Acorn User 1984 Magazine

ACORN-USER

BBC MICRO - ELECTRON - ATOM

DECEMBER 1984 £1

Program entry at a stroke

-*- 1 V U o ECHO I is a high quality 3 octave keyboard of 37 full sized keys operating electroni-
cally through gold plated contacts. The keyboard which is directly connected to the user port of
the computer does not require an independent power supply unit.

The ECHOSOFT Programme “Organ Master" written for either the BBC Model B’ or the
Commodore 64 supplied with the keyboard allows these computers to be used as real time synth-
esizers with full control of the sound envelopes. The pitch and duration of the sound envelope can
be changed whilst playing, and the programme allows the user to create and allocate his own
sounds to four pre-defined keys.

Additional programmes in the ECHOSOFT Series are in the course of preparation and will be
released shortly

Other products in the range available from your LVL Dealer are our:

ECHOKIT (£4.95)* External Speaker Adaptor Kit, allows your Commodore or BBC Micro-
computer to have an external sound output socket allowing the ECHOSOUND Speaker amplifier
to be connected.

ECHOSOUND (£49.95)* A high quality speaker amplifier with a 6' dual cone speaker and a full
6 watt output will fill your room with sound. The sound frequency control allows the tone of the
sound output to be changed.

Both of the above have been specifically designed to operate with the ECHO Series keyboard

The ECHO PRODUCT FAMILY breaks both the SOUND and PRICE BARRIERS, representing
outstanding quality and value for money.

* Inclusive of VAT
ECHO I KEYBOARD £99.95*
ECHOSOUND
AMPLIFIER £49.95*
ECHOKIT £4.99 *

Scientific House,
Bridge Street, Sandiacre
Nottingham NC10 SB A
Telephone (0602) 394000

im

MUSIC MICRO PLEASE!!

AVAILABLE FROM ALL LVL DEALERS. (FOR FURTHER INFORMATION TELEPHONE 0602 394000).

1 TV i

Creative Graphics
Enhanced Programs

With the AmX Mouse, from Advanced Memory Systems
Ltd, the BBC Micro joins a new league of powerful user-
friendly computers. Natural hand-eye co-ordination
allows the MOUSE to position the cursor quickly and
accurately. Alternatively by moving the MOUS E yfiu caqL
input specially written new software such as Artwork.

ArtworX is a powerful graphics program allowing scope
to produce amazingly vivid pictures and designs on
your screen and printer. Simply point to any of the
ICONS (small illustrations) and you select options of
^attqm&araymplqgmy&^her options are offered by
f^ull-dowh Mehus. All features can be activated using

The AmX Mouse package includes ARiwoRXand 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. Justplug the MOUSE
into the user port on a BBC Micro (model B) and the
EPROM into a spare sideways socket.

Now simply fill in the coupon and we will send you an
AmX Mouse with ArtworX with our full no quibble money
back guarantee. OR phone 0925 602690/62907 for
instant Access or Visa orders.

ArtworX graphics program

Please send No

AmX Mouse packages

(including ArtworX and EPROM) at £89.95 inc. VAT and P&P.

| I enclose a cheque/PO for £ or debit my credit card. |

, Card I I I I I I! I I II 1 I I I I I I 1 Visa
I No

I Name .

I Address .

Date

Signature .

(Please tick choice of Q

media for ArtworX) Cassette 3" Disc 5i" Disc

To: Advanced Memory Systems Ltd., Woodside Technology
Centre, Green Lane, Appleton, Warrington, WA4 5NG, England.

THE ONE AND ONLY BBC, ELECTRON AND ATOM MAGAZINE

December 1984

Cover photograph by Simon Edwards

No 29

Editor

Production editor
Sub-editor
Technical editor
Editorial assistant
Art editor
Art assistant

Tony Quinn
Keith Parish
Julie Carman
Bruce Smith
Kitty Milne
Nigel Wingrove
Tacye Davis

Publishing director Michael Potter
Editorial director Christopher Ward

Editorial

Redwood Publishing,

68 Long Acre, London
WC2E 9JH. Tel: 01-836 2441

Advertising

Computer Marketplace Ltd, 20
Orange St, London WC2H 7ED.
Tel: 01-930 1612

Subscriptions

Jan Potter, Subscriptions manager.
Tel: Nutfield Ridge (073782) 2957.
Correspondence: Redwood Pub-
lishing, 68 Long Acre, London
WC2E 9JH.

Annual subscription rates:

UK £15

Europe £25

Middle East £30

The Americas and Africa £30
Rest of the World £35

Prices include p&p for 12 issues

Acorn User welcomes submissions from readers.
Articles should be typed, double-spaced text, with dia-
grams on separate sheets Please enclose programs on
disc or cassette, with a listing it possible Photos should
be 35mm, or larger, transparencies, or 5in by 7*n black
and white prints Ensure your name is on everything
Please include a suitable stamped, addressed envelope
for return. Articles are acknowledged on receipt.

Typeset and printed in Great Britain by
Watmoughs Ltd, Bradford. Print production by
Aquarius Print and Design, London. Distributed
to the news trade by Comag, Tavistock Rd, West
Drayton. Middlesex UB7 7QE. Tel: (0895) 44405.

© Redwood Publishing 1984

All rights reserved. No part of this publication
may be reproduced without prior written per-
mission of the publisher. The publisher cannot
accept any responsibility for claims or errors in
articles, programs or advertisements pub-
lished. The opinions expressed on the pages of
this magazine are those of the authors and do
not necessarily represent those of the pub-
lisher, Acorn Computers Ltd. or Acornsoft Ltd.
Acorn, Acornsoft, and the Acorn symbol are the
registered trademarks of Acorn Computers Ltd
and Acornsoft Ltd.

New Users

41

First Byte

Tessie Revivis opens text and
graphics windows for you in her follow
up to last month’s drawing program

Hints & Tips 45

Full control codes for Epsons,
improving your micro’s memory,
using the Command Line Interpreter,
how to fit headphones and the use of
STOP are the subjects up for
discussion by Martin Phillips

Letters 58

Software piracy; is the quality of
cassettes up to scratch?; the on/off
debate is on again; and advice on
taping data are among the topics you
put pen to paper about

Dear Kitty ... 63

Kitty finds space to fill in a reader
about the ‘No room’ message and
suggests how to order your priorities
when purchasing peripherals

Features

Domesday 1986 28

To mark the 900th anniversary of the
Domesday Book the BBC is launching
a massive project to produce a
modern day equivalent on video disc-
with the help of BBC micros in
schools

Barcode Breakout 65

You could be up for parole on the
sentence of typing in listings as
barcodes escape from the confines of
supermarkets and libraries into home
usage

Joe’s Jottings 74

While away those long winter nights
with jiving Joe’s Christmas project to
organise your Beeb with a low-cost
keyboard

Bumper dumper 86

’I found dumping games’ screens
impossible’ says a frustrated reader
. . . until he discovered George Hill’s
programs

Speeding up 119

Try Paul Beverley's quick steps to a
faster micro

Business

DIY database

143

Mike Fryer’s comprehensive database
management program could
revolutionise your business activities

Database comparison 151

Vincent Fojut puts six commercial
packages through their paces to help
you decide which is the best for your
needs

Education

News round-up 167

Videos, Quinkeys, computer ‘junkies'
and ‘authoring’ software are under
discussion this month

Science quiz 167

Fifteen Science Topics software packs
to be won

Exploratory programs 171

Nick Evans maps out his views on
Dudley Program's suite of software on
the exploration theme

Yellow listing pages

You’ll find all the main listings of this
issue in the yellow pages

Barcode listing 97

Listings from Hints and Tips

First byte 99

Picture designer program

Hints & tips 101

Using the Command Line Interpreter

Joe’s Jottings 103

Give your Beeb an organ option

Dumping secrets 105

Machine-code dump for dot matrix
printers

Database management 109

Mike Fryer's DIY database program

'.■miSS iff?

saSImi'Ssi

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

| CONTENTS

Atom

Build a ROM pager 125

Alan Knowles shows you how to
construct a ROM pager for your Atom

Atom Forum 127

More Atomic topics from Barry Pickles

Competition 129

Atoms only! Write a winning graphics
demonstration and choose your prize

Reviews

Logo for the Beeb 175

Nick Evans reports on Acornsoft’s
implementation of the language

Acornsoft’s Pascal 176

The first major compiled language for
general use is reviewed by Simon
Williams

Games of the year 188

Jonathan Griffiths rates the 18 arcade
games that scored a hit in 1984 and
Peter Killworth picks the best
adventures

Games 194

Abyss by Case Computer Simulations;
Birdie Barrage by Computersolve;
Battle Planetirom ISP Marketing; One
Last Game and Mayday from Clemoes
Software; Micro Power’s Blockbuster
and Rubble Trouble ; UBIK Software’s
Paranoid Pete ; and Brainstorm by
Virgin

Lightpens illuminated 201

Chris Drage opens his two-part review
by casting some light on four models

New books 213

Regulars

The News 7

Micronet’s ‘almighty row’, interactive
video, music synthesiser, 32016
second processor release all make
the headlines- plus Chris Curry’s
involvement in the Brighton bombing

Noticeboard 18

Events which affect readers on TV,
radio, film and paper. We tell you what
not to miss

Competition

Five barcode readers to be won
Plus the lucky August winners

Beeb Forum

Help for readers by readers

Top 20 Software

Elite- straight to the top

Acorn Abuser’s Diary

GOTO the Acornopoly board

89

114

186

248

IN THIS
ISSUE...

Bar codes 65

George Hill gives you a
step-by-step guide to
what bar codes can do
and how they can be
used to replace program
listings

Hit list ’84 188

The 20 best games and adventures
of this year picked by Jonathan
Griffiths and Peter Killworth

Lightpens reviewed 201

Four offerings come under Chris
Drage’s scrutiny in a
comparative review. Next month
he looks at the software
available for them

Game dumps 86

For those lucky people with
printers, here’s George
Hill’s routine to dump
screens from computer
games

PLUS REVIEWS OF

Acornsoft’s Logo - an exclusive 175
ISO Pascal 176

Six databases 151

NEXT MONTH . . . GAME SPECIAL

Quadline

A superb game written in Basic and assembler
for the BBC micro and Electron

Picture Slide

Reconstruct the 3D perspective picture by
moving blocks of the screen. Mode 2 graphics
written on the Electron

Interrupt-driven tunes

How to imitate the music on games

Advanced graphics

Speedy colour fills to use in programs, with
examples in business pie-charts and bar charts

Wordprocessor choice

OuM^vieweiJiel^^OL^ecide^whicM^choos^^

1961

Build an organ 74

Joe Telford’s musical keyboard to
connect to your micro

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

Is this new F

another

First read th

The Ferguson TX MC01 has separate VjtB #
Composite Video and fierial 1 fill I t inputs:

I a choice of connections I forji

| computers, video games #i§p ~

| and video recorders. These provide the

Cand best) routes for computer
and video signals to reach the tube. ^ |

The loop aerial shows that the MC01 ^
is also a portable colour TV.

|| 'O \u,,J j 1 1

find there's automatic electronic

IfassgJJ . I

Jj switching between functions.

jfaaaril

• FERGUSON TX.

«rgusonjust

monitor;

le small print

a or ri.^ new MC01 will tell you

A glance at the screen of our
how far it is from being jtist a monitor Or jtist a 14" portable colour! V.

One advantage of our double act is worth repeating, il only
because its another Ferguson first :

Electronic switching lets you change functions automatically
from monitor to video recorder toTV.

You can plug in any combination; leave them permanently
connected; and wave goodbye to spaghetti junction round the back.

Convenience is matched by performance. Computer graphics
and picture quality are far better through our RGBand Composite Video
inputs than through the aerial socket of an ordinary TV

Computer audio output sounds better throttgh the speaker of
the MC01.(And if the beeps are too loud you can turn down the volume)
The full potential of the MC01 will be revealed by your Ferguson
Dealer; as will the optional Battery Converter which makes it totally
portable; and the matching computer-dedicated cassette recorder 3T31.

If total dedication is what you’re after, he’ll tell yoti about otir out-
standing new 12" monochrome monitor MM02, which is particularly
suited to text applications.

But if yoti need a monitor tor a home computer, it makes sense to
get one that’s also a colourTV. Especially when it only costs around 2229
And if you want a portable colourTV why not get one that’s
also a monitor? In the Ferguson Monitor
ColourTV, you get the state of two arts in one

FERGUSON TX

Acornsoft have a range of education programs that
encourage children to think logically and creatively.

And at the same time, they make learning bags of fun.

SPOOKY MANOR: An adventure game for up to
four players. Where exploring the creepy old house and
solving mysteries involves co-operation and planning.
It is suitable lor children aged seven and upwards but
many adults will enjoy the challenge it provides.

WORKSHOP: An easy to use and completely
captivating program. Full of unusual machinery.

By experiment children discover what each of the mach-
ines can do with simple geometric shapes. For ages three
or over, Workshop encourages highly creative thinking
and experimentation.

ABC: A writing tool designed for young writers
aged seven and upwards. It is easily operated and quickly
understood and before they realise it children will be
creating and reshaping their words and ideas. ^

TALKBACK: Both entertaining and demanding.

It allows children to create their own computer
"characters capable ol holding simple conversations on
the screen and provides valuable lessons in both Fnglish

and computer literacy. Forages ten and over.

All four programs are available for the BBC Micro
computer on either cassette (£9.%) or disc (£11.50).
talkback and Workshop are also available for the Klectron
on cassette (£9.20).

For your local Acornsoft stockist or to order by
credit card simply ring 0933 79300 during office hours.
Alternatively you can order the programs bv writing to
Acornsoft, c/o Vector Marketing, London Road,
Wellingborough, Northants. INN8 2RL, enclosing a
cheque or postal order. Please allow 21 days for delivery.

jTCORNSSFT

NEWS

Curry in

Brighton

bombing

CHRIS Curry, Acorn’s manag-
ing director and joint founder
of the company, was in the
Grand Hotel, Brighton when
the bomb attack was made
against the Thatcher Cabinet.

Curry, a Conservative Party
member and strong supporter
of Mrs Thatcher, was staying
in room 426 (marked in red on
our picture) at the invitation of
the Party. When the bomb went
off at 2.54am on October 12,
Curry was in the bar on the
ground floor of the hotel.

People in the bar were
showered with dust and
debris, but no-one was
actually hurt. Curry dashed
back upstairs to his room, and
was later evacuated to Brigh-
ton police station. There he
gave a statement, but was not
taken to hospital.

His luggage, a brown suit-
case and fawn briefcase were
taken from his room by the
emergency services and held
by Brighton Police. They were
picked up two days later by
Lesley de la Mare, Chris
Curry’s secretary from
Acorn’s Henrietta St offices in
London.

Magazineaward
for 'Acorn User'

AS WE WENT to press, the
organisers of the 1984
Magazine Publishing

Awards informed us that
Acorn User was one of the
top three in the best
launch’ category.

By the time you read this
the final results will have
been announced, but the
staff at Acorn User and
everyone else at Redwood
Publishing (which is up for
a second award with Ex-
pression!) will have spent
three nail-biting weeks
waiting for the award din-
ner on November 16.

The other two finalists
are Just 17 and Fitness , so
let’s hope the first one is
over the hill and the second
runs out of puff!

We’ll let you know how
we got on in the next issue -
if we’ve won, no doubt it’ll
be all over the front cover.

The devastated Grand Hotel after the bomb explosion. Chris Curry s room is outlined in red

Acorn and BBC go
for interactive video

ACORN and the BBC have
joined forces with Philips to
develop interactive video
discs to store computer data
and software - a breakthrough
seen by many as revolutionis-
ing the use of computers in
schools and for training.

Acorn and several other
companies already have soft-
ware and interfaces to control
video discs and combine the
pictures with computer

graphics. What these systems
cannot do is access computer
information on the disc.

The big advantage of video
is not just replacing crude
computer graphics but the
immense storage capacity of a
video disc. One can hold a
gigabyte of television pictures,
data and software per side-
one thousand times the capa-
city of a floppy disc.

The companies are using

Three systems compete

by Geoff Nairn

ACORN has branched out into
interactive video with a new
product and a new company,
Acorn Video. Its Acorn Inter-
active System (AIS) uses a
BBC micro and a Pioneer
Laservision video disc player
to merge video pictures with
pages of text and graphics.

Aimed at the growing
market in computer-based
training, estimated to be worth
£50m a year, the £3,500 system
comprises modified Beeb,
special colour monitor and
Laservision player. For £250
extra the Microtext authoring
language is included.

A video disc can store up to
55,000 video frames, any one
or sequence of which can be

called up and displayed on
command from a Microtext
program stored on floppy disc.

At Barn Hall School in Essex
a cheaper interactive video
system is being tried out. It
uses a standard Beeb and a
video cassette recorder.

The Felix Link interface
costs £1250 and works with
Laservision, VHD video disc,
or U-Matic tape machines. A
VHS version is in the pipeline.

Felix Learning Systems is
on 01-404 5041.

A third system is Interact B,
which controls a Thorn-EMI
VHD video disc player simply
by touching the screen. The
unit costs £1500 from Cameron
Communications, 041 -6330077

a cheaper interactive video
laser discs where the TV pic-
tures and computer data are
stored on a gramophone-like
disc protected by a plastic sur-
face. The information is read
by a laser which can move to
any part of the disc, although it
is slower than the head in a
disc drive. Philips developed
this technology and have since
licensed it to others.

Where the breakthrough for
computers will come is in the
way data is stored on a disc.
The problem is that TV is an
analogue system whereas
computers are digital, so an
efficient way is needed to store
the computer data in a semi-
analogue’ form.

The hardware is at an early
design stage, but already the
new type of disc is known as a
‘laser disc ROM’. The trio of
companies are working to have
the new format out by 1986 and
establish a world standard.

The appearance of the hard-
ware will coincide with the cul-
mination of the BBC’s Domes-
day Project, the discs for which
will be the first to make use of
the new technology.

BBC's Domesday
- see page 28

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

• •

❖20K USABLE MEMORY
*CUSTOMED MADE

The RAVEN-20 is a 20K RAM EXPANTION for the BBC MICRO,
MODEL B, fitted with O.S. 1.2.

This specially designed product plugs in to the
C.P.U. socket of your micro (centre socket of the

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
user with an extra 20K of usable
RAM in screen modes 0 to 3. This
together with the aid of software
makes the system completely
transparent to both the user and the
computer.

The RAVEN-20 software ROM
gives much more than just 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.

The RAVEN-20 comes complete
with;

1. RAVEN-20 Board.

2. RAVEN-20 software.

3. Fitting and operating instructions
(see picture).

Don t Forget

SOFWARE UPDATE! - return your
guarantee/Registration slip and you
will automatically be entered onto
our files for registration and
notification of new software
updates!

Purchase with complete
confidence on the TWILLSTAR
RELIABILITY '.

as

Specification may change without notice

DEALER ENQUIRIES INVITED

❖Service contracts to educational authorities
at discount.

❖Official orders from dealers, government
departments, colleges and schools
welcomed.

❖Price inclusive of VAT.

TCL

TELEPHONE ORDERS

(01)574 5271

HOW TO ORDER

# To purchase the RAVEN BOARD', simply write your name and address on a piece of
paper, and post to the address below, enclosing your cheque/P 0 made payable to
TWILLSTAR COMPUTERS LTD.

• Ifyou are a credit card holder, simply use the telephone to order

Twillstar Computers Limited

! 7 REGINA ROAD. SOUTHALL, MIDDLESEX UB2 5PL. TEL: (01) 574 5271

NEWS

M P's fury
over BT
'censors'

By Bill Penfold

PRESTEL looks like giving the
political parties a Christmas
present by doing an about-turn
on the controversial ruling
prohibiting transmission of
politics and religion on its
open pages.

The ban, actually imposed
by British Telecom, sparked
off an almighty row, and the
signs are that BT is rapidly
going into retreat.

The problem the politicians
face is that BT has declared
politics and religion taboo on
teletext . . . lumping them with
prostitution and crime.

As we head towards using
computerised data, not just for
facts, but for opinions, how
those systems are controlled
will become ever more politi-
cally significant.

Proof of this came during the
autumn with that ‘almighty
row’ between Labour and BT’s
chairman, Sir George Jeffer-
son.

Neil Kinnock, on the first day
of Labour's Blackpool confer-
ence, launched an ambitious
Prestel service on Micronet to
provide a closed user group
for party activists to which the
public would not have access.

However, the party then
decided to include a number of
open pages available to every-
one, despite Prestel’s rules.
Sir George discovered what
was happening - and pulled
the plug.

Reaction was fast and
furious. Labour's science and
technology spokesman, Dr
Jeremy Bray, also chairman of
the party’s computer advisory
group, fired off a broadside.

British Telecom, he
claimed, was showing a dis-
turbing presumption in favour
of censorship. Strong words.

This raised a fundamental
problem for BT as to whether
Prestel was like television and
radio broadcasting.

Sir George asked for guid-
ance, and a Whitehall working
party decided there was no
need for legislation. So BT
seems to be going through
some fairly rapid ‘consul-
tations' with the Videotext
Industry Association. Bets are
on BT dropping its ban.

For Atom software
follow the bear

ATOM users can now buy all
their software and ROMs from
Bearsoft.

This Harmondsworth, Mid-
dlesex, company has acquired
the rights to Atom software
from Acornsoft and to all the
Atom system ROMs. Software
Classics has transferred the
rights on its Atom products to
Bearsoft and will be redirect-
ing all orders received.

Bearsoft claims an ambi-
tious programme of develop-
ments for the machine, includ-
ing a new disc interface card.
A new catalogue is promised
and customer enquiries
should be address to: Bear-
soft, 168 Harmondsworth
Lane, Harmondsworth, Mid-
dlesex UB7 OAA, tel: 01-897
3059.

Dr Bray in happier mood before his blow-up with British Telecom

Beeb's musical gift

A MUSIC synthesiser add-on
for the BBC micro from Acorn
looks like being available for
Christmas. Called Music 500,
the synthesiser, designed by
Hybrid Technology, is ex-
pected to cost £199. It can play
up to 16 sounds or eight musi-
cal voices at a time. It pro-
duces a stereo output that can
be plugged directly into the
AUX socket of an ordinary hi-fi.

The synthesiser is housed in
a BBC-beige case and sits
alongside the BBC micro con-
nected to the 1MHz bus. It has
a self-contained mains power
supply.

The sounds that the syn-
thesiser produces are under
the direct control of the user.
Each channel has high-resol-
ution digital control for pitch,
volume, stereo position, fre-
quency modulation (FM), ring
modulation and oscillator
synchronisation. In addition,
separate envelopes may be
defined for both pitch and
amplitude as a series of line
segments. This allows much
more sophisticated effects
than the standard BBC Basic
envelope.

The synthesiser is driven by
a specially designed language
called Ample, which gives the
user complete real-time con-
trol over the hardware using a
fast interactive compiler. It
allows sheet music to be

entered quickly from the com-
puter keyboard, incorporating
details such as note names,
note lengths, accidentals, bar
lines, time and key signatures
and so on.

A musical keyboard is not
yet supported, but Acorn is ex-
pected to announce a com-
plete microprocessor-con-
trolled keyboard in the new
year.

The Ample language has a
vocabulary of words which
allow control over the syn-
thesiser in a number of ways.
One set of words controls the
timbre, pitch, position and
modulation of a sound. A
second set allows notes and
chords to be entered along
with their duration (eg,
crotchets, semi-quavers, etc).
Further words control the play-
ing parameters, including time
signature, key signature,
speed, number of parts and so
on. Once a complete playing

script is set up it can be com-
piled by the language and
played back on the syn-
thesiser.

Several pieces or parts can
be entered separately and
tested in isolation. Once per-
fected, they may then be linked
with other components to pro-
duce the final performance.
The real-time aspect of the
language allows the syn-
thesiser controls to be altered
as the performance takes
place, opening up possibilities
for stage use.

Fourteen pre-defined wave-
forms (sounds), seven volume
and eight pitch envelopes are
supplied. An envelope editor
allows user-defined enveL
opes to be created. Music 500
uses a logarithmic volume
control which gives extremely
accurate control over volume
levels.

A waveform editor is ex-
pected in the near future.

Eight-part harmony on the Beeb with the Music 500

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

NEWS

TOP DOT- Microline has
brought out a top-of-the-range
dot-matrix printer, the 84XS,
costing nearly £1300. The
printer uses plug-in modules
to allow it to perform different
tasks: barcodes, plotting,

scientific symbols, Arabic
characters and daisywheel
emulation. At top speed the
84XS can print 315 characters
per second and offers a
graphics resolution of 288 dots
per inch. Details from X-Data
at 750-751 Deal Avenue,
Slough Trading Estate,
Slough, Berks SL1 4SH.

Add-ons out. .almost

Acorn's 3201 6, Level 3 file-server and
the Electron Plus-3 on show to the public

THE long-awaited 32-bit
second processor from Acorn
has finally arrived. Using the
National Semiconductor 32016
processor chip - as used in the
ABC200-and with 256k of
extra RAM, the add-on gives
the Beeb real ‘number crunch-
ing’ power and it completes
the family of Acorn second
processors: Z80, 6502 and now
the 32016.

The 32016 is aimed at pro-
fessional scientists and
engineers who require 32-bit
precision and it will also run
a variety of high-level
languages, including Lisp, C,
Pascal and Fortran 77. The
operating system used is

Acorn’s own, called Panos.
thus scotching rumours that
the 32016 would run Xenix (the
micro version of Unix).

The 32-bit second processor
was first announced in the
January 1983 issue of AU.
Since that time it has been
plagued by technical problems
and has undergone several
name changes, starting life
with the nickname ‘Gluon’,
then becoming the 16032 and
finally being renamed the
32016. The price is not yet fixed
and although it is being pre-
viewed at Compec 84 this
month, the 32016 will not be
available until next year.

Acorn has also brought out a

much-improved file-server for
the Econet system. Based
around a 10Mb Winchester
hard disc drive, the Level 3
file-server offers far greater
storage capacity to users on
the network.

The Winchester drive is also
available separately for users
of single Beebs who need
10Mb of disc space.

Electron users needn’t feel
left out, for Acorn has released
the Electron Plus-3, a 3J in disc
drive which plugs into the back
of the Electron. Prices for both
Winchester and Plus-3 have
yet to be decided and neither
will be available until the new
year.

MEP software helps young readers

EDUCATIONAL software for
the BBC micro from the West
Midlands Regional Centre of
the Micro Electronics in Edu-
cation Programme (MEP)
caters for all age-ranges.

The Pre-Reading Pack costs
£9.30 (£11 on disc) and is
aimed at 4-year-olds and
above. The Early Reading
Pack is for the five-to-nine age
group and costs the same.
Both packs are available from
ESM, Duke St, Wisbech,
Cambs.

Your Adventure allows
children to create their own
adventure games (£7.95); Pic-

ture Book develops reading
skills (£11.95); the Language
Development Pack is a suite of
three programs for 9 to 15-
year-olds (£9.50); Maths Talk
teaches simple mathematical
statements (£7.95); Cloze
helps the teacher identify
reading problems in students
(£7.95); and Problem Solver
encourages decision-making
in secondary level children
(£7.95).

These titles are available
from LTS, Haydon House,
Alcester Rd, Studley, Warks.
Prices quoted are for schools
and are the same for tape or

disc; private customers should
add £3 to each price.

Acornsoft has released
three educational programs
developed by Applied

Systems Knowledge for pri-
mary school children. Podd is
about a character who will
obey commands that children
type in; Squeeze is a board
game that teaches geometric
relationships; and Juggle
Puzzle is based on a puzzle
cube.

Each title costs £9.95 (£1 1 .50
on disc) and is available for
both Beeb and Electron from
Acornsoft dealers.

Music keyboard
responds to
the gentle touch

THE Clef Computer Music
System is a music synthesiser
that is programmed through a
BBC micro. It uses digital
circuitry throughout and has a
touch-sensitive keyboard - the
harder you hit it the louder the
note.

The CMS, priced at £475
(including VAT), lets the user
program in 32 waveforms and
32 envelopes from the Beeb’s
keyboard and these can then
be stored on disc or tape.
By combining waveforms
together, a full polyphonic
sound can be obtained and
complete passages of music
can also be saved.

Clef Products is at 44a
Bramhall Lane South, Bram-
hall, Cheshire SK7 1 AH.

Two-speed modem
for phones at £60

PROTEK Computing has
brought out an acoustically
coupled modem which lets two
computer users communicate
via a telephone line. It can also
access databases such as
Prestel and Telecom Gold.

The modem, costing £59.95,
has two baud rates: 1200/75
baud for commercial services
and 1200 baud for user-to-user
communication. Software is
supplied that supports both
operation modes at £14.95 for
the BBC micro. Electron users
will be able to buy software
and an interface for £24.95.

Protek is looking for large
sales at Christmas and will be
selling its modem through
John Menzies shops - the first
time a modem has been sold
this way. Contact Protek Com-
puting direct at 1A Young
Square, Brucefield Industrial
Park, Livingston, West Loth-
ian.

EPROM pro-blow

A NEW EPROM programmer
for the Beeb comes from CTL.
The Model 423 sells for £109
and is aimed at professional
users, say its makers.

As well as being able to
‘blow’ all modern EPROMs, it
can also detect mis-inserted or
damaged chips. CTL (Control
Telemetry of London) is at Unit
11, Burmarsh, Marsden St,
London NW5 3JA.

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

A FreeTraining Course
with Every Plotter
or Disc Drive

Our Sweet-P, high resolution graphics plotters come with free 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.

Plus a full line of BBC
compatible products

c cUJatM

BBC MICRO

HAL Computers Limited,
Invincible Road, Famborough,
Hants. GU14 7QU
Telephone: (0252) 517171

100 CPS Matrix Printers

HIGH QUALITY

SSSD

SSDD

DSDD

SSDD 96TP1
DSDD 96TP1

21.30

22.75

26.95

30.05

31.25

Monitors-

Monochrome

LOW LOW PRICE

MDl

MD1D

MD-2D

MD-1F

MD-2F

Nashua

Floppy

Discs

Price

Description per 10

To HAL Computers, Invincible Road, Famborough, Hants. GU14 7QU
Please send me:

Quantity

Sweet-P Plotters plus support pack & software at £5 7 5 . 00

*200K double-sided disc drives at £21 6.00

KDC FT 5001 Matrix printers at £199.95

TECO Monochrome monitors at £69 .00

Nashua model ...., diskettes at£

per box of 10 + 60p per box postage & VAT

Delivery &
VAT

£96.00

£42.20

inc

inc*

Total

£671.00

£258.20

£199.95

£69.00

Free details on HAL’s BBC Micro compatible products plus a commemorative Schneider
Trophy winner’s poster. □ Please Tick * Other capacities also available

I enclose a cheque for £ or debit my Access Account No:

Mam©

Address

Tol

AU12

memories:

ALL BE MADEI

CU.M AN A5

Cumana are the market leaders for disk drives,
all our drives are fully guaranteed for 12 months
and are approved for electrical safety by the
D.M.E.E. and are used extensively in G.L.C.
and I.L.E.A. establishments.

for the BBC microcompute

• High quality 5Va inch
Japanese dual disk drive

• Cabinet finished in
hard wearing BBC beige

• Independent power supply

• 12 months warranty

ALL 80 TRACK 5 'A DRIVES
ARE SWITCHABLE
TO 40 TRACK MODE

CS RANGE

The Single ‘CS’ range of disk drives all have an
independent power supply, with mains lead and moulded
plug. They are supplied with formatting diskette, 2-drive
connecting cable and comprehensive user manual.
Upgrading your system is simple, with Cumana’s design
in enabling a second disk drive to be added without any
modification to your BBC micro computer. All 80 track
models are switchable to 40 track models.

CS100 40 Track single sided (100K) £ 159.95

CS200D 40 Track double sided (200K) £ 203.95

CS200 80 Track single sided (200K) £ 192.95

CS400 80 Track double sided (400K) £ 219.95

*CSX RANGE

A Single disk drive range that excludes the power
connector. The ‘CSX’ range takes power from the BBC
micro computer but, comes complete with all the extras
of the CS range.

CSX100 40 Track single sided (100K) £ 119.95

CSX200D 40 Track double sided (200K) £ 165.95

CSX200 80 Track single sided (200K) £ 159.95

CSX400 80 Track double sided (400K) £ 189.95

CSE RANGE

The Cumana ‘CSE’ range of disk drives all come with an
independent power supply and are supplied with all the
accessories and benefits of their counterparts. They can
be used to upgrade a system, with 2-drive connector
cable - supplied with the ‘CS’ or ‘CSX’ range - enabling
them to be added as a second drive by simply plugging
in and switching on.

CS100E 40 Track single sided (100K)

CS200ED 40 Track double sided (200K)

CS200E 80 Track single sided (200K)

CS400E 80 Track double sided (400K)

£ 149.95

£ 192.95

£ 180.95

£ 208.95

DUAL SWITCHABLE RANGE

The ultimate in disk drives, the ‘CD/S’ range of disk
drives all have independent power supplies, with mains
lead and moulded plugs. All supplied with a formatting
disk, drive connecting cable and comprehensive user
manual; the design enables either drive to be switched
independently between 40/80 track modes.

CD200 2 x 40 Track single sided (200K)
CD400/S 2 x 80 Track single sided (400K)
CD800/S 2 x 80 Track double sided (800K)

£ 284.95

£ 359.95

£ 414.95

Cumana was the first independent disk drive

supplier and now is Europe's market leader.

Our products have

been proven

in the schools,

universities and

homes throughout

Europe.

SHOULD
: LIKE THESE

Cumana's design includes an independent power
supply* - complete with mains power supply
lead and insulated plug. Each disk drive comes
with a comprehensive user guide and formatting
disk.

Send now for further details of the Cumana
range, or see them at our distributors and at
selected branches of W.H. Smith, Lasky's,
Greens, Curry’s and Spectrum UK.

Cumana’s range of disk drives is also compatible
with Spectrum, Dragon, Oric, Tandy models
I, III and 4 and Video Genie:

CUMANA

YOUR LOCAL
DISTRIBUTOR

Available from the following
retail outlets:

W. H. Smith , John Lewis
Partnership . Greens Leisure ,
Laskys, Spectrum UK.

Addons Ltd (Southampton)

0703 34775/6

Audio & Computer Centre (Jersey)
0534-74000

Eltec (Bradford) 0274-722512

Gwent Computers (South Wales)
0633-841760

HCCS Associates (Gateshead)
0632-821924

Hugh Symons (Bournemouth)
0202-26535

J. S. Simnett Computers
(South London) 01-541 1495

Kingdom Design (Belfast)
0232-643720

Lightning (Harrow)

01-969 5255

Microage Distribution
(North London) 01-205 7688

Micro Express (Leicestershire)
0533 375757

Microworld (Edinburgh)

031-228 1111

National Micro Centre (Stockport)
061-429 8080

3% INCH DRIVES

Cumana 3 W drives offer the same quality and reliability
as their 5 V 4 " counterparts with the added bonus of
taking up less hardware space. Available in both single
and dual formats they come complete with user guide
and hard diskette.

CSX351 40 Track single sided (100K) £ 139.95

CSX354 80 Track double sided (400K) £ 199.95

CDX351 2 x 40 Track single sided (200K) £ 256.95

CDX354 2 x 80 Double sided (800K) £ 383.95

North Amber P L.C. (Surrey)
01-391 2066

Thompson Cook (Birmingham)
021-328 3895

-I- National Dealer Network.

ALL PRICES INCLUSIVE OF VAT.

Cumana Ltd., Pines Trading Estate,
Broad Street, Guildford, Surrey. England GU3 3BH.
Telephone: Guildford (0483) 503121. Telex: 859380. Fax No. 503326

This utility package has many special features for use with
discs, plus other utilities that everyone will find useful:
Function key editing, powerful disassembler, recovery of data
from corrupted discs, complete disc editor and compatible
memory editor, string search in memory or on disc, built-in
help menu, verifying and formating of 35, 40 and 80 track
discs, and also a special format which allows 60 files on each
side of a disc.

RRP 33.35 incl.

Available from all good BBC micro |
dealers or by ’phoning/writing to:

Computer Concepts

Gaddesden Place,

Hemel Hempstead,

Herts.

HP2 6EX.

Telephone: (0442) 63933

VISA

| NEWS

BES saves
the osprey

OSPREY! is the first in a series
of novel educational simu-
lation programs being pro-
duced by Bourne Educational
Software. Developed in con-
junction with the Royal Society
for the Protection of Birds, the
game is concerned with pro-
tecting the Scottish Osprey
from hunters and tourists.

The tape costs £9.95 for the
BBC micro or Electron, and
disc versions cost £11.95
(£15.95 for 3in format).

BES is at Bourne House, The
Hundred, Romsey, Hamp-
shire, S05 8BY.

Mr T takes off

MR T continues on his way
with five more educational
programs in Ebury Software’s
Early Learning series. Aimed
at four to eight-year-olds, the
five Beeb titles are: Mr T Meets
his Match; Mr T in the Mystery
Maze; Mr T's Jungle Stories;
Mr T's Simple Sums; and Mr T
Makes Music. The last is also
available for the Electron, and
all cost £9.95 on tape.

Micro accounting

SYSTEMATICS International
has produced two accounting
packages for the small
businessman to run on the
BBC micro.

Sales and Purchase Ledger
handles 400 different
customers and suppliers,
Stock Control and Invoicing
holds 1000 stock lines and has
integrated invoicing. Both
have comprehensive manuals
and cost £89.

Systematics International
Microsystems is at Cleves’
House, Hamlet Rd, Haverhill,
Suffolk.

Epson conscripts

WORDWISE users can now get
extra printing features with
Astrosoft’s Printwise software,
designed for the Epson range
of printers. The £12.50 utility
program allows easy use of
subscripts and superscripts,
italics and different typefaces.
It can also print Greek charac-
ters and scientific symbols.

Details from Astrosoft at 39
Latimer Way, North Picken-
ham, Swaffam, PE37 8JD.

Typesetting on a Torch

TORCHSET is a Torch-based
system that will take raw copy
from a wordprocessor and
turn it into a finished page
ready for printing. By using a
Torch computer or an
enhanced BBC micro, an elec-
tronic typesetting system can
be set up for half the cost of
other systems, according to
the makers, Torchset
Systems. In addition, Torchset
offers extra features such as
Torch Mail Plus electronic
mail and the Torchnet local
communications network.

The cheapest Torchset
system costs £5500 and con-
sists of a single Torch CF500
computer with a customised
keyboard, Torchset software
and the interface to connect
the computer to a phototype-
setting machine. So far, only
the Linotron range of photo-
typesetters are supported.

More expensive systems
consist of several Torch
machines networked via
Torchnet, an enhanced ver-
sion of the Beeb’s Econet.
Using the network, one com-
puter is for wordprocessing
and the files are sent to
another Torch machine for
typesetting. The Torchset soft-
ware permits various typeset-
ting commands to be 'imbed-
ded' in the text.

Further details from Torch-
set Systems on 061-834 8564.

i m

w<

Torch with modified keyboard and running Cora 5, a language
devised for the Linotron typesetters

Micro Live discs snatched

THE theft of discs and hard-
ware delayed the appear-
ance of BBC TV’s bulletin
board after the first Micro
Live show.

A total of £1550- worth of
equipment went missing
over the weekend after the
Friday night show, said tech-
nical consultant Steve
Lowry.

Among the items were a
Floppy, disc drives and QL,
but luckily none of the BBC
micros for the show.

‘The bulletin board was
set up on a Tandy running
the tried and tested TBBS
software,’ said Lowry. The

configured TBBS discs were
taken and this delayed the
bulletin board until Tuesday.

But the weekend wasn’t
all bad news for Micro Live.
Just after the show the Con-
troller of BBC2 phoned the
team to say it had gone so
well that the show would be
repeated on the Saturday.
Viewers can ring the bulletin
board to make comments on
01-579 2288.

Telecom Gold users can
get the same material by
typing INFO BBC. If you have
a telesoftware adapter you
can access the information
on Ceefax.

'Sardine' skills boost utilities

BEEBUGSOFT is releasing a
variety of firmware and soft-
ware products for the Beeb
and Electron in time for the
Christmas spending spree.

Top of the range comes
Sleuth , a Basic debugging tool
for the BBC micro. Costing
£29, Sleuth allows you to
single-step through your Basic
program either statement by
statement or block by block.
Dual screen operation allows
the user to toggle between the
program screen and Sleuth
control screen, allowing the
program to be accessed
directly while it’s running to
display or alter program vari-
ables, for example.

Breakpoints may be set to
pause the program’s opera-
tion when a specific line-
number is reached or even

when a variable attains a pre-
determined value. The oper-
ational speed of a program
may be adjusted as it is
running, allowing freeze-
frames of areas of interest
such as graphics displays.

Exmon II is an enhanced
version of the original Exmon ,
extending its vocabulary to 60
commands. Its main feature is
its use of dual screens, which
allows you to switch between
Exmon's control screen and
your own screen.

Owners of Exmon on
EPROM will be allowed a 50
per cent discount on upgrad-
ing to version II.

Exmon I is now available for
the Electron on cassette. The
ROM-based version of Exmon
II is available for the Elk as
well, though this doesn’t sup-

port the dual screen facility;
this is £2 cheaper than the
Beeb version at £27. Also now
available for the Electron is
Toolkit at £27.

Help is an information ROM
for the BBC micro. Sardine
canning expertise has
crammed more than 13,000
text characters into a mere 8k,
on various aspects of the
Beeb’s operation.

Murom is a sound extension
ROM for the BBC micro that
allows you to create and edit
your own sounds.

Masterpieces may be saved
or played back with or without
Murom fitted, and may be
interrupt-driven. Murom costs
£29 and Help costs £25.

Seven new disc packages
from Beebug also make an
entry.

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

16

NEWS

Mirrorsoft
gets personal

MIRRORSOFT has foresaken
the traditional arcade-style
games market with its Home
Discovery’ series of programs
for the Beeb and Electron,
which are intended to appeal
to parents just as much as
kids.

Titles in the series include:
The Joffe Plan, a weight-loss
program which doesn’t
involve dieting: Know Your
Own Psi-Q, which tests your
psychic powers; Know Your
Own Personality, which does a
personality evaluation; BBC
Mastermind, a computer ver-
sion of the television quiz; and
Star Seeker, an astronomy
program which plots positions
of stars and comets.

All titles cost £9.95 from
usual dealers and. apart from
Star Seeker , will work on the
Electron as well as the Beeb.
Disc versions cost £3 extra
and -other software houses
please take note - if you buy a
tape version and at a later date
want to upgrade to disc, for
just £3 extra Mirrorsoft will ex-
change the cassette for a disc.

Compatibility for
Commodore drives

SCHOOLS and colleges with
discarded Commodore peri-
pherals can now use them
with their BBC micros, thanks
to a company called Intelligent
Interfaces.

The company's Syscon 6
interface allows the complete
range of Commodore disc
drives, which many schools
bought to use with the old PET
computers, to work with the
Beeb. It costs £179.

Also available is an inter-
face for the Motor Shark range
of Winchester hard discs
which has an Acorn-compat-
ible filing system.

Further details on 0789-
296879.

BBC Computer

59K

ARIES-B20

RAVEN 20

Patent clash

Add20K

to your BBC micro
in five minutes

• ;

over boards

niwicsn

DESICN &PBICIL5?® *5

maam

I

ARIES Computers looks set for
a legal battle with Raven Micro
Products and Watford Elec-
tronics over what the company
alleges to be infringement of
the patent under which it pro-
duces its B20 memory expan-
sion board for the BBC micro.

The Aries-B20 board, pro-
viding an extra 20k of RAM,
was formerly sold at £115, but
the price was reduced to
£69.52 during the Acorn User
Show in August. That was
where Raven launched its
Raven 20, a 20k RAM expan-
sion board priced at £69.95.

Peter Headland, managing
director of Aries, said: ‘It’s a
cheap imitation of the Aries-
620 and uses out-of-tolerance
chips. They can expect a lot of
unhappy customers.’

No Mercy

Aries filed a patent on the
design earlier in the year
which has now been published
(GB 2 137 382 A) and according
to Mr Headland: ‘It's an exact
description of both the Raven
and Watford Electronics
boards. Now that the specifi-
cation is published they can

expect no mercy. We are
determined to seek full com-
pensation.’

Mr Headland claimed that
he went incognito to the Raven
stand at the AU Show. They
freely admitted that it was a
cheaper version of the Aries
board and that it uses the
same memory banking switch
technique that is the subject of
our patent.’

Chris Sykes, Raven’s
managing director, dismissed
the patent as irrelevant: It
covers the use of paged RAM,
which has been around since
the late ’50s on early valve
computers.’

In a specially-prepared
press statement his company
said: The Raven 20 has a
number of features which are
not found on the Aries B20: the
sophisticated design of the
Raven 20 makes . . . use of
chips supplied by extremely
reliable manufacturers. This,
coupled with a highly cost-
effective design utilising the
latest technology with
dynamic RAM and modern
flow-solder production, has
enabled us to set up a highly

competitive sales price.’

Watford Electronics has also
reacted to Aries’ publication of
the patent by issuing a state-
ment saying: The initial reac-
tion from a number of res-
pected engineers is that the
document describes no new
techniques.’

Watford’s managing direc-
tor Mr Nazir Jessa said: ‘If the
Patent Office were to accept
Aries’ specifications we'd all
have to stop producing any-
thing. They are re-inventing
the wheel. RAM expansion
and piggyback boards are
used everywhere,’

Watford

Watford’s statement said
that components of its 32k
expansion board (advertised
at £69) are sourced directly
from at least two major semi-
conductor manufacturers and
are full spec, devices.’

The Watford system ‘makes
available an additional 32k of
RAM, all of which can be used,
and a printer buffer, a facility
not available in any other RAM
cards’.

Elite ’on target for 1 00,000'

ACORNSOFT is looking for-
ward to a prosperous New
Year and it’s all due to Elite, its
spaceflight simulation game.

Two weeks after its launch
in September, 13,000 copies of
the game had been sold and it
entered the top five in a weekly
software chart.

By the New Year, the
company is predicting sales
exceeding 100,000 - more

than double that of any other
Acornsoft game.

Elite, available for both
Beeb and Electron, mixes
arcade-style graphics into
an adventure game. David
Johnson-Davies, Acornsoft’s
managing director, claims:
The success of Elite proves
that the games market is very
much alive.’

Which is just as well, for

Acornsoft has brought out
three more games, initially
just for the Beeb. In Boxer , the
player has to catch balloons
which a girl drops and so win
the girl’s attention. Black Box
and Gambit are two strategy
games on one tape, and
Seventh Star is a witty adven-
ture game’.

For those with a weight
problem, Acornsoft’s Watch
Your Weight should let them
do just that. Costing £1 1 .90, the
program works out your ideal
weight.

On a weightier note. P-
System is a program develop-
ment package for the Beeb’s
6502 second processor. At
£299 it’s the most expensive
pair of discs you’re likely to
own, offering compilers for
UCSD Pascal and Fortran 77.

Beeb gains a voice for £25

FOR just £25 your Beeb can start talking with a speech syn-
thesiser board produced by Cheetah Marketing. The Sweet
7a//rerplugs into the micro’s IC99 socket and uses the allophone
method of speech synthesis. The various phonetic sounds are
represented as numbers and are sent to the Sweet Talker by
using DATA statements.

Cheetah Marketing is at 24 Ray St, London EC1 R 3DJ.

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

“On-board"
. microprocessor.

A 1 00k BBC-drive for £99 + VAT

We’ve done it! We’ve built a storage system for your
BBC Micro with the power and convenience of a
floppv disk drive, at a fraction of the price. Interface
to the BBC costs £26 + VAT and runs up to 8 drives.

PHLOOPY’s special secret

PHLOOPY does not record on a
disk, but on a loop of quarter-inch
tape contained in a rugged
interchangeable cartridge.

The heart of PHLOOPY is a
unique “byte-wide” magnetic head,
that gives it its speed by recording nine tracks
across the tape. Typically, you can access a file in
only 3 or 4 seconds.

If you’re used to waiting for a cassette tape to
trundle programs into your BBC, you'll be amazed
at PHLOOPY’s performance -up to 100 times faster.

Talking to your PHLOOPY

PHLOOPY’s own software makes it
respond to standard BBC filing
system and Basic commands.
Programs written to run on
disk or cassette should
run on PHLOOPY
without problem.
And because vour
PHLOOPY drive
contains its own

microprocessor - a second computer which does
most of the hard work - it puts very little load on the
BBC. The on-board computer also checks and
automatically corrects anv read errors.

Your PHLOOPY Library

PHLOOPY cartridges
hold a full 100k of data. You
can buy blank cartridges for
£3.75 each plus VAT. Many BBC
programs will be available on PHLOOPY.

Phi Mag Systems Ltd. PO Box 2 1 ,

Falmouth, Cornwall TR 1 1 3TD Tel : (0326) 76040

Order Form

• Please send me further details about the PHLOOPY 100k data
storage system for the BBC Model B.

•Please send me (qtv) PI I LOOPY starter pack(s ) for my BBC

Model B microcomputer, including PHLOOPY drive, BBC
interface, leads, connections, operating system in firmware, manual,
and two PHLOOPY 100k cartridges, at £147.75 each including VAT,

postage and packing. Amount £

•Please send me (qtv) packs of 5 PHLOOPY cartridgesat £19.75

including VAT, postage and packing. Amount £

I enclose a cheque/PO for £ OR Please debit my

Access card Number:

Your order will be acknowledged within 10 days, giving a delivery date.

Name

Address

Town: Post code

Send this coupon to: Phi Mag Systems Ltd , PO Box 2 1 , Falmouth,
Cornwall TR11 3TD. Telephone: Falmouth (0326) 76040.

14 day money-back option. aui 2

NOTICEBOARD

' x 18

In general

Computer graphic
showcase of film

IF YOU want to see what com-
puter graphics are capable of,
go and see The Last Star-
fighter which will be in the
cinemas before Christmas.

It features 230 scenes totally
created by computer which
add up to a fifth of the film’s 100
minutes of running time.

Last Start ighter tel Is the tale
of a video games whizz-kid
who, by reaching the high
score in a computer game,
qualifies as a starfighter pilot.
He then joins the fleet trying to
beat off the marauding hordes
of hostile aliens who are
threatening earth and its
allies.

However, by devious
treachery, enemy agents are
able to destroy the earth fleet -
leaving whizz-kid Alex as the
planet's only hope.

The graphics were all done
in the US by Digital Pro-
ductions of Los Angeles.

Computer

nasties

THE Bright Bill banning video
nasties notwithstanding,
Palace Software has released
a game for the Beeb based on
the horror film The Evil Dead.
Despite the film’s getting a
British Board of Film Censors
certificate, the video version
had to stand trial alongside
real nasties such as / Spit on
your Grave and Driller Killer,
which Bright tried to stamp
out.

The software version of The
Evil Dead is unlikely to find it-
self in court, though it still has
the film’s evil spirits, grue-
some monsters and deadly
weapons. The game costs
£7.99 from the usual dealers.

Planned for next year are
software versions of two more
films, Halloween and
Company of Wolves, and
there’s even talk of a game
based on the stomach-turning
Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

Micro Live, BBC2, December
7, 6pm. Christmas is just
around the corner and this
month’s programme has a
festive flavour. Lesley Judd
presents a potted history of
computer games, which
always sell well at Christmas,
and talks about a very hush-
hush laser disc game. Mac
(Ian McNaught-Davis) will be
using his Beeb to draw a
Christmas card and the soft-
ware he uses will be available
on the Ceefax telesoftware
service. Also, there will be a
few Christmas present ideas
for micro owners.

Computers in Control, BBC 2,
Fridays 12.30pm. Repeat of
programmes from the BBC’s
Computer Literacy Project.
Introduction to robotics and
control applications of micro-
computers.

The Computer Programme ,
BBC 2, Fridays 12.05pm. The
series that started it all off way
back in 1982, being repeated
for daytime viewers.

Making the Most of the Micro,
BBC 1, Sundays 12.35pm. This
series and the above two will
be repeated again in the
spring.

On radio

Chip Shop, BBC Radio 4,
Saturdays 4.15pm (repeated
on VHF at 1 1pm Tuesdays). On
November 17 the programme
will be broadcast live from
Scotland’s so-called Silicon
Glen, with Barry Norman
showing us around some of
the area’s new technology
industries. Look out also for
the Chip Shop Christmas
Special on December 15.

Take A Byte, BBC Radio Lan-
cashire, Sunday, December 16
at 11.05am (repeated at
6.35pm on the following
Tuesday). Monthly pro-
gramme.

IF the recent AU articles on
using your Beeb to receive
weather satellite and RTTY
signals have sparked off some
interest, then for £5 you can
join the British Amateur Radio
Teleprinter Group (BARTG).
The group covers all aspects
of data broadcasting and it has
its own journal and a weekly
radio news bulletin.

Details from Stuart Dodson,
callsign G3PPD, 63 Malvern
Avenue, South Harrow, Middx,
HA2 9EV.

THE International Adventure
Club exists to provide help for
adventurers in distress. In
addition it produces a news-
letter and does various special
offers. The IAC is at 10 Ennis
Close, Harpenden, Herts AL5
1SS.

PRESTEL’s message service,
Mailbox, is now available
nationwide at local call rates.
Mailbox allows subscribers to
leave short messages for
other subscribers to read
when they log on. The service
is free, excluding normal Pres-
tel charges.

BOOTS is setting up centres
inside 23 of its larger stores to
sell solely Acorn machines,
along with software and per-
ipherals.

In print

HERE’s a shameless plug for
our Acorn User authors.
There’s technical editor Bruce
Smith’s new book, Electron
Assembly Language, pub-
lished by Shiva at £7.95, and
Assembly Language Program-
ming for the Acorn Electron,
an update of Ian Birnbaum’s
original BBC book from Mac-
millan.

Two complementary books
on graphics: Graphics Pro-
gramming on your BBC Micro
and Graphics Programming
on your Electron, both by Jim
McGregor and Alan Watt,
Corgi/Addison Wesley, £4.95.
By the same authors and pub-
lishers is Better Basic for your
Electron at. £4.95.

In Women and Computing

Rose Deakin asks why women
are not joining the computer
revolution and suggests a few
remedies. The book is pro-
duced by Papermac at £5.95.

Addresses

Acorn Customer Services,
0223-210111
Chip Shop’sChipline
London 01 -790 3400
Liverpool 051-236 8474
Bristol (0272) 279494
Birmingham 021-3556144
BBC Broadcast Support
Services, PO Box 7, London
W3 6XJ, 01-992 5522

On show

Compec, November 13-16,
Olympia, London.

East Midland Computer Show,
November 16-18, East Midland
Conference Centre, Nott-
ingham.

Electron & Micro User Show,
December 6-9, Royal Horticul-
tural Hall, London.

Blunderbox

TWO errors crept into the Top of
the List feature on page 99 last
month. Line 260 should read:

260LDA#&40

though it will work on the Acorn
DFS as it stands, the Watford DFS
will issue a channel error if this is
uncorrected.

To save the machine code use
the following line:

•SAVE ISAVE8D0 9B0 8D0

IN Harry Sinclair's concluding
sprite designer article we did not
supply Electron users with the
changes they need to make to the
original listing to allow it to func-
tion correctly. Six lines need to be
changed as follows:

10*KEY10PA. = &1900JMOLD1M

290COLOUR6:PRINTTAB(2,0)
"Press DEL when" TAB(2)
"design finished":COLOUR3

430UNTILINKEY (-90)

520PRINTTAB(0,2)" Data goes
from & 1300 to & ; "base
% + 3*?&12EF:PRINT";char%;’’
characters defined (Oto “;char%-

i;'V

530PRINT"" Table of addresses
is @ &12FO to & " ; "&

12FO + cha%*2-1

1750PRINTTAB(7,3);" SPRITE
DESIGN"

Bruce’s brainteaser

THIS one nearly drove your friendly Technical Editor barmy!
See if you can explain why the following ’program’, supplied
by Robert Wood of Birkenhead, does what it does! It’s
actually a one-liner, so proceed as follows. First type in:

10G.10:

Note the colon at the end, and make sure you don Yhit return.
Now for the subtle touch. Move the cursor left five places so
that it sits under the G. Hold down the copy key until the line
is full (six screen lines) and a bleeping is heard. The final act
simply requires you to press the return key. We ll let you
know the reason why next month.

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

Technomatic

A complete
Professional Word
Processing System

BBC Computer & Econet Referral Centre

17 Burnley Road, London WVKWLl) 01-208 1 177

PLUS FOR THE KIDS AS
AN XMAS BONUS

Please add carriage: (a) £8: (b) £ 2 . 50 : (c) £ 1 . 50 ; (cl > £ 1 and 15 ° « N V I to order \ aim*

ACORN COmPUTER SYSTEmS

BBC Model B Special Offer £320 (a)

BBC Model B + Starter Pack £348 (a)

BBC Model B + DFS £409 (a)

BBC Model B -f Econet £389 (a)

BBC Model B + Econet + DFS £450 (a)

BBC Dust Cover £4 (d)

Pair of Joysticks £14.50 (d)

UPGRADE KITS

A to B

£65 (d)

Installation

£20

ACORN DFS Kit. £95 (d)

Installation

£15

Econet Kit..

£55 (d)

Installation

£25

Speech Kit.

£47 (d)

Installation

£15

ECONET ACCESSORIES

Terminator (Two reqd per installation)

£31 (c)

Clock with psu £35 (c)

Printer Server Rom £42 (c)

File Server Level I £86 (c)

File Server Level II £216 (c)

10 Station Lead Set.... £26 (c)
Extra Econet cable..£1 .50/m (d)
Econet User Guide £10 <d)

ACORN BITSTICK

i drawing to be magnified
to 48 drawings on a disc
^library system for easy
easy to use allowing
7 n the edge £328 (a)

|8000

cp>r ffWViVf^ 711 UNIX

operating Vsfs%i%^or set up a
network of upto 254 machines. All
these capabilities are available
NOW.

TORCH UNICOmm

A FREE
lightpen with
supporting
Software or
Acornsoft's Elite. |
See Star Bargain

fl BBC Family System

ACORN Z80 2nd Processor

The renowned CAD package, providing unprecedented
graphics facilities for the draftsman, engineer and graphics
student — a ‘word-processor’ for graphics. Allows accurate
drawirk?fcj^AAnMl4itt es > c ' rc ' es ’ curves etc — colours can

. be easily chosen from a pallette.
I is a FX80 dump routine easily

I i facility allows a part of a

This processor converts your BBC into a complete business
micro with all the computing power a professional would need.
The system is CP/M based and is supplied with a very
extensive software package. The package includes three
office productivity programs, (memoplan, fileplan and
graphplan), Systems generator program, three programming
languages plus the ACCOUNTANT business program.
Software is accompanied by extensive manuals that not only
get you started but also answers your whys and hows.

All for only £399 (a) (incl VAT)

ACORN 6502 2nd Processor

This processor is designed for the serious computer user who
wants to get even more out of his computer. This processor
provides increased memory — allowing up to 44K for Basic
programs and up to 60K for assembly language programs,
regardless of screen mode in use. (ideal for VIEW). An increase
in speed means that programs run up to 50% faster. The
second processor/BBC combination offer computing power
comparable to systems costing twice as much. £175 (a)

TORCH GRADUATE SYSTEm

For the Torch Z80 card user, comes a superb communications
package. A BT approved modem using 1200/75 and 1200/1200
baud is supplied complete with BBC RS232 cable. Three fuperb
software packages in CP/M are supplied complete with BBC
RS232 cable. Three superb software packages in CP/M are
supplied — these clearly show that Torch are not new to the
‘communications scene’: UNIVIEW for PRESTEL type use,
allowing saving of frames, downloading of files etc. UNITERM
is a sophisticated terminal emulator. UNIMAIL is an amazing
package specifically for TORCH users. Among other facilities,
it allows messages and files to be accessed from distant
machines — access to files can be controlled by hierarchial
passwords. Hardware + software: £1 59(a)

The ultimate upgrade — converts your BBC into a powerful 16
Bit business computer and makes it disc and hardware
compatible with the IBM PC. (will run Lotus 123!). With 256K
RAM and single/dual drives, it simply connects through the
IMhz bus. (The disc drives can be used in both BBC and IBM
mode, without requiring a disc interface.) The top-of-the-range
Model G800/2 comes complete with the superb Xchange range
of software, and includes a full-feature word processor, a
financial planner, a database and a business graphics package
— ail ‘linkable’.

G800/2: £945(a) Full Spec. & prices on application.

Z80 Card ZEP100 with PERFECT Software Packages

+ Z80 Basic £299 (a)

Z80 Disc Pack ZDP240 with software as above £699 (a)

20Mb Hard Disc + 1 x 400K Floppy Drive £1,950 (a)

UNICOMM Communications Package + modem £161 (a)

Unicorn 68000, Unix OS/Z80B/256K, 20MB

Hard Disc, 400K Floppy £2995 (a)

PRINTERS

ALL PRINTERS HAVE A 12 MONTH GUARANTEE

DOT mfiTRIX

KAGATAXAN:

* Epson Compatible Control codes
* 80 or 156 Column

* NEAR LETTER QUALITY Print using 23 x 18 matrix
* Text Modes include Normal, Italic, Enlarged, Condensed,
Super/SubScript, Proportional
* Dot Addressable graphics in various modes
* 3K buffer which can also hold user defined characters
* Extra socket for eprom with custom made font
Friction & T ractor feed with built in paper roll holder

KP810 (80 coloumn) £249 (a)

KP910 (1 56 column) £359 (a)

EPSON:

The industry standard printer offering the quality, reliability and
versatility.

RX80T £21 5 (a) RX80FT £225 (a)

RX 1 00 £345 (a) FX80 £31 8 (a) FX 1 00 £435 (a)

DAISY WHEEL

BROTHER HR15: * 14 cps * 3K Buffer * Two colour printing

* Porportion spacing * Underline * Bold & Shadow printing

* super/Sub script + many other features.

BROTHER HR15 £349 (a)

JUKI 6100: * 15 cps * 2K Buffer * Switchable 10/12/15 cpi

* Proportional printing * Linear Motor for max reliability.

JUKI 6100 £340 (a)

VIEW PRINTER DRIVER FOR FX8Q/KP81Q

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...£7(d)

GRAPH ICS PLOTTER/WORK STATION

Equally at home in the artists studio, hobbyists workshop,
science lab or a classroom, this system has something to offer for
everyone. The 3 colour graphics plotter provides both precision
and versatility. The carriage can be moved with an accuracy of
0.025cm over an A4 area — the plotter being able to accept paper
and far thicker materials at sizes of up to A3. The basic plotter
carries 3 colour pens each of which is software selectable.
Additional accessories greatly enhance the versatility of the unit
without loosing the accuracy. The servo controlled drill/router,
and scriber can be used on various materials. A unique Opto
Sensor (using a Hewlett Packard device) turns the plotter into a
high-res scanning digitiser to read & store whole diagrams and
photographs.

Workstation Complete £490(a)

Basic Plotter £270(a)
Drill/Router Attachment £79(c)

Opto Sensor £72(c)

Power Supply: PS 12V £42(c) PS24V £78(c)

Technomatic

All prices exclude VAT

PRINTER ACCESSORIES

EPSON

Paper Roll Holder£17(d) FX80 Tractor Attachment£37(c).

Interfaces: 8143 RS232£28(c);8148 RS232 + 2K£57(c);

8132 Apple ll£60(c); 8165 IEEE + Cable£65(c).

Serial & Parallel Interfaces with larger buffers available.

Ribbons: RX/FX/MX80£5.00<d); RX/FX/MX 100£10(d);

FX80 Dustcover£4.50(d)

KAGATAXAN: RS 232 Interface + 2Kbuffer£85(c); Ribbon KP810/910£6(d)

JUKI: RS232 lnterface£65(c); Spare Daisy Wheel£14(d); Ribbon£2.50<d);
Sheet Feeder£1 99(a) ; Tractor Feed Attach £99<a)

BROTHER HR15: Sheet Feeder£1 99(a); Ribbons Carbon or Nylon£4.50(a)

BBC Printer Lead: Parallel (42")£7(d); Serial £7(d)

Printer Leads can be supplied to any other length.

Plain Fanfold Paper with extra fine perforation (Clean Edge):

20009.5" x 11 "£13(b) 2000 14.5" x 11"£18.50(b)

Labels: 2-3/4" x 1-7/16" in quantities of 1000
Single Row:£5.25/1000(d); Triple Row: £5.00 '1000 (d)

PRINTER SHARER/BUFFER

A unique printer sharer/buffer that provides a simple way to
improve the utilisation of the installed equipment by reducing the
waiting time for printing documents. All but the smallest
documents tie up the computer while being printed and the
computer remains out of use until the printing is complete. This is
more so in a network which does not have a dedicated computer for
printer operation. This buffer/sharer would free the computers
almost immediately for other uses and in many cases make the use
of dedicated printer server machines unnecessary.

‘Standard Centronics

interface with 3 inputs.

* Each input port scanned
every 5 secs to check for data.

Switching between ports
completely automatic.

* Data Input rate 4800
bytes/sec

* LED Bargraph indicates
percentage memory used.

* COPY key allows current
document to be reprinted.

* Internal check to prove the
data integrity.

* PAUSE switch allows
printing to be stopped
temporarily to allow paper
change, adjust form feed etc.
or allows temporary storage
for large number of small files
which can all be printed together.

* RESET allows all buffer memory to be cleared without having to hard break
on the computer.

* 64K buffer capacity. * Mains powered * Compact 7cm x 17cm x 24cm

TSB 64 Buffer/Sharer £245(a)
Cable Set £30

PRINTER & COmPUTER SHARERS

Three Computers to one printer (parallel)£65(b)

Six Computers to one printer (parallel)£1 29(b)

Cable Set for three way sharer (ea. 1m long) £25(c)
Cable Set for six way sharer (ea. 1 m long)£45(c)

Above sharers can be powered from the BBC
Exernal mains adaptor for Printer Sharer£7(d)

Computer Sharer to connect 2 printers to one Computer
(parallel)£19.50(c)

GRRFPRD

A low cost graphic tablet offering the performance & durability
required by industrial and educational users. It is compact,
accurate & reliable; working area 240 x 192mm + menu area.
Comes complete with a CAD package. £1 10(b).

01-208 1177

Please add carriage: (a) £8: (l>) £2.50 (el £1.50; (d) £1
and VAT al 15" o to order. C arria^e (a) sent h> l)ata|iost

mONITORS

1 All monitors supplied with BBC lead]

MICROVITEC 14" RGB

1431 Standard Resolution £175(a)

1451 Medium Resolution £21 5(a)

1441 Hi Resolution £399(a)

MICROVITEC 14" RGB with PAL & Audio

These monitors can receive TV programs thru a Video Recorder

1431 AP Standard Resolution £210(a)
1451AP Medium Resolution £310(a)

MICROVITEC 20" RGB

2031 Std Res £260(a) 2040CS Hi Res £570(a)

KAGATAXAN 12" RGB

VISION II Hi Res £245(a)

VISION III Super Hi Res£345(a)

MONOCHROME MONITORS:

SANYO DM81 12CX Hi Res 12" Green Screen £99<a)

KAGA KX1201G Hi Res 12" Etched Green Screen £106<a)

KAGA KX1202A Hi Res 12” Etched Amber Screen £114<a)

ZENITH 123 Hi Res 12" Green Screen £70(a)

ZENITH 122 Hi Res 12” Amber Screen £70(a)

Swivel Base for Kaga Monochrome fitted with Digital Clock £21(c)
Monitor Plinth for the BBC £1 3.50(b)

Double Tier Plinth for BBC and a flat dual drive £19.50b

BBC Leads Kaga RGB £5(d) Microvitec £3.50(d) Monochrome £3.50(d)

VIDEO DIGITISER

A high quality yet cost-effective unit offering uses for
the scientific, educational and home user. Feeding in a
video signal (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 stored on
disc, manipulated or dumped to a printer. The friendly
yet sophisticated menu driven software comes
complete with an Epson printer dump. £21 3(a).

SANYO DR1Q1 DATA RECORDER

A high quality data recorder with switch selectable
data/normal modes as well as cue/review and tape
counter providing a reliable cassette storage system.
DR101 with data lead £30(c) Extra Data Lead £3(d)

RH LIGHT PEN

A superior quality lightpen, features including:
adjustable sensitivity, LED output to show data
transmission, microswitch tip. Full software backup.
£39(c). This popular pen is well supported by useful
graphics design and educational programs listed
under software on the last page.

RAINBOW LIGHTPEN

Allow your childs creativity to run wild in colour, and
develop their artistic potential — allows colour
displays to be instantly drawn. Superb software
includes facilities of saving and loading screens as
well as an Epson screendump. £10.35(c).

DISC DRIVES

TECHNOMATIC disc drives come fitted with high quality slimline
Japanese mechanisms and represent the state of art in disc drive
technology. They are built to highest standards and are all tested to
their full performance capability before packaging. Single drives are
offered with or without integral power supply whilst the dual drives
are supplied with generously rated switch mode power supply.
Attractively designed steel casings are painted in hard wearing BBC
matching paint. All drives can operate in single and double density
modes. Drives are supplied with cables, manual and formatting disc
and are ready to be fitted to the computer.

Single Drives

1 x 1 00K 40T SS: TS55A £1 00(a) CS55A with psu£1 25(a)

1 x 400K40/80TDS:TS55F£1 60(a) CS55F with psu£1 79(a)

1 x 100K3" Hitachi 40T SS£1 00(b)

Dual Drives

2 x 1 00K 40T SS: TD55A with psu £260(a)

2 x 400K 40/80T DS: TD55F TEAC with psu £380(a)

2 x 400K 40/80T DS: TD55M Mitsubishi with psu £365(a).\

DISC DRIVE mULTIPLEXER

A simple device that enables up to four computers to be connected
to one single or dual drive. Ideal unit for installing in classrooms
where networking is not planned or necessary or the costs have to be
kept low or where software information is shared. Several of these
units can be installed in series to connect more computers to access
the same discs. Units supplied with 5' of cable per outlet as
standard.

Write for full details.

TDM 4 Quad Unit (upto 4 computers) £1 35(a)

TDM 2 Dual Unit (2 computers) £75(b)

Note: All computers must be fitted with a DFS

3m FLOPPY DISCS

Authorised Distributor
Data Recording Products

Industry standard high quality discs with guaranteed error free
performance for life.

Discs in packs ot 10:

40T SSDD£15(c)
80T SSDD £22(c)

40TDSDD£18(c)
80T DSDD£24(c)

DISC ACCESSORIES

Single Dsic Cable £6<d) Dual Disc Cable £8.50(d)

10 Disc Library Case £1. 90(d) 30 Disc Case £8.00(c)
Lockable Storage Boxes 30/40 Discs £14(c) 100 Discs £19(c)

The FLOPPICLENE disc head cleaning kit is the ideal way to ensure
the optimum performance of your drives. The use of disposable
cleaning discs eliminate the risk of recontamination and abrasion of
the sensitive disc heads and ensure continuously reliable data
capture and transmission.

Floppiclene with 20 disposable cleaning discs. £14.50(b).

commuNicflTioNs

We offer the customer a choice of BT approved modems and suitable
communication software, enabling the user to choose an ideal cost-
effective system, perfectly suited to his individual needs. We stock
modems for every requirement, whether it is for the business, or
private user, whether you require access to a public database,
bulletin boards or a mainframe, whether for local or international
use.

Technomatic

mODEfTlS

All prices exclude VAT

EPROmER II

TORCH UNICOmm See our section on Torch for further details

fiCORN PRESTEL The dedicated Prestel adaptor complete with
integral, BT approved, auto-dial modem and software in ROM POA.

BUZZ BOX A full spec, BT approved, pocket size, direct connect
modem with both originate & answer modes, full & half duplex,
allowing access to many databases, bulletin-boards as well as
intercomputer communications. It conforms to CCITT V21 300/300
Baud standard. Battery/mains powered £5$(c) BBC Lead £3.50
External PSU £8.

WS2000 A world standard, BT approved, direct connect modem
switchable between 75,300/300,600, 1200/75, 75/1200 baud. It is
compatible with Bell 103/113/108, 202 and CCITT V21 & 23 standards
and allows you to
communicate with,
virtually any computer |
system in the world. This \
is the new generation
modem that was chosen
by the BBC to
demonstrate a totally
reliable USA-UK data link
live on TV — it performed
faultlessly in front of an

audience of millions. This modem will cover Prestel, Micronet,
Telecom Gold, Distel, Microweb, One-to-One, Bulletin Boards both in
♦he UK and abroad, etc. etc. as well as user-to-user communication.
It also has a rather useful facility of ‘Reverse-PresteT mode i.e.
75/1200 so that you can communicate with other users who only
have a standard 1200/75 type modem. What possibly gives this
modem its biggest advantage is its option of computer controlled
switching between all modes of operation. In addition, separate
auto-answer and auto-dial cards are available, giving this modem
possibly the greatest potential of all. Mains powered. £1 29(c).
Data Cable £7 Auto Dial Card £30(d) Auto Dial Cable £4 Auto Answer
Card £30(d)

Unique menu driven software on disc to configure COMMSTAR to
run correctly with the WS2000 modem. £9.95(d) (please specify 40 or
80 tracks)

TELEmOD-2 A BT approved modem complying with CCITT V23
1200/75 Duplex & 1200/1200 Half-Duplex standard, that allows
communication with Viewdata services e.g. Prestel, Micronet etc.,
as well as using 1200 Baud for communicating with other computer
users. Mains powered. TELEMOD 2 62(b) BBC Lead £7.00

TERmi This is a semi intelligent terminal emulator allowing the
BBC to act as a dumb terminal, slave BBC graphics terminal, or
VT52 terminal. The rates at which data is sent or received is easily
set up with rates of up to 4800 Baud with 40/80 col. selectable.
Allows files to be transmitted from disc, or a copy of incoming data
to be sent to a file or to a printer. (Termi is not suitable for
PRESTEL). £28(d).

commuNicflTOR This is a full 80 col VT100 terminal emulation
program on 16K eprom. It is a more advanced program than TERMI
and features easy to follow screen menus. The rate at which data is
sent or received is easily set up with rates up to 19200 Baud with 80
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
not suitable for PRESTEL). £59(d).

commsTAR This intelligent communication facility is extremely
easy to use yet very versatile. It features a terminal mode and a
special PRESTEL mode. In Terminal mode, all input may be copied
into a buffer in memory over which full control is provided. Controls
of protocols is very simple and any type of file (not just ASCII) may be
sent using XModem protocols. The Emulation mode may be used
using a disc based emulation file to emulate virtually any terminal
type within the capabilities of the BBC. In PRESTEL mode all normal
Prestel features are available, including downloading of software,
saving and retrieving of pages etc. etc. £29(d).

Our current version of the highly popular Eprom programmer is now
being enhanced to provide more and better facilities for easy
programming by the user. The software will maintain its superiority
over all currently available similar programmers. The range of
eproms handled has been widened to include the eproms with
lower programming voltage and eproms which can be programmed
using the fast algorithm. Control of all operations has been moved
to the keyboard. The screen display has been improved to give more
information. The screen editing facilities have also been modified
to simplify the data entry.

Preliminary Information

The new Eprom Programmer will now program 2516, 2532, 2564, 2716,
2732, 2764, 27128 and 27256 + 5V eproms, and all but the 27256 in a
single pass.

The programmer will be supplied with integral power supply, and
interfaces with the BBC via the 1MHz bus. It is fully buffered and
complies with Acorn protocols. There is no power drain from the
computer.

No knobs or switches to fiddle with — total control from the keyboard.
Fully software driven with easy to understand instructions displayed on
the screen.

Eprom type selectable from the keyboard.

Selectable programming voltage 25/21/1 2.5V.

Defaults to normal programming with high speed algorithmic
programming selectable, for a device with suitable capability.

Continuous screen display of eprom type, option and address range
selected.

Full screen editor with HEX or ASCII input. Constant display of logical
eprom address.

Can read, blank check, program and verify at any address/addresses on
the eprom.

Full Tape/Disc filing facility.

Several basic programs can be entered on a single eprom and called up
with individual name.

£ 102(b)

flTPL SIDEWISE ROm EXPANSION BOARD

This is a well constructed expansion board that does not require soldering in

its installation. It will give you an additional twelve sockets, with 16K battery
backing option. This extra bit of parts includes a nickel-cadmium battery,
allowing any software stored, to be retained for future use when the BBC is
switched off. Several link-selectable options include the choice of type of
Eprom, and a ‘write protect’ for the RAM option. All the buses are fully buffered.
£39(d) Battery Back-up Kit £18.

SmARTmOUTH

The Original ‘Infinite Speech’ Synthesiser — Still the Best!

A ready-built totally self-contained speech synthesiser unit, attractively packaged with
built in speaker. Aux. output socket etc. Optimum sound quality is achieved due to a
tailored frequency response audio stage. It allows the creation of any English word with
both ease and simplicity, while, at the same time, being very economical in memory
usage. You can easily add speech to most existing programs. Due to its remarkable
infinite vocabulary, its uses spread throughout the whole spectrum of computer
applications — these include educational, industrial, scientific, recreational etc. —
simply plugs into the User Port. No ROMs are needed. Smartmouth is supplied with
demo and development programs on cassette (easily transferred to disc) and full
instructions. £37(c).

UV ERASERS

UVT1T Eraser with built-in timer and mains indicator. Built-in safety interlock to avoid
accidental exposure to the harmful UV rays. It can handle up to 5 eproms at a time with an
average erasing time of about 20 mins. £59<b).

UV1 as above but without the timer. £47(b).

For Industrail Users, we offer UV140 & UV141 erasers with handling capacity of 14
eproms. UV141 has a built in timer. Both offer full built in safety features UV140 £61-
UV141 £79<b).

‘TimE-WftRP’ RERL-TimE CLOCK CALENDER

A low-cost compact unit that opens up the total range of Real-Time applications,
and adds a new dimension to the personal computer. Though built to exacting
professional standards, it is at a price previously unattainable, and brings it within
reach of all BBC Computer owners. With its full
integral battery backup, possibilites include an
Electronic Diary, continuous display of ‘on-screen’
time and date information, automatic document
dating, precise timing and control in scientific
applications, recreational use in games etc. — its uses
are endless and are simply limited by ones
imagination. Simply plugs »nto the User Port — no
ROMs needed. Extensive applications software
supplied on cassette (easily transferred to disc) and
full instruction manual. Please phone for details.

£29<c).

01-208 1177

Please add carriage: (a) £8: (h) £2.50 (c) £1.50: (d) £1
and VAT al I5°« lo order. Carriage (a) seal In Daiaposi

ftCORN IEEE INTERFACE

This interface enables a BBC computer to control any scientific
and technical equipment that conforms to the IEEE488 standard,
at a lower price than other systems, but without sacrificing any
aspect of the standard. The interface can link up to 14 separate
IEEE compatible devices. Typical applications are in experimental
work in academic and industrial laboratories, with the advantage
of speed, accuracy and repeatability. The interface is mains
powered and comes with cables, IEEEFS ROM, and user guide.
£282(a)

flCORNTELETEXT INTERFACE

This interface allows the retrieval and storage of data transmitted
by both BBC and IBA. There are currently many educational and
other programs being transmitted, and this unit will allow their
retrieval absolutely free. In ‘Terminal’ mode, the system receives
and decodes pages from both Ceefax and Oracle. (These pages can
be stored). In ‘Telesoftware’ mode, the system can load, run and
execute programs that are transmitted. This unit gives you a
professional teletext terminal at a cost effective price. £195(b)

DATABASE mBNAGEITIENT SYSTEIT)

GEmini datagem

BBC FIRfTMflRE

The Definitive Random Access, 24K ROM Based DATABASE
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

Datagem is the first truly flexible database for the BBC Micro that can make
your system really useful and efficient, saving you money in the long run.
The system includes a carrier board containing two Eproms, demonstration
applications disc in both 40/80T, professional documentation with quick
reference card, and ‘Trans' utility program. Features include: ‘almost
unlimited file size (max 10MByte) ‘supports up to 4 drives ‘Max of 5000
records per file ‘max 6K record size ‘max of 62 fields *9 level hierarchical
search system with facilities to store results of searches. Searches can be
any one of the following: Search, Include. Exclude, Combine, Common or
Difference “user defined variables ‘generates form letters from records.
Please ask for leaflet. £1 12(c).

ACORNSOFT/miRLE
Business Software

A well designed, cost effective business system, having the
advantage of being able to purchase packages individually, with
the option of, possibly later, linking them with other packages.
INVOICING, ORDER PROCESSING, ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE,
ACCOUNTS PAYABLE, STOCK CONTROL, PURCHASING,
MAILING SYSTEM. £22(d) each.

SPECIAL CLEARANCE OFFER

Hell Driver;

Felix in the Factory;
Laser Command;
Martian Attack;
Cybertron Mission;
Alien Destroyers;
Chess;

Escape from Moon
Base Alpha;

Swoop;

Alien Swirl;

Demon Decorator;
Android Attack;
Danger UXB;
Footer;

Moon Raider;
ZARM;

Eldorado Gold;

Galactic
Commander;
Where?;
Labyrinth of La
Coshe:
Chemistry;
Physics;
Constellation
Croaker.

Only £2.50(d) each

VIEW Word Processor Rom on special offer at £48(c).

This is the new version V2.1. Advantages include being able to print straight
from memory, as well as editing in any mode. Complete with comprehensive
manuals to Acorns usual high standard.

WORDWISE One of the most popular word processors for general use
£34(d). Wordwise SpellCheck Disc — A must for any serious word processor
user. Normal price £1 6.50(d). If bought with Wordwise: No p&p and only £14.

ULTRACALC This new version of the successful spreadsheet
program has several enhancements to increase its power and
flexibility including: * Operation in any mode * Greater printer
flexibility incl. control codes £ sign definition * runs as HICALC
with 6502 second processor allowing 44K of space in any mode
* Spooling as ASCII text files. These features are in addition to the
existing powerful features such as handling of labels as well as
numbers as values, allowing search by a meaningful name rather
than just a number. Facilities and commands include: variable
column width, sum, replicate, insert, delete, justify and most
mathematical functions. You can create and manipulate pricelists,
balance sheets, payroll, c/flow order entry, small databases and
scientific calculations. £ 69 (c)

VIEWSHEET Ask for details £52(c)

BCPL A full implementation of the BCPL compiler language from
Acornsoft. It consists of the BCPL language ROM and a disc containing the
BCPL Compiler, a Screen Editor, a 6502 Assembler, other utilities and
program development aids, and some examples of BCPL code. A
comprehensive 450 page user guide is included. It can be used to develop
games programs and commerical packages, to develop system software, to
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
point, fixed point and fast integer calculations. It includes the BCPL
calculation files, example files and a comprehensive user guide. £17. 30(b).

UTILITY Roms

DISC DOCTOR This general purpose ROM adds 20 commands to the
DFS system. It includes a formatter, sector editor, tape-disc & disc-tape
routines, a powerful disassembler, commands for listing function key
definitions for editing etc. This ROM 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).

GREmLIN Contains a full machine code monitor including features such
as a disassembler, memory move and search routines. Also feature a full
expression evaluator and an assembler. Can single step through ROM &
RAM as well as any sideways ROM. Works in any mode with full status
display. Up to 8 breakpoints can be used and it has a special mode for
debugging graphic programs. £28(d).

EXmON This extended machine code editor provides 35 new commands.
Features include machine code relocator, single stepping, memory search
and full assembler & dissassembler. £20(d).

TOOLKIT This ROM adds 27 new commands to the BBC BASIC. These
include a full screen editor, merge, relocating data in memory, program
compactor, listing of variables and memory search. £23<d).

CARETAKER This adds 17 new commands to the BASIC which include:
renumber, squash, exchange insert, single key entry of BASIC keywords etc.
£28(d).

GRAPHICS ROfTl This ROM includes over 28 new graphics related
commands which can be used in BASIC programs. Features include:
sprites. LOGO Turtle graphics, fill routines, shading, large characters,
rotation, scaling and 3D plotting all using * * J commands. £28(d).

PRINTmASTER This ROM features the most versatile screen dump for
EPSON MX/RX/FX80 and Kaga 810 printers. It supports three types of
dumps. The first allows any graphics on the screen to be dumped. Colours
appear as shades of grey. Any part of the screen can be printed at any
position on the paper in any one of four orientations. The screen dump may
be magnified by any factor x 2, x 3, x 4 etc. A special feature allows true
MODE 7 screen dumps with TELETEXT text & graphics. The second dump
allows any text to be dumped whilst the third dump will print the contents of
a file on disc whilst the computer is doing other things. This is not all. All
printer functions can be called up using the * command. * DEFINE allows
the user to define his own characters and store them. *GPRINT allovA/s
printing of enlarged text in any position, orientation, size & shade.
★ WINDOW allows windows to be defined in any size and position on the
screen. In short this one ROM does it all. £28(d).

SOFTWARE

miCROTEXT

This authoring system was developed by the National Physical
Laboratories. It is a programming system designed to simplify the
production of a wide range of man-computer dialogues. Using
Microtext’s simple commands, the user can draw up any number of
•frames’, each containing text and/or graphics. A series of frames build
up into a complete module. Each program can consist of more than one
module. Using Microtext, an expert in any field can construct their own
complete courses of computer-based instructional material
Applications include interviewing systems, teaching packages, training
courses and interactive demonstrations and simulations. Available on
Cassette and Disc; Disc £53(b); Cass £43<b). Please specify the type of
format required (Torch or Acorn).

ACORNSOFT(d)

Disc

Cass

Cass

S-PASCAL

£17.30

£14.65

MISSILE BASE

£5.00

LISP

£17.30

£14.65

PLANETOIDS

£5.00

FORTH

£17.30

£14.65

METEORS

£5.00

PICTURE MAKER

£10.00

£8.65

CAROUSEL

£5.00

TURTLE GRAPHICS

£17.30

MONSTERS

£5.00

CREATIVE GRAPHICS

—

£8.65

FORECAST

£5.00

HOPPER

£6.00

—

CHESS

£5.00

SNOOKER

£6.00

—

DRAUGHTS&REVERSI

£5.00

STARSHIPCOMMAND

£6.00

_

BBC PUBLICATIONS

JCB DIGGER

£6.00

£5.00

VU TYPE

£11.65

AVIATOR

£15.65

£13.00

RECORD KEEPER

£14.00

CRA2Y TRACER

£6.00

£5.00

ELITE

£15.65

£13.00

Elite Cassette & Disc versions available from stock. (Disc version for
40TSS or 80TDS)

Replica II 40 & 80 Track Versions available. £10. 35(d)

Printer Drivers On disc 40 or 80 Track Disc
RX/FX80/KAG A/NEC PC8023/JUKI 6100/BROTHER HR15 £7(d).

Design Design is a second processor which allows information to be
displayed in a format suitable for demonstrations, slide projections,
handouts or presentations. Graphs, Pie charts & Bar Charts are quickly
produced; automatically drawn & scaled. Versatile labelling facility, 24
User defined, 4 large macro characters plus screen dump facilities
included. £1 6.50(d) Disc (80 or 40 Track).

Superplot Superplot is ideal for screen representations of
mathematical functions. It will plot on automatically scaled axes, in
Cartesian, Polar or Parametric co-ordinate systems and will allow
overlapping of graphs. Cass £8.50(d).

Spellcheck Menu driven spelling checker for Wordwise or VIEW.
Dictio

lictionary contains 6000 words and is expandable to 17000 on 100K
disc. £1 6.50(d)Disc (80 or 40 T rack) Specify whether Wordwise or VIEW.

ITIasterfile a general purpose data base that is extremely useful,
allowing vast amounts of information to be stored. The disc version
allows up to 17 fields per record, and the only limitation as to the
number of records is the capacity of the disc. Typically, using 5 fields,
about 2000 records may be stored on a 100K disc. £16.50{d) Disc.

Teletext Pack An editor enabling colourful mode 7 screens to be
quickly ceated. Powerful facilities including a graphics character
definer. speed up screen creation and design. Screens can be loaded or
saved in the normal way or specially saved as a Basic routine for use in
other programs. On screen teletext tutor included in the package. Ideal
for setting up prestel type displays £16.50(d) Disc (80 or 40T).

BOOKS

(NoVATp&p

Let your BBC Teach U To Program £3.50

100 Programs for the BBC £6.95

30 Hour Basic £6.95

35 Educational Progs £6.95

6502 Applications ... £10.95

6502 Assembly Lang Programming £13.95

6502 M/Code for Beginners ££5.95

6522 VIA Book £4.50

6809 Assembly Lang Programming. £13.95
Advanced Basic Rom User Guide . £7.95

Advanced Graphics with BBC £9.95

Advanced M/C for the BBC £7.95

Advanced Prog Tech for BBC £8.95

Advanced 6502 £11.75

Advance User Guide £1 2.50

Assembly Lang Prog on the BBC £8.95

Assembly Lang for the BBC £8.95

Assembly Lang Prog for Electron £6.00

Assembly Lang Programming

Birnbaum . £8.95

Basic Prog on the BBC Cry er £5.95

Basic Rom User Guide A. Dickens £9.95

Basic II Rom User Guide £4.00

BBC Basic £5:95

BBC Basic for Beginners. £6.95

BBC Micro for Beginners £6.95

BBC Micro Disk Companion £7.95

BBC Micro Expert Guide . £6.95

BBC Micro Graphics 8 Sound £7 95

BBC Micro m Education £6.50

BBC Micro Revealed £3.50

BCPL User Manual £15,00

Beyond Basic £7.25

CP/M Handbook £10.95

Creating Adventure Progs £6.95

Creative Assembler for the BBC... £5.95

Creative Graphics. . . £7.50

DlV Robot'cs & Sensors £6.95

Disc Book £3.50

£1.50 per book)

Disc Programming Techniques

BBC £6 95

Oise Systems £6.95

Discovering BBC M/Code £6.95

Essential Maths BBC/Electron £5.95

Forth £7.50

Friendly Computer Book £6.95

Graphics on the BBC Micro £6 95

Graphs & Charts.. £7.50

H/Bk of progs/functs for BBC 6.95

Instant Arcade Games BBC £2.95

Interfacing Projects BBC £8.95

Interfacing the 6502 £10.95

Intro BBC Micro.. ... £5.95

Intro to Pascal £12.95

LISP £7.50

Making Music on the BBC Computer £5.95

Mastering CP/M £7.95

Micro BBC Basic Sound Graphics £7.95

MOS Memory Data Book £3 95

Prog. Micro with Pascal £8.50

Prog the BBC Micro £6.95

Programming the 6502 £10.95

Programming the 6809 £11.95

Programming the 8086/8088 £11.75

Programming the BBC £6.95

Programming the 280 £13.45

Start Prog with Electron £5.00

Step by Step Programme Book 1 . £5.95

Step by Step Prog Book 2 £5.95

Structured Programming £6.50

The Electron Book £5.00

TTL Data Book Vol-1 £9.00

TTL Data Book Vol-2 £8.20

BBC User Guide £15.00

Using BBC Basic. £10.00

Using Floppy Disks £6.95

Using the 6502 Assembly Lang £14.50

280 Applications Book £13.45

When ordering software on disc plese specify track format (40/80)

EDUCATIONAL PROGRflmmES

A selected range of cassette based software for all the family to enjoy
and at the same time arouse curiosity and create an interest in
computers. Apart from providing hours of fun they will also help teach
the young ones fundamentals of English and Maths without them
realising it.

mr Ts Alphabet Games Watch how quickly the children learn to
identify, name & match the letters and also write them correctly.
Amusing sound effects and animated graphics make learning fun. £7(d).

Number Gulper A gripping fast moving game that helps develop
arithmetic skills. 19 levels of skill to cater for all ability levels. Even
parents might find upper levels embarassing. £7(d).

Words Words Words a stimulating game to help young children
with reading & spelling. Pictures are shown on the screen and the child
has to type in the name of the object shown. If correct, the object takes
its place in a scene. When all objects have been correctly identified the
scene comes to life. £7(d).

Tre© of Knowledge A interactive program that teaches
categorisation. The computer is first educated about a group of objects
— e.g. plants or birds. The database, or tree created in this way is then
used in playing a guessing game. Two sample databases are supplied on
the program. New databases are saved and loaded from within the
programs. £7(d).

Rouol Quiz Pit your knowledge of Royalty against Anthony Holden,
the Royal Biographer. Do you know who told the queen that she didn't
recognise her “without her crown on"? The quiz will tease, teach and
entertain. £7(d).

EPROMS:8K 2764-25 £5.00(d);8K 2764-30 £4.90

16K 27128-25 £18.00(d);16K 27128-30 £16.00
RAM:8K standard power 6264-1 5 £28.00
8K lower power 6264 LP-15 £31.00

technomatic Ltd „ omw 1177

MAIL ORDERS TO: 17 Burnley Road. London NWI0 4EI) A P r,les e ' ch ide \ AT . Please add carnaRe (a) £8

(Tel: 01-208 1177 Tele, 9228001 ' £, ?°

SHOPS AT: NW London: 15 Burnley Road. London NWI0 4ED ,5 . 0 '' V '-^rder value

( €► Dollis Hill 2 mins walk, ample car parking space) tor fasl delive'n (ekphone vour order quoting

Wcsl End: 305 Edgw are Road. London \V2. Tel: 01-723 0233 VISA or Acess card or official order number.

(Near Edgware Road ^ I (Minimum telephone order £5)

ORDERS FROM GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHMENTS. UNIVERSITIES, COLLEGES. STATE SCHOOLS. HOSPITALS.

NATIONALLY RECOGNISED Pi ts WELCOME.

'lectron

CHASING;

© © ® (6) ® ® © (B ® © © © ® (o) ® © © © d) © ®
-® — 0

B.B.C. MICRO

A two player game of dexterity jh/Bp-
set in Hazard County. Beat Axm*.

your opponent to the jewels y>'

and gold with the it C

help of your band \ 1 ^

of cronies. \l

Includes police \V

cars and one \1

player practise

option. / /\ ml

(BBC version: joystick
& keyboard control). lr

Cassette: £6.95.

Disk: £9^95. \\|| I

MICRO POWER LTD.,
NORTHWOOD HOUSE. NORTH STREET.
LEEDS LS7 2AA TEL (0532) 458800

MICRO POWER SOFTWARE IS AVAILABLE FROM
SELECTED BRANCHES OF WH SMITH. BOOTS. JOHN
MENZIES CO-OP W00LW0RTHS AND ALL GOOD
DEALERS

AUTHORS! WE PAY 20% ROYALTIES!

®(RJ©©(c)(r)(o)(p

'rcmci*

The best thing next

The BBC Model B Microcomputer is widely recognised as an
impressive first computer for the home or the school, but its capabilities are
restricted by its lack of data storage and the limitations of Basic for serious
programming. For the user who needs more from this computer the Torch
Z80 Disc Pack is a gateway to the world of advanced computing.

Model B’s fitted with disc interface can be upgraded to full business
machines by the Torch Z80 Disc Pack thereby offering the use of more
powerful and flexible languages such as Fortran, Pascal, BCPL and Cobol
while twin 400K disc drives provide a massive storehouse for information and
rapid data transfer from disc to processor.

Torch Z80 Disc Pack

The Torch Z80 Disc Pack is the

proven upgrade for the BBC Model B microcomputer. It provides 800K of disc-
storage plus a Z80 second processor with 64K RAM running TORCH’S own
CP/M® compatible operating system based in ROM.

This advanced design means that almost all of the 64K RAM provided
by the Z80 board is available for programming use - an advantage no other
BBC micro upgrade can offer.

If your BBC micro has the Econet®option, there is a further benefit
the Torch Z80 Disc Pack can offer. TORCHNET can link together up to 254
upgraded Model B’s on a local area network, so for enthusiasts, clubs, schools
and businesses it is a simple and low-cost way to achieve networking
facilities.

The discs can be used for storage under the Acorn DFS system or for
CP/M® programs and data.

A comprehensive software package is provided which includes word
and data processing and a spreadsheet program, along with utility programs
and manuals.

The Torch Z80 Disc Pack is recommended by the CCTA for
government use.

At £699 the Torch Z80 Disc Pack is exceptionally good value.

Torch Z80 Extension Processor (ZEP100)

When fitted to a BBC system which already has compatible high quality twin
400K disc drives, the ZEP100 provides a complete business or scientific computer.

Alternatively, a ZEPl(X) may be fitted to a BBC system to enable it to be
used as a Torchnet station.

The ZEP100, priced at £299, comes complete with full software support
There are already over 1(),0(X) users of Torch computer systems.

Our customers include hospitals, universities, private businesses, the
Government and schools.

If you are ready to take a step into the world of serious
r computing contact your local dealer listed on the facing page.

26

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

to a BBC micro.

?d

Torch Z80 Extension Processor (ZEP100)
Processor - 4 MHz Z80A
Memory - 64K RAM Accessible from theZ80
Firmware - 8K CCCP ROM on ZEP100 card
- 16K MCP ROM for BBC board

Is

d

IT.

Software provided

- TORCH CPN CP/M * compatible O/S

- Disc Utilities
-Music System

- Misc. Utilites

- PERFECT* SOFTWARE comprising -
Perfect Writer - Word Processor
Perfect Speller - Spelling Checker
Perfect Calc - Spreadsheet

Perfect Filer - Database
Other Operating Systems Available

- UCSD p-System

Torch Z80 Disc Pack As for ZEP100 but
includes 2 x 400K 5 Va" floppy disc drives with
separate power supply unit
Unicorn. These products are part of the best
selling range of add-ons to the BBC Micro by
Torch Computers Ltd, Abberley House,

Great Shelford, Cambridge, CB2 5LQ.

Tel. (0223) 841000. Telex 818841 TORCH G.

TORCH M

COMPUTERS '-ixi*'

Lighting the way ahead.

Where to find your Torch dealer

J Tel 0509214444

AVON

MICROSTYLE

29 Belvedere Lansdowne Road
Bath

Tel 0255334659

BEDFORDSHIRE

3D COMPUTERS

I Manor Road. Caddington. Luton

Tel 0582 458575

ABC COMPUTING

Systems House. Houghton Paraeli

Dunstable

Tel 0582699640

BROADWAY ELECTRONICS

Aston Road. Bedford

Tel 0234 58303

DATASINE

59 North Street. Leighton Buzzard
Tel: 0525374200

BERKSHIRE

30 COMPUTERS

26 Stanley Road. Newbury
Tel 063530047
DPCE (UK) LTD

26/28 Market Place, Wokingham

Tel 0734 790703

MICROSTYLE

Newbury Computer Centre

47 Cheap Street. Newbury

Tel 0753555211

MICROWISE

21 Duke Street. Reading

Tel 0734 591816

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

MICRO MASTERS (RUISLIP) LTD
6 Windsor Street. Uxbridge
Tel 0895 70766
MICROSTYLE
52 Friars Square. Aylesbury
Tel 0296 25487

DURHAM

DARLINGTON COMPUTER SHOP
75 Bondgate. Darlington
Tel 0325487478

ESSEX

AKHTER INSTRUMENTS LTD
28 Burnt Hill Harlow
Tel 0279 443521

CAPRICORN COMPUTER CENTRE
37-38 Osborne. Colchester
Tel 020668471

ESSEX COMPUTER CENTRE LTD
216 Moulsham Street
0n-The-Parkway. Chelmsford
Tel 0245358702
MICR0C0RE LTD
5 Broomfield Road. Chelmsford
Tel 0245 264230

GLOUCESTERSHIRE

COMPUTER SHACK
14 Pittville Street. Cheltenham
Tel 0242 584343
TELEMATICS WEST
31 Dyer Street, Cirencester
Tel 028568349

HAMPSHIRE

A0ACS

Foresters House. 4 London Road

Andover

Tel 026452187

ELECTRONEQUIP

34/38 West Street. Fareham

Tel 0329 230670

COMPUTERWAY LTD

Brook House, Milbrook Road East

Southamptonoad East

Tel 0703 38868 0483 62626

FERRANTI AND CRAIG

5 New Market Square. Basingstoke

Tel 025664015,025669966

CAMBRIDGESHIRE

CAMBRIDGE COMPUTER STORE (2)
4 Emmanuel Street. Cambridge
Tel 0223358264
GCC (CAMBRIDGE) LTD
66 High Street. Sawston. Cambridge
Tel 0223 835330
HI-TEK DISTRIBUTION LTD
Trafalgar Way, Bar Hill, Cambridge
Tel 0954 81931

CHESHIRE

3SL COMPUTERS LTD
Brook House. 513 Crewe Road
Wheelock

Tel 09367 61249.0936761798
FAIRHURST INSTRUMENTS LTD
Dean Court, Woodford Road
Wilmsiow
Tel 0625525694
NATIONAL MICRO CENTRES LTD
36-38 St Petersgate. Stockport
Tel 0614298080
STOCKPORT MICRO CENTRE
4 Brown Street, Stockport
Tel 061480 0539

CLEVELAND

AUTOCALL COMPUTERS LT0

17 Middlesbrough Road, Southbank
Middlesbrough

Tel 0642 468618, 0642 722064
CUSTOMISED ELECTRONICS
155 Morton Road. Middlesbrough
Tel 0642247727

CORNWALL

MICROTEST LTD

18 Normandy Way, Bodmin
Tel 020831717

DERBVSHIRE

FBC SYSTEMS LTD

10 Mam Centre, London Road, Derby

Tel 0332365280

NASTAR COMPUTER SYSTEMS LTO
57 Saltergate Chesterfield
Tel 0246 207048

DEVON

A &D COMPUTERS

6 City Arcade. Fore Street Exeter

Tel 0392 77117

DEVON COMPUTERS LTD

The White House. 39 Totnes Road

Paignton

Tel 0803526303

HERTFORDSHIRE

3D COMPUTERS
Greystone Works. The Green
Croxley Green. Rickmansworth
Tel 0923 779250
COMPUTER PLUS
47 Queens Road, Watford
Tel 0923 33927

HUMBERSIDE

THE COMPUTER CENTRE
(HUMBERSI0E) LTD
26 Anlaby Road. Hull
Tel 0482 26297
HOLDERNESS COMPUTER
SERVICES

17 Westgate Patnngton, Hull
Tel 0964 30225

ISLE OF MAN

TYPESTYLE LTD
I Avondale Court, Onchan
Tel 0624 24650

KENT

DATA STORE.

THE (MICROCOMPUTERS)

6 Chatterton Road. Bromley
Tel 01-460 8991

WATERS COMPUTER SYSTEMS

Army and Navy PLC, High Street

Bromley

Tel 01-4609991

KENT MICROCOMPUTERS LTD

57 Union Street. Maidstone

Tel 0622 52784

MEDWAY COMPUTERS LTD

141 New Road. Chatham

Tel 0634 826080

M0DAIA LTD

30 St Johns Road, Tunbridge Wells
Tel 0892 41555

LANCASHIRE

CABIN COMPUTERS LTO
183 St Helens Road. Bolton
Tel 0204652100
DOUBLELINE LTO
Unit 2. Forrest Way
Gateworth Industrial Estate,

Great Sankey. Warrington
Tel 0925573212
NORTHERN COMPUTERS
Churchfield Road. Frodsham
Warrington
Tel 0928 35110

DORSET

LANSDOWNE COMPUTER CENTRE
5 Holdenhurst Road. Bournemouth
Tel 020220165

LANSDOWNE COMPUTER CENTRE
14 Arndale Centre, Poole
Tel 020267091

LEICESTERSHIRE

0 A COMPUTERS LTD
104 London Road. Leicester
Tel 0533 549407
PERCY LORD & SON
63 Blaby Road Wigston
Tel 0533 785033

LINCOLNSHIRE

FELIX COMPUTERS

63 Wide Burgate, Boston

Tel 0205 54321

OAKLEAF COMPUTERS

Bells Yard, Dysart Road Grantham

Tel 047660000

LONOON

3D COMPUTERS

114 Gunnersbury Avenue. Eating W5
Tel 01-992 5855
BRAINSTORM COMPUTER
SOLUTIONS

103a Seven Sisters Road. N7
Tel 01-2726619. 01-2636926
CHROMASONIC
48 Junction Road Archway. N19
Tel 01-263 9493
LION HOUSE (RETAIL) LTD
227 Tottenham Court Road. W1
Tel 01-580 7383
ACORN COMPUTERS LTD
10 Henrietta Street, WC2
Tel: 01-379 7358
MICROAGE

Unit 72. Capitol Park Estate
Capitol Way. Edgware Road, NW9
Tel 01-906 3666 01-957 7119
MICROFAST
57 Hoxton Square, N1
Tel 01-729 1778

WATERS COMPUTER SYSTEMS
Barkers. High Street, Kensington, W8
Tel 01-937 5432
PILOT SOFTWARE CITY
32 Rathbone Place. W1
Tel 01-636 2666
TECHNOMATIC LTD
17 Burnley Road. NW10
Tel 01-452 1500, 01-450 6597
TOMORROWS WORLD TODAY
27-29 Oxford Street. Wl
Tel 01-439 7799

TRICON COMPUTER SYSTEMS LTD
9B Victoria Road NW10
Tel 01-961 1466
OFF RECORDS

Computer House. 59 Battersea Rise
SWlf Tel 01-223 7730
SYSGO LTD

Hawkehouse. Green Street.

Sunbury on Thames
Tel 09327 89571

TWICKENHAM COMPUTER CENTRE
72 Heath Road, Twickenham
Tel 01-8914991

MANCHESTER. GREATER

BYTE SHOP

THE (MANCHESTER) LTD
11/12 Gateway House
Picadilly Station Approach
Manchester
Tel 0612364737
GMCUS MICRO SERVICES
The St Thomas Centre
Ardwick Green North. Manchester
Tel 061273 6480
NSC COMPUTER SHOPS
29 Hanging Ditch, Manchester
Tel 0618322269

MERSEVSIDE

DATA EXCHANGE LTO
Exchange House.

164 New Chester Road. Birkenhead
Tel 051647 9185/6
MICROMAN (SHAVE ELECTRONICS)
Unit la. Ratnford Ind Estate.

Mill Lane. Rainford. St Helens
Tel 074488 5242,0744885295

MIDLANOS (WEST)

BYTE SHOP.THE (BIRMINGHAM)

94-96 Hurst Street. Birmingham

Tel 021-6223165

WATERS COMPUTER SYSTEMS

Rackhams, 35 Temple Row

Birmingham

Tel 0212363333

STARMER COMPUTERS LTD

Richmond House, 69 School Street

Wolverhampton

Tel 0902 713173.090220251

WALTERS COMPUTER SYSTEMS

12 Hagley Road. Stourbridge

Tel 03843 70811

CAMDEN COMPUTER SYSTEMS
462 Coventry Road. Small Heath
Birmingham
Tel 0217713636
COMPUTACCOUNT
21 Spring Hill, Ladywood,

Birmingham
Tel 0212363455

JBC MICRO SERVICES LTO
200 Earlsdon Avenue North,
Earlsdon, Coventry
Tel 0203 73813

MICRO BUSINESS CENTRE LTD
Wolverhampton Computer Centre
17-19 Lichfield Street
Wolverhampton
Tel 090229907/29021

NORFOLK

JARROLO OFFICE EQUIPMENT
Barrack Street, Norwich
Tel 0603 660661
SYNERGY LTD

E Block, University Village Noiwich
Tel 0603 503015
ELECTRONEQUIP
17 Tenneyson Avenue. Kings Lynn
Tel 05533782

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE

ATAN COMPUTERS LTD
T/A COMPUTER MARKET
27 Goosegate, Nottingham
Tel 0602 586454
G A COMPUTERS LTO

20/22 High Street. Ruddmgton
Nottingham

Tel 0602 2t3492, 0602 211225
HN&L FISHER (HUTHWAITE) LTD
264 Hulhwaite Road
Sutton in Ashfield, Nottingham
Tel 0623553437

OXFORDSHIRE

ABSOLUTE SOUND ANO VIDEO
19 Old High Street. Headmgton
Oxford

Tel 086565961

SHROPSHIRE

COMPUTER VILLAGE LTD
Walker House. Telford Town Centre
Telford

Tel 0952506771

STAFFORDSHIRE

CANNOCK ITEC

Chaseley House

New Penkridge Road. Cannock

Tel 05435 77039

COMPUTERAMA

59 Foregate Street. Stafford

Tel 0785 41899

PEN SPEED LTD

Wharf House, Fradley Junction

Alrewas. Burton on Trent

Tel 0283 790338

SUFFOLK

BRAINWAVE MICROS LTD
24 Crown Street, Ipswich
Tel 0473 50965
S J EMERY & CO
10 Market Place. Bungay
Tel 0986 2141

SURREY

3D COMPUTERS
230 Tolwurth South Surbiton
Tel 01-337 4317
3D COMPUTERS

30 Station Road. Belmont, Sutton

Tel 01 642 2534

CROYOON COMPUTER CENTRE

29a Brigstock Road. Thornton Heath

Tel 01-6891280

DATASOLVE LTD

99 Staines Road West

Sunbury on Thames

Tel 09327 85566

J S SIMNET COMPUTERS LTD

Unit 14 St Georges Ind Estate

380 Richmond Road

Kingston Upon-Thames

Tel 01-5411495

VULCAN COMPUTING LTD

32 Guildfoid Road. Farnham

Tel 0252 724182

SUSSEX

CASTLE ELECTRONICS
7 Castle Street, Hastings
Tel 0424 426844
COMPUTAID LTD
22 Queens Road, Brighton
Tel 0273 204228

TYNE & WEAR

HCCS

533 Durham Road Low Fell
Gateshead
Tel 0632 821924
OFFICE INTERNATIONAL
W Harold Spink Ltd
112/114 Pilgnm Street
Newcastle-Upon-Tyne
Tel 0632610285

WARWICKSHIRE

CARVELLS OF RUGBY
9 Bank Street Rugby
Tel 078865275

WATERS COMPUTER SYSTEMS
Rackhams. 76 The Parade
Leamington Spa
Tel 092627900

WILTSHIRE

WILTSHIRE MICRO CENTRE
Unit 9. Central Trading Estate
Signal Way. Old Town. Swindon
Tel 0793612299

YORKSHIRE (SOUTH)

COM-TEC COMPUTER CENTRE
23 Sheffield Road. Barnsley
Tel 022646972,0226296100
WATERS COMPUTER SYSTEMS
Rackhams. 50 High Street, Sheffield
Tel 0742 28121
YORKSHIRE (WEST)

ELTEC COMPUTERS LTD
Lister Hills, Science Park
Campus Road. Bradford
Tel 02 74 722512
GTM COMPUTERS LTD
864 York Road, Leeds
Tel 053 2 6 4 7474
MICROPOWER

Northwood House, North Street
Leeds

Tel 0532458800

WALES. NORTH

TECHNEG CLWYD TECHNICS LTD

Unit 4b. Antelope Ind Estate

Rydymwyri, Mold, Clwyd

Tel 035283766

TRYFAN COMPUTERS LTD

57 Madoc Street. Llandudno

Gwynedd

Tel 0492 70802

WALES. SOUTH

BUCON LTD

35-36 Singleton Street. Swansea
West Glamorgan
Tel 0792 467980
GWENT COMPUTERS
95 Chepston Road. Newport. Gwent
Tel 0633 841760

HIGHLANDS COMPUTER SYSTEMS
27 Murray Street. Llanelli. Oyfed
Tel 05542 70517
PRINTRONIC LTD
Hill House. Raglan. Gwent
Tel 0291690214

SCOTLAND

ANDREWWHYTE&SON LIMITED
Microworld 12 Leven Street
Tolcross. Edinburgh
Tel 0312281111
WEST COAST
PERSONAL COMPUTERS
20 Wellington Square. Ayr
Tel 0292285082
COMMSCOTT LTD

30 Gordon Street. Glasgow

Strathclyde

Tel 0412264878

COMPUTER SERVICES (SCOTLAND)
89/90 Wesllaw Place
Whitehill Ind Estate, Glenrothes, Fife
Tel 0592 773710

LORNE COMPUTER SERVICES LTD
12 High Street, Oban, Argyll
Tel 063165635
SILICON CENTRE

7 Antigua Street. Edinburgh
Tel 031557 4546

IRELAND (NORTHERN)

CEM MICROCOMPUTER SERVICES
117 University Street, Belfast
Tel 0232244111,0232 243564
IRELAND (SOUTHERN)

LENDAC DATA SYSTEMS
8 Dawson Street. Dublin 2
Tel 0001 710226, 0001 710796

Prices quoted are ex VAT. CP/M is a registered trademark of Digital Research Inc. Kconet is a registered trademark of Acorn Computers Ltd. Perfect Si iftware is a
registered trademark of Perfect Software Inc. Text, graphics and keyboard provided by BBC Model R

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

27

NEWS FEATURE ■

DOMESDAY PLUS 900

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1

William I’s great survey, completed in 1086, inspires a
massive project nine centuries later. Tony Quinn reports

T HE BBC is to give the British
people the chance to write a
modern, video disc version of
William the Conqueror’s Domesday
Book to celebrate its 900th anniversary
in 1986- with the help of BBC micros in
schools. The resources and expertise
of several of the Corporation’s depart-
ments and the Open University are to
be used, and schools will be offered the
chance to collate the information.

But Peter Armstrong, Editor of the
Domesday Project and the man who
thought of the idea, stresses that he
wants to involve everyone. ‘We hope to
mobilise communities. Everyone will
have the chance to contribute some-
thing,’ he says, ‘with the schools acting
as a focus and providing the computer.'
Parents and local societies can help
collect data and then there are 80,000
pictures to be taken for the disc.

The BBC will be writing to all 30,000
schools in Britain to ask them whether
they want to participate in collecting
facts during the summer term next
year. It is estimated that 10,000 schools
will be needed to make the scheme
work, which would involve about a
million children. A similar project was
undertaken in the 1950s by Dudley
Stamp, and it is estimated that it took
him 16 years: the BBC, with the aid of

computers, aims to do more in just two.

To those schools which decide to
participate the BBC will allocate a local
area 12 kilometres square based on
Ordnance Survey maps. With the maps
will come a set of discs containing a
database questionnaire asking about

the geography, amenities and land use
in the area. As well as this, they will be
asked to write about the area in their
own words. Armstrong stresses that
they will be able to add anything and
comment on the issues affecting them,
as long as it is publishable!

WHAT IS INTERACTIVE VIDEO?

THE technology that Philips is developing with the BBC is based around the
video laster disc player. In this system, the video information, until recently just
TV pictures, is recorded on a disc similar to a gramophone record. This is then
coated in a very tough see-through plastic which means the disc can be marked
or scratched without affecting its ability to be played. The disc is read in the
player by a laser beam and contains about 30 minutes’ worth of TV pro-
grammes.

As well as TV pictures, the disc can store still pictures, computer graphics,
text, maps and computer data. When the information is stored so that it can be
read by a computer, it can be manipulated by software on the video disc (or
another program), and still or moving pictures can be overlaid with graphics -
hence the term ‘interactive’. Information can only be read from the disc and not
written to it. It can act as a read-only floppy disc because it has random access
capabilities - the laser head can read from any part of the video disc, just as a
hi-fi stylus can play any selected piece of music on a record. However, the
access time is slower than that of a normal disc drive.

What makes the system different is the way the information is stored: it is not
digital, but in a semi-analogue form.

‘ Interactive Video: Implications for Education and Training ’ is the title of a
working paper by John Duke which was published in 1983 by the Council for
Educational Technology.

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

| NEWS FEATURE

Historian Michael Wood, who in 1986 will present a major TV documentary series on
Britain since the Conquest when the video disc Domesday is launched, leafs through the
original version. In preparation for the series the Domesday Book of 1086, in the National
Archive, will be withdrawn from public access to undergo cleaning and restoration

The school will be the centre of the
project, as only by computerising the
information will the idea be practical.
Once the schools have sent in the discs
the information will be stored on a
mainframe computer. This people’s
database’ will be put on one interactive
video disc complete with pictures of the
places and detailed Ordnance Survey
maps. On another disc will be facts and
figures from the census and other
national databases held by the Govern-
ment and the BBC.

The sheer scale of the project takes
some reckoning: two laser discs each
holding two gigabytes - enough for half
a million text pages and 80,000 pictures
(including satellite shots), plus the soft-
ware to manipulate the information and
produce maps, bar charts and other
graphics. All the maps and data will be
indexed. There is no sound on the discs
as this would require moving pictures;
still frames make far better use of the
space on the disc.

But the project is not going to be
merely a unique data-gathering exer-
cise: the BBC and Philips, who will be
producing the video disc hardware,
aim to establish a world standard for
laser discs. The hardware will run on
other micros, although the actual
Domesday (Doomsday) disc software
will be written for the BBC micro. Acorn
is writing the software and building the
final stage interface for the video disc.

Domesday should help the laser
technology overcome the ‘chicken and
egg’ situation whereby the hardware
won’t sell because there’s no software,
and no-one will write any software
because there aren’t enough people
with the hardware to run it. The BBC’s
project, involving the Department of
Trade and Industry, Philips and Acorn,
will not just create the technology; it
will demonstrate its potential and show
how it can be used. Elsewhere within
the BBC, producers are talking about
selling TV programmes on video disc.

The Domesday disc truly is, as Arm-
strong describes it, a portrait in data
and pictures of Britain and the British,
containing twice as much information
as a complete set of the Encyclopaedia
Britannica.

Armstrong came up with the idea in
May and presented it to the BBC in
September - the go-ahead was given
only at the end of October. When the
video discs and hardware are released
in 1986, they will be accompanied by a
major TV documentary series following
the development of Britain from the
Domesday Book to its laser-disc suc-
cessor. The presenter will be historian
Michael Wood, recently seen on the
BBC’s River Journey series.

A special editorial board of
academics has been set up to decide

exactly what should go on the discs,
how the questions will be asked and
how the information should be pre-
sented. The variety of information to
choose from is enormous - everything
from tree counts to folk music - and the
board’s members will have to narrow it
down. The data will be held on a form
on the discs so that it can be accessed
by other software and used in edu-
cational and other programs.

The project is the biggest the BBC
has ever undertaken, costing some £2
million and employing about 50 people
just to produce the discs. It is a bold
idea which Peter Armstrong believes
only Britain, with its network of BBC
micros in schools, could do and that
only the resources of the BBC itself
could support. The idea sold itself

fairly quickly,’ says Armstrong, ‘as we
realised the tremendous educational
opportunity it presented.’ It will also
demonstrate the possibilities of a tech-
nology that many people in the BBC
believe will revolutionise education, he
adds.

It is seen as an ideal follow-up to the
Computer Literacy Project. John Rad-
cliffe, who started the project and has
now moved on to the Open University,
is heavily committed to Domesday and
will be co-ordinating the OU’s involve-
ment.’

After updating the Domesday Book
once, will the BBC do it again and up-
date the video in, say, 20 years? Arm-
strong wants to get this one out of the
way first. He says: ‘There is a temp-
tation to update, but we don’t know.’

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

INTELLIGENT/ ENTERTAINMENT-

One finger and half a brain
|are all you need to make music
on the new Music System.

DISK PACK £24 95 INC VAT CASSETTE 1 (SYNTHESISER. KEYBOARD. SONG AND
SOUND LIBRARY) £12.95 INC VAT CASSETTE 2 (EDITOR. PRINT OUT. SONG
AND SOUND LIBRARY) £12.95 INC VAT. PLEASE ADD £1.25 P & P PER ORDER AND
SEND A CHEQUE/PO. ACCESS OR VISA CARD NO. WITH ORDER TO: SYSTEM
12 COLLEGIATE CRES.. SHEFFIELD S10 2 BA. (CREDIT CARD HOTLINE 0742 682321)
THIS PROGRAM IS RECORDED ON THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE
QUALITY DISKS, AS SUPPLIED BY MEMOREX

IS LAN D ' LOG ! C

You’re looking at a composer.

It’s hard to believe, I know. But
with the aid of The Music System
program, he has just written a
whole ‘song’ completely by himself.

Clever boy

“Toxteth Dawn’’ is the name of
the ‘song!

It’s a love song.

Without any knowledge of
music he bought the music system
program, went home,
booted it up on his dad’s
BBC B and started to
create.

He used the synthe-
siser part of the program
to make a few noises.
Added a pinch of an old song from
the Song and Sound Library.

Laid down some percussion.
And put a hint of bassoon and
strings over the top.

And hey presto.

The musical answer to zits.
‘‘Toxteth Dawn.’’

Because his dad’s computer
had a printer as well, the program
even printed out the composition
in full musical-manuscript form.

So he could show it to the rest
of the band. And they could say.
‘WOSSAT?’

Isn’t it time you
became a com poser
too?

The brand new
Music System from
Island Logic.

Watford Electronics

Dept, ACORN, 33 CARDIFF ROAD, WATFORD, ENGLAND.

Tel: Watford <0923) 40588/37774 Telex: 8956095 WAELEC

ACCESS ORDERS Tel: (0923) 50234

0 BBC Micro

(Model B)

Only: £31 5

(Securicor carriage £7)

6502 2nd PROCESSOR
Z80 2nd PROCESSOR

(Securicor carriage £7)

£175

£339

TORCH Z80 DISC Pack

£695

TORCH Z80 2nd Processor

ONLY £295

BBC Micro with ECONET

£375

ECONET Upgrade Kit

£55

File Server Level 1

£85

File Server Level 2

£215

Printer Server EPROM

£41

Clock Terminators (1 pair)

£95

1 0 Station Lead Set

£25

ECONET User Guide and Cable

£10

TELETEXT Adaptor

£195

Acorn Bitstick

£328

Dust Cover for BBC Micro

Protects your expensive Micro from foreign
bodies while not in use £d.t>U

• EPSON RX80 Printer £213

• EPSON RX80 FT Printer £225

• EPSON FX80 Printer £316

• EPSON FX100 Printer £435

• SEIKOSHA GP 1 00A £122

• Centronics PRINTER CABLE for all the

above printers to interface with the BBC
Micro £7

(Securicor carriage charge on printers L7)

RX & FX PRINTER INTERFACES

Epson interfaces fit inside the printer to allow
connection using techniques other than Centronics

RS232 £35 RS232 ♦ 2K Buffer £59

IEEE 488 £65 2K Parallel £58

PRINTER INTERFACE BUFFER

This neatly packaged self-contained unit is
supplied complete with all leads operating
manual and power supply Computer output to
the printer is stored in the buffer so that the
computer can continue with other tasks while
the printer works from the stored contents in the
buffer 16K holds approximately 10 pages of A4
close to the full memory of Wordwise

Price: 16K £115

Price: 48K £149

Type

MX80FT

MX 100 FX100

FX80

RX80

GP80

GP100

GP250

GP700

KAGAKP810

CANON PW 1 080

libbons

Dust Covers

£4.75

£10.00

£5 25

£4.75

£4 95

£4.75

£4.50

£4.50

—

£4.95

£3.95

£5.95

£18.50

£3.95

£5.95

£4.75

£5 95

£4.75

PRINTER SHARER

This handy UNIT is a solid state switch system
designed to ease the problems of short printer
leads continual plugging and unplugging of
leads and costly extra printers by allowing up to
‘three computers to be connected to one printer.

It has four parallel Centronics connectors for
easy interfacing of the BBC micro to any printer
with a Centronics capability such as daisy wheel
clot matrix or plotter type printers.

PRINTSHARER is ideal for schools and colleges
for sharing their printing resources.

Price: £65 (£2 Carr.)

BROTHER HR-15

DAISY-WHEEL PRINTER

This is a high quality daisy wheel printer, for the
price of a dot matrix. Daisy-wheel quality gives a
professional look to your correspondence.
Facilities include 18CPS, bi directional print, 3K
Buffer with clear facility, carriage skip movement,
text copy switch, proportional spacing,
underlining, bold, shadow, super and sub script,
printing in two colours. Impact control allows use
of carbon paper. Connects directly to the BBC
micro with centronics parallel interface. RS232
interface is an optional extra Other options are a
single sheet feeder that automatically feeds up to
1 50 single A4 sheets and a keyboard to
transform the printer into a sophisticated
electronic typewriter

SPECIAL OFFER

ONLY £339 (carr. £7)

Single Sheet Feeder
Electronics KEYBOARD
TRACTOR FEED Attachment

RIBBON CARTRIDGES:

Fabric £3; Carbon £3; Multistrike £6
DAISYWH EELS (various typefaces) £18

LISTING PAPER (Plain)

£195

£135

£90

1 000 Sheets 9 y Fanfold Paper

£7

2 000 Sheets 9 J- " Fanfold Paper

£13

1 000 Sheets 1 5' Fanfold Paper

£9

Teleprinter Roll (Econo paper)

£4

Carriage on 1 000 Sheets £ 1 50

PRINTER LABELS

(On continuous fanfold backing sheet)

1000 90 X 36mm £5.50

1 000 90 x 49mm £7.75

1000 102 x36mm £6.25

Carnage on Printer Paper or Labels €1 50
Carriage on 1 000 Labels f 1 00

N £\N 4 COLOUR
PLOTTER PRINTER

How often have you wished you had a colour
plotter for your computer, but have been put off
by their high cost? Well. Watford Electronics can
now supply you with a high quality, low cost
plotter with Centronics interface. The SCP-800
printer plotter facilitates plotting and printing in
four coiours on paper up to A4 size using easily
replaced pens. It can operate in a text mode
performing like an ordinary printer capable of
speeds up to 12 CPS with a maximum of 160
characters per line on A4 paper In graphics
mode it offers full plotting facilities including
drawing, moving, scaling of text rotation and
drawing of axes.

At an incredible low price of:

Only £179 (£5 carr )

KAGA KP810

At € 269 this is an unbeatable product for what
it has to offer. " - Educational Computing.

"Offers excellent value for money. Electronics
& Computing.

This new Japanese printer has EPSON FX'RX
compatible control codes and is functionally
equivalent to an FX80 with the added advantage
of its Near Letter Quality mode. It is solidly built
and features include: Normal. Italic Enlarged,
super/subscript, proportional spacing and
user-defined character set Extras over the FX80
included in the price are Near Letter Quality
(NLQ) print ideal for correspondence,
properadjustible tractor feed, half speed quiet
mode and 3K buffer The printer is bi directional
and logic seeking to give a speed of 140CPS for
high throughput in conjunction with the standard
3K buffer 8K RAM may be added to give more
user defined character sets. Centronics parallel
interface + Watford's 12 month NO QUIBBLE
WARRANTY

Special Offer: ONLY £239 (£7 carr.)

RS232 interface + 2 K buffer to connect to other
micros

£89

KAGA KP910 PRINTER

Very similar to the KP8 1 0 but with 1 7" carriage
for really wide print Gives 1 56 columns of
normal print or 256 columns in condensed
mode. This printer is ideal for printing out
spreadsheets and can also be used for
correspondence in NLQ mode

ONLY £339 (£7 carr.)

PRINTER LEAD 36"

Centronics lead to connect BBC micro to
EPSON KAGA SEIKOSHA NEC STAR JUKI.
BROTHER SHINWA etc printers

STANDARD (3 foot long) £7

EXTRA LONG (5 foot long) £10

All prices exclude VAT

32

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

DOUBLE DENSITY

DISC INTERFACE

SIMPLE but SOPHISTICATED

We are proud to announce the launch of the
Watford Electronics Double Density Board for the
BBC micro. The DDFS supplied is a new version
of the popular Watford Electronics DFS
re written to make full use of the capabilities of
the new double density controller.

• Increases storage capacity of your Disc Drives
by the maximum physically possible, 80% ! ! I

• Our system will use the whole of an 80 track
drive Inferior systems do not allow files longer
than &3FFFF bytes, but with our system files
can be as long as one disc side.

• Discs may be created in either single or
double density format with the built in formatter
and in single density mode are fully compatible
with normal Acorn format discs.

t The density of the disc you put in is
automatically sensed by the system and you are
informed of the density in the catalogue display.

• The double density system is of course faster
than single density.

The Watford Electronics DDFS implements an
extremely comprehensive 82 71 emulator so that
commands passed through OSWORD & 7F are
correctly interpreted Other manufacturers
thought that read and write sector alone were
sufficient we decided to implement every
command of the 82 71 that was physically
possible. We have allowed the use of all the
special registers including bad tracks, allowed
access to deleted data etc., etc. The emulator
itself takes up around 1 K of compactly written
machine code We reckon it will run many of the
protected discs now available. Gain all the
advantages of the WE DFS together with much
' increased storage and compatibility with many
existing protected discs The price is the same as
for the standard single density system that we
continue to sell so you can choose between the
two options without financial worries.

Complete Unit incl. DDFS ROM £85

DDFS Manual £6.95 (no VAT)

We will exchange your existing Single
Density Interface for our DDFS Unit for £55
(Carriage f 1 .50)

* SPECIAL OFFER *

EPROMs for BBC Micro (Hitachi)
2764-250nS £ 4.75
27128 250nS £ 16.00

RAMs for BBC Micro (Hitachi)
61 16L (2K) £ 3.75
6264L (8K) £ 24.00

(DRIVES Cased with Cables; connects
directly to your BBC Micro)

• CLS 100 Single. TEC Single sided 40 track

100K, 5£" Disc Drive £9?

• CLS200 Single Drive. Double sided 40 track.

200K. 5J" £129

• CLS400 Single. Mitsubishi Double sided 80

track 400K. 5£" Disc Drive £135

• CLS400S Single, Mitsubishi Double sided
40/80 track Switchable, 400K, 5J" Disc Drive

£152

• CLD200 TEC Single sided 40 track 200K.

twin 5^" Drives £199

• CLD800 Mitsubishi Double sided 80 track

800K. b\" TWIN Drives £269

• CLD800S Mitsubishi Double sided 40/80

track switchable, 800K. Drives £299

(CUMANA! DRIVES CASED
WITH PSU & CABLES

• CS100 TEC Single sided 40 track 100K 5i"

Single Disc Drive £119

• CS200 TEC Single sided 80 track 200K 51”

Single Disc Drive £149

• CS400 Mitsubishi Double sided 80 track

400K 5 j" Single Drive £169

• CD200 TEC Single sided 40 track 200K 51”

TWIN Disc Drives £236

• CD400 EPSON Double sided 40 track 400K

51' TWIN Disc Drives £299

• CD800 Mitsubishi Double sided 80 track

800K 51” TWIN Drives £349

• CD800S Mitsubishi Double sided 40/80 track

Switchable 800K TWIN Drives £399

• SPARE DRIVE CABLES, SINGLE £6; DUAL £8

• DFS Manual (comprehensive) £7.50 (No VAT)

NEW DESIGN

PLASTIC LIBRARY CASES

for Disc Storage 5 i" (holds 1 0) £ 1 .80

PS

You do not require a formatting disc nor the
expensive 40/80 track switchable drives if you
use Watford s sophisticated Disc Filing System
which has all these facilities in the ROM

(Carriage on Disc Drives £7 securicor)

DUST COVERS

(For our Disc Drives)

Single (without PSU)

£3.20

Twin (without PSU)

£3.85

Single (with PSU)

£3.25

Twin (vyith PSU)

£3.90

Twin (side by side with PSU)

£3.95

5£" DISKETTES

Top quality 3M and XIDEX diskettes with a
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.

• 1 0 SCOTCH / 3M + labels S/S S/D £14

• 1 0 SCOTCH / 3M + labels S/S D/D £15

• 1 0 SCOTCH / 3M + labels D/S D/D £22

• 10 XIDEX + labels S/S D/D £15

• 1 0 XIDEX + labels D/S D/D £24

DISC ALBUMS

Atractively finished in beige
leather-look vinyl, these conveniently
store up to 20 discs. Each disc can
easily be seen through the clear view
pockets.

£ 4.25

LOCKABLE DISK
STORAGE UNITS

Strong plastic cases that afford real protection to
your discs. The smoked top locks down. Dividers
and adhesive title strips are supplied for efficient
filing of discs.

M35 holds upto 40 discs £13

M85 holds upto 95 discs £17

FLOPPY HEADCLEAIMER KIT

The heads in a floppy disc drive are precision
made and very sensitive to dirt. Drive
manufacturers recommend that you clean the
heads approximately once a week Unless your
home or office is dust free one of these kits is a
very sensible precaution against losing valuable
data. A dirty head can destroy many disks before
you realise the trouble. Very simple to use.

Only £14

BBC MICRO
WORD-PROCESSING
PACKAGE

A complete word-processing package (which can
be heavily modified to your requirements,
maintaining the large discount) We supply
everything you need to get a BBC micro running
as a word processor Please call in for a
demonstration.

EXAMPLE PACKAGE

BBC Model B Watford Electronics DFS upgrade,
WORDWISE ROM Twin 200k Teac drives in
beige. Zenith 12” Hi resolution monitor (Green or
Amber) Brother HR 15 daisywheel printer.

Gemini software BEEBCALC spreadsheet,
analysis and DATABASE software on disc 10 •
3M discs 500 sheets fan-fold paper, 4 way
mains trailing socket, manuals, all leads and BBC
carrying case.

ONLY 3 £ 1,125 (£ 1 5 carr.)

ACCESS
HOT LINE
(0923 50234 )

24 Hours

Continued

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

33

We stock a range of monitors to suit all needs.
Choice of a monitor is a matter of personal taste
so we recommend that whenever possible, you
ask for a demonstration at our shop

MICROVITEC

• 1431 Medium resolution as used on the

BBC television computer programme £165

• 1451 High resolution, suitable for word

processing in mode 0 £255

• 1441 Super High res. exceeds the

capabilities of the BBC micro £385

• Dust Cover for Microvitecs £5.50

All Microvitec monitors are 14" RGB in their

distinctive right angled case. They come with the
connecting lead to the BBC and a mains plug.

KAGA

• Standard resolution with RGB and composite

video inputs £195

• High resolution colour £259

• KAGA III Super High resolution £349

Kaga Monitors are 12" RGB colour units housed
in an attractive beige plastic cabinet. They all
have as standard, a genuine etched anti glare
screen.

ZENITH

12" Ultra high resolution monochrome monitor.
Ideal for word processing as its green or amber
screen is very restful to read. The high resolution
makes it good for games too - you can really
see the detail that has been put into the

graphics ONLY £68

LEADS

BNCLead for Zenith or Philips £3

BNC for Zenith .... £3

RGB lead for KAGA £5

N.B. Carriage on Monitors £7 (securicor)

Versatile BEEB SPEECH

SYNTHESISER Unit

SIMPLY the best! - An unlimited speech
synthesis system. Complete with
easy-to-follow manual. Controlling software
is in ROM so no Cassette Loading
problems!

PHONEMES for word synthesis - That means
unlimited vocabulary! No extra speech
dictionary chips to buy!

BUILT-in Library of approximately 500 words to
get you started.

ENGLISH accent - Utilises inflexion techniques
to produce highly comprehensible speech.

EASY to use system - Just plug the software
ROM into a socket, the Speech unit into
the User Port, and away you go! No
specialised dealer upgrade' required!

COMPACT unit - The whole system is built into
a small case - easily tucked behind the
computer. Auxiliary output socket provided
for direct connection to an external
amplifier.

HOURS of fun' - Suitable for any application -
Games. Educational Programs, Specialised
Packages.

We know this all seems to good to be true but

DON’T BE LEFT SPEECHLESS! Order your

Versatile Speech Unit now!

SPECIAL OFFER £35

Best cost less
at WATFORD

WATFORD'S
LAUNCH OF THE YEAR

APEX

The ultimate expansion system for the BBC
microcomputer. It enables you to increase
memory capacity to 2+ MEGABYTES
including BATTERY BACKED-UP RAM.

The system consists of a mother board
which fits inside the BBC and further
daughter cards can be connected externally.
The internal card has the following features:

• 15 ROM/RAM sockets, 1 1 of which can
be configured as 2716, 2732. 2764,

27128 EPROMS or ROM equivalent
devices or as 6264 RAMs. Any RAM is
Automatically battery backed-up and it's
contents preserved when the power is
turned off.

• The battery is recharged every time the
machine is turned on and lasts several
months, depending on the number of RAMs
fitted.

• There is very little extra current drain,
even with a fully loaded board as only the
presently active ROM is powered up. In fact
the fully populated board uses only 300mA.

• The board reduces micro bus loading by
up to three ROM loads, which improves
reliability and performance.

• Installation is extremely simple. There is
no soldering required. The board is rigidly held
by two 40 pin sockets and five support posts
A ribbon cable can be brought outside the
computer and up to 8 external cards added.
This enables the user to plug-in up to 142
paged ROMs. The cards have following
features:

• Each card can accommodate up to 16
devices each of which can be configured as
2716, 2732, 2764 27128 ROMs or 6264
8K RAMs.

• Battery backup is provided from the
internal card.

• Only the active ROM is powered up
permitting many external ROMs to be
added with very little current loading

(1 00mA per card).

The system comes with controlling software
in ROM. The utilities supplied are as follows:

• APEX - replies with the device number
currentlv being accessed.

• APEX C - toggles between the colour
and standard black and white messages.

• AL - loads from any device, regardless
of the data type.

• AS - saves memory to any specified
RAM device.

• AD - prints a directory of the devices
present in the system, i.e. ROMs present
and files stored. This also reports on the
amount of free storage space.

• AF - asks for the free RAM devices.

• LA - repeats the last command to paged
ROMs.

Continued

★ AT enters a memory testing routine
This will write a test pattern into the
memory and read it 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
system which then treats all free APEX
RAM in the system as a continuous
RAM-DISC' All commands have similar
format to the DFS and transfer is possible
between the two systems.

The complete computer system bus is
available to the user, so that other
cards/devices could be added such as
EPROM programmers second processors.
Winchester disc drives, clocks, etc. By
racking the cards you eliminate the tangled
mass of cables that usually accumulates
around the micro.

A comprehensive operating manual is
supplied with every APEX Board. Please
write in for further details and prices.

THE ULTIMATE
DFS

FOR BBC MICRO

by

Watford Electronics

Highly acclaimed at The ACORN and BBC
MICRO USER Shows What do the independent |
press say?

Good value for money Beehug Aug 83
A very worthwhile package The Micro User

You'll be buying a very powerful package
Personal Computer News

Superior DFS. Excellent disc sector editor
Computer Answers

Without a doubt, the most sophisticated DFS
Software yet written for BBC Micro Computer
This powerful new DFS is fully compatible with
ACORN DFS yet has much increased power due
to additions, carefully designed to make life
easier in normal use. It consists of over 14K of
efficiently written machine code It is entirely self i
contained and so does not require a utilities disc 1
to function,

Please write in for full technical specification

PRICES:

DFS (Disc Filing System) ROM £25

Complete Disc Interface Kit including
DFS ROM &

Fitting instructions P.O.A.

Disc Filing System Manual. Comprehensive and
clearly written £7.50 (no VAT)

P S We will exchange your existing ACORN DFS
or PACE (AMCOM) DFS for Watford s highly
sophisticated 1 6K DFS ROM for £19

Watford's DFS is exclusively available from
Watford Electronics. We do NOT retail through any
dealers. Every ROM carries a label with our LOGO
and a serial number.

Now available:

Acorn DFS Kit £99

MYSTRIES OF DISCDRIVES
& DFS REVEALED

Price: £5.95 (Book- No VAT)

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

34

cs

t

BEEB PRINTER ROM

This utility ROM is designed to simplify using all
the facilities of your printer. It has many
facilities:

★ Selection of printer modes such as underline,
font and size is by Single Key' operations.

★ From Wordwise. a single number following
OC will select a mode rather than a long and
incomprehensible string of control codes. This
makes using your printer with Wordwise much
more convenient.

★ When using Basic (or other languages) you
can have control over the formatting of the
output to the printer in the style of a
wordprocessor. You can define page top. bottom
and side margins etc. with intelligent page skip
for binders an option. All supported printers will
now respond to form feed etc. commands.

★ User defined characters are printed as you
see them on the screen so that non-standard
characters are automatically printed out correctly.

★ Commands select the options for the
following printers:

GP100. STAR. NEC, MX/FX, KAGA.
LPA/II/DMP100. DMP200.

Operates with either parallel or serial interfaces.

★ Supplied with a 50 page manual that is very
comprehensive and easy to follow. Please specify
printer type when ordering so that we can send
the correct function key strip

Price: £24

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25

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DUMPOUT 3

A highly sophisticated screen dump ROM. This
has to be the most flexible and powerful screen
dump ROM yet produced for the BBC micro.

It will put on paper anything you see on the
screen, including all Mode 7 facilities etc. We
have to admit that there is one facility that we
cannot replicate if anyone can supply flashing
ink we would like to know 1
The ROM also provides window setting facilities
and two new OSWORD calls that allow mode 7
graphics pixels to be read and plotted using the
standard graphic co-ordinate system. Two
commands are used to operate the dump
routines:

•GIMAGE - This provides a full graphics dump
of any Mode (including Mode 8). There are
various optional parameters but you need only
specify the parameters you wish to change.

• V < 'scale. • H <scale.> - These 2 byte numers
give fine control over the size of the dump from
minute to enormous. Unlike other dump ROMs
the scale does not change with mode.

• R 0 3 * - Print dump rotated by 0 90. 180
270 degrees

• I • indent Set gap from left edge of paper

• X • min ><max>. Y < min •,<max> - The
whole of the screen graphics window area is
dumped except when these parameters are
given.

• P - Physical colour values are used for
plotting, otherwise a negative scale is used
(white darkest).

• T Two tone dump for maximum resolution.

• M .mask > - 8 bit colour mask

• E Contrast expansion to make mode 7 text
and separated graphics stand out from the
background

• C All mode 7 graphics are printed as
contiguous to improve the shading in graphic
areas

•TIMAGE v indent • Does a fast, text only,
dump of the contents of the text window in any
mode

•GWINDOW and *TWIND0W These
commands draw the graphics and text windows
respectively, on the screen and allow them to be
changed with the cursor keys N B GIMAGE and
GWINDOW work fully in mode 7
Designed for use with the following printers
CP80. GP80 GP100 GP250 STAR
KAGATAXAN NEC SHINWA GEMINI EPSON
MXRX/FXLPVII DMP 100 120 200 400
CANON.

Price including comprehensive manual

£22

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

EPSON DUMP ROM

This screen dump ROM is specifically designed
for use with the Epson RX/FX printers and the
Kaga KP810. It is extremely simple to use as
there is only one command to remember. It will
accurately dump any screen mode using multiple
tones as required. Mode 7 is fully supported
giving teletext graphics, double height etc. For
those who like to keep life simple this EPROM is
only £ 20 .

EPSON FX/RX
LETTER QUALITY
PRINT ROM

Impress your friends and business colleagues
with the quality of your letters and printed
material with Watford's very simple to use
EPSON NLQ 'Near Letter Quality) ROM. Suitable
for FX80. RX80. RX80F/T, FX100

Look at the features:

• Simply type *NLQ80/100 and a single VDU
code to use NLQ print.

• NLQ is then available without any
modifications from BASIC. WORDWISE VIEW
(with NLQ DRIVER) or virtually any other
program or language.

• Single codes select PROPORTIONAL type (yes
even on the RX80): ENLARGED type
UNDERLINED type. These features can be used
seperately or in any combination.

• Full UK character set.

Standard pica size
Proportional spacing
Enlarged
Underlined
Normal type

The NLQ ROM is incredibly easy to fit and use.
Supplied complete with Manual.

Only: £20

THE EPSON FX/KAGA
PRINTER COMMANDS
REVEALED

for the BBC Microcomputer
(The only Printer Book for the Epson FX 80
compatible printers).

So you bought yourself a new printer, because
the salesman in the shop showed you how clever
it is and impressed you with all sorts of printouts
to show its capabilities he may even have
offered you a special price.

However, now that you have got it home and
connected it to your BBC microcomputer, you
are wondering how to make it perform these
magical tasks. The manual seems to give no
clues and when you type in the example
programs, the computer throws the LPRINT
statements back in your face.

Now what do you do, when this £400 piece
of high technology refuses even to move its
head, and you have stayed up until 2 in the
morning with copious supplies of coffee,
desperately trying to print something out. Once
again, Watford Electronics comes to your help
with our new book entitled The EPSON
FX. KAGA PRINTER COMMANDS REVEALED

This book describes in plain, easy to
understand English how to use your printer
(Kaga KP810 Canon PW1080A or any other
Epson FX 80 compatible printer) with the BBC
micro, both from Basic and your Wordwise
wordprocessor

It describes in detail how to obtain the
maximum in graphics capability from your printer
and includes full indexes allowing you to cross
index the numerous commands. Every command
is explained in detail, with an accompanying BBC
Basic program and an example of its use from
Wordwise

This book is superb value at only
£5.95 (Book -No VAT)

FORTH ROM for BBC

This ROM provides a complete implementation
o< the FIG-FORTH standard (including editor).
Supplied with a large tutorial manual at only £33

TINY PASCALfor BBC Micro £59

ULTRACALC

A very sophisticated ROM based spreadsheet
(upgraded version) from BBC Publications. The
new ROM has more power and flexibility.
Features:

• Operation in any screen mode.

• Greater printer flexibility incl. control codes &
£ sign definition.

• Runs as HICALC on a 6502 second
processor to allow 44K of workspace in any
screen mode.

• Spooling of ASCII text files for subsequent
use with any word processor.

• Several additional layout options.

Price £65

VIEW

VIEW WORDPROCESSOR

We are supplying the new VIEW version 2.1
allowing printing of memory contents etc. £46

HIGHVIEW

A special version of VI EW designed for use with
6502 2nd Processor. Available on disc, it offers
47 K of text memory.

£49

VIEWSHEET (Acornsoft) £49

VIEW DRIVERS FOR
JUKI & BROTHER
PRINTERS

Watford Electronics are now able to supply a
new View Driver package to complement any
View wordprocessor system using the Brother
HR 15 and Juki 6100 daisywheel printers.

The facilities offered by this driver are:

• Auto Underlining

• Bold

• Shadow

• Superscript

• Subscript

• Proportional spacing

• Pad character facility

The program is supplied on a 40/80 track disc
with full instructions for its use.

Only £9

FX80 PRINTER DRIVER

Watford's own Sophisticated VIEW
Printer Driver for FX80

To simplify using the full facilities of the Epson
FX80 or Kaga KP810 use this printer driver. Full
facilities are provided for selecting between fonts
etc. The disc includes examples of use and
instructions Available on 40 or 80 track disc
(please state which required). £6

VIEW/VIEW SHEET PRINTER
DRIVER for SILVER REED

(Officially approved by Silver Reed)

A range of VIEW Printer drivers to complement
the Silver Reed range of Printers and Typewriters.
The View driver allows access to all of the
features supported by the range of daisy wheel
printers (EXP 770/400/500/550) These include
underlining, bold, shadow, superscript, and
subscript printing Additionally, you can use
proportional spacing on the EXP 770 Owners of
one of the typewriters in the range EX
55/44/43. using it as a printer, can also access
underlining with these drivers.

The printer drivers also extend the facilities in
View to allow the use of pad characters
The printer driver on disk with a user manual is
at a special introductory price of £7.

Please specify printer type when ordering.

Continued

35

TWO DATABASE
MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

DISCDATA

Discdata is an entirely disc based database
handling system. It is extremely easy to use
through its comprehensive menu system. The
simplicity is such that we do not feel the need to
provide explanation on use in the written
guidance supplied with the program. The
first-time database user will rapidly become
familiar with this package designed throughout
to be simple and obvious.

Despite the ease of use this system provides all
the facilities needed for complex data handling
problems. The length of database that can be
handled is only limited by the total space on the
disc. You can have up to 20 fields with page
length records up to 254 bytes in length. Adding
and deleting records, amend titles, field names
and records. Sort on any field and search for any
record or group of records in any field. The
database may be re-formatted after creation, the
system will re-write all your files for you
automatically. You may add extra fields and
extend the length of existing fields freely.

Output formatting is very powerful. You are
allowed 40. 80 or 132 column output modes
going to printer or screen. Selected fields can be
put in any order on the screen or printer, either
across the paper or down. Output can start or
stop anywhere in the file. Decimal fields are
automatically totalled and records output are
counted. Version 2, now on sale has improved
input and amendments procedures giving full
record edit as well as the 3 extra features . . .
String searching, Calculations on numeric fields,
and the ability to create sub files from your main
files.

On disc at Only £17

(Please specify 40 or 80 track when ordering)

FILE-PLUS

The File-Plus package is even more powerful and
flexible than Disc-Data. It is also largely menu
driven but has its own command language for
file searching. The 16K ROM contains all the
normally required routines, with lesser used
options supplied on the utilities disc. All input
and output formatting is controlled through
screen forms. A full screen editing system is
used to define a form which allows tremendous
flexibility in the format in which your data is
displayed. It is very easy to change from form to
form so that you can type in your data with one
form, and examine it with others. You will
typically design several forms before starting to
access the database so that you can quickly and
easily see the fields of each record that you want
to appear in the layout you decide on. The form
system is also used for output to your printer.

File Plus has a unique file linking system that
allows the entire on-line storage of your system
to be used for one database. This can give
around 1.5 Megabyte databases using dual
drives and double density.

The built in FQL (File-Plus Query Language) can
be used for searching the database. Presented in
the form of a powerful command language with
looping facilities etc. this allows the most flexible
access to your data possible. Full arithmetic
operations are provided to allow the system to
be used for statistical analysis.

Cont.

Operations supported are +. *. /, +-999999
9999 9999 and compare facilities , >\> < z_
>=, <, &. '
Many keywords are supported by the language:
assign, compare, display, end, goto, iff. ift, print,
read, search, spool and update
Supplied with a very detailed 70 page manual to
explain all the facilities with many examples.

Only £43

(Please specify 40 or 80 tracks for
the utilities disc)

BUFFER & BACKUP ROM

For those with sideways RAM fitted in their
machines this utility ROM will make full use of
this facility. By using the sideways RAM area for
extra memory the following features are
implemented:

★ 4K or 16K buffer for parallel printer.

★ Dumps selection of Disc files to Tape.

★ Makes backup copies of tapes on to tape and
disc.

★ Displays contents of paged ROMs on screen.

★ Menu display of ROM filing system contents
on Shift-Break

★ Comprehensive manual.

Only £22

DATAGEM

Gemini's 24K ROM based
DATABASE Management System
Special Introductory Offer: £99

PEN PAL-VERSATILE
LIGHT PEN
SOFTWARE

Do you have a light pen that never gets used ?

Then this piece of software is for you. This
package offers many useful facilities that make
the light pen a useful device to own. Facilities
included are:

• Pixel, Line and Character definition

• Free hand drawing

• All Colours

• Fill. Refill and stripes

• User defined “Brush strokes" plus character
definer

• Grid, Scale and perspective aids 2 to 200
points palletable in one design with Circles and
“rubber banding"

• Move design/character to any screen position

• Save and Load screens. User defined
characters and line drawings for video titles, own
programmes etc.

This program has many uses in education and at
home. It is supplied with a comprehensive
instruction manual.

Works with Watford, RH, Acorn User, DIY and
many other Light Pens.

Prices

TAPE £10

DISC (40 or 80) £11

DISC EXECUTOR

Disc Executor is a sophisticated disc utility for
the transfer of your cassette programs to disc. If
you have difficulties transferring your cassette
software to your disc system then this is the
answer. It handles locked’ files and full length
adventures (up to &&e blocks) and programs
that load below &E00. It is very simple to
operate with instructions supplied. It saves you
time and money.

Price £10

(Please specify 40 or 80 track discs)

ADE

Complete program development package in a

16K ROM, Full assembling and debugging

facilities provided. ! /

SPECIAL OFFER ONLY £43

ROM MANAGER

This ROM is unique in its capabilities. It allows
you, the user, full control over the BBC Micro s
sideways ROM paging system with simple to use
commands. This ROM is essential for those with
several ROMs. At a simple level ROM
MANAGER can be used to remove the problem
of clashing command names and allow full use
of all the facilities of your ROMs. This is coupled
with facilities to completely enable or disable
various ROMs in the machine including ROM
manager itself.

ROM MANAGER can also be used to develop
sideways ROMs using the machine s standard
memory. This is achieved by sending sideways
ROM calls to your code in RAM, saving the
expense of fitting sideways RAM for ROM
development purposes. ROM status reports are
also given by the ROM. including ROM lengths,
checksums, entry points supported and current
filing system title.

The ROM also provides facilities to examine
ROMs, list function keys for editing, modify RAM
(using a HEX/ASCII editor) and list ROM titles
neatly and concisely.

The commands given in the ROM:

• CHECKSUM - Generates a CRC for a
specified ROM (useful for testing suspected
faulty ROMs).

•DIRECT - Passes a command directly to a
named ROM (overcomes command name
clashes).

•EXAMINE — Allows examination of a named
ROM

•EXPLAIN — Gives detailed explanation of the
first 22 *FX codes.

•FILE - Passes a command directly to the
current filing system (which normally receives
commands after all the ROMs).

•FUNCTION - Lists the contents of the
function keys in a form suitable for editing.
•INCLUDE - Allows the main memory to be
used for ROM development.

•MODIFY - Memory editing in HEX/ASCII
format.

•NAMES - Lists the names and socket numbers
of all resident ROMs.

•RAM - Sends command directly to the RAM
based ROM routine.

•REMOVE — Removes RAM based ROM option
•SPECIFY - Selects the default ROM.
•DEFAULT - Sends commands directly to the
default ROM without having to give its name.
•STOP and ‘START - Disable and enable any
named ROM to completely eliminate command
word clashes.

•STATUS - Information about all the ROMs
fitted in the machine including socket number,
name, length, whether it is enabled, whether it
has service or language entries etc.

•VALUES - Gives ROM MANAGER status
information, such as its socket number, how
many ROMs have higher priority, number of
default ROM and the identity of the current filing
system.

•VECTOR — Same as ‘DIRECT, just in case
•DIRECT clashes with another ROM.

All selection between particular ROMs is by the
name of the ROM and this may be abbreviated
for convenience. ROM numbers can also be used
if required. This ROM is very simple and obvious
to use. All the facilities are explained in the clear
and detailed manual.

Price £22

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36

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

Watford's own Machine code Monitor ROM
written by Andrew Bray (Cambridge), co-author
of the BBC Micro Advance User Guide.

The most powerful and versatile machine code
monitor ROM yet written for BBC Micro. It has
all the normal memory editing, moving and
relocating facilities, plus all editing is with a full
screen editor allowing scrolling up and down
memory, entering in Hex. ASCII or standard
assembler mnemonics.

In use as a debugging tool, you run code under
a total emulation system. Everfelt a desperate
urge to set a break point in ROM? No problem
- you can even have breakpoint on reading or
writing locations in memory and on register
contents. The system fully supports debugging
of sideways ROMs e g. BASIC can fully and
easily be run from within Beebmon and from
there DFS and other sideways ROMs can be
used in total emulation mode.

Beebmon can even run itself. In so doing you
can nest Beebmon up to a level limited only by
the memory size. Beebmon uses 256 bytes of
workspace, located anywhere in memory, even
on the 1MHz Bus. Beebmon effectively uses no
zero page workspace, so your program (e.g.
BASIC) can use any or all of the base page
How does it achieve this 7 By providing a 6502
interpreter all programs running under it exist
in a vertual BBC, so special memory locations
like the ROM latch are not actually accessed
by your programs, instead they alter a location
m Beebmons workspace. Emulation also
allows immediate return to Beebmon command
level by ctrl-escape no matter what code is
being excuted at the time All this exceptional
power and flexibility is complemented by a
clear and detailed manual included in a value
for money price of:

£22

Discover the hidden secrets of BASIC and the
OPERATING SYSTEM with this easy to use
programmers tool.

A ROM based machine code Disassembler for
the BBC micro It enables machine code
programs to be listed in BASIC/DUMP format
and thus is the perfect complement to the built
in assembler. It allows Sideways ROMs, files on
disk or tape to be listed, and also has a
comprehensive editor, allowing mnemonics to be
altered directly, as well as HEX DECIMAL. ASCII
and BINARY memory editing. There is also a full
set of labelling facilities available (up to 3.200
labels) with the major locations and routines
already labelled.

Thus DIS ASM enables any monitor program
such as BEEBMON to be used to much greater
affect as it is not necessary to disassemble
memory each time the display is altered.

ONLY £18

^VATFORD- Always
a step ahead

COMPUTER CONCEPT'S ROMS

CARETAKER Basic Utility £28

Graphics ROM £28

Disc Doctor ROM £28

Wordwise

Without doubt a very sophisticated piece of
software for the BBC Micro. It has all the
features of a professional word processor yet is
easy to use.

SPECIALOFFERTHIS MONTH: £32

SPELLCHECKDISC

for Wordwise
Only: £16

BEEBFOIMT ROM

BEEBFONT is a remarkable and different concept
in BBC software supplied on a 16K ROM It
allows you to display text on the screen in any of
the following styles:

abcmi!) t i k Imn o ;

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOP

abcdefghijklmnop

ABCDEFGH I JKLMNOP
abcdefghijklmnop

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOP

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOP

abcdefghi j k 1 mno?

flBCDEFGNI JKLHNOP

It works in modes 0. 1 . 2 and 4 using the full
colour capabilities of each mode. Characters are
printed in the same way as normal Selection
between the various fonts is very easily achieved
with Ctrl-V - press this followed by a font
number and the output will continue in the new
font. Beebfont ROM is particularly useful in
display work with the characters produced at
twice the normal size.

You can create your own character fonts with
the editor supplied You can also print-out
pre-formatted text files using the special
characters with Epson FX. RX and NEC printers.
The full range of character styles can be used,
controlled from within the text. The editor and
spooler program are supplied with the package,
on cassette or disc. The spooler allows word
processor (Wordwise & View) output to be
printed in the new characters.

A twenty page manual is supplied. Please state
printer type and media for the editor & spooler
when ordering (cassette, 40 or 80 track disc).

ONLY £39

Watford fills the gap
with the 32K RAM
EXPANSION BOARD for
the BBC Micro

Now Watford Electronics brings you the latest
state-of-the-art MEMORY EXPANSION BOARD
for your BBC microcomputer. This compact
board which fits inside the computer doesn’t just
give you 16k or even 20k of extra RAM. but a
massive 32K !!!

There are many more useful facilities available
with this board:

• The top 20K of the expansion RAM can be
used as the screen display memory, leaving all
the standard BBC RAM free for programs or data
storage. This allows good graphics and long
programs to be combined. For instance you
could have MODE 0/1/2 GRAPHICS AND 28K
OF PROGRAM SPACE. The extra memory can be
used by virtually any language or utility such as
BASIC. VIEW. WORDWISE. Etc.

• The FULL 32K or the bottom 12K ot the
expansion RAM can be used as a PRINTER
BUFFER for SERIAL or PARALLEL printers,
sound channels. RS423. Keyboard or Speech
Synthesiser. This allows very long text files to be
printed while you are using 28K of program and
20K of graphics' THE BUFFER IS UNIQUE
because it replaces one of the BBC Micro s
buffers so all the buffer options are available on
it. e g. *FX1 5,2 1 .1 38, 1 45,ADVAL(-no.) etc.

• This board is the ideal complement to any
word processing system, disc or cassette based.
There is no need to wait for slow printers as you
can type in long text in 80 column display mode
while printing is going on TWO JOBS DONE
SIMULTANEOUSLY'!! (an equivalent printer
buffer would cost you El 20 +)

• Unlike our competitors, the board is
compatible with a vast range of software and
hardware available for the BBC microcomputer,
including our ROM expansion board, double
density DFS Units and the ATPL ROM extension
board. This is because our board is connected to
the computer by means of a ribbon cable
without soldering h can be either be left in the
micro or stuck to the lid with the 4 self adhesive
feet supplied.

• The board comes with a comprehensive
manual and ROM based software with a large
range of commands for machine code and
BASIC users, including many *HELP messages

SPECIAL OFFER

Only: £69 (carr. £1 )

GRAPH PAD

With this popular British Micro's Graph-pad. you
can add new dimension to your computer
enjoyment. It helps you to create your ovyn
application programs by the simple use of the
Graphpad Ideal for Educational use Supplied
complete with Cables, Manual and a two
program cassette.

SPECIAL OFFER £99

Continued

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

37

LIGHT PEN

This Light Pen for the BBC micro is packaged in
a neat pen shape with built in switch. Supplied
complete with our sophisticated Pen-Pal
software on cassette (see elsewhere in this ad).

Only £20

(For software on disc please add £2)

SIDEWAYS

ZIF

SOCKET

Now Watford Electronics brings you a ROM
board for small budgets or for those of you who
do not wish to open up your Micro frequently It
allows you to change ROMs quickly and
efficiently with the minimum of effort - no
screws to loosen or keyboard to remove
The unit consists mainly of a zero insertion force
(ZIF) socket on a small circuit board which is
located into the position of the ROM Cartridge
and is connected to one of the internal ROM
sockets via a ribbon cable

• Very simple to install NO SOLDERING
REQUIRED The ZIF eliminates the possibility of
damage to your ROM pins when inserting and
extracting them

• The low profile of the socket allows
unrestricted access to the keyboard unlike other
cartridge systems In addition, there are no costly
extras, such as ROM cartridges for every new
ROM

• All data and address lines are correctly
terminated to ensure correct operation of suitable
ROMs with the BBC micro. We also supply a
purpose designed see through storage container
with anti static lining allowing you to store up to
1 2 ROMs, protecting them from mechanical and
static damage

• This versatile hardware solves the problem of
running out of socket space, simply unplug the
ROM and plug in a different one It is a real
must for Professionals and Hobbyists alike

ONLY £1 6 (£ 1 carr.)

Mk-2 13 ROM SOCKET
EXPANSION BOARD

Now all lines fully buffered - On board
battery back-up facility - will now accept
EPROMS 2716, 2732, 2764 & 27128 and
ROMs 6116 & 6264.

Simply plugs into one of the four ROM sockets
currently available in BBC Micro. There are only
5 solder connections to be made. Full
instructions are supplied. Unlike other ROM
Boards, this board has been ergonomically
designed to enable the user, easy further
expansion inside the Micro, e.g. Double Density
Board. Torch Board, RAM Card, etc., without any
clash. (At Watford, we think ahead).

Our Mk2 13 ROM Socket Board enables the
User to increase the sideways ROM capacity
from the basic 4 sockets upto full 1 6 capable of
being supported by current operating systems. In
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 ability to write a utility or language and
upon pressing break have the utility or language
up and running (new ROM software can be
developed and tested in situ.)

The Board gives the User, plenty of freedom to
explore the possibilities of the new paged ROMs
due in the coming months and offers them the
chance to develop their own

All lines are fully buffered and the Board meets
or exceeds all timings for operation in the BBC
Microcomputer. When fully populated, the ROM
Board consumes less than half the recommended
maximum current limit.

Supplied ready-built and tested complete with
fitting instructions

CHRISTMAS OFFER: £28 (carr. £1 )

se

systems

MODEM 84

PR ESTEL TERMINAL

For the BBC Microcomputer

The Watford Prestel package consists of the B.T.
approved Watford MODEM 84 (1200/75 baud
full duplex 1200 baud half duplex direct
connect) and a very sophisticated Prestel
Terminal ROM

This totally machine code software:

• is fully compatible with not only the Modem
84 but also with the PRISM 1000 and most
other modems that require a data link via an
RS423/RS232 port making it a worthwhile
purchase for those who already have Modems.

• supports full Prestel colour alpha and graphic
characters including double height, flashing,
conceal/reveal.

• called by simple *PRESTEL (*P.) command.
Disc and tape configurations fully supported.

• includes a comprehensive telesoftware
downloader for BBC and other programs with
continuous on screen status report (an essential
facility).

• has very powerful OFF LINE MAILBOX editor
allowing colour flashing graphic mailboxes to be
prepared without having to be on line to Prestel.

• auto logon sequence can be burnt into ROM
if desired.

• a vital TAG" facility allows tagging and recall
of interesting pages, avoids that common and
annoying NOW WHERE WAS THAT PAGE
problem.

• includes simple page and program loading
and saving functions for both disc and tape,
automatically assigning frame and program
directories.

• not one but TWO PRINTER DUMP
ROUTINES are provided within the software
allowing either full graphics dump (mode 7 to
EPSON compatible printers) or ASCII characters
only.

• a user function built into the software allows
interface with specialist routines, (yours as well
as ours).

WATFORD'S 1200 BAUD
FULLY AUTOMATIC USER
TO USER SOFTWARE

The addition oi 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
84 very powerfully.

• Send and receive error checked programs and
files (even WORDWISE files) to and from other
users at 1200 baud.

• 8k file transfer in under 2.5 minutes (approx
four times faster than with 300 baud modems).

• The transfer of data is totally AUTOMATIC
which means that the modem is automatically
switched between transmit and receive under
software control.

• A chat mode is provided which also has this
automatic switching for receive and transmit.

(This mode is essential just before and after data
transfer when both hand sets are replaced to
reduce noise).

• A copy facility is provided which allows
transmission of all screen output.

• A continuous on screen modem status report
is included

• The software is totally function key driven
enabling easy transmission, reception, saving and
loading of programs and files (Basic. Machine
code or Data).

• A help menu is available from within the
software as an aid to use.

• Full instructions are supplied.

PRICES

MODEM 84

(with Lead & Manual) £68

MODEM 84 complete with PRESTEL
SOFTWARE ROM, Lead and Manuals £82
PRESTEL SOFTWARE ROM

+ Manual £20

USER to USER SOFTWARE ROM £15

(Carriage on Modem £2)

SURGE PROTECTOR Plug

Fitted in place of your normal mains plug, this
device protects your equipment against mains
surges. Nearby lightning strikes, thermostats
switching and many other sources put high
voltage transient spikes on to the mains This
can lead to data corruption in memory and on
disc and can result in spuriously crashing
machines Suitable for computers. Hi-Fi. Fridge
Freezers etc. Max. Surge current 2KAmp max
Voltage 250. Essential for serious computer
users.

Protection for only £8.50

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38

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

BOOKS (No VAT on Books)

30Hour BASIC (BBC Micro) £6.95

35 Education Programs for BBC £6.95

36Challenging Gamesfor BBC £5.95

40 Educational Programs for BBC £5.95

TOO Programs for BBC Micro £6.95

Cassette version of above £ 1 0.00

6502 Application Book £ 1 1 -95

6502 Assembly Language Program .. £1 3.95
6502 Assembly Language

Subroutines £14.25

6502 Machine Code for Beginners £5.95

6502 Machine code for Humans £7.95

6502 Software Design £10.50

Ayoung persons guide to BBC Basic ... £4.50

A Beginners guide to LISP £10.95

Advanced Machine Code Technique

for BBC £7.95

Advanced User Guide for

BBC Micro £1 1.95

Advanced Graphics with BBC £9 95

Advanced 6502 Programming £12.45

Assembly Language Programming on

BBC Micro £7. 95

Advanced Programming Techniques

for the BBC Micro £7.95

BBC Basic £7.95

Assembly Lang. Prog, on BBC £7.40

BBC BASIC £5.95

BBC Computer Magic £5.50

BBC DIY Robotics & Sensors £6.95

BBC Forth £7.50

BBC Lisp £7.50

BBC Micro An Expert Guide £6.95

BBC Micro Book BASIC Sound &

Graphics £7.95

BBC Micro Graphics and 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

BBC Micro Disc Companion £7.95

BBC Micro in Education £6.50

Basic Programming on BBC Micro £5.95

CP/M The software BUS £8.95

CP/M Users Guide £13.95

Creating Adventure Programs on

BBC Micros £6.95

Creative Graphics Cassette (Acornsoft).

Has 36 graphics programs £8.95

Creative graphics on BBC Micro £7.50

Complete Programmer for BBC £5.95

DISC FILING SYSTEM (DFS)

Operating Manual for BBC £6.95

Discover BBC Machine Code £6.95

Discover FORTH £13.95

DIY Robotics & Sensors with BBC £6.95

Exploring FORTH £6.95

Further Prog, for BBC Micro £5.95

FORTH Programming £14.40

Functional Forth for the BBC Micro £5.95

Gameson your BBC Micro £2.95

Games BBC Computer Can Play £6.95

Getting more from your

BBC & Electron £6.95

Graphs & Charts on BBC Micro £7.50

Graphic Art for BBC Computer £5.95

Graphs and Charts (Cassette) £7.50

Introducing the BBC Micro £5.95

Introduction to FORTH £9.30

Interfacing projects for the

BBC Micro £6.95

Introducing LOGO £5.95

Let your BBC teach u to program £6.45

LISP £9.25

Logo Programming £8.95

Mystries of DISC DRIVES and DFS
REVEALED £5.95

Mastering CP/M £13.65

Programming the 6502 .. £ 1 1.95

Programming the Z80 £14.25

PASCAL £9-25

Structured Prog, with BBC BASIC £6.50

The Complete FORTH £6.95

The Epson FX/KATA PRINTER

Commands REVEALED £5.95

Using Floppy Discs with BBC Micro .... £5.95

Using BBC Basic £6.95

Using 6502 Ass Language £14.50

Wordstar & CP/M made easy £6.95

MYSTRIES OF DISC
DRIVES AND
DFS REVEALED

Are your tired of faulty cassettes and
lengthy loading times 7 Do you want to
upgrade your BBC micro to take discs but
you get tied up in the plethora of jargon
surrounding the choice and use of these
systems.

For instance, what is the difference
between single and double density
formats, how can you use a 40 track disc
on an 80 track disc drive 7 What is the
difference between a DFS and disc
interface kit 7 Should you acquire a single
Disc drive or twin 7 What does 48 TPI and
96 TPI discs mean 7 These are just a few ol
the questions you may have asked yourself
and never found the answer or maybe you
have yet to encounter these questions.

Now the mystery of buying a suitable
interface and disc drive for your BBC
micro is revealed in Watford Electronic s
new book entitled MYSTERIES of DISC
DRIVES & DFS REVEALED . It describes in
fine detail, yet remaining very readable to
the beginner, how disc drives operate, the
type of interfaces available, which type of
discs to use on a disc drive and how data
is stored on the discs.

There is even a handy section
describing the phrases you are likely to
encounter, and how to interpret them. This
book must be an essential purchase at
£5.95, especially if you own or are thinking
of buying a disc system Why not ask for a
copy for Christmas 7

Price £5.95 ( Book - No VAT)

THE INVESTIGATOR

A utility program provided on disc to make
security backup copies of all your valuable discs.
Makes full use of all 8271 facilities to discover
the precise format of your protected disc so that
an exact copy can be produced. Supplied with
detailed instructions. Please specify 40 or 80
track disc when ordering. Price £25

PLINTHS FOR BBC MICRO
AND PRINTERS

EPROM PROGRAMMER

Protect your computer from the weight and heat
of your monitor BBC micro plinths have slots for
maximum ventilation. Single height version is
suitable for BBC and monitor. Double height
version allows the disc drives to be used in the
centre section or stationary, etc. The computer
slides easily into place, allowing easy access to
remove the lid.

The printer plinth is equally sturdy but without
the cooling slots. This allows the paper to be
stacked under the plinth with the printer on top
- a very convenient way to work as it does not
require the usual very deep table.

SINGLE BBC PLINTH £11 (carr. £1 50)

DOUBLE BBC PLINTH £20 Icarr. €2.00

PRINTER PLINTH 10 (carr. £ 1 .501

4 WAY MAINS
DISTRIBUTION SOCKET

4 way top quality mains trailing sockets.

Supplied wired up with mains plug ready for use.

Can be screwed to floor or wall if required. Very
useful for tidying up all the mains leads from
your peripherals. Allows the whole system to be
switched on from one plug.

£9.50

The Watford Electronics EPROM programmer for
the BBC micro is a high quality self contained
oackaqe Programs all popular EPROMs from 2K
to 16K 2716. 2516. 2532. 2564 2764 and
27128. All manufacturers' specifications have
been followed to program EPROMs at the
correct speed wrong timings could destroy
your EPROMs. The unit has its own power
supply so does not put heavy loads on the BBC
power supply as do some other units Connects
directly to the 1MHz bus following all Acorn
recommendations on addressing and bus
loadings.

SOFTWARE PACKAGE . . .

The software is supplied on an EPROM which
plugs into the Micro and is instantly available
with a single command (no time wasting as on
Cassette/disc loading). It is a fully purpose
designed and integrated package to simplify
ROM development. The system is menu driven
with many prompts to avoid any accidents.

Software facilities include.

Load File - Save File Down Load EPROM -
Program EPROM - Verify - Blank Check -
Editing of memory contents prior to
programming.

Also included is an automatic system to allow
Basic programs to be put in EPROM and
accessed through the *R0M filing system. More
than one program may be put in an EPROM. All
these facilities and more are explained in the
comprehensive and clear 1 5 page manual.

CHRISTMAS OFFER £69

(£3 carr.)

TEX EPROM ERASERS

EPROMs need careful treatment if they are to
survive their expected lifetime. Over erasure of
EPROMs very rapidly turns them into ROMs! The
TEX erasers operate following the manufacturers
specifications to give the maximum possible
working life by not erasing too fast. We use
these erasers for all our own erasing work.

• ERASER EB - Standard version erases up to
16 chips £28

• ERASER GT - Deluxe version erases up to
28 chips. Has automatic safety cut-off to switch
off the UV lamp when opened. £30

• Spare UV tubes. £9

VOLTMACE DELTA 14
JOYSTICK SYSTEM

The Voltmace system provides full facilities for
connecting the Delta 14 handset.

Delta 14 handset - On its own makes a high
quality centre sprung analogue joystick with fire
buttons £ 12.50

Adaptor Module allows use of two joysticks and
provides hardware to access all the keys on the
keypad of the joystick £ 12.55

Transfer program allows use of the keypad keys
and joystick to simulate any key on the keyboard.
This works by creating a machine code patch
that stays in memory while another program is
loaded in. Allows any game to be used with
joysticks. Supplied on disc or tape.

Tape £ 5.10 Disc £ 7.95

STANDARD JOYSTICKS

These are standard analogue type with a fire
button on each joystick. Twin joysticks go to e
single moulded plug, long leads provided.

Single Playerversion £7.00
Two Players version £12.00

Continued

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

39

ANTI GLARE MONITOR
SAFETY SCREEN

HEADACHES 7 TIRED EYES? Don't take pills —
Use a Watford Electronics anti-glare filter!
Considerable research into the possible health
problems associated with monitor screens has
shown that eye strain, blurred vision, watering,
itching eyes and headaches can result after
prolonged use. The problems are caused by
extraneous reflections which force the eye to
continuously re-focus to try to ignore them.

The answer is our contrast enhancement,
anti-glare filter which is similar to those which
have been previously available on business
systems, but at the low cost that you would
expect for your personal computer. You will soon
find the reduction in eye strain well worth your
investment.

Features:

• Simple fitting with sticky Velcro pads.

• Easily removed for cleaning.

• Tinting improves colour quality and contrast.

• Works on monochrome or colour monitors.

• Curved instead of usual flat screen reduces
edge distortion

• Made in Britain by a long established glass
maker.

Available in 9". 12" and 14" versions
- please specify when ordering.

Introductory offer price: £1 4.95(carr.£ 1 )

ATTACHE CARRYING
CASE for BBC Micro

The Attache carrying case is attractively finished
in mottled antique brown leatherette. The case is
made of tough plywood, providing a very solid
and safe way to carry your BBC micro. There is
room provided to fit all the leads necessary
behind the computer and manuals in the front.
Locks supplied with two keys Price £1 2 (f 2 carr.)

DATA RECORDER AND
ACCESSORIES

Top quality slimline portable cassette recorder
designed specifically for use with home
computers. Mains/Battery operated with tape
counter.

£20

DATA CABLE to connect recorder to BBC

£2.50

DATA CASSETTES

Top giade tested C 1 2 Data cassettes
supplied in library cases 35p each;

10 for £3.20.

ASSORTED CONNECTING
LEADS

(All ready made and tested)

CASSETTE LEADS 7 pin DIN Plug
to 5 pin DIN Plug 4 1 Jack Plug £2.00

to 3 pin DIN Plug ♦ 1 Jack Plug £2.00

to 7 pin DIN Plug £2.50

to 3 Jack Plugs £2.00

6 pin DIN to 6 pin DIN Plug (RGB) £2 50
MONITOR LEADS

Microvitec RGB leads 6 pin DIN to 6 pin DIN for
colour monitors £2.50

KAGASANYO Colour Monitor Leads £5.00

Monochrome monitor leads
BNC to Phono £3 00

DISC DRIVE POWER LEADS

Supply from BBC power supply to standard Disc
Drive connector.

Single £3.00 Dual £3.75

MISCELLANEOUS

CONNECTORS

Plugs Sockets

RGB (6 PIN DIN) 30p 45p

RS423 (5 pin Domino) 40p 50p

Cassette (7 pin DIN) 25p 65p

ECONET (5 pin DIN) 20p 30p

Paddles )1 5 pin D ) 110p 21 5p

BBC Power Plug 6 way 80p

Disc Drive Plug 4 way 75 p

SPECIAL XMAS .
OFFER

BEEBMON -The most sophisticated
Machine Code monitor ROM for the BBC
Micro.

Normally: £22 NOW: £18

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For the serious machine code
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The package allows complete emulation of
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For further details of the advanced
facilities in these ROMs, see the full
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Normally £40 NOW: £32

N t>N

R£LE^ st ENVELOPE ROM

Now for the sound fanatic or those of you
who want to drive the pet crazy, Watford
Electronics offers you this unique piece of
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contains a wide range of sound effects, in
fact enough to ZAP, BANG, SQUEAK and
EXPLODE your way through a whole
galaxy of games. Some of the more
unusual effects include ZIT, TRIMPHONE.
SNAPPER. TARDIS, and a whole host of
explosions, gun fire, winning and losing
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The sounds are accessed via single star
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65 sounds, you should have no more
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software.

This ROM is a must for the amateur games
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instructions for

ON LY £18

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Telephone: 0923 40588/37774. Telex: 8956095

40

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

I FIRST BYTE

PAIRING

PROGRAMS

Tessie Revivis explains how to
create text and graphics windows
for the Electron and Beeb

L AST month we established how a
program could be written neatly
and be made easy to follow by con-
tracting it as a series of simple program
building blocks called procedures.
These PROCs were used to allow us to
design a variety of shapes that could be
built up to form a picture. This month,
using the structured programming
approach, we shall see how simple
procedures can be manipulated to pro-
vide the basis for a creative graphics
paintbox-type program.

The entire program listing can be
found on the yellow page 99, and a sec-
tional description of it is included. It
incorporates the use of several com-

Figure 1 . Mode 2 text layout

Figure 2. Defining a text window -

VDU 28, A,B,C,D

mands new to First Byte, so let’s have a
close look at these first - they include
text windows and graphics windows.

When we think of a window, we
imagine a hole in the wall filled with
sections of glass that allows us to see
through to what lies beyond. In com-
puter terms, we can think of a window
in much the same way, but unlike the
real thing our viewing position isfixed-
we sit on a seat and look at the TV
screen, so we see only one view. To
counteract this, windows on the Elec-
tron and Beeb screen can be pos-
itioned anywhere we wish at the start of
the program.

Windows can be of two sorts - text
windows and graphics windows. In the
former text may only be displayed in a
text window and nowhere else on the
screen. Similarly, any graphics dis-
plays produced by your micro are con-
fined to the graphics windows. These
text and graphics windows are always
in use, and have default values which
are both exactly equal to the normal
screen size, so that all text and
graphics appear on the screen.

Redefining a window is quite a
simple task, but as text and graphics
windows are arranged differently each
must be defined separately. Text is
printed onto the screen as a series of
letters which each occupy a position
both across and down the screen, in
rows and columns. By giving each of
these rows and columns a number,
starting with row 0, column 0 at the top
left-hand corner of the screen, each
text position can be defined. Thus the
second text position across and down
the screen would have the text co-ordi-
nates 1,1.

The actual number of text columns
and rows on a screen will depend on
the screen mode selected. As the paint-
box program utilises mode 2, we’ll stick
with that for our examples. Figure 1
shows the general layout - as you can
see it’s arranged as 32 rows of 20
characters. The character position of
the bottom right hand corner would be
31,19 - remember we use values one
less than might be expected as the co-
ordinates start at 0,0.

To define a new text window we use
the VDU 28 command followed by four
values which correspond to the
co-ordinates of the four text window
co-ordinates. Figure 2 shows the
organisation exactly. The entire VDU
command is:

VDU 28, A, B, C, D

where A, B, C, and D are the values
relating to the desired position.

To define a text window that limits
text to the bottom two lines of the
screen only we would need to type:

VDU 28,0,31, 19,29

As we only want to change the depth of
the window, we only need to alter the
value of the ‘top’ of it. To see the effect it
has, type and RUN the following pro-
gram:

10 REM Text Window Demonstration
20 MODE 2

30 VDU 28, 0,31, 19,29
40 FOR N% = OTO 1000
50 PRINT N%

60 NEXT N%

70 END

Now list it and you should see that the
program listing is confined to the
bottom two lines of the screen! To
restore the text window to its normal
value, simply hit the Break key and type
OLD if you wish to recover your pro-
gram for further experimentation.
Remember that all text-screen asso-
ciated commands will be confined to

See yellow pages 99 and 100 for
Tessie Revivis’ picture designer
program and sectional description

41

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

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42

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

FIRST BYTE

:• ■ vr /;

P

D

' A

graphics

window

B

v

c

Figure 3. Defining a graphics window -
VDU 24, A; B; C; D;

the text window - even CLS will only
clear the text window screen.

A graphics window can be defined in
a similar way using a VDU 24 com-
mand. The co-ordinate system used is
different though, as it starts from the
bottom left-hand corner of the screen
and runs 1027 points across it and 1023
up it - see last month’s First Byte for
further details. Figure 3 shows how a
graphics window is defined using the
following command:

VDU 24, A; B; C; D;

You will note that each of the four vari-
ables are postfixed by a semi-colon
and not a comma as might be expected
- an important difference between the
two windows and vital if they’re to work
correctly. Try the following short pro-
gram that demonstrates how the
graphics window works:

10 REM Graphics Window Demo
20 MODE 2

30 VDU 24, 200; 200; 900; 900;

40 GCOL 0,129
50CLG
60 GCOL 0,3
70 MOVE 0,0
80 MOVE 1279,0
90 PLOT 85,640,100

Again, all commands that affect the
graphics screen are confined to the
graphics window.

As you might have guessed, it’s
possible to have graphics and text
windows on the screen together and
operational at the same time. As an
exercise, try writing a program that
uses the left hand side of the screen for

graphics and the right hand side for
text. The picture designer program
uses dual windows to confine text to the
very bottom line of the screen.

Using the picture designer

Creating pictures with the picture
designer program is simplicity itself.
When you run the program the screen
should clear to black with a white
border with a status line at the bottom
of the screen printed in the text window.
The status line should look like this:

X, Y: 500,500

The values 500,500 refer to the current
co-ordinates of the imaginary pen the
program draws with. All shapes are
drawn from this position. The C at the
end of the line refers to the current
drawing colour (or if you like, the colour
of the ink in the pen). Thus any shapes
will be in the same colour as the C, and
as we’re in mode 2 there are sixteen to
chose from.

The four cursor arrow keys T l -+
and <- move the position of the ’pen’.
Try pressing each of these -you should
see the co-ordinates on the co-ordinate
line change. If you press the up arrow
key, the X axis co-ordinate will in-
crease. Similarly, pressing the down
arrow key will decrease its value. The
left and right arrow keys work in the
same vein on the Y axis value. Thus, by
using combinations of these keys, the
pen can be moved around the screen.

Shapes and lines are drawn onto the
screen using the function keys. Figure 4
lays out a suitable function key strip
that can be placed above them to
remind you of their uses.

fO: Draws, from the bottom left-hand
corner, a square or rectangle onto the
screen. When you press this key the
status line clears and you are prompted
for ’X:\ which is the length of the X axis
side of the square. After entering a suit-
able numeric value and pressing
return, you are requested to enter the
length of the Y axis side, which should
be performed in a similar manner.
When this has been done, a square or
rectangle is drawn to the side lengths
specified and in the colour of C on the
status line, which now reappears.

11: This draws a circle whose centre is
the position of the pen. Its radius should
be entered when asked for.

!2: Plots a line from the current position
of the pen to the X and Y co-ordinates
that you are requested to enter.

13: Simply makes a single dot at the X
and Y co-ordinates you are prompted to
give.

f4: Draws a dotted line from the current
position of the pen to the X and Y co-
ordinates that you are asked for.
f5: This draws and fills a triangle using
the PLOT 85 command. The pen pos-
ition is used to mark the top, or apex, of
the triangle. You are then requested to
give four values marking the left-hand
(LX,LY) and right-hand (RX, RY) co-
ordinates of the shape.
f6: Draws a line to the left and right of
the pen’s current position until a
change in the background colour is
encountered. Used in conjunction with
the cursor arrow keys this can be used
to fill solid and enclosed areas.
f7: Compliments f6 and will erase a line
across the screen from the current pen
position until a different background
colour is encountered.

18: Alters the current plotting colour (or
the colour of the ink in the pen) to one of
the sixteen available and all sub-
sequent lines are drawn in it. As the key
is pressed, the colour values are incre-
mented and the colour of the C on the
status line indicates the new shade.
f9: Allows the contents of the screen to
be saved to tape or disc, so that they
can be reloaded for editing or display at
a future date. A suitable program to do
this would be:

10 REM display picture

20 MODE 2

30 ‘LOAD SCREEN

Expanding the program

Like all programs, the picture designer
can be expanded to make it more ver-
satile or to include extra features which
you find desirable. For example, to get
you started, why not try adding a cross-
hair that moves around, indicating the
current position of the pen on the
screen? This might not be as easy as
you think, but that’s the fun of comput-
ing - though you might not think so at
the time!

FILL

LINE

ERASE
LINE TO
RIGHT

c

SAVE

SCREEN

L

Figure 4. The picture designer keystrip

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

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Si

Control codes

for Epsons

MANY letters I receive for this column
follow up items included in earlier Hints
and Tips. Some ask for further help with
topics covered, others offer alternative
methods or extend the information
given. The £5 prize this month is well-
deserved by Mr Tozer from Stoke-on-
Trent, who was prompted to send in a
full list of Epson FX80 control codes
after seeing the one included in the
August issue. It not only includes a full
printout, but also a Wordwise listing
which is available on this month’s
Acorn User tape. It’s in alphabetical
order, well set out and printed in con-
densed mode so it will fitonto one sheet
of printer paper. It also gives reference
to the Epson handbook page number.
To send these codes directly from the
keyboard or a program using the VDU
commands, it is necessary to precede
each number by a 1 , eg, to switch on the
emphasised printing you type

VDU1, 27,1,69

after first initialising the printer with the
VDU2 command or using CTRL-B.

For those readers with the Epson
MX80 type III or Epson RX80 printers, I
include a list of commands for them on
page 47. Many are the same as the
FX80, but there are some omissions, as
they have fewer features - for instance
they don’t have definable characters or
reverse feed, or some of the advanced
horizontal and vertical TAB features.

Micro

amnesia

A PROBLEM soon encountered on the
BBC micro is shortage of memory. This
causes endless difficulties when using
modes 0,1 or 2 as these leave the user
with little memory. The programmer is
seldom able to use 32k of memory, as
the computer often claims some of that
for itself.

I HINTS &TIPS

Control codes for Epsons, the
command line interpreter and
improving your micro’s memory

are among Martin Phillips’ subjects

If one starts at the bottom of the
memory map (figure 1) (ie, at memory
location 0), much of this is reserved for
the computer’s own use, as a work-
space to store variables, pointers and
the various buffers needed, followed by
the start of the user’s memory. This
boundary is movable depending on
what’s been fitted to the computer, and
its position is given by PAGE. This is
normally set to &E00 (3584 decimal), so
the user has already lost 3.5k of the 32k.
Matters get worse if a disc filing system

is fitted, as PAGE now becomes &1900
(6400), or worse still if Econet or Tele-
text are installed. With all those fitted
the user has lost about another 12k of
memory.

Starting at the top of the 32k memory
map, the computer grabs some
memory to store the screen display. In
mode 7 this is Ik, 10k in mode 4, and 20k
in mode 1! By now the space left for the
user is far short of the 32k the machine
so invitingly offers at switch on. The
position of the start of memory taken for

EPSON F XS0 COOES
DC8CBIPT10W CODE KTAIL

PA6E

licktpici

Ml

lit in 91 ut (I)

d9l

RSI to I
USB to I
USB cincil
nor ill dmity
dull dmity
tf.tf . doubli ipiod
quidruplt dmity
Cincil

Cirri 190 riturn
Coodmtd oodi on
on
odd

Control codi iiloct
Mot*

Doubli itriki ut

cincil

Doonloid did n.
ul let
cincil
ROti copy
Eliti iodi ut

cincil

Eopbiiiud oodi ut

cincil

End od pipir on
odd

Enlirgid nodi ut
ut
ut

cincil

Eipimion on
odd

Fori dud

longth linn
lmgth inchit
Hild tptrd
Incruontil print
Indent
Inittiltu
Intirnitionil ut
Italic! on
odd

Lin* diod dorurd
riviru

lUrgin ut
Aodi ul ict
On
Odd

Pigi width
Pipir dud

Proportionil tpidng
Ri-ut

Rivim dud
Skip ovtr pirdontlon
cincil

Sion ipud
Spicing 1/0*

7/72’

1 /*'

0/216-
n/72*
Subuript ut

cincil
Supiruript ut

cincil

Tib horizontil
horizontil
vertical
verticil ut
verticil
verticil
Under lint

Unidirectionil print

8

7

27,0,0,0
27, 94

27.61

27.62

27.33

27 73,....
27,7*,....

27,89

27,98

24

13

13

27.13

18

27,73, n
12)

27.71

27.72
27,38

27.37.1.8

27.37.8.8

27.58.8.8.8
27,77
27,88
27,69
27,71
27,57
27,3*

14

27.14
27,87,n

28

27.34
27,53
12

27, *7, n
27, *7.8, n
27, 115, n

27. 185, n
27,188,1
27, *4

27.82, n
27,32
27,53
18

27. 186, n
27, 188, n
27,33,n
17

19

27,81 ,n

27,74.n

27, 112, n

27, *4

27,ll*,n

27,78,n

27,79

27,115,n

27 48

27,49

27,31

27.51.0
27 *3, n

27.83 n

27.84

27.83, n
27,84

9

27, *8

It

27,98

27.47.0

27,66

27,45,n

27,68

27,83,n

bickipici oni pltci
loundi bill

ul lets vinoui 8 bit grtphict nodi*
ulicti vtnout 9 lit graphic* iodi*
uti nib od del lowing 8 -bit diti to S
ut* mb od dol lowing 8 -bit data to I
cincil i ibovt codm
dollouing diti printed it bit utgis
following diti printed u bit iugo*
it ibovt but dittir end no idjicwt dots
it ibovi but dirkir

dilitu priviout diti in print buddir for tiu Uni
cirritgi riturn

ttorid tnd lubuquint diti printed condinud

It ibOvt

n«l/49 ulicti codm 8*31 it printable nM/48 ulicti it unprintable
dilitm priviout chir. in print buffer
uti double itriki iodi
cincil t ibovt

didinu dounloid ehirictin
ulicti prtvioutly defined ut
ulicti R0A chirictir ut

cop ut ROA chirictir ut to donnloid chincter ut
dollwing diti printed in iliti mi
cincil* ibovt i.i. return* to norm! print
ill dollwing diti printed in iiphitizid iodi
cincelt ibovi

inlirgid dor one 1

”l/49 V |U dot lout ng diti printed inlirgid n-8/48 cmcoli
cincil t that ut bv 14 , .

codm 128-159 6 253 in ut it pnntibli, ui dounloid
cincil t tbove
•iicutii doro dud
uti doro length it n line*
uti don length it n inchu
o*l,49ut* half tpied print n-6.48 cincil*
n»l /49 uti print ind viw n« 8 /t 8 emcili
uti n Chiricter left mrgin
initi il i lit printir, including during buddir
print! dollwing diti droo n chincter ut
print! ill foilwing diti in itilic*
cincil! ibovi
mcutii line dud
incutii n/216* riviru dud
uti n chirictir lift oirgin
ulicti om od *3 type <icu
•nib In printir
diiiblti printer
uti pigi width to n chirictir*
mcutii in n/216’ pipir dud l8<»n<«255>
n»l/49 uti proportionil ipicing n-8/48 cincoll
miti it i ut printer, including during buffer
mcutii n/216' riviru dud
tkipi n linn it pigi bottoi
cincil i ibovi

n a l ,49utt hild spied print n*8,48 cincil*
utt lubuquint It " '

, „ine spicing to 1 / 8 '

sett lubuquint line tpictng to 7/72*
utt lubuquint line ipicing to 1 / 6 *
uti lubuquint line ipicing to n/216
uti lubuquint line ipicing to n/72 1,0. dot* width
n»l/49ut* tubteript iodi
cincil* ibovi
n*8/48 ut* lupertcnpt
cincil* ibovt
meute* horiiontil tib
utt horizontil tab*
execute* verticil tib
utt 8 chinnil* of verticil tibt
executes n th dorut vert, tib* e.g. one forut dor uch of seven piget. 3.36

did met verticil tib poutioni J-u

n«l/49ulKti underline, n-8/48 deulecti underline 3.33

print! f r oi lift to right for tinqli line 3.61

n*l/49 uti unidirectionil print n*8/48 utt bidirectional print

3.7
3.6
3.49
3.33

3.61

3.62

3.63
3.75
3.81
3.97
3.97

3.8

3.12
3.14

3.28
3.16
3.72

3.19
3.71
3.71

3.38
3.36
3.36

3.39
3.84

3.88
3.78
3.78
3.31

3.31

3.13

3.28
3.96

3.19

3.29
3.38

3.12
3.67
3.66
3.197
3.188

3.183

3.64
3.96
3.25
3.28

3.19
3.191

3.183

3.32

3.13
3.16

3.89
3.74

3.184

3.64
3.181
3.83
3.87
3.167

3.21

3.22

3.23

3.24
3.63

3.93

3.94
3.92
3.94
3.9
3.69
3.11
J.98

3.95

Eoson FX80 control codes, with page references to Epson handbook

IF YOU have a technical hitch or a programming problem let Martin Phillips give his
diagnosis. We'll pay £5 if you raise a really interesting point. Please give full details
of the system you're using and include a listing where appropriate, making your ques-
tion as specific as possible. WRITE TO: Hints & Tips, Acorn User, Redwood Publishing,
68 Long Acre, London WC2E 9JH.

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

1” OV r W

"v* V»—

i

How else

would you handle

all that extra
Christmas mail?

Save £90 on this Superb Quen Data
DWP 1120 Daisywheel Printer.

Available on Direct Purchase Mail
Order at the incredible price of

• 20 CPS(Max)Print Speed

• Bi-directional Logic Seeking

• QUME Protocol, QUME Ribbons

• QUME Daisywheels, Centronic

• Interface (Optional RS232-C)

• Supports all Wordstar features

£249

inc VAT

SPECIAL CHRISTMAS OFFER

Please complete coupon in block capitals,
enclosing your remittance and send to

Microstyle Dept M.O.. Turnpike md. Est.
Turnpike Road, Newbury, Berks.

Name

Please send me Quen Data

DWP 1 120 Daisy Wheel Printer(s) at
£249 00 including VAT plus £6.90
Securicor Delivery

_ Address

• Optional Tractor/Sheet Feeder

• One years parts and labour
guarantee

For full specification see opposite.

Order by phone please
telephone 0635 41929 1' — — J 'pmSm*

quoting your Access/ Barclaycard number

-Daytime Tel No .

Total price including post & packing
Cheques may be made out to MICROSTYLE

^ Please remember to include appropriate post & packing charges Allow 28 days for delivery. AV/12/84

Please Note: While Microstyle will endeavor to maintain stocks
of all items currently or previously advertised all times are of-
fered subject to availability from manufacturers Special price
offer only applies to mail order purchasers

’he Quen Data DWP 1120

HINTS &TIPS

SPECIFICATIONS

Print apwwd:

20 cps (Repeat). 18 cps (at Shannon Text)

Pnnt wheel:

96 character pnntwheels are compatible with the QUME

Print method:

Fully formed characters are printed in a 9enes by the
automate pnnt energy adiustment for different character
sires Um-directional incremental pnntmg and bi directional
logical seek pnnting are software selectable

Me xi mum paper width:

13 inches

Character per line:

120 characters at 1/10 inch pitch
144 characters at 1/12 inch pitch
180 characters at 1/15 inch pitch

Proportional spacing with 1/120 inch increments is available
by the software control of a connected outside computer

Horizontal minimum pitch:

1/120 inch

Minimum line feed pitch:

1/48 inch

Forma:

Single sheet or continuous forms (with form tractor)

The maximum width is 13 inches

Print hammer

4 ievels impression control

Copy capacity:

Onginal (45kg) 4 copies (15kg)

Paper feed:

Friction platen standard, bi-directional forms tractor (option)

Ribbons:

• Compatible with the QUME MULTISTRIKE IV in a high
yield easy loading cartridge

- Compatible with the QUME FABRIC IV with a snap-in
cartridge for "Clean Hands ' loading
Standard Out-of-Ribbon detection
Automatic nbbon advancing

Interface

8-bit parallel compatible with Centronics
RS232C

12-bit parallel compatible with the QUME SPRINT 3

Notae:

60 dB A scale

Physical:

Weight: 9.5kgs (21 1 lbs)

.rwinnw

DEALER HOTLINE

Trade Enquiries Only

0635 - 35384

Dealer Information update

Microstyle have been appointed as an
official, regional distributor for
EASYJUNIOR business software.

‘BUSINESS SOFTWARE AT ITS BEST'
contact us now for more information and
DEALER DEMONSTRATION PACKS.

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Branches:

The Aylesbury Computer Centre

52 Friar’s Sq.. Aylesbury.

Telephone: Aylesbury (0296) 5124

The Bath Computer Centre

29 Belvedere. Lansdown Road. Bath.
Telephone: Bath (0225) 334659

The Newbury Computer Centre

47 Cheap Street, Newbury.

Telephone Newbury (0635) 41929

screen display is given by HIMEM. The
computer uses from HIMEM to the top
of the 32k memory.

So, the computer grabs some of the
32k at the bottom of the map for its own
use, and some at the top for the screen
display. The user is left with what
remains in the middle, ie that memory
between PAGE and HIMEM. In fact he
or she cannot even use all this as space
needs to be left at the end of the pro-
gram for the computer to store things
such as values of variables or positions
of procedures that are required by the
Basic program. The end of the user’s
program is given by TOP. LOMEM nor-
mally has the same value as TOP and is
the start location for the program vari-
ables storage area.

The user is, therefore, left with
precious little of that magic 32k and the

offer of extra memory is an exciting
proposition. Several readers have
asked for more information about such
devices. There are boards that offer an
extra 20k of memory, there is the
second processor which offers 64k,
there are sideways ROM boards which
can also have 16k of RAM added, and
boards which offer up to 128k of
memory. It’s almost impossible to give
a simple answer to this question and
say whether they are worthwhile or a
waste of money. In many cases the
value of such add-ons depends on their
intended use.

There are several points which
readers might find helpful when decid-
ing to add extra memory options. First,
I'll take the 6502 second processor.

page 52 ►

DESCRIPTION

CODE

EPSON HIB8 TYPE III CODES

iickipici

tall

Bit laage

nor Ml denaity
dual danaity
Carr i aga ratura
Condensed aodt on
off

Dal ata

Double atrika »at

cancal

Eaphaiized aoda aat

cancal

End of papar on
off

Enlarged aoda aat

Mt

cancal

Fora feed

langth 1 inaa
langth inchaa
Initialiaa
Intarnational aat
Lina faad forward
Paga width
Papar faad

Skip-ov*r perforation
cancal

Spacing 1/8*

7/72’

1 / 6 '
n/216*
n/72*
Subscript aat

cancal
Superscript aat

cancal

Til horizontal
horizontal
vertical
vertical
Underline

Unidirectional print

backtpaca ona place
toundi ball

27,79 following data printed ai bit itagaa

27,7b,.... following data printed aa bit iwagaa

13 carriage return

13 atored and subsequent data printed condented

18 cancel! above

Delate previoua char, in print buffar

27.71 aati double atrika aodi

27.72 cancel! abova

27,69 all following data printad in eaphaaized aoda
27,71 cancel! abovt

27,57 atlecti and of papar detector
27,96 deselects and of papar detector

14 enlarged for ona line ...

27 ,87,n n-1 all following data printad enlarged, n-0 canceli

21 cancel! that aat by 14

12 aiacutaa fora faad

27,67,n sets fora langth is n linn

27, 67, 1, n Mt! fora langth as n inchaa

27,64 initialise! printer

27,02,n print! following dati froa n character aat

18 executes Una faad

27,81 ,n iat» paga width to n character!

27,74,n axacutai an n/216" paper faad (K-n<-259)

27,78,n skips n Unas at paga bottoa

27,79 cancel! abova

27.48 let! subsequent lint spacing to 1/8*

27.49 aati subsequent line spacing to 7/72*

27,91 sets subsequent Una spacing to 1/6

27,91 ,n lets aubaaquant line spacing to n/216*

27,69,n sets subsequent Una spacing to n/72* i.a. dots width

27,03,1 sats subscript aoda

27, B4 cancels above

27,83,8 uta superscript

27,84 esneals abova

9 axacutai horizontal tab

27.68.. ... seta horizontal tabs

11 aiacutaa vertical tab

27.66.. ... defines vertical tab positions

27,43,n n-l selects underline, n-0 deselects underlie

27,89,n n«l sats unidirectional print, n-0 sets bidirectional print

67

67

91

68

61

67
62
62
69
62
66
66

68
64
61
91
97

97
66
63

98

93
59
98

98

99
59
96
96

94

63

64

63

64
51
91
58
96
69
67

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

PRINTERS )

DOT MATRIX

All printers have centronic parallel interlace unless otherwise
stated. All printers have hi res dot addressable graphic mode.
Please send SAE for full details.

EPSON

FX80 160CPS 10" wide friction & pin feed
FX100 160 CPS 15" wide friction & tractor feed
RX80 F/T 100 CPS 10" wide friction & tractor feed
RX80 100 CPS 10" wide tractor feed
RX100 F/T 1 00 CPS friction & tractor feed
8143 RS 23 Interface for FX and RX printers
81 48 RS 232 Interface with 2K buffer x on x off
Ribbon Cartridge for RX80 FX80 & MX80
Ribbon Cartridge for FX100 & MX100

£324 + VAT £373
£499 + VAT £574
£239 + VAT £275
£199 4 VAT £229
£385 + VAT £443
£39 + VAT £45
£60 4 VAT £69
£5 4- VAT £6
£7 + VAT £8

STAR

Gemini 10X120CPS 10" wide friction &tractorfeed £200 + VAT£229
Gemini 15X1 20 CPS 15" wide friction & tractor feed £295 4 VAT £339
Gemini Ribbon £3 + VAT £3

SEIKOSHA

BP 420 designed for the business world, 420CPS in

draft mode, 110CPS in NLQ mode. £1095 + VAT £1259

SMITH

CORONA

Fastext 80: 80 col, 80CPS. Friction feed standard

£149 + VAT £171

ENSIGN

1650 Standard, NLQ Mode Correspondance and Graphics
Modes; friction and tractor feed; 165 CPS;

bi-directional logic seeking £269 + VAT £310

TAXAN KAGA
OR CANON

160CPS 10" wide
27CPS NLQ 24 x
16 matrix
£269 + VAT £310

160CPS 15" wide
27CPS NLQ 24 x
16 matrix
£349 + VAT £401

COLOUR PRINTERS

SeikoshaGP700A 7 colour 50CPS printer £347 + VAT £399

Canon PJ1080A 7 colour 40CPS ink jot printer £391 VAT£449

DAISYWHEEL

JUKI 610011 PRINT

20 CPS Bi-Directional Logic seeking 10 12 15 CPI

+ PS spacing 2K buffer best selling Daisywheel

Singer sheet feeder unit

Tractor Unit

RS 232 Interface

Spare Daisywheel

£324 + VAT £373
£217 + VAT £249
£95 + VAT £109
£52 + VAT £59
£14 + VAT £16

BROTHER HR-15

13 CPS Bi-directional 10, 12, 15 CPI + PS

Keyboard Unit

Single Sheet Feeder Unit

Tractor Unit

£344 + VAT £395
£139 + VAT £159
£217 -»- VAT £249
£95 4- VAT £109

QUENDATA

20 CPS Unidirectional 10 12 15 CPI £217 + VAT £250

All our printers have 1 year warranty

( MONITORS )

PHILIPS

7001 High Res Green Screen with sond input
£65 + VAT £75

GM1211

GM1211 18 MHZ High Res Monochrome
Monitor with tilt and swivel stand available in
green or amber etched antiglare screen
(please specify colour £86 + VAT £99

SANYO

DM8112 12" Green screen
18MHZ Hi- Res

£86 + VAT £99
DM2112 12" Green
screen 15MHZ
£66 + VAT £75

MICROVITEC CUB

1431 MS 14" RGB Normal Res Colour
^ £173 + VAT £199

1451 MS 14" RGB Medium Res Colour
.... £269 + VAT £309

1441 MS 14" RGB High Res Colour
£417 + VAT £479

MICROVITEC FOR QL

1451 14" Medium Res Colour. Specially
designed for Sinclair QL £239 + VAT £275

SAMWOO

24MHZ High Res Monochrome etched
antiglare green screen IBM/BBC Compatible
£86 + V AT £99

( ACORN

BBC MICROCOMPUTER SYSTEM

WE ARE AN OFFICIAL BBC
COMPUTER DISTRIBUTOR

DEALER ENQUIRIES ARE WELCOMED

Acom
Electron
£ 199 %

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WE STOCK A LARGE RANGE OF SOFTWARE FOR
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SOFTWARE, LONGMANS SOFTWARE, PLEASE
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FOR FULL DETAILS.

E

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F

1

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E

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CDFT1PUTER

GROUP

28/29 BURNT MILL HARLOW, ESSEX CM20 2HU U.K. OF

Tel. HARLOW (0279) 443521 Telex: 818894 AKHTER G

( DISC c

100% BBC COMPATIBLE MITSUBISHI AND
TEAC SLIMLINE DISK DRIVES

These drives are supplied ready cased with all the necessary

cables formatting program and User Guide

There are some very useful utilities included on formating disc

e.g.

* DISASSEMBLER: This is 6502 machine code disassembler

* DUP: To copy and rename a file on disc

* FORMAT: Formating progam for 40 & 80 tracks

* FREE: This utility provides a disk usage analysis

* MDUMP: Enables you to display and modify any part of
BBC memory

* MERGE: Merge a number of text files into one file

* RELOCATE: Downloads a basic program to &E00

* SDUMP: Screen dump for EPSON In all graphic modes

* VERIFY: Verifies every sector on a disk

* MENU: A flexible menu program

Si

Di

Si

Di

Si

Si

sv

Di

Di

sv

Di

+

Al

at

P<

P<

dr

R<

SJ

DJ

PRODUCTS )

BBC Microcomputer Model B

£348

+

VAT

£399

BBC Mod B - disk interface

£409

+

VAT

£469

BBC Mod B - Econet interface

£389

+

VAT

£447

BBC Mod B - disk and Econet interfaces

£450

+

VAT

£517

BBC Compatible 100K disk drive

£86

+

VAT

£99

BBC Compatible dual 800K disk drive

£312

+

VAT

£359

Acorn Z80

£347

+

VAT

£399

Acorn 6502 Second Processor

£173

+

VAT

£199

Acorn Bit stick

£327

+

VAT

£375

Acorn IEE Interface

£282

+

VAT

£325

Acorn Electron plus 1 interface

£52

+

VAT

£60

BBC Prestel Adaptor

£115

+

VAT

£132

BBC Telext receiver (Aug)

£196

+

VAT

£225

BBC cassette recorder and lead

£30

+

VAT

£35

Disk interface kit (free fitting)

£84

+

VAT

£96

Mod A to Mod B upgrade kit

£70

+

VAT

£80

Fitting charge for A to B upgrade kit

£20

+

VAT

£23

16K memory upgrade kit

£30

+

VAT

£34

Games paddles

£17

+

VAT

£19

User Guide

£10

Advanced User Guide

£12.95

Econet Guide

£ 7.50

Econet interface (free fitting)

£60

+

VAT

£69

Speech interface (free fitting)

£47

+

VAT

£54

BBC disk manual - formating disk

£30

+

VAT

£34

Parallel printer cable

£10

+

VAT

£11

BBC word processor (view)

£52

+

VAT

£59

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please ring (0279) 443521 (10 lines), all cheques made payable to

AKHTERINSTRUMENTS"

N.B. All prices are subject to change without notice
and are rounded up to the nearest pound

OPENING HOURS: MON-FRI 9anv6.30om. SAT 10am-5Dm.
We welcome callers, no parking problems.

DRIVES

Single drive 1 00K 40 trks single sided
Dual drive 200K 40 trks single sided
Single drive 200K 40 trks double sided
Dual drive 400K 40 trks double sided
Single drive 400K 80 trks double sided

£86 4- VAT £99
£164 + VAT £189
£138 + VAT £159
£260 + VAT £299
£152 + VAT £175

Single drive 400K 40 80 trks
switchableDS

Dual drive 800K 80 trks double sided

Dual drive 800K 40 80 trks
switchable DS

Dual Drive 800K 40 80 trks + PSU
+ built in monitor stand

£155 + VAT £179
£303 + VAT £349

£31 2 + VAT £359

£373 + VAT £429

All above drives are low power slimline (0 3 A typ
at + 12vand0 4at + 5v per drive) Normally extra
power supply is not required. The BBC Computer
power supply is designed to drive to low power
drive (IT IS NOT DESIGNEDTO DRIVE INTERNAL
ROM BOARD)

£18 + VAT £20
£23 + VAT £26

BUSINESS

SYSTEMS

COMPLETE BUSINESS PACKAGE

This system is based on 16 Bit 8088
Processor 128K RAM, 2X730K Floppy
Disc Drives, High Res Monitor, fast
(160cps) Dot Matrix Printer, Wordstar
Wordprocessor, Calcstar Spreadsheet
Program, complete integrated
Accounts package consisting of Sales
Ledger, Purchase Ledger, Nominal
Ledger, Invoicing, Stock Control,

Payroll and Pro-mail.

Complete turnkey system at an
unbelievable price.

Delivered Only £1495 + VAT £1719
Delivered and Installed plus $ day
training £1595 + VAT £1834

APRICOT PC

“Portable Executive Computer” 16 Bit Micro. 256K RAM up to 1.44 megabytes
flopy disk storage. 3$ " Sony disks. Portable brief case styling. Modem with auto
dialler (optional) hard disk optional. Vast software library (compatible with Sirius
1 ).

Apricot with Double Drive, Monitor and FreePrlnter £1790 + VAT £2059

APRICOT XI

As above but with 10MB Winchester Drive and Single 315K Drive plus
Superwriter, Supercalc and FREE JUKI 6100 Printer

£2995 + VAT £3444

SANYO PROFESSIONAL COMPUTER

SANYO 550 SANYO 555

16 Bit Micro 128K RAM expandable to Sanyo MBC555 128K double drive and

256K. Single or Double Disk drive built free software including Wordstar,

In full colour graphics (640 x 200 pixels Calcstar, Inforstar, Datastar etc.

in 8 colours) IBM compatible. Free £999 + VAT £1149

software. Sanyo MBC 550 128K RAM CAKIvn

single drive and free software including SANYO 555-360

Wordstar and Calcstar As 555 but with 2 x 360K Drives

£749 + VAT £862 £1249 + VAT £1436

SANYO 550-2 SANYO 555-730

As 550 but with Dual Drive 2 x 160K As 555 but with 2 x730K Drives

£849 + VAT £976 £1299 + VAT £1494

SANYO 550-360

As 550 but with 2 x 360K Drives

£999 + VAT £1149

SANYO 550-730

As 550 but with 2 x 730K Drives

£1049 + VAT £1206

( WORD PROCESSING)

COMPLETE SYSTEMS FROM £650 + VAT

SANYO SYSTEMS INCLUDE
FREE HIGH RES GREEN
MONITOR

BBC 1: BBC Micro Model B, View (or
Wordwise) Wordprocessor, Quendata
20 CPS Daisywheel Printer, High Res
Green Monitor, Cassette Recorder plus
10 cassettes and all the necessary
cables £650 + VAT = £747.50

BBC 2: BBC Micro Model B + Disk
Interface, View (or Wordwise)
Wordprocessor, 100K Disk Drive, High
Res Green Monitor, Quendata 20 CPS
Daisywheel Printer, 1 Box of Disks and
all the necessary cables

£799 + VAT = £91 8.85

BBC 3: Same as System BBC2 but with
400K Drive

£875 + VAT = £1006.25

BBC 4:Same as System BBC 2 but with
400K Drive and JUKI 6100 Daisywheel
Printer

£975 + VAT = £11 21.25.

BBC 5: BBC Model B + Disk Interface,
View (or Wordwise) Wordprocessor,
800K Dual Disk Drive (Mitsubishi), High
Res Green Monitor, JUKI 6100
Daisywheel Printer, 1 Box (10) of 80
Track DS discs and all necessary
cables £1145 + VAT = £1316.75.

SAN 1: Sanyo MBC 550 Series 16 Bit
Microcomputer, 128K Ram, Dual 160K
drives (2 x 160K), High Res Graphics
(600 x 200 pixels in 8 colours), JUKI
6100 Daisywheel Printer, High Res
Green Monitor, 1 Box of 10 discs,
Wordstar Wordprocessor, Calcstar
spreadsheet and all the necessary
cables £1175 + VAT = £1351.25
SAN 2: Same as SAN 1 but with Dual
360K Drives (2 x360K)

£1345 + VAT = £1546.75
SAN 3: Same as SAN 1 but with Dual
720K Drives

£1395 + VAT = £1604.25
SAN 4: Sanyo MBC 555 Series 16 Bit
Microcomputer, 128K Ram, Dual 160K
Drives (2 x 160K), High Res Graphics
(600 x 200 pixels in 8 colours) JUKI 6100
Daisywheel Printer, High Res Green
Monitor, 1 Box of 10 discs, Wordstar,
Wordprocessor, Calcstar spreadsheet,
Mailmerge, Spellstar (dictionary),
Datastar (database), Reportstar plus all
the necessary cables

£1295 + VAT = £1489.25.
SAN 5: Same as SAN 4 but with Dual
360K Drives

£1475 + VAT = £1696.25
SAN 6: Same as SAN 4 but with
Dual 730K Drives

£1525 + VAT = £1753.75

If you require High Res Colour Monitor infstead of High Res
Green Monitor in Sanyo Systems please add £320 -f-
VAT = £368 to the above prices.

*128K RAM Upgrade for all above Sanyo systems
(makes a total of 256K RAM) £150 + VAT
= £172.50 including fitting.

COMPUTERS

Commodore 64 Cl 79.00

OricAtmos48K £166.00

Sinclair ZX Spectrum 48K £115.00

Sanyo MBC 55 1 28K 2 x 1 60K
Drives £914.25

Acorn Electron £199.00

BBC Model B £399.00

BBC Model B r Disc Interlace £469.00
BBC Model B + Econet
Interface £447.00

BBC Model B + Disc & Econet
Interface £517.00

Z80 Second Processor £399.00

6502 Second Processor £199.00

Acorn Bitstick £375.00

Acorn IEE Interface £325.00

Acorn Electron + One Interface £59.00
BBC Prestel Adaptor £132.00

BBC Telex Receiver £225.00

Amstrad + Green Monitor £235.00

Amstrad + Colour Monitor £335.00

Einstein £499.00

DOTMATRIX PRINTERS

Anadex DP-6500 500CPS £2321 .00
Anadex WP-6000 £2079.00

Brother EP44 £228.00

Brother HR5 £148.00

Canon PW1080A 160 CPS
(NLQ) £289.00

Canon PW1156A 160 CPS
(NLQ) £389.00

Texan Kaga KP810 £279.00

Texan KagaKP910 £389.00

Ensign 1650 165 CPS £305.00

Epson RX80T 100 CPS £224.00

Epson RX80F/T 1 00 CPS £253.00

Epson RX100F7T 100 CPS £439.00
Epson FX80 160 CPS £370.00
Epson FX1 OOF/T 1 60 CPS £494.00
Epson LQ1 500 200 CPS
(NLQ) £1029.00

MannesmannMT8080CPS £199.00
Mannesman MT1 80 1 60 CPS
(NLQ) £678.00

Newbury DRE8850 300 LPM £2409.00
Newbury DRE8925 240 CPS £1592.00
OKI 82A 120 CPS £293.00

OKI 84A 200 CPS £724.00

OKI 92P 160 CPS £379.00

OKI 241 OP 350 CPS £1765.00

Seikosha GP1 00A £165.00

Seikosha BP420 420 CPS
(110 CPS NLQ) £1255.00

Shinwa CP80 Model 1 1 Ft £199.00
Star Delta 1 0 1 60 CPS £378.00
Star Delta 15 160 CPS £511.00
Riteman Compact 1 20 CPS,

80 Col, F/T £228.00

Star Gemini 10X1 20 CPS £228.00
Star Gemini 1 5X 1 20 CPS £334.00
Star Radix 10 200 CPS (NLQ) £516.00
Star Radix 15 200 CPS (NLQ) £631.00
Tec 1550 120 CPS £534.00

Toshiba TH21 00H 1 92 CPS £1466.00
Trend 930 200 CPS (NLQ,

80 CPS) £1552.00

Epson 81 43RS232 Interface for FX &

RX £43.00

Epson 8148RS232 Interface with 2K
Buffer X On. Off £65.00

DAISYWHEEL PRINTERS

Brother HR1 £511.00

Brother HR1 5 £378.00

Brother HR1 5 Keyboard £155.00

Brother HR15 Sheet Feeder £212.00

Brother HR1 5 Tractor Feed £71.00

Brother HR25 £631.00

Canon AP400KSR £874.00

Daisy Step 2000 20 CPS £228.00

Diablo 630 API £1512.00

Diablo Sheet Feeder £563.00

Fujitsu SP830 RO(S) 80 CPS £1374.00
Juki 61 00 18 CPS £340.00

Juki 6300 40 CPS £850.00

NEC 2010 Serial 20 CPS £741.00

NEC 2030 Parallel 20 CPS £74100

NEC 3510 Serial 35 CPS £1321.00

NEC 3530 Parallel 35 CPS £1321.00

NEC 7710 Serial 55 CPS £1723.00

NEC 7730 Parallel 55 CPS £1723.00

Olympia ESW 103 £948.00

Quendata20CPS

Unidirectional £228.00

Qume 11/40 RO £1362.00

Qume 11/55 RO £1575.00

Qume 9/45 RO £1782.00

Ricoh RP1300S £1029.00

Ricoh RP1600S £1368.00

Ricoh RP 1 600S Flow Writer
8K £1436.00

Ricoh RP 1 600S Flow Writer
8K IBM PC £1493.00

Ricoh R P 1 600S Sheet Feeder £527 . 00
Ricoh RP1600S Tractor £158.00

Silver Feed EXP 550 (P) 16
CPS £655.00

Smith Corona TIP 12 CPS £224.00

TEC Star Writer FI 040 40
CPS £1029.00

TEC Star Writer FI 055 55
CPS £1420.00

TEC Sheet Feeder £527.00

TEC Tractor £158.00

Uchida DWX-305 (S or P)

18 CPS £264.00

Juki Single Sheet Feeder £245.00

Juki Tractor Unit £108.00

Juki RS232 Interface £55.00

Juki Spare Daisywheel £1 6.00

Twillstar Computers Limited

1 7 Regina Road, Southall, MIDDLESEX, UB2 5PL. TEL: (01 ) 574 5271 •

50

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

ME computer users...and

COLOUR PRINTERS

Canon PJ1080A 7 Colour

40CPS InkJet £399.00

Seikosha GP700A 7

Colour 50 CPS £399.00

PLOTTERS

Mannesman PI XY Plotter £569 . 00

MONITORS

Texan Kaga RGB Vision 111
12 "

Texan Kaga 12"

HR Green/Amber
Microvitec CUB 1431 Stand
RES

Microvitec CUB 1451 Medium
RES

Microvitec CUB 1441 High
RES

Sanyo SCM 14”VHR
Fidelity 12MHZ, RGB,

Composite

Phillips V7001 HR Green
Screen with Sound Input
Microvitec FOR QL1 451 14"

Medium Res

Novex 14" Colour Monitor
Nordmede TV/Monitor 14"

PERIPHERALS

DISKDRIVES

BBC Single 100K Drive
BBC Dual 200K
BBC Single 200K 40 Track
Double Sided
BBC Dual 400K 40 Track
Double Sided
BBC Single 400K 80 Track
Double Sided
BBC Dual 800K 80 Track
Double Sided
BBC Single Power Supply
BBC Dual Power Supply
Disk Drive for Amstrad
Commodore 1541 Disk Drive

£369.00

£118.00

£199.00

£299.00

£399.00

£425.00

£195.00

£75.00

£270.00

£215.00

£249.00

£99.00

£189.00

£159.00

£299.00

£175.00

£349.00

£ 20.00

£29.00

£199.00

£179.00

uric Disk Drives £2b3.UU

Sinclair 249K Disk Drives £229.00

ADDONS FOR THE BBC

Spell Check £19.00

Tool Kit £27.00

Star Base £69.00

Disk Doctor £32.00

Graphics ROM £32.00

Microtec Cassette £49.80

Microtec On Disk £59.85

Grafpad £132.00

BBC Cassette Recorder £35 . 00

Disk Interface (Free Fitting) £120.00

Games Paddles £9.95

Econet Interface £69.00

Speech Interface £54.00

View Word Processor £59.00

Word Wise Word Processor £37.00

Light Pen for BBC £45.00

Edward User Pack £44 . 79

Edward Teacher Pack £34 . 44

Edward Commercial Pack £59.74

EXPANSION BOARDS

RAVEN-20 BOARD

The RAVEN-20 isa20K RAM
EXPANTION forthe BBC Micro, Model B.
fitted with O.S. 1.2.

This specially designed product plugs in
to the CPU socket of your micro (centre
socket of the 3 available) with the minimum of
effort. The pins are specially custom made,
thus avoiding any possible damage to the
circuitry.

The RAVEN board provide the user with
an extra 20K of usable RAM in screen modes
0 to 3. This together with the aid of software
makes the system completely transparent to
both the user and the computer.

The RAVEN-20 software ROM gives

now

much more than just the standard
commands, it has been programmed to give
more and better commands! Priced at £69.95
inclusive of VAT. Please add £1 . 50 for post
and packing.

RAM-ROM BOARD

The RAM-ROM extension board gives an
extra 6 sockets for extra ROM's and 2 slots of
RAM. This RAM is notan extension of BASIC.
It is intended that the RAM be used to develop
your own ROM based software. There are in
fact seven sockets on the board, the 7th
replaces the socket on the main board that
would otherwise be taken by the ROM board .
(The RAM-ROM board can accommodate
both 2764 type EPROMS as well as 271 28
EPROMS and ROM .)

The RAMAMP board will not cause
overheating . it comes with fully fitting
instructions, tested and heat tested before
depatch.

Prices: Without RAM fitted £33.50. 1 x
6K RAM fitted £47.00. 2 x 16 RAM fitted
£59.00

All prices inclusive of VAT. Please add El .50 for P&P.

HOWTO ORDER

You may purchase any of the items listed by
cheque made payable to: Twillstar Computers
Ltd. Barclaycard or Access. All you have to do is
fill in your requirements on a separate sheet of
paper, post to us and we will despatch with 24
hours, subject to availability. All prices
inclusive of 15% VAT. ADD E2.50 P& P for orders
below E150. Over add E8 P& P. Credit card
holders may order by telephone. Give 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.

. . . ask for our Full range!

jxi. .....

Open

6 days a week
9 am to 7pm
Monday to Saturday

BARCLAYCARD *

TELEPHONE ORDERS

(01)5745271

ACORN DECEMBER 1984

51

HINTS &TIPS

◄ page 47

When this is added to the BBC, the user
ends up with about 44k of memory,
because the second processor still
needs some memory for itself,
although not as much as a normal
Beeb. It uses the BBC as a slave com-
puter, and mostly makes use of
features concerned with inputting or
outputting information. The second
processor is not concerned with screen
display, so no memory is reserved for
this - a great bonus for the user. As it's
using the BBC to perform many of its
tasks, it’s able to do its work faster, and
the system works more quickly.

The worst problems with the second
processor are that many programs will
not run on it because of the way they
are written, and the lack of software
created to take advantage of the extra
memory. If a program will run on the
standard BBC there’s little to be gained
by buying a second processor, unless
the program allows the user to take
advantage of that extra memory. An
example is a graphics creation pro-
gram such as Bitstik.

Often one wants to share a program
one has developed, but care must be
taken to ensure that others have similar
equipment, or that it will run on a stan-
dard computer. One program that
could be used to advantage on the
second processor is Wordwise , but the
current version will not work. It comes
down to the usual story - such add-ons
are only as good as the software avail-
able for them.

The review of the Aries B20 20k RAM
expansion board in April’s Acorn User
highlighted the problems I’ve raised.
This board also needs special software
which is included in ROM form. This
could cause more difficulties if ROM
space was at a premium, especially as
most other ROM boards cannot be
fitted at the same time. It’s not possible
to fit such a board, expect all programs
to work with it and make use of the extra
memory. For instance a special version
of Wordwise is needed.

There are several sideways ROM
boards available which allow extra
ROMs to be fitted, and often also up to
16k of RAM. This extra 16k can’t gener-
ally be used to provide more room for
running programs, but it does enable
software intended to be put into ROM to
be more easily developed, and can be
used for special functions such as a
print buffer (with suitable software).

ROM boards aren’t free of problems
either. Some need to have tricky sol-
dered connections when being
installed, and some have wires pushed
into integrated circuit sockets along-
side the chip lead (no-one will ever
convince me this is a satisfactory
method). Only a few have truly solder-

less fitting. There can also be problems
with the power they draw from the BBC.
However, there are sideways ROM
boards that are carefully designed,
easy to fit and operate almost un-
noticed inside the Beeb.

Lastly, there’s the Solidisc system -
a memory expansion board that
enables ROM software to be stored on
disc and then loaded into these areas of
RAM. As with the other systems it has
its advantages and disadvantages but I
wonder how long it’ll be before soft-
ware houses making ROM software
will find a way of preventing it being
copied onto disc and then loaded into
sideways RAM - as it stands, the sim-
plest way to copy ROM software.

To many people, ‘extra memory’
implies that when such memory is
fitted, one will, perhaps, see a message
appear on the screen saying ‘‘BBC
Computer 64k”, and have all the extra

How the memory is divided

memory on hand in the same way that it
could be added to a model A. The fact is
that the Beeb has as much memory
available as its architecture will allow
(with the possible exception of the
sideways ROMs), and adding any more
has to be done using one or more
tricks. This is why, with the exception of
the second processor, such memory
add-ons are rather awkward to fit onto
the BBC main circuit board and all pro-
grams don’t automatically work without
alteration.

To sum up, in order to get the best out
of any of these systems the software
needs to be written to take advantage of
the extra memory, and as yet there is
little of this about. Such memory can be
used for one’s own programs, but
others must have the same memory
expansion to run them. Sideways
ROMs have proved useful for some
applications such as word processors
and utilities programs, and one of the
better boards is a useful investment if

you intend to purchase several ROMs.
Think carefully about the other forms of
extra memory before buying to ensure
they will meet your requirements. I sus-
pect such devices as the 6502 second
processor will only become popular
when there is a range of software to
take advantage of the extra memory
offered.

Command line
interpreter

BBC Basic as used on the Electron and
the BBC is one of the best versions of
Basic around for a micro. As well as the
Basic statements there are a range of
operating system calls (all the * calls)
which give the programmer access to
many functions that otherwise would
be difficult to program. Sometimes one
can come unstuck trying to combine
Basic commands with operating
system commands -for instance,
‘MOTOR. ‘MOTOR 1 switches on the
cassette motor relay (and the LED indi-
cator on the keyboard of the BBC) and
‘MOTOR 0 switches it off again. Try the
program shown in listing 1 .

Line 20 inputs either a ”Y” or an ”N”
into the string A$. Line 30 will put the
value 1 into the variable N if A$ contains
*‘Y”, otherwise it will return the value 0.
This routine, therefore, gives a default
value of 0, and only returns a value of 1
if "Y” is detected. The variable N is
then used with the ‘MOTOR command
to switch the relay on or off.

When the program runs, the error
“Bad command at line 40” appears,
because once the Basic interpreter
comes across an operating system
command, the rest of that line \s passed
to the operating system. Line 40 tries to
use a Basic variable in an operating
system command, with the result that
the operating system does not under-
stand the variable N.

There are many examples where an
ability to include variables or strings
into operating system commands
would extend the range of options open
to the programmer, or simplify rou-
tines. As might be expected, Acorn
have thoughtfully provided such a
means, but it’s not very well docu-
mented in either the Electron or the
BBC User Guide. Another problem is
that there’s a simpler method of use
which will only work on the Electron or
the BBC fitted with either Basic 2 or Hi-
Basic (supplied with the second pro-
cessor).

This routine is called the Command
Line Interpreter (CLI) and listing 2
shows how it can be accessed. First, an
array 20 bytes long needs to be defined.
This is done in line 20. Notice the differ-

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

...Twillstar reliability for
BUSINESS computer users!

BUSINESS SYSTEMS
SANYO 550

16 Bit Micro 128K RAM
expandable to 256K. Single or
Double Disk drive built in full
colour graphics (640x200
pixels in 8 colours) IBM
compatible. Free software.

Sanyo MBC 550 128K RAM
single drive and free software
including Wordstar and Calcstar
£862

SANYO 550-2

As 550 but with Dual Drive
2x1 60K £976

SANYO 550-360
As 550 but with 2 x 360K Drives
£1149

SANYO 550-73

As 550 but with 2 x 730K Drives
£1206

SANYO 555

Sanyo MBC555128K double
drive and free software including
Wordstar, Calcstar, Inforstar.
Datastaretc. £1149

SANYO 555-360
As 555 but with 2 x 360K Drives
£1436

SANYO 555-730

As 555 but with 2 x 730K Drives
£1494

WORD PROCESSING
BBC 1:

BBC Micro Model B. View (or
Word-wise) Wordprocessor,
Quendata 20 CPS Daisywheel
Printer, High Res Green Monitor.
Cassette Recorder plus 10
cassettes and all the necessary
cables. £747.50

BBC 2‘

BBC Micro Model B + Disk
Interface. View (or Wordwise)
Wordprocessor, 100K Disk
Drive, High Res Green Monitor,
Quendata 20 CPS Daisywheel
Printer. 1 Box of Disks and all the
necessary cables. £883.00

aft prices
inclusive of vat!

and there is more

BBC 3:

Same as System BBC 2 but with
400K Drive £1006.25

BBC 4:

BBC Model B + Disk Interface,
View (or Wordwise)
Wordprocessor, 800K Dual Disk
Drive (Mitsubishi). High Res
Green Monitor, JUKI 6100
Daisywheel Printer, 1 Box (10)
of 80 Track Disks and all
necessary cables £1316.75

SAN 1:

Sanyo MBC 550 Series 1 6 Bit
Microcomputer. 128K RAM,

Dual 1 60K Drives (2 x 1 60K)

High Res Graphics (600x200
pixels in 8 colours) . JUKI 61 00
Daisywheel Printer, High Res
Green Monitor. I Box of 10
Disks, Wordstar
Wordprocessor, Calcstar
spreadsheet and all the
necessary cables £1351.25

SAN 2:

Sames as SAN 1 but with Dual
360K Drives (2x360K)

£1546.75

SAN 3:

Same as SAN 1 but with Dual
720K Drives £1604.25

SAN 4:

Sanyo MBC 555 Series 1 6 Bit
Microcomputer, 128K RAM,

Dual 150K Drives (2 x160K).
High Res Graphics (600 x 200
pixels in 8 colours) JUKI 6100
Daisywheel Printer, High Res
Green Monitor, 1 Box of 10
Disks. Wordstar
Wordprocessor, Calcstar
spreadsheet. Mailmerge,
Spellstar (dictionary), Datastar
(database), Reportstar plus all
the necessary cables £1489.25

SAN 5:

Same as SAN 4 but with Dual
360K Drives £1696.25

SAN 6:

Same as SAN 4 but with Dual
730K Drives £1753.75

BUSINESS SOFTWARE

£ £
Tape Disk

Cash Book

Accounts 59.80 63.25

Final Accounts 59.80 63.25

Invoices &

Statements 19.84 23.28

Commercial

Accounts 19.84 23.28

Mailing List 19.84 23.28

DataBase 19.84 23.28

Stock Control 19.84 23.28

Home Accounts 19.84 23.28

Beebcalc
Spreadsheet

Analysis 19.84 23.82

Payroll 44.85 48.30

ADD ON’S FOR BBC

Complete programme
development package on 1 6K
ROM , an absolute necessity for
all assembly langugae
programers £56.35

MODEMS

WS2000

A world standard direct connect
modem switchable between
75,300/300,600.1200/75.75/
1200 baud, awaiting BT
approval It is compatible with
Bell 103/113/108, 202 and
CCITTV21 & 23 standards and
allows you to communicate with

virtually any computer system in
the world . This is one of the new
generation modems, that will
probably cover any
communications standards you
would ever need. This is the
modem that will cover Prestel,
Micronet, Telecom Gold, Distel,
Microweb. One-to-One, Bulletin
Boards both in the UK and
abroad, ect. etc. as well as
user-to-user communication. It
also has a rather useful facility of
'Reverse-Prestel' mode i.e.
75/1200 so that you can
communicate with other users
who only have a standard 1 200/
75 type modem . What possibly
gives this modem its biggest
advantage is its option of
computer controlled switching
between all modes of operation.
In addition, separate auto-
answer and auto-dial cards are
available, giving this modem
possibly the greatest potential of
all. Mains powered £1 48(c)
Please phone/write for details of
optional extras
TELEMOD-2
A BT approved modem
complying with CCITTV23
1200/75 Duplex & 1200/1200
Half-Duplex standard, that
allows communication with
Viewdata services e.g. Prestel,
Micronet etc. , as well as using
1 200 Baud for communicating
with other computer users.

Mains powered. TELEMOD 2
£74 75(b) BBC Lead £3.50

HOW TO ORDER

You may purchase any of the items listed by cheque made payable to: Twillstar Computers Ltd
Barclaycard or Access. All you have to do is fill in your requirements on a separate sheet of paper,
post to us and we will despatch within 24 hours, subject to availability. All prices inclusive of 15%

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HINTS &TIPS

54

ence from defining an array 20
elements long, which would have been
defined DIM B(20). Here we are reserv-
ing 20 bytes of memory only, and the
string to be put into the CLI is stored in
that area of memory. (The does not
need to be included). This is done by
starting line 50 $B and not B$, equiv-
alent to poking a string into a specific
area of memory, the variable B defining
the start point in memory of that string.
The start point then needs to be put into
X% and Y%, X% being the low byte,
and Y% the high byte. Once this has
been done, the CLI can be called up at
&FFF7.

In this way we have been able effecti-
vely to put a variable into an operating
system call. The routine can be tidied
up somewhat - for instance instead of
writing X% = B MOD 256, it can be writ-
ten X% = B, as only the low byte will be
accessed anyway. A trap for the
unwary exists here, as a space must be
left between the B and MOD otherwise
the computer assumes BMOD to be a
variable name! Also it’s not necessary
to define X% and Y% each time as they
don't change, so they can be put in at
the start, outside the loop. Listing 3
shows these changes.

Basic 2 recognises the importance of
the CLI and provides a new keyword to
simplify its use. It’s available on all
Electrons, newer BBCs and BBCs fitted
with Hi-Basic. The keyword is called
OSCLI (Operating System Command
Line Interpreter). Listing 4 shows how it
works. Readers with Basic 1 will get the
"Syntax error at line 40" error if they try
this program. It should be stressed that
if you’re writing a program which uses
the CLI and you intend it to work on a
variety of BBCs, then don’t use the
OSCLI keyword, use the longer form
which will work on any machine.

Electron owners can use the OSCLI
provided they don’t intend to use the
program on a BBC machine. It’s very
unlikely that a time will come when all
machines are upgraded to Basic 2, as
was the case when the 0.1 operating
system was upgraded to the 1.2, but
there were far fewer 0.1 chips about,
and enough improvements were made
to make it worth changing.

What can CLI be used for? Any of the
*FX calls, any of the operating system
file handling calls (‘CAT, ‘LOAD,
‘SAVE, ‘SPOOL, ‘EXEC, ‘OPT, ‘RUN,
‘DISC, ‘TAPE, etc), to program the
function keys (‘KEY), or for the filing
system calls (‘DRIVE, ‘DIR, ‘COPY,
etc). Listings 5 and 6 are two versions of
a program to define the function keys.
Nothing special you might think, and
rather a long way round a simple prob-
lem, but, apart from demonstrating the
use of the command line interpreter,
they allow the key definitions buffer to

be examined, loaded or saved - useful
if a different set of definitions needs to
be called up from within a program. All
that’s needed within the program is to
‘LOAD the particular file to change the
definitions.

If using a disc system this feature is
especially useful, and it’s also possible
to use the command line interpreter to
catalogue the disc before loading or
saving a file, enabling a check to be
made for an existing filename. This is
done by entering the following lines for
listing 5:

95 PROCoscIi ("CAT")

235 PROCoscIi ("CAT")

and for listing 6 the following similar
lines:

95 PROCOSCLI "CAT”

235 PROCOSCLI "CAT"

The program also uses the command
line interpreter to enter each key defi-
nition once defined.

The function key buffer starts at
location &B00 and ends at location

Quick fire
questions

THE easiest way to clear the screen
in any mode is to press the control
key and the ‘L’ (usually written
CTRL-L) at the same time.

THE commands available using the
control key pressed with another
key, such as CTRL-L mentioned
above, or CTRL-B to switch on the
printer, can be included at the end of
a command such as List. Using
CTRL-L after List will clear the
screen after the command has been
written on it but before the program
is listed. Type LIST, then CTRL-L
and press Return. This is especially
useful when sending listings to the
printer, and avoids having com-
mands such as the List being printed
out as well.

ON a disc BBC machine, pressing
function key f9 at the same time as
Break will reset the BBC to cassette
operating system, although PAGE
will remain at &1900.

WHEN using the cursor control keys
to copy a line of a listing near the top
of the screen, it’s quicker to move
the cursor down off the bottom of the
screen to take it back to the top.
Similarly, to position the cursor at
the right of the screen, move the
cursor off the left side and it will re-
appear on the right on the line
above.

&BFF. The first 16 locations store the
start pointers - one from the beginning
of the buffer for each of the 16 keys
(don’t forget that the Break key and the
editing keys can also be used as func-
tion keys, using *FX4). Location 17 of
the buffer stores the first free space
location, the free space pointer. As the
key definitions are stored in the buffer
in the order in which they’re pro-
grammed, it’s necessary to look
through the other 15 start pointers to
determine the location of the end of a
particular key definition. If any key is
not defined then its start pointer will
have the same value as the free space
pointer.

Headphones halt
headaches

IS it possible to use headphones with
the BBC to prevent annoying the rest of
the family, asks Mr E Stanley from
Hayes, Middlesex? The speaker for the
BBC is mounted on the keyboard circuit
board. Its two leads plug into the main
circuit board at the front left, but could
equally well be connected to a head-
phone socket. It’s possible to use the
switches fitted to headphone sockets to
cut out the internal speaker only if the
headphones are plugged in.

It’s also possible to stop all the sound
using a ‘FX call. Sound can be turned
off using *FX210,1 and on again using
‘FX210.0. If it’s just the bleep that
causes annoyance while programming
this can be turned down. ‘FX212.224
will subdue the bleep, and ‘FX212,240
will make it barely audible.

When to stop

THE correct use of the statement STOP
is in de-bugging programs. I hate its
use to end a program and print out a
pointless phrase telling me that it
ended at a certain line. It can be placed
in a program to stop the program so
that a check can be made that it’s func-
tioning correctly up to that point. The
variable values at that point can be
found by asking the computer to print
the variables. It’s then often clear why a
program doesn't function as expected.

It’s usually possible to restart the
program from that point if the position
of the stop is chosen with care (ie, not in
procedures or loops) by typing GOTO
followed by the next line number after
the STOP.

The listings demonstrating
the Command Line Inter-
preter are to be found on
yellow pages 101-102

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

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LETTERS

Precedent for

pirates

Sir, In the October issue, Geoff
Nairn reported on and Bill
Penfold looked at the ubiqui-
tous subject of software
piracy. Could I, as a too-often
bemused newish computer
user and journalist/writer of
long sitting comment on what I
see as a part of a lobby to
change the law to little effect?

Obviously, copying which
stops people from buying is
not good for the software
houses, but they have only
their own shortsighted policies
to blame. Changes in the law
will only make it illegal, not
stop it.

In the case of much com-
puter software, the potential
market is being badly served
because the early games
inventors and publishers
made a lot of big money when
software was not so easily
available. They also copied
successful games, setting a
precedent for others!

Today, too much software is
available to tempt the addicts,
who have an insatiable desire
to have a copy of everything -
but at £5 to £20 each, they can-
not afford to keep buying these
and acquire more hardware.

The other inescapable fact
is that kids from eight to 80
take a delight in beating the
system. In most cases, it’s
probably incidental that the
copying saves money.

Pirates’ collect but seldom
use the software over any
length of time, not least
because most of it is boring or
rubbish, and is very expensive
if one pays full price.

Of the three £8 plus games I
bought for my son, none
interested him for longer than
three days. He’s not yet six,
and in a few years I doubt that
anyone will be able to stop him
being a ‘pirate’.

Everything anyone has ever
said about our schools produc-
ing illiterates and morons
seems to apply fourfold to
those who prepare the instruc-
tion manuals for anything to do
with computers. Also, lack of
knowledge of business and its

needs is far too often appar-
ent -but only after one has
bought the product.

The BBC User Guide is a
fine example of techno-speak,
which increases as you get
more involved. No other
system seems any better, as I
discovered when looking at a
business system recom-
mended to me by a consultant.

Without someone to help me
with the ‘simple’ BBC B, I
would have given up shortly
after unwrapping everything,
as my wife did. My son is
coping through trial and error,
the way all kids do. We now
have a rather expensive,
clever and quick typewriter!

Geoff Nairn and Bill Penfold
rightly say that all is not well
with software companies.
However, what is wrong are
the profit margins expected,
combined with the unintelli-
gible English which confuses
the huge potential market.

Just compare the literature
and ads of the computer
industry with those being used
to sell other high-tech items,
even to specialists. The com-
puter industry has to start
using outsiders to show it how
to communicate literately with
its audience, and the sooner it
does the better for everyone.

David Parkes Bristow
Middlesex

Passing

parameters

Sir, I have recently purchased
a Basic ROM Advanced User
Guide , and on page 145 there
is a list of Basic commands
and their call addresses. The
call address for SAVE is
&BEF3. So to SAVE a program
you could type:

A$ = “FILE".

CALL &BEF3, A$

Note, CALL &BEF3, “FILE”
will not work but when I tried to
execute other commands such
as RUN, CLS and COS, I just
got either syntax error’ or ‘no
such variable’.

Presumably this is because
of a lack of parameters, so I
wonder if anyone might know
how to pass parameters to the
commands.

Simon Reading

Kent

The Basic ROM User Guide
gives the entry points for each
of Basic’s commands as used
by the Basic interpreter. It
would indeed be possible to
use these routines, provided

all the necessary information
was supplied in the correct
block zero RAM locations.
However, it would be virtually
impossible to do this from
Basic, as the program
required to perform this would
almost certainly corrupt the in-
formation you are assembling.
The program would also be
much longer than the com-
mand itself!

The only way in which these
entry addresses can be used is
from machine code, but again
the relevant block zero RAM
locations must be seeded with
the expected information.

Making your

mind up

Sir, I have just read your re-
view of the six toolkits in the
October issue of Acorn User.

I have used four of the ROMs
mentioned, Addcomm, Care-
taker, Toolkit and Toolstar.
Without doubt in my experi-
ence Caretaker followed by
Toolkit are by far the best. I
have read another review of
Caretaker which called it
‘Another excellent example of
a Basic toolkit ROM, certainly
first division stuff.

I would be very interested to
read why Bruce Smith was dis-
appointed with Caretaker. I
have found its RENUMBER,
SQUASH and EXCHANGE far
out-rank any of the others. In
general, I would like to see
ROMs which have a few very
good, well thought out com-
mands, rather than many com-
mands which are only half
implemented (eg Addcomm). I
would therefore conclude that
your review is misleading and
that other magazines ( Micro
User and Which Micro & Soft-
ware Review) are far more
detailed and accurate.

Ian Paton
London

Bruce Smith replies: First may
I quote the last sentence of my
review, ‘At the end of the day,
however, it should be a per-
sonal choice’. The idea behind
the review, and the forthcom-
ing series of comparative re-
views, is that the prospective
purchaser should be able to

make up his or her own mind
after being presented with a
series of facts that the
reviewer considers to be im-
portant features.

In the case of the toolkits, I
drew up a table of those
features I consider to be desir-
able, and manipulated them
accordingly. As I mention in
the article, I suggest that the
reader does the same and you
should be able to find the infor-
mation necessary to do so in it.
Thus I arrived at the combi-
nation that suited me best.
Whether that matches your
requirements is another
matter.

Regarding other reviews.
Most magazines tend to look at
each item separately. Thus the
reviewer may be rather blin-
kered and quite often may
have never seen any compar-
able software.

If I provided each of six
reviewers with one of the tool-
kits, I’m sure that every one
would be highly recom-
mended, as they are all good
items of firmware. But this
doesn’t help the prospective
purchaser to choose one from
the six. if you don’t have com-
parisons you can't form an
accurate overview.

I therefore strongly chal-
lenge your comment that my
review is misleading and in-
accurate. Indeed, if you had
only used one of the toolkits
and not seen any others would
you have written in to Acorn
l/ser with your comments?

Regarding my disappoint-
ment with Caretaker , I suggest
you look at the article again as
I do give my reasons there,
but I’m glad the article suc-
ceeded in stimulating your
letter.

No strings

Sir, The reply to Clive Maid-
ment in the October issue
missed one vital point; that
(* ] ) can be used to start a
comment line in an EXEC file,
for example. The ‘vertical bar’
symbol, if it is the first non-
blank character following the
* symbol, causes the remain-
ing string to be ignored. See
Advanced User Guide p. 1 2.

Dave Bell
Acorn Computers,
Cambridge

ASK a silly question, pass a fair comment, stage an angry
protest -we don’t mind what you write to us about (or about
us!). Keep ’em short, keep ’em sweet, but keep ’em coming!
The address is: Letters, Acorn User, Redwood Publishing,
68 Long Acre, London WC2E 9JH.

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

I

The riddle of

loading games

Sir, I have a number of games,
including Countdown to Doom
and Castle of Riddles and un-
fortunately, the quality of
Acornsoft’s tapes seems to be
decreasing.

My copy of Countdown to
Doom (a superb game) is of
such a poor standard that it
cannot be loaded unless it is
connected to the hi-fi. I sent
away for a new copy but that
was also a ‘dud’. So I now have
two useless copies of the same
game.

I realise that this may be due
to the quality of our tape-
recorder but if so why do old
favourites such as Snapper
still load?

Desmond Hourihane

Dublin

Acornsoft replies: We make
every effort to ensure our
products are duplicated to a
high standard and have found
that the quality of tapes and
discs is improving all the time.
The majority of cassettes that
are returned to us work per-
fectly when we test them and
we believe it is usually the
tape recorder that is at fault.

However, if any Acornsoft
customer thinks that they have
a faulty disc or tape, they
should approach their dealer
in the first instance. In the
event of difficulty they should
send it to Vector Marketing,
Denington Industrial Estate,
London Road, Wellingbor-
ough, Northants NN8 2RL and
it will be replaced free of
charge.

Leftover

chip

Sir, After buying my 6502
second processor I found that I
had a spare DFS chip. I’d like
to know if it’s worth getting
reprogrammed if it only holds
8k? Also how much is it worth
and does anyone want it for a
reasonable price?

D J Perry

Bristol

If you decide you have no
further use for your DFS chip,
then it certainly can be reused.
To do this it must first be
erased by subjecting it to ultra
violet light which is damaging

to eyes and so best done by
using an EPROM eraser. It can
then be reprogrammed using
an EPROM programmer,
either with your own sideways
ROM software or programs in
*ROM filing system format.
You could certainly try selling
your surplus DFS, perhaps
through Acorn User's free ads
section. I would have thought
that a price of £15 would make
it a popular buy for our
readers!

More on

print problems

Sir, I am writing in reply to a
letter from Mr. Keller that
appeared in the October issue.
’ I was interested to read that he
had problems printing from
View using the Silver Reed
EX44 electronic typewriter
with l/F 40 interface.

You were quite correct to
inform him that the only real

that the problem is a little
deeper than your answer
would suggest.

First, if the writer had ver-
sion A2.1 of View, then he
would have no problem in
printing files irrespective of
type of cassette recorder. This
version has a routine embed-
ded in the ROM that enables
the contents of the memory to
be PRINTed, SCREENed or
SHEETed by just typing in the
keyword (in command mode)
followed by RETURN.

Version A1.4, however, is
not so well equipped. The
ROM will work quite satisfac-
torily if the user has a disc
drive or a data cassette
recorder.

If neither of these facilities
are available, then there is
one last line of defence. Acorn-
soft supplied me with a copy of
a fix routine, which when
loaded into the computer’s
memory enables the user to
PRINT, SCREEN and SHEET
from memory.

As for the point about the
printer driver for View and the

this printer does not alleviate
the problem of printing files,
and getting the Block? error
message. The drivers that are
available for the Silver Reed
range of printers from Watford
Electronics were written orig-
inally by myself, and the driver
for the EX44 will only allow the
user to access underlining of
text. The range of drivers
available, however, allow the
user to access far more print-
ing facilities with the more
expensive printers.

Clive Brown
London

Handicapped
kids appeal

Sir, I am appealing on behalf of
the St George's Hospital
Development Centre, for some
help from your readers.

Our Centre provides an
assessment and treatment
service for children with all
kinds of handicap. Recently we
acquired a BBC micro, with
monitor, dual disc drive,
printer, concept keyboard,
turtle and a small amount of
software. Our aim is to
develop suitable computer
activities for very young physi-
cally handicapped children.
Most of the software currently
available is for the five year
old and over age range.

We think some of your
readers may already have
written programs to amuse
their own very young, normal
children, and these might be
adapted to suit our handi-
capped youngsters. As an
example, we have devised a
very simple sequence in which
each touch of the concept key-
board adds a brick to a pile
(with sound effects) and the
final touch brings it crashing
down.

In effect, we are thinking of a
computer ‘toy box' for the child
whose disability prevents him
from playing with ordinary
toys for toddlers.

If any of your readers would
like to (a) lend us any suitable
programs or (b) write pro-
grams to our specification (for
which we may be able to pay a
small fee), would they please
write to me at the address
below.

Dr David Hall

St George’s Hospital Medical
School,
Cranmer Terrace,
London
SW17 0RE
page 61 ►

solution was to buy a data
cassette recorder, but I feel

Silver Reed EX44, I can state
that the driver available for

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73,220

Robert Hirskyj*

Missile

Command

Gemini

34,810

Keith Harding

Monsters

Acornsoft

257,060

Ian Cook

Moonraider

Micro Power

583,750

Lindsey Tasker

Overdrive

(BBC)

Superior

102,560

Daryl McClure*

Overdrive

(Electron)

Superior

707,010

Gerard Mulholland*

Painter

A&F

116,350

Stephen Corcoran

Pengo

Watford

173,000

Damon Futter*

Planetoids

Acornsoft

639,000

Stephen Corcoran

Pole Position

Atari

109,600

Simon Payne

Rocket Raid

Acornsoft

83,270

Stephen Corcoran

Snapper

Acornsoft

262,810

Ian Cook

Space

Adventure

Virgin

4,640

Gareth Dykes*

Starship

Command

Acornsoft

2,590

Ian Cook

Zalaga

Aardvark

11,350,200

Stephen Corcoran

* Scores unbeaten since October

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

COMPUTER SERVICES

ESSEX & EAST LONDON'S HOME COMPUTER SPECIALISTS

46 STATION PARADE
BARKING
ESSEX
IG11 8EA

Tel: (01) 591 4726

PLEASE REMEMBER, AS ALWAYS, THE PRICES LISTED BELOW INCLUDE ALL CABLES,
CONNECTING LEADS AND MANUALS AS REQUIRED THERE ARE NO HIDDEN EXTRAS!!

SPECIAL CHRISTMAS OFFERS

JUST COMPARE THESE PRICES!

BBC MODEL B MICRO
BBC + DISK INTERFACE
BBC + ECONET
BBC + DISK + ECONET

£325 + VAT = £373.75
£399 + VAT = £458.86
£387 + VAT = £445.05
£447 + VAT = £51 4.06

DISK DRIVES

including software, cables and manual

TEAK

100k

MITSUBISHI

200k

MITSUBISHI

400k

MITSUBISHI

400k

MITSUBISHI

400k

MITSUBISHI

800k

MITSUBISHI

800k

40T single sided
40T D/S
40T 0/S DUAL
80T D/S
40/80T D/S
80T D/S DUAL
40/80 D/S DUAL

£97 + VAT = £11 1.55
£139 + VAT = £159.85
£259 + VAT = £297.85
£152 + VAT = £174.80
£160 + VAT = £184.oo
£300 + VAT = £345.oo
£31 2 + VAT = £358.oo

PRINTERS

including all connection cables

DOT MATRIX:

EPSON RX80 lOOcps

EPSON RX80F/T lOOcps

EPSON RX1 00 lOOcps

EPSON FX100 160cps

STAR DELTA 10X 160cps
STAR DELTA 15X 160cps
DAISYWHEEL:

JUKI 6100 (2k buffer 20cps)

10" WIDE £209 + VAT = £240.35
10" WIDE £237 + VAT = £272.55
15" WIDE £374 + VAT = £430.io
15" WIDE £477 + VAT = £548.55
10" WIDE £335 + VAT = £385.25
15" WIDE £445 + VAT = £51 1.75

£320 + VAT = £368.oo
BROTHER HR15 (bidirectional 13cps) £349 + VAT = £401 .35
DAISYSTEP 2000 (undirectional 20cps) £245 + VAT = £281 .75

MONITORS

including all leads

SANYO DM2112 12" green 15MHZ
PHILIPS TP200 12" green 18MHZ

MICROVITEC 1431 14" RGB Colour

£66 + VAT = £75.90
£79 + VAT = £90.85
£173 + VAT = £198.95

UPGRADES

fitted free!

ACORN disk interface
CARTRIDGE port/speech
ECONET

MULTI-STATION ECONET INSTALLATION

£96 + VAT = £110.40
£46 + VAT = £52.90
£59 + VAT = £67.85
P.0.A, P.O.A.

MISCELLANEOUS

ACORN ELECTRON
Plus One Interface
ACORN ANF03 recorder + lead
SANYO DR101 recorder + lead
ACORN Bit Stick
VIEW (wordprocessor on ROM)
WORDWISE (wordprocessor on ROM)
DISK DOCTOR

CASSETTE/DISK SOFTWARE

£164 + VAT = £188.60
£52 + VAT = £59.50
£30 + VAT = £34.50
£33 + VAT = £37.95
£325 + VAT = £373.75
£47 + VAT = £54.05
£33 + VAT = £37.95
£30 + VAT = £34.50
P.O.A. P.O.A.

N.B. Please ring for an up to the minute quote as
prices are sometimes reduced after publication date.

POST, PACKING & INSURANCE

For BBC micros, printers, drives & monitors — £7 + VAT = £8.05. All other items £1 .65 + VAT = £1 .90.
* Orders over £1 ,500 are free of all carriage charges.

PRICES CORRECT
AT TIME OF
PUBLICATION AND
SUBJECT TO
AVAILABILITY

PRIORITY ORDER FORM

POST TO: SE Computer Services, 46 Station Parade, Barking, Essex IG1 1 8EA
PLEASE SEND ME THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:

Enclose a cheque/P.O. for £

NAME ADDRESS

60

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

I

On/off

dilemma

Sir, In Hints & Tips in the
September issue, Martin Phil-
lips discussed the wisdom of
leaving a BBC micro switched
on for 10 hours. After 30-odd
years using electronic
gadgetry, I have learned that
the most harmful thing you can
do to a piece of apparatus is to
switch it on, and the only way
you can avoid this is never to
switch it off.

I believe that the damage is
caused by the power surge
through the electronics before
the self regulating devices can
take control, and even resis-
tors need to warm up to reach
their working resistance.

Thus while I agree with him
that overheating can be very
damaging, there’s a lot of
sense in Mr Smith’s practice of
leaving the computer on for 10
hours, rather than switching it
on and off several times. I also
agree that in the interests of
fire safety such equipment
should be switched off over-
night; indeed, it should be
switched off and unplugged
whenever the house or office
is vacated for more than an
hour.

Turning to the subject of the
BBC micro power supply, I
have experienced problems
with overheating and, above
all, low voltages.

I have often seen re-
commendations in the press
(including Acorn User) that
owners should return their
micros to Acorn with what
appear to be RAM or ULA
problems with symptoms such
as odd pixels lit up on the
screen or failure to erase fully
the graphics during the play-
ing of some of the arcade type
games. When I had this prob-
lem I found that it was due to a
low voltage in the RAM area of
the BBC board. The voltage
was falling to about 4.8 when
the machine was hot. Taking
the lid offtheBeeb allowed itto
cool down and the volts rose to
about 4.9. The problem oc-
curred only when my room
temperature was over 70°F.

To keep the Beeb as cool as
possible sideways RAM
expansion should, as far as
practicable, be kept outside
the Beeb to permit maximum
air circulation. This is particu-
larly necessary because the
accumulation of plugs and
cables under the Beeb which
one gets with disc, printer,

teletext and second pro-
cessors also appears to
reduce the free flow of air
through it.

This view appears to be in
line with Acorn policy. It’s a
pity they don’t produce a
sideways RAM/ROM board
that meets their criteria for
expansion.

Dennis V Long

Kent

Dave Bell of Acorn replies:
You cannot generalise about
the effects of frequent switch-
ing or a prolonged ON state
on electronic equipment. It
depends upon the component
content, design techniques,
etc. It should make little differ-
ence to the BBC micro whether
it is left on or switched on and
off frequently.

The Beeb is designed to
work in ambient temperatures
of up to 35°C with the specified
options. Items fitted inside the
case like a sideways ROM
card may affect this specifi-
cation, apart from possibly vio-
lating internal data & address
bus loading rules. In many
situations a particular add-on
may function well, but we are
reluctant to sell an item such
as a sideways ROM card
which may degrade the BBC
micro’s specification. Individ-
uals with technical skill may, of
course, find ways round a
problem but it must be at their
risk.

Modern half-height disc
drives generally have low
enough power consumption
for the BBC micro to provide
adequate power for one and
in some cases two drives. An
extra PSU should only be
necessary here if internal add-
ons have been fitted.

Parisian

plea

Sir, I am a new user of the Elec-
tron and reader of Acorn User.
The Electron has not been
available in France for very
long and there are no maga-
zines or even articles about it
in the French press.

I had the good luck to find
your magazine in an English
book shop in Paris, where I
also found some good pro-
gramming books for the Elec-
tron. Before that I only had my
User Guide.

I wish to make contact with
other Electron users, but the
user groups in your list are
mainly in Great Britain. So if

any readers know of a user
group in France, particularly
Paris, please let me know -I’d
like to hear from any French
Electron users anyway.

CecileChristophe
12, rueTissot,
92210 Saint-Cloud,
France

Type to print

Sir, I use a BBC model B with
an Epson RX80FT printer for
word processing. This arrange-
ment works well, but I miss the
beautiful quality printing from
my old IBM model 82 golfball
electro-mechanical type-
writer.

Obviously, I could buy an
expensive modern typewriter,
but I only need one quality final
version, and the Epson satis-
fies my draft needs.

Ideally, I would like to con-
vert my IBM model 82 to drive
it through an interface running
from the RS232C port. Can any
readers assist with a technical
handbook for this typewriter,
and any suggestions on con-
version? Guidance on solving
the interface requirement
would also be appreciated.

Sam Burgess
34 Redcliffe Road
London SW10

Why, why, why?

Sir, Yes, I have tried typing the
command ‘Daytona’ in on View
as suggested in the October
Acorn Abuser’s Diary - and
I’m not in the slightest bit
amused. Instead of faffing
around with such narcissistic
nonsense I’d rather Acorn had
got some of the irritating bugs
out of their £50 plus product
before releasing it.

Why, for instance does
SAVE :2.A.FILNAME not do
what it says, but overwrites
your source file instead? Why
does LOAD :2.A.FILNAME
result in a syntax error mess-
age? Why does CHANGE Jon
John also change jon to john,
joN to john and JOn to JOHN,
etc? Why does the screen
clear every time you do a
LOAD or SAVE? Why if you
invoke a bad command does
the filename disappear off the
screen? Why does ‘HELP DISC
come up with message VIEW
A1.4, instead of Disc Doctor’s
help info? Why do Acorn
ignore requests to rectify
these faults in their expensive
product?

James Miller

Cambs

Getting it

taped

Sir, I must challenge Martin
Phillips’ statement that, ‘When
used with a computer, the
cassette is pushed to the limit
of its performance’. This is cer-
tainly not true and I am suc-
cessfully using a 20-year-old
Philips machine - the joystick
type -which I would not con-
sider for audio work.

When recording music, the
cassette has to cope with very
wide frequency and dynamic
ranges. It must also have a low
signal to noise ratio and low
distortion figures, including
wow and flutter.

For data, the cassette only
needs to deal with two fre-
quencies (representing 0 and
1), and the dynamic range is
nil. Furthermore, on playback
the computer only has to dif-
ferentiate between tones
above and below a single mid
frequency, so it can tolerate
variations in tape speed and a
level of background noise
which would be unacceptable
for music.

Incidentally, there is no
reason why noise reduction
systems cannot be used with
computers. In fact, because
the dynamic range of the sig-
nal is zero, most noise reduc-
tion systems will make no dif-
ference whatsoever.

There is no point in using
anything other than stand-
ard grade type 1 (ferric)
cassettes - but stick to repu-
table brands. Some computer
dealers sell black unlabelled
cassettes of varying lengths at
reasonable prices. These are
usually loaded with Agfa or
BASF tape and are quite satis-
factory.

Don’t pay over the odds for
specially packaged ’computer’
cassettes.

There is no reason why an
old open reel recorder should
not be used for data recording.
Its big advantage is that you
can splice lengths of coloured
leader tape in between your
programs to make finding
them easier, and you can
move programs from one reel
to another, or delete them and
reuse the tape. One word of
warning though - unless
you’re very good at editing
don't record over splices.

Richard Porter
Publications Editor
The Federation of British Tape
Recordists
page 63 ►

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

The inkom Modem

Auto Dial

Auto Redial

Auto Answer

Auto Baud
Rate Scan

Full Duplex

Half Duplex

' Bulletin Board
Facility

' Number Memory Store
* European and U.S.A.

Complete with Power Supply
Leads and Manual
at a Breakthrough Price of

£49.95

EX VAT

AND

P&P.

We’ve taken the best components from the best suppliers and combined them to produce a
modem with everything you could want. Modern manufacturing and quality control techniques
have brought a breakthrough in price. Our philosophy is to pass those savings on to you and to
recover our R& D costs across increased sales.

We’ve made the modem easy to understand and use, you don’t need to know anything about baud
rates or bits, simply plug in and talk to the world.

Features of the Unicom Modem include:

Auto Answer

Unicom automatically answers, then uploads or downloads data into
your micro and printer just like a telex.

Auto Baud Rate Scan

When receiving, the modem scans the incoming data and selects the
correct baud rate to receive.

Full and half duplex

One or two-way simultaneous transmission.

Full U.K. European and U.S.A. standards

V21 and 23, CCITT. Bell 103 and 202. Fully compatible with Termi,
Communicator and other existing software.

BAUD RATES

300/300 1200/1200 1200/75 75/1200

Easy to Use

Complete with all leads, power supply, operating and reference
manuals. Just plug in, no soldering required. Fits all RS232/423
interfaces. (State machine).

Self Test Facility

All major components are BT approved.

Software features of the Unicom Modem
on ROM or disk include:

Auto Dialing

Prestel, Micronet, Telecom Gold, Easylink, Unilink and Homelink in
ROM. Up to 99 stored numbers on disk. Simple two key selection.

Auto Redial

Redials automatically until connected.

Bulletin Board Facility

Start your own or contact all information boards throughout the
world.

Printer Routines

Gives the facility to use your printer to record data in and out.

Software Commands

Commands like ❖ Downland ❖ Dial ❖ Answer etc. can be
incorporated into your own software.

Remote Facility

❖ Remote enables you or your friends to dial and download or upload
vour micro from any other modem.

Reliable Transmission

Unique error correct protocol means you can send, store, and receive
files and programs reliably with no transmission errors.

Dealer Enquiries: Ring Mark Simon on 01 930 1612 Technical Enquiries: Ring Barry Krite on 01 482 1711

Orders on Access/Visa: 01 482 1711

Unicom Limited, A joint Rushworth Dales - D.B. Enterprises Company 20 Orange Street, London WC2H 7ED.
To: Unicom Limited, 20 Orange Street, London WC2H 7ED. Please send me:

(Qnty) Unicom Modems at £60. Includes VAT and P&P (State Machine )

(Qnty) Unicom ROM’s at £24. Includes VAT and P&P

(Qnty) Unicom disks at £12 includes VAT and P&P State 40 or 80 track.

I enclose cheque to the value of £ Or debit my Access/Visa card no

Signature: — Name:

Address: — —

Postcode:.

I

Sorting

out

Sir, With reference to George
Hill’s article ‘See how they
sort’, Acorn User , October,
shell sort is more efficient than
bubble sort because compari-
son and exchange at a dis-
tance allow items in an
unsorted sequence to take
longer 'jumps' towards their
eventual destination -a small
value at the end of the list does
not have to work its way labor-
iously back to the beginning,
one step at a time.

But to get the best mileage
out of shell sort the distance
for comparison and exchange
should never be allowed to
become a power of two. So the
worst possible example to
give the unsuspecting reader
is an array of 16 members
where the items are compared
at distances of 8,4,2 etc. Why?
Because it has the effect of
partitioning the data into dis-
crete sets which are ordered
within themselves but will not
interact with one another until
right at the end.

Take the most pathological
example: a set of 128 numbers,
1,65,2,66,3,67, etc. It’s easy to
see that comparison at dis-
tances of 64,32,16 and so on
will do nothing for us, and that
not until next-door neighbours
are compared will any useful
exchanges take place.

Even worse than the bubble
sort!

The best initial distance to
choose is one less than the
power of two nearest to half
the number of items -this
ensures that each item meets
as many others as possible,
and that most of the work is
done by the time the compari-
son distance reduces to 1. Re-
place line 510 of the ‘un-
adorned’ program listing with:

inc=1 : REPEAT

inc = inc # 2 UNTIL

inc> max

inc = inc DIV4 - 1

I liked the recursive tree
sort- very neat!

Susan Jones

City University
London

George Hill replies: I agree
with what you say and make
the following pleas in miti-
gation:

a) The programs were written
to illustrate sorting methods to
students of 'A’ level standard
and below, and were therefore

shorn of complications where
possible.

The sort seemed to work
very well, so I did not worry too
much about the 'worst case’
you describe.

b) Both the text books I con-
sulted (Data Structures and
Algorithms by Aho Hopcroft
and Ullman, and Introduction
to Data Structures by Beidler)
produce precisely the same
algorithm as mine and don’t
mention the problem you
raise.

Just my luck to choose the
worst possible case by acci-
dent!

Using the change you sug-
gest the time taken for shell to
sort 128 names was reduced
from 16.75 secs to 12.77 secs.
This would indicate that quick
and tree sorts should not be
considered until the number of
items to sort is in excess of
200 .

Wordprint

lapse

Sir, Thank you for publishing
my Wordprint program in your
October issue.

Unfortunately because of
the time-lapse between the
original submission and my
supplying a new cassette a
small error has occured. The
program was amended and no
copies of the original were
available.

On page 148, the paragraph
which starts in the centre
column gives three addresses,
*2B57, #2B69 and #298A.
These should be 42B51, #2B63
and *2984 as shown in the pro-
gram (lines 505, 316, 20, 22).

Should any reader need
help then I would be pleased to
assist them.

Alex Wilson

Essex

Amstrad

abuse

Sir, Your scholarly and highly
appreciative evaluation of
Amstrad’s Hi-Fi technology
(Acorn Abuser’s Diary,
October 1984) left us not know-
ing whether to laugh or cry-
not least because the unit
featured in the photograph
was not ours, but one pro-
duced by a competitor.

A M Sugar
Chairman
Amstrad Consumer
Electronics pic

Kitty spends a
reader’s money
and explains an
error message

I read your answer to
Bernard Walker’s
question in the
November issue of
Acorn User with interest. I
have also experienced prob-
lems when typing in listings,
but often when I run the pro-
gram I get the error message
‘No room’, rather than ‘Bad
Mode’.

Could you explain why this
occurs?

Ray Harris

Kendal

The ‘No room’ error
message is issued by
the Beeb or Electron
when it trys to execute
the program. A computer
requires space to perform its
housekeeping. For example,
variable names and the values
assigned to them must be
placed above the program,
and space made for arrays to
be stored and calculations
performed.

If, on running, the Beeb or
Electron finds it doesn’t have
enough room for these it
issues the ‘No room’ message.
Before tearing your hair out in
a frustrated rage, reset the
Beeb by pressing the CTRL
and BREAK keys together.
Now type OLD and re-run your
program.

This often does the trick -if
it doesn’t, check you have
entered the program at the
correct value of PAGE. For
example, the program may
have been written by a tape
user, who expects PAGE to be
set at &E00, whereas you are a
disc user who works with
PAGEat&1900. To testthisout,
save your program to
cassette, then type:

‘TAPE

PAGE = &E00
NEW

and reload the program and
try again.

If all else fails, try deleting
any surplus spaces (for
example between line
numbers and the start of the
program text), and remove all
REMs and compact lines into
multi-statement lines. Remov-

ing a line number from a pro-
gram saves four bytes im-
mediately!

Q Could you please give
me some advice on
what to buy next? I am
16 years old and half-
way through a computer stud-
ies course. I am really stuck
on what to spend my money
on. First I had my heart set on a
100k Cumana disc drive, then
it was a number of ROMs and
now it is a Brother Printer and
a sound/speech synthesiser.

Paul Gallagher
Belfast

When you only have a
bare Beeb and a
cassette recorder,
everything you don’t
have seems wonderful.

A printer would probably
keep you enthralled for a
couple of weeks, but unless
you write a lot of letters, it
would more than likely sit
unused after the initial love-
affair. Likewise, the ROMs.
You could certainly buy a
wordprocessing ROM but
unless you have discs it would
try your patience to use it.
Good utilities (such as Disc
Doctor and Caretaker) would
be virtually useless without
discs. Speech synthesiser? I
doubt if you would be using it
much after a month or so.

Now - discs. I think this is
what you should go for. Not
only does a disc drive mean an
end to eternal waiting for
cassettes to load, allowing
more atimefor programming, it
also allows you to investigate
and experiment with the more
serious aspects of program-
ming such as writing and up-
dating databases, personal
address books and accounts.

So, my advice? Even though
it’s the most expensive (disc
interface plus drives) I’d go for
discs every time. Once you
have them, you can then start
wondering what to buy next.
For me it would be the
printer . . .

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

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I BAR CODES

You don’t have to serve the life sentence of typing

in programs. George Hill shows the escape route

H AVE you noticed that beer cans
and baked bean tins have strange
black-and-white stripes printed
in a small panel on their labels? These
are barcodes, and they seem to be
everywhere. It’s only a matter of time
before even 17th-century music, sheep
and dogs are marked in this way, with
Bach-codes, baa-codes and bark-
codes. But enough of this punnery! Bar-
codes are an important commercial
development which has already had
an important effect on monitoring the
distribution of consumer goods and
packaged food and is likely to affect
employment levels and patterns in the
grocery industry.

Where else do barcodes crop up?

Perhaps the second most common use
is in libraries. Barcode technology
allows the computerisation of the
whole process of borrowing and return-
ing books. It gives the librarian all the
advantages of computerised file hand-
ling, so that he/she can deal with stock
control, overdue books, borrowing
from other branches and other admin-
istrative details simply and accurately,
without the massive card indexes so
common in the past.

A number of machine readable code
systems are in current commercial use
and the most common now are mag-
netic. Magnetic media such as tape and
disc backing storage and magnetic
strips on credit and bank cards, are

machine readable but not normally
human readable. Machine readable in-
formation can, however, be read by
humans -for example, the magnetic
ink markings at the foot of cheques are
easily recognised stylised numbers
and letters. Punched cards and
punched paper tape are also human
readable, though requiring a lot of
practice. Barcodes fall into this
category too. Humans can read them,
but it takes experience and they are not
primarily designed to be scanned by
human eyes.

Until now barcode readers have
been very costly, and hence only used
in commercial situations where the
expense of investing in the system can

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

BBC Compatible >
Mitsubishi Slimline Disc Drives

These are high capacity, precision drives with dynamic clamping and very low power consumption.
All drives are supplied with cables, a very comprehensive utility/format disc and a manual.

RHHTER

l

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
drive unit with built-in power supply and monitor stand.

Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-6.30pm
Sat 10am-5pm (ample parking)

We accept telephone orders on Barclay
and Access Cards.

Mail Order: Cheques or bankers draft
payable to Akhter Instruments.
Delivery free of charge (UK only)

C01T1PUTER GROUP

28/29 BURNT MILL. HARLOW, ESSEX CM20 2HU UK.
TEL. HARLOW (0279) 443521 TELEX 818894 AKHTER G

Dealer Enquiries
Welcome

HOW THE BARCODE READER WORKS

THE MEP reader is covered by a patent, so precise electronic details are not
available. In any case the construction of such an instrument involves precision
work which puts it far beyond the capabilities of all but the best equipped and
most skilled amateur. The principle is as follows:

1. A special transistor in the reader emits infra-red light which is conducted
down an ‘optical fibre' (a very fine strand of glass) into a small chamber (figure
1) just above the paper surface. This is the source.

2. White paper reflects the light from the source, while black paper absorbs it. A
second optical fibre is sealed into the chamber and any reflected light passes
up this fibre.

3. The other end of the second fibre is connected to a light-sensitive device that
emits a small current if light falls on it.

4. This small current is amplified and converted into an output voltage that
passes along one wire of a cable to the user port.

5. The software now samples the voltage on this wire. While there is a voltage,
light is being reflected - corresponding to white paper. No voltage indicates a
black bar.

6. These signals are read as 0 or 1 by the computer, and the length of time the
signal remains constant can be used to determine the width of the bar.

Optical fibres

Figure 1.

be recouped by the effects of improved
efficiency. The software (programs)
written for them have all been of a very
specific commercial nature, and hence
not of great value for teaching or hobby
purposes. But all this should change
with the availability of an inexpensive
barcode reader produced by the Micro-
electronics Education Programme and
packaged by Addison-Wesley Pub-
lishers (see box on page 70).

The MEP package, containing reader
pen itself, a user guide and several
useful and instructive example pro-
grams, brings barcodes within the
scope of the amateur home micro user.
It will retail for under C50.

The software in the package to be
launched this month is designed to
work with the BBC micro but there will

eventually be versions to run on the
RML 480Z and the Sinclair Spectrum to
cater for the other DOI-supported
micros. Small businesses may also find
it a useful adjunct to their operations as
barcodes become universally used on
products and more sophisticated and
customised software is written.

Barcodes can be used to encode any
information that is essentially digital.
ASCII text is a simple example, but a
Basic program is also digital in nature,
consisting of both ASCII letters and
numbers and 'tokens’ for keywords,
with beginning and end-of-line
markers.

Two standard systems of coding are
covered in detail in the MEP barcode
pack: the European Article Numbering
code, of which more later, and the Tele-

pen data code. It is the latter system,
allowing the encoding and decoding of
Basic programs, that will be of interest
to the home micro user. Apart from the
listing published in last month’s yellow
pages in Telepen coding, Acorn User
printed a sample line in Telepen code
as a teaser in the March issue. Several
readers were able to decode it but if
you weren’t among them you can dis-
cover the message in figure 2.

A third system is introduced in the
MEP pack in which binary digits are
encoded directly into barcode form.
This gives a good idea of how infor-
mation is digitised and then converted
into barcode, and offers practical
experience of the binary and hexadeci-
mal systems. Thus it is a teaching aid
that can be used at various levels.

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

ADDISON- WESLEY PUBLISHERS

NEW EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE

The Bar Code
Reader Project
Teaching Pack

Published by
Addison- Wesley
for the

Microelectronics

Education

Programme

The Bar Code Reader Teaching pack: is an exciting and
innovative teaching resource for schools and colleges (see
review in this magazine). It provides additional material for
any course covering information technology and will be of
particular mterest to those running TVEI courses.

The aims of the project are to:

• provide a supplementary input system for the
microcomputer

• introduce students to the applications of bar code readers

• provide a tool for specific applications.

The project is available as a cassette or 40 track disk pack
retailing at £49.95. A home-user pack will be available in
early 1985.

• The information technology family

• Storing information

• Representing information

• Applications and implications I
Each Teaching Pack contains:

• Two disks or three cassettes

• One copy each of the six different pupils' books

• One teacher’s guide covering the whole of stage 1
Additional pupils’ books are available separately in packs of
five retailing at £15.95 per pack.

The cassette teaching pack retails at £39.95 and the disk
pack at £49.95

The project is also available for the RML 380Z/Link-480Z
(single density disk)..

Maths For
Micros

Project Director:
Ruth Walker

Consultant:
Arnold Howell

The Information

Technology

Project

Project Director:
Trisha Strong
An MEP/CET Project
Published by
Addison- Wesley

The Information Technology Project provides a complete
course in information technology based on the work
pioneered by Croydon IT Unit suitable for pupils aged 1 1 to
14 years old. The first stage covers the following topics.

• Introducing information

• Information skills

The prices quoted above are valid for the UK and Eire only
and are exclusive of VAT.

Maths For Micros has been developed by members of the
distinguished Mathematics for Schools author team and a
group of professional programmers. All the material has
been extensively trialled in schools. Maths For Micros
material can be used alongside any primary mathematics
scheme as it covers the basic strands of primary
mathematics:

• Number • Measurement • Shape • Pattern • Relations

• Pictorial Representation

The pupils' book provided with each set of programs offers
pre-computer activities, instructions for using the programs
and follow-up problems and investigations.

The teacher's guide contains hints on classroom organisation,
a detailed description of each program, black- line masters
for work and record sheets, and technical specifications.
Each cassette pack retails at £2 1.95, disk pack at £29.95 and
additional pack of 5 pupils’ books at £15.95.

POSTAGE & PACKING

For orders under £60.00 at retail value, please add £1.50 for
single items and 50p for each additional item. Orders over
£60 are handled free of charge.

Please send me:
Computing catalogue

The Bar Code

Reader Teaching pack:

Cassette (£49.95)

Disk (49.95)

□

□

The Information

Cassette 15535 (£39.95)

□

Technology Project:

Disk 15533 (49.95)

□

Maths For Micros

Each Cassette pack £21.95. Each Disk pack £29.95

Number I

Cassette 41322

□

Disk 41301

□

Shape & Measurement I

Cassette 41324

□

Disk 41304

□

Number II

Cassette 41345

□

Disk 41307

□

Shape & Measurement II

Cassette 41347

□

Disk 41310

□

Games I

Cassette 41349

□

Disk 41313

□

Name: _
Address:

I enclose my cheque for £

OR please debit my Access/Barclaycard/Visa/

American Express/Diners Club (Delete as applicable).

Expiring Date:

Account No.

Signature:

. Date: .

Dept S, Addison-Wesley Publishers Ltd
Finchampstead Rd., Wokingham,
Berkshire RG11 2NZ Tel: (0734) 794000

68

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

AU/Sch/DEC

I

Telepen system

Details of the Telepen system are fully
explained in the MEP package. For our
purposes they can be summarised into
three main features:

• The code for each letter takes up the
same amount of space (called a
‘frame’), giving the possibility of con-
stant-length lines.

• Each line is started and ended by a
unique guard pattern’; in figure 2 these
are the ‘leader’ and ‘trailer’ frames.

• A checksum is used to ensure that a
valid read' has taken place.

These features mean that the codes
can be reliably read by the barcode
reader, and so copying a Basic pro-
gram from a magazine can be reduced
to a simple and quick mechanical pro-
cess, requiring no ability to type. The
reader pen is simply drawn across the
row of stripes against a supporting
straight-edge. The method is obviously
free from the hazard and expense of
tape or disc transfer through the post,
and permits a convenient and inexpen-
sive means of publishing listings.

As demand grows Acorn User will be
presenting programs in barcode format
(as well as in the conventional way),
and Addison-Wesley also intends to
publish versions of its computer books
in which the programs appear in bar-
code form for easy copying. Other pub-
lishers are sure to follow.

The MEP pack includes a utility pro-
gram to enable users to produce their
own hard copy barcode versions of pro-
grams to be output on a suitable dot-
matrix or daisywheel printer.

EAN system

Educational use will be two-fold. First is
the simulation of ‘point-of-sale’ (POS)
transactions, and the other is in the use
of barcodes to encode binary numbers
directly by a system worked out by the
MEP.

The POS application uses the EAN
system (apologies for all these
abbreviations -computing is riddled
with them!). You might have guessed
that the EAN system is very complex.
Thirteen-digit codes are used (EAN-
13), and an example appears in figure
3. Other versions such as the EAN-8
code exist but these are of much more
restricted use.

To give you a flavour of how the
system works, here are a couple of
quotes from the MEP pack:

The EAN- 13 system represents 13 deci-
mal digits in barcode form. The code for
the 13 digits is carried in two ‘fields

The barcode is started by a guard
pattern ’ of three narrow bars, two black
one white. Then comes the code for the
first field.

The fields are separated by another
guard pattern.

The code for the second field comes
next.

The code is terminated by another
guard pattern.

The first field is made up of patterns
from sets A and B, while the second
field is made up of patterns from set C.

The last digit is a checksum.

The checksum digit is calculated by a
complex algorithm. To follow it we
need to number the 13 digits from left to
right as digits 1 to 13. Thus the UK's
digits 50 are digits 1 and 2 respectively.
During the calculation of the checksum
the checksum digit (number 13) is not
used!

Step 1) Add together digits 2, 4, 6, 8. 10
and 12 and multiply the result by 3.

Step 2) Add together digits 1,3, 5, 7, 9
and 11.

Step 3) Add together the results of
steps 1) and 2).

Step 4) Take the final decimal digit
only of this sum, and subtract it from 10.
The result is the checksum.

Following this calculation for the
EAN number 50-001 27-061 09-C (where
C is the missing checksum). page 70 ►

# • •• • •• •

I III I II II

• • • • • • • •

4 D 4 5 5 0

M E P

Figure 4. Piece of ASCII coded text in barcode drawn up from stencil

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

Message Encoder

4 GEORGE

TAB = checks un

01000101

= new 1 i ne

E

Character

69

Dec i ns 1

45

Hexadeci na 1

Binary

Enter a character? New line

Figure 5. Screen dump of the menu-driven binary encoding/decoding system in operation

◄ page 69

1) (0 + 0 + 2 + 0 + 1 + 9) x 3=12 x
3 = 36

2) (5 + 0+1 + 7 + 6 + 0) =19

3) 36+ 19 = 55

4) 10- 5 = 5= C

The fully encoded number is thus
50-00127-06109-5

Confused? Never mind, understanding
the coding is not necessary to the suc-
cessful use of the system. Every
product has a unique code which is
read by simply brushing the barcode
reader across it. The software takes
care of the rest. Several procedures
are thus possible:

• Decoding the bars to find out the
product’s country of origin.

• Decoding of bars and storage of the
information thus revealed, together
with details typed in (name of product,
price, weight etc).

• Saving this stored information in a
tape or disc file.

• Loading a file from tape or disc.

• Reading of codes and producing of a
running total price for articles whose
details have been loaded in from file.
This is the true POS simulation.

I have used the package in the class-
room and it provoked considerable
interest and discussion from a group of
students on a Manpower Services
Commission engineering course.

Encoding binary

The binary encoding and decoding
system is based around a simple prin-
ciple. A broad bar represents a binary

1, while a narrow bar represents a 0.
The bars here are much larger than
commercial ones, as they are designed
to be human-readable as well as
machine readable. They can be drawn
in pencil using the stencil illustrated in
figure 4 which comes as part of the
pack. Two programs are provided to
deal with these codes: a comprehen-
sive ASCII message encoding and
decoding system and a music system.

The MEP barcode reader is available as
a Teaching Package aimed at edu-
cational establishments direct from
Addison-Wesley Publishers at £49.95. -
and see page 113 for special offer to ALL
readers.

This pack, contained in a moulded
plastic bag, comprises:

1. Metric Crown Quarto user manual
with worksheets, etc.

2. An acetate sheet to protect barcode
program sheets and the reader itself.

3. A stencil.

4. The barcode reader.

5. Software on cassette or disc.

Contact Marketing Services, Addison-

Wesley Publishers, Finchampstead
Road, Wokingham, Berkshire RG11
2NZ, tel: (0734) 794000.

A simplified version for the home user /
hobbyist with instruction notes rather
than a full manual will be obtainable
early in 1985, but details of availability
have not yet been finalised.

In the first, the program can be used
to convert characters typed at the key-
board into ASCII, decimal, hex and
binary. Figure 5 shows a screen dump
of the system in operation. The stencil
can now be used to reproduce the
message on paper, and it can be
decoded by another pupil with the bar-
code reader. This is fun in computer lit-
eracy classes, and the instructive
element can be increased by denying
the code-writer access to the program,
thus forcing the deciphering of ASCII
tables and the conversion of decimal to
hex and binary, and the calculation of a
simple checksum.

The music encoding and decoding
system was originated by Joe Telford. It
illustrates the way in which musical
phrases can be put together in a jig-
saw-like fashion to form tunes. For
pupils with a higher level of musical
interest and competence it shows how
musical notes can be broken into pitch
and length parameters and digitised.
The very skilful might construct their
own tunes with the stencil.

A further application in the pack is a
simple picture digitiser. The barcode
reader scans the picture, timing the
relative widths of black and white
bands, and displays the result. In this
mode it is clearly necessary to have a
very accurate and steady scanning
speed. Scope here for a project on
mechanising the process!

The user obviously needs to build up
his/her manual dexterity in wielding
the reader, and a program that graphs
the steadiness (or otherwise) of your
scanning is provided.

The MEP pack manual gives running
instructions for all the programs,
detailed explanations of types of
coding in appendices, and suggestions
for classroom exercises.

I am convinced of the applicability of
this package at all levels of computer
teaching, and also in commercial
courses. The range of applications
extends from the lowest level of intro-
duction to computers (where it can be
used by the very young to read mess-
ages or tunes) to Advanced level or
beyond, where itcouldform the basis of
an extended project. Two suggestions
that have already been made are to
encode and machine-read names and
classes for a computer timetabling pro-
gram, and to implement a library
checkout system. There is something
here of interest to everyone.

Trial-run programs for owners of
the reader are on pages 97 and 98.
You could join the club - see
competition on page 89

—r

n

FOUR AFFORDABLE

CHRISTMAS PRESENTS
FROM PRC... AND WHERE
T0CETTHEM1

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Because right now our dealers can
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speed, features, ruggedness and afford-
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They include the amazing GP700A:
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offered at under £350.

They 're compatible with most makes
of micro - including the BBC and the
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And with 34 dealers nation wide, you
shoo l< In V have to go too far to find them.

If you re not near a dealer you can
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CHESHIRE Fmd&ham: Northern
( 'omputers. 002 S) 351 10.

CL IMBRIA ( arlisle: The ( omputer Shop,
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DEVON E refer: Devon Computers Ltd.
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DORSET Poole: Densham ( 'omputers
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KiH

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ESSEX 1 la dorr: Akhter Instruments.
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GLOUCESTERSHIRE Cheltenham:

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HAMPSHIRE Portsmouth: Advanced
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A separate version , the GP50S

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('oven try: ('(reentry Micros. (0203) 58942.

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GP50A □ 50S □ 500A □ 550A □ 700A □
Name

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E3

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DHG Business Systems, Dealer Division, 13/ 14 Lynx Crescent. W interstoke Rd, Weston-Super -Mare BS24 9DN. Teh 0934416392. Telex:

Acornsoft announce tidings of great joy
lor both BBC Mieroand Electron owners: eight
brand new programs for Christinas.

Each one makes an ideal stocking filler.

They’re all available at your local
Acornsoft stockist For the address or to order
by credit card simply ring 0933 79300.

Or you can send off for our catalogue by
writing to Acornsoft, c/o Vector Marketing,
London Road, Wellingborough, Northants

NN8 2RL.

Alternatively, however, you could always tak
a chance and drop a line QAn

to Father Christmas. ^IwwICW OwP I

Soltware lor the BBC Micro anti

ivtroi

W

6 .

Sti

tei

bo

9.00 Firebu g

A fast moving arcade-type game in which you are a fireman, trying to rescue some oil
drums and take them to the safety of a water tank. Your opponent is the firebug who
runs around lighting fires which move slowly towards the drums and fire extinguishers,
destroying them if contact is made.

10.00 Maze

A gripping graphics game where you enter a top secret installation with the aim of steal-
ing secrets from a rival company. The security system, however, has many levels each
consisting of a maze of corridors patrolled by armed robot guards. Complete with full
colour 3-1 ) graphics, sound effects and a high score table.

12.00 Elite

A superb 3-dimensional graphics game that’s light years ahead of any other. You are
a space trad er who roams the u ni verse, maki ng your livi ng from huyi ng and selli ng cargo
in your Cobra space craft On your travels, you will encounter aggressors who are eager
to put an end to your dealings. Be warned, only the fittest will survive.

1.00 Crazy Tracer

A crazy adventure in which you guide a paint roller round the edge of a maze of
rectangles, while avoiding the monsters which are trying to stop you by crushing the
roller. Beware - as the game progresses, so the number of monsters chasing you
will increase.

3.00 Go

‘Go* is a board game for two players which originated in China 3000 years ago and is now
more popular than Chess in the Far East. It requires strategic insight, intuition and a
strong, calculating mind. If you wish, you can also challenge the computer at differing
degrees of difficulty. A velly good game indeed.

4.00 Watch Your Weig ht

At last a weight-loss program designed especially for you. With it your computer
becomes an expert wholly conversant with and sympathetic to your needs, and will
help you choose an appropriate and individual weight-loss plan. The program also
includes a calorie counter and a series of apposite menu suggestions to help stimulate
your imagination when you just can’t think what to eat

5.00 The Complete Cocktail Maker

With everything from a Black Russian to a Betsy Ross, this program contains data
sufficient to concoct a staggering 320 different cocktails.

6.00 Paul Daniels' Ma g ic Show

Stu n and amaze your friends with your astound i ng feats of magic. This program contai ns
ten tricks to be performed by or with your BBC Micro/Electron. Hurry though - it’s
bound to disappear fast

JOE’S JOTTINGS I

JoeTelfordsho

ws

Id

iard

you how to bui

your own keybc

for a song. Get

organised nov\

A

W ITH Christmas approaching,
Santa’s elves (Elf Research
Department) have been work-
ing furiously in collaboration with
Acorn User to provide a really interest-
ing present for Mum, Dad or the kids -
the Acorn User Monophonic ORGan, or
Acumorg.

The seasonal advice from snow-
bound Telford Towers (remember Cle-
veland is north of the Arctic Circle -
Ed) is to buy the parts for Christmas,
then, after the festivities have died
down, allocate a few evenings to put-
ting Acumorg together. Users of upper
secondary age should be able to
manage with little help, but parents
should assist wherever possible,
especially as a soldering iron is
needed.

Acumorg provides a cheap and
simple way of attaching a logical music
keyboard to the BBC computer. The
package presented includes both hard-
ware and software. If there is sufficient
interest, a further article on learning
programs for it will be published. A
small amount of software calibration
may be required for some BBC micros,
but in my experience this has never
taken more than 10 minutes, and once
calibrated, the programs seem to func-
tion permanently.

The Acumorg has 28 keys, and
is designed to cover two octaves by
direct keypress, and has three user-

controllable function keys. Because the
hardware produces 28 separate digits
via ADVAL 1 , the keyboard can be com-
pletely controlled from Basic. It's con-
nected to the BBC micro by a three-
wire lead, which may be over a metre
long.

All Acumorg functions other than
keypresses are produced by software.
It should be operational in real-time, so
that musical intervals down to semi-
quavers can be played accurately.
Facilities to be made available initially
include: real-time organ sound, data-
logging (music writing facility), selec-
table octaves, volume control, major
and minor chords, and a tune record/
playback facility.

These are available from a selection
of programs described at the end of this
article. Each facility within a program
will be activated by a function key on
Acumorg.

The components (see panel) can be
bought from almost any high street
electronics store. (No pin photodiodes
are included, so problems should be
minimal.) The version built here was
constructed using components obtained
direct from RS Components which
doesn’t deal direct with the public, but
your store may be able to order for you.

The minimum tools needed for this
project are:

• soldering iron - miniature 15 Watt

type with a ^ in bit.

• small side clippers.

• small screwdriver (for D' cover).

• scissors (for cutting labels for key-
tops).

Messy solderers may find a desolder-
ing gun or desoldering braid useful.

Potential dividers

Figure 1 shows an electronic circuit
called a potential divider, so called
because the two resistors, R, and R 2 ,
divide the electrical potential or volt-
age, so that the input to channel 1 (ch.1)
is somewhere between Ov and Vref.
The actual value of this input voltage
depends on the two resistors, and can
be found by applying the formula:

_ R 2 *Vref

V|n (R 2 + Ri)

This says the voltage at V m is the result
of Vref being shared in the ratio R, to R 2 .
We can find this value by writing a small
routine:

10 REPEAT PRINT FNadc(l):
UNTIL FALSE

1000 DEF FNadc(x) = ADVAL(x) DIV
128

Notice that the analogue input is
divided by 128 to make it more stable,
giving a number in the range 0 to 511.

It’s possible to connect this divided
voltage to the computer by a switch that
when depressed will feed the preset
voltage into channel 1 of the ADC. Un-
fortunately, when an ADC channel is
not connected, it floats' between Ov
and Vref at random, which means that
the switch might appear to be
depressed, when it wasn’t. The answer
to this problem is shown in figure 2. The
side of the switch nearest to the ADC
connection is tied to Ov via a large
resistor, commonly a IMeg Ohm

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

JOE’S JOTTINGS

(1,000.000 Ohms). This resistence is
sufficient to hold channel 1 at Ov when
the switch is open.

When the switch is closed the voltage
at channel 1 rises because of the effect
of the potential divider. If R 2 is small in
comparison to the IMeg Ohm resistor,
the voltage at channel 1 will be very
close to the ratio of R, to R 2 . If R 2 is quite
large, say over 50k Ohm, the IMeg
Ohm resistor will act to alter the value
of the voltage from the potential
divider, because it is always in parallel
with R 2 .

While a IMeg Ohm and a Ik Ohm
resistor in parellel can be regarded as
a 1 k Ohm resistor, a 1 Meg Ohm resistor
in parallel with another IMeg Ohm
resistor would combine to produce one
of 500k Ohms. Hence the value of the
voltage at the potential divider would
alter drastically. In this project the
IMeg Ohm resistor is in parallel with
resistor values up to 28k Ohm, and this
range can be handled in a linear way
from Basic.

Figure 3 shows a potential divider
made from nine Ik Ohm resistors. If a
voltmeter were to be connected
between Ov and the junction of each
resistor in turn, the voltage would be
seen to rise toward Vref in nine roughly
equal stages. Pressing any switch will
place its associated voltage on the
input to channel 1 of the ADC, which
means we can read eight different volt-
ages via the ADC port. If we divide
these voltages by a suitable value they
can be read as the numbers one
to eight, and a 0 voltage means that
no keyswitch is pressed. A suitable
routine is:

10 REPEAT PRINT FNadc(l):
UNTIL FALSE

1000 DEF FNadc(x) = ADVAL(x) DIV
9192

This can be taken a stage further by
placing the numbers generated into a
SOUND command:

10 REPEAT note = FNadc(1)

20 IF note = 0 SOUND& 11,0,0,255
30 IF note>0 SOUND&1 1, - 15,
note*4,255
40 UNTIL FALSE

1000 DEF FNadc(x) = ADVAL(x) DIV
9192

Obviously the accuracy of the sound
generated will depend on the scaling
factor of 9192 in line 1000. This is the
part of the software which may need to
be calibrated for each Acumorg.

Figure 4a shows the circuit diagram
for Acumorg and figure 4b relates the
switches to the keyboard design. The
circuit diagram is no more complex
than figure 3, except that 28 keys and 30
resistors are used. Trace the potential

Figure 3. Circuit for a two-octave organ

divider chain from Ov to Vref, ensuring
that a switch is connected between the
chain and channel 1 at each resistor
junction. Notice that a IMeg Ohm resis-
tor is used to hold channel 1 at Ov when
no switch is pressed. It’s important to
use one per cent tolerance resistors in
the circuit, because these will provide
greater linearity, making the software
easier to write.

Figure 5 is the component view of the
stripboard showing resistors, switches
and wires, which should be fitted and
soldered under it in the positions
marked. The ‘x’s are cuts made on the
underside of the board using either a
spot face cutter, a J in drill bit or a craft
knife.

Sequence of construction

I.Cut the stripboard in half length-
ways - each can be used as the chassis
for an Acumorg.

Figure 4b. Key layout

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

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ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

| JOE’S JOTTINGS

COMPONENTS

Component

RS No.

Price

(approx)

1

stripboard (makes 2 Acumorgs)
119mm*455mm* 1.6mm

434-201

£4.50

28

PCB push switches

*

£4.20

29

Ik Ohm 1% resistors

148-506

£0.90

1

IMeg Ohm 1% resistor

149-228

£0.03

1

15 way ‘D’ plug

466-185

£1.50

1

15 way ‘d’ cover

469-572

£1.25

1m

two-core screened cable

£0.20

20cm

single-core Hookup' wire

£0.10

1m

Black and white self-adhesive labels

for keytops

solder

£0.50

£0.10

Total

£13.38

• Nestec has agreed to supply PCB switches - the address is Nestec, Kielder House. New-
castle Polytechnic. Coach Lane Campus. Benton. Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE7 7XA. Tel:
(0632) 663409. RS PCB push switches are RS no. 337 596 and cost £ 14.50 for 28. You may
have problems in fitting the Nestec switches squarely on the veroboard - see page 80.

2. Cut the track side of the stripboard at
the points indicated. Make sure no links
between tracks are accidentally made
and that the gaps completely remove
the copper tracks around the holes
marked ‘x’.

3. Fit the PCB switches in the holes
shown. Have a dry run and compare the
result with figure 5 before soldering
them in place. Note that there is a
seven-hole gap between switches in
the bottom row (apart from the function
switches), and that the rows are separ-
ated by a single row of holes. If different
switches are used, their contact pegs
may push through the stripboard in dif-
ferent positions. Try, however, to main-
tain the connections to lines H and J,
and alter the contacts at lines D and N if
necessary.

4. Solder the switches in place and trim
the solder joints, if necessary, using
side clippers.

5. Solder the four wire connections
near the function key switches. T rim the
joints if they are untidy.

6. Solder the 29 Ik Ohm, one per cent
resistors and the IMeg Ohm one per-
cent resistor into place, then cut their
legs and trim any untidy joints.

Figure 5a. Resistor layout changes for RS
switches

7. Connect the two-core shielded cable
to the stripboard as shown, with the
screen to track J (the lower end of the
potential divider chain).

8. Connect the other end of the cable to
the 15-way D’ connector (making sure

Figure 6. Lead connections to ‘D’ plug

that the leads are connected correctly)
by following the lead colours to it from
Acumorg (figure 6). Add the cover to the
'D' connector.

9. Check the trackside of the board for
dry joints - they will be a dull grey
colour - often caused by too little
solder, and for solder bridges between
tracks - caused by too much solder.

10. Check the other side of the board for
any components that are out of place,
and remove and replace them.

11. Make sure the necessary tracks
have been correctly cut.

Once the soldering has been done,
and the Acumorg checked for mistakes,

Figure 5b. PCB push switch pin-outs

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

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To: Disco Technology Ltd., Lex House, 3/6 Alfred Place, London W.C.L, England.

the finishing touches should be added.
Most electronics shops sell cheap self-
adhesive rubber legs. To prevent the
board from bending when the keys are
pressed, up to eight of these can be
struck to its underside.

To make it look more like a piano
keyboard, the top row of keys can be
covered with black adhesive labels and
the lower with white. Note that the key
on the far right is C, which is playable
and should be covered white. The three
function keys should be marked
F1:F2:F3 (figure 4b). The protection
tabs included with many packs of floppy
discs provide cheap keytop labels.

Users who are adept with wood,
plastic, fibre-glass or metal might like
to make a case for Acumorg, but this
isn’tessential.

Software for Acumorg

Although some software has been
described in introducing the concepts
behind Acumorg, it didn't originally
function correctly. The greatest techni-
cal problem with Acumorg is that the
ADCs continually sample the input to
each channel, and this is done rela-
tively slowly (milliseconds are very
slow in computer terms). This means
that pressing a key is not synchronised
to the polling of the ADC, with the result
that during an ADC conversion the
three waveforms found in figures 7 a-c
can occur.

In figure 7a a key is pressed during
an ADC conversion period, resulting in
a value for ADVAL1 which does not re-
flect the correct keypress. The same
situation can occur on key release
(figure 7b). Because of the voltage
change between Ov and V, n the value
returned will not be correct. Only in
figure 7c can it be correct, because the
switch is held closed for the full conver-
sion period.

Unfortunately, we cannot be sure
which waveform is being returned on
any keypress. So we must continually
sample the waveform until two values
match, indicating that a key is properly
held or released. A simple routine for
this is:

1000 DEFFNadc(x):LOCALa%,b%

1010 REPEAT:a% =

(ADVALx-F 128) DIV 2240

1020 T% = TIMET 1:REPEATUNTIL
TIME>T%

1030 b% = (ADVALx + 128) DIV 2240

1040 UNTILa% = b%: = a%

Notice that two readings are taken
roughly 1/100th of a second apart (line
1020). If these are equal (line 1040) then
that value is returned to the main pro-
gram - if not the sampling continues.

It should be clear that the worst case
of Acumorg recovering from an out-of-
synchronisation keypress is over just

JOE’S JOTTINGS

two conversion periods. Because this
may occur at the beginning and end of a
keypress, the sound will generally start
and end two conversion periods after
that keypress (figure 8). It is therefore
best to reduce the conversion period to
the shortest time available. This can be
done using the command:

*FX16,1

which only activates ADVAL1, allowing
the ADC to run faster, at about 10msec
per conversion. It’s possible to improve
on this, but in practice this is sufficient,
as the sound is only an undetectable ~
second out of sync with the keyboard.

The first set of software provided for
Acumorg is aimed at users learning to
use the keyboard. The programming
techniques are relatively simple, and
users should, as usual, improve on the
software given.

J Conversion period ^

I

V'

Key press ,

v m

Figure 7a. Key pressed during conversion:
incorrect reading

1 1

Conversion period

V,n —

i

1

1

i

“ — ‘Key release

— OV

Figure 7b. Key release during conversion:
incorrect reading

V/

1 Conversion period j

l r

0V 1

-Keypress Key release*"”

,

Figure 7c. Key pressed over conversion:
correct reading

Program 1 (page 103) shows the few
lines of coding necessary to make Acu-
morg play real-time sound, and can
also be used to check its calibration.
The main body of the program repeats
continually, pushing the current note
value into one of the two available
SOUND statements. In the develop-
ment of later software, it was found that
lines 30 and 40 could be combined to
read:

SOUND&1 1 ,( - 15*SGN(note)),note
*4,255

which gives silence for all notes equal
to 0. The &1 1 at the start of each SOUND
statement is there because of the need

to interrupt any sound channel at a
moment’s notice. The &1x command
interrupts sound from channel x as
soon as it’s executed.

The only calibration which may be
necessary is in line 1010, and once
done this line can be added to each pro-
gram. I found that this line needed
altering in only one out of five proto-
types.

To check the calibration, simply re-
place lines 30 and 40 with the line:

30 PRINTnote

Now connect Acumorg up to the BBC
micro and RUN the amended program
1. With no keypresses the number 0
should appear.

Press and hold each note in turn. As
each is pressed its corresponding
number from 1 to 28 should appear and
no/change. If the numbers from 1 to 28
all appear correctly then Acumorg is
calibated. If any number does not
appear or flickers between two values,
a small amendmentto the calibration is
needed. Alter the 2240 of line 110 by
one unit either way, then try again. If
the flickering becomes worse try the
other way. If adjusting the number 2240
over a range of H — 32 does not cure
the problem, reset it to 2240 and alter
the other parameter, the 128. This can
be done in steps of 32 between 32 and
224.

Program 2 allows the organ to print
understandable musical information,
corresponding to the pitch of sound
produced by each keypress. The data is
shown in line 1050 and is placed into
the array ‘noteS’ which is two chroma-
tic octaves (28 notes) long. On pressing
a key the note is sounded, and the
coding at line 60 prints out each new
note as it’s played. Rests and internote
gaps are not shown because these are
interpreted as a ‘delete’ code, confi-
gured by line 40.

The program can be altered to show
just the number of the keypress, giving
SOUND statement values which are
directly transferable to other Basic pro-
grams such as for jingles. The alter-
ation is to line 60 where:

PRINT noteS(note)
becomes

PRINT note

Line 80 sets the note produced to match
the name printed.

Program 3 introduces the user to the
idea that not all the keys on the organ
need to initiate sound. The three func-
tion keys can be set to alter the value of
the variable octave’. This is done in
lines 90 to 110.

Line 90 checks for a function key (a
key with value more than 25) and if it
finds one pressed, blanks out the

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

JOE’S JOTTINGS ■

indicating the current octave. Line 100
alters the octave by subtracting 26 from
the keynumber, giving a value from 0 to
2. This is used to print a new indicator
**’ in the correct position. Finally, for
keypresses over 25, the program loops
round in line 110 so that no sound is
produced. When the octave has been
set, it’s used by line 130 to produce a
sound in that octave. If the ‘48’ of line

130 was altered to ‘96’, the sound would
rise in double octaves.

Program 4 demonstrates how the
Acumorg function keys can be used to
control three of the organ’s features. FI
controls the octave range up or down
one octave. F2 alters the volume. F3
selects whether each key pressed
plays a single note or a major or minor
chord based on it. Chords can be used
to produce an accompaniment to
another instrument or even to another
Acumorg.

The function keys are trapped bythe
coding in lines 110 to 130. The three
basic procedures which handle them
are: PROCoctave, PROCvolume and
PROCchord.

PROCoctave is found at lines 270 to
310. First it clears the current screen
octave indicator (line 270), then the
octave is toggled between 1 and 0 (at
line 280), and the new octave is indi-
cated (at line 290). Line 300 is included
so that the function key must be
released to prevent multiple toggles.
The procedure returns to the main pro-
gram with the variable octave’ now
switched to 1 or 0, depending on its last
state.

Found at lines 220 to 600, PROC
volume first clears the current screen
volume indicator (line 220). Next the
volume is toggled between 1 and 0 (at

line 230), then the new volume is indi-
cated (at line 240). Line 250 is included
so that the function key must be
released to prevent multiple toggles.
The procedure returns to the main pro-
gram with the variable volume’ now
switched to 1 or 0, depending on its last
state.

PROCchord is found at lines 170 to
210 First it clears the current screen

chord indicator (line 170), next the
chord type is toggled between 0, 1 and 2
(at line 180) and then the new chord
type is indicated (at line 190). Line 200
is included so that the function key must
be released to prevent multiple tog-
gles. The procedure returns to the main
program with the variable chord’ now
switched to 0, 1 or 2, depending on its
last state.

When any key less than value 26 is
pressed, the program uses the pre-
viously set values of octave, chord and

volume to play the note indicated. This
is done in PROCpIay. PROCrest is only
used to produce musical rests and
inter-note gaps.

The PROCpIay routine is designed to
play either single notes (at line 370), or
chords. If a single note is required, the
variable ‘chord’ will have been set to 2.
If ‘chord’ is 0 or 1, a second voice plays
at line 390. If chord' has a value of 0 the
SOUND statement of line 400 is played
and the routine concludes, giving a
major chord. If the value of chord’ is 1
then the SOUND statement of line 410
plays, which alters the sound to a minor
chord.

The organisation of each sound state-
ment is such that the values of ‘volume’
and octave’ are placed in expressions
which evaluate to the correct para-
meters for the SOUND required, with-

out complex use of the IF statement.
The contents of line 370 arc shown in
figure 9.

Program 5 allows Acumorg to play
like program 1, except that whenever
FI is pressed the keypresses and
durations are stored in two 100-item
lists. These lists can be replayed at a
moment’s notice by hitting F2. When F3
is pressed the two lists are cleared,
ready for a new tune to be recorded.
With a small amount of alteration the
program could be improved to enable
the loading and saving of files to and
from disc.

Lines 100 to 140 handle the function
keys by moving the screen indicator
(lines 100 and 110), then examining the
keypress further. Line 120 checks for
function key 1 and if this is currently
pressed sets the organ variable ‘mode’
to 1. Line 130 checks for F2 and sets
‘mode’ to 2, then replays any music
stored. The benefit is that the user can
try out other tunes without them being
recorded until FI is pressed again. If it
is hit when some music is stored, new
recordings will be added to the end of
the last recorded piece.

Line 140 checks for F3, the clear key.
If this is encountered at any stage the
pointer ‘top’ to the end of the lists of
stored music is reset to 0. Line 150
handles the recording of played notes,
but the ‘mode’ must be set to 1 by func-
tion key 1 (Record).

The Replay procedure repeats the
notes played, emphasising them and
not the inter-note gaps. Altering line
230 will change this emphasis. If during
the playback the clear key is pressed,
the playback will be cut short but the
music data will not be removed. Hitting
it again will reset the music data
pointer ‘top’, effectively clearing the
stored data. This program is experi-
mental in its present form, and users
are encouraged to restructure and
improve it.

This project relies on good soldering
ability, plus willingness to experiment,
change and customise hardware and
software. For beginners attempting the
project, I suggest you work slowly and
methodically, ticking off the stages. If
you have to break off work, make sure
the equipment is kept together. Be
careful with the soldering iron (especi-
ally with children) as it’s a source of
great heat and electrical current. After
the construction of the hardware only
enter program 1 until the organ is func-
tioning properly, then move on to the
other programs.

Acumorg demonstration
and control programs are
on yellow pages 103-1 04.

10ms conversion periods

At ADC

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

1 1 1

T~n

rr~

1 1 1 1

i-

Key press 140ms

1

From ACUMORG

I

— Sound 140ms —

i

i

From speaker

i

20ms !

i i

20ms !

Validation delay

Validation delay

Figure 8. Timings of worst cases

THE Nestec switches may be used without modifica-
tion, but because of their pin arrangement they will
be positioned at an angle to the main board. If you
want the switches to sit square on board proceed as
follows. Gently bend pins inward until they can be in-
serted into correct holes. While applying pressure to
keep the switch in the board, rotate the switch anti-
clockwise until square with board and solder.

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

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CO E « C . 05

■C 0|£““ 03 2S

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•••

. • ♦

Will you think the same of your
micro in 6 months’ time?

Remember the days when every
record player was gifted with a needle
instead of a stylus. 45’s were “ini’ 78’s
were “out’.’

Before the days of hi-fi and laser discs.
When a graphic equaliser was a break-
through on the football pitch instead of
in music technology.

Look at a record player now and it’s
a museum piece.

Its like that with micros too.

The machine you thought would give
endless hours of fun and interest often
becomes a five minute wonder. Played
out w ithin months. Or so you thought.

But imagine communicating w ith
other micro users on a nationwide
mainframe system. Updating yourself

daily with the very latest computer news
and reviews. Paging a special Bulletin
Board. Feasting from "Prestel s vast menu.
Lven downloading a choice of software
absolutely free.

In fact, imagine 30,000 pages at your
fingertips and you’ve imagined what it’s
like to be on line with the Micronet 800
system.

For Just FI 3 a quarter (and, for most
of you, a local telephone call when-
ever vou want to connect up) you could
subscribe to the Micronet system.

The only extra you need to connect
up is a modem unit. Which is a small
enough outlay for what it buys.

Micronet’s features are almost limit-
less and constantly updating so why not
see it in action at John I ew is stores,
selected W. 1 1. Smith shops and Spectrum
UK dealers.

Or fill in the coupon tor our brochure.

You’ll find vou won’t want to play on
anything else.

Please send me the lull tacts about Micronet SOI) - 1

Name __

Make Model o! Micro

Address .

Making the most of your micro.

telephone

MK'KOSl I 80(1. I intrant House. 8 lli tb.il I fill.

I <>ndon I C’lK >1 J. h li phone nl s ^ *mji2/84 I

'K« >\| 1 Hint. I intrant Mmiim'. 8 HciL.il I till, I ouilnii 1 1 1H >| |
li h ph«>n« m ‘ .x tm
'I'ri 'ti I and tin IVMel vnwlml an ii.idoiitaiU ><| Itnlislt lelct nmumnn atintis

PRINTERS I

Dear Mr Hill,

Please can you help me and a number of other frustrated printer-users
with a problem which I know can be solved but with a little knowledge
needed from someone of your standing. The problem to which I am refer-
ring is the screen dumping of ‘protected’ screens, games etc, on an
Epson printer. By ‘protected’ I mean that the program is protected in such
a way that one cannot hope to get into it and add a nice little screen dump.
In the July issue of ‘Acorn User’ you talk about dumping a reasonable rep-
resentation of the screen to the printer. This is all very well if you have a
nice graphics program which is listable, but please tell us -in laymans
terms so even an idiot like me can understand - how on earth you pro-
duced the dump of the ‘Q*Bert’ screen on page 165 of July’s issue.

At every show you see lovely dumps of nearly every game ever
released pinned up all over the stands, but nobody seems to know how
it’s done!

What’s needed is a nice machine code program that can be loaded at
an obscure address and which will interrupt any program while it is
running and dump whatever is on the screen to the printer. Your rival
magazine ‘Micro User’ published one several months ago which claimed
to do this but out of nearly 100 games tried, it only managed to dump
‘Hopper’ by Acornsoft. Please write or find me a program with which I can
happily dump games screens with my BBC and Epson.

Thank you for your time and consideration, and I hope you can help me
out with this most frustrating task.

Yours faithfully

A G Postle

George Hill’s three programs solve a reader’s problem
with dumping freeze frames of arcade action

D EAR Mr Postle, The time has
come to blow the gaff. To do this
kind of screen dump it is essential
to have a machine-code dump. The
colour dump used for Q*Bert sat in
page 10 (&A00 to &AFF) and was pub-
lished with my review of the Canon
PJ1080A colour printer ( Acorn User ,
July issue, pages 163-5). This article
contains the assembly language for a
machine-code dump for a dot matrix
printer.

When I dumped Q*Bert(and inciden-
tally Snapper and some other games
screens) I cheated!

Q'Bert has a Basic controlling pro-
gram, and so I found a convenient place
and inserted the line:

CALL&A00

and hey presto!

Snapper was a bit more tricky, but is
a well-constructed piece of machine
code. It therefore consists of a number
of JSR instructions at the beginning of
the code. I looked at the disassembled
listing and poked the two bytes:

&00 &0A

(the start address of my dump) in place
of various subroutine addresses until
the dump occurred at a suitable junc-
ture.

None of this really helps you with
your problem, but it does indicate an
approach for programs for which the
method I explain below does not work.

There are three pre-requisites if you
want to carry out an ‘instant dump’.
First, you must have a piece of machine
code buried in the machine that can do
the dumping. Second, this piece must
be found a home where it does not
interfere with the normal functioning of
the computer, or with the game in ques-
tion. Third, you must be able to ‘freeze’
the game.

First the freezer. The best way to
interrupt any computer process is to

generate an ‘interrupt’. This means
that the computer detects an ‘event’
and transfers control to a piece of
machine code. The address of this
machine code is ‘vectored’ (ie, trans-
ferred) through a memory location
reserved permanently for this purpose.
The vector address in question is &200
and &201. The event we want to detect
is ‘key pressed’. This is ‘enabled’ by the
operating system call:

*FX14,2

We now write our interrupt handling
machine code, and deposit its address
at &200 (low byte) and &201 (high byte).

There are three programs. The first
is Autocol, which sets up the interrupt
handler at address &9C0 (where the
speech processor has its work-space
or in the middle of the cassette output
buffer, which will be unused unless you
save something), which is relatively
safe. It then performs the necessary
*FX call and deposits &C0 at address
&200 and &09 at address &201. When a
key is pressed the CPU completes its
present instruction, then performs a
JMP (&200) instruction. This jumps to
the location pointed to by &200, which
is &9C0.

The routine preserves the registers
by pushing them onto the stack. The

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

I PRINTERS

‘Hunchback' screen dumped by George Hill’s programs

The Q* Bert screen that prompted Mr Postle’s letter

last one preserved is the Y register,
which is transferred to the stack
through the accumulator (tya:pha). This
results in the contents of the accumula-
tor being the previous contents of the Y
register. This contained the ASCII code
tor the key which had been pressed. It
is compared with (the ASCII code is
64). If it was not @ then the registers
are restored and we exit gracefully. If it
was @ then we jump to the dumping
subroutine. Any machine-code dump
will do, but you must find it a suitable
home, ‘LOAD it there and define its
start address as ‘dumpstart’. (I found

most dumps for normal dot-matrix
printers quite unsuitable for producing
multicoloured screen pictures.)

The @ key was chosen because few
games appear to use it as a control key.
It should be clear that this method will
work with most games and almost all
Basic graphics programs. There are
exceptions, however. Some games use
my program’s workspace at &900 and
&A00 and attempt to overwrite the
dump -Hopper appears to do this,
resulting in a ‘Bad program’ message.
Some have their own interrupt routines
to handle the keyboard and so reset

&200 and &201, by-passing the inter-
rupt handler (Rocket Raid does this).
The method works for a surprisingly
large number of games, though.

The second pair of programs com-
prises Dumper , a Simple setting-up
program, and Autodmp , which is much
more complicated and deserves some
explanation. It generates a machine
code dump suitable for the ESC L nl n2
double-density graphics. This occurs
on Stars, Epsons, CP80, and Canon
printers, and probably many others.

Autodmp sets up two pieces of
machine code of one page each. They
are interconnected but need not be
consecutive. CODE1 contains all the
storage space, some of the subrou-
tines, and the interrupt handler. It is
preceded by a jump instruction, so that
it can be called at address &900. The
second piece of machine code (CODE2)
actually carries out the dump.

My most recent article on screen
dumps introduced the subject of ‘logi-
cal’ and ‘physical’ colour dumps (July,
page 167). This dump is a compromise.
It dumps modes 2 and 5 in physical
colour (otherwise some games
screens which use VDU19 calls exten-
sively look disappointing) but modes
0,1 and 4 in logical colour (otherwise
the contrast is very poor).

The first problem remains - where to
put the machine code. I have solved it
for most disc machines - &900 to &AFF
remains clear most of the time. The
problem for tape machines is that &D00
should be free, and that is where the
second piece of code is located, but
many games programs use this page of
memory. T ry &B00 (the soft key buffer -
often unused) as an alternative. These
modifications will have to be left to
someone who uses tape regularly.

A desirable side-effect of this last
system is that it can be used in the
absence of the interrupt handler. If you:

‘LOAD CODE1

‘LOAD CODE2

inserting the line:

CALL &A00 (&D00 on tape)

will cause an excellent screen dump.

So there you have it, Mr Postle. I
hope it meets with your approval. I
must admit that I still had to cheat for
Q*Bert even with the new system. The
problem is that games using more than
three ENVELOPE commands use &900
for their storage and we get overwriting
of the dumping system. I leave readers
to puzzle out the answers to that.

The Autocol, Dumper and
Autodmp programs are listed
on yellow pages 105-108

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

Statix for the BBC Microcomputer,
models A and B (32K)

£7.95 including VAT from
leading software stockists

cd = DC= 2

88

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

COMPETITION

COMBINATION

♦CRACKER*

Win a £50 barcode reader package in our Christmas quiz

A s the snow swirls around you in
the wilds of Long Acre and you
pull your adventuring gauntlets
tighter around your fingers to keep out
the cold, a pitiful sight shuffles out of a
damp and darkened corner and blocks
your passage.

Dressed in combat gear (army sur-
plus -Battle of Verdun) and with a
Santa Claus beard which looks three-
days genuine, it parts its lips and a
shallow moan emanates towards you:
Spare us a few bob for a drink, guv.
Season of goodwill y’know’.

With a shock, you perceive from the
icicles dangling from his gold earring,
that you have just encountered Mad
Alex -he who has consumed more of
your time in the pastyear, by giving you
ridiculous puzzles to solve, than you
would have wished.

Begone, wretch!’ you cry. ‘If I give
you money, far from spending it on
honest drinking, you’ll only put it
towards a second processor!’

'Honest, guv, I won't. In fact, if you
were to accompany me to that excellent
hostelry yonder, The Freemasons’
Arms, I venture to suggest you might
learn something to your advantage.'

Your heart sinks. You know only too
well the mental anguish and late nights
entailed in trying to acquire one of Mad
Alex's advantages. And yet, one day,
maybe?

In a dream, you cross the threshold
and before you know it Mad Alex has
his hands on your pouch of sovereigns
and is distributing largesse to all and
sundry.

After the first few flagons have been
quaffed, an air of weariness descends
upon you. ‘Er, are these people from
the Acorn User dungeon?’ you enquire
of Mad Alex, fool that you are.

‘Indeed.’

And I suppose I have to solve some
problems before I can talk to them?’

Mad Alex clicks his fingers and Kate
the serving wench, scuttles over with a
sheaf of paper. Written on it are the fol-
lowing puzzles:

Problem 1

Find the largest and smallest numbers
containing any nine of the digits 0-9 (no

digit to be used more than once) which
is exactly divisible by 11. What is the
difference?

Problem 2

23 A 3 + 24 A 3 + 25 A 3 is the smallest
square formed by three consecutive
cubes (excluding 1). What is the smal-
lest square which can be formed in this
fashion by more than three consecutive
cubes (again, excluding 1)?

Problem 3

Mad Alex had five hogsheads of his
beloved extra-special Bulls Blood and
one hogshead of el cheapo Plonko (the
latter reserved for the rare non-
occasion). The hogsheads contained
15, 16, 18, 19, 20 and 31 gallons. Under
straitened circumstances he sold part
of the Bulls Blood to one dwarf dealer
and twice as much to another, leaving
him with only the hogshead of Plonko.
How many gallons of Plonko did he
have?

Problem 4

At the dwarfen temple are two bells
which toll to indicate important events.
The first bell rings every 1 1 seconds
and the second bell every If seconds.
To a dwarf ear, however, two peals
which occur within \ second or less
sound like one. If both bells begin
ringing exactly at midnight how many
peals will have been heard fifteen
minutes later?

Alex explains to you that the serial
number to the vault containing the
treasure is the sum of the solutions to
these four problems - adjusted by what
you are told by the people he is about to
introduce to you.

He goes on to explain that all these
people (who are currently celebrating
your good health at your expense) are
either dwarfs or trolls. For the benefit of
newcomers to the dungeon, it should
be recalled that dwarfs invariably tell
the truth and trolls equally invariably
lie. Be certain that you do only what a
dwarf tells you,’ Alex warns you.
‘Ignore all instructions from trolls.’

At Table 1 there are two people who
raise their glasses to you.

A: We are both trolls. Add the solution
to problem 1 to your answer.’

B: 'Add the solution to problem 3 to
your answer.’

At Table 2 there are three people.

A: C thinks exactly one of us is a troll.
Add the square root of the solution to
problem 2 to your answer.

page 91 ►

See page 91 for August
competition results

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

SPflC€ PHOT (32K) £7.95

Travel through time with this excellent arcade-style program. There are five waves consisting of first world-war biplanes, second
world-war Spitfires, helicopters, jet aircraft and U.f.O.s. Watch out for the guided missiles, drone planes, flagships and
paratroopers. €ach stage is progressively more difficult as the warfaring equipment becomes more complex, fin exciting fast-action
game.

Authors: Peter Johnson $ David lovekin.

(K6VBOARD Ofl JOVSTICKS)

• • •N€UU R€L€RS€ • • •

IKS 111 KHIII III!

^ ti n \) .

Kill 1 1 II 1 S (■ 1 1 1 1 *111

, VC ,} • »

'finH '

RIAIIFT (32H)

£7.95

An arcade-type game featuring a unique 3D scrolling screen effect. The
object is to rescue the hostages from their bombed houses by landing your
helicopter nearby and transporting them bock to the Red Cross Hostel. Vou
moy bomb the tanks, but you lose points if you kill a hostage with a bomb
or landing. Other features include the auto-gyro and the killer satellite.
Incredible graphics.

Author: Peter Johnson.

(K6VBOARD OR JOVSTICKS)

STAR WRAP (32K) £7.95

Completing our space trilogy; can you save your planet from
the evil uiarlord?

(KCVROARD OR JOVSTICKS) • • • N6UU R6L6FI56 •••

COMPETITION

COMBINATION CRACKER

◄ page 89

B: C is a dwarf. Add the solution to prob-
lem 2 to your combination.

C: I am a dwarf. Subtract the solution to
problem 3 from your number.

At Table 3 three more imbibers greet
you.

A: B thinks C is a troll. Add the solution
to problem 4 to your number.

B: A is a troll. Subtract the solution to
problem 4 from your answer.

C: A is a dwarf. Add the solution to prob-
lem 1 to your number.

At Table 4 another trio sits swilling
your ale.

A: C does not believe we are all dwarfs.
Add the solution to problem 3 to your
number.

B: C is a dwarf. Add the solution to prob-
lem 1 to your answer.

C: Subtract the solution to problem 4
from your answer.

Now you have the combination to the
treasure vault. What is it? Answers on a
postcard, please, to arrive not later
than 4 January 1985, addressed to
December Competition, Acorn User, 68
Long Acre, London WC2. The first five

correct solutions out of the bag win an
MEP barcode reader package, each
worth £50, kindly donated by Addison-
Wesley Publishers. The next five
correct entries will receive the book
Procedures and Functions in BBC
Basic by Douglas Gregory.

♦ AUGUST

winners"

THE August competition attracted an
enormous entry -approximately 2000
postcards arrived in our office from as
far afield as Zambia, New Zealand and
the Middle East. Evidently the prospect
of winning a modem and talking to the
world inspired you all.

Mad Alex’s message was a simple
letter-for-letter substitution code which
then posed its own puzzles, the
answers to which were:

26 Letters of the Alphabet
7 Wonders of the Ancient World
1001 Arabian Nights

12 Signs of the Zodiac
54 Cards in a Deck (with the Jokers)
18 Holes on a Golf Course
200 Pounds for Passing Go in Mon-
opoly

3 Blind Mice (See How They Run)

24 Hours in a Day
57 Heinz Varieties
29 Days in February in a Leap Year
12 Players in a Cricket Team (includ-
ing the Twelfth Man)

The only one which ‘stumped’ some of
you was the last one. TM’ was
occasionally interpreted as team
manager’ or, even more bizarre, ‘third
man’ - that’s not cricket!

The five winners of the Torch
Unicomm modems were A Waluish of
Essex, Sue Mounce of Devon, Mark
Betteridge of Doncaster, E Southall of
Surrey and Carol Nelson of Leicester-
shire. A special mention to Karen Clark
of Sydney, Australia, whose postcard
featured an attractive rear view of what
she claimed to be herself surfboarding
naked!

complete

with

ram

1: 6 SLOT ROM ♦ 1*16K RAM * 47:00

2: 6 SLOT ROM ♦ 2*16K RAM * 59:00

3: 1*16K RAM ONLY * 38:00

4: 6 SLOT ROM BOARD 25:00

5: EXTERNAL 4 SLOT ROM BOX 39:95
6: SPARE CARDS FOR ITEM 5 3:00

ram inclusive in
the price!

# FREE software to operate these boards Send tape/disc BASIC still highest priority!

All boards fit underneath keyboard therefore do not cover ram area causing overheating.

No bits of I/O Port used Compatible with RAV/FN ?0 Also available at TWII I QT AR
Open 9AM- 10PM. 7 DAYS a WEEK r^MVCIN 4U I VVILLo I AK.

RAMAMP COMPUTERS

25. AVON DRIVE. WHETSTONE LEICESTER
TEL 0533-8864966

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

Wt!UmK

By choosing a TAXAN
KP810 or KP910 NLQ dot
matrix printer from Kaga,
you can count on getting
the very highest quality,
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PRINT QUALITY

Both printers offer all the standard features
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But really excel when it comes to Near Letter
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FEATURES

The KP810 and KP910 share some very
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performance. ■ NLQ double pass printing -
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■ Standard Centronics interface (serial option
available). ■ Fully compatible with all popular

software packages, including Lotus 1-2-3,
Applewriter, Word wise etc.

The KP810 has a built in roll paper holder. The
KP910 will accept extra wide paper (up to 17") -
printing 156 char/line normal print.

VALUE

With all these features you might expect to
pay more. But at around £319 for the KP810
and £399 for the KP910, these printers give
excellent value for money.

All prices ex- VAT and correct at time of going
to press.

TRADE AND OEM ENQUIRIES WELCOME.

AVAILABLE FROM W. H. SMITH AND OTHER
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Computer Peripherals Division. Maxted Road, Hemel Hempstead, Herts. HP2 7LE Tel: (0442) 60155 (20 lines) Telex: 825554 DATEFF G

1

1

BACK ISSUES

fBACK ISSUES £1 .254

6. January 1983 MEP school launch.
*FX commands for sound. Second BBC
TV series. Machine code 3 -two pass
assembly. Disc drives for the Beeb.
Programming forum. Program protec-
tion. Micros in schools -new series
Commodore Pet printer used with
Beeb BBC programs written on an
Atom. Extra Atom memory.

l

7. February 1 MHz bus examined (4). 3D
Atom graphics (3). Atom BBC Board
reviewed (3). Machine code 4-
memory (5) BBC Computer Literacy
update (1). Atom error handling (2).
Micros in schools 2 - getting organised
(6) Hints and Tips (4). Beeb Forum (3).
Reviews of Wordwise(2) and the Amber
printer (1). ***

8. March Chess on the BBC micro (3).
Sound on the Beeb (4). Printers for
beginners (4). Atom analogue con-
verter (2). Schools 3 -micros and
maths (6). Machine code 5 -indirect
addressing (3) DIY lightpen (5). MEP's
Microprimer review (2). Atom Ross
toolkit review (1). Beeb Forum (2).
Assembly language and Pascal book
reviews (2). ***

9. April Hexangle game listing (4). Bach
on the Beeb (4). Hints & Tips on disc
drives (4). Machine code 6 -the CALL
statement (4). Interfacing the 1 MHz bus
(3). Schools 4 -young children and
micros (6). Graphics listings (2).
Printers for beginners 2 (4). Reviews of
BCPL, educational software and Atom
software (3), ***

10. May Review of Basic II. Graphics
listings. New *FX calls in OS1.2. Colour
mixing on the Beeb. Jazz, blues and
folk on the BBC. Schools 5- language
development. DIY Beeb interface box
Atom sound board. A to Z of printing:
how to get going, Hints and Tips:
PROCs, discs and FNs. Printer, soft-
ware and book reviews.

11. June Techniques series -sorting
Hints and Tips: 50p network. Drawing
techniques and CAD. Machine code:
interrupts. Schools 6- information
technology. Atom Forum. Beeb Forum.
Printers- write your own graphics
dumps Comparitive review of View
and Wordwise. Three graphics pack-
ages reviewed. Test of Acorn Users
interface box.

12. July Techniques- hash tables.
Hints and Tips: logic made easy.
Recursion and graphics. Handling
strings Two ideas for passing vari-
ables Beeb aids the blind. DIY second
keyboard. Beeb Forum. Sounds on the
Atom Hardware, firmware, software
and book reviews. Atom Forum.

13. August Printer graphics and
dumps. Techniques -Tree structures
and sorting. All the fun of the fair 40/80

disc copier. Colour painting. Basic II:
random access files. Screen dumps for
Olivetti, Centronics and Seikosha.
Atom strings. Reviews of Tandy
CGP115 printer, five educational
packs, A to D converter.

14. September Techniques - ink-blots
and mazes. Painting by lightpen. DFS
space explored. Beeb Forum. Mega
Monsters game listing. Machine code
graphics dumps Atom Forum. Atom
cassette recorder check. Reviews of
Atom RAM boards. Cumana disc
manual, Logo for schools. Hobbit
floppy tape and books.

15. October Women and computing.
Techniques- random numbers. Re-
view of Computer Concepts' Beebcalc.
Fractal graphics. 57 files on 40 & 80
track discs. Vampire game listing.
Beeb Forum. Assembly code controls
tab key. Osfile merging. Atom future.
Atom verify routine Reviews of Vu-
Type , Procyon Atom book. Epson FX80,
Teletext adapter, disc drive, software.

16. November Techniques - imposs-
ible problems. Contour graphics. Con-
necting two Beebs together. XREF:
sorts & lists variable, function and pro-
cedure names. Assembler ultilities in
Basic II. OS, VDU, ‘FX, OSBYTE calls -
pull-out poster Disc overlays. Adding
extra Atom commands Reviews of 7
educational packs, Atom ROM, books,
games.

MK mkiv. Ikitran md tom iMgdtiM H mmim O

HINTS & TIPS; new icJown
BHBTALK: for Iwomkro
XRtf acme search utility *

ATOM: tool bo* routines
WSCS: memory overlays

17. December Random graphics. Ani-
mated graphics in colour. Tech-
niques -graphs. Hints & Tips. Univer-
sal printer dump. 6522 connected to
the* Electron. Saving machine code
Beeb Forum. Graphics pull-out poster
Index: July 82-July 83. Forum Extra:
EQUS. BBC helps the disabled.
Schools -data processing. Transfer-

ring data between Beebs, Atoms ... or
Pets. Atom block demolition utility.
Atom disassembler program. Reviews
of software, books, educational pro-
grams from Chalksoft.

18. January 1984: Games special issue
Techniques - graphs part 2. Stacks and
queues, Basic and languages. Hints &
Tips. Voice chip revealed. How to write
games. Electron interfacing. Beeb
Forum. Life graphics routines.
Defencecom game listing. The Train
Game listing. Machine code graphics.
Where to put machine code. Schools -
handling data. Juki daisywheel printer
examined. Atom Forum and adventure.
Reviews of ultilities. software. Beeline
wordprocessor, educational packages,
two chess programs.

19. February: Adventures special issue

Techniques- efficient sorts. PROC for
a numeric keypad on the Beeb key-
board. 12 graphics listings. Random
access filing on disc. Locking files.
MCP40 printer/plotter looked at. Hints
& Tips. Beeb Forum Make discs read-
able on 40 and 80 track drives. Screen
memory organisation. Hints on adven-
ture design. Adventure action. Adven-
ture ideas in computer language. Text
compression. Word-crunching. VIA
chip on Electron to drive a parallel
printer. Atom Forum. Schools - simu-
lation packages. Reviews: Disc Doctor,
Leasalink’s DFS upgrade, Hitachi’s
microdrive system, Solidisk’s sideway
RAM board, software.

20. March Utility: timing routine. Frac-
tals. Teletext and mode 7 dump. ROMs
reviewed. Hints & Tips. Beeb Forum.
Add sounds to your games. Learn Lisp
1. Cube graphics. Printer driver for
View Basic II from Basic I. Beeb s ADC
chip Atom Forum. Listing formatter for

the Atom Atom bytes free' routine.
Schools -test of Factfile. Keyboard
skills. Amcom DFS v Acorn DFS. Re-
views Beebpen wordprocessor, Atom
expansion system, software, books.

21. April Beeb graphics on TV. 6845
chip explored. Advanced filing
systems Lisp 2. Hints & Tips Beeb
Forum. Choose disc tracks to copy.
Function key editing. Teletext dumps
CES scrutinised Passing variables.
Computer Concepts' graphics ROM.
Schools -simulations. Calculating
Easter dates Better programming.
Atom Forum. Atom ROM routines. Con-
verting BBC to Atom Basic. Three
printers compared. Reviews, software.
Aries B20 RAM board. Toolkit , Moni-
tors.

22. May Bitstik graphics system. Hints
& Tips. 6502 second processor exa-
mined. Lisp 3. Beeb Forum Disc utility
to keep track of available space. Stat-
istics. Pattern graphics. OSWORD
explained. 4 colour graphics listings.
Second-hand disc drives. Education -
do girls get a fair deal? Atom Forum.
BBC to Atom Basic 2. Reviews: British
Micro’s Grafpad, Edword wordproces-
sor. 4 sprite generators, Opus micro-
drive, Beasty, software.

23. June Acorn Z80 second processor.
Forth. Graphics to brighten up your
games Soft Pottery graphics. Go faster
and save memory space. Rapid search
and load routine for tapes How the
Beeb and Electron work 1. Business:
reviews and how to gently enter office
computerisation. Education- adult lit-
eracy Dumping Atom programs on the
BBC Atom Forum. Software copyright
laws. Hints & Tips Techniques- B-
Trees. Beeb Forum. Reviews of moni-
tors, printers, books, software, adven-
tures, EPROM programmer.

*** Sold-out copies

Four issues of Acorn User are not available - July 1982,
February, March and April 1983. Photocopies of articles
are available at 18p a page (minimum charge 50p, in-
clusive of postage). Orders should be addressed to AU
Photocopies, Redwood Publishing, 68 Long Acre,
London WC2E 9JH. Figure in brackets indicate the
number of pages for each article.

HOW TO ORDER

Fill in the order form opposite and send with your
cheque or postal order for Cl. 25 per issue (made pay-
able to Redwood Publishing) to Acorn User Services,
PHS Mailing Ltd, PO Box 14, Horley, Surrey.

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

During 1984 thousands of readers have played the Acorn
User software games Swordmaster and Trek. Now, just in
time for Christmas, we have expanded the range with six
more -tremendous games on cassette and disc. Everyone
is an absolute winner and, of course, great value. Give
yourself a present this yean with the best wishes of Acorn User.

VAMPIRE CASTLE

Make sure you play this adventure
with the lights on It plunges you
into spine-chilling reality, where
you can almost smell the dank
odours and feel the terror around
every corner Eyes peer at you
through the gloom and all manner
of creature awaits your slightest
error. Try to find and destroy Dra-
cula. but remember there are fates
worse than death
The game, written by Andy Mit-
chell, includes suitably eerie music
and surprise graphics, and we
accept no responsibility for heart
attacks suffered as a result.

A gem of an adventure P C N

C6 95 Cassette
£9 95 Disc (40/80)

FLINT'S GOLD

If you suffer from sea sickness,
scurvy or beri-beri this game will
either kill or cure. It's a swash-
buckling adventure that may be
the experience of a lifetime if you
can survive long enough In your
search for the legendary Flint s
Gold you will sail the Spanish
Main to a land of blood-thirsty
pirates, and you may never return.

The sound of crashing surf, the
cry of seagulls, and the accompa
nying sea shanty are so realistic
that you can almost taste the salty
air.

'It 's a far better story than the Hobbit

Micro User

£6 95 Cassette
£9.95 Disc (40/80)

TREK

TREK was the first game to take
advantage of voice synthesis on
the BBC micro and uses joystick
or keyboard.

Trek puts you in charge of a
Starship with the task of wiping
out an alien fleet It's an excellent
adaptation of the classic game
with 7 screen displays, 3 on-board
computers and 2 weapon systems
Versions have been written for
BBC micro and Electron to use
both machines to their full. The
BBC tape uses voice synthesis (if
the chips are fitted)

The game has been extensively
developed from Tim Heaton's
famous Trek III It barely fits into
32K.

£7 95 Cassette
£1 0 95 Disc

SWORD MASTER

SWORD MASTER is one of the
few two- player games around, and
is designed for joystick or key-
board

Sword Master by Ken Worrall is
based on the fencing rules written
in 1190 by Herman von Salza for
the Deutscritter Order of Teutonic
Knights It features full-colour
machine code animation of a
sword duel between two knights

A quality game with high class
graphics one of the most enjoy
able games / have played Home
Computing Weekly. June

Swordmaster is an immensely enter-
taining game with excellent graphics
and animation Personal Com-
puter Games. June

Swordmaster is a unique game
one of the few two player games that
makes more than a token gesture
towards truly interrelated action
PC N. June
£7 95 Cassette
£10 95 Disc

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

COMPENDIUM

A tremendous-value compendium
of the three most popular Acorn
User games.

H EXANGLE demands the
utmost concentration. You and the
micro take turns in drawing lines
between the six points of a hexan-
gle, avoiding at all costs complet-
ing a triangle while at the same
time forcing the computer to do
so.

In MEGA MONSTERS you are
confronted by waves of aliens
While avoiding these and many
other obstacles you have to rescue
the stranded mutants. It gets more
difficult with each phase until
finally you face the Monster him-
self.

VAMPIRE is a two-player action
game in which good battles with
evil. Each player has an equal
number of souls in his care, repre-
sented by tombstones or crosses.
During each period of day or night
one player has the chance to
recover or capture souls from the
other. The winner is the one to
recover all the souls.

£7 95 Cassette
£10.95 Disc (40/80)

CORPUSCLE

In this superb machine code action
game by Ken Worrall you assume
control of the body’s defences,
journeying into the three-dimen-
sional labyrinth of the human
arterial system. Invading colonies
of bacteria advance relentlessly
and you must destroy as many as
you can. If you fail to keep the
bacteria count low they attack
individual organs. You must then
frantically follow the network of
arteries to reach the site of infec-
tion. Too many critical areas and
you die.

You don't need to know a great
deal about the body to begin with
- a map is provided But we
guarantee you'll know a lot more
when you've finished. It's a unique
adventure, truly educational and
great fun.

£7.95 Cassette
£10.95 Disc (40/80)

HACKER 2000

In the year 2000 only two classes
survive, Programmers and Proles.
As a Prole, your only escape from a
life of drudgery is to hack' your
way into the massive Multivax
complex in order to change your
Brain Scan Report and obtain
money to bribe the Thought
Police.

You may gain vital information
with the assistance of the Duty
Android in a tour of the complex If
you manage this, you're on your
own. From here on you start to
appreciate the originality of the
game in its representation of a
real-time system. You'll need all
your powers of logic and some
lateral thinking to use the infor-
mation you glean to 'hack' through
the Multivax systems. Your goal
can be reached in an unlimited
variety of sequences.

£7.95 Cassette
£10.95 Disc (40/80)

TRAINS

This classic game by Peter Balch
requires quick wits and clear
thinking. Your aim is to manoeuvre
a number of trains around a com-
plex network of track, as you pick
up fare-paying passengers and
deliver them to their destinations.
All the time your valuable stocks of
coal are dwindling. If you succeed,
you have even more trains to con-
trol and more passengers to col-
lect. And as if this were not
enough to cope with, you are con-
fronted by the Demon train over
which you have no control.

The game has excellent graphics
and will keep you on your toes.
See how profitably you can run a
railway.

£7.95 Cassette
£10.95 Disc (40/80)

-PLUS-i

ARTICLE LISTINGS
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 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
routine to help you find your way
around - and use on your own programs.
The tapes come with BBC programs on
one side and Electron programs as the
other, so it shouldn't be possible to mix
the two.

ORDER FORM PAGE 96

Save yourself
the time and bother of
typing in Acorn User listings

ACORN USER SOFTWARE

EIGHT OF THE GREATEST

I would like to order cassettes/discs at £7.95 and

£10.95 inclusive of VAT respectively. Please send me

copy/copies of TREK, copy/copies of

SWORD MASTER copy/copies of TRAINS

copy/copies of COMPENDIUM copy/copies of

FLINT'S GOLD, copy/copies of VAMPIRE

CASTLE copy/copies of HACKER, copy/

copies of CORPUSCLE.

The total price is £

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ing for £

Please debit my Access/Visa

Account No.

Name

Address

Signed Date

Send this form, with your remittance, in an envelope to Acorn User
Software, PHS Mailing Ltd, PO Box 14, Horley, Surrey. All the
above prices include VAT, postage and packing.

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

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Please answe r these q ues tions to help us improve
your magazine.

1 Do you use your micro for?:

1 □ school 2 □ business 3 □ hobby

2 Do you have, or intend to buy, any of the following?:

ID monitor 2D disc drive 3D second processor
4 □ printer 5 □ modem

3 How many software packages do you think you will
buy in the next 12 months?:

1D0-5 2D 6 to 10 3 D10 or more

D I enclose my cheque/postal order/sterling bank draft

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ACORN USER

SERVICES

BACK DATED ISSUES @ £1.25 per copy

MONTH YEAR

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issue

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to Acorn User Services, PHS Mailing Ltd, PO Box 14,
Horley, Surrey. All the above prices include postage
and packing.

I

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ACORN USER

DISC EXCHANGE SERVICE

Send in your copy of Trek or Sword Master
with a cheque for £3.50 and we will
exchange it for a disc. (Which runs on
40 or 80 tracks).

W

SOFTWARE

MONTHLY PROGRAM LISTING

CASSETTES

Please send me a cassette of all major
BBC Micro and Electron program listings
(December issue) as advertised on page 95

A

Tape(s) in exchange for disc
@£350 each

>£3.75£.
Total £ .

Please send me:

me:

Tape

Disc

Copies of Sword
Master for BBC
(32k series 1.0 OS)

£7.95

£10.95

for Electron

£7.95

Copies of Trek
for BBC

(32k series 1.0 OS)

£7.95

£10.95

for Electron

£7.95

Name

Address.

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Publishing for£

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24 HOUR PHONE SERVICE (02934) 72208

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Please allow 28 days for delivery.

Signed Date

Send this form, with your remittance, in an envelope, to Acorn User Software.
PHS Mailing Ltd. PO Box 14, Horley. Surrey. All the above prices include
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31

I

Beeb Forum, page 115, listing 3

in ii mu hi mi inn in n 1 1 ii i mi i mi i uni

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIUIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

ii 1 1 in mi i linn 1 1 in i in 1 1 mi i in

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiii

■

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniini

IMII'll !|lllllll l :llllllllMI llllllllllllll

iiniiiiii Him 1 1 iiiiiii c mil'll: mi

niiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiif i in

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiininiiiiiiiniiniiiiiiiiiiiii

BAR CODE LISTINGS AVAILABLE

To receive a copy of the listings in this month’s yellow pages sec-
tion in bar code format, send a £1 cheque or postal order plus an
A4-sized stamped addressed envelope to: Bar Code Listings,
Acorn User, 68 Long Acre, London WC2E 9JH.

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

98

BAR CODES

Program 1. Hints and Tips, page 52

■ ii i mu i iiiniiii ii i mi iiiii 1 1 iii ilium i ill n mi 1 1 ii iiiiniii mi i in i in 1 1 ini in

■ iiiii iii n in limn iiiii i in iiiii i ii limn iiiii n ii ii nun n in mi n ii inn in in

■ n 1 1 in iiiii i iiiiiiiiiiiiiinni 1 1 in ii in n n 1 1 in in i in i in ii in 1 1 1 ii in nun 1 1 n mi n i in

■ in in inn n n i in n limn iiiii i ii i lium n n i n in iii n i inn i n iiiii 1 1 1 1 1 iiiii

■ null n iiiii i iiiii in i iiiii i min n n in 1 1 mill iiiii i iiiii ii ii i ii i iiiii i ii hi
iiiii ii iiiiiiiiiii iiiii i ii iiiii ii iiiniiii iiiii hi

Program 2. Hints and Tips, page 52

■ « i iiiii i iiiniiii n i mi mil 1 1 in iiiiiiiiiii i iiiii n mi 1 1 n iiiiiiiiiii n 1 1 in i in 1 1 in ill i iiiii

■ iiiii in iiiii 1 1 hi n ii in n 1 1 iiiii i iiiiiiiiiii iii n in mini in i i ii hi hi

iii hi niinninn i n iiiii iiiii ii iiiii ii iiiiii ii iii iiii ii ii hi i i iii hi i niiinnninnnin 1 1 in in hi
iii in n in n n 1 1 in in i iiiiii i iii ii iiiii 1 1 1 n iii iiiiii 1 1 ii iiiiii iiiiii iiiii n n i in n iiiii iiiiii i in

■ iiiii i iiiii i iiiiii n ii i n in iiiiii n i iiiii i n nil iiii n iiiiii i mil in i iiiiii iiiii

■ n iiiiiiiiiii iiiii ii n in n iiiii 1 1 iiiiii iiiiii i iiiii n iiiiii iiiii in in i in n mi in iiiii

■ ii in ii i nil in i in i iiiiiiiiiii in i iiii i in in n ii in in 1 1 iiiiiiiiiii in n 1 1 in mi i iiiii i hi iiiii
hi n i iiiiii i iiiii in n i in in n ii hi mil iiiii i n in n 1 1 in iiii i iiiii i mi ii iiii 1 1 n iiiii

■ in iiiiiiiiiii i n in ii 1 1 ii i iiii i iiii i Hi i in i iiiiiiiiiii in i n iiiii niiiiiiii iiiii
nnnniinininni

Program 3. Hints and Tips, page 54

iiiiii n i iiiii i iiiniiii n i mi iiiii 1 1 hi iiiiiiiiiii i ninniii n mi 1 1 n Hinunii iiiiii i iii i i iiiii ii i hi

iiiiii iiiii mil iiiiii 1 1 in n ii hi n 1 1 iiii iiiiii i mi i in in n n i nnn n i in i n iiii n iiiii

III I II III III 111 I II III II 1 1 III IIII I 111 I I IIIII IIIII IIIIII ii III in 111 I III 11 111

nnn iininni i n hi hi ii iiiii ii nnn » in iiii ii ii iiiii i i iii hi i iiiiiiiiiii i i hi ii i i iiii iiiii
nnn in n n 1 1 hi in i iiiii i in n iiiii i i i ii hi hi i i ii iiiiii hi iiiii ii ii i hi ii iiiii iiiiiiiiiii hi
hi n i iiiii i iiiiii n n i » in iiiiii n i iiiii i n iiiiii iiiiii ii iiiiii i mil in i mi iiiiii in iiiii
■ iiiii iiiii ii n in n iiiii 1 1 iiiiii ninniii i in n in iiiii in in i in n mi iiii iiii iiiii
nnn i « i nil in i in i iiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiii i ii hi ii i i ii i iiii i hi i iiiii i iii i iiiiii i mini iiiiii i hi
iiiiii iiiii i ii iiiii nnnHiniiiiinini i iiiii

Program 4. Hints and Tips, page 54

■ « i mu i iiiiii n i mi iiiii 1 1 hi iiiiiiiiiii i ininnii n iiii 1 1 n iiiiiiiiiii iiii i in i in 1 1 n i iiiii in
iiiiii in Inin n in iiiii iiiii i hi ill i n iiiii iiiii ii iiiii ii iiiiii n iii iiii n ii iiiii hi iiiii
in n 1 1 hi in i ninnnnnniniin 1 1 in n in n n 1 1 hi iii i iiiiii i iii ii iiiii i i i ii hi hi i i ii iiii ii i iiiii
nnn III 111 hi ii ii i hi ii iiiiii iiiiii i i iiiii iiiii ii ii i ii iii iiiiii ii i iiiii i ii iiiiii iiiii iiiii

■ IIIIII ii IIIIII I 111 III I 111 I iiiiii IIIIIIIIIII I II III 111 1 1 iiiiii IIIIII I IIII 1 1 1 111

iiiiii hi ii iiiiii iiiii iii iii i iii ii iiii iii ii i iiii iii i iiii iiiiiiiiiii iiiiii i n in n 1 1 11111111 iiiii

■ n i in i n i iiiii

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

FIRST BYTE

See ‘Painting by programs page 4 1

10 F:EM Picture Designer
20 REM Tessie Revivis

30 REM ( .c) Acorn User December 1984
40 REM Electron and BBC Micro
50 :

60 07.=O
70 MODE 2
80 PROCscreer.

90 PROCoarams
100 REM *L0AD SCREEN
110 PROCdetai 1 s
120 *FX4.1
130 *FX225.240
140 REPEAT
150 K7.-6ET

160 IF K7.-136 X7.=X7.-1
170 IF K7.= 137 Xy.=X7.+ l
180 IF KV.-IZQ Y7.=Y7.-1
190 IF K7.= 1 39 Y7.=Y7.+ 1
200 VDU 13.9.9.9.9.9
210 COLOUR 7
220 MOVE X7..Y7.

230 PRINT X7. : " « " : Y'

240 IF K7.=240 THEN
250 IF 104=241 THEN
260 IF 104=242 THEN
270 IF K7.=243 THEN
230 IF K7.=244 THEN
290 IF 104=245 THEN
300 IF K7>246 THEN
310 IF 104=247 THEN
320 IF K7.--24S THEN
330 IF K7.=249 THEN
340 UNTIL FALSE
350 :

360 DEF PROCparams
370 C7.=7
380 GCOL 0 , C7.

390 X 7.-500 : Y7.=500
400 ENDF'ROC
410 :

420 DEF F'ROCsauar e
430 PR I NTSF'C (18): CHF:$ (13);

440 I NPUT " X : " SQ 1 7. . "Y; " SQ27.

450 PLOT 5. X7.+SQ17.. Y7.

460 PLOT 5.X7.+SQ17..Y7.+SQ27.

470 PLOT 5. X7.. Y7.+SQ27.

480 PLOT 5.X7..Y7.

490 ENDPROC
500- :

510 DEF PROCdetai Is
520 VDU 13
530 PRINT" X.Y

540 PRINTTAB (5) ; X7.; " . " ; Y7.;

550 ECOL 0.C7.

560 COLOUR C7.

570 PRINT TAB (16) ; "C" :

530 ENDPROC
590 :

600 DEF F'ROCci rcl e
610 F'F: I NTSF'C (IS) ; CHF.'f (13) ;

620 I NPUT " Rad i us : " F:7.

630 MOVE X7.+R7..Y7.

640 FOR TH7.= 10 TO 360 STEP 10
650 X17.=R7.*C0S (RAD (TH7.) )

-4 4

PROCsauares PROCdetai 1 s
PROCci rcl e: PROCdetai 1 s
F'ROCl ins: PROCdetai 1 s
PROCdot : PROCdetai 1 s
PROCdatteds PROCdetai Is
F'F'OCt r i anal e: PROCd etai Is
PROCf ill
PROCer ase
PROCcol our
PROCsave : END

— Program details

— Set up screen

‘Old’ save screens can be loaded

here by removing REM from line

Display status line and enable cursor

and function to produce ASCII codes
keys

Set up main program loop and test for
key press

— If it was a cursor key, update X,Y
co-ordinates

— and print in white

— If a function key was pressed call
appropriate procedure then rewrite
status line

— Procedure to set up initial parameters

J

Procedure to draw a square or
— rectangle of any size from the bottom
left vertice

1

— Procedure to display status line

Procedure to draw a circle of any
radius (continued overleaf)

Continued ►

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

100

•

•

◄ Continued

•

•

•

660

Y 1 X« R7. * S I N ( RAD ( THX ) )

•

•

670

PLOT 5. XX+X1X. YX+Y1X

9

A

68 0

NEXT

A

•

690

MOVE XX. Y 7.

V

•

70 0

ENDPROC

•

710

:

A

•

720

DEF PRQCline

$

730

PR I NTSF'C (IS) ;CHRf (13) :

•

740

I NF'UT " X : " X i V . . " Y : " Y 1 V.

A

•

750

PLOT 5, XIX. Y IX

•

•

760

ENDPROC

Procedure to draw a line of any length

•

770

DEF PROCdat

from current X,Y position

•

780

PR I NTSF'C (18): CHR* ( 1 3 ) :

•

790

INPUT' 1 X : "XIX, "Y: "Y1X

•

800

PLOT 6°, XIX, Y IX

•

810

ENDPROC

•

$

B20

:

9

830

DEF PROCdotted

•

840

PR I NTSF'C (IS): CHRf (13) ;

•

A

850

I NF'UT "X: "XIX. "Y: "Y1X

Procedure to plot a point at a specific

#

860

PLOT 29.X1X.Y1X

point

•

870

ENDPROC

•

A

880

DEF PROCtri angle

W

890

PF: I NTSF'C < 1 S ) : CHR$ (13):

9

900

INPUT "LX : " LXX . "LY: "LYX ,

"F:X : " R X X , "RYs "RYX

Procedure to draw and fill a triangle.

•

A

910

MOVE LXX, LYX

— The X,Y position marks the apex of

#

W

920

PLOT Q5.RXX.RYX

the triangle

•

930

MOVE XX. YX

•

A

940

ENDPROC

A

W

950

:

w

•

960

DEF PROCf ill

•

970

PLOT 77, XX, YX

A

•

•

980

990

ENDPROC

DEF PROCerase

Procedure to fill a line left and right
— until a different background colour
is encountered

9

•

A

1000

PLOT 95 .XX. YX

A

1010

ENDPROC

9

1020

:

•

A

1030

DEF F'ROCcol our

A

•

1 040

CX=CX+i

w

•

1 050

IF CX > 1 5 THEN CX=0

9

1060

COLOUR CX

9

1 070

GCOL O.CX

Procedure to toggle through drawing

•

9

1 080

VDU 13

colours

•

1090

FOR LX= 1 TO 16 : VDU 9

: NEXT

9

1 1 00

PRINT"C" :

•

•

1 1 10

ENDPROC

•

1 1 20

:

•

1 1 30

DEF" F'ROCscr sen

•

#

1 1 40

MOVE 0.50

•

1150

DRAW 1279,50

•

1160

DRAW 1279.1023

•

•

1170

DRAW 0,1023

Procedure to draw screen board and

•

1 1 80

DRAW 0,50

define text and graphics windows

•

1 1 90

MOVE 500.500

•

A

1 200

VDU 28.0.31, 18.31

9

W

1210

VDU 24,0; 50 ; 1 279 1 023 ;

•

1220

ENDPROC

9

1 230

«

A

1240

DEF F'ROCsave

•

•

1 250

VDU 13

•

A

1260

*SAVE SCREEN 3000 8000

— Procedure xo save picture design

•

1270

ENDPROC

w

•

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

HINTS &TIPS

See page 45

10 REM Listing 1

20 INPUT"Do you want the cassette motor on Y/N "A*

variables cannot be passed to the operating
system £

40 *MOTOR N

50 GOTO 20

10 REM Listing 2

20 DIM B 20

30 INPUT "Do you want the cassette motor on Y/N "A*
40 N= I NSTR ( A* , " Y " )

50 *B="MOTOR " +STR* (N>

60 X7.=B MOD 256

70 Y7.=B DIV 256

80 CALL &FFF7

90 GOTO 30

Listing 2. Passing commands and
values to the Command Line Inter-
preter

10 REM Listing 3

20 DIM B 20: X7.=B: Y7.=B DIV 256

30 INPUT"Do you want the cassette motor on Y/N "A*

40 N=INSTR(A*,"Y")

50 *B="MOTOR "+STR* (N)

Listing 3. Making listing 2 more efficient

60 CALL &FFF7

70 GOTO 30

10 REM Listing 4

20 INPUT"Do you want the cassette motor on Y/N "A*
30 N= I NSTR ( A* , " Y " )

40 OSCLI" MOTOR "+STR*(N)

50 GOTO 20

Listing 4. Basic 2 owners can use the
OSCLI command

10 REM Listing 5

20 REM Basic 1 listing Listing 5. Defining the function keys in Basic 1

30 MODE 1

40 PROCi ni t i al i se
50 PROCI oad
60 PROC-f i nddef
70 PROC-f ormat

80 INPUT '"Do you wish to define a key "question*

90 IF LEFT* (question*, 1)="Y" THEN PROCenter : GOTO60
100 INPUT '"Enter save filename "file*

110 PROCoscli ("SAVE "+file*+" B00 BFF" )

120 END
130 :

140 DEFPROCi ni t i al i se
150 @71=2

160 VDU19, 0,4, 0,0,0
170 VDU 19,3,6,0,0,0
180 DIM A* (15) , B 255
185 X7.=B: Y7.=B DIV256
190 ENDPROC
200 :

210 DEFPROCI oad

220 INPUTTAB (0 , 10) "Do you want to load in definitions? "question*

230 IF LEFT* (question*, 1)="N" THEN ENDPROC
240 INPUT '"Enter filename "file*

250 PROCoscli ("LOAD "+file*)

260 ENDPROC
270 s

280 DEFPROCfi nddef
290 length =?&B10
300 FOR N=0 TO 15
310 end=length
320 start=N?8cB00
330 a*=" "

340 IF start=end THEN GOTO 440
350 FOR n=0 TO 15
360 peek=n?&B00

370 IF peek>start AND peek<end THEN end=peek
380 NEXT n

390 FOR n=start+l TO end
400 char=n?&B00

410 IF char <32 THEN a*=a*+" " : char=char +64
420 a*=a*+CHR* (char )

430 NEXT n

440 A* (N) =a*+CHR* (13)

450 NEXT N
460 ENDPROC
470 :

480 DEFPROCf or mat
490 CLS

500 FOR N=0 TO 15
510 COLOUR 1+(N M0D2)

520 PRINT"*KEY"N;

530 FOR n= 1 TO LEN (A* (N) ) STEP 30

540 printtab (7) mid* ( a* (N) ,n , 30) Continued ►

550 NEXT n,N

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

HINTS &TIPS

◄ Continued

10 REM Listing 6
20 REM Basic 2 listing
30 M0DE1

40 PROCi ni ti al i se
50 PROCI oad
60 PROCf i ndde-f

560 COLOUR 3

570 PRINT ' "There is space for "255-length" characters.
580 ENDPROC
590 :

600 DEFPROCenter

610 INPUT '"Which key "key

620 IF key >1 5 THEN GOTO 610

630 INPUTLINE ' "Enter definition "AS (key)

640 IF 1 ength+LEN (AS (key) ) >255 THEN AS(key)=" M
650 PROCosc 1 i ( " KEY " +STRS ( key ) +AS ( key ) )

660 ENDPROC
670 :

680 DEFPROCoscli (CS)

690 SB=CS
700 CALL&FFF7
710 ENDPROC

Listing 6. Defining the func-
tion keys in Basic 2

70 PROCformat

80 INPUT "Do you wish to define a key "question*

90 IF LEFTS (quest i on*, 1)="Y" THEN PROCenter : GOTO60
100 INPUT "Enter save filename "file*

110 OSCLI "SAVE "+f ile*+" B00 BFF"

120 END
130 s

140 DEFPROCi ni t i al i se
150 @7.=2

160 VDU 19,0,4,0,0,0
170 VDU 19,3,6,0,0,0
180 DIM AS (15)

190 ENDPROC
200 :

210 DEFPROCI oad

220 INPUTTAB (0 , 10) "Do you want to load in definitions? "question*
230 IF LEFTS (question*, 1)="N" THEN ENDPROC
240 INPUT '"Enter filename "file*

250 OSCLI "LOAD "+file*

260 ENDPROC
270 :

280 DEFPROCf inddef
290 length =?&B10
300 FOR N=0 TO 15
310 end=length
320 start=N?S<B00
330 a*=" "

340 IF start=end THEN GOTO 440
350 FOR n=0 TO 15
360 peek^^&BOO

370 IF peek>start AND peek<end THEN end=peek
380 NEXT n

390 FOR n=start+l TO end
400 char=n?S<B00

410 IF char <32 THEN a*=a*+" " : char=char+64
420 aS=a*+CHRS (char )

430 NEXT n

440 AS (N) =a*+CHRS ( 13)

450 NEXT N
460 ENDPROC
470 :

480 DEFPROCf or mat
490 CLS

500 FOR N=0 TO 15
510 COLOUR 1+(N M0D2)

520 PRINT"*KEY"N;

530 FOR n= 1 TO LEN (AS (N) ) STEP 30
540 PRINTTAB (7) MIDS ( AS (N) ,n , 30)

550 NEXT n , N
560 COLOUR 3

570 PRINT '"There is space for "255-length" characters. "

580 ENDPROC
590 :

600 DEFPROCenter

610 INPUT '"Which key "key

620 IF key >15 THEN GOTO 610

630 INPUTL INE ' "Enter definition "AS(key)

640 IF 1 ength+LEN (AS (key) ) >255 THEN AS(key)=""

650 OSCLI "KEY"+STRS (key) + AS (key)

660 ENDPROC

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

JOE’S JOTTINGS

See 'Orgmentation', page 74

10 *FX16,1

20 REPEATnote=FNadc ( 1 )

30 IF note=0 SOUNDS 11,0,0, 255

40 IF note>0 SOUNDS* 1 1 , -15 ,note*4 , 255

50 UNTILO

1 000 DEFFNadc (x > : LOCALaX , b7.

1010 REPEAT: a7.= (ADVALx + 128) DIV 2240
1020 TX=T I ME+ 1 : REPEATUNT I L TIME>TX
1030 b7.= < ADVALx + 128) DIV 2240
1 040 UNT I La7.=b7. : =a7.

Program 1.

Simple monophonic organ

10 lastnote=0
20 DIMnote* (28)

30 FOR 1 7.= 1 TO 28: READnote* < IV.) : NEXT
40 note* <0>=CHR* 127
50 *FX16,1

60 REPEATnote=FNadc ( 1 > : IF noteOlastn
ote PRINTnote* (note) 1 astnote=note
70 IF note=0 SOUNDS 1 1 ,0,0 , 255
80 IF note>0 S0UND&1 1 , -15 , 48+note*4 , 2
55

90 UNTILO

1 000 DEFFNadc ( x > : LOCALaX , b7.

1010 REPEAT : aX= ( ADVALx + 1 28 ) DIV 2240
1020 T7.=TIME+1: REPEATUNT I L TIME>T7.

1030 b7.= ( ADVALx + 128) DIV 2240
1040 UNTILa7.=b7.:=a7.

1 050 DATAC , C# , D 7 Eb , E , F T F# , G , Ab , A , Bb , B , C
' , C# ' , D ' , Eb ' , E ' , F ' , F# ' , G ' , Ab ' , A ' , Bb ' , B ' ,
C' ' ,C#' ' ,D' ' ,Eb ' '

Program 2.

Music-writing organ

10 *FX 16,1
20 octave=l
30 CLS

40 PR I NTT AB (10,8) " Octave range”

50 PRINTTAB ( 10 , 9) M FI F2

F3"

60 PR I NTT AB (10,10)" Low Mid

High"

70 PR I NTT AB ( 20 ,11)"*"

80 REPEATnot e=FNadc ( 1 )

90 I Fn ote >25 PRINTTAB ( 1 l+octave*9 , 1 1 )

H ii

100 IFnote>25 octave=note— 26: PRINTTAB (
1 l+octave*9, 1 1 )

110 IFnote>25 UNTILO
120 IF note=0 SOUNDS 1 1 , 0 , 0 , 255
130 IF note>0 S0UND&1 1 ,-15,octave*48+n
ote*4 , 255
140 UNTILO

1000 DEFFNadc (x) : LOCALaX , bX
1010 REPE AT :aX=( ADVALx + 128) DIV 2240
1020 TX=T I ME+1: REPEATUNT I L TIME>TX
1030 bX= ( ADVALx + 1 28 ) DIV 2240
1040 UNTILaX=bX:=aX

Program 3.

Organ with selectable octaves
via FI, F2, F3

Continued ►

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

JOE’S JOTTINGS

Program 4. Multi-feature organ

10 *FX16,1

20 octave=l : volume=l : chord=l
30 CLB

40 PRINTTAB (9,7) CHR$ 133 "Octaves "CHR$
1 3 1 " Vo 1 urne " CHR$ 1 30 " Chords "

50 PR I NTT AB (10,9) "FI F2 F

3”

60 PRINTTAB ( 10, 10) "low Piano

Maj"

70 PRINTTAB(10,11> "High Forte

Min'"

BO PRINTTAB (10,12)"

Oft"

90 PROCoctave: PRDCvol urne: PROCchord
100 REPEATnote=FNadc ( 1 )

110 IFnote=26 PROCoctave: UNTILO
120 IFnote=27 PROCvol ume: UNTILO
130 rFnote=2B PROCchord: UNTILO
140 IF note=0 PROCrest
150 IF note>0 PROCplay
160 UNTILO

170 DEFPROCchord: PRINTTAB (32, 10+chord)

it ii

180 chord=chord+l : chord=chord M0D3
190 PRINTTAB (32, 10+chord) CHR$ ( 130) " C "
200 REPEAT UNTILFNadc ( 1 ) =0
210 ENDPROC

220 DEFPROCvol ume : PR I NTT AB (24,1 0+ vol urn
e) " "

230 volume =volume +1 : vol ume=vol ume h
QD 2

240 PRINTTAB (24 , 10+vol ume) CHR$131 " C "CH
R*135

250 REPEAT UNTILFNadc ( 1 ) =0
260 ENDPROC

270 DEFPROCoctave: PRINTTAB (14, 10+octav
e)" "

280 octave=octave+l : octave=octave MOD

2

290 PRINTTAB (14, 10+octave) CHR$133" C "CH
R$135

300 REPEAT UNTILFNadc ( 1 ) =0
310 ENDPROC

320 DEFPROCrest: SOUNDS 11 ,0,0,255
330 SOUNDS 12, 0,0, 255
340 SOUNDS' 13,0,0, 255
350 ENDPROC
360 DEFPROCpl ay

370 SOUNDS' 1 1 , volume*-7-7,note*4+octave
*96,255

380 IFchord=2 ENDPROC

390 SOUNDS'. 13, vol ume*-7-7, (note+7) *4+oc
tave*96 , 255

400 IFchord=0 SOUNDS' 12 , vol ume*-7-8 , (no
te+4)*4+octave*96, 255: ENDPROC

410 SOUNDS? 12 , vol ume*-7-8 , (note-t-3) *4+oc
tave*96 , 255: ENDPROC
1000 DEFFNadc ( x ) : LOCALaX , bX
1010 REPEAT : a%= (ADVALx+128) DIV 2240
1020 T7.=TIME+1:REPEATUNTIL TIME>T7.

1030 b7.= (ADVALx+128) DIV 2240
1040 UNTILa7.=b7.:=a7.

Figure 9.

Contents of line 370, program 4

volume

octave

equivalent

SOUND parameters

0

0

&11,-7,note*4,255

0

1

&11-7,note*4 + 96,255

1

0

&1 1,-14, note*4,255

1

1

&11, -14, note-4 + 96,255

Program 5. Organ with record/piayback facility

10 *FX 16 , 1

20 top=0: 1 astnote=0: mode=0
30 DIM note7.(100) ,time7.(100)

40 CLS

50 PRINTTAB ( 10,8) " Mode of Action"
60 PR I NTT AB (10,9) " FI F2

F3"

70 PRINTTAB (8, 10) " RECORD PLAYBACK
CLEAR"

80 PR I NTT AB ( 29 ,11)"*"

90 REF'EATnote=FNadc ( 1 )

100 IFnote>25 PRINTTAB ( 1 1 , 1 1 ) STRING* (3

0 ," ")

110 IFnote>25 PRINTTAB ( 1 1+ (note-26) *9,
11 ) "*"

120 I Fnote=26 mode=l : REPEAT UNTILFNadc
( 1 ) =0: UNTILO

130 IFnote=27 mode=2: REPEAT UNTILFNadc
( 1 ) =0: F'ROCrepl ay : UNTILO

140 IFnote=28 mode=0: top=0: REPEAT UNTI
LFNadc ( 1 ) =0: UNTILO

150 IF mode=l ANDnote< >1 astnote: top=to

p + 1 : ti me’/, (top) =T I ME: not e7 (top ) =note: 1 ast
note=note

160 IF note=0 SOUNDS: 1 1 ,0,0,255
170 IF note>0 SOUNDS'! 1 , -15 , 48+note*4 , 2
55

180 UNTILO

190 DEFF’ROCrepl ay: LOCALpoi nter , T: IF to
p=0 ENDPROC

200 FOR pointer = 1 TO top
210 IFnoteX (pointer) =0 THEN SOUNDS' 1 1 ,0
, 0 , 255 ELSESOUNDS: 11,-15, 48+4*not e7. (point
er > , 255

220 T IME=0

230 REPEAT UNTIL TIME> (ti me7. (poi nter+1
) -time7. (pointer) )*. 8 OR FNadc ( 1 ) =2
240 IF FNadc ( 1 ) =28 pointer=top
250 NEXT: SOUNDS'! 1,0, 0,0: REPEAT UNTIL F
Nadc ( 1 ) =0: ENDPROC
1000 DEFFNadc (x) :L0CALa7,,b7.

1010 REPEAT : a7= ( ADVALx + 1 28 ) DIV 2240
1020 TX=T I ME+ 1 : REPEATUNT I L TIME>T7.

1030 b7.= ( ADVALx + 128) DIV 2240
1040 UNTILa7.=b7.:=a7«

*

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

| PRINTERS

if

See ‘Dumping Secrets page 86

Program 1. ‘Autocol’

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE

1. To use ‘Autocol’ with your own (or any other) dump:

a) amend line 100 as necessary.

b) CHAIN “AUTOCOL”.

c) LOAD and RUN the game or graphics program.
( This can almost certainly not be done by a SHIFT-
BREAK using discs.)

d) Press the key when you want the dump to
occur.

2. To use the ESC L nl n2 type system:

a) CHAIN “AUTODMP” ( This is necessary only once.
The machine code sections will be saved for you).

On the second and subsequent occasions:

b) CHAIN “DUMPER”

c) LOAD and RUN the game or graphics program.
( This can almost certainly not be done by a SHIFT -
BREAK using discs.)

d) Press the key when you want the dump to
occur.

10 REM AUTOCOL

20 REM G.B.Hill <c) JULY 1984
30 REM To cause any graphics screen t
o be dumped when @ key is pressed.

40 REM The dump must be a single page
machine-code dump installed at line 100
50 PROCassemb 1 e
60 *FX14,2
70 ?&220=&C0
80 7^.221=^09

90 REM Load a one page dump here at &
A00 for disc or &D00 for tape systems.
100 *L0AD " CANONP J "

110 END

120 ’ :

1 30 DEFPROCassemb 1 e

140 REM Operating system addresses

150 osargs=&FFDA

160 DIM user 3

170 REM Locate program

180 PROCf i 1 i ng_system

190 base=&9C0

200 IF tape THEN dumpstart=&DQ0
210 IF disc THEN dumpstart=&A00
220 IF NOT (tape OR disc) THEN PRINT" C
an't *SAVE, unrecognised filing system."
: VDU7 : END
230 s

240 FOR PASS=0 TO 2 STEP 2
250 P"/.=base
260 C

270 OPT PASS
280 \

290 \ MAIN PROGRAM
300 \

310 -entry cld

320 pha: txa: pha: tya: pha

: php \save registers Y is copied into
A

330 cmp #64

\@ key

340 bne exit

350 jsr dumpstart

360 .exit pip: pi a: tay: pla: tax

:pla \restore registers
370 rts

380 3
390 NEXT
400 :

410 IF PVm< >base+& 1 5 THEN PRINT' '"You m
ust have made an error in typing in the
piece of code. Please check and try agai
n. " : VDU7 : END
420 ENDPROC
430 :

440 DEFPROCf i 1 ing_system
450 X"/.=&80
460 Y7.=0
470 A7.=0

480 ! user =USRosargs

490 tape= (?user=l OR ?user=2>

500 disc= (?user=4)

510 ENDPROC

Program 2. ‘Dumper’

10 REM DUMPER

20 REM G.B.Hill (c) JULY 1984
30 REM To cause any graphics screen t
o be dumped when @ key is pressed.

40 REM The machine code is generated
by AUTODMP which must be run before DUMP
ER

50 *FX 14,2
60 ?&220=00
70 ?&221= : &09
80 *L0AD " CODE 1 "

90 *L0AD " C0DE2 "

100 END

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

PRINTERS I

106

Program 3. ‘Autodump 1

10 REM AUTODMP
20 REM Copyright G.B.Hill
30 REM July 1984
40 REM Version 6

50 REM Assembly language printer dump
■for all ESC L nl n2 printers

60 REM Prints all graphics MODEs
70 REM M0DE0,1,4 in logical colour, M
0DE2,5 in physical colour

80 REM This program generates two pie
ces o-f code which are *SAVEd

90 REM These are then *L0ADed by the
BASIC program " DUMPER" -

100 REM The dumps are then activated b
y pressing the & key.

110 :

120 MQDE7

130 REM Operating system addresses
140 oswrch=&FFEE
150 osasc i =&FFE3
160 osword=&FFFl
170 osbyte=&FFF4
180 osargs=&FFDA
190 oscl i =&FFF7
200 DIM user 3,cli 30
210 REM Locate program
220 PROCf i 1 i ngsystem
230 basel=&900
240 IF tape THEN base2=&D00
250 IF disc THEN base2=&A00
260 IF NOT (tape OR disc) THEN PR I NT "C
an't *SAVE, unrecognised filing system."

: VDU7 : END
270 s

280 REM Assembler section proper start
s here.

290 S7.=basel

300 REM reserve space for jump
310 S7.=S7.+3

320 REM Set up constants and variables
330 REM Xlo,Xhi bytes of X coord: VI o,
Yhi bytes of Y coord

340 Xlo=S7.: Xhi =S7.+ 1 : Y1 o=S7.+2: Yhi =S7.+3
350 ! X 1 o=&03FF0000

360 REM logicol is the byte for osword
to deposit the logical colour
370 logicol=S7.+4

380 REM value is the byte where osbyte
deposits the physical colour
390 value=S7.+5
400 S7.=S7.+9

410 REM Store starting coordinates for
subroutine setup
420 XYstore=S7.

430 ! XYstor e= ! XI o
440 S7.=S7.+4
450 message=S7.

460 *message="Not gr aphi cs" +CHRT 1 3+CHR
$ ( 7)

470 S7.=S7.+ 14
480 1 f control =S7.

490 $1 f control =CHRT8+ " A " +CHRT27

500 S7.=S>:+3

510 bi tcontrol =S7

520 $bitcDntrol=CHR$3+CHR*i92+"L ,, +CHR$
27

530 S7.=S7.+4

540 resetcontrol=S7.

550 Iresetcontrol = "@"+CHRf : 27
560 S7.=S7.+2

570 REM Storage for various 1 byte var
i abl es

580 count4=S7.

590 ?count4=4

600 pass-SX+1

610 byte=S7.+2

620 mode=S7.+3

630 stepsize=S7.+4

640 passnumber=S7+5

650 S7.=S7.+6

660 REM Dot patterns for colours
670 pattern04=S7.

680 ! pattern04=&FF00

690 S7.=S7.+2

700 patternl=S7

710 ! pattern 1=&3F260400

720 S7.=S7.+4

730 pattern25=S7.

740 !pattern25=^49841000
750 ! <pattern25+4) =&FF6FB966
760 S7.=S7.+8

770 REM Table of steps, passes and pat
tern addresses for various modes.

780 patterntable=S7.

790 patterntabl e ! 0=&102+&10000*pattern
04

800 patterntabl e ! 4=&304+&10000*pattern

1

810 patterntabl e ! 8=&608+S<10000*pattern
25

820 patterntabl e f 16=&304+&10000*patter
n04

830 patterntabl e ! 20=s<608-»‘?yl0000*patter
n25

840

S7.=S7.+24

850

:

860

FOR PASS=0 TO

3 STEP 3

870

P7.=S7.

880

C

890

OPT PASS

900

\

910

\SUBR0UT I NES

920

\

930

\Reset X and Y

to screen top li

940

\

950

. setup

ldx

#3

960

. setupl oop

Ida

XYstore , X

970

sta

XI o , X

980

dex

990

bpl

setupl oop

1000

- g_°rg

1 da

#26

1010

js’r

oswrch

1020

1 da

#29

1030

jsr

oswrch

1040

1 dx

#3

1050

. g_orgl oop

1 da

#0

1060

jsr

oswrch

1070

dex

1080

bpl

g_orgl oop

1090

1 dx

#2

1100

. 1 f 1 oop

1 da

#1

1110

jsr

oswrch

1120

1 da

1 f control , X

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

PRINTERS

1130

jsr

oswrch

1740

pha:

tx a: pha: tya: pha

w

•

1140

dex

:php

•

1150

bpl

1 f 1 oop

1750

cmp

#64

1 160

rts

1760

bne

exit

•

1170

\

1770

jsr

dumpstart

A

1180

\Check current

mode

, it not graphi

1780 -exit

pip:

pi a: tay : pi a: tax

W

C5, issue error message and set carry fl

s pi a

•

ag .

1790

rts

1190

\

1800 1

•

1200

- modecheck

Ida

#&87

1810 s

A

1210

jsr

osbyte

1820 IF P%< >base 1 +&FB THEN PRINT' '"You

w

1220

tya

Tiust have made an

error in typing in the

1230

sta

mode

-first section o-f

code- Please check and

1240

cmp

#6

try agai n. " : VDU7:

END

1250

bpl

wrongmode

1830 :

•

1260

cmp

#3

1840 P7.=base2

1270

beq

wrongmode

1850 C

•

1280

. r i ghtmode

clc

1860 OPT PASS

A

1290

rol

A

1870 \

w

1300

rol

A

1880 \DUMPING ROUTINE

•

1310

tax

1890 \

1320

Ida

patterntabl e , X

1900 -dumpstart

jsr

modecheck.

•

1330

sta

stepsi ze

1910

bcc

start

•

1340

Ida

patterntabl e+1 ,

1920

rts

X

1930 -start

Ida

#2

•

1350

sta

passnumber

1940

jsr

oswrch

A

1360

Ida

patterntabl e+2 ,

1950

jsr

setup

V

X

1960 -scan

1 dx

#3

1370

sta

sel ect+1

1970 -Ctrl

Ida

#01

1380

Ida

patterntabl e+3 ,

1980

jsr

oswrch

•

X

1990

Ida

bi tcontrol , X

a

1390

sta

select+2

2000

jsr

oswrch

•

1400

clc

2010

dex

#

1410

rts

2020

bpl

Ctrl

1420

- wrongmode

1 dy

#00

2030 -line

Ida

#0

•

1430

. msg

Ida

message , Y

2040

sta

pass

1440

jsr

osasci

2050

Ida

mode

1450

iny

2060

bne

pixel

•

1460

cpy

#14

2070

1 da

passnumber

1470

bne

msg

2080

eor

#3

•

1480

sec

2090

sta

passnumber

+

1490

rts

2100 -pixel

Ida

#4

1500

\

2110

sta

count4

•

1510

\Reset printer

and

send to top o-f

2120 -onebyte

1 dx

#X1 o MOD 256

A

next page-

2130

1 dy

#X1 o DIV 256

W

1520

\

2140

Ida

#&09

•

1530

. reset_pr

ldx

#1

2150

jsr

osword

1540

- reset 1 oop

Ida

#1

2160

Ida

mode

•

1550

jsr

oswrch

2170

cmp

#2

1560

Ida

resetcontrol , X

2180

beq

physi cal

1570

jsr

oswrch

2190

cmp

#5

•

1580

dex

2200

beq

physical

1590

bpl

resetl oop

2210

1 da

logicol

•

1600

1 dx

#24

2220

sta

val ue

•

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- pagel oop

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•

1630

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a

1640

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2250

1 dy

#1 ogicol DIV 25

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1650

dex

6

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1660

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2260

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1670

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2270

jsr

osword

•

1680

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2280 -logical

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W

1700

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1710

\ MAIN PROGRAM

2310

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1720

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ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

108

PRINTERS

2340

beg

rotatei n

2350

- rotateout

ror

A

2360

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2370

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2380

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2390

. rotatein

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2400

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2410

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2420

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2430

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2440

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2450

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2460

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2470

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2480

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2510

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2560

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2580

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2660

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2670

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2710

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2730

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2960

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2990

:

3000

IF P"/.< >base2+&FF THEN PRINT

must have made an error in typing in the
second piece of code- Please check and
try agai n. " : VDU7: END
3010 PRINT"P7.=?v";~py.

3020 REN set up jump to entry point

3030 base 1?0=&4C

3040 basel?l=entry MOD 256

3050 basel?2=entry DIV 256

3060 s

3070 C0M$="SAVE " "C0DE1 " ” "+STR$'''basel + "
+FB "-t-STR^basel

3080 PR I NT '"SAVING DUMP *";C0M$

3090 PROCoscli (COM*)

3100 C0M*="SAVE " "C0DE2 +STR$' v base2+"

+FF " +STR:£' v base2
3110 PR I NT ' " * " ; C0M$

3120 PROCoscli <C0M$>

3130 END
3140 :

3150 DEFPROCf i 1 i ng_system
3160 X7.=&80
3170 Y7.=0
3180 A7.=0

3190 !user=USRosargs

3200 tape= (?user=l OR ?user=2)

3210 di sc= (?user=4)

3220 ENDPROC
3230 s

3240 DEFPROCoscli ($cli)

3250 Xy.=cli MOD 256:Yy.=cli DIV 256
3260 CALLoscli
3270 ENDPROC

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

See Homegrown Database', page 143

Mike Fryer's menu-driven database management
program

10 REM Database management program :
DBASE

20 REM M.J. Fryer
30 REM For BBC and Elk
AO REM (C) Acorn User DEC. 84
50 :

60 REM DBASE0
70 :

80 CLS:M0DE 7

90 REM Allows for 200 records of 6
fields plus keywords. Prints up to 5
records across the page.

100 record%=200 : f ield%=6 : pwidth%=5
110 DIM d$(record%) ,dl$(record%) ,
in%(record%) ,m%(pwidth%) ,s%(f ield%+l) ,
q$(pwidth%,field%+l),p%(field%+l)

120 exi t %=0 : pb%=0 : e%=0 : f %=0 : kw%=0 :
ncZ=0 : f =0 : lin$=STRING$ (255," " )

130 ON ERROR REPORT : PRINT" at line ";
ERL : VDU3 : CLOSE// f : z=INKEY( 200)

140 REPEAT

150 PROCmenu

160 UNTIL exitZ=l

170 CLS

180 END

190 :

200 DEF PROCmenu

210 CLS: PRINT TAB( 16,2) ;CHR$ 141;

CHR$ 131; "MENU" : PRINT TAB( 1 6 , 3 ) ; CHR$ 141;
CHR$ 131; "MENU"

220 PRINT TAB(8,5) ;CHR$130; "1: Start
new Data File"

230 PRINT TAB( 8,7); CHR$ 1 30 ; " 2 : Load a
Data File"

240 PRINT TAB(8,9) ;CHR$130; "3: Add

records"

250 PRINT TAB(8, 11) ;CHR$130;"4: Delete
records"

260 PRINT TAB(8 , 13) ;CHR$130; "5: Sort
records"

270 PRINT TAB(8,15) ;CHR$130;"6: Modify
a record"

280 PRINT TAB(8 ,17) ;CHR$130;"7 : Print
Data File"

290 PRINT TAB(8, 19) ;CHR$130; "8: Save
Data File"

300 PRINT TAB( 8,21); CHR$ 1 30 ; "9 : Exit"
310 PRINT TAB(8, 23) ;CHR$ 131; "Number of
choice : "; :n%=GET:nZ=nX-48 : PRINT ;nZ
320 ON n% GOTO 330,340,350,360,370,
380,390,400,410

330 PROCnew : pbZ=0 : ENDPROC
340 PROCold: ENDPROC
350 PROCadd: ENDPROC
360 PROCdel: ENDPROC
370 PROCsort: ENDPROC
380 PROCmod : ENDPROC
390 PROCprnt: ENDPROC
400 PROCsave: ENDPROC
410 exitX=l
420 ENDPROC
430 :

440 DEF PROCunpak(g% , jZ)

450 :

460 REM Splits a record into fields
470 :

480 LOCAL k%,a$,p%,nX
490 a$=d$( jX) :pX=LEN(a$)

500 FOR kZ=l TO fZ+1
510 nZ=INSTR(a$," |")

520 q $( gZ , kZ)=LEFT$( a $ , nZ- 1 ) : pZ=pZ-nZ
530 a$=RIGHT$(a$ ,pX)

540 NEXT
550 ENDPROC
560 :

570 DEF PROCnew
580 :

590 REM DBASE 1

600 REM To start a new data file
610 :

620 LOCAL gZ,sX,slX

630 CLS: PRINT TAB(2,4); "Any existing
records will be deleted :" ,TAB(6, 6) ;
"Press ESCAPE to abort" :z=INKEY( 200)

640 CLS: REPEAT

650 PRINT' "How many fields (<";fieldZ+
1;") " ; : INPUTf Z'

660 UNTIL fZ<f ieldZ+1 AND fZ>-l
670 eZ=0:sZ=255:slZ=0

Continued ►

109

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

110

◄ Continued

680 FOR g%=l TO f%

690 PRINT"Length of field ";g%;"

INPUT SPC(2)p%(g%)

700 s%=s%-p%(g%)-l : IF s%<1 PRINT"Not
enough space" :z=INKEY( 100) :G0T0 690
710 NEXT

720 INPUT'"How many keywords ? "kw%':
IF kw%<l GOTO 740

730 PRINT"There are ";s %;" characters
available f or" '"keywords : INPUT"How

many do you require "sl%:IF sl%>s% PRINT
TAB( 20)"Too many" : GOTO 730
740 nc%=25 5-s %+s 1 %+f %+ 1 : p% ( f %+ 1 ) =s 1% :
lin$=STRING$(nc%," "):mr%=(HIMEM-TOP-
3200)/ (2.4*nc%)

750 PRINT" There is room for about ";
mr%-2;" records" :z=INKEY( 200)

760 ENDPROC
770 :

780 DEFPROCold
790 :

800 REM DBASE2

810 REM To load a data file from tape
or disc
820 :

830 LOCAL g% , k% , f , f m$ , nnc% , ee% , f f % ,
kkw%

840 CLS: PRINT TAB(4,2)"To load a Data
File"' ' "(The contents will be ADDED to
any"' SPC(4) ;"existing records)"

850 INPUT' "Give the name of the Data
File to be"'" loaded: "fm$

860 INPUT' "Get tape/disc ready and
press RETURN" a$

870 f =0PENIN(fm$)

880 PRINT"File found"

890 INPUT#f ,ee%,ff%,kkw%,nnc%

900 IF e%>0 AND (ff%Of% OR kkw%Okw%
OR nnc%Onc%) PRINT"Incompatibility of
records" : CL0SE#f : z=INKEY( 200) : ENDPROC
9 10 f %=f f % :kw%=kkw% :nc%=nnc% : lin$=STRI
NG$(nc%," ")

920 FOR g%=l TO f%+l
930 INPUT#f , p%(g%)

940 NEXT

950 FOR g%=e%+l TO e%+ee%

960 d$=lin$ : INPUT#f ,d$(g%)

970 NEXT

980 IF e%=0 pb%=0
990 e%=e%+ee%

1000 CLOSE#f

1010 PRINT '"There are ";e%;" records."'
"Each has ";f%;" fields and ";kw%; " key
words"

1020 mr%=(HIMEM-TOP-3200)/(2.4*nc%):
PRINT"There is room for about ";mr%-2;"
records" : z=INKEY(200)

1030 ENDPROC
1040 :

1050 DEF PROCadd
1060 :

1070 REM DBASE3

1080 REM To add extra records from the
keyboard
1090 :

1100 LOCAL a$,b$,ee%

1110 a$=lin$:b$=a$

1120 REPEAT
1130 CLS:ee%=e%+l

1140 PRINT TAB(4 ,2) ; "Record Number
ee%

1150 a$="":b$=a$

1160 PRINT TAB(0,4);"Field (Max length)

II

1170 FOR g%=l TO f%

1180 PRINT'TAB(2);g%;" (";pZ(g%);")

1190 INPUT LINE b$:IF LEN(b$)>p%(g%)
PRINT"Too long" : GOTO 1180
1200 a$=a$+b$+"|"

1210 NEXT

1220 IF kw%>0 PRINT'; kw% ; " Keywords
(separated by commas)": INPUT LINE b$:IF
LEN(b$)>p%( f %+l ) PRINT"Too long (>";
P%(f%+1);")":G0T0 1220
1230 d$(ee%)=lin$

1240 d$(ee%)=a$+b$+" | "

1250 INPUT' 'TAB(2)"Press RETURN to add
another record ,"'TAB(9) "M for MENU "
ans$

1260 e%=ee%: UNTIL ans$<>""

1270 ENDPROC
1280 :

1290 DEF PROCdel
1300 :

1310 REM DBASE4

1320 REM Deletes records

1330 :

1340 LOCAL n%

1350 CLS : PRINT TAB(6,2) ;"Delete by:"
1360 PRINT'"1: Record Number"

1370 PRINT'"2: Keyword"

1380 INPUT' '"Number of choice ",n%

1390 IF n%=l PROCdnum: ENDPROC
1400 IF n%=2 PROCdkey : ENDPROC
1410 :

1420 ENDPROC
1430 DEF PROCdnum
1440 :

1450 REM Deletes records by number
1460 :

1470 LOCAL pp%,ff%,r%

1480 CLS: INPUT' " Range of records to
be deleted"'" first, last : "ff%,pp%
1490 r%=pp%-f fZ+1
1500 FOR g%=ff% TO e%-r%

1510 d$(g%)=d$(g%+r%)

1520 NEXT
1530 e%=e%-r%

1540 ENDPROC

Continued ►

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

I

•

•

◄ Continued

9

9

•

1550 :

2040 :

9

•

1560 DEF PROCdkey

2050 LOCAL g%,flg%,dum$

9

A

1570 :

2060 CLS:dum$=lin$: INPUT'"Sort on which

9

9

1580 REM Deletes records by keywords

field ",ans%

•

1590 :

2070 FOR g%=l TO e%

9

1600 LOCAL g%,c$

2080 PR0Cunpak( 1 ,g%)

a

•

1610 CLS: INPUT' "Give Keyword for select

2090 dl$(g%)=lin$ :dl$(g%)=q$( 1 ,ans%)

w

•

ion : "k$

2100 NEXT

9

1620 REPEAT: INPUT '"Delete records with

2110 REPEAT

•

this Keyword (D), or"' "Include records

2120 flg%=0

9

with this Keyword (I) :"c$:UNTIL c$="D"

2130 FOR g%=l TO e%-l

9

OR c$="I"

2140 IF dl$(g%)>dl$(g%+l) THEN dum$=dl$

•

1630 g%=0

(g%+l):dl$(g%+l)=dl$(g%):dl$(g%)=dum$:

9

a

1640 FOR g%=l TO e%

dum$=d$(g%+l) :d$(g%+l)=d$(g%) :d$(g%)=

9

w

1650 PROCunpak( 1 ,g%) :PROCsplit

dum$ :f lg%=l

•

1660 NEXT

2150 NEXT

9

1670 PROComit : PRINT '"Deletion Completed

2160 UNTIL flg%=0

&

9

" :z=INKEY(200)

2170 PRINT' '"Sort completed" :z=INKEY(

9

1680 ENDPROC

200)

9

1690 :

2180 ENDPROC

9

1700 DEF PROCsplit

2190 :

9

9

1710 :

2200 DEF PROCmod

9

1720 REM Separates the keywords

2210 :

9

1730 :

2220 REM DBASE6

9

•

1740 LOCAL a$,b$, j%,p%,n%

2230 REM To modify a particular record

9

1750 in%(g%)=l :a$=lin$ :b$=a$

2240 :

9

1760 a$=q$( 1 , f %+l )

2250 LOCAL r%,c%,g%

9

a

1770 p%=LEN(a$)

2260 CLS:PRINT'"To Modify a record"

9

9

1780 FOR j%=l TO kw%

2270 REPEAT: INPUT' "Number of record :"

9

1790 IF a$=k$ in%(g%)=0: j%=kw%:GOTO

r%: UNTIL r%>0 AND r%<=e%

9

1840

2280 PROCunpak( 1 ,r%)

A

9

1800 n%=INSTR(a$ ," : IF n%=0 j%=kw%:

2290 FOR g%=l TO f%+l

9

9

GOTO 1840

2300 PRINT"(" ;g%; ")" ,q$( 1 ,g%)

•

1810b $=LEFT$ ( a $ , n%- 1 ) : p%=p%-n%

2310 NEXT

a

9

1820 IF b$=k$ in%(g%)=0: j%=kw% :GOTO

2320 REPEAT: INPUT' "Number of field :"c%

9

*

1840

: UNTIL c%>0 AND c%<f%+2

9

w

1830 a$=RIGHT$(a$,p%)

2330 PRINT"Type new field",'":";

9

1840 NEXT

2340 INPUT LINE q$(l,c%):IF LEN(q$(l,c%

9

a

1850 ENDPROC

))>p%(c%) PRINT"Too long" : GOTO 2330

9

V

1860 :

2350 d$(r%)=""

9

1870 DEF PROComit

2360 FOR g%=l TO f%+l

9

a

1880 :

2370 d$(r%)=d$(r%)+q$( 1 ,g%)+" |"

9

9

1890 REM Omits or includes records by

2380 NEXT

•

keyword

2390 ENDPROC

9

1900 :

2400 :

a

•

1910 LOCAL g%,j%

2410 DEF PROCprnt

9

1920 g%=0

2420 :

9

1930 FOR j%=l TO e%

2430 REM DBASE7

9

1940 IF c$="I" in%( j%)=l-in%( j%)

2440 REM To print/display some or all

9

m

1950 IF in%( j%)=l g%=g%+l :d$(g%)=d$( j%)

the records

9

w

1960 NEXT

2450 :

9

1970 e%=g%

2460 CLS: INPUT' "Range of records to be

9

1980 ENDPROC

output:"'" first, last ( 0,0 for all reco

A

•

1990 :

rds): "ff%,pp%

w

•

2000 DEF PROCsort

2470 IF f f %<1 f f %=1 : IF pp%<l OR pp%>e%

9

2010 :

pp%=e%

A

9

2020 REM DBASE5

2480 IF pb%=l INPUT'"Repeat Format (Y/N

9

9

2030 REM Sorts records in alphabetical

) ",ans$:IF ans$="Y" OR ans$="y" GOTO

9

order by given field

2690

9

9

2490 REPEAT

9

9

•

•

Continued ►

9

9

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

◄ Continued

2500 INPUT"How many records across sere
en «5) ",a%

2510 UNTIL a%<5 AND a%>0
2520 REPEAT

2530 INPUT"How many lines between recor
ds ",b%

2540 UNTIL b%>0 AND b%<30
2550 FOR g%=l TO a%

2560 PRINT"REC0RD NUMBER ";g%

2570 INPUT"Position of Left Margin :
"m%(g%)

2580 NEXT

2590 FOR g%=l TO f%

2600 s%(g%)=-l

2610 PRINT" Print Field ";g%;: INPUT" (Y/
N) ",ans$

2620 IF ans$="Y" OR ans$="y" INPUT"Numb
er of leading spaces s%(g%)

2630 :

2640 REM Add 100 to combine next field
2650 :

2660 NEXT

2670 INPUT"Prlnt Keywords (Y/N) ",ans$:
s%(f%+l)=-l

2680 IF ans$="Y" OR ans$="y" INPUT"Numb
er of leading spaces s%(f%+l)

2690 pb%=l : INPUT"Press 'P' to print, '
L' to list "ans$

2700 IF ans$="P" VDU2:PROCoutput :VDU3
ELSE CLS:VDU14:PR0Coutput :VDU15:z=INKEY(
400)

2710 ENDPR0C
2720 :

2730 DEF PROCoutput
2740 :

2750 REM Formats each output line
2760 :

2770 LOCAL g%, j%,k%,p%,sk%

2780 w%=INT( (pp%-ff%)/a%+l)

2790 index%=f f%-l
2800 FOR k%=l TO w%

2810 FOR g%=l TO a%

2820 index%=index%+l
2830 IF index%>pp% PROCblank ELSE
PROCunpak(g%,index%)

2840 NEXT
2850 join%=0
2860 g%=l :p%=l
2870 REPEAT

2880 IF s%(g%)<0 AND join%=0 G0T02950
2890 IF s%(g%)>99 OR s%(g%)<0 join%=0:
PR0Cjoin:G0T02960

2900 IF s%(p%)<99 sk%=s%(p%) ELSE sk%=
s%(p%)-100
2910 FOR j%=l TO a%

2920 PRINT TAB(m%( j%) ) ; SPC(sk%) ;q$( j% ,
g%);

2930 NEXT

2940 IF s%(g%)>-l PRINT
2950 g%=g%+l :p%=g%

2960 UNTIL g%>f%+l

2970 FOR j%=l TO b%: PRINT: NEXT

2980 NEXT

2990 ENDPR0C

3000 :

3010 DEF PROCblank
3020 :

3030 REM Inserts blank records to fill
up print line
3040 :

3050 LOCAL k%

3060 FOR k%=l TO f%+l
3070 q$(g% ,k%)=""

3080 NEXT
3090 ENDPROC
3100 :

3110 DEF PROC join
3120 :

3130 REM Concatenates fields
3140 :

3150 LOCAL s%

3160 IF s%(g%+l)<0 THEN join%=l:FOR j%=
1 TO a%:q$( j%,g%+l)=q$( j%,g%) :NEXT:g%=g%
+1: ENDPROC

3170 s%=s%(g%+l) :IF s%>99 s%=s%-100
3180 FOR j%=l TO a%

3190 q$(j%,g%+l)=q$(j%, g%)+STRING$(s%,
" ")+q$(j%,g%+l)

3200 NEXT
3210 g%=g%+l
3220 ENDPROC
3230 :

3240 DEF PROCsave
3250 :

3260 REM DBASE8

3270 REM Saves data to tape/disc
3280 :

3290 LOCAL g%,f,fm$

3300 CLS :PRINT'"To save the data file"
3310 INPUT' "Give the name for the file
to be saved: "fm$

3320 f =OPENOUT( f m$ )

3330 PRINT#f ,e% , f % ,kw% ,nc%

3340 FOR g%=l TO f%+l
3350 PRINT//f ,p%(g%)

3360 NEXT

3370 FOR g%=l TO e%

3380 PRINT#f ,d$(g%)

3390 NEXT
3400 CL0SE//f
3410 ENDPROC

>

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

IDEAL

CHRISTMAS
PRESENT

A free monthly listing cassette - worth £3.75 - when you
subscribe to Acorn User for a friend (or yourself!). After holding
down cover and UK subscriptions prices since the first issue,
increases are planned in the New Year. So do a friend a favour:
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To take advantage of this offer fill in the form below giving both
your name and address and that of the recipient and send it to
Redwood Publishing. But hurry - this offer closes on January 31
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Eire.

POST EARLY AND BEAT
THE CHRISTMAS RUSH

\\\W

ffl

Please start a year’s subscription to Acorn User from the next available issue and send
it to the following address:

Name.

Address

0

Please send the December monthly program listings cassette to my address*.
Name Address

development in
off for a pack from

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*Tick this box to send the free cassette to the subscriptions address. □

I enclose my cheque/postal order for £15 made payable to Redwood Publishing Ltd □
Please debit £15 from my Access/Barclaycard/American Express □

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Send this form with your remittance in an envelope to
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packs airecno readers atme inirooucroryp^rTce ot
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Acorn User will be printing some listings in bar code
format in each issue and making booklets of bar codes
available by mail order. Book publishers are already
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Portfolio has 13 pages of barcode listings.

Redwood Publishing, 68 Long

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All for £49.95 (plus £7.50 VAT). Make your cheque
payable to Redwood Publishing, fill in the form below
and send it to Bar Code Offer, Redwood Publishing, 68
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Ipiease send me Bar Code Reader Teaching Packs* (£57.45 each inclusive)

* please state disc or cassette version

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Send this form with your remittance to Bar Code Offer, Redwood Publishing, 68 Long Acre, London WC2E 9JH.

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

DATABASES DON’T MISS OUT ON ACORN

USER - ORDER NOW

◄ Continued

2500 INPUT"How
en «5) ",a%
2510 UNTIL a%<
2520 REPEAT
2530 INPUT"How
ds ",b%

2540 UNTIL b%>
2550 FOR g%=l
2560 PRINT" REC
2570 INPUT"Pos

2580 NEXT
2590 FOR g%=l
2600 s%(g%)=-l
2610 PRINT"Pri
N) ",ans$

2620 IF ans$="
er of leading s
2630 :

2640 REM Add 1
2650 :

2660 NEXT
2670 INPUT"Pri
s%(f%+l)=-l
2680 IF ans$="
er of leading s
2690 pb%=l : IN
L' to list "ans
2700 IF ans$="
ELSE CLS:VDU14:
400)

2710 ENDPROC
2720 :

2730 DEF PROCc
2740 :

2750 REM Forma
2760 :

2770 LOCAL g%,
2780 w%=INT( (f
2790 index%=f f

Your local newsagent or computer dealer will be pleased to reserve a copy of Acorn
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Please reserve me a copy of Acorn User every month until further notice.

□ I will collect it. □ Please deliver to my house. (tick as required)

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Acorn User is distributed to the news trade by Comag on 0895 444055.

Computer dealers can place orders with the Subs Manager (Acorn User) 01-836 2441.

MONTHLY PROGRAM
LISTINGS CASSETTE

Each month ACORN USER publishes a cassette containing all the major listings in the
16 yellow pages and often extra programs not in the issue (edited by our technical
editor BRUCE SMITH). So preserve your fingers, save time and typing errors, and get
your programs to work first time round.

Each cassette costs £3.75 and covers the Electron and BBC micro. It includes a menu
and disc transfer routines to help you find your way around.

FREE

CASSETTE
OFFER
WORTH £3.75
IF YOU
SUBSCRIBE NOW!

2800 FOR k%=l
2810 FOR g%=l
2820 index%=ir...^^,. . »

2830 IF index%>pp% PROCblank ELSE
PROCunpak(g% , index%)

2840 NEXT
2850 join%=0

2860 g%=l :p%=l

2870 REPEAT

2880 IF s%(g%)<0 AND join%=0 GOT02950
2890 IF s%(g%)>99 OR s%(g%)<0 join%=0:
PR0Cjoin:G0T02960

2900 IF s%(p%)<99 sk%=s%(p%) ELSE sk%=
s%(p%)-100
2910 FOR j%=l TO a%

2920 PRINT TAB(m%( j%));SPC(sk%) ;q$( j%,
g%);

to be saved: "fm$

3320 f =0PEN0UT( fm$ )

3330 PRINT#f ,e%,f%,kw%,nc%
3340 FOR g%=l TO f%+l
3350 PRINT#f ,p%(g%)

3360 NEXT

3370 FOR g%=l TO e%

3380 PRINTf/f ,d$(g%)

3390 NEXT
3400 CL0SE#f
3410 ENDPROC

>

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

BAR CODES will revolutionise the way we use
computers in applications as well as the way we load
data. Here is the chance to get experience of this
important development by ordering the Addison
Wesley/MEP Bar Code Teaching Pack (see page 65)
direct through Acorn User.

These bar code readers are being offered to schools
first and versions will not be available to the public in
the shops until next year - when they will certainly cost
more. However, because of its active involvement in
the scheme Acorn User is able to offer the Teaching
Packs direct to readers at the introductory price of
£49.95 (plus VAT).

Acorn User will be printing some listings in bar code
format in each issue and making booklets of bar codes
available by mail order. Book publishers are already
printing listings in bar code format, in fact Bruce
Smith’s latest book The BBC Micro Machine Code
Portfolio has 13 pages of barcode listings.

So, to stay ahead of the latest development in
computers and education, send off for a pack from
Acorn User tod ay.

The pack includes:

★barcode reader

★explanatory booklet written by Acorn User author
George Hill

★software to print bar codes
★music program by Joe Telford
★bar code stencil

★disc or cassette of utility software

All for £49.95 (plus £7.50 VAT). Make your cheque
payable to Redwood Publishing, fill in the form below
and send it to Bar Code Offer, Redwood Publishing, 68
Long Acre, London WC2E 9JH.

Please send me BarCode Reader Teaching Packs* (£57.45 each inclusive)

* please state disc or cassette version

Name

Address.

Post code .

□ I enclose a cheque/PO payable to Redwood Publishing for £.

□ Please debit my Access/Barclaycard/American Express

Signed
Date

Account number

Send this form with your remittance to Bar Code Offer, Redwood Publishing, 68 Long Acre, London WC2E 9JH.

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

H beeb forum

x| | !□□□□□□□□

=- 1

Easy text window definition and

o marker deletion, and a slow

□ ;

□ scroller are among the ideas
2 you bounce off Bruce Smith

JUDGING by the total lack of response it
seems that Beeb Forum readers have
been stumped by the challenge I put up
a few months ago. But I’m determined
not to be defeated so I’ll throw it out
again in the hope that newcomers to
the column will be able to provide the
answer.

One of the most common mistakes
made in typing programs in is that
zeroes and O’s and ones and I’s tend to
get confused. Can anyone supply a
transparent program that will interpret
an I as a 1 and an O as a zero in a
numeric variable and vice-versa when
they occur?

*KEY1 ! ! !
*KEY2 ! ! !

0C27,45,1! ! "
0C27,45,0! ! "

*KEY3»»I
*KEY6 ! ! #

! ! 0 !!$!!#! A !!$!!#! A ! !
! ! .'MS !#!!*!! !M

! : o : [5G5 >s):m:m: c

Listing 2. D Stiles’ painless way to remove the markers when using Wordwise

progressively lower down the screen.
Key f9 restores the default window (ie,
the whole screen) and positions the
cursor where it was when the key was
pressed.

The text window locations are stored
in locations &308 to &30B, as noted in
the Advanced User Guide. By using
these locations, the routines will work
in any mode, although changing mode
will remove the windows.

Defining text

&

Easy marker

windows

A USEFUL two-liner to help with defin-
ing text windows has been sent in by
Andrew Mummery of Gravesend. I
have to resort to the Encyclopedia
Userguidea before doing this to estab-
lish the correct sequence of the VDU
parameters. Andrew writes . . .

The key definitions in the program
(listing 1) enable a text window to be
defined by two key-presses. After
pressing key f8, move the cursor to the
required position and then press
Return. There will now be a text
window from the cursor position to the
bottom of the screen. The key can be
used repeatedly to position the window

deletion

AS an avid user of Wordwise , I have
always found having to delete markers
‘by hand’, as it were, a bit of a pain.
However, thanks to D Stiles of Bristol
this is now a thing of the past. Mr Stiles
sets the scene . . .

One of the frustrating things about
Wordwise is that the markers are not
easily deleted, ie, there is no function
key assigned to remove them. The only
apparent way is to scroll through the
text and delete them using the Delete
key or CTRL-A, and then try to find your
original place again.

It is possible, however, to delete the
markers using the CTRL -f Shift keys in
conjunction with a function key. Other
keys may be set up to perform similar
useful functions, and the key set-up

saved for future use. Type the following
key definitions (only) into Wordwise
(listing 2), leaving two blank lines at the
end. Use menu option 1 to save it to
tape/disc. The definitions may be
loaded back using *EXEC‘ ,M in the
menu screen, thus automatically set-
ting up the function keys for use in the
text screen.

In the example given key 1 is set up to
give a printer underline code, and key 2
to turn off the underline; key 3 is set up
to cancel the markers normally set by
this key; and key 6 will delete the text
from the current cursor position to the
end of the line. The @@ characters are
used as a place marker at the start of
the cancellation, and are deleted at the
end of it using menu option 5.

Other keys may be set up in a similar
way. For further details on the coding
used seethe Wordwise manual.

&

Slow

1 0*KEYS Z=GET : VDU28 , O , 7&309 , 7&30A , VPO
S+7?v30B+ 1 ! M

20*KEY9 Z=VP0S+7S<30B— 1 : VDU26 , 31 , 0 , Z 1 M

Listing 1. Andrew Mummery’s routine for defining a text window in two keystrokes

Beeb Forum is a platform for ideas, tips and applications relating to the BBC micro and the
Electron, intended for experienced programmers to share their thoughts. For every reader's
tip published we pay £5 -or more for something special. Contributions should be typed or
printed, with substantial listings on cassette. WRITE TO Beeb Forum, Acorn User, Redwood
Publishing, London WC2E 9JH.

scroller

HAVING been weaned on the Atom I
appreciated hearing from a Beeb
owner who reads the Atom pages. P
Owen of Malvern, Worcs, writes . . .

On looking through the February
Atom Forum I was much taken with the
Slow Scroller program described
there. I felt it would be useful to have a
similar facility for the BBC computer.

This program (listing 3) works in the
same way by altering the WRCHVEC to
point to the routine, which looks for a
CR and delays if one isfound. The delay
is set in line 210 to give a slow scrolling
speed of five lines per second. CTRL
freezes the display and Shift restarts it.
Slow scrolling is enabled by function
key 0 while key 1 returns to normal list-
ing.

The program is at the moment placed
in Page 9 (&900) but is easily reloca-

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

■ BEEB FORUM

10

REM SLOWSCR

20

0SBYTE=&FFF4

30

FOR opt7.=0

TO 3 STEP 3

40

P7.=?v900

50

COPT opt’/.

60

LDA #enter

MOD 8(100

70

sta &20E

80

LDA Center

DIV 1 00

90

STA ?/20F

100

JMP end

no

\ normal scrolling

120

LDA #?yA4

130

STA &20E

140

LDA #8?E0

150

STA &20F

160

JMP end

170

. enter

180

PHA: TXA: PHA: TYA: PHA

190

CMP #13

200

BNEout

210

LDX#20

220

LDY#0

230

LDA #&81

240

JSR OSBYTE

250

CLC

260

CLV

270

JSR &EF02

280

BMI -freeze

\ 7CNTR key

290

JMP out

300

. -freeze

310

CLC

320

CLV

330

JSR &EF02

340

BVC -freeze

\ 7SHIFT KEY

350

. out

360

PLA: TAY : PLA

is TAX: PLA

370

JMP &E0A4

380

. end

390

RTS

400

I

410

NEXT

420

♦KEYO CALL

&900 ; M

430

♦KEY 1 CALL

&90D : M

Listing 3. A slow scroller for the Beeb,
by P Owen

table by altering the assignment to P%
in line 40 and making the appropriate
changes to the function key definitions
in lines 420 and 430.

Specific

searcher

A PROC that enables specific occur-
rences of text or variables to be found
within programs is supplied by Hall-
vard Furuseth of Norway. Ideally the
procedure would be saved by ‘SPOOL-
ing it as an ASCII file and ‘EXECing it
into your program when required. Mr
Furuseth tells the story . . .

I got tired of searching through long
programs to find all occurrences of a
special variable/text, so I wrote a short
PROC (listing 4) that would do it for me.

I add itto all long programs I write.

Because of the INSTR bug, OS 1.0
must use:

32000DEF PROCS: LOCAL A7. , @7.: @7.=6: WIDTH <?&
30A-7&308) DIV6*6: A7.=F*AGE+4
3201 CREPE AT IF INSTR (*AX,«<705> PRINT A7.
7-2+256* AX7-3;

32020AX-AX+AX7-1: UNTIL A7.7-3M 24: WIDTH O
: F'R I NTCHR-T8 : ENDPROC

Listing 4. Procedure by Hallvard Furuseth to search for occurrences of a specific variable or
piece of text in a program

32010 REPEAT IF LEN$A%> =
LENS&705 IF INSTR (. . .

Everyone should then define:

‘KEY 0 | UPROCSELSE:

Then <KEY0> REPEAT will print out
all line numbers where REPEAT
occurs. PROCS ELSE: 200 will search
for the number 200, PROCS ELSE 200
for the line number.

To search for ‘uncompiled’ text, use
PROCS REM text.

PROCS ELSE: TIME will not find all
TIMES. There is one ‘left-hand’ TIME
(TIME = T%) and one ‘right-hand’
(T% = TIME). HIMEM, LOMEM, PAGE
and PTR behave in the same way. Use
PROCS ELSE = TIME to find ‘right-
hand’ TIMEs.

Use TAB(, not TAB. The bracket is
part of the name. The same applies to
all two or three-argument functions.

A search for TO will also find all
TOPs. Sometimes a search for a short
text comes up with a line number,
because of the special way of storing
line numbers. And of course, a search
for the variable D will also find AD, D%,
DUMMY and so on, and is not of much
use.

Line 32000 @% and WIDTH are used
for formatting. ?&30A = right hand
column of text window, 7&308 = left - at
least on my BBC, OS 1.20, 1982. If you
don’t know these addresses on your
BBC, use WIDTH 36. A% points to the
text in the first program line.

Line 32010 S&705 is the text searched
for. S&700 is the input buffer, ‘compiled’
into Basic. PROCS ELSE: uses
addresses &700-&704. A%?-2+ ... is
the line number of the line into which
A% points.

Line 32020 A%?-1 is the length of the
line. A% is incremented to point into
the next line. If A%?-3>124, then the
line number > =32000(125*256).

ELSE (and DEF and DATA) works in
the same way as REM, but the text is not
‘compiled’ after REM (or DATA). ELSE
STOP uses three bytes, REM STOP
uses six. The IU deletes everything
before PROCS ELSE:, to ensure that the
text is located at &705. IF A = 5 PROCS
ELSE: AD% would search for “PROCS
ELSE: AD%”.

Striped

answer

IF Beeb and Electron users have ever
wondered how and why GCOL para-
meters in excess of the standard
GCOLO.n to GCOL4,n produce funny
stripy effects then John Graham-
Cumming of Bury St Edmunds has the
answer.

Electron-owner John writes. . .

In the Electron user guide, Acorn
says that a GCOL command with a high
first parameter (greater than 4, eg,
GCOL135,1) will produce various
stripy effects’ and although not men-
tioned in my BBC user guide this also
applies to the Beeb.

Take GCOL 135,1 as an example.
When this command is used, Basic
sends 18,135 and 1 to OSWRCH (18 is
the Set Graphics Colour code) and the
.first parameter is stored at &35B (&35C
if the background colour is being set).
This first parameter should of course
be between 0 and 4, but the OS
assumes that this parameter is correct
and does not check it.

Then, when a plot command is used
OSWRCH jumps to the plot routine
(&C7AF in OS 1.2) and uses the byte at
&35B to get the two graphic colour
bytes, stored at &D4 and &D5. from the
table. (These two bytes are used as a
mask to determine how the points
should be plotted.) But since the OS has
provision for this only between 0 and 4,
the table at &C41B contains only suf-
ficient bytes for these options. The OS
reads these bytes using the 6502’s
indexed addressing mode (Y is loaded
from &35B). Thus if a number greater
than 4 is used when the OS reads these
bytes, they are loaded from outside the
table, as in the example. Thus the stripy
effects have no set pattern, although it
is not random.

So when Acorn says the effects may
change with different OS releases the
warning should be heeded since the
tables need not be in the same order,
and the effects would change. Those
wishing to write programs that will run
on all BBCs and Electrons should avoid
these effects. They are fun to use,
though, and need not be avoided for
your own enjoyment.

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

A World Of Information

Available to you with Nightingale, the new
multi -function modem from Pace.

Nightingale is by far the most versatile modem
available, at the price, for either home or
business use. It offers Prestel/Viewdata
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BBC and other computers,
including bulletin boards.

Nightingale will operate at I'l r ^

both European and Bell

frequencies for com-

patibility with CCITT

and American systems. %

The state-of-tha-art
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Nightingale being 'hard wired' is not subject to the noise
interference errors common to outdated acoustically coupled
devices. In addition Nightingale features a simple self test facility for
easy installation.

Nightingale utilises a fully buffered RS 423/232 serial interface %
and is supplied complete with a lead suitable for connection to the
BBC micro, other leads, are available on request.

However, in order to use such a versatile modem to its fullest
potential, you will require equally sophisticated software. This is
where Pace can offer you a total solution — Commstar,
unquestionably the most comprehensive communica-
tions software available for the BBC. A

Supplied on Eprom, Commstar is instantly accessible,* ASL

simple to use and extremely flexible. Just look at the MB,

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The complete Nightingale/Commstar package for the

BBC micro including the modem, cabling and the V

Commstar Eprom and manual is just £139 plus V.A.T.

Nightingale is available separately for the BBC and other p ^
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MINI OFFICE is the most incredibly priced introduction to
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BBC 'B' cassette

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a Winchester Network

give you

GSCL has now installed over 100
networks in educational
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Networks designed to help people
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But there's a lot more to ccmiputers in
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Which is why our back-up service is so
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For example, our tape streamer Winchester andiopr tape
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And. since we re aware that one of your biggest
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Additionally we plan to give you access to ™

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Which, like all GSCL’s services, will be available at the most cost-
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And, always, when we install a Winchester and network for you. we advise you
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Such as linking the Physics lab, Chemistry lab and Engineering lab directly to
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:

HARDWARE

= WHEN

SPEED IS

OF THE =
ESSENCE

Speedy Paul Beverley sets
the pace for your micro

C OMPARED with many other
micros, the BBC is a very fast
machine, as demonstrated by the
summary of the PCW Basic benchmark
tests (table 1). Even the Sinclair QL,
with its 32-bit processor can beat the
Beeb only on benchmark 8 - the trigo-
nometrical calculations test. On aver-
age, over all the tests, the BBC is 60 per
cent faster than the QL.

Nevertheless, if you’ve got to do a job
in which speed is of the essence, and
you already have a BBC micro, (or an
Electron, for that matter), the important
thing is to see if there are ways of
making it work even faster. So in this
article, I’ll look at a selection of
methods of speeding things up, mainly
by improving programming tech-
niques, but also discussing one or two
hardware techniques.

For Electron owners, the program-
ming techniques will be equally appli-
cable, since Electron Basic bears a
remarkable resemblance to Basic II on
the BBC. On the hardware side, though,
the remarks will be specifically for
Beeb owners.

Gary Smallridge’s article in the June
issue gave a number of ways of
increasing speed when working in
Basic. In case you missed it, there’s a
summary of the points made, sup-
ported by various timings (tables 2 to
4), plus a few extra notes added in the
light of further experience. All timings
were done using an external digital
timer, with interrupts on the micro
having been disabled. This increases
the speed slightly, but is done because

it makes the time values obtained con-
stant, ie, they’re not affected by the fre-
quency with which interrupts occur
during the timing period.

Points to note

1. If the loop tests in table 2 are run
using the number 1000 rather than the
variable A%, which had previously
been set to 1000, then in the case of the
FOR . . . NEXT loop it hardly makes any
difference to the timings. This is
because the line containing the FOR
statement is only interpreted once. The
other two loop structures, however, are
slowed down to 2.03 and 2.38 seconds
respectively. This is because the line

containing the exit condition with either
the ‘A%’ or the '1000' is interpreted
every time the loop is executed, which,
of course, is what makes these two
structures slower than the FOR . . .
NEXT loop.

2. Another interesting point about the
looping structures is that although, in
the IF statement, you can use either
THEN or GOTO, it’s in fact quicker to
use THEN. Changing THEN into GOTO
in the test example increases the
timing by two per cent to 1 .96 seconds.

3. It was pointed out by Robert Tidey in
a letter in the August issue that
although Gary’s timings appeared to
show that it’s quicker to use GOSUBs

• FOR . . . NEXT is the fastest loop
mechanism, REPEAT . . . UNTIL is
next fastest, and IF . . . THEN GOTO
the siowest (table 2). (See Points to
note 1.)

• Always use integer variables
(A%, B%, etc) wherever possible
rather than floating point variables
(table3b/c, d/e, f/g).

• The resident integer variables
(@% to Z%) are faster than other
single letter integer variables
(table 3b).

• Use short variable names, all
starting with different initial letters
if possible (table 3 b,c).

• Multi-statement lines speed up
interpretation of a program, though
they reduce readability (table 1 a/b).

Summary of points from June issue

• In calculations, take out any
common factors, ie, A/B + C/B
takes longer to work out than
(A + B)/C.

• Use multiplication rather than
division, eg A * 0.01 is quicker than
A/100, (table 3d, e,f,g).

• In anything other than the shor-
test of programs, procedures are
faster than GOSUBs. (See Point 3.)

• Blank lines and REM statements
aid readability, but slow down the
interpretation (table 3 a).

• Always use variables (integer if
possible) for any constants that are
used repeatedly, since it’s quicker
for Basic to look up the value of a
variable than to re-interpret the
value (table 3 d,e,f,g).

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

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Jj HARDWARE

Computer

Processor

BM1

BM2

BM3

BM4

BM5

BM6

BM7

BM8

Average

BBC

(6502)

0.6

2.7

7.8

8.3

8.8

13.2

20.7

4.99

8.4

Electron

(6502)

0.9

3.7

10.7

11.4

11.9

18.2

28.1

7.1

11.5

QL

(68008)

1.9

5.5

9.4

9.2

11.8

24.1

43.0

2.1

13.4

380Z

(Z80)

1.4

6.5

13.2

13.9

15.0

22.3

31.6

6.2

13.8

MZ80 B

(Z80)

0.6

5.0

12.0

19.0

20.0

27.5

38.0

5.0

15.9

VIC-20

(6502)

1.4

8.3

15.5

17.1

18.3

27.2

42.7

9.9

17.5

Atom (INT)

(6502)

0.8

5.5

10.0

11.5

14.5

20.0

(F.P.)

30.5

27.0

30.0

26.0

17.7

Apple II

(6502)

1.3

8.5

16.0

17.8

19.1

28.6

44.8

10.7

18.4

PET

(6502)

1.7

9.9

18.4

20.4

21.0

32.5

50.9

12.3

20.9

ZX81

(Z80)

4.5

6.9

16.4

15.8

18.6

49.7

68.5

22.9

25.4

Atari

(6502)

2.3

7.4

19.9

23.2

26.8

40.7

61.5

43.1

28.1

Spectrum

(Z80)

4.8

8.7

21.1

20.4

24.0

55.3

80.3

25.3

30.0

Table 1. Results of the PCW Basic benchmarks tests

than PROCedures, it’s true only for
short programs. As the program gets
longer, the PROCedures take exactly
the same length of time, whereas the
subroutines get slower and slower.
Those of you with long memories may
recall that this was pointed out in one of
the very first issues of Acorn User , back
in December 1982, in an article entitled
‘Probing procedures’, since reprinted
in Programming tips for the BBC
micro’ published by Addison-Wesley.

Clearing the screen

It’s worth noticing the considerable dif-
ference in time taken to clear the
screen using CLG instead of CLS or
MODE (table 4). This is because CLS
simply wipes the memory locations in
numerical order, whereas CLG uses
the fill routines to fill the screen with the
background colour.

Stop interrupting!

If you’re doing some calculations and
want to save yourself a few valuable
milliseconds or microseconds, then it's
possible to disable the interrupts which
occur regularly and which the BBC
micro uses to do various housework
jobs, like up-dating the ADVAL values
or the value of TIME. The ADC inter-
rupts can easily be disabled with no ill
effects by using *FX16,0 and this will
speed things up by 1.2 per cent. To dis-
able the other interrupts as well saves
even more time, but is a bit riskier.

All of the regular interrupts are
routed through the system VIA -the
6522 versatile interface adaptor which
is memory-mapped at &FE40 to &FE4F.
To disable these interrupts, all you
need do is to write to the interrupt
enable register at &FE4E. Thus to
switch all the interrupts off, you could
use:

7&FE4E = 127

but to make it look a little less illegal (!)
you could use:

10 ONERROR GOTO 160
20 *KEY0RUN M
30 P*/.=&FE61
40 A=10
50 A7.= 100
60 B=10
70 B7-=10
80 C=0.1

90 *FX 151 , 78 , 127
100 ?P7.=0:?P7.= 1
110 REM LINE UNDER TEST
120 ?P7.=0:?P7.= 1

130 *FX151 ,78,255
140 END
150 I

160 REM ERROR ROUTINE
170 *FX151 ,78,255
180 REPORT

190 PRINT " AT LINE M ; ERL

Program 1. Test program used to do all the
time measurements with the interrupts dis-
abled - the two extra spaces in line 120 are
used to add a small delay so that, when
there is no test line, the time registered
on the external timer is exactly 1.00 milli-
seconds. This can then simply be subtracted
from the value registered when the line or
lines under test are inserted

a) FORN*/.= lTOA7.

M7.=N7.

NEXT 0.61 s

b) FORNX=lTOA7.sM7.=NX:NEXT 0.57 s

c) N7.= l
REPEAT
MX=N7.

N7.=N7.-H

UNTIL NX=A7. 1.73 s

d) 10 N7.= l
20 M7.=N7.

30 N7.=N7.+ 1

40 IFNX<A7.THEN20 1 . 92 s

Table 2. Timings of looping structures
(A% = 1000)

‘FX 151,78,127

and then to switch them all back on
again, you can use:

7&FE4E = 255 (or *FX 151 ,78,255).

This also disables the ADC inputs, so
there’s no need to use *FX 16,0 as well.
If you do this you’ll find that all your rou-
tines will run another 3.3 per cent
faster, making a total saving of 4.5 per
cent.

A word of warning. Your program
mi/s/include effective error-trapping in
order to switch the interrupts on again
in the event of an error (program 1). If
the interrupts are switched off, it means
that the keyboard is disabled, so you
can’t type in anything after an error has
occurred. The natural reaction then, is
to press the break key to regain control
of the machine. Unfortunately if you do
this your program will disappear as if
by magic! This is because one of the
first things the operating system does
when the break key is pressed is to
check the interrupt enable register of
the internal VIA. If it contains zero (ie,
no interrupts are enabled), it assumes
that this must have been a power-up
reset, and the first thing it does there-
fore is to wipe the contents of the
memory from &400 to &7FFF- which
includes the whole of your program!

Even with error-trapping, you could
still lose your program. If there’s a logi-
cal error in it so that it gets into a loop
while the interrupts are disabled,
there’s no way out. Escape is disabled,
and break causes a memory wipe! The
answer, therefore, is to debug the pro-
gram thoroughly first and then add the
line which disables the interrupts.

Hardware techniques

On the hardware side, the first thing to
note is that if your program needs any
form of timing, then hardware timers
are available in the two VIAs. This
means that instead of using a software
loop so that the processor is idling
during the time period, the VIA timer

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

HARDWARE J

can be started and can produce an
interrupt when the tinning is finished,
allowing processing to continue during
the timing period. The only disadvan-
tage of this is that it means using
machine code programming and
having an understanding of the work-
ings of the VIA.

The other possibility, which is
simpler but only enables you to time in
centiseconds, is to use the elapsed
time clock provided by the operating
system, using one of the hardware
timers on the internal VIA. This is
accessible through OSWORD calls 3
and 4 as explained on page 460 of the
User Guide. However, you can’t use
this method of timing if you are also
speeding up by disabling interrupts,
since the elapsed time clock is inter-
rupt driven.

High-speed interfacing

If you’re involved in interfacing and
want to work that extra bit faster and
you’re using the 1MHz bus, it’s worth
knowing that there are links on the PCB
which can be used to speed up this
interface to 2MHz. Unfortunately there
is a PCB error, which has been perpe-
tuated right up to issue seven boards,
which means that you have to break a
track going to one of the ICs rather than
the actual piece of track which makes
the link (S16). Details of exactly how to
do this are given in Electronics and
Computing Monthly, December 1983.

It’s also possible, even though there
are no actual PCB links, to double the
speed of the user port and printer port.
This requires the replacement of the
external 6522 VIA with a 6522A (the
2MHz part), and also involves the
breaking of one track plus the addition
of a solder bridge (see above article).

The other effect of using the 6522A is
to double the speed of the VIA timers,
which improves their resolution when
used to set delay times or to measure
elapsed times. If you think you’re good
at Acornsoft’s Snapper program, try
playing it on a BBC micro fitted with this
modification.

Another piece of hardware infor-
mation that’s worth knowing from the
speed point of view is that it’s possible

a)

REM

0.06

REM THIS IS A COMMENT

0. 14

b)

M7.= 1 0

0.51

m7.= 10

0.B4

number7.= 10

1.09

c)

M= 1 0

1.04

m= 1 0

1.03

number=10

1.27

d)

M7.= 100+10

0.92

M7.= 100*10

1.12

M7.= 100/10

2.74

e)

M=100+ 10

1 . 38

M=100*10

1.65

M=100/10

2.81

f )

M7.=A7.

0. 43

M7.=AX+B7.

0.64

M7.=A7.*B7.

0.85

M7.=A7./B7.

2.47

M7.=A7.MODB7.

1.38

M7.=A7.DIVB7.

1.39

g>

M=A

0.88

M=A+B

1.39

M=A*B

2.26

M=A/B

2.45

Table 3. Results of timing tests given in milli-
seconds of the interpretation by Basic of
various program lines (Interrupts disabled)
(A% = A = 100, B% = B = 10)

to get spurious pulses on the keyboard
interrupt line. This occurs mainly when
the keyboard links, which are read on
the keyboard matrix lines, are being
used. What happens is that when a
spurious pulse appears, it causes an
interrupt. The operating system then
checks the keyboard to see which key
has been pressed and returns when it
discovers that none actually is.

To the user there is no visible effect,

N

MODE N

CLS

CLG

0

53.6

51.1

538.8

1

54.2

51.1

527.9

2

54.9

51.1

522.7

3

44.0

41.2

(0.2)

4

29.0

26.3

319.5

5

29.3

26.3

308.4

6

24.2

21.3

(0.2)

7

6.2

3.9

(0.2)

Table 4. Timings in milliseconds for clear-
ing the screen in different ways in various
modes. Those in brackets are not signifi-
cant since they refer to text-only modes

but the time spent servicing the phan-
tom interrupt is wasted time which will
reduce the overall speed of the pro-
cessor.

To test whether this is a problem
on your machine, run the following
program:

10TIME = 0

20FORN% = 1T0500000

30NEXT

40T% = TIME

50PRINTT%/100

Be careful to type it in without adding
spaces in lines 20, 30 or 40. You should
get an answer of 88.06 if you are using
Basic 1 and 88.11 for Basic 2. On a
model A or a model B with ADC inter-
rupts disabled the times should be
86.98 or 87.03 respectively.

If the timing is somewhat longer than
expected, then the problem may be the
phantom keyboard interrupts men-
tioned above.

The solutions suggested by Acorn
are first to replace the eight 10k pull-up
resistors on the keyboard PCB with 2k2
resistors, (later models will already
have 2k2 resistors fitted), and second,
to solder a 560 pF capacitor between
pins 7 and 8 of the 74LS30 integrated
circuit on the keyboard PCB.

This has the effect of smoothing out
any tiny spikes that might occur on the
line that goes to the VIA to generate the
keyboard interrupts.

Going faster still

If you want to work even faster than the
suggestions in this article allow, you
need to learn a bit about machine code
programming. The good thing about
the BBC micro and the Electron is the
ease with which you can combine
machine code and Basic. You decide
which parts of your program are taking
up the most time and write a machine
code routine or routines to do just that
critical part of the program. These rou-
tines should not be too complex and
can then be called from within the Basic
program. This kind of hybrid’ program-
ming really does make the Beeb a good
machine to use when speed is of the
essence!

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

HELP!

Lord of

Tarzan

A muH>' sC |

iungte »n

ferocious
order to 5

sloppy st

climax

'wtemen,.

73&2S".-

E»*c?e

'?*•>« that’, a

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□ Son of Blagger d Roboman

Please indicate programs required and whether tape T or disk D

or «nnocen» C ff ' ta, ' sf

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I enclose a cheque/PO* fort

Alligata Software Ltd
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Tel: (0742) 755796

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Despatch is normally made on receipt of order and should reach you within 7 days

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■

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1 1

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m

v i M

ADDISONWESLEY

SOFTWARE

UNIQUE CREATIVE
GRAPHICS AND
DYNAMIC IMAGERY

THE ART OF MICROCOMPUTER
GRAPHICS

for the BBC Micro/Electron
by Jim McGregor and Alan Watt

Microcomputer graphics comes of
age with the publication of this book.
More than just a miscellaneous
collection of listings and tricks, it
provides a comprehensive guide to
the theory and practice of
microcomputer graphics. If that
sounds daunting, don’t worry - it isn’t!
The book is presented in the
clear, readable style
which has become the
hallmark of the author's
highly successful books
for micro users.

Among the many areas
covered are:

■ two-dimensional graphics: _

linear and non linear transformations,
network and frieze pattern generation.

■ three-dimensional graphics: model
representation and input, three-
dimensional transformations, hidden
surface removal, stereo views, decorative
effects

■ tesselation art: interactive tile design
techniques

■ interactive techniques: using raster-ops in
CAD and painting software

■ natural patterns: recursion and fractals

Structured programming techniques are
used throughout to ensure efficiency and
clarity. With this book as your guide, you will
soon turn the screen of your BBC Micro or
Electron into a window onto the colourful,
exciting and endlessly fascinating world of the
Art of Microcomputer Graphics.

The book is heavily illustrated with
hundreds of screen shots, plotter output and
line drawings; there are also 16 pages in full
colour.

256pp/illus/0 201 145677/soft/

£ 14-95

Please order from your local bookseller. In case of difficulty order direct from Addison Wesley. The prices
are valid for the UK and Eire only and include VAT. P&P . for orders under £60 at retail value please add £1.50
per single item & 50p for each additional item. Orders over £60 are handled free of charge.

Please send me

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Tel: (0734) 794000

| ATOM

DIY ROMEz
= =PAGER

Construct a useful addition to
your Atom with Alan Knowles

The finished ROM pager board

T HE first big task I attempted on my
Atom was a machine code monitor
program and disassembler, which
I blew into EPROM and installed in the
utility ROM socket (C24) at address
«A000-*-AFFF. I soon realised that I
needed other utility ROMs as well, to
enhance the Atom’s facilities and allow
wordprocessing and so on. As they all
required to be located in socket C24, I
obviously needed to be able to switch
(preferably by program) between
several ROMs sharing the same
addresses.

A ROM pager was therefore
designed within the following con-
straints:

• It should be accommodated within
the Atom case.

• It should involve an absolute mini-
mum of wiring on the Atom PCB.

• One of eight EPROMs should be
selectable by program and, if desired,
a specific one should automatically be
selected on power-up or on using the
Break key.

The first two were easily dealt with.
When my prototype had been tested, a
small printed circuit board containing
eight 24-pin sockets for the EPROMs
and 24 pins to plug into C24 socket was
designed with all the address lines
from - and all the data lines to - socket
C24 being connected to all eight
EPROM sockets.

The third constraint was more diffi-
cult. The chip-enable signal on pin 20 of
IC24 needed routeing to only one selec-
ted EPROM, the remaining ones being
left disabled. The circuit diagram in
figure 1 shows how this is achieved.
The number of the currently selected
EPROM is stored in the 74LS174 latches
and decoded by the 74LS138, which
selects only one of the eight EPROMs
when the chip-enable signal on pin 20
of IC24 socket is activated. The latch
flip-flops are all reset by NRST (from
near R41 on the Atom PCB-figure 2),
which is generated on power-up and
when the Break key is operated. The

decoder then routes the chip-enable
signal to EPROM number 0.

The mechanism for entering the
number of the selected EPROM into the
74LS174 latches may be of interest.
Minimal external connections was one
of the initial constraints and thus use
had to be made of signals already
going to IC24 as far as possible. How
could the latch be addressed? The
answer, of course, is simple. No pro-
gram should ever need to write to a part
of the address space occupied by read-
only memory. So the act of writing to
addresses in the range * *A000-^AFFF
could be used to load the latches.

The chip-enable signal on pin 20 of
IC24, together with the write signal
NWDS (brought in by a wire from near
to PL4-figure 2), provide a suitable
strobe signal when combined by the
74LS02 gate. The obvious source of in-
formation for the latches is the data bus
onto which the EPROM's place their
data when enabled.

Herein lies a problem. If an EPROM
is driving the data bus and the 6502

CPU chip is trying to write data via the
data bus to the ROM, which will win?
The data bus levels will be ill-defined at
this time and will be unsuitable for
loading into the latches. Thus the least

page 129>

o o o o o
o o o o o

O PL4

JJ

Figure 2. Location of flying leads on the PBC

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

v'llCROVITECH 4

COLOUR DISPLAYS

MICROVITFC PLC, Futures Way, Bolling Road,
BRADFORD, BD4 7TU. West Yorkshire.
Tel: (0274) 390011 Telex 517717

A vailable from High Street Computer Retailers and branches of W. H. Smith, Harrods, John Lewis Partnership, John Menzies with selected models available from larger branches of Boob

1 f&i

■'

r

-

□ □ □ □

■atom forum

A hidden line routine, joystick
conversion, dumping garbage and
BBC Basic compatibility are Barry
Pickles’ Atomic topics this month

THIS hidden line routine (listing 1) from
E Paijmans of Amersfoort, Holland,
works with two arrays. In these arrays
the highest and lowest Y co-ordinate at
certain X co-ordinate is stored.

The program works in graphics
mode 4. It changes the plot routine
vector so when you want to plot a point
every point is examined first, and when
it lies between the minimum and maxi-
mum value it isn’t plotted. The program
may be used in combination with the 3D
program on page 83 of the Atom
manual. To make it work properly
change lines 70 and 200 as follows:

70Z = 0; GOSUB 9000

200 FOR U = 20 to -20 STEP-1

Mr Paijmans’ routine earns him £10

MICHAEL LACEY of Retford has just
bought a BBC Basic board to fit his fully
expanded Atom and asks the following
questions.

1. Can I run BBC software or hard-
ware (16k or 32k) on it?

2. Are there any books to help me
convert them?

3. Are there any games that run on
both?

4. Will a colour board work?

. . . To answer the points as they are
raised:

1. No, you can’t run BBC tapes with
this board, as the cassette operating
system format is quite different. You
can run BBC software listings provided
they are all in Basic, you do not use the
hardware features of the Beeb, and you
have enough memory.

2. We ran a short series on convert-
ing BBC Basic to the Atom earlier this
year (see page 125 of last month’s
issue and earlier back numbers).

9000

P.$2 1

;DIM

LL2

9010

FOR I

=0 T01 ; P=#3900

9020 [

9 0 3 0 \ * *** * ****** ************* *

904 0\**

**

9050\** HIDDEN

LINE ROUTINE **

9060\** FOR X,

Y,Z SURFACE **

9070\**

**

9 0 8 0 Y ** ********* * * *********** *

9090\

9100:

LL0

LDX

#5A

X-COORD.

9110

LDA

#5C

Y-COORD.

9120

CMP

#3A00, X

MAX-ARRAY

9130

BCC

LL1

9140

STA

#3 A00, X

UPDATE MAX

9150

JSR

# F7AA

M0DE4 PLOT

9160

LDX

#5A

X-COORD .

9170

LDA

#5C

Y-COORD .

9180:

LL1

CMP

#3B 00, X

MI N- ARRAY

9190

BCC

LL2

9200

RTS

9210:

LL2

STA

#3B 00, X

UPDATE MIN

9220

9230]

JMP

H F7AA

M0DE4 PLOT

9240

NEXT;

; P.$ 6; O=#C0C0C0C0

9250

FOR I

!=0 TO 255 STEP 4

9260

I I#3B00=D; I!#3A00:0; NEXT

92 70

!#3FE=#3900; ?#B 000:#F0;R .

Listing 1. Hidden line routine from E Paijmans of Holland

3. No, because of the COS.

4. Strictly speaking, the colour board
would not work, since neither GCOL or
COLOUR are supported. However, you
can actually use it by poking the appro-
priate values into port B of the 8255
(see the Atom manual).

IS there any software or hardware to
convert my Atom games (Acornsoft,
A&F, Program Power, etc) to run with a
joystick? asks Philip Arkley of Accr-
ington. He wants to know so that he can
decide whether it is worth buying a
joystick and interface.

I don’t know of any commercial
company making a joystick interface
for the Atom, but it really is very easy to
do, using the VIA and user port B.
Essentially, switched (Atari-type) joy-
sticks contain five switches, one for

each compass direction and one for the
fire button. The Atom technical manual
shows you how to sense the state of
switches attached to the user port, and
reading each switch is a matter of
masking the appropriate bit(s) at
#B800.

The software is another matter. If the
keys are read by a Basic routine, there
is no problem - just replace the routine
with yours. However, most commercial
software uses machine-code to read
the keyboard and here you must first
find the routine (by using a disas-
sembler) and replace it with a JSR to
your own machine-code. This assumes
also that there is sufficient space left in
memory to accommodate your own
routine. As you can imagine, all this

page 129 ►

Invented a routine or discovered a
hardware modification for the Atom?
Here’s a chance to show your orig-
inality and win some cash. Send your
idea to: Atom Forum, Acorn User, Red-
wood Publishing, 68 Long Acre,
London WC2 9JH.

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

HIGH RESOLUTION

THAT COMES

HKHUr RECOMMENDED

“There is no doubt that the JVC range of ECM
colour monitors is excellent value for money . . .
there is no loss in quality of picture after long
periods . . . and remember, as more and more
resolution is available with new micros, the need
for a better display will be that much greater.”

I ligh recommendation indeed from Personal
Computer News. Meanwhile Acorn User said:

“It seems that all ‘normal’ and ‘medium’
resolution monitors, including the Sanyo, are
simply inadequate to deal with the Beeb’s graphics
and text output . . . The JVC was excellent, giving
clear, legible results . . . Was the JVC better than die
Microvitec?* Would I buy one? Yes to both
questions.”

Our KGB high resolution Colour monitor ( 580 X
470 pixels) sells for £249.95 (including VAT) - that’s a
saving of over £100 compared with other leading monitors
of similar specifications.

The unit has a 14" screen and is suitable for the
BBC Micro, Electron, Sinclair Ql., Lynx, Oric, Apple, IBM
and most other leading micros.

STOP PRESS:

PRICE INCLUDES VAT, LEADS AND CARRIAGE.
THIS IS THE LOWEST PRICE ON THE MARKET,
FOR IT’S PERFORMANCE.

And naturally there's a year's full guarantee.

If you order your monitor by post, you'll receive it
within ten days by courier service.

Simply post the coupon below to: Opus Supplies Ltd
158 Camberwell Road, London SE5 OEE. Or telephone
01-701 8668 quoting your credit card number. Or, of course,
you can buy at our showroom between 9.00- 5.30pm,
Monday- Friday, 9.00- 1.00pm, Saturday.

* Microvitec Cuh 14" moniu*

To: Opus Supplies Ltd.. IS8 Camberwell Road, London SE5 OEK.
Please send me:

High Resolution Colour Monitor(s) at

£249.95 (inc. VAT)

Medium Resolution Colour Moniu >r(s) at

£221.95 (ine. VAT)

I enclose a cheque for £

account with the amount of £• -
(please tick) no. is

( )r please debit my credit card
My Access Barclaycard

Please state the name of yourcomputef-

Name .

Address .

Postcode .

Telephone-

L

opus Supplies l.ul

AC35

■ atom

◄ page 125

significant three bits on the address
bus are used instead. Writing any data
to address #A000 selects EPROM 0;
#A001 selects EPROM 1, etc. This may
be done in Basic (?#A001=0) or in
machine code (STA #A001). It doesn’t
matter what is in the A register as the
data is ignored.

My original design was constructed
using veroboard and this operated re-
liably for some time, but it was fiddly to
make and in due course a PCB was pro-
duced which meant that construction is
now only a matter of soldering in the
sockets (the 74LS174, 138 and 02 chips
may be socketed or soldered in place).
The only difficulty encountered was the
procurement of suitable pins to plug
into IC24 socket.

Care must be taken not to use pins of
too large a diameter as these will strain
the IC24 socket, making it useless for
its original purpose. Wirewrap pins are
therefore unsuitable. The best solution
seems to be to purchase a 24-pin

ROM 4

ROM 5

ROM 6

ROM 7

ROM 1

ROM 3

c [LS138]^ = L 1 -r C2
^oT| t’fTsml To \C

NRST

NWDS

Dotted line under ROM 3 shows location of pins
into IC24 socket

Cl, C2 disc ceramic capacitors 1 0nF to 1 0OnF
C3 electrolytic lOpF or more

Figure 3. PCB layout

turned pin socket. This socket should
be cut into two narrow 12-pin strips into
which short lengths of bare wire should
be soldered. These wires are now used
to solder the strips onto the underside
of the PCB before the eight 24-pin

sockets are mounted. Take care not to
short together printed tracks passing
between pins.

Flying leads carrying NWDS and
NRST between the Atom PCB and the
pager board can either be soldered into
place or pins and clips used to permit
easier removal of the pager board.

The extra 1C position that may be
seen on the board is for a 74LS123
monostable and associated com-
ponents, which I use to generate an IRQ
interrupt request whenever NRST is
activated. This is used to initialise my
monitor ROM which, being in position
0, is automatically selected.

To assist in the construction of the
ROM pager, the author is supplying
the bare glass-fibre printed circuit
board (two-layer, drilled plated-
through-hole). Orders should be
sent direct to: A E Knowles, 15 Bel-
grave Avenue, Flixton, Manchester
M31 2SR, enclosing a cheque for
£4.50, which covers P&P.

◄ page 127

requires a fair degree of familiarity with
machine-code.

I have converted a number of com-
mercial programs, but some of them do
not leave enough memory free for suc-
cesful conversion. In the end, the value
of doing this depends on the user but, if
there’s sufficient interest I’ll write an
article giving some methods of conver-
sion.

Dumping

garbage

'WITH reference to your dump routine,
listing 1, page 127, September issue, I
looked forward to a very useful screen

dump routine for my Centronics printer
739-2L,’ writes P Ringwald of London
NW9. ‘All I got printed out after typing
RUN is as detailed below (figure 1).

‘Are there special conditions where
it might work? The printer and Atom
work perfectly in conjunction with
Word pack.'

Oh dear! This was one of those rare
occasions where the listing was not
produced from a running program. Line
1020 should read:

1020 F.N = 0TO #1740 S.192

My apologies to Mr Ringwald and
other 739 users.

LISTING 1

PRINTOUT

Figure 1. Garbage out’ from a Centronics 739, submitted by P Ringwald

ATOM COMPETITION

HERE’s a great chance for all you Atom users to show off
your talents - and win some nice prizes into the bargain.
This competition is for the Atom only, so, for once, you
won’t be overshadowed by the Beeb!

The competition is quite simple and should give a
chance to users at every level of competence. All we want
you to do is to write a graphics demonstration. It can be
anything you like - a still picture, an animated sequence or
just a sequence of pretty patterns. The only requirement is
that moving displays should last for at least 10 seconds.
Your program should run on a ‘standard’ Atom, which for
the purposes of this competition is defined as no more than
5 + 6k RAM, with no 'toolbox’ or other extension ROMs and
no additional hardware. The FPROM and the VIA are
allowed, however.

Entries should be sent on cassette, preferably
accompanied by a listing (tapes cannot be returned, how-
ever). The competition will be judged on both artistic merit
and programming skill and the editor’s decision is final.

There will be three winners, who may each take their
pick of one of the following prizes:

• The Bearsoft Editor (WP) ROM

• SuperBasic ROM

• Millipede & Night Driver games tapes

Closing date for entries is Friday, January 4, 1985 and
these should be sent to Atom Competition, Acorn User,
Redwood Publishing, 68 Long Acre, London WC2E 9JH.

All the prizes in this competition have been kindly
donated by Bear Hardware of Harmondsworth.

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

1

SIX OF ONE

OR HALF A DOZEN OF
THE OTHERS?

SCRIBE

THE PROFESSIONAL'

WORD PROCESSOR
designed for the
serious user ■ All ^

operations fully prompted^

■ No special knowledge of the computer
system necessary ■ Document size NOT
limited by computer memory ■ Automatic
disc buffering ensures text is moved
between disc and computer memory
without user intervention ■ Upto255 pages
in a single document ■ 80 column display

■ on screen underline and right justify

■ See it as it will be printed.

SCRIBE comes in a chip with
5 minute fitting instructions, J
utilities disc and manual.

DISC MACHINES ONLY.

£59.95 + 60p p&p

2

DATABASE

A superb information
management system
with an incredible
operating speed.

96 fields per record

■ One record 2 Kbmax

■ One field 900 characters max'

■ 4000 records per database *16 level
conditional search ■ Find any record in 2
secs ■ Wild card search ■ Record match ■

8 automatic sub indexes ■ Total flexibility
of outputvia report writer with auto write
back to any field ■ Maths pack ■ Semi
programming language.

Integrates with Scribe to give
conditional search with MAIL MERGE
and high powered report formatting.
Database is in a chip.

DISC MACHINES ONLY

£49.00 + 60p p&p.

Scribe & Database in one chip

£95.00 + 60pp&p.

3 TYPEWRITER
PRINTER

Based on the imperial 8008 this
beautiful daisywheel typewriter features
MERLIN'S own
parallel interface
tailored for your
BBC computer.

Included are ■ keyboard buffer ■ auto
repeat ■ electronic tab set and clear ■
decimal tab ■ 20 character auto correction
memory ■ auto underline compatible with
SCRIBE.

Comes with carrying case, instruction
manual and ribbon connection to your
BBC computer.

£299.00 + VAT

Next day Securicor delivery £5.00

Additionsto your
computer system depend
upon each other for best
performance. How often
have you asked ifthisorthat
program is compatible with
some piece of hardware?

MERLIN products for the
BBC computer are designed
to complement each other
and so get the best from your
system. Rest assured when
you buy MERLIN, each
addition is compatible with
the last and is made to be the
best available in its field.
Combined with one another
they are unsurpassed in
performance or value.

Purchasers of MERLIN
software are provided with a
free update service and an
unmatched level of technical
support.

Merlin

MERLIN COMPUTER PRODUCTS

Please supply the following products/
information (Delete as applicable).

QTY □

QTY □

QTY □

I enclose £ Inc P&P

My Credit Card No. is

Visa Q Access Q Tick which
Name

Address

To: MERLIN COMPUTER PRODUCTS

33/36 Singleton Street
■b Swansea SA1 3QN
FTj Teh (0792) 467980

4 DOUBLE-
DOS

Double density
disc interface
forthe BBC ^
computer.

A high capacity"
database or word
processor is enhanced even further with
this state of the art disc interface.

The many features include ■ almost
800 Kb of CONTINUOUS file space on a
standard 80 track disc drive ■
Automatically read standard Acorn files ■
Compensate for discs formatted in single
density ■ Provide up to 1 56 files IN ONE
DIRECTORY ■ Automatically read, write
and format double sided drivesto appear
as one disc surface ■ Allow maximum use
of MERLIN Scribe and Database.

Fitting to your computer is made
exceptionally safe and reliable by
providing connection via a flexible ribbon
cable. Full instructions provided.

£109.25 4* 90p p&p

5 DISC

I

DRIVES

All of our disc drives are double
density spec, and therefore if used in
conjunction with DOUBLE-DOS give twice
the standard Acorn disc capacity and
feature head load light. Single drives are
supplied in a double case to allow easy
addition of a second drive.

D100Singledrive5 1/4D/D

£135.00

D200 Dual drive 5 /I /4D/D

£267.00

D400 single drive 5 1 /4
double side D/D

£219.00

D800 Dual drive 5 1/4
double side D/D

For switchable 40/80. Add £26.00
ONE YEARS GUARANTEE
Next day Securicor delivery £5.00

£349.00

6

MERLIN

HYPERDRIVE

FOR RELEASE NOV 84

A 2 Megabite 5 1 /4 ins floppy disc
drive which will also automatically detect
and read standard 40 and 80 track discs.

Size the same as a standard half
height drive optional 400 Kb backup drive
also available.

Ideal to maintain a large database or
document file with high speed access.

Requires Merlin Double Dos.

£575.00

130

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

G:FORTH - follows the 79-standard specification

GzFORTH - has the full double-number extension set

GzFORTH - has extremely fast Turtle graphics

GzFORTH - includes an Editor and a 6 502- Assembler

GzFORTH - supports extensive string and file handling

GzFORTH - allows the use of all screen modes

GzFORTH - contains more than 540 predefined words

GzFORTH - can be used with either tape or 40/80 track disk systems

GzFORTH - is ideal for scientific and professional applicationsz

fast data acquisition and analysis
process and robot control
statistical analysis
advanced colour graphics

GzFORTH - provides words that can be used toz

- read joystick ports

- produce sounds

- set & read the time

- produce random numbers

GzFORTH - reduces program development time and inspires a structured
and creative way of solving problems

Price: £43.00 - please add £2 p & p

Dealer inquiries welcome

Also available from Technomatic!

1984 Grandex Data - Denmark
0sters0gade 34 - Copenhagen
DK 1357 K

pi™?

1984 and MILLIONAIRE

1984- A GAME OF
GOVERNMENT
MANAGEMENT

'Compulsive'

Software Today

'Clear, Concise, and Well
Presented'

Big K

'A very special game'

PCW

BBC

MODEL B
ft SPECTRUM

SELECTED ITEMS AVAILABLE FROM LARGER

BRANCHES OF

John Menzies

| RETAILERS 1984 and Millionaire are available now from: Microdealer,
Tiger, Centresoft, Express, R Et R, Terry Blood. Websters,
Twang, Microdeal and Leisuresoft.

I REGISTERED OFFICE 54 London Street. Reading RG1 4SQ
CREDIT CARD ORDERS Tel Reading (0734) 591678

MILLIONAIRE

WATCH YOUR PREMISES
GROW WITH SUCCESS!

'An absorbing program'

- CTW

'Pick of the Week'

'Very addictive... '

ELECTRON
BBC B

ft SPECTRUM

ORDER FORM 1984 Spectrum £5 50 BBC B £6 50 **

MILLIONAIRE Spectrum £5.50 Electron b BBC B £6 .50
Please rush me the titles as indicated above by 1st Class post. I enclose
cheque for £ or debit my credit card

No. I I I I I I I I I 1 1 I I I I I

Name

Address

Access

Visa

INCENTIVE SOFTWARE LTD. 54 London Street, Reading RG1 4SQ, England

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

131

ERIOUS SOFTWAR

FOR THE B.B.C. MICRO

From BEEBUGSOFT

SPELLCHEC

NOW IN ROM and
up to 500% faster.

SPELLCHECK provides an automatic spelling check for letters or
documents and is the ideal companion to WORDWISE or VIEW.
It is menu driven, easy to use and allows unknown words to be
added to the dictionary, ignored or re-spelt. A new corrected
copy of the text may then be saved to cfisc.

SPELLCHECK I (On Disc)

SPELLCHECK 1 is supplied on two discs with a starting
dictionary of 6,000 words. Separate versions are available for
WORDWISE and VIEW. (When ordering please specify).

SPELLCHECK II (On Rom)

SPELLCHECK II is a completely new machine code program
supplied in Rom. Operation speed is up to 5 times faster than
SPELLCHECK 1 and larger pieces of text may be held in memory.
The same version will also check both VIEW and WORDWISE.

A dictionary disc is still supplied including 6,000 words, but a
data compression technique is used to ensure that well in
excess of 17,000 words may be stored on a 100K disc.

Ingenious hashing and virtual file access routines have also
considerably speeded up the time taken to check text. This
sophisticated program is fully 6502 Second Processor
compatible and uses the extra memory to further improve word
retrieval time.

HELP ROM

What logical colour is red?"

Give your micro a mainframe utility
Most large mainframe computers have a comprehensive on
screen HELP facility to aid programming, save time and help
you out when you get stuck. BEEBUGSOFT’s new HELP Rom
will give your micro a similar facility.

Just plug it in, and eveiy time you get stuck for a VDU call, a
colour code, the parameters for a Basic command or whatever:
the HELP Rom will provide an instant answer.

Rather than wade through a book, simply type, for example,

* HLP VDU (or just *H VDU) to Find out all you need to know
about VDU commands - or if you know that it is VDU23 that
you want - type *H VDU23.

The HELP Rom uses an ingenious compression technique
enabling some 14,000 characters of text to be squashed into an
8K eprom, and provides help on a vast range of subjects,
including the following major areas:

BASIC KEYWORDS
MEMORY ALLOCATION
SCREEN MODES
SOUND
COLOUR
TELETEXT
VDU

COMMANDS
FX CALLS

>*HLP VDU

VDU

Svnds character to VDU qu»u»

For specific help use *HLP VDU n

0 No t h 1 r»g

1 Next char to printer only

2 Enable printer

3 Disable printer

4 Separate cursors

5 Join cursors

6 Enable VDU drivers

7 Bell

8 - Cursor left

9 Cursor right

10 Cursor down

11 Cursor up

12 Clear text screen

13 Cursor to start of line

14 Paged mode on

15 Paged mode off

HELP will not
affect the normal
‘HELP command

SPELLCHECK II £31
SPELLCHECK I £19

HELP ROM £25

Available from your local dealer and selected branches of W.H. SMITH’S

Prices include VAT

ACCESS & BARCLAYCARD ORDERS & ENQUIRIES:
TEL ST. ALBANS ( 0727 ) 60263

MAIL ORDER (POST FREE) TO: BEEBUGSOFT. Mailing Dept 13.P.0. Box 109, High Wycombe, Bucks

B.B.C. Micro

SLEUT1 ^

Looking for bugs in your Basic?

Let Sleuth track them down.

Here at long last is the ULTIMATE
DEBUGGING TOOL for the Basic
programmer!

Dual screen

memory workspace Accelerator

Instruction being
executed with
current statement
highlighted

Current procedure
name

Values of variables .
in current statement

Values of other
selected variables

Command entry

Program

screen

speed

Cl El ITU FR GS RP PrFn ^ * c status
3LEU I rl 1 o 1 3 lO HBT

7A CP

lOOO FOR X>i=OTOnumJC : V>. (Nvn 1 < X>. > IF

5i<mi ny. THENm i nJ**V5i ELSE IF V5i>max5c THEb
ax3c=V5*

Printer,

Breakpoint, Trace,
Single step, Status

Dual screen status

Major Features of
SLEUTH

Control Screen

TAB

l^J

SPACE

Tab toggles between
screens

Space bar single steps

SLEUTH allows you to single step
through your Basic program instruction
by instruction, watching your screen
display as it is built up. Simply press the
Space Bar to execute the next instruction
Alternatively you may watch SLEUTH’S
control screen as you step through your
program. (Press tab to toggle between
your own screen and the control screen.)
This will show you the next instruction L
be executed and allow you to list any part
of the program. Also displayed will be the
contents of all variables associated with
the current instruction and the values of
other specified variables.

At any time you may alter the values of

to

any variable or update memory. You can
even change the line number of the next
instruction to be executed or alter the
logic within a program statement. Then
simply press the Space Bar to watch the
next instruction execute.

Breakpoints may also be set up at any
position in your program, these allow you
to speed to the problem area and then see
exactly what’s happening. You may even
set conditional breakpoints, e.g. Stop IF
A%— 20.

Advanced trace and decelerator facilities
are also included. The decelerator allows
you to alter the speed at which your
program executes, actually as it is
running.

SLEUTH is ideal for the novice and expert
alike and will prove to be instantly
invaluable, saving hours of debugging
time. In addition, the single stepping
facility makes it a powerful teaching aid.

Price £29.00

TEL ST. ALBANS (0727) 60263

MAIL ORDER (POST FREE) TO: BEEBUGSOFT.
Mailing Dept 13,P.0. Box 109, High Wycombe Bucks.

• Single Stepping through Basic -

one statement at a time or a block
(e.g. procedure) at a time.

• Dual Screen Operation - flip
between your program screen and
SLEUTH r s control screen.

• Breakpoints - pause your program
at any preset line number, or on the
state or any variable.

• Accelerator - adjust the speed of
your program from full speed to
freeze frame.

• Full Feature Control Screen -

monitor and update vital aspects of
your program as it runs.

• Trace - a sophisticated line trace
facility operating when program
runs.

Control Screen Features

• Control screen entered at the press
of a key.

• Select edit or single-step mode.

• Adjust program run speed ( 1 -
100 %).

• View the current program line with
the current statement highlighted.

• List the whole or any part ofyour
program.

• Alter the next line number to be
executed.

• Read and adjust the value of
variables in the current statement.

• Read and adjust the values of any
other specified variables or array
parameters.

• Insert or remove breakpoints and
conditional breakpoints.

• Return to the program screen or
continue to single-step or to run at
any speed.

ERIOUS SOFTWAR

FOR THE B.B.C. MICRO AND ELECTRON

From BEEBUGSOFT

m

MUROM

The BBC Micro
sound facilities
have a lot of
potential, MUROM
will help you
exploit this to the
fuff.

Create your own
tunes and sound
sequences with
ease, either with
MUROM’S editor
and a musical
score or by using
the Beeb to simulate
a piano keyboard.

Edit your creations
with the full screen
music editor. Then
switch to the envelope editor to tailor the tonal quality and select
instrument type. Alternatively select one of the predefined
instrument envelopes.

Incorporate your music and sound sequences into any program
of your own, to play back with or without MUROM pluggi '
Playback is interrupt driven and may continue even while
run other programs.

Predefined instrument envelopes may be set up, e.g. 'FLUTE
'SYNTH etc.

Instant sound effects may be called from Basic, e.g. 'ZAP,

'SIREN, 'EXPLODE etc.

MUROM is accompanied by a full instruction manual and
repertoire of music data on cassette.

zed in.
ile you

COMMAND SUMMARY

’PLAY Calls the variable speed, interrupt driven playback
routine.

Mode 7 display of tune playing.

Alter temp

npo.

Use BBC keyboard as a piano keyboard.

•DISP
‘TEMPO
*KEYB

‘SCORE Call up full s
EDITOR SUB COMMANDS:

MODE Change from editing a single channel to editing all
channels consecutively.

Move editor to any note in score.

Enable single stepping of music,
of any chai

GO

PLAY

OCTV

ENVL

LOAD

SAVE

KEY

Change octave of any channel.

Change envelope of any channel.

Load previously created music.

Save edited score to disc or cassette.

Toggle note entry between note name and keyboard
position.

*ENVLP Sound envelope editor.

'FLUTE, *SYNTH . . . etc. ten predefined envelopes.
'EXPLODE, ‘ZAP . . . etc. ten predefined effects.

’TRANS Transpose up or down by a number of semitones.
•MONOC Disable colour output for monochrome screens.

EXMON IJ/

EXTENDED MACHINE
CODE MONITOR NOW WITH 1
DUAL SCREENS

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M

60 New Commands for debugging and
developing machine code

Our very popular machine code monitor has been enhanced
by the addition of a number of new facilities, including Dual
Screen Operation and full screen memory editor.

Now it you are debugging a game, or any other program wit
a visual display, you can single step through it instruction by
instruction ana actually watch the effect on the screen.

You can also revert to the monitor screen at the press of a
key to examine registers, edit code, read variables, alter
memory etc., and then switch back to your display screen and
continue running (or single stepping), without losing your
display.

J J * 60 machine code commands.

features
include

Full dual screen operation.

* Full screen memory editor, input in hex, Ascii or as
assembler instructions.

* Search for hex, or Ascii string, including wildcards.

* Move memory block.

* Verily that two blocks are the same.

* Relocate code to run at another location.

* Fill memory with series of hex bytes or Ascii string.

* Execute alf * commands.

* Single step with skip option.

* Up to 10 breakpoints which may even be set in Rom.

' Conditional breakpoints . . . e.g. Break if register X— 5.
' User definable work area.

Note: The Electron version does not feature dual screens.

MUROM £ 29.00 EXMON II £ 29.00

Available from your local dealer and selected branches of W.H. SMITH'S ft

C I| Prices include VAT

ACCESS & BARCLAYCARD ORDERS & ENQUIRIES:
TEL ST. ALBANS ( 0727 ) 60263

MAIL ORDER (POST FREE) TO: BEEBUGSOFT, Mailing Dept l?,P.O. Box 109, High Wycombe Bucks.

“YOU HAVE THE BEST SOFTWARE
AND YOU ARE FASTER.”

(V. Kressler, Switzerland.)

Software Supermarket is a very different kind of software shop First, we actually play all the programs ourselves - and choose just the best to offer you.
Second, we never advertise a program until we have it in stock. Third, we send FREE with your order our unique catalogue of BBC//Commodore/Spectrum
best - which quotes all the reviews, gives detailed program descriptions and even lists load times' And, most important of all, WE ALWAYS TRY TO SEND
OUT YOUR PROGRAMS ON THE SAME DAY WE GET YOUR ORDER. U K prices include VAT: export prices are the same (plus p&p) To order by
VISA/ACCESS call 01 789 8546 at any time, 24hrs a day. We're not the cheapest, but our customers tell us we're the fastest - and we only sell the best. Try us
once. We know you’ll be back for more.

32K BBC ‘B’ ONLY

ni?imffn|kT iflA The long-awaited sequel to

AEl 1 UiUl 1 U LULil SNOWBALL' and the fust
Level 9 adventure with giaphics. Over 250 locations, as much text and as many puzzles as
before - but 240 pictures as well' ’Snowball' still available, same prices NO STICKS (Level 9)
CASSETTE £9^95 DISK £11.95

CVCTUM 1 PAAA 'AN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL IDEA

glljl JEllVl 1DUUU ARTIFICIAL HACKING! Hacking has a
wonderful appeal. System 15000 closely mimics a vast number of different databases and you
have to hack your way around discovering passwords, as different and rewarding as any
adventure game "(PopCompWkly) NO STICKS (Craig) CASSETTE ONLY £12.95

P p WJ| ¥} A m ¥ VfWT ‘The 3D graphics are different to

V/UlVlDil 1 III ll A anything seen before on any micro, .hills,
valleys and helds move towards you m an astonishingly convmcmg way "(PCGames)
Impressive air-to-ground battle simulation as you pilot your Lynx helicopter Realtime combat;
4 skill levels, 30 re-definable command keys SAVE Hi-score KEYS OR STICK (Dwell)
CASSETTE ONLY £8.95

COMPLETE MACHINE CODE

“THE BEST MACHINE-CODE TUTOR ..no serious programmer should learn machme-code
without it. " (Crash!) " The lessons are comprehensive enough to help even the beginner, very
user-friendly "(Smclair User.) Different versions of the same program for Beeb/C64/Spectrum.
Over 70K of data loads in 4 parts from 2 cassettes Helpful manual. NO STICKS.

(New Generation) £14.95

SAVE ££££S ON ROMS!

Computer Concepts ROMS have been widely praised - we use them all the tune 1 And we sell
them cheaper than anyone else we know. HomeCompWkly said “Installation is easy, provided
you have a spare sideways ROM socket or an expansion board GRAPHICS ROM “Good
value for money will provide anyone interested in graphics with a whole new field of
possibilities." (Beebug) £27.50. (Saving £5 85) PRINTMASTER ROM “If you have an Epson
printer, there is no better choice ” (Beebug) £27.50 (Saving £5.85) DISK DOCTOR If you use
disks or wnte assembler programs, then you must have this chip.” (HomeCompWkly) £27.50
(Saving £5 85: WORDWISE Probably the most useful word processor on the market." (Your
Computer) £36 (Saving £10) PHONE FOR PRICES ON OTHER ROMS'

jpw TVpri "MAY BE SIMPLY THE BEST GAME WEVE EVER SEEN ON
EiLll 1 Hi THE BBC OR ANY OTHER MICRO... THE GRAPHICS ARE
SUPERB, THE ACTION FANTASTIC. " (PenCompNewt) “By far the most
impressive game Acomsoft have ever produced.. .may be the best game ever for
the BBC. " (PopCompWkly) ““The 3D effects are astounding.Jt’s the best game of
its type... Elite looks superb!" (Acorn User). Short novel sets the scene. Good training
manual, too Poster identifies friends or foes. Competition entry card. This space adventure
has everything. NO STICK (Acom»oft) CASSETTE £14.95 DISK £17.65

11 VJf A IW 1 n “Must be the most accurate and complete fhght simulation

V A n A ll for the BBC the graphics are superb " (Micro User) "This is

an exceptional piece of work, you 'll probably get more out of it than any other game you buy ”
(Big K) “A worthy contender for the best program ever for the Beeb " (GamesComp) STICK OR

KEYS (Acornsoft) CASSETTE £14.95 DISK £17.65

rip ll |f I "This is a classic one of the new wave of BBC games that are at last

17 1% aa Ja ■ hving up to the machine. " (Acorn User) "Combines total originality
with masterful programming sets new standards for games on the Beeb. any games player
should definitely purchase this masterpiece of programmmg " (Beebug) NO STICK

(Aardvark) CASSETTE ONLY £8.90

WHEEL OF FORTUNE BESTADVENTURE

THAT I HAVE SEEN FOR THE BBC IT REALLY IS SUPERB. "(Micronet 800) “ Technically .
this game surpasses any I have seen for the BBC " (HomeCompWkly) 250 locations, every one
with a half-screen picture Moving characters with varying moods NO STICK

(Epic) CASSETTE £9.95 DISK £11.95

K/ITMlTCll A UT "^ e screens 316 Q ulte ^ erem ho™ Mawc Miner

IV1 A All Em d n A r 1 the graphics are nicely done, but the sound

scores a distinct plus, looks certam to provide stiff competition. " (PCGames) 20 very
animated screens for you to collect coal from. Limited air supply Damned ingenious puzzles
Watch out for the disintegrating sludge 1 And can you jump while moving sideways 7 ESCAPE
moves you on to the next screen - what a good idea' STICK OR KEYS
(Durell) CASSETTE ONLY £6.95

NEW! 32-PAGE CATALOGUE

Latest edition has 32- pages of BBC/CBM64/SPECTRUM best One catalogue free with every
order or send £1 cash or cheque now (no credit cards) Your £1 back with your first order'

SOFTWARE SUPERMARKET VISA/ACCESS CALL 01-789 8546 (24hrs)

To: SOFTWARE SUPERMARKET (ACU5)

87 HOWARD'S LANE, LONDON SW15 6NU.

(If you do not want to cut this magazine, write your order out clearly on plain paper

I have a 32K BBC

I enclose a cheque/PO made payable to SOFTWARE SUPERMARKET
OR CHARGE MY VISA/ACCESS/EUROCARD/MASTERCARD

no.hh] nm rrm rrm

Signature .

Please write clearly. If we can't read it. you won't get it

Name

Address -

Postcode:

PHONE NO: , if any, in case of query

Program

CASS/DISK

Pnce

Postage & Packing

Europe A]
Outside Europe

UK add 75p per order
DD £1.00 per program
} ADD £ 1.50 program

Total Order

CLARES NQ1

munmYSOTmRE!

E S»jy°

BETA -BASE £25 DISC
8 GREAT FEATURES

WHAT IS A DATABASE?

It is a FILE which contains RECORDS.
Records consist of a number of FIELDS
containing the information— an analogy can
be drawn with a card index in which a box of
cards is the file. Each card is a record and
each line on the card is a field.

SPECIFICATION

1) Random Access— disc based, single or
dual drives

2) File Size— 99K (40 track), 199K (80 track)

—65,000 + records

3) Record Size— up to 2048 characters and
200 fields

4) Field Size— up to 254 characters with
complete line scanning

5) Access any record using Primary Key in
2 seconds

6) Holds— 1200 NAMES AND ADDRESS
records on lOOKdisk

7) Search— 500 records on 5 fields in
60 seconds

8) Sort— 500 records on 3 fields in
60 seconds

SYSTEM FEATURES

•CALCULATE— using any valid expression
and store results

• POWERFUL PRINTOUT OPTION —
Eliminates need for separate mailing
program, Parallel/Serial Printout allows
setting of printer control codes, line spacing,
tabulation, Headings etc, plus label printing
with horizontal and vertical tab control.

• REDEFINE— Titles, field widths, number
of fields, number of records etc.
•TRANSFER— Records from one file to
another.

•SEARCH LISTS— Allow creation of sub-
Databases within main Database.

nevJ*

• GLOBALENTRY enables repetitive data to
be typed in once and placed in as many
records as required. Can also be used with a
search list to provide a powerful global
edit/update facility that will save hours of
typing.

♦ SPOOLER enables you to create spooled
files that are compatible with Wordwise, View
and other word processors. You can
therefore present your data within a
document or in varying formats etc.

The spooler program will allow to format
your spooled file in the same way as the print
out option. You can therefore have headings,
columns, titles, numbers etc.

♦ INPUT is a routine included on the disc
which will allow you to write utilities for
accessing your data and tailored specifically
to your needs.

♦ TUBE compatible with the 6502 second
processor.

♦ Comprehensive manual and tutorial.

All timings and sizes are relative to ACORN
DFS. Compatible with ACORN DFS,
WATFORD 1 .3 and latest AMCOM DFS
SERIES B.

• ORIGINAL USERS send your disc plus £3
for up grade.

MICRO SUPPLIES

REPLICA II: £12.00. DISC

The original REPLICA set a very high
standard so the specification we set our
chief programmer included some impossible
features. In fact ACORN state that some of
the things that we have done are impossible,
it just took us longer that's all. REPLICA II
transfers most cassette based programs to
disk, even more than REPLICA. When you
buy disk drives you do not have to throw
away expensive cassette based programs.

REPLICA II transfers ‘LOCKED’ programs,
programs loading as files, programs that
load below &EOO, those with up to 6
sections and those up to &6E in length eg
adventure programs. No waiting for 6
minutes whilst adventure programs load.

REPLICA II is very easy to use. The user
enters a name, how many sections and
whether CHAINTRUN or*LOAD to load the
first section. Press play and let the program
do the rest, even a menu.

Think how much it will cost you to buy just 1
disk version of your favourite program—
REPLICA II which will hold up to 16
programs, limited only by the disk capacity.

FX 80 PRINTER DRIVER £12.00

PRINTER DRIVER FOR EPSON FX80
AND VIEW

Multi-page driver with print menu allowing
the setting of global (document wide) printer
functions at printer initialisation.

The print menu program contains a
sophisticated character generator which
allows the construction of 95 user defined
characters which are then accessible from
VIEW via a highlight option.

Supplied on disc with comprehensive user
manual.

DISC DEX: £15.00 DISC

•Catalogues all your discs quickly and
easily.

• Room to store four thousand titles.

• Quick search and load option.
•Compatible with single or dual drives.

• Extensive print options for catalogue
and disc labels.

• Update and delete options.

• Supplied with stick on labels to number
your discs and a supply of labels

for printing your own disc labels.

DISCDEX is the answer to a disc users
nightmare. How many times have you had to
wade through your discs looking for the file
that you know is there somewhere? Now
with DISCDEX those days are gone.
DISCDEX will catalogue all your discs and
store them in alphabetic order. In addition to
the very useful search and load facility
DISCDEX will also print out a full catalogue
in alphabetic or disc order. Even more useful
is the ability to print disc labels for sticking
on the disc or the jacket.

DISCDEX is only suitable for discs with 31
file names as in the standard ACORN
system. It is not suitable for double density
interfaces.

Send for detailed newsletter.

All prices inclusive of VAT & Carriage—

NO EXTRAS! Please state 40 ot 80 track disc

Dept. AU12
98 Middlewich Rd.,

Northwich, Cheshire CW9 7DA.

Tel 0606 48511

Open 9 — 5pm Monday — Friday

ONESHOT: £12.00 DISC

• Full feature trace utifity.

•Single step through BASIC program or
halt at user determined interval.

• Print line number prior to execution.

• Obey fixed instructions before executing
a line.

•Trace window allows screen to be seen
whilst tracing execution.

• “ Printer only” will force trace output to a
printer allowing full screen display.
•Ability to dynamically alter control
of ONESHOT.

•ONESHOT can be configured to run in
any area of memory.

ONESHOT is a 1.25kb machine code
program which gives the user several
powerful aids in debugging BASIC
programs. These include the ability to
SINGLE STEP through the BASIC code of
the target program, stopping the processing
at specified points and comprehensive trace
functions of the variables used by the target
program.

A very powerful option allows the user to
enter a command string into function key 0
and instruct ONESHOT to obey this
command BEFORE each line is executed
e.g. * KEY0 PRINT X%! M will print the value
of X% before executing each line. This is a
very simple example and it is possible to do
much more complex things including
printing the value of a variable only when it
changes or when it reaches a certain value
or falls within a certain range. This option
can also be used to dynamically alter
ONESHOT as it is working. The power of this
option is only limited by the users ingenuity.
In addition to ONESHOT the disc also
contains 3 very useful function key routines.
The first will search for any DEFPROC or
DEFFN and print the line numbers in which
they appear together with the name of the
procedure or function. The second will
search for a specific procedure or function
and print the line numbers containing it.

The third routine will print out every active
variable together with its present value.
ONESHOT is not compatible with double
density interfaces.

FUN HOUSE: £10.00 DISC

FUN HOUSE is a highly original suite of
educational programs suitable for ages 3 to
13. The program is designed to encourage
children to spell words which relate to
objects found around the home. Animation
and music are used to good effect and some
highly original ideas are incorporated.

Each room exercise is terminated with a
warning item e.g. the lounge finishes with
‘FIRE’ which goes on to engulf the whole
lounge. Tests with a newly hired 4 year old
resulted in us having to prise him away from
the keyboard after 2 hours. In that time he
had gone from never having used a keyboard
to finding the location of all the keys very
quickly and entering the correct answer.

He had thus started on the path to learning
spelling and familiarised himself with the
keyboard including the use of DELETE to
correct his mistakes. Can you afford not to
give your children the same start?

FUN HOUSE is not compatible with double
density interfaces.

All Disc Software now
available on 3” disc-
add £3 to printed prices

Viewdata communications system for the BBC micro.

The first system to unlock the full power of the BBC micro.

Nothing further required beyond the BBC micro and the new 600 series B.T. phone socket.

SCHOOLS

Log on to any other Viewdata system.

Become your own rnicro-PRESTEL\

Create your own Viewdata bases and telesoftware.

Let others access them over the phone.

FULL SYSTEM £325.00 4- VAT +
LOCAL £45. (X) 4- VAT 4- pp

PP

Hatfield Advisory Unit for Computer Based Eduealion have
negotiated a special schools deal' and are selling the Local mode
off-line system 4- the TERMINAL software 4- a book on
Educational uses of Viewdata 4- sample database disk, under the
extended schools licence for the same price: 145 (HI 4- VAT.
Enquiries to Hatfield AUCBE.

For further information and order form write to:
CommunlTEL Ltd.

189 Freston Road,

Concise Computer Consultants Ltd.

COMPUTERS

DISKDRIVES

MONITORS

B.B.C. B £375.00

B.B.C. B + DFS £465.00

ELECTRON £199.00

WITH FREE CASSETTE

PRINTERS

SPFPIAI

THIS MONTH ONLY
QUEN-DATA

DOT MATRIX PRINTERS
DMP-81 80 column £149.00

DP-100 (100 cps) £225.00

DAISY WHEEL PRINTERS
DWP 1120 (20 cps) £259.00

Fully QUME compatible
TRACTOR FEED £ 95.00

SHEET FEEDER £249.00

MODEMS

OEL TELEMOD 3
B.T. approved

SINGLE DRIVES

40TRKs/s £ 98.00

40 TRK d/s £158.00

40-80 TRK d/s £178.00

DUAL DRIVES

40 TRK s/s £188.00

40 TRK d/s £174.00

40-80 TRK d/s £358.00

80 TRK d/s £348.00

40-80 TRK + PSU £428.00

Built in Monitor Stand

FLOPPY DISKS

10 s/s s/d
10 s/s d/d
10 d/s d/d
10 d/s d/d 80TK

£ 9.99
£12.50
£14.00
£17.00

SOFTWARE

£148.00 Most items available 24 hrs

ALL PRICES INCLUDE VA.T.

12" GREEN ZENITH

£ 79.00

MICROVITEC

14" RGB norm res

£198.00

14" RGB med res

£331.00

14" RGB high res

£478.00

GRAPHICS

B.B.C. GRAF-PAD

£140.00

MARCONI RB2

£ 63.00

TRACKER BALL

Light Pen

£ 25.00

ACCESSORIES

CASSETTE

£ 25.00

ACORN Cassette

£ 35.00

QUICKSHOT 2

£ 15.00

AUTO FIRE JOYSTICK

Joystick adap.

£ 11.00

Cassette Lead

£ 1.72

A TO BE Upgrade Kit

£ 75.00

RING

01-681 6842

Carlton Road, South Croydon , Surrey CR2 0BP

138

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

IS PAPER WORK GETTING ON TOP OF YOU ?

CAN BE YOUR
STEPPING STONE

TO EFFECTIVE FINANCIAL AND
ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL

1 PAYROLL

2 PURCHASE/SALES LEDGER

3 STOCK CONTROL

4 NON VAT ACCOUNTS

5 CASH PLANNER

6 MAILING LIST

THE PRICES ABOVE ARE FOR THE CASSETTE VERSION OF
THESE PROGRAMS, DISC VERSIONS USING RANDOM
ACCESS FILES ARE AVAILABLE FROM OCTOBER 1ST 1984.

ALL PROGRAMS AVAILABLE
AS A BUSINESS STARTER
PACK FOR THE SPECIAL A
PRICE OF £99.50 ,Mm

ALL SOFTWARE PROVIDED BY ABACUS, IS FULLY
SUPPORTED BY THE COMPANY.

21 UNION STREET
RAMSBOTTOM, LANCS
PHONE: 0204 52726

Williams & Glyn’s Bank pic

HIGHLIGHT SOFTWARE

BBC & ELECTRON
READ WRITE AWAY

*\ . . 1 suspect these are the sort of programs children will enjoy
taking home in days to come for learning with these really is fun,
and mums and dads will play with them after children are
tucked up in bed just for the pleasure of the graphics. . . ”

A & B COMPUTING.

Reading Pack 1.
SPLASHDOWN

Building 3 letter words

Reading Pack 2.
PYRAMIDS
th-, ch , sh-, wh-.
Reading Pack 3.
MAGIC E

,4 Magic e” spelling rule.

Reading Pack 4.
SORTOUT

Alphabetical sorting.

Age 5-8
FIREFIGHT

si ,sm ,sn ,sp-,bl etc

Age &-9
SPLOOSH

oo-, ee-, ea-, oi , ou ,oa , ai-

Age 7-10
BREAK-IN

Soft “c'jsoft “g" sounds.

Age 8-11
LETTERBUGS

Unscrambling hidden words.

Available now from MICROPOWER DEALERS, selected
branches of JOHN MENZIES, BOOTS and by mail order
(please state whether you require B.B.C. or ELECTRON version).
Telephone or write for our new catalogue with details of our full
range of programs.

PRICE PER READING PACK

Cassette: £7.95 40 Track Disc: £11.95

All prices include V.A.T.

Highlight Software.

36 Sherbourne Close,
Barry, S. Glam. CF6 5AQ
Telephone: (0446) 745482

Stake your survival
on Spaceman Sid.

Another great
challenge from
English Software

Survival on Earth
depends on ‘Spaceman Sid’
And that means YOU!

Get behind the controls of
your laser-armed combat
rover - and start the battle
The Martians have
taken over our dilithium
mines on the planet
Tribos and re-capturing
those essential mines is
your tough challenge.

But watch those Martians
- they're loaded with dirty
tricks. And watch out for the
other hazards of space travel
. . . you won't have to wait
long, we can guarantee!

There are 3 progressive
levels of difficulty of play.
That applies to both Acorn
Electron and BBC Model B

users.

‘Spaceman Sid' is
available on cassette for just
£7.95, so beam yourself into

your local dealer today.

Tomorrow itself could
be at stake!

THE POWER OF EXCITEMENT

The English Software Company,
Box 43, Manchester M60 3AD
Trade Enquiries Tel: 061-835 1358

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

139

Thursday

December

member

We’rt

BBC MICRO

heart <

- with lots and lot* o

We confidently predict this will be the
biggest Show we have ever organised - with
more exhibitors than ever before and with
many hundreds of really worthwhile
bargains for all our visitors.

New Horticultural Hall,
Westminster,
London SW1

Reduced prices for
School/College Groups

Among our exhibitors are all the leading
names in the world of the BBC Micro and
Electron. And they are determined to
make this a show to remember, with
a whole host of hardware and
software bargains.

Entry only £ 1 per student if
bookings are made in advance. Send
your cheque (made payable to
Database Publications) and SAE to:

Electron & BBC Micro User Show
68 Chester Road, Hazel Grove,

Stockport SK7 5NY.

Tel: 061456 8383.

V

Valid for a minimum of 10 people

J

C SAVE MONEY with our ^
Special Travel and
Hotel Offer

Visitors to the Show can obtain
cut-price rail tickets from ANY
station in the United Kingdom -
plus special reduced prices at
London hotels. Write to:

Travel Offer, P.O. Box 1, St. Albans AL1 4ED
with SAE or Telephone: St. Albans 34475
quoting: The Electron & BBC Micro User Show.

r>+z;

You’ll be able to try and buy some
fascinating new games that are destined to
be the top sellers this Christmas - and well
into 1985. You’ll be able to inspect new
hardware packages that will make your
micro much more powerful and much more
versatile.

And on our Technical Advice Stand you’ll
be able to discuss any problems you may
have with experts who know the BBC Micro
and Electron inside out.

This voucher
is worth £1
per head

,

BBC MICRO

By handing in this voucher
at the door you save £ 1 off
the normal admission

jmm price of £3 (adults) and
VQ y £2 (children).

(Valid for a maximum of 4 people )
(Only 1 voucher per person )

1 Oam -5pm, Thursday, December 6
10am-5pm, Friday, December 7
10am-5pm, Saturday, December 8
10am-4pm, Sunday, December 9

New Horticultural Hall
Westminster, London SW1

Number attending CD GO CD 0

AU12

FAMILY HISTORY COMES ALIVE!

With BEL GEN from BEL TECH
BEL TECH for BBC and ELECTRON

DEDICATED DATA BASE WITH ADDITIONAL POWERFUL OPTIONS FOR STUDY AND PLEASURE

* MENU DRIVEN, SOPHISTICATED but EASY TO USE

360 PEOPLE/FILE on truely RANDOM ACCESS DISC VERSION (720 on 80 TRACK, 75 on TAPE)

* ADD, BROWSE, SORT (Any Field), CONDITIONAL PRINTS/DISPLAY OWN FORMAT, EDIT, FIND,
SAVE, SEND PRINTER CONTROL CHARACTERS, SELECT DISC DRIVES.

. ALL OPTIONS can be DISPLAYED OR PRINTED

* FIELDS (TOTAL OF 20) ARE:

FAMIL Y NAME
GIVEN NAMES
GENDER
OCCUPA TION
PLACE

DA TE of BIR TH/BAPTISM
DA TE of DEA TH/BURIAL
No. of CHILDREN
SPOUSES (Up to 3)

DA TES OF MARRIAGE
REMARKS/NOTES

* ALL DATES can be CIRCA, ESTIMATED, ACTUAL

« * SPECIAL SEARCHES AND PRINTS/DISPLAYS
additional to OWN REPORTS

* ANY NAME or PLACE

* No. of CHILDREN

* GENDER of CHILDREN

* PERIOD of YEARS

* ANY FOUR GENERATIONS

* LONGEVITY

* SUPPLIED WITH TEST DATA FILE 'ROYAL' AND
COMPREHENSIVE MANUAL

« TAPE USERS CAN UPGRADE TO DISC LATER FOR £3.00

MALE PARENTAL LINE

+

KEY PERSON

GEORGE WINDSOR

SAXE-COBURG

= HANOVER

MALE/FEMALE LINE

ALBERT

VICTORIA

1819-1861

1819-1901

FAMILY TREE

GERMANY

1

OSBORNE

!

!

for any person

SAXE-COBURG

= SAXE-COBURG

on file

EDWARD

ALEXANDRA

1841-1910

1845-1925

LONDON

!

i

DENMARK

!

~h

I

BEL TECH

Software

TAPE

DISC

TOTAL

16.00

OTY

18.00

QTY

BEL BASE

BEL GRAPH

15.00

17.00

BEL CHEM
Chemistry 1

9.50

11.50

Chemistry 2

9.50

11.50

BEL GEN
Geneology

15.00

17.00

MAIL SHOT

9.50

11.50

BEL PLOT

950

1150

BEL SUBS

10.50

1250

TOTAL inc. P. A P. £

NAME

ADDRESS

COMPUTER TYPE MODEL

DISC Of apple >

CREDIT CARD No PAYMENT BY CHEQUE PO VISA ACCESS

Please Complete & Return to -

BEL TECH Limited. Stanmore Industrial Estate Bndgnortti
Shropshire WV15 5HP or

Telephone: 07462 5420 (24 Hrs.)

I

HOME-
GROWN

DATAr

BASE 1

143

Do friends move too fast to keep tabs on? Mike Fryer’s
database management program could be your answer

M Y ADDRESS book is a mess -a
jungle of crossings out and il-
legible handwriting. The thought
of rewriting it every year or so is so
daunting that I've started amending the
amendments- hence this program! Its
use is not restricted to lists of
addresses or telephone numbers -it
can be used for records of any kind,
such as a list of computer programs
together with a brief description of their
contents and location, or a bibli-
ography of useful computer articles.

A database in its simplest form con-
sists of a set of records in the same
general format that can be manipu-
lated, sorted and printed in various for-
mats using a database management
program. For convenience each record
is divided into the same number of
fields and keywords. A field is the basic
element of the record. It is either
printed or not, and can be used to sort
the records. A keyword usually con-

sists of supplementary information,
often not required for printing, but use-
ful for defining subsets of the data. For
example, each of my address records
has the general format:

Field 1: Title, initials

Field 2: Surname

Fields 3, 4, 5: Address
Field 6: Telephone Number

Keywords: Relation?

Send Christmas card?

so that one might look like:

Mr. J.C.

Smith,

49, Acacia Avenue,

Bloxton on Sea,

Norfolk.

20826

UR.XC

Here I’m using UR to represent unre-
lated, and XC to remind me to send a
Christmas card. Note that the surname

is given its own field as it would be im-
possible to sort by surname otherwise.

A large database management pro-
gram doesn’t leave much space for
data (especially when using a disc
filing system). Consequently you must
consider the type and number of
records you wish to save when design-
ing (or buying) a system.

There are two main types:

Cassette based: The management
program plus all the data are in
the computer throughout the run.
Consequently relatively few records
can be accommodated (200-300
addresses?).

Disc based: The management pro-
gram is always in memory, but with

See yellow pages 109-112
for Mike Fryer’s database
management program

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

SH)

How to order:

By post - complete the coupon ■

with your requirements and return to:

Dept. AU12, Mail Order Micros,

Scotia Road, Burslem, Stoke on Trent, ST6 4DX
Enclose your cheque/P.O. (made payable to
Mail Order Micros) or use your Access/Barclaycard number.
By telephone - ring 0782 81 1711 to purchase by phone
(credit card holders only). . . v ;

THE DISK DRIVE YOUR MICRO
WOULD CHOOSE FOR ITSELF

THE TEAC 5VV' DISK DRIVE FOR THE BBC B’ MICRO

Any self-respecting BBC ‘B’ Micro seeking a disk drive of high reliability and
performance would immediately identify the TEAC 574" mechanism as the complete
solution. A quality product, it is extensively industry-proven in major systems
applications all over the world.

Now available for the home, education or office user direct from Mail Order Micros,
the “Computamate” - using the TEAC 574" Disk Drive - guarantees trouble-free high
speed data access every time: and what more could a micro ask?

1 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 DFS Disk Interface.

» Oatmeal moulded box to match your micro.

1 Fully stackable, plus extending tilt-action “legs” to ease disk
insertion.

» 12 months parts and labour warranty.

1 The Mail Order Micros “Computamate”
is supported by the resources
of a major multi-national
public company.

computamate

Available only from Mail Onfer Micros, a division of Thomas French PIC

INTRODUCTORY PRICES ONLY

SINGLE DRIVES

COST (incl. VAT) QUANTITY TOTAL (£)

FD-55A SS 40TK 100K

£119.95

FD-55B DS 40TK 200K

£165.95

FD-55E* * SS80TK 200K

£165.95

FD-55F* DS80TK 400K

£189.95

TWIN DRIVES

FD-55A SS 40TK 100K

£239.90

FD-55B DS 40TK 200K

£33190

FD-55E* SS0OTK2OOK

£331.90 .

FD-55F* DS0OTK4OOK

£379.90

DUAL DRIVES (with integral power supply, available only in metal non-tilting box at present)

FD-55A SS 40TK 100K

£289.80

FD-558 DS 40TK 200K

£38195

FD-55E* SS80TK 200K

£359.95

FD-56F* DS80TK 400K

£414.95

Post and Packing (First Unit)

£5.75

Post and Packing (each additional unit)

£250

•Price includes 40/80 switch

MEDIA

Box of 10 Diskettes 40TK SS

£18.50

Box of 10 Diskettes 80TK SS

£21.25

Box of 10 Diskettes 80TK DS

£27.00

Postage & Packing per box of Diskettes

£1.00

TOTAL £

Post to: Dept. AU12,

Mail Order Micros, Scotia Road,
Burslem, Stoke on Trent, ST6 4DX

Name

Address

Post Code Telephone

^enclose cheque/P. 0. for £

* Please debit my Access/Barclaycard Number

Signature — —

(Credit Card orders must be signed by the card holder. Address above
must be the same as card holder)

*(Please delete as appropriate)

For further information on these products, or for details of other exciting
products, including TEAC V/z M and 3" Disk Drives, telephone 0782
811711.

Enquiries from Dealers and Educational Authorities welcome.

144

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

I

only a small subset of the data. This
allows for very large data sets, but
there are a terrific number of disc
reads/writes, which lead to relatively
slow sorting, for example.

The program described here (listed on
yellow pages 109-112) is one which will
work as a cassette system, or can be
‘overlayed’ for a disc system, so that
although all the data are always in
memory, only the ‘active’ part of the
program is resident. This releases
further memory for data.

This type of management program is
suitable for those who are using a
cassette system but are considering
upgrading to discs. It also has the
advantage that with overlays extra
subroutines can be added without
reducing the upper size of the data set.

I will describe the cassette-based
program, but instructions for overlay-
ing the subroutines for the disc system
are given at the end. The program is
menu driven (figure 1), and the items
on the menu are as follows:

Option 1 If you want to zero the file in
memory or start a new file choose this.
You will be required to state the
number of fields and the maximum
number of characters in each, together
with the number of keywords. The total
number of characters in each record
cannot exceed 255. The listing allows
for up to 200 records of six fields but you
can change these values by suitably
modifying line 100.

Option 2 Choose this to read in an
existing data file from tape (or disc).
This data will be added to the end of any
data file already in memory. If the data
in memory and on the tape file are not
completely compatible (in that they
have the same number of fields, etc),
then the process will be aborted and
you will be returned to the menu.

Option 3 Use this to type in further
records to add to any already in
memory. Each of the fields is checked
for length, as is the total number of
characters in the keywords. Note that
you will be asked to re-input any invalid
field. It is quite acceptable to input
blank fields or fewer keywords than
requested, but if more keywords are
input the excess is disregarded in later
operations.

Option 4 This allows you to delete
records -either by the number of the
record or by a keyword. If you choose
‘Number’, then give the numbers of the
first and last records to be deleted in
the form FIRST, LAST. To delete a
single record NN, just type NN,NN. If
you choose ‘Keyword’ you are given
the choice of whether to eliminate
all records with that keyword or all

records without it. For example, to
produce a list of people I send Christ-
mas cards to, I would choose this
option to eliminate all records without
the keyword XC.

MENU

1: Start new Data File
2: Load a Data File

3 Add records

4 Delete records
5: Sort records

6: Modity a record
7 ■ Print Data File
9: Save Data File
9i. Exit

Number of choice _

Figure 1. The menu

Record Hu«b«r 1
Field (Max length)

1 (20> 7MACHINE CODE

2 <20) 7SMITH

3 <4> 7123

2 Keywords (separated by coiemas)
7MACHINE CODE , CODE

Press RETURN to add another record,
M for MENU _

Constructing a record

Range of records to be output
firstjast (0.0 for all records): 1,3

How many records across screen ( < 5) ?2

How many lines between records ?2

RECORD NUMBER 1

Position of Left Margin :5

RECORD NUMBER 2

Position of Left Margin :35

Print Field 1 (Y/N)?Y

Number of leading spaces : 1 00

Print Field 2 (Y/N)?Y

Number of leading spaces :1

Print Field 3 (Y/N)?Y

Number of leading spaces :0

Print Field 4 (Y/N)?Y

Number of leading spaces :0

Print Field 5 (Y/N)?Y

Number of leading spaces :0

Print Field 6 (Y/N)?Y

Number of leading spaces :0

Print Keywords (Y/N) ? Y

Number of leading spaces :0

Press P' to print, *L‘ to list P

Figure 2. The commands for printing the first
three addresses in blocks of two across the
page

Option 5 Choose this to sort the
records into alphabetical order by any
field. You are asked the field number,
and the sort takes place, which can take
quite a few seconds if there are several
hundreds of records.

Option 6 It’s useful to be able to modify
one of the fields of a particular record -
to correct an address or change a
keyword. Use this option in conjunction
with the COPY key.

Option 7 The raison d’etre of this pro-
gram. Output of all or part of the data
set can be sent either to the printer or
the screen. You can choose how many
records are printed across the page
(check your paper width!) and the verti-
cal separation between the records.
Next you are requested to give the tab
position for each record across the
screen (eg, these might be 5, 25 and 45
if three are required). You are now
asked for each field in turn, and
whether it is to be output or not. If the
answer is ‘yes' you have to supply the
'number of leading spaces’ -the
number of spaces beyond the tab set
above. If 100 is added to this number
then the next field to be output is
printed on the same line. So for an
address the number of leading spaces
forthe first field mightbe 100 and forthe
second, 1. This would mean that the
title, initials and surname would be
printed on the same line with one space
between the fields. To check that
you've set up the print parameter cor-
rectly it's worthwhile just printing the
first few records. Figure 2 shows the
commands to print the first three
addresses, two across the page. The
output is shown in figure 3. Figures 4
and 5 show how to convert the address
list into one of telephone numbers. To
avoid too much typing, you are given
the chance of repeating the same out-
putformatthe nexttime you choose this
option.

Option 8 The main parameters to-
gether with the data are saved on the
currently open unit (either cassette or
disc).

Option 9 Choose this to leave the
system.

Much of the data will be checked on
input. However, to avoid the program
being too long, any other errors
(including the ‘panic button’ Escape)
redirect the program to the menu after
reporting the error. For example, if any
character outside the range 1 to 9 is
used with the menu, an ‘ON range'
error is reported before returning to the
menu.

Overlays are for disc use only. The
program is split up into its constituent
parts and arranged so that at any time
only the ‘active’ procedures are in

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

B BC Microcomputer in the NORTH

CTECH Computers Telephone:06 1-366-8223/7794

1

Acorn Equipment £ p

6502 2nd Processor 1 73.04

Z80A 2nd Processor 346.95

Teletext Adaptor 1 99.00

Electron Computer 1 73.04

Electron + 1 51.30

All computers come with Free Cassette Lead and Software Package. Most add-ons include free fitting and installation.

Computers

BBC Model B

BBC Model B with DFS

BBC Model B with DFS & Econet

BBC Model B with DFS & Wordwise

£ p

346.95

407.82

439.00

433.92

SPECIAL OFFER
BBC B £379
INCL. VAT

WITH FREE DELIVERY

Monitors

Philips Hi Res

68.69

IVlicrovitec Normal Res

199.00

Ferguson TX-90 RGBAV

199.00

Kaga Normal Res

179.00

■ Kaga Medium Res

285.00

Light Pens and Joysticks

Add on Light Pen

21.70

JMB Full Analogue Joystick

13.00

Joystick Pairs

17.35

Hi-Fi Extension Cable

5.17

| Atari-type joystick to BBC interface

13.00

Components and Cables

We stock everything e.g.:

2764 Eprom

6.52

1 271 28 Eproms Low

8271 Disk Controller

POA

Printer Cables

12.99

Disk Power Cables

8.65

DISKETTES

Boxes of 10 diskettes
BASF s/s d/d diskettes €1 3.00
BASF d/s d/d diskettes 96 TPI
£20.78

XIDEX diskettes £15.22
Control Data d/s d/d 96 TPI
£19.91

Control Data s/s d/d 96 TPI
£14 74

Masterclass Video Tape. Our
price £8.95

Addons

HCR Electronics ROM/RAM board
HCR Electronics Eprom programmer
Light Pen

OEL 200 Prestel Terminal
Acorn Speech Synth
Chip Chat Speech Synth
Pace Grapevine

36.52
49.00
21.69
87.39
47 83
26.04
POA

ROM Software

Wordwise

34.74

Graphics ROM

2865

Print Master

2865

View 2.1

5209

Ultra- Calc

5648

1.2 O S.

10.00

Disk Doctor

2865

BCPL

86 09

Termi

2865

Commstar

30.39

Viewsheet

52.09

Beebugsoft Toolkit

23.48

Spellcheck

17 35

TEC

TEAC

CHINON

DISK DRIVES FROM £95.00 + VAT

Bare CHINON F051 0/CUMANA CSX1 00. Slimline. 40 Track, Single Sided. 1 00K (200K Double Density). As above but complete
with Cables, Utility Disk, Cables, Case and Manual £109.00 + VAT

Bare TEAC55F, Slimline, 40/80 Track, Double Sided 400K (800K at Double Density). £169.00 + VAT
As above but complete with Cables, Utility Disk, Cables, Case and Manual £185.00 + VAT
TEC Disc Drives from £109.00 + VAT

TEC

TEAC

CHINON

DUAL DRIVES FROM £199 + VAT

Dual CHINON F051D, Slimline. 40 Track. Single Sided 2 x 100K (2 x 200K Double Density). Complete with Cables Utility Disk
Cables. Case and Manual. £369 + VAT

Dual TEAC 55F, Slimline, 40/80 Track, Double Sided. 2 x 400K (2 x 800K with Double Density). Complete with Cables. Utility
Disk, Cables, Case and Manual. (With your drive you may need an interface). £389.00 + VAT

DISK INTERFACES FROM £69.00 + VAT

The Fabulous LVL Single and Double Density Interface. This will allow you to read and write to Acorn Disks see below. But also you
ACORN can create your own Single OR Double Density Diskettes for extra online storage. Maximum capacity is 1.6 MB with 8 logical drives
and 248 files The standard Acorn Interface is available from us this uses the 82 7 1 disk controller which gives very fast access to
disk files. Acorn DFS is the standard for the BBC Micro it allows 31 files per disk and a maximum of 800K on 4 logical drives
Phone for latest prices.

CANON

NEC

QUEN

PRINTERS

CANON PW 1080A/KAGA KP810. This is the latest state of the art in printer technology. This machine out performs the EPSON
FX80 It will do everything the FX80 does and more besides and using the same control codes! What makes the PW1080A so
special is not only its superb value for money but the near LETTER QUALITY mode. We include a free screen dump and our BBC
Micro Instructions as well as the excellent manual. £259 + VAT

QUEN 5100 Daisywheel This British assembled printer has all the features that you would expect like Auto Bold, Auto Underline.
Sheet Feeder option. Take Qume daisywheels and Ribbons, 20Cps Bi Directional £299 + V AT
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

PRICES . . .

All our prices are
constantly moving, so
please ring us to check
the latest price.

All prices plus VAT

FREE DELIVERY TODAY
(Orders over £90)

ASK ABOUT OUR INSTALLATION SERVICE

If you are in Greater Manchester, Cheshire,
Lancashire, Midlands, Merseyside, West
Yorkshire or South Yorkshire, if you ring us
now we can send one of our highly trained
staff to install your computer equipment today.
(Now for business software tool)

C ft TECH

COMPUTERS

1 84 Market Street,
Hyde, Cheshire
SK14 1 EX
061-366 7794
061-366 8223

146

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

I

Name

Line numbers

Contents

Size

(approx)

DBASEO

10- 560

MAIN,PROCmenu,PROCunpak

696

DBASE1

570- 770

PROCnew

258

DBASE2

780-1040

PROCold

2BE

DBASE3

1050-1280

PROCadd

214

DBASE4

1290-1990

PROCdel.PROCdnum.PROCdkey,

PROCsplit.PROComit

4B1

DBASE5

2000-2190

PROCsort

1AB

DBASE6

2200-2400

PROCmod

188

DBASE7

2410-3230

PROCprnt.PROCoutput.PROCblank,

PROCjoin

6F8

DBASE8

3240-3410

PROCsave

114

Table 1. The nine sections of the program

Mrs. A. Diggle,

Mrs. A. Fryer,

The Firs,

19, Cumberland Drive,

Claxton,

Holton,

Somerset.

Devon.

501597

331789

UR

R,XC

Mr. J. C. Smith,

49, Acacia Avenue,

Bloxton on Sea,

Norfolk.

20826

UR,XC

Figure 3. The output generated by the commands in figure 2

memory, thus saving space and ena-
bling us to work with larger databases.
I’ve split the program into nine sections
(table 1). DBASEO is the main program,
always resident, whereas DBASE1 to

Range of records to be output
first.last (0,0 for all records): 0,0

Repeat Format (Y/N) ? N

How many records across screen ( < 5) ?

How many lines between records ?1

RECORD NUMBER 1

Position of Left Margin :1

Print Field 1 (Y/N) ?Y

Number of leading spaces :100

Print Field 2 (Y/N) ?Y

Number of leading spaces :101

Print Field 3 (Y/N) ?N

Print Field 4 (Y/N) ?Y

Number of leading spaces :104

Print Field 5 (Y/N) ?N

Print Field 6 (Y/N) ?Y

Number of leading spaces :2

Print Keywords (Y/N)?N

Press *P’ to print, ‘L’ to list P

Figure 4. The commands to convert the list
of addresses into one of telephone numbers

Mrs. A. Diggle,Claxton, 501597
Mrs. A. Fryer, Holton, 331789
Mr. J. C. Smith, Bloxton on Sea, 20826

DBASE8 are moved in and out of
memory as and when required. In
order to use overlays, sufficient
memory has to be saved above the
main program for the largest of these
overlays to be loaded, ie, we increase
LOMEM by a suitable amount, prevent-
ing this region being used for data.
Next, the computer has to be fooled into
thinking the overlay is part of the main
program, by removing the ‘end of pro-
gram’ marker, which resides in the last
two bytes below TOP. Finally, we call
the correct overlay when required. To
do this I’ve written a short subroutine to
be added to DBASEO, which sends the
correct ‘LOAD request via a call to

OSCLI at &FFF7 when a new overlay is
required.

Here are the additions and amend-
ments we must make:

Add

72 REM reserves space for overlays
74 LOMEM = TOP + &700
76 REM removes ‘end of program’
marker

78 1% = TOP — 2
79 oflg$ = “0”

551 DEF PROCoverlay(nS)

553 IF nt< >oflg$ oflg$ = n$ ELSE
ENDPROC

555 S&C00 = “LOAD DBASE” + n$ 4* “
” + STR$-(t%)

557 X% = 0:Y% = &C:CALL &FFF7
559 ENDPROC

Note that in line 74 &700 is larger than
the longest overlay (table 1).

Replace

330 PROCoverlay(“1”):PROCnew:pb%
= 0:ENDPROC

340 PROCoverlay(“2”):PROCold:
ENDPROC

350 PROCoverlay(“3”):PROCadd:
ENDPROC

360 PROCoverlay(‘‘4”):PROCdel:
ENDPROC

370 PROCoverlay(“5”):PROCsort:
ENDPROC

380 PROCoverlay(‘‘6”):PROCmod:
ENDPROC

390 PROCoverlay(“7”):PROCprnt:
ENDPROC

400 PROCoverlay(‘‘8”):PROCsave:
ENDPROC

With this overlay technique, it’s easy to
write your own procedures and incor-
porate them via the menu and a call to
the procedure using the ON GOTO sta-
tement in line 320. For example, you
might find it useful to be able to inter-
change fields, to add fields to existing
records or even to allow for mathemat-
ical manipulations of numeric fields
(eg, to automatically update a person’s
age by subtracting his birthdate from
the present date) - the list is endless.

Figure 5. The list of telephone numbers out-
put by the commands given in figure 4

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

UNIT 14. PEERGLOW INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, OLD’S APPROACH, TOLPITS LANE, WATFORD, HERTS.

® TELEPHONE: 0923 777155 ®

Inc VAT
@ 139.09a
@ 164.91a
@ 178.94a

@ 268.18a
@ 329.82a
@ 357.88a

SLIMLINE DRIVES
SINGLE DRIVES CASED:

40 Track 100KCHINON
40/80 Track 200K Switchable TEAC 55
40/80 Track 400K Switchable TEC
DUAL DRIVES CASED:

40 Track 200K CHINON
40/80 Track 400K Switchable TEAC 55
40/80 Track 800K Switchable TEC
INTEGRAL POWER SUPPLY:

Fitted to any of the above drives @ 26.45b

POWER SUPPLY UNIT: @ 32.20b

★ Colour finished to match BBC.

★ 6 pin BBC Outlet or Dual Power lead for disk drive. (Please
specify when ordering)

FLOPPY DISCS: (Boxes of Ten)

3M’s S/Sided D/Density 5.25"

3M’sD/Sided D/Density 5.25"

Fuji D/Sided D/Density 5.25"

★★Special Offers FUJI
lOx CARE D/Sided D/Density 5.25"

Packed in plastic storage/presentation box

@16. 10c
@ 27.37c
@ 27.37c

@ 25.30c

PHILIPS 14" COLOUR TV/MONITOR:

@ 234.60a Inc VAT.

PHILIPS 14" COLOUR TV:

@ 184.00a Inc VAT.

RGB CONVERSION KIT:

(Please telephone for details)
38.64c Inc VAT.

LEADS "READY-MADE”

6 pin DIN to 6 pin DIN plug (RGB) 1.5mt
6 pin DIN to 6 pin DIN plug (RGB) 2mt
6 pin DIN to 6 pin DIN plug (RGB) coiled cable
6 pin DIN plug to 6 pin DIN skt (RGB) extension
BBC Power 6 way to Disc Drive 4 way 1.5mt
BBC Power 6 way to Disc Drive 4 way 2mt
BBC Power 6 way to 2 Disc Drive 4 way 1.5mt
RIBBON LEADS:

Disc Drive single 1 2mt

Disc Drive dual 1.2mt

Printer Imt

Printer 1.5mt

Parallel 26-26 pin Imt

Parallel 26-26 pin 1.5mt

Parallel 26-26 pin 2mt

Serial 25 pin D type plug each end 2mt

Serial 25 pin D type plug each end 5mt

We can make up any combination ol cable assy
Please contact factory for details

CONNECTORS:

BBC Power 6 way housing
BBC Crimp Terminals
Disc Drive 4 way housing
Disc Drive Crimp Terminals
Various Din Connectors
DISC INTERFACE PARTS:
E'Prom HITACHI HN482764G
Low power Schottky 74LS10
Low power Schottky 74LS38
Low power Schottky 74LS123
Low power Schottky 74LS393
C Mos 4013BCP
CMOS 4020BCP

Plugs:
@ 0.35c
@ 0.08c
@ 0.29c
@ 0.10c
@ 0.40c

Inc VAT
l 2 99c ea
i) 3.45c ea
y 6 90c ea
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i 4 14c ea
I) 4 60c ea

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Sockets:
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0 24c ea
0 09c ea
0 48c ea

Inc V AT
@ 9.20c e
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@ 1 43c e
@ 0.70c e
a) 1.00c e

We also stock a wide range of electrical Components, i e I.C's/Caps/Connectors etc

DON’T BUY A COLOUR MONITOR!!

HAVE YOUR 14" & 16" PHILIPS or PYE
COLOUR TV CONVERTED TO A TV/MONITOR

Normal TV
Remote Control

! 49.91 Inc VAT
! 54.97 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 time.

★ Can be used as a T' Switcher.

★ All outputs BUFFERED enabling longer leads between units. In excess of 20
metres.

★ No strain on your BBC power supply, as the CPX2 ’ comes complete with its own
internal power supply.

★ Easy to install and operate.

★ Colour Finished to match BBC.

★ Supplied with moulded mains plug.

★ 12 Months Guarantee.

“ONLY” 85.10b Inc VAT.

★★★★REDUCED TO CLEAR^^
VIGLEN ROM CARTRIDGE
SYSTEM

★ Avoids damage to BBC from changing ROMs
constantly.

★ Easy to use and install.

★ Prices lower than any other ROM System.

Complete Kit £1 5.64c Inc VAT

Spare Cartridge £4. 14c Inc VAT

5 Cartridges £19.55c Inc VAT

10 Cartridges £33.60c Inc VAT

For lartjer quantities Consult our factory at the
above telephone No.

COMPUTER/PRINTER SELECTOR: @ 65.09c Inc VAT
★ 26 pin as BBC. ★ 1 Micro to 3 Printers. ★ 3 Micros to 1 Printer.

RS232 “T” SWITCHER: @ 55.20c Inc VAT.
RS232 “X” SWITCHER: @ 65.09c Inc VAT.

i TEL: 0923 7771 55

V

MAINS FILTER 5 amp: @ 45.08b Inc VAT

★ Noise and Transient Filter.

★ 4 Socket outlets.

★ Moulded mains plug.

HOW TO ORDER:

By Post. Enclose your Cheque/P. O. made payable to:. CARE Electronics.
Or use your ACCESS. Allow 7 days for delivery. Please add carriage.

a) @ 8.00

b) @ 5.00

c) @ 2.00

148

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

Don't run the risk of damaging your BBC
micro each time you change Roms. Why
not fit our Low Profile Rom Module
System and store your collection of Roms
in our specially designed cartridges:

Unlike other Rom Expansion Systems the
CARE LOW PROFILE MODULE SYSTEM
does not take any power from your BBC
Micro and allows you unlimited
ROMS/EPROMS.

The CARE LOW PROFILE ROM MODULE SYSTEM

allows you to plug in any ROM/EPROM that you want
to use, such as Disc Doctor — Toolkit — Wordwise etc.,
without having to open up your BBC micro every time
you want to change ROM/EPROM.

The CARE LOW PROFILE ROM MODULE SYSTEM

is an extension of any of the existing sideways ROM
sockets on the left of your keyboard. Once fitted all
you need is one CARE ROM CARTRIDGE for each
ROM/EPROM that you wish to use.

The CARE LOW PROFILE ROM MODULE SYSTEM

is suitable for all BBC Micros model B and model A
which have been upgraded to allow access to the
sideways ROM sockets.

Each CARE LOW PROFILE ROM MODULE SYSTEM

comes neatly packaged in a special presentation case.

EACH SYSTEM CONTAINS:

1 Low profile
socket housing.

1 Cable assembly.

1 Rom cartridge.

1 Blanking plate.

1 Fitting instructions

COMPLETE KIT @ £1 6.1 0 inc. VAT
Spare Cartridge @ £ 4.1 4 inc. VAT
5 Cartridges @ £1 9.55 inc. VAT
lOCartrdiges @ £33.60 inc. VAT

PLEASE ADD £2.00 Carriage

HOW TO ORDER: By post- enclose your cheque/P. 0. made payable to
CARE Electronics or use your ACCESS. Allow 7 days for delivery.

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

149

THE OLYMPIA RANGE OF DAISYWHEEL PRINTERS

A RANGE OF DAISYWHEEL PRINTERS DESIGNED BY OFFICE EQUIPMENT

LEADERS

O OLYMPIA INTERNATIONAL

OLYMPIA 3000 SERIES

Method of printing: Daisywheel interchangeable 100 characters.
Print speed: 50 cps maximum. (40 cps Shannon)

Form width: 17" Width of Printline: 15".

Tabulation: Variable, 60 positions/inch (optional 120) bi-
directional, horizontal tabulation direct to column address,
halfspace forward.

Pitch: 10, 12, 15 characters per inch and proportional spacing.

Line length: 150 characters with 10 pitch. 180 characters with 12
pitch. 225 characters with 15 pitch.

Method of printing: Automatic bi-directional printing with
shortest path seeking logic. Automatically skips over blank fields.
Paper feed: Variable , 96 positions/inch , bi-directional .

Buffer: 4 K Buffer. Keyboard option. Qume/Diablo. Code option
Function control led: ON/OFF-Line. Paper out. Ribbon out.
Cover open. Error.

Printing mode: Bold printing ( 1/120"). Expanded printing. Double
strike.

Interface: RS232 IEEE, Centronics.

OLYMPIA 103 SERIES

Method of printing:

Dypewheel, exchangeable,

96 characters

Print speed: 17 characters per
second. Bidirectional.

Form width: 17" (431.8mm)

Width of Printline: 14.2"
(360.6mm)

Tabulation: Variable. 60
positions/inch. Bidirectional
Pitch: 10, 12, 15 characters/
inch proportional spacing

Line length:

141 characters with 10 pitch
169 characters with 12 pitch
212 characters with 15 pitch
Paper feed: Variable, 96
positions/inch. Bidirectional,
indexing one half space up/
down.

Printing: Automatic bold. ( 1/
120"). expand and double
print. Automatic
bidirectional printing with
shortest path seeking.
Automatically skips over
blank Helds.

Buffer: 4 k byte.

Keyboard option. Qume
control code. Option for
Wordstar.

Function controls led:

102 ON/OFF-Line. Error.

103 ON/OFF-Line. Error.
Bold print.

Expand print. Double print.
Interfaces: RS232.
Centronics IEEE.

OLYMPIA COMPACT SERIES

Method of Printing: Daisywheel 100 characters. Interchangeable.

Print Speed: 14 cps

From W idth: 14.3" W idth of Printing: 1 1 .5"

Pitch: 10, 12, 15 characters per inch.

Line length: 10 pitch - 1 15 char. 12 pitch- 138 char. 15 pitch -172
char.

Instruction code: Diablo compatable (compact R0)

Built in Tractorfeed - Compact R0
Built in Keyboard - Compact 2.

RS232 or Centronics Interface (Compact 2)

Both interfaces as standard (Compact R0)

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 . .. Intelligent 43B Wood Street, Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire CV37.

LnstriDuior: InterfacesTeL 0789 296879 London 01-367 0817 TL. 312242.

150

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

Vincent Fojut files his verdict on six software packages
to help you find the right one for your needs

D ATABASES, like word processors
and spreadsheets, form one of
the classic application areas for
micros. A number of competing pack-
ages are now available for the BBC
micro, with a wide range of features
and prices. What a database is and how
it can be used are defined in Mike
Fryer’s article (see page 143), but if you
already have an application in mind,
how do you choose the best database
for your requirements?

Any database package should be
able to execute a certain number of
basic file-accessing functions with
relative ease. These include the addi-
tion, deletion and updating of records
in a file, and the retrieval of records
depending on particular criteria. For
example, the business user does not
want to search each individual entry of
an enormous order file for, say, any
order worth over £100. This is the sort
of search that any self-respecting data-
base should do automatically.

Other common functions include the

ability to sort, or re-sort, a file depend-
ing on the values of one or more fields
in a record. Normally, sorting on just
one field copes with most common
requirements, eg, a micro-based
address book is most useful if kept
within alphabetical order of surname.
Sometimes, however, it is helpful to
sort on more than one field, or ‘key’. An
employer may have several Smiths on
his payroll and may wish to use a
secondary key of ‘forename’ to cope
with such circumstances. If there are
several John Smiths in the organ-
isation, then further sort keys may be
necessary.

Finally, there is little point in access-
ing data if it cannot be presented in a
meaningful fashion, so some degree of
printout formatting is usually standard
in databases. It is often possible to con-
trol the positioning of fields on printout,
change the order of fields, and select
only specific fields within a record. This
latter option is probably the most use-
ful. Imagine using your address-book

file to prepare a series of address
labels - if your record layout had a tele-
phone number field, you would not
want it printed on the address label.

Potential applications for databases
are legion. In the home, you can file
record and book collections, a list of
computer programs, names and
addresses, recipes, and so on. The
amateur club or association could
create a membership file, a great time-
saver for printing address labels when-
ever members’ subscriptions are due!
In business, the right database pack-
age could be ideal for keeping track of
customers, suppliers, orders, invoices
and so forth.

Lastly, an educational environment
could also use a database to good
advantage. Apart from its obvious
place in computer studies, as an
example of a typical computer appli-
cation, the database has a role to play
in any discipline involving the collec-
tion and analysis of large amounts of
data, for statistical or other purposes.

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

PLEASE NOTE OUR NEW ADDRESS
VISIT OUR SHOW ROOM

NEAR LETTER QUALITY (NLQ) PRINTER
FOR IBM PC AND OTHER COMPUTERS

ONLY £260 + VAT = £299

★ 80 column, pica, elite, italic characters

★ switch selectable 120 CPS draft

★ switch selectable 22 CPS NLQ

★ switch selectable 75 CPS proportional

★ Switch selectable Standard mode (EPSON compatible)

for any Computer

★ Switch selectable IBM PC matrix printer mode

★ Switch selectable IBM PC graphic printer mode I

★ Switch selectable IBM PC graphic printer mode II

★ Bidirectional logic seeking

★ Snap in long life cartridge

★ Hi Res, dot addressable graphics

★ Tractor and friction feed ★ IK buffer

★ Centronics interface ★ Downloadable characters

DISK DRIVES FOR BBC

Quality half height Japanese drives boxed and supplied with all cables.

formatter disk and DFS manual

MX150 - 100K Single

40 track, single sided (while stocks last!) £ 80 + VAT = £ 92

MX152A - 400K Single

80 track, double sided, 40/80 track switch £140 + VAT = £161

MX252A — 800 K Twin

80 track, double sided, switched mode PSU,

40/80 track switch £340 + VAT = £391

DISK DRIVE FOR APPLE II & lie

ONLY £140 + VAT = £161

★ Not a modified but a dedicated APPLE drive

★ Half height, direct drive CHINON

★ 143K capacity ★ Supplied boxed with cable

THE REAL LOW PROFILE KEYBOARD
FOR SINCLAIR SPECTRUM

ONLY £50 -l- VAT = £57.50

★ Professional QWERTY Keyboard ★ 67 Keys

★ Easy fitting (no soldering) ★ Real low profile

★ High quality finish

micronix

computers Ltd

MONITORS

£2GO -f VAT =

£299

120 + VAT = £

138

80 + VAT = £

92

260 -i- VAT * £

299

360 + VAT = £

414

160 + VAT = £

184

400 + VAT = £

460

LM Monitors 12" green or amber 80 x 25, tilt

and swivel £

PHILLIPS 12" green £

KAGA (TAXAN) K12R2 12" RGB Hi Res £

K12R3 12" RGB Super Hi Res £

KX1213PC 12" 20MHz Hi Res amber monitor

IBM PC compatible £

K12R3 12" RGB Hi Res for IBM PC £

5%" DISKETTES (Box of 10)

40 track, single sided £15 + VAT

40 track, double sided £20 + VAT

80 track, double sided £30 + VAT =

3" DISKETTES (Box of 10)

40 track, flippable sides £45 + VAT = £51.75

3 %" DISKETTES (Box of 10)

Single Sided £50 + VAT = £57.50

Double Sided £60 + VAT = £69.00

DOT MATRIX PRINTERS

SMITH CRONA Fastext 80 80 column,

80 CPS

EPSON RX80F/T 80 column, 100 CPS £

EPSON FX80 80 column, 160 CPS £

NEAR LETTER QUALITY (NLQ) PRINTERS

PANASONIC PI 091 , 80 column switch selectable
1 20 CPS draft/22 CPS NLQ-switch

selectable for IBM PC or other Computers . . £ 260 + VAT = £ 299
KAGA 810 80 column, 160 CPS

draft/27 CPS NLQ £ 260 + VAT = £ 299

SMITH CORONA D200 80 column, 160 CPS draft
40 CPS NLQ, dual interface,

IBM PC compatible £ 420 + VAT = £ 483

SMITH CORONA D300 same as above but

136 column £ 560 + VAT = £ 644

FUJITSU DPL24 24 wire head, 288 CPS

draft/96 CPS NLQ £1,480 + VAT = £1,702

SMITH CORONA L1000 12 CPS, Bidirectional,

3 pitch, dual interface £ 260 + VAT = £ 299

JUKI 6100 20 CPS, 2K buffer £ 340 + VAT = £ 391

FUJITSU SP320 48 CPS, Diablo, 4K buffer £ 980 + VAT = £1,127

RICOH Flowriter RP1600 60 CPS, 46K buffer,

universal interface, Qume and Diablo £1,720 + VAT = £1,978

Tractors and Sheet Feeders also available!

£

200 + VAT = £

230

£

240 + VAT = £

276

£

380 + VAT = £

437

VISA, ACCESS WELCOME

Ordering Information:

Prices are exclusive of VAT unless stated otherwise. Unless otherwise stated,
Postage/ Carriage free within UK for advertised prices only — special or
discounted prices will attract postage /delivery charges at cost. All goods are
subject to availability and prior sale. Prices are subject to change without notice.
We accept VISA and ACCESS.

* Visit our brand new Showroom — off-street parking, nearest tube Kilburn
(Jubilee Line) OPEN MON-FRI: 9.30am - 5.30pm SAT 10.30am - 1.30pm

I micronix

I computers Ltd

1 Grangeway,

Kilburn,

London N.W.6

Tel: 01-625 0295 (5 lines)

Telex: 295173 MICROX G

KILBURN HIGH ROAD

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5

Cassette, disc or ROM?

Databases for the BBC micro come on
cassette, disc or ROM. Cassette
systems are usually the cheapest, and
use the micro’s free memory to store
records. Accessing records is ex-
tremely fast, but a file can consist of
only a small number of them. Also,
because of the serial nature of cassette
files, updating just one record involves
loading the whole file into memory,
altering the record, then saving the
entire file onto (another) tape.

With disc-based products, record re-
trieval is normally slower if there are a
large number of records on the disc.
The bonus is that file size is generally
limited not by free RAM but by the size
of the disc (see Mike Fryer’s article for
an interesting twist to memory usage -
a cassette-based program, which, if
modified for disc, uses program ‘over-
lays’ to ensure maximum memory is
available for record storage).

ROM systems, though usually the
most expensive, offer further advan-
tages. The program is instantly access-
ible and does not encroach on free
memory. Files are still stored on disc,
though the extra RAM available can
minimise the number of disc accesses
required, say, to browse through a file.

Choosing a database

You may still be wondering which
features you ought to be looking for in a
database. The first step in choosing the
best one for your requirements is to
assess carefully the application in
mind. It’s a good idea to write out
record layouts for the file(s) you intend
to use, with a list of fields and their
maximum sizes. Consider how many
entries (ie, records) you are likely to
need per file. Allow for expansion, and
ask yourself how big your files will
need to be in a few months’ time -not
just now. Bear the following simple
rules in mind when calculating sizes:

File size = no. of recs. * rec. size

Record size = sum of lengths of indi-
vidual fields within a
record

If anything, overestimate- make the
records and files slightly larger than
you think you need. You are almost
certain to want to add something at the
last minute! Give particular thought to
the kind of searching, sorting and print-
ing of data that you are likely to need
(tables 2-4). These are the areas where
databases seem to differ the most, in
terms of options and implementation. If
possible, have a good read of the docu-
mentation of any database package
you are contemplating buying and, if
you get the chance, try out those
features of importance to you.

The accompanying tables provide
both quantitative and qualitative data
on six databases currently available for
the Beeb. What follows is not intended
as an exhaustive comparative review
but outlines the typical features you are
likely to come across, with an indi-
cation of how they compare.

To provide ourselves with a yard-
stick, any reference to a ‘typical’ record

should be taken to mean the following
general layout (from an imaginary
‘address book’ file):

Forename (20 chars)
Surname (20 chars)
Addressl (25 chars)
Address2 (25 chars)
Town (25 chars)
Postcode (10 chars)
Phone no (15 chars)

Some of the points covered within the
tables merit further explanation. Table
1 covers file, record and field sizes.
Where possible, maximum values are
given. All systems reviewed here allow
only one file to be open at a time,
though there’s obviously no limit to the
number of files that can be maintained.
Some rather advanced micro-based
systems allow more than one file to be
open simultaneously, so that data in
physically distinct files can be trans-
ferred or compared.

It should be clear that file, record and
field sizes are all inter-related: an in-

Masterfile was thorough but slow

crease or decrease in one leads to
appropriate changes in the others. The
‘Fid calcs?’ heading denotes whether
calculations can be carried out on
values stored within fields.

Masterfile

Beta-Base

Datafile

Multibase

Profile

Datagem

System type

disc

disc

disc

cassette

cassette

ROM/disc

No. files open

1

1

1

1

1

1

File length

= disc size

= disc size

approx. 700k

approx. 4.5k

approx. 13k

10 Mb

Recs per file

= disc size/
record length

500 max in
search/sort

700 on

100k disc

1469

(3 byte recs)

approx. 13k

(1 byte recs)

5,110

Rec length

425 bytes

2k bytes

approx. 480 bytes

1,800

(1 rec file)

approx. 13k

(1 rec file)

6143

Fields per rec

17

200

av 12

9

limited only

by memory

62

Field types

String

Real No.
Integer

String

Real No.
Integer

String

String

String

Real No.
Integer
(16 & 32 bit).
Block
String

Char.

String

‘Numeric’

Text

Date

Fid Igth (string)

25

254

av 40

200

132

120

Fid calcs?

Y

Y

N

N

N

Y

Table 1. File, record!

and field data (av = average, all other values are maxima)

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

Signer jij Software wBSi

PROFESSIONAL SOFTWARE FOR THE BBC MICRO

SHARE ANALYSER

EASIPLOT is a sophisticated AND user friendly graph package for the
BBC Micro, placed 14th in the top 20 Educational packages by the.
leading Educational Computing Magazine. EASIPLOT has also come to
be regarded as an 'outstanding business package' and 'excellent value
for money'.

Note:- EASIPLOT 3 comes complete with the number charting
program DATA PLOTTER with graph magnification, colour and
moving average facilities. SUPERB VALUE AT £22.95.

EASIPLOT FACIUTES DISK CASSETTE

Line, Bar and Pie Charts YES YES

Auto 6i Manual Scaling YES YES

Grid & Scatter Options YES YES

No of simultaneous graphs 5 3

Overwrite memory YES NO

Screensave facility YES YES

Screendump facility YES YES

Fixed description per graph (char's) up to 200 100

Full plot and axis editing YES YES

Save, Load & *CAT facilities YES YES

Single file selection YES NO

Operating Manual (pages) 52 52

All our programs will produce hard copy on the following printers:-
EPSON (entire range), Shinwa CP80, Star DP 510, Seikosha (GP80A &
GP100A). Share Analyser will produce reports on any BBC compatible
printer.

PLEASE NOTE:- Our programs CANNOT BE OBTAINED FROM YOUR
LOCAL DEALER so send for details NOW.

PROGRAM PRICE

SHARE ANALYSER is a sophisticated portfolio reporting and share
analysis package designed for the small investor. The disk version has
a capacity of 20,000 SHARE PRICES and up to 320 buy/ sell deals
covering 20 share names. Share Analyser has facilities for profit
flexing and multiple merging of graphs and a variety of selectable
indicators. SHARE ANALYSER IS A MUST FOR THE INVESTOR
AT A BARGAIN PRICE.

PROFIT STATEMENT

NAME BRITISH PETROLEUM

DEALINGS

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

Expenses

101

Net Profit

720

°h Gain = 36

SHARE ANALYSER FACILITIES

DISK CASSETTE

No of prices stored

20,000

Appx 1700

Max no' of Holdings

20

20

Transactions per holding

16

16

Range. adjuster

YES

NO

File Manager

YES

NO

Printer Manager

YES

NO

REPORTS PRODUCED:-

Portfolio Valuation

YES

YES

Portfolio Profit Analysis

YES

YES

Share Profit Analysis

YES

YES

Share Movement Analysis

YES

YES

Transaction Record Report

YES

NO

File Status Report

YES

NO

Data Plotter (cassette) . . Model B & Electron

Data Plotter (disk) . . Model B

Easiplot 1 (cassette) . . Model B & Electron

Easiplot 2 (disk only) . . Model B

Easiplot 3 (including Data Plotter- disk only)

Share Analyser (cassette) . . Model B & Electron

Share Analyser (disk only) . . Model B

£7.00

£8.00

£15.95

£19.95

£22.95

£14.95

£19.95

GRAPHICS FACILITIES:-

Magnification option
Grid

Autoscale

Screenwrite

Screendump

Disk orders . . please state 40 or 80 track ( add £1 for 80 track and £1 .50 for
overseas orders). We will upgrade Easiplot 1 to Easiplot 2 for £7 (£10 to
Easiplot 3).

Write for full details of all our programs or leave your name and
address with our Answerphone service (Luton 33858).

All programs are normally despatched within 24 hours.

SELECTABLE GRAPHICAL

Lagged Moving Average
Centred Moving Average
Rise and fall indicator
Weekly/ Daily Low indicator
Superimpose Facility

INDICATORS:-

Send cheque/ P.O. etc to

Synergy Software, 7 St Andrews Close, Slip End, Luton, LU I 4DE.

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

154

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

I

Table 2 covers searching abilities.
‘No. relational operators’ shows how
many different comparisons of the
‘greater/lesser than’ and ‘equal to’ type
of search test which can be performed.
Most systems allow all six relational
operators ( = , <>, < , > , < = , > = )
to be used. The use of AND and OR con-
nectives, as in Basic, allows more com-
plex tests to be carried out in one step:
eg, searching for Surname = ‘Smith’
OR = ‘Jones’ would find all entries in
your address book with either sur-
name.

Wild cards should be familiar to DFS
users. These are special characters
that can be used to represent any
single character, or group of charac-
ters, in a search string. Thus ‘FIND B T'
might come up with BIT and BAT, and
'FIND IN*’ might uncover INK and
INSTRUMENT.

The INSTR function (called a ‘fuzzy
search’ in Masterfile) acts as in Basic -
ie, you can search for the occurrence of
a substring anywhere within a larger
string.

te^l Stratton mater 122<X

IV Main program

111 Craata a nav Ilia

K1 test rue tura a Ilia

or SPOOL In ASCII Ion

V2 20 (01904 M.ft.l

Datafile: the program menu

Some databases have only a case-
dependent search facility, which
means that a match is found only if you
enter your search value exactly as the
original field was entered in terms of
use of capital and lower-case letters. If
you wanted to search for all ‘Smith’
records, irrespective of whether they
were entered in upper-case, lower-
case, or a mixture of both, you couldn’t
do this on a case-dependent system.

Sorting, ie, arranging files in a
specific order, is outlined in table 3.
Remember that sort field length is not
always the same as the length of the
field being sorted! For instance, some
systems may allow a very long string to
be used as a sort key, but only perform
the sort operation using the first few
characters of the string. If you are
intending to sort long fields, be wary of
this, as the sorting performed may not
be satisfactory. Sorting is nearly
always case-dependent- all upper
case entries being ‘less’ in value than
lower-case.

Table 4 covers a number of printout
options: range of formatting available,

Master-

file

Beta-

Base

Datafile

Multibase

Profile

Datagem

No. search fids

17

5

= no. of

1

= no. of

6?

fids on

fids on

record

record

No. relational

operators

6

6

6

3

1

6

'AND' & ‘OR'?

(on same fid)

y

N

N

N

N

Y

Wildcards?

N

N

N

N

Y

Y

‘INSTR’?

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Case dependent?

N

Y

N

Y

N

either

Table 2. Search facilities (all are maximum values)

Master-

Beta-

file

Base

Datafile

Multibase

Profile

Datagem

No. sort fids

16

3

av 12

none

30

1

Sort fid Igth

25

10

av 40

N/A

132

120

Ascending?

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Y

Descending?

Y

Y

N

N

N

Y

Case dependent?

Y

Y

N

N/A

Y

Y

Table 3. Sorting facilities (av = average, all other values are maxima)

Master-

file

Beta-

Base

Datafile

Multibase

Profile

Datagem

Select fids?

Y

Y

Y

N

singly

Y

Change order?

Y

Y

N

N

N

Y

Position fids?

Y

Y

Y

N

N

Y

Single labels?

Y

Y

Y

Y

N

Y

Double labels?

N

Y

Y

N

N

N

Spool output?

Y

N

Y

N

N

Y

Table 4. Printout facilities

Master-

Beta-

file

Base

Datafile

Multibase

Profile

Datagem

Cost (inc VAT)

£19.00

£25.00

£49.50

£9.00?

£19.99

£129.95

Searching

8

6

8

3

5

8

Sorting

6

6

7

0

7

7

Printout

7

8

8

4

4

9

Speed

5

7

7

5

6

7

Modification of file

structures

6

6

6

1

0

8

Documentation

7

7

7

5

5

9

Ease of use

7

8

6

6

4

7

Overall value

7

8

5

5

4

7

Comments

Thorough

Very

Versatile

Cheap,

Good for

Excellent

but slow,

good all-

printing.

very

cassette

if you can

otherwise

round.

Costly,

limited

but over-

afford it

v. good

Best

for disc

priced

value for

money

Table 5. Overall performance (marks out of 10)

whether single and/or double address
labels can be printed, and whether
printed output can be sent to a ‘spool
file’ -vital for transferring database
output to other systems, such as word-
processors. A spool file is simply the
data saved to disc or tape as an ASCII
file rather than as data.

Finally, table 5 summarises the
major features with marks for overall
performance. Additional points of
interest not covered in the tables are
outlined below.

Six products compared

Masterfile , from Beebugsoft, is the first
of three disc-based systems reviewed
It has clearly defined limits to field,
record and file sizes, and these could
prove restrictive for ‘serious’ uses
although most home requirements
should be satisfied. A nice touch is that
total, average and standard deviation
values are produced for any numeric
fields in a retrieved subset -ideal for
statistical work. The search facility is

155

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

CHRISTMAS CRACKER.

A MEGABYTE DISC

SYSTEM FOR £299

95

(INC
VAT) i

If you’re thinking of upgrading your BBC
Micro, your hunt for value ends here.

A one Megabyte disc drive (unformatted)
double sided 80/40 track, hardware switchable
and a double density Acorn compatible disc
interface, for a combined price of £299.95,
including VAT.

But it doesn’t stop there. Because the
Opus name is second to none when it comes to

reliability. Our drives have been tested to the
limit - running for 8,000 hours without failure
- that’s a year of continuous use.

And that’s why we have the confidence tc
give a two year guarantee on all our drives.

No other company can give you that
reassurance.

So get cracking. The offer closes on
Christmas Eve.

5 1 /-." SINGLE DISC

DRIVES.

• All '/> height.

• Low power
consumption.

• Comprehensive manual.

• Direct drive mechanism.

• Free utilities disc.

• Fast access time.

5400 100K Single sided 40 Track £129.95

540 1 1 00K Single sided 40 Track £149.95

5402 200K Double sided 40 Track £169.95

5802 400K Double sided hardware switchable

80 40 Track_£199.95

5W DUAL DISC

DRIVES.

• Metal cased and all
necessary leads.

• Separate power supply.

• Utilities disc and manual.

540 ID 200K. 400K on line S/sided 40 Track_£349.95
5402D 400K/800K on line 1) sided 40 Track_£399.95
5802D 800K 1.6 Megabyte on line D/sided

hardware switchable 80/40 Track £499.95

DOUBLE DENSITY

DISC INTERFACE.

The ultimate Acorn
compatible disc inter-
face for your BBC Micro
Z-80 and 6502 2nd
Processor.

• Utilities on ROM including: Format and verify, tape tc
disc transfer, automatic 40/80 Track selection, auto-
matic density selection, unique mass copy routine,
powerful machine code operating system giving up tc
248 files, 80% faster than single density. Easy to install.
Free user manual supplied— £129.95

STOP PRESS FOR DEALERS: new dealer prices available.
Please ring us for information.

OPUS PRODUCTS ARE AVAILABLE FROM BOOTS,
SPECTRUM, JOHN MENZIES, ALLDERS AND OTHER
GOOD COMPUTER STORES NATIONWIDE.

OPUS SUPPLIES FTP.

158 Camberwell Road. London SE5 OFF. CqO 01-701 8668
Opening hours: 9-00- 5.30pm Monday 6^) 01-7036155
Friday. 9-OO-l.OOpm Saturday Telex: 29593 1

OPUS 3 2 K RAM BANK.

A 32K sideways RAM board to boost the capabilities of
your micro.

Unlike ROMS, each block is individually write selectable
and can write protected to ensure against accidental
erasure.

If you're running short of ROM sockets, the RAM card
allows you to load utilities as and when they are needed.

• Uses low power 64K dynamic RAM chips. • Simple to
install. • Consists of 2 x 16K blocks of sideways RAM.

• Two year guarantee £49.95

FLOPPY DISCS.

3" cartridge £5.75 each or £25.95 for 5.

5 '/•" Discs- with hill 5 year warranty and free library
case. S/SS/D £17.95 for 10. S/SD/D £19.95 for 10.
D/SD/D £21.95 for 10. S/S 80 Track £25.95 for 10.

D/S 80 Track £27.95 for 10.

n-

To: Opus Supplies Ltd., 158 Camberwell R< rad. London SK50KK. Please
rush me the following: (all prices include vat & carriage.)

Quantity

Description

Price

1 enclose a <

cheque for £ IOIAL

Or please debit my credit card account with

the amount of £.

My Access Barclaycard (please tick) No. is

Name-

Address.

L2

Telephone-

Opus.

-A- Opus Supplies Ltd

1 I

AC36|

thorough, in fact, probably the most
extensive of all the packages tested
here. Any (or all) fields in a record can
have a search condition set against
them, allowing powerful searches to be
carried out in one step.

Sorting is also versatile with Master-
file , allowing up to 16 sort keys to be
used at a time -more than enough for
any requirement I can think of. Further-
more each sort key can be selected for
ascending or descending sort order,
unique among the systems reviewed
here. The great bugbear is the sorting
speed, which the manual admits is very
slow. The documentation also points
out that it’s best, where possible, to sort
on only one key, since a faster sort rou-
tine is automatically selected when this
is the case.

Masterfile is supplied with a sample
datafile on disc and a small but clear
and adequate manual.

On a similar level in terms of price
and performance is Beta-Base , from
Clares Micro Supplies. Searches are
limited to a single field, although they
can be restricted to a given range
within the complete file by specifying
start and end addresses. Once a
search has been carried out, the

Good but overpriced was the verdict on
Profile

records that satisfy the search con-
ditions constitute a search list’. Sorting
and printing operations can be carried
out on this search list rather than on the
entire original file. Search lists can be
saved and reloaded as separate files,
but to reload them the original file must
be in memory.

The maximum number of records in
a search list (and therefore for sorting)
is 500, although the number of records
on file could be higher. Sort fields are
restricted to a maximum of three, and
only the first 10 characters of any field
are considered during sorting, even
though fields can be up to 254 bytes
long. Unfortunately, I seemed unable to
invoke MOS commands (\ . .) from
within Beta-Base , for example, to
create spool files for input to other
systems. If this is possible, the manual
doesn’t make it clear.

The third of our disc-based systems
is Datafile , from Cardiff Micro Software.
Among its features is its use of indexed
fields, allowing rapid retrieval of indi-
vidual records (typically five seconds).
The more usual sequential searching is
also available. Any kind of field can be
definea as indexed, and any number of
indexed fields can occur within a
record. However, they must all be
positioned at the start of the record lay-
out.

Since the order of fields cannot be
changed on printout, it may be necess-
ary to duplicate indexed fields within
the body of the record, which obviously
uses up file space. In other respects,
the print formatting options are very
versatile. Any field can be selected for
printout, and its starting column pos-
ition can be specified. Embedded
spaces and line-feeds are also easy to
add.

Another neat facility is that sorting
(on multiple keys if desired) can be
specified at the same time as a search.
That is, if records are found matching
the required conditions they are auto-
matically sorted in the appropriate
order. Only ascending sorts are poss-
ible. Validation of user input on the
‘Print layout’ menu leaves a lot to be
desired - nonsensical values are not
trapped.

Should the structure of the datafile
need to be modified in any way (eg,
extra or larger fields) a ‘Restructuring’
program allows this. However, the
manual warns that this is a slow and
tedious process and, looking at the
instructions, it does appear extremely
complicated.

Multibase is a cassette-based pack-
age from G.Soft Micro Software. RAM is
used for file storage, allowing at one
extreme a file holding a single record of
1800 bytes or at the other 1469 records
of three bytes each. This suggests a
maximum of about 4.5k for file storage,
which seems very small. Using our
‘typical’ address record, you can
expect to store about 30 records per
file.

You can’t compare an inexpensive
cassette system directly with a more
costly disc package, but all the same,
the facilities provided are very rudi-
mentary-non-existent as far as file
re-sorting is concerned. Searching
is limited to one field, and only three
relational operators are permissible -
‘equal to’, ‘less than/greater than’ the
search value.

Printing is restricted to the entire file
or entire records. You could use the
system for printing labels, but you can-
not leave out undesired fields during
printing.

Profile , a cassette-based package
from Haiku Software Technology, is

unique in its use of variable-length
records. This makes efficient use of
RAM by eliminating the unused space
often found in predetermined, fixed-
format record layouts. Fields can be
one of six types, further improving
memory usage:

1. unsigned integer (16-bit nos.)

2. signed long integer(32-bit nos.)

3. numeric reals

4. character (1-byte string)

5. string

6. block string (a field built of

several

strings)

A record can have up to 30 key fields,
which together allow it to be uniquely
defined and also provide very rapid re-
trieval of individual records. Profile
automatically sorts records on entry,
but it can re-sort files at any time, using
the specified key fields. If a record
search is requested on a non-key field,

MEHU

i. CREATE FILE

2 DISPLAY FILE

3. SEARCH FILE

4 ALTER FILE

5 SAVE FILE

6 LOAD FILE

7. AOO TO FILE

B DELETE RECORD

9 FILE DUMP

Select option no*D»r

Multibase - limited facilities but cheap

or if you want to search for more than
one record, the system automatically
performs a sequential search through
the file. This is very tedious to set up.
Every single field within the record is
presented in turn for possible inclusion
in the search criteria.

The ‘wild card’ facility is not flexible
enough to allow a full INSTR simu-
lation. You can check whether a sub-
string occurs at the start of a string or
after a fixed number of characters, but
not anywhere within a string, as
allowed by INSTR. Printout facilities
are a weak point, with virtually no con-
trol over formatting.

There is, incidentally, no reason why
cassette-based systems need have
limited printing capabilities. Mike
Fryer’s article demonstrates some of
the facilities that can be implemented.

Datagem is a ROM-based offering
from Gemini, supplied in 24k of EPROM
on a special carrier board. It requires a
BBC system with at least one disc
drive, to load and store data files. As
one might expect from the price, the
product has a very professional feel to
it.

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

158

The package is undoubtedly power-
ful, but the range of options available,
the sizeable manual, and the number of
special control-keys to be learned com-
bine to make the system appear unduly
complex at first. Perhaps its greatest
strength is the large size of files that
can be accommodated (potentially
spanning more than one disc). The
number of search fields is limited at
any one time by the size of the input line
to about six, but lists of records can be
stored in one of eight levels and com-
bined with one another to produce
increasingly complex subsets of the
original file.

Comprehensive calculation facilities
are available, and equations can be
conveniently stored under single-letter
mnemonics. Screen formatting is
attractive, but time-consuming to set
up. A separate ‘Print layout’ record
allows two different record formats to
co-exist, one suited to screen, the other
for printout. A ‘default’ record can be
set up to simplify adding new records.
Any fields not entered at creation time
are set to the values specified on the
default record.

Conclusion

The suitability of the products reviewed

The Gemini Datagem board

here could be summarised as follows:

If you want fast retrieval from a
limited number of records, are unlikely

to perform frequent updates and don’t
need any fancy sorting or printing
features, then either cassette system
would suit you. However, Profile does
not compare well to similar-priced disc
systems with much better facilities.

Any of the disc systems would suit
most typical home, school or even
modest business requirements. Mas-
terfile offers complex searches in one
step, comprehensive sorting but slow
sort speed. Beta-Base is a good all-
round performer and is easy to use, but
has a sort field length of only 10. Data-
file has fast indexing, versatile print for-
matting, but seems over-priced at twice
the cost of the other systems.

Datagem stands out in terms of both
price and performance, though
whether it is worth the money is a moot
point. If you have serious business
applications in mind, especially using
large files, and cost is not an obstacle,
then Datagem is probably the most
sensible buy. As with any sophisticated
system, its power is largely determined
by the user’s willingness and ability to
get to grips with the facilities.

If you would like further insight into
the workings of databases, or want a
system for hands-on experience, Mike
Fryer’s article will prove helpful.

SCHOOLS!

Meadnet-380Z/BBC Network

MEADNET has been designed to connect up
to 16 BBC Micros to a single RML 380Z, giving
each BBC on the network access to the disks
and printer connected to the 380Z.

Features include:

★ Individual User ID/Password system.

★ Comprehensive filing system with full
random access data file facilities.
Compatible with View, Edword,

Wordwise.

★ Requires no hardware modifications to
the BBC network stations.

★ No user memory is used by the filing
system. (PAGE remains at &E00).

★ The 380Z can be used normally when not
required to run the network.

★ Familiar Ctrl-B/Ctrl-C printer usage.

PRICES:

Basic Meadnet System
(includes all hardware required,
software on disk, and manual)

State whether 40-column or
Varitext version required.

Each BBC station
(includes software on EPROM,

3 ft connecting lead, and manual)

N.B. A 5-pin DIN plug extension lead between
each BBC station and the 380Z will need to be
provided by the purchaser, in addition to the
above equipment.

Prices quoted include p + p but exclude VAT.

£ 20.00

Orders and enquiries to:

RICHMEAD MICRO, 29 Easby Way, Lwr Earley, Reading, RG6 3XA

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

Cartridge System
that does not
overload your pocket
or your BBC Micro

Q Low, low power consumption
unlike other systems.

0 Saves on memory.

O Price for complete kit including
one cartridge only £19.95 inc. VAT.

O Extra ROM cartridges £15. 75 for four,
£39.50 for ten cartridges, and single
cartridges £4.95 each.

Vi/der\'

COMPUTER^r SUPPLIES f

Unit 7 Trumpers Way
Hanwell W 7 2QA
Tel: (01) 843

O Our cartridge system for educational
establishments has been approved by
the Test Bureau for use in schools.

Why risk damage to your BBC micro
every time you want to change ROM’s?
Instead, store your growing collection
of ROM’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 ROM’s.

4

Dealer enquiries welcome.

TIGLEN

gives von the best value
in monitors, printers
& BBC Micros

Canon PW 1080A-
KAGA-TAXAN KP810

New printer recently reviewed shows
near letter quality printing from dot
matrix printer. Friction and tractor
feeds. 160 cps. Highly recommended.
Epson RX 80/FT Brand leader. A re-
liable well established printer with
friction and tractor feeds. 80 cps
Epson FX 80 The upmarket printer
from the Epson range. 160 cps. All
other facilities you would expect.
Shinwa/Cosmos 80
Mannesmann Tally MT80

Daisywheel Printers

Juki 6100

SAN PLE 2000/QUEN DATA

BBC Micros

Model B
Model B + DFS

Please add £8 for 1 £ metre
printer lead for BBC Micro

INC EXCL

VAT

£339.00

£319.00

£275.00

£389.00

£199.00

£209.00

£385.00

£255.00

£369.00

£459.00

VAT

£294.78

£277.39

£239.13

£338.26

£173.04

£181.74

£334.78

£221.74

£320.87

£399.13

Colour Monitors

Microvitec standard 1431
Microvitec medium 1451
Microvitec high 1441
Philips 14" TV/Monitor

(RGB input) specially
manufactured by Philips

Monochrome Monitors

Philips 12" Green BM7502

Even higher resolution

INC

EXCL

VAT

VAT

£185.00

£160.87

£289.00

£251.30

£399.00

£346.96

£229.00

£199.13

£89.00

£77.39

/

A </>

Please add £>8.00 for carriage. ^ f ^

We also stock other computer peripherals, accessories and SJr Jr

complete word processor systems. y

Please call for our latest offers. Y

You may also purchase these items direct by calling at ^

our factoiy/showroom in Hanwell, London. /

Prices correct at time of going to. press and offers y & <$> <f

subject to availability. y ^ c<?> ^P’

DISK

STORAGE
No. 1

This

diskette
storage
holds

70 diskettes

SUPER LOW

lOdiscs
per box

prices Inc.VAT

1-2 boxes 3-9 boxes 10+ boxes |

ss 40 track £ 15.00 £ 13.50 £ 13.00
DS 40 TRACK £ 20.00 £ 18.40 £ 17.70
SS 60 TRACK £ 23.00 £ 20.70 £ 20.00
DS 80 TRACK £ 26.70 £ 24.00 £ 23.00

FROM

VIGLEN

BOSTON

Full Twelve

Months Guarantee

COMPUTER

SUPPLIES

Our

price £14.95 Including VAT

3M SCOTCH
DISCS

S' 1 // diskettes
single sided

Ourl

SUPER LOW

Unit 7 Trumpers Way Hanwell W 7 2QA Tel: (01 ) 843 9903

DISK STORAGE
No. 2

This lockable
diskette storage
holds 80
diskettes

Our

SUPER LOW

price

£14.85 Including VAT

PERSPEX KEYBOARD STOWAWAY

& VDU STAND Our

price

SUPER LOW

£14.95

SWIVEL BASE
F OR MONITOR

Our ETiinarimyJ price

£13.95 Including VAT

Open

GRAFPAD Our klUUariWYl price
£143.75 Including VAT

This remarkable Grafpad from British Micro allows
you to input information into your computer - very
accurate and high resolution, not to be confused

rr»™-lolc which fire both more . C

with other models which are both more
expensive and less accurate. Supplied
with all necessary cables, manual
and sample programs, to allow you
to develop your own application programmes.

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

At Viglen — the choice is yours

First class drives from TEAC AND TEC

Replacing
cassettes
with disc
drives
means
programme
loaded and data
accessed in
seconds not minutes.

Our guaranteed disc drives are
a comprehensive fact-filled S3 page manual,

exclusive to Viglen, which shows loading

cassette to disc and other information for the
BBC Model B.

Also supplied utilities disc, containing 13 useful utilities

We also stock at even
lower prices CANON,
EPSON, MITSUBISHI
and SANYO drives
too. Please ring
for details.

Track

switch

on rear

panel

TEAC 55 AND TEC 500 SERIES SLIMLINE DRIVES

Single Drives

Incl

Excl

VAT

VAT

40 TRACK 100K SINGLE SIDED
40/80 TRACK 200K

£113.00

£98.26

SINGLE SIDED SWITCHABLE
40/80 TRACK 400K

£139.00

£120.87

DOUBLE SIDED SWITCHABLE
INTEGRAL POWER SUPPLY

£169.00

£146.96

FOR SINGLE DRIVE
SUPPLEMENT FOR SINGLE
DRIVE INDUAL CASE WITH

£18.00

£15.92

DUAL DRIVE POWER SUPPLY

£49.00

£42.61

Incl

Excl

Dual Drives

VAT

VAT

40 TRACK 200K SINGLE SIDED
40/80 TRACK 400K

£226.00

£196.52

SINGLE SIDED SWITCHABLE
40/80 TRACK 800K

£278.00

£241.74

DOUBLE SIDED SWITCHABLE
INTEGRAL POWER SUPPLY

£338.00

£293.91

FOR DUAL DRIVES

EXTERNAL CASED POWER
SUPPLY CAPABLE OF

DRIVING DUAL SLIMLINE

£36.00

£31.30

DRIVES

£45.00

£39.13

Vi/jkiv

Unit 7 Trumpers Way
Hanwell W7 2QA
Telephone: (01) 843 9903

VIGLEN"*''

• Orders welcomed from Educational Establishments and Government Departments

How to order

By post To purchase any of the items simply fill
in the coupon with your requirements
Enclose your Cheque/ P O or use your Access/
Barclaycard Please make cheques payable to
VIGLEN COMPUTER SUPPLIES and
above address Allow seven days for
delivery and add £8 00 carnage,
and insurance on all items
By telephone: Ring (01) 843 9903
Credit Card holders (Access/

Barclaycard only) can purchase *

‘ ‘ “ 5

BOSTON

MANOR

Full Twelve
Months Guarantee

All prices correct at time of going to press.
All offers subject to availability.

by telephone Please give Card
No . Name. Address and the
items required

162

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

COMPLETE DISK
SYSTEM FOR THE
HOC MOOED

VIGLEN-^C

• Package assumes you own a BBC Model B with switched mode power
supply plus 1.2 operating system.

OFFER INCLUDES:

• Disk Interface (call at factory for free fitting while you wait, or
supplied with easy to fit instructions)

• 400K 40/80 track double sided TEAC Disk Drive (Model FD55F)
including case and all leads

• Comprehensive, fact-filled, 53 page manual including
techniques of loading from cassette to disc. Not available

elsewhere. .

• Utilities Disk including formatting, verifying, BASIC program
comparator, disassembler, Epson screen dump, dual
catalogue (giving 62 files), large printing and others

✓ oP

Vuy

XL**®** DISKDRIVE
& ACORN
INTERFACE

✓ ^ J

4 -

COMPUTER ^SUPPLIES
Unit 7 Trumpers Way
Hanwell W7 2QA
Telephone: (01) 843 9903

AMPLE ON-THE-SPOT
CAR PARKING -
AND IT’S FREE!

JA £289

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

163

ORBIT ORBIT ORBIT ORBIT ORBIT ORBIT ORBIT ORBIT ORBIT ORBIT ORBIT ORBIT ORBIT ORBIT ORBIT

ELBUG A COR N

. :

ELECTRON

Join the Electron User Group

Members receive 10 copies of the magazine
ELBUG each year. ELBUG is devoted

EXCLUSIVELY to the ELECTRON MICRO It is

packed with News, Reviews, Hints, Tips,
Programming ideas, Major articles, plus Regular
program features including games and useful
utilities.

no space wasted on programs and articles for
other computers.

BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP

ELBUG MAGAZINE

Ten copies a year mailed free of charge.

ELBUG is produced by BEEBUG Publications
Ltd., publishers of BEEBUG, the magazine of the
National User Group for the BBC Micro.
BEEBUG now has some 20,000 members and
has achieved a high reputation both in this
country and abroad.

DISCOUNT SCHEME

Extensive discount scheme with major retailers.

SOFTWARE LIBRARY

A growing range of software titles at budget
prices for members.

The formula which makes BEEBUG an
invaluable companion for users of the BBC
micro, has been applied to ELBUG.

SOFTWARE CLUB

Substantial discounts on software from major
software houses.

By subscribing to ELBUG you gain all the
advantages of a single-micro magazine, with

LOCAL USER GROUPS

Lists of local affiliated user groups.

SPECIAL OFFER
8 FREE PROGRAMS

Subscribe now, and get a free introductory cassette
containing 8 tested programs for the Electron.

SPACE CITY. Defeat the invading Aliens with your laser, and save
the city

3D NOUGHTS AND CROSSES. Pit your wits against the
ELECTRON on a 4x4x4 board

RACER. Guide your racing car to victory, avoiding other cars and
obstacles on the track

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

KEY SET ROUTINE. A program to set up the user function keys

MEMORY DISPLAY. An efficiently written utility to display the con-
tents of memory (ROM and RAM)

CHARACTER DEFINER. Define individual graphics characters with
this useful utility for use in your own programs.

SPACE

CITY

r

RACER

3D MAZE

HOW TO JOIN

To subscribe for one year, and gel your FREE CASSETT E send £9.90 (payable to Orbit) plus a strong stamped addressed envelope (lor the cassette)

SUBSCRIPTIONS TO: ELBUG, DEPT 1 3, PO BOX 1 09, HIGH WYCOMBE, BUCKS

W 0

Six months trial subscription (5 issues) UK only £590— FREE CASSETTE OFFER STILL STANDS
Membe rsttlp outside UKjone year only): Eire and Europe £16.00. Middle East £19.00. Americas and Africa £2 1 .00, other countries £23 00.
Editorial Address: ORBIT, PO BOX SO. St Albans, Herts

Printer Stand

£ 12-95

Carriage & Packing £3.00

INC. VAT

• Tor 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 2 V wide • Non slip rubber pads

Dimensions: 15" (380mm) wide 12V' (320mm) deep 4" (90mm) high

GOME TO VIGLEN FOR A FAST, FRIENDLY, PERSONAL SERVICE

DEALER ENQUIRIES WELCOME

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 Cheque/P.O. for £_

. made out to

I VIGLEN COMPUTER SUPPLIES or debit my ACCESS/ BARCLAYCARD No..

Name.

Signature.

I Address.

AU12/6

PHILIPS 14"
COLOUR
TV/ MONITOR

£229

TV Monitor (resolution better
\ /ax than 585 x 450 P‘ xe,s Dot-to-
inc VA I dot distance 65mm)

As a company we chose the 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 for yourself.

EASY ON-THE-SPOT PARKING. AND IT S FREE!

Plus £8 carriage
and packing

COMPUTE R M SUPPLIES
Personal Service & Quality coupled with Wholesale Prices.
Unit 7 Trumpers Way. Hanwell. London W7 2QA
Telephone 01-843 9903

For special attention to your orders or enquiries concerning
MONITORS. PRINTERS. COMPUTERS, DISC DRIVES,
ring 01-843 9903 NOW or fill in the coupon below

• RGB (Linear & TTL Automatically Selected) • Composite Video &
Audio (CVBS) Input ‘Maximum 80 characters per line. 25 lines ‘20
Mhz Band width ‘Sparkling picture in seconds ‘Lightweight •
Excellent performance — very reliable • Headphone Socket connects
to tape recorder ‘Loudspeaker mute switch ‘Retractable carrying
handle • Includes RGB lead connecting direct to your BBC micro

Post to VIGLEN COMPUTER SUPPLIES, UNIT 7. TRUMPERS WAY, HANWELL. LONDON W7 2QA

Please send me (qty) Philips TV/Monitor at £237 each. I enclose Cheque/P O. for £_

VIGLEN COMPUTER SUPPLIES or debit my ACCESS/BARCLAYCARD No

Name «■■■ Signature

. made out to

Address .

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

165

Naprie

Address

(Fordealer enquiries information please attach letterhead)

Please tick requirements

6 il A .ru / SL a Full Brochure Pack

[ ^ ** i*/ D Dealer Information

LJ Hitt ttat&AM □ 3 'Tech Details

/UqrOUjrri D | nter f ace De tails

GENEROUS DEALER TERMS AVAILABLE auo«

• •

18 GROVE ROAD, SUTTON,
SURREY Telephone 01 661-2266

166

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

«•

I EDUCATION NEWS

Science Topics mixes
software with video

THE first two software packs in
a series of 10 planned to
accompany BBC2’s Science
Topics autumn and spring
term programmes are now
available. Waves is a suite of
programs on two discs which
aims to give pupils simulated
experience of wave motion,
and Relationships, on one
disc, is a simulation that casts
the pupil in the role of the
medical control officer in an
African village.

Three more packs will be
ready for the spring term:
Bonding, Electronics and Elec-
tromagnetic Spectrum. The
series will be completed in
1985/6, with three more avail-
able for the September term
(Ecology and Conservation,
Macromolecules and Newton
and the Shuttle). The final two
packs will be Periodic Table
and Food and Population.

The 10 packages have been
designed to complement the
weekly 'TV series and work
with it towards a common pur-
pose, although TV films and
software can be used on their
own. The 20 programmes in
the TV series are aimed at 14-
16 year-olds following O-level
and CSE syllabuses. They last
for 20 minutes each and are
transmitted on Tuesdays at
1.15pm and repeated on Fri-
days at 9.30am.

The strength of the Science
Topics combination, says
series producer Dr Peter Bratt,
is that it fixes strong visual
images of the real world in the
pupil’s mind, thus making the
interaction demanded by the
software simulations and
experiments ‘more relevant
and meaningful’.

TV can excite,’ he says,
and bring the real world into
the classroom, but it is not
interactive; CAL may not be
real, but users can ask “what
if” questions. Combining the
two produces more than the
sum of its parts.

Thus if a child watches
scenes of an African village
and is concerned to see
people suffering from malaria,
hisor her role inthe simulation
as medical control officer will
seem much more relevant.
The pupil is able to make deci-
sions and see what effect
these have on malaria levels.

The software -all disc-
based -has been developed
by the Computers in the Curri-
culum Project at Chelsea Col-
lege, and has undergone
extensive trials in schools.
Peter Bratt says no previous
knowledge of computers is
required by the teacher: The
programs are menu-driven,
using inverse video and
single-key operation, and a

AERIAL shot of Slapton Ley nature reserve, South Devon, which
features in the Science Topics TV film on ‘Ecology and Conser-
vation'. The CAL software companion to the programme takes the
form of a management game in which the user has to take into
account the conflicting opinions of interest groups concerned with
different aspects of natural life on the reserve -the fish, the reed
beds, the birds and the otter population. The most successful
player makes improvements with the minimum of disruption.

function key strip is supplied in
the software booklets.’

The software is not copy
protected. Dr Bratt is worried
that there will be a risk of being
pirated but feels it is less im-
portant than giving the teacher
the facility to modify the
models supplied.

In the classroom the soft-
ware will be worked by small
groups of children at a time, so
that a lot of time is spent away
from the computer, planning
and analysing results. Pupils
are encouraged to use screen
dumps, keep record sheets
and make notes, and in the
Bonding package the com-
puter keeps a database which
the pupils can sort.

Films and software are
linked not only by theme and

treatment -the graphics used
on the films were done on a
BBC micro.

The project embodies pio-
neering work. The latest
scientific ideas,’ says Peter
Bratt, ‘have been brought to
bear on both videos and CAL.
We've consulted the world’s
leading authorities on genetic
engineering, for example, and
we’re using the most up-to-
date examples of real-life
science and technology.’

Teachers can order the
Science Topics CAL software
packs, costing £14.95 (plus
VAT), from BBC Publications,
Schools Orders Section, 144
Bermondsey Street, London
SE1 3TH. They are also avail-
able through the normal retail
outlets.

167

CHILDREN’S QUIZ

Fifteen ‘Science Topics’
CAL software packs
must be won!

ANSWER 10 questions cor-
rectly and you could win for
your class up to five of the
Computer Aided Learning
disc packs that accompany
the autumn and spring TV
Science Topics programmes
being broadcast by BBC2.

The series is aimed at O-
level and CSE science
students -and so is our Sci-
Quiz. Write your answers on
a postcard and include
details of your age, form

number, school and school
address and send it to Sci-
Quiz, Acorn User, 68 Long
Acre, London WC2E 9JH. It
must reach us on or before
Friday, January 4, 1985.

The first correct entry to be
picked out of a hat will win
five CAL packs, the second
wins two packs and there will
be eight third prizes of one
pack each. Winners will be
announced in the March issue
(published on February 21).

1 What insect carries the malaria parasite?

2 Which have the longer wavelength, bass notes or treble
notes?

3 How many electrons are there in the outer shell of a chlorine
atom?

4 Which machines get their name from the Czech word for
‘worker’?

5 What is the formula that relates the frequency and the wave-
length of a wave?

6 What is the general name for animals that feed on other ani-
mals?

7 What do the initials PVC stand for?

8 What is the name given to the back pack used by the NASA
astronauts to fly around outside the Shuttle?

9 Name one element which has similar chemistry to sodium.

10 Approximately what is the population of the world today?

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

IS KEYBOARDING
TURNING YOU
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Let’s face it, your BBC Micro is a demanding creature. Powerful it may
be, but using the keyboard is probably a lot harder on YOUR system
than you expected — and it’s all because you’re forced to ‘hunt and
peck’ amongst 74 keys, on a keyboard that’s a hundred years old!

It’s no wonder you feel like the many-headed hydra! With your eyes
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and back again. Errors and bugs are bound to creep in.

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168

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

EDUCATION NEWS

Calling all
micro junkies

A CLAIM that must have
brought a few teachers to an
abrupt halt in the middle of
preparing computer-centred
materials for their classes was
that many children risked
becoming computer-addicted
both at home and at school - to
the obvious detriment of their
education. Not only that, the
computer is ruining marriages
throughout the country as the
computer ‘fiend’ - usually the
husband -disappears into the
study with his new mistress
until 4 am.

What wasn’t said in the
reports, published both in this
country and abroad, was that
research into the subject had
just been started at the Univer-
sity of Technology, Loughbor-
ough, and the researcher,
Margaret Shotton, is con-
cerned that conclusions are
being drawn from the fact that
certain areas are being inves-
tigated. She expressed her
frustration with the press and
said she had been grossly mis-
quoted.

The aim of Ms Shotton’s re-
search is to find out whether
there is a significant problem
in the areas outlined above
and she’d like to hear from
anyone with relevant infor-
mation.

As yet she has been unable
to interview any children and
would welcome the oppor-
tunity to do so. Similarly,
adults -families -who have
experienced problems would
be able to contribute to this re-
search.

As yet interviews have been
limited to middle-class cou-
ples, probably since comput-
ing tends to be a middle-class
occupation. With children,
however, the social classes
are bridged by contact with the
machines at school.

If you have information to
offer and are willing to be
interviewed contact Ms Shot-
ton at the Department of
Human Sciences, University of
Technology, Loughborough,
LEI 13TU, tel: (0509) 263171.

DIY CAL

THE preparation of classroom
materials for use either with
the computer or separately
has become the subject of
several programs on the

Commentary by
Nick Evans,
who welcomes
reader feedback

market. Packages such as
Wida Software’s Question-
master or Choicemaster
makes CAL preparation a
straightforward task. 'Author-
ing programs’, as such soft-
ware is appallingly called, are
probably of more use than any
other kind to teachers of
almost any subject and, once
the initial operating skills are
learned, the member of staff
will be able to manufacture his
or her own software to fit the
particular situation being dealt
with.

A good general package of
this kind is entitled ‘Clues’ and
comes with the Longman
Micros in the Primary Class-

room kit, Module 3- Managing
the Micro. ‘Clues’ is a text-
handling package allowing the
user to create a passage of
text and then flag particular
words so that when the com-
puter comes across them it
will perform a particular func-
tion assigned to that flag. So,
for example, the piece of text
in figure 1 may be then flagged

Jack and

Jill

went

up the hill

Figure 1.

Jack and

Jill

went

up the hill

•

•

S

D

Figure 2.

Quinkeys in the classroom

‘CLEARLY He had only one
keyboard in mind when He
designed the human hand’-
thus Microwriter’s Quinkey
advertisement and, when you
consider the claims that are
made for the device and the
good notices it has so far
received, you wonder if they
don’t have a point. Peter
Voke’s review of the Quinkey
in the September issue was
quite complimentary and indi-
cated that future trends in
computer design are going to
mean that miniaturisation will
probably cause manufacturers

to plump for a system like the
Quinkey for pocket computers.
But is it working in education?
The educational package for
interfacing four Quinkeys to
the same Beeb and thereby
sharing a split screen seems
to be a good idea -albeit
cramped -but how does it
work out in practice?

Are there any Quinkey devo-
tees bursting to tell us about it?
In particular, what sort of
materials are you using with it
and did you find any significant
problems in adapting pro-
grams?

How does the four-Quinkey package work in practice?

with other characters as
shown in figure 2.

These flags are now
assigned particular opera-
tions so the **’ may mean 'Re-
place each character with a
star’, the ‘S’ - 'Scramble the
letters’ and ‘D’- ‘Delete the
word and replace with three
dashes’.

Whole sentences and even
paragraphs may be scrambled
and also individual words may
be flagged to be highlighted in
colour. The use of this sort of
exercise for understanding the
workings of language and for
exploring the child’s ability to
deduce information from given
facts is limited only by the
teacher’s imagination, and
applications have been found
for it in many different subject
areas.

Another package of much
greater sophistication is
Acornsoft’s Microtext , devel-
oped by the National Physical
Laboratory (reviewed in the
October issue). The ROM-
based version will apparently
be capable of interfacing with
a video disc for random access
of video material.

Education in general and
Microtext in particular are
likely to be the saviours of the
video disc industry, which took
off like a lead balloon in the
bright glare of publicity. The
big limitation of video disc as
against video tape is that the
disc is read-only- there is no
facility for recording your own
images and so the consumer
has eschewed the higher-
quality disc picture for the
flexibility of the tape. When the
educational benefits of
random access storage of
video material were realised,
however, people began to take
the disc seriously again and
the first permanent interactive
video centre (which opened
last week) is at the Council
for Educational Technology, 3
Devonshire Street, London
WIN 2BA.

If you have developed any
materials using the videodisc
then write and tell the rest of
us!

Scheme ends

PRIMARY schools that have
not taken up the Department of
T rade and Industry’s half-price
computer offer have only until
January 11, 1985 to do so.
Every primary school is
eligible for this package and
LEA computer advisers should
be contacted for further
details.

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

All available from your software dealer
For your free catalogue Phone our HOTUME today (0279) 34622
or post the coupon now to Longman Software. Dept GSS. Longman House.
Burnt Mill. Harlow. Essex CH20 2JC

Address.

.Post code

Our range of new software and books
includes something for all the family -
typing, chess, nursery rhymes, guidance
and tips on how to get the most from
your micro.

There are lots more exciting programs

in our free catalogue. Get it today.

First Moves

Chess for the young

beginner. Plus colour Nursery Rhymes 1
poster with extra details. Nursery Rhymes 2
£9-95 Nursery Rhymes 3

BBC B/ELECTRON All your traditional number

Masterkey and counting rhymes come

48 lessons in this easy-to- alive with imaginative
follow 10-hour typing and animated graphics,
course. £9.95 each

£9.95 BBC B

BBC B/ELECTRON

The BBC Micro Guide
£2.95

The Electron Micro
Guide £2.95
Micros in Control
£4.95

Compact, practical books,
full of ideas and tips on
how to get more mileage
from your micro.

LONGMAN SOFTWARE

ORDER ROMM

Price i enclose a cheque for £

made payable to Shiva Publishing L td.
£6. 95 For pay men t by Access Barclaycard
American Express:

Shiva titles are available from large branches of Boots. Menxles. W. H. Smith
and bookshops, computer shops and department stores. In case of difficulty ,
please write to: SHIVA PUBLISHING LTD. FREEPOST. 64 Welsh Row. Nantwlch.
Cheshire CW5 SBR. Telephone orders welcome: 0270 628272 124 hrs/7 days /
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Please send full catalogue of computer
books and software

170

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

EDUCATION

EXPLORING

ENIGMAS

Nick Evans reviews a suite of
programs which investigate the
environment in maps and words

T HE Dudley Programs make up a
suite of software designed to
cover a wide-ranging band of topic
work within the junior/middle age
range. They are divided into broad
theme areas as follows: Weather,
Travel, Exploration, Myself, Food, and
Homes. Within each theme area four
main subjects are dealt with by the pro-
grams: Maths, Environmental Studies,
Science and Language.

Previous offerings from Five Ways
Software have tended to be high on
ideas but low on presentation and
visual impact, especially in the second-
ary sector. These programs certainly
reverse that trend, for they give the
child not only excellent visuals but also
a high level of accuracy and of training
technique. The objectives of the pro-
grams have obviously been carefully
considered and the presentation of the
material makes using the software
easy for both pupil and teacher. One
reservation on ease of use, however, is
that if you are using tapes of these pro-
grams you must endure the intermin-
able loading time that Five Ways thinks
necessary to prevent us getting our
sticky fingers on its code.

In this review we deal with one
theme -that of Exploration. The con-
cepts of mapping our environment and
thus being able to control it are put for-
ward strongly in this set as we battle
with the enigma of the Pharaoh's Tomb,
puzzle over the intricacies of Ordnance
Survey co-ordinates, scan the heavens
for our astrological signs and constel-
lations and, finally, explore the world of
books and words in the Librarian/
Wordfinder package.

The Dudley Programs Exploration
Theme’, Heinemann Computers in
Education/Five Ways Software, BBC,
£33 plus VAT (available individually at
£9.25 each)

Tomb Adventurer

As you enter the tomb a stone slab
seals the entrance behind you, cutting
you off from the outside world. A 'magic
map' appears on the floor and, using
this, you are able to navigate your way
first to the treasure and then to the exit.
The trouble is that you need to memor-
ise the instructions. You may re-inspect
the map but you lose points for that.
Once you reach the last point of your
expedition the 'magic word' has to be
guessed - with the help of an anagram
- and you thereby free yourself. The
magic words, needless to say, are the
names either of great explorers or of
their objectives.

On the screen is displayed the magic
map which shows the pupil's position in
the chamber relative to points T and E,
the starting points for the discovery of
the treasure and the exit. When the
pupil has digested the instructions the
map disappears and he or she is left
with a view of what can be seen in the
chamber- represented by a simple line
drawing - and a compass that revolves
in a most friendly manner to show
which way the user is pointing. Moving
to T and E is probably the most difficult
part of the operation and the child
needs to be well organised - first tries
are usually chaotic, interspersed with
frequent references back to the map,

Star map showing the position of the con-
stellation of Orion from the ‘Star Gazer'
program.

Orion

Ha«e Magnitude Distance
Rigel 1 988

(light years)

You can choose to look at a constellation in
detail, and ask for information about its
component stars

up-dated to show present position. The
controls for movement are simple and
the problem lies not in the operation
of the program but in the orientation
itself.

As with all these programs, the
teacher is able to control the level at
which is is used - in this case whether a
four- or eight-point compass is used;
how many rooms have to be explored;
whether the compass rose moves or
remains stationary with only the needle
moving, and also whether north is
shown on the original map. The level of
difficulty attainable by juxtaposition of
these variables is quite astonishing -
as is the ability of the children to sur-
mount the problems.

An excellent program with much to
commend it in presentation, planning
and the way it meets educational
requirements.

Star Gazer

On starting this program the pupil will
be asked for the exact time of day,
month and year on which he wishes to
inspect the sky. Regardless of whether
it is day or night the constellations in
view will be shown. The time-scale
covers the decade beginning in 1983.
Having selected the time the star map

171

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

If you're involved with education,

then you're involved

with hi-technology and computers.

THE

HI-TECHNOLOGY

AND

COMPUTERS

IN ~

EDUCATION

exhibition

23-26 January, 1985
BARBICAN CENTRE, LONDON EC2

The face of education is
changing, monitors are replacing
blackboards, light pens are
replacing chalk.

As an educationalist take an opportunity to
get right up to date with everything that's
new in high technology and computers in
education. The new techniques aren't only
for the science labs or computer classes,
they cover all aspects of the schools
curriculum, from geography to physical
training.

This exhibition, the first of its kind, is a
definitive showcase for both manufacturers
and users alike. You can see the best the

world has to offer, compare specifications
and collect literature away from the bustle of
day to day activities.

Entrance is free to anyone working in
education and over 18 years of age. Just clip
the coupon below. (To be completely up-to-
date, book into the series of half-day
seminar/workshops organised alongside the
exhibition in co-operation with the Micro-
electroncs Education Programme. For
details of these and a booking form, tick the
box on the coupon below.)

Timothy Collins,

Computer Marketplace (Exhibitions) Ltd.,

20 Orange Street,

London WC2H 7ED

Please send me details of the seminar- workshops □

Please send me my free ticket! s) to the Hi Technology and Computers In Education Exhibition,

Quantity Name

Establishment

Address

1

„sW 4t

•

f

Postcode .

Telephone

172

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

I EDUCATION

may be presented showing, as astrono-
mical convention requires, the night
sky with north at the base of the picture
as if one were looking upward from a
north-facing position. By stepping the
program along using the space bar, the
user may see each of the major con-
stellations drawn in with joining lines. If
closer inspection of a constellation is
required then pressing Return will
clear the screen and the constellation
will be drawn in enlarged format. Lines
may be added to it so that the original
outline that gave the constellation its
name can be seen; the Zodiacal sign
associated with relevant constellations
may be displayed - good line drawings
these; or the component stars of the
constellation may be highlighted and
information about name, magnitude
and distance from Earth in light-years
printed.

I was amazed by the amount of infor-
mation that had been crammed into this
program. I think its applications will
range much further than being used by
junior/middle schools and that further
ventures along the same lines will grow
out of its design, perhaps dealing with
the solar system itself and the inter-re-
lation of the planets and their moons.
Excellent value and an absolute must
for any young astronomer wanting to
find his way around the universe.

Mapping Skills

The teaching of grid reference on Ord-
nance Survey maps is performed most
persuasively by this program, which in-
itially presents the pupil with a choice
between coastal and urban landscape
and, when the choice has been made,
draws a small section of the relevant
type of O.S. map. The compatibility with
the real man and its symbols is quite
high, although the delicacy of artwork
can never be truly replaced by com-
puter graphics, no matter how high the
resolution. Five Ways appears to have
developed several new character sets
for these programs, one being a fairly
accurate rendering of the Times fount.
Similarly, a character set has been
designed which fits in with the style of
the graphics. The overall effect is most
satisfactory.

What happens next is governed by
the choices made by the teacher earlier
in the program. For example, Whether
the grid should be numbered on the
horizontal axis, or lettered; whether
four-figure or six-figure grid-refer-
ences should be used; how many ques-
tions are to be asked; how great a
margin of error is allowable in the
pupil’s attempt at grid-reference.

The pupil is then asked for the refer-
ences of one of the features on the map
- he has to recognise basic Ordnance
Survey symbols. When he has entered

it the machine will either respond with
"Correct” and move on to the next
question or, in the event of error,
demonstrate the incorrect reference
and the correct one by means of
coloured grid lines, which move across
the screen in an easy-to-follow
manner. My volunteers found this rou-
tine not only easy to follow but dynami-
cally riveting - good attention-fixing
stuff this!

U/ES- GtU>

that |s the 6 i
he lighthouse

igure grid reference for

In ‘Mapping Skills’ the child is asked to give
the grid reference of a feature

ILES 1 GILL

If the wrong answer is given the micro sup-
plies the correct one

Librarian

I have a feeling that most people, when
presented with this program, would
rather see children performing the
tasks using real books in a real library.
Use of the computer for simulation pur-
poses is fine when it frees resources for
others or enables people to handle
concepts normally unattainable. In this
case, however, not much is done that
couldn’t as well be done with work-
sheets or practical supervised work in
a library. Yes, I know it’s self-checking
and it frees the teacher for other things
but. . .

The program presents the user with
a set of volumes to be sorted into alpha-
betical order - the teacher determines
how many volumes. Pressing the f-keys
moves the volumes around and Return
enters the final offering for assess-
ment. Sorting may be done on the basis
either of author’s name or on the Dewey
reference number - I was alarmed by

the three-figure decimal references
which would rarely appear in a junior/
middle library and not very frequently
in a secondary library. Level of diffi-
culty can again be specified - whether
the sorting is based on the first, second
or third letter. In addition to this is an
encyclopaedia routine in which the
child is asked to indicate the volume
that would contain a particular subject
area -alphabetical sorting skills again.

I was disappointed with this offering.
It seems to be a bit of a make-weight in
an otherwise excellent suite, even
though it did fit in with the theme of
exploration.

Word Finder

If Roget’s Thesaurus could be usefully
put onto computer it would be in this
form, a vocabulary-handling program
with lateral linking. Unfortunately, how-
ever, the user must be content with the
vocabulary presented, as it’s unalter-
able. A program allowing linking of
vocabulary and building of lists might
have been much more useful, although
probably difficult to produce.

The theme of exploration is covered
by the vocabulary, starting, logically,
with the main components of any expe-
dition - people, places, equipment etc,
and then branching away to develop
each of the areas individually as they
are chosen by the user. An indication is
given if a ‘lateral’ link can be made by a
< or > next to the word concerned.
Pressing the cursor keys makes the
link. A Dewey reference number is
attached to some words, allowing
further research to be made on that
topic.

The teacher is able to add the refer-
ence numbers to more of the words by
a routine which has to be reloaded
each time the file is used - why couldn’t
Five Ways have allowed the user
access to the original Data file of
vocabulary so that the loading of yet
another section on top of their already
mind-warping loading routine could
have been avoided?

Reaction to this program was much
the same as to Librarian. Why not use a
book? Why not create your own lists of
vocabulary? Isn’t a book quicker? The
main complaint was that no alteration
could be made to the content of the pro-
gram. Perhaps this might be a further
development - a content free thesaur-
us, ready to be filled.

Conclusions

This complete suite of programs is well
worth the £33 plus VAT asked for it. The
programs are available individually at
£9.25 plus VAT, but they hang together
well as a theme project set and I think
that their use would be greatly
enhanced by using them as a suite.

173

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

Christinas boxes from CMC.

systems . . .

We offer a number of complete packages for
word-processing, from £658 to £1960. Pictured
here is a BBC-based system: BBC ‘B’ + DFS,
Philips green monitor, I00K disk drive, Word-
wise, dot matrix printer, leads — ready to use, at
£875 including VAT. Other packages on offer
include:

PACKAGE ONE: BBC ’B’ Computer • Word-
wise software • Sanyo DR 10 1 tape recorder •
Dot matrix printer • BBC cassette lead •

BBC printer cable £658.00

PACKAGE THREE: BBC Computer 4 Acorn
DFS • Philips 1 2" green hi-res monitor • 200k
disc drive • Wordwise software • Dot matrix'
printer • Printer cable £940.00

We stock a vast range of micros, printers, mon-
itors, joysticks . . . phone or write for our com-
plete price list. All prices listed include VAT.
Credit terms available for orders of £500 or
over— ask for details. See our full stock on
Prestel 377550875/76A— updated weekly. All
credit cards accepted.

I

With serial and centronics interface £190.00

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
Cambridge. Postage £10.00.

• • • books • • •

and disk drives . . .

The new generation of TEAC 57 / slimline disk
drives offer high performance at incredibly low
prices. Single drives: I00K £120; 200K £140:
400K £ 1 80. Dual drives: 2X 1 00K £295;
2X200K £325; 2X400K £415. Disk with power
supply extra £30. Delivery £6.00 per item.

All drives are fully cased and complete with
cables and format disk— ready to use.

Our highly successful Advanced User Guide for
the BBC has now been joined by the Advanced
Basic ROM User Guide, which delves deep into
the BBC micro BASIC I and BASIC 2 ROMs. At
£7.95, it’s essential
for the serious
user. We have also
introduced hard-
back ring-binders
for the Acorn
User Guide and
our Advanced
User Guide:
available at
£4.50 each, plus
£1 postage.

. . . and for 1 985 . . .

Our free mailings will bring you immediate
details of new products on offer— if you wish to
be included on our mailing list, just write or
phone.

Cambridge

^/Microcomputer

Centre

The Peripheral Centre of East Anglia

1 53-4 East Road, Cambridge CBI I DD. U.K.
Telephone (0223) 355404 Telex 817445.

T

H

E

KftSE Plotter

BY R T C

BEAUFORT WORKS, BEAUFORT RD,
RICHMOND RD, EAST TWICKENHAM,
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,
Beaufort Rd, off Richmond Rd, East
Twickenham, Middlesex TW1 2PQ

DESCRIPTION
IMAGE PLOTTER

c» E

£6.45 (VAT)

QTY

TOTAL

£49.45

DISC.

CLASS

Q

T

Y

P&P

Total

£2.50

£

I enclose my cheque/PO for £ p

f“ms

s X S I I. XOH T PROOFtHMHI

Access No.

NAME

ADDRESS

174

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

REVIEWS

LOGICAL LOGO

Nick Evans speaks well of the
new Acornsoft implementation

Logo, Acornsoft, (0223) 316039, £60

DID you know that greedy primitives
are needed to tell turtles? No? Then
read on, as these are all Logo ex-
pressions.

Logo, the language developed by
Seymour Papert and his fellow
researchers at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, has had many
emulators -some good, some down-
right ridiculous. Acornsoft’s offering,
however, is in another league. It bears
as much resemblance to many other
packages as the Space Shuttle does to
the bicycle.

This is a full implementation of the
language, using the wide and powerful
facilities of the BBC micro to the full.
Papert's vision was of a world where
every child would have a powerful
micro from the age of about four and,
through its use, would develop an
understanding of those concepts which
are often taught slowly and poorly by
conventional means. This software
makes a ’positive contribution to that
ideal.

The first indication of serious intent
on Acornsoft’s part is that this package
consists of two ROMs, a disc and a
massive amount of clear documen-
tation. For most people who have made
any additions to their micro, the two
ROMs will mean an expansion board as
well - but if you use Logo in your class-
room, the trouble will be well worth-
while.

Every effort has been made to
ensure that the user will be able to find
his or her way round the language as
quickly and easily as possible. Two
manuals are supplied -one for those
totally new to the idea of computing and
Logo, the other for those who are fam-
iliar with programming buf not with
Logo. The user will find that the struc-
tures, the keywords (or primitives as
they are called - and there are over 200
of them) and the methodology are all
expounded in simple terms.

All the usual facilities a Logo pro-
grammer would expect have been built
into this package, so the language is
quite compatible with other systems,
and should be able to run a good deal of
existing Logo software. However,
because of the strides forward made in

computing since it was first mooted,
much has been added to the original
concept -not least the implementation
of BBC graphics modes.

Figure 1 . The character definition program

Figure 2. An example of the mirror facility

Figure 3. A program to draw letters on the
screen

Machine code routines and all
OSBYTE calls are fully accessible from
Logo. The package is compatible with
all the existing floor turtles on the
market (Buggy, Valiant, Jessop, etc),
and it provides hard-copy facilities fora
range of printers, allowing a very rapid
screen dump to be executed (just under
one minute) whenever the machine is

in Command mode. The illustrations
with this article are all from an Epson
printer.

The 6502 second processor is also
compatible, as are joysticks and other
analogue functions, sound and all the
range of VDU commands. A character
definition program is included on the
disc (figure 1).

Those facilities which are external to
Logo and extend its range (eg floor-
turtles), are termed ‘extensions' and
are loaded into the workspace either
before or during normal program
operations. A separate booklet
explains thqir use and operation.

Logo has always been considered by
the layman as a language for drawing
pretty shapes on the screen, exem-
plified by children sitting around a
monitor producing glorified Spirograph
patterns. The programs in this package
dispel that illusion immediately. Yes,
the graphic work is there in all its
finery, more detailed still because of
the possibility of multiple turtles -you
HATCH the things -and there is a per-
spective function, as well as a mirror
facility (figure 2) which places two tur-
tles making mirrored images on the
screen. However, there is also a good
deal of text and number work, often
combined with the graphics to provide
interesting ^nd stimulating examples.

As well as the usual text facilities it’s
possible to draw letters on the screen
using one of the programs supplied
(figure 3). Their size is determined by
input of a number from one to 10. All the
normal Logo functions will operate so
that the screen may be labelled using
this program.

The ability to create a specific Logo
‘environment’ is central to the prin-
ciples of the language, and you do this
by restricting or extending the facilities
offered by the machine -for example,
you may wish for single key-presses to
represent a particular command, or to
‘hide’ some of your procedures so that
they cannot be analysed by the user.
These and other facilities allow you to
create an environment which is tail-
ored to the needs of the particular task.

Logo may not be the fastest language
around -some of the examples seem
very slow. Its most important feature,
however, is that it grows in a logical
pattern from a starting point easily
understood by small children. That is
the secret of its success and, with this
implementation, a child may now grow
up with a version which fully exploits
the BBC micro.

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

REVIEWS

PASCAL

POWER

Acornsoft’s first major compiled
language for general use is out
now. Simon Williams takes a look

ISO Pascal, Acornsoft, BBC (with or with-
out 6502 second processor), £69, and
Electron (price to be announced)

IF there’s one area of software pro-
duction at which Acornsoft has always
excelled, it is in the programming
language. BBC Basic, despite some
minor irritations, has proved one of the
best and most robust implementations
on any micro. Now we have the first
major compiled language released for
general use (BCPL being largely
intended for specialist applications
programming).

ISO Pascal is the language finally
arrived at (after much deliberation) by
a committee of the International Stan-
dards Organisation. The Acornsoft ver-
sions (there are three, intended for
different environments) adhere closely
to the standard, with minor omissions,
mainly due to space constraints, and
some extensions to allow for machine
specific graphics, sound and keyboard
commands.

The package consists of two
manuals, a function key strip, a disc of
utilities and 32k of code, supplied in two
16k ROMs for the basic BBC micro; a
language disc for the BBC plus 6502
second processor; or a ROM cartridge
for the Electron (which obviously
requires a Plus-1 extension to be
fitted). The 32k is divided equally
between an extremely comprehensive
editor and the Pascal compiler, which
is itself written in Pascal. The package
under review is the ROM version sup-
plied for the BBC micro, but all the fac-
ilities covered are also provided in the
other two packages.

Having installed the ROMs - an easy
job for anyone who’s delved into the
machine before (Acorn dealers will do
it for you if you are timid) - typing
‘PASCAL from Basic will take you
straight into the language and provide
the % prompt, used throughout the

system. The Pascal editor is entered by
typing EDIT and presents a blank page
with a cursor at the top and a single
status line at the bottom.

The facilities offered by the editor are
very sophisticated. As well as being a
full screen editor it allows block copies,
moves and deletions and all manner of
search and/or replace operations,
including the use of wild cards. In use,
the editor reminded me most strongly
of Wordwise , and some functions, such
as cursor control, are identical to this
wordprocessor. If the Pascal editor had
included automatic word-wrap I could
have written this review using it.

This kind of sophistication in a
language editor may seem excessive,

‘The user manual is
not something for
the uninitiated’

until you remember that Pascal is a
fully compiled language, taking its
source code and converting it, once
and for all, to an object code equiv-
alent. A good editor will therefore
greatly speed the production of the
source code and, since Pascal also dis-
penses with line numbers, it provides
an efficient way of handling a large pro-
gram.

Nearly all the editing functions not
directly obtained from the text or cursor
keys are provided by function keys fO to
f9, with or without the use of Shift or
CTRL. This is very convenient to use,
although the review copy didn’t have a
key strip - it was a question of delving
into the manual to find out what was
what.

The compiler may be called from
Pascal command mode, to which the
system reverts on leaving the editor.
The compiler overlays the editor and
then tries to make sense of your source
code. A number of different compiler
options are offered, including one to
produce object code or not (useful for
quickly checking errors in long pro-
grams), listing the source code and
providing full error messages or only
their code numbers. Error messages
are held as a text file on disc, so if you
are working with tape you’ll have to
refer to the appendix in the manual,
where all 168 of them are listed.
Between them they should give you a
good idea of what's wrong (if anything).
There are a further 34 messages, which
may be generated by the ‘run-time’
system when you try to execute the
object code.

The user manual is a detailed affair
and not something for the uninitiated -
mind you, the same could be said for
Pascal. It gives full information on the
editor and compiler, and there’s a com-
prehensive index and a quick refer-
ence chart in the appendices. There
will also be a copy of From Basic to
Pascal , an introduction to the language
itself. This was not available for review.

Acornsoft’s ISO Pascal appears to be
a comprehensive (although somewhat
daunting) implementation of the
language. At present the compiler will
produce only an intermediate code,
which will not run without the ‘run-time’
routines present in the machine. There
are priority plans to produce a separate
run-time generator to allow stand-
alone operation. Without this facility,
the market for the product may well be
restricted to schools and colleges (the
system is compatible with Econet) and
a few wealthy enthusiasts. With it, there
would seem to be ample opportunity for
Pascal to be used in the production of
commercial programs.

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

AND WITH A
VERY TRIM LITTLE
FIGURE £159.00 ( r d P V Sr ta9e

The Bevan Nymph 3-inch Compact Floppy Disk Drive is
tailored for use with your BBC Micro and is compatible with all
disk interfaces and comes complete with cables,
comprehensive manual and utilities disk.

The Nymph has been developed by Hitachi and its rotation
speed, data transfer rate, recording capacity per track and
other specifications are designed to be the same as those of
the conventional 5.25-inch drives and is therefore, fully
compatible.

The Nymph is available either as a flipable unit with a storage
capacity of 100K each side or as a double sided unit allowing
access to either side of the disk without removal. It can be
purchased either as a single or double drive unit with or
without power supply thus enabling you to choose between
using the BBC’s power supply or utilising its own.

Prices quoted are inclusive of VAT, postage and packing.

RANGES AVAILABLE

★ STl Single Flipable £159.00

★ ST2 Single Non-Flipable £199.00

★ ST3 Single Flipable with PSU £179.00

★ DTI Dual Flipable £269.00

★ DT2 Dual Non-Flipable £359.00

★ DT3 Dual Flipable with PSU £319.00

DISKS

Double Sided (100K x 2) at £4.75 each
OR pack of five £22.00
DEALER ENQUIRIES
WELCOME

FEATURES

1 . Compact and lightweight: Almost half the volume and weight of the
“Mini Floppy Disk Drive.”

2. One-touch disk load/unload.

3. Hardened plastic center hub for improved reliability.

4. Rigid compact floppy-disk case with automatic head-window
shutters for media protection.

5. Low power consumption: Almost half that of the “Mini
Floppy Disk Drive”.

6. Brushless direct drive motor: Highly reliable,
brushless direct drive motor offers
longlife operation.

7. High-performance head-access
mechanism using step motor
and steel band.

8. Narrow write and wide read
heads with a tunnel erase head
using Mn-Zn ferrite.

9. 12 month warranty.

iv

K

m

A member of D. F. Bevan (Holdings) PLC

.e

*

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

177

* ChipChat ^

Modem

^ChipChat modems are the most versatile and up to date
available at the price. With autoanswer as standard and
Intelligent autodial with speed conversion as an option,

ChipChats may be used to access computers and databases
such as Prestel, Micronet, Momelink and BT Gold
ChipChats support the CCITT V21 protocol: 300/300 baud and
the V23 protocol 1200/75, 75/1200 and 1200/1200 (half
duplex) Where local regulations permit, Bell standard operation
may be used for dialling U5 databases
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 IBM PCs. A full
complement of LEDs monitor data flow and the status of
handshake lines on the Cannon D-type connector.

ChipChat CC2123A Autoanswer £130 .35 (£149.90 inc VAT)
ChipChat CC2123AD Autodial £165 13 (£189.90 inc VAT)

P SiP £2 . 70 + VAT BABT Approval^

Applied For

r

•3

Dlglsolve Limited, Aire SiCalder Works
Cinder Lane, Castleford, West forks WE10 1UJ
Tel 0977 513141 Telex: 557661 AGRAM G

Authorised Dealer & Service Centre

IIM

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BBC «icorn

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(04446)

Over 400 items on our price list

1

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business Systems Ltci

195 LONDON ROAD BURGESS HILL SUSSEX

Get more from your BBC Micro
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0 P*
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fret

tfVtf

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from our
COMPUTER CONCEPTS Ran ge:

PRINTMASTER

£33.00 GRAPHICS ROM

£33.00

CARETAKER

£33.00 GREMLIN

£33.00

WORDWISE

£46.00 TERMI

£33.00

DISC DOCTOR

£33.00 COMMUNICATOR £69.00

Our SYSTEM SOFTWARE selection includes:

SPY 2 £30.00

ADE £60.00 ASM

£35.00

BEEBUOSOFT presents:

•

TOOLKIT

£27.00 EXM0N

£16.00

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From PACE SOFTWARE SUPPLIES:

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TOOLKIT

£34.00 C0MMSTAR

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TEXTEL

and from LINCOLN MICROSYSTEMS

, AID (Dual Screen Monitor) £29.00 t

A wide

[election always I

available.

SYSTEMS

UnitA65, Saltaire Workshops,

Ashley Lane, Shipley, West Yorkshire, England, BD1 7 7SR.
Tel: Shipley (0274) 588332 24 Hour Answering Service.

IMPORTANT NOTICE

The Music Editorfrom SYSTEM has now been
superseded by The Music System from SYSTEM
and Island Logic. You can upgrade to The
Music System as follows

RETURN

PURCHASE

PRICE

inc. vat & P+P

Music Editor
and/or Envelope
Generator on
either disk or
cassette

Music System
on disc

C21.95

Music Editor
cassette

Cassette 1
or

Cassette 2

£11.45

Envelope

Generator

cassette

Cassette 1
or

Cassette 2

£1 1.45

Send cheque/P. 0., Barclaycard or Access card number to:-

SYSTEM 12 Collegiate Crescent, Sheffield S10 2BA
Telephone (0742) 682321/2 mwvwm

178

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

Simple, reliable, and still the most popular
word processor for the BBC Micro.

V

i i

1~ I - !

rH

i

■■■■■

gi.

ut

.

Price £46

inc.

> L

, !

t,

••■■•■'v &S I#

©

OMPUTER

ONCEPTS

Available from all good BBC Computer Dealers.

Available by Mail Order from Computer Concepts, Gaddesden Place, Hemel Hempstead,

Herts HP2 6EX.

Or by 'phoning with your credit card number on (0442) 63933.

■

Ilzz

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

you can get to grips with subjects in Biology,
Physics or Chemistry that you didn’t under-
stand, or supplement your practical work by
doing simulated experiments on the com-
puter These programs are suitable for age
13+ and are ideal if you are studying for
those all-important exams. The emphasis is
on understanding the subject and the
programs come with a detailed explanatory
booklet. The first programs are ready now -

with many more to follow.

Chemistry - Symbols, Formulae and valency
Chemistry - Chemical Equations
Chemistry - inorganic Analysis
and identification of Gases
Physics - The Oscilloscope and
waveform Analysis

The Human Body - Heart and Kidney

Each package costs £12.95 (cassette)
or £13.50 (disc).

UNDERSTANDING

UNDERSTANDING

LEARNING

SYWIJV

FRACTIONS

BBC

electr

electron

JMi Angles

JM2 Directed Numbers
JM3 Fractions

UNDWSMNDlNGWy N «£Mn D/ng

PHYSICS^ HunfanBody

- ■

■ssKsr

For younger pupils age 9+, our Learning
Maths programs use simple games and
animations to illustrate important principles
of elementary Maths. There are nine titles -
each containing three or more programs
covering a particular concept. The programs
are great fun to use - as well as providing
real educational value.

JM4 Co-ordinates and Lines
JM5 Symmetry
JM6 Motion Ceometry
JM7 Sets

JM8 Elementary Statistics
JM9 Ratio

Each cassette costs £7.00. Disc collections
also available (JMi -6, £30.00; JM7-9 £18.00)

Nine cassettes are available* •Electron versions of programs JMi-9 and Dragon versions of JMi 6 also available

Available by direct mail order, or from selected software dealers.

Prices include vat and p&p (in UK).

Please send for our full catalogue of over Fifty Educational Programs

180

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

r ip% ■■

2 '■!

—

THREE
BA-AWA •
SIX MEN’!
FOX &

Foil (fKtnKt

cf

A collection of Six games
of logic and strategy,
either play against
an opponent or
pit your wits
against the
computer.

Probably invented by
the Chinese and now
played worldwide.

You play against the computer in these
exciting versions of the basic game.

Three educational games
for the BBC Micro- computer

A game to help with spelling
and word recognition.

A submarine captain versus
the commander of the fleet.
A game for two players.

Featuring fast action
and superb graphics,
you stand to win or
lose against the
computer.

Demanding sharp
concentration Pick-A-Pair is
a version of the old parlour
favourite 'Pelmanism’.

Two great card games
for one player.

Disc versions for BBC also available - please enquire

Each cassette costs only £6.95 (inc. v AT and P&P)

Available from: all good software stockists or by mail order from Garland Computing.

Garland Computing, 35 Dean Hill, Plymouth PL9 9AF. Telephone: (0752) 41287

Blitzkrieg is a 3D Tank Battle from the same author as
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
software.

This has resulted in extremely fine detail and realism,
with fast moving real time graphics - you don't have to
wait for the screen to be updated between each move.
Features include:-

❖ Detailed scrolling landscape. * Rotating tanks.

* Detailed explosions. * 3D shell movement. * Recoiling
barrel. ❖ 3D sound. * Keyboard/Joystick option.

* Freeze game facility.

* Optional sound.

❖ Demo' mode.

* High score & ranking
system.

BBC MICRO MODEL B
£7.95 CASSETTE
£9.95 DISK
Author: Simon Vout.

NOW WITH COLOUR
GRAPHICS!

(BBC VERSION ONLY)

SOFTWARE

50 Elborough Street, Southfields, London SW18 5DN

HOWTO ORDER

You may purchase any of the games above direct. All you have to do is write your name and
address on a piece of paper, item(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

DISTRIBUTORS. MULTIPLE STORES. RETAILER GROUP ANO EXPORT INQUIRIES INVITE:

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 look atthese 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
overtake. * Signposts. * Realistic sound effects such as

engine noise, skids and crunching shunts :* Keyboard or
Joystick control. * Volume control.

Runs on O 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

PriN

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 SOFTWARE INVASION GAMES., .send for full list now!

LM _ && '>£ /V

A thrilling Speed Boat Race round a maze of
estuaries A race against time to complete as
many laps as possible while avoiding the’various
hazards on route. The game uses a very clever
technique which makes the area of play 8
times the area of ttie normal TV. screen,
with full real time up/down and diagonal
scrolling. A superb achievement from
Dr. Leatherbarrow the author of
“Super Pool!’

Tape version £7.95 inc. Disk version
£9.95 inc. (Mail order only)

SOFTWARE

50 Elborough Street Southfieids. LONDON SW18 5DN

, ... ♦ , TEL 870-1197

.send for a full list of games. ,

■fw- sk.

Offer closes 31 st January 1 985.

HOWTOORDER

You may purchase any of the games above direct All you have to do is write your name and
address on a piece of paper, item(s) required, enclosing your cheque/P O made payable to
SOFTWARE INVASION

Please allow 7 to 14 daysfor delivery ( orders are normally dispatched within 48 hours')
OVERSEAS ORDERS Please add £1 00 per game orders

r Post to: SOFTWARE INVASION. 50 ELBOROUGH ST. SOUTHFIELDS. LONDON SW185DN

I Please send me the following : TOTAL

JET BOATn DISK at £9.95 DCASS. at £7.95

■ 1DGUNSM0KE-£2.95 4Q3D BOMB ALLEY -£2.95

I 2 fl EAGLES WING -£2.95 5nSP00KSAND SPIDERS - C2 95

2 □ EAGLES WING - £2.95
3 □ ATTACK ON ALPHA CENTAURI -

£2.95

6DVORTEX-£2.95
TOTAL £

I (Tick games required - Games on offer are for CASSETTE ONLY)
I have purchased 3 Games, please send me (title)

| I enclose my cheque/P. O. for £_

Name

FREE'

Address.

I LABEL (use block letters)

I Name

I Address-

This exclusive offer is limited to the 6 titles above and for cassettes ONLY!
The £2 95 is inclusive of postage and packing!

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MULTIVARIATE REGRESSION: Mam output consists of estimated coefficients,
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matrix. ANOVA of regression, residuals, plot of residuals, interpolation Data options:
Log/In option for each variable, no-constant regression, choice of dependent variable,
selection of independent variables, auto-omission of linearly dependent variables.

ANALYSIS OF VARIANCE, SCATTER DIAGRAMS AND TIME SERIES PLOTS;

One-way and two-way (without interaction) ANOVA tables, scatter diagrams of paired
data and time scries plots with auto-scaling

STATISTICAL TESTS, CORRELATION COEFFICIENTS AND PROBABILITY DIS-
TRIBUTIONS: Basic stats on each column of data (size. sum. mean, variance, std dev.).
Chi-square (contingency table), t (one sample, two sample, paired). F, Mann-Whitney
U, and Wilcoxon signed rank tests Pearson s. Spearman's rank and Kendall s rank corr
cocfs. Chi-square, t. F. binomial. Poisson and normal (std . non-std.) distributions.
Results of tests and corr. cocfs are displayed with significance levels.

DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS, FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTIONS AND HISTOGRAMS:

Analysis of raw data or data with frequency counts. Raw data sorted and grouped.
Choice of lower bounds and class intervals. Absolute, cumulative and relative
frequencies Histograms with up to 200 classes Output displays sum. mean, mean
deviation, median, variance, std dev.. 3rd and 4th moments, skewness, kurtosis. range,
etc.

All programs arc datafile compatible with Matrix Operations program in UNIMAX
package Data matrix capacity examples (columns bv rows) CBM-64; 2x1250. 5x700.
|0x3N(). BBC-R; 2x750. 5x400. 10x200. 48K Spectrum: 2x1800, 5x900. 10x500. CRM-64
(disk): £85, BBC-B (disk): £85, 48K Spectrum (mdvcart/cass): £64)

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LINEAR PROGRAMMING PACKAGE

LINEAR PROGRAMMING: A powerful and instructive optimisation program capable
of handling all sorts of linear programming problems (nun max. any combination of < - .

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dual and their solutions arc displayed in standard mathematical form Unbounded
problem and no feasible solution prompts. Edit option for all inputs. Capacity examples
(variables by constraints): CBM-64; 10x35. 25x30. 40x25. BBC-B: 10x15 . 20x20 . 48K
Spectrum; 10x45. 25x35. 50x25.

MATRIX OPERATIONS: Inversion, transposition, determinant, pre- and post-
multiplication. scalar multiplication, addition and subtraction of matrices and vectors.
Any output can in turn be used as the input of the next operation without re-typing.
Matrices can be saved or loaded at any stage Datafile compatible with UNISTAT
package. Capacities: CBM-64; 35x35. BBC-B; 25x25. 48K Spectrum; 45x45

CBM-64 (disk): £60, BBC-B (disk): £60, 48K Spectrum (mdvcart/cass): £45

ALSO AVAILABLE FOR 4BK SPECTRUM
INTRODUCTION TO ECONOMICS SET: £25
ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY: £9.95 • BIBLIOFILE: £9.95
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To UNISOFT LIMITED

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COMMODORE 64, BBC-B, 48K SPECTRUM

* Comprehensive user manual Full data handling facilities (display, print, change, save, load)

& All results can be printed out ❖

Add forty BASIC commands to your BBC ‘B*
or ELECTRON with this versatile new ROM.

ADDCOMM

f GRAPHICS, LOGO GRAPHICS, I

TOOLKIT, GENERAL PURPOSE.

“ADDCOMM is a very useful and versalile piece of firmware and I
would certainly recommend it to any BASIC programmer, it reduces
the need to buy several ROMs as if contains almost all one could
wish for.*’

“The thing I like most about ADDCOMM is the fact that you don’t
need to use those messy O.S. commands, you can enter the commands
just like BASIC statements in a program."

"Marks 10 out of 10."

"Let’s hope other Companies can give us such good value lor money!"

Reviewed ’V1FWF AX - TUBE LINK"

“In addition to the 31 BASIC programming utilities the LPROM
provides some useful enhanced graphics facilities, including circle and
ellipse drawing commands, colour fills and commands to scale and
rotate your creations."

“The ADDCOMM from Vine Micros is probably the best value for
money out of the toolkits."

“My own preference is the ADDCOMM,"

From TOOLKIT review. ACORN USER, Oct. I9K4

“The combination of a variety of basic toolkit typo utilities on the
same chip as extended graphics commands is very useful."

“With the addition of ready to use ROTATF. and TRANSIocate
commands BBC graphics become child’s play.”

Reviewed "MICRO USFR". Oct. 1984.

BBC 'B' O.S 1.20
(BASIC 1 or 2)
ELECTRON with
ROM board.

£28 (incl.VAT and Post)

A.

PI

irrnc

Or tend stamp for datailad Brochure
V,NE MICROS MARSHBOROUGH.

2 -Mr

Nr. SANDWICH. KENT.
CT 1 3 OPG

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BBC BASIC ROM USER GUIDE

BASIC ROM “L

USER GUIDE ^

FOR THE BBC MICROCOMPUTER
AND ACORN ELECTRON
MARK PtUMBLEY

Full ROM description
ALL routines documented
Adding NEW commands
Overlaying PROCedures
Bad Program salvaging
Complete disassembler
Error recovery
BBC BASIC 1 & BASIC 2
Electron BASIC
Massive 360 pages
Ideal XMAS GIFT !

't

ADDER

Adrian Dickens, author of the 'Advanced User
Guide' has founded ADDER Publishing to produce
high quality books. The BBC BASIC ROM USER GUIDE
is one of the first books from this exciting new
Cambridge publisher and contains a detailed
description of the BASIC ROM used in the Electron
and BBC Micro. If you have ever wondered how a
high level language like BASIC works, wanted to
extend the available commands, recover from 'Bad
programs' or simply run a 100K BASIC program from
disc, then this is the book for you!

If your local shop doesn't stock the book, we can
supply it mail order for £11.45 inclusive of P&P.
There are lots of long programs in the book, so
don't wear your fingers out - buy the programs on
tape for £6.84 (incl. 15% VAT and postage).

To order send cheque or postal order to:

ADDER Publishing, P0 Box 148, Cambridge, CB1 2EQ

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ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

BBC and ELECTRON Software

SIMULATIONS

737 Flight Simulator £9.95

Written by a professional 737 pilot, this bestsell-
ing simulator emulates a high performance jet
airliner. Full instrumentation and hi-res graphics.
Please specify Tape, Disk, or Electron version.

“ Certainly the best flight simulator I have flown.
Full marks to Salamander ” — Acorn User

ADVENTURES

Franklin’s Tomb £9.95

Can you, as Dan Diamond P.I., solve the riddle of
the crypt, or will you fall prey to its mysteries as
many others before you have done. Fully illus-
trated Case File. BBC only.

“Worth every penny. This will become a classic
— Popular Computing Weekly.

Program of the Month — Computer Choice.

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
chatty doors. Fully illustrated Case File. BBC only.

SPECIAL OFFERS (BBC only)

Eagle

Original Arcade Game

£4.95

Dragon Rider

Arcade Game

£3.95

Tanks!

Armoured Warfare for two

£3.95

Games Compendium B1 £3.95

Simon, Fireman, Hangman, Alphabet Soup

Games Compendium B3

Mole, Boot Hill, Bomber

£3.95

EDUCATIONAL

French Tutor £9.95

Up to and beyond 'O' level standard. Tests
vocabulary, speech idioms, and irregular verbs.
Create your own files; progress assessment and
revision lists available at any time. BBC only.

Graphs £9.95

A suite of five programs for use by students
studying GCE at 'O’ 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 line equations and trigonometric, quad-
ratic and cubic curves. BBC/ELECTRON.

Vectors £14.95

A suite of fourteen programs carefully designed
to teach the user the skills and techniques asso-
ciated with the main vector algebra requirements
of a syllabus such as GCE examinations in
Additional Mathematics and ‘A’ Level Mathe-
matics as well as many other courses requiring a
knowledge of vector algebra. BBC/ELECTRON.

UTILITIES

EDG Graphics Package £19.95

A sophisticated drawing system allowing the user
to build up simple drawings or complex designs.
BBC only.

EDG Graphics Package (disk) £24.95

The disk version of the graphics package con-
tains all the features of the tape version. Also
includes an EPSON Printer Dump and Teletext
Screen Editor. BBC only. Requires Acorn DFS.

Electron Graphics System £9.95

A version of the EDG Graphics System rewritten
specifically for the ELECTRON.

Utilities Package £9.95

Four essential aids: Sound Shaper, EPSON Printer
Dump, Teletext Screen Editor, and Disassembler.
BBC only.

SAVE £1

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
discounts on future orders, as well as free posters,
stickers and T-shirts (subject to availability). This
offer applies only to products ordered by direct mail
from Salamander Software, 1 7 Norfolk Road, Brighton
BN1 3 A A.

Please make cheques and postal orders payable to
Salamander Software.

Please rush me the following:
Title

1

Price i

Less Discount
Total

Name

Address

£ 1.00

Post Code..

j

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

185

186

TOP 20

I

SOFTWARE

CHART

TITLE

PUBLISHER

PRICE

MICRO I REVIEWED

1

(— )

Elite

Acornsoft

£14.95 (£17.95) B/E

October ’84

2

(2)

Fortress

Amcom

£8.95

B

September ’84

3

(4)

Football Manager

Addictive

£7.95

B

4

(9)

Aviator

Acornsoft

£14.95 (£17.95)B

May '84

5

(1)

Frak!

Aardvark

£7.50

B

September ’84

6

(3)

Micro Olympics

Database

£6.95

B

7

(5)

Blagger

Alligata

£7.95

B/E

October ’84

8

(-)

Chartbusters

Alligata

£9.95 (£13.95)

B

9

(— )

Jet Pac

Ultimate

£7.95

B

10

(-)

Sinbad

Virgin

£7.95

B

11

(6)

Overdrive

Superior

£7.95

B

September ’84

12

(-)

Gisburns Castle

Martech

£7.95

E

13

(-)

Scrabble

Leisure Games

£8.95

14

(re)

Battletank

Superior

£7.95

B

September ’84

15

(8)

Ghouls

Micro Power

£7.95

B/E

June '84

16

(-)

Eagle’s Wing

Software Invasion

£7.95 (£11.95)

B

November ’84

17

(-)

Tarzan

Alligata

£7.95 (£11.95)

B

18

(-)

Chess

Micro Power

£7.95

B/E

19

(re)

Twin-Kingdom ValleyBug-Byte

£9.50

B/E

20

(re)

Cylon Attack

A&F

£7.95

B/E

April ’84

B = BBC E = Electron re = re-entry Prices in brackets are for disc version

BUBBLING UNDER

Galaxy Raiders (Visions)
Star Seeker (Mirrorsoft)

Compiled by RAM/Computer

Stock Car (Micro Power)
Laser Reflex (Talent)

Son of Blagger (Alligata)
System 15000 (Craig)

WHAM! Straight in at number one comes the
best game ever for the BBC micro - Elite.
And if you don’t believe our editor, go along
to a dealer and take a look.

The other big event this month is the number
of new entries - nine in all plus three re-
entries. Christmas must be coming. And
readers looking for presents to please their
manic game-playing acquaintances need
look no further than our Hit List on page 188
where Snapper author Jonathan Griffiths
gives his best games of 1984.

Software house of the month in terms of
numbers is Alligata with two new entries
joining the excellent Blagger ; with the
remake, Son of, looking as if it will follow its
illustrious ancestor.

Virgin, who we’ve had a go at over the
past year for games which don’t exactly set
the world alight, might have come good with
Sinbad , although we must confess to not
having seen it.

The trend towards disappearing adven-
tures is confirmed this month with only one,

in evidence. However, if Acornsoft’s Ache-
ton is as good as our reviewer Peter Kill-
worth thinks, perhaps things will look up in
the New Year. Also, a proper adventure
based on TV’s Doctor Who written by Peter
Voke is coming out from BBCSoft. And then
there’s Return to Eden , Level 9’s sequel to
Snowball.

But the big question is whether British
Telecom’s policy of pricing games at £2.50
will come off and catapult them into the
charts, because at that price they're going to
have to sell in big numbers.

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

f ‘W^aStASTIC

MICRO POWER LTD.,
NORTHWOOD HOUSE. NORTH STREET.
LEEDS LS7 2AA TEL (0532) 458800

MICRO POWER SOFTWARE IS AVAILABLE FROM
SELECTED BRANCHES OF WH SMITH, 800TS. JOHN
MENZIES CO OP WOOLWORTHS AND ALL GOOO
DEALERS

. AUTHORS! WE PAY 20% ROYALTIES! I

Clear a path through
the vault and shove the Radio-
active Plutonium cannisters
behind the safety barrier
before all hell breaks loose
and the Megapods and oscil-
lating Nuclids appear.
Cassette: £6.95. Disk: £9.95.

<!J

i I

' li

has picked what he regards as 1984’s
two outstanding adventure games.

All these games played a part in
making 1984’s batch of games excel-
lent. Some were more successful than
others, either at making a name for
themselves or by selling well (which
isn’t necessarily the same thing). Also,
some of these games were around in
1983 but are still going strong and
influencing the charts.

Elite is the game of 1984, and very
probably of 1985 as well. No other
comes anywhere near it for complexity,
quality of graphics and speed. It is also
one of the first arcade games to make
use of the disc. The graphics on this are

Front Vlow

out of this world, and the speed is truly
stunning. Also, just to make sure things
don’t pall after you’ve mastered the
spaceship (by no means an easy task),
you have to defend yourself against any
pirates that may be around. Then you
have to journey around the galaxies
(eight of them), making deals (you can
trade with the various worlds), blasting
pirates (or perhaps becoming one of
them!), and generally having a great
time. Just in case this becomes mono-
tonous, the game grades your pro-
gress, giving you epithets which range
from ‘harmless’, through ‘average’ to
the ultimate status, ‘elite’.

This game is not a flash in the pan,
but should herald in a new era of
thought-provoking, reaction-testing
games, having as it does the addictive-
ness of Dungeons and Dragons (in
which one also progresses through
levels of ability), graphics and action
that are second to none and a sufficient
complexity to ensure that players will
come back to it time and time again.

G AMES over the past year have
shown some remarkable inno-
vations, representing radical
departures from those of the previous
year, which were largely sprite-based
and used fixed screens. Although the
old favourites will continue to sell, the
games that have been stealing the
limelight are the ones that are seen to

advance the techniques.

However, it is not only technique and
technical innovation that make a game
good. It is also an indefinable ‘addicti-
veness’ that a game must have if it is to
be played for more than the first week.

The chart shows what in my opini-
nion have been the outstanding arcade
games of the year, and Peter Killworth

RATING FOR ELITE

Graphics-

Sound -

A AAA

▼ ▼ ww

Programming skill -

A A A A A

w ^ ww*

Value for money -

A A AAA

w w ww

Addictiveness-

A A A A A

▼ ▼ w ▼ w

BEST ARCADE GAMES 1984

1 Elite - Acornsoft

2 Zalaga - Aardvark

3 Aviator - Acornsoft

4 Frak! - Aardvark

5 Fortress - Amcom

6 Missile Control - Gemini

7 Pengo - Watford Electronics

8 Killer Gorilla - Micro Power

9 Hopper - Acornsoft

10 Chukkie Egg - A & F

11 3D Bomb Alley - Software In-
vasion

12 Blagger - Alligata

13 Hunchback - Superior

14 Jet Power Jack - Program
Power

15 Overdrive - Superior

16 Micro Olympics - Database

17 Ghouls - Micro Power

18 Snooker - Visions

BEST ADVENTURE GAMES 1984

Snowball - Level 9

Acheton - Acornsoft

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

Graphics -
Sound -

Programming skill
Value for money -
Addictiveness -

Graphics-
Sound -

Programming skill
Value for money -
Addictiveness -

Graphics-
Sound -

Programming skill
Value for money -
Addictiveness -

Graphics-
Sound -

Programming skill
Value for money -
Addictiveness-

Graphics-

Sound-

Programming skill
Value for money -
Addictiveness -

Graphics -
Sound -

Programming skill
Value for money -
Addictiveness-

being positioned on top of the Pengo,
which leaves a horrible mess.) This is
another addictive game, which people
seem to want to play again and again.

RATING FOR PENGO I

Zalaga is one of the fastest games
around, and the techniques used (like
the way, for example, that the ships
always move at a constant speed, no
matter how many are moving at any
one time), makes this technically excel-
lent. The amount of information held
(all the shapes, together with their
rotations, plus the re-defined character
set) is truly amazing, and Orlando’s
methods of handling this are superla-
tive. Also, it is very addictive, as the
computer employs different tactics with
each sheet, which you have to outwit,
and one always feels compelled to play
again to discover what the next sheet is
like.

armed with a yo-yo is sufficiently off-
beat for it to appeal.

Program Power’s Killer Gorilla is quite
an old favourite now and is beginning to
be regarded as a classic game. A game
becomes a classic when it establishes
itself as the only version on the market.
Snapper and Planetoid did this in 1982
and have since remained the only ver-
sions that most people know. Killer
Gorilla's graphics are good, and serve
their purpose admirably.

RATING FOR KILLER GORILLA

RATING FOR FRAK!

RATING FOR ZALAGA

Fortress is a version of the arcade
game Zaxxon and uses some very
interesting techniques to get the screen
scrolling. The speed and smoothness
of this game are superb, and it is cer-
tainly addictive. The graphics are
amazing, and the speed at which the
landscape rolls past is faster than the
arcade version, making it more difficult
than the original. All in all, an excellent
game, and the only one that I know of
that uses diagonal scrolling with a con-
densed screen.

RATING FOR FORTRESS

A viator is now the standard flight simu-
lator package for the BBC micro. The
graphics are adequate for the job of
giving the pilot some feedback, and re-
sponse time is impressive. The game is
also very addictive - 1 find myself play-
ing it more than any of the others
(except Elite). The simulation of flying

Hopper from Acornsoft is the smooth-
est Frogger game around for the Beeb.
The game is extremely cute, with
happy, brightly coloured little cars and
lorries, all moving along to the
accompaniment of several happy little
ditties, which play in the background
and which are, thankfully, stoppable -
even the best tunes become tedious if
played too often. This game is also
acquiring classic status, in common
with author Neil Raine’s other games,
Planetoid and Meteors , released in
1982.

Missile Control is easily the best Miss-
ile Command game for the Beeb. The
whole package is professional: the
game is fast and colourful, the graphics
have been competently executed, and
the game is set to become a classic. It is
quite addictive, and as the level mounts
the adrenalin starts pumping, which is
a good test of how much concentration
is required.

an acrobatic aircraft is uncanny, and
several pilot friends of mine have
praised its accuracy.

RATING FOR AVIATOR

Chukkie Egg demonstrates how import-
ant the addictiveness element is. The
graphics on this game can best be
described as adequate, and yet people
find that they are still playing it months
later. The sheer number of different
stages in this game make it compelling
- you have to find out what will happen
on the next screen. Also, the way in
which you can jump to virtually any
point on the screen without the usual
effect of being killed is nice, and a dis-
tinct step up from most Donkey Kong-
type games, where being a pixel out
when you jump means death. page 190 ►

RATING FOR MISSILE CONTROL

Frak! is a game distinctly different from
any others. There are no hordes of
screaming baddies, the player is not
equipped with a fast-firing laser ship -
and speed is not essential, although
dexterity is. The graphics are the stun-
ning thing about this game, with very
large shapes moving about smoothly.
Also, the idea of being a caveman

Pengo from Watford is a very pro-
fessional game in the Pacman tradi-
tion. The catchy tune that is played con-
tinuously is just one example,; of the
care that went into it. (For all that, there
are still some bugs - such as an egg

RATING FOR HOPPER

Graphics -

AAA

▼ ▼ ▼

Sound -

AAA

▼ w w

Programming skill -

AAA

w w w

Value for money -

AAA

w w w

Addictiveness-

AAA

WWW

Graphics -

A A A A

w w w w

Sound -

A A A A

w w w w

Programming skill -

AAA

WWW

Value for money -

A AAA

w w w w

Addictiveness-

A A A A

w w w w

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

190

Graphics -
Sound -

Programming skill
Value for money -
Addictiveness -

Graphics -
Sound -

Programming skill
Value for money-
Addictiveness -

Graphics -
Sound -

Programming skill
Value for money -
Addictiveness -

Graphics -
Sound -

Programming skill
Value for money -
Addictiveness -

Graphics-
Sound -

Programming skill
Value for money -
Addictiveness -

Graphics-
Sound -

Programming skill
Value for money -
Addictiveness -

Graphics-
Sound -

Programming skill
Value for money -
Addictiveness -

Graphics-
Sound -

Programming skill
Value for money -
Addictiveness -

Graphics-
Sound -

Programming skill
Value for money -
Addictiveness-

RATING FOR CHUKKIE EGG

Jet Power Jack attempts to bring Spec-
trum-style graphics to the BBC, and
mostly succeeds. The shapes are per-
haps a shade too small to be clearly
seen, and the response of the program
to the player’s controls is a bit too
enthusiastic for me, and I normally go
flying across the screen before I’ve
worked out what’s going on. However,
this speed is probably a plus point
when one becomes experienced. The
game is firmly in the Donkey Kong
mould, with a cross-section through the
building in which Jack is moving.

RATING FOR MICRO OLYMPICS

3D Bomb Alley is yet another ‘different’
game, although in essence the old
theme of destroying hordes of baddies
is still there. The graphics are the main
advance, the attacking bombers being
viewed from an anti-aircraft emplace-
ment. The planes get larger and larger,
until they eventually drop a bomb that
destroys any ships left in the water.
During the attack, you must hit them by
moving your sights until they are cover-
ing an attacker and then fire. This last
detail is reminiscent of Missile Com-
mand.

Ghouls from Micro Power indicates a
new direction for games to follow. I’ve
seen the same game for the Commo-
dore 64, so it was obviously designed to
be easily converted for other
machines. Perhaps in the future com-
panies will only sell one tape, which
will contain versions for all micros, so
that the user will wind the tape to the
correct position and load the appropri-
ate version. Specialist games will con-
tinue to offer better use of the machine.
For all that, though, Ghouls is fun.

RATING FOR GHOULS

RATING FOR 3D BOMB ALLEY

Snooker from Visions is a faithful ren-
dition of the game, with large snooker
balls which move about fairly convinc-
ingly. The only thing that I found odd
was the bouncing algorithm, as slam-
ming a ball into the red pack didn’t pro-
duce the normal scattering effect, but
instead all the balls absorbed the
impact. Other features include the
ability to vary the strength of the shot.

RATING FOR JET POWER JACK

Blagger has 21 different screens, and
this variety keeps up interest long
beyond the initial learning phase. The
graphics are relatively uninspired,
although better than those of Chukkie
Egg , and sufficient to play the game.
What is remarkable is their sheer
number, as there is not much spare
memory after one has decided to use
mode 2 graphics.

RATING FOR BLAGGER

Overdrive , from Super Software, is
graphically quite good, the cars on the
track being scaled according to their
distance away from the player’s car.
My only gripe is the lack of corners,
which means that most of the skill
needed is in avoiding other cars as you
overtake them. At high speeds, these
other cars appear very fast, and the
game becomes almost pure reaction.

RATING FOR OVERDRIVE

RATING FOR SNOOKER

Among the two adventure games that
make our chart, Level 9’s Snowball'is to
be commended for its logical structure.
The features of the game are the amaz-
ing text compression - 7,000 rooms
fitted into a standard model B. In this
game you have to find your way around
a large building with separate floors,
most of which are connected together
by lifts (but not the floor you start in -
this is the first puzzle!).

The other game is a new release
from Acornsoft, called Acheton , which
uses techniques devised by Jon Thack-
ray and David Seal. This is one of the
first adventures for the Beeb that works
only with a disc drive, a disc being
necessary to hold all the room descrip-
tions and the pointers associated with
them. The game itself is also chock-full
of puzzles.

Hunchback is a game requiring you to
pilot Quasimodo through a heavily
guarded castle. This is done by having
a fixed screen which scrolls to one side
when it is completed. Thus the game
has different phases, each of which has
to be completed before one moves on.
One of the more useful features of this
game is the facility to start at any
phase, which is useful for practising.
All this helps to make it addictive.

RATING FOR HUNCHBACK

Mfoo Olympics is interesting from the
novelty point of view. The graphics
(when you get to them - there are
rather a lot of instruction pages) are
very good, and the man runs extremely
smoothly. Unfortunately, the only copy
that I have seen of this package was in-
complete, in that the Throwing and
Running sections didn’t exist. However
the jumping was good, although it was
tricky to judge when to jump.

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR JOYSTICK

When you bought your BBC Model
B. or a PLUS 1 or one of the other
analogue interfaces for the
ELECTRON, then you paid out a
fair amount of money for the A/D
converter. Don t waste it by buying
switched joysticks. ACORN did not
put all this additional cost onto the
machines without considering its
worth against a switched joystick
option which could have been run
from the user port without any
additional hardware.

A switched joystick cannot
properly simulate an analogue one
but an analogue one can simulate
a switched one with extra facilities.
Three types of joystick are around
for the BBC at the moment. These
are:-

(a) Switched type that plugs into
the user port.

(b) Switched type modified to plug
into the analogue port.

<c) Fully analogue.

Firstly, don't buy a switched joy-
stick that plugs into the user
port. Joystick software for the BBC
is written to run from the analogue
port. A joystick of this type will
need a conversion routine, even to
run programs that have an
ACORNSOFT compatible joystick
option. Conversion software can
cause problems, it can interact with
the hardware timers in the user
port, or affect the speed of the
game, or sometimes the conversion
cannot be located because all
available memory is used.

The switched type of joystick that
plugs into the analogue port has
been fitted with resistors to give

three values in any plane. These
values are full on, full off or half
way. This type of joystick will run
programs which only require up.
down. left, right or diagonal move-
ment in one speed.

The type of joystick really intended
to be used on the BBC is a fully
analogue one. Few' programs are
around yet which really take
advantage of the variable rates and
angles that can be used with this
type. Two programs that do are
AVIATOR and SNOOKER from
ACORNSOFT and you need
analogue joysticks to play the
joystick versions of these programs.
On AVIATOR the joystick replaces
the real Spitfire's joystick. A slight
movement of the joystick w ill cause
the plane to change direction
slowly and a large movement will
make it change direction sharply.

In SNOOKER the angle of the shot
is directly related to the angle of the
joystick and the strength of the shot
is determined by the deflection of
the joystick from the centre
position.

Most things in real life are
analogue. For instance, imagine
driving a car with only idle or flat
out. forwards or backwards and
brakes that were either hard on
w'ith the wheels locked or not on at
all. Imagine picking up an egg with
a hand that was either open or fully
closed. An attempt can be made to
simulate analogue movement with
switches by causing the switch to
adjust the rate at which something
is moved. The keyboard version of
AVIATOR is like this— as long as

you hold down a key the aircraft
joystick is moved in that
direction — O.K until you need to
suddenly swing the other way
because you will have to wait while
the joystick is driven back to centre
and then off in the other direction.
In the on-going debate as to
whether video games are good or
bad for young children; one of the
“for's" is that they improve
co-ordination between hand and
eye. This is only true if there is a
direct relationship beween the
position of the hand (joystick) and
the object on the screen. It is not
really improving co-ordination if
the object moves at a rate
determined by software regardless
of the relative position of the stick
or the pressure applied to it or the
speed that is moved.

Similarly the absolute position of a
cursor in a graphics program is best
done w'ith analogue joysticks. The
cursor can be moved a tiny bit by
making a fine adjustment in any
direction or can be put the other
side of the screen as quick as the
joystick can be moved.

To help you make the most of your
joystick we are offering free listings
of some useful joystick utilities for
just sending us a stamped addressed
envelope and returning the
enclosed form.

by Tony Pearmain

Please send me a listing of the following joystick utilities and more information on the Voltmaee Delta range of analogue joysticks: -

1. A utility to simutate a switched joystick action on an analogue joystick with adjustable sensitivity.

2. A utility to convert games like SNOOKER from two joysticks to run on one joystick.

This can also be used to transfer action from one joystick to another if one joystick is faulty.

This program works very' well for a single DELTA 14b where each player has his own fire button.

3. For DELTA 14b & 14b/ 1 owners a utility to transfer existing joystick software
to the side socket of the A D USER PORT INTERFACE to save
changing the joystick over after running keyboard /joystick conversions.

Please answer these quesitons:-
Do you own a joystick? yes □ no □

If yes please give make

Are you satisfied with your joystick? yes □ no □

If no please state why

Please send your form and stamped addressed envelope to:-

VOLTMACE LIMITED, PARK DRIVE, BALDOCK, HERTS, SG7 6EM
Telephone (0462) 894410

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

191

o

SPECIAL OFFERS
Mail order only

* EPSON

RX-80FT £225.25 + VAT
FX-80 £320.88 + VAT

VOLTMACE JOYSTICKS
★ 10% off list prices

Discounted price inc VAT

JSVOLT 1 4 Voltmace Delta 14B Joysticks 13 46

JSVOLTAD Voltmace 1 4B/1 Adaptor Box 13 36

JSV0LT3B Voltmace Delta 3B Twin Joysticks 1 8 09

Ele
anc
of t
st a

Ref

ANBl

ANB(

ANBl

ANBl

ANCl

ANCl

ACBE

ACB1

SIDEWISE

SIDEWISE FITTED

3" Micro Disc £89.00

(inc. VAT)

Disc Interface &

Drive

£ 181.30 (inc. VAT)

Micro Disc Drive for
the BBC Micro

The Micro disc drive offers a method of low cost quick access to
programs. The drive is essentially a small version of a 5f' 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 disc interface, but a
new disc filing system rom Acorn DFS may be exchanged for the
micro DFS for C2.30. The new micro disc filing system can read
and write to Acorn DFS discs.

Thus if a 5T inch and a micro floppy were connected on the same
cable files could be transferred between them.

Capacity: 80.64 K bytes Transfer Rate: 125k bit/s

Networking Torchnet/Econet

“SIDEWAYS” rom board for BBC Micro.
No soldering required £33.44 + VAT

TAXAN/KAGA *
KP810

£242.58 + VAT

Printer price includes paper and BBC cable
Screen dump rom available for £11.50

14" TV/Monitor
£199.96 + VAT

SOFTWARE

Special offer 1 5% off most
software + 1 Free cassette
with every 3 bought (phone
for details)

Printer price includes paper and BBC cable
Screen dump rom available for £11.50

-. r C • -.I . :

v- .

Wk I i

jL

(Authorised BBC Micro Dealer, and Econet service centre)

Advanced connection techniques used on our
networks considerably reduce joint resistance
ensuring lower end to end resistance than by any
other method.

Elite etc in stock.

All our BBC’s and Torches are networked together.
Are yours:

If not phone 0329 230671.

^^4 CORN
COMPUTER

Electronequtp

4*

BBC ili

192

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

TORCH Disc Pack

SPECIAL

OFFER

Only £740.00 + VAT with
Acorn Disc upgrade F.O.C.

(Free fitting available if required)

All offers subject to availability

Prices subject to variation without prior notification

Prices for monitors & printers include BBC cable

TRADE ENQUIRIES WELCOME
Access & Barclaycard Accepted
Large Stocks - 24 Hour Despatch

BRANCHES

MAIL ORDER: 36-38 WEST STREET
FAREHAM, HANTS. (0329) 230670
SHOP/TECHNICAL: 59 WEST STREET
FAREHAM, HANTS. (0329) 230671
KINGS LYNN: 17 TENNYSON AVE. (0553) 3782

W'acqrh

COMPUTER

Electronequip

36*38 West Street. Fareham, Hants (0329) 230670

iFREEACORNSOFT GAMES

WITH EVERY (while stocks last)

BBC

\

iectronequip is an authorised Acorn service centre
ind has been an Acorn dealer since the introduction
ifthe Atom. Our demonstration facilities include 20
nation Econet and Torchnet systems.

He!

BBC Micros

Ex VAT

Inc VAT

m\

BBC Model B Micro Computer

348.26

399.00

^B02

BBC Model B with Econet Interface

389.14

446.00

NB03

BBC Model B with Disc Interface

409.14

469.00

EUB04

BBC Model B with Disc & Econet Interface

450.01

516.00

NC01

6502 Second Processor

174.35

199.00

AIC04

Z80 Second Processor

348.26

399.00

CBBITST

Acorn Bit Stick (ANF04)

327.39

376.50

C8TELET

Teletext Receiver (ANE01 )

195.65

225.00

Electron Starter Pack £229.95

All Acorn products
supplied by
Electronequip have:-
1 full year warrantee.
(All repairs are
carried out on site).

BBC/Electron
Starter Packs:

All BBC Micros(ANBOI’s)
and Electrons are sold with a
starter pack which includes:

1 BBC Data Recorder
(or Sanyo DR101)

5 Acornsoft games cassettes.

BBC Starter Pack

ANBOI/ANBSP £399.00 inc VAT

Electron Starter Pack

ALAOI/ANBSP £229.95 inc VAT

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

193

194

SOFTWARE REVIEWS ■

INTO THE ABYSS

‘Abyss', Case Computer Simulations, 14
Langton Way, London SE3 7TL. BBC and
Electron, £6.95

DESCRIBED as an unusual adventure
game, Abyss consists of a grid to be tra-
versed. After moving from one section
of the grid to another, a random puzzle
is set.

These are a mixture of mathematical
problems, arcade games and memory
tests. The arcade games may sound
great but really only consist of, for
example, avoiding three blobs which
home in on you as they move down the
screen. Similarly the other problems
don’t cause much difficulty, with tasks
such as remembering a number of let-
ters in sequence, or answering (within
a time limit) if the sum of two numbers
is correct.

The graphics are poor and some of
the checks on the mazes are terrible -
in one case it’s possible to come out of
the entrance, walk round the maze and
reach the exit, thus solving the prob-
lem. Another puzzle has a bad feature
which means it can only be completed
on its second occurrence. It begins with

a few lines of instructions to be read at
the top of the screen. The object is to
read a word flashed on the screen, but
as this appears simultaneously with the
instructions it’s impossible to accom-
plish on your first attempt. Other diffi-
culties are caused by bad combi-
nations of colours which can only be
read on clear monitors or monochrome
TVs.

Abyss is just a collection of small
tasks which any semi-competent pro-
grammer could write, and really should
not be sold under the title of ‘adven-
ture’. MR Cooper

TRENCH WARFARE

‘Battle Planet’, ISP Marketing, 15a Cas-
tons Yard, off New Road, Basingstoke,
Hants, BBC B, £6.95

DONNING shoulder pads, dark glasses
and skin-tight trousers you are yet
again called upon to adopt the now
familiar role of ‘hero extraordinaire’ to
fly down the also now familiar trench to
have one shot atthe even more familiar
ultimate in bad-guys! Battle Planet \ s a
remake of the ‘fly down a narrow hole
while having goodness knows what
shot at you’ scenario.

Battle planets are about to KO man-
kind and you are volunteered to pene-
trate its one weakness (the trench).
Avoiding odd robot fighters and trying

to stay one step ahead of the invincible
robot commander are the seemingly
impossible odds to be overcome before
having a crack at the nasties. It’s quite

crucial that you destroy them, or you
tend to expire.

To aid your quest, you have a force
shield which, though using up your
energy somewhat, will protect you from
the robot fighters (who can also be
zapped with the photon gun). Your
secret weapon, however, is the plasma
bolt launcher. You have three plasma
bolts -one of which is used to destroy
the ‘battle planet’ -which can stun the
robot commander to give you a chance
to escape.

The graphic effect of travelling down
the tunnel is really quite effective,
using a colour switching technique
which needs a long set-up procedure.
Animation is smooth, though not very
complex, but I was impressed with the
stimulating sound effects.

Packaging is colourful and informa-
tive, though no control layout is given in
the inlay. The controls are, however,
often given in the run of the program.

The one surprising feature of Battle
Planet is that it is a Basic driven pro-
gram with machine code routines for
the more complicated parts. I dis-
covered this when I pressed ‘Escape’
and -horror of horrors -it escaped!
Quite amazing for a commercial game.
The game’s playable but nothing orig-
inal apart from this aspect, so there is
very little to recommend it.

Philip Tudor

TEE-TIME

‘Birdie barrage’, Computasolve, BBC B
and Electron, £7.95

IN this neatly packaged golf game, the
idea is of course to hit a ball into a hole.

The title page tells you that the
course is 72 par. Once loaded you are
asked if you want music, and to check
that caps lock is on. The predefined
high score table is then displayed.

Pressing the space bar starts the
game, producing an image of the first
fairway. At each hole the red tee box
has an arrow through it to show the
wind direction and contains a yellow
number giving wind-strength. At the
bottom of the screen is a white box
showing the distance and par of the
hole being played. After entering your
choice of club, a window displays the
direction of shot, which can be rotated
using the Z and X keys, and the
strength, which can be altered by the
up and down cursor keys.

Once set up you press Return and a
white pixel pops out from the tee box
representing the ball. As the ball slows
down it can be carried by the wind.
When it comes to rest it expands into a
full stop, which is more easily seen.

You proceed like this until you reach
the green, then the computer redraws
the display as a green background with
a black circle in the centre to show the
hole, with a white circle representing
the ball. You are told if it is a fast or slow
green, then you set the parameters for
your shot as before, except it is pre-
sumed that you chose a putter. And so
you proceed through the 18 holes of
Acorn Park Golf Course.

The screen displays are good and
clear on a colour monitor but rather dif-
ficult on a monochrome display.

This is a fairly good game, though
slightly lacking in excitement; its only
fault is not having a constant display of
your running score. Roger Gammans

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

TH€ B€ST BBC MICBO SOfTUIBRC

* PRODUCED OV RN IND€P€ND€NT SOFTUIRRC HOUSC *
* TOP OURUIV MRCHINC-CODC PROGRAMS *

BBC

MICRO

BMX ON TH€ MOON (32K) £7.95

Smooth scrolling-screen orcode oction. In this gome you control o moon cycle which you use to potrol the surfoce of
the moon. Vou must ovoid the rocks on the surface, and also the monsters bouncing high in the low gravity. Vou
should try to shoot down the spaceships which fly overhead dropping bombs onto the moon surface: A further
hazard are the flying barrels which are often just too high to shoot or jump over, and just too low to squeeze
underneath.

• ••N€W fl€L€AS€ • • •

Many of our titles ore available in Boots, UU.H. Smiths, John Menzies, Rumbelows, laskys, Currys,
HMV, Greens ot Debenhoms and Spectrum Shops. Also ot oil major computer dealers - €ltec
Computers, Micro Management, West Coast Personal Computers, Microstyle, Clectronequip, 3D
Computers, Computeromo, GTM Computers, etc. Our software is also ovoiloble through all the
major distributors, and directly from us by mail-order.

WWW 4-

f—*.

UfINGCD WARLORDS (38K)

£7.95

A fascinating arcade-style game for one or two players. €ach player rides an
ostrich, and the aim is to knock the enemy riders off by colliding uuith them.

In a collision the rider ujith the highest jousting pole will be victorious. If you
ore successful, the enemy uuilt revert to its original form: on egg. The egg
must be collided uuith to prevent it from hatching. Avoid the lava both ot the
bottom of the screen, and remember: you con fly better by using stronger
strokes - imagine you ore on ostrich trying to fly!

(KCYBOARD OR JOYSTICKS)

• • •NCUU R€L€AS€® • •

SUPERIOR SOnUIRRC LTD.

Dept. FUJI 1, Regent House,
Skinner Lone, Leeds 7
Tel: 0532 459453

OUR GUARRNTCC

( 1 ) All our software is available before we advertise.

(2) All our software is despatched within 48 hours by first-class post.

(3) In the unlikely event that any of our software foils to load, return your
cassette to us and we will immediately send a replacement.

£1149 OR LESS. HOW’S THAT FOR STARTERS?

Everything you need to organise yourself and to
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computer - cassette storage,
programming, cleaning - all
together in one complete kit.

The Rexel Home Computer
Starter Kit is put together by
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very best out of your micro,
especially if you are starting on
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creating your own programs.

Compatible with every
cassette driven micro, it is
available now at W.H.Smith,
John Menzies and other
leading suppliers. And at £11.49
or less, it's an absolute gift.

Also look out for the range of Rexel Computer Care
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You couldn't have a better start than that.

For more information on the Rexel Computer
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Bucks. HP19 3DT

Cassette binder supplied without cassettes

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COMPUTER SUPPLIES

TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT REXEL

196

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

I SOFTWARE REVIEWS

ONE MORE
TIME

One Last Game’, Clemoes Software,
BBC and Electron (Plus-1 needed for
joystick option), £6.95

A CROSS between Space Invaders and
Scramble, One Last Game from Cle-
moes is unusual in allowing the joystick
option on the Electron (with Plus-1) to
be used with a cassette.

Once loaded a tune is played which I
imagine sounds good on the Elk as it
uses the cassette motor relay for the
drum. There are six different types of
aliens to fire, named Slimey, Rapier.
Zit, Rammer, Invulno and Vogon. A list
of these is shown when the game is
loaded. At the bottom of the screen it
tells you how to start and how to display
the control keys.

To play you use A and Z to go up and
down and Return to fire. As the one pro-
gram runs both on the Beeb and the Elk
you can increase the speed of the game
with shift, which of course adds to the
20 different levels. When playing you
face five rows of aliens to shoot at. Two
or more aliens leave the rows depend-
ing on the level and come forward
shooting, trying to kill you by running
into you if you evade their fire. If you let
them pass they will rejoin their ranks,
so you can have another go at shooting
them (stupid aliens!). If when the game
finishes your score is high enough to
get into the high score table you are
given a rating: poor, average, etc. (I
confess I haven’t done better than aver-
age yet).

The 20 levels are lettered A to T and
by entering the correct letter after
space/fire/M you can start at any one.
The ground alternates between build-
ings and hills as the levels change.

One Last Game operates on a mixed
control format. Apart from the usual
keyboard or joystick choice, a third
option allows direction control from the
joystick and fire from the keyboard.
Although you can start with M or the
space bar from the keyboard, if when

you’ve first loaded it M followed by A is
used to start the game, it appears to
default to the joystick control for direc-
tions of your ship, although you still
seem to be able to fire with Return.

The graphics on this game are of
reasonable quality and well laid out.

I found this an interesting game with
the excitement of a lot of the oldies such
as Space Invaders and Pacman.

Roger Gammans

AVOIDING THE
ALBATROSS

Blockbuster’, Micro Power, BBC, £7.95
(disc £9.95)

more so when the fox is hot on your
heels. I became so annoyed playing the
game that I delved into the code to see
if it was written in Basic. It doesn't
appear to be, but its hard to see why
there should be this trouble if the game
is totally in m/c code. There aren't
enough moving sprites to cause any
problem.

As far as I’m concerned. I’ve played
better versions of this game from list-
ings published free in magazines, and
wouldn’t consider buying Blockbuster
when there are so many more respon-
sive programs available.

Simon Williams

MAYDAY

MICRO POWER has acquired quite a
reputation for producing high-quality
versions of existing arcade games for
the BBC micro. More recently it has
started to release new software on disc

as well as cassette, and Blockbuster is
available in both versions.

The game follows the format of
Q'Bert , in which you jump a character
around a structure of hexagonal
columns, changing the colours of their
tops as you go. In this version, your
character is a large green rabbit, and
trying to prevent him completing his
task is an equally big blue fox. You can
temporarily forestall his pursuit by
luring him off the back of the blocks
while elevating yourself to safety on
one of the two multicoloured disks pro-
vided for the purpose.

Other characters occasionally crop
up to cause you annoyance and most
are fatal to the touch. A fat white gull,
described in the cassette inlay as an
albatross, floats to and fro overhead
and drops the odd blob of noxious
guano’ -nice! The sound effects are
fairly ordinary, but the rabbit produces
a satisfying boing each time he hops.

My main grouse is the response to
the control keys. This is so intermittent
on the first level that it can take three or
four depressions of the relevant key
before any action occurs. This is frus-
trating at the best of times, but much

MAYHEM

Mayday’, Clemoes Software, BBC, £6.95

MAYDAY is essentially a Lunar Lander
type game, ie, your craft is launched
from the mother ship and you must land
on one of the two pads at the bottom of
the screen.

The first odd thing I noticed about this
game was that there didn’t appear to be
any gravitational pull, so there are only
two speeds -fast (without thrust) and
slow (with).

Once landed and stopped for a quick
cuppa, you must take off again, avoid-
ing aliens who drop bombs on your
shuttle. I found getting down onto the
pads easy, and the asteroids weren’t
too bad, but getting back to the mother
ship was quite a challenge.

To make the game more interesting
and addictive there are several differ-
ent colourful screens and graphics are
good, if a little flickery.

I found one bug: when the explosion
of your ship takes place, bits fly every-
where, yet the image of your craft
remains at the bottom of the screen.

Mayday c omes with a screen shot on
the front of the inlay (this is left out on
many games, and such an omission
always makes me suspicious of the •
content), but it’s not a game I’d rush out
and buy. Rob Fenton

197

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

SOFTWARE REVIEWS I

GROWING

PAINS

‘Paranoid Pete’, UBIK Software, BBC B,
£7.95

AT first sight Paranoid Pete looks
rather insignificant, packaged in a
normal cassette case with a bright
yellow inlay card, but it's an amusing,
simple, addictive and original game.

Due to a worldwide shortage of
wheat, Pete the space-farmer has
taken his ship into orbit around the
planet Owwayondah. He is beamed
down onto the planet’s surface, then at
a random interval a hatch opens and a
seed falls out. Pete must dig a hole for
this to fall into, then bury it. Meanwhile,
the Mega-wibblies are trying to have
him for their breakfast!

Once sown, the wheat starts growing
into a plant, which must be protected
from the enemy, but luckily our para-
noid friend can defend himself with a
nifty bit of sword fighting with his
trowel. The Mega-wibbly victim of such
a spade-bashing instantly de-material-
ises.

When Pete's plant is fully grown, the
arm of the UBIK ’droid comes down and
takes the wheat up into the ship to be
processed, but the wibblies are at it
again, so it's up into the Harvester to
sort them out. There are only two
screens on Paranoid Pete, but both are
inventive and well drawn. In sheet two
you actually see the plant being taken
up and made into the finished product
which must be protected.

When you’ve completed this, Pete is
beamed back down with more wibblies
and two plants to grow. After that, play-
ing gets really hectic, but it can't deter
you from hitting the space bar for
another game!

The title page is good and the colours
alternate while loading. Pete himself is
dressed in a colourful suit, complete
with scarf and braces, and the pro-
grammer has even taken the trouble to
put a shine on his shoes.

Kids will love this game, and I would
certainly add it to my collection.

Rob Fenton

HIH)H)H1H)HIH1H1H)

3/t

tf® H1H1HHBHI
hi hi m hi
hihihj ui so

HIH1HWH) H) 1! h!

MS HI HI HI
«®HIH1«H) H) HIHIHJ

HI HI HI HI HI HI HI HI;
HI HI HI I

NICE GAME -SHAME

ABOUT THE SCENARIO

‘Rubble Trouble’, Micro Power, £7.95
(disc £9.95)

THE arcade game Pengo has spawned
many imitations, most of which mimic
its main features and do what they can
with the graphics. Rubble Trouble ,
however, sets a new scene and offers
one main feature to distinguish it from
the rest.

For those who don’t know the orig-
inal game, the hero is set in a maze and
is chased by a number of nasties, in this
case two-headed mutant turtles called

‘crackits’. His only protection is the
ability to push the boulders which form
the walls of the maze in the hope of
squashing a crackit against a wall. The
difference between Rubble Trouble
and the other versions I have played is
that the boulders bounce back if the
crackit is missed and stand a good
chance of turning you into so much
pate.

This all adds to the excitement, but if
you're still after something more, there
are options to play with the screen full
of blocks, thereby disguising the
whereabouts of the maze walls, or with
invisible walls, which is much the same
but less colourful. Bonus points are
scored for pushing special boulders
and there are others which explode if
pushed. The whole program is well-
written and runs colourfully and
smoothly. The sound effects and
accompanying music are original and
of a very high standard.

However, I have a strong reservation
about this game. The alternative’ scen-
ario I mentioned earlier places you in
post-holocaust Britain fighting radio-
active mutants and your exposure time
is limited before going down with radi-
ation sickness. I find it hard to accept
any light treatment of this subject and
feel this storyline invidious in a ‘jolly'
game. Nice game -a shame about the
scenario. Simon Williams

CEREBRAL CARNAGE

Brainstorm’, Virgin Games, £7.95

BRAINSTORM, a new release from
Virgin Games, supposedly combines
the tactics of chess with the carnage of
Defender. It's for two players and the
idea is to frazzle your opponent’s
brains by reflecting high-energy laser
beams at him or her. This is done by
depositing Electro-prisms’ in relevant
positions on the board shown on the
screen. When you’re positioning a
prism you must also set the Deflection
Factor’ which determines the angle at
which the laser beam will bounce off it.
The player’s laser is at one side and
can be raised or lowered instead of
laying a prism.

Before the game begins, the players
must agree how awkward the screen
will be. The time that the laser beam
remains on can also be varied -the
longer it’s on, the more time your op-
ponent has to plot against you!

Now for my criticisms, in particular
the instructions. Though they are long,
they are far from comprehensive. The
basics of the game are hardly covered,
whilst the trivia is given the fine tooth-
comb treatment. Let’s hope the life-

jacket instructions for Virgin Airlines
weren’t written by the same chap!

But on the plus side there is a screen
picture in the cassette inlay (along with
the life history of the author) which is a
great idea so you know exactly what
you'll get for your precious money! The
screen display is nice and clear with
good use of colour. Once you’ve
figured out what to do, the input is quite
logical. It loaded with no problems and
there is a copy of the program on the
’flip side' of the tape (Virgin said that,
not me!).

My verdict is that it's a good one for
those who want to cut their teeth on
something mild before going for full-
blown alien zapping and at C7.95 it’s not
going to burn a hole in the proverbial
pocket either! Philip Tudor

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

HAPPY CHRISTMAS FROM MIDWICH

1,000 Micro Compatible
Disc Drive Starter Packs

Each starter pack includes:

• BBC compatible, 5\", \ height, 100k,
40 track disc drive

• 10 single-sided 40 track discs

• Connecting cables

• DFS manual and formatting disc

Cash with order and credit card sales only
Telephone your order now

HURRY, OFFER ONLY APPLICABLE WHILE STOCKS LAST.

MIDWICH

Mi COMPUTER COMPANY LIMITED

Midwich Computer Company Limited, Gilray Road, Diss, Norfolk IP22 3EU. Telephone Diss (0379) 4131

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

199

Why buy two when one will do?

The INFRASCOPE COMMUNICATOR II is an electronic

typewriter AND a computer printer

ALL IN ONE

★ RS 232 Compatible KSR and Parallel RO interface.

★ Approved interface for the SCM 1 100 Typewriter.

★ Interface cables available for BBC B. Commodore 64.

Sinclair QL. Spectrum, or virtually any other micro computer
with an RS232 or Centronics interface.

★ Choice of 2 or 8K character buffer.

ALL THIS FOR ONLY £458 Incl. VAT and Delivery

(Interface Cable Extra) VISA/ACCESS Accepted

The new KSR COMMUNICATOR II is now available for immediate despatch. Using the popular
Smith Corona EC 1 100 typewriter we have created a high quality computer printer by fitting our new
INFRASCOPE interface.

But don't take out word for it, write or phone for our free comprehensive data sheet.

INFRASCOPE LIMITED

Longbeck Road, IVIarske, REDCAR, Cleveland. TS1I 6HQ. Telephone 0642 470121

Available from computer software
stockists nationwide, including

i Jr Addictive Games

7A RICHMOND HILL, BOURNEMOUTH BH2 6HE

To order by mail (p&p free) send
cheques or postal order to:

itutVu*l

[T^

i lM 1

I T * 1

il r i

i J i J

I » l : ;

200

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

I LIGHTPEN REVIEWS

» GUIDING
LIGHTS

Are you in the dark about lightpens?
In the first of a two-part series
Chris Drage compares four models

E VERYONE who purchases a micro
is immediately aware that the
standard device for inputting data
into the system is the keyboard. The
range of different input devices though,
is quite considerable. They include
joysticks, graphics pads/plotters, voice
input systems, direct sensors, touch-
pads and lightpens. The primary pur-
pose of lightpens is for inputting two-
dimensional visual data. In a way it
reverses the usual flow of information
in a computer system. Instead of using
the monitor screen as an output to the

Figure 1. The RH Electronics package com-
prising lightpen, interface unit, introductory
software and user’s manual

user, the lightpen enables it to be used
as an input device returning data to the
computer.

Typically, a lightpen is a cylindrical
object similar to a felttip pen. From one
end of the tubular body emerges a lead
which connects the lightpen to the A/D
socket on the computer. Housed in the
tapered end of the lightpen is a light
sensitive transistor, its sole purpose to
sense lit screen pixels. Within the
barrel of the pen is circuitry which
organises and shapes the signals
received by the light sensor.

Because the BBC micro has a 6845
cathode ray tube controller (CRTC
chip) built into it, the lightpen is able to
behave in a far more sophisticated
manner than the norm for many com-
puters. No longer a mere sensor of lit
and unlit portions of the screen, the
6845 1C allows the lightpen to register
the exact position at which it is pointing
on the screen. This opens the way for a
number of useful applications.

The four lightpens described here
represent a range available for the
BBC micro from the middle to the top
end of the market. Unfortunately, few
software houses supply versions of
their packages that work with a light-
pen. A peripheral such as this relies
heavily upon support from its manufac-
turer, and the pens in this article were
chosen because each manufacturer
provides very good software support.

SUPPUERS AND SPECIFICATIONS

Product

Manufacturer
Interface box
Dimensions

Switch type

Cable length

Price

Software supplied

Review copy
obtained from

Colour Light Pen

RH Electronics

Yes

Pen: 123mm x 15mm

Interface box: 145 x 127 x 40mm
Probe with microswitch + LED
indicator

Pen. 880mm

Interface box: 420mm

245.95 inc VAT

Five utilities, two games, one
sketch program

RH Electronics (sales) Ltd,
Chesterton Mill, Frenchs Road,
Cambridge CB4 3NP

Product

Manufacturer
Interface box
Dimensions

Switch type

Cable length

Price

Software supplied

Review copy
obtained from

Stack Light Pen

Stack Computer Services

Yes, complete with 15-way D plug
Pen: 135mm x 9mm

Interface box: 65 x 45 x 18mm
Touch contact rings

900mm (working length)

£28.00 inc VAT

Nine games plus Litewriter
program

Stack Computer Services,

290-298 Derby Road, Bootle,
Merseyside L20 8LN

Product

Robin Educational Light Pen

Product

Datapen Light Pen

Manufacturer

Educational Software Co

Manufacturer

Datapen Microtechnology

Interface box

None

Interface box

None

Dimensions

130mm x 11mm

Dimensions

135 x 15 x 23mm

Switch type

Finger touch contact-rings

Switch type

Thumb switch plus LED lamp

Cable length

900mm (working length)

Cable length

1050mm

Price

£41.40 inc VAT

Price

£25.00 inc VAT & pp

Software supplied

‘Paint Brush’ program

Software supplied

Two graphics programs

Review copy

The Educational Software Co

Review copy

Datapen Microtechnology.

obtained from

(Southport), 108 Parthenon Drive,
Liverpool L11 7AQ

obtained from

Kingsclere Road, Overton,
Hampshire RG25 3JB

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

ATTRACTIONS

GEMINHOX

£189.95

+ VAT =£21 8.44
120cps • Bi-Directional
Logic Seeking • Friction
Tractor and Roll Holder
Standard •
Downloadable Characters
• Ultra High Resolution
• 80 cols • IBM PC
version now available.

f FIDELITY

1 2 MHZ Video Bandwidth
RGB and Composite Video
Medium Res

£1 69.95 +,, .W„

Also available in TV/monitor
version at £1 95.95
( + VAT) = £225.34

LOOK!

NEW LOWER PRICES ON
EPSON STAR & BROTHER

DAISYWHEEL PRINTERS

BROTHER HR 15 CALL FOR BEST PRICES
JUKI 6100 £325 + VAT = £373.75

DAISYSTEP 2000 £225 + VAT = £258.75

EPSON DX 100- £369.95 + VAT= £425.44

DOT MATRIX PRINTERS
COSMOS JP80 £1 69.95 + VAT = £195.44

EPSON RX80 £198.95 + VAT= £228.79

EPSON RX 80 F/T £228.95 + VAT = £263.29

EPSON RX100 £384.95 + VAT = £442.69

EPSON FX80 £31 9.95 + VAT = £367.94

EPSON FX100 £498.95 + VAT = £573.79

STAR GEMINI-10X £189.95 + VAT = £21 8.44

STAR DELTA 10 £31 9.95 + VAT = £367.94

STAR RADIX 10 £498.95 + VAT = £573.79

THERMAL MATRIX PRINTERS

STAR STX 80 £129.95 + VAT = £149.44

BROTHER HR5 CALL FOR BEST PRICES

BROTHER EP 44 CALL FOR BEST PRICES

Cables - Paper - Ribbons - Sheet Feeders
T ractor Feeds - I nterfaces - Call for Best Prices

CREDIT CARD
HOT LINE
01-482 1711

PLEASE ADD £10 + VAT FOR DELIVERY
POST YOUR CHEQUES/P.O.'s TO:

DATASTAR SYSTEMS UK

UNICOM HOUSE. 182 ROYAL COLLEGE STREET
LONDON NW1 9NN
Telex 295931 UNICOM G

TAX-FREE EXPORT & DEALER ENQUIRIES WELCOME
Personal callers welcome. We are situated at the junction of
Camden Road, near the railway bridge.

Opening hours Mon Fri 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sat & Sun 1 0 a.m. to 1 p.m.

1 59 Havant Road, Drayton, Portsmouth, Hants. (0705) 327591
Dealer enquiries welcome.

Machine Code
Editor/de-bugger
For The BBC
Micro

E 39 95

inc VAT
(plus 55p p&p)

To order, please send cheque/P.O. for C40.50 enclosing your full name and
address, or telephone and quote your ACCESS/VISA number

micro choice

DEBUG is the most sophisticated machine code
monitor yet produced for the BBC Microcomputer.
This ROM based Language/Utility is fully compatible
with Acorn Tubes (requires 1.2 OS).

.

USEFUL BBC PROGRAMS FROM

TAMSIN Electronics

★ DATAMAC ★

VIEW — BETABASE

Extend the capability of your VIEW wordprocessor. with
DATAMAC and BETABASE.

DATAMAC provides the link between VIEW and a Database such
as BETABASE to produce personalized standard letters or other
repetitive documents. DATAMAC makes sensible and easy use of
the MACRO facility in VIEW and allows you to use your existing
datafiles from the flexible BETABASE program by Clare's.

The program has hundreds of business applications. For example,
if you have a database of clients, you could use this to send each
client a standard letter with the correct, personal details entered.

Also, subscription reminders for clubs, special offers to selected
customers, etc.

Send SAE for further details or purchase:

DATAMAC available on 40 or 80m track disc £19.95
BETABASE 40 or 80 track £24.95
VIEW Wordprocessor ROM £59.80

(All prices including V.A.T. and p&p)

Buy any two 5% discount. Buy all three 10% discount.

From: TAMSIN Electronics ,

32. Feltrim Ave, EXETER, Devon. EX2 4RP

J

202

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

The RH Electronics Colour Light Pen
is the only one actually approved by
Acorn Computers for use with the BBC
micro. It is rather different in character-
istics from the other three pens. The RH
Electronics package consists of a light-
pen, an interface unit, introductory soft-
ware and a substantial user’s manual
(figure 1).

The pen comprises a stout off-white
aluminium tube with a black plastic
probe at one end. At the other end a
screw plug provides a solid anchorage
for the screened cable and red status
LED indicator. Inside is a neat and
narrow printed circuit board containing
circuitry that organises the signals. An
extremely fine micro-switch allows the
push tip to signal the user’s decisions
to the computer.

The pen is linked to the cream metal
interface box by a screened cable. The
interface circuitry controls the switch
and video pulse latches. It is also
responsible for converting the analo-
gue video pulse into TTL levels. The
computer sends bytes to the interface
unit where they are stored. The various
latches are then set for the different
modes. The interface box is connected
to the BBC micro via a 420mm ribbon
cable and 15-way analogue connector.
Each element in the system is well
made and the overall impression is one
of quality and robustness.

The software supplied with the light-
pen comes on cassette and comprises
a machine code driver routine, utilities
and three demonstration programs in
Basic: Draughts', Kwartet’ and ‘Draw’.

‘Driver’, LPDrive’ and Reloc’ are
machine code loader and relocator
programs plus the driver routine, which
allow programmers to interface the
pen with programs of their own devis-
ing. My only criticism is that the driver
routine resides at &E00 and resets
PAGE. Being protected, there is no
easy way you can relocate it and thus
not lose valuable memory. SETUP is a
utility that enables adjustments to be
made to the TV/monitor’s brightness
and contrast thus enabling the pen to
detect video pulses correctly. The
second utility TRIM, is included to
enable the offset to be adjusted. This
calculates and plots a point on the
screen relative to the physical position
of the pen probe. These utilities ensure
that you are able to set up your RH Light
Pen to its greatest accuracy.

The three demonstration programs
are just that. As applications software
they are very limited indeed but by list-
ing each one and examining the light-
pen related procedures a great deal
can be learnt. I do feel however, that for
£45.95 one piece of serious appli-
cations software should have been in-
cluded to put the pen to some real work.

I LIGHTPEN REVIEWS

Figure 2. Lightpen, information cards and
software cassette which make up the Robin
Educational Light Pen package

Figure 3. The Robin lightpen and its Paint
Brush’ program allow children to get down
to creative work without delay

Documentation in the form of a 20-
page user’s manual is excellent. Eight
pages alone are devoted to using the
procedures, and it is most helpful in the
construction of lightpen software.
Details are also given about the
demonstration programs and there is
plenty of technical information on how
the pen works.

Without a doubt the RH Electronics
Colour Light Pen is outstanding. It is
extremely well-designed and con-
structed, pleasant to hold and very
strong. I used the pen with groups of 10-
year-olds over a period of three weeks
during which it worked faultlessly. Its
instantaneous response was a joy. The
narrow probe tip was excellent, ensur-
ing good visibility round the operating
area. However, attention should be
given to keeping a clean screen as
classroom ‘dirt’ tended to clog the
probe’s fine aperture. The probe’s
optics concentrate and guide the light,
enabling the pen to be used for very
accurate work. Two features I particu-
larly like are the positive push-tip
method of switching and the bright,
sensitive LED. They combine to give
the user total control over the pen.

If you have £45.95 and require an
instrument of the highest quality, with
advanced control, sensitivity and accu-
racy then I wholeheartedly recommend
the RH Electronics Colour Light Pen.

The Robin Educational Light Pen
marketed by the Educational Software
Co (Southport) is aimed directly at the
educational market. This package com-

203

Figure 4. The Stack lightpen is aimed at the entertainment and games market, and has a
facility for pictures to be saved and loaded

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

^xnvoicing&

. SALES LEDGER

' Produces invoice.

and Statements ho
1 complete custom'

- information-^

V on 40 track 610

on 80 Track.

“ PAYROLL v

Holds full
employee mforma-

non produces pay
slrps for 98 employ
ees (40 Track) 198

(80 Track.)

NOMINAL LEDGER

The central module which
can also be used as a
'stand alone’ Cash Book.
Contains 143 Nominal
Accounts, prints Profit
& Loss Accounts and
Balance Sheet. M

BBC /Electron Mioro, ym can be om that Gemini offer wk,

MICRO

The most advanced software ever written for the
BBC Micro? Or just the most advanced and
comprehensive Database Management System?
Read this check list of main features, and decide
for yourself!

24K ROM Based Random Access Database with 184 page manual
Allows searches on any held or COMBINATION of fields to ANY depth
Up to 9 subsets of data INSTANTLY available and saved to disk
automatically

Sorts alphabetical or Numeric on any field, ascending or descending with
NO LIMIT on the depth of sort
Interfaces with ‘VIEW' and WORDWISE

Includes a free format report generator for a completely flexible panting
format

Allows the user to extend the hie or add fields after having started to enter
data

Allows up to 5100 User Definable Records with up to 62 fields per record
and a maximum file size of 10 Megabytes

Permits just ONE file to exist over FOUR floppy disk dnve surfaces
Offers a free format painted screen which scrolls 120x120. and supports
extensive mathematics

Provides User defined field relational variables and multiple and single
character wildcards

Exists self contained on ROM. and does not require additional utilities on
disk

Finds the occurrence of a string or partial string in ANY held in the
database with just one command

Customised Masking disk design service available for commercial and
professional users

INTEGRATED ACCOUNTING

for the BBC Micro.

Designed for the small to medium sized business
user, where speed and efficiency are vital.
Gemini Integrated programs are suitable for sole
traders, partnerships or limited companies. All
require a BBC B 32K microcomputer, and an 80
column printer A double disk dnve with an
Acorn compatible DFS is required for integrated
accounting purposes. A smgle disk drive may be
sufficient where modules are used indepen-
dently, although this is not recommended for the
Sales Ledger and Invoicing module. The manuals
indicate the system capabilities for vanous disk
drive combinations

Why Integrated Accounting?

Because it will retrieve mformation stored in one
program for use by another and store data in one
program which has been generated by another.

Why Gemini?

Because our business software for the BBC Micro
is based upon the solid foundation of experience.
Not only are three of our Directors Chartered
Accountants, but we have also successfully
written busmess software for the BBC Micro
since it was first
launched.

NO

SECOND

PROCESSOR

REQUIRED

£ 99.95

per module

PREPRINTED...

Continuous Invoices, Statements,
Remittance Advices and Payslips
available.

Demo Disk £5.00 refundable
on the purchase of any module

le, W*

MISSILE

CONTROL

C.0150 BBC Micro
C.1650 Electron £9.9

Quote ABC

Documentation 90%
families down the street

Quote Acorn User - January

game ever written or simply the bqst

84 -Rating: Sounds
exceptional game - brilliantly
quiet evening in”.

A must for Ajrcade Action fre;

What Micro Nov 83 Graphics 10/10 Response 10/10 How enjo 1
Addictiveness 10/10 Value 10/ 10
Other titles for the BBC Micro include: Liberator, Sleigh Bells, Caterpillar
and Traditional Games.

C. 010X cassette

D. 0101 Disk fnr , he BBC Micro

rv based database for vaila ble

following features . _ , elely usei defmable

Records ^£ e “f^up to « dele*
records, to sort the e ^ performed ^ scteene d

dim

ir^nlahfe program for

204

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

* tiawre Software tor your
VE '^Tproyms available.

EDWARD BEAR
Tells the Time

C.0176 BBC MICRO B
C.1675 Electron

Theideal way toteach any child
to teji the time. .. beautifully
produced With brilliant graphics

COUNTING FUN

£7.95 per

program

(cassette only)

Written and designed
especially for use by pupils,
parents and teachers, Gemini's
brilliant new educational
software has been produced in
consultation with School staff,
and has benefited from the
several years teaching experi-
ence of DAVID J. GINGELL
MA (Oxon) Cert Ed (Bristol University), Director of
Educational Software, Gemini Marketing Ltd.

It uses the power of the BBC and Electron Micros,
with their high resolution colour graphics, to appeal

C.0170 BBC Micro
C.1670 Electron

Teacher basic number recognition
to the very young as a foundation
for subsequent arithmetic
programs, and uses easily
recognised animated characters
such as clowns and Penguins An
ideal introduction to basic
counting principles.

OLIVER OWL

C.0172 BBC Micro
Jumps for joy or f^Jljtfoff his
branch as multiplication tables
are quickly^lflidaen)oyably
mastered.

PIRATE PEDRO

C.0171 BBC Micro
C.1671 Electron
Teaches fundamental addition
and subtraction, with Pedro
finding his treasure, provided a
score of 7/10 fal achieved
Holding 9 levels of difficulty this
is the ideal follow-up to 'Counting
Fun'.

ALPHABET

WORD QUEST

FELICITY

FUN

C.0175 BBC Micro

FARMGIRL

a

C.0174 BBC Micro

*«*.

An imaginative, amusing version

C.0173 BBC ^1910

C.1673 Elect fen

C.1674 Electron

•

NO

of "Ha|p Man" in wtuch you can

o

An imaginative program to
teach yteur child character

JO

Ui

o

try to beat the computer's
dictionary, or setup your own files.

•N

J8

T eachea simple division by

shannqfood tothe farm animals.

recognition and easy spelling,
before moving on to ‘Word

o

Deals with th^pjifficult subject of

VK K M

teaching remainders' in a novel

Quest'.

and appealing way

to pupils with original and often amusing screen
displays, which attract and hold their attention, and
rapidly enhance both knowledge and proficiency.

COMPLETE CASHBOOK ACCOUNTING SYSTEM
for the BBC MICRO Price £119.90 (cassette/40Tr/80Tr Disk)

The best in the business! Written by businessmen, for businessmen, Gemini's accounting software
brilliantly maximises the potential of the home Micro for commercial use. Containing a professional
standard manual, this System is ideal for CASH BASED businesses, where credit sales are minimal. It
allows the user to transfer all Cash, Petty Cash and VAT transactions onto the Computer, saving hours
of tedious book-keeping, and allowing more profitable use of valuable time.

Most important of all, it produces Profit & Loss Accounts and Balance Sheets, DIRECT from your original
book-keeping entries, together with notes to the accounts and comparative figures. Ideal for practising
Chartered Accountants OR Busmess owners who wish to operate a more effective, efficient and profitable
accounting System.

Machine

BBC Micro - Cassette
BBC Micro - 40 Track disk
BBC Micro — 80 Track disk

Product Code

C. 0405/6

D. 0405/6/40
D. 0405/6/80

Other Superb
Gemini Software
for the BBC Micro
includes:

Spreadsheet Analysis. Word
Processor, Home Accounts, Graph
Plot and Mailist. All on Cassette at
£19.95, 40 Track Disk £23.95 or 80
Track Disk £24.95.

Also available on cassette only for
the Electron £19.95.

i -;k

Available from:

Larger branches of Boots and W.H. Smith and most good
software dealers ... or phone Gemini for prompt despatch
quoting your Access, Visa, or American Express card number
Telephone (0395) 265165. Alternatively make your cheque or
Postal Order payable to Gemini Marketing Ltd., amd send to
Gemini Marketing Ltd., 18a Littleham Road, Exmouth, Devon
EX8 2QG.

Please send urgently (specify 40 or 80 track )

Prices stated in this brochure include VAT and Post and Packing (UK only) .

Name

Address

Signature

Credit Card No. Access'Vrsa/ American Express IdeJete)

Please send further information concerning:

AU

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

205

S mf/f

ADDISON-WESLEY

SOFTWARE

TESSELATOR

An Interactive Tesselation Design Program
Hallam

Tesselation is one of the most compelling
areas of geometric art and at last this software
allows microcomputer users to break into this
fascinating field. This program, together with
the comprehensive documentation, supplies a
set of tools to produce a wide range of
tesselation possibilities comprising original,
unique and stunning visual effects.

201 14434 4/Cassette/£21.95
201 15738 l/Disk/£27.95

PICTURE LOGIC

Heather Govier and Malcolm Neave
PICTURE LOGIC will provide
hours of challenging
entertainment as well as
helping to develop logical
thinking and problem solving
skills. A vast range of geometric •*
patterns can be created on the
screen and reproduced on ;

paper if required. Why not
build up a library of PICTURE
LOGIC designs for permanent jJ
storage on disk or cassette?

201 18418 4/Cassette/£22.75

201 18417 6/Disk/£32.10

Other machine versions are available

LOOKING AT LETTERS
Bryan Spielman and Pam Fiddy

LOOKING AT LETTERS, aimed at children of 4 years old -

and above, will form an introduction to spelling at a very
basic level. The software is simple to use and would be
found most beneficial in a parent-to-child situation. The
graphics and sound featured on the program are excellent ” * • 7
and there is a choice of 2 vocabulary levels.

201 15451 X/Cassette/£12.95
Other machine versions are available.

THE ELECTRONIC
COLOURING BOOK
Hallam

It’s simple to use
but the results ari>
spectacular. Choose
from 16 attractive ’drawings' and the
35-colour palette allows you to display
your picture in glorious technicolour.
Painting has never been so much fun-
1 areas of the picture fill with colour at the
touch of a key or joy stick, and soon
™ m you’ll be creating your own pictures lo
\ 2 colour in!!

201 14431 X/Cassette/£9.95

PICPOP Bryan Spielman
PICPOP is an entertaining, informative program,
ideally for children of 8 years old and above. It provides
fun for all the family while building crucial concepts in
mathematics, geometry and computing. PICPOP is
easy-to-use and an unlimited variety of pictures can be
created on the screen. This program helps children gain
a valuable insight into shape and space.

201 15427 7/Cassette/£21.95

201 15428 5/Disk/£29.95

Other machine versions are available.

GRAPHITO A Complete Graphics System
Hallam

Do you want to get spectacular visual
effects from the colour graphics
facilities of your BBC Micro? Th£n let
GRAPHITO arm you with an extensive
dictionary of digitised motifs to
form the basis of designs.
Comprehensive documentation
ensures simplicity for the
beginner but amazing
designs for the
experienced user.

The results are
gloriously colourful.

201 14433 6/

Cassette/£22.95

201 15739 X/

Disk/£29.95

-"--I--""

Please order from your local bookseller. In case of difficulty order direct from Addison-Wesley. The prices
are valid for the UK and Eire only and include VAT. P&P: for orders under £60 at retail value please add £1.50
per single item & 50p for each additional item. Orders over £60 are handled free of charge.

Please send me

□

□

□

□

14431 The Electronic Colouring Book. £9.95
14434 Tesselator. cassette, £21.95
15738 Tesselator, disk. £27.95
14433 Graphito, cassette. £22.95

□ 15739 Graphito, disk, £29.95

□ 18418 Picture Logic, cassette. £22.75

□ 18417 Picture Logic, disk. £32.10

□ 15427 Picpop. cassette, £21.95

□ 15428 Picpop. disk. £29.95

□ 15451 Looking at Letters, cassette, £12.95

Name:

Address^.

I enclose my cheque for £ _

Visa/American Express/Diners Club (Delete as applicable)
Account No. 1111111111111'

Expiring Date: Date:

Signature:

OR please debit my Access/Barclaycard/

Dept C. Addison-Wesley Publishers Ltd., Finchampstead Rd. Wokingham RG11 2NZ Tel: (0734) 794000

prises the lightpen, information cards
and a cassette software (figure 2). The
pen is black and cased like a felt tip
pen. The barrel has a detachable tip
which enables the sensor to be placed
closer to the screen to increase its sen-
sitivity. The pen is connected to the
Beeb's analogue port by way of a
twisted, telephone-style cable which
can be stretched to a suitable oper-
ational length. The lead terminates in a

Figure 5. The Stack Light Pen is supplied
with a preliminary manual and a cassette
of games software

standard 15-way 'D’ connector, and it’s
refreshing to have a classroom periph-
eral with a decent sized lead.

Internally, there are few surprises.
The pen contains the photo sensor and
the necessary amplification circuits
that detect and amplify the current
passing from the sensor and pass a
suitable signal to the CRTC chip. Near
the tip of the pen are two chrome rings
which serve as a finger-touch switch
that causes the pen to react or not to
react to light. This provides the pen
with a switching device. It operates in a
manner similar to the fire button on a
joystick, and in use proved a very re-
liable means of switching the pen. No
adult or child found the method difficult
to use mainly because the chrome
rings are sited at just the right point on
the pen barrel.

As the Robin pen is so strong, sturdy
and simple to use, I decided this should
be my class’s introduction to the use of
lightpens. It was a smash hit right away,
due in no small part to the excellent
Paint Brush’ program that accom-
panies the pen. Comments like ‘incred-
ible, amazing...' were soon super-
seded by gasps as the children came to
realise that the screen had been trans-
formed into a ‘canvas’ and they really
were painting and drawing, only this
time, with light.

It’s a real treat to discover that a pro-
gram as useful as Paint Brush’ is in-
cluded as part of the package. Its suc-
cess is entirely due to its simplicity,
enabling pupils (and teachers!) to get
down to work creating vivid screen
images almost immediately. A simple
menu is presented down the left-hand
side of a white (mode 2) screen. Seven

I LIGHTPEN REVIEWS

colours plus a ‘rub-out’ (background)
colour are offered. Each time you wish
to create a new image you pick a
colour, place the pen at the required
position and touch the chrome con-
tacts. By use of a command key BRUSH
may be made to draw lines, triangles,
rectangles and filled or unfilled circles
of all sizes. Text can be input on the
screen, and freehand drawing/painting
is also supported. All these effects are
possible using single letter commands
with a bit of point fixing using the space
bar. It is so simple that Joanna, using a
lightpen for the very first time, created
the park scene (figure 3).

Saving and Loading pictures is also
possible by single key commands.
Beware though if you are using discs,
as each picture is saved under the
same file name, thus over-writing exist-
ing picture files, as we learnt to our
cost. Rubbing out is a natural form of
deletion for young children, and with
‘Paint Brush' they really appreciated
the power of being able to create and
rub out images at a stroke.

Disappointingly, the accompanying
documentation is rather sparse. Just
two small cards are provided, the first
giving the operating instructions for the

‘The Robin was a
smash hit right away’

‘Paint Brush’ program, the other a brief
description of a pen routine to enable
programmers to develop lightpen soft-
ware for themselves. The 20-line pen
routine listed is really only just enough
to get started with. This excellent little
package is really let down by lack of
sufficient documentation.

The Robin Educational Light Pen is a
ruggedly constructed, yet sensitive pen
ideal for classroom use. It appears
overpriced at £36 plus VAT yet, as we
shall see next month, with this lightpen
you have a tool far more versatile than
just an electronic paint brush. For
teachers and parents who wish their
charges to use a tool ideal for creating
and discovering on-screen images,
look no further than this.

Stack Computer Services has aimed
its lightpen well and truly at the games/
entertainment end of the market. The
package comprises a lightpen, a pre-
liminary manual and a comprehensive
selection of games software on
cassette (figure 5).

The lightpen has a long, thin black
barrel, with two 20mm chrome bands
situated at the top and bottom thirds
along its length. The barrel houses a

photo diode specially developed for
Stack in Japan, and the circuitry that
accomplishes various timing conver-
sions and senses when the two touch
contacts have been made. A twisted,
telephone-type cable terminates in
what looks to be a large, black plastic
analogue ‘D’ connector. Its best work-
ing length is about one metre. The
large 34-way connector houses a video
speed comparator and amplifier which
increases the intensity and shape of the
signal so that it may be presented to the
computer more effectively.

Perhaps the most obvious features of
the Stack Light Pen are the touch con-
tacts which allow the user to choose
when the computer is to control the
lightpen registers. Without this the pen
could ‘see’ the screen each time it is
approached thus making it very awk-
ward to control. In practice however,
the touch contacts proved rather diffi-
cult to master, as the pen must be held
further back along the barrel than an
ordinary one. With the upper contact
cradled between the thumb and fore-
finger, another finger must be extended
to touch the lower contact, so often con-
tact was made inadvertently because
the fingers slip towards the pen tip. The
touch sensitivity, however, is very
good.

Accompanying the package are nine
games and a graphics program on
cassette. Most are rather sedate ver-
sions of popular games converted for
use with the lightpen, including Othello,
Shuffler, Simon, Go, Draughts, Seek &
Destroy, Crossword Twister, Life and
Labyrinth. The most interesting by far is

Figure 6. The Datapen, oval in cross-sec-
tion, comes in a package with software on
cassette, 15-page handbook, printed listing
sheet and two rubber probe inserts

‘Litewriter’, a versatile little program
including some very good features.
Written in mode 2 using eight colours
(white is the background and erase
colour), it is entirely menu driven. Both
a colours menu and a brush menu are
provided, the latter giving eight differ-
ent brush strokes. Lines, rectangles,
circles, text input and freehand draw-
ing are all supported. A simple fill rou-
tine is also included. Pictures may be
saved and loaded (figure 4). The code

207

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

SB/EMtk A DUAL wordprocessor and program

ffiWTWW EDITOR COMBINED AT A VERY SINGULAR PRICE

SCRED (C) Stable Software

Thurston Supplies are offering Scred at an opening price of £39:50 and that includes everything, VAT, Carriage and an 80 page
manual. Normal price £43:50, saving £4:00. This special price only applies to the first 100 sold.

Scred is a powerful tool to create and modify basic programs (program editing) and text documents (wordprocessing) on the
BBC micro. It compares with sophisticated full-screen editors available on main-frame computers but it also contains many
unique word-processing features. It is supplied on an EPROM which occupies no user RAM.

Scred has over 60 full screen functions. If you have never before used a full screen editor (SCRED) you probably do not know
what you are missing; you will find Scred easy and deligthful to use.

Some special additional features are:

* Symbolic controls for any printer, but defaults to EPSON codes

* Powerful MACRO capability

* Recover “Bad Programs” caused by users programming errors

* Unique copy for each user contains your name and address for use as a letter head

* An 80 page manual in hard binder is provided. A special section is included to enable complete beginners to get
started and make good use of the program after reading only four pages.

For a free information sheet on Scred please phone or write to us, address and telephone number given below.

For ordering information please look at bottom of page.

COMPUTERS

MONITORS

THE BEASTY

BBC‘B’

r £346:96

Ref:

BC1

BBCB’+Econet^^^

£387:83

BC2

BBC‘B’+Econet x DFS

£448:70

BC3

BBCB’+DFS

£407:83

BC4

Acorn Electron

£169:00

BC6

PRINTERS

E5Q

^

Ref:

Epson RX80

£199:00

PR2

Epson RX80F/T

£240:00

PR3

Epson FX80

£324:00

PR1

Epson FX100

£465:00

PR5

Seikosha GP100A

£144:00

PR6

Cannon PW-1080A

£267:00

PR8

Juki 6100

£335:00

PR9

DISC DRIVES

Single 5 Vi"

Ref:

Teac 100K SS40T

£110:00

DDR6

Teac 200K DS40T

£177:10

DDR7

Teac 400K DS80T

£218:50

DDR8

Dual 5 W'

Teac 200 K SS40T

£210:00

DDR6D

Teac 400K DS40T

£354:20

DDR7D

Teac 800K DS80T

£425:50

DDR8D

COLOUR

Microvitec 452SR
Microvitec 653MR
Microvitec 895HR
Novex 1414SR
JVC 1302-1MR
JVC 1302-2HR
GREEN SCREEN
Novex 12/800HR

£190:00

£295:00

£400:00

£184:86

£149:95

£229:95

Ref:

MN1

MN2

MN3

MN4

MN6M

MN6H

£ 70:78 MN5G

PROGRAMMER

The popular Beasty interface
connects directly to the BBC
micro which enables it to
accurately control up to four
servo motors

The Beasty comes complete with all
cables, a demonstation program and
comprehensive instructions.

Ref:

£26:04 SHI

Commotion Beasty

ROBOT ARM available, it is driven by
the Beasty and 3 servos. The arm uses
a hook to manipulate objects although
a gripper can be made with a further
servo.

Commotion Ref:

robot arm £34:74 SHO

The Softlife Eprom
programmer
programs 2764 &
27128 eproms.

High quality,
low cost
Menu driven
software

Free 2764 eprom
containing
programming
software

no cassette loading
problems

* 28 pin zero insertion force socket

* built in voltage converter

* cable to user port

* comprehensive documentation

Softlife Ref:

Programmer £ 66:00 SH4

ODDS & ENDS

DISCS (Memorex or Datalife)

Ref:

40T SS DD (10 Boxed)

£17:00 DK1

40T DS DD (10 Boxed)

£23:00 DK2

80TSS DD (10 Boxed)

£27:00 DK3

80TDS DD (10 Boxed)

£28:00 DK4

RIBBONS

Epson RX80

/MX80/FX80

£ 4:95 RBI

Epson MX100/FX100

£ 7:50 RB2

EPROMS

2754 (8K)

£ 7:00 OAE1

27128(16K)

£18:95 OAE1A

THURSTON (ELECTRONIC) SUPPLIES LIMITED

*PH0HE FOP LATEST PRICES AMD SPECIAL OFFERS *

HAIL ORDER

This advert only represents a
small amount of the products we
sell. For our free catalogue
contact us at the address or tele-
phone number opposite

01-202 6730

All prices exclude carriage and VAT. Please add £2:50 p & p for orders below £25:00. Between £25:00 and £74:00 add £5:00
p & p; £75:00 and over add £8:00 p & p, and then add 15% VAT to the total order value. (This does not apply to the special
offer on SCRED).

You may purchase any of the items listed by cheque made payable to: Thurston (Electronic) Supplies Limited, and post to
Thurston House, 18 Shirehall Lane, Hendon, London NW4 2PD. (Before ordering please phone us on 01 202 6730 to see if
the product is available). Access card holders may order by telephone on 01-202 6730 Please allow up to 28 days for
delivery, normal delivery time 7 days.

*

| LIGHTPEN REVIEWS

is written in a structured way and Stack
invites you to experiment with it.

Documentation comprises a seven-
page duplicated stapled booklet
marked Preliminary Manual. Although
it appears to be hastily put together it is
quite good. The introduction discusses
raster scans and pixel character con-
struction. It explains how a lightpen
sees the screen, and a section on the
state of the registers and how to set up
a lightpen for individual TVs/monitors
is most useful. The manual includes an
18-line program to type in, intended to
illustrate how the lightpen routines
work so programmers can include
them in their own programs. There is
not quite enough guidance given and
beginners would benefit from more
detail on how to implement the rou-
tines. Hopefully, Stack will have
extended this section by the time the
full manual is published.

For the games enthusiast, the Stack
Light Pen at £28 represents value for
money. The company seems keen to
back up its product by publishing
further lightpen-oriented games soft-
ware. However, for the dedicated
arcade fiend the Stack Light Rifle at £29
must be number one on the list. Shoot-
ing ’em down a full two metres from the
screen really has to be experienced! By
comparison keyboard based shoot-
’em-and-zap-’em games seem sedate
indeed.

The Datapen from Datapen Micro-

technology is physically different in
design from the other pens reviewed.
This package includes a Datapen, soft-
ware on cassette, a small 15-page
handbook, printed listing sheet and a
packet of two rubber probe inserts
(figure 6).

The pen is oval in cross-section with
an offset probe at one end which
houses the light sensor and a large
status indicator LED and cable at the
other. The screened cable terminates
at a standard 15-way, ‘D’ connector at
the BBC end. A very good working
length of cable is provided. The Data-
pen is provided with a thumb switch on
its left-hand side towards the probe end
of the barrel. The switch allows the user
to control when the computer is to read
the lightpen registers of the CRTC chip.
Like the Robin pen, it functions as a
joystick fire button. The body of the pen
contains circuitry to amplify the signal
from the sensor, passing it through a
highpass filter to give good reaction to
local lighting conditions. The resulting
signal provides a fast positive strobe
for the video interface chips.

At first I thought the Datapen was for
right-handed people only, but by invert-
ing it so that the thumb switch is on the
right, left-handed operation proved no
problem. The rubber probe insert did
help the performance on a standard
resolution monitor but had to be re-
moved for use on a high resolution
Kaga monitor as it cut down the amount

of light reaching the phototransistor. I
found the LED’s output rather disap-
pointing compared with the RH Elec-
tronics pen but the Datapen’s overall
performance was good.

The software provided on cassette,
includes three programs: ‘Intro’,
‘Sketch’ and ‘Shape’. The former pro-
gram is a very good interactive demon-
stration of how the Datapen works.
‘Sketch’ is a mode 4, line-drawing pro-
gram with save and load facilities.
‘Shape’ is a very good character
definer program: using the Datapen to
fill an 8 x 8 grid, characters may be de-
fined and saved, their VDU23 para-
meters being noted from the screen.
The programs are accessible and
much can be learntfrom listing them.

The accompanying documentation
discusses how lightpens work, fol-
lowed by a brief circuit description and
how the switch and the X & Y positions
of the pen are read. Unfortunately,
much of the booklet is taken up with in-
formation relating to the CBM 64, Vic
and Dragon computers, but there is suf-
ficient help when read in conjunction
with the ‘Intro’ program. A separate
sheet describes the ‘Sketch’ and
‘Shape’ programs and lists three useful
procedures to include in your own soft-
ware.

This is a good lightpen at the right
price. It aims at a wide market and can
be especially recommended for begin-
ners who wish to ‘shine a light’.

Choosing a lightpen depends very
much on personal circumstances. Each
pen reviewed here is well-constructed,
has worked satisfactorily over a period
of time and comes with routines to
enable you to write or adapt your own
programs for lightpen use. But how
many people are prepared to burn the
candle at both ends converting their
software? Not too many I suspect, and it
is highly unlikely that schools will
embark on such a time consuming
activity.

If people are to make the most of
their lightpens then they need a supply
of quality applications software. RH
Electronics, the Educational Software
Co, Datapen Microtechnology and
Stack each provides substantial soft-
ware support for their products and in
some cases enable the user to do
something really worthwhile with their
new acquisition, which is an important
consideration when choosing your
lightpen.

Next month in part two,

Chris Drage tests the software
available to support the
lightpens.

HOW THEY SCORE

RH COLOUR
LIGHT PEN

ROBIN

EDUCATIONAL

STACK

LIGHT PEN

DATAPEN

Design

5

4

3

4

Construction

5

5

4

4

Switching

5

4

2

4

Cable length

4

4

4

4

Handling

characteristics

5

4

3

4

Ease of use

5

5

2

4

Software provided

3

4

4

4

Documentation

5

2

3

4

Insensitivity
to ambient light

5

5

5

5

Colour monitors*
it works best on

All

types

All

types

t

Standard

medium

res.

Standard

medium

res.

Range of
applications

Wide

range

Education,
home use

Games,
home use

Education,
home use

' Monitors used in this review were: Microvitec (standard), Novex (medium), Kaga Vision III
(high).

t Works well with hi-res, when tip removed.

| KEY: 5 EXCELLENT, 4 GOOD, 3 SATISFACTORY, 2 POOR,

1 VERY BAD

1

209

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

16 SOCKET ROM/RAM
EXTENSION BOARD

Fully buffered the board offers
the following features:

All 16 sockets may contain 8K or
16K roms.

Up to two pairs of sockets may be
configured to accept 8K eproms to
simulate a 16K eprom without the
expense of a 27128
Up to 16K of CMOS RAM type
6116LP (made up of 8 2K ram
chips) may be fitted to 8 of the
available sockets leaving 8 free for
roms.

or 2 8K Ram chips (6264) leaving
14 available sockets

The advantage of sideways ram is

twofold:

1 Programs can be assembled directly to hex 8000 and debugged before being
committed to eprom.

2. Programs intended for sideways roms may be stored on disc and downloaded
into ram. Many more programs may be kept on disc allowing the extension board
to be fitted only with roms that need to be resident.

This is a high quality PTH board and plugs into the extreme right hand rom socket.

4 wires to the paging register and one lead to the R/W line have to be connected.

Separate power leads for the board

are used to eliminate possible crashes that may occur due to trying to draw up to

650mA from a sideways rom socket.

Board fully assembled and tested complete with full installation and operatinq

instructions. w

Cost £32.00 + VAT, £1 .00 P&P

HCR ELECTRONIC SERVICES
THE INDUSTRIAL UNIT, PARKER ROAD
CHELMSFORD, ESSEX CM2 6ES
Tel: Chelmsford (0245) 350188

EXTERNAL RAM/R0M CARD

THE NEW EXTERNAL
28 ROM EXPANSION
SYSTEM FROM HCR
ELECTRONICS

This extremely powerful but versa-
tile machine has the capability of:

32K RAM & 24 sockets available
for ROM or many various combi-
nations to your personal require-
ments.

This machine has its own separate
power supply which eliminates
drain on the BBC's switched mode
supply.

NO SOLDERING IS REQUIRED.

The unit consists of two modules:

1 An adaptor board to plug into the
BBC sidways Rom socket 1 5.

2. The expansion case.

The case comes complete with an inbuilt power supply and one expansion card. This
card will hold 1 2 Roms or a combination of Ram/Rom (Ram can be 61 1 6 s, 201 6's
or 6264 s) This gives a total of 1 6 Roms (including four in machine).

A second board identical to the above can be fitted at a later date, giving a total
capability of 28 available sockets for Rom or Ram

The second board can be selected as an alternative to the first board, either by a
switch on the case orvia software control.

SOME ADVANTAGES

1 . No soldering required.

2. No access into machine required after initial fitting.

3. No overheating problems.

4 Does not physically interfere with other internal
expansion add-ons.

5. Built in power supply (does not overload BBC's supply).

6 Computer will still function with external box powered
down or unplugged (using Roms resident in machine).

7. Will make available 32K Ram plus 24 Rom sockets at a
varied combination to the customer s needs

Cost unit complete with one board £70.00 + vat.

Second board £29.00+ vat. Postage & Packinq
£3.00

|S«t our program* on MICR0NET 8»<L

<X < U.

£ 8 S

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210

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

nnmraMf^faifDirniwiQEiQQeitoifaifDirnpnncjranfo)®®®®

^nTc!iRio!QQg)QOMlciRo Q0OQO

I BASIC EXTIHSH

0

(ROM)

Adds 3 new structures and further LISTO
options:

WHILE . . . ENDWHILE

CASE . . . WHEN . . . OTHERWISE . . . ENDCASE
FIF . . . THEN . . . ELSEIF . . . ENDLOOP
LOOP . . . EXITIF . . . ENDEXIT . . . ENDLOOP
♦9 new statements including MEMSHIFT and LPRINT
#16 new commands allowing you to convert from decimal
to binary and vice versa (DTOB and BTOD), DUMP
variables in hex or decimal, CONTinue a program, FIND,
CHANGE and REPLACE a string, and also: COMPACT
SHIFT STATUS SECURE WILDCARD MERGE JOIN
VERIFY VIEW

#Call procedures by their name only - no need to use
PROC.

#lmproved error handling: locates the error in a
statement and lists the line, ready for editing.

#44 page user manual
#11 cm x 8 cm quick reference card.

ALSO AVAILABLE: A cassette containing the run-time
system allowing BBC users who don't own the ROM to run
programs written using EXTENSIONS. ONLY £1.50.

Micro Power Ltd

Northwood House
North Street
Leeds LS7 2AA

MAIL ORDER: TeL (0532) 434006

Postoge and Packaging Free'

Access and Borclaycord welcome

Micro Power software is available from selected |
branches of Boots, Co-op, HMV, Menzies,

WH Smith, Woolworths and all good Dealers.

SUPERB MULTI-PLAYER STRATEGY GAME!

r2-8 players #'Open' or 'concealed' play
#Send messages to other players

#Move time can be set from 1 0 seconds to 1 5 minutes
#Save game facility

♦Function key strip and comprehensive user
manual including both rules and tips for play
Travel through the galaxy sending out ships
to mine for resources on local planets. Build
new Cruisers, Freighters and Scouts from
raw materials, then send out your fleets to
hunt and destroy your opponents'
motherships and triumph over the galaxy.

§ ® © G 0 0 O O ® CD © ® (6) Q 0 O G O

your BBC
, and Electron
^Computers

BSk Nnd Kantans N
MBKAkpith lhcjnp<*jri

Getting More from Your BBC and
Electron Computers

Noel Kantaris and Keith Thompson
Takes you from the first exploratory touches of
your computer right into its heart. Along the
way you’ll build up your own unique library of
programs and subroutines as you explore BBC
Basic

Sigma Press 0905104730 220pp £6.95

©Wiley

The Electron Puzzle Book

Brian Boyde-Shaw

Adopts a problem-solving approach to
teaching Basic on the Electron .

Sigma Press 0905104781 140pp £6.95

Mastering the Electron

Simon and John Matthews

Answers many essential questions for

newcomers to the Electron.

Ellis Norwood 0853126798 264pp £5.95

W iley publish and supply books
and software that will help you
in almost any area of microcomp-
uting.

For a free catalogue of the many
titles available for the BBC and
Electron micros please write to —
Lesley Valentine, John Wiley & Sons
Ltd., FREEPOST, Baffins Lane,
CHICHESTER, West Sussex
PQ19 1YP Tel. (0243) 784531

Computing for all the Family with
a BBC Computer

Tony Noble

Contains fifty short, easy-to-follow steps from
turning on the computer to advanced Basic
programming

"Its exposition of the BBC's VDU commands
and the various modes is the best I have seen .

. . "John Laski in The Times Educational
Supplement.

Sigma Press 0905104587 304pp £6.45

Crashproof Your BBC — Software
Tips for BBC and Electron Programs

Mike McNamara

A pocket-size guide giving you simple
commands for protecting your BBC or Electron
software. The commands are presented one
per page forming an invaluable aid for budding
software authors.

John Wiley 0471906093 72pp f2.95

Disk-Drive Projects for Micros

M. Milan

Designed to guide the new disk-drive owner to
discover, through a series of projects, some of
the possibilities that the disk system has to
offer. Illustrates many of the useful features of
the disk filing system.

N. C.C. 0850124018 170pp £5.95

Computer Science on a Micro with
BBC Basic

Michael Thorne

Teach yourself computer science with an
Electron or BBC Micro —and Mike Thorne’s
new book. Among the topics included are
computer architecture, instruction sets,
algorithms, and integrated circuits.

Sigma Press 0905104870 1 48pp £6.95

Computing at 9 Plus

H. Dolphin and C.T. Rowlings

Covers major aspects of Computer Studies up
to CSE and 'O’ level, including important
features of Basic. Other topics discussed
include algorithm design, flowcharting and
program debugging.

Sigma Press 0905014633 158pp £6.50

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Software Tips for

BSC and Electron Programs

Mike McNamara

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CT. Rowlings

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| BOOK REVIEWS

Techniques to
stretch you

‘Advanced Electron machine code tech-
niques’, A P and D J Stephenson, Gra-
nada Publishing, 208 pages, £6.95

FOUR of the chapters in this book deal
with techniques, the remaining four
cover background topics such as the
6502 instruction set, the hardware and
the resident assembler. Techniques
discussed include: multi-byte loops,
sort routines, subroutines, macros,
look-up tables and graphics and inter-
rupt handling. While these techniques
are quite advanced the book is aimed
more at the early enthusiast, and also
contains basic information.

It’s written in a clear and easy to read
style, the authors steering that difficult
course between long words and convo-
luted explanations and three-letter
words and cartoons.

My main criticism is that while addi-
tion and subtraction (of integers) get a
good airing, multiplication and division
are hardly mentioned. It could be
argued that a work covering advanced
techniques should not include such
mundane items, but then why do such
basics as the 6502 instruction set get a
25-page chapter and a 14-page appen-
dix?

The chapter on interrupts is a little
confusing and, for owners of the stan-
dard Electron, largely redundant, since
it deals mainly with the 6522 user VIA
which the Electron does not possess.
The brief section in this chapter
-devoted to interrupts is spoiled by the
omission of the interrupt-handling rou-
tine from the only example program.

I do not want to give the impression
that I didn’t like the book, on the con-
trary, I enjoyed reading it very much.

It’s one of the few books which has a
comprehensible and interesting des-
cription of the hardware, plus an expla-
nation of the speed difference between
the Electron and the BBC, which use
the same processor but different
memory configurations.

However, the description of the 6522
VIA’s registers- which seems almost
compulsory these days -left me
glassy-eyed as usual. I’m sure that set-
ting low order latches is crucial stuff but
I’m still waiting to find out why. Am I
alone? Regurgitated data sheets from
chip manufacturers do not make good
educational material. It would be help-
ful if we were given a bit more infor-
mation on the why rather than the what.

A useful and instructive book for
people who are just past the beginner
stage and want to stretch their wings.

Harry Sinclair

Where’s the
structure?

‘Practical Programs for the BBC micro’,
Owen and Audrey Bishop, Granada Pub-
lishing, 172 pages, £6.95

ROY Atherton wouldn't like this, in tact
his whole body would probably turn a
funny colour. If you are a structured
programming freak this book is not for
you. It’s unwise to criticise the pro-
gramming style of others - let he who is
without sin, etc - but there is so much in
this book to make the eyeballs bulge
that I can’t resist.

It appears the authors have gone out
of their way to irritate structure fans. I
can only suggest that the programs
were written on a machine running a
rather crude dialect of Basic and then
modified to run on the BBC. Structuring
them would have meant totally rewrit-

ing them. For instance, how would you
like to sort out control in this sequence?

1090 IF L>NN THEN 820

1100 GOTO 750

1 110 CLS:PRINT”CHR$ (134)
“FINISHING”

1120 GOTO 230

Another pointer to a non-BBC Basic
being used is the fact that ELSE is never
used -quite remarkable in a series of
programs which test so many con-
ditions.

It’s also a shame, since the program
ideas are quite interesting. There are 14
of them including accounts, stock con-
trol, trend analysis, a spreadsheet, and
one to compare two data series using
the impressive sounding Wald-Wolfo-
witz technique.

There is a brief introduction to each
program, notes on using it, keying-in
tips, a short section on its design, the
listing and suggestions for modifica-
tions.

The book is nicely laid out and well
written. I just wish the authors had
taken the trouble to restructure the pro-
grams for the BBC. Harry Sinclair

Practical guide
to Pascal

‘Pascal for Basic programmers’, Charles
Seiter and Robert Weis, Addison-Wesley
Publishers, £9.95.

BOTH Basic and Pascal are computer
languages that have been adapted well
to microcomputers. Although similar in
many ways, there are marked differ-
ences, strengths and weaknesses. No
doubt an extended, structured Basic is
the right language for beginners on
microcomputers. (Do I hear cries of dis-
may from the structuralists?) It is ideal
for small computers with limited
memory capacity since it can provide
immediate response to program
changes, which is useful for the novice
programmer. Pascal, however, offers
increased sophistication and power to
everyday programming.

The book is totally orientated to-
wards the micro owner who is familiar
with Basic and who wants to investi-
gate the power, structure and con-
venience of Pascal.

It is in five parts: first, a chapter that
will allow ‘hands-on experience’ with a
suitable micro right away, with a subset
of Pascal; second, there’s a simple dis-
cussion of the process of translating
high-level languages into machine
code (including the influence on the
varieties of Pascal); third, a section on

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| BOOK REVIEWS

the practical aspects of programming;
then a description of the process of
planning and writing a Pascal program
(two helpful illustrative programs are
included); and lastly the book contains
a very useful Basic-to-Pascal ‘phrase
book’.

The book compares Microsoft Basic
and UCSD Pascal, both of which the
authors claim are ‘the most popular
forms for microcomputers’.

The first chapter gets the reader to
grips with Pascal without throwing him
or her into the deep end. By focusing on
the manner in which the simplest pro-
grams are organised, the different
approaches of the two languages to
control statements are emphasised. At
a very simple level Pascal seems more
cumbersome and wordy than Basic,
but the authors reveal the virtues of
Pascal in the later chapters.

This introductory chapter is a real
gem. It provides that most essential
element for a newcomer, immediate
understanding and success. After an
evening typing in the simple examples
given, I had a clear idea of how Pascal
is organised. The text is so clear I found
myself well motivated to read on to dis-
cover the various control statements,
syntax and structure of the language.
The authors have cleverly devised this
initial taster for ‘dabbling-in-the-
language’, analogous to learning a few
travellers' phrases in a foreign
language before beginning a really
serious study. Also it sets the theme for
the whole work, that of moving from
what is familiar (programming in
Basic), to what is unknown and new.

With the aid of so many concrete
examples, transferring to Pascal is far
easier than I first anticipated, and I
began to accept that Pascal has many
advantages over Microsoft Basic. As
the book points out, it is superior for
longer programs as it can organise
them into semi-independent pieces. It
doesn’t merely encourage the pro-
grammer to write in a structured way, it
makes him! The advantages are
obvious- readability and easy debug-
ging of all programs.

The authors are quick to point out the
speed at which Pascal programs run
compared to their Basic counterparts
but add that such a comparison is irre-
levant. On a micro, machine time is free
and programmer time precious. The
real virtue of Pascal is that the organ-
isation it forces on a program reduces
program development time, making it
possible for the micro-user to accom-
plish something in the limited time
available. (Dare they imply that people
don’t enjoy spending hours debugging
Basic programs?)

When Niklaus Wirth drew up the
specification for Pascal he knew it

would enhance its value to make it
available for a number of different com-
puters. Seiter and Weis give a detailed
explanation of how high-level
languages are either interpreted or
compiled into machine code, and pre-
sent a convincing argument for UCSD
Pascal. Because it adopts an inter-
mediate approach, no matter how
microprocessors develop in the future,
UCSD Pascal will be in a uniquely
strong position for universal im-
plementation (possibly the standard for
computer literacy in the 1980s-90s).

This is an opinion to which I whole-
heartedly subscribe. The extended
‘structured’ Basics (such as BBC
Basic) can at best offer only limited
structural features. They are essen-
tially machine-tied and non-portable.

Much of the rest of the book explains
in detail each aspect of the language,
from simple assignment statements
through to procedure nesting. At each
level copious examples are given to
illustrate or extend points made in the
text, emphasis being progressively
shifted from Basic in the early stages to
entirely Pascal in the latter.

The final section of Pascal for Basic
programmers compares MBasic (ver-
sion 5.2) with UCSD Pascal (version
2.0). This section is essentially a
dictionary which enables program-
mers to access quickly the operation
they require (in Basic) and find the
equivalent operation in Pascal.

Frankly, it is difficult to fault Pascal
for Basic programmers. Seiter and
Weis have a considerable understand-
ing of the learning process, and the text
is characterised by its clarity and con-
sidered approach.

For any serious programmer want-
ing to take advantage of the discipline
of Pascal this book is an important step
to successful applications programs.
Rather than simply translating Basic
statements into Pascal it stresses the
process of programming in Pascal and
thereby shows the reader how to take
full advantage of its power and adds up
to a practical, informative guide to
learning to use that power.

Chris Drage

Encouraging

stocking-filler

‘Computer Games to Play and Write’, Dan
Isaaman, Sparrow Books, 126 pages,
£1.50

A PROLIFIC writer of computer soft-
ware and a student at Manchester
University, Dan Isaaman has a number
of publications to his credit. This book
is an excellent introduction to computer

programming for the beginner, written
in a simple style. The instructions are
clear and will be understood by anyone
interested in computing but with little
experience.

Essentially, the book is a listing of 18
games of increasing complexity and in-
triguing titles such as Red Alert, Spy
Codes, NIM and Silo Raid. They are
written so that there are only minor dif-
ferences in coding between a number
of popular home computers, including
the Beeb and Electron, which means
that Isaaman has not taken advantage
of the Beeb’s more advanced features
such as procedures and sound, but for
his inexperienced audience this is
probably an advantage.

The author is to be congratulated on
his very clear descriptions of the pro-
grams and their working. The listings
are bug-free and fully documented, and
in most cases he includes a section on
how the programmer might simplify or
complicate the game. This is the book’s
value - its not just a listing of games. It
could well provide the novice with the
necessary encouragement to move
from using the computer simply as a toy
to writing his own programs.

In a section aimed at helping the
reader to do this a storyline is sug-
gested together with a program plan.
This is followed by a skeleton listing of
the code necessary plus clear explana-
tions and encouragement.

In addition, a number of the full list-
ings provided work satisfactorily and
contain good ideas for games. These
could act as the basis for more interest-
ing programs by adding graphics,
colour and sound.

The book is concluded with a section
on Basic and a glossary of terms.

Altogether an excellent and reason-
ably priced book, and a useful stocking-
filler for parents thinking of buying their
child a computer for Christmas.

Gordon Anderson

215

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

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216

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

I REVIEWS

Kmon assembler/monitor, Kansas City
Systems, Unit 3, Sutton Springs Wood,
Chesterfield, £34

ACCORDING to the Kansas catalogue,
Philip Gibbs, the author of Kmon , was
asked to examine all the existing
assembler/monitors for the Beeb and
improve upon them, adding any feature
he thought useful. Something of a tall
order, so how did he get on?

One of the biggest failures of the
existing products, he believed, was the
way they ‘felt’ to the user. Kmon makes
extensive use of colour coding of input
and screen messages in mode 7, and
this certainly means it’s easy to see
what’s going on. Assembler listings
have all relevant MOS labels (such as
OSBYTE, OSWRCH) inserted automati-
cally when the relevant address is
called, and this goes for user defined
labels too. The scroll speed of hex
dumps may be adjusted, as well as
being halted using CTRL/SHIFT. These
features are very easy to get used to
and make use of, but it’s a pity after all
this thought that there are a couple of
niggles. For instance, all input is
assumed to be decimal unless pre-

ceded by a Surely everyone who
regularly uses a monitor/debugger
would prefer a default to hex.

However user-friendly a product
may be, it is of little use if it doesn’t con-
tain the right features. Kmon is a bit
curate’s eggish in this. Its assembler
facilities are excellent, offering a single
and double-pass assembler, producing
a well documented listing and provid-
ing pseudo-ops ORG, MEM, DFB, DFW,
DFS, SPC and REM. Most of these are
implemented in the Basic II assembler,

‘Kmon is friendlier
than most . . . but
lacks some of the
monitor facilities
normally expected’

but are rather more self-explanatory
under their Kmon names. Assembled
code may be relocated using a built-in
routine and then saved and run, again
from within the system. A disassembly
is easily arranged and the source is
also easy to list and edit from the key-
board.

When it comes to the monitor,
although everything is there, some of it
is a bit awkward to use. The only time a
‘front panel’ display shows up, for
example, is when running a program
which comes across a BRK instruction.
If it is then necessary to feed something
into one of the CPU’s registers, this
may only be done indirectly by loading
zero-page addresses assigned for the
purpose. There is no way of single-
stepping a program, although up to ten
breakpoints may be inserted at differ-
ent points in the code. Individual
memory locations may be directly
accessed and if a two byte value is
entered, this is automatically up-ended
into the low-byte, high-byte format
used by the 6502. It would, however,
have been easier to use if it were com-
bined with the hex-dump, thus allowfng
the user to romp about in memory alter-
ing bytes as required (several similar
programs offer this). Blocks of memory
may be filled or moved, and single or
two byte words may be searched for.
All commands are single letters, some
followed by the required parameters.

Overall Kmon is friendlier than most,
and worth considering in the same light
as Exmon, ADE and others, but lacks
some of the monitor facilities normally
expected. With a few fairly minor
amendments, it could be the best of the
bunch. Simon Williams

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THE DISK DRIVE:

J $ r ! ve P' c * ures ) comes from the new series VLSI ultra quiet, auto spin -up
5.25 c ™ lf height, solenoid head load, 40/80 track, single and double density MIT-
oUDlonl Mto. It is fast, quiet and consumes far less power than any previous
™dds 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.

?n?or» C ^ ar ^ C ^ er * S ^ cs * nc ^ uc ^ e very high operating speed, Acorn compatibility, automatic
4U/80 track switching, auto density, resident disk formatter and 100% compatibility
with Solidisk Sideways RAM.

IS 5^5? *!?? 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 Acorn disk format - you get 10 sectors or 2.5 k bytes of
storage per track. That is what the Acorn DFS and many others can do

L n r Av e /^P rds \ you get 100k with a 40 track sin 9 ,e sided disk drive (such as the TEAC
55A), 400k with a double sided 80 tracks disk drive (such as the one in this offer).

IIP U uble 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
m 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% -I- of games
are also compatible with double density.

2 - INSTALLATION:

As the STL 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 < afsp> (optional L)

— ’BACKUP Usource drive > <dest. drive >

— ’COMPACT (optional <drive>)

— ’COPY < source drive > <dest. drive > <afep>

- ’DELETE < fsp>

- *DIR (<dlr>)

— ’DRIVE (optional <drive>)

- ENABLE

— ’F40 (optional < drive-)

— *F80 (optional <drive->)

— ’INFO <afsp>

— ’LIB (optional <dir>)

’LOAD -'fsp> (optional < load address.^)

’RENAME <old name > <new name >

— ’SAVE <fsp> <start > <end> <exec>

- ’TITLE <title >

— ’VERIFY (^'optional < drive >)

- ’WIPE <afsp>

- ’BUILD < fsp>

- ’DISC

- ’DUMP <fsp>

- ’LIST <fsp>

- ’TYPE <fsp>

- ’DDFS

Other OS commands include LOAD, SAVE, BPUT, BGET, OSFILE, BLOCK GET BLOCK PUT
OSARGS, OSFIND, PTR, OSWORD 7F, 7D, 7E etc.

THE SPECIAL PACKAGE DEAL:

A COMPLETE 640K DISK OUTFIT AT ONLY £209.95 INCLUSIVE:

- ONE 80 TRACK DOUBLE SIDED DISK DRIVE.

- ONE DOUBLE DENSITY DISK INTERFACE.

- ALL LEADS AND MANUAL.

- WORD PROCESSOR.

- ELECTRONIC SPREADSHEET.

- SPELLING CHECKER.

- DATABASE.

- STOCK CONTROL.

- MACRO BASIC.

- FULL ONE YEAR NO QUIBBLE WARRANTY.

Optional extra:

- DFDC instead of DDFS: £10.00.

Care is taken ip the disk directory presentation, showing the disk size and other useful information.
Whenever a diskette is being spun, its number of tracks and density are identified. This information
helps the DFS to skip alternate tracks if a 40 track disk is in use in an 80 track drive and also switch
the FDC to single or double density.

The net result is exceptional response and user-friendliness.

Outstanding speed too.

As shown in the benchmark test on the opposite page.

CUT THE COST OF RUNNING YOUR MACHINE

Solidisk DDFS comes with free bundled software: (see picture 5).

— Solidisk Database — a fast, efficient and flexible disk based random access database,
deal for prescription records, club membership etc.

— Solidisk wordprocessor.

— Solicalc electronic spreadsheet.

— Stock Control — very useful for small commerce. Features include menu driven,
easy to follow operating instructions, stock items can be grouped by categories, by
suppliers, by frequency of movements etc. Stock valuation report (inventory), sale price
list, reorder forms can be printed automatically as requested.

— Silexicon — the most successful spelling checker with English, French and German
dictionary. Self dictionary generating capability.

— Macro Basic — a BASIC program generator capable of using bits of old programs to
create new programs. Simply ingenious!

— Benchmark for disk drive and disk utilities.

4 - OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE:

The table below shows the benchmark timing for STL DDFS 1 4. The benchmark consists of disk operations such as save and load a
16k program, open and close files. BPUT, BGET strings and numbers, format and verify a disk etc., and is available upon request,
otherwise listed in Solidisk DDFS User Manual.

The benchmark tests Bl to B9 are the same as used by many reviewers The time is expressed in seconds and parts of 100th of a
second. The disk drives are twin 40/80 track double sided MITSUBISHI M4853. the diskettes are Verbatim Datalife MD 557 series,
96TPI. double density, double sided, pre verified to ensure that the media is free of all error and mechanical defects and containing
solely the benchmark program The test is loaded into memory, the drive motors are allowed to stop completely 2 seconds between
tests. 10 timing samples are taken and the mean time is calculated automatically
For example

lOODEFFNblREM Save a 16k program.

110T r TIME

120 ‘SAVE A 8000 ^4000

130 TIME — 7 n f

Full listings arc included in the User Manual

This FN is called 10 times with 3 sec. interval, the mean result is printed as B1‘

BENCHMARK DESCRIPTION

S/D TIME

D/D TIME

Bl Save 16k

2.62

1.43

B2 Load 16k

2.45

1.23

100 times

20.70

20.16

B4 Openout and print

1000 numbers (255)

5.84

4.66

B5 Openin and input

1 000 numbers (255 )

4.72

4.14

B6 Openout and print

100 80 bytes strings

6.18

4.91

B7 Openin and input

100 80 bytes strings

4.90

4.31

B8 BPUT 100 bytes (255)

3.01

2.06

B9 BGET 1000 bytes (255)

1.88

1.52

OPERATIONS

S/D TIME

D/D TIME

FORMAT 40 TRACKS:

17.74

17.74

FORMAT 80 TRACKS:

33.22

33.22

VERIFY 40 TRACKS:

9 30

9.30

VERIFY 80 TRACKS:

17.84

17 84

BACKUP 01 80 TRACKS:

37.69

37.69

BACKUP 02 80 TRACKS:

39.46

39.46

COMPACT 100K- 10 FILES

22.42

18.82

Note 1: Whenever a file is to be opened. STL DDFS automatically refreshes the disk directory, thus preventing
erroneous disk change. Many other DFS’s do not take the same care, although yielding a much shorter time, and
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’s Masterfile

Sort records 1 to 20 in PEOPLE sample database, the database is presorted on field 2 then the
program is asked to sort on field 1, the time is then taken: 56.23 sec. (127.86 sec. with AC. 90 DFS).
These timings are improved even further in double density mode.

The figures speak for themselves.

STL DDFS dramatically increases the operating speed of your software, including wordprocessors
like Wordwise, View, Scribe, databases like Masterfile, Starbase etc.

Solidisk engineers won’t stop there.

ONE ROM TO RULE THEM ALL

Already a super mini floppy (2.4 MB) and controller for under £400, a 10MB integrated Winches
ter hard disk for under £600 AND AN EVEN MORE POWERFUL 16K ROM (2.0 UPGRADE) with
outlined specifications below are planned for Christmas.

— Unlimited number of entries into the disk directory.

— File size and disk size can be as big as 16MB.

— Immediate recovery of accidental file deletion.

— Built-in wordprocessor in place of the classical * BUILD.

— Disk sector editor, disk search and replace, tape to disk, disk to memory below PAGE, disk
duplication.

— Instant data encryption and decryption using 256 byte single key (expandable).

— Quadruple FDC drivers (8271, 8272, WD 1770, WD 2793).

— RAM Disk facilities for Solidisk Sideways RAM.

6- SOLIDISK DFDC:

THE ONLY SYSTEM TO ADD DOUBLE DENSITY AND KEEP COMPATIBILITY.

If your BBC is already fitted with Acorn Single Density DFS, you can ADD double density to your
system and KEEP the existing DFS with Solidisk DUAL FDC Filing System (DFDC).

Solidisk DFDC system overcomes the problems caused by around 5% of the games ‘specially
those produced by Acomsoft newest releases such as Elite). These programs (directly) controls the
8271 thus requiring its presence.

Solidisk DFDC ROM controls BOTH FDC at a flick of a switch, you can choose the new FDC for
speed or the old 8271 for Acomsoft game disks.

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7 - PRICES (including P and P and VAT)

STL DDFS (disk chip upgrade for BBC B) £39.95

STL DFDC for those who have Acorn DFS £49.95

640k DISK OUTFIT (complete package) £209.95

1.3MB DISK OUTFIT (with twin drives) £359.95

2.0 ROM Upgrade (available soon) £10.00

To order, you can use the coupon. Access and Barclaycard
holders can ring direct:

HOW TO ORDER?

You can order any item using the coupon. Prices are inclu
sive of VAT, post and packing. Access and Barclay card
holders can place their order by phone.

Educational authorities, Acom dealers and OEMs can obtain
quantity discounts.

Name:

Adress:

Credit Card Account:

Callers are requested to ring first for appointment.

Total: !

SOLIDISK TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
17 SWEYNE AVE
SOUTHEND-ON-SEA
ESSEX SS2 6JQ

solidisk’S new telephone number: SOUTHEND (0702) 354674 (10 lines)

SOLIDISK SIDEWAYS RAM: 25,000 UNITS SOLD

Exciting (ACORN USER JAN 84 ), ' ‘Power to your Beeb” (PCN 61, MAY 84), “Break the RAM Barrier” (A&B)

HAS YOUR BBC COMPUTER GOT ITS SIDEWAYS RAM

BOARD YET?

Not surprisingly many BBC computers have got their sideways RAM boards. Solidisk
™V S RAM can be completely integrated into the BBC computer system: with 6502
D^ 80 second processors. Torch disk pack, teletext, Econet and Solidisk 8- sideways
KOM expansion board. y

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, databases etc.

2 — WHAT SORT OF SOFTWARE DOES IT RUN?

Better than sideways ROM, sideways RAM can be written into. This property makes it
^ P° ssible f to run same programs as their ROM counterparts but sideways
2" be as Virtual Memor Y RAM disc, printer buffer, Basic program store
65 C 02 assembler, zero RAM, take DFS etc, etc . . .

C T^ W i HA 7 oth £R SERVICES do 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 RAM user, you will be able to get updated disks*, free local expert
i rwf dnd l 6 ^ monthly newsletters to keep you informed. 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.

UVIPAC EPROM ERASER

4 - WHO USES SIDEWAYS RAM?

Solidisk sideways RAM is widely 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
, to Sideways RAM (essential for increasing memory for VIEW
and VlhWbHEET), Colour Imaging System, Teletext page logger and qenerator
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?

Solidisk sideways RAM is available in multiples of 16k, each replacing a sideways ROM
Units are in 1 6k, 32k, 1 28k and 256k. a y

The first step is to evaluate your needs.

Then consult the chart opposite.

You can 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.

For wordprocessor: using VIEW or WORDW1SE, a SWR32 will do. Large documents
(20 page plus) will require something like SCRIBE and the 128k or 256k Solidisk”.

For database, unless very high speed is required, a SWR32 will suffice for most popular
256k ScJidisk” ^ BeebaSe ’ Fileplus ’ Starbase, Datagem. 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 warranty.

Solidisk recommends SCRIBE and STARBASE because they exploit perfectly the inherent speed of RAM disc

?28k Solidisk?Thp t0 T pr °c le T (SUCh aS incrcasin 9 the size of Wordwise) by a hardware solution (buying the

She lSl!dLl< Th f r + aV 15 1 ° M T rli u S Scrib * (or wait untl1 we of{er y° u on * simi,ar and then increase its s^eed

increJ S&ISSSSm W ° rkS WC " W,h m ° 5 ' of ,hcm < fr ° m 6 ,imes

6 - SENDING FOR FREE SOFTWARE:

Our free software is divided into volumes and is available in single density, either 40 or
80 track 5.25" diskettes. 40 track diskettes contain only 1 volume, 80 track diskettes
I contain 2 consecutive volumes, (1 + 2, 3 4-4, 5-4-6, etc.)

j All sideways RAM is supplied with 1 diskette, containing either VOL. 1 (40 tracks) or
I VOL. 1 + 2 (80 tracks) as requested. Extra volumes are charged foe media and postage
I cost.

j The following volumes are available at the present time:

1 — 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
j words).

I — VOL. 3: BASIC program generator: Macro Basic. Never Bad Mode again: Virtual
j Memory.

I — VOL. 4: Database: Solidisk Datafile.

I — VOL. 5: Foreign Language Dictionary Generator: Silexigen, Silexicon source code
I for programmers.

I — VOL. 6: French spelling checker (15,000 words).

I — VOL. 7: German spelling checker (13,000 words).

I — 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).

I — VOL. 9: to be released in October: Solidisk Toolkit, Rubber band, and Z80 drive C
(RAM disc facilities for Acorn Z80 second processor).

I — VOL. 10 to 19: Source code for use with the Technical Manual.

I 7 -TECHNICAL MANUAL:

I THE TECHNICAL MANUAL contains estensive program listings and notes by their
authors. It also covers the MACRO language programming (part of Macro Basic), MOS
conventions for sideways software. Solidisk conventions for sideways RAM software,
STL DFS entry points, the 65C02 programming facilities and schematic diagram,
i The Technical Manual package consists of the Technical Manual and 3— 80 track
I diskettes containing VOL. 10 to 15 and costs £10.00.

8— LOCAL EXPERT HELP:

A list of Solidisk experts is printed in the Sideways RAM User Manual. For the cost of a
local call, they can certainly help you with installation of software advice.

Potential experts are warmly invited to contact us.

UVIPROM EPROM PROGRAMMER AND UVIPAC
EPROM ERASER

The UVIPROM EProm programmer, which plugs into the user port, allows the user to
program 2764 and 27128 EPROMs, either from disc or master ROM. The unit is
self-contained, complete with built-in Vpp generator and system software. Commands
available are:—

*TEST — blank test for new (or erased) EPROMs.

*BLOW<aspf> — programs EPROMs from disc.

*COMP<aspf> — compares programmed EPROMs with source on disc.

*VIEW — displays hex and ASCII dump.

*READ<aspf> — reads contents of EPROM to disc.

UVIPAC-EPROM ERASER:

Mains powered EPROM eraser, can erase up to 3 EPROMS of any size in only 15
minutes. Housed in a custom moulded plastic case, with optical fibre indicator.

SOLIDISK ANNOUNCE THE MOST EXCLUSIVE
SUPPORT FOR THE 65-C-02!

Have you heard about the 65-C-02?

This is the CPU that Acorn has retained for their second processor. The 65C02 has an
extended instruction set, with 43 brand new OPCODES for you to play with. Things as
PHY, PLY, STA ( &A6), STZ, BRA, TRB etc can save 20 1 of memory and increase speed
by 20 25%.

SOLIDISK GIVE YOU FREE* SPECIALLY DEVELOPED SOFTWARE FOR THE
65C02'

(*except media)

65C02 PATCH:

Using DEFFN such as DEFFN (“PLY”), extra instructions are added to the present
BASIC assembler.

65C02 BASIC2 OVERLAY:

Providing you have a sideways RAM unit, this program will turn your BASIC2 instantly
into 65C02 assembler. You do not have to type in ‘OPT FN(“PLY”)’ but simply ‘PLY’
instead, making the conversion job a piece of cake.

SOLIMON, THE ONLY 65C02 MACHINE CODE MONITOR:

This program can be softloaded into Sideways RAM or obtainable in ROM form. It has
everything the popular EXMON has such as Disassembler, Find bytes/string, set ROM
socket, spool, move, hard copy etc and also some ‘impossible’ features such as defining
zero page location that will be used, single stepping sideways RAM, screen modes. More
importantly, it works with the 65C02 and can even disassemble the second processor
ROM'

IN VIEW OF THE LARGE DEMAND FOR THIS CHIP, SOLIDISK OFFERS IT AT
ONLY £11.00+ £1.00 FOR POST AND PACKING

THE ABOVE SOFTWARE IS AVAILABLE FROM US AT ONLY £2.50 TO COVER
THE MEDIA COST OF THE DISKETTE. NO EXTRA POSTAGE WILL BE CHARGED
IF ORDERED AT THE SAME TIME AS THE 65C02 CPU.

(It is understood that enquiries about the 65C02 CPU should be sent directly to us rather
than to RCS, the Rockwell distributor. )

Connect the control wires

PRICE LISTS AND ORDERING (including P&P and VAT)

SIDEWAYS RAM

SWR16 £43.65

SWR32 -£59.95

128K SOLIDISK £150.95

256K SOLIDISKr £257 95

The following are upgrade prices for existing Sideways Ram Users
16 — 32 (return complete item)

16 — SOLIDISK (return item)

16 - SOLIDISK 256 (return item)

32 - SOLIDISK

32 - SOLIDISK 256 (return item)

128 — 256 (return item)

.£19.00
£110 00
POA
£95 00
POA
£125 00

DFS AND DISK DRIVES
STL DDFS DISK UPGRADE
DFDC Twin FDC version

£39.95
£49 95

MITSUBISHI 2 x 80 (incl leads* manual)
MITSUBISHI TWIN (incl leads* manual)

65C02

65C02 software

£163.00

£323.00

12.00

2.00

COMPLETE SYSTEMS (i.e. DRIVES + DDFS)

MITSUBISHI 2 x 80 640K bytes £202 95

MITSUBISHI TWIN 13 MB £353.00

DISKETTES (Datalife Verbatim boxes of 10)
SS'DD 40

DS/DD 40

SS/DD80

DSDD80

£17.00
£23.00
£24.00
£29 00

EPROM PROGRAMMER (use with Swr or Solidisk) £20 95

UVIPAC EPROM ERASER £20 95

2764 PACK OF 5 £36.00

27128 PACK OF 3 £39 95

HOW TO ORDER?

You can order any item using the coupon. Prices are inclu-
sive of VAT. post and packing. Access and Barclay card
holders can place their order by phone.

Educational authorities. Acorn dealers and OEMs can obtain
quantity discounts.

Name:

Adress:

Credit Card Account

Callers are requested to ring first for appointment.

Total: !

SOLIDISK TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
17 SWEYNE AVE
SOUTHEND-ON-SEA
ESSEX SS2 6JQ

SOLIDISK’S NEW TELEPHONE
NUMBER:

SOUTHEND-ON-SEA (0702)354674

(10 lines with automatic exchange)

FREE INTERFACE

WITH EVERY 'brother' TYPEWRITER
MODELS CE51 ,60,70,EM80,1 00,200
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 FORA
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

Business Software of the BBC microcomputer

The complete disc based package:

• Sales / Purchase / Nominal Ledgers

• Cashbook • VAT Accounting

• Full double entry system

• Trial Balance • Age Analyses

• Built in Database subsystem

• Fully supported a

Requires the Control Module to operate which
includes documentation, system and data discs
on either 40 or 80 track and Database system.
Send for full details to:-

BBC

I

Diamondsoft Ltd., FREEPOST,

Cheadle Hulme, Cheshire SK8 5YB Tel: 061 -485 8705

V

J

When you call please don't disturb Harold — he
broke 1000 on Snapper last week and hopes to
crack 2000 soon. Mind you, there are other
machines in the store that you can use to try out
the software from our extensive range. Printers,
disc drives and monitors too.

6 Chatterton Road, Bromley, Kent.
460 8991

Data /tore

&

A LOW COST DISC BASED

PROFESSIONAL

V accounting program

For The BBC Computer

Micro-Trader

INTEGRATED SALES PURCHASE AND NOMINAL LEDGERS

Designed for business use by a business man. " Micro-Trader "is a fully
integrafed program in which all Sales and Purchase Ledger Transactions
are automatically updated to the Nominal Ledger.

" Micro-Trader " offers full Sales and Purchase Ledger facilities including
SALES INVOICE and STATEMENT PRINTING with a capacity of 450
accounts and 3000 transactions per month in each Ledger

Normal Income, Expenditure. Assets, Liabilities & Journal Posting in the
Nominal Ledger with full Reporting for individual accounts. Audit Trail. Trial
Balance, Profit & Loss and Balance Sheet.

" Micro-Trader " is certified by Customs and
Excise for V.A.T. extraction.

A V.A.T. Return produced in 2 minutes ! ! ! !

STOCK CONTROL and M AILMERGE
programs can be added

PHONE TODAY FOR A FREE FACT SHEET

mEADOU) COmPUTERS

HEBREWS MEADOW. LOWER EVINGAR ROAD. WHITCHURCH. HANTS

Telephone: Whitchurch (025682) 2008

222

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

MAKE THE MOST
OF YOUR
COMPUTER.

SID€ 8V SID€ UNITS - 40/80T Duol 400K £299.00

.40/80T Single 400K £175.00

— -Upgrade 400K £160.00

Pooler Supply £35.00

STACK UNITS- 40/80T Duol 400K £299.00

40 Track Duol 200K £234.00

Power Supply £35.00

SINGIC UNITS - 40/80 Track 400K £175.00

40 Track 200K £117.00

PjSCjNTCftfACC Double Density £129.95

Fill prices shown ore exclusive of V FI T.

onncn form

VOUR '
CHOIC€

Unit Cott Order Qty

Send to MUJ Systems Ltd. Matrix House, Lincoln Rood,
Cressex Ind. €st. High Wycombe, Bucks HPI2
3RD. Tel: 0494 32751

Please Send Me the Order as shown above.

The total Unit Value of order =

Please debit my Acccss/Barday Card
Cord No. |

I enclose a cheque for £

Nome

Address

Delivery £
Sub Total £
VAT @ 15% £
_ TOTAL £

Company

1000

r

i

MTERRKE

PUBLICATIONS

Acclaimed books from the
experts . . .

□ Dynamic Games for your Electron

Neal Cavalier-Smith. £4.95

□ 36 Challenging Games for the BBC Micro

Chris Callender and Tim Rogers. £5.95

□ Let Your BBC Micro Teach You to Program

Tim Hartnell. £6.45

□ Putting Your BBC Micro to Work (includes a full
word-processing program, plus 14 others)

Chris Callender. £4.95

□ Creating Adventure Programs on your Computer

Andrew Nelson. £4.95

□ The Easy Way to Program Your New Computer

Tim Hartnell. £3.95

□ Practical Applications for the Microcomputer
in the Home.

David Hole. £4.95

□ The Art of Structured Programming

Peter Juliff. £5.95

These books are available from most book and computer
stores. In case of difficulty, order directly from us.

Interface Publications, Dept. QAU,

9-11 Kensington High Street, London W8 5NP.

Please send me the indicated books. I enclose £

Name.

Address

IIITERFdCE

PUBLICATIONS

Vfe’re the Experts.

(TRADE ONLY: Interface Publications are distributed exclusively in the UK and
Eire by W H S Distributors. Export trade handled by Interface Publications ) j

.Tel:

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

223

A vacancy
exists for an
editorial/
programming
assistant to
work in the

EdlTORiAl/

magazine
office of

PROqRAMMiNq

AssisTAIMT

and/or Acorn
Electron, and
be able to
write English
in a clear and
interesting
style.

If the idea of

BEEBUG Publications Ltd as a working in a stimulating and
member of a small team producing challenging environment appeals to
BEEBUG and ELBUG magazines. you then we would like to hear from
The work is varied and often hectic, you straight away
and involves editing and preparing Applications should be made in
both copy and programs for writing to the address below, and

publication together with some
original writing/programming.
Salary will be according to
experience.

Applicants should be very familiar
with the use of the BBC micro

should include a full curriculum vitae
together with the names of two
referees.

Personnel Dept,

BEEBUG Publications Ltd,

RO. Box 50, St. Albans, Herts.

r^lrjBBC MICRO

- USER SUPPORT -

• 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 Volume 2.

BUT ITS NOT TOO LATE TO JOIN FOR VOLUME THREE

BEEBUG PUBLICATIONS LTD. PO BOX 109, HIGH WYCOMBE, BUCKS

PLEASE ENROL ME FOR VOLUME 3 of BEEBUG AT £9.90 (10 ISSUES) BEEBUG HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED

NAME FOR TWO YEARS AND NOW HAS

OVER 25,000 MEMBERS. IT OFFERS

TOTAL USER SUPPORT TO ALL BBC

AMOUNT ENCLOSED MICRO USERS.

PLEASE MAKE CHEQUES MADE PAYABLE TO BEEBUG PUBLICATIONS LTD.

AND SEND TO:- DEPT 13 PO BOX 109, HIGH WYCOMBE, BUCKS.

(DISTRIBUTION AGENTS FOR BEEBUG)

ADDRESS

224

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

J USER GROUPS

y 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.

d The Secretary

Wakefield BBC Micro
User Group

116 Pinderfields Road
Wakefield

West Yorkshire WF1 3PL

■ Colin Price
Keighley Computer Club

Red Holt

Hainsworth Wood
Keighley
W. Yorks

Tel: Keighley 603133

■ Jennifer Woeller
Sutton Library
Computer Club

Sutton Central Library
St Nicholas Way
Sutton, Surrey
Tel 01-661 5031

■ Mr C. Rutter
Medway Atom Users Club

St John Fisher School
Ordnance Street
Chatham
Kent

■ Mr J. Ashurst
Acorn Computer
Users Group

Abraham Moss Centre
Crescent Road
Manchester 8

yd BBC Adventure Club

18 Weardale House
Woodberry Down
London N4 1QN

v J^John Wood

Atom Users’ Group
of Canada

812 Cabot Trail
Milton

Ontario L9T 3M8
Canada

jd Austin Vaughan
Irish Amateur
Computer Club

35 Monastery Drive
Clondalkin
Dublin 22
Eire

Tel: (01) 593112 (evenings)

jd Miss J. Lines

South East Essex

BBC User Group (SEEBUG)

97 Oakhurst Drive
Wickford
Essex SS12 0NW
Tel: 03744 63396

jd D. Donaldson. Secretary

Bracknell Primary Schools
Computer Users’ Group

Wildridings County Junior

School

Netherton

Bracknell

Berks RG12 4DX

■ Stuart Mallinson

Huddersfield BBC Micro
User Group

34 Ryefields
Scholes
Huddersfield
West Yorks HD7 1XF

jd J. Smith. Secretary

Brighton, Hove & District
Computer Club

30 Leicester Villas
Hove

E. Sussex BN3 5SQ

N d Mr Ric Keyworth
North London BBC
Micro Users Group

The Penthouse'

4b Kilburn High Road
London NW6 5UL
Tel: 01-734 9235
(7am-3pm Mon-Fri)

jk Andrew Grant
Parson Cross BBC
User Group

28 Rokeby Road
Sheffield S5 9FU
Tel: 0742 461203

f \ F Taylor, Secretary

he Derby Microcomputer
Society

c/o 5 Park View Close
Allestree
Derby DE3 2GH
Tel: Derby 559334

jk Roy Street

Norwich & District BBC
Microcomputer User Group

Church Farmhouse
Themelthorpe
Dereham
Norfolk NR20 5PS
Tel: Foulsham 579
■ Keith Mitchell
Edinburgh ZX Computer
Club

19 Meadowplace Road
Edinburgh
Tel: 031-334 8483
■ Robin Bradbeer
Association of London
Computer Clubs
Polytechnic of North London
Holloway
London N7 8DB
jk Andy Purkiss
North & Mid-Essex
User Group (NAMEBUG)

12 Palm Close
Witham. Essex
Tel: 0376 515609
Prestel: 376515609
d M. A. Cowley, President
Beebnet
PO Box 262
Kingswood
South Australia 5062
d Martin Coffey
Atom Users Club
11 Courtfield Road
Ashford

Middlesex TW15 1JN
d Brian Pain

¥eebacc

40a High Street
Stony Stratford
Milton Keynes
Tel: (0908) 564271

d Duncan Coulter

Preston BBC User Group

8 Briar Grove
Ingol

Preston PR2 3UR

d R. welch

Harpenden

Microcomputer Group

7 Tylers
Harpenden
Herts AL5 5RT
■ Mr P. Frost
Atom Users Group
3 Leyland Road
Bulkington
Warks CV12 9LW
d The Sydney BBC
Microcomputer User Group
c/o Stuart McCann
500 Miller Street
Cammeray
NSW 2062
Australia

Tel: Sydney 923 1137
d John Hannon
Tasbeeb (BBC Users’
Group)

Box 25 PO
North Hobart
7002 Tasmania
Australia
Tel: (002) 342704

■ A. F. Powell

The Daventry and District

Computer Club

c/o The Daventry
Ex-Servicemans Club
Market Square
Daventry
Northants

d BBC INFO

Horten Ingeniorhogskole
Skippergt. 6
3190 Horten
Norway

d E. R. Piper

Bognor Computer Group
(BUG)

2 Ely Gardens
Aldwick Park
Bognor Regis
Sussex P021 3RY

■ Andrew Pike
Peterborough Personal
Computer Club

920 Bourges Boulevard
Peterborough PEI 2AN
Tel: 0733 44342 (after 5pm)

d John Farris

Mid-Cheshire Computer
Club

75 Swanlow Lane
Winsford

Cheshire CW7 1JD
Winsford 53339

d G F Wilcockson

BAUG

(Bottisham Acorn User
Group)

19 Gallows Hill
Saffron Walden
Essex CB1 1 4DA
Tel: 23793

d OIFIG

(Official Irish Forth Interest
Group)

c/o Hugh Dobbs
Newtown School
Waterford
Eire

■ Acorn Users Group of
Sweden

c/o Janne Soderberg
Frihetsvagen 32
S-175 33 Jarfalla
Sweden

Jk The Secretary
Radio Amateur Micro
User Group (G4KCS)

c/oR A. Webb
39 Aldworth Road
Stratford
London E15 4DN

d Graham Dubber

BOGBUG

(Borough of Gosport BBC
Users Group)

128 Wych Lane

Gosport

Hants PO13 0TE

Tel: (0329) 282221 (evenings)

d Anders Wickman
BBC User Group (BUG)

Folkungagatan 58
116 22 Stockholm
Sweden

■ Peter Wilson

Universal Micro Club

26 North Cape Walk
Corby

Northants NN18 9DQ
Tel: Great Oakley 742622

d John Haigh
Iver Computer Society (IC’s)

11 Colliston Walk
Fords Farm
Calcot. Reading
Berks RG3 5ZJ
Tel: 0734-417534

■ John Eary

Kinder Peak Computer Club

36 Parkway
New Mills

Tel: New Mills 43870
d C. Verrier

Wandsworth Computer Club

Earlsfield Library
Magdalen Road
London SW11

■ Mr R. Luff

Kingbee

54 Arlington Close
Kingswinford
West Midlands

d Computer Club

Caterham Leisure Centre

Godstone Road

Caterham

Surrey CR3 6RE

Tel: Caterham 48304/43316

■ Ted Ryan

Eastwood Town
Microcomputer Club

15 Queens Square
Eastwood

Nottingham NG16 3BJ

d Mr T A. Kayani
SOBAT Computer Club
(East London)

12 Calderon Road
London Ell 4EU
Tel: 01-556 5423

■ Mr M. G. Forster
Potbug BBC Users Group

8 St George s Avenue
High Lane
Tunstall
Stoke-on-Trent
Tel: 818499

d Steve MacLeod
BBC Users Group of
Canberra

5 Hatfield Street
EvattA. C.T. 2617
Australia
Tel: (062) 587719

■ A. H. Fowler

Tonbridge School Computer
Society

44 Birling Road
Tunbridge Wells
Kent TN2 5LY

■ J. Assies, Secretary
Big Ben Club

PO Box 177

4670 AD Zevenbergen

The Netherlands

■ H. W. H. Fisher

Sunningdale BBC User
Group

82 Cedar Dive
Sunningdale
Berks SL5 0UB
Tel: Ascot 25030

yd Peter Hughes
Format 40/80 Club

BBC Disc User Group
5 Marsh Street
Bristol BS1 4AA

■ Dave Davies
229 Manley Road
Chorlton-cum-Hardy
Manchester M21 1RB
Tel: 061-881 0382

d Tony Latham
Computer Users Club

69 Hadlow Road
Welling. Kent DA16 1AX

d Tony Pickard
Newcastle & Washington
BBC User Group (NEWBUG)

c/o Washington Town Centre
Library
The Galleries
Washington, Tyne & Wear
Tel: Houghton (927) 849342
after 6pm

d John Fryer, Treasurer

ABUG

17 Edgedale Road
Sheffield S7 2BQ

d Chris Parry, Secretary
Stratford Computer Club

15 Kipling Road
Stratford-on-Avon
Tel: 0789 68080

d Robert Watt

Inverclyde BBC Micro Users
Club

9 St John's Road
Gourock

Renfrewshire PA19 1PL
Tel: Gourock 39967

d Antony Hurden
West Suffolk BBC Micro
Users’ Club

14 Plovers Way
Bury St Edmunds
Suffolk IP33 2NJ

d Forum 80

421 Endike Lane
Hull HU6 8AG

d Simon Ward

Porchester & Fareham
Computer Club

9a East Cams Close
Downend
Fareham
Hants P016 8RP

d D. Davidson

Central Scotland BBC User
Group

1 Roxburgh Place
Larbert

Stirlingshire FK5 4UE

d Linda Yeomans,

Secretary

Beeb Users Group (Bug
Club)

13 Regent Street
Church Gresley
Burton-on-Trent
Staffs DE1 1 9PL

d Arjen Raateland
Hopeatie 10A21
00440 Helsinki 44
Finland

Tel: 90-5625027

d Sqn Ldr J. A. Upham
RAF Personal Computer
Association

Man S (ADP)

HQ RAFSC
RAF Brampton
Huntingdon PE18 8QL

d Bazyle Butcher
Harrow Computer Group

16 St. Peter’s Close
Bushey Heath
Watford WD2 3LG
Tel: 01-950 7068

d MUSE (for teachers)

PO Box 43

231/2 Friary Chambers
Whitefriargate
Hull HU1 2HD
Tel: 0482 20268

d Nik Kelly
Mersey BBC User Group

56 Queen’s Drive
Liverpool L4 6SH

d R. V. Souter, Secretary

TRS-80/Beeb Users Group

4 Risby Garth
Skidby

Cottingham, Hull
HU16 5UE
Tel: 0482 845326

d BBC Micro Club Tenerife

PO Box 1297
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Canary Islands (Spain)

Tel: (922)216546

d Rupert Steele

Association of Computer
Clubs

17 Lawrie Park Crescent
London SE26 6HH

d Andy Leeder
Amateur Computer Club

Church Farm
Stratton St. Michael
Norwich NR15 2QB

d Bob Hindle

South Yorks Personal
Computer Group (SYPCG)

139 Penrhyn Road
Sheffield S1 1 8UP

d J- G Dowling
Acorn Atom Users Group

27 Oribi Avenue
Van Riebeeck Park
Kempton Park 1620
South Africa

225

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

/

THEPRINTED WORD

LOW PRICES

star

«3eminJ ro *

TOP SERVICE

f lox I

V

JUKI 6100

One Year Warranty

20 CPS : BiDirectional & Logic Seeking

1 0, 1 2, 1 5 & Proportional Spacing

Wordstar Compatible

2K Buffer : 13 Inch Platen

Underline : Backspace + Lots more

Centronics Interface Standard

RS 232 Interface £54.00 + VAT Extra

Tractor Feed £99.00 + VAT Extra

Single Sheet Feeder £238.00 + VAT Extra

JUKI 6100 £330.43 + VAT =£380.00

BBC/ORIC or DRAGON Package
JUKI 6100 + C.J.E. PRINTER PACKAGE
£400.00 inc. VAT

W- •

CANON PW-1080A

Near letter Quality Printer

NLQ Mode 23 x 1 8 Matrix: 27 cps

Draft Mode 11x9 Matrix : 1 60 cps

Full range of Epson FX 80 Print Codes

Friction & Tractor Feed

Centronics Interface Standard

CANON PW-1156A (Accepts 15" Paper) Available

CANON PW-1080A £278.26
CANON PW-1156A £360.00

+ VAT = £320.00
+ VAT = £41 4.00

PACKAGE PRICE for BBC MICRO/DRAGON/ORIC
CANON PW-1080A C.J.E. PRINTER PACKAGE £345.00 inc.
CANON PW-1156A C.J.E. PRINTER PACKAGE £439.00 inc.

VAT

VAT

Special RS 232 Printer Bargain

STAR DP8408 (8" Printing) £187.00 inc. VAT
Ideal for BBC/Newbrain/HX20 & Spectrum Int. 1
Phone for full specification

STAR GEMINI 10X

One Year Warranty
True Descenders 9x9 Matrix
1 20 CPS Bidirectional & Logic Seeking
40. 48.68. 80. 96, 136cpl
Italics. Emphasized. Double strike.
Super & Sub Scripts
Downloadable Character Set
Hi-Resolution & Block Graphics
Friction or Tractor Feed
10 X 10" Carriage. 15 X 15" Carriage
Centronics Interface Standard
RS232 Int. £52.00 + VAT Extra

Gemini 10X £235.00 Inc VAT
Package for BBC/DRAGON/OR 1C
GEMINI 10X + CJE Printer Pack £255 Inc. VAT

Star Gemini 15X £380 inc. VAT

STAR DELTA 10
SPEC. AS FOR 10X PLUS:-
160CPS: 8K BUFFER
CENTRONICS + RS232 INT’S STD
£311.30 + VAT = £358.00

BBC MICRO MODEL B £399.00

Electron £199.00

BBC Micro Model B with Disc Int. £469.00

Large Range of Accessories including Disc
Drives. Printers, Monitors always in stock

Printer Cables

BBC to 36 Way Centronics Type Connector
Dragon to 36 Way Centroncs Type Connector
Oric to 36 Way Centronics Type Connector
Torch to 36 Way Centronics Type Connector
Serial Printer Cables
BBC to 25 way D type
EPSON HX20 to 25 way D type
NEWBRAIN to 25 Way D Type
25 way D type to 25 way D type

£15.00
£1500
£15 00
£20 00

£9 50
£9 50
£1200
£15 00

C.J.E. Micro’s BBC Printer Packs
For Star. Canon & Juki Printers include:

1 . The Printer

2. Delivery by Securicor

3. Cable to the BBC 1 .3 Metres

4. Screen Dump Progam (M/C Source)

5. Text Dump Program

6. Function Key set up Program. For use with WORDWISE

7. Function Key Label Printing Program. For use with above.

8. VIEW Printer Driver
9. 1 00 Sheets of Paper .

1 0. Mains Plug with 3 Amp Fuse
1 1 Booklet giving details of using the printer with a BBC.

12. Character Defining Program for Downloadable-character-set

C.J.E. Printer Packs for other micro’s indude:-
Printer, Cable. Paper, Mains Plug & Delivery

Blank Cl 5/C30 Cassettes Ten for £4 50 ANY MIX
Send SAE for Full Price List

VAT INCLUDED WHERE APPLICABLE
PHONE/CREDIT CARD ORDERS WELCOME

Postage 50p per order or as stated
24 Hr Securicor Delivery
for Printers/Disk Drives £8.00
(SHOP/WORKSHOP CLOSED MONDAYS)

RING

C.J.E. Microcomputers

DEPT (AU). 78 Brighton Road, Worthing
W. Sussex BN1 1 2EN (0903) 213900

EXPORT ORDERS WELCOME

FOR SAMPLE PRINTOUT, FULL SPECIFICATioNS&uSES^RICES
BESTPRICESj^BACKUP ON THE STAR JUKI & CANON PRINTERS

*S"S 00 P ER C AL ER FR AOGE EL IS T 1C EX P EE AL EE 0 OH SH US"

5pEEch 5i_jnthEsizEr

FOR BBC MODEL B

Close approximation of text to speech. Unlimited vocabulary.
Immediate verbal acknowledgement on 'POWER UP'

User programs easily modified by using a simple # S command,
Fits into one of the BBC ROM sockets.

V 2 version *SK enables Speaking keyboard
'options speaks name or letter of key pressed'

(Ideal for visually handicapped).

ROM BOARD

extends sideways ROMs to 1 1 sockets (extendable to 16)

RAM BOARDS

8K version expands to 8K in 2K blocks as required
16K version can be used as 1x8K, 2 x 8K or 1 x 1 6K RAM or
1 x 1 6 K ROM

UGHTPEN, A versatile lightpen with free software tape.

D.E. TALKER £40.00 :

D.E. TALKER V2 £46.00 : p & p £1.00

D.E. ROM BOARD £28.00

8K RAM BOARD (empty) £8.50 : ON TOTAL

16K RAM BOARD (empty) £8.50 : ORDER

LITEPEN 8i cassette £13.50 Disc £1.50 extra

Prices include simple fitting instructions and USER NOTES
S.A.E. FOR FURTHER DETAILS

Please make all cheques and Postal Orders to:

Official Orders welcome

44 Cross Street, Widnes, Cheshire WA8 6LT

The SOURCE |

THAT'S WHERE TO GET IT!

SERIOUS SOFTWARE SOURCE
CATALOGUE

Software to do a job — not to play with ! Our new catalogue not
only lists but gives a description of each program. Business, Ed—

— ucation, Scientific, Engineering, Radio Computing, Statistics
and many other subjects. FREE

BOOK SOURCE CATALOGUE

From Artificial Intelegence to Xenix ! If you need to know more
about almost any subject to do with Computing then this is for
you. Perhaps the most comprehensive specialist book catalogue
ever compiled. FREE

CP/M&MS-DOS SOURCE
CATALOGUE

A range of professional software from 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 what to buy as a gift ? Why not give one
of our Gift Vouchers ? — Vouchers start at just £10 — then they
can choose their own gift from any of our comprehensive
catalogues!

Send your name, address and requirement, plus £ 1 ( to cover
postage ) — For your free catalogue.

The Computer Mail Order People

David Winrow Marketing Unit 2 PO BOX 9
Northwich Cheshire CW9 7TP

an INTRODUCTION to

This 120 page book is supplied with a FREE
floppy disc containing TWO demonstration
systems -a STOCKFILE SYSTEM
and a PERSONNEL SYSTEM

IF YOU WANT

* to use your disc drives as something more than
just fast cassettes.

■ to be able to store and retrieve data instantly.
m to learn how to create your own systems.
m to understand how Filing Systems can work.
m to join the vast numbers of people worldwide
who have benefited from this package.

THEN YOU CAN BUY THE BOOK FOR
£12.50 COMPLETE FROM:

The Computer Room 206 Main Street
Newthorpe Nottingham 0773 718578

PROFESSIONAL START
PROFESSIONAL FINISH

For BBC Model A. B or Electron, as coded ★A, or B, or E

MULTIPLE DISC CATALOGUE WA3 ★A-B £8.50

Used with either Wordwise or View. Insert discs one by one to produce a
complete and fully sorted catalogue of your whole diskette library This can be
edited, printed or formatted in any manner you wish. Now included with
MDC is our disc backup and verification utility which greatly assists the
necessary task of making secure backup copies of your diskettes.

AUTO LABEL WRITER WA7 ★A- B £9.25

Automatically at your command prints labels for the disc in drive 0 No more
scribbles to decypher. 100 labels included in the price.

CALENDAR PRINTER Tape WA8 £1 1 00 Disc WA9 £9.00 ★A-B-E
Calendar enables you to print out a calendar or planner to your design within
paper and printer limitations formats for 80 or 1 30 column printers. Automati-
cally calculates first day of week (year 1 901 to 21 00) and will start at first of
any stated month. Supports most common printers.

AUTO MENU-SELECT WA1 ★A-B £8.50

This provides a professional screen layout with fast automatic menu pro-
duction from which software may be automatically loaded (CHAIN/-ARUN/
★ LOAD /★EXEC). Extensive use is made of pre-programmed function keys
which enable ROMs to be selected easily Both single and double sided
drives are supported as are multiple disc drive units.

PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT WA2 ★A-B £8.00

This provides very flexible control of the Screen/Printer together with format
ted listings (indents and splits multiple statement lines). Extensive use is
made of function keys to give Auto- List of Error Lines. Easy Program LOAD/
SAVE/VERIFY etc.

MORTGAGE ANALYSIS Tape WA5 £1 0.95 Disc WA6 £8.95 ★A-B-E
An essential aid if you are considering house purchase or if you currently have
a mortgage. Could save thousands. Gives tabular information that makes sen-
sible mortgage analysis easy with inflation, tax relief and increasing house
prices all being taken into account. In the present climate of changing interest
rates this is an essential aid to planning your finances.

When ordering programs on DISC please add £4 to total order price for disc
etc, (state 40/80 tracks).

For further information ring 029671 -4679 or 0908-641 327

To order send cheque to:

WALTON ASSOCIATES

2 Red House Close, Newton Longville, MILTON KEYNES. MK17 OAH

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

227

UNBELIEVABLE! ’

WHO'S H
CLEVER
BOVTHEn?

That s how good the display on this Tatung
Monltor/T.V. is. Yes, like us you w
amazed at the quality of this product.

For little more than the price of a monitor only you can
buy this superb set with, we believe, a better display
than any similarly priced monitor. Plus it works as a
T.V. as well.

Price includes:

ROB Lead • Delivery • 4 Year Manufacturers Guaran-
tee e Despatch normally within 48 hours Callers
welcome at either of our branches Send cheques,
draft, or send or phone your Credit Card No.

LOOK AT THESE FEATURES:

k 4 year parti ft [Yes. four years— it s

labour guarantee not a misprint)

| Not a converted
T.V. built as a monitor/T.V.

) Superb 80 column performance

) Made In U.K.

i Satisfaction
r guaranteed

i Ideal for use with
BBC or electron
computers

3M SCOTCH
DISCS
S.S.D.D.

£ 16*00

LIFETIME
GUARANTEE
BOX OF TEN

L

HUGE RAflGE Of SOFTWARE & BOOKS FOR BBC, ELECTROfl,
SPECTRUM, COMMODORE 64, VIC 20, ORIC, DRAGOH
MEMOTECH At ZX 81

Trade and Overseas Orders welcome

All prices inclusive. Send Cheque, P.O., Bank Draft

or phone your Card Humber to 0386 49641

MICRO CENTRE

BRIDGE STREET. EVESHAM,
WORCESTERSHIRE
Tel: 0386 49641

MICRO CENTRE

1756 PERSHORE ROAD,
COTTERIDGE, BIRMINGHAM.

Tel: 021-458 4564 A

ROMBOX is a sideways ROM extension unit which
enables many existing BBC ROM based programs to be
run on the BBC or the Electron. Fully compatible with
either computer, it is strongly constructed and will
also support the Plus 1 on the Electron, rombox is
supplied with comprehensive instructions and an
inter-connecting cable forthe BBC.

BBC £49.95 (including cable)

Electron £39.50

STARMON is the only machine code monitor for the
Electron and provides a powerful and easy to use
command repertoire for advanced debugging and
machine code programming. A ROM extension unit is
required when used with the Electron. STARMON is
also available for the BBC and both versions are
supplied with a comprehensive and easy to follow
User Manual.

BBC £27.50

Electron £22.50

All prices include V.A.T.
and postage and packing
within the u.K.

Dealer enquiries are welcomed. Available from
good computer shops or from.-
Slogger Limited, 215 Beacon Road,
Chatham, Kent. ME5 7BU.

WE& Telephone: Medway (0634) 811634.

—

a m

S

228

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

An entirely new RANGE OF SOFTWARE written especially for the SMALL
BUSINESS using a BBC B COMPUTER, it is based on MODULES which can
be used INDEPENDENTLY or INTEGRATED into a full system. The
MODULES are, briefly:

1 CUSTOMER/SUPPLIER DATABASE: Name, Address, Phone & Con-
tact Fields with ALPHABETIC SORT & FULL PRINTOUT or NAME/ADD.
only for MAILING

2. SALES LEDGER: INDEXED ENTRY of each CUSTOMER, showing CUR-
RENT BALANCE and full HISTORY of A/C Prints STATEMENTS with DEBT
AGEING. Process, Reconcile, Store & List PAYMENT RECEIVED. Lists
SALES

3. PURCHASE LEDGER: Records CASH/CREDIT PURCHASES. Displays
items for PAYMENT and recent PAYMENTS to SUPPLIER Lists all PUR-
CHASES

4. V.A.T. RETURNS: Prints all SALES and PURCHASES within USER
SPECIFIED PERIOD. ANALYSES EXPENDITURE into USER DEFINED
CATEGORIES (Graphics Option available) Prints copy of COMPLETED
V AT RETURN

5. APPLICATIONS PACK: SPECIALISED INPUT ROUTINES create
TRANSACTION DATABASE from which appropriately formatted INVOICES
& CREDIT NOTES can be produced at any time The system caters for 2
VAT RATES or NO V A T and will support SEVERAL APPLICATIONS ON
LINE at one time.

APPLICATION PACKS AVAILABLE NOW: ROAD HAULAGE, SERVICE
COs, 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 +
VAT and are supplied complete with FULL DOCUMENTATION, CON-
FIGURATION ROUTINE and UTILITIES to enable PRINTING, AMMEND-
ING, DELETING and SEARCHING of FILES.

ALSO AVAILABLE FOR THE TORCH Z80, ACORN Z80 & 6502 2nd PRO-
CESSORS.

SEND FOR FURTHER DETAILS AND SAMPLE PRINTOUTS TO -

PRO-SOFT, 1 36 CROSLAND ROAD, OAKES,
HUDDERSFIELD, WEST YORKSHIRE
TELEPHONE: 0484 659186

BCSSP - the dynamic system

simulation language for
BBC computers

• describe systems by block diagrams and simulate their operations
interactively

• applicable to differential and difference equations

• high resolution graphical/numerical output

• suitable for engineering, physics, economics, applied mathematics,
electronics etc.

• use in education to bring differential equations alive
Example response: Van der Pol Oscillator:

Write or phone for detailed brochure. Demonstration system available at
£15 inclu. manual and tutorial

Engineering Applications Software

50 Gosport Street, Lymington .Hampshire S04 9BE Telephone: (0590) 73503

HIGH QUALITY

Slimline 5i" 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 ip
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

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

229

THE HOME COMPUTER

Easy parking at all

SPECIALISTS

branches

TOLWORTH

230 Tolworth Rise South,
Tolworth, Surbiton,

WITH MORE BRANCHES THAN

BBC MODEL B +

Surrey KT5 9NB.

Tel: 01-337 4317

ANY OTHER ACORN DEALER

DFS&IOOk

WE OFFER

DISCDRIVE

£589

SUTTON

30 Station Road,

Belmont, Sutton,

ONE-STOP SHOPPING

Surrey SM2 6BS.

Tel: 01-642 2534

FOR YOUR

BBC MODEL B +

EALING

1 14 Gunnersbury Avenue,

BBC MICRO

DFS &800k

Ealing, London W5 4HB.

Tel: 01 992 5855

AND

DISCDRIVE

NEWBURY

£849

26, Stanley Road,

Newbury

ELECTRON

Berks RG14 7PB.

Tel: (0635) 30047

RICKMANSWORTH

SPECIAL ELECTRON PACKAGE INCLUDES
ELECTRON WITH PLUS 1

LARGE RANGE0F

Grey Stone Works,

The Green, Croxley Green,
Rickmansworth,

for £229

SOFTWARE,

PERIPHERALS,

Herts W03 3AJ.

Tel: 0923 779250

BOOKS, DISKETTES,

LUTON

CASSETTES &

PRINTER PAPER

1 Manor Road,

Caddington, Luton,

Beds LU1 4EE

ALWAYS IN STOCK.

Tel: (0582) 458575

BEFORE YOU BUY ANY PRINTER

CONTACT

PATASTA R SYST EMS UJG

the printer people

We will beat any genuine advertised price for dot
matrix and daisywheel printers. Ring 01 -482 1 7 1 1 for
prices, or call in for demonstration and technical
advice . Complete after sales service available.

PERSONAL CALLERS Datastar Systems U.K.

WELCOME. Unicom House,

From 9.00am to 6.00pm 182 Royal College Street,

Monday to Friday ( Near Camden Town

1 0.00am to 1 ,00pm Tube/Camden Road Rail

t Saturday and Sunday . Station )

London NW1 9NN.

230

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

The Acorn music synthesiser
will blow your mind.

(But at £199, not your savings)

■ ^p$isp|p 1

The new Acorn Music 500 synthesiser will
transform your BBC Micro into a mind-blowing
music making machine for just 199 notes.

All you need to start making beautiful
music in superb stereo is a hi- li amplifier and
a little imagination.

With its 16 sounds and a whole battery of
sou nd-making techniques (for the technically
minded they include wave forms, pitch and
volume envelopes and advanced cross modu-
lations) the range of sound possible is as
mind-boggling as the technical specification.

To help you harness this incredible power
the synthesiser is controlled from a new
language, created specially for music and
sound. Calk'd AMPLE? it is very easy to use
and will have vou making tunes in minutes,
even if you don't know a note from a stave.

Also included is a carefully prepared
manual explaining all you need to know about
the 500 and its workings.

Together with a selection of example pro-
grams, the system makes up everything you
need to create music that spans the likes of
Bach to Bowie.

To order your Music 500 synthesiser, fill
in the coupon below and send it to Vector
Marketing, London Road, Wellingborough,
Northants NN8 2RL.

Credit card holders can order by "phoning
0933 79300.

Pic ‘ase allow 14 days for delivery.

To: Acorn, c/o Vector Marketing. London Rd., Wellingborough,
Northants NN82RL

Please send rne Music 500 Synthesisers) at £100 each.

I enclose PO/cheque payable to Acorn. Or charge my credit card.

Card Number

\mex/l)iners/Y isa/ Xccess (delete)

Name

A d d ress

Postcode

^CORN
COMPUTER ^"at.nv

AC12

< WIPI.K is a trademark of Hybrid Technology Ltd.

PRICES SENSATION ^

Canon 110: Case/ Cables all INCL £89
Canon 220: 400K (40/80 switching)
Case/ Cables all INCL £149

N.B. These are state of the Art Disc Drives; Direct Drive
40 track 6mms Access/80 track 3ms Access.

SLIM CANON DISC DRIVES:

MODEL: SPECIFICATION OF EACH DRIVE
110 S/SIDED 40 TRACK 100K

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)

DRIVE SELECTED FULL-ILLUMINATION (GREEN OR RED)

Super-slim CANON drives, models 221 and the SANYO model 596D,
are available with their own custom-built secondary switching power supply.
This is safe, low in heat generation 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.

All inclusive price list:

This means: disc drive + case + all power & data cables + U.K. carriage + utilities disc & manual + VA.T

MODEL:

CANON

SANYO

110

210

220

221

596D

Formatted Capacity
per drive on BBC Micro:

100k

200k

400k

400k

400k

Single Drive & Case:

£89

£99

£149

£199

£169

Single Drive
& Case/R Supply:

£114

£124

£174

£229

Dual Drive & Case:

£184

£199

£279

£379

£319

Dual Drive
& Case/R Supply:

£214

£234

£309

£409

tV-;- '• -'If X‘.

£349

Support:

Warranty: All disc drives sold by Chase Data Ltd. come
with a full one-year warranty on parts & labour.

Non-warranty service: As THE experts in our field we
can offer service on most makes of floppy disc drive.

Recalibration & Alignment ... £25 per unit inc. VAT
(parts extra). Phone tor details: (Tel: 0784 38487)

Payment

Allow 21 days for delivery.

By Post: Send your remittance (cheques only please)
with your order to:

gp jz^gg

RO. Box 6, Woking, Surrey, GU21 4PB.
By Phone: #7% (Tel: 0784 38487).

ifift

*AIRBRUSH *

x^y A Graphics tool for the
BBC micro B
Check these features:-

* Amazing Airbrush effect on
Screen.

* Operates in Modes 0 and 1.

* Screen LOAD and SAVE
options.

* Variable ‘spray’ area.

* Example Mode 0 picture on
disc.

(The Orion Nebula)
40-Track Disc Only.

Send cheque or p.o. for
£7.95 to:—

P. Sharpe,

Llwydfan, Minffordd Road,
Penrhyndeudraeth, Gwynedd
LL48 6AU.

BEST PRICES WORLDWIDE!

SALE ! SALE !

BEST PRODUCTS — BEST PRICES

PRINTERS

M. TALLY MT80

M. TALLY DAISY

KAGA KP810NLQ

£155

£245

£235

EPSON RX 80

EPSON FX80

£185

£315

MONITORS

M. VITEC STD

£155

KAGA MED

£195

M. VITEC MED

KAGA HIGH

£245

DISC DRIVES

SINGLE 100K

£109

TWIN 800K

£279

SINGLE 400 K

£159

MISCELLANEOUS

DISCS SSDD

£14

PRINTER CABLE

£9

DISCS DSDD

£18

QUICKSHOT 2 + INT

£15

DISC INT DDFS

£85

ALL SOFTWARE 20% OFF

ROMAG ANTIGLARE

£12

UK — Please add 15% VAT. Delivery £9
Europe — Just add 15% World — Just add 25%

Simply send a cheque/PO now or ask for details of our full range.

J.B. INTERNATIONAL, 15 THE CHESTNUTS, HERTFORD,
HERTS SG13 8AQ. 0992 553184 (24H RS)

EXPANDABLE CONSOLE FOR BBC MICRO

As supplied to Universities, Colleges, Schools,
business 8- home users

A professional console to house
disc drives/2nd processor/Torch
dual drives/teletext, etc. All untidy
wiring out of sight in the strong
aluminium console in a matching
textured colour. AVAILABLE NOW
a bolt on extra module for 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 tidies up all wiring, allows
expansion to disc at a later date.

PRICES

Special Torch Version £46.99 + £4 p/p
BBC Console £44.99 + £4 p/p
Bolt on expansion £14.99 + £2 p/p
VDU/Printer Stand £14.99 + £2 p/p
Electron Console £34.99 + £4 p/p

Please add VAT @ 15%to all prices

For further information enclose sae or send cheque to,

Mailorder 27 Wycombe Rd

Only Vllen t 01801 3014 London N17

24 hour
ansaphone

Please allow 28 days for delivery

Viewing by COi

arrangement __

putsk

Torch version available

Software

Products

Present

Disc- M inder Service : we offer to protect disc
based BBC computer software to make it inaccessible to
disc sector editors and back-up/copying utility programs.
Write now for further information.

Copyrite:

Disc

I A/ A DiU/fUn Thls p° werful package
iv/lflfvffVU is not intended to be used
to break copyright. It is capable of duplicating most
protected disc based software and as such must be
used with discretion.

Back-up
Utility

Enhanced to back-up New 40 1 80 software

Copyrite and other products protected by Disc-Minder
cannot be recreated using this program.

(Disc) Price £ 10.95

Micro-Phile: A direct access data base and report
generator - suitable for use in Education, data collection,
personal records etc. Now produces simple statistics.

(Disc) Price £ 14.95

Texprint: True model 7 dump utility. Includes

instructions to merge with a teletext editor.

(Disc) Price

GAMES: [Cassette only]

Fruity, Fruity - Fruit Machine with nudge.

Stuka ! Defend cities from dive bomber.

£ 8.95

£5.95

£5.95

EDUCATIONAL: Missing Words: (Cass) (Disc)

Primary English Pack - Word Swap £9.95/£10.95

_ . A . .. _ . Music Writer: __ __ .... __

Primary Activity Pack - picture Draw £9.95/£10.95

Ephagy Software Products.

125 Corporation Road, Grimsby, S. Humberside. DN31 1UR.

234

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

A 3 DISC DRIVE

COMPLETE WITH
CHRISTMAS BONUS.

THE OPUS 3" DISC DRIVE +
BONUS OF DOUBLE DENSITY
DISC INTERFACE

£ 229 * 95 %

2 YEAR GUARANTEE

For only £229 95 you can have one ofthe best bargains
this Christmas.

An Opus 500K double sided disc drive and an Acorn
compatible double density disc interface. That's over £100
off the normal retail price.

But the bargain doesn't stop there. Because these drives
have the Opus name for reliability. Which is why we have
the confidence to give a two year guarantee on all our
drives.

The reason we can be so confident is that our drives
A y are tested to the limit - running for over 8.000

i

m*

BSwiliumiiii

hours. That’s a year of
constant use with
out failure.

DOUBLE DENSITY
DISC INTERFACE.

To make sure you’re not disappointed, complete the
coupon and send it off today.

Hurry’, the offer ends on Christmas Eve.

TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE.

Single Density

Double Density

Capacity

250K Bytes

5ook Bytes

Recording density

4.915 BP 1

9.830 BP 1

Track density

100 TP 1

100 T IM

Total number of tracks

40 (each side)

40 (each side)

Recording method

FM

MFM

Rotational speed

300 RPM

300 RPM

Traasfer rate

12 5K Bits Sec

250K Bits See

Access time track it > track

3 ms

3 ms

Access time settling

20 ins

20 ms

Motor start time

0.5 sec

0.5 sec

Dual disc drives are also available for £399.95.

GENEROUS EDUCATION DISCOUNTS GIVEN.
PLEASE PHONE FOR DETAILS.

OPUS SUPPLIES LTD.

1 58 Camberwell Road. London SH5 0KK 70 1 8(>(i8

Opening hours: 9.00 5.30pm Monday Friday. 01 703 6155

9.oo | .oopm Saturday. Telex: 295931

T<»: Opus Supplies Ltd.. IsH Camberwell Road. London SLS oi l Please
rush me the follow inn (ALL PRICES INCUDK VAT & C ARRIAGE)

Quantity

Description

Price

TOTAL

I encl< ise a cheque l« >r A

Or please debit my credit card .mount with

the amount of A

My Access Harclaycard (please tick) No is

Name —
Address.

'telephone.

Opus.

Jpus Supplies Ltd.

«-( )j>us Supplies Ltd

AC37 1

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

235

r \

E“ PROGRAMMING

IVI athematical n EW - "EMS-BEEBGRAPH”

O NEW - "NAVIGATION - AID"

Ocientific STILL AVAILABLE METRICATOR

PROBLEMS WITH METRIC OR SI UNITS?

The METRICATOR suite of programs for the BBC B and ELECTRON may
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.

"SI” may be specified and the correct SI equivalent automatically calcu-
lated Saves hours of work. 15 UNIQUE routines designed for EASY
insertion into YOUR program give instant access to many thousands of
combinations of units.

NEED TO ANALYSE AND PLOT EQUATIONS?
EMS-BEEBGRAPH will solve-it EMS BEEBGRAPH finds ALL real sol-
utions of equations; finds max/min, turning points, areas, volumes, differ-
entials and other properties. The function may be plotted complete with i
scaled axes making for easy to produce clear illustrations Ideal for pres-
entations and as a teaching aid.

LEARNING NAVIGATION?

LIGHTS AND BOUYS RECOGNITION
NAVREC helps you learn the navigation lights of sea going vessels, the
shapes of bouys seen around our coast, signal code flags and morse code
(using signals through the BEEB's loudspeaker) Altogether eight menu
driven programs giving full graphic illustrations including actual simu-
lated views of ship s lights from different directions at night Question and
answer tests included. This suite is great value for money and would
please any nautical man. ?

NEED ANYTHING? Contact us! We will have it or will find it. WANTED! :
more programs of any sort provided they are useful, of a high standard
and your own Send yours to us for evaluation (tape, disc or sample run
with instructions).

Prices (Inc p&p)

METRICATOR Tape version £6 95 40 track disc £9 95

Instruction manual and program listing only £3.75

EMS BEEBGRAPH TAPE £7 95 40 track disc £9 95

NAVREC 40-track disc only £9.95

Remittance to "EMS Programming”, 134 Buckswood Drive, Crawley,
Sussex, RH1 1 8JG Or send SAE for more details

BUYING A DISC?

FIRST CONSIDER THE

FT

\

£

No DFS required

* Provides all the facilities of a disc
at a fraction of the cost.

Available for BBC.Dragon.&Nascom
computers.

iKon

COMPUTER PRODUCT!

Tel.Laugharne(099 421) 515

KILN lake
LAUGMARNE
CARMARTHEN
OYFEf)

*A3) 4Qf

SOURCE LIBRARY MANAGER
(SLM)

ROM based software for DISK owners on the BBC MICRO.

Have you ever overwritten an amended program that you haven't got around to
backing -up yet? It need never cause a problem again with SLM Your previous
version is always available until you decide to delete it

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
clutter up your catalogue and waste most of your disk space. SLM is designed
for exactly this purpose (but without the clutter and wastage).

Have you ever wished you could specify a "comment” of up to 20 characters
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!

You paid a lot of money for your disk drives and diskettes, and if the storage of
BASIC and/or ASSEMBLER source code is one of your major resource wasters
then SLM will help you make much more efficient use of your investment

★★★ Features include ★★★

★ Stores and retrieves any amount of BASIC and/or ASSEMBLER source
code, up to the full capacity of each disk (1 00k/200k).

★ Creates a library of up to 399 "members” per 80 track, or 1 99 “members” per
40 track disk

★ Allows up to 99 versions of a single program or routine

★ Will simply and easily "construct” programs developed in a modular fashion

★ Stores fully documented code which can be "stripped” when required for
execution.

★ Uses 8 char names and a 20 char description for each "member”

★ Is fully menu-driven (i.e no messy command syntax).

★ Includes comprehensive User Guide and fitting instructions

★ 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.).

★★★ FULLY COMPATIBLE WITH 6502 SECOND PROCESSOR ★★★
IDEAL FOR BEGINNERS AND EXPERIENCED PROGRAMMERS
ALIKE

GUARDIAN SOFTWARE
21 Harvey Road, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey
KT12 2PZ

Or alternatively, ask your dealer if he stocks SLM
Dealer enquiries welcome.

236

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

@CD[£)®(o)Q00QQ[m)Q]©®(o)Q000G®

QWHm+\ -L Je'UL u 1 l eKTI P54 * U J0

Micro Power are an official service and information centre, and we are major suppliers to
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.
Our expert staff are always on hand to provide advice and assistance in the relaxed atmosphere
of our showroom.

COMPUTERS

AUTUMN SPECIALS

B.B.C. Micro 4- Cassette Recorder AND
Five Micro Power or selected

Acornsoft Tapes 399.00

B.B.C. Model B plus DFS + 4 tapes 469.00

B.B.C. Model B plus Econet + 4 tapes . . . 446.00
B.B.C. Model B plus DFS and Econet .... 516.00
Acorn Electron + Cassette Recorder OR

Five Micro Power Tapes 199.00

PRINTERS

Epson FX80 416.40

Epson RX80 F/T 268.90

Juki 6100 Daisywheel 415.00

Smith Corona TP- 1 daisywheel 270.20

Cannon PW1 080 332.58

MONITORS

Kaga 12" Green Screen 123.05

Sanyo colour monitor CD3125 . 199.00

Microvitec 14" RGB/ PAL and audio output .... 258.75

Microvitec monitor (plastic) 228.85

Microvitec monitor (metal) 228.85

Microvitec medium resolution monitor 299.00

DISK DRIVES

Pace 40 track 100 K 112.00

Pace 40 track double sided 200K 155.00

Pace 40/80 track double sided 200/400 K .... 175.00

Pace 40 track dual drive 200K 220.00

Pace 40 track double sided dual drive 400 K . . . 295.00
Mitsubishi 40/80 track double sided dual drive

400/800 K 335.00

Torch Z80 Disk Pack 80 track double sided

dual drive (including Perfect software) .... 803.85
AMS HFD 3055 3" 100K 169.00

ALL PRICES INCLUSIVE OF V.A.T.

We provide free fitting for all firmware.

ALL ROADS LEAD TO MICRO POWER!

ACCESSORIES

Acorn B.B.C. cassette recorder (inc. leads) 35.00

Morwood B.B.C. cassette recorder (inc. leads) 29.95

Sureshot self-centering arcade joystick 18.22

Micro Power potentiometer joystick 12.95

Acorn Disk Interface 115.00

Pace Modem 136.85

Commstar ROM 34.00

1.2 ROM upgrade 11.50

Speech synthesiser plus cartridge socket

(Free 1.2 ROM if required) 55.00

View wordprocessor ROM 59.80

Wordwise wordprocessor ROM 45.42

Quickshot II Joystick 12.95

Electron Plus 1 printer/joystick interface .... 59.90
First Byte Electron joystick interface

(including cassette) 24.95

ATPL sideways RAM board 45.00

Teletext adapter (Free 1.2 ROM if req.) 225.00

Softlight EPROM programmer 75.90

Printer cables (parallel or serial) 15.50

3M unlabelled disks (ten) 15.00

Scotch D/S D/D disks (Box of ten) 32.50

Maxell 3" disk 4.95

Disk storage case 19.95

Vinyl dust cover for computers, disk drives,

monitors and printers 4.50

Stack light pen 28.75

Tutor Mate Monitor stands 10.50

Wide selection of computer leads and printer
ribbons in stock.

Showroom: MICRO POWER LTD .
Northwood House, North Street.
Leeds LS7 2AA; Tel (0532) 458800
Mail Order: MICRO POWER LTD .

'Free parking
All pncas correct at
time of going to press

HP facilities available
Please contact us
for further details

Sheepscar House. Sheepscar Street South.

Leeds LS7 1 AD; Tel (0532) 434006

Send an SAE for our complete listing
of hardware, software and books.

for ALL HARDWARE
and DISK DRIVES £5
Books and software only 55 p par order
U.K. Mainland Only

(30000

More than just a joystic

- a system

Voltmac e delta %h~

DELTA 14b HANDSET £14.95

DELTA 14b/1 A/D/USER PORT INTERFACE £14.85
DELTA DRIVER CASSETTE £5.95 or DISC £9.95
Prices include VAT and P&P. SAE for more detailed information.

VOLTMACE LTD
PARK DRIVE
DALDOCK
HERTS
SG7 6EZ

Tel: (0462) 894410

Numerous stockists
nationwide or direct
from us.

Callers welcome at the
factory — Monday to Friday.

Complete control
at your fingertips

A superb joystick and a keypad for the price
of either one. Plus the software to integrate
it into the computer’s system.

One handset will work on it’s own in the A/D port as a
joystick and two fire buttons. Joystick is immediately
compatible with ACORNSOFT and similar software.

The interface joins together the analogue and the user ports
to use the full keypads giving a total of 24 user definable keys.
The interface can also be used as a splitter for the A/D port to
take two items at the same time. e.g. joystick and lightpen.

DELTA DRIVER on cassette or disc: Two programs on each cassette or disc. One converts
machine code programs from the keyboard to the joystick or keypad, with adjustable
sensitivity on the joystick and will run on any OS. The second program (needs OS 1.0 or
later and an interface) duplicates any keyboard keys on the keypads, in the operating
system, so that it can become a numeric keypad or will take on the function keys.

A

A

A

A

A

Nylon encased — Steel shafted joystick
with ball and socket joint.

Fast sprung return to centre.

Graphite wiper linear potentiometers.

12 Months Guarantee.

7 day Money back Guarantee (on Hardware).

The Original

“NEWARK”

TV/RGB Monitor

V) The package:

£249.94 for a remote control 14" TV with a
computer lead — delivered to your door —
including VAT (we even fit a mains plug!)
and carriage.

We have a Large range of Grundig models from
14" to 26" with or without Teletext.

Contact Elaine for an up to date leaflet package.

NEWARK VIDEO CENTRE LTD.

108 London Road, Balderton, Newark, Notts.
0636 71475 to order by Access or Visa
Mon-Sat/9 am — 6pm

FAST REPAIRS FOR THE
BBC MICRO BY

THE ACORN
APPROVED
SERVICE CENTRE

191 FRESTON ROAD
LONDON W10 6TH
PHONE: 01 968 9214

• SPEEDY REPAIRS ON CUMANA/ACORN
DISC DRIVES & MICROVITEC MONITORS

• ALL REPAIRS FULLY GUARANTEED

• EXTENDED WARRANTIES AVAILABLE
ON ALL YOUR EQUIPMENT

• ANY UPGRADE OR MODIFICATION
CARRIED OUT BY EXPERIENCED
ENGINEERS

• BBC COMPATIBLE CUMANA DISC DRIVE
DEALERS

• AUTHORISED ECONET SYSTEM
INSTALLERS AND SUPPLIERS

• VARIOUS ACORN PERIPHERALS ALSO
AVAILABLE FROM MICROFIX

RING 01-968 9214 AND ASK FOR
MARK DUFFILL OR DEREK MULLINGS

Ml

1C

R

O

238

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

MICROMAN
Computers

ACORN SPECIALIST COMPUTER CENTRE

ACORN/BBC COMPUTERS:

Atom Electron

199.00

BBC Model B

399.00

BBC Model B + DFS

469. (X)

Acorn Telecast Receiver

225.00

At om 6502 2nd Processor

199.00

Acorn Z80 2nd Processor

399.(H)

Acorn IEEE Intrrlatr

325.00

Bi (stick

375.00

BBC UPGRADES:

A-B Upgrade Fitted

95.00

DFS Interface Fitted

POA

Speech Svnthrsi/.rr Fitted

i 55.00

Opus D D DFS

129.95

supports second processors

PRINTERS:

Epson RN80FT

29500

Epson I N 100

574.95

Star Gemini I0X

268.00

Siar Della 10

385.00

Cannon PW-1080A

330.00

Shin w a GP80

220.00

Juki Daisywheel Printer

399. (X)

TORCH COMPUTERS:

Z80 Disc Pa. k

799.00

7.80 2nd Processor Card

339.00

BBC FIRMWARE:

Word wise ROM
Yiewshert ROM
B-Base Database* Disc
Ultracalc ROM
Computer Concepts I'rom
Tools! a r ROM
Commstar EPROM
BCPE ROM
Sidewise ROM
Solidisc 32 K Sideways
Solidis( 96K Extrusion
Solidisc I2HK Sideways
Aries B*20 Board
Aries B12 Board
Aries Board Complete
Gemini Dulagem R( )M
System ADF. ROM

A

44.85

59.80

25.00
74.75
33.35

34.00

34.00
99.65
44.70

57.95

92.00

149.95
79.95

46.00

115.00

129.00

60.00

MODEMS:

Nightingale

Telernod

159.85

POA

MONITORS:

Decca RGB Standard 228.85

Microvitee Cub Standard 228.85
Zenith Green 109.25

Decca TV* Monitor 265.00

DISC DRIVES FULL RANGE:

Pace. ( aunana, Opus
New Prices
c.g. PSDI 100K40
e g PSD3 400K40/80

119.95

199.00

BUSINESS SOFT WARE

Microsirnplrx, Sage, Gemini. ORM Beta tompael

Now in stink. Solidisk Dl)FS £39.95
Full range of Solidisk products and lilting service.

ACORN APPROVED SERVICE CENTRE
Our workshop oilers a comprehensive service including
Repairs and Upgrades by our own engineers. E-net dealer
EDUCATIONAL ENQUIRIES WEI.( OME

I Ul priccs indude VAT, Post & P.u king ( '•

Earge items £ 1 Small items ROM’s etc
RAINFORD INDUSTRIAL ESTATE. MILE LANE.
RAIN FORD. SI HELENS. MERSEYSIDE

PHONE 074488 5242

FREE BALL!

with’YOUR TEAM'

a Bobby Charlton
Leather Match Ball
worth £6.99

Yes, absolutely free for a limited period, with every copy of the
program "Your Team a real leather Match Ball autographed by Bobby
Charlton (R.R.P. £6.99) "Your Team" is a database program to record
and analyse your favourite teams match results scores, attendances.

statistics etc. All recorded in your clubs colours. Football league.
Scottish league or your own team school or club can be kept season
after season

Available for Spectrum BBC. Electron, CBM 64 £9.95 plus £1.00

P&P. Order today enclosing cheques/P. 0. Access/Visa To

Bee Sports, Dept EU, Bee House, Highlands Ave, Northampton.
^ Tel: 0604 499 246

COMSOFT

(BBC SOFTWARE LIBRARY)

Why buy programs when you can hire at a fraction of the
cost — join the BBC Software Library
★★ LARGE VARIED SELECTION OF SOFTWARE *★
★★ EXPANDING CATALOGUE ★★

*★ HIRE RATES FROM £1 PER FORTNIGHT ★★

★★ SOFTWARE SALES AT BIG DISCOUNTS ★*

WE OFFER A FAST, QUALITY SERVICE AT COMPETI-
TIVE RATES

Only £6 life membership inc first program free.

Send chequc/PO for £6 payable to Comsoft or send stamp for
catalogue.

COMSOFT, 16 MARTLAND CRES,

BEECH Hil l., WIGAN, LANCS.

Tel: 0942 47574

Southfield House, 11 Liverpool Gardens, Worthing, Sussex BN 11 1RY
Telephone: Worthing (0903) 213174

COMPUTERS

BBC Model B

£399.00

BBC Model B Disc Interface

£469.00

BBC Model B Econet

£446.00

BBC Model B Econet & Disc

£516.00

Acorn Electron

£199.00

DISC DRIVES

TEC Single Sided 100K

£124.95

TEC Single Sided 200K 40/80

£149.95

TEC Double Sided 400K 40/80

£189.95

TEC Dual Double Sided 800K 40/80

£379.90

PRINTERS

Epson P-40 Thermal 40 Col

£99.95

Brother HR5 Thermal 80 Col

£159.95

Admate ADM-80 F/T 80cps

£225.00

Epson RX80 F/T lOOcps

£279.95

Kaga Taxan KP810 160cps & NLQ

£299.95

Juki 6100 Daisywheel

£379.00

MONITORS

Phillips 12" TP200 Green Mono

£75.00

Microvitee 14" Colour Std.Res.

£209.95

Sanyo 14" Colour Std.Res.

£199.00

Sanyo 14" Colour Med. Res.

£324.95

Sanyo 14" Colour Hi. Res.

£459.95

ITT 14" TV/Monitor

£239.00

ACORN ADD-ONS

6502 2nd Processor £199.00

Z80 2nd Processor — Software £399.00

Teletext Adaptor £225.00

Acorn Bitstik £375.00

Acorn IEEE 488 Interface £325.00

Acorn DFS Upgrade kit £99.00

SOFTWARE

Acorn Word Processor View £59.00

Acorn Spreadsheet Viewsheet £59.00

Starbase Database £69.00

Wordwise £46.00

Disc Doctor £33.35

Mass Macro Assembler £35.00

Workstation VT52

and Tek 4010 Emulation Rom £46.00

Communicator VT100 Emulation Rom £69.00

VISA

All Prices Include VAT and Delivery - No Extra Charges -
Send cheque to above address or phone to use your
Barclaycard. Quantity and Education Discounts Given
Phone for a Quotation

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

239

A J SOFTWARE!
for BBC

The Record Changer'

32K £19.95 Cass. £24.95 Disc.

for indexing, membership lists, directories, inventories,
budgeting, etc, etc.

don't buy a database in the dark-
check the spec!

'The Wordsmith' 32K for Centronics 737/739
AND NOW FOR EPSON FX80:

£19.95 Cass. £24.95 Disc.

Options Timetable 32K
£14.95 Cass. £19.95 Disc.

Simple Word Processor 32K
£9.95 Cass. £14.95 Disc.

Picture Maths
£9.95 Cass. £12.95 Disc.

An arithmetic practice program for primary schools.

Character Definer £9.95 Cass.

Enlarge, reduce, etc, etc.

Tape Catalogue £5.95 Cass.

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

£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
£5.95 Cass. £7.95 Disc.

Open Evening Timetable 32K
£14.95 Cass. £19.95 Disc.

Utility Eprom £19.95

for basic programmers

Mitsubishi Disc Drives
Dual 80 Track 800K £380 + VAT

Single Track Drives
Dual Sided 200K £199 + VAT

Double Density Disc Interface £85 + VAT

The best there is.

Epson Printers
FX80 £370 + VAT
RX80 £270 + VAT
BBC Epson Cable £15 + VAT

£8.00 Carr

Normende

Not only the cheapest, but the best

Switchable 14" RGB Monitor/Colour TV £250 inc. VAT and
cable, £8.00 carr.

Royalties for quality software

All prices VAT inclusive except where shown

AJ Vision Service Ltd, 43 The Drive
Loughton, Essex 1 G10 1 HB

WHY LOGO?

is a free 16- page booklet

published by LOGO Software Ltd to introduce

their new full LOGO for the BBC Micro.

CONTENTS • The history of LOGO • LOGO'S
conceptual framework • LOGO questions
and answers • LOGO in quotes • LOGO in
action • LOGO from LSL • LOGO at a
glance • LOGO access

To get your free copy of Why LOGO? please fill in
the coupon below and send it to: LOGO Software
Ltd, FREEPOST, Twickenham, Middlesex TW1 1BR.

Please send me . copies of Why LOGO? I am interested in

LOGO because I am

□ a teacher □ a parent □ other (please specify)

NAME

ADDRESS

If you have a professional interest in LOGO, please give the name of
your Local Education Authority:

I I

ACORN USER BIBLIOGRAPHY £7.95 '

"A superb database.. ..this is outstanding value" -

, MUSE

A major source of reference material

tremendous possibilities valuable asset" —

Educational Computing

Tired of spending hours searching your back issues for
those hints and tips on Wordwise? Sick of thumbing
endless dog-eared pages for that article on animation?
You know its there somewhere — but where? Does
tracking down a program remind you of an adventure
game?

Why waste precious time searching? Let your BBC Micro
do the work! Use the Acorn User Bibliography.

This disc database (90K) contains over a thousand refer-
ences from 22 editions of Acorn User (July 1982 — May
1984). It contains EVERY BBC Micro reference — articles;
games, educational and utility listings; hardware, software,
firmware, book and peripheral reviews; hints, tips, advice
and corrections; it even includes EVERY news item and
reader's letter!

The utility contains a search option for 1 or 2 strings,
completing the task in less than 48 seconds. Choose any
subject or keyword; the Bibliography gives you the title,
description, issue and page of every occasion when it was
written about. You can view the whole Bibliography, a
section, or generate hard copy.

Don't waste time! Use the Acorn User Bibliography to
tap the full power of your back issues, for only £7 35.
Please specify 40 or 80 track when ordering. OR send a
large S.A.E. for full details of our comprehensive database
covering ALL leading magazines.

McHugh Enterprises, 43 Hookstone Oval,
Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG2 8QE.

240

ACORN USER DECEMBER 1984

I

We’ve been inundated with Free Ads — more than twice as many as we can
carry. This has led to delays in publication and disappointment for readers. The
Free Ads are carried in the magazine as space permits, so please allow up to
three months for yours to appear.

Acorn User has been alerted
to the abuse of the free ad
service and, regrettably, can
no longer accept entries sell-
ing or swapping software.

ACORN Atom 12k + 16k. Program
Power Toolbox. Magic book and
many programs. Recent overhaul
by Acorn. Excellent condition,
£110 ono. or swap for BBC equip-
ment. Tel: Wellingborough (0933)
55076 evenings.

WANTED Atom disc pack or help!
16k RAM card (Timedata). also
software. Eurocards and
EPROMs. Lisp manual. Has any-
one got a version of Pascal? Tel:
Mark on (0843) 582132.

FOR SALE BBC B OS1.2. Techno-
matic twin 800k drives. Kaga
colour monitor, cassette recorder.
Prism 2000 modem, software and
books. £1050. Tel: 01-568 6952
evenings or 01-486 9527 day.

ACORN Teletext adaptor unit.
Complete with TFS ROM. Save
£50 on list price. £175. Write or
phone: Alan Salisbury. 28 Dyke
Street. Brymbo. Wrexham. Clwyd,
N. Wales. LL11 5AH. Tel: Wrex-
ham (0978) 759732.

YOUR COMPUTER. Complete set
for sale. Forty issues. Offers? Tel:
Alan. 0642 314445. 54 Church
Lane. Ormesby, Middlesbrough.
Cleveland.

JOYSTICK. Voltmace joystick,
interface and software. Never
used gift, still boxed. A superb
professional joystick and keypad,
ideal for games. Only £20. worth
£36. Tel: Martin on 0753 653921
(Slough) after 5 pm.

CUMANA disc drive for sale. Twin
single sided 80 track. Own power
supply and lead, including
manual and formatting disc, £260.
Tel: 01-428 1117 (daytime).

BBC computer model B 1.20S
including Wordwise, Beebcalc
and toolkit installed in ROM. Plus
Forth, Welcome & Graphs &
Graphic, etc on cassettes. £359
ono. Bedford (0234) 67067 even-
ings and weekends.

STAR DP8480. Bidirectional, logic
seeking, all print-faces, F/T fed
printer, +2000 sheets paper.
+ lead. 2 months old, genuine
reason for sale, therefore only
£210 inc. View w/processor. Tel:
Ric on (0442) 56007 after 6 pm.

WANTED. Air traffic control pro-
gram for BBC B. Tel: Ripley
(Derbys) 46653.

ATOM for sale. Fully expanded;
64k DRAM, FP ROM, colour, VIA,
etc. Books, software. PSU. Offers.
Chris Lewis. Flat 24D St. Chad’s,
48 Grange Road, Cambridge.

ACORN joystick -suitable for
BBC. Never used, brand new,
bargain at only £5. Tel: Whitley
Bay (0632) 533169.

WANTED Atom technical manual,
also software and hardware. Any-
thing interesting considered. Tel:
Sandy on Cardiff 619092 after 6
pm on weekdays.

BBC B Acorn DFS. 100k disc
drive. Epson MX100 132 column
printer. EPROM programmer and
eraser. Wordwise. Discs,
manuals, books and software.
Worth £1400+, sell £850 ono or
split. Tel: Tyneside 284 3677 even-
ings.

DUAL disc drive for BBC, 40 track,
hardly used, £270. Also Gemini
Accounts package including Cash
Book, Final Accounts Mail List
and Easiledger, £70. Tel: Pulbor-
ough (W Sussex) 2596.

EPROMs 27 128/ 16k unused, only
£15 each. S. N. Baker, 3 Small-
wood Road, Baglan, Port Talbot,
South Wales SA12 8AP.

BBC B 1.20S plus disc interface
tape recorder, Teletext receiver,
Prestel acoustic modem, soft-
ware, leads, books, magazines:
all for £550 ono. Tel: 0462-59335
(daytime 0462-51114). Hitchin,
Herts.

BBC B 1.20S, Decca colour moni-
tor, BBC cassette recorder. All 7
months old. Leads, plugs, pro-
grams, books, magazines, hardly
used. No time. £500. Hughes, 1
Beechwood House. Bartley, near
Southampton. Tel: 812107.

ELECTRON books. Assembly
language Programming on the
Electron, Ferguson & Shaw £6.
The Electron Book, McGregor &
Watt £6. Programming the 6502,
Zaks £8. Tel: (0792) 202187 (Swan-
sea).

ATARI 400 worth £600, includes
joystick, recorder and lots of
games and basic language and
free VCS and 2 cartridges, all
going for £240. A bargain! Tel:
021-556 1566/021-502 5917.

CUMANA double disc, single side,
little used, £325 includes postage.
Churcher, 10 Park Avenue. East-
bourne. East Sussex BN22 9RN.
Tel: 53822.

HOBBIT floppy tape system. Zero
memory option. Fourteen tapes.
£100 ono. Tel: Thame (084 421)
3956.

EARLY copies of computer maga-
zines for sale in perfect condition.
Some bound. SAE for list. Burton,
37 Green Road, Southsea, Hants.
Tel: (0705) 811760.

ATOM 12k + 12k, FP ROM. Pro-
grammers toolbox, PSU. manuals,
magic book, software etc, £80
ono. Tel: Hughes 0707 42879.

PRINTER MX80T-III only 12
months old, hardly used, immacu-
late condition with BBC (Centro-
nics) lead, 2,000 sheets of paper
and tape of screen dumps, only
£270 or offers. Tel: (0509) 506701
after 6 pm.

WANTED. Atom owners in and
around the Swindon area. Don’t
feel neglected by our BBC breth-
ren. Contact Andy, Swindon
(0793) 39736.

RH Electronics lightpen. £25.
Acornsoft Forth on disc plus book
£15. Both excellent condition. Tel:
(0367)21631 after 6 pm.

WATFORD Electronics 13 ROM
expansion board for BBC £20
ono. Tel: St Albans (0727) 53946
after 5.30 pm.

TRS-80 model 1 level 2 16k Excel-
lent condition with monitor,
cassette recorder, sound ampli-
fier, all manuals and leads,
including £300 software and
magazines. £299. Contact, S.
McMath. 20 Lowergate Road.
Huncoat, Accrington, Lancashire,
or Tel: (0254) 392316.