NO. 66 GRAPHICS International Edition: $3.00 Advancing Computer Knowledge EXPLORING CHARACTER GRAPHICS • Screen Editor • Printer Dump • Draw Package • Template Program Complete Programs for Apple, Atari Commodore and TRS-80 See page 26 See page 64 See page 90 Apple Bar Graph Generator Atari Mode 10 in Mode 0 Radio Shack Introduces OS-9 Developed by: Richvale Blue Sky Software Distributed by: Telecommunications, Ashland Office Center LTD. Warehouse 1, Inc. Computer Marketing DES-Data Evesham & Alpha Avenues Eastern U.S. 800-253-5330 Services, Inc. Equipment Supply Voorhees, NJ 08043 Western 800-2550056 800-222-0585 213-923^361 609-7954025 Also avaHable for the IBM-PC. Script 64, Commodore 64 and IBM-PC are registered trademarks of Richvale Communications LTD., Commodore Electronics Limited, and International Business Machines, Corp. respectively. Will Remember Everything For Ylfti (If you want it to) Imagine a system that would record alt MAGIC MEMORY"" is buiH for the com­ the wonderous, valuable information puter rookie. Everyone can relate to you have assimilated onto a single tiny MAGIC MEMORY™ because its form is disk. (No more scattered bits of paper, familiar. It looks like an address book business cards, etc.) Imagine the same but its not Its more Uke the address system giving you a typed sheet you book. MAGIC MEMORY* presents an could put into a notebook or print out A thru Z index tabulation on the nght for a party and instantly change, or add edge of the video display. The user to, at a moments notice. Imagine cross- simply selects a tab and the book is referencing to suit both your business opened to the proper page(s). A second needs and personal desires so that all set of tabs are available that can be your data was organized into one little labeled by the user (i.e.- companies one black book! On top of ail this - imagine ceals with, birthdays, lists, wtnes, having fun putting it together. shops, etc) Yet MAGIC MEMORY'" is or anyof MAGIC I screen wiif irisfcmtly of irrforrnafcin you may want te state. MAGIC M operate on art APPLE fie anrfstiH re­ main fotaBy compatible with APRtE U. The systen^.wW operate irr40 co ton m or 8ff columns. You may afed use Hie dmomfhantom. , much more versatile than the old paper MAGIC MEMORY71* retarts for i address book. T h is system can instantfy Call 213K&&57G& tiseyoitff “Imagine" no more. ARTSCI, INC. add or delete information, sort bon to outwit your ( proudly announces MAGIC MEMORY™, alphabetically and transfer data to the complete advanced database other locations in the book. MAGIC MEMORY* is a (rademarfc ot ABTSCt; ■ system. MAGIC MEMORY is made to simplify the information storage process. The typical first-time computer user has no human experience that will help him to relate to a computer’s methods of handling information. Therefore, his learning ability is hampered and re­ mains so for many hours of use, UNLESS the computer has been designed to run simply. One of the features in the print section 213/985-5763 of MAGIC MEMORY™ is the ability to 5547 Satsuma Avenue print out any or all of the address book, North Hollywood, Ca 91601 A ppU Fp^Ttee Editorial Electronics /AlCftO PROWRITER PRINTER Frustrations, Features and Futures $ 3 9 5 The Frustrations the problems. In any case, writing pro­ HARDWARE grams to provide the basic service FRANKLIN find the personal computer ab­ which the microcomputer needs takes ACE solutely fantastic, facinating, and, time and effort. The MICRO solution The Professional Personal Computer INTRODUCTORY PACKAGE Ivery frustrating. The new "under will be to take one significant problem • Franklin Ace $200 computer1' recently purchased for area each month and provide solutions. 1000 • 1-Disk Drive my kids has many wonderful built-in Not just talk, but computer programs • Green Monitor features. Unfortunately, there is that solve the problems. While there almost no support for using and/or will be detailed discussions of the * 1 5 9 5 understanding these capabilities. For problems, alternatives, "packaged" QUICK BROWN FOX example, this new computer has many solutions, and so forth, the heart of great video features that were not each issue will be one or more com­ $ 55 25 available on earlier systems. These in­ plete, ready-to-run programs that you CALL FOR THIS MONTH’S SPECIAL clude more colors, more graphic can use with your micro. Each program 1-800-835-2246 EXT. 211 characters, user-defineable characters, will be written to run on as many of the OR and so forth. BUT, the computer does microcomputers that MICRO regularly 702-459-4114 NOT have a built-in graphics editor. covers as possible. 5130 East Charleston Blvd. Su ite 4M The built-in text editor is designed for In this issue we present five graphic Las Vegas, Nevada 89122 entering BASIC programs, and has programs. Each program is listed in its Add $3.00 for shipping, handling and insurance. Nevada residents add S.75% sales tax. Please include severe limitations when used for entirety, conversions are NOT "left as phone number. Equipment subject tu price change graphics. And, if the minimal text an exercise for the reader” ! These in­ and availability. Call or write for price list. editor is used to generating graphic clude the following: Graphic Screen displays, there is no built-in provision Editor, Programmable Character to SAVE the screen to tape or disk, or to Generator, Drawing Program, LOAD a display screen from tape or Template Program, and Graphic disk. And, there is no built-in way to Screen/Printer Dump. convert the screen display into DATA statements or PRINT strings that can The Future be used directly by a BASIC program. And, the editor does not provide any MICRO will continue its general programmable character, line drawing, coverage of the Apple, Atari, Color or higher-level graphic support. My Computer, Commodore computers and S u r e kids and I find this very frustrating. other interesting personal computers. Having capabilities which are difficult Each system will have its own special iV s in su red ? or impossible. to use is almost worse section with microcomputer specific than not having the capabilities at all! information such as articles, reviews, SAFEWARESM Insurance provides full replacement of hardware, media and One obvious solution is to purchase catalogs, columns, plus the machine purchased software after a low $50 deductible. a software package designed to do specific program listings and informa­ As little as $35/yr covers: graphics. That is find if we want to do tion that relate to that issue’s fea­ • Fire • Theft • Power Surges enough graphics to justify the cost. ture topic. • Earthquake • Water Damage • Auto Accident And, if we can find a software package Topics in coming months will in­ Select the cwerage you want from the table. which does what we want. And, if we clude: Electronic Spread Sheets plus Amount of Insurance Annual Premiumdo not care to know HOW the MicroCalc, Local and Remote Com­ Up to $ 2,000 $ 3 5 microcomputer operates — since most munications, Personal Data Bases. f 2.001-$ 5.000 f 60 packages do not provide listings. And, With each issue containing programs f 5,001-$ 8,000 $ 7 5 if we never need to modify the software that you can use in your system, f 8,001- ( 11,000 $ 90 and/or add features. MICRO will become an even more im­ $11,001-$14.000 $105 portant asset in your microcom­ Call for higher coverages Not avail in AK. DC. HI. KY. LA MR. MS NV. SC. or WY. The Features puter world. Call for immediate protection. Some of MICRO'S readers are inex­ 1-800-848-3469 perienced with microcomputers and (In Ohio call 1-800-848-2112) may not even be aware of the Robert M. Tripp possibilities that they are missing. Other readers are advanced experts who President/Editor-in-Chief COLUMBIA NATIONAL GENERA). AGENCY could write software to solve many of JMCRO MICRO No. 66 - November 1983 In the flash of one second. Delta-10 can print die alphabet six times. At 160 cps, 100% duty cycle, Delta-10 is and it can print three crisp copies simul­ built for speed. It’s the dot matrix printer that taneously at the continuous speed of quickly strikes up an intense working relation­ 160 cps. ship with your computer. And Delta-10’s performance isn’t only meas­ There’s no nonsense. Delta-10 performs ured in swiftness. There’s the diversity of its with serial and parallel interfaces as standard. character fonts, its true descender matrix, The 8K buffer gives Delta-10 the .. and its underlining ability. power to instantaneously store and \IP C 3 jf Star’s new Delta-10. Designed print data as it frees your computer for red-hot efficiency. And isn’t to continue its job. Turn Delta on till that what you need? mnronics»mc THE POWER BEHIND THE PRINTED WORD. C om puter P eripherals Division P.O. Box 612186, Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport. TX 75261 niii r Advancing Computer Knowledge MICRO P.O. Box 6502. Amherst, NM 03031 (603) 889-4330 Technical Editors GraphicsCommodore=z Phil D aley Loren Wright Office MgrJEdltorial Assistant 11 Exploring Character 24 Introduction and Maureen Dube Graphics Description Contributing Editors Cornells Bongers How does a computer Loren Wright Dave Malmberg use characters? John Steiner Detailed description of Jim Strasma character graphics on C-64, Paul Swanson VIC and PET Richard C. Vile, Jr. 13 Hardware Art Director/Production 28 Screen Editor Helen Bergeron Betz Characteristics Typesetter Loren Wright Lynda Fedas Displaying a Construct character graphic Advertising character on a pictures with LOAD, SAVE Sheila McDonough terminal and PRINT options Dealer Sales Maureen Dube Circulation 14 Screen Editor 32 Draw Package Cindy Schalk Bob Tripp Accounting A complete program Donna M.