Zbasic Inventor
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The official BASIC Newsletter Upgrades Introduction to A Call for ZBasic Zedcor offers upgrades to users General Purpose at a surprisingly fair price. Subroutines The latest release of the various versions of ZBasic and the This newsletter is for people Many of us would like to reference manual is: that use Zedcor's BASIC obtain Public Domain ZBasic Compiler. ZBasic operates on routines so you don't have to re- Amstrad (CPIM) 3.1 many computers including; create the wheel every time you Apple II DOS 3.3 3.11 IBM PC's, Macintoshes, write a program. Can you CPIM-80 TM 3.1 Apple //s, CP/M machines and imagine the time it would save? Kayproo Graphics 3.1 more. MSDOSTmlIBM PC 3.02 continued page 19 Macintosh' 3.03 "Z" is also the result of TRS-80(1,3 and 4) 3.1 hundreds of requests from ZBasic users. ZBasic Inventor ZBasic Manual: 3rd Edition It is an efficient way to Since ZBasic is a living, distribute important information growing language, there will to programmers including: always be enhancements, bug fixes and improvements. • The latest Upgrade notices • Programming tricks Customer suggestions are • Fixes and Patches continued on page 15 • Program Examples • The latest from Zedcor • Program announcements • Dear Dr. Z column • Technical Support notes Introduction 1 • User Forum Dr. Z 8 • Notes from the Developers Subscription 20 continued on page 9 Applications 19 Apple // 2 Andrew Gariepy, President TRS-CP/M 2 MSDOS 3 As most of you know, Andrew Macintosh 3 Gariepy created the first Updates 1 version on a TRS-80 computer, Users Group 18 back in 1979. Since then it has BBS 18 developed into Equations 18 Doctor Z Page 8 continued on page 7 © Copyright 1986, Zodcar, Inc., All rights Roscrecd Page 2 —=-= 1IjI._I --l- Apple /1 Z80 Notes Notes Apple® lle, llc, 11+ CP/M'' and TRS-8OTm Computers The latest version of ZBasic for DOS 3.3 is The Z80 versions of ZBasic are the oldest. 3.11. What's been fixed? There were some Andrew Gariepy created the original ZBasic on problems with Chaining, CLEAR END, an old TRS-80 model one computer back in CIRCLE PLOT, CIRCLE FILL and BOX FILL 1979. At the time it was just for fun, but over and a couple of other minor things. the years it became a serious business. Although Z80 computers are falling out of favor lately, we To check your version; will continue to support them with continued page 4 continued on page 6 diskette with the problem Support Notes program and a listing of the by David Lewis, Zedcor Technical area where you are having a Support Group problem. I also need to know what computer you are using I've been programming with (remember: ZBasic is available for many ZBasic for some time now and machines). in my opinion it is the fastest, most versitile compiler on the If security is a problem only market. It does, however, submit that part of the code that have its complexities (that's is giving you a problem. why I have this job). If you have any support I remember when support questions or need help with a questions were easy; like complex part of ZBasic, feel "How do I save in ASCII?" free to call me; 1 1AM to 5PM cluestion over the phone and Mountain Standard Time. Lately I get more sophisticated request the second user to send That's two hours behind the questions like; "I'm converting me more information by mail. East coast and the same as the a program over from MSBasic. West coast except during It is 97K in length and it bombs Most questions can be handled daylight savings time when when I compile it". Being a by phone but when it involves there is an extra hour difference programmer, I'm sure you can examining code and program (Arizona doesn't observe appreciate my delima and logic of any considerable size, daylight savings time). understand why I would have phone support is not feasible. no problem answering the first In this case please submit a D.L. Copyright 1986, Zcdccr, hc., All rights Rrved - II 11* IBM-MSDOS Macintosh Notes Notes IBM® PC and MSDOSTh compatibles Mac 512Th, Macintosh PlusTh, Mac XLTh This version of ZBasic continues to be the hottest We're all excited about the Macintosh version of seller. ZBasic. With the Macintosh event-trapping, powerful toolbox software, MacinTalk interface This column is packed with information. Please and 68000 cpu, it is the most exciting version of submit any programs you have for IBM PC or ZBasic available. Cheers to Apple for making MSDOS machines so we can include them in such a powerful human interface. future newsletters. Your help is appreciated. This version of ZBasic is selling like hotcakes. The subroutines included in this column may be People have been waiting for a "serious" BASIC used freely in your programs or be passed out to for the Mac for a number of years and now they your friends since they are Public Domain (this have it. does not mean that you can sell them for profit unless you get the authors permission). Please submit your Mac-specific articles and subroutines, especially in the area of Toolbox use Update Information and Mac event-trapping, for inclusion in future newsletters. The latest release of the MSDOS version of ZBasic is 3.02, dated March, 1986. There have Send any suggestions or feedback. We're been lots of things added since version 3.01 so always looking for ways to improve ZBasic. be sure to upgrade: Update Information • EOF function • Page flipping Version 3.03 for the Mac was released December • Functions for BLOAD, BSAVE, CALL etc. 1, 1986. Users that bought ZBasic after • Bug fixes September 1 can get free updates: see page 15 for • More OPEN"C" support complete upgrade information. • Misc, other fixes and additions How is version 3.03 different from 3.01? BASICA to ZBasic Conversion Program • Lots of fixes and fine tuning Zedcor has a BASICA (and GW Basic) to • 10 new Dialog functions ZBasic conversion program available for $29.95. • New Window refresh support continued on page 11 continued on page 16 0 Ccpytiglt 1986, Zc&cr. Inc. All 6gbl. Rc,vcd Page 4 Apple the 40 column screen and load continued from page 2 APPLE II Technical it into an array. The 40 column start up ZBasic and read the screen starts at memory version number. Version 3.11 Support Notes location 1024 but is not was released on November 12. David Lewis, Zedcor Technical contiguous. See page 31 of the If you purchased ZBasic after Support Group Apple He reference manual for August 15 and you have As part of the Zedcor support address map (figure 2-5). version 3.0, send in your group let me express my desire master and a copy of your to help you with any of your LONG FN DIR(alot, drive) invoice and license agreement ZBasic questions. Feel free to POKE &AA6A, slot number to us for a free contact me at Zedcor, 5 days a REM slot number 0-7 upgrade. Before that date the REM usually slot six week, from 11AM to 5PM, upgrade is $19.95. POKE &AA68, drive MST. The phone number is REM drive 1 or 2 DOS 3.3 doesn't seem to be (602) 795-3996. CALL &A56E used much anymore. I END FN remember a couple of years This column will cover the Runtime DIR ago, when ZBasic was in the common problems ZBasic early development stages and users have using this version. ProDOS had just begun I get asked these same shipping, some of us thought it questions everyday and can Loading Applesoffrm wouldn't make it. Boy, were recite the answers in my sleep. Programs into ZBasic. we wrong. ProDOS is much Keep your newsletters handy more powerful and easier to for future reference. We have had many requests for use than old DOS 3.3 which a way to easily load Apple- now seems to be falling by the Please send any subroutine softTM programs into ZBasicTht. wayside. solutions you have created for Many people have tried the Apple. I will include them LISTing the program to disk in my column to help you and ApplesoftTm to ZBasicm but this adds an extra blank line your fellow users. which confused ZBasic (fixed conversion program in version 3.11). BSAVE and BLOAD A ZBasic user has created an Functions for DOS 3.3 I asked Greg Branche, head of Applesoft to ZBasic conversion our Apple II R&D section, to program. It converts existing The following routines were help me out. He gave me these Applesoffrm programs over to provided by Greg Branche to ingenious instructions and a ZBasic (about 98%). This do the BLOAD and BSAVE program line that solves the saves a lot of time and frus- commands as in ApplesofV'. problem nicely; tration when converting. These are long functions so be sure to put them at the STEP 1: The program must first be Available from: beginning of your program. converted into a sequential text file Carl Bringardner by adding the following line to the 1736 E. North Broadway Listing on Opposite Page. program you want to convert. Make Columbus, OH 43224. sure your Applesoft program doesn't How to get a Catalog have a line zero, then add: (DIR) During Runtime 0 F$="FILENANE': PRINT CHR$ (4) "OPEN ";F$:PRINT The following function was CHR$(4)"WRITE";F$:POKE 33,33: given to us by Greg Branche.