Editorial 1 I hope you are having a good summer. News 3 RISC OS 5.23 has finally arrived for the Raspberry Pi Electron Pi 5 and we take a look at some changes. RISC OS 5.23 7 Copyright © Drag 'N Drop 2017 If your fingers are itching we Produced on RISC OS computers have everything from a classic Using RDSP 9 This issue has been blessed with space invaders game to more contributions from the following people: Attack of the Tony Bartram (Using RDSP) sensible applications to type in, Jon Robinson (Wimp programming) All have full program listings, Raspberry Steve Royd-Maker (Small Changes in you don't need anything other Design...) Macaroons 14 Christopher Dewhurst (everything else) than this magazine and your computer. Stave Paper 19 The views expressed in this magazine are If you like building things not necessarily those of the editor. then the articles on the Envelope Editor 23 Alternative views are always welcome and can be expressed by either writing an Electron Pi keyboard kit and article or a short editorial. PiCano case may interest you. Review 29 All articles and advertisements are The index to volumes 1-8 published in good faith. No materials in will help you, if you remember Small Changes in this publication are meant to be seeing something in Drag 'N offesnsive or misleading. If you come Design . 30 across something you believe is either of Drop, but can't quite remember the above please contact the editor using which issue it appeared in. Wimp Programming the details below. 34 Contact Information Editor: Christopher Dewhurst Desktop F keys 39 Email: [email protected] Christopher Dewhurst www.dragdrop.co.uk Volumes 1-8 index 42 Drag'N Drop Summer 2017 | www.dragdrop.co.uk | facebook.com/dragdropmag Page 1 How do I...? ...get the BBC Basic prompt? Task window To get the BBC Basic prompt press F12 *BASIC ARM BBC BASIC V and type *BASIC and press Return. You version 1.54 can change the screen mode with MODE n Starting with 651516 where n is a number e.g. MODE 7 or MODE 0. bytes free Type AUTO for automatic line numbering. Press > Escape to stop and type SAVE "myprog" followed by Return to store myprog on hard disc. To return to the desktop type *QUIT. You can also program and run Basic programs Programs listed in Drag 'N Drop are assumed to from the desktop. Double-clicking on the filer work on all machines with RISC OS 5 e.g. icon runs it, holding down Shift and double Raspberry Pi, unless otherwise stated. clicking loads it into your text editor. ...open a Task window? Menu click over the Raspberry icon on the right ...select the currently selected side of the iconbar and select click on Task directory? window. Or press Ctrl + F12. Articles may tell you to set the CSD (currently selected directory). Just click menu over filer window and choose Set directory ^W or you can You may need to reserve more memory for use the !EasyCSD application presented in Drag the task in which case adjust-click on the N Drop 6i1. Raspberry icon and under Application tasks click and drag the Next slide bar out to the right. ...open an Applcation Directory? You can also type programs in a task window, Application directories begin with a ! called hold down Ctrl and press F12. You can't use the 'pling'. Hold down shift and double click select to cursor editing facility or change MODE, however. open the directory. Drag'N Drop Summer 2017 | www.dragdrop.co.uk | facebook.com/dragdropmag Page 2 News and App Updates Recursion 2017 riscos.kevsoft.co.uk/ which can be game in the AMCOG The third annual day dedicated to used to convert one currency to Development Kit (reviewed in this computers in science, industry another, it looks up information on issue). It can also be bought on and leisure took place at King the internet in the background so its own and, since our review, a Edward VI school, Stratford-upon- will always be up to date. new version of the game has Avon on July 1st. There was a been released. It's based on strong RISC OS presence but Cyberton Mission (which less of a retro scene than in appeared in the 80s for the BBC previous years. Micro) and now features additional levels, improvements to graphics and animation and sound. Cyborg costs £9.99 and RDSP 0.22 further information is available at The RISC Digital Sound www.amcog-games.co.uk/ Processor (RDSP) now has its cyborg.htm. own webpage plus an update. Version 0.22 can be downloaded from www.amcog-games.co.uk/ Drag 'N Drop Volume 9 rdsp.htm. RDSP brings the Thank you to everyone who took ENVELOPE command back to up the subscription offer to this RISC OS and enables the volume, prices for a subscription programmer to easily add sound to volume 9 will appear on the effects and play samples to website soon. enhance games. See the articles in this issue of Drag 'N Drop. Currency Exchange Cyborg 2.20 ADFFS 2.61 This is a new and free app Thanks to the ADFFS floppy disc available from Cyborg is included as an example emulator, many RISC OS games Drag'N Drop Summer 2017 | dragdrop.co.uk | facebook.com/dragdropmag | Page 3 which were released on 3.5" disc Harinezumi 0.07 fjg/. A collection of StrongHelp in the 80s and 90s are once again This a utility very much in its early manuals is available at playable on your Raspberry Pi. stages of development ('alpha' in www.riscos.info/downloads/ Version 2.61 plus a large computer speak). It's being stronghelp/manuals/. selection of games (in ADFS designed to oversee your normal image format) can be downloaded !Boot sequence and create a log Arcade BBS from if things go wrong. Test versions The bulletin board system (BBS) forums.jaspp.org.uk:9000/forum/ of the software can be of the 1990s is still alive and well viewtopic.php?f=14&t=355 downloaded from as a website offering RISC OS www.heyrick.co.uk/software/ files, which can be found at DigitalCD 3.10 harinezumi/ http://www.arcade-bbs.net/ Version 3.10 of the digital sound filepages/findex.htm player is available from MiniTime 1.07 The Icon Bar http://www.riscos-digitalcd.net/ MiniTime which is available for Another stalwart portal for RISC digitalcd/player/download.htm. It free from OS news and discussion is The features updates to several 'plug- www.stronged.iconbar.com/fjg/ Icon Bar. Point your web browser in' formats including those to index.html displays the date and at www.iconbar.com/ for tutorials display the music being played as time on your icon bar. Colours and discussion. There's also a graphical a animation. and styles are fully configurable. shop a shop at www.cafepress.com/the_icon_bar selling T-shirts, mugs, and mousemats . StrongHelp 2.90 RISC OS 5.23 StrongHelp is an application to Finally in case you hadn't noticed, assist the reading and designing RISC OS 5.23 is now available for of on-screen manuals using the your Raspberry Pi. We have a no- hypertext system we are all nonsense guide to upgrading in familiar with on web pages. this issue or, if you prefer, buy a Version 2.90 can be downloaded new SD card from from www.stronged.iconbar.com/ www.riscosopen.org/content/ sales/risc-os-pi for £10 + £2 P&P. Drag'N Drop Summer 2017 | dragdrop.co.uk | facebook.com/dragdropmag | Page 4 Electron Pi Keyboard Kit At a recent show I was helpful (in fact there were none!) With the rear of the Electron intrigued to see an Acorn so I decided to write this article. facing towards you, remove the Electron running RISC OS and Turn the Electron upside down cover, remove the three screws after making enquiries I found and remove the cover screws as holding the power circuitry on the you can buy a USB interface kit shown in the photo below. left and the four screws for around £43 to connect your securing the motherboard. Raspberry Pi to the Electron's These are circled yellow in keyboard. the lower photo on the left. I'll The Electron was originally come to the one I've labelled released in 1983 and common 'central screw' in a minute. Cover screws causes of death in the ensuing Gently remove the 22-way decades were the ULA blowing or keyboard ribbon connector. power supply giving up. Usually Take out the power circuit there was no problem with the board and the mother board, keyboard. So if you have a dodgy plus the small speaker. Electron in the attic, dig it out and Arranging the Raspberry give it a new lease of life as the Pi, keyboard and leads is Electron Pi! quite tricky but the In essence what you do is best configuration remove the old electronics from seemed to be as inside the Electron (everything but in the photo on the the keyboard circuitry), put in the next page, the Pi is Keyboard ribbon keyboard interface, your + connector angled at around Raspberry Pi, connect the Pi to five degrees to the the interface, plus all the other edge of the accoutrements like the Pi's own central screw Electron's case. power lead, network cable etc. I found 'Gorilla' and away you go. tape to be useful in I didn't find the instructions keeping the USB, Drag'N Drop Summer 2017 | dragdrop.co.uk | facebook.com/dragdropmag | Page 5 Upgrading to RISC OS 5.23 Version 5.23 the operating accessible with Netsurf, click things go wrong.