Vol. 1 No. 4 December 1986 AMSTRAD£1.25 | COMPUTING- V; ■ I mm m >■ V aL- The Official Amstrad Business Magazine The Condor 1 Commands - They couldn’t be simpler! Database Creation and Maintenance DEFINE Create, redefine or describe a database DESTROY Eliminate a database or file FORMAT Create or revise a form or HELP screen REORG Reorganize the structure of a database; add or delete items Information Input and Update APPEND Attach records of one database to another EMPTY Eliminate all data in a database ENTER Insert new data into a database POST Update entries in one database with those from another UPDATE Change entries in a J--.abase meeting specified cni Jiiitions Informations* ssingand Report Writing COMPARE ' ;v*i.*are orgies in two ■■■...•.vjfcsfa- /not) n • hing o editions and The Database Manager and Reporter. c. < RE ;• i JLT database COMPUTE . ie<: iesina You know that Caxton only publish superior software products. LIST 0; datf.'i j;,se records in Cardbox is the world’s best-selling simple electronic card index. sesjc :?-^er Brainstorm is the world’s first ideas processor. Scratchpad plus is the PRINT Pirfctf. shtab^va records in ewisr only enhanced Virtual Memory Spreadsheet available foryour PRINTER Pri; ;lei output control and Amstrad. And Touch ’n’ Go is the UK’s most highly respected disk- refection SELECT Select database records based typing T\itor. meeting specified conditions, creating a Now we present Condor 1 - Mainframe computing for your Amstrad. RESULT database SORT Sort database records by Condor 1 is an extensive database management and reporting system entries STAX View or print statistics of for the non-programmer. You can begin by creating simple databases entries in a matter of minutes. Then, as you learn more with our TABULATE Summarize specified entries. Print or save the comprehensive step-by-step tutorial and reference-guide, Condor 1 result gives you the power to create all-singing, all-dancing, menu-driven TITLE Print report headings systems. Operation Aids HELP Assist operator in selecting You will enjoy using Condor 1. You design the screen layouts yourself procedures and then manipulate the information you’ve entered through a serj INSTALL Saves SET and PRINTER options of English-like commands - For example “sort invoices b RESTART Continue processing with thirty-five commands as standard, Condg interrupted commands Process and execute a enough to satisfy all of your data-marygflE command procedure with options for command Finally, don’t forget Condor 1 is a CaxtonVroJ modification simple to use we are able to offer you faces telephone support. Should you need help wiN 'IYansfer records from an Your call will be welcomed and your quero w ASCII file to an existing database pleasant, helpful and efficient manner-bacai Transfer records from a people we are. \ database to an ASCII sequential file Utilities COPY Copy a database or file DATE View or enter date Condor1 ‘10-14 Bedford Street DIC View entries in the data Covent Carden dictionary D DIR View the list of files in the Caxton London WC2E9HE disk directory is £99.99 Tel: 01-379 6502. LOGDISK Log a new disk in the Telex: 27950 ref 398 computer I Change the name ofa RENAME (incVAT). database or file SAVE Save a RESULT database Available for SET Set operating parameters Amstrad 8256 SYSTEM Exit from Condor 1 back to operating system and 8512. TERM Defines the computer (not needed on Amstrad) m B 7 Editorial REGULARS Clone manufacturers beware! 9 News Alan Sugar responds to criticism of the PC1512. 35 Forum Your letters-our answers. 109 Clarke’s Corner Andrew Clarke offers Wisecrack, an exercise in artificial stupidity. 114 Order Form Take advantage of our very special offers. 117 Techlet Printing from Gem and transferring files. eta m m ua i i 13 Artistic leanings REVIEWS DR Draw or Gem Draw? Mike James takes a look. 23 Cambase An in-depth review leads to some precautionary conclusions. 44 Tasword 8000 An alternative to Locoscript? Gabriel Jacobs sees how it measures up. DESKTOP i PUBLISHING 54 Cashbook Accounts packages don’t have to be complex. 78 Zorland C We examine this low-cost C compiler. Vol. 1 No. 4 December 1986 94 Videogem Barry Pickles describes a new database system for video shops. i Editor Gabzzel Jacobs 111 Turbo Pascal :. Managing Editor Katherine Cranford tries out the PCW version. : Simon Stockman i Sic'-ocrtisement Manager Jane Nolan SPECIALS 20 Competition I A dvertisement Assistant Here’s your chance to win an ergonomic computer desk. Lorraine Day 26 Supercalc tips Sue Gee concludes her exploration of Supercalc’s features. Amslrad Professional Computing, 16!) Kings Road, Brentwood, 39 Introduction to accounts Essex CMM 4EF. Tim Woodward throws some light on accounting terms. Tel: 0277 234459 (Editorial 50 The way to do it! 0277 234434 (Advertising) How the power of CP/M on the PCW has transformed Punch and Judy. Telecom Gold: 72:MAG021 58 Using Dos The PC 1512 gives a choice of operating systems. We investigate. Amstrad is a registered trade mark, and with the title Amstrad Profess- ional Computing, is used with the 64 Utilities permission of Amstrad Consumer Two programs to add to your CP/M micro’s versatility. Electronics pic. No part of this publication may be reproduced with­ 68 PCW or PC? out permission. While every effort is How do you choose between them? Tim Woodward offers useful advice. made to ensure the accuracy of all features and listings we cannot accept 73 Comms Corner any liability for any mistakes or How Fido is straining at the leash to compete with other Gmail systems. misprints. The views and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Amstrad but represent the views of our 76 Competition II many readers, users and contributors. Answer three simple questions and you could win a PCW Joycestick. ;! We regret that Amstrad Professional Computing cannot enter into personal 81 Drive M .6? : correspondence. Tips on speeding up Supercalc using the PCW’s ram disc. : e Avrnlilo Ltd 1986. 84 Command by Command Published by: In the last of the series, David Oborne delves into SETSIO .COM. ;JSr Avrolite Ltd, 30 St. Peteregato, 87 Desktop publishing Stockport SKI 1HL. Henry Budgett gives an overview of this revolution in print techniques. News trade distribution: 98 Inside the Amstrad PC Diamond Kuropress Sales & Distribu­ tion Ltd, Unit 1, Burgess Road, Alan Meyer investigates the 8086 chip that’s at the heart of the PC1512. Ivyhouse Lane, Hastings, East Sussex TN35 4NR. Tel: 0424 430422. 104 Supercalc template Calculating irregular work schedules made easy. Amstrad Professional Computing December 198$ ,! At last Integrated sof N Ife : :.-i£ DATABASE: Electric Desk's powerful search and N editing tools make the most of a huge database that offers up to 65.000 records and 50 detailed fields per record. :I 1 WAyPfJA Penn Computers L'J. y °o Vn °°X* '' N ^ °4$S' n *. |Nn ^ '\ <*> f?0_ X X P' % VX'- O \ %_ X t» \ $> X / WORD PROCESSING: Gives you full editing and Most integrated software is about as user-friendly re-formatting facilities, search and replace and a as the Theory of Relativity - because it’s normally devised whole lot more. Everything, in fact, you’d expect by boffins, not business people. from an up-to-date dedicated W/P package. h Hence Electric Desk - the perfect answer for a busi­ nessman who needs to get things done. Now. X. h.’s now available for the new Amstrad PC 1512 and ; wmmmimmmmmihilt-in simplicity. f| other SB! : compatibles, making superb use of all its fea- i,.rcs including the dazzling colour (although you’ll find .I just as capabie in monochrome). Kp It’s so easy to use. you can learn Electric Desk in less 1 . than a day. even without any previous computer experi­ k ence. Sort budgets with the spreadsheet, enter records l; • on the database, get all the facts on hard paper with word processing, and communicate with the world (in one go. I: rather than four). j; V Each part is fully integrated with the rest, with windows and comprehensive help facilities to guide you through. ! Altogether. Electric Desk is as powerful a package as you'd care to name, but with the ease of use that leaves k the others standing. For just £99.95. ! Take a look for yourself. Just send £5 for your demon­ stration disk (we’ll deduct that from the purchase price, / once you're hooked). Complete the coupon below, and discover the inte­ grated package that's got power and simplicity. To: Penn Computers Ltd., Beech Comer. Latchwood Lane. Lower Bourne, Farnham, Surrey, GUIO 3HA. Tel: 025125 3092. To. Penn Computers Limited. Beech Corner, Latchwood Lane. Lower Bourne. Farnham. Surrey. GU10 311A Please rush me: I 1 copies of Electric Desk at £99 95 F VAT (Total £1R94) I I my Electric Desk demonstration disk at £5 me VAT I enclose a cheque for C All prices include P& P. Money back guarantee if not entirely delighted and product is returned within 14 days name____ COMPANY aqqress ___m_ / a:x-7W'..- x UK Distributors: First Software PRICE PROMISE Wewill beat any genuine pnc^ntnespo^^non^oMetail^ [aNSTRAD PC 1512 (EIGHT MODELS) TOP QUALITY @1 5'A" Discs -DS/DD 48 TPI Phone for latest prices. IBM PACK OF TEN...... £13.50 8512-8256 BOOKS BASIC DRAWING* Mastering the PCW 8256 . £8.95 PACKAGE D.R. DRAW & COUNTY COUNCIL LOCAL CP/M Software Bus £8.95 ELECTRIC STUDIO LIGHT PEN A EDUCATIONAL AUTHORITIES CP/M Bible......................£15.95 Amstrad Word Processing GOVERNMENT BODIES, PLEASE WAS £129.90 £99.90 I 1 _ PCW 8256j £8.95 PRICE INCUDES NT l PP.