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85pMay 1984

Reviews Grid Compass, Sharp PC -5000 Olivetti M-24, Touch Screen HP 150 BBC Graphics ROM and add-on Logo for Atari, , Spectrum Denmark DKr34.50, Greece Dra 245. Holland DFL8 50. Italy L4100, Spain Pts 360. Switzerland SFr7 40, Germany DM8 50. France Fr32.60, Canada $4.50, Australia A$3.00, Singapore M$6.35. USA $3.95(D72162) Authorised Dealer Service Centre System Consultancy

COMPUTECH FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING PACKAGES Payroll £375 Invoicing and Stock Recording £295 Sales, Purchases and General Ledgers each £295 Also costing and group consolidation COMPUTECH UTILITIES DISK for reliable error checking copying, diskette scan, interpret and patch, etc VisiCalc, Applewriter and other Apple software (Prices onrequest) COMPUTECH CHAIN MAIL A mailing merging document processor which may be used with text files, including random files and Applewriter 1.1 binary files COMPUTECH GRAPHICS DISK for printing Apple pictures and graphs on Epson and Microline (free with printers purchased from Computech)£30 COMPUTECH TERMINAL UTILITIES Apple to Apple and Apple to mainframe from £130

switches and jumpers provide hardware options without soldering

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4:2).Got_ovavav_

DIPLOMAT VIDEO DIGITISER store a frame from video camera in etof a second, process and print - for Apple II £195 for APPLE //e, including 64K Extended 80 Column Card£345 DIPLOMAT PARALLEL Interface £80 DIPLOMAT SERIAL COMMUNICATIONS Interface £85 DIPLOMAT RAM 16 Memory Expansion £95 DIPLOMAT CLOCKICALENDAR £80 LOWER CASE Character Generator with Applewriter 1,1. enhancements £50 MICROMUX Data Exchange (Max 16 Ports) from £850 MATRIX PRINTERS, Microline and Epson with graphics and up to 200 cps from £222 MICROLINE Optional Character Generator £15 DAISY WHEEL PRINTERS, Olympia, Qume, Ricoh from £798

Prices exclude VAT, Carriage and Packing

For full details phone for data sheets and a FREE demonstration CLIMPUTIECIrel SYS1 168 Finchley Road, London NW3 6HP. Tel: 01-794 0202 Circle No. 101 The Apple logo is a trade mark of Apple Compu`er Inc. VisiCalc is a trade mark of VisiCorp. Bsp 11 u soft_T

PRACTICAL COMPUTING Wel'1984] LOGO - GROUP ARE 100REVIEW '102PROGRAMSil'141NN ON TV >NEWS Boris Allen surveys versions of Logo An introduction to BBC TV's HARDWARE NEWS for popular micros - including the Ceefax-based service and the 13Camputers' 128K Lynx Atari, Commodore 64 and Sinclair Acorn/BBC Teletext system. with CP/M, and a second processor Spectrum. OA LINEAR for the BBC Micro - but still no FA, OM RA N G GAMESSPECTRUM 61° PROGRAMMING Z-80. 146 THEZI The Simplex algorithm and its use in SOFTWARE NEWS Spectrum games keep improving, as planning production, with a program 21Foreign -language learning Jack Schofield discovers. in Basic by Adrian Hill. takes off, while Microsoft gives Basic BBC BOOKS COMMODORE 64 programmers multiple windows. 171Simon Beesley's selection 107GRAPHICS - PART 3 4C IBM PC NEWS of recent books for the Acorn/BBC Boris Allan completes his selection of aIBM makes more profits, machine. routines for graphics on the aims to stop pirates, and announces Commodore 64. its own portable version of the PC. >INTEGRATED HOME-INTO-BUSINESS 111MICROMI SURVEY SOFTWARE Can a home micro really have >REV I EWS business uses? We look at six popular AN THE SALES EDGE 12c machines to see how useful they are, INTEGRATION and how to upgrade them. 47Can a software package help What is really meant by "integrated" a sales team? We report on the first software. CLEAN UP YOUR of a new range of American packages 116POWER SUPPLIES that give you the edge. SOFTWARE Chris Naylor on how to ensure glitch - 126IN SUITES free computing pleasure. NEW OLIVETTI Chris Bidmead surveys some well 78M-24 MICRO known software families. FICTION A special review of a new IBM PC 122Take time out with L S look -alike in prototype from 120SINCLAIR QL Murray's Starfiend. Europe's leading computer The QL's integrated manufacturer. software is one of its major attractions. Glyn Moody tries it out. IN TOUCH WITH >REGULARS 84THE HP 150 ALL -IN -ONE C EDITORIAL - Hewlett-Packard's innovative desk- 130PROGRAMS aCOMING SOON ... top micro with touch screen From Lotus 1-2-3 and The Incredible Why complain about delays to the operation, examined by Glyn Moody.Jack to Open Access and Symphony QL when everything is late? - Jack Schofield surveys the 80BBC GRAPHICS booming all -in -one market. 7FEEDBACK UP. ON A ROM CHIP Piracy and back-up copying, Neville Maude tries the new correspondence and advice from Computer Concepts ROM which 132ENVIRONMENTS readers. adds extra graphics commands. For true integration, software meets hardware, as in the Xerox Star, CHIP -CHAT Apple Macintosh and other state-of- 29DEC fights back with the-art micros. the Micro Vax. 13cINTEGRATED SOFTWARE WORKSHOP 1J1 ACCOUNTS 35HASHED TABLES Integration is all-important in the Mike Lewis with more invaluable down-to-earth field of accounts advice for programmers - this packages, as Mike Lewis explains. month, hash coding. 15cOPEN FILE GRID COMPASS aSee the separate contents 90The transportable that went >FEATURES page for details of this month's free on the Space Shuttle - the slickest, HOW TO HANDLE software for the Apple, BBC, sleekest model yet. 48DATA FILES Commodore and other micros. 9A SHARP PC -5000 Paul Myerscough explains the LAST WORD ffmli Chris Bidmead reports on the essentials of efficient data handling, 811EDUCATION stylish 16 -bit bubble -memory portablewith Microsoft program listings for Sixth -form student Jon Lansdell - is its beauty more than skin deep? the IBM PC. presents a user's -eye view.

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 3 ASHTON TAI E dBASEii database microevenmore. leadinggive. you Theworld'snow can 11 package fordBASE dGRAPHTmpartner graphics Introducing a owerful databasegraphics Thep sYstem that enables you to produce high quality bar, line and pie bar charts withoutanyuniquespecific programming knowledge. Everyone can now producegraphsinminutes with dGRAPH: managers, staff and secretaries. The AUTOGRAPH feature The Fox & Geller dGRAPH system couldn't be simpler- just select the graph you require, and choose the dBASE data, let AUTOGRAPH do the rest. Whether you want to automatically load your dBASE data, compute scales, draw grid lines or you need more advanced features such as `zoom -in' capability,or combination bar charts,AUTOGRAPH can cope ... all at the push of a button. The flexible time saver The scope for plotting data is limitless with dGRAPH. Use dGRAPH to extract data from dBASE II so that you can produce high quality charts.You can even graph the difference between two fields, and create graphs showing averages and percentages. And, in addition, there's a calendar feature to allow you to 'build' data by day, month or year. Think about how much time you spend drawing sales graphs and comparison charts- think how easy it could be from now on. Talk to your local dealer now and feel confident about presentations in the future. Circle No. 102

details 6811 &Gellermore (077382) Fox for 01-8331173 Contact Midlectron 871211 5 - distributors Ltd (0703) DEALE these 2040 Software 6271800 of 01-844 orone 5602,7 Xitan 011-75157g1

( \Winds° 1 Tradesoft Softsel 01-769 W5)6 65 Ferrari & Pam 01-591 FOX&GELLER Pete 860171 (0476) 7000 Fox & Geller (UK) Ltd,17 Wigmore Street, London W1. Tel 01-580 5816 MPI 091-455 SoftOption dGRAPH is a trademark of Fox & GellerdBASE]] is a trademark of Ashton-Tate ACT(Pulsar) Editorial Readysoon EDITORIAL 01-661 3609 Editor AN INCREDIBLE NUMBERof people have phoned on the BBC System Infor- Jack Schofield to ask if we would like a review of the Sinclair mation Sheet G2, a leaflet which nowhere Assistant Editors QL. Most of them people who really ought to mentions the manufacturer, Acorn. Ian Stobie knowbetter.The conversationcontinues, In October 1982 we were promised a Z-80 Glyn Moody "Have you actually got a machine, then?" And add-on for the Commodore 64 which, we were Art Editor the answer comes back, "No, but I'm expecting told, would provide CP/M. Now, some 18 Stephen Miller it by the end of * * * * *." Fill in February, months later, we are told "there are some in the Production Editor March, April, May, etc. according to taste. warehouse", and we expect ours to arrive soon. John Liebmann Like most magazines we reserved a QL Also at the end of 1982 we were playing with Sub -editor immediately after its launch, but with no real the new Camputers Lynx micro, and we were Carol Hammond expectation of seeing a machine in less than promised CP/M for that. Again, the press Editorial Secretary launch took place in March 1984. When real Sue Jordan three months.It never occurred to us that people will get real systems is still a matter for Consultants anyone involved with the micro industry would Chris Bidmead take seriously the idea that any product, not just speculation. Peter Laurie the QL, would be delivered in "28 days". It is also a fact of computing life that when Itisobservably the case that the micro products arrive they often fail to live up to the ADVERTISING 01-661 3612 industry as a whole has a different concept of promotional hoop -la. For example, the BBC Advertisement Manager time from everyone else. "The product is in Model B is a wonderful machine, but it would Ian Carter 01-661 3021 have been even nicer if it had been delivered Assistant Advertisement stock" means you can get one in about a Manager fortnight to six weeks. "It is being delivered from the start with OS 1.2 and Basic 2, not to Paul Braybrooke 01-661 8626 now" means you might get one within 28 days. mention a really good DFS or DOS. Or take "They are coming off the production line" today's Atmos, withitsreal keyboard and Advertisement Executives means two months. "We are just starting pilot debugged Basic:itis everything the Oric 1 Desmond Bond 01-661 3468 should have been a year ago but wasn't. Lynne Brennan 01-661 8100 production" means three to six months. "We Mike Crimp 01-661 8425 have been surprised by demand" means six The point is not to be critical of a few firms, Chris Markiewicz 01-661 3633 months to a year. because many are guilty. The entire micro industry is rushing ahead at a breakneck pace, Advertisement Secretary Anyone who talks in these terms is at least Janet Thorpe seriously considering the delivery of the final and it is only to be expected that partly baked Midlands office: product. That is a good sign. products will be released, that the marketing DavidHarvett021-356 4838 well be worth placing an order simply to be boys will always rush ahead of production, and Northern office: somewhere near the front of the queue. Even that production will, initially, produce mainly Geoff Aikin 061-872 8861 when products are in full production there can problems. be long delays before your order is filled. There That is why theie is still a huge market for PUBLISHING DIRECTOR micros that work and are supported by masses Chris Hipwell were long delays on the Sinclair Spectrum, and apparently some people waited nine months to a of reliable software. Typical products include Published by Electrical Electronic year to receive their BBC Model B. boring old eight -bit micros running CP/M, Press, Quadrant House. The Quadrant. Sutton,SurreySM25AS.Te1101-661 What is not acceptable is the advertising of establishedsellerslikethe1977 AppleII 3500. Telex(grams 892084 BISPRS G products which are unlikely to be delivered, and 1979 Atari micros, and now the IBM PC Distributed by Business Press either within a feasible time scale or, in some and the BBC Model B, both from late 1981 - International Ltd. Quadrant House. The Quadrant. Sutton. Surrey SM2 cases, ever. For example, way back in 1981 there even at less than cutthroat prices. 5AS. musthavebeen many people who were Notwithstanding the genuine excitement and Subscriptions: U.K. £13 per annum: impressed by the BBC Micro's much -vaunted interest generated by new machines and new Overseas £19 per annum; selling "second processor" option. We were promised software - which thrills us as much as anyone price in Eire subject to currency exchange fluctuations and VAT, a 6502 and a Z-80 and, later, even a 16032. At else - there is a bottom line which is what it is airmail rates available on application the time of writing we have just been invited to really all about. That is - and itis no co- to Subscription Manager. Business the press launch of the 6502 second processor. incidence - also the name of this magazine: Press International Ltd. Oakfield House, Perrymount Road, Haywards Thatis more than 2+ years after itwasincluded practical computing. [1] Heath. Sussex RH 16 3DH. Tel. 0444 459188. Printed in Great Britain for the III III proprietors Business Press I I I II International Ltd by Eden Fisher 5 Yearsago (Southend) Ltd. Southend-on-Sea. OUOD6UOPU000n01100519LL U ...JC r 009' ,,A5501.C3205090CG1111150000P011 Typeset by Centrepoint Typesetters. London EC1. call for quite a bit of RAM. The TRS-80 and the Pet are in a cf, Business Press International Ltd Steve Wozniak: What the world is really looking for is the 1984 machine with the best video resolution and the best colour rather difficult position because they were not really possible. When you think about it, all it is is RAMS. It's not designed for upgrading like that to a helpful memory Would-be authors are welcome to more complicated, it's just how much RAM you want to capacity, but Apple II was designed to plug 48K into the send articles to the Editor but PCcan- main board. That was unheard of.I think we can see the not undertake to return them. Pay. spend money on - and RAM is getting so cheap. ment is at £35 per published page. Practical Computing: What do you think the next time come when we'll want more than 64K and that's going Submissions should betypedor generation of computers will have? For example, what do to be a real problem with some of the current computer -printed and should include you consider the minimum RAM content of any personal . a tape or disc of any program, Hand- computer? Steve Wozniak written material is liable to delay and SW: Well, 16K is our minimum now. No-one in their right Interviewed in PC Volume 2 Issue 5 error. Every effort is made to check articles mind would order a 4K Apple. Disc or operating systems and listings but PC cannot guarantee 53 49999999 5q1q 99.1995.1199339 3991r.,"15M!95.39 5190111.3:19 99955419355 q94,55 sa . , that programs will run and can accept I/SASS/SI, DL.If II 2.5 23 5 no responsibility for any errors. cup

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 FRO ONY

MBC 550 Single 51/4" floppy I disc drive t £799 (+VAT) The new Sanyo 16 BIT small business micros... with tremendous potential for businesses of all sizes. 16 BIT 8088 CPU with powerful MS-DOS 128K RAM expandable to 256K Centronics compatible parallel printer port Compact desk top design with detachable keyboard Optional high resolution green phosphor or colour monitor INC. SOFTWARE MBC 550 MBC 555 MBC 555 MS-DOS WORDSTAR MS-DOS WORDSTAR CALCSTAR Twin BASIC CALCSTAR BASIC MAILMERGE INFOSTAR 5,4" floppy disc drives EXTRA FROM ICARUS /999 (+ VAT) * Integrated sales, purchase and nominal ledger * 10 MB external hard disc accounts package with MBC 555 * The backing of the nationwide Icarus dealer network * Choice of 160K (standard), 350K for application advice and installation or 700K discs SEE SANYQ THEN DECIDE... ICARUS Full details of the new Sanyo micros on request.

ICARUS COMPUTER SYSTEMS LTD, Deane House, 27 Greenwood Place,Us London NVV5 INN. Tel. 01-485 5574. Telex 264209 Circle No. 103 6 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 Feedback Piracy and copying I WAS DEL IGHTED to see your editorial on the subject of The Acorn cassette -to -disc copying service - see page 21 "Piracy, again" in your March issue. of your March issue - again begs the point as apparently I am not usually a writer of letters to the editor but was the user would have one disc, 99 percent unused, per so very distressed by PCW's attitude that Ifelt impelled to cassette. To me, one of the joys of going over to disc with write to them, as follows: my CBM system was to be able to place 20 or more programs on a single disc, with programs to select and rearrange them. I cannot say how A massive lobby is being created to enforce software deeply 1, and the article I am sure protection against the reasonable and proper interests of on page 13 of February's many others,regret PCI,V. Far from users. I am delighted to know that you will be continuing "the fight againstsoftware piracy", helping cravenly caved into what amountsyou have weaklyand to redress the balance. to a denial of the rights of purchasers- and incidentally, reasonable William Lyons, settled out ofcourt, it does since the matterwas London NW3. I am completely not create a legalprecedent. defrauding opposed to software The Editor adds:Practical Computing is against piracy. an author of the fruits piracy, as toany other copying devices of his labour: We strongly oppose the selling of copies of copyright are a totally unreasonable however anti- be banned. If answer and should programs, and will never countenance or support it. I buy a painting,I am entitled photograph itfor insurance to reframe it,to However, the provision of a backup copy of a program, or purposes or private to modify it- what I cannot do study, and even the facility to a working copy so that the master disc it. is to make andsell prints of can be kept as backup, is essential to all serious computing. If I buy software,I should have It is also important to be able to optimise the use of a for backup an absolute rightto copy it purposes, to modifyor configure to program, either by transferring it to a floppy or to a hard needs, and tomake it more my particular I am not personally convenient or faster disc. For these reasons we regard copyable software as interested in to load or use. outraged at the games, but I would inherently superior to non-copyable software. Systems suggestion that, having be cassettes, I could paid out money which allow backup copying but prevent piracy would not resave a selection for nonsense will hardly, on to disc. This seem to offer the best solution. for example,help the sale Microdrives whenthe most obvious of Sinclair of games use is to resavea selection processor;runstopIBM cassettes for easyselection and You havea duty to your readers, fast loading. Operational PC/XT labelled software; uses your advertisers, who are the and the only customers of IBMperipheralcards; can to ensure that reason the latter purchasers receive are in business, compatibility read/write IBM diskettes both includes being value for money,which able to makeuse of the software ON PAGE 13 Of your March issueSSDD and DSDD; has the same way that doesnot infringe the they buy in reasonable intellectual any you featured the announcement userinterfacefor documen- rights of theauthors. property In a business of the ITT Xtra in which youtation, display keyboard and application,an uncopyable be in breach program could notedthattheXtra wassound. of the Sale ofGoods Act well good user practice as "unfit forpurpose" if "operationallycompatible" Ihope this clears up any software protectionrequired the abilityto make copies. confusion in readers' minds. should be made Either with theIBMPC and wondered should be required illegal, or software by law to exchange houses what it meant. Stuart Goldberg, unprotected on thepurchaser signingprotected copies for The term was devised by STC Business Systems Ltd, fee for which, a licence agreement to avoid oppression the Inc.of Sidcup, by law at of customers, FutureComputing not more that 50 should beset Kent. original program. percent of the Richardson, Texas, which has In addition I think purchase priceof the software advertisements you should refuse undertaken a vast amount of unless they state researchinthis and programs are whether ornot the field protected and, ifthey are, the copyable versionsfor proper terms on which has defined various levels of I am writing uses are available. Random this on a Commodore compatibility with theIBMPC. program Simply Write 4032 using that from Simple excellent Theselevelsvary fromnumbers unprotected which Software. Thisprogram is incompatible machines, such as enhancements; has (a) enabled (b) place my me to make severalvaluable the ACT Apricot and the DECIN REPLY to John Wellsman's several utilities working copy such as a printer on a disc with comments in the January issue Murcott's Tidy configuration Rainbow 100, through to the program to enable program, Owen top level of compatibility -about pseudo -random number Mark Atherton's files to bereorganised, and Auto for fastprogram selection operationally compatiblegenerationontheEpson by menu, bothpublic domain; and loading and (c) have machines such as the CompaqHX-20,Itoohave had the files on whichI am working. on the same disc This has enabled problems with repetition of lists single drive withoutthe inconvenience me to use a portable and the ITT Xtra. continually swapping and damage by Compatibilitylevelsareof pseudo -random numbers. discs as I often need to loadanother program during a workingsession definedbynarrativeand As stated in his article, by and then reload processor. It also the word hardware/softwarefeatures.using the Randomize function, means that as Iwork at both home office, with duplicated and the They are,briefly,as followsthe sequence of pseudo -random entire suite of setups, a singledisc can transport programs and files the because the I have made foroperationallycompatiblenumbers begins at a different program is not up. All this standard for CP/M protected! Thesetechniques machines: uses 8088micro- (continued on next page) and it is grossly are denied theiruse. unjust thatusers should be I therefore hope Our Feedback columns offer readers the opportunity you will rethink retrograde and harmful your position, which of bringing their computing experience and problems to the reasonable is have paid for rights of thosewho to the attention of others, as well as to seek our of it. software and havea right to make full properuse advice or to make suggestions, which we are always happy to receive. Make sure you use Feedback - it is your chance to keep in touch.

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 Feedback

(continued from previous page) and thatthe terms are un- position in the list, but it will be Ben Rogers ambiguous. Yet if you comeWaiting... the same sequence of numbers fromadifferentsphereof IN SEPTEMBER 1980 Practical every time the program is run. interest, the terms can actually 10 GREETINGWDEAR JACK' Computing published an Clearly this is no good for most have different meanings. 15 ISSUES="DECEMBER°:SUBJECTS= applications which demand the article entitled "Fast Electronicsandcomputer "COMPETITION, JULY' useofthepseudo -random Fourier Transforms" by enthusiastswillassumethat number generator. Ben Rogers. Could Mr A/D means analogue to digital 20 ITEMS="SMALL CONSOLATION PR However,asthemanual Rogers please contact the and D/A meansdigitalto IlE":01SAPPOINTMENT=5000 Editor as we can't find his states,the argument for the analogue but a photographer 25 FOR TIME=1 TO 20:PATIENCE=P address. Randomize function can be an will know that D/A means ATIENCE-50:NEXT TIME expression.One expression daylight to artificial and few 30 FOR DAYS=1 TO 45 which will give a different value Apple tine photographers would be every timeitisexecutedis without their A/D filter as it is 35 IF PEEK(LETTERBOX)=PRIZE TH theTime$function,soby interfaces vitalto get good pictures in EN DISAPPOINTMENT=0 combining thisfunction with THOSE INTERESTED in the daylight. You can go further 40 PRINT °SORRY TO BOTHER YOU, the Randomize functionthe Apple Operations article on into these dual meanings: TTL BUT" pseudo -random number list can to a photographer stands for page 86 of the February 45 PRINT "I HAVEN'T HAD THE SM begeneratedapparentlyat issue may appreciate this tip "throughthelens"but random. from a reader, who has electronicsengineersusethe ALL CONSOLATION PRIZE" 10 RANDOMIZE (VAL(RIGHT$ pointed out that inductive samelettersfortransistor - 50 PRINT "THE DECEMBER ISSUE A (TIM E$,2))) effects from a relay coil can transistor logic. DVISED.HAD BEEN SENT.' will effectively choose any one these the destroy a transistor. A None of beats 55 NEXT DAYS of 60 different lists, but if that is confusion that I felt on asking diode connected over the 60 IF DISAPPOINTMENTOO THEN D not variation enough then the relay coil prevents this - for a monitor.Iwas asked expression can be expanded as see figure 1. A 1N4001 with EPROM, ROM, tape or disc? ISAPPOINTMENT=DISAPPOINTMENT+5 follows: the end marked with a band On describing it as "like a TV 000:60TO 25 10 RANDOMIZE (VAL(RIGHT$ connected to + 9V and the that won't work", I was told 65 OPEN 112,"PRIZE' (TIMES, 2))*VAL(MID$ thatI wanted a VDU, "It's other end connected to the 70 IF PRIZE(3 THEN POKE PRIZE, (T1ME$,4,2,))) no good justaskingfora which will give an apparently transistors collector ANYWAY terminal will do the job. monitor". The salesman then random selection from 3,600 picked up the telephone and 75 IF PRIZE>25 THEN NYESTIMATI different lists. +9v asked the warehouse: "Got any ON=MYESTIMATION+JACK William Hughes, monitors in stock?" 80 PRINT "THANKYOU FOR YOUR "; Garston, Thisisonlypartof the Liverpool. ITEM$ Relay confusion for a beginner. I was interestedinanelectronic 85 IF PEEK(LETTERBOX)=THEN INT A small step typewriter. I could have picked (5.5):REM EXTRACT DIGIT one up and taken it home with 90 CLOSE PRIZE for Sinclair? every expectation of it working. 95 NEW IN OUR UNIVERSE, the smallest However, Iwas told that a finite change in energy which a computer can be used as a word 100 REM ROGER PEACOCK, THETFOR physical system can experience processor, which is much better. D, NORFOLK is called a quantum jump, or I was told in one shop that a leap. Fortunately, the quanta word processor costs thousands The Editor replies: involved are so very tiny that and another one offered me one for £5. I ordered one that cost their finite sizeis not notice-Jargon EDITOR: CHECK PROGRAM ableexceptforsub -atomic £35 and allowed me to do allREPORT:PROGRAM CHECKS OUT processes.Can anyreaderconfusion sorts of wonderful things on theEDITOR:CHECV CHEQUES suggest a reason why, given screen. However, nobody ex-REPORT:CHEQUE CHECKS OUT thisbackground,thetermALL WRITERS like to use jargon plained that I needed a printerEDITOR:CHECV CHEQUE SENT "quantum leap" isusedbecauseitmakes the authorwhichcostmorethantheREPORT:ERROR' ERROR' colloquiallytoimply a veryappear an expert, but it is smalltypewriter which Ihad beenEDITOR:REPORT large change indeed? wonder thatitconfusesconsidering. REPORT:MISLAID ADDRESS EDITOR:POST TO ADDRESS John Shade,beginners. The assumptionis Derek Trayler, Letham,that everyone will understand Hornchurch, REPORT:DONE Angus.themeaningofthejargon Essex. THIS NEW ONE, HERE - -0VITE AN INNOVATION, 6VARANTC-Eb. To SE eV' rJ WHAT'S SO SPECIAL ABOUT IT? MISONE,SQUIRE- - OF DATE klITNIN A FOR_TNIONT SPEkiAL YE GUAR NTT GvA

8 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984. Mini's too expensive For a multi-user business system expandable to 16 screens you used to need a sizeable mini, say from DEC or Burroughs, with a hefty price -tag for hardware and software, with long time -scales. Micro's too small Micros, like Altos, Sage and Rair, 8 -bit or 16 -bit, are doomed by CPU degradation, being based on the time-sharing principle. PCs, like IBM and Apricot/Sirius, just aren't in this league at all, networked or otherwise.

mir ref multi-user system. is just right SuperStar is a multi -processor system in which up to sixteen 16 -bit processors, each with up to 1Mb RAM, are integrated in an attractive desk -top unit. All users can work at full speed in genuine multi-user, multi -tasking mode with full file/record locking and spooling. At half the price of a mini and a give-away price for the world's largest selection of software, SuperStar is just right for any multi-user application. £5975 buys a complete 2 -user high- performance system, with 10Mb winchester and VDUs. Additional users for £995 each, including VDU and processor. Supports all CP/M and MS-DOS programs as well as the wide range of BROMCOM genuine multi- user software.

SuperStar is a trade mark of Bromley 417-421 Bromley Road, Bromley, Kent BR1 4PJ Computer Consultancy. CP/M is a Tel: 01-697 8933Telex 896691 TLX1RG trade mark of Digital Research. MS- DOS is a trade mark of MICROSOFT. 9 OEM, Dealer and Overseas enquiries arewelcomed. SuperStar-16 has a 16 -bit Master Processor which runs IMPOS (BROMCOM designed true 16 -bit controlling operating system). IMPOS supports CP/M, MS-DOS and shortly Xenix in slave processors in any combination and it is fully upward compatible with ACTION DPC/OS, Televideo MmmOST and TurboDOS. Circle No. 104 THE ACT SIRIUS SX 10 Megabyte 256K RAM £3995.00

Built with a commitment to quality, the new Sirius SX is the latest addition to the 16 -bit ACT Sirius family. And it's available now, at a complete system price of only £3,995. With 256Kbytes of internal RAM and an integral 10Mbyte Winchester hard disk, it is extremely powerful and extremely fast- ideal for those large volume business applications which previously required much more expensive equipment. The Winchester drive is the heart of the machine, greatly improving on both the speed and data integrity of floppy - based systems. Average access time is reduced to just 134 milliseconds while the average transfer rate is an astonishing 104,000 characters per second. Like all the Sirius range, the Sirius SX is backed by the strength and resources of ACT. The Pulsar range of true 16 -bit application software for accounting, planning and word-processing; over 1,000 hardware/software add-on products; ACT Training Centres open to all; nationwide field service; a full range of printers and consumables. And the most complete and professional dealer network in the United Kingdom. Sirius prices start at just £2,195 for a dual floppy drive system with 1.2Mbytes and £2,695 for the double -sided floppy drive version offering 2.4Mbytes.

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WINCHESTER SUBSYSTEM GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS 10.6Mbyte (formatted) 5' a " 256Kbytes RAM integral Winchester drive Intel 8088 16 -bit processor Twin platters unit 134msec. average access time 1.2Mbyte double -sided floppy Intelligent disk controller disk drive for back-up DMA interface to system 800x400 pixel, high resolution memory graphics Multiple operating systems Multiple operating systems User configurable Parallel IEEE 488 port 2xRS232 aysnchronous synchronous ports Internal user port For more information on the new ACT Sirius SX, clip the coupon and return to: ACT (UK) Limited FREEPOST Birmingham B63 1BR or call: 021-501-2284

Please send me further details of the new Sirius SX Name Position Company Address

Tel: Circle No. 105 PC5 84 With thevast amount of software memory plus cartridge tape and 8" The Communicator is renowned for running in so many widely differing diskette sub systems. it's rugged reliability making it ideal for fields, the Comart Communicator has The Comart Communicator can stressful environments. It's backed by a already proved itself ideal for both support the widest possible range of 12 -month warranty and Comart have also software and hardware OEM's. operating systems including 8 & 16 bit met the stringent CCTA requirements. You'll find it at work ensuring that versions of CP/M, MP/M, MS -DOS, Also working for you are the resources and the field doctor in Kenya has the right CP/NOS, CP/NET and BOS together withreputation of Comart as a major force in medicines on board; the multiple caterer IBM and ICL mainframe communication UK microcomputer development, with never runs out of buns and burgers and protocols. their innovative R & D team plus the the dairy herd receives a balanced feed to Because every model can be readily support and back up of a speedy achieve optimum milk yields. It's also configured, the Communicator affords a nationwide service organisation. And of doing jobs in a host of other areas - greater flexibility in the final choice of course dealing with a British you'll find a few other examples at the system, making it suitable for a multitude manufacturer you have direct access to foot of this page. of specialist applications. And by making our product support specialists for The most impressive thing about use of industry standard S100 Boards, technical assistance. the Comart Communicator is it's sheer existing and future models can be What's more, you'll find the price adaptability. Modular in concept, it can enhanced and upgraded to take account of a Communicator very competitive. So be expanded both inside and out. In of new applications. if you're a system builder, OEM, under three years it has become a Such flexibility ensures that the software house or an end user looking f complete family of compatible, fully Comart Communicator is unlikely to a solution for a specialist application, expandable microcomputer systems with become obsolete. So software based on post the coupon for further details. a range of no less than 20 models - the Communicator can be planned with including single -user, multi-user and the certainty that the hardware will be multi -processing systems. There's a around in the future, protecting your Comart Limited, Little End Road, Eaton S choice of floppy and hard disk storage possibly substantial investment in St. Neots, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PEI capacities with up to,1 megabyte of main development time. Tel: (0480)215005. Telex: 32514 Coma A member of the ComartGroup. The number of specialist software packagesru on the Comart Communicator surprised ev

The following are just a few of the more complex applications where the Communicator can be found at work: El I am an OEM/System Builder/Software House, COMART COMMUNICATOR SPECIFICATIONS please send me further details and a Communicator OEM pack. CPIIIISeriesSyMems CPI000 SatiesSystems Communications: Networking Telex capture Typesetting Microprocessors: 8Bit 280A(I to 6) 16 Bit 8086 Intelligent work stations DDP Software production. DI am an end user interested in (application) Memory 64K -512K 256K -IM Medical: Endoscopy Dispensing Patient records please put me in touch with my nearest Communicator OEM. Smog 390K or 790K byte diskenes 390K or 790K byte diskettes Prescriptions Appointments Pharmaceutical 51s1 or 20M byte hard disks 5M or 20M byte hard disks wholesaling Clinical research. Name Operating Symms: CP/M,MP/M II &CP/NET, CP/M86, MWM86,MS-DOS, Factories: Interactive management systems Production and M,ultiprocessor, I to 5 users I to 8 users stores control Shop floor data collection Automated assembly Features common to bosh CP100 & CP1000 SeriesSystems Position Keyboard/Display 105 Key, detached green screen, swivelhat, Robotics QA CAD & CAM . Oil rig data monitoring. Expansion: Internal -5100 suds, mainfrunecommunications & protocols, Construction: Structural analysis Timber fabrication Glass Company Explosionn. External-stubble modules cartridge tape & 8. floppy ts hard disks. sizing and cuttingArchitects. Transport: Fleet managment. Address CP/M,MP/M11,CPIN186 delP/M86 & CP/Nn are trademarRsofDigiol Research Inc. Education: Student admin.. Membership & subscriptions. ISOM,. trademark of Zilog Corp. MS-DOS itEndemark of Microsoft Corp. Comart Government: Military systems Administrative & catering. and the Comm logo:we trademarks orComert Ltd. Project planning. Tel o -Circle No. 106 12 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 News: hardware

Software Growing Acornsshorts Jane, the mouse -driven Any part of the screen can besecondprocessorwillcome ACORN HAS LAUNCHEDa co- multi -function software processor add-on unit for theexpanded to add details. Furtherbundled with standard business enlargements can then be madesoftware packages and Cobol, package for the Apple 11, is BBC Micro, though not the now available in the U.K. long -promised Z-80 option. In-up to a factor of 2120. It is alsoand will probably cost less than possible to pan off the screen. the £400 previusly suggested. Jane integrates word stead, the new unit offers a processing, spreadsheet and second 6502, like the main pro- Lines can be drawn in threeAcorn will be also launching a colours, and shapes and back-Presteladaptorinthenext list management, and uses cessor, but running 50 percent graphic icons, overlapping faster at 3MHz. grounds painted with coloursmonth. chosen from a palette contain- Anothersecondprocessor windows and a mouse to Linked together by the Tube simplify things for the user. interface, the two chips allow alling four solid colours and 12unit, containing the 16032, is shades. Text can also be addedalso due. It will come with The price is £299, which I/O functions to be handled by includes software, interface the main unit while programsand manipulated. In addition toand Fortran 77, designed for the second processor unit a dualheavynumber -crunchingap- card and mouse. A demo disc are dealt with by the add-on. costs £10. Details from disc -drive unitisrequired; aplications. Last but not least The result is a greatly enhanced Albion Computer Co. Ltd, indeed,Acornspecial ROM chip is also sup-there is the Advanced Business performance; 79-83 Great Portland Street, claims it is second only to that ofplied. The cost is £375 includingMachine, or ABM. Although the Sage II among home andVAT; both the Bitstik and thenot intended as a competitor to London WIN 5RA. Telephone: 01-580 9611. personal computers. Second Processor are availablethe Sinclair QL - the price will The new unit also increasesfrom Vector Marketing Ltd andevidently be quite different - Melbourne House has total RAM available. Using theAcorn dealers. Acorn is quietly confident that it followed up its best-selling Hi -Basic included with the add- It promises to be a fruitfulwill add a very strong second Hobbit game, based on the on as a ROM chip a total of 44KyearforAcorn.The Z-80string to its bow. Tolkien book, with a book is available for Basic programs. telling you how to play it.A Up to 60K is free for assembly - guide to playing the Hobbit language programs. The 6502 is written by David Elkan Second Processor costs £199, and costs £3.95 from including VAT. bookshops. The Hobbit runs Acorn has also announced the on Spectrum, Commodore Bitstik drafting for use 64, Oric and BBC machines. withthenewco -processor Among the Spectrum, system to allow freehand draw- BBC and Commodore 64 ing.The systemalsooffers packages from software routines for producing straight house Bell Tech is Bell Gen, lines, circles, arcs, tangents to a genealogical records arcs and brush strokes, all called program. Costing £12.95 on from an on -screen menu. Im- cassette or £13.99 on disc, ages saved on disc may be placed including VAT, Bell Gen anywhere on the screen, scaled, helps track your family squashed along one axis, placed history and descent. Contact at an angle or reversed. TheAcorn Bitstik system provides CAD on the BBCMicro. Bell Tech Ltd, Stanmore Industrial Estate, Bridgenorth, Shropshire operates continuously, allowingareas. Other facilities include WV15 5HP. Telephone: Touch screen smooth, continuous movementsgeometrical constructions and (07462) 5420. AS HEWLETT-PACKARDbeginsacross the screen. text entry. TK!Solver, hitherto- only the hard sell of its touch screen The TDS Touch Screen costs The Tracer costs £69.95 in- available on the IBM PC, system, a stand-alone monitor£2,550 excluding VAT, and iscluding VAT and comes withcan now be obtained for the incorporatingthis new tech-available from TDS Ltd, Philipssoftware on a cassette. DetailsApple II and Wang PC. nology has been announced byRoad, WhitebirkEstate,from RD Laboratories,20 TK !Solver is essentially an Terminal Display Systems Ltd.Blackburn,LancashireBB1 Court Road, Cwmbran, Gwent.equation solver but with The TDS Touch Screen con-5TH. Telephone:(0254)Telephone: (06333) 74333. What If? functions like a nects to micros via a standard676921. A true pantograph device forspreadsheet package, and RS -232 interface, operating at the BBC Microhasbeen more numeracy and speeds ranging from 150 baud to developedbytheReekie processing power. The Apple 9,600 baud. Data output is in Technology Company forlie version requires 128K of theformofthreeASCIIBBC Pantos £49.95 including VAT. Com-RAM. The price is £350, characters which indicate the hit plex shapes can be enlarged orincluding VAT, for either co-ordinates, A resolution ofTWO NEWdrawing aids for thereduced and shown in colour. version TK!Solver packs, 0.125in. is claimed with a scanBBC have been launched. Images may then be stored to with models set up for rate of eight frames per second. RD Laboratories' Tracer isdisc or cassette. Further infor-various specific application Therearetwo modes ofdesignedspecificallywithmation may be obtained fromareas, are availablefor operation: Point and Stream.children in mind. It is simple toReekie Technology Company, £135.55. Details from Point mode requires the fingeruse and robustly built. Using theBeaufortRoad,Richmond Marketing Micro Software to break beams and then betwo pivoted tracing arms, linesRoad, East Twickenham, Mid- Ltd, Goddard Road, removed for at least a framecan be copied and then routinesdlesex TW1 2PH. Telephone: Whitehouse Industrial Estate, before anothervalidhitused to draw straight lines be-01-892 2877. Ipswich IP 1 5NP. Telephone: is registered.Stream modetween points, and colour -fill (More news on page 15) (0473) 462721.

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 13 Over the past seven years, we've got used to solving other peoples' problems.

The chances are we have the answers to your computer queries, too. We'll suggest the system that will best fit into your business environment, help you put the pieces together, and show you how data processing completes the picture.

In other words, pre -sales advice, installation and training, plus full technical support, are all part of our comprehensive service.

Call us today, and we'll arrange a free demonstration.

EPSON NEC Authorised Dealer apricot

"telephone or write now for a free product catalogue: Interam Computer Store, 1111111111111) AM FREEPOST, London SW1 2 9AQ MO Tel 01-675 5325 Telex 925859 MICROCOMPUTER SPECIALISTS UNIT 25, THAMES HOUSE, SOUTHBANK BUSINESS CENTRE, 140, BATTERSEA PARK ROAD, LONDON, SW11 4NB. TEL:01-622 9373. TELEX: 925859.

14 Circle No. 107 News: hardware

one of the neat little micros run- Exxon 750 ning Forth for a mere £26. Extra EXXON OFFICE SYSTEMS, part of 16K RAM packs cost £20 and the giant oil company which softwarecassettes£3.For sells Esso petrol in the U.K., has detailstelephone(0487) launched an office work station 840740. to compete with the IBM PC Another Cambridge -based XT. It has two processors, a firm, , has just Z-80 for running CP/M and a signed an agreement licensing Z-8001 true 16 -bit chip for other productionofitsmicrosin applicationsrunningunder South Korea. The first ZX-81s Exxon's own multi -tasking and Spectrums should be operating system. available from Samsung Elec- A second Z-8001 is used to tronics later this year. Samsung control the bit -mapped displayThe PC -2000 from Tatung. produces a wide range of elec- and offers up to seven windows tronicproductsandhad a on screen at the same time. The turnover of $500 million last use of multiple Z -8000s may notTatung micro year. be unconnectd with the fact thatTATUNG, the Taiwanese multi- Exxon owns Zilog. An 8088national, has entered the micro expansion card to support MS-marketwith a Z-80based DOS is planned later. machine costing £1,699. TheLynx The Exxon 750 comes withPC -2000 has 64K RAM, two BTR L's frame store board. 512K of RAM, expandable to5.25in.floppieseachwithLaureate 1Mbyte, and 128K of ROM. 1Mbyte capacity and two ports,AT LONG LAST Camputers hasTV store Discstoragecomprises a one RS -232 and one Centronics.launched the CP/M version of 10Mbyte hard disc and a 600KThe detachable keyboard has sixits Lynx computer. Called theA TV PICTURE frame store 5.25in. floppy. function keys and a numericLynx Laureate, it features twooriginallydevelopedby BT SoftwareincludesExxon'spad. separate floppy -disc drives, aResearch Laboratories is being own wordprocessor,the Additional options include aparallelprinterinterface,marketed byEltimeLtd. andcolour Supercomp-Twenty spreadsheetgraphicsboard CP/M, Perfect Writer/Speller,Theframestoreallowsa with 1,000 rows by 1,000 col-display instead of the standardCalc and Filer programs frommonochromepictureto be umns,andtheGraphwriter12in. green screen. Winchestersthe Perfect Software suite. stored with a resolution of up to business -graphics package. Theareavailablewithcapacities The Laureate has 64K of512 by 512 pixels. If a lower software is supplied with therangingfrom6.6MbytetoRAM and 64K of video RAM.resolution is selected, propor- machine, and takes up 40Mbyte. Details from TatungThe total price is just 5p short oftionately more frames can be of the hard disc. The price is(U.K.) Ltd, Bridgnorth, Shrop-£1,000, or the machine can beheld. very competitive at £6,600. shire WV15 5BR. Telephone:bought on its own for £400. The The store board interfaces It is unlikely that the Exxon(07462) 5721. 48K Lynx can be upgraded to adirectly to any of the Motorola 750 will be sold via normal Laureate for £200, and the 96K6800 series of eight -bitpro- microcomputer outlets. Exxon model can be upgradedfor cessors.Individual pixels can isintheoffice -automation £135. then be accessed via the data market catering for major cor-Companies A joystick interface is alsobus. porations. The 750 will link to a now available and costs £15. The unit costs £1,275 and is mini known as the 8400 Seriesold and new ContactCamputers,33aavailablefromEltimeLtd, Shared Resource System, whichELAN COMPUTERS has re-Bridge Street, Cambridge CB2Unite D29, Maldon Industrial supports up to 16 Exxon 500emerged into the world with the1UW. Telephone:(0223)Estate,Fullbridge,Maldon, work stations. rather grey if worthy name of 315063. Essex CM9 7LP. Contact: Exxon OfficeEnterpriseComputersafter (U.K.)Ltd,Expro Systems passingthroughthemore House, 21 Dartmouth Street,memorable chrysalis phase of London SWIH 9BE on 01-834 being called Flan Computers. A 6677. court injunction won by Elan Digital Systems forbade the use of the name Elan. The long -promised 64K and Hard Apricots128K machines willalso be ACT HAS ANNOUNCED hard -disccalledEnterprise.Theyare versions of the Apricot. Thescheduled for launch in the U.K. ApricotXI comesintwoin September and December varieties: 5Mbyte costing £2,695respectively. and 10Mbyte for £2,995. Meanwhile, an enterprising Other upgrades in the pipelinemachine that did make it on to for this year include a modem,the streets, the Jupiter Ace, has already BT approvedbutbeenresurrected.Boldfield waiting for electrical standards Limited Computing has notEgged on by the sight of the new Apricot XIs with Winchesters, clearance, a double -sidedtakenoverJupiterCantabowners of the old version may like to add an external hard disc. microfloppy to take capacity upLimited,whichwentintoThey are now available from Micro Memory Systems Ltd, with to 1:44Mbyte, and a LAN. liquidation last year, but has ac-capacities of 5Mbyte to 20Mbyte. Prices range from £1,244 to Details on the XI are availablequired the right to trade in its£1,495. For details contact Micro Memory Systems Ltd, Kennet from dealers or direct from stocks. House, 65 London Road, Reading,Berkshire RG13 1JN. ACT. Telephone: 021-454 8585. It is now possible to obtainTelephone: (0635) 40405.

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 15 UNBEATABLE tappie VALUE

LeMacintosh Lisa 2 APPLE Ile 11:1 CHEAPER & FASTER Apple Ile 64K £499 Lisa 2 D/Drive W/Controller£250 with Macintosh operating sytem £2625 D/Drive without £200 80 Col. Card £50 Lisa 2/5 with 5Mb Hard Disk £3375 80 Col + 64K £150 TheComputer Apple 1 2" Monitor £125 Lisa 2/10 Sensation with 1 0Mb Hard Disk £4135 Phoenix 1 2" Monitor £90 of 1984 Superb Graphics Phone for latest and Integrated Software price details

THE SUPPORT PACKAGE Training - Free half day appreciation course before you BUY - Free one day applicationtraining when you buy your Apple from us. Full year guarantee on all parts and labour. On site maintenance available. SIMMONS MAGEE PRINTERS PRICE PROMISE EPSON RX80 £242 We will guarantee to compete with any RX80 F/T £269 advertised price on Apple. FX80 £350 OKI 82A £299 92 £439

For computerised solutions to business problems contact SIMMONS MAGEE COMPUTERS LTD 13 YORK STREET, TWICKENHAM, MIDDLESEX TW1 3JZ 018914477 ALL PRICES EXCLUSIVE OF V.A.T.

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 SERIOUS DECISIONS NFED11-1E SUPPORT OF OUR80 COLUMNS

Most serious users of panel giving super -high ELECTRON, ORIC, APPLE II micro computers require contrast. These features and Ile, and many others. the facility to display in 80 make this model from the So if you wish to sharpen columns, especially for word CUB range of monitors your image, whether in the processing. Try this on mostthe perfect partner for office or at home, decide monitors and the result will the high resolutions Microvitec: be a frustratingly fuzzy image.generated by BBC B, Remember-the highest The Microvitec CUB 653 SINCLAIR O.L., I.B.M., quality doesn't have to gives the user not only mean the highest cost. glowing colour, but also pin - Call at your local dealer sharp -images, thanks to a or contact us direct and well medium resolution screen send you full details with a 653 pixels wide by 585 high, pleasant surprise - our plus a selective transmission COLOUR DISPLAYS price list. Microvitec Ltd., Futures Way, Bolling Road, Bradford BD4 7TU. Tel: (0274) 390011. Telex: 517717. Microvitec Monitors are available from your specialist local computer dealer, selected branches of W. H.Smith. John Lewis Partnership, Lasky's, lohn Menzies and other leading retailers. Circle No. 108 Multiplan has always been rather special.

Right from its very conception, it was 4 5 al 1 2 3 6 1 January February March April 11 2 2 Six -months designed to be more powerful and easier to 3 3 4 SALES: 4788.08 6098.88 6588.88 7586.88 4 43268.88 5 5 use than all other electronic spreadsheets. 6 6 7 COSTS: 7 B 8 Travel 13.80 19.161 27.88 9 And it is. 18 Stationery 68.98 28.86 15.86 28.8617.88 18 17u.,_ 11 Heat/Light 148.98 135.68 128.66 181.16 11 695.E 12 Materials 316.88 259.81 318.80 420.60 12 2438.88 Multiplan will give you fast access to 13 588. 1268.86 366.88 988.66 13 41811.80 14 143iragets 1566.1868 1588.611 158916 1581.80 14 9888.69 15 Rent 1758.16 1756.86 1756.18 1758.81 15 18566.68 the information needed to make decisions. 16 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 21 CROSS PROFIT: 958.80 2345.88 2885.118 3718.09 509E4.89

And allow you to explore the possibility Como: suiBlank Copy Delete Edit Format Coto Help Insert Lock Move Dame options Print Quit Sort Transfer Oahe Window Eternal Select option or type command letter of that information. 97E Free Multiplan: FOUR All presented in attractive easy to read formats, rather than the cryptic codes of Comparing information with windows. our competitors. 4 5 6 ,B1 I 2 3 January February March April May 2 When we say Multiplan is easy to use, 3 4 SALES: 4708 6888 6588 7589 9098 5 we mean just that. 6 7 COSTS: 8 628 9 Materials 308 258 318 426 538 With a capacity of 63 columns by 10 Wages 1508 15811 1588 1518 1548 15N1 11 Heat/light 148 135 128 188 185 95 1758 12 Rent 1758 1758 1758 1758 1758 29 25 38 255 rows, there's not much you can't feed in. 13 Stationery 68 20 15 14 15 16 TOTAL COSTS: 3758 3655 3695 3799 3910 3995 And, more importantly, it can actually 17 18 19 GROSS PROFIT: lilll 2345 2885 3718 5899 5595 28 link information in different worksheets. COMMAND: Ma Blank Copy Delete Edit Format Coto Help Insert Lack Move Name Options Print Ault Sort Transfer Ialue Windom Eternal Select option or type command letter Which means that adjustments on R19C3 RI -15IC -II -31C 99E Free Multiplan: one a primary worksheet can automatically be made on related sheets. Easy to read formats.

18. Move up to Multiplan up to Microsoft as Multiplan can read their Because Multiplan offers such models directly. So there's no excuse. powerful models and presentation There are businessmen and capabilities, it's capable of all sorts of little businessmen. extras. And there's you. You can sort entries alphabetically, or present the result of a formula in either numbers or as a message. MICROSOFT And users of 'other products' can move Right. First time.

Multiplan is available on MS-DOS, Apple and CP/M 80 . If you require more information complete the details below or telephone us direct. Please send me further information on Microsoft Multiplan.

Name Position Company Address

Microsoft Ltd., Piper House, Hatch Lane, Windsor, Berks SL4 3QT. Tel: (0753) 559951. PRA05/ 4P 1 Circle No. 109 If your microcomputer job involves managing information, you'll need a Compsoft Data Management System. It's your guarantee that computerisation will be a success. Compsoft are world leaders when it comes to easy to use database programs. There is nothing quite so genuinely user friendly, and nothing quite as powerful. And Compsoft were the winners of the 1983 RITA (Recognition of Information Technology Achievement) Awards 'Software Product of the Year'. We can give your *Computer the power to breeze through the management of any record keeping situation, - effortlessly, efficiently, and more accurately than you ever dreamed possible. From sales ledger to stock control, purchaser ledger to personnel, clubs to customers, and in a thousand other ways, we can lend a helping hand. You don't have to be a computer expert to use Compsoft's DMS or Delta. Both programs offer fast, accurate and elegant database power for both first time computer users and professional system .esigners. You owe it to yourself to know more. Either return the coupon to us, or simply telephone"` we'll send you a complete guide to our versatile database programs - today.

*Delta is available for almost any microcomputer with the MSDOS, PCDOS, CP/M, or MP/M operating systems, inclu IBM, DEC Rainbow, SIRIUS, XEROX, ICL, EPSON and many others.

DMS is also available for Commodore computers.

CompSoft DMS CompSoft DMS

Compsoft Limited dme further details Hallams Court Company Shamley Green Nr Guildford, Surrey Contact England GU4 8QZ Address moms Telephone: Guildford (0483) 898545 VINA Telex: 859210 CMPSFT PC Tel No

Circle No.110 20 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 News: software

Hardware Concurrent CP/M shorts If you can convert from to decimal to octal in your head, then you runsIBM software probably won't need the VERSION3.1of Concurrent Casio FX-450, a base - CP/M candirectlyrun converting scientific calculator. The cost is £22.05, application software developed 1 -2 - 3 and details are available from for the IBM PC. For example, Copyright (C) 1982,1983 Lotus 1-2-3 developed for PC - Lotus Developotent Corporation Casio on 01-450 9131. All Rights Reserved DOS 1.1 will run under the new Release 1A With the Ram Turbo Concurrent CP/M. interface for the Spectrum, it 1-2-3 Electronic Tutorial Concurrent CP/M can is possible to use ROM support up to four windows (Press A PC -7161111 CONCURRENT CF71946 43.f cartridge software, withdifferent programs Febuary 6, 1989 Microdrives and up to two QA15 Beta II runningineach.Inthe . The cost is £22.95, ------illustration, a second window PC -MODE02/83/84CCP/M b)w,enu and the unit is available from shows Concurrent CP/M as it Celbselez3 hsaide Ti3 I Ram Electronics. Telephone: appears when you first invoke (02514) 5858. the IBM PC emulation mode. Unfortunately you can only Anyone who actually has mimic PC -DOS version 1.1, notoperatingsystem whichcanless as hardware manufacturers an Electron might be the current PC -DOS 2 versionsemulate a variety of differentare likely to bundle it in withinterested to know that a and above, which take up moreoperating systems, allowing thetheirmachines. More details printer interface and user space. But this new ability ofuser access to several differentfrom Digital Research, Oxford port are available for £39.95 Concurrent CP/M shows thesoftware bases. House, Oxford Street, from Broadway Electronics. wayoperatingsystemsare Concurrent CP/M costsNewbury, Berkshire RG13 1JB. Other units in the pipeline evolvingtowardsavirtualabout £235 one-off, or probablyTelephone: (0635) 35304. include a disc interface, joystick controls and sideways ROM. Details on Improved packages out in time for the (0234) 58503. peak holiday period, including A BT -approved modem for graphics Silversoftforthe Spectrum, £84 is produced by OE Ltd. Dragon Data for the Dragon, Telemod 2 has an integral for GWBasic English Software for Atari and power supply, and can be Audiogenic for the Vic -20 and RELEASE 2.0Of Microsoft's hooked up to a wide range of Commodore 64. Versions for popular micros including the GWBasic adds major graphics the Sirius, Apricot and IBM features to the language and BBC, Commodore, Apple PC arebeing developed byand Atari. Contact OEL on enablestheprogammerto ACT. make full use of MS-DOS 2.0 (0768) 66748. Oric 1 and Atmos versions operating -system commands. arealreadyavailable,price IBM PC owners wishing to New graphicsfunctions £12.95eachincluding VAT, luxuriate in the full visual include Window and View. The fromTansoft.Detailsfrom glory of their system can now Window command lets you de- buy a 20in. colour monitor TansoftLtd,Units 1 and clare screen dimensions inde- 2,Cambridge Technopark, from Microvitec Ltd. The pendentlyofyourphysical Newmarket Road, Cambridge. cost is £695.excluding VAT. screen size, while View lets youAimed mainly at holidaymakersTelephone:(02205)2261. For details telephone (0274) define areas of thephysical 's BBC versions cost 390011. screen on to which the windowand occasional travellers, the programs all use a new language£14.95 each. Contact Acornsoft Maxell is now producing contents are then mapped. Theteaching technique which claimsLtd, 4a Market Hill, Cambridge two statements make programs 8in. floppies which hold a tomakeabasic400 -wordCB2 3NJ. capacious 10Mbyte. They are easierto adapt fordifferentvocabulary easier to learn. machines. distributed in this country by The systemiscalled Link - More details from Microsoft CPU Peripherals Ltd. Cost word,andistheinvention Ltd, Piper House, Hatch Lane, structuring has yet to be of MichaelGruneberg,a Software Windsor, Berkshire. Telephone: announced. For more details psychologistatUniversity telephone (0621) 817269. (07535) 59951. College Swansea. The idea is tocatalogue remember the meaning of a W H SMITH is publishing its own Yamaha's CX-5 computer/ foreign word by associating itbusiness software catalogue as synthesiser is available for Foreign with alike -sounding Englishpart of its deepending commit- £550. It comes complete with word. For example, to get youment to computing. It will come both typewriter and musical languages to remember that the Germanout every two months and costkeyboards, and is part of the FRENCH, German, Italian andforlobsterisHummer the75p. MSX invasion from Japan. A Spanish self -learning packagessystemwillinstructyouto The newcataloguewill near realation of the system are now available for the BBC,imagine a lobster with a sense offeature serious software such as was reviewed in last month's Practical Computing. More Oric 1 and Oric Atmos, withhumour. thePeachtreeaccounting versionsformany other Several software houses arepackages, rather than games. It information on (0908) machinesexpectedshortly.working on getting Linkword (continued on page 23) 640202.

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 21 Ifyou arethinking of buying morethanoneAC -think again about Jarogate's MPS the CP/M multiprocessor

ICL/IBM & OTHER CARTRIDGE & REEL COMMUNICATIONS TO REEL TAPE

ETHERNET FOR PRESTEL MULTIPLE MP5 CONFIGURATIONS

FROM 5 TO 600MB MULTIUSER TELEX SHARED DISC STORAGE UP TO 16 USERS EACH WITH 64K Z80B(6MHZ) & S100 BUS PERPETUAL REAL TIME CLOCK/CALENDAR

SHARED PRINTERS AND PLOTTERS

COLOUR GRAPHICS 8 AND 51/4 FLOPPY DISC

Z8OH (8MHZ) & IAPX 286 (16 BIT) PROCESSOR OPTIONS. WILL SUPPORT ANY CP/M OR MP/M APPLICATIONS SOFTWARE. YOU HAVE JUST THOUGHT ABOUT A BRITISH MADE, LOWER COST, HIGHER PERFORMANCE SOLUTION. FROM £,1995. JAROGATE LTD. the specialists Es197-213 Lyham Rd.,Brixton,London SW2 5PY Tel:01-6716321 Telex 8950094 JAROG

Circle No. 111 CP M and MP 'M are Trdde Marks of Digital Re,earch DEALER ENQUIRIES WELCOMED News: software

(continued from page 21) its own location,characters, standardmodellettersand will also list dealers where the clues and red herrings. Unix for BBC awordlistof common products can be obtained. Written by CBS Software,UNIX system III - the real thingcommercialterms.French, Behind the new venture is aMurder by the Dozen costs- is now available for the BBCGerman and Spanish versions tie-up between W H Smith and£23.95 plus VAT from PeteMicrocomputer. The catchis are available. U.S.softwaredistributor& Pam.ContactP & Pthat the BBC machine has to be Tick -Tack is intended to be Softeam Inc. A new company, DistributorsLtd, New Hallgreatly expanded, relegating itusedinconjunctionwith WHS Softeam Ltd, has been setHey Road, Rossendale,virtually to a terminal attached aword-processingprogram, up todistribute software toLancashire BB4 6JG.to an all -new computer. which is not suppplied. It will dealers in the U.K. Readers ofTelephone: (0706) 212321. Nonetheless, the £2,900 pricerun onthe IBM PC with the catalogue are pointed to a on top of the cost of a BBCEasywriter, the ACT Sirius with dealer in their areas which WHS Microischeapfora UnixWordStar, and on the Apple II, Softeam is to supply. system. For the money you getIle and III with Apple Writer. Machines supported includeSmall-scale the Torch Unicorn pack con-The price is £150. the IBM PC, DEC Rainbow taininga68000processor More details from Longman and Epson QX-10. Theintegration for running Unix, a Z -80B forGroup Ltd, Longman House, catalogue should appear in W HEAST -ONE brings integratedrunning CP/M, 256K of RAM,BurntMill,Harlow,Essex Smith shops in April. software to the battery -powereda 20Mbyte hard disc, a 400KCM20 2JE. Telephone: (0279) Dealers can find out moreSharp PC -1500.Supplied onfloppy drive - and Unix itself. 26721. from WHS Softeam, Euston cassette,Easi-oneallowssix Moredetailsfrom Torch Street,Freemens Common, different functions to be held inComputersLtd,Abberley Aylestone Road, Leicester LE2memory.YoucanchooseHouse, Great Shelford,Visi On price 7SS. Telephone: (0533) 547671.between them withasingleCambridge CB2 5 LQ. keystrokefromthegraphicTelephone: (0223) 841000. cut display menu. VISICORPhas slashed the price Incorporated in the package of the key module in its Visi Music scores are a spreadsheet, a text editor, On integrated software envir- MUSIC MATE IS the musicala statisticsutility, an alarm/Foreign onment. The applications equivalent of a word processor.calendar, a notepad and a unit - manager, which establishes Visi Aimedatcomposers,musicconversion utility. letter writer On's Lisa -like user interface, teachers and enthusiasts, it lets Easi-onerequiresa Sharp TICK -TACK is designed to enablenow costs £80 instead of £375. youprepareascoreina 1500systemwithcassettepeople with a smattering of aThe change in pricing strategy convenient way: you type in theinterface and the 8K or 16Kforeign language to producemakes Visi On better able to notes and duration and theRAM modules. It costs £24.95acceptablebusinessletters.compete against Microsoft and package prints out the score. including VAT and postage. Produced by the software sideDigital Research's new The packagecanauto- ContactElkanElectronicsof publisher Longman,itis operating systems, which also maticallytransposebetweenLtd, 11 BuryNewRoad,neitheralanguage -teachinghave windows. Prestwich,Manchester M25package nor a word processor, Visi On applications remain 8JZ. Telephone: 061-798 7613. but something new. as before, at £295 for the Calc, Tick -Tack is based on a set of£285 for the word processor, carefully chosen key sentences£195 for graphing and £285 for and paragraphs.Youarethe database/query system. Visi Software provided with chunks of text onOn runs on the IBM PC XT and disc in your chosen language,Wang PC and requires a hard Exhibition plus a reference book with thedisc. FROM June 5 to June 7 Earlsphrases in English. As you enter Details from Rapid Term- Court will host the Software '84code numbers from theref-inals Rapid House, Denmark exhibition,sponsoredbyerence book, the letter is builtStreet,High Wycombe, Practical Computing,up in the foreign language. Buckinghamshire HP11 2ER. Computer Weeklyand The package alsoincludesTelephone: (0494) 26271. Softwaremagazine among others. Devoted to business and keys and can handle multi -par professionalsoftwarerather scores.Music Mate runs onthan leisure interests, 120 stands havealreadybeenbooked. 7H CI I most CP/M and MS-DOS ::TH systems and costs £150. AnHours are from 9.30am to 6pm. Epsondot-matrixprinteris A conference associated with FORM required to print out the musicthe exhibition is being organised scores. More details from MPIbytheNational Computing Ltd. Centre.Detailsareavailable 'k.1:77ITOF fromthe NCC Seminars H Department on 061-228 6333. The exhibition itself is free to Detective people with a business interest in software if they register in mysteries advance; otherwise it costs £2. N Murder by the Dozen for Registration forms can be PXED is the graphics equivalent of a word processor for the RML 380Z. It lets you create and edit graphic images and put together disc -based Apple II systems youobtained from Software'84, sequences of graphic slides which can be used in presentations or are a detective trying to solve aReedExhibitions,Surrey incorporated into programs. PXED requires a 380Z with high - murder - or rather 12 murders.House, 1 Throwley Way, resolution graphics, 56K of RAM and 5.25in. disc drives. It costs EachdifferentmurdercaseSutton,SurreySM1. 4QQ. £75 including postage. Contact The Headmaster, Douai School, forms a separate game, and hasTelephone: 01-643 8040. Upper Woolhampton, Reading, Berkshire RG7 5TH.

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 23 LONDON C P TER ENTRE

NEC 7 ADVANCED PERSONAL \ COMPUTER 1CHVr*\ SANYO 16 bit 8086128K RAM 2.4 Mb Disk storage int 555 CP/M86-MSDOS immoossimmemo £1124 Green Screen £1,985 Colour Display £2,595 16 bit 128K Expandable to 256K. apricot MSDOS. 2 Drives SANYO HIGH RES 256K RAM 16 Bit Green Monitor. LCC SPECIALBUNDLE Nearly £1,000 Software included from £1,495 With colour monitor (as illustrated) add £374 NEC APC RRP £1985 £1,600 software included, Dot Matrix Printer RRP £295 Wordstar, Mailmerge, Spellstar, Cables RRP £30 sinus 1 £2,310 1.2 Mb Disk storage £2,195 Datastar, Reportstar, Calcstar. You pay £1,985 2.4 Mb Disk storage £2,895 Sage Accounting Package, Sales, You save £325 10 Mb Disk storage £3,995 Purchase & Nominal Ledgers. COMPUTERS DOT MATRIX HARD DISKS EPSON QX10 PRINTERS Hard Disks for IBM PC Sirius QX1 0, NEC £1,735 10 Mb £1,545 TANDY 4 from £1,299 STAR DELTA 10 160cps £399 15 Mb £1,695 STAR DELTA 15 160cps £539 20 Mb £1,995 TELEVIDEO 806/816 PHONE GEMINI 10X 120cps £249 20 Mb Tape Streamer £1,495 SUPERBRAIN PHONE GEMINI 15X 120cps £359 EPSON FX80 160cps/FX100 160cps/ PLOTTERS RX 80 160cps/RX 80FT 100cps PHONE Hewlett-Packard 7475A PORTABLES CANON 80 Col/156 Col £319/399 6 Pen Colour £1,401 RADIOSHACK (TOSHIBA) 2100£1,130 ROLAND DXy 800/101 ZORBA with free 12" 8 Pen Colour A3 £520 Monitor. Software DAISYWHEEL worth £800 included £1,395 MODEMS/MONITORS CORONA PC PRINTERS Buzz Box. Direct Connect Modem £65 IBM PC Compatible FLOWRITER 1600 £1,600 Sendata Accoustic Coupler £220 256K RAM TEC F10 40cps £1 350 Philips 12" Green. Hi Res £85 Twin Drives TEC F1500 £450 Sanyo HIGH RES GREEN £125 £2,295 JUKI 18cps £399 Sanyo HIGH RES COLOUR £499 LAP PORTABLES SHEET FEEDERS ACCESSORIES BDT 2 Tray Auto £595 Floppy Disks Printer Buffers Daisywheels Paper NEC 8201 16K BDT 3 Tray Auto £695 £475 BDT Single £375 Ribbons Labels EPSON HX20 16K from £402 Cables Computer cleaning kits Juki Sheet Feeder £239 Disk containers TANDY 100 8K £433 Juki Tractor Feeder £99 Tractors (Qume RICOH, Tec) £139 SOFTWARE 8/16 Bit The comprehensive range includes Looking for an easy -to -use cost effective WORDSTAR £235 D BASE II £349 File Handling System? SUPERCALC II/111 £190/£275 SPELLING CHECKER £80 WORD PROCESSING LANGUAGES Thank god it's / Spellbinder 290 MBasic 215 Peach Pack' 332 MBasic 235 Mutimate 332 C Compiler 330 Spellstar 134 Fortran 80/86 325 £185 Maillist 50 Cis Cobol/Forms2 399/105 Grammatik 85 Pascal MT - 240 RNANGIAL PLANNING Pascal MT .1SSP 350 Plannercalc 85 ACCOUNTING by Multiplan 170 Pegasusfrom 250 ASHTON TA I E Lotus 1-2-3 357 Peachtree from 325 Friday will take care of your Files, Reports, Diary, CI BASE CORNER Sage 375 FastBase 150 Exact 500 Mailing and much more. It enables electronic files to Autocode 195 Pulsar from 195 be set up. Reports can be displayed and retrieved fast Ouickcode 205 COMMUNICATIONS from all or part of a file. Friday is fast and versatile. It is Dgraph 190 Bstam 130 Friday 185 Crosstalk 135 designed for beginners. Infostar 266 Moveit 80/86 90 DMS 400 Friday enables you to prepare custom reports *Ind PeachSpell/Maillist UTILITIES to suit your requirements and presentation. Sid £60. ZSid £76 Please telephone for the LCC Friday enables you to sort and select any field. Mac £133 Software Catalogue FORMATS: Superbrain, Teleyideo Sirius. Sanyo. Osborne Friday uses on screen prompts and help Northstar 8SD. DEC Epson OX -10 IBM menus to guide you through the job ICL, H-P XEROX, ALTOS, Apricot, NEC-APC & many more you are doing. All prices are exclusive of VAT 43 Grafton Way, London W1P 5LA (Opposite Maples) Opening Hours: 10-7 Mon -Fri. 12-4 Sat. 01-387 4455 (4 lines) Telephone Answering Service After Office Hours Telex: 8953742 Circle No. 112 24 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 MIN5TRP Turbo real mufti-usernetworking that offerssomuchmore

Networking Sophistication Telex Each user has their own The Minstrel Turbo is a true The Minstrelex package adds 8 -or 16 -bit computer, networked networking system with resource - telex facilities to the Minstrel Turbo together inside the Minstrel, to sharing. Up to 9 spooled printers and features automatic send and run CP/M-80 or CP/M-86 per Minstrel are accessible from receive, call logging, conversation compatible software. any processor. modes.

Compatability Versatility Prices/Details Record -locking compatability A Winchester drive and 5" 2 -user system with: 20Mb Winchester with MP/M means standard multi- drive are standard, 8" 800Kb floppy user languages and packages are floppy drives are optional, as are 3 280A processors tape cartridge drives, and IBM connection cables suitable for Minstrel TurboDOS KDS7362 VDUs systems. and ICL mainframe Turbo DOS communications. Operating System £5625 + VAT Expandability 5 -user system with: 40Mb Winchester Using the ARCNET local area tape cartridge back-up network up to 256 Minstrels of 800Kb floppy 111118161111115 6 280A processors up to 6 terminals each may be connection cables linked together. Each Minstrel HMSystems Limited KDS7362 VDUs system may have up to 160Mb of 69 Loudoun Road, London NW8 0DB TurboDOS Telephone: 01-328 8737/8 Operating System£11160 Winchester storage. + VAT Telex: 266828

Circle No. 113 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 25

Any personal computer can help to solve business With the flexibility to expand the system so it can grow information problems, like word processing. with you. With the ability to work with larger computers But imagine a personal computer that gives you a choice (ours and other major makes) and access databases and of three monochrome screens with an anti -glare coating company networks. that's easy on your eyes. Only the Rainbow from Digital offers so many solutions. With up to 132 columns on a single screen for wider Clip the coupon and set your imagination free. documents, a low profile keyboard (with adjustable key -click) I would like to know more about the Rainbow. ergonomically designed for comfortable typing and the choice Write to: Digital Equipment Co. Ltd., Customer Information Centre, Jay's Close, of leading word processing programs, including Silicon Office. Basingstoke, Hants. RG2140E. Tel: (0256) 59299. Circle No. 114 With computer based instruction and free training Name Position courses to get you started quickly. Company With on -site maintenance, 12 months warranty and Address d a telephone help for any problem at all, not to mention the lowest running costs in the industry. The world's largest manufacturer of . A SOLUTION AT THE END OF EVERY RAINBOW 1111111111111. 111110L, ////111111.11111111111311111111111111111101111116,N1111=11 Rump-Ador- Immorm

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Personal Computers from . Japan's Leading Computer Manufacturer. The name is Fujitsu. If you've never heard of it, don't worry. Not many people here have. But they will. Fujitsu have been designing and manufacturing computers in Japan since 1935. Today, innovation, design, quality and reliability in every aspect ofcomputer systems has earned Fujitsu a reputation as Japan's leading computer manufacturer. Now Fujitsu are coming to Britain. Bringing a range of personal computers - the Fujitsu Micro 7 and Fujitsu Micro 16s. Both are unequalled, in quality or in price, because Fujitsu make all their components themselves. Both offer user facilities that start with stand alone, low cost systems, building WM= into powerful multi-user combinations. And both run industryr:standard operating systems and application packages, so there is a wealth of software available. Fujitsu. It's a name to remember. And it's a name that's going to be around for a long time. You can rely on it. FUJITSU MICRO COMPUTER SYSTEMS For full information pack, please contact: Fujitsu Micro Computer Systems, Fujitsu Mikroelektronik, 1 Curfew Yard, Thames Street, Windsor, Berks, SL4 1SN. Tel: 07535 50551 Circle No. 115

28 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 Chip -chat by Ray Coles DEC hits back NOTHING,we are told, succeeds like successfraction of the Vax price has certainly had To facilitate the interfacing of the Micro - and nowhere more so than in the field ofits effect in the DEC boardroom. Vax CPU to the rest of a system, the set also computing. Plumping for a Ford Cortina DEC's solution is simple. Rather than letincludes a 32 -bit bus interface controller processor may not provide the ultimate inthe 32 -bit market be captured by futurewhich generatesallclock requirements available computing power butitwill systemsbased onIntel,Motorolaor from a 20MHz frequency source and provide the best possible level of hardwareNational microprocessors, DEC has had tocontrols the 32 -bit synchronous back -plane and software support. And after all, it ishead off the competition with a Vax-on-a-bus. The chip provides extensive error these factors which are all-important to thechip. The first step has already been taken detectionanddiagnostics,andisso average user; they can guarantee success forby squeezing a complete Vax CPU on tocomplex and I/O intensive that it is housed famous manufacturers of sometimes rather two quad -width circuit boards which can be in a special 132 -pin ceramic package. mediocre computer systems. plugged into an LSI-11 style QBUS chassis. The processor is microcoded so that for The IBM PC is an obvious example,This has made it possible to build the firsteach user -supported instruction there is a where the prestige of its highly successfulMicro Vax system. Whileitdoes notmicroprogramsequence whichdirectly parent has ensured that support, softwareactually include a complete CPU on a chip,controls the processor logic, which is quite and add-ons are available almost to excess. it looks as though it does by virtue of beingnormal in processors of 16 bits or more. Meanwhile some other machines with a packaged in a small under -the -desk cabinetThe Micro Vax chip set is unusual in that superior technical specification but withoutcomplete with floppies and a Winchester. the microcodeisheldexternallyina a famous name slide silently beneath the The launch of the Micro Vax will noseparate microprogram control store.It surface of market indifference. doubt be sufficientto stem theinitial can be changed, if necessary, to provide assault from the microprocessor brigade. new instruction -set facilities. Vax supremacy But when prices drop still further, a CPU solution based on two quite complex circuit Built-in memory There are plenty of other examples ofboards using non -VLSI technology will course, and it takes either a very brave or,soon begintofeelthe pinch on cost The packagewhichcontainsthe more likely, a somewhat unsophisticatedgrounds. By then, however, DEC will be microprogram control store is actually a potential customer to choose a new systemready with its Vax-on-a-chip, and the two ceramic hybrid substrate.It houses five on the basis of performance rather than onquad boards will be replaced by a single separate chips which provide between them the marketing muscle and track record ofdual -width card costing considerably less. 16Kwords of ROM, 1Kword of RAM and its manufacturer. Take the ubiquitous Vax Already DEChasannouncedthat 128 bytes of content -addressable memory. midi -computer from Digital Equipmentexperimental versions of the Micro Vax are Alsointhesetisafloating-point Corporation for example. Launched as anrunning, although four chips and a hybrid acceleratorco -processor which uses an inexpensive 32 -bit virtual -memory machineare required to house the beast, at least for81 -bit internal parallel data path and a in 1978, and following hard on the heels ofthe moment. But that is pretty good going 10Ons. microcycle time to implement the 61 DEC'sphenomenalsuccesswiththefor an implementation which contains a Vax floating-point arithmetic instructions PDP-11 16 -bit mini family, the Vax and its 32 -bit processorwithcachememory directly in microprogrammed hardware. VMS operating system went on to becomeexecuting nearly all the Vax 11-780 instruc- Finally, a memory/peripheral sub -system an industry standard in the 32 -bit market. tions, a floating-point co -processor and a chipisprovidedtofacilitatevirtual - Virtually every major company in the4Gbyte demand -pagedvirtual -memorymemory address translation operations. scientific and engineering community nowmanagement system.Evenmicro- When a single dual -width Vax processor owns at least one Vax system. To exploit itsprocessorssuchastheNationalcard based on this chip set is available, the successtothefull, DEC went on toSemiconductor 32032 would need at least 32 -bitmicroprocessorsnowappearing introduce several compatible offspring tofour packages to do a similar job. from the more traditional semiconductor follow the initial Vax 11-780. The range manufacturers will be given a run for their now includes cut -down versions such as theFive packages money. Unlike the Micro Vax, most of 11-750 and 11-730, and souped -up systems them do not enjoy a worldwide software such as the 11-782. The five packages used in the currentbase and a huge number of already satisfied The success of the Vax has constrainedexperimental design contain between them customers. DECtomaintainarchitecturalandabout 1.25millionindividualactive There is no word yet on whether DEC software compatibility across the family.devices. The CPU itself contains aroundwill be selling the Micro Vax chip set to Now there are lots of competing designs140,000, and is able to execute all 304 Vaxoriginal equipment manufacturers, but it is produced by other manufacturers, whichinstructions,handle17 data types andcertainly a possibility. DEC has already boastverysignificantlyimproved per-provide the control logic to manage aentered the chip market by selling two formance and, often, lower prices. The4Gbyte virtual address space. separateLSIimplementationsofthe newcomers have had relatively little success Inside the 68 -pin processor package there PDP-11 16 -bit CPU. These chips, known for all of the usual reasons. are16 general registers, 20 scratch -padas the T-11 and the J-11, are doing quite One line of attack which has worried registers,a32 -bitarithmetic and logicwell with system designers who appreciate DECistheoutflankingmanoeuvreunitanda32 -bitbarrelshifter,all the advantages of ready access to famous - currently being executed by the micro-communicating via a 32 -bit multiplexedname software. The name of the game processor designers. Itis now possible toaddress/data bus. In one 200 nanosecond isverticaldiversification.Equipment put a 32 -bit processor with virtual -memorymicrocycle the processor can read twomanufacturerslikeDEC andsemi- support on to a single chip of silicon. Thereregisters, perform an ALU operation andconductor manufacturerslikeIntelare are as yet few, if any, systems availablestore the result back into a register. The I/Oplaying it to increase their share of the huge based on these chips. But it will not be longcycle time is 400ns., allowing the processor data-processing market.WhileIntelis before they appear, and the spectre ofto interface to the fastest dynamic RAMmoving up from chips to systems, DEC is impending Vax-like systems costing only adevices without wait states. moving down from systems to chips. al

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 29 TRANSFORMS THE COMOCRE 64 INTO A FULL -FEATURED AND PROFESSIONAL DATABASE SYSTEM! WITH UP TO 1000 CHARACTERS PER RECORD ON UP TO 4 SCREENS... AND UP TO 128 ITEMS PER RECORD. Isn't it timeyou stopped 4 DEFINABLE AS KEY, TEXT, NuKRIC, CONSTANT. RESULT OR DATE... IN FILES OF UP TO 161 CHARACTERS, SUPERBASE 64 EVEN HAS SPREADSHEET AND CALCULATOR CAPABILITY. CALENDAR FUNCTIONS, EASY INPUT FROM WORDPROCESSOR/DATA FILES, BOTH MENU -DRIVEN AND running your computer PROGRAM OPTIONS, SORTING/SEARCHING, FULLY DEFINABLE OUTPUTS... SUPERBASE 64 IS ESSENTIAL IF YOU WANT THE MOST FROM YOUR 64! SUPPLIED ON CBM 1541 DISK at printer speed? WITH EXCELLENT TUTORIAL/REFERENCE MANUAL. OUR PRICE E99.95 E88.00! VIZAWRITE 64 IS A HIGH- PERFCRMANCE, LOW-COST wORD VIZAWRITE 64 PROCESSOR, WITH ON -SCREEN FORMATTING, THAT TAKES FULL ADVANTAGE OF THE 64's COLOUR, GRAPHICS AND MEMORY FEATURES... AND SUPPORTS VIRTUALLY ANY PRINTER! WITH A COMNEHENSIVE AND EASY -TO -FOLLOW USER MANUAL. VIZAWRITE IS THE ULTIMATE PERSONAL COMPUTER WORD PROCESSOR! AVAILABLE ON In ten seconds, your computer can output CARTRIDGE (£89194 US!), DISK (E79.94 168!) OR WITH VIZASPELL (E519,95 -E85!) enough print data to keep your printer busy MASTER 64 IS A TOTALLY NEw CONCEPT... A COMPLETE PROGRAM for five minutes, or longer. DEVELOPMENT PACKAGE, THAT'S asteC64AVAILABLE NOW FOR THE CBM 64. MASTER HAS 85 NEw COPMANDS... AND BASIC IV TOO, PLUS PROGRANVER'S TOCLKIT, MACHINE CONE MONITOR, , KEYED DISK ACCESS, MULTIPLE SCREENS, USER -DEFINABLE INPUT ZONES, REPORT GENERATOR, 22 -PLACE ARITHMETIC, DISK DATA COMPRESSION, DATE CONTROL, SCREEN PLOT, SCREEN DUMP, AND MORE... EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO PROGRAM YOUR 64 TO TOP PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS! (E143.75 E1151)

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PRICES SHOWN ABOVE INCLUDE 15% VAT. AND ARE CORRECT AT TIME OF GOING TO PRESS. PLEASE ORDER BY POST OR TELEPHONE, USING CHEQUE, ACCESS, BARCLAY CARD OR OFFICIAL ORDER. DESPATCH IS BY SAME -DAY 1ST CLASS Print buffers take care of the printing POST, AND FREE (EXCEPT FOR OVERSEAS AND CREDIT ORDET07 FULL PRCOUCT INFORMATION - and the waiting. And the more you print, IS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST. (REF A27I

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Buffers for any combination ofmicro and printer/ plotter. Internal buffers forEpson printers; Apple Computers. 'In -line' buffers forIBMPC, Sirius, KINGSLEY Commodore 20/40/80 series, Super Brain, BBC, Tandy, etc. ENTERPRISES Specialists in all kinds of floppy diskettes Data transfer in RS232c serial, Centronics - Mail Order Discs parallel, IEEE -488 formats. Protocol conversion. Prices are for boxes of 10 discs RAM sizes from 2K to 256K Soft Sector Nashua Xidex Dysan CenTech 5.25" Diskettes SS/SD.48 15.00 21.00 SS/DD.48 16.00 18.00 22.00 21.00 A> Li ne Computer Systems DS/DD.48 18.00 23.00 30.00 25.00 SS/DD.96 22.00 25.00 30.00 28.00 1 Church Farm Lane, DS/DD.96 23.00 30.00 38.00 34.00 Willoughby Waterleys, 8" Diskettes Leicestershire LE8 3UD. SS/SD.48 20.00 25.00 SS/DD.48 21.00 22.00 29.00 29.00 DS/DD.48 22.00 26.00 33.00 33.00 Telephone: Sony 3.5" (Apricot) Diskettes £36.00 Peatling Magna (053 758) 486 Add carriage (£1 per box) and VAT. (15%) Prices correct at time of going to press Please ask for details of: hard sector discs, business/educational accounts, OCt discounts, formatting. OeS KINGSLEY ENTERPRISES Talk to the specialists. 87 Whitefield Road Stockton Heath selot,',G0° We have the answers. Warrington e"leo" Gs Tel: WA4 6NB Ot cell 0 0925 64207 for 24 hour 9 Dial -a -disc service Circle No. 116 Circle No. 118 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 MICROCOMPUTER 000

The MX Series are beautifully housed in a low profile brown/ beige metal case.

Now MICRONIX smashes the price barrier of Professional Systems - 100% British designed and built. No frills, no gimmicks, no forced purchase of unwanted software at hidden cost! Our low, low system cost gives you freedom to choose and buy software to suit your requirement and still save money! Four models to choose from and a massive 21 Mbyte Hard disk Subsystem is also available. Based on the versatile MICRONIX 80HD Single Board Micro all models have Z80A MHz CPU 64k (expandable to 128k) RAM 24 x 80 VDU Floppy Disk Controller SASI Hard Disk Interface Real Time Clock/Calendar with battery back-up Two RS232c Ports Two Parallel I/O Buffered BUS ASCII Parallel Keyboard Port Composite Video CP/M compatible Operating System. Just add a terminal or video monitor and a keyboard (optionally available) and you are 1 . in business! , -x.91?___41 LOOK AT THESE PRICES! The heart of the system - MICRONIX 80HD Single MOLDE MX400: MODEL M165001/4: Board Micro - also available separately 400K TWIN 51/4" SYSTEM .only £799 1600KTWIN " SYSTEM only £999 MODEL MX00:8 MODEL MX200:4 800K TWIN51/4" SYSTEM .only £899 2400K TWIN51/4" SYSTEM....only £1,199 KEYBOARD: 102 Key Low Profile ASCII Keyboard only £125 (E5 carriage) HARD DISK: Mass Storage Hard Disk Sub -systems complete with Software and ready to plug into any MX System above: Model MX115HD 11.5 Mbyte Hard Disk only micronix £1,250 Model MX216HD 21.6 Mbyte Hard Disk only £1,399 All prices are exclusive of carriage (E15 per computers Ltd System) and VAT.

Suite 2, 26 Charing Cross Road, London WC2. Tel. 01-240 0213/0217. Telex 295173 VILORD G

Circle No. 119

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 31 Ifyou'reselling devices, massstorage in youshouldbe seen Cr

11 areoffering and bydate withwhateS suppliers IPSis themagazine read market is buying. Micro Business what the dealers fortradeinformation retailers and products. will focusespecially on mass onmicrocomputer The July issue products of the latest If you'reselling these Each issuecarries news storage devices. dealers and available forretail to tellBritain's micro hardware andsoftware you need information onthe termsof trade,retailers aboutit. sale, with and promotion -plus a technical support and comments advertising inMicro Business. whole rangeof reports You can, by retailer anddealer up to designed tokeep the coupon 01-6613139orclip the PhoneKenWalford on Please let mehave details. in your Julyissue. rInam interestedin advertising 1 Name

meJob Title 111 Company IAddress _

POO J1 Telex_ 3? Il Micro Business, I !Tel Advertising Manager, to Ken Walford, IMail this coupon Sutton, SurreySM2 SAS, UK Quadrant House,The Quadrant, MI Mil MIMI ME iii = iiiiME MN MEME MI IIM

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 7984 KAYPRO. OUR WINCHESTERS HAVE BEEN WINNING THE WEST.

zarAa POWER REA!),

a 3 4 5 a a la C, 7 B 12 0WER TVIJI0 4 B 1.V. A S 0 0 H ."3" L 2 S Y O

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Kaypro 2 and 4 make sense for every ...lousiness that's going places. There's a 0/1 9 inch screen, a stylish alphanumeric keyboard and access to a whole world of 111111110standard software (with a FREE get -you- inchester Disks. That's the short answerstarted set of software applications including word why the Kaypro 10 professional computer is processing and financial spread sheet). carving out big market territory for itself in the U.S. ten Find out more about the portable system you won't Megabytes of integral hard disk outgrow from your Kaypro dealer. Or cut out the coupon storage give it the edge over other for more details. The Kaypro range starts at £1,395. systems in its price bracket. And because the Kaypro is TTo CK Computers, sole UK distributors of Kaypro. Circle No. 120 truly portable you can take it out into Please send me more details of the Kaypro range. Name A 9" screen that's easy the field with you to tackle the big on the eye. challenges head on: production Company scheduling, sales performance Address analysis, technical processing ... orwherever real memory Tel. no. storage is vital. 6 Devonia House, High Street, Worle, More bang for your buck Weston-Super-Mare, Avon, U.K. isn't the only reason why the Tel: Weston-Super-Mare (0934) 516246. Kaypro 10 and the floppy disk Telex: 45786.

Pr -le -Lc niarrm n rthal rnrntinn rnrn CK Computers Limited SOFTWARE INCLUDED HARDWARE DESCRIPTION

CP/M 801 6mHz Z8OB processor CP/M utilities 128k RAM System utilities Ultra fast 'cache' disks WORDSTAR2 One/two 51/4" disk drives CALCSTAR Up to 1568k disk storage PERSONAL PEARLS Two RS232 serial ports On line HELP file Parallel printer port

The DASH -80, designed and assembled in Great Britain to exploit the vast range of CP/M based application software, provides a processor performance that exceeds that of most current 16 -bit systems and floppy disk access times as fast as those of many hard disks. The DASH -80 comes complete with a selection of powerful software tools including: WORDSTAR, the world's most popular word processor software, CALCSTAR, wordstar compatible electronic spreadsheet, PERSONAL PEARL, a powerful data base application generator.

DASH -80 processor prices (inclusive of software) start at - £1084.00 (RRP, excl VAT), DASH -10 terminal shown above - £ 560.00 (RRP, excl VAT). For further information on the system, and for details and listings of disk and processor benchmarks, telephone or write tothe address shown below:

PROCESSOR BENCHMARKS DISK BENCHMARKS BM2 BM3 BM4 BM5 BM6 BM7 BM8 DBM1 DBM2 DBM3 DBM4 DBM5 BM1 aculabLTD. DASH -80 .73 2.4 6.6 6.5 7.0 12.7 20.2 34.3 0.6 4.3 4.2 3.8 3.7 IBM PC 1.2 4.8 11.7 12.2 13.4 23.3 37.4 30.0 3.8 21.2 20.8 12.7 10.4 Unit A, APRICOT 1.5 4.8 10,4 10.8 12.2 22.8 35.5 34.0 3.0 9.5 14.0 8.0 7.5 Station Approach, SIRIUS 1.7 5.4 11.1 11.5 13.6 26.2 40.1 29.0 2.5 37.0 37.0 12.0 12.0 Leighton Buzzard, Beds. LU7 7LY Trademarks: ( ) Digital Research, (2) Micropro, (3) Relational Systems. 0525 371393 Software workshop by Mike Lewis Hashed tables You can make look -up tables faster and more flexible by coding the entries. THE TABLE LOOK -UP methods discussed into derive the first address. If it contains the The higher the utilisation, the greater the the first of these articles - PC February,required symbol you have a hit; otherwise, risk of collisions, so the higher the hash page 88 - all have the same fatal flaw.keep repeating the process. If you come to count must be. But the higher the hash They work fine if the table remains fairlyan empty slot or if the hash count is count, the greater the execution time. If the static, but they fall down badly if you needexceeded you know that the symbol is not hash count is set too low you run the risk of to retrieve entries from the table at the samepresent in the table. the table being declared full much too soon. time as adding new ones to it. The details of the hashing function canIn hashing, the table is considered full as As an example take the problem of textbe left for the moment. Of greater interest soon as the hash count is exceeded. It rarely analysis. Thisis where you count theare the values assigned to the hash count becomes full in the true sense. number of occurrences of each word in aand to the size of the table. The table needs In practice, a utilisation of between 50 given text in the hope of proving that Bacon to be larger than the maximum number of percent and 80 percent is common, with a really did write Shakespeare's plays. If youentries it is to contain. The proportion of hash count of about50.The actual tried a linear search to see if each new wordthe table that is actually used is known as performance will depend partly on the had occurred before, the program wouldthe utilisation. spread of values of the symbols, but at least take forever. A binary search would be the algorithm lends itself to fine tuning and even worse because you would have to re- With 500 entries in the table, the experimentation. sort the word list every time you wanted to function must return a whole number The hashing function itself must aim at add a word. between 0 and 499. Here is a suggested producing whole numbers between zero The solution is to use a storage and method of doing this: and the maximum number of entries in the retrieval method called hashing. It works 1. Take the ASCII value of each table. One common method is to combine by converting the value of a word into a character in the symbol. the ASCII values of the characters in the numeric address, thereby letting you access 2. Divide each value by 16 and take the symbol, then to divide by the maximum remainder; in other words, take the the word directly, without reference to any bottom four bits of each character. value. The remainder from this division is other words in the table. The method is 3. Add the remainders together. the required address. An example of this ideal for large, constantly changing lists 4. Divide by 499. The remainder of this process is shown in figure 1. such as compiler symbol tables or the division is the required address. The hashing function does not have to be 1,000 -entry directories increasingly found For example. to hash "MIKE" reversible. A given address can be derived in Winchester disc systems. 1. ASCII values of M, 1, K and E are 77, from many different symbols, which is why To store a word or other symbol in the 73, 75 and 69. there has to be a mechanism for dealing table, you then use a formula - called a 2. Remainders after dividing by 16 are 13, with collisions. Otherwise the table would hashing function - to convert the value of 9, 11 and 5. be gigantic, you would need around half a the symbol into a number. You then look at 3. The sum is 38. million entries even if the symbols were the table entry whose index is equal to this 4. Remainder after dividing 38 by 499 is limited to words containing exactly four number. If the slot it empty, the symbol is 38. capital letters. Thus the symbol "MIKE" would be storedthere.Otherwise,asecondary A finalquestionisthe method of stored in the 38th entry in the table, address must be derived. subject to collisions. generating the secondary addresses that are The process is repeated a fixed number of This example assumes that the first needed when collisions occur. An easy times, as defined by the hash count. If you entry in the table is at address 0 rather option is simply to use the next free location cannot find a home for the symbol after the than 1. If this is not the case, the result after the collision. Although this involves a hash count has been exceeded, the table is of the hash would have to be in the mini linear search the cost is not too high. declared full. range of 1 to 500, so add 1 to the final The best hashing algorithms are designed to To retrieve a symbol, the processis value. reduce the risk of collisions rather than to similar. The same hashing function is used Figure 1. Hashing procedure. minimise their effects. Programming function in Basic, the field SP being productivity booster for dBase users. preset to a string of blanks. Expressbase II is built around two power After a bit of thought, I typed the 32 libraries which contain commonly used statements like this chunks of dBase source code. They ONE OF THE MOST useful programming 'nix include routines for validating dates, for aids to emerge in recent years must surely Then, with the help of the word painting a screen, for displaying routine be the word processor. After all, source processor's global Find and Replace messages like code is not a lot different from any other function, I converted every occurrence Printing in progress text, so why notusethe power of the of an apostrophe to and much more. The beauty of it is that word processor to help manipulate it. STORE $(SP,1, you can incorporate any of these This thought struck me the other day and every / character to routines into your program by means of while Iwasstruggling with a particularly a simple two -character abbreviation. verbose dBase II program. I needed to ) TOFLD: There are scores of facilities within write 32 consecutive statements to There must be dozens of situations Expressbase, and there cannot be many initialise a number of variables. Each where using Find and Replace in this dBase programs that could not make use statementwasof the form way could save time, but clearly the of at least some of them. Expressbase II STORE $(SP,1,n) TOFLD:x technique has its limitations. An is available from Software Ltd, 2 Alice where nwasthe length of each of the alternative might be to use an ingenious Owen Centre, 251 Goswell Road, London fields and x was the field number. This program called Expressbase II, which EC1. Telephone: 01-833 1173. It costs construct is similar to theSpace$ () could prove to be a powerful £125 plus VAT.

\PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984

Circle No. 121 r MICRO TO MICRO A MULTI-USER 0WAp FILE TRANSFER BUSINESS SYSTEM SYSTEM FOR UNDER £2,000cm

110 04 in

Cl2

&41 "Get your microcomputers

U, talking to each other!" 1.10 SWAP allows you to transfer any programs and data between 2 computers of different manufacture. SWAP consists of 2 floppy disks and a cable configured for your 2 chosen computers. Any combination is available from: C) IBM PC Apple (CP/M) Tandy II (CP/M) If 21 megabytes of fast storage Sirius DEC Rainbow Comart Communicator withfive COMCEN users and two printers I Apricot ICL PC Epson QX10 sounds useful and £2000 per user TECHNOLOGY LTD Superbrain Rair ECS 4500 seems unbelievable -give us a call 04 Televideo North Star Advantage and ask us to prove it! A COMPUPRO The price of SWAP is £158 (£135 plus VAT and postage and packing). Please We will explain how your sales SYSTEMS specify your computers when ordering. clerk, accounts clerk, secretary and CENTRE CompuPro you can access your business files PC/ at the same time! And there's still I that other terminal for expansion! Comcen Technology Ltd London sales office MERCATOR COMPUTER SYSTEMS LTD 45/46 Wychtree Street. 2nd Floor, 3 Whiteladies Road, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1NU. At COMCEN we make our own Mornsfon, Avon House, computers - Ask our advice - Swansea. SA6 8EX 360-366 Oxford SO Telephone: (0272) 731079 3FIE cpurt Tel 10792) 796000 London WIN 9HA Telex 44220 Comte! Ref 247 COMPUTERSYSTEMS your alternative may be learning the (0792) 798337 (24 hours)TeL 01-491-4636 hard way! Telex 48297 Joyful Telex 28800 Londot U, SWAP-SWAP-SWAP-SWAP-SWAP) Circle No. 122 Circle No. 123 Ultra -fast BeeBASE Up to 25 user -defined fields Up to 250 characters in each field More than 16K of RAM available for storage (unlimited capacity when used with disk or tape). Extremely fast SEARCH, EDIT, and SORT facilities. SEARCH commands include: FIND and EXCLUDE - can be used on up to ten consecutive searches. Enables data to be extracted which meets ALL of the given FIND and EXCLUDE commands. Provides extremely selective data extraction. Extracted data can be SORTed on any field. EDIT enables records to be deleted or amended (shortened or lengthened). An ASCII file of extracted and sorted data can output to A disk or tape for storage or further editing by a word processing package (such as Wordwise). database in EPROM Includes demonstration cassette which also contains a selective printing program. (for the BBC Micro) Order today - Access and Visa welcomed. for £4594* *(Price includes VAT - p&p £1) Trade and local authority enquiries welcome. Price correct at time of going to press

BARCLAYCARD GCC(Cambridge) Limited 66 High Street, Sawston, CambridgeCB2 4BG VISA Telephone: Cambridge(0223) 835330

Circle No. 124 36 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 rG.W. COMPUTERS LTD London's West End - Nationwide overnite service - More product ranges - Probably the widest selection of networks/micros/and printers WE OFFER ONE OF THE BEST 'SYSTEM DEALS' IN THE U.K. (save 1500.00 +) THE NEW DBMS 111.7 (series III of the world's first 'task -robot -programs')

G.W. COMPUTERS LTD - Tel: 01-631-4818 Contains the highest state of the art software available today FORMSITEXTICALCIDBMS IV - ALL IN ONE PROGRAM THE -"KEY" -W 575.00.

FEATURES When you budget for a complete system of software you eventually end up with a host of Mbasic & word -star compatible 32000 records per filename packages like, Sales. Purchases. Nominal Data, Text, Calc, Mailshot, invoice, Order, 1400 character record sizes 20 main/200 sub fields per record. field Workflow. Personnel, and so on. The list is endless and the outlay several thousands of mathematical scratchpad, and record related formulae. pounds. record relational indexes, 'Jump -to' any of 3200 records per file. Features Design a form as wide as a window of 250 characters, long as needed. Cur- translateable to any language random/binary/key/multiple field sor movements are 'left, right, up. down. delete left, delete right, tab right - User-defineable reporting search. 'if -then' questioning left -up -down'. Paint your form as you like directly on the screen. field protection/classification. file protectionlpassword entry. Text. Write a letter as you see it on the screen, edit it then simply enter P to print. either-or, same as, greater, smaller range match. not match. integer match. Calc. Set into the form, your data fields. "a a a a a a" and specific file -related ac- sorts alpha/numeric any window sort speed 500 records per 20 seconds tivities, formulae and validation checks. Enter values and see the spread- 12 online file architectures. endless 'either-or' matching sheet calculate itself. 240 fields using cross-referencing formulate/recall on selection criteria. Database. Search files for data to be inserted to fields specified. All the features of cross -record calculations. 13 interrogation question types DBMS III. explained elsewhere in our ad. 'Jump -to' any record in 12 files, short filing output/audit trails. Here's an example of an invoice you might design for your stationery .... You could User -define files/field words/sizes. "sale -mall -shots") "production -process. design you own spreadsheet, order form, statement, wage docket, or any other kind of "purchase/salesianalysis", "personnel -file" form that Is required to fit your existing stationery.

DBMS III 7 new switch mode facility enables you to cross up to 12 different files (32000 INVOICE <0> P NNIINMIt MP ot records per file) pre -selecting any of up to 20 fields per record/file for display/print output (240 fields) in all. One massive enquiry can pass through 384,000 records To a<1>ittfamaiittoPitap From: G. W. Ltd <2> pap a itit eiti###PPIttilitt 55 Bedford Court Mans. a <3> ti aaaaa aaaaa NNI10111,1 Bedford Avenue <4> a N e tt Pittia# a a p London W.C.1. You might have two files whose records are directly related to each other, so that the first x<5>aa if a a P Tel: 01-636-8210 file (say containing names and addresses) refers to the second file (say financial and other information relating to the same record numbers in the first file) directly. Then you can Date< 6 > d a.a p Tax point<7> P Agent <8> ti simply choose that in file 1 you are interested in just the name and telephone numbers, whereas in file two, you are interested in the income, trading period and number of bran- QuantityDescription Cost Tax Total ches, information. Your enquiry can then pass through both files highlighting that informa- tion only. Actually there doesn't need to be a strict correlation between the same record <9>IIMM <10>NNNNI$MMNMOINNN <11>MN <12>N1t <13>NON numbers in different files. and you can also just on JUMP command go to any record in any <14>itil <15>tiiiiiiimaittiaitati <16> M N <17>aa <18> 1 Itt N of the 32000 records in any one of the twelve files and carry on cross-referencing from there ------onwards 0 on Total.... <19> aaaa as Tax. <20> ait a it

DBMS'S MACROS WORK FROM THE MOMENT YOU INSERT THE 'TASK DISK' IN THE COMPUTER items <1> to <5> internal command to request name, input, and then search an address file for details. items <6> to <7> request date input and validate. Simply design your file, give its fields your words, set up your report mask, and then enter < ?'?> item <8> request agent number and validate range. your records. Switch to 'automatic drive' and formulate any task you wish the program to item <9> request quantity, validate range. full II, the task is stored as a macro. Take a copy of the program on another 'task disk' and Item <10> request description, search tile. accept. and calculate fields <11> from then on, the task disc will function without a single keystroke. Think of a number of <12> < t3 > .if finished invoice then calculate fields <19> and <20> such 'task disks' such as "stock -re -order reports". "stock -valuation reports", analysis, "patient history analysis", "research -analysis", "budgeting", "plus more?" Now comes the more valuable facility. You can provide the 'FORM' with file -related instruc- lions, not only to request a 'console' input for file search against names, and stock, but after the invoice is finished, the fields you have selected may be passed to related files. Not only does this program surpass most of its kind that you might buy elsewhere. but if EG: Send fields <0>, <1 >, <06>, <07>, <11>, <12>, < 13 >, <19>. < 20 . to a you buy the hardware from us, then you get it -FREE.... DBMS II (WITHOUT MACROS) sales ledger. AND DBMS III ARE FULLY IMPLEMENTED UNDER CPM-86 (tm) AND MS-DOS (tm) ie: < Then send fields <9> , <10> , <11 > to product analysis file. SIRIUSNICTOR/IBM> DBMS II IS 395.00 (or 250.00 by mail order ex. training). DBMS IIis Then send fields < 0 >, <1 >. <7>. <19>. < 20> to V.A.T. file. 0 (or 295.00 by mail order ex. training). Then send fields <10> , ,< 12 >, <13> to Nominal ledger. Do you see? aillii

SYSTEM DEAL (our speciality) SAVES YOU 1500.00 POPULAR BRANDS OF EQUIPMENT WE SELL

Buy any computer, any printer and 150.00 value diskettes add 85.00 for cables and MICROS -Sirius/Victor/I.B.M./Dec/Epson/North-star testing. -Sanyo/Superbrain/CompustarlAltos/Apple.Lisa add 10% for return to base warranty for 1 year (optional) add 110.00 for delivery & -Televideo/Corona/Compaq/Eagle installation (optional) training optional extra 120.00 PRINTERS -NeciOurne/Diablo/Oki/Epson/Olympia/Ricoh -Texas/Dre/Anadex/Others

OTHERS -Corvus/Compustar/Syquest -hand disks networks and multiplexors -Spoolers/Modems/Buffers and get completely FREE -most of the best known brands of software cpm handbook ..50 exercises .2000 sheets paper Syquest 5.6MS cartridge drives on I.B.M. PC. DBMS 111.7 ..magic wand w/proc ..magic calc 80 ..diagnostics ..msortidsort recover ..autoload ..instant basic Remember! the software is the 'key" & the hardware less important. boxes ..disk/games ..DT/AS/NS sorts

total value 1525.00 Based on 8 bit hardware. 16 bit software varies! TERMS & ETC Here's a typical example of a complete system deal

1-IBM PC or Corona Portable 2595.00 G.W. Computers Ltd IGrarna (Winter) Ltd) Telephones' 2-Oki microline 80 printer 295.00 43/55 Bedford Court Mansions 01-636-8210 3-Cables & testing 8600 Bedford Avenue 01.631-4818 4-Diskettes 150.00 5-price differential on magic/wand for word -star London W.C.1 England 'loam Telex 892031 TWC G Boston office tlx 94.0890 software described above FREE 3225.00 24 hour answerphones: leave address for 'infopacks'. We do not operate a reader's reply We specialisein 'STANDARD MICRO -PRINTER SYSTEMS' as well as 'NETWORK card service. Terms: C.W.O. or C.O.D. Prices exclude V.A.T.. but include all non-credlt SYSTEMS BASED ON A SHARED HARD DISK' discounts available. No dealers! The above lists are not exhaustive. Please call at our showroom only by prior appointment. Unless expressly agreed.allwarranties are The range of computer products (mostly ex stock) includes the most popular brands of commercial 90 days return to base forparts and labour. Annual warranties and micro -computers. printers. modems. buffers. spoolers and software. maintenance facilities available nationwide through closely related third parties.

Circle No. 125 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 (aculab data buffers FROM 16K TO 256K

aculab NORMAL NORMAL DMA BUFFER 3 01/7 HOLD

BYPASS REPEAT

POWER INPUT DATA BUEPER BUFFER DIP REPEAT BOLIN. PRESENT CULL 012LOW HOLD ON

Any combination of Parallel or Serial inputs and outputs, capacities 16k, 32k, 64k, 128k and 256k. Status indicator led's for data arriving, data present, buffer full etc. Buffer bypass facility for 'quick print' jobs, buffer repeat facility for multiple copies. Output hold facility to temporarily stop printing without destroying data. Separately selectable DTR, XON/XOFF, ETX/ACK handshaking, baud rate etc. on serial inputs and outputs. Serial input and output selection provides return data channel for KSR printers. Use for printer 'spooling', protocol conversions, data acquisition, machine monitoring etc. For further information telephone or write to: Parallel in-Parallel out DB3-1 from £186.00 (excl VAT) (aculab)Ltd. Parallel in-Serial out DB3-2from £197.00 (excl VAT) Unit A, Station Approach, Serial in-Parallel out DB3-3from £197.00 (excl VAT) Leighton Buzzard, Serial in-Serial out DB3-4from £203.00 (excl VAT) Beds. LU7 7LY. Parallel/Serial in and out DB3-5from £221.00 (excl VAT) 0525-371393

Circle No. 127

SUSBO {=1-,..L.GICE1111FILJTERIIIRRE The DUPLEX SUSS -BOX and DUPLEX SUSS, ADAPTOR have *ALL THE BEST FROM A + G* been designed to enable the less skilled computer user to have a better understanding of the correct APPLE SOFTWARE working connection between a computer and a peripheral. such as a Send now for new 1984 catalogue printer This is achieved by using the commonly used signals (wires) of the Over 700 items Lots of new bargains RS232C serial data cable specification, a Write or call now matrix block and special connector pins. By inserting the connector pins into the SUSS BOX's matrix block at the axis of two incoming signals the user can quickly establish a firm PRINTER BARGAINS connection The signals are routed into the SUSS New Daisystep 2000 Daisywheel Printer BOX by two 25 way D type connectors. I x Wordstar compatible Bidirectional 20 CPS

female I x male The SUSS BOX aLv provides a Qume Ribbons and Printwheels lamp for each signal to show its condition when Free delivery on UK mainland connected in -line. ie High or Low at only£289!! Full warranty. Unbelievable value' Business Starter Pack Based on Apple Ile computer plus all necessary cards & cables includes *Monitor* D/Wheel Printer and Software. Inclusive Price£1679 Ask for details Stock Clearance - Epson MX100 FX/3 SUSS ADAPTOR Limited number available @E348!! When the user has achieved the correct Pin -out Also RX80 @E225 and RX80 F/T @E243 between a micro computer and a printer the DUPLI X SUSS BOOK SUSS ADAPTOR should be used as a permanent 2nd edition means of connection. This is done by transposing the li the user specifically wishes to connect a Monitors Green - Amber - Colour correct matrix, block pin -layout already established microcomputer to the OCTET or HERMIT Acoustic hoods for all makes of printers with the SUSS -BOX onto the matrix block of the SUSS typewriter /printer then refer to printer buffers - internal - external - 2K to 64K ADAPTOR. and then installing the SUSS -ADAPTOR in DUPLEX's SUSS -BOOK for details 2 years guarantee between the computer and printer on various microcomputer All at amazingly low low prices cable Pin -outs

£29.95 60.65 DO IT NOW! RING FOR OUR BARGAIN OFFERS +£l.00 p&p p&p 4- VAT Govt. & Educ. orders welcome. Communications Free delivery by Interlink Courier Please add VAT to all totals

South -52 HIES Saar Stock. Ears CM4 SBW. Td 0277 141011 P.O. Box 34,Cheadle, Cheshire,SK8 4PT Illkllaada/Barth -2 Lars Dar Dania s Barr. Ito. Latiorrarth. Lersaanalso LEI7 5W. 7.1 0155 21143911 Telephone061-428-2014 All prices are based en cash with -order err7r,-. Circle No. 126 Circle No. 128

38 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 The market leaders!...

Attention Dealers! As a result of demand ATA UK has been established to T.V. supply dealers, computer withController, Disc Drive + FREE products at attractive *CIApple IleComputer Vouchers prices. AppleBooks, Software Modulator, Bag Ring Now (dealers only). Apple Sports (0727) 37327 (0742) 700802

Export specialists - ring or telex for details ...with recognised professional support

Interfaces f Robocom Bit Stik C.A.D. Graphics Apple RS232 Super Serial card 99.00 System Apple IEEE 488 card 205.00 Robocom Bit Stik 1.1 system 390.00 Apple parallel interface with cable 99.00 Robocom Bit Stik 1000 upgrade software350.00 Apple III parallel interface with cable 130.00 Robocom Bit Stik 1000 system package ... 545.00 CCS 7710-01 RS232 serial interface 109.00 Plotter driver for A4 and A3 plotters 180.00 Grappler + parallel graphics interface 105.00 PACT 8 bit A/D converter 115.00 Keyzone 12 bit A/D converter 138.00 Printers & Plotters PACT 12 channel D/A converter 125.00 RGB card TTL/analog output (programmable) 99.00 Epson Epson RX80 120 CPS 245.00 RGB card TTL output . 85.00 Epson FX80 160CPS 349.00 Epson RX8OFT 265.00 Epson FX100 160CPS 480.00 Apple Apple Dot Matrix 120 CPS 349.00 Apple Hardware E Apple Letter Quality Printer 1199.00 Apple Ile Macintosh Ricoh Apple Ile 64K 499.00 Macintosh the ultimate business machine. Ricoh 1300 Flow Writer 1150.00 Disk drive with controller 250.00 32 bit MC68000 microprocessor Ricoh RP1600 Flow Writer 1499.00 Disk drive 199.00 400 kilobyte 3/ inch disk Mannesmann Tally MT160L 449.00 Apple Ile minotir 125.00 The Mouse Replaces typed in computer commands Mannesmann Tally MT180L 649.00 Phoenix hi-res green 12" monitor 99.00 with a form of communication you already Plus full range of Centronics Phoenix hi -ms amber 12" monitor 105.00 understand: pointing Printers Available. Nineinch high -resolution (512 x 342-pixell bit - Apple III mapped diplay Plotters RAM 128 kilobytes Hewlett Packard HP7470 750.00 Apple III 256K including Monitor Ill, ROM 64 kilobytes Hewlett Packard HP74751A3) TBA 1399.00 Disk drive & SOS 1980.00 Completely portable Calcomp 8 PEN IA31 2999.00 Additional 5.25" disk drive 270.00 Profile 5mb Winchester 1299.0C Accessories 80 column card 65.00 WE ALSO STOCK APPLE AND HEWLETT PACKARD 80 column card 64K extended 145.00 Numeric keypad We) 85.00 Numeric keypad (II + ) 75.00 T.V. modulator with sound 12.00 TERMS AND CONDITIONS Videx Videoterm 80 column card 195.00 For delivery please add Videx Soft Switch 140/80 column) 20.00 Videx Keyboard Enhancer 87.00 f0-£199 + f5, f200-£1499 + £13, your Videx Inverse ROM and character sets 18.00 £1500 + 11/2%. Order Microsoft Softcard (Z80 CP/M) 220.00 CHEQUES WITH ORDERS Microsoft Softcard Apple III (Z80 CP/M) 265.00 Accelerator card 13.6 mHz 6502C & 64K)289.00 Please allow 10 days for clearance Joystick We) 29.00 PLC's, public sector etc 30.days credit available on official orders, System Saver fan & voltage reg. 59.00 acAntosh,.DELN ERNI Dust cover for Apple II 6.50 subject to 5% ENSURE Dust cover for Apple II 2 x DD & 12" minitor 9.00 credit charge. VISA NOW TO Dust cover for Apple III & Monitor III 11.99 ATA - LONDON 4Albion Hse, Colour Monitors 1Back Hill, London EC1. 01-833 0044 Luxor high resolution 25Mhz linear & TTL 499.00 Telex 25102 CHACOM G Kaga Denshi medium resolution TTL 325.00 ATA - ST ALBANSAdelaide Kaga Denshi low resolution 265.00 House, 9 Adelaide St, St Albans, We also stock the Hantarex RGB monitors, as Herts AL3 5BE. (0727) 34361 recommended by Apple in Europe. ATA - SHEFFIELD72 Eldon Street, PRICES EXCLUSIVE OF VAT AND CURRENT AT TIME OF Sheffield, Si 4GT. (0742) 700802 PRINTING FREEPOST SHEFFIELD S1 1AY

Circle No. 129 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 39 It Reads, Writes and It Paints in 3-D, Keeps and Talks to

It's called "OPEN ACCESS; and it's the result of 60 man-years of effort to create a truly do -it -all, super-program-one that can perform virtually every task you're ever likely to encounter. The beauty of it is, all that capability SM resides on a single program. You don't have to re-enter data. Or spend time Set SI:FNME NEWS trying to get unmatched programs to work together.

OPEN ACCESS takes its name from the source of its power-a relational data -base manager that gives you access to more data in more ways than any comparable software. OPEN ACCESS includes an electronic f spreadsheet, 3-D graphics, word processor, appointment scheduler and telecommuni- cations module-all revolving around the powerful information manager.

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INFORMATION MANAGEMENT-THE ELECTRONIC SPREADSHEET-NUMBER 3-D GRAPHICS-NOT JUST PRETTY MASTERMIND. This advanced data -base CRUNCHING AND GOAL SEEKING. It helps PICTURES. These graphics distill raw data manager stores and retrieves multiple files you produce forecasts, cost estimates and into trends that can be instantly visualized, quickly, easily and reliably. What's more, it "break-even" points-in seconds, instead of helping you discern the important facts from shares all information with the other programs, hours or days. Best of all, it allows "goal a wealth of information. so you never have to re-enter the same data seeking." Ask, for example, "What sales must I twice. have the rest of the year to net El million?," and OPEN ACCESS will figure it out! oesArithmetic. ourAppointments he World.

Because they do not have a dedicated There's just one conclusion: At £ 495.-, relational data -base manager that can OPEN ACCESS can do more for you than quickly direct massive amounts of data, any other comparable business program other programs simply can't do what on the market. Bar none. But the only OPEN ACCESS can. Some don't have a way for you to be convinced is for you to communications program, others no see OPEN ACCESS work its magic on your dedicated word processor. None have a work load. So call your local software time management program. dealer today, or call us.

S 5prea4shert-

,3-P . graphics

(Nord Commugications pkgezoi

SPISOFTWARE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL European Headquarters: Amsinckstr. 44, D-2000 Hamburg 1, Tel.: 40 / 23 60 06-0, Tlx.: 2 17 773 spihh d

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WORD PROCESSING-EDITOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS-YOUR LINK WITH TIME MANAGEMENT-CONSERVING YOUR EXTRAORDINAIRE! Superior word processors THE WORLD. This program gives you access MOST PRECIOUS RESOURCE. This module make it easy to correct typos, change words, to virtually any other computer system in the helps you keep track of all your appointments, shuffle paragraphs and format documents. world. Not only can you transmit and receive hour by hour, day in and day out. It alerts you This is one of that breed. Use it to write reports from your colleagues, you can also to standing obligations, automatically efficient memos, letters, proposals and subscribe to special data banks that know coordinates meeting times with other busy reports. everything from GM's stock price to the professionals, and lists all your associates on relative humidity in Genoa. Now that's power! a RolodexTN-like file.

Distributors in the UK: SOFTSEL'", Softsel House, Central Way. North Felthan Trading Estate. Felthan Middlesex TW 140XQ, Tel.: 01 - 844 20/40 Circle No. 130 Xitan Ltd.. Xitan House. 27 Salisbury Road. Totton. Southampton. SO4 3HX, Tel., 0703 - 871211 4 PHILIPS PHILIPS

Every small business can be a step ahead with The Philips Portable Computer P2000 C The P 2000 C goes from desk to desk your costs and prices. The accountant providing computer efficiency to many can do his bookkeeping and billing people in a small company. The and keep track of outstandings. In fact P2000 C portable is easy to move and any business task can be done'more can be set up in a flash. And it is easy easily and quickly. to use even if you have never used a computer before. Posture Highlights 1. 9" screen, 24 x 80 display, 32 KB video A secretary can type with the P2000 C RAM just as with a typewriter only it's faster, 2. 64 KB RAM user memory. 256 KB RAM disk optional easier and better. You can organize 3. Two 5 'Ia" floppy drives with up to 640 KB your records with it, do forecasts, per disk 'projections and estimates, analyze 4. CP/M* and p -System** provide access to a large range of available software 5. Interfaces: serial printer, external floppy drives, hard disk, data communication, slave monitor, IEEE -488 CP/M Is a trademark of Nita' Research Inc p -System is a trademark of Sonech Microsystems Inc.

P2000 C - the affordable portable. With free software. Plus ElkGIE Accounts Packages on Free Trial. Contact our distributors for a list of dealers in your area.

KINGSWAY DATA 2000 C DEALERS 111 111111111111111111111111111 Chas White and Son Ltd Anglia Telecommunication 2.6 Curtain Road (Peterborough) Ltd London 3A High Street EC1V 2AA Market beeping 01 920 9831 Peterborough Harpers Computers PE6 8ED 7173 Commercial Way 0778 346633 Woking 4B Microcentres Ltd Surrey North Bar GU21 1HN Banbury 04862 25657 Oxon C&L Computers Ltd 0X16 OTE St John's House 0295 67551 Grover Walk Computers For Business Corringham Middle Rixdale Essex Luton 0375 675656 Nr. Newton Abbott Anchor Computers Ltd Devon Rovers House 0626 88247 Station House Skytronics Ltd Hucknall 357 Derby Road Notts Nottingham NG15 7UD Notts 0606 640220 NG7 213Z De Trey Computer Services Ltd0602 781742 272 Old Birmingham Road Rednal Birmingham B45 8EY Midland Analytical Services Ltd Unit 4 Coppice Lane Walsall West Midlands W39 9AA 0922 58247

For Dealer Enquiries. Contact Kingsway Data, 30 Guildford St. Chertsey, Surrey. Tel Chertsey 68911

Circle No. 131

42 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 ESSPLOT THE GRAPHICS PACKAGE ON IBM PC, APRICOT, RAINBOW, SIRIUS SAMURAI AND OTHER INTEL 8088/86 COMPUTERS.

. 9 ,03 BALANCE OF PAYMENTS BAR CHARTS * STACKED BAR CHART * SIDE BY SIDE * THREE DIMENSIONAL * SPLIT AND LINE * UP TO 20 BARS ..... * UP TO 6 VALUES EACH s:...... 983

12 MAR 1984 GRAPH PLOT OF EXPERIMENT X1.1 1 FIDE REPRESENTATIONS OF DATA

LINE PLOT 1 o----REST LINE ---- BEST CUPS GRAPH PLOTS --- SPLINE .

* SPLINE CURVE 10.50 * BEST CURVE Cm * BEST LINE 7.50 * SHADED LINE PLOT 50 * SCATTER PLOT * 6 LINES/CURVES

EACH CURVE OR * LINEAR/LOG/NLOG SCALES SECONDS LINE HAS A TIME IN SECONDS DIFFERENT NUMBER OF DATA SUBTITLE POINTS

TRADE OF USA 7 / ' RE RC Ex, TAGES PIE CHARTS 7/8/1983 RERAx mo1211 ou0RRS.51naAC x 212.x. * UP TO 4 PIES PER CHART TELE -COR6.9 .C91.85 '2 COMPUTERS CU * 20 SLICES PER PIE SC I.T IE IC2.05 .P2.72 .TEXTILES6.21 * PERCENTAGES STEEL 11.. m TRES 3.5 6.65 SLIDE SHOW 011.0ER1 2.6 * FULL SLIDE SHOW FACILITIES DATA FILES * DIF, MULTIPLAN LINK AND ASCII INTER FACES 9RmE4CIRREO 8MRX. * COLOUR CARDS eg PLUTO * A RANGE OF GRAPHICS PRINTERS

PLOTTERS HEWLETT PACKARD: COULD BRYAN: C-ITOH: WATANABE: TEKTRONIX HIPLOT CALCOMP: NICOLET ZETA: DIGIPLOT: MANNESMAN TALLY: ROLAND: HITACHI. REQUIRES MS-DOS AND 256K BYTES OF RAM. ALL ENQUIRIES INCLUDING DEALER/DISTRIBUTORS TO JOHN R. NUTBOURNE. ESS CONSULTANTS LTD 35 CHENEY WAY DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM is available on loan for up to 28 days. Thisis a full program with just the words DEMONSTRATION CAMBRIDGE CB4 1 UE PROGRAM inscribed on the graphics, for you to assess the full Tel. (0223) 351196 capabilities of the product in your own environment.

Circle No. 132 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 16 BIT COPAM INTELLIGET PC301 PERSONAL COMPUTER PC301 SPECIFICATIONS: Microprocessor: Intel 16 bit CPU 8088 Operation System: MS DOS 2.0 User Memory: 128K Expandable to 512K Disk Drives: Dual DSDD 720 Kbyte Interface: 2 Serial RS -232 Port 1 Parallel Certronics Port 8 Expansion Slots Power Supply: 100W Enough to Support Hard Disk Keyboard: Capacitor Type 50 Million Strikes Resolution: 640 x 400 Dots with 16 Colours Calendar Clock SOFTWARE COPAM INTELLIGENT PC -301 uses the MS-DOS 2.0 as operating system. COPAM INTELLIGENT PC -301 can be used to run countless package those are designed under MS-DOS such as 1.2.3,

Multiplan, Wordstar, VisiCalc, DBASE 11, Copy II PC . .. etc. IBM PC compatible package can be used on CPAM INTELLIGENT PC -301, this compatibility will assure you the ever increasing supply of more powerful package in the future. The CP/M-86 will run the COPAM INTELLIGENT PC -301, the meaning of this compatibility is the software which developed under CP/M-86 can be used on theCOPAM INTELLIGENT PC -301.

AVAILABLE SOON IN\ LANGUAGE - £1750 (without monitor) INTERFACE CARDS FOR APPLETM 8088 processor card for Ap- 4144114.44444 i 4 4 4 4 44 4 ple TM PC to run the DOS 2.0 L-4f 4'4 44" 4 44 4 and CP/M-86 operating sys- 44414 f 4.4" tems software £350 Z80 card £42 G BASE -64A 80 column card £49 Dual processor Z80 and 6502 128K Ram card £180 based system with 64K memory RS232 £35 expandable to 192 Kbyte. Epromwritercard2716, Multitech slimmer half -height Keyboard: 72 typewriter style 2732,2764,2516,2532, 5.25 -inch minifloppy disk drive, ASII keyboard. 63 function keys, 2564 £40 100% high quality, AppleTM II 31 one key command, all with Printer buffer card. From £65 compatibility. This slim, stylishly upper/lower case function. Built PAL colour card £59 designed drive provides 143 in mini -writer. Other cards: 6809 card, IEEE Kbytes of storage with 35 track Self -test to check Rom, sound, 4888 card, Wild card, Music compatibility. The slimmer pattern, color and Ram. £320 card, 16K Ram card & provides a 34 pin standard Also available in Communication card. From format interface for use with the £35 IBMTM PC. £175

DEALER ENQUIRIES WELCOME PRICES EXCLUDE VAT, P&P. SPECIFICATION SUBJECT TO CHANGE SOLID STATE NUTRONICS LTD 70 BROOKWOOD ROAD, LONDON SW18 5BY TELEPHONE 01-788 1982 TELEX 8812093 NUTRON G Personal callers to: VISIONSOUND, 251C-253 Wimbledon Park Road, London SW19. Southfields District Line Station

CircleNo. 133 44 PCBulletin: news Portables, pirates and prices

IBMin Boca Raton, Florida hashas sold $100 million worth ofnewspapers warning counter-IBM is turning the heat on rival announced the IBM Personalportables in the U.S. and hasfeitersthattheywillbesuppliers who do not have the Portable Computer. It shouldjust launched its machine in theprosecuted. volume to compete. be on sale now in the U.S.,U.K. After all, who can make a Meanwhile, IBM has reduced IBM's corporate results were though no one knows when itmore compatible portable thanthe price of the PC in the U.K.announced in last month's IBM will reach the U.K. IBM? by over 20 percent, and the XTNews page. Now IBM United The machine weighs about CertainlyIBM isouttoprice is down by around sevenKingdom has declared its own 301b., measures 20in. by 17in.,protect its position by defend-percent."This action", saysresults.Sales were up by 35 comes with a carrying bag andingitscopyrightcode.TheIBM, "reflects improvementspercent to £1.677 billion, while costs $2,795.It has 265K ofcompany has recently sued twoinmanufacturing . . . inprofits were up 30 percent to RAM, a 9in. amber screen, andmakers of IBMultators, CoronaGreenock, Scotland." £255 million. Exports rose by 43 asingle360Khalf -heightand Eagle, and forced both to Cutting prices to keep thepercentto£745million - floppy -disc drive. rewritepartsoftheBIOS.bandwagon rolling is somethingGreenock,remember, makes ThePortablePersonal isFurther,IBM hasplacedIBM has already done morePCs for most of Europe and IBM's reply to Compaq, whichadvertisements in Hong Kongthan once in the U.S. AgainNorth Africa.

and VT -52 terminal emulation.TelecommunicationsSystem, Itisnotactuallypage - Accent on Contact Techlandwhich links an IBM PC toorientatedatall:the review InternationalatWeybridgeHogan's mainframe computerssamplewaspage -orientated comms House,Cores End Road,inDallas.Telephone: 01-439because that had been selected NEWLY FORMEDAccentBourne End, Buckinghamshire6288. asadefault,andasa ComputersisimportingtheSL8 5HH. Telephone (06285) Last but not least, IBM canspokesmanforSoftword FortePC78-2/3/4package26535. now supply a program whichSystems points out "Nobody which includes both hardware Irma is a board from TAC ofallows the linking of an IBM PCdoes that!" Complaints about and software for connecting anGeorgia which links an IBM PCto IBM System 34, 36 and 38waiting while textis saved to IBM PC to a 3270 network. Itto a 3270 controller - and itcomputers by providing 5250discbecomevoid,though providesfull emulation of ahandles all the protocols. Theemulation. You need DOS 2saving each page automatically 3278or3279terminalandimporterisPete & Pamand at least 128K of RAM. remains a useful option when communicates viaaco -axialComputers. Telephone: (0706) the security of your text is at a cable. 212321. premium. Another Accent importis Microtrend U.K.has It is also possible to run the VLSI'slow-cost LANforannouncedTrendterm/3780,Level II Cobolspelling checker from inside a connecting up to 255 IBM PCswhich runs under PC -DOS and document, andthepackage together.Softwareprovidedallowscommunicationwith MICRO FOCUShas announcedrequires 256K not128K. An includes drivers for the Apple IImainframes, or micro -to -microHighPerformanceLevelIIEnglish -languagespelling and versions of CP/M for S-100links.Contact Microtrend atCobol forthe IBM PC.Itchecker is now available, as is a bus micros,aswellasthe(0423) 711878. includesanative codetemplate for people who do not expected 8088 version for the PC Comm is a package fromgenerator,whichtakesthewant to put sticky labels on their IBM PC. Lion Micro Computers, whichintermediate code produced bykeycaps. Accent can be contacted atis now specialising in comms. Itthe compiler and translatesit Multimate is available in the 01-3700862pendingthehas a built-in text editor andinto machine code. Micro FocusU.K. from distributors opening of a new officeinallowscommunicationswithclaims that most programs runincluding Pete & Pam, Ferrari Haywards Heath. IBM mainframes and electronicfrom three to six times fasterand Softsel, or contact your Another new company spec-mail services, or turns your PCafter translation, and some uplocal IBM PC dealer. ialising in comms is Techlandintoatelexmachine.Lionto 15 times faster. International, an offshoot ofclaims over a thousand Comm H/P Level II Cobol has the Techland Systems of New York.installations on varioussame PC -specificfeaturesas TherangeofBlueLynxmachines, and is looking forPersonal Cobol, launched lastPlug-in products provides software anddealersforthe PC version.year. H/P Level II also works hardware to link PCs to IBMTelephone: 01-580 4581. withthe programming tools53Mbyte System 34, 36 and 38, to provide Hogan Systems has launchedForms -2 and Animator the new 3270 emulation, and VT -100Hits,theHoganInteractiveAnimator package being, again, customised for the PC. LEGEND DATA PRODUCTS can Contact Micro Focus Ltd, 26now supplya 53Mbyte hard disc West Street, Newbury, Berk-add-on which plugs straight into shire RG13 1JT. Telephone:an IBM PC. It also provides (0635) 32646. automatic back-up with a re- movable cartridge disc facility. The styling currently matches the PC system box, and later Multimate versions are planned for other micros including Apple, Sirius MULTIMATE isa much betterand DEC. wordprocessorthanwas Contact Legend Data suggestedinPractical Com-Products, 13 St. John's Road, puting's review, published onHarrow, Middlesex HAI 2DF. Irma links the PC to a 3270 controller. page 60 of the March issue. Telephone: 01-861 0863.

PRACTICAL COMPUTING A4,it98.; 45 Anew accent on : 7 V., 1,11f4. /..;,:vi ''. 1 tv:7;:1-iii*" . PC performance 7 "... .._,6:112..41;,It::::.:

. .4.V1 ' 111.1 These instantly installed plug-in expansion boards offer major functionality 6 enhancement for the IBM PC and other micros. They come with full software support 4j----v 061, on floppy disk. ,, -.,..- .01,.1' 1 , .-. 0/0,o'.* ' . FORTE MODEL PC 78 . xi;;', .4d** Gives your PC direct access to your Parity check memory on display RAM. ; t4 mainframe (IBM 43xx through 30xx). Complete configuration from keyboard. A single plug-in board connects to your IBM Re -configures colour attributes to taste. 3274/3276 Cluster Controller via existing Choice of Basic or C. with broad sub -routine coaxial cable. No extra phone lines, modems library. or peripherals. Serial interface. Entire functionality on floppy disk, no PROM User-friendly, high-speed file transfer. changes. PARADISE MULTI -DISPLAY BOARD Saves a slot in the PC. Colour display Flicker free scrolling, even in colour. controller, monochrome display controller - External switch or software control for and printer interface all on one plug-in monochrome or colour mode. board. '1 IBM character sets and test modes. Compatible with PC/XT and all the best 'I Compatible with widest range of RGB and productivity software. composite video monitors. E High -resolution colour graphics, fully IBM Li IBM type printer port. compatible. D IBM-compatible light pen and RF modulator 2 pages of high -resolution graphics, ports. facilitating animation or high demand graphics operation. VLSI 1553 -NET

The ultimate in user-friendly Local Area D Lives entirely within constraints of host Networks (LAN's) - very low cost, very high operating system, preserving upward speed, plus reliability that approaches a compatibility; e.g. the interface to the 1.0E-1 7 bit error rate. IBM PC is at the ROM BIOS level. Connects IBM PC, Apple II/11E and any S100 El Simple coax connection. bus micro. El Up to 4000 feet, without the use of 3 megabit/sec transmission rate, operating at repeaters. around 15% utilization and giving a E Protocol entirely contained in throughput which approximates to that of software, permitting various current 10 megabit bandwidth LAN's. implementations of LAN protocols. E Superior error checking. collision detection H Variable blocks sizes supported, from and collision avoidance. 20 bits to over 64K bytes. ACCENT ON PERFORMANCE Accent Computers is a new European force in specialised hardware distribution, bringing you selected state-of-the-art products from rro 7.\ on. t\6 some of the world's most innovative to designers and manufacturers. \\sV5e et \\i..su \60. PkItls0 N cceot 0 alOtg000la \1-fe

Goff \ P2'11\1 Dealer Enquiries Welcome d(ess ioes3\1°°e,

Accent Computers Ltd PO Box 62 London SW10 9LT AccentTel: 01-370 0862 PCBulletin: software THE SALES EDGE Paul Braybrooke and Jack Schofield tackle a new package designed to smarten up your selling techniques. THE SALES EDGE, one of a suite of five business packages from the Californian software company Human Edge, is designedtohelppeopletosell.The program advises on opening and closing strategies to use in negotiations, and on how to overcome objections to buying the product or service. Both the program and the manual are written for non -technical users, so all you have to do is boot the first of the three discs supplied, then follow instructions. The package also includes a 50 -page sales -aid supplement and 50 Buyer Work Sheets. These are assessment forms for use after The documentation is designed for nontechnical users. salesmeetings, and encourage you toCustomer -specific Closing Strategies. Theperception of the client which is the relevant record details of your client's character forprogramusuallyoffersfourorfive one. So is The Sales Edge any use at all? In analysis at a later date. different closing strategies per client. practice,itis. The mere fact of sitting After you insert the disc the program The conclusions of the Self Assessmentdown, thinking about the needs of the boots automatically and presents a menusection are not directly available to the user. client, and thinking about a structured withfouroptions:Instructions,SelfYour only guide to what the program approach to the sales meeting is valuable in Assessment, Client Assessment, Print Salesthinks of you are in the final report, but theitself. The advice given can also be useful Strategy Report. The Instructions sectionstatements are direct, and seem to betoo, though there are numerous American briefly outlines the contents of the manual,consistent from report to report. books on salesmanship available for 1/10th so you know what to do next to continue Three different people looked at thisof the price of this package. the program. aspect of the package, and all agreed the In any event, The Sales Edge is an results were fairly accurate. This kind ofinteresting package which will no doubt psychological testingiswell established, gather some followers and many imitators Personality particularly in the States, so it would be usingthe same orsimilartechniques. surprising if the results were not acceptable. Human Edge will itself be following up the In the Self Assessment section, whichBut The Sales Edge didnotprofferpackage with The Management Edge, The must be done first, you are asked tocomments like "You are a wimp and ought Negotiation Edge, The Communication respond to a series of 84 statements, usingto give up selling", and few people willEdge and The Leadership Edge. the -control keys to select Agree orreject a character analysis that shows them Disagree. The statements are supposed toin a basically favourable light. provide enough information about your The assessment of different clients was Conclusions personalitytraitsfor comparison withalso thought to be fairly accurate, and here The Sales Edge is unusual for a business those of your clients. theprogram'sversatilitywasquite package in being fun to use. Early trials Instage2,ClientAssessment, yousurprising. You would expect it to trot out a suggest it can be useful in practice, but the respond to statements about a particularlimited number of fairly standard character long-term usefulness probably depends on client to 'enable the program to assess his ortypes, but it really does seem to construct a the person using it. her strengths and weaknesses, likes andnew and individual one for each client. At £249 plus VAT theprice seems dislikes. In this case you might want to With the few clients tried in the short reasonablecomparedtothepotential return to previous screens to amend thetime the package was available, there were profits. American sales techniques can be results, if necessary. This can be done withno cases where the program offered a learned more cheaply from a book, though a few keystrokes. strikingly different analysis of the client, this does not provide the individualised The final part of the procedure involvesorproposedadramaticallydifferent advice thatis The Sales Edge's strong switching to the third or output disc andapproach from the one that would have point. waiting while the program compares yourbeen taken anyway. In practical terms the The package only runs on the IBM PC character traits with those of the client.advice given seemed to make sense, though and its look-alikes, hut is promised for the Reports normally comprise aboutfiveagain it is mainly feeding back the user's Apple Macintosh and may be available for pages or more of single-spaced copy,own view of the client, so it would be other machines if there is a demand for it. broken down into several sections: What tosurprising if this were not the case. TheSalesEdge is'importedand Expect,How toSucceed,Customer - Much of selling is to do with perceived, distributedbyMarketingSoftware specificOpening Strategies,Customer - rather than actual, relationships and it Limited, 28 Colhill Gardens, London SW6 specificPresentationStrategiesandcould be argued that it is the salesman's 6SZ. Telephone: 01-731 3083.

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 47

Circle No. 134 Faster disc accesses Paul Myerscough explains pointer chaining, and presents a simple database management program which implements the technique on the IBM PC.

PHYSICALI/O has long been regarded as thethe file before the correct data is found.the algorithm, the file size and the range of weak link in commercial computer systems. Thethreemost common accesskeys found combine to produce a good Even using the fast disc drives which aretechniques used by many DBMSs are key -spread of different record numbers. Of available to mainframe computers, moredirected, key -indexed and access thoughcourse, this is not always the case and it is than 90 percent of the execution time of apointer chaining. All involve the conceptinevitable that some duplicate RRNs will program can lie bound up with disc I/O. Soof a key, which is a unique or non -uniqueoccur. for 90 percent of the time the program sitsidentifier that forms part of the record. Key -indexed access involves holding an idle waiting for data. Key -directed access involves the desig-index table together with the file. This table A database management systemornation of part of the record as a unique key. will contain a key/record-number pair for DBMS can be regarded as a softwareThe application will give the DBMS a keyeach record on the file and must be updated interface between the application programvalue such as an inventory part number,as records are added or removed. Knowing and a direct disc file. The job of the DBMSand the disc area where that part's data isthe file space available and the key length of isto take information provided by thestored will be accessed. At its simplest thethe record, the DBMS can determine the application program and turn that into apart number could be a relative recordmaximum size of the index table and relative record number, indicating its exactnumber, though keys often have their ownallocate the necessary space for it at the locationonthediscrelativetotheintrinsic significance. beginning of the file. beginning of the file. The data can then be The key value is used as input to an When a request is made to access data for accessedmoreorlessdirectlyforalgorithm that produces a valid relativea given key value the index records are processing.The non -DBMS alternativerecord number for thefile.Thisis anread and scannedforamatch. The might be to search through a large part ofefficient method of reaching data as long ascorresponding record number may then be

10 Program 1. 20'I 26-07-83 ver 1.0 * 30 PROGRAM: ADDPTRS.BAS 40'I READ FILE IN AND ADD 8 BYTES (initialized to all 'C') 50"I BEFORE WRITING TO THE NEW OUPUT FILE 60 70CLS:KEY OFF 80 **INDEX BUILDING SYSTEM SCR EEN HEADER ** 90 TES=CHRS(201):BLS=CHRS(200):TRS=CHRS(187):BRS 290 OPEN "R",*5,F.ONAMES,RECLEN+8 =CHRS(188):VES=CHRS(186):HOS=CHRS(205) 300 FIELD *5,RECLEN AS RECOUTS, B AS PTRSS 100 TITLES(1)=TLS+HOS+HOS+TR$ 310 IF LOF(5)>0 THEN PRINT "**warning** OUTPUT F 110 TITLES(2)=VES+"PM"+VES+" INDEX BUILDING S ILE ALREADY EXISTS":PRINT " - enter 'Y' to de )(STEM " lete and continue, or 'N' to re-enter name" ELSE 120 TITLES(3)=BLS+HOS+HOS+EIRS GOTO 350 130 :FOR CNT=1 TO 3:PRINT TAB((BO-LEN(TITLES( 320 IKS=INKEYS:IF IKS="" THEN GOTO 320 2)))/2);TITLES(CNT):NEXT CNT 330 IF IKS="Y" OR IK$="y" THEN CLOSE *5:KILL F.0 140 PRINT :PRINT " ** FileCopyProgram **":P NAMES:GOTO 290 RINT 340 IF IKS="N" OR IKS="n" THEN CLOSE *5:GOTO 270

150 ' **GET INPUTFILENAME AND R ECORD LENGTH** 350 **PROCESS DATA** 160 INPUT "ENTERINPUTFILENAME (DEF.=B:PFTESTA1 360 RECNUM=RECNUM+1 .DAT)",F.NAMES 370 IF RECNUM>LRECNUM THEN GOTO 430 170 IF F.NAMES="" THEN F.NAMES="B:PFTESTAI.DAT" 380 GET *4, RECNUM 180 INPUT "ENTER RECORD LENGTH (DEF.=180) 390 AS=RECS ",RECLENS 400 LSET RECOUTS=AS:LSET PTRSS=STRINGS(8,"E") 190 IF RECLENS=""THEN RECLEN=180 ELSE RECLEN=VA '**format output** L(RECLENS) 410 PUT *5,RECNUM 200 IF RECLEN=0 THEN BEEP:GOTO180 '**write output ** 210 OPEN "R",*4,F.NAMES,RECLEN 420 GOTO 360

220 IF LOF(4)=0 THEN PRINT "NULL FILE - PLEASER 430 ' **END OF PROCESSING** E -ENTER NAME":CLOSE *4:KILL F.NAMES:GOTO 160 440 CLOSE*4,*5 230 FIELD *4,RECLEN AS RECS 450 BEEP:PRINT :PRINT "file ":F.ONAMES:" created 240 LRECNUM=INT(L0F(4)/RECLEN) 'ILIcalc. last re successfully" cord number** 460 END

250 RECNUM=0 470 ' **SAVE PROGRAM** 260 ' **GET OUTPUT FILE NAME II 480 SAVE "B:TEMPSAVE.BAS" 270 PRINT:INPUT"ENTER OUTPUT FILENAME (DEF.=B:T 490 KILL "B:ADDPTRS.BAS" EST001.DAT)",F.ONAME$ 500 NAME "B:TEMPSAVE.BAS" AS "B:ADDPTRS.BAS" 280 IF F.ONAMES="" THEN F.ONAMES="B:TEST001.DAT" 510 BEEP:PRINT "B:ADDPRTS.BAS saved"

18 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 PCBulletin: programming used by the DBMS to get the appropriate For maintenance purposes there must bechaining is commonly used to overcome data. a pointer to the previous record in a chain;problems with synonyms. A synonym To reduce I/O requirements itis oftenotherwise, there would be no way ofoccurs if the algorithm produces the same desirable to keep an index in main memoryremoving the chain reference to a deletedrecord number for two different key values. after it has first been accessed, enabling filerecord from its predecessor. Pointers canIn this case, when a synonym first occurs handling to be almost as efficient as in key - also point across file boundaries. Providedthe data may be placed in the nearest free directedaccess.But for bigfiles, andthe DBMS knows, there is no reason whyrecord number to that produced by the where severalfilesare being processeditem records in the inventory parts filealgorithm. The idea is that it may possibly concurrently, limited memory size mayshould not each have a pointer giving theexist in the same buffer as the original prevent this. RRN of the first record in its related order -record and so not require physical I/O to Pointer chaining is often combined withfile chain. access it. the methods already described. Chaining is Thefirstrecordisupdated with a a means of joining related data, such as aComplex paths snynonym chain pointer giving the position groupofrecordswithinafile,by of the new record. A third synonym would embedding in each record a pointer which is Pointerchainingcanprovidequitethen be added at the end of the chain close the RRN of the next record in the group. In complicatedaccesspathsthrougha to the second record. an order file, where the natural key woulddatabase. The drawback is a considerable Indexing may readily be combined with be the order number, all the orders for aoverheadinthecomplexityoffilechaining for non -unique keys so that each particular item could be chained together.maintenance and of thephysical I/0index value effectively points to a group of Each order would have a pointer to the next involved to get and update pointers in the relatedrecords.Thisisthetypeof record in the file referencing the same item, related records as new data is added or oldimplementation used by the Basic programs or possibly to a blank pointer if there weredata deleted. in this article. Chaining can also occur at no more references. Inthe key -directed method,pointerthe index level, as happens in a particularly neat way in the file -management system Key Relative record number used by MS-DOS. 105763 -Al To MS-DOS a disc is similar to the direct RRN file in the example in that it is divided into a fixed number of fixed -length allocation 1 units or AUs, which are analogous to 2 DBMS records. The first few units contain index algorithm 105763-A1, 3 data for two types of index. The first, called 4 the directory, contains an entry for every 5 file on the disc, each with a key of file name, an AU number of the first unit belonging to the file and some additional Disc file records data. Key -directed access. (continued on next page)

10 '*******************************************************************Program 2. 20 'S 19/07/83 ver. 1.1 * 30 'S INDEX BUILDING SYSTEM - program: PFINXCR1.BAS 40 'S ** INDEX BUILDER ** 50 '11 Program accepts - input filename, record length t 60 'IL - date field start posn.(dd/mm/yy) 70 '* - 2nd index field start posn. & length 80 'S Program updates - input file records with 2 pointer chain * 90 one associated with date, the second with the other index $ 100 '* value; both having a forward and a backward reference 110 '* Program creates - 2 index files 'filename.IN1' and 120 'S 'filename.IN2' which are tables associating an index value * 130 'S with a first and a last record nr. in a file chain 140 '****************************************************************** 150 KEY OFF 160 '-** INDEX BUILDING SYSTEM SCREEN HEADER *5 320 '**Test for >0 file length ** 170 TLS=CHRS(201):BLS=CHRS(200):TRS=CHRS(187):BR 330 IF LOF(4)=0 THEN CLOSE *4:KILL F.NAMES:LOCAT S=CHRS(188):VES=CHRS(186):HOS=CHRS(205) E 22,1:PRINT "FILE NAME INVALID PLEASE RE-ENTER" 180 TITLE$(1)=TLS+HOS+HOS+TRM ;:GOTO 240 190 TITLES(2)=VES+"PM"+VES+" INDEX BUILDING S 340 LOCATE 22,1:PRINT SPACES(79);

YSTEM " 350 ' ** GET POSITION OF DATE & VALIDATE ** 200 TITLE$(3)=BLS+HOS+HOS+BPS 360 LOCATE 13,1:PRINT SPACES(79):LOCATE 13,1:INP 210 CLS:FOR CNT=1 TO 3:PRINT TAB((80-LEN(TITLES( UT "Enter start position of date field (default= 2)))/2);TITLES(CNT):NEXT CNT 1) ", DATPOSS 220 PRINT :PRINT " ** indexbuilding program 370 IF DATPOSS="" THENDATPOS=1 ELSE DATPOS=VAL( **":PRINT DATPOSS) 230 ' ** GET FILE NAME & RECORD LENGTH ** 380 IF DATPOS<1 OR DATPOSMRECLEN-8) THEN GOTO 4 240 LOCATE 10,1:PRINT SPACES(79):LOCATE 10,1:INP 30 UT "Enter filename (default=B:TEST001.DAT) ",F.N 390 GET *4,1 'flicheck value in file is a date** AMES 400 RDATS=MIDS(RECS,DATPOS,8) 250 IF F.NAMES="" THEN F.NAMES="B:TEST001.DAT" 410 YYS=RIGHTS(RDATS,2):MMS=MIDS(RDATS,4,2):DDS= 260 LOCATE 11,6:PRINT SPACES(73):LOCATE 11,6:INP LEFTS(RDATS,2) UT "Enter record length (default=188) ",RECLENS 420 IF VAL(YYS)<81 OR VAL(YYS)>85 OR VAL(MMS)<1 270 IF RECLENS="" THEN RECLEN=188 ELSE RECLEN=VA OR VAL(MMS)>12 OR VAL(DDS)<1 OR VAL(DDS)>31 THEN L(RECLENS) GOTO 430 ELSE GOTO 440 280 IF RECLEN<9 THEN BEEP:GOTO 260 430 LOCATE 22,1:PRINT "NOT A VALID DATE POSITION 290 OPEN "R",*4,F.NAMES,RECLEN - PLEASE RE-ENTER";:LOCATE 12,1:GOTO 360 300 FIELD *4,RECLEN AS RECS 440 LOCATE 22,1:PRINT SPACES(79); 310 FIELD *4,RECLEN-8 AS DATAINS,2 AS DATFWDS,2 450 LOCATE 17,1:PRINT SPACES(79);: AS DATBWDS,2 AS INXFWDS,2 AS INXBWDS (listing continued on next page)

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 PCBulletin: programming

(continued from previous page) group, or account code. I often use it to searching by date should berelatively check what has recently been added to the efficient and theindex would remain The second index or file -allocation table,file to make sure that nothing has been reasonably small. About 20 different group FAT, has an entry for every allocation unitinput twice or missed out altogether. values were assigned to the data so that on the disc. Here the key is Current AU, The system worked well enough while the field could easily be used as a compact which is implied by its position in the table,file was small, but waiting for the program index. and the referenced value is Next AU. Theto search through five or six months data The systems takes any MS-DOS random directory acts as a conventional index tobecame a serious tax on my patience. The file as input. Through a series of prompts it both data, by pointing to the first AU in thesolution I chose was to reorganise the data obtainsinformationabouttherecord file, and to the FAT by pointing to the startinto indexes and chains. length of the input file and the relative of the index chain for that file. The FAT My most frequent enquiry was by date - positions of a date field and another field to acts as index, by pointing to the next AU ofnot necessarily a specific date, more of the be used in accessing the file. Two index files data in the file, and as a chain pointer bynature "What did I enter for expenditureare created, each containing a one -record pointing to the next element in the FAT forthe weekend before last?" The second most table of key/record-number pairs. The thefile. End of chain inthe FAT isused enquiry was for group. For the input file is copied as a new Data file with indicated by a pointer value of - 1. purpose of dipping into the file by data, if I records eight bytes longer than the original. One at a time bundled the data roughly into weeks, (continued on page 55) Key

This method of management enables 1 105763-A1 DOS to give one allocation unit at a time to R R N

a file as and when it is needed, avoiding the Index table 1 necessity to allocate one contiguous full- 2 sized block of space when a file is first used, 3 which subsequently could only be extended DBMS 4 Search 5 by using a special utility program. logic When I was feeling my way around the 105763-A1,... 6 105763-A1.5 IBM PC, one of the first applications I 7

wrote was a personal finance system. It 8 allowed me to register all my expenditure and to produce reports summarising the data by month, or by group such as Food or Business, or by a numeric account code

which I allocated to each transaction. An Disc file records on-line enquiry program allowed me to scan down the file searching on date, or Key -indexed access.

(listing continued from previous page) 'RECDAT' AND 'RECVAL$' 5* 460 ' ** GET POSN. & LENGTH OF 2ND INDEX Si 770 ' ** PROCESS DATE ** 470 LOCATE 15,1:PRINT SPACE$(79):LOCATE 16,1:PRI 780 IF RECDAT'TDAT'(CUR+1) THEN CUR=CUR+1:GOTO N2POS$ 790 490 INPUT " length 800 GOSUB 1030 '**UPDATE DATE POINTERS* N2LEN$ 500IN2POS=VAL(IN2POS$):IN2LEN=VALCIN2LEN$) 810 ' ** PROCESS 2ND INDEX ** 510IF IN2POS=999 THEN IN2FLAG=1 ELSE IN2FLAG=0 820 NOMATCH=1:SUB=0 520IF IN2POS<1 OR IN2POS>(RECLEN-IN2LEN) THEN G 830 WHILE NOMATCH OTO600 840 SUB=SUB+1 530IF IN2LEN<1 OR IN2LEN>12 THEN GOTO 600 850 IF SUB>20 THEN PRINT "IN2VAL TABLE OVERFLOW" 540IN2VALA=MID$(RECII,IN2POSON2LEN) :NOMATCH=0:STOP 550PRINT "The first value on file is '";IN2VAL$ 860 IF SUBAN2ELS THEN IN2VALS(SUB>=RECVAL$:IN2E is this correct (enter y/n) " LS=SUB:NOMATCH=0 560IK$=INKEY$:IF IK$="" THEN GOTO 56') 870 IF RECVALS=IN2VALS(SUB) THEN NOMATCH=0 570IF 1K$="N" OR IK$="n" THEN GOTG 450 880 WEND 580IF IK$="Y" OR IK$="y" THEN GOTO 610 890 IF RECVAL$<>IN2VAL$(SUB) THEN IN2VALA(SUB)=R 590BEEP:GOTO 560 ECVALS:IN2ELS=SUB 600LOCATE 22,I:PRINT "VALUES INPUT ARE NOT VALI 900 GOSUB 1100 '**UPDATE 2ND INDEX POIN D -PLEASE REENTER";:LOCATE 15,1:80TO 450 TERS** 610LOCATE 22,I:PRINT SPACE$(79); 910 ' *I UPDATE CURRENT RECORD ** 920 LSET REC4=STORREC$ '**Restore saved input da ' 620 . ** INITIALIZE TABLES it* 630DIM TDAT!(50),TDATIX(50),TDAT27.(50) tali* 640TDAT!(1)=0:TDATi(2)=830100!:TDAT,150)=999999 930 LSETDATFWD$=MKI$(CDATFWD):LSET DATBWD$=MKI$ (CDATBWD) 650FOR 1=3 TO 5:TDAT.(I)=TDAT'(l-1)+8:NEXT 940 LSET INXFWD$=MKI$(CINXFWD):LSET INXBWDS=MKIS 660FOR 1=6 TO 49:TDAT,(I)=TDATW-4)+100:NEXT (CINXBWD) 670DIM IN2VAL$(20),IN217.(20),IN22%(20):IN2ELS=0 950 PUT #4,RECNUM 960 GOTO 710 970 END 680 ' ** PROCESS INPUT ** 690 LRECNUM=INT(L0F(4)/RECLEN) 980' ' ft SUB -ROUTINE : UNP 700 REGNUM=0:CUR=1:IN2ELS=0 ACK DATA FROM INPUT RECORD AND REFORMAT DATE ** 710 RECNUM=RECNUM+1 990 RDATS=LEFTS(STORREC$,8) 720 IF RECNUM>LRECNUM THEN GOTO 1170 OF F 1000 RECDAT'=VAL(RIGHTS(RDATS,2)+MIDS(RDAT$,4,2) ILE** +LEFTS(RDAT$,2)) 730 GET 84,RECNUM 1010 RECVALS=MID$(STORREC$,IN2POSON2LEN) 740 STORREC$=REC$ **Store record for later upda 1020 RETURN tell* 1030 ' ** SUB -ROUTINE : UPD 750 CDATFWD=0:CDATBWD=0:CINXFWD=0:CINXBWD=0 '**I ATE DATE POINTERS ** nitialize current records pointers ** 1040 IF TDAT17.(CUR)>0 THEN GOTO 1060 760 GOSUB 980 '**GET AND FORMAT INDEX VALUES IN (listing continued on page 55)

50 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May1984 IBM is the registered trademark of International Business Machines. two boards boost your PC or QUBIE' PAK SOFTWARE programme which allows you XT's capability with a selection SPEEDS THINGS UP to assign a portion of memory of essential features. Free with each board are to act as a print spooler SIXSHOOTER - IDEAL the custom-made Qubie' QUALITY BACKED FOR PC OR XT drive" and Qubie'spool" BY WARRANTY For most customers the programmes. Both boards are backed SixShooter offers all that you Qubie' drive" disk by our one year parts and require from a multifunction emulation software allows you labour warranty. board. 64K or Ram (socketed up to create up to three Visit your local dealer and MAKE YOUR COMPUTER "electronic disk drives" in WORK HARDER FOR YOU to 384K), a , a parallel pick up a brochure with the full port, automatic clock/calendar memory which access your details. If he does not have the If you have purchased the with battery back up are all programmes at the speed of information contact us. IBM PC orXT then you are the standard. An IBM compatible RAM memory. It's the best way to si owner of a very fine computer: games port adaptor is optional. Qubie spool" is a improve your PC. But like everything else it can be improved to work Q PLUS II - MORE OPTIONS harder for you. It took a Corporate customers and company like Qubie' to do it. those with special needs will Qubie' can supply either appreciate the ability of the Q the SixShooter or the Q Plus II to plus II. Ram is expandable from up -grade your IBM PC or XT. 64K all the way to 512K. Add Both are engineered to match two serial ports, a parallel port the IBM qualitystamp. clock/calendar and a games While only occupying port to give 41/0 connections one slot in your computer these from one slot. 51

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(continued from page 50) All the programs have default values forof 180 bytes. The output file name defaults The process uses three programs. The responses which can easily be changed in to B:TEST001.DAT. first converts an existing random file by the code. Here the default input fileis The second program,PfInxCRl, adding eight bytes on to every record before B:PFTESTA1.DAT, with a record lengthprompts for the input file name and record writing it out to a new file. The second length. If the file exists it then prompts for RRN Pointers the position of the date field, which should program prompts for the position of a date, Order no. Item no. fwd bwd and for a second key field and its length in be in the format 1 1010 100 3 0 the input file. It then takes the converted 2 1020 032 dd*mm*yy file and builds two index tables based on 3 1030 100 ,'8 1 predetermined date ranges and, for the 4 1040 271 where * may be any character. The input second index, on values found on the input 5 1050 102 valueis checked by accessing the first file. 6 1052 108 record on file. 7 The tables are written out as two separate 1060 057 Ifa dateisfound intheposition files, while the input file is updated with 8 100 3 ), indicated the second index position and pointer chains related to the index values. 100 ,(0 , 8 10 length is prompted. A maximum length of The third programisaskeletonfor 12 characters is allowed for: this may be inclusion in an enquiry process and may be altered, but the limiting factor is the output used to test the successful implementation file field size of 256 characters. The value of the indexed chains. All the programs areA pointer chain. (continuedon next page) written in IBM Basic to run under MS- Relative record Synonym DOS. number pointers The program called AddPtrs prompts ,105763-A1 3 FWD BWD RRN for the name and record length of the input 906331-00 3 file. Having determined that this exists it 3 1 712-55599 , requests the name to be used for a new 2 output file. If a file with such a name exists 105763 -AA, 0 3 you are given the option to delete the 906331-00, 5 3 4 DBMS existing file and continue, or to re-enter a 712-55599, 0 4 5 Algorithm different output file name. 6 The output file will contain the same data 7 as input but the records will be eight bytes 8 longer, allowing space for four pointers. 9 These eight bytes are added to the end of each record and are initialised to all £s, so Disc file records the successful formatting of the output file should beeasy to recognise. Apointer chain can overcome problems with synonyms in key -directed access.

(listing continued from page 50) 1310 TABLE$="":FOR 1=1 TO 20:TABLES=TABLE$+(lN2V 1050TDAT1%(CUR)=RECNUM:TDAT2%(CUR)=RECNUM:CDATF ALS(I)):NEXT WD=0:CDATBWD=0:GOTO 1090 1320 LSET IN2TABS=TABLE$ 1060 GET 84,TDAT27.(CUR) 1330 TABLE$="":FOR 1=1 TO 20:TABLE$=TABLES+MEIS( 1070 LSET DATFWDE=MKIS(RECNUM):PUT $14,TDAT27.(CUR IN217-(I)):NEXT 1340 LSET IFWDTABS=TABLES ) '**UPDATE FWD PTR ON PREVIOUS LAST RECORD** 1080 CDATFWD=0:CDATBWD=TDAT27,(CUR):TDAT2%(CUR)=R 1350 TABLE$="":FOR I=1 TO 20:TABLE$=TABLE$+MK1$( ECNUM IN22%(I)):NEXT 1090 RETURN 1360 LSET IBWDTABS=TABLES 1370 PUT #4,1 1100 ' ** SUB -ROUTINE : UPD ATE INDX POINTERS ** 1380 CLOSE #4 1110 IF IN217-(SUB)>0 THEN GOTO 1130 1390 OPEN "R",#4,11.NAMES,36+51*(44-2+2) 1120 IN21%(SUB)=RECNUM:IN22%(SUB)=RECNUM:CINXFWD -**DATE INDEX FILE** =O:CINXBWD=0:GOTO 1160 1400 IF LOF(4)=0 THEN GOTO 1460 1130 GET #4,IN22%(SUB) 1410 PRINT "file "01.NAME$;" already exists - 0 1140 LSET INXFWD$=MKI$(RECNUM):PUT #4,IN22%(SUB) K to overwrite? (type Y or N)" '**UPDATE FWD PTR ON PREVIOUS LAST RECORD** 1420 IK$=INKEY$:1F IKS="" THEN GOTO 1420 1150 CINXFWD=0:CINXBWD=IN22%(SU8):IN22%(SUB)=REC 1430 IF 1K$="Y" OR IK$="y" THEN CLOSE #4:KILL NUM .NAMES:GOTO 1390 1160 RETURN 1440 IF IK$="N" OR IK$="n" THEN CLOSE #4: INPUT " 1170 ** CREATE INDEX FILES St ENTER ALTERNATIVE NAME FOR DATE INDEX FILE ",I1. 1180 CLOSE #4 NAMES:GOTO 1390 1190 EXT$=RIGHT$(F.NAME$,4) '**remove extension 1450 BEEP:GOTO 1420 '**invalid response** from filename** 1460 FIELD *4,14 AS S.FILES,2 AS S.RLEN$, 2 AS D 1200 IF LEFTS(EXT$0)="." THEN I.NAMES=LEFT$(F.N PSNS,14 AS I2.FILES,2 AS IN2PSNS,2 AS 1N2LN$,51* AME$,LEN(F.NAME$)-4) ELSE I.NAME4=F.NAME$ 4 AS DATTAB4,51*2 AS FWDTABS, 51*2 AS BWDTABS 1210 Il.NAMES=I.NAME$+".INI":12.NAME$=1.NAME$+". 1470 '** STORE TABLE DATA ** IN2" 1480 TABLE$="":FOR 1=0 TO 50:TABLES=TABLE$4-MKS$( 1220 LOCATE 18,1 TDAT'(I)):NEXT 1230 OPEN "R",#4,12.NAME$,20*(IN2LEN+2+2) 1490 LSET DATTABS=TABLE$ **2ND INDEX FILE** 1500 TABLE$="":FOR 1=0 TO 50:TABLES=TABLES+MKI$( 1240 IF LOF(4)=0 THEN GOTO 1300 TDAT17.(I)):NEXT 1250 PRINT "file ":12.NAME$;" already exists - 0 1510 LSET FWDTABS=TABLE$ K to overwrite? (type Y or N)" 1520 TABLE$="":FOR 1=0 TO 50:TABLES=TABLE$+MKI$( 1260 IK$=INKEYS:IF IK$="" THEN GOTO 1260 TDAT2%(1)):NEXT 1270 IF 1K$="Y" OR 1K$="y" THEN CLOSE #4:KILL 12 1530 LSET BWDTABS=TABLES .NAMES:GOTO 1230 1540 '** STORE INPUT FILENAME, DATE POSN, INDEX 1280 IF IK$="N" OR 1K$="n" THEN CLOSE #4: INPUT " 2 POSN & LENGTH *X ENTER ALTERNATIVE NAME FOR DATE INDEX FILE ",I1. 1550 LSET S.FILES=F.NAMES:LSET DPSN$=MKI$(DATPOS NAMES:GOTO 1230 ):LSET IN2PSN4=MKI$(IN2POS) 1290 BEEP:GOTO 1260 '**invalid response** 1560 LSET IN2LN4=MKI$(IN2LEN):LSET S.RLENS=MKI$( 1300 FIELD #4,20*IN2LEN AS IN2TAB4,20*2 AS IFWDT RECLEN):LSET I2.FILE4=12.NAME$ ABS, 2012 AS IBWDTABS (listing continued on next page)

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May /98-1 55 (continued from previous page) record length, index positions and length,830100, will be chained to index 000000; found on the first record in thefileis and the second indexfile name. Thussimilarly, all dates after 1983, which when displayed for verification. program3,oranyotheraccessingreformatted give a value notless than The date index table is initialised suchprogram, need only be supplied with the 831224 but less than 999999, will be chained that the first date is set to 000000 and thedate index file name for operation to beto index 831224. last to 999999. Intermediate values are inpossible. Program InxLoad provides code to load sequence and of the form 83mmdd, where The index tables interact with the file andthe index tables; part of itis suitable for mm varies from 01 to 12, and dd has values its pointer chains. While the second indexcopying into an enquiry program. As it 00, 08, 16 and 24. Corresponding tables arepoints to records with exact correspondingstands the program willprovide visual allocated for a First pointer and a Lastvalues in the file, the date index has anverification that the index -creation process pointer. A similar set of tables is allocatedimplied range of values associated with it: has been successfully carried out. To allow for the second index, but is not initialised asdates that are not lower than the currentthe output to be echoed to the printer hit values are obtained from the input data. index value, but are lower than the next Ctrl-PrtSc before program execution. The input file is processed one record at avalue. All dates earlier than 1983, which The user is prompted for the date index time.During thisessentiallysequentialwhen reformatted give a value less thanfile name. All other data necessary for processotherrecordsmayberead randomly and updated with new pointer Filename Data AUand FAT entry values. The logic of this process is most easily understood from the code itself. FILE NAME. EXT

File names Filename. Ext DIRECTORY (index) Filename. Ext When all records have been processed the Next AU program writes out the index files. The Filename. Ext Position 1 names are obtained by using the input file (implied key) Filename. Ext name with the extensions IN1 and IN2. If 2 either file already exists, an opportunity is 3 4 provided for you to input an alternative 4 7 name. 5 The size of the second index table may 6 7 vary from session to session according to DISC AREA IN ALLOCATION UNITS the prompt responses. However, the date 8 index table size is always fixed and so its file FAT index + chain) contains the information entered by the user. This includes inputfile name andMS-DOS combines indexing and chaining techniques in its file -management system,

(listing continued from previous page) 1570 PUT #4,1 1630END 1580 CLOSE *4 1640 $5 SAVE PROGRAM **

1590 ' ** TERMINATION STATS it 1650SAVE "B:TEMPSAVE.BAS" 1600 PRINT 1660KILL "B:PFINXCR1.BAS" 1610 PRINT "New index files creates for ";F.NAME 1670NAME "B:TEMPSAVE.BAS" AS "B:PFINXCR1.BAS" $;" are ";I1.NAME$;" and ";I2.NAME$ 1680BEEP:PRINT "B:PFINXCR1.BAS saved" 1620 PRINT "**PROGRAM TERMINATED SUCCESSFULLY**" 1690END

10 '*********************************************************** Program 3. 20 '* 26-07-83 ver.1.0 * 30 '* INDEX BUILDING SYSTEM - program: INXLOAD.BAS 40 '* Program accepts - filename for date index 50 '* - filename & key length for 2nd index * 60 '* - main input filename & record length * 70 '1 processing - creates index tables from index 80 '* files and reads forward down all chains 90 '* referenced by the date index table, then those* 100 .* referenced by the 2nd index table printing on * 110 '5 the screen each index reference, the first 8 * 120 '* bytes of each record read, and the length of * 130 '1 each chain. 140 '*********************************************************** 160 't*PM INDEX BUILDING SYSTEM SCREEN HEADER** 170 TL$=CHR$(201):BL$=CHR$(200):TRt=CHR$(187):BR 270 IF LOF(4)=0 THEN CLOSE #4:K1LL IN1.NAMES:PRI $=CHR$(188):VE$=CHR$(186):H0$=CHR$(205) NT "FILE DOES NOT EXIST - PLEASE REENTER ":GOTO 180 TITLE$(1)=TL$+HO$+HO$+TR$ 240 190 TITLE$(2)=VE$+"PM"+VE$+" INDEX BUILDING S 280 FIELD #4,14 AS S.FILE$,2 AS S.RLENS,2 AS DPS YSTEM " NS,14 AS 12.F1LE$,2 AS IN2PSNS,2 AS IN2LN$, 51*4 200 TITLE$(3)=BL$+HO$+HO$+BR$ AS DTAB$, 51*2 AS FWDTAB$, 51112 AS BWDTAB$ 210 CLS:FOR CNT=1 TO 3:PRINT TAB((80-LEN(TITLE4( 290 GET *4,1 2)))/2);TITLES(CNT):NEXT CNT 300 F.NAMES=S.FILE$:RECLEN=CV1(S.RLEN$):I2.NAME$ 220 PRINT :PRINT "**LOAD INDEX & PRINT CHAINS**" =42.FILE$ :PRINT 310 DATPOS=CVI(DPSN$):IN2POS=CVI(IN2PSN$):IN2LEN

230 ' ** GET DATE INDEX DATA ** =CVI(IN2LN$) 240 INPUT "Enter DATE index file name (def.=B:TE 320 PRINT "Input file name is ";F.NAME$;" record ST001.1N1) ",IN1.NAME$ length =";RECLEN 250 IF 1N1.NAME$="" THEN INI.NAME$="8:TEST001-IN 330 PRINT " DATE index begins a 1" t byte";DATPOS 260 OPEN "R",#4,IN1.NAME$,36+51*8 340 PRINT "2nd index filename is "02.NAME$

PRACTICALCOMPUTINGMay 1984 PCBulletin: programming operation is available on this file, and this is to access the forward data chains. Selected The effectiveness of chaining depends to displayed for verification. Numeric data is informationis printed from each record some extent on the distribution of chains held in string format and is recovered using and the length of each chain is given. The across the disc. If data is arranged so that the appropriate instructions CVI and CVS. corresponding backward chains may be relatedrecordsareheldclosetoone After the program has set up each index obtained by replacing FWD with BWD in another, physical I/O can be minimised. table there is a line of commented -out code FWD% ,DFWD$, KEYFWDolo ,and Another enhancement can be made by which may be used for printing it. Once set 1FWD$ in the sections of the program orderingchains.Iftherecordsoccur up, each element of the index tables is used which follow Date Chains - FWD. in sequence it will be possible to follow thechain backwardsifcertainvalues r are exceeded. Different indexes produce 2 11,FOOD conflicting requirements in this optimising BUS 830224 2 9 ENT process. To give the most efficient access 830300 using the date index thefile should be 830308 sorted in date sequence; for access by the 830316 group index, records should be sorted by 830324 GROUP INDEX group.

DATE INDEX Pointers date group Reduced time RN F B FB By adding part of program 3 and a few 1 lines of table -searching logic to my enquiry 24-02-83, 1-*,FOOD (,3 3,0) 2 program, and without sorting the data file, 27-02-83 FOOD ,5,2,62 3 I have reduced the time for the worst case 23-02-83 JBUS II ( ), 4 search of Finance File from 120 seconds 27-02-83 BUS, 9 3k., 5 to 17 seconds. However, this change has 19-02-83 FOOD, 6 serious implications in file maintenance. 20-02-83 ,BUS, ,_,.4. 7 The introduction of some of the logic 20-02-83 FOOD 996 8 from program 2 into my file -maintenance ( 8 3'1 30-02-83 ,FOOD 0 5 ,11 8 9 program would enable the indexes and 23-02-83 ENT 10 I Irl__/ pointers to be kept up to date reasonably 0143-83 ,--10. ,FOOD, 0,9 11 easily. Alternatively, the index file could 03-03-83 ,BUS, 12 , I I hold one new value Ir for the number of the 04-03-83 BUS 13 , , , then last record on the file. New data could 04-03-83 BUS 14 I , , be accessed in the enquiry program through a new search category which read the file The Basic programs create two index/pointer chains that interact with the data file. records starting at 1r+ 1.

350 PRINT " 2ND index begins a ECLEN-8-8-DATPOS+1 AS FILLER2$, 2 AS DFWD$, 2 AS t byte";IN2POS;" length =";IN2LEN DBWD$, 2 AS IFWDS,2 AS IBWD$ 360 PRINT:PRINT "Is this data correct (enter y/n 655 FIELD #4,IN2POS-1 AS FILLER3$,IN2LEN AS ININ X$, RECLEN-IN2LEN-IN2P0S+1 AS FILLER4$ 370 IKS=INKEYS:IF IKS="" THEN GOTO 370 660 LRECNUM=INT(LOF(4))/188 380 IF IKS="Y" OR IKS="y" THEN GOTO 410 670 ' ** DATE CHAINS - FWD it 390 IF IK$="N" OR IKS="n" THEN PRINT "RUN ABORTE 680 PRINT "**DATE CHAINS FORWARD**" D":BEEP:GOTO 950 690 FOR I=1 TO 50 400 BEEP:GOTO 370 700 PRINT "INDEX DATE=";TDAT!(I) 410 DIM TDAT!(50),FWD%(50),BWD7(50) ' 710 IF FM:M(1)=0 THEN GOTO 800 *FORMAT DATE INDEX TABLE** 720 RECNUM=FWD%(I) 420 FOR I=0 TO 50 730 MORE.CHAIN=1:CHLEN=0 430 TDAT!(I)=CVS(MIDS(DTABS,4*I+1,4)) 740 WHILE MORE.CHAIN 440 FWD%(I)=CVI(MIDS(FWDTABS,2*I+1,2)) 750 GET #4,RECNUM:CHLEN=CHLEN+1 450 BMM(I)=CVI(MIDS(BWDTABS,2*I+1,2)) 760 PRINT "*R"RECNUM;"-";INDATS; 460 NEXT 770 PTR%=CVI(DFWDS) 470 'FOR I=0 TO 50:PRINT TDAT.(I),FWDMI),BWD%(I 780 IF PTR%=0 THEN PRINT "CHAIN LEN=";CHLEN:MORE ):NEXT .CHAIN=0 ELSE RECNUM=PTRX:PRINT ",";:GOTO 750 480 CLOSE #4 790 WEND 490 ' ** GET 2ND INDEX DATA ** 800 NEXT 500 OPEN "R",#4,I2.NAMES,20*(IN2LEN+4) 810 ' **2ND INDEX CHAINS - FWD ** 510 IF LOF(4)=0 THEN CLOSE #4:KILL IN2.NAMES:PRI 820 PRINT "**2ND INDEX CHAINS FORWARD**" NT "INDEX2 FILE NOT FOUND - RUN ABORTED ":GOTO 9 830 FOR I=0 TO 19 50 840 PRINT "INDEX VAL=";KEYVALS(1) 520 FIELD #4, 20*IN2LEN AS KEYTABS, 20*2 AS KEYF 850 IF KEYFWD7(I)=0 THEN GOTO 940 WD$, 20*2 AS KEYBWD$ 860 RECNUM=KEYFWD%(I) 530 GET #4,1 870 MORE.CHAIN=1:CHLEN=0 540 DIM KEYVALS(20),KEYFWIM(20),KEYBWD%(20) 880 WHILE MORE.CHAIN 550 FOR I=0 TO 19 890 GET #4,RECNUM:CHLEN=CHLEN+1 560 KEYVALS(I)=MIDS(KEYTABSON2LEN*1+1,IN2LEN) 900 PRINT "*R"RECNUM;"-";INDAT$;"(";ININX$;")"; 570 KEYFWD7,(I)=CVI(MIDS(KEYFWDS,2*I+1,2)) 910 PTR%=CVI(IFWDS) 580 KEYBWIA(I)=CVI(MIDS(KEYBWDS,2*I+1,2)) 920 IF PTR%=0 THEN PRINT "CHAIN LEN=";CHLEN:MORE 590 NEXT .CHAIN=0 ELSE RECNUM=PTRX:PRINT ",";;GOTO 890 600 'FOR I=0 TO 19:PRINT KEYVAL$(I),KEYFWDX(I),K 930 WEND EYBWD%(I):NEXT 940 NEXT 610 CLOSE #4 950 END 620 ' **READ FILE USING INDEX CHAINS** 960 ' *X SAVE PROGRAM ** 630 OPEN "R",#4,F.NAMES,RECLEN 970 SAVE "B:TEMPSAVE.BAS" 640 IF LOF(4)=0 THEN CLOSE #4:KILL F.NAME$:PRINT 980 KILL "B:INXLbAD.BAS" "INPUT FILE NOT FOUND - RUN ABORTED":GOTO 950 990 NAME "B:TEMPSAVE.BAS" AS "B:INXLOAD.BAS" 650 FIELD #4,DATPOS-1 AS FILLER1S,8 AS INDATS, R 1000 BEEP:PRINT "B:INXLOAD.BAS replaced!"

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 The key to g Power Only by using the right software can a computer system successfully perform the required application. Get it wrong and the results can be costly and frustrating. But how can you be sure of having the best software available? How can you be sure of unlocking the full potential of your micro, mini or mainframe? Software '84 is the key to systems success, as it offers visitors the opportunity to keep up to date with the latest developments in programming languages, operating systems, systems and applications software, fourth generation software tools and expert systems. Software '84 is sponsored by 'Software', the UK's first specialist software magazine, Computer Weekly and the National Computing Centre. The whole software industry is behind the show which has the full support of the Computing Services Association and the Institute of Data Processing Management, plus the co-sponsorship of 'Systems International', 'Practical Computing', 'Micro Business' and 'Computer Talk'. For those people who want to listen to leading software industry experts and discuss the latest advances, the Software '84 Conference, held simultaneously, offers you a unique opportunity. For full conference details phone NCC Seminars Department on 061 228 6333 or tick the box in the coupon below. Make sure of your visit to this major event by using the coupon below to apply for advance registration tickets.

Earls Court, London. June 5-7, 1984

411/.4111./

EXHIBITION AND CONFERENCE The Exhibition is open daily 09.30-1800 (except Wednesday 6th, closing 1900) Admission is by business registration. Entrance is FREE if tickets are obtained in advance or £2 at the door.

Return to: The Exhibition Manager, Software '84, Reed Exhibitions, Surrey House, I Throwley Way, Sutton, Surrey SM I 400

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EXHIBITION AND CONFERENCE

58 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 COLOURJI JETPRINTER COLOURINK 7 Logic seeking in dot address mode £499 With Centronics parallel interface and free BBC Micro dump listing.

Options available: Buffered RS232 interface. Viewdata & RS232 interface. Apple II interface. IBM PC dump.

Specifications: 640 dots/line. 84 dots/inch both axes. Friction feed rollpaper with single sheet from BBC Micro screen -2 size mode feed A4. 37cps in full colour. Ink cartridges, 4 million character life.

firs -7-

)

rdfflff r Opp r !

"pif"Mr 9 r _MUM! L:m"h"g".'11.°

lliddp tin; "(3eir464 * :II; ' 7::::=1" ''''''''' ;5:1- it

59 1111TEGREH LTD. Church Gresley, Burton -on -Trent, Staffs DE11 9PT Dealers, OEM & Educational Tel: 0283 215432 Telex: 377106 enquiries welcome SERIOUS SOFTWARE FOR THE61-

DATABASE SYSTEM WORD PROCESSOR

MAILING LIST, INVOICING, STOCK CONTROL, SALES LEDGER, BOUGHT LEDGER, DIARY, EXPENSES, CHEQUE BOOK! Now there is one program which can handle all these things

-.MAGPIE- The most powerful Database System for ANY Home Micro! WORDCRAFT 40 gives you all the powerful Word Processing facilities of an office system at a fraction of the cost. WORDCRAFT 40 works with any printer and because it comes on cartridge you can use it with disk or tape files! SEND FOR FURTHER DETAILS NOW ! Microware and IBM We're unbeatable. We promise to: Analyse and identify your requirements. Supply and install your equipment. Provide the widest range of software support. Offer comprehensive maintenance contracts. Take pride in our unparalleled after-sales service.

SOFTWARE HARDWARE OPEN ACCESS -LOTUS EATER BASIC SYSTEM Only £475.00 IBM Personal Computer Database 64K RAM, Single sided Disk Spreadsheet Drive 3-D Graphics Keyboard, Screen -£1567.00 Word Processor IBM Personal Computer Appointments Diary 128K RAM, Twin 360K Drives Communications Keyboard, Screen -£2087.00 LOTUS 123-£375.00 BUSINESS SYSTEM Database IBM Personal Computer Spreadsheet 256K RAM, Twin 360K Drives, Graphics Keyboard, Screen -£2299.00 WORD PROCESSORS HARD DISK SYSTEM WordStar -045.00 IBM Personal Computer Microsoft Word/Mouse-040.00 128K RAM, 10Mbyte Hard Disk, Multimate-£340.00 Single 360K Floppy Drive Wordcraft-£425.00 Keyboard, Screen -£4078.00 Word Perfect -0040.00 HERCULES GRAPHICS CARD DATABASE PACKAGES Additional Cost only £185.00 dBASE II -075.00 VARIOUS SELECTION COLOUR SYSTEMS DMS-£195.00 Additional Cost only £405.00 Delta -£495.00 PC Tutor 2.0-01.00 Everyman -0E475.00 CBasic-£140.00 Send telexes from IBM PC - Knowledge Man -£350.00 Pascal/MT+ -£420.00 £1750.00 Microsoft 'Cl-084.00 APPLE LINK ACCOUNTANCY PACKAGES Quadlink turns PC into Apple - Auditman -£1500.00 Chess -0E61.00 Norton Utilities -66.00 £495.00 Minuteman -0E750.00 Backgammon -05.00 ARABIC IBM PC Pegasus -£295.00 each Conversion to Arabic -690.00 Sales Ledger Electronic Disk -60.00 Copy II pc -E29.00 Arab Word Processor -695.00 Purchase Ledger PRINTERS FROM £250.00 Nominal Ledger THE PROFESSIONALS Epson FX-80/FX-100/LQ1500 Invoicing Full training provided Brother HR15/HR25 Order ProcessillL; Free 12 months warranty Stock Control NEC Spinwriter Leasing deals arranged Sheet Feeders Available Payroll Highly competitive quotations Job Costing Typeface Catalogue Available Long and short term rentals Acoustic Hoods from £295.00

Po VOW' notineler ICROWARE INBUSINESS SYSTEMS 637 HOLLOWAY ROAD, LONDON N19 5SS IBM Authorised Dealer TELEPHONE 01-263 1124 TELEX 297598 Circle No. 139 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 61 SPECIAL OFFER for CBM 64 What Qualities do you need in 80-COLUMN/GRAFICCARD Digital clock your word processor? Mixpossibility of 80.column screen with Hires CBM64.screen (also in colour) Tick Where appropriate. Graf ic pictures; can be switched to background 1.rSoftware produced in the USA. Upper line can be locked (for comments etc.) 2. n Little or no support except at transatlantic call Adjustable line spacing for greater clarity on text screens rates. 3. Displays full screen of text for editing and uses FREE ADDED ! Sophisticated Wordprocessor with extended manual commands that are easy to understand. Tie... lees,/ 4. Combinations of escape and control characters *Warning: Beware of E £ 59.95 (inferior) imitations that require a pocket command reference card to of ZERO.products! be handy at all times or continual reference to C5""We:5U5 aims forVIC 20 and CBM 64 help screens. 5. Runs on a large number of microcomputers under r_ y. EXPANSION -- via EPROM CARD!, , too 2 k/d k EPROM sockets / the CP/M operating system. UNIT 6.r Only the software need be purchased for your th2 slots ----- £ 5.95 Addresses are changeabler- £ 5.95 hardware. 7. Handles proportionally spaced printing, retaining 40180 COLUMN CARD if EPROM PROGRAMMER Turn your VIC 20 into a professional computer for 2716, 2732, 2764, 27128,2532 EPROMS clean left margins in columns or indented text. 40 or 80 columns instead of 22, very sharp and £ 55.95 Can be easily connected to your computer £31 stable picture, Try it out without obligation! Control software In EPROM 6.50 8.ECatalogues disks including full titles and dates. 9.rAllowsviewingofotherdocumentswhile 64 k RAM + 2kEPROME 55.95, EPROM -ERASER £ 26.50 With sof !ware lor RAM tiles. Easily connect.] erases d EPROMS simultaneously editing. EXPANSION UNIT --- MACH3PRINTER BUFFER 10.rCosts only £345 including mail merging. VVith 5 slots, fully buffered, 16k 32k 456 Ticked boxes 1,2 or 4? Chances are you are already firmly switches for deselecting slots, " par. input par. output£66 98 109 and on -boardpower 3149,Y serial input par. Output 94 109 £ 123 entrenched on some other word processor. If you ticked VIC 2029.95 it' CBM64 36.95for all our products: Dealer inquiries invited 4 one or more of the other boxes, find out more about: . All prices exclude VAT. Shipping costs £ 1.50 Supplier to schools, universities and govertiment departments. The Word processor for CP/M We have good documentation of all our VER-WORD products, free of charge. by writingtoVerwood Systems (Dept WMGI, Verwood All equipment can be tried out without zero obligation; if returned undamaged within House, High Street, West Haddon, Northants NN6 7AP 10 days, you only pay postage and packing specifying your machine type, disk size, terminal type and ELECTRONICS costs. 149 KINGSTREET + GT.YARMOUTH NR30 2PA + TEL:(0493)- 2023 printer. (NASH HOUSE) Circle No. 140 Circle No. 141

Please rush me my Panther DX109 forwhich I enclose a cheque/Access/Barclaycard The Panther El (No ) for £328.70 Friction feed and tractor feed for varying Please send me further details of the Panther DX109 A superb printer paper widths. 0 I would like a demonstratiOn. Please send me A Viewdata character set as standard. details of my local stockist. 0 Please send me details on the range of DATAC at a printable price Bi-directional logic seeking carriage. printers. Centronics interface as standard. (Please tick box) The Panther has arrived. A fast, sleek, good Compatible with the BBC Micro and looking printer from DATAC that's leaving mostmicros. Name other printert standing. All this plus more for only£278, Address Just look at the features thatmake + VAT + p.p. The Panther the most exciting printer Place your order today. Complete the available today: coupon and send to DATAC at the address below. Telephone 24 Hour Express Delivery. P&P charge £9 ramprilura DATAC LIMITED, Tudor Road. Altnncham.Cheshire WA14 STN. Tel 061 -941 236 1Telex: 667822 C HACOM G PC5/84 DATAC LIMITED, Tudor Road, Altrincham, Cheshire WA14 5TN. Tel- 061-941 2361 Telex. 667822 CHACOM G Circle No. 142 62 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May1984 Lookoverthe Rainbow with Microware. We offer you: Free 12months on -site warranty. 4-hour on -site response at modest cost. Computer -based instructions. FreeDigital training vouchers. Generoustrade-in allowances.

SOFTWARE HARDWARE LOTUS 123 RAINBOW 100B only £375 128K RAM, Twin 400K Drives Database Amber or Green Monitor Spreadsheet Keyboard, MS DOS, CPM 80/86 Graphics Self teach disk, Stand and PEGASUS Customer Services Package- only £295 each £2767 Sales Ledger RAINBOW 100B + LA50 PRINTER Purchase Ledger As above but with LA50.43276 Nominal Ledger RAINBOW 100B + IA100 Invoicing Ledger PRINTER Order Processing As above but with LA100-00017 Stock Control RAINBOW 100B + LQP02 Payroll PRINTER Job Costing As above but with INCOMPLETE LQP02 -£4755 RECORDS Ideal for Accountants Auditman- £1500 Minuteman -£750 VARIOUS SELECTION RAINBOW 100 + HARD DISK Multiplan 128K RAM, 'I\vin 400K Drives DEC GP TK! Solver 10 Mbyte Hard Disk, Practice and Patient Records Select Wordprocessor Choice of Screens Health Service information to FPC WordStar/Mailmerge Keyboard, CPM 80/86, MS DOS, Reduces Clerical and Wordcraft Self teach disk, stand and Customer Professional Workloads dBASE II Services Package -£4200 Produces repeat prescriptions Analysis of practice data THE PROFESSIONALS COLOUR SYSTEMS AVAILABLE Full training provided Additional cost only £820 Secure against unauthorised Leasing deals arranged access Long or short term rentals Totally Integrated System Highly competitive quotations Book your demonstration now!

AUTHORISED ICROWARE dgMED PERSONAL COMPUTER DEALER AlBUSINESS SYSTEMS 637 HOLLOWAY ROAD, LONDON N19 5SS TELEPHONE 01-263 1124 TELEX 297598 Circle No. 143 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 SOFTWARE CENTRE CP/M CP/M-86 MSDOS

MICROPRO SOFTWARE SYSTEM WORDSTAR: Best selling professional Word Processing software; On screen formatting, Block manipulation, File read/write, Simultaneous DATABASE MANAGEMENT Editing and Printing £295 FORMULA II: Unique information management system with excep- MAILMERGE: Enhancement tor document personalisation and mailing tionalcapabilities Generation.Multiplefilesand applications £145 for Application SPELLSTAR: Enhancement for checking spelling and maintaining indexes,transactionprocessing,interactive,no programminglanguage spelling dictionaries £145 required £495 STARINDEX: Useful package for creation of Table of Contents, Index. dBASE II: The most popular of data management systems, very powerful ListofFigures.InterfacestoWordstartoimprove document application generator £437 presentation quickly and easily £116 INFOSTAR: Impressive Data Base system combining the power of OUICKCODE: Add-on facility for dBASE programmers to speed development Datastar with the flexibility of Reportstar £295 process by generating dBASE command files £200 DATASTAR: Screen based Data Entry, vetting and retrieval system. dGRAPH: Extremely useful program for graphical representation of dBASE and Screen formats under user control £175 user created data files £200 REPORTSTAR: Powerful report generator, provides much needed dUTIL: Utility to speed up dBASE execution £69 enhancement toDatastarforreport production and transaction processing £210 CARDBOX: Highly popular electronic card index system. Easy to use, with CALCSTAR: Electronic spreadsheet with interfaces to all MicroPro powerful retrieval facilities £155 products £116 FRIDAY: End user file management system from the authors of dBASE IIFile 1 definition, input and reporting under user control £195 RESCUE: UK written database management system £295 NB: Combination prices - WS/MM £390; WS/MM/SP/SI £495 DMS: Well accepted data management system from Compsoft £195 Telesystems Ltd PO Box 12 Great Missenden Bucks Tel: 02406 5314

LANGUAGES UTILITIES Microsoft CP/M MSDOS Digital Research CPA CP/M-PCDOS ASCOM: The most flexible asynchronous communications package available to 86 the micro world. Interactive, batch, menu -driven. Available for CP/M, CP/M-86, MS/PCDOS £135 BSTAM: Simple communications program for exchanging files between CP/M BASIC Interpreter £259£269 CBASIC Interpreter £100 £217 systems £135 BASIC Compiler £295£303 CBASIC Compiler £333 £400 £400 TRANSFER: System for exchanging files between CP/M systems. Provided with FORTRAN Compiler £369£269 PASCAL/MT+ £233 £400 £400 full 8080 source code £130 COBOL Compiler £549£575 C Compiler £233 £233 CONVMS: Operating system converter. Runs MSDOS programs under CP/M-86 C Compiler £384 PERSONAL BASIC Int £100 £70 CONVCP: Operating system converter. Runs CP/M-86 programs under MSDOS PASCAL £269 CIS COBOL £425 £425 £70 BUSINESS BASIC £460 FORMS -2 £110 £110 SID/ZSID: Disassembler for 8080 and 280 programs £69 Comp DISKEDIT: Facility for editing disk held data by sector. Invaluable aid ..... £70 MACRO ASSEMBLER £149 Fl LESHARE £250 £425 IBM-CP/M COMPATIBILITY: Set of programs that enable IBM 3740 disks to be used on CP/M, permitting transfer of files to/from IBM mainframes £110 SPP: Speed Programming Package for use with Pascal/MT+ £133 SUPERSOFT C Comp £185 £185 SUPERSOFT BASIC £200 £200 1 XLT116: Converts 8080 assembler code to 8086 £106 Compiler EM80/86: Emulator to run CP/M software under CP/M-86 £70 PRO FORTRAN £220 PRO PASCAL £220 £320 £320 DISPLAY MANAGER: Screen handling productivity aid for Digital Research £267 ACCESS MANAGER: File handling productivity aid for Digital Research compilers £200

APPLICATIONS MULTIPLAN: Exceptional electronic worksheet from Microsoft £199 MISCELLANEOUS MULTI -TOOL WORD: Microsoft's advanced Word Processor CP/M 2.2: Standard operating system on 8" disk £100 with optional Mouse for added flexibility £275 CP/M-86: Standard 16 -bit operating system SUPERCALC: Fast action spreadsheet and planning aid £200 SUPERSORT: Full function Sort. Merge/Selection package£167 MICROMODELLER:Financial planningsystemformodel £145 building £250 1 MSORT: Standalone and COBOL hosted Sort package £143 GRAPHSTAT: Versatile statistics and graphics package for the Epson QX10, IBM-PC and Sirius £195 MAGSAM: MBASIC utility to provide multi -key ISAM file ALIAS ACCOUNTS: Fullyintegrated accounts system with faciltities £130 inbuilt hooks to dBASE II £1200 TOUCH 'N' GO: Teach yourself keyboard skills ...... £25 ALIAS PAYROLL/SSP: Standalone or integrated system with MICROSOFT MOUSE: Mouse. interface card and software optional links to ALIAS accounts each £600 £140 RCS LEDGERS: Sales, Purchase, Nominal ledgers in MBASIC OPTIMISER: Interactive Linear Programming package £325 each £300 source code PROSTAR TRAINING GUIDE: Independent instruction on the RCS PAYROLL: Full function, highly used package £500 use of MicroPro 'STAR' products £30 STATISTICS PACK: Over 25 easily used routines in MBASIC £120 MATHS PACKAGE: Interactive routines (40+) in MBASIC £120

PLEASE CALL FOR FULL LIST DEALER ENQUIRIES INVITED

Circle No. 144 80 -BUS SOLUTIONS

GM813 - GM833 -512K GM816 MULTI - CPU/64K RAM RAM-DISK 110 Board * 512K Dynamic * 6 110 Ports Board Memory * 4 CounterlTimer * 4MHz Z80 CPU * Simple Software Channels * 64K Dynamic RAM Interface * Real Time Clock * RS232 Serial Interface * Switching Allows * Further Expansion * Two 8-Bit1/0 Ports Multiple Boards Capability * 1200 Baud Cassette * High-speed Silicon Interface Disc

GM812-IVC EV814 - Board IEEE488 * 80x25 Display Format * On -board Z80A Controller Microprocessor * Cost Effective * Programmable Controller Character Generator * Comprehensive * 160 x75 Pixel Graphics Software Supplied * LightPen Input

GM829-FDC/ 10828-Colour SAS1Board Graphics * SingleiDouble Density Processor Operation * SingleiDouble Sided Board Drive Support * 640x576 Blt * Up to 4 mixed Mapped Display 5.25" and 8" Drives * On -board 16 -Bit * Industry Standard Microprocessor SASI Hard Disk * Comprehensive Interface On -board Software TWO SPARE SLOTS The Galaxy 3 computer shown has two empty slots, GM811- in a5 board 80 Bus format, for simple addition of CPU Board Gemini Multiboardsto develop your * Z80A CPU own requirements. * RS232 Serial Interface * 2x8-Bit110 Ports * 4 Bytewide Memory Sockets

GEMINI MULTIBOARDS ARE AVAILABLE LOCALLY FROM: AMERSHAM, BUCKS Amersham Computer Centre, Woodside Road, The Gemini MultiBoard Microsystem provides a range of 15 Tel: (02403)22307 BRISTOL fully -compatible microcomputer boards, which can be used to Target Electronics Ltd., 16 Cherry Lane configure solutions for micro processor problems, from as many as Tel: (0272) 421196 10 boards, to just 1. This flexibility is due to Gemini's adoption of LEEDS Bits & PC's, Leeds Computer Centre, accepted industry standards; especially the 80 -Bus, specifically 62 The Balcony, Merrion Centre, designed for the Z80 microcomputer which forms the heart of the Tel: (0532)45887 MultiBoard system. LONDON W2 Henry's Radio, 404 Edgware Road The principle advantage of a Z80 Bus system is the Tel: 01-4026822 abundance of software available operating under CPIM, by which LONDON SW11 OFF Records, Computer House, software becomes machine independant; providing the user with 58 Battersea Rise, Clapham Junction the widest range of software available. Tel: 01-223 7730 MANCHESTER M19 There is also the opportunity to develop systems based on the EV Computing, 700 Burnage Lane Galaxy 3 computer (shown above) which uses Gemini MultiBoards, Tel: 061-431 4866 but has 2 spare slots in a 5 -board frame for particular configurations. NOTTINGHAM Computerama, (Skytronics Ltd.) Alternatively, the Galaxy 2 provides a cost-effective development 357 Derby Road tool with 3 spare slots in a 6 -board frame. Tel: (0602) 781742 With MultiBoard thousands of permutations are possible. Eight of our most popular boards are shown here, but there is a range of 15 available; together with mother boards, frames, cables, power supplies, key boards and compatible software if required. A comprehensive catalogue is available from the Dealers listed, or 'phone us to discuss your requirements. 18 Woodside Road, Amersham, Bucks HP6 5EQ. Tel : (02403) 28321. Circle No. 145 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 65 The MTX Series described; straight from the author's mouth

MANUAL

The first section (of the manual) is a basic tutorial. The grass roots information is here and I could not find any major mistakes. The second part is on Noddy giving a good guide as to how it can be written.... The third and fourth sections are on graphics and sound. Both are quite detailed and easy to follow. The fifth section is on how to interface Assembler to Basic. Personal Computing Today Feb 84. Integrated Software - a five to one advantage. Assembler/Disassembler, High The provisional manual, which runs to resolution Graphics, Arcade style games, Noddy for easy text handling and Front some 250 A4 size pages, has a wealth of Panel for testing and machine code. detail for the machine -code specialist. and test machine code programs. This Electronics and Computing Monthly. NODDY is not new to computing, but it is to a home micro. INTEGRATED INTERACTIVE A language new to me called Noddy is SOFTWARE included in the MTX which is designed As well as being able to modify and to make text handling easy, especially disassemble sections of code, you can The MTX ROM has been designed to for beginners. set break points, examine and alter allow the maximum interaction Hobby Electronics. register values, and even single step between components of the software. Also provided is the easy to use through code. I hope other Z80 micro A single program can be written which beginner's language (Noddy) and a childmanufacturers (particularly in the uses NODDY to display text and oriented learning language Logo. Cambridge direction) take note of these graphics, and a BASIC control program Practical Computing Dec 83. debugging aids. which calls routines written in Popular Computing Weekly Nov 83. assembly code. This is a feature of (Noddy has only 11 commands) that need to be mastered before some quite The Assembler is called from Basic, and future generation computers not it assembles the code in situ, as part of available on any other micro. complex question -and -answer -type programs can be written. the Basic listing. Your Computer Nov 83. Hobby Electronics. BASIC Noddy 's . . . main use is for displaying Z80 BOARD The Basic is fast and accurate, all the text and I can see applications in the calculations being done in floating point computer assisted learning (CAL) field. The MTX Series is a more powerful maths, so that you don't lose accuracy Writing in Noddy is like a mixture of tool for education than the 6502 to gain speed. Logo and Forth. because it produces a more powerful Personal Computing Today Feb 84. Personal Computing Today Feb 84. assembler, allows the PANEL function to be used, and enables integrated ASSEMBLER/DISASSEMBLER software to be written. The latest addition to the Memotech range RML's 450Z has a (PANEL) function but DMX80 Matrix Printer - 80 characters The Assembler can be accessed that is a computer which costs per second print speed, eight character through BASIC. When used in considerably more than the MTX 500. formats, dot addressable graphics, £295.00 conjunction with the PANEL it enables Hobby Electronics. including VAT. the programmer to single step through

FULLY INTEGRATED AND EXTENDED GRAPHICS The only aspect of the series where extensions to standard language are allowed is in the most comprehensive and integrated graphics available on a home micro. 32 Sprites are supported either 8 x 8 or 16 x 16. They are easy to use and define and do not use extra memory as in the . . because they have their own area of RAM. Personal Computing Today Feb 84. Graphics are very easy to create and manipulate, even for beginners. Which Micro Jan 84. colleges, and the MTX panel is very similar. Hobby Electronics. The new language Noddy and the Logo type Turtle Graphic commands would appeal particularly to the growing education market. Your Computer Nov 83. Applications are obviously going to suggest themselves in areas of the school curriculum, the fast -training of personnel in commerce, and in adventure -game writing. Hobby Electronics. The MTX expansion potential is well thought out. The key to both the MTX Ring system and to the Disc Drive systems is the communications (RS232) board mentioned earlier. Electronics and Computing Monthly. MTX512 plus twin 5 1/4" disc FDX. A CP/M based business system - £1245 inc VAT. UPGRADABILITY SOUND CP/M OPERATING SYSTEM The MTX 500/512 is part of an existing The simplification of the sound The Series is designed to run under the range of products which can be bought commands for ease of programming CP/M operating system. This is the separately and integrated into a single has in no way compromised the qualityDisc Filing System used on the vast powerful system, now. of the sound produced. majority of microcomputers in business. Since a program written on Sound is of great importance for use in one CP/M machine can be transferred games but on many microcomputers it and run on almost any other, this is inadequate. Not so with the MTX . makes available 15,000 CP/M based Your Computer Nov 83. business programs. The powerful LINK As well as good graphics capability the program can give access to any device MTX boasts the same sound chip as the operating under CP/M. With its BBC micro - the Texas 76489. It has excellent software support and three tone channels and one noise because of it's modular nature, the channel, and is easily controlled from series is a cost-effective and efficient Basic. Volume and frequency can also entry to serious business and be controlled, using a much easier educational computing. method than the 14 parameters needed by the BBC. FULL -TRAVEL KEYBOARD Silicon Disc RAM Board 256K fast access RAM Popular Computing Weekly Nov 83. It has a professional quality keyboard. The commands are sufficiently complex This and its elegant styling make it There is plenty of room for expansion to enable the computer to be used as a suitable for word processing and with the MTX and Memotech have synthesizer. business use. planned a progression up to their small Electronics and Computing Monthly. Your Computer Nov 83. business machine with 80 column display (instead of the standard 40 x 24) Floppy discs, Silicon (or RAM) discs, and a hard disc under development. Personal Computing Today Feb 84. There are a multitude of sockets along the back consisting of two Joystick sockets, cassette connections, Centronics printer circuit, aerial socket, Input/Output Monitor, Hi-Fi, Power, TV, Centronics, Cassette Mic and Ear, and two power socket and audio and video Joystick ports all come as standard; the twin RS232 ports are available as expansions. output. There is also provision for two RS232 sockets .. . HARDWARE NODE RING Popular Computing Weekly Nov 83. Inside the case is what one comes to MTX computers can operate together expect from Memotech - a very neat without expensive network systems. MEMOTECH PCB that holds all the components Units linked via the ring can share Station Lane Industrial Estate including the main chips - namely a software peripherals and communicate Witney, Oxon, OX8 6BX. Z80A processor and TMS 9929 graphics with each other. Many other makes of Telephone (0993) 2977 chips as well as about 30 others. computer can be interfaced with the Telex: 83372 MemtecG. Popular Computing Weekly Nov 83. ring as terminals. If you are familiar with the ZX81 peripherals that Memotech also make EDUCATIONAL USAGE you will know that the company has an 21 eye for good design and does not skimp There will be many people who have on materials it uses. seen a front panel display on the 380Z Electronics and Computing Monthly. computer in secondary schools or

Circle No. 146 SOFTWARE FOR THE

SERIES CHESS

A fully comprehensive chess package. Ten levels of play, from novice to championship stondard. Pitch yourwitsagainstthe computer with this fast, versatile machine code program. TO A DO

The object of the game is to navigate each of five toads across a road and two rivers without being run down or drowning (toads can't swim). ALICE IN WONDERLAND

A fully interactive machine code adventure game set in Wonderland. You play the part of Alice, and explore the fascinating world of Wonderland, full of excitement and suspense. Delve deep into tunnels, caves and wells in search of hidden treasure. KILOPEDE

Eliminate mushrooms and the descending segmented Kllopede to gain bonus points - avoidkillercrabs,fleas,spiders and jellyfish which chase you across multiple levelsofincreasingdifficulty. SUPER MINEFIELD

The object of the game is to get from one side of the minefield to the other without being blown up. You only get one life so be careful - not all the mines are visible. The only way you can tell how many mines are nearby is by looking at the mine detector in the top right hand corner of the screen. BLOBBO

Run at high speed around the maze collecting treasure and fruit worth bonus points - but don't get caught by the Blobbo-eaters! Tactical dodging must be employed to avoid them. If you're caught or step on a skull and crossbones you lose one of your three lives. KNUCKLES

Move Knuckles around his maze, using a joystick to kick Roks and Magic Squares. The object is to line up the Magic Squares, using the fire key, and so advance to the next level, gaining a level bonus. Please send for our free colour catalogue of Business, Education and Games Software. Illustration: Nick Mynheer. Continental Software Limited, Unit 23, Station Lane, Witney, Oxon Circle No. 147 Special Advertisement Feature

Xerox telecopier Send a document across the world in just two minutes with a Xerox facsimile terminal. It speeds up business and means important decisions can be made immediately. And there's a model to suit your exact need. The Xerox Telecopier 455 sits conveniently by your telephone. The 485 can handle up to 30 originals and receive up to 300 pages at a time. For bulk transmission the 495 can transmit an A4 letter in under a minute; its auto dial facility can make calls Canon AP350 simple and transmit documents 24 hours a day. PAGE PLUS sophistication 426 on enquiry card Computers The Canon AP350 typewriter offers sophisticated electronic capabilities in a low priced, easy to operate, machine. A Clear crisp copies COMPILED BY - liquid crystal display allows corrections If you require needle sharp, edge to edge copies, clear to text before typing and the electronic black and white from virtually any colour, the Roneo memory can store text and formats for 230 Copier from Roneo Alcatelwillsuityou.It a later time. The AP350 has a friendly produces 30 copies per minute, has a touch sensitive keyboard similar to an electric type- keyboard to minimise misfeeds and a key control to writer. Electronic function keys are on monitor usage. The 230 will copy standard documents, either side of main keyboard for easy books, flimsy originals, even three dimensional objects, access and operation. The Canon AP350 onto standard bond, address labels, etc in sizes A3, A4, can be interfaced with the RS232C and B4 and B5. An automatic sorter and feeder are also 65 Shawley Way, Epsom Downs helps you take the next step towards available. Contact me for further details. office automation.I have full details. Surrey KT18 5PD 07373 52031 427 on enquiry card 432 on enquirycard To all hardware and Canon AP400 smart and silent The Canon AP400 electronic typewriter has a host of software manual users features that will delight you. Smart looking and with a Send a section from your 500charactercorrectionmemory,the AP400 will software/service/repair manual,partsautomatically centre text between margins, tabs and list or even the mag tape from your words or around any carrier position. This typewriter and Micromediawill also interface with the RS232C. Other features will prepare, free of charge and without include right hand alignment, underlining, bold lettering, obligation, a demonstration microfiche automatic carrier return and paperfeed and decimal Twinlock VDU furniture containing your informationplus atabulation with numerical punctuation. The AP400 is yet comprehensive free quote to convert another step towards office automation. I can put you in range - new additions your parts manuals into easy to usetouch with Canon. Twinlock have extended their successful microfiche. For the busy engineer on 433 on enquiry card VDU furniture range with the addition ofthe road, some readers plug into a car two VDU workcentres. One is designedcigar lighter socket enabling you to have The last word in dictation to accommodate separate VDU screens your records to hand. Let me put you in touch with Bell & Howell. The BM 550portabledictatorfrom Sony's and keyboards with a height adjustable MicroWorld range has all the features that enable platform thattiltsback and forthto 429 on enquiry card easy and efficient dictation. This slim and sleek avoid eye -strain or glare The otheris portable, weighing less than seven ounces has a slide fixed and designedfor an adjustable switch for one hand operation, electronic indexing VDU, or an integrated VDU and key- for better communication with the secretary and the board system. Both have an extra large microcassetteflexibilityof uptotwo hours work surface which will accommodate a recording. Circle this number now and I'll be happy table -topprinter.Optionalaccessories, to send you all the details. such as a printout catcher and a 5 -tray housing are also available Just circle this number. 428 on enquiry card 434 on enquiry card Acoustic hood trial offer Noise from printersisa problem.Itdisrupts both machine operator and staff nearby. Telephone calls are difficultandlostconcentrationleadstoreduced output. WBM Business Supplies want you to hear for yourselfthe deadeningqualityof theGrenadier Acoustic Hoods and experience the relief of a quieter environment. That's why they're offering you a free seven day trial. The Grenadier is modern and stylish in Fully automatic The Trend 930 printer design with a smoked perspex viewing panel. You'll be sheet feeder means business impressed with the difference. Simply contact me. Now you can eliminate the time consum-The latest addition to Trend's successful 435 on enquiry card ing job of feeding single sheets into your900 series of high speed printers is the 930 printer. The Easifeed is fully mechanical, printer. This versatile machine gives dual Computer print-out shredders dips onto the printer and will take over mode printing. When your letters need to The increasing use of word processors, printers and com- 1(X) sheets, A3 wide and I4in deep. High createthebestimpressionselectthe puter installations means that Business Aids' electronic xolume mailings have never been so fast or ExecutiveQuality80charactersper Scimitar Data Shredders are in greater demand than ever. costeffective. A reverse print operates second, with the daisywheel look -alike over 20 lines, ideal for producing graphs, finish. For office memos, etc, choose the The Compact Data 1001 isidealforthesmaller computer user; models 2001 and 2002 accept 25 sheets and aby-passfeature allows manual Draft Mode with its quick 200 cps speed. feeding without interrupting the normal The 930 will handle cut sheets and multi- or eight streams of continuous stationery, while the high \xorkflow. WBM Business Supplies will part fanfold forms. Optional sheet feeder security 2002XC converts paper into illegible 2 x 15mm chips. Data 4001 is a wide -throated console model; the demonstrate this reliable sheet feeder on available.Contact me now for more your own printer. Just circle this number. detailsofthissuperior WP printer. heavy duty Data 5000 and 6000 have a 30 -sheet capacity and process up to 20 streams ofprint-out simultaneously. 430 on enquiry card 431 on enquiry card Circle No. 148 436 on enquiry card 69 Some of the attractive figures you'll meet at COMPEC N11111'54 Bellevue, Manchester 19-21 June 1984

COMPEC NORTH is the most influential computer show outside London. It is THE ONLY northern computer show for DP 4' \ C` professionals and serious business users. And in just three days it gives you concentrated coverage of the most important part of your market: directors, DP managers, and other computing professionals from manufacturing industries, services, consultancies, systems houses, software firms and bureaux. COMPEC NORTH is now in its fourth year, and once again is being sponsored and supported by the leading journals in the business. So if you want to be at the centre of influence, reserve your stand now at COMPEC NORTH '84. From as little as £92 per square metre. For your full information pack with booking details complete and return this form to: Chris O'Hea, Exhibition Sales Manager, Room L310, Quadrant House, The Quadrant, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5AS. Tel: 01-661 3125 I - me ini E. mo ow mi im ...... =1 mi. in Please send me my full information pack about exhibiting at I COMPEC NORTH '84 I : GIDIMPEO Name I Position I NUPTIIS4 Company I : ' Address I I THE WORLD OF COMPUTING IIN THE NORTH Compec North is sponsored by Computer Weekly, in association

with Computer Talk, Systems International, Practical Computing, I Software and Micro Business. L 1.1 1...... PJ

70 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 `Ladbroke Hotels

PRESENT A SERIES OF COMPUTER APPRECIATION WEEKENDS Computers are the fastest After lunch, guests will be All rooms have private moving area of the 80s and able to experiment with a bathroom facilities, colour keeping up to date with all the series of packages and there T.V., radio, telephone and developments is more and will be demonstrations on welcome tea and coffee tray. more difficult; which micro financial modelling, There is a £10 single room computer do you really need?accounting suites, and supplement. How much should your communications. Computer Weekends: business efficiency increase On Sunday, guests will Ladbroke Dragonara Hotel, with a micro? How much of present their specific business the salesman's jargon do youproblems, and a full Leeds - May 4-6, 1984. believe? discussion will follow. The Ladbroke Dragonara Hotel, All these questions and weekend will close with a Bristol - June 22-24, 1984. many more will be answeredtraditional Sunday lunch. Ladbroke Hotel, Basingstoke at a series of computer The Price: Your complete - September 21-23, 1984. appreciation weekends, computer weekend is £160.00To make your booking or for which will be held at LadbrokePER PERSON, inclusive of Hotels. They will give further details, telephone VAT. The price includes Iris Henry on (0923) 45186 Business Executives an individual advice and tuition, opportunity to benefit from Ladbroke Hotels Computer the advice and experience ofuse of microcomputers, Weekends, PO Box 137, welcome cocktail, 3 course Watford, Herts. WD1 1DN. independent computer dinner on Friday and consultants. Registered in England No. 84/059. Saturday, Full English Registered address V Quadrent, Sutton, Surrey. Your Weekend Programme Breakfast on Saturday and starts with a welcome cocktailSunday and traditional reception on Friday followed Sunday lunch. by dinner with wine. Saturday will be divided into a number of sessions and guests will be welcomed by their own personal desk -top computer- an Epson QX 10, and with this in front of them, there will be an outline of what computers can and cannot do and the principals of creating a program.

Circle No. 189

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 71 ORBIT -ORBIT -ORBIT -ORBIT -ORBIT -ORBIT -ORBIT -ORBIT -ORBIT -ORBIT -ORBIT ELBUG FrOTRINE ELECTRON

IF YOU HAVE AN OR ARE THINKING OF BUYING ONE THEN YOU SHOULD JOIN THE ELECTRON USER GROUP. Members receive 10 copies of the magazine ELBUG each year. ELBUG is devoted EXCLUSIVELY to the ELECTRON MICRO. It is packed with news, Reviews, Hints, Tips, Programming ideas, Major articles, plus Regular program features BEEBMAZE including games and useful utilities. ELBUG, is produced by BEEBUG Publications Ltd., publishers of BEEBUG, the magazine of the National User Group for the BBC Micro. BEEBUG now has some 20,000 members, and has achieved a high reputation both in this country and abroad. Acorn and the BBC have both taken out multiple memberships, for example, and our articles are now syndicated in Australia. (For further details of BEEBUG, see separate advertisement elsewhere in this issue.) The formula which makes BEEBUG an invaluable companion for users of the BBC micro will be applied to ELBUG. By subscribing to ORBIT you gain all the advantages of a single -micro magazine, with no space wasted on programs and articles for other computers. Further benefits of membership: Members' discount scheme with national retailers of software, hardware and books, with savings of up to 25%. Members' software library with a growing range of titles at special prices for members. SPECIAL OFFER SUBSCRIBE NOW, ANDGET A FREE INTRODUCTORY CASSETTE CONTAINING 8 TESTED PROGRAMS FOR THE ELECTRON.

I SPACE CITY Defeat the invading Aliens with your laser, and save the city. 2. 3D NOUGHTS AND CROSSES Pit your wits against the ELECTRON on a 4.x4x4 board. 3 RACER Guide your racing car to victory, avoiding other cars and obstacles on the track. 4. 3D MAZE In this challenging game, you must escape from the maze - The screen displays a 3D view from inside the maze. 5. PATCHWORK A multicoloured display of continuously changing patterns. 6. KEY SET ROUTINE A program to set up the user function keys. 7. MEMORY DISPLAY An efficiently written utility to diplay the contents of memory (ROM and RAM). SPACE CITY 8. CHARACTER DEFINER Define individual graphics characters with this useful utility for use in your own programs.

HOW TO JOIN To subscribe for one year, and get your free cassette, send £9.90 (payable to Orbit) plus a strong stamped addressed envelope (for the cassette)to: ORBIT, PO BOX 109, High Wycombe, Bucks HP11 2TD SIX MONTH TRIM. SUBSCRIPTION 15 ISSUES UK ONLY0.90 -FREE CASSETTE OFFER STILL STANDS. Membership outside UK (one )ear only): Eire and Europe 116. Middle East £19. America & Africa £21, other countries £23. Editorial address BEEBUG Publications, 150 Box 50, St Albans, Herts, ALI 2AR Circle No. 149 ** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** * * @Mg§V)PEOEg§ * Immediate export quotes available Maintenance or insurance available onallequipment. APRICESLL ARE EXCLUSIVE OF V.A.T. * EPSON RX80F/T 240.00 SEIKOSHA GP250X 215.00 11 a 1 a -41 -11 II. WM-4 .r.-= * EPSON FX80 325.00 SEIKOSHA GP700A (Colour) 369.00 * BROTHER HF11 449.00 EPSON MS 100F/T III . 370.00 SHINWA CP80 F/T 185.00 * * BROTHER HR15 345.00 EPSON FX100F/T 425.00 SHINWA 40 (Colour) 119.00 * * TRACTOR 65.00 HERMES612C (inc. Tractor) 1650.00 STAR GEMINI 10X 209.00 * SHEETFEEDER 190.00 OTHERS AVAILABLE STAR GEMINI 15X 309.00 * KEYBOARD 140.00 MANNESMANN TALLY MT 80 200.00 STAR DELTA 10 319.00 * * BROTHER HR25 555.00 MANNESMANN TALLY MT 160 399.00 STAR DELTA 15 425.00 * DAISY STEP2000 (20cps) 246.00 MANNESMANN TALLY MT 180 599.00 TEC 1550(P) 469.00 * DIABLO 620 (RO) 675.00 OKI MICROLINE 80A 199.00 TEC 1550(S) 499.00 * DIABLO 630 (API) 1320.00 OKI MICROLINE 82A 259.00 MANY OTHERS AVAILABLE: * * DIABLO 630 TRACTOR 149.00 OKI MICROLINE 83A 399.00 DRE-NEWBURY, I.D.S. MICROPRISM, * * JUKI 6100 335.00 OKI MICROLINE 84(P) 635.00 RITEMAN, TEXAS, TOSHIBA. * TRACTOR 89.00 OKI MICROLINE 84(S) 709.00 * SHEETFEEDER 199.00 OKI MICROLINE 92(P) 399.00 * * QUME 11/40 (RO) 1190.00 OKIMICROLINE 92(S) 449.00 APRICOT 256K 1x315K D/D-I-MON 1400.00 * OKI MICROLINE 93(P) * QUME 11/55(RO) 1375.00 499.00 APRICOT 256K 2x315K D/D+MON 1550.00 (RO) 1590.00 OKI MICROLINE 93(S) 549.00 * QUME 9/45 COMMODORE VIC 20 78.25 1940.00 OKI MICROLINE 2350(P) 1449.00 * QUME 9/55 (RO) COMMODORE VIC 20 STARTER PACK... 108.69 * RICOH RP 1300 (P or S) 899.00 OKIMICROLINE 2350(S) * 1499.00 COMMODORE 64 152.17 RICOH FLOWRITER 1300 999.00 OKI MICROLINE 2410(P) 1549.00 EPSON QX10 1649.00 * RICOH RP 1600 (P or S) 1239.00 OKI MICROLINE 2410(S) 1599.00 * ORIC ATMOS 48K 145.00 RICOH FLOWRITER 1600 1299.00 RADIX 10(NLO) 449.00 * * SINCLAIR ZX81 33.00 RADIX 15(NLQ) 549.00 * ALL OTHER PRINTERS AVAILABLE: SINCLAIR ZX81 16K 53.00 SEIKOSHA GP100A 179.00 FUJITSU, NEC. OLYMPIA, TEC, UCHIDA, SINCLAIR SPECTRUM 16K 80.00 * SEIKOSHA GP100VC 175.00 * i SILVERREED, SMITH CORONA, OLIVETTI. SINCLAIR SPECTRUM 48K 100.00 IMT1-11111,-TTv1T7T SIRIUS '1' 128K 1.2MB 1650.00 * * SIRIUS '1' 256K 2.4MB 2150.00 * ANADEX DP 9000 799.00 SIRIUS '1' 256K 1.2+10.6MB 2950.00 * ANADEX DP 9620 949.00 TELEVIDEO 1605 2245.00 * ANADEX 9725 (Colour) 1099.00 TELEVIDEO TS802 2875.00 * COMMODORE MTS 801 175.00 TELEVIDEOTS800A 1075.00 * * EPSON RX8OT 215.00 MANY OTHERS AVAILABLE. * * * * * 2nd Floor, Spa House, Tel: 01.947.8562 Telex: WOWICO 8955888 ************************************************ Wimbledon, London SW 19 4JS Circle No. 150 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 EVERY PayRight ccErrImodore Payroll software you can trust PAYRIGHT IS A HIGHLY RELIABLE PAYROLL PACKAGE, DESIGNED TO MEET THE MOST EXACTING REQUIREMENTS. IT MAY BE USED BY YOUR EXISTING CLERICAL STAFF, AND NO TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE IS NEEDED. * Sixty different pay elements and deduction types.

Wide choice of payslip style, with all payslip stationery easily available off the shelf. DESERVES

Fully conforms to statutory requirements for PAYE, NIC, and SSP. Rates may be changed by the operator in minutes.

Equally suitable for payroll bureaux and for companies' own A wages departments. PAYRIGHT RUNS ON MOST CP/M-BASED MICROS. PRICES FROM £300 TO £500 DEPENDING ON FEATURES. DEMONSTRATION PACK £50, REFUNDABLE AGAINST SUBSEQUENT PURCHASE. TRADE ENQUIRIES WELCOME. DATABASE From the payroll experts: MIKE LEWIS CONSULTANTS LTD. 48 Willoughby Road, London NW3 1R U. Tel: 01-794 3886

Please send lull details of PAYRIGHT, without obligation. PC2. No matter what your business or interest, with Name Superbase 64 you have a totally flexible Position 'record 'system, as big as you want it, as fast as Company you need it. Address Pos,otle Create your own formats, enter your records, Type of business change layouts and data fields. Circle No. 152 Superbase 64 gives you unrivalled control in home or office, business or professional Anarpsts/Prograrnmers practice, with an extensive range of features £8,000-E15,000 PSION We are a leading microcomputer software house with an outstanding record of growth and profitability, active in the fields of business applications, systems and home entertainment software. g 64 Weare currently recruiting analysts/ programmers with microcomputer The complete information control system for the experience and experience of VAX VMS, C, MS-DOS, 8086, 68000, ZBO, 6502, Commodore 64. By the authors of "Easyscript", Cross Assemblers or Simulators. the Commodore No.1 word processing system. Competitive salaries are offered, based on relevant experience. This is an exciting opportunity to join a young, dedicated and highly trained team in one of Britain's fastest growing companies.

Apply in writing, enclosing a Curriculum Vitae Precision Software Limited to: The Recruitment Manager, Psion Ltd, 6 Park Terrace 2 Huntsworth Mews , Gloucester Place, . . Worcester Park, Surrey KT4 7JZ London NW1 600 Precision Telephone: 01-330 7166 Software Telex: 8955021. PRECIS G

Circle No. 151 Circle No. 153 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 In keeping with a its rightful place at long tradition of producing the head of the Epson fine quality dot matrix printers, fleet of fine dot matrix Epson have now launched their printers. new flagship. The LQ-1500 is a new Epson have been leading the breed of printer, that will give you field in the design and production of the best of both worlds. A dot matrix printers for many years. Printers printer, although capable of 200 all the advantages of a that are now successfully operating CPS in draft mode, can be set to daisywheel machine, in terms of in all kinds of business environ- produce letter quality at 66 CPS by quality, together with the added ments, like the ever popular RX-80 simply flicking a switch. benefits of condensed or enlarged and FX-80. With speeds of 100 CPS Like all Epson products, versa- characters and proportional and 160 CPS respectively, dot tility has been a primary considera- spacing, plus very high speed when addressable graphics and optional tion of the LQ-1500, incorporating set to operate in draft form. tractor feed available on the friction feed as standard with Having superb graphics capa- FX model, these two machines optional tractor and hopper feed bilities and optional 8 -bit parallel are extremely reliable and widely and a carriage width of a full 15". (Centronics) RS 232 and 1 EEE used. You now have at your fingertips interfaces, the LQ-1500 has taken The RX-80F/T has the same advanced features as the RX-80 Fill in the coupon now to find out but having both friction and tractor which member of the Epson feed as standard, it's a totally versa- printer family meets your tile machine at a thoroughly realistic requirements. price. With an everwatchful eye on the changing face of the printer market, FO I would like a demonstration of the LQ-1500 printer. 7 Epson have identified a growing EPSON 0 Please send me details of my local stockist. need for a high speed printer with Extraordinary product. 0 Please send me details of the range of Epson printers. the ability to accept wider paper. Exceptional quality. Thus was born the FX-100, again Name Epson (UK) Limited, Freepost, Position including all the advantages of its Wembley, Middlesex HA9 6BR. predecessors. Sales Enquiries: Freefone EPSON. Company General Enquiries: 01-902 8892. Epson are always looking for Telex: 8814169. Address ways to improve products, a policy which has kept us one step ahead during a lifetime of being the first Tel PC5 DMP name in printers. L a Circle No. 1547.5 The SPRINT 11 with operator interchangeable interfaces - and the SPRINT 12/20 both daisywheel printers with Qume superb design and letter- quality print. SPRINT 11 Plus with a choice of 40 cps. or 55 cps. which incorporate the unique Qume operator interchangeable interface modules that fit most popular computers, through the range of R.S. 232C I.E.E.E. and Centronics interfaces. SPRINT 12/20 with a good speed (20 cps.) for business, professional or home use. Engineered by Qume to give years of reliable service and available at an attractive price. Interface compatibility with most popular micro computers. Compact design - user friendly. Uses Qume standard Printwheels and Ribbons the most accessible range available in the U.K. Options include - Forms Tractor, Qume (UK) Limited, Bridgewater Close, Reading, Berkshire RG3 1JT Letter Guide or Sheet Feeder Tel: Reading (0734) 584646 Telex: 849706 A British Company of ITT COMPUTER Qume® PARK'84 Distributor Network For a holiday you will never forget

UK and Ireland Join other computer enthusiasts for a week full of exciting and imaginative computer activities. At Computer Park we gather together in one place more equipment and expertise than you are P = Printers. likelyto come across anywhere else. You willhave the V = Video Terminals. opportunity to use: a variety of computers, robots, turtles, graph M = Disk Drives. plotters, light pens, graphics tablets etc. Here are just a few of the Computer Park features: PV Access Data Communications Ltd Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 2RT * More computers than people! Tel: 0895 59781 *Computer rooms open from 9am to 1 Opm PV .Alphatech Computer Systems Ltd *Programming techniques: utilities; games; expert systems etc. Bourne End, Buckinghamshire SL8 5SP. Tel: 06285 28237 *Range of computer languages: Fourth, LISP, Pascal, machine code etc. PV Bytech Ltd Reading, Berkshire RG6 1AZ. *Activities suitable for beginners through to experts (more Tel: 0734 61031 activities than you will have time for!) PV Daisy Terminals Ltd *Excellent supervision (lots of enthusiastic, talented staff). Haywards Heath, West Sussex. RHI6 *Country House location. Tel: 0444 457546 PV Datac Ltd Computer Park isa holiday designed specifically for those Altrincham, Cheshire. WA14 5TN. Tel: 061 941 2361 interested in computers. It is NOT simply an activity holiday with a computer option. Write or phone for our free brochure and judge M Euro Electronics Ltd for yourself. I ,ondon NW1 IYE. Tel: 01-267 5416 P Facit Data Products Computer Park '84, 25 Bridge Street, Rothwell,Kettering, Rochester, Kent. MEI 3QN. Northants. NN14 2JW. Telephone (0536) 712627. Tel: 0634401721

PV ISG Data Sales Ltd Reading, Berkshire. RG7 IAW. Circle No. 258 Tel: 0734 884666

V Northamber Ltd COMPUTERPRO LIMITED Mill Road, Esher, Surrey KTIO 9QA. Dept PC, 65 The Falstones, Basildon, Essex SS15 5DF. Tel: 0268 412545 Tel: 0372 68311 Cash and Carry By Appointment. Access Welcome PV Peritronic Ltd All orders which accompany a cheque, cash or postal order are carriage free (U.K. Livingston, Scotland. mainland). A carriage charge of 4% of invoice total is applicable on Credit Card and Official orders. Tel: 0279 20411 Ring for a quote on any printer on the market.

PV Recall InformationSySICIIISLtd., PRINTERS £ Dublin -18, Ireland. JP101 the 'BBC' Spark Jet printer (P) 149.50 Tel: Dublin 887361 Shinwa-CT1 CP-80 80col, 80cps IP) 199.87 Ribbons for Shinwa printer 121 12.88 V R.T S. Technology Ltd. Star Gemini 10 x 8K, 80col, 160cps (P+ SI 219.88 London NW1 OBY. Star Delta 10 8K, 80col, 160cps IP+ S1 331.20 Tel: 01-267 7541 RS232 interface for Star DP/Star Gemini 51.75 Ribbons for Star printers 141 11.96 PV Teleprinter Equipment Ltd Canon PJ10804 80co1, 40cps, 7 colour ink jet 422.51 Tring, Hertfordshire. HP23 6AJ. Canon PW1080A 80col, 160cps, 27cps NLQ (P) 315.10 Canon PW1156A 1 36co(, 160cps, 27cps NLQ (P/ 391.00 Tel: 044282 4011 Epson RX8OT 80col, 100cps IP) 243.57 Epson RX80F/T 80col, 100cps 181 278.30 Epson FX130P/T 80col, 160cps IP) 380.90 Printwheels and Epson M X100F/T 136co1, 100cps (PI 412.85 Epson FX100F/T 136co1, 160cps (P) 491.51 Ribbons for 80 column Epsons (3) 12.42 Ribbons Ribbons for 136 column Epsons (21 16.60 ISA Ltd (Master Distributor) Smith -Corona TP-1 13", 12cps IP/SI 219.88 Tractor Feed for TP-1 75.90 Bradford, Yorks. Ribbons for TP-1 S/S 161 £14.95; M/S (3) 19.55 Tel: 0274 306787 & 01-992 3411 Daisy Step 2000 13", 20cps (P) 272.09 Juki 6100 daisywheel printer (P) 379.96 Facit Data Products Tractor Feed for Juki 103.04 Sheet Feeder for Juki 223.10 Rochester, Kent. Tel: 0634 401721 Ribbons for Juki 151 S/S £8.74; 12) M/S 11.73 Daisywheels for Juki (State type) 17.94 Willis Computer Supplies Ltd Brother EP44 A4, 16cps, IS-KSR) 211.14 Bishop's Stortford, Herts. CN23 3DN. Printer cables for BBC/Oric/Dragon 11.04 Tel: 0279 506491 Printer cables for most micros 20.01 Corn 64/20 I.F. (Cass) £29.90; (Disc based) 32.20 Kempton Sinclair printer interface unit 39.79 Stylographic Services Ltd CW/P's Apple 11/11e I.F + cable (Graphics) 46.00 Herts Vv'D7 7NN. Tel: 09276 4585 RS232 2K interface for Epson & Shinwa 49.68 COMPUTERS Desco Carbon & Ribbon Supplies Ltd Chiltern Electronics Unitron 2200 401.35 Glasgow. G62 7SS. Tel: 041 956 1134 CW/P's Slimline disc drive unit (Apple) 149.96 Disc drive controller card (Apple) 42.55 Willis Computer Supplies (Ireland) Ltd BASF SS/SD 5.25" discs (Pack of ten) 13.80 Sanyo MBC 550/555 Computer (Ring for details) Co. Dublin, Ireland. Tel: 0001 801470 PROFESSIONAL MONITORS We only sell one type of monitor - the best! Acorn's official BBC monitor. BT approved. Qume (UK) Limited, NOVEX 12" V.Hi-Res direct etch green 83.49 Bridgewater Close, Reading, Berkshire RG31JT NOVEX 12" As above but in non -glare amber 95.91 NOVEX 14" Std -Res RGB, COMP VIDEO & SOUND 220.80 Tel: Reading (0734) 584646. Telex: 849706 The above model looks, and has the same spec. as the Microvitec A British Company of ITT Cub 1431. Resolution equive to JVC Med-Res unit. Use as a high quality VCR monitor. NOVEX 14" Med-Res RGB (IBM Compatible) 353.51 NOVEX 14" High -Res RGB (IBM Compatible) 414.00 Circle No. 259

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 4 Circle No. 155 OLIVETTI's new M-24 personal computer joins the ranks of the IBMulators. The unexpandedversionrunsthefamous Microsoft Flight Simulator, which is a good test of compatibility. Because it uses the full 16 -bit 8086 chip run at 8MHz, instead of an 8088 run at 4.77MHz, and because it hasOLIVETTI 128K of RAM as standard, it also offers more power than the IBM PC for what is expected to be less money. In some ways the psychology of the M-24 ismore interesting than the hardware. Launching an IBM PC compatible micro is something of a climb -down for Olivetti, 24 which entered the micro market over a year Olivetti has finally swallowed its corporate pride ago with the Z-8001 based M-20 running its ownoperatingsystem,PCOS.Since and built an IBM lookalike. Jack Schofield runs it then Olivetti has been forced to offer an side by side with the real thing. 8086 card for the M-20 to provide MS-DOS compatibility, and has signed a deal withit does not look like an IBM PC, which theso both drives are accommodated in the Corona to manufacture its machine as the Columbia, Corona, Eagle, Tava and OSMspace needed by just one on the IBM PC. M-18. The finalstep of designing an PC do. The M-24, like all Olivetti products,The main board has been tucked right into IBMulator represents a defeat for Olivetti's has been styled in Italy. It shows some nicethe bottom of the case, component -side original strategy. visualtouches,though no conclusionsdown, with a metal lid folded over it. This At the same time it could be said to be ashould be drawn from the metal -casedcan be done because there are no expansion victory of pragmatism over ideology. If prototype we photographed. slots on the main board. For expansion, a people want to buy an IBM -type micro 16 -bit bus is brought from the main board Olivetti wants to sell them one; but if not, More compact to a separate card on the left of the system the M-20 isstill there as an alternative. box. Olivetti says that,if required, an Thus the M-24 joins rather than replaces The M-24 is a three -box system like theextender can be fitted which will allow up to the Z-8001 machine in a combined attackIBM. The system box is somewhat smallerseven of the current eight -bit IBM PC on the micro market. than the IBM's, though taller. Half -heightexpansion cards to be used. Three slots can The striking thing about the M-24 is thatToshiba floppy -disc drives have been used,be used for 16 -bit cards.

11111111111111111

The M24 offers full compatibility with the IBM PC XT (right) but is housed in a smaller, neater box.

78 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 Review

The IBM PC user always requires accessjudgement solely by the prototype version I The M -24's highest graphics resolution is to the expansion slots because the circuitryused. 640 by 400 pixels, compared with the IBM's for the monochrome screen/printer driver 640 by 200.Itisbit -mapped to 32K of comes on a card. Adding graphics thenShades of grey RAM, compared to the 16K used by the PC means adding a colour graphics adaptor XT. The Olivetti sans -serif character set is card which, incidentally, will not drive the The monitor is physically the same as the commendably readable when displayed on monochrome monitor. Other slots onthe one sold with the M-20, but has internalthe non -glare screen. Other options on the IBMPC may be used for extra RAM ordifferences to provide shades of grey. It isM-24 are 640 by 200 pixels, 320 by 200 comms facilities. plugged straight into the display controller colour graphics and 80 by 25colour The M-24, by contrast, does not separateoutlet, does not require a separate powercharacters, all provided for compatibility themonochrome/printer andgraphicslead,andofferstiltandswivelplus with the IBM PC. drivers. It has a single display controllerbrightness control. As well as the standard The M-24 will not be supplied with an which fits via an edge connector into thewhite on black, green and amber optionsoperating system. Users are invited to buy main board, so even with a monochromeare promised, and a colour display will beeither MS-DOS, Concurrent CP/M or screen you can run the Microsoft Flightoffered whenacolourgraphicscardUCSD-p. With the addition of a Z-8001 Simulator, draw graphs and display fourbecome, available. (continued on tint pace) shades of grey. The also has a built-in KEYBOARD clock/calendar with battery back-up, space Specification Type: detached, option of 96 -key for an extra 128K of RAM, a serial port and Olivetti or IBM PC layout a parallel printer port. A Reset button and CPU: -2 running at 8MHz; Features: IBM keyboard has auto -repeat, green LED power indicator are provided on optional 8087 arithmetic processor 10 function keys, numeric keypad, the front of the system box, with both male Operating system: MS-DOS version 2.11 mouse port and female power sockets and a keyboard or CP/M-86 or UCSD-p; PCOS with Z-8001 card socket on the back. DISPLAY Memory: 128K RAM expandable to 256K Type: detached 12in. monochrome with on motherboard or to 640K total; 8K brightness control, up to 640- by Keyboard options ROM with bootstrap and diagnostics, 400 -pixel or 80- by 250 -character expandable to 32K resolution; 16 shades of grey Two keyboards are available. One is the Bus: seven -slot expansion option with Features: tilt and rotation; anti -glare standard 96 -key Olivetti design with 12 IBM PC XT compatibility screen function keys across the top. The other Discs: one or two 360K or 720K half - features an IBM PC key layout with 10 height floppy discs; optional 10Mbyte Dimensions: system box 380mm. (15in.) hard disc by 375mm. (14.8in.) by 165mm. (6.5in.) function keys down the side. Both plug into Standard interfaces: Centronics parallel Supplier: British Olivetti Ltd, Olivetti the back of the system box via about 4ft. of printer interface; RS -232C serial port House, PO Box 89, 86-88 Upper tightlycoiledcable and a nine -pin D Features: clock/calendar with battery Richmond Road, London SW15 2UR. with the back-up Telephone: 01-785 6666 IBM PC. The keyboard is under the control of an Intel 8041A microprocessor and can beconfiguredfordifferentnational languages; the same can be done forthe IBM PC. Benchmarks The IBM -type keyboard has a couple of The standard Benchmarks wererun using Microsft GWBasic2.0 under MS-DOS v.2.11 useful enhancements. Both the Caps Lock and Num Lock keys have built-in LEDs to BM1BM2BM3BM4BM5BM6BM7BM8Av. show they are on, and there is a nine -pin D connector on the back for plugging in a Olivetti M -24 -Intel 8086 0.5 2.0 4.6 4.7 5.2 9.4 14.8 15.9 7.1 mouse. I got the impression that the touch Olivetti M-20-Zilog Z-8001 1.1 4.0 8.0 8.4 9.2 17.1 26.5 12.0 10.8 of the keyboard was not as good as the IBM IBM PC -Intel 8088 1.2 4.8 11.7 12.2 13.4 23.3 37.430.0 16.8 original, but it would not be fair to make a

GW-BASIC 2.0 (C) Copyright Microsoft 1983

Olivetti PC 1050 GW Basic Uers. 2.0 DEUELOPMENT

1 Feburary 1983

61642 Bytes free Ok

Most of the system box is air, with plenty of space available New Microsoft GWBasic version 2.0 leaves 61, 642 bytes free for for IBM-compatible cards. programmers.

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 79 Review

word processor, Software Arts' TK!Solver, Software Solutions' Dataease, Southdata'sConclusions OLIVETTISuperfile, IMSI's 4 -Point Graphics - and The prototype shown here is not the final even Microsoft's Multiplan in a Compaqversion. Even so, the Olivetti M-24 looks version. attractive and takes up significantly less Everything seemed to work perfectlydesk space than an IBM PC. M-24 well. Ironically, 4 -Point Graphics and the The M-24 appears to be functionally Flight Simulator will not run on our own (continued from previous page) compatible with the IBM PC. It runs the monochrome IBM PC XT because it lacksMicrosoftFlightSimulator andother card you can even have PCOS. GWBasicgraphics. Olivetti is claiming compatibilityprograms written and formatted for the comes with MS-DOS. Digital Researchwith the hard -disc IBM PC XT rather thanIBM PC. The amount of current PC or PC languages and some applications packageswith the standard PC that IBM launchedXT software that will not run must be will also be available from Olivetti. first and which is different in a number ofsmall. All the operating systems are suppliedrespects. Ergonomicallythe M-24isa good with Olivetti ring -bound manuals in the machine withahighlylegiblescreen contemporary dwarf format. They areUpgrade path display. Judgment must be suspended on better written than the IBM versions, as the quality of thefinal keyboard, but though a good sub -editor has cut the One of the problems of making a look -Olivetti has made enough keyboards of one American wordiness and use of the passive.alike is that you can be left behind when the kind or another to deserve the benefit of the For example, where the PC -DOS manualmachine you are emulating is enhanced. doubt. takessixpages to describePrint,theHowever, Olivetti seems to have done The M-24 is significantly faster and more Olivetti version tabulates the material in 2+.everything to ensure that the M-24 will staypowerful than the IBM PC, should not The GWBasic supplied for review was aupgradable. For example, the board is ableneed a colour graphics card to run popular new version 2.11 featuring a number of newto accept 256Kbit RAM chips in place ofprograms like Lotus 1-2-3 and has some commands suchas MkDir for Makethe current 64Kbit ones. The existing powerfeatures as standard which are extra on the Directory,View and Window.Thesupply is sufficient for a hard disc, whichIBM PC. directory commands are those normallywill use the Alloy PC -Star cartridge for Unlike some rival IBMulators, the M-24 used with a hard disc,while the newback-up. is backed by a large, well known multi- graphics commands are concerned with The 5.25in. floppies fitted can be used innational company with a wide range of Microsoft's window management. quad -density mode to provide 640K ofcomputers and office equipment, and an In general, however, the M-24 will bestorage,anoptionwhichIBMwill establishedreputationforqualityand used for running existing software designedpresumablygoforeventually.Asservice. for the IBM PC, using both PC discsmentioned earlier, a 16 -bit expansion bus The price will not be announced until the and documentation. Some of the IBMhas already been provided. A portableM-24 is launched, but Olivetti's aim is to packages tested on the M-24 were theversion of the M-24, to be designated theundercut the IBM PC. This should make it MicrosoftFlightSimulator,TrendtextM-21, is also in the works. excellent value. SMITH -CORONA® TP-I DAISY WHEEL PRINTER-FOR THE COST OF A MATRIX PRINTER THE IDEAL COMPANION FOR YOUR BBC AND A HOST OF OTHER COMPUTERS

Printer shown SPECIFICATIONS fitted with tractor feed - Print Speed: 120 WPM Serial: CIA RS232C. 110 to 19.200 baud Storage 40" to 160°F 5 to 95% humidity Gaunter Set: 228 ASCII, 88 printable strap selectable. character length and (no condensaten) available at extra cost Character Spacing (pitchy 10 CPI 01 12 panty are strap selectable Noise: 63-69 dBa CPI Pow Requirements: Operator CoMrels: Power on. oft. Prattle,: Uneirectenal 240 V , 10% Top of Forms. Paper Width: 13" (33cm) mu 50HZ 120W Impression control Writing Line: 10 5" (26.7 cm) Physical Dimensions: Printer Emilie* - 105 character line in 10 pitch 6 4" (16 25cm) H. Printwheel - 126 character line in 12 pitch 19 5"149 5cm) W. Lite: 2 Indio characters Line Specter 6lines per inch 12 4" (31 5cm 0. Wheel Composition: Nylon reinforced Paper Feed: Friction singie sheet or 18 5105 (8 4 kg) with giass fanfold Environmental Configuration: 88 petals Paper Thickener 022" paper thickness Operating: 55' to 104°F 10 to 80% Ribbon Caseating Impression Control: Operator Selectable 5 humidity (no condensation) Types it Lite: level Film -57.000 characters Interlace: Fabric -250.000 characters Parallel: 7 bit ASCII data 3 control lines Multi Strike- 250.000 characters (Data Strobe. Busy. Acknowledge) Top el Form: In TOF mode. the printer TTL compatible automatically advances the pager to the top of the nest form after printing the 517th line or on recognition of ASCII Form Feed character Tractor feed available - £75.00 incVAT Centronic riConverter for VIC 64 available-£45.00incVAT Available with Centronicor RS232 interface Fully Guaranteed ONLY £249INC VAT (CARRIAGE FREE) Oty Price Total inc VAT r------TPI Centronic 249.00 Name Address DAYTRON TPI RS232 249.00 TPI Tractor Feed 75.00 Warwick House. I enclose cheque payable to: Forge Lane, VIC 64 Converter 45.00 Daytron Ltd for £ Minworth, Sutton Coldfield, Total Please charge my Access/Barclaycard West Midlands B76 8AH. No Tel: 021-351 5959 przi Please allow 10 days till for delivery Signature Circle No. 260 80 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 THEDYNEER DW16 - pictured above - offers optional automatic cut -sheet feeder for users needing Daisy -Wheel -Perfect print at a price you'll find difficult to maximum correspondence throughput. believe. But whatever the print speed, every Dyneer Daisy is built With a print speed of 16 cps (Shannon Text at 14 cps), the to the most stringent engineering standards and is compatible DW16 features bi-directional printing up to 10 inches wide on with most popular word-processing packages. And all feature 12 inch (max) paper, and offers a choice of tractor or friction the Dyneer Hallmarks: Quality, Reliability and Unbeatable feed systems. Price/Performance. If you need higher performance, the DW20 and DW36 offer Ring us for details and you'll have to agree we're right. maximum print speeds of 20 cps and 36 cps respectively, Printers of perfect characters - and at prices you'll hardly printing up to 13.2 inches wide on 17 inch (max) paper. Plus an credit.

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The Alphatronic Personal Computer makes playing, learning instruction and BASIC interpreter manual. and working more fun, more fullfilling, more rewarding. But Now to business. The Alphatronic PC is unusual in when you put it to work, then it really means business. In giving you low-cost access to a complete version of CP/M, fact it's probably the cheapest way to access business the world's most popular operating system for business programmes through CP/M software. software. You just connect up one or two floppy disc drives The games first though - enough for the most ardent and a printer, then you can run a whole host of new player. Some just plug into a socket at the back, with their management programs: office word processing, business own 16K Rom module. Others can be played from virtually accounting packages and financial planning - the choice is any cassette recorder. There are arcade games to sharpen tremendous. reflexes and test imagination. Educational programmes to The keyboard is a real delight compared with increase knowledge, plus chess and other traditional games.competitive models. There are very few confusing multi- You'll benefit from the learning programs. There are function keys, and a really professional numeric keypad is cassette instruction courses on writing programs in BASIC. included. Six separate keys can be programmed and Other cassettes get you and your family off to a flying start indexed for special routines. And the full alphanumeric into skills like typing, household budgeting, tax returns and keyboard is just like a modern electronic typewriter. investment management. And of course there's our own You may recognise the keyboard, because the meansbusiness

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Iphatronic PC is from Triumph Adler, leading European anufacturers of business machines, who supply offices in Please let me know where I can try the Alphatronic PC. 0 countries worldwide. That means real commitment and continuity in Name: -sign, engineering and software support. For instance, TA Address: ake sure you can get everything you'll need - ribbons, ationery, disks, upgrading peripherals - from just one urce. Telephone: So you play and learn on the Alphatronic PC, and joy good value for money. Or you can really make it work r you. Then you'll really see what it's worth. For you, your family and your business, get your ands on an Alphatronic PC now. 1'1 TRIUMPH-ADLER Triumph Adler (UK) Limited, 27 Goswell Road. London, EC1M 7AJ. Telephone: 01-250 1717 Circle No. 157 j5 WITH THE ADVENT Offull 16 -bit power, the emphasis in design is shifting increasingly on to making computers easier to use. The Lisa's mouse facility was one of the first manifestations of this trend. The physical movements of a mouse, mimicking those HEWLETT on screen,are supposedto provide a natural link between the human operator and machine operation. But what interaction couldbe more natural than touch? It is this idea that lies at the heart of Hewlett-Packard's Series 100PACKARD HP 150 micro. You touch the screen to pick out one of the command options on offer, which is then initiated automatically. Externally, the HP 150 bears more than a passing resemblance to the HP Series 200 Model 16, reviewed in last December's PC. ODEL Within the 12in. cube of the main unit housed the 9in. CRT with its ass touch screen circuitry, the moth and the output ports. The system for review included a s and -tiltbase that allows the unitt 50 neatly on the disc -drive box which h two 3.5in. 265K microfloppies. The s Glyn Moody reports on HP's stab at the configuration is used for the Model 16. The HP 150'sdetached keyboard has market for non -specialist office micros. progressedbeyondtheratherdumpy functionalism of the earlier machine, and sports a dazzling array of facilities. This entry system, which includes an 8088 running at 8MHz, 256K of RAM and 160Kof ROM togetherwithsystems software and MS-DOS, costs £2,995 plus VAT. Winchester options start at £4,395 plus VAT for 5Mbyte. The HP 150 can also function as a standard HP terminal, with IBM terminal emulation promised for the future. Double duty The keyboard is detached, and connects via a standard coiled cord to a socket in the rear of the main unit. Apart from the usual QWERTY keys there are a multitude of special keys, many of which can be shifted to givefurtherfacilities.Keys on the numeric pad do double duty controlling the graphics cursor. A hard reset or cold boot is initiated by Control,ShiftandBreakheld down simultaneously. Pressing a key labelled Menu together with Shift and Control turns the touch screen on and off. Shifting the Cursor Home key, which is marked with a diagonal arrow, takes you to the bottom of the last page. There are also Previous and Next keys for paging back and forward through a text. Above these are keys for inserting and deletingcharactersandlines.Insert Charactertogglesbetweencharacter replacement and character insertion, which is signalled on one of the status lines at the bottom of the screen. A problem with this layoutisthattheInsertandDelete functions are close together. It is rather too easy to mistake one for the other, with dire results. In addition to the eight function keys above the main keyboard, which correspond to the touch screen labels, there

84 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 Review are a further four above the numeric pad. touch screen and keyboard, the rest of the As an alternative to using theHPIBand The keyboard unit is solidly built andsystem is a model of restraint. As on thean external printer, it is possible to install a comes with the usual tilt -up stand at the earlierModel 16,the motherboardis small thermal printer that perches in a back for angling the unit. The feel of thepacked tidily away underneath the CRTcavity above the CRT of the main unit. In keys is slightly lighter than that of the IBM and its associated video circuitry. this way, even more is packed into what is keyboard, but is entirely usable for fast Beneath the main chips there is space for already a very compact system. The price touch-typing. Keystrokes and touches of two plug-in expansion boards. Both theseyou pay for having processor, CRT and the screen are signalled by a soft blip. A full and the motherboard simplyslotinto printer all in one box is loss of portability. U.K.-style keyboard was provided with the large edge connectorsatthe back ofEven without the printer the unit weighs review machine, but the screen characters theirrespectivecompartments.Plug-in 201b. producedfollowedabasicIBM -type accessories currently available include an The review system included a dual disc - layout. Presumably final -release versionsexpansion memory board taking RAM up drive unit using 3.5in. microfloppies, each willhavefullyimplemented U.K. to 640K. Hewlett-Packard intends the 150 with a formatted capacity of 265K. The characters. tobeanopensystemintermsofrotation speed is 600rpm, rather than the development, and isencouraging third - more usual 300rpm. In addition to the Clear display party add-ons. short,stoutHPIBcablethereisan On the back edge of the motherboard interconnect power cable between the disc The 9in. green phosphor screen normally are two RS -232 ports and HP's owndrive and the main unit, doing away with displays 80 characters per line. For its small implementation of the standard IEEE busadditional mains leads snaking over the size it displays text surprisingly clearly. The known at the Hewlett-Packard Interfacefloor. The disc unit provides a convenient video circuitry has been engineered to allow Bus. The HPIB is used for printers and disc base for the monitor mounted on its tilt - the individual dots that make up each drives. Several units can be daisy -chainedand -swivel base. Configured in this way, character to be shifted by up to half a dot off the port by successive piggybacks. Tothe whole system is only about 16in. high. and enlarged by up to one-third. Each avoid problems of poor connections that Applications software available on the character can therefore be made much often bedevil such arrangements, HP hasHP 150 runs under MS-DOS. The touch more legible than conventional dot-matrix devised a hardy plug that is screwed into thescreen would hardly represent a great leap characters. port itself or into any other plugs alreadyforward if its net result were only to allow Compared with the excitements of the connected. MS-DOS commands to be initiated from the screen by pointing, rather than from the keyboard via keystrokes. An outer shell is required to insulate non -technical users from the messy details of the operating system. HP's solution on the 150 has been dubbed Pam - Personal Applications Manager.Itallows basic MS-DOS op- erations like formatting and copying to be initiated and provides a simple and uniform way of calling up applications software. Before software can be used with Pam it must be copied on to a disc and linked into Pam. Security copies of program discs can be made only by means of the Install program. The standard Copy routine can be used for data discs.

The motherboard slots neatly into the back of the machine to rest under the CRT. Security copies Programs must be installed on formatted discs. Using Pam and the Format program supplied on the operating system disc, formatting requires only three touch screen commands. When you boot up the system with the main Pam disc in one drive, and the disc to be formatted in the other, you are presented with the command options along the bottom of the screen. In the centre of the screen there are the various applicationsprogramsthathave been installed and are thus available using Pam. When you touch the block marked Formatitisimmediatelyhighlighted, indicatingthatitisnow theselected program. You touch the command block Start Applic to load and runit.The following screen is used to select the disc to be formatted, and also to give it a disc label. At this point it is also possible to copy MS- DOS and Pam on to the newly formatted disc. Both use a lot of space, and so with some applications there is just not enough room on a single disc. Touching the screen breaks the infrared beams emitted from its edges. (continued on next page)

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 85 (continued from previous page) serious drawback at times. Both Pam and otherwise thereisa certain amount of An applications package can now beMS-DOS are hungry for space, and mayhopping between touch commands and installed on the formatted disc.First anot leave enough room for an applicationsstraight keyboard input. furthersystemsdisccontainingtheprogramaswell.Therepeateddisc The same is true of the word-processing program Install is placed in drive A. Pam isswapping whichisthen required soonprogram supplied for review. Not content made aware of its existence by touching thebecomestiresome.Perhapsthenext with supporting WordStar,HPhas come command block Reread Discs. Install thengeneration of microfloppies will be roomyup with its own home-grown version called appears on the main screen area as anenough to make them viable - and there isMemomaker. HP claims that text files may installed program. always the Winchester option available, ifbe exchangedfreelybetweenthetwo After selectingit by touch, the Startyou have the money. packages. Applic commandisinvoked and the Integration of an application package As its name suggests, Memomaker is program run. A screen follows that asks forinto Pam allows it to access an important aimed at the executive jotting down a quick source and destination drives. Both arefacility called File Manager. At certainmemo rather than a secretary who has to chosen by touching the appropriate letters.points in a program's command tree - forproduce a polished final document. By Finally the master disc is placed in drive Ainstance when a fileisbeing saved orsacrificingsomeofWordStar'svery and Reread Discs pressed again. You haveretrieved - File Manager may be displayedpowerful but rather involved features, HP to do this whenever discs are changed in theasone ofthetouchscreenoptions. has come up witha word-processing course of a session,ratherlikeusingSelecting it calls up the directory for theprogram that is easy to use. The system is Control -C commands in CP/M. current disc. largely WYSIWYG - what you see is what A command Show Appliesliststhe In many ways File Manager provides an you get - with bold text appearing in available source programs in drive A. Afterextended Dir option, as found in MS-highlightedcharactersandunderlined selecting one of them, Start Install is usedDOS, but without the opaqueness of thatwords in a rather dainty italic. tobegintheprocess of transfer andcommand. Files are selected,asusual, installation. simply by touch.Directories and sub -Move by pointing directories may also be changed. Complex sequence Applications software available on the The command labels at the bottom of the HP 150 includes old faithfuls like VisiCalcscreen lead' to further menus for filing, Installing an application is probably theand WordStar, plus some new programs block commands, formatting and printing. most complex sequenceof operationswritten byHP. The implementationofThe touch screen is used to select various required in using the HP 150, though it isVisiCalcisstraightforward:themainoptions and to set up parameters within something you are likely to have to do onlycommand and editing options are displayedthose commands. For example, blocks are once or twice. By and large Pam hason screen as touch blocks at the bottom defined by the position of the cursor, which successfully replaced strings of obscurethrough which you reach further menus. Acan be moved at will simply by pointing. MS-DOS commands by screen options, insimilar tree structure forms the basis for the Right- and left-hand margins can similarly English,activated by touch. The onlyintegration of the touch screen into all thebe set. drawback is that several operations, albeitprograms. Cells on the spreadsheet can be This ability to position the cursor just by simple ones, are required to do what MS-selectedsimplybypointingatthem,pointingto the appropriate place on the DOS does with a single command. The microfloppy discs are convenient to use, but their storage capacity is smaller than 5.25in.floppies, which can be a Specification CPU: Intel 8088. running at 8MHz RAM: 256K expandable to 640K ROM: 64K Size: 295mm. wide by 300mm. high by 315mm. deep Display: monochrome 9in. allowing 80 columns by 25 lines; characters formed on a 14 -by -9 matrix; dots can be shifted by up to half a dot and enlarged by up to a third Keyboard: detachable; 12 function keys; numeric/graphical pad Interfaces: two RS -232, one HPIB Discs: one or two 3.5in. microfloppies; formatted capacity 265K; hard discs of On the back edge of the motherboard are two RS -232 ports and the HPIB. 5 Mbyte and 15Mbyte available Software in price: MS-DOS and systems software including Pam Benchmarks Hardware options: expansion boards for RAM, internal printer The benchmarks were run using Microsoft Basic version 5.28. Although no use is U.K. prices: standard system as reviewed made of the touch screen in standard Basic, it is possible to write routines with dual microfloppies, £2,995; single implementing it in any Basic program. The figures obtained for the eight standard microfloppy with 5Mbyte Winchester, routines - details of which were given on page 103 of the January issue of Practical £4,395; 15Mbyte Winchester system Computing - make the HP 150 the fastest 8088 -based machine we have tested. £4,995; internal thermal printer, £380; all prices subject to VAT BM1BM2BM3BM4BM5BM6BM7BM8 Av. U.K. distributor: Hewlett-Packard Ltd. HP 150-8088 1.1 4.0 8.7 8.8 9.9 18.5 28.027.0 13.3 Personal Technical Computers, Eskdale HP Series 200 0.2 0.6 1.4 1.6 1.7 2.8 4.3 15.0 3.5 Road, Winnersh, VVokingham, Berkshire Model 16-68000 RG11 5DZ. Telephone: Crowthorne IBM PC -8088 1.2 4.8 11.7 12.2 13.4 23.337.4 30.0 16.8 (0344) 773100

86 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 Review screen is most useful when correcting and Otheraspectsof Pam's power are A more general Annotate feature can altering text. Even with the most soph-demonstrated in HP's suite of graphicalalso be called from the touch screen. A fine isticated word processor, the process ofprograms. Partly because of their im-cross -wire graphics cursor then appears, finding and changing text is usually one ofpressive range of features, these are bigwhich you control from keys on the the slowest operations. With the HP 150'sprograms of over 200K. As a result there isnumeric pad. Annotations can be fixed at touch facility, single letters can be locatedno room for the operating system to be anypointonthegraphsimplyby and replaced almost instantly. installed on the disc with the applications. positioning the cross wire and keying in the Text does not automatically re-formThe installation process itself takes overrequired text. afterinsertions or deletions; you havetwo minutes.Iactually aborted several When the graph has been annotated and touse the block command torealign attempts, convinced that the manic clatt-labelled,afinalfull-sizeprint can be anymodifiedparagraphs.Anotherering of the two discs indicated errors notobtained. The Plot function allows you to idiosyncrasy of the program is a very sloweventualsuccess.Perhapsthedocu-choose the position of the chart on a page, output of characters from the keyboard mentation should give an indication of thepaper size, the medium on which it is drawn buffer and it is possible to race on ahead oftime required. and the orientation. the displayed text, though no irreparable HP offers pie, line, bar and text charts in damage seems to be done. Apart from suchthe series, all operating on similar lines.Similar design quirks,allthemainword-processing Data for time chartsisentered ona functions are there, and readily accessiblespreadsheet -type screen with one column The pie chart and bar chart programs are to the non -expert via the touch screen. for each line graph. Each row corresponds similar in design. The Text Charts program to different points along the x-axis: youoffers a wide range of founts and type sizes Problems could enter different values for successivefor enhanced memos or simple artwork months, for example. HP claims that datadesigns. For each line of entered text you Using the touch screen can be a problemcan be transferred directly from VisiCalccan set four parameters to specify whether when text fills the entire screen. When youand other similar packages. text is justified, the fount used, the pen are trying to position the cursor under When the data has been entered younumber in the plotter and the size of the bottom -row words it is all too easy to selecttouch the Preview command label at thetype. one of the command at the foot of thebottom of the screen. A miniature version Theapplicationspackagesareall screen options by mistake. of thefinalgraphisthen produced,complementedbyexemplarymanuals HP has chosen to implement the upwardcomplete with reduced -size captions. Mainwritten in a style that is easy on the mind movement through the command trees bytitles, subtitles, axis labels and footnoteswithout being condescending. They contain the right -most touch label. This isfine, can all be added at this stage. numerous screen illustrations explaining except that the finalExit Memomaker The title to be alteredisselected bythe chain of touch screen commands. There command is also located here. One fingertouching it - one of the neatest and mostare numerous reference sections, and even stab too many, and you are out in Pam.impressive uses of the whole touch screenindexes. Though getting back is simple enough usingconcept. Not only does this select a screen the touch screen commands you have to goposition but the routines appropriate to through each of Pam's various functions,that position are invoked without anyConclusions and it all takes some time. further commands from the operator. The HP 150 is an exciting and innovative product. The touch screen is a real advance The HP touch screen in user -friendliness. Although Hewlett-Packard is claiming The touch screen facility is provided by a series of 21 light -emitting diodes that this system is suitable for almost any ranged along one horizontal edge of the screen and 14 up one of the sides. application, the price of about £3,000 for a There are corresponding rows of detectors facing them. Touching the usableconfiguration meansthatonly screen therefore breaks two beams and allows the position to be business or professional users will be able to determined rather like co-ordinates on a grid: so many units along, so afford it. The whole approach seems best many up. This position can then be compared with the map of the screen suited to these groups anyway: executives held in memory. A command displayed on the screen at this point can then could find finger -pointing on a micro a be implemented. Normally the bottom lines of the display are reserved for natural extension of their daily manage- eight user -definable command options. ment activities. The touch -sensitive sections of the display correspond directly to eight The microfloppies are very convenient main function keys on the keyboard, so it is possible to replace screen physically but have a rather too limited touches by simple keystrokes. Hewlett-Packard seems to have made this a storage capacity. general principle in software using the touch screen. If you end up The compact vertical format makes the considering the touch screen more a fad than an ergonomic breakthrough HP 150 ideal for desk -top use. Its weight you can still use the good old-fashioned keyboard. and modular design make it less suitable for It is not necessary to touch the screen as the beams are broken if a moving around. pointer comes within about half a centimetre. But it is probably more The 9in. screen is outstandingly clear considering its size. satisfying to make contact than to prod around in empty space. There is no The choice of MS-DOS should ensure auto -repeat, so once a command is activated a finger left on the screen too that plenty of software is available. HP is long will not cause a further chain of actions. alsotobecongratulatedforhaving To be detected, pointers must be at least as thick as a pencil. If two published details of the touch screen system adjacent beams are broken the position is taken as midway between the routines for use by software houses and two. This effectively doubles the resolution to around 40 by 28. In practice end -users. you can achieve single -letter accuracy in normal word-processing The lack of a Centronics port means that applications. Simultaneously breaking separated beams activates only one standard parallel printers cannot be used. of them. Serial printers may still be run off the The touch screen has its own Intel 8041 processor. This eight -bit device RS -232 port provided. comes complete with 64 bytes of RAM and 1K ROM as well as a timer and The HP 150 promises to be the first in a an I/O system. The same chip also handles all the keyboard input. series of truly personal computers built around the touch screen.

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 87 Extra commands Neville Maude looks at Computer Concepts' Graphics ROM for the BBC Micro.

THERE ARE many sideways ROMs availablecharacters across. It also permits up to 32 The Logo language is a great favourite in for the BBC Micro - so many that soon wesprites of any size to be defined at a timeschools, mainly for controlling turtles by will start reading complaints that even with and displayed anywhere on the screen orvery simple commands. Since many BBC an extension board only 16 ROMs can bestored in memory. Micros are used for educational purposes, fitted. Computer Concepts' graphics ROM The command * Film allows up to 47the Logo turtle provided by Computer differs from others in that it augments the sprites to be run in sequence in order toConcepts' ROM will be most welcome. Basic instead of replacing it on command.achieve animation, either moving about on It does take a little time to learn to use all It adds about 30 extra commands covering the screen or in the same place. You canthe new facilities to the full but in practice I three areas: general graphics including a allot numbers to the sprites or to the Filmonlyfound onesmallproblem.The mode 8, sprites and turtle. commands and then use the numbers toGraphics ROM uses &C00 to &CFF as a control them. For example, workspace. Normally this space is reserved * OUT 4 fordefinablecharacters,butsome Commands would remove sprite 4 or film 4, and programs useitillegally. Loading then Thereareseveralgeneralgraphics *IMAGE 7,100,100 becomes impossible, or screen characters commands. For example would put a copy of sprite 7 at the requiredassume strange shapes. This is easily cured *Circle 100,100,50 location. by the command will draw a circle at 100,000 with a radius of *FX 240,128 50. This sort of syntax istypical. The which cuts out theROM.The command command *Pattern enablesmulti -sized Commands and * FX240 circles, spirographs or patterns to be drawn syntax will restore the ROM, as will a cold start. on the screen in a variety of colours. Once Alternatively, initiated the * Rotate command turns all Help Graphics *GFX 5 subsequent plotting commands round any Data (ID) moves Page toallow room foruser - specific point. Film (ID) (anm) definable characters while still permitting The BBC Micro's Basic has a good fill Reset (ID) (to ID) the use of the graphics commands. for triangles, but the * Fill command works Get (fsp) with any enclosed shape in graphic modes. Out (ID) The command * Scale allows a graphic Turtle (OP) (Xs, Ys) (col) Modification display to be made smaller or larger, *Arc Penup Afteraperiodofusetheonly draws arcs, and with * Plot you can achieve Left (angle) improvement I could think of was that it three-dimensional perspective plotting. Forward (dist) would be better for theROMto be enabled The general command * GFX,n provides Scale (X, Y) (X, Y) on command instead of having to be information about graphic routines. Unlike Pixel (X, Y) (Xs, Ys) disabled when not required. On ringing the * Data command it stores results in the Circle (X, Y) (radius) Computer Concepts to discuss this, the resident integer variables A% to E07o for Arc (op) (X, Y) (Xs, Ys) (stt, end) people I spoke to agreed with me and said use in Basic programs. The useful * Help Plot (op), (X, Y, Z) they hadalready changedthedesign Graphics command listsallthe other Reserve (adr) (end adr) accordingly. On the latest models coming available commands. Design (ID) (Xs) (Ys) on the market you type Mode 8 augments the BBC Micro's seven Alter (ID) (to ID) *FX162 modes. It is a 16 -colour text and graphics Put (fsp) (ID) (to ID) to enable theROM and mode rather like mode 2, but it uses only In (ID) (X, Y) (frame) *FX 162, 128 10K of memory instead of the 20K needed Image (ID) (X, Y) to disable it. by mode 2. Horizontal resolution is 10 by Pos (X, Y) (angle) 32 characters or 80 by 256 graphics, which Pendown Conclusions is half that of mode 2. Right (angle) The Computer Concepts graphics ex- Backward (dist) tension ROM contains commands which Soft sprites Rotate (angle) (X, Y) should have been built into the computer in Print (str) (X, Y) (Xs, Ys) the beginning, plus others no one could Some computers have built-in hardware Pattern (op) (X, Y) (Xs, Ys) (step) forsprites,whichprovidesfaster have thought of at the time. It can be Fill (X, Y) (col) heartily recommended. movementwithlessflicker,butthe GFX (fn) (arg) (arg) software method is more flexible and offers It comes with a commendably clear and more options. The BBC Micro does have a All commands are preceded by * helpful instruction booklet. facilityforuser -definedmonochrome This list does not differentiate between The ROM issupplied by Computer characters on an eight by eight matrix but non -optional arguments and those with Concepts, 16Wayside,Chipperfield, the Graphics ROM's sprites can contain default values. Hertfordshire WD4 9JJ. It costs £28 plus any number of colours and be up to three VAT and £1 p&p.

88 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 Review

grim "Llim -11L_ 0120

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Mode 8 offers 16 colours and occupies only 10K. The * Pattern command can be used for circular designs.

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Multi -coloured sprites are constructed on an eight by eight matrix;up to 32 sprites can be stored.

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 7984 AT£5,195 for an object weighing 101b. the Grid Compass is an expensive device. But in its first year on the American market this mains -powered transportable has sold well. Thesystemhasevenhadvarious adventures; Grid Compasses have gone up in NASA's Shuttle, and gone into Grenada with the U.S. military. It is now officially available in the U.K. However, Grid Systems Corporation is offering more than snob appeal. To justify the price, the Grid offers technology more sophisticated than that of the competition, leading to a more compact and convenient system for the user. The Grid has a flat electroluminescentdisplaywhichfolds down over the keyboard for transport, and OIVIPASS it uses bubble memory instead of built-in disc drives. Ian Stobie tests the transportable bubble -memory The highpricetagisalso not too micro that was sent up into space. surprising when you examine the- Grid closely. It is a striking machine. Packed upthe machine is the mains power socketloaded from bubble memory. Transferring for travelling it appears to be a very flatand a full set of interfaces for printer,at 12.5K per second the Grid operating black metal box about the size of a fools-communications, system expansion andsystem takes a few seconds to load, giving cap document wallet packedfull.Themodem. you ample time to examine the flat -panel measurements are 15in. by 12.5in. by 2in. As soon as you turn the system on thedisplay screen and keyboard. The casing material is a hard magnesiumorange display panel lights up showing the Bubble memory retains its contents when alloy and the machine seems very wellGrid logo and a flickering icon whichthe power is turned off, so it can be used made. When you pick it up it is heavier thanindicates that the operating system is beinglike a floppy disc for storing data and it looks, but at 10Ib. it is neither too heavy programs. Having no mechanical moving nor too bulky to fit in a large briefcase. parts it is more robust than a conventional The lid pulls up to reveal itself as a disc drive and is lighter. But it is expensive, screen. Another flap pulls down at the back and no faster than a floppy disc. of the Grid totiltthe keyboard to a TheGridelectroluminescentdisplay comfortable typing angle. At the back of looks very different to the familiar black on

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 Review

ferr of- who gets the money l.a 1-2-3 Creates Graphs t . 4 ca 1 alien in ence )

I. wineral, a graph isa picture that represents a group or numbers. In TarPr iced Graph particular, brgraphs a picture that uses uertical bars to li'.ce sheet represead the ualues satored insane or mire cell rand. Shared 76aph dosaand, you identify a cell rate 45 4 "graph data" range TEST Cr aph Ilitt to six of then -- 1,1 -- can be included in each bar graph I 14r, cl id:, freph Pr le,r, 41, r s, he e t U . It pow coma., 1-2-3 drays the praph the value of each numberand. aph Practical Compute mu formula in the range is indicated by the height ofabar

11S 67 this bat corresponds to INMS 67 r or r es ponds 650.02 MI NI,o .1.! 5S NI NIones III Noreport IN IIIto III Settee Ill III650.02 Ill 812.5S Ill III Ill Subiect 0 40 s0 80 70 80 9 Title -IH-III III and 'Tor*Iota range 1 label and blank cells Source, Poftocar 3 March 1983 ire olormlept to refo Paddirced Ice, be mycell rude, Wholesale ®Garage Margin IIIE,cise Outs, Select a file and confirm (AT 115: erd o dit 11-rr Or press CODE -3 for help Grid software uses menus and fillin forms The Grid display is very stable and can Lotus 1-2.3 running on the Grid, displaying to interact with the user. show graphics as well as text. 80 -column text across the 6in. screen. whitecalculator -style liquid -crystal display because it glows with its own light. But unlike a TV -style cathode-ray tube each dot is fixed in place, so the image is very stable. 1W1i,aiigf 1111111, The Grid screen is covered with a matrix of 320 by 240 dots. The screen surface is warm 4,;4101I to the touch and when close to it you can hear a quiet hum, but neither effectis disturbing. The screen is bright, and the brightness cannot be adjusted, but I found it perfectly relaxing to use. Both text and graphics are fully supported. Up to 24 text lines of 80 characters can be shown on the screen but unless you override it the system usually RS -232C, RS -422 and GPIB interfaces are provided; the modem is awaiting BT approval. uses a larger 53 -character -per -line fount which is more readable. The Grid keyboard is full size and feels very solid. With each key depression it sounds two clicks, as does the IBM PC keyboard. It has no function keys but in addition to Shift -and" -Control there is an extra -Code shift. The two Code keys, located either side of the space bar, are used with different letters to initiate different actions. Initially I found it easy to confuse the Code and Shift keys. Control -key assignments are explained on Floppiesareavailable to supplement the Once the operating system has booted, cards which slot in above the keyboard. 384K built-in bubble memory. the screen displays a form. You select the option you want by moving a gold bar to it with the cursor -control keys, and then Specification Portability: weighs 4.5kg. (101b.) mains - confirm your selection by holding down the powered; screen folds down over Code and Return keys. CPU: 16 -bit Intel 8086 processor with 8087 keyboard forming a flat 380mm. (15in.) The review system also included the arithmetic co -processor fitted as by 320mm. (12.5in.) package, 50mm. optional 5.25in. floppy -disc drive since we standard (2in.) high: magnesium alloy case wanted to test out MS-DOS and see how Memory: 256K RAM expandable to 512K: claimed to withstand knocks of 135G; IBM compatible the system is in practice. 16K ROM with 384K of bubble memory comes with fabric carrying case; Obviously several Grid users at a particular Display: 6in. diagonal, flat, amber display optional rechargeable battery unit will site could share a disc drive, connecting up panel, uses electroluminescent display sustain one hour of continuous use but technology; shows 320- by 240 -dot increases weight to 6.4kg. (141b.) only to download software into bubble graphics and 24 -line by 80 -column text; U.K. price: £5,195 without modem memory. The company offers a full-scale type size is user -defined, with selectableSoftware: Grid OS and management tools, local area network called Grid Server. This 64 -column and 53 -column text widths which include Gridwrite, Gridplot, allows up to 44 Grids to share up to 15 Keyboard: full-size QWERTY layout Gridfile and Gridplan integrated word different peripheral devices at a time. The keyboard with 57 keys processing, graphics, record keeping price of a typical Grid Server system with Discs: built-in 384K of bubble memory, and spreadsheet packages, costs £785; 40Mbyte hard disc is £22,000. used like disc drive for data and Microsoft MS-DOS costs £135 supplied Grid Central provides a similar service program storage; additional 360K 5.25in. on disc; Grid -supported packages more cheaply. It can be thought of as a kind floppy -disc drive costs £2,050; hard -disc offered under MS-DOS include Lotus of extended area network,connecting options also available 1-2-3, Multiplan, WordStar, dBase II and Modem: auto -dial direct -connect modem, TK!Solver; TTY, DEC and IBM terminal - Grids up to a central resource centre via the price £800, is intended as built-in Grid emulation software and Pascal, Fortran telephone network. Our review system feature but not yet BT approved for U.K. and Basic languages are available under contained a U.S. Bell system compatible use; once approved will enable the Grid Grid OS auto -dial modem, which is not approved to use Grid Central service Manufacturer: Grid Systems Corporation; for U.K. use. The U.K. version will add Interfaces: RS -232C and RS -422 high- made in U.S. £800 to the cost of the Grid and is currently speed serial printer and U.K. distributor: Thame Systems Ltd, undergoing the BT approval process. The communications ports; IEEE -488 Thame Park Road, Thame, Oxfordshire modem you need to use Grid Central can general-purpose interface bus, GP1B OX9 3XD. Telephone: (084421) 5471 (continued on next page)

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 Review

comprehensive and full of screen dumps showing you what should be happening on your system. A tutorial program comes with the system in bubble memory, and links to a self -teach tutorial manual which GRID introduces the system in simple terms to the user. Professionals who perform analysis of COMPASS some kind or make presentations on a (continued from previous page) regular basis at a client's office, auditors, also be used for other purposes such as accountants, insurance agents, salesmen dialling up commercial databases and and the like, are probably the sort of people accessing electronic mail systems. who can best make use of the Grid. Field According to Grid Systems, in the U.S. personnel who collect data or go through for roughly $100 per year you can store up diagnostic checklists,in maintenance or to 500K on monster disc drives kept at Grid surveying roles, for instance, may also be Central'sMountainViewlocationin interested. California. This means you can keep both data and copies of programs you are not currently using on disc and then transfer Battery pack them via the phone system into the bubble memory of your own Grid machine when Though the Grid is basically a mains - needed. powered machine an optional battery pack Buying software from Grid Systems is available for £350. It adds about 41b. to involves moving a copy across to your Grid the weight of the Grid and provides about Central disc file. Transferring data down a an hour of continuous use, but it can be phone line at the built-in modem's top recharged from a 12V car supply. Bubble speed of 1,200 baud means programs load memory retains its contents even when the at approximately the speed of a home - With the screen folded down the Grid battery is flat. computer cassette. The process is not verypacks neatly into its carrying case. Computers are unusual compared to convenient but does free you from having othercommoditiesinthatthisyear's to take a disc drive around with you. bought specifically for the Grid from theexpensive Rolls-Royce machine may be range available from the Grid Systems. very close to what the ordinary user will Among the things we tried to load fromhave in a year or two. For some potential Phone charges our IBM discs were various Basic inter-users the cost of the Grid Compass justifies Grid Systems says that the likely U.K. preters, but they did not run. Grid Systemsbuying it now. For the rest of usitis price for the Grid Central Service is £100 had not supplied us with a Basic for theinteresting to ponder what will happen as per 500K, to which must be added the review machine so we could not establishthe technology it employs gets cheaper. It is telephone call charges, which will be to a Benchmark timings. The Grid comes fittedprobably the shape of things to come for London number. Grid Systems expects to as standard with the Intel 8087 arithmeticevery office user. launch the service towards the end of this co -processor which can speed up program year. For the time being the £1,050 disc execution times very significantly. Conclusions driveisessentialif you want to buy The Grid Basic which runs under Grid commercial software. OS fully supports the graphics and other Compact, stylish, robust and expensive, The Grid disc drive connects into the hardware features of the Grid, but it is not the Grid Compass will appeal to those who IEEE -488 at the back of the machine, quick. It is a compiled Basic, which is notregularly need to work away from their which can be used piggyback fashion so ideal for the non -technical business user,own office with a computer to hand. that several devices can be plugged in. To so Grid Systems tendsto recommend The flat -panel display, with its unusual boot the MS-DOS 2.0 disc you turn off the Microsoft's Basic interpreter running underelectroluminescent technology, is clear and Grid - there is no Reset button - and turn MS-DOS to most users. But according to stable and shows a full-size 80 by 24 text it back on with the F button held down. Grid Systems, Grid Fortran and Pascal display and good graphics. MS-DOS appeared to work satisfactorily make full use of the 8087 co -processor and Although the bubble memory works on the review system. The Lotus 1-2-3 are fast. well, until BT approve the Grid built-in tutorial disc Grid Systems supplied us with Grid Systems software covers the now modem most users will also need to buy a also worked well. standard set of general office tasks. The set steeply priced Grid floppy -disc drive. From our collection of IBM PC discs we of integrated management tools including The Grid Central concept of renting disc tried out a range of different products. We wordprocessor,spreadsheet,business storage which is then accessed via the phone had no trouble getting simple text files in or graphics and database cost £785 and are system has advantages to anyone interested out. Anything more complex, Multiplan bundled together with Grid OS. All the inportable computing. The proposed for example, has to be correctly installed packages work in the same way and arecharges seem veryreasonable butthe for the Grid. IBM programs such as discussedfurtherinthefeatureon availability of the service depends on BT as MicrosoftFlightSimulator,which go integrated software on page 132 of thiswell as Grid Systems. below MS-DOS totheIBM's ROM issue. Grid Systems' range of fully integrated routines, loaded but then blew up. The Grid applications are simple to use. software performs all the common office So the Grid machine is file compatible You have overlaycardstohelp you tasks well, is easy to use and genuinely data with the IBM PC and can read MS-DOS remember the commands, menus and and command integrated. A full range of files off IBM -format 5.25in. floppies, but it forms displayed on the screen, and a Helpgood -quality MS-DOS software is available isnotoperationallyorfunctionally screenisusually availableif you pushfor the system too. equivalent to the IBM PC. ConsequentlyCode-?. I found it was not necessary to The Grid is best described as IBM PC file most business data generated by MS-DOS look in the manuals, which given their largecompatible rather than fully compatible, programs running on the IBM will be size and hefty weight is just as well with awhich means most data should transfer on available to the Grid user. On the other system that aspires to be transportable. disc, but not all existing PC application hand, programs will generally have to be The manuals are of a high standard, verysoftware.

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PRACTICAL COMPUTI NGMay 1984 DESIRABLE though crossbreedsarein theory, the balance is not easy to strike. My impression after several weeks of using the PC -5000 is that Sharp has not got it right. The machine is no bigger than a small portable typewriter, from which it seems to draw its design inspiration. First-time users SHARP may findthe PC -5000initiallymore friendly for this reason. Computer buffs, on the other hand, will be intrigued by its use of bubble memory to provide backing store. Bubble technology is a non-volatile way of storing of data in a compact form with 5000 no physical moving parts. Rather as tape Chris Bidmead reports on a spell with this intriguing passes under a recording head, a chain of tiny magnetic domains is driven around a cross between a lap portable and a full-scale 16 -bit loop in a thin film of magnetic material by desk -top machine. powerful electromagnetic coils. Under a microscopethesedomainsappearas travelling moving bubbles, although no material is physically transported. Like the CMOS RAM used in the lap portables as backing store, bubble memory iscapable of retainingfileswhile the machine is switched off. But CMOS RAM always needs a small current draining throughitandistherefore nottruly permanent. Bubble memory is as authen- tically non-volatile as floppy discs, and can be up to four times as fast. The re-emergence of bubble memory in a consumer package as the PC -5000's drives A and B - actually a single physical drive with a split personality - may herald the start of a revival of interest. But bubble memory is still not cheap: its resemblance to discs ends when you check out the price list. A spare bubble will cost you nearly £170, or over 100 times as much per byte as

The Sharp PC5000 and its optional built- in printer can be taken where the work is.

conventional double -sided double -density floppies. The basic variant of the PC -5000 comes with an empty space to the rear of the casing. But the printer unit intended for that slot belongs so much to the whole concept thatitis almost a nonsense to consider the PC -5000 without it. In the closed position the keyboard is concealed beneath a hinged lid that lifts to reveal an LCD screen on its underside.

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 Review

Above: Both cassette and RS -232 ports are provided at the back of the machine. Below: The PC -5000 uses bubble memory for compact, lightweight mass storage.

Cassette data is monitored audibly. Once opened, theeight -line80 -column disappointment. The characters are about screen sits astride the printer like a letter half the size of those on the lap portables, box on hinged stilts.It can be adjusted Specification but the MS-DOS Mode 40 instruction to itrelativeto the double their size still does not go very far physically by tilting CPU: Intel 8088 pseudo 16 -bit plus CMOS keyboard, and electronically by a thumb eight -bit support chip towards improving legibility. wheel that alters the viewing angle of the Memory: 128K RAM as standard, There is a trade-off in all LCD screens screen's liquid crystals for maximum visual expandable to 256K, without the Basic betweencontrast and the unavoidable contrast. ROM tendency of the glass -like covering of the The 57 -key keyboard, supplemented by a Dimensions: 300mm. (12in.) x 310mm. screen to act as a mirror. The rather oblique top row of 15 function and cursor keys, is a (12.5in.) x 90mm. (3.5in.) angle of view on to a lap portable appears joy to look at and to use. Command and Display: LCD: 80 characters by eight to be the best way of confronting a liquid - function keys are dark grey, while light grey lines, 640 by 80 pixels crystal display. On the PC -5000 it is not is used for the characters. A pair of orange Keyboard: standard QWERTY with 15 possible to tilt the screen more than a few function keys degrees past the vertical, so in normal keys in the top left of the keyboard turn the Interfaces: programmable RS -232, machine on and off and issue the Break cassette port with motor switch, disc lighting you have to squint through the signal. drive port reflections in the covering to find the pale Discs: optional bubble disc pack, grey characters underneath. Dull click optional dual 5.25in. IBM-compatible floppy drives Screen redirection Slightly heavy typing pressure is needed, Bundled software: only the ROM Basic is giving acoustic feedback as a dull click. My included in the first -level price One antidote to the screen problem is only two criticisms of the keyboard are that Additional software: MS-DOS 2, suggested by a routine built into MS-DOS. Superwriter, Supercalc 2. Supercomm, CTTY enables you to redirect console the Carriage Return is positioned two keys Superplanner are offered ready away from the home key of the little finger, output and input to the RS -232 port, to configured for the machine. either which you can attach a full-sized console. andthattheprinted -circuitboard individually or as an integrated suite supportingthekeyboardflexesdis- Manufacturer: Sharp Corporation, Osaka, This provided some relief from eyestrain concertingly when you push down on it. Japan when Ihooked up my favourite Cifer Compared to the legibility of the LCD U.K. distributor: Sharp U.K. Ltd. Thorpe terminal.But while CTTY redirection screens in lap portables like the Tandy Road, Newton Heath. Manchester M10 works fine at the level of the operating Model100andthe NEC PC -8201, 9BE system, the moment you enter Basic the theSharp PC -5000'sdisplayisa (continued on next page)

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 95 Review

paper. A dozen or so sheets are supplied with the machine, but Sharp U.K. does not appear to be interested in supplying any SHARP more. Instead you are advised to use agood -qualityphotocopypaper;a compromise that degrades the image even PC -5000 further. For direct thermal paper you are (continued from previous page) referred to W H Smith where it is avail- able as stationeryfor Brother thermal console I/O reverts to the inscrutable letter typewriters. box, and I could find no commands to The PC -5000 can be bought in a number override this. of different configurations and upgraded Superwriter goes some way to coping simply, although the various steps on the with the inadequacies of the screen by way to the fully enhanced machine do putting up its text display in bold letters and not compare very favourably with the reserving normal characters for the bottom competition. For example, the cheapest line of the screen, which shows the menu PC -5000, with no printer or bubble, costs options. Even so I found the letter box very A rechargeable battery pack fits into a £1,195. The NEC PC -8201 and the Tandy hard to use for more than the odd jottedslot as the back of the casing. Model 100 are not just better value, but note. better absolutely, at less than half the price. Contrary to the fashion set for portables Adding the printer for a further £275 by Osborne, no software is bundled in with begins to bring out the unique character of thePC -5000hardware.Sharpdoes the machine, but doesn't make much sense recommend Sorcim's Superfamilyof unless you can run a word processor, which integrated software - see article on page means adding bubble -based Superwriter 126 of this issue - and can supply it on for another £350 or so. bubbles or on disc in special configurations The printer brings the weight up to 6kg., for the machine. or about four times as much as the NEC Superwriter, for example, is sold as a disc PC -8201, and obviously disqualifies it as a alone, or in a package that includes a lap portable. You now have a desk -based bubble and a disc. The bubble holds a single -drive16 -bit transportable - you cut -down version known asExecutive could carry it comfortably to the car if it Superwriter. The version on the discis had a handle - with a slow printer built-in. called De -Luxe Superwriter, and contains With one spare blank bubble for storing all the features of ordinary Superwriter on text - because you can't get to the cassette other MS-DOS machines. Only the De from Superwriter - it has cost you nearly Luxe version was supplied for review, £2,000, plus VAT. At that price it is hardly which was a pity as it meant anchoring the The ROM -based Basic operating system likely to send sales of Macintoshes and machine down to twin -floppy drives. slots into the bottom of the machine. Apricotsplummeting.Totakefull Superwriter configured for the Sharp advantage of MS-DOS software from other letter box display is available on disc fortransferring, winding and rewinding. Forsources, and to read IBM data discs, you £98, as is the Supercom communicationsrecorders that do not have all these featureswill need to pay the extra £674 for the dual - package for £89, and Superplanner for £98.the cassette port of the PC -5000 tracks datadisc drive. Of these only Superwriter was supplied fortransfer by echoingitover the internal review, but the machine did arrive withspeaker. Supercalc 2 on a bubble, in which form it Two versions of Basic were supplied withConclusions costs £320. the computer. Neither is equipped with a CSave statement but both allow saving to Some excellent design - though not Cramped window tape by redirectingthestandard Saveenough - has gone into the PC -5000, and command to a device called Cas, which is athe keyboard is exemplary. The machine is Excellent though this Visiclone is on a farbetter way of doingit.Curiously, also abeautifulpieceofproduction full-sized screen, I found it a poor choicecassette recorders have been completelyengineering. forthe PC -5000,whichreallyneeds overlooked at operating -system level. The The use of bubble memory is a bold somethingspeciallywrittenforit. MS-DOS command design idea, but costly. Supercalc's message and co-ordinate areas COPY DATA.TXT CAS: Lack of support for the cassette port at take up half thescreen,leaving only which you might expect to pipe the text fileMS-DOS level is a serious deficiency in a acrampedfour -linewindow onthe outthroughthecassetteport,simplymachine that is supposed to be portable. spreadsheet. I am told that other softwarecreates a new copy of the file called Cas. Theletterbox screendisplayisan available on bubbles includes dBase II,Writing device drivers under MS-DOS isergonomic disaster. Bold characters, as Scratchpad and Staredit, as well as thesupposed to be easy; somebody at Sharpused by Superwriter, help visibility a little, Desk Manager series from Kuma. should try it. and you can achieve the same effect within You can buy four quite adequate cassette The built-in thermal printerissmall,Basic, but I scoured the manuals in vain for recorders for the price of a single blank silent and slow. It takes over five minutes tothe command to do this from the operating bubble cartridge, and have plenty of changeprint a single-spaced A4 page. The best system. left over for cassettes. So where speed is notcharacter definition is obtained by using The standard MS-DOS screen driver essential, the cassette port that comes asspecial thermal paper, though even then theAnsi.Sys is not supplied with the operating part of the basic machine seems a temptingquality does approach that of a daisywheel. system so there is no way for the mere user alternative. Even as a hardened disc user IAn alternative is to use thermal transferto configure software from suppliers other have found that cassettes can make very paperinconjunctionwithathermalthan Sharp. reasonable backing store as long as theribbon. At a stage when most computers are recorder has a tape counter, a motor switch The transfer technique needs a specially trying to be the same, the Sharp PC -5000 is controllable from the computer, and some smooth surface to give an image qualitydefinitely different. Sometimes different is means oflisteningtothedata whileonly slightly worse than direct thermalbetter, but not this time.

96 PRACTICALCOMPUTINGMay 1984 E Immo Imo 111111SYSTEMS 1111 num= immonummimmimmumENNENE MICROCOMPUTER HARDWARE, SOFTWARE AND ACCESSORIES WITH FULL AFTER SALES SUPPORT SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY PRICES FREE DELIVERY IN THE UK FOR ORDERS OVER £200

HERCULES CP/M SOFTWARE SOFTWARE FOR IBM/PC Graphic Card £330

ASHTON TATE Please see CP/M listing. All D Base II* £335 products with an * will also run on MONITORS Financial Planner* £375 Friday* £170 MS-DOS and PC -DOS and are (One year warranty) BYROM priced the same. KAGA BSTAM* £115 DIGITAL RESEARCH BSTMS £115 Kaga RGB Vision -I112" £257 C Basic £120 CAXTON Kaga RGB Vision -I1112" £369 CP/M-86 +GSX £40 SANYO Cardbox* £145 Pascal MT+ £265 DIGITAL RESEARCH Sanyo 12" Hi -Res Green £98 IUS Access Manager £182 Easy Filer £235 £242 Access Manager -86* Easy Speller II £120 £242 Display Manager Easy Writer II £185 PRINTERS Display Manager -86* £304 EasyWrit/Spell/Mail £385 C Basic £90 MICROSOFT (One year warranty) C Basic -86 £195 Fortran Compiler £235 EPSON C Basic Compiler £300 Flight Simulator £39 C Basic Compiler -86* £360 Epson RX-80 FT £262 Multi -tool Word £248 Epson FX-80 £349 Pascal MT+ £210 LOTUS Pascal MT+ 86 £395 JUKI Lotus 123 £330 Juki 6100 £399 PL/1 £330 SOFTWORD SYSTEMS PL/1 -86* £450 MANNSMAN-TALLY Multimate £309 MT 80 £225 FOX & GELLER SORCIM d Graph* £170 MT 160 £449 Supercalc 3 £265 d Util* £60 STAR Quickcode* £170 Delta -10 £359 MICROPRO BOARDS FOR IBM/PC Gemini 10X £229 Calcstar* £95 Gemini 15X £329 Infostar* £255 AST RESEARCH Mailmerge* £120 Mega Plus 64K £260 All products subject to availability. Wordstar* £225 Six Pack Plus £260 CP/M is a registered trademark of Digital Word/Mail/Spell* £450 MICROSOFT Research, IBM is the registered Datastar* £150 64K RAM Card £237 trademark of International Business MICROSOFT 256K RAM Card £600 Machines. Basic Compiler* £250 Mouse £130 Basic Interpreter* £220 System Card 64K £290 We cannot list all the Fortran Compiler £310 QUADRAM Cobol Compiler* £475 Quadboard II 64K RAM £280 products we carry - please Multiplan* £168 Quadlink £495 call for further details. PEACHTREE Basic Accounting System per module £300 HOW TO ORDER Business Management Systems Simply write to Oryx (stating machine format and disk size), or telephone per module £550 01-636 0476 to place an order or make an appointment to discuss your Peachcalc* £80 Peachtext* £155 requirements. Or ring 01-631 4341 without obligation to reach our technical Peachpack* £300 advice hotline. SORCIM Orders will be acknowledged by return of post and goods will normally be Supercalc* £105 despatched within 10 days. All products are supplied new and are sealed Supercalc 2* £165 Superwriter* £255 complete with manufacturers documentation and factory warranties. SAGE All prices exclude VAT and are subject to change without notice. Accounting* £350 Most popular machine formats are Oryx Systems (U.K.) Limited, Mappin House, 4 Winsley Street, available. London W1 N 7AR.

ORYX- U.S. LEADERS IN TECHNOLOGY -NOW IN THE U.K.(ii N Circle No. 159

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 1984 On Course For Record Computer Sales

Spo o ed b

There can be few - if any - comparable Sponsored by 'Practical Computing' and 'Your exhibitions capable of generating such intense public Computer' and organised by Reed Exhibitions, the interest as The Computer Fair series. 1984 London Computer Fair will again be backed by a As expected, the 1983 Computer Fair, held at Earls massive publicity campaign using radio, television Court, has consolidated its position as the major and press media. Advance stand reservations are showcase for home and small business computers, to understandably already well up on 1983. If you want the extent that it became necessary for the original to ensure that you do not miss out on a preferential exhibition area to be doubled to a record 2,300 square site, you really must fill in the coupon below NOW, metres. And all the signs are emerging to support our and return to the belief that 1984 will see further growth in an Exhibitions Manager, The Computer Fair, exhibition which provides an unrivalled opportunity Reed Exhibitions, Surrey House, Throwley Way, for promoting personal computer systems of all kinds. Sutton, Surrey. SM1 4QQ

I am interested in exhibiting at The Computer Fair, Earls Court, THE London. June 14-17 1984. Please send full inforrriation to

Name aknputer Position in Company perso=puter. Company Address 9-SSinai/ brrslness

Earls Court, London. June 14-17 1984 Telephone No Telex DOT MATRIX PRINTERS BBC MICROCOMPUTER SYSTEM BUSINESS SYSTEMS WE ARE AN OFFICIAL BBC COMPUTER DISTRIBUTOR DEALER ENQUIRIES ARE WELCOMED

Acorn Electron £199,,AT WE SUPPLY FREE 30 HOUR BASIC BOOK AND A DUST COVER WITH EACH COMPUTER

This is the best microcomputer currently on the market 32K RAM ALL PRINTERS HAVE CENTRONIC PARALLEL INTERFACE UNLESS 32K ROM 8 modes of operation lull colour lull -site keyboard internal OTHERWISE STATED ALL PRINTERS HAVE HI-RES. DOT espansoons such as disc interface speech synthesizer Econet interface - ADDRESSABLE GRAPHIC MODE. PLEASE SEND SAE FOR In short it is a personal computer capable of expanding into a small FULL DETAILS. business system BBC Microcomputer Model B E348 - VAT £399 BBC Mod B - disk interface £409 VAT £469 EPSON BBC Mod B - Econet interface £389 - VAT £447 FX 80 160 CPS 10" wide Inc & pin feed £344 VAT £395 BBC Mod B - disk and Econet interfaces £450 - VAT £431 E495 E517 FX 100 160 CPS. 15" wide. Inc & tract feed VAT BBC 100K disk drive £230 - VAT £264 RX80 F/T 100 CPS. ler wide I rid &tract feed £261 VAT - £299 BBC dual 8006 disk drive £699 VAT £803 RXBOT 100 CPS 10' wide tractor feed £234 VAT = £269 Torch 280 disk pack including 280 2nd L01500. 200 CPS Letter quality printer processor 641( RAM and CPN operating APRICOT - SIRIUS - SANYO 8143 RS 23 Interface for FX and RX printers £29 VAT £33 system Free Perfect Software £696 - VAT £799 8148 RS232 Interface with 21( buffer kon.soff £60 VAT £69 BBC Teletext receiver (Aug) VA1 £7 £196 VAT £225 IBM - TEXAS - TORCH Ribbon Cartridge for RX80 FX80 & MX80 £7 BBC cassette recorder and lead £26 . VAT £29 Ribbon Cartridge for FX100 & MX100 £12 VAT £13 Disk interface kit (free fitting) E84 VAT £96 Mod A to Mod B upgrade kil £70 VAT E80 STAR Fitting charge for A to B upgrade " £20 VAT £23 APRICOT "Portable Executive Computer" 16 Bit Micro. 256K RAM. up to Gemini 10X 120 CPS. 10" wide Inc & tract feed 0200 VAT - £229 16K memory upgrade kit £30 - VAT £34 1 44 megabytes floppy disk storage 3id" Sony disks. Portable brief case Gemini 15X: 120 CPS. 15" wide. frier & tract £295 VAT =£339 Games paddles £11- VAT C12 styling. Modem with auto dialler (optional) hard disk optional. Vast software Delta la 160 CPS. 10" wide. Inlet & tract feed £327 VAT - £375 12" Monochrome monitor incl cable £89 - VAT £102 library (compatible with Sirius 1) Della 15 160 CPS. 15" wide. Mot & tract feed £414 VAT£475 14" Colour monitor incl cable £199 - VAT £22 Apricot with Single Drive and Molitor £1890 VAT Radix -10: 200 CPS. NLO. 16K Buffer Par & User guie CIO VAT E10 Apricot with Double Drove and Monitor and serial interface. downloadable characters. Econet interface (free I ottongl £60 - VAT £69 Free Pronter or 2nd Monitor £1890 VAT incredible value al £431 VAT £495 Speech interface (free littingl £47 VAT £54 Radix -15, 15" wide version of Radix -10 £518 VAT - E595 BBC disk manual - formating disk £30 VAT £34 Parallel printer cable £10 VAT Ell SANYO PROFESSIONAL COMPUTER BBC word processor (view) £52 VAT 16 Bit Micro 128K RAM expandable to 256K. Single or Double Disk Drive SEIKOSHA £59 built in full colour graphics (640 x 200 pixels in 8 colours) IBM compatible. GP100A 50 CPS. IV wide. tractor feed £156 VAT = £179 BBC Fourth language cassette £15 VAT £17 BBC Lisp language cassette £15 - VAT £17 Free software. Sanyo MBC 550 128K RAM single drive and free software GP250X 50CPS. 10" wide hoc feed. ser & par £196 VAT - [225 Including Wordstar and Calcstar £699 VAT GP100VC- 30CPS. 10" wide. VIC 20 & 64 inlerf £174 VAT - £199 Sanyo MBC555 128K double drive and free software including Wordstar. GP500A: 50 CPS. 10E wide. tractor 1.d £187 VAT £215 APPROVED ECONET SERVICE CENTRE Calcstar. Intorslar Datastar etc £899 VAT GP550A 50 CPS. 10" wide friction & tracl WE STOCK A LARGE RANGE OF SOFTWARE FOR BBC MICRO correspondence quality £234 VAT = f269 INCLUDING ACORNSOFT BBC SOFTWARE LONGMANS SOFTWARE GP100AS: Serial interface. ideal tel Spectrum PLEASE SEND LARGE STAMPED ADDRESSED ENVELOPE SIRIUS I Sirius 1 Computer with 128K RAM and 1 2 megabyte Floppy with microdrive £174 VAT £199 FOR FULL DETAILS disc storage including CP/M 86. MS DOS and Microsoft Basic E2195 VAT SHINWA CP8O ribbon 10' wide friction & tract feed E187 VAT = £215 ftcriiprdi'Incmeiu,r,;,6wi,.igign(0R,,,,,moasnodf?glaraga byte Floppy Lhwt,,,,,ar Spare cad ridge for CP80 £6 VAT =£6

RITEMAN TORCH Z80 2nd PROCESSOR TORCH £200 VAT . £229 CF500 COMPUTER with colour monitor includes Twin 400K disks. Torchnet Compact 120 CPS 80 col Mel & tract teed Operating System free perfect software Iperlect writer. peeled speller. For only £347 + VAT perfect calc perfect filer). Torehrnail Plus (Electronic Mail). Torch Mars CANON (Financial modelling with graphics) Torchtel (Viewdata Access System) PW1080A 160 CPS. ur wide. 27 CPS NLO Torch 2nd Processor Z80 is supplied with perfect writer (a powerful Word Executive Aid (Menu System) 24 x 16 matrix £2133 VAT £325 Processor) perfect speller (spelling checking pr gram -I should have used Datel 600/ kLin to outside mainframe services i.e. PW1156A 160 CPS. 15" wide. 27 CPS NLO Telecom Gold) £2950 VAT 24 x 16 matrix £347 VAT 1399 one for making this advert')Perfect Filer (A Database Program) Perfect Cale (Spread Sheet)It includes 64K memory (Almost 60K available touter) Fits inside BBC Computer PROFESSIONAL COMPUTER COLOUR PRINTERS TI 502 Dual 320KB Drives 258K RAM Up to 10 megabyte on board storage 347 VAT = £399 Seikosha GP700A 7 colour. 50 CPS printer Z80 2nd Process Perfect Software £347 VAT = [31119 Canon PJ1080A 7 colour. 40 CPS ink lel printer £391 VAT = £449 P.?:gg rleTI s stF,egrhni,7tTr,7,`Soh,n7.%: git1ntebdrii1;bt;redwcle7r1or user DM. VAT = £135 Z80 Processor Perfect Software Dual 800K CPP40 40 column 4 colour battery operated Disk Drives £695 VAT = £799 Optional I Price E2650 VAT MAINTENANCE CONTRACTS ARE AVAILABLE ALL OUR PRINTERS HAVE 1 YEAR WARRANTY GUARANTEED LOWEST PRICES DAISYWHEEL PRINTERS COMPLETE WORDPROCESSING 100°/c BBC COMPATIBLE MITSUBISHI SYSTEMS AND TEAC SLIMLINE DISK DRIVES INCLUDING DAISYWHEEL PRINTER From £695 + VAT

JUKI 6100 20 CPS Bo -Directional Logic seeking 10.12.15 CPI PS Spacing. 2K buffer. hes selling Daisywheel £349 VAT - £395 Singer sheet feeder unit £217 VAT £249 Tractor Unit 195 VAT E109 RS 232 Interface £52 VAT £59 Spare Daisywheel £17 VAT E19

BROTHER HR -75 13 CPS. Bi-directional 10 12.15 CP1 PS £344 VAT - £395 Keyboard Unit £139 VAT £159 These drives are supplied ready cased with all the necesary cables Single Sheet Feeder Unil £217 VAT - £249 formaling program and User Guide Tractor Unil £95 VAT - £109 There are some very useful utilities included on formating disc e.g. DISASSEMBL ER. This is 6502 machine code disassembler. SYSTEM 1BBC Micro model B. Wordwise. Phoenix monitor. Smith Corona DAISY STEP 2000 DUP. To copy and rename a file on disc. 20 CPS Unidirectional 10 12 15 CP1 £260 VAT £299 FORMAT Formating program for 40 & 80 tracks TP1 Daisywheel Printer, Cassett Recorder all the necessary cables and FREE This utility provides a disk usage analysis documentation £696 VAT = £799.25 MDUMP. Enables you to disla and modify any pad of BBC memory. SMITH CORONA TP1 MERGE Merge a number often tiles into one file SYSTEM 2. BBC Micro model B Disk Interface. Phoenix Monttor. 100K 12 CPS 10 12 GPI iinodorecticioo 0208 VAT £239 RELOCATE Downloads a basic program to &E00 Single Disk Drive. Wordwise. Smith Corona Daisywheel Printer. SOUMP Screen dump for EPSON in aii graphic modes all the necessary Cables and documentation. VERIFY Verities every sector on a disk Price only £1395 * VAT = £102925 MENU. A flexible menu program SYSTEM 3. BBC Micro model B Disk Interface. Phoenix Monitor. Dual PROFESSIONAL Single drive 100K 40 Irks. single Sided £147 VAT - £169 Disk Drives 250K. Wordwise. Smith Coro. Daisywheel Printer all the Dual drive 200K. 40 Irks. single sided £286 VAT - £329 necessary cables and documentation. Single drive 2006. 40 trks double sided £173 VAT £199 Price £999 VAT = £1148.85 MONITORS Dual drive 4006.40 Irks double sided £330- VAT £379 Single drove 400K BO Irks double sided E199 VAT - £229 SYSTEM 4. BBC Micro model B Disk Interface. Sanyo High -Res Green Single drive 400K 40/80 trks. switchable DS £217- VAT £249 Monitor. Wordwise (or view). Juki 6100 Daisywheel Printer. Single 400K Dual drive 8006 80 Irks. double sided £382- VAT £439 Dual drive 800K 40/80 Irks. Switchable. DS Disk Drive all the necessary cables and documentation. 'SANYO £408 VAT- £489 E1049 VAT v £1206.35 All above drives are low power slirnline. 10.3 A typ at 12v and 0 4 A al - 5v SYSTEM 5. BBC Mod 13 Micro Disk Interface. Sanyo High Res Green 'MICROVITEC per drive) Normally extra power supply is not required, the BBC Computer Monitor. Wordwise (or view) Jule 6100 Daisywheel Printer, Dual Disk grdsi"ESIq6JAINIPAA7,;"4",2,!;;TEi8'1,g)dn" (IT IS NOT Drive 800K all the necessary cables and documentation. `FIDELITY 40 Track SS/DD disketts (10/Box) £18 VAT = £20 Price £1195 VAT = £1374.25 40 Track DS/DD disketts (10/Boxl £23 VAT = £26 *PHOENIX 80 Track SS/DD disketts (10/Box) E28 VAT = £32 SYSTEM 6. Sanyo 16 Bit. IMB pc Compatible Micro. 128K RAM, Single Disk 80 Track DS.DO disketts (10 'Box) C30 VAT £34 Drive 160K. Wordstar. Cale Star. Sanyo High Res. Green Monitor, Juki 6100 ALL ABOVE DISKETT ARE CERTIFIED EITHER MEMOREX OR DETALIEF Daisywheel Printer all cable and documentation Price Only £1095 VAT = £12S9.25 SANYO DM8112 12" Green screen 18 MHZ Hi -Res £86 VAT £99 DM2112 12" Green screen 15 MHZ Monitor E66 VAT £75 SYSTEM 7. Sanyo 16 Bit. IBM pc Compatible Micro 128K RAM, Dual Dusk CD3125 14" 1108 Normal Res Colour Monitor £173 VAT -£199 Drives 360K, Wordstar. Cale Star. Mailmerge. Int ostar. Spellstar Datastar CD3117 14" RGB Medium Res Colour Monitor £286 VAT £329 Sanyo High Res Green Monitor. Juki 6100 -Daisywheel Printer and all CD3115 14" RGB High Res Colour Monitor £391 VAT £449 YOUR CONTACTS AT AKHTER ARE necessary cables and documentation. Price £1295 VAT = £1489.25 MICORVITEC CUB DEALER/BULK ENQUIRIES HAMAYUN MUGHAL 1431 MS 14" RGB Normal Res Colour Monitor £173 VAT £195 All the !::vciTheratgigfur ggviVet:ut with Sanyo High Res Colour 1451 MS 14" ROB Medium Res. Colour Monitor £321 VAT £369 TELEPHONE ORDERS PAULA HAYES Monitor and 1441 MS t4" RGB High Res Colour Monitor £417 VAT £479 DEALER ORDERS TONY GLOVER Price £1395 VAT E1504.25 BUSINESS SYSTEMS ENQUIRIES DENNIS SUTCH SYSTEM 9.AlWordstarlthe components01 SysteFacilit m ies7 but with Sanyo High Res Colour FIDELITY Colour Monitor EXPORT ENQUIRIES MAHAMAD EDIB CM14 14" RGB ROBY Comp.ite sound col £187 VAT £215 Monit d withColou r ECONET SYSTEM TECHNICAL ENQUIRIES ALAN LAFFOLEY Price £1595 VAT = £1834.25 PHOENIX ACCOUNTS CARON ANDREWS WE CAN ALSO SUPPLY PACKAGES WITH COMPONENTS OF YOUR Phoenix High Res 12" Green Monitor £66 VAT £75 DESPATCH PAUL SWIFT Phoenix High Res 12" Amber Monitor £69 VAT £79 OWN CHOICE. PLEASE PHONE (0279) 412639 AND ASK FOR REPAIRS JOHN MAULE HAMAYUN MUGHAL FOR A PRICE.

AKHTER INSTRUMENTS LTD T A ORDERING INFORMATION: r Access We accept official orders from UK Government and Education establishments. Carriage is Free (UK only) for normal delivery. If express L Aft delivery is required please add E8.00 VAT per parcel. We accpettelephone orders on Barclay and Access Card please ring (0279) 443521 (10 lines) All cheques made payable to "AKHTER INSTRUMENTS" COMPUTER OPIOUP icyVISA N.B. ALL VAT INCLUDED PRICES ARE THE CORRECT PRICES. INNO EXCL. VAT PRICES HAVE BEEN ROUNDED UP TO NEAREST POUND. 28/29 BURNT MILL HARLOW, ESSEX. CM20 2HU U.K. OPENING HOURS: MON-FRI 9am-6.30pm, SAT 10am-5pm Tel. HARLOW (0279) 443521Telex: 818894 AKHTER G We welcome callers, no parking problems. Circle No. 1602" Four kinds of LOGOiswell worth learning, soI can recommend all the versions of the language reviewed here. Only in one case, the RML version of Logo, do I feel that the language is not as well served by its implementation as might be hoped. But Logo is so powerful that even in its worst version it is preferable to the available on the computers in question. Logo was invented by Seymour Papert and others with the aim of putting the user in charge of the computer. Thisisin contrast to notions of computer -assisted learning, or CAL, in which the computer is considered to be in charge of the user. At first the user was principally thought of as a child. Based mainly at MIT, Papert and his associateshadavisionofachildTurtle graphics help to make Logo accessible to all. programming the computer, rather than the computer programming a child asofferings which call themselves Logo, anda variable named Newvar, in Terrapin seemed to happen so frequently in CAL. which are no more than turtle graphicsLogo on the Commodore 64 you write The child is of central importance in the systems.But suchsystemsareeasily MAKE "NEWVAR 2 + 3 + 4 development of Logo, becauseitwas distinguished. In LCSI Logo for the Atari and the invented to enable creative learning in TheearliestversionsofLogo onSpectrum you write either of schools and, with the advent of micro-microcomputers appeared for the Apple II MAKE "NEWVAR 2 + 3 + 4 computers, in the home. However, theand the TI 99/4. There was one TI version, MAKE "NEWVAR (SUM 2 3 4) strong emphasis placed on the child has ledwhich did not affect the development ofwhereas for Edinburgh Logo you write some to erroneously believe that Logo isother Logos to any great extent, and there MAKE NEWVAR ADD 4 ADD 2 3 not a proper language in the way that, say,were two Apple versions, which spawnedThe last version is not designed to be simple Pascal is. versions for three out of the four computersto understand. Edinburgh Logo may be being reviewed. logical in a Lisp -like way but it does not Misunderstanding One version, known as Apple Logo, is aencourage ease of use. style of Logo now firmly associated with Terrapin Logo uses the traditional and This misunderstanding of the impor-Logo ComputerSystemsInc.whichfamiliar form of addition by use of infix tance of Logo is compounded by the manyproduces Atari Logo and Sinclair Logo foroperators. LCSI Logo allows both the versions of Logo which now abound, butthe Spectrum. The other version, known astraditional infix form and a prefix form are actually no more than versions ofTerrapin Logo, was produced by Terrapinwhich is more flexible than the Edinburgh graphics systems. The name Logo is notInc., an offshoot of MIT which producesLogo prefix form. If one form has to be copyright or a trademark, and so it can bethe Commodore 64 version. The fourthchosen, it would seem sensible to choose used to describe any language or system version of Logo to be reviewed is the British the infix version, though with the LCSI without any legal restriction. Logo which comes from the Department ofstyle of Logo you can have either. One of the most arresting facets of LogoArtificialIntelligenceatthe University for those new to the language is the way inofEdinburgh.Thisversionis onlyComparisons which graphics are used, via the famousimplemented on Research Machines 380Z turtle graphics system. The development ofand 480Z machines. Anotherveryimportantdifference turtle graphics arose out of working with The Edinburgh style of Logo is by far thebetween the Logos comes from the way in Logo in schools. The original version ofworstversion,perhapsreflectingthewhich the graphics screen is organised. In Logo had no turtle graphics, for at thatEdinburgh philsophy, which is less childTerrapin Logo, if the turtle leaves the time Logo was essentiallyatext -only orientated than other Logo philosophies.boundary of the screen in its travels then languagedesignedtoassistwiththeEdinburgh Logo is designed to be used inthe track wraps round: this is the default manipulation of symbols. conventional teaching regimes with con-arrangement. If the command Nowrap is Logo began as a list -processing language ventionalcurricula,whereas theotherissued there is no wrap -round and the turtle taking many ideas from Lisp, and turtleLogos aim to break down conventionalcannot leave the screen. If a journey would graphics were introduced later as a partmethods. take the turtle out of bounds, then it cannot of the Logo philosophy of continual As turtle graphics arose from Seymourstart. development.Turtlegraphicsarean Papert's desire to help children follow their Edinburgh Logo uses a different default, exceedingly powerful method of usingown course of learning, turtle graphicsfor the turtle cannot leave the screen unless graphics, and have appeared for manymeshes wellwith MIT Logos.Turtlefreed by the command Noedges. The other languages. But to have a turtlegraphics does notfitinso well withturtle's track does not, however, wrap- graphics system is not necessarily to have aEdinburgh Logo. around: the screen is part of a much wider Logo system. The Lisp parentage of Logo is clearestcanvas for the turtle with co-ordinates In the opinion of most Logophiles, ain the Edinburgh version, and its mainranging from - 32757 to 32757. language cannot call itself Logo unless itdrawback can be illustrated by a simple In the LCSI versions the turtle starts in has fairly complete list -processing facilities.addition problem.If you want to addthe same mode as the Terrapin versions,

A catalogue could be produced of software I together three values and assign the value to and if the command Fence is given the

100 PRACTICAL COM PUTI NG May 1984 Software review

Boris Allan assesses some developments of Lo0Seymour Papert's child -orientated language. turtle cannot leave the screen. If a further will follow the same format as the excellentmaking computers easy to use. One of the command Window is given, then the turtle Atari manuals. other useful features of Commodore 64 is freed. The screen is seen as a window on a The implementations of the arithmeticalLogo is that it has a built-in assembler. much larger area. On balance, I prefer noprocedures on both the Atari and the The Spectrum turtle graphics are good, wrap -around to wrap -around if I have to Spectrum seem to use routines from withinbut in no way as extensive as the previous have one or the other, but overall I prefer to Basic. For the Atari version this does notversions, perhaps because the Spectrum be able to choose. matter, because there are no real flaws initself is less powerful. The graphics are nice On average Ithink the LCSI versionthe Basic arithmetical routines. On theand easy to use, but lack the flexibility of wins,thoughthereis amysterious Spectrum, however, this means that one ofthe Atari and the Commodore 64. The disappearance of a command from thethe irredeemable defects of the SpectrumSpectrum graphics also lack the multiple LCSI versions, compared to Apple Logo. Basic arithmetic is repeated. A simple wayturtle and sprite capabilities of the first two The disappearance is, unfortunately, rather of showing the Spectrum error is to use theversions. It is still a nice version though. important. Suppose you wish to write arecursive procedure defined by The turtle graphics on the RML are on a procedure which for some reason needs TO HALF :NUMBER par with those of the Spectrum, but given variables that are local to the procedure. In PRINT :NUMBER the difference in price of the hardware it Terrapin Logo you write HALF :NUMBER/2 should have been closer to the facilities of END LOCAL "N EWVAR the Atari and Commodore 64. One facility and in Edinburgh Logo you write and then enter that the RML has over the Spectrum is that HALF - 1 the turtle can run at two speeds. It does not NEW ' N EWVAR to which a series of numbers is output; each but in the two LCSI versions you use ahalf as large as the previous value. Thehave as many colours of lines or colours of dummy parameter for a procedure. seriescontinuesuntilthenumberbackgrounds as the Spectrum. All the versions have good list -processing - 2.9387359E - 39repeats andrepeats. facilities, and on the Commodore 64 there Backup This errorisalso presentin Spectrum Basic. As Spectrum Logo obviously usesis even an adventure game written in Logo. However, there is little to choose between The quality of the backup which comes routines from Basic, this means that itis with each version varies. The worst comesmore difficultto produce Logo on athe versions. The RML version soon runs with RML Logo, even though there are two switchable ROM. out of memory, the Atari and Spec- manuals - areference guide and the Both Atari Logo and Spectrum Logo usetrum versions are intermediate, and the inthis beginners'guide. The textof bothis the standard Basic form for expressingCommodore 64 scoresheavily remarkablyuninformativeandrather numbers with negative exponents, such ascontext. disorganised. 1E-39. Whereas Commodore 64 Logo uses The manual to accompany Commodore the more traditional Logo form, that is, 64 Logo is very complete, but very difficult 1E-39 is written 1N39. There are errors inConclusions to read or use if you are not already a Logo the Basic 2 routines used for arithmetic on The two best versions are Commodore 64 expert.Theorganistionofthepage the Commodore 64, but there are no suchLogo and Atari Logo. numbering itselfisunhelpful. The firsterrors in Logo, which suggests that the If you have an Atari it is worth getting section is concerned with graphics, and is routines are completely new. If you want tothe Atari version, which is on cartridge for numberedG-1;thenextsectionis use the Commodore 64 for arithmetic, then£59. Schools can purchase an Atari 600XL concerned with computation, and starts Logo seems to be more accurate. with Logo for £175, which is a bargain. with C-1; the next section comes words and Where turtle graphics are concerned the Commodore 64Logo comesasa lists,andstarts W&L-I, andthusit Atari is excellent because of the way in package with two discs and an indigestible continues. whichmultipleturtlesmaybeused manual for £34.95. Given the power of the If you are using the index and look atsimultaneously, at different speeds, withsystem any Commodore 64 owner with a "Assembler/Logo interfacing", the page is potentially complex collisions and crossingsdisc drive is well served by this version. given as A-126. But A-126 isnot thebeing monitored by the When demon. It is Not only are sprites and high -resolution Assembler section, it is the appendix. Toan amazingly sophisticated system, but onegraphicseasilyaccessible,butthe find A -I 26 means going throughthe for which the resolution is lower than any arithmetic, list -processing, and machine - manual until you encounter pages with theof the others, strange as it may seem. Turtle code capabilitiesare worth theprice. prefix A. Each section in the manual isgraphics on the Atari are the chunkiest ofSchools cangetaspecialoffer of a supposed to be independent of any otherany of the four versions. There are rather Commodore 64, Vic 1541 disc drive, Logo, ' so each section tends to repeat certainsevere restrictions on the sizes of numbersand Simon's Basic for £295. As it is disc - strictures on pressing Return for example.you canuseasinputstoturns and based,perhapsitisnot forprimary It is not an easy manual from which to learnforwards, which can be annoying in some schools. and the diagrams are not sufficiently clear, recursive procedures. The Atari version of Spectrum Logo is a good version with but it is a very complete reference manual.Logo must be accounted as excellent on any full list processing and will cost about £40. The best manuals are those which comecriteria. Schools who already have a Spectrum are with Atari Logo. There are three docu- With the Logo disc on the Commodorebeing given preference. When Spectrum ments: an introduction for beginners, a64 there is also a utilities disc with arrestingLogobecomesgenerallyavailable - reference manual, and a quick referencedemonstrations of the use of sprites. Thusperhaps at a lower price - it will be a good guide.These areexcellent,andeasilyin Commodore 64 Logo there comes a set buy. followed by the novice. The Spectrumof sprite routines which should have been RML is the version for which I have least Logo version 1 examined was apre- present in the original Basic. The Logoenthusiasm. This Logo will do everything production version, and there were nosystem allows the user to do all the thingsyou wantitto,especially on thelist - manuals,but I understandthatsinceyou wanted to do in Basic, but were soprocessing side. A school with an RML Spectrum Logo is from LCSI the manualstedious: a result of the Logo philosphy of machine should buy Logo.

PRACTICAL COM PUTI NG May 1984 ' 101 THE BBC'S telesoftware service usesits standard teletext transmissions to convey software.UnliketheBasicode system describedinlastmonth'sPractical Computing,teletextcanbroadcast softwaresimultaneouslywithnormal Programs programmes.Itistherefore possible to transmit software throughout the day, and even to update it, if necessary. Broadcast UHF televisionsignalsin Britain make provision for 625 lines of picture information, though fewer than 600 of them are actually displayed on the onTV screen. Some carry signals which keep the Glyn Moody continues his series on broadcast receiver synchronised with the transmitter and a few are used by the broadcasting software with an assessment of the BBC's Ceefax- authoritiestotransmit technicalinfor- based service and the Acorn/BBC Teletext System. mation for internal use. Four of the remaining spacelines are nowthe tuning wheel are needed to cover the callitup. The current page number is used to transmit teletext information in thebroadcast spectrum. displayedatthetopofthescreen, form of ASCII codes. The teletext decoder The BBC Micro's function keys controlcontinuously changing at about 10 pages built into some domestic TV sets convertsthe operation of the system. You select aper second. As soon as the required page is thesesignalsintostaticscreensofchannel by pressing F4 followed by thereached it is displayed on the screen. Sub - information. channel number. Pressing -F4 Shift calls up pages are stored at the same time - as long the fine-tuning screen. A specific page isas there is room for them - and may be Information trees called by FO. called up instantaneously by typing a link You are likely to be greeted by the number. Both BBC1 and BBC2 have a basic set ofmessage Other function keys allow the last explicit 100 pages, each of which can have up to 99 waiting for page page - that is one that was called for by sub -pages. Pages and sub -pages may besince Ceefax is unlikely to be broadcasting number, rather than via links - to be linked together, allowing various kinds ofthe page you want at the very moment youselected. This can be used to return you to structured trees of information to be set up. There are currently over 6,000 frames on Ceefax; a sweep through those on offer Copyright Specification typically takes about 12 seconds. Telesoftware is broadcast free. Apart Waveband:Accessto teletext and from the adaptor, all you need to receive telesoftware services broadcast on The latest development extends BBC1's the programs is a standard TVlicence. Ceefax teletext transmissions to include UHF channels E21 to E69 This applies even if the adaptor is being Data rate: Maximum data capture about 10 further pages and their associated used with a monitor rather than a approximately 128Kbaud sub -pages. They not only contain text files, domestic TV set. Domestic users of a Size:70mm. high by 210mm. wide by asinconventionalCeefax,butalso program broadcast on Ceefax may make 350mm. deep machine-readablefilesthatcanbe two copies for private purposes and Manufacturer: Ltd downloaded and run. adapt or modify it for similarly private UK distributor: Vector Marketing, At the moment only the BBC Micro can purposes, but not for sale. Educational Denington Estate, Wellingborough, establishments may record, use, adapt Northamptonshire NN8 2RL. be adapted to act as a combined teletext and and even distribute a program, but only telesoftwareterminal.Withsuitable Telephone: (0933) 228953 for their own educational and training Price: £196 plus VAT hardware other machines could also be purposes, and not for sale. used, and the BBC is not against this in principle. The teletext adapter is supplied by Acorn and costs £196 plus VAT. The adaptor is housed in an add-on box which is the same depth as the BBC Micro and half the width. It has its own power supply, and connects to the micro via the 1MHz bus. Unfortunately the plug fits intothesocketintwoways;only experimentation reveals which is correct. A ROM chip supplied with the teletext unit must be plugged into one of the spare slots inside the micro, next to the MOS and the Basic ROM. For teletext reception - and in particular for error -free telesoftware - you need a good, strong UHF signal. It is fed into the back of the teletext adaptor, and video output is then taken from the BBC Micro in the normal way. Four tuning knobs next to the aerial input are available to tune into the four TV channels offering teletext. A horizontal bar on a special tuning screen indicates signal strength, and the screen alsoindicates which channelisbeing received. Tuning is a rather tedious process, partly because a large number of turns ofThe BBC Micro and teletext adaptor, with the main Ceefax page on the screen.

102 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 Telesoftware the top of a tree structure, which is usuallytelesoftwareand your own programs every twoweeks,thoughthereisa the index page. It is also possible to store aswell.Thefunction -keycallsfor possibility that it may soon go weekly. It is single pages to cassette or disc, or load themdownloading software are not available in broadcast for the full duration of the other from file. Telesoft mode, and you have to key the television services. The telesoftware pages, stored on Ceefaxappropriate commands explicitly. The programs are from a number of pages 700 to710,are accessed in exactly the The main problem of using the teletext sources. Some of BBC Radio 4's Chip Shop same way. There is,however, a slight software system is the delay in receivingBasicode software is offered, as well as difference in the way in which the pages are pages.Thereisscopefor some im- programs sent in by members of the public. linkedtogetherto form the completeprovement when twoextralinesare A major proportion is provided by Telsoft, programs. A Ceefax page typically holdsallocated to Ceefax, although they may be a group based at Brighton Polytechnic. about 750 bytes so most programs will runused to allow more pages to be transmitted Like muchoftelesoftware,thisis to several pages. The pages are sent out inin the same time. educational, and sometimes ties in directly turn with each sweep through Ceefax. One advantage of Ceefax telesoftware with schools radio broadcasts. If thefile contains a Basic programover Basicode is that each page is error The telesoftware service is geared very whose lines are numbered the pages can bechecked. A page can only be downloaded ifmuch to providing such learning aids and stored as they come - you do not have to it is error free, so any program that gets as home programmingutilities.Future wait for page 1 to come up before loading far as your micro's memory should run sources may include professional software the rest. They are then rearranged using the satisfactorily. houses. line numbers when all pages have been Four of the Ceefax telesoftware pages received. Such files are called disordered, can be read from the screen while the restDaily updates since they can be sent in this unstructured are only machine readable. Page 700 gives way. Ordered files, on the other hand, must anoverallindex,701adirectoryof Other possibilities under consideration be sent sequentially, starting with page 1, programs currently on offer and 702 a include linking software to other volatile sincelinesarenot numberedinthe seriesofsub -framesthatgiveshort information stored elsewhere on Ceefax program. Once downloaded, programs are descriptions of the software. Page 703 pages. For example, a program dealing run in the normal way using the Run carriesbackgroundinformationand with stocks and shares or commodities command. software reviews. Each subsequent page could link to prices and financial indexes. With the system in Teletext mode the and its associated sub -pages then contain Already a simple program designed to only programs you can run are those which programs of varying length. They are sent teach the basics of nutrition and dietetics have been downloaded from Ceefax. In the in an extended eight -bit ASCII code. allows a menu of foods to be linked to alternative Telesoft mode you can run this At the moment software is being changed current shop prices, which are updated daily by Ceefax. A program dealing with taxation could be provided, for example, and revised each year after the Budget simply by downloading the latest version. Telesoftware is intended to form part of a new kind of integrated package - not so much with other software as with other Made al Britain ACORN COMPUTERS media like radio and television. In addition Ltd to comply with to the schools broadcasts, there are plans to :,6$415 das$ make programs from the new BBC TV series Computers in Control available on the system. Althoughtelesoftware wasfirst launched last September, it is only now that the BBC and Acorn are gearing up their Four tuning knobs lie next to the aerial input. advertising campaigns. There are currently about 6,000 users, and this is increasing at the rate of about 300 a month. Having led the world, BBC's telesoftware system looks set to become the standard. Australia, Italy and Sweden are all considering starting similar services. The initial research began about four years ago as a joint project between the BBC, IBA,BrightonPolytechnic and Mullard,whichhand -builtthefirst telesoftwarereceivers.Full-scaleimple- mentation hadtowaitforthe introduction of a suitable host computer. With its many buses, the BBC machine is well suited to such applications, though its limited memory size is becoming a little restrictive as other machines climb into the hundreds of K. The related medium of cable promises some excitement. Software can be supplied using technology which exactly parallels that of broadcast telesoftware. Once multi- channel media become widely available, the patterns of TV use - not to mention software publishing - will never be quite Inside the teletex adaptor add-on box. the same again. IIJ

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 103 SUPPOSE YOUhave a small machine shop withthreemachines. You make two products: widgets and gizmos. Widgets give you a profit of £50 per unit, while from gizmos you only clear £30. At first sight there is no problem: make as many widgets as you can sell, and leave the gizmos to take Filling in up the slack. But life may not be that simple. Both the gizmos and the widgets are cast on the casting machine, ground on the grinding machine and polished on the polishing machine. The trouble is that the profitable widgets take longer on the grinder than on any of the other machines. If you only thegaps make widgets, the casting machine and the polishing machine lie idle for part of the time. Adrian Hill presents a program for the Simplex algorithm, which can be used to plan the most Maximum profit effective use of scarce resources. The gizmos, on the other hand, do not time available on each of the machines. is represented by the equation need as long on the grinder as they do on Suppose the casting machine and the P =30y + 50x the polisher, so you could even things out a grinding machine are available for 10 hours To maximise your profityou have to little by making a few of them. But theneach day, and the polishing machine ismaximise the equation.Itcan bere- you have to find time on the grinder, so you available for 12 hours a day. Using the dataarranged to cannot make as many of those lucrativein table 1 you can write the following P - 50x - 30y 0 widgets. How many of each should you inequalities: make to maximise your profits? 4x + 5y 10 CasterGrinderPolisher It is this kind of problem that can be5x + 2y 5_ 10 Widget 4 5 3 solved by the technique known as linear3x + 8y 12 Gizmo 5 2 8 programming. You start with aset ofwhere x is the number of widgets you make mathematical inequalities to represent theeach day, and y is the number of gizmos. Table 1. Hours on each machine to make contraints on the system - in this case the The profit you make on each day's workone widget or one gizmo.

5 REM **************************** 340INPUT "Is this correct? (y/n)";AN$ 10 REM 350IF (AN$="Y") OR (AN$="y") THEN 370 ELSE 270 15 REM LINEAR PROGRAMMING PACKAGE 360GOTO 310 20 REM 370CLS 25 REM A P HILL. OCT. '83 375PRINT:PRINT:PRINT 30 REM 380PRINT" Enter names for your ";VAR;" variables." 35 REM *************1117$1********** 390PRINT:PRINT:PRINT 40 REM 400FOR TC= 1 TO VAR 45 REM 410PRINT " variable no. ";TC;" name is "; 50 REM variables etc. used... 420INPUT NAMS(TC,O) 55 REM 430NEXT TC 60 REM AN$ - users response 440CLS 65 REM NUM - no. of equations used 445PRINT:PRINT:PRINT 70 REM VAR - no. of variables in each 450PRINT " Your variable names are:" 75 REM NAMS(X.Y) - variable names 460PRINT:PRINT:PRINT 80 REM MAT(X.Y,Z) - original and new matrix: 470FOR TC = 1 TO VAR 85 REM EN, SL - flags for end of processing 480PRINT NAM$(TC.0) 90 REM PX, PY - X and Y co-ord. of pivot 490NEXT TC 95 REM TEMP - used to find most -ve value 500PRINT:PRINT 100 REM TST - used to find smallest ratio 510INPUT " is this correct? (y/n)";AN$ 105 REM PV - value of pivot 520IF (AN$="Y") OR (AN$="y") THEN 540 ELSE 370 110 REM TNAM$ - temp store for swapping var. names 530GOTO 440 115 REM CP.BP.CP - used to work out value in point 7) 540CLS:PRINT:PRINT:PRINT:PRINT" Enter the values 165 REM for each equation." 170 REM 550FOR CN = 1 TO NUM 175 REM 560PRINT" equation number ";CN 180 REM itt*ttill*************MY 570FOR CV = 1 TO VAR 185 REM 580PRINT" value of ";NAM$(CV,0);" is "; 190 CLS 590INPUT MAT(CN,CV,O) 200 PRINT " LINEAR PROGRAMMING 600NEXT CV 210 PRINT 610INPUT "value of limit is ";MAT(CN.0,0) 220 PRINT:PRINT:PRINT 615CLS: PRINT: PRINT: PRINT 230 PRINT" Your equations should be 620FOR CV = 1 TO VAR 240 PRINT" Enter them as prompted." 630PRINT" value of ";NAM$(CY,0);" is ";MAT(CN.CV.0) 250 PRINT:PRINT:PRINT 640NEXT CV 260 PRINT"press any key to continue.":GET AN$ 650PRINT" value of limit is ";MAT(CN,0,0) 270 CLS 660PRINT:PRINT:PRINT 275 PRINT:PRINT:PRINT 670INPUT " are these correct? (yin)";AN$ 280 INPUT " How many equations have you? ;NUM 680IF (AN$="y") OR(AN$="Y") THEN 700 ELSE 560 290 PRINT 690GOTO 620 300 INPUT " How many variables in each7":VAR 700NEXT CN 310 CLS 710CLS 315 PRINT:PRINT:PRINT 20PRINT" now enter profit function" 320 PRINT" You have ";NUM;" equations of"IVAR; 730PRINT" don't forget 0 -A -8 notation."

" variables." 740FOR CV = 1 TO VAR 330 PRINT:PRINT

104 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 Linear programming

The problem can be solved manually by names of the row and column containing what is known as the Simplex method. You the pivot. C first arrange the equations into tabular4. To form the next matrix: form, setting up a matrix as shown ini) Replace the pivot by its reciprocal. matrix 1. Compare this matrix with the setii) Considering the other matrix positions, of equations to see how it is set up. A, B, if the value b is in the row containg the and C are dummy variable names which are pivot, but is not the pivot itself, replace r added for convenience. by b/pivot in the new matrix. To solvethis matrix you repeatedlyiii) If the value c is in the column containing the pivot, but is not the pivot itself, perform the following procedure until there are no negative values on the bottom or replace c by - c/pivot in the new matrix. pivot target row of the matrix. The procedure isiv) If the value z is not dealt with in ii or iii applied using the values in the first matrix then replace z by Row, column and pivot positions for to form a new matrix. This second one is z - be/pivot transforming the matrix. used to form a third, and so on. in the new matrix. obtained when 30/17 units of X and 10/17 1.Select the most negative entry in the Using these rules you get to the newunits of Y are produced per day. bottom or target line. In the first matrixmatrix 2. There is still one negative value on The listing gives a Basic program which this is in the X column. the bottom line, so itis not the requiredwill solve sets of inequalities by repeatedly 2. Consider the ratios 10/4, 10/5, and 12/3.solution. Repeating the process, startingapplying theSimplex method.Italso Select the smallest ratio.In the firstwith matrix 2, gives matrix 3. There are nointerprets the results by identifying the matrix this is in the B row. negative values on the bottom row, so thisrelevant entries in the matrix. The program 3. The point of intersection of the row andis the solution. was written in Microsoft Basic on an Oric 1 column selected in1 and 2 is called the From matrix 3 you can read off the finaland so should require little alteration for pivot. In the new matrix exchange thevalues. Maximum profit of 1,800/17is most machines.

X Y B Y 13 A

A 10 4 5 A 2 - 4/5 17/5 Y 10/17 - 4/17 5/17

B 10 5 2 X 2 1/5 2/5 X 30/17 5/17 -2/17

C 12 3 8 C 6 - 3/5 34/5 C 2 1 -2

P 0 -50 -30 P 100 10 -1 P 1.800/17 166/17 5/17 Matrix1. Matrix2. Matrix 3.

750PRINT" value of ";NAM$(CV,0); 1310PV = MAT(PY,PX,0). 760INPUT MAT(0,CV,0) 1320TNAM$ = NAMS(PX.0) 770NEXT CV 1330NAMS(PX,0)=NAM$(PY,1) 1340 780CLS NAMS(PY,1)=TNAM$ 790FOR CV =1 TO VAR 1350MAT(PY,PX,1)=1/MAT(PY,PX,O) 800PRINT" value of ";NAMS(CV.0);" is ";MAT(0,CV,0) 1360RETURN 810NEXT CV 1400REM other processing 820PRINT:PRINT:PRINT 1410FOR CL= 0 TO VAR 830INPUT " are these correct? (Y/N)";AN$ 1420FOR RW= 0 TO NUM 840IF (AN$="Y") OR (AN$="y") THEN 860 ELSE 710 1430IF (CL=PX) THEN 1600 850GOTO 780 1440IF (RW=PY) THEN 1500 860CLS 1450CP= MAT(RW,PX,O) 870PRINT" Processing data now..." 1460BP= MAT(PY,CL,O) aaoNL=0 1470SB= CPAIBP/PV 890GOSUB 1100 1480MAT(RW,CL,1)= MAT(RW,CL,0)-58 900GOSUB 1200 1490GOTO 1620 910GOSUB 1300 1500MAT(RW,CL,1)= MAT(RW,CL,0)/PV 920GOSUB 1400 1510GOTO 1620 930GOSUB.1700 1600IF (RW=PY) THEN 1620 932CLS:PRINT" LOOP NO. ";NL+1 1610MAT(RW,CL,1)= 0 - MAT(RW,CL,0)/PV' 934FORX=OTONUM:FORY=OTOVAR:PRINTMAT(X,Y.0);:NEXTY: 1620NEXT RW PRINT:NEXTX 1630NEXT CL 940NL=NL+1 1640RETURN 950IF (NL=10) THEN 970 1700REM test for a solution

960IF (EN=0) THEN 890 ELSE 1000 1710SL=0 : EN=O 970PRINT:PRINT:PRINT 1720FOR PF= 1TO VAR 980PRINT" No solution after ten loops !' 1730IF (MAT(0,PF.1)0) THEN SL=SL+1 990GOTO 1010 1740NEXT PF

1000GOSUB 1900 1750IF (SL=0) THEN EN=1 : GOTO 1810 1010STOP 1760FOR CL= 0 TO VAR 1100REM pick most -ve on profit line 1770FOR RW= 0 TO NUM

1110px=o : TEMP=0 1780MAT(CL,RW,0)= MAT(CL,RW,1) 1120FOR PF = 1 TO VAR 1790NEXT RW 1130IF (MAT(O.PF.0)>=0) THEN 1170 1800NEXT CL 1140IF (MAT(0,PF.0)>=TEMP) .THEN 1170 1810RETURN 1150TEMP = MAT(0,PF.0) 1900REM now print solution 1160PX=PF 1905PRINT:PRINT:PRINT" X** solution found #1,4,": 1170NEXT PF PRINT:PRINT 1190RETURN 1910FOR NM= 1 TO NUM 1210TST=100 1920IF (NAM$(NM.1)="") THEN 1950 1220FOR PF = 1 TO NUM 1930PRINT NAMS(NM,1):" = ";MAT(NM,0.1) 1230TEMP = (MAT(PF,0.0)/MAT(PF.PX.0)) 1950NEXT NM 1240IF (TEMP

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 105 If you want it tomorrow. . call us today 01-455 9823

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PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 -Graphics

TURTLE GRAPHICS are probably the most powerful way yet devised of using graphics on computers. Normal graphical methods use co-ordinate geometry and complex mathematical transformationstodraw shapes. The mathematical techniques you need to understand even the simplest of Making routines can be far from trivial. The mathematics needed to use turtle methods is simple. Pre-school children can useturtlegraphics,particularlyina friendly computing environment such as is provided by Logo. All they need to know is how to turn and how to go forward. racks The "turtle" of turtle graphics is either a In the third article of his series on the Commodore pictorial representation of a turtle on the64 Boris Allan shows how to simulate turtle graphics. computer's display screen,or a device which crawls along the floor. Suppose thegraphicsif needed, though in fact theyCommodore Basic sets TN to 0 when the turtle moves on a large sheet of drawing seldom are. program is run. paper, dragging a pen to draw a line. Under The turtle graphics system to be im- Last and New co-ordinates for the X-axis the control of the child the turtle moves and plemented in this article uses the multi- are set to 160, and those for Y are set to 100. draws. It can also lift up the pen so that itcolour high -resolution graphics routines Each pen condition is made 1, otherwise the moves but does not draw. for the Commodore 64 given last month. default value 0 would occur. The system is The turtleisreally a very parochialThere is no turtle crawling across the floor, ready for use when the high -resolution beastie. It can only move from where it isnor even one on the screen. But the keyinitialisationroutineformulti -colour now, and only turn at its present position.commands are the same: Move and Turn. graphics is activated. The turtle is like a car whose driver is asking In high resolution on the Commodore 64 The present turtle number is TN, the for directions. there are three foreground colours, andpresent X co-ordinate is XL(TN), and the To the driver you do not say "Go to mapone background colour. This gives the present Y co-ordinate is YL(TN). In routine reference X,Y"; rather you say "Gopossibility of up to three imaginary turtles21000 a lineis drawn from these co- forward X miles and turn left, go forwardcreeping across the screen. ordinates. The line is DI units long, and is Y miles and turn right, and then go forward at an inclination of AN(TN) degrees from another Z miles." Both sets of directionsMoves and turns the vertical, measured anti -clockwise. are accurate, but only the second set can be The co-ordinates at the other end of the used by the driver without a map. Each turtle has a position on the screen line are XN(TN) and YN(TN), calculated in A child gets the turtle to draw a square byand it faces in a particular direction.It lines 21000 and 21010: the symbol PI instructing the turtle to go forward amoves from itslast position to its newindicatesthespecialCommodore64 distance,thenturnrightthrough90position, and a way has to be provided tosymbol for it, obtained by using Shift and degrees,andrepeatingthatpairofkeep track of each turtle's moves and turns. the Up arrow. If PE(TN) is set to zero in instruction a total of four times. This Arrays XL and YL contain the co-line 21020 there is to be a move without sequence is easily understood and makesordinates of thelastplace each turtledrawing, so a jump is made over the use of the internal/intrinsic geometry of avisited. Arrays XN and YN are used to findplotting routine. square.Thereareno problemswiththe co-ordinates of the place where the The start and end co-ordinates for the transformations to calculate co-ordinatesturtle has to go. Each turtle's orientationline are transferred to the correct start and as there are no co-ordinates. angleisstored in array AN, and theend variables for the line -drawing routine. If the child wishes to turn the squarecondition of each pen is stored in array PE. The colour code is set to one greater than through a certain angle, then the turtle isThe arrays have three elements and thethe turtle number. A call is then made to the instructed to turn to that new angle. Theelements correspond to turtles 0, 1 and 2. routine at line 12000. square is drawn by using exactly the same The turtle number does not appear in the To draw a square, initialise with instructions as before. Co-ordinates areinitialisationroutinestartingatline 1000 GOSUB 20000 alwaysavailabletobe usedinturtle2000, but is known as TN. By default (continued on next page)

10 REM 10 REM 20 REM GRAPHIC ART ON THE C64 20 REM GRAPHIC ART ON THE C64 30 REM 30 REM 40 REM MULTICOLOUR TURTLE GRAPHICS 40 REM MULTICOLOUR TURTLE GRAPHICS 50 REM INITIALIZE 50 REM DRAW LINE 60 REM 60 REM 70 REM 70 REM 20000 DIM XL(2),YL(2),XN(2),YN(2),AN(2),21000 XN(TN)= XL(TN)-DI*SIN(LPIDIAN(TN)/

PE(2) : REM COORDS, ANGLES,AND PENS 180) : REM NEW X COORDS 20010 FOR I=0 TO 2 21010 YN(TN) = YL(TN)-DI*COS(EPI3*AN(TN)/

20020 XL(I)= 160 : YL(I)= 100 180) : REM NEW Y COORDS

20030 XN(I) = 160 1. YN(I) = 100 21020 IF PE(TN)= 0 THEN 21070 20040 PE(I) = 1 21030 NY = YN(TN) : NX = XN(TN) : REM 20050 NEXT I SAVE COORDS FOR LINE

: 20060 GOSUB 10000 : REM INITIALIZE 21040 LY = YL(TN) LX = XL(TN) GRAPHICS 21050 CR = TN+1 : REM COLOUR CODE IS ONE 20070 RETURN MORE THAN THAT OF TURTLE NUMBER 21060 GOSUB 12000 : REM DRAW LINE 21070 XL(TN)= XN(TN) : YL(TN) = YN(TN) REM SAVE LAST COORDS 21080 RETURN

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 107 Graphics

(continued from previous page) Three squares program. choose a length of side 1010 DI = 50 40 GOSUB 20000. REM INITIALIZE and draw a line 1020 GOSUB 21000 50 DI = 50 : REM THE DIFANCE TO BE MOVED followed by a turn of 90 degrees 1030 AN(TN) = AN(TN) + 90 So far only one side has been drawn. To 50 FOR TN=0 TO 2 : REM FOR EACH TURTLE draw the three other sides continue with

1040 GOSUB 21000 : AN(TN) + 90 70 AVM) = '2i*IN : REM EACH TURTLE HAS DIFFERENT STARTING ANGLE 1050 GOSUB 21000 : AN(TN) + 90 1060 GOSUB 21000 : AN(TN) + 90 20 50SUB 2.1000 : AN(TN) = AN( 90 : 50SU6 21000. AN(TN)= AN(7N) If this sequence is followed it helps to understandthenext,rathermore ambitious, program which draws three REM HALF A SQUARE squares, where each square is at an angle of

120 degrees to each of the other squares. 90 60SLB 21000 : AN(TN)= AN(TN'+ 92 : SOSUB 21000 : AN(TN = AN(T The screen goesblank,then becomes yellow, and then a square is drawn. When + 90 : REM THE OTHER HALF the first square is finished, another one is started, in a different colour, orientated at 120 degrees clockwise to the first. A third i00 NEXT TN square then slowly appears, at 120 degrees to both of the other squares, and in a third 110 END colour. At program line 60, the standard turtle number TN is used as loop counter. Theunavoidable when using Commodore Basic to draw the square, and either had four loop starts at 0 and steps through to 2, so2. When a loop was used, such as separate commands or an If -Then check that each turtle will be addressed. Each FOR II =1 TO 4 : GOSUB 21000 : AN(TN) with a counter, the program worked - but turtle is given an initial orientation of 120 = AN(TN) + 90 :NEXT II looked far messier. Commodore 64 Basic degrees from each of its fellows. the program would not work. The error conspiresagainstcareful programmers. The square at lines 80 and 90 is given aswas finally tracked down to there being too The moral of the story is watch your For four separate moves. This is hardly goodmany nested For loops and Gosubs for the loops, conserve your Gosubs, and beware programming practice, and certainly not inBasic to cope. of such dangerous combinations, for they the spirit of structured programming, but is As soon as I stopped trying to use a loop spell trouble. PRINTER EXTRAVAGANZA We challenge you to find a better deal! SHINWA CP80 (DOT MATRIX) £194 + VAT = £223.10 EPSON RX80 (DOT MATRIX) £218 + VAT = £250.70 THE FABULOUS EPSON RX8OFT (DOT MATRIX) £247 + VAT = £284.05 EPSON FX8O (DOT MATRIX) £324 + VAT = £372.60 STAR EPSON FX100 (DAT MATRIX) £437 + VAT = £502.55 PRINTERS DAISY STEP 2000 or UCHIDA DWX 305 (new low cost - high quality Daisywheel) £279 + VAT = £320.85 JUKI 6100 £379 + VAT = £435.85 CCP 40(new amazing portable 4 colour printer/plotter) STAR GEMINI 10x £198+ VAT = £227.70 £109 + VAT = £125.35STAR DELTA 10 £325+ VAT = £373.75 DYNEER(Daisywheel DW16 Parallel) £299 + VAT = £343.85STAR GEMINI 15x £325 + VAT = £373.75 BROTHER t11115 £389 + VAT = £447.85STAR RADIX 10 £499 + VAT = £573.85 NEW LOW PRICES STAR RADIX 15 £599 + VAT = £688.85 MT 80 (DOT MATRIX) £194 + VAT = £223.10We have interfacesfor all types of computers including CBM 64 VIC 20 OKI MICROLINES NEW LOWER PRICES - CALLAPPLE, TRS 80, IBM, BBC, SPECTRUM, QL, etc. FIDELITY 14" COLOUR MONITOR & COMPOSITE VIDEO £189 + VAT = £217.35 AMERICAN EXPRESS MANY MORE PRINTERS AVAILABLE - OVER 200 SCI(UK) BARGAINS SEND NOW FOR OUR FAMOUS CATALOGUE

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Circle No. 165

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 109 Deal with the experts on Portable Comput Computer J1D

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IN THE BEGINNING was the computer. After that came mainframes and, eventually, micros. Though dismissed as mere toys by the computer fraternity, the early micros were really all-purpose machines. Apples, Pets and Tandy TRS-80s were soon in use as home micros, and business micros,Let's get and foreverything from educationto automation. Since then micros have become more specialisedas more and more manu- facturers have tried to find a niche for their products. We now have home micros, desk -top micros, multi-user micros, trans - serious portables, portables and even pocketables. The micro is a versatile machine, so why use it just Other machines are aimedatspecific applications - games, education, graphic for games when it could be at the core of a practical design, and so on. home -office system? Nevertheless, most of the world's best sellingmicrosarestillall-purposesense to dedicate a cheap machine to awant to buy, a fatiguing screen display and machines. Examples are the Commodoresimple taskrather than buy a multi-a keyboard that disintegrates after a few 64, Acorn BBC Model B, Atari 800, Apple function business machine. months of heavy use. Even worse, you may IIand, atleastin America, the IBM The small micro can also provide abe trapped in a ghetto without access to the Personal Computer. valuablelearningexperience.Forthewide world of CP/M or MS-DOS software. Among the micros set to join them arenewcomer, it can be useful to buy a cheapSpend the same amount of cash on a Wren, the Sinclair QL and the IBM PCjr. Othermachine simply to learn about computing, Zorba or Philips transportable and you get contenders are the Memotech MTX-500rather than risk £5,000 to £50,000 on whatmore functionality. and the long -delayed Elan Enterprise, thecould turn out to be an unsuitable system. Advance, Triumph Adler's new Alpha-Afterafewmonthswith,say,a tronic PC, the 128K Lynx Laureate, andCommodore 64 or BBC Model B, the tyroIrresistible the 64K versions of the Dragon and Tandywill at least understand the basic concepts Nevertheless the sheerflexibility and Color Computer. Even the new Oriclike size of RAM, speed of disc access andaccessibility of a small machine can make it Atmos,withitsrealkeyboardandthe supremacy of software. The smallirresistible. You can buy a Spectrum and promised disc drives, has leanings in thismicro can then be sold at a relatively smallconnect it to Prestel/Micronet for less than direction, though the metamorphosis of theloss, or used at home, even ifit cannotthe cost of an RS -232C port for some Colecovisiongames machineintothehandle the final application. business machines. You can buy two entire Adam business micro is perhaps the most Finally, with a small micro you do notCommodore 64 systems - one for home astonishing transformation of all. have to buy everything at once, as you doand one for the office - for the price of with a desk -top machine. You can startmost 16 -bit desk -top micros. You can hook High volume with the console, an ordinary television anda BBC Model B to a DEC mini for less than a cassette recorder, adding disc drives, athe cost of a much dumber terminal. And The key point about the home/general- printer and a proper monitor as and whenso on. purpose micro is that it is designed to sell in funds become available. In the following three pages, we look at large volumes, and this brings down the However, truth be told, the expandedtheleadingsmallmicrosthatoffer price. But it comes without a number ofsmall systemislikelyto prove moresomething for everyone - in the home, in things that are now almost essential for expensive in the long run, and is unlikely toeducation and in business. We also show serious computing - disc drives, a proper be as good as, say, a portable with bundledhow they might be expanded. The listings keyboard and a monitor, for example. software or the cheaper desk -top machines. are not intended to be comprehensive, but They all form part of the true businessYou can spend £1,000 to £1,500 and stillthey will give you an idea of what you are machine. end up with disc drives or a disc filingletting yourself in for when you buy a cheap Further,smallmicrosaresoldby system that will not run the software youmachine. department stores and national chains where the overheads are relatively low. The user often gets little more than a sealed box. CP/M add-ons By contrast, the dealer in business machines isexpectedtoanalyseacustomer's The CP/M operating system, whichrequires a Z-80 or 8085 and 64K of RAM, business, advise on software, demonstrate still offers the best route to the widest range of serious software but not all everything, install the system, hold the home machines provide easy access to it. user's hand for the first six months, and be Sinclair Spectrum. Unlikely. permanently on call for repairs. All this Commodore 64.Nowavailable as a cartridge plus disc. Unfortunately it is takes the time of skilled and experienced slow, offers only a 40 -column screen, and does not provide easy access people, and such time is very expensive. It to standard software. However, it is very cheap at £50. has to be built into the selling price of the Atari 800. Standard 80 -column CP/M now available with the ATR-8000; full machine. software availability. Atari's own CP/M add-on is not yet available, but The small micro can therefore be an will probably tie users to Atari disc drives. economical buy in some circumstances, Alphatronic PC. Easy access to CP/M and existing Triumph -Adler business especially for people who do not need software. adviceandsupport.Theintended BBC Model B. Still no sign of the Acorn Z-80 expansion, but others are application might not need either discs or a available including the Torch disc pack... at a price; moderate software monitor - for example,writingpre- availability. scriptions in a pharmacy can easily be done Apple II. Ready access to CP/M via various plug-in cards; lots of Apple - on a Newbrain, and a large number are format software available. used for this purpose. It can make more

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 Sinclair Spectrum THE SPECTRUM has the largest installed base in this country and an unrivalled range of software. However the strain really begins to show in serious applications. The main problem is lack of proper keyboard, rendering it almost unusable for word processing. Even hooking up a printer and disc requires external and plug-in units. The Spectrum is a brilliant games machine, but the cost of expanding the system to a usable level is uneconomic, and the result tends to be a mess.

Possible setup Sinclair Spectrum 48K, £130; Viscount disc drive £199 from Spectrum U.K. on (07073) As illustrated. To run both the printer and disc drive simultaneously requires a general 34761; Walters printer with parallel interface, £230; Centronics printer interface and motherboard and two plug-in units from cable,£36from Euroelectronics on (0242) 582009; and colour TV. Velleman (U.K.) Ltd. The motherboard costs £26, the Centronics interface £31, and the Spectrum on (07073) 347619, allows access Alternative setup output board kit £19; phone (0424) 753 246. to Prestel and Micronet 800. A keyboard of Juki daisywheel printer and cable, £440 Software:Vu -Cale and Vu -File, £9 each from sorts is available from DK'tronics, £45 on from Micro Peripherals. Otherwise there are Psion on 01-723 6919; The Database, The (0799) 26350, but it lacks a space bar. virtually no hardware alternatives except Spreadsheet and The Word Processor, £10 Software:Vu -3D. £10 from Psion, for image Sinclair's Microdrive system, £50. each from Microl. manipulation; Flexigraf business graphics, Software:Tasword the Word Processor, £8 Good games:Snowman, Fighter Pilot, £10 from Saxon Computing on (0401) 50697; from Tasman Software on (0532) 438301. Manic Miner, Jet Set Willy, Atic Atac, Lunar Figaro II database and statistics program, Spectext WP, £10 from McGraw-Hill on Jetman. £15 from Saxon Computing; Comp -u -Tax (0628) 23432. Flexicalc, £10 from Saxon income-tax package, £10 from Micromega Software. Database, £20 from Gemini Options on 01-223 7672; Comp -u -Share stocks and Marketing on (0395) 265165. Datagenie, £10 Prism UTAX-5000 modem, £100 from shares package, £10 from Micromega. from Audiogenic on (0734) 586334. Commodore 64

THE COMMODORE 64 is amazing value at discount prices as low as £190. Though not a friendly machine for programming in Basic, it provides access to a wide range of good word processors and other home and serious business software, most of which is very reasonably priced. Semi -compatibility with the old Pet series is its strong point. Its main weakness, apart from its Basic, is a lack of good original games such as are obtainable for the Spectrum and Atari micros, but for the serious minded this is not such a severe drawback. Possible setup Commodore 64, £230, with 1541 disc drive, Commodore 64 with 170K 1541 disc drive, £230; MPS 801 dot-matrix printer, £230 1701 £230 and Vic 801 printer, £230; all available 14in. colour monitor, £230; dedicated cassette recorder, £45; Programmer's Reference with Easy Script, £60, as a package deal for Guide, £10; Easy Script word processor,£75.Plug-in CP/M cartridge also shown, £50. £600. Optional Commodore cassette recorder, £45; colour display to a TV. Software:Simon's Basic, £50 from Options Alternative setup Commodore, or similar advisable if The normal escape route for 6502 -type Commodore printer or Epson or similar, programming using sound or graphics. Easy micros is into CP/M. However, the £50 around £300, recommended in place of Vic File database, £50, and optional Easy Spell, Commodore CP/M cartridge plus disc offers 801. £50; Calcresult spreadsheet from Kobra only a 40 -column screen and leaves you Software:Magpie database, £100 from Marketing or Handic Software on (0344) with Commodore discs. Commodore Audiogenic on (0734) 586334, and Multiplan 778800. promises only "over 100 programs" of the 64, £100 from Kobra on 01.997 6666. Good games: many thousands possible. Centronics Vizastar 64, £100, promises to combine Football, £10. Forbidden Forest, £12.95 from printer interfaces: £50 from Ram Electronics spreadsheeet, database and graphics with Audiogenic, Caesar the Cat, £9 from (Fleet) on (02514) 25252; Grappler CD, £120 current Vizawrite word processor, £70; both Mirrorsoft. from Pete & Pam on (0706) 212321. from Viza on (0634) 813780.

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 Home into business Atari 800

ALL THE ATARI micros offer outstanding value for the initial purchase price. The games software is better than that for any other micro, and in range second only to the Spectrum. However, most games are American in origin and expensive, so the final cost may be very high. Beyond games there is enough software to get by, but the range is poor compared to rivals. The ATR-8000 provides a good way into mainstream computing for Atari owners who need it, but is not a cheap option for those not committed already. Possible setup Atari 800, £200, or 800XL, £250, with 810 Atari 800 setup with Epson dot-matrix printer; ATR-8000 64K Z-80 expansion running disc drive, £230 and portable colour TV, plus 80 -column CP/M 2.2, £399 from Tollgate; connected to a standard 5.25/n. drive, £200 to optional cassette recorder, £50, Epson dot- £250. matrix printer run via an 850 interface, £135, include the PSP-1000. £60 from Polarsoft on Alternative setup hidden behind the disc drive. The 850 (0462) 54812: MK1 and MK2, £39 and £70 As illustrated. The disc drive reads both provides four RS -232C ports and a from Micro Research on (0506) 31603; and Atari discs and many popular CP/M formats Centronics parallel port. Printer cable £25 one from Blackthorn Electronics, £70. New including Osborne, Kaypro, Xerox and extra. Atari printers do not require an interface: others. The ATR-8000's parallel printer port Software: includes Atari writer ROM 1025 dot matrix, £350; 1020 colour makes the 850 interface redundant. The Co - cartridge word processor, £60, Home Filing plotter, £200; 1027 letter -quality. £300. Power 88 card, £389/£489 for 128K/256K Manager, £40, and VisiCalc, £170. Software: Letter Perfect, £110; Data Perfect, from Tollgate on (0582) 32752, offers a Great games: Star Raiders, Eastern Front, £85; File Manager 800 + , £70; all from HEC further upgrade to MS-DOS, CP/M-86 and Defender and Pole Position, £30 each. on 021-643 9100. Chipsoft Business semi -compatibility with the IBM PC. Atari packages and Mailing List, £150 each from has its own 40/80 - column CP/M box; Options Silicon Chip on (0753) 70639, also require shown last year in prototype, on the way. Joystick port to Centronics printer cables Microsoft Basic, £60 from Atari. Alphatronic PC

VERY NEW to the U.K. market, the Z-80 based German -built Alphatronic PC is aimed at both the low-cost business user and the home user. There is not much doubt that the machine can deliver in the serious area, as it runs standard CP/M software and many packages originally developed for larger Adler office systems. Pricing on the serious software does not look cheap. Apart from material developed in Europe it is early days yet for games software. Triumph -Adler U.K. says it is talking to games software houses. Possible setup Alphatronic PC micro with 64K standard RAM, £339; disc drive with CP/M operating As illustrated. Available from Triumph Adler on 01-250 1717. Displays to a domestic system, £380. colour TV or to a monochrome or colour monitor. Mannesman-Tally MT -80 dot-matrix 8668. Juki 6100 daisywheel printer, £314 Alternative setup printer, £260 from Data Disc U.K. on (0787) from Data Disc U.K. on (0787) 210091. Micromite adaptor, at under £100, links 210091. Triumph Adler says that interface boxes will Alphatronic PC into Micromite local area Software: WordStar, £340. Multiplan, £224. be available to most of the Adler electronic network. You could take the system to work Friday, £224. French, German or Spanish typewriters, costing £50 to £100. for use with office hard discs and printers. Abroad self -teach packages cost £16 on Software: Supercalc 2 spreadsheet disc; Typing Tutor is £35. program, £225. Millionaire business - Games: Dungeon Master and Rescue simulation game, £52. ATI teach -yourself available at about £8 each. WordStar, £40. Teach -yourself Multiplan, £58. Touch'N'Go typing tutor, £29. Perfect Options Writer, £403. Perfect Calc, £173; Triumph - Second Adler.disc drive £311. JVC 14in. Adler may offer bundled set of Perfect colour monitor, £187 from Opus on 01-701 packages at lower prices. (continued on next page)

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 198- Home into business

BBC Micro

IN MANY WAYSthe BBC Micro represents the perfect serious home micro. It is very fast, has a wide range of expansion possibilities and a very large base of serious software. However, it is expensive, limited in memory and beginning to show its age. Also officially it lacks the important Z-80 second processor. Some of these problems are likely to be alleviated when all the promised add-ons appear. The BBC machine is still a good buy - if you have the money - and is likely to be around for some time. However, its primacy will be strongly challenged by the QL - when that eventually materialises.

Possible setup BBC Model B with DOS, £469; 100K Acorn disc, £265; Walters printer with parallel As illustrated, interfaced to domestic colour interface, £230, and BBC cable, £29; from Walters Microsystems International on TV. (0494) 32751. Software: View word processor, £60; Viewsheet calc, £60; Database £12; Graf pad graphics pad, £144, and CAD Alternative setup Forecast financial trends package, £12; all program, £21, from British Micro (0923) With 100K discs, £245 from Cumana on from Acornsoft on (0223) 316039. 48222; video digitiser and CCTV, £569 from (0483) 503121, or £225 from AMS on (0925) Good games: Planetoids, Snapper and Digithurst on (0223) 208926. Teletext 62907; 500K discs, £230 from Opus on Rocket Raid; £10 each from Acornsoft. adaptor for use with Ceefax and Oracle. 01-701 8668. Juki daisywheel printer plus £225 from Acorn. cable, £440 from Micro Peripherals Ltd on Options Software: Statistics 1, £10 from Bridge (0256) 3232. 6502 second processor for advanced Software on 061-427 6107. Music Processor, Software: Wordpro, £11 from IJK Software applications, £199 from Acorn. The £15 from Quicksilva on (0703) 20169. on (0253) 55282. Spreadsheet Analysis, £20 promised Z-80 unit from Acorn has still not Linkword language tutors in French, from Gemini on (0395) 265165. Beebfile, £7 materialised, but GCC (Cambridge) German, Spanish and Italian, £15 each from from Simon Software on (0527) 892370. produces one for £431; phone (0223) 835330. Acorn soft. Apple Ile

THE APPLE HEis the updated version of the five -year -old Apple II. Although the basic design is a little long in the tooth, the Apple has a vast range of hardware add- ons available for it and a huge number of Apple DOS and CP/M packages. Disadvantages are the price, which is high if you only occasionally want to use the system for serious or eccentric purposes. Although good games are available they tend to be American and disc -based, so the price is again high compared with many of the alternativesystemson the market.

Possible setup Apple Professional pack, Apple Ile with Apple single disc drive and Epson RX-80 printer, driver a domesticTV £873 from ATA on 01-833 0044, comprises display. Apple Ile, one disc drive and controller, TV modulator and various other accessories Options software such as WordStar, £339; this and discount vouchers. Displays to Alps disc drive, £159 from C/WP on 01-828 Microsoft card is easier to get running with domestic colour TV or to monitor, such as 9000; Silver Reed EXP-500 daisywheel non -Apple discs than some of its rivals. Phoenix monochrome 12 in. amber monitor, printer, £299 from CIWP, is slow but gives Muiltiplan, our favourite spreadsheet £121 from ATA. Epson RX-80FT dot-matrix high -quality output; JVC 14in. colour program, is available in both CP/M and printer, £305, requires printer interface monitor, £172 from Opus on 01-701 8668. standard Apple DOS versions for £184. card, £99. ICE 5Mbyte hard disc, £1,450 plus VAT from Software: Terrapin Logo, £114, widely Software: The Incredible Jack, a Rapid Terminals on (0494) 26271. Micronet reckoned better than Apple's own Logo. multi -function word processing package 800 package including BT -approved modem, Microsoft typing Tutor II, £19; Robocom with integrated calc and filing, £149 from lets you use Prestel, £148 from Telemap on Bitstik 500 graphic joystick and drawing - Pete & Pam on (0706) 227011. 01-278 3143. office software, £339; Syntauri Alpha Plus Games: Choplifter, £25, Sublogic Flight Software: Microsoft Z- 80 softcard, £275 music synthesiser and keyboard, from Simulator, £24. from Pete & Pam, lets you run CP/M 22 £1,340 to £2,162; all from Pete & Pam.

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 16 Bit Micro -Computer Under £350*

For the home user start with Model A with its massive 144K RAM, 64K ROM and outstanding typewriter style keyboard that fits within the base unit for portability and storage. Note the large return key and position of the numeric keyboard. Fast retrieval from storage and fast action on games is achieved by the use of the Intel 8086 16 bit micro -processor running at 4.77 MHz. The Advance 86A runs IBM PC software. Specification CPU Type 16 -bit 8086 running at 4.77 MHz. The business user can upgrade to Model B by adding RAM 128K or 256K with parity plus 16K video the Advance Expansion box containing 2 x 5.25" disc ROM 64K. drives providing 720K storage at £902.18. ROM Contents Diagnostics, Basic, Cassette 0/S Languages Included Basic The Advance 86 Model B offers the business micro- Type of Keyboard Full 84 keys tactile computer buyer an IBM compatible disk -based Keyboard Facilities 10 programmable keys system with twin drives, with Perfect writer, Calc, Filer Character Set 256 in ROM and Speller software (MS/DOS) for only £1250 plus Method of Display TV, RGB, Comp/Sync colour or monochrome monitor VAT & Delivery. Display Facilities Full screen handling, 4 screen paged Text 80 x 25 or 40 x 25 Advance 86 Models A & B are designed and marketed Graphics Resolution 320 x 200 or 640 x 200 by Advance Technology UK Ltd. Colours Available 16 128K expansion £125 + VAT Graphics Facilities Scroll, reverse image Delivery within 30 days from receipt of payment. Cassette Recorder Audio Interfaces Included Cassette port, light pen, joystick, Centronics *Ex VAT. Sound Built-in speaker Operating System Built-in ROM Advance Technology UK Ltd. Printers Any using Centronics parallel interface 8A Hornsey Street, London N7 8HB Comments Hardware and software compatible with IBM PC User-upgradeable to Model B Provision for 8087 Arithmetic Processor 01-609 0061 En =0 NM =I WM OM 10= =0 =111 0= I= MO 11= I= OM MI I= To Advance Technology UK Ltd., 8A Hornsey Street, London N7 8HB PC2 Please send Model 86A, Micro -Computer & Keyboard I enclose £404.99 including VAT & Delivery. Please send Model 86B which includes Model 86A plus Expansion Box & Software. I enclose £1250 plus £187.50 VAT plus £10 Delivery 128K expansion £125 + VAT Cheque/Barclaycard/Access No

Name Company Address Address

INN 0= =0 MI WM I= 0= MO NMI I= 11= I= MIN Circle No.168

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 115 ON THE FACEof it you might think that it is a miracle that computers work at all. Faced with an incoming power supply of 240V a.c. at 50Hz they have to have a very stable d.c. supply of OV, 5V, and probably a few other voltages as well to make them work. Due to the speed of operation of the and the d.c. supply cannot be allowed to falter for as much as 1/1,000,000th of a second without causing problems. One problem which can affect the power supplyisradio -frequencyinterference, RFI. Itis high -frequency interference on the mains lines and can be caused by a wide variety of things such as electric motors, and switches arcing. Chris Naylor looks at the problems of keeping a micro Your computer will almost certainly have supplied with power. an RFI filter on it so depending on how bad the RFI problem is, you do not necessarily needanother.Filtersprovidesome attenuationofcertainpartsofthe frequency band. They reduce the unwanted signal but never remove itentirely. But where RFI is bad the computer's power - Amplitude supplyunitmay haveinsufficient I attenuation to cope with it. In this case you might well want some more. This can be achieved in a number of ways.

Buy a box One cycle = 0.02 secs The most usual method is to buy a box The domestic mains supply is 240V a.c. at 50Hz. This means that the live terminal with an RFI filterinit,such as those varies continuously in a sine wave around the constant voltage of the neutral terminal. The neutral terminal is maintained at a voltage approximately equal to the manufacturedby QED, Scilabub, earth. The figure of 240V represents root mean square voltage. The amplitude of the Roxburgh or Valtech. The box plugs into live terminal is 240 multiplied by \ 2, or about 340V. the mains socket and the computer plugs The mains is low -frequency, medium -voltage a.c. supply. intothe box. Another approachisto replace your ordinary plug by one with an RFI suppressor built in such as The Plug + 5 volts from Power International Ltd. Voltagespikesareanother problem which can affect the power supply. They are fast, transient spikes of voltage which 0 volts can be caused by anything from lightning to the action of a nearby switch. They can shorten the life of a computer since the Ir capacitors and resistors - not to mention the chips - do not like having 10,000V One cycle = 0.000001 secs at 1 MHz blasted through them day in, day out. A computer typically needs a d.c. power supply with one terminal at OV and another A voltage dependent resistor or VDR can at + 5V. When a computer is running, its clock sends out square -wave signals which be used to combat the effect of voltage move up and down between the two voltages at the clock frequency. For a 1MHz spikes. A VDR is a small device with a very clock a complete clock cycle takes 1/1,000,000th of a second. high resistance within its working voltage High -frequency, low -voltage clock signal. but a very low resistance outsidethis voltage. A typical VDR might have a very the logic. The answer is to blur this fast Attenuation high resistance up to, say, 640V but its edge, which you can do with an RFI. The decibel, dB. is the unit used to resistance might drop to practically zero as Voltage drops or brownouts get a lot of describe the attenuation of an unwanted mention in some quarters as causesof part of the incoming signal. It is a soon as that voltageis exceeded. Con- dimensionless measure and expresses sequently, fitting a VDR between the live computer failure, but it would be a poorly the ratio of two items. For example, if and neutral terminals on the mains will get designed power supply that could not deal two items V1 and V2 differ by n decibels rid of spikes between live and neutral as with at least a moderate voltage drop. After then soon as, say, 640V is exceeded by the spike. the mains has been transformed, rectified n = 10 log10 (V1/V2) It may not, however, mean that the and filtered it is passed through some kind Or computer keeps on working. One of the big of voltage regulator. Almost always this V1/V2 = 10n/10 problems with very fast spikes is not their regulatoractsby reducing the voltage Suppose that an RFI filter gives a 20dB amplitude, which a VDR will fix, but their coming into it until it meets the required attenuation of transverse -mode noise very fast rise time. Most chips do their voltage to go to the computer. So the V1/V2 = 1020110 = 102 = 100 switching on the basis of a rising pulse - voltage served to the regulator is normally So if V1 is the incoming voltage before the leading edge of an incoming square well above what is required, which gives a filtering, V2 the final voltage in the wave. So, chopped at the top or not, once a fair amount of room for that incoming frequency range being filtered is 1/100th fast-moving spike gets into the machine it voltage to drop before it falls below what of V1. A 40dB attenuation gives the regulator really needs. attenuation to 1/10,000th of the original. can cause problems if its leading edge is and so on. mistaken by the chips as a valid signal from A computer has no protection against

116 PRACTICAL COMPUTINGMay 1984 Power supplies

voltagebreaks. Atthelevelofthe supply will only be certain to show up aspower. Microbreaks can be covered fairly motherboard, a voltage break of one clock trouble on the computer if they last about easily be designing a unit which has a cycle will cause the machine to fail. Thishalf a mains cycle, which is around 10 moderately large capacitance in it to tide does not mean that a microsecond break on milliseconds. the machine over during breaks of a few the mains line will cause problems. The There are two types of solution to breaks 10ths of a second. Longer breaks require power -supplyunititselfstoresenergy in the power supply. One is to provide cover battery back-up or uninterruptible power during each half cycle and dissipatesit against microbreaks and the other is tosupplies. The larger firms that operate slowly into the system. Breaks in the mains provide cover against longer failures ofin the fields of UPS can advise you on the right kit to keep you running under (cotinued on page 119) Protection tree

True UPS RFI appears as a very high -frequency component in thesupply, often in the megaherz region. It can be caused by a number of things such asmotors, switches and fluorescent lighting. Switched UPS t Line voltage controller

Varistor

On this waveform there is a spike. This is a single pulse often lasting only a few 10s of nanoseconds but with an amplitude sometimes of 10,000V or more. The rfi commonest cause of a spike is lightning, but it can also occur as a result of the action of a nearby switch.

The protection tree shows the order in which you might consider mains problems. Start with RFI and fit an RFI suppressor. Progress to spike III III A suppression using a VDR. The next stage is the line -voltage controller. It may be either a constant -voltage transformer, CVT, or an electronic line conditioner, which takes a very poor a.c. iir ilriir signal and provides an ultra -clean a.c. This waveform is likely to produce a voltage surge caused by an increase in the output. A good power -supply unit will not amplitude of the mains. really benefit much from a line conditioner unless your mains supply is extremely bad. Uninterruptible power supplies are the final stage in the protection process and are useful if you The decrease in amplitude on this waveform indicatesa voltage drop or brownout. want to keep your machine up and running when the power goes off completely. Most contain all the other protection features already mentioned. The protection tree offers increasing degrees of insurance for your computer operations. If having your memory wiped out is no more than a minor irritation, This waveform shows that the voltage has disappeared altogether. The break may then stay at the bottom of the tree. If it last for only a very short time - a microbreak - or it may last for hours. might mean that you would stand to lose Five faults in the mains sunolv which can r aim. trnithip fnr minrric 3,000 words of word -processed text which would have to be re-created from scratch and your livelihood depended on it, then you might be prepared to up the Power requirements tree as far as a UPS. You can calculate the power of a d.c. example - tend to reduce the power Possibly the worst thing that can device by using the equation factor. In general the power factor is happen is having your main memory W = VI between 0.75 and 0.9. If you ignore the wiped out while disc I/O is taking place. where W is the power supplied in watts power factor and just consider the This can corrupt the disc's directory and and Iis the current. product VI you arrive at a measure leave you with a worthless disc. Apart So if a micro needs a 5V supply of 1A known as the apparent power of the from making regular disc back-ups you need 5W to drive it. However, the system, abbreviated VA. only sure protection against this type of power of an a.c. load is calculated A typical micro with twin floppies, problem is a UPS which gives a few according to the equation. screen and printer might need up to minutes protection while the disc access P= VI cos4 200W to drive it. If you have hard discs is completed and you can store current where cos 0 is the power factor. The and a heavy-duty printer then these memory on to disc in an orderly fashion. power factor depends on the nature of figures have to be doubled. The To do this the UPS does not have to the load which is driven. Devices with processing unit alone should be happy serve the printer, so a small unit of, say, electric motors in them - printers, for with around 100W. 120VA would do.

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 11 7 MAILING FLOPPY DISKS? The Swan Disc Pack combines great strength with simplicity of use. Made from rigid white corrugated, it is a self assembly package providing high postal security at economical rates. Free sample ring us on 01-607 9938

WARNING : YOU HAVE DIRTY MAINS The surges, spikes. noise and transients on the mains arc a form of pollution which degrades the performance of HiFi systems and causes computers to malfunction. Protect your computer and restore the full performance of your HiFi System by fitting a Clamp Ito the mains lead instead of an ordinary mains plug. Clump / - Computer Grade is fitted to your computer and each peripheral, in place of the conventional I 3A plug. £4.99 each Clamp -Audio Grade is fitted to each component of your HiFi System, in place of the conventional I 3A plug. £7.50 each Clamp 2 -Lightening strike protector. This is not fitted to any equipment. but is plugged into the mains at a vacant socket somewhere on the same ring. Protects your HiFi system, television, home computer etc. from lightening strike. £10.50 each From your dealer or direct (includingVAT and. P& P) from:

sizes: Andrews Turntable Accessories 6x6; Edge Bank House, Skelsmergh, Kendal, Cumbria LA8 9AS 8.75 x 8.75 Tel: Selside (053 983) 247

Circle No. 169 Circle No. 170 DIRTY MAINS I acomputers'worstenemy REGUVOLT-a computers' best friend A 'dirty' mains supply can often jeopardise the performance of complete electrical isolation between the mains and your your computer, causing data loss, system crashes and sometimes, computer system. Transients are suppressed, and a 'clean' and damage to both hardware and software. stable voltage supply is maintained. Raw power, direct from the mains, is prone to transients or voltage Where total mains security is concerned, a Reguvolt really is 'spikes', which are usually caused by the variation and switching of your computers' best friend! electrical loads in the vicinity or your computer (e.g. photocopiers, Please send for further lifts, domestic appliances etc.). details today. These 'spikes' play havoc with the mains, and then your computer Single and 3 -phase suffers! models available, from A Reguvolt Mains Conditioner will solve the problem, by providing 120VA to 60kVA. Cetronic Components Ltd. Hoddesdon Road. Stanstead Abbotts. Ware. Herts SG12 8EJ. England. Tel: Ware (0920) 871077 Telex: 817293

Circle No. 171

118 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 Power supplies

(continued from page 117) Transverse mode. Common mode. almostanycircumstancesimaginable. However, to get a better supply to your Live computer you must consider the whole Live environmentasregardstheelectricity Neutral supply within which the machine works. Neutral For example, when installing a UPS you Earth Earth could have one for the computer, one for the printer and one for the screen, but it A common -mode signal occurs simultaneously on both live and neutral lines. would make better sense to save money and Common -mode noise causes fewer problems than transverse -mode noise because have one unit which covered the whole lot. most transformers hardly notice the signal, largely relying for their performance on The one thing you have to think about is the the difference between the signals on live and neutral. circuit from which all of these items are A transverse -mode signal is much more likely to get into the system past a transformer because the mains a.c. is also in transverse mode. You can reduce driven. If the power supply on that circuit is transverse -mode noise by means of RFI filters, VDRs or specially designed good then the power supply to each item on transformers. that circuit is good. Consider a typical ring main running Common -mode and transverse -mode interference causes different problems. around in a loop from the junction box and back again. If you fit an RFI suppressor at aid Transformer AC to DC Battery DC to AC the exit from the junction box on the ring - converter converter main then all of the items following the suppressor on that circuit will be protected. A true UPS has the battery permanently in series with the normal regulated mains Similarly, a VDR, constant -voltage trans- supply so that the output never knows whether it is receiving battery power or mains - former or uninterruptible power supply derived power. This avoids any possible problems associated with switching the fitted at this point will provide protection battery in and out. Many UPS units have a CVT as their final output phase to give an throughout the whole of the circuit. So by ultra -clean signal. attacking the problem at source you can fix all of the problems with a single device. Battery The disadvantages of doing this are that )7 k the devices will need to have a greater AC to DC DC to AC power -handling capability. On that single converter converter circuit you might well have a couple of electric fires as well, so you might need devices with a power -handling capability in "-I Transformer 1-1.- Switch the 3kVA range,whichprovesvery expensive. A switched UPS does not have the battery permanently with the rest of the system A secondary disadvantage is that if there but only switches it in when needed. This may work as long as the switching causes is some interference present it may not no interference to the supply. The danger is that the delay in switching will be originate before the junction box. For excessive, or that the act of switching will put a spike and/or RFI on the line, thereby knocking out the system. example, a poorly suppressed piece of electrical equipment such as a hair dryer Uninterruptible power supplies. (continued on next page)

RFI AND SPIKE SUPPRESSORS Power International The Plug Modified box; £47. Both feature test buttons and 13A plug with RFI suppressor and VDR when the VDRs fail still provide power Alan Kiddie MF10A, MF25A, MF30A RFI built-in; rated at 4A; £15.50. Power and sound and alarm. Scilabub Ltd, filters and VDR spike suppressors. International Ltd, 2A Isambard Brunel Unit 1, Workspace 17, Highfield Street, MF10A rated at 10A and comes in Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire P01 Coalville, Leicestershire LE6 2BR. standard plug-in box; £79. MF25A 2DU. Telephone: (0705) 756715. Telephone: (0530) 812385. rated at 25A is wall -mounted; £128. QED Audio mains interference MF30A rated at 30A and has an earth - Valtech Plastics mains filter RFI suppressor Plug-in box with RFI suppressor built into four-way leakage circuit breaker; £198. Alan suppressor rated at 750W, £15.99; and Kiddie Associates Ltd, Fairlight distribution unit, rated at 3A; £47. 1,500W, £20.75. QED Audio Products Valtech Plastics Ltd, Castlegarth House, 729 London Road, Hounslow, Ltd, Ashford Industrial Estate, Shield Middlesex TW3 1SE. Telephone: 01-543 Works, Thirsk, North Yorkshire. Road, Ashford, Middlesex. Telephone: Telephone: (0845) 22184. 0179. (07842) 46236. Cetronic Ltd NPT Noise -protection Roxburgh Suppressors LF13, LF134 RFI LINE VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS transformers rated from 250VA; £150. suppressor and VDR spike Cetronic Ltd, Hoddesdon Road, suppressors in a plug-in box, rated at Advance Electronics GT104, GT204, Stansted Abbots, Ware, Hertfordshire 13A. The LF13 has one outlet, the GT304, Mainstay Constant -voltage SG12 8EJ. Telephone: (0920) 871077. LF134 four outlets; £33.95. Roxburgh transformers with a high specification. GT104 rated at 100VA; £99. FT204 Instelec INS 011, INS051, INS101, INS201 Suppressors Ltd, Eagle Road, Rye, East Sussex. Telephone: (0797) 223725. rated at 200VA; £128. GT304 rated at RFI filters rated from 1A to 20A 300VA; £159. The Mainstay is rated at packaged with flying lead Russ Andrews Clamp 1 A 13A plug with 150VA; £79. Advance Electronics, PO connections; they need to be wired in. VDR spike suppressor fitted; £4.99. Box 230, Wrexham, Clwyd LL14 3JR. Instelec Ltd, 715 Hockley Centre, Vyse Russ Andrews Turntable Accessories, Telephone: (0978) 821000. Street, Hockley, Birmingham B18 6ND. Edge Bank House, Skelmergh, Kendal, Telephone: 021-236 1103. Cumbria LA8 9AS. Telephone: (053983) Avel-Lindberg MP3, MP4 Line MPL Power Systems Clean power plug 247. conditioners designed to provide clean Modified 13A plug with RFI suppressor 240V a.c. power from a d.c. source Scilabub Scilabar 1,Scilabar 3 Scilabar 1 such as 24V batteries. The MP3 costs and VDR built-in, rated at 6A; £29.50. is a VDR spike suppressor for MPL Power Systems plc, Bilton Way, £250, and the MP4 £785. Avel-Lindberg insertion into any socket on a circuit; Ltd, South Ockendon, Essex RM15 Hayes, Middlesex UB3 3ND. £18.50. Scilabar 3 is an RFI suppressor Telephone: 01-848 9871 and VDR spike suppressor in a plug-in (product list continued on next page)

PRACTICAL COMPUT I NG May 1984 119 Power supplies

(continued from previous page) coat plastic cases on the inside with a paint board will come out and check it for you can generate a lot of RFI. If this device iscontaining zinc particles, which goes a long for about10 - or for free if you have just plugged into the circuit after the protection waytoprovidingprotectionwhile moved into the premises. This check covers devices then the interference it causes will preserving the nice appearance. Apart from the supply voltage and the earth continuity. not be suppressed and your efforts will protecting the computer from interference, Alternatively, you could check these things have been wasted. this also protects other devices from the yourself using an a.c. voltmeter between The trickisto place any protection interference caused by the computer, which live and neutral to check the voltage and an devices as far back in the circuit as possible can itself be a powerful source of RFI ohmeterbetweentheearthonyour so that they cover all of the items which interference. computer and, say, a cold water tap to need protecting, and far enough forward in You may feel that your mains is just not checkthattheearthleadisactually the circuit so that any interference to the allit might be. If so, the local electricity connected to earth. supply occurs before them. This way you get the maximum amount of protection using the minimum number of devices. One easy way to achieve thisis to plug the + 5 volts protection devices into one wall socket and 0 volts add a mains distribution unit to give several outlets, one for each piece of kit that needs Mains TransformedRectified SmoothedRegulated protecting. to less to DC Troubleshooting amplitude Identifying the source of trouble can be something of an art. But you can often get a clue by noting anything else whichis switched on, or has recently happened, at Mains + 5 volts DC the time when your computer fails. Is the immersion heater or refrigerator switched on? Also note whether failures occur at any regular time of day. Isit when the local factory starts work? Is it when a train goes past? Is it on hot summer days when there 0 volts DC AIL might be lightning around? 4. AIL Transformer Full -wave Smoothing Voltage In general, if you trace the problem to rectifier choke stabiliser airborne interference the cause is some- thingyoucannotsuppressandthe A simple power supply can be constructed by most people who know how to use a interference is so strong thatitis being soldering iron. The mains current is passed through a transformer to reduce the induced directly into the computer. The voltage. It is then passed through a diode network which rectifies the current by converting it to d.c. The rectified current is very uneven and so is passed through a answer is to place the computer into a smoothing choke. The final step is to stabilise the smoothed current to an exact tightly fitting metal box and to earth the d.c. value by means of Zener diode. box. This may make it hard for you to get at the keys, hut itwillwork Itis possible to Producing stable, lowvoltage d.c. from the mains supply. STD. Telephone: (070) 885 3444. Banner (Europe), 28 Lurke Street, £2,500. Eccleston Electronics, Bedford MK40 3HU. Telephone: (0234) Eccleston & Hart, 8 Legge Lane, Cetronics Reguvolt D Constant -voltage 40094. Birmingham B1 3LG. Telephone: transformers rated from 120VA to 021-236 6220. 1,000VA; about £130 to £330. All come UNINTERRUPTIBLE POWER SUPPLIES Microguard EPU200, EPU500 &Witched as plug-in boxes. See previous entry UPS units rated at 200W and 500W. for address. AvelLindberg A 1,000VA UPS The EPU 200 gives backup time of 120 Claud Lyons Stabilac Electronically available either as a true UPS or a minutes; £395. The EPU500 gives a controlled line voltage conditioners, a switched UPS which can be backup time of 90 minutes; £795. See large range rated from 150VA upwards, configured to a wide range of previous entry for address. specifications including the option to all come as plug-in boxes; from £150. MPL Power Systems Mini Processgard Claud Lyons Ltd, Ware Road. switch to an alternative power source; from £3,050. See previous entry for True UPS with sealed -in batteries. Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire EN11 9DX. address. Rated from 100VA giving seven Telephone: (0992) 467161. minutes backup time; £438. Extra Microguard CVT250, CVT500 Constant - Centronic micro UPS An extensive range battery packs are available at an extra voltage transformers. CVT250 rated at of true and switched UPS units rated cost of over £300, to extend backup 250VA; £195. CVT500 rated at 500VA; from 250VA up to 30kVA: from about time up to 120 minutes. See previous £295. All come as plug-in boxes. £1,000. The micro units have built-in entry for address. Microguard, 24 Foregate Street, batteries with 15 minutes backup. See previous entry for address. Power Testing The Power Bank True Worcester WR1 1DN. Tel: (0905) 21541. UPS with sealed -in batteries. Rated at MPL Power Systems Series 6 power Compec Systems A 250VA unit is under 120VA giving backup of 60 minutes; conditioners Electronically controlled development, aimed specifically at the £373. Rated at 250VA giving backup of line voltage conditioners rated from IBM PC. Compec Systems Ltd, Welton, 43 minutes; £511. Rated at 500VA 1,000 VA to 5kVA; from £432. All come Brough, North Humberside, HU15 1PT. giving backup of 36 minutes; £917. as plug-in boxes. See previous entry Telephone: (0482) 666624. Power Testing (Sales) Ltd, 65a for address. Shenfield Road, Shenfield, Essex Eccleston Electronics Battpower True CM15 8HA. Telephone: (0277) 2333188. Sola Banner Sola Constant voltage UPS rated 180VA, giving back-up time transformers available rated from of 70 to 420 minutes; £440. Rated Sola-Banner Mini -UPS True UPS. A large 70VA to 2kVA. The smaller units offer 300VA gives back-up time of 45 to 210 range of units starting at 300VA giving 70VA, 140VA, 250VA and 500 VA; from minutes; £767. Rated 600VA gives backup of 25 minutes; £1,000 plus. £100. All come as plug-in boxes. Sola backup time of 15 to 20 minutes; See previous entry for address.

?20 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 Wouldyou like to have Power? While all the rest are in the dark. Meet the POWER T

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Output derived constantly from self contained * Much more than a "spike and surge" suppressor. sealed for life batteries. Far superior to a voltage stabilizer. Sine wave shaped output - voltage and fre- " Overload and short circuit (output) indication quency closely regulated. and protection. Genuine "NO BREAK" unit with continuous *Bench or rack mounting (500VA). output ratings of 500-250 & 120VA. *Battery level monitored - mains on - mains off indication. could you bank on that much power ? MANUFACTURED BY: - Power Testing (Sales) Ltd. 23 Tallon Road, Hutton, Brentwood,Essex CM 131TE Tel Brentwood (0277) 233188.Telex 24224 MONREF 586 Circle No. 172 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 Each time he fired, an enemy died. His face wore an impassive blank- ness as his fingers, barely moving, operated the controls of his machine, but his eyes were filled with resolve and dedication. He knew the end was near, but his gaze did not wander from the screen to the portentous rfiend fuel gauge for an instant. That would meanwork. Not much point me being there, is "They have coMponents made of advanced missing a target, wasting a round. He neverthere?" The last sentence was spoken in a steel alloys, and electronically controlled wasted a round. To shoot was to destroy. bitter tone. engines, yet they are based on principles The fuel ran out. The shrill sounds of the The stranger looked thoughtful. "You known to the Romans; hot gases expand. warning filled his ears as the controls froze. don't like school?" But they are grossly inefficient. Don't you His last missiles smashed into the target "I would if it liked me." think that in 2,000 years something more ships,blowing them intoincandescent "Have you considered a special school?" elegant could have been contrived?" fragments. For a while the screen was clear, "I have; but my parents think that I'm "Like what?" then two enemy ships popped outofbetter off with 'normal' boys." "I told you, I'm not a scientist. But where hyperspace ahead of him. One flashed "So you come here to avoid school?" I come from, we have engines as far in across his field of vision; Starfiend's finger "No!" Starfiendwas adamant. advance of those cars as they are in advance touched his fire button automatically and "School'sunpleasant;andthereI'm of Newcomen's. That, and a thousand the ship ceased to exist. Meanwhile, theaverage to poor. But here, I'm king. The other wonders, such as my presence here." other accelerated along a wide curve, cleararcade owner never turns the machines off, "Where do you come from?" Starfiend of his field of fire. It was going to ram him.so my name's on top of all their lists. I don't felt cautious. He was not afraid; if the They wanted him that badly. want them to know who Starfiend is.I stranger intended him harm, he could have The screen blazed blue -white, and theknow, and that's all I need." done so already. Perhaps he was insane. echoes of the explosion chased each other The stranger nodded, as if he had heard Yes, that was it. up and down the arcade. Starfiend gurgledsomething he already knew. "Are you "I will tell you in a minute. First, though, in delight and, in answer to the machine's let me ask you this: how is it, do you think, prompt, entered his name. It appeared, in that I am able to understand you so easily?" coruscating letters, at the top of the screen by L S Murray "I don't know." while below it the machine proceeded with "Perhaps this will make it clear." the important business of enticing the next going back to school now?" he asked. For a second Starfield wondered what he client. Starfiend nodded. The stranger continued,meant. Then it dawned on him; the stranger As Starfiend turned to leave, he bumped "May I walk with you?" had not moved his lips. He had not spoken into the man who had been watching over the last sentence. his shoulder. Starfiend had not seen him They leftthearcade and made arrive but such had been his concentration their way down the High Street,a "Telepathy," thought Starfiend aloud. that this did not surprise him. "Sorry," he canyon of corrugated iron and plywood His immediate reaction was one of mumbled cursing the tongue, which seemed made both colourful and seedybya relief. lie had been subconsciously puzzled like a roll of carpet and which made his life a profusion of posters advertising gigs andby the ease with which he and his friend misery. He knew that the man would not wrestling matches. For a while they strolled, could communicate and, above all, he knew understand him. silent amid the mid -morning noise andthathe couldresthisaching tongue. "That's alright, son," replied the man. fumes, then the stranger remarked, "HaveSuspicion came next: "How much can you Starfiend gasped inwardly athis error. you ever wondered how those machinessee?" Normally, if strangers bothered at all they work, Starfiend?" "Only what you want me to. Others I could only understand him with persistence "Microprocessors,"repliedtheboy, know can see more, but they don't look and repetition. The man continued, "I've instantly realising that the word was a without reason." been watching you, and I'm very im-meaningless reflex action. "No, I guess "What's it like?" pressed. You must have put in a lot ofnot. I asked my physics teacher once, but "Seeing. Hearing. Touching. But there practice." He paused, inviting a reply. all I got was a load of chat about energy are drawbacks. Consider those cars we saw. Starfiendwriggledininnerconflict. gaps and conduction bands." If I tried to drive one through your traffic, I Experience told him to escape, before the "I'm surprisedyou remember those would be dead before the day was out. My innocent conversation became an embar- terms." reactions are four times slower than your rassing trap for them both, but curiosity "Once I learn to say something, I don'tpeople consider normal - 12 times slower and excruciating loneliness urged him to forget it." than your own." stay. "No," he ventured, the word rolling The stranger flushed. "I'm sorry." Starfiend was pleased by the indirect off his tongue like a sticky clay ball. The "It's alright, I didn't mean it like that." compliment. He noticed on reflection that stranger raised his eyebrows in interested Actually,hehad,butStarfiendfelt the stranger's gait was rather ponderous. astonishment.Emboldened,Starfiend ashamed of his petulance. New friends were The stranger continued, "So we read continued: "They moved this machine in not to be treated so badly. "Tell me," heminds. Those who are born without the on Monday. That was the fifth time I've asked, "how do microprocessors work?" ability can be cured. The reaction speed we played it." "I don't know. I'm not a scientist, I'm acan do nothing about." The stranger nodded. He had under- soldier. No, the reason I brought the subject "Please tell me where you're from," stood. He scrutinised the machine's score up was to point out a curious anomaly. begged Starfiend. chart. The top five entries were Starfiend's, Doesitnot seem strange to you that "Try a guess." and his lowest score was twice that beneath developments in electronics over the past "I suppose the chances of a race from it. "They'll never grow rich with people like few years far outstrip those made in otheranother planet looking exactly like us are you about," he quipped, then added less fields?" negligible. I doubtthata country of gently, "Shouldn't you be at school?" "Do they?" said Starfiend. As if cued,telepaths could remain undiscovered. That Horror and suspicion flooded Starfiend's two sports cars leapt away from the nearby only leaves one possibility." mind. Was the stranger a school inspector; traffic lights, their exhausts bellowing and "You're right. I'm from your future. a truant hunter? Brazenly, he responded, tyres squealing. They raced neck and neck Yourscientists know that time travel "Yes. Right now, I should be attending a up the hill and were lost to sight. ispossible,but they shrink from the music lesson. The music teacher likes choral "Take those cars," said the stranger.consequences .. ."

122 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 Fiction

"Which are?" Starfiend had alreadynodded. They turned into the vandalised The time traveller grasped his wrist firmly discovered that interruptions were muchdoorway of a shop, where a dazzling bluey but gently. "You can still go back," he said. easier in telepathic conversation, infactpurple ball appeared at stomach height. It Starfiendshookhisheadvigorously. almost unavoidable. dilated into an ellipse as large as a man. "Mind the edges, then," said the time "Effect without cause. Call it backwatersThrough it, Starfiend saw his first glimpsetraveller. in time, if you like. It's no more difficult aof the land where he would be a hero. They stepped through. concept than Einsteinian relativity would have been to a contemporary of Galileo." "But what about all the objections? Like killing your own father before you were conceived?" The stranger laughed. "You might cause yourself to cease to exist. Or not. Or you might not be able to kill your father, no matter how hard you try. In any case, don't letit bother you. Time travel is possible. The space-time continuum can be changed, but it is elastic, and changes tend to smooth themselves out eventually."

QuestionswhirledinStarfiend's brain. The stranger answered them. "Yes, we still have weapons, and wars to be fought with them, although not amongst our own kind. Far, far in the future. No, we don't use our control of time against our foes,sinceto do so might provoke retaliation that could destroy everything. Everything! Neither do we or the enemy allow artificial minds to fight for us." He saddened, and answered Starfiend's last question. "Yes, we are losing. That is why I'm here." "Your telepathy is useless in war, and your slow reaction speed leaves you at a disadvantage. Why don't you send com- puters to fight your battles for you?" "Because that would start an uncontrol- lable race which would lead to sentient machines - sentient creatures - being created to destroy each other. Neither us nor the enemy are that dishonourable." "Then change your reactions." "We cannot. We no longer have the necessary gene pool.I have come to get those genes." Starfiend knew then that he should wake out of what seemed to be a dream, or be terrified, but neither happened. Instead, he quivered with excitement. "And the arcade games? Microelectronics?" "Screening machines. Presents from us to you, given through the minds of your engineers. I know you want to come, Starfiend." "My family . . ." hedged the boy. "I can make itasif you have never existed. There will have been a minor disturbance outside your house the night you would have been conceived. You will become a backwater in time." "Truly?" "We cannot lie with our thoughts, my friend." "Alright." Instantly, Starfiendfelta wrench within his stomach. A car moved 10 metres forwards instantaneously; a piece of paper at their feet vanished. Throughout the world, similartrivial changes took place. Starfiend's parents had a new son who was normal in every respect, and they were happy. "Ready?" said the stranger. Starfiend

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 123 CFACC The Best Accounts Programmeonthe Market

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MANUFACTURERS 1 Address Section Stock Reports 16 INDEXED STOCK RETAILERS 2 Sales Invoices VAT Statements 17 MULTI -CURRENCY 3 Purchase Invoices Purchase Ledgers & Daybook 18 SOLICITORS 4 Delivery Note Entry Sales Ledgers & Daybook 19 FIFO STOCK CONTROL CAR SALES 5 Purchase Order Control Ledger Code Print 20 MULTIPLE DISCOUNTS 6 Payments Made Capital Assets 21 GARAGE FORECOURTS & PLUSSAGE 7 Payments Received End of Month/Year 22 ARCHITECTS 8 Record Alteration Accountants Section 23 INTEGRATED CREDIT POINT OF SALE 9 Creditors Payroll Section 24 CONTROL LETTERS 10 Debtors Bank Reconcilation 25 SALES ORDER & BACK ORDER * * * 11 Supplier Statements Profit & Loss Account 26 CONTROL SINGLE OR MULTI-USER 12 Customer Statements Balance Sheet 27 13 Agent Statements Management Financial Reports 28 INCOMPLETE RECORDS * * * 14 Customer & Supplier Index Change Disks 29 * * * ARABIC VERSION AVAILABLE 15 Depending on Version Finish Using CFAAC/ Make Back-up 30 * * *

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REAL INTEGRATION 'CFACC' is designed and written as a complete integrated system. It is not a collection of individual programmes joined together.

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Circle No. 173 124 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 Integrated software Happiness is ashared file The word "integrated" sells software. In this special 13 -page feature we look at what this term means and at whether what it describes is worth having.

IN THE LAST YEAR there has been a stronggenerally that each package works rathersystem of the machine, and works up move towards software that can share datadifferently, so the user has to spend timethrough software tools such as on -screen withotherapplications,orsoftwarelearning how to use each one. window managers andvirtual -memory packages that combine several functions. Multi -function packages like Lotus 1-2-3managers to the application level. This These are integrated packages. Integrationor TheIncredibleJacktakeintegra-allows the advantages of the multi -function simply meaning combining isolated partstionastagefurther.Thestandardapproachtobecombinedwiththe into a more useful whole. word processing, spreadsheet, filing andflexibility of the integrated suite approach As hardware has improved, integrationsometimesgraphingfunctionsareall in adding new applications. has become a more achievable goal. Mostprovided from one large package. This integratedsystemsrequireplentyofprovides an opportunityto make the memory andoftenhigh -capacitydisc package easier to use. To the ability to passStandards drives.Buttop -endhard -discbased data betweentasksisadded a more What most users really want is to be able products like Visi On and the Apple Lisa consistentset of commands across the totransferdata,withits structure have encouraged other software writers torange of tasks the package is capable of. undamaged, to a completely unfamiliar look anew at what is possible on more Lotusappearstotheuserasa applicationrunningonacompletely affordable equipment. spreadsheet with built-in text editing anddifferent brand of machine. Documents graphing functions; Jack seems like a word can already be moved by public -access processor that can file and handle tabularelectronic -mail systems such as Telecom More and cheaperdata. The limitation of this multi -functionGold, but there are limitations.If,for The Incredible Jack provides integratedapproach comes when you want to add an example,you wantedtotransferthe word processing,filing and spreadsheetapplication not allowed for in the originalcontents of a Lisa -generated report across analysis on floppy -based Apple II and IBM design. to a distant Sirius you could probably do it, PC systems. Vizastar claims to do the same The next stepisthe fully integratedbut would have to sacrifice allbut the for the floppy -based Commodore 64.It environment,seen on systemslikethestraightforward text. A full solution to this seems likely that the coming year will seeMacintosh, Lisa, Xerox Star and Grid. problem requires not one but a hierarchy of integratedpackagesforanincreasingHere,developmentoftheintegrated standards governing data representation number of low-cost machines. software starts with the native operating and hardware. No one wants to type in data for a spreadsheet and again for a word -processed report which needs to reproduce part of a Types of integrated software spreadsheet table. Data integration is the minimum that qualifies a package or range of packagesasintegrated,butitis surprisingly difficult to achieve fully. At the lowest level it means the ability to read files produced by another package. An early attempt at integration was Dif, thedatainterchangeformatusedin VisiCalc, which specified not just the raw data format but how field attributes should be represented. The writers of VisiCalc Integrated suite Integrated environment went on to produce a whole range of different applications which could swap data between them. Many present-day packages have this level of integration. We have called these packages integrated suites. They are really sets of separate but matching programs which can share data, but each application is distinct. The advantage is that if you only want to do word processing, mailing and spelling checking but not record keeping or Integrated accounts Multi -function package spreadsheet analysis you only need buy the applications you want. The disadvantage is Integration ranges from a linked suite of programs to a full Lisa -like environment.

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 126 Keep it in the

Ntos-r MICRO USERS need to be enthusiasts. allow dealers, or users with time to spare, to and mistakes that jam legitimate roots As well as having to put up with expensive,set up a simple press -button interface thattogether to form meaningless words like limited hardware, they have to adapt theirshort-cuts the strings of operating -systemundion. methods of working to a hotch-potch ofcommands needed to evoke each package Unlike WordStar, Perfect Writer stores different software packages, each requiringindividually. all its text as true ASCII so there are no memorisation ofits own repertoire of The Perfect family of software rep-tricky high bits set at the end of words, or commands and control sequences, andresentsarelativelymodest attemptat soft Carriage Returns that make a mess of storing data in its own unique format. integration,butistypicalofwhatthe screen when typed out directly. This As an answer to the charges that theymanufacturers feel able to achieve. It hasphilosophy is also fundamental to Perfect have no common standards, the softwarebeenbuiltaroundasetof commonCale and Perfect Filer. Admittedly, ASCII houses are offering collations described asconcepts: data stored as ASCII, multipleformatisnot thefastest or the most "integrated software suites of advancedbuffers,virtual -memoryarchitecture,compact way of storingdata, andis management tools". So now you have themnemonic control command structure andparticularly unusualina Calc, butit Star family from Micropro, the Perfecttransient menus. simplifiesdatatransferforthepro- family from Perfect Software, and the The standard Perfect family consists ofgrammer. There are advantages for the Super family from Sorcim, to mention butPerfect Writer, Perfect Speller,Perfectuser too. Perfect Calc keeps all its functions three. Calc and Perfect Filer, and appears as ain a function library which is also stored in bundled package on a number of micros. IfASCII format and is accessible for change you are running an IBM PC you can addorextension,althoughthe manualis Generations the Perfect Link communications packagetaciturn about how to do this. Like human families, they are made upto this suite. Perfect Link can talk down of a mixture of generations. Typically a simple cable connections and phone lines to single product leads the way into theother computers, and can also persuadeCalculating marketplace, with others - sometimes IBM drives to behave as if they belonged to Themultiplebufferingprincipleis bought in from other software houses -other machines like the Epson QX-10, thecarried over effectively into Perfect Calc. added later to fill any gaps. Perfect Writer, NEC 8001a, or double -density OsborneMost Calcs allow you to split the screen so originallypioneeredby Mark of the drives. that you can see various parts of the same Unicorn,isthefather of thePerfect PerfectWriter was reviewedinthespreadsheet at the same time. Perfect Calc Family;Supercalc,now upgradedto February 1983 issue of Practical Com-goes a step further by allowing each part of versions 2 and 3, heads the Supers, and theputing and is chiefly remarkable for itsthe screen to be a window on a different grandfather of the Stars is good old reliableability to juggle up to seven separate files at buffer, and there can be up to seven files WordStar. the same time, making it simple to refer toactive at any one time. This makes it very There is even a solution for users whoone file while writing another, or to transfereasy to do calculations across spreadsheets, have bought a disparatecollection ofparagraphs from file to file. The screen can comparing, for example, company budgets packages from different software housesbe split into two parts, each displaying afor this year, last year and next year. and are wondering whether to throw themdifferentbuffer.WithPerfectWriter If necessary most Calcs can write out all away and start again. Micropro sells acomes Perfect Speller, a spelling checkerstandard ASCII files,but Perfect Calc front-end called Starburst, Alpha Microthatusesanotentirelyfoolproofstores its formulae plus row and column markets DBM II,and thereis Menu -algorithm -based dictionary equivalent tosettingsasalistingof thekeystroke manager from Graham Dorian Systems50,000 words. The dictionary looks at thesequences needed to set up the file. All and Menumaster from Borland. They areroots of words rather than whole words,numbersarestoredintheASCII all menu -driven batch control systems that and so is blind to typos like conditionion, representation of a I3 -digit mantissa and a

Supersort A very fast, very comprehensive collection of The Star set sorting routines. Can cope with the standard Star file format and many others. WordStar The old word-processing warhorse. Not the Reportstar A program that allows you to design print best, nor the easiest to use, with a quirky non -ASCII reports from data files created to the standard way of storing data, but still a bestseller. Carriage Return delimited format. Wordmaster A text editor that is a subset of Wordstar, Infostar Datastar and Reportstar bundled together. designed for use by program developers. Little known Starburst A menu -based front end for Micropro and other in this country. application programs. Starindex An indexing and section -numbering system forCalcstar A fairly rudimentary Visi clone. WordStar files. Planstar An advanced spreadsheet and business planner Mailmerge An additional overlay for WordStar that allows with sensitivity analysis and backtracking that can variables in text files to be filed at print time either by produce bar and line graphs. Like Perfect Calc it uses strings or by the contents of whole files. virtual -memory techniques to permit a maximum Spellstar Another add-on to WordStar that checks your spreadsheet size of over 32,000 cells. Too new to vocabulary against a 20,000 -word dictionary with U.S. assess, but at £500 it had better be good. spelling. If you call up the S option from WordStar There are plans to run all these programs eventually on all the without Spellstar on-line, an error message announces popular operating systems, but at the moment the newcomers that it comes in a separate file. Starburst and Plancalc are only available in this country for the Datastar A forms -creation and data -entry system. IBM PC.

12C) PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 Integrated software

Chris Bidmead assesses some software suites to see if they are a real asset to the micro user or just a cosmetic famil marketing effort.

two -digitexponent,whichguardsfinancial planner, Mars, but it is workingsophisticatedfeatureslikesensitivity adequately against rounding errors. Buthardtowardsanambitioussuiteofanalysis and linear projection. this degree of accuracy, which wouldintegrated programs that it hopes to have Supertools is the collective title of four conventionally need only 32 bits, requiresready by the beginning of next year. Theprograms from the Sorcim Corporation. 18 bytes. company's first step has been to add aSupertools also denotes a separate front- For this reason Perfect Calc's spread-databasemanagercalledDatamaster,end package that offers menu -driven entry sheets break no records in loading time, but which is linked into Mars by a conversionto the other programs and controls a on the other hand they do allow for a greatroutine that uses Mailmerge-type ASCIItemporary file, known as the scratch pad, deal of flexibility in the way they can beintermediate format. A similar link to thewhich is used to transfer data between manipulatedoutsidethePerfectCalc company's accounting package, Sun,is programs. environment. For example, spreadsheetscurrently being built. The same conversion can be set up and edited in Perfect Writer,routine is used in the upgrade path fromSupertools or be modified by data called in from theSapphire's £49 Calcmaster. Filer. Spreadsheets can also be transmitted Sapphire recognises that integration is a Supertools includes one or two utilities of over modems with no need to be translatedmuch abused word in software, and admitsits own, and can act as a kind of shell to into an intermediate transmission formatthat its own offering constitutes integrationMS-DOS, driving commands like Del, Ren like the DIF format used with VisiCalc. of a very rudimentary kind. But rather thanand Chkdsk in a friendly and accessible disguise the joins with a cosmetic front endway through simple menus. Configuring it is putting all its efforts into a revision ofSupertools for a particular system is only a No short cuts the programs themselves. A new version ofmatter of editing a text file called Super.fig, Perfect Filer is a conventional flat -fileMars, written in C instead of CBasic, willwhich contains data concerning which management system. It would be undist-integrate properly with Datamaster, anddrives particular files are going to be kept inguished as a product on its own but works with a word processor as yet unnamedon, which function keys should operate well with Perfect Writer, although there are which is to be added at end of this year. which commands, and whatisto be no short cuts for moving data. To supply at least a cosmetic sense ofdisplayed on the screen. The first hint that the programs of the integration, Micropro recently introduced a The four advanced management tools Perfectfamily do not understand onefront end toallits packages. Starburstthat Supertools has at its fingertips are another as well as they should comes whenallows menus to be set up to drive appli- Superwriter,aneasy -to -useword you configure them for your terminal.cations packages - and not only those processor praised foritssimple and Setting up Perfect Writer is a complicatedfrom Micropro - either directly or by way direct command style. A Superwriter business,butthatisonlyreasonableof decision -making batch files. This isolates two -key sequence can usually accomplish considering the power of the program. Butthe user completely from the operating whatittakes three or four keys in when you come to set up Perfect Calc,system and from irrelevant details of the WordStar to do. It includes a spelling instead of a simply running a routine toapplication packages that are being driven checkerbasedonanexpandable look at the configuration file created whenat the time. 20,000 -word dictionary. you installedthe word processor,the This may help make a disparate bundle Supercalc 2, an upgraded version of spreadsheet installation program takes youof applications programs look more like a Supercalc, reviewed in the May 1982 through the whole procedure again. coherent system, but without a standard for issue of Practical Computing. It now Peachtree Software offers its own basketpassing data it is not true integration. But includes a date data type that lets you of "five important officeproductivitythe separate Micropro packages areall calculate the number of days between tools"under the name of Peachpak.capable of using the same ASCII Carriage dates to identify overdue accounts, and Components are Returndelimiteddataformat,with canalsoconsolidatedatabetween Peachcalc, a standard Visi clone. commas and sometimes double quotes separate spreadsheets. enclosing fields. Businessgraphics,amenu -driven Superplanner, a desk -top organiser that graphics generator for the screen, printer works like an animated diary. orplotter,witha repertoire of10 Double keying Supercomm, a communications package different types of chart. It links primarily The standard Micropro packages listed to tap into phone networks by way of a to Peachcalc. in the box use this format to pass data modem. Listmanager,asimpleflat -file between them, but the process is by no Superwriter is worthy of mention on managementsystemforgenerating means automatic. WordStar can create aaccount of its auto insert mode that lets you mailing lists and labels. Carriage Return delimited file to be read by edit by overwriting until you reach the Spelling proof reader, a typo catcher Mailmerge, for example, or speed up thespace character that terminates the word, process of entry by creating the same file aswhereupon insert mode is entered auto- based on an expandable 20,000 word a series of Datastar records. Calcstar canmatically. Superwriter is a step up from dictionary. also create a similar file, but is not able toWordStar, avoiding WordStar's insistence File converter, a VisiCalc to Peachcalcread it in. So records inside Datastar haveon a different type of marker for the and WordStar to Peachtext reformatter.to be keyed in again if you want them inbeginning and end of a block. Supertools Peachpakdoesnotincludeawordspreadsheet form. automates the moving of data between processor - you have to buy Peachtext Such rekeying is what integrated soft-Superwriter and Supercalc 2 by way of the separately - but the six are all supposed towareisdesigned to avoid. The recentscratch pad, to the point where you only work together. launch of Planstar aims to put this right. have to press a function key a few times, Sapphire Systems is a British softwarePlanstar is an upgrade of Calcstar that but this is still an action the user has to carry company known in the micro market for itsadoptsvirtualfiletechniquestoadd out explicitly.

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 127 BY THETIME thisissue of Practical Computing hits the streets, the QL should already be in the hands of the lucky few. Such isSinclair'slatest promise, which some people will believe when they see it. One thing that is around and running is the software from Psion. Admittedly this preview is not based on hands-on experience - it was claimed that the pre -production QL used to show off the software was too fragile for the likes of journalists to use. Moreover, Microdrives were conspicuous by their absence, fuelling speculation that there are problems with quartet this storage medium; instead the programs were loaded from plug-in ROM boards. Glyn Moody reports on the software being bundled in Psionhasbeenisolatedfromthe with the new Sinclair micro. development and production problems of the QL by its decision to write all thedirectly, and text strings prefaced by ". Up as a column heading or row label may be software in highly portable C on a Vax to 64 columns and 256 rows are available,used to refer to a cell. For example, in an minicomputer. Whenthisiscrossalthough it is not clear how much memory financial spreadsheet with a row marked compiled, little modification is required towill be required to store this size of sheet. In Sales, and with columns headed by the adapt a program to run on a particularaddition to the usual alphanumeric label - months of the year, it is possible to move to processor. Psion further eased implemen-Al for top left-hand corner - text entered thecellcontaining July'ssalesfigures tation by using software emulators of particularmachinestoenablemost problems to be sorted out in a hardware - Echo Load Quit Illinckw free environment. IMO Amend Files Merge Mout Xecute Altogether 16 programmer -years have Copy Grid OrderSame Zap E9 -4#t 114E111 Des' Justi i Uni .1" M I M I I been devoted to developing the software 1 3 ICIDIEI 0 suite, which offers four main applications: Sottco Budget Exercise 1984 lbousnid minds spreadsheet, word processing,database and business graphics. It has been licensed January FebmiaryMarch April 51 . TOTAL to Sinclair, not sold. Psion retains the copyright, and aims to release versions for les 134.88148.78 147.74155.12 229.19 2132.98 other leading machines in due course. irect 87.18 91.46 %.83198.83 148.97 1386.38 Spreadsheet 46.90 49.25 51.71 54.29 88.21 1 Thespreadsheetpackage,Abacus, la% 3.67 3.67 3.67 3.67 1 3.67 44.84 2.59 2.58 2.58 2.58 1 2.59 38.08 represents an advanced piece of program- 15' - lalectricity 9.43 1' 9.43 37.72 ming relative to other current products. Lelephones 3.29 12.88 The main screen is divided into three areas. command4 isthe control area, which At the top 171 aLt ahlayll 017 53X contains prompts for further inputs and IIIIIII sum(111tM11) lists the function keys. In all the applications packages, pressing F1 provides extensive Help listings which The Abacus sheet divided into two independently scrolling windows. typically occupy about 20K. The Help pages are usually nested. At each level COMMWDS subsidiary screens are called up from a list HELP Type to insert at F3 of options displayed on the screen. Passage press Fl move * Press EWER for new para press F4 press PROMPTS vithtt Delete: SHIFT KEY s *on. back up the tree is via the Return key, press F5 pr:-sz,ESA: marked Enter on the QL. pres-7 F2 kegs Change mode:SHIFT KEYtF4 Beneath the command area is the main London Ia. window on to the spreadsheet. At the bottom of the screen is the status area, Dear John, displaying the current cell, the extent of the Pe : 37. 3aldoa Street. Hill spreadsheet, contents of the current cell and the memory remaining expressed as a I enclose a Cheque for (136.45 for searches percentage. The status area is common to that you have oarried out on this property. I note the other application packages as well. that the property is owned by Hilharbour Estates Another feature common to all four Ltd. and I would be grateful if you oould approach packages is the line editor. Holding down them on our behalf. Shift with the Cursor Left and Cursor Me are prepared tooffer uP to I Right keys moves one word at a time. Using Control with the Cursor Left key deletes the character situated to the left of the cursor; using it with the Cursor Right key 21 PHIT: deletes the charater lying under the cursor. MODE: IMSERT OriPiG: 65 )0(1111Ellf: 'default.doc' Otherwise the line editor is in insert mode. STYLE: Abacus follows the usual formats of other spreadsheets.Figures are entered Quill maintains a continuously updated word and line count.

128 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 Integrated software simply by pressing F5 followed by Text is entered with normal wordwrap.using the Cursor controls. Text is entered jul.sal; The line -editing facilities found in Abacusby prefacing it withor ". The text can be Word order is unimportant, and it is notare supplemented by an overwrite mode,repositioned by moving the cross wires, necessary to enter the full name of the rows whereby additional textreplaces ratherwhich carry the text with them. Pressing or columns. than adds to existing text. Psion has made aEnter when the required point is reached The power of the labelling device extendsneat distinction between single and multiplereleases the text and switches off the cross even further. It can be used to manipulateword insertions. Adding a single word wires. the information contained in the rows andcauses the text which follows to shift along New graphs can be built up by means of columns simultaneously. For example, youand re-form in the usual way. the Newdata command, accessed using F3. can calculate the costs if you know the For large-scale insertion this becomesBefore entering more data, a name must be monthly sales figures. Say, trying on the eyes as large blocks of text given to the new set. A blank grid appears, costs = sales * 0.43 + 169 areshuntedalong andcontinuallyand figures can be entered for the second You canentersucha formulaasareformatted. In Quill, the addition of moregraph. Itis possible to create a further command in the row labelled Costs. Thethan a single word causes a line to split atgraph using the information contained on appropriate figures for each month are thenthe point of insertion. Extra words can thenexisting graphs. For example, you can calculated and entered across the columns fillthe blank space so created withoutcreate a graph calledProfit, whichis by the program automatically. The figuresfurther reformatting. Adding letters to aobtained from the relation contained in labelled rows and columns can word which is a subscript causes those profit = sales - costs even be multiplied together. letters to appear in subscript too. where sales and costs are two previously Other facilities include string concat- graphed sets of data. It is also possible to enation, and the ability to enter Escape display several graphs on the same axes characters into cells. Such features takenStandard function using commands initiated by F4. together with more standard ones like Most of the standard word-processing The graphs are produced very quickly replication and statistical functions makefunctions are available, generally via theand makestrikingusingofcolour. Abacus a very powerful spreadsheet, andfunction key F3 and the relevant single - Although there are a number of command the 68008 processor means that itis alsoletter command - M, for example, calls up screens that allow specific details of the bar very fast. the Margin command. The cursor position or pie charts to be altered, these are almost WithQuill,Psion'sword-processingis then used to relocate any or all of the left, entirely cosmetic changes such as shading. program, the company has opted for aright and paragraph indent margins. In Easelprovidesmostofthefacilities middle course between detailed WP power, addition, left, centre, right and decimal necessary for business graphics and is very as exemplified by WordStar, and a systemtabs can be set up. Blocks to be moved or easy to use. The graphs are limited insofar that is easy to use but limited in its facilities.copied are defined using the cursor. The as they are tied to the month -by -month Like Abacus, Quill has a control areasearch -and -replacefacilitytacklesone structure and the one-year range; day-by- where all prompts appear and the functionword at a time, and requires confirmation day analysis is not possible. keys are listed. At the bottom of the screenfor each replacement. The QL software quartet is completed by the status area records the number of words and worksthe database package Archive. To provide entred, the line and page number and thewell considering the constraints imposedthe additional facilities for customisation, name of the current document. Infor-uponitbythe command structures. Psion has developed a powerful procedure - mation is also given on the mode, whichFurther, the major facilities missing, suchdrivenlanguage whosesyntaxclosely can either be insert or overwrite, and on theas mail merging and a spelling checker, areresembles that of SuperBasic, the QL's new style, which includes options such as bold,currently being developed. structured Basic. subscriptandsuperscript.Stylesare The power of the 68008 processor only Archive can be used as anything from a changedusingF4followedbythereally becomes apparent in the businesslow-level card index up to an advanced appropriatesingle -keycommand. Thegraphics package, Easel, which allows line, intelligent database. The power of this central area of the screen is reserved for textbar and pie charts to be drawn. Once moreprogramming tool is bought at the price of entry. the screen layout is divided into three areas.a rigid syntax, typical of any higher -level The control area lists the roles of the firstlanguage. The manualsare,however, three function keys, as well as giving details helpful in dealing with this. on how to enter text and formulae. The extent of integration between the The main portion of the screen normally programs varies. Apart from Archive, the displays a blank co-ordinate grid, withcommand structures are integrated to a default labels of x-axis, y-axis and title. high degree, which allows a user to pass Cells along the x-axis are labelled with the from one to another with relative ease. The months of the year; the y-axis runs from 0integration of data is more limited. Import to 10. and Export options permit data to be Colour plays an important role in screen transferred between the business graphics layout. The main grid is red on a blackprogram, Easel, and the spreadsheet and background, and the surrounding borders database programs. Bar and line graphs combined in a single are green. Superimposed on the grid is a Since the system seen for this preview Easel display. pair of white cross wires. They are used to was ROM -based and without Microdrives, select the relevant cells when entering datait was not possible to gauge the extent of e.lir. 40.1. antains trtrt *weela In my II... or text. The cross wires are moved along compatibility between applications using OMR Ma ra.r, ta11111111E ru-Mnr mow. from month to month by pressing the Tab thisprocess.Thereisnointegration key, and data is entered directly by keying between the word-processing package Quill

.1(111rIP in the figures and then pressing Enter. Theand other packages. DINIKSG1 graph is quickly plotted and if the new In addition to full software support from value exceeds the previous maximum yPsion, membership of the QL owners' value,the whole graphisresealedto group, QLUB, entitlesusersto future accommodate it. upgrades ofthe QL packages.Even After the graph has been built up it iswithout these, many people will no doubt possible to add text anywhere on the grid. findthewholepackagesufficiently Simple commands can be used to retrieveThe cross wires can be scrolled smoothly inattractivetomakeallthatwaiting files in Psion's database Archive. both horizontal and verticaldirections worthwhile.

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 129 A discaday Jack Schofield checks out some of the multi -function packages on offer to see how well they meet their "do everything" brief. TURN ONthe computer, boot a single disc, Silicon Office had the ability to have six handling facilities. Encore and Context and use it all day : that is the ideal held out filesopenatonce,and when wordhave gone further but in a similar vein. by multi -function packages. One programprocessing could handle 160 A4 -size pages,Encore offers areport -writingfeature, should be able to do word processing,using virtual paging. However, there wereand Context can word process up to five filing, spreadsheet calculations, graphinglimitations.It did not run on everydaypages of text in a single cell. Lotus, in reply, and, if possible, communications. It wouldhardware, only on the 96K Pet, the 8096. It is readying its own do -everything package, be better still to have a program that notwas an expensive package at £800, and it iswhich is not called 4-5-6 as you might only did everything but did it without thenot cheap even today. It was also ratherexpect, but Symphony. need for a special environment, expensiveslow. Even so, it represented a milestone in However, not everyone wants to start hardwareadd-onsoramulti -taskingthe development of integrated software. from a spreadsheet, and other packages operating system. The subject has returned to the limelighthave taken different approaches. Know- So many software writers have hadrecently because of the huge success of aledgeman, for example, offers two distinct exactly such thoughts that multi -functionsingle package running on a single machine: modes: a database and a spreadsheet. The packagesarenowappearingbytheLotus 1-2-3 on the IBM PC. Viewed fromdata -handling facilities are very powerful, score. Open Acceess, The Incredible Jack,the relative quiet of the U.K. it is hard to seebeing derived from MDBS from Micro Jane, T/Maker III, Encore, Knowledge -what the fuss is about. Lotus 1-2-3 is mainlyDataBaseSystemsInc.,butthe man, Symphony, MBA Contexta spreadsheet that does graphs, though itspreadsheet is no more than accomplished. Oman, Vizastar, Supercalc 3, Integrated 6also has a fairly primitive data -handlingThree additional programs can be linked to and many more. They do notall dosystem. Yet at £375 it is far from cheap forKnowledgeman, namely K -text, K -graph everything - in fact, most only do two ora super spreadsheet, particularly as it needs and K -paint, providing even more of a total three things really well. Nor do they all doeither a colour graphics adaptor and colourenvironment. things in the same way. However, themonitor, or a Hercules card before it will power of these programs isincreasingdisplay graphs on the IBM PC. Apple programs rapidly, and the viable all -in -one package Probably the real significance of Lotus could be very close indeed. 1-2-3 is not its integration but two other Oftheprogramsmoreorientated factors.Firstitreallyiseasy to usetowards word processing, like the original considering it is such a powerful package,Silicon Office, the most interesting are Jane Silicon Office whichisimportantfor newcomers toand The Incredible Jack. A special feature The whole process started in 1981 withcomputing. Second, it was launched withof these is that they run on the Apple II. Silicon Office from the Bristol Softwaremassive advertising, which is nowadaysJack is promised for the IBM PC, and Jane Factory. Here was a program that did wordeven more important than the quality of thefor the Commodore 64, Atari 800XL and processing,database management andproduct. other small machines as well as the IBM communications.Itcouldalsobe The success of Lotus has brought forth aPC. configuredtohandlevirtuallyanyplethora of Lotus-eaters - programs that Janeisathoroughly contemporary application,includingstockcontrol,do as many, if not more, things as Lotus,package in using icons, windows and a payroll and the usual business ledgers. Itand often about as well,if not better.mouse. On the demo disc we received the was truly a miracle of its time, and the newSupercalc 3 is a good example of a similarprogram has three distinct parts: Janewrite, 16 -bitversion has by no means beenproduct,aspreadsheetwithbuilt-inJanecalc and Janelist. Electronic mail will overtaken by recent American offerings. businessgraphicsandlimiteddata - be available at a later date.

SpreadSheet This is the Envelope Screen. Word Processor Graphics Time_Mgmt Communication MESE= 3 -23-84 Utilities Operating_System

Disk in Use

At the right of the screen is a Disk These are the different options available to you in Open Access. icon labelled "Disk In Use-. Move into that option by moving the cursor and pressing 44o). Press (help) again if you need to find out where different function keys are.

Information -Management - A relational database management tool. Restart Faster Slower Quiet Continue Leave

Jack 2 uses icons for user friendliness. This photo is taken Open Access uses windows. Here the options and help from the tutorial disc, hence the help messages. windows have been called up.

1 30 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 Integrated software

Each function can be calledinto a Underneath Jackisafilingsystem, Incredible Jack cannot handle it, so you window on the screen by selecting the which can be displayed visually as a series may be driven to another package. Also, appropriate icon, and each function seems of 50 envelope files. Pointing to a fileyou might want to add a different kind of easy to use. Using the mouse, a set of enables you to look at the forms inside it. Itprogramentirely,andthatpresents figures from, say, the spreadsheet, can be seems fast and efficient, though it does not problems. selected and transferred to a letter -a sort qualify as a sophisticated database. Integrated packages like The Incredible of cut and paste. But real life is rarely as Jack and Lotus 1-2-3 are excellent when straightforward as a demo disc, and theAmazing! they do what you want. When they do not degree of interaction between the programs you may beforced back toseparate will remain a mystery until Arktronics Jackisundoubtedlyincredible.For applicationspackages,orconstructing launches the actual program. example,itispossibletoinclude what you want with,say,dBaseII. The Incredible Jack has been available spreadsheets and graphs inside a formHowever, thereisanalternative:the on the Apple IIfor a few weeks andletter, and have these filled in from the integrated environment. is alreadygatheringanenthusiastic filing system. It also handles multi -column following. The IBM PC version is expected word processing with ease. Otherwise, ifDisc changes shortly, but it was "expected shortly" last your requirements are not too complicated, Open Access and Visi On are huge do - February too. this program comes about the closest yet to offering everything in one package and on everything programs which use multiple No windows one disc. windowsandpresentthemselvesas There are still limitations. If you want aintegrated packages. Both programs work Jack does not use windows nor does it more sophisticated type of chart. Thein essentially the same way. A monitor offer a "desktop metaphor". Insteadit program controls the whole operation allowswordprocessing,spreadsheet whilecallingindividualprogramsto calculations and graphics on the same performspecifictasks.Endingone screen, in the same document, at the same programautomaticallybootsanother, time. You can use the screen as you would a though this may require a change of disc. It sheetofpaper,creatingyour own may be relatively easy to transfer data from spreadsheet and drawing your own graphs. one function to another, but both are Open elp Idindoe really suites not single integrated packages. There is no preordained arrangement of unur DisplNay Cowden/ SelectIon Menu cellsasina normal spreadsheet.So .earoh. Seerd,or. e1.1e or nue Thus Open Access and Visi On are not ,,,, }oule entry type between Mk and TR stay? ',ditch tetuen ler, center and ruht end ,,,,,, 1651,116 particularly different from running any commands do not take the form Oupute result of en eepresslon entered 61the A3 A2 - A1 suite of programs under a common shell but program.The Microprorangeunder Margin = Sales - Costs Open Access has a standard Starburst, for example, or a mixture of Graphing facilities are limited to point and spreadsheet, shown here with help packages under the DesQ program from bar charts. windows. Quarterdeck are quite similar in practice. Eg

to .S.' co co ... e. e. c.. _4? S- tr WN e la t0 I/* 4. Re ro 41 c.) Notes Runs on Price Importer or supplier

Encore N Enhanced spreadsheet with IBM PC. Sirius 1 £375 Dataflex Ferox Microsystems modelling and report writing 01.748 4176

Jane * * N Uses icons. windows. mouse: Apple II (so far) $295 Arktronics (Paris) Arktronics claims to be easy to use 522 -15.15

Knowledgeman Plus * ** * ** * ** ** * TBA Suite of Knowledgeman plus K -graph for IBM PC Only: £450- Tamsys Micro Data Base Systems K -text. K -graph. K -paint otherwise MS-DOS. CPIM-86 £725 (07535156747

Lotus 1-2.3 * ** * ** * N Powerful and user-friendly: IBM PC. Wang. DEC. TI: Sirius £375 Lotus Lotus Development Corp reviewed in PC. January 1984 in U.S. version only (07531840499

MBA Context 2.2 * ** * ** Big and not easy to use IBM PC. etc. under UCSD-p $695 Context (California) Context Management Systems 1213) 378-8277

Oman * ** * ** * ** ** * y Large environment: includes PC -DOS. MS-DOS. CPIM-86 £495 Graffcom Systems Graffcom Systems diary. phone book. etc. and Concurrent CPIM-86 01-385 9422

Open Access * ** * ** * ** ** * y Large environment with 3D IBM PC £495 Softsel Software Products graphics: on two dsldd discs 01-844 2040 International Silicon Office v.2 * ** - ** * Also accounts: links to Lotus IBM PC. DEC Rainbow. Sirius£790 Bristol Soft. Fact. Bristol Software Factory 1-2-3 1. Apricot (02721735022

Supercalc 3 * ** * ** * N Enhanced spreadsheet: part of IBM-PC. Sirius 1. Apricot £295 ACT Pulsar Sorcim Corporation a suite including Superwriter 021.455 7000

Symphony Not here yet IBM PC with 320K RAM S695 Softsel Lotus Development 01.844 2040

The Incredible JacklJack2 * ** * * ** * N Powerful and easy to use; runs Apple II from Pete and Pam £130 (0706) 212321 Business Solutions Inc under UCSD-p IBM PC from Pace Software 102741729306

TlMaker III * * * ** * N Somewhat unknown quantity IBM PC. etc. $275 TlMaker (California) TlMaker Corporation (4151326-6103

VizastarNizawrite ? Links to Vizawrite: not seen it Commodore 64 £100 Viza Software yet (0634) 813780 Prices do not include VAT

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 1 3 1 A friendly environment Ian Stobie looks at the highest level of integration- the mouse -and -icon systems found on Visi On, the Apple Mac and Xerox's Star. AS PERSONAL COMPUTERS get moredescribingthe new softwarethanmost -used routines and those of most powerful the real hold-up in developing"operating system". By contrast, the olderinterest to anyone thinking of writing their fully integrated applications is the limitedmicrocomputeroperatingsystemslike own programs. A 46K program called facilitiesofthetypical PC operatingCP/M force the user into awareness of theFinder performs most other operating - system. In hardware terms today's 16 -bitoperating system as a separate thing. Thesystem functions, aided by a further 200K microsarecomparabletothemini-operating -system commands necessary toof system files which are brought in off disc computers of about five years ago. Yetcontrol them form a separate and oftenas needed. though they have similar processing power,difficultlanguagewhichhaslittle The Macintosh system uses two different increasingly large amounts of memory andresemblance to the way the user interactsdata formats for moving data round inter- often better graphics, until recently mostwiththesystemonce anapplicationnally; pure ASCII text and pictures. ASCII PC operating systems werestillfairlyprogram is running. text is used where visual attributes do not rudimentary by minicomputer standards. In providing a very full user interface thematter, for instance in numeric data held in The level of integration achieved bynew integrated environments do a lot of software suites which run under standardwork which was previously done by pro- Well, this time I am going to copy teddy bears in off the clipboard, were I hope I put them personal computer operating systems likegrammers each time they wrote a new from MacPaint.Let's first off generate a CP/M and MS-DOS isstill fairly super-application. If the routines which do these bit of text so I can have a paragraph or two ficial. You can move data between differentthings are made available to application to play around with. applications, but the process is not alwaysprogrammers they can write frequent calls very easy. What is more, some useful infor-to the operating system into their code to mation is often lost; for instance, columncarry out routine tasks. This approachBoars: headings in spreadsheet data, or formattingmakes it easier to write new applications information in data taken from a word-whichare command compatiblewith processing document. existing ones, and they can be produced relatively quickly. The operating -system routines also impose standard data formats Easy transfer and ways of manipulating data, which in turn makes data compatibility between Realintegrationrequireseasy,even applications easier to achieve. automatic, movement of data between The cost of acquiring the development applications, and the full retention of the toolsnecessaryfor producing wellin- structure of thedata. A furtherkey tegratedprogramsvariesbetweenthe requirement is a standardised user interface different systems. It is less than £200 for the inall applications. The user should not Bears, or other pictures, can't be nest to Macintosh, but several thousand pounds have to learn a new set of commands and afor Visi On, which requires a separate each other horizontallg unless that is new wayofdoingthingsineachUnix -based development system. how you drew thaw in MacPaint. application. One way of meeting these requirements is Output from Macwrite, Mac's Apple - to expand the role of the operating system. written word processor, incorporating This is the approach adopted by systems graphic images from Macpaint. like the Macintosh, Lisa, Grid Compass and Xerox Star where, typically, all aspects The latest and cheapest example of a aluleM111.. 1.11Unillill alt et of the user interface are handled by thefullyintegratedsystemistheApple Manual ulalion operating system. Macintosh.Itcosts under £2,000 for a So all-pervading does theoperatingsingle -drive system and is just beginning to system become that it disappears from thebecome available in volume on the U.K. ordinary user's view as a separate entity. Itmarket. is always hard at work and the user is We previewed the Macintosh inthe always interacting with it, even when usingMarch issueof Practical Computingand an application program. The operatinghave since had the opportunity of using it system becomes indistinguishable from thewithtwoapplications,Macwriteand applications itis running. The notion ofMacpaint. The illustrations on page 125 of runninga program disappears,tobethis issue were produced with Macpaint. Microsoft's Mac Multiplan uses the replaced by ideas like opening a window on The Macintosh environmentisestab- Mac's system routines. Data can be an electronic desk top. lishedbytwosubstantialpiecesoftransferred to other applications using For these reasons "integrated environ-software. A built-in 64K ROM holds the the standard Mac Cut and Paste ment"isa far more accurate way ofuser -interface toolbox, which contains the commands. Integrated software aspreadsheet.The pictureformatis Paste. The information is then transferred. established by a routine called Quickdraw Frequently used text or pictures can be in the 64K ROM; aswell as drawing storedonanotherMacentity,the picturesitdisplays text when you use ascrapbook, from which it can be copied GRID fancyfount. A routinecalledScrap into documents and drawings as required. Manager, also contained in the ROM, isMicrosoft, which is bringing out several The Grid Compass, reviewed on page 90 responsibleforcopyingdata betweenapplications for the Macintosh, uses the of this issue, can run either MS-DOS or different applications. It can handle eitherCut, Copy and Paste commands in its Macsoftware running under its own operating ASCII text or Quickdraw-format picture Multiplan. Because it looks very similar to system. Grid OS costs £785 and comes data. existing Mac applications it is easy to learn complete with a set of applications which Allthis happens below the ordinaryto use. Data can be moved via the Mac's do the common tasks of word processing, user's level of awareness. Its only manifest- clipboard to other applications. spreadsheet analysis,business graphics, ation is the easy and consistent way data Mac software works generally in a veryrecord keeping and communications. These can be moved around, both within andsimilar way to Apple's more up-marketapplications are both command and data between applications. The usual way ofsystem, the Lisa. Both employ the desk- integrated. doing this is to use the Cut, Copy and Paste top metaphor, with multiple on -screen The Grid OS user interface employs a commands. windows and icons. The differences are mixture of menus and keyboard com- mainly in the hardware: the standard Mac mands. The system is simple to use and is comes with just one 400K disc drive andappliedconsistently.The keyboard Clipboard 128K of RAM, while the £5,500 Lisa comes commands involve holding down the Code First you select the information you want complete with a 5Mbyte hard disc andkey and hitting another key which deter- to copy by dragging the mouse pointer 1Mbyte of RAM. mines theactiontobeimplemented. across it. You then pull down the Edit Visi On from Visicorp adopts a veryKeyboard overlays and several context - menu and select Cut or Copy, depending on similar approach to the Lisa and Mac- dependent help screens are provided to whether you want to delete or retain theintosh. But itis a software -only product remind you of the commands. information in its original position. The and is designed ultimately to run on a range For instance, having typed data into a system then transfers the selected text, of machines rather being tied to a specific Gridplan spreadsheet, Code -T brings up drawing, table or whatever to the clip- hardware configuration. Visi On does not the transfer menu, from which you can save board, an area of memory which if yougo as far as replacing a machine's native and exit or transfer data across to another choose to display it on the screen in fact operating systemaltogether;insteadit application. You can take a column across looks like a clipboard. supplements it with a whole range of run- to Gridplot this way. To get information off the clipboard you time ultilities and software tools which are Once you are in Gridplot, Code -G causes first position the pointer where you want used by Visi On applications. They sit on a graph to be drawn with current options the information to go. This may simplytop of the operating system, whichis set; or Code -0 lets you choose from a mean scrolling through the document you generally MS-DOS. whole range of graph types and options. are working on, or opening a new window In practice the effect is the same. The Gridplot is very fast at plotting to the screen foranew documentoradifferent operating system disappears from view,as it uses the Grid's 8087 arithmetic co- application, but in any case the clipboard and the user is faced with a single uniform processor for its calculations. Output can will still contain the information you put on integrated environment. Visi On requires aalso go to the printer or a Hewlett-Packard it. Having positioned the pointer, you click hard -disc system, and the IBM PC XT withplotter connected to the Grid's IEEE -488 the mouse button to confirm the position, the necessary software costs about the sameinterface. then pull down the Edit menu and select as a comparable Lisa system. (continued on next page)

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1. A Grid menu. You select an item by 2. A Gridplan worksheet. Items can be 3. The same price data transferred to moving the bar over it, and fill in form transferred to Gridplot to produce graphs, Gridplot; the smaller size 80 -column type items at the bottom of the screen. or to Gridwrite to include in documents. fount has been used to label the graph.

Petrol who gets the money Petrol who gets the money Pet 1 he from t'ical al lore inerr- 11 11, from atypical gallon 1 pence.' 74 10 801 40 3'. 70 70 60 60 6 50 50 41 40 30 11113=31line GraphPie Char 20 ar

10 aph or,gent at ion I an. cat- . Bar8wsi ground Orientation Grad .erriralaph Paper Standard Hleynment Left 80 CIO 43 5'. 'se mittocar 3 March 1983 Standard Format Integer Source. lettocar 3 March 1983 Milfholesale ©Garage Margin 1111E,:cise Duty Standard Coition Width 8 '1, -Wholesale EZIGarage Margin IlliErctse Duty MOAT 0 15% Current typeface Bate It -in 5.7 /BAT 0 15%

4,5,6. Two ways of showing one set of petrol price data. Gridplot encouragesyou to tryout different ways of displaying data as there are lots of options and it is very fast. The middle picture shows the options menu.

PRAC: 98.; Integrated software

(continued from previous page) which can have a variety of different Xerox Text generated anywhere on the network Gridplan or Gridplot images can be systems attached to it. The network can becan be transferred across to a Star work transferredacrossusingCode -Ttoconnected up via telecommunications linesstation for editing and enhancement. An documentsproducedwiththeword to other networks anywhere in the world. icon on the Star screen called Converter can processor,Gridwrite.Youcanmove The basic Star 8010 unit costs £12,000be opened tocarry out the necessary spreadsheet data and then manipulate it, orwith the standard word-processing andreformatting. The Star's own text -editing include exact screen images. Gridfile, thesystemutilitysoftwarepackage.Thesoftware can handle multiple typefaces and Compass's database program, is also datahardware includes a large 15in. by 12in.sizes, and thereis an optional package integrated with the other applications. black on white screen, a two -button mousewhich provides support for mathematical and a keyboard. A system box the size of anotations. small filing cabinet contains a custom-built An 8000 network consists of a set of Xerox 16 -bit processor, a 1.2Mbyte 8in.work stations plus a number of servers to floppy disc and a 10Mbyte hard disc. carry out common functions. For example, XEROX The screen has a1,024- by 809 -dota £15,000 laser print server can produce up Xerox pioneered software integration at resolution and a high refresh rate, ensuringto 12 pages a minute of very high -quality the Palo Alto Research Center, but it hasthat the display is very stable. Excellentoutput, enabling documents to be printed been other companies which seem to havedisplayqualityiscentraltotheStarin even higher resolution than they appear learnt most from Parc's work. Larry Teslerapproach, where documents are displayedon the screen. The quality is, in fact, almost moved from Xerox Parc to Apple and isexactly as they will print out, spread out onup to typeset standard. credited with the principle design for thean electronic desk top. The display is large Lisa. John Ellenby spent six years at Parcenough to show a full A4 document at the before leavingto found Grid Systemssame time as a large number of graphicCentral support Corporation. sybols or icons, which represent other Documents can be held locally on your Xerox itself has acquired the reputationdocuments as well as tasks the system isown work station's discs or centrally. File of not getting products based on its own ready to perform. serversareavailable with 29Mbyte to research to market, but the company does Over 500 Xerox 8000 local area network300Mbyte disc capacities. Your own files have an integrated product, the Xerox Star. systems have beensold,accordingto heldonthecentralfileserverare The Star 8010 professional work station hasXerox, with prices starting from aroundrepresented on the screen by a drawer icon been around since 1981, and it carries integ-£60,000. Stations are connected to the. with your name on. Documents in the rationastagefurtherthantheothernetwork by lengths of co -axial cable of updrawer marked Common can be accessed systems discussed in this article. The catchto 500 metres. As well as the Star workby everyone on the network. Electronic is that it is expensive. stations, cheaper Xerox systems. includingmail is also supported by the file server, and The Star can be used as a stand-alonethe 860 and the Z-80 based 820 can beis represented by In and Out mail tray unit, but it is intended as part of a networkconnected to the network. icons. When a message arrives, a small envelope appears in your tray. The communicationsserverallows stations on the 8000 network to establish linkswithothernetworksusingthe Ethernetstandardaswellasremote terminals and mainframes. On the Star all these server features are integrated into the standard user interface. For example, to transfer a file to a Star on a remote net in Sweden involves first opening up the net support window and answering a few questions to establish the link. The system then creates a new icon for the work station The screen can show an A4 page of text Spreadsheet data can be reformatted as a you are concerned with in Sweden, which and graphics as well as a large number table and then copied across into a word- you could name Sweden, or Goran, or Nils of icons. processing document. or whatever.

A working office with a Xerox network. The two systems in the foreground are Xerox Star work stations.

134 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 Without the right program your computer could takeadim view ofyour accounts.

If your brand new, super - intelligent, electronic brain appears decidedly thick, it's probably not to blame. A computer is just a box of circuits. It's the program that makes it a box of tricks. Some programs are so inadequate they would make any computer look moronic. Others are far too complicated for the needs of the user and become uncontrollable monsters. You'll be glad to know that Sage keep things simple, but effective. Our fully -integrated, one -diskette programs are easy -to -learn and use, yet cover every accounting function. From invoicing to final accounts, it's all there! Sage is available on most CP/M, MS-DOS and PC -DOS computers and has so far been implemented on over 40 machines including Apple, Apricot, Epson, IBM-PC, Philips, Sirius and Zenith. What's more you can choose the program to suit your needs from four great -value options. SAGE ACCOUNTS £375 SAGE PLUS £525 SAGE EXECUTIVE £695 PAYROLL £195 Just return the coupon below and we'll make sure your computer doesn't end up standing in the corner. ED Please send me your explanatory brochure. 1 DPlease arrange for me to have a demonstration. I do not yet own a computer. I have a computer. Delete as appropriate.

,sRwsiviwIcto Name Position I Company Address )1:-J Ell CI If) 1...t 0000 Tel: 0 LI C.1C.1f:3 ltiODDIJO SABusinessGE Software SAGESOFT LTD., Hawick Crescent Industrial Estate, Newcastle upon Tyne NE6 1AS. LTel: 0632 761669. Telex: 53623 SACESL Pel Circle No. 174

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 ' Balancing the book Mike Lewis on how to avoid computer -aided disaster in the accounts department.

THE DEFINITIONof an integrated accounting A transaction does not have to updateerror before the batch can be accepted. package is simple. It is one in which a single the various accounts as soon as you enter For the sales ledger you will have to make transaction updates all the relevant account it.The bettersystemswillbatchthe a choice between the two methods of balances at the same time. Put anothertransactions in a holding file, giving you apreparing customer statements: open item way, it means that the very basic principles chance to sort out any typing errors. Theor balance forward.Inthelatter,the of double -entry book-keeping are alwaysactual posting only takes place when you account is notionally ruled off at the end of maintained. are happy with the data. This not only themonth,withtheclosingbalance The term "integration", as applied toimproves accuracy, it also saves operatorbrought forward. The customer's state- accounting packages,ismuch abused. time because you do not have to wait for soment shows the opening balance,the Scores of software products sportthis many disc accesses while you are typing. month'stransactions,andtheclosing adjective in the hope of boosting their The main penalty involved in integrated balance. An open -item statement, on the prestige, but their claims often rest on accounting is the increased storage needed. other hand, shows all the unpaid invoices, shakyfoundations.The mereuseofYou have to be able to have all the accountsgoing back as far as necessary. compatiblefileformats orlike -looking in all the ledgers on-line at the same time. menus does not in itself make an integratedMost floppy -based systems will cope with package. this.Butif you have around 200 cus-Extra detail tomers and suppliers and only some 160K Open -item accounts arelikelyto be Balance to nil per floppy, you might have toforego appreciated by your customers, since they integration. provide more detail. Their disadvantage Yet these basic principles are not hard to On the other hand, even if your hardwarelies in the greater effort needed to match grasp. Suppose you run a bicycle shop. Youcan supportintegration,your volumes individual payments and invoices. Which- sell a new roadster to a certain Mr Polly,might not justifyit.If you have severalever method you choose at the outset you and you invoice him £100 plus £15 VAT. hundred account customers, it will almost are likely to be stuck with it, although a few The next time you write up your accounts, certainlybe worthwhile to computerise packages permit you to specify the method you will debit Mr Polly's account in youryour sales ledger. But if you have no moreindividually for each customer. sales ledger with the amount he owes, £115. than half a dozen regular suppliers, you will A common reason for choosing the You will credit the sales account in theprobably find it easier to do your purchase open -item method is that it allows balances nominal ledger with £100 and the VATledger by hand, or to dispense withit to be aged. The statement can then analyse account with £15. When you eventually entirely.In these circumstances,partial the balance according to the month in isclearlymorecost- receive Mr P's cheque, you will credit his computerisation which the amount was due, whichis account with £115 and debitthe casheffective than integration. The important invaluable for those responsible for chasing account with this same figure. thing is then to ensure that the computer debts.Many systemsprintthesame Your shop's books of accounts form an and manual systems dovetail together. analysis in tabular form as an aged debtors integrated system. Each invoice, cheque or list. Some go further by interfacing with a othertransact ion is fullyreflectedAudit trail word-processing package to produce chase throughout the accounts as soon as itis letters of increasing severity. entered. You could total all the accounts at So what points should you look for In the purchase ledger, the equivalent of any time and expect them to balance down when choosing an integrated accounting the aged debtors list is the forward payment to nil. In other words, the sum of the debits package? A good audit trail must certainly schedule.This analyses each creditor's would equal the sum of the credits. be at the top of your checklist. It is vitalbalance by the month in which it is due. In Of course, most businesses have morethat each transaction can be traced rightpractice, most firms can dispense with this complex account structures than this as theback through the system toitspointbecause they do their payment runs on a diagram shows.In practice you wouldofentry.Thesystemshouldallow strictly monthly cycle, with allinvoices probably use secondary books, such as daytransactions to be numbered in some way, dated in January being paid in February, books and a cash book, as a convenientand to be cross-referenced against theirand so on. way of batching the transactions. But asbalancing entries. A moreimportantfeatureofthe soon as they enter the main books the full Another essential requirement is for apurchase ledger might be its ability to print double -entry is made. control mechanism to spot the inevitable cheques along with the remittance advices. So itis with an integrated computertyping errors that we all make. The simplest For smaller companies this is not always as system. The fact that a system is built on themethod is based on batch totals. Here theattractive as it might sound. If you draw three classic modules - sales, purchasesoperator manually calculates the total offewer than, say, 20 cheques in the month, and nominal - each of which can pass datathe invoices, cheques and so on in a batchthe time to load and unload the special to the others, does not mean that theof transactions, and enters this figure into stationerymightbegreaterthanthat package is integrated. It is the simultaneousthe system. If the total differs from theneeded to write the cheques by hand. The updating of balances that is at the heart offigure that the program itself calculates, the special cheques are also more expensive the matter. operator is obliged to trace and correct thethan the traditional kind.

136 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 Integrated software

NOMINAL Sales LEDGER Purchase invoices invoices SALES

r" PURCHASES cn (i) c"), EXPENSES 0 Receipts Cash / from sales MISCELLANEOUS -4 customers INCOME

FIXED ASSETS

STOCK Payment VAT to payments suppliers CASH

VAT

SHARE CAPITAL

DEBTORS CREDITORS

How the principal trading transactions printouts. This is not because of laziness on affect the various account balances. The LEGEND thepartoftheprogrammers,but a sales and purchase ledgers can be reflection of the huge variety of different considered as subsets of the nominal formats that might be used for these two ledger. The figures for debtors and p sheets of paper. Providing a mechanism for creditors in the balance sheet are the totals from sales and purchases ledgers TransactionsPostings the user to specify sub -headings, sub -totals respectively. and account groupings can be the most complex part of the system. Theremainingcomponentofthe You can then look at the arithmetic total An alternative approach which many integrated package is the nominal ledger, of all your P&L balances to get a rough idea suppliers now favour is to produce the final fromwhichthe finalaccountswillof your overall net profit. accounts in the form of a disc file that can ultimately be derived. As a minimum, this I say rough idea because your accountant be passed to a word-processing program. partofthesystemwillprovidetwo will want to knock around the profit figure This takes a lot of the hard work out of the printouts. The first is a full listing of eacha bit before it can be considered final. The job, but still gives you sufficient flexibility account, showing all the transactions that system must therefore have a mechanism to format the accounts the way you like have been posted.Itis equivalent to the for posting depreciation, bad debts, stock them. customers' statements in the sales ledger write-offsandthescoreofother One last word of advice. Do not attempt and the remittance advices in the purchase adjustments that might be needed. In fact, to computerise your accounts without first ledger. it must be possible to transfer an amount seeking the views of your accountant. This The other output is the trial balance. At from any account to any other in any of the is doubly true for limited companies. A its simplest, the trial balance is no more ledgers,if only to reverse any erroneous system which does not provide allthe than a list of all the nominal accounts with entriesthat might have creptinto theinformation neededfor an audit is their balances. Most packages go at least system by accident. worse than useless. The right integrated one step further by analysing the balances The end -product of the whole thing is the accounting package can save you con- according to whether they are profit and final profit and loss account and balancesiderable time and money, but never forget loss account items or those belonging in the sheet. Surprisingly,manyaccounting that most computer disaster stories start in balance sheet. packages stop short of these seemingly vital the accounts department.

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 137 Integrated software Accounts packages A selection of the leading integrated accounting systems for popular micros. ACCENSE nominal ledgers, stock control, PAXTON BUSINESS DESK SKYMASTER CP/M stock/order processing, and payroll CP/M-80, CP/M-86, MS-DOS, IBM PC XT or IBM PC plus Modules available include sales, Price: Most modules £350 each; IBM PC, Mmmost, Turbodos hard disc, IBM LANs purchase and nominal ledgers, payroll £600; incomplete records Business Desk AC does sales, Works with multi-user IBM PC stock control, sales and purchase £995 purchase and nominal ledgers; PF networks including PC Net, Plan order processing Supplier. Ibis Business Information adds invoicing from price file; SF 2000 and Omninet. Seven modules: Price: £600 per module Systems Ltd, 47 Watergate Row, adds stock control; SOP adds sales sales order/invoicing, sales, Supplier. Selven Limited, 3-5 Chester CH1 2LE. Telephone: order processing. All can be made purchase and nominal ledgers, Guithavon Street, Witham, Essex (0244) 317527 multi-user with addition of multi- stock control, payroll and contract CM8 1BJ. Tel: (0376) 519413 user resource manager costing INTEGRATED ACCOUNTING Price: AC £595: PF £795: SF £1,200: Price: £500 per module ACORNSOFT SMALL BBC Micro SOP £1.600: Multi-user RM £350 Supplier. Sky Software, 13 New BUSINESS Single disc offers purchase, sales Supplier Paxton Computers Ltd, 28 Road, Bromsgrove, BBC Micro and nominal ledgers, VAT analysis New Street, St. Neots, Worcestershire B60 2JG. Home-grown suite from Acorn and management information Cambridgeshire PE19 1AJ. Telephone: (0527) 36299 requiring Model B with 40 -track disc Price: £125 Telephone: (0480) 217777 drive. Accounts payable, accounts Supplier. Diamondsoft Ltd, Bridge SUNACCOUNT receivable, purchasing, stock Buildings, 11a Ladybridge Road, PEACHTREE ACCOUNTING CP/M, MS-DOS, Unix control and others available Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire SK8 CP/M-80, CP/M-86, MS- A single package offers sales, Price: £24.95 each 5LL. Telephone: 061-485 8705 DOS, IBM PC, Apple II and III purchase and nominal ledgers. It is Supplier. Acornsoft Ltd, 4a, Market Peachtree does three different possible to link Sunaccount with Hill, Cambridge CB2 3NJ. LSBS-F accounting suites. The standard Supercalc, Multiplan and dBase II. Telephone: (0223) 316039 Concurrent CP/M, CP/M, MS- version is written in Basic with five Data may also be transferred to WordStar documents DOS modules including payroll. Cobol Price: Single user £1,250; multi-user ACT PULSAR Seven packages including sales, system can be multi-user and adds £1,750 ACT Sirius, Apricot, IBM PC purchase and general ledgers, costing and sales order processing Supplier. Systems Union Ltd, 34 Eight modules: sales, purchase and names and addresses, stock control modules. Pascal p -System suite Delancey Street, London NW1 nominal ledgers, stock control, Price: £220 runs on IBM, DEC and Sirius, with invoicing, payroll, data analysis, Supplier Graftcom Systems Ltd. similar version for Apple II and III 7NH. Telephone: 01-485 2594 plus Informer database Rickett Street. London SW6. Price: Basic £350 per module; Cobol Price: £195 per module except Telephone: 01-385 9422 £600 per module; p -System £190 SYSTEM II Informer, which is £295 per module Tandy Model III and Model 4 Supplier. ACT Pulsar, Highfield Supplier. Peachtree Software Nominal, purchase, sales ledgers Court, 24 Highfield Road, OFFICEMATE International Ltd, 99 King Street, and stock control available Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 3DT. IBM, Sirius, Commodore Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 1YF. Price: £299 per unit Modules offered include cash book, Telephone: 021-455 7000 Telephone: (0628) 32711 Supplier. Molimerx Ltd, 1 Buckhurst sales book, purchase ledger, Road, Town Hall Square, Bexhill - nominal ledger and payroll. All AXIS PEGASUS on -Sea, East Sussex. Telephone: CP/M, CP/M-86, MP/M, modules can be linked MS-DOS, IBM PC, Rainbow (0424) 220391 Concurrent CP/M Price: from £25 to £255 Supplier. Micro Computer Centre, 28 100, Commodore 8000 Written in assembler, this integrated Seven modules: sales, purchase SYSTEMATICS ACCOUNTING series offers sales, purchase, Sheen Lane, London SW14. IBM PC, Sirius, Apricot, Apple Telephone: 01-878 7044 and nominal ledgers, sales nominal ledgers, stock control, order/invoicing, stock control, Ile and III, Sage costing and mailing facilities payroll, job costing Written in UCSD Pascal, running Price: £200 to £500 MICROFACTS Price: from about £300 to £500 per under p -System. Modules available Supplier. Soft-pac, 14 Castle Street, ACT Sirius and Apricot, DEC module, depending on level of include general, sales and purchase Bridgewater, Somerset TA6 3DB. Rainbow, IBM PC, dealer support ledgers, job costing, payroll and Telephone: (0278) 421020 Commodore 8000 series Supplier. Pegasus Software Ltd, word processing Microfacts Mark II runs on Brikat House, 35-41 Montagu Price: £175 to £375 per unit Commodore systems and covers CFACC Street, Kettering, Supplier. Systematics International, CP/M, CP/M-86, MS-DOS sales, purchase and nominal Northamptonshire NN16 8XG. Cleves House, 14 Hamlet Road, ledgers, sales/invoicing, job costing All standard modules accessed Telephone: (0536) 522822 Haverhill, Suffolk CB9 8EE. from main menu. Specialist versions and stock control. Mark V system Telephone: (0440) 61121 available for 16 -bit machines adds payroll and Price; £1,650 for complete system; nominal ledger reports POWERSYSTEMS TABS £1,250 for small business version Price: £300 per module, except CP/M MS-DOS, CP/M, Apple Supplier. Logical Step Ltd, nominal reporting £150 Range of modules including sales, Easy Tabs packages include Wellesbourne House, Walton Supplier. Facts Software Ltd, bought ledgers, foreign currency standard ledgers and word Road, Wellesbourne, Ketwell House, 75-79 Tavistock ledgers. There is a 15 percent processing, mailing list. Integrated Warwickshire CV35 9RH. Street, Bedford MK40 2RR. annual service charge Tabs offers more packages with Telephone: (0789) 8842082 Telephone: (0234) 218191 Price: £600 to £850 per module; more sophisticated facilities. Super £1,500 for foreign -currency Tabs for accountants and will EASY MICRO -SIMPLEX ledgers include tax modules Supplier. Omicron Management IBM PC, Apricot, Torch, ICL, Commodore 8000, Price: Easy Tabs £100 each; Seiko, MS-DOS Commodore 64, Sharp MZ-80, Software Ltd, 26-28 Great Portland Integrated Tabs £50 to £500 Three systems available - Easy BBC Micro Street, London W1N 5AD. Supplier Tabs Ltd, Dolphin House, Junior, Easy and Easy Plus - with Based on Simplex D cashbook. Telephone: 01-636 6575 New Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire data upgrade paths between them Covers cash, sales and purchases, SP1 2PH. Tel: (0722) 338668 Price: Junior £295 for complete and VAT in a simple way. Can be SAGE, SAGE PLUS system; Easy £300 per package, linked to Chubb cash registers. Add- CP/M-80, MS-DOS, IBM PC multi-user; Easy Plus £300 to £500 on ledger system - sales, purchase Standard Sage system combines UNIQUE per package and nominal - available for sales, purchase, cashbook and CP/M, CP/M-86, MS-DOS Supplier. Scorpion Computing Ltd, Commodore 8000 systems general ledger. Sage Plus adds The Unique business accounting Scorpion House, Hartley Witney, Price: £995 for Commodore 8000, credit control, VAT and budget and management system offers a Hampshire RG27 8NS. Telephone: £150 for Commodore 64, £250 for variance reports and other features general accounting module (025 126) 3706 BBC and Sharp systems. Ledgers Price: standard Sage £375; Sage Price: £280 to £750 cost £395 Plus £525 Supplier. Unique Computer IBIS Supplier. Micro -Simplex, 8 Charlotte Supplier. Sagesoft Ltd, 1 Hawick Applications Ltd, The Grove, ACT Sirius, Apricot, IBM PC, Street West, Macclesfield, Crescent, Newcastle upon Tyne Piper's Lane, Harpenden, Wang PC Cheshire SK11 6EF. Telephone: NE6 1AS. Telephone: (0632) Hertfordshire AL1 7AJ. Six modules: sales, purchase and (0625) 615000 761669 Telephone: (05827) 60107

138 PRACTICAL COMPUTINGMay 1984 IkeDatabase

Your business at the -touch ofakey. EVERYMANis the information system designed to turn your problems - solutions that can be recalled at the touch of a key at 16 bit micro into a business tool more powerful and more flexible any time, whileEVERYMANmaintains the logic and database than you dreamed possible. integrity for you. Using a revolutionary new visual concept that requires no EVERYMANis supported by full documentation including a programming and offers no language barrier,EVERYMAN tutorial that allows you to run like an expert in around 3 hours allows you to paint solutions to problems, however complex, (with a little aid fromEVERYMAN'Shelp screens if you need it). directly on the screen. It's so easy to understand you'll be an The whole package is backed by a comprehensive 12 month expert from day one - an expert with easy access to multiple guarantee that includes upgrades to all registered users. files and (thanks toEVERYMAN'Swindow functions) able to cross reference and view your data any way you like. Within Talk to your dealer today about EVERYMAN - it'll put you minutes you can model solutions to your own 'real world' generations ahead! km A nnnAl international .THE RIGHT DIRECTION Vector House, 6a Lower Teddington Road, Hampton Wick, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey KT1 4ER. Tel: 01-943 1257/8/9/0. Circle No. 175 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 139 Don't be fooled into thinking that microcomputer business software is an easy buy. You could spend

weeks or months just looking and looking. . . and then you still have to make that software work for your business. If you really want to find the most cost-effective software solution talk to a Pulsar Software Centre. Hand-picked by ACT for their expertise in understanding business problems, and successfully implementing microcomputer systems, each Pulsar Software Centre has a proven track record; from business analysis and hardware and software selection to implementation support and training. For a demonstration of professionalism in action, contact your nearest Pulsar Software Centre now.

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THE Midland I I Computer airPersonal computers Home computing mail business systems I I I This voucher entitles the bearer to a £1 May 4-7, 1984. National Exhibition Centre, I reduction on the purchase of 1 adult or Birmingham. I child full price ticket at the door. Open 10 am -6 pm daily. I 10 am -5 pm Monday. I This cannot be used with any other offer. I I ME N-- INN NM MIN NM MIMI INN MI EllIMINI NM NM INN MIN MN= MIN

142 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 ial ComputerAge irmingham

To see the very latest in microcomputers, THE Midland peripherals, accessories and software visit the Midland Computer Fair. Whether you already own a microcomputer, or are omputer about to buy one, the show will be Sponsored by the best place to try the products with expert advice close at hand. For business users the Midland g=i_g_I Computer Fair really is a must with hardware, air software and ancillary products all on show. I YOUR Entry to the show is FREE to bona fide businessmen upon /COMPUTER/I production of a business card. Normal admission price is £2.50. For further information contact: The Exhibition Manager, The Midland Computer Fair, Reed Exhibitions, Surrey House, 1 Throwley Way, Sutton, Surrey SM 1 400.

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 1,13 Whether its your first computer or whether you're already an enthusiast, LVL COMPUTERTOWN offers you the quality of service you expect from experts. If you invest money, you go to a bank or a broker - a specialist who can guide and advise you on the best return for your capital. At LVL COMPUTERTOWN we're specialists too. We're there to help guide you through the micro maze, keep you up to date on innovations, help you get the best value for money, whether your computer is for you, your children or your business. Your computer can change your life - make sure you change it for the better: Come and talk to the experts and move into micros with LVL COMPUTERTOWN COMPUTERS

The new personal computer from Acorn Computers. An ideal machine for learning computing - and for having a lot of fun at the same time. But it's much more than just a toy. It's graphic facilities are the most sophisticated available in it's price range.

BBC MICROCOMPUTER MODEL A £299 MODEL B with DOS .. £469 MODEL B £399Model B with DOS & ECONET MODEL B with ECONET £446 £516

140NITORS DECCACOLOUR 14" Colour Monitor 14" Colour Monitor/Colour

£274.45

I 4 " Colour Monitor

£102.35

Seikosha GP100A 238.05 Silver Reed EX500 Parallel 343.85 Silver Reed EX500 Serial 378.35 Silver Reed EX550 Parallel 534.75 Silver Reed EX550 Serial 569.25 Epson RX80 320.85 Epson FX80 503.70 Epson RX80 (F/T) 366.85 Epson MX100 (B2 Col) 546.25 Epson FX100 654.35 CHESHIRE MERSEYSIDE YORKSHIRE DATA RECORD C -TECH SOFTWARE THORNGUARD HOME & BUSINESS COMPUTERS 184. Markel St 46, Pensby Rd. 59, Daisy Hill HYDE HESWALL DEWSBURY Cheshire The Wirral. Yorks 061 366 8223 Merseyside 0924 455300 051 342 7516 REF/LEM, COMPUTER CITY 78. Victona Rd WEST MIDLANDS OF WIDNES Cheshire 051 420 3333 S P ELECTRONICS JBC MICRO SERVICES SUPER1ORIT 48. Linty Rd 200 Earlsdon Ave, Nth. Earlsdon The Bell & Howell/LVL HUCKNALL CUMBRIA Notts COVENTRY

Computer Compatible Data THE COMPUTER SHOP 0602 64037? 0203 73813 Recorder 56/58 Lowther St CARLISLE O Automatic Level Control Cumbna COMPUTERTOWN (UK) LTD. O Automatic Tape Stop 0228 27710 230, Derby Rd, w11111111E STAPLEFORD O Tape Counter Notts. WILTSHIRE MICRO O Remote Motor Control x 0602 398484 CENTRE A.C.L. Unit 6. I. Northman Central Trading Estate. Signal Way, GRAYS, ESSEX OXFORD Old Town. DISK DRIVES 0375 79834 ABSOLUTE SOUND BROADWAY MUSIC SWINDON AND VIDEO (Oxford) Ltd 0793 612299 An example of superior technology, total AND VISION 19 Old High St. Headington reliability and outstanding performance, Woodford Green OXFORD combine to produce the LVL Disk Drive ESSEX 0865 65961 BUCKS' 01 504 7500 HI -VU ELECTRONICS Family. AVON 38. Church St. Wolverton Truly professional units designed to work GREATER K & K COMPUTERS MILTON KEYNES with the BBC Microcomputer. 32 Alfred Street. Bedford MANCHESTER WESTON 0908 312808 LOMAX SUPERMARE SUSSEX CHECK OUT 8 Exchange St Avon St Annes Square 0934 419324 C J E MICROS NEW LOW 78, Brighton Rd MANCHESTER COLSTON COMPUTER PRICES WITH 061 832 6167 CENTRE LTD. WORTHING YOUR NEAREST WORC' The Colston Centre West Sussex DEALER. 11. Colston Ave 0903 213900 SPURTREE COMPUTING BRISTOL LTD ISLE OF WIGHT 0272 276619 Council Buildings. EXCELL Teme Street. 4 Foreland Rd TENBURY WELLS, BEMBRIDGE SOFTWARE Worcestershire Isle of Wight 0584 811353%811304 098 387 2578 DESIGNED FOR THE BBCADVENTURES Philosophers Quest £9.95 MICROCOMPUTER Castle of Riddles £9.95 ACORNSOFT GAMES £9.95 9 Sphinx Adventure £9.95 cOfretflERT" Hopper GENERAL IorttnB8CMkrocnnlnterModel B Desk Diary £9.95 HEREFORD SALOP LANCASHIRE Creative Graphics £9.95 KEMPSONS MEDLICOTT BROS 53 Mardol Graphs & Charts £9.95 26, St. Owen St P V MICROS HEREFORD SHREWSBURY 38A Water St Tool Box £21.00 0432 273480 Shropshire ACCRINGTON 0743 3060 it Record Keeper £13.80 Lancs I. Magic Garden .7254 36521 /4/0 qm £9.95 1.4 4.4 tKENT SUFFOLK KENT MICRO S I EMERY & CO Home & Business X X X EDUCATIONAL 57 Union St 10 Market Place Computers Ltd Map References £7.50 MAIDSTONE BUNGAY. 54 YorkshireStreet. Kent Suffolk OLDHAM Laserrnat hs £7.50 0622 52784 LANGUAGES Classmaster £20.00 0986214: 061 633 1608 LISP £16.85Algebraic Manipulation . £9.95 GRAVENSEND Home & Business FORTH £16.85Word Sequencing £11.90 COMPUTERS IRELAND Computers ,RCH) Ltd 39. The Terrace EVERYMAN COMPUTER 73 YorkshireStreet. GAMES Missing Signs £11.90 GRAVESEND SERVICE £11.90 ROCHDALE Monsters £9.95Number Balance 0474 50677 BALLYMONEY 0706 344654 Snapper £9.95Word Hunt £11.90 Go -Antrim Planetoid £9.95Density Circuit £11.90 N Ireland Chemical Analysis £13.80 LEICESTER 026 56 62658 Arcade Action £11.90 PERCY LORD & SON WALES Rocket Raid £9.95Chemical Structures £13.80 53 Blabs Rd STAFFS Meteors £9.95Jars £11.90 WIGSTON I W BAGNALL SIR Arcadians £9.95Vu -Type £16.10 Ikkiiestel 18 Salter St 91 Whitchurch Rd Cyncoed £9.95 0533 785033 STAFFORD Sliding -Block Puzzle 0785 3420 CARDIFF Cube Master £9.95 Wales £9.95 KIRKLANDS 0222 621813 Snooker £9.95 LONDON City Rd. Fenton CANNONBURY RADIO STOKE ON TRENT THE COMPUTER SHOP Super Invaders £9.95 185 Upper St 0782 415787 Hopper £9.95 ALL PRICES 41. The Hayes. ISLINGTON Ni COMPUTERAMA CARDIFF, £9.95 London Colditz INCLUDE 59 Foregate St Wales 01 226 9392 Doctor Who £10.00 STAFFORD 0222 26666 White Knight II £12.00 VAT. 0789 41899 Missile Base £9.95 PAUL ELECTRICAL (4.5 250/2,GrandDnve. SCOTLAND Draughts & Revers' £9.95 RaynesPark. SURREY COMmst..,o LONDON SW20 HASLEMERE COMPS 30 Gordon St 01 542 6546 25, Junction Place GLASGOW The items featured represent a very small selection from our vast KASLENIERE 041 226 4878 Surrey product range, and at the time of going to press where all available from WOODS RADIO 0428 53850 stock. 257, Lavender Hill P & H ELECTRONICS However, not all dealers carry every advertised item, please telephone Battersea. LONDON 5. The Parade. NEWTONS before making your journey. Reading Road, Main St, Further information of both product and services available can also be 01 228 1768 YATELEY SEAHOUSES obtained by telephoning or visiting your nearest LVL Computertown Survey 0665 720307 0252 877 222 Dealer. Spectrum Members Circle No. 178 AMAZING PROGRESShaS been made in the six months since we last looked at Spectrum games. In November 1983 we found one outstanding new game, Manic Miner, and a lot of programs with pretty graphics that were pretty boring to play. Since then, not only have the graphics Spectrum improved even further, but a lot of the games are now genuinely good to play. What's more, many of them are original, even if they are based on popular game ideas. For example, there are a lot of copies rog ress of Donkey Kong, but none of the Spectrum ones come close to the Atari Jack Schofield toys with the latest cassettes and version or to Killer Gorilla on the BBC. However, the fundamental idea of finds attractive graphics coupled with original games. climbing or platform games is used in two outstanding new programs from Quicksilva called The Snowman and Fred. The Snowman In The Snowman the ladders are paths in a garden, though they still function like ladders. The aim of the game is to an complete The Snowman, which is modelled on Raymond Briggs' cartoon character, without losing all your lives. When you fall you are not killed. In fact, a bed appears at the bottom of the screen, and you topple gracefully on to it and fall fast asleep. The Snowman is also a Pacman-type game. The ladders/platforms are part of a maze around which various dangerous things shuttle. In the first screen these are bundles of flames, which do not harm you but do melt any snow you are carrying. On the higher screens there are l!p" ghosts that send you straight to bed. 1 IIN The graphics are beautifully drawn with Imaginative ideas and beautifully drawn graphics feature in The Snowman. lots of detail, and the screen image is unusually sharp and stable for a Spectrum game. All the movement is very smooth, and the use of sound is also very nice with tootsof Rudolf the Red -nosed Reindeer. All these combine with the imaginative game ideas to make an extremely good game. Fred Fred is a ladders game combined with a maze game. Fred is an Egyptologist trying to escape from a maze similar to catacombs or the inside of a pyramid. The maze is filled with hazards, including ghosts - white -robed monks who float through walls - mummies, chameleons, acid drops, vampires, skeletons and lots of little rats that look more like red furry slippers. You can shoot some of your enemies with a pistol. The rats you have to jump over in the way that Mario in Donkey Kong leaps over barrels. Movement is slow and jerky, and entirely suited to climbing up and down robes, which is what Fred spends most of his time doing. In Atic Atac you work out the rules for yourself - but it's worth the effort.

146 PRACTICAL COMPUTINGMay 1984 (Tattles)

At the end of the game you get points for all the treasures you haveimanaged to collect by walking over them, with bonuses for escaping from one or more of the six separate mazes. Finally you enter your initials in the Hall of Fame. Lest you get too big -headed about your talents, the High Score table comprises four wreath -strewn graves and your initials appear on one of the headstones. Atic Atac

Probably the best game this month is The Chequered Flag cockpit view . . Speed Dual's Graphics are not as good.

Atic Atac, from Ultimate Play The Game. It is a combination arcade/ adventure game but without text, like the sort pioneered by in 1981 with Rescue from Rigel. Atic Atac's virtues include stable graphics, very smooth player movement, high-speed action and what looks like page flipping. That is, when you zip from one room to another, the display switches smoothly without appearing to be redrawn. All in all, itis hard to believe this game runs on a Spectrum. Outrun the ants in Ant Attack. Scuba Dive - an excellent game. One of Atic Atac's charms is that although it is an original game, the instructions don't tell you how to play. But I will not spoil it for anyone who hasn't got it. Suffice to say that it is worth the challenge. The fact that I have not got out yetI put down to struggling with the keyboard. I'm sure I will do better with a joystick. Ant Attack

1111P111.1fIlll With three-dimensional scrolling graphics, fast action and more page Clipping, this is another game that probably should not run on a Spectrum. The graphics are not as sharp or colourful as those of Atic Atac or The Snowman, but they would be a credit to most small micros. In Ant Attack you choose either a boy or a girl - no sexism here - and rush ll 171 iil into an Escher-like city to rescue a girl or boy. Giant ants try to stop you. You either avoid them, outrun them or blast them with grenades. The game provides an easy subject to rescue at first, but locating and bringing someone out gets With its exceptional graphics, Caesar the Cat is highly recommended for joystick use. harder and harder. The main problems with Ant Attack Game Publisher RAM Price Rating are moving and fighting. Instead of having four direction keys, you have to Ant Attack Quicksilva 48K £6.95 16/20 Atic Atac Ultimate 48K £5.50 18/20 use one key to turn - Symbol Shift for clockwise, M for anti -clockwise - and Caesar the Cat Mirrorsoft 48K £6.95 16/20 Chequered Flag Sinclair/Psion 48K £6.95 14/20 another key to move forward. You are not helped by the fact that it is very hard Classic Adventure Melbourne House 48K £6.95 18/20 to see in which direction the little figure is Fred Quicksilva 48K £6.95 15/20 Micro Mouse goes Debugging Lothlorien 16 or 48K £5.95 12/20 facing. On top of this, there are four keys to use according to how far you want to Road Racer Thorn -EMI 16K £6.95 5/20 throw a grenade. Scuba Dive Durrell 48K £5.50 16/20 The game would be better in another The Snowman Quicksilva 48K £6.95 17/20 version with four-way directional or Speed Duel DK'tronics 16 or 48K £5.95 8/20 joystick control. I would also swap the 1984 Incentive 48K £5.50 16/20 (continued on next page)

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 147 Games

(continued from previous page) Position, because you get a cockpit view grenades for a machine-gun or sword. of the track over a set of instruments Caesar the Cat/ Apart from that, amazing. which the Atari version lacks. The game also provides much more to think about Micro Mouse than the Atari one. With Chequered Flag Caesar the Cat is one of the few good Scuba Dive you really have to learn something about games on the Commodore 64, and was gears and the relationship of revs to both reviewed in our February issue. The aim In Scuba Dive you explore the sea bed, heat and speed. of the game is to keep the larder free swim over oysters to collect pearls, then However, Chequered Flag's graphics from mice. The Spectrum version has squeeze past an octopus into an are inferior to those of Pole Position, andeven more attractive graphics, is far underwater cavern containing treasure. the Sinclair version gives the impression faster, and probably anyone over 16 is Technically the graphics are not that that you are driving at about 1/10th of already too old for it. Caesar the Cat is good, but they are imaginative and the speed. Chequered Flag is fun, which isrecommended, but only to those adults beautiful. They are not as stable as Atic more than can be said for the other two who have access to a Kempston-standard Atac and The Snowman. Also when your race games. Speed Dual's graphics are joystick. equatic protagonist reaches the edge of much inferior and are so out of scale that Micro Mouse goes Debugging is a the screen, the view shifts suddenly to the it is like having a toy car. Road Racer is novelty game which, like Caesar, is next screen. The Atari's single -pixel even worse, and best not described in a particularly suitable for younger players. scrolling in all directions would have done family magazine. The screen shows a short program. Bugs wonders for the game. But after all, it is grab characters from the lines, and put an underwater game, so it is not them in boxes at the corners of the unnatural that the fish should shimmer. 1984 screen. As Micro Mouse you have to The instructions are very good, and the retrieve them. When the program is game is very easy to play. Just moving the This game has nothing to do with debugged it runs, and you go on to the swimmer about is a pleasure, but it is George Orwell, and is not so much a next program. Micro Mouse is not a great difficult to score points because when yougame as a gripping simulation of game, but it is not too hard to play, has collect a pearl or 10, the points are scored government management. You start off insmooth movement, attractive graphics, is and held. To get those points you have to 1984 with the U.K. economy, then after slightly educational and fun. get the pearls back to the boat, which is with the bank rate, tax, VAT, public not as easy as it sounds even at the lowest expenditure in nine categories, benefits of four skill levels. It certainly builds up and wage bargaining. At the end of each Classic Adventure the tension, and a good score makes you year you get a report on the state of the pleased the games allows you to save the country in the form of a balance sheet The latest offering from Melbourne High Score table. All in all, Scuba Dive isand histograms. House is always awaited with interest. an excellent game and the best Durrell Initially you try to reduce inflation and This month's launch is Classic Adventure, effort yet. unemployment, but that seems to be which is the original Crowther and impossible. Soon you are merely trying to Woods mainframe game. I thought there stay in power for as long as possible - were already two Spectrum versions, Driving crazy just like real life. So far I have either beenColossal Adventure from Level 9, and overthrown or not survived the 1988 Colossal Caves by Abersoft, published by The arcade success of Atari's brilliant election. CP Software. Classic Adventure turns out Pole Position has thrown the spotlight on The economic model seems excellent, to be the Abersoft version from 1982. driving games, and there are at least three though it is well protected. For example, I agree with Melbourne House that this for the Spectrum. The best, by a very the program will not allow you to increaseis "the ultimate in text -only adventures". long way, is Chequered Flag from Psion. VAT by more than 10 percent at a time, In fact, I think it is the ultimate in I also tried DK'tronics' Speed Duel and so avoiding any large changes that could adventures - even better than Zork. found it poor, and Thorn -EMI's Road wreck the simulation. Even so, the model Newcomers to the Caves might note that Racer, which I found absolutely is complex and rugged enough to make the Melbourne House version is cheaper unplayable. the game fun to play, and I would have at £6.95 compared to £9.90, though Chequered Flag is not exactly like Pole no hesitation in using it in a school. presumably is not extended.

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Glug Glug is a shoorem-up game where you blast the fish while The Alchemist, Imagine's new game, is an arcade -type graphics diving for booty on the sea bottom. Unsubtle. adventure. Ponderous, but promising.

148 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 see she wasn't asking the right question. The first stet, in solv ins any Problem is to 16K Standard Colour Comp ter 2 " What askourself, question must. I er? " Inc. VAT

2-302

Features a Smart White Case and Low Profile Typewriter -Style Keyboard! TRS-80 16K Standard Colour Computer 2.Easily 64K Extended BASIC Colour Computer. Gives 32K RAM, attached to any TV - Program Pak cartridges let you battle or 64K with optional OS -9 Disk Operating System. starships in' outer space - and lots more. But playing 26-3003B £269.95 games is only the beginning. Your children can learn maths or typing, enjoy literary classics or make glorious Who Is The Colour Computer For? It's ideal for computer"paintings".Ourentertaininginstruction anybody who wants to enjoy video games in a system manuals will have you writing programs with colour that can be used for many other household, business displays and sound in no time! Colour BASICs simple and educational tasks. It's great for beginners who commands let you quickly produce drawings, diagrams want a computer that's easy to learn on - but not and charts. Choose from eight brilliant colours, create limiting - and it's perfect for hobbyists who want a full - musical tones, solve problems, analyze data and much features system with the opportunity for advanced more, then save your work on tape with an optional graphics and programming expansion. cassette recorder, you can easily and quickly add a pair of joysticks and a printer. The standard colour BASIC language includes data and string handling, dimensioned arrays, maths functions and 9 -digit numeric accuracy. Over 350 Stores Includes comprehensive manual. And Dealers 26-3026 £159.95 Nationwide 16K Extended Colour Computer 2. All the features of Tandy Standard BASIC, plus advanced programming capabilities 149 to create high -resolution colour graphics using simple Tandy Corporation (Branch UK), Tameway Tower, Bridge St., one -line commands. 26-3027 £199.95 Walsall, West Midlands. WS1 1LA. Tel: 0922-648181 Circle No. 179 New -Sinclair QL There'snocomparison chart,'

The Sinclair QL is a new computer. Exclusive: new QDOS Not just a new Sinclair computer, but a totally new sort of computer - operating system nothing like it exists anywhere. No competition! QDOS sets a new It's not just a bit better than this, standard in operating systems for the or a bit cheaper than that - it's a 68000 family of processors, and may computer that's very hard to comparewell become the industry standard. with anything. Just check the features QDOS is a single -user, multi- below - and if you don't agree, take tasking, time -sliced system using up the challenge at the end of the Sinclair's new SuperBASIC as a advertisement command language. If you do agree, there's only One of its most significant one course of action you can take... features is its very powerful multi- get yourself a Sinclair QL at the tasking capability - the ability to run earliest possible moment several programs individually and simultaneously. It can also display the The Sinclair QL has results simultaneously in different 128K RAM. Big deal? portions of the screen. These are features not normally available on Several micros offer 128K RAM, or computers costing less than £7,000. more, as standard.The 'What Micro?' table for December 1983 lists over 50 of them - but 40 of the 50 micros Eleven input/output ports listed cost over £2,500! QL ROM Cartridge slot The Sinclair QL offers you 128K 2 x Joystick ports 2 x RS -23 RAM for under £400, and an option to expand to 640K That's a lot of bytes to the pound! sib -1=106- 0O(DO0C)OOOO The Sinclair QL has 0c=iplcAolo.lp (Dr a 32 -bit processor. 0 ® 0 01000 0 Who else? 0 000000 (Die 11 Under £2,700, nobody. Even the new 0 generation of business computers, Expansion slot such as the IBM PC, are only now beginning to use 16 -bit processors. At prices like this, the Motorola New professional 68000 family -widely regarded as keyboard the most powerful microprocessors available -will remain a luxury. The QL keyboard is designed for fast input of data and programs. Yet with the Sinclair QL, the 32 -bit Motorola 68008 is available It is a full-size QWERTY keyboard, with 65 keys, including a for less than £400. space bar; left -and right-hand shift You can also be sure that the QL keys; five function keys; and four will not become outdated. 32 -bit separate cursor -control keys - key architecture is future -proof. action is positive and precise A membrane beneath the keyboard protects the machine from dust (and coffee!), and for users who find an angled keyboard more 32 -bit processor architecture, 128K comfortable, the computer can be RAM, and Q DOS combine to give raised slightly at the back by small the QL the performance of a mini- detachable feet computer for the price of a micro.

\INNIONS..050.00\SeisoNSrn..0

TM Sinclair, QL, QDOS. QLUB and ZX Microdrive are trade marks of Sinclair Research Ltd. £399 ecausethere'sno comparison!

Advanced new friendly Included - superb professional software New - the Sinclair QLUB language - Sinclair The suite of four programs is written by Psion specially for the QL and The QLUB is the QL Users Bureau. SuperBASIC incorporates many major developments. All programs use full colour, and Membership is open to all QL owners. data is transportable from one to another. (For example, figures can be For an annual subscription of f35, The new Sinclair SuperBASIC transferred from spreadsheet to graphics for an instant visual presentation.) QLUB members receive one free combines the familiarity of BASIC with update to each of the four programs a number of major developments Word-processing Business graphics supplied with the QL, and six which allow the QL's full power to be bi-monthly newsletters. Sinclair has exploited. also made exclusive arrangements Unlike conventional BASIC, its for QLUB members to obtain soft- procedure facility allows code to be ware assistance on QL Quill, Abacus, written in clearly -defined blocks; ex- Archive or Easel by writing to Psion. tendability allows new procedures to be added which will work in exactly The Sinclair QL challenge the same way as the command pro- If you're seriously considering any cedures built into the ROM; and its other computer, post the coupon for a constant execution speed means that blow-by-blow comparison. We'll take SuperBASIC does not get slower as Certain to set a new standard of QL Easel is a high -resolution colour a published comparison chart for the programs get larger. excellence, QL Quill uses the power ofprogram so easy to use you probably machine you're considering (not one the QL to show on the screen exactly won't refer to the manual! It handles we've created ourselves) and give you what you key in, and to print out anything from lines, shaded curves or the Sinclair QL figures, detail by detail. exactly what you see on the screen. histograms to overlapping or stacked 2 x Local area network A beginner can be using QL bars or pie charts. QL Easel does not Take action today! TV (UHF)Monitor Quill for word-processing within require you to format your display minutes. before entering data; it handles design To order by mail QL Quill brings you all the and scaling automatically or under - complete the coupon and send facilities of a very advanced word- your control. Text can be added and it to the FREEPOST address below. processing package. altered as simply as data. For credit card holders it may be possible to extend your credit limit. Spreadsheet Database management Full details will be sent when we acknowledge your order. To order by telephone Microdrive extension slot - phone Camberley (0276) 685311; - have your credit card (Access, Barclaycard, Trustcard) number ready. Two 100K microdrives It may be possible to extend your built in existing credit limit. Please ask our telephone staff for more details. The Microdrives for the Sinclair QL Please do not use this number for are identical in principle to the popular and proven ZX Microdrives, QL Abacus makes simultaneous QL Archive is a very powerful filing other enquiries. calculations and 'what if' model - system which sets new standards, using but give increased capacity (at least For more information 100K bytes each) and a faster data - construction easier than they've ever a language even simpler than BASIC. transfer rate. Typical access speed is been. Sample applications are It combines ease of use for simple Phone Camberley (0276) 686100, or 3.5 seconds, and loading is at up to provided, including budget -planning applications - such as card indices - use the coupon to get a QL brochure. 15K bytes per second. The Sinclair QL and cash -flow analysis. QL Abacus with huge power as a multi -file data Due to demand, delivery may take has two built-in Microdrives. If allows you to refer to rows, columns processor. more than 28 days. Your order will be required, a further six units can be and cells by names, not just letters An easy -to -use labelling facility acknowledged immediately with an connected. and numbers. Function keys can be means that you don't have to ask for expected shipment date. Remember Four blank cartridges are assigned to change a variable and your file by its full name -a few letters that Sinclair offers a 14 -day money - supplied with the machine. carry out a complete 'what if' are enough. back undertaking. calculation with a single key -stroke.

Send to: Sinclair Research Ltd, Computer Division, FREEPOST Camberley, Surrey, GU15 38R. Circle No. 180 Qty Item Code Item Price f Total f Sinclair QL Computer 6000 399.00 QLUB membership (one year) 6100 35.00 Postage & packing (any order over f390) 6999 7.95

Please tick the appropriate box - I enclose a cheque made payable to Sinclair Research Ltd for f

I I I I I I I I Please charge my Access/Barclaycard Trustcard Account No. I I I 1 I I 1 I

Signature Mr/Mrs/Miss I 1111111111111111111 1 1 I 1 I I I I 11111 Address I I I I I 1111111111111111111 I I I 11111 1P0C4051 1 11111111111111111111111 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 LSI El Please send me a chart comparing the Sinclair QL computer with a

H Please send me a Sinclair QL brochure

°Quill, Easel, Archive and Abacus are trade marks of Psion Ltd. Sinclair Research Ltd, Stanhope Road, Camberley, Surrey, GU15 3p$. `1984' THE YEAR OF 2000 SAPPHIRE 2000 SERIES REMOTE CONTROL PRINTERS

IMAGINE THE PRINTER OF THE It even retains more than one set of FUTURE... the printer which offers options -so you can have it set up ready for everything. At power -on, miriads of LED'S different jobs. A mere seven buttons allow twinkle their vital information to you. Banks this, full paper handling options and the of microswitches on the extended front usual master controls all from where you sit. panel allow selection of the precise option of your choice, and with the aid of touch For further details of this revolutionary printer, fill in sensor control switches, you're ready to go. the coupon below to -day and we will make 1984 the About as easy to operate as Concorde -all Year of 2000 for you. simply described in the 3 volume instruction manual. _1 NOW IMAGINE THE PRINTER BEYOND THE FUTURE...the printer which offers millions of configurations. The printer which needs no tuition or manuals, no exasperating phone calls. The printer which has no switches or LED'S, no control panel. THE SAPPHIRE 2000...combines sophistication with ingenuity. The result: fast, clear. Perfect simplicity. The Remote Control Unit provides the Please send me further details of the SAPPHIRE 2000 window through which the operator can SERIES by return. select, from the thousands of millions of NAME options, the precise configuration required. ADDRESS Simply, quickly and permanently. Sapphire doesn't forget when you switch it off -it POST CODE retains the precise options you select for TELEPHONE: next time. MICROPUTE, Catherine Street, Macclesfield, Cheshire. SK11 6QY. TELEPHONE: 0625-615384.

GAWIiikt

THE YEAR OF THE SAPPHIRE 2000. 401111111111.111111111101111111111111.111111immouniummip.

Circle No. 181 j PP 2000 SYMBIOTIC COMPUTER SYSTEMS LIMITED

SYMBFILE SYMBSTORE ),," INCIIESTER SI SYSTEM TAPE STREAMINC RACK tjP

The SYMBFILE hard disk subsystem is a complete add-on mass storage system for SYMBSTORE is the perfect complement to SYMBFILE giving a high speed, tots the Apple II, 11 +, 11E, or Ill microcomputers and is at present being developed for reliable back up system. SYMBSTORE will copy the entire contents of a SYMBF the SIRIUS, IBM PC and the BBC micro. It is compatible with the majority of to a C60 type digital cassette. SYMBSTORE'S unique multiple buffer verificat hardware products currently available for the Apple, including the I6K Language ensures the perfect transfer of data. Software to individually hack up volumes I card and all 80 -column cards. SYMBFILES are availableinsizes from 5-21 files under present operating systems will soon he available on request. megabytes. Full DOS, Pascal, and CP/M support allows any standard application software, including database, word processing, and accounting packages to he used.

Next stam, Ofother Micros

SplatterBox7

Apple E

"""Solitterto SOF.

Soho, Box Fibre Optic Cable Moth

Local Soho. to Station SyMBIlle

SYMBNET SYMBPLEXER LOCAL AREA NETWORK NETWORK CONTROLLER

SYMBNET is a -tree and branch" network system using fibre optic cable to allow he SYMBPLEXER is a network controller which complements SYMBNET. several microcomputers to share a common SYMBFILE. SYMBNET is the fastest SYMBPLEXER is connected directly to the SYMBFILE and performs all read-wr long range local area network for microcomputers, and can cover a range of 7-9 operations to and from the hard disk. SYMBPLEXER does away with the need fo Kilometres, fibre optics means that SYMBNET is more cost effective; it uses a high central machine thus releasing another terminal to run any application you wi intensity semi -conductor laser to transmit data and cables can be laid at the shortest being a dedicated device the read-write operations are performed very efficient route, whereas other networking systems use flat ribbon or coaxial cable which is the support software allows SYMBPLEXER to designate pass codes for each user a sensitive to electrical noise from fluorescent lights, photocopiers, etc. SYMBNET is to decide which user may access which applications. If you are currently usi compatible with DOS, Pascal, SOS, and CP/M running on any microcomputer SYMBNET , accessing your SYMBFILE via a central machine, the addition o supported by the SYMBFILE in concurrent operation. SYMBPLEXER will in no way change the operational capabilities of the network.

For more details of all SYMBIOTIC products contact

ENGLAND SYMBIOTIC COMPUTER SYSTEMS LTD SYMBIOTIC COMPUTER SYSTEMS SYMBIOTIC COMPUTER SYSTEMS SYMBIOTIC (05111I ER SYSTEMS A. S SYMBIOTIC COMPUTER SYSTEMS I P() BOX 1431 DUROMA HOUSE (BENELUX) S.A.R.L. POSTBOKS 1620KERNVEIEN. 32 ELMWOOD ROAD. CROYDON KEIZERSGRACHT-211E 5611 GD 117 RUE LEMERCIER. OSLO 5 -NORWAY. FAIRFIELD CT (164311 SURREY CR9 2TX EINDHOVENNEDERLAND 751117- PA RIS FRANCE - 1471 22 B4 55 77 12113) 374 59111. IP111 6113 1137 PBX IP0411456055. I (11228.14-18,

SYMBIOTIC COMPUTER SYSTEMS LTI) SYMBIOTIC EDUCA FIONAL SYSTEMS LH) SYMBIOTIC COMPUTER SYSTEMS INC- SYMBIOTIC COMPUTER SYSTEMS S.A SYMBIOTIC COMPUTER SYSTEMS (BENELUX) SYMBIOTIC COMPUTER SYSTEMS AS Circle No. 182 >OPElkil FILE R T I I:: A' LCOMPUTINi i MAY 1984 Open File >COMMODORE >T ANDY monitors HI -LO CARD PERFECT MAZES 156GAME 163You can while away your Apple John HarrisA Pet version of the popular time getting lost with this program Atari Jack Schofieldtelevision programmePlay your from R English. BBC Nicholas McCutcheon Cards Right,written by G Pounder. MEMORY MAP Commodore Mike ToddExcitement is added to the game by a 163A detailed memory map Dragon Ian Stobiecash prize provided at the end of a for the Tandy Model 1. Epson HX-20 John Wellsmansuccessful run. GENIE TIPS IBM PC Jack Schofield BOMBING Newbrain David Watt 163A J Brier supplies a 156MONSTERS handful of helpful hints to aid in Tandy John WellsmanModifications for Thomas and Kim programming the Genie. Research Machines Ian StobieGustafsson's game which appeared in Sharp John HooperFebruary's Open File. 16,SOUND ADVICE Sinclair John Wellsman NJWith the help of an 157 amplifier and a speaker you can SKETCH PAD obtain sound on the Model I or III A simple sketching program from Ianwith the information supplied by Open File is the part of the magazine Metcalf, which demonstrates the Norman Bailey. written by the readers of Practical high -resolution capabilities of the Computing. All aspects of Commodore 64 and has plenty of microcomputing are covered. from scopefor speed improvements. >BBC games to serious business software and utilities. Fully -debugged BERTIE THE programs can be submitted for any >5 I NC:LA I R 165BEETLE micro, and for standard CP/M COUNTTO Enter the insect world with this game machines such as the Osborne and 159EIGHT from William Prew. You play the Superbrain. Programs can be in Anothergame from Charles Cowan, hero, Bertie the Beetle, and help your machine code or any language, written for the 16K Spectrum. loved one, Suzy the Snail, to get back including Forth and Pascal. her children who have been taken SOLVER away. Submissions should include a brief159K D Drew has supplied a description which explains what yourprogram for solving simultaneous MOVING PYRAMID program does, and how it does it.If equations. Although written for the 165A very short graphics possible it should be typed, with ZX-81, with a few modifications it program from Simon Pithers to lines double-spaced. We need a could run on any computer. enable you to draw a pyramid. printed program listing. Hand-written listings cannot be accepted. A tape EYESIGHT SAVER or disc of the program helps if it is in160CP Marriner's small >NENBRA IN a standard format. routine helps to make your program SCREEN HOLD listings more readable. It shakes up a When printing listings, please 167IG Bernard provides a remember to use a new ribbon or program of multi -statement lines so machine -code routine which enables double -intensity printing - faint that each statement is on a new line.the little -used Videotext key to be listings reproduce badly. Use plain used for suspending and restarting paper only, and try to list the >RESEARC:H display - especially handy when you program across either a 35 -character want to list long programs. or a 70 -character width. Also, make MACH I NES sure all special graphics or inverse - TANGLE WITH video characters are either listed 161TANKS >APPLE correctly or else include Rem A fast, challenging game written in NOUGHTS AND statements to explain them fully. Basic for the 380Z by Mark 169CROSSES Each program listing, tape or disc Callaway. You control a tank and tryA game particularly suitable for must have your name and address on to keep going as long as possible by playing with young children to it, or we cannot promise its safe avoiding obstacles in your way. introduce them to using a computer. return. A stamped addressed envelope is appreciated. Send your contribution to: If you write in with a comment, correction or enquiry please Open File, Practical Computing, remember to state the machine and the program title. Quadrant House, The Quadrant, We pay at least £10 for any programs used, or £35 per page and Sutton, Surrey SM2 5AS pro rata for part pages.

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 155 Hi -lo cardgame

THIS IS A PET VERSION of the popular television programme Play your Cards 11 B$="[RVSJPRESS.ANY.KEY.TO.CONTINUE 64 PRINT"ERVSI ERVOFF3.ER1 Right but it hastwoingredients missing. .0R.'X'.TO.EXITERVOFFP ERVOFFL,ERVSJ...... ERVOFF1 ERV[IFF].[RVSI There is no Bruce Forsyth and there are no 13 Z$="[HOME.DOWN22.3" tRVSJ 14 M0=100DIM P(.15 CRVOFFJ" questions to be answered other than "Is the 15 PRINT"[CLEAR]INSTRUCTIONS(YA4) 65 REM -SET VARIABLES FOR OUTPUT OF FR next card higher or lower?" 16 A$="" ONT OF CARD 17 GET As IF Ea=""THEN 17 65 3=1 The program presents five cards, all face 18 IF A$="Y"TNEN 174 67 ST$=ST$(3) down, and then turns up the first. you have 19 PRINT"ECLEARJ" 63: 01$="ERVSJ..."+ST$+"..." 20 REM -INITIALISE VARIABLES 69 02$="ERVSJ."+ST$+"..."+ST$+"." to decide if the next card is going to be 21 W-1:3-0:CA=0:PR=0,WI=0:J=0:J1=0 70 02$="[RVS)."+ST$+"."+ST$+"."+ST$+" higher or lower, and if you are correct this :Ze7=0 23 71 LI$="ERVSP+CD$C'')+" is repeated until all five cards have been 23 REM -COST 'IF EACH TURN 72 L7$="ERVq] "+CD1:(X turned over correctly. 24 MO=M0-10 73 REM -DESIGN FRONT OF CARD 25REM -PICK 5 CARDS AT RANDOM 74 Vw=VAL A$(6)=O3$:GOTO 90 difficult to type from the listings. All the 40 TE$(2)=MIDS(P$,R1+i) 87 IF VV=11 OR :..'V=13 THEN A$(4)=02$ cursor -control characters have therefore 41 FI=TEi(1)+TE$(29 8E: IF VV311 THEN Fi$(3)=03$:A$(5)=03$ 42 ST$(0=RIGHTS(CA$00,1) 89 REM -OUTPUT FRONT OF CARD been converted and placed inside the square 43 CD$00=MID$(CA$(X).3.1) 90 PRINT'EHOME.DOWN2J"I brackets, vith all spaces in quotes replaced 44 REM -SET VALUE OF SUIT FOR CARDS 91 FOR A=1 TO 7 45 IF ST$00="4"THEN S=S+1:Z(X)=4 92 IF A=1 THEN PRINT TAB<(3-1).8)ILI$ by the small triangles. GOTO 49 GOTO 95 The program contains the instructions 46 IF ST$(3)="0"THEN H=N+1,Z(X)=3 93 IF A=7 THEN PRINT TAB((X-1)#8)IL7$ :GOTO 49 :GOTO q5 and has plenty of Rems,so it should be easy 47 IF 5T$00="40"THEN D=D+1:204)=2 94 PRINT -TABO:X-1)+8);11$(A) to understand. It will work on all Pets, and GOTO 49 95 NEXT A 48 C=C+1:Z(X)=1 96 REM -BRANCH ON WRONG ANSWER also on the 64 provided that the Pokes in 49 PI=VAL

.ERVS3F.ERVOFFI.ERVSj.ERVOFF.1.[RVS3 115 R$="LOWER.." . rather than Run50. It willnot have stopped ..[RVOFF1.ERVSJr.LRVOFF3.[RVS). 117 PRINT"[HOME.DOWN11,RIGHTJ"; the game running, justprevented you from ERVOFFJ.ERVS:1..ERVOFFL.ERVSJr. TAB<(X-1)*8)R$ ERVOFFJ.ERVS:J.[RFFI.ERVE1.. 118 IF J=1 THEN 151 having a second game. ERVOFF]..ERVSJF.ERVOFFJ.ERVS]. 119 REM -OUTPUT WRONG RESPONSE Another feature was that the screen size ERVOFFJ.ERVS7..ERVOFF.2.[RVSIr. 121 IF J1=1 THEN PRINT"[HOME,DOWN147 [RVOFFJ .14RONG.RESPONSE.!1! 60 PRINT"ERVSJ.ERVOFFI.ERIEJ 122 REM -BRANCH TO DISPLAY OF CARD [RVOFFJ.ERVSJ.ERVOFF.I.ERVS7...... 123 GOTO 67 Bombing monsters. ERVOFFI.ERVSJ.ERVOFF1.ERVS3..... 124 REM -UPDATE MONEY AND OUTPUT MONEY ERVOFFJ.ERVS.I.T.RFFJ.ERVS2.... LEFT ERVOFFJERVSJ.ERVOFFJ.ER,''j 125 MO=MO+WI 10 POKE 7232,0 ERVOFFJ" 125 IF M0

290 FOR 1=0 TO 7: POKE 7224+1,255: NEXT ERVOFFL,ERVS.J..[RFF]..11ERVSJ. MONEY..LEFT..=."IM04:1 . 492 FOR 1=37888 TO 37955: POKE 1,1: NEXT ERVOFF.7.[RVSJ.ERVOFF.7.ERVSJ.. 130 IF KW.POUND."THEN MO=M0#100 495 FOR 1=7233 TO 7834: POKE 1.0: NEXT ERVOFFJ.IERVSJ.ERVOFF/.": 131 REM -END OF GAME WHEN MONEY = 0 52 PRINT"ERVSJ.ERVOEFJ.ERVS]..ERVOFF) 132 IF MO=0 THEN PRINT"[CLEARDOHN5J .NERI..).LRVORF.7" NO.PONEY-LEFT...IN.YOUR.,FirrnUNT":END :.031 CHANGE 5184 TO 7232 (2 TIMES) 3032 CHANGE 5184 TO 7232 (ONCE) 23PRINT"[R.I[RVOFFII.ERVSJr... 133 REM -ANOTHER GAME ? /360 CHANGE R0N50 TO RUN98 ERVOFF.J.E.RV17.7ERVORFJ.ERY3--Jr 134 PRINT"IMP51.-00.YoUJ4ANT.JO,FLA IRVOFFJ.ERYSI.NERVOEPL,LR'y''Srlr Y.ANOTHER.GAME,?" ERVOFEJ.ERVSJ.N[RVOREI.ERVS.3, 135 0$="" DELETE LINES: ERVOFFI.ERVSL,NERVOFFI,ERVSJF 136 GET 0$:IF 0$=""THEN 136 190. 210. 230, 250. 270 ERVOFFI" 137 IF 0$<>"N"THEN 143

156 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 >COMMODORE by Mike Todd

is increased beyond the normal 22 by 23 characters. This is done with the Pokes in 138 REM -PLAYER DOES NOT WANT TO CONTI .WILL.BE.HIGHER.OR lines 110 to 140, with line 150 setting up the NUE TO PLAY 179 PRINT"IDOWN3LOWER.THAN.THE.PRECED repositioned character generator. In this 139 PRINT"CCLEAR.DOWN5] ING.ONE. THANK.YOU.FOR.PLRYING." 180 PRINT"IDOWN21..IF.THIS.PROCESS.IS case the screen memory now starts at 7168 140 PRINT"CDOWNWOUR.ACCOUNT.NOW.STAN .SUCESSFULLY.ACHIYED and colour at 37888. DS.AT.";MO".PENCE.":END 181 PRINT"THEN.THE.COMPUTER.WILL.REWA 141 REM -ERASE TITLES DISPLAYED RD.YOU.WITN.F1 The game was designed to run on a 143 PRINT"CHOME,DOWN23I 182 PRINT"CASH.WIN.IN.THE.RANGE.OF.$0 .20.70.$2.00 Vic -20 with the 3K RAM expansion pack 183 PRINT"EDOWNJCORRESPONDING.TO.THE. fitted, although it can be converted to run 144 PRINT"CUP5,RIGHT33 DIFFICULTY.INVOLYED 184 PRINT"IN.THE.FORCASTING.PROCESS. on an unexpanded Vic.I am grateful 'to 185 PRINT .21;B$ Richard Whiteley of Hamilton for the 145 PRINT"ILIP5J 186 GOSUB 220 necessary modifications given in the listing. 187 PRINT"ICLEARTAB(11); 146 PRINT"IUP3] "***.HI.-.L0.**e 188 PRINT"EDOWNJ..THE.WINNINGS.ARE.CA 147 PRINT"[UP4] LCULATED.ON.THE 189 PRINT"IDOWN7FOLLOWING.SCRLE.:- 148 PRINT"CDOWN83 190 PRINT"CDOWN3NOTHING High -resolution .0.20 149 GOTO 21 191 PRINT"1.PAIR $.0.40 150 REM -CALCULATE WIN 192 PRINT"2.PAIR $.0.G)0 sketch pad 151 FOR R=2 TO 14 193 PRINT"3.0F.P.KIND $.1.00 152 IF P(A)=2 THEN PA=PA+1 194 PRINT"FULL.HOUSE .$.1.50 This simple sketching program, written 153 IF P(A)=3 THEN CA=1 195 PRINT"STRAIGHT $ 1.50 154 IF P(A)=4 THEN CA=2 196 PRINT"FLUSH $.1.50 by Ian Metcalf of Preston, demonstrates 155 NEXT A 197 PRINT"4.0F.A.KIND $.2.00 thehigh -resolutioncapabilitiesofthe 156 IF CA=1 AND PA=1 THEN WI=150 198 PRINT"STRAIGHT.FLUSH $.2.00 OU$="A.FULL.HOUSE":GOTO 166 199 PRINT"[DOWN2J..YOU.START.THE.GAME Commodore 64. It uses a joystick plugged 157 IF PA=2 THEN WI=60:0U$="2.PAIRS" .WITH.$1.00.AND.THE" into games port number 1 to draw lines on :GOTO 166 200 PRINT"IDOWN3COST.OF.EACH.TURN.IS. 158 IF CA=1 THEN WI=100 $0.10." the screen. When the Fire button is pressed, OU$="3.0F.P.KIND":GOTO 166 201 PRINT 3$;B$ the program draws the line in the same 159 IF CA=2 THEN WI=200 202 GOSUB 220 :014="4.0F.A.KIND",GOTO 166 203 PRINT"ICLEARP,TAB(11); colour as the screen so that lines can be 160 IF PA=1 THEN WI=40:0U3="A.PAIR" removed. Alternatively, the cursor, can be :GOTO 166 204 FRINT"EDOWNJNOTE:- 161 01.1$="NOTNING"WI=20 205 PRINT"IDOWN2I...1).ACE.IS.HIGH moved to a different part of the screen. 162 IF S=5 OR H=5 OR C=5 OR 8=5 THEN 206 PRINT"IDOWN3...2),IF.TWO.CONSECUT The Clear Screen key willclear the W1=150:014="A.FLUSH",F=1 IVE.CARDS.PRE.EOUAL 163 IF R(1))10 THEN 166 207 PRINT"THEN.THE.CARD.SUITS.HAVE.TH screen, but leaves the cursor where it was. 164 IF R(1)+1=R(2)AND R(3)+1=R(4)AND E.FOLLOWING Pressing Ctrl -Z resets the video chip and R(5)=R(I)+4 THEN WI=150 208 PRINT"IDOWNJWEIGHTS.,- :OU3="A.STRAIGHT",S=1 209 PRINT"EDOWNJ aborts the program; the machine will then 165 IF F=1 AND S=1 THEN WI=200 .HEARTS need to be reset using the Stop and Restore :014="A.STRRIGHT.FLUSH" 210 PRINT"[DOWN] 166 IF WI(90 THEN K$=".PENCE.° .DIAMONDS keys. :GOTO 169 211 PRINT"IDOWNJ The program itself is in lines 100 to 140, 167 K$=".POUND.":WI=WI(100 ...CLUBS 168 REM -OUTPUT TOTAL OF CARDS AND DIS 213 PRINT 2$;" CRVS) with most of the processing being done as PLAY ASSOCIATED WIN PRESS.ANY.KEY.TO.BEGIN.GAMEIRYOFF] . The Data statements in lines 169 PRINT"[HOME,DOWN143 CARDS.TOTAL."OU$ 214 REM -BEGIN GAME 20000 to 20070 contain a short machine - 170 PRINT"CDOWN1THIS.IS.WORTH.";WI;K$ 215 A$="" code program which is used to clear the 171 IF K$="..POUND."THEN WI=WI*100 216 GET AS: IF R$=""THEN 216 172 GOTO 125 217 REM -REPLACE TEXT TO UPPER CASE high -resolution screen. 173 REM -SET LOWER CASE 218 POKE 59468,12:GOTO 19 The at 30000 does the actual 174 POKE 59468,14 219 REM -SUB. TO CONTINUE INSTRUCTIONS 175 REM -INSTRUCTIONS OR BEGIN GAME plotting of the point on the screen. The 176 PRINT"[CLERR]";TAB(11); 220 P$="" colourisdetermined by the expression "***.HI. -.LO.***" 221 GET A3: IF A$=""THEN 221 177 PRINT"[DOWN].THE.OBJECT.OF.THE.GA 222 IF AWX"THEN POKE 59468,12 CO + 16 in line 30040. If a colour other ME.IS.TO.FORECAST GOTO 19 than white is required it can be changed to 178 PRINTuIDOWN3WHETHER.THE.NEXT.CARP 223 RETURN CO + (16*colour code) The background colour can be changed by amending line 110 so that CO is equal to the value of colour code, and by changing the Sketch pad. 100 GOSUB 30200 PEEK(24*1024+CH) AND 255-8I Poke 826,0 in line 30390 to Poke 826,CO. 105 POKE 650,128 30040 POKE 16.1024+X1+40*Y1, CO+16 Lines 30100 to 30150 set up the video 110 CO=O: GOSUB 30100:X=160: V=100 30050 RETURN chip as required, and lines 30200 to 30230 120 RU=1: GOSUB 30300 30100 VC=13*4096 + 13*256: V=13*4096 set up the machine -code routine from the 130 GOSUB 30000 30110 POKE VC,PEEK(VC) AND 254 140 GOTO 120 30120 POKE V+24,8 Data statements. The joystick routine starts 30130 POKE V+17,PEEK(V+17) OR 72 at line 30300 and sets up the X and Y co- 30140 POKE 826,CO: SYS(832) 20000 DATA 173,0,221,41,254,141,0,221, 30150 RETURN ordinates and plotting mode as required. 169,8,141 Like many programs that are fairly easy 20010 DATA 24,208.173,17.208,9,32,141, 30200 1=832 17,208 30210 READ A:IF A=999 THEN RETURN to understand, this one has plenty of scope 20020 DATA 32,89,3,96,165,176,72,165, ,1,0220 POKE I,A for significant speed improvements. For 177,72 30230 I=I+1: GOTO 30210 20030 DATA 169,96,133,177,169,0,133, 30300 JO=PEEK(56321) AND 31 instance, the calculation of BI in line 30020 176,162,32 30310 IF (JO AND 1)=0 THEN Y=Y-1 takes a long time and could be replaced by 20040 DATA 160,0,145,176,136,208,251, 30320 IF (JO AND 2)=0 THEN Y=Y+1 230,177,202 30330 IF (JO AND 4)=0 THEN X=X-1 setting up an array containing all possible 20050 DATA 208,244,169,64,133,177,173, 30340 IF (JO AND 8).0 THEN X=X+1 values of BI. There are actually only eight 58,3,162 30345 IF (JO AND 16)=0 THEN RU=0 20060 DATA 4,160,0,145,176,136,208, 30350 IF X<=1 THEN X=X+320:GOTO 30390 of them since X2 is in the range 0 to 7. 251,230,177 30360 IF x>=320 THEN A=X -320 Another possibility is to replace some of 20070 DATA 202,208,244,104.133,177, :GOTO 30390 104,133,176,96,999 30370 IF Y,=1 THEN Y=Y+199 the numeric values with variables. It often :GOTO 30390 takes quite a long time for the Commodore 30390 IF Y,=199 THEN Y=Y-198 30000 Y1=INT(Y/8): Y2=Y-Y1*8 64 to read a number from the program and 30010 X1=INT(X/8): X2=X-X1*8 30390 POKE 167,0: GET A$ convert it into binary. If it is assigned to a 30020 CH=Y1*320 + X1*8 + Y2 :IF Af="ECLEAR3" THEN POKE 826,0 : BI=2"(7-X2) :SYS 832 variable at the very start of the program, 30030 POKE 24*1024+CH, 30395 IF 114=CHR$(26) THEN POKE VC,151 PEEK(24*1024+CH) OR BI :POKE V+24,21:POKE V+17,27:END the conversion has already been performed 70075 IF RU=0 THEN POKE 24*1024+CH. 70400 RETURN once and for all.

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 157 * BETTER VA E MAIL OR! ER SUPPLIES FOR YOUR MICRO* TDK DISKS DATALIFE DISKS XIDEX DISKS TDK CASSETTES

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Circle No. 183

158 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 S I !ICU) I R by John Wellsman Countupto eight

10 REM **** Eic"FITS 4.**** 370 NEXT 20 PRINT "THE OBJECT IS TO 1,PR 380 PRINT AT 20,1; FLASH 1;-TI9 E RS LONG A WORD AS POSSIBLE FROING HAS STARTED" M 5 RANDOM -: PRINT -UOUELs OR C ONSONANTS 390 PAUSE 1260 400 PRINT AT 26.1;. FLASH 1;-TYP 30 PRINT -You have 30 secondE sTO STOP ALARM"

for each " PRINT -setection 4-10BEEP 0.5,0: BEEP 0.5,2 O f WordS- 420IF INKEY$="s- THEN GO TO 44 40 PRINT -SCORE 1 POINT FOR 0 EACH LETTER OFYOUR WORD, AND 5 F 430 GO TO 410 OR THE WINNINGWORD,OR 5 POINTS E 440 REM *** INPUT *** ACM IN THE -: PRINT "CASE OF A T IE- 450 REM *** SCORES *** 50 PRINT ,,"TYPE S TO START - 460 INPUT -PLAYER 1 SCORE PLEAS 60 IF INKEY$=-s- THEN GO TO 80E -,scl 70 GO TO 60 4-70 INPUT -PLAYER 2 SCORE PLEAS 80 CL5 -SC2 90 LET b=1: LET d=1 460 LET tl=t1+sc1 100 RANDOMIZE 490 LET t2=t2+sc2 110 LET t1=0: LET t2=0 500 CLS 120 FOR 1=1 TO 10 510 PRINT AT 0,1;"PLAYER 1 -;t1 130 LET b=1: LET d=1 520 PRINT AT 10,1; -PLAYER 2 "; t 140 IF INT fis2)<>i./2 THENPRIM2 T -PLAYER 1 SELECT 8 LETTERS- 530 PRINT -TYPE C TO CONT 150 IF INT (1/2)=1/2 THEN PRIF.11-INUE": PRINT "OR S TO END GAME" -PLAYER 2 SELECT S LETTERS - 540 IF INKEY$=-c- THEN GO TO 55 160 PAUSE 50 170 FOR k=1 TO 8 550 IF INKEY$="s" THEN GO TO 50 180 INPUT -TYPE V FOR A VOWEL, 0 C FOR A CONSONANT-,1$ 560 IF 1NKEY$<>-- THEN GO TO 56 190 IF 1$<-V- AND l$<>-c- THEN GO TO 180 570 IF INKEY$="" THEN GO TO 540 200 IF t$="v" THEN GOSUB 630 580 CLS 210 IF t$="c" THEN GOSUB 680 590 NEXT i 220 REM *** PRINTOUT *** 600 IF t_1>t2 THEN PRINT FLA-5 230 LET count=0 H 1; -PLAYER 1 WINS" 240 IF d=5 THEN LET b=11 610 IF tl0 THEN GOTO 2200 530 FOR 8=1 TO K 2050NEXT P 54-0 LET==' (R 6) =S (R, 6) ,'Ckt 2100PRINT "NO UNIQUE SOLUTION" 55.0 LET T (R =T (R , 6) .'(Ii 2110STOP 560 NEXT Et 2200FOR 8=1 TO K 570 FOR C=1 TO K 580 IF C=R THEN GOTO 630 LET N=T(P,B) 585 LET O =5 (C,A) 2230LET 5(P,B)=-5(A,6) 590FOR 0=1 TO K 3240LET T(P,B)=T(R,B) 600 LET 5 ieDI =5 (C, 0) - 0*5 (R , 0) 3250LET SiR,B)=M 2260LET T(R,B)=N 610k LET T (C, 0) =T (C,D) - (0*T (R,O) 2270NEXT 8 2300RETURN 620 NEXT 630 NEXT C 640 NEXT A 650 FOR t,=1 TO K Sample run. 660 FOR 6=1 TO K 01!'f--47-Trwts 670 LET R (R) =RCR.5+(5 (8,K+1)*T fA Et) ) :3*X + *X2 + 8 * X = 15 680NEXT.a.. 690NEXT A 5 -*X I+ 4* X2 + /2 *X3= 51 Sec_ ***4RESULT ::+***J.+ Rt:1c PRTNT "--sOLHTION5 FOR X-1.,,ALU43 -*X1+ 8*X2 + -6*X3= -38 FS :- 908 PRINT SOLUTIONS FOR X -URLUE5 910FOP. A=1TO K 920PRINT "X"; " =".; R tR) 11= 930 NEXT A X2= 94-0STOP X3=

(continued from previous page) 2300 check if the matrix can be inverted. It inits formatted and unformatted state builds up two matrices. One contains thenot, an error message is displayed. TheSpectrumstoresprogramsin parameters plus the vector y in the k + 1st memory from location 23755. Each line of column; the other is the unit matrix. In lines the program is then stored with two bytes 500 to 690 the data matrix is transformedEyesight saver for the , and two bytes holding into a unit matrix. The same operations are the length of the text, the text of the line applied simultaneously to the unit matrix Anyone who has copied programs fromand an end -of -line marker CHR$(13). which is thus transformed into the inversethis or any other page will know it plays The routine lists any Basic program with matrix 13.1. Lines 650 to 690 give the vectorhavoc with the eyesight if the coding isthe following changes. Every time a colon for the solutions, as packed to maximum density. This is fineor the keyword Then is found a new line is x = B.iy for memory economy butterribleforstarted with correct indentation to match In lines 900 to 970 LPrint or similarreading and copying. But hope is at hand.the preceding line. statements may be added if you wish toC P Marriner of Grimsby has sent in a small In practice the routine is merged with the obtain a hard copy, otherwise the resultsroutine which will shake up a program ofprogram and suitably isolated. To print the are displayed on the screen. Lines 1000 tomulti -statement lines so that each statementformatted listing enter Goto 9000 or its 1090 display the equations. Lines 2000 tois on a new line. The routine itself is givenequivalent if you have renumbered.

Eyesight saver. 9000 REM Format listing +256*PEEK (n+3) 9005 OPEN 212,-p-: LET dsp=0:REM9040 IF PEEK 1=58 THEN PRINT -: printerspacing ;TAB space;: GO TO 9060 9010 LET n=23755 9045 IF PEEK i>=32 THEN PRINT C 9015 IF dsp=1 THEN PRINT HR$ PEEK 1; 9020 PRINT': PRINT 256*PEEK N+P9050 IF PEEK 1=14 THEN LET i=i+ EEK (N+1) ; =7, 9025 LET spa ce =LEN STRS (256*PEE9055 IF PEEK i=203 THEN PRINT 'T K n +PEEKEn +1) ) +1 RE space 9030 IF 256*PEEK n +PEEKfn +1) > =99060 NEXT i 100THENOPEN 142-5-:PRINT -O. 9065 LET n= in +3 +PEEK(n +2) +256*P K.": STOP EEK (n +3) +1) 9035 FOR I=n +4 TO n +3+PEEK(n +2)$070 GO TO 9015

160 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 >RESEARCH HACH I NES by Ian Stobie Tangle with tanks

THIS IS A GAMEwritten in Basic 5.0 for the BBC Micro in the February 1983 issue. The players have a choice of steering RML380Z by Mark Callaway of Alnwick The game is for two players and is verymethod and can select the size of playing in Northumberland.High -resolutionfast. Each player controls a tank, and thefield: smaller fields make the game more graphicsarenotrequired.Practicalwinner is the one who can keep going thedifficult. You can also ask the computer to Computing published his version for thelongest without hitting anything. place extra obstacles on the field.

10 REM******************** -70 REM*** *** :30 REM*** Super Tangle *** 40 REM*** Copyright *** 50 REM*** Mark Callaway*** AO REM*** 28th December*** 70 REM*** *** 80 REM******************** 90 TEXT 100 DATA0,1,1,0,0,-1,-1,0 110 DIMD(4,2) 120 MR=0:US=0 1R0 FGRT=0TGR:FGRX=OT01:READD(T,X):NEXT:NEXT 140 PRINT"Welcome to Super- Tangle" 150 PRINT:PRINT"The object of the game is to steer your tank and a void hitting any walls." 160 PRINT 170 INPUT"What is player l's name 180 INPUT"What is player 2's name ?";U$ 190 PRINT:INPUT"Do you want to use (1) relative or (2) absc.ln te steering ";FLAG 200 IFFLAG=1THEN230 210 IFFLAG=2THEN300 220 PRINT"ERROR - enter 1 or 2":GOT0190 230 PRINT:PRINTM$;" use these keys:" 240 PRINT" 'A' turn anti -clockwise" 250 PRINT" 'D' turn clockwise" -7"60 PRINT:PRINTU$;" use these keys:" '7'70 PRINT" 'J turn anti -clockwise" 220PRINT" 'L' turn clockwise" 290 00T0400 :300 PRINT:PRINTM$;" use these keys:" 310 PRINT" 'W' up" 2(1) PRINT" 'A'left" R30 PRINT" 'D' right" 7:40 PRINT" 'X' down" R50 PRINT:?U$;" use these keys: RAO 2"'I' up" 370 PRINT" 'J'left" RRO PRINT" 'L'right" 390 PRINT" ','down" 400 PRINT: INPUT"How many games do you want to play ";GAMES 410 INPUT"How ''tide is your screen (40/R0) ";C

42(1 REM Try smaller values than 40 or 80 if you wanta smaller - 4R0 REM playing field and a more difficult game. 440 r=r*2-1 450 INPUT"Do you want some extra walls in the playing Field (Y /N) ";X$ 4A0 GRAPH

470 REM draw border around screen 480 PLOT0,0,2

(continued on next page)

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 161 >RESEARCH MACHINES

(continuedfrom previous page) 490 LINE0,59,2 500 LINEC,59,2 510 LINEC,0,2 520 LINEO,0,2 530 IFLEFT$CX$0)="N"ORLEFT$(X$0)="n"THEN590

540 REM draw extra walls on screen 550 PLOT20,19,2:LINEC-20,19,2

PLIIT20,9,2:LINEr-20,39,2 570 PL0T0,29,2:LINE20,29,2 930 PLOTC,29,2:LINEC-20,29,2 590 MX=5:MY=5:MD=1 600 UX=r-5:UY=94:UD=S 610 A$=1-,ET$(0):IFA$=""THEN790 620 IFFLAG=1THEN740

630 REM Absolute steering 640 IFA$="W"ORA$="w"THENMD=0:GOT0720 690 IFA$="D"OPA$="d"THENMD=1:GOT0720 660 IFA$="X"ORA$=",--"THENMD=2:GOT0720 670 IFA$="A"OPA$="a"THENMD=3:GOT0720 IFA$="I"OPA$="i"THENUD=0:GOT0720 690 IFA$="L"OPA$="1"THENUD=1:GOT0720 700 IFA$=","ORA$=""THENUD=2:GOT0720 710 IFA$="3"ORA$="J"THENUD=3:GOT0720 720 1-,0T0790

730 REM Relative Steering 740 IFA$="A"OPA$="a"THENMD=MD-1:IFMD=-1THENMD=3 750 IFA$="D"ORA$="d"THENMD=MD+1:IFMD=4THENMD=0 7/%0 IFA$="A"0RA$="J"THENUD=UD-1:IFUD=-1THENUD=3 770 IFA$="1"ORA$="L"THENUD=UD+1:IFUD=4THENUD=0

780 REM Test for collisions 790 IFPOINT(MX+D(MD,0),MY+D(MD,1))<>0THEN850 800 IFPOINT(UX+D(UD,0),UY+D(UD,1))<>0THEN850

810 REM Move players 820 MX=MX+D(MD,0):MY=MY+D(MD,1):UX=UX+D(UD,0):UY=UY+D(UD,1) 830 IF MX=UX AND MY=UY THEN '7"crunch":GOT0910 840 PLOTMX,MY,2:PL0TUX,UY,2:GOT0610

R90 REM Crash 860 MX=MX+D(MD,0):MY=MY+D(MD,1) 370 UX=1_1X+D(UD,0):UY=UY+D(UD,1) RRO IFPOINT(MX,MY)<>0ANDPOINT(UX,UY)<>0THENPRINT"crunch":GOT0910 890 IFP0INT(MX,MY)<>0THENPRINTM$;" crashed":US=US+1:GOT0910 900 MS=MS+1:PRINTU$;" crashed" 910 PRINTM$;" has ";MS;" pts." 920 PRINTU$;" has ";US;" pts." 9:=tO A$=GET$C) 940 GA=GA-1:IFGA<>0THEN460 990 RUN

162 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 >TANDY by John Welisman

R ENGLISHhas sentin a program that designs perfect mazes. It is possible to reach any location in the maze from any other location by one, and only one, route. Perfectmazes The size of the maze is limited only by the available memory and the amount of time the operator is prepared to wait. It takes a 10 REM SET UP ARRAYS ETC XCOT):RESET(XCO,C+1):X=X+11.5-C).2 long time to draw the maze. In this case, the 20 CLS:DEFINTA-Z:D/M 120 A(375,1),8(25,15),D(3) IFC=3ORC=4THENIFC=3ANDY=15ORC=4ANDY=1TH maze is 25 cells by 15. 30 REM DRAW GRID EN150EL.SEIFB(X,Y-2*C+7)AND128=128THEN15 The A(375,1) array actsas a stack, 40 FOR A= 0 TO 124:.OR 8= 0 TO 47 STEP OELSEB(X,Y)=8(X,Y)OR(2/(C-1)):B(X,Y-2.0 3:SET(A,B):NEXT +7)=EI(X,Y-2*C+7)0R(2C(C-1)):XC=CX-1/*5, storing locations that have been used. The 50 FOR 8=0 TO 45:FOR 0=0 TO 127 STEP 1:YC=(12-YA-C)*3:RESET(XC,YC):RESET( XC+1 B(25,15) array holds the data on the exits of 5:SET(A,8):NEXT 0,8 ,YC):RESET(XC.2,YC):RESET(XC+3,YC):Y=Y+ each location in the maze. The D(3) array 60 REM DRAW MAZE (3.5-C)4.2 70 X=1:Y=1:SP=0 130 GOTO 80 holds the available exits from a location 80 140 REM DECREMENT STACK being considered by the algorithm. SP=SP+1:A(SP,O)=X:P(SP,1)=Y:8(X,Y)=8(X, 150 ND=ND-1:DID1=D(ND):IF ND(50 THEN Y) OR 128 100 The algorithm works by startingat 90 FOR A=1 TO 4:1)(A-1)=A:NEXT A:ND=4 16C' REM PICK NEW LOCATION AND PUT ON location 1,1 and picking a random direction 100 D=RND(ND)-1:C=D(D) TOP OF STACK 110 IFC=IORC=2THEN I. C=1 AND X=25 OR 170 SP=SP-111. SPOOTHEN from the ones available. If the direction C=2 AND X=1 THEN 150 ELSE IF R=RND(SP) :X=A(R,C)) :Y=A (R, 1) :A (R, 0)=A (SP chosen would join up with a location which 8(X-2C+3,Y) AND 128 =128 THEN 150 , 0) :A(R, 11=0 (S0,1) :A(SP, 0)=X:A(SP, 1)=Y ELSE 13(X,Y)=8(X,Y) OR (2E(C-1)): 007090 has already been visited,or would be P(X-2*C+3,Y)=8(X-2*C+3,Y) OR 180 0070 180 outside the maze, itis removed from the (21(2-C))1XC=(1-C+X)*50,C=46-3*Y:RESET( available directions and another one is picked. will not be used in Basic programs. But If itis possible to move in the chosenthere are many locations between the top of Genie tips. Listing 1. directiontheco-ordinatesare changed ROM at 12288 and the beginning of the 10 FOR X=17129 TO32000: correspondingly, the new location is placedprogram area which can vary according to IF PEEK(X)=178 THEN POKE X,175 on the stack, the doors of the cells arewhether you are using level II, TRS-DOS or 20 NEXT recorded by setting the appropriate bits inother DOSs. the B() array, and bit 8 is set, meaning that The address of the beginning of a Listing 2. the location has been visited. The wall ofprogram isheld in locations 16548 and 20 REM*PRINTCOMMAND HERE AFTER the cell on the display is also removed. Line16549 and X is equal to this address in .40 110 does this for the horizontal direction X = PEEK(16548) + PEEK(16549)*256 30 FOR X=17129 TO 20000: IF and line 120 for the vertical. PEEK(X)=43 THEN 40 ELSENucrX The table shows a number of addresses, 40PRINT PEEK(X+1)"ISTHETOKEN If you cannot move in any direction fromin which the values are those to be Poked VALUE OF YOUR RESERVED WORD":END aparticularlocation,thatlocationis into the address or to be Peekd from the removed from the stack and a random pairaddress. of co-ordinates is selected from it. These program Progst, co-ordinates are then swapped with the 20 LD(4016H), HL ones on the top of the stack so that there areGenie tips load interrupt address with pos, of Progst, no exits and the location which has been 30 JP 1ALH replaced is removed from the stack. When AJ Brierof LythamSt.Annes, to return to normal Basic running, the stack pointer reaches zero there are noLancashire has been programming on the 40 PROGST available exits from any location, so theGenie for three years and has submitted theforthestartof yourprogram,and maze is finished. followingtips.Thefirstone I have 1000 END JP 03E3H published before but as it can be very useful which should always be put at the end of Memory map and some readers may have missed it, I willyour program after whatever operations repeat the method of changing Print toyou wished to have been carried out in your Although Tandy provides a memoryLPrint in a program. It is very simple andprogram have been done. This Jump is map for the Model 1 in the level II manual,consists of two lines as in listing 1. what should have been at Address 4016H. it is not very detailed. There are a number This will be for a 16K tape machine. If Line 1000 continues the main ROM of reserved areas marked on the memoryyou are using disc and/or a 48K machineprogram flow. After changing the address map and Peeks and Pokes to these areasthe range of X will be from start address ofat 4016H to that of your program, the the program to the top of your available computerwillalways jumptoyour Memory map address table. memory. program unless the machine is turned off or 14312 PRINTER CHECK. 630K:233 CHECK Mr Brier's second listing is to find thereset. A resetcauses the computer to PAPER SUPPLY AND PRINTER SWITCH: 255 - token of any reserved word. Again, the PRINTER POWER OFF rewrite the cold startROMand therefore 15360 START OF VIDEO SCREEN DISPLAY range of X will depend on your system. change the address back to its original state. 16383 END OF VIDEO SCREEN DISPLAY There is a handy interrupt vector which 16393 165 -BREAK KEY DISABLED, 233 BREAK ENABLED (NOT FOR DISC OP. SYSTEMS) can be changed to alter the main program 16401 1- ENABLE KEYBOARD flow of the ROM and patch it to your ownSound advice 16405 2= DISABLE KEYBOARD machine -code program. It can be used to 16413 U = DISABLE SCREEN, 7 - ENABLE Norman Bailey of Bracebridge Heath in SCREEN run constantly your own machine -code Lincolnshire has sent some information on 1n424 PEEK SHOWS NUMBEK or 1.1NEn PEE PAGE +I. CA,I L PUKED TO ouDIFY programs while in Basic mode, and couldobtaining sound with the Model I or III. 16425 COUNTER FOR NUMBEROFLINES prove extremely useful for flashing cursorYou need an amplifier and a speaker LPRINTED 16448-16454 SEE TRSDOS MANUAL ON CLOCK routineswhich needtobeconstantly attached to the Aux plug of the cassette 16526 LSB OF ADDRESS OF USR ROUTINES running while in Basic. lead. . . . 16527 MSB " 16546 LSB OF CURRENT LINE NUMBER The address of this useful interrupt is The Archer 200mW amplifier/speaker, 16547 MSB " 4016 hex. To utilise this changeable address Cat No. 277-1008B, costs £7.99 at Tandy 16863 LIST FUNCTION DISABLE: - changeable because it is located in cold POKE 16863,195 6 POKE 16864,114 6 POKE stores. You plug the Aux lead into it. You 16865,0 WILL DISABLE LIST FUNCTION start RAM - you might have this at thecan then produce sound by addressing the POKE 16863,201 WILL ENABLE LIST FUNCTION beginning of your assembly program 16633 LSB OF ADDRESS OF END OF PROGRAM cassette port 255. Apart from the TRS-80, . 16634 MSB OF " 10 IN IT LD HL, PROGST the unit should work with any system which which loads HL with address of yourhas an addressed cassette port.

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 163 CAMEL PRODUCTS firm up your software with an This man can use... CL EPROM PROGRAMMER cn AT LAST! for the Spectrum user. Put 46 Microcomputers 6 Word Processors Oyour programs, utilities, Assemblers into EPROMS for instant load from the unique ROM -SP 16 Printers 2 Mini Computers ROM -SP NEW for Spectrum Ingenious unit for Spectrum, with 2 X28 lain sockets and a Reset but- ton allows up to 16K of Basic or M/C program to RUN or LOAD in- stantly from EPROMS. Cabled connector and full extender card. NOTE: Does not disable Sinclair ROM. 129.95 PROMER-SP NEW for Spectrum A brand new Spectrum programmer for 2764/128. Zero insertion force socket & software on tape. Delivery Jan. 84. Order now at 129.95 PROMER 81-S NEW for Spectrum The very popular PROMER-81 for the ZX81 has been adapted to the Spectrum and the price kept low. £22.95 ROM -81 OProvides two 24 pin sockets for up to 8K of EPROM memory in the 8-16K area. Can use 2516/32 or 2716/32 £14.95 PROMER-81 At last! A low cost reliable programmer for 2516/32, 2716/32 EPROMS. Re- quires 4 X PP3 batteries for a regulated 25 volts. Remarkabl riced at119.95 BLOPROM-81 A uniquely sophisticated EPROM PROGRAMMER ...all without leaving his seat! in use at various labs incl. Sinclair STATUS NO OF SYSTEM -HEX Eprom programmer for the 2516, EPROM TYPE -27128 CC 27XX single supply families, RAM SlART ADDR -4898 LIJ EPROM ST ADDR - BBBB yes, even the 27128 from.Intel. JOB LENGTH - 48811 O Check, Read, Program + Verify TASK -CHECK Clearway CC all or part of Eprom. WHICH TASK DO YOU WISH TO DO So immensely user friendly you'll W) CHECK THAT EPROM IS CLEAN X) READ THE CONTENTS OF EPROM INTO is a low cost Networking device allowing hardly need the manual. RAM Designed for the beginner but `1) BLOW MI EPROM WITH DATA FROM ALL minis, micros, printers, mainframes etc. CL RAM includes a single key entry route Z) VERIFY THAT EPROM DATA IS THE SAME AS IN RAM to communicate with each other. C0 for the professional. Supplied as u.1 firmware, the in/c driver routine 0 TO SUIT R TO RESTART' alone is worth more than the FAST CODES AVAILABLE O priceof BLOPROM-81. No D H POR WXYZ oc Personality Cards, or other additions, just a ZX81. Several inbuilt safety features. On- board Vpp generation. 28pin ZIF socket. Cabled connector and extender plug. ABS case. £79.95 DREAM -81 Full 64K Rampack with link options to disable 0-8-16K. Plus a 28 pin EPROM socket for 2716, 2732/2764 and even the latest 27128 from Intel. Fast/slow Eprom option, professionally built and tested. In an ABS case with an LED indicator. £59.95 DHOBI 1 UV ERASER Compact. Mains powered Safe. Fully cased Up to 3 EPROMS £18.95 DHOBI2 With automatic timer. £22.95 From £1 50 per connection (node) MEMIC-81 No controller needed. A 4K CMOS RAM and lithium battery unit. Easy SAVEing, 10yr storage and instant retrieval of programs. Resides in 8-12K or Easy installation 12-16K of ZX81. £29.95 Connects any hardware device through an RS232 interface

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Cambolge Mdroeleatores/01 Ow Mdron Rd.CaoiMidge C84 WY let10223/ 314 814 Min

Circle No. 185 Circle No. 186 164 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 >BBC by Nicholas McCutcheon Bertie the Beetle rills GAME from William Prew of Putney, moves you up. The high score is 250 andtop right-hand corner of the screen and London requires dexterity to play. Youyou have a short time in which to movetouch a yellow pad. Attempting to leave a play the hero, Bertie the Beetle, and assist around the screen collecting Suzy's children room without all the children in it results in Suzy the Snail to get back her children, while avoiding hedges and walls. death. which have been taken away. Your aim is to collect as many of Suzy's The programincludesan advanced Pressing Z moves you to the left, Xchildren from as many rooms as possible.sound routine which produces very loud moves you right, / moves you down and :To exit from a room you need to reach thesound at the end of the game.

10 REM Bertie The Beetle 510 ENDPROC 1090 VDU17,1,30 20 REM By William Prew 530 DEFPROCwait(T) 1100 RESTORE 1120:VDU4:COLOUR2:FOR L%=1 30 REM (c) Sept. 1983 550 FOR DX=1 TO T TO 9:READ MESS:PRINTTAB(14+L%,5);MESS:T IME=0:REPEAT UNTIL TIME>50:NEXT L%:COLOU 40 MODE1:PROCinst 560 NEXT IS 50 MODE1:PROCinit 570 ENDPROC R2:PRINTTAB(14,7)"Hard Luck." 90 live=3:score=0:hi%=250 590 DEFPROCwall 1110 RESTORE 1130:FOR 15=0 TO 17:READ M 100 score=0:screen%=1 595 VDU17,131,17,1,12,31,15,0 1,M2:SOUND1,-15,M1,M2:SOUND2,-15,M1+48,M 110 VDU23;10,32;0;0;0;12 600 VDU17,1,31,2,3:PRINT"Time ";TAB(2, 2:SOUND3,-15,M1+96,M2:SOUND&1001,0,0,0:N 120 PROCwall:PROCplot 4);"Score "; EXT IX 130 PROCsnails:PROCsound(6) 610 PRINTTAB(15,3);"Lives ";live;iAB(3 1120 DATAG,A,M,E," ",0,V,E,R 140 PROCinit 0,4);"Room ";screen% 1130 DATA81,4,77,4,81,4,61,4,81,4,77,4, 81,4,61,4,33,4,33,4,41,4,41,4,49,8,49,4, 150 REPEAT 620 PRINTTAB(15,4);"Hi-Score " 49,4,41,4,41,4,33,16 160 VDU17,1,31,x%,y%,225 630 VDU5:GCOL0,0:MOVE400,980:PRINT"Ber 1140 PRINTTAB(3,7)"Press SPACEBAR to pl 170 PROCdisplay tie The Beetle." 180 PROCwait(speed) 640 GCOL0,2:MOVE395,984:PRINT"Bertie T ay again.." 1150 REPEAT UNTIL GET=ASC" ":RUN:CLS 190 IF INKEY(-98)=-1 THEN AS="LEFT" he Beatle.":VDU4 200 IF INKEY(-67)=-1 THEN AS="RIGHT" 650 FOR wall=0 TO 39 1170 DEFPROCnextsheet 1180 VDU17,1,31,x%,y%,225,17,0,31,11,14 210 IF INKEY(-73)=-1 THEN AS="UP" 660 COLOURO 1190 PRINT"Snail Hunt ";screen%;" Compl 220 IF INKEY(-105)=-1 THEN AS="DOWN" 670 PRINTTAB(wall,5);CHRS(224);TAB(wal eted." 230 VDU17,2,31,x%,y%,227 L,30);CHRS(224) 1200 PROCwait(5000):screen%screen%+1:C 240 IF AS="LEFT" THEN x%=x%-1 690 NEXT wall LS:GOTO 120 250 IF AS="RIGHT" THEN x%=x%+1 700 FOR wall=5 TO 28 ENDPROC 260 IF AS="UP" THEN y%=y%-1 710 PRINTTAB(0,wall);CHRS(224);TAB(39, DEFPROCinit 270 IF AS="DOWN" THEN y%=y%+1 wall);CHRS(224) 280 IF POINT(x%*32+16,(31-y%)*32+16)=2 730 NEXT wall 1240 COLOUR2:PRINTTAB(13,1)"Bertie The AND score<25*screen% THEN PROCend 740 COLOUR2 Beetle." 290 VDU26 750 PRINTTAB(37,4);CHRS(224);TAB(38,4) 1250 PRINTTAB(10,3)"By William Prew ":C 300 PX=POINT(x%*32+16,(31-y%).32+16) ;CHRS(224) OLOUR1 760 ENDPROC 1260 PRINT"" Bertie the beetle is in 310 IF PX<>3 THEN PROCfindout 780 DEFPROCplot:COLOURO love with" 320 Time=Time-.1 FOR obst=1 TO screen%*10 1270 PRINT" Suzy the snaiL.Suzy has b 330 IF Time<=0 THEN PROCend 800 VDU31,RND(29)+6,RND(21)+6,227,228, een" 340 UNTIL FALSE 228,228 1280 PRINT" robbed of all her children 350 ************* ***** 810 VDU31,RND(28)+6,RND(20)+6,226 so" 360 DEFPROCinit 820 PROCwait(100) 1290 PRINT" called Bertie who was just 370 AS="RIGHT":x%=3:y%=27:Time=500 830 NEXT obst too" 380 ENVELOPE1,3, 0,0,0,1,1,1, 126,-4,0 840 ENDPROC 1300 PRINT" happy to assist." ENTER SPEED (1- ,-4,126,90 860 DEFPROCsnails 1310 COLOUR2:PRINT"" 390 ENVELOPE2,1, 0,0,0,0,0,0, 61,0,-10 870 FOR snails=1 TO 5 5) ?";:REPEAT I%=INSTR("12345",GETE) 1320 UNTILMPRINT;IX:speed=(I%).10 ,-10,60,0 880 VDU17,1,31,RND(34)+1,RND(20)+6,229 Press the SPA 400 ENVELOPE3,136, -1,-1,-1,30,2,2, -1 890 SOUND3,2,54,1:PROCwait(700):NEXT s 1390 COLOUR2:PRINT"" CE BAR to continue.";:REPEAT UNTIL GET=A 0,0,-10,-10,60,60 nails:PROCwait(800) SC" ":CLS 410 ENVELOPE4,1, -8,0,1,5,2,40, 61,-1, 900 PROCwait(800) 1520 ENDPROC -1,-4,126,126 910 ENDPROC 1540 DEFPROCsound(4%) 420 VDU23,224,126,153,153,255,255,153, 930 DEFPROCfindout 153,126 940 IF P%=0 THEN PROCend 1550 pi%=0:Dur%=2 430 VDU23,225,195,129,66,60,90,126,60, 950 IF P%=1 score=score+5:PROCsound(1) 1560 ON N% GOTO 1570,1580,1590,1600,162 195 960 IF P%=2 PROCnextsheet 0,1630,1640 440 VDU23,226,0,170,124,56,146,214,124 970 IF P%=2 AND score<=25 THEN PROCend 1570 SOUND17,4,100+4*pi%,Dur%:ENDPROC ,56 980 ENDPROC 1580 SOUND1,2,150+8*piX,2:ENDPROC 450 VDU23,227,600,8,00,600,800,g00,800, 1000 DEFPROCdisplay:COLOUR2 1590 SOUND17,3,150+4*pi%,2:ENDPROC 1600 q%=0:r%=0:FOR n%=0 TO 60 STEP 4 B00,&00 1010 IF score>hi% THEN hi%=score 460 VDU23,228,255,231,255,207,255,231, 1020 PRINTTAB(8,2);INT(Time);TAB(8,3);I 1610 p%=48+(n%+(n%MOD12=8))MOD16*4:SOUN 255,207 NT(score);TAB(25,3); INT(hi%); 01,1,0,5:SOUND2,1,q%,5:SOUND3,1,r%,5:r% 470 VDU23,229,5,34,119,255,255,254,254 1030 ENDPROC =q%:q%=0:NEXT n%:ENDPROC ,254 1050 DEFPROCend 1620 SOUND0,1,4,20:FOR n%=1 TO 6:?R%=95 480 VDU23,230,129,66,60,60,36,90,66,12 1060 VDU17,1,31,x%,y%,230:PROCsound(5): FOR ?R%:NOW=TIME:REPEAT UNTIL TIME>10 9 PROCwait(3000) 1630 FOR Channel%=17 TO 19:SOUNDChannel 490 VDU23,235,0,20,62,127,127,62,28,8 1070 live=live-1: IF live>=0 THEN 110:E Channel%.=NnnR0c. 500 VDU23,236,0,5,34,119,255,255,254,2 NDPROC 54 1080 score=0:*FX15,0

170 IF A%>10000RAX<200THENXX=XX-1 Moving pyramid Moving pyramid. 180 IF C%>10000RCX<200THENX1%=X1%-1 190 IF BX>9000RB%<130THENYUY%-1 This is a short graphics program from 10 MODE7:PROCINTRO 200 IF DX>9000RD%<130THENY1%=Y1X-1 Simon Pithers of Ongar, Essex. Procintro, 20 MODE2:PROCSET_VAR:PROCMAIN_PROG 210 AX=A%+X%:B%=BX+Y%:CX=CX+X1%:DX=D%+ 30 END Y1% as itstitle suggests,isthe introduction. 40 DEF PROCSET VAR 220 GCOL0,2 Procsetvar sets up all the needed variables 50 AX=RND(200)7500:B%=RND(200)+500 230 MOVE0,10:DRAWCX,DX:DRAWBZ,MDRAW 60 CX=RND(200)+500:DX=RND(200)+500 A%14% for the program. Procmainprog draws and 70 H=RND(20):Y%=RN0(20) 240 GCOL0,4:DRAWD%,MDRAWCZ,DX:MOVEB% 80 Y1X=RND(20):X1X=RND(20) ,C%:DRAWDI,D% undraws the pyramid. 90 ENDPROC 250 UNTIL FALSE Variables A% and Colo are the vertical 100 DEF PROCMAIN PROG 260 DEFPROCINTRO 110 VDU8202;0;0;0; 270 FORIX=8T09:PRINTTAB(8,I%);CHRS141; co-ordinates of the pyramid 1307o and Dolo 120 PRINTTAB(2,30);"3D MOVING PYRAMID" "3D MOVING PYRAMID":NEXT arethehorizontalco-ordinates of the 130 REPEAT 280 PRINTTAB(10,11);"BY Simon C. Pithe 140 GCOL0,0 rs." pyramid, X% and Yolo are the vertical 150 MOVEA%,111%:DRAWC%,DX:DRAWBX,C14:DRAW 290 Q=INKEY 300 speed co-ordinates and X107o and Y 1 olo are AX,BX:DRAWDX,D% 300 ENDPROC the horizontal speed co-ordinates. 160 DRAwCX,DX:MOVEBX,C%:DRAwD%,D%

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166 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 >11BRIBRA I N by David Watt

A USITUIfacility provided by many com- puters is the ability to suspend display to the screen by pressing a key, and to restart it by pressing the key again. This is par- ticularly useful when you are listing long reenhold programs. an assembler listing. Once the Hold.Bas has immediately testing for break, a check is I G Barnard from Camberley in Surrey been loaded and run it can be cleared with first made at location 59 to see if bit 6 is set, has provided a machine -code routine which the New command and other programs since it indicates that a key has been press- enables the othwerwise unused Videotext may be loaded. ed.If so location 61is checked for the key to be used for suspending and restart- The Hold function is implemented by in- Videotext key co-ordinate. If this key has ing display. Two listings are provided, a terceptingtheoperating -systemroutine been pressed the program loops until the Basic program for loading the routine, and which tests for a program break. Instead of key is pressed again.

Basicloader. 290 NEXT N 10REM HOLD.BAS/X07 300 CALL TOP: REM EXECUTE INSTALL ROUTIN 20REM (c)I.G.Barnard 1983 E 30REM HEX MACHINE CODE LOADER 310 STOP 40REM AND RELOCATOR. 320 REM NUMBER OF MACHINE-CODE BYTES (DE 50REM LOADS HEX TO TOP. CIMAL) 60REM LOADS PROGRAM HOLD.ASM/X07 330 DATA 107 70 HX$="012:.456789ABCDEE" 340 REM HEX DATA STRINGS 80 READ L:RESERVE L 350 DATA E52A210022287821 90 M=TOP 360 DATA 1C78222100211678 100 P=1:READ 0$ 370 DATA 222900A7E1C93004 110 IF LEN(D$)=0 THEN190 380 DATA E323E3C9D908E1E5 120 IF PA_EN(D$) THEN100 390 DATA 7ED9FE36280408C3 130 H$=MID$(D$.P,2) 400 DATA CCA008F33A3COOCB 140 P=P+2 410 DATA 772004FBA718FOCB 150 H=(INSTR(HX$,LEFT$(H$.1))-1)*16AINST 420 DATA B7323C003A3DOOFE R(HX$,RIGHTS(H$91))-1 430 DATA 1920F0FBOOF33A3C 16') FOIE M,H 440 DATA 00CB77280CCBEI732 170 M=M+1: GOTO 120 450 DATA 3C003A3DOOFE1928 180 REM NUMBER OF RELOCATION ADDRESSES 460 DATA DAFBOOF33A2300B7 190 READ R 470 DATA 20E13A3COOCB5728 200 IF R<=0 THEN STOP 480 DATA DA18C8 210 READ BA:REM ORIGINAL BASE ADDRESS 490 DATA. U 220 FOR N=1 TO R 500 REM NUMBER OF ADDRESS TO RELOCATE 250 READ A: REM RELAI1VE ADDRESS OF WORD ECIMAL) 240 AA=r0P+A: REM ABSOLUTE ADDRESS OF WO 510 DATA 3 RD 520 REM ORIGINAL BASE ADDRESS OF CODE (D 250 RA=PEE.f.(AA)+256*PEEF (AA+1): REM RELO ECIMAL) CAFE ADDRESS 530 DATA 30720 260 NR=RA-BA+10P:REM NEW RELOCATED ADDRE 540 REM LIST OF WORDS RELATIVE TO BASE W SS RICH MUST BE RELOCATED (DECIMAL) 270 POKE AA,NR-256*INT(NR/256) 550 DATA 598914 280 POKE AA+1,INT(NR/256) 560 END Assemblerlisting. LOAD $

4 (c) I.G.Barnard 1983

5 ; SCREEN HOLD ROUTINE 6 FOR THE NEWBRAIN 7 BREAK: EQU 54 ;BREAK TEST ROUTINE 9 KBSTAT: EQU 3CH ;KB STATE LOCATION 10 IBDATA: EQU 3DH ;KB DATA LOCATION ;BREAK ENABLE LOCAT (1 BRFBUF: EQU 23H t2 HOLDFEY: EQU 19H ;COORD OF HOLD KEY ;OLD RST 32 ADDRESS 13 OLD2:2: EQU 41164 14 15 START SETS THE NEW JUMP 16 ADDRESSES AT 33 AND 41, AND 17 COPIES WHAT WAS AT 33 TO 18 RESET+1, WHICH IS THE JUMP 19 BACK TO THE ORIGINAL.. RST ROUTINE 20 21 THIS BODGE IS NECESSARY 22 BECAUSE OF TH DIFFERENT ROMS IN VARIOUS GENERATIONS 24 OF NEWBRAINS, AND ALLOWS THIS CODE TO RUN ON ANY 26 AGE NEWBRAIN WITHOUT HAVING 27 TO REPLACE ALL THE CODE FOR 28 THE COMPLETE RST32 ROUTINE (continued on next page)

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 167 AkilE HERA I N

(continued from previous page) 307800ES START: PUSH HL 317801242100 LD HL. (3:3) 327804222878 LD (RESET+1) , HL 337807211078 LD HL, RST32 347804222100 LD (33) ,HL 35780D211678 LD HE, RST40 367810222900 LD (41) ,HL 37781347 AND ;RESET CARRY 387814El POP HL ;RESTORE REG 39781509 RET 40 41 NEW RST 40 ROUTINE 42 RST 40 + 1 BYTE ROUTINE NUMBER 43 IS EQUIVALENT TO 44 'CALL NC,ROUTINE' EXCEPT 45 IT CAN BE INTERCEPTED HERE 46 4778163004 RST40: JR NC,RST32 ;J IFC CLEAR 487818ES EX (SP),HL ';ELSE 49781923 INC HL ;STEPPAST DATABY1E 50781AES EX (SP)KIL ANDRETURN 517818C9 RET 52 53 NEW RST 32 ROUTINE 54 RST 32 + 1 BYTE ROUTINE NUMBER IS EQUIVALENT TO 56 'CALL ROUTINE'. 57 IF THE RST32 IS NOT FUR 58 BREAK TEST,IT IS IGNORED 59 AND THE OLD ROUTINE ENTERED 60 61781CD9 RST32: EXX 627811)08 EX AF,AF 63781EEl POP HL 64781FE5 PUSH HL 657U20 7E LD A.(HL) BET ROUTINE NUMBER 667821D9 EXX 67 7822FE36 CP BREAK. ;IS IT BREAK ? 687824 2(304 JR Z,BRF 0 ;j IF SO 69782608 EX AF,AF ;ELSE RESTORE REGS 707827 C3CCAO RESET: JP OLD32 ;AND GOTO OLD RST32 71782408 BRKO: EX AF,AF 727828F3 DI ;NU INTERRUPTS 737820343000 LD A,(KBSIAT) 74782F0877 BIT 6,4 ;DATA AVAILABLE ? 7578312004 JR NZ,BRK1 ;JIF SO 767833FB BRK2: El ;ELSE GOTO BRKTST 77783447 AND A ;CLEAR ERROR FLAG 78783518F0 JR RESET 797837C887 BRV1: RES 6.4 ;DATA USED 807839323C00 LD (KBSTAT) , A ; STORE NEW STATE 81783C343800 LD 4,(KBDATA) ;GET KEY COORD 62783FFE19 CP HOLDKEY ;IS IT HOLD KEY ? 83784120F0 JR NZ,BRK2 ;J IF NOT 847843FB BRK4: El ;TEMP ENABLE INTERRUPTS 85784400 NOP ;HERE BECAUSE El DOESN'T 86 ;ENABLE INTERRUPTS UNTIL ONEINSTRUCTION AFTER 87 ;EI INSTRUCTION 887845F3 DI ;NO MORE INTERRUPTS 8978463A3000 LD A,(KBSTAT) ;CHECK FOR KEY PRESSED 9078490877 BIT 6,4 917848280C JR Z.BRF 3 ;J IF NOT 92784D0887 RES 6,4 ;DATA USED 93784F323000 LD BSTAf),A ;STORE NEW STATE 9470523A3D00 LD A,(K8DATA) ;GET KEY COORD 957855FE19 CP HOLDKEY ;IS IT HOLD KEY ? 96785728DA JR Z,BRi 2 J IF SO, TO EIRKTST 977859FB ;BRf3: El ;TEMP ENABLE INTERRUPTS 98785400 NOP

997858F3 DI ;AND INT OFF AGAIN 10078503A2300 LD A,(BRKBUF) ;BREAK ENABLED ? 101785F87 OR A 102786020E1 JR NZ,BRK4 ;J IF NOT 1037862343000 LD A, (KBSTAT) 10478650857 BIT 2,4 ;BREAK DETECTED 105786728DA JR Z,BRK4 ;JIF NOT 10678691808 JR BRK2 ;ELSE b070 RETURN END

1;33 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 %:APPLE by John Harris Noughts andcrosses

WHEN I FIRSTreceived this program from Alots of fun and an introduction to pressingresolution screen used to great effect. The Patel of Croydon, Ithoughtittrivial. keys and getting results. program umpires between the two players, Having played the game with a three -year - The chief attraction of this version is theand announces the result of each game in oldI have changed my mind. It providedclarity of the display, with the full high -turn.

1 REM *** NOUGHTS AND CROSSES 28,28) = C THEN 3000 *** 530 IF SCRN( 2,2) = C AND SCRN(

2 REM *** COMPUTER : APPLE II 2,15) = C AND SCRN( 2.28) = * * * C OR SCRN( 15,2) = C AND SCRN( 3 REM *** LANGUAGE :APPLESOFT 15,15) = C ANDSCRN( 15,28) *** = C OR SCRN( 28,2) = C AND 4 REM *** (C) A. PATEL SCRN( 28,15) = C AND SCRN( *** 28,28) = C THEN 3000

5 REM *** DATE : 14/09/83 540 IF SCRN( 2.2) = C ANDSCRN( *** 15,15) = C AND SCRN( 28,28)

10 TEXT : HOME :A = FRE (0): POKE = C OR SCRN( 28,2) = C AND 216,0 SCRN( 15,15) = C AND SCRN(

15 HOME : PRINT "WANT INSTRUCTIO 2.28) = C THEN 3000 NS

20 IF A$ = "Y" THEN GOSUB 4000: 580 HOME : PRINT "NOBODY WON IN GOTO 120 THAT GAME": GOTO 3010 25 IF AS "N" THEN HOME : GOSUB 999 REM *** DRAWCROSS *** 50: GOTO 15 1000 C = 5: COLOR= C: PLOT X,Y: PLOT 30 GOTO 120 X + 1,Y +1: PLOT X+ 2,y + 49 REM *** ERROR TRAP *** 2: PLOT X + 3,Y + 3: PLOT X + 50 VTAB 24: HTAB 13: INVERSE : PRINT 4,Y + 4: PLOT X + 5,Y + 5: PLOT "INVALID ENTRY"; CHR$ (7);: X + 6,Y + 6: PLOT X + 7,Y + NORMAL :FOR P = 1 TO 500: NEXT 7: PLOT X + 8,y + 8

: VTAB 23: CALL - 958: RETURN 1010 PLOT X,Y + 8: PLOT X + 1,Y + 7: PLOT X + 2.Y + 6: PLOT X + 120 HOME :X$ = "(X) ": FOR I= 3,Y + 5: PLOT X + 4,Y + 4: PLOT

1 TO 2: PRINT "NAME PLAYER X + 5, Y + 3: PLOT X + 6,Y + "I" "X$;: INPUT "";NS(I):X$ = N2: PLOT X + 7,11 +1: PLOT X +

"(0) ": PRINT : NEXT : GR 8,Y

: COLOR= 15: FOR J = 0 TO 39 1020 RETURN STEP 13: VLIN 0,39 AT J: NEXT 1099 REM *** DRAW NOUGHT *** 1100 C = 9: COLOR= C: HLIN X,X + 129 REM *** ASK FOR NAMES *** 8 AT Y: HLIN X,X + 8 AT Y + 160 HLIN 0,39 AT 13: HLIN 0,39 AT 8: VLIN Y,Y + 8 AT X: VLIN Y 26 ,Y + 8 AT X + 8: RETURN 180 FOR I= 1 TO 9 1110 VLIN Y,Y + 8 AT X

200 J= J+ 1:IF J> 2 THEN J= 3000 HOME : PRINT N$(J)" WINS"

1 3010 VTAB 22: HTAB 1: PRINT "ANO

220 HOME : PRINT : PRINT "CHOOSE THER GAME ";: GET 8$

A BOX, "N$(J)",": PRINT "BE : IF BS = "Y" THEN CLEAR : TEXT

TWEEN 1 AND 9 '7";: GET 8$: IF : HOME : GOTO 120 8$ <"1" OR 8$ > "9" THEN GOSUB 3020 IF 8$ < "N" THENGOSUB 50: GOTO 220 50: GOTO 3010

240 B = VAL (BS):IF B =1 THEN 3030 TEXT : HOME : END

X = 2:Y = 2 4000 HOME : VTAB 1: HTAB 11: INVERSE

260 IF B = 2 THEN X = 15:Y = 2 : PRINT "NOUGHTS AND CROSSES 280 IF B = 3 THEN X = 28:Y = 2 NORMAL 300 IF B= 4 THEN X= 2:Y = 15 4020 HTAB 2: VTAB 5: PRINT "THE 320 IF B= 5 THEN X= 15:Y = 15 OBJECT OF THIS GAME IS TO LI 340 IF B = 6 THEN X = 28:Y = 15 NE 360 IF B = 7 THEN X = 2:Y = 28 4030 HTAB 2: VTAB 7: PRINT " ALL 380 IF B = 8 THEN X = 15:Y = 28 YOUR SYMBOLS IN A LINE." 400 IF B = 9 THEN X = 28:Y = 28 4040 HTAB 2: VTAB 9: PRINT "YOU 420 FOR D = 1 TO I:IF B = G(D) THEN ALSO HAVE TO STOP YOUR OPPON GOSUB 50: GOTO 220 ENT," 440 NEXT :G(I) = B 4050 HTAB 2: VTAB 11: PRINT " FR 500 ON J GOSUB 1100.1000 OM DOING THE SAME." 519 REM *** CHECK FOR WIN* * * PRINT 520 IF SCRN( 2,2) = C AND SCRN( 4060 VTAB 19: HTAB 6: FLASH : 15,2) = C AND SCRN( 28,2) = " HIT ' RETURN ' WHEN READY C ORSCRN( 2,15) = C AND SCRN( ";: GET A$ 15,15) = C ANDSCRN( 28,15) 4070 IF ASC (AS) > 13 THEN 4 = C OR SCRN( 2,28) = C AND 060

SCRN( 15,28) = C AND SCRN( 4080 NORMAL : HOME : RETURN

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 169 FOR THE LOWEST PRICES AROUND PHONE 09277 68211

Checkout oar complete range of printeis, monitors, interfaces, ribbons, diskettes and a host of accessories MONITORS/PRINTERS INTERFACES DESCRIPTION ORDER CODE DESCRIPTION ORDER CODE KAGA MONITORS EPSON INTERFACES Kaga 12" Green Monitor (Hi -Res) KG12NB-N Epson Non -Graphics Card + Cable For Apple II & Ile EP/APP1 Kaga 12" Amber Monitor (Hi -Res) KG12NB-MN (Suitable for MX, FX & RX range) Kaga 12" RGB/PAL Colour Monitor (Med-Res) K12R1X RGB Cable for BBC to Kaga RGB Vision Series RGB/BBC Kaga 12" RGB Colour Monitor (Hi -Res) K12R2 Epson Graphics Card + Cable For Apple II & Ile EP/APP2 Kaga 12" RGB Colour Monitor (Super Hi -Res) K12R3 (Suitable for MX, FX & RX range) Kaga 12" RGB Colour Monitor for IBM PC (Hi -Res) K12R3PC Epson RS232 I/F Card (Suitable for FX & RX range) 8143 KAGA ACCESSORIES. Epson RS232 I/F Card + 2K Buffer 75-9600 baud DTR 8145 RGB Interface Card and Cable for Apple II RGB/A2 handshake (Suitable for MX, FX & RX range) RGB Interface Card and Cable for Apple Ile RGB/A2e Epson RS232 I/F Card Type 3 + 2K Buffer 75-300 baud 8146 Multi -Mode RGB Colour Card for Apple II (inc cable) RGB/A24 Xon/Xoff (Suitable for MX, FX & RX range) Multi -Mode RGB Colour Card for Apple Ile (inc cable) RGB/A24e Epson RS232 I/F Card + 2K Buffer (Suitable for 8148 RGB Cable for Apple III to Kaga RGB Vision Series RGB/A3 FX/RX range) RGB Cable for IBM P/C to Kaga RGB Vision Series RGB/IBM Epson IEEE -488 I/F Card (Suitable for MX, FX & 8161 BROTHER PRINTERS RX range) 18 cps Daisywheel Printer (Parallel) HR15/P Epson IEEE -488 I/F Card (Suitable for FX/RX range) 8165 18 cps Daisywheel Printer (Serial) HR15/S Epson 2K Parallel Buffer (Suitable for FX/RX range) 8171 Keyboard Attachment for HR15 KB50 Epson TRS-80 I/F board (Suitable for MX, FX & 8120 Tractor Feed for HR15 TF50 RX range) Cut Sheet Feeder for HR15 CF50 Ribbon for Epson MX80, MX82 & RX80 printers EP/R EPSON PRINTERS Ribbon for Epson MX100 printer EP100/R Epson FX80 Dot Matrix (160 cps) FX80 Epson - BBC Parallel Cable EP/BBC Epson FX80 Adjustable Tractor FX8OT APPLE INTERFACES Epson RX80 Dot Matrix (100 cps) RX80 CCS Serial Interface Card CCS MHP-X031 Epson RX8OFT Dot Matrix (100 cps) RX8OFT Mountain Hardware CPS Multifunction Interface Card Epson MX100 Type 3 Dot Matrix (100 cps) MX100 (Clock/Serial & Parallel Card) Epson FX100 Dot Matrix (160 cps) FX100 CPS Printer Cable (Please Specify) CPS/P EX -STOCK DELIVERY Access cards welcome LOW CARRIAGE CHARGES Only £5 per Printer/Monitor (UK mainland)

1

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170 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 Book reviews Plain tales of the BBC Micro Simon Beesley makes his selection from recent books on Acorn's machine.

AMONG ALL the home computers, the BBC Pa, Lryar PPP,Wdtt. Cry Micro's graphics are second to none. BBC Graphics on th, Basic is exceptionally well furnished with BBC graphics commands. It is also fast enough microcompv.o. tocreateanimateddisplayswithout recoursetomachinecode.Equally important is the way the machine allows you to assign a colour to each individual pixel, a feature not found on any other computer under £1,000. Although there are already several books on making pictures with the BBC, new titles on the subject are welcome. One of them is Graphics onthe BBC Microcomputer written by the Cryer family, Neil, Pat and Andrew. Like so many other BBC books it is written in the style of a school textbook, presumably because the BBC Micro is so popular in schools. At the end of each chapter there is an activities section followed by a discussion of activities. There is no place here for slackers.Theauthors'toneofvoice processing power was fully stretched. But ifhowever, remains Creative Graphics by isschoolmasterlyandtheyconstantlyyou find the mathematics daunting, as IJohn Cownie, published by Acornsoft in encourage you to join in. Most parts ofdid, you can simply key in the listings. 1982. Itis essentially a commentary on a graphics syllabus are dealt with: designing Boris Allan's Graphic Art for the BBC collectionof demonstrationprograms. characters,animating displays,addingComputer is as much about turtle graphics What makes it so impressive is the quality perspective, graphs, pie charts, histograms,as art - and the two are not necessarilyof these programs. They are all written in and so on. They are not treated in anyconnected. BBC Basic's procedures make it Basic but achieve effects which on other depth of detail and so the course is fairlyeasy to implement Logo -style commands. machines are obtainable only in machine easy going. Boris Allan supplies the necessary programcode, if at all. listings while explaining the concepts and uses of turtle graphics. There are also twoKaleidoscope Lacks imagination chapters which deal with designing char- Accompanying the book there are aacters and drawing charts and graphs. With just a few lines of code the author number of demonstration programs. By Along the way the author argues for the manages to produce effectssuchasa and large they are a little unexciting andvalue of turtle graphics as a learning aidtumbling wire -frame box orarapidly they do not show quite the spectacularand a spur to the imagination. He spoils hischanging kaleidoscope. Most of the ways effects the BBC machine is capable of. Mycase slightly by harping on about "art" and ofexploiting BBC Basic'sscopefor end of term report on this one would be:"creativity". The designs produced bygraphics were first described here, from the tries hard but lacks imagination. turtlegraphicsmaybepleasingor use of palette changes to give animation, to If the Cryers' book is a graphics primer, interesting but they are not artistic, except the use of recursion to draw intricate Advanced Graphics on the BBC Model B in the trivial sense of the word. curves. They are explained clearly and by I 0 Angell and B J Jones definitely falls Why, also, does Boris Allan insist on concisely. intothe heavyweight category.Before calling the book's pictures icons? In a lot The introduction maintains that "pro- tackling it you will need to brush up your he argues unconvincingly that they shouldgrams likethese are usually consigned knowledge of vectors and matrices.It be termed icons rather than figures sincetoabackroominhabitedbyhairy covers the field pretty thoroughly, fromthey have been output to a printer. This is programmers, only to be revealed to the two-dimensionaltransformationsright the first time I have seen a graphics dumppublic at exhibitions .. .". It is often the through to stereoscopic and perspectivereferred to in such terms. The book has a casethatbookslikethis,writtenby transformations. whiff of pretentiousness. professionalprogrammers,aremore The final chapters present a general- Still, as you might expect from Boris valuable than the works of technical writers purpose algorithm for removing hidden Allan, the book is rich in ideas. When it isor computer journalists, since computing lines and surfaces. As the authors point not concerned to justify its title it makes a professionals will have acquired from their out, this is approaching the limits of the goodintroductiontothetheoryand working experience a greater range of BBC machine's processing power. By thepractice of Logo. useful techniques. timeIreachedthissection my own Thebestbookon BBC graphics, (continued on next page)

PRACTICAL COMPUTINGMay 1984 171 Book reviews

(continued from previous page) the BBC Micropurports to be the completesuch as Wordwise and View. Elsewhere, This contrast is made apparent by tworeference companion for the BBC user. It isapplications like robotics or the use of new books about BBC disc systems.The hardly that, and in fact would be bettersound are just mentioned in passing. BBC Microcomputer Disk Companionis described as a mish-mash of BBC facts and When it acts as a buyer's guide the book written by Tony Latham, an electronicstips.Itis the sort of book any fairlyis again rather patchy. It covers the Torch engineer.Itis badly produced, clumsilyexperienced user would produce if they satdisc system in detail but glosses over other written and marred by spelling mistakesdown and wrote out everything they knewalternatives to Acorn's . andtypographicalerrors.The wordabout the BBC Micro. You get the impression that the author just "dailogue",forinstance,isgivenas Some of the tips are quite useful; some ofhappened to have a Torch system handy "dialog"; elsewhere you are advised to setthem are the sort you might glean fromand decided to go to town on it. Page to E001 instead of E00. conversation with another user; and some At the back there are11 appendices are merely repetitions of material found incontaining some useful routines and a the manual. The trouble with this approachreduced list of VDU and Osbyte calls. Even Saving grace is that it is extremely uneven. In one chapterwith this extra padding the book only the author talks at length about wordstretches to 124 pages. It is far too slim a The book's saving graceisthat the processing and discusses specific productsvolume to call itself a reference guide.ra authoristhoroughly familiar withhis subject. After a tour of the disc commands you are taken through the problems of Graphics on the BBC Microcomputerby Neil, Pat and Andrew Cryer. published creating serial and random-access files. by Prentice -Hall International, £6.95. ISBN 0 13 363283 0 From there you proceed to some useful chapters which deal withfilehandling Advanced Graphics with the BBC Model B Microcomputer by 10 Angell and B J from assembly language and formatting Jones. Published by Macmillan Press, £9.95. ISBN 0 333 35052 9 a disc. Graphic Art for the BBC Computerby Boris Allan. Published by Sunshine Books, Ian Sinclair, on the other hand, is an £5.95. ISBN 0 946408 08 4 experienced writer on computing. HisDisk Systems for the BBC Micromakes for The BBC Microcomputer Disk Companionby Tony Latham. Published by smoother reading but is less informative. Prentice -Hall International, £7.95. ISBN 0 13 069311 1 He gives an excellent generation introduc- Disk Systems for the BBC Micro byIan Sinclair. Published by Granada Publishing, tion to discs, which includes a comparison £6.95. ISBN 0 246 123257 betweenseveraldifferentdiscfiling systems, not just Acorn's but also the The Companion to the BBC Microby Geof Wheelwright. Published by Pan Books, Amcon and Watford systems. His explan- £4.95. ISBN 0 330 28263 8 ationsaremuchclearerthanTony Creative Graphicsby John Cownie. Published by Acornsoft, £7.50. Latham's, making this a more suitable ISBN 0 907 876 03 X book for the newcomer to computing. Geof Wheelwright'sThe Companion to

COLOUR MONITORS Single Disc Drives DISCOUNT SOFTWARE Level 9 £219.00 100K(200K) Single -Sided Adventure Quest £9.00 Microvitec 1431 £9.00 £339.00 40 Track £150.00 Colossal Adventure Microvitec 1451 A&F Dungeon Adventure £9.00 Fidelity CM14 £209.00 200K(400K) Double -Sided 180 Darts £6.00 40 Track 3 -inch £190.00 Lords of Time £9.00 Chuckie Egg £7.00 £14.00 400K(800K) Double -Sided Cylon Attack £7.00 rqForth 80 Track £219.00 rqFORTH Toolkit £11.00 Monochrome Monitors Horror Castle £7.00 £9.00 Sanyo DM2112 £75.00 Snowball Howzat £6.00 £7.00 £99.00 Danger UXB Sanyo DM8112CX Pharoh's Tomb £7.00 £6.00 Shrinking Professor £7.00 Demon Decorator Draughts £6.00 Double Disc Drives Draw £9.00 Combined TV/Monitors 400K(800K) Double -Sided Escape from ITT RL2301 £280.00 40 Track 3 -inch £374.00 Moon base Alpha £7.00 800K(1.6M) Double -Sided Program Power Felix & Fruit Monsters£7.00 80 Track £409.00 Adventure £7.00 Felix in the Factory £7.00 Daisywheel Printers £6.00 Juki 6100 £379.00 Alien Swirl Filer £9.00 £7.00 Silver Reed £309.00 Asteroid Storm Galactic Commander£7.00 Bandits at 3 o'clock £6.00 Daisy Step 2000 £289.00 Helldriver £7.00 BBC Disk Interfaces Beebmon £7.00 Intergalactic Trader £8.00 Kenda Mighty Oak £90.00 Bumble Bees £7.00 Killer Gorilla £7.00 Kenda Professional Caveman Adventure £6.00 Labyrinths of Daisywheel add-ons (Double Density) £130.00 Chess £7.00 LaCoshe £7.00 Juki Sheet feeder £239.00 Cosmic Combat £6.00 Laser Command £7.00 Juki Tractor feed £109.00 Cowboy Shootout £6.00 Martian Attack £7.00 Croaker £7.00 Moon Raider £7.00 Dot Matrix Printers Cybertron Mission £7.00 Nemesis £7.00 Acorn Products Positron £6.00 Seikosha GP50A £109.00 BBC Model B £399.00 Seikosha GP100A f169.00 Timetrek £7.00 BBC Model B with fitted Space Jailer £6.00 Seikosha GP250X £209.00 disc interface £469.00 Seikosha GP500G Swoop £7.00 £189.00 Electron £199.00 Computer Concepts £7.00 Seikosha GP550A £259.00 £8.00 Wizard's Challenge DFS Kit £97.00 Android Attack Zarm Seikosha GP700A £359.00 Asteroid Belt £7.00 Star Delta 10 £365.00 Chess £8.00 KDC FT -5001 £259.00 Draughts £8.00 ALL PRICES SHOWN Epson RX80 £249.00 Swarm £8.00 INCLUDE V.A.T. Epson RX80 F/T £279.00 Snake £8.00 THESE PRICES ARE FOR Epson FX80 £379.00 £7.00 CASH AND CARRY SALES Space Hawks microFAST Serial Interface 57 HOXTON SQUARE LONDON Ni OPEN FOR PERSONAL Conversions Supplies/Consumables Computer Concepts CALLERS FROM MONDAY 8143 - Epson £30.00 etc ROMs TO SATURDAY 8148 - Epson (2K buffer, Ribbons, Cables, Paper, 9AM TO 6PM Disc Doctor £32.00 MAIL ORDER OF OTHER ENQUIRIES XON/XOFF protocol)£65.00 Floppies - all at DISCOUNT Termi £32.00 Juki £55.00 prices 01-729 1778 Wordwise £42.00 SAE for comprehensive Price List Product range constantly expanding, phone for latest details

Circle No. 254 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 Earls Court If you have considered how By investing a little of your time beneficial a microcomputer could to find out what the computer for be in your work The Computer business is all about you may find Fair is the perfect opportunity to it pays handsome dividends - so see all the latest business and make sure of your visit to The professional computers under one Computer Fair. roof. 'THE COMPUTER FAIR MEANSBUSINESS A special section devoted to THE computer hardware and software for business applications means . - you can assess the benefits of 0M

computing quickly and easily with Personal computers expert advice always on hand. Ibme iruting Because the first day of the Sinall business systems show is for trade and business * FREE ADMISSION FOR BONE FIDE BUSINESS PERSONS ON PRESENTATION OF A visitors only, you can be admitted BUSINESS CARD, PUBLIC DAYS JUNE 1 5- 1 6- I 7 free by presenting your business Opening times: 10 -6 daily 10 -5 last day card at the door. As the show is held at Earls Court you can get to it easily by car, bus or tube. means business DISKING MEANS BUSINESS FREE WITH EVERY TEN -PACK OF DISKETTES FROM DISKING PLUS *FREE PEN for ALL Computer Users* 1. SEE 10 LIBRARY BOX 2. Disking COLOUF Write or call 124hr answering) for our General Price List. Name this The Superb See 10 library CODERS magazine and you will get your pen. box for storing and A multicoloured pack of ter OUR business is here to serve YOUR business. and if you don't find us the displaying ten diskettes fibre tipped pens for colou slickest and most reliable UK disk supplier -well refund your monies in full. Available individually at coding your diskette labels UK P&P is free. if we can't ship inside 4 working hours!' E2.50 exc VAT, see under Available individually at 49i 'Diskette storage exc VAT per pack of ter MEMOREX maxell Dysan 0,0 innitax.tait tmx00. maxell. MD2-Do

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U.K.SHIPPING RATESINC. INS. BUT EXC. VAT 514' DISKETTES 8" DISKETTES 51/4" NEW 'SEE 10' LIBRARY BOXES DISKING SUPERMAILERS (51'4" only) 1-2 PACKS each pack (a 95p 1-2 PACKS each pack (rr 1.60 SEE 10 5-9 off (a 30p 100 -PACK 3.00 3-5 PACKS each pack ra 75p 3-5 PACKS each pack Or 1.20 SEE 10 1-4 off (a 40p DISKING COLOUR CODERS 6-9 PACKS each pack (a 60p 6-9 PACKS each pack (a 90p SEE 1010+ (a 20p 10 -Pack Multicolours 25p 10+ PACKS * POST FREE * 10+ PACKSPOST FREE 8" LIBRARY BOXES LOCKABLE DISKETTE STORAGE 51/4' CLEANING KITS 8" CLEANING KITS LB8 1-4 off (a 60p All versions: 1 off 2.00, 2-7 off 1.30 Same postal rate as packs of 51,4" Same postalate as packs of 51 4" LB8 5-9 off (a 45p each, 8+ post free diskettes, 10+ POST FREE diskettes, 10+ POST FREE LB8 10+ (a 30p NORMAL ORDERS - WE NOW Verbatim® WELCOME ALL OFFICIAL Verbatim GOVERNMENT ORDERS We welcome ordersI rom all Government Bodies including Schools Universities. Colleges. Hospitals the Utilities Research Establishments. Armed Forces the Ministries and local Authorities etc We will despatch within 4 working hours from receipt of your official order number received either by post or over the telephone. Everyone else cheques with order please payable to DISKINGIt you are a large establishment. and cannot raise cheques without an invoice please post or telephone us with your order. and we will send a proiforma invoice by return. for your accounts department to pay against Also bear in mind. that you do have to pay VAT. which will be added to these prices If you are in any doubt please telephone us for assistance CREDIT CARD ORDERS We welcome Access IMasterchargel. Barclaycard (VISA) & Diners Club International. & there is NO credit card surcharge You may write your C Card No on your order or telephone the order day or night 365 days a year You may speak for as long as you like Ibut please speak up and door leave long gaps otherwise our machine thinks you be gone home) and don I forget to give the following details

1 Day time telephone number 2 Cardholder Name & Address 3 Delivery Invoice Address if different 4 Your Credit Card Number 5 Part Nos and quantity of what you wish to order VEREX 6 Normal First Class or Special Post Datalife- Five Year Warranty Verbatim Verex come with a full one year warranty YOU MAY LEAVE THE REST TO US" It's easy to see why they're the world market but at a very popular price - you can't lose! leaders. Perfect data retention everytime - for a 51/4" DISKETTES lifetime - Datalife. PRICES EXC VAT 51/4" DISKETTES 10-40 50-90 100 + URGENT ORDERS Certified for Single OR Double Density. and all MD200-01 S SS D Soft 19.90 18.90 17.90 li you re posting your order. omit the word FREEPOST with Hub Ring reinforcement MD200-ASS SS D Apple 19.90 18.90 17.90 PRICES EXC VAT from our address, and use our normal postcode GU30 8 DISKETTES 10-40 50-90 100+ 7EJ and do not forget to stamp it FIRST CLASS. If you are PRICES EXC VAT a Government bodyasdefinedunder 'NORMAL MD525 S S48tpi 22.90 21.90 20.90 10-40 50-90 100+ ORDERS. and are telephoning your official order OR are MD550 D S 48 tpi 29.90 28.90 27.90 FD34-1500S SS DSoft 22.90 21.90 20.90 an individual or company using your Credit Card No. MD577 S S 96 tpi 28.90 27.90 26.90 please make it clear that you wish to pay for your goods to FD32-1500S SD D Hard 22.90 21.90 20.90 MD557 D S 96 tpi 36.90 35.90 34.90 be sent to you by FIRST CLASS POST. DD34-1501 DSD D Soft 29.90 28.90 27.90 48 tpi suitable for 35 or 40 track FIRST CLASS RATES 96 tpi suitable for 77 or 80 track EXC VAT 8" 10 & 16 Hard Sector at same prices First TEN -PACK 2.00 2.50 Second & subsequent TEN -PACK 1.50 2.00 8 DISKETTES **STOP PRESS** PRICES EXC VAT DESPERATE ORDERS U.K. 10-40 50-90 100 Your options are: 400 Brand New, Unlabelled Grey Superluxe Disk DA I-APOST Next day U.K. - order by 3 OOpm or: FD34-9000 S S S Dens 31.90 30.90 29.90 Libraries (20 minidisk capacity) at half price to FD34-8000 S S D Dens 31.90 30.90 29.90 EXPRESSPOST Same day (ENGLAND) - order by clear. Minimum order quantity 10 pieces. 10.30am DD34-4001 D S D Dens 36.90 35.90 34.90 Only ... 4.90 each. (3.00 p&p per 10, 30+ FREE) Please telephone for further information. 32 Hard Sector available at same price This offer is open to the trade OR end users. PRICES SUBJECT TO EXCHANGE RATES & First come first served. AVAILABILITY

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SEE 10 LIBRARY BOXES Stores 10 Minidisks AND when open displays them all at the same HARD DISKS FOR YOUR MICRO timeQuite simply the best library box there is' We can supply Hard Disk sub systems for most PRICES EXC VAT **FREE AEROPLANE** Part No: Description 1-49 50 - micros - 5Mb from 1190.00 up to 40MB from SEE 10 Library Box 2.50 2.20 2480.00 - please call for details. Being in the micro trade means you're dynamic LB8 Library Box 3.00 3.00 and energetic but probably sit in front of your VDU ABA LOCKABLE DISKETTE STORAGE SAGE BUSINESS SOFTWARE These storage boxes come in lour sizes. two for mini disks and two too long like we do. So we've devised a way of for 8" disks. With a SAGE fully integrated Sales, Nominal & getting you out into the fresh air - an aeroplane They hold 40 or 80 diskettes and come complete with keys and Purchase ledger system costing only 375.00 how dividers. that flies. Just call and ask for your flier and of can you go wrong? course we'll send you our 1984 trade price list In fact they even let you try -before -you -buy for PRICES EXC VAT (Yes it's printed at last and even our secretary Part No: Description Price only 20.00, and refund that against your purchase. can't believe it) We'll include your FREE sample 14.90 M35 4() minidisk capacity Please call for a full list of packages and prices. unlabelled diskette and supermailer AND an M85 80 minidisk capacity 18.90 We will enclose a FREE pack of ten diskettes with F40 40 8 diskette capacity 18.90 application form for a DPC card to enable you to every SAGE software package sold. F80 80 8 diskette capacity 27.90 buy at our 10,000 prices yet order only in '50s.

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Circle No. 261 MAINS PROBLEMS?!!! There is only one cure: BATT POWER Features: 180-600 VA UNITS NOW * The uninterruptable power supply AVAILABLE *Immediate mains supply in the event of a power failure BACK-UP TIME TO SUIT *Sinsoidual output voltage *Regulated output voltage using a CUSTOMER REQUIREMENTS CONSTANT VOLTAGE TRANSFORMER Prices starting from £460 *Quartz frequency controlled output * Transient and noise suppression Ex works, ex VAT *High overload capacity Call this number for technical * Separate battery compartment *Fast recharge time. information, price and delivery: AS featured in the ACT product catologue 021 236 6220/1226 Eccleston Electronics Eccleston & Hart Ltd 8 Legge Lane Birmingham B13 LG Circle No. 262 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 MORE >NEXT MONTH SHOCKING NEWS! I BM PC (limited periodclearances) SPEC: I AL EPSON Printers from £209 The IBM PC has now established itself as the SHINWA Printers £185 world's leading micro, and IBM keeps adding to the DISCS (BASF) £1.00 each line-up - the Portable PC is only the most recent DISC CASES £1.50 each example. Other major manufacturers are now BBC Printer Leads £10.00 each announcing or delivering machines compatible with it, including Olivetti, Philips, ITT and others. So at £199 STAR Printers it's time to take a closer look at Big Blue's micro DAISYWHEEL Printers from £280 and its emulators. We will be reporting on how Phone 0962 66191 for compatible some of the leading compatibles really are, reviewing some of the exciting new software - MORE SHOCKING NEWS including The Incredible Jack 2 - and exploring Nationwide delivery £5 per parcel. DISCS from£1.00 the wonderful world of add-on boards. All prices ex VAT and subject to availability. R Et) I E S Hardware on the test bench for June includes the Wren, a £1,000 semi -transportable that comes with micro miracles a built-in modem for making the Prestel/Micronet 50A Stockbridge Road, Winchester, Hants connection and lots of free software. We will also S022 6RL England Circle No. 255 have news of the new Amstrad home micro. Scheduled software items range from Ashton-Tate's Friday, through a survey of half a dozen word processors on the BBC Micro to Apple books. SOFTWARE PROFESSIONALS >AND MI...ICH MORE The wired society: our telesoftware series continues with a look at Micronet and the cable TV scene. THORN EMI is looking for innovative, top-quality Budget Business micros: our survey of available software to incorporate into a best-selling range micros looks at what you can get for around £1,000 of home computer products. to £1,500. There will be the usual special programming features, and a round -up of news, If you are an experienced software author, and you've come up with an interesting, with new launches from the Hanover Fair from professionally produced piece of entertainment, Commodore and Osborne, among others. Not to educational or home management software, mention the pages of free software in Open File. we'd like to hear from you.

Your talents lie in programming and design. Ours Make sure you don't miss the June issue of are in marketing and distribution. Together, we could put your program into homes all over the world.

So don't waste time. Call Patricia Mitchell on 01 437 3453 or write to us: Acquisitions Dept, THORN EMI Software, 5th Floor, Film House, 142 Wardour Street London W1V 4PT On sale at WHSmith and all good newsagents after May 16. Circle No. 191 Contents may vary due to circumstances beyond our control, and are subject to change without notice. PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 177 4;omputer Hardware and Software Nationwide

Low Prices Best Service at your local Big Dealer trim"' Micro -Management Head Office: 116 Princes Street, Ipswich, Suffolk Telephone: 0473 219461 111111111111111111111111111111

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111111111111111111111111111111, (1111111111111M aM=INI AMMON& The Big==International=International Dealer Network Altringham Chelmsford- High Wycombe Norwich Stroud Pharmacy Computer SystemsEssex Computer Centre South Bucks Computer CentreAbacus The Model Shop Copeland 216 Moulsham Street cio Hull Loosley & Pearce 12a Pottersgate 22 High Street 37 Stamford New Road Chelmsford 121123 Oxford Road Norwich Stroud Altringham Essex High Wycombe Norfolk Glos. Cheshire WA4 1EB 0245 358702 Bucks. 0603 614441 04536 5920 061 928 0087 0494 442311 Chester -Le -Street Hornchurch Peterlee Surbiton Beverf Knowledge Computer Centre Comptel Computer Systems General Northern ComputingComputasolve Ltd Beverley Computer Centre 15 Northburns 8 Whitworth Road 8 Central Pcirade 1 Windmill Passage Chester -Le -Street 112a North Street Hornchurch South West Ind. Estate St. Marks Hill 55 Lairgate Co. Durham Peterlee Surbiton Beverley 0385 881014 Essex 04024 46741 Durham Surrey N. Humberside Colchester 0783 860314 04 390 5135 0482 881911 Horsham Anglia Newsagents Taunton inghaM Braintree Computer Centre Micro Store 13b West Street Preston Sinewave Computer Services The Micro Centre 193 Lexden Road Colchester Horsham Format Computing Corporation Street 1756 Pershore Road W. Sussex Taunton Cotteridge 0376 24922 67 Friar Gate Colchester 0403 52297 Preston Devon Birmingham Horsham 0823 57526 021 458 4564 Lancs. Capricorn Computers Ltd 0772 561952 32 North Hill Orchard Business Systems Ltd Tewkesbury Bishops Stortford 34 East Street Colchester Rye Sabre Consultants Ltd Computus (East Anglia) 91 68471 Horsham 103 High Street 3 Church Street W. Sussex RH12 1HL Tollgate Video Tewkesbury Bishops Stortford 0403 68461 Tollgate Garage Gloucester Herts. Everyman Computers Ipswich New Winchelsea Road 80 Charlotte Street 0684 298866 0279 506802 Brainwave Rye Bolton Ballymoney E. Sussex Truro Co. Antrim 24 Crown Street Selecta Video Ipswich Rye 223106 Truro Micro Ltd N. Ireland Unit 1 Bridge House 5 Belmont Road 02656 62116)62658 Suffolk Astley Bridge Dartford Ipswich 50965 New Bridge Street Bolton Lancashire Ashby Computer Centre Truro Anirog Computers 186 Ashby High Street Cornwall Lancs. Blackpool Computer Stores 0204 52804 29 West Hill Scunthorpe 0872 40043 Dartford Kent 179 Church Street S. Humberside 0322 92513 Blackpool 0724 871756 Uxbridge Automation Services Derby Lancashire FYI 3NX J.K.L. Computers 42 Dunraven Place 0253 27091 Crwth,-,nd 7 Windsor Street Bridgend First Byte Computers Lerwick Uxbridge 10 Castlefields Estuary Software Mid Glam CR31 4NS Tomorrow's World 261 Victoria Avenue Middlesex UB8 I AB 0656 3550 London Road 0895 51815 Brighton Derby 20 Commercial Road Southend 0332 365280 Lerwick Essex Welling Gamer Shetland Isles 0702 43568 24 Gloucester Road 0595 2145 North Kent Computer Centre Brighton Dover International to n r t, n SOW halt 52/54 Bellgrove Road Computer Centre Welling Sussex Computers of Twillstar Computers 0273 698424 18119 The Charlton Arcade Bedley High Street Wigmore Street 17 Regina Road Kent DA16 3DY 87 Wigmore Street Southall Dover Kent Middx. 01-301 2677 Brensal Computers Ltd 0304 212433 London WI H 9FP 24 Park Road Dyfed 01-486 0373 01-574 5271 Whitley Bay Bristol London Video & Home Computers 0272 294188 Business Information System St. Anstell Brixham Computer Centre CLM t/a Matmos Centre 18 Riverside Market 14/16 Childs Place Computavision 3 Roxburgh House Computer Systems (Torbay) Havertord West Earls Court 4 Market Street Park Avenue Pump Street Dyfed London St. Anstell Whitley Bay Brixham 0437 2776168228 01-373 500016607 0726 5297 Tyne & Wear Devon Evesham London 0632 534725 08045 6565 Stirling Bromley Evesham Micro Centre Cubegate Ltd Wolverhampton Crown Courtyard 301 Edgware Road Micro Store Wolverhampton Computer Data Store London 38 The Arcade 1 Bridges Street King Street Centre 6 Chatterton Road Evesham Worcs. 01-836 9373 17/19 Lichfield Street Bromley Maidenhead Stirling 0386 49641 Central Region Wolverhampton WV1 1EA Kent BR2 9QN Hastings Chiswick Organs 0902 29907 01-460 8991 0786 64571 The Computer Centre 45 Nicholsons Walk Worthing Maidenhead Stoke On Trent 37 Die Robertson Street Worthing Computer Centre Entertainment in Leisure Hastings 0628 31765 88 The Rock Mario w Town Computer Centre 32 Liverpool Road East Sussex 30 Town Road Worthing Bury 0424 439190 061 797 3463 Otybench Hanley W. Sussex Harpenden 214 Eton Place Stoke On Trent Cambridge Marlow Hobbyte 0782 287540 For your nearest European GCC Cambridge Ltd 153 Grove Road Bucks 06284 75244 Stoneleigh Dealer telephone Belgium or 66 High Street Harpenden Holland Sawston Herts Merseyside Diamond Duel Records Cambridge 0587 3542 Source Computers 75 The Broadway Belgium 0223 835330 Heckmondwike 4 Cross Lane Stoneleigh Micro Management Canterbury Belgium Thoughts and Crosses New -Le -Willows Surrey Canterbury Software Centre Merseyside 01-393 4944 Ballaerstraat 75 37 Market Street 2018 Antwerp 9 The Friars 092 524394 Heckmondwike Milton Keynes Stourbridge Belgiurn Canterbury West Yorkshire 03-238 9284 Kent Landmark Computer Ltd Interac Systems Q227 5g31 NU:Man pstead Marchill House Holland Cardiff Micro Land Micro Management Faxminster Ltd Lietherburn Court 151 Worcester Road Brunel Centre W. Hagley Nederlands Steves Computer Centre 25 Market Square Road Huisstraat 98 2406 Castle Arcade Hemel Hempstead Bletchley Stourbridge Milton Keynes W. Midlands Ah Alphen-aan-den-rijn Cardiff Herts. 01720 - 72580 0222 41905 0442 55044 0908 368018 0562 885456

CHECK WITH YOUR LOCAL DEALER FOR SPECIAL BARGAINS AND NEW PRODUCT RELEASES (All products normally in stock but to prevent a wasted journey phone your local dealer first before calling. All prices inclusive of VAT) Circle No. 256 Discotek Announcea New Concept in Disks uvFL

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Double the capacity at half the cost! If you're using single sided drives you can save yourself money, time and space with the FLIPPY-FLOPPY© Single Density £1.99 each Double Density £2.99 each. Quite simply all diskettes are capable of carrying data on both sides, but old-fashioned disks only have one read/write notch limiting the disk storage to one side. The FLIPPY FLOPPY' has two, doubling the storage - just take your disk out - flip it over - and put it back. Factory -formatted too! For BBC, Atari, Commodore, Apple, in fact any single sided drive. We buy our disks in bulk from one of Americas major manufacturers. Then at our London laboratory we check and verify them to ensure the highest possible standards. With our 'state of the art' technology we format the disks for your machine at the same time. Result - we know the disk is perfect and you save time and money too. Just imagine never having to format another disk again! And only another lop each. All disks carry our two -for -one five year guarantee Join the FLIPPY-FLOPPY revolution - fill in the coupon below. Disco Technology Ltd, 20 Orange Street, London WC2H 7ED. Access holders ring 01-930 1612 and ask for Mike Hyman 10 a.m. -4 p.m. for personal attention.

Please supply (qty) single density Flippy-Floppy (qty) double density Flippy-Floppp Non -formatted at £1.99 or £2.99 each respectively or formatted to my (manufacturer) (model) computer at an extra 10p per disk. (Please add 15% VAT)I enclose a cheque for £ or debit my Access card No To Disco Technology Ltd, 20 Orange Street, Name Signature London WC2H 7ED Address DISCOTEI4 Postcode Daytime phone no COMPUTER PRODUCTS Circle No. 257 i Last word

AT THE PRESENT time, when schools are encouraged to buy micros and reassured that they will prove their worth, many face a dilemma. They find themselves with thousands of pounds worth of computer equipment only to be perplexed as to howEducation to use it properly. Often schools find that their ideas are difficult to implement on the equipment they have bought. Frequently a few people in a school are familiar with computers, and the responsibility for developing the full potential of the micros rests with them.gonemad But the few computer -literates cannot be expected to produce all the necessary soft- ware, because of the time needed to do so. by Jon Lansdell

Money wasted several players. Mule is an ideal piece of educational software and will hopefully Consequently educational software for prompt a more imaginativeseriesof the machines is purchased hastily, seldom programs. lives up to expectations and hardly earns Until recently, the main use of computers the titles "interesting" or "creative". The in education was for computer studies school is faced with both a lack of software itself. These courses seem to be outdated and adequate knowledge,andsothe and develop much more slowly than new expensivecomputer equipmentlies technology.Admittedly,examination dormant, not justifying the money invested papers have to be set a few years in in it. advance, but it is the whole approach to the There are, of course, great possibilities subject that is archaic. The courses seem to for computers in various subjects since they be geared to giving people familiarity with can simulateexperiments,storeinfor- computers in such a way as to produce a mation and carry out calculations. But a lot nation of systems analysts. of the programs available at the moment are far too simple in content, and the work they do can be carried out more efficiently Government's aim by other means. Certain practical problems also arise when using a computer in the Computer literacy is a stated government classroom, for example when 30 students aim, with a computer in every school or have to strain to observe vital occurrences educational establishment. Aims such as on a small monitor. keyboard training for everyone at a simple level could be achieved. However, much greater depth and knowledge of such areas What is needed as high-level languages other than Basic - such as Cobol and Pascal - would be The problems of using computers in essentialfor thefuture of theBritish computer industry. schools are by no means insurmountable The school is faced with Problem analysis on a very basic level is but they demand consideration and careful planning. Consideration must be taken by both a lack of software included in courses but it would be much if,for example, skillsare schools as to how the micros are going to be and adequate knowledge, more useful used, exactly what equipment is needed and taught which are directly relevant. What is whether software can be purchased or and so the expensive the use of the abstractskillsof twos writtenfor the intended purpose. The complement, BCD and punched tape or computer equipment lies punched cards? Actual programming skills Government should helpinthe devel- opment of software and the training ofdormant, not justifying theform a part, usually as an assessed project, but are only worth a small percentage of the people to use micros, not simply subsidising money that has been them in hardware alone. Also, since the marks compared to the work involved. education software market is a vast and so invested in it' far vitually untapped one, companies could Pointless essays both help and gain from the situation byeducation is Mule - multiple use labour producing quality programs. element - which is marketed by Electronic People should be encouraged to use their Some examining boards are producingArts. The game can be played by up to fourideas. A continual -assessmentsystem software to accompany their courses, but itplayers and the aim is to tranform theinvolving a large number of areas of is often dull. If the software used to teacheconomy of an alien planet. Each playerprogramming techniqueswouldbe subjects such as economics is uninterestingbecomes a particular species represented bypreferable to the existing one of writing and too straightforward, then people willaseparatecharacter.The game thenirrelevant essays in a fixed time limit. inevitably become bored and ceasetosimulates thefree-market system, with Future development of the computer benefit from itsuse. Someone who isentertaining graphics making it enjoyableindustry depends on those who come out of interested will obviously learn more thanto play. Competition can be cutthroat withtoday's education system. If they do not someone who is not, an idea which should have the benefit of the right courses, or the be kept in mind when producing programs. Jon Lansdell is a sixth -form student encouragement to innovate, Britain may be A prime example of theinteresting and self-confessed 'computer wasting a valuable technological oppor- softwarethatisavailableforusein reactionary tunity by not thinking of the future.

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 181 Telephone Claire Notleyon 01-6618163 ADVERTISEMENT RATES Copy Date

Display Rates Micro Ads. £15.00 per single Shopwindow advertisements for the Column Centimetre Linage 25p per edition will be accepted up to Minimum 5cm x 1col word minimum of 20th April for June edition, 15 words. One Insertion £15.00 per scc Prepayable. subject to space being available. Three Insertions £14.25 per scc Post to Six Insertions £14.00 per scc Practical Computing, Classified Nine Insertions £13.50 per scc Department, Room H211, Quadrant House, Twelve Insertions £13.00 per scc The Quadrant, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5AS.

IS YOUR MAINS BUGGING YOU? PCALC-The Spreadsheet for the Mains -borne interference causes annoying data NEC PC 8201A, corruption and program crashes. Voltage spikes and power surges can cause permanent damage. Olivetti M109 Protect YOUR equipment:- Tandy 100. PROTECT-ADAPTA with 3 1 3Amp sockets, ab- sorbs power -line spikes and surges. £13.95 for Now your portable computer can be a 1st, £9.95 for 2nd. (p&p 85p) complete system - with PCALC, a 4 -WAY SUPPRESSOR UNIT (13A)with4 sockets,spikeabsorberandsuppressors. powerfulspreadsheet program £23.95 for 1st, £19.95 for 2nd. (p&p £1.50) specially designed to make the most PROFESSIONAL SUPPRESSOR UNIT(3A) Multi- of your NEC PC -80 2 1A, Tandy Model stagefilter networks, high power spike ab- sorbers, and earth -line choke - the best! £34.9 5 100 or Olivetti M-10 (16K RAM re- for 1st, £29.95 for 2nd. (p&p £2) quired). Supplied on cassette, com- MICROMoDS LTD. All units to BS613, also for hi-fi, videos, office pletewithaneasy -to -understand 53 ACTON RD LON4 EATON NOTTINGHAM t4410 IFR TEL: 106021 724264 31 equip. etc. manual.Pricedatonly£2 5.0 0, VAX Co, Hogarth House(F), Porchester Rd., PCALC is the low cost alternative to Nottingham. NG3 6LE 30 expensive ROM based software. MicrAcids Ltd. Circle No. 200 Circle No. 204 CAPRA-CINDERSTAN ASSOCIATES 5 OLIVER COURT SOUTH HILL PARK GARDENS HAMPSTEAD, LONDON NW3 2TE Superbrldo.ons 28 \''6,,es°,-°cantlesaesaLios. Spares °3f \ 0%eto, or Circle No. 202 c::00ob\,,,,,s,dedkl)00, stres (Doubleirackkog) \keke\ili°9:dai.nnd DI Gcekze,mse,tor socket ccoroactpwer WAliiernale SCIENTIFIC SUBROUTINE Cable Sues. LIBRARY KeylooaclICPUC,ornpleteSupply suik\tpolcolbt3oets5c1-on Power VOLUME 1 - STATISTICS AND FITTING 1\141n o, FUNCTIONS Doves DIGITAL DRAWINGS is C.A.D. us ng the BBC Mean, SD, normal distribution, partial expectation, ST:lf,:the&rDzblevunc.S\clecl,4,48,. microcomputer and a dot-matrix printer * powerful Chauvenets criterion, least squares fit to polynominal Oblwe,t:e.lraclOgOlsc but easy single -key mnemonic commands * drawing and arbitrary function, repetitive least squares fits, storage on disc or cassette * accurate scale drawings covariancematrix,chi -squaredstatistic,matrix to almost any scale * arcs, circles, dimensioning, inversion, solution of simultaneous equations. grids,hatching,ellipses,polygons,rectangles, VOLUME 2 - LINEAR PROGRAMMING WOW'. 1..Ond°'' a integer curve-splining, macros, symbols,text,shading, Reductionof Simplextableau, 55574.ace programming,partialintegerprogramming, CC4nPUW(7 G e e "°°6 measurement, repetition, etc. * 68 -page user guide * EAOLISe! 1.4 et! 0.1 conversational linear programming system, least cost peons 0511ele2642°99 available on disc: £75; EPROM: £95; or cassette: mix problem. £65 VOLUME 3 - FURTHER STATISTICS Circle No. 205 3-D VIEW allows wire - Ranking,quantiles,frequency,2 -waytable, frame perspectives to be correlationcoefficient,T,chi -squared andF generated,viewedfrom distributions and their inverses, T test, chi -squared POOLS PREDICTION anyangleofdistance, test, Wilcoxson test, linear and multiple regression, ' POOLSWINNERS" saved on disc or cassette, ANOVA 1 -way and 2 -way. and printed using a dot- VOLUME 4 - TRANSFORMATIONS & The most sophisitcated Pools Prediction Aid available. Gives probabilities of score draws, draws, homes or aways, based on two databases holding over *view SORTING ALGORITHMS matrixprinter 20,000 matches (included!. displayedwhileentering Fourier, FFT, Laplace, numerical integration and The databases are automatically updated as results are entered. data *unlimited differentiation. Exchange sort, Quicksort, Shell sort, Can be used in simple mode, or with parameter adjustments to develop your _viewpoints Tree sort. own unique forecast method. available Manuals including fullsourcelistingswith Fully documented, available now for Apple, Spectrum 148K), Dragon, Z081 on disc: implementation notes and documentation - 116K1, BBC Model B, Commodore 64 (others - please enquirel. £35; or BASIC £25 per volume E15.00 eliscsitapes) PASCAL £30 per volume cassette: Software in CP/M (8" SSSD) or DEC RT-11 "POOLSDATA" £30 Complete record ofall English Football League matches 1978-83. Teams, (RX01) formats - £75 + VAT per volume. scores and dates of 10,000 matches held in simple format, ready for your CP/M TO DEC FILE TRANSER analysis. Starter analysis programs and full documentation included. Available Software to read and write RTI Iformat RX01 for Apple. Spectrum, ZX81, BBC, Dragon, Commodore series. Now available for Walters WM80 as well as Epson, diskettes under CP/M. Supplied on 8" SSSD diskette Discs 15 year) £15.00 Star and NEC printers: state printer make & model - £25 + VAT. Tapes 15 year) £12.50 at prices and media & filing system with order or write for MICRO LOGIC CONSULTANTS LTD. Tapes (2 year) £1.10Ip&p included) more details * add £2.00 p&p and VAT * price rise 57,Station Rd.,Southwater, Horsham, 1st June - write now to IBBOTSONS DESIGN SELEC SOFTWARE (PC) V. Sussex. 37 Councillor Lane, SOFTWARE "The Byre"EcclesbourneLane .411. Telephone: 0403 731818 12 Cheadle, Cheshire Idridgehay Derbyshire DE4 4313 061-428 7425 9 Circle No. 201 Circle No. 203 Circle No. 206 182 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 Every computer needs WI I, II IrI IImIII./A II dBASE II - by Ashton Tate is the top selling database The Incredible "Listen Creep, I am the leader For ZX81 package.Butitfrom AQUA ComputingLtd,the HULK SPECTRUM A uS 0 dBASE specialists. BBC OUR LEAO A . ' \ SIS (E25 + VAT) TRS 80 dBASE II f 375.00 APPLE . DBPlus ,_..., £125.00 HULK is the poor man's knowledge engineer. NASCOM )Stamm ----- DBFLIST f30.00 Knowledge engineering is the new approach to VIC/PET/64 sysa,_ which underlies the success of (Please state) DBAccel £50.00 49 dBASE II User' Guide £22.00 recent knowledge -based expert systems. PITCH 0,9r,c°4', NEW! £12.00 The HULK package (so called because it Help EXCLUSIVE! CONTROL grre Everyman's Database Primer Uncover Latent Knowledge) offers users of the '.'' MIP Any one of the last 4 items is FREE if you buy your BBC and Torch microcomputers a low-cost CHATTERBOXII TM can say anything! copy of dBASE II from AQUA by July 1. route into knowledge engineering. It will enable Genuine phoneme synthesis- not just recorded you to build up and test a set of decision rules speech - hence unlimitedvocabulary. DBPlus COMPRESEESIDECOMPRESSES dBASEII which canbeusedforpredictionor Programmable pitch for morenatural intonation files to 30f40% of original size; SORTS any dBASE II classification. (exclusive to Wm Stuart Systems)-solid tone file up to 15 times faster; MODIFIES structures easily Thus HULK takes the donkey work out of cabinet for quality sound -integral beep/music amplifier. PLUS expansionsocket for BIG EARS - complete with manual. Pays foritselfina few developing a 'knowledge base'. Think of it as a voice recognition system.Full instructions weeks. research assistant. technical notes and softwaresupplied with this Are your files scattered over several disks? DBFLIST This is what the Practical Computing software outstanding educational unit. review said about HULK: DEALER ENQUIRIES WELCOME compiles a master catalogue of all your dBASE files. "It is very quick and interactive and justifies its Can save you hours of searching for that 'Lost file'. name -itdoeshelpuncoverlatent As seen on BBC TV "Computer Programme" knowledge." DBAccel converts dBASE II. CMD filets) into a single level format for much faster execution; Overlay control "It can genuinely help people to make sound *BIG EARS* s.,...79,4,', can beselective.Programsizeislimitedonly decisions - and bad decision are extremely SPEECH by costlyin many enterprises." (March 1984 INPUT available memory. Reduces running times by up to issue.) FOR ANY 50%. HULK is available at £28.75 including VAT for COMPUTER dBASE II User's Guide is one of the best manuals on BBC/B(preferablywithdisks)orTorch Hugely successful Speech Regnition System. microcomputers. We will also make it available complete with microphone, software and full dBASE II;Has sold over 17,000 copiesinthe US; instructions. ONLY £49 WrittenbyArthurGreen, aleading US experton for the QL as soon as Uncle Clive lets us have BUILT TESTED & GUARANTEED one! Cheque/PO with order from: PLEASE STATE COMPUTER: UK101, dBASE courses. In stock now. Warm Boot Limited SPECTRUM, ATOM, NASCOM2, Vic 20, Micron, ZX80/81, PET, TRS80, MZ80K, APPLE II, BBC MICRO dBASE II Beginner's Guide, published by Ashton Tate, 40 Bowling Green Lane London EC1R ONE is essential for every serious dBASE II user. (Also distributed by Brainstorm Computer ZX81 /SPECTRUM NEW! For software products (DBASE II,DBPlus, DBFLIST, Solutions, London N7) MUSIC SYNTHESISER (Stereo) VIBRATO and DBAccel) add VAT to prices. Specify machine and 27 ,16 LINE CONTROL PORT CONTROL diskette format ISDIDD, 5.25" or 8"). No extras for Play 3 -part music, sound effects, drums etc. Full packing or postage in UK; add £5.00 for overseas. Fur Circle No. 207 control of attack, decay and frequency. Input/Output lines provide control and monitor ther details available on all products. Pay by Cheque, facility for Home Security, Robot Control, Model Railway etc. etc. Works with or without 16K RAM. P0, Access or VISA. Send to: Full instructions/software included. HAVE YOU AMAZING VALUE Add keyboard to make a live performance polyphonic synthesiser! AT ONLY AQUA COMPUTING LTD (Dept PC5), 10 Barley Mow Note: up to 3 units can be used simultaneously; £19.50 IM,) Passage, London W4 4PH (Phone: 01994 64771. CONSIDERED giving 9 music channels 8 481/0 lines £25.50150551

THE COMPOSER TALKING HANGMANA, Circle No. 211 BAR CODES ( Synthesiser Music For Chaaerbo, Programme The classic game Bar-codes give a speedy Enter & pray 3 part harmony. Includes dentonetrabons. ='4,c17 '4,44 DISKETTES and error free means of (Soectrum/Z)(81)recommendee ET accompaniment (Spectrum) £6 data entry and provide a (IIIIIII III IIII VERBATIM 51" VERBATIM 8" foolproofmethodof SSDD BOX 10 £21.80 SSSD BOX 10 £30.60 II ZX ARP/DRUMSEO=.--- CHROmACODE1/1/9, SSDD BOX 10 £30.90 identificationforany II Fascinating synthesiser yOu def.° the bomb by demonstrations. Generates DSDD BOX 10 01.00DSDD BOX 10 E36.10 item or document. Typical uses include stock contro , --.- cracking the secret automatic sequences and = combination before time runs libraries, filing systems, security & checkpoint verifica- -ten Prices include delivery but exclude VAT ttIntere'cbgecar't'rur. - cof,r`AZZT- £6 tion, point of sale terminals, spare parts identificaiton, SPECIAL OFFER - COMPUTER TABLE FOR HOME etc. etc. Already most grocery products are bar-coded OR OFFICE. 2 TIER FULLY ADJUSTABLE IN TEAK at source and many other areas of industry and com- COLOUR MODULATOR KIT £16 OAK OR WHITE MELAMIME. merceare following.Bar-codeswillsoonbe RGEI In, PAL.UHF our (not for ZX) BUILT £22 £36.50 commonplace. iPleasea, ylcdcVe sAsToartd1.5rs%to:iris. acceptedby + VAT APPLE 2 PET BBC micro telephone VA!riPlieraieses g=yZio House 0:11:11:21:1 For full price list phone A complete low cost bar-code identification system is WILLIAM WU NrwnSalisbuly or write available for these micros. It contains all the hardware, STUART Wiltshire. SP4 ODZ aft software and documentation needed to read and print SYSTEMS Ltd Tel: ma oe4 235 6 bar-codes (using an Epson dot matrix printer). Most bar-code formats may be read and the system may e Circle No. 209 COBRA easilybepatchedintoanexistingapplications Office & Data Products Ltd., program. Lichfield House,

£199.00 + VAT 21, High Street,

*** NEW *** RS232 bar-code reader compare Amblecote,

This new stand-alone unit decodes the bar-code and Stourbridge, DY8 4DE converts itinto ASCII for transmission to the host northern

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£385.00 + VAT competitive More information on these products is available on re-

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Our pricing policy is reinstate lost data to match or better any BBC *Electron*Sinclair. VIC64 Breakdown & Derangement - other advertiser. In addition .. . * Dragon * Printers * Disk Drives alternative to maintenance agree- enthusiastic and knowledgeable technical ment advice and backup is available to all our e Plenty of Software customers. Delivery is from stock to your door, often Books/GamesHelp & Advice Write with details of equipment to:

within 24 hours. Phone for a quote or write for full lists. SecondhandompuersComputerst Geoffrey Hoodless & Associates ALTEK (PC) 1 GREEN LANE

Chunchfield Rd northern Telephone' Freepost (no stamp required) WALTON ON THAMES SURREY FRODSHAM Ches.computers FRODSHAM Woking please phone before calling WA6 6RD '92835110 Surrey GU21 3BR

(0932) 244110 17 , THE computer centre of the NORTH U Tel: Woking (04862) 61082 (24 hrs) 14 Circle No. 210 Circle No. 213 PRACTICAL COMPUTINGMay 1984 ;83 Powerful Low Cost CP/M Software TELEVIDEO computer TS 802 CP/M twinPRINTER - Professional Anadex DP9501 XLT 400K Disc Drive (64K RAM) plus Epsonwith Graphics, Stand, 132 Col., High speed XLT is a powerful Macro Processor. It can also MX80 FT dot matrix printer for sale onlyDot matrix. Used 100 hours. Cost £1000. be used as a cross assembler or language Eighteen Months oldpristine conditionBest Offer over £600 secures. -IEEE 488 to translator. Includes definitions for an 8080 to Les, Z80 translator, and definitions to implement £1000 o.n.o. Morison 01-876 4646. Ad No.7M serialinterface £80o.n.o.Phone Ballyronan (064887) 264. Ad No.11M CSAL, a C structuredassembly language HIGH Quality ICL 1551s Line printer £420 £39.95 o.n.o. Mr Hedley, Flat 32, Norfolk Walk,"HEATHKIT" Paper Tape Reader/Punch Fortran Compiler W.E.S. Leicester. Ad No.8M Model H10A Unused No reasonable offer Based on ANSI -66 standards with some 1977 refused H. Hobbs Tel. 01-574 4451 Daytime. level features. Useful TRACE facility. Complete Ad No.12M with 174 page documentation, requires 48K RAM £29.95 HX-20 EX -RENTAL ORIC 48K Textright cassette based fast Turbo Pascal machine code word processor. Menu driven A true Pascal compiler that is extremely FAST COMPUTERS featuring full printer control, screen editor, and compact. Includes a full screen editor. Re- search, preview, save,load,£6.95.P.J. quires only 28K disc space. Only £49.5 8 - One year old Ex Rental Computers Wright, Willow House, Landford Wood, (Available for CP/M-80, CP/M-86 and MSDOSI for SaleAllinfirstclass order and Salisbury, SP5 2ES. Ad No.13M CONGUIN SOFTWARE guaranteed for three months - complete 14 GOODWOOD CLOSE, MORDEN, with cassette drives - five rolls of paper COMPLETE APPLE PACKAGE ONLY £500 SURREY, SM4 5AW 36 Apple II Europlus 64K. One disk drive unit, No callers please Phone 0524 381423 - four blank cassettes - Mains Power Supply. List over £480.00 Accept Offers tilt screen monitor, all leads, some software Circle No. 214 over £300.00 and books.Recently servicedby main dealer. Phone Mike on 021-643 9898 X.4578. VALLDATA SERVICES LTD Ad No.14M REPAIRS & SERVICE OAKWOOD HOUSE SPA ROAD MU -ONYX for only £3000 ono offer includes * COMPUTERS (Business & Personal) MELKSHAM Hazeltine terminal para-port 6x Serial ports WILTSHIRE 10Mb Hard Disk 12Mb Tape 128Kb RAM * DISC DRIVES (5i & 8") SN12 7NP CP/M 2.2 Pascal Mt + Wordstar SuperCalc * VDU's 0225-705957 MOBs1 All manuals S. Mann work 01-928 26 0372 Home 073 081 4811 MP/M and Moasis * MONITORS available. Ad No.15M * PRINTERS Circle No. 218 * S100 BOARDS APPLE OPEN HOUSE FOR * EPROM PROGRAMMING NOVICES AND BEYOND * MAINTENANCE CONTACTS COMPATIBLE Choose your time - day or evening 48 hour service for alignment PERIPHERALS Learn at your own pace on OSBORNE, and test of disc drives RAIR or BBC BASIC, D BASE II, DISK DRIVES SUPERCALC, WORDSTAR, Graphics A.N. ELECTRONIC & COMPUTER T1 National Panasonic half height drive 1 79.00 Introductory Course £45 T2 As T1, but double sided, twice capacity 249.00 SERVICES LTD HD1 10 MByte hard drive, Basic, CP/M, Pascal ... 1095.00 Also evening club PERIPHERAL CARDS AND EXTRAS - MANY Brochure from: 1306 North Lane, Aldershot, Hants MICROCOMPUTER ADVISORY Tel: Aldershot (0252) 25608 16 PRICE REDUCTIONS CENTRE Four port I/O, twin 6522 card 39.50 Polytechnic of the South Bank Circle No. 215Printer/buffer card, 32K, graphic dump 89.50 Borough Road, A -D card, 1 6 channel, <100 microsecs cony's 4699..0000 London SE1 OAA MJ MICRO SUPPLIERS Clock card, time/date/control intervals or ring: 01.928 8989 ext. 2468 23 Disks Wabash - Box of Ten Dyson - Box of Ten Disc controller card, 1 3/1 6 sector 32.00 MD 5.25" 15.10 MO 5.25" 19.50 Z80 card, runs all CP/M 32.00 Circle No. 220 MD 19.16 &SOD 21.50 1TT2020 version of Z80 card 69.50 0800 21.60HOD 21.50 Samsom Data Binder Disk Storage Box 5" Printer card, Centronics I/F, inc. cable 32.0037..0000 9.5" x 12" ea. 1.15 ABA 30140 16.00 RS232 serial card, including cable 14.5" x 11" ea. 1.22 ABA 60180 22.00 -GrIFILME010- 16K RAM card, adds 16K, loads Pascal 36.00 Listing Paper 2000 Labels 1000 12"x 8" 13.50 3.5" x 1.5" 4.95 Eprom writer card, blows most Eproms 44.00 KINGSLEY 11" x 9.5" 11.95 4" x 1.5" 5.25 80 column card for II plus 42.00 11" x 14.5" 14.25 5" x 1.5" 5.50 104 Heaton Road, 80 column card for Ile 49.50 A4 Clean Edge 24.95 Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE6 5HL Printer Ribbons Scotch Data Cartridge 80 column card for Ile with extra 64K RAM 89.50 Tel: (0632 650653) Anadex 0P9500 7.28 0C300A 19.00 80/40 column switch 8.50 Epson MX1RX1FX80 4.50 OC300A 110 21.00 6 00 Epson MXIFX100 6.95 TC300XL 25.00 80 column card inverse video chip MT120140160180 5.25 BC3000140 27.00 Joystick, 2 control buttons 11.95 Full range of disks, stationery & ribbons available ASCII encoded keyboard, inc. 1/case, auto repeat 49.50 Pricesexcl. P&P and VAT. Cash with order. Add P&P & 15% VAT to prices. Fan, A.C. operated, keeps your Apple COOL 22.95 For all your supplies, write for full price list Monitor, 1 2" green screen, SANYO 69.50 MJ MICRO SUPPLIES, FREEPOST IBS36611, Peanut T-shirt, Tell the World! (state S,M,L) 2.95 Nailsea, BRISTOL BS19 2BR. PRINTERS No stamp required 37 Shinwa CP80, 80 cps, top print quality 1 92.00 Tel: Nailsea 10272) 857354 24 hr. Answer Phone Star Gemini 10X, fast 1 20 cps 210.00 Circle No. 216 Peanut KGP40, 40 column, 2 colour, inc. I/F card 11 5.00 NEW PEANUT PC2000 BUSINESS/EDUCA- R.G.B. 1TIONAL COMPUTER PEANUT present their new top specification computer with full features : twin disk drives, three MONITOR/TELEVISION microprocessors, 64K RAM expandable to 192K. Standard I/F AS SUPPLIED TO EDUCATION AUTHORITIES 3upenurams SPECIFICATION : RGB monitor, PAL monitor, monochrome monitor, included R.G.B. Inputs (Analogue and Digital Levels) All Models. Basic, Pascal, Centronics printer, Serial RS232. Languages : I Volt P.P. Composite Video (Remote Model only) CP/M, Forth, Logo, etc., available. Teletext Decoder available to plug into Chassis. (Remote Model only) Sound input gives access to Audio Amp. Upgradeable with all standard Apple peripherals. Enquire for full details 795.00 All Models instantly switch back to Television Carriage: under £100 add £3;over £100 add £5; 1 2" B.W. Monitor £70+ VAT 14in. Colour Monitor/Television £227 + VAT Printers/monitors add £7 1 6in. Colour Monitor/Television E255 + VAT VAT add 1 5% MONEY BACK GUARANTEE 1 6in. Colour Monitor/Remote Television. 295 + VAT 20in. Colour Monitor/Remote Television E315 +VAT PEANUT COMPUTER 22in. Colour Monitor/Remote Television C340 + VAT Unit 22C, Low Mill 26in. Colour Monitor/Remote Television £380+ VAT Plug in Teletext Module E75 + VAT DEWSBURY WF1 3 3LX Connecting Lead £5 + VAT MICROMODS LTD., Tel. (0924) 499366 Ext.0 34 Carnage and Insurance C9.50 53 ACTON RD., LONGEATON, NOTTINGHAM ACCESS WELCOME - SEND FOR CATALOGUE 4 Year Guarantee Insurance £29.60 NG10 1FR. 32 R.G.B. Monitor/TV (Grundig Approved) 35 Tel: 0602-724264 Free PEANUT T-shirt with all orders over £50. State S,M,L. S Circle No. 217 Circle No. 219 Circle No. 221

184 PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 COMMODORE 8032 -SK built in 12' green TRS80 colour computer:Joysticks + monitor, Commodore 8024printerplus Chess, Bustout, Skiing, Colour Cubes, Typ- DISK COPYING SERVICE cables. £950 o.n.o. 01-903 3521. Ad No.1M ing Tutor Cartridges £40 o.n.o. Tel: Bradford 834667. Ad No.10M APPLE Ile system hardware enhancements, Moving data and program files from loads of good software £1450 (Mr Moss) Tel.WANTED - Printer for Commodore PET one machine to another is often 01-253-7611 (Evenings Louth - 604718)3032. Any make which works. Tel 01-883 made difficult because different Ad No.2M 6952. Ad No.16M manufacturers have adopted different disk format standards. APPLE Ile 80 col. 128K. Monitor III disc driveAPPLE II PLUS and RAMcard £250. Also Epson FX80 printer grappler + Apple WriterUK101 lots of software and hardware £100 We can copy your files to and from Ile, manuals, books, Utilities and games allo.n.o Stevenage 352021Evenings almost any disk format including £1650. Also mountain music system £175 Ad No.17M CP/M, MSDOS, PCDOS, TRSDOS, ISIS, Tel: (01)267 3077 Ad No.3M CP/M users library 6000 + items free soft- APPLE, SIRIUS, PDP11, VAX, and IBM. COMMODORE PET Basic4.00,Toolkit, ware,Libraryindex£5.50. SAE details Disks are normally despatched on the Games, £300 Telephone 0992-444640 E.M.S. 96 Westgreen Road, Tottenham Lon- day they are received. Ad No.4M don N17. Ad No.18M Our charge is £10.00 + disk + VAT. APPLE IIEuroplus 64K system including OLYMPIA DAISYWHEEL PRINTER In perfect Condition, withallaccessories, Special prices for quantities 16K RAM expansion card, parallel printer and tape to disk transfers. card, T.V. modulator, disk drive with con-BOLT TYPE, VARIABLE PITCH, 17 C.P.S. troller, paddles and various software £550. 14"carriage, manuals etc. £199.00 Tel: For more information call us. RingKeith07072-73855 (evenings).01-5217733. Ad No.20M Ad No.5M SANYO MBC-1000 creative computer. Built 48K ITT 2020, Disk drive + controller, joyin 12" high resolution CRT display an 51" GREY MATTER stick, set of Apple soft ROMs and over £100disk drive, as new, genuine reason for sale. 4 Prigg Meadow, Ashburton, Devon TQ13 7DF. worth ofsoftware, £500. Dewsbury, W. £650 o.n.o. Tel: (0272) 875027. Ad No.21 M TEL. (0364) 53499 lo Yorks. Tel 0924-463522. Ad No.6M TELE/VIDEO 806 MULTI USER SYSTEM; APPLICATION software development and with two TS800 Terminals (Expandable to checking jobsundertakenatattractive Six) System includes a single 5" Floppy rates. Languages MBasic, CBasic, Fortran, disc and a five megabyte winchester disc. When replying to Cobol. Anil Divate, Sumeet, J B Naaar. Born - Each user terminal runs CP/M and the Classified advertisements, bay 400059, India. Ad No. 24M packageincludes WORD STAR, MAIL MERGE, SPELL STAR For Word Processing readers are recommended BBC MODEL B owners, develop your touch SUPER CALC For Spread Sheet & DBASE 2 to take steps to protect typing skills with TYPING TRAINER. Sendfor other Database applications. New Price their interests before £1.60 for cassette and instructions to: C. Over £8,500 inclusive of software Expecting Galbraith, 65 Balfour Court, KILMARNOCK£4,750 (plus V.A.T.) Ring Ray Coldrick 0594 sending money. KA3 7TE. Ad No.9M 562256. Ad No.22M Mill I= NM MINNMI MICRO ADS. Order Form

Classified Rates Please insert the following advertisementin PracticalComputing LINAGE Linage 25p per word Minimum 15 words prepayable. Cost per insertions Display Adverts. 1 Ins.V2 Ins.t/ Rafe per single column Centimetre: £15.00 £3.75 £3.25 Minimum 5 cm SERIES Discounts £5.00 £4.50 Available on request. Contact: Claire Notley on £6.25 £5.75 01-661 8163. £7.50 £7.00 Method of Payment Cheques etc should be made £8.75 £8.25 payable to BUSINESS PRESS £10.00 £9.50 INTERNATIONAL LTD. and crossed. I enclose herewith cheque/PO for £11.25 £10.75 £12.50 £12.00 Post to: tick number of Box No. Required YES/NO Cut out the order form and return insertions required together with your remittance to: Classified Department, NAME (Please include initials) Practical Computing, Room H211, Quadrant House, ADDRESS The Quadrant, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5AS. Conditions of Acceptance Micro Ads are accepted from Private readers only and must be submitted on (or a photocopy of) THIS FORM SHOULD BE RETURNED BY 20TH MARCH FOR THE MAY ISSUE this order form. All Advertisements must be prepaid. Company Registered Number: 151537 (ENGLAND). Registered Office: Quadrant House, The Quadrant, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5AS. IMM IM MIN Ell IIIIM MI

PRACTICAL COMPUTING May 1984 185 Advertisement Index

A E R A&G Computerware 38ESS Consultants 43 LVL 144,145 RATA 118 A -Line Computers 30Eccleston Electronics 176 Ladbroke Hotels 71 Real Time Developments 164 ACT Pulsar 140,141 Epson Printers 74,75 London Comp Centre 24 ACT Pulsar 52,53 London Computer Fair 173 ACt/Sirius Apricot 10,11 S ATA 39 SCI (UK) 108 Accent 46 F M Sagesoft 174 Aculab Ltd 38 Fox & Geller 4 MEM 124 Saracen Data Products 141 Advance Technology, 34,115 Fraser Associates 110 MPI Ltd 54 Simmons Magee 16 Aimgram Ltd 183Fujitsu 28 Mayfair Micros 166 Sinclair Research 150,151 Akhter Instruments Ltd 99 Memotech Ltd 66,67,68 Software BC Audio Genic 60 Mercator 36 Software 84 70 Micro Business 32 Software Products Int 40,41 Micro Miracles 177 B G Solid State Nutronics 44 Micro Peripherals 1 BC BFI/Diskpost 158GCC Cambridge Ltd 36 Swan Packaging 106,118 Microcomputer Disks 166 Symbiotic 154 Bee Bug 72,106 GW Computers 37 Microfast Ltd 172 Bromcom 9 Gemini Microcomputers 65 Micromanagement 178,179 Micronix 31 T Micropute 152,153 Tandy Corp 149 C Microsoft 18,19 Telesystems Ltd 64 Calco Software 30 H Microvitec 17 The Computer Fair 98 Cambridge Micro Elec 164 HM Systems 25 Microware 61,63 Thorn EMI 177 Cetronic Components Ltd 118 Handic UK 109 Midland Computer Fair Triumph Adler 82,83 C.K. Computers 142,143 33 Mike Lewis 73 Comart 12 Mountaindene Comcen Tech Ltd 36 106 Compec North 84 70 V Compsoft 20 Icarus Comp Systems 6 Vector International 139 Computech Systems 1FC Integrex 59 0 Verwood Systems 62 Computer Enterprises 110Interam 14 Oryx 97 Computer Park 77 Computer Pro 77 Cord Designs Ltd 176 P Worldwide Computers Ltd 72 J Page Plus 69 Jarogate 22 Power Testing Sales 121 Data Disk (UK) Ltd 186 Precision Software 73 Psion 73 X Datac 82 X -Data 81 Daytron 80 Digital Equip Co 26,27 K Disco Technology Ltd 180 KGB Micros 93 Disking International 174,175 Kingsley Enterprises 30 Qubie 51 Z Duplex Comm Ltd 38 Kingsway Data 42 Qume (UK) Ltd 76,77 Zero Electronics DATA DISK (U.K.) LTD. 3 Peartree Business Centre The small Company Contact us for all your computer needs. Anything from Peartree Road with the big name ribbons, listing paper, labels, disks, printers etc. etc. Stanway Colchester Essex in consumables Everything on mail order, enquire for our comprehensive 0787 210091 price lists. COMPARE OUR PRICES *Free delivery on all printers and disks* PRINTERS Nominal charge for all other ranges. The New "JUKI" 6100 Daisywheel OUR PRICE EPSON FX80 OUR PRICE IRRP £499 + VAT) ONLY £375 + VAT IRRP £438.00 + VAT) ONLY £425.00 including VAT. "Free Delivery" No Extras "Free Delivery" No Extras. MT80 OUR PRICE EPSON RX-80 OUR PRICE IRRP £265 + VAT) ONLY £260 including VAT IRRP £298.00 + VAT) ONLY £285.00 including VAT UCHIDA OUR PRICE "Free Delivery" No Extras IRRP £399 + VAT) £375 including VAT EPSON RX-80 FP OUR PRICE JUST ARRIVED ONLY £315.00 including VAT Our own brand of covers Our own brand of disk binders "Free Delivery" No Extras. for the Commodore 20, 64 & with a capacity of 20 £3.95 OKI MICROLINE 83a = £525.00 including VAT the B.B.C./V computer £3.95 + VAT Colours black or beige. OKI MICROLINE 80a = £225.00 including VAT LISTING PAPER + VAT Colours black or beige. ALL CARRIAGE FREE 11 " x 9 i" Single pt = £8.50 + VAT per box 2000 Floppy Disks by CONTROL DATA 11" x 14i" Single pt = £11.50 + VAT per box 2000 51" Single Sided/Single Density All other sizes available. Either plain or green lined. Single Sided/Double Density £15.00 for 10 + VAT Double Sided/Double Density = £19.50 for 10 + VAT To Data Disk (UK) Ltd. 8"Disks and Quad Density also available Please Supply 51" Plastic Library Cases £2.75 + VAT each Please Supply NEW FROM FRANCE! Please Supply LIBRARY CASES IN BROWN/CREAM. Please Supply 51" 20 - Capacity = £2.80 + VAT Enclosed my cheque/money order Total Lockable Filing Cases with carrying handle Brown/Cream Delivery to:- (Name) for 51" disks x 100 capacity ONLY £18.50 + VAT Address Other lockable filing cases: 51" 40 - Capacity = £1.5.50 + VAT Telephone No 51" 90 - Capacity = £21.95 + VAT 8" 40 - Capacity = £22.95 + VAT Trade and Dealer Enquiries Welcomed. More Agents Urgently 8" 90 - Capacity = £31.95 + VAT Needed Nationwide.

Circle No. 250

186 PRACTICAL COMPUTINGMay 1984 The Art of Daisywheel Printing

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The new Juki Model 6100 letter quality daisy wheel printer, has full features you'd expect to find on a more expensive printer. It can support word processing and graphic functions, print FEATURES: 20 CPS and use a simple drop -in daisy wheel. The 6100 has 10112115 pitch, proportional spacing, utilizes IBM *20 CPS (max.) print speed *Bold and standard Selectric ribbons, has 2K buffer memory, parallel interface shadow printing *Subscripts and superscripts both tractor feed and serial interface are available as options. *Wordstar compatible *Diablo protocols *Auto That's only the beginning - Best of all, the low -noise Juki 6100 is extremely reliable. Underlining *Standard 2K buffer *1 year parts and Your can pay more, but you can't buy better than the Juki 6100. labour warranty *Comprehensive user friendly manual

Call your local dealer NOW for full information on the Juki 6100 Daisywheel Printer or clip this coupon and we'll send you brochures micro and print samples. 111P Name Peripherals lid Address 'THE POWER BEHIND THE PRINTED WORD' 69 The Street, Basing, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG24 OBY Telephone: 0256 3232 (12 lines) Telex: 859669 MICROP G Tel No.. 18 7 Circle No. 251 Just becauseyou need it inaflash, don'texpose yourself!

You've a deadline to meet, So don't expose your- the right CP/M Software pack- self, talk to Software Limited. age is needed, the right decision has to Choice, advice and delivery, all aimed at be made; which format, which product, meeting your deadline. when can it be delivered, at what price? Software Limited... You need good advice, and just as Because there's more to important, you need to talk to some- choose from, we're the one who has a large enough range to be only choice to make. able to offer honest advice. Someone 01-833 1173/6 who can then deliver on time, someone Software Limited whose catalogue is fast becoming the No. 2 Alice Owen Technology Centre Software 251 Goswell Road, London EC1 Limited byword of the software industry. CP/M is a trademark of Digital Research

Attractive quantity & dealer discounts available Circle No. 252