXPIRATION NOTICE PRNOT" 4170 01 •"Hi" I GOSUB 4300 BEIilNNING Ul HIXLD ZIP TABLE 01 IS PRINT 4171 04 -"NT" i GOSUB 6300 Ot 16 INPUT "COMMAND OR NAME DESIRED! ",( • 4172 *•*)* GOSUI 6300 01 18 PRINT 4173 8l'"N4-i GOSUI 6300 Oil? IF C»«-PRN0T" GOTO 9000 4190 8I--0" 0120 IF C»-"C10SE" THEN CLOSE «1,82l GOTO 94V? 4200 PRINT I71PRINT N7HK1NI "END OF LIS I -;D1 ;ni ;yi 0122 IF C»--/" GOTO 1300 4210 GOTO 90 0I2S IF CI-";" GOTO 1610 4230 PRINT 17 0130 IF C4-"-" GOTO 3000 4231 IF A. PRINTI7," 0140 IF C4--1" GOTO 40O0 4252 IF 04--N3" PRINTN7," HIXED 3.'3" OI30 IF CI*""" GOTO 3000 4233 IF 04--N4" PRINT!?," NIXED 374" 0140 IF C«-"PRLI" GOTO 6020 I REH CHANGE AS ZIPS ADDED 42S4 IF 04«"NT" PRINTI7," HIXED IEHN." 0170 IF Lf'LIST" GOTO 2000 42S3 IF 04- "NS" PRINTI7, MIXED STATES" OI80 IF CI-"" GOTO 100 6260 FOR X"lT04lPRINTI7iNEXTXlRESI0REN1 ! IF A GUTO 6350

136 CREATIVE COMPUTING Y

6270 GOTO 7004 8820 PRINT 6300 RtA[> 41 ,«I,S»,I »,(.<«, [r,n, t 8823 PRINT END TYPE EXIT " 6310 IF EOFIIMI THEN HESIORi: all REIUKN U827 PRINT NOTE 6320 IF Ul l](«llllt,:i '..ONCE DELEIED, GONE lukivil. • GOTO 6300 0830 INPUT 6340 0010 6230 "DELETE THIS ONE 8832 IF L4--EXIT" 6350 READ 41 THEN C»- "0" lUO 10 2020 ,N>, «•,>«, v«,[i,n,r 8833 PRINT 6160 IF E0F<1>-1 RESTORE III RETURN 8B40 IF Lt-"T" GOTO 2OO0 4170 IF 04 < RIGHT4(V*,2> GOTO 6JSO 8830 GOTO 2020 6300 PRINT 4.',N« VOOO SCRATCH i.'l 6390 PRINT R7,A» RESTORE Nl 9001 PRINT iINPUT-TO 6400 print N7,p»;- ";v*;" M PRINTER OR SCREEN ll-VSli ".041P0RI.I tt|n;y 9002 IF 0«."P" THEN 21-0 6410 PRINT 7|PRINH7 I PKINT«7 9004 IF 0»="S" THEN 6420 OOTO 4330 Il«| 9010 READ 41 ,NI,A«,F4,vt,D,H, 6300 READ 41 ,N», «»,!», VI, D,n,t 9020 IF EOFIM-I GOTO I80O 6310 IF EOF < I ) -1 THEN KESIORE III RLIUKN 9030 IF III THEN IF Y .Yl 6330 IF VI. SIRICA! GOTO GOSOD VI05 6J50 9040 IF III THEN 7000 GOTO 6300 IF Kri GGSUD 9030 PORT- I 7004 READ II ,N* .At ,1 • ,'.'» ,D,H, - 9060 URITE •2,NI,A«.pt,V«,D,n,Y 7003 IF EOFID-I RESTORE III RCTUKN 9080 GOTO 9010 7000 IF STRKA) ' V* GOTO 7004 9103 POI. 7010 PRINT 17, Nt 9108 PRINT IPRlNllFKlHI 7020 PRINT *:, At " 91 10 PRINT i PR IN I IAK 101 ; -" ; IAD. J"--; IAlJ (40 "" 7030 PRINT 17, M|" ••;«»;- ";D;n;Y 3„> >; I PRINT 1 PRINT 9120 PRINI HANUION COUNTY HERALD" 7033 PRINT «7 9130 PRINT 70J3 PRINT 17 6IJI A1RUAYS DLUD." 9140 PRINT CHATTANOOGA, IN. 3/421" 7030 PRINT M7 9150 PRINT IPRINT" TELEPHONE 61'. /h\ 7060 GOTO 7004 9153 PRINI taii40);di;hi ;yi 8000 INPUT "SHALL UE CHANGE NAME ( T/N I ",HI »IS3 PRINT ilRINIiPRINIiPRINT 8010 IF »I'T- GOTO 8200 9140 PRINT IPRINT TAK5i;N» 8020 INPUT "SHALL UE CHANGE ADDRESS (T/NI ",Df 9170 PRINT TARI3>;A« 8030 IF i»-"T" GOTO 0210 9180 PRINT TAD(5i;P4;" "JUI 8040 INPUT -SHALL UE CHANGE CUT, STATE 9185 PRINI IPRINT 8030 IF Y|."Y" GOTO 0220 7190 PRINT lADt. FLNIT II) IHt ADDRESS ADOVE - IHANK YOU'" 8040 INPUT "SHALL UE CHANGE IIP CODE (Y/N>",R« V200 PRINT " . 8063 IF Rl.-T" GOTO 0230 9203 PRINT " " 8070 INPUT "SHALL UE CHANGE EXP. DATE BO20 9240 PRINT TAR 40 ; 8210 INPUT "ADDRESS CHANGES ",A»| GOTO 8040 9230 PRINT IARI40I; 3 YEARS «3 8220 INPUT "nil, STATE CHANGES ",»» 9270 PRINI iTRINI "THANK YOU FOR YOUk 8223 GOTO 8040 9280 FRINI 8230 INPUT "ZIP CODE CHANGE ",»• 9285 PRINT " - 8233 GOTO 8070 9290 PRINT "SERVING THE IEGAL DUSINtSS AND FINANCIAL CONHUNIIY FOR UUER"; 8240 INPUT "NCU EXP. DATE (DD «H YY> ",D,«,Y 9291 PRINT 45 YEARS'" 8243 PRINT 9300 PRINT :F-RIK: ,i RiNi HMNI 8230 GOTO 2020 9310 PRINI .3 CLU*>"|R|-|URN 8000 PRINT tPRINTsPRlNItPRINIi PRINT- 9500 REN COPYRIGHTED 1978 8803 PRINT Nl 9310 REN »Y UAIA CONF til. 8810 PRINT At 9320 REN HUbUN, IN 3.M43 8813 PRINT Pi;" ";vi;" ;i>;h;t 9999 CHAIN HENU

ATTENTION TRS-80'S

Why sit in the corner in the dark and turned off while your master is sitting by the light, turned on to his magazine? You need a magazine of your own for Education-Enlightenment-Enjoyment and for the personal satisfaction (your a personal computer, aren't you?)

of your very own possession. . .A Subscription to CLOAD MAGAZINE Turkey your master into sending a $36.00 check to the jive cats at CLOAD MAGAZINE. You will get 12 C-30 cassettes, one a month, each one filled with all kinds of juicy software-Games, Tutorials, Practical Programs and Impractical Trivia. All programs rated G for computers under 18 years old.

Do It! Subscribe Now!

'.{ ••"• •% f™. Box 1267 S Goleta, CA 93017 ULU* (805) 964-2761 MasterCharge/VISA MAGAZINE welcome 1978 CLOAD MAGAZINE

CIRCLE 134 ON READER SERVICE CARD

NOV/DEC 1978 137 One of the most popular uses of computers in small business is generating and maintaining mailing lists.

Mailing List System Gary O. Young

to If you are a small business, club, or file is passed to the program thru the Instead the name would have be de- organization, chances are a mailout "OPEN" statement. When the end of leted and then added again in the is going to be needed at some point. the input file is reached, the program proper location. A mailout is your cheapest and most sill request the name of the next input A maximum of 100 characters can effective way to advertise and keep file to continue the update. When the be accepted per entry and the special people informed of coming sales, number of records written to the output characters "#", ">", "<, and "t", are events, or meetings. Here is a simpli- file approaches the maximum (as de- reserved. When the end of the input file fied system to produce both mailing termined by the size on the "OPEN"), is reached, the next input file will be labels and name and address rosters. the output file will be closed and the requested. Enter the next input tile FEATURES name of the next output file will be name or a carriage return to signal the The system consists of two BASIC requested. end of input. When the output file is programs. The first program creates full, an additional output file name will and updates the data. The first item in OPERATION be requested. the data file is the date the data was After requesting the input and output created or updated. This is used to files, the program will prompt with a SELECT AND PRINT PROGRAM verify that the correct file is being "?". The program then expects an The second program will select updated and printed. The actual name action character followed immediately certain data records according to the and address data is combined into one by the last name. The valid action type and print labels or rosters. If single variable length string for each characters are A-add, D-delete, C or all records are to be selected, just person on the file to conserve space. R-change or replace, #-end of input. enter a carriage return. The program The data occurs in alphabetical order If there is no input file, enter only will then read the file, select the based on last name, therefore updates a carriage return. The program will records, and build a table of the zip must also be made in alphabetical create only the output file and prompt code and the character position of the order. The name should be entered as with "?A" to add each person. If there record within the file. The maximum last name, comma, then first name. The is no output file, enter only a carriage size of the table, and the number of first name will be rotated ahead of the return. The input file will be printed records selected, will depend on the last name on the printed labels. The unformatted for diagnostic purposes. size of the memory. This table can be name and street address can take more The name should be entered as last sorted on zip codes. Otherwise the than one line simply by separating the name, comma, first name, and op- data will be printed in alphabetical lines with a "+". This is useful for tionally a "+" followed by the second order. After selecting and sorting, the "care of" or postal station names that line of the name. The type, street, city, character position of the record within require an extra line. Each person on state, and zip code will be requested the file is used to do a random read of the file is assigned a one character for an add or change action. The type the record in the proper sequence. For "type" code such as M-member, B- can be any single letter or number as this reason, only one file can be business, F-future prospect, etc. This stated earlier. The street is not edited printed at a time even though multiple code is used to select only certain and may contain a "+" to span more files can be updated. If a small number people for labels or rosters. The zip than one line. The state and zip code of records was selected from each file,

code is essential because it may be must be exactly seven characters: an intermediate file could be created used to sort the data by area for two for the state and the remaining with the selected records from multiple mailing before printing the labels. five for the zip code (these must be files. The maximum file size on the North numeric obviously). On a change ac- Either labels or a name and address

Star disk is 64K. If one label takes an tion, if no data is entered when the roster can be printed. The roster is average of 80 characters, only about type, street, city, state and zip code useful to list who is on the file for 800 entries can be held in a single file. are requested, the old data will be making additions or corrections in the To overcome this limitation, input and retained. The spelling of the name can- next update. The name, last name first, output can span more than one file. not be changed since that might cause is on one line and the rest of the ad- When the file is opened, the size of the the file to get out of alphabetical order. dress is on the next line for each entry

138 CREATIVE COMPUTING 1 •" X of the roster. The labels are printed one TERMINALS FROM TRANSNET [ label across a page and the name is rotated. PURCHASE AND FINALLY 12-24 MONTH FULL OWNERSHIP PLAN These programs are written in North 36 MONTH LEASE PLAN Star BASIC release 3. They require PURCHASE PER MONTH less than 32K of memory depending on DESCRIPTION PRICE 12 MOS 24 MOS 3* "JOS the zip code table size. For those ver- II $1,495 $145 $ 75 $ 52 sions of BASIC that do not have the DECwriter DECwriter III, 2,695 257 137 95 size parameter on the "OPEN" state- KSR DECwriter III, RO 2,095 200 107 73 ment, the output file size might be an DECprinter I 1,795 172 92 63 input parameter. The programs would VT100 CRT DECscope 1,595 153 81 56 be easy to convert to any disc BASIC, Tl 745 Portable 1>875 175 94 65 and fun to run as well as useful. Tl 765 Bubble Mem. . . . 2,995 285 152 99 Tl 810 RO Printer 1,895 181 97 66 LOAD LABELGEN READY Tl 820 KSR Terminal .. 2,395 229 122 84 RUN QUME, Ltr. Qual. KSR . 3,195 306 163 112

QUME. Ltr. Qual. RO . . 2,795 268 143 98 ADM 3A CRT 875 84 45 30 LABEL FILE UPDATE VERSION 2 HAZELTINE 1400 CRT. 845 81 43 30 INPUT FILET OUTPUT FILET LABELI HAZELTINE 1500 CRT 1,195 115 67 42 DATE T 780501 TAACHE HARDWARE STORE HAZELTINE 1520 CRT. 1,595 153 81 56 TYPET S Dataproducts 2230 .... 7,900 725 395 275 strt? 3s mm ST CITY? MAR VISTA DATAMATE Mini floppy 1,750 167 89 61 STZIPT CA9III1 FULL OWNERSHIP AFTER 12 OR 24 MONTHS 10% PURCHASE OPTION AFTER 36 MONTHS 7AALLEN.J0E TYPET P ACCESSORIES AND PERIPHERAL EQUIPMENT 333»HAMPT0N STATION STRT? PO BOX ACOUSTIC COUPLERS • MODEMS • THERMAL PAPER 1 C 1TYT SAN DIEGO STZIPT CA9I112 RIBBONS • INTERFACE MODULES • FLOPPY DISK UNITS • TA8R0VN.CKARLIE«SN00PY PROMPT DELIVERY EFFICIENT SERVICE TYPET P STRT? CONIC STRIP DR

[ CITYT H0LLYV1ERD iRANsrsET Corpora tion ZIP ^^ STZIPT BAD CODE STZIPT CA 90066 X 2005 ROUTE 22. UNION. N.J 07083 TAD0E>J0HN L-^ TYPET P 201-688-7800 STRT? MAIN ST USA CITY? ANYTOWN CIRCLE 158 ON FREE INFORMATION CARD STZIP? AZ00000

7AC00DTIHES SALOON«ATTN JOW BARTENDAR TYPET S COMPUTER LAB STRT? STAOOER ST'TONIC OULTCH CITYT OIN VILLE STZIPT VA123AS OF NEW JERSEY

TA>-« READY RUN LIST' Special LABEL FILE UPDATE VERSION 2 INPUT FILET LABELI Price Price OUTPUT FILE? CREATED! 780S01 • Apple II Computer with SACHE HARDWARE ST0RE>35 MAIN STCA9l 1 18 PBROVN«CKARL!E»SNOOPY»COHIC STRIP DRMAIN ST USASTAGGER ST'TONIC GULTCIKG1N VILLEiV RAM 16 Assembled & Tested 449.00 375.00 A12346 INPUT FILE FINISHED NEW INPUT FILET We also carry: READY North Star, Cromemco, IMSAI, Tarbell, Meca, ECT, RUN Sorcerer, Vista, SWTP, and many more.

LABEL FILE UPDATE VERSION 2 Most lines carry a 10% discount! INPUT FILE? LABELI OUTPUT FILET LABELS DATE ? 7S0502 SALE! SALE! OLD DATE? 780S01 7AABLE HANDS GLOVE CO Diskettes TYPE7 S 1-9 10-25 30-Up STRT? Ill GLOVE LN MD525-01 CITY? DETROIT ) STZIPT HISSSSS MD525-10 > 4.25 4.00 3.75 * 7DALLEN MD525-16

DELETED FD1 000-32 1 7CG00DTIMES FD1000-34« 5.25 5.00 4.75 TYPET STRT? CITYT RICHMOND 141 Route 46 STZIPT Budd Lake, New Jersey 07828 7AY0UNG.G Phone: (201) 691-1984 INPUT FILE FINISHED NEW INPUT FILE? TYPE? P Mail and Phone Orders Accepted STRT? STATE ST Available CITY? LOS ANGELES Subject to Quantity STZIPT CA90066 Shipping Charges Extra N J. Residents add 5% Sales Tax V J CIRCLE IN ON HEADER SERVICE CARD NOV/DEC 1978 139 I

Sample label run (PRLI) Spaced lor noted labels. Sample run of PRNOT expired notices.

HAHILTOM COUNTY HERALD 4111 AlfcUATS (LVD. CHATTANOOGA, TN. 37421

TELEPHONE 415/892-7344

JOE BL£ 3373 : T - JOE BLOU 1 chk" f : 3311 STREET m CHATT TM 17421

PLEASE REHIT TO THE ADDRESS ABOVE - THAHK YOU I

EXPIRATION DATEl 2 4 77 MILL I ft"f!£ CO INC

SUBSCRIPTION RATE - 1 YEAR 414.50 •5129 RlPtrf^'f E 2 YEARS 427.30 CHf - TN~ 17421 1 YEARS 414.30 THANK YOU FOR TOUR PAST SUBSCRIPTION, PLEASE RENEU.

SERVINO THE LEGAL, IUSINESS AND FINANCIAL COHNUNITY FOR OVER 43 YEAR8I

HAMILTON COUNTY HE9A-0

- 1 1 ''^ 6131 HiF'!; E'L'v'L'' SUPPORT THE '343 CLUD CHHTTflNOOGA IN T"4_i 13 12 8l

HAHILTON COUNTY HERALD 4131 AIRUAYS »L». CHATTANOOGA, TN. 37421 MIXED 33: TELEPHONE 4IS/BV2-7544

D. N. UILLIAHS 3019 HAHILL RD. DflTfl--COMf DIV HIXSON TN 37343 3018 HftMILL RD HIXSON TN 3734; Ml PLEASE REHIT TO THE ADDRESS ADOVE - THANK YOUI

EXPIRATION DATEl II 1 77

SUDSCRIPTION RATE - 1 YEAR 414.30 2 YEARS 427.30 3 YEARS 414.30 JOYCE WILLIAMS THANK YOU FOR TOUR PAST SUDSCRIPTION, PLEASE RENEU. 3018 HAMILL RD. HIKSOf; TN 27343 M3 10 12 33 SERVING THE LEGAL, DUGINESS AND FINANCIAL COHNUNITY FOR OVER 43 YEARSI

SUPPORT THE 145' CLUDI

MIXED 374

HAHILTOH COUNTY HERALD 4111 AIRUAYS BLVD. CHATTANOOGA, [N. 37421

TELEPHONE 4 I 3/BV2-7344

D. M WILLIAMS 0000 ANY STREET EAST RIDGE TN 37421 M4 11 1 77 BATA-COHP DIV 1011 HAHILL M HIXSON TN 17343 N3

PLEASE REHIT TO THE ADDRESS ADOVE - THANK YOUI HflPOLD WILLIAMS QQLTEkHH-PiHGQOl.0 ROAD EXPIRATION DATEl 3 • 77

OOLTEWHH TN 37411 M4 12 12 80 SUBSCRIPTION RATE - I YEAR 414.30 2 YEARS 427.30 3 YEARS 434.30

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PAST SUBSCRIPTION, PLEASE RENEU.

SERVING IHE LEGAL, BUSIHESS AND FINANCIAL COMMUNITY FOR OVER 45 YEARSI

END OF LIST! 6 6 78 SUPPORT THE 345 CLUB I

140 CREATIVE COMPUTING !

Boards ... or Complete Systems

The best price and delivery is from MiniMicroMart! !

CROMEMCO MODEL 3703 CROMEMCO MODEL 3100 LINE PRINTER CRT ERMINAL CROMEMCO OUR 180 cps bi-directional °^" CASH 3 List $1595 PRICE $1350 SYSTEM LIST $2995 PRICE OUR $2545 CASH LlSt $5990 PRICE $4999 CROMEMCO SYSTEM 2 (order as 02-5502-0) List $3990 . $3390 Features 4 MHz CPU, 32K of RAM. dual PerSo floppy disk drive (and provision for installing two - BASIC. Fortran, Assembler. CROMEMCO DISK SOFTWARE additional dnvesl, RS232C Interlace. Printer Interface, Cobol, Word Processing System, Data Base Management, all com P'ete assembled and tested, ready to use (Order as with CMOS disk operating system. List $95 each $80 ea. 02 55030) cash Z-2 Computer System, Kit for rack MEMORY BOARDS mounting, Z-80 processor, 21 slots. NORTH STAR power supply, front cover panel North Star RAM-16-A 16K Dynamic RAM List $595 (order as 02 5301 0) $499 Board, Kit. (order 01 3216-0) List $399 329 Assembled/Tested (01 -4216-0) Assembled and Tested, incl. fan and $459 379 all edge connectors List $995 (order as Morrow 1 6K Static Board , 450ns 845 02 5401-0) List $995 Kit, (order 08-3216-0) List $299 264 Z-2D Disk Computer System, Kit Dynabyte New MSC1625, 250ns disk Similar to Z 2, but comes with floppy (no write protect) Order 03-4216 3 359 controller, DOS. and minifloppy disk drive A complete system with the addition Dynabyte 1 625 16K Static RAM Module, of a RAM Board (02 5302 0) List $1495 1270 250ns (order 03-4216-01 List $555 Assembled/Tested (02 5402X» Dynabyte 3225 32K Static RAM Module List $2095 1 780 NOW DOUBLE DENSITY 250ns (order 03-4232 0) List $995 796 FLOPPY DISK - NO All Dynabyte assembled and tested, guaranteed CROMEMCO BOARDS one year. INCREASE IN PRICE 4 MHz Single Card Computer, Kit (order 02 351 1 0) List $395 . . . 335 CASH MICROPOLIS PRICE Assembled/Tested (02 451 1 0) $450 . 382 Complete Minifloppy Disk System 1041 MacroFloppy* in enclosure order 01 -7735-0 (order as 04-7701-0) List $695 $625* 16K RAM Card with Bank Select, w/BASIC and drive, Kit , List Kit (order 02 3216-0) List $495 399 $699 $589 1 042 MacroFloppy* w/case and

(01-7745-01 . (04-7702-0) . . Assembled/Tested (024216 0) $795 499 Assembled/Tested $799 689 AC power supply $795 709 Horizon 1 Kit List $1599 $1 349 Bytesaver PROM Board and PROM 1 053 Dual MetaFloppy® (order Programmer, Kit without PROM Assembled/Tested List $1899 1 599 as 04-7705-0) List $1895 1695 * (order as 02 3308-0) List $145 1 23 power source and regulator board required. Horizon 2 (w/2 drives) Kit. List $1999 1 699 Assembled/Tested (02 4308 01 List $245 208 Assembled/Tested List $2349 1 939 TU-ART Digital Interface, Kit (order 4 MHz Z-80 CPU Board. Kit $199 $169 TELETYPE 33, 35, 43 as 02 3440 0) List $195 165 Assembled/Tested List $259 209 Bargains on used Teletype 33's and Assembled/Tested (024440-0) $295 . 250 35's. Most models of new Teletype Card, Kit (order as Disk Controller TERMINALS 43's available for immediate shipment. 02 3701-0 List $395 335 Hazeltine 1500 $1049 Assembled/Tested (02 4701-01 $595 . 51 5 IMSAI -0) List $215 1 82 Soroc 120 849 TV Dazzler, Kit (02 3501 Check with Mini Micro Mart for your

. 297 Assembled/Tested (02-4501 0) $350 Lear Siegler ADM3A 849 IMSAI needs - most popular items Multiple User Basic Now Available! Intertube® 784 now in stock at special savings.

WRITE FOR FREE CATALOG FOR SHIPPING, add $2 for boards. $5 for floppy disk systems, $10 for Horizons, $15 for Cro- memco Z-2 and Z-2D kits. Assembled Cromem- co systems are shipped freight collect All prices are based on cash purchases Higher prices apply to MiniMicroMart Inc credit card and institutional purchase orders Minimum deposit 26% on COO orders All prices subiect to change without 1 61 8 James Street, Syracuse, NY 1 3203 (31 5) 422-4467 notice CIRCLE 172 ON READER SERVICE CARD G

2000 INPUT "DATE CYYMMDD>? ".Dl READY 2100 BI»-""\B2«-"" RUN 2200 IF SI-0 THEN 2500 2300 OPEN M.FI1.S2 LABEL FILE UPDATE VERSION 2 INPUT FILET LABEL? 2400 01 -I OUTPUT FILE? 2500 OPEN >2.F2t.S3 2600 02*1 CREATED I 7 80502 2700 SS-»\S6-»256 SABLE HANDS CLOVE COM II GLOVE LKCOMIC STRIP DRMAIN ST USA«ANYTOWN tAZOOOOO S2>S3 TOO SMALL". S3 SGOODTIMES SALOON-ATTN JOW BARTENDAR>STAGGER ST»TONIC GULTCH-RICHHOND" VA 3100 PRINT "OUTPUT FILE S2. 3200 STOP ItMl PYOUNG.G>STATE ST-"A«" I >-"A" THEN 5400 SORT BY ZIP CY OR N>? Y 4700 IF LIXI. IF LIXI ,1 7 ROSTER CR> OR LABELS ? L 4800 )."D" THEN 300 4900 IF I THEN 8300 SELECTED 3 RECORDS LIXI. >-"C" SET PAPER AND RETURN 5000 IF Mill .1 >-"R" THEN 8300 5100 PRINT "INVALI ACTION. ..REENTER" 5200 GOTO 3800 5300 REM ADD ROUTINE 5400 IF Sl-0 THEN 5800 COMPARES I 5 SWAPS! I 5500 GOSUB 10500 5600 IF S4-0 (XI S4-I THEN 6100 JOHN DOE 5700 IF S4-99 THEN 3800 ELSE 6600 MAIN ST USA 5800 IF Bit-"" THEN 6100 ANYTOWN, AZ OOOOO 5900 L-LEN(LK) 6000 IF 01X3.L)>LIX8.L> THEN 7000 6100 GOSUB 14500 6800 08S-B0S 6 300 GOSUB 12900 6400 GOTO 3800 6500 GOSUB 14500 CHARLIE BROWN 6600 38S-DU SNOOPY 6700 GOSUB 18900 COMIC STRIP DR 6800 B2»-B0S\9I1-B0» HOLLYVIERD. CA 90066 6900 GOTO 3800 7000 GOSUB 12600 7100 GOTO 3»00 7200 REM DELETE ROUTINE 7300 IF Sl-0 THEN 5100 7400 GOS'JB 10500 7500 IF 54«>0 THEK 8000 G YOUNG 7600 GOSUB 17500 STATE ST LOS ANGELES. CA 90066 7700 IF U5»0 THEN BIS-"" 7800 PRINT "DELETED" 7 900 GOTO 3800 8000 PRINT "DELETED NAME NOT FOUND " 8100 COTO 3800 8200 REM REPLACE ROUTINE 8300 IF Sl-0 THEK 5100 8400 GOSUB 10500 READY 8500 IF S4«»0 THEK 8900 RUN 8600 GOSUB 19700 8700 BIS-BOS 8800 GOTO 3800 LABEL SELECT AND PRINT VERSION 2 FILE? LASEL2 8900 PRINT "NAME NOT FOUND. CURRENT-".BIX2.20) 9000 GOTO 3800 UPDATED I 780502 9100 REM COPY AND FINISH SELECT CHARACTER OR (CR> FOR ALL 9200 IF LEKCBIO-0 THEN 9700 SORT BY ZIP (Y OR N>? N 9300 B2S-B1S ROSTER OR LABELS CD? R 9400 GOSUB 18900 SELECTED 6 RECORDS SET PAPER AND RETURN 9500 IF Sl-0 THEN 10800 9600 IF 01-0 THEN 10800 ROSTER UPDATEDl 780508 FILEl LABEL2 I SELECTED TYPE ALL 9700 GOS'JB 17500 9800 IF 15.0 THEN 10800 ABLE HANDS GLOVE CO 9900 B8S-B1S 10000 GOSUB 18900 III GLOVE LN. DETROIT. MI 55555 10100 GOTO 9700 10200 IF 08-1 THEN CLOSE «8 31-1 CLOSE «1 ACME HARDWARE STORE 10300 IF THEN 10400 END 35 MAIN ST. MAR VISTA. I I I CA 91 10500 REM POSITION INPUT FILE 10600 S4-99 10700 IF THEN RETURN BROWN, CHARLIE <> SNOOPY Sl-0 10800 IF Dili"" THEN GOSUB 17500 COMIC STRIP DR, HOLLYVIERD. CA 90066 10900 Ll-LEN(LIS) 11000 IF BIX8.LI OL1X2.LI > THEN 12400 > THEN 11500 DOE. JOHN 11100 IF F1IX2.LI XLIX3.LI 11200 IF BIX2.L1 >>L1X8.LI > THEN 18200 MAIN ST USA. ANYTOWN. AZ OOOOO I 1300 S4-0 I 1400 RETURN

I 1500 B2S-B1I G03DTIMES SALOON () ATTN JOW BARTENDAR I 1600 GOSUB 18900 STAGGER ST (> TONIC GULTCH. RICHMOND. VA 12345 11700 GOSUB 17500 11800 IF U5»0 THEN 18000 YOUNG. I 1900 GOTO I I 100 18000 S4--1 STATE ST. LOS ANGELES. CA 90066 12300 RETURN 12400 IF B2<-"" THEN 13800 12500 IF B2X2.L1 XLIX2.LI > THEN 12200 12600 PRINT "INPUT OUT OF SEQUENCE" 12700 PRINT BIX1.L1 ) 1000 PRINT "LABEL FILE UPDATE VERSION 2" 12800 RETURN 1100 REM WRITTEN BY GARY YOUNG 12900 REM WRITE ROUTINE 1200 REM PO BOX 66572 13000 IF LENCB2SI-0 THEN RETURN 1300 REM LOS ANGELES. CA 90066 13100 IF B2S-L9S THEN RETURN 1*00 REM NORTH STAR BASIC REL 3 13200 L9S-B2S 1500 DIM BOXI05>.BIXIOS>.B21CIOS>.LIXIOS>.L2XIOS>.L9X10S> 13300 WRITE »2.B2S 1600 INPUT "INPUT FILE? ".FIS 13400 S5-S5»LEN)«2 1700 IF LEN(Ft»)-0 THEN Sl-0 ELSE SI -1 13500 IF S5>-0 THEN 23800 13700 CLOSE <2

142 CREATIVE COMPUTING D >

13900 32-0 13400 INPUT "NEW OUTPUT FILE? ",F2 14000 OPEN t2.F2S.S3 14100 02-1 14800 WRITE «2.D1 14300 S5-5\S6-(S3-I >*266 ijUUlX/nnn 14400 RETURN 14300 REM INPUT REQUEST 14600 BOS-"" Add-on Mini Disc for theTRS-80 14700 INPUT "TYPE? ".L2S 14*00 IF LEN(L2SX>I THEN 14700 14900 B0S-B0S-L2SM .1 >»LISC2>-">" 15000 INPUT "STRI? ~.L2S 15100 B0S-S0S-L2S.

I 5200 INPUT "CITY? ".L2S 15300 30S-R0S-L2S* 15400 GOSUB 15700 15500 B0S-B0S-L2S 15600 RETURN I5T00 REM READ AND EDIT ZIP CODE 15800 INPUT "STZIP? ".L2S 15900 IF LEN0 THEN 15800 16100 IF LISCI.I )."C" THEN RETURN 16200 IF L1KI.I >«>"R '• THEN 15800 16300 RETURN 16400 IF L2SC3.3>«"0" THEN 15800 16500 IF L2S<4»4>«"0" THEN 15600 16600 IF L2SC5»5>«"0" THEN 15800 16700 IF L2S<6.6>-"0" THEN 15800 16800 IF L2SC7.7X-0" THEN 15800 16900 IF L2S(3.3>>"9" THEN 15800 17000 IF L2S<4.4)>"9" THEN 15800 17100 IF L2S<5.5>»"9" THEN 15800 17200 IF L2S<6.6>»"9" THEN 15800 17300 IF L2S<7.7>>"9" THEN 15800 17400 RETURN 17500 REM READ ROUTINE 17600 US-0 17700 IF 01<>l THEN 19200 17800 IF TYPCI >-0 THEN 18100 17900 READ «I.BIS 18000 RETURN 18100 CLOSE >1 only from 18200 01-0 18300 PRINT "INPUT FILE FINISHED- 18400 INPUT "NEW INPUT FILE? ".Fit 18500 IF LEN(Fl»>-0 THEN 19200 18600 OPEN «1.FIS.S2 $39922 ICEflSPMl 18700 01 -I

I 8800 READ #I.D2 Requires 16KRAM. PERCOM DATA COMPANY, INC. 18900 IF D2-D3 THEN RETURN DEPT. C • 318 BARNES • GARLAND, TEXAS 7SM2 19000 PRINT "DATES DO NOT HATCH" Level II BASIC and Phone:(214)272-3421 19100 STOP Expansion Interlace 19200 US-99 19300 RETURN 19400 REM REPLACE ALL THE DATA EXCEPT THE NAME. 19500 REM IF NO NEW DATA WAS ENTERED. (STR INC LENGTH ZERO). CIRCLE 15S ON READER SERVICE CARD 19600 REM USE THE OLD DATA 19700 DOS 19800 INPUT "TYPE? ".L8S 19900 IF LEN(L2S)-I THEN 20200 20000 IF LEN(L8S)<>0 THEN 19800 20100 BOS-ROS-BISd .1 1VG0T0 20300 22 START-AT-HOME 20200 B0S-B0S-L2SU .1 20300 FOR J-0 TO LEN(niS) 20400 IF DIS-"»" THEN EXIT 20700 COMPUTER BUSINESSES 20500 BOS-BOS-FIISC J.J) 20600 NEXT 20700 nos-nos. in "The Datasearch Guide to Low Capital, 20800 INPUT "STRT? ".L21 20900 IF LEN«L2f>>0 THEN 21600 Startup Computer Businesses" 21000 FOR K-J»l TO LEN(BIS) 21100 IF n|S(K.K>-"<" THEN EXIT 21400 CONSULTING • PROGRAMMING • SOFTWARE PACKAGES 21200 BOS-BOS-BISCK.K) • • • 21300 NEXT COM FREELANCE WRITING SEMINARS • TAPE/DISC 21400 BOS-DOS*"*" CLEANING • FIELD SERVICE • SYSTEMS HOUSES • 21500 GOTO 82000 LEASING • SUPPLIES • PUBLISHING • TIME BROKERS • 21600 10S-B0S-L8S*"*" • • 21700 FOR K-J*l TO LEN(BIS) HARDWARE DISTRIBUTORS SALES AGENCIES 21800 IF B1SCJ.J)-"*" THEN EXIT 22000 HEADHUNTING • TEMPORARY SERVICES • USED 2 1900 NEXT COMPUTERS • FINDERS FEES • SCRAP COMPONENTS • 22000 INPUT "CITY? ".L2S COMPUTER PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FOR THE 22100 IF LEN>0 THEN 22800 HOME. 22200 FOR J-K*l TO LEN-"t" 22300 IF B1S*"»" THEN EXIT 23100 30 23000 NEXT days for full immediate refund. 23100 B0S-30S«L2S« 4 GOSUB 15700 • 8V4 x 11 ringbound • 156 pp. • $20 00 2 3300 IF LEN-7 THEN 23600 2 3400 BOt-BOSOIK J-l > Phone Orders 901-382-0172 2 3500 RETURN 23600 B0S-30S*L2S 2 3700 RETURN 23800 REM PRINT ROUTINE DRTR5ERRCH incorporated 23900 OPEN »1 .F1S 24000 01-1 24130 READ II. 5694 Shelby Oaks Drive Suite 105 Memphis, Tenn. 38134 24200 PRINT "CREATEDl ".D 24300 GOSUB 17500 Rush copies ol "Low Capital Startup Computer Businesses" to me 24400 IF U5>0 THEN 24700 right away. 24500 PRINT BIS 24600 GOTO 24300 24700 CLOSE •! 24800 END NAME/COMPANY 24900 REM THIS IS THE LAST STATEMENT ADDRESS READY CITY/STATE/ZIP _

D Check Enclosed D Bankamericard D Master Charge

NOV/DEC 1978 143 CIRCLE 101 ON READER SERVICE CARD 3 .

1000 PRINT "LABEL SELECT AND PRINT VERSION 2" 7300 CLOSE .Htf I051.NIC30).Z<2.700> 7700 L-2 1500 INPUT "FILET ",FI» 7800 PRINTNPRINT 1600 OPEN fl.FIS 7900 K-l 1700 READ «l .01 8000 GOSUB 9700 1800 PRINT "UPDATED! ".Dl 8100 PRINT NS 1900 P-5 8200 K.K»1 2000 INPUT "SELECT CHARACTER OR FOR ALL ".S» 8300 IF R»-"«" THEN 8900 2100 Rl«0 8400 IF R5CK.K)."." THEN 8900 2200 INPUT "SORT BY ZIP -"«" THEN 8900 2300 IF Slt'"Y" THEN 2500 8600 IF RS(K.K>-"t" THEN 9200 2*00 IF Sl»<>"«" THEN 2200 8700 PRINT RSCK.K). 2500 INPUT "ROSTER Oil LA3ELS (L>7 ".S2» 8800 GOTO 8200 2600 IF S2*""R" THEN 21100 8900 PRINT 2700 IF S2»<»"L" THEN 2500 9000 L-L.l 2800 IF TYPCD-0 THEN AOOO 9100 GOTO 8200 2900 READ «I.R» 9200 PRINT ". ".RSCK«1.K»2>." '.Rt 3000 IF LEN(SS)-0 THEN 3400 9300 L-L.l 3100 IF RSCI.I >-5» THEN 3400 9400 IF L>7 THEN RETURN 3200 P.P*LEN.p 9800 CI-0\C2*0 3600 P-P*LEN)*2 9900 FOR J-2 TO LENCRl) 3700 L-LEN(Rl) 10000 IF R»CJ.J>«>"." THEN 10300 3800 Z<2.RI )'VAL> 10100 Cl-J 3900 GOTO 2800 10200 GOTO 10800 4000 PRINT "SELECTED ".Rl." RECORDS" 10300 IF RKJ.J)."." THEN 10600 4100 INPUT "SIT PAPER AND RETURN". GS 10400 IF RS(J.J>.">" THEN 10600 4200 IF SI»-"N" THEN 6500 10500 GOTO 10800 4300 REN SHELL KETZNER SORT 10600 C2-J-I\K-J 4400 R2-R1 10700 EXIT 10900 4500 R2-INTCR2/2> 10800 NEXT J 4600 IF R2-0 THEN 6400 10900 IF CI-0 THEN 11200 4700 R3*l 11000 N».R»(C1»1 .C2)»" ".RK2.C1-1) 4800 R4-:il -R2 I 1100 RETURN

4900 R5-R3 1 1200 NS-RS<2,C2> 5000 R6-R5»R2 11300 RETURN 5100 S8-S8.1 11400 REM ROSTER PRINT 5200 IF Z<2.R5KZ<2»R6) THEN 6100 1 1500 L-L«2 5300 S8-SS«I 11600 PRINTNPRINT 5400 IF ZC2.R5)-Z<2.R6> THEN 5800 11700 K.l 5500 T9-Z\Z.Z(1.R6>\Z'T9 11800 K-K.l 5600 T9-Z<2.RS>\Z<2»RS>'Z<2.H6>\Z(2.R6>-T9 II9O0 IF RKK.K)-"." THEN 12500 5700 S9>S9.1 12000 IF RKK.K)""." THEN 12700 5800 RS-RS-R2 12100 IF RKK.K>»"«" THEN 13000 5900 IF M«l THEN 6100 12200 IF RKK.K)-"!" THEN 13200 6000 GOTO 5000 12300 PRINT RKK.K). 6100 R3-R3»l 12400 GOTO 11800 6200 IF R3>R4 THEN 4500 12500 PRINT " <»> ". 6300 GOTO 4900 12600 GOTO 11800 6400 PRINT "COMPARES 1".S8." S.APS|".S9 12700 PRINT 6500 IF S2S-"L" THEN 6800 12800 L"L»1 6600 PRINT "ROSTER UPDATED|".DI ." FILEl ".FIS." SELECTED TYPEl 12900 GOTO 11800 6700 IF Sf-"" THEN PRINT "ALL" ELSE PRINT St 13000 PRINT ". ". 6800 FOR Jl -1 TO Rl 13100 GOTO 11800 6900 P-ZCI.JI ) 13200 PRINT ". ".RI(K*I.X>2>." ".R«

THE PHYSICIANS MICROCOMPUTER REPORT

Don l miss another issue of our monthly magazine

If you are interested in Microcomputers for hobby use. for Medical ap- plications data processing, or for handling your professional busi- ness needs. The Physicians Microcomputer Report will help you

The computer is an extension of your own mind

Our magazine will give you the knowledge that you need to under- stand, purchase, and use microcomputers in your office, home, and research

View the Medicine of the future

We publish FREE computer programs that will help you improve your professional operation Now is the time to discover what microcom- Mia puter technology can do for you. and to learn how other Physicians u r* J are using their own personal computers Please start my Club Membership and Subscription to the Physicians Microcomputer Report

Name (Print) Address City State Zip

CI $25 One year ( f 2 issues) n SIS Special six month trial subscription DRM-J7K f] Bill Visa/BankAmencard HBill Master Charge Credit Card # Interbank # Expir Date Check enclosed for $

Send to: Dr. Gerald M. Oroez, Editor. Physician* Microcomputer Report. Boa HU, Lawrenceville. N.J. 08848 Credit Card Cuetomers cen call for quick service: 1 608 889-831

CIRCLE 144 ON READER SERVICE CARD 144 CREATIVE COMPUTING 5 .

If you choose IMSAI . .

The best price and delivery is from MiniMicroMart! PERSONAL COMPUTERS -SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT SYSTEMS -BUSINESS SYSTEMS IMSAI VDP 80/1000 Virtually unlimited RAM and disk storage expansion. The ultimate in a complete com- puter system in a single box: 32K of RAM, one megabyte of floppy disk storage, utiliz- ing the famous PerSci drives, 12" CRT with 24 x 80 field, intelligent keyboard. Complete software: ROM monitor, CP/M operating system - ready to use. Order as 21-5580-0 (List: $6995) *irOfHr Cash Price 900^0 IMSAI has recently introduced the VDP-80's "little" brother" - a similar system with a 9" CRT and using minifloppies instead of the 8" THE NEW PCS-40 SERIES Three different disk drive systems IMSAI 8080 PerSci. New IMSAI systems: complete 32K allow you a choice of disk storage capacity to (PCS 80/10) meet your data needs and poclotbook of RAM and dual minifloppy, serial and parallel I/O. with 22-slot motherboard, 28-amp IMSAI VDP-40 PCS-40 power supply, and its famous front 180 kilobaud disk storage panel is the same dependable system 180 kilobaud disk storage Order as 21-5540-0 (List $4495) ... but now it's called the PCS-80/10. Order as 21-5440-0 (List $2695) Ideal for lab use. Kit, order 21-5310-0 Cash Price $3795 Cash Price $2289 (List $699) ._„ VDP-42 400 kilobaud disk storage Special Low Cash Price $bby Order as 21-5542-0 (List $4695) Cash Price $3990 PCS-42 400 kilobaud disk storage VDP-44 780 kilobaud disk storage Order as 21-5442-0 (List $2995) IMSAI 8080 Order as 21-5544-0 (List $4995) Cash Price $2545 Cash Price $4245 All above assembled/tested — ready to use PCS-44 780 kilobaud disk storage Order 21-5444-0 (List $3695) WUU» Cash Price $31 39 I ««mw» All above assembled and tested ready to use IMSAI BOARDS

RAM III 32K RAM, Assembled Order as 21-4232-0 (List $895). $715 BASIC VIO The leading memory- mapped video interface. Options to _asH expand, Kit, order as 21-3501-0 THE POPULAR PCS 80/30 (List $190) $170 featuring intelligent keyboard, built-in Assembled, order 2 1-450 1-0 5" 24x80 video, Kit Order as 21 (List $335) $299 CRT, ^^^^ 5330-0 (List $1199) Cash $1019 ^^m VIO-C Complete version of above, 24 x 80, upper/lowercase, incl. ROM Assembled, (21-5430-0) List $1499 Single and double-density floppy monitor, Kit, order 21-3504-0 Cash Price $1274 disk systems available (List $325) $285 Assembled, order 21-4504-0) All prices are based on cash purchases. Higher (List $465) $395 PCS 80/1 prices apply to credit card and insitutional pur SIO-2-1 Serial I/O, Kit, order as A basic mainframe with 8085 CPU chase orders Minimum deposit 25% on COD orders Above prices subject to change without 21-3440-0 (List $125) $110 board, Kit Order 2 1-531 5-0 (List $799) notice. PIO/6-3 Parallel I/O, Kit, order as SHIPPING. HANDLING, INSURANCE: Cash Price $679 21-3441-0 (List $139) $125 VDP-40 and 80 series shipped freight collect. Assembled, (21-5415-0) List $995 Add $2 for boards; all other items, add $10. MIO Multiple I/O, Kit, order as Cash Price $805 WRITE FOR FREE CATALOG 21-3442-0 (List $195) $169

MiniMicroMart, Inc. 161 8 James Street, Syracuse, NY 13203 (315) 422-4467 CIRCLE 171 ON READER SERVICE CARD Snowflake Plotting in ALGOL and BASIC James Jones

Introduction and whether it should leave tracks. The idea here, though, The original snowflake curve (due to Helge van Koch) is to work with the pen's current position and direction it generating a is strange: it is everywhere continuous but nowhere and tell it how to turn before moves by differentiable; it is infinitely long but bounds a finite string of turn instructions. area. It's the limit of a sequence of curves. Here is how the Some notation: sequence is generated. n = the number of sides of the polygon used. 1. The first curve is an equilateral triangle. theta = the angle of the triangle formed by joining two 2. For k>1, the kth curve is generated from the (k-1)th adjacent vertices with the n-gon's center (with one vertex by erecting an outward-pointing equilateral triangle at the center). Its measure is 2*pi/n radians. with the middle third of each side of the (k-1 )th curve Now, suppose we look at three edges of an n-gon as base and then erasing that base. (See Figure 1 for (Figure 3): from the diagram it can be seen that to draw the first few curves of the sequence.) an n-gon, we must move from our initial point (B here) in the direction pi-theta, then, n-1 times, turn -theta and move again. (Note that though the diagram makes one think that this will not work for n=3, it holds even then.)

Figure 1

There are at least two possible generalizations of this process: we can use regular n-gons instead of just triangles, and we can go inward instead of outward. (Figure 2 shows an inward-going octagon and an outward- going pentagon.) The subroutine at the end of the article allows these variations. (People seriously interested in such generalizations and other strange curves and surfaces should refer to Martin Gardner's Sixth Book of Mathematical Games from Scientific American, Chapter 22, and his Mathematical Games column of December, 1976.)

Figure 3

X. y

Figure 2

How The Algorithm Works The subroutine supposes we have a plotter that behaves like Seymour Papert's turtle: the plotter pen

will accept directions telling it where it should move to Figure 4

146 CREATIVE COMPUTING • ; 1

Next, given a side upon which we must erect a new a multiple of 2*pi/n or pi/n respectively, no matter what n-gon (Figure 4): again from the diagram it is obvious (and depth we go to, all the turtle's directions must be multiples even works) that to do such a thing, one must move in of the appropriate angle. Thus we can generate vectors the direction one originally intended, turn pi-theta and in the possible directions (there are 2*n if n is odd, other- move, then n- times, turn -theta and move, followed by a wise there are n) once, and use an integer subscript into turn of pi-theta. The next move will bring you to the the table of vectors to indicate the current direction. vertex you thought you would be at in the first place, if It is possible to write a faster snowflake drawing routine, you move one third as far as at the higher level. With a using a list of pointers into an array of turn instructions.

little thought, it will even become obvious that this This method can take advantage of the uniform length argument will hold just as well for inward-growing snow- of steps the turtle takes. The turtle, in effect, reads the flakes; just change the signs of the turn angles. instructions and follows its nose. The only problem with Thus, to draw a snowflake curve: that, though, is that any mistakes made by the turtle (who let p1, p2 pn be the vertices of the lowest-level will make them; see "The Square Root of 4 is not 2," polygon, start at p1. Jan '78 Creative Computing) are compounded since it for i=1 to n-1 never looks ahead. The higher the snowflake order and move from pi to p(i+1) the more sides on the polygon, the worse the discrepancy gets. next i "Moving" here has the following special meaning — to move from pk to p(k+1), ALGOL Program Listing move 1/3 of the way from pk to p(k+1). the point you are now at is to be a vertex q1 on the base of a new STANFORD Algol a (2SMAR7JI SNUlFLAKt

n-gon with vertices q1, q2, . . . ,qn. 0000 1- scaiN 000 1 — PRDCEOURE FLWtlwMl VALUE b 1 1 E • XI N | f . V I N 1 T ; INTEGER VALUE KPTm.n; for i=1 to n 0003 — LCGlCAL rfAtJfc OJT»; qi q(i+1) 000* 2- MEG IN move from to 000b -- CCMMLNF " A COHVE FWCCEOURE. •mIITln next i 0005 IMlfiAKI PLUllIM U) JAMS JONtS. 000b -- •••BASED ON AM lOtA UV UAVMONC iCHLtLHT. THANKS ALSC 10 move from qn to p(k+1) 000% -- MUdERT Mill/. IIIHUJI •mom NOT MUCH lOuLJ HA VI HAPPENED. ••• 000b -- in itself Notice that "moving" is now defined terms of OOOb -- THIS MtCUMSIVE VEhSION OF FLAKE AVOIDS SOME CF THC PROBLEMS -- (this is called recursive definition). This version will draw ooob ITM ROUNDO) F cH^UH TnAt I Hi 1'HIVIOJS VERSION FELL INTO. OOOb -- ThL USE OF MENU FORCE s I ME FREOICTICn UF Tut GOAL POINT. the limit curve, the true snowflake, or it would if it actually 0005 — AND THE, USE OF THE GOAL r-LUI PREVENTS ThE ACCUMULATION OOOb -- OF LHROftS •MILL HUVIK^ AL o N C THE tOCE • turtle given these in- let the turtle —er— move. The ooob -• OOOb — parameters: structions was last overheard muttering to itself . . . 000b -- bliEI RADIUS uF A CIhlLE Th*l I ML CURVE SHOULD FIT InTu ooob — (PLEASE NuTc: THC UuUNDS CALCULATED »KL SGCH TF-AI l»( r To move from p1 to p2, I first move from p1 to q1, OOOb -- DO NOT DEPEND UPON DEPTH ANO THUS ARE NOT LEAST UPPER one-third of the way to p2. That means I must first OOOb — OUUNOS. IT lb iMintN IHIs «AV TU PROVIDE A MARGIN Of OOOb -- SAFETY IN I ml CUMVI Il*|« BELL As TO ALLOk THE to r1, one-third of the to q2. But M move from q1 way OOOb -- PLOTTING UF IME SAME N-GCN ITH OlFFERlNC OEPlHS BHILE ooob -- ALLUlINO A OAsIs FLR COMPARIsUN ll-(M.) to do that, . . . MfVtCft OOOb -- XIN1T.Y1NIT: CuGRUINATEb OF CUMVL CENTER So, we must specify a maximum depth of recursion, ooob -- OEPTm: LEVEL Of CURVE — I.E.. NUMBER UF times FLAKIFVING IS 0004 -- DONE MINUS I and tell the turtle to actually move once that depth is OOOb -- k: numolh of BIOU jf i'uyus iu it ilakimiu OOOb -- OUT I INDICATES MHETHER FlAKIFvING reached. (Let's say "travel" instead.) Now, moving is done SHOULO BE CUT»ARO OR OOOb — IhiARO IIkUL indicate:* LgIaAmOI like this: OOOb -- OOOb -- AHNING: if maximum depth of recursion has been OOOb -- AN OUT «ARD~wMG* ING PENTAGON MAT GROft jUMUMAI LAMCER THAN ooob — SPECIFIED. ml MAVE NUT BEEF* AulE TO DERIVE A VALlO dOgND FOR reached, OOOb -- the pentagon in this case. although the bouno for lwe others OOOb -• is valid and the. pentagon's presumed bounc is. ml think. travel to p(i+1) OOOb -- nearly correct. OOOb - else move 1/3 of the way from p(i) to p(i+1) OOOb -- integer nd1r.i*0_n; logical n.uo01 - etc. 0CO7 n_odo:«cooi ni ; OOOtt -' T»G_s: «0H| 0009 -- nuir:«if k_uoo then tvju.n else n; This method requires a little finesse in BASIC. We can 0011 J- BEGIN 001* — LCNG REAL ARNAV A . V < O I : NOIR-I J I handle the flow of control in "moving" because BASIC 0013 — LCNG REAL ARRAY • IDCl | ! SMPTH 1 -- keeps a stack of return points, but all variables are global 00 I « LCNG REAL ANGLE I -• 001b INTEGER OlftaLCMTUHN.HlwiHTURN! .MGHTURN2 i

in BASIC. The messy business of stacking values of 0010 — INTEGER LI VEE ;

— REAL SO.XO.V9. Al .Y 1 .A*, . »» with arrays, using the counter 001 I LCNG ; variables can be handled 0010 - of recursion depth as a subscript indicating the next 001a - LCNG REAL PWOCl UGMfc LONuOKl. Uo MEAL VALUE XI; -• OOIO LCMGCUsIXl/LUNGSlNl X | available space in the arrays. It may look as if we intend 0020 -

-• PHQCCUUML SUM( I f.Tt ,i *. vAlj! to keep all n vertices at each level, but we can generate (Jo. J IfflTCOKM mi 0021 — CCMMENT successive points as described earlier. 0021 — SUt* RETURNS THE ^JUiUlt-1 InTO THE A AND V AM*. AYS 0021 - CoRRLSPONOlNo IO K* mntHl A mEPRESENTS The ANGLE Being basically cheap, we don't want to use actual 0921 -- M!*(K/N! MAUIANS. angles. That would make us calculate the unit vector in 0021 -• 0021 - the direction the turtle is traveling with each move, — (IF k*n0IR Then K-NDIM ELSE Kl ing of a single regular n-gon: 002 r — 002 7 — PROCEDURE »ENO(LUNo HtA L VALUE XO.YJ .XI ,V I 1 pi-theta, pi-2*theta, pi-3*theta pi-n*theta 002b *- | 0029 — HftlN =-pi 00*9 -- CCMMENT Hut TO MAKL YUJR AAY FRC* POINT (A9.V0I TC or, since theta=2*pi/n, oo«« - -- POINT ( XI .VI I # # 0U29 • • • lANMNwMI pi*(1-2/n), pi*(1-4/n), pi (1-6/n) pi (1-2*n/n)= 0029 — - THls HMOCEUONE TAKES ADVANTAGE UF ThE FACT ±pi. 0029 That call by value pamameters may be chanced «ith 0029 -• IMMUNITY. CONVERTERS IO CImLm LANGUAGES TAKE NCTE 0029 -• If n is even, all those angles are multiples of 2"pi/n, if t 0029 — LCNG REAL XK.YK.Sk; n is odd all are multiples of pi/n. Since turning is simply 00 JO -• LEVEL I *LtVtL »| ; 0031 — the addition of angles, and pi±theta=pi*(n-2)/n is also IF LEVEL>OEPlH TncN PLOT ( A I . Y I . 2 ) 0031 b- ELSE OEGIN

NOV/DEC 1978 147 : i; II ; ; ) ; I

— oou INTEGER DEPTH. 0033 — 0091 — Hi 0033 -- 0092 — LOGICAL OUT; 0093 XBOUNOlaVB4>UND:-0*0S 0033 — — — UOSIOIUOlLli 0094 — INTF IEL0SIZF:>3! 0034 ift :-xo*sk*xidir>: OM* -- REA0IPLCTSI2EI ; 0035 — vki-.vo»sk4vioim>; 009* PLOMO.C- I0.0.-3I ; 0036 — — CNlXX0iV3.XK.Vft Ji 00*7 — READIRAOIUS.OEPTH.N.OUTI 0037 — CCMHCNT OOM 2- BHILE RAOIUS>0«0 OO BEGIN 0037 — — THEN ES740LISH CORNEA OF NEXT-LEVEL N- CON 0O9V — SI2E:a2>04MA0IUS; our and from 0100 3- if vbcuno»size«2.0>pldtsi2e then eegin 0037 — mm. ybounc:-o.o Mil — vo:4vk; 0102 -3 end; 003* — OIMl>CK*aPROOtOIA4HIGMTU*Nlli • 1*3 3- if xbuundvttouNO»si2t»2.o; 00*3 »- Pod IIMj UNTIL N 00 BEGIN 0107 — PLCTI0.0.RADIUS41.0.-3I; X«1«XK| 010* — BRITEI** *l| V0!aVKl 0109 BRITEI "SNUWFLAKE S 1 If .S I It .•TO- .DEPTH .-LEVELS I -,N .--GCN USEO-| dir:-chcapmoo(oir»hjg»'turn2»! 0109 — "MOTION -.IF OUT THEN -OUTBARO- ELSE -INBARO'll 0M7 — xk:-xk»sk*x(OIBI! •III — FLAKCIRAOIUS.O.O.O.O.DEPTH.N.OUT I; 00*0 — yk:«vk*skbvl Fill TO COMMENT 0057 — 1030 REM K1IF.I 1,1 M01.'. UIIIHIIM UIIIIH Nlll MUCH uiim |i HAVE HAPPENED. CALCULATE THE POLYGON AT 00*7 — SIOELENGTHS EACH LEVEL. 1040 REM At'AI II D I KIIM Al GIIL I UK Mill. KAMI 4 23 78 AND STORE THEM •0*7 — IN THE ARRAV SIDE. 1050 REH I HI S ES (HI KMIikSIVI IIIKM, HHICH AVOIDS A GKIAT III AL I •e»7 — 10*0 RFM OF ROUNDOFF ERROR As DESCRIBED IN I HI ARTICLE. 0057 — S0:*SI7.E*2*L0NGSIN(P|/NIS 00* 7 — I IP OUT THEN 1070 REM IARAME II RSI IIP N.OOO Then 00*7 — 1000 REN SZ! RADIUS OF A CIRCLE THAI T HI CURVI SHOULD III INIil

— I IF N.J THEN 1.0C l 00*7 1090 REM NIITI ! Illl HUUNDS ARE SUCH 1IIAI HILT liCI NU1 DE 00*7 — ELSE 0*SL*LONGCOSfPI/NI4 1110 REM F-FNIi UN DP ANII 1HIIS Akl NOT IF AM IIPPEk BOUNDS. IT 0050 LONGSORTII0.0L**.0L*LONGCOS(PI/NI) I 1120 REM IS VKIMIII IHIi: UAY 111 IKI1V1M A MARGIN OF SAFETY IN ELSE 2.0LI 0050 1130 REM llll I'll VI 1,1/1 . Al. UlLl AS 1(1 Al I uu THE PIOTTINU OF (Mil OOSO ELSE l.OLIi 1140 REM SAME N SUN UIIH DIFFERING DEPTHS UHIll ALLOWING A BASIs| 00*1 — SIOEIIItaSOl 1130 REM FOR COMPARISON.) 00*2 — FOR Hag UNTIL DEPTH DO SIOE I I l:-S IDE! 1-1 »/3 i UAO REM XI. Til CI1DRDINATES (II IMF (IlkVI CENTER COMMENT 00*3 — 1170 REM DPI LEVEl OF CURVE! UNI I FSS IMAN FHE NUMBER OF IIMIS 00*3 — determine turn angles — 1180 REM DIVISION OF SIDES INIU THIRDS IS II] HE KilNI . 0M3 1170 REM HI NUMHEK (II BIDES Ul I HL INI I [AL I Hi rl.UN lcbtuan:>subi-2» ; 00*3 — 1200 REM 001 STANDS FOR GROW nulUAkl,! 11,111 IF THE CURVF IS TO 00*4 — h1ghturn1 !«subi if out then n-2 else avmii 1210 REH DO SO. 00** — h1ghturn2!*swsi ip out then -2 else 21; 00*0 — COMMENT 1220 REM WARNING: AN IIUTUAkH GROWING PENTAGON HAT GROU A LITTLE I Akfil k | 00** — LOCATE THE dEGINNING CORNER OF THE CURVE 1230 REM THAN SPECIFIED. WE DON'T kNOW WHAT THE EXACT SOUND FOR IT 00*0 — I 1240 REM IS. HUT Illl FORMULA IN HIE ROUTINE WOkkS FOR UIIIII, CASES LEVCLI'I 00ft* — 1230 REM AND IS NEARLY CORRECT FOR (HI I'i NTAGdN. WF THINK... 0069 — xoi4Xl :«xini l-so/2. 0070 — VO!«VI :«VINIT-S0*LUNGCUTIPI/NI/21 I. '4.0 km LUCAL VARIABLES! 0071 — PLOT (XO.VO. i I V.'/O kl ft PI ! THE USUAl . . . 0OT2 — 01R:>SU8|N-2| 1200 REH UP. DOWN! I 0073 -- CLMMCNT PARAMLTIRS Ok IHE PSEUDO-PLOT ROUTINE. 1290 REM (MET Akl ACTUALLY Ml 0073 — THEN aENO VOUR aAV FROM VERTEX To VERTEX OF THE ANINGLESS RUT ARE USED TO 1300 REM SIGNIFY PEN I'OSIIION. 0073 — THE bottom-level n-gon. 1310 REM NE 1 OR 'N EVEN' I TRUE IF N IS LVEN 0073 — I 1312 REM NH: NUMHEK 1)1 0073 -- kk:«ko»so*xioirii POSSISLI (URICIIONS OF (RAVEL 1314 REM Pit CURRFNF DIRECT ION S074 — vk:-vo»S0 4vioIhi ; I 131* REM ! TURN (Ik LOWES( -LEVEL POLYGON 0079 — bENOIXO.VO.XK.VKJ; n 1318 E,'EM TLIkNS I I (II 007* 4- POM l:*2 UNTIL N-l OO BEGIN HI.H3I Uk Ul III, LEVI L YISUNS 1320 REM DM: IiF-1! USl Ii TO AVIIID SIIDIkACTIUN 0077 — XOt-XKi IN RECURSIVE ROUT INF 1330 REH X.V! HOLD UNIT VECTORS IN ALL POSSIBLE 0070 — yo:«yk ; DIRECTIONS 1340 REM S: HOLDS SIDE UNGUIS I Uk Al I II 0079 — DIMIftCHEAPMUOIOIRFLOaTURNI ; • MO — XK;aX0»S04XIUIR| 1330 REM XOS.XkS.XlS.YOS.YKS. M' . IS.SS: STACK ARRAYS • Ml — VKS-V0FS04VI01M) ; 00*2 — ENOIXO.VO.Xft.VK 13*0 REM LOCAL ARRAYS Akl III nl.NSllINt H HI Rl 111 [NDICATI (III nlNlHUH 0M2 -4 END! 1370 REM POSSIBLE SIZE. UNI lam i.iifii mm Aim, EACH INVOCATION 00*3 — CCMMENT 1380 RIM OR DIMENSION (HEM II) IHE MAXIMUM Al I UWABl I SI/1 OUTSIDE OF 1.1V0 RI H IMF IIIIIIIINF . 00*3 — SINCE I AM MASICALLV PARANOIC*. I USE THE SAVE O 0M3 — COORDINATES OF THE BEGINNING POINT FOR THE LAST ! ooaj — 1400 II .1. lAISV:'/1 00*3 — DIM I-CMEAPMGPI01A4LGBTURM i4io up c DOWN ai vn HI 1 00*4 — MENDIXK. VK.XI .VII 1420 Nl MN MOD 2 <> 1430 IF NL IHIN ND N ND 00*4 -3 END ELSE 2*N 1440 DIH X(NH 1 I . T ( ND D.SIHI > 00*4 -2 END FLAKE; OOOb 1450 REM IHE IULLUWING ARRAYS ARE USED AS STACkS TO SAVE VALUES 00*5 — PROCEDURE PLOTIREAL VALUE X.V; INTEGER VALUE IPENI; 1440 REM OF VARIABLE!. CORRESPONDING III I 00*7 — COMMENT TO CALL BY VAl ARANI 1470 REM IN Illl UkllilNAI Al 1,111 PKIII I lillKI 0M7 — THIS IS THE ALGOL • AV TO LINK TO THE ROUTINE tH 1480 DIM XOS(DP).XkS(DP).XlS(DPI.YOS(DF ) . YKS( DP) . Y 1S( DP) . I!j( DP > .SS(DP) 0M7 — PLOTTING HERE AT OU. l*M SURE IT VARIES BILOLV FHI | oobt — STANDARDS AT A GREAT MANV PLACES. SO BATCH OCT ANI 1490 REM CALCULATE POSSIBLE UNIT VECTORS 0007 — TO FIT VOUR INSTALLATION* -- 1500 FOR 1-0 TO ND-1 00«7 1510 A>2*PI«1/ND 0M7 — FORTRAN LOT-; 1320 XII >«COS :yi I I SINIAI • OM — 1530 NEXT I oo*s — COMMENT ooao — THE PROCEDURE FLAXE DOES ALL THE OIRTV BORK. IT BAS BRITTEN TC 00*4 — 1340 REH DETERMINE SIDE LENGTHS ALLOB PEOPLE TO BR1TC THINGS TO CALL IT. SG THEV CAN THINK OF 1550 S(0)-2»SZ»SIN-S(0)/2! GOTO ooao — KERNIGHAN AND PLA\JGER*S 1*00 -SOFTBARE TOOLS.- I 1380 C-COSIPI/N) ooaa — THIS IS A DRIVER FUR THE FLAKE PROCEDURE . IT CAN BE CHANGED TO DO is»o sio>-2as(0)/(casoR( iOF«ac> > ooaa — — A GREAT MANY OIFFERENT THINGS FRCM BHAT IS DONE HERE. SO DON'T 1*00 FOR I-t TO DP OM GIVE IT MUCH THOUGHT. BE CREATIVE... 1*10 S(I>-S(I-l>/3 OOM — 1 1*20 NEXT I ooaa —-- REAL PICT SIZE! 0M9 REAL SUE! 1*30 REM INITIALIZATION OF POSITION OMO — REAL RAOIUS. ABOUND. VROUNO; 1*40 LV.O

148 CREATIVE COMPUTING > : )

REM •MOWING* FROM ONE POINT IXO.YO) TO ANOTHER (XK.YK) 1650 xo-xi-s/2: xi-xo: >> 2900 JOOO IF Lv;»DM THEN GOSUB 2000! RETURN 1660 Y0jY1-S<0)/<2»TAN(PI/N> >: Yl J010 REM SIACMNO OF VARIABLES CHANGED DURING GOSUB lA/o ip-up: uusuh 2000: IP hiiwn J020 xosilvi-xo: xksilvi-xk: xis"X1 3030 Y0S(LW)»Y0: YKSILVMYK! Y1SILV1-Y1 I6B0 REM DETERMINE TURN VALUE I IIIK BOITUM ANH UPPER I 3040 ISILVIMI SSILV1-SH 1490 1 3050 IV-LVtl 1700 11 '.'•N 2 1/10 HI 3055 RIM OUR DESTINATION IS (XK.YK). SO UE SAVE IT l -to II ncii on nil n hi hi : h. 3057 REM IN XI AND Yl 17.10 II HI IHIN H1-H1K'*H l.'»N 3058 Xl-XKS Y1»YK 1740 ir Nl IHIN DI-DI/21 II 11/:': HI hi/.': 3060 REM MOVE A THIRD OF THE WAY IN THE CURRENT DIRECTION I Rill inn I I VI I T.IDE 3070 SK-S(LV) XK-X0»S<0)*X 1/60 JOtJO XK-XO«SK»X: YK-YO*SK»Y 1000 3090 OOSUB 3000

TiRAW 2ND I HROUUH (N-I)TH (TURNING REQUIRED) I7B0 REM X Nl 3100 REM MAKE IlKlil 'HOVE' FOR NE I -LEVEL POLYGON 3110 XO xk: YO Yl\ 1H0O XO XI-: YO YK 3120 DI-CDMHI ) MOD ND isio in H'lii ii noli nii J1J0 XK-X0ESK«X00 1840 HI 3150 REM MAKE 'MOVES' FOR INTERMEDIA! I III YGON 1850 REM HRAU FINAL •SIDE* II IS SEPARATE BECAUSE UE J160 I OR I»3 TO N 1860 REH HAVE SAVED THE INITIAL COORDINATES IN 1X1. Yl) 3170 XO >l 3180 Kl I HI III.' 1 MOD NH 1870 REM ANU HON • I TRUST REPEATED ADDITION TO BE AS 3190 XK XOtSKJXIHI ) ! YK« Y0t5K»Y( DI 1880 REM ACCURATE. (REMEMBER. OUR TURTLE IS INTELLIGENT ' 3000 1870 DI-lllMI T> MOD ND 3200 GOSUB J210 NIX1 1 1900 xo xk: yo yk: xk xi: fl 1910 GOSUB JOOO 1920 RETURN 1220 REM IHIN IHE I1NAL EDGE. Ri Ml MM R . IHI IIIRHI KNOWS .!2J0 KIM UIH II D I Nil UP AND Nl EH Nlll CALCULATI IT. 2000 PRINT XK1YK 3240 DI (DltHl) MOD ND 2010 RL1URN I,: XK-Xl! YK Yl - DOMM 3000 THE PLOT KUUTINE USE Ii EUR DEBUGGING

2030 REM AND [NCLUKD HERI I UK COMPLETER . OUR 2040 REM ALTAIR MAS NO PLOTTER! AND THIS WAS USED TO TEST 1270 REM VARIABLE UNSTACKING

2050 REM till ALCURALY Ul I HL IKANSl A 1 1 UN I RUM Al OOL . 20A0 REM TOR AN INTERESTING EFFECT. TRY THE FOLLOWING 3290 xo-xor,: xk-xks(lv>: Xl-XIS(LV) 2070 REM TRANSFORMATION: 3300 yo^yosilv): ykyksilv): yi>yis 2OB0 RIM 1HRN (XK.YK) IN' mo [-ISILVM bk BB(LV) 3320 RETURN 2090 REM (R.THETA). THIN UARI AS I III I IIU' 2100 REM (R.IHLTAI .THETA> 2110 REM IHIN IURN HACK INIII RCCTANGULAR COORDINATES 2120 RIM FOR PLOTTIHO. 21 JO REM K SHUUl II BE BETWEEN ANH 1.

Europe's first magazine for personal computers for home and business use

Original Software and hardware

• Evaluations

• Significant applications

• Beginners' tutorials

• Matters of public concern

• Cartoons THE EUROPEAN PERSPECTIVE SPECIAL OFFER

Special offer to the readers of Creative Personal computing in Europe is taking off! Com- puting:

For the latest news, views and comments, read Twelve issues of PCW for just $15 (usual rate Personal Computer World — Europe's first $20) on subscriptions received within three magazine for personal computers for home and months of the date of this ad. Sent direct from business use. London.

PCW brings you a flavorsome mix of software, Please make check or money order payable to: hardware, evaluations, applications, tutorials, Intra Press

articles, cartoons, and much more. PCW is a 62 A Westbourne Grove magazine of distinctive style and quality. London, W2, England

NOV/DEC 1978 149 150 CREATIVE COMPUTING The game programs in this issue result of an incautious approach by the (JOUST, CORRAL and PUZZLE) are cowboy. So heed with care the advice I0tl Ml IM£ C0III0T. 80 CMCH TOW WISE III I* COfttHLI special preprints from our forthcoming for the cowboy not to advance by more M YOU •••! FULL IHStlUCTIOIIS' TCI nu Mve iow«i ioui mtst i to 3 steps «t * tine. than half the separation in any one book. More BASIC Computer Games. ir TM 11011 TMU M4LVI IM StFEIItlO* HC KILL MITI Like the popular BASIC Computer move except when adjacent to the HE MT M.30 1011 »«[« HE II Cllit TO THE MIL MUCH TOO CMC HITHt* 2 ItCrt MI Ml HICK. 10 LOOKOUT" Games: Microcomputer Edition, this horse, of course! -•• book will contain over 100 game pro- The probability that the horse may unci tt« ii urn noil i to j ro* cmmt'I kit mm grams in Microsoft BASIC. They can be kick when the cowboy moves close is • IC 1 1 I c B 1 little modification, set by the IF statement at line 500. The run, with or no on I 1 c at 1 I c at your TRS-80 Level II, PET, Apple II with cowboy is immobilized for from one to 4 I c ai Applesoft, Exidy Sorcerer or OSI five moves, while the horse canters 9 1 c > I 1 N 1 Challenger, and can be converted to happily away from the scene of his 1 C MM.1EI 7 I a c 1 most other BASICS. Complete descrip- triumph. If this happens more than a i 1 a c I t I ac 1 tions, LISTs and RUNs are given for certain (random) number of times the 10 I a c I each program. This book includes round-up is terminated by the depar- II I ac I I I about 50 programs previously publish- ture of the cowboy in an ambulance. tiffee* M4J SEE ir foil CM CMCH an II FEW! H0VES ed in Creative Computing magazine, Occasionally the horse decides to moihei HOUINIP' ret converted to Microsoft BASIC, and engage in a friendly dance around the t It a I another 50 game programs never cowboy, but remember that random i I c 1 1 Order your advance number generators have no soul and 2 I c ai before published. 1 1 c HI copy now, for $7.50, plus $1.00 for the result is often vile treachery as the 4 I • c I •0LIEI 9 1 a c 1 fatal postage and handling, from: Creative horse delivers a kick at the very 4 I a c 1 Computing, P.O. Box 789-M, moment when a successful catch 7 I a c I 1 1 H c 1 Morristown, NJ 07960. seems assured. On the other hand, the ? 1 II c 1 10 I K c skill of an accomplished CORRAL I II I : a t I0L IE 1 cowboy can result in a catch within 12 I c a t 11 I c a I three moves with no injuries sustained. II 1 I H 1 19 I c a 1 You either have it or you have not, as II I c a I CORRAL 17 I c I I the saying goes. In the latter case the 11 I c ai by Colin Keay program allows a maximum of 100 It I a c 1 I0LIEI moves before relegating the luckless to I H c 1 II I c a I lean CORRAL is a game program inspired cowboy to cookhouse chores. B I c at Aragon), horse 1] I c at by Harry (short for a Computer freaks with multi-color M I c ai acquired in a rash moment of in- graphics on their busses will no doubt 13 I c at dulgence for a teen-age daughter. M I c at be dissatisfied with such prosaic sym- 17 I a c I I0L1EI

in inimitable style, I Harry, his own bols as H and C for the horse and N a c 1 taught us much about the care, feeding It 1 II c 1 cowboy. A fully animated CORRAL in M I 1 c t and psychology of the equine species. 11 I • c I living color (with synthesized sound 12 I > c I t 1

of that hard-won psychology has I • Some effects by Votrax — a talking horse yet!) 11 c 1 nan 14 I a I found its way into CORRAL, which is a c should not be too difficult to achieve. 19 1 c a I one-dimensional simulation of the two- II I c a I ! 3 dimensional 17 I C 1 I t 1 (and almost three-) 10 1 H t I •OLTEI t I ' problem of catching Harry for anything It I II c 1 I M I I c I 1 1 other than food. The main reason for 41 I c a I nan 42 1 c a I confining Harry's alter ego in the 4] I c a I 1 1 computer to only one dimension is 44 I c a 1 t 2 43 1 C N 1 T 2 simply to conserve paper on hard-copy 44 I C 1 I 1 l terminals. Even so, the presentation is 47 I c a I t 1 40 I a c I nan very effective on a video display unit. 4t 1 a c I 90 1 c I is pair The corral itself bounded by a 91 I I c I of siderails represented by upper-case 92 IH c i 91 IK c I

I characters separated by 21 spaces. 34 IN c I The cowboy C always enters beside the S3 IM c I It I c a I I0UEI leftmost rail while the horse H is 37 I C H i 30 I c a I happily mooching somewhere St I c I 1

40 I a c I I0LIEI T 2 between positions 1 and 1 8 with a bias 1LLEIM. MVE III IMII » 2 towards the right. This bias and the 41 I H C t peculiarities 42 I II c t various other behavioral 41 I a c I of the horse are governed by two data 44 IM c I 43 I c a t I0L1EI matrices (statements 90 and 100) M 1 c a 1 47 1 a I which may be altered to vary the c 40 I c a 1 beast's temperament from wild to 4t 1 H c 1 KICHEI itosc mens uiiii n I IME HOSPIT* docile depending on the data distribu- •El HELL 300m ' •I0TMEI •oimiup* ao tion. ot If the horse bolts, a check is made (line 450) to ensure that it does not reach a position less than one space away from the cowboy. Occasionally, the horse bolts to a position more advantageous to the cowboy, just as in real life, but usually the opposite is true, particularly when it bolts as a

. Colin Keay. Physics Depl . Newcastle University. Australia.

151 LIST 10 ptiat iuiui; • 21 Hiai imi20i;'CIC«tivc cohputiig- modem / 'mo dam / [ modulator 30 hibt i»kiii;-»o««is!ou», beb jebset 41 FIIBT:PIIBTiPIIH1 + demodulator] n - s : a device for 31 tin till) 44 III Sll.tl transmission of digital information '• FBI 1-1 TO ::F0« J'O TO » • «t»» sii.jiibeii JiBEXT I via an analog channel such as a tele- 0 Ml* 0,1,2,3,3,2,2,1,0,-1 100 0010 1,2,3,4,9,4,3,2,1,0 phone circuit. 110 P«I»t * I0U «»t IMf COUIOT. 10 C4ICH 10Ut HOUSE 10 THE COIML'" 120 1BPUI ->0 tOU U4B1 FULL IHST*UCri*I*T "BHEH TOU COKE BI1BIB 2 STEPS HE MT KICK. SO L00B0U1' 100 point "»' 140 POIOI "4FIEI ITPE 1H lltlt FOOH 1 10 3 FOO COBIOTS KIT HOVE 200 C*1:L>l»'0:B'0:a>OlOOSUI 300 210 IF *>3 IHEB 0--0 220 B-13*0lS0SUI 400 230 T-24PIP0IBT 240 !» "

230 FOO J' I TO 21l4IJI-32i»EJT J 240 «IC>'4>7l*IH)-72 270 Hiai a,-i-; 200 FOO J-1 TO 21lPalaT CHB4IO>«isia-ci:i*soaiH-ci Designed for use on the dial telephone or TWX 310 •<•!: IF «>0 OOTO 340 networks, or 2 -wire dedicated lines, meets all 320 if a>ioo lata 730 FCC regulations when used with a CBT coupler. 330 IBPOI I 340 IF l>0 Ml 021 IHEB 330 370 OEtlOSUI 340 NO ADJUSTMENTS ARE REQUIRED 300 0'P|B'H«140:B0SUI 400 * Bell 103 standard frequencies 340 IF H!il 400 >1 OOTO 440 410 IF H>1 «al HCI THCa 400 * Automated dial (pulsed) and answer 410 OOSOI 340 * Originate and answer mode 420 IF l>2 OOTO 400 * 1 BPS speed select 430 IF >>7 IOTO 240 10 or 300 440 S-t»2'P:H"M-L«S:L--L:G0SUI 400 * Character length, stop bit, and parity 430 IF *ISIH-CI>I THE* 4/0 * 90 day warranty and full documentation 440 H*H-3*L|S0SUI 000 470 II--IOITE0 -tlOTI 230 410 IF «ISia-CI>2 SOTO 240 ASSEMBLED & TESTED - $299.00 440 S03UI 340 * _ 300 IF B>3 S010 370 310 SOSUI 340 320 »P«2:H"»«1lH"H-5«LlOOSUI 000 330 »0--aiC«Ei-:6OTO 230 D.C. Hayes Associates, Inc. 340 IF I>1 SOTO 430 330 (•l-tlPBINIlSOSUI 300 16 PERIMETER PARK DR. SUITE 101 340 B-BU«IP<1I|60SUB 400:0010 240 370 IF H-C THEa 430 P O BOX 9884 ATLANTA. GEORGIA. 30319 (404) 455-7663 300 SOTO 240 340 t-iaT(iciaaoiiiiiP-s21 THEO H»21 420 BE 1U*.* ' 430 PIlBTlPBlBT -THOSE KICKS LABDEO TOU 1H THE HOSPITAL 1 440 PIIBT ' BET BELL SOOB"-|(0IO 700 430 FOB J-l 10 21:4IJI>32lBEXT J:t

Joust UM1 IS T0UI BIHE, PLE4SE' SIEVE SIB SIEOE, TOO 4BE I HEIIEVBL KBIIHT la • JOUST IB0 TOUIHMEaT. TBC PBIZE TO IBE B1BBEB IS THE PIIBCESS' H4BD IB FMIBIIOE. by Alan Yarbrough 10 BIB, 100 BUST IE4T FOOT 0TBEI M1SHIS. TO J00ST, TOO PICI 4B 4IBIBS P0IHT FOB THE LIBCE, In this game, you're a medieval •01 IHEB 0BE OF FIOH 3 TO 4 I1FFEIEBT POSSIHE DEFEBSE POSITIONS. tbe Biaias POiats bbe: in tournament. knight a jousting You 1- HELB will challenge, in succession, the Gold 2- UPPEB LEFI <0F SHIELD 3- UPPEB BIIILE Knight, the Silver Knight, the Red 4- UPPEB BIOHT Knight and the Black Knight. The prize 3- L0IIEI LEFI 4- LOOEI BIIILE is the princess' hand in marriage. To ? L0BEI IISHT O- B4SE OF SH1EL0 joust, you select an aiming point for your lance, and then a defense posi- IF TOU HEM I L4KCE 00 LOSE « HUB, TOU BILL IE SIVCB 4B01HEB. OBOI LUCB, 51l< tion. Your choice of defensive TOUB F1BSI JOUST. TOU 4BE UP MIHST THE SOLI lalSHI. will the TBIS IS positions be determined by way TOUB 4IBIBS P01BTII-II' 4 you aim your own lance. TIU B4T USE 0BE OF THESE OEFEBSESl 2-IISBT LE4B, 4-SIE4IT SE4T, 5-SH1ELD H16H, 4-SH1EL0 LOB. The original version of Joust was LIBIT IS TOOT CHOKE' 2 HE HIS IIMEB HIS LMKE MO UHSEItEl TOU ICIMB' I done in BASIC on a PDP-11, but the TIU HI1 BIS SBIELI IBI SLIBCEI OFF. program listing here is in Microsoft ? 100 IBI, TOU LOST. HOPE TOIIP lBSUBMCE BUS PIIO UP. SOBBT, KITE! LUCI BEIT JOUSt. > BASIC. 01

Alan Yarbrough. 128 Simons Rd. . Lexington, MA 021 73

152 CREATIVE COMPUTING I

MM IS TOU* MHC, HEME' STCVE 331 PIIHT "3- UPPEI Sll SIEVC, rOU ME 4 HEDIEVAL KBIGHI IN A JOUStlM TOUIHAICH1. HI8HE" 3*0 PIIHT "4- UPPER RIIHT" THE HUE 10 THE UlaaEI IS INC PIIDCESS- HMD IK MIR1A0E. 330 PIIHI "3- Tl HIB. TtU BUST IUT FOUt OIH[» KHI6HTS. IMC* LEFT" 410 PIIHT "4- LORER Tl JOUSt, TOU PICK M almaG Point FIM INC IMCE, MIKE" 430 PIIHT V- LOUEH IIIHT" Ml Tata MC if FlOa J 10 t OIFFEKat POS310LE HFMSE POSI110M. lac aiaiai points a»Ei 311 PIIHT -I- MSE OF SHICLI- 1- helh 320 PIIIT 310 PIIHT , 2- uppei left i0f shield M:I L ,0 , UM * * "' " UIU *"" """""• 3- uppei hiiile 331 PIIHT -ioo»°Luc I!*siI.-* " * 4- uppei iiwi 333 PlIHt 440 3- louei left FM a • I to < 4- loheb aniLE 430 oa a loio loo, tso, noo, 1231 7- LOUEI II6HI ?M •EH OFF TOU 00 TO THE FOM JOUSTS. •- MSE OF SHIELD 730 •EH 810 PIIHT -THIS IS TOM FIISI J8UST. TOU ME M MIHST THE OOLD KHIOHT." 830 GOIO 1400 IF tOO HEW • IMCE M LOSE A HELH, I0U HILL IE IIVEH AHOIHE*. 838 PIIHT "THIS •Ml LUCK, Sll' IS TOM SCCOHI JOUSI. TOM OPPOHEHT IS THE SIEVE! KHIMT • 1100 6010 1400 1 101 'lltl THIS IS TOM FiaSI JOOSI. TOU ME IIP AGIRSI THE M10HT. m ""' ,m '"'" *•" '•MI•" , ML! 1130 6010I!,!'.!!™ " m •" mm.- twi aiaiai P0IHII1-II' 3 MOO 1230 PtHT -THIS TM H«T USE OHE OF THESE IEFEH5E5: IS TOM FIHIL TEST" IF TOU UIH THIS ODE THE PR1RCESS" 1270 Plllt -IS T0U«S'" THIS l-STEAIT SEAT, 3-SHIELI HIOH, 4-SHIELI LOU. FIIHI IS MAIHSI THE FIERCE ILKI KHIOHI 1400 IHPUI UMT IS TOM CHOICE' 4 -TOUI a POUTII-II-JI HE HOKE HIS LMCE. 1430 IF I <1 N IM THEH 1410 1470 PIIHT Ttll MOIE TOM LMCEICRACK...I -TM MT USE OHE OF THESE REFERSESl- 1300 00 TMI «IE MH IEMT TO 1ST IMMIH. I I0TO 1330, 1430, 1730, 1830, 1331, 1750, 1330, 1430 1330 - TIM tlHIM POIHTII-II' 2 PIIHT 4-STEIOT seat, 3-SHICLD HIOH, 4-SHIELI l«." TMI HIT USE 0« OF THESE KFEHSESl 1100 8010 2000 1430 PIIHT - 1-LEFI 3-LEFI LEM, 4-STEMT SCAT. 3-SHIELI HIOH, 4-SHIELD LM. LEM, 4-SIEMT SEAT, 3-SHIELI HIOH, 4-SHIELD LM." 1711 UMT IS TIM CHOICE' 3 MTO 2001 1730 PtHT HE HIT TOO* SalELD WT IT OLMCED OFF. - 1-lMEI HELH, 2-IIIHT LEHH, 1-LEFI LEM, 4-STEMT SERI. 1733 TOU UlSEalEI Kin IIOUI CHEERS MD HU«AH5"> PIIHT ' 3-WIELI HI8H, 4-SHIELI LOH." TM HIVE HOH THIS JOUST. 1100 •OTO 2000 1130 PIIHT • 2-IIIHI LE«H, 4-STEMT SE4T, 3-SHIELD HUH, 4-SHIELI LOU." I too SOTO 2000 THIS IS TIM SECOM JOUST. TOM OPPOHEHT IS THE SILVER KHI0H1. 1130 TIM 4IHIH6 POIHTII-II' 3 '"'• i"M,tL ia ""•" 2140 "p«"! ' """• ** ' TIU MT USE ME OF THESE OEFEHSES: ^r?,5"i3.nS5fc 2130 1 • IRIIIIIIIIall • l-LOIiet HELH, 2-RIIHt LEM, 3-LEFT LEM, 4-STE4IT SEII, | 2100 01 I SOTO 3-SHIELO HISH, t-SHIELI LM. 2131, 2200, 2230, 2300, 2330, 2400, 2430, 2380 2130 OH C IDTO 2400, UMT IS TMI CHOICE' 4 2400, 2400, 2700, 2100, 2401 2200 01 C SOtO HE DIKE alS LMCE. 2180, 2730, 2101, 2738, 2738, 2108 2231 M C S8T0 2131, TIU lajUIEI Ml URSEAIEI TOM OPPOHEHT. 2100, 2430, 2738, 2838, 2800 2100 C Mil TM H4VE HM THIS JOUST. M 2131, 2100, 2730, 2430, 2438, 2801 2130 88 C HIS 2738, 2438, 2488, 2738, 2400, 2730 2400 08 C 8010 2430, 2430, 2730, 2830, TM ME Hill HELL' TOUT THIHI JOUST IS AM1BST THE (El KHIOHT. 2838, 2734 2430 OH TIM IIHIB6 POIHTII-II' 4 C 8810 2430, 2400, 2430, 2430, 2430, 2430 2300 OH C OOTO TIU MT USE ORE OF THESE KFEHSESl 2730, 2430, 2830, 2730, 2830, 2738 2411 PIlBt -HE HISSEI IOU'-:S-llOOtO 2-HIIH1 LEM, 4-SIEMT SE4I, 3-SHIELI HIM, 4-SHIELI LOU 1000 2430 PIIHT "He UMT IS TOM CHOICE* 4 HIT TOUI SHIELD IUT IT SLMCCI OFF.-iS'ltOOTO 3010 HE MOKE HIS LMCE. 2700 PIIHI -HC HROCKCD OFF TOU* HELR>-|3-0lO8TO 1840 2730 PIIHI TM IIOHE TOM LAUCfl CRACK...! 'HE HOKE HIS LIBCC-iSOlSOTO 3000 2100 PIIHT -HE HAS TIU MC HM IEMT TO TOT IUMIH. UHSE4TEI TOUI 1HUD' >":S-5:liOIO 3144 2130 PIIHT -HE TIM aiaiai poibth-ii' *• HIS HOKEH HIS II8CC, IHJMEI Ml URSEAIEI TOU IOUCH'1" 2133 S'StOOIO TM MT USE OHE OF THESE ICFEISES: 3000 2400 PIIHI -HE HIS IBJUIEI 2-aiMI LEAI, 4-SIEADI SE»I, 3-SHIELI HUH, 4-SHIELI LM. aal UlSEalEI TOU 3 3100 c laniHiitiaai i HE HIT TOU« SHIELI IUI IT GLAHCED OFF. i 3130 Oa I 0010 1110,1130, TM HIT HIS SHIELI IUI GLAHCEI OFF. 3200, 3230, 3144,1244, 3100, 1301 3100 IF £<« IHEH 1000 ELSE TM ME am iemt 10 in tiaia. 1130 3130 IF E'l IHEH 1000 ELSE 3138 tiui aiaiao poihki-ii* 2 3200 8010 1130 TM H»T USE HE OF THESE IEFERSE5: 3230 IF E'l 01 E'l THEH 1080 ELSE 3130 3-LEFI LEAH, 4-STEMT SEAT, 3-SHIELI HIOH, 4-SHIELD LOU. 3100 IF E • 2 M E 3 IHEH JI44 UMT IS TOM CHOICE' J 3130 OH E ODtO 1400, 1430, 3300, 3330, HE I40KE HIS LMCE. 3400, 3430 1400 OH I SOTO 1700, 1480, 1130, 3730 1134, TIU HISSCI HIH IHISS'I 4030, 3731, 3830 3430 01 I 80T0 3700, 1130, 1400, TIU 4BE HM IEADT TO 1HI MAIa. 1700, 4054, 3734, 3740,... 3734 3300 01 I OOTO 1700, 1700, 1730, 1130, 1700, 1850, TMI alHIM POIHTII-II' 1 4030, 3400 3330 OH I 0010 1101, 1130, 1850, 1730, 3850, TIU MT USE OHE OF THESE KFEHSESl 4050, 3750, 3830 3400 01 I 0010 1400, 3050, 4050, I-LOUEI HELH, 2-RISHl LEM, 3-LEFI LE4H, 4-STEMT SE4I, 3750, 3701, 3831, 1730, 3430 3430 OH I 1010 3700, 1700, 4-SHIELI 4000, 1100, 1150, 3830, 3730 3850 3-SHIELI HIOH, LM. 3700 PIIHI -TOU HISSED HIH (HISS i >-; UMT IS TOM CHOICE' 4 t-OiOOHI <10l 3730 PIIHI -TOU Hit HIS SHIELI HE II0HE HIS LMCE. IUI ILMCED OFF.-iT'OlGOTtJ 4100 3100 POUT -TOU KBOCKEI OFF HIS HELH' TIU IPOKE TOM LMCE IUI MSEITCI TOM OPPOHEHT. ICHEEHS' >"|T"0I00I0 4100 3130 PIIHI -IOU HOKE tOUl TM HIVE »0H THIS JOUSI. LaaCEICMCK...|-:T-OlGOtO 4108 3400 P»IHt -TOO UHSEHIED HIH IIOUI CHEERS Ml HU2ZMS< < I'lt'SlOOlO 4140 3430 PIIHI -TOU HIKE TOUI IMCE, OUT UBSEAIEI MD ' UJMED TOUI THIS IS TMI F1ML TEST • IF TOU U1H THIS OHE IHC PBIHCESS FIE." 1435 t'SlOOIO 4100 IS I0UBS'" THIS FIIHI IS MatHST THE FIEICE IL4LK KHIOHT"" 4100 PlIHt -IOU IHJUIEI Ml URSEHtEl TOUI OPPOHEHT. tmi aiaiao poihtii-ii' 2 ":I. 3:0010 4140 4130 PIIII -TOO HOKE TOUI LiaCE IUT URSEAIEI TM HIT USE OHE OF THESE HFEBSESl TOM OPPOHEHT. ":t.3iOOI0 4140 4100 IF S I Ml S • IHEH 4430 3-LEFT LE«H, 4-3TE4DT SEAT, 3-SHIELI HIGH, 4-SHIELD LOU. 4130 IF S • 1 8010 4400 UMT CHOICE' IS TMI 3 4200 IF St 8010 4350 TOU HISSEI HIH IHISS'I 4300 PI1«T -TOU HAVE UM IHIS JOUSI. "jPllllilOTO 4320 LOST. TOUI IMS TM Ml, TOU HOPE IHSMMCE Pall UP. 4120 acit a SUIT, ICTTEI LUCK HEIt JOUSI. 4130 BOIO 4550 01 4130 PIIII -TOO IM, TOU LOST. HOPE TOM IHSMMCE MS P*II UP.'lOOTO 4500 4400 Plilt -100 DID, tOU IOIH LOSl. II LEAST TOM HOHM IS IHTaCt.-|OIIO 4510 4450 piiit -too mc ioi icair to t»i asaii.-:ioto 1100 4300 PIIHT -SOIIT, IETtE« LUCK BEIT JOUSI. ":G01u 4T48 4330 PIIII -HOOMT' TOU ME !HE UIMEB. HERE CORES IHE MIIE'" EHI T

10 rani imi2ii;-jovsi- 20 PIIRI iai(20i;-CREaTIUE cmputim- 31 PIIH1 TM(1II;-HOH1STOM, HEU JERSET" PlIITlPIIHTlPIIHI IIPUt-UHIt IS IOM MM, PLEASE';*! 128 p*lit-SII -;ai;-, too me a heiieval kiimi ih a jousiiho tou»Han€at.- 121 PIIHI-IHE PI1IE 10 IHE UIHHEI IS IHE PIIHCESS' HMO IB MMIA8C.* 122 P8IHT "TO UIH, TOU RUST SEAT FOM OTHEI KBIOHTS." 123 piiii -to jousi, tou pick aa aiaiao poibt fm ihe lbhce,- 128 PIIH1 -Ml THEH ME OF FIDR 1 TO 4 IIFFEREHT POSSIILC 8EFEHSE POSIIIMS. 1)8 PIIHT -THE AIHIHI POUTS MEl" 138 PIIHI 'I- HEL«- 2M PIIIT "2- IIPPE* LEFT (8F SHIEHI"

NOV/DEC 1978 153 '

CMPITEI LaWUMES

Puzzle iiuiiiiaisiaiiz lloailSLiEPaoTS TVTPFFIZOIZKCFP by Leor Zolman PITTIHPPLOISSST ItllllllJILIIII IIIEIIIISIMIfl This program creates word search IM1IIHIIIFIIJ LliiliaiHuuFic puzzles. These are puzzles in which linllHIIIFMFI words are embedded in a matrix of ipoizieihiifui ivcsipstst i l i 3 i random letters. The object is to find all i1iii0iiisuii1t iiiiiuiiiiiiii the words, which may be read right, licihiiii11iic left, up, down or diagonally. PUZZLE KiiiijriiFiji) allows you to enter a set of words and then uses these to form a word search Fill THESE HIIKI UOIIS II THE alOVE PUZZLE: puzzle. If the computer decides that it aljal aatiaaltr latlc cabal fartraa lit! pilot 111 ril taoMl fit all words into the puzzle, it II© can't your will ask if you want to start over. Over the course of several years, we've received quite a few word-puzzle programs, but we feel that this is the best we've tried. If you enjoy programs HEHE 13 THE MSUEI KET: of this kind, you might want to try writing a program which solves word 1

toaol fortraa !• THE COUISE OF MUM THE PUZZLE, THE MCHIHE HUT alfal alltabltr banc snobol Fill IMT IT CMI PUT » PalllCULM U0«0 MTUHCtE, PHD lit! pilal III ppi SO U1LL »S> TOU IF II SHOULI SIM! THE HH01E PUZZLE IMP. IF TOU OOH'I UMI IT TO STMT OVEH, TTPIM HO' Will THIOH IWI THHI PMTICULM UOII. IF THIS PEISISTS, TIT E1IHEI SIVIHO LESS UOIIS Ot IIOOEI PUZZLE IIHCISIOaS'

HIV UHT C0LU0B5 I0ES TOUI PPIHTEP MVE' 72 •0 TOU UHT « S0LUTI0H PHIHTOUT' IES UMI IS TO IE THE IIITH OF THE PUZZLE* 13 THE LEBITB' 13 UMI IS THE MI1H.W HUME! OF UOIIS II THE PUZZLE' 10

M* EITEI » HCMIM IMT HILL IE PIIH1EI OVEI THE PUZZLE:

< 72 CMI4C1EIS MIIHURi I I COHPUTEI LMSUMES

01 . . . EIIEI I UO*l HI EACH OUEST10H MM. II MM THE PIEV10US UOII, TTPE » HIPHCH l-l. vita tou iua out of uoiis, ttpe a peiioi I. I, » IKU II IC (D -Mnic- 1 Foaiojiaa* -fortraa- ' P L I -pll- I C I l«a»' -coaoi- I aSKHMCEl -aiiaalalar- » - HEM attaabalar 'K ? aSSEHILEP * -a»«a*Uar- 1 «po

-alfol- * LISP 9 -llip-

-taabol- -•••• * PIL01 -pllot- IMI'S it... to uoais.* W HM LET HE POalCI THIS ma a«HT copies or this puzzle io tou umii i FM EtCH COPT, HII IETUII TO IE0IB PI1HTIHI...

Lit! 10 PH1HT TMtZ*l;-PUZZLE" ^ 21 piiit iaii2ii;'c»EaTivE cohputim- P 31 PIIIT T«ini>;-aoii!5!Oua, acu jehset- ? 41 Pliai:PiiaT:PiiaT 31 PllaT • THIS PIOMM IS I U0HI SEMCH PUZZLE KKIaTMM" 41 PtllT 'THE PINMH IMES I SEI OF IBPUI STI1HIS, PUIGES M.L* 71 Pill! 'aOB-aiPMIETIC CMMCTEIS OUT IF THE!, Ml IHCOPPOMTES" I PIIIT -THE! laTO I UOII SEMCH PUZZLE. * »• PIIIT ^ 110 PIIIT ' II THE COUISE OF MKIM THE PUZZLE, THE MCHIHE Ml' 110 PIIIT 'FUI TM1 IT CM'T PUT I PMIICUIM UOII IHTUHEIE, a»D" <%?P 1Z0 PIIIT 'SO HILL III TOU IF IT SHOULI STMT THE UHOLE PUZZLE" 130 PIIIT 'OVEI. IF TOU lOa-l IMT IT TO STMT OVEI, TTPIM HO" IIC PIIIT 'HILL THItU IMT TMI PMIICUIM HMO. IF THIS PEISISTS,

CREATIVE COMPUTING Leor Zolman, 362 Memorial Drive. Cambridge. MA 02 1 39 154 I 7 —

no rum Mir Enau emu less awn 01 iiiki fojzle iihcmiow III FlIITlFIIII 210 CLCII 1000 300 KF FI4UI. IIKIIImtZ.il JIO UNIT "HOy III! COLUHBS IOCS TOW) PIIHTEI IM»f;T« 320 IIFUT -to TOU H4IT SOLUTION f*ihioui";x»

310 IIFUI •»«»! IS TO IE IKE l> I DTM OF THE PUI2LI":aill-H 3«o if «<:II IHCI M»L 333 IF L iWIIII*. . ."iMTO 410 tion and multimedia presentations We also belong 410 IF II--.- THE! H-l-lllOTO 440 to that minority in education who actually test ma- 310 IF LEKTII-0 TIE! Fill! "IIFUT EIIOI; IED0!-|0OTO 4K> 310 J- terials to see that people can learn from them 320 TEl'lUKTI.J.IIlIF IEI>'-|- Ml TEK'-I- THE! 370 323 IF TEK-4- 01 TEt>-Z- THE! 310 Now Program Design brings this experience to the personal 322 HIIItll,J,l>'CHII(«SC<«IDIl(10TO 321 330 IF TEI.II !ME« II""! SOTO 300 computer field PDI is developing a line of educational and 340 IF J'LEKIII THE! TI'LEFTIt II, J-l 1:0010 310 game programs for the whole family—from preschool child to 330 IF J'l IKED 1«"II6III(1I,LEI(I»1-11:J«J-I:G010 370 340 TI>LEFTI(TI,J-II«IIIHII(TI,LEIITSI-JI:J-J-I adults. 320 J"J«I|1F JOLEKTII TIE! 320 310 FIIII --;T|;--- Program Design educational software uses the computer s full teaching 400 IF LEIITIIOm IHEI 410 413 FIIII -TH4T-3 TOO LOW, I'H 4FR4ID.-; potential in exciting and effective ways Programs are simple to use and 412 PIIIT - TIT IIOTHEH OlEl'ltOTO 180 memory efficient, and most important they teach! 410 FOI 1 2« 1 TO Ml IF NIIDOn TIE" HEITllOIO 410 420 FIIII "TOO EITEIEI Till OIE ILIEIIT. TIT UOTKIl-llOIO 410 410 yilll-TI TAPES NOW AVAILABLE FOR THE TRS-80. PET. APPLE II 410 IEIT I

430 FIIII -TI4T S 1 1 ...-;«; -yoni.- 440 FIIII -ion LEI IE FOIKI THIS SAMPLE OUR SOFTWARE FOR $2.00. Send us $2.00. your name, address, and 410 FOI I'l TO l-l type of computer, and we'll send you a tape for your computer with actual samples of 413 FOI J'I'I 10 I our programs. 4t0 IF LEIIIIIIIII < LEHtUttJll IHCM MZI-UK 1 1 :UI( 1 )•»»( J I :»!< J|.«l ?H IEIT:IEI1 710 FM I'l TO lllEII lull, II, lull, ZlllEKI Or circle our number on the reply card for a printed catalog. 720 FOI 1-1 10 2I:IE4I IIIIIlMIT 710 1414 1,1,1,1,1,0,1,-1,0,-1,-1,-1,-1,0,-1,1 Department 300 PROGRAM DESIGN. INC 1 1 IDAR COURT GREENWICH, CONN 06830 740 Mil 2, 4, I, I, 2,4, 4, I, 2, 4,4, I, 2,4,4, 1,2, 4,4,1, 2,4,4,1, I, 3, 3, 790 FM I'l Tl I CIRCLE 111 ON READER SERVICE CARD 740 LI'LEIiyilln 770 41-0 710 3I-IKFM(2I>> 00 SI.FI»(y>iI|.5IMLI-!ll|IT(SD,l)!lF XKt M SIM 1IEH 7T0 10 SI»FI4(LIIS!-STMII-M«IITIJI,2)||F XI 1 M XI -L THEN 710 •20 m>m«niF m<>Mi»2 then 130 810 FIIIT -COULM'T FIT •;|I»II);" II THE PUZZLE." Apple II is at The Computer Store 12 IIFUT -10 TOU y»«l HE TO STIII 0VE|-;4I 34 IF LEFT»(4l,1l--y- TIE! 730 14 ytll 1010 130 30 J'STll-SI 40 FOI F.I TO LH • 70 IF LEI(M(J,I1> Ml «I(J,K1. IIBICI/ltll.P.U IHEH 7W •10 J>J«IIT(SI,2lll'l>IIT(SI,ll:IEIT F ¥10 J-STll-SI 110 FOI P"1 TO LI|MIJ,«I*HIDI(UIII),P,II 120 J'J»IITlHEXT 140 8II,II-IX|HII,2I*STIU(1,3)-S0

<30 MIT I 170 FOI I'l TO L 173 FN J'l 10 I •10 IF 4III.JI.-- THEN MI1,JI'CHM(FM(24I«T4) VTO MITlBEII 1110 FOI I'l TO H-llFM J'l'l II H 1120 IF HKIICHSIJI IHEH 1010 1121 HZI'ailII:UllP'U«(JI:UI(JI'HZI 1123 FOI I'l TO 3tHZ'aiI,KllU(I,l)'U(J,KllUU,ll'l2lllEXT K

1130 BCXTJlBEIT I 1140 IIFUT "HOB MIT COPIES OF THIS PUZZLE 10 TOU IMI|-;H ..- 1130 FIIII -FOI EICH COPT, HIT IEIUII TO IEGIM PIIHIIHO. The Apple" II, today's most popular personal computer, is at The 1140 FOI C'l TO llOOSUI l070:aE>TlS0T0 1230 1170 IIFUI MlFllal Computer Store. Along with the latest in Apple peripherals. Like iMO T'(Ta-2«ai/2iPiim HfO FIIII the new Disk'" II floppy disk drive. Or, printer and communica- 1100 FIIIT TA|((TU-lEHIXT4l)/2>;XTt mo Piniipiim tions interfaces. And, the latest in software including the new 1120 FOI J'l 10 LlPIIHT 141(11; 1130 FM I'l TO HlIF 4»(J,K)'-.- IHCa FIIIT -. -;:IOT0 1140 Apple/ Dow Jones Stock Quote Reporter. The compact Apple II ii]3 Film chiiiisciikj, m-12);- -; gives you with full color graphics 1140 MIlsPIIIIIICIT 48K RAM memory and high liso FiiaiiPiim resolution graphics. It's the most powerful computer in its price 1140 FIIIT -Fill IHCSE HIDIEH VOIDS II THE HOVE PUZZLEl" 1120 Ftlal range. 1110 FOI J'l TO HlIF LCaiailJII'O IHEH 1210 1110 IF POS(O) • LEKMIJI) > IU-2 IHEH FIIII At The Computer Store, we have more than ever before in 1200 FIIII UIIJI, 1210 lEITlPlimtPIImiPIIITlPllHI microcomputers, memories, terminals and peripherals. All backed 1220 IE TOM a technical staff and a full service in 1230 IF ltFTIIII,l>.-T- 01 LfFTII»,1»-y- IHEI 1230 by department. Stop today, 1240 Ell you'll find more than ever before at The Computer Store. 1230 IEI 1210 FOI I'l TO LtFOI J'l TO y:H( 1, JI'-.-!l£IIJ:l£IlI 1271 FOI I'l TO H 1210 LI'LEI(y«(lll!J.y(I,2l!l'U(I,11 The Computer Store 1210 FOI F'l 10 II iloo ii(j,i>'iiii(ai(ii,p,ii 820 Broadway. Santa Monica. California 90401 (213) 451-0713 1310 J'J'IITia(l,3),2)lIH('IXT(U(I,ll,l)tHEIT P The Original Name In Personal Computer Stores 1120 IEIT I Starr Hours: lurs.-Fri.. Vmn-Kptn. Saturday lOajn-tpni 1110 ITf'-HElE IS THE 4ISIEI KEIl" Localcd Iwo hl.vks north ol the Santa Monica rTecwav at I 1140 GOSUI 1020 the imoln Blvd. cxil. 1130 PiiaiiPiim Phone and mail orders Invited BankAmertcard/Viva and Mavler Charge accepted 1140 Ell M CIRCLE 124 ON READER SERVICE CARD NOV/DEC 1978 155 SEflSDrVS GREETknGS I

Computer-generated Christmas letters to friends and relatives. Should be a real hit this holiday season.

Gordon Flemming

This year instead of writing a few Subroutines at 4000 and 6000 con- lines on selected Christmas cards, tain the letters from the wife and the send a personalized computer written husband. These routines are where the letter with each card. In the past we strings obtained in the initial dialogue sent Xerox copies of a handwritten can be used to personalize each letter. letter to our close friends and rela- The subroutine at 2000 contains a tives describing our family activities for calander for next year. Some clever the year. programs have been written to auto- However, three years ago we matically generate a calander. How- started sending computer printed ever, in the interest of saving pro- state- letters. We have received many posi- gramming time, I just use print tive comments about the letters. The ments to print the calander line-by- letters offer a good opportunity for line. If you are typing this calander, your creative urge. you will find it easier to type the The enclosed program can be used month statements first. Then type the as a starting point. date portions in order. This will make it Program steps 110 through 210 are easier to keep the numbers justified. will think of the beginning dialogue. The input I am sure the reader statements obtain the information that ways to change the program (don't think- is used to personalize each letter. we always?). To stimulate your are a few ideas. I have my BASIC configured to use ing, here my video terminal as a console device. Add a letter to the children. This Therefore, all of the beginning dia- letter could be written by your own logue is on the screen. Then, at children. Add a test question to print print in the initial dialogue along statement 220, I branch to a sub- or not routine that switches the console de- with a GOSUB to the routine. A simple vice to the printer for printing the picture of a snowman goes well here letter. At statement 290 the console is if you don't want a regular letter. restored to the video terminal. You may have personal news that is Statements 230 through 280 do the of interest to family but not to most actual printing of the letter. friends. So, write a family section and The subroutine at 1000 offers an test whether to print or not. area for creativity. This is the heading Change the string used in the portion of the letter. If you can spend LOVE picture (line 1060) to in- the programming time some beautiful corporate the persons' names or city or Teletype pictures can be designed. add an input statement to obtain a The amateur radion Teletype en- personal string to be used in the pic- thusiast send some very unusual pic- ture. tures back and forth every holiday If you come up with some good season. pictures, submit them for publication We change our heading picture and we can all have something new to every year. However, my favorite is work with next year. and the one shown. I first saw it in "The Have a Merry Christmas a Happy Best of Creative Computing." New Year.

Gordon Flemming. 13490 Simshaw Ave., Sylmar CA 91342.

156 CREATIVE COMPUTING ) . | S

LIST

58 PRINT"I97B CHRISTMAS LETTER PRO-.RAM" 7S CLEAR 588 IM dim «l(].n,IKi?ni,Lir?,'),fn in.cicn.-ion lie INPUT"LAST \fl«E"iLi 128 INPUT-FIRST NAMIS"|FS 130 INPUT"THE1R CITY OR STATE"|C» 148 PRINT"CHILDR£NS NAMES OR" IAS INPUT"TYPE , *ONE'"IKS IS8 IF KS«"NONE" THEN K4." •• 168 INPUT-PRINT HEADING ( Y OH "1>"IH$ 178 INPUT"PRINT CALENDAR "IWS 218 INPUI"PRINT HUSBAND'S LETTER "IHJ» 21 5 REM Educational and fun Developed by educational designers 216 REM MAIN LINE OF PROGRAM 217 REM Teach essential skills in an exciting new way 228 30SUB R880tREM ROUTINE TO CMAN1E PORTS TO PRINTER 313) PRlNTlPR INT IPRINT PRESCHOOL IO BUILDER—Helps 3-to-6-year-olds develop 248 IF. HW'Y" T*EN 309UR 1888IHEM PRINT HEADING 245 RESTORE vital intellectual skills needed to do well in school. 258 IF J»."Y" OR B»."Y" THEN 10SJ8 »lllr»F» PRINT MIFF'S LFTTER 7 programs- Guide TRS-80 Levels I & II. PET, Apple II 2*8 IF HU»."Y" OR HS«"Y" THEN "iOSUB 6B881HEM PRUT HUSBAND'S LETTER 278 IF CAS>"Y" THEN 30SUH 208.1IREM PRINT CALENDAR 288 PRINTtPRINT IPRINT MEMORY BUILDER: CONCENTRATION—Educational 298 10SJH 9fl88!HEM CHAN'iE PORTS HACK TO v/IDEO TERMINAL 299 10T0 118 games to help children 6 and up improve memory. 999 REM 3 games t Guide Apple II PET 1888 REM HEADIN1 PICTURE & 1881 REN 1868 AS."MERRYCHRISTMASFROMTHEFLEMMI STORY BUILDER/WORD L«LEN MASTER—games that teach 1188 FOR J«n TO 1NT<6R/L> grammar and vocabulary to children 9 and up. II 18 FOR |a| TO L 4 games • Guide TRS-80 Level II. PET, Apple II 1128 TJ< J.L.I >>M|Dt

I I 38 NEXT 1 j NEXT )

I 1 43 C«8 GRAPH BUILDER—teaches children 1 and up to read l?:w AMI iP.t iC'C'l HF C.17 Then I/IS 1235 PRINT graphs. Includes games. SAD AlAI'AI>A:|F ••=! THEN 1388 1 programs 1 i Guide TRS-80 Levels I & II I2A8 FOR I «l TO A I2S8 PKINT" "i

I2SS NET I Each title $9.50 plus $1.00 stopping pa | VISA& Master Charge accepted (include number, exp date. 1388 FOR Al -A T'I -1 I" Al MC include digits above name) 131:1 "f I NTT&C I II

1315 NEXT 1 Department 310 ' 81 "I IHI.N I M 1 413 IF Al <»A1 • Program 1 THEN I 'I Design, Inc., 1 Idar Court, Greenwich. Conn 06830 >TA 68.1.12,26,9,12,3.8. 9,17,8, > 4.6.22. 12. S. 6, 1TA 4.6,81. II. «. 6. 4. 4. 6, 2|, |8, |3, . <. 1 I .-,,4 >IA 4,64 21,8, II .6.4.4.4,91.7,11,7.4, 4,4.81 ,6, It, A, 4 CIRCLE 113 ON READER SERVICE CARD JATA 4,6,|9,1. | |, |,6, ,,„, J,,.,n, 1,1,',, | 1,1.1,4. ., .8,|t, 1648 DATA 4.6.17, 3, |. 7. S.I 3. 4. 4,6. IS, S. 8. ^S, S,|, 29. S.I 7.4 i, 1453 DATA 1.29.9,9,1 ', I , I 3, s, 4« . I , I , I >, 41, | . 4, A , | 3, ,. | -,.,, i ..s, ** I II ** . I. 4, 14, USERS I APPLE 1,1, S. 6. II, 3, | I. 6. IS. 9,

. ' . . ' . I . 7 . • , t 1688 DAT1 I.-..'. ,6.6. . , ,, i, . , . 6, | ,., -, ,, ,, [[ CP/M USERS ]] ,3,3.1 4.'.. I.|.|8,4, , |4,| I

DATA i 1788 9.4. 3, 1, | S,S, I S, ', ! . |i, JOIN "BEST I OUR 4, I PROGRAM" OF THE 3, , 1, 14,4, 11 5. I MONTH CLUB AND 17 1 1 uATA ll,8,|3,?7,|,||,R,| ,. GET A WIS PRINTlPRl-JT IP-INT CHANCE TO WIN $100 00 (EACH FOR APPLE & CPM) EVERY OTHER MONTH 1999 RE* + II 8 1979 CALEVDA t A CHANCE TO SEE YOUR NAME IN THIS COLUMN. 2.111 RR|*7/tPRINTt4>R|NTli r.24 "BEST PROGRAM" SUBMITTED IN THE 282.1 PRINT fAHC T ) I MONTH OF [MONTH NAME] 88tNJT**l 99»-. 7771 9999 - INTTABCT )l BY

•> I 9 9 I 9 " APPLE II "YOUR NAME / CITY / STATE TITLED - INTTA-.f. > I T TITLE 2878 PR|NT"I 9999 7 9999 28«8 PR1NTTAB1 CP/M "YOUR NAME / CITY / 2898 PR|NT"I 9 I 9 STATE TITLED 2189 PRINTTAR(T>I TITLE 2M1 ^wl N T"| 9999 7 9999' 2128 PRINTtPRINTtPR|NT|9RlNT RULES: 1. $100.00 PRIZE EACH (1 FOR APPLE AND 1 FOR 2288 PHI NT- FEBRUARY 228 S PR INT CP/M) TO THE PERSON WHO SUBMITS THE

2218 PRINT' 1 " 2 3 4 5 6 1 2 3"! BEST ORIGINAL PROGRAM. 221 S PRINT' 2. EVERYONE WHO SUBMITS A PROGRAM 2228 PRINT" 7 X 9 18 II IP 13 4 S 6 7 " 9 I»"l 222S PRINT- 4 s 6 7 8 3 18" RECEIVES HIS/HER DISK/TAPE BACK WITH 10

2238 PRINT' 14 IS 14 17 1 1 18 28 II 1 1 13 14 IS 14 17-1 (FOR DISK) OR 5 (OR LESS) FOR TAPE USERS. 2248 PRINT' 1 1 12 1 ] 14 IS I* 17" 22S8 PRINT' Pa 3. ALL 21 ?J 24 23 M 27 18 1 9 28 21 p? PROGRAMS MUST BE SUBMITTED ON 9 2248 PRINT' 18 1 M 21 22 23 24" DISK OR TAPE AND BE WELL COMMENTED 2278 PRINT' 28 ?9 3.1 26 Vf, 27 28 2288 PRINT' 25 26 21 28 29 1.1 31" AND EXECUTABLE. 2285 PHINTlPRINT THE PROGRAM MUST INCLUDE SOURCE AS 2388 PRINT- 4PRI 2385 PRINT WELL AS INT/COM ( CP/M ).

2318 PRINT' 1 ? 3 4 S 6 7 1 2 3 5"l 4. INCLUDE YOUR NAME / ADDRESS / PHONE 2328 1 2" 2338 PRINT- i NUMBER. 8 II 1 1 12 1 1 14 6 7 8 9 II 12"! 2343 PRINT" 3 4 S 6 7 4 9" 5. SEND A SELF ADDRESSED STAMPED ENVELOPE 2358 PRINT' 14 1 7 18 IS 19 21 13 1 4 IS 16 17 1" 19" H 1 IF YOU WISH TO RECEIVE YOUR DISK/TAPE 2368 PRINT- 18 1 1 II 13 14 IS 16" J 2378 PRINT' 22 23 r>4 25 24 7 28 28 »l 22 23 ?4 »S BACK. >> 2388 PR INT- 1 7 I* 1 9 28 21 2 3" 6. CUT OFF DATE IS THE LAST DAY OF EVERY 27 H 29 38 11 2395 PRINT- 24 PS 27 28 M 38" EVEN NUMBERED MONTH. 2398 PRINTIPRINT WE CARRY A COMPLETE LINE OF PRODUCTS AND 2488 PRINT- ULY AMGUSI CAN 2481 PRINT" SEPTEMBEI OFFER YOU THE BEST PRICES ON ALL APPLE II PRODUCTS 2485 PPINT AS WELL AS S-100 BUS, FLOPPIES AND PERIPHERALS. 2418 PRINT- 1 2 3 4 S 6 7 2 3 2423 PRINT" THE COMPUTER STOP 3619 HAWTHORNE BLVD lAWNDALE. CA 90240 213 371-4010 11 JO AM TO 7 10 PM NOV/DEC 1978 157 CIRCLE 159 ON READER SERVICE CARD I . . "

WITH OUR ANNUAL SAGA." 4(138 PRINT" MERE HE ARE AGAIN ' TMERE IN "|C»I". i 1 HELL PRINT" I 13 14 4848 PRINT" UE MOPE ALL IS 2430 «" 244P PRINT 4 » * 1 4858 IF Kit" " THEN 4898 .„„.. 21 12 13 14 15 16 II I"" „<,•• GETTING READY FOR" 2454 PR INI IS IA I 7 I" 19 28 i„ 1M T A RF YOU 4868 BRIAN ARE EXCITED ABOUT" 2460 ."•UNI" 9 in II IS 13 14 I'" 4078 prInI-CMRISTPAST BRUCE AND 28 21 22 23 24 25" 2478 PRINT" 22 S3 24 2S 26 2' '" 19 48 KB PRINT'THE HOLIDAYS." 2480 PRINT" l> 17 l« 19 24 21 22" 4898 PRINT"." 2« 29 38 31 .." 2490 PRINT" 24 3d 31 26 27 4188 PRINT"." 29" 249* PRINT" 23 24 25 2* 27 28 41 IB PRINT"." 2497 PRINT" 42BB PKINTTAH<50>r"50 LONG FOR NO*. 249R PRINT" 30 599R RETURN 2499 PRINMPRINl 5999 REM 2508 PRINT" OCTOBER 6008 REM HUSBAND'S LETTER 2501 PRINT"DECEMB£R" 6081 REM 2505 PRINT PRINTlPRINI 2 3" 6BB5 2510 PRINT" ..123 6018 PR1NT"GKEETINGS TO THE "ILSI"'S»' GOT TOGETHER AGAIN" 2515 PRINT" PR NT" -ELL MY COMPUTER AND I 9 IB" 6828 TRADITION .AND" 2520 PRINT" II 12 prInT-THIS YEAR. THIS IS BECOMING A 68 38 . 2525 PRINT" 68 48 PRINT-A VERY ENIOYABLF ONE > 12 13 14 15 16 IT" 2530 PRINT" 14 15 If. 17 IR 19 20 II 6858 PRINT"." 15" 25 35 PRINT" 1 1,1 1 1 12 13 14 PRINT"." 14 28 21 22 23 24" 2540 PRINT" 21 22 23 24 25 2* 27 IR 6878 PRINT"." 2545 PRINT" 16 17 IR 19 28 21 22" 68H8 PRINT"HAPPY HOLIDAYS. "IFS 25 26 27 2R 29 30 .." 2550 PR INI" 2H 29 38 31 6898 IF K»." " THEN F999 2555 PRINT" 23 24 25 2* 27 2R 24" 6108 PR|NT"AND "IR* 2560 PRINT" 7999 U CHANGE THE 256* PRINT" 38 31 .. H8BB KEM R0UTINL UIIlM POKE STATEMENTS TO FROM THE VIDEO TFRMINAL TO 2600 PRINTlPRINTlPRINT ROB I REM OUTPUT PORT

2999 RETURN ROB 2 . PRINTER OR TELEIYP* 3999 REM R999 KF TlJNN CHANGE THE 4088 REP WIFE'S LETTER 9800 REM ROUTINE USING POKE STATEMENIS TO A PRINTER OR TELETYPE TO THE 4KB I REM 9801 REM OUTPUT PORT FROM 4010 PRINT"MELLO "IFSI 9082 REM VIDEO TERMINAL 4028 PRINT 9999 RETURN OR

RUN JANUARY 1978 CHRISTMAS LETTER PROGRAM 2 LAST NAME? SMITH ..123456 B 4 5 6 7 B 9 IB 4 5 6 7 9 10 NAMES? JOHN AND »«" T 8 9 10 I I 12 13 FIRST 12 13 14 15 16 II THEIR CITY OR STATE? DENVER 14 15 16 17 IB 19 20 II 12 13 14 15 16 17 II IK 19 28 21 22 23 24 CHILDRENS NAMES OR 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 IB 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 2B 25 26 27 28 29 38 31 TYPE ' NONE" ? NONE 2B 29 30 31 PRINT HEAPING CY OR N>? Y PRINT CALENDAR (Y OK N>* Y PRINT BOTH LETTERS ? Y APRIL

12 3 4 5 6 7 I 4 6 7 B 9 7 4 IB I I 12 3 5 M iS-EKKVC- I I 13 14 6 B MERRYCHR I ST-.ASF wrWTHEFLF.M" I B 9 10 12 10 12 13 14 15 16 m SFROMTHEFLEMM|NGS"ERRYCMRI 15 16 17 IR 19 20 21 13 14 15 16 I? IB 14 II 7 IR I 9 20 21 22 23 ' 26 I **ASFROMrHtFLF."»"' LF* 22 23 24 25 26 27 2B I 22 23 24 2S MM ;•• 24 25 26 37 24 24 38 MERR T»«ASFSOMrHFH h-M|^ 29 38 27 2« 29 30 31 •• ••

vi N! , , MERR rMAS^-fO**T*'iFLF'w»* 1 i *rASF -tCW THF.FLE M *M MIS'* ASF-OITh MCM T SEPTEMBER mw N "> r " -«A*i- wOf THF MTS AUGUST WM TWA SF R OM T HEFL • i^ 12 3 4 5 6 7 .. . I 2 3 4 5 6 7 R MERR TMASFROMTHEFLEMfl ISTMASFRinr INGS S * IB II 12 13 14 5 6 7 a 9 10 II 9 IB II 12 13 14 15 - 21 12 13 14 15 16 |7 IB HEM rMASKHOMfHEFtEMMI^ i iM RISTMA 15 16 I? IB 19 20 7 19 21 22 24 25 16 I IR 20 MERR TMASFROMTHEFLE-*M|Ni * -<- 1 S T^ASFRO 22 23 24 25 26 27 2B 19 20 21 22 23 N 30 .. 23 24 25 26 27 2R 29 MEM TrASFROMTHfFLEMI-'lN'. M HHI STMA3FR 1 iS 29 30 31 26 27 2B 29 31 MERR rMASFROMTMEFLE-*»*lN * MSTMASF IN-.S 30 MERR TMASFROMrHFFLE*""! " 1STMA IN-.S MCRR rMASFROMTHEFLEM "E *-!.»'. DECt N vtxHr LEMMINGS OCTOBER NOVEMBER M MERRVCWKI M FRO**T S ..12 3456 123 I 2 3 4 5 6 7 B M FkOMT S 7 8 9I8III2I3 456 7 8 914 13 14 15 ASFRO-THFFLF S 16 17 IB 19 28 II 12 13 14 15 16 I? 4 10 I I 12 Htm TMASFROMTHEFL INJSMERRVC 14 15 *>2 « 19 30 3 1 MERRY ••ASFROMTHEF MINTS-M^RYC ASFRO>*rHEF|.EMM S 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 IB 19 20 21 2P 14 17 I 24 ?S 26 27 24 24 MERRY NASFROMTHCF «IN ;s-£KRYC ASFM<>- 28 29 38 31 2S ". 27 2« 29 30 .. 23 MERRYC ASFROMTHE MM|NOSMER**VC ASFROMfHFFLFMMi^ s MERRYC ASFROMTME *»M|NGSMFRRYC ASFRO^T KFLE^MINIS MERRYCM V RO^TH EMU- 1 NTSMERRVC ASFRO« EFLEM-INGS MERRYCH SFROMTH EMWINTSWERSYC EFLEMMIN1S MERRYCHR FROMT LEMMINGS^E-fRYC ASFRTM EFLF^-MNGS MERRYCHR FRO**T LEMMlNiSMERRYC ASFRO^T F.FLEMMINGS PCRRYCMRI ROM FLEMMINGSMERRYC ASFKO*TMEFLEMM|N S MERRYCHR ROM FLEMWlNTSMERRYC ASFROMTHEFLEMMI S LAST NAME? JONES NERRYCHNI5 EFLEMM I NGSMERR YC ASFROMTHEFLEMM 5 FIRST NAMES? BILL AND SUSAN MERRYCHR IS EFLEMW1N-3SMERRYC ASFRO»*THEFLE S THEIR CITY OR STATE? PHOENIX MERRYCHR 1ST HEFLEMM !NG5«T S CHILDRENS NAMES OR MERRYCHRIST HEFLF.MMlNGSME s TYPE "NONE'? MILLY AND »AR!E ERRYCHRISTMASFROMTHEFLEMMINGSMERRYCHRISTMASFROMTHEFLEMMINGS PRINT HEADING (Y 0» N>? N PRINT CALENDAR (Y OR N>? N PRINT BOTH LETTERS CY OR Ml? HELLO JOHN AND MARY,

HERE WE ARE A14IN 4 1 TH OUR ANNUAL SAGA. KE HOPE ALL IS JELL THERE IN DENVER. HELLO BILL AND SUSAN.

HERE WE ARE AGAIN WITH OUR ANNUAL SAGA. WE MOPE ALL IS WELL THERE IN PHOENIX. SO LONG FOR NOW, BILLY AND MARIE ARE YOU GETTING READY FOR CHRISTMAS? BRUCE AND BRIAN ARE EXCITED ABCVT THE HOLIDAYS. GREETINGS TO THF SMITH'S,

WELL MY COMPUTER AND I GOT TOGETHER AOAIN THIS YEAR. THIS IS BECOMING ' TRADITION (AND A VERY ENJOYABLE ONE). SO LONG FOR NO-*,

GREETINGS TO THE JONES'S. HAPPY HOLIDAYS, JOHN AND MARY WELL MY COMPUTER AND 1 GOT -K. AGAIN THIS YEAR. THIS IS BECOMING ' TRADITION (AND A VERY ENJOYABLE ONE >

HAPPY HOLIDAYS. BILL AND SUSAN AND BILLY AND MARIE

158 CREATIVE COMPUTING ICRO/EXPO 79 PARIS

MAY 15 - 17 CENTRE INTERNATIONAL DE PARIS 4TH ANNUAL MICROCOMPUTER SHOW

U.S.A. EUROPE SYBEX Inc. SYBEX EUROPE fsYBEXj 2020 Mil via St.. Berkeley, CA 94704 313 rue Lecourbe. 75015-Paris, France Tel: 415 848-8233 Tlx 336311 Tel: (1) 828 25 02 Tlx: 200858 J

Index to Advertisers Dear Programmer Reactor software is record- Many companies are entering the 6. Creative Computing Service No. Advertiser Page No. software business today and promising ed by putting the programs on the ap- propriate computer, recording directly on a amazing amounts of royalties based on 136 Alpha Supply Co. 50 reel-to-reel recorder and filter- ridiculous sales projections and pipe high-quality 148 Apple Computer Co. 2 pure square waves. It is dreams. At Creative Computing we have a ing the signal for 126 AVR Electronics 132 very finest quality, very straight-forward policy based on the then recorded on the 117 Bits Inc. 42 twice, once current and future realities of the market. cassettes or disks. It is recorded 175 Byte Shop 3 of San Jose 59 reliability. 1. We are seeking programs for: on each side for maximum 108 Chatsworth Data Corp. 13 A. Radio Shack TRS-80 7. Packaging includes two labels on each 134 Cload Magazine 137 box insert, instruction 101 i. Level I Basic 4k cassette cassette, two-color 152 Component Sales Norelco-style hard plastic 48 ii. Level I Basic 16k cassette booklet and a 143 Computalker Consultants labeled and packag- 51 iii. Level II Basic 16k cassette box. Disks are similarly 128 Computer Components 24 iv. Level II Basic 16k floppy diskette ed. 145 Computer Consultants retail for $7.95 and disks for 138 Computer Information Exchange 26 B. Apple 1 1 . up to 16k, cassette and floppy 8. Cassettes diskette $17.95. The programmer receives 10% of the 120 Computer Enterprises 48 Store 59 C. PET, 8k list (retail) price. An advance royalty on the 176 Computer Hardware 139 D. Sol-20. cassette sales of the first 100 units is paid on 168 Computer Lab of NJ of Ca. 103 E. Ohio Scientific Challenger IP and IIP acceptance (on a tape cassette this 170 Computer Mart Mart of NY 125 F. Exidy Sorcerer amounts to $79.50 at the time the programs 150 Computer Store of Santa Monica 155 We have many other computers in our are accepted, not months later.) If more 124 Computer Computers Plus Inc. 59 software center and our future line will than one programmer is represented on a 179 Creative Computing 75, 96, 97, 114. 128. 129 broaden but these are the ones for which we cassette, royalties are apportioned propor- 115 Creative Software 49 intend our initial software releases. tionately. 166 Computrex 132 2. Programs submitted should be com- 9. Creative Computing provides retail 114 Cromemco 1 plete, well documented, and on the medium dealers with attractive, high-quality wood 101 Data Search 143 that they are to plexiglass display cabinets for (cassette or floppy) be and 116 DC. Hayes 152 point-of-sale posters and released. Record two copies in case the tape software, 149 DCI Marketing 85 will as much or more as has a dropout. literature so sales be 162 Digital Press 60 supplier. 3. Creative Computing tapes and disks with any other 130 Digital Research Inc. 23 will contain five to ten programs each, 10. Creative Computing also advertises its Electronic Systems 45 preferably from one programmer. software in many magazines, not just 172 E & L Instruments cm 4 Creative Computing software is Creative Computing, hence broadening the 132 Graham Dorian-Enterprises 10 the thoroughly reviewed and, if necessary, market. We also exhibit at shows such as Heath Co. 5 refined in house. If extensive modifications Consumer Electronics Show to further 109 Ithaca Audio 35 are required, it is returned to the original extend the market for Creative Computing 141 Integral Data Systems 38.39 15 programmer. We will let you know if we software. 169 RCA Cosmac VIP 100 intend to use your program within 12 weeks, Creative Computing today has a line of 137 Marketline Systems Inc. Application Service 133 generally less. Please include 3 first class software more comprehensive and 151 Math stamps with your submission for return of professional than virtually any manufac- 129 McGraw-Hill 32a, 3 Micro-Ap 53 cassette or disk. turer or software supplier. If your programs 127 to 153 Microcomputer Systems In. 64a, 64b 5. Creative Computing has contracted qualify, we would be pleased to add them 154 Microtronix 93 with popular, well-known writers of science our line. 139 Midwest Scientific Instruments 27 fiction, adventure and educational books, Send submissions (with 3 stamps) to: 171. its Creative Computing Software movies and TV shows to enhance 141, 145 and PO Box 789-M 172 Mini-Micro Mart software with humor, lively dialog NEC Microcomputers 8,9 necessary. Morristown, NJ 07960 punchy graphics where 160 Netronics R&D 21 163 North Star Computers 16 173 Ohio Scientific CIV 122 OK Machine & Tool Co. 103 119 Osborne Assoc. Inc. 42 155 PerCom Data Co. 143 180 Personal Computer Corp. 59 Personal Computing Show NCC 79 61 Personal Computer World 149 112 Personal Programming Service 133 167 Personal Software 47 144 Physicians Microcomputer Report 144 125 Processor Technology 6.7 111. 113 Program Design Inc. 155. 157 (*) \ 135 Quality Software 26 Radio Shack 25 123 Rainbow Computing Inc 93 T.U. ANTCMNM 6LC« DOWN. 103 <*ATS' YOU'LL t- 164 Real World Simulations SOPEP BOW..1 121 Small Systems Software 85 131 Softape 102 142 South Eastern Software 19 106 Southwest Technical Products Corp. Cll 102 Sybex 69. 159 107 Tarbell Electronics 49 133 The Computer Corner 59 159 The Computer Stop 157 A 59 177 The Electronics Place 147 Total Information Services 26 161 Trans-Data Corp. 133 Trans Net Corp. 139 105 Vertec 113 "I ) ( 110 Vector Electronic Corp. 132 178 Virginia Home Computer Center 59 L a"J / ANO TO ALL A \

fcOOD M1CMT!

I FCTUKH

160 Nov/ Dec 1978 • Expires February 11, 1979

(Please Print) reader ! creative computing Name In addition to BASIC which computer language would you Title prefer thai Creative Computing use lor publication of service I computer programs'' (check ont onlyi Address a D APL a D PL/I g O COBOL Oty b D FORTRAN e D PASCAL h Q RPG C card ! D ALGOL I D ASSEMBLER . D SNOBOL State -Zip. in which types of programs are you most interested'' (check all that apply i Please circle each number for which you wish information o get information about manufacturers you're i 1 O Simulations complex games. A|. etc Interested in simply circle the numbers on the card 2 D Short imaginative games that correspond 101 102 103 104 176 177 to the number of a product or 105 178 179 180 3 D Personal applications programs (personal Finance mervice 106 107 you want information about Fill in your 106 109 110 181 182 183 184 185 record keeping etc * ) name and address, check the boxes that give us 111 112 113 114 115 186 187 188 189 190 4 O CAI programs ome helpful information 116 117 118 119 120 191 192 193 194 about you. detach the 195 5 D Business programs (mailing lists accounts payable ard. stamp 121 122 123 124 125 196 197 198 and mail 199 200 etc I i Whats the longest program 126 127 128 129 130 201 202 203 204 205 that you will use' (check one 131 only) i 132 133 134 135 206 207 208 209 210 136 137 138 139 140 211 212 213 214 215 a D under 50 lines d D under 500 line* i 141 142 143 144 145 216 217 218 219 220 b D under 100 lines e D over 500 line* 146 147 148 149 150 221 222 223 224 225 c O under 250 lines i in Future issues would you like to see the pages ol 151 152 153 154 155 226 227 228 229 230 Creative Computing devoted to (check one only a 156 157 158 159 160 231 232 233 234 235 | 161 162 163 164 165 236 237 238 239 240 a O more programs b D same percentage ol 9 166 167 168 169 170 241 242 243 244 245 c D lewer programs programs 171 172 173 174 175 246 247 248 249 250 i

9 reader (Please Pnrtt) creative computing i Name 1 In addition to BASIC, which computer language i would you Title prefer that service Creative Computing use lor publication ol computer programs'' (check ont only) J Address a D APL d D PL/l g D COBOL City bD FORTRAN e D PASCAL h DRPG card C ALGOL I D ASSEMBLER i D SNOBOL l State -Z.p. in 2 which types ol programs are you most interested'' (check all that apply i ) Please circle each number for which you wish information To get information about manufacturers you re 1 D Simulations, complex games. At. etc [interested in simply circle the numbers on the card 2 D Short, imaginative games hhat correspond to the number of a product or 101 102 103 104 105 176 177 178 179 180 3 D Personal applications programs (personal Finance. vice you want information about Fill in your i 106 107 108 181 109 110 182 183 184 185 record keeping, etc name and address check the boxes that give 111 ) us 112 113 114 115 186 187 188 189 190 4 ' J CAI programs ome helpful information about you. detach the 116 117 118 119 120 191 192 193 194 195 5 D Business programs (mailing lists, accounts payable ard. stamp and mail 121 122 123 124 125 196 197 198 199 200 etc J ) 3 What's the longest program 126 127 128 129 130 201 202 203 204 205 that you will use' (check one I only) 131 132 133 134 135 206 207 208 209 210 136 137 138 139 140 211 I 212 213 214 215 a D under 50 lines d under 500 lines 141 142 143 144 145 216 217 218 219 220 b D under 1 00 lines e D over 500 lines 146 I 147 148 149 150 221 222 223 224 225 c D under 250 lines

4 In Future issues would you like to see the pages of 3 151 152 153 154 155 226 227 228 229 230 Creative Computing devoted to (check one only 156 157 158 159 160 231 232 233 234 235 ) J 161 162 163 164 165 236 237 238 239 240 a D more programs b D same percentage of 166 167 168 169 170 241 242 243 244 245 c D lewer programs programs 1 171 172 173 174 175 246 247 248 249 250

Nov/ Dec 1978 • Expires February 11, 1979 r» I creative computing H

I Subscriptions

I New Renewal D Address Change

8

H Foreign Foreign Term USA Surface Am I 1 2 issues D S 15 D $ 23 $ 39 B 24 issues D 28 44 D 76 36 issues D 40 D 64 D 112 B Lifetime 300 D 400 600 B B Name _ B 1 Address E For a change of address, please attach old label I City B here Without it. we cannot assure uninterrupted State service r Zip I I I Cash, check, or I D MO Enclosed D Visa/EtankAmericard D Master Charge Please bill me ($1 billing fee will be added) Card No I Foreign orders must be prepaid Exp B Allow B 8 Weeks for delivery i

Place Stamp Here creative compatiRg P.O. Box #2976 Clinton, Iowa 52734

_ ——

Place Stamp Here

creative Gomputin£ P.O. Box#297B Clinton, Iowa 52734

-i

Place Stamp Here

creative coiupufeiRg P.O. Box 7B9-M Mornstown. NJ 079B0 ^^^^ ^^^r ^^^r^W W ™^^p ^^^w^ Go Bugs Between the Covers.

Between the covers of the Microprocessor. Learn funda- Bug book® Library, you'll find the mental circuit designing by most comprehensive and au- implementing computer controls thoritative tutorials and reference of instrumentation. These texts, works in electronics today. manuals and reference series Written for both hobbyist and pro- have already become indis- fessional, 23 detailed, illustrated pensable to over 200,000 buyers. volumes carry you through the Uncover the world of elec- training ground of basic elec- tronics. Send for our free Bug- tronics, starting at the most works® catalog with all of the elementary level all the way to Bugbooks described—the first sophisticated techniques with and last words in electronics linear circuitry and the 8080A today.

CIRCLE 172 ON READER SERVICE CARD The Age of Affordable Personal Computing Has Finally Arrived. allows Ohio Scientific has made a major breakthrough in small com- math functions and built-in "immediate" mode which puter technology which dramatically reduces the cost of per- complex problem solving without programming! This computer it them in sonal computers. By use of custom LSI micro circuits, we have can actually entertain your children while educates the United States managed to put a complete ultra high performance computer topics ranging from naming the Presidents of its fast extended BASIC, and all necessary interfaces, including the keyboard and power to tutoring trigonometry all possible by | supply, on a single . This new computer graphics and data storage ability. actually has more features and higher performance than some The machine can be economically expanded to assist in your I home or personal computers that are selling today for up to business, remotely control your home, communicate with other other tasks via the broadest line of $2000. It is more powerful than computer systems which cost computers and perform many over $20,000 in the early 1970s. expansion accessories in the microcomputer industry. This new machine can entertain your whole family with spec- This machine is super easy to use because it communicates I tacular video games and cartoons, made possible by its ultra naturally in BASIC, an English-like programming language. So it it to whatever you want, high resolution graphics and super fast BASIC. It can help you you can easily instruct or program do with your personal finances and budget planning, made possible but you don't have to. You don't because it comes with a com- including programs for each by its decimal arithmetic ability and cassette data storage capa- plete software library on cassette Ohio Scientific also offers vou| bilities. It can assist you in school or industry as an ultra powerful application stated above. scientific calculator, made possible by its advanced scientific hundreds of inexpensive programs on ready-to-run cassettes

Program it yourself or just enjoy it; the choice is yours.

Ohio Scientific offers you this remarkable new computer two ways.

MM HUH!!!! Challenger 1P $349 Fully packaged with power IMC-IMIIIIIII supply Just plug in a video monitor or TV • 1IIIIM Mil through an RF con- verter to be up and 41 IN running

Superboard II $279 For electronic buffs Fully assembled and tested Re- quires + 5V at 3 Amps and a video monitor or TV with RF converter to be up and running

—Standard Features. ,-ORDER FORM Order direct or from your local Ohio Scientific dealer. microprocessor Uses the ultra powerful 6502 I'm interested Send me information on your 8K Microsoft BASIC-m-ROM Business Systems Full feature BASIC runs faster than currently available Personal Computers

personal computers and all 8080-based business com- Send me a Superboard II $279 enclosed puters 1 ; Send me a Challenger P $349 enclosed 4K static RAM on board expandable to 8K Full 53-key keyboard with upper/lower case and user Include 4 more K of RAM (8K Total) $69 more enclosed programmability Kansas City standard audio cassette interface for high Name reliability Full machine code monitor and I/O utilities in ROM Address Direct access video display has 1 K of dedicated memory (besides 4K user memory), features upper case, lower City State -Zip. case, graphics and gaming characters for an effective screen resolution of up to 256 by 256 points Normal TV's Order with overscan display about 24 rows of 24 characters; Payment by BAC (VISA) .Master Charge Money without overscan up to 30 X 30 characters. Credit Card Account # _ Extras Available expander board features 24K static RAM (addi- Expires Interbank #(Master Charge) tional), dual minifloppy interface, port adapter for printer Ohio Residents add 4% Sales Tax and modem and an OSI 48 line expansion interface Assembler/editor and extended machine code monitor TOTAL CHARGED OR ENCLOSED Aurora. available All orders shipped insured UPS unless otherwise requested FOB OH

Interested in a bigger system? Ohio Scientific offers 15 other models of microcomputer systems ranging from America's Largest Full Line Microcomputer Company single board units to 74 million byte hard disk systems. 1333 S. Chill icothe Road • Aurora, Ohio 44202 (216) 562-3101

CIRCLE 146 ON READER SERVICE CARD