ACORN USER BBC MICRO • ELECTRON • ATOM NOVEMBER 1984 £1 GREAT CONTEST! Win a £66 computer desk
QUIZ FOR SCHOOLS: 10 software packs to be won from BBC Radio
EDUCATION: Getting children to write with confidence
CLASHING ROMS: The software solution
SIX OF THE BEST
REVIEWS: Two digitisers to trace pictures
MICRO LIVE ON TV: Behind the scenes with the Producer DOUBLE MEASURE...
, wice as much storage capacity on your present or proposed discs.
The LVL true double density printed circuit board offers an amazing 1 ,474,560 Bytes of on-hne storage, on a twin 80 track double density drive.
Removed is the 8271; (it is not capable ot supporting double density). In it's place, a small printed circuit board with a new disc controller and support circuitry provides a much improved data retrieval. This drastically reduces read errors by using a phased locked loop data separator, which is superior to the standard window circuit.
Your BBC micro will now recognise the media density in the drive, and inform you if it is correct. You may define what density you require, 40 or 80 track, and which sides of the disc to use.
Tlie device gives complete flexibibty and comes with an Eprom containing firmware; manual, and a 40/80 track utilities disc. On a dual drive it is simplicity itself to copy existing software from single density to double density.
• Double Density • 40 or 80 track • Automatically • Own PCB with checks for correct seperate 8Mhz density clock
• No 8271 (RareS • Simple to fit expensive) • User definable • Utilities provided density • Defaults to single • Phase lock loop density on power data separator up QLcircuit. Scientitic Mouse. Bridge Street, Sandiacre Norlmgham NGIOSBA Telephone (0602) 394000 OINTS THE WAY TO ll^[^mL»lM ll^-^- ^tr_ Creative Grapi hancea Progr
ihe AmX Mouse, from Advanced Memory Systems ArtworX is a powerful graphics program allowing scope :he BBC Micro joins a new league of powerful user- to produce amazingly vivid pictures and designs on iendty computers. Natural hand-eye co-ordination your screen and printer. Simply point to any of the allows the MOUSE to position the cursor quickly and ICONS (small illustrations) and you select options of
i — i. . a • M.: i.^i-.. .; & Kiiniieir. . patterns and iirnpl©^nte|^her otjttionajre offered by V^|rtput specially written new software such as AfrnvofiX pull-down menus. MHHKmi qgffliWBvated using ^.stllij^USE. ^-
^JJH^^^^^^^^H
yf•^Wl^AV:^ . ^^ -;
The AmX Moust^ckage includes ARiworOQInd an EPROM with software to enable you to use the MOUSE with existing programs and also lets you use the MOUSE s versatility in your own software. Judlplug the MOUSE into the user port on a BBC Micro (model B) and the EPROM into a spare sideways sock^.
Now simply fill in the coupon and we will send you an AmX Mouse with ArtworX with our full no quibble money 1 back guarantee. OR phone 0925 602690/62907 for instant Access or Visa orders.
AfhworX graphics program
Please send No AmX Mouse packages (including ArtwdbX and EPROM) at £89.95 inc. VAT and P&P.
1 enclose a cheque/PO for E or debit my credit card. I
Card 1 1 Visa I I I I I I I I I { I I I I I I I
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(Please tick choice of r media for ARTWtmX) Cassette 3" Disc 5J" Disc To: Advanced Memory Systems Ltd.. Woodslde Technology Centre, Green Lane, Appleton, Warrington, WA4 5NG. England. tf!;iiVMiim ACORN USER BBC MtCRO ELECTRON ATOM NOVEMBER 1984 £1 THE ONE AND ONLY BBC, ELECTRON AND ATOM MAGAZINE Gm-Al l,CiNil:'<.T'
comp QUIZ FOn SCHOOLS to be tiun.BacBaaio eiXKATION. GeHinii thjWm. in CtASHIMGROMS ROM juggler 119 The soFtwai* New Users With Beeb and board full of R0r>/1s, how can you be sure of calling up the First Byte 41 one you want? David Blakey has the Tessie Revivis introduces techniques answer for drawing shapes on the screen and assembling them into your own Beeb in the glasshouse 171 designs Second in our Trailblazer series is a report from Danny Green on how Hints & Tips 45 Reading researchers are using the Four pages bursting with good advice BBC micro to monitor plant life on converting TVs, polishing your programs, testing joysticks, sound- proofing acoustic couplers, and Communications achieving - November 3D-effect printing Martin 1984 No 28 tales Cover pholograph by John Barloia Phillips is in the chair Tele 28 /W/cro Z./Ve producer David Allen Letters 58 recalls the traumas of putting live Editor Tony Quinn messages on the air Production editor Keith Parish Hints on RTTY; why do peripherals Technical editors Alex van Someren, cost so much?; the search for schools Bruce Smith software; Wordwlse in Spanish; and a Editorial assistant Kitty Milne suicide theory . . . Readers speak their Education Art editor Nigel Wingrove minds Art assistant Tacye Davis News round-up 127 Publishing director Michael Potter Dear Kitty ... 59 A new feature covering current Editorial director Christopher Ward Mystery of the 'Bad mode' message; issues, with news, opinion and feedback from teachers, pupils and Editorial history of the Beeb. Kitty answers the other involved parties, edited Nick Redwood Publishing, questions that confuse the by Evans 68 Long Acre, London inexperienced micro-user WC2E9JH. Tel: 01-836 2441 Edword at work 131 Advertising Features A classroom project presented Computer Marketplace Ltd, 20 Ron Gandolfo with the ideal opportunity Orange St, London WC2H 7ED. to Sprites cloned 65 Tel: 01-930 1612 introduce wordprocessing to his You've drawn your sprite and learnt pupils. How did Edword work out for Subscriptions how to move it around the screen. them? Jan Potter, Subscriptions manager. Now in part 3 of his sprite generator Tel: Nutfield Ridge (073782} 2957. series Harry Sinclair shows you how Correspondence: Redwood Pub- to produce clone and mirror images Atom lishing, 68 Long Acre, London WC2E9JH, Floating point 74 Atom Forum 121 Annual subscription rates: UK £15 Bruce Smith launches a new series The emphasis this month is on Europe £25 which aims to take the aggro out of hardware modifications, so warm up Middle East £30 assembler. He tackles the subject of your soldering iron while Barry The Americas and Africa £30 floating point variables Pickles introduces readers' wheezes Rest of the World £35 Prices include p&p for 12 issues Yellow listing pages Acorn User welcomes submissions from readers Articles should be typed, double-spaced text, with dia- You'll find all the main listings of this grams on separate sheets Please enclose prograrris on issue in the yellow pages disc or cassette, with a listmg if possible Photos should be 35mnn, or larger, transparencies, or 511 by Tjri black and while prints Ensure your narrte is on everything. Barcode listing 97 Please Include a suitable stamped, addressed envelope Win a barcode reader worth £50! lor return, Atlicles are acknowledged on receipt. Program of the month 99 Typeset and printed in Great Britain by James Clarke's life-saver Watmoughs Ltd. Bradford. Print production by First byte 100 Aquarius Print and Design, London, Distributed to the news trade by Comag, Tavistock Rd, West CALL me a car! Drayton, Middlesex UB7 Tel: 70E. (0895) 44405. Hints & tips 101 © Redwood Pubrishing 1984 A program polished up ' -' ' 'i'«ini I IB , I nil . All rights reserved. No part of tfiis publication Graptiics 103 may be reproduced without prior written per- mission of the publisher. The publisher cannot The final version of 'Design' accept any responsibility for claims or errors in Floating point 108 articles, programs or advertisements pub- Easy-to-follow demos lished. The opinions expressed on the pages of this magazine are those of the authors and do Beeb Forum 110 not necessarily represent those of the pub- Readers ' routines lisher, Acorn Computers Ltd. or Acornsoft Ltd Acorn, Acornsoft, and the Acorn symbol are the ROM-con utility 111 registered trademarks of Acorn Computers Ltd Selection by software and Acornsoft Ltd, -.___'"'i ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 I CONTENTS AUTO Atom 125 Bruce Smith puts a finishing touch to IN THIS the recent series of converting Beeb programs to AtomBasic with the AUTO command ISSUE. Reviews Buggies and turtles 164 With various full versions of the graphics-based Logo Joe's Jottings 82 language set to appear, Geoff Our man Telford tests a mixed batch: Nairn takes to the floor with Toad's extension socket and Watford's six simple robots to explain Speech Synthesiser and Beebfont what they can and cannot do ROM Games 179 Eagle's Wing and Spooks and Spiders by Software Invasion: Vision's Digger ABC marvel 30 Accent on WP 181 Acorn's new 310 boasts the latest software the computer Chris Drage assesses BBtype, a multi hardware and Turn to 30 character-set wordprocessor offering industry can offer. page screen shots of foreign accents and technical/ for a closer look and mathematical symbols the mouse-controlled icons Hardware 191 Ian Rowlings on the Romex 13 ROM board, and Barry Pickles on Philips' NEW TP200 monitor School quiz 127 to win one of 10 Language learners 193 The chance BBC Radio software packs Daily's report on language Simon kicks off a new education news Beebugsoft, coaching packages from section that gives your school Salamander and Kosmos a hearing New books 195 Regulars The News 7 Acorn results, Torch develops Unix, Beebs in India, South America and China, and Beeb could be prescribed for doctors Noticeboard 16 Digitising duo 187 A new page to keep you primed about Two graphics tablets are taken to task events you won't want to miss! and both come out well Competition 87 Simon Dally picks another puzzle from MONTH. . . his compendium - what do all the add- NEXT rpil Database special ons add up to work, type in your own, and — Find out how they 1 Plus All the June winners! read about six commercial versions — Beeb Forum 113 Build an organ An early Christmas present as Joe Telford A useful bundle of tips, presented by takes you step-by-step through building a — Bruce Smith musical keyboard Printing screens Top 20 Software 177 Dump those pretty games in colour or black- F/-a/c/stillf-f-first and-white — Barcode listings — !i Acorn Abuser's Diary 224 Find out about this foolproof method of =^5F= inputting software ' Not the Radio Times . . . ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 r Unicom.Fivenewd ;e's the fulli A TheZEPlOO 9Z80 Extension Processor • 4MHzZ80A • 64KRAM • 24KROM I'he object of any upgrade kit is to improve processing aliitity and to increase data storage capacity. Ttie UNICORN ZEpToo is the first stage upgrade whicti opens channels into the world of serious computing. TheZEPKlOisthe proven S bit second processor for the The imC Model B micro. A Z80 extension new UNICORN range from TORCH Computers processor which enables the use of gives the enthusiast and professional user a choice of the well established CPN operating system, giving access to the vast upgrades which takes the BBC Model B Micro to the range of applications programs and ultimate height of performance. languages available for alTCP/M'' micros. When fitted to a BBC mode! B microcomputer The result of TORCH'S total commitment to the BBC with compatible high quality disc drives it provides a Micro is the only complete range of high performance complete business or scientific computer which can run large appli- hardware available. Offering every BBC Micro owner five cations programs or use advanced new upgrade channels, UNICORN will transform your languages, with (he ability to switch back to standard BBC programs at BBC into a fully communicating workstation, a CP/M anytime. Any ZEPIOO can be linked, via compatible business machine or the ultimate in high the Econel option on the powered 32-bit data processing. BBC, to a network of other TORCH computers to At the top of the range, THE UNICORN, provide a work- station running offers the power and sophistication of System ouTORCHNET. Full 111 UNIX® whilst other channels make available TORCHNET operating sys- the flexibility of languages such as FORTRAN, tems software is provided to PASCAL, BCPL and COBOL. All models, allow access to with the exception of the HDP240, provide iiformation anywhere t 111 the network, or to com- BBCBASIC(Z80) on the Z80 rather than the municate with other Modern's 6502. computers. TheblKZEPlUOis Tune in to the Channel that most suits ^^^.<* supplied with full v^,^o- software support your requirements. Whichever level you including word pro- choose you can be sure cessing, spreadsheet, of a system with database and infinitely expandable potential for a confident utilities. The ZEPIOO- aroundS299 future in the world of computing. (ex. VAT). iiannels for theBBC Iprogramme. TheZDP240 The HDP 240 TheHDP68K The Unicom • 4MHzZ80A»64KRAM •20Mbyle hard disc Winciiester • 8MHz !VIC(>80()I) • 6MHzZ80B Spec, as HDP68K PLUS IJNIX^ • 24KROM • Double sided 400K floppy disc • 2.'iBKRAM(«S0O0) operating system. Single-user or •Twin, double sided 400K • Integral power supply • 64KRAM(Z80) Multi-user floppy discs • 20 Mbyte hard disc Winchester For users who need much more UNIX "System 111 is the • Independent integral • Double sided 400K floppy disc storage capacity than is available on recognised operating system of the power supply • Integral power supply floppy discs and who require the '80's. A very powerful and sophisti- large "speed gains that a Winchester The fourth channel in the cated multi-tasking system, it includes hard disc provides, the third new UNICORN range is for users who a vast library of utilitv programmes. channel is now available. need the extra processing power of a The fifth channel and top of the '' The I iMCORN HDP240 combines a 68000 32 bit processor, as well as the range, THE UNICORN, puts UNIX 4( 11 )K floppy disc drive with a 20Mb Z80 nmning standard software. The within reach of the individual user, at hard disc and its associated controller UNICORN HDP68K provides the a price unmatched by any other The pack connects directly to the disc ultimate in performance, offering an UNIX "' svstems, by combining the and IMHz bus sockets on the BBC extra 256K RAM and a 68000 pro- reliability of the BBC micro-with Model B. cessor running at 8 million cycles per advanced technologv from TORCH. In conjunction with aZEP] 00, it second. U also contains a Z80 TORCH UNIX operalesunder UNICORN provides a powerful business processor to allow the running of the network operating system. Using ZDP24() (Torch ZSO computer for running CP/M^ exislingTORCH software. UNICORN products, a low-cost Disc Pack) is the proven programs with large "amounts of data. The HbP68K- around network of BBC Micros can Ije upgrade for the BBC Model B micro- The" floppy disc can be used for S2495(ex.VATj. configured to offer the most complete computer. Offeritii; the use of more storage with the Acorn DFS system, range of educational computing powerful and fiexiljle languages such and both discs can be used by other facilities available anywhere. as Fortran, Pascal, BCPLand Cobol, it TORCH systems on theTORCHNET Other facilities available include provides SOUK of disc storage plus a local area network. The HDP240- UCSDp-System, LISP FORTH, PILOT Z80 second processor with 64K RAM around &1995(ex.VAT). and PROL( )(i. TheUNICORN- running TORCH'S own CP/M- com- froni around &2895 (ex.VAT). patible operating system based in ROM. This advanced design means that almost all of the i'AK RAM pro- vided by the Z80 board is available for CP/M ' programming use-an advantage no otherBBC micro upgrade can offer. Open channels for the BBC micro, If your BBC micro has the Econet* opiion. there is a further To: Computers Ltd., Abberiey House. benefit the ZDP240 can offer. Torch TORCHNETcan link together up to (ireat Shelford, Cambridge CB2 5LQ. 25-1 upgraded Model B's on a local Telephone: Cambridge ( 0223 ) 841U0O. area network, .so for enthusiasts, Clubs and Schools it is a simple and Please send further information on the UNICORN iow-cosl way to achieve networking range plus your FREE 1984 Software Catalogue facilities. The discs can be used for storage u uder the Acorn DKS system Name orforCP/M" jirograins and data. A comprehensive software pack- Address age is provided with the disc pack. It includes word and data processing and a spreadsheet program, along" with uhlity programs and manuals. TheTORCHZSd Disc pack is recommended by the CCTA for government use.'The 240- RpieAnhlni ZDP IP MiiaregisUTedlradeiniirk'il Digital TORCH around&699(ex.VAT). -nelLsaregiiTeiedtradcmarkc'l At'^mCr>mpullJ^iLld- COMPUTERS r['Hi'l"P'^l"ltll^l"'lfl^"'Rftnf'le^lhllnl•i.ab(l^ahl[l K version Miwlel B ne: es^aty. Text and Graphics provided by BBC Model B. Disclnterfacesare necessary forusewilh the Unicorn range. Keyboard provided by BBC Model B. Okjtsl r*aa«nlCLan troarui plr ! if i :i 1;! = r ^ 11 \ Imaging A program that pictures takes torpnniing, storage and Object recognition A powerful program (or analysing a scene Movement detection Aprogram that analyses any movemenl in transmission Asecondversionofttioproqramcanbeusedtorecorda containing multiple non-oveHapping parts Area, perimeter, centred ascene willed fCH example cook) Deused to couni the number of people slion animation sequer>ce. gravity, are calculated in a split secOTKJ. moving down a street or nng an alarm if anyttiing moves There's no need to keep your in home computer the dark a minute Please send to:- Commotion, 241 Green Street, Enfield, Et«} 7SJ. Tel: 804 1378. longer. The Micro- Robotics EV1 is a revolutionary new electronic Please send me:- D Software on tape (B8C Model B) Software on 40 track disc Software oti80 camera that Sack disc can be connected to your computer to give it the power (BBCModelB) (BBCNtodelB) of sight. It has applications inthe fields of security, in industrial object Qty Item Ex VAT IncVAT TOTAL recognition, graphic design, robotics and Artificial Intelligence. For EV1 Complete El 13.00 El 29.95 the first time It is possible to capture black-and-white and grey scale Software on disc El .74 £2.00 Postage and Packaging El .25 pictures on a microcomputer without the use of an expensive enclose m /cfiequa/P.O.torE TOTAL E external video camera. Full documentation and a comprehensive I prefer to pay by Sarclaycard, Access Can] (Please delete as necessary). library of useful software are provided with each system, all for only Card No E129.95{inc.VAT), Dealer Signature. enquiries welcome. |—-7 Name l^esolution 246x1 28 Size 70x50x55 mm vY OOMMOMON Capture Time 64mSec interlace Usetport "C computer opefiated motion (Address atx)ve must be same as cardfx>lder.) Weight 75 gmis '11*1 eUS'SJ ltlniBCW(3!B ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 - I NEWS Acorn User part of India ABC excites, but aid package ACORN USER is part of a £1.2m gift to the Indian Government to introduce com- shares drop funding Acorn puting to schools. The comes from the Overseas Development Association as ACORN's new range of to Acorn's venture with BSR to part of a British aid pro- business machines were produce a small, inexpensive gramme. barely a week out of their laser disc-essential for the The scheme includes 900 boxes last month before the office of the future, said BBC micros with Microvitec company's shares slumped to Acorn's managing director monitors, disc drives, printers an all-time low ot 107p on the ChrisCurry. and 50 different software pack- Unlisted Securities Market Acorn is expecting another this to boost ages. It came about as a result well below last years entry boom Christmas of the Queen's visit to India last price of 120p, sales of the BBC, presently at year and her gift of 30 Beebs to The drop was nothing to do 370,000, and the Eiectron which the Indian Government with with the ABCs, which went has sold 90,000. despite pro- Econet networking systems. down well at the PCW Show duction delays" last year. (see page 30}, but with Acorn's The Acorn board reckoned Queen's visit profit results for the year. that 55-60 per cent of sales Chris Bartel of the British Although turnover more fhan were achieved in the four Council, which is running the doubled to C93m against E42m months prior to Christmas, but Hauser: 'others talk, we do it' scheme for the ODA, last year, profits rose by barely expected the ABC machines explained: The impetus came 20 per cent from £8. 6m to 'We've a sound foundation and increased sales overseas from the Indians, mainly the £10.8m. in the US and overseas,' said to give a more balanced pro- Department of Electronics. While Acorn Chairman Her- Hauser, 'and have established fileovertheyear. The Queen's visit certainly mann Hauser was pleased a name and reputation for Although sales director helped.' with 'better than expected' quality and design,' Peter G'Keefe pointed out that The first part of the ODA pro- sales and profits in the UK He was confident that this the ABC would not meet IBtvl ject was a visit earlier in the (CaSm and £14m), losses reputation and investment 'head-on', Hauser was more year by nine British teachers- caused by Acorn's entry into would pay off and result in 'a bullish in dealing with Sinclair Acorn l/ser author Martin Phil- the US brought the figures worthwhile share of the US Research when talking about lips among them -to train down. market' within 'an acceptable Acorn's VLSI chip design Indian counterparts in the Acorn is rethinking its tac- timescale,' department. When it was country's regional resource tics, having sent former The Acorn chairman was far pointed out that Sinclair had centres. northern sales boss Joe Black more at home expounding his own plans in that area, They had been preceded by over to sort thmgs out. Also a Acorn's pfans for the 'office Hauser commented: 'May the 170 BBC systems, most of new president has been machine for the future' best man win.' which survived the journey appointed. However, Hauser expected to result from invest- He then went back to a com- and the heat. "Everything was convinced the basic ment in a research house in ment made just a few minutes seemed to work splendidly,' approach was right and that Paulo Alto on the edge of Cali- before about VLSI and added; said Bartel. 'The only problem tfie company had merely been fornia's Silicon Valley. This 'You can infer from what I said talk about it, was that some of the monitors too optimistic about early outpost is known as Acorn earlier-others were not packaged well sales. West and the concept is linked we do it.' enough.' Vital The remaining micros and History in the making on page 97 other hardware, with soft- ware -and several hundred HISTORY is being made this discs. And you will be able to and how they could influence Acorn Users - were due to month with the publishing in print out your own programs the way you use a computer. have gone out last month. The Acorn Useroi barcode listings and data as barcodes. Addison-Wesley will be make-up of the support pack- for the first time in a British Acorn User has worked exhibiting the readers at the age was fixed by a working magazine. It is part closely over the last year with computer Schools Computing Exhibition party which decided that soft- of a trial to establish the best the Microelectronics Edu* on November 6-7 in London's ware and back-up through to present listings before cation Programme {MEP) in way Bloomsbury Crest Hotel. magazine subscriptions were the MEP-backed project starts developing the hardware and vital. in earnest. software to bring out a total In the meantime, there's a An Indian delegation has Once equipped with a package for under C50. Pre- little competition (one of three been over to Britain to see the reader, users will be able to viously, the barcode reader in this issue) for those who can way micros are used here. As input program listings without alone has cost at least £80 decipher the Telepen format a result they decided to stress having to laboriously type from other manufacturers. listing on page 97 and tell us computer literacy rather than them in. The package will be pub- which program in the yellow using the machines as an aid The advantages of this, lished by Addison-Wesley at pages it represents. And, to teach other subjects. especially for children and the end of November complete especially for those people Bartel said: 'The first people new to computing, are with booklet, written by Acorn who want to be the first with machines have been sent to immense. It offers a cheap way User author George Hill, and everything, the prize is- a bar- the resource centres, and of distributing software with- soltware. Next month we will code reader! And look out for there are none in schools yet.' out recourse to cassettes or explain how barcodes work next month's competition, too. ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 DURELLsofiuARES .^^Jimtuiaii&aiaii< % THE MAJOR MINER GAME £6.95 from most retail stores or by post from DURELLsofrwARE lid Castle Lodge, Castle Green, Taunton, Somerset TA1 4AB, England 4 I NEWS Touch tablet for software TOUCHMASTER is a graphics grams. These are of the tablet for the Beeb which can 'Simon Says' variety where be used as a touch-pad input young children press various device (see picture). The A4- boxes on the overlay in re- sized pressure-sensitive tab- sponse to questions on the let offers a 256 by 256 resolu- screen. tion and drawing is done with a Other programs include: small stylus. Draughts, Othello and Alien However, load in suitable Break-In -all at £9.99. In- software and slide a paper cluded free with the tablet is overlay on top, and the Touch- Multipaint, a graphics package master becomes a series of with routines for drawing touch-pads - press one box for circles and boxes. 'yes' and another lor 'no', for The tablet is produced by a example. The device costs company set up in the factory E149.99, plus E4.99 lor the formerly used by Dragon. Beeb interlace. Contact Touchmaster at PO Touchmaster is backed by a Box 3, Port Talbot, West Gla- series of 'fun learning' pro- morgan, SA13 1WH. Wordprocessing update for Atom Torch develops Unix THE latest version of the Editor wordprocessing ROM includes the ability to insert control characters anywhere in a text line (without upsetting network for BBCs justification) and a facility to spool consecutive text files by Geoff Nairn Beeb has a Unix terminal ROM down the Xenix path, which from disc, using * < filename > TORCH Computers has devel- inside and the Beebs are con- doesn't enjoy AT&T's sup- commands. oped a Multi-User Unix system nected to the Unicorn using the port.' In addition, software is in- to run on the BBC micro. Up to Econet locai area network. A smaller four-terminal net- cluded to allow disc users eight Beebs can be connected In addition to the Unix pack- work can be built for under access to direct-typesetting to a Torch Unicorn, allowing ages, the Torch system has an £9000 and Torch is obviously facilities. New embedded each user to run programs electronic mail facility which looking to make a killing in a codes allow you to specify up under the sophisticated Unix allows users to 'talk' to other market which Colin Alton to 200 different fonts and, operating system. Unix systems through mo- reckons is worth £100 million having created and formatted At less than £15,000, Torch dems over the phone lines. over the next year. your text using the Editor, the considers the system a 'The beauty of our system,' disc is then sent to the typeset- bargain, as a similar set-up said Torch's Colin Alton, 'lies • Bleasdale Computers dem- ters. running on a minicomputer in its total compatibility and onstrated BBC micros linked To use this facility you pay a would cost at least £50,000, transportability. We are using to minicomputer Unix systems premium of £15 (plus VAT), At the heart of the system is Unix System 3, which has all at the recent Unix Systems 84 which gives you the enlarged the Unicorn, which contains a the latest enhancements and Exhibition in Cambridge, manual and a licence regis- 20Mb hard disc and 68000 pro- is supported by AT&T (who More information from Fran- tration. For non-Atom users cessor to run Unix (see first developed Unix). Other cis House, Francis St, London interested in a cheap camera- September's issue). Each manufacturers have gone SW1P1DE. ready medium. Bear Hard- ware has a limited number of complete Atom systems avail- Son of able. Home possibilities of Econet Imagine Also from Bear Hardware, by arrangement with Acorn, ACORN'S two founders, Chris ian's founder, Allen Booth- launches games you can now get the f. point and Curry and Hermann Hauser, royd, the plans don't stop DOS ROMs. have bought a stake in Merid- there: 'We have a research A -NEW company called Finally, from this busy ian, a company working on project working on the digital Voyager Software has risen company, comes news that it computer control of appli- control of domestic appliances from the ashes of Imagine with is working on a universal disc ances around the home. using Econet. It's a long way two games for the BBC micro. interface (which will work with Meridian, which made a oH but the possibilities are Forbidden Fruit and Grabbit the Atom), allowing single/ name for itself with 'state of the tremendous.' cost £6.50 each on tape and are double density on up to eight art' audio equipment, has If Allen Boothroyd's. name the first titles the company has surfaces. The company hopes developed a hi-fi system seems familiar, he was produced for the Beeb to have this available tor whose parts can be physically responsible for the design of Voyager Software was set Christmas and price is pro- separate and 'interfaced' the BBC micro - his name is on up by Tim Best and Mark visionally set at around the together with a simple digital the underside of each one. He Butler, who left Imagine just £100 mark link. This is made possible by left Acorn to lound Meridian. before it went bankrupt Details from Bear Hard- the system's digital circuitry. The two Acorn directors Voyager is at Unit 31 , Wirral ware, 68 Harmondsworth The company intends to use have each bought a 20 per cent Business Centre, Gorsey Lane, Harmondsworth, Middle- Acorn's Econet as the link private stake in Meridian and Lane, Dock Rd, Birkenhead, sex UB7 OAA, tel: 01-897-3059. medium. According to Merid- Acorn itself is not yet involved. Wirral. ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 - - NEWS I Braille and Double density discs from Opus voice system OPUS has released a double density disc interface for the BBC micro fitted with a 1.2 OS, claims award The kit costs £129.95 and in- A BBC micro-based computer creases the storage capability system for the blind has won a of a normal 40 track disc from eSOO award. Called the Work 100k to 180k. Station, the system uses a Discs are formatted with 18 speech synthesiser and braille sectors per track with each keyboard to offer word pro- sector capable of holding 256 cessing to the visually handi- bytes of data. Discs formatted capped. with the standard 10 sectors The David Scott Blackball per track maybe used as usual award is presented annually with the DDOS. by the Radio 4 programme, In By using the first track of the Touch, to the best Invention to disc to store the file directories help the blind. This year David on the disc, eight directories Young, Minister without Port- (called volumes) of 31 files are folio, handed over the cheque possible. This increases the to Dr Tom Vincent, head of the files per disc from the Acorn Open University team respon- standard 31 to a maximum of David Young, Tom Vincent and blind sctioolgirl Wendy Kerton sible for developing the Work 248 files. Station, The 16k DDOS EPROM Dr Vincent described his includes a number of utilities: system in the July 1983 issue format and verify, tape to disc of AU. It consists of a BBC transfer, automatic 40/80 track micro; Perkins Brailler-a selection and mass copying typewriter which punches India takes on routines that allow automatic braille; printer; and a voice copying of files between 40 synthesiser. Using the equip- and 80 track discs. ment, a blind person can type in braille and hear the text No-penalty DFS read back by the synthesiser, Beeb assembly Software has grabbed either sentence-by-sentence MRM back precious RAM for disc or word-by-word. by Geoff Nairn A similar agreement has users with the introduction of At the- presentation, the A DEAL struck with the Indian been reached in Mexico, its EOO DFS Work Station was seen in use Government couid see BBC where Harry Mazal-a large The DFS uses the standard by blind pupils from the Pen-y- micros in 250,000 Indian Mexican computer company 8271 disc controller chip and Bont School in Bridgend, Gla- schools by 1990. Moreover, will produce BBC micros for returns the 2.75k of RAM nor- morgan who have been testing the machines will be made in the whole of South America. mally pinched by the DOS by the system. the Punjab by the state-owned The machine used will be resetting the value of PAGE company Semiconductor the American version of the back to &E00. This is done by Complex Ltd. model B which has a different providing 'on-board' assem- Initially, model Bs will be power supply and television Buzby swoops bly. The board is fitted in place assembled from Acorn kits, picture standard. It will be of the standard DFS, with a link but full-scale manufacturing further modified with a to conquer to another chip. will follow. Even the 6502 pro- Spanish-language keyboard BRITISH Telecom has moved All commands are the same cessor chip, at the heart of and operating system ROM. into software publisfiing with as the Acorn DFS except that every Beeb, will carry the As with the Indian company, a range of games titles sell- only four files can be open at 'Made in India' stamp: Semi- Harry Mazal will initially ing for just £2.50. Firebird is any one time (as opposed to conductor Complex wilt manu- assemble the Beeb from a kit the name on the label and the the normal five), and the facture it under licence from of parts, but a manufacturing first four BBC micro titles 'BUILD command is restricted the American Rockwell Cor- facility will come later. are: Bird Strike, Gold Digger, to less than 100 characters per poration, Duck! and Acid Drops-all The only components which Plans for China line. arcade games. EOO costs £24.95. the Indians cannot supply are Acorn's sights are now The DFS As well as the low prices, with a £5 refund to anyone buy- the custom-built ULA chips: turned on China- a potentially the games will bear a screen ing the EOO DFS and returning they will continue to come huge market as a quarter of shot on the cassette cover, the old can from Acorn. the world's population live DFS EPROM. MRM rather than an artist's im- be contacted at 17 Cross The commitment to have a there. Plans are afoot to pro- pression. Said BT's Richard Coates Road, Grimsby, South BBC micro in 250,000 schools duce the Beeb in Hong Kong Hooper: 'Firebird software is Humberside. is part of the Indian Govern- exclusively for the Chinese setting new standards in a ment's five year development market and in April of this year market where complaints plan and was influenced by the Acorn demonstrated the Link to Crawler about prices and misrep- Queen's recent gift of 30 machine in Peking, AN INTERFACE enabling the resentation are frequent.' Beebs to Indian schools. In both China and India, the Memocon Crawler (see Buggy These first programs will Acorn stands to do quite consumer markets are com- review) to be programmed be followed by a series of well out of the deal for, apart paratively small, but, as the from the BBC micro is now 'premium range' titles which from producing the vital ULA Indian deal shows, the edu- available. will be priced individually chips, the company also gains cational and industrial sectors The price of the lead and presumably they will also a useful - and possibly are massive. And both cassette is £6.95 from Red cost more. The titles will be cheaper - second source of countries are crying out for Giant Software, 3a Oakcroft available from dealers. 6502 chips. western technology. Close, Pinner, Middx. ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 A FreeTraining Course with Every Plotter or Disc Drive Our Sweet-P, high resolution graphics plotters come with h'ee computer based demonstration and instruction programmes which not only show you what the plotter can do. but teaches you how it does it. Our high quality floppy disc drives are supplied with a utilities disc that includes not only the usual file handling and operating software, but a teaching programme for each utility as well. HAL makes it easy for you to upgrade and teaches you how to get the best from your system. Nashua Monitors- Floppy Monochrome Discs Price Reference Description per 10 MDl SSSD 21.30 Plus a full line of BBC MDID SSDD 22.75 compatible products MD-2D DSDD 26.95 MD-IF SSDD %TPi 30.05 MD-2F DSDD %TPi 31.25 To HAL Computers, Invincible Road, Famborough, Hants. GU14 7QU Please send me: m4 Delivery & VAT Total Sweet-P Plottere plus support pack & software al £575.00 £96.00 £671.00 200K double -sided disc drives at £216.00 £42.20 £258.20 KDC FT 5001 Matrix printers at £249.00 £47.15 £296.15 TECO Monochrome monitors at £99.00 £24.65 £123.65 Nashua model ...diskettes at £ per box of 10 + 60p per box postage & VAT Free details on HAL's BBC Micro compatible products plus a commemorative Schneider Trophy urinner's poster. Please Tick Otiier capacities also available I enclose a cheque for £ ordebitmy Access Account No: HAL Computers Limited, Address Invincible Road, Famborough, Hants. GU14 7QU Signature. Telephone: (0252) 517171 AU11 A 1 00k BBC-drive for £99 +VAT We've done it! We've built a mass PHLOOPY's special secret storage system for your BBC Micro The heart of the invention with the power and convenience of a is a brilhantly designed floppy disk drive, but at a fraction the "byte- wide" magnetic head, price. Get to know PHLOOPY, the made by Phi Magnetronics who build remarkable new 100k drive that costs multi-track heads for professional use. only £99 plus VAT, and a further £26 PHLOOPY's head records and reads plus VAT for the interface to your BBC, nine tracks across the width of a quarter- operating system and connecting cables. inch tape. That means the tape loop can How PHLOOPY does it be much shorter, so the typical time to access a file is reduced to a mere 3 PHLOOPY does not use disks to seconds. If you're used to waiting for a store data, but a 12-foot loop of cassette tape to trundle programs into professional - quaUty quarter-inch your BBC, you'll be amazed at magnetic tape contained in a robust PHLOOPY's performance. cartridge. The drive has only one moving part, the motor which drives Getting it right every time the tape loop - hence the low price and In addition, we've included a high reliability. As the loop is driven feature we know you will appreciate. round, each file of data it contains PHLOOPY has full error detection passes across the magnetic head which and correction, so you can be certain reads it or writes to it. Other people you will get back what was originally have produced tape loop micro- drives, written onto the tape. but they've not been very reliable. They Talking to your PHLOOPY lacked PHLOOPY's PHLOOPY's own software, special secret. contained in ROM, responds to standard BBC filing system and Basic commands. Most programs written to run on disk or cassette should run on PHLOOPY without problem. And because PHLOOPY contains its own intelligent microprocessor- a second computer which does most of the hard work - PHLOOPY puts very . , "On-board" microprocessor. Ninelrack bvte-wide"head. Tape drive spindle. Precision ground rubber pressure roller. Twelve fooi long loop of little load lape freely packed into cartridge. _ on the BBC PHLOOPY 100k cartridge, and uses much shown not yet pushed fully home. less RAM than most disk systems. Installing PHLOOPY on your BBC Phi Mag Systems Ltd. You'll be amazed how simple it POBox21, Falmouth, is to install PHLOOPY. Just plug Cornwall TR113TD. in the interface cut two resistors (clearly Telephone: (0326) 76040. marked in the instructions) and the job is If done. you should have problems Order Form our engineers are waiting to help you. • Please send me further details about the PHLOOPY 100k data storage system for the BBC Model B. Making a PHLOOPY Library • Please send me (qty) PHLOOPY staner pack(s) for my BBC Model B microcomputer, including PHLOOPY PHLOOPY cartridges hold drive, BBC interface, leads, connections, operating system in firmware , manual , and two PHLOOPY 100k cartridges , at a full 100k of data or £147.75 each including VAT, postage and packing. Amount £ programs. Two of • Please send me (qty) packs of 5 PHLOOPY cartridges them come free at £19.75 including VAT, postage and packing. Amount £_ with the drive I enclose a cheque/PO for £_ OR Please debit and extra ones my Access card: Number: Your giving order will be acknowledged within 10 days , a cost £3. 75 each delivery date. plus VAT. They are Name -. moulded ofhigh impact Address Town: Post code polymers for protection and store easily Send this coupon to: Phi Systems Ltd , PC Box 2 , Falmouth on a bookshelf. Many programs will Mag 1 ComwaUTRU 3TD. Telephone: Falmouth (0326) 76040. be available to purchase on PHLOOPY. 14 day money- back option. AU11 u BBC Compatible nWlv A H rrKT 111 i Disc Drives These are high capacity, precision drives with dynamic clamping and very low power consumption. r=^\ All drives are supplied with cables, a very comprehensive utility/format disc and a manual. MD 400 - 400K [800K double density) 40/80 track switchable double sided single drive. MD 800 - 800K (1600K double density) independently 40/80 track switchable double sided dual drive. MD 800P — 800K {1600K double density) independently 40/80 track switchable double sided dual flhHTER drive unit with built-in power supply and monitor stand. \ Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-6.30pm Mail Order; Cheques or bankers draft Sot lOom-Spm (ample parking) payoble to Akhter Instruments. We accept telephone orders on Barclay Delivery free of charge (UK only) and Access Cards, 28/29 BURNT MILL, HARLOW, ESSEX CM20 2HU UK. CnmPUTER GRDUP TEL. HARLOW (0279) 443521 TELEX 818894 AKHTER G . INEWS Cabinet role for 1984 game TOP people read Acorn User. computer game were, how- Millionaire, a simulation of We received a telephone call ever, unfounded, Keir Hopiey. running a software company. from the Cabinet Office, who who works within the Cabinet Versions are available for the wanted to get hold of a copy of Office's Training Division said: BBC B and the Electron at 1984, Incentive Software's 'We run training courses for £6-50. It includes screen pic- game of government manage- the whole Civil Service. Play- tures of your current resi- Book approval ment. The program was ing 7954could become part of dence, which increases in size reviewed in the September these courses, albeit light- as profits grow. magazine Geoff hearted. The Division has just Cabinet ministers, civil ser- for >1[/ authors issue of the by Nairn. got a BBC micro but at the vants or anyone else can con- Fears that the Government moment it's used mainly for tact Incentive Software at 54 THE Book Marketing Council intended to run the economy statistics and the like.' London St, Reading RG1 480, has stamped its seal of appro- with a BBC micro and a £6 Incentive's latest game is tel: (0734) 591678. val on three books written by Acorn Cserauthors, The three titles form part of the 26 books and software ctiosen for the Council's 'Mastering the Micro' promotion - 13 of them Micros for doctors in for the BBC or Electron. Jim McGregor and Alan by Bill Penfold Watt wrote Better Basic (or the Acorn hopes to get a thorough Electron and Graphics Pro- medical examination-to dis- gramming on the BBC Micro, cover whether its micros are trial by DHSS both published by Corgi/ just what the doctor ordered. Addison Wesley at £4.95. The The Beeb looks set to be one A COMPUTER other book chosen was Ian of the machines tested by the package of hard- Birnbaum's Assembly Lang- Department of Health and ware and software Micro. Mac- Social Security in its search for uage for the BBC has been designed Millan.£8.95. a suitable computer system for tosupportyour The campaign is aimed at your doctor's surgery. local doctor. bookshops who want a small And with its new £2,000 Doc- For £1999. Acorn but comprehensive range of tors Package now ready. is offering a BBC books and, in the words of a Acorn's hopes are clearly high micro plus printer, Council spokeswoman, 'Each that a departmental diagnosis monitor and disc book was chosen as being out- will pass it A1 fit. drives with soft- standing in its field.' Invitations to around 40 ware to administer computer suppliers through- record keeping and the country have gone out Teachers' show out repeat prescrip- EDUCOMP 84 will be held on from the DHSS offering them a tions. October 26/27 at Dulwich Col- chance to take part. The programs South London, The The aim then is to whittle the lege, were written by two exhibition concentrates on choice down to 20 different Bristol GPs and educational software and is systems and within a year form the first part of being run by the Independent come up with some down-to- a suite. Microelectronics earth comparisons. Schools So next time you Centre but it is open to all For such a lucrative market pop in for your pills, teachers. of 25,000 GPs, there are check whether it's will person already lots of competing Entry be El per repeat prescrip- on the door or C2 per school in systems on the market . . . and tions they're Applications with problem. As Junior advance. that's the running orSnap- to: Educomp 84, Dul- Health Minister John Patten cheque per, wich College, London SE21. explained when he announced the investigation, the DHSS doctor or to endorse any par- systems currently available. Who dares . . wants to know 'which does the ticular system. Instead the Meanwhile are the boys in ANYONE buying Comsoft's job best.' idea is to give GPs objective Cambridge devising a bench latest game, SAS Commander. The DHSS has dreamt up its information about the test for bedside manners? has a chance to win C50, own GP practice with some SAS Commander is an 10,000 surgeries on the regis- arcade-style game for the BBC ter and intends to put each Prestel link for GP system micro and Electron in which machine rigorously through its you have to kill terrorists, paces. PRESTEL's medical news and and other viewdata networks storm buildings and rescue An outside firm of consult- information can now be such as Micronet. hostages. It costs £4,95 on tape ants has been hired to carry accessed by the Abies GP In addition, the software will from Comsoft, 7 Roman Drive, out the tests, and several doc- computer system, based on a work with non-viewdata data- Leeds, West Yorkshire LS8 tors are taking part to think up BBC micro. bases, such as the specialist 2DR. the professional requirements Pages are put on Prestel by Medline on-line information that will really test the capa- Meditel, which is offering free service, or the Telecom Gold Printer error Taxan's KP8W bilities of the machines. communications software to electronic mail network. Centronics printer costs £299 Mr Patten explained that the doctors who buy a modem for Meditel is at 309 High St, and not £229 as stated in the intention is not to come up with their Abies system. This gives West Bromwich, West Mid- October issue. a 'best buy' for the family access to the Meditel pages lands, B708ND. ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 . NOTICEBOARD I A bright new feature page to fill you in on showbiz gossip and upcoming events panion marooned Bird of Prey venture on the On television planet Quantain in takes a dive the distant future. Together you must Micro Live. B8C2, November THE project to market a soft- defeat the evil warlords in this 9, 6pm. Third programme in ware game for the Beeb to pure-text adventure. The pro- monthly series that features complement the BBC TV serial gram was written by AU contri- BBC micro heavily, Lesley Bird of Prey 2 has been can- butor Peter Voke. Judd tries every which way to celled, with accusations of The original Dr Who soft- corrupt a disc, there's a lively 'gross inefficiency' on the part ware tape, which consisted of discussion on telecoms and a of the BBC. several poor arcade-type live Bulletin Board session. The Ipswich Computer games programs, has been Computer programs from the Centre was commissioned by quietly dropped by BBC Publi- series are available as tele- the BBC to write an adventure cations. software on Ceefax, game that would use charac- Digital romance First Class, BBC Scotland, ters based on the TV pro- Wednesdays 5,25pm, Quiz gramme's graphics sequen- MOVING from the small to the game with teams drawn from p ces, Duncan Spencer of ICC big screen, Electric Dreams schools, BBC micros used for says: 'The game was a full opens this month. The film setting questions, keeping graphics adventure with mul- explores the familiar theme of score and captions. Winning tiple overlays. To be honest, it the eternal triangle, but with school gets a Model B with Lesley Judd lends itself more to a Spec- the unlikely twist that one of disc drive. goes down the Tube trum or Commodore 64 but the the protagonists is a com- BBC obviously wanted it for puter. Miles buys himself a On radio the BBC micro, micro and sets it to work com- software charts. 'After we'd worked on it for posing love songs for Made- Chip Shop. BBC Radio 4, Abacus, BBC Radio Leeds, 41 months they still hadn't line-the girl musician next 4,15pm Saturdays (repeated alternate Tuesdays e. 45pm. signed the contract and we door. She thinks Miles is on VHP at llpm Tuesdays). The Computer Programme, decided to pull out, I put it writing the songs and falls for Second series featuring hard- Radio Sussex, 3-45pm Sun- down to a lack of communi- him; meanwhile the computer ware and software reviews, days. cation and gross inefficiency letters gets jealous and , , spot, news reports, Action Station. BBC Radio on their part.' With a soundtrack by Boy Barry Norman presents. Kent. 11.05am Saturdays. BBC Enterprises, which George and with Virgin Films Radio 1 Chip Shop. BBC Radio Datarama, Radio West, 6.15pm would have marketed the producing the film, various 1, 7.33am Saturdays, Software Thursdays, (Also 7pm Sun- game, were not prepared to commercial spin-offs are broadcast on Saturdays and days on Wiltshire Radio and comment on the contractual planned -though no computer Sundays at 5,55am. 'Pop' ver- Devon Air,) problems but Bob Cosford, game. sion of above with Top Ten Chips. Pennine Radio, 7pm who designed the computer Mondays, graphics for the series, says: 'It's just one of those things.' BLUNDERBOX Addresses and You and Who IN the June issue on yeltow page VII, line 140 of Paul Bever- ley's listing 2 should read: phone numbers AUNTIE Beeb has had better luck on the software 140 IF (?M% AND T%) > front with THEN VDU255 ELSE VDU32 Acorn Customer Services a new Doctor Who adventure IN the July issue on yellow page VI, lines 310 and 640 of Mark 0223-210111 game. The doctor has for- Clayden's program should read: Retail Control Systems. Enter- saken his traditional enemies, 310LDX=8 prise House, Central Way, the Daleks, to do battle with 640 LD A .i8 North Feltham Trading Estate, warlords and bandits. The To save the object code type: 'SAVE INSPECT 8D0 9FF Feltham, Middlesex, 01-844 tape, Doctor Who and the War- 1333 lords, is produced IN the September issue the Sprite design program on yellow by BBC BBC Broadcast Support Publications for the Beeb and pages VIM and iX is too long to run as printed. The spaces after Services, 2 Cater Road. Bristol Electron and will be available each line number should be deleted. The instructions for BS13 7TW. Technical Helpline, in the new year for £7,95. running the Design contain two mistakes: line 950 is printed 01-993 0366. You play the doctor's com- twice and each time '1%' should, of course, read '1%'. Parfitt Electronics, 6 View Street, London N6, 01-348 1973 READERS who bought the October listings cassette should (See plotter review, Septem- note that line 620 of Alan Crabb's program contains an error. ber). The printed listing is correct. Wordsmith, 19 West End Street, Somerset, 0458-45359 (See news item, page 9, August). Data Technologies Ltd. MR 1 "t, , "" • Vet Century House, Market Street. 7115161, 7 IfyiHi iriinl ii rc tliri'cl tfn/iiy. 027')+i:iri21. H<-niiisf riixhl noir i>iir ilffifcr.s cdii UAiVCKSTFMHUmi: ( %-llei,l, /. ( ),iiipiili'r RIDI'trnDSUmE H.'dfi>rd: linljunl I.<^MI)(^^ ll . SprnaHsl ( 'niiipiiln-s. i02:U! L't'tOl'}. C,;,l,vLtd.0l-<>35-fl5O Tlii-Aitninrc \anie -— ~ \sFlK(miAC.P,'M()A i/ihi'ss incliiiliiig Miiili-iimtlf pniiliiiix , coirvxpniiili'iifi'iiiiiilily III iij>lii50i-p. _ Foslroiff _ ''ffikrs pi'i-fi'd III-Jncliiiii i?0''JO O^' fed paper up In 10" wide. %^£d^»JO uy gjan imCBiisine.^sSy.,U-imMeaier!)insionJ3/UlAiLv(Wsr(-niJiinlerstokeHdne.' the chance to join the IVIICRO REPAIR CLUB at a major discount CLUB Normal AU THE Micro Repair Club has been set up to ensure that users of Acorn computers make the most price price of their investment. The Club's initial masterplan is to offer a repair-guarantee package which users can subscribe 1 year £24.95 £19.95 to when the six-month warranty on a BBC micro or Electron runs out. The package can run 2 years £35.95 £27.95 for as short as one year after the warranty expires or as long as four years. New purchasers of micros, of course, have the option to join 3 years £46.95 £39.95 the Club at the time of purchase. And for the member- ship lee, the Club guarantees that should anything break down in the computer it will be repaired at 4 years £57.95 £49.95 absolutely no cost to the user. The Club has the backing of one of the world's lead- All these prices include VAT at 15% ing insurance companies and has also negotiated with Computeraid Services, part of the Thorn EMI infor- mation technology division, to do the repair work. This means users can go to a local Computeraid Services workshop and having it fixed locally. The Micro Repair Club is keen to attract schools and tfie Cut out coupon below now and send it to: will arrange discounts for education establishments. ACORN USER SPECIAL OFFER, Micro Repair Club Limited, Swan Court, 1 Mansel Road, Wimbledon, London SW19 4AA 4 ACORN • USER I I would like to join the MICRO REPAIR CLUB for years Name and look forward to receiving my full membership paclt. Address I enclose a cheque for: I £19.95 i:j 1 year's membership £29.95 D 2 years £39,95 U 3 years I £49.95 D 4 years 'Please tick relevant box Made payable to .Post code Micro Repair Club Limited I Please debit my Visa/Access card no: I own a home computer and it is in working order ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 4^ ^O 'U ECHNOMATI <^ Econet Referral Centre .^ BBC Computer & (lnU.Slkiv) 11.50: IdKI \llprki-sf\dii(li'> \l JCiurri;mi'. ru-asfiuhl \ A I iimUairUmo:(ultK: flCORN COmPUTER SYSTEmS BBC Moddl B Spet^ial Offer £320 (a) BBCMudtlB + Starter Pack £348{a) BBC Model B + DFS £409(a) BBC Model B + Econet £389 (a) BBC Model B + Econet + DFS £450 (a) BBC Dubt Cuuei £4 (d) Pan ot Joysticks £14.50 (d) UPGRPDE KITS A to B £65 (d) Installation, ACORN DFS KU £95 (d) Installation, Inslallalion. tcunetKil.. . E55«l) iipet;i,ti Kit £47 (d) Installation. ECONET ACCESSORIES Terminator (Two reqd per installation) fl BBC Family System £31(0 File Server Level II £216 (c) Clock with psu E35(c) 10 Station Lead Set £26(0 Printer Server Rom £42 (c) Extra Econet cable..£l .50/m (d) flCORN Z80 2nd Processor (c) User Guide £10 (d) File Server Level I £86 Econet This processor converts your BBC into a complete business BITSTICK fiCORN micro with all the computing power a professional would need. The Acotn adaptation of tlie renowned 'Bitstick' graphic CAD The system is CP/M based and is supplied with a very package — the -^expensive joystick" that lets you exploit the extensive software package. The package includes three powerful capability of the BBC micro to the full. The joystick is of office productivity programs, (memoplan, fileplan and a robust debiyn which achieves remarkable precision without graphplan), Systems generator program, three programming flddliness. Total control is available from the joystick using the languages plus the ACCOUNTANT business program. freehand or follow lines of shapes on-screen menu. It can draw Software is accompanied by extensive manuals that not only colours can be chosen from a chosen with high accuracy, and get you started but also answers your whys and hows. drawing palette displayed on the screen. Any part of a can be All for only £399 (a) (inci VAT) magnified, by a virtually unlimited number of times, andupto48 drawings can be saved on a single disc. The discs use a visual library system for easy identification. Inspite of its powerful ftCORN 6502 2n6 Processor features, the Bilstick is extremely friendly and easy to use, due tu menua Deing displayed on the edge of the screens. is designed for the serious computer user who £328.00 (a) FX80 dump routine for the bitstick available. This processor ~ wants to get even more out of his computer. This processor TORCH UNICORN PRODUCTS provides increased memory — allowing up to 44K for Basic programs and up to 60K for assembly language programs, The TORCH Unicorn system has regardless of screen mode in use. (ideal for VIEW). An increase been in the field for over two years in speed means that programs run up to 50% faster. The and is now a proven 280 system second processor/BBC combination offer computing power for the BBC. It gives you the comparable to systems costing twice as much. £175 (a) potential to expand which no other system can currently offer. You can expand a single system TORCH GRflDURTE SYSTEOIS with a 20Mb Hard Disc, have the processing power of a 32bit 68000 cpu with 256K ram and a UNIX This latest addition to the range of BBC upgrades will upgrade operating system, or set up a your BBC to a powerful 16bit business computer and make it network of upto 254 machines. All • disc & hardware compatible with the IBM PC. Its MS/DOS is these capabilities are available customised to IBM compatibility allowing access to the NOW. massive range ot IBM compatible software, programming aids, The TORCH UNICOMM Modem compilers and languages. It uses A8088 CPU at 5MHz, 128K or package is now available for the 256K ram, single or dual drive, software compatibility allows providing the UNICORN range LOTUS 1-2-3, and other popular IBM PC business programs to of extensive TORCH communication packages. It benefits the run. Connection of the Graduate Is simple, with just a options: Uniview for viewdata services, Uniterm for offers three connection to the IMhz Bus. The disc drives can be used In both and Unimail which allows messages and terminal emulation, BBC and IBM PCmodewlthout needing an Acorn Disc Interface files to be exchanged between Unimail/Torchmail/Torchmall- In the computer. The top-of-the-market GRADUATE Model Plus users Access to tiles can be controlled by heirarchial G800/2 will come complete with the superb Xchange suite of passwords which determine the extent of access. programs, comprising a full feature word processor, a financial with PERFECT Software Packages Z80 Card ZEP100 planner, a database, and a business graphics package. + Z80 Basic "99 (a) Although these programs are In modular form, they can be Z80 Disc Pack ZDP240 with software as above £699 (a) linked together to form an integrated software system that 20Mb Hard Disc + 1 x 400K Floppy Drive £1.950 (a) tasks and to UNICOMM Communications Package + modem £161 (a) allows you to switch instantly between various Unicorn 68000, Unix OS/Z80B/256K, 20MB exchange the information between programs. G800/2 £945 (a) Hard Disc, 400K Floppy £2995 (a) Full spec & prices on application. PRINTERS Technomatic All prices exclude ALL PRINTERS HAVE A 12 MONTH GUARANTEE VAT DOT mflTRlX PRINTER ACCESSARIES ' This month are ' — we adding ihe new KAGA printers lo our range of quality dot EPSON " matrix printers. These printers, with their Epson compatible control codes Paper Roll Holder £17 (d) FX80 Tractor £37 are available Attachment (c| in 80 col & extra wide 156 col versions. Features include NEAR Interfaces; 8143 RS232 E28(c), 8148 RS232+ 2K E57(c); LETTER QUALITY print using a 23 x 18 matrix, Dot addressable graphics in 8132 Apple II E60(c); 8165 IEEE + Cable E65(c). 8, 9 & 16 pin modes. Text modes include Normal, Italic, Enlarged Serial & Parallel Interfaces with larger butters available Condensed, Super & Sub script. Proportional spacing. Defined characters Ribbons: RX/FX/MX80 £5.00(d). RX/FXyMX 100 £IO(d) can be placed in ROM to give personalised print. An intergral 3K buffer FX80 Dustcover £4.50(d) both friction adjustable & tractor feeds with built in paper roll holder, etc. etc. KAGA TAXAN: makes these superb 'value for money printers unique. RS 232 Interface + 2K buffer £85(c): Ribbon KP810/910 E6(d) JUKIr RS232 Interface £65 RX80T£215(a) RX80FT £230 (a) PRINTER SHARER BUFFER FX80£318(a) RX100 £345 (a) A unique delux printer buffer/sharer FX100 £450 (a) providing a simple way to upgrade your computer system by allowing greater utilisation of existing equipment by reducing the waiting time for printing documents. Data from three computers can be loaded into the DAISY WHEEL buffer which will continue accepting data until its 64K storage is full. The buffer will automatically The Brother HR15 daisy wheel offers features normally switch from one computer to the found in next printers as soon as that connputer has dumped all its costing far more. Features include: 14 cps, 3K buffer data The computer is then available proportional spacing, underlining, bold and shadow printing, two colour for other uses. This is a printing, super & subscript and many other features compact unit measuring Centronics parallel interface is fitted as standard. 7cm X 17cm x 24cm. A BROTHER HR15 LED bargraph indicates £349 (a) tWim tree BBC Cable). rtRi the memory usage, with f^^ LED indication showing The JUKI 6100 daisywheel with 20 cps, 2K buffer, and switchable from which computer the 10, 12, 15 cpi + proportional printing. A linear motor ensures optimum reliability. data is being fed from. There is simple push JUKI 6100 £345 (a) button control for PAUSE, R ESET, and COPY facilities. The copy facility GRAPHICS PLOTTER/WORK STATION is ideal for continually printing copies of a Equally at home in the artists studio, hobbyists workshop document without 'tying science lab or a classroom, this system has something to offer for up" the computer. Built \n everyone. The 3 colour graphics plotter provides both precision mains psu. and versatility. The carriage can be moved with an accuracy of SP110 BUFFER/SHARER 0.025cm over an A4 area — the plotter being able to accept paper inci one cable set E275{b) and far thicker materials at sizes of up to A3. The basic plotter carries 3 colour pens each of which is software selectable ^^^^^^^^H • Additional PRINTER SHARER accessories greatly enhance the versatility of the unit without loosing the accuracy. The servo controlled drill/router Three Computers to one and pleCHNQMxncI scriber can be used on various materials. A unique Opto printer {parallel) £65(b) Sensor (using a Hewlett Packard device) turns the Six Computers lo 1 plotter into a One ^ high-res scanning digttiser to read & store whole diagrams and Printer (parallel) £129(b) photographs. Cables for Three Way Sharer. .£25(c) Cables for Six Way Sharer .E38(c) Workstation Complete £490 (a); Basic Plotter £270 (a). COmPUTER SHARER Software Disc on £3.00; Opto Sensor £72. Two Printers to one Computer £l9(c) Power Supply: PS12V £42; PS24V £78 GRAFPAD Drill/Router Attachnnent £79; Scriber £7. A low cost graphic tablet offering the performance S durability required by industrial and educational users. It is compact accurate & reliable; working area 240x192mm + menu area' Comes complete with a CAD packag. E120 (b). VIEW PRINTER DRIVER FOR FX80/KP610 This driver allows the use of all FX80s fonts to be used in text written using the VIEW rom. If user defined characters are held in the printer buffer they can also be used within the text. Manual and Disc includes examples of document layout and user definable characters. Supplied on 40 or 80 Track disc £7(d) Printer Drivers for NEC PC8023, Brother HR15 and Juki 6100...E7{d) r *nr;«»»^ 01-208 1177 DISC DRIVES I»k-asfa(ltlVATjii(lcarriat;c:(a)£8;(l))£2.5(l:(i-l£I.S»:((l)£l. C"arriai;c(a)M'iil h> l)alJ|K)sl. mONITORS A choice of high quality RGB and Monochrome monitors are available. The British made MICROVITEC Std/Med/Hi Resolution 14" monitors offer a consistent reliable performance. Their resolution ranges from 452 pixels horizontal on the std res monitor monitors are to 895 pixels on the Hi res monitor, Std and Med res also available with RGB/PAUAudio inputs. Dual input versions also available. 1431 Std, Res. RGB E175 (a): 1431AP RGB/PAUAUDIO £225 fa); 1415 Med. Res. RGB E255(a); 1451 AP Med. Res RGB/PAL/AUDIO E280(al; 1441 Hi-res RGB E420(a); 2031 20" Std Res RGB £260(a). performance The KAGA Vision III 12" RGB monitor offers a superb screen. but in a smaller cabinet with a genuine etched anti-glare E358(a). monochrome The Japanese made SANYO and the KAGA Technomatic Disc Drives offer the best value tor money. They & monitors provide an ideal answer for an 80 character hi-clarity come fitted with high quality slimline Japanese mechanisms clock is They are built to display. A futuristic swivel base plinth with integral represent the state of art in disc drive technology. optional extra. production, and are all tested to available for the Kaga monochrome monitors as an highest standards in design and packaging. All drives are SANYO DM 8112CX Hi Res Green their full performance capability before with or without integral power supply. Dual Drives with Screen £99 (a) available mode PSU are supplied with generously rated integral switched KAGA KX1201G 20MHz Hi Res Track power supplies. All 80 track TEAC drives are fitted with 40/80 Green with etched screen. ...£106 (a) Attractively designed switching at no extra charge to the user. matching beige KATA KX12dlA 20Mhz Hi Res steel casings are painted in hard wearing BBC density modes^ Amber with etched screen paint Alt drives can operate in single or double and £114(a) Drives are supplied complete with necessary cables, manual computer. Swivel Base for Kaga Green (fitted formatting disc and are ready to be connected to the with digital clock) £22.50(0 Single Drives „..«,., . Note: All monitors are supplied 100K 40T SS:TEAC£100(a); TEC with psu E135(a) free leads. , with BBC 40/80T TEAC El 55(a) TEC with psu £1 65(a} -\ BBC Leads: Kaga RGB £5: 200K 801 SS: Microvitec £3.50; Monochrome 400K 801 DS:40/80T TEAC £1 85(a) Mitsubishi with psu £195(a) sfand £3.50 (d) KX1201G with 3" 100K HITACHI Drive E115(a) 2 40T SS with psu; TEAC E300(a) TEC without psu £225(a) VIDEO DIGITISER X 100K 2 X 200K SOT SS with psu 40/80T TEAC £375(a) TEC without psu E275{a) cost-effective unit offering uses for the A high quality yet with psu 40/80T TEACE400(a) signal 2 X 400K SOT DS scientific, educational a.id home user. Feeding in a video Mitsubishi Without psu £325(a) (this can be from a camera, VCR etc) will output to the BBC a high quality picture, with eight different grey levels. This picture can be 2 X 400K SOT DS with psu Mitsubishi E400(a). stored on disc, manipulated or dumped to a printer. The friendly, yet sophisticated menu driven software comes complete with an Epson printer dump. £213(a). SCOTCH 3m DISCS SfiNYO DRIOI DfiTR RECORDER designed A high quality tape recorder with circuitry specifically Authorised Distributor positions, as for recording. Having switch selectable normal/data Data Recording Products recorder an well as cue/review and a tape counter, it makes this wanting a reliable tape storage device. ottering these high perlomiance discs at a bumper ideal choice for anyone I his inonlh we are £3.00 (d) Cassette E3.00 (d). current offer will be £30 (c). including tree lead. Extra leads hargam price ^ not lo be repealed again Ttie only. These discs are valid for orders received until 30lh October have manufactured wilh advanced manufaclunng techniques thai RH LIGHTPEN such Ihal enabled 3M lo set the industry' standard. Their quality is features including: adjustable lite A superior quality lightpen, Iheir error free pertormance is guaranteed tor data transmission, microswitch 40T £17(c) 80T sensitivity LED output to show Discs m pack of 10 lO: 40T SSDD £12,50(c). OSDD £39 (c). The 'Lightpen Colour Graphic tip. Full software backup. SSDDE21(c) 80TDSDDE22(c) Software' pack helps you to draw line drawings as well as more square, triangle, complex drawings. Colour fill, point plotting, line, £7 circle XY rulers are all available with rubber banding facility. cassette. £9 Disc. The 'Artfun' pack provides full interaction between pen and screen. Allows your initial design to be shrunk DISC ACCESSORIES res format, and these images can be stored for into a high Single Disc Cable £6 (d) Dual Disc Cable £8.50 (d) subsequent use. £7 cassette. The 'Word Master' encourages the cassette. use of correct grammar and is an excellent aid. £7 on 10 Disc Library Case £1.90 (d) 30 Disc Case £8.00 (c) The 'Ed Master' uses a quiz format, and up to 160 questions may Lockable Storage Boxes: 30/40 Discs £14(c) 100 Discs E19 (c) be programmed by the teacher. £7 on cassette (d). RPINBOW LIGHTPEN The FLOPPICLENE disc head cleaning kit is the ideal way to ensure the optimum performance of your drives. The use of risk of recontammation Allow your childs creativity to run wild in colour, and develop their disposable cleaning discs eliminate the of the sensitive disc heads and ensure continuously artistic potential — allows colour displays to be instantly drawn. and abrasion and transmission. Superb software includes facilities of saving and loading screens reliable data capture Floppiclene with 20 disposable cleaning discs, £14,50 (b) as well as an Epson screendump. £10.35 (c). commuNicflTiONS Technomatic We offer the customer a choice of modems suitable and All prices exclude VAT communication software, enabling the user to choose an ideal cost-effective system, perfectly suited to his individual needs. We stock modems for every requ'rement, vi/hether it is for the business, EPROmER II or private user, vi/hether you require access to a public database or a mainframe, whether for local or international use. Our current version of the highly popular Eprom programmer is now We also carry suitable software — see our section on ROMS. being enhanced to provide more and better facilities for easy programming by the user. The software will maintain its superiority over ail currently available similar programmers. The range of moDEms eproms handled has been widened to include the eproms with lower programming voltage and eproms which can be programmed TORCH UNICOmm See our section on Torch for further details. using the fast algorithm. Control of all operations has been moved to the keyboard. The screen display has been improved fiCORN PRESTEL The dedicated Prestel adaptor complete with to give more information. The screen editing facilities have also been modified integral. BT approved, auto-dial modem and software in ROM E99 UVTIT Eraser with built-in (tmer and mains indicator. Built-in safety Interlock to avoid COmmUNICflTOR This is a full 80 col VT100 terminal emulation accidental exposure to the harmfulUV rays, II can handle up to 5 eproms at a lime with an average erasing time of about 20 mins. E59(b). program on 16K eprom. It is a more advanced program than TERMI UVI as above bul wiltioul the timer, E47(bl. and features easy to follow screen menus. The rate at which data is For Industrall Users, we offer UV140 S UV141 erasers with handling capacity of 14 sent or received is easily set up with rates up to 19200 Baud with 80 eproms. UVMl has a built in timer. Both oiler lull buill in salely features UV140 E61; UV141 E79(tj). column text. Allows files to be transmitted from disc, or a copy of incoming data to be sent to a file or to a printer. (Communicator is 'TimE-WflRP' REPL-TimE CLOCK CALENDER not suitable for PRESTEL). E59(d). A low-cost compact unit that opens up the tolal range of Real-Time" applications, and adds a new dimension to the personal computer. Though built to exacting COmmSTflR This intelligent communication facility is extremely professional it standards, is at a price previously unattainable, and brings it wilhin easy to use yet very versatile. II features a terminal mode, a full reach of all BBC Computer owners. With its full -, integral VT100 emulation mode and a special PRESTEL mode. In Terminal battery backup, possibililes includS an Electronic Diary, continuous display of on-screen' mode, all input may be copied into a buffer in memory over which time and date information, automatic document full control is provided. Controls of protocols is very simple and any dating, precise timing and control m scientific type of file (not just ASCII) may be sent using XModem protocols. applications, recreational use in games etc. — its uses The Emulation mode may be used using a disc based emulation file are endless and are simply limited by ones imagination. to emulate virtually any terminal type including VT100, within the Simply plugs into the User Port — no ROMs needed. Extensive applications software capabilities of the BBC. In PRESTEL mode all normal Prestel supplied on cassette (easily transferred to disc) and features are available, including downloading of software, saving full instruction manual. Please phone tor details. and retrieving of pages etc. etc. £29(d). £29(c). r :;--' .\jf;^^-'£^ry^r^d££Ui 'i.HV-'^wr^^^c 01-208 1177 BBC FIRmWflRE Plea«acldVATandt'arnaue:(a)£8;(bl£2.5»;(c)£1.50;((h£l VIEW Word Processor Rom on special otter at E48{c). able to print straight Carria(>i'(a)si'nl li\ Dulatms) This IS the new version V2,1. Advantages include being from memory, as w/ell as editing in any mode Complete with comprehensive manuals to Acorns usual high standard WORDWISE One of the. most popular v^ord processors for general use IEEE INTERFfiCE processor flCORN £34(d) Wordvifise SpellGheck Disc — A must for any serious word tl4, user. Normal price £16. 50(d), II bought with Wordwise: No p&p and only This interface enabies a BBC computer to control any scientific for the and technical equipment ttial conforms to the IEEE488 standard, ULTRflCflLC From BBC Publications. The only spreadsheet ROM sacrificing any features found m the most sophisticated spreadsheet Bt a lower price than other systems, but without BBC that offers handling of labels as well as numbers as values, and aspect of the standard. The interface can link up to 14 separate programs, like the allowing a seSrch by a meaningfull name instead of jusl a number etc. IEEE compatible devices. Typical applications are in experimental Efficient memory usage allows large spread sheets to be constructed. work in academic and industrial laboratories, with the advantage Facilities and commands include, variable width column. Sum, Replicate. repeatability. The interface is mains ot speed, accuracy and Insert, Delete, & most mathematical functions. It helps to create and user guide. powered and comes with cables, lEEEFS ROM, and manipulate pricehsts, balance sheets, payroll, c/flow forecasts, order entry, £282(a) small databases, scientific calculations. E69(c). VIEWSHEET Ask for details £52tc) from flCORN TELETEXT INTERFfiCE 6CPL A full implementation of the BCPL compiler language a disc containing the Acorn soft, It consists of the BCPL language ROM and utilities and This interface enables a BBC Computer to receive and store aCPL Compiler, a Screen Editor, a 6502 Assembler, other some examples of BCPL code. A teletext information transmitted by both BBC and ITV, In addition it program development aids, and 450 page user guide is included. It can be used to develop allows the downloading of transmitted software. The unit comes comprehensive games programs and commerical packages, to develop system software, to with a ROIvl and user guide. £195(b) write control systems, and to produce programs which otherwise would need to be written in assembler. £86(b), BCPL CALCULATIONS PACKAGE; supplied on disc, it supports floating it BCPL SYSTEfTl point, fixed point and fast integer calculations, includes the DflTflBflSE mflNflGEfTlENT £17.30(b). calculation files, example files and a comprehensive user guide. GHminiCATAGEM UTILITY ROmS DISC DOCTOR This general purpose ROIvl adds 20 commands to the editor, tape-disc & disc-tape DFS system. It includes a formatter, sector routines, a powerful disassembler, commands for listing function key definitions for editing etc. This BOM will obliviate the need to go for non standard DFS systems (with their inherent disadvantages) as it overcomes many of the Acorn DFS's shortcomings. £28(d|. The Definitive Random Access. 24 K ROM Based DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. thai can make Dalagem fs the first truly flexible database for the BBC Micro GftEmilN Contains a full machine code monitor including features such your system really useful and etticient, saving you money in the long run. as a dissassembler, memory move and search routines. Also feature a full The system includes a carrier board containing two Eproms, demonstration expression evaluator and an assembler. Can single step through ROM & applications disc in both 40'80T, professional documentation with quick RAM as well as any sideways ROf^. Works in any mode with full status reference card, and 'Trans' utility program. Features include: "almost used and it has a special mode for of display. Up to 8 breakpoints can be file size (max lOMByte) 'supports up to 4 drives 'Max 5000 unlimited £28(d). "9 hierarchical debugging graphic programs. records per file 'max 6K record size "max of 62 fields level search system with facilities to store results of searches. Searches can be any one of the follovi/ing: Search. Include, Exclude, Combine, Common or provides 35 new commands. Difference "user defined variables 'generates form letters from records. EXmON This extended machine code editor single stepping, memory search Please ask for leaflet. £ll2(c). Features include machine code retocator, and full assembler & dissassembler. C20(dJ. TOOLKIT This ROM adds 27 new commands to the BBC BASIC. These in memory, program TTCORNSOFT/miRLE include a full screen editor, merge, relocating data compactor, listing ot variables and memory search. E23(d). Business software CflRETRKER This adds 17 new commands to the BASIC which include: single entry of BASIC keywords etc. A well designed, cost effective business system, having the renumber, squash, exchange insert, key advantage of being able to purchase packages individually, with E28(d), the option of, possibly later, linking them with other packages. INVOICING ORDER PROCESSING, ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, ACCOUNTS PAYABLE, STOCK CONTROL, PURCHASING, GRAPHICS ROm This ROM includes over 28 new graphics related commands which can be used in BASIC programs. Features include: MAILING SYSTEM. £22(d) each. characters, sprites, LOGO Turtle grapmcs, fill routines, shading, large rotation, scaling and 3D plotting all using ' * ' commands. E28(d), SPECIfiLCLEfiRfiNCE OFFER PRINTmOSTER This ROM features the most versatile screen dump for three types of EPSON MX/RX/FX80 and Kaga 810 printers. It supports Galactic Colours Hell Driver; Swoop; dumps. The first allows any graphics on the screen to be dumped. Felix in the Factory; Alien Swirl; Commander; appear as shades of grey. Any part of the screen can be printed at any Laser Command; Demon Decorator; Where?; position on the paper in any one of four orientations. The screen dump may of La Martian Attack; Android Attack; Labyrinth be magnified by any factor x 2, x3, x 4 etc. A special feature allows true Cybertron Mission; Danger UXB; Goshe: MODE 7 screen dumps with TELETEXT text & graphics. The second dump Alien Destroyers; Footer; Chemistry; allowsany text lobedumped whilst the third dump will print the contents of Physics; other things. This is not all. All Chess; Moon Raider; a file on disc whilst the computer is doing allows Escape from Moon ZARM; Constellation printer functions can be called up using the *command. *DEFINE +GPRINT allows Base Alpha; Eldorado Gold; Croaker. the user to define his own characters and store them. printing of enlarged text in any position, orientation, size & shade. *WINDOW allows windows to be defined in any size and position on the Only £2.50(d) each screen. In shorl this one ROM does it all. £28(d). VU-Type This is a powerful and versatile typing tutor developed and published in association wilh Pitmans, SOFTWfiRE It is designed to enable you to acquire or enhance typing and keyboard skills, £11-65(d). Record Keeper a personalised program for storing and retrieving data for a vanety of purposes. Report facility lets you choose how to CP/m SOFTWARE FOR TORCH generate the layout of your data and display and print it The program also contains Z80 ACORN Z80 PROCESSOR alternative versions tor transfer to disc, C14.00(d). can now supply W almost any CP/M based software package in a format suitable for the Torch Z80 and Acorn BOOKS Z80 second processors. The following are generally available from stock- (NoVATp&p £1.50 per book) II LetyourBBCTeachUToProgram DBASE £365 , (at WORDSTAR £295 (a) MAILMERGE £145 (a) .„ £3,50 DiscSysiems £6.95 100 Programs forttie BBC WORDSTAR/MAILMERGE £6.95 Discovering BBC M/Code .£6.95 COMBINED £395 (a) 30 Hour Basic S6.95 Essential Maths BBC/Eiectron £5.95 DBASE II TUTORIAL (All 35 Educational Progs Lessons on Disc) £32 (c) £6.95 Forth £7.50 6502 Applications PROPASCAL E220(a) CP/M TUTOR £55(c) £10.95 Friendly Computer Book £6.95 6502 Assembly Lang Programming..,.£13.9S Phone for your specific requirements. Graphics onihe BBC Micro £6.95 6502 M/Code for Beginners ££5.95 Graphs&Charts ,., ,. £7.50 Please specify the type of format (TORCH or 6522VIABook ACORN) is required. £4.50 H/Bk ot progs/luncts tor BBC B.95 6809 Assemtjiy Lang Programming, ,..£13,95 Instant Arcade Games BBC £2,95 Adiranced Graphics wilh BBC £9.95 Interlacing Pro|ecIs BBC £6.95 Advanced MIC for the BBC ..£7.95 miCROTEXT Interfacing ine6502 ,,£10,95 Advanced Prog Teen (or BBC £8.95 Intro li/!icro This authoring system BBC , .. £5,95 was developed by the National Physical Advanced 6502 £11.75 Intro 10 Pascal Laboratories. Il £12.95 is a programming system designed to simplify the Advanced User Guide £12.50 production LISP £7.50 of a wide range of man-computer Assembly Lang Prog on ihe BBC £8,95 dialogues Using Making Musicon Ihe 8BCComputer....£5.95 Mtcrolext's simple commands, the user Assembly Lang lor the BBC £8,95 can draw up any number of Mastering CP(M £7.95 frames', each containing text andtor graphics, Assembly Lang Prog far Eleclron £26.00 A series of frames build Micro aec Basic Sound Graphics £7,95 up into a complete module. Assembly Lang Programming Each program can consist of more than one MOS Memory Data Book. £3.95 module. Using Mtcrotext, Birnbaum £8,95 an expert in any field can construct Iheir own Prog, Micro with Pascal £8,50 Basic Prog on the B8C Cryer £5,95 complete courses of computer-based instructional Prog Ihe BBC Micro material Basrc Rom User Guide £6,95 Applications inciude ..,£7,95 interviewing systems, teaching packages, training Programming the 6502. £10,95 Basic II Rom User Guide...,. £4.00 courses and interactive demonstrations and simuiations. Programming Ihe6809 £11,95 Available on BBC Basic ,. £5:95 Cassette and Disc, t:52(a) Disc; E43(c) Programming the 8086/8088 £11.75 Cassette BBC Basic lor Beginners ,£6.95 Programming Ihe BBC £6.95 BBC Micro lor Beginners £6.95 fiCORNSOFT f d) Disc Programming iheZeo Cass BBC Micro Disk £13,45 S- PASCAL Companion ,., .£7,95 £17,30 £14,65 MISSILE BASE £5.00 Start Prog with Electron £5.00 LISP BBC Micro Expert Guide £6.95 £17.30 £14.65 PLANETOIDS £5.00 Step by Step Programme FORTH SBC Micro Graphics Book I...f5.95 El 7,30 £14.65 METEORS £5.00 & Sound £7.95 PICTURE Step by Step Prog Book 2 £5.95 MAKER C10,00 Ee.es CAROUSEL £5.00 BBC Micro in Education £6.50 TURTLE GRAPHICS El 7.30 Structured Programming £6.50 MONSTERS E5.00 BBC Micro Revealed £3.50 CREATIVE The Electron GRAPHICS — CB.65 Bool< ., . ... £5.00 FORECAST £5.00 BCPL User Manual £15.00 HOPPER Ee,oo TORCH 280 Disc Pack CHESS £5,00 Beyond Basic UserGulde £10.00 SNOOKER , £7,35 E6,00 ORAUGHTSSREVERSI TTLDataBook Vol-1 £5,00 CP/M Handbook £9,00 STARSHIPCOWMAND £6,00 BBC PUBLICATIONS £10,95 TTL JCB DIGGER Data Book Vol-2 ,,.£8.20 £6.00 £5.00 VUTYPE £11.65 Creating Adventure Progs £6.95 AVIATOR BBC User Guide £15.00 Eis.es £13.00 RECORD KEEPER £14.00 Creative Assembler tor the BBC. £5.95 CRAZY Using BBC Basic £10,00 TRACER S6.00 £5.00 Creative Graphics £7.50 ELITE eiS,65 £13.00 Using Floppy Disks £6.95 DIY Robotics & Sensors £6,95 Usingthe 6502 Assembly Lang £14.50 Disc Booh £3,50 Z80 Applications Elite Cassette Book..... , ,,,£13.45 & Disc versions available from stock, (Disc version for Disc Programming Techniques 40TSS or 80TDS). BBC £6.95 Replica II 40 & 80 Track Versions available. £10.35 Science Fiction Quil a SF quiz m the widest sense especially When ordering software on disc plese specify track adapted from the lormat (40/80) Weidenfeld Quiz book that will provide hours of edification and amusement. C7(dJ. TECHNOMATIC LTD 01-208 1177 MAII.ORUKKS TO: 17 Kiirnle> Read. London NWr0 4KII Allprk-esfxcliidi'V AT. Pli-useailil 15" n \ A landl'ar^iIl^^ (TpI: (H-208 1 177 Tek'\ <>228)Hh la^£8: (h)£2.5((: (i)£l.5«: (il tl.lKK SHOPS AT: \W London: 15 Burnk'j Road, London N\MO-ILr) (*arriat:(.Ma)l)> l>aia|)ost. (^Ihtllis Hiir2 mins walk, ample lar parkinn spiui-) l-orfasrdfliMT> lL'li-|)honi'> our order WvNl Kn(i:3ll5 i|iioliiiu KdHHart' RoucL Loiidon \\2. Ii'l: rH-72.t 023.1 \ IS,\ or Aii'ss iiird or ullKial order niimlier. (Near Kdjivvare Roud^) { Minimum lele|>hone order i$) A NEW CONCEPT IN RULERS A1EG4RULE wiih The Megaruleisorriagnifving ruler. Madeof solid perspex.vousimplyplaceiloverthe text ondiTmagnifiesoverlOO%, Graduated it, the is automoticollvtoken to inctiesandmillimetres it also hosaguide line running through the centre for accuracy When you use eye text easier, ideal for professional computer users, the ruler and focuses on it making reading of computer listings or close very much software readers and wrilers, typists, accountants, businessmen, anyone who uses on ordinary ruler. Designed by Phyllido Vonstoneof It'savailable and at good stationery Mega Marketing Limited the Megorulehos cool, clean linesand IS virtuolly unbreakable. mailorder 9" retail or moil order You can order shops and computer dealers. The Megarule is long (computer stationery width) and costs £2,99 is distributed Dealer Deals Limited for with an access card on 01-930 1612 (24 hours) or fill in the coupon below The Megarule by 3619for dealer terms. Why an quantities in excess of 20 Write to Mark Simon, 20 Orange Street, London WC2H ZED or ring 01-930 buy ordinoryruler when you can buyaMegarule. The Megoruleisamognifyingruler.Madeof solid perspex, you simplyploce It over the text millimelres il also has o guide line running thr ough t he centre for occui'jcy and It magnifies over 100%. Groduoled with mcfies and 1 '^ puter listings or close text very much easier. Ideal for professional coniputer users, software recjcjers an(j writers 1 ^mlen, anyonennvnnp whousesanorcJinarvrulerDesignedbvPhyliidaVanstoneofMegaMarketingLirTiitedttieMegarulehascooliwhn i i^^p^ nn nrriinnru ri ijpr r)fi<;ir]nf?ri hvPhvllirin Vnn'^lonft of Menn Mnrketino I imited tlifi Mennri ile ha^ c.ck \ over Graduated wilh inches and magnifying mlei Mode of solid perspex. you simply ploce it over the text ond it magnifies 100%. for it, the eye is automatically taken to the ruler millimef res it also has a guide line running through the centre accurocy. When you use listings text very easier. Ideal for professional computer users, software ond focuses on it making reading of computer or close much Vonstone of readers and writers typists accountants, businessmen, anyone who uses an ordinory ruler. Designed by Phyllido Mega goodsfationery shops Marketing Limited the Megorulehos cool clean linesand is virtuallyunbreokable.ll'savailable mailorder and at 9" retail or moil order You can order with on and computer dealers The Megarule is long (computer stationery width) ond costs £2.99 is distributed Dealer Deols Limited for quantities m access cord on 01-930 1612 (24 hours) of fill in the coupon below. The Megarule by onordinary ruler excess of 20 Write loMarkSimon, 20 OrongeStreet. London WC2H7ED or ring01-9303619for dealer terms. Why buy simply it over the text and it when you con buy a Megarule. The Megarule is a magnifying ruler. Made of solid perspex, you place through the centre for occurocy. When magnifies over 100% Graduated with inches and millimetres if also has a guide line running it reading of compuTer listings or close text very much you use it the eye is outomotically token to the ruler and focuses on making on easier Ideal for professional computer users, software readers and writers, typists, accountants, businessmen, anyone who uses virtually ordinary ruler Designed by Phyllido Vonstone of Mega Marketing Limited the Megorule hos cool, clean lines ond is is 9" long (computer unbreakable lis available mailorder and at good stationery shops and computer dealers. The Megarule stationery width) and costs £2 99 retoil or mail order You con order with on access card on 01-930 1612 (24 hours) or fill in the coupon of Write to Mork Simon. Orange Street, below The Megarule is distributed by Dealer Deals Limited for quantities in excess 20. 20 London WC2H /ED or ring 01-930 3619for dealer terms. Why buy an ordmory ruler when you con buy a Megarule The Megarule is a with inches and mognitying ruler Mode of solid perspex. you simply place it over the text and it magnifies over 100% Graduated use it, the is aufomatically taken to the tuler millimetres it also has a guide line running through the centre for accurocy. When you eye text easier Ideal for professional computer users, software and focuses on it making reading of computer listings or close very much Phyllido of readers and writers typists, accountants, businessmen, anyone who uses on ordinary ruler Designed by Vonstone Mega stationery shops MarketingLimited the Megarule has cool, clean linesand is virtually unbreakable It'savailoblemoilorderand at good 9" moil order. You order with an and computer dealers. The Megarule is long (computer stationery width) and costs £2 99retoll or can is distributed Dealer Deals Limited for quantities In access card on 01-930 1612 (24 hours) or fill In the coupon below The Megarule by excess of 20 Write toMork Simon, 20 OrongeStreet, London WC2H7EDorrlngOV930 3619for dealer terms. Why buyonordinary ruler simply it over the text and it when you con buy a Megarule. The Megorule is a mognifying ruler. Mode of solid perspex, you place for When magnifies over 100%. Groduoted with inches and millimetres it also has o guide line running through the centre occurocy It reoding of computer listings or close text very much you use it, the eye is automatically taken to the ruler and focuses on making easier Ideal for professional computer users, software reoders and writers, typists, occountonls, businessmen, anyone who uses an virtually ordinary ruler Designed by Phylllda Vonstone of Mega Marketing Limited the Megarule has cool, clean lines and is Office... Home... And School. To Mark Simon, Dealer Deals, 20 Orange St., London WC2H 7ED I Please send me (QTY) MEGARULES at £2,99 each (P+P inc) I for £ Made payable to Dealer Deals Ltd I enclose a cheque or debit my access card no I Signature —Name. I Address I .Postcode I MAKETHEBBC AN EXPERTAT COMMUNICAnONS. 26 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 . The BBC Micro is unbeatable when it comes to holding your attention. But when it comes to talking to the rest ofthe outside world it's virtually speechless. Until, that is, you spe^k to us. hi which case you and your BBC could soon be accessing viewdata systems throughout the country. By simply linking your BBC into our purpose- designed communications and viewdata system you dramatically inaease the capability ofyour micro. Allowing you to keep in touch with your friends. And to get answers within minutes to electronically mailed letters. You can even try your hand at the latest adventure games on 'Micronet 800 (as well as looking at the news, reviews, prices and best-buy information). In addition to all this, you will also be able to access Prestel. A vast database of news and information. Helping you to book tickets for your favourite concerts. Plan your road and rail trips. And even check the weatiier forecast before you go. Our communications and viewdata systems open up the world to you and your micro. And at a down- to-earth price -with systems starting from under £90. So, if you're keen to contact the outside world . . simply contact us. APPROVED lor use with leletotWlunicali&n systems run by Brili^W^Mgigiunicalions in acco(C)arl|^MMpi conclilions in the insroSfloiis loi use. Prism Microproducts Ltd. Prism House, 18-29 Mora Street City Road, London EClV 8BT Telephone: 01-253 2277 Please send me further details of the Prism viewdata communications system for the BBC Micro. Send to: Prism Microproducts Ltd., Prism House, 18-29 Mora Street, City Road, London EClV 8BT. Name ^ Address_ .Tel:. AP6 AU1t 'resicl and ihe I'rusifl symbol arc iradcmarks ol Unlish IbltLommuniLjiiuns. ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 27 ) TELEVISION I BBCTVproduc shares some of the behind- the-scenes traumas of makir^g live micro programmes Put another pass word in. Bomb it out and try again. Try to get past logging in. We 're hacfdng, /lacking, hacking. Try his first wife 's maiden name. This is more than just a game. It's real fun. butjust the same We're hacking, hacking, hacking. THE Hacker's Song became instant news in the first l^icro Liveback in October as it flashed unheralded onto the screens of those watching BBC1 when John Coll and Ian McNaught-Davis attempted to demon- strate electronic mail live on television. Someone had cracked our (two- letter) password and left a message 'Micro Live' presenter Ian McNaughl-Davis meets Freff in New York. Using a BBC micro, that was triggered off as John logged Freff transmitted an illustrated message from the 'Big Apple' to London for Itie show . on to British Telecom Gold. A hacker, in fact. wife's maiden name! I changed it after- Newsweek, it seems, were as term hacker The comes from wards to the name of my cat. bemused as I am by much of this. Per- American university campus slang, As the hacker (or hackers) was haps some friendly hacker can inform where it originally meant simply some- anonymous, it wasn't possible for us to me of its meaning. one who worked hard; 'Who are you acknowledge copyright in the work. Electronic mail and hacking were the hacking for?' - 'Oh, Doctor So-and-so'. However, I am happy now to be able to subject of another item on June 24 But we now know it to mean someone put that right. Our hacker's song was when we transmitted the second !\Aicro who tries (as a hobby) to break into part of a longer epic quoted in News- Live, again on a Sunday morning. other people's computer systems. week by an American hacker called This time we investigated the world In the gallery above the studio we 'Ozzy' (not to be confused with one half of the computer hackers by filming one were bemused - it was the first time we of 02 and Yug, whose express mail hacker, 'David', in silhouette, actually had been on the receiving end of a message appeared at the bottom of the in the act of getting into a system, and hacker, and although there had been screen alongside the hacker's song another, 'Jeremy', a reformed hacker, rumours that something might happen, and whom we incorrectly assumed who was prepared to reveal some of the production team were not involved were responsible for it all). Ozzy says the secrets of the fraternity. in what actually took place. The whole the proper credit should go to someone Another item involved a live transfer incident was like someone bursting enigmatically called 'The Cheshire of software from New York to London by into the nine o'clock news and shouting Catalyst'. Freff (that's his full name, by the way), outa political slogan. Another stanza goes: our reporter in the United States. And I can't remember anything like it Syscall. let's tryasyscali. that demonstration, carefully super- having happened on television before. vised by Telecom Gold to prevent Remember Iha t grea t bug from What I can remember is furiously scan- Version 3 another intrusion, very nearly precipi- ning the screen for obscenities (it was tated OfR'S-X. it's here, another 'hack' as a result of the live, after all, and on a Sunday morn- whoopee! very measures we were using to pre- ing) and being relieved at the exquisite vent history repeating itself. But more taste of the practical joke. Like all good Put another Syscail in. of that later. Run those passwords out. practical jokes it was not malicious- It and then Freff first appeared in our conscious- also was instructive. 'Try his first wife's Dial back up, we 're logging in ness when we visited the Chicago We're hacking, maiden name" is after all, a sobering hacking, hacking. Robotics Convention in 1983 for the comment. At that time, the password on (To be sung to the tune of Put another series Computers in Control. He was my electronic mailbox Nickel was indeed my in the Nickelodeon '. behind the scenes of a stage show that ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 . I TELEVISION featured several Unimation robots and an actor. Freff was supervising the net- BIRD OF PREY GAME OUT FOR A DUCK work of micros that triggered off the in which the robots sequence of events CAN this litHe duck really be the bird worked co-operatively to entertain the referred to in the tiMe of BBCI's recent Bird crowds. of Prey series? We don't know, but tf s a Later, having just attended the shame the computer game to accompany the programme never made it (see Bulletin launch of the BBC micro in America, I Board, page 16). H you think the graphcs in visited him in New York in the apart- were produced on a humble ment where a good deal of work for the the credits mk:ro though, think again. The pictures rcTbotics show was put together. It were 'pixellated' to give the jagged-edge became clear that his interests in the effect of low-resolution compHJter graphics fields microcomputer covered so many on a Quantel Paintbox. And how much is that he would make a great trans- one of those? A cool £80,000. atlantic contribution to Micro Live ar\6 the new series we are working on for thisautumn. in the middle of the Last October Acorn (USA) promised print out the whole thing as COLOR on Sure enough, studio rehearsal on the day, a rep- to provide him with a BBC micro to re- one version and COLOUR on the other, though resentative arrived and whispered the view and, sure enough, it arrived in when you list the program, even accept the abbreviation. new password and mailbox to John as May just two hours before I arrived in both machines spoke to Freff on the phone. Un- New York to work out a film story with Second, the electronic mail system he of us, John Coil's per- Freff for M/croL/Ve, doesn't have error-checking, so every- known to any microphone, clipped to his tie, We've been using electronic mail in thing depends on a good telephone sonal every intimate detail the BBC Computer Project for over a circuit, and occasionally, especially if was picking up the and the studio sound was being relayed year now, and very useful it is, too. everything was going through BBC the gallery, but also to the British Telecom Gold had, forgivingly, switchboard, odd characters would dis- not only to and, more signifi- provided me with a series of links so appear or get garbled. dressing rooms Thirdly, you have to write the code so cantly, to the conference room in which that while in the US 1 could enter the of the invited audience were Diaicom system in the US to make con- that there are reasonably short lines, members having coffee and twiddling their tact with my mailbox in London. Usually otherwise the mail system splits them. or of them were, shall when If it happens to split them so that the thumbs. One two I use a portable Tandy TRS80-100 begins with a number, the we say, not unconnected with hacking and I decided to new line I go abroad, but Freff had brought personal micros with use the BBC micro, fresh from its box. computer thinks this is a new line and (largely I suspect because they Needless to say, when we pieced number and everything gets confused. them long everything together the electronic mail However, we eventually devised a don't like being separated too drug). system didn't function, even though the piece of software that would run from the computing of them 1 that a number computer seemed to be working well. reasonably well on both machines-a am told feet in the air at being Knowing how infuriating this experi- representation of an apple, with a jumped several bar, handed the information on a plate, and ence is to users, we made a virtue of it message. On pressing the space frustrated state, three bite-shaped chunks appeared out rushed for the telephone. Fortunately and 1 filmed Freff in a Gold and for Freff's saying that he didn't know what was of the apple, together with a crunching for Telecom they were foiled by wrong, but something sure was, and noise, with the message 'Some bytes demonstration, Apple'. Well, BBC policy -which prevents outside that he hoped to get it all functioning from the Big Core-ny? we being obtained from conference before the live show. were only doing it for fun, though in lines miss the show, Since we'd seen electronic mail principle this is a perfectly reasonable rooms! And rather than resisted the temptation to rush out working on the first live show we way of shipping a computer program they Television Centre to find a call decided to try something different. around the world. from the box. We'd have Freff on the telephone talk- When it came to the day, we had watching the programme, ing to us and, using a second telephone devised a way of getting the mail sent If you were you'll that Freff's demonstration line connected to the micro, he'd send quickly. Freff was to load the program know well, with only one error, and us a piece of software that we'd then up from disc as an ASCII file into the worked expected - a syntax error run in the studio. mail system and was poised to type the one we keyword COLOR, . from the An attractive and simple enough commands (which sends the mail) . resulting corrected. Unfortunately idea. However, over the weeks Meanwhile, partly spurred by the which John of the crunching apple failed between his getting the machine (and first Micro Live. Telecom Gold intro- th,e sound because someone replacing the faulty modem) and the duced procedures to prevent or at least to materialise on air pulled the jack plug out of the back live show itself we discovered that discourage hacking. After three had mistake. So, for the things weren't quite that simple. attempts at a password you are now of the machine by here's the noise you missed: First, the US version of the BBC thrown off the system, and repeated record, micro has a different operating system attempts to log on are monitored, so and a slightly different Basic to suit the they tell us. And passwords now have 1300 SOUND 0, -15 6, 1 Arnerican market. American television to be at least six characters long. 1310 SOUND 0, -15 4, 1 monitors run at 60 cycles and have 525 Nonetheless, understandably anxious 1320 SOUND 0, -15 5, 2 lines instead of 625 as in the UK, This to avoid a repetition of last year's hack- 1330 SOUND 0, -15 4, 1 means that the screen formatting is dif- ing, Telecom Gold said it would issue 1340 SOUND 0, 0,4 4 ferent. And the Americans, of course, new mailboxes and new passwords 1350 FOR times = TO 15 -the only an hour or so before the show, and have differences in spelling 1 360 SOUND 0, -15+times ,4,0 COLOUR command, for example, these were to be communicated to Freff 1370 SOUND 0, 0,4 ^ and to John Coll on the becomes COLOR. And if you abbrevi- by direct phone 1380 NEXT ate a line of code to COL the machines studio floor. ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 I THE FIRST public airing of the ATABC range during the PCW Show, a development manager from Apple is reputed to have challenged staff on the Acorn stand about who VERTICAL had written the icon-based desk-top manager software - because it was so similar to Apple's own version for the Macintosh and they might want to sue! Apocryphal or not, the story reflects the concern which the arrival of the ABC TACK OF must have stirred up in the competitive business computer market. Acorn has repackaged its existing BBC micro-based products in an attractive new enclosure, and at the same time launched a range of hard- THE ABC ware and software extensions which by Tony Quinn and Alex van Someren will give even the biggest commercial computer suppliers a few second it's hardly revolutionary stuff.' But the chip, while carefully integrating it into thoughts. The ABC will be available in top-end 310 has been noticed, and their range. The ABC310 offers icons, eight different models (see table excited many potential buyers. multi-tasking, windows, CP/M. MS- below) providing a structured upgrade The 300 series uses the Intel 80286 DOS, and PC-DOS The ABC . says path within one chunky monitor hous- processor and is an impressive Hauser, 'is the only machine to do this.' ing which should cater for a wide var- machine to sit down at. It is compatible However, Acorn is keeping a low pro- iety of business needs. with the IBM PC but can provide more file on any IBM clash and letting the All of the range use a 6502 processor advanced processing power with its industry do the talking. The company's for input/output (to control the screen, Concurrent OS and Desktop Manager. first brochure for the ABC range keyboard and disc drives); the larger It is sure to give IBM's new PC-AT a run doesn't even mention IBM. The nearest models also have processors second for its money (it uses the same pro- it gets is 'PC-DOS'. Sales Director Peter to allow them to run more sophisticated cessor), and Acorn's Hermann Hauser O'Keefe put it succinctly: 'We are a little operating systems than Acorn's MOS. has been quick to point out that the smarter than to take IBM head-on At the low end is the Personal Assist- product was developed in far less time We're going for vertir^i ^T^qr^pt^ in re- ant, with View and View Sheet as stan- than IBM who had early access to the search, communications and so on. dard. And there's the Terminal, provid- ing emulation for the DEC VT100 terminal for use with modems or the Table 1 . The ABC range Econet, Neither of these machines has second processors as they run MOS- Model: PA Terminal 100 110 200 310 300 310 based software. Processor: 6502 6502 Z80 Z80 32016 32016 80286 80286 The ABC100 and 110 are Z80-based Floppy disc: 640K — 2x720K 720K 2x720K 720K 2x720K 720K machines running CP/M and were Hard disc: — — — 10Mb — 10Mb — 10Mb recognised as such at the PCW Show. Screen: Green Colour Green Colour Green Colour Green Colour Commented one visitor: 'If they had Software: View Sheet VT100 CP/M CP/M Various. CP/M, MS-DOS, released the ABC100 on its own, no- Xenix PC-DOS one would have taken much notice- I-f A These screen shots show the desk-top manager from the ABC310 in formed. The black arrow, controried by the mouse, has pulled down action. The letters on the screen look different to the BBC because the window menu for Operation. This gives six choices, the one the text face has been redesigned. The first picture shows an selected being 'Invert icon'. The result is shown in the second pic- I Operation (note this is in black at the top of the screen) being per- ture, with the acorn in black ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 I where we are established.' He also pointed out at the recent company results meeting: 'IBM are good customers of ours.' At which Chris Curry chipped in: 'But we don't buy any of theirs.' The Xenix operating system is pro- mised on the ABC210, along with up to 1Mb of RAM. Virtually every language under the sun has been mentioned, from the latest, Modula-2 (see Byte, August issue) to Fortran 77 for the die- hards. The 32016-based ABC200 machines are being pushed as academic workstations, and, sure enough, were running Lisp, the artifi- cial intelligence language, at the Show, The flagship ABC310 certainly lives up to its promise, for it has been demonstrated running a sophisticated, mouse-controlled desk-top manager with icons, menus and windows. For those of you who are baffled by such jargon, it provides a software simulation of a desk complete with overlapping sheets of paper (windows), disc storage (shown as pictures that are known as icons) and possible things to do (presented in menus). The success of the machine, as with any business computer, will depend to a large extent on the amount of appli- cations software written for it. On this front Acorn has certainly hedged its bets with all the popular operating systems available, and response at PCW was good, said Howard Fisher who is responsible for the ABCs. How will it find its place in the market, and especially when it comes up against the IBM PC-AT';' Who knows, A marvel on marble: the ABC310 in all its glory. Beneath the monitor screen on the left is first showing its chances are but on the Winchester hard disc, with the floppy drive beside it. Note the new symbols on the good and pricing (so far guessed at keyboard, re-arranged function keys, keypad and the mouse. There is no break key, but a £500-£:3500), should be competitive. reset is fitted on the rear of the keyboard. The monitor can be tilted and swivelled on its And, as Peter O'Keefe says: There's stand room for IBM as well as Acorn,' Additional reporting by Geoff Nairn !;t File Eitit 'Jieu r, \l file; 4it5"6 bytes used in ll files. " t . .',*!cybtor i:i{ Hansger In this shot, the menu for 'Desk' has been accessed with the black The hard disc has been accessed here (hence the icon in black on arrow cursor pointing to 'Help'. Underneath this menu window are the background) to display file C: \ which is 43.5k long. Two win- the standard icons to choose the floppy drive (sides A or B), hard dows showing parts of the 12 files in C: \ are shown disc or 'trash can' (very American!) ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 5 Dept. ACORN, 250, HIGH STREET, WATFORD, ENGLAND. Tel: Watford <0923) 40588/37774 Telex: 8956095 WAELEC ACCESS ORDERS Tel: (0923) 50234 Type Ribbons Dust Covers MtM^ DPW1120 MX80FT £4 75 £4.50 MX1D0FX100 £10.00 £5.25 FX80 £4,75 £4.95 DAISYWHEEL PRINTER RXSO £4.75 £4.50 Ar last a law cost, high quality daisy wheel BBC Micro GP80 £4.50 printer thai everyone can aflord. yet there are no GP100 £4.95 £3.95 compromise in facilities available 20 CPS, bi (Model B) GP2 60 £5.95 £3.95 directional logic seeking, print 10. 12 & 15 GP700 £18.50 pitcti proportional spacing. QUME Protocols, KAGAKPSia £5.95 £4.75 QUME Ribbon. QUME Oaisywheel 96 characters, New Low Price 1/15" CANON PW1080 £5,95 £4,75 maximum characters per line 1 80 at pitch, copy capacity 4 copies Centronics Only: £31 Interface, Supports all Wordstar features, paper PRINTERSHARER width 13" max. Optional extras. RS232-C Interface, tractor feed attachment, single sheet This liiindy UNIT is ,i solid state swilch system feeder 6502 2nd PROCESSOR £175 desicjiied to tiase the problems of short printer Z802nd PROCESSOR £339 leads, continual [iluyijini] anil unpluqginc] ol Amazing Introductory Offer: leads, and cosily extra printers by ailowint) up to three computers to be connected to one printer £185(£7carr.} ll has four fiarallel Cetilronics connectors for TORCH Z80 DISC Pack £695 easy inierfacing of the BBC micro to aiT^ printer TORCH Z80 2nd Processor ONLY £295 with a Cenltonics capability such as daisy wheel KAGA KP810 dtii m,-Hrix or plotter type printers PRINTSHARER is ideal for schools and colleges BBC Micro with ECONET £375 for sfiHrini) ihfiir pniitini) resoinccs ECONET Upgrade Kit £55 Price:£65(C2 Carr.) File Server Level 1 £85 File Server Level 2 £215 Printer Server EPROM £41 Clock Terminators n pair! £95 BROTHER HR-15 lOStation Lead Set £25 ECONET User Guide and Cable £10 DAISY-WHEELPRINTER TELETEXT Adainor £195 This is a high-quality daisy-wheel printer, for the Acoin Bitstick £328 price of a dot matrix. Daisy-wheel quality gives a professional lool( to your correspondence. Dust Cover for Facilities include 18CPS. bi-directional print, 3K BBC Micro Buffer with clear facility, carriage skip movement, Protects your expensive Micro from foreign text copy switch, proportional spacing, bodies while not in use. £3.50 underlining, bold, shadow, super and sub-script, What do the press say - printing in two colours. Impact control allows use "At €269 this is an unbeatable product lor what of carbon paper Connects directly to the BBC it has to olier." - Educational Computing micro with Centronics parallel interface RS232 "Offers excellent value lor money." - Electronics interface is an optional extra. Other options are a EPSON Bi Computing single sheet feeder thai automatically feeds up to This new Japanese printer has EPSON FX/RX 150 single A4 sheets and a keyboard to compatible control codes and is functionally transform the printer into a sophisticated equivalent to an FX80 with the added advantage electronic typewriter of its Near Letter Quality mode. It is solidly built and features include Normal, Italic Enlarged, SPECIALOFFER super/subscript, proportional spacing and user-defined character set. Extras over the FX80 (carr. ONLY £339 £7) included in the price are Near Letter Quality SingleSheet Feeder £195 (NLQl print ideal for correspondence, properadjustible tractor feed halt speed quiet Electronics KEYBOARD £135 mode and 3K buffer The printer is bi directional EPSON TRACTOR FEED Attachment £90 and logic seei^ing to give a speed of I40CPS 'or RXSOPiinler £229 high throughput in conjunction with the standard EPSON RX80F/T Printer £245 RIBBON CARTRIDGES: 3K buffer. 8K RAM may be added to give more EPSON FX80 Printer £316 Fabric £3; Carbon £3; Multistrike £6 user-defined character sets. Centronics parallel EPSON FXlOO Printer £435 inteHace t Watford s 12 month NO QUIBSLE SEIKOSHAGP100A £122 DAISYWHEELS(varioustvpefaces) £18 WARRANTY. Centronics all • PRINTER CABLE for the Special Offer: ONLY £246 cibove printers to interface with the BBC Micro i'7 LISTIIMG PAPER (Plain) RS232 interface * 2K buffer to connect to other (Securicor carriage charge on printers f71 micros 1 .000 Sheets 9 y Fanlold Paper £7 £89 RX & FX PRINTER INTERFACES 2 000 Sheets 9), ' Fanfold Paper £13 Epson interfaces fit 5" inside the printer to allow 1 GOO Sheets I Fanfold Paper £9 KP910 connection using techniques other than Centronics KAGA PRINTER Teleprinter Roll (Econopaper) £4 17" RS232 £35 RS232 t 2K Buffer £59 Very similar to the KP8 10 but with carriage IEEE4a8 £65 2K Parallel £58 for really wide print. Gives 1 56 columns of normal print or 256 columns in condensed mode. This printer is ideal for printing out PRINTER INTERFACE BUFFER PRINTER LABELS spreadsheets and can also be used for correspondence in mode This neatly packaged, self-contained NLQ unit is (On continuous fanfold backing sheet) supplied complete with all leads, operating ONLY £349 manual and power supply. Computet output to the printer is stored in the buffer so that the 1 000 90x36mm £5.50 computer can continue with other tasks while 1 000 9Ux49mm £7.75 the printer PRINTER LEAD 36" works from the stored contents in the 1 000 102x36mm £6.25 buffer, 16K holds approximately TO pages of A4, Carriaiie on Printer Paper or Labels CI 50 close to the full memory of Wordwise, The '48K Centronics lead to connect BBC micro to model is very useful for extremely large EPSON, KAGA. SEIKOSHA, NEC STAR JUKI documents that otherwise tie the computet up BROTHER, SHINWA etc printers. for hours while being printed All prices excludi! VAT Price: 16K £115 STANDARD 13 fool long) £7 Price:48K £149 EXTRA LONG 15 foot long) £10 32 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 5^" DISKETTES DOUBLE DENSITY Top quality 3M and XIDEX diskettes with a DISC INTERFACE lifetime guarantee. These discs are quiet in operation and insert positively with their reinforced hub rings. Boxes of 10 supplied with disk labels and write protect tabs. • 10SC0TCH/3M + labels S/SS/D £16 • 1 SCOTCH / 3M + labels S/SO/D £17 • 10SCOTCH/3M +labelsD/SD/D £24 • lOXIDEX + labelsS/S D/D £15 • IGXIDEX + labelsD/SD/D £24 (Ail Drives are NEW SLIM-LINE Type) NEW LOW PRICES DISC ALBUMS Atractively finished in beige leather-look vinyl, these conveniently discs. disc SIMPLE bul SOPHISTICATED store up to 20 Each can easily be seen through the clear view We are proud to arrounce the launch of the pockets. Watford Eleclronics Double Densily Board for the £4.25 BBC micro. The DDES supplied is a new version of the popular Watford Electronics DFS re-wfilten lo make lull use of the capabilities of the new double density controller. LOCKABLEDISK (DRIVES Cased with Cables; connects • Storage is increased by the maximum STORAGE UNITS physically possible, 80%. directly to your BBC Micro) • Our system will use tfie whole of an 80 track drive. Inferior systems do not allow files longer than 8i3FFFF bytes, bui with our system files CLS 100 Single, TEC Single sided 40 track can be as long as one disc sibe. lOOK 5i" Disc Drive £99 • Discs may be created in either single or Drive, Double sided 40 track, double density formal with the built in formatter CLS200 Single and in single density mode are fully compatible 200K,5i" £129 with normal Acorn format discs. sided • The density of the disc you put in is CLS400 Single, Mitsubishi Double 80 automatically sensed by the system and you are track 400K, 5f' Disc Drive £135 informed of the density in the catalogue display, CLS4005 Single, Mitsubishi Double sided • The double density system is of course faster 40/80 track Switchable, 400K, 5^" Disc Drive than single density. £159 Worried about compatibility with single density discs' Don I. The Watford Electronics DDFS ' CLD2D0 TEC Single sided 40 track 200K, implements an extremely comprehensive 8271 twin 5 J" Drives £199 emulator so that commands passed through Strong plastic cases that afford real protection to I CLD800 Mitsubishi Double sided 80 track OSWORD &7F are correctly interpreted. Other your discs. The' smoked top locks down. Dividers 800K, TWIN Drives £269 manufacturers thought that read and write sector 5i" and adhesive title strips are supplied for efficient - decided filing of discs. alone were sufficient we to implement > CLD800S Mitsubishi Double sided 40/80 every command of the 8271 thai was physically track switchable, 800K, Drives £299 possible. We have allowed ihe use of all the M35 holds upto 40 discs £13 special registers including bad tracks, allowed (CUMANA) DRIVES CASED access to deleted data etc, etc. The emulator M85 holds upto 95 discs £18 itself lakes up around IK of compactly written machine code. We reckon it will run the vast WITH PSU & CABLES majority of protected discs now available. FLOPPY HEAD CLEANER KIT Gain all the advantages of the WE DFS together with much increased storage and compatibility The heads in a floppy disc drive are precision with existing protected discs, The price is the made and very sensitive to dirt, Drive same as for the standard single density system manufacturers recommend that you clean the that we continue lo sell so you can choose heads approximately once a week. Unless your between the two options without financial home or office is dust free one of these kits is a worries. very sensible precaution against losing valuable data A dirty head can destroy many disks before you realise the trouble Very simple to use. Complete Unit inci, DDFS ROM £85 lOOK Only £14 DDFS Manual £6.95 (no VATi • CS100 TEC Single sided 40 track SJ" Single Disc Drive £125 We will exchange your existing Single 200K bi" Interface for our DDFS Unit for £55 • CS200 TEC Single sided 80 track Micro Densily £149 BBC Single Disc Drive PROCESSING • CS400 Mitsubishi Double sided 80 track WORD £169 400K 5i" Single Drive PACKAGE 5]" • CD2D0 TEC Single sided 40 track 200K A complete word-processing package (which can TWIN Disc Drives £236 *SPECIALOFFER* be heavily modified to your requirements, • CD400 EPSON Double sided 40 track 400K maintaining the large discount). We supply EPROMsfor BBC Micro (Hitachi) 5^'TWIN DiscDrivRS £299 everything you need to get a BBC micro running 2764-250nS £4.95 as a word-processor. Please call in for a • CD800 Mitsubishi Double sided 80 track demonstration 27128-250nS £16.00 £3^3 BOOK 5J" TWIN Drives EXAMPLE PACKAGE RAMs for BBC Micro (Hitachi) BBCModelB. Watford Electronics* DFS upgrade, • CD800S Mitsubishi Double sided 40/80 track WORDWISE ROM, Twin 200k Teac drives in 61 16L (2K) £3.75 Switchable BOOK TWIN Drives £425 12" 6264L (8K) £24.00 beige. Zenith Hi-resolution monitor (Green or • SPARE DRIVE CABLES, SINGLE £6; DUAL £8 Amber/. Brother HR15 daisywheel printer. Gemini software: BEEBCALC spreadsheet, analysis and DATABASE software on disc. 10 < Manual (comprehensive) £7.50 (No VAT) • DFS 3M discs. 500 sheets fan-fold paper, 4 way DESIGN mains trailing socket, manuals, all leads and BBC NEW P.S. carrying case, PLASTIC LIBRARY CASES You do not require a formatting disc nor the expensive 40/80 track switchable drives if you 0NLY£1,189i£15carr.) use Watford's sophisticated Disc Filing System which has all these facilities in the ROM, ACCESS DUST COVERS ™ HOT LINE (For our Disc Drives} (0923 50234) Single(without PSU) 24 Hours Twin (without PSUl Single (with PSU) Twin (with PSU) Twin (side by side with PSU) for Disc Storage bi" (holds i o) £2 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 33 f * AT - enters a Best cost less memory testing routine. This will write a test pattern into the memory and read rt at WATFORD back out again. If a fault is found, it is reported to the user. This test continues until Escape Is pressed, • RDISC - activates APEX as a filing WATFORD'S system which then treats all free APEX We slock a range of monilors to suit all needs. RAM in the system as a continuous Choice of 3 monitor Is a matter ot personal taste LAUNCH OF THE YEAR 'RAM-DISC, All so we recommend thai whenever possible, you commands have similar format to the DPS transfer ask for a demonstration at our shop. APEX and is possible between the two Imicrovitec systems. The ultimate expansion system for the BBC The complete computer system bus is • 1431 - Medium resolution as used on the microcomputer. It enables you to increase available to the user, so that other BBCtelevisioncomputerprogramme . . . £165 memory capacity to 2+ MEGABYTES cards/devices could be added such as • 1451 - High resolution, suitable for word including BATTERY BACKED-UP RAM. EPROM programmers, second processors. processing in mode £255 The system consists of a mother board Winchester disc drives, clocks, etc. By • 1441 - Super High res, exceeds the which fits inside the BBC and further racking the cards you eliminate the tangled capabilities of the BBC micro £385 daughter cards can be connected externally. mass of cables that usually accumulates • Dust Cover for Microuitecs £5.50 The internal card has the following features: around the micro. A comprehensive operating manual is All Microvilec monitors are 14" RGB in their 1 supplied distinctive right angled case. Thev come with the • 5 ROM/RAM sockets, 1 1 of which can with every APEX Board. Please connecting lead lo the BBC and a mains plug. be configured as 2716. 2732, 2764 write in for further details and prices. 271 28 EPROMS or ROM equivalent KAGA devices or as 6264 RAMs, Any RAM is • Standard resolution with RG8 and composite Automatically battery backed-up and it's video inputs £195 contents preserved when the power is THE ULTIMATE turned • High resolution colour £259 off. Kaga monitors are 12" RGB colour with antiglare • The battery is recharged screen and user access to screen controls. every time the DFS machine is turned on and lasts several ZENITH months, depending on the number of RAMs FOR BBC MICRO 12" Ullta high resolution monochrome monitor. fitted. Ideal tor word processing as its green of amber screen is very restful lo read. The high resolution • There is very little extra current drain, makes it good for games too - you can really by even with a fully loaded board as only the see the detail that has been put into the graphics ONLY £68 presently active ROM is powered up. In fact \A/atford Electronics the fully populated board uses only 300mA. PHIUP V2001 luyji • 12" Green High resolution £64 • The board reduces micro bus loading by Highly acclaimed at The ACORN and BBC LEADS up lo three ROM loads, which improves MICRO USER Shows. What do The independent BNCLead for Zenith Philips or £3 reliability and performance. press say? BNC for Zenith , ,, . £3 RGB lead for Good value for money - Beebug Aug. '83 KAGA :. £5 • Installation is extremely simple. There is very - no soldering required. The is A worthwhile package The Micro User N.B. Carriage on Monitors £7 Isecuricor) board rigidlyheld by two 40 pin sockets and five support posts. You'll be buying a very powerful package - A ribbon cable can be brought outside the Personal Computer News computer and up to 8 external cards Superior DFS: Excellent disc sector editor - Versatile BEEB SPEECH added. This enables the user to plug-in up to 142 Computer Answers paged ROMs, The cards SYNTHESISER Unit have following Without a doubt, the most sophisticated DFS features: Software yel written for BBC Micro Computet. This powerful new DFS is fully compatible with ACORN DFS yet has much increased power • Each card can accommodate up to 16 due to additions, carefully designed to make life devices each of which can be configured as easier in normal use. It consists of over 14K of 2716, 2732. 2764, 27128 ROMs or 6264 efficiently written machine code. It is entirely self 8K RAMs. contained and so does not require a utilities disc to function. • Battery backup is provided from the internal card. Please write in for full technical specification. • Only the active ROM is powered up PRICES: permitting many external ROMs to be t DFS (Disc Filing Systeml ROM £25 added with very little current loading OOOmA per card). [simply the best! - An unlimited speech Complete Disc Interface Kit including synthesis system. Complete with The system comes with controlling software easY-to-follow manual. Controlling software DFS ROM & Fitting instructions £99 in The utilities is in ROM so no Cassette Loading ROM. supplied are as follows: problems I Disc Filing System Manual. Comprehensive and [PHONEMES for word synthesis - That means • APEX - replies with the device number clearly written C7.50 Ino VATi unlimited vocabulary' No extra speech currently being accessed. dictionary chips to buy! P.S. We will exchange your existing ACORN DFS |BUILT-in Library of approximately 500 words to • APEX C - toggles between the colour ot PACE (AMCOIVI) DFS for Watford's highly get you started. sophisticated 1 6K DFS ROM for and standard black and white messages. £19 [ENGLISH accent - Utilises inflexion techniques to produce highly comprehensible speech. Watford's DFS is exclusively available from • AL - loads from any device, regardless [EASY to use system - Just plug the software Watford Electronics. We do NOT retail through any of the data type ROM into a socket, the Speech unit into dealers. Every ROM carries a label with our LOGO the User Port, and away you No and a serial number. go! - specialised 'dealer upgrade' required! • AS saves memory to any specified - RAM device. [COMPACT unit The whole system is built into (Vow available; a small case - easily tucked behind the Acorn Kit computer. Auxiliary output socket provided • AD - prints a directory of the devices DFS £99 for direct connection to an external present in the system, i.e. ROMs present amplifier. and files stored. This also reports on the [HOURS of fun! - Suitable for any application - EPROMs & CMOS RAMs amount of free storage space. Games, Educational Programs. Specialised Packages. NEW LOW PRICES • AF asks for the free RAM devices. 2764-250nS (8K ROM) £5.25 [We know this all seems to good to be true but • LA - repeats the last command to oaoed DON'T BE LEFT SPEECHLESS! Order your ROMs, 2yi28-250nS{16KROM) £19 [Versatile Speech Unit nowl 6116-150nS(2K RAM Low Power) £5.25 Only £44 Continued 6264-1 50nS (8K RAM Low Power) £28 34 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 • All the above facilities are accessed via BEEB PRINTER ROM function keys. An overlay is provided lo give comprehensive guidance to key functions. • A 34 page comprehensive instruction/operating manual is supplied. WATFORD'S 1200 BAUD 84 FULLY AUTOMATIC USER MODEM TO USER SOFTWARE PRESTELTERMINAL Having purchased the WATFORD PRESTEL For the BBC Microcomputer TERMINAL which includes the 1200/75 baud MODEM 84 the addition of the WATFORD user to user ROM based software enables you to discover a whole new world of data communication. This software enables you to use the MODEM simplity using al This utilily ROM is designed to 84 very powerfully. ihe facilities of your printer, it has many • Send and receive error checked programs and facilities: files (even WORDWISE files) to and from other • Selection of printer modes such as underline, users at 1200 baud. is Single Key operations. font and size by • 8k file transfer in under 2.5 minutes (approx following • From Wordwise, a single number four times faster than with 300 baud modems). will select a mode rather than a long and OC • The transfer of data is totally AUTOMATIC incomprehensible String of control codes. This which means that the modem is automatically makes using your printer with Wordwise much switched between transmit and receive under more convenient. The Watford Prestel package allows B,T, software control. « using Basic (or other languagesl you When approved connection to Prestel, Micronet and • A chat mode is provided which also has this can control over the formatting of the have many other 1 200/75 baud databases for about automatic switching for receive and transmit. to the printer in the style of a oulpul the cost of a good tape recorder, (This mode is essential just before and after data wordprocessor. You can define page top. bottom Prestel gives you access to an incomparable transfer when both hand sets are replaced to skip and side margins etc. with intelligent page database covering almost every subject under the reduce noise). option. All supported printers will for binders an sun. There is Micronel with lots of free programs • A copy facility is provided which allows eic. commands. now respond to form-teed that you can download and run Details of clubs transmission of all screen output. • User defined characters are primed as you and user groups, a diary of meetings and • A continuous on screen modem status report the screen so that non-standard see them on exhibitions, news and reviews, technical is included. characters are automatically printed out correctly. information etc. There is Homelink with online • The software is totally function key driven for the • Commands select the options banking. And there is armchair shopping, travel enabling easy transmission, reception, saving and following printers: information, enteriainmenl, world news, sports loading of programs and files (8asic, Machine GPIOO. STAR, NEC, MX/FX, KAGA. news, weather information, electronic mail and code or Data). LPA'II/OMPIOO, DMP200. lots more. • A help menu is available from within the serial interfaces, Operates with either parallel or The basic Prestel subscription is only £5 per software as an aid to use. Supplied with manual that is very • a 50 page quarter and at off peak times there is no charge • Full instructions are supplied. comprehensive and easy to follow. Please specify for access time, A local phone call facility means send printer type when ordering so that we can no long distance phone calls lo Prestel (approx. PRICES Ihe correct function key sirip. phone cost is only 40p per hour). MODEM 84 The Watford Prestel package consists of the B.T. (with £68 Price: £24 approved Watford MODEM 84 (1200/75 baud Lead & Manual} full duplex 1200 baud half duplex direct MODEM 84 complete with PRESTEL connect! and a very sophisticated Prestel SOFTWARE ROM, Lead and Manuals £82 DUMPOUT 3 Terminal ROM, PRESTEL SOFTWARE ROM A highly sophisticated screen dump ROM, This This totally machine code software: + has to be the most flexible and powerful screen V is fully compatible with not only the Modem Manual £20 dump ROM yet produced for ihe BBC micro. 84 but also with the PRISM 1000 and most USER to USER SOFTWARE ROM £15 anything you see on the other modems thai require a data link via an It will put on paper (Carriage on Modem £2) screen, including all Mode 7 facilities etc. We RS423/RS232 port making it a worthwhile have to admit that there is one faciitty that we purchase for those who already have Modems. VIEW cannot replicate - if anyone can supply flashing • supports full Prestel colour alpha and graphic ink we would like to know! characters including double height, flashing, VIEW WORDPROCESSOR The ROM also provides window setting facilities conceal/reveal. We are supplying the new VIEW version 2.1 7 (•P.l and two new OSWORD calls thai allow mode • called by simple "PRESTEL command allowing printing of memory contents etc. £49 graphics pixels to be read and plotted using the Disc and tape configurations fully supported. standard graphic co-ordinate system. Two • includes a comprehensive telesoftware commands are used to operate the dump downloader for BBC and other programs with FX80 PRINTER DRIVER continuous on screen status report (an essential routines: Sophisticated •GIMAGE - This provides a full graphics dump facility), Watford's own VIEW of any Mode (including Mode 8), There are • has very powerful OFF LINE MAILBOX editor Printer Driver for FX80 various optional paramelers but you need only allowing colour flashing graphic mailboxes to be specify the parameters you wish to change. prepared without having to be on line lo Prestel, Tosimplify using the full facilities of the Epson • V ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 35 TWO DATABASE Operations supported are -, +, •, /, +—999999 = 9999.9999 andcomparefacilities , >,':^> < = ADE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS >-, <, &.. Complete program development package in a Many keywords are supported by the language; 16K ROM, Full assembling and debugging assign, compare, display, end, goto, iff. ift, print, facilities provided. read, search, spool and update. Supplied with a very detailed 70 page manual to SPECIAL OFFER ONLY £43 explain all the facilities with many examples. Only £43 (Please specify 40 or 80 tracks for the utilities disc) ROM MANAGER BUFFER & BACKUP ROM This ROM is unique in its capabilities. It allows DISCDATA you, the user, full control over the BBC Micros sideways ROM paging system with simple to use Discdata is an entirelv disc based database commands. This ROM is essential for those with handling system. It is extremelv easy to use For those with sideways RAM fitted in their several ROMs. At a simple level through its comprehensive menu system. The ROM machines this utility ROM will make full use of MANAGER can be used to remove the problem simplicity is such that we do not feel the need to this facility. By using the sideways RAM area for of clashing command names and allow full use provide explanation on use in the written extra memory the following features are of all the facilities of your ROMs. is guidance supplied with the program. The This coupled implemented: with facilities to completely enable or disable first-time database user will rapidly become * 4K or 16K buffer for parallel printer. various ROMs in the machine including familiar with this package designed throughout ROM * Dumps selection of Disc files to Tape. manager itself. to be simple and obvious. * Makes backup copies of tapes on to tape and ROM MANAGER can also be used to develop Despite the ease of use this system provides all disc, sideways ROMs using the machine s standard the facilities needed for complex data handling * Displays contents of paged ROMs on screen, memory. This is achieved by sending sideways problems. The length of database that can be * Menu display of ROM filing system contents ROM calls to your code in RAM. saving the handled is only limited by the total space on the on Shift-Break. expense of fitting sideways RAM for ROM disc. You can have up to 20 fields with page * Comprehensive manual. development purposes. ROM status reports are length records up to 254 bytes in length. Adding also given by the ROM, including ROM lengths, and deleting records, amend titles, field names Only £22 checksums, entry points supported and current and records. Sort on any field and search for any filing system title. record or group of records in any field. The The ROM also provides facilities to examine database may be re-formatted after creation, the DATAGEM ROMs, list function keys for editing, modify RAM system will re-write all your files for you (using a HEX/ASCII editor! and list ROM titles automatically. You may add extra fields and Gemini's 24K ROM based neatly and concisely. extend the length of existing fields freely. DATABASE Management System Output formatting is very powerful. You are The commands given in the ROM: allowed 40, 60 or 132 column output modes Special Introductory Offer: £99 CHECKSUM - Generates a CRC for a going to printer or screen. Selected fields can be specified ROM (useful for testing suspected put in any order on the screen or printer, either faulty ROMs). across the paper or down. Output can start or PENPAL-VERSATILE 'DIRECT - Passes a command directly to a stop anywhere in file. the Decimal fields are named ROM (overcomes command name automatically LIGHT PEN totalled and records output are clashes) counted. Version 2, now on sale has improved SOFTWARE 'EXAMINE - Allows examination of a named input and amendments procedures giving full Doyouhavealightpenihat never gets used? ROM record edit as well as the 3 extra features . . . Then this piece of software is for you. This 'EXPLAIN — Gives detailed explanation of the Siring searching. Calculations on numeric fields, package offers many useful facilities that make first 22 'FX codes. and the ability to create sub files from your main the light pen a useful device to own. Facilities •FILE - Passes a command directly to the files- included are: current filing system (which normally receives On disc at Only £17 • Pixel, Line and Character definition commands after all the ROMs). • Free hand drawing •FUNCTION - Lists the contents of the ( Please specify 40 or 80 track whan ordering) • All Colours function keys in a form suitable for editing. • Fill, Refill and stripes •INCLUDE — Allows the main memory to be • User defined "Brush strokes" plus character used for ROM development. FILE-PLUS definer 'MODIFY - Memory editing in HEX/ASCII • Grid, Scale and perspective aids 2 to 200 format. The File-Plus package is even more powerful and points palletable in one design with Circles and 'NAMES - Lists the names and socket numbers flexible than Disc-Data. It is also largely menu "rubber banding" of all resident ROMs. driven but has its language own command for • Move design/character to any screen position •RAM - Sends command directly to the RAM file searching. The 16K ROM contains all the • Save and Load screens, User defined based ROM routine. normally required routines, with lesser used characters and line drawings for video titles, own •REMOVE - Removes RAM based ROM option. options supplied the utilities disc. All input on programmes etc. •SPECIFY - Selects the default ROM. and output formatting is controlled through This program has many uses in education and at •DEFAULT - Sends commands directly to the screen forms. A full screen editing system is home. It is supplied with a comprehensive default ROM without having to give its name. to define used a form which allows tremendous instruction manual. STOP end 'START - Disable and enable any flexibility in the format in which your data is Works with Watford, RH, Acorn User, DIY and named ROM to completely eliminate command displayed. It is very to easy change from form to many other Light Pens. word clashes. form so that you can type in your with one data Prices •STATUS - Information about all the ROMs form, and examine it with others. You will TAPE £10 fitted in the machine including socket number, typically design several forms before staning to DISC(40or8D) £11 name, length, whether it is enabled, whether it access the database so that you can quickly and has service or language entries etc. easily see the fields of each record that you want •VALUES - Gives ROM MANAGER status to appear in the layout you decide on. The form information, such as its socket number, how is also DISC system used for output to your printer EXECUTOR many ROMs have higher priority, number of File Plus has unique a file linking system that default ROM and the identity of the current filing allows the entire on-line storage of your system Disc Executor is a sophisticated disc utility for system. to be used for This the transfer of your cassette programs to disc. If one database. can give •VECTOR - Same as "DIRECT, just in case around you have difficulties transferring your cassette 1,5 Megabyte databases using dual 'DIRECT clashes wiifi another ROM, drives and double density. software to your disc system then this is the All selection between particular ROMs is by the answer. It handles locked' files full length The built in FQL (File-Plus Query Language) can and name of the ROM and this may be abbreviated adventures (up to 8i8ie blocks) be used for searching the database. Presented in and programs for convenience. ROM numbers can also be used the form of a powerful language that load below &E00. It is very simple to command with if required. This ROM is very simple and obvious looping facilities this operate with instructions supplied, It saves you etc. allows the most flexible to use. All the facilities are explained in the clear access to your data possible. Full arithmetic time and money. and detailed manual. operations are provided to allow the system to Price £10 be used for statistical analysis. Cent. ( Please specify 40 or 80 track discs) Price £22 36 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 Watford fills the gap with a 32K RAM EXPANSION BOARD COMPUTER CONCEPT'S ROMS CARETAKER Basic Utility £28 Graphics ROM £28 Disc Doctor ROM £28 *«*' «»,^^> powerful and versatile machine code Without doubt a very sophisticated piece of The most Electronics brings vou the It has all the Now Watford monitor BOM yei written fot BBC Micro. It has software for the BBC Micro state-of-the-art memory expansion The normal memor^i editing, moving and features of a professional word processor yet is latest all nticrocompuier. This relocating facilities, plus all editing ts with a full easy to use board for your BBC screen editor allowing scrolling up and down compact board which fits inside the £32 or memory, entering in Hex, ASCII or standard SPECIALOFFER THIS MONTH; computer does not just give you 1 6K assembler mnemonics. even 20K ol extra RAM, but a massive under In use as a debugging lool, you run code 32K1!! a total emulation system. Everfelt a desperate There are many useful facilities available urge to set a break point in ROM? No problem BEEBFONTROM - you can even have breakpoint on reading or with this board: writing locations in memory and on register BEEBFONT is a remarkable and different concept • The top 20K of the expansion RAM can contents. The system fully supports debugging in BBC software supplied on a 16K ROM. H the screen display memorv, of sideways ROMs e.g. BASIC can lully and allows you to display text on the screen in any of be used as free for easily be run from within Beebmon and from the following styles; leaving all the standard BBC RAM there DFS and other sideways ROMs can be programs or data storage. This allows good used in total emulation mode. graphics and long programs to be Beebmon can even run itself. In so doing you combined. For instance you could have only by can nest Beebmon up lo a level limited MODE 0/1/2 GRAPHICS AND 28K OF size, Beebmon uses 266 bytes of the memory PROGRAM SPACE. The extra memory can workspace, located anywhere in memory, even by virtually any language or utility on the 1MH2 Bus, Beebmon effectively uses no aacliet'liiiklmno? be used WORDWISE, etc. zero page workspace, so your program (e.g. such as BASIC, VIEW. BASIC) can use any or all of the base page. • The full 32K or the bottom 12K of the How does it achieve this? By providing a 6502 can be used as a buffer for interpreter all programs running under it exist expansion RAM RS423, in a vertuai BBC, so special memory locations the printer, sound channels. This allows like the ROM latch are not actually accessed ftBCDEPGHUKLnNOP keyboard or speech synthesiser. by your programs, instead they alter a location very long text files 10 be printed while you Emulation also in Beebmon's workspace. are using 27K of program and 20K of Beebmon command abcdefShiJklitiTiop allows immediate return to graphicsl level by Ctrl-escape no matter what code is H:Wmnrfl!lilMil!liM being excuted at the time. All this exceptional • This board is the ideal complement to power and flexibility is complemented by a any word processing system. There is no clear and detailed manual included in a value need to wail for slow printers as you can for money price of: typo in long text in 80 column display - £22 ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOP mode while printing is going on TWO JOBS DONE SIMULTANEOUSLY!!! (an abcde f gh i j k Imnop equivalent printer buffer would cost you Disassembler Rom ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOP £115-1-). • The board is compatible with a vast range of software and hardware available for the BBC microcomputer, including our ROM expansion board and double density ABCDEFGHUKLHNOP DFS. ibcdeflhjjjdjjnoi • The board is extremely easy to fit. It is supplied complete with a comprehensive manual and ROM based software with full m^ messages, HELP SPECIAL OFFER iilfiillrlMliij JKLIIIW Only: £69 (cam £1) the full It works in modes 0. 1, 2 and 4 using colour capabilities of each mode. Characters are Discover the hidden secrets of BASIC and the printed in the same way as normal. Selection GRAPH PAD OPERATING SYSTEM with this easy to use between the various fonts is very easily achieved Graph-pad, you programmers tool. with Ctrl-V - press this followed by a 'ont With this popular British Micro's computer A ROM based machine code Disassembler for number and the output will continue in the new can add new dimension to your useful in enjoymenl. it helps you to create your own the BBC micro. It enables machine code font. Beebfont ROM is particularly simple use of the programs to be listed in BASIC/DUMP format display work with the characters produced at application programs by the Ideal for Educational use. Supplied and thus is the perfect complement to the built twice the normal size. Graphpad. fonts with with Cables, Manual and a two in assembler. It allows Sideways ROMs, files on You can create your own character complete disk or tape to be listed, and also has a the editor supplied. You can also print-out oroqram cassette. comprehensive editor, allowing mnemonics to be pre-tormatted text files using the special SPECIAL0FFER£105 altered directly, as well as HEX. DECIMAL, ASCH characters with Epson FX, RX and NEC printers. and BINARY memory editing. There is also a full The full range of character styles can be used, set of labelling facilities available (up to 3.200 controlled from within the text. The editor and labels), with the major locations and routines spooler program are supplied with the package, All Prices Exclude VAT already labelled. on cassette or disc. The spooler allows word Thus DIS-ASM enables any monitor program, processor (Wordwise & View) output to be such as BEEBMON to be used to much greater printed in the new characters. Please state effect as il is not necessary to disassemble A twenty page manual is supplied. editor spooler WATFORD memory each time the display is altered. printer type and media tor the & when ordering (cassette, 40 or 80 itack disc). ContirfUed ONLY £18 ONLY £39 37 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 SURGE PROTECTOR Plug BOOKS (No VAT on Books) PLINTHS FOR BBC MICRO AND PRINTERS SOPrograms-BBCMicro Fitted in place ofyour normal mains plug, this £3.25 device protects your equipment against mains 30 Hour BASIC (BBC Micro) £6,95 surges. Nearby lightning strikes, thermostats 35 Education Programsfor BBC £6.95 switching and many other sources put high 36 Challenging Games for BBC £5,95 voltage transient spikes on to the mains. This 40 Educational Programsfor BBC £5.95 can lead to data corruption in memory and on 100 Programsfor BBC Micro £6.95 disc and can result in spuriously crashing Cassette version of above machines. Suitable tor computers, Hi-Fi. Fridge £10.00 Application Freezers etc. Max. Surge current 2KAmp; max. 6502 Book £1 1,95 Voltage 250. Essential for serious computer 6502 Assembly Language Program ., £13.95 users. 6502 Assembly Language Subroutines Protection for only £8.50 £14.25 6502 Machine Code for Beginners £5.95 6502 Software Design £10.50 A young persons guide to BBC Basic .,, £4,50 Advanced Machine Code Technique for BBC £7,95 Protect your computer from the weight and heat Advanced User Guide for of your monitor, BBC micro plinths have slots for maximum ventilation. BBCMicro £11.95 Single height version is suitable tor BBC and monitor. Double height SIDEWAYS Advanced Graphics with BBC £9.95 version allows the disc drives to be used in the Advanced6502 Interfacing £10.95 centre section or stationary, etc. The computer ZIF Advanced 6502 Programming £12.45 slides easily in to place, allowing easy access to Assembly Language Programming on remove the lid. BBCMicro £7.95 The printer plinth is equally sturdy but without Advanced Programming Techniques the cooling slots. This allows the paper to be External sideways stacked under the plinth fortheBBCMicro £7.95 with the printer on top - a very convenient way to work as it does not ROM socket Basic BBC £7.95 require the usual very deep table. Assembly Lang, Prog, on BBC £7.40 BBCBASIC £5.95 SINGLEBBC PLINTH £11 (carr.C1.50) BBC Basic for Beginners £6.95 DOUBLE BBC PLINTH E20(carr.£2.00) PRINTER PLINTH 10lcarr.El.50l BBC DIY Robotics & Sensors £6,95 BBC Forth £7,50 BBC Lisp £7,50 BBC MicroAn Expert Guide £6,95 AWAY MAINS BBC Micro Book BASIC Sound & Graphics £7.95 DISTRIBUTION SOCKET BBCMicroGraphicsand Sound £6.95 BBC Micro Programs in Basic £5.95 BBC Micro ROM PAGING System Explained £2,00 BBC Micro Revealed £6.95 BBC Micro Assembly Lang. Prog £7.95 BBCMicro Disc Companion £7,95 4 way top quality mains trailing sockets. BBC Micro in Education £6.50 Supplied wired up with mains plug ready for use. Basic Programming on BBC Micro £5.95 Canbescrewed to floor or wail if required, Very useful for tidying up all the mains leads from Best of PCW Software (BBC} £5.95 your peripherals. Allows the whole system to be CP/M Users Guide £13.95 switched on from one plug. Creating Adventure Programs on BBC Micros £6,95 £9.50 Creative Graphics Cassette (Acornsoft). Has 36 graphics programs £8,95 ASSORTED CONNECTING Creative graphicson BBC Micro £7.50 LEADS Complete Programmer for BBC £5.95 (All made and tested) DISC FILING SYSTEM (OFS) ready CASSETTE LEADS 7 pin At Watford we haven't forgotten those of you Operating Manual for BBC £6.95 DIN Plug 10 5 pin DIN Plug - 1 Jack Plug C2.00 with small budgets, so we've produced a ROM Discover BBC Machine Code £6.95 to 3 pin DIN Plug > 1 Jack Plug C2.00 board which takes only one ROM! But don I stop Discover FORTH £13.95 to 7 pin DIN Plug reading - this ROM can be changed in under five £2.50 DIY Robotics &Sensorswith BBC £6.95 Jack Plugs seconds without taking the case apart. 10 3 £2.00 Further Prog, for BBC Micro £5,95 The SIDEWAYS ZIF eliminates the possibility of 6 pin DIN to 6 pin DIN Plug (RGB) £2.50 Programming £14,40 damage to your ROMs as zero insertion or FORTH MONITORLEADS Functional extraction force is required when changing Forth for the BBCMicro £5.95 MicrovitecRGB leads 6 pin DIN to 6 pin DIN for ROMs. GamesonyourBBC Micro £2.95 colourmonitots £2.50 Included in the SIDEWAYS ZIF package is a Games BBC Computer Can Play £6.95 KAGA/SANYOColourMonitorLeads £5.00 specially designed see through storage container Graphs & Charts on BBC Micro £7.50 Monochrome monitor leads for your ROMs which protecis them from Phono Graphic Art for BBC Computer £5.95 BNC to £3.00 mechanical and static damage when not in use. DISC DRIVE POWER LEADS Graphs and Charts (Cassette) £7.50 Consider the features: Supply from BBC power supply 10 standard Disc Graphicson Micro • Very simple to install, no soldering or BBC £6.95 Drive connector. modifications to the BBC Micro are required. Hobbit (Book and Cassette) £14.95 Single £3.00 Dual £3.75 • Uses a professional ZERO INSERTION FORCE Introducing the BBCMicro £5.95 SOCKET (ZIF) so no force is required changing a Introduction to FORTH £9.30 ROM, Intro to Micro Beginners Book • No further expense, ROMs are used as MISCELLANEOUS (3 Ed.) £9.90 supplied without expensive specialised cartridges. Let your BBC teach u to program £6.45 The storage box included stores up to 12 ROMs CONNECTORS LISP £9.25 in perfect safety. Plugs Sockets Fits Logo Programming £8.95 • neatly into the existing cartridge slot on RGBIBPINDINl 30p 45p the lefthand side of the BBC Micro keyboard. Mastering VISICALC £12.45 RS423(5pin Domino) 40p 50p • The low profile design of the socket gives Mastering CP/M £13.65 Cassette (7 pin DIN) 25p 65p unrestricted access to the keyboard, unlike other Micros in the Classroom £4.90 EC0NET(5pinDIN) 20p 30p cartridge systems. Programming the 6502 £11.95 Paddles)15pinD') llOp 21 5p • Allows easy installation and changing of Power Plug 6 - Programming & Interfacing 6502 .... £16.00 BBC way 80p Sideways ROMs, all without dismantling your Plug 4 - Programming the Disc Drive way 75p BBC Micro. Once locked in position in the ZIF BBCMicro £6,95 socket the ROM behaves as a normal sideways PASCAL £9,25 ROM. Programmingfor Education on BBC ... £5.95 ATTACHE CARRYING • No more problems of running out of socket Structured Prog, with BBC BASIC £6.50 space, simply unplug the ROM and plug a The Complete FORTH £6.95 CASE for BBC Micro different one in I The BBC Micro Book, BASIC, SOUND The Attache carrying case is attractively finished &GRAPHICS £7,40 in moltled antique brown leatherette. The case is A REAL MUST FOR PROFESSIONALS Using Floppy Discs with BBCMicro .... £5.95 made of tough plywood, providing a very solid AND HOBBYISTS ALIKE Using BBC Basic £6.95 and safe way to carry your BBC micro. There is Using 6502 Ass. Language £14,50 room provided to fit all the leads necessary behind ONLY £16 Wordstar & CP/M made easy £6.95 the computer and manuals in the from. Locks supplied with two keys. Price£12(E2 carr.! 38 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 EPROM PROGRAMMER MK 2 13 ROM SOCKET LIGHTPEN EXPANSION BOARD This Light Pen for the BBC micro is packaged in Supplied a neat pen shape with built In switch. Electronics' EPROM programmer for The Watford complete with our sophisticated Pen-Pal micro is a high quality self contained the BBC software on cassette (see elsewhere in this ad). package. Programs all popular EPROMs from 2K to 16K: 2716. 2516, 2532, 2564. 2764 and Only £20 27128. Ail manufacturers' specifications have (For software on disc please add £2) been followed to program EPROMs at the correct speed - wrong timings could destroy your EPROMs. The unit has its own power DATA RECORDER AND supply so does not put heavy loads on the BBC power supply as do some other units. Connects ACCESSORIES 1 bus following all Acorn directly to the MHz Top quality slimline portable cassette recorder and bus recommendations on addressing designed specifically tor use with home loadings. computers. Mains/Battery operated with tape counter. SOFTWARE PACKAGE £20„,„ The software is supplied on an ePROM which - board DATA CABLE to connect recorder lo BBC plugs into the Micro and is instantly available Now all lines fully buffered On £2.50 single command (no time wasting as on battery back-up facility - will now accept with a DATA CASSETTES - Top grade tested C12 Cassette/disc loading). It is a fully purpose EPROMS 2716, 2732, 2764 8. 27128 and Data cassettes supplied in library cases 35p designed and integrated pacl^age to simplify ROMs 6116 & 6264. ROM development. The system is menu driven with many prompts to avoid any accidents. Simply plugs into one of the four ROM sockets MISCELLANEOUS currently available in BBC Micro. There are only Softwara facilities include: 28 pin OIL PLUG - 5 solder connections to be made. Full File - Save File - Down Load EPROM Solder type £1.85 Load instructions are supplied. This board has been Program - Verify - Blank Check - IDC Crimp type £2.90 EPROM ergonomically designed to enable the user, easy Editing of memory contents prior to 28 pin ZIF SOCKET ITextOOll £7.50 further expansion inside the Micro, e.g. Double programming. 34 way Ribbon Cable £0.60/foot Density Board, Torch Board, etc. (At Watford, we Also included is an automatic system to allow 8 way DIP SWITCH £0.87 think ahead.) Basic programs to be put in EPROM and the 'ROM filing system. More accessed through Our Mk2 13 ROM Socket Board enables the program may be put in an EPROM. All ANTI GLARE MONITOR than one User to increase the sideways ROM capacity these facilities and more are explained in the from the basic 4 sockets upto full 16 capable of SAFETY SCREEN clear 15 page manual. comprehensive and being supported by current operating systems In 0NLY£79(£3carr. addition the board is designed with the facility to hold upto 16K RAM, which when switched into operation is automatically selected by any WRITE signal to the Sideways ROM area. This gives the User the abihty to write a utility or language and TEX EPROM ERASERS upon pressing break have the utility or language up and running (new ROM software can be — EPROMs need careful treatment if they are to developed and lesteri in situ,) HEADACHES? TIRED EYES' Dont take pills survive their expected lifetime. Over erasure of Use a Watford Electronics anti-glare filter i EPROMs very rapidly turns them into ROMsl The The Board gives the User, plenty of freedom to Considerable research into the possible health TEX erasers operate following the manufacturers explore the "possibilities of the new paged ROMs problems associated with monitor screens has specifications to give the maximum possible due in the coming months and offers ihem the shown that eye strain, blurred vision, watering, working life by not erasing too fast, We use chance to develop their own. itching eyes and headaches can result after these erasers for all our own erasing work, prolonged use. The problems are caused by All lines are fuiiy buffered and the Board meets reflections which force the eye to • ERASER EB - Standard version erases up to extraneous or exceeds all timings for operation in the BBC continuously re-focus to try to ignore them. 16 chips. C28 fully populated, the ROM Microcomputer. When The answer is our contrast enhancement, - Deluxe version erases up to than half the recommended • ERASER GT Board consumes less anti-glare filter which is similar to those which switch 28 chips. Has automatic safety cut-off to maximum current limit. have been previously available on business opened. off the UV lamp when £30 systems, but at the low cost that you would Supplied ready-built and tested complete with will soon • Spare UV tubes. £9 expect for your personal computer. You fitting instructions. find the reduction in eye strain well worth your investment. ONLY£32.50(carr,Cll Features; • Simple fitting with sticky Velcro pads. VOLTMACE DELTA 14 • Easily removed for cleaning. JOYSTICK SYSTEM • Tinting improves colour quality and contrast. THE INVESTIGATOR • Works on monochrome or colour monitors. The Voltmace system provides full facilities for • Curved instead of usual flat screen reduces provided on disc to make connecting the Delta 14 handset. A utility program edge distortion. security backup copies of all your valuable discs. Delta 14 handset - On its own makes a high • Made in Britain by a long established glass full use of all 8271 facilities to discover quality centre sprung analogue joystick with fire Makes maker. format of your protected disc so that buttons £12.50 the precise Available in 9". 12" and 14" versions produced. Supplied with Adaptor Module allows use of two joysticks and an exact copy can be - please specify when ordering. detailed instructions. Please specify 40 or 80 provides hardware lo access all the keys on the track disc when ordering, Price Introductory offer price: £14.95(carr.£l keypad of the joystick £12.55 £25 Transfer program allows use of the keypad keys and joystick to simulate any key on the keyboard. Prices subject to change without notice and available on request. This works by creating a machine code patch MAIL OBOEfl AND RETAIL SHOP. TRADE AND EXPORT INQUIRIES ^Vf°'!?1 that stays in memory while another program is GOVERNMENT AND EDUCATIONAL ESTABLISHMENTS OFFICIAL ORDERS ACCEPTED. loaded in. Allows any game to be used with CARRIAGE: Unless statad othsrwise. pleoae add 75p to all ca«h orders. joysticks. Supplied on disc or tape. VAT^ UK cuitomsr« plM«« -dd 15% VAT to th. total coat incl. Ckrrias* Disc £7.95 Car Parking Spacaa) Tape £5.10 SHOP HOURS: 9.00«m to S.OOom. Monday «« Saturday. (Ample Fra* ACCESS ORDERS: Simply phona: Watford (09291 50294- (24 HqiuiL STANDARD JOYSTICKS Watford Electronics These are standard analogue type with a fire button on each joystick. Twin joysticks go to a ii single moulded plug, long leads provided. Single Player version £7.00 Dept. ACORN, 250, HIGH STREET, WATFORD, ENGLAND. Two Players version £12.00 Telephone: 0923 40588/37774. Telex: 8956095 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 39 V€;>s> .^e*" vA^^S-r>^'A^* BBC MICRO Communications and networking are the twin themes that are creating the greatest interest among users of microcomputers. In special presentations at the October Electron & BBC Alexandra Palace, London N22 Micro User Show we unveil the mysteries and Thursday to Sunday, show how your computer at home can send and receive messages from all parts of the world. October 25 to 28 Bv handing in this voucher at the door you save £1 off BBC MICRO the normal admission Reduced prices for SAVE MONEY with price of £3 (adulU) and School/College our Special Travel £2 (children). Groups and Hotel Offer (Valid /of (J maxuiium of 4 people) (Onti; 1 voucher per person} Entrv only £1 per student if Visitors to the ^^ Show can obtain lOam-Spm, Thursday, 25 October bookings are made in cut-price rail tickets hrom ANY 10am-5pm, advance. Send your cheque Friday, 26 October station in the United Kingdom (made payable to Database 10am-5pm, Saturday, 27 October - plus special reduced prices Publications) and SA£ to: 10am4pm, Sunday. 28 October at London hotels. Write to: Electron & BBC Micro User Show Travel OHer.PO Box 1. Si Alexandra Palace 68 Chester Road, Hazel Grow, Albans ALl 4ED wih SAE or Wood Green, London N22. Slockporl SK7 5NY Telephone St Albans 34475 Number alicnding [T] W] [T] Tel 061456 8383 Ljuoting The Electron & BBC ^\ AU11 Vahd for G minimum at 10 people Micro User Show I FIRST BYTE CO-ORDINATED As you can see. we require only one initial MOVE statement to set up the starting position of our imaginary graphics pen. At the end of each DRAW command the pen will be correctly positioned. Figure 2 charts each DRAW MOVES movement. Note also how the last DRAW command in line 70 returns the graphics pen to its original position. It's easy on the Beeb and Electron to Often when writing a Basic program sections are repeated several times. If draw shapes on-screen and then these are quite short, perhaps just a couple of lines, it is easy to type them in wherever they are needed. But if the assemble them, says Tessie Revivis repeated items are longer entering them several times is laborious and eats away the micro's memory. aspects of the Electron and from to 1023. The horizontal lines are TwoBBC micro set these machines numbered to 1279 from left to right, apart from many of their contem- and termed the X axis. Thus any pos- poraries. These are the ability to pro- ition on the screen can be specified or duce graphics using simple and clear defined by its X, Y co-ordintes. The commands and the ability to allow sec- point 100, 100, for example, is found by tions of programs to be called by a moving 100 points along the X axis and name assigned to them and also allow- then 100 points uptheY axis. ing numeric values and strings to be Figure 1 illustrates the co-ordinates passed into them. In First Byte this for each corner of the screen. The month we'll examine these features, bottom left-hand corner has the co- and lay down the foundations for the ordinates 0,0 and this is referred to as construction of a simple but effective the origin, as every movement we computer aided design (CAD) package. make will be referenced from this point. Both Acorn micros have what are If we want to move the graphics pen termed graphics screens -in fact they to the co-ordinates 100,100 we use a Figure 1. Co-ordinates of each screen corner have a total of five graphics screens, line like this: which differ in that they use varying 20 MOVE 100.100 of memory and that only a set amounts However, before running a graphics DRAW 100,1000 DRAW 1000,1000 number of colours are available in program we must remember to select each one. Selecting a particular the desired graphics mode, so the pre- graphics screen is performed using the ceding line 10 might read: command: 10 MODE 2 MODEn If we want to draw a line across the where n is the number of the mode. screen from this point the X.Y co-ordi- Table 1 details the colours and amount nates of the end of the desired line must of memory used by each screen mode. be specified as part of the DRAW com- line: We can see from it that the 16 colours mand, thus we could add the implemented on the Electron and Beeb 30 DRAW 1000,100 MOVE 0,0 DRAW 1000,1 00 are available all at once only in mode 2, and DRAW 0,0 three-line To allow lines to be drawn on the Running the program would line to displayed on screen two commands are provided: cause a white be Figure 2. The DRAW stages the lower portion of the screen. MOVE and DRAW. If we imagine that we have an imaginary graphics pen the By combining sequences of DRAW Consider the rectangle program. commands it is possible to construct wanted to draw this four MOVE command moves it to a specific Suppose we point on the screen (as (hough poised shapes. A square or rectangle is simply times on the screen. We could enter the to the better over a piece of paper), while the DRAW four lines, each at a right angle listing four times, but a much command puts the graphics pen on the previous one. A simple rectangle draw- programming technique would be to paper' and draws a line from its ing program would be: define the rectangle-drawing program then call current position to another specified pos- 10REM Square as a named procedure and ition. A particular point on the graphics 20 MODE 2 screen is specified by using a co- 30 MOVE 100,100 Tessie Revivis' car-drawing ordinate system. The screen is divided 40 DRAW 1000,100 program (listing 1) is presented on off horizontally and vertically into lines, 50 DRAW 1000.1000 like a page of graph paper. The vertical 60 DRAW 100,1000 yellow page 100 lines, termed the Y axis, are numbered 70 DRAW 100,100 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 m49 ORLESS.HOW'S THATFORSTARTERS? Evervthing you need to organise yourself and to Also look out for the range of Rexel Computer Care operate and maintain your and Maintenance products. Prices start from £3,50. computer - cassette storage, You couldn't have a better start than that. programming, cleaning - all together in one complete kit. For more information on the Rexel Computer The Rexel Home Computer Care products, write to: Starter Kit is put together by Rexel Ltd, Gatehouse Road, Aylesbun/, experts to help you get the dUCKS. rir ly jUI cassette bmaer supplied without very best out of your micro, cassettes especially if you are starting on the exciting business of creating your own programs. REXEL Compatible with even/ cassette driven micro, it is COMPUTER SUPPLIES available now at W.H.Smith, John Menzies and other leading suppliers. And at £11,49 or less, it's an absolute gift. TAKEA CLOSERLOOKATREXEL * I FIRST BYTE jt four times. The name-defining DEF PROC line so that the computer One of the useful aspects of producing sequence is performed using the two knows that it must put values into them. routines in this way is that it enables statements DEF PROCxxxx, where xxxx Line 1000 therefore becomes: you to build up a procedures library. is tfie (it could be of any length) Just save each PROC to tape as you name 1000 DEF PROCrectangle (X%,Y%. we wish to give that procedure. DEF X1%,Y1%,X2%,Y2%,X3%,Y3%) design it and then load it in as and when required. The PROC calling line can be used in the same way by placing the values to No of colours be passed into each variable within Memory available 'Producing routines brackets, thus: Mode required 20k 2 in this way enables 30 PROCrectangle (100,100.1000,100, 1 20k 4 you to build up a 1000,1000,100,1000) 2 20k 16 4 10k 2 procedures library' Now when the program is run the eight numeric values above will be passed 5 10k 4 into the eight variables in line 1000. Table 1. Colour and memory details This approach is still a bit untidy and can be cleaned up. To produce a PROC is short for DEFine PROCedure. Listing 1 provides a variety of pro- rectangle all we really need to pass To call the procedure 'rectangle', cedures that will perform the following: into the procedure is the MOVE co- therefore, the listing would become: ordinates and then the length of two PROCrectangle - draw a rectangle 1000 DEF PROCrectangle adjacent sides. We can then let the PROCtriangle - draw a triangle 1010 MOVE 100,100 procedure do the donkey work. So the PROCcircle - draw a circle 1020 DRAW 1000.100 final program to draw the four rect- PROCfillrec-draw and fill in a rec- 1030 DRAW 1000,1000 angles looks like this: tangle PROCfilltri-draw and fill in a tri- 1040 DRAW 100,1000 10 REM Four Rectangles 1050 angle DRAW 100,100 20 MODE 2 PROCfillcir-fill in an already drawn 1060ENDPROC 30 PROCrectangle (100,100,300, circle To terminate the procedure the com- 300) mand ENDPROC is used (line 1060). 40 PROCrectangle (100,600,200. The controlling program uses these You'll have noticed that I have now 300) calls to draw a car in multi colours like used higher line-numbers for the pro- 50 PROCrectangle (600,100,250. cedural definition. This is standard 350) practice as procedures are normally 60 PROCrectangle (600.600,350, placed towards the end of a program 350) 'We can then let 70 listing. To test the procedure it can be END the procedure do called simply by specifying the PROC 80: and its name. Add the following lines: 1000 DEF PROCrectangle (X%.Y%, the donlcey work' XS%.YS%) 10 REM PROC demo 1010 MOVE X%.Y% 20 MODE 2 1020 DRAW X% + XS%,Y% 30 PROCrectangle 1030 DRAW X% + XS%.Y% + YS% the one in figure 3. These procedures 40 END 1040 DRAW X%,Y% + YS% will be explained in full next month, but The END command in line 40 is import- 1050 DRAW X%,Y% for the time being see if you can use ant as it stops the program running into 1060 ENDPROC them to draw your own designs. the procedure definition and trying to re-execute it. Run the program to see the rectangle drawn on the screen. To draw the rectangle four times the PROCrectangle statement can be put into the program four times, but there's a problem. The parameters (refer- ences) for the MOVE and DRAW com- mands within the procedure are fixed and cannot be changed, so the rec- tangle will be drawn in the same pos- ition each time. To avoid this we specify the parameters of each command as variables. Thus lines 1010 to 1050 become: 1010 MOVE X%,Y% 1020DRAWX1%,Y1% 1030 DRAW X2%.Y2% 1040 DRAW X3%.Y3% 1050 DRAW X%,Y% Looking at the above listing we see that we need a total of eight variables (the starting point is the same as the com- pletion point). The next step is to specify each of these variables in the Figure 3. CALL me a car! - assembled from simple rectangle, triangle and circle routines ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 If you re involved with education, then you re involved with hi-technology and computers THE HI-TECHNDLOGY AND COMPUTERS IN EDUCATIDN 23-26 January, 1985 BARBICAN CENTRE, LONBON EC2 The face of education is ^^^^^ ^^^ t„ ^^j^^ ^^^^^^^ specifications changing, monitors are replacing and collect literature away from the bustle of blackboards, light pens are day to day activities. replacing Ctialk. Entrance is free to anyone working in education and over 18 years of age. Just clip As an educationalist take an opportunity to the coupon below. (To be completely up-to- get right up to date with everything that's date, book into the series of half-day new in high technology and computers in seminar/workshops organised alongside the education. The new techniques aren't only exhibition in co-operation with the Micro- for the science labs or computer classes, electroncs Education Programme. For they cover all aspects of the schools details of these and a booking form, tick the curriculum, from geography to physical box on the coupon below.) training. Timothy Collins, This exhibition, the first of its kind, is a Computer Marketplace (Exhibitions) Ltd., definitive showcase for both manufacturers 20 Orange Street, and users alike. You can see the best the London WC2H 7ED To: Timothy CoUins, Computer Marketplace [ Exhibitions | Ltd 20 Orange Street, London WC2H 7ED Please send me details oi the seminar/workshops J Please send me my tree ticket[s| to the Hi-Technology and Computers In Education Exhibition, Quantity Name Establishment -_ ___^ Address ^ - -—- — Postcode Telephone 44 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 I HINTS &TIPS ^W <:B=abs:a:sss:s:sssass: I I «>llipHliiO' Martin Phillips advises on TV jHpplililllll b^ modification, polishing programs, .ggiEli! ^iiBiiiHi i^ joysticl< commands, 3D printing. cassette care - and draws a house more years old) have picture tubes VDU23; Can I convert which emit undesirably high levels of 1;0;0;0; radiation. These are not to be recom- mended for close viewing with a com- VDU23;2;0;0;0; my TV into puter. Lastly, the internal circuitry of tele- VDIJ23:4!0;Bi0; visions and monitors has improved a monitor? considerably in the last few years, and VDU23; 7;0;0;0; this too has contributed to a belter pic- VDU23:B;a;0;0; CAN a colour TV be modified to act as a ture. Older TVs often need realigning to monitor, asks Mr Wilson of Bordon. 'As restore their original picture quality, VDU23;9:0;0;0; the current price of colour monitors is and this in itself is not a job for the un- so high,' he writes, 'and as I already skilled. circuits VDU23: ia0;0;0;0i have a second-hand colour telvision, I In short, unless television waswondering whether it is possible to are something with which you are fam- VDU23; 106;0;0;0; modify it to improve the picture quality. iliar, don't try to alter an old set. (There monitor there is no tuner, are some high voltages in a colour TV With a video VDU23;996;0;0;0: sound and vision detection, or sound which can be dangerous.) It is a false monitors that If I understand economy as colour amplification circuitry. VDU23;99a;0;0;0; correctly, using a TV with a micro should give years of trouble-free use is first are coming down in price all the time means that the micro output VDU23;999;0;0:0; modulated, and then demodulated. Is and their cost compares well with a this why the image begins to lack new colour TV. As an alternative, the VDU23; 1000;0;0i0; stability? monitor/TV sets now in the shops seem variety of to be a good buy, although I would like I have noticed recently a VDU23:9000;O:B;0; combined monitor/TV sets in several to take my computer into the shop and Is combination achieved by try it out on one before buying it! stores. this VDU23; I6013:0;0;O: switching off the unwanted circuitry, and if so could the same thing be VDU23; 19014;0;0;0; achieved simply at home, or is there Special effects something more complex involved?' Figure 1. VDU commands from Robin A simple answer is that a television ROBIN SASSON from Stough has sent Sasson. Try the effects could be modified to work as a monitor, in a series of VDU23 commands (figure working program, and there would be some improvement 1). As far as 1 can see they have no stage from the I they in picture quality for the reason fvir practical use {sorry Robin!), but they know many users wish could you first Wilson has suggested. But - and it is a are fun. Most will only work on the BBC perfect a program, and when start this long time, but it is sur- big but - it is not a simple task, and the in mode 7. takes a gains in picture quality are not great, prising how you speed up with practice. for several reasons. Eventually you realise a perfect pro- First the picture tube in a TV is not the Perfecting gram is unattainable as there is always same as that in a monitor which gener- something more to be added or im- ally has a better resolution screen and proved. What makes the task harder is your programs solutions to a problem, with an anti-glare coating, so even if a the variety of television is modified the picture qual- and the 'best' way is often a matter of ity is still not as good. SETTING a time limit using the INKEY personal choice. page47>- Second, new colour TVs (within the statement in a tables testing program problems for Tate last two to four years) have isolating for his son caused Mr Listings 1-4 (multtptication transformers fitted, as do monitors. of Henley-on-Thames, His program is table tests) are presented on Older televisions have a chassis, which given in listing 1. I have sorted out his yellow page 101 and 102 could become live under certain fault query, and then polished it stage by conditions. Should this occur while the computer was plugged into an unpro- tected monitor socket the computer IF YOU have a technical hitch or a programming problem let Martin Phillips give his £5 if you raise a really interesting point. Please give full details could be badly damaged. So you'd diagnosis. We'll pay of the system you're using and include a listing where appropriate, making your ques- have to fit an isolating transformer or tion as specific as possible. WRITE TO: Hints & Tips. Acorn User, Redwood Publishing, circuitry onto the monitor socket. 68 Long Acre, London WC2E 9JH. Thirdly, earlier colour TVs (10 or ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 ^ I J ^ VA 39 35 59 00 32 9& 32 95 Di5t Doc [ 01 32 95 Ttm. Iisrm.nd nuisloil 32 95 Graphics E>lei 32 95 DFS The Uograrle 3 7 95 Atom SneecR S.ste Upgr, 55 00 HCCS f onM 39 95 HCCS Ugo fonh 67 85 HCCS Pascal 57 00 HCCS E'cal 74 Tj BOM E^pani'D" Board (ATPLI The Bbsi' 43 70 Siarbase B9 00 MuliilO'ih'83 5t 75 Oelu' Version (inc Dist) 32 00 Too Ik I ( 2 7 00 Tuolslai 32 95 CommsTrtr 32 95 BOOKS NO VAT BBC Micro Disc CDmoar.ioh 7 95 CreaTive Graphics '5C GiaDi>5 b Chans 7 50 Lrsp Manual J 50 Fonh Manuel 7 50 BCPL Manual 1500 Discovering BBC Micro Machin*. Corde 695 BBC Micro Disk Ma-i.iai 1 95 Disk Svsiems For Trie BBC Micra ess MICRO POWERC D INC VAT Killer Gorrlla CvOertron Mission 1. M' 'I 'I'.h I]--. Cosmic Combal I-. 4 'lb !>i|6 Chass B iiri"! Danger UXB ass B 6 Escape MoonI>ase Alpha li Ofi 9 9^ 9^ Ffllm in FarTorv 6H6 9 Fein ft Fruit Monslers Nerneais 6 9b -tail 6 95 3 3'j Bumble Bee 6 95 9 95 W.iards Cftallenge 5 95 9 95 Jbi Power jac* ti 95 9 9S Posiiror- 6 95 3 95 Oflcofalor Dam on E 95 9 95 AliBi> SmviiI 6 9S 9 9S Alien Deilrovers 6 96 9 95 Space Jailer 6 35 9 96 GhoulJ 6 95 gs[i Moon Haider fiHS 9 95 The Mine 6 9b 9 95 Hall Driver 6 95 9 95 Ubynnths of LaCothe 6 Sb S 95 Zarm 6 95 9 95 Block Duller 6 95 9 95 Rubble Trouble 6 95 9 95 ^rtr\t^ 8 95 9 95 Stock Clt 6 9^9 35 95 95 Dune HiBsr 6 9 (i'llj '1 '!> N-i-. M..i-rKlli.' 1 ..H\.'i-ui. SUPERIOR SOFTWARE INC VAT Hunchback 7 95 Overdfiire '95 Banletanh 7 95 Coimic Kidnap 7 95 SiBi Bsnle 7 95 Moon Mission 7 35 Percv Penaurn 7 96 Boris In The Uodenvotid 7 95 HDck, 7 95 Soirtira Command 7 95 Crary Punier 7.96 noad Racer 7 96 MiWhiii 7 95 Waliabv 7 95 Smash and Grab 7 95 S'SrSt'ikBi 7.95 BUQ-BVTE INC VAT Twin Kingdom Valley 9 95 DYNABYTE INC VAT Horserace 7 95 Lamming Syndrome 7 96 Corporaie Climber 7 95 BBC/ACORN SOFT INC VAT Algebraic Manipulation 9 96 Business Games 9 95 Caslle of Ririoles 9 95 Creiiive Graphics 9.95 Coonidown IE Doom 9 95 Fonh 16 85 Graphs b Charts 9 95 Hoppa' 9 95 Lilp 16 85 BCPL IRom + Disc) 99 96 Missile Base 9 95 MBieors 9 95 Kinadom 0( Hamrl 9 96 Monsters 9 95 Planetoid 9 95 RocKel Raid 9 95 Snooker 9 96 Sphini Advenlure 9 95 Slarship Command 9 95 Tree of Knowledge 9 95 SnapiJer 9 95 Shirley Conian s M»gic Garde 9 96 Personal Money Managemeni 9 95 Draughts and Reveisi 9 95 Aviator C/0 4 95/1 '25 J C B Digger 9 95 Free fall 9 95 Carousel 1 9.95 Drogna 9 95 Volcano 9.95 Tetrapod 9 95 5 Pascal 19 50 Ullr.l Calir 69 00 Gaifi^av io Kpiros 9 9^ CjrOusi^l 3 15 91-) i-wcu 1-1 9!) 1 7 ACORNSOFT EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE NOW AVAILABLE White Knight II 11 SO Vjtype leio T». Catc t7.25 Beyond Basic n so Toolboi 21 00 Canyon 1000 Record Keeper 1500 ACORNSOn MIBLE NOW IN STOCK P A SOFTWARE TfiVASION INC VAT Eagles Wing 7 95 Spooks ancf Soideri 7 95 3D Bomb Alley 7 95 Qunimoiie 7 95 STAFFORD STOKE-ON-TRENT Vone. 7 95 59 ForegaisSiraet 11 Market Square Arcade. Anack on Alpha Centaun 7 95 f«l. {0785) Hanlev Tsl (0782) Svll3*rl^la^l1 7 95 41890 26B620 Sla -mnja 7 9S 46 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 . HINTS &TIPS Listing 2 shows the first changes a line to check if the excess time is just use joysticks, and any new BBC made to the program. Line 260 has 1 second and print an appropriate owners, here is a tester for joysticks to been shortened as the latter part of the message. Perhaps the easiest way is to check if they are wired correctly. It also line did not accomplish much, since the ignore a time excess of less than two shows how they are read using the program would still wait for an input at seconds on the total . Then there are the ADVAL statement. The BBC and Elec- line 270, Then three procedures were sound effects to add. . . tron (with Plus-1) use the same com- introduced: PROCright, PROCwrong. mands and, as far as joysticks are con- and PROCtimeout. This made the pro- cerned, the analogue port wiring is the gram easier to read, and the responses Mystery same. for a correct or incorrect answer could The Acorn joysticks do not operate be improved with ease within each pro- quite as expected. Moving the joystick cedure. chip to the left in the horizontal axis in- Next I changed the position of the creases the voltage to the analogue time test to after the right or wrong res- A MISSING ROM socket was the prob- socket, rather than reducing it as one ponse. This way the child would know lem of Simon Matterface from London, would expect. Figure 2 shows the whether the answer was right or wrong who writes, 'In all the books and maga- even if he or she was out of time. Here I zines I've read, they say that the BBC made a mental note to include an out- micro should have three paged ROM of-time result with the score. Also the sockets, but alas I have only two! I pur- instruction lines were altered to cater chased a Wordwise wordprocessor forthe changes in the input routine. ROM, and on taking off the cover and It was interesting to note that the keyboard I found I had only two spare introduction of the three procedures sockets. Not knowing what this extra High <- meant that two repetitions of A^ chip was I tried to take it out. but I could INKEY{200):GOTO 190 were redundant. not as it was soldered in place! The chip They also avoided the need for long is totally blank. Can you suggest what I multi-statement lines, which would should do?' quickly have become cumbersome if No standard BBC has, to the best of extra effects were to be included. my knowledge, ever had a chip sol- Listing 3 shows the next round of dered in place of any ROM sockets, so I . . . that his alterations. First a REPEAT UNTIL would guess Simon bought FiraBimcHii loop was put in instead of a GOTO. micro second-hand. So what is the chip L*fl|a«>llck making the program easier to follow. and why should it need to be soldered Then the results phase of the program into the socket? Even if it becomes WbH was put into a procedure. (Some would damaged, it is better to fit a new socket. tut-tut at having more than one END- The only explanation I can think of PROC in a procedure; the way round was suggested by something I read last this is to use GOTO 560 and just retain year {Acorn User, October 1983, News one ENDPROC) Now it was possible to in Brief), about an EPROM that was take account of the excess time taken plugged into one of the ROM sockets and print it out if necessary. One which disabled the computer until a second extra was allowed for each five-digit security code was entered. It answer before printing an out-of-time also caused the owner's name and message to avoid having silly re- address to appear when switched on. sponses such as "... but took 0.02 This was a good idea, but all too easy to seconds too long'. unplug, so they were probably sol- Next the RND routines that filter out dered in place. The only snag here is Fire BuKdii 1 the number 1 were simplified, and I that as an EPROM can be erased in Right Jo r«"ct changed the maximum multiplier from ultraviolet light, the chip could be 12 to 10. The need to learn up to the 12 wiped clean and the computer would Figure 2. The correct connections for Acorn times table disappeared in the early work perfectly well without it. In other joysticks seventies when decimal money was words, leave it on a windowsill in introduced and schools started teach- strong sunlight for a few hours and all correct connections for Acorn joy- ing measurement only in centimetres security is lost. The result: one blank sticks. and metres instead of feet and inches. EPROM soldered into the circuit board Listing 5 gives a short program to When writing an educational program it doing nothing. display the ADVAL readings for either is necessary to look carefully at such joystick, and can help to distinguish left aspects of the work being covered. and right joysticks (why are they often However, it is surprising the number of Joystick not labelled?). It can also be used to teachers who still insist on teaching up check for non-standard joysticks, or to the twelve times table. simply to see that the joystick works Listing 4 shows the final stage. The tester correctly. line of the program that displayed the Do not worry if yours will not reach question was printed in double-height, THE ADVAL commands that control the the maximum or minimum values as was the answer. At this stage the left and right joysticks have been (65536 and 0); they seldom do! Any program might seem perfect, but alas requested by Robin Sasson. This was value within 100 of these is usually sat- the changes introduced have made yet covered in this column last February isfactory. On my Electron with Plus-1, more problems. It is possible, for but for the benefit of Robin and the the values were in the range 65280 and instance, to have '...but took 1 many new Electron users who have just with my pair of joysticks; 65280 is the seconds too long', so there needs to be bought the Plus-1 interface and wish to maximum value the analogue port will ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 . . Solve your problems in 5 minutes with the . . MVEN-20 Features include. . • PROVIDES 20K OF USABLE RAM • COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT TO BBC • ALLOWS THE RUNNING OF PROGRAMS OPERATING SYSTEM UP TO 28K LONG IN ANY SCREEN MODE • NO SOLDERING OR CUTTING OFTRACKS • RAVEN 20 IS COMPATABLE WITH ALL • USES ONLY DOCUMENTED MOS CALLS CORRECTLY WRITTEN SOFTWARE • LOW POWER DYNAMIC RAM DESIGN • SIMPLE PLUG IN AND GO DESIGN • SELF TEST FACILITY • SPECIAL COMMANDS FOR • COMPLETE WITH ROM BASED SOFTWARE SOFTWARE WRITERS • CAN BE FITTED TO BBC MODEL B FITTED WITH OS 1 2 THE ULTIMATE IN j.°"^;_ DE8IEN 6 PRICE'***™'NC VAT I u I i 1SAVILLE ROAD WESTWOOD- PETERBOROUGH PE3 7PR TEL 0733 260930 48 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 HINTS &TIPS give on the Electron, the maximum on the BBC being 65536. The BBC analo- 10 REM listing 5 gue port has a resolution 16 times 20 REM Joystick tester better than the Electron with Plus-1. 30 @%=15 This means that it reads in steps of 16, 40 INPUT"LEFT(0) OR RIGHT(l) "J"/. whereas the Electron reads in steps of =)0 IF J7.<0 OR J7.>1 THEN GOTO 30 256. However, the accuracy of the 30 BBC's analogue port is a little suspect, REPEAT and it is better to read the resolution in 70 X=0:Y=0 steps of 32 or 64 in the following way: 80 FOR N=l TO 100 X-ADVAL(1)DIV32 90 X=X+ADVAL Programming the Electron's analogue 110 NEXT N port is the same as programming the 120 IF J7,=0 THEN PRINT"LEFT JOYSTICK: BBC's, although it is slower in opera- 130 IF J7.= l THEN PRINT"RIGHT JOYSTICK: tion. 140 PRINT "X="; INT(X/100) ,"Y="; INT(Y/100) non-standard joysticks If you have 150 UNTIL they can be altered, provided the cases can be opened. It is usually the hori- Listing 5. Displays the ADVAL readings for left and right joystick zontal movement potentiometer that is wired incorrectly. Check which potentiometer moves when the joystick 10 REM Listing 6 is puHed horizontally (or vertically if 20 MODE 2 that one is wrong). There are three 30 VDU19, 0,4, 0,0,0 potentiometer with solder tags on the 40 PRDC3d (352,900, "3D TITLES", 3,1)- wires on each. Leave the wire on the middle of the three tags and unsolder 50 END the wires on each end solder tag. swap 60 : them round and resolder. The potenti- 100 DEFPRDC3d(X,Y,A*,CDll,col2) ometers are not particularly heat-sen- 110 REM X values in range 0-1279 sitive and this task is not very difficult. 120 REM Y values in range 0-1023 Unplug the joysticks from the computer before opening the case to avoid 130 VDUS damaging the analogue-to-digital con- 140 MOVE X-4,Y-4 verter chip. 150 GCOL0,coll SPRINT A* 160 MOVE X,Y Three-dimensional 170 GCOL0,cal2:PRINT A* 180 VDU4 190 ENDPROC printing Listing 6. Gives the effect of three-dimensional printing on Beeb or Electron HERE IS a procedure to give the effect of three-dimensional printing (listing Several readers have pointed out that it hours is usually enough) they will over- 6). It works only in the BBC or Elec- can be reinstated using the following heat and the internal fuse will blow, or tron's graphics modes (modes 0, 1, 2, 4 command worse damage will be sustained by the and by joining the text and graphics 5), electronics inside the cassette. cursors using the VDU 5 command. VDU23;29194;0:0;0: Be warned, remember to unplug Once the two cursors have been joined, This works in mode 7 on the BBC, but your cassette after use. printing can be positioned on the not in any of the other graphics modes. screen at any point determined by the The only reliable way I know of switch- last MOVE. DRAW or PLOT statement. ing the cursor on again after issuing the Quicker on In this case the print is placed on the above command is to change mode. screen twice, the second just overlap- ping the first. The 3D effect is achieved the draw by printing in different colours. The pro- Damaged cassettes cedure parameters define the screen ONE of the things that often puts me off position, the string to be printed and the I RECENTLY came across two typing in listings is long lines of pro- first and second colour numbers. cassettes that would not work at all. gramming or, even worse, long lines of One had a blown internal mains fuse, DATA statements- I never manage to Reinstating the the other had no internal fuse and the type them in correctly, and it is difficult damage was more severe. Many to find where the mistakes occur. The people are careful to switch off the READ. . -DATA statements are very monitor useful and can save the programmer cursor computer and the TV or when they have finished, but do not realise much time. If they are included in the that there is no mains switch in most listing with a little thought, they are IN AUGUST'S column I mentioned that cassette recorders. If they are con- easy to read and follow what is going the cursor could be switched off using nected to the mains then they are on on. VDU23;8202;0;0;0; and live. If left on for long periods (48 Listing 7 shows a simple routine to ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 HINTS &TIPS I read some data and use it to draw a Listing 7. Routine lo read data and use it to draw house shown below simple picture of a house on the screen (figure 3). This is much easier than a iong sequence of MOVE and DRAW statements, as the PLOT statement has 10 REM Listing 7 been used instead. PLOT 4,X,Y is the same as MOVE, and PLOT 5,X,Y is the 20 MODE 4 same as DRAW. PLOT 85,X.Y wiii fiii in 30 VDU19, 0,4, 0,0,0 atriangie. 40 REPEAT There are two ways to stop the rou- 50 READ K,X,Y tine trying to fetch another set of 60 PLOT K,X,Y numbers when the picture is complete. One is to tell the computer how many 70 UNTIL K=100 sets of data it wiil have to read in the 80 first place. This will be stored as a 90 REM »*» WALLS *** | number at the start of the program, eg: 100 DATA 4,200,600, 5,200,200 N%-15 110 DATA 5,1000,200, 5,1000,600 120 : FORT- 1T0N% 130 REM ** ROOF ** 140 DATA 4,1100,600, 5, 100,600 150 DATA 5,300,800, 5,900,800 160 DATA 5,1100,600, 5,1000,600 NEXTT 170 The method used below has a special 180 REM •** DOOR *** control code at the end of the data to 190 DATA 4,550,200, 5 , 550 , 400 indicate where the end is. (In this case 200 DATA 85,650,400, 5,650,200 K with a value of 100, which is outside 210 DATA the normal PLOT range.) This has 85,550,200 advantages because more data can be 220 p added in the middle without having to 230 REM *** PUT THIS LAST **» worry about changing the N%. 240 DATA 100,0,0 By using REM statements, leaving a line between sections, and by not put- ting a long series of data on each line, the program is easy to follow, and hence is easy to correct or adapt- For instance, try adding windows, or a chimney to see how extra data can easily be included. Coupler sealed A USEFUL tip for computer owners with acoustic couplers has been sent in by J Crossland of Banbury. It is designed to reduce the risk of their picking up exter- nal sounds, which cause errors. He recommends putting window draught sealing tape around the telephone receiver where it snaps into the coupler. Line-spacing on Wordwise HERE is a tip from C J Gaudion of Figure 3. The house that READ. . .DATA built Guernsey for readers who use Word- wise. It is not easy with Wordwise to space out a document correctly, but by the document is viewed in mode 0, and This can be typed in before entering redefining the space to a small dot in does not affect the mode 7 display or Wordwise. or at any time by typing the middle of the line (to avoid confu- the final printed version. 'Basic first, and then returning to Word- sion with a full stop), it is easier to The space is redefined by typing the wise. The line could be included in a insert the correct number of spaces following line: key definition, or for disc users in a required. This tip will only work when VDU23,32,0,0,0,24,24,0,0,0 IBOOTfiie. ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 The best software store in the country (now boasting over 2,500 good titles in stock) with accessories, joysticks and books. We have somehow made room for hardware stocks. Home computers, disc drives, printers, monitors, and now a very special offer ® * R.G.B. MONITOR Ideal for BBC/Electron and many others. 4" 5fc 1 colour monitors »}C These monitors using 5jc Resolution equivalent to Trinitron tubes have 480 X 400 pixels been converted to RGB %Full 12 month guarantee Our unbeatable price £149.50 inc. VAT. Or mail order £1 59.50 including VAT, p&p & BBC leads Postal and telephone orders welcomed. All major credit cards accepted. (Offer subject to availability) Easy Road Access Free Parking and Soft Shop Ltd. 55 St Peter's Court Open Men. — Sat. Chalfont St Peter 9.00-5.30 Bucks. SL9 9QQ Tel: (0753) 889010 Sun. 9.30 -12.30 ACOHN NOVEMBER 1984 51 ORBIT ORBIT ORBIT ORBIT ORBIT ORftIT ORBIT ORBIT ORBIT ORBIT ORBIT ORBIT ORBIT ORBIT ORBIT FORTHE ACORN ^sN Join the Electron User Group Members receive 10 copies of the magazine no space wasted on programs and articles for ELBUG each year. ELBUG is devoted other computers. EXCLUSIVELY to the ELECTRON MICRO It is packed with News. Reviews. Hints, Tips, BENEFITS OFMEMBERSHIP Programming ideas, Major articles, plus Regular program features including games and useful ELBUG MAGAZINE utilities. Ten copies a year mailed free of charge. ELBUG is produced by BEEBUG Publications DISCOUNT SCHEME Ltd., publishers of BEEBUG. the magazine of the Extensive discount scheme with major retailers. National User Group for the BBC Micro. SOFTWARE LIBRARY BEEBUG now has some 20,000 members and A growing range of software titles at budget has achieved a high reputation both in this prices for country and abroad. members. The SOFTWARE CLUB formula which makes BEEBUG an i invaluable companion for users of the BBC Substantial discounts on software from major micro, has been applied to ELBUG. software houses. By subscribing to ELBUG you gain all the LOCAL USER GROUPS advantages of a single-micro magazine, with Lists of local affiliated user groups. U^ff^flSm^^lm^k REEPROGRA.._ SPACE >e now. and get a free introductory cassette CITY : I - , 1 1 1-:9 1- 01 iMi-.'^fTtTi, 1. SPACE CITY, Defeat the invading Aliens with your laser, and save the city I. 3D NOUGHTS AND CROSSES. Pit your wits against the ELECTRON on a 4x4x4 board I. RACER. Guide your racing car to victory, avoiding other cars and obstacles on the track RACER I. 3D MAZE. In this challenging game, you must escape from the maze - The screen displays a 3D view from Inside the maze ). PATCHWORK. A multicoloured display of continuously changing patterns j. KEY SET ROUTINE. A program to set up the user function keys '. MEMORY DISPLAY, efficiently An written utility to display the con- 3D MAZE tents of memory (ROM and RAM) i, CHARACTER DEFINER, Define Individual graphics characters with this useful utility for use in your own programs. HOW TO JOIN To ^b-Jvfibf lur Vfifi!, and yout spnd TS fpaydf- If b't one 9*3! FREE CASSETTE 90 lo Oi . pkij, \ sJroiiq stamped addressed envelope (ior the cassene) SUBSCRIPTIONS TO: ELBUG, DEPT 13, PO BOX 109, HIGH WYCOMBE, BUCKS SiX momfis tfial siib«icnp|iOf! (5 issuer) UK only t'j- 9[v- FREE CAS^Cl Tt OFf-ER SftLL STANDS MerEib6'-5tiip(?u1sideUK(oneyearoniyj &ife and Europe £16 00 Middio bast £tSi 00, Americas dndAfiicaE^l 00 other coudlfiBS c?3 00 EdFiona! Add'ess ORBIT, PO BOX SO. St Aibans, Her1=; Computer Concepts Why stopat 4 ROMS .? Fit an ATPL ROM EXTENSION BOARD and have up to 16 Sideways ROMS. • Fully compatible with all sideways ROMs. • Fully buffered against data loss • Easy to fit (no soldering) • Option for 16K sideways RAM Available from: Computer Concepts by mail order or by telephoning with your credit card number, or from most good BBC micro dealers. (Dealer enquiries welcome) Price £43.70 inci. Di/cDec Wordwise PtMoMAci CoretaJcer Gremlin Wi3.r^- CommvAkcilof ^/ TermKa) (/tOf) .. W Computer Concepts, Gaddesden Place, Hemel Hempstead, Herts HP2 6EX _,Bi_ V/SA Telephone: (0442) 63933 (4 lines) W\^ We accept: Barclaycard, Access, Educational Orders, and Official Company orders. SOFTWARE,nRMWAREAND TT Buydirect throughPresteKi "2020) criO usingyourAccess card I lyif Most programs avoHoble on Micronet ORGANISATION AT MAILING Molds 2ia add'Bsses Alpha & Posi code sorts, sea'i.lies any label tormal deleLe add anrl amend £1195 B YOUR FINGERTIPS! Mrmiddn Z01 GAMES 1 5 Card Mmelield. Dans. Pontoon ft E6 96 B/E We are pleased to offer vou a 202 STOCKMARKET Eidting world of Stocks and sliaies, 1 4 players £5 95 B/E wide range of products HANGMAN Word gatne in English, Ffench Gernian Italian, Spanish C7 95 B g. the primarily for the BBC 302 DISTANCES Three gtapliic maps of U K , EUROPE WORLD Caltulflte the distance between any 2 places C4 95 B/E microcomputer software, 303 FLAGS 98 lull colour t;ag5 ot Ihe world with questions £4 96 B/E firmware and hardware for 304 STATPACK Statistics package giving over 30 resjlts C9 95 B your computer system. 305 GRAPH Produtti varied graphsS Charts of functions E7 95 B £7 95 B 306 FRENCH A New audio visual computer way to learn a language SEIKOSHA PRINTERS 307 SPELL CHECK Add to WORDWISE 15000 wards 11-, 13 dictionaries ideal in education From C99-£349 504 PROCAID includes SEARCHBAS to search a BASIC orogr am and altar A new range of printers PHOCVAR list variables in a BASIC program & PROCFLUSH to cleai TO (Spectrum Compatible) resident integers in P M UTILITY A Uur besi selling tape includes PROCAID DEFCHEH ID replacing existing models. design & disr.tay graphic characters. SORTM/C a very fasi rnachine code numeric son SORTBAS Ihe undisputed fastest BASIC son routine £5 95 A/B 520 BANNER Print giant text and graphics on paper for displays £3 95 A/b ^v--i = i=i-i'i^ 521 BIGLETR Print as above on screen/paper with screen dump C5 96 A/B 102CASHB00K £1195 B BOO FORTH 79 FORTH second language ROM £34 74 C/0 FIRST CHOICE This is a double entry cashbook program showing cash 601 LOGO FORTH Advanced Turtle Graphics Lancjuage ROM wilh FORTH C57 50 B and bank credits and debits ie 4 columns Any number of individual 602 PASCAL T Siructuierl language ROfVl with compiler- iiilerpretei £67 SO R accounts can be used and analysed or totalled individually or e03 XCAL Computer Assisted Learning ROM tor presentations £65 00 B cumulatively by associated group A friendly but very practical, and 60b WORDWISE Super last greasy 10 use wordprocessor in ROM C33 96 B reliable program which despite its low cost is used by many people in a 606 COUMP Screen dump. 8 colours, suitable far GP700A C12 95 B range of situations from domestic and clubs to schools and businesses 607 GOUMP Screen dump ROM 8 shades. 8 sizes end windows £17 95 B MODE? 102d CASHBOOKd £19 95 B D 608 GRAPHICS NEW ROM for Sprites. LOGO circles, elc E27 50 B SECOND CHOICE This version of the above program uses random 700 Various BOOKS titles for the BBC Micro from C6 9S access disc files andean hold up to 1250 entries on 100K discs and up to 801 CASSETTES C15 Computer quality lapes packed in 10s £4 50 2500 on 200k discs There is sophisticated protection against 810 5 26" DISCS MEMOREX SS/SD 40/80T £19 96 SS/DD 40/BOT E20 96 unauthorised use built in MODE 7 901 EPSONRX-BOT/F Superb lOOcps with TractoraFnclionfeed £276 00 102f ACCOUNT £29 95 B D 902 EPSON FX-eO Magnificent 160cps, 5 founts graphics F;! Roil £365 00 THIRD CHOICE This version of the above program uses random access 910 ISCDfllVES Slimline 3" or 5'. ' lOOK BOOK Japanese Formal disc. £369.00 disc files and an hold up to 1 100 entries on lOOK discs, and up to 2250 is of or cable and encellenl manual Plus C50 of PREE Software £189 00 on 200K discs Included a choice CASH/BANK VAT/BANK headings. 915 DISC UPGRADE Double or Single Density available m one System £89 00 Over 830000 possible accounts combinations Ledger sheets and summaries can printed well full accounts latest 920 VDU STAND Stainless Suppori protects your micro £19 95 be as as The balance is available at any time This program is only available on disc 930 GHEEN VDU 12 Green Monitor creamslopmgfrootcase £79 96 MODE 7 931 COLOUR VDU JVC 14 Colour Monitor 370 » 470 pi. els £179 95 ADD VAT TO ALL PRICES EXCEPT BOOKS Add El 75 tor programs on 40 or 80 Track Disc No post charge in UK Programs of the Month Send for our free brochure for more information before parting with your money BUDGET %fj CRIBBAGEPvAT be memo-calc BUDGET can used by Cribbage is played with a anybody in 107 £12 95 8 a domestic full pack of 52 cards An MEMO CALC C/D environment help MUST BE AMONG THE LEAST EXPENSIVE PIECES OF USEFUL to them ace always counts as V. a IT with their own budget, by SOFTWARE VOU WILL EVER BUY" Revue by Practical Computing July Jack. Queen or King clubs charities wishing '10' 1983 to counts as when its prepare applications for value is added to others Database/calcsheet program which allows up to columns 255 The grants and for submission but ranks in normal number of rows is automatically set from 5 to over 1000 depending on to committees, by sequence when scoring the columns declared Both numeric and alphanumeric data can be educationalists in runs stored in any cell and can be of any length up to 255 characters classrooms to show There are usually two There are a multitude of uses tor this program from accounts to diaries, students where money players and the most club or personnel records etc and is probably the one program that we comes from and how common forms of the all need MODE? easily it disappears game are the five-card 107a Manual for MEMO-CALC included free otherwise £2 00 (0% VAT) Available on cassette for and six-card The winner the ELECTRON and of the game is the first to cassette or disc for the score 61 or 121 BBC Micro using any respectively v>mi©ii operating system Part 1 IS a BASIC program running in MODE? which accepts new data on employees, allows additions, delations and alterations, listing of P35 & automatic alterations to the codes as required by tax notice P7X. Fully user friendly* with colour and graphics to make life simple for the operator Part 2 (WEEKLY) or Part 3 (MONTHLY) is designed to handle the calculations of waoes and N I It allows lor standard pay. two overtime gt^^^ to 1850 RANDOM MAILING up rates, optional pension funds (monthly only) other pay. holiday pay. addresses, names, phone numbers & ccxles one bonuses, post-tax adiustments and no pay. 106b COIN ANALYSIS £4 95 B C/0 disc. Selective printing any number of labels, repeat, 106c PENSION £4 95 B C/D EXTRA stationery or fan fold. Automatic WORDWISE & 106d PAYSLIP FORMS £20 34 per 1000 EXTRA letters produced repeatedly wttfi personalised names Buy direct or PRESTEL MODERN £78.00 many other features such as automatic sorting by Prestel PRINTER + VAT £120.00 company or personal names. By far the best and most No. 25821534 comprehensive program of its type for the BBC Micro IDEAL FOR FARM-LINK Price C29.95 + VAT MosiPrograms NowAvailable For niicro-?Iid «itOV DilCi^ Dealer Enquiries iW89Jk. OMOfW Welcome 25 Fore St.Praze.Camborne Comwall.TR140JX tel: 0209 831274 54 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 1 ^ST»as The The Electron — A thoroughbred from the manufacturers of the BBC, who Electron have incorporated all their experience and knowledge to conceive another winning computer. Many BBC programs are compatible. This full colour 32K ROM and RAM computer with text and graphics ^' includes a cassette input, and a multi-way connector for the addition of expansion units containing interfaces to additional hardware. It has a 56 key full travel QWERTY keyboard, 10 user-definable and 29 pre-defined keys enabling BASIC keywords to be entered a single keystroke. The Electron comes with free introductory cassette containing 19 programs including a number of exciting games. ^^. Phone your nearest dealer for the most competitive prices Europe's No- Group of Retail Outlets (^heck our multi-national ^ 4v tct©!^_ network for your nearest dealer ftOO^ ^P ^P^Backed by an after-sales service second to none 7 CHRISTMAS^ A wide range of computing TV/RGB best-sellers. MONITOR £259.00 SINCLAIR ZX SPECTRUM — 48K basic, colour and text graphics — £129.00 TATUNG TV/RGB COLOURMONITOR only £259.00 Many other monitors available. ^a^' The NEW advanced home computer designed with first time users in mind. Full size professional keyboard, four cursor keys, SOFTWARE COMMODORE powerful 16K RAM, easy to use 16 STARTER and program. 2 joystick ports, 121 PACK colours, excellent sound and graphics. SOFTWARE Ftice , £139.00 includes Commodore Cassette ALL LEADING CHAAT Recorder! SOFTWARE AVAILABlj B«da Comwall Dorset Clones Herts Kent North Kent The Book Castle Computavision Solent Micro Systems Ltd The Model Shop County Computer Stores Tollgate Computers Computer Centre 12 Church Street 4 Maiket Street 25 Bargales 22 High Streei 95a South Street 249 Beaver Road 52/54 BeUgrove Road Dunstable Si, Austell Chnstchurch Stroud Bishops Storiford Ash ford Welling Tel: 0583 605670 Tel; 0726 5297 Tel: 0202 470468 Tel: 04S36 5920 Tel: 0279506801/3 Tel: 023337187 Bedley Tel;01-3012677 Bocks Derby ESMK Sabre Consultants Ltd Hobbyie Data Store Citybench First Byte Computers 103 Street Focus Computer Systems High 1 S3 Drove Hoad 6 Chatienon Road Lanca 2/4 Eaton Place 10 Castlefields :40A Hathaway Road Tewkesbury Harpenden Bromley Format Computing Marlow IjORdon Road Grays Tel: 0884 29B866 Tel: 05827 3S42 Tel: 01 4508991 67 Fnars Gate Tel. 06284 75244 Derby Tel: 0375 797 1 Preston Tel: 0332 363280 N. Humberside The Village House Tel: 0772561952 County Computer Stores Beverley Computer Centit of Compulers Devon 5a West Square 1 Windmill Passage 87 Beckenham Lane London Compuier Systems (To rbay) Harlow 5S Laiigaie Shordands Henry's Computer Shop 3S Hyde Road Tel. 0379414692 Beverley Bromley 404 Edgware Road Paignton Tel 0482 831911 Tel: 01-460 7122 London Tel. 0803 524264 The Home Computer Centre Tel; 01 -403 6822 261 Victoria Avenue S. HnmberBide Canterbury Software Centre Roy Han Southend -on-Sea Ashby Computer Centre 9 The Fnars Miracle Computers Computer Services Tel:'0702 43S68 347 Ashby High Street Canterbury 34 5A Coldharbour Lane 10 Fore Streei Scunthorpe Tel:0227S3S3l London ^^^^^^^^H^^l Tiverton ^l^^^^^l ^^^^Hb' Tel: 0724 87I7S6 Tei: 01 -274 7700 ^^^^^^^^^^^^H t.- Tel. 0884 253468 ^^^^^^1 ^^^^^Br' - > GIFTS JOYSTICK & CASSETTE PLAYERS JOYSTICK & CASSETTE PLAYERS Many joysticks and cassette players available from stock. QUENDATADOT MATRIX £150.00 OUENDATA DAISY COMMODORE 64 WHEEL £299.00 —£199.00 Colour EPSON FX80 £503.70 sophisticated ROM/RAM RX80 £286.35 user, UHF/Composite video, k.AA ASTRONJP80 £199.00 high resolution graphics. BBC MODEL B - £399.00 FuU colour 32K ROM Computer with text graphics, 80 column COMMODORE 1541 and coming soon-model text screen, extended Basic, built in 1542 Microsoft assembler, IMHz and tube interface, sideways ROM, RS423,A/D converter. LE Wales Gieatei Manchevter W. Midlands Somerset SvSoUc W. Sussex Automation Services ^MBSteol Technology Impulse Computer World Sine wave Computer Micro Management Orchard Business Dunraven Place Micro Management ^^^^mikei Sneet 60 Hartford Sireei Services 32 Pnnces Sireel Systems Ltd 42 Belgium ^^pT Coventry Corporation Street Ipswich 34 East Street Bndgend ' 591S1 Horsham M)d Glamorgan Ballaerslraat 75 061 3668223 Tel 0203 27711 Ta union Tel: 0473 Ttel: 2018 Tel: 0833 57526 Tel: 040368461 Tel. 0656 3550 Antwerp Belgium MUtdlMax Wolverhampton Compuiei Suney W. Yorkshire ScoOand 03-2389284 Enfield Communications Lid Centre Staffs Concise Computer Software Sales Micro Store Street 17/ 19 Uchfield Street Enc Reynolds Ltd 133 High Consultants Ltd. 60 North Street Wolverhampton 86 High Street 38 The Arcade Pondeis End 1 Carlton Road Leeds Burton- on-Treni King Street Enfield Tel; 0902 29907 S. Croydon Tel: 0352 4S6 192 Micro Management 7773/7434 Tel: 02B3 65086/65869 Siirling Tai:01-80S Tel: 01-681 6843 Nederlands Norfolk Centra] Region mm: N. Ireland R3adHuisslraat98a406 ^^^btai Computers Abacus Tel 0786 64571 E. Sussex Everyman Computers Ah Alphen-aan-den-riin l^^l^naRoad 13a Pottersgate Gamer 80 Charlotte Street For your nearest European 01720-73580 Southall Norwich 24 Gloucester Road Ballymoney Dealer telephone Belgium TeL 01 -374 5271 Tel: 060361441 Brighton Co. Antnm or Holland Tel: 0273 698434 Tel 0365662116/62658 SB^k Computers Viking Computers ^^Kdsor Street Ardney Rise ^WIRWge Cat ton Grove Road * Tel: 089551815 Norwich 4PI Tel; 0603 45209 M^l k^ DSm International Dealer Network I page 31 is not accurate. The lor a 20K video RAM board, or Radio Society of Great Britain £55 for a speech chip, or £225 Second processor does not 'administer and for a Prestel adaptor. govern all the amateur radio It is common knowledge that a clubs', although about half of great deal of computer patch for Level 9 the radio amateurs in this market price setting is calcu- country are members, and lated on the what the market most clubs are affiliated. will stomach' basis. Compare Sir, I write to you on two Packet Radio is the most similar pieces of equipment issues. The first concerns Mr exciting thing on the horizon between the Sinclair, Commo- Howard, who wrote in the for computer-directed radio dore and BBC markets, and September issue asking about Help and hints amateur communications. you can almost guarantee that the addresses of the floating Radio amateurs throughout the BBC item Is the most point routines in Basic; the the world are still discussing expensive. July 1982 issue of Personal suitable standards, although it For the manufacturers this Computer World carried the for Beeb users information. looks as if the AX25 standard marketing policy holds three could well receive worldwide dangers. First, this country is Second, people who play support. beginning to see the introduc- Level 9 adventures on the 6502 from second processor will RTTY group I hope these remarks will be tion of very cheap all-in-one have of use to readers. packages (eg Einstein, discovered by now that this produces at Sir, I have read Acorn User Ingemar Lundegard Amstrad, etc), which offer the best garbage. it is since was f I rst publ ished and President. BARTG. G3GJW buyer processor/disc drive There a simple reason for this I I would like to say a few words and monitor in one low price. and have worked out a about the article 'Unscram- Sir. In September's issue you Against these BBC equipment short Basic patch which bling the airwaves' on RTTY by gave us an interesting article appears grossly over-priced. should be loaded in and run Robin Mudge in September's on 'Unscrambling the air- Second, the advent of 16-bit after the body of the adventure issue. waves'; thank you. You also home micros looms. Micro has been loaded (into the There is one organisation gave the suppliers of the good- enthusiasts are just one sector second processor of course). which specialises in keyboard ies a gift of an advertisement. of the magpie-like consumer Then save the amended ver- communications including To the unknowledgeable group that rushes out to buy sion onto disc before using. The patch is program 1 RTTY. AMTOR {AMateur Telex reader it all looks fine, but to a the latest, brightest, fastest below. Note there Over Radio), Packet Radio, licenced amateur (call sign: new product. If it costs too must be s;>NOPs at etc: the British Amateur the end; if they are missed out Radio G4PLW) I know your list of much to upgrade your existing Teleprinter Group- The current equipment is not necessarily micro, people will simply the patch won't work properly. In chairman is Stuart Dodson, the best available and cer- dump it and buy a new all-sing- case you want to know G3PPD, 63 Malvern Avenue, tainly not the cheapest. ing all-dancing 16-bit machine. why the program crashed in South Harrow, Middlesex the normal Beeb the carry flag HA2 May I draw attention to the The sheer power of 16-bit 9EV (the membership sec- program written by Peter machines (ie QL, Advance, in the 6502 CPU is normally retary John Beedie, G6M0K ts Harris (G3WH0) and the inter- Apricot cheapie) is daunting. clear on returning from in the process of moving face produced by Johnny The basic coinage of micros is OSWRCH (this may not always house), be true but it is in this case). In Melvin (G3LIV), I have both RAM, With more RAM, the the 6502 A quarterly magazine pub- items: they work, cost little and greater the options, more can second processor, lished by BARTG, Datacom, the carry flag is set on return do everything I could wish for be done. Against these even deals with many aspects and software-wise, the model B looks puny. from OSWRCH and in the Level levels of radio communi- Peter Walker Third, the 'fashions' that run 9 A-code interpreter it calls cations. Middx through the BBC hardware OSWRCH then has several BARTG supplies RGBs, cir- market could well evaporate. RTS and executes the follow- ing cuits and, in some cases, kits Last year il was disc drives, code: of parts for what we call 'ter- Hitting out at this year it's modems. Next PLA:STA&60:LDA&60: minal units' and which would year second processors? At ADC/V1:STA&60 .. be called in the computer £199 a throw I can't see them world 'modems'. In particular, queuing at the door! Note that the code relies the ST5C is specifically for liigh prices (unwisely) on the carry flag use I Hayes with computers and is literally Surrey being clear at the start of the plug-in addition causing ADC/rl to compatible with the Sir, I would like to voice criti- add BBC B. It is superior to many cism over the cost of purchas- two rather than one when the popular commercial units. ing peripheral equipment for 6502 expensive carry flag is set. As 60/61 con- On another point, the inside the BBC micro. Without a tains the internal number of of the the piece of text to be BBC case can be doubt the model B is one of the Sir, I would be interested to printed sprayed with zinc to radically best eight-bit home micros, know why the 6502 second pro- out next, this causes great con- cut down the Interference and with its excellent operat- cessor is so expensive. At £199 fusion when combined with their method of packing radiated from the computer it- ing system and Basic it is a it is the same price as the Elec- text. self, the other side of the coin real pleasure to use. However, tron, which has a keyboard, Roger Hill Guernsey being that RF interference I believe that the price of buy- interfaces and other chips. from transmitters is less likely ing extra hardware is suffocat- However the second pro- Level 9 has asked us to point to upset the computer. ing the machine's potential, cessor just seems to be a pro- out that this patch will only As a council member of the I would be pleased if equip- cessor with memory and the work on early versions of the Radio Society of Great Britain, ment manufacturers could Tube interface, so why the adventures. Disc versions are I think I should point out that explain why it is necessary to high price? now available at £11.95 which the information given under charge between £199/2239 for Alan Bradley will run on the 6502 second the heading 'Useful books' on a second processor, or £115 Belfast processor. 10 AX=?.:74A7 :REM for Snowball And Time this number must be S'.74AC 20 P7.=A7.-2 C0PT3: IIMC^.60: 30 BNEP7.+3: INCS;61 : NOP: NOP; NOP: NOP: NOP: NOP: 1 Program 1 . Second processor fix for early Level 9 adventures ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 )) } Y : - I Also, the company will up- will see that program "K' has grade to disc for just £2.50 been saved (line 340). Kitty Strolls (includes post) plus the When starting up again from cassette. The latest adventure, cold, just type *K (Return)- Return to Eden, will run on the Conditions are then such that 2P. you can load other programs, down memory operate Escape and Break, while still retaining definitions Bonus idea for of up to 40 user-defined keys. lane for two Operation of fO cycles through four sets and displays the cur- function keys rent set on screen. puzzled readers At any time you can redefine a key (1-10) in the usual way, Sir, In November 1983 Acorn eg by typing 'KEY5LIST published interesting User an (return). If you wish to retain typed in several program written by J Taylor this new definition, f8 in set 4 Hl'velistings from various tlie tieading Multi func- under should be used. Just type Y in magazines and I often tape in case of possible cor- tion l^eys' in Beeb Forum, it answer to the question and get a 'Bad Mode' error. ruption, and try running it. furtiier airing for deserves a program 'K' will be adjusted, I know this means the com- Nine times out of ten this will the benefit of readers who may without disturbing another puter has run out of memory, solve the Bad Mode problem. have missed it. Indeed, it was program being developed. but the program must have A further problem now only while browsing through Lines 210 and 320 are useful worked before it was put in the exists. You cannot readily use some old copies that I realised variations to re-arrange the magazine. Or must it? discs because as soon as you Its potential. Break key so that time is saved Bernard Walker try to save the program to disc Type listing 2 in as shown for when program writing. London the disc filing system will re- use with disk and run it (save it David Polak claim its memory and corrupt if you wish). If you now Leeds QThe reason a "Bad your program. The only way to examine the catalogue you page 61^ Mode' error is gener- counteract this is to enter the ated when a program program at the normal PAGE 10 REM :::::::::::: MULTIKEY :::::::::: is run is normally value, save it to disc and then 20 REM:::cf ACORNUSER NOV 1983 p55:; because there is not enough write a downloading program 30 memory for both the program that will move the program 40 C%=&8D0:REM MACHINE CODE ADDRESS and the screen mode that the down-memory automatically 50 REM:BUFFERS 1-4, BASE ADDRESSES program selects to exist at Martin Phillips described the 60 Bl=&B00:B2=&A00 once. There are several technique in the June issue 70 B3=&900:B4=SC00 screen modes on the Beeb and (page 96). 80 Elk and these all require If this does not work or you specific amounts of user don't have a disc interface 90 P%=C%:[ :0PT3:LDy £1 memory to operate in. For fitted, the only other alterna- 100 .L:LDX Bl,Y :LDA E2,Y example, mode 2 requires 20k tive is to use a screen mode 110 STA B1,Y :LDA B3,Y -more than two-thirds of the that requires less memory. For 120 STA B2,Y :LDA B4,Y user memory. If mode 2 is example, modes 4 and 5 need B4 , 130 STA B3,Y :TXA:STA selected only a small amount only half the memory required 140 INY : BNE L : RTS : of memory is left for you, the by mode 2. So try experiment- 150 programmer, to use. ing with different modes. 160 DIM X% 30: Y%=X% DIV 256 When you run a program always thought that 170 PROCO ( 1 that incorporates a mode- Beeb grew out of 180 *KEY1LIST07 changing command your com- Bl'dthe the Atom, but recently 190 *KEY2LISTO0 puter's operating system a friend told me that checks to see if there is 200 *KEY3LIST M the Beeb came from the enough memory left above the 210 *KEYlOOLD MLIST07|ML. |M Proton. I've never heard of the program to implement the 220 PROCO ( 2 Proton - what is or was it? required mode. If there is not 230 REM SECOND KEY SET *KEYl - *KEYlO Adrian Frost then the Bad Mode error is 240 *KEY4 :::::: : HELLO TWO: Fife printed. 250 PR0C0(3) How do you get around this? In the beginning ... the 260 REM THIRD KEY SET *KEYl - *KEY10 Well, the obvious solution is to Proton was the name *** 270 *KEY4: : :HELLO THREE shorten the program, but this Q given to the machine 280 PROCO ( 4 will not always be possible that finally became the 290 REM FOURTH KEY SET *KEY1 - *KEY10 and quite often there's another BBC micro. As you may have 300 *KEY 1 M0.6|m VDU19;4;0;28,0,24,39 cause. If you have a disc inter- noticed while glancing ,0,23 ;12;0;0;0;!m face fitted this will gobble up through Acorr) User, there is a 310 *KEY8P. "" SAVE *K Y/N " :A$=INKE precious user memory. This lot in common between the YSdO 00) :IFA$="Y"THEN*SAVE"K" 8D0+400|M memory can be claimed back Atom and Beeb Basics and first typing *TAPE and indeed the micro owes a 320 *keyioold|mlistoo |ml. |m by then BBC resetting the value of the vari- lot to the Atom. The Proton, as 330 able PAGE which determines originally envisaged, would 340 *SAVE"K" BD0+400 where usable memory starts. have been without many of the 350 END The sequence is therefore: features we all now know and 360 love on the Beeb. The contract •TAPE 370 DEFPR0C0(N%) : CALL C% : *FX18 = between the BBC and Acorn CA.&"+STRS~C%+" |M P."" PAGE &E00 380 SX%="*KEY NEW meant that the machine had, Keys "+STR$(N%)-t- |M" for instance, to be able to pro- 390 CALL SFFF7 lENDPROC Remember to press the return vide teletext type - thus, Acorn key after each command. Now had to go away with its Proton Listing 2. A belter way to make use of the definable function enter your program, save it to and design mode 7 onto a chip. keys: lor t read .'' ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 THE DISK DRIVE YOUR MICRO WOULD CHOOSE FOR ITSELF THE TEAC 5V4 ' DISK DRIVE FOR THE BBC B' MICRO Any self-respecting BBC 'B' Micro seeking a disl( drive of high reliability and performance would immediately identify the TEAC S'/i" as the complete solution. A quality product, it is extensively Industry-proven in major systems applications all overthe world. Now available for the home, educational or office user by mail order from Computamate. the TEAC 5V4' Disk Drive guarantees trouble-free high speed data access every time: and what more could a micro ask? fnnon tilt-position • Single and dual models available with capacities up to 800K.( All 80 track models are switchable 40/80). • Supplied with leads, utility disk, instructions: ready for use with your BBC B' Micro DPS Disk Interface. • Oatmeal moulded box to match your micro. • Fully stackable, plus extending tilt-action "legs'' to ease disk insertion. • 12monthspartsandlabourwarranty. _ Single Drive in tilt-position • Computamate is supported by the resources o! a major multi-national ^ public company. w to order: SATISFACTION GUARANTEED *ost - complete the coupon OR WE WILL REFUND lyour requirements and return to: YOUR MONEY. \. AU 11, Computamate Data Products, Scotia Road, Burslem, Stoke on Trent. ST6 4DX Enclose your cheque/P.O. (made payable to computamate Computamate) or use your Access/BarciaK&ard number. Bytelephone-ring 0762-811711 to ' (credit by phone card holder^ (ComfiuUmale 0313 Pioducls IS a division of Tnamas French and Sons PLC) INTRODUCTORY PRICES ONLY Postto:Dept.AU11, SIHGLEORIVES COST(lntL VAT) QUANTITY TOTAL(CI Computamate Data Products, Scotia Road, FD-55A SS4DTK100K cioe 10 FO-55B DS'10TK20DK E129 95 Burslem, Stoke on Trent, ST6 4DX FD-55E- SS80TK300K CI 35 70 FD-55F- DSBOTKflOOK CI 64 45 Name, TWIN DRIVES Address. fD-5W SS40TKI00K C212 75 FD-55a DS40TK200K £253.00 FD-55E- SSaOTK?OOK CZ53 00 F0-55F- DSBOTK400K C309 35 Post Code_ _Telephone_ » DUAL DRIVES {witu integial pother supply available only m melai nor-liltmq Box al presentl F0-55A SS4OTK1O0K C301 30 *lenclosechequeP.O,for£_ FD-55B DS'iOIKJOOK C342 70 * Please debit my Access. Barclaycard Number. FO-55E- SS80TK20DK C343 85 FD-55F- DSaOTMOQK C399 05 Posiana Pacing [Firsi Unit) E5 75 Signature. Post and Packing (each aflOiHonai unii) £2 50 (Credit Priceinciu()es40'80swilcn Card orders must be signed by the card holder Address above MEDIA must be the same as card holder) BDxollODiskBtlesiOTKSS £18 50 (Please delete as appropriate) BonaMODiskenesBOTKSS C21 25 For further information on these products, orfordetails of other exciting BoioMOOisketiesBOTKOS C27 00 products, including TEAC 3 V?" and 3" Disk Drives, telephone 0782 Postaoe & Packing qer dqx oI Diskettes CI 00 811711, TOTAL E Enquiries from Dealers and Educational Authorities welcome 60 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 . " I parents could pur- mation (each record) to the REPEAT , . . UNTIL loops. When interested I chase them? Problems with file. used the two programs to short file, the final I ask myself though, could it Notice that I don't use BRUT, make a because for files of infor- result looked like figure 1, have something to do with although it could be put into profit margins? By that I mean handling files mation with strings and numbers, PRINT/? is more use- columns using the TAB com- programs that education auth- lot ful. mand several times in line 70. orities are being charged a Sir, I am sending with this Now for your second listing of money for would simply not lettertwo programs, BPUTand (program 4). Unfortunately, it sell for such prices on the open BGET, which I am trying to for does not operate correctly. Long search market, I find myself wonder- make run. However, when I Looking at line 50 and 60 ing if Sir Olive Sinclair's latest want to read the file, I get an shows that you seem to be idea of releasing them to the error message. Could you expecting all the information school software marketplace is going to catch please solve my problem? I so, saved in program 3 to be on. for one certainly hope Abdulla Shams R Hughes brought back into the com- Sir, I have owned a BBC 8 for Dubai. UAE puter for use with lines 50 and over a year and have recently Essex Joe Telford replies: 60. Line 40 cannot do this upgraded to 081.2 and Word- Thank you for your letter, but because program 3 does not wise (such a useful tool}. Adventure query unfortunately you do not save the information you wish There is, however, one thing explain why you are writing to use {M$,L,R)- Also, the infor- that really puzzles me. For a Sir, Much has been written on these programs, which would mation that it does save, the machine almost perfectly of misleading have helped me work out the item number as a byte, is not suited to educational use, why the subject packaging and adver- best answers. being used in program 4. is there such a shortage of cassette Your program 3 is logically Line 20 can be removed good educational software? tisements, as the game is often like the fancy pictures correct, but I wonder if it does nothing altogether and line 40 can be I have seen quite a few pro- it exciting description. what you want, because all altered to say just: grams in magazines which and does is place a single byte in There does seem to be a = purport to be educational, but 40 I BGET/,B the file. For example, if you on further investigation most perfectly logical answer: print a screen shot of the game on entered: I but it still will not work pro- are poor indeed. have two sons aged eight and 10 and we the pack, and also in any shoes, 12. 13 perly. have gathered a collection of adverts, as many companies socks, 10,11 Program 4b is one solution. programs that are based already do. But what about text hats.9,100 This does the calculations with directly on work they are doing adventures? carpets,2,144 the data filed in program 3b, at school. When you consider that an Again I have altered the pro- 99,0,0 adventure can easily have gram so that the short vari- Could you tell me why the 2,000 different 'screens', it the file would only contain: ables have been lengthened, programs made available to would be quite a daunting task eg 'M$' becomes 1temname$', schools by MEP, CET and &01.&02,&03,&04 try represent a etc, are not readily to and them on I have removed the GOTOs MUSE, wail, let alone a tiny cassette because only line 40 sends and replaced them with available for sale, so that inlay. Therefore, what other anything to the file. You can methods are there of display- see that line 40 only sends the ing just how marvellous this bytes for the variable 1, 243 ITEMl ACORN USERS 243x1= piece of software is? I would prefer program 3b ITEM2 EPROMS 339x8= 2712 Frankly, I don't know the which is almost the same as answer, but it would be yours, with a couple of addi- ITEM3 MONITORS 24x98= 2352 interesting to hear from tions. First, instead of GOTO, I ITEM4 RESISTORS 1420x3E-2= 42.6 readers. Simon Clarke use a REPEAT . . . UNTIL loop. ITEMS TRANSISTORS 543x0.12= 65.16 International Adventure Club Second, instead of M$,L,R. I 10 Ennis Close, use long names which are ITEM6 LOUDSPEAKERS 12x0.72= 8.64 Harpenden, Herts AL5 ISS more meaningful. Finally, line Figure 1 582768663 110 saves each set of infor- Prestel Mailbox: 10 A=OPENOUT"CIC":I=0 10 B=OPENIN"CIC" 20 INPUT"ENTER NAME OF GOODS , QUANTITY, PRICE" rM$,L,R 20 1=0 30 IF M$="99" THEN 60 30 IF E0F#B=-1 THEN 80 40 I=I+1:BPUT#A,I 40 1=1+1 :I=BGET#B 50 GOTO20 50 LET H=L*R 60 CLOSE#A 60 PRINT M$;" ";L;"x";R;"= "H 70 GOTO4 Program 3. BPUT from Abdulla Shams "80 CLOSE#B Program 4. BGET from Abdulla Shams 10 A=OPENOUT"CIC" 20 number =0 30 REPEAT 10 B=OPENIN"CIC" 40 number=nuinber+l 20 itemno=0 50 PRINT "ITEM: "number 30 REPEAT 60 INPUT"ENTER NAME OF GOODS :"itemname$ 40 itemno=itemno+l 70 IFitemname$="9 9" CLOSE#A: CLS :END 50 INPUT#B,itemname$, quantity, price 80 INPUT"ENTER QUANTITY : "quantity 60 LET total=quantity*price ; 90 INPUT"ENTER PRICE : "price 7 PRINT" ITEM" ; itemno " "itemname$; 100 PRINT " ;quantity; "x" ;price; "= "total 110 PRINT#A , itemname$ , quantity , price 80 UNTIL EOF#B 120 UNTIL FALSE 90 CLOSE#B Program 3b. Joe Telford's version Program 4b. By Joe Telford ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 1 97 micrDkiJDrld 1 2 York Place 10 The Boulevard Brighton Computer and Uideo Centre Ltd, Crawley SUSSEX BN1 4GU SUSSEX RH101XX COMPUTERS • SOFTWARE • PRINTERS • PERIPHERALS • MISCELLANEOUS TEAC DRIVES *FREE JOYSTICK 55AS/S 40 Track WITH BBC OR 100K Single ..C139 ELECTRON ^KORN 200K Dual E279 COMPUTER 55E S/S 80 Track 200K Single C189 Model B £398 Acorn Electron f 1 96 400K Dual £379 X Plus 1 Model B Discl/F £469 Interface £ 59 55FD/S 80 Track Double Density I/F £115 Dual Joysticks £ 1 9 400K Single ..C21 9 Opiional PSU. E29 Teletext Receiver £225 Single Joystick £ 8.50 aOOKDual £439 40/80 Switch, E 8 Z80 2nd Processor £395 {Joystick compatible 6502 2nd Processor £299 with BBC) 3" Disc Drive (200K) £113 Cable & Formatting Disc £ 22 Video Digitiser £255 COMPUTERS DRIVES ViewWDPRO £59 Wordwise £38 Edword £45 Forecast £12 Desk Diary £10 1.2 OS £11 Basic2 £32 LARGE RANGE OF BUSINESS & HOME SOFTWARE IN STOCK SOFTWARE — ^ Dysan Microvitec Std £1 99 1^7 •/ DIBKETTEI Microvitec Med £299 Nordmende 14" Microvitec Hi Res £399 TV/MON E249 Superb Akai 14" SSSD 40 Tracks £1 TV/MON (RGB) SSDD 80 Tracks £1 Taxan K12RIX (Std Res) £219 l/R Conirol £279 DSDD 80 Track £27 Taxan K1 2R2 (Med Res) E269 Taxan K12R3 (Hi Res) £385 Sony 14" Monitor scoop with RGB input at Storage Boxes (40) £15 fantastic price ,£172 Storage Boxes (90) E19 Novex 14" Monitor £215 (Cables included) Taxan 12" Green Mon (P31) £105 Ribbons, Supplies, Stationery also in Taxan 12" Green (P39) £115 Philips V7001 Green £74 stock. BETTER PICTURE • MONITORS * RELIABILITY MEDIA To Microworld Computer 8i Video Centre Ltd 12 York Place 10The Boulevard Brighton OR Crawley Raven-20 20K Ram Exp £66 Econel I/F £70 SUSSEX BN1 4GU SUSSEX RH101XX Clock Box (inc PSU) £45 Acorn Bit Stick Terminator Box , , £35 Graphics System £375 Printer Server ROM E49 S-Pascal £17 Please Supply: File Server LVL1 £99 Micro Text £49 File Server LVL2 £249 6502 Dev System £50 BCPLROM £99 1 enclose CHQ/PO or debit my Access/Visa card No; .-. Amount ,£ Including £1 p&p or £8 for larger items (Printers) BBC ACCESSORIES Name:..., ..„.„.,^ Sig: Address: Phone Orders: Simply phone to place your orders at Brigh- ton (0273) 671863/698241 or Crawley (0293) S4S730 or at Farnham (0252) 726379. Showrooms at Brighton 8i Craw- ley. Orders from Schools, Colleges, Universities & Govt. Depts. welcome. EXPORT orders welcomB. Goods in stock will be dispatched within 24 hrs. MAILORDER I more silly games (like JCB Swam, however, that he may Spanish accents Digger)? Torch journal be heading for legal difficult- How about Basic 3, which ies. Some of his listings will alt fixed in Hi- has the bugs (as Sir, You were kind enough to undoubtedly begin with the Basic for the 6502 second pro- with Wordwise publish my letter in the Febru- strirfg 'REM (C) Martyn Fox'. If cessor). ary issue of Acorn User, which he attempts to give away per- And a new DFS that allowed informed your readers of the mission to copy those pro- more than the ridiculous 31 I Sir. We have been using the setting up of the Torch User grams, shall sue. WordwisetexX editor and have files, could copy a file onto the Group. Martyn Fox same disc (by giving it a new found ways to print correctly I am pleased to say that as a Windsor name), and 'fred' to every oddity of the Spanish rename consequence of the large FRED' would be really useful. alphabet, w/ithout recourse to number of replies, we have Handicap It would be even more useful if external software. just published the first issue of itcouid save afile as a number Wordwise permits the pass- the group's journal. The result of separate linked blocks ing of control codes to the ofthis one letter has been a re- across a disc, instead of as database printer, and the most tricky sponse from several countries one continuous block. The cur- point was to add accents w/ith- round the world. I am still rent system must be the cause establishing a out disturbing justification as receiving enquiries which Sir, We are of 20 per cent of all suicides in of software for they have to be placed on top refer to that letter of six months database this country, When you try and handicapped -Bardsoft, of a vowel. Therefore, a back- ago! the extend a 250-byte file by 10 Briefly, each entry will contam space control code has to be For the benefit of new bytes and the DFS produces a a description of the programs, sent to the printer after each readers, may I repeat that "Can't extend' message with they are suit- accent- Wordwise ignores, at enquiries about the one and the handicaps 190000 bytes free on a disc, able for, the the time of calculating the jus- only Torch group should be type of computer you wonder why we don't all required, tification, any control codes addressed to me at: 69 The system name and give and return to the trees. meant for the printer. So one up Avenue, Wembley, Middlesex address of supplier/developer {Even the good old fashioned and price, etc. This infor- space is deducted by the HA9 9PH. AnSAEwill result in Pet 2040 disc drives could do will printer to every justified line heartfelt thanks and a speedy mation be made available these things). per each backspace instruc- response. through printouts in answer to And how about 'VIEW to specific enquiries. tion. Grahame Perchick of, or as A simple but not so obvious enter View (instead Torch User Group The aim of Bardsoft will be well as 'WORD)? A way to stop to facilitate the of in- solution is to send to the exchange a blank line being printed software relevant printer, as a first parameter of formation on after every page, the 'OC' (output control code) before and Basic addresses to any aspect of the lives or together with the back space, and a way to count lines, of handicapped people. One would Sir. I should like to something that compensates find where a page ends to reply a major addition will be the con- be useful. It would also be nice letter from Neil Howard of certed effort to promote the it: the ASCII code for the if View informed the printer Herts, published in Septem- database, therefore the accent itself! So both the and ber's Acorn Neil for accent and back space are driver whether SHEETS or User asks software, abroad. addresses in the Basic ignored by the justification PRINT was being used (so it BBC As we are currently collect- turn ROM. routine, but recognised and could off the paper end ing and processing infor- Cambridge Microcomputer printed correctly by the detector or even select mation, we would be pleased Centre has published a book printer. The ASCII code of the printers), and a command to to hear from any of your entitled The Advanced Basic accent prints the symbol and extract the name and address readership who may wish to a file print it its R0/[4 User Guide which meets advances one space which is from and on contribute to Bardsoft. For this requirement exactly. If compensated by the back- own (for the envelope) would further information please Neil cares ring space. Therefore, lines with probably save a few hundred to (0223) contact me at Handicapped 355404, I sure they will accents remain correctly justi- man years' work across the am be Persons Research Unit, New- happy to supply. fied. country. castle-upon-Tyne Polytechnic, C Pharo We could provide anyone The list goes on and on, and 1 Coach Lane, Coach Lane of Cheshire interested with different sets of while much the Acornsoft Campus, NE7 7TW, Tel: (0632) software is good there are 664061. programs for the user defined The book costs £7.95 (plus £1 Peter Curran keys, Spanish characters can omissions which wouldn't be post) from CMC at 1 53 East Rd, too difficult to include. be called on my Epson MX80 F/ Cambridge. Till by typing proved version (Chess 2.32/1 I feel I should warn Mr Rjchard Walker Version H/E-1) is now avail- able, for the BBC and Electron, ASK a silly question, pass a fair comment, stage an angry Suicide theory from Superior Software for protest -we don't mind what you write to us about (or about £7.95. usi). Keep 'em short, keep 'em sweet, but keep 'em coming! Sir, Why doesn't Acornsoft David Thompson The address is: Letters, Acorn User, Redwood Publishing, do something really useful (author of 2,32) Chess 68 Long Acre, London WC2E 9JH. instead of producing even London ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 CLEAR-OUT ^ i AUTUMN , .o, ,He PRICE P" space -^""^^^^^^ ^t HALF WORD PROCESSOR # A full feature word processor using the professional Embedded Control Characters plus the capability to alter the printer output to suit any printer, including the new generation NL Q printers. Program contains disk conversion program. Full details in the September Acorn User. Usually £22.50. But buy with any other prograrn-£11.25, SWORDS AND SORCERY The only Quest for the BBC. Think of an Adventure then think of very much more, for no longer are you alone, but have helpers, and others you can recruit or abandon to gain more fighting ability, magical prowess, etc., etc.. Full details in the August issue of Acorn User. Usually £10.35. But buy with any other program-£5.15. PINBALL ARCADE # The one where you create, play and save your own P inball boards. F ive 5 star reviews to its credit. Another unique Kansas winner. Usually £10.35. But buy with any other program-£5.15. FIVE SPHERES OF GOLIATH A packed Adventure-with sound. Like all Kansas Aventures this is completely logical, has a split screen, full game saving facility, colour and our telephone 'help' service. Usually £10.35. With any other-£5.15. MICROTYPE # Now accepted as the standard in typing tutors. Used by over 150 schools and colleges as well as the training schools of many major industies. It is essential to be able to touch type if full use of the BBC computer is required. Usually £12.50. But buy with any other program—£6.25. DATA FILE # The one which YOU define the number of fields, their length and title. All the normal facilities plus the ability to search both at the beginning and anywhere within a field. Easy editing and sorting of files and includes a two-way printer dump. Usually £12.50. But buy with any other program~£6.25. MAGIC ADVENTURE The childrens's Adventure with over 20 colourful pictures, operated very easily by the function keys. wonderful magical journey for children between four and eight. Now in use in 108 primary schools ^^'o'^Qr^'d^ the country, and played and loved by children everywhere. Usually £8.50. Buy with any other program-£4.25. ADVENTURES # The three traditional Adventures are Dracula Island, R ing of T ime and Revenge of Zor. All completely logical with the expected split screen, colour and game saving facility. The first two are available on the E lectron. Normally £9.50 each. But buy any one with another program—£4.75. ARCADE GAMES # Arcade games include Galactic F irebird. Bomber Scramble, Cosmic F ighter and F ighter P ilot. All fast-action games with colour and sound. F ighter P ilot is available for the E lectron. Normally £9.50. Buy with any other program—£4.75. AH programs available for the BBC model B # denotes available for the Electron All the cassette based programs shown in our catalogue are included in this offer Ring 0246 850357 any time if you want a copy quicl OFFER CLOSES WEDNESDAY 31st OCTOBER how ~~ caJsed^ft' Ju°l''^ ^"^ P''ogram fan ^ ^^ Kansas CityCMv Systems,S Unit 3, Sutton Springs Wood, Chesterfield, S44 5XF. Tel 0246 850357 64 ACORN USER NOVEMBER GRAPHICS easily by employing another ot those very useful logical operators, AND. All this does is a straight comparison, bit IviiflflOR by bit. of two numbers. For example, if AND you have the numbers 182 and 93 (deci- mal), they are 10110110 and 01011101 them digit by digit and if both digits m each pair are set to 1, the correspond- ing digit in the result is set to 1, other- CLONE it 0. in this the IM wise is set to So, case comparison would look like this: n the concluding part of his 182 = 10110110 AND 93^01011101 sprite generator series, Harry RESULT -00010100 -20 The results aren't really meaningful as specific bits in a byte. The colour infor- mation in a mode 2 byte is arranged in a is the Y axis, so if you particular way. The odd bits, starting at E and my big mouth. I said that reversal round the adding extra facilities to the have a sprite man facing right, the bit 7 and going down to bit 1, give Design program (September mirror image would show him facing colour number of the left-hand pixel; to deal and the even number bits 6 to give the issue) would be fairly simple. So it left. This means that you have right-hand colour number. Bit 7 is the proved to be. The difficult bit was get- with the data in rows across the screen. will become the left- leftmost bit when the number is written ting it all to run without the machine The rightmost byte In addition, the down. So if you AND a byte with &AA complaining there was no room. I spent most and vice-versa. binary - you will mask out ages writing quite a complicated bit in pixels within the bytes will have to be 10101010 in - byte all the right-hand colour information. Basic and had to write it all again in reversed if the rightmost was - leftmost byte will ANDing with &55 - 01010101 in binary assembler to cram it in. Then I ran out red/green, the new delete the left-hand colour infor- of room for any more machine code. My become green/red. will useful, eh? kingdom for a second processor. Once you have designed a sprite, mation. Pretty this sort of manipulation is quite easy. Once you've masked out the bits However, I didn't work in a sardine shift - a sprite that is eight you're not interested in you can canning factory for nothing 1 got all Say you have I've pixels wide (four bytes the remaining ones over one position to the sardines I could wear. ^ provide the new colour information for managed to concertina it enough, although the screen messages are a bit the other pixel. Shitting is easy in (it's about all that is), where cryptic in parts, and all notions of_^ assembler 'meaningful' variable and pro- r" k * you have the instructions ROL and ASL and LSR cedure names have taken some \ I which both shift left, and ROR cosh. Nonetheless and that's \ which both shift right. Since shifting is the as the sort of word that a man who's \ right one binary place same dividing two, and shifting left is the had to write in a language consist- \ by '^ same as multiplying by two, it's easy to ing of *ig', "og", and "ug' for some \ show in Basic how to perform colour ' swaps. now offers all the promised facili- \ , If you type in the small demo (listing ties. You can edit previously \ (ie, create a \ designed sprites, clone \ Once you have deaigiled copy ot a design shifted one pixel to \ a sprite, manipulating the right), generate mirror images, \ it is quite ea&y program is or design new sprites. The ] now menu-driven, as am I, so you can hop from one course to another and in mode 2). If I you remember my descrip- / then go back if you want. * f To create the space for the new pro- tions of screen layout in parts 1 and / ^^Mm cedures, PROCassemble has been re- 2 (September/October), you will / moved. This, with additions, is run know that the four bytes forming / separately once to generate the object the top row of the sprite are offset / code and is then ot no further use. from the start position by 0, 8, 16 / I've tried to keep the number of other and 24 bytes respectively. What / changes to a mifumum, but naturally you have to do is reverse the / one or two things have had to be moved colour information within each / about. Essentially, I've changed the byte and then move the data in f start of the program, removed the byte to byte 24, the data in byte / assembler part and tacked on the new 8 to byte 16, and vice-versa. / procedures at the end. Writing a loop to access all / The workings of the new parts are the bytes in a sprite can '^—^^ fairly simple. Let's start with mirror make you walk with a bit of a limp, but images. In this program the image the colour reversal is achieved quite ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 ^^S^ BBtinODELB 1-2 OS i:i W m ft ind all good software retailers. «5 VLso available from Ultimate Play The Game, A" he Green, Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire im 5JL) %• - I GRAPHICS 10 M0DE2 20 C'/.^?<4C80: REM arbitrary screen location 30 ?C7.--^^?.57: REM -flashing b/w and red 40 Ay.=:?C7. AND ?^AA: REM mask out r/hand colour 50 A7.^=A7./2! REM shi-ft right 60 B7.=--^?C7. AND ?.SS: REN mask out 1 /hand colour 70 B7.^B7.*2! REM shift left 80 nGwbyte^^:A7.^i-B7,: REM put theni both together 90 C7.?16"--newbyte: REM write the new cof-nbination to the screen Listing 1. Running this demo program displays two bytes on the screen itself is difficult, although CLONE you wilt be asked for the 1) and run it you will see two bytes cess not of the sprite first. Of these first displayed on the screen. The first one is writing the loop controlling it caused a number flashing black/white and red, and the dull throbbing in my ankles. This inten- three options, only EDIT causes you to second one has the colours reversed. sified when the no room' message enter the editor -the other two just do Rewriting it in assembler their thing and tell you when they've If you want to know how the colour turned up. finished. If to a look at numbers are arrived at in the first was actually a pleasure -the logic is so you want have their EDIT afterwards. place, see my article in the September much simpler and clearer. handiwork, use design issue -it's easy. The clone procedure operates on Option 4 allows you to new sprites. It differs from EDIT in that it The mirroring process is carried out one sprite at a time, putting the clone This clears the data and address areas and on the first four sprites in memory, data into the next sprite position. asks you wide you want the sprites sprites to 3. and the results are put imposes limitations, since the program how to be. You can use the editor to design into the data areas for sprites 4 to 7. If works cut where the next sprite data you design the cartoon frames for a position is by using the address table. new sprites but their width is fixed at that of the sprites already in memory. sprite moving left to right, for instance,, The way things are set up, sprite 2 has rather drastic since it selecting the mirror option will produce the same address as sprite 0, and Selecting 4 is exact copies but with the sprite moving sprites 4 and 6 are similarly afflicted. destroys whatever designs you may have had in memory at the time*. right to left. The result is that an attempt to clone Finally, option 5 allows you to save Cloning is similar to mirroring except sprite 1 will bung the new data into the area used by sprites 2 and 0, However, your designs. It checks through since it's unlikely that you will be want- memory to see how many designs you ing to use multi-frame animation and have made, where they are, and then pixel-by-plxel movement at the same displays the information. You are time, this should not prove problematic. asked if you want to save the sprite The cloning procedure also carries data, and if so, what you want to call it. out an important check. For the sprite to Saving, like loading, is automatic. be moved over there must be enough Instructions for modifying the orig- room on the right-hand side of his 'data inal Design program and creating the listing box'. If you want to make clones, machine code, together with the ensure that the original design has at forthe new bits are on yellow pages 103 least one pixel free (ie, black) all the to 107. way down the right side. The world won't end if you don't- you will just get that the intention is to make a copy of a a message telling you it can't be done. sprite but with the pixels moved one In fact, it could be done but you don't position to the right. The idea is that you want crucial bitsfaliingoff the right side can then alternate the two designs and of your sprites. make your character move across the Using the final program is just a screen very smoothly, since it will be matter of picking a number from the moving in steps of one pixel rather than menu, as in a Chinese takeaway. You first three two. It also moves at half the speed, of are offered five options. The course, all other things being equal. are concerned with existing designs The difference with cloning is that EDIT, CLONE. MIRROR. You will be in instead of just changing colour pos- asked if the designs are already itions within a byte, the right-hand pixel memory and, if not, what the sprite file The final version of Design Is data in one byte has to be moved into is called. Inserting the correct disc or listed, together with full the left-hand pixel position of the next tape and pressing Return will then load instructions, on yellow pages byte horizontally. Again, the operator the data and carry out the appropriate 103-107 AND comes to the rescue and the pro- procedure. In the case of EDIT and ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 . Ain't She Sweet cRb nvmPH AND WITH A VERY TRIM LITTLE ''*^''°''"'° FIGURE £159.00"""and Packing) The Bevan Nymph 3-inch Compact Floppy Disk Drive is FEATURES tailored for use with your BBC Micro and is compatible with all 1 Compact and lightweight: Almost half the volume and weight of the disk interfaces and comes complete with cables, "Mini Floppy Disk Drive." comprehensive manual and utilities disk. 2. One-touch disk load/unload. 3. Hardened plastic center hub for improved reliability. The Nymph has been developed Hitachi its by and rotation 4. Rigid compact floppy-disk case with automatic head-window speed, data transfer rate, recording capacity per track and shutters for media protection. other specifications are designed to be the same as those of 5. Low power consumption: Almost half that of the "Mini Floppy Disk Drive". the conventional 5.25-inch drives and is therefore, fully 6. Brushless direct drive motor: Highly reliable, compatible. bmshless direct drive motor offers longlife operation. The Nymph is available either as a flipable unit with a storage 7. High-perfonnance head-access ^ capacity of lOOK each side or as a double sided unit aHowing mechanism using step motor access to either side of the disk without removal, it can be and steel band. dx purchased either as a single or double drive unit with or 8. Narrow write and wide read heads with a tunnel erase head ^^^ without power supply thus enabling you to choose between J^x using Mn-Zn ferrite. using the BBC's power supply or utilising its own. 9. 12 month warranty. Prices quoted are inclusive of VAT, postage and packing. 1l» ^ RANGES AVAILABLE M .?f A membei of D. F. Bevan (Holdings) PLC o\® .if c/ ^A .^^ ^^ ^' 68 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 HEARDABOUTTHE COMPUTER MEGA ag: of There's only one Big K. It's out now. The November issue Big K including: STRONTIUM DOG and Acomputer mega-mag that gives THE FALL GUY (exciting new games), it CO you straight. No frills. No waffle. VIDEO DISEASES (how to cure them), No blurb. No unnecessary rubbish. Just SIDTHECOMMODORESOUNDCHIP critical. thefacts, straight, humorous, (how hedoes it), PLUSa host of games programs Take this month for example. for ORIC, ELECTRON, SPECTRUM, Bursting with news, reviews, COMMODORE 64, and BBC features and programs. GETYOUR MITTON THE COMPUTER MEGA-MAG FORJUST85 PENCE. ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 69 OUR DOUBLE-SIDED S'^DISC DMVL ATRIPLE OFFER. OpLis have a triple ofler of 3" disc drives for and carnage along witha two year guarantee- which tiiose v^/ho w'isli to improve their micros. is a year more than any other conipany can ofier. The disc ilrive is compatible with the You can orderbypostingoffthe coupon below HBC: Micro, has a direct drive mechanism, is double- or calling at Opus Supplies Ltd.. sided and comes with a compreheixsive manual. 158, Camberwell Road. London SE5 OLE. And with every purchase, a 3" utilities cartridge 01-701 8668 or 01-703 6155. will come free. We are ( )pen 9-5.30 Monday to Friday and Our ( )ftcr also includes VAT. all necessarv leads 9.00-1.00 p.m.. Saturdays. 3 DISC DRIVE "SnuainbLiythisiO()K(l!ntormattcd)d(iuble-,sidc-d disc dri\'c for thu same price thai otlier companies .sell single drives for. The drive heads read and write to and from hotli sides of the disc cartritlgc. giving you twice the on-line capacity tif,single.s"dri\vs. NormalIy.i22%^ Now &199.95 SAVE &30 3 DISC DRIVE AND DOUBLE DENSITY INTERFACE It you currently run your program on a cassette recorder, yoLt'll need ttni|:)gradc your micro in order to use a discdrive. This offer not only gives you an interface, but it effectively doubles thecapabilitie-softhedrive-givingyou 3 ^OK of usable capacity instead of the 2(K)Kni)rma!ly achie\able. NormaUyX^^9:W Now &299.95 SAVE &60 3 DISC DRIVE AND 914' DISC DRIVE Both drives come "dai.sy-chained' (or linked) togeiher. They're completely coin|")atible and will allow you to down load all those programs you made on 5' i" ni)pp\" discs ont(j a robust ,V' cartridge. Normally i479:95 Now &329.90 SAVE &50 li): OpLlsSlippI cs Ltd l-SSCimhcrurll Kn-.kt. l.inufnn Sho <'\V.):. I'Ic;1>l' (.)Li;iniit\ l.)escri|ini>n I^riic iiisll niclIlL' loll (ALL PRICES INCU'DE VAT & CARRIAGE.) I,. i I eiK'kisca chet|iiL' lbt\t rtjr..\].. ^,-^^ AC33 ( )r please (.lebic mycretlitcird accoLini with ihcanioumofjL. My Access Barclaycard (ple:isc delete) T,^l,^ph,m,- \ m\ II 1^%^ No. i,s JL.< )pLI'.Slipplii.\s|,lL| 70 ACOHN USER NOVEMBER 1984 . mes ion Software Invasion games are available from WH SMITH, HMV, all SPECTRUM SHOPS and over 1 ,000 retail outlets. This is the game you've been waiting for! A 3D high speed formula 1 car race round 8 different international circuits. Just took at these amazing features:- ^ Bends arranged to simulate 8 actual Grand Prix circuits. * Working cockpit - Rev. counter. Speedometer, Temperature Gauge, gears, moving steering wheel. ..>^^; ^ Other cars which alter in perspective and size as they take. :]: Signposts. * Realistic sound effects such as engine noise, skids and crunching shunts :!- Keyboard or Joystick control. * Volume control. RunsonO.S. 1.0 or greater. More than a year of man hours have gone into creating this superb game. BBC MICRO MODEL B £9.95 CASSETTE £11 .95 DISK ^^ Authors: Mick O'Neill and Dave Mendes Blitzkrieg is a 3D Tank Battle from thesame author as ^m^Mn our Best Seller "3D Bomb Alley" This program is probably unique in the fact that all the graphics were created with the help of models, a video camera, a video digitiser and some very special Light Pen ms ..rr.rrj.,. .„,„r*fi«f ^^<«„. NOW WITH COLOUf software. GRAPHICS! fine detail and realism, This has resulted in extremely i-r .«.i^. (BBC VERSION ONLY) with fast moving real time graphics- you don't have to '<«lllM*.9^M wait for the screen to be updated between each move. Features include:- ^ Detailed scrolling landscape. ^ Rotating tanks. * Detailed explosions. * 3D shell movement. * Recoiling barrel, ^i: 3D sound. ^ Keyboard/Joystick option. * Freeze game facility. ^Optional sound. ^ Demo' mode. ^ High score & ranking system. BBC MICRO MODELS £7.95 CASSETTE £9.95 DISK Author: Simon Vout. HOW TO ORDER .^^^^__ You may purchase any of the games above dlre^^^^^TOice to do is write your name and address on a piece of paper, (tem(s) required, enclosing your cheque/P.O. made payable to SOFTWARE INVASION. Please allow 7 to 14 days for delivery {orders are normally dispatched within 48 hours!) OVERSEAS ORDERS, Please add £1.00 per game 50Elborough Street, Southfields, London SW185DN ^ DISTRIBUTORS. MULTIPLE STORES, RETAILER GROUP AND EXPORT INQUIRIES INVITED. Do you write your own programs? If you have an unusual program which can meet our standards you could be earning a substantial sum every week! Why not take advantage of our sought after reputation. Write now! Other SOFTWAREINVASION GAMES., .send for full list now! Roll over B LUDWJGVAN BEET KOYEN f770 - 1827 if' ]Hili/\li^mhM(li^^SklAutXuJ^kid Al/A/lABlf ON ^ ISLANOnOGIC ieethoven If you can play the comb and paper this is the music program for you. The new Music System from Island Logic.Thats what it's called. And what it actually does, in musical terms, basically in a word, is everything. Xou don't need any musical ability The program is designed for the man in the street (the one carrying the BBC B micro). And you don't need to be able to read music. In fact all you need is one fully operative finger; one eye and one ear (two or more may be an advantage but are not essential). You can create noises with the program (sounds of your own creation). Or you can recreate the sounds of conventional instruments. Wind, strings, percussion and so on. Or you can take tunes from the Song & Sound Library on the program and murder them in the name of art. Then with these sounds you can build tunes before your very eyes -or ears. Adding, taking away juggling, jiggling, twisting the sounds, wowing the next door neighbours. The program will even print out your compositions in proper music-manuscript form. And you don't need any knowledge of music to do it. lb Ludwig the prospect of music composition by the masses must make him turn in his grave. But to us the prospect is heartening. Mr Beethoven, as you decompose, we compose. DISK PACK £34,95 INC VAT CASSETTE1(SYNTHESISER,KEYSOARD, SONG AND SOUNDLIBRARY) £12.95 INCVATCA5SETTE2(EDrrOR. PRINfT-OUT SONG AND SOUND LIBRART) £12.95 INC VAT PLEASE ADD £1,25 PgP PER ORDER AND SEND A CHEQUE 'PO ACCESS ORVISACARDNO WITH ORDER TO SYSTEM, 12 COLLEGIATE CRESCENT SHEFFIELD 510 2BA. (CREDIT CARD HOTLINE 0712 682321), THIS PROGRAM IS RECORDED ON THE HIGHEST POSSrBLE QUAUTY DISKS. AS SUPPUED BY 'K!IELy]i^tFi[12? TECHNIQUESI In recent months letters have been flowing into the Acorn User office asking for articles covering the more esoteric details of assembler such as floating point variables and trigonometric functions such as cosines, sines and drawing of machine code circles. We hope to provide the answers to most of your points in a series of articles, starting In this Issue with an examination of how floating point numbers are stored within the Beeb. Program examples demon- strate the use of some ROM-based routines. Representing an integer value in both binary and decimal format is straightforward- Consider the value 128.125. In binary the entire value ^, / would be represented by: 10000000,0010 The binary value to the left of the binary point - or 100DOOOQ. is 128. where only bit 7 is set and this has a weight of FLOATING 2'2'2*2*2'2*2, or 128. The weight of _ values to the right of a binary point are progressively halved, thus the weights of the first four fractions would be: 0.5 0.25 0.125 0.0625 All we need do is to make up the value S POINT of the decimal 'fraction' of the number by setting and clearing the correct sequence of bits. As an example, to Bruce Smith introduces a new represent 0.125 we need only to set one bit, in this case ,001 , Consider the deci- mal value 15.625, The 15 converts to series designed to help you learn 1111 binary and the 0,625 part can be defined as .5 plus ,125, thus the binary 'fraction' is .101 (figure 1), Thus 15.625 assembly language without tears produces a binary value of 1111,101, .625=.5+.125 THE term 'floating point' is applied 123.456 could be expressed notatio- to a numeric value tliat may nally as: acquire a fractional part, ex- 0.123456E + 3 pressed in decimal terms with figures .5 .25 .125 to the rigint of a decimal point-for The E denotes an exponential value example, 123.456. The Beeb's Basic and the +3 the fact that the decimal point has moved three places to the left. interpreter assumes that any variable it Converting an exponentially repre- encounters is a floating point value Figure 1. Calculating the 'binary' fraction of unless a % or S sign appears immedi- sented value back to its normal form a number simply requires moving the decimal ately after the variable name. The % As with decimal values, binary point the number of places to the right denotes an integer or whole number numbers can be manipulated to make specified by the exponent. The value; value, while the $ denotes an ASCII them easier to handle and less string variable. It is important to 0.567345E + 5 memory-hungry by converting them to remember that floating a point variable two components, in this instance the reverts to: may still hold a whole or integer value, binary exponent and the binary man- thus the 56734.5 two assignments tissa (the mantissa is the number FIRST- 123.456 Another, more common way of ex portion of a value). Figure 2 shows hov these sections arranged in SECOND- 123 pressing an exponential value is to could be use a 10 and add a superscript to this memory using six bytes per number. both assign values to floating point to provide the exponent. Our first The sixth byte here is required to hold variables though is even the latter an example could be expressed as: the sign {positive or negative) of the integer. number- in fact, only a single bit need 0.123456*10^ In BBC Basic floating point variables be used (bit 7), as and 1 can denote have what is known as 10-digit pre- Similarly, the decimal value 0.000123 a positive and negative mantissa cision, displayed with nine digits and can be written as 0,123E-3 or respectively. The binary exponent an 'exponent' in the range + 37 to -38. 0.123*10-^ the -3 indicating that the occupies just a single byte and this is The exponent of a number is simply a decimal point must be moved three used to represent both positive and scientific notational form of represent- places right in a negative direction to legative values by adding the value to ing numbers. For example, the number restore its original representation. page 77 > ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 , Take Advantage of us! 50 s/s d/d disks + box - £50 plus vat + p&p 50 d/s d/d disks 4- box - £75 plus vat + p&p Discotek sells disks and accessories, we 41 sell them to practically anyone, anywhere. So when we got a telephone order for a lot of storage boxes and disks we didn't waste any time and stocked up. Then the order was cancelled. So we're having to let them go at cost, in fact, less than cost. For just £50 we can supply a rigid, high impact plastic storage box, with four dividers packed with 50 single-sided, double-density disks. The same storage box filled with 50 double-sided, double density disks will cost just £75. And all carrying our five year guarantee - if a disk is faulty send it back for two free replacements. To order just clip the coupon below. ^ lU tflSSi' To Disco-Technology Ltd, 20 Orange Street, %^ London WC2H7ED Please rush me qty storage boxes filled with 50 single-sided 50 double-sided G disks at £59.50 or £87.25 respectively. To Disco-Technology Ltd, (£2 already added for p&p and insurance) I enclose a cheque for £ 20 Orange Street, or debit my Access card No. _____^ London WC2H 7ED Name — Signature ^ Address ^ ^^ Postcode Telephone ROMBOX is a sideways ROM extension unit which enables many existing BBC ROlvi based programs to be run on the BBC or the Electron. 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COMMODORE 64, BBC-B, aSK SPECTRUM ^ Comprehensive user manual ^ Full data handling; facilities (display, print, change, save, load) ^ All results can be printed out $ 76 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 ) I TECHNIQUES The above method of using a single byte of which just one bit holds the sign Fxponent Mantissa Sign byte of a number is obviously wasteful of A_ . _ V r memory. Floating point numbers stored in memory use just five bytes - 1 2 3 4 5 6 bits for 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 40 storage, which includes the sign bit. How is this done? You will remember that the Basic interpreter normalises a floating point value by moving the binary point along to the left until it reaches the leftmost 1. So it is a known fact that the first bit in the man- 1—Sign bit tissa will always be a 1. As the Basic interpreter also knows this it can forget it and use the bit to represent the sign of Figure 2. How the binary exponent and mantissa and sign bit are arranged in memory the floating point value. When Basic m needs to read the value of the number it M page 74 To complete the normalisation we must can extract this sign bit, reset it to 1 and evaluate the number proper. Simple or subtracting it from 128. For example, indicate a positive value by placing a an exponent value of + 15 is repre- zero into bit 7 of the sign byte. The com- but very neat! In memory, then, the nor- sented by: plete representation of &345 in floating malised representation of &345 is com- point is therefore: pacted into just five bytes of memory, + 15-128 + 15 = 143 stored thus: whereas a negative exponent of -15 is Sign Oxxx xxxx Exponent 10001010 &8A expressed as: Exponent 10001010 &8A 11010001 &D1 Mantissa 01010001 &51 -15=128-15-113 Mantissa 01000000 &40 {bit 7=0- therefore positive To save memory and improve handling 0000 0000 &00 0100 0000 &40 of the floating point values the Basic 00000000 &00 0000 0000 &00 interpreter 'normalises' them. This 0000 0000 &00 process involves shifting the bits along The Vs in the sign bit may have any until a 1 is encountered at the most value. Figure 4 shows a dump of the area of significant bit's position. The above example uses a whole memory storing the one-liner: Consider the hexadecimal value number, with no decimal 'fraction', but 10float-&345 &345. Converting this to its two-byte the technique to normalise a truly deci- After running this program the variable binary representation gives: mal value is the same. For example, the contents are stored above the pro- decimal value 241.75 can be expressed &345-00000011 01000101 gram, as illustrated from &1C17. in binary as: Because we are now working to a base We have seen that floating point 11110001.11 or radix of two the exponent itself numbers can be stored in a compact becomes two. so transformed exactly Normalising this would give: five-byte form or a loose six-byte form. as it stands the above binary value Both methods are used by the Beeb .11110001 11000000 00000000 could be read as: and Electron. Because memory is at a 00000000 premium the five-byte packed form is 00000011 01000101 *2° with an exponential value of 128 + 8 = used throughout by the Basic inter- Now to normalise this value we need to 136, or &88. preter to store variable values above 'float' the binary point along to the left until it sits directly in front of the left- most 1. Figure 3 illustrates the move- End Start ment of the point through the binary number. To calculate the final expo- nential value we first need to count the number of characters the point has l^ )Uy\^)\')VVkV^°;\' vv* floated along to the left- in this case 10. w Thus: 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 ' 2'° &345 -0.1 1010001 01000000 Figure 3. Ttie movement of the binary point The final byte has been padded out with noughts to keep the two bytes dis- L ICOCOICIF tinguishable. As the number has a posi- 1 C*:''*!^ OD 00 OA CE 66 6C 6F 61 ..,.+:ca tive value 128 must be added to it to 1C08 74 3D 26 -33 34 3? OD FF ^="^-'.345. . obtain the final exponential form: ICIO 00 00 6C 6F 61 74 00 'BA . . I cat , . 10 + 128=138=&8A iCIS 51 40 00 00 00 00 00 00 Qfl Now we need to manipulate the man- tissa. This uses four bytes, two of which Figure 4. Dump showing how the floating point variable is stored we already have, the remaining two bytes being padded out with zeroes to give; Bruce Smith's five floating point demonstration programs are listed on 11010001 01 000000 00000000 yellow pages 108 and 109 00000000 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 TECHNIQUES I FUNCTION ftDDREB FACl FAC2 ; 00 00 (1)0 00 00 ?:-2^ ?.;3B s i a r*. 1 : 31 00 00 C>0 00 overf 1 ow ?.2F ?i3C 1—, SKDonent ^.30 s..:3r 82 00 00 C)0 00 oianti s!::;a \' i b vt e ?.:31 ?.3E '^ "T mant i ssa R- "T ?-,-3F 82 40 00 (1)0 00 .nanti S3a 1^/33 ?-; 4 man t i ssa 1 o b vt e ?.^34 Z'. 4 I 4 . 83 00 00 00 00 Round i ng f^/^"^ ?':42 c>cj Figure 5. The eight bytes of the floating point accumulators 5 . 83 20 00 00 h S3 40 00 00 00 LABEL BASIC I BASIC II 1 : 83 60 00 00 00 MEM FACl !;-.A3A6 Z'AlB'-z 8 : 84 00 00 oc* 00 FACIMEM ^-:A37E S(A38D FPADD ?.:A50E I'^ASCiO o 84 10 00 00 00 FPSUB ?.;A50B ?.:A4FD FPMULT Z'A6a :! ?.;A6e'6 10 84 20 00 OC) 00 FPDIV ^.A6BB ^:A6AD Table 1. Basic 1 and 2 addresses for entry into subroutines Table 2. Five-byte floating point format of the numbers 1 to 10 programs. However, the loose format Is be manipulating variables passed evolved around other micros. used in zero page by ttie interpreter as through running a Basic program) into Table 1 lists the four Basic 2 and it makes tiie liandiing routines much an eight-byte form. Luckily there is Basic 1 addresses for entry into each of simpler to code. such a routine in the Basic ROM to do the subroutines mentioned above. Pro- There are two areas in zero page just this, at &A3B2 in Basic 2 (&A3A3 in grams 2, 3. 4 and 5 demonstrate uses associated with floating point manipu- Basic 1). Program 1 provides a demon- of each subroutine. Each program is lation. These are the floating point stration of its use. essentially si miliar. The assembler accumulators FACl and FAC2, Figure 5 To use the program the address of begins by performing MEMFAC1 as shows that each FAC comprises eight floating point value in five-byte format described above to transfer fpl into bytes, with FACl addressed at &2E to must be placed in the floating point FACl. Before the arithmetical subrou- &35 and FAC2 at &3B to &42. The extra vector (FLPTV) at &4B. The Basic pro- tine call is made FLPTV needs to be three bytes are: gram seeds this address, &4000, via the seeded with the address of the second a. Sign byte: the most significant byte locations &70 and &71 . The subroutine floating point variable at fp2. Once the of the mantissa is copied here to give call in line 120 to MEMFAC1 can then be Basic ROM call has been performed the sign byte, which is held In bit?. performed {note that Basic 1 users will the result will remain in FACl. A final £). Overflow byte: used rather like the need to alter the JSR address). The ROM-based call can then be performed carry flag to hold any overflow from loop in lines 130 to 180 then transfers to implement FACIMEM. This takes the an addition or other operation so that the FAC1 contents to a series of safer eight FACl bytes and condenses them errors of inaccuracy can be detected. locations in zero page, from which they into five-byte format, placing them at c. Rounding byte: adds extra pre- can be printed. The demo seeds &345 the address held in FLPTV. cision to arithmetical manipulations. into these locations and the final loose Setting upthe floating point variables In FAC1 format the representation of FACl configuration is printed out. is undertaken in the Basic part of the value &345 would be as follows: The process of seeding addresses of program. To make these demonstra- five-byte format, memory-based values tions clearer table 2 contains the five- Sign 0101 0001 &51 is fundamental to the remaining pro- byte floating point format of the Overflow 0000 0000 &00 grams presented here. Make sure you numbers to 10, You'll notice from this Exponent 1000 1010 &8A understand the process before pro- table that the value does not conform Mantissa 0101 0001 &51 ceeding! to the representation described earlier. 0100 0000 &40 The coding involved in performing Zero is simply but takes five bytes If 0000 0000 &00 addition, subtraction, multiplication you need some further hints on the 0000 0000 &00 and division on floating point values function of each program, here's what Rounding 0000 0000 &00 can become complex, so rather than each is doing: dazzle you with page after page of Program 2: floating point addition of To be able to manipulate floating point assembler, details of ROM-based 1-H9. numbers using built-in subroutines in subroutines to perform these pro- Program 3: floating point subtraction the Basic ROM, the value must be cesses are provided. However, the of 7-5. placed into the FACl before calling a practice cannot really be considered Program 4: floating point multipli- particular routine. We therefore need good programming and it would be a cation of 3*3. an algorithm to transform the five-byte shame if the Beeb and Electron were Program 5: floating point division of format from memory (assuming we will beset by the peekery pokery that has 3/2. ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 1 THE DRIVE FORT•xm% ITY mT^ '»*>u ' J' i; -r~ In the rapidly expanding world of computer ^^ peripherals there is one company which continually leads the field — Cumana. Whether it is the best Japanese components used in our top quality designs, the rigorous training which all staff receive, or the superb technical service we offer, everything must be of the highest standard. 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Datsywheel Printer, High Res Green Monitor, (2 x 160K), High Res colours), JUKI 6100 Daisywheel Printer, We welcome callers, no parking problems. Cassette Recorder plus 10 cassettes and ail In 8 Monitor, 1 Box of 10 discs. the necessary cables E650 + VAT = £747.50 High Res Green Wordstar Wordprocessor, Calcstar spread- BBC 2; BBC Micro Model B + Disk Interface. sheel and all the necessary cables View (or Wordwisel Wordprocessor, TOOK £1175 + VAT = E1351.2S Monitor, Quen- Disk Drive. High Res Green SAN 2: Same as SAN i but with Dual 360K data 20 CPS Daisvwheel Printer, 1 Box of Drives (2 X360K) £1345 + VAT = £1546.75 Dla)(S and all the necessary cables SAN 1 but with Dual 720K DRIVES SAN 3; Same as £799 + UAT = £803.35 Drives £1395 + VAT = £1604.25 SAN 4: Sanyo MBC 555 Series 16 Bit Syalem BBC2 but with 400K BBC 3i Same as Microcomputer, 128K Ram, Dual 160K Drives • utility provides a disk usage analysis Drive E875 + VAT = £1006.25 FREE: This (2 X 160K), High Res Graphics (600 x 200 pixels and modify any part of colours) JUKI 6100 Daisywheel Printer, MDUMP: Enables you to display BBC 4:Same as Svsiem BBC 2 but with 400K in B Green Monitor, 1 Box of 10 discs. BBC mennory Drive and JUKI 6100 Datsywheel Printer High Res VAT = £1121.25. Wordstar, Wordprocessor. Calcslar spread- number ot text files into one file £975 + MERGE: Merge a sheet. Mallmerge. Spellstar (dictionary), RELOCATE: Downloads a basic program to &E00 BBC 5: BBC Model B + Disk Interface, View Dalastar (database), Reporlsiar plus all the BOOK Dual Disk cables £1295 + VAT = £1489.25. SDUMP: Screen dump for EPSON In all graphic modes (ot Wordwise) Wordprocessor. necessary Drive (Mitsubishi), High Res Green Monitor. SAN 5; Same as SAN 4 bul with Dual 360K • VERIFY: Verifies every sector on a disk £1696.25 JUKI 6100 Daisywheel Printer, 1 Box (10| ot 80 Drives £1475 + VAT = • MENU: A flexible menu program Track DSdiscsand all necessary cablesEll 45 SAN 8: Same as SAN 4 but with Dual 730K £1753.75 -I- VAT = £1316.75. Drives £1525 + VAT = Monitor instead of High Res Green Monitor in Sanyo Systems Singledrive lOOK 40 trks single sided £86 +VAT E99 It you require High Res Colour £164 VAT £189 please add £320 + VAT = £388 to the above prices. Dual drive 200K 40 trks single sided + total of 256K BAM) 12BK RAM Upgrade tor all above Sanyo systems (makes a £138 + VAT £159 Singledrive200K40trksdoublesided E150 + VAT = E172,50 Including fitting Dualdrive400K40trksdoublesided £260 + VAT £299 Singledrive400K80lrks double sided £152 + VAT £175 Single drive 400K 40 80 trks switchableDS £155 + VAT £179 MONITORS Dualdrive800K80trksdoublesided £303 + VAT E349 Dual drive 800K 40 80 trks PHILIPS MICROVITECCUB E312 + VAT E359 14" switchableDS 7001 High Res Green Screen and sound input 1431 MS RGB Normal Res Colour £173 + VAT £199 Dual Drive 800K 40 80 trks + PSU £65 -t- VAT £75 VAT £429 1451 MS 14" RGB Medium Res Colour + built in monitor stand £373 + £289 + VAT £332 GM1211 14" Colour GM1211 18 MHZ High Res Monochrome 1441 MS RGB High Res £417 + VAT £479 All above drives are low power slimline (0 3 A typ at + 12v and Monitor with till and swivel stand available in green or amber etched antiglare screen 4 at + 5v per drive) Normally extra power supply is not Ipleasespeciiycolouf £86 -f VAT £99 required. BBC Computer power supply is designed to The MICROVITEC FOR QL drive to low power drive (IT IS NOT DESIGNED TO DRIVE IN- SAMWOO 24MHZ High Res Monochrome etched an- 1451 14" Medium Res Colour. TERNAL ROM BOARD) Compatible (iQlare qreen screen IBM/BBC Specially designed 40TrackSSDDdisketts(10Box) E18 + VAT E20 £86-1- VAT £99 for Sinclair QL 40Track DS DD disketts (10 Box) £23 + VAT £26 £239 + VAT £275 80 Track SS DD disketts (1 Box £28 + VAT £32 SANYO VAT £34 OM8112 12" Green screeen I8MHZ Hi-Res 80TrackDSDDdisketls(10Box) £30 + £86 + VAT £99 DM21 12 12" Green screen 15MHZ ALL ABOVE DISKETTES ARE CERTIFIED 3M £66 -(- VAT £75 i JOE'S JOTTINGS I ilM, Joe Telford tries Toad in the I'm!; m hole, talking chips, ROMs for a variety of types - and warns on things that stick in the Tube N THIS issue we look at some of the goodies that have arrived on the I doorstep of Telford Towers over the past months. SIDE DISHES When the postperson left The Towers' he seemed to walk some two feet taller, for as well as a much- Front of keyboard below Delete and Toad ROM extension socket: £19.95 needed printer he had left three Copy. from Toad Educational Computing, 8 smaller parcels. These interested me Rear of machine on the panel. back Westbourne Grove, Sale. Cheshire. greatly, especially when i deciphered RHScasingabovethe memory chips, two postmarks as Watford. One was LHS casing in front of PSU. Speech Synthesiser: C44 from Wat- badly smudged, but the package was Top surface of casing. ford Electronics, 33-35 Cardiff Road, small to I Watford, Herts, enough be exciting. opened it Every place had a drawback, and all the first. choices meant cutting the BBC micro Beebfont: £39 from Watford Elec- tronics, as above. casing. I eventually decided on the left- hand side of the casing. Toad in the hole This was the only spot that would be inconspicuous The parcel was from Toad Educational and yet allow machine expansion. 28pin socket was made. This needed a Computing, I was surprised to find Using the right-hand side would pre- fine hacksaw and resulted in a deep inside it a 28-pin DIL socket header, vent easy use of second processors; cutout in the BBC micro's lower casing from which a twin ribbon cable trav- the rear might be upgraded to Econet and a small cutout in the lid (figure 2). elled about 16 inches to a small printed eventually; the top casing often had Using the adhesive pads supplied by circuit board (PCB). On the circuit documents on it; and the front keyboard Toad. I then fastened the PCB to the board was a 28-pin DIL socket, and necessitated a complicated cutting and inside casing with just the DIL socket extra to the package was a 28-pin zero wiring job. visible. Once this was fastened insertion force (ZIF) socket, There's a well in front of the PSU securely I plugged in the ZIF, This was _What could this be? A completely soft inside the micro into which the Toad larger than the cutout, so ragged edges EPROM blowing package? The docu- socket almost fits. To ensure the fit, lout didn't show. The ribbon cable was lead mentation revealed all. This intricate the PCB board along its length and to a sideways ROM socket along the piece of socketry was actually a ROM width until it fitted the space with the underside of the keyboard. extension socket, the idea being to keyboard in place. Next a cutout for the The Toad socket has now been in use extend one of the four sideways ROM tor nearly four months and has proved sockets to the surface of the BBC micro. very reliable. I use it to supplement a Once the addition has been made, full ATPL sidewise board. Most of my ROM chips can be switched without ROM reviews are performed using it, opening the micro's casing. and ROMs only move onto the main The idea seemed good and in a tem- board if they are regularly in the Toad porary breadboard the system worked socket. well, the only small problem being to Although I use the socket regularly make sure that ROMs were plugged and am happy to customise my BBC in correctly. The documentation micro, I would remind users that cutting explained this point adequately, but it is the casing can void your warranty on really common sense. My problem was the computer and reduce its resale that I needed a hole on the external value. casing of the BBC micro for the socket to locate into. Toad suggested the 'ash- tray'. This is shown in figure 1 and is the Talking chips hacker's name for the keyboard hole One of the other parcels that arrived at for tho voice synthesis extension unit. the Towers was from Watford Elec- Unfortunately, my ashtray is filled with tronics. First out of the parcel and first voice synthesis add-ons. examined for your edification was the I spent a month with the Toad socket WE Speech Synthesiser. This is a com- hanging limply out of the rear air vents, bined package based around a hard- before deciding I that needed to use it ware synthesiser, with a driving ROM so frequently that it would have to be Figure 1. Toad Educational Computing sug- plus documentation. mounted permanently. The logical gests fitting the Toad socket in ttie Beeb's The documentation is a detailed 20- places were: 'ashtray' aperture page instruction booklet. It explains ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 I JOE'S JOTTINGS 'TALK THIRD WAVE FIGHTER ATTACK and TALK BOMB THE SPACE INVADER Less aggressive phrases must be con- structed from mixed words and allo- phones, for example: 'TALK THE FF LL AW ER1 ZH R PP RR11HTT1IY tells us thatthe flowers are pretty. Information is also given on using the OSBYTE call associated to the WESS ,*FX25) and OSWORD 25, which allow access to machine code. The SOUND command on the BBC micro reacts to: SOUND8192,X,Y,0 and behaves like the *FX25 command, except that the problem of variables in 'FX commands is removed. The short routine below shows my own way round the problem using the OSCLI command, available to users of Basic 2: 10 REPEAT Electronics Speech Soft- 20 INPUT "phrase: "phraseS that the WESS is allophone-based. This Watford 30 OSCLI ("TALK + phraseS} means that words are made up from ware Watford Elec- 40 UNTIL components parts, for example we and a spoken message: Synthesiser'. would say COMPUTER by transmitting tronics Speech Information is also given as to how to can occasionally become the phrase parts; The unit extend the library of words, so that confused, especially if any other inter- blow ROM libraries for TT1 ER1 users could KK3 AA MM PP YY1 UW2 software is in operation. rupt driven their particular needs. result in abnormal silences or This would pronounce the word This may In comparison with the Acorn Voice allophones (as in correctly. in hanging Synthesiser, the voice quality of the will is that AARRGH!!!!). The Reset button The benefit of using the WESS WESS is poor. If, however, we compare the software has to be the method of sending these allo- reset the unit, but the device with other similar syn- simplified reset by typing 'HELP. phones to the device is by thesisers, it compares well. The software for the WESS is quite was: the supporting software. What I liked about WESS users to With the BBC micro switched off, sophisticated, as it enables the 'TALK command. • The ease of use. From 'TALK to insert the "TALK' ROM into a sideways say words using SOUND 8192 the unit was easy to ROM socket. Plug the WESS into the For example: handle. user port and switch on the BBC micro. 100 'TALK I M A COMPUTER •The large library of preselected The WESS has a volume control and a sentence because the words (more than 500), reset button, as well as an Audio Out' is an acceptable are all • Thefactthatitis interrupt driven, and jack socket. The WESS is set up by words I M A and COMPUTER vocabulary. this means that 'parallel' programming typing 'HELP. This indicates that the provided in a large ROM phrases are in- can take place. ROM iscorrectly installed by producing Many games-type • The useful volume from the ampli- a printed message: cluded: fier. •The interesting and useful documen- tation. •The use of three levels of inflection. CUTOUT Whatldidn'tlikewas: • The time taken to get used to under- standing the words. Very careful pro- gramming was needed to make the words sound correct. • The poor quality of hard consonants likeB.P, D. KandG. • The squeeky W sound. •The strange pronunciation of words like THIS and THIRD which are sounded as DHIS and DHIRD respect- ively. • Occasionally very long phrases lose the socket in a cutaway hole on the left-hand side Figure 2. Joe's suggestion is to house synchronisation, but this can be recti- (but you invalidate your warranty) ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 JOE'S JOTTINGS I fied by splitting them into two or more OHP transparencies, or even for a issued. 'NOFONT also hangs up the lines of Basic. change in programs. computer, but often with accompanying Although the unit costs £44 it must be The RAM-based typefaces can be noises. I presume the complex use that remembered that much of this is made altered with a utility program provided, both WESS and Beebfontmake of inter- up from the cost of the ROM chip, so the called Editor. Although my version of rupts is the root of the trouble. package represents reasonable value the I manual said should: Wordwise and Wordwise B20 Neither of for money. Add to this the ease of pro- these ROMs works with CHAIN 'B. EDITOR" the 6502 gramming and the wide vocabulary second processor. The 820 version of and the system has potential. the program operated only on typing: Wordwise vjiW, however, work with the •EDITOR Aries board. ROMs for changing faces On calling Wordwise hom the 6502 The result is The third parcel opened contained a one of the best character processor the first menu page appears editors I much smaller package, consisting only have seen. If graphics shapes correctly but the results of keypresses are required it can ofa disc, manual and ROM. The manual even produce a are unpredictable. The end result is a 'character set of showed eight ways of displaying the space invaders', all of crash, o word Beebfont. which can then be saved to disc and Beebcalc Amazement! The Beebcalc brought back into the Beebfont'is a utility ROM that allows computer for use ROM from Computer Concepts can be with Beebfont. users to access a number of different called from the 6502 second processor The editor typefaces, including the BBC standard. is window driven, and and it works! Load/Save/Amend/ and three main areas appear: a large all the worksheet Facilities available include: commands I tried, window containing the character sets including Printing, apparently operate • One ROMmed small typeface that in use; a half-size window that serves correctly. can be altered as follows: emphasised; as the editing window for each charac- Caretaker Some of Computer Con- double height; double width; and ter; and a command window that con- cepts' Caretal The cost: ah well, I a number from 1 to 8. These refer to the suppose another 'MERGE world shortage of silicon' ROM typefaces 1 to 6 and to the small has pro- 'PARTSAVE duced the figure of and large RAM typefaces 7 and 8. £39. •RENUMBER The typeface facility is turned off with -RETRIEVE *NOFONT. This can be done from within Stuck in the Tube SQUASH a program lines 'STATUS using like: It is becoming apparent that some These commands either behave 10 'FONT ROMs don't work with second pro- errati- cally because of confusion over the 20VDU22,ASC("2") cessors. What is less well known is that memory map in which they are execut- 30 PRINT "1 Typeface" some ROMs partly work. Here is an introductory ing, or cause the system to hang up. 40VDU22, ASCC'4'') list of ROMs and their 50 PRINT "And Another" sticking points in the 6502 Tube. 60'NOFONT DNFS chip Although useful in activating Over to you the Tube, the DNFS chip is less than If you have any ROMs working (or not) The controllable typeface (FONT 1) can helpful with some games programs. with a second processor, why not be selected by typing: Killer Gorillahangs up completely, and describe which facilities work and VDU22,ASC("1") Defender crashes whenever a 'mutant' which don't. Send the information in on is created. Snapper and Monsters aposteardwith a few lines saying; - and any of the options wide, tall, seem to run all right. emphasised, - Which ROM normal can be selected WESS The Watford Electronic Speech by issuing appropriate lines: Which processor Synthesis system does not seem to What works work at all across the Tube to the 6502 High VDU22,ASCfH") What doesn't Wide VDU22, ASC("W") processor. *TALK commands are accepted Emphasised VDU22, ASC("E") but no sounds are made. Address your postcard to: Joes Normal VDU22, ASC{"N") Beebfont With the 6502 Tube in opera- Jottings, Acorn User, Redwood Pub- tion, this ROM can be enabled by lishing, 68 Long Acre, London WC2E The various 'Beebfonts' are easily 'FONT. The result is that the computer 9JH. Don't forget to include your name used for noticeboard messages, for hangs up, until a CTRL-BREAK is and address. ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 Statacom Distribution Ltd offer a complete interfaces and range of 3 " and 5 V4 ' disk drives, diskettes. We are the sole UK distributor for the Hitachi 3" disk drives assembled by RffffiHyi Systems Ltd. and The HITACHI 3" disk drive unit is now firmly established 51/4" standard for home is fast displacing the old as the well computers. The drives are more compact and slimlme as are faster as lighter and more portable than the 5V4 ". They the latest (average track to track access time: 3ms.) and use LSI technology, for a lower chip count and improved in a ngid case reliability. The floppy diskettes are enclosed and easy which makes them dust proof, much more reliable can be used on to handle. The diskettes are also flippable, ie the legendary both sides! Don't settle for anything less than HITACHI reliability. casing, and All drives supplied cased in a sleek metal complete with leads, cables and a utility disk. Each drive is warranty. tested and is covered by a full one year PRICES INCLUDE VAT. ONE SINGLE SIDED lOOK £167 ONE DOUBLE SIDED 200K £199 DUAL SINGLE SIDED 200K £334 DUAL DOUBLE SIDED 400K £437 ^ NB: Optional internal power supply unit -^ ^ available for £35 extra GENEROUS DEALER DISCOUNTS: For full price list please contact: STATACOM DISTRIBOTION LTD. --<'' 18 GROVE ROAD .^!^ SOTTON, SURREY Telephone 01-661 2266 ..-^^ .e ^*v-^' .6^^^ o vr^-' ^ev 85 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 Authorised Dealer & Service Centre IIM Upgraded version now available! MID-SUSSEX Ultracalc, the successful spreadsheet program from BBC Publications^ has now been BBC upgraded to increase its power and flexibility. MCORN iVIICRO COMPUTER New features include: MPUTER • Operation In any screen mode • Greater printer flexibility including control HARDWARE .^^ .^ngeof codes and £ sign definition ' • Runs as 'HICALC on a 6502 second processor to allow 44k of workspace in any screen mode * Engineenn^ On site • Spooling of ASCII text files for subsequent use with any word processor • Several additional layout options OBRITISH'S PHONE X • Supplementary manual containing a Micro from €20. BURGESS HILL (04446) wealth of information on how to use cVildrlTl&ts Ultracalc sSOfTl £79.50 (inc. VATl CORPORATION Over 400 items on our price list If you already have a copy of the original Ultracalc, you can exchange it for the new version for iust £6.25 inclusive of VAT, postage and packing. Contact your local dealer or write to Software Editor, Blksi ix\ss S>'stcnis I I BBC Publications, 35 Morylebone High Street, London M WIM 4AA, enclosing a stamped addressed envelope. 195 LONDON ROAD BURGESS HILL SUSSEX BARGAINS GALORE WmMMKEf WEMBLEY CONFERENCE CENTRE NOV. lOTH & IITH Here's your chance to sweep up all your Microcomputer needs before Christmas, at London s f.rst ever Micro Market. All leading makes of Micro includin g: * Thousands of Hardware & ^ BBC -k Peripherals Software Bargains! i^ Commodore -k Joy ^ Apple Sticks * Competitions and Prizes • DIY Robots * Win a Personal Computer! ^ Spectrum • QL -k Modems * Bring & Buy Swap Shop! • Oric * Free Computer advice at our • Printers Computer Surgery OPEN 10am-6pm Sat. November 10th 10am-4pm Sun. November 11th Adults £1.50 Under 14's 75p. Including FREE SHOW GUIDE 86 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 I COMPETITION 1 We've got five computer trollies to give away this month. Simori Dally presents a straightforward problem of adding up the add-ons THIS month's problem was submit- ted for entry in the Century/Acorn User Book of Computer Puzzles (to be published on October 25 at C4.95) THE SUM OF by Dave Stanford of Kinross, Tayside. Unfortunately Dave was unable to supply the solution on anything other than an Atom -and the rules did specify BBC Basic, rrS PARTS At the heart of a computer system is a CPU. assorted ROM and RAM chips and various ICs on the RGB. All com- puters need a power supply (PSU), a SCREEN and a KEYBOARD. A PRINTER and DISC UNIT are often attached by means of DIN plugs. To do anything useful you need SOFTWARE to run it, an operating system like MSDOS and a high-level language like BASIC. It is also useful to have a database (DB), a MODEM UNIT and a MOUSE, get If you add them all together you thissum: CPU ROM RAM IC PCB DIN PSU SCREEN KEYBOARD PRINTER DISC UNIT MSDOS BASIC DB MODEM UNIT MOUSE ^ COMPUTER Each tetter stands for a different digit and all digits are used. If you know that JUNE WINNERS—:^ MOUSE + MOUSE = BASIC and that no June competition. About 600 of you is involved, what does the sum IT was obviously one of the easier ones, the carrying right - SCS sold 277,199 and CC like? entered it and nearly all of you got the answer look very targe hat, postcard please to sold 637 559 machines. The winners were picked from a Answers on a Sidewise ROM board plus four later than December 7, 1984 Ms B Wilson of London took the first prize, a arrive not the second prizes of three ROMs November Competition, Acorn User. ROMs (all from Computer Concepts); two to Mayne of Bromsgrove; and London WC2E 9JH. went to P lllingworth of Middlesbrough and Mrs S 68 Long Acre, of Brussels, Miss A J Kempster desks worth £66 each, five third prizes of a ROM were won by Mr Finch Five computer Khadaroo of London, and Alan donated by Paul Gallini of Warwick, James Burt of Huntingdon, Zia generously await the first five correct Shilling of Norwich, Enterprises fortune. All winners have been informed of theirgood entries out of the bag. ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 Howtobecome^^ before committirig^ I ua great writer yourself topaper. It takes only two minutes and £59.80 to And of course, when you're ready, any transform your BBC Micro into the heart of printer that will operate with your BBC Micro a word processor with VIEW from Acornsoft will operate with VIEW But if you want to The VIEW word processing system is use the printer's special facilities, such as programmed into a single chip, a I6K plug-in bold printing or ROM. Once it's installed into your BBC underlining, - l-'i Idler Oliver Micro - a simple job for your local dealer Acornsoft's C'onwalor you just switch on and VIEW is operating. Printer Driver (You can switch to other programs, hke Generator (£9.95 ^ BASIC, with a single command.) on cassette. VIEW is a professional system, yet it's £11.50 on disc) surprisingly straightforward to use. enables you to And it's so outstanding it's won the 1984 do so. British Microcomputing Award for Home For the Viftwindex ""' " -I'l' "' Software. more speciaKsci if' at nfm ^v*ri. i' n' ' 3 "jf-.,i All you do is type out your text on the user who wants - "' " ^ i [\J f. "• a V"| keyboard, and view it on the screen. to talve advan- „ * ' 1 of the extra *' is • ij T;.:;?^''"''' VIEW can search, change and replace tage • .3 jjjlj^ijLaji particular words whenever they occur in your power offered text It can swap paragraphs. Automatically by the 6502 Second Processor, Hi-VIEW alter page numbers. Even count words. (£59.80) provides 47K of text space in any of The possibilities are endless, because the BBC Micro's screen modes. vou can check, edit and change as much or as So whether you're composing a 300 page litde as you like until you're satished. Then, business document, a letter to the gas board, with a single command, your final version or a bit of Victorian nonsense, you can will appear on the screen. polish it to your hearts content, wasting If you want to go even further, the simple precious httle time. And even less paper. addition of Viewlndex, just £14.95, means You can get VIEW products from your you can select and index words, complete with Acorn dealer. Just phone 01 -200 0200 for your page or section local stockist. numi Alternatively, you can send off for the View Family brochure and order through the post by contacting Acornsoft, c/o Vector Market- ing, Denington Industrial Estate, Welling- borough, Northants NN8 2RL. Tel: 0933 793(X). vICORNSdFT rile l(-\l im till' hcrri-]) i^ in Miirlr (i. B 1. ® c? :!;,.'- r-;,"i".r,-fj A FANTASTIC NEV^ PROGRAM « FROM BRITAIN'S LEADING • SOFTWARE HOUSEI B • * • ' _ .er the tagged planetoid to * lend th^ cannisters from the invading Reegs. • , ^Up scan^ demonstration mode, and control;^ for re^ne^ *"' " B -^space, acc^lljlite anci'smart bom'"Ji" Byte -tyg^e i @ t-^if electro B 1^ -it ^^ ' / '^' S. .L WATCH OUT fOR OUn N€W PACKAGING AND CATALOGUE MICRO POWER LTD. Rlfa NORTHWOOD HOUSE, NORTH STREET LEEDS LS7 2AA TEL (0532| 458800 SELECTIVE BRANCHES OF BOO'S CO-OP M£NZlE5 W H SMITH WOOLWORTHS AND All| GOOD DEALERS ^AOTHORS! WE PAY 20% ROYALTIl 9i ,.X\ y y ^\ Air? . MICROMAN computers picoTEL ACORN SPECIALIST COMPUTER CENTRE AT LAST!! . . ACORN/BBC COMPUTERS; PRIVATE A...nii".l.-ni.ii, 199,00 A TRUE MULTI-USER BBCM.al'lB 3!)fl.00 UBCMotk-IB + DFS 469.011 VIEWDATA SYSTEM!! Aiiirn Tf Icif XI Rcieivcr 225.011 Amrri 5502 l^iid Praffssor 199.00 * single BBC micro with floppy disc (or Apple II or Ik-) acts ,\ioni Z80 2ml Pr.x-cssor 399.00 A Arorn IEEE Imfrfatc 325.U0 as a filo store containing a library of Teletext pages ol'ini'or- Biwlick 375,00 m II lion. BBC UPGRADES; students use model B's to access the A-n I'pgradc .ruicdi 95.00 * Up to 10 can BBC DtS liji<'il,iM-.,rm«i; TOA library, Spci'di Sviiili™«T (Filled) SS.OO 0|)usD.'DUFS 129-95 •k Students can create and edit pages of information. Huppiris spi'tiiul yiriic ^fisori,' PRINTERS; * Ideal for Clubs, Schools, Colleges, Magazines and Message Lpsun RXHnFT 293.0(1 Systems. Epwm rXH"i ,S74,<)5 SidrGrmiili lOX 2ee.oo System also acts as network allowing each station to cata- SidiDrlla 10 385.00 * C;vniv-n PW-IOBOA 330,00 logue tlie disc, LOAD and SAVE BASIC and Machine code ihin«jCHBO 220,011 programs. .|llklD,^i^^ull™llMnlrr 31'],(H1 TORCH COMPUTERS: * Comes complete with manual, sideways ROM. linking cable ZHO DiM I'dili 799.00 and function key legend. Zao 2i.d Prwcssoi C:anl a^9.rM) - for library file store anil * LOW . . . LOW Price /:49.9.5 ^34.95 per station. (post& packing £3.00) decode logic Camant Software Services 8 Craigstewart Cres., Alloway, Ayr KA7 4DB Tel. 0292 43492 — 0294 69204 AID at last! Assembler Interactive Debug for the BBC Micro with DUALSCREEN STOP PRESS . . . AID receives superb review . . . see below AID has now established itself as the finest machine code monitor ROM for the BEEB. With its unique DUALSCREEN operation so far in advance of the competition, AID puts unprecedented debugging power into your hands. No other monitor can begin to tackle machine code graphics - something AID takes effortlessly in its stride! Beginner or expert, you cannot afford to be without DUALSCREEN AID. Read what "The Micro User" thinks . . . ilMy immediate impression of AID was that it was a very proiessional product . . . AID olfers additional features far in advance of other monitors ... 1 found it easy to use, particularly as the user guide is very thorough and accurate . I I first started dabbling in machine code . , . The last facet explored was the . . I wish 1 had something like this when DUALSCREEN facility, which is perhaps the pearl of the system ... In conclusion. AID seems a must for the serious machine code programmer and a very useful learning aid for the novice. It is a highly professional product in every way and could prove to be the standard by which others are compared. J J "The Micro User" January 1984 The most advanced machine code AID for the BBC Micro p&padd ROM UK£!.50 LINCOLN P.O. Box 74 plus manual Europe £3.00 Bradford, {0S1.2required Outside Europe Microsystems W.Yorks. BD6 3RN £28 £4. SO ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 91 ^ PRICES SENSATION ^ Canon 110: Case/Cables all INCL £99 Canon 220: 400K (40/80 switching) Case/Cables all INCL £169 N.B. These are state of the Art Disc Drives; Direct Drive -. 40 track 6mms Access/80 track 3 ms Access. '— DFS Kits available ex stock all inclusive price £109 SLIM CANON DISC DRIVES: MODEL: SPECIFICATION OF EACH DRIVE lib S/SIDED 40 TRACK look 210 D/SIDED 40 TRACK 200K 220 D/SIDED 80 TRACK 400K (40/80 TRACK SWITCHING) All CANON 40/80 switchable disc drives feature an on-board dual-colour LED on the front panel to show track mode selected. This is coupled with our own unique two-stage illumination, to give a clear operating status, as follows: 40 TRACK MODE: LED GREEN 80 TRACK MODE: LED RED POWER ON: HALF-ILLUMINATION (GREEN OR RED) DRIVESELECTED FULL-ILLUMINATION (GREENORRED) Super-slim CANON drives, models 21 1 and 221 and the SANYO model 596D, are available with their own custom-built secondary switching power supply. This is safe, low in heatgeneration and excellent value for money. The SANYO disc drive is our latest acquisition in quality Japanese products. This is a "half-height" unit of standard dimensions. D SC WNES All inclusive price list: This means: disc drive + case + all power & data cables + U.K. carriage + utilities disc & manual -i- VA.T CANON SANYO MODEL: 110 210 220 211 221 596D Formatted Capacity per drive on BBC Micro: 100k 200k 400k 200k 400k 400K Single Drive & Case: £99 £139 £169 £179 £236 Single Drive & Case/R Supply: £124 £164 £194 £209 £266 Dual Drive & Case: £204 £274 £314 £329 £437 Dual Drive & Case/R Supply: £229 £299 £339 £359 £467 Support: Payment H ^ Warranty: All disc drives sold by Chase Data Ltd. come By Post Send your remittance (cheques only please) with a full one-year warranty on parts & labour. with your order to: Non-warranty service: As THE experts in ourfield we can offer service on most makes of floppy disc drive. CHASE DATA LTD Recalibration & Alignment ... £25 per unit inc. VAT RO. Box 6, Woking, Surrey, GU214PB. {parts extra). Phone for details: (Tel: 078438487) By Phone: 0T% (Tel: 078438487). - BACK ISSUES I fBACK ISSUES £1 ^ 6. January 1983 MEP school launch. disc copier. Colour painting, Basic II: ring data between Beebs. Atoms ... or the Atom. Atom bytes free' routine. 'FX commands for sound. Second BBC random access files. Screen dumps for Pets. Atom block demolition utility. Schools -test of Factfile. Keyboard TV series. Machine code 3-two pass Olivetti. Centronics and Seikosha, Atom disassembler program. Reviews skills. Amcom DFS v Acorn DFS. Re- assembly. Disc drives for the Beeb. Atom strings. Reviews of Tandy of software, books, educational pro- views: Beebpen wordprocessor. Atom Programming forum. Program protec- CGP115 printer, five educational grams from Chalksoft, expansion system, software, books tion,. Micros in schools-new series. packs, A to D converter. 18. January 1984: Games spectal issue 21. April Beeb graphics on TV. 6845 Commodore Pet printer used with 14. September Techniques -ink-blots Techniques -graphs part 2 Stacks and chfp explored Advanced filing Beeb. BBC programs written on an and mazes. Painting by lightpen. DFS queues, Basic and lahguages. Hints & systems. Lisp 2. Hints 8 Tips. Beeb Atom. Entra Alom memory. space explored. Beeb Forum. Mega Tips. Voice chip revealed. How to write Forum. Choose disc tracks to copy. Monsters game listing. Machine code games. Electron interfacing, Beeb Function key editing. Teletext dumps, graphics dumps. Atom Forum. Atom Forum. Life graphics routines. CES scrutinised Passing variables. cassette recorder check. Reviews of Defencecom game listing. The Tram Computer Concepts' graphics ROM, Atom RAM boards, Cumana disc Game listing. Machine code graphics. Schools - simulations. Calculating manual, Logo for schools, Hobbit Where to put machine code. Schools- Easter dales. Better programming. iioppy tape and books. handling data. Juki daisywheel printer Atom Forum. Atom ROM routines. Con- 15. October Women and computing. examined. Atom Forum and adventure. verting BBC to Atom Basic. Three Techniques- random numbers. Re- Reviews of ultillties. software. Beeline printers compared. Reviews: software, view of Computer Concepts' Beebcalc. wordprocessor, educational packages, Aries B20 RAM board. Toolkit Moni- Fractal graphics. 57 files on 40 8 80 two chess programs. tors. track discs. Vampire game listing, 22. May Bitstik graphics system. Hints Beeb Forum, Assembly code controls & Tips. 6502 second processor exa- tab key. Osfile merging. Atom future. PTTTWVWW^SHV^^^^H mined. Lisp 3 Beeb Forum, Disc utility Alom verify routine. Reviews of Vu- to keep track of available space Stat- Type. Procyon Atom book. Epson FX80, ElKIBOH: , istics. Pattern graphics. OSWORO (islkwifot^ Teletext adapter, disc drive, software. \ explained, i colour graphics listings, 16. November Techniques -imposs- Second-hand disc drives. Education iJwfiiijiwWl x' ible problems. Contour graphics. Con- do girls get a fair deal? Atom Forum. necting two Beebs together. XREF: BBC to Atom Basic 2 Reviews: British sorts & lists variable, function and pro- Micro's Grafpad. ftJivo/'d wordproces- cedure names. Assembler ultillties in sor, 4 sprite generators. Opus micro- Basic II OS, VDU, 'FX, OSBYTE calls- drive, Beasty, software. putl-out poster. Disc overlays. Adding 23. June Acorn Z80 second processor. extra Atom commands. Reviews of 7 ifcii Forth. Graphics to brighten up your 7. February 1 MHz bus examined {4) 3D educational packs. Atom ROM, books, games. Soft Pottery graphics. Go faster Atom graphics (3). Alom BBC Board games. and save memory space. Rapid search reviewed (3). Iwtachine code 4- and load routine for tapes. How the memory (5), BBC Computer Literacy Beeb and Electron work 1. Business: update (1). Atom error handling (2| reviews and how to gently enter office fvlicros 1(1 schools 2 -getting organised mMm.S^ammifm computerisation. Education -adult lit- |6), Hints and Tips (4j. Beeb Forum (3|, eracy. Dumping Atom programs on the Reviews of lVor(Jw/5e(2) and the Amber VMfniVK: atm nhwi '** K[inU toolkit review |1), Beeb Forum (2] & Tips. Beeb Forum. Make discs read- Assembly language and Pascal boo" able on 40 and 80 track drives. Screen reviews (2)."* memory organisation. Hints on adven- 9. April Wsxa/jg/e game listing (4) Bach ture design. Adventure action. Adven- on the Beeb (4). Hints & Tips on disc ture ideas in computer language. Text drives (4). Machine code 6- the CALL compression. Word-crunching. VIA statement (41 interfacing the 1 MHz bus chip on Electron to drive a parallel (3) Schools 4 -young children and printer. Atom Forum. Schools-simu- micros (6). Graphics listings (2). lation packages. Reviews: Disc Doctor. Printers for beginners 2 (4). Reviews of Leasalink's DFS upgrade, Hitachi's BCPL, educational software and Atom 17. December Random graphics. Ani- microdrive system, Solidisk's sideway software (3)."* mated graphics in colour. Tech- RAM board, software. 10. May Review of Basic II, Graphics niques-graphs. Hints & Tips. Univer- 20. March Utility: timing routine. Frac- listings. New "FX calls in 0S1.2. Colour sal printer dump. 6523 connected to tals. Teletext and mode 7 dump. ROMs mixing on the Beeb. Jazz, blues and the Electron. Saving machine code. reviewed. Hints 8 Tips. Beeb Forum folk on the BBC. Schools 5 -language Beeb Forum. Graphics putl-oul potter. Add sounds to your games. Learn Lisp development. OlY Beeb interface box. Index: July 82-July 83. Forum Extra: 1. Cube graphics. Printer driver for Atom sound board. A to Z of printing: EQUS. BBC helps the disabled. View, Basic II from Basic I, Beeb's ADC how to get going. Hints and Tips: Schools-data processing. Transfer- chip. Atom Forum. Listing formatter (or PROCs, discs and FNs, Printer, soft- ware and book reviews. "* Sold-out copies 11. June Techniques series -sorting. Four issues of Acorn User are not available - July 1982, Hints and Tips: 50p network. Drawing techniques and CAD. Machine code: February, March and April 1983. Photocopies of articles interrupts. Schools 6 -information [LEIIIDN are available at 18p a page (minimum charge 50p, in- technology. Atom Forum. Beeb Forum. m litltPHKV clusive of postage). Orders should be addressed to AU Printers -write your own graphics pRiNiin^ Photocopies, Publishing. 68 Long Acre, dumps, Comparitive review of View iH nwl^ dump Redwood and Wordwise. Three graphics pack- MiientiHii Figure in brackets indicate the Umlolnrl London WC2E 9JH, ages reviewed. Test of Acorn User's number of pages for each article. interface box. £« Itniihln 12. July Techniques- hash tables. Hints and Tips: logic made easy. ^^M Recursion and graphics. Handling HOW TO ORDER strings. Two ideas for passing vari- ables. Beeb aids the blind. DIY second Fill in the order form opposite and send with your keyboard. Beeb Forum. Sounds on the Atom. Hardware, firmware, software cheque or postal order for £1.25 per issue (made pay- and book reviews. Atom Forum. able to Redwood Publishing) to Acorn User Services, 13. Augual Printer graphics and PHS Mailing Ltd. PO Box 14, Horley, Surrey. dumps. Techniques- Tree structures and sorting. All the fun of the fair. 40/80 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 . ACORN USER SUBSCRIPTIONS Please start my subscription to Acorn User Please answer these questions to help us improve from the next available issue Beat your magazine . any price as indicated: , rise! 1 Do you use your micro for?: 1 D school 2 D business 3 D hobby 12 months 24 months 2 Do you have, or intend to buy, any of the following?: UK E15D £30 D Europe £25 D £50 D in monitor 2D disc drive 3D second processor 55 Middle East E30n £60 n 4 D printer 5n modem The Americas and Africa £30 £60 n 3 How many software packages do you think you will All other countries £35 D £70 n buy in the next 12 months?: Name 1D0-5 2D6to10 3D10ormore I I I I I I I draft D I enclose my cheque/postal order/sterling bank Address payable to Redwood Publishing for £ I Express/Barclaycard I I I J Please debit my Access/American J I \ I L J L J l—L D i I I I I I I I i Account no. 1 1_J L^ I I I J L^^ I I UJ- J L Signed Date I I envelope, to User 1 I I remittance, in Acorn I I 1 11 Send this form, with your an Subscriptions, Redwood Publishing, 68 Long Acre, London WC2E9JH. 5 ACORN USER SERVICES BACK DATED ISSUES @ £1.25 per copy Name MONTH YEAR Address AU issue AU issue AU issue 55 D I enclose my cheque/PO payable to Redwood Publishing for £ BINDERS D Please debitmy Ace ess /Bard ay card In red with Account no. LJ L silver logo on the spine- Holds 12 issues Signed Date. of over 200 pages. ONLY £4.75 inc. p&p. Send this form, with your remittance, in an envelope, Binders to Acorn User Services, PHS Mailing Ltd, PO Box 14, Horley, Surrey. All the above prices include postage Please add £1 .00 each for overseas items. and packing. Please allow 28 days for delivery. ACORN USER SOFTWARE DI EXCHANGE SERVICE MONTHLY PROGRAM LISTING SC ~~ ~ Send in your copy of Trek or Sword Master NEVN CASSETTES with a cheque for £3.50 and we will Please send me a cassette of all major exchange it for a disc. (Which runs on BBC Micro and Electron program listings 40 or 80 tracks). (November issue) as advertised on page 96 @£3.75£ Tape(s) in exchange for disc 22 @£3,50 each Total £ Please send me: Tape Disc Name Copies of Sword £7.95 £10.95 Address. Master for BBC (32k series 1.0 OS) forElectron £7.95 to I cheque/PO payable Redwood Copies of Trek £7.95 £10.95 D enclose my Publishing for £ for BBC debit Access/Barclaycard (32k series 1.0 OS) D Please my forElectron £7.95 ^ Account no. 24 HOUR PHONE SERVICE (02934) 72208 Signed Date Send this form, with your remittance, in an envelope, to Acorn User Software, Please add £1.00 each for overseas items. PHS Mailing Ltd, PO Box 14, Hortey, Surrey. All the above prices include Please allow 28 days for delivery. postage and packing. PLUS • : ARTICLE LISTINGS NUSER ON CASSETTE Yes, at last, the tape you've been crying out for! Save the wear on your fingers by sending for one of our SOFTWARE cassettes giving all the major listings in this issue. Each cassette costs £3.75 (inclusive) for the Electron and BBC micro. This includes a menu and disc transfer FOR THE BBC MICRO AND ELECTRON routine to help you find your way around - and use on your own ON DISC AND CASSETTE programs. The tapes come with BBC programs on one side and Electron programs Two quality, full colour games to test your skill, as the other, so it shouldn't be nerve and cunning. possible to mix the two. £7.95 per cassette or ei0.95 per disc track). Each (40/80 Order form on page 95. Price includes VAT and postage. Both games need OSLO, or later, and 32k. Developed, produced and tested by Micrograf, SWORD MASTER is one of the few TREK was the first game to take two-player games around, and is advantage of voice synthesis on the BBC designed for joystick or keyboard. micro - and uses joystick or keyboard. Sword Master by Ken Worrail is based Trek puts you in charge of a Starship on the fencing rules written in 1190 by with the task ot wiping out an alien Save yourself Herman von Salza for the Deutscritter fleet. It's an excellent adaptation of the Order of Teutonic It Knigfits. features full- classic game with 7 screen displays. 3 the time and colour machine code animation of a on-board computers and 2 weapon sword duel between two knights. systems. bother of typing 'A quality game with high class graphics Versions have been written for BBC . . . one of the most enjoyable games I micro and Electron to use both have played' -Home Computer Weekly in Acorn User machines to their full. An immensely entertaining game with The BBC tape - excellent graphics and animation ' uses voice synthesis {if the chips are Personal Computer Games fitted). listings Sword Master is a unique game '-Per- The game has been extensively sonal Computer News 'Sliciciy animated and suitably medi- developed from Tim Heaton's famous eval' -Popu\ar Computing Weekly Trek III. It barely fits into 32K. ORDER DISC UPGRADE SERVICE FORIVI Return your cassette of Trek or Swordmaster, and we will exchange it for a disc (which will run on 40 or 80-traci( drives) for just £3.50. Please ON PAGE 95 specify Amcom, Watford or Acorn DFS. I BAR CODES (this Telepen formal). It has been made poss- Acorn User is. we believe, the first UK magazine to print a listing in barcode one uses will at the end ol this ible by a project developed by the MEP and Addison-Wesley Publishers, whose barcode reader be released Addison- month (see News). The first person to identity which listing in this issue is represented by this barcode dump will win an Wesley barcode reader package worth £50. 1 lllllliliil^ 2 lilll lllllllllllill 3 II 4 I 5 6 7 8 ._...______. II 9 lillllllllilllllllllllllllllll 10 lllllilllilllllllllllllllllH^^^ 11 12 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIH^ 13 lillllllllH^^^^ 14 lllllllilillllilllllllllllllllli^ 15 lllllllllllliilH^ 16 lllllllllllllllllllllllilllllillH^ 17 lillliilllliliillH^^^^^^ 18 I lilll lilll H^ 19 llllllllllllllllllllllilllllllilll^ 20 21 II 1 1 II 1 1 lilll 22 III II II 23 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIH^ 24 lllllllllllllill II 111 lllllllllllll lilll 11^^^^^^^^^^^^ 25 llllliillllll lllllllllllll 26 lilll 27 lllllllllllll III 28 illllllllllllllljllllllli^^ I I III 29 II I II nil II mil mil 30 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIH^^^^^^ 31 lllllllllllill lllllllilllilillH 32 llllllilillllllllllllli^^ 33 IIIIIIIIIIH^^^^ 34 lllllllllllllllilll lllllllllllll ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 BAR CODES I llllillllilllliliillllllllllilllH^ llilllllill I llllilllllillllllillllll llllilllll Illllllllllllllllllillllll II llillllillllllll llilllllill 11 II illllllllllllllllllillllll II lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll III III I mil III ill llilllllill I III 1 1 IIIH^^^ llllllllililllllllllllllillilllllllllllllH^^^ Mill llllllllllllllllllillllllllllllllllll llilllllill llllllllllllilllllllllilllllil I llllilllll nil llllilllll II lllilllllliillllillll^ I llllilllll 111 II lllllillilllllllllllili II 111 111 II I 111 III llllilllll llilllllill III 111^^^^^ llllilllll II II III ill II I III I II llllilllll 1 11^^^^^^ llillllllllllillllllilllllllllllllllillllillllllllllllllllllllllll III II I II III I III lilllillllllllillll ill mil II I ill I 111 II II I I II IIIIIHIIIIIIIIIIII nil llllilllll I llilllllill llllilllll IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIII ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 X 2 I TOP OF THE LISTS SAVED...JUSTINT1ME! IT'S happened to all of us of course. Several long fiours into the Using the program is simple. Type in the listing as shown and night and the latest programming masterpiece nears comple- save the program under a suitable name. Now run the program save the machine code as tion. Then- slap, bang, wallop- ii happens. The computer to assemble the machine code and throws a wobbly and all your hard work disappears from the follows: never made those regular program- memory banks, and we 'SAVE ISAVE 8D0 900 8O0 ming saves to safeguard ourselves, did we? Not to worry. James Clarke of Marlborough College has To use the program run the machine code with: come up with the answer. An interrupt-driven program saver -ISAVE filename that automatically saves a copy of the current program in memory, between PAGE and TOP, to disc every four minutes or where filename is the name of the file you wish to assign to your so. tile. The routine works by enabling the 'timer crossing zero event' and selling the interval timer to about tour minutes or so away it the from 'crossing zero'. When the event occurs, control is passed IF you have a useful program that you feel might make to it to of the to a save routine, no matter what the computer is doing at the top of our list then why not send in? Address Top Publishing, Long Acre, London time -even during a program run -and saves it. Once saved, Lists. Acorn User, Redwood 68 will their authors £25. control is passed back to the task in hand. WC2E 9JH. Published contributions earn ^ in REM Interrupt Program Saver 440 RTS 45':-' 20 REM J. E. CLARKE : A.O # 3':> REM Acorn U^er Novemeber 1984 4 . syntax 40 REM BBC Micro with DPS 470 JMP syntax 1 • 50 480 : ^ bO oswrch=?.FFEE:os^i le-?vFFDD 490 .save 70 as^ind-?.FFCE:a5nl=.^FFE? 500 PHP:PHA:TXA: PHA:TYA:PHA • en D5byte = ? ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 ) ) ) ) 6 FIRST BYTE I See 'Co-ordinated Moves', page 41 Listing 1. This program incorporates a variety ot procedures to draw and fill in with colour the shapes that make up the 'car' pictured below 10 REM MOTOR CAR 370 DEF PROCcircle (XX, YX,RX,CX) • 20 REM Tessie Revivis 380 GCOL 0,CX 30 REM for BBC and Electron 390 VDU 29,XX;YXj • 40 REM (c> Acorn User October B4 400 c=C0S(PI/30) :s=SIN(PI/30) • - 50 ; 410 0C=1 : 0S=0 • 60 MQDE2 420 MOVE RX»OC,RX*DS • • '^^ PRDCf illrec (300,300,700,200,2) 430 FDR AX=1 TO 60 ^ BO PRQCf i 11 tr i < 400 , 500 , 450 , 500 , 450 , 440 NC=OC»c-OS»s • 00 , 1 450 NS=0S*c+OC*5 • C , , 1 , 4 A 90 PROCf ill rec 460 , 500 400 00 460 DRAW RX»NC,RX»NS • 100 PRDCf i 11 tr i (860 , 500 , 960 , 500 , 860 , 470 OC=NC : OS=NS • 9 00,1) 480 NEXT ^ 110 PROCci re 1 e ( 400 , 250 , 50 , 1 490 VDU29,0;0; • 120 PROCf i 1 1 c i r ( 400 , 250 , 50 , 1 500 ENDPROC # ^ 130 PROCcircle (900,250,50,1) 510 : • 140 PROC+ i 1 1 ci r < 900 , 250 , 50 , 1 520 DEF PROCf illtri ( XX, YX, X2X, Y27., XAX • 150 PROCrectangle (500,325,100,150,3) ,YAX,CX) ^ « ^ 1 160 PROCrectangle (700,325, 100, 150 ,3) 530 GCOL 0,CX } • 170 PROCtriangle (970,500,20,100,1) 540 MOVE XX, YX ISO END 550 MOVE X2X,Y2X • 190 : 560 PLOT B5,XAX,YAX • 9 200 DEF PROCrectangle (X7., Yy.,SX7.,SYX,C 570 ENDPROC ^ /.) 580 • 210 GCOLO,Cy. 590 DEF PROC-flllrec (XX, YX, XSX,YSX,CX) ^ 220 MOVE X7.,Y7. 600 GCOL 0,CX • 230 DRAW X7.+SXX,Y'/. 610 MOVE XX, YX • ^ 240 DRAW Xy.+SX7. , YX+SYy. 620 MOVE XX+XSX,YX _ 250 DRAW X7.,YX+SY7. 630 PLOT 85,XX+XSX,YX+YSX • • 260 DRAW XX, YX 640 MOVE XX,YX+YSX ^ 270 ENDPROC 650 PLOT 85,XX,YX • 280 ; 660 ENDPROC • A 290 DEF PROCtriangle (XX, YX,SXX, SYX,CX 670 ^ ) 680 DEF PROCfillcir (XX,YX,RX,CX) * • 300 BCDLO,CX 690 GCOL 0,CX 310 MOVE XX, YX 700 VDU 29,XXiYX; • 320 DRAW XX+SXX,YX 710 FOR loop=-RX TO RX • 330 DRAW XX+ ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 " " A":A I HINTS &TIPS See page 45 the INKEY statement, from Jonathan Tate Listing 1. Multiplications table testing program with time limit set using 200 P=RND<12) 10 REM Listinq 1 20 MODE 7 210 IF P=l G0TD200 220 Q=RND(12) 30 VDU23, 1 ,0;0;0!0; 40 PRINTCHR*(14l);CHR«<131);CHR*<157) 230 IF Q=l G0TD220 ;CHR*(132I" TABLES TEST" 240 CLS " 50 PRINTCHR*<141):CHR*(13n9CHR*(157> 250 PRINTTAB(4,6>P!" TIMES |i Q UNTIL sCHR*<132)" TABLES TEST" 260 -f iniEhtime=TIME+S»100!REPEAT 60 A=INKEY(300) TlME^-f inishtime OR A*=GET* 70 VDU2B, 0,15,39,5 270 INPUTX 2B0 IF TIME>+inishtime PRINTCHR* (132) aO VDU23,1 , I,0i0i0i 90 PRINTTAB(0,61 '"This program will te TDD SLOW! "sA=INK£Y(200) :GQTO 190 ( 131) "CORRECT" st your knowledge oi the tables." 290 IF X=P*Q PRINT CHR* 100 INPUT"How many questions would you right=right-MiA= INKEY (200) : GOTO 190 . (129) "WRONG! like in the test?. "N 300 IF X<>P*Q PRINTCHR* 110 INPUT"How many seconds do you need 310 A=INKEy(200) . ";P*Q to answer each question?. "S 320 PR I NT "THE ANSWER IS 120 VDU23,1,0;0!0;0; 330 A=^INKEY{200) {G0T0190 130 CLS!PRINTTAB(0,6) "Press RETURN as 340 CLS:PRINTTAB{5,6) "You got ";right! soon as the question is displayed," " correct out of "jN 140 PRINT"-fol lowed by your answer," 350 A=INKEY(100) , 1 CHRtl 150 PRINT"then press RETURN again," 360 IF riqht/N=l PRINTTAB (9 0) 41 1 1 : CHR* 157 J CHR* 133: CHR* 136" BR ILL 160 PRINT: PRINT"Fress RETURN when read J CHR* 29 y"; A*=BET* NT "CHR*156 170 right =0 370 IF right/N=l PR1NTTAB(9, 10) CHR*141 ISO Z=0 |iCHR*129jCHR*137!CHR*133!CHR*136"BRILLIA 190 Z=Z+1:IF Z>N B0T0340 NT "CHR* 156 380 END making it easier to read Listing 2. IVIodilication of listing 1. incorporating three new procedures, " TIMES "; 10 REM Listing 2 250 PRINTTAB(4,6)P; inishtime=TIME+S»100 20 MODE 7 260 f 30 VDU23,1 ,0;0;0|iO; 270 INPUT X 40 PRINTCHR* (141)5 CHR* (131); CHR* (157) 280 IF X=P*0 PRDCright TABLES TEST" 290 IF X<>F*Q PROCwrong jCHR*{132)" PROCtimeout 50 PRINTCHR* (141)! CHR* (131); CHR* (157) 300 IF TIME>-f inishtime 310 A=INKEY(200) :G0TO190 ; CHR* (132)" TABLES TEST" "You got ";right; 60 A=INKEY(300) 320 CLS!PRINTTAB(5,6) 70 VDU2B, 0,15,39,5 " correct out o+ ";N 330 A=INKEY(100) 80 VDU23, 1 , 1 ,0!OiiO! , CHR»141 90 PRINTTAB(0,6) "This program will te 340 IF right/N=l PRINTTAB <9 10) 5CHR*157jCHR*133;CHR*136"BRILLIA st your knowledge oi the tables." jCHR*129 100 INPUT"How many questions would you NT "CHR* 156 . PRINTTAB (9 , 10) CHR*141 like in the test?. "N 350 IF right/N=l 36 I I 1 ; CHR* 1 57 ; CHR* 1 33 ; CHR* 1 " BR LL 110 lNPUT"How many seconds do you need f CHR* 29 .. NT "CHR* J 56 to answer each quest i on?. "S 120 VDU23,1 ,0;0;0)0; 360 END 130 CLS!PRINTTAB(0,6) "As soon as the q 370 : uestion is displayed," 380 DEFPRDCright (131) 140 PRlNT"type in your answer," 390 PRINT CHR* "CORRECT" 150 PRINT"then press RETURN." 400 right=right+l 160 PRINT:PRlNT"Press RETURN when read 410 ENDPRDC y": A*=GET* 420 ! 170 right =0 430 DEFPROCwrong ISO Z=0 440 PRINTCHR*(129) "WRONG! " 190 Z=Z+1:IF Z>N GOTO 320 450 PR I NT "THE ANSWER IS ; P*a 200 P=RND(12) 460 ENDPROC 210 IF P=l GOT0200 470 : 220 Q=RND(12) 4S0 DEFPROCtimeciut (132) "TOO SLOW!" 230 IF B=l G0Ta220 490 PRINTCHR* 240 CLS 500 ENDPROC ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 . " " " N " " " HINTS &TIPS I See page 45 Listing 3. Next round ol changes . . 10 REM Listing 3 2B0 A=1NKEV(200) 20 MODE 7 290 UNTIL Z==N 30 VDU23,1 ,0;0!OiO; 300 PROCresults 40 PRINTC-HR*C14n jCHR*(131) ;CHR*<157) 310 END i|CHR*(132)" TABLES TEST" 320 ! 50 PRINTCHF%-4(1'1.1) ;CHR*(131) ;CHRS:(157) 330 DEFFRDCright ;CHR*(132)" TABLES TEST" 340 PRINT CHR*( 131) "CORRECT" 60 A=INKEY(300> 350 r i ght=right+l 70 VDU28, 0,1.5,39,5 360 ENDPROC 80 VDU23, i , IjOiOjO; 370 ! 90 PR1NTTAB(0,6) "This program will te 380 DEFPRDCwrong " st your knowledge of the t^^bles. 390 PRINTCHRt < 129) "WRONG! 100 INPUT "How many questions woul cl I " you 400 PR NT "THE ANSWER IS ; P*Q like in the test"'. . "N 410 ENDPROC 110 INF'UT"How many seconds do you need 420 ! to answer each question'^. .. "3 430 DEFPROCtimeout 120 VDU23,l,0;0!i0i0; 440 " PRINTCHR-^(132> "TOD SLOW I 130 CLS:F-RINTTABC0,6) "As soon as the q 450 t i meout "t * meout +T T l-IE—f i n i sht i me uoRtion is di spl ayed , 460 ENDPROC 140 F'RINT"type in your answer," 470 ! 150 PRlNT"the?n press RETURN." 480 DEFPROCresults 160 PRINT! PRi:NT"Press RETURN when read 490 CLS y": A*=GET* 500 PRINTTAB(0,6) "You got ":right;" c:d 170 riqht=0: 2=0: timeout=0 rrect out of " ; = 180 REPEAT: Z Z-i-l 510 IF timeout >100 THEN PRINT"but toot- 190 P=1+RND<9) "jtimeout DIV lOOj" seconds too l.ong":E 200 Q'=1+RND(9) NDPROC 210 CLB 520 IF right Listing 4. The tinat stage, with question and answer printed on-screen in double-height 10 REM Listing 4 290 X=VAL (answer-*) 20 MODE 7 300 IF K=P*Q PROCright 30 VDU23, I ,0;0:0;0|; 310 IF X<:--P*Q PROCwrong 40 PRINTCHR*{141) ;CHR*(131) ;CHR*C1S7) 320 IF TIME>-f inishtimo+lOO PROCtlmeont 5CHR*(132)" TABLES TEST" 330 A=INKEY(200) 50 PRINTCHR*<141) ;CHR*(131) iCHR*(157) 340 UNTIL Z-N ;CHR*C132)" TABLES TEST" 350 PRDCr&Bults 60 A=INKEY(300) 360 END 70 VDU28, 0,15,39,5 370 aO VDU23, 1,1 ,0;050! 3S0 DEFPRDCright 90 PRINTTflB(0,6> "This program will te 390 PRINT CHR-i (131) "CORRECT" st your knowl edge of the tabl es. 400 riQhti=right'i-l 100 INF'UT"Hdw many questions would yuu 410 ENOPRDC like in the test?. . "N 420 1 10 INF'UT"HC'W many seconds do you need 430 DEFPRDCwrong to answ£9r each question?. . . "S :i.40 PRINTCHR*(129> "WRONG' 120 VDU23,1 ,0;0;0;0; 450 PR I NT "THE ANSWER IS " ; P»0 130 CLS:PRINTTAB(0,6> "As ssoon as the q 460 ENDPROC uestion is di spl ayed , 470 " 140 PF! INT "type i n your answer , 1-80 DEFF>RDCtimeout 150 PRlNT"then press RETURN." 490 PRINTCHR*(132) "TOO SLOW! 160 PRINT '"Press RETURN when ready" :A# 500 timeout^t Jmeout+tlME-f ini shtime =BET-;|? 510 ENDPROC 170 right-0: Z^Os t i meout-O 520 180 REPEAT: Z=Z+1 530 DEFPROCresults 190 P=1+RND(9) 540 CLS 200 Q=1+RND(9) S50 PRINTTAB(0,6) "You got ";right;" cp 210 CLS rrect out of " ; N 220 answer*^"" 560 IF tinieout:>100 THEN PRlNT"but took 230 finishtime=TIME+S*i00 "jtimeout DW 100;" seconds too iang":E 240 REPEAT NDPROC 250 PRINTTAB(4,6)CHR*:i41 P; " TIMES "^Q 570 IF righKN THEN ENDPROC ; " = "answer* 5ao PRINTTAB(9,9)CHR*14l3CHRfi29;CHR*l 260 PRINTTAB<4,7)CHR*111 P; " TIMES ";0 57;CHR#133 5CHR*i:36"BRILLIANT "CHR*156 " - ; "answer* 590 PRINTTAB(7,10)CHR*141jCHR*129;CHRt 270 A*:==GET:¥: arrEwer*==answBr*+A4- ] 1 " " 57 5 CHR* 33 : CHR*- 1 36 BR I LL I ANT CHP* 1 56 230 UNTIL A:J=^CHR^( i3) 6O0 A=GET 610 ENDPROC ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 — I GRAPHICS See Mirror and Clone '. page 65 the AUTO line numbers HOW TO ENTER DESIGN being generated, and then type AND ASSEMBLER PRINT TOP. This should give SOME of you will already have the original version from the answer 11 908, September's Issue of Acorn User, without the new pro- or something very entire thing from cedures. Others will be entering the close. If it doesn't, scratch. We'll deal with this latter group first. The pro- have you remembered grams must be entered and RUN with PAGE set to to put in the four &1900. Just type odd-numbered lines? Save the program. PAGE = ai900 < RETURN > NEW < RETURN > Line 30 loads the machine code generated by PROC- It's best to enter the assembler program first. Type assemble so if you are using tape you should ensure that a copy of EDCODE comes immediately after the 940 < RETURN > AUTO 'Design' program on your tape. You can do this by re- and enter the listing. AUTO provides you with a new line loading PROCassemble, winding your tape on to the number each time you press return. The odd-numbered end of 'Design', typing PROCassemble, and typing: lines containing REMs, 965. 1315, 1605, and 2705 should •SAVE EDCODE 1 1 00 1 2DE be left out -they're for information only. You can put them in later if you want. When you've entered all of the Now you're ready to go. Just CHAIN "DESIGN" in the assembler press Escape and re-enter line 950 as: normal way. It will load the machine code automatically and you can get on with designing thingies from other 950 = OTO 3 STEP 3 FOR J% galaxies or special symbols or whatever. It's a good idea at this point to save the program in the > If normal way. Now type PROCassemble < RETURN . you have made any syntax errors in the listing they will MODIFYING THE be reported. Sort them out and when no errors are being reported, change line 950 back to: ORIGINAL DESIGN 950 FOR J% - TO 2 STEP 2 THOSE of you who already have the original program To check that no other errors have been made you can can add the new facilities without too much trouble. make a number of tests. First of all, type PROCassem- First load the program (with PAGE set to &1900 of ble, then type PRINT P%. This should produce the re- course) and type DELETE0.935. Then type AUTO 2900 lines of assembler, starting at 2900 in sponse 4830. If you don't get this answer you have a and enter the new Follow typing error. To find out where it is, type PRINT pixad. the listing. All lines before that are unchanged. instructions given above for debugging the This should give the answer 4471 . If it doesn't, you have the made a mistake in the first quarter of the program, up to assembler and "SAVE the code as EDCODE. Save PROC- line 1690. When that's sorted, type PROCassemble assemble as well so that you have a copy of the source again, followed by PRINT loop2. The answer here code. Type should be 4611. If not, your mistake is between lines Load 'Design' again and type DELETE0,190. 1690 and 2510. To check the third quarter type PROCas- DELETE940,2920. Now type AUTO and enter lines 10 to semble again and then PRINT zero. The correct answer 190. When you've finished, press Escape to get out of is 4719, otherwise you have a mistake between lines AUTO then type AUTO940 and enter the lines from that 2510 and 3620. The last quarter is tested now by typing point in this month's 'Design' listing. Press Escape PROCassemble and then PRINT P%. The answer when you've finished. If you included the 'separator' should be 4830. lines 575, 625, 725, 775 and 935 in the original program, The final test is to add the following lines to the pro- delete them now. They use five bytes each and gram memory's very tight. Now, delete lines 330, 560 and 730 to 770 inclusive. 1 PROCassemble New lines to be added from this month's listing are = 2 Z% 345 and 795. Lines to be changed are 240, 490, T0&12DD 245, 315, 3 FORN% -41100 500, 510, 550, 570, 670, 710, 790. 800, 850, 660, 870, 880, 4 Z%-Z%+?N% 890 and 920. That looks a lot, but the changes are quite 5 NEXT small. When you've done all this, type PRINT TOP. The 6 PR1NT"CHECKSUMIS:";Z% answer should be about 11896. If it's much more than 7 END thisyoumaygetihe awful 'no room' message when you RUN the program and you should get the answer 55856. run the program. Check that you've removed all the lines listed above, and that you haven't added any If not you will have to recheck the whole listing. Look out listing the program for things like TYA being TAY or missing symbols like /. spaces. Typing WIDTH40 and should give you exactly what you see in the yellow Now that you've got it all OK you can delete lines 1 to pages. 7, save the listing, type PROCassemble, and then save the machine code that it has generated by typing •SAVE EDCODE 1100 12DE NEW PROCEDURES Now, if you're still in good form, type NEW followed by procedures see the September Issue of AUTO and enter the 'Design' program starting at line (For other Acorn User.) 10. Ignore any lines before line 10. They will make the program too long. Type everthing in exactly as it is printed and be careful not to put in any extra spaces. 140 to 490 PROCed output when There are 4 lines with odd numbers - 245, 315, 345 and This is the procedure that handles screen It tests for key- 795. you are editing or designing new sprites. appropriate action. It was originally It's easier to leave them out the first time through and presses and takes September enter them afterwards. You must remember to put them the main control loop of the program. See fuller description. in though. When you've finished, press Escape to stop Issue for a page 104 > ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 4 6 " ) GRAPHICS I •* page 103 510 to 570 PROCen 1740 to 1850 PROCIn Tells you how many sprites you have designed, where If you choose to design new sprites this procedure Is the data Is In memory, and asks you whether you want called (o clear work areas and initialise the control vari- to save the data. PROCsave does this automatically If ables. It finds out what width you want for your sprites, you do. sets up the address table starting at &12F0 accordingly, 940 to 1080 PROCshow and sets 7&12EF = 8 ' sprite width - ie the block size. Sets up the mode 2 screen If you are editing, ensuring 1860 to 1970 PROCno that the design box' is the right size and central, and When you elect to quit, this procedure looks through displaying the sprite you want to edit. memory to see how many sprites you have designed 1090 to 1260 PROCmenu and where they are. It is called by PROCen, which Prints up the options and takes appropriate action needs this information before it can call PROCsave. depending on your choice (returned in G%). if you want to carry out some operation on an existing design, PROCfl is called (see below). If you choose cloning or mirroring, the relevant procedure is called. HINT FOR OWNERS OF 1270to1310 PROCfl il the Asks sprite data is already In memory, and If not It TAPE OR ECONET sets A% = &FF, which causes the now misleadlngly titled PROCsave to load the data. All PROCsave does is MACHINES to set up a parameter block at &3000 and call OSFILE at IT'S &FFDD. If A% = this routine will save a file; if A% = easy to forget that these programs have to be run &FF, It will load it. with PAGE set at &1 900. A simple way to overcome this 1320 to 1590 PROCmi is to have a short loader program which will handle It for A series of loops to reverse sprites to 3 and put these you: mirror Images into the data areas of sprites 4 to 7. it 10'KEYioPA. = &i90o:mnew:mch."DEs:gn":m sends the data from each of the 24 rows of a sprite to 20"FX1 38.0,1 38 zero page locations starting at &80, and then calls the machine code routine 'reverse' at &1258 (line 1470). For Econet machines lines 10 should read: This swaps the pixels In each byte and the loop at 1480 io'KEYio?&224 = &A6;mpa. - &i9oo;mnew;mch. to 1510 puts the changed bytes into their new locations. "oesign":m 1600 to 1730 PROCcI Finds out which sprite you want to clone and works out Be careful not to put any spaces after the final M in line where to put the cloned Image. Lines 1630 to 1 700 check 10. to see if the right-hand column of the design is clear so If you save this little program as "DES", immediately the design can be shifted to the right without anything before "DESIGN" on your tape, you can forget all about falling off the end. If all Is well the clone routine at &1274 setting PAGE. Just CHAIN'DES " and it will load the is called. other program at the right location. The completed version of the 'Design' program, incorporating new procedures (see above for instructions) 10*KEY10?S<22'1~W>if:> 1 1 ! M MPA. -:?U900 MOLD F ' I rU'JT ]::;; CHR:1r240; -^IX+O; : COLOUR I ~/,4S: PRINTC 20*TV255 HR*240:CaL0URr/,'"l!lMEXT 30*La.EDC0DE 280VDU28,0,3]. ,19,21 40REPEAT 290CnL0UR6!pR;CNTTAB<2,0) "Press TAB whe ' 50CLS n" ;;TAB(2) "design -f i ni shed" ! C0L0UR3 AOPROCmenu 300PRINT'TABU,) "u^-B ciuf sor keys to"''" 70TFG% = 4 MDDE7i;PF^0Cin position painter aOIFGV.-l 0F 1 1 : A'/,-0 ! PF^DCen :l. 0M0DE7 320PL0T2 , , 12*32+6! PL0T29 , W7.*32"i' 8,12* 120*FX4 32+6 ;; PLOTS i , W7.*32+8 , 0: PL0T29 ,0,0 130PR'INT!END 340X7.=-8:Y7.^=24 i 40DEFPRGCed 34SIF0y,-=l PROCshQW l50WX-?S<12EF/e 350PR0Cpntr (>:7.,¥"/) 1.60tabley.^S;12FO:enrr/C^^FAL3E 360REPEAT 170*FX4,1. 370K7.== I NSTR ( key* , GET* ia0VDU23,l,0i;0ij0l0; 3a0IF K7.O0 c:al7,-K7.~l!PR0Cdraw(cDLV.,,X7. 1 V0VDU23 , , , feFO , ?.F0 , SiFO S^FO Y7.> 240 , , ,, ,0,2 , iPROCpntr CX7.,Y"^) 1 (I) , ?':40 3 , 24 , , ,, S^EO , ?^40 , , , 390IFlNKEY(-5B)ANDYy,<3B4 PROCpntr 210REPEAT 400IFINKEY(-42)ANDVX>24 PROCpntr (XV. , YV. 220IV.=ch37«*2=b£i!5e7.= r/.?.?..12F0+r/„-^S 230space7.^(SO"''^>!'^i2EF DW8*7)DIVB E >:H=Xy.""32!pR0Cpntr (X7.,Y7=> 240CLG! IF c:ha7,< Xu ??.t71=space7.; FORr/.=OT ^20IFINk:£Y(-122)ANDXy.<32«(W7.-l ) PROCpn 1 7?y72=-^ - D chay.- ! ?S.70= I % i 1 1 GfiLLfe 1193; ??(7 1 tr (Xy.,Y7.) : X7.-Xy,+32: PROCpntr (X7.,Y7,) ??.71.+'^s,).2EF/a+spac:e7.sNEXT 430UNTILINKEY(-97) , : » 245VDU26 5 S7.= < 7S. 1 2EF D I Va-4 ) ;(. 6*403 e M 440ii:ha'-i='^ch£i7.-i-l! irchaZ^^2 ciha7.=3 ELSE IF 0VESy.,B20: (3C0L0, 3: PRINT "char ";cha'/ c.h-^'A=-6i c. h aZ=7 250VDU28 , , , , s 22 7 9 450700-1 ,12,23, I,0;0li0i0; 260VDIJ307 COLOUR?: PRINT"KEYS" 160IF chaK-a PRINTTAB(2,0) "8 chars. d& "8" 270@X==0:PRINTTAB (0,2) (2) ; ; " "0";TAB 5 C f inpjd. ")TAB(4,2) "No more roDm. ; TAB <2, 7) GL0lJR3^PR:iNTCI-IR*240!F0RI»lTD7s COLOUR r/.E 3 : COLOURS; PRINT"SPACE tn contLnue" j endV.---' ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 * ; r ! " i " ] I GRAPHICS 2> 1010GCaL0,?!.81 TRUE: ELSE PRINTTAB <7 , "press" ; TAB (1 ,4> 1020MDVEX37.,Y37.:PRINTCHR*240 :CaLDUR3:PRINT" SPACE to cont i nue" f TAB (2 " 1030NEXT ,6) ; :DOL0UR6!PRINT" CTRL Z to exit 470REPEATG=GET;UNTILG=S^20 aRB=?^lA: IFG= 1040Z7.= Z7.+32 ?aA end"/.=TRUE 1050UNTILZ7.-64 -8; : HOVEO,0' 430UNTIL end"/. 1060VDlJ29,440-8» (W7.-8) 400; 490ENDPR0C 1070?S/70=cha7.:??<71^47+(':'?<12EF/4) j -^^.72=9 SOODEFPROCen 6:CALLS ' ' !CHRJ131;i:jhaV.;CHR*135; "ch I110PRINTTAB(16,3) "MENU" *??yl,2EF SPRINT " " ll20F0R,r/.=6 TO 14 STEP2! PRINTTAB (0 , J7.) aracrters de+ined"CHR*13i ; (0 to "fchaV.-l ;')." ":NEXT "1. Edit already de-fin 530PRINT''" Table o^^ addresses is &";C 1130PRINTTAB(4,ifj) "?<"; ed spr i tes. HR*130; "?.12F0"!CHR*1355 "to" ; CHR*130ii des ^?^1.2F0+chay.*2~l 1140PRINTTAB(4,8) "2. Clone existing " ' 540PRINT " Do you want to save the da iqn . address table (Y/N)?";:RE 1150PRINTTAB(4,10) "3. Produce mirror im ta and the " ^:E:ATB==GET DR&20: UNTILG=S-!79 DRG=?<6E ages o-f sprites. 12> new sprite 550IFG=:?^70 AND 620PRINTCHR*241 27; ! INPUTTAB(2a, 630ENDPRDC G7.<6 640DEFPRDCdraw (col"/., ><''. YV.) 1 200VDU28 ,0,24,39,16,12 650VDUS 1210IFG7.<4 PROC-fi ELSE IF G7.05 FaRV7.=0 ' NEXT 660MnVEX*/.,Y-/. TD?'.5FF STEP4: V% Sa2EE-0: 1220IFe7.= l REPEAT: F"'R I NTTAB (0,3) "Which c 670??/88- < X-/.-6) DIV32: ?i'yB9=23- ( (YV.-24) DI - " UNTILcha7.>=0 A V16) !?ft-a7=c:ol-/.:'^Sai37-base-/.M0D2Sfe:?? OR??-: 1 2EF >aO ) 87.=7 name o-f the spr i te +i 1 e?" EF< 32 1310ENDPRaC aOOREPEAT: PRINTTAB (1 4) SPC (20) : INPUTTAB (14) ' "data*:UNTlLLENdata*<=7 1320DEFPRaCmi ai0F0RI"/.^==.t:3000 T05'.3030;?r/.«0: NEXT 1330??'.8D==?M2EF DIV9-1 820DV.-S<3i:i00 1340CH7.^0 830* (D7.+?.20) =data*: ?D-/.=^S<20! D"/.?].=S.30 1350REPEAT 1 2F 1*256+8 840D7.?2^S'EE: D*/,?3=?',12 1 360ADDy.''>CHy.?S< 1 2F0+CHy.?S/ gt:;OIF Ay.=?.FF Dy.?6=l 1370V7.-''=CHy.?Sa2r8+CH7.??a2F9*256+a 860Dy.?S.A-S 2EF)DIV8:Y3'/.=^( ( IXMODS) +8* ( iy.DIV?S(12EF) ) +23 990X37.= CX3V.*2)»32+6;Y3y.=Y3y.*16-i-24 1000?s-.80=iy.?base7.:??'.81=0: IFZy.=0 CALU?a2 3C ELBECALLS<124A Continued ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 e 21 1 1 GRAPHICS I iS30ADD'X=ADD^-i-?sa2EF!VXi-VZi-?Sa2E:{-;CX^CX HRi:9-^CHR*94-CHR*9+CHRi-156;WEXT +-1 1760PRINTTAB (0,7) " You may design sprit l540UNTlLC"/.=3 ffis between 8 and 20 pixels wide - only & 1550CH-/.-=CHX+2 ven nos. allowi^d"''" Please enter width l!f.60JFCHX=4 CH'/=s6 l570UNTILCHy.=3 1770REPEATPRINTTAB(21,10)SPC(25J : j INPUT 1580PRINT"'0K. chars 4 to 7 ars now mir TAB (21, 10)" "W7.:UNTILW7.>7ANDW7.<21 AND NQ ' ror images cj-f chars to 3" 'TAB (7) "Pre TLg7.MDD2 ES SPACE to continue. . ":REPEATUNTILGET=3 1780UJX-W7./2: IFW7=4 RESTDRE1810 ELSEIFW7. =5 RESTaRE1820 ELSE REBT0REia30 1590ENDPR0C 1790F0RT7.=S,12F0 TDSa2FF STEP 2:READA*:' 1600DEFPR0Ccl " 1?^ 1 7/-^=EVAL ( " 4-A-* ) : NEXT 1610REPEAT PRINT'TAB(3,l)"Whic:h charact iaO07?a2EF=WX*B er do yen want to cl ono (0 to 6) " 1B10DATA1300, 1360,1300, 1400, 1460, 1500, -i-CHR*127+C-HR-tl.27+CHR*127; : INPUTK*: UNTILA 460, 1560 SC(K*)>=4a AND ASC(K*)<55:CR'/.-=EVAL 1680UNT1L ' B7.^2?a2EF DR F7.= l 1 900J 7,=0 ! REPEAT : I F J 7. B A7.< :>0 E7.=- 1,690CA7.-^CA7.+??a2EF:£7,-=E7.H"l 1910J7.-Jy.+4!UNTILa7.>-3*7S-iI2EF aRE7.-l 1700UNTILF7.==3 aRE7.=3 .1920IFEV.=r:i F7.=F7.+2: IFF7.=4 aRF"/.= i2 F»F7. 17:L0IFF7-=1 PRINTTAB(3,4J "No spars on ri + 2 qht of sprite. "ELSE CALL.?<1274: PRINTTAB ( 1 930IJNT I LF7.=^ 1 6 aRE7.=0 9) "OK" 1940IFF7„^6 0RF7.= 14 F7.^=F7.-4! H7.= l EL3EH7.- 1720PRINTTAB(8,7> "Preeis SPACE to contin ue":REPEATUNTtL GET=32 1950chaX'=F7./2! IF(cha%-^i aRchay.=--S) ANDH7.^-i' 1 730ENDPRDC 1 c:ha7»'=cha"/;-t-2 1740DEFPRnCin 1955IFH7.~0 F'>:=^F7.~2 I 750F0RJ7.=0T01 jPRIIMTTAB f 7,3+J7.) CHR* 129 + 1960taase7.=^^F7.??.12F0+F7.??,,12F 1*256+3 CHft:i- 1 ::r/-i-CHR* 1 4 1 iCHRii- i 3S"GPR I TF DEB IGN" +r rr;r.ENi..ipRoc The assembler section of 'Design' 940DEFPRaCassemb 1 12S0ADG£.aF 950F0RJ7.=0T02 STEP2 1260STA?>.BF 1580BNE even 960F7.=Sai00 1270STASaD 1590. store 965REM Square bracket 129oaSR pii^ad 1600LDA?.:a5 pr inted as left 1290. byte value 1605\dummy address 1610STA !<8000,X T-QW in Mode? 1300LDXS^8F 1620LDA#0 970[0PTI7. 1310. address 16.30STAS.86 980, byte_number 1315\du.nimy s.ddrBst 1640STAR.87 990LDA» . 160. no add 1490BNE odd 1B20STA?<8D 170CLC~ 1500JMP store 1830JMP pi>-ad 130ADC?-aF 1510. even 1840, end 190STA5.SF 1520ROR.'5<86 1 BSORTS 200LDA^Sa 1530RnR?,s5 1860,. display 210AND#?'.FE 1540R0R? ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 4 I GRAPHICS i ^00STAS'-83 2650BTAS^89,X 3390LDA.r-<97 1 9 ] OLDASi? I 2^.60 TNX 3400STAS^93 l920ASl„r. 26701 NX 3410JSR Bhi-ftR lTS0HOL?<&i 2A80CPX#8 3420LDXtt2 ,1940ASLA 2690BCG lDDp3 3430. lGop7 1,950F;OLS-B1 2700LDY?<12EF 3440LDAS.94 1960ASLf^ 270S\ draws character 34S0CLC 19 7OR0L&B1 2710. mainlaap 3460ADC3'.12EF 1 980STA?*82 2720TVA 3470StA?'.94 l-VWl-DA-^Sl 2730BEQ out. 3480BTAS'90 2000CLC 2740PEY 3490LDArM96 2010ADCS/.83 2750LDA(?.aG) ,Y 3500CLC 2020STAiJf33 2760BEQ b].Dck2 35iOADG?a2EF 2030LDAS!72 2770BTA(?^80) ,Y 35 20 ST A?.: 96 SO-IOANDtt"/ 2780.block2 35303TA?^92 20l=i0E0R?//'2 27901.J)A(? ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 ! TECHNIQUES See 'Follow the Floating Point', page 74 Program 1. Copies the contents of FAC1 into memory, allowing Program 2. Illustrates how floating point addition can be used, them to be examined using Basic ROM calls, here adding 1.00 to 8.00 10 REM Memory to FACl Demo 20 REM Bruce Smith 10 REM Floating Point Addition 30 REM For the BBC Micro 20 REM Bruce Smith = 40 REM (c) Acorn User November 1984 30 REM For th BBC Micro 40 REM CO Acorn User November 1984 50 : 60 FDR pas5=0 TO 2 STEP 2 50 : 70 +acl=?<2E 60 py.=? 280 ! ?(74=«<4020 300 75-4002=5(40: ! 8(4003=0 290 : 310 : 320 CALL memfacl 300 REM ** SET UP FP 1.00 »» . 1 330 FOR loop=0 TO 7 310 7^A000=Z'.Bl !.4001=0 340 READ byte* 320 REM »* SET UP FP 8.00 •» 350 PRINT byte*;"'base7Ioop 330 7S.4010=?.84 . 1 ^4011=0 360 NEXT 340 REM ** CLEAR RESULT AREA ** 350 7^4020=0: 5(4021=0 370 : 360 : 380 DATA SIGN /' overflow 370 CALL float add EXPONENT ! 390 DATA MANTISSAl -mantissa: 380 FOR N=g:!402 TO ?'.4024 , 390 FRINT'^N; " " ;'^?N MANTISSA3 ! 400 DATA MANTISSA4 /'rounding 400 NEXT Program 3. Illustrates how floating point subtraction can be used, using Basic ROM calls, here subtracting 2.00 from 7.00 >RUN >RUN 10 REM Floating Point Subtraction SIGN :D1 4020 84 20 REM Bruce Smi th OVERFLOW : 4021 10 30 REM For the BBC Micro EXPONENT :8A 4022 40 REM (C> Acorn User November 1984 MANTISSAl :D1 4023 50 : MANTISSA2 : 40 4024 60 P*/.=S!COO MANTISSA3 :0 70 COPT 2 MANTISSA4 :0 Result of running program 2. 80 .floatsub ROUNDING :0 Referring to table 2, you can see 90 LDA ?<70 \ get lo.addr fpl that the result of addition is 9.00 100 STA R^4B \ save in fp vector 110 LDA 2'-71 \ get hi . addr fpl Result of running program 1, showing storage ot &345 120 STA ?.4C \ save in f p vector within FACl >RUN 130 JSR S«A3B5 \ transfer to FACl 4020 83 140 LDA P/72 \ get lo.addr fp2 4021 20 150 STA 2<4B \ save in fp vector 4022 160 LDA £-73 \ get hi. addr fp2 4023 170 STA ?y4C \ save in fp vector 4024 180 JSR StA4FD \ f p subtraction 190 LDA ?.74 \ get lo.addr fp result Result of running program 3. 200 STA i?<4B \ sc -e in fp vector Referring to table 2, you can see Continued the result of subtraction is 5.00 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 I TECHNIQUES Program 5. How floating point division can be used, using Basic ROM calls, here dividing 3.00 by 2.00 < Continued 210 LDA &:75 \ get hi addr -fp result 220 STft i'AC \ save in fp vector 10 REM Floating Point Division 230 JMP 5!A3SD \ mave FACl into fp res 20 REM Bruce Smith ult 30 REM For the BBC Micro REM (c) Acorn User November 1984 240 a 40 50 P7.=^C00 250 : 60 CDPT 2 260 ! ?y70=?^4000 270 '?<72=S(4010 70 - -f loatdi v 280 !?<74=?(4020 80 LDA S<70 \ get Id. addr f pi Sc4B \ save in fp vector 290 : 90 STA 300 REM »» SET UP FP 2.00 *» 100 LDA 5r71 \ get hi .addr f pi 310 ??<4000=S;82: !?<4001=0 110 STA S.4C \ save in fp vector 320 REM »» SET UP FP 7.00 *» 120 JSR S 210 STA ?^4C \ save in fp vector Program 4. How floating point multiplication can be used, using 220 JMP 5iA38D \ move FACl to fp resul Basic ROM calls, here multiplying 3.00 by 2.00 230 240 10 REM Floating Point Multiplication 250 I 5,70=8(4000 20 REM Bruce Smith 260 3,72=S.4010 30 REM For the BBC Micro 270 I ?,74=?,4020 40 REM (C) Acorn User November 1984 280 50 290 REM »» SET UP FP 2.00 ** 60 p-/.=?rCO0 300 ??<4000=&;82 : !?<4001=0 70 COPT 2 310 REM ** SET UP FP 3.00 »* 80 . -f 1 oat mult 320 ??<4010=8(a2:':'«<4011=40: ! S(4012=0 90 LDA ?.70 \ get Id. addr fpl 330 REM ** CLEAR RESULT AREA ** 100 STA S.:4B \ save in -fp vector 340 ':'S-4020=0: !S<4021=0 110 LDA 8.71 \ get hi. addr fpl 350 120 ST A ?y4C \ save in -fp vector 360 CALL floatdiv 130 JSR SfA3B5 \ trans-fer to FACl 370 FOR N=.?(4020 TD ?^4024 140 LDA ?.72 \ get lo.addr fp2 380 PRINT-^N;" ";'"?N 150 STA ?(4B \ save in -fp vector 390 NEXT 160 LDA ?'-73 \ get hi .addr fp2 170 STA S.4C \ save in -fp vector 180 JSR 5:A656 \ -fp multipli cation 190 LDA ?<7A \ get lo.addr fp result >RUN 200 STA ?yAB \ save in +p vector 4020 81 210 LDA S<75 \ get hi addr fp result 4021 28 220 STA ^AC \ save in -fp vector 4022 230 .JMP 2:'.A38D \ move FACl i nto fp res 4023 ult 4024 240 3 250 Result of running program 5. 260 1 ?,70=S^4000 Here the answer is 1.S - we 270 !?y72=S(4010 leave you to transform the rep- py 280 I 74=5:4020 resentation back into binary 290 300 REM »» SET UP FP 2.00 •» 310 ??(4000=?(82: (?^4001=0 320 REM ** SET UP FP 3.00 ** >RUN a-7_ 330 ?S<4010=?<82:':*?<4011=?.40: 1^.4012=0 4O20 340 REM ** CLEAR RESULT AREA »* 4021 40 350 ??<4020=0: !?'.4021=0 4022 360 4023 370 CALL floatmult 4024 O 3B0 FDR N=?-4020 TD &4024 390 PRINT'^N;" ';'^?N Result of running program 4. 400 NEXT Table 2 indicates that the result is 6.00 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 t t 1 BEEB FORUM I Seepage 113 10 REM *» SET MARGIN ON EPSON/STAR 170 BNE CM it 20 DSWRCH=fcFFEE IBO JSR exit 30 WRCHV=&20E 190 LDA #&20 AO vector=256»?(WRCHV+l +7WRCHV 200 LDX ttmargin— 50 margin=7 : WIDTH (79-margi n> 210 . times 60 FDR PASS=0 TO 3 STEP 3 220 JSR OSWRCH 70 P7,=S<70 230 DEX BO COPT PASS 240 BNE times 90 .START 250 . ex i t 100 LDA #test MOD 256 260 J MP vector 110 STA WRCHV 270 ] 120 LDA tttest DIV 256 280 NEXT PASS 130 STA WRCHV+1 290 CALL START 140 RTS 150 .test Listing 1. David Prideaux's routine (or 160 CMP #13 indented listings 10 FOR A*/.=0 TO 2 STEP 2 120 RTS 20 PX=Jc900 130 .data 30 COPT A7. 140 EQUS "OLD"+CHR«13 40 BCC o>/^r 150 EQUS "RUN"+CHR*13 50 LDA #138 : LDX #0 160 EQUB 5.FF 60 -LOOP 170 3: NEXT AV. ; 70 LDY data.X CPX #S(FF iBEQ over 180 ? 8c287=«(9004C 80 INX : STX 8.70 : LDX #0 90 JSR 8eFFF4 : LDX &70 100 BNE LOOP Listing 2. Routine by S Danesh to program the Brealc 110 .over key permanently as a function key (OS 1.2) lO REM"Ei.ALTREPL* Program to replace 410 LDA #1 : \ Col lee t drive number -fro dual m typed command | 20 REM" catalogue utility + or discs 420 LDX #8(70: LDY #0: JSR osargs 30 REM"AcQrn User 0c83:47, amendments . I 430 aop 1 D83! 157 440 LDA <5<70),Y: \ Check for end o+ co 40 REM "COPYRIGHT 1933 N. P endl eton mmand 50 REM"Syntax: »ALT 60 : eral to 3 70 DIM XX 10 470 CMP #8(30: BMI inc BO inst=!iiOCDO 480 AND #3: STA inst 90 dv = &10CB 490 . inc 1 100 buf 1=&:09 500 I NY BNE loop 110 bu-f2=&0E 510 .params | 120 osargs=StFFDA 520 LDA #o 130 osword=8 3SO COPT pass 770 ENDPROC 1 390 LDA dv: \ Preserve current drive n Listing 3. M F Park's modification to Nigel Pendleton's a. dual catalogue program, allowing you to specify which 400 PHA drive you want the 'ALT command to affect ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 Y I UTILITY See 'ROM-con Trick ', page 1 19 David Biakey's 'ROM-con' program allows you to select and access any ROM, even when you've got a lull load of ROMs on-board 10 REM****************'^***"****"* ****** 1 1 80 BNE no...roi7i ^ 20 REM* Sideways ROM selector * ]:I90„ loop • 3(> REM* for BBC micro * 1200 I NY • ^ 40 REM* (c) Acorn User Nov 34 jj. 1210 UDA rom,Y - 511) REM* by D Elakey * 1 220 BEQ f oi,'-nd„end_ward • 60 REr'M****-^-**-******************** *-*-it-*- J 230 STA string 5 Y # 1 00 MODE 7 1 240 JMP loop • liO PROCinit 1230. f ound en d wor d • 1260 LDA m'.ov> ^ 1 20 PROCheader ^ 130 Pf" ~\ • • ";'20 UNTIL reply*="E" OR ^epl y^~ "e' 1, 380 :;':i9(:j ^ 230 PROCupdate_ro(n.„. table 1 P'/.^-g.AOO 'i REM P7.^^-?.D00 FOR TAPE ^ 240 PRINT TAB (4) ;CHR#11; 'F'resE B -for 1 400 COPT PASS " • protect, el Hie any key 1410 break handler • - 250 At=-BET4- 1 420 LDY #16 - • 260 IF A*^^"B" OR A*^"'"b" rHEN PROCset^>! 1 430 more data '" % p _bra !k 1 440 DEY • ^270 END 1 450 LDA data,Y * 1 000 - 1 460 STA ?.2A1,Y • 1 470 TYA ^ 1 1 f' DEF PROCassemble --^ 1 020 FOR PASS=0 TO 2 STEP ;l 480 BNE more_data 1 490 RTS # ;i, 030 P'/.=code • 1 500 data _ 1 040 COPT PASS m • J ] OSO start 1510 1 060 BTA rom addreiss 1320 NEXT J LDA #^-.80 1530 ENDPROC 070 • • 1 0311) STA ?^7i 1540 _ 1 090 LDA #0 1 550 DEF PROCfind basic ^ 5 X7=^-0; Y-/.=S 1 1 7 CMP #ASC"C" 1630 DIM code 255 Continued ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 ' ) UTILITY I See 'ROM-con Trick', page 119 I • < Continued 1 640 rom_numbers--=4:REM TOTAL no. R0Me5 2020 PRINT TAB(3,3) Enter 'E' to e^it" ^ 1 650 ra.n_address=? • 1 660 rom=? ]. 690 *FX 247 2070 IF W%>16 THEN ENDPROC \ 700 ENDPROC 2080 IF (W7.=0 AND ASC (reply*) <..--48) OR t • 1710 : itle*(W7)="" THEN ENDPROC ^ 1 720 DEF PROCgBt._data 2090 IF control 7, (WX = THEN contrDlX(WX_ " ^ ] 730 FOR Ay.= ( 16-rQ(n__number-si) TO 15 )^^type7. (W7.) : sel ect* ( W7. > =="DN ELSE CDHtr • 1740 typey.(A"/,)=:MUSR(start) AND h.¥F) d17. (W7)^^:^05 select* (W7. ="OFF" 1 A"/ 750 t i 1 1 s$ ( ) -$ i St. 1- i n q+9 2100 ENDPROC • 1760 NEXT 2110 : ^ 1 770 ENDPROC 2120 DEF PROCupdate ^rom_table 17 BO : 2130 FOR I7.=0 TO 15 • 1 790 DEF PROCwr 1 te,^ screen 2140 I7.??(2Al=control7. (IX) ^') 1 I C _ 800 PR NT TAB , ; CHR* 131;; CHR* 1 57 ; CHR 2150 I7.?data=control7, (IX) • :f-129; 2160 NEXT 1 1 9 e PRINT TAB(3) ; "No. "sTABO) ; "Title"; 2170 ENDPROC TAB (2: !) ! -State"; TAB (33) :; "Type" 2180 ! • 1 B20 FOFf I7.==0 TO 15 2190 DEF PROCset_up._break 1830 PRINT TAB(3) 5 r/i!TAB<8) i 1 ( 2200 AX^^=249: YX=0: XX^ '-break_han dler DIV ^ ; t 1 g3* I'/.) ; 2^ ( TAB 2: ;select*(rXJ ; TAB (33) s "^typeX ( IV.) 56: CALL osbyte • 1 840 NEXT 2210 »FX248,0 1 850 PRINT CHR*133;CHR:^157;CHR;r-129; 2220 *FX247,76 • 1 860 ENDPROC 2230 ENDPROC 1 870 i 1 8B0 DEF PROCread rom table • 1 890 FOR IX=0 TO 15 _ 19'00 control /. ( I"/) "I7,?S<2A1 • 1910 IF control'/.f r/.):=typG7„a7,) AND type # >:. (I % ) >0 THEN select* (I%)~"DN " ELSE -it?I ecfc*(r/.)="OFF"- • 1 920 NEXT ^ 1 9.30 ENDPROC 1 940 ; • 1 950 DEF PROCheader a 1960 FOR r/.:=0 TO 3 p ^ • /. I C I -.^ 1970 PR NT TAB , ) ; CHR* 1 29 j CHR* 1 57 J CH % R*131 Q, Q. 1 980 NEXT CSf "^^^^H^* • 1 990 PRINT TAB (9,, 0) ;CHF^4ri 41; "SIDEWAYS R Q j^^"^^ • - OM CONTROL" 2000 PRINT TftE(9,l) ;CHR*141; "SIDEWAYS R ,J^^» • OM CONTROL" ^^J^^^ S^—~*i^^®: ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 . . BEEB FORUM — I N| I |DnnnDnnn Bruce Smith presents a bundle D of useful tips: a sprite definer n ^ ° look-up table, a word processing n aid and other bright Beeb ideas Thanks to Mr Clarke for pointing this normal in View by first executing Colour chart out •FX228,1. Key definitions are entered normal and then accessed using the 1 often use a similar method for con- as verting machine code back into Shift/CTRL key combination. for the @r assembler form. First 1 set up a *SP0OL file and then disassemble the section of Indenting sprite designer code to be converted - this is spooled to m\f^ ^ A PORTRAIT of Bill Shakespeare is using 'SPOOL again, it can be loaded the printout into or View, where AUTO r winging its way to B Gabel of Lewes for Wordwise useful printer utility for the his useful multicolour chart (table 1). can be added to the top of the file which HERE'S a re-saved. Now simply "EXEC the Epson/Star range. It comes from David Mr Gabel writes. . can be Plymouth, writes. , Having read and typed in Mr Sin- file to obtain your assembler program, Prideaux of who clair's excellent sprite definer ready for editing! An irritating failing of the Epson MX Clarke also points out that the range of printers is the lack of a facility (September Issue) I drew up the follow- Mr to define the left margin. It is possible ing pixel colour chart. It has been indis- function keys can be programmed as pensable to me ever since and should be for other programmers. RIGHT PIXEL The colours referred to are the logi- cal colours in mode 2. To see what screen byte, look B ~- number to send to the c * c 2 o o c ^ s 53 pixel on COLOUR It " up the colour of the left-hand m 11 55 > 5 1 COS >- (DO the grid's 'Left Pixel' section and the colour of the right-hand pixel on the grid's 'Right Pixel' section. Follow the Black 00 01 04 05 10 11 14 15 40 41 44 45 50 51 54 54 row and column across and down until Red 02 03 06 07 12 13 16 17 42 43 46 47 52 53 56 57 they meet. The number in the square is the number you want(in hexadecimal). Green 08 09 OC OD 18 19 1C ID 48 49 4C 4D 58 59 50 5D For example: for a byte coloured Yellow OA OB OE OF 1A IB IE IF 4A 4B 4E 4F 5A 58 5E 5F yellow on the left and flashing blue/ yellow on the right the number is &5A. Blue 20 21 24 25 30 31 34 35 60 61 64 65 70 71 74 75 Try it: type Magenta 22 23 26 27 32 33 36 37 62 63 66 67 72 73 76 77 7&5000-&5A _i Cyan 28 29 2C 2D 38 39 3C 3D 68 69 60 60 78 79 70 7D awaits any UJ . . . Suitable remuneration X White 2A 28 2E 2F 3A 3E 3E 3F 6A 6B 6E 6F 7A 78 7E 7F would-be statisticians who supply use- a this! t- D5 ful charts such as UL Black/White 80 81 84 85 90 91 94 95 CO C1 04 05 DO D1 D4 LU Red/Cyan 82 83 86 87 92 93 96 97 02 C3 C6 C7 D2 D3 D6 D7 Auto-numbering Green/Magenta 88 89 8C 8D 98 9S 90 90 C8 C9 CO OD D8 D9 DC DD O ,s z Yellow/Blue 8A 8B 8E 8F 9A 9E 9E 9F CA CB CE OF DA DB DE DF X in View (0 Blue/Yellow AO A1 A4 A5 BO B1 B4 B5 EO El E4 E5 FO F1 F4 F5 < -J USEFUL advice on how to write pro- u. b:) B6 B7 E2 E3 E6 E7 F2 F3 F6 F7 grams without line numbers using View Magenta/Green A2 A3 A6 A7 B2 or Wordwise comes from J C Clarke of Cyan/Red A8 69 AC AD B8 BE) BC BD E8 E9 EC ED F8 F9 FO FD Nettleton. Mr Clarke explains that you BA BEJ BE BF EA EB EE EF FA FB FE FF simply type in your program without White/Black AA AB AE AF line and you have numbers when Table 1. Mode 2 pixel/byte colour chart for FLASHING finished inset a line at the beginning of the Electron and BBC micro the file that contains AUTO. Now save the file to disc. To get the program into Beeb Forum Is a platform for ideas, tips and applications relating to the BBC micro and the its proper form simply *EXEC the file ttieir , Electron, intended tor experienced programmers to share thoughts. For every reader's into Basic memory. When AUTO, the Up published we pay E5~or more for something special. Contributions should tie typed or first line on the file, is executed it will printed, with substantial listings on cassette. WRITE TO Beeb Forum, Acorn User, Redwood add a line number to each line that is Publishing, London WC2E 9JH, loaded in from disc. ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 announces its complete local and wide area Viewdata communications system for the BBC micro. The first system to unlock the full power of the BBC micro, it turns the BBC into THE Viewdata/communications machine. Become your own 'micro-PRESTEL'. Log on to any other Viewdata system. Create your own Viewdata bases & telesoftware. Let others access them over the phone. Explore the new world of electronic publishing & information services. By far the mosl comprehensive ynd easy to use Viewdata system for the BBC mitro. ' Track lesied since Nov, 83 in the national ITeC program. * Subset to he bundled by Acorn with their new Winchester file server, " Adapts itself 'o Disc or Ecunei l^vci li. * Up to 195 frames on a disc, * Multiple databases can he used simultaneously on a network. * Special Education licence (Single school, mulii-machinc. multi-site licence). The complete package includes SOFTWARE, MANUALS. LEADS and MODEM: Nothing further required beyond the BBC micro and the new 6(KI series B,T. phone socket THE SOFTWARE HARDWARE SYSTEM MENU simple cursor driven selection used throughout, with power- INTELLIGENT AUTO-ANSWER / AUTO-DIAL MODEM the first of the ful configuration facilities. Auio-booting, new generation of intelligent modems, it is OFFLINE far in advance of anything else in the EDITOR one of ihe best viewdata editors available for ANY field. machine, combining exceptional facilities with ea.se of use, enabling • mmplele No buttons or knobs to sei — it sets itself — and no understanding of bits and Viewdata bases to be created on disk or network bauds needed, SEARCH this enables a Viewdata base to be searched locally • in e:>:aclly the Auto-dial software driven — needs no telephone handset, making phone costs as same way when on-line to PRESTEL, controllable. CAROUSEL for exhibition and public display, frames can be left automati- ' Auto-answer — handles incommg calls unattended. cally displaying in a cycle, • When calling another CommunlTel system in HOST mode, unique speed * FRAME PRINTER hard copy of frames, supporting parallel, serial or net- swiuhing enables frames to be spent at high speed, creating a fast electronic mail work primers, with graphics supported on Inlegrcx colour inkjei. Epson FXWI & system with dramatic phone cost savings. MX1I«I type IIL Microline KO/82, Silver Reed EX43. and text (m any other ASCII ' Robust, steel cased, printer. BAST approved (No, S/1397/3/E/45I1348) — legal to use on public B,T. p hone ' TERMINAL can logontoanyotherViewdatasystem. single key auto-dialling. lines. download frames to a local database, telesoftware downloading, ' full on-line edit- All leads provided — just plug in and it's ready to go, ing, frame-load and send. HOST enables a locally created Viewdata base to be accessed by any standard DOCUMENTATION Viewdata over Ihe phone. Also provides an on-line editor so that callers can enter TUTORIAL MANUAL an excellent self-leach tutorial manual is provided. messages or complete frames, saved in a private "intray". This is properly type-set in large type and Jieavily illustrated with colour photo- • TELESOFTWARE FORMATTER any file, text or data, as well as programs, graphs. Further copies of this are available separately. This covers everv part of be can turned intoC.E.T, telesoftware frames and made available to callers via thesysicm. tfie HOST, providing machine independent secure file transfer through the REFERENCE MANUAL a comprehensive reference manual covers Ihe CE.T, standard, remaining aspects of the system. REQUIREMENTS SCHOOLS BBC micro B. OS L(H-.DFSO.y+ &/or Econet level 2 / NFS 3.34-I-. Hatfield Advisory Unit for Computer Based Education have negotiated a special Also B.T,600 series phone socket, 'schools deal" and are selling the Local mode off-line syslem -f the TERMINAL software + a book on Educational uses of Viewdata + sample database disk, PRICES under Ihe extended schools licence for the same price: £45.0() + VAT Enquiries to Hatfield AUCBE, FULL SYSTEM as outlined above. £325. IHI -I- VAT -f- pp FURTHER INFORMATION LOCAL MODE OFF-LINE SYSTEM (No comijiunications). For further information and order form write to: Software: MENU. EDITOR. SEARCH. CAROUSEL, FRAME CommunlTel Ltd. PRINTER, -+ full documentation, all as outlined above, working on disk or Econet level 2 189 Freston Road, £45,00 + VAT -<- pp. London W10 6TH. 114 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 , . % . I BEEB FORUM twice, once with carry when running under program control to the third program will simply over- calls this routine once with carry set. But we format the output as desired, and obvi- write the second one and the program clear and executed once ously a wordprocessor program nor- will network. want the routine to be only, so if carry is clear the routine is mally includes such a feature, but what If there was a way to achieve this end ability simply to without the need for an extra file, more not carried out. I am referring to is the Line 50 initialises the accumulator produce a listing of a program, for programs could be stored on a disc. and the x register for a sequence of example, indented by an amount so This is achieved by CHAINing the OSBYTE calls to insert the necessary that when inserted in a binder the print downloader (ie, the second program) at (ie &1900), characters into the keyboard buffer. may still be read. the default PAGE setting the The data lines contain the characters The short routine attached {listing 1) Now, if the program were to 'LOAD anything it would be to be inserted. These can be is my answer to the problem. It works machine code program, user wants, as long as it ends with by intercepting the OSWRCH vector to overwritten. So the first thing the rou- the end of data marker '&FF'. scan the output stream looking for the tine does is to copy itself higher up in the and < RETURN > character- which occurs the memory and then to proceed nor- Note that the commands 'EQUS' 'EQUB' are available only in Basic 2. at the end of every line or when the mally. This is done by adding lines 10 to to the The equivalent Basic 1 method would WIDTH limit is reached. After the 40 of the following program lines, and add: < RETURN > the routine inserts a downloader: be to delete the data number of spaces up to the specified = -i- 10 FOR A%- PAGE TO TOP STEP 4 180$data "OLD" CHRS13 margin width and then carries on print- 20 A%!&4000=!A% -I- -'RUN" + CHRS13 + CHR$&FF it next < RETURN > , when ing until the 30 NEXT A process. repeats the 40 PAGE - PAGE + &4000: GOTO 50 written, the routine should work As 50 'LOADXXXX Dual catalogue although the return on any OS since, 60 PROCdownload address (vector) depends on the OS version, it is read from WRCHV, which modification The code is common to all versions. f by the number of people who has to be located out of the way of the JUDGING 10 to 30 create a copy of the pro- brought dual catalogue discs to the Basic program: 1 have found no prob- Lines bytes higher in memory Acorn User Clinic atOlympia in August. lems with it in zero page at &0070, gram &4000 up execu- Nigel Pendleton's dual catalogue utility which is provided as user workspace. and line 40 transfers program tion to the new location. published In the October 83 Acorn User memory Line 50 loads the machine code pro- was a hit with disc users. This modifica- Save gram called XXXX and line 60 calls the tion, supplied by M F Park of Hastings. i procedure, which downloads the pro- New Zealand, allows you to specify to affect. Mr Park space on disc gram in the normal way. which drive you wish says. . you are using drive and EVEN with a dual catalogue utility the Suppose want to see what is on the alternative number of files that can be stored on a Programming catalogue of drive 2. This modification disc can be limiting, especially on a lets you type 'ALT 2, then type games disc where many small files are s (listing 3} *.2 there. Typing 'ALT sometimes used purely to CHAIN the Brealc Icey to see what's catalogues on the current drive. another larger file, S Danesh of South- swaps works saving the ampton has found an efficient way MR DANESH also provides a useful The modification by to current drive number (held at address around this problem. I'll let him routine that allows the Break key be programmed permanently as a func- &10CB) on the 6502 stack and calling explain, . whether there's a One of the main disadvantages of the •tion key by writing to the Break inter- OSARGS to see can best numeral following the command *ALT. Acorn DFS is the limitation of allowing cept vector. Again, Mr Danesh If not, the preset drive number in the only a maximum of 31 files per disc. explain. . select the drive on This can mean large amounts of disc One of the most common uses of the code is used to is work. This is called a memory being wasted simply because Break function key is to program it to which ALT to option. the disc catalogue has become full. OLD and then to RUN by treating it as default If there is a numeral from to 3 fol- This problem is magnified when pro- function key 10 (page 143, User Guide): lowing the 'ALT command (note that grams are in several parts. One j M 'KEY10OLD 1 MRUN must be followed by a method of relieving this problem is to the command it space) this is substituted for the default merge parts of a program together. To The drawback with this method is that is pressed setting in the code to select the drive. do this, the reason why several parts is by-passed if the CTRL key After ALT has done its work, the orig- are needed has to be understood. simultaneously with the Break key, is removed from the Machine code programs transferred since this causes a hard reset. inal drive number stack restored to its original from tape are usually in three parts. However, users with the 1.2 MOScan and even location, I find it useful to assign a func- The first simply sets 'PAGE' to a high treat the Break as a function key value and then CHAINs the second after a hard break by typing in the pro- tion key thus: main in listing 2. part. This then 'LOADs the gram 'KEY 7 *ALT ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 MASTERFILE (mii^[^mji aiidLlecProM o»\VV'^ EHEL3SEfT DESIGN ^'tirJ.^'^-'^' ""'i^^fiv. tiiFt3!i£L! '"/C/t) isili SWi.r-I£ vi%^- *" ftEEBUGsoFT Available from your local dealer and selected branches of W.H. SMITH'S. ^ Telephone us tor a mil brochure St. Albans (0727) 60263. BEEBUGSOFT, P.O. Box 50, St. Albans, Herts. TOOLKIT ROM from BEEBUGSOFT BASIC Programmer's Aid for the BBC micro # 27 new commands to make life easier tX 3 O rx o I F'M a too r» lo »» Saves hours in program development and COMMANDS debugging •CHECK Verify a program or data in r™»- n-Joo ttiMFn- i.?!:!!" HIP ~ fc^rlm HIBPH- fc«TO* Supports both memory with disc/cassette. cassette and disc •CLEAR Clear all variables including systems integers. 'EDIT Enter full screen editor. No command name conflict with other Roms •FRE^ Display free memory and pseudo variables. Ideal for expert and novice alike 'HELP INFO Display a screenful of useful system information. 32 page manual supplied Fitting instructions and a 'MEMORY Display memory contents. 'MERGE Merge a program in memory You*ll wonder how you ever managed without it with one on disc/cassette. MOVE Move program to run at SCREEN EDITOR An extremely powerful specified address. editor, allowing the use of cursor keys to 'NEW As NEW, but can be issued from list a program line-by-line in either within a program. Cancel enhanced error direction and move to any part of "OFF handling. a program to overtype or insert As OLD, but can be issued from new code and corrections. •OLD within a program. •ON Auto error handling - enters r.KROR , Powerful editor at line in error. facility to trap an error in a •RACK Efficient program compactor. Basic program as it runs. It will 'RECOVER Intelligently recover bad then automatically enter the programs. Screen Editor, display the line RENUMBER Allow partial renumbering. in error and position the cursor •REPORT Extended error reporting close to the statement at fault. facility. 'SCREEN Screen dump to cassette or disc. 'UTIL Display utilities menu. "The Beebugsoft Toolkit *UTIL 1 String search. "TOOLKIT is an essential costs £27 and in my opinion 'UTIL 2 String search and replace. utility for all Basic is worth every penny. Since it 'UTIL 3 Move Basic program lines. programmers using the BBC I has been installed in my List procedures and functions. Micro an indispensable •UTIL 4 BBC it has been used List values of A% to Z%. aid packed full of powerful "UTIL 5 extensively and 1 can find no variables. utilities." 'UTIL 6 List numeric fault with it. Highly i-.nUCATlONAL l:0MPL:T1NG MARCH 'UTIL 7 List string variables. recommended to lazy List names of arrays. ". 'UTIL 8 . . highly recommended," programmers!" for urilities rCN .MARCH 17 1984 COMl-'LTlNCTOrtAV \\M't 1'-IS4 'UTIL 9 Set up range 1 and 2. PRICE £/27*00 INC. VAT Available from your local dealer and selected branches of W.H. SMITH'S ift |Kgj Access Orders and enquiries: Tel; ST. ALBANS (0727) 60263 Mail order (Post Free) to: BEEBUGSOFT, Mailing Dept. 13 P.O. Box 109, High Wycombe, Bucks. ERIOUS SOFTWAR FOR THE B.B.C. MICRO AND ELECTRON From BEEBUGSOFT MASTERFILE SPELLCHECK MASTERFILEisa SPELLCHECK is general purpose KEBUG flH-lZ34 (WSTERPILE ItocORWl menu driven, and is BiCHECK fromBEEBU data base, written nmlA tola Ftl the ideal companion -»?¥ especially for the I mi* Information Tcofia . Belt ••tuK> may be *- '"Isl (towvernt *B.ECt VOWB tnt»<- number ol )l»tu to to If^tu' OPTIDH _ 6000 words, which retrieved or sorted may be increased to at any time, in a a maximum of abou of number different ways, using any of the fields as keys. 17,000 words on a lOOK disc. Records instantly may be displayed or printed, using any Random access files ensure very fast word retrieval from the printer suitable for the BBC Micro, also a label printing facility dictionary disc. is included. SPELLCHECK Is menu driven, and is very simple to use. Separate versions of the program are available for cassette allowing unknown words to be added to the dictionary, ignored and disc based systems. The disc version uses random access or re-spelt. files to maximise record storage. Incorrectly spelt words may be instantly respelt and a correct One extra feature of the disc version is that it provides version of the document filed away, ready for printing or later use. limited spreadsheet facilities. Dictionary discs for foreign languages may easily be created to help check letters sent abroad. i .SPOLCHECK froB BEEBUGSOFT' oicTioMMtv oatwc » CHECK spell; A - Spelling cfi*ck a Dictionary utllill C - Continue check D ' Select Drive E - End Program L - Load Text • - BWM TtM SELECT YtX« CTICM '... I found the program to be invaluable... fast and reliable... a worthwhile investment." PCN FEBRUARY 1084 AKBtv^fe^.'VtAU&C^lllWX. ;.. ^,i?. MASTERFILE £19 (DISC) £10 (CASSETTE) SPELLCHECK £19 (DISC) AVAILABLE FROM YOUR LOCAL DEALER & SELECTED BRANCHES OF W.H.SMITH A Prices include VAT ^ ACCESS ORDERS & ENQUIRIES: TEL ST ALBANS (0727) 60263 MAIL ORDER (POST FREE) TO: BEEBUGSOFT. Mailing Dept 15 P.O. Box 109 High Wycombe Bucks - I UTILITY will pass through this routine twice the first time the carry bit will be clear, the second time it will be set. The rou- tine at &A00 ignores the carry bit. The effect of this is to call the routine -CON before and after the OS reads the ROM it ROMs. So when a ROM is deselected is not allowed to reserve memory space for its own use. This is best shown by deselecting your DPS (if you are lucky enough to own one) and TRICK pressing Break. PAGE will now be set to &E00 rather than &1900. This is equivalent to taking a screwdriver to David Blakey's © your computer and removing the ROM from its socket. To switch any of the ROMs back on. either re-run the utility program lets andreselecttheROMorissuea*FX247 command and press Break, This re- moves the break-handler routine and you juggle 16 allows the OS to create a new ROM table list, Basic has a special relationship with ROMs without the operating system, which explains why the ROM cannot be 'seen' by using the "HELP command. But it is possible dropping any to switch off Basic by editing the ROM out of the system, using the break- protection system and then pressing 'start*, two Control Break. Basic will now be turned of the most powerful features To enter the routine at selec- to it. con- off and the next language ROM ONEof the BBC micro is the ability to parameters are passed A% ted. If no further language ROMs are have software present in ROM taining the ROM that is to be interro- number con- found the OS responds with the mess- chips and be able to juggle up to 16 of gated and X% the socket The routine first checks age 'Language?'. Pressing Break will them in just one 16k block of memory, taining Basic. in the socket release the situation. Armed with this from location &8000 to &BFFF, This to see if there is a ROM checking for part utility, it is possible to have Basic 1 and enables languages, utilities and other chosen. It does this by resi- (C). If this is not Basic 2 as well as several DFSs software to be available at all times of the copyright symbol, Basic returning dent in the machine at the same time. without the need for a storage medium. present it exits back to is is present it A word of caution. If any software The ROMs are called up via the oper- null data, but if a ROM of the allowed to overwrite the break-handler ating system using commands such as passes back to Basic the title routine at &A00, the machine will prob- •BCPL, 'BASIC and 'WORDWISE. But ROM and its ROM type-number. of type- ably lock up when Break is pressed. as these ROMs can come from different The OS holds a table The cure is to move the routine to a new software houses, the commands to call numbers for each of the 16 ROM &2B0. location (ie change line 1390) or issue a them up can often clash; "MOVE and sockets in locations &2A1 to A the is no pre- •FX247 command before running 'EDIT, for example, are utilities zero indicates that there ROM particular socket. What offending software. common to several ROMs, As the OS sent in that table in The program has been tested in a these commands in turn to each ROM-con does is set up its own offers socket value of any socket can be set micro fitted with a 12-ROM ROM until one of them accepts it, a util- which the in all, turning off that particular expansion board, giving 16 ROMs in a low-priority ROM position may to zero, thus ity current so it should work with any of the never be accessed. ROM, the that you ROM expansion boards. Line 1640 of The advent of ROM boards enabling You can now input ROMs Entering 'E' the program should be altered accord- up to 16 ROMs to be resident in the require to be deselected. number of ROM sockets in machine only makes matters worse. will exit the program and give you the ing to the which up- your system, immediately after typing Thus a program that enables these option of break-protection, table with your in the program save a copy, as any mis- ROMs to be switched off via software dates the OS ROM Break or Con* takes in entry could cause a system offers the user full access to all his or edited version whenever option is crash. Pay particular attention to the her software. My ROM-con utility trol Break is pressed. If this be turned on assembly language routines. For test enables ROMs to be switched off even not used, all ROMs will break- is pressed. purposes do not use the after a Break or a Control Break. again when Break system uses protection system until you have Location &FE30 of the BBC micro is The break-protection set up a JMP proved thai each of the ROMs can be the control register for ROM selection. the 'FX247,76 command to Commands turned off. After running the program, Careless writing to this register from opcode at location &287. 249 pass further data to 'HELP will show if you have been suc- Basic will generally result in a crash, as *FX 248 and *FX &289- The opcode at cessful. the Basic ROM itself may be de- locations &288 and 'JMP break- selected. Basic cannot therefore &287 will now read the Break key is by itself; it nor- handier'. Now when access the paged ROMs 111-112 for &287 for a See yellow pages mally passes commands to the OS to pressed the OS tests location if present it executes listing of David Blakey's perform this task. Thus in the ROM-con JMP command; the through the program a machine code routine inter- the opcode, and passes 'ROM-con' utility &A00. The OS faces Basic with the other ROMs. user provided routine at ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 Draw with the BBC micro and show the true potential of your machine Fill shapes in one of 23 colours {Mode t) Draw points, lines, rectangles ellipses and circles Smooth curves Wire frame diagrams Hidden line removal Draw in perspective Measure scaled distances Ekta sketch lines, Half tone facility Min-or images Repeat images SS, enlarged, reduced, stretched Actual colour displayed Store up to 10 ellipses or circles in memory Redraw any one of these at cursor position Change any actual colour for one of 8 others Clear screen, load screen, save screen Print characters or numbers at any pixel point Error messages for incorrect input Fully comprehensive manual This programme has been purpose designed by professional Graphic Designers for simplicity and ease of use, and is undoubtedly the most versatile drawing programme on the market at this time. There is no need to Input any numerical data, as all judgements are made visually. The BBC Micro is the finest drawing designs machine in its price range. Find out what it can do. The A. Designs B. drawing programme costs only £36 for over 70 functions (model B). New AB2 Program, available on disc (price E61) and cassette (price £51) When ordering send Cheque/PC and VAT at 15% Please include phone no. with all correspondence. For (urlher information send SAE and phone no, lo A. B. Designs, 81 Sutton Common Road, Sutton, Surrey. 01,644 6643 (closed all day Thursday). THE Easy parking at all HOME COMPUTER branches SPECIALISTS TOLWORTH 230 Tolworth Rise South. Tolworth, Surbiton, WITH MORE Surrey KT5 9NB. BRAMCHES THAN SOFTWARE Tel: 01 337 4317 ANY OTHER ACORN DEALER PROGRAM POWER BUG-BYTE SUTTON WE OFFER 30 Station Road. SUPERIOR SOFTWARE Belmont, Sutton. A & F Surrey SM2 6BS. ONE-STOP SHOPPING SIMOW HESSEL Tel: 01-642 2534 MOLIMERX FOR YOUR EALING ALLIGATA 1 1 4 Gunnersbury Avenue, ACORNSOFT Ealing, London W5 4HB, BBC MICRO Tel: 01 -992 5855 PERIPHERALS NEWBURY AND DISCS SINGLE/DUAL 26, Stanley Road, Newbury TORCH Z80 DISCS Berks RG14 7PB. ELECTRON MIDWICH DISCS Tel: (0635130047 PRINTERS JOYSTICKS RICKMANSWORTH SPECIAL ELECTRON PACKAGE Grey Stone Works, INCLUDES MONITORS The Green, Croxle/Green, ELECTRON WITH PLUS 1 B & W/COLOUR Rickmanswonh, FOR LIGHT PENS HertsW03 3AJ. BBC BUGGY Tel: 0923 779250 £229 LUTON large range of books, 1 Manor Road, diskettes, cassettes B Caddington, Luton, printer paper always Beds LU1 4EE in stock Tel: (0582)458575 120 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 . . . . 1 I ATOM FORUM nnan Dashing away with a soldering iron this month as Barry Pickles introduces readers' hardware ^-^-^ mods, starting with model trains Invented a routine or discovered a Points, signals and buffers hardware modification for the Atom? Here's a chance to show your orig- connections can be inality and win some cash. Send your N J TUBB of Crawley is a hobbyist who needed -all other Idea to: Atom Forum, Acorn User, Red- combines two enthusiasms neatly. He taken from the normal buses. Note that, wood Publishing, 68 Long Acre, about computing before as shown in figure 1, pin 15 of the top knew nothing London WC2 9JH. 74138 should not be used, as this he bought an Atom kit in 1981 , but since keyboard. Also, then he has 'expanded it to 120k, address is used by the output ports, all the increased the number of ports, partly as I wanted only and all rewritten the Atom ROM, expanded the 8255's pins 5 are taken to 5V + . Basic etc to 48k. added a battery back- pi ns 36 taken to ground. If you require general usage of the up power unit . He uses the system to run a model ports, connect pins 5 and 36 of the 8255s railway, and he wanted more ports for to NRDS and NWDS respectively you ANOTHER hardware mod this month. It the Atom to control the points and (through buffers, of course). Also, comes from John Alan Ferguson of signals. will need to cut the connection between of IC25 and Chelmsford, who wins £5, and it pro- This is how he went about the task . . pin 4 of IC49 and pin 6 reconnect pin 6 of IC25 to pin 15 of the vides auto-reset on power-up. John writes , , By using a couple of 74138s, half of a top 74138 below. . owners I've always Tubb thought it was about time he Like many Atom 7402, and all the 8255s I could afford Mr in his 'two penn'orth'. We can do been puzzled as to why the machine (15), lean control up to 360, threw tenner, does not have reset on power up. My Connecta wire to pin 12of the 74138. better than that- here's a Mr machine and others I have seen display IC23 is the only internal modification Tubb. only random characters when power is applied and the Break key has to be pressed to obtain the words ACORN ATOM and the prompt. Looking at the circuit diagram I noticed that there is a capacitor No 01 value lOOn between volts and the other side of the Break key. It seems to me that a larger capacitor substituted for this would, due to the delay in charg- ing, pull down the voltage of the CPU reset pin for long enough to reset the machine automatically. After trial and error I found that soldering an electro- litic capacitor valued at 4.7pf in lieu of capacitor 011 gave auto-reset. To find Oil turn the machine upside- down with the keyboard nearest you and take off the bottom of the machine by unscrewing the two fixing screws. Capacitor Oil is to the left of the break key which is now on the left of the - machine. Make sure that the + and terminals coincide with those marked on the printed circuit board. it is puzzling that Acorn doesn't seem to have made this minor alteration (I do not accept any responsibility for the alteration as it has not been approved by Acorn). My machine is using about 3 amps. For those machines requiring more or less current different values may be required. ot for controlling a Figure 1. N J Tubb's wiring modifications to increase the number ports page 123> model railway system ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 HIQ1 RESOUmON THAT COMES HIGHLY RECOMMENDED "There is no doubt that theJVC range of ECM And naturally there's a years full guarantee. is colour monitors excellent value for money . . . If you orderyour monitor by post, you'll recei\e it there is no loss in quality of picture after long within ten days b\- courier senice. periods . . . and remember, as more and more Simply po.si the coupon below to: Opus Supjilies Ltd resolution is available with new micros, the need 158 Camherwell Road, London SE5 OEE. Or telephone for a better display will be that much greater." 01-701 866H t]uoling\*our credit card number. Or. of course, High ivoininiciKlution indeed from iVrsonal yt)ucan buy att)urshc)wri^H)nibet^veen9.(K)-5.3()pm, Computer News. Meanwhile Acorn User said: Monday-Friday, 9.00-1. OOpm. Saairday. (" "It seems that all 'normal' and 'medium' 'Mil riAiiciCiih I muiiiiiif resolution monitors, including the Sanyo, are ' 'in:()pu,sSLipjllK-,sl.I(_L. l^S tiillllhfiw rll Kii;Il!. LoikIoii S[l-S Dili:. simply inadequate to deal with the Beeb s graphics I'Icii.scsciid mc: and text output . . . The excellent, JVC was giving Ili.yh Rcsoliitinn Colour Mi )nit(ir(s) ;ii clear, legible results . . . Was theJVC better than the ,ti2^)»SL'iich tc\-VA"l*). Microvitec?* Would I buy one? Yes to both Medium Kcsi)lutionC;()louiM(miun'(sJ jt quCvStions." X]7i).9sL':ich tcx.VA'I"). Our RGB high resolution colour monitor (580 X Connection lcad(s) ;u.t6.(KiL-;idi- 1 understand carriiigc [icr nn iniior will )st an extra .i;.~,iH). 470 pixels) sells lor .t229.9S ( excluding VAT) - that's a o savingofover.tlOOcompared with other leading monitors (N-Ii,.'\ Hijili Kusolution Monitor including \AT. lead, and carriaj-i.' costs X27*>..'^'-). A Medium Kcsolufion .Monitor including VAT. IcatI of similar specificatit)n.s. and carriage cost.sX221.H9). The unit has a 14" screen and is suitable for the I enclose a chccjuc for .t Or plea.se tiehii [n\ eretlit eard BBC Micro. Electron. Sinclair Ql.. I.ynx, Oric, Apple. IBM and most other leading micros. aecoLint with tlicainouni ofX My Access [iarclayeard (plea.sciiek) no. is. , „ Monij Ki-:i iiii-:N(.i- I.IIIJ ^lli>;li Ki-sukiiiMii I'leasc .state the make ofxour computer. , Kl'Mll 1 "IK J\ ssdx ru riM'K 1" cin 1 Name „^ s|l>^^ iJij.Jnn S(i (i(Hl/ Adi.lrc.ss_ KHT MiiDiiiuni \'>^l.\ MuMmLiiuiiSkv MUl.OIUMiVXIhlM lOMH/ l>iSI1A'i Hllili,lrMa(.T-.llviT lull.- M.OTlTlt.M n ilinin IM'liT \U)KO lU, H Aii;Ll mm: V|i;ir.in.*S\iu oil lU. h I'li.siiiicur \L'>;,i(i\v IO;"nKN,\I.LOMK()l-S Oil lilt MMtdi .inJ l"ii"iv;hlnL's>iiinin j| , I ATOM FORUM ^' Adding Control addressable RAM trom IC23 NC- 15 -PJn 13 lor A block another CIO winner from Mr Pin 9 for E block HERE'S etc NC Tubb. He writes , . 13 Fancy a bit of RAM in your A block ROM ROM CS sometimes? This little modification (and keep (figure 2) will show you how 14 your ROM). RAM Insert your 6K8 .s> + 5V own message XOOO RAM X400 ONE of the annoying things about the Cs- A10 21145 Atom's cassette operating system, X800 says G R Pearson of Darlington, is the A11 need for repeatedly pressing the XCOO Return key when loading a program that is divided into sections {eg a Basic program, data and some machine code). The most obvious way to overcome this problem is to alter the 'print mess- Figure 2. Also from N J Tubb. a modification to add addressable RAM from AOOO age' routine vector in RAM (.'-^IS and ;;219) but for some reason my Atom Lines 50 and 60 are part of the orig- doesn't use an indirect jump to the rou- inal COS routine- tine via the vector, but jumps straight to Line 70 calls routine to print string. 5 REM dance set the routine. Lines 90 and 100 up message- 10 Q^O ; DO Line 120 signals end of message. I therefore wrote the following 20 F. 1=^1 TO 4; 140 and 150 output carriage machine code routine (listing 1) which Lines A=^?+tB002?:;#20 also allows you to insert your own return and line-feed. ZO IF H>0;Q-Q+(A-tnF ) message instead of the norma! PLAY Lines 160 and 170 are part of the orig- N. 1 TAPE message. The program can be inal COS routine. 40 assembled into any free location by Line ISOjumps into COS routine. 50 IF Q=3 GOS.a altering line 10. Line 210 sets up vectors. 60 IF Q=2 GOS.b computer to wait for you A brief explanation of the program is If you want the 70 IF Q==l GOS.c to press a key insert the following line: as fo! lows: BO WAIT; WAIT Line 10 selects the place of assem- 130JSR^FFE3 90 Q=0;U. bly. To adapt the routine to work with the ' 1 00 E. SAVE command, make the following 1 10.*S=:#8108;T==B-t-32; 10 D=#ao alterations: U=T+32;CLEAR0 20 FOR J=0 TO 1 180JMP^VFAF0 120 i S^=#68566420 30 P=D 210 ?.,r20E = D;?,./20F = D/256 130 !T-#785F4120 40 I 140 ! U^=#205A5820 50 PHP It would be wise to insert line 130 when you won't 150 60 BE I using it for Saving, otherwise RETURN 70 JSR#F7D1 have time to start the cassette recorder 160bS^-^:#8109; T==:E-i--32; 80 1 and may lose some of your program. U=-T-i-32;CL.EAR0 90 *P=" (C) G. R. PEARSON" 170 !S^#5B695420 100 P=P+LENP 180 !T^#426F7420 no C Dancing 190 !U^-=tt64652020 120 NOP 200 RETURN 140 LDA @ 10;JSR#FE52 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 D©®@®®e[F)fRl(M)m(clfRl(0]fPlf^ E R FROM THE AUTHOR OF THE TOP SELLING FELIX IN THE FACTORY @ I B.B.C.MICRi A two player game of dexterity set In Hazard County. Beat your opponent to the jewels^ and gold with the help of your band of cronies. Includes police cars and one player practise option. mw (BBC version: joystick & keyboard control). Cassette: £6.95. Disk: £9.95. \ /m / ^ ^^Ml, u fi«!?i a» LI 'E^ ., Ct €0 .ii*^' :v>4^_ J MICRO POWER LTD., NORTHWOOD HOUSE. NORTH STREET. LEEDS LS7 2AA TEL (0532) 458800 MICRO fUWER SOFTWAWE IS AVaiLABLt tROM SELECTED BRANCHtSUF WH &MIIH BOOTS JUHM MENilft, CO-OP WODLWORfHS AMD ALL GOOD DEALIRa AUTHORS' WE PAY 20% ROYALTIES! IS 3 I ATOM MISSING LINK A finishing touch for A to B conversion, by Bruce Smith issued enter program text in three-part series by Barry assembler. The mnemonic text is a number is usual manner. As each line is termi- THEPickles on how to convert a Beeb little under 1k in length and once the nated with a Return the next line program to AtomBasic (May, June assembled into a convenient area of number is displayed. and July Issues) showed that with a memory, such as the floating point vari- ;/2800, occupies just 193 To exit from Auto press Return (dis- little thought and application many of able space at for playing the next line number) and then the more sophisticated commands bytes plus four bytes in zero page (displayed as an inverted on available with BBC Basic may be address vectors. Enter and run the pro- Shift @ @ VDU), followed by another Return. implemented on the Atom. The one gram, then the object code can be the Editing and line insertions can now be command missing from Barry's list, saved with: performed as required. It is vital, how- however, was AUTO, which provides "AUTO" 2800 2802 2800 *SAVE ever, that the value of TOP is reset by automatic line numbering, thus taking //2800 typing END in direct mode before the tedium out of program entry. This Using Auto is simple. Type LINK numbers will then running or listing the program. kind of utility is an invaluable aid, (LLO in source). Line of 5 (ie, 5. To re-enter Autoat the point you left it allowing you to get on with the job in be displayed in increments other multiples to continue use LINK H289E (LL14 in hand -typing the program in! 10, 15 etc). If you prefer The next line-number in the The program presented here will change the constants in lines 90 and source)- desired values. As each line series will then be displayed. provide such a utility. It is written in 300 to the TEST FOR MAX 10 REM ****************************** 340 CMP@tt7F XXI LINE NUMBER 20 F.EM »»»****«» £tcm£.tic ***«****» 341 BNE JMP XX12 30 F:EM »#4»*«»»»««***»*«*««««*«****** 350 10 PRIN'T 321 360 :XX7 STORE I/P BUFFER SO DIM XX15 361 STA(tt82) ,Y 370 INY;TYA TEST Y REGISTER IF fcO FOR N=0 ID 15 : XXN=-i ; NEXT 380 BEG XX9;RTS PAGE NEEDS INC . 70 FDR N=l TD 2 : P=« 2800 BO !1:XX0 390 :XX9 90 LDX @5 LINE NO. INCREMENT 391 INC«S3:RTS INC PAGE NO. NO. 100 ETX tteO:ETX «16 ETORE FIRST LINE 400 :XX10 I 110 JSR XX15 INITALISE REBI BTERS 401 CMF@13:BNE XX3 IF 1/P ERASE 120 £TX«25:ETX*tEl a!>;d meiigrv 110 DEY;DEY: DEY CURRENT LINE NO. 125 STXtte2 420 JMP XX3 130 LDAttlI:STAtt83 GET TEXT SPACE 430 :XX1 END OF PROGRAM 110 LDA&13:JSR XX7 ETORE CR 431 DEY: DEY INFUT. ERASE 150 :XX1 440 LDA@255 TOP CODE 155 LDA ttBl STORE HI BYTE 441 JER XX7 SET TOP 158 JBR Y.Y.7 LINE NO. 442 RTS IbO LDA #80 ETORE LD BYTE 450 :X>:i2 161 JER XX7 LINE NO. 451 LDA#80 GET LO BYTE LINE ND. 170 STY«e4 SAVE Y REGISTER 452 C'nPe255 TEST FDR LIMIT 180 JER #C5E9 PRINT LINE NOT 460 BED XX13:JMP XXI 190 LDfi^32 SPACE PROMPT. READ 4 70 :XX13 191 JSRttCOOF KEYBOARD TC BUFFER 471 JSR XX 11 END OF I/P 200 LDY #B4 RESTORE Y REGISTER 172 JER *tF7Dl LIMIT. INMFORM USER 2-10 LDxeo INITALIEE X REGISTER 480' : " 220 ;XX2 490 tP="DUT OF NUMBERS | 221 LDA ttlOO.X READ CHR FROM BUFFER 500 P=P+LENP 230 CFX@0:BEC XXIO IF lET CHR. BRANCH 510 C NOP:JBR #FD1A BLEEP 240 :XX3 520 :XX14 241 CMPe96 IF ' li!' (i nver ted' fe 521 LDA*B0:STAttl6 PRINT NEXT LINE 242 BED XX 11 THEN BRANCH 530 LDAtt81:STAfl25 NUMBER 250 crip's 13 IF CR BUFFER END 540 JSR XX 15 SET REGISTERS 251 BEG XX5 550 LDA 13 GET LO BYTE ty. SET TOP-1 2fc0 : XX4 551 ETAtte2!DECtte2 261 JER XX7 STORE CR 560 LDA 14 GET HI BYTE t-- 270 INX:JnP XX2 SET NEXT CHR 561 STA ttB3 SET TOP 280 :XX5 570 JMP XXI 2ei JBR XX7 STORE CR 5B0 :XX15 290 LDX «aO LO BYTE LINE NO. 5B1 LDX@0:LDY@0 INITALISE REG. 300 CLC:ADC@5 INCREMENT BY 5 590 ETX«34;BTX#43 INITALIEE MEM. 310 ETA «li:ETAtt90 STORE BACK 600 ETXtt321 INITALIEE @M 320 BCD XX6 IF CARRY SET 610 RTE: 321 INCftEl INCREMENT HI BYTE 620 NEXT N 330 :XX£ 630 PRINT ?6 331 LDA*t81:BTA#25 HI BYTE LINE NO. 640 END ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 Ifyou're studying. .. Study our Software We've been producing educational software for the BBC micro ever since it was launched, and our programs are in use In schools and colleges all over the country. Now, some of these programs have been specially adapted for you to use at home. With our Understanding Science programs with many more to follow. Physics or Chemistry that you didn't under- Chemistry - Chemical Equations nVS 1 1 IV •] tifl 1 91 II ISl I ISi I I^B'ial I ]K iM I V! I TiTiSI I doing simulated experiments on the com- and Identification of Cases on understanding the subject and the programs come with a detailed explanatory Each package costs £12.95 (cassette) booklet. The first programs are ready now - or £13.50 (disc). '^dersmnding' " PHYSICS^ Hufte, ISTRt^ LEA IVA' LEAR T'^^LJ^TeARMING IVIOlji F/'*'i ft . ;S FRACTIONS JM1 Angles BBC JM2 Directed Numbers .lecttO" I JM3 Fractions For younger pupils age 9^, our Learning JM4 Co-ordinates and Lines IWaths programs use simple games and JM5 Symmetry animations to illustrate important principles JM6 Motion Geometry of elementary Maths, There are nine titles - JM7 Sets each containing three or more programs JM8 Elementary statistics covering a particular concept. The programs JM9 Ratio are great fun to use - as well as providing Each cassette costs £7.00. Disc collections real educational value. also available (Jivii-6, £30.00; JM7-9 £18.00) Nine cassettes are available* Electron versions of programs JMi-9 and Dragon versions of JMve also availaDie Available by direct mail order, or from selected software dealers. Prices include VAT and P8.P (in UK). Please send for our full catalogue of over Fifty Educational Programs 126 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 , I EDUCATION NEWS THIS new feature section, edited by Nick Evans, is a forum for all those invoived in education: teachers, lecturers, researchers, software and hardware suppliers - and, of course, students and pupils. It offers you the chance to tell us about classroom projects, what software you'd like others to know about, what hardware you feel you need and what problems you're having with, say, networking. Geo Quiz, Acorn User. Redwood Pub- lishing, 68 Long Acre, London WC2E 9JH, giving your name, age. class, school and school address. Entries should arrive on or before November 23, 1984. Winners will be announced in WINsu^ef^r' the January issue of Acorn User. 1 In what year did Sir Edmund Hillary YOUR CLASS and Sherpa Tensing conquer Everest? 2 What is the highest mountain in the Escape downriver! Climb Everest! Fly to United Kingdom? How high is it in Buenos Aires! Survive in the Sahel! metres? 3 Who first flew the Atlantic? These are the challenges of a testing 4 How far in kilometres is it from suite of programs produced to London to Johannesburg? accompany the Radio 4 programmes 5 Is a nomadic tribe: warlike, jungle- Introducing Geography - see news dwelling or wandering? story below. 6 Do hyenas hunt alone, in packs or in We're giving away 10 sets to the family groups? schools of the 10 winning pupils in our 7 What word describes a river that Geo Quiz competition, flows into a larger one? All you have to do is answer correctly 8 Is a monsoon; a swamp, a rainy the 10 questions listed here. The win- season or a type of boat? ning entries will be the first 10 correct 9 Name two deserts in Africa. solutions to be picked out of a hat. 10 What is the continent surrounding Detail of a screen shot shows the high Answers on a postcard, please, to the South Pole called? quality of the Summit simulation's graphics Radio 4's survival challenge the ACTION-packed geography navigator). The challenge is to their herds north and south in graphics contribute to grazing. realism of this simulation. lessons? That's what is pro- fly safely across mountains search of good The suite of programs aims mised by a suite of simulation and oceans to a far-off city, player takes the role of a The children with packages put together by BBC recognising the changing Faluni in charge of 20 head of to familiarise 20-year map-reading techniques and Radio. Produced in conjunc- features of the terrain below zebu cattle over a to geographical and meteoro- tion with the Radio 4 school (shown in colour graphics on period and is encouraged logical terms, and encourage series Introducing Geography. the screen). Before take-off. make graphs and charts to them to make informed deci- the 'Exploring the Environ- pilot and navigator have to do report progress. treacherous sions. The programs are ment' programs consist of four some thorough atlas research Surviving the mostly self-contained and dynamic simulations that will so more than aeronautical weather conditions on fwlount challenge of little introduction from challenge the wit, skill and re- skills are involved. Everest is the need teacher - liberal use of sourcefulness of any 10 to 12- With Nomad the problems Summit. The climb has to be the help enables the pupils year-old. are not technological but those planned in stages so that pages simulations on their Each simulation puts the of survival in the African camps get vital supplies and to use the own while the teacher works 'player' into a perilous pre- Savanna. The children 'live' the ascent has to be made with the rest of the class. dicament and the process of the life of the Faluni, a nomadic before storms make climbing series of Friday morning winning through turns learn- tribe who seasonally move impossible. Some high-quality A broadcasts next summer ing into an exciting adventure. (June 7-28, 1985) will set the The four programs - called Teachers of modern scene for these simulations, River. Flight. Nomad and languages, maths and tech< provide background infor- Summit - come on a set of nical subjects may be mation and vocabulary in the three discs, costing E20 (inc. in a wordprocess- * « » interested Am i duo .. n AE I auB%7 form of documentary and dra- VAT). ing package that enables a matised stories. But teachers In River the pupil crash- variety of character sets to and parents will be able to set lands his plane in a remote be used. BBtype gives, for children to work on the pro- mountain region and has to example, French and Ger- ji#i6uAEiau grams before then, for the face realistic problems of sur- man teachers a full set of Geosoftware: Exploring the vival, seeking out a river and, accented characters, and Environment' set becomes in an attempt to find civilis- Scandinavian, Spanish and -=-*==s^u~'Av.-.^ii/n i\ available later this month. ation, following its course to a fair sprinkling of Greek It can be ordered from BBC the sea -all within a time limit. characters are present. The Publications, School Orders This program has three levels full set of new characters is Section, 144 Bermondsey ofdifficulty. illustrated here, and BBtype Street, London SE1 3TH, quot- Flight a\so casts the player BAcrlc ^^.&i^p^x** 1 4-uX ±> ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 C MACRO SAVINGS FOR MICRO USERS UNrvensAL communications company Britain s fastest growing computer peripherals house. CANON LOW COST DRIVES I OOK single siklPd Lew Power Direci Drive t>mm Access Times Hiqh Quality Product' Single Drive System £98.95 ' Dual Drive System £197.95 * Integral Power Supply £30.00 Prices Include Drive Unit, Case, Cables, Carriage. Manual/Utilities Disc and V.A.T. Plus 1 2 Months Warranty Parts & Labour. PLUS A FULL RANGE OFS[NGLE& DUAL DISK DRIVE Supporli iinglp SYSTEMS tinuPie ileniJiy Supports 40 ijr 80 ir;icki Acorn compaiible mm teisic. FormBCPL Vn"A Wordwrsp. 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T WE WELCOME EDUCATIONAL AND LOCAL AUTHORITY ENQUIRIES. IEDUCATION NEWS Schools and the Act facilities are rarely THE implications of the new affect education are: editing available on packages. The Data Protection Act may not be • Data must not be kept any certainly not of an immediately evident to people data itself is longer than necessary. nature as important education. The act requires innocent in • People whose data is on who processes decisions about a child's that anyone record have the right to know future are based on it. data relating to people, unless they are on file, and to see the Inaccuracies can be cumu- specifically exempt, must If it is incorrect they have file. lative catastrophic and it is register with the Data Protec- and right to change it. the for this reason that the Bill tion Registrar, •The information must be must be aims to make the information School databases to date. accurate and kept up about individuals available to Report in covered by the act and local pur- • Data intended for one them. Schools and colleges the May issue authorities are already plan- tor pose cannot be used react by tighten- vidual schools will have to ning how they will cope- will have to another. ing up their procedures for register since they are a part Records being produced now secure to • All files must be storage and retrieval as well of the corporate local edu- are going to become the sub- prevent tampering. as deciding whether the infor- cation authority which will ject of the law's requirements by mation is relevant or even register as a whole. Guide- in 18 months' time when regis- Few databases used necessary. lines will soon be filtering tration must be completed- schools are secure, as pass- unlikely that indi- down the system. The broad features that words or codes to open up It seems Ebury on the in front line Teachers distaff side - most suppliers are not YOU may have read in ber can produce only THERE is not a lot that people September's issue that one teachers and think is needed. The can do on a computer that is pearl from the thoughts of what they exceptions are groups such as practical. The software does Acorn boss Chris Curry in his Longman and Heinemann who not exist ... In reality the evidence to a House of Lords long been in the edu- machine is only for playing select committee was that have market and have games. ' Thus says Ebury Soft- Computer classes are a den of cation schools and educationalists ware - a division of the thieves'. Magazine Company, Computer magazines are on their research teams. The National difference in quality of soft- which publishes Good House- full of stories on piracy and usually shows through - keeping and Cosmopolitan. protection and we in education ware although not always! The company is obviously are at the forefront in the Curry: 'Classes are a den of Unfortunately, even the aiming to bridge the gap debate since we have the most thieves' reasonable arguments between computers and the contact with software and the most not stop the unscrupulous female population. As a start, greatest viewing audience. birth pangs of the less worthy will in our midst and publishers a set of programs to be issued The excuse that software is material. taking steps (other in the spring will contain poor and therefore should be And teachers and pupils are now often than interminable software material that will enable them pirated holds water only if we have a role to play. How protection, thank goodness) to to learn with computers for don't expect further programs have you informed a producer in their jobs and program; ' see that wrongdoers are applications to be produced, good or bad. If whatyouthoughtof a brought to court. That how- for the education of their we expect good software to how often have you been con- is another story. children. come then we must suffer the structively critical? Remem- ever, Whether the software is going to fill the gap and con- vince women that the com- puter is a necessary adjunct to Danger: VDUs view their own and their children's Chance to education remains to be seen. A REUTER report recently in example, suggests that How many women are going to many newspapers said that REGIONAL viewing centres cil, for '. deposit- be converted by programs for . consider pregnant women using com- give teachers access to soft- .you will knitting, cookery copies of software. , gardening, puter terminals in Denmark ware before they buy - an ing if and home layout? miscarriages, A advantage when you consider whereas Humberside asks had suffered of '. will willing to This seems to be the sort . . be figure of eight out of 10 was that until recently most took you or offer a dis- role-stereotype reinforcement an investigation is pot-luck or relied on the either provide quoted and fighting off the price of single schools have been underway at the Aahus Clinic wisdom of a reviewer. count .'. against in their curricula for items of software. . MEP for Occupational Medicine, Consequently these centres, '. past decade. And if, as software East Midlands offers . . the the In schools, children are are now approaching and marketing Ebury's comments suggest, being exposed daily to radi- producers with requests for free publicity information pro- the computer is only a play- ation from monitors with little material and give the schools which MEP vision in-service training thing, why are so many people or nothing known about the a good selection, and the and implies.' buying machines for edu- long term effects. Watching a manufacturers a shop- Software houses are being cation, wordprocessing and distant television is not quite window. Different authorities, even the labour-saving of as moni- however, are approaching the inundated with such requests the samo especially packages? it is to be hoped that sup- home-accounts tors often are mounted directly task from different angles. and Think again Ebury. above keyboards Strathclyde Regional Coun- pliers are able to respond. ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 , ^ For little Acorns SHARDS Mighty SHARDS Grow H y..N «an. w.ll «ri,i..,. ....I ,,rr,eme.l M.finarr for y.mr An.rn romputer ihen .ak. a l.mk al Shards. Shar,U <-a,. offer vou enlerlainiiictil and rdiLalional si.flwarc ihal reallv is a cut al».v.- tht- rcsl. Please send tne a copy of:- (please tick) Tukf a look at Shardp., Pettigrews Diary Fun to Learn Q Advpnturc and Strate^A Gaines Empire Pett Monster Maths ifirews Dia ry - A massive WK p-aphj./lexl adventun- with Q a .lifferenre. Can you Mdve it? (BBC & Electron) <.on,plfle onpnal ami higidy Mystery of Java Star Laser Letters in.ripnnc ,., Ill ^il| pve y.„.r pr.-y mailer a ttiorouRh «orkour Q hmp.r^ I", Yo„r Con.nut.r £7 95 - A superb graphic slralej-y «ame asain.l the eomputer. 8 leveb Science 1 Frac Attack ofdifrirullv. Played on a world map. Win a. Q level 7 or 8 and y„„ deserve a pa, on the baekl ,gf,,. j, ^^,^ I lt...r.mghl_y enjoyed ihis ^ame ... praphirs areexeellenl ( IWI". ralinpl". Hon.r <:,.n,/,un„f! HeeJt/, £6 95 Please indicate which version required:- IWystery ' ol the Java Slar - A ^aphie adventure for all (he family, lltdines lOOK of memory, Gripping slufT Kx-eplional value f..r money ... «ell .lone .Shar.l. KNI",. BBC B Acorn Electron ( ralitigl. //„me Computing B'eei/. (BBC ^ klfvlrvn, £7.95 n Fdui-aliuiial To (Name) , Kun m l.an., .I,e .l.nniliv,. eduralional - ..rie. .rillen by U-aeh.r* and ,m-d in srh..ols nationwide. All programs are n.e,,,. l.a.e.l and makpsu|ierbiisfofpraf.h.es. IIN)"., iis^r friendly and errorlrapped. (Address) "This is how edufHlional software should tw'writlrn,.." i, ,- ir- , l-un lo Kearn- AcomprehenMveprogramror6-12yearoIds. (BBCt •This is how ednralional sotlware ^honid be writlen". //orae Computing WeeiA Monster Maths £5 95 - Helps develop basir maths and lofneal skill* for 6-14 year olds /flBO Please A sound profiran, thai «iH maintain ehihlren'. debit my Access/Visa account, aUenlion. for 16.9.-, it's .heap loo". E.lur^tion^l l.aser <:..n,,,„li„f- £6 95 loiters ^ tduealional word games for 6 year olds to Ieena,£er8. Three separate 500 word vorabularie*. (BBC) A/C No r ou pet a lot lor your mimi-y . , , ; KJuialional Cumpuling eg og I enclose a cheque/P.O. Frac Attack - Fun wilh frarlions for8-l4 remittance for £ year olds. fBBCi "A real winner ... lots of eolonrful srreen aelion".' I'upuhr Computing Vlfekis £6 95 (Signed) Sr.en.re I Scienee - eduea.ion for 1 year olds. Covers M6 (he use of lenses, meters, thermometers and balances .Super p-aphies. All cheques/P.O. to be made to mar Jt fi . payable h.r fundamentals of balan.es, Shards meter, or lense... thi.s program is a mnHt". Software PopuUr Computing Weekly £6 9.^ !«.|e.ted titles ayailahle at larger branehes of Boots and W. H. Smith and aU good sloekists <,r bv sending a *heque/P.O. di«c. to us * All orders despatched within 24 hours receipt air- huite (,. Royeraft House. Linton Road. of Barking. Essex. Tel:- 01-591 7666 14 lines| 130 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1964 Jtm^ I EDUCATION EDWORD Ron Gandolfo explains how he HITS used a classroom newspaper project THE to introduce pupils HEADLINES to wordprocessing Naturally after a school journey of the TEACHERS are always looking for the children and they were taught the type described it stimulated the good ideas to help encourage skills of bookbinding. children's work was children's interest and they wished to children to write effectively. My 3. A display of the of school hall. communicate it, A newspaper could, opportunity came with an educational mounted to decorate the without the use of This included models, pictures, letters, course, be produced journey, on which I decided to base a a wordprocessor, but it had a number of classroom project. The project pre- poetry, writing of different styles and general artwork showing the use of dif- advantages. professional ferent mediums. It gave our newspaper a its completed state, Edword 4. An evening was set aside for the look in which helped parents to see the children's work and offers wide and bold print subtitles to stand out. The to hear a verbal account of some of the titles and indent their work events of the week, children were able to pictures around the text they 5. The wordprocessor was used to pro- and draw printed. duce a 'newspaper'. The purpose of had created, after it had been natural progession from this was to entertain and inform There was a readers about the children's opinions using a typewriter to operating a word- as well as their thoughts and feelings processor. of the about the school journey. To produce a newspaper length and quality that we did would no doubt have needed the school sec- PRICES retary to have given up a lot of time to help us get a final draft typed and sten- cils cut. Using Edword meant that the sented just the right occasion to intro- 'Edword' is contained in a 16k ROM children themselves were able to duce my pupils to wordprocessing, which can be used on both models A create, edit and print, thereby gaining using the Erfword system. and B of the BBC micro. It is mar- the basic The use of the computer was only a keted in severat packs, consisting of the small part of our project, however, User Pack (£38.95) which took the form of an integrated ROM, user manual, self-instruction Insert; for studies programme based on a journey slip booklet and keyboard applications the to Weston-super-Mare. This included primary school User Pack plus visits to Cheddar Gorge and Caves, teacher will need the £10 Weston Museum, Bristol Zoo, SS Great the Primary Guide, which costs Starter Britain. Slimbridge Wildfowl Trust. (cassette) or £12 (disc). The Wookey Hole and Wells Cathedral. Pack (£56.95 for cassette version, suitable for On returning to school after our six- £59.95 for disc) is schools. Teacher Pack day trip the children set to work on an secondary A extensive programme of follow-up with cassette (£21.95) or disc teaching guide, work, detailed as follows: (£24.95) includes a OHP and wall charts, information sheets on wordprocessing and 1, The children carried out research setting up the work on the visits that were made and instructions on experience different pro- couldincludeany related topics of their printer. cesses. choice. Thus the children did some To say that Edword is a useful addi- ground work together as an introduc- Further details: Clwyd Technics, Industrial Estate, tion to the primary classroom would be tion but thereafter could follow their Unit 4, Antelope an understatement, A wordprocessing own interests. This involved many Clwyd CH7 5JH. Tel: (035 283) 751. system on a ROM chip for the BBC the school library, finding their visits to Edword was designed by way around reference books and other 'Edword' was reviewed in the May micro, page 135 (but teachers for use by children, and at sources to find out information. Issue of Acorn User, prices as above). Courtwood Primary School, Croydon 2. The research work was put into a note updated (where we use cassette tapes), it has project book. This book was made by ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 FREE INTERFACE WITH EVERY 'brother' TYPEWRITER MODELS CE51,60,70iM80JOO,200 PURCHASED AVAILABLE TO BBC,B USERS ONLY THIS UNIQUE INTERFACE, INCORPORATING ITS OWN VIEW DRIVER, WILL ENABLE YOU TO USE THE BROTHER TYPEWRITERS AS LETTER QUALITY PRINTERS. ITS EASY TO INSTALL AND COMES COMPLETE WITH FULL DOCUMENTATION. COMPARE THIS PRICE FOR A LETTER QUALITY PRINTER CE51 £299 VAT, OR PURCHASE THE INTERFACE ONLY FOR £75 INCL. VAT BARCLAY - ACCESS AND CREDIT FACILITIES AVAILABLE SEND SAE FOR FURTHER DETAILS ABACUS BUSINESS MACHINES LTD, 961 CHRISTCHURCH ROAD, BOURNEMOUTH. DORSET. BH7 6AZ. TEL (0202) 423204 TRADE ENQUIRIES WELCOME Stake your survival on Spaceman SicL BASIC Another great challenge irom English Software COMPILER Survival on Eai ih tlcpcnds on 'Spaceman Sid'. Turns your basic programs into AtkI lluil means YOU! really fast machine code. The compiler Gel beiiind ihe controls ol your Uusci'-arnicd combat is very easy to use, and comes rover- and stall ihc battle. complete with full The Martians have instructions. taken over our di M i li ium For the BBC model B, or Model A mines on the planet Tribos and re-capluring with 32k. ihosc essential mines is youi- tough challenge. Bui watch those Martians Cassette your local today. £17.95 - they're loaded with dirty dealer Tomorrow itself could Iricks. And vvalcli uul lor the Disk beat stake! £19.95 other hazards of space liavel {40 OR 80 TRACK) . . . you won't have to wait long, we can guarantee! There are 3 progressive Cheque/P.O. or SAE for details to levels ofdillicultv ol plav. Thai applies lo both Acorn Election and BBC Model B ACK Data users. THE POWER OF lilXtlTEMENT 'Spaceman Sid' is 21 Salcombe Drive, Redhill, I hi.' I'.nylish .S 132 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 . . I EDUCATION A_PAY_IN„IHE„L1FE_DF_CHEDDARJ1WJ.... CLASSIFIED A STDRY FDR OUR YOUNGER READERS. ADVERTISEMENTS One day I decided to ga out hunting because we were runni ng out of food. I lived with Lango my great companion. We WODKEY HOLE lived in the outer edge of the cave. I pulled Man needed to make more picked up my spear and set off. I Then I stalagmites and stalactites to my furs around me for it was cold. spotted a Reindeer, I crept behind a tree replace or i gi nai s < I + possible spear. I threw it, and mache'). and mounted my not paper BULLSEYE.I got her, and she fell to the Cantact!612-4567 floor with a thud. I sprang up and Ask iar M.White or N.Jones. dragged her off to the c^ve. Lango was Court wood Newspapers, there waiting for me, he was infact fast 19 Fleet Street, London W12 BQT asleep because he had been out in the forest all night. I rubbed two sticks together to light the fire and skinned Kd the animal | Whi le the rei ndeer was cool, i ng I went down to the river to wash the fur. it was HESTON-SUPER-MARE a difficult and vttry messy .iob but after I filled the l-1an wanted to clear mud from a while 1 got it finished. to Weston beaches. bowl I had with water and walked back the cave. I was just time, because the food All cranes prohibited shovels was cooked. I sprinkled herbs and spices and spades ONLY. on it and then woke up Lango. He yawned Please ri nq: 657-0907 or and sat up. He licked his lips and tore 66-42676. Ask -for M.White or off a piece of meat and ate it up N. Jones. hunqri ly. Lango never said much but you can tei 1 he understands. When he does speak its full of common sense, After our meal we ran down to the ri^-er and bathed. Then we went back to the cave, and Lango went for his nightly walk. 1 set f ire to the tip of a stlc^ and hung it on the wall so that it lit up the skin, a cave. Then I started to make some clothes with the reindeer JONES & WHITE BOOKSELLERS LTD. a few thin piece of wood and some thread. Then after that 1 pointed Buy our new ewe i t i ng books. animals on the wall of the iz^ve with special chalts, which I really reindeer. Hero are a -few examples: enjoyed. It was a picture story about my hunt for the First. asleep. Haunted House by Hugo Then I snuggl ed down under some furs and fell Happy ChriEtmas by Miss. L. Toe. The Best Thing in the World by Story and photograph by Sue Perb. REBECCA FITZGERALD^ Get Rid of the Stains by for their newspaper. B. Leach. Lett and above: two examples from Ihe children's work produced indenting A Day at the Zoo by C.Lion. Edword enabled them to produce "clean', corrected text in multiple copies, with to allow headings to lo allow them to 'drop in' their own pictures and bold and wide print stand out. do?' or even proved an extremely powerful tool. It is 'What does this justify key Strong Man WANTED easy to introduce into the classroom 'Is there a quicker way of doing this?' Cheddar Gorge. with Edword To widen and is an enhancement to most areas of They quickly discover that Natural muscles ONLY. curriculum. you can be almost certain there is a NO fakes. the and they want lo know manuals, I quick method Get in touch with Cheddar Faced with two thick wardens. thought learning Edword would more about the word processing BE PREPARED. demand much detailed reading and system itself. In this way they are intro- at a time. practice. Far from it: although I gave duced to a few commands myself a weekend to work through the Every child was involved in writing manuals, the children were able to start articles for the newspaper. The using Edword knowing very few com- children worked in twos or threes dis- sc: I EMI 1 £3-r mands. Once taught how to get into cussing their thoughts and ideas, then their Edwdrd, where the cursor keys are and they took it in turns to type ideas To carry out experiments on the position of the delete button, pupils on to the wordprocessor. Through dis- Cheddar stone to see if it can worthwhile, cussion and some help from me they be made into cheese. can create something able to edit their own work. One CONTACT: Cheddar (No. in especially if they are familiar with the were directory) typewriter. child was made general editor, Having mastered the basic skills, although all were taught basic Edword one can progress to learn the detail as editing skills. 11- Different styles of writing were in- needed. I have used Edword ^\\h informal, fiction year-olds, but I'm sure it could be intro- cluded-formal and and fact, light-hearted and serious. The ^1_ I M^R I DC3E: duced to quite young children with just wordprocessor enabled us to consider Man wanted to dress up £is a a little keyboard experience. rare species of drake to By the time children have written what was presented in a real news- entice a female species of some experimental documents they paper and create our own version In duck out of isolation. this are ready to take on the skills of editing our own style. We included sensational Dwarfs only to apply. and restructuring text, especially when headlines, general news, sports items, they show eagerness to improve their leisure activities, a fun page, adventure document. The children soon start stories, a reviews and opinion page, a Adverts compiled bv ornithologist's asking questions such as 'How do I history section, adverts, NICHOLAS JONES & MICHAEL WHITE. swap a word for a different one?' or section, exclusive interviews and a ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 I V'-'-V I Game for a song ... Q-'-© PAWS GAMES al £2.80 Each disk holds 1000+ hours of s/w engineering developed form our artwork systems. These programs fully exploit a disk- The LAUGHING SHARK told us that it won't be long till I based BBC to stimulate long-term interest through exploration CHRISTMAS and it was time we did something about it so, and experiment. until the end of NOVEMBER, we will be selling most of our BEST GAMES at the SPtOALLY REDUCED Prices inclusive. I price of State 40tr or 80tr. £3 off total for 2 programs; £2.99 instead of the usual - prices of £5.95 and £7.95 £6 off for 3. Add £5 if backup required. Special terms for that's a SAVING of between nearly £3.00 and £5.00 per Schools/Colleges needing 3+ copies. game! I * JIGSAW PICTURE & WORD PUZZLES (2 programs): £14.50 These titles ONLY £2.99 each - NOBWAL JSPP takes any modB-2 picture. 3 pictures supplied lUCTROM PBICt SAVING Noc A Bloc £7.95 i4.»« I Chieftain £7,95 <4.>C JSWP has fun-to-use word-puzzle creator/editor Bugs £7,95 i4.M Plankwalk £7.95 C4.M Jungle Jive £7,95 f4.M Random jumbles on 12 levels: toddler to top puzzler Microbe £7.95 t*.9* >JO0WAL Trench £7,95 C4.96 Four sliding & teleporting cursor options I KB fRice SAVING Bug Bomb £7,95 <4.*« Helps: Tidy/Re-jumble keys. Save/Reload Sralnstorm £7.95 i4.M Undtall £7.95 ««.*• Sea Adventure £7,95 «4.M Space Adventure £7,95 ««.»• * TEX and PAM (2 programs): £14.50 I Checkout £7.95 f4.M Jungle Jive £7.95 f4.*« TEX creates/modifies/animates mode-7 pictures raiBitomi-TWO PLAYERS '. . , ona parallel with if chess not mofe complicated . Output options: spool. *save, *save 5-pic sequence great tor ,i giime which needs thought' Home Cui'ipiiiinn WrrkU' Chackout - RECENT RELEASE Superb graphics I and sound and originality combme to make a PAM runs TEX o/p as film/slideshow/newsreel wonderful game' Hoitip Computing Weekh Wbc » fcfec- ... good garne with clear, smooth graphics and plenty of coiour' Peisondl Cumpulp: O^nins Planhwalk- Timed frames. Inner loops, 13 TV-type smart wipes Highly lecommetided' I'ei^oit^l Computei Gdmes iWiooba - The game is a great piample ol Shop/exhib users; please ask about Advert I what can be done on the BBC. I'm addicted' fenonil ' omnmei New. Mgr Sys TMnch- ... encellent an game which will certainly keep your fingers dancing on tht for displaying keys o( f your goods with up-to-date prices your Beeb' V Cmifi «( Bomb- This game is wonderful and is a great fnampleot whalcanbedoneon (he BBC. I'm addicted' P<^r-,0'-idl iumpiitei NfW 'Virgins * MUSIC LwHHall- Landlalhs a sophisticated flight simulator' Voui Ct.'mc>ij!er MAESTRO (synth for non-musiciansl: £12.50 A*«it*iw«- I *P"«« 'The only problem I had witli Space Adventure was prising my Design pleasant/weird hiends away from 11' Wu turri sound envelopes me £)(/(, n^ WreHv J>M»gl«Ji"«- RECENT RELEASE If you en|Oy wholesale slaughter then you'll probably have a good time' ftvwin.i; MM displays pitch and amplitude waveforms I Play: 4oct. 8std + ownenvs, chords, arpeggios, loops If your local UTAILIR does not stock these GAMES at the Record/edit/replay. Add rhythm after melody SraOAL LOW prices. Simply send a cheque or PO for £3.99 for EACH GAME you want plus 50p postage and packing (however many ORDER) to the GAMES you 'GRAB IT WMLS YOU CAN' Cheques/PO with order to: Department, Virgin Games, 2-4 Vernon Yard, Portobello Road, London Promotional W11 2DX. o«.,,u»,.„ ,, ArtWork Systems I 1 ,1 9 Mayo CI, Leeds 8 LS8 2PX IS PAPER WORK GETTING ON TOP OF YOU ? CAN BE YOUR STEPPING STONE TO EFFECTIVE FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL PAYROLL £29.95 PURCHASE/SALES LEDGER £29.95 ALL PROGRAMS AVAILABLE I STOCK CONTROL £17.95 AS A BUSINESS STARTER NOIM VAT ACCOUNTS £17.95 PACK FOR THE SPECIAL CASH PLANNER £12.95 PRICE OF£99.50 MAILING LIST £17.95 THE PRICES ABOVE ARE FOR THE CASSETTE VERSION OF THESE PROGRAMS, DISC VERSIONS USING RANDOM ACCESS FILES ARE AVAILABLE FROM OCTOBER 1ST 1984, ALL SOFTWARE PROVIDED BY ABACUS, IS FULLY SUPPORTED BY THE COMPANY. 21 UNION STREET RAMSBOTTOM, LANGS PHONE: 0204 52726 134 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 I EDUCATION Educational benefits ated. In turn teachers must display of wordprocessing work carefully and pleasingly. Like most wordprocessing systems The computer seems to have excep- Edword allows children to refine their tional powers of motivation for this holds true for the own work. It has many easy-to-use children, and features to this end. Refining can be im- wordprocessor. proved with constructive criticism from Many of the skills that the wordpro- children the teacher and/or fellow pupils. cessor helps us to develop in Tradi- Children need to be encouraged to have been ignored in the past. read over their work with a critical eye tionally teachers have not expected and have the opportunity to discuss children to correct every mistake in a of writing, but with a wordproces- it with their friends-they learn an piece enormous amount from each other. So sor refining and correction can be are often children are expected to work in introduced sooner to children, who glaring isolation and the results are disap- oftenamusedby their most mis- get the pointing. Pupils who are given the takes. It is only fair that they With a opportunity to discuss their work with opportunity to correct them. find they each other far more often produce wordprocessor, teachers also mistakes in a child's something of a higher standard, I have can correct more for the child to always encouraged them to work in work, for it is so easy when they recall a document that has been saved, page for younger readers. pairs on the wordprocessor and then refine it. Perhaps this is the When the children had completed are editing and restructuring a docu- mistakes and crux of the matter, as the child no editing their work, four copies were ment. We all learn by our practice for the children longer has to waste time rewriting the printed off. One copy was used for dis- it is excellent complete piece of work. play, one for the child's project book, High standards appropriate to a one for the newspaper duplication and child's ability can be set. Children can the fourth for the child to take home. By benefit by learning to edit, restructure, traditional methods it is a lot to ask a improve and expand text, skills other- child to write an extra copy for display wise not usually practised. purposes, but copying it out four times children soon became proficient would have been unthinkable! The two-finger touch typists and it was not Producing multiple copies is very necessary to give typing lessons. If easy with Edword as there's a simple they had been first-class typists their procedure of pressing the print key f8 train of thought would not have kept and answering the question 'Is your pace and more errors would have printer ready (y/n)?'. This process is occurred. Speed on the keyboard rapid. It prints a page of 66 lines in just was related to speed of thought. over a minute. It was quite noticeable from the The printer caused great interest at beginning that because the wordpro- first, with the whole class crowding cessor gave the children a clear screen around it, but within a short time the with their work neatly printed they were children accepted it like any other going to take more care with punctua- piece of electrical equipment in the tion and spelling. I frequently found a classroom and continued doing their and try dictionary on the computer table and work and awaited their turn. At first the to talk about what they are doing even a thesaurus. This was most noise of the printer, an Epson RX80, something out. purpose and for a encouraging and even more so to hear was quite off-putting, but interestingly it To write for a real - important to children talking about the best word to put me off more than the class wide audience is most use or the correct use of punctuation. children adapt amazingly to new things children. So often work is completed in book that will page 137>- in the classroom. isolation in an exercise Edword can be used with a wide be read only by the teacher and then the range of printers. A printer file needs to forgotten. With the newspaper articles and be made to suit the printer in use, and children were able to write this can be achieved with a package documents knowing that what they called "Printer File Generator', avail- were producing would be printed and able from the same source as Edword distributed, and therefore read by their (see prices panel). parents, other adults and their friends. Once we had all the articles for the The children soon recognised the need worthwhile. newspaper printed off it was a simple to produce something matter for me to make use of a photo- The presentation of a child's work copying machine at the local teachers' was important to the child. The 'hard centre. We decided to produce 100 copy' from the printer gave every child copies. This was the only activity the the chance to have something to be children did not take part in. When the proud of. Children whose presentation originals had been photocopied the and handwriting are poor might have children goton with sorting and compil- been inhibited in producing enthu- ing the pages and stapling them siastic contributions, but with a word- together. The front cover had been processor the poorest of calligraphers All feelings of photocopied on yellow paper to make it are on a par with the best. look attractive. failure in this respect were now obliter- ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 ) THE OLYMPIA RANGE OF DAISYWHEEL PRINTERS A RANGE OF DAISYWHEEL PRINTERS DESIGNED BY OFFICE EQUIPMENT LEADERS O OLYMPIA INTERNATIONAL OLVMPIA 3000 SERIES Method of printing: Daisywheet interchangeable 100 characters. Print speed: 50 cps maximum. (40 cps Shannon) Form width: 17" Width of Printline: ]5". Tabulation: Variable, 60 positions/inch (optional 120) bi- directional, horizontal tabulation direct lo column address, haifspace forward. Pitch: 10. 12, 15 characters per inch and proportional spacing. Line length: ISOcha.aclers with lOpitch. 1 8(t characters with 12 pitch. 225 characters with 15 pitch. Method of printing: Automatic bi-directional printing with shortest path seelting logic. Automatically skips over blank fields. Paper feed: Variable. % positions/inch, bi-directional. Buffer: 4 K Buffer. Keyboard option. Oume/Diablo. Code option, Functioncontrolled:ON/OFF-Line. Paper out. Ribbon out. Coveropen. Error, Printing mode: Bold printing (1/120"). Expanded printing. Double strike. Interface: RS232 IEEE. Centronics. OLYMPIA 103 SERIES Method Printing: of printing: Auioniaticbold. t Dypewheel. exchangeable. 120"). expand anddmihlc 96 characters print. Auiomalic Print speed: 17characlersper bidirectional printing with second. Bidirectional. shortest path seeking. 7" Form width: 1 (4,1 1 .8mm Automatically skips over Width of Printline: 14 2' blank lickls. (,36(J.6mm) Buffer: 4 kbyte Tabulation: Variable. 60 Keyboard opiiitn, (^iimc posilions/inch. Bidirectional control code. Option lor Pitch:10, 12.l5characters/ Wordsiar, inch proportional spacing Function controls led: Line length: 102 C)N/OFF-Linc- Error, 1(1-1 1 4 1 characters with 10 pitch ()N/C)FF-Linc. Error. 169 characters with 1 2 pitch Bold prim 2l2characlerswith 15 pitch Expand prim. Double print Paper feed: Variable. 96 Interfaces: R.S2.12. positions/inch, Bidirectional, Centronics IEEE. indexing one haifspace up/ down. OLVMPIA COMPACT SERIES Method of Printing: DaisywhccI 100 characters. Interchangeable, PrinlSpeed: i4cps From Width: 14.,r .5" Width of Printing: I I. Pitch: 111. 12. 15characlcrs per inch, Line length: tOpiich- 115 char. 12 pitch- 1.18 char. I5pilch-I72 char. Instruction code: Diablo computable (compact RO) Built in Traciorfeed- Compact RO Built in Keyboard -Compact 2. RS232 or Centronics Interface (Compact 2) Both interfaces as standard (Compact RO) ACCESSORIES Olympia Single Bin Sheet Feed £398. Double Bin Sheetfeed £598, Olympia Tractor Feed £150. (All Prices exclude VAT) A full range of Daisywheels and ribbon types are available. 'n*^"'8ent 43B Wood Street. Stratford Distributor- upon Avon, Warwickshire CV37. Interfaces Tei . 0789 296879 London (1 1-311 798 1 TL. 3 12242. 136 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 I EDUCATION Problems with Edword document name in inverted commas. To save a document all you do is While creating our newspaper we Unfortunately you are given only one press Escape and answer the question stumbled across a tew problems with chance to save a document. If you use a Return to main menu y/n?'. If you Edword. Most importantly, children faulty cassette tape the document is answer yes the next instruction is irretrievably lost entire documents by lost. So another useful feature when 'Record and Return'. This is misleading accidentally pressing the Break key saving documents would be the oppor- and my pupils made the mistake of not after spending considerable time at the tunity to save a second copy as a safety pressing play as well. The instruction keyboard. This is easily done because precaution. 'Press Play and Record then Return' the f9 command key is next to the Break would be better. key. Using the cassette tape system is in in the docu- The command key is frequently used slow and fact loading ments is the most time-consuming part. and it would be a great advantage to have the Break key disabled, Fortunately Edword offers the use of a A facility that we would have found disc file system, though I have yet to most useful would be to add a docu- use it. ment, previously saved on tape, to a part document already on the screen. Conclusion children I For instance, if a group of children were Having used Edword with creating a page of work for a magazine believe it has a lot to offer education but two documents had been saved on and the advantages far outweigh the separate tapes, then the only way of disadvantages (see Good Features making them one document would be box). A particularly reluctant writer to type one into the other. The ability to asked if he could come to school at merge two documents would have 8,30am to use Edword. No lunch hour been advantageous. passed without a request to use it. In of the children: 'Edword is a It was essential that the children the words were encouraged to label their very interesting and useful program' cassette tapes with care, otherwise and 'It will always be a popular work problems occurred. The system that piece'. It is a superb and powerful tool worked best was to give each group a to enhance the work going on in any pri- cassette tape of their own which they mary classroom. marked with the following information: child's and/or children's names; a The author is deputy head of Court- phrase to describe the topic; and the wood Primary School. Croydon GOOD FEATURES OF EDWORD Easy to use - The keyboard is used in a similar way to a The bottom of the screen gives error help messages. typewriter. The keys are the child's pen and the screen 'Safety' prompts are sometimes given -for example his paper. Single-key depressions are most frequently confirmation before losing a document from the used. Special key depressions such as Shift and Con- screen. trol characters are not needed. Text can be easily cor- Wordwrap- An excellent feature of Edword is the auto- rected, inserted, deleted and edited. matic wordwrap. This means you can type in a docu- Mnemonic commands Edword makes excellent use of ment at high speed without worrying about the ends of the BBC micro's function keys. When children are being lines. Words that will not fit on the end of a line are auto- taught editing skills, and are introduced to the function matically taken to the next line. Thus no unsightly lines keys they are easy to use and to remember. To go to the with part-words occur. top of the document, for example, you press Command Justifying lext-The neatness and presentation of a and T for top. document is naturally important. To achieve this Display width - There is a choice of 40 or 80-column text Edivordsupplies four features. Text can easily be 'justi* with the BBC B. The 40-column screen is useful for fied' so that text aligns down the right hand margin as younger children, as the text is large and clear. The 80- well as the left. This gives a professional look to the column measure closely matches normal textbook children's work as this is how it appears in their text width when the document is printed. books as well as newspapers. Edword also offers the Screen-based - It is useful to know that what you see on facilities of underscoring (underlining) and wide and the screen will appear as hard copy. Not all wordpro- bold text. cessing systems have this feature. Indenting -This is a particularly useful feature especi- User-friendly- A useful 'error help' system has been ally if children produce a picture to go with their writing. incorporated. This involves a beep sound if an error Indenting enables the user to leave a space for a picture occurs. If f4 is pressed a simple error message appears to be inserted into a piece of writing. The length of the at the bottom of the screen. This message disappears tines can be altered and script can be set around the on the next keystroke. perimeter of the picture. Screen information - The top of the screen gives you Format- Neat pages of text can be created by setting continuous information, including document name, the format mode. Top and bottom margins can be set as mode, page, line and column that the cursor has well as left and rightones. Within the format mode up to reached, left and right margins, tabs and indents. Other six tabs can be set. the page length can be altered and indicators include print, underscore and overtyping. line spacing can be single or double. ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 . CANON PW-1080A BBC MICRO MODEL B £399.00 Near letter Quality Printer Electron £199.00 x 1 Matrix: 27 NLO Mode 23 8 cps BBC Micro Model B with Disc Int. £469.00 Draft Mode 11x9 Matrix 1 60 cps Full range of Epson FX 80 Print Codes Friction & Tractor Feed Large Range o( Accessories including Disc Centronics Interlace Standard Drives, Printers. Mondors always in stock 5' CANON PW-1 1 56A (Accepts 1 Paper) Available Printer Cables BBC to 36 Way Centronics Type Connector El 5 00 Dragon lo 36 Way Cenlronics Type CANON PW-1080A £278.26 VAT = £320.00 Connector E1 5 00 One to 36 Way Centronics Type Connector Dl 5.00 CANON PW-1156A C360.00 VAT = £414.00 Torch to 36 Way Centronics Type Conneclor E20 00 Serial Printer Cables PACKAGE PRICE for BBC MICRO/DRAGON/ORIC B8C to 35 way D type £9 50 CANON PW-1080A C.J.E. PRINTER PACKAGE £345.00 inc. VAT EPSON HX20 10 25 way D type E9 50 NEWBHAIN to Type CANON PW-11S6A C.J.E. PRINTER PACKAGE £439.00 inc. VAT 25 Way E12 00 25 way D type to 25 way D type El 5 00 Special RS 232 Printer Bargain STAR DP8408 (8" Printing) £187.00 inc. VAT Blank 01 5/C30 Cassenes Ten lor C4 50 ANY IWIIX Ideal for 8BC/Newt)rain/HX20 & Spectrum Int. 1 Send SAE for Full Price List Phone for full specification CJE, Micro's BBC Printer Packs For Star, Canon & Juki Printers include: VAT INCLUDED WHERE APPLICABLE 1 The Printer PHONE/CREDIT CARD ORDERS WELCOME 2. Delivery by Securicor Postage 50p per order or as stated 3. Cable to the BBC 1 3 Metres 24 Hr Securicor Delivery 4. Screen Dump Progam (M/C Source) for Printers/Disk Drives E8,00 5 Text Dump Program (SHOP/WORKSHOP CLOSED MONDAYS) 6. Function Key set up Program. For use wrth WORDWISE 7, Function Key Label Printing Program. For use with above. 8- VIEW Printer Driver 9, 1 00 Sheets of Paper . C.J.E. Microcomputers 1 0. Mains Plug with 3 Amp Fuse 1 1 Booklet giving details of using the printer with a BBC. ^RPT (AU|, 78 Brtgtiton Road, Worihmg 12. Character Defining Program forDownloadable-character-se! W Sussex BN11 2EN (0903) 213900 C.J.E. Printer Packs for other mcro's indude:- Printer. Cable. Paper. Mains Plug & Delivery EXPORT ORDERS WELCOME RING FOR SAMPLE PRINTOUT, FULL SPECIFICATIONS & LATEST PRICES BEST PRICES & BACKUP ON THE STAR JUKI & CANON PRINTERS . J NOW GRAPHS AND CHARTS ARE EASY! WITH BEL GRAPH from BEL TECH FOR BBC, ELECTRON and SPECTRUM POWERFUL, SOPHISTICATED YET MENU DRIVEN AND EASY TO USE and INCREDIBLE VALUE FOR MONEY ! I ! ** ** AUTOMATIC SCALING and DRAWING OF AXES JJ DATA ENTRY FROM KEYBOARD OR FILE (4 FIELDS X, Y, Z, T) SELECT DISC DRIVE (where applicable) SORT on T'orOFIELD ACCEPT/REJECT RECORDS and FIELDS on DATA ENTRY EDIT SAVE FILE SCREEN DUMP FACILITY (or combine your own) RENAME FIELDS <« o DEFAULT VALUES for WEEKS/MONTHS LINE GRAPHS BAR CHARTS/HISTOGRAMS PIE CHARTS VERTICAL BAR CHART COMBINED BAR/PIE CHART 'enter EQUATIONS IN X, Y or PARAMETRICS X, Y, €- ANGLES IN RADIANS or DEGREES PLOT X0, Y0, YX, ZO, XZ, YZ etc. PI III V . B ;HI I, : VkF , . X :: / \ TAPE DISC TOTAL - > — -4 A- -.- i V ?i 4 (^^yA>>^ urv orv BEL BASE 16.00 16.00 BEL GRAPH 15.00 17.00 ,/ :: BEL CHEM __4_ . I.. — f._ Chemistry 1 9.50 11.50 H I -> -T -I 6 ^ II "J I M Chemistry 2 9.50 11.50 COMPATIBLE WITH BEL BASE and MAILSHOT (Disc) and capable of BEL GEN 15.00 17.00 READING DATA from ANY FILE instated FORMAT. Geneoiogy X MAIL SHOT 9.50 11.50 BEL PLOT 9.50 1150 BEL SUBS 10.50 1230 TOTAL Inc. P. ft R C NAME. ADDRESS COMPUTER TYPE nricHKs DtSC nr aop(«: I CREDIT CARO No PAYMENT BY C HE OUE PO VISA ACCESS BEL BASE, MAILSHOT and BEL GRAPH form a superb integrated package for Business, Reports, Clubs, Accounts, Please Complete & Return to- BEL TECH Limiloa. Slanmore Indusma/ Esiaie. Bndgno NOW ON ROM £49 (State Tape Dtic Data Filesi 0, LA/VVfCRADi CHFAPi-^ LAT£R- Simple, reliable, and still the most popular word processor for the BBC Micro. inc. I 1 Available from all good BBC Computer Dealers. le by Mall Order from Computer Concepts, Gaddesden Place, Heme! Hempstead, Herts HP2 6EX. Or by 'phoning witfi your credit card numlier on (0442) 63933. mmm ?'M^!^^MiM -^mm^^ -V-'L»i^:^v ^M^Hm K ^ ^^fpf »i Vfii IP 1IS 'v-^.^?fe". i V /^L^^HBiuienM^1^^ r. 1 ?"r.v »».» - ^ J 1.. Til: (0274) 390011 Telex: 517717 Avaif^fivmHighStreetComputerRetailersandselectedbranchesof W. H. Smith, HarrodsJohn Lewis Partnership, John MenzieswiSi seededmodels availabkfivmkr^^^ J . 1 BANISH KEYBOARD HEAD\CHES FOR EVER LEARN TO USE QUINKEY WITH NO OBLIGATION! Send for Quinkey now. and you should be touch-typing in less than an hour. Before you know it. you'll be typing much faster than you write. So confident are we of our claim that we'll give you a no fuss money back guarantee. If you're not happy - FOR ANY REASON you can simply send it back within 14 days for a full and prompt refund, KEYBOARD DATA Quinkey has five mam keys which are pressed in combinations. Signals are sent on release of keys. With che addition of the control key Quinkey takes over all inputs except "break" from the BBC keyboard or can be used in conjunction. Quinkey castnf is made from sturdy FR ABS. Professional quality keys and gold cross THE REMEDY FOR "MICRO FATIGUE" point microswitches will give heavy-duty performance. SOFTWARE DATA - THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE FOR SERIOUS When invoked using CHAIN "WP" or CHAIN "PROG", loads at the current PAGE BBC USERS. value and moves PAGE up by 768 bytes. No lero-page locations required. Interrupt service vector I RQ2V, correctly chained. PROG may be incorporated into users' Having to face keying a lengthy piece of data is pretty daunting, but programs without difficulty. that's nothing compared to how you feel when you're only about a quarter the way in. INTERFACE DATA It's about then that eyestrain and headache combine to make you feel Quinkey's interface to the analogue port of the BBC is a four-channel connector like the many-headed hydra, and the ache in your back makes you envy a which allows up to four Quinkeys to be used simultaneously with one micro. (For further packhorse. information about the Educational Pack of four Quinkeys and schools software, tick the And It's all because you're forced to "hunt and peck" amongst 74 keys appropriate box in coupon) on a keyboard that's over a hundred years old. Eyes torn between document and keyboard, up to the screen and back to the document - it's TESTED COMPATIBILITY losing your place and errors and bugs start creeping in. no wonder you're 1 II BBC model "B" OS .2 BASIC I or BASIC (unless using INKEY with negative View 1 .4. Wordwise QUINKEY PUTS THE PLEASURE BACK argument). DFS 0.90. A 117, Edword. FOR COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF QUINKEY SEE ACORN USER. INTO USING YOUR COMPUTER SEPT '84 • Quinkey is a keyboard which you simply plug into the analogue port of Send the coupon now to take advantage of our special your BBC computer, money-back guarantee! • You can be touch-typing in less than ONE hour, Quinkey uses the technique of Microwriting - practised by thousands of professionals in Microwriter Ltd, 31 Southampton Row their working lives. London WC I B 5HJ Tel: 1 -83 1 680 • Quinkey is operated with only one hand and comes with a long lead, so you can sit back and relax. • Because you don't need to look at the keyboard - "hunt and peck" - To; Microwriter Ltd., 3 1 Southampton Row, your eyes are free to read data, either from screen or document - QUINKEY London WC I BSHJ accuracy and speed become simple. • With there's no need to lose your place either - your other Quinkey I would like to take advantage of your special money-back guarantee and realise hand is free to follow data. that lean return the pack(s) undamaged within two weeks ofdelivery if I am not • Whether your work is with words or programs, Quinkey is a must. It fully satisfied for a complete refund. can even double as a fast and accurate keypad for mass numeric data. Please send: Quinkey pack{s) (" £49.95 (plus £2.50 p&p) £ YOU'LL BE AMAZED AT WHAT YOU More information about the educational pack of 4 Quinkeys and software for schools. GET FOR £49.95 I enclose a cheque made payable to; "Vector Market ing/Microwriier Ltd." for £ or debit my Visa/Access credit card No Quinkey is sold as a complete package ready to be used right away with your computer. Each pack for the BBC contains: Signed. • Quinkey keyboard • Interface and lead to analogue port of BBC Name • Easy to follow self-teach guide Address • "PROG" software (a utility program which interprets Quinkey signals to the BBC and gives you a comprehensive alternative/additional keyboard - all inputs except "Break". It merges easily with your ,.AU.1.tB.4 application programs) "WP" enables you to fully use software such as "Wordwise", "View" Please allow up to 28 days for delivery. Reg, no. I 37 4069 and "Edword" for fast and accurate word-processing. ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 143 . BDFTUUnRE^r BBC and ELECTRON Software EDUCATIONAL SIMULATIONS French Tutor £9.95 737 Flight Simulator £9.95 Up to and beyond '0' level standard. Tests Written by a professional 737 pilot, this bestsell- vocabulary, speech idioms, and irregular verbs. ing simulator emulates a high performance jet Create your own files; progress assessment and airliner. Full instrumentation and hi-res graphics. revision lists available at any time. BBC only. Please specify Tape, Disk, or Electron version, "Certainly the best flight simulator I have flown. Graphs £9.95 Full marks to Salamander." — Acorn User A suite of five programs for use by students studying GCE at '0' and 'A" level or equivalent syllabus. Includes versatile curve sketching, par- ametric curve sketching, an interactive multiple choice and multiple choice tests for recognition of straight Une equations and trigonometric, quad- ADVENTURES ratic and cubic curves, BBC/ELECTRON, Franklin ' s Tomb £9 . 95 Can you, as Dan Diamond P.L, solve the riddle of Vectors £14.95 the crypt, or will you fall prey to its mysteries as A suite of fourteen programs carefully designed many others before you have done, Fully illus- to teach the user the skills and techniques asso- trated Case File. BBC only. ciated with the main vector algebra requirements "Worth every penny. This will become a classic of a syllabus such as GCE examinations in — Popular Computing Weekly. Additional Mathematics and 'A' Level Mathe- Program of the Month — Computer Choice. matics as well as many other courses requiring a knowledge of vector algebra, BBC/ELECTRON, Lost in Space £9.95 The sequal to Franklin's Tomb, Can you escape from the derelict space ship, or will you be trapped forever with bored security robots and UTILITIES chatty doors. Fully illustrated Case File. BBC only. EDG Graphics Package £19.95 A sophisticated drawing system allowing the user to build up simple drawings or complex designs, BBC only, SPECIAL OFFERS (BBC only) EDG Graphics Package (disk) £24.95 The disk version of the graphics package con- Eagle £4.95 tains all the features of the tape version. Also Original Arcade Game includes an EPSON Printer Dump and Teletext Dragon Rider £3.95 Screen Editor. BBC only. Requires Acorn DFS. Arcade Game Electron Graphics System £9.95 Tanks! £3.95 A version of the EDG Graphics System rewritten Armoured Warfare for two specifically for the ELECTRON. Games Compendium Bl £3.95 Simon, Fireman, Hangman, Alphabet Soup Utilities Package £9.95 Four essenhal aids: Sound Shaper, EPSON Printer Games Compendium B3 £3.95 Dump, Teletext Screen Editor, and Disassembler. Mole, Boot Hill. Bomber BBC only. Please rush me the following: SAVE £1 Title Price If you return this voucher with your order you will be entitled to a £1 discount on the order. Only one dis- count per order. You will also become a member of the Salamander Software Discount Club. This entitles you to further Less Discount £1.00 discounts on future orders, as well as free posters, stickers and T-shirts (subject to availability). This Total offer applies only to products ordered by direct mail from Salamander Software, 1 7 Norfolk Road, Brighton Name BNl 3AA. Address Please make cheques and postal orders payable to Salamander Software, Post Code _'J 144 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 . BBC Microco m puter in the NORTH CTECH Computers Telephone:06 1-366-8223/7794 • ' "/ ' /). ..* •* '; * * *" '• * ", ' . \ T , . ' . Acorn Equipment £ P Computers C p 6502 2nd Processor 173.04 BBC Model B 346.95 Z80A 2nd Processor 346.95 BBC Model B with DFS 407.82 Teletext Adaptor 199.00 BBC Model B with DFS& Econel 439.00 Electron Computer 173.04 SiWordwise 433.92 BBC Model B with DFS Electron + 1 51-30 installation. All computers come with Free Cassette Lead and Software Package. Most add-ons include free fitting and Monitors DISKETTES Addons Philips Hi Res 68,69 HCR Electronics ROM/RAM board 36.52 Microvitec Normal Res 199,00 HCR Electronics Eprom programmer 49.00 21,69 Ferguson TX-90 RG B/TV 199.00 Light Pen 179.00 OEL200 Prestel Terminal B7 39 Kaga Normal Res 47 83 285,00 Acorn Speech Synth Kaga Medium Res Chip Chal Speech Synth 26 04 Pace Grapevine POA Light Pens and Joysticks Addon Light Pen 21.70 ROM Software JMB Full Analogue Joystick 13.00 Wordwise 34 74 Boxes ot 10 diskolies Joystick Pairs 17,35 Graphics ROM 28 65 BASF s/s d/d diskettes tl 3.00 28 Hi-Fi Extension Cable 5.17 Prim Master 65 BASF d/s d/d diskettes 96 TPI 52.09 Atari-type joystick to BBC interface 13.00 View 2,1 £20.78 Ultra-Calc 56.48 XIDEX diskettes £15.22 Components and Cables 1.2 0.8 10.00 Control Data d/s d/d 96 TPI Disk Doctor 28.65 We stock everything e.g.; £19 91 6.52 BCPL 86.09 2764 Eprom Control Data s/s d/d 96 TPI Termi 28.65 27128 Epfoms Low £14.74 Commstar 30.39 8271 Eproms POA Viewsheel 52 09 Masterclass Video Tape. Our Printer Cables 12.99 Beebugsoft Toolkit 23 48 price £8.95 Disk Power Cables 8.65 Spell check 17.35 DISK DRIVES FROM £95.00 + VAT ^ . , , above but complete with Cables, Utility TEC Bare CHINON F051 D, Slimline, 40 Track, Single Sided. 1 OOK (200K Double Density), As Disk Cables, Case and Manual. £109.00 + VAT TEAC Bare TEAC55F, Slimline, 40/80 Track, Double Sided 400K (BOOK at Double Densityl. £169.00 t VAT CHINON As above but complete with Cables, Utility Disk, Cables, Case and Manual £199.00 + VAT TEC Disc Drives from £109.00 + VAT DRIVES FROM £199 + VAT , ... DUAL , ^ ^ , „ , x. Density), Complete with Cables, Utility Disk, TECX Dual CHINON F051D. Slimline, 40 Track, Single Sided 2 v 100K (2 2Q0K Double TEAC Cables, Case and Manual. £369 + VAT Dual TEAC 55F, Slimline, 40/80 Track, Double Sided, 2 - 400K (2 v BOOK with Double Density). Complete with Cables, Utility CHINON Disk, Cables, Case and Manual, IWith your drive you may need an interface). £389,00 * VAT DISK INTERFACES FROM £69.00 + VAT TheFatJulous LVL Single and Double Density Interface, This will allow you to read and write to Acorn Disks see below. But also you for extra online storage. Maximum capacity is 1 .6 MB with 8 logical dnues « ^n n > can create your own Single OR Double Density Diskettes 7 disk controller which gives very fast access to ACO R N and 248 files. The standard Acorn Interface is available from us this uses the 82 1 of on logical drives. disk files. Acorn DFS is the standard for the BBC Micro it allows 31 files per disk and a maximum BOOK 4 Phone for latest prices. machine out performs the EPSON FX80. It will do CANON PW 1080A This is the latest state of the art in printer technology This the PW1080A so special is not only iis everything the FX80 does and more besides and using tfie same control codesi What makes free screen and our BBC Micro Instructions as well as supetb value for money but ttie near LETTER QUALITY mode. We include a dump the excellent manual £259 + VAT r, ,^ « .. ^ i- CANON Bold, Auto Underline QUEN 5100 Daisywheel. This British assembled printer has all the features that you would expect like Auto NEC Sheet Feeder option. Take Qume daisywheels and Ribbons. 20Cps Bi Directional. £299 + VAT QUEN NEC PC-8023N Dot Matrix Printer Bi-directional (120 cps), tractor and friction bed. £199.00 + VAT QUEN DATA Dot Matrix Printer (Epsom Compatible), British assembled. £173,04 + VAT FREEDELIVERYTODAY PRICES... (Orders over £90) C iV TECH All our prices are COMPUTERS ASK ABOUT OUR INSTALLATION SERVICE 184 Market Street, constantly moving, so If you are in Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Lancashire. Midlands, Merseyside. West Hyde, Cheshire please ring us to check Yorkshire or South Yorkshire, if you ring us SK14 1EX the latest price. now we can send one of our highly trained staff to install your computer equipment today. 061-366 7794 All prices plus VAT (Now for business software tool) 061-366 8223 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 145 . HAVE YOU ALREADY GOT DISK DRIVE(S) FOR YOUR BBC COMPUTER? SOLIDISK HAS SOMETHING TO OFFER. -FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DO HAVE ALREADY. A DUAL FDC DISK FILING SYSTEM (DFDC. using the old 8271 and adding the new WD1770 FDC), ADDS DOUBLE DENSITY AND KEEPS TOTAL COMPATIBILITY (See opposite page). HAVEN'T. J,?P.? Jl?iiS-^^"^ A DUAL DENSITY DISK FILING SYSTEM (using the new WD 1770) WILL PROVE MUCH FASTER AND CHEAPER THAN THE 8271. THE DISK DRIVE: The disk drive (see pictures) comes from the new series VLSI ultra quiet, auto spin-up, 5.25" half height, solenoid head load, 40/80 track, single and double density MIT- SUBISHI M4853. It is fast, quiet and consumes far less power than any previous models. 2 new 64 pin surface mounted microcontrollers (from Motorola and Mit- subishi), largely reduce the area occupied by the drive electronics {see pictures), leaving so much more room for the diskette, with very low noise level and reduced friction of the media and the jacket. SOLIDISK DUAL DENSITY DISK FILING SYSTEM. Basic characteristics include very high operating speed. Acorn compatibility, automatic 40/80 track switching, auto-density, resident disk formatter and 100% compatibility with Solidisk Sideways RAM. It is also the simplest ever Disk Upgrade for the BBC computer: with only 4 components- 1 ROM, 2 buffers and the FDC. (See picture 3). Solidisk software engineers have built in to the 8192 bytes of the 1.40 ROM more facilities than any other DDFS manufacturer has managed before. The result is a substantial cost reduction, which is passed on to you. Solidisk engineers won't stop there. But let's first answer some more immediate questions. 1 - SINGLE OR DOUBLE DENSITY? You get 60% more storage in double density mode than in single density mode at no extra cost. In single density — the usual Acom disk format — you get 10 sectors or 2.5 k bytes of storage per track. That is what the Acom DPS and many others can do. In other words, you get 100k with a 40 track single sided disk drive (such as the TEAC 55A), 400k with a double sided 80 tracks disk drive (such as the one in this offer). In double density, you get 16 sectors or 4k bytes per tracks, an increase of 60% With the same TEAC 55A disk drive, you get 160k instead of 100k or with the disk drive in this offer, you get 640k bytes instead of 400k. The majority of software tested also runs FASTER in double density mode than in single density mode, especially Wordwise, View, Masterfile and Scribe and 95%+ of games are also compatible with double density. 2 - INSTALLATION: As the STU DFS consists of only 4 iCs, to be plugged into existing sockets on the BBC computer board, installation is quite simple and should not take more than a few minutes even if you are a novice. Simply instal the 4 ICs into their sockets and connect the disk drive (see picture 4). 3 - BASIC DISK SYSTEM COMMANDS AND UTILITIES: - 'ACCESS <»l»p> (opbonalL) — 'BACKUP ItsourcedrlvO Other OS commands include LOAD. SAVE, BPUT. BGET, OSFILE, BLOCK GET, BLOCK PUT OSARGS. OSFIND. PTR, OSWORD 7F. 7D. 7E etc. Care is taken ip'tha disk directory presentation, showing the disk size and other useful infonnation. Whenever a diskette is being spun, its number of tracks and density are identified. This information helps to sl access database. — Soiidisk Database - a fast, efficient and flexible disk based random Ideal for prescription records, club membership etc. — Solidisk wordprocessor. — Solicalc electronic spreadsheet. dnven, — Stock Control — very useful for small commerce. Features include menu categories, by easy to follow operating instructions, stock items can be grouped by (inventory), sale price suppliers, by frequency of movements etc. Stock valuation report requested. list reorder forms can be printed automatically as Oerman — Silexicon — the most successful spelling checker with English. French and dictionary. Self dictionary generating capability. programs to — Macro Basic — a BASIC program generator capable of using bits of old create new programs. Simply ingenious! — Benchmark for disk drive and disk utilities. 4 - OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE: bt^nchmarkconsistsotdiskoperatKinssuchassiiwandloada Theiablebelo*f^hows Ititbenthmflrkhminy tot STl. DDFS 1 4 The lormaland venty a disk etc., and a a>jailable upon request. 16k program, op-n and close filei. BPUT. BGET btnngs and numbers, Qtheiuise listed in Solidisk DDFS Usei Manual. , ,nn.i. < time Is expressed in seconds and parts ol lUUth ol a The benchmark (ests Bl to B9 are the same as used by many reviewers. The diskettes are Verbatim Dalalite MD 557 wnes, second The disk dnves am twin 40/80 track double sided MITSUBISHI M4853. the error and mechanical delects and containing 96TPI double densely double sided pre veiilied to ensure that the media « free of all motors are allowed to stop compktely 2 seconds between solely the benchmark program. The test is loaded into memory. Ihe dnve aulomatKally. tests. 10 timing samples are taken and the mean time Is calculated For example 100 DEFFNbliREM Save a 16k program. 110 If TIME 120 -SAVE A 8000 t4000 130- TIME -T'^ Full lisiingsare included in Ihe User Manual result is printed as 'Bl' Thi' FN is called 10 limes with 3 iet interval, the mean BENCHMARK DESCRIPTION S/D TIME D/D TIME Bl$avel6k 2.62 1.43 OPERATIONS S/D TIME D/D TIME 1.23 B2 Load 16k 2.45 FORMAT 40 TRACKS: 17.74 17.74 B3 Openln and close FORMAT 80 TRACKS: 33.22 33.22 20.16 'See note 1 100 times Z*>'0 VERIFY 40 TRACKS: 9,30 9.30 84 Openouland print VERIFY 80 TRACKS: 17.84 17.84 5.84 1000 numbers (255) BACKUP 01 80 TRACKS: 37,69 37-69 B5 Openin and input BACKUP 02 80 TRACKS: 39.46 39.46 I000numbets(255) ^'^ COMPACT lOOK-10 FILES 22.42 18.82 B6 Openout and print lOOSObytesRtrings *'* 4.91 B7 Openin and Input ^ ^^ 100 80 byle» strings ^^^ 2.06 B8BPUT100 bytes (255) 3.01 B9 BGET 1000 byt«s (255) 1.88 1.52 automallMllv refre.he* the disk directory, thus preventing Note 1 Whenever a Hie U to be opened. STL DDFS yielding a much shorter time, and erroneou* dl.k change. Many other DFS» do nol lake the same care. allhouBh this could accidentally stop the program. With Wordwise Load 2000 words (17811 bytes) 16.80 sec. (41.40 sec. with AC. With Scribe Count 2000 words (17811 bytes) 4.20 sec. (9.80 sec. with AC .90 DFS) With Beebug'sMasterfile: t u n u the.i. database, the database is presorted on field Z then - (including P and P and VAT) Sort records I to 20 in PEOPLE sample 7 PRICES sec. (127.86 sec. with AC.90 DFS), (disk chip upgrade for BBC B) £39.95 program isasked to sort on field 1 . ihe time is then taken 56.23 STL DDFS DFS £49.95 These timings are improved even further in double density mode. STL DFDC for those who have Acom 640k DISK OUTFIT (complete package) £209.95 (with twin drives) £359.95 The figures speak for themselves. 1.3MB DISK OUTFIT 2.0 ROM Upgrade (available soon) £10.00 including wordprocessors STL DDFS dramatically increases the operating speed of your software, Starbase etc. the coupon. Access and Barclaycard like Wordwise. View. Scribe, databases like Masterfile, To order, you can use holders can ring direct Solidisk engineers won't stop there. ONE ROM TO RULE THEM ALL HOW TO ORDER? You can order any item using the coupon. Prices are inclu- packing. Access and Barclay card a integrated Winches sive of VAT, post and Already a super mini floppy (2.4 MB) and controller for under £400. lOMB holders can place their order by phone. 16K ROM (2.0 UPGRADE) with ter hard disk for under £600 AND AN EVEN MORE POWERFUL Educational authorities, Acom dealers and OEMs can obtain outlined sjiecifications below are planned for Christmas. quantity discounts. — number of entries into the disk directory, Unlimited Name: — Rle size and disk size can be as big as 16MB. — Immediate recovery of accidental file deletion. Adress: — Built-in wordprocessorinpiaceoftheclassicarBUILD. memory below PAGE, disk — Disk sector editor, disk search and replace, tape to disk, disk to duplication. . . i , single (expandable). — Instant data encryption and decryption using 256 byte key — Quadruple FDC drivers (8271. 8272. WD 1770, WD 2793). Credit Card Account: — RAM Disk facilities for Solidisk Sideways RAM. J ~ Callers are requested to ring first for appointment. THE ONLY SYSTEM TO ADD DOUBLE DENSITY AND KEEP COMPATIBILITY, to your Total; with Single Density DFS, you can ADD double density If your BBC is already fitted Acom System (DFDC). system and KEEP the existing DFS with Solidisk DUAL FDC Filing around of the games 'specially LIMITED Solidisk DFDC system overcomes the problems caused by S% SOLIDISK TECHNOLOGY programs (directly) controls the those produced by Acomsoft newest releases such as Elite). These 17SWEYNEAVE 8271 thus requiring its presence. SOUTHEND-ON-SEA you can choose the new hUC tor Solidisk DFDC ROM controls BOTH FDC at a flick of a switch, ESSEX SS2 6JQ speed or the old 8271 for Acomsoft game disks. lines) SOLIDISK'S NEW TELEPHONE NUMBER: SOUTHEND (0702) 354674 (10 . bOLIDISK SIDEWAYS RAM: 25,000 UNITS SOLD II 'Excifing'MACORN USER JAN 84)/'Pou;erto yourBeeb" (PCN 61. MAY 84)/-Breafc (he RAM Bamer''(A&B) HAS YOUR BBC COMPUTER GOT ITS SIDEWAYS RAM BOARD YET? Not surprisingly many BBC computers have got their sideways RAM boards. Solidisk Sideways RAM can be completely integrated into the BBC computer system : with 6502 and Z80 second processors. Torch disk pack, teletext. Econet and Solidisk 8- sidewaysucwaya ROM expansion board- Adding Sideways RAM to the BBC computer is simple. And it will multiply the machine s power. Here is how. 1- HOW DOES IT WORK? Occupying the same place as sideways ROMs (such as BASIC, DFS etc) it is treated like other sideways ROMs and therefore can replace them. Sideways RAM can run any language, and filing system, wordprocessors, databascsctc. 2 - WHAT SORT OF SOFTWARE DOES IT RUN ? Better than sideways ROM, sideways RAM can written be into. This property makes it not only possible to run the same programs as their ROM counterparts but sideways RAM can be used as Virtual Memory, RAM disc, printer buffer. Basic program 65-C-02 store assembler, zero RAM, take DFS etc, etc .. SERVICES DO ? T]"^^! ^'^"l^ YOU GET WITH ALL SIDEWAYS RAMS ? Solidisk sideways RAM comes with lots and lots of free software (see list on opposite page). As a sideways user, RAM you will be able to get updated disks*, free local expert advice and free bi monthly newsletters to keep you infomied. Solidisk spend more than 1 UUU man hours every month to produce free software for all sideways RAM users More and more free software will be available every month. 4 - WHO USES SIDEWAYS RAM? Solidisk sideways is widely RAM used in schools for ECONET. by programmers to develop new software, in small business systems for wordprocessing and database** and now at home, even for games. New applications are being found every day such as !° S'f^"'^Vs RAM (essential for increasing memory for VIEW and^nTwfpu/luccx'^"^VIEWSHEET). Colour Imaging System. Teletext page logger and generator computer typesetting etc. Sideways RAM is such a versatile and flexible instrument that it will renew your interest continually. ' 5 - WHICH SIDEWAYS RAM DO YOU NEED? Sohdisk sidew^ays RAM is available in multiples of 16k, each replacing a sideways ROM units are in Ibk, J2k, 128k and 256k. The first step is to evaluate your needs. Then consult the chart opposite. You cari buy a small unit to start with, and exchange it later for a larger one. Extra costs involved with upgrading are minimal. The SWR16, 16k sideways RAM is adequate for most simple tasks (running common programs or for Econet slave stations) includinq fast disk copying with a single disk drive. Forwordprocessor: using VIEWorWORDWISE.aSWR32 will do. Urge documents page plus) will require UQ something like SCRIBE and the 128k or 256k Solidisk'*. For database, unless veiy high speed is required, a SWR32 will suffice for most popular ''''^^''''' ^*^''^^^- Datagem. 256t'SS**^' Otherwise use the 128k or Remember the more - memory you instal inside the BBC computer, the more power you will get out of the machine. ^ All sideways RAM units come complete with 60+ page Sideways RAM User Manual 1 utility diskette and 1 year wan-anty. -•SoHdl«k recommencto SCRIBE and STARBASE because they exploit peifecllv the Inherent speed o{ RAM dUc ^"^ '";""'*' """' Similar ' *^ °^^' Vou one far f,ee| and then Increase «lh ,he ^td,-5k Th^.^ «^^^ ^J"^ ^fV & s^ed : 6 - SENDING FOR FREE SOFTWARE: either Our free software is divided into volumes and is available in single density, 40 or 80 track 5.25" diskettes. 40 track diskettes contain only 1 volume, 80 track diskettes contain 2 consecutive volumes, (1 + 2, 3+4, 5+6, etc.) tracks) or All sideways RAM is supplied with 1 diskette, containing either VOL. 1 (40 postage VOL. 1 + 2 (80 tracks) as requested. Extra volumes are charged foe media and cost. The following volumes are available at the present time - VOL. 1: General Utilities: Menu, STLDISC, STLOEOO, STLRFS, Printer Buffer, STLRFS. Quickly. Fastbackup, Keyboard, Word64, help!. - VOL. 2: English Spelling Checker: Suilexicon and English dictionary {15000 words). — VOL. 3: BASIC program generator; Macro Basic. Never Bad Mode again: Virtual Memory. - VOL. 4: Database: Solidisk Datafile. — VOL. 5: Foreign Language Dictionary Generator: Siiexigen, Silexicon source code for programmers. - VOL. 6; French spelling chccker(15,000words). - VOL. 7: German spelling checker (13,000 words). — VOL. 8: Machine code tools: Solimon, the finest machine code monitor with Disas- sembler, debugger, single step etc. for both 6502 and 65 C-02 (for second processor 65 C 02 assembler (for second processor), UVIPROM control software, SPRITES and SPRITE generator (providing 60 sprites per 16k sideways RAM). in Solidisk Toolkit, Rubber band, and Z80 drive C — VOL. 9: to be released October: Connect the canirol wires second processor). ( RAM disc facilities for Acorn Z80 — VOL. 10 to 19: Source code for use with the Technical Manual. 7 - TECHNICAL MANUAL: , ^ ^ THE TECHNICAL MANUAL contains estensive program listings and notes by their (part of Macro Basic), authors. It also covers the MACRO language programming MOS software, conventions for sideways software. Solidisk conventions for sideways RAM PRICE LISTS AND ORDERING (including P&P and VAT schematic diagram. SIDEWAYS RAM DFS entry points, the 65C02 programming facilities and .£43.65 STL ...... track SWR16 The Technical Manual package consists of the Technical Manual and 3— 80 SWR32 .... E150.9S containing 10 to 15 and costs £10.00. 128KSOLIDISK diskettes VOL. 256KSOLLDISK ... £257.95 The following ate upgrade prices for existing Sideways Ram Users LOCAL EXPERT HELP: £19,00 8- 16 — 32(retutncompleteitem) . . cost of a Solidisk experts is printed in the Sideways RAM User Manual. For the - SOLIDISK (return item) £110.00 A list of 16 PDA lb - SOLIDISK 2% [return Iteml local call, they can certainly help you with installation of software advice. 32 - SOLIDISK £95.00 . PDA Potential experts are warmly invited to contact us. 32-SOLIDISK256(tetumitem) .. £125 00 12ft — 256 (relum item) AND UVIPAC DFS AND DISK DRIVES UVIPROM EPROM PROGRAMMER STL DDFS DISK UPGRADE £39.95 £49.95 EPROM ERASER DFDC Twin FDC ueriion . allows the user to £163.00 The UVIPROM EProm programmer, which plugs into the user port, MITSUBISHI 2x80 Imcl leads + manual| £323.00 program 2764 and 27128 EPROMs, either from disc or master ROM. The unit is MITSUBISHI TWIN (incl lefld5+ manual) 65C02 12.00 built in generator and system software. Commands 200 self contained, complete with Vpp 65C02 software , available are: — COMPLETE SYSTEMS |i e. DRIVES + DDFS) *TEST — blank test for new (or erased) EPROMs. MITSUBISHI 2 X 80 640K bytes £202,95 1,3MB £353.00 •BLOW Editor/de-bugg about almost any subject to do with Computing then this is for For The BBC you. Perhaps the most comprehensive specialist book catalogue Micro ever compiled. FRFF C/PM& MS-DOS SOURCE CATALOGUE A range of professional software trom some of the worlds most experienced software houses, for the new operating systems now available on the BBC B, A description is given of each program. FREE GIFT VOUCHER SERVICE Do you know exactly wtiat DEBUG is the most sophisticated machine code to buy as a gilt ? Why not give one Gift - monitor yet produced for the BBC Microcomputer. of our Vouchers ? Vouchers start at just £10 - then they can choose their own gift from any of This ROM based Language/Utility is fully compatible our comprehensive catalogues! with Acorn Tubes (requires 1.2 OS). To order, please send cheque/P.O. for £40.50 enclosing your full name and Send address, or telephone and quote your ACCESS/VISA number your name, address and requirement, plus £ 1 to cover postage ) — For your free catalogue. micro choice The Computer Mail Order People 1 59 Havant Road, Drayton, . , Portsmouth, Hants. (0705) 32759 David Winrow Marketing Unit PO BOX 9 . Dealer enquiries welcome. Northwich, Cheshire CW9 7TP. UNIT 14. PEERGLOW INDUSTRIAL ESTATE. OLD'S APPROACH, TOLPITS LANE. RICKMANSWORTH HERTS 'i fS TELEPHONE: 0923 7771 55 ® 01 950 01 95 **** ROM MODULE SYSTEM **** **** HERE IT IS JUST RELEASED ***+ THE CARE ELECTRONICS LOW PROFILE ROM MODULE SYSTEM * Superb styling. — * Low Profile. * Avoids damage to BBC from changing Roms constantly. * Easy to use and install. * Prices lower than any other Rom System. O^*^ Complete Kit @ 17.25c Inc VAT Spare Cartridge @ 4.37c Inc VAT 5 Cartridges @ 20.70c Inc VAT ^ 10 Cartridges @ 39.10c Inc VAT TEL: 0923 7771 55 For larger quantities consult our factory at the above telephone no *Please note our cartridges are totally compatible with the Viglen Rom 01 950 0195 System. HOW TO ORDER: By Post. Enclose i your Cheque/P.O. made payable to: CARE Electronics. Or use your ACCESS. Allow 7 days for delivery. Please add carriage. 750 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 RICKMANSWORTH. HERTS. UNIT 14 PEERGLOW INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, OLD'S APPROACH, TOLPITS LANE, ^i ® TELEPHONE; 0923 777155 ® 01 950 0195 LEADS "nEAOY-MADE" Inc VAT SLIMLINE DRIVES 2.99c ea TEAC « TEC 6 pin DIN to 6 pin OIN plug (RGB) 1.5ml @ Inc VAT 3.45c ea SINGLE DRIVES CASED: 6 pin DIN 10 6 pin DIN plug iRGB) 2ml @ (g 6.90c ea 200K Switchable TEAC 55 @ 164.91a 6 pin DIN In 6 pin DIN plug (RGB) coileO cable 40/80 Track 2,99c ea 178,94a 6 pin DIN plug to 6 pin DIN ski (RGB) extension @ 40/80 Track 400K Switchable TEC @ (@ 3,45c ea BBC Power 6 way to Disc Drive 4 way 1 .5mt 4.14c sa CASED: BBC Powei 6 way to Disc Drive 4 way Zmt @ DUAL DRIVES 4.60c ea BBC Power 6 way to 2 Disc Drive A way 1 Smt @ Track 400K Switchable TEAC 55 @ 329.82a ea 40/80 Monitor lead BNC to PHONO l,2fnt @ 3.45c 357.88a 2.99c ea 40/80 Track 800K Switctiabte TEC @ Monitor lead T V. to PHONO 1.2ml @ RIBBON LEADS: Inc VAT INTEGRAL POWER SUPPLY: ea Disc Drive single i.2mi @ G.67c of the above drives @ 26.45b 10.12c aa Fitted to any Disc Drive dual 1.2mi @ @ 7.62c ea SUPPLY UNIT: @ 32.20b Printer Imt POWER 1 1 27c ea Printer l.5mt @ finished to match BBC. 7.59c * Colour Parallel 26-26 pin 1mt @ ea for disk drive. {Please 74c ea * 6 pin BBC Outlet or Dual Power lead Parallel 26-26 pin i.Smt @B g.43c ea Parallel 26-26 pin 2mt @ specify when ordering) 12e8cea Serial 25 pin D lype plug eacli end 2mt @ 15.1Scea FLOPPY DISCS: (Boxes of ten) Senal 25 pin D lype plug each end Smt @ 3M'S D/Slded D/Density 5.25" @ 27.37c CONNECTORS: Plugs: Sockets: 40c ea 3M'S S/Sided D/Density 5.25" @ 15.18c BBC Power 6 way housing @ Q,35c BBC Crimp Terminals @o.oac 0.09c ea 13.11c ea PRINTER STAND: @ Disc Drive i way tiousing @0 29c 0.24c 0.10c O.OScea Full Twelve Months Guarantee. Disc Drive Crimp Terminals @ Various Dm Connectors @ 0.40c 0.48c ea DISC INTEflFACE PARTS: Inc VAT 14" PHILIPS COLOUR TV/MONITOR: EProm HITACHI HN4B2764G @ 9.2DC ea i Inc VAT. Low power Schottky 74LS10 @ 0.48c ea 234,60a @ @ 0.46c ea PHILIPS 14" COLOUR TV: Low power ScnottHy 74LS38 Low power ScftotIi(y 74LS123 @ 1.21cea (g 184.00a Inc VAT, Low power Schottky 74LS393 @ 1 ,43c ea RGB CONVERSION KIT: C'Mos4013BCP ig 0.70c ea @ 1 00c ea (Please telephone for details) CMOS 4020BCP I /Connectors etc We also stocH a wide range o( electrical Componenis, ,e. C s'C a ps t I 38,64c Inc VAT. DON'T BUY A COLOUR MONITOR!! 14 16 HAVE YOUR " & " PHILIPS or PYE COLOUR TV CONVERTED TO A TV/MONITOR "ONLY" £49.91a inc VAT. • Image clarity comparable to leading monitors. • Includes RGB lead for connecting with BBC. • Conversions carried out at our workshops within 2/3 days. • Please telephone for other makes. CARE ELECTRONICS presents: CPX2 "X" SWITCHER Changing leads becomes a thing of the past!'.! * 26 pin (As BBC) 2 Micros driving 2 Printers at the same lime. * Can be used as a T" Switcher. excess ot ^0 *AII outputs BUFFERED enabling longer leads between units. In metres , .^ .^ with its own * No strain on your BBC power supply, as the CPX2' comes complete internal power supply, . * Easy to install and operate. * Colour Finished to match BBC. plug. , * Supplied with moulded mams , * 12 Months Guarantee. "ONLY" 85.10b Inc VAT. PRINTER SELECTOR: @ 65.09c Inc VAT, * 26 Pin as BBC * 1 Micro to 3 Printers. MAINS FILTER 5 amp: @ 45.08b Inc VAT * Noise and Transient Filter. SWITCHER: 1 55.20c Inc VAT. RS232"T" * 4 Socket outlets. o^'% RS232"X" SWITCHER: )65.09clncVAT. * Moulded mains plug. HOW TO ORDER: i TEL: 0923 777155 Electronics. By Post Enclose your Cheque/P.O. made payable to: CARE Or use your ACCESS. Allow 7 days for delivery. Please add carriage. a) @ 8,00 b) @ 5.00 t C) (S). 2.00 151 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 PROFESSIONAL SOFTWARE FOR THE BBC MICRO EASIPLOT SHARE ANALYSER EASDPLOT is a sophisticated AND user friendly graph package for the SHARE ANALYSER is a sophisticated portfolio reporting and share BBC Micro, placed 14th in the top 20 Educational packages by the. analysis package designed for the small investor. The disk version has leading Educational CompuHng Magazine. EASIPLOT also has come to a capacity of 20,000 SHARE PRICES and up to 320 buy/sell deals be regarded as an 'outstanding business package' and 'excellent value covering 20 share names. Share Analyser has facilities for profit for money'. flexing and multiple merging of graphs and a variety of selectable indicators. SHARE ANALYSER IS A MUST FOR THE INVESTOR Note:- EASIPLOT 3 comes complete with the number charting AT A BARGAIN PRICE. program DATA PLOTTER with graph magnification, colour and moving average faciliHes. SUPERB VALUE AT £22,95. PROFIT STATEMENT » NAME BRITISH PETROLEUM DEAUNGS Bought Av Price Cost 600 338 2028 Sold Av Price Income 300 426 1278 Held Curr Price Mkt Vain 300 438 1314 Gross Profit 564 Income 257 EASIPLOT FACIUTES DISK CASSETTE Expenses 101 Line, Bar and Pie Charts YES YES Net Profit 720 Auto Manual & Scaling YES YES Gain = 36 % 1 Grid & Scatter Options YES YES No of simultaneous graphs 5 3 SHARE ANALYSER Overwrite memory YES NO FACIUTIES DISK CASSETTE Screensave facility YES YES No of prices Screendump facility YES YES stored 20,000 Appxl700 Max no' of Holdings Fixed description per graph (char's) up to 200 100 20 20 Transactions per Full plot and axis editing YES YES holding 16 16 Range, adjuster Save, Load & 'CAT facilities YES YES YES NO File Manager Single file selection YES NO YES NO Printer Manager Operating Manual (pages) 52 52 YES NO REPORTS PRODUCED:- All our programs will produce hard copy on the following printers:- EPSON (entire range), Shinwa CP80, Star DP 510, Seikosha {GP80A & Portfolio Valuation YES YES GPIOOA). Share Analyser will produce reports on any BBC compatible Portfolio Profit Analysis YES printer. YES Share Profit Analysis YES YES PLEASE NOTE;- Our programs CANNOT BE OBTAINED FROM YOUR Share Movement Analysis YES YES Transaction LOCAL DEALER so sertd for details NOW. Record Report YES NO File Status Report YES NO PROGRAM PRICE GRAPHICS FACILITIES:- Data Plotter (cassette) . . Model B & Electron £7.00 Plotter . Data (disk) . Model B £8.00 Magnification option YES YES Easiplot 1 (cassette) , . Model B & Electron £15.95 Grid YES YES Easiplot 2 (disk only) . . Model B £19.95 Autoscale YES YES Easiplot 3 (including Data Plotter-disk only) £22.95 Screenwrite YES YES Share Analyser (cassette) . . Model B & Electron £14.95 Screendump Share YES YES Analyser (disk only) . . Model B £19.95 SELECTABLE GRAPHICAL INDICATORS:- Disk orders., please state 40 orSO track (add£l for 80 track and £1.50 for overseas orders). We will upgrade Easiplot 1 to Easiplot 2 for£7(£10 to Lagged Moving Average YES YES Easiplot 3). Centred Moving Average YES YES Rise and fall indicator Write for full details of all our programs or leave your name and YES YES address with our Answerphone service (Luton 33858). Weekly/Daily Low indicator YES YES All programs are normally despatched within 24 hours. Superimpose Facility YES YES Send cheque/P.O. elc lo Synergy Software. 7 St Andrews Close. Slip End. Luion. LU I 4DE. 152 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 , THREE NEW PROGRAMS FROM MICROTEST SATAN'S CHALLENGE MICROTEST FONT ROM DAIRYFILEFOR Rides Out) or (Nevil This ewcHing new ROM ttom MicfOiost will enetjle you to and fonts from vour SBC DAIRY FARMERS get all sorts o( new characters Compuler Once you have produced youi masterpiece on screendump the screen, all you have lodo is use the inbuilt paper. uliKlv to produce a hard copv on lo Keep on that economic line between over and under feeding! Typing "HELP FONTS giwes 'ou a lis! ot available lonls and the blocks of chaiaclers which they replace. Save lime recotciing milk yield and calculating fonts are: feed amounts! Available 'Accents Accents and miscellaneous -Block Small capitals decide feeding policy with ti'ie Quickly 'Data Like the bottoms of cheques. Calving Group' Performance Graph! 'Monthly -Graak It's all Greek to me tool 'Joined Standard capitals with |Oined up in Print out a recording sheet with cows lower case unobtainable numerical order. Pnnt out graphs or tables of Maths A mix of until now symbols individual cows or Monthly Groups showing Maihemattcei A tew oddities which often ate very serving and pregnancy details, illness record. 'Miscellaneous necessary. Calving Index, weekly and running total Thick text (lor twlODEs 0&3J to Margin over Concentrate. See at a glance cows Thick Adventure enhance 80 column mode due for serving, pregnancy diagnosis and A Black Magic 'Thin Thin text (for MODEs 2&5) which weekly total feed cost Ihe challenge laid down by ihe most drying off. Keep track of Dare you take up 5 much more read- devil himsell makes modes 2 B beings , ihe milk sale price evil andsinisierofali and at the mercv able 01 perhaps 'READABLE" If you do you will Und yoursell alone and in a unrticai plane of Ihe twisted fancies and whims ol a cold and calcu 'Vertical for labelling graphs with DAI RYFI LE latino mind. column multi colour, memory All this and more , , >Moda 8 10 oi Inose near Occult forces ate threatening the lives miserly mode only salvalian rests m your and dear to you. Their which will produce a Group total iaclalton 'S Dump A Dump facility Predict cow or Monthly hands but in accepting the challenge your own exist Lactation scteon dump ol any mode from to 8 yield, Compare with Standard ence IS put in severe peril (including a text only dump m mode challenge you have to lind 1 he Curves. All old data preserved - compare In taking up Ihe TALISMAN and locate a pentagram which then has to 7] on an epson, stai, CPSO. MT80 or Monthly Groups over the years. Which is the dark be prepared for ihe final rite. In the meanlime JPSOelcetc. most profitable month' forces will be opposing you makmg a difficult lask almost impossible positive product, The dump utility will produce negative or Do not allow yourself to be lulled mlo a sense ol with DAIRYFILE - for up to 200 \ac- can and will also rotate the pictufe through 90 Find out secuntyforitwlll beshortlived. magmfy, position Ihe picture any- tating cows Many have gone before only to swell the ranks of the degrees as well as being able to damned where laterally across the paper , , ... of Micro This is Ihe latest adventure from ihe stables ihe acclaimed feaiures test and has been written with The ROM uses absolutely no user memory and can be used (disc only) + p&P 50p other adventures in mind eg save facility, quick re- eeS.OO inc. VAT of with word processors etc, as well as with normal word sponse simple but extensive commands, a mixlure ol logiciil and Iriendrsh problems in solve programs. Be warned this is an easy adventure to get into Required or 1 or more 80 devilishly difficult to end, 2 X 40 Track Drives but _ ,„ . ,,.^ £17.50 inc. VAT Disc £9.45 inc. VAT Track Drives. Please Slate which when ordering. Cassette £7.95 inc. VAT ~ p&p sop Disc 40 or BO Track + p&p sop Microtest Starstick ROM & Joystick Package in three forms: Now available the Starstick ROM and Joystick. This comes I Joystick (A) The Starstick ROM and Quickshot Price 17.95 ^ VAT - 19.84 Joystick (B) The Starstick ROM and Quickshot H Price 19.25 + VAT = 22.14 choose (C) The Starstick ROM and patch lead, your own Spectrum/Atari style joystick Price 15.25 + VAT = 17.54 Post and Packing £1.00 inc. VAT per Hem centring joysticks until now This enables vou to plug the Rapid action self ''°" for the Specirum/Aian/CBI^ only available ^^'^'''"^V"I?-rL''nrAfcINTERFACE the BBC, Model A users please note NO ANALOGUE REQUIRED. or CONTROL BREAK Disc Users Note - pressing BREAK. SHIFT-BREAK software so Disc Users does not modify or destroy the STARSTICK please feel free to Booii driven and adds the The software patch provided in the ROM is interrupt following commands to your computer. * STICK lurn on ihe STARSTICK ROfVI « NSTICK turn off ihe STARSTICK ROM * SETSTICK set up ioyslick to users spec: 140 saves your user-key protocols Enables you to use our * SAVE "NAIVIE' 160 * ADVAL emulate standard analogue joysticks joysticks even on programs * PAUSE define key to Freeze game * NPAUSE turn off ability to freeze game offer joystick that do not * NAtVIE' predefined kev protocols set up tot software capability. houses programs * HELP KEYS displays curfenily selected key protocols * REPEAT enables aulo-repeat lire « NREPEAT disables auto-repeat fire from DEALER ENQUIRIES available and MICROTEST LTD EXPORT ORDERS PL31 1EX WELCOME 18 Normandy Way, Bodmin, Cornwall 3812 Telephone:'^ 0208 ORANYGOODDEALER . . , x,^, H and a Quickshot II Joystick Sma Large picture shows BBC Corr^puter Systerr. L^.^'^'if^^JT °I^^^ by kind permission of SUPERIOR SOFTWARE joysticks thai will work with the patch lead. Screenshot of Acorn Computet^J (TUBE " is a reg trademark All microtest ROMs are fully TUBE- compatible. 5 C( Twillstar reliability for HO^ COMPUTERS Brother HR25 £631 Commodore64 £175.00 Canon Epson RX1 OOF/T 1 00 CPS £439 00 AP400KSR £874 OricAtmos48K £166.00 Epson FX80 160 CPS £370 00 Daisy Step 2000 20 CPS £228 .00 Sinclair ZX Spectrum 48K £11 5 GO Epson FX100RT 160 CPS £494 00 Diablo 630 API £1512 Sanyo MBC 55 128K2X160K Epson LQ1 500 200 CPS Diablo Sheet Feeder £563 Drives £914.25 (NLQ) £1029.00 Fujitsu SP830 RO(S) 80 CPS £1 374 Acorn Electron £199 OQ MannesmannMT8080CPS £199,00 Juki 61 00 18 CPS £340 BBC Model B £399 00 Mannesman MT180 160 CPS Juki 6300 40 CPS £850 BBC Model B + Disc Interface £469 00 (f^LQ) £678.00 NEC 2010 Serial 20 CPS £741 BBC Model B + Econet Newbury DRE8850 300 LPM £2409 00 NEC 2030 Parallel 20 CPS £741 Interface C447 00 Newbury DRE8925 240 CPS £1592 00 NEC3510Serial35CPS £1321 BBC Model B + Disc &Econet OKI 82A 120 CPS £293 00 NEC 3530 Parallel 35 CPS £1321 Interface £517.00 OKI 84A 200 CPS £724 00 NEC 7710 Serial 55 CPS £1723 Z80 Second Processor £399.00 OKI 92P 160 CPS £379 00 NEC 7730 Parallel 55 CPS £1723. 6502 Second Processor £199.00 OKI 241 OP 350 CPS £1765 00 OlympiaESW103 £948, Acorn Bitstick £375,00 SeikoshaGPIOOA £165 00 Quendata20CPS Acorn lEE Interface £325,00 SeikoshaBP420420CPS Unidirectional £228 ,00 Acorn Electron + One Interface £59,00 (11 OCRS NLQ) £1255.00 QumellMORO £1362 00 BBC Prestel Adaptor £132.00 ShinwaCP80Model11Ft £199 00 Qume11/55R0 £1575 00 BBC Telex Receiver £225.00 StarDeltalOieOCPS £378 00 Qume9/45R0 £1782 00 Amstrad + Green Monitor £235.00 StarDelta15160CPS £511.00 Ricoh RP 13008 £1029 00 Amstrad + Colour Monitor £335.00 Riteman Compact 120 CPS Ricoh RP1 BOOS £1368 00 Einstein £499.00 80Col,F/T £228.00 Ricoh RP1600S Row Writer DOT MATRIX PRINTERS StarGemini 10X 120CPS £228.00 8K £1436 00 Anadex DP-6500 500CPS £2321 00 StarGemini 15X120 CPS £334 00 Ricoh RP1600S Flow Writer Anadex WP-6000 £2079.00 Star Radix 10 200 CPS (NLQ) £516 00 8KIBMPC £1493 Ricoh Brother EP44 £228.00 Star Radix 15 200 CPS (NLQ) £631 00 RP 1 600S Sheet Feeder £527 Ricoh BrotherHR5 £148 00 Tec 1550 120 CPS £534 00 RP1600S Tractor £158 Canon PW1080A1 60 CPS Toshiba TH2100H 192 CPS £1466 00 Silver Feed EXP 550 (P) 16 (NLQ) £289.00 Trend 930 200 CPS (NLQ CPS £655.1 Smith Corona Canon PW1156A 160 CPS 80 CPS) £1552.00 TIP 12 CPS £224 1 TEC (NLQ) £389.00 Epson 8143RS232 Interface for FX & Star Writer F1 040 40 Texan KagaKPBIO £279,00 RX £43.00 CPS £1029.1 TEC Texan KagaKPOlO £389.00 Epson 81 48RS232 Interface with 2K Star Writer F1 055 55 CPS Ensign 1650 165 CPS £305 00 BufferX On/Off £65.00 £1420.( TEC Epson RX80T 100 CPS £224 00 DAISYWHEEL Sheet Feeder £527. PRINTERS TEC Epson RX80RT 100 CPS £253 00 Tractor £158( Brother HR1 £51 1 00 UchidaDWX-305(SorP) Brother HR1 £378.00 18 CPS £264.C Brother HR1 5 Keyboard £155.00 Juki Single Sheet Feeder £245. C Brother HR1 5 Sheet Feeder £212 00 Juki Tractor Unit £108 C BrotherHR15 Tractor Feed £71.00 Juki RS232 Interface £55.C Juki Spare Daisywheel £16. Twillstar Computers Limited 1 Regina Road, Vt 7 Southall. MIDDLESEX. UB2 5PL. TEL: (01) 574 5271 154 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 . ^i^lE computer users...and now One Disk Drives £263.00 COLOUR PRINTERS Sinclair 249K Disk Drives £229.00 Canon PJ1080A 7 Colour ADDONS FOR THE BBC much more than just the standard 40 CPS InkJet £399.00 Spell Check £19.00 commands, it has been programmed to give more and better commands! Priced at £69.95 SeikoshaGP700A7 Tool Kit £27.00 inclusive of VAT. Please add £1 .50 for post £399.00 Star Base £69.00 Colour 50 CPS and packing. PLOTTERS Disk Doctor £32.00 Graphics ROM £32.00 Mannesman PIXY Plotter £569.00 Microtec Cassette £49.80 MONITORS MicrotecOnDisk £59.85 Texan Kaga RGB Vision 111 Grafpad £132.00 12" £369, 00 BBC Cassette Recorder £35.00 Texan Kaga 12" Disk Interface (Free Fitting) £120.00 HR Green/Amber £118. 00 Games Paddles £9.95 MicrovitecCUB 1431 Stand Econet Interlace £69.00 RAM-ROM BOARD RES £199.00 Speech Interface £54,00 The RAiyi-ROM extension board gives an MicrovitecCUB 1451 Medium View Word Processor £59,00 extra 6 sockets for extra ROM 's and 2 slots of RES £299,00 Word Wise Word Processor £37.00 RAM. This RAM is not an extension of BASIC. It is intended that the RAM be used to develop MicrovitecCUB 1441 High Light Pen for BBC £45.00 yourown ROM based software. There are in RES £399, 00 User Pack £44,79 Edward fact seven sockets on the board, the 7th SanyoSCM14"VHR £425. 00 Edward Teacher Pack £34.44 replaces the socket on the main board that would otherwise be taken by the ROM board Fidelity 12MHZ, RGB, Edward Commercial Pack £59 . 74 Composite £195.00 (The RAM-ROM board can accommodate both 2764 type EPROMS as well as 271 28 Phillips V7001HR Green EPROMSandROM.) Screen with Input £75.00 Sound The RAMAMP board will not cause MicrovitecFORQL145114" overheating, it comes with fully fitting Medium Res £270.00 instructions, tested and heat tested before Novex 14" Colour Monitor £215.00 depatch. Phces: Without RAM fitted £33.50. 1 x Nordmede TV/Monitor 14" £249-00 6K RAM fitted £47.00. 2 x 16 RAM fitted PERIPHERALS £59.00 DISK DRIVES EXPANSION BOARDS All prices inclusive of VAT. Please add £1 .50 tor P&P. BBC Single 100K Drive £99.00 RAVEN-20 BOARD TheRAVEN-20isa20KRAM HOW TO ORDER BBC Dual 200K £189.00 You may purchase any of Ihe items listed by EXPANTION forthe BBC Micro, Model B, cfieque made payable lo: Twillslar Computers Single 40 Track Ltd. Barclaycard or Access. AM you fiave to do is BBC 200K fitted with O.S. 1.2. fill in requirements on separate sheet of £159.00 your a Double Sided This specially designed product plugs in paper, post to us and we will despatch with 24 BBC Dual 400K 40 Track to the CPU socket of your micro (centre hours, subject to availability. All prices inclusive of 15% VAT. ADD C2.50 P&Pfor orders available) with the minimum of Double Sided £299.00 socket of the 3 below£150. Over add C8 P&P Credit card effort. The pins are specially custom made, holders may order by telephone. Give card BBC Single 400K 80 Track number, name, address and items required. thus avoiding any possible damage to the £175.00 Please note VAT is not charged on export Double Sided circuitry. orders. Export customers please ring for details BBC Dual 800K 80 Track The RAVEN board provide the user with of P&P £349.00 an extra 20K of usable RAM in screen modes Double Sided ...ask for our Full range! to 3. This together with the aid of software BBC Single Power Supply £20.00 makes the system completely transparent to BBC Dual Power Supply £29.00 both the user and the computer. open Disk Drive for Amstrad £199.00 ni. The RAVEN-20 software ROM gives 6 days a week Commodore 1541 Disk Drive £179.00 9am to 7pm Monday to Saturday TELEPHONE ORDERS (01)5745271 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 155 ^^ LETTER O QUALITY PRINTER A compact (12" x 2 V2"x 8"), letter quality printer from Classic Computers with a host of outstanding features at the unbelievable price of £229.00 inc. VAT. Plugs straight into most computers, with optional adaptors available for Commodore 64 and Sinclair Spectrum. Compatible with BBC A or B and any computer with parallel interface. * P'*'"*s 12 characters per second • Elite ,rSi type (12 101 characters per inch)* Bi-directional printing • Logic ' * seeking • Plain paper - uses your letterheading • Up to A4 size paper • Instant change ink roller • 96 characters, fu I UK ASCII code • 80 columns • Separate GOARANTtt To: Classic Computers, 5/6 Lansdowne House, Christchurch Road, Bournemouth BHl 3JP. Name: ,,, Please supply: .... Ibico LTR-1 letter quality printer £229.00 Address: ,,., Printer cable for BBC A or B £17.95 ... Adaptor for Commodore 64 £29.95 GLASSIG COMPUTERS ... Adaptor for Sinclair Spectrum £39.95 I enclose a cheque/P.O. for £ (Plus £3.50 for postage and packing) A Divi'iion of Classic Typewriters Ltd Please debit my Access/Barclaycard Card: Expiry Postcode Established over 30 years No: l I I I I I I III I I I I I I I date 5/6 LANSDOWNE HOUSE, CHRISTCHURCH ROAD, Tel. No. or telephone your credit card order BOURNEMOUTH. BHl 3JP. Tel: (0202)23456 _AUj "' AMSTRAD CPC 464 ELECTRON ONLY £4.95 Including VAT & Postage FAST -FUNNY & ADDICTIVE ER*BERT ITS ER- BERTS CUBIC DOMAIN - AVOID HIS UNWELCOME GUeSTSi GRAB THE BANANA - DOUBLE YOUft SCORES - BUT WATCH - ^'OUT BORIS THE APE WILL SOON WANT IT BACK' DROP [T AND RUN UNLESS YOU'RE VERY BRAVE' AVOID CASCADING BALLS THE MOVING HOLE AND COILY THE ANACONDA. HE'S GOT A CUDDLE VOULL NEVER FORGETi ESCAPE WHEN ITS REALLY TOUGH BY TRANSPORTER DISC OR ROTA HAT IF YOU'VE EARNED ONE MULTIPLE SCREENS ADDITIONAL CHANGE CUBE COLOUR TASKS. IT'S FUN AT LEVEL ONE - BUT WATCH OUT AT LEVEL TENi PACKED WITH FUN AND EXCITEMENT TRY IT YOURSELF (ALL MACHINE CODEl RANGER - BBC only PINBALL REVERSI ILLUSTRATED LEAFLETS AVAILABLE SEND S A.E GAMES AVAtlABlE ACCESS CARD WELCOME AT MANY OUTIETS 21 HH HOT LINE OH DIRECT fRGM 06373 6866 ca MICROeVTE SOFTWARE (VC1QI IS HILGRDVE ROAD. NEWQUAY. CORNWALL, TR7 2QZ. A TRADITIONAL GAME STAR TRENCH OF STRATEGY AND EXCELLENT 3D GRAPHICS SKILL - 2 LEVELS MULTIPLE SCENE SPACE TREK ELECTRON/BBC CATTLE TO THE DEATH THE CLASSIC ARCADE GAME UP START TRENCH DESTROY TO FOUR - THE PLAYERS HI SCORES DISTRIBUTORS - DEATH STAR FIGHT BONUS FEATURES. YOUR WAY BACK. MACHINE DEALERS - CALL CODE GAMES IREOUIRES ELECTRON/BBC -MACHINE 06373 6886 S CODE 1 0.1 21 Star Surface FOR TRADE ENQUIRIES 156 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 ...Twillstar reliability for BUSINESS computer users! aUpfkes BUSINESS SYSTEMS iacmiveofvati SANYO 550 16BitMicro128KRAM expandable to 256K. Single or is Double Disk dnvebuill in full and there more virtually any computer system in colourgraphics (640x200 BBC 3: SAN 5; the world. This is of the pixels inScolours) IBM Same as System BBC 2 but with Same as SAN4but with Dual one new generation will compatible Free software. 400KDnve £1006,25 360K Drives £1696.25 modems, that Sanyo MBC 550 128K RAM BBC 4: SAN 6: probably cover any standards single drive and tree software BBCModelB-H Disk Interface, Same as SAN 4 but with Dual communications you View including Wordstar and Caicstar (or Wordwise] 730KDrives £1753,75 wouldeverneed.Thisisthe Wordprocessor, 800K Dual Disk 1:862 modem that will cover Prestel. Dnve (Mitsubishi), High Res SANYO 550-2 BUSINESS SOFTWARE Micronet, Telecom Gold, Distel, Green IVIonitor, JUKI 6100 As 550 but Willi Dual Drive C £ Micro web. One-to-One. Bulletin Daisywheel Printer, 1 Box(IO) 2x160K E976 Tape Disk Boards both in the UK and of SOTrack Disks and all Cash Book abroad, ect. etc. as well as SANYO 550-360 necessary cables £1316,75 Accounts 59.80 53 25 user-to-user communication. It As 550 but With 2 x360K Drives SAN1: FInalAccounts 59.80 63.25 also has a rather useful facility of £1149 Sanyo MBC 550 Series16Bil Invoices SANYO 550-73 Microcomputer. 128K RAM, & Reverse-Prestel'modei e. As 550 but with 2 x 730K Drives Dual160KDrives(2xl60K) Statements 19.84 23,28 75/1 200 so that you can £1206 High Res Graphics (600 x 200 Commercial communicate with other users SANYO 555 pixels in8colours). JUKI 6100 Accoums 19.84 23.28 who only have a standard 1 200/ Sanyo MBC555128K double Daisywheel Pnnter, High Res Mailing List 19,84 23,28 75 type modem What possibly dnve and free software including Green Monitor. IBoxof 10 DataBase 19 84 23.28 gives this modem its biggest Disks, Wordstar, Calcslar. Intorstar, Wordstar StockControl 19.84 23.28 advantage is its option of Wordprocessor. Calcstar Datastaretc £1149 HomeAccounts 19.84 23.28 comouter controlled switching spreadsheet andallthe SANYO 555-360 Beebcalc between all modes of operation, necessary cables £1351.25 As555butwilh2x360KDrives Spreadsheet Inaddition, separate auto- SAN 2: £1436 Analysis 19.84 23.82 answer and auto-dial cards are SANYO 555-730 Sames as SAN 1 but with Dual Payroll 44.85 48,30 available, giving this modem 360K Drives X360K) As 555 but with 2 X730K Drives (2 £1546,75 possibly the greatest potential ot £1494 ADO ON'S FOR BBC all (Wains powered £129(c) WORD PROCESSING SAN 3: Complete programme Please phone/wnte for details of BBCV Same as SAN 1 but with Dual 720KDnves £1604.25 development package on 1 6K optional extras BBCI^iicro Mode! B, View (or ROM. an absolute necessity tor Word-wise) Word processor, SAN 4: TELEMOO-2 Quendata20CPSDaisywheel Sanyo MBC 555 Serles16Bit all assembly langugae A BT approved modem programers Printer, High Res Green Monitor, Microcomputer, 128K RAM, £56.35 complying with CCITTV23 Cassette Recorder plus 10 Dual150KOrives(2x160K), MODEMS 1200/75Duplex&1200/1200 High Res Graphics (600x200 cassettes and all the necessary WS2000 Half-Duplex standard, that cables £747,50 pixels in8colours)JUKI 6100 A world standard direct allows communication with Daisywheel Pnnter High Res connect BBC 2: modem switchable between Viewdata servicese.g. Prestel, Green Monitor, 1 Box of 10 BBC Micro Model B + Disk Disks, Wordstar 75,300/300,600,1200/75.75/ Micronetetc, as well as using Interlace, View (or Wordwise) Wordprocessor, Calcstar 1200 baud, awaiting BT 1200 Baud for communicating Wordprocessor, lOOKOisk with spreadsheet, Mailmerge, approval. It is compatible with other computer users. Drive, High Res Green Monitor. Spellstarldictionary), Mains powered. Quendata20CPSDaiEywheel Datastar 6ell103/113/108,202and TELEMOO 2 (database), Reportstar plus all £65(b)BBC Lead £3.50 Printer. 1 Box of Disks and all the CCinV2U 23 standards and the necessary cables £1489.25 necessary cables £803 35 allows you to communicate with HOW TO ORDER You may purchase any of the items listed by cheque made payable to Twillsfar Computers Lid. Barclaycard or Access. All you have to do is till in your requiremenis on a separate sheet of paper, post to us and we will despatch within 24 hours, sub]ecl to availability. All pnces inciusive of 15% VAT ADD Z2 50 P&P tor orders below £150 Over add £8 PSP. Credit card holders may order by telephone. Glue card number, name, address and items required. Please note VAT is not charged on export orders. Export customers please ring for details of P&P, askfotour Full range' TELEPHONE ORDERS Open 6 da^s a week (01)5745271 9am to 7pm Monday to Saturday Twillstar Computers Limited 17RegmaRoad.Southall. MIDDLESEX. UB2 5PL. TEL: (01)5745271 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 157 Computers More Hard Disk Developments for BBC Micro Giving even lower cost systems tor education Large lal i. ji^ik J Capacity Winchester Drives Removable Cartridge Hard Disk Drives Range from 5 - 232 MBytes GSL Hard Disk Systems have Tape Streamer been well proven in educational 5 MBytes removable cartridge factory and office environments, drives Backup for stand alone or networking Tape Streamer applications. Efficient backup of Winchester units (standard tape backup of Other GSL products 45 MBytes in 9 mins.}, include:- Printer Buffer LCD Display WFS Floppy Disk Drives Comprehensive Winchester Monitors filing system Rom - stand alone Printers use. (We are also an Acorn dealer). Networking For further information Amcom's E-Net provides a on any of our products fc. simple to use, yet flexible system contact:- Geophysical Systems for linking up to 255 BBC Lea Wyatt at Computers Limited microsloaWinchesterfile server. GSCL West Portway, Andover, Hampshire SPIO 3SG. Tel: (0264) 59633 Telex: 47166 OSLO. . BBC/ELECTRON PROFESSIONAL SOFTWARE Our educational software is used in thousands of schools and tiomes throughout Great Britain. EDUCATIONAL 1 bbc/€Uctbon Tape cs.oo Disc no.oo Hours of fun and learning lor children aged Five to nine years. Animated graphics will encDuraQe children to enjov counling, maths, spelling and lelling the time. Ttie tape includes six programs: a true bargain... MATH 1, MATH 2, CUBECOUNT, SHAPES, SPELL and CLOCK. . . 'An excellent mixture of games' . . . Personal Software - Autumn 1383. EDUCATIONAL 2 bbc/electron rape cs.oo disc no.oo Although similai to Educational 1 this tape is more advanced and aimed at seven to twelve vear olds. The tape Includes MATH 1 , MATH 2, AHEA, MEMORY. CUBECDUNT and SPELL DAISY STEP FUN WITH NUMBERS bbc/eiicwoi\i Tape £8.00 disc no.oo These programs will teach and lest basic counting, addition and subtraction skills for four to seven year olds. The tape includes COUNTING, ADDIMG, SUBTRACTION and an arcade type game called ROCKET MATHS which will exercise addition and subtraction. With sound and visual effects, FUN WITH WORDS bbc/electrqn Tape cs.oo disc mm Start youi \m with alphabet puzzle, continue your play with VOWELS, leain the difference between DaisyWheel Printer THERE and THEIR, have games wiili SUFFIXES and reward yourself with a game of HANGMAN - 'Very good indeed' . . A&B Computing Jan/Feb 1984 JIGSAW AND SLIDING PUZZLES by p. Warner BBC/ELECTRON Tape £7.95 Disc [9.95 There are two jigsaw and four sliding puzzles on a 3 < 3 and 4 -4 grid. Each program starts off at £228 at an easy level to ensure iniUal success but gradually becomes harder. It helps children to develop INCLUSIVE OF VAT spatial imagination and in solving problems. The tape includes: OBLONG, JIGSAW, HOUSE. {Please add C8 torpostand packing) NUMBERS, CLOWN and LEHERS. KON-TIKI byJ Amos BBC Tape CIO S5 Disc £12.95 Simulation program based on Thor Heyerdahl's KON-TIKI expedition. Enjoy a jouiney on the KON- TIKI recording on a map the raft's position and entering notes in the logfaonk on creatures found, unusual events etc. Inclusive of booklet, background information, maps and fully supportive illustrated data sheets. • •SPECIAL OFFER** Buy tbrat titles and deduct £4. 00 Add SOppSp per order Please state BBC oi ELECTROS or 40 or SO track for discs. Golem Ltd. Dept A. 77 Qualitas, Bracknell, Berks RG12 4QG. Tel: 0344 50720 *FREE CABLE KS *FflEE PAPER , . At the special price , of e288 inclusive of VAT and Post, Packing and Insurance, this is indeed a unique opportunity to own an amazing flexible Daisy Wheel Printer! Just look at the features! 1.18CP8 8. BOM and shadow printing 2.BMlP8cUonal 8. Sub a superscripts S.Loglcseekins 18. qUME compatible ribbons 4. Proportional tracing 11. QUME compatible daisywheels 5. Wordstar compatible 12. 4 level Impression control 6. ir platen -12 Printline 13. Prints original + 4 copies 7. Auto underscore 14. Low noise This extremely attractive printer comes complete with free printer cable and 500 sheets of test run paper- just to make sure you get everything running smoothly! HOW TO ORDER To purchase lheKPfl100'lheKP910prmler simply write you' name and adOress on a ptece ol paper ancf posi lo Ihe address below, enclosing youtchegue/P 0. made payable lo Twillslar Computers Lid TJ^ If you are a Credit Card Holder, simply use Ihe telephone lo B* BROMLEYSRROMi FVQ FIRSTFiner place your order. SPECIALIST COMPUTER STORE 17 RE6INA ROAD, SOUTHALL. MIDDLESEX UB2 5PL. TEL: (01) 574 5271 We are official Acorn Dealers with high standards to maintain and take pride in friendly and efficient advice and service. Open See our extensive range of printers, 6 days a week monitors, disc drives, software and 9am to 7pm IWilbtarComputen Limited Monday to Saturday books. 17REGIN4BOM) SOUTHALL MIDDlfSEX UBJiPL IEl (QU57452;i TELEPHONE ORDERS DqIci floret (01)5745271 6 Chatterton Road, Bromley, Kent. 460 8991 ACORN USER NOVEtABER 1984 159 HIGH QUALITY DRIVES AT EVEN LOWER PRICES. Opus disc drives are the best buys And when you look at our prices, on the market. you'll find that VAT, all necessary leads We have reduced our prices, but the and carriage are included along with a quality still remains as high as ever. two year guarantee - a year more than All our 5 '//' drives have been tested any other company can offer to their limits, running for 8,000 hours - You can order by posting the coupon that's a year of constant use. below or calling at our showroom. 3 MICRODRIVE. DOLTBLE DENSITY jj. • Twice the capacity on DISC INTERFACE. • tf- Opus I line of other available The ultimate double drives. density disc interface for your BBC Micro, • 2()()K Single Density - compatible with 6502 4{)()K Double Density-. 2 nd Pr(x:essor, • Easy to connect to the liBC Micro. •3 ms. Access rime. • I itilities I m ROM including: Format and veril\', tape to • Low power consumption -direct dri\e. disc transier. automatic 40 SO Track selectk)n. auto- • Manual and free disc cartridge provided. matic density' selection, unique mass copy Routine, I )( )ublc sided 40 Track Drive Single drive ic,l99.95 pt)werfiil machine code operating system giving up to Dual drive &399.95 248 flies, 80"n taster than single density-. Easy to install. Free user manual supplied jt>129.95 5 'A SINGLE DISC DRIVES. (iENEROllS EDICATION AND DEALER DISCOUNTS • All '.height. GIVEN. AIX ITEMS ARE Gll.\RANTEED FOR TWO YEARS • Low povi'cr AND ARE SllTABLE FOR LSE WITH THE BBC MICRO. consumption. • ("omprehensive manual, Free utilities disc. OPUS SLIPPLIES LTD. • [:)irect drive mechanism. Fast access time. ItKC",;u^iIxtwc11 I^oulI. ixindon SFS OEE. ()pcningh()Lirs:9.()() 5.30Monday- ()|~018(>(iK S4() 1 1 OOK Single sided 4() Track il49.95 fnday9.(H)-LO()pm.Saturday 01 ""O-^dlST S4()2 iOOK Double sided 40 Track _&169.95 ^ 5802 40()K Double sided Irardware switchable HO 40 Track &199.95 OPllS PRODUCTS ARE AVAIIABLE FROM BOOTS, W.H. SMITHS, SPECTRlTM,JOHN Ml- NZIES, ALLDERS AND OTHER GOOD COMPllTER STORES NATION'WTDE. 5'A" DUAL DISC DRIVES. '\n OpusSlippiicsl.lil.. l-iSCjinlxTuell Uii.li.1, l.nruldii Sf-S Dl'l'. I'IlMm | I • Metal all cased and rush iiiLilu'lnlluwJnji. (ALL PRICES INCLCDEVAT* CARRIAGE.) I necessar\' leads. • Separate power suppK'^ yuaniil\ l)(.s<.ii|ilinn I'rkr • Utilities disc and manual. 540 ID 200K 400K on line S/sicled 40 Track_i349.95 5402D 400K, HOOK on line D sided 40 Track__&399.95 5802D 1.6 Megabyte on line D/sided hr.mrtMi S 1'" 1 ^ 80()K Iciuldse ;.i hardware switchable 80/40 Track i499.95 ( )r pIcusL' dcliit my credit cirU :ico luiic witli the aiiK )Linr ( >i'.i, FLOPPY DISCS. My Acvcss ULiivkn'aial (please tick) No, i.s 3" cartridge i5.75 each ori25.95 tor 5. AC31 5 i/t" Discs- with full 5 vear warranty' and free library N;inic. case. S/SS/D &17.95 tor 10. Adcircss- S/SD/D&19.95forI0. D/SD/D&21.95forl(). S/S 80 Track i25.95 tor 10. Tck'phnne- Opi.i,NSvi]"i|ilicsLid D/S 80 Track &27.95 for 10. U 'J ...... Something new from CMC... Qj^r5...1ikethis . . . books . . Our highl)' successful Advanced User PhilipsV7001 I2"Tube Guide for the BBC has now been joined by the Advanced Basic ROM High Resolution Computer User Guide, which delves deep into the Monitor... micro I BBC BASIC and BASIC 2 * Free Cable' ROMs. At £7.95. it's essential for the • Free Paper! serious user. We have also introduced hard-back ring-binders (or the Acorn User Guide and our Advanced User Guide: available at E4.50 each. ForONLY£75 INCLUSIVE OF VAT (Ptease add C8 for post and packing] j . . . type 'n' talk . . Simply connected to any micro, this IS a powerful speech computer with sophisticated software; it will convert any text into speech faster than it can be spoken. This is our own product, developed and manufactured in £171.35, Cambridge. De/tvary £5.00. and disk drives The new generation of TEAC SV/ slim- line disk drives offer high performance at incredibly low prices. Single drives: I OOK £ 1 20; 200IC £ 1 40: 400K£I80. Dual drives: 2XI00K £295; 2x200K£325;2x400K£450. Disk with power supply extra £30. All drives are fully cased and complete Size: »»«C«\\\\ft with cables and format disk —ready to 345mm width X 300mm cleplh i :302mm hRyahii' use. DeJivery £6,00 per item. and This special V7001 Phillips monochrome computer monitor comes direct to you from Twillstar Computers Ltd al the exceptional price of C75 inclusive of VAT. systems . We offer a number of Twillstar Computers Ltd have negotiated wilh Phillips to bring you this 12" Tube high resolution monitor which has been specially designed to display alphanumerical complete packages for word- and graphic intormation, generated by home and personal computers. processing, from £658 lo It otters compatibility with various typesol computers. It accepts composite video signals (CVBS) as well as RGB. synchronisation and sound signals! E 1 860. Pictured here is our The monitor provides a clearly legible display witti a maximum of 80 characlers per Package No. 2: BBC 'B' + line and 25 lines per display. The display tormal is lull screen 250 K 200mm. DPS, Philips green monitor, Toreduceeyetatigue the piclure tube has undergone a special anti-glare treatment. The monitor also features a two position, adjustable lOOK disk drive, Wordwise. stand. dot matrix printer, leads- Just look at the features! 1 12 high resolution picture tube. 7. Input ready to use. at £875 Sound 0.3 watts. 2. Two position aqustslile stand. 8. 18IHHI including VAT. Bandwidth. 3. Anti-glare treated screen 9. 2000 character display control. 4.P31greniptiosprnr. 10. Commtible with Our other packages are; home and 5. CVBS Input connections. personal computers. PACKAGE ONE: BBC "B" Computer • Wordwise software • Sanyo 6. RGB and synchronisation and 11. Precision dellection unit lor DRIOI tape recorder • Dot matrix printer • BBC cassette lead • sound input connection. low geometric distortion. BBC printer cable £658.00 And ot course, exterior controls allow you to switch on/of f volume, brightness, 2' contrast, vertical size, vertical PACKAGE THREE: BBC Computer -I- Acorn DPS • Philips 1 green hold and horizontal size. This unique specially designed monitor measures 345mm width * hi-res monitor • 200k disc drive • Wordwise software • Kai 100 EX 300mm depth x 302mmhigh.Ofdernow while stocks last! printer • Printer cable £940.00 TO ORDER 12' HOW PACKAGE FOUR: BBC Computer + Acorn DPS • 1 2 1 I green GM All you have lo do IS lill in your requirements on a piece o( hi-res paper with your name monitor • Wordwise software • Juki 6 1 00 daisywheel printer • and address enclosing your cheque/ PO.madepayatjielo TWILLSTAR 400k disc drive • Printer cable £1 170.00 COMPUTERS LTD Hyou area Barclaycard or Access card holder, please use coupon 12' and posi to address below PACKAGE FIVE: BBC Computer + Acorn DPS • GM 1 2 1 1 green Please allow 14 lo 28 days tor hi-res monitor • View software •Juki 6100 daisywheel printer • Dual delivery. 17 REGINA ROAD, 800k disc drive • BBC printer lead £ 1 385.00 SOUTHALL, MIDDLESEX UB2 5PLTEL: (01) 574 5271 PACKAGE SIX: BBC Computer + Acorn DPS • Medium resolution . . ask for our FutI range! colour monitor (Cub/Microvitec) • View software • Juki 6 1 00 daisywheel printer • Z80 second processor including software • Dual 800k disc drive • BBC printer cable £ 1 860.00 We stock a vast range of micros, printers, monitors, Cambridge joysticks . . . phone or write Open for our complete price list. All Alicrocomputer 6 days a week prices listed VAT. include IWillstar Computers Limited 9am to 7pm Credit terms available for Montiay to Saturday Centre i:BESiN»Ba4f) SOiiiniLL MiD0LESiXLiB?5PL lEL (0ii5,"4i,' orders of ESOO or over— ask The Peripheral Centre of East Anglia for details. See our full stock on Prestei 377550875/76A- 1 33-4 East Road, Cambridge CB I I DD, U.K. TELEPHONE ORDERS I V/SA updated weekly. All credit Telephone (0223) 355404 Telex 8 1 7445. cards accepted. (01)5745271 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 161 Napier and R. G. f;;;r7or schools nctwork'n, I- ,, previous j,.,„J6«-7 ' _— I 'Rft V a Deccmhei'S't -rTii Programa,-n9 Advanced BBC Micro so™ BBCM Ea^^.^;^^ »..n -i^ 33C Micra ^^^.,,, and * ne i^ C<,mtnands is fP developed. I use -housekeeping 'ro&rams >^h.ch ^''"""|,c v..od.ced. ,Vs >'i--';'"^^,^^Smes are Diagrams, drawmp 1 -— ^...Ai' re .-r^'^-^,^^^^^ — Price. . LJ vo"-r«"'™;^^^__ — lo .l^.'"^'^ be suhjee. _! T^IT^^^ii^ty. from: :t\»^^ ^ and soiwi bo " These books ,„tcrmiiioni^>- "O^ vi^. Pas J- 03 . _.. T;n naees ,,,,Papertac.2S0p^^es>3 Hatnc i international a Prentice/Hatt^ 162 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 ACQUIRE THE RAVEN BOARD POWER . . at Twillstar or your local Acorn dealer *20K USABLE MEMORY ^CUSTOMED MADE The RAVEN-20 is a 20K RAM EXPANTION for the BBC MICRO. MODELS, fitted with O.S. 1.2. This specially designed product plugs in to the C.P.U. socket ofyour micro (centre socket ofthe 3 available) with the miniumum of effort - the pins are specially custom made. thus avoiding any possible damage to the circuitry! The RAVEN BOARD provides the userwith an extra 20K ofusable RAM in screen modes to 3. This togelherwith the aid ofsofbware makesihc system completely transparent to both the user and the computer. The RAVF.N-20 software ROM gives much more thanjust the standard commands, it has been programmed to give commands like: "STAR S. SAVE". LOAD for saving and loading the screen. "R. TEST' for testing the board; "STAT for checking whether Board ON or OFF . . . and many more unique features - not available in any other product. :i 'O ORDER Uo purchase the RAVEN BOARD", ^mply write yoi"' name and address on a piece paper, and posi to the address beiow. enclosing your cheque/PO. made payabl TWILLSTAR COMPUTERS LTD. TCL Ifyou are a credit card holder, simply use the telephone to order. Twillstar Computers Limited Access 7 REGINA ROAD. SOUTHALL, MIDDLESEX UB2 5PL. TEL: (01 ) 574 5271 EDUCATION I writing there is no full implementation of Logo available for the BBC micro- so-called 'turtle graphics' programs are purely screen-based and can't con- trol floor turtles. Jessop supplies a simulation of Logo called 'OKLogo'. which is all right as an mtroduction to FLOOR turtle the using the but lacks many of features found in full Logo, So to assess the Jessop Turtle more thoroughly I used Dart. Dart is also a Basic simu- lation of Logo, still rather rudimentary, but it will work with both the Jessop and SHOW Valiant Turtles, The other turtle, the Valiant Turtle, Computer-controlled buggies are was launched in July this year- in the House of Commons, of all places! Although it costs about the same as the fun as well as being instructive. Jessop Turtle, it is a very different beast. To start with, it actually looks like a turtle, having flippers, a head with Geoff Nairn MOT-tests six models two eyes and a_ shell. It also has its power supply on board, in the form of ten nickel cadmium rechargeable bat- S YOUR BBC micro looking tired and reviewed here, is half that price and teries. When the turtle's eyes stop listless? Bored with killing aliens and currently only available for the BBC glowing then it's time to recharge the I interrupting vectors? It can't be much micro. batteries, using the recharger sup- fun being confined to the same old The Jessop Turtle-also called the plied-one charge should give about table-top day in and day out, so why not Edinburgh Turtle- is elegantly simple: four hours of continuous use. buy it some 'wheels'? For considerably two motors to drive the wheels, another Perhaps the most revolutionary less than a Mini Metro your Beeb can to lift a pen up and down, a small loud- feature of the Valiant Turtle is the become mobile and explore the outside speaker and a circuit board, A perspex absence of any cable connecting it to world- well, your room at least. dome lets you see how little there is the computer. Instead, communication The six 'buggies' examined all move inside and a long cable connects it to is by means of an infra-red link. The along the floor under direct control of your Beeb. At the end of the cable is a transmitter is a small box that plugs the BBC micro. Some can draw lines, small interface box that plugs into the into the Beeb's RS432 socket and which flash lights and make noises as they user port. Power comes from the is pointed in the general direction of the move. Others can even respond to the Beeb's auxiliary power socket - a turtle. The turtle picks up the infra-red environment around them: searching splitter' cable means you can still signal using phototransistors mounted out a light source with a photocell, or power your disc drive. inside its 'shell' and decodes it into changing direction when they hit a wall. To drive a turtle you need some soft- appropriate movements. They all, however, provide a low-cost ware and to use it as Papert intended Using an infra-red link means that introduction to the world of robotics. you really need Logo. At the time of the Valiant Turtle can roam freely up to Where they differ considerably is In easeof use.Twoof the buggies are 'tur- tles', a species that is easier to control and therefore likely to suit younger children. To make a turtle move for- ward, for example, you simply type FORWARD; to do the same with one of the cheaper buggies you need to address the user port directly- 765120 = 6 for example. While the tur- tles are aimed at young children, bug- gies are more for experimenters who can program. This difference is re- flected in the price - more than £170 for a turtle, £35 for the cheapest buggy. The turtle has been around since the early seventies, when Seymour Papert proposed it as a suitable 'object-to- think-with' for young children using his Logo language. With the large-scale introduction of microcomputers into schools in the eighties, the first com- mercially available turtles were pro- duced by Jessop Microelectronics. The original Seri version cost more than £350, though it could be used with a range of micros; the new Para, The Jessop Turtle. All the works can be seen beneath its perspex dome ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 I EDUCATION ON THE GRID (left lo right): Economatics BBC Buggy; the Memocon Crawler, designed to be connected to a small keypad; the Jessop Turtle; Northern Computers' Micro Pulse Buggy; and the Zeaker, with its pair of touch-sensitive bumpers a range of about six metres; with the signal to the computer via the cable Other differences? Well, the Valiant Jessop Turtle the cable often gets that it's ready for the next instruction. If Turtle does not have a loudspeaker, so twisted or obstructs the turtle's path. the turtle hits an object the wheels will it cannot 'HOOT'-a Logo command. One disadvantage to using infra-red is not have turned their full amount; the Also it will work only on a smooth sur- that in bright sunlight the signal gets computer has to wait until the object is face, not carpets. Provided with the swamped and the Valiant Turtle won't removed and the robot can complete its Valiant is the Dart software mentioned move; the same thing happens near an move. This is the same principle as above, as well as Valiant's own demon- electric fire. Also communication is used in 'intelligent' robotic devices. stration program. This is just as well, strictly one-way; the computer has no The feedback means that Jessop can for the latter won't let you define your idea whether the turtle has responded get away with using DC motors, as any own procedures -one of the most im- properly-to use a piece of engineer- errors are corrected. The Valiant Turtle portant features of the Logo language. is fitted with expensive stepper motors, which are accurate enough not to need JESSOP TURTLE feedback. Unfortunately they consume quite a lot of power, hence the large number of rechargeable batteries. On the subject of accuracy, both tur- tles can be fine-tuned to compensate for mechanical tolerances. This is done by progri^mming the turtle to draw a square; if the finish point does not coin- cide with the start then the wheel track can be adjusted with a small spanner. VALIANT TURTLE With both the Valiant and Jessop turtles supplied this was not necessary. Inside the Jessop turtle One intriguing difference is in the ing jargon, there is no 'feedback'- If distance each turtle moved when told someone stands directly in the path of to 'FORWARD 10'. The Jessop moved the infra-red beam or if the turtle hits an 3.7cm, whereas the Valiant moved obstruction, the computer will quite 4.7cm, When used as an educational happily go on sending out new instruc- tool, the absolute distances don't really tions as if nothing had happened. matter, just as long as 10 Logo units are In contrast, the Jessop Turtle has op- twice as big as five units, and both How two turtles coped when programmed to this respect. tical sensors on the wheels that moni- models performed well in draw the same recursive spiral shape using tor whether they have turned the right The Valiant was the slower, but not sig- Logo commands. Note how on the Valiant amount; if they have, the turtle sends a nificantly so. turtle the steps are larger. .\CORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 ^ChipChat^ Modem ChipChat modems are the most versatile and up to ATTRACTIONS date available at the price. With autoanswer as standard and intelligent autodial with speed conversion as an option, ChJpChats may be used to £189. 95 access computers and databases such as Prestel, Micronet, + VAT = £218.44 homelinh and BT Qold. 120cps • Bi-Directional Logic Seeking • Friction ChipChats support the CCITT V2 1 protocol: 500/300 Tractor and Roll Holder baud and the V25 protocol: 1200/75, 75/1200 and Standard • 1200/1200 (half duplex). Where local regulations Downloadable Characters permit. Bell standard operation may be used for • Ultra High Resolution GEMINI-lOX • 80cois« IBM PC dialling U5 databases, version now available. ChipChats use the latest technology and provide valuable extra features such as auto-disconnect to save your telephone bills, and speed conversion for operation with IBf^ PCs, A full complement of LED5 t FIDELITY monitor data flow and the status of handshake lines 12 MHZ Video Bandwidth on the Cannon D-type connector RGB and Composite Video ChipChat modems have been designed with our Res Medium experience of manufacturing BT approved Intelligent £169.95"*^9544 terminals, they provide the facilities and data rates you need at the touch of a button or they can be left Also available in TV/monitor unattended under computer control, version at C195 95 14 INCH COLOUR MONITOR + = ( VAT) £225.34 ChipChats are supported by a large range of communications software packages and terminal emulations for the IBM, 5irius, Apricot, Apple and LOOK! BBC micros, NEW LOWER PRICES ON f^ing for details and special package deal prices. EPSON STAR & BROTHER ChipChat CC2125A Autoanswer £130.55 £149.90 inc VAT DAISYWHEEL PRINTERS ChipChat CC2125AD Autodial £155.15 BROTHER HR 15 CALL FOR BEST PRICES £189.90 inc VAT JUKI 61 00 £325 + VAT - £373.75 ^-:..-..' DAISYSTEP 2000 £225 + VAT - £258.75 PSjP£2 70 + VAT BAfl: , EPSON DX 100 £369.95 + VAT = £425.44 DOT MATRIX PRINTERS COSMOS JP80 £169.95 + VAT = £1 95.44 EPSON RX80 £198.95 + VAT=£228-79 EPSON RX 80 F/T £228.95 f VAT= £263.29 EPSON RX 1 00 £384.95 + VAT= £442,69 EPSON FX 80 £31 9.95 + VAT = £367.94 EPSON FX 1 00 £498.95 + VAT = £573.79 STARGEMINMOX £189.95 + VAT = £21 8.44 STAR DELTA 10 £319.95 + VAT = €367, 94 STAR RADIX 10 £498.95 + VAT = £573.79 THERMAL MATRIX PRINTERS STAR STX 80 £1 29.95 + VAT = £1 49.44 BROTHER HR5 CALL FOR BEST PRICES BROTHER EP44 CALL FOR BEST PRICES Cables - Paper - Ribbons - Sheet Feeders Tractor Feeds- Interfaces- Call for Best Prices CREDIT CARD HOTLINE V!SA 01-4821711 PLEASE ADD £10 + VAT FOR DELIVERY POST YOUR CHEQUES/P.O.s TO: DATASTAR SYSTEMS UK UNICOM HOUSE, 182 ROYAL COLLEGE STREET %#4 LONDON NWl 9I\IN Telex 295931 UNICOM G TAX-FREE EXPORTS. DEALER ENQUIRIES WELCOME Personal callers welcome. We are situated at the junction of Camden Road, near the railway bridge. -^. Digisolue Limited ^= Aire and Calder Wtorhs Opening hours Mon-Fri 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. WK Older Lane, Castleford. West Vo'ks Wf 10 ILU Tel 0977 Tele- Sat & Sun 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 513141/4 557661 AQfWM Q 166 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 - I EDUCATION Which one to buy? Assuming both Vehicle Logo Hoot Lights BumpersPen Power Link Special Optional versions will work with the full Logos arm supply features extras due this year, both are invaluable in Jessop Yes Yes No No Yes BBC 4m teaching programming without tears. Turtle cable The Valiant Turtle has the great attrac- tion of actually looking like a turtle and Valiant Yes No No No Yes Battery Infra- not having a restrictive umbilical cord. Turtle red It's probably the better bet for use with BBC No No No 2 No BBC 5m Barcode Pen arm. children. The Jessop comes young Buggy cable reader, grab arm school of turtle from the minimalist photocel design, and I have a sneaking admir- ation for something so simple yet so Zeaker No Two- Yes 6 Yes Inter- 2m tone face cable powerful. As well as its conventional use as a floor turtle, the Jessop Turtle is Micro No No No 1 No Battery 2m Other a lovely demonstration of the engineer- Pulse cableexperi- ing principle of feedback. Also its inner Buggy ments workings are easier to understand Memocon No Yes Yes No No Battery pre- Interface and and modify. Both these factors mean Crawler programmed software that the Jessop Turtle might find Its way (late 1984} into a lot of secondary schools, as well as the traditional primary school market. Table 1 . Facilities of the turtles and buggies Moving on from turtles we come to the BBC Buggy, made by Economatics. modifications are necessary - apart the wheels slips then it loses all sense This costs about the same as a turtle from maybe adjusting the wheel track of direction. Even so, this is a vivid but is very different both to look at and by adding a washer to the axle. demonstration of simple artificial intel- use. Originally it was developed to The Buggyconnectslo your Beeb via ligence. demonstrate computer control in a long ribbon cable and an interface A photocell can be mounted on the secondary schools. The major differ- board. It uses both the user port and front of the Buggy and used to search ence is that it can respond to the analogue port, and takes its powerfrom out a source of light, such as a torch. environment around it using a variety the auxiliary power socket. Another program uses the photocell to of sensors. As such it exhibits simple The software supplied consists of a make the Buggy follow a white line artificial intelligence - or rather the dozen or so programs demonstrating drawn on the floor. When the Buggy controlling program on the BBC micro some of the Buggy's capabilities. They strays off it and onto the much darker does, for there is no 'on-board' intelli- are all written in Basic and can be floor, the photocell detects less light gence. modified. The first one simply tests the and this information goes back to the The BBC Buggy comes as a kit and is Buggy to see if everything is working computer. The program then changes built around a chassis, much like the correctly and also familiarises you with the Buggy's direction to try and find the way they used to make motor-cars. On how it works. Control is by means ofthe line again. This is a typical 'feedback' the Buggy this is cube-shaped and cursor keys: pressing the up arrow control system, everything else is 'bolted' onto it. In fact makes the buggy go forward, and so on. A bar-code reader can similarly be no bolts are needed: the Buggy is made When turning, one stepper motor goes attached to the front and then used for up from Fishertechnik construction forwards and the other backwards. This inputting bar codes into the Beeb. As parts that just slot together. Construc- means that the BBC Buggy can accu- the Buggy moves, it crosses large play- tion is relatively simple once you've rately turn on the spot. Routes can be ing-card versions of those bar codes stored in the computer's memory and found on soup tins and the like. One so can be repeated, and you can program uses this information to play reverse the Buggy's movements to musical tunes -each card is coded to retrace a route. Other programs let you represent a different note. plan your journey on the screen and The Buggy I tested had a grab arm then get the Buggy to follow it on the fitted to the front as an optional extra, floor, with suitable scaling of move- turning the Buggy into a potentially ments. very useful robot. The arm consists of a The other programs use the onboard horizontal beam onto which is fixed a sensors: two bumpers, a photocell and simple open-and-close jaw. The beam a bar-code reader. One of the pro- is mounted just above the bumpers and grams uses the bumpers to find an can be raised or lowered by means of object on the floor. You tell the Buggy two motors; another motor opens or how large the area to search is and it closes the jaws. An extra circuit board then goes off to find the object. It does is needed to control the grab arm and The Valiant Turtle actually looks like a this by moving up and down until one of this fixes vertically onto the back of the turtle, artd there's no cable! the bumpers hits something. This Buggy. Some adjustment is necessary identified the various components, closes a microswitch and the Buggy to get the jaw and beam moving pro- which tend to have names like 'angle backs off, moves along a bit and tries perly, but once working it is capable of block isosceles' and 'crawler track again. This process is repeated until lifting small, light objects. link'. The circuit boards come ready- the Buggy has found all four sides ofthe To operate the arm the function keys made, and the various leads just need object, which it then joins up on the are used-up, down, open and close. plugging in - you don't even need a sol- screen and announces that it has found Some of the original programs for the dering iron. The Buggy can be built in a its prey. Often it gets the shape com- Buggy, which were developed before couple of evenings, and no mechanical pletely wrong -for example, if one of the grab arm came along, switch it on ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 EDUCATION I Vehicle Price Motor Software Ease Ease of Documentation Comments accuracy of use construction Jessop £182 8 7 7 ready 7 Simple, elegant design- Turtle assembled Cable can get twisted. Valiant £228 8 8 7 ready 9 Looks like aturtle. infra-red Turtle (ei71to assembled link allows free movement schools) over wider area. Will not work in strong sunlight or on carpet. BBC £189 kit 8 8 6 7 7 Bumpers and photocell Buggy enable it to sense environment around. i|l Zeaker £70 kit 5 3 4 4 4 Less sophisticated version (£100 ready of above. A good choice for built) experimenters. Micro £132 for 3 5 4 ready 6 Buggy cannot be used Pulse buggy and assembled alone - uses Youngtrainer Buggy interface interface. Several other experiments included. Memocon £35 kit 3 2 4 3 No interface. Needs Crawler modifying, so only for technically competent. Table 2. Price and ratings table (out oMO) for the turtles and buggies under review when they shouldn't. This bug is attri- buted to a prototype arm and software and will apparently be ironed out before the grab arm goes on sale. A pen arm, which allows the Buggy to draw out the route followed, is also available. All in all. the Buggy is a very versatile machine. For those who know little about programming and interfacing, the software supplied lets them explore some of the concepts of robotics and computer control. But both the Buggy and its software are sufficiently access- ible to allow the more experienced plenty of scope for experimentation. Zeaker is a small, low-cost buggy that started life as a construction pro- ject in an electronics magazine. As a kit it costs £70. though you can buy it now ready-made for £100. From the outside there is not much to see, just a white plastic box with two small tyres and four wraparound alu- minium bumpers at each corner. A ribbon cable plugs into a socket in the top and this connects to the 'Zeaker Control Station'. This contains the interface circuitry and nickel-cadmium The kit-built BBC Buggy features on-board sensors. The grab arm (left) is an optional extra batteries which supply power to Zeaker through the ribbon cable. The control station then plugs into the parallel tones and a pen can be raised or switch closes, from the side the other printer port and user port, lowered through a hole in the under- closes, and on the corner both close. Zeaker, like the BBC Buggy, is both side. All these functions are turned on The two back bumpers operate one an input and output device- hence the or off using the Beeb's printer port. switch each. Add that up and you get six two port connections. It contains two Input comes from the bumpers and is switches, so there is still room for DC motors which can be driven for- routed via the user port. Hitting a another two inputs -or two outputs if wards or backwards independently. It bumper pushes it back onto a bolt-head you reconfigure the user port. also has two LEDs on top which I sup- behind and completes an electrical cir- Two simple demonstration programs pose are meant to be 'navigation cuit-simple but effective. Each front are supplied. The first just reads the lights', as one is red and one is green. A bumper simulates two switches: if user port and so displays the state of speaker inside can sound two different Zeaker hits something head-on one the bumpers as a single number-for ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 I EDUCATION noticeable feature is an edge connec- tor protruding from the Memocon. Into this is plugged a small hand-held keypad, and using the five keys you can program up to 256 steps into the Memo- con's massive 1/4k of internal memory. At each step it can move forward, left or right, sound a 'beep' or flash a light. Pull the plug out and the Memocon goes away and runs through the pro- gram-over and over again, until you switch it off. By chopping off the keyboard you can expose the data lines for the Crawler and hey-presto! you have a C35 buggy to plug into your computer. I ran it through the Youngtrainer mentioned above and downloaded the program steps from the BBC. You can even plug it directly into the user port but you need to know what you're doing (a cir- cuit diagram comes with the Crawler), Also you have to write your own driver program. There are plans to market a ready-made interface and software, but thatspoilsall thefun. About the only thing all these bug- gies have in common is two wheels. The turtles just move across a piece of The Micro Pulse Buggy is one of several units that can be linked to the Youngtrainer inter- lace box paper drawing lines, yet are perhaps the most revolutionary tool in computer example. 255 means no switch is come from the BBC micro or an exter- education. The BBC Buggy is a sophis- closed. The other program lets you nal power supply. ticated - and expensive - demonstra- control Zeaker with simple commands The Micro Pulse buggy is very basic; tion of digital control. Zeaker is a do it ('F' for forwards, etc) and distances or the program supplied just allowed it to yourself version of the Buggy and the angles. Both are really meant to give go forwards or backwards, though if it Micro Pulse Buggy is a real 'no frills' idea you an of how Zeaker is used in hit an obstacle it stopped and reversed runaround- The Memocon Crawler is programs so that you can write your a small distance. The large blue tyres guaranteed to frighten the dog. Take own, slipped occasionally and the Buggy your pick. Zeaker isn't the most accurate of could not travel in a straight line for any buggies: the one I had experienced dif- distance. ficulty going in a straight line and the The complete package of buggy, SUPPLIERS pen sometimes wouldn't come down Youngtrainer and leads will set you when it was to. meant Nevertheless it's back more than £130. This may seem Jessop Turtle cheaper than the BBC Buggy and offers expensive but the Youngtrainer comes Jessop Microelectronics, Unit 5, 7 the same capabilities. You need to be with about a dozen other interface pro- Long St, London E2 8HN. able to write your own control pro- jects. Plastic overlays can be placed Valiant Turtle grams to get the most from it, though. over the Youngtrainer's front panel to Valiant Designs, Park House. 140 More basic than Zeaker is the Micro simulate various different control situ- Battersea Park Rd, London SW11 Pulse Buggy from Northern Com- ations: a traffic light, a washing 4NB. puters. This is not the most attractive of machine, etc. Software is supplied for buggies- it looks like a large toy car each simulation, and a teaching BBC Buggy which has had the top removed. Not manual is also included, as the Young- Economatics, 4 Orgreave Cres, surprisingly, it uses the same driving trainer is again aimed at the education Dore House Industrial Estate. Shef- mechanism: two cheap electric motors market. The buggy is really a small part field S139NQ. magnetically coupled together to try to of the whole system, though it can be Zeaker keep the buggy running in a straight bought separately (E:23) if you fancy Kit: Innervonics, 147 Upland Rd, line. On the front is a single micro- supplying your own interface and soft- London SE22 0DF, switch bumper and perched on the ware. Ready-built: Inter Galactic Robots, back is the power supply -four batter- Our last buggy is not designed to be Highbury Workshops, Unit 208, 22 ies. connected to a computer at ail. Prism's Highbury Grove, London N5 2EE. The buggy cannot be used on its Memocon Crawler is a self-contained own -you also need the Micro Pulse electronic toy which runs around the Micro Pulse Buggy Youngtrainer. This is an interface box floor, but with some modification you Northern Computers. Churchfield that plugs into the Beeb's user port and can connect it up to your Beeb. Rd. Frodsham. Cheshire WA6 6RD. allows you to interface your Beeb to a It comes as a kit of parts and the only Memocon Crawler variety of external inputs and outputs- assembly problem is in understanding Prism Consumer Products, Prism not just the Micro Pulse buggy. A ribbon the pidgin English used in the instruc- House, 18-29 Mora St, London EC1V cable connects the buggy to the Young- tions. When complete it resembles a 8BT. trainer and power for the latter can flying saucer with wheels, but the most ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 SIX OF ONE OR HALF A DOZEN OF THE OTHERS? SCRIBE Additionstoyour DOUBLE- 1 computer system depend 4 DOS THE PROFESSIONAL- upon each otherfor best Double density disc interface WORD PROCESSOR often designed forthe performance. How forthe BBC serious user "All have you asked if this or that computer, operations fully prompted' program iscompatiblewith Ahigh capacity No special knowledge of the computer database or word system necessary Document size NOT some piece of hardware? processor is enhanced even further with limited by computer memory Automatic this state of the art disc interface. disc buffering ensures text is moved MERLIN products forthe The many features include "almost memory between disc and computer BBC computer are designed 800 Kbof CONTINUOUS file spaceon a without user intervention Upto 255 pages standard 80 track disc drive in a single document 80 column display to complement each other Automatically read standard Acorn files on screen underline and right justify and so getthe best from your Compensate for discs formatted in single See it as it will be printed. density "Provide up to 156 files IN ONE SCRIBE comes in a chip with system. Rest assured when DIRECTORY "Automatically read, write and format double sided drives to appear 5 minute fitting instructions, you buy MERLIN, each utilities disc and manual. as one disc surface "Allow maximum use DISC MACHINES ONLY. addition iscompatiblewith ofMERLIN Scribe and Database. £59.95 + Fitting to your computer is made 60PP&P the last and is made to be the exceptionally safe and reliable by providing connection via a flexible ribbon field. DATABASE best available in its cable. Full instructions provided. 2 Combined with one another £109.25 + 90p p&p information A superb they are unsurpassed in management system DISC with an incredible performance or value. operating speed. DRIVES 96 fields per record Purchasers of MERLIN One record 2 Kb max software are provided with a One field 900 characters max 4000 records per database 1 6 level free update service and an conditional search Find any record in 2 unmatched level of technical sees Wild card search Record match a automatic sub indexes Total flexibility support. of output via report writer with auto write All of our disc drives are double back to any field "Maths pack "Semi therefore if used in programming language. density spec, and conjunction with DOUBLE-DOS give twice Integrates with Scribe to give standard Acorn disc capacity and conditional search with MAIL MERGE the head load light. Single drives are and high powered reportformatti feature supplied in a double case to allow easy Oatabaseisinachip. addition of a second drive. DISC MACHINES ONLY £49.00 + 60pp&p. D100 Single drive 5 1 /4D/D £1 35.00 Scribe & Database in one chJD MERLIN COMPUTER PRODUCTS D200 Dual drive 5 /I /4D/D £267.00 £95.00 + 60p p&p. 5 1/4 D400 single drive £219.00 TYPEWRITER double side D/D 3 Please supply the following products/ information (Delete as applicable}. PRINTER D800 Dual drive 5 1 /4 £349.00 Based on the imperial 8008 this QTYD double side D/D beautiful daisywheel typewriter features QTYQ For switchable 40/80. Add £26.00 MERLIN'S own QTYQ ONE YEARS GUARANTEE parallel interface Next day Securicor delivery £5.00 tailoredforyour I enclose E Inc P&P BBC computer. My Credit Card No. is Visa Q Access Q Tick which MERLIN Name 6 HYPERDRIVE Address FOR RELEASE NOV 84 A 2 Megabite & 1 /4 ins floppy disc Included are keyboard buffer auto drive which will also automatically detect repeat electronic tab set and clear and read standard 40 and 80 track discs- decimal tab 20 character auto correction Size the same as a standard half memory" auto underline compatible with height drive optional 400 Kb backup drive SCRIBE. To: MERLIN COMPUTER PRODUCTS also available. carrying instruction Comes with case, 33/36 Singleton Street Ideal to maintain a large database or manual and ribbon connection to your document file with high speed access. BBC computer. Swansea SA1 3QN ^^i Requires Merlin Double Dos. Tel: 467980 £299.00 + VAT (0792) JSm. Next day Securicor delivery £5 DO L^rr I £575.00 170 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 I TRAILBLAZERS HOTHOUSE Hi-res graphics follow changes in tempera- ture Danny Green explains how BBC micros are being used at Reading 0^, University to monitor plantlife ' •;.,..•••'.•'.' . . k "**-; ;<»-, "..V -, DEEP in the Berkshirecountryside, BBC micros are looking after Turning the heat on weed seedlings weeds and chocolate plants. The poor weeds are sweating it out checked again. If it's still too hot, the on a hotplate while cocoa bushes get process is repeated. It doesn't drop the kid-glove treatment in a computer- below 21°C very often, and if it does it's controiied glasshouse. a matter of closing the vents tightly and At the University of Reading's waiting. Department of Agriculture and Horti- Both the weed-measuring and culture. Andrew Murdoch is turning the cocoa-controlling experiments use a heat on the nasties of the garden. But BBC B with a single half-height floppy - he's not interested in torturing weeds disc drive and a dot matrix printer. For Dr Mike Smith he wants to find out how temperature programs his Modec moni the technically minded, atypical Modec lor and control unit wakes up dormant seeds, and how is based on the 6809 microprocessor their growth varies with how hot they with a timer and 8k of RAM, It can have are. The system has been running 24 hours 64 inputs and outputs. Communications a day for more than six months - with are via an RS232 link but, because just a three-week break for Christmas. the Modec is built to take a range of The BBC micro is interfaced to the standard-sized modules, it is almost weed experiment using a box of elec- infinitely flexible. tronic tricks built by Dr Mike Smith at Other experiments using the Modec Reading, Called a Modec. this is a pro- at Reading University include monitor- grammable monitoring and control unit ing the behaviour of badgers in their that can work with a\ariety of micros. setts, counting the eggs laid by chick- In the cocoa experiment, a couple of ens, and simulating the climate of the miles down the road, the BBC micro Syrian desert in an almost ordinary controls operations as well as monitor- greenhouse. ing them. It is taking over from an The big differences that using the ancient Commodore Pet, and the scien- BBC micro makes are cost and flexi- Andrew Murdoch checks the progress of his weeds tists are taking the opportunity to bility, says Andrew Murdoch. 'It's improve the whole rig. cheaper than other micro systems and Andrew is using a BBC micro to A combined monitoring and control more flexible than a multipoint chart monitor the temperature of growing system to control a greenhouse might recorder,' plants. It's not an easy job. The weeds work like this. Anemometers and are sitting on a square copper plate. platinum resistance thermometers The plate is heated on one side and measure wind speed and temperature. cooled on the opposite side. The whole If the wind is too strong, the computer 'Other experiments at outfit is linked to a programmable won't open any vents in the top of the the university clock. Every now and then, the heating greenhouse, and the vents stay shut if Include and cooling arrangement is turned it's pouring with rain too. monitoring the behav- through right angles and after a while Then the computer checks the tem- turned back again. The overall result is perature signals coming from the iour of badgers in their called two-dimensional a temperature Modec. If it's between, say. 2rc and setts and counting the gradient, and it is the Beeb's job to 22'C, all well and good. If it's too hot, a follow and record the complicated vent is opened for one second. The air eggs laid by chickens' changes of temperature at 169 points in the greenhouse is given 10 seconds on the plate. to calm down before the temperature is ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 ) a PHESTEL, MICRONET, BBC to BBC file Iransler, Terminal Emulation. A revolMtionBry new approach to program dovoiopmont aids. IS (iial Toolslai IS poms'lui new ulilily Rni" that will opon up a whole new world tot BBC micro users Comnsiiir unique h'kI cdrnplple. .'i I solution a tn[)rix)fam devdopmenl aids 1| has beer Irti.n. . I . F :T;iin Toote/ar adopts a revolutionary new approach I '.. tjti&tidp9''-kflgeo'sr3phisti(:Ei1e£^cqinmunicd!ion5soMware^al Caters designed specifically to assist both Basic and Machine code progrijmmers by providing an Imiiginp Commstat integraled set of powerful building blrH;ks whicli rapidly become an indispensable comptemenl to lakir.ji i:..i:r.;nc-liii(i3h Telecom sPteslel service o(leringaf;ces!i to a nuillllude of UR-to-(lio- the Built in lacilitips ol your BBC micro nwiuleinlurniiilionpfigps world riewsorwealhHr and mucli mure Inslanl access to Micronel Thispackagfi contains Ihe Tbofsfarlltmware in Eprom and a verv comprehensive manual tovar examples and illustrations to help you Ihe best use ol 800 mth rrany Itee programs liial can be downloaded in seccinds tise advice and news Eipand 1 50 pages), containing many make your hCHiiOns and 'ind out juat tiow versatile ojt compulBf can really be' Toolsia' setcitingcapabililies Ho* many times tiave you wanted to get a copy at a program lo a Inend or a Business colleague Toolstar sheds new light on your BBC micro resident your allowing all nf IW qiiidtly'' WilhComm^taryourantrsnslpraPilROl ANVIvpe t>et*oertwaBBC 5 (which maybe TixVsfar being EproiT'' based will W' iifirnanpntlv in computer 11 operatino ihojsandso'rrales apart) intMesoac(>ol a phone call commands to be immediately a vail able is Iranbpareni lo tX3lh the user and the I syslem, once command hai. been anecul eel tontrni rs returned lo Basic or whichever ROM It really IS I hat simple a CommsiBTis'inieliigenl It oHers many advanced teaiuresloenRire simple and HflECiiue had conlrol prior lo Ihe command describing commuracatioo wilfi Hie remote syslem Full error liandling has been incorporated and to( oewuserstherearetull help menus Consider Ihe lollowing features each command and Its syni ay PrastalModa Powerhii building blocks lor Basic programmers? lAiithin t , . |,, ,"'r'i Dmrnmirls PAGE and TOPie on the Prestel mode leaturM lull colour PreslBl graphics including double height anOllashingcharacters I: B"lwhichnperale between Full TplrBnltwii'pf.apabililyrs ottered allowing [he many iree programs nflereri by Micrnnet BOO current L-ijM. l'i.-..' i lil.isicproqiamming environment These commands Obey standard Ba5ict.i.iniOi,iml -vi't,i. -ules tulN-'' •.i.i I ii'i-il "inyoiircomputei PagesoIpadiculnrinterHstmay be'matiied lo' later - liie Ihi-^ tiling Reveal the secrets ol your discs ; deepest if'i r r-'age images may bfir;opied and ^avedlo a oh current sysipm Termin^ilModo ToalslBi allow'':, iiie Li[H'i,'iiions ol Formatting Veritviiig reading oi writing a ijisc sector lobe Irtim I all necessary building Wockstequirefltodevelopa I ! I jii Full carnedoul very simply Basic e Ihe Inter ji fUi- opiil may be copied ihto a butter in memory or spooled dneclly on Id disc utilities simply etiEctivply conltol over bu Iter ed data IS prouidedallowingil to (delisted to screen Of printer, senllo Ihe compreliensivesF1oldi?r and Toolstarl RS423 saved to or loaded trtim Hie currBhl tiling syslem (including TAPE Lost your memory? - No more amnesia iwith commands described there are 9 commands which operate on the whole Commslar allows lull cnnligutalion and easy control over the protocols used Send and receive In addition 10 the above :<.' <. (- ,';npd rnmplprr.eni sbuill-in assembler These baud rates, word length paiity and number ol slop bils ate geleclEd Item a simple table Of HhenBCsmfTiiiir, to the BBC , - Options includealullleai'fi imimi'moryiiiipnp eachwilhtonivard.iridreversesrriJIIing When in chat mode |B0 or 40 column), characters transmitted by the host will be displayHd on Itie If this is not enough Toorsl.-ir can be Extended! '.-I'li'..' -i ' .nistarwhichmaybeobtainedbylVpingHELPTOOt-S 'HELP BBC scr ee'i and characters lypert on tlie BBC will be 5enl lo the host Therearethreplii-li_' Cnmm5larallOWSANVtypBOl(ile(nol|iisl ASCII) lobetranstened sately using XMODEM MCODEui 'HELP EXTEND Ttie thiiUoplion menu will mtially display thetollowmo ptolowil:-. Ihlacl. (our individual methods ot transmission are ptuvided for within Cnmmstai HELP EXTEND giving great flembilily EXTEND FlAMadds aiklress will allow Ihe lacilitiesoi Tiiilfslfl/ With Using a disk based emulation (jle Commsiarcan be configured lo emulate virtually any terminal le typing "FXTEND lheuseitne«lend suppliec) liimsell Tlie manual describes lully how Ihisoperation is carried type including VJ 1 00 within Ihe capabilities ul the BBC routines which are by withspveral In arttlition to the above most MOSmmmands can beoiecuted Item wilhm Commslar, errors outandilliis|r,itpsif examples are trapped tiyCommslars own enor-hahdlihgroiiiinei;.ind ah optional elapsed time clock may Inlhelulure such utililieswillbemadeavailableonitiscandcassetlefram Pace thus alkJWing Dedisplayed DalatilteT Local Ertio Auni-imp-'r-rri pnnteron'OttandXOrj'XOFFptotocotsmay comprehensiveliBrary of titility programs to lie built-up betogglod in oroul by a single liey press eitcnsivti use being made ol the tunclion keys C34.00lnc.VATftC«rria9e. Finally Commslar may he lilted into any of (tie ;i(lfway'i HOM sockets and isp'OyidEd Witha compiGhensive manual Access and Barclaycard C34 inc. VAT ft Carriaae- Dealer Enquiries welcome Send for more information to: 92, New Cross Street, Bradford BD58BS. Telephone: 0274 72930G Telex: 51 564 172 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 THE CONTROL CUBE UNIVERSAL SOFTWARE SOLUTION HARDWARE BBC BASIC Take our hardware Choose the software environment Multi-tasking FORTH Assembler (6502 & 6809) PL/9 PASCAL EuroCUBE Single board computer Control Universal Limited CUBE Industrial Microcomputers 'C Andersons Court, Newnham Road, ^ Cambridge CB3 9EZ. Tel. (0223) 358757 ^ ^ FORBBC PROGRAMMER'S THtMVDOi^^S!^ REVEIMGE iorjiheh^'^ Every thinj The Programmer used to play the adventure games found on mainframe computers. He thought he ACORN ELECTRON -£199 ACORN DPS £469 could do better. He tried. His friends urged him to publish. BBCM00EL*B'-£399 Not for thugs whose idea of intellectual recreation Disk Drives by: TEAC, BBC, MonJ:of^by:NOVEX, PHILIPS, is to go around beating up hapless trolls, Revenge is MITSUBISHI, AMS, CUMANA, MICROVITEC, FIDELITY from KORMANDI, TORCH and others £79.95 a puzzle adventure game set in a strange but beauti- from C149.00 ful landscape closer to home than you think. Some Printers from EPSON, STAR, Accessories: Lightpens, Dust, problems require hard lateral thinking, some are BIT, SHINWAY. BROTHER, Covers. Joysticks, Monitor Stands, merely whimsical: all are deeply satisfying to solve. JUKI, UCHIDA, CANAN, TAXAN Cases, Leads, Floppy Discsand etc, etc much much more Data compression Is used to fit a novelette-length SOFTWARE; GAMES. BUSINESS SECOND PROCESSORS, Z80's game into your micro. The program understands & EDUCATIONAL plus PACKS, UPGRADES, ROM commands of up to four words, with a large PROGRAMMING AIDS on FITTING, REPAIRS, TESTING Cassette, Disk or Rom. etc, etc vocabulary. Over 300 locations, save and restore facility. Characters you will meet on your travels Special Word Processing, Business include the Programmer himself. and Programming starter Kits offered to meet your requirements A superior quality adult adventure game. Spend PUJSl at good savings. your winter evenings exploring! WE WILL BEHER Ml EEHUINE OFFER If THE PRICE IS LOWER THAN OURS Order form: SCREENS MICROCOMPUTERS COLISOFT, PO Box 195. 53 Carlton Road, (A Division of Mayfaic Computer Services Limited) 6 MAIN AVENUE, MOOR PARK, NORTHWOOD. MIDDLESEX. ENGLAND. Oxford OX2 7SQ Tel: NORTHWOOD (09274) 20664 Enclose cheque/PC for £8 incl., made payable to Telex 923574 ALACOL G. COLISOFT, plus your name and address, * Open 6 days per week. Easy Parking. ^^ '* Worldwide fast, reliable mail order. FOR THE BBC 32K ONLY- CASSETTE Official Orders/Enquiries welcome. {Further enquiries to C, Jack. 53 Carlton Road, Oxford 0X2 7SB) Visa . Access . Amex Diners Club . Instant Credit COM PUTER ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 173 ^^rning: these gaip a a I la o\ wl Sf ah to o \o low mil W sne Ihirr mes show no mercy Acomsoft have now unleashed eight more mei^ Carousel. lili'ss games onto unsuspecting BBC micro owners. Are-creation of the fairground shooting gallery Ranging from "Gateway to Karos^ where putting - with a difference. Shoot down all the ducks, owls loot wrong could mejm instant death. To the relenUess and rabbits before you run out of ammunition. lantics of Drogna which could have you dying with Watch out forlhelow-llyingducks. If you fail to shoot iLiui.^hter. these, they'll steal your bullets and reduce your Gateway to Karos. chances of success. An adventure game in which youll need all Meteor Mission. lour patience and ingenuity just to stay alive. Your On an alien iibjcctive is to Imd the Talisman of Khoronz but, planet are six stranded astronauts. Launch your capsule from Ivhii f lever path you choose, you'll be beset by treachery. the Mothership and by avoiding - or shooting - prpcntsliein wait and magical phenomenona arc in meteors and alien craft, pick up the astronauts one at fchiiiidance. Should you hnd the Talisman, youVestill a time and return them to pi lind your way back. the Mothership. All - Kingdom of Hamil. games with the exception of Gateway to Karos which is cuiTently only available on cassette - As the rightful heir to the Kingdom of Hamil, (^an be bought direct in either cassette or disc form. oil are in the unusual position of having to prove You will hnd all these programs at your local Acorn ^oiir claim to the throne. Kvil people are trying to stockist. To hnd out where they are simply call invent you accomplishing your tiisk by any means. 01-2000200. Credit card holders, phoneOl-2000200, j\n adventure game fraught with many dangers, anytime. Or 79300, puzzles and problems. 0933 during office hours. Alternatively, you can order the games by Tetrapod. sendingoffthecoupon below to: Acornsoft,c/o Vector YouVe in an arena littered with dormant I izards, Marketing, Denington Kslale, Wellingborough, tiller bees and other hostile creatures with whom lNorthants^N82RI. Please allow 28davsfordeliverv. \m\\\ have to do battle to survive. But beware of your liwii laser bullets, as they bounce off the arena walls. To: Acomsoft c/o Vector Marketing;. De!nington Estate, Drogna. Wellin^horoufih, NorlhaiUs \\»2HL. A game for two people - preferably wit h devious Please send me the rnllowin*; snltware games: liiuls. |'K(m;ra\i There are two vaults containingdiamondsand f.njvrm i»is(;/i:vssi;iTi-: (.;lli'w;]\ 1(1 Kiirii-. [uur job is to collect and transfer them to your home Kiiiriiariiil pase.Whileyouropponentisoutcollectingyou could Ti'Irapiid incak in IfriifiFiii and steal his loot . . . but keep an eye out for Oy/v TniciT lini doing the same to you. \..lr Ciiniii Craz Tracer. y Meteor Mission An arcade style game where you're in charge of niTvi. ipaint roller. Guide your roller around a maze of IViee Cassette: £9.95; Di.se: £11.50 ectangh^s while evading monsters who are committed I enclose PO/Cheque payable lo Aeornsol't Ltd. Or (charge my lo destroying it. Gain extra rollers and bonus points (Tedit charge. fypainting different objects. But you'll have to avoid Card Niimher: inning out of paint. l}jrihi).;iri)/\ni'!^s(U.-l.-ie) ^ Name Volcano. -^—^___^___—^__^ Address _^ Mount Crona has erupted after 150 years of [ilence. And your mission as an Emergency Rescue .Poslcod( Signature ielicopler Pilot is to save sightseers stranded on the Hi-gi«l.Ti-d N«. i52476;i V\T\.i.2l5HI2:il!r> llopes." Time is of the essence as the lava approaches Ihe sightseers. But you'll have to take time to evade - }rshoot-thc boulders beinghurled from the volcano. >1C0RNSeFr AGIO BY R T C T BEAUFORT WORKS, BEAUFORT RD, H ^1 Plotter RICHMOND RD, EASTTWICKENHAM, E U MIDDX. THE IMAGE PLOTTER offers your micro a greater flexibility by allowing the reproduction of diagrams, graphs, maps, etc. with exact precision. Even the most irregular and complex shapes can be enlarged or reduced, and shown in Vivid Colour. Using a printer these diagrams can be kept for use in project work, Lectures, Conferences etc. OR stored on disc or cassette for future reference. THE IMAGE PLOTTER comes ready assembled, with calibration sheet and a detailed handbook. At only £49.45 (inc VAT) it's within the budget of schools and home micro users. Post to: Reekie Technology Co, T^BBiCT^n^rBSniW^W^ Beaufort Rd, off Richmond Rd, East Twickenham, Middlesex TW1 2PQ DESCRIPTION PRICE QTY TOTAL E43 00i IMAGE PLOTTER C6 45 I VAT) £:49.45 DISC. Q P&P £2.50 T — CLASS Y Total £ I enclose my cheque/PC for € p Access No NAME ADDRESS HIGH QUALITY Slimline 5^" 100k Disc Drives Precision mechanism - very quiet operation Low power consumption. 2.5 watts - fast data access 6 ms step rate Automatic centering - Automatic eject Professionally cased in metal sleeve finished in BBC cream Complete with data and power cables Includes formatting disc and manual Post to: Legend, 50 St Mary's Street, Ely, Cambs. CB7 4EY Please send me^ (Qty) Disc Drive(s) @ £1 1 4.00 each inclusive of VAT and carriage I enclose cheque/P.O. made payable to Legend for value of £ NAME ADDRESS LEGEND 1/6 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 )1 I TOP 20 SOFTWARE CHART TITLE PRICE H MICRO REVIEWED '84 Aardvark £7.50 B September 1 (1) Frak! £8.95 B September '84 2 (2) Fortress Amcom Database £6.95 B 3 (7) Micro Olympics Manager Addictive £7.95 B 4 (5) Football H '84 Alligata £7.95 B/E October 5 (3) Blagger £7.95 B September '84 6 (11) Overdrive Superior £7.95 E 7 (-) Guardian Alligata Power £7.95 B/E June '84 8 (16) Ghouls Micro '84 Acorn soft £14.95 (£17.95) B May 9 (8) Aviator A&F £7.95 B/E September '84 10 (6) Chukkie Egg £7.95 B 11 (-) Dune Rider Micro Power £7.95 B/E 12 (— Hulk Adventure Int. £11.50, £9.95 B/E January '84 13 (re) White Knight 11 BBCSoft £6.95 B/E 14 (— Quick Thinking Mirrorsoft '84 £7.95, £6.95 B/E July 15 (-) Jet-power Jack Micro Power £9.90 B February '84 16 (-) Colossal Adventure Level 9 £7.50 17 (-) Zaiaga Aardvark '84 Superior £7.95 (£11.95) B September 18 (17) Hunchback Melbourne House £14.95 B 19 (9) Hobbit £7.95, £6.95 B/E 20 (— Blockbuster Micro Power appear.lhB second is to- the Electron version. = are for disc version, Where Wo prices B = BBC, E = Electron. te f8-enlry. Prices In brackets BUBBLING UNDER (Superior) Renegade (Robots Senator) World Geography Drum Kit (Quicksilva) 15000 (Craig) Star Striker (Superior) System Free Fall (Acornsoft) Compiled tiy RAM/Computer Adventure at are the usual men- lo see Level 9's Colossal robbed,' said a Database have to be zapped 'WE was the top 10 next month. Talking of Micro Olym- agerie of baiters, swarmers, mutants, least in spoltesman on hearing tiiat House's Hobbit has pods and landers. The highest Tolkien, Melbourne pics had been held oH the number one bombers, though un- slipped from 9 to 19! and For- official score is put at 350,000, spot by the dynamic duo Frak! round the (read as cheats) cloclt Aviator continues to circle Micro Olympics entered the charts confirmed reports tress. reaches of the chart but could well over halt a million. middle number 7 last month. Frak!, straight in in at at Bug-Byte's be overtaken by Micro Power's Dune months ago, looiis The sudden nose-dive of at number one hwo charts this Valley out of the charts Rider, which entered the unshaicable and Fortress seems to be Twin-Kingdom our suspicions about month - our tip for the top three. attacks on the number two completely confirms repelling all a disappointment to the editor; adventurers: a fickle lot who, when no- Elite is spot. collecting Tolkien, pick it's still stranded in hyperspace from nowhere, Alligata's one's looking, will drop their Straight in slaves and has yet to enter your the nearest pair of joysticks and pro- nubian is the month's highest new up Guardian Street shop, let alone the Top 20. to zap mutant aliens like the best of us. High entry with yet another variation on ceed prove us wrong: we expect Mayt>e next month? Defender Among the deadlies which Go on then, ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 NEW FRONTIERS GRIFFIN COMPUFERS IN CREATIVE SOFTWARE Acornsoft (C) ^7 95 Micro power (C) MICROCOMPUTING! 16.9S Micro power (D) Please ring. Wordwise (R) l}6.00 Graphics (R) Li-l. 50 TWO Disc doctor (R) FANTASTIC, Caretaker (R) 127.1,0 Printmaster (R) FUN-FILLED GUIDES 127. 50 FROM THE PENGUIN HAKDWAKE BBCB ACORN COMPUTER Plciisc niiij jar laiesi offers. Acorn LIBRARY electron iigq.oo Disk drives looK Cgsf.oo A full range olperipherals is available, prices on appli- HOW TO WRITE cation. Printers—£/72.oo. Monitors— f/99.00. Discs ADVENTURE GAMES from only £12.00. For the BBC Microcomputer All the above prices include V.A.T. (cV t^o/ Model B and Acorn Electron (C)—Cassette (D)— Disk (R)—ROM Peter Killworth CRIhIlS An original and easy-to-follow guide containing CO.lirUIH.RS a multi-purpose BBC BASIC program and S, RAIXSIVRD ROAD, .S"/,1,VS//:.1D database for writing your own adventure ESSE.X C.M24 SDU fantasies. Watch out lei. 02 jg S I22gi^ JACKSON AND LIVINGSTONE! £5.95 CREATIVE ASSEMBLER: HOW TO WRITE ARCADE GAMES Tandy Colour For the BBC Microcomputer Graphics Printers Model B and Acorn Electron For Quality and Jonathan Griffiths Efflcienqf! Creator of such top-selling games as Snapper andJCB Digging, Jonathan Griffiths steers you to a practical understanding Ultra-Compact Coloar of the powerful ASSEMBLER facility to produce Graphics Printer an action-packed arcade game. 95 Inc. ( RRATIVK ASSKMBIJ-^K 149 VAT How £5.95 To WA-iic Arc«itt Gamei Prints In Foor Wvirf Coloan (d> thr BBC Miiiocompuc Uses EasUy Replaceable Ink Cartridges trull Acotn tlurti 26- 1192 Indades Serial and Parallel Interfaces Colour Ink-Jet Printer ^499 I Higfa-Kesolntion Ink Jet Printer I Prints In Seven Coloan Model 100 Interface Cable. 26-1409 £9.95 BBC Model B Interface Cable. 26-7203 £39.95 178 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 I SOFTWARE REVIEWS CANNONS IN THE CANYON Eagle's Wing". Software Invasion, BBC B. £7.95 (£11.95 disc) THERE you are. doing some daring low flying down the canyon, guns blazing, In Eagle's Wing' you have defence batteries blasting away at you, to fly between the canyon attacking from all enemy planes walls while pillboxes, ships, angles, but on you go, pausing only planes and missile occasionally to dock with your sister launchers fire at you. The to scrolls sideways ship (a bit unsavoury that, I thought) screen under keyboard control refuel, re-arm and repair damage- resident Sounds familiar? If you were a The object of your mission is to of Teesdale when the NATO exercises out. PUMPING ALIENS about destroy the enemy missile silos and are on it would. All except that bit associated command centres (and to defence batteries. 'Digger', Visions (Software Factory), BBC promised a pen- cause the inhabitants to write ferocious Still, I have been B (OS 1.2, £7.95) the local Bugle). knife for my next birthday. Watch out, letters to well-packaged game. Brylcreme boys! This is a really instructions anything that It has tickertape-type If you like blatting scrolling across the screen, and appro- moves, this is your game. The screen martial music -two tunes- scrolls sideways at a speed controlled priately mastery playing while the main game is loading. by you (if, unlike me, you have graphics are excellent: satisfying of the digits) and you have to steer a The black at the course between the canyon walls, crump-type explosions, red and yellow. My while assorted pillboxes, ships, planes centre, fringed with plays it for hours at a and missile launchers are being less son, Ghengis, I get my 1 if only could than hospitable. time, as would You have three kinds of blatter: air-to- fingers under control. a hall of fame and a demo air cannon, air-to-ground cannon, and There's see what you're in for. air-to-ground missile. You have a facility to let you NOW let me see. Red Goggle Aliens are limited supply of each, of course, and Very good. Harry Sinclair called Footas. Green Dragons are your fuel has a nasty tendency to run called Pubars. Pumping is only done horizontally and each pump is neutra- JAIL BAIT lised by each pip'. Just as well I suppose. Right. This game has got nothing to do with Software Invasion, •Spooks and Spiders', corks on your hat. You are an allot- BBC 8, £7.95 ment-owner plagued by the aforemen- tioned Footas and Pubars. They lurk a prison block with several SCENARIO: underground but can't pass through the galleries. Locked cells, one of them earth unless they turn into ghosts- You, containing a beautiful damsel. The key on the other hand, are a bit of a whizz at to the cells and the maiden's heart is tunnelling, and your pumping is of get to it you have to avoid there, but to Olympic standard. Pubars can breathe the ghosts of long-dead prisoners and fire and gamma rays which do you a awful-looking spiders. You caki jumpon power of nogood. spiders though, acquiring points the To destroy these bounders you can and dirty shoes in the process, but you either pump them up and cause them to have to make sure that neither they nor explode, or you can get more points by the ghosts jump on you or you will lose digging earth from under rocks and one of your three lives, Later on, some hoping that they fall and squash your ghosts turn into fast-moving your chances of survival. of the ever, only leads to and if foes. Success, as very difficult indeed to The graphics are quite good skulls which are and faster fact that the story- greater torment. More avoid. you don't mind the it all becomes fictional you could like thingies harass you until Having cunningly worked your way line is probably happened fairly early on. will appeal to those who toomuch. This through to the key and grabbed it, you this game. It of expert testers found Acornsoft's Monsters. I and my team have to go to each cell door in a random like rather uninspiring and in- The package is nicely put together the game sequence and unlock it. When you open fathom, I didn't know unlike Eagle's Wing, from the same itially difficult to the last cell, there is the grateful but. going on. Finding out didn't (please tick), it doesn't what was damsel She's so grateful, in fact, that stable or eyrie help much. It's OK, but not outstanding. this have the Interrupt-driven music and you have to do it all over again but it if, like the entertain or irritate you I might even recommend time there are even more spooks and graphics to others, it wasn't so expensive. it loading, spidersafteryou. All the time the bonus while is Harry Sinclair Harry Sinclair score is heading towards zero, as are ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 More than just a joystick Complete control - a system at your fingertips Nylon encased Steel shafted — joystick A superb joystick and a keypad for the price with ball and socket joint. of either ore. Plus the software to integrate Fast sprung return to centre. It into the computer's system. Graphfce wiper One handset will linear potentiometers. work on it's own m the A/D port as a joystick and two fire A 12 Months Guarantee. buttons. Joystick is immediately compatible with ACORNSOFT and similar 7 day Money back Guarantee (on Hardware). software. The interface joins together the analogue and the user ports to use the full keypads giving DELTA 14b HANDSET £14.95 a total of 24 user definable keys. The interface can also be used as a splitter for the DELTA 14b/1 A/D/USER PORT INTERFACE £14 85 A/D pore to take two items at the same time, e.g. joystick DELTA DRIVER CASSETTE £5.95 or DISC £9.95 and lightpen. Prices include VAT and P&P. SAE for more detailed information DELTA DRIVER on tjisetteor diic: T*o programi on ejch cassecte or di^ One concerts machine sode programi Irom the keyboard lo the jofuick or keypad, wuh VOLTMACE LTD Numerous scockiSLs adiusuble seniiiiviiy on the pyu-a and «ill r„n an anj. O.S. The second program (needi OS 1 or PARK DRIVE laier and an imerfate) duplicaies nationwide or direct any keyboard ke^i on ihe ke/pads. in (he operaiinE ^j-iiem, E,o ihat n can become a numeric BALDOCK from keypad or will tjke on the function keys HERTS us. SG7 6EZ Callers welcome at the E3 Tel: (0462) 894410 factory — Monday to Friday. Vf^i-s^^^- St« our progrim* on MICROHET (;.^'> s '^ jr---' ,«. , ^-V>"'' ,..0. r.^ :r^^^ e*"'* ^. oT ?so ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 I SOFTWARE REVIEWS WP Chris Drage in the international set WITH AN ACCENT 'page', nor can the information at the Products, lines long, each line holding 80 charac- 'BBtype', Furey Enterprise screen be over- - of television top and bottom of the Hildenborough, Kent TN11 9EY. BBC B ters bad news for owners alternative is written. (OS 1.0 or later), E23 inc VAT and p&p, sets as no 40-column Movements to the boundaries of the cassette or disc available. A status line at the top of the are achieved by use of the screen gives information about current document from Furey Enterprise are EMi BBTYPE in-file CTRL plus cursor keys. Deletions line, character set in use, and Products is a multiple character- Delete reminder of achieved through the use of the current out-file. Line 22 provides a set WP written {in its the text. print, load, key or by simply overtyping Epson MX. RX and FX the commands necessary to form) for the Lines and characters may be deleted covering French, save and restart (figure 3). ranges of printers, and inserted by use of Shift plus cursor Spanish, German/Scandina- Italian. keys. Care must be taken when insert- technical symbols and matliemat- vian, ing lines as any text pushed beyond the ical symbols. 66 line/80 character limit is irrevocably designed for teachers, students, It is lost. Lines may be repeated by use of correspondents and anyone foreign the Shift + CTRL + cursor down key. produce several who wants mainly to Tab stops are limited to just three, of single sheets - for example, copies which is not really adequate. Each may or exam papers. business letters be defined by the user. The BBC's Tab arrives in a flimsy box The paci integrals. It also improves minants and 7 n E-dC 1 & the appearance of subscripts and Jill text the superscripts. For ordinary r Y u r o F' TftB Q W E. I I I I J^ I d normal option should be used. on Q H J y L RETURN Next, the printer must be switched CTL. A i? and put on line before the text screen V h N M SHIFT DEL CDP appears. This is important as BBtype is SHIFT y. not really designed to work without a printer. text screen comprises a blank The option Figure 2. Sample printout using technical 20-line 'window' of a page of text 66 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 BBC MODEL B • SPECTRUM COMMODORE 64 With Grafpad you can now add a new dimension to your .for computer enjoyment, but most as many uses important, it helps you create yourown application programmes by the simple use as YOU of the Grafpad! The BBC Grafpad comes complete with cassette and disk can imagine! ^ comprising of three programmes. THE FIRST PROGRAMME displays the co-ordinates of your screen area. The co-ordinates are based on the screen with a grid size of 1023 X 1279 pixel, also in the Grafpad giving you a grid size of 320 x 256 pixels! This is to allow you to write your own graphic programmes, THE SECOND PROGRAMME provides you with the utilities for circles, squares, triangles, free-hand, erasing line-drawing etc, and of course, full "Fill-in" facility in 16 different colours by the simple use of the pen! Draw from a simple apple to a computer circuit - store in cassette or disk, perhaps transfer direct to a printer -in black and white or full glorious colour! THE THIRD PROGRAMME The unique C.A.D. (Computer Aided Designs) programme adds further enjoyment and professionalism to your computer designs! The Grafpad comes complete with Operational Manual, Programmes, The Grafpad and Pen and it simply plugs , . 5'' rK. .^t in your computer. l^B .;:.:;.""" •wj smt mm \s^m (Size: 25mm height x 355mm width x 260mm depth) Weight; 1.2kg (Gross) HOWTO ORDER: BYTELEPHONE BY POST H you are an Access Card Holder Simply fill in your requirements on a simply telephone us giving your Card sheet of paper, enclosing your No,, Name. Address and ilem(s) cheque/P.O, made payable to: required and your orders will be BRITISH MICRO. dispatched within 48 hours! Please allow 14 days lor delivery. DEALER INQUIRIES (The WELCOMED above designs were drawn by a 12-year-old at our showrooms I) SPECIAL DISCOUNTS FOR EDUCATIONAL AUTHORITIES BRITISHMICRO A HEGOTRON GROUP COfVIPANY JnitQ2,Renfold Works, Imperial Way, Watford, HERTS WD2 4Yy' eJ» ISOFTWARE REVIEWS NQTfilT: GRDLIPE dSja De nombreuse^ regions d» France ot rJe pays ttranqers c.nt pu < - "'".> l"» fiu-t.iiifii tm ruM.mnu ire 11 im «•« i notre sp&f:tacle et voir A tr.-ivers nos danseuirs et nas musiciens Mtri mtKlt It nl' « tfHfri mi Imhwi tt M> wKlw applsudir «tliwli' de nos p^res. I'ba 1 Ii f*l> r« wiTMitri Br oupe Fcilklurique „Le Vel ay" du Puy. c»T<*fi«t, iroi cThUi*. OH tm-im, »i" tm 22 Figure 4. Printout of French text, accented Figure 3. BBtype text screen with reminder at line straightforward, way. One application of SSfype that is mathematics and so on. A 'cold' start is clearly written and such as how to mix not readily apparent is its uses for achieved by pressing CTRL + Shift providing useful tips I'm sure our document. It also Gaelic-speaking people. + Copy simultaneously: All irrevocable character sets in one deal of assistance Scottish, Welsh and Irish colleagues actions are trapped and you are given provides a good things wrong. could use its French character set. the choice whether or not to continue. when go will be disappointed Clearly, BBtype is not a wordproces- Educationalists The Break key is fully trapped. Nothing that fiStKpewill not function on sor. Its lack of wordprocessing facilities to learn is lost from the accidental use of this Econet Level 1 system. it firmly in the text editor the key. places a useful tool for BBtype allows the BBC micro to BBtype provides an exit mode. bracket. Yet it provides characters other create and edit documents with non- Pressing Escape allows you to wander anyone who needs addition to the English. Its lack of printer standard characters in 'off-stage' into Basic should you wish to than normal normal characters. At C23, though, it calculations or access control codes is a limiting factor for perform some general- 'TYPE thosewishingtogetthe most from their appears overpriced. Its the DFS commands. I found the of cassette printers. Double printing is poss- purpose approach and use command invaluable here. It enables Epson system master is to be com- ible but many other printer facilities are for the you to list any SSfype file for reference will complain mended. It is very user-friendly and while you edit the current one. Typing not. Linguists and purists unfortunate that the limit- < > enables you to that the capital letters are printed with failsafe. It is RUN RETURN permit only experience it is ations of the mode 3 screen return to the text. accents, but in my people do any- the most fundamental WP facilities. The 12-page A5 instruction booklet is something that most A MINDER FOR ALL THOSE PROCEDURES names that you but nevertheless a lot of the slog of pro- a list of source member Library Manager (SLM) ROM, Source gramming can be avoided. want to use to make a program. Defi- Guardian Software, 21 Harvey Road, in spare nition members, like source members, micro, The ROM chip is inserted a Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, BBC obtained sideways ROM socket -if there are can be created, deleted and £36(incP&P) - versions can none spare see special offer above from disc, and different by *SLM. To show exist of the same definition member. EVENING guv, nice 'ouse you got 'ere. and it is accessed most powerful feature of SLM is work doing - that the ROM is in use, a 'frame' The Need any extension Program' around the screen consisting the 'Construct Defined kitchen, loft? No? Well 'ow about your appears take a definition, fetch title 'Source Library Manager' at option: this will BBC micro? With all those extra ROMs of the line at the all the source members named in it you need the Acme backwards ROM the top and a 'command' from the disc and assemble all the expansion board. ROMs are easily re- bottom. Functions Menu' pieces of code together, in order, so as chisel and it draws no The 'Member moved with a then window and this con- to make up a program. All you the computer - instead it appears in this power from lines used most often. have to do is finish it off with a few uses a 12-volt car battery discreetly tains the commands typing *SLM you to call the various procedures. mounted on the board. Guarantee? You Assuming that before hang of the of code on the screen, this Once you've got the trying to ruin me?' had a piece with the 'Create jargon used, Source Library Manager So many ROMs seem to be coming can be saved to disc option. You supply a works very well and. being ROM- market these days that 1 Source Member' onto the user RAM. The for the routine - up to eight based, it takes up no wouldn't be surprised if I were sub- name - a 20-characler des- disc capacity, in terms of the number of jected to this kind of spiel from a foot-in- characters and to change that members that can be held, is a great the-door salesman. One of the recent cription. If you decide improvement on the 31 files allowed by it can be retrieved off disc, additions is grandly called the Source routine, with the same the DFS. For serious programmers who Library Manager - SLMior short. modified and saved using standard name, but SLM will also keep the old often find themselves SLM is a ROM-based utility program in their programs, it will - in fact up to 99 versions of the procedures that lets a programmer store com- version Normally only quicken this process and it's consider- monly used procedures and routines same member can exist. the method quoted in version is retrieved from the ably easier than on disc. Up to 199 such members' can the latest option to make the BBC micro UserGuideior merging be stored on a 40-track drive and these disc but there is a menu pieces of code. However, few other can be retrieved and then assembled any older version retrievable. there users would be able to justify the E36 form a program. You still As well as 'source members' together to Geoff Nairn members'. Adefinition is price-tag, need to add code to call these routines are 'definition ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 1 1 " ) 3 4 Electronequip (Authorised BBC Micro Dealer, and Econet Service Centre) NEW View BBC Ciiietli SMnrt Printer Driver. tam nei SBC Euiete Stiaan EieVAT iicvr For FX-80, BCASSENT BROTHER HR15, JUKI Acornsoft SeiilencB Sequencing (SBE071 B83 lOtS BCPPAOVE Program Power Adventure BCASSINV Acornsoft Super (Bl 5.87 jT.: lnuadet5(SBG1St 735 B,.l5 and KAGA/TAXAN BCPPALID Program Power Ahen Destroyers 40/80T disc BCASSLID Acornsoft Sliding (Invader) 5.91 OflO block punlei (SBG12) 7 35 8 45 BCPPALIE Program Power AlienSwId BCASSNAP Acornsoft Snapper 5,13 5,90 E9.95 inc VAT (SBGO*) 7 35 B.45 BCPPASTE Program Power aCASSNOO Acornsoft Snooker Aslerotd Sform IBl 5.87 675 (SBGSl) 735 8 45 BCPPAETR Program Power BCASSPAN Acornsoll Asiro Navigator 4 2i Spanisli (Lintiword) (SSX1S) 11 05 13.71 4,84 BCASSPAS aCPPBAND Program Power Bandits at 3 o'clock Acornsoft S Pascal (SBLDBl ^2A5 1132 5,14 591 M BBC CuiMU Sitnnri BCPPBARR Program Power £m m iM m eCASSPHI Acornsoft Sphinx Barrage for BBC 5.13 AOucnture (SBG07) 7.35 8,45 5,90 BCASSTAH Acornsoft BCPPBEEB Program Power Beeft-Tole Slarship Command ISBG221 7,35 (3) 4 40 5DS eCAAFfJAK Aatdvaali Fiah 845 (Caveman game) |BBC Cass) 7.00 aCASTETR Acornsoti BCPPBUMB Program Power Bumble Tfilrapod (SB(332j (SBC Casseltei 7,78 B«e (8) sfi? 6.7S BCAAZALA Aarovaak Zaiaaa (BBC 895 CasseUe Sottwarei 7,00 BCAETREE AcornsofI Tree BCPPCAVA Program Power Caveman Adventure of Knowledge lS8E04| 7,35 8.45 5.O6 5,82 eCADFOOI Addjclive Football Manager 5.B7 BCASrUHT Acornsoft BCPPCHEM Program Power Chemistry Turtle GiaphiCE (SBL07) 12,45 14.32 5,13 59Q eCAFSOUN A & F Sottwaie Bounwr 5.92 BCASVIEW Acornsoll View Printer Dover BCPPCHES Program Power Chess (SBB04) (BC) 73b 845 687 6 7S BCAFCHIC A & F Saltware Chuckie Ejg 5.S4 BCASVOLC Acornsoft Volcano BCPPCOSM Program Power Cosmic ISBG33) (BBC Cassette) 7.78 8.95 ComOal (Bl 5,1 591 eCAFCVLO ASF Software Cyion Attack 5.B4 BCASWOflH Acornsoft Word Hunl BCPPCOWB Program Power (SEEGS) a,S3 1015 Cowboy Shuot-Oul 5,06 582 eCAFFROG A 4 F Soltware Froggfli £92 BCASWORS Acornsoft Word Seauerang (SBEO61 BCPPCRDA Program Power Croaker HCAFPAIN 883 10.15 5.57 E,7S ASF Software Painter BC8EAVM Animal 592 BES Vegetable Mineral (XBEOS) BCPPCYBE Program Power Cyberircii E 63 7,62 Mission (B) S87 6 75 BCAFSHRI ASF Software Shrlnklns Piofessor 5.92 BCGEKAPL BES Haopy Lelters (XBE07) BCPPDAfJG 663 7.62 Program Power Oangei' UXB 5,87 BCAIADVE Afl venture 6.7S (niemational Aaventureland 7 36 BCBEHAPN BES Happy Nuintwjs (XBED4] 6 63 762 BCPPDEMO Program Powei Demon Decorator aCAIPIRA Adveniute IPaWlerl 5.06 5.S2 Iniemaiionai Pirate Adveriure 7,35 aCBEMAPB BES Map Rally [XBEC8] BCPPDIS 863 7,62 Program Power BBC Disassemijiet 506 582 eCAISECR Aflventufe Ifitei national Secret Mrssion BC8ETIM1 BES r.3S limeman One (XBE051 b.63 BCPPOUfJE ftogiam Power BCAIVOOD 7.62 Dune flider (BBC Cassefle) 6 22 7tS Adveniure iniBmatiunai Voodoo Casiie BCaETIMS BES Tinieman 735 Two ISBE06) aCPPELOO Program 663 7,62 Power Eldorado Goto (Adventur) 5,06 BCAKCHIL ASK Cfiildiwi liom Space (XBE16) BCBEWORH BES Womnang 5,8! 7.3S (XBE02) 5 BCPPESCA Piogiam Power 63 7.62 Escape from Moonbase AWia 5,87 BCAKCRAN ASKCtankyiXSEl?! aCBEWORW BES World-Wise 6.75 7,35 (XBEOtl 6,63 763 BCPPFFAC Program Power BCAKFACE Felix in the Factory 5,87 ASKFacemaiier(XBElO) BCBSBEYO BBCsoft Beyond Susie 6 75 7J5 Casselle (81 B 50 9.78 BCPPFFRU Program Power BCAKHIDE aCBSCAf(Y Felix & the Fruit Monsleis 6.87 676 ASKHideSSeeKXaEH) 7.36 BBCsolt Canyon (B) 7,40 851 BCPPGHOU Program Poww Ghouls BCAKIETS ASK Let's BCBSDRAW 5.37 6.7S Count (XBEi 21 735 BBCsoft OrawlnB 740 851 8CPPKELL Program Power Hell Driver BCAKNUMC ASH Numter BCBSDRWH (B) 5,87 B,7S Chaser (XBE1 5] 7,35 BSCsnIl Or Who: The Fltsl Adventure (B) 7^40 8.51 BCPPINTE Program Power BCAKNUMG BC8SEARL Infetgaladic Tiadfli (B) 6.61 ASKNumbeiGuiperjKBRIS) 5,82 BBCsoft Earl/ Learning 760 7,^0 851 BCPPJETP Program Power eCAKNUMP ASK Number BCBSGAMS Jet Power jack 5,B7 Pu;;ler(XBEl41 7.36 BBCsoft Games nl Slrjtegy 7.40 675 8,51 eCPPKiLL Program Power BCAKWOFO ASK BCaSHOMF Killer Goiilta 5,8? Words. Words. Words (XBE19) 7.35 BBCsoll Home Finance 740 851 675 BCPPLABC Program Power scALSusa Aiiigaia Software BCBSMAKM Making (he Labyrinths ol la Coshe 5.87 Bug Blaster 5.BS most of your Micro line t)ool') 9 57 6.7S 11.01 8CPPLASE Program Power SCALCOSM Alliflaia BCaSMOTO BBCsof! Laser Commsml 5 Software Cosmic Asteroids 4.39 Mosorisls' Log jhq 851 87 6,75 bcppmart Program BCALOAMB Aillgafa Soltware BCaSPAIN BBCsoft Painting Power Manian Attack (81 5,87 Oambusters 5.87 740 8.51 6,75 BCBSPR01 bcppmine Program Power Mine 8ACALEAGL fliiigaia Softwaie BBCsotl Programs Vol 1 (B) 5.87 E«jle Empire 5.87 juj S.51 675 BCALFRUI BC8SPH02 bcppmoon Program Power Moon Alligata Software Fruit Macliine 1B006) BBCsoft Programs Vol 2 Raider 587 B75 4.39 7,40 8,51 bcppneme BCALUNCL Ailigrtta BCBSRECO BBCsoft Record Keeper Program Ppwer Nemesis fBI Software Uncle Claude (BBC Cas) 7.00 (B) iC20 1173 S 67 675 BCAMALGE Ampalsoll BcasrAXC BaCsoflTaxcaiciB) bcppphvs Program Power Piiysics Cheshire Cat Algebra tevei 816 9,38 5,136 5,82 S.13 k;pppoke BCAMARIT Ampaisoft BCBSTOOL BBCsoft Tool Box IB) Program Power Poker Dice (B) Cheshire Cat Ariihmetir, level 5.13 15.52 1785 4.40 5,06 BCPPPOSf BCAMCALC AmDaisoii Chestiire BCBSVUTV BBCsoft VU Tyoe (Typing Tutor) Program Power Positron (Bl Ce! Calculus level 513 (8) 1 1 91} 13.68 5.14 591 eCAMCONS "0" BCBSWHIT BBCsotl White Kraght Msrk 6CPPHEV2 Program Power fteveisi AmpalsctI Cheshire Cat Construction Eleven (B] fl,50 9.78 t32K) 4^1 484 5.f3 BCBUIWIN BCPPRCUL BGAMGRAP Ampalsoll 8ug-Byte Twin Kingdom Valley Program Power Roulette for Ctieahire Cat BtapitE level 513 7,02 8,07 BBC «1 i-U ecCCANOR BCAMTRIG Ampalsoll "0 Compuler Concepts Andrord Attack BCPPSEEK Program Power Seek Cheshire Cat Tngonometry 5.t3 6,61 7,80 506 5M BCAEIOOP BaCASTE Computer Concepts Astetoul BCPPSPAC Program AcDfnsoft 100 Programs for BBC Micro belt 5 87 6,75 Power Space Jarlai (8) 5.14 3.50 accccHES 5,91 BCASAACT Acornsoft Compuler Coniapts Oiess BCPPSTOC Program Power Arcade Action (SBG061 aSD 6.61 760 Slock Car IB) 6.56 754 BCCCLOGO Compuler BCA3ARCA Acornso'l Arcadians Concepts Logo II SCPPSWOO Program Puwar iSBGI-ii 7,35 8.S0 9,78 Swoop 557 8.75 BCASAVIA BCCCSfJAK Computer Concepts Acornsoft Aviator (light simulator Snake 5.87 BCPPTIMT Program Powei Timelrek (Startiek (SBG02] 11,D5 875 Plus) 5,87 6,75 BCCCSPAC Computer Concepis BCASSUSI Acorrsoll Business Games Spacehamks 5.87 aCPPWALL Program Power Wall (SBE031 7.3S 676 (Bi hq 506 BCASCAfID BCCtSWAR Comouter Concepts AcornsoH Carousel iSBG24| Swami 661 760 BCPPWHifR Program Power Where 7.35 iB) 5,14 5,91 aCDS747 Doctor Soft 747 eCASCAET Acornsoft resile of Riddles 5 a; 75 KPPWORL Program (SBG17) 7.36 6 Power Work! Geography (81 BCGEBEEB Gemini 114 5,91 BCASCHAN Acorns olt Chemical Sesbcafc lEpreadstieet) Analysis (SB El 2) 10.20 1475 16,96 BCPPZABM Program Power Zarm (B) BCGEBEEP Gemini 5.87 e,7S 9GASCHES Acornsoft Ctiess Beebptol (Graph Piott iSBGIO) 7,35 14.75 16.96 BCPSSALO Psion Saloon Sally BCGECATE Gemini 4jg 505 BCASCHSl Acornsoft Chemical Simulations Caterpillar jj^ (SBEIS] io.ao 8,45 BCOSBEEB Oulcksilva Beeb AH (B) BCGGFAIfl Grillin 11,05 12.71 BCASCHST Acoinsofi Ctiemical a George Fairsharo Structures " 7,35 8.45 BCQSfLlUSI (SBEK) 10.20,„.^„ Guicksiiva Musrc Piocessor (B) eCASCOLL aCGGGETS Gnffin & George 1 1 05 12,71 AcomsortyiCL CoilBciots Caiaiogue Getset 735 8,45 (SBXOS) 7,35 BCRHGALA RH Soltware Galactic Wipeout (flHSOOIC) BCASCOUN BCGGNUMB Griffin S George Numberfun 081 7,60 Acornsoft Countdown to Doom (SBG19| y'sj 8,45 7,35 BCBHSKIS FH Soltware Ski Slalom (RHSOOaC) BCASCflAZ BCGGTABL Gntfin s George labiesums 661 7BD Acornsoft Cra?y Tracer (SBG36) (B) 7.35 3,45 7,35 BCGGWDRG BCSHGBLl Simon W Hessell GB Lid BCASCREA Acornsoti Gritfin S George Wordgsmes 7'35 5,13 5,90 Creative Grapfiics (SBXOI] 7.35 8.45 BCSHINHE Simon W Hessell Inlentance BCASDESK BCGGWORS Gnllin & George 4,39 5,05 AcoriffiotI Desk Diary jSBBOl] WordspeB 7.35 8,45 7JS aCGHTALP 8CSHTRAV Simon W Hessell Travel Garne eCASDRAU Acornsoft Good Hoosekeg Mr T's Alphabet 4,39 5,05 Draughts 4 fieversi (B) (SBGM) 7.35 9.57 11,01 BCGHTMEA BCS13DB0 Software In/aslon 3D Bomb fiCASOHQG Acornsoll Good Housekeg Mr Ts Measuring AMy s'e? era Drogna lseG27) iSBC Cassette) 7.78 Games 957 11.01 BCSfATTA Soflware Invasion Attack on BCASELiT Acornsoft aCGHTMQN CfiM Housekeg Mr Ts Money Alphacenlun 5,87 5.75 Elite (S8G3fli (BBC Caiselte) 12.35 Box 9,57 11,01 BCGHTNUM 8CSIEAGL Software Inyasion Eagles wing BCASE-XAM Acornsoft Examiner Good Houseke's Mr T"s MumlDei (B) 5,B7 67S Casselle (SBE17) (B) 735 Games 957 11.01 BCGHTSHA BCSIGUfJS Soilware Invasion (Junsmoke aCASFOfie Acornsoll Good Houseke'g Mr Ts Sfiape Game 5.87 6,7S FoitKasf (SBBD?) 8.30 9,57 1101 BCGHTTEL BCSlSPOO Software Invasion BCAEFORr Acornsoft Good Houseke'g Mr I Tells (he Time Spooks S Spldws IB) 5 87 6.75 Fortti Cassetlfl (SBL01 12.45 g's? 11,01 BCHOADVB HoneyfWd BCSIVORT Software Invasion Vortex eCASFREE Advanced Basic course 1 537 Acornsoll Free Fall ISBGJB) 7,35 2^id 12.71 6,75 BCHOeEQA Honeyfoid Beginners BCSMDIS Simonsoft Oisassemoier BGASFREN Acornsoft Ftenc^ (Lmhivnrd) (SBX13) Assembly Language 12 10 12 71 58/ 6,75 1105 BCSS2002 BCASQERM 5CH0BEGB Hoiwylold Beginners Basic course Superior Software 2002 537 Acornsoti Gennan (Lmkword) (SBX16I 11.05 i2.io 12.71 67S BCASGBAD BCIBCRIM Ivan ao'B Cnme BCSSALtO Superior Softwaie Alien Dropout Acornsoft Graphics on the BBC & Detection Ouu ()(BX02) 9 35 10,75 587 6,75 850 BCSSSATT 8CASGRAP Acornsoft BClBDATI Ivan Berg Dating Game (XBXOE) Superior Sottwam BatBe Tank Graphs S Charts 189X02] 7.35 9J36 10.75 5^87 6.75 BCtSHiST Ivan Berg Hislary BCSSCENT Superior Soflware Centipede BCASHOOK Acomsolt;'lCL Hooked on Numbers Qui; (XBX04) 9 35 10,75 587 675 BCIBIDO BCSSCOLD ivan Berg , I Superior Soflware , Do (XeX07) Comz AflveMurB (SSX08) IBC) 7.35 935 10.75 5,53 5,36 BCIBMUSt BCASKDPP Acornsnit Ivan BBfB Music Qui; (X8X03) BCSSCRAZ Superior Soltware Crazy PaiiTter Hopper (SBG23) 7.35 9^35 10.75 5 87 675 BCASITAL Acornsoft BCIBROVA Ivan Berg Roy^y Qui; (XBXD6) ffi:SSFAtH Superior Software Fairground Italian (Lmkword) (SBX14] 11.05 q 35 10 75 5,37 6,75 BCASJARS BCIBSOE Ivan Berg Science Fiction Oul; BCSSFHOG Superior Softwaie Frogger AcornsoflJarsiSBElS) 8.83 (XBX05) 9 35 10.75 5,37 6.75 BCASJCBD Acnmsofl aCfBTHER Ivan Berg Theatre Quiz (XBXOI aCSSFRUI Superior Soflware Fruit Machine JCB Digger (SaG09) 7.35 9,35 10,75 5.37 6/5 BCASKING Acornsoft BCUHYPE UK Hyperdnve lor BBC (13) BCSS6AU Superior Soflware Gaiaxians Kingdom of Hamil (SBG25) 7.35 4,80 6,52 5,37 6,75 SCASLISO BCtJINVA UK Invaders for BBC 8CSSHUNC Supenor Sofhmare Acornsoft Lisp Demonsiration Progs (SS109) 7,35 (9) 5 54 6.37 Hunchback s.87 6.75 BCIJSTRA UKStiatobomberfor BCSStNVA BCASLISP Acornsoft Lisp Cassette BBC (14) 554 Superior Software Invaders (SBL02t 12^45 KUSUPE 6,37 5,97 6,75 SCASWAG1 iJKSuper Hangman tor BBC BCSSOVEB Supenor Software Overdrrve AcornsoftMagicGaiden(B)(SBXM) 7^35 16) 33^ 3.82 5,87 6.75 8CJDVSTI eCASMEMB Joystick Utility program tor BCSEPONT Superior Aromsoft/ICL Membership Manager (SaxOG) BBC 5^06 5,82 Soltware Pontoon 5.1 7 35 BCkAGALA 5,90 BCASMETE Acornsoft Kansas Qaiaclic Firebird BCSSOBEH Superior Software OBeri Meteors (S8G13I 735 701 806 587 6,75 BCASMETM BCKOFREA Kosmos Software French Mistress BCSSRDAD Sopehoi Acornsoll Meteor Mission (SBG29) (B Cas) A 7.35 8,45 SoHwaie Road Runner 537 7 7S BCKOFREB 6,75 BCASMICR Acornsoft KosmoE SollwaiB French Mistress BCSSSPAF Superior Microiexl (S8L04I 36,85 B 7,35 8 45 Softwaie Space Fighlei 5,37 675 BCASMISB BCKOGERA Kosmos Softwaie Acornsoll Missile Base (SflGlfli German Maslei A 7.35 8.45 BCSUjUNW &ilis Soilware Junioi WordspSts 7.35 BCKOGERB 7.3S B,45 BCASMI5S Acornsoti Missing Kosmos Software German Master a SCSUJUST Sulis Soflware Signs (SBEOa] SB3 7 35 8,45 Just a Mol 7.35 BCKOSPAA Kosmos 545 SCASWONS Acornsoft Monsters Software Spanish Tutor A BCSUOPEN Sulis Soflware [S8G03) 7.35 7.35 8.45 Open Ses-ime 7.35 BCKOSPAB Kosmos 845 BCASFJUMB Acoinsofi Number Software Spanish Tutor B BiauSfAW Suiis Balance ISBEOB) 8.33 7 35 846 Eolfware Starter WorUsplits 7.35 845 6CL9C0LC Level 9 Colossal BCASONET Acomsofl/ICL One to Nine (SBXD?) AOventuie (8) 7 32 8,42 BCSUTENF Sulis Software Tense 7.36 French 7,35 8.45 8CL9DUNG Level Dungeons 8CASPEEK AcornsofI Peeko-Compulet Pack 9 (B) 73; BCSUTIME Sulrs SoHwaie time (SBE03] 7.35 842 Traueilei 7.35 845 BCASPERS BCL9L0flD Level 9 Lords of Time Acornsoft Personal Moiiey Maiagem'l (bl 7 33 8,42 BCSUWOflO Soils Software WorUpowei 7'35 (SBB05] 8,80 BCL9SN0W 845 BCASPHIL Acornsoft Level 9 Snowball (B) PhilosoDfwis(3uesl(SBG0I) 735 733 8.42 BCViOARE Visions Daiedevif Dennis (BBC Cassette) BCMHHOBB 7 00 E,D5 BCASPiCI Acornsoft Melbourne House Hobbil 1105 Picture Maker iSBX03 7 12.71 BCVIDEdtO Visions Demoiator (BEC 35 BCMSOUIC Cassette) 7,00 8,05 BCASPLAN Acornsoft ftiirrorsoft Quick Thinking (B) Planetoid (QefendBr) (SBGIS) 735 5^3 5.90 8CVIPENG Visions Pengi (BBC Cassette) 8CASR0CK BCOCMRWI Ocean Mr Wimpy 7,00 8,05 Acornsoll Rocket Raid (S8G05) 51Q 587 BCVISNOO Visions 7,35 Snooker (BBC Cassette) 6.61 BCPAFORT Pace Software Fortress 760 gei 7,60 BCVMDELT Voltmacs Delta driver Cassette 4,39 505 BRANCHES MAIL ORDER: 36-38 WEST STREET ^FAREHAM, HANTS. COMPUTER Electronequip (0329) 230670 KINGS > LYNN: 17 TENNYSON AVE. 36-38 West Street Fareham, Hants 184 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 } Electronequip I (Authorised BBC Micro Dealer, and Econet Service Centre) • SPECIAL OFFERS 5 FREE ACORNSOFT GAMES Mail order only WITH EVERY BBC SOLD (while stocks last) * n EPSON RX-80FT£225.25 . VAT FX-SO e320.88 . VAT Printer price includes cablefor BBC and screen dump rom is available for EJI.50 V / £242 58 + vat KAGA/TAXAN KP810 Electronequip is an authorised Acorn service centre and has been an Acorn dealer since the introduction VOLTMACE JOYSTICKS of the Atom. Our demonstration facilities Include 20 station Econet and Torchnet systems, VAT Inc VAT *10% off list prices Ref. BBC Micros Ex ANB01 BBC Model B Micro Computer 348,26 399,00 ANB02 BBC Model B with Econet Interface 389,14 446,00 ANB03 BBC Model B with Disc Interface 409,14 469,00 ANB04 BBC Model B with Disc & Econet Interface 450,01 516,00 ANC01 6502 Second Processor 174.35 199,00 ANC04 Z80 Second Processor 348.26 399.00 ACBBITST Acofn Bit Stick (ANF04) 327.39 376.50 ACBTELET Teletext Receiver (ANE01 1 95,65 225,00 NOW REDUCED TO £89 (incl VAT) 3" Micro Disc £89.00 Dlscountecl price 1?46 JSVOLT 14 Voltmace Delta 14B Joysticks ..,. Disc Interface & JSVOLTAD Voltmace UB/I Adaptor Box 13-36 Drive 18,09 JSV01T3B Voltmace Delta 3B Twin Joysticks £181.30 (inc VAT) SIDEWISE SIDEWISE FITTED Micro Disc Drive for the BBC Micro The Micro disc drive oHers a method of low cost quick access to programs- The drive is essentially a small version o( a 5i" disc drive and offers similar features to the larger drive. The data is stored on a 3" disc, this is enclosed in a protective hard plastic cassette which features a write protect switch. The micro drive requires the standard Acorn dtsc interface, but a new disc filing system rom. Acorn disc interface, but a new disc filing system rom. Acorn DFS may be exchanged for Ihe micro DFS for E2.30. The new micro disc filing system can read and write to Acorn DFS discs. Ihe cable Thus if a 5^ inch and a micro floppy were connected on same "SIDEWAYS" rom board for BBC Micro. files could be transferred between them. NO SOLDERING REQUIRED £36.00 + VAT Capacity: 80.64 K bytes. Transfer Rate: 125k bit/s. Prices subject to variation without prior notification Prices for monitors and printers include BBC cable TRADE ENQUIRIES WELCOME 14" TV/Monitor Access & Barclaycard Accepted - Hour Despatch £202.35 + VAT Large Stocks 24 Carriage 46p No Soldering Required £36.00 + VAT ISHOP/TECHNICAL: 59 WEST STREET IfAREHAM, HANTS. (0329) 230671 Electronequip v*. A' (0553) 3782 BBC 36-38 West Street. Fareham, Hants (0329) 230670 185 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 f LATEST BARGAIN PI colour MONITORS DISK DRIVES mono iVJDNITDflS DOT MATRIX Mlcrovitecl451 £239.13 ISLI8 Epson RXSQ F/T + VAT =E275 £53.91 £221.73 -^ VAT - + VAT = I0DK40T £86.09 £62 E255 ex VAT lie m + VAT = Egg- ex VAT iicV*T ex VAT Ik VAT Amstrad CTM640 £146.97 £169 Amstrad GT64 £60.00 £B9 star Deita 1 single Microvitec ex VAT IBCVAT 1431 £169.58 £195 Sanyo DM2112 (15 MHz) £65.23 wilfi 100KALPS40T £75 special portable 1431 (RGB/PAL/AUDIO) £86.10 £99' £195.66 EZZ5 Sanyo DM81 12CX £86.10 £99 l/F 8K bulfef) £317.40 100KChinon40T £355 KAGA Vision £126.10 £U5 EX £186,97 £215 ISL 18 (18 MHz) £53.92 £62 KDC R-5001 £203,49 200K Sankyo 3" mi JVC 1302-1 (QL/BBC) 40T £160.88 £185 £169,58 £195 fSL 20 (Sv^rivel 80 col) £63.49 £73 Epson RX80 £190.44 EZ19 400K Mitsubishi 40/80T £173.00 £199 Microvitec £221.75 1451/QL £Z55 Teco witfi Zoom £91.31 £105 Epson RX80 F/T £221.75 £255 400K Cumana 801 £186.97 £215 Microvitec 1451 £239.14 £275 Epson FX80 £329.58 £379 1451 (RGB/PA 17AUDI0) £340 £295.66 Epson FX100 (132 cot) £511.31 £5flB Oairbli ex VAT iBcVUT KAGA Vision II £234.79 £270 Mannesman MT80 £195.66 mi 800K Cumana 80T JVC 1302-2 (OL/BBC) £220.00 £253 E364.36 £419 VARIOUS 800K MitsuOisfii 40/80 £381.75 £439 Microvitec 1441 £433.92 £499 800K Cumana 40/80T £433.92 £499 bkVAT IflcVAT KAGA Vision III £321.75 £370 Torch Ext, Processor + Software £260,01 £299 DAISYWHEEL Torcti Ext. Processor PROCESSORS + twin drives £651.31 £748 Computer Concepts ROMS from £27.84 Acorn Business Software £20.88 Acorn Data recorder £27.84 Computer Work Station £49.58 Holds Micro', Monitor, Printer with Storage Space £1 4,79 Desk Stacking Unit £20,00 Phone for quotation on (Lockable version available) bespoke Accounting BflC Model B £320.87 + VAT - C369- Software Invoicing/ Ledgers/Payroll ex VAT Ik VAT £326.08 BBC 'B' + s/ware £320-87 £369 + VAT = E375 BBC 'B' with DPS £399.14 £459 Acorn Z80 Ext, • SPECIAL OFFER WHILE STOCKS ex VAT ill MI LAST JUKI 6100 Processor £260.00 £299 £326.08 £375 Daisy Step 2000 Torcfi Unicorn Package P.O.A. £216.53 £Z49 Plus Amstrad CPC464 £139.14 £IGO JUKI Sheet Feeder 6v power + UHF £24.36 £28 £207 84 £239 JUKI Tractor Feed ISL 8083 (IBM Comp) £1173.92 £1350 £9479 £109 Ssrial InlarfacB CDnveriiins DEC 11/23 + 40 MB £6086.97 £7000 8143— Epson OEC 11/73 + 170 MB £10434.79£I2DOO £26.10 £30 8148—Epson (2k buffer LVL DD/DOS £103.49 £119 XON/XOFF protocol) £56.53 £65 JUKI £47.84 £55 DISK INTERFACES Plus cables from £10.44 £12 BOLD PRICES INCLUDE VAT BUSINESS SYSTEMS Prices shown are for cash & carry sales and are correct at time of going to press in September A.C.T. Apricot Export price list available ex VAT In VAT Processors and Mail order and credit cards Kenda Migtity Oak £78.27 accepted £90 OPEN 9-6 Business Systems Kenda Professional Monday to Saturday assembled to your (double density) £113,05 £130 57 Hoxton Square, Opus Double Density £113.05 £130 London N1 specification. Price Acorn DFS Kit £84.36 £97 Tel: 01-729 1778 dependent on equipment supplied. MODEIVIS Call us to discuss your requirement. Selection of Acoustic Couplers and Mini Modems in stock. e* VAT Inc V*T Minor Miracle WS2000 £126 10 £145 THE EXPERTS I HARDWARE REVIEWS TAKE TWO TABLETS Malcolm Banthorpe draws practical conclusions in this comparative review of two inexpensive digitisers graphics moment, then, they must be capable of Robot Plotter by Robot Computer it should, the usefulness of a cassette- Developments. National Industrial tablet is heavily dependent on the soft- running on unexpanded, tel: Estate. Bonloft Avenue, Huh HU5 4HF, ware used with it. The restricted based machines, (0482) 448562. £59.50 inc VAT. memory available on the BBC micro This review will therefore concen- aspect of the digi- when modes 0, 1 and 2 are used means trate on the software Tarren Digigraph Mk II by Tarren that software designers cannot gener- tisers since this will probably be the Products, Factory D1, Tretoresl Industrial they meet ally include all the features that they deciding factor in whether Estate, Pontypridd, Mid Glam., CF37 5UR, would like and must therefore decide your requirements. tel: (0443 85) 3723/4, C86 plus VAT vwith to be most useful and The Robot Plotter (figure 1) employs cassette software, £91 plus VAT with disc which are going transparent smoked perspex base software. use their skill to include as many as a board through which artwork can be traced. The software most of the digi- LIKE is supplied on cassette but tisers currently avail- includes a routine to facili- able for the BBC micro, tate its transfer to disc. The the two graphics tablets constraints of the reviewed here work on the memory micro mean that only pantograph arm system. graphics modes 4 and 5 can This system provides a generally be used with a disc cheaper alternative to the system. Another rou- one used on the Grafpad type filing tine is included to move the of tablet, where the position program down to PAGE - of the drawing stylus is once, loaded from disc, detected by electromagnetic &E00 so that modes 0, 1 and 2 can coupling between it and a boused, but it will then not be grid of fine wires embedded possible to save or load pic- in the tablet. While the accu- tures from disc. racy of these pantograph Once the main program devices is generally slightly has been loaded, prompts lower and their physical con- are displayed to calibrate the struction makes them diffi- tablet by moving the pointer cult to use for freehand draw- to the upper right and lower ing, they can be used quite left corners of the grid and efficiently to trace existing pressing return. The pro- artwork for transfer to the gram then asks if extended screen. mode is required. The main Two potentiometers con- part of the program can oper- nected to the analogue input ate either in a simple mode, port supply all the infor- allowing the more commonly mation required to allow the used drawing commands to position of the pointer at the be accessed rapidly, gener- free end of the jointed arm to ally with a single keystroke, be calculated by suitable or in extended mode where software. As mentioned in additional features are avail- my review of the Grafpad able and a single keystroke (May issue), one of the often presents several design problems to be over- options- come in making one of these Commands available in digitisers is that the overall the simple mode include structure should be rigid line, rectangle and circle enough to prevent errors due Figure 2. The Tarren Digigraph Mk II drawing and 'follow', which to flexing or backlash while keeping the allows irregular shapes such as maps still allowing the joints to rotate freely, possible, at the same time to be traced. In each case the line or so that diagrams and sketches can be program friendly. The use of disc over- circle or rectangle is continually red- easily traced. The standard of con- lays or a second processor opens the according to the pointer position struction on both the Robot Plotter and door to greater freedom in graphics rawn design but commercial pro- until accepted by pressing the space Tarren Digigraph Mk II tablets was high software This feature is of considerable and met the above requirements well. grams generally need to be usable by bar. assistance in getting the pointer cor- Given that the hardware performs as as many customers as possible. For the ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 Clearing Business Hurdles SILVER REED ' the S|-.rint :-,,..:ir .. ..ncy no word processing applications, all are Centronics or Indoubt you're finding plenty of obstacles, RS232C compatible. backlogs of paperwork, communications Take some positive steps towards clearing problems and the like. your business hurdles -ask for more details of In such circumstances it's well worth evaluating SILVER- REED'S range of computer SILVER-REED'S range of bi-directional daisywheel peripherals. Contact your ,^^ ;* # printers. They'll deal with mailings, lists, labels, local dealer or clip this J^il^A*^'it__. reports and generally enhance your office capability coupon, with a clear, letter quality presentation that protects your company image. They clear the technology hurdle-they're developed with SILVER-REED'S renowned R&D expertise. They clear the presentation hurdle - SILVER REED using the same unmistakable clear, letter quality SrLVER-REED(U.K.)lTD. print as on SILVER-REED'S EX55 electronic SILVER SEIKO HOUSE. 13 23 EXCHANGE ROAO WATFORD MERTFORD&HIBE typewriter, the "Silver Fox'! WD1 7EB They clear the TEL WATFORD (0923) 459^6 & 35616 efficiency hurdle - TELEX 923029 (SILVER G as part of a complete system for FACSIMILE (0923127693 188 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 I HARDWARE REVIEWS separate windows can be defined on rectly positioned. There is provision for accommodated. supplied has a wide the tablet and on the screen so that entering text, which can be 'dragged' The software options that allow the movement of the pointer within the around the screen by the cursor and range of drawing of diagram tablet window will correspond to move- therefore positioned quite precisely. creation of almost any type functions ment of the cursor within the screen Enclosed shapes can be filled with a to be tackled. The number of detail. Apart from window. In this way it is possible to colour and at any point the drawing is too long to list in etc scale up or scale down the movement colour can be selected from any of the usual line/circle/rectangle/fill of the pointer, those available to the • One of the options for line in The graphics mode use. drawing allows the length physical colour displayed by and angle of a line to be can also each logical colour entered from the keyboard redefined. be (not unlike turtle graphics), mode offers in Extended having established its start- addition the choice of dotted ing point either with the when line' or solid lines and pointer or as the end position ESI is selected there is a choice of the previous drawing vertical - of horizontal and operation. This feature useful in constructing dia- makes it very easy to create - well as sloping grams as isometric drawings. lines, 'Multicolour fill' gives the user the chance to define When the infill command is a 'super pixel' of four normal userfto fill an enclosed area greatly extends pixels, which with solid colour, the number of colours or tex- the number of screen pixels filled is tures available for filling shown in the prompt area at shapes. enclosed the lower edge of the screen. One of the most useful As so many drawing this software is features of options are available prac- that each drawing the way tice will be required before instruction is memorised as the user can get the most out it is executed, in both simple of the software. To this end a and extended modes. Thus use series of worksheets and a Figure 3. Mode 1 picture created on the Robot Plotter, making all or part of a drawing can booklet of exercises has different of thie repeat and multicolour pixel facilities be repeated in a been included. The work- drawing screen position. A sheets contain shapes to be can also be 'edited' by step- copied using various draw- ping through the memorised ing techniques, and the instructions list of drawing booklet takes you step by accepting or and either step through the operations deleting each item. Pictures required. It's not essential to stored on tape or disc as are work through them all before a series of drawing instruc- producing your own draw- tions rather than as a dump ings, but they provide a use- of screen memory and can ful introduction to the use of edited after therefore still be the graphics tablet. storing and recall. Time taken to save or load a Conclusions screen from tape is therefore Both tablets are well con- reduced. structed and the hardware The instruction booklet performs well. Both, too, lists two procedures that show evidence that a lot of may be appended to the thought has gone into their main program to allow sottware. screen dumps to either Seik- The Robot Plotter, with its osha or Epson printers. smaller range of functions, is TheTarren Digigraph Mk II probably easier and quicker (figure 2) has a wooden use for general-purpose baseboard surfaced with to drawing and tracing. The in- white plastic laminate. Soft- of simple and can be supplied on clusion ware means both extended modes either tape or disc, Tarren Digigraph Mkll Figure 4. Mode 1 picture created on the almost anybody can produce allowing all graphics modes mini- options worthy of note are: pleasing screen drawings with to beused- commands, mum practice. Although the range of The plotter is calibrated by position- functions is limited, most things may be ing the pointer at each of three refer- • Drawing filled and outlined arcs and drawn without fuss. The only feature I ence marks on the baseboard and ellipses. felt lacking was that of arc and ellipse pressing return. The height of the • Any rectangular block of the screen pixel pixel, to any drawing. pointer is adjustable so that various can be copied, by By restricting the drawing functions thicknesses of paperwork, placed on other part of the screen, detail. to those most commonly used, enough the baseboard for tracing, can be • To assist with drawing fine ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 Clamber up the pipes, dodging the cascading c ball bearings ro despatch the Weevils and Super- weevils using your spray can. Features oxygen cylinders, bonus letters, ^^^^ belt lever and panic button. NEW PRICE! B.B.C. and Electron cassette: £6.95. B.&C disk version: £9.95. v^::^€> \/ ^' o •^1 mi '"1 gg^^'oi'Q MICRO POWER LTD., 1 ' ' , 1 l"* NORTHWOOD HOUSE. NORTH STREET LEEDS LS7 2AA TEL (0532) 468800 MU.HIJ ^llWtF SanWAKt IS flVAILAHLf F MOM i nFI.ECTEIJBHaNCHtSOHVNi.MirH SOOrS JOHN if Ml fJZIES. CO-OF-' IVOOLIVORTHS. i^D All GOOD .^ OEALERS B AUTHORS! WE PAY 20% ROYALTIESI s te(c}®@E c Mi I HARDWARE REVIEWS THE VITAL CONNECTION Romex 13 Expansion ROM board, GCC (Cambridge) Lid, BBC, £45.94 MANY readers will know what a sidew- ays ROM board is - an additional printed circuit board which connects into one of the five 'sideways' ROM sockets on the BBC and allows you to add extra ROMs or EPROMs. You might also think that that is about all there is of the it less likely to suffer soldering it directly to the legs to say. but not so. the main board, is chip- ugh! This particular board is well made overheating problems. fact This can be done but is by no means and appears to use good quality com- The main disadvantage will in only apply when fitting the board to easy. There is very little room to work ponents. It also has decided advan- in and unless you are an expert with a tages and disadvantages compared certain BBC micros. There are three it. I'm in all, two of which are soldering iron I don't recommend with other ROM boards. It will allow up connections involve insert- quite used to that sort of thing but still to the full 16 additional ROMs-the straightforward. These had problems. maximum the operating system can ing the main 28-way connection into sockets and Having eventually succeeded in get- support. It is also supplied with a com- one of the spare ROM I tested the board with prehensive manual, mainly concerned removing an illustrated link on the ting it all fitted The about 10 ROMs and it worked perfectly with fitting instructions and suitable micro to fit the second connection. well. diagrams. Most ROMs you will come third connection is likely to be the main Unfortunately, my whole attitude across will be 8k or 16k versions. How- problem. It requires that you remove towards the product is tainted by the ever, the guide does show how to make IC76 from the main board and insert it anything IC76 difficulties. I don't like minor modifications to the board to use into the ROM board, replacing it with requires additional soldering or 2k and 4k ROMs. the 16-way cable supplied. This is easy that particular the like. If your chip is in a socket then it The board itself is fitted to the inside to do as long as IC76 on your Unfortunately, is well worth considering this product of the lid of the micro and therefore can micro is in a socket. board, for the advantages it does provide, be used in conjunction with a number of mine is soldered directly to the nowadays. This especially with the Aries B20; if it is not other accessories without interference, as I believe many are it. using an then i would not recommend eg the Aries B20 RAM board. It also problem is overcome by Ian Rowlings means that in this position, away from additional 4-way cable supplied and A MONITOR ABOUT THE HOUSE TAKE monitor, is in impact resisting plastic, with TWO cased Philips TP200 monochrome Telefusion Communications, Unit 9, a fold-out stand, and, at 8kg, is lighter Fold Close, Wingates Industrial TABLETS Barrs than most 'portable' TVs. It uses a stan- Park, Westhoughlon, Bolton BL5 3XH, dard Ivpp composite video input and £83.80 (phono) < page 189 connection is via an RCA-type memory has been reserved to store ANYONE using a TV as a computer dis- jack. will, at some time, have thought of In use, it was found to be totally re- each drawing operation. I found the play only liable on both the Atom and the Beeb, facility this gives to edit drawings buying a dedicated monitor. Not picture resolution. There extremely helpful. The use of 'super- do they free the TV, they give a much giving good however, a noticeable degree of pixels' forfilMng means that mode 1 can improved display. Further, they over- was, be 'persistence' (the image remaining on be used to give reasonable line res- come the problems which can interfering with the com- the screen after blanking). This was olution while still offering about 15 fill caused by TVs the supplied retrace "colours'. puter's video signal (frequency 'beat- confirmed by lips for horizontal The more comprehensive software ing') which tends to make the picture times, which were trace and 1,2msforvertical trace. While of the Tarren Digigraph Mk II is re- unstable. is black and this would not be a problem for a flected in its higher price. With its The Philips TP200 a green phosphor domestic user, it could cause fatigue extended range of functions it should white monitor with a It worst using the monitor con- be possible to produce high-quality display on a 12in screen. has a for someone unit was a joy drawings and diagrams for display on case resolution of 700 lines and a fre- tinuously. That aside, the plain the price makes it an attract- the screen, as transparencies or as quency response of 18MHz: in to use and proposition for any home user. It printerdumps. The ability to use modes language this means it can more than ive with an 80-column display and the comes complete with a multi-lingual 1 or while retaining full disc facilities cope resolution mode. instruction booklet and a circuit dia- is desirable if detailed drawings are Beeb's highest required. Although lacking the picture- The monitor is nicely styled and has gram. on/off: bright- Special prices are available for bulk editing facility of the Robot Plotter, the external controls for: hold; horizontal and for bona fide computer ability to copy and move blocks of the ness; contrast; vertical orders unit that!). clubs, I can recommend this as a screen and selectively erase parts of it and vertical centring (nice touch value-for-money buy allows corrections and alterations to be Internally there are controls for hori- worthwhile and Barry Pickles made. zontal hold, focus and voltage. The unit for domestic users. ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 r The complete program development package for assembly language programmers. ADE is the de facto industry standard for professional software writers using the BBC microcomputer. The 16k ROM contains a full 6502 MACRO assemblen a dynamic text editor a front panel debugging monitor and disassembler. ADE comes complete with a 160 page comprehensive reference manual and a utility/ macro library disc. ADE can also be used with tape based machines. The ASSEMBLER features macros with library facilities; nestable conditional assembly; flexible listing options (with or without macro expansion); hex, decimal, binary and ASCII data formats; section; dummy full range of arithmetic and logical operators; symbol table sort and dump; file chaining and 29 powerful pseudo ops. Source and object files are kept on disc so there is no limit on program size or location. The EDITOR is designed with the programmer in mind for writing both programs and documentation. The editor includes a very powerful command language [including macros) thai enables editing much to be done on a semi-automatic basis. It features full screen editing and deferred edit modes; no limit to document size; edit with backup facilities and a versatile text formatter. The DEBUGGER is instantly accessible for inspecting, modifying and disassembling machine code programs. Features include full 64 byte display in hex, ASCII and disassembled format registers; stack; single step; breakpoints; memory search and much more. Price £60 inc vat. Please specify 40 or 80T utility disc. I provides ASM all the superb features of the ADE macro assembler on its own ROM. The program source file may be written using any editor(even Wordwise or View!). Complete wi reference manual and utility/macro library disc. Use the assembler that professional softwa writers use. Price £36 inc vat. Please specify 40 or SOT utility disc. SPY2 is a front panel debugging monitor, disassembler and disc utility ROM. SPY2 is instantly accessible to the programmer for inspectmg. modifying, debugging and disassembling machine code programs. SPY2 also features a relocator and program trace facilities. SPY2 will access any ROM either in the sideways ROM sockets or on an extension board. ROM memory may be displayed, single-stepped through or disassembled. includes SPY2 a set of powerful disc recovery commands for interrogating, editing and retrieving data stored on a floppy disc, SPY2 also includes a disc formatter as well as a non-destnjctive single track reformatter. In all SPY2 has a comprehensive set of 23 utility commands. These are supported by an excellent Reference Manual. The SPY2 front panel encompasses all the superb, easy-to-use facilities of the renowned SPY debugging monitor PLUS additional commands for toggling and finding breakpoints; relocating machine code programs; single stepping through subroutines in one go and facilities for accessing the front panel from programs in RAM or ROM with breakpoints, OSBYTE or CTR-F. SPY2 features a versatile disassembler with hex dump, full and intelligent disassembly. This identifies data areas in the program; these being displayed as a hex/ASCII dump. Operating system calls are labelled creating very readable code. The powerful trace facilities enable program instructions and register contents to be traced to printer whilst the program is running. Indispensable for graphics programs as they can be stepped through whilst observing the effects on the screen. SPY2 features a disc sector editor displaying the contents of a whole sector disc search facilities for finding byte patterns or strings and free disc space. Files may be recovered by creating a directory entry with all the data concerning the deleted file. Directory entries can be easily amended NOW order by phone. using the 'AMEND command. The 'FORMAT command formats discs with any number of tracks, A verify command checks discs. The "REFORMAT command is extremely useful for recovering information from a bad track, reformatting it and restoring the data. Commands are included for loading files at&1900 and automatically downloading (and running) them. The most comprehensive of all debugging/disc utility ROMs. (0742) 682321 Price £30 inc vat ^c/SirLalil! °®^^ ^ ^^ Collegiate Crescent, Sheffield S10 2BA 192 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 I I SOFTWARE REVIEWS THREE LANGUAGE LEARNING PROGRAMS TAKE A RAP ON THE KNUCKLE A French Language Learning Aid. 'Vocab - Five Language Learning Aid for the past now). The function keys are the BBC Micro', Beebugsoft, PO Box 50, also used to enable you to put French SlAlbans, Herts. £10 accents on the words, a tortuous pro- 'French Tutor', BBC, Salamander Soft- cess made only just acceptable ware, 17 Norfolk Road, Brighton, Sussex through the use of an overlay card. BN1 3AA, lei (0273) 771942, £9.95 The Kosmos Software package is The French Mistress Level B', BBC and probably the best of the bunch, Electron, Kosmos Software, 1 Pilgrims Close, Harllngton, Beds LU5 6LX, tel although it is also little more than a (05255) 3942, £9.95 rigid database. It is a menu-driven program with nine options, although THESE three programs seem to be only two of them are related to learning representative of what's happening on (the others relate to creating new the language-learning front as far as lessons and tape I/O). micros are concerned. Much as many Option 2 displays a word or phrase in of us would like to believe that com- one language for a user-specified puters make marvellous teaching aids amount of time; it then displays the in tfiis area, the results all too often translation for another specified don't live up to expectation. In effect amount of time. The best feature is that computer software tends to reduce masculine and feminine words are both itself and its pupils to tfie level of shown in different colours. parrots. Option 9 is supposed to test your Let's start with the Beebug program. translation abilities but won't allow an This comes equipped with the program incorrect answer. If you press a wrong l/ocaijfol lowed by starter" vocabularies key the program beeps - and won't in French, Italian, Spanish and German. VOCAB allow you to use Delete. Non-perfect For reasons of space, I'll confine my typists will find it wearisome to have to comments to tfie French version. The press Copy to continue, at which point vocab lest slings words at you, answer- the program provides the next letter. At ing 'correct' or 'wrong' according to the end of the lesson a table shows you your response. The function keys are how many questions you answered place accents on the words. correctly - ie. with no typos - and the used to five languagk Unfortunately, the slightest dis- ii:ahnin(; aid number answered incorrectly: ie, the agreement between the user and the number of answers with typing errors machine produces 'wrong', however which the program wouldn't allow you KIR THK BBC MICRO trivial the fault. At first, I found it mildly to correct. irritating to discover that 'to advise' is All three programs offer the facility to to 'conseiller'. write your own vocabularies but in no the wrong response "siTPiihDON lAssrrrK 'Advise' alone is the correct answer. case doesthe problem of flexibility ease. My irritation increased when my res- Surely it is not beyond the imagination ponses to 'surtout' and 'volontiers' - of a programmer, especially on a 'above all' and 'willingly' - were also EEieiSSCf machine with really fast Basic like the 'wrong' ('especially' and 'gladly' are Beeb, to introduce a little analysis into the only accepted responses). Yet my the answers. Thus, if the problem is Harrap French-English dictionary merely one of upper or lower case, or a gives my word as its own first choice of simple typing error, it's not asking too translation for the latter. much of the program to give the user a. Far worse than this, however, is that line like: 'I think you're nearly there, in the space of 10 words I was given please try again.' Similarly, any pro- 'paques', 'mars', 'angleterre' and 'je gram which can't give a response other suis'. In each case the program accepts than 'wrong' to synonyms or near-syn- only 'easter', 'march', 'england' and 1 onyms can hardly be described as a am' ... My old French teacher would learning aid. have rapped my knuckles for such Learning vocabulary by rote is some- lower-case abominations. what out of fashion these days, but The other two programs suffer from even my old teacher, who was a stickler the same lack of flexibility, though not for making O and A-Level pupils learn in such extreme degrees. The Sala- from 10 to 25 words a day, would have mander Software package covers given these programs the electronic general vocab, irregular verbs and equivalent of a rap over the knuckles. idioms. I found the program tedious to Would-be students of French are use, with strange use being made of the advised to put their money towards a function keys for compatibility with the day-trip to France. 0.1 Operating System (surely a thing of Simon Dally ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 liflU Designed by Kevin Toms T 1 I I Some outstanding features of the game • Matches in 3D graphics • Transfer market • Pi smotion and relegation •FA. Cup matches • Injury problems • Full league tables • Four Divisions • Pick your own team foi each match • As many seasons as you like • Managerial rating • 7 skill levels • Save game facility . Financial manipulations • 64 teams and customising tealure ^ • You can even be sacked! Prices: BBC Model B £7, Commodore 64 £2, Spectrum 48K £6, ZX81 16K £5, (N.B. 3D GRAPHICS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE ZX81 VERSION) ^fddictit^ Overseas orders add £1.50 Strategy Game of the Year, 1983 Available from (Nomirated) computer software ^ stockists nationwide, including Golden Joystick Awards i^ To order by mail {p&p ireej send Addictive Games cheques or postal order to: 7A RICHMOND HILL, BOURNEMOUTH BH2 6HE pS^S^Ir^^i^^S^pw^P Southfield House, 11 Liverpool Gardens, Worthing, Sussex BN11 1RY 1 Telephone: Worthing (0903) 213174 COMPUTERS ACORN ADD-ONS BBC Model B £399.00 6502 2nd Processor £199.00 BBC Model B Disc Interface E469.00 Z80 2nd Processor -|- Software £399.00 BBC Model B Econet £446.00 Teletext Adaptor £225,00 BBC Model B Econet & Disc £516.00 Acorn Bitstik £375.00 Acorn Electron £199.00 Acorn IEEE 488 Interface £325.00 DISC DRIVES TEC Single Sided TOOK £124.95 TEC Single Sided 200K 40/80 £149.95 TEC Double Sided 40/80 400K £189,95 SOFTWARE TEC Dual Double Sided 800K 40/80 £379.90 Acorn Word Processor View £59.00 PRINTERS Acorn Spreadsheet Viewsheet £59.00 Epson P-40 Thermal 40 Col £99.95 Starbase Database £69.00 Brother HR5 Thermal 80 Col £159.95 Wordwise £46.00 Admate ADM-80 F/T SOcps £225.00 Disc Doctor £33.35 Epson RX80 F/T lOOcps £279,95 Mass Macro Assembler £35.00 Kaga Taxan KP810 160cps & NLQ £299.95 Juki 6100 Daisywheel £379.00 MONITORS Phillips 12" TP200 Green Mono £75.00 Microvitec 14" Colour Std.Res. £209.95 VISA Sanyo 14" Colour Std.Res. £199.00 All Prices Include VAT and Delivery Nc Extra Charges - Sanyo 14" Colour Med. Res. £324.95 Send cheque to above address or ph one to use your Sanyo 14" Colour Hi. Res. £459.95 Barclaycard- Quantity and Education Discounts Given ITT 14" TV/Monitor £239.00 Phone for a Quotation 1 194 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 I BOOK REVIEWS With a few exceptions the programs novel, and to supplement reading by skills pro- BASICALLY IMPURE are not over long and I don't think I practising the learnt. The would bother buying the optional tape. grams illustrate well the topics dis- It is often quite a good exercise to type cussed. BUT FUN in programs- if they are accurately An attractive inclusion is the addition printed, as these appear to be. of photograhs of the screen output 'Quality Programs tor the BBC Micro' by What I most enjoyed about this book when the listed programs are entered Simon, Micro Press, £6.50, 207 pages is the feeling It gives that the author had and run, but when used to present the (program tape £9.45) a good time writing it. After all, if he was program listings this format has its bored you probably will be too. I recom- drawbacks, for the small compressed mend it to anybody wishing to improve print makes entering mistake-free pro- his or her Basic programming tech- grams difficult. The size of the books nique and have some fun doing it. could also present a problem for the Harry Sinclair user who works in a small area. The incluson of flowcharts in Book 1 is helpful and they should have been COLOURFUL PRIMER used throughout the book to explain program design, especially in the sec- 'Step-by THE bool< is split into five sections and contains 18 programs. The sections are YOUR FANCY headed Applications, Educational, Graphics, Games, and Mathematical. 'Handbook of Procedures and Functions The programs themselves are not lor the BBC Micro' by Audrey and Owen remarkable, although they are prob- Bishop, Granada, 143 pages, £6.95 ably as good a collection as I have seen for in the flood of computer books now THIS is the 13th book from Granada available. the BBC micro and I think they're get- What is really good about this book is ting a bit short of ideas. For your £7 you not so much what the programs do but how they are written. It does much to advance the case for structured pro- gramming, mainly because the author never falls into the trap of being pomp- ous or messianic. His nice, subtle sense of humour, evident throughout the book, makes it a pleasurable read. He is not afraid, on the odd occasion, to use GOTO but this almost seems like devilment on his part. Purists may also and various parts of the computer, take exception to the technique of pro- Basic commands, first programming viding multiple exits to functions, as in steps and the more advanced rudi- the Tachistoscope program, but it adds ments of graphics, sound and games to the fun. programming. A section dealing with The section for each program has an the conversion of other computer introduction explaining what it does languages to BBC Basic may be useful and how to use it, the listing, a good to some users. blow by blow explanation, a discussion The books are extended versions ol of each new technique used and the BBC user guide but the lucid illus- suggestions for modifications. There trations and accompanying text make are examples of just about every type them more interesting to read and use. of Basic program you could want, with Thus the reader is more likely to use the exception of utilities, each excel- the books in conjunction with the com- lently written and clearly explained. puter than read them as one might a ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 . ADD 40 COMMANDS TO i^iki^g^^j^m^^I^ff^rgf « %^ BBC BASIC WITH ONE ROM SCAl,t 15 a fiwerful and totally flexible statement that I.Llsr ran !» pr<. Compatible withi Acoin DKS, Plusi "HF.,1 P displays the AincoKi( Pace) DFS. Watford WS, full syntax of aM commands Wordwise, lii sc Doctor. Price includes a detailed Model B. BASIC 1 or 2, OS 1 . 20 ADDCOMM ring-bound User Guide. LMDVE used to position the LOGLI cursor illy used CtlAR is a simplified 'cilaracte I'sinning facility using an i further LOOn statements- enlarrjed grid tiiat I'nahles tli cr to quickly and easily used to set the intended direction of the UICO construct or alter graphic an eudo-al phaoumeric charrrcters. the anijle being descriljed in degrees. COMPACT is used \.c reduce the of all or part of an exiFt- ADVANCE is used to move the cursor in the direction as 5et ing program by intelligently ippending lines totiether. by ANCLE by the distance described in the AllVANCE statement. £28 FIND is ussii to search all or jiart of a program to find any TURN glues the cursor a new direction by turning it a certain includes desired character or set of characters. number ORE IT. and of degrees anti-clockwise from its previous direction, U.A.T, SRI: PL are two related commands that enable the user PEN defines the kind of trail left by the LOGO turtle using to replace a character or group of characters, with any other post and character the internal plot codes, packing or group of characters, under total control of user, LC 1 RCLE and LELLIPSE are the LOGO equivalents of the similar 1-VAR is used to list all, or alphabetically selected, variable enhanced graphics commands, the shape centre beihg the names Currently within memory. current LOOO cursor position. VEH 1 FY is a simple command to confirm that a copy to tape or Lf05 is used to return the position of the LOGO cursor from dii.c is exactly the same as the original program in memory. a SCALEd screen. I'lus : MliM, Gl.X.IDl'ROG, klLLREM and FKEVS. NOW AUAll.ABLIL These commands arc unlike those on any other ROM, EOB VINE MICROS, MARSHBOROUGH. since they are used in exactly the same way as the standard liASIC commands - iie, any numeric/string ILBGTROH SANDWICH, KENT. CT13 OPG. expression, multi-line statements, access to any WITH RDM BOARD variable, and, of course no starsl (Or send stamp lor Brochure,) ducatJonal E ngjneeiing PROGRAMIVIING Home Computers can Cater for Cooks " M athematical NEWf EMS-BEEBGRAPH" ^t>N " COMP-u-CATER NEW- "NAVIGATION -AID" S cientifjc STILL AVAILABLE - METRICATOR —takes the calculating out of cooking PROBLEMS WITH METRIC OR SI UNITS? SIX ITEM MENU SELECTIONS plus The METRICATOR suite of programs for the BBC-B and ELECTRON mav QUANTITIES FOR REQUIRED SERVINGS be your answer. Can convert ANY unit into ANY other compatible unit eg KM/LITRE into MILES/GAL or BTU/H0UR/FT2 into J0ULES/SEC/M2. 400 INGREDIENT DATABASE plus "SI" may be specified and the correct SI equivalent automatically calcu- COMPREHENSIVE USER MANUAL lated. Saves hours of work. 15 UNIQUE routines designed for EASY insertion into YOUR program give instant access to many thousands ot COLLATED SHOPPING LIST plus combinations of units. AMENDMENT BEFORE PRINTING NEED TO ANALYSE AND PLOT EQUATIONS? RECIPE MODIFICATION plus EMS-BEEBGRAPH will solve-it. EMS-BEEBGRAPH finds ALL real sol- EASY ENTRY OF YOUR OWN utions of equations, finds max/min, turning points, areas, volumes, differ- entials and other properties The function may be plotted complete with PRINTED TABLE MENUS plus scaled axes making for easy to produce cleat illustrations. Ideal for pres- PRINTED SCALED RECIPES entations and as a teaching aid OVER 200 RECIPES plus INGREDIENT QUANTITIES LEARNING NAVIGATION? LIGHTS AND BQUYS RECOGNITION RANDOM ACCESS FILES NAVREC helps you learn the navigation lights of sea going vessels, the shapes of bouys seen around our coast, signal code Hags and morse code "COMP-u-CATER" full menu planner 40T disc £24.95'* (using signals through the BEEB's loudspeaker). Altogether eight menu driven programs giving full graphic illustrations including actual simu- "WHAT'S TO EAT?" simple menu planner cass.£9.95* lated views of ships lights from different directions at night. Question and answer tests included. This suite is great value for money and would "WHAT'S TO EAT?" teaching pack 40T disc £17.45'' please any nautical man. NEED ANYTHING? Contact usi We will have it or will find it. WANTED! more programs of any sort provided they are useful, of a high standard also NEW I and your own. Send yours 10 us for evaluation (tape, disc or sample run "PRINTER DRIVER" JUKI 6100 with view with instructions). 40T disc £10,00' Prices {Inc p&p) "ADD 50p p. & p, (overseas deduct 15% VAT add El p. & p.) METRICATOR Tape version £6,95. 40 track disc -- C9.95 Instruction manual and program listing only £3.75 SHUMWARI ASSOCIATES EMS-BEEBGRAPH TAPE £7.95 40 track disc - £9,95 NAVREC 40-track disc only £9.95 lOept. Bl 12 Marlin Court, Marlow, Bucks. SL7 2AJ Remittance to:- "EMS Programming", 134 Buckswood Drive, Crawley, Sussex, RHl 1 8JG. Or send SAE for more details. 196 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 I BOOK REVIEWS get 70 listings of procedures and func- The functions cover mainly math- tions and an introductory chapter ematical and string applications: ana- TAKE OFF WITH explaining what they are. grams, number bases, factorials, yes/ Dealing with graphics first, there are no validation and some functions to THE ELECTRON procedures to draw circles, animate read the various 6502 registers. and rotate characters, and simulate an None of the procedures or functions ANDBBCMKXO explosion. The best one is for scrolling is particularly novel and some are very the screen sideways or downwards. trivial. I typed in half a dozen of each The three sound effects programs and found two mistakes: ENDPROC had simulate gunfire, a spaceship and the been missed off one procedure and in BBC time pips. There are procedures another the Owens got their formal and that do strange things with lists of actual parameters confused. Still. words and - tricky one this - a pro- there might be a few routines here that cedure to calculate averages. take your fancy. Geoff Nairn BIG HELP FOR SHORT PEOPLE :^--r-r 'Take off with the Electron and BBC chapters. There's a general overview Micro', by Audrey and Owen Bishop, Gra- of what the program does, the listing, a nada Publishing, £5.95, 144 pages clear flowchart, an explanation of how the program works set out in exactly THERE are 1 1 programs in this book, all the same sequence as the flowchart, a quite short, and all in Basic except the discussion of each new keyword intro- AND OWEN BiSHi last one, Attack, which contains some duced, and finally suggestions on assembler. It is obviously aimed at extending the program with tips on how younger people who are fairly new to this may be done, in addition, in spelling tests, tune learning, weather the two machines and the authors go chapters where a new idea has been forecasting, birthday files and keeping outof their way tobe helpful. There is a brought in - such as file handling, track of your pocket money. gentle introduction to the basics of the rounding numbers, or formatting out- The book would make a nice, instruc- person of PRINT command in a chapter called put-there is a section called 'The way tive present for any short is mildly 'Your Briefing' and then you're into the to do it'. your acquaintance who even programs themselves. The programs range from simple interested in the new black art, games such as Stunt Car and Attack to Harry Sinclair I like the layout of the program supposed to be Child's Play! How many you make a mistake while typing it, the SIMPLE BUT MARRED adults would expect to know the mean- device will either reset itself after ing of 'frequentative' or 'quadruma- receiving five characters or you will nous'? And is 'intumescence' really a have to press Break and start again. As 'Child's Play' pack. Dial Soft, 72 Downend child's word? This criticism applied to it is not designed to be user-friendly- Road, Downend, Bristol BS16 SUE, BBC, of this program but for obvious reasons -no prompts are £6.95 (disc £8.50) most sections fortunately was counteracted by the fact given. THE Child's Play tape consists of the that one could create one's own word An additional feature is 'SEC. Typing following four programs: Number- lists. this command while the machine is in bond', a program designed to help Having made that criticism it must use provides a temporary software the child learn simple arithmetical be said that the simple and straight- lockout. 'Vou can recover from this with- bondings; 'Spellaway', a spelling and forward programs offered by Dial out loss of program, but I don't want to multiplication tables tester; 'Shapes', a represent good value for money, give too many secrets away! program to show the relationship especially if the programs fill a particu- I wonder, however, how effective between objects of different shape and lar need for your child or your class, such devices are as a deterrent. After colour; and 'Fractions', which tests and and -yes -they can be transferred to all, if it is that easy to install it is just as develops perception of the relationship disc! Nick Evans easy for anyone with a little common between a fraction and the original sense to remove, rendering the micro whole. bog-standard and traceable only by its serial number. For those con- All these programs are brightly pre- PLUG-IN SECURITY more sented in a pleasant format and are scientious I suppose you could go to the easy to use. As they are intended for Security ROM, Software Services, £15 trouble of removing the ROM socket the early learner they need to be set up and soldering the device in perma- by an adult ready for the child's use. THIS device is supplied on an EPROM nently. It's certainly a possibility but They all appear to do what they set out that plugs into the right-most ROM again one that could be overcome by to do but there are aspects that mar the socket (IC 101) or the first ROM socket the more determined criminal. overall picture. Spelling programs to be accessed on power-up. It is Whether or not a device of this type should be scrupulously checked for encoded with your own personal serves a useful purpose and is value spelling and grammatical correctness details and a five-character alpha- for money is a personal attitude. If it and yet Spellaway contains at least two numeric security code. When you provides what you are looking for then major spelling mistakes as well as mis- switch on the details are displayed and it is obviously worth having. An import- placed apostrophes. Moreover, the you are required to enter the code ant question is whether the supplier categories of words and their contents before being allowed to continue. The will change the device if your personal were peculiar-especially as this is code is not, of course, displayed and if details change. Ian Rowlings ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 Put an end to inefficient, ) slow cassette tape storage Speed your (data access withaTEAC disk drive • ^m. S3 'P^eji, Pag, fact-^^'Ve e^'e -mm'«'Ae. f/e Track 40 80 switch Vi^lerv on rear panel Replacing your cassette with a disk drive means data access When ordering Dual Dnves. please in seconds! VIGLEN TEACS unJiTce others have been specially Slate which iayoul you prefer ftorfl modified to operate successfully with ACORN and other filing systems, over coming RANDOM accessing problems normally experienced with these disl^ drives. Prices include VAT, Formating Disk, User Manual, Case and Leads. TEAC 55 Slimline Drives DUAL DRIVES Inc. Excl, SINGLE DRIVES Inc. Excl. CASED VAT VAT CASED VAT VAT 40 TRACK 200K £240.00 £208.69 40 TRACK lOOK £119,00 £103.48 40/80 TRACK £280,00 £243.48 40 TRACK 200K £160.00 £139.13 SWrrCHABLE 400K 40/80 TRACK £140,00 £121.74 40/80 TRACK £378.00 £328,70 SWrrCHABLE 200K SWrrCHABLE 800K 40/80 TRACK £189,00 £164.35 Integral power supply SWrrCHABLE 400K £25.00 £21.74 for dual drivea please ring Integral single Acorn Disk power supply £25.00 £21,74 Interfaces AJI prxn corltd al (me ot going TO press tnd all otir s nub/ect to ivaiUbtJity •Utilities disk includes 13 useful utilities including: • formatting • verifying^ screen dump • disassembler • generating 62 files, etc. Please telephone 01-843 9903 for latest prices Orders welcomed from Educational Establishments and Government Depanments. How to order By pott To purchase any of the items simply fill in the coupon with your requirements. VIGLEN Enclose your Cheque/P.O. or use your Access/ Barclaycard. Please make cheques payable lo VIGLEN COMPUTER SUPPLIES and i delivery £8.00 and add carnage, package .^^^ ( and insurance on all items .i^*, -^ By telephone: Rmg (01) 843 9903 Credit Card holders (Access/ Full Barclaycard only) can purchase Twelve by telephone. Please give Card ^f> Months Guarantee No., Name, Address and ihe • items required ^r 198 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 Canon 200K Disk Drive +Acorn DFS • Package assumes you own a BBC Model B with switched mode power supply plus 1.2 operating system. COMPLETE DISK OFFER INCLUDES: • Disk Interface (call at factory for free fitting while you wait, or SYSTEM FOR THE supplied with easy to fit instructions) • 200K 40 track double-sided Canon Disk Drive BBC MODE B including case and all leads • User Guide • Utilities Disk including formatting, verifying, BASIC program VIGLEN comparator, disassembler, Epson screen dump, dual .^ catalogue (giving 62 files), large printing and others «? COMPUTER ^SUPPLIES Unit 7 Trumpers Way Hanwell W7 20A Telephone: (01) 843 9903 AMPLE ON-THE-SPOT CARPAKKING- AND IT'S FREE! ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 199 USER GROUPS I ^ This indicates clubs that have responded to our circular asking for confirmation of details and continued existence. Would those clubs who have not responded please do so, otherwise they will be deleted from our list. (> The Secretary Mr J.Price v^E. R. Piper ^ Computer Club _B Antony Hurden Wakelleld BBC Micro Bedford House Bognor Computer Group Caterham Leisure Centre West Suffolk BBC Micro User Group 27-28 St George's Road (BUG) Godstone Road Users' Club 116 Pinderfields Road Brighton 2 Ely Gardens Calerham 14 Plovers Way Wakefield Sussex Aldwick Park Surrey CR3 6RE Bury St Edmunds West Yorkshire WF13PL Bognor Regis Tel: Caterham 48304/43316 Suffolk IP33 2NJ Mr P. Beverley Sussex P021 3RY Colin Price Norwich Area Acorn User B Ted Ryan B Forum 80 Kelghley Computer Club Group B Andrew Pike Eastwood Town 421 Endike Lane Red Holt Room 12a Peterborough Personal Microcomputer Club HullHU6 8AG Hainsworth Wood Norwich City College Computer Club 15 Queens Square Keighley ^'^Simon Ward Ipswich Road 920 Bourges Boulevard Eastwood W, Yorl ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 Buy from the specialists. VI6LEN offer of TEG clrives^^r/.!^Cumaiia) beats aU comers Replacing cassettes with, disc drives means programme loaded and data accessed in seconds not minutes. Our guaranteed disc drives are Siipplied with a comprehensive fact-fiUed 53 page manual, exclusive to Viglen, which shows loading from cassette to disc and other information for the BBC Model B. TEC 504 SLIMLINE DRIVES Incl £xcl Incl Excl SingliLe Drives VAT VAT DaalDrives VAT VAT 40 Track lOOK 40 Track 200K £238.00 £206.96 51/4" £119.00 £103.48 40/80 Track Single sided 40/80 Switchable 400K £278.00 £241.74 track 200K switctiable 40/80 Track 51/4" £139.00 £120.87 Swltctiable 800K £358.00 £311.30 Double sided 40/80 Integral Power supply £40.00 £34.78 track 400K for dual drive switchable5V4" £179.00 £155.65 ACORN Disc Filing Integral Power supply System £105.00 for single drive £20.00 £17.39 AU prices correct at time of going topreas and aJl offers subject toavailabUity, ^*^^ drives are supplied complete with V All disk _ Please Professional Screened Case - Ribbon Cable *' -^ Ring to connect to BBC Micro - Power Gable to ^^ connect to BBC Micro- Comprehen- ^^^ 01-843 9903 COMPUTER ^SUPPLIES slve Manual- Formatting andutili- ties disc, which includes 13 for LATEST useful utilities including * ^ Unit 7 Trumpers Way formatting * verifying * ^ screen dis- PRICES Hanwell W7 20A dump * ^^ , assembler * gener- -J^X Telephone: (01) 843 9903 ating 62 files, etc ^ Depanmenrs Orders welcomed Iroin Educational Esiablishmenis and Govemmeni How to order By po«l: To purchase any of the iiems sunply fill in the coupon with your requirements Enclose youi Cheque, P O or use your Access/ S VIGLEN-^l*" Barclaycard Please make cheques payable lo 4^'^ c-y^ 4>V)^ J^ / VIGLEN COMPUTER SUPPLIES and posMo ^^6^"^ ^jX 201 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 EXPANDABLE CONSOLE FOR BBC MICRO As supplied to Universities, Colleges, Schools, business & home users A professional console to house Torch versron available disc drives/2nd processor/Torch dual drives/teletext, etc, All untidy wiring oul of sight in the strong aluminium console in a matching texturedcolour. AVAILABLE NOW a bolt on extra module (or extra expansions. Also available a matching printer stand, yes stack your paper under the printer, ALSO VDU STANDS AVAILABLE ELECTRON CONSOLES The console houses the electron and will safely support the expan- sion interfaces which plug into the rear of the micro, supports the VDU and tidtes up all wiring, allows expansion to disc at a later date. PRICES Special Torch Version £46.99 + £4 p/p BBC Console C44.99 + £4 p/p Boll on expansion £14,99 + £2 p/p VDU/Pfinter Stand E14.99 + £2 p/p Electron Console £34.99 + £4 p/p Please add VAT ® 15%to atl prices For further information enclose sae or send cheque to, Mail Order Only SlUnL 01.801 3014 ",':y>;r^,-„"'' compuTse Please dilow 28 days for delivery SCOTLAND BBC MICROCOMPUTER £399 ACORN ELECTROM £199 ELECTRON PLUS ONE £59.95 SPECIAL OFFER ELECTRON WITH PLUS ONE £244.95 TORCH GRADUATE onDKmromm THlK PHONE FOR AVAILABILITY ^tcr 'TTTrfirrTTn'rfiijin rui f On ttvltoM»t9*itmctml "t^tt^pMyali^toSMvaPubllihlTtgLia. Intrlllgcncr^mBCttlltto (S.9S for payment bf^KeaJBarclaycarO/ CMiy Programming tvr thm Amrr/cm Ciqiroa: BBCMien £S.9S LARGE RANGE OF PRINTERS. MONITORS AND Furttter FmgrMmmlng for Card No ™_„ ACORN ll>trBMCMIcn> mac nucroAttarnbly ACCESSORIES/SOFTWARE AT DISCOUNT PRICES. SIgrtarurf ,-.,— ,«., Language C7.V5 BMC micro In . Mmttatlmn U.50 ninme ..... HiEST CDflST Address . . . Ptratm ttnd full catalogiMortomputtr PERsanpL cnmpuTERs bookl arta toftwarr 47 Kyle Street, Ayr KA7 1 RS Telephone (0292) 285082 Aul ALL PRICES rWCLUDE VAT L- Hi! 202 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 mm VIGLEN Full Twelve Months Guarantee DISK COMPUTER M SUPPLIES 2QA Tel: (01 ) 843 9903 STORAGE Unit 7 Trumpers Way Hanwell W7 No. 1 This DISK STORAGE diskette No. 2 storage This lockoble holds diskette storage 70 diskettes holds 80 Our SUPER LOW diskettes Our price £18.00 including VAT SUPER LOW 3M SCOTCH price DISCS £18.00 Including VAT 5y4" diskettes single sided PERSPEX KEYBOARD STOWAWAY Our SUPER LOW & VDU STAND Our Per boxes SUPER LOW price of 10 prices Inc.VAT boxes 1-2 3-9 10-H £14.95 ss 40 TRACK £1 5.00 £1 3.50 £1 3.00 DS 40 TRACK £20.00 £18.40 £17.70 ss 80 TRACK £23.00 £20.70 £20.00 DS 80 TRACK £26.70 £24.00 £23.00 SWIVEL BASE FOR MONITOR Our Riiiaariwwi Drice £16.00 including VAT GRAFPAD OurglQlSi^Qprice £143.75 Including VAT This remarkable Grafpad from British Micro allows - you !o input informalion into your computer very accurate and high resolution, not to be confused with other models which are both more t$M expensive and less accurate. Supplied £/^^^"^ W with all necessary cables, manual ,C^^*i^ e? to allow you and sample programs, ^^^^^ -i" <^ to develop your own application programmes. >^ ^° 203 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 . /MllCROTEK COMPUTER SERVICES P. L GRAPHICS SYSTEM A complete hardware and software package for use witfi tlie BBC tvlodel B and Research Machines Limited 380Z and 480Z micro-computers. The system consists of the "digitising" tablet, software-on Authorised tape or disc containing five programs- instruction manual, key card, quick reference card, and exercise diagrams making an extremely powerful and versatile graphics/CAD acorn ^ dealer package. KEY FEATURES INCLUDE 'Control Program with comprehensive range of instruction blocks B.B.C.B& acorn 'Complete editing facilities 'Complete image manipulation 'Cursor utility calls electron 'Accuracy/speed 'Storage on cassette or disc file 'Plotter and printer dump programs CUMANA disk drives 'User-defined character program 'Display program DECCACOLOUR & MICROVITEC monitors 'Select program SEIKOSHA, EPSON & DAISYSTEP printers Supplementary software available to; ACORNSOFT/MERLE business software 'List picture or diagram into X/Y co-ordinates. This enables other numericaf data to be calculated, and the data may ACORNSOFT full range also be used to drive plotters, numerically controlled machinery and robots. 'Enter hundreds of items of information into computer with speed and accuracy thus giving a Questionnaire Analysis NEXUS HOUSE Package, 2 CRAY ROAD Write or phone for details. Educational discounts available. SIDCUP, KENT B. S. Dollamore Limited, Castle Gresley, Burton upon Trent, Staffs DE11 9HA. 01300 3075/6 Tel: (0283) 217905. ACCESS/BARCLAYCARD WELCOME U.K. Distributor Leasalink Viewdata Limited, Bridge Street, Sandiacre, Nottingham. Tel: (0602) 394000. The Original EXPORT i6 NEWARK" TV/RGB Monitor WE SUPPLY ACORN & TORCH. . . SPARE PARTS PERIPHERALS EPROMS DISKS ^i*s*> SPECIALIST SOFTWARE ll'a E249.94 Incl. VAT — complete UPGRADE KITS package!! ^t/ *<* It resolves 80 TO ANY PART OF THE WORLD Cftp ^^^^.^ ^O^, characterall ^ The package: ALL AT COMPETITIVE PRICES. £249.94 for a remote control 14" TV with a VAT FREE. computer lead — delivered to your door — SEND FOR OUR LIST. CURRENT PRICE including VAT {vi/e even fit a mains plug!) and carriage. £19 FOR TEN We have a Large range of Grundig models from 14" to 26" with or without Teletext. VERBATIM DISKS. FREE DISKHEAD CLEANING KIT Contact Elaine for an up to date leaflet package. WITH EACH BOX OF 10 5^" DISKS. HOLDERNESS COMPUTERS NEWARK VIDEO CENTRE LTD, 17 Westgate, Patrington, near Hull, 108 London Road, Balderton, Newarlt, Notts. North Humberslde. 0636 71475 to order by Access or Visa 0964 30225. IVIon-Sat/9 am—6pm 204 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 A PRINTER STAND ; ji jA. '£- .jti^k: A ^ : V ^Vl • For dot matrix printers • Raises printer high enough to put continuous stationery underneath • Beautifully finished in clear perspex • Viglen quality every time • Will accept paper up to 1 2V2" wide • Non slip rubber pads Dimensions: 15" {380mm) wide I2V2" {320mm) deep 4" (90mm) high Printer Stand GOME TO VIGLEN FOR A FAST, FRIENDLY, PERSONAL SERVICE £12-95 INC, VAT DEALER ENQUIRIES WELCOME Carriage & Packing £3.00 r "I Post to: VIGLEN COMPUTER SUPPLIES, UNIT 7. TRUMPERS WAY, HANWELL, LONDON W7 2QA, Please send me (qty) PRINTER STANDS at £15.95 each. I enclose Cbeque/P.O. for £ _ made out to VIGLEN COMPUTER SUPPLIES or debit my ACCESS/BARCLAYCARD No.. Name. Signature. Address. AU11/5 PHILIPS 14" COLOUR TV/ MONITOR TV. Monitor (resolution bailer than 585 «: 450 pixels. Dot-lo- £235 incVAT dot distance ,65mm) (TVonly:£:i85incVAT) As a company we chose ihe Philips because we believe it to have the clearest picture as well as being the best value. Take our word for it. or come and see tor yourself. EASY ON-THE-SPOT PARKING. AND IT'S FREE! Plus £8 carriage and packing COMPUTER^ SUPPLIES « Easyto Carry* Lightweight •Sparkling picture in seconds •Reliability and Personal Service s Quality coupled with Wholesale Prices, performance excellent • Headphone Socket can also be connected to tape uriit Trumpers Way, Hanweii, London W7 2QA. 7 recorder^ Loudspeaker mute switch • Retractable carrying handle ' Telephone 01-843 99uJ .. = „ ^. , , . f, , ,. , , ^ ny-^n 1 _i For special attention to your orders or enquiries concerning • Monitor/TV seleclerfby switch • Includes RGB lead MONITORS, PRINTERS, COMPUTERS, DISC DRIVES, connecting direct to your BBC Micro. • Philips Model No. 1 4CT 2006/05T ring 01-843 9903 NOW or UW in the coupon below , I Post to VIGLEN COMPUTER SUPPLIES, UNIT 7. TRUMPERS WAY. HANWELL, LONDON W7 2QA. Please send me . (qty) Philips TV/Monitor at E243 each. I enclose Cheque/P,0, tor £ made out to VIGLEN COMPUTER SUPPLIES or debit my ACCESS/ BARCLAYCARD No. Name, Signature. AU1V6 Address. ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 205 " Computer Concepts Facilities include: • Global or selective search/replace. • Single-key entry, similar to Electron. • Renumber parts of programs. • Easy function key load and save. • Merge programs. "Caretaker (Computef » Compact programs Concepts removing REMS, Another excelled example of a BASIC spaces, and toolkit ROM, certainly creating multi- first division stuff. statement lines. neusicntJiitrRoiii - The Micro Usei "Undoubtably Caretaker was the most complete program shorten er. ~ The Micro User "Caretaker also scores on its EXCHANGE facility, which aliows r "Caretaker is the perfect tool degree of for anyone doing a lot of good contro BASIC programming. in selecting global oi selective search anc • Which Micro & Software replace. Review - Acorn User Ask your local BBC dealer for details, or contact us direct. ^«:>-*«* ^«; Supplied with Computer spiral-bound ]Dncepts manual and easy fitting Instructions Gaddesden Place, Hemel Hempstead, Price HERTS HP2 6EX (0442) 63933 £33.35 incl. Mail order/phone orders only. ! Cartridge System thataoesnot overioadyourpocket oryourBBC Micro Why risk damage to your BBC micro every time you want to change ROM's? Instead, store your growing collection of ROI\/l's in professionally-made protective cartridges O Insert and remove Wordwise, View, Disc Doctor etc. at will from your micro in absolute safety- no wear or damage to pins to your R0f\/1's. b-s" Q Low, low power consumption .^'•'•,^ unlike other systems. ^^ /.^ ^^>4^ \°^^ .«r on memory. O Saves .^>^ &' -.6^.^' .^vo^ O Price for complete kit including < Dealer enquiries welcome. ^.^°:J»- ^^-^ <<^ \e^-.e*",/\' . THE BBC MICRO SOUND SYSTEM MICROVOC As supplied to Schools & Colleges SYSTEM INCLUDES: A J SOITWARE Speakers, Volume control, jack sockets for BBC and all connections (assembled). Buzzgo to eliminate the infernal B.B.C. Buzz additional £3-00 'The Record Changer' inclusive 32K £19.95 Cass. £24.95 Disc. Special offer Easily fitting for indexing, membership lists, directories, inventories, with no drilling, soldering budgeting, etc, etc. or cabinet modifications £1500 inc don't buy a database in the dark- VAT check the spec! add £2 p&p 'The Wordsmith' 32K for Centronics 737/739 MICROVOC WITHOUT SPEAKERS AND NOW FOR EPSON FX80: £10 inclusive £19.95 Cass. £24.95 Disc. Microvoc's external socket also allows Options Timetable 32K you to connect directly to your hi-fi £14.95 Cass. £19.95 Disc. system - nov\/ you can rattle the windows Simple Word Processor 32K with Planetoid etc. . £9.95 Cass. £14.95 Disc. MICROVOC IS IDEAL FOR SPEECH Picture Maths SYNTHESIS OR COMPUTER PRODUCED £9.95 Cass. £12.95 Disc. MUSIC An arithmetic practice program for primary schools. Character Definer £9.95 Cass. MICRO-ADVENT Enlarge, reduce, etc, etc. Ashlyn House, 113 Writtle Road, Chelmsford, Essex. Tel: 0245 Tape Catalogue £5.95 Cass. 59708 Catalogue all your tapes using this program and never lose one again Copy Disc £9.95 Copy disc to tape, tape to disc, M/C, Data or Basic. ROM Read an IHTROmCVOH to £8.95 Cass. £11.95 Disc. A machine code program to read the contents of any ROM socket and copy to RAM, tape or disc. Not to be used for illegal copying. Machine code Disassembler A|C|C|E|S|S| £5.95 Cass. £7.95 Disc. Open Evening Timetable 32K £14.95 Cass. £19.95 Disc. BDQDQIS Utility Eprom £19.95 on the for basic programmers Mitsubishi Disc Drives BBC MICRO Dual 80 Track 800K £380 + VAT Single Track Drives This 120 page book is supplied with a FREE Dual Sided 200K £199 + VAT floppy disc containing TWO demonstration Double Density Disc Interface £85 + VAT systems-a STOCKPILE SYSTEM The best there is. and a PERSONNEL SYSTEM Epson Printers FX80D70 + VAT IF YOU WANT £8.00 Carr RX80£270 + VAT m to use your disc drives as something more than BBC Epson Cable £15 + VAT just fast cassettes. to be able to store and retrieve data instantly, Normende to learn how to create your own systems, Not only the cheapest, but the best to understand how Filing Systems can work. Switchable 14" RGB Monitor/ColourTV£250 inc. VAT and . to join the vast numbers of people worldwide cable, C8.00 carr. who have benefited from this package. Royalties for quality software THEN YOU CAN BUY THE BOOK FOR All prices VAT inclusive except where shown £12.50 COMPLETE FROM: AJ Vision Service Ltd, 43 The Drive The Computer Room 206 Main Street Loughton, Essex 1G101HB Newthorpe Nottingham 0773 718578 208 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 — n VKLEN gives youthe bestvalue in monitors , printers & BBC Micros — '"^ -—— />! y j^ INC EXCL INC EXCL Colour Monitors Dot Matrix Printers VAT VAT VAT VAT £164.34 Canon PW 1080A - KAGA - TAXAN. Microvitec standard 1431 £189 znedium, 1451 £305 £265,20 New printer recently reviewed shows Microvitec high 1441 £442 £384,34 near letter quality printing from dot Microvitec 14 matrix printer. Friction and tractor Philips " TV/monitor £235 £204.34 feeds. 160 cps. Highly recommended. £289 £257,30 (RGB Input) Epson RX 80/FT Brand leader. A re- Monochrome Monitors Uable well estabhshed printer with friction and tractor feeds, 80 cps £275 £239,13 Philips 12" Green V2001 Epson rx 80 The upmarket printer High-resolution from the Epson range. 160 cps. All other facilities you would expect, £379 £329,56 Shinwa CP 80 £199 £173.06 Daisywheel Printers Juki 6100 £375 £326.09 SAN PLE 2000 £229 £199,13 BBC Micros Model B £369 £320,87 Model B + DFS £459 £399,131 Please add £8 for 1 j- metre printer lead for BBC Micro Please add £.8.00 for carriage. We also stock ol^er computer perlpheraJs, accessories and .o* S complete work processor systems at unbelievable prices. ^o.^ / Please call for our latest offers, --^ w ^ You may also purchase these items direct by calling at ^ ^^ _^ our factory/showroom in Hanwell, London. J> ^ 4J^ „o Prices correct at time ofgoing to press and offers ^ UKs LOWEST PRINTER PRICES! ORDERED TODAY -DELIVERED TOMORROW FREE manual wilh every printer explains fully how to inlerface and THE pass conlfol MAKE codes from your MOST BBC to Epson compauble printers, includes multi mode screen dumps plus much more EPSON RX80 £189.95 OFYOUR EPSON RX 80 F/T £219.00 COMPUTER. EPSON RX100 £329.00 EPSON FX80 £317,00 EPSON FX100 £425.00 lilTERRKE DOT MATRIX PLUS NEAR-LETTER QUALITY CAW ON PW1080A £249.00 POBLICATIONS DAISY-WHEEL JUKI 6100 £325.00 EPSON DX100 £356.00 ACCESSORIES WORDWISE £32.00 PAPER (2000 Sheets) £12.00 BBC/PRINTER CABLE £10.95 COPYALLDISK • Copies ALL protected disks inc. tape to disk utilities • Best on the market • Copies from original to your blank disk £10.25 Educational, G ment plus O'seas Orders Welcome Please add 1 5% VAT Delivery Printers £10 00, Paper £3 00 Other 50p Printerland, Unit 27, Estate Buildings, Railway St, Huddersfield HD1 UP Acclaimed books from the en Mon-Fn 9 15-5pni. experts . . TEL (0484) 514105 KlenSat Mot 9 15- 12.30pm D Dynamic Games for your Electron Neal Cavalier-Smith. £4.95 D 36 Challenging Games for the BBC Micro Chris Callender and Tim Rogers. £5.95 D Let Your BBC Micro Teach You to Program Tim Hartneil. £6.43 OFFICE MANAGER' n Putting Your BBC Micro to Work (includes a full word-processing program, plus 14 others) \. Chns Callender. £4.95 Creating An entirely new RANGE OF SOFTWARE written especially for the SMALL n Adventure Programs on your Computer BUSINESS using a BBC B COMPUTER, it is based on MODULES which can Andrew Nelson. £4.95 be used INDEPENDENTLY or INTEGRATED into a full system The The Easy Way to Program Your New MODULES are, briefly: D Computer Tim Hartneil. £3.95 1. CUSTOMER/SUPPLIER DATABASE: Name. Address Phone & Con Practical tact Fields with ALPHABETIC SORT & FULL PRINTOUT or NAME/ADD Applications for the Microcomputer onfy tor MAILING in the Home. David Hole. 2. SALES LEDGER: INDEXED ENTRY of each CUSTOMER, showing CUR- £4.95 RENT BALANCE and full HISTORY of A/C. Prints STATEMENTS with DEBT n The Art of Structured Programming AGEING. Process. Reconcile. Slore & List PAYMENT RECEIVED Lists SALES Peter Juliff, £5.95 3. PURCHASE LEDGER: Records CASH/CREDIT PURCHASES Displays These books are available from most book and computer Items for PAYMENT and recent PAYMENTS to SUPPLIER Lists all PUR- CHASES stores. In case of difficulty, order directly from us. 4- V.A.T. RETURiyS: Prtnts all SALES and PURCHASES within USER Interface Publications, Dept. QAU, SPECIFIED PERIOD, ANALYSES EXPENDITURE into USER DEFINED 9-11 Kensington High Street, London W8 SNP. CATEGORIES (Graphics Option available) Prints copy of COMPLETED V.A.T. RETURN Please send me the indicated books. I enclose £ 5. APPUCATIONS PACK; SPECIALISED INPUT ROUTINES create TRANSACTION DATABASE from which appropriately formatted INVOICES Name_ a CREDIT NOTES can be produced at any time. The system caters for 2 V.A.T RATES or NO V.A.T and will support SEVERAL APPLICATIONS ON Address LINE at one time. APPLICATION PACKS AVAILABLE NOWr ROAD HAULAGE, SERVICE CDs. GENERAL SALES and PLANT & EQUIPMENT HIRE (which includes automatic HIRE UPDATE and COST calculations). Others packs are being prepared but if YOU have a specific requirement please enquire, we may be able to help. The MODULES are available on either 40/80 SS/DS Discs from £25.00 ^ INTERRKE V.A.T and are supplied complete with FULL DOCUMENTATION CON- FIGURATION ROUTirjE and UTILITIES to enable PRINTING, AMMEND PUBLICATIONS ING, DELETING and SEARCHING of FILES. ALSO AVAILABLE FOR THE TORCH Z80, ACORN Z80 & 6502 2nd PRO CESSORS VV^re the Experts. SEND FOR FURTHER DETAILS AND SAMPLE PRINTOUTS TO. (TRADE ONLY; Interface Pubhcaiions aie distributed exclusively m the UK and PRO-SOFT, 136 CROSLAND ROAD, OAKES, Eire by W H S Distributors. Export trade handled by interface Publications ) HUDDERSFIELD, WEST YORKSHIRE TELEPHONE: 0484 659186 212 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 ) £60 WILLORGANISE YOUR SYSTEM BEAUTIFULLY If you havca microsystem which is beginning r To: Opus Supplies Ltd., 158 Camberwell Road, to roani all over the room, Opus can help you to London SH5 OEE. get organised. PlCciSQ msh mc the following: For only X59.95 you'll tind our putpose built, ( I'KICES INCII:DK vat AND CARRIAGK. beautitiil teak finished "OrganiscrDesk has plenty of storage space tor a complete micro system. Organiser Desk(s) at^.59.95 each (inc VAT) 'The top shelf has sufticient room for both I enclose a cheque for £• or please debit my area monitt^r and printer, while the large desk top credit card account with the amount of£. will accommodate your computer, disc drive or My Aeeess/Barclayc-ard (please tick) no. is: cassette recorder and sc^rtu-are. It hiLS custors. making it fully mobile. And the 26" assembled dimensions are M: Mi' W: 40y/: D: Name Our price includes VAT and free delivery. And the desk comes with simple assembly Address iastaicti(^ns. To get y( )ur system organised contact us on 01-701 8()(i8 or by posting the coupon to: Opus Supplies Ltd., 158 Camberwell Road. OLE. Opening Hours: 9.00 - 5,30pm, London SE5 Telephone Opusl! Mondav - Fridav 9.00 - 1.00pm Saturdays. L . BBC MICRO - USER SUPPORT - HO^, oo5.^,5fe^TWO ,^^^^^^VOV I 10 ISSUES OF BEEBUG MAGAZINE MAILED FREE TO MEMBERS ' 30 EXCITING GAMES AND VISUAL PROGRAMS ' 43 SOFTWARE REVIEWS ' 33 HARDWARE REVIEWS 16 BOOK REVIEWS 150 HINTS AND TIPS 25 APPLICATION PROGRAMS SERIES OF ARTICLES FOR BEGINNERS MANY ADVANCED TECHNICAL ARTICLES NEWS AND PRODUCT INFORMATION PLUS SPECIAL OFFERS BIG DISCOUNTS ON A WIDE RANGE OF PRODUCTS EVENTS BRAIN TEASERS LOCAL CLUBS FULL MAGAZINE INDEX A YEARS SUBSCRIPTION WOULD HAVE BOUGHT YOU ALL THIS Figures based on the 10 issues of BEEBUG Volumes. BUT IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO JOIN FOR VOLUME THREE BEEBUG PUBLICATIONS LTD. POBOX'109. HIGH WYCOMBE, BUCKS PLEASE ENROL ME FOR VOLUME 3 BEEBUG . HAS £ 90 1 BEEN OF BEEBUG AT U ( ISSUES) . ESTABLISHED NAME . FOR TWO ADDRESS YEARS AND NOW HAS OVER 25,000 MEMBERS. IT OFFERS TOTAL USER AMOUNT ENCLOSED PLEASE MAKE CHEQUES PAYABLE TO SUPPORT TO ALL BBC BEEBUG PUBLICATIONS LTD. AND SEND TO;- DEPT 13, PO BOX 109 MICRO USERS. HIGH WYCOMBE, BUCKS. (DISTRIBUTION AGENTS FOR BEEBUG) 214 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 - I Acorn User has been alerted inundated with Free Ads — more than twice as many as we can We've been to the abuse of the free ad disappointment tor readers. The carry. This has led to delays in publication and service and, regrettably, can permits, so please allow up to entries sell- Free Ads are carried in the magazine as space no longer accept ing or swapping software. three months for yours to appear. expansion FOR SALE 400k disk drive + DFS + Issue number one (July WATFORD MK2 ROM Acorn Atom PSU V3 WANTED. over £400, offers WANTED: for sale, unused. Sensible Disc Doctor. Worth of Acorn User. Will pay £2.50 board 5-voll. Tel: (0203) 81727 and 1982) £275, Phone 01- Amps to Derek, Ruislip 31386 aHer welcome for around for perfect copy. Phone Paul Martin offers ask for Richard, 575-2218 after 5 pm. on Thanet (0843) 61448 or 20592. 5 pm. Acorn System One in good WANTED Atom WEATHER satellite receive con- FOR SALE Electron, boxed, with and complete with WANTED, in any condition. working order Listen to NOAA on 2m ama- lead. 5 month guarantee, 6 books, disc drive pack. Telephone: verter. manual. Superior Software's Sharp- 138 Quickshol (Derbyshire) 0246 teur band receiver input 136 to Signpoint Joyporl and package (light gun and soft- Chesterfield shooter output 144 to 146MHz, Simple joystick 1 Games, utilities, maga- 451385. MHz, ware) for BBC micro, E12. Phone to use, £35. Telephone Rugby (0788) zines. Cassette recorder with lead, 745027. Sheffield (0742) WANTED monitor, high resolution 817932 after 6 pm, £300, Tel: London 870-1884. Leon. damaged Microvitec. Paul. Tel; 051 424 3321 WANTED -any unwanted, of BBC com- - 12K issue 5 Atom, 8 pm and 10 pm any even- WIDESPREAD adoption FOR SALE. 12K slighlly broken computer equip- behween or puters in education make personal boxed, with psu, leads (inc cassette monitors, but not beyond ing. ment or ownership imperative. Any model leads), manuals and software, 3 Doesn't matter if it's in repair WANTED. These ROM programs: considered. Final objective BBC B months old. Must sell. £110 ono. Tel: Telephone 0303 43023. pieces. ADE, Merlin Scribe. Merlin Data- DFS drive(s). Offers to FHG, 19 (0632) 361096, Ask for Bruce, Hello Prestel (WE), Drive, Lowestoft, Suffolk WANTED Atom Wordpack ROM, base Viewsheet, Grayson World! and Forth BCPL. Ring (0254) 47272 anytime, NR33 78A. regulated power supply FOR SALE. Near complete sel of Telephone (0705) 254420, cassette. WANTED. £50 -£70 offered for com- WILL EXCHANGE Jen SX 1000 syn- Popular Computing Weekly, asking Waterlooville. for Sat- puter. Ring Vince (03752) 70671 out thesiser with amplifier for BBC B £6. Phone 736-7714 and ask software. Anything WANTED -Atom BBC Basic board of school hours. hardware and/or vinder. Tel: Blackpool 54926 or user! Also considered. lor poverty stricken Atom for WANTED power supply unit BBC write to Ian Smith, 52 Sunnybank FOR SALE Seikosha GP100A printer wanted -Forth tape and book for 8. Paul. Tel: 051 424 3321 any even- Ave. Bispham. Blackpool FY2 9NF plus leads £150. Prism acoustic Atom. Tel: Rob 01-748 0837 eves. ing between 8 pm and 10 pm. modem plus leads and software £40 FT111, little used, as ono Wanted: Any ROM manuals. WANTED BBC computer. Stand- - BCPL, EPSON MX80 WANTED ROM programs Ian 2985 M R alone model A to complete system new, loads of paper. £200. Phone Tel: Culcheth (092576) View, Toolstar, Caretaker, Ultracalc. Phone 65436. on 01-654 4361, or Lodge Hill 42789. Cooper, 13 Wadeson Way, Croft, considered. (0502) 0254-47272. Tel: Warrington, Cheshire WA3 7JW, micro, vital leads EXCHANGE your BBC B and periph- WANTED: BBC B or simitar cheap WANTED teletype unwanted specialist and manuals. Preferably 1-20S, working erals for my FOR SALE. Tandy CGP115 plotter/ printer (Approx £45) in plus Must be reliable and in generally stamp collection. Mainly British printer complete with spare paper order. Contact John Chapman, 8 exceeds good condition, although age un- aviation covers, retail and pens. All boxed as new. £100 Weir Rd, Rochdale, Lanes. Tel: 0706 Around £200. South east £1600. Tel: (East Surrey) 088 388 including postage. Ward, 021 358 important. 524228 anytime, England -collection possible. Tel: 2272. 2496. (09592) 2391 WANTED Wordwise ROM and EX-EQUIPMENT IC's 4116 ten for £4. manual. B Harrison, 3 Hambledon ideas on hard- recorder or 8080 £1.50, 6821 £1, 2716 FRENCH BBC USER, WANTED BBC casselle Blandford Forum, Dorset 6800 CI 50, Close, £1.80 ware and software wanted. Used disc drive, also sortware. Plummer, CMOS new R/s type unused DT117SA. Tel: (0258) 53742. modem, disc, printer, number of 302 Langland Road, Netherfield. each, 6 only. 0635 48465 after 6 pm. friends are users in France Mon- Milton Keynes MK6 4HY. Electronics ROM board. WATFORD sieur Bourdon Bruno, 49/45 Boul- very good condition FOR SALE. Back issues 1983/84 Hardly used, Verley, 59140 Dunker- WANTED BBC microcomputer monthlies and weeklies. Most of the evard Paul with full instructions, £25 ono. John model with or without peripherals available. Search on que, France. B Wilkinson, 36 Poplar Road. Healing, popular mags Tel: Bolton (0204) whether I Cash waiting. Grimsby. 0472 882267. database performed to tell Paul, 391954 and ask for it. Enter free mystery draw have FAULTY/damaged BBC wanted for WATFORD Speech synthesiser for also Tel. 01-980 1934. WANTED! BP Money-match cards: project. State condition and price sale. Includes ROM and manual. -£5,000, right please Cash paid Bob Brookes, lett-C20,000. right Stack lightpen complete FOR SALE. Brother EP20 electronic £35. Also (day) or 0905 773345 £50. right-£100, left-£500. Also perfect condition. One 0905 51303 with software £15. Both unwanted typewriter in Will (evng) Could collect. Shell Make Money: right-£100 old. £60 ono. Tel: 0825 872294. gitts, Tel: Soulhport 74386. year split money 50-50 Phone Phil on 051-428-1036 atter 5 pm. WANTED copy of Jeremy Rushton's PERSONAL AD SERVICE I book BBC Micro Compendium'. Tel: FREE Fill .n the form below *« = n\^«'":""' 061-224 2828. your old hardware or pass on information I Sell Free Ads, 68 Long Acre, | (one in each box) and send it to Acorn User other CP/M of 32 words WANTED dBase 11 and remember your name, address or tele- WC2E 9JH. Use capital letters, and | software for BBC B Z80. Must be London per I service to readers -no companies please. One entry with manuals For sale: Watford DFS phone number. This is a 01-520 2398 and we cannot guarantee any issue. with manual £15. Tel: I form only, | after 6 pm. WANTED disc interface, preferably with Watford DFS but others accepted. Must be under £50. Write I to C.Mo, 49 High St„ Downham Market, Norfolk, Will phone back if I wanted. I WANTED February 1983 issue Acorn User Will swap for software or cash. Marc, Storrington 5432 (work) or I Littlehampton 722235 (home). Marc Young. WANTED File-plus owner who can demonstrate program. Reasonable distance Pelersfield/Portsmoulh. Please telephone 0705 592489 after I anytime. 5 pm weekdays, else . I WANTED. Gemini Beebcalc disc with manual. Tel: 062 981 4102. ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 FAST WHY LOGO? FOURIER is a free 16-page booklet TRANSFORM published by LOGO Software Ltd to introduce Fast & accurate machine code implementation for the Model B, their new full LOGO for the BBC Micro. Speed: 256 points: 3 seconds 1024 points: 11 seconds CONTENTS • The history of LOGO • LOGO'S 4096 points: 50 seconds conceptual framework • LOGO questions A special compact data format allows 4096 and answers • LOGO in quotes • LOGO in complex data points to be transformed within the standard memory. action • LOGO from LSL • LOGO at a glance • LOGO access Details from: Structured Software, 23 Redcar Drive, Eastham, Wirral, To get your free of copy Why LOGO? please fill in ROM chip £60 Merseyside. L62 8HE. the coupon below and send itto: LOGO Software Ltd. FREEPOST, Twickenham, Middlesex TWI 1BR. BBC Volume Control Pleose send me copies of last Why LOGO?, t am Interested in At turn your sound UP/DOWN or LOGO becouse I am OFF with this variable volume control. a teochet D a parent n ottier (please specilv) Fitted discreetly to the back of your NAME Beeb. Easy to fit. Some soldering ADDRESS necessary. Kit of parts and step by step instructions. Only £2.80 Inc. If you have a professional intefest in LOGO, please give the name ot youf Local Education Authofify RACEY DESIGNS 47TWYCROSS RD, BURBAGE LEICS LE10 2SF HACKERS! lEl HERE, NOW, AN ADVANCED MODEM ESPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR YOU AND THE BBC MICROCOMPUTER. ONLY THE LOCO SYSTEMS SCM-100 OFFERS ALL THESE ADVANCED FEATURES: • MULT! STANDARD - V21, V23; BELL 103,202 - gives access to Bulletin boards home and abroad and Prestei • FULL SOFTWARE CONTROL of all modes plus: orig/ans; line seize; carrier detect etc., using BBC micro user port • AUTO ANSWER/AUTO DIAL - software monitoring facilities give automatic mode selection on answer LOCO SYSTEMS. PO BOX 9 . TWICKENHAM. MIDDX, Please send me SCM- 100 software controlled (n • OPERATING SOFTWARE in ROM gives 12 new OS- commands (or easy control modems £149.95 each. Disc power adaptor (n es.SSeach • COMPATIBLE WITH standard comms software including TERMI etc. • EXPANSION PORT in modem allows for future developments. These 1 enclose a cheque/PO order for £ made include telephone answering capability using BBC speech synthesiser payable to Loco Systems and tone dialler Please send me further details POWERED FROM (enclose S. A.E) • BBC MICRO-splitteravailable for use withdiscs if required • B.T APPROVED ISOLATION COMPONENTS - BABT approval applied for • INCLUDES ALL CONNECTING LEADS Name. Address_ THERE IS ONLY ONECHOICE W As this modem represents the latest in technology, BABT approval is still awaited. please allow 28 days lor delivery 216 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 I worth well sided 40 width pin feed. Boxed, excellent ing Pole Position etc, FOR SALE. Atari 400 16k including MICROWARE 200k double £145, Tel, Chorley 78286 over £500, for BBC B, 5i" disc drive recorder, two joys- track disc drive £170 ono. Tandy 4 condition, Basic, cassette and software. Phone Jason on 0790 and many games including Air pen colour plotter £80 ono. Tele- (Lanes). ticks 53161 atter 4 pm. (cartridge). phone 0226-83100 evenings and Strike II and Astro-<;hase PRISM acoustic modem, power unit, C135 ono, Tel: Woking weekends only. Must sell, inter-connecting hardware software TANDY colour printer/plotter, CGP- 67454 eves. manual, NASCOM Imp printer serviced by tor Prestel, Micronet, operating 115, lead, paper, pens, condition £80 ono. G Lucas micros Feb 84. Screen dump instructions. Phone Sid, 0843 cover, pristine GRAPHICS posters. Set of 10 com- Brown, 01-341-2187. tor BBC, service manual, leads etc. 582719, puter generated graphics posters. (or BBC £110 ono, Tel: Don after 6 Ideal tor hi-tech decoration, bed- acoustic modem plus Micro- TANDY CGP-115 printer/plotter. pm on Thanet (0843) 33398, PRISM room, classroom, boardroom, net/Prestel Software £40. Wordwise Prints in 4 colours, 4 directions, 64 Bill, North Telephone Rom- sizes, with paper, pens and dust library. Only E895. 12 NEW 6116-LP3 CMOS RAM chips, boxed as new £25, Available any- cover. Excellent condition £100, Drive, Girvan. Scotland, can be used on computer village ford (Essex) 63407, Phone (07073) 35949, ROM/RAM board for BBC micro. 8 time, HELLOl Have you got a (ully work- chips for £25 or £3,15 each + post- 1-6A, pilot light, TANDY line printer VII, Simple dot ing Atom joystick Interface? Will pay Phone 01- PSU regulated. 12V, age. Also 2764 EPROMs, bit £5 or swap (or software (A&F, cased, includes mains power lead. matrix printer, enlarged type, 202-6410 atter 6 pm. L, Vekaria, serial Aardvark), Write; Philip Arkley, 384 Short circuit, thermal shut down. image graphics, tractor leed. 01-340 Road, Clayton-le-Moors, £16, R A Lober, 13 Pwll-y-min, Peter- or parallel. £100 only, Tel: Whalley 8271 New floppy disc, controller Accrington, Lancashire BBS 5QX. ston-super-Ely, Cardiff CF5 6LR. 2666 or Micronet mailbox 013402666 interface chip, surplus to require- Ideal for disc drives (Chris), ment. For sale at £50 ono, Tel: 01- Seeking P8271 floppy disc •HELP. 204 6894, teleprinter 22" Ramtec monitor in TANDY I. L2 32k + 15A controller chip or complete interface RGB console cabi- + interface, + monitor + recorder cost. Also interested veneered & polished at reasonable ORIC 1 48K, little used, some soft- pro- on casters. Mint + £1000 -I- software, Over 215 disc drives and ROM net, with doors, in purchasing £69, P Barton, 1 1 Princes Gar- ware, manual, circuit dia- grams. Many games, applications, based software but P8271 priority condition inci dens, SW7. Please write to arrange Edtasm, Scripsit, Invaders 0344 gram, £150 ono. Parkings, 18 utilities. need. Please contact Steve viewing. London. Court, Westmoreland Rd, etc + books, manuals, leads etc. 425870. Southill Bromley, Kent. Tele: 01-466 6246, Want BBC 8 DFS hence £575 ono PACE 100k 40 trk drive £105- AMS Tel: B'ham (021) 784 2405. of operating complete. •HELP. Wanted: copy second processor, 1 month old, Microdrive 100k 40 trk £115, Double 6502 Waseem. manual of Epson printer MX82 made sided cartridges for AMS £2 each excellent condition includes ROMs by Casio, At cost plus postage. Send manual, hardly used, sell for (used). Stab power supply £17,50. and TANTEL Prestel adaptor cost £180, to Mohd Khairi, 9a, Maahad Swissri £175, Telephone (0782) 620657. All perfect, with cables. Reading SOT accept otters around £45. Phone Street, Zamaiek, Cairo, Egypt. 582524, Ask for Anthony, 0379-4892 after 6 pm Ask for Barry, HOBBIT (loppy tape system tor BBC, GP250X graphic printer PACE double sided disc drive (200k) SEIKOSHA TEACHER WANTED lor level com- Leads, manual, ROM plus twelve with paper £200. Beginners Assem- complete with utilities disc and puter studies. Two children, London tapes, C65. Tel. 0531-820865 (Glou- bly Language book and tape £7,50. evening manual. Still in box Fast and re- and Oxford syllabus. One cestershire), Tel; Hemel Hempstead 49395 atter liable. £270 new, asking £200. Tel: T weekly Wimbledon home with BBC Goodley on Holbeach 380621 after 5 pm, B. 879-1187 atter 7,30 pm, INCH disc units, two off (plus 8 6 pm or at weekends. spare) double sided DRI manulac- SEIKOSHA GP100A printer in orig- TEAC 100k disc drive plus utils disc, £225 or will split, 0604-585118 inal packaging. Hardly used. £100. manual and 20 discs, £105. Seikosha ture PACKAGE BBC model B with fitted Tel: (0933) 679961, (Northants). graphic printer £200, Acorn- after 6 pm (Northampton). View and StarBase ROMs and GP250X soft Forth and manual £10. Phone Cumana 1Mb double d/d, BBC SHUGART 10 megabyte Winchester JOYSTICK tor BBC B Voltmace Hemel Hempstead 49395. greenscreen monitor, all utilities, Shugarl 8 inch disc 14/B including 12 page drive and a Delta and boxed spare discs. manuals drive. Both used with home CP/M programmable calcula- instructions. Sell-centering, as good - TEXAS T166 Exceptional wordprocessor data- £475 tor both or (costs £15 new). system. Bargain at tor. 512 steps or 64 memories plus as new Only £10 £1000, base chance. Offers around Tel: (0703) 456909 after Telephone (0730) 62934 or write to T will split. 170 scientific functions. As new, £35. 01-852 7616. 6 pm. Taylor, 13, Durford Road, Peters- Phone 01 330 1554 (Worcester Pk, if possible please. field, Hants, GU31 4EW, PAIR ot BBC joysticks. Can be used London). Collect 48k Spectrum includes Protek inter- on any game with joystick facility. face and Quickshot joystick also a TI-99/4A computer, extended Basic, JOYSTICK -Quickshot for sale. Great bargain at £12 (needs no wide range of games and a C15 Parsec, Pilot and manuals Little Excellent feel, two (ire buttons, interface). Ideal Christmas giH. cassette and a book on games for used, new condition. Worth £130 brand new, in box. Paid £20, will Interested? Telephone Slough the Spectrum £130 ono. Phone (approx), sell for £75 ono. Cassette take £10. Chris Wootton, 39 Coundon 43526. Bolton 53700, recorder £8 extra (+ lead). J Bos- Road, Coventry CV1 4AR. modem (Prism) for BBC B worth, 27 Lammas Way, Letchworth, PRESTEL SOLIDISK 32k sideways RAM, orig- complete with software, cables, Herts. Tel. 77166. JUKI single sheet feeder for 6100 inally purchased 13-6-84, complete power supply and handbook. Price printer. New. Instructions. £180 ono. with receipt. Unit not compatible for TORCH Z80 2SD processor card 01-777-9241. £45 ono, or would exchange Croydon. Dr Hopkinson with my system, hence sale. Cost with free software, £200, Watford View ROM. Call Mike Matthews. Tel: £64, accept £50 ono. Telephone model-l with (Near Ross- ROM board £20. Tandy Ultradrive by Ikon Gorsley (098982) 326, LATEST Dual Alton 87401 VDU. 16K-LII, £190. 32K expansion complete with 'on-Wye, Herefordshire), Computer Products, interface £150. All as new, Tel; 0761- tour boxes of six data certified SPECIAL OFFER tor quick sale, PRINTER Boxed Acorn branded 71675 after 6 pm, cassettes. This is the full system Microware Z6242 dual double sided Seikosha AP100A graphics and text costing over £200: bargain at £100. disc drives 400k, own PSU to avoid disc drive wanted. ribbons, 20011, 80 track 5i" printer with cable, spare Cable for Tel: St. Albans (0727) 59323. overheating computer. Also Wordwise or View ROM. Mike, paper, manual. £140. Will throw in Beeb Only £275 for immediate cash 202 Barncroft Way, Havant, Hants software free. Phone Julie, Cuffley the sale. Phone 01-458 2787 anytime. 3AN. LOOKING for someone in 872229, evenings or weekends. P09 London, Tottenham, area to swap SPEECH synthesiser. Acorn, boxed, TRS-80 16k colour extended com- programs and ideas. Age 14. Phone PRINTER cable for BBC, brand new, manual, as new. Unwanted gift, £45 processing car- the puter with word Michael between 5pm-8pm in Telephone: Paul, bought by mistake! ono. Tel: Coltenham (0954) 50739. tridge £120 ono, or with printer £250, week, all day weekend, 800-8128. (0462) 36152 (day). Phone Oxford (0865) 65213, SURESHOT joystick Still in box. Will MICRO Style singled sided 40 track 110 PRINTER **** RO90 Teletype sell tor £10. Ring (0423) 872474. UNWANTED PRIZE -must spend 100k disc drive, £120 ono. Tel: 08444 baud RS232 will interface to most £1800 + VAT on personal computer. 3301 manuals pro- micros. Full service STACK lightpen. Cost £28.75. sell for Will buy to your specification and 01-959 1844 even- vided. £50, Tel: £20 or swap for good quality joystick sell to you unused for £1600, Contact 1431 std res mint MICROVITEC ings. suitable for BBC B. Scott, Glouces- 0734 474985 (evenings) for further £130. acoustic modem perfect Prism ter 770798. details. £40, Grave- plus Micronet software PRINTER Olivetti JP101 , Bitstik com- TRS-80 model 1, level 2, 16k + send area. Tel. 047483 2862 any- patible, e250ish, also Watford ROM/ SUPERIOR Teletype ASR33 RS232 editor/assembler + manuals. time, E S Tillaney, 6 Flowerhill Way, RAM board £10ish, or (ree with £50, Unit with two 8" floppy drives Offers? Ring Mark on Wakefield Istead Rise, Northfleet, Kent. printer, owner upgrades. Will con- £50. Sharp PC1211 pocket computer 255355. sider interesting hardware/software and cassette interface £30, TRS80 (our colour printer/ pi otter, swops, Robert Chrismas, Gosport and disc expansion circuit MCP40 RAM UK101 with 8k RAM, Switchable Prestel Mailbox. £40. 01-451 Technomatic speech synthesiser, (0705) 526950 or via boards (need finishing) 1/2MHZ and 300/600 baud. Cased. large selection o( software, compat- 0520. around GP100A, Centro- No longer required. Offers ible tape cassette recorder. All good PRINTER Seikosha Graphics mode SWAP Commodore 64, C2N, joy- £35 please. Ring Graeme on Orp- condition. £200 ono. Luton (0582) nics interface. Variable sticks, 7 books and software includ- ington (0689) 29230 (evenings). 574931. allows screen dumps, ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 ®E®®@O0EQO®S (D (R) (g QG G) oQ g) Q GET ON THE RIGHT TRACK WITH G \ "~~ Q I MICRO 4 G POWER - ^C? Q Micro Power are an official service and information centre, and we are major suppliers to S Government and educational establishments. We stock the complete range of Acornsoft and Micro Power software as well as a wide range of B. B.C. Micro and general computing books. O Our expert staff are always on hand to provide advice and assistance in the relaxed atmosphere of our showroom. — Q PRINTERS COMPUTERS Q Epson FX80 41 6 40 Epson RX80 FAf 268!90 AUTUMN SPECIALS Juki 6100 Daisywheel 415.00 Smith Corona TP-I daisywheel 270.20 Q B.B.C. Micro + Cassette Recorder AND Cannon PW1080 332.58 Five Micro Power B or selected Acornsoft Tapes 399.00 ACCESSORIES B.B.C. Model B plus DFS + 4 tapes 469.00 Acom B.B.C. cassette B.B.C. Model recorder(Jnc. leads) 35.00 ' > B plus Econet + 4 tapes . . . 446.00 Morwood B.B.C. B.B.C. Model B plus DFS ar>d Econet 516.00 cassette recorder (inc. leads) 29.95 Sureshot self-centering arcade joystick Acorn Electron + Cassette Recorder OR 18.22 Micro Power potentiometer joystick 12.95 Five Micro Power Tapes 199.00 G Acom Disk Interface 11 5.00 Pace Modem 1 36.85 MONITORS Commstar ROM 34,00 1 .2 ROM upgrade Kaga 12" Green Screen 123.05 1 1 .50 Ferguson TX Monitor/TV Speech synthesiser plus cartridge socket O 264.50 (Free 1 Sanyo DM2112 12" Green Screen 74.95 .2 ROM if required) 55.00 0} View wordprocessor ROM Microvttec14"RGB/PALandaudiooutput .... 258.75 59.80 Wordwise wordprocessor ROM 45.42 Q Microvitec monitor (plastic) 228.85 Quickshot II Joystick Microvitec monitor (metal) 228.85 12.95 Electron Plus 1 printer/joystick Microvitec medium resolution monrtor 299.00 interface 59.90 First Byte Electron joystick S interface DISK DRIVES (including cassette) 24.96 ATPL sideways RAM board 45.00 Pace 40 track 100K 156.40 Teletext O adapter (Free 1.2 ROM if req.) 225^00 Pace 40 track double sided 200K 220^80 Softlight EPROM programmer 75.90 Pace 40/80 track double sided B 200/400 K 241.50 Printer cables (parallel or serial) 15.50 Pace track Q 40 dual drive 200K 310.50 3M unlabelled disks (ten) 15 00 Pace 40 track double sided dual drive 400 K ... 434.70 Scotch D/S D/D disks (Box of ten) 32^50 Mitsubishi 40/80 track double sided dual drive Maxell 3" disk 400/800K 4.95 567.85 Disk storage case 19.95 Torch Z80 Disk Pack track 80 double sided Vinyl dust cover for computers, disk drives. Q dual drive (including Perfect software) 803.85 monitors and printers 4.50 " B AMS HFD 3055 3 100K 169 00 Stack light pen 28.75 ALL PRICES INCLUSIVE OF V.A.T. Tutor Mate Monitor stands 10. ri We provide free fitting for all firmware. Wide selection of computer leads and printer — ALL ROADS LEAD TO , e MICRO POWER! ribbons in stock. '"^K^j 'HP facilitni aviiUUa. 'Fiw« parking. Plaama com»ct u> Ail pticaa conaci at for furthw dMaili. tima of going lo praaa. cWlfd) g, iPlOjWiJiR Showroom: MICRO POWER LTD., G Northwood Housa, North Strsst Loads LS7 2AA' Tsl: (0632) 4S8800 Mail Order: MICRO POWER LTD , Q DEPT IVIU11 StMspscsr Housa. Shaspscar Straal SouVn. Leads LS7 IAD; Tel: (0532) 434006 S Send an SAE for our completo listing of hardware, software and books. CARRIAGE FREE O for ALL hardware BhIu and loftwui only S5p par onlw U.K. Mainland Only 218 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 , I double sided 40 plus 16k RAM. TANDY colour graphics plotter, as FOR SALE. Books; Easy Program- DISC DRIVE, FOR SALE ZX81 Acorn kit. Including and books £40 new, with BBC cable, £80 ono- RH ming and Further Programming track with DFS Comes games fitting Heath 411 (after Electronics iightpen (unused). £25 for the BBC Micro and 30 Hour complete with manuals and ono. Tel: Marlon plus a utility disc. Stiil ono. Write to Mus. 31 Longlield, Basic. Cost £5.95 each new. Sell instructions 6). guarantee, £198, Tel: 01- Harlow, Essex CM19 6JZ or phone for £3.95 each or £1 1 for all three under disc pack contains disc Ah on 01-881 7046 during the inclusive. Tel: 0288 4682. 202 6410 after 6 pm, L, Vekaria, ATOM power supply, disc inter- evening, drive, PRINTER Texas inch thermal, face etc. With manual, connecting 8i ' £150. WANTED: Atom accessories, VOLTMACE Delta B handset and Centronics/BBC lead, circuit dia- ribbon, cable S utilities disc. Tel: Maldon (Essex) (0621) 56137, Wordpack ROM, extra RAM, joy- adaptor box plus Delta driver grams. Print head faulty. Suggest will for parts (includ- (Roy Burgin), evenings and week- sticks, Toolkit ROMs, games, etc. cassette, used once. Cost £36. modify or break Offers? £5 ends. Everything of interesl. Send accept £25 ono. Buyer to pay post- ing stepper motors). Mike details to Anders Reutersward. age. Tel: John on Marshalls Cross paper rolls (new}-E3. Tel: WANTED - Epson printer. RX80FT Bagatorpsringen 58, S-171 65 819453, Merseyside. on 0981 250764. Must be perfect for use with SOLNA, Sweden. or FX, 1 BBC. Up to £150 cash wailing. Tel: BBC B, View, Epson MX80 F/T III, FOR SALE: Vol -Fundamental Tel: Hugh. and Vol 2-Sorting & Cardiff 615595. BBC B, disc interface, 1.20S. Zenith monitor, offers. Algorithms Knuth. Cost joysticks and over £200 software 0865 711829 daytime. 0235 23523 Searching by Donald £21.95 new, 2 weeks ELECTRON, three months old. £60 and cassette recorder and all evenings. £11,95 and worth oi software and books, leads and books, magazines. All old. too mathematical for me, £25 including postage. Tel; £170, Tel: 0953 454902 or write to 3 in perfect condition, must sell. ELECTRON plus cash and £80 hence Dairy Farm Court. Attleborough, £315. Sensible offers considered. worth of software in exchange for 0288 4682 and ask for Jonathan. Norfolk NR17 2BT. Tel: 01-898 2644 evenings, 01-600 BBC model B, Tel: 01-952 6491 wanted. Super- 1200 Ext, 3274 day, (Edgware), ATOM software Racetrack and Micromania CASIO FX-502P programmable calculator and FA1 music and TORCH Z80 second processor 13-ROM expansion board for BBC Defender. Anything considered. I/O manuals Send list, details and price to cassette mterface, & with utilities 1-4 and 1.5, perfect model B, SIR Computers mark Courtfield Rd, Ashford. tape. Sell for £45, Casio FX-700P speller calc and filer and one (fully buffered). Never fitted, Martin, 11 writer qwerty key- full MiddxTW15 1JN. pocket computer, BBC Z80 Basic with manuals £250 still in original packing with board, 1.5k, sell for £40, Tel: (061) ono. Tel: Walton (0932) 245593 instructions. Cost £41, offered at Vic-20 for sale. 16k 624 5284 after 5,30 pm, after 8 pm or weekends. £30, Tel: 01-211 4184 (daytime). COMMODORE RAM, joystick, C2N tape recorder. games, books, dust colour printer/ BBC model B with Acorn DFS, WATFORD DFS with manual, £75. £90 worth of TANDY CGP115 condition, orig- with spare pens. £350. Canon 100k disc drive. £110 Tel: Oakley (02302) 4579 even- cover. Excellent plotter, together inal boxes. All worth over £250- paper and parallel lead. (witti lead and own power supply). ings. BBC for £150. Tel; Medway Bargain at only £85 ono. Tel: 0242 Tel: 01-659 1303 (after 7 pm). selling SHURE SHOT joystick for sale. 364009. 37954. LIGHTPEN by RH Electronics Per- Hardly used, unwanted gift. Self- expansion board. GPIOOA dot matrix fect condition, little used, cost £45- centering, two lire buttons, arcade SIR ROM/RAM SEIKOSHA full fitting instructions. printer with Centronics interface Best offer over £20 within ten days qualily. Worth £18.22. Send Unused, Currently advertised for £55. suit most computers. Ten of publication. Tel: David. 0752 cheque for only £9,50 to Mark de to Tel: Hunt- Tel: More- 775654 (between 5 pm and 9 pm Wegee, Rippeedaboeg 4, 9502 XL yours for only £40. months old, £120. 50117 after 6.30 pm 411780 after 6 pm only please). Stadshancial, Holland. ingdon (0480) cambe (0524) or weekends. and ask for Vincent. PRINTER Tandy line printer VII. FOR SALE. CT-403 keyboard wanted Good condition, including BBC Choice of 24 instruments, 16 ACORN USER back issues DISC drive, double sided SD/DD, reading, in Aber- cable and print utilities (disc or rhythms. Ideal for beginner. Worth for informative 35 track with leads and manuals, cassette). Plus 200 sheets paper £250, bargain at £175, Will ex- deen area. Up to issue 25 needed. software included, utilities, in 877798 after and manual, £120, Tel: 04352 change for Electron, Tel: Bourton Please phone (0224) good working order. £75, Tel: 6167. (Dorset) 840449. 6 pm if you can help. Niall Nottingham 53312. 99 Kenrick Rd, Saunders BSc. Mapperley. Nottingham, PRINTER Star DS10 with manual, FOR SALE. Acorn Magazines paper controller, paper roller, from two years back, 80p each, DISC drive (100k) including disc ATOM. New user club E6 member- double friction and sprocket feed, £150. 224 Feltham Road. Ashtord, Mid- interface £150. UDM ship. 4/6 newsletters annually. Modem, including cables, dlesex, Tel: 47679, density disc Interface £80, Ask for Original software wanted (or use separate power supply, ^/full John on 0923 775583. in above. Send tape, listing & Graphics Design. duplex, self-test, £70. Modem for WANTED AB SAE, Money for best. Martin, 11 board. with Prestel etc. £30. Amersham For sale; Watford ROM ATARI VCS as new, complete Courttield Road. Ashford. Middx printer, £135; LVL 21702. £25: DMP 100 joysticks and paddles and two TW15 1JN. DD board, £80. Tel: (0225) 27066 games, £55 ono. Tel: 0795 874869 MAGAZINES galore Weekly and evenings, after 6 pm. EPSON RX80 for sale, box and monthly covering the last 7 manual. £200, Tel: Geoff Spring, months. Interested? Contact: John ATOM 12k + 12k. FP ROM, pro- TELETEXT adaptor for BBC micro. 0494 783071. Humphreys. 33 Ringsbury Close. grammers toolbox, colour board. £150, Ian Coulson, 26 Westmor- Purton. Swindon, Wiltshire. Will PSU, all leads, manual, books, land Rd, Felixstowe, Suffolk IP11 HELP! Anyone know how to con- 64975. sell for around lOp to 30p each, software, Tel: St. Albans 9TS- Tel: Felixstowe 272452, nect an Electron to a VCR (via- Sell for £100, video in-socket) in order to record BBC B 1,20S, Acorn DFS, Word- RGB medium resolution monitor colour graphics? B & W is boring! Micro Decision wise, software and books worth and BBC B lead. £125. Tandy BRAND NEW John Heavyside, 66 Farley Way, for sale at 90p each £100, all for £399, 400k double GGP115 plotter and BBC B par- magazmes Reddish, Stockport SK5 6JD, Tel: (inc Costs £1,20 normally. sided 40/80 disc drive £175. Man- allel lead, £89, Voltmace joystick p&p). (061)4314169. micro nesmann Tally printer £200, Drive and keyboard adaptor box. £18. An excellent business magazine which comes through and printer guaranteed. Tel: Tel: Martin (0280) 816475, PRINTER Star DP510+ BBC cable. it! Editions Leeds (0532) 732113, the post: I didn't order Original packaging, still under July '84+ . Tony, 46 Chalcot Cres- B, 1 .20S, joysticks, pro- BBC Information on RTTY. guarantee, 2,4k buffer roll, tractor, cent, London NW1 , (01 ) 586 9341 WANTED grams, tape deck, dust cover. compatible. Also does anyone listen to Armed friction feed, Epson games. No offers. N A Malik, tei: + bargain at £215. Forces Radio and TV service? If Cost £300 new, free, £385 FOR SALE. Tandy CGP115 four 0224 323276. 12 games 100 OPS 80 cols. Tel: Mike, colour printer/plotter. Centronics/ so. what receiver are you using? 2 months old. guaranteed for 12 25480 evenings. ono. Acorn Write to G, Hart, 92 Carfield, Skel- Abingdon (0235) months. serial interface. £90 S/S S/D 100k disc drive plus for- mersdale. Lanes WN8 9DN. OS. DFS, 100k KENDA professional DMFS. matting disc etc, £100, Sgt Boyd, BBC B, latest JP101 parallel printer for Viglen drive, discs, Wordwise single or double density, unerase RAFGatow, BFP0 4S. ACORN BBC B, Brand new duplicated gift; fitted, leads, manuals. Plus Doc- erased files, users manual, three £170 ono. Includes manual, lead, soft 727 and Which? Taxcalc. Six months old. perfect, utilities disc, JUPITER Ace wanted. Anyone offers paper, graphics dump lape, Tel: months old, boxed. £499, Man- [itting available. Can be seen sick of Forth? Reasonable (Middlesex) after 6 ning, 105 Station Road. March. working. £80. Tel: Ash Green made. Tel: Malcolm on 01-505 Ruislip 73671 Cambs, Tel: 55284. (0474)873186. 2955. pm or weekends. ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 MUSICSOFt FREE MISK SIM.ClAl.ISrSKOR llll :32K ItlKMIC HO with "Your Team" • THE SYNTH •(O.S.1.Q + A vtTv /le.\ cm ii single key RF.PEAT. No need ui play a phrase iwicc. greal saving in space. REAL Leather Match Ball TIME PLAYING. With Jlicraiionof volume, envelope and ottave piieh as vouplay a noic. EDITING, Baek jnd forwiirds whilsl hearing ihe lune, INPU I' Mav he hesiliinl or in eiirreci limi;. TIDY. 'Cleans iip' inaecuracies ol" input on demand! NUMBER OF NOTES. Fruitl I worth £6.99 .1000 lor charmel lo lOOn Tor 3. ele. Plus nil ihe olher syiilhesi/er pn!gr;im.>i Jo PLl'S. Ic sophislieaicd envelope ediling Ivery easy), larger keyboard used (TAB lii i euriorl. No sccrels, user Iransparenl. This is tht- program lor ihe esperimcnter who warns lo make HUMAN muiie rather than perlorm maihcniiiiieal linger deMcriiy eicrcisca THE SYNTH, Casselici iiislrtiL-lioni only £8,75 ini;. P&P A must for all soccer enthusiasts • KEYBOARDS*(OS I Yes, absolutely free for a limited i priigrams lo period, with turn your BBC" inlo f> real-lime keyhoardi. 1,.' iimullanecius voit:es |m Basie for easy undcrsianding) 2. Single voiee M C with Piieh Bend. .'.1 ^imuUaneiuis viiitv M/C every copy of the program "Your wiih Envelope eonirol buili m. 4. Single linger Chord organ ranging over ihe whole key- Team" a board. 1 varialions Ttir eaeh chord, 5. Chord organ 2 with dilferenl chord eonfigiirulion. real leather Match Ball autographed These are all separalc programs designed lor vou lo use as Ihev arc or in your own programs by K EY BO-X R DS casselte & instruclions £5.75 inc P&P Bobby Charlton {R.R.P. £6.99). "Your Team" is a database program to record and analyse • MUSICTOOLS • (all OS.; your favourite team's match results, scores, "M».\i,Mfl uhi' prmluii fii .'/AviJ 'MmiiUinls I :;i.\\i-li< iii m . all nil rullu'r si'.nl wilui'" it:iiMM.Oi':1.^: attendances, statistics etc. All recorded in t-'ivi; mii.sie ulihly programs on one lape. lune Gencralor wilh dynamic graphic Keyboard & Slave display. Envelope Command your club's colours. Football league, Scottish E.lploier (Very easy In use). Musical Symbols Graphic roulinc. Simple single line organ with sop hi sue a led tonirols. Over 60 prDcnlures lor you lo use in ii>ur pmgranii already in work- league or your own team school or club can ing programs. MUSICrOOLS I tassetlc&inslrueliL.n-£5.75inc P&P. be kept season after season. • PIEMAN • (all O.S.) Available for Spectrum, BBC, Electron, CBM "Tlw ht'.\! \L-r\iim iif Sinnm I'lv n-fii, ii t'l.iv \o mii< li /iir!li,-i tlum nu:sl" IQiikw hv a rmil SiillKuretirm' ' Ri'KimnieruU'dfnr Primiir\ & MuUllf Silioiil\. 64 -£9.95 plus ei. 00 P&P. Noi as simple ui» Simonl li develop* inio a iun sei of ear elcaniiig and musical conccnirauon games, Order today enclosing cheques/P.O. Access/ PIEMAN casselte&insiruclions£5.75 int. P&P Visa to: ALL PROGRAMS TRANSFER EASILY TO DLSC. Bee Sports, Dept AU, Bee l'li,'ifiii'Minih>l)u ml i>nlft\ lo: House, Highlands VlUSICSOn, Dcpi \. \2 Fallo»ti«ld. Amplhill. Beds, releplione:05254ll270l Ave, Northampton. -111 ! Itriif^ni'ir iw'lo iniik .li.ti 126.0II ^ Tel: 0604 499 246 BBC FREE EPROM PROGRAMMER POOLS RACING FOR THE BBC PREDICTOR ANALYSER A very high quality product direct from WITH 11,000 MATCH DATABASE the manufacturers, contained In attrac- Now in its 3'd successful season, Mayday tive sloping box with low insertion force Software's Pools Predictor has been made BOTH PROGRAMS socket and neon indicator for program- even more powerful witfi a new and unique FOR ONLY ming fitted as standard, the software 11,000 match database. Seven separate fore- casting techniques have been combined lo adopts the high efficiency method for give you the best forecasts yet. And, programming lusl as 2764 and 27128. This easy to use. is our new Racing Analyser This allows up to 100% faster programming, uses the racecard from your daily paper to analyse any horse race and it's £8.99 software in machine code, supplied on — youfs for no extra chargel casselte and can he placed in eprom. Very Also available for the Spectrum easy to use, menu driven with easy to use instructions. This unit is completely self MAYDAY 181. PORTLAND CRESCENT contained with its own power supply and SOFTWARE STANMORE, MIDDX HA7 ILR plugs into the user port. THIS PROFESSIONAL UNIT ALLOWS: 1. Will program: 2716, 2732, 2532. 2764 and 27128 eproms. UNIVERSAL STANDS 2. Copy eptom into memory and compute Pearce checksum. i.»jr\**t5lm. •imp**; 43 Avenue, Parkstone, Poole 3. Blank check eprom. Dorset BH1 4 8EG. Telephone: (0202)740147 4. Program eprom from memory. • SPACE SAVING VDU 5. Verity byte by byte and compute checksum. /MONITOR STAND • • FREESTANDING Suitable for B8C 6. allow buffer start area to be changed, PRINTER STAND • and most other microcompiiiefs 7. All operating system Accepls anv 80 chaiactet prpnterSqually at calls may be used when io menu mode. • Deluxe version wilh Dutaplug home on desk oi waM B, Semi-inlelligent programming. Typical lime to program a 2764 8k device Is approK. 4-way conncetioi, moimied on hack, 2 metre cable and plug • Dimensions. 40cm (nvd) 40cm |d) 50 sec. depending on ihe data to be programmed. E25 24cm (h) 9. Additional software supplied to enable your own program (basic: or machine code) to • Dimensions. 48cm (wd) 36cm (d) be put into eprom with the necessary leader information to allow calling with a command. Downshift routine to enable basic programs to be run is also supplied. COST £32.00 please add 1 5% VAT £1 .00 post and packing ALSO AVAILABLE RAM /ROM CARD [Details do RequesO ORDERS TO: £19-95 i,^<,^^i H.C.R. ELECTRONICS. Industrial Unit Parker Road, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 OES 24 Hour Answer Phone Service: __ __. m Chelmsford (0245) 3501 88 E3 [^ £15 80 220 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 - i SMALL ADS Advanced User Guide D/S £320, Boxed: S/S £286.65. Frustrated? Chrismas Disc Open University 'Micropro- binders. Stitf plastic backed, D/S £351,05 including utility Logger will read your director- cessor and product design' titled, open flat, ring binders, disc, manual. + power. £30. ies, sort, search and print a course. Includes 8085 develop- E3.50 inc. p&p. Hepwortti & Co, Baldock 895405. catalogue, indispensable! Che- ment computer plus interface Waulkmill Farm, ingersley Vale, ques £6 to Bacsoft, 81 Village hardware. Excellent course in Boliington, Cheshire SK10 5BP. Cross assemble and dis- f^oad, Gosport, Hants. all respects. £265 ono. Tel: assemble 6805 microprocessor P012 2LE- (06517) 2483. Bargain software BBC/Elec- code on the BBC micro. In Geology. Hand specimen tron. Minimum 15% discount, EPROM £20, on disc or tape for Perfect condition. Torch Z80- identification. 'Igneous', 'Sedi- up to 50% discount! Special sideways RAM £16. SAE for full pack plus BBC micro. 2x400k ment', 'Identimin'-three pro- offers only best titles. SAE to details. N. Jenkinson, Bross- disc drive, Z80 second pro- grams of A-levef standard. BBC Coastal Software. 17 Pembroke croft. Hadfield, Via Hyde, Che- cessor. 64k RAM. Perfect soft- B. £8 each cassette or details Gardens. Holland-on-Sea, shire SK147HE. Tel: Glossop ware packages. CIS-COBOL from Micro Prof, 68 Ferndown Essex. 66207. (over £400). All for £990. Helen, Road, Solihull B91 2BA. 01-584 7580. Bargain software: Overdrive, DaJsywheel printer, new, 'How-to' move software from Battletank, Alpha Centauri. boxed, £230 including dust tape to disc. Utilities + exten- Printwise adds power to Pengwyn, C5.50 each. Aviator cover and Centronics cable. sive text, hints, tools. Recom- Wordwise/Epson, Simple com- £10. Replica versions 1+2. £8 Tel: 01-836 0589 business hours. mended to frustrated disc mands replace messy control each. Genuine originals, private (09326) 5239 weekends. Ask for owners! £5. R-Soft, 22 Marriotts codes. Also Greek (FX only), sale. Tel: (051) 336-2812 Mr Martin. Close. Felmersham MK437HD, macros, autonumbering! £12.50 (6pm + ) Beds. Tel; (0234) 781730. (disc) or SAE for details. Astro- Database. Most Beeb users soft, 39 Latimer Way, North Joysticks - top quality at BBC B Viglen's DPS £365. are neither tyros nor experts Pickenham, PE37 8JY. amazing low price. Only £10.95 BBC B Acorn DPS £365. Epson in-betweeners use our DIY data- 12" a pair. Easier to handle and MX-100 F/T £245. Zenith base kit, £5. Soft Options, 6 costing twice Random access mailing list green screen £55. Disc drive faster than others 5V' Remigius Grove, Glebe Park, for micro. Holds to 300 as much. Cheque/PO to Peri- BBC up D/S 40-track (uncased) £65, Lincoln. track disc 21 Road, addresses. 40 £12 Watford (0923) 33118. tron, Woodhouse London N129EN. from D. S. Buckley, 46a Pinner Discount BBC and Electron Road, Harrow, Middx HA1 4HZ. - BBC/Electron 'Image' ulti- software. Unique sell-back Juki G100 daisywheel mate tape back-up copier. option. Ail new original pro- printers. New/guaranteed. £369 Sideways ROM extension Copes with locks, files, grams, S. O. Software, 13 Edge including VAT. Free delivery in cartridge system. Includes easy 300-^ 1200 baud, ?'s in filename, Avenue, Grimsby, S Humbs disc drives UK. Also from £95 change cartridge to protect false addresses, any length. DN33 2DD,Tel: (0472)751444. delivered. Woking (04862) ROM, Located on LHS of key- Locks/unlocks programs. 100% 62020. anytime. board, £17.95 inclusive, (extra m/c. £3.80. P. Donn. 33 Little Discounts on computers and cartridges £4 each), SAE for Gaynes Lane, Upmrnster, Essex peripherals, most makes, large Key-joystick converter, con- details. Steelappeal, 3 Hamble- R(vl142JR. and small, hardware only. verts 99% of software to joystick don Close, Blandford, Dorset. Some used equipment bought control, inkey (-n) or otherwise. Tel: (0258) 53742 anytime. BBC/Electron library. £5 and sold. Tel: Ascot 26875 or Program only £3, N, Nock, Cwm membership fee. Tapes Crawley 883853. Ifor House. Bowls Lane, Caer- T-squared. E1+23p p&p. Large selection. philly. Mid Glamorgan CF8 2TW. Timetabling. friendly sophisticated disc for- Stamp for details to: E. Tucker, Disc Menu for single or Micro Arts- new indepen- matting and analysis, £25. 58 Blenheim Walk, Corby, double sided drives. User dent computer art magazine Money-back guarantee. Yorke Northants. friendly menu auto-updated and software. Issue One: micro House Software, 33 West Street, when files added or deleted. music/language as virus/elec- Oundle, Peterborough PE8 4EJ. BBC keypad. Speed up data Disc title easily altered. 61 files tronic Beowulf/film/video/more. Tel: (0832) 72362, entry with 25-key add-on. Elim- per disc. Sorts alphabetically. 90p including postage. Soft- inates Shift tor + ' = etc. SAE Up/down scroll feature. Single ware: BBC model B graphics (6 for details. Extron, 16 Priory key run. £10 payable: E. F. V.F.M.! Egg -The Upgrade programs) by Martin Rootes- - Park. Bradford on Avon. Wilt- Cavanagh, 14 South View, enhances 'Chuckle Egg' £3. Spectrum software also shire BA15 1QU. Woodley, Stockport SK61PD. includes 8 new boards -joy- available. Micro Arts (A), PC (061)494-2253. sticks, £3.50. Efficient machine- Tel: Box 587. London SW4 9PH. BBC micros inoperable with- code dis-assembler £3.50. Edit out your password. Embedded, Floppy discs 5V & 8". Money, money, money. 7 -full-feature, 10 page text/ encrypted IC, reveals proof of Maxell, Fuji & Dyson at very Proven programs for all horse graphics editor £5. SAE for ownership on request. OS1.00 competitive prices. Also Maxell racing or football pools fore- details. Value for money from onwards. Send name, address, 3" discs at £4 each including casting. Send £12 to The Butro- Crystalsoft, Dower Cottage. password, 12 characters max. VAT. Ring 460-0934 (evenings), nics Co, Penterrick House. Goldhili East. Chalfont St Peter, £18. M. Gillett, 135 Honey Lane, Kevin or Ian. Budock, Falmouth, Cornwall, Bucks SL9 9DL. Waltham Abbey, Essex. Beam design to BS.44g £10 SMALL AD SERVICE (steel) and OP. 112 (timber) for \ Please include your cheque for CIO made payable to Redwood Publishing. This is architects, engineers, builders- the standard fee. Don't forget your name, address or phone number. Send cheque Cassette £40. disc £45. SAE to I | Acre, London 9JH. _ Beamscan, 20 Vaughan g plus form to Acorn User Small Ads, 68 Long WC2E Avenue. Hendon, London ^ , , , , NW4 4HU. 1 ^ Coordinates I and II. Colour- ful, interactive software pack- I ages for BBC B. Pupil perform- ance monitored. £3.95 each I cassette, botfi £7, Cheques to Fvlicromedia Supplies, Freepost, 1 I Roydon, Diss, Norfolk IP22 3BR. 1 I Compact BBC disc drives. Group purchasing dual D/D 5j" 1 40/80 guarantee, VAT, carriage included. Unboxed: S/S £262.50, ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 , 4 BBC MICRO REPAIRS by mCROFIX ACORN AUTHORISED SERVICE CENTRE Protect and secure your "Cumana Disc Drive and Acorn DFS supplied and fitted at tow prices" valuable We will repair your faulty BBC micro, disc equipment. drive or monitor quickly and at a Tidybase Housings, Covers, reasonable charge. Most repairs cost Locking Systems for between £10 and £20. Computers, Disc Drives, Monitors, Printers, We can also offer extended warranties on Video Recorders etc. all your equipment. Features include S.A.E. for full price list. unique new Locking Send System (patents pending) witli optional alarm back-up giving protection wittiout restricting normal operation. ^^^^^ .^^.^^^^ Turntables and Phone 01 -968 921 Standard specialised systems computer based Work Stations or call in at available. for the handicapped. 191 Freston Road, Find out nnore from 3 Over Links Dnve, (Latimer Road Tube) M^iY^AWion F'ocle. Dorset BH1 4 90U. Tel: (0202) 708404. London WIG INSTRUMENTS LIMITED Telex; 418297 and ask for Mark Duffill or Derek Mullings. HIGHLIGHT SOFTWARE, SOURCE LIBRARY MANAGER 36,Sherbourne Close, Barry.S Glam,CF6 5AQ. Telephone (0446) 745482 (SLM) "ir 1 iif fiBfe IS an arcaOf flavour sBout them Ifiat'j nol Besot in i aorojatory sense, rstftei Ihet ROM based software for DISK owners on the BBC MICRO. ttlty ttt the sort of aanti that oiJl ImmeOiately aaaeal Ce ehlSttran, ana tlxs grap^'ics are luperbf Have you ever overwritten an amended program that you haven't got around to backing-up yet? It need newer cause a problem again with SLM. Your previous A t B COMPU'lUC. version is always available until yoit decide to delete it. B.B.C.*- ELECTRON Have you ever spent hours searching through magazines looking for that useful little routine that you "would have keyed in at the time" but didn't want to (SKS 5) — © clutter up your catalogue and waste most of your disk space SLM is designed SFlASnilOWiV I'IKIU'KillT for exactly this purpose (but without the clutter and wastage). Have you ever wished you could specify a "comment" of up to 20 characters BuiJding ] trtf.ar warOt »l-,*fli' ,*n-,sp-,hl' etc, when you save a program or routine so that later you can remember what it does. SLM allows this, even for different versions of the same program! paid lot /Agjcs (i - D You a of money for your disk drives and diskettes, and if the storage of BASIC and/or ASSEMBLER source code Is one of resource wasters PVIMMIDS SIM.OOSII your major then SLM will help you make much more efficient use of your investment. *** Features include *** itniL/i[M\ * Stores and retrieves any amount of BASIC and/or ASSEMBLER source "nagic e" pvlling rule. Soft "t:"/«oft "g" sound*. code, up to the full capacity of each disk (100k/200k). * Creates a library of up to 399 "members" per 80 track, or 1 99 "members" per 40 track disk. * Allows to SOKTOtJT up 99 versions of a single program or routine. MiTllilMtllCS * Will simply and easily "construct" programs developed in a modular fashion. Alph*ti»tlc«l •or-tlng. Un»cr«iiitil ino nidt)»n ward* * Stores fufiy documented code which can be "stripped" when required for execution. PRICE PER PACK READING * Uses 8 char names and a 20 char description for each "member". CASSETTE £7.95 40 TRACK DISO£lig5 * Is fully menu-driven (i.e. no messy command syntax). * Includes comprehensive User Guide and fitting instructions. B.B,C. OINLY * Many other features too numerous to list here (i.e. little things like not requir- ing any User RAM areas, and, leaving all function key settings unchanged, etc. etc.). fo*a S*(«ty Skills (or 5-9 Y^mr old«. Multipl JCflt jtnd Ot ion Prablans. CASSETTE^£4.95 *** FULLY COMPATIBLE WITH 6502 SECOND PROCESSOR *** DISQ£6.95 CASSETTD£4.95 Disoi:6g3 IDEAL FOR BEGINNERS AND EXPERIENCED PROGRAMMERS ALIKE Oddition and SuBtriclion -itl. 'Carry, nq Etflbles Children to pr-oduc* atpri GUARDIAN SOFTWARE 12 Proor»ii»l *f%a l«nguAg« -ior k trail- t*^9lr , 21 Harvey Road, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey CASSETTE £5 95 D(SO£ 7 95 DISC£9.95 KT12 2PZ PLEASE t^inrr whether vou seoiJiBE CLEnnuw fin p. r. [:, uerstons. Or alternatively, ask your dealer if he stoctcs SLM. All pricei include V.A.T. Dealer enquiries welcome 222 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 DEFINE A MULTICOLOUR SPRITE CREATOR. EDITOR & ANIMATION CONTROLLER FOR THE BBC B COMPUTER DEFINE is a suite of programs providing all the sprite and animation facilities needed to produce higii speed arcade type games using your own multicoloured LIGHTPEN OR JOYSTICK CONTROLLED characters (sprites). The package is extremely easy to use, every command being made with a lightpen, or joystick, directly from the screen. Real size and enlarged views of your sprites are continuously updated while you define or edit them and you may test animation sequences in the editor package as you go along. New sprites may be created by editing old versions and the number of sprites you may define is unlimited. Sprites may be any size up to 1 2 X 16 pixels and each pixel may have any of the 16 standard mode2 colours. The software needed to animate your sprites is provided as a separate program, which you can merge into your own BASIC, or machine code, program, allowing high resolution positioning with fast, simple commands. The number of sprites, or clones, you may have at any one time is unlimited (except by computer memory) and the speed of movement can be very fast if desired — over 400 sprites per second may be printed from BASIC, or 700 per second from machine code. Of course, you may link sprites in your own programs, producing giant sprites, or sub-animation. A 24 page DEFINE tapeversion £9.95 All pricesinc. handbook is supplied as well as a BASIC example DEFINE disc version VAT & Postage^ program. Datapen Lightpen Pack (optional) £25.00TJ-nn (Software included with lightpen; introduction and 2 drawing programs) Dat:apen Datapen Microtechnology Ltd., Kingsclere Road, Overton, Hants RG25 3JB TEL: (0256) 770488 ACORN USER ADVERTISEMENT PAGES -NOVEMBER ISSUE AB Designs 120 First London Micro Market 86 Pace 172 Abacus Business Machines 132 Paw Systems 134 Abacus Software 134 Garland Computing 126 Penguin Booths 178 ACK Data 132 Golem 159 Phimag 12/13 Acornsott 88/89/174/175 Gritten Computers 194 Picotel 91 Aadictive Games 178 GSL Computing 158 Prentice Hall 162 AJ Vision 208 Guardian Software 222 Printerland 212 Akhter 14/80/81 Prism 26/27 212 AMS 1 HAL Computers 11 Prosoft HCR Electronics 220 Proxima 180 B.S. Dollamore 2CM Highlight Software 222 Raven Computer Products 48 BBC Soft 86 Holderness 204 Beavan Technology 68 Reekie Technology 176 Remedian Instruments 222 BEG sports 220 Inlelligent Interfaces 136 Rexel 42 Beebug 214 Interface 212 Beebugsoft 116/117/118 Island Logic 72/73 Salamander 144 Beltech 139 Screens 173 Big K 69 Kansas 64 Shard Software 130 British Micro 182 Shiva Publishing 202 Legend 176 Shumwari 196 C-Tech 145 Lincoln Micros 91 Silent Computers 202 Cambridge Micro Centre 161 Loco Systems 216 Silver Reed 186 Care Electronics 150 Logo Software 216 Slogger Software 76 Chase Data Ltd 92/93 LVL IPC Softshop 51 CJE Micros 138 Software Invasion 71 Clares Micros 210/211 Mayday Software 220 Solidisk 146/147/148/149 Classic 156 Marketing 25 Statacom Distribution 85 Colisoft 173 Mega Structured Software 223 Commotion 6 Merlin 170 86 Superior Software IBC Communitel 114 Michael's Business Systems 208 Synergy 152 Computamale 60 Micro- Ad vent Systems 192 Computer Concepts 53/140/206 Micro-Aid 54 222 Computer Marketplace Exhibitions 44 Micro-Fix 55/56/57 Tandy 194 208 Micro-Management Computer Room Technomatic 19/20/21/22/23/24 46 Micro-Resources 194 Computerama Three D Computers 120 173 Micro-Tek 204 Control Universal Torch 4/5 Cumana 79 Micro-User Show 40 Microbyte 156 Twillstar 154/155/157/159/161/163 Microchoice 150 Datapen 223 UCC 128 Microfast 186 Datastar 166 Ultimate Play The Game 66 Microman 91 Datastore 159 Unisoft 76 Micropower 90/124/141/ia9/218/OBC David Windrow Marketing 150 Universal Stands 220 Digisolve 166 Microtest 153 Micro vitec 142 DiscotBcbnology 75 Viglen 1 98/199/201/203/205/207/209 Microworld 62 ORG Business Systems 17 Vine 196 143 Durrel Software 8 Microwriter Virgin 134 220 Musicsoft Virgin Games 132 Elbug 52 Voltmace 180 Electronequip 184/185 Newark Video 204 EMS Programming 196 Watford 32/33/34/35/36/37/38/39 English Software 132 Opus 70/122/160/213 West Coast Personal 202 ACORN USER NOVEMBER 1984 223 DIARY I 1 9 OCTOBER 1984 224 THE FRIDAY TELEVISION WEEKEND STARTS BBC HERE SATURDAY/ To remind us ihal Sum- mer's nearly over it's the Last Night of the EPROMs 1.45 Postman Pat on BBCl with The Tube Once Billon iwice shy, A See-Saw pushing out some high- prognmniL' Repeal! ( i speed slufT on BBC2. 2.0 King Kurry Meanwhile. Music Box 111 J rcmulf corner ot brings us Ihe sounds oi Cymbndge. in geologisls soirch Ceefax. ofLhipsdiscover Kurr>- [he L-iyhih wonder oflhe world - a ^d-looi Lipy who "rules* his comp^iny like a god. lnlrodui;ed lo London sodely. King Kurry SUNDAY 7 escapes frum his cage in Covenl Ciarden and runs amok. Director Chess enthusiasts will wel- Steien leeberfi's lasl lilm; Never work come the first of ten pro- Willi animals and kids* being ihe grams on the World verdict. Apes ArORNRAL) Championships between Make-up petlr iVcoiKFURt White Knight and Dontee Hold Me. Touch Me' Old Lady Carpon. FAy WRAV 3.35 Tom and Jerry CariDon Tun wiih markeiint; men Tom weekdays/ Httrrorlilm and Jeremy Paslry. Evervihing has lo be jus! so as Tony Quinninc of [lie Elilc St/uaii Finally for all fans of old 3.50 Play Sctiool prepares for ihv safari. lace, buck teeth and peb- .luL'k Iramplesonpeuple and Uncle BBCl 3.50 pm Play School ble-dash spectacles, we C'live liike younger viewers for a ride any, he crashlaiids on Earth and lakes the 9.25 The Survivors have relurnofthe ever- and ask 'is Ihe clock a prop or an ajobas R&D direc'lor with lypewriter popular Dear Ladies star- elecincul device?" Ifyou ihink ihis is makers Acorn while looking fora tiew An accident in Hermann's particle bad. ynu should see some of ihe car. physics laboratory wipes out all but a ring Dr Maria Hauser and cduealional sol'lware. Burns effeci.s isoward msiiky few of the world's computer Hilda Bracket. companies. The survivors struggle to rebuild civilisation and 4.IOTIieHombl8S force the share 6.30 Tomorrow's World price - . . . back over 1 20p. This week and in Making good useotiheEPROMs we The trendy leam reporlson the Acorn combatting Dulch Oak disease. find. Business Computer: Si.iilh generation or I %6'' Jumpsuit Hahn interviews the PCW Show, 4.20 Cartoon Time 11.0 IVIicro Live Viewers wilh iwoCraysand ten Vax How does a nightmare begin? computers lo spare can lune lo Andre 7.0 Top of the Pops For John Coil and Lesley Judder it and Wally B on Unix. For ihose with Featuring Frak goes to Hollywood, began on BBC-2 at 6pm when trying Ceelu*;. it's Ballbla/er and Rescue on Michael Jackson's Thrilla Gorilla, the to load paper into an Epson during a Fracialus. Aubrey Singers and (straight in at printer review, number one and Oric M user still don't Daisy Wheel .,,,, uavid ali.in Tea Boy Patrick fetlly 4.30 Frakanory know who Commander Jameson is) a live performance of Elite from Ihe Frefl' BORIS kari.oH' The tale olthe Aardvark and the Acorn Softies with backing vocals Epson ROBIN FUDCrE Pilchard. from (he Family Planning Advisory Topical Piece...- clive penguin ^^ Service. 5.5 Biue Peter Your DJDS .,, IAN .MACNAlKiHTV-DAVlS In a clitssic compiluiitm Lesley Judder JOHN 'Doo-B(.)p' rcn.r. 11.40 The Good, the Bad and the goes Dancers Xihn wimrcase and ihi-. earthmoving. Peter Pervcrl Elkey reviews video-game nasties and John PRnMOTIOSCM.liS Western: Torch cowboys against Neiwdrks makes an ABC with a Indians from Watford in which wnllen-olTVolvo. a wine-soaked 7.30 Gardeners' World Clint Redwood gets his come- keyboard and a hag of French Tries, from Allnncham uppance from the evil, cherool- Producer SMll.tV mlrriman with Shirley Conflab sniokmg Mad Alex van Clcef. French Tries Barbara cold Earthy Shirley takes Chris "lo the Music courtesy of Generator manor born* Curry down the garden from Ouicksilvasurfer, path for a lour 5.30 'Trelc of the flower beds. Man With No Name Shirfs helpful hints include how to A power u4ieelchair While the Enterprise adventures on RUBBER MCMILLAN treat forget-ine-nois and exactly how of such advanced perfection with Elan. Ihe ageing FX calls you to Greasy little Mexican simun uallv much manure to pui on red roses. itis in hiildly toggle to ITV Tor less van Cleef.. hhh a class of its own Conan. hlkslli punishment. Barbarian niMSti ! Technical effects i.orhv iiaruwikl Choreography mike mr.Nosi: 1.15 am The Epilogue 8.0 Life on Earth Comedian Mark Colton talks about Elit David Alomboard explores the great Discover a new fif a 6.0 The Six O'Oock why Wheelchair is an invalid News Redwood forest in comlort anO of Long Odour and command in View. Kcnnelh Kendall drones i>n while Sue discovers Ward-hogs, cCnlrolaiyour Someren slugs, "^ LaHk-K.s Angela local E&J oeale' and Nippon play Joe and bony Qumn-fish. Not for the Telford*s game 'Let's make Ken say Finance availstile squeamish. idroughMotatMliI/' naughty words". 1.30 Closedown Six -legged hugs ruASMikh Welsh leaks Bill Colton explains why he look boh PiCKtiRiMj EveiMI IJenninas. PfincewoodRoitl Acorn Abuser's Diary off the air: 'You e.lSDrWtio CartjT. Moiihinis NNI7 £DX didn't lell the one about Aubrey I 9.0 Ttie NAMf „ An anonymou!. timelord arrives in the Nine O'Ciock News Singer's garage being called The «DO«ESS star system Gemini looking I'or wiih I Richard W illess. Weather Fuehrer's Bunker because it's so full intelligent lirerorms. Unable lotind Guesser with rain-loving Michael Fish. of technical gadgeiry.' ^>y(i£:.:i.-^ir7'-'- - T'f-^" PRODUCCD OV AN IND€I>€ND€NT SOFnUAnC HOUS€ * TOP QUAUTV MACHINC-CODC PAOGRAMS * BMX ON YHC MOON (3SK) £7.95 Smooth scrolling-screen arcade action. In this game you control o moon cycle uuhich you use to potrol the surface oF the moon. Vou must ovoid the rocks on the surface, and olso the monsters bouncing high in the loiu gravity. Vou should try to shoot dotun the spaceships Luhich fly overhead dropping bombs onto the moon surface-. R further hazard are the flying barrels uuhich ore often just too high to shoot or jump over, and just too Iolu to squeeze underneoth. • ••NeLiJReL€RS€»»» Monv of our titles ore available In Boots, UU.H. Smiths, John AAenzies, Rumbeloujs, Losh^s, Currys, HMV, Greens at Debenhoms and Spectrum Shops. RIso at all major computer deolers- €ltec Computers, Miao Monogement, UUest Coast Personal Computers. Miaostyle, eiectronequlp, 3D Computers, Computeramo, GTM Computers, etc. Our sofhjuare is also available through oil the major distributors, and directly from us by moil-order. UJINGCD UlAftlORDS (3SK) £7.95 fl fascinating orcodc-stvie gome for one or tmo players. Goch player rides on ostrich, ond the aim is to knock the enemy riders off by colliding Luith them. In Q collision the rider Luith the highest Jousting pole ujill be victorious. If you ore successful, the enemy ujill revert to its originol form: an egg. The egg must be collided uuith to prevent it from hotching. Avoid the lovo both ot the bottom of the screen, and remember; you can fly better by using stronger strokes - imogine you ore on ostrich trying to flyl (K€VBOflRD OR JOVSTICKS) •N6IJUReteflS€»«« ^W/ SUP€RIOR SOFTUinnC LTD. OUR GURRflMTCC (1 ) fliloursoftujQfe is avoilobie before lue odvertise. 19 Cnannels thrciugK theearth Electing the chfOrWes. Crush e hungry UmpdiS/ Marqs.^ r>iggers with the ap I the tunnels^ Features ten oi 1^ ns, superb graphical , iitiption and fop quality ""* A ^^1a ~ NEW PRICE1<« I '/ I b6C Cassette £6.95 V ^ \k£9,95/" A->)-^- Vr^ j; rn ' V \^- ,u.& -^ ri5t^ WATCH OUT fOR OUR NEW PACKAGING AND 00000 ^CATALOGUE MICRO POWER LTD.. [NORTHWOOD HOUSE. NORTH STREET, LEEDS LS7 2AA TEL: (0532| 458800 SELtn l\/E SRAfjCHts OF BOOT!, CO-Ut' ^MLttZ't';, W H '.MITM WOOLWOHTM'j AND i^IlI ijDUD DEAIERS AUTHORS' WE PAY 20% ROYALTIES! <»^ 01-208 1177