Commodore World Issue 02

key to PASTE it to Ihe Hi-Res screen. The dog should

havefiidcered and a faint ding sounded to lei you knowit was paMed. Press the cursor keys again to see two dogs. One is your cursor, while the oilier is part of the Hi-Res screen. Lelsaikl Mime lexlloour screen. Press the

key. You are now in TEXT MODE. Your text cursor is now a small square box 8 pixels by 8 pixels. Use the cursor keys to see it move around.

For fan type your name on the screen. You have five TEXT UUrTERS to choose from while In the CREATOR SECTION ofFGM. Press and hold the

Kansas City, MO 64111

Florida

Emmaus, PA 18049

1932S.MenloAve.

Port Orange, FL 32127

Texas Hawaii

Commodore Houston User's Group

Commodore Hawaii User's Group

PO Box 441252

c/o M.N.Daniels

Houston, TX 77244-1252

46-329 Kumoo Loop

Kaneohe.Hl 96744-3532

Correspondence Groups

Illinois

Last issue we incorrectly listed the group below as an Illinois group; it is in fact a

Champaign-Urbana C.U.G. 2010 W. William

correspondence group made up of users that keep in touch via mail. There has also

Champaign, IL 61821

been a change in their address.

Indiana

c/o Francis Redmond

Meeting 64/128 Users Thru the Mail

key and press the < L> key. Now type

Midwest Computer Users Group

Route 7, Box 7614

something. Therextis different. Usefhe keyalongwithtliekeysfortbenumbersl through

P.O. Ilox9311

Palestine, TX 75801

5 to select any of the five TEXT BUFFERS. To escape from any MODE, press the key. Il will track back to the MAIN

MENU.

Highland, IN 46322

Attention User Groups! Send us your groups name, contact person's name and phone number, when and where you meet, number of users, and an address where users can write to you. Send your info to:

Next month I will explain TEXT and

CW UG Connection

GRAPHICS MODES in more detaU. And how to ioad your own graphics and text into FGM.

c/o Creative Micro Designs, Inc. P.O. Box646

■JenyFreadman Volume 1, Numbers

East longmeadow, MA 01028-064/i

12

Commodore World

STOP THE

PRESS!

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Volume 1, Number 2

13

Dabs.TX 75357 2H 4S0 0765 Al Rghts

Commodore World

Top Tips I ROM OUR RLADCRS AND STAFF

24-Pin Printing

RUN Paint Mouse Fix

In our Premier issue of Commodore World, our

A few weeks ago we got a call from a user asking

feature article on Printers & Interfaces bad a slion program that helped adBptnewer24pin printers to sane olderC-64/128software. This suggestion

if the new CMD SmartMome would have the

prompted a letter from Mr. Arthur Herbig of

experienced mouse problems with RUN I'niiil,

same problem that the Japanese version ol the 1351 had with RUN PainL While we loo had

Denvood, Maryland who attempted to use the

we had no ideawhat this had to do with aJapanese

program with Printshop and his Panasonic

version of the mouse. The caller directed us to a

KXP-1123 24-pin printer, in his letter, he stales

tip published in the November 1989 issue of

that our program didn't work, and his document

RUN, in the Mail Run column. Sure enough, here

continued to prim elongated. I lowever, another

they staled thai it was a "Japanese-made version

program which %v;is offered in loadstar «J05

of the 1351 mouse" that caused the RUN Pain!

worked fine for him. The two programs are listed

pointer to jump around on the screen.

below; the first is ours, thesecondtefiamLoadslor.

After looking into this problem, we discovered

that the problem had nothing at all to do with the Program 1:

Wells, the renowned printer expert who gave us

version of the mouse; the true problem lies in

OPEN4,4

the tip, we will probably shed some more light on

RUN Pain! itself, which fails to provide a proper

PHINT#4,CHRS(27);CHR$<65);CHR$(8I

the subject. So in the mean time, try both

delay after switching the internal POT registers

PRINT#4,CHRS(27);CHR$(50);

programs and use the one thai best suits your

to read joystick port 2. The program below will

CLOSE4

particular application.

correct the problem without affecting any other

Laser PrintShop

on a (i4 using a backup copy of RUN Paint.

functions oftheprogram. Run this patch program Program 2: OPEN4,4

Here is a tip from Robert Keeves of Windier. CA,

PHINT#4,CHR$(27} t" 3 " -fCHRS (21 ) ;

for those of you who might be using an Epson

CLOSE4

Action Laser printer. It you are trying to print

signs in Printshop and are having trouble with

Okay, so why does one program work with

the sign getting split into two pages, Robert

Printshop on a 24-pin primer while the other

suggests using 8.5"xl
program does notJThere are a couple ofpossible

change the paper size to legal on the printer.

reasons, l-irst. there is the difference in the way that the two programs try to accomplish the task.

Also, if you are using Paperclip III with this

452A

10

A=A+1:IFA=1THENLOAD"O

B. RP",8,1

1AE7

20

POKE5830, 146

D006

30

OPEN15,8, 15,"SO: OB.RP

4BC7

40

" ; CLOSE15

POKE45,PEEK(174)

:POKE

46 ,PEEK(175) :POKE4 3 ,0:PO KE44,17:SAVE 'OB.RP" .a D21S

50

POKS43,1; POKE44, 8: NEW

printer, change the page length from fifi to 62.

The Commodore World program uses an Escape "A" followed by an Escape "2" to set the line Spacing to Hn ofan inch. The Loadstar program

TOP TIPS Needs Your Input!

uses an Escape "3" to adjust line spacing w2Vik ofan inch.

It is our understanding that there have been a

couple of different revisions of the Printshop printer drivers, which may explain why one

adjustment works but the other does not. We feel that both drivers ore going to be useful with

Each issue we'll print the very best tips we receive from our readers. One of these will also be

chosen as the top tip of the issue, and the contributor will receive a special bonus from Commodore World. Sendusyourtipson using and programming your Commodore 64 or 128,

and you may just be the one to get honored as the contributor ofCommodore World's Top Tip! Send your tips to:

different programs. One will probably work with

CWTopTips

certain programs while the otherwfflwoEk with a

c/o Creative Micro Designs, Inc.

different set of programs.

P.O. Box 646

We plan on looking into this issue further, and

East Longmeadow, MA 01028-0646

as soon as we gel a chance to speak with George

Volume 1, Number 2

14

Commodore World

Q: What do all of these drives

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Volume f, Number2

15

Commodore World

Just For Starters by Steve Va*id&i Ank

FOR USERS JUST GETTING STARTED IN COMMODORE COMPUTING

Last issue I started offthis column by saying thai

you that the computer doesn't understand what

my computer talks ;i lot. But then I proceeded Eo

you just told it to do.

spend most of my allotted word count talking

I think it's fairly safe to assume that you won't

about how von, the user, talks to the computer.

usually be trying to type commands like

I diil ihai on purpose, since talking to the computer by means oftyping on the keyboardis one ofthe very &st things you'll do once you gel

operating system need such an error message'/

everything plugged in and powered tip. ('lake;i

type commands; the most common reason for a

look at the sidebar accompanying ihK column

"SYNTAX ERROR" is a typing mistake, like

for more Information aboutgetting the cables all

entering LOAF instead ol LOAD. Then, instead

hooked up correctly.)

of cheerfully loading your program as you would

"QWERTY" Intoyour computer. So why does the Youll understand thatwell enough the more you

But now that you've started typing commands

expect, your computer will just sit there. That's

into the computer using thai built-in computer

when my third graders will come looking lor me.

language tailed basic,you'll need to knowmore

That's when you can look al the screen and see

about how the computer talks back to you. As I

that your computer is telling you with an error

mentioned last month, the Commodore tells you

You. of course, won't be able to use the same

riaht off the bai that it's ready to gel started by

strategy thai my third graders use; you won 1 be

You might wonder why the computer can't

saying "READY" and Hashing its cursor. That's a

able lo "go gel Mr. Vander Ark." You can,

just say "I'm sorry, I didn't understand thai last

handy thing lo know, virtually: if w Marled thi'

however, learn lor yourself how lo understand

message."Asa matter of fact, there's no particular

computer and it didn't say "READY", we'd have

what the computer says when it isn't acting the

reason why it can't. The phrases the computer

to figure out what was keeping it so busy thai it

way you expect.

uses are stored verbatim somewhere inside in its

couldn't stop to talk to us.

message what the trouble is.

The folks who designed the Commodore 64

memory and ifyouknowhow to programyou can

Now I teach a class of third graders for whom

and 128 knew that you and i would often need

actually change them to say whatever you want.)

computers are as natural as recycling bills and

information about what was going on with our

can only suppose that the original designers used

roller blades. But when one of our computers

machines, so they included a set of "error

fancy, technical terms like SYNTAX ERROR to

starts doinj; something ihey don't expect, like no!

messages" into the operating system (that's the

save memory space, since every character of the

saying it's "READY* whenitshouldornotloading

built-in set of routines and commands that run

message has to be stored. The trend nowadays,

a program, they get frustrated. All of a sudden,

theshow.asyou might recall). Error messages are

however, is to make error messages a lot more

that familiar old machine in the corner has

one ofthemost obvious ways the computerhas to

informative and helpful, since most computers

become a blithering Idiot. Some of them will try

tell you what's happening To see an example, try

have a lot more memory to play with than the (S4

one or two quick fixes [hey have seen me use

typing "QWERTY" at the cursor and hitting

and 128 have.

before, butusually theyjust stand back andfrown

RETURN. After a brief moment, you'll see the

There are other error messages you mighi

and holler, "Ciogel Mr. Vander Ark!" They know.

words "SYNTAX HRROR" on the screen. That is

encounter as you work with your computer.

you see, that I understand what the computer is

your computer's way of telling you that it has no

Another one you will see is "OUT OP DATA

saying and that I know how to tell il to gel back to

idea what "QWliRTY" means. The words

ERROR," which sounds pretty alarming. Chances

work.

"SYNTAX ERROR" are an error message, telling

are, that means lhal you've just accidentally

Volume 1, Number2

IT,

Commodore World

Ie we started the computer and it didn't say "READY hax/ee to

77

w

D

figure out what was

keeping

it so busy that it

couldn't stop to talk to us."

Making All the Right Connections What's the first thing anyone does

cables.

with a computer? You got it; they plug

components (with the power off to the

that there are two identical ports oils to chosefrom.lt makes no difference which

it in. Now that can be a daunting task

power strip) and arrange things so that

one you use; the other can be used to

for a

user,

you can reach everything easily. If you

run another cable on to another disk

especially if they bought the computer

want to be able to turn the whole system

drive if you have one. Commodore

first-time

computer

Plug

in

each

of

these

used, without a manual. So here's a

on at once with a switch on the power

printers aiso can be connected to your

quick run through of what you need to

strip, make sure that switch is going to

system this way, into the extra port on

do to get your Commodore computer

be accessible as well.

the back of the last disk drive in the line.

plugged in and ready to run:

At this point, you have a whole bunch

Running drives linked together like this

First of all, you'll want to make sure

of separate pieces with no way for them

that the place you've selected for your

totaiktoeach other. Let's hook them up

If you don't have a Commodore or

computer has enough grounded outlets

one at a time, starting with the monitor.

Commodore-ready printer, you will need

(the ones with three holes). A very

IfyouhaveaCommodore monitor, there

some kind of an interface to connect

handy way to

of this

are several ways that you might need to

your computer to it. For a discussion of

requirement is to use a power strip with

hook it up, depending on the screen

printers and connection options, check

a built-in surge protector. Using a power

modesof which your system is capable.

out the article in last month's issue of

strip is more than just convenient,

On the back of your computer you'li find

Commodore World.

however. It'scommon sense. That surge

several places, often called ports, where

Otherdevices, such as modems, RAM

protector will can prevent a lot of

you can plug in different sizes and

devices, cartridges, and so on also need

problems and repairs down the road.

shapes of cables. The small round one

to be attached to your system before

Since Commodore equipment is scarce

will let you connect your 64 or 128 to a

you power up. Check the documentation

and knowledgeable repair personnel

monitor or to a television set by way of

for each device to find out how it should

scarcer still, the surge protector can

a TV/COMPUTER switch box. There

be installed.

mean the life or death of your system.

aretwo larger round ports, one of which

There has been a friendly debate

You'll also want to find a place well

is for a video cable and the other for

running for years in the Commodore

ventilated and relatively free of dust. A

your disk drive. Make sure you don't

community about the bestorder in which

phone line is essential if you plan to do anything on line (with a modem, that is,

force a cable into one of these ports;

to start

that cable might actually be intended

components.

like on the Internet or GEnie).

for the other port. The 128 also includes

convinced that the drives and monitor should beturned on before the computer

take care

is called "daisy-chaining."

up your system's various

Some

people

are

Once you have a place selected, you

a vaguely rectangular port which hooks

can begin hooking things up. The

the computer up to an 80-column

itself; others are just as certain that it's

computer unit itself has a power pack,

monitor.

the other way around. I personally just

one end of which plugs into the wall and

Once you've determined how to hook

hit the switch on my power strip and kick

the other into your computer. It's a good

up the monitor, the rest is easy. Your

everything on at once. One thing to

idea to keep this power pack away from

disk drive connects to the computer

remember: never switch on a 64 and

the rest of your equipment, since it

using the other round port and that

1541 with a disk in the drive.

could

cause

rather thick cable with the large round

interference in the monitor. The monitor,

plug on either end. You'll notice when

disk drives, and printer also have power

you look at the back of the disk drive

damage

Volume 1, Number2

disks

and

17

-SVA

Commodore World

moved the cursor over the word READY before

you try to load a program. The manual defines

ift hat fails,you'lljust have to switchthe computer

you hit RETURN. The cursor is under your

this as follows: "The required I/O device was not

off and back on again to clear things up.

control, you .see. using the arrow keys, and ifyou

available for an OPEN, CLOSE, CMD. PRINT*,

As longas the disk drive's error light is blinking,

move il onto 8 word that's already on the screen

INPUT*, or GET#". That may be true, of course,

though, an error message is being saved in a

and press KliTLIRN, tin' computer will assume

but whal il really means for you is that you

special spot in ihe drive's memory for you to

youjust entered that word asacomrnand. That's

probably didn't turn on your disk drive and so

check if you want. With ihe BASIC thai comes

very helpful if you waul to, say, give the same

the computercan'tfindit...thedevice you wanted,

built into a 128. this is a fairly simple task: you

command twice orifyoujust received a SYNTAX

the disk drive, is apparently not present.

type PRINT DSS and the message shows up on

ERROR and you want to fix your typing. Hut if

ft would begreat ifthere were an error message

your screen. On the (>4, thought, things are a lot

you hit RETURN when the cursor is on the same

on the screen every lime something went wrong,

tougher. Here's the sequence you need to lype in:

line as some other word, the computer will

but unfortunately this isn't the way il works. A lot

probably not knowwhatyoumean; the resultwill

of the errors you'll encounter as you try to load

I0OPEN 15,H.l.r>

be a SYNTAX ERROR. An exception is READY,

and run programs will actually nol be compulcr

2M INl'I T *15,EN,EMlSr,ES <11K I'IJRN>

and here's why: the word READ is actually a

problems but diskdriveproblems. The diskdrive

M PRINT |:N,!-:MS,ET.ES

command in BASIC, so the computer tries to

has its own set of error messages, but they don't

40 CLOSE 15

READ when you tell it to, and since the READ is

appear on the screen automatically. Instead.

there's a little light on the drive thatjust blinks on and offas away ofsaying, "Hey, something went and if tries to tell you so by saying that it's out of

so you have to obeyall the rules and type things in

data.

followed by aV.il tries to "HEADY". It can't do it

Remember, this is in the computer's language,

wrong!" Then il's up toyou to type a command to

exactly as you see it here. When you have typed

There is a list in the manual that Game with

ask the drive what the problem is. Sometimes.

this all in, type RUN and press to

your computer of all the error messages the

though, a drive problem willmake yourcomputer

execute all the commands in order. 'Ihe result

Commodore uses.

some

sort of freeze up, which means you won't see a

will be a lisiiug of all the error information on the

explanations for what the errors mean as well, so

cursor to type in anything. II you don't see a

screen.

it's handy to have around. Unfortunately, the

cursor, your computer is stuck trying to talk to

The disk drive is one of the most important

writers of the manual aren't always very good at

your disk drive but the drive is not answering.

devices that you attach to your 64 or 128, so next

putting things into plain language, which is

You can manually tell your computer to give up

month we'll continue this discussion from here,

probably why most people don't read manuals if

the attempt by pressing Ihe RUN/STOP key; if

talking about various types ofdrives and how you

they can help it. For example, you might see the

that doesn't work, you can press RUN/STOP and

use them. In the meantime, have fun with your

error message "DEVICE NOT PRESENT" when

RESTORE attliesametimeto reset the computer.

Commodore!

That list gives

Commodore Trivia Reprintedfrom Commodore Triv si an Ihe Interne!, courtesy ofJim Brain, Brain Innovations.

Questions Souo

Commodore started out into computing

$002

wiih the PET scries of computers. What

did the letters P.E.T. stand for?

$(i()l

How much BASIC free memory does a

$003

What early fill's Commodore software

company had a Lighl Hull) as a company

successors to the popular Commodore

logo?

intended to be business machines. What

were these twoniachinesoriginally called, and what were ihe differences between

$004

$007 $0118

What was the model number of the disk

Commodore introduced 3 printers that used the same printer mechanism. What are ilic model numbers?

What was the mode! number of Ihe cassette device used with the VIC-20?

the two?

Whal was the mode! number of the lfi K RAM expander used with the VIC-20?

drive used with the VIC-20?

$00fi

What was the model number of the printer used with the VIC-20?

Commodoreplanned to manufacture two 64 home compuler, and boih were

$006

VIC-20 have (unexpanded??

$01)9

What is the difference between the printers in question $0087

Answers srqj, [Sjjad/M ladadjo tflpJAi nm iub

log il a.iuis' ■(■(){; sin inoqi: sjouj ipmu

iiS'8 I'l"1101!! 3uoamos V

MODI] MrtatJ Aiqeqojd ]\^\\ TWH J°

u$'l asn A|uo pjno.i ■uoiiKDiunumio.isuii

SdW fiOOS i; tS'dW

HOOS

IIUOIA

i00$

A''I

'Wi*

'STS1

3IA 900$

OESIOIA

500$

pasnoq ieqi bses ajXis f snu isSjb] e "sSujm j.)i(io§uouu: q.iii|.u 'fgg ai| j

i in -3(1!) siiii

■JO1B|SURJ.[_

UMopmonsipujM'gssiailJ/Cqua^Eiaao

■s^jojv\^ji,m|;is,i[,<>]<;

tOOi

pua p3]iiE|ddns A|i|3!nb SBAl jo]uud

DlS'Vi!J0.ll'\IVU!os'1'i^tltHSK!'l'Ll XA^'li

600$'

Volume 1, Number 2

'sn|d -H[i oiiii

18

Commodore World

What Lies Ahead for

Commodore?

Viewers who tuned into CNN on llie evening of

company, and still maintained a positivesttitude

previous years. CD32. their Segti/NI-S weapon,

April 29, L994, or the Suiiclay Morning edition of

about Commodore. She offered her candid

was not going lo lie ready in time for the '93

NliC's Today show two days later saw and heard

opinion of Commodore—describing it as a

Christmas season. Worse yet, the board of

the news about Commodore. A brief, tersely

wonderful place to work, with unabashed love

directors ceased all communications with

worded announcement to the Associated Press

for her job.

outsiders and no contingency plans were

after the dose of the Mock market on April 29th

There's nothing particularly unique about her

bore the bad news: Commodore was liquidating,

statement, as most former Commodore

Commodore's $350 million faux pas barely

In Dickens' era, [Debtor's I'rison would have

employees echo similar sentiments. Nearly every

won them a couple of paragraphs in the Wall

announced outlining a road lo recovery.

stepped in long before Commodore's financial

former employee agrees that it was the best job

whlzs accumulated their enormous $350 million

they ever held, and continue to maintain close

debt, especially with quarterly earnings of only

Street Journal. Apple easily overshadowed them with one billion dollar losses, and IBM's $8 billion

contract with their lormer fellow employees—a

in severance and restructuring costs over 18

$70-odd million to offset the heavy loss.

true rarity in the computer industry. The talent

monlhs made Commodore's $350 million debt

pool at Co m m odore wa s s u rely s o m e t h i i i g spec ia 1.

hardly newsworthy by comparison.

At long lust, thai samecompany that designed, engineered and built your beloved C-tvl/C-128 publicly announced it's on the verge of going

What Went Wrong?

A Look Ahead...

belly-up. Not that it matters a whole lot—alter

Surely, those of us close to the source saw this

There is a silver lining to all lliis bad news. Tor

all, they all but totally ceased to recognize their

coming long before it arrived. Foraran-down of

starters, don't worry about the Commodore

record-breaking 8-bit product line when Reagan

events, I'll go back a few years to the early '90's.

machines going away. Too many third-party

was still President. Thank the third-party

when my calendar was always filled with marks

developers are interested in the technology to let

developers instead for keeping those 8-bitS alive

denotingCommodorc events. There were always

it die. A Commodore Shareholders' Movement

long after Commodore gave them the lieave-ho.

the exciting CES (Consumer Electronic Shows),

could still have an impact. There's no reason not

That sense of abandonment so familiar to

the World ofCommodore &i\d Ami-Expo shows in

Commodore R-billers is but one of the reasons they re theCommodore enthusiastsleast affected

to expect multiple, non-exclusive licensing of the

Chicago, New York, Pasadena, Toronto, ami the

technology. In layman's terms, this means you

occasional forays lo San Francisco and L.A. We

may see everything from C-(M clones lo Amigas

by the liquidation announcement.

were always making plans, attending special

on a card in the near future. Which isn't to imply

events, talking to with numerous Commodore

your C-(i4s and C-128s aren't in good shape

A Look Back...

executives. The company was going places fast,

anyway, thanks efforts by ibird-parties.

The primary reason for Commodore's downfall

with the strong leadership of computer

Other good news is that Commodore isn't

isclearly their poor marketing uYtisions, or, more

management whiz i larry Coppennan, followed

liquidating in its entirety. Viewed as valuable

accurately, a lackofunderstanding the dynamics

by Jim Dionne—long-time CUM President and

assets

ofmarketing.Theboardofdirectorshiddenaway

General Manager—the future looked bright.

income-producing Commodore divisions in

in

the

liquidation

process,

in New York City and theBahamas should not be

Commodore rapidly developed some of the

Canada, the UK, and Germany look like they'll

confused with Commodore Business Machines

greatest technology of its time. Thai was clearly

continue as on-going concerns. Ceiling parts for

in West Chester, Pennsylvania, which performed

evident at the Chicago CES in 1991. With one of

your Commodore computer may actually become

adinirahlv.il a company isasumofits employees,

the largest booths on ihe floor, Commodore

Commodore was perhaps one of the best

easier in the future.

packed their display with multiple third-parly

The constraints of professional etiquette

computer companies anywhere, one that

developers o( CDTV titles. Those developers,

forbids me from disclosingparticulars, but suffice

managed to attract anil fill its hallowed halls with

under the guidance and finances ofCommodore,

to say Commodore's best technical innovations

some of the brightest, most talented people any

created educational and game lilies thai are still

were never released. There was no element of

company could hope to find.

timely three years later!

surprise for my colleagues and 1 when in recent

To reaffirm that Statement, a few days ago 1

Riding the crest of the good years, changes

weeks a number of llie world's largest foreign

received a call from a younglady whoonce served

were made in lop management, and the surge of

electronics giants expressed more than just a

as one of Commodore Magaziiie'i; (remember thai

technology and profits hit a series of internal

casual interest in bidding on Commodore's

publication?) staffmembers. She later went on to

political roadblocks. Marketing and advertising

technology. Wait and see—you haven't heard

work in CliM's marketing division. Laid off by

all but ceased, and in June of li]93, Commodore

the last of Commodore!

Commodore long ago. she managed to land a

Business Machines announced a massive S35(i

good job nl another West Chester. 1'A-based

million loss, with earnings f>(l% lower than the

Volume 1, Number 2

19

Commodore World

Foreign Exchan Bft- SadepJt Qaudi

THE HILLS ARE ALIVE. WITH THE SOUND OE...PROGRAMMERS?

All right now, what's thefirat thing that pops into

for the C-128. it boasts a loader and new screen

your mind when you hear the name Austria?Julie

fonts which were written in assembly language.

Andrews waltzing through mountain fields?

After configuring your RAMLink for use with

Edelweiss? Downhill sluing? Mozart? Yodeling?

RAMLink Commander and starting the program,

Wei], with the exception ofjulie it's all here, but

you'll befaced with the commander screen. From

there's also something special for Commodore

this screen you can start up to 18 functions or

Users: C-64/128 programmers! As I mentioned

programs; view dale and time; and perform diverse drive access usingJifTyHOS commands.

in the \as\Foreiffi Exchange, we will be introducing you from time to time to some of the European

In each of the eighteen available function or

to be defined by the user.

Commodore kinsmen. In this article, Alexander

Alex's File Manager is written in machine

program options,sub menuscanbeprogrammed

Ffisi and Rudi Sanda from Vienna, together with

language; ifyou know your way around MI., you

into the option. If. for example, the option

their programs for KAMI.ink take center stage.

can alter this program as well. If not, you'll find

RL/1'D/IID-Jobs is chosen, a sub menu appears

the program to be useluljust the way it is.

offering partition, directory, sub-directory and

Alex isa chemist with the Austrian Mineral Oil Company who enjoys writing programs in his

File Manager is started either automatically

Other choices. If one of these Options from the sub

spare lime for himself and his friends. After

from RAMLink when the computer is turned on

menu is chosen, another sub menu appears

purchasing a RAMLink two years ago, lie set out

in 40-column mode or from RAMLink Manager

offering additional options! The program is

to write programs which support the features

in 80-colurrm mode. The opening menu has five

extremely powerful and versatile.

found in RAMLink His efforts resulted in two

options: BASIC. Programs. Parameters,.Manager

Programmers can alter the program or insert

programs, a BASIC program catted RAMLink

and Info. Tile options are started by pressing the

command lines to suite their taste and needs. A

Manager for the C-128 and a Machine I .anguage

Corresponding number key. The Parameters

complete printout of the program's code is

program called Fik Manager for the C-84,

option allows you to change screen colors,

supplied with this shareware program, so it's

RAMLink Manager C3I\ be easily adjusted to ill

redefine the Function keys, insert text and

easy to follow the program's logic and make your

your personal needs—it's basically a framework

programs, and to save the parameters. This

own alterations.

onto which you may build. By inserting BASIC

option, along with the Manager option, are the

Both Alex's and Rudi's programs come with a

commands in the program the color of the text

heart ofthe program. Here you can play with the

German handbook. Depending on the response

can he altered, other programs or games can be

different features and customize the program to

from Commodore users in the U.S., an English

loaded from any active device or CMI) partition,

your own liking.

program description maybe released in the future.

the date and time can be displayed to (he screen,

Ifyou're searching the market for a ivell thought

The shareware fee for either program is $10.00

and more. RAMLink Manager oilers ten different

out and uncomplicated autostart program for

plus postage, and they are available from their

time-saving functions. By pressing you

your C-(i4/128. write to Alex for his shareware

respective authors, listed below.

switch to the C-128, 80-column mode;

masterpiece.

Alex Fiisi

switches back to 64 mode. is entitled

Austriims are proud of their contributions to

"Programs", and pressing it starts FileManager in

the arts. Rudi Sanda, another Viennese, can lie

Anton Denver Gasse 22/5

fi'l mode. From File Manager's menus you can

proud ol his piece ol art: RAMLink Commander,

A-12I0, Vienna, Austria

select the program you would like to launch.

Rudi is a post office official who lias a passion for details! This

programming, RAMLink Commander is a

Otto ppobststmsss 3/68/n

functions within RA.MI.ink Manager are available

beautifullywritten autostartprogram (BASIC7.0)

A-1100, Vienna. Austria

Volume 1. Number2

passion

is

evident in

his

Rudi Sanda

Programs may be loaded from any active devices and/or CMI") partitions. The remaining seven

Commodore World

THE MOST POWERFUL DATABASE EVER DEVELOPED FOR THE C-64 AND C128

Superbase 64/128 For years, Superbase has been the most powerful database

Disk Soft warn

system available for Commodore 8-bit computers. Why?

Because not only can you access its commands from menus, butyou can also create your own custom Superbase

Softw

Version The Programmable Database for yoor

Commodore"! 28 O*W TtVf ow/i recu/tf 'afeuti ttQin pn th

AfttuS ■rnJ ftcfa »tplunauonS gwOt yaw ml

vefy Hep

Smcitf re*/' awn irpof toiinwtt LP*'fttrui'"rSS ttt'ttfa$ttm"<"'Q •vtf'i dntmnsafpowwtiif Comb/it ttn'iX'l from •tiftinnl f'l*s uifiti urogftnr tofua

applications using the built-in

programming language.

Superbase can also import and export data using standard sequential files for easy portability with other applications.

Additionally, the C-128 version will load with, and pass Macro commands to, the Superscript word processor to create a completely automated office system. With its built-in programming language, Superbase is ideal for custom applications such as invoicing, inventory, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable or just about any

task you can think of. Superbase version 3.01 is available on 5.25" or 3.5" disk formats, making it ideal for use with CMD's FD-2000, FD-4000 and Commodore 1581 3.5" disk

drives, CMD Hard Drives and RAMLink. So if you've been looking for a powerful, easy-to-use, programmable database ■ look no further! Superbase is back and ready to tackle the toughest job of all—keeping you organized!

DON'T MISS THESE OTHER FINE PRODUCTS FROM THE MAKERS OF SUPERBASE Superbase: The Book

Superscript 64/128

The final word on Superbase programming

Superscript has everything your looking for in a

techniques from getting started through advanced

professional word processor.

programming techniques. This book is filled with a

command structure is easy-to-use and eliminates

plethora of hints, tips and practical examples.

the need for complicated commands. Superscript

Superbase: TheBook'is required reading foranyone

includes professional style editing, spell checking,

already using Superbase as well as those who are

calculator, row and column arithmetic and full mail

contemplating using this powerful program in the

merge facilities. The phrase glossary allows you to

future. This book is a rare find and quantities are

store entire passages of text or Macro commands

limited, so get your copy today!

and recall them with a key stroke.

Its menu driven

Available trom

Creative Micro Designs, Inc. P.O. Box 646 E. Longmeadow, MA 01028

Volumo 1, Number 2

Software Hut, Inc. 313 Henderson Dr.

Software Support International 2700 WE Andresen St., A-10

Sharon Hills. PA 19079

Vancouver, WA 98661

21

Commodore World

INTERNET Today's Information Sun

"It's been obvious for a long lime that we must have an

willdifler from another's. Many companies that offer access

information-superhighway network that is as accessible and

to the Internet claim thai the Internet i.s the Information

Super! [Ighway, Right now, however, no one knows how

asopenand as democratic and as u biquitousastbe telephone

the Information SuperHighwaywill come about—they

network that will carry vast quantities of data quickly..." - Vice President At Gun:

just know that it is coming. Why the uncertainty'/The U.S. Government is

What is the Internet? What does Information

taking the position of encouraging businesses—

SuperHighway mean? How will these affect me?

through special incentives—to create the data

Arc there any benefits to Commodore 8-bit users?

highway. I fence the bureaucracy is out of the

Read on for answers.

Superl [ighway creation business, yet there is still a lot of uncertainty present. Many

What is the Information

companies are seeking alliances to

SuperHighway?

promote their own ideas for the

There's been a lot of discussion over

exactly

what

the

Su peril ighway. Oilier companies are

Information

using

SuperHighway is, yetmany companies are saying they're already on the

term

fnformation

eommerdallzario!)—yet many of

Informal ion SuperHighway. They

these companies are doing very

are and they aren't. One person's

little to help promote the actual

definition ofthe SuperHighway

Volume 1, Number 2

the

Super-Highway as a buzz-word for

spread of information.

22

Commodore World

Visions of the Information Super-Highway abound, bui what ilie highway is certain to hold is the foil owing:

Internet as it currently exists would be unable to handle the strain.

Cable has also been speculated onasthe means of being the information carrier. Because ol'the

-

On demand movies (you watch, rent when you wan! to watch).

wide availabilityand the enormous band-range it offers, cable is an attractive choice, liut because

- Expanded research queries (easily ask

cable doesn't have the capability of receiving

whether rain was falling on a certain date in

information from consumers in most areas of the

a certain place, etc.)

U.S.. cable companies arc scrambling to develop

- Easily pull up databases from various governmental andeommereialsiteswith the

the methods and protocols to do this. Another possible (though less likely) carrier

lor the information is that of the telephone

touch ofa key.

companies. The unlikelihood of this Stems from Since the Information Superhighway will be built

the fuel that current phone lines are prone to

because of businesses, it's likely that electronic

suffer from static, and lack the bandwidth

shopping—for everything from computer

necessary to carry full-time video and audio

software to home appliances—will become an

realistically while performing oilier tasks.

integral part of the pathway.

I'iber-optics could help, but that technology is currently used only between long-distance

How's it going to be done?

locations—not between local subscribers.

There are a few possible scenarios currently

Replacing all the lines will be prohibitively

envisioned

expensive, and would take a lot of time.

as

to

how

the

Information

Glossary Definitions of some of the

terms you'll see used while exploring the Internet BBS - Standing for "Bulletin Board

System" this indicates a network or service which can be accessed via

use of a modem and a terminal program on your computer.

Commercial Service Providers - These systems are what might be considered to be "commercial BBS's." They offer message bases and file libraries covering a wide range of subjects and interests. In addition, they

offer more specialized services, such as access toon-line stock information, and airline reservations. A vast number of users may access these services at the same time.

SuperHighwiiy will be created. How quickly the

information can be transmitted, ease of access to

What will probably happen

E-Mail - Stands for "Electronic Mail"

the highway, and cost are all important factors.

Although the Internet is very strong, il is lacking

and indicates messages that are left

In fact, speed and cost of;information transfer

in numerous areas—the primary one being the

on a computer system foranother user

will no doubt govern how the Information

ever-incrcasingslowdown as new users are added

to later read.

Superhighway is created.

In my view, cable television companies will be [lie

FTP

The. Internet (described i u detail below) already

information carriers, as they already have the

offers a lor of services that the Information

existing bandwidth, wiring, and need to make

SuperHighway is probably going to offer.

changes only at specific line points instead of

Currently available through on-line services or

everywhere like the telephone companies. Due to

through educational or commercial organizations

the available bandwidth it's entirely likely thai

itprovides a wide arrayofservices. It has, however,

telephones themselves las they exist today] will

suffered recently from the large influx of

gradually

individuals beginning to just use it. Within the

communicationsbeing shunted through thewires

scope of the Information SuperHighway, the

of the Information Superhighway instead of the

fade

10

non-existence,

with

Commercial On-line Services with Internet Access There are numerous providers of access to the Internet. I've also listed to what degree they support the Internet. Depending on your needs you may be satisfied with just Internet mail. Remember, some of these On-iine Services offer their own menus, programs and message areas.

Take a look at the

definitions box to see what the terms such as Gopher, Usenet News, etc., are. Before you sign up for one ask yourself what your needs are and then look at the services offered by each.

- Stands for "File Transfer

Protocol" - This is a method whereby

Machine Acan log in to Machine B and "get" certain files. Gopher - Is a menued information system that also supports obtaining files, sounds, text, and graphics; sort of a multimedia retrieval system. Modem - Standing for "MOdulator DEModulator" it allows a computer to communicate to another computer over normal telephone lines. News

groups

-

Areas where

messages pertaining to aspecific topic can be read from or written to. These are generally accessible by a large group of people. Telnet - A method that allows an individual to gain access to another

America Online: 1-800-827-6364 ext

GEnie:1-800-638-9636;$8.95 monthly

computer for the purposes of getting

8856; $9.95 monthly, $3.50 hourly. No

with 4 hrs free, $3 - $12.50 hourly. No

orsending information. Internet BBS's,

Telnet,

telnet access. Supports FTP via shell,

Games, and other services usually

Gopher, Usenet News.

internet mail access.

work via Telnet.

CompuServe: 1-800-848-8199, $8.95

Prodigy:

monthly for unlimitied basic services.

monthly, $3.60 hourly.

FTP access. Does

have

1-800-776-3349; $14.95 FTP,

mail

Telecommunications

-

The

process of exchanging computer data

$8 to $16/hr depending on speed.

access.

Internet mail only.

The WELL:

1-415-332-4335; $15

Usenet News - Represents the vast

Delphi: 1 -800-695-4005; S10 monthly,

monthly, $2 hourly. Full Internet access.

array of newsgroups available through

over the telephone lines.

$4.00 hourly. Full Internet access.

Volume t, Number 2

the Internet. Currently over 3000.

23

Commodore World

Internet

Imagine one computer. Now, take that

rnailinglists,andnews^roupsoaan evergrowing

computer and hook il to anolher. And ihen

number of topics. Many systems also support

regular phones. For those of you without cable, like myself, consider gelling it soon.

another, arui another ami another and another

whal is known as FIT or GOPIIER. which allow

On To The Internet

untilyou'reoutofbreath repeating'and another."

you to access their site lo obtain programs.

Getting back to the Internet, tefs take a look ai

After you've Imagined all those computers linked

For those of you already involved with

what it's currently capable of. (ind what it may

together toform one huge network, imagine it on

telecommunicationsandBBS'ing, the Internet is

offer to you.

a global scale- from Antarctica to the U.S. to New

similar to one large gigantic ItliS with unlimited

Defining the Internet isn't quite as easy as

Zealand to Austria to Switzerland to Russia to

lime, numerous message areas and free

explaining howit works, though phrases such as

Mexico to llie Netherlands. This is the Internet.

downloading.

'controlled anarchy' come to mind in trying to

With a netwodtofthis size there are numerous

Originally implemented in the early 70s by the

ihink i]]) something to describe this global

services for practically any hobby or Interest.

Department of Defense lo implement a system

network.

There arc people to answer your questions;

that could transmit messages across thenation in a nat ional emergency, the Internet has grown by

Accessing The Internet: A Sample Session The following is a sample FTP session showing how easy it is to get files. I've included comments in parenthesis beside each of llie commands I've made to better explain what I'm doing. (This is what 1 lyped and how I connected:)

cci)ga.uwaterloo.cn_

220

ccnga

FTP server

(Version

5.2

Thu Mar 31

Connected to CCHGA.UWATERLOO.CA.

items (CCnga. UWATERLOO.CA:duck) : _anonymous_ 331 Guest

login ok,

send ident as password.

230

Guest

login ok,

access

250

CWD

Password:

ftp> _Cd pub_

16:31:53

(Now it wants me to enter a name.) (Here I gave il my email address)

(I want to go into the PUBUc directory)

comrr.and successful.

(Let's see what's available)

PORT command successful.

150

Opening ASCII mode data connection for 22

184

0

drwxrwsrwt

2

0

0

512

Apr

25

drwxr-xr-x

4

67

0

512

Jan 11

drwxr-xr-x

2

200

0

512

Mai:

30

drwxr-xr-x

5

106

o

512

Mar

1

are. Some common ones are:

(Frown)

16:00

rcgood

8-0

(Shocked)

12:56 wireless

(1 Immm, the CBM directory looks good)

150

Opening fiSCII mode data connection for 1

184

0

5331

Apr 25

20:58

00README

23

184

0

512

Apr 25

20:59

INCOMING

drwxr-xr-x

3

134

0

I02'l

Mar 27

06:44

utiU23

drwxr-xr-x

i

184

0

1024 Apr 25 21:18

Util64

drwxr-xr-x

2

184

0

102-1

vic-20

2

02:28

unique at times). Mail on the Internet is called E-Mail, which often referred lo as "Snail Mail" or "S-Mail", becauseofthelengthofiimeil takes compared to E-Mail. Typically a message from California lo

)

Mar

them available) there's a "cow list" (similar to smiley faces except for cows—yes, the Internet is

stands for Electronic Mail. Regular U.S. Mail is

/bin/Is.

97

Virginia .should only take 10 minutes at most—

often times it arrives almost instantaneously. I've had messages from someone in Australia in my mail box only f) seconds after being scnll With

226 Transfer complete. 00:00:01.37

seconds

mail you can communicate with people in other states and countries; and the smiley faces above,

(continued in sidebar on page25)

Volume 1, Number 2

Smiley faces are a group of characters lhat need lo be looked at side-ways to see what they

(Smile)

(Let's do another directory to see what's available)

_dlr_

received in

such a.s a list of smiley faces can be found.

:-(

PORT conimand successful.

bytes

and unique areas on the Internet where items

jpblack

200

1403

surprisingly well), there existsseveral interesting

In addition to smiley laces (there's a large list of

CWD command successful.

-

body but by "organized chaos" (which works

14:43

cim

complete.

FTP> _cd cbm_

■

Because of the educational aspect of the internet, and because it's governed by no single

(Grin)

bytes received in 00:00:00.25 seconds

i.

on 11) <_■ Internet.

:-)

Transfer

drwxrwxrwx

commercial companies have placed themselves

;-)

321

-rw-r-r-

array of educational resources. More recently,

incoming

20:59

1024 Apr 28 21:31

226

total

Department of Defense on the project and they have since used ihe Internet to provide a vast

/bin/Is.

5

drw/.r-jct-x

FTP>

ready.

restrictions apply.

200

250

1994)

(Anonymous is fine on most systems)

ftp> _dir_

total

EST

leaps and bounds. Universities worked with the

plus other expressions such as "hugs* in asierisks

24

Commodore World

Intern

help to give the conversation a more "human"

FTP stands for File Transfer Protocols and is a

feel, creating a form of personality punctuation.

method of obtainlngprograrns that are stored on

Also available are what are known as News

another system's computers. Thereare numerous

eventually through this process of narrowing things down you'll find a list of his speeches.

Croups. These are areas where discussions

FTP sites out there in Internet land. One of I he

concerning a wide range of social, political,

best currently available for the Commodore

Sounds great you say, bul howdoIjoinup?There

science, computer and educational topics can be

computers i.s operated by Craig Bruce at

are a number of ways. Some colleges and

carried on. Two groups for Commodore 04/128

eenga.uwaterloo.ca. There are literally millions

universities offer free Internet access to their

users are comp.sys.cbm and comp.sys .binaries.

of files available for downloading via FTP.

studentsand faculty, or charge a (hopefully small)

Accessing Internet

Comp.sys.cbm is the primary news group for

Gopher is a fairly new method of obtaining

computingfee.Manycommercialon-lineservices

the Commodore 8-bitters and discussions cover

information on the Internet. It allows an

providesomeformof Internet access. Local BBS's

such topics as help in diagnosing repairproblems,

individual to follow'a seriesofmenus to reach the

may also hookup tot he Internet—thisis typically

programming, individuals selling related items,

appropriate file (orgroupsoffiks) forthe subjects

done for access !o news groups and E-Mail.

the latest newsand rumors, and ;i whole lot more.

lheuserisinterestedin.lt links information from

Some of the commercial on-line services

Comp.binaries.cbm is a newsgroup that posts

many different computers together ina somewhat

providers are listed in a sidebar along with some

programs and files ofinterest to the Commodore

ordered method. If you wish to find something

of the Internet services they provide. Which one

8-bit community. These are tirst converted to

on say, the latest speech by President Clinton,

is best for you depends on what you want to use

text from their binary equivalent through a

then you'd probably look under government

tile Internet lor. Regardless of iiow you do it. I

process called uumco&ing, so that they can easily

agencies, then look under press releases and

highly recommend getting on the Internet!

be posted just like a message. Thus, a user can

'capture'this text and save it, then convert it bade

Accessing The Internet: A Sample Session

into a binary program through uudecodhlg.

(continued from page 24)

With over 3000 topics to choose from in addition to these two, it's very easy loget hooked on using the news-groups. Another way of getting information is from E-MaJ] servers, which are special programs that

will send files and/or messages to you automatically. From Email .servers you may

(Ah, it listed a lot. Let's look in UTIU28)

FTP> _cd 250 CWD command successful.

(And again a dir to see what's available)

FTP> _dir_ 200

PORT

150

Opening ASCII

total

command successful. mode data

connection for /bin/Is.

511

-rw-r-r—

1

184

0

request certain files: catalogs oi programs that

irwxr-xr-x

2

184

0

are available for request: send messages to be

-rw-r—r—

2

184

0

420

May

24

1992

cre32a

-rw-r-r-

2

184

0

1203

May

24

1992

crc32a.doc

-rw-r-r-

2

184

0

3219

May

24

1992

crc32a.s

-rw-r-r-

1

184

0

3072

Mar

23

1993

The only E-mail Server specifically designed

-rw-r-r-

1

184

0

25309

Mor

9

18:42

lri-200.a5m

for the Commodore computers is one run by the

-rw-r-r-

1

184

0

25463

Mar

9

18:39

lrr200.doc

-rw-r—r—

1

184

0

2B917

Mar

14

17:31

lrr200.3fx

-rw-r—r-

1

164

0

16S79

Mar

9

18:41

Irr200.uua

-rw-r-r—

1

184

0

22000

Jim

i

1993

zed-128-077.six

-rw-r-r—

1

184

0

3B193

Feb

IB

1993

zedOTT.uua

distributed to other individuals, and subscribe to mailing lists for news ilems.

author. Its majortntent Is that ofdistributing the free Commodore Hacking magazine as well as programs thatarebi the magazine. To get helpon how to use it. send a message to the author in the

following format:

r

I

.

.

57

2 5

OOREnOME

1993 DISK

filetype.l2B

i

-

1

bytes received

in

00:00:02.39 seconds

FTP> _binary_

Cfhe LKR looks interesting. Let's tell it we want it in BINARY instead of ascii. Otherwise it would mess up the transfer)

Subj: MAILSERV

Bodyol message: HELP

03:35

226 Transfer complete. 2222

To: [email protected]

Mar

512 May

200

Type

set

to

I.

FTP? _get lrr200.sfx_ This specific mailserver is operated twice a day,

so you should receive a reply within approximately 12 hours. Please be sure to have a subject line of "MAILSERV". Ifanyoneknows ofanyotherEmail

Servers existing for the Commodore computers

please let this author know (I'm interested!).

Volume 1, Number 2

200

PORT

command

(Nowwe"get" the file)

successful.

150 Opening BINARY mode data connection for lrr200.afx 226

Transfer

local:

28917

128917 bytes).

complete.

LRR200.SFX

remote:

bytes received in

ftp> _exit_

lrr200.sfx

00:00:10.66 seconds

(And tetl the computer we're finished).

221 Goodbye.

25

Commodore World

Hard Tips OUR. TOP HARDWARE EXPERT DETAILS SOME SIMPLE FIXES

Almost everyone lias had ii happen at least once.

The good news is that most of these problems

device. In such cases, theeasie.st way to isolate the

il disappear

can be solved by the user if a few simple

problem is to try your computer with another

mysteriously. H tends to reappearwhen you least

troubleshooting procedures are applied. The

power supply.

expect il. oral the worst possible time. Reminds

causes and corrective procedures we give you in

Note: C-64's and 64C's were not designed to

you of acne, doesn't it? Fortunately, your

this article apply to all Cartridge Port devices,

power Commodore REU's (1700, 1764, 1750)

computer isnotiikely to haveskin problems, but

and should work regardless of the type of device

without the help of a heavy-duty power supply.

it can come down with s number of minor

that you have.

whereastheC-12Handl2HDcauhaudlelheadded

Causes and Corrective Actions

supply.

Nearly everyone

has

had

Load ofthe REU without the needfsrabeefed-up

'illnesses' that can he hard to diagnose and even

harder to repair. In this issue we'll concentrate on the sometimes deceiving problems related to the

I, Bent, loose or dirty Cartridge Port connector

Cartridge Port.

contacts, Poor connections account lor nearly all

3. Faulty 'PLA' (or other chip) in computer. An

When a Cartridge Port device (RAM expander,

Cartridge Port problems. The Cartridge Port

otherwise healthy and properly functioning

utility or game cartridge, etc.) fails to work

connections must make tight contact with the

computer may have a faulty chip thai only affects

properly, the lirst instinct is to l)lame the device

device to ensure proper operation. A single bent

the operation of the Cartridge Port. The PI,A is

itself as being defective. If the device is covered

contact in the connector is enough lo cause any

almost always the culprit in these cases. Ifpossible,

under warranty, you will probably call the

device lo either fail completely or operate

try your Cartridge Port device on another

manufacturer and arrange lo have the 'defective'

intermittently. In any case, it is always good

computer to help isolate the problem.

unit replaced, [f the manufacturer does not uffer

practice lo take a jewelers screwdriver and bend

Note: Determining which particular chip is at

any troubleshooting advice and simply agrees to

all contacts on the connector slightly so that they

fault may require the help of an experienced

take the unit back, you are most likely in for a

will make tighter contactwith the device. Refer to

technician. Replacing the faulty chip can also be

surprise iuthe near future. What kind ofsurprise?

the diagram below:

difficult for the average user as it may involve soldering.

Well, if your 'defective' unit is like most others

you will probably receive notification that the unit wasnot really delectiveal all! In this instance,

most companies will send the same unit back to you, and some will charge you for the return postage and/or their time to evaliiati1 tin; perfectly good device. In any case, you will most likely be right hack where you started - with a device that

Insert screwdriver behind contacls in order !o bend Ifiem back inlo the proper position

■■■■■■■■■■■■■■I J

C6*1ZB Cartridge Port Connector

does not work with your computer.

At CMD, we have found that over 90% of the

The contacts in the computer's Cartridge Port

4. Dirtyorcorrikledcoinputerpowerswitch. A faulty

problems that users report with our Cartridge

connector and in the device can (and should) be

switch may not deliver adequate +5V power to

Port devices (RAMI.iuk, Swlftlink, SID) are

cleaned using an electrical contact cleaner

the Cartridge Port connector, thus affecting the

actually the fault of the computer and not the

available at Radio Shack stores and other

Cartridge Port device. Again, the besi way to Iry

device itself. Most computer-related problems

electronic supply houses. An aerosol type is best

to isolale the problem is to try the device on

will cause one or more oft he following symptoms

for reaching the contacts inside the Cartridge

another computer.

to appear:

Port.

Note: Determining whether or not the switch

is at fault may require some specialized Typical Symptoms: Device plugged into the

2. Weakor intermittent computerpower supply.'Ww

instruments. We recommendyoiiobtainthehelp

Cartridge Port does not work or works

number two cause for all sorts ol unexplained

ofa technician to !roul)leshoot at this level and to

iniennillenily; computer does not work with the

computer problems. Occasionally, a faulty or old

replace the soldered-in power switch il il is in fact

device plugged in; device causes computer to

and 'tired' C-64/128 power supply will he

at fault.

reset, lockup, or act strangely-general inggarbage

adequate lo power thecomputerby itself but will

or incorrect characters on thescreen, and possibly

not be able lo provide enough power to operate

corrupting disks or files.

the additional circuitry ofa cartridge port plug-in

Volume 1, Number 2

26

Commodore World

Only

NEW! Commodore «=s IBM MS-DOS File Transfer Service, Now Available.

On Graphic?

Don'lhauea 1571. 1581. orFD-2000 drive? We can transfer most word processing tiles lor you. Prica starts al S20 lor one dish

f UK CPflPHICS ITWCHINE IFGlti) IS HH "dLL-l H-OHE" GRHPHICS PnODBflfll FOB THE C^64. UfHAT CRK DC CREATED WITH TGm IS ONLV L IffliltD BV VOUfl I IMG I HUT I OH. JUST H FEIU M*b

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LOADSTAR Specialty Disks!

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of the best games from

LOADSTAR #70 - #100). The Tenement, Stack 'Em, The Sherwood Open. Gems, Stealth Boniher, Eagle Fives, Mnnnraker and

Circuitry. $9.95 (C-64/128) Horn 08082S

SONGSMITH - LOADSTAR'S own musicmaking program. With this deluxe music editor/player you can easily transcribe music I'rom sheet music nr make up your own tunes.

Songsniilii comes with a slick 30-page manual and

a jukebtut player with eighl tunes. $19.95 (C-64/128) Hem #069525

CARD STAR H\ - Brand new! Eight of Maurice Jones' best card solitaire games. Klondike, DouMe or

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GEOPOWER TOOLS - 19 Geos utilities: Calendar

Printer, Fast Formal, Geo Fetch (grain any portion of a screen as a Photo Scrap), Phuenix (resurrect a trasheanned filet, Programmer's Calculator are just a

few of the handy tools. Side Two is filled with Clip Art

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are arcade games, educational games, puzzle

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Visa/Mastercard Discover S Amex Accepted! Credit card orders:«1-800-831-2694

Questions: 1-318-221-8718 Softdisk Publishing

P.O. Box 30008, Shreveport, LA 71130-0008 Domestic shipping S4.50. International Shipping S1O.OO.

All funds in US dollars.

27

Commodore WorM

Orders: 800-638-3263 (9-5:30 EST) • Technical Support: 413-525-0023 (1-5 EST) HO Ssrios SCSI Hard Disk Drives

IRAMLink Power-Backed BAM Disk

HD-40, 42 MB (Limited Supply)

S39S 00

RAMLmk wilh 0 MB RAMCanJ

S18B95

HD-40.85 MB (Limited SuoDty) HD-100. 170 MB (Special Eoinon)

S495 00 RAMLink wlti 1 MBRAMCard SS95 00 RAMLink yntti 4 MB RAMCard

S229.95 SM9.95

HO-200.245MG(SpocifllEdilKinJ

$695 00

HD-345/50071000

$795/£995/$1295

FD Series 3.5" Floppy Diak Drives

Reel-Timo-CIOCk (or RAMCaid (Oplion.il)

S20.00

RAMLIiik BMBtiy Bask-up (Optional)

SSfl 95

Parallel Ciihlo (RAMLInk to HD) ...

51*95

FD- 2000 (800K end I 6MB)

$17995

FD-4000 (600K. 1 6 MB and 3.2 MB)

S249.95 AooJol. .

Si:

;.

FD Real-Time-Clock Option

$20.00

Airborne Ranger

sieoo

Bo

$14.95

Alommo

517.00

Boiol 10, Enhanced Donsity Disks (3.2 MB)....

$40.00

Ballistn

SI300 S1200

JiffyDOS ISpaclty computrr and drl*» •«'!*■ fmml

JllyDO5C64.'SX-64 System

$49 95 .$59.95

JiflyDOS CM2B/120-D Syslem ,

S24 95

AdditionalDrive ROMs

■I

Miscellaneous Hardware

.$39.95

SID Symphony Stereo Cartridge

GooCable Compatible Print Cable

529 00 .S45 0O

2*\ Cartridge Port Eipander

MW- 350 Printer Interlace w/BK Buffer

S60 0O

MW-350 Prinler Inloriaco (OK)

SJ9 00

IEEE Flash! 64 IEEE Interface

530 00

Quicksilver 128 IEEE Interface

S12000

CMD'a C-1351 CompaliBlo SmartMouso

. $49.95

Mouse Pad

...12 95

.,

Samsung SP-2412 2-I-pin Epson-romp. Pnnlar $199 00

Brood Money

S15 00

Chompl

$10.00

Ccnilicl In Vietnam

$19.00

F-19 Stealth Fighter

. sjooo

Keith Van ErorVs Pro Soccer

..S15O0 SIS 00

Last NJFija II Mainframe

..$25.00

15B1/IS41-II Powor Supply

$13 00

adness

S15 00

Navy Seal

siooo

Red Storm Rising

. S16.00

Ringg Of Medusa

. $16.00

RUNCI2SFunpak RUN C64 Gamepak

. S39.00

.$45.00

. SI3.00

.,LM.

1541-11 Disk Drive (rafurb, wi'Poiver Supply ,

S13O0

Lasar Squad

C-64. C-S4C Power Supply (Repairable) C-12B Power Supply (Repairable)

. 124.95 S1995

JiflyMON-64 (ML Mor.llor)

$39 00

Big Bluo Reader V4 lO(SQGWAP)

HI . W9.9S

CMDsC-1361 Compatible SmanMouse

GEOS S4 v2.0 GEOS 128 V2.0

. $1600

.. $10.00

Ultima III or V (Please SpocjfyJ

..$17.00

Wizardry V

S69.00 S79 0O

Ta. Purled 128

.(65.00

$49.00

Pockol Writer 3 (64 or 128) (Digital Sol.)

.srooo

. 54R.OO

SupeiScripi 1Z8(Pn>cislon] Daia Managed (Tlmuworka)

.Siooo

Subeibase 64 Version 3 Ot (Precision)

-S3S0O .S35 00

SuperBaso 128 Version 3 01 (Precision)

FONTPACK

$25.00

PowerPlan 64 (Abacus)

RUN GEOS Companion

,

SwiftCale 64 (Timeivorks) CaOpak 64 (Abacus)

,. ..

u.atnWay/64 or 12fl (Spocily Version)

S20 00 ChartpaV 64 (Abacus)

S1700

1 Port vi.5*1 (126.eo-cai.&iK VDC) (Living Prcol)

geoMakoBool (Make; Bootable copies)

geoSnell V2.2 (CLI lor GEOS)

..S24.95

Dweezils Greatest Hits (N&wTaolsz.sinmp,Lab

i S30.00

$20.00

RUN Works

Sivi'lLmk R5-232 Caitwlgo (Up lo 38 4K Baud) .. S39 95

C128 Computar Aidod Design

.. $12.00 Swtfbnk Modem Cable (DBS-DB25)

.. 19 95

Ccramodora 64 Trickn and Tips

... 112.00 Commodora 1660 Modem (300 baud)

..110.00

..$69.00

S12.00 BOCA 2400 n.'SwiflLink and Caole

Printer Book loi IhB C64

....512 00

Ideas for Use on Your C-64 Languages/Compilers

.S99.OO

BOCA 14 4KBaudMo0em

5!S9 00

BOCA 14 4KvjiSwiftLinkaCable

$219 00

$17.00

BASIC 128 Cornoilor (Abacus)

$25.00 Dr r KC564 a MIDI Interface

Or T KCS128 8 MIDI interface

BhUt 128 Compiler (S*y(a«),

W0.00

Dr T Algonttimic Composer

S20 00

Coool 64 (Abacus) Fortran 64 (Abacus) Pascal 64 (Abacus)

S'7.00 Dr. T4-OPWIDI Ed/UB $17.00 Dr. T CZ-Rlder MIDI Ed/Lib S17.00 Dr T DX-7 MIDI EaVLio

S20O0 $20 00 $20.00

S189 00

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Volume 1, Number 2

■

L

UPS

■,

GrourW SifH

=-

D^ moo

J50TJ

S30 00

CMD

Shipping and Handling Charges Uso iJio Churl bdow Id mritcfi your order subtotal wtlh your shipping zorrn nnO melhod.

Muaic/MIDI Softworo

BASIC 64 Compiler (Abacus) Btai64Corripilor(Sky!es)

while Native partitions utilize MSDOS-style subdirectories. HD's connect easily to the serial bus or parallel via RAMLrnk. Includes built-in JiffyDOS, SWAP feature and RTC. HD's

offer the lowest cost par megabyle of any C64/128 storage device.

SpeeoTnrm(Abacus)

$12.00

BOCA 24 oo Baud Modem

capacities up to 1 GB, are fully partitionable, and can emulate 1541, 1571, 8 1581 disks

. $25 00

S1500

.

11200

SCSI Hard Drive for the C-64/128 HD Series Hard Drives are available in

offer superior compatibility with most commercial software including BBS, Productivity and GEOS. And with new pricing, HD Series drives

Anatomy of the 1541

Graphics Book lor Iho C-64

HDScrics

S29 00

Tele commun fc a tlon& Dialogue 128

Superbase - The Book

.S25OO S16 00

$49.95 RUN Productivity PaV I. II, oi 111 (Specify) ..S12 9S HUH Supe' Starter Pak 1641 or 1581

Perfect Print LO lor GEOS [laser-like ouipull

with all types o( software and hardware including GEOS.

S1600

S25 00

519.95

Collolte Utilities (Handy Goos Utilities)

RAMLink offers maximum speed, expandability and compatibility

S22.00

-,

S2SM . S2000 Chnrtpak 128 (Abacus) .. £29.95 1 Paint v 1.5 (128, Bo-mi. imk VDC) (Unng Prool). .S39 00

BUN GEOSPowoi PbK I or II (Specify)

turned off. Easytouseand expandable up to !6 MB, RAMLink utilizes the same powerful operating system found in CMD Hard Drives. Unlike Commodore REU's which are compatible with less than 1% of commercial software, RAMLink supports more than 80% of the commercial titles. RAMLink also oilers buill-in JiffyDOS Kernal, SWAP feature, reset button, enablo/ disable switch, pass-thru port and RAM port for REU/GEORAM use.

SI 6.00

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RAMLink provides instanl access to files and retains data while your computer is

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geoBASIC

Power-Backed Expandable REU The fastest possible form ol storage,

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International FONT PACK

make the FD right for every application, including GEOS.

Pockel Writer 2 (64| (Digital Sol.)

540 00

FD-2000's support 800K (1581 style) and 1.6 MB (High Density) lormats, while the FD-4000 also olfers support lor the 3.2 MB (Enhanced Density) disk format. Fast and reliable, they support 1541, 1571 and 1581

. S13 00

544 00

. $29.00

today's latest 3.5 inch disk drive technology.

write 1581 disks. FD's feature built-in JiffyDOS, SWAP button and optional Real Time Clock. High capacity, speed and compatibility

Total Echpso

fleoCalc 12S or gooFila 128

geoChan

3.2 and 1.6 MB 3.5" Floppy Drives The FD-2000andFD-4000 disk drives utilize

. $10.00

TheTl-ireo stooges

Pocket Planner 2 oi Pcckot Frier 2

oeoPubNsh

lerjes,

-S1600

SIOOO

. $40 00 -,

11,1571, 1581 and more.

style partitions, Nativo Mode partiiioning and can actually read and

The President Is Missing!

geoCaic 54 or gooFileM aeoProgrammer

ROM upgrade installs easily inlo most computers and diskdrives. Supports C-64. 64C. SX-64, C-128. 128-D. 1541.1541C, 1541-

$1500

. S15 00

.S39OO

The Compression Kit |Mad Man}

Built-in DOS Wedge plus 17 additional leatures including file copter, text dump, printer toggle, and rodcfinable function keys make using your computer easier and more convenient

. $1500

The Amazing Spidcr-Mfln

Tie Break Tennrs CMD Unities

retaining 100% compatibility p up Loading, baving, Vorifying, Formatting and Reading/ Writing of Program. Sequential. User and Relative files unlike cartridges which only speed up Loading and Saving ol PRG files

F-IS Strike Eagle

. $39 00 SilOnr Service $109.00 Skaleor Die

1541-11 Disk Dnve(roturt>, no Powet Supply)

Increase Speed Up to 1500% while

SlElOO

AK hi. pn

5500

115CO

SHOO

£7Q0

120 CO

S14C0

i

525 CO

V30 CO-SW Vi

»M

Sirjoo

SflO(Vr-ll<9M

<.'•<■

51? CO

|1UD0'E?99n

sium

Sura

3300 00 &&1 t
HBrM

S20CO

sum

S27.0TJ

i20 CO

S25C0

MO CO

U2CQ

■

■ ■■

Carrla

E12rX,

jioni

,

,■

J-Uffl

vwco

IMM

Payment and Delivery: CMD sccepis MC. Visa. Money Oraefs. COD and Personal

Inlo: (113) 525-0023 Fax: (413)525-0147

28

Checks PorsonaiChecksflrorieldloruploSwfleks Most items are sloch, coniact CMD lor currnnt dullveiy schedules. Returns lor murctiarttfiso credit only witlim 30 days with prior authorizations. All prices and specificiilions are sub|ncl to change wilhoift noiice.

Commodore World

CMD Releases Revolutionary New Mouse Hickory-Dickory-Dock, SmartMouse has got a Clock! Foryears. Commodore set the standard with the 1351 Mouse.NowCMDhassotanewstandard

with the SmariMouse. Guaranteed 100% 1351 compatible, tho SmartMouso docs everything

the C-1351 does and more! This highly-intelligent, three button mouse includes a built-in battery-backed Real-Time Clock, and a doublg-click feature tor GEOS. Plus, it comes with a complete set of utilities, including: Auto-exec for setting ihe GEOS clock, a utility for setting the mouse clock from GEOS, and a easy-to-use utility to set the time and date from outside of

GEOS. In addition to new features, Ihe SmartMouse's ergonomic design makes it lighter,

smoother and smaller than its outdated counterpart. So, if your old mouse is losing the rat-race, get out of that trap with SmartMouse1

What Makes the SmartMouse the BEST C-64/128 Mouse Ever... Three buttons means convenience! II you're a GEOS user, the left button fs configured as single click, the right as a handy double click and the center button is the TURBO button. When

SmartMouse utilizes Ihe same advanced mouse technology used in today's powerful 486and Pentium-based PC's, providing you with unparalleled accuracy and smoothness of operation.

depressed, It doubles the speed at which the mouse moves

Built-in battery-backed Real-Time Clock automatically sets the GEOScloch.displayslimeandcanbeused In your own programs.

across the screen. Additionally, programmers can assign their own functions to all three of the SmartMouse buttons.

SmartMouse is supplied with utilities disk and detailed manual

Unlike other third party mice, Ihe CMD SmartMouse uses the same custom gate array chip as the Commodore C-1351

explaining the utilities and programming Information.

mouse. This guaranlees 100%

simple modification outlined in the manual, you can alter the

Attention Lefties! You're going love the SmartMouse! With a

compatibility with existing

software and hardware.

SmartMouse for left handed use. (Or for a small fee CMD will

Switches easily Into joystick emulation mode on power-up by

customize your mouse for you).

holding down the right button.

Built-in Configuration RAM allows for future enhancements.

CMD 2+1 Cartridge Port Expander Previously produced by Skyles Electric Works and recently acquired by CMD, the 2+1 Cartridge Port

Expander provides two vertical and one horizontal expansion ports for the C64 and C128. Each port is equipped with four individual switches to control the +5, GAME, EXROM and ROML signal lines for utmost

flexibility and compatibility. This tried and true system has been helping Commodore users get the most from

their computers lor years. For extra safety, the 2+1 is fuse protected and provides a convenient reset switch.

The 2+1 is great for using SwiftLink, SID Symphony, Super Snapshot, REU's. GEORAM or almost any other cartridge that you may have. By using the 2+1, you eliminate wear and tear on your computer's cartridge port caused by frequent use. Contact CMD for more information regarding compatibility and applications for the 2+1 cartridge.

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Great Prices on Great Reference Materials Tricks and Tips for the C-64 Ideas for Use on your C-64

Printer Book for the C-64 The Graphics Book for the C-64 C-128 Computer Aided Design

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of CMD Utilities I

29

Commodore World

I Paint

C-128 80-column interlacedgraphics drawingprogram I Paint, version 1.5. by Kick Knur,

Interlaced Graphics?

example of the available color and

$39.95: Living Proof Ltd., P.O. Box

In order lo comprehend the I Paint

3-D graphic possibilities. I Paint's

8O714,Minneap0tis,MN554O8-S714

graphics program, you'll need to

main

screen

understand the term "interlaced

completion of the loading

Graphics capabilities play an

graphics".

process. Thescreen

A

standard

non

refers to the foreground

appeared after

colors as "INK", and to the background colors as

important role in the world of

interlaced video image is comprised

computers, and software author

of two fields. Each field contains

strip

interlaccdgraphicsmakeuseofboth

Kick

horizontal scan lines, one Held

of icons (a

fields of scan lines. So. what this

graphical menu)

means to you is color for a

above a large white block

foreground (or background) can be

Kane

proves

thai

the

containing data while the

oilier Held remains blank.

"PAPER". Now remember that

contains a

which is your work area. You'll

placed in both ol these fields

need toselect adrawinglool to begin

resulting in a wide variety of colors!

This

drawing. I Painl provides three

The Text option was another

in

a

different drawing tools—a pen. a

capabilities Df our much loved

lealure 1 enjoyed testing. The text

graphics display with a resolution of

Commodore computers art' almost

brush, and a spray can. .Selecting a

oplion provides a selection of six

640 X 200 pixels. However, in an

drawing tool is as easy as pointing to

endless. Imagine having access lo

lonls, plus the system font, plus a

interlaced graphics video image,

■l.OOO colors from a possible 65,536

your choke and clicking a mouse

loadable custom font. Selecting the

both fields contain data. The scan

colors! Imagine a resolution of 640

button. Once you've chosen your

.System Font grants the use of the

lines ofone field appear between the

preferences you'll be whisked into

X 400 pixels! And last, though

Commodore

scan lines of the second Held,

certainly not leasl. imagine being

1 Faint's work area. Drawing is as

pmducinga combined resolution of

Graphics character sets. I Paint

able to use these capabilities with

easy as moving the transparent

possesses some very potent text

640X400 pixels.

arrow lo the rle.si red area and clicking

possibilities. Text may flow in oneof

the "ON" button on your mouse.

any four directions. You simply select the direction you wish for the

results

your

very

own,

low

Uppercase

and

cost.

Alas, this additional resolution

Commodore computer] Living

doesn't come without side effects—

Proof, LTD., pre.senls I I'aint; a

The arrow then disappears and you

interlaced graphics produce a

may begin drawing by moving your

flickering effect on your screen.

text to advance and type. It's as easy

mouse. To lift your drawing tool

Flicker is a result of the first set of

as thai. The text may he re-sized by

from the paper click the "OFF"

scan lines fading out as the second

pressing the "ON" button while in

button on your mouse. The arrow

set areinterlaced. Fortunately, there

the drawing screen. Doing so

reappears allowing movement to a

are ways to lessen the effect. The

generates a "sizing box" in the work

newarea in the work space. A second

area. The text is sized by dragging

graphic artist's dream come true! I Paint requires a Commodore 12811

or

a

Commodore

128

upgraded to fi4K of video RAM, a

graphics printer (ifyau want to print your creation), a 1351-compatible

1 Painl manual suggests wearing a

mouse, a 1541 or 1571 compatible

pair of sunglasses. However, ifyou

click on tlie "OFF" button retains

ihis "sizing box" to the desired

you to the menu.

dimensions. I Paint provides some

disk drive, and a RGB! color or 80 column monochrome monitor.

feel a bit silly doing this, the method

Support is also provided for the

I use is to work in monochrome

Options

mode until I actually n^<\ to work With the colors for my creation.

use with text. Oneof these features,

I Paint's options are loo numerous

Ihe "WITH" option, allows text to

to discuss at length here, so I will

be superimposed on top of the

move on to a few of the more

current image creating a 3-D effect.

following peripherals: Commodore 17xx series RFU's, 1581, CMD RAMLink, CMD! ©and PD drives,

and color printers such as ihe Star NX-1000

and

NX-2400

color

primers and Okimate 10 and 20 printers.

Volume 1. Ntimber2

Getting Started

pretty powerful priority options for

interesting options. I had fun

I Paint required approximately ■!

experimenting with all of the

minutes to load on my 1571 disk

availableculorsinthePaletteleature.

drive, bu! it was certainly worth the

A click on the Palette icon reveals a

wail. The title screen gives a fine

.submenu for selecting colors. I Painl

A few oftheothertext options permit text to he underlined, Hipped, reflected, rotated, unrelated, colored, and reversed. The function kevs mav even be redefined as Commodore World

3 V_A_y IFF KOALA

basic e

■

C-128graphics conversion utility I Port, version 1.54. by Rick Kane:

appropriate conversion module is

you to adjust the

$29.95: Living Proof, Ltd., P.O. Box

loaded once a graphics format has

width

80714, Minneapolis. MN'55408-8714

been selected.

height of Amiga II

Living Proof, Lid., compliments the

opened before it may be imported

After the imported

I Painl program with I Port, a

into I Paint. By switching the

file has been altered

graphics manager program which

monitor to40 column mode, Doodle

to satisfaction, it's

can be used to convert graphics files

graphics files may be viewed as they

easily transformed

for cross-platform compatibility or

are loaded. A color table is provided

into an I Paint file by selecting the

converted into the

for editing,

allowing the colors used by I Paint to

Save I Paint option. Ones this has

I Paint format and then to the

popular GIF format.

A graphics We must first be

and

and GIF images.

be compared to the colors used by

been accomplished, it maybe loaded

Port-Ability

Doodle. Color tables are also

into 1 Paint and modified the same

I Por! is every bit as powerful as it's

provided for use with GEOPAINT

as any other I Paint file.

counterpart as it grants the user the

files. Amiga IFF and GIF colors are

I Port's export option transforms

I Paint program. I Port comes

ability to import Amiga IFF, KOALA,

adjusted with 1 Port's powerful

any I Paint picture into a GIF file.

complete with documentation

GIF. MACPAINT. GBOPAINT.

Palette Equalizer. The Palette

Author Rick Kane has thoughtfully

which can easily fit into the I Paint

BASIC 8. uncompressed DOODLE,

Equalizer permits the redness and

provided live levels of compression

manual The addition of a few more

and PRINT SHOP graphic file

brightness of colors to be adjusted

forsaving GIF flies to disk, A value of

examples and details pertaining to

formats; convert any of these to

by entering numbers for degrees for

one will produce the largest file but

I Port's color editingfeatures would

I Paint format: and export I Paint

grey, color, and bright color. Once

will save the file in the .shortest

help the novice user tremendously.

images ns GIF (Graphics Interchange

the equalizer settings have been set

amount ol time. On the other hand,

Rut the manual is sufficient to allow

Format) files.

they can even be saved to disk ior

a value ol five creates the smallest

users to be up and running with all

1 Port's main menu is very

future use.

All of the above listed features creak*u powerful companion for the

file but requires a much longer

of I Port's other features. 1 Port, in

straightforward. The menu lists trie

A Cut and Paste feature may be

conversion time. The GIF export

combination with I Paint, present

eight avn ilnble import opt ions as weli

used with Doodle pictures, allowing

feature provides the user with

Commodore 128 users with an

as the export option. A selection is

any size portionsol the Doodle's 320

endless possibilities as files in the

almost

made .simply by scrolling down the

X 200 source screen to be cut and

Amiga IFF, MAC, GEOPAINT,

powerful graphic tools.

menu and highlighting a choice and

carried over to I Port's 640 X 400

BASIC 8, KOALA, DOODLE, and

hitting

deslinationscreen.ll'ortalsoallows

PRINT SI IOP formats may all be

the

return

kev.

The

I Paint (continuted)

unlimited

resource ol

■ Sherry Freedliiw

BASIC 8 and LACEMAKER files to.

must. 1 Paint's printing features

be loaded into I Paint's work area,

enable you lo specify a print density

right and left handed mouse users.

suitable macros for those creations

opening up a whole new world ol

as well as a height specification,

The Setup Menu allows the mouse

requiring repetitive lines of text.

opportunities. Patterns and Clips

though the ability to employ these

to be customized to the user's liking.

can also be stored and loaded for

leatures is dependent upon the

The manual packaged with I Paint is

future use. With the SAVE feature,

capabilities ol your printer.

Packed with Power All of I Paint's options blend

program, i Paint even provides for

a very nice spiral bound booklet.

I Painl pictures can even be saved

Rick Kane began the I Paint

'flu1 documental ion goes into great

together to form a very powerful

in a Lacemaker format for use with

project in the summer of 1988, and

detail with all ol the many available

graphics program. But that's not all!

"I.aceniaker 128 - The Interlace

has continued to improve and

options. I Paint is an asset to the

Author Rick Kane has included

Utilities Workshop".

support the program since its

novice, as well as the skilled computer artist.

several significant file features as

Of course, after the picture has

release. One can clearly see t hat a lot

well. The LOAD feature permits

been saved to disk, hard copy is a

of thought has been placed into this

Volume I. Number2

31

• SherryFreedlim Commodore World

SmartMouse

C-128 80-column interlacedgraphics drawingprogram SmartMouse; $49.95; Creative Micro

kindof review that CMD would want

of the box. 1 was immediately

Designs, toe., i',0. Box 646, East

me to write, anyway.

impressed with the way it fell

Longmeadmv MA 01028.

in my hand: solid and

Missing Mice...

heavy, likeilwasbuiltto

You know, I've written a lot of

That said, let's get on with it; let's

reviews over the last few years, for

talk about the mouse for the

depress with a firm

both

Magazine and for

Commodore computer. As many o(

click, adding to the

Compute. The first review [ ever

you know, lately there hasn't been

impression of quality

wrote was of Gateway, Creative

anything to talk about in thai

construction. This is

Micro

manager

department There simply was no

definitely not a cheap

software for GEOS. Since then, I've

mouse available for the Commodore

mouse.

reviewed a number of other CMD

(i'l or 128, and that was that. The

products and written Severn] articles

1351 and the M3 were no longer

about using CMD's RAM devices. I

being made and all supplies were

may be no ace programmer and I'm

soon depleted. Wouldn't you know

certainly no technical wizard, but I

it, my trusty 1351 went belly up on

the 1351 input driver 1 already had.

feel like I'mpretty competentto write

me shortly thereafter, leaving me

The mouse worked beautifully,

along with the (54 version on the

aboutyet anoilierof'Creative Micro's

back in joystick mode. Fora GEOS

gliding effortlessly around the

utilities disk. Once I had done this,

products, tlie SmariMouse.

aficionado like me, that was sheer

mousepadJuseditingeoWriteand

several additional functions were

misery.

geoPaint and was very pleased with

available to me as I cruised around

the

the

CMOS. The right mouse button now

RUN

Designs'

file

But this review is different from

last.Thelhree buttons

Test Drive !

first

tried

the

SmartMouse with GliOS, using

the others I've written. It's is being

Now lot's face it, the Commodore

smooth

motion

and

written not for KUN'or for Compute.

market isn't exactly booming these

comfortable feel. Again 1 realized

"double-clicked" will: only one press

but for Commodore World, a

days. When Tenex and others sold

that this was definitely not a cheap

of [lie hut ton. I discovered that 1 had

magazine put out by Creative Micro

the lasl of their stock ofl351's and

mouse.

to make that one click just a little

Designs itself. In other words, I'm

Mil's, most Commodore users

Af Icr spending auenjoyable lime

beingpald by CMD to write a review

figured that spelled the end of the

messing around in geoPaint and

to happen, but once I got the hang of

ofoneoftheirownproducts. Sounds

64/128

mouse. They weren't

then playing solitaire, 1 figured it

it 1 started tofind lots ofuses for that

pretty fishy, doesn't it? Kind oflike a

figuring on CMD. which stepped in

was time toget serious: I opened the

easy double-click besides just

conflict ofinterest,

and saved the day. The SmartMouse

manual. As is usually the case with

opening tiles on the deskTop. Using

Bui no, I'm not planning to step

has just been released, and for me, it

CMD products, the documentation

it on the brush tool in geoPaint, for

down, thank you very much. After

came in the nick ol time. I was

was very complete and easy to

example, neatly brings up the brush selection box.

slower than usual for lliedoubleelkk

all, I need my paychecks, same as

delighted when the package from

understand. All the various features

anyone (maybe more). I also need

CMD showed up on my doorstep.

oft h e mou se are carefully described.

The middle button, a first for any

the mouse, but more about that later.

The box contained the three-button

I discovered, lor example, that new

Commodore mouse, has been

I did worry a little that readers might

mouse, a disk of utilities (slightly

and improved GF.OS mouse drivers

programmed with those new GEOS

not take this review seriously under

bent), and a manual.

made

the

drivers to activate something called

■SiuartMousewereincluded.andthe

"turbo mode." In "turbo mode" the

documentation dearly explains how to install them on a GEOS boot disk,

polnterzips across thescreenalmosl

the circumstances. So what I am

planning to do is give a good, solid

Looking Smart

review, pulling no punches and

The SmartMouse is about two-

telling it straight, even if that means

thirds the sizeofmv old 1351, and is

1

specifically

followed

the

ior

installation

Instantly, which is very handy when you need to, say, set margins first on

biting the hand that feeds me a little

light gray in color (my 1351 is more

instructions and snitched to using

one side and then way across on the

bit. To be honest, that's the only

of a light beige). When 1 took it out

the new 128driver, which is included

other side of a page in geoWrite.

Volume 1, Number2

32

Commodore World

and mouse but also the Koala Pad

itself, but that's not the fault of the

SmartMouse. Left-handed users can

As if that weren't enough to earn

and light pen as well. Ifoundlhat the

mouse.

adjust the SmartMouse to work in

this mouse its name, ii also includes

program worked just fine with llie

a real-time, battery-backed clock. By

SmartMouse.

SmartMouse (continued)

Besides [he GliOS utilities on the

reverse of the standard mode (the

disk that comes with the mouse,

right but ton becomes the left and so

iiichidiiij; 3 simple autoexec file on

In order to use the Smart Mouse

there are several other goodies. One

on). This procedure is outlined very

your GBO5 boot disk, you can

with other software packages, I had

is RUN Paint, a full-featured pain!

clearly in the manual along with a

automatical])' set your GHOS clock

to switch the mouse into joystick

program which nicely supports the

picture.

everytimeyoubootup. The program

mode by holding the right button

mouse. This program gives a user

All in all, the SmartMouse from

you need is included on the disk, of

down

plenty of graphics power and it's

Creative Micro Designs is an

course,and lull in.structionsfur using

computer. In this mode, I used the

included free on the disk. A simple

excellent

il are included in the manual.

SmartMouse to draw in Doodle,

but well-designed clock-setting

constructed and performs very

which makes that program much

utility is also included.

smoothly. The documentation is

Compatibility

The manual claims thai the

while

booting

up

the

product.

It

is

well

more fun to use. in my opinion. I

If you are the hacker type who

very understandable and extensive.

also played a few events ol'Summe-r

understands things like "command

The utilities disk provides GliOS

S m a rt Mo use i s fully compatible with

Games, but I discovered that for

bytebit assignments, "you'reinluck.

support, programmingsupport, and

any software that supported the

games like that a joystick is actually

The manual

provides ail the

even RUN Paint. Even if there were

1351 mouse. So I ieftGEOS to check

a better choice. Then I broke out my

information you need to access and

more than one mouse around to

oul ihat claim. There aren't many

stack of shareware disks and started

command the inner workings of the

choose

programs besides GEOS which

playing various games. Every single

SmartMouse yourself. A number of

recommend the SmartMouse.

support the mouse, hut there are a

one worked perfectly with the

mouse driver routines are included

lew. 1 dugout ray copy ofFlexiDraw, which supports not only thejoystick

mouse. Some, like Summer Games,

on the disk, ready to be used in your

were easier to play using the joystick

own programs to support the

from.

1

would

still

And, no, CMD isn't just making me say so.

'Steve VanderArk

m

D

GatHHtodone 1iJtvd&

tl etu&u&i

tyneeditite Stooges

Chomp!

environment containing predators

The

(Cosmi)

and prey of various sizes. You are

(Cineniiiii\ire)

Great sharks alive—it's Chomp from

off-the-wall positions including:

now able to devour fish and insects

Cosmi! Chomp places you in the role

The Cinemaware Corporation has

along with worms. But keep in mind,

boxing, pie throwing, cracker eating,

of a fish where you must master the

you are also prey! For kicks you may

done an outstandingjob ofbringing

art of survival in a world swarming with voracious aquatic creatures.

Three

through town working in various

trivia, hospital racing, and slapping.

the Three Stooges to life in a game

want to venture to the top of your

My favorite event was a toss-up

for the Commodore 64.

aquarium whereyou will be quickly

between guiding

Introduction to the game is truly a

The

the Stooges

through a crowded hospital corridor

Life begins in a fish bowl

scooped up by a giant cat paw. The

spectacular graphics delight as you

environment free of predators. In

screen will then change to allowyou

the fish bow! you must feed on

are treated to a richly detailed frame

to watch as your life "flushes" before

in a pie tossing brawl at a very

norms as they are disbursed from

your very eyes. Bad) successive level

eloquent dinner affair. If you're a

the decorative castle. It's not as easy

straight out ofone ofthe many Three Stoogesfilm shorts. Cinemaware has

in Chomp takes you lo a new and

as It sounds asthewormswillprovide

topped the game oil with a fantastic

biggerwater world full ofeven bigger

may even earn enough money to

you wiih a challenge by swimming

assortment ofdigitized speech and

marry the Stooges off to Ma's lovely

opponents.

sound effects including my all t ime

daughters

favorite "nyuk, nyuk, nyuk!"

Cynthial

atodd angles, l.ackoffoodwillshrink

Chomp requires a joystick for

you down in size until you are too

ga n l e p I ay. Y on r li s h svvi m s s in oo thly

small to survive. Another key factor

The opening screen reveals our

and responds rapidly to your

to survival is to keep yourself in

beloved Stooges out for a stroll in

requests.

motion to provide yourself with an

Stoogeville.

accompanied by a very fitting

Your

adventure

is

Upon

heating

a

in midget race cars andpartidpating

very skilled Stnogc-a-maniac you

Mary,

l.eona,

ami

TheThree Stooges Movie requi res

the use ofa joystick. A little practice lime may be required to master

disturbing sound, they rush lo

control ofthe joystick. The manual

packaged with the game provides a

adequate supply of oxygen. Lack of

suspense-fill tune. You will find the

oxygen will turn you blue and

investigate the origin. The trio

graphics quite captivating from

eventually result in death.

discover Ma sobbing indespair over

viewing a bony blue fish to the ever

fascinating history of the Three

the fact she must produce $5,000 in

unforgettable shark!

Stooges.

thirty days to prevent foreclosure on

excellent job offashioning the game

YouwiUeventuallyincreaseinsize

Cinemaware

did

an

once you have consumed enough

Chomp is one of those games for

her orphanage by the evil banker.

worms. Youarenow reaily to venture

youngand old alike. Each successive

tn thestyle ofa typical Three Stooges

into the lank next door. To travel to

Mr. I. [''leecem. The Stooges vow to

level in Chomp lakes you to a new

film short, (iaehevtnl is heaped wilh

t lie adjacent aquarium makea quick

and higger water world full of even

run for the lop ofyour tish bowl and

bigger Opponents, You'll find it hard

help Ma raise the funds and thegame beginslThegameresemblesa board

digitized speech clips and sound

jump

game as the threesome stroll along

to tear yourself away from this

effects acquired directly from their

Stoogeville's

street

underwater world.

film shorts. This is one game Three

accommodating 180 locations.

Stooges fans coitainly cannot do

Larry, Curly, and Moe wander

without!

into

the

neighboring

aquarium. Your new home will

provide

you

with

Volume 1, Number 2

a

larger

33

one-way

laughs resulting from various

Commodore World

Graphic Interpretation SUoc Vani&i Ank

A FUNNY THING HAPPENS TO STEVE ON HIS WAY TO WRITING HIS COLUMN

When the editor of this magazine asked me to

feel like it, even when 1 should be writing this

write 6 column about GEOS, I'm sun1 he was

column, which is what I'm really supposed to be

expecting something very solid and no-nonsense

doing right now. But since I'm thinking ofit, 1just

from me—somethinguseful, ifyou will. After all,

copied it over to my RAMLink so that I'll be able

GEOS Is with out a doubt the premierproductivity

lo play a few hands if I need a break. And I also

package tor the Commodore 64 and 128

tested it a few times, just to make sure it's as cool

computers. Whatever type ol work you need to

asl remembered. It is.

gel dune, there's probably a way to do ii easier with GEOS. And work is serious stuff

like called .Skeet. which was originally a type-in

There is another desk accessory game that I program in Compute'!, Gazelle and which they

So in this column I'll be talking about things

released on their GEOS Colleclion disk. Skeet is a

like betterwaystogeoPubllsh a ndthe best add-on

(surprise) skeet shooting simulation. I copied it

programs for geoWrite. I'll iry to give you ;< first gUmpse ofall the mostpowerful and efficient new

over to my RAMLink too so that I'd have a fewchoices of desk accessory games. 1 had a feeling

GEOS products thai come along (of which there

lliat Skeet wouldn't be very easy to play now that

are a lot more than you might think]. In other

my mouse is defunct and I'm back to doing

words. I'll make sure things stay solid and

played it a few times (and since it's a two player

no-imnsense. This is GEOS, not TheMuppet Prim

game only, each game was really sort of like two

everything with a joystick; 1 was righl. 1 only

Kit. for Pete's sake. To get things «1T to a rousing start, I've been poking around in my drawer full ofdisks which

games, so it took a while) and then decided to

played that one a couple of times.

copy it to my RAMLink so 1 could play it some more later. I also uploaded a copy of the file to

hold all the hundreds of GF.OS programs I've

GEnie, just in case anyone else lite Yahtzee too.

accumulated from Q-Link and 0£w over the

It's tile number is 1-1783.

years. 1 know there are a lot of greal shareware

On the same disk where 1 found Yahtzee, 1

In that same pile, which is set aside for commercial disks (sec how organized 1 am?) I

found my copies of the RUN GEOS Power Puck disks and OliOS Companion (all available from CMD). I knew of several games on those disks,

ami public domain programs in there that make

foundalittlegame called geoNIm.Ido remember

including lireakout. but decided I shouldn't let

working in the GEOS environmenl extremely efficient and productive, I checked some disks I

playing that game before and seem to remember

myself start playing those or I'd never get this

noi likingil particularly well. I couldn't remember

column written. I settled for just a few practice

rounds of my favorite I iEOS game, geoTiles. This

haven't looked at for quite a while, and I was

why, so 1 played it again a lew times. 1 was eight,

gratified to see plenty of interesting applications,

I don't like ii very much; ildidn't seem lo he much

desk accessories, and so on to choose from. I also

of a challenge, although it was designed well

and I think it's worth the price of the whole disk

found, lucked away on a back page, something

enough. But the game seems kind of pointless

all by itself.

called Yahtzee.

and the computer a pretty dumb opponent (or

Ofcoutselrecognizedthai name; HoveYahtzee

(the kind with real dice). 1 honestly couldn't

maybe I'm just really, really clever, I guess). There are lotsol heller games around. A good

jewel of a game is found on GEOS Power Pnck2,

1 had forgotten just how many GE05 games

there actually are. 1 haven't even mentioned geoWar or (.'luster Wars or any of the card games like Solo l'oker, all of which I haven't played in

remember ifl'il ever played this GEOS version, so

example Is Blackjack. I'm talking, ofcourse, about

I figured it wouldn't hurt to give it a try. After all.

the Blackjack that comes on the DESKPACK Plus

1 had plenty of lime to get down to business and

disk(available through most GliOSdealers).Thai

next column. Check back then and I'll talk about

Start working on lliis column. As it turned oul.

version is especially nice because it's a desk

something no-non.seuse and efficient. For now, I

this version of Yahtzee is really quite good. 1

accessory, which means I can play it whenever 1

think I'll play geoTiles a few more times.

Volume 1, Number2

34

ages! I guess the serious work can wait until my

Commodore World

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Volume 1. Number 2

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1409

35

Mill

Street

Laramie,

Wyoming

82070

Commodore World

geoProgrammist Randall

HOW TO WRITE YOUR FIRST GEOS PROGRAM

Before getting too deep into GEOS programming,

refer to various parts ofGEOS foruse in your own

I must emphasize the Importance of obtaining

programming. The .symbol 'EnterDesktop' is

one or both of the following publications: The

denned in this file.

Official CEOS Programmer's Reference A (anual

Press a couple of times and add a

and The Hitchhiker's Guide To GBOS (both of

label to your program code, perhaps ProgStarl,

these are available from CMD), Each ol these

as il is in the actual SamSeq tile. Even a small

works contain information about tin* GEOS

application needs to start out with a label—

system that is invaluable to the programmer, On

geo Frog rammer doesn't seem to like it if you

a small scale, you can get by with just one or the

leave this out. The .psect tells geoProgrammer

other; the serious programmer, however, should

that the code following from this point is to be

have both. The manual that came with your copy

assembled to run beginningwith the currentvalue

of GeoProerammer i.s quite thick, and even

of the program counter. In other words, this is a

though it contains a good deal ol information,

'program section' of code. We will get into this a

the hulk of it is devoted to the actual use of the

little later.

At this point in the operation of your

applications, geoAssemblcr, geol,inker, and get) Debugger.

it simple and use these Tiles just as they are.

application, it will he in control of the machine.

For the time being, open up your manual and

What wemust do now Iscreatethesourcecode

Tlie ideal situation is for your application to just

study chapters ii and -I. This will give you a basic

for our 'program'. Instead ofcopying the SamSeq

do what it needs todo and then put GEOS andtfae

understanding ol Ihiw to assemble and link a

lik', we will refer lo it while we write our own

userback in control. Ifyou have written programs

GEOS program. Now, let's dig right in and work

version of it. So, on your work disk, use geoWrite

for the native mode of your computer, you know

on a very simple application.

to create a file called SamSeq. Get into the habit

what happens when your program ends with an

Begin by copying the two tiles, SamSeqlldr

of making your source code organized and easy

'rts'. Your program ends and control is returned

and SarnSeq. Ink. from your gool'mgranimer disk

to read by set I ing up labs lo separate the elements

lo the user. This is not the case with CEOS. Ifyou

to a work disk or your HAM disk. You always

that make up each line instead ol using Spaces.

want your program to end, you need to jump to a

need a *lldr Hie and a *.lnk (lie. The header

I've found that on an 80 column display, tabs at I

routine called TJnterDesktop'. Remember that

f "I Idr) file contains the information that, when

inch, 2 inches, and 'S.7 inches work pretty good.

we are working with a point and click

assembled, will make up the 256 byte block thai

Fora 40 column display, something like .5 inches,

environment. Built within the GEOS Kernal are

is considered the header block of a GEOS file.

1.5 inches, and '.i or i.2 inches is better. You'll

many routines that have already been written ior

This is where the Desktop looks when you select

want to avoid having to scroll side to side Ifyou

us. There is a great deal of programming already

'info' from the file drop-down menu. The link

can.

done that we can avoid including in our own

(•.Ink)filcisneededbygeoLinker.il contains the

info needed lo properly link your assembled

Onthefirsi pageoftlnssource code, type in ihe

with an 'rts', you are returning control to the user

sourcecode into a usable application. Ifyou study the contents ofthese files, you will see parts that you may alter for your own purpose. In the'.Ink

.include

geosSym

and to GEOS, but your application is still in use.

.psect

At this point, the GEOS Kernal is watching for some sort of user response, either from the

file, you would change the filenames to match the files that you arc working on. For now, let's keep

Volume 1, Number2

programming.

Ifyou think you are ending your application

following:

The geosSym file contains many symbols that

36

keyboard or the mouse. If the user performs an Commodore World

"GEOS WATCHES FOR AN 'eX/ENT'TO happen, and responds accordingly.

It's a nice way to do things."

action of some sort, GF.O5 will respond by reentering your application. Tliis portion of GBOS that is running is railed 'MainLoop', Normally,

whatever values are contained in picW and picH will be in your symbols.

outside ofGEOS, you would have lo have your own main loop and Include

gel ihese values to show up in your icon table.

You will find a reference to these symbols in the icon table. This is how you

the needed programming to catch the user's input. Instead, all that is

In this icon table, find the reference to Dolconl. This is the name of the

needed here are lookup tables lor MainLoop lo look nt when it gets a

routine that GF.OS will jsr to when ihe user clicks on your icon. For our

response from theuser. Ifihcrearenolookup tables, then nothing happens.

purpose, let's change this to EnterDesktop. This way, when the user clicks

GEOS ignores the user's actions and the user gels the leeling (hat the

on your icon, your application will simply end. Let's go back lo page 1 and build a little bit of code at the Mart of our

computer hasjusl locked up.

If your application simply performs ajob and finishes, you can end It by

application now. Later on. I will get into ihe use of macros with

jumping to linlerDesktop. But if'ymi need someu.ser input, such as clicking

geoProgrammer. And you will find that you really can't live without them.

on icons or menus, you will need to tell GEOS where lofind the appropriate

Il makes your coding so much easier. Eor right now, we will do without

lookup tables before you get to that first rts.

[hem for demonstration purposes. Anyway, use your labs and type in the

following code:

When your program givesconlrol to MainLoop, ihe user might click the mouse. There is one thing you must keep in mind here. GEOS will look for

ProgStart:

an icon table. If il does not find one. there will be problems, ll doesn't seem to mind if there is no table for menus, but you need to at least provide an

Ida

#IlconTable

icon table even if your application Is not going to use icons. This only

sta

applies if you return lo Mainl.oop with an rts. If you exit back to the

Ida

Desktop instead of Mainl.oop, the user doesn't get conlrol of the mouse

sta

$02 #IlconTable $02+1

anyway and likewise, MainLoop will neverget control whileyotir application

jsr

Dolcons

is running. It all depends on what your application is going lo accomplish.

rts

Ifyou need user input, your icon table can define an icon that does not exist.

This way GEOS won't have a problem. I'll showyou how to do that ai a later

That is ihe extent of our liltle application here. This along with the icon table, the icon picture, and the header block, is all of the code that will be

date.

In the SamSeq file supplied with geoProgrammer, you will find an icon

assembled and linked. Load up geoAssembler and assemble SainSeqlldr

table. It will begin with a label called 'IconTable'. This particular table

and your new SamSeq file. Then load geoLinker and link the resulting .re]

consists of9 lines. Copy this into the sample file that we are building here.

files together by selecting the file called SamSeq.Ink. If everything goes

You might want to put il on page 2 to keep il out of the way. Create another

good, you will have a finished application thai you can load and run from

label alter this table called Icon 1 Picture' just like in the SamSeq file.

thedeskTop.

Following this will go a photo scrap of whatever icon you wish to use. So,

What our code does here is to point the required zero page register to our

load up geoPaint and creale a graphic of some sort. Copy it into a photo

icon table and call a GEOS Kernal routine known as Dolcons. This register

scrap and then paste that scrap into your source code after the label

is usually referred to as r0, and after this we will always call il r0.1 will get

Tconl Picture'. One ihingyou must remember here is to always put a blank

into this at a later date also. Dolcons will do a couple ofthings for US. It wBJ

line above and below any photo scrap you put in your source code, so do

first set up a pointer within the GEOS Kernal so thai Mainl.oop knows

that now. This insures that geoAssembler knows the exact start and end of

where tofind our icon table. Then il will perform thejnbofdrawingour icon

the graphic. Can you imagine having to code this graphic into your source

on ihe screen, following this it returns to our application. In our case, we

code manually? This is pretty handy isn't it?

just do an rts now and let MainLoop take over and give conlrol to the user.

Within the icon table, we need to tell GEOS how wide and how tall the

The user now has full control of the mouse and ihe keyboard. There is

icon is. Here again, geoAssembler will figure this out for us. As soon as it

really only one thing that GF.OS will let the user do althispoinl. VVe did not

processes the photo scrap it will place these values into two of it's own

tell GEOS that we are looking for keyboard input and we did not inform it

internal variables, which are called picW and picl I. From within your

ol any menus either. Rut we did define one icon. As soon as the user clicks

source code, you have access to these variables and can copy these values

OH this icon. GEOS will close out OUT application and reload the deskfop.

into your own symbols. This is normally done in your source code

Our icon could have just as easily told GEOS to access another routine

immediately following the pholo scrap. So, type in the same thing as in the

within our application. This is how GEOS works, and is called 'event

SamSeq file, or cut it to a text scrap and then paste il in your own file. Since

programming'. GEOS watches for an 'event' to happen, and responds

you are including [C0N1WIDTH =picW and ICON1HEIGHT =picH,

accordingly. It's a nice way to do tilings.

Volume 1, Number2

37

Commodore World

ASIC INSTINCT o*f Qeae When Doug Cotton askedme to expand Big Guns

■

into a large game that would span across the

Design our text system (where and how we

will output game text)

remaining five issues for tliis year, [ was a tittle

■

skeptical. Afterall, Big Guns was a fictional game

- Create ihe movement system for the ships

wepnr together to illustrate sound programming

- Design a simple routine to guide the

practices. In Fact Doug had to use some of that

located (0-99| SL%(SI 1,2)

computer's ships

SL%(S11.3)

V Coordinate of ship's locaiion in

SL%(S1I,4)

Current number of movement

the current sector [0-9]

Editor-Columnist arm twisting in order lo

poinls available [it]

convince me to create the new game. After

Before we begin to type madly at the keyboard.

working on this forsome time, Ifinallyrecoj^itzed

we must design Starship Combat on paper. In ihe

the value ofcreating such a column. I mustadmit,

long run this method will save us a great deal of

our editor here at Commodore World had a greal

time. We wiUcreate the program Starship Combat

idea and 1 believe that through these columns we

in three sieps:

are going

to learn

a

great

deal

X Coordinate ofship's locaiion in

the current sector [0-9]

Setup the game's main loop

SL%(SH,5)

Amount of power remaining in Ihe ship's reserves [nj

The"%" following ihe array name tells BASIC

that all the values contained In the array are

about

integers. We'll use an integer array since integers

programming. Even belter, we're going to have

(1)

Outline main logic

use less than half the memory of real numbers

fun doing il! Reiou you will find the results ofour

(2)

Design data structures (our variable lypes)

(integers require two bytes per number and reals

efforts.

(3)

Write the program

require five).

This is the first of five installments of the new game Starship Combat. Starship Combat is

Outline Main Logic

In the outline we created above, we wrote that we must Initialize all the ships before the start of

written entirely in Commodore BASIC v2. We

Let rs write oul how Starship Conibal will work in

the game and we must initialize all the ships

will locus heavily on structured program

a simple formal so that we will have some idea of

movementpoints at the beginningofeach round.

development so that we can become better

how to approach this project in BASIC.

programmers. Although this column is designed

In this installment of Starship Combat we have four ship types (0-3). Each ship lype is defined by

for beginning It ASK" programmers, even thoseof

Initialize all Union and Alliance ships

its name, available movement points per round,

you who are experienced may want U> review

While the Union ships are alive;

and its default power supply. Since ihe name is a

some of the advanced techniques utilized by

initialize the movement points forall ihe ships

Starship Combat's subroutines.

While ships still have movement points; process ship with most movement points

The Game Starship Combat has ihe ability for Uvo sets of

End_Whilc

character string AND the movement points and [he power supply are integers, we must use two separate arrays lo represent them. We will name

the arraysTYS and TV% for ship TYpes. The first

array will be just a lisl ofthe ship names: so it will

End_While

forces (the Union and the Alliance) to duke it out

only require one dimension.

in space lisinfj, a variety of ships, weapons, and

The outline above will help us keep focused as we

specialitems. The computer controls the Alliance

develop Starship Combat's code.

forces and the player controls the Union forces.

TY$(0)

UN Scout

TYS(l)

UNL-Desl

The battlefield is a (10) by (10) grid of sectors for

Design Data Structures

a totalof(100)sectors. Onlyonesecteffia displayed

TY$(2)

AL Hunter

First and foremost, we need a way to represent all

TYS(3)

ALI.-Dest

on thescreen at any one time. Each seclor is a( 1(1)

the ships in the game. The most convenient way

by (HI) grid of characters. Each ship has its own

lo do tiiis in Commodore BASIC is lo use a two-

The"$"followingiheaiTaynamelellsMS!Cthat

letter (A-Z) lo represent it in a sector: so we may

dimensional array. We will call lliis array Sl,%for

all ihe values contained in the array are slrings.

have up to (26) ships in the game at any one time.

Ship List. The ;irray will contain a record for each

Our second array will require more than one

Combat will be limited to the current seclor for

ship. Each ship has a number SI I for SI lip which

number for each ship; so it will require two

eacii ship; a ship may only attack other ships that

will tell us where it is located in the array. A ship

dimensions where:

are in llie same sector. A ship can be destroyed in

record will contain the following Information:

two ways: when its superstructure fails or when

the ship runs out of power. The game is over

TY%(X.O) SL%(Sfl,O)

Ship type:

when an entire side has been destroyed^ In ihis

|0]-Union Seoul

installment

HI- Union Light Destroyer

of Slarship Combat we will

concentrate on the following: -

Setup tlie game screen

Volume 1. Number 2

SI.%(SII,1)

Available movement poinls per round

TY%(X, I)

Default power supply level

12] -Alliance Hunter

"X" is the ship lype (0-3). In the program listing

131 -Alliance Light Destroyer

you will find that we reference thisarray using the

Sector number where ship is

ship type entry in the SL% array. Eor example,

3B

Commodore World

ty%(sl%(SH,4).O) tells us the number of

MAIN PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

movement points that the ship SI 1 in the game

-

Fills the options area with spaces

- Sets cursor color and position for the options

has per round.

Lines 100-1911 (setup main game loop)

Ourlast data structure will addressour need to

-

Call the setup screen routine

area

Lines 11400-1 i 699 (update status and map area

accept several different keyboard commands lor

- Call the initialize game variables routine

for current ship)

the players options in the main menu. We will

Lines 200-2!!!) (main loop for the game)

Given: Ml ■ the ship number; Ml1 ■ ship's current

createanoihcr one-dimensional arraynamed OPS

- Follow structure of our outline using calls to

for OPtions which will contain each of the

subroutines

command characters.

- Lines 215 and 220 perform our lirst While by cycling through all ships in the ship list SI.%

OPS(O) OP$(1)

@

OP$(2)

number of movement points -

Move ship Up

status area

-

until it finds a Union ship type

Move ship left

■

Line 225 calls the initialize all ships for next

Move ship right

round routine and frees up any unused strings

Lines 490-499 prints the ship's stats in the Lines 500-599 updates the sector in the map area for the current ship

-

Using screen memory which slartsat 1024. the

formulas place the ships at theirproper location

OI'$(3)

/

Move ship down

using the FRE function (this will help us avoid

in the map area (through the use of the POKE

OP$(4)

u

Use an item

a lengthy garbage collection delay caused by

command)

OP$(5)

r

Effect repairs on ship

OPS(H)

w

Wail one turn

OP$(7)

'1

CJuii the game

III} [F3]

Fire ship's torpedoes

OP${8) OPS(9)

Ffre ship's phasers

our use of strings) -

Lines 11700-11799 (print integer)

Lines 230-250 finds the ship with the most

Given: XN- the integer; XL -the maximum length

movement points available

of the integer in characters

I ines 255-260 calls either the process Union

- This routine converts the integer to a siring.

ship or process Alliance ship routine

removes the leading space from that string,

Lines 400-460 (all union ships are destroyed) Write The Program

- Tellplaverail Union shipshave been destroyed

Now that we have our outlineaQd datastructures

- A.sk player if he/she wishes to play again

designed let's hit the keyboard!

pads the remaining siring with spaces, ihen prints the string (using the MJi)$ function) Lines 11B00-11999 (kill ship)

Given: XK -theship number to kill

As yon type in the program make sure you

■

review each section's comments below. This will

SUBROUTINE DESCRIPTIONS

-

help you understand the How of the program. Lines 10000-10199 (setup screen)

insights which you might find useful in the future.

-

position in the ship list

Set screen colors and select the lowercase

Lines 20000-24999 (process union ship turn)

character set

Given: SH - Union ship number; MP - ship's

Print the main game screen

Lines J0200- 10299 (jiriul repeated ch string)

movement points -

Given: XS$ - the string: XS - the number of NT

Number of ship types available

repetitions

UT

Number of union ship types available

-

(union ship types must be first in theTY

Lines 10400-10699 (initialize game variables)

arrays)

-

Used to detect whether a ship is from the Union or Alliance

TY$

Ship type name array

TY%

Ship type statistics array (movement points and power supply)

Removes ship from ship list Sl.% and moves all

ships with higher numbers than XK down one

You will also find a couple of helpful notes and

IMPORTANT VARIABLES

Informs player of ship's destruction

-

This routine prints the string XSS, XS times l.ines400-499setsup the ship type arrays TY$

Lines 075-199 Gets the command character from the keyboard and goes to its respective routine

Lines 50(1-570 sets uj) the main sliip list array

-

Sl.% placing three Union ships in sector (22) -

Lines 035-070 Prints the main menu in the options area

-

andTY% -

I ines (100-030 Updates status and map areas for tlie ship

Lines

200-999 Execute

Lines 25000-29999 (process alliance ship turn)

Lines 575-600 creates the strings SAS, OAS,

Given: SH - Alliance ship number; MP - ship's

Number of ships that are alive

andNAS which point to top left hand corner of

movement points

SI.%

Tht ship list array containing the current

the Status, Options, and Notes text area on the

-

status of each ship

game screen

Number of options available in main

Lines 000-030 Updates status and map areas for the ship

- 1 ines 605-630 sets up the command character array OPS for the main options menu

menu

respective

and four Alliance ships in sector (.13)

NS

OP

the

commands

OP$

Array of possible command characters

SA$

Initialization siring for status area

round)

OAS

Initialization string for options area

- Cycles through all the ships in the ship list and

-

Lines 035-969 (lose in on the closest Union ship

Lines 11000-11199 (initialize all ships for next

(See ike program listing on thefollowingpages) A Note Concerning Program Entry

NA$

Initialization string for notes area

SI I

Current ship

Linus 11200-11299 (clear notes area and set the

Large

Ml1

Movement pointsavailableibrthecm rent

cursor)

Commodore

ship

-

I-ifls the notes area with spaces

-

Sejfi cursor color and position for the noles

accompanied by a list o!'checksum values lo the leftofeadiline.no not enter these valuesas part ofthe program The values can be verified

resets their movement points

PW

Power supply for the current ship

XX

X coordinate lor current ship

XY

Y coordinate lor current ship

Lines 1130O-J1399 (clear options area and set

X'/.

Sector number for the current ship

the cursor)

Volume 1, Number 2

area

39

program

listings

World

appearing in magazine

are

using the Commodore World CHK-LIST

utility, located elsewhere in this issue.

Commodore World

STARSHIP

STARSHIP

COMBAT

5000

100

6DC2

105 rem commodore world magazine 110 rem basic instincts w/gene barker 115 rem starship combat part i

C67C 8589

rem

1A27

120 125

rem rem

9 2 AD

130

rem

131b

135 rem-

■,'■■.■

i

■

(c|1994

creative micro

5639

140

rem setup main

C243

145

rem-

game

designs

(i.Wt.)

print "{CESS RTXRVS ON) (YEL)Notos!

10110 DGRY}

COMBAT

r

xsS="{CMDR @}":gosubl0200:print print"{RVS ON)";:xs=6:xs$="(SPACE)

AF73

10115

8E74

10120

27C3

10125

7588

t}":aosubl0200 10130 print"{RVS ON)-;:xs=6:xs$="{CRSR 0

{CRSR DNHCRSR L)" :gosub!0200 print"{RVS OFF}";:xs=39:XS$="(CMDR

P)(CRSR

loop 0031

L)(SPACE)":gosubl0200

10135

print"{HOME}{6 CRSR DN){CRSR RT}{L :xs=10:xs$=*{SHFT

E9DB

150 gosubl0000:clr

GRY}"

022B

155

gosubl0400

C1CC

200

rem-

A745

rint 10140 print"{2

F9C6

205

rem main loop

A5B7

DA6B

210

rem-

A214

28AF

215

fori=0tons-l:ifsl%ti.0)
2405

3806

220

next:goto400

314B

225

gosubl1000:i=Ere(0]

7C1C

230

sh=999:mp=0

48E5

235

fori=0tons-l ifsl%(i,4)>mpthensh=i:mp=sl%(i,4

6D7C

240

9FAE

CC31

9602

*}":gosubl0200:p

CRSR RT)(RVS

0N)MOve:"

print"{CRSR rt)(rve ON}Power:" 10150 print-[2 CRSR RTHRVS ON)Shld:" 10155 print* [CRSR RTHRVS ON)Super:" 10160 print"!2 CRSR RT){RVS ONjTorp:" 10165 print"!CRSR RTHRVS ON) "; :gosubl02 00;print 10170 print*(2 CRSR RTHRVS ONJSect:10175 print" (3 CRSR RT}[RVS ON}POs:(SPAC 10145

245

next

7EIC

D1WB

250

J 1 DA

10180 return 10200

3D73

255

ifsh=999then200 ifsl*(sh,0)
CE67

10205

rem print repeat ch string

B2FD

10210

rem

1764 0C1C

10215 rem xsS 10220 rem xs

BA56

10225

B4E9

10230

30

CC78

260

gosub25000:goto230

83C7

400

rem-

9C62

405

rem all

83C7

410

rem-

1F53

415

union

ships are destroyed

-

ch string

-

#

of

repeats

rem

forxi^ltoxs;printxs$;:next:return

1A13A

gosubll200 420 print'All Union royed." 425 gosubll300

■■

430 print"Game over." 435 printoa$"{2 CRSR DNJTry again?"

C02 3

440 printoa$"{4

CRSR DN)(y)yes"

7673

C518

445

CRSR DN)(n)no"

4B79

9B57

450 getxS:ifx$="n"thenend

6D6F

455

i £>:$<>*y"then450

F25C

460

run

10430 nt=4:ut=2 10435 dimtyS(nt-l),ty%(nt-l,2) 10440 forxi=0tont-l:readtyS(xi):forj=0to l;readty%(xi,j):next:next 10445 data "UN Scout",3,500

548B

10000

rem

90EC

10005

rem

EC33

10010

rem

E4D6

10015

rem sets

1F71

10020

rem

32L4

10025

rem-

71 OB

10030

rem set

29B3

rem-

6533

A0BF

10035 10045

poke53280,0:poke53281,0

49A9

10050

printchr$(14l

9679

10055 10060

remrem print

EF56

2

83ED 472F

346E 4745

printoa$"{5

rem

ships

have been

2DD3

dest

1W" iw

rem

10415

rem-

F3A8

10420

rem setup ship definitions

C243

10425

rem-

2817

up

screen

for

the game

screen colors & ch

set

~ ~~ ™■

"UN L-Dest",4,750 "AL

C6F9

5291

10500

0B12

10505

rem setup ship

5291

10510

rem-

8859 4E09

10515 ns=7:dimsl%(ns-l,5) 10520 forxi=0tons~l 10525 : forxj=0to3:reads1%(xi,xj):next

1E8C

10530

D8C1

0,22,2,7

Hunter",3,480

-AL L-Dest-,4,725

rem-

:

6647 B426

105-30

data

0,22,6,7

-"{CMDR @}":gosubl0200:print

FE02

10555

data

2,33,3,3

10075

1767

10560 data 2,33,3,9

C2bl

10'jh5

CCFffl

10570

data data rem-

print"{RVS

C4A5

ON){SPACE}{WHTJCommodor

e World's SCarship combat[4

SPACESHnGRY

}{space}"

list

sl%(xi,5)=ty%(sl%(xi,0),1)

10065 rem10070 print" (CLR/HOMEHDGRY}"; :xs=39:xsS

screen

■——

10455 data 10460 data

10535 next 10540 data 10545 data

the

~

10450 data

ADCA 83DF

screen

-—

rem initialize game variables

1315

880F setup

■—■ - -

10405

1,22,4,5

3,33,5,5 3,33,5,7

2DD3

10080 xs$="{CMDR t}":gosubl0200:print

4AB9

1057 5

CD96

10085

RT){YEL){RVS ONlStatUS

4860

10580 rem

9BEF

10585

rem-

A4DD

"spc(5)"Map"5pc(8)"Options{DGRYJ" 10090 xs$="{CMDR @)":gosubl0200:print 10095 xs=10:xs$="{RVS ON} {SPACEHLGRYH 1

B66A

10590

sa$=n{H0M[!}{5 CRSR

0

25E6

5E73

print*{CRSR

SPACES} (DGRY) (SPACE) (WHT)

RY) (SPACE) {LGRYH15

S

{DG

string variables DN}{CRSR

RT} (RV

ON} {LGRY}"

oaS=n(HOME)(5 CRSR DN){23 CRSR RT) 3K)(LGRY)" 10600 naS="(HOME)(13 CRSR DN)(CRSR RTHR 10595 (RVS

SPACES) {DGRYJ {SPACE}

-+chrS<13)

256B

1922

10100

B392

10105 xs=39:xs$=*{CMDR t)■:gosubl0200:pr

4AB9

int

4E2A

VS

gosubl0200

Volume 1, Numbor2

setup

40

OFF}{WHT}"

10605 10610

rem-

rern setup option

ch's

Commodore World

STARSHIP COMBAT Uwit.)

bllE 8 FDA

10615

STARSHIP

rem-

F1 AC

10620 op=10:dimopSlop-1):forxi=0toop-l:r

3 9A6

eadopS(xi):next A560

10625

data

11730

xl),-

"S',":", ";","/","u", "r","w", "

COMBAT

(ionl.S

1 1 11 e-j " n J.J.

printmid$(strS(xn)-t"(5 SPACES)-, 2,

0A4F

11735

g","{Fl>-,""

0DCD

1 "1 fttflrt

AF75

10630 return

DDES

11805

1BF5

110C0

rem

33C5

11005

rem initialize all

9C61 37C1

E750

11810 rem 11815 rem xk

11010 rem next 11015 rem

4637 AE80

1 1 83(71

0CBE

11830 Xt=12 + 5M0i-xx + xy-40:poke55296+xt,2 :pokel024+xt,170

E794 5FB7

6B4D

11020 11025

ships

for

round

forxi=0tons-l : sl%(xi,4)=ty%(sl%(xi,0),0)

11825

return

rem kill -

ship ship ft

xx=sl%(xk,2):xy=sl%(xk,3)

AC92

11030 next

6999

11835

07 E6

--y-'-

11840 print"Ship

1E7B

11035 11200

A149

11845

rem-

138B 67AF

11205 rem clear notes area and set 11210 rem the cursor

58C7

11850 11855

rem

A149

8495

11215

2BD9

F339

11220 print"(HOME){17

B7D1

return rem

rem CRSR DNJ"

11225 xs=6:xsS="{CRSR RT)(37

SPACES)"+ch

72DC

11230 printna$;ireturn

4637

11300

54BB

11305 rem clear options area and set

F17B 8011

11310 rem the cursor 11315 rem 11320 print"{HOME}{5 CRSR DNJfRVS

DDC7

RY)11; 0B97

11325

B0D3

SPACES}"+chrS(13):gosubl0200 11330 printoaS;:return

5105

11400

rem

C12E

11405

rem update

DF0C

11410 rem

34F2

E9CD

11415 rem 11420 rem sh

C41D

11425

CRSR

RTHRVS

ON}{15

status and map area

for current

siiip

7A1D

11880 next 11885 return

77T?

t, VlWJtJJ
2970

20005

797T

A VsVf -1- 'J'

D278

20015

rem-

8FSD

20020

032E

20025

rem update status/map/options

200B

20030 gosub!1400

4821

FF57

2003 5 gosubll300 20040 print"(@,:,;,/Jmove"

7587

20045

rem process union ship turn

rem-

20060

rem

11435

rem-

ft

5518

CRSR DN)(u)use item"

CRSR DN)(r)repairs'

CRSR DN)(w)waif CRSR DN}(q)quit game"

printoa$"{6 CRSR DN)(Fl]fire phase

IT

4452

11440

rem update ship's

D472

1144 5

rem-

1A34

11450 printsaS;left$(tyS(sl%(sh,0) )-t--{8

9521

Eorxj=0to5:slS(xi-l,xj)=sl%(xi,x

83DA

11430

09CE

:

033F

4637

EA76

11865

rem mp - movement points

0524

2660

11875

11860

printoa$"{2 20050 printoa$"{3 20055 printoa$"{4 20057 printoa$"{5

ship

list

70E5

034 4

-

ship

0CBE

D169

ON}{LG

update

is destroyed!"

rem-

j}:next

rem

xs=10:xsS="{23

gosubll200

ifns=lthen400 ns=na-l:ifxk=nsthenreturn 11870 forxi=xk+ltons

889B

r$(13):gosubl0200

to kill

status

7A10

20065

printoa$"H CRSR DN} [F3 ] Eire torp"

DEF8

20070

printoaS"{9 CRSR DN}(A-Z)view ship

SPACES)-,10)

7615

11455 print"{RVS ON}(CRSR DNJ"spc(7);:xn =sl%(sh,4):xl=4:gosubll700 11460 print:print"(RVS ON}"spc(7);:xn=sl

B3EF

20075 rem20080 rem get

A743

20085

rem-

4 6SA

20090

%(sh,5):gosubll700

getxxS:i ExxS=""then20090

DF19

20095

ifxx$>="A"andxx$<="Z"then20700

option

11465 print:print"(RVS ON}{4 CRSR DN}"sp c(7);:xn=sl%(sh,1):gosub!1700:xz=xn 11470 printiprint"(RVS ON)"spc(7);:xn=sl

C23E

20100

pw^sl%(sh,5)

A8D6

20105

forxi=ltoop: i£xxS<>opS (xi-1) tihenne

%(sh,2):xl=l:gosubll700:xx=xn

165B

xt:goto20090 20110 onxigoto20200,20300,20400,20500,20

62BD

11475

00A1

20200

rem-

D7FD

Ubll700:xy=xn 11500 rem-

B36C

20205

06SE

11505

rem update map area

rem move

1B06

20210

reni-

CC5A

11510

rem-

6AE1

11515 print"(HOME)(5 CRSR DN}(WHT)";:xs= 10:xs$="{12 CRSR RT} {RVS ON) "+

8268

2S215

ifxy<>0therixy=xy-l :goto20230

4A07 D1D4

chrS(13):gosubl0200

20220 if(xz-10)<0then20230 2022 5 xz=xz-10:xy=9

93FC

20230

rem-

2023 5

rem do

42AA

20240

rem-

9716

20245

sl%(sh,l)=xz:slft(sh,2)=xx:sl%(sh,3

A4F0

11520

prir.L"{CRSR

rt}";:xn=sl%(sh,3] rgos

090,20090,20800,20600,20090,20090

forxi=0cons-liifsl%(xi,l)oxzthenn

ext:gotoll530 C536

11525 pokel024 + 5M0+12-tsl%(xi,3)*40+sl%{

xi,2),xi+193:next CC57 43B9

7F14

)=xy

11530 xt=1024+5*40+12+xy*40+xx:pokext,pe

5A3D

ship up

Che move

ek(xt)-128:return

FEEF

11700 rem 11705 rem print

20250 mp=mp-l:pw=pw-l 20255 rem-

4 504

20260 rem update

2FB9

20265

E70D 82BB

20270 sl%(sh,4)=mp:sl%(sh,5)=pw 20275 gosubll400:i fpw=0thenxk=sh:gosubll 800

3B6A

202S0 gosub!1200:return

integer

30F3 43FF

11710

rem

11715

rem xn

-

1D64

11720

rem xl

- max

Volume 1. Number2

the

integer

length of

integer

41

stats

rem-

Commodore World

STARSHIP

COMBAT

STARSHIP

(n'lll.l

FD60

20300

rein-

EA37

20305

rem move

E6C7 45C4

20310 rem20315 ifxx<>0thenxx=xx-l:goto20230 20320 ifrightS(str$<xz),lJ="0"then20230

17 ED

20325

4 2kA 475<3

20400 rem20405 rem move

■12AA

20410

rem-

9956

20415 20420

9F84

ship

COMBAT

(uml.l

25135

:

ifxl>9thenxl=xl-10:yl=yl+l:goto2

6A63

5135 25140

:

x2=sl%txi,l):y2=0

8BA9

25145

left

:

ifx2>9thenx2=x2-10:y2=y2+l:goto2

5145 DE47

25150

:

xl=abs(x2-xl):yl=abs(y2-yl)

B378

25155

:

xt=xl+yl

ship right

4B6F

25160

ifxx<>9thenxx = xx+l.:gato20230

FB91

ifright$(strS(xz),1)="9"then20230

D2E3

25170

ifxp=999then400

D5FB

25175

B4D1

25180

ifx3>y3then25190 : if(xz-xn)<0then2050S

7EB0

20425 xz=xz+l:xx=0:goto20230 20500 rem20505 rem move ship down

774E

25185

20C8

20510

rem-

4B86

AECB

20515

ifxy<>9thenxy=xy+l:gotc20230

2DD7

EE58

20520

i £(xz+10)>99then20230

5139

25C2

20525 xz=xz+10:xy=0:goto20230

84A5

20600

0ACE

4721

20605 rem quit game 20610 rem20615 gosufc>11300

0D5C

20620

2D30

20625

4663

20630 princoaS-{4 CKSR DN}(y)yes" 20635 printoa$"{5 CRSK DN}(n)no"

1A85

20640 getxx$:i Exx$="n"then20000 2064 5 ifxxS<>"yuhen20640

.■

20650 end

4E54

20700

B092

20705 rem view ship

55F3

20710

rera-

09 CD

25345

next

1B1A

20715

sh=asc(xxS)-asc("A")

B9D0

25350

ifabs(zx)>abs|zy)then25365

64 80

20720

i fsh>=nsthenreturn

25355

:

ifzy<0then20500

C4C0

20725

mp=sl%(sh,4I

9966 15A4

25360

:

goto20200

2F0B

20730 gosubll400 20735 gosubl!300 20740 print"View ship:"

25AC

25365

ifzx<0then20400

6775

25370

goto20300

861A

■ICE 4 20C8

F19E

4358 4 6B8

SC45 C9BA

xz=xz-l:xx=9:goto20230

rem-

print"Quit game:" printoaS"{2 CRSR DNjAre you sure?"

A832

20800

rem-

9BC2

20B05

rera wait

A832

20810

rem-

[.;,

5S0D

20815 mp=mp-l:pw=pw-l:goCo20255 25000 rem

75CD

25005

a key)"

rem

■

222F

25015

rem-

3949

rem update

9DE5

25020 25025

92C8

25030 gosubll400

3186

2 503 5

97FF

25040

■

status/map/options

rem-

gosub!1300

4CB3

25055

rem-

D5I3A

25060 rem move

9DE5

25065

rem-

AHA

2 5070

A7D3

25075

forxi=0tons-l:iExi=shthen25080 : if(sl*(xi,0)
towards

a union

ship

)then25300

union

sector

12C0

25130

:

0D37

rem-

E74D

25310 25315

13BF

25320

forxi=0tons-l

AD72

25325 : if (sl%(xi,0)>=ut)or(sl%(xi,l)<>x z)then25345

013B

25330

: yx=xx-sl%(xi,2):yy=xy-sl%(xi,3)

:■■,-■■

25335 25340

rem-

on closest

union

ship

xp=999:xd=999

:

xt=abs(yy):ifabs(yx)<xtthenxt=ab

:

i Ext<xdthenxp=xi:xd=xt:zx=yx:zy =

CW & RUN Back Issues with a great source of information and now CMD has given you Commodore World. Don't let this valuable information slip away, fill in the voids in your library now!

RUN Magazine RMJANB8 RMFEBBS

xl=xzsyl-0

March/April 1992

May/June 1992 July/August 1992

February 1988 RMJUL92

March 1988 2US|P92 Apr,M988 May 1988 June19B8

RMFEBB9

February 1989 May 1989

RMJUN89

June 1989

RMAUGG9 RMSEP89

RMJAN90 RMMAY90 RMDEC90

Sep/October 1992 Nou/December 1992

Commodore World CW1-2

Volume 1, Number 1 Volume 1, Number 2

Pricing

July 1989 RUN Back Issues: Any 3 issues tor

August 1989 $12.00; Any 6 issues lor S18.00; Any

September 1989 12 issues for $24.00. October 1989 Commodore World: $4.95 each Special Issue 1989 January 1990

Shipping

May 1990 RUN: 3 or 6 issues - U.S. S3.00,

June/July December RMJAN91 January/February RMMAY91 May/June RMJUN90

RMNOV92

July 1988 CW1-1

RMMAY89 RMJUL89

January/February 1992

January 1988 RMMAY92

RMJUN88 RMJUL83

RMJAN92 RMMAR92

RMMAY88

RMSP89

closest

F6A2

CEFF

25305 rem close

RMOCT89

25080 next

25110 rem25115 Kp=999:xd=999 25120 forxi=0tons~l 25125 : ifsl%(xi,0)>=utthen25165

83CE

25300

46AD

RMAPR88

921D

63AB

0D37

RMMAR8S

print"Alliance ship" 25045 printoaS"(CRSR DN}closes!" 25050 pw=sl%(sh,5)

79DD

if(Xl-x2)<0then20400

25210 goto20300

For years RUN Magazine provided Commodore Users

one turn

rem process alliance ship turn

25100 rem25105 rem £ind

ifx2>9thenx2=x2-10:goto25200

yy

return

'HO!

25200 25205

D40B

rem-

20755

6033

: goto20200 25190 xl=xz:x2=xn 25195 i£xl>9thenxl=xl-10:goto25195

s (yx)

0959

204B

25165 next

9560 29C4

20745 printoaS"{2 CRSR DN}(press 20750 getxxS:ifxx$=""then20750

■■...

ifxt<xdthenxp=xi:xd=xt:x3=xl:y3=

yl:xn=sl%(xi, 1)

C721

B2B2

:

1990 1990 1991 1991

Canada S5.00. Foreign S15.00; 12 issues U.S. $5.00; Canada $7.00; Foreign $20.00.CW: U.S. and Canada $2.00 each; Foreign S5.00

To ORDER Call 1-800-638-3263 Volume 1, Number 2

Commodore World

8 BIT

P.O. BOX 542

6TYLL

LINDENHURST, NY 11757-0542 6PACSETS ONLY $ 5.00 OUR MOST POPULAR ITEMS Each sel contains 6-1541 formal dinks.

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to receive adult sets.

8: Recipes Set

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Commodore nacra. CMD haialway* been there catting the edge of developcment and rapport!

F: F.G.M. Set G: Clinics Set

CALL FOR A FRBE COPY OF OUR

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Commodore World

ADVANCED CHNIQU Gallon

types of computers when writing the BASIC portion of our program.

Last issue webeganlookingat methods ofmaking'commoncode'programs

There's one more part of this puzzle to solve, however. How do we know

lhat operate on both the C-64 andC-128.Wegeneratedasingle line BASIC program to'snoop around'and discoverour configuration, I alsopresented

where our relocating routine is? This, loo, is fairly easy lo overcome. Both

a brief lisl of tilings to consider when writing code of tin's type. In this

the (>4 and 128 have pointers in zero page memory to tell us where BASIC

installment, we'll lake a lookatsome specific ways to create these'common

programs begin in memory. By using a BASIC routine lo follow the line

code'programs utilizing some of those considerations.

links, we can quickly find the end ofthe current BASIC program. And, with careful placement of our relocating routine, we'll know exactly where to

It bears repealing that this kind of programming will require input to be

performed on a 128—a C-64 simply doesn't have the ability to recognize

SYS to.

In looking over our 'snooper' line from last issue, I did notice an error

I might mention some other possible ways to utilize these methods. While 1 intentionally designed lliis scheme as a way to start big machine

that crept in when the program was converted to text; the CHR${127) at the

language programs, I found il could also be applied to smarily written

beginning of that program line should have been a Cl IRS(147). To make

mixed BASIC and machine language programs. Using a number of small

BASIC 7.0 commands which will be used from time to time.

sure the-seerrors don't happen in ihe future, I'm writing a program thai will

machine language subroutines for speeding up certain aspects of a BASIC

handle the conversions without human intervention.

program issomethingmanyofus as programmers have often done, or wish to do more of. Writing your machine language subroutines in relocatable

Here then is the corrected program line:

code, and using the routines I'll be providing here, gives you the ability to 10

edit your BASIC code without having to re-link the machine language

PRINTCHRSU47) ; : F=ABS ( PEEK ( 65533 ) =255) :M=0: IF

FTKENM=ABS127):IFMTHENFAST:WINDOW20,ffl ,59,24

routines. Your program can be loaded as a single entity, edited, and saved again—completely intact.

Bui enough about why I find this approach appealing; let's get inlo the

One of the main points I want to cover in this issue is dealing with a large

code itself Before we jump into the machine code portion, let's get the

machine language written to run on both the C-64 and C-128. Normally,

BASIC part set to do whal il needs to. Mere's our'snooper'program line

when a machine language program i.s written specifically for the C-64 or

with ihe additional code we need:

C-128, it is written to reside In a known location. Programmers often use a separale loader program thai loads the machine language into that fixed

686B

10 PRINTCHR$(147) ; :F=ABSI PEEK(65533}= 255 ):M=0:IFFTHENM=ABS(PEEK(215)>127):IFMTHE

location, or end up writing custom front-ends lor programs each time they

N=%:=20,0,59,24

make a new program. I laving to keep separale files together in order to gel

5E39

20

problems Into play—like how to handle device numbers, subdirectory

EF66

(45)+PEEK(46)'256 30 NL=PEEK(X)+PEEK(X*1)*256:IFNL<>0THENX

paths, etc. Granted, we all managed to live with old programs that had device 8 hard-coded in, and had lotsofUtUe modules for sprites, screen, and

0B7B

40

IFFTHEN50

FA4D

41

POKE175,INT((X + 621/256):POKE174,(X + 62

155F

)-(PEEK(175)'256):POKE251,PEEK(45> 42 POKE252,PEEK<46):POKE253,PEEK(45):POK

a program lo work is not only annoying to a user, but it also brings other

X=PEEK[43)+PEEK(44)*2 56tIFFTHEHX=PEEK

=NL:GOTO30

portions of the code itself. Bui I'd certainly like to see programmers today step up and start making things easier to deal with for the end user.

E254,PEEK[46 J t20:SYS [X + 2)

1 can't count how many times in the past I've been close to completing a

C4B3

program, only to realize that 1 still had the taskofwritingacustom relocator or Ironl-ctul module ahead of me. It was out ofa desire to do away with 'the

50

SYS(X+62+((1+-F)*5120))

1 iere's a quick breakdown ofwhal the BASIC portion does:

job alter the job' that I began to experiment with creating a 'one for all' approach to this problem. The solution which I have been refining over

Line 10 - As we discussed last issue. Clears the screen; sets Up variable F to

lime involves saniiwichinga relocatable machine language'mover' routine

indicate a I for 128 mode, or a zero for
between a BASIC front end and the actual machine language program

zero; checks toseeifwe're in 128 mode, anddrops out to line 20 ifweareu't;

itself. Because it is written in relocatable code, it doesn't matter where in

sets variable M to 1 if we're in 80-eohimn mode, or zero if we're in

memory il is located.

'10-column mode; puts the computer into 2 MHz fast mode if we're in 80-

The purpose ofthis routine is to move the machine language program up

in memory if the computer it is being used on is a C-64. By moving it lo

COlumn mode, or exits to line 20 if we're in 40-column mode; makes a centered 40-column window on the 80-eolnmn screen.

where it would normally be located on a C-128, we can keep from having lo

write the entire machine language portion ofthe program In relocatable

Line 20 - Sets variable X to the address holding the first BASIC line links

code. We can also keep our SYS command locations common for both

according to the proper mode (ti4 or 128).

Volume 1, Number 2

44

Commodore World

Line 30 - Sets variable NI. lo the address holding the next BASIC line link;

A

01D3B

BEQ

S1D60

If the address is nonzero, sets X to equal NL. then loops back to the

A

01D3D

LDA

$FB

beginning ofthe line. The program will loop here until X holds the address

.-.

01D3F

SEC

of the final Hue link that holds two zero bytes at the end of I he BASIC

A 01D40

SBC

S22

program, at which point it will drop down to execute line 40.

A

01D42

STA

SFB

A

01D44

BCS

S1D49

Line 40 - Checks to see ifthe computer is in 128 mode, and skips ahead to

A 01D46

DEC

SFC

line 50 If it is.

A

01D48

SEC

A

01D49

LDA

Sfd

line 4] - This linecalculates whereyourmachine language program should

A 01D4B

SBC

S22

be located (at 62 bytes past the start of the last line link}, and places this

A

01D4D

STA

SFD

address in pointers at 175 (SAE) and 176 (SAF). It also copies the low byte

A 01D4F

BCS

S1D59

of the stari of BASIC variables inlo location 251 ($FB).

A

01D51

DEC

SFE

A

01D53

BCC

S1D59

Line 42 -This line finishes setting up the pointers our 'mover' routine will

A 01D55

LDA

(SFB), Y

need by copying the high byte of the star! of BASIC variables to 252 ($J:C);

A

01D57

STA

(SFD), Y

locations 253 (SFD) and 254 ($FE) are set up with the lowaruihigh bytes of

A 01D59

DEY

the target address, which is 5120 bytes above the current start ofBASIC

A 01D5A

BNE

S1D55

variables area. After nil the variables are set. a SVS to the'mover'routine is

A

01D5C

LDA

(SFB), Y

performed. This moves your machine code up 5120 bytes, lo where it

A 01D5E

STA

(SFD), Y

would be on n 128. After this has executed, the program resumes ai line 50.

A 01D60

DEC

SFC SFE

A 01D62

DEC

Line 50 ■ This line performs a SYS to your machine language program. If

A 01D64

DEX

your machine language program ends with an KTS. it will return to this

A 01D65

BNE

BASIC program, but since there are no lurther BASIC lines lo execute, the

A

01D67

RTS

S1DS9

program will end.

Once you have this entered, perform a save from the monitor using the following command:

Now thai we've covered what the BASIC portion does, we can gel on with adding the machine language 'mover' routine. If you have not already entered ihe BASIC code, do so now. Re sure to enter it in 128modeona 128,

"UNI-LOAD'

;, 1C01, 1D68

and make sure that each line is exactly as shown. You may wish lo save a

temporary copy to disk after you have entered it. Also, since the program

In order to test that the entire program is working, we'll have lo add a little

won't operate correctly without the 'mover' and some additional machine

machine language program at the i-mi of the 'mover'. We'll want this to be

language to move, don't RUN it. Instead, enter the 128'sMONITOR mode,

something thatwill give us a positive indication that everything is working,

and type the following command:

so well just make a quick rouiine lo prinl a T lo the screen. Enter the following in the monitor:

M

1D29 A 01D68

LDA

tt$31

Ifyou correctly entered the BASIC portion oftheprogram, then the first line

A 01D6A

JSR

SFFD2

that prints on the screen after you enter this command should start with:

A

RTS

>01D29

00

00

01D6D

Now save this with:

00

If llie first line does not start ihis way, you've entered something incorrect

S

"UNI-TEST",08,1C01,1D6E

somewhere along the way.Check your program against the original before proceeding- Once everything is correct, enter the following assembly code

To perform (lie testing, you must LOAD and RUN the program UN1-TEST;

into the monitor:

you cannot simply RUN the version that is already in memory, since it

A

01D2C

SEC

depends on certain pointers that will only be set by reloading theprogtam. Try it from both M and 128 modes. Ifil doesn't work, double-check your

A

01D2D

LDA

SFB

A

01D2F

SBC

SAE

As it stands, this version will work well for starling up machine language

A

011)31

STA

S22

programs. To use it for mixed BASIC/MI, programs, we'll have to add a

A

01D33

TAY

A

01D34

LDA

SFC

next issue ofCommodore World, Meanwhile, play with this one a bit. You

SAF

code lor mistakes—they're easy to make.

little hit ofcodelo the HASICparlofihe program: bin we'll leave that iorthe

A

01D36

SBC

A

01D38

TAX

located elsewhere in this issue. It takes a different approach, using dala

A

01d39

I NX

Statements to poke a machine language rouiine into different places in the

A

01D3A

TYA

64 and 128; it works well for small programs with a few differences.

Volume I, Number2

might also take a look a! the BASIC code used in the CMK-I.IST utility.

45

Commodore World

Peripheral Vision Cotton

AN INTRODUCTION TO SCSI DEVICES AND COMMANDS

SCSI (Small Computer System Interface); A heal

Commodore systems; we need only send a

I/Obus which can beoptrakd at various data rata

command to the drive (along with any data

and which provides devke-indepmdence, easing

required lo perform the task), and let the drive

addition of storage, communication mid other

itself sweat the details.

expansion devices to the host computer system.

You may have also heard of IDS drives, now common on HIM AT type computers. These are

As if il were that .simple, eh? So what is SCSI,

also considered to be 'smart' drives, and were

really? SCSI is a 'standard' that was Intended to

designed to minimize controller interfacing

easeadding peripheral devices to computersftom

requirements for hard drives on MM and 'clone'

different platforms, Whal I mean by ciifferenl

computers. They fall short of SCSI drives for

platforms is this: regardless ofcomputer type—

versatility, but do help lo cheapen the cost of a

be it IBM, Macintosh, Amiga, Atari, C-64/128,

system by a small amount.

whatever—as long as Che computer has an SCSI cantrailer, youmay add and use SCSI peripherals on any of them. The peripherals need not be designed specifically for one computer platform—indeed, they are designed simply to

Now that I've 'stepped in it' and declared SCSI to

follow ilit' SCSI standards.

Hardware Issues

.system of the particular computer so thai it can

be superior in versatility. I'll naturally have to

effective communicate to the SCSI peripheral.

explain this a bit.

Devices of the same type can often use a driver

Expandability is a key issue for many users,

SCSI peripherals come in an assortment of

interchangeably. But devices of differing types

and SCSI clearly wins out over MFM, RLL, and

IDE drive types in this category. Any hard drive,

flavors; optical Manners, tape drives, floppy

will undoubtedly require separate drivers. So

drives, hard disk drives, optical drives and more. And since the SCSI standard has claimed wide

much for'standard', eh?

acceptance by the majority ol peripheral

Smart Peripherals

(lie hard drive's signals. Common MEM, RLE

manufacturers, nearly even' computer platform

When it comes to hard drive mechanisms, you

and IDE controllers are designed to manage only

that comes to mind lias available tor it some

might wonder what it is that makes SCSI drives

two hard drive mechanisms—whereas SCSI

means Of Utilizing SCSI peripherals.

different than the other types of drives arourul,

controllers are designed to handle up to seven

such MFM or 1(1.1, hard drive types, These latter

SCSI devices.

no mailer what type il i.s. requires some kind of controller lo interface the computer's signals to

two drive types were often found on IBM PC and

This brings to light two important advantages:

Before we allow ourselves to be overcome with

XT systems, and were considered to be 'dumb'

SCSI allows for more devices lo be attached to a

visions of flatbed scanners or CD-ROM drives

drives. Why so?This designation stems irom the

singlecontroller; and ihese devices are not limited

tied into our C-64/128, therearesome important

fact that the computer itself had to perform all

lo being only hard disk drives. But wait—there's

aspects ofSCSl to consider. The SCSI 'standard'

'low level' reading and writing of data on these

even more expandability with SCSI.

i.s. for tlie most part, a hardware interface

drives. SCSI drives are considered lo be 'smart'

The SCSI interface allows any SCSI device

Standard. In order to make a computer workwith

because they have what is called an 'embedded

attached to the controller to have up to H

any specific SCSI peripheral, some type of

controller'—a processor of their own built righl

individual'logical units' built-in.This means lliat.

software (or firmware) driver is requited. The

into the drive circuitry. This makes SCSI drives

in theory, the SCSI bus could support ,r>(i drives.

purpose of this driver is to adapt the operating

very much like the floppy drives we use on

In reality, however, multiple logical units in a

Reality Check...

Volume 1, Number?

46

Commodore World

single SCSI device is practically unheard of. Siill. it's nice to know thai the

these instructions, since it provides a DOS command for sending SCSI

capability is there for possible implementation in the future. Furthermore,

commands directly lo SCSI devices attached lo it.

if you have an interest in direct SCSI device programming, you'll have to

Every SCSI command is made up of several parameters which

deal with 'logical unit numbers'—even [hough the devices you'll lie

Commodore programmers will probably find similar in formal lolhe burst

programming will probably have only a single drive or unit.

command instructions used with the Commodore 1571.1581. and CMD

No discussion ofSCSI would be complete without bringing up the 'black

devices. The first byte of each instruction is the Ol'HRATION CODE—the

magic1 aspects that many of have experienced. Indeed, while SCSI has

command itself. The OPERATION' CODE byte is made up of two parts, as

serious advantages in expandability, these capabilities do noteomewidiout

iHtBtratedbelaw:theGROUPCODE(bito5 through 7),andtheCOMMAND CODE (bits 0 through 4).

some quirks. First ofali, il is important lo know thai SCSI devices attached lo the same bus absolutely must be jumpered for different SCSI device numbers. The

7

location ofthesejumpers will vary from one deviceto the next, bul isalmost having jumper blocks attached to these pins yield a device number from ft to 7. SCSI devices which are purchased pro-mounted in a case will often

have a simple thumbwheel switch on the rear panel to facilitate setting the SCSI device number. Another consideration is setting of the device's parity enable. Some host adaptors (SCSI controllers) may require parity to be enabled; such is the case with the host adaptor in the CMDHD Series hard drives. Other host adaptors may require parity to be disabled, while others yet may not care how parity is set. Locating the parity jumper will generally require having

documentation on the specific SCSI device being used. Bus termination is also an important factor in making sure your .SCSI peripherals operate correctly, it is also one of the strangest factors of working with SCSI devices. According to the SCSI .specification, each end

ofthe SCSI 'chain' must be terminated: furthermore, devices located in the middle of tlie chain must NOT lie terminated. Terminators generally

5

4

Group Code

■

always performed with three sets ofjumperpins. Different combinations of

6

3

2

10

Command Code

Since the GROUP CODE is made up of ,1 bits, there are 8 possible groups. These groups have been defined in the Standard in the following manner: Group I)

Six-Byte Commands

Group 1

Ten-Byte Commands

Groups2 through 4

Reserved

Group 5

Twelve-Byte Commands

Groups ti and 7

Vendor-unique

SCSI devices used in the CMD III) Series hard drives will accepl Group 0

(SOO-1F) and Group 1 (S2O-3F) commands, though the HD is capable of working with any of ihe command groups. The list below shows the common commands which you can find in these two groups:

consist of SIP (Single In-line Package) resistor packs that plug directly into

Operation Code (HEX)

sockets located on a SCSI device's embedded controller board near the

00

Test Unit Ready

SCSI connector. Pre-mounted external SCSI add-on devices generally are

01

Rezero Unit

not terminated When sold, though many come with a simple external

03

Request Sense

plug-in terminator that mounts easily in one ofthe ports on the back ofthe

04

Format Unit

case. You may also purchase this type of termination module separately

07

Reassign Blocks

from many computer supply stores.

08

Read

So what was all this about black magic'? Here's the scoop: incorrect

OA

Write

setting of SCSI device numbers, parity, or improperly terminated SCSI

0B

Seek

chains can cause some very odd errors, or may cause your SCSI peripherals

12

Inquiry

to fail to operate completely. Worse yet, termination is fer from beinga true

15

Mode Select

science. Due lo signal loss and impedance shift caused by multiple

16

Reserve

connections and mismatched inlercounectingcables. I've seen SCSI chains

17

Release

that wouldn't work when both ends are terminated. I've seen others that

1A

Mode Sense

simply wouldn't allow expanding beyond three or four devices—even

1B

Start/Stop Unit

though seven (plus the host adaptor) should have been possible. Thus,

1D

Send Diaqnostic

when expanding a SCSI chain, it is imperative to know the status of each of

25

Read Capacity

yourSCSI deviceswith reference to device number, parity and termination.

28

Read

And if everything is set as il.should be and tilings still do not work, it's time

2A

Write

Description

2B

Seek

2E

Write and Verify

By Your Command...

2F

Verify

Most SCSI peripherals fail into the 'common' category of being storage

37

Read Defect Data

devices, and for those that do. a set ofcommon instructions were devised.

3B

Write Buffer

This helps lo keep a wide range of drive mechanisms compatible with

3C

Read Buffer

drivers. Itisthisset ofcommands that we will fbcuson, though onceyou are

3E

Read Long

familiar with how the SCSI command structure operates—and how to

3F

Write Long

I o experiment.

Implement it in your own code—you should easily be able to work with other SCSI devices by obtaining documentation from the manufacturer. We'll also be using the CMD HD Series hard drive as our 'host adaptor' in Volume 1. Number2

47

While there are a number ofother commands, someoftfaosenoi listed may well not be implemented on all drives. You can see from the list that some Commodore World

Group l commands duplicate the Group <)

Address is broken tip over more than one Byte.

take a look at how we can make use of SCSI

commands. The difference is thai Group 1

Group 1 commands can address more storage

commands with our Commodore computers.

commands have extended addressing, which will

space than Group 0 commands, and have four Bytesareset asideror theLBA. Group Ocomtnands

be explained later in a lilllc inure detail.

CMD's Send SCSI Command

The following Command Descriptor Blocks

have 21 bits set aside for the LISA. The high order

While we do know that the Xetcc Lt. Kernal hard

show the complete command structure ofGroup

bits tor the LBA (identified with M5B)are located

drive could be coaxed into performing custom

0 (Six-Byte) and Group 1 (Ten-Byre) commands.

in Byte 1 of Group 0 commands, and in Byte 2 of

SCSI command programming al a low level, to

Group I commands. The low order bits of the

date, only the CMD HD Series hard drive

LBA {identified with LSB) are located in Byte 3 of

controllers have been supplied with a high-level

Croup I) commands, and Byte 5 of Group 1

DOS command to makesuch programmingeaslei

commands. Allhitsin-between flow'logically from

for the less-experienced programmer. And

the MSB down to the LSB.

because the HD has its own microprocessor and

GROUP 0 COMMAND DESCRIPTOR BLOCK 7

Q

4

5

3

2

10

Operation CoOe

0

L8A(il required) (MSB)

1

LUN

2

Logical Block Addross (if required)

3

Logical Block AUdmss (^ mqulrGd) (LSBJ

4

Translor Longlli (II required)

5

Control Uyte

6

3

2

0

i

Oparalion Code

C 1

4

5

.

■.

amplefree RAM. the programmer need only deal

indicates the first, or starting Block tobeused by

with the results of this programming, and thus

the command.

avoid having to handle data transfers directly.

Transfer Length - The Transfer Length is used to

actual SCSI commands and programming, we

Bui before we can jump headlong into the

GROUP 1 COMMAND DESCRIPTOR BLOCK 7

For multiple-block operations, the LBA

Reserved

RA

indicate the number of Blocks to be transferred;

need to understand how to issue these commands

in some commands it might also be used to

to the SCSI device via theCMD HD host adaptor.

indicate a number of Bytes to be transferred

As shown in the CMD HD User's Manual, ihe

(called a Parameter list Length) orto indicate the

Send SCSI command has the following syntax:

numberofbytes which are expected to be returned

:

Logical Block Address (if required| (MSB)

3

Logical Block Afldiess (if required)

4

Logical Block Address Hif required)

5

Logical Btock Address (if required) (LSB)

Transfer Length, and can transfer a maximum of

6

Reserved

256 Blocks (1 through 255. or fl for 25fi). This

7

Translor Length (1 roqu reil) (MSB)

■■

Transfer Length (il required) (LSB)

B

Conlrol Byle

by a command (called an Allocation length).

Group 0 commands use a single Byte for

value is given in Byle '.'• of Group 0 commands. Group I commands have a two-Byte Transfer

If = the logical file number for the command channel de = the SCSI device number

65,535 Blocks. 'Hie high byte (MSB) is placed in

bl = the low byte of the userdelined SCSI data

Byte 7, and the Low Byte (LSB) is placed in ByteS.

contents of the (lilt's shown above.

A Transfer Length of 0 in both Bytes ofa Group 1

buffer in the HD'sRAM

bh -the high byle of the user defined SCSI

data buffer In the HD'sRAM

command means zero.

cb= the command bytes ofthe SCSIcommand

Operation Cede ■ We've seen this already. This is and the Command Code in the lower 5 bits.

where:

Length, and are capable of transferring up to

Let's take a look at the terms used to describe the

comprised ofthe Group Code in the upper 3 bits,

PRINTtlf,"S-C'CHRS(de)CHRS(bl) CHR$
The Control Byte is mostly made up

to be sent

ofunused and reserved bits. Only bits Oand 1 are defined.and theseareusedl'or I.INKLL) command

The logical file number for the command channel

LUN (Logical Unit Number) - This makes up the

execution, which allows the device to process

is the first parameter from the OPEN statement

upper three hits of Byte 1. and indicates which

more than one command in succession. Bit 1 is

used lo open the command channel to send this

logical unit the command is intended for. It'srare

the Flag bit, and bit 0 is the Link bit.

command. In this example, //equals 15:

for a device to have more than one logical unit, so these bits will usually all be /.cm.

If the Link bit is zero, then the Mag bit must

also be zero. This state indicates that no linked

command execution is expected.

OPEN 15,12,15

RA (Relaliv,-Address) -This is the low bit in Byte 1

If the Link bit is 1, then the flag bit determine

The base drive built into the I ID is SCSI device 0.

on Group 1 (and Group 2) commands; however,

the type of message returned by the device upon

External devices will have other addresses

it is rarely implemented on SCSI devices and can

completion of the linked command. Iftlie Hag is

extending up (o through device 7.

safely be set at zero.

zero, then the device returns INTERMEDIATE status and sends the LINKED COMMAND

LBA (Logical Slock Address) - SCSI devices have

COMPLETE message. If the Hag bit is I. the

Eheirstorage allocated In blocks. Theseblocks are

device returns INTERMEDIATE status and sends

accessed by commands in logical sequence,

the LINKED COMMAND COMPLETE (WITH

starting at Block 0 and cstt-ncling up to the last

FLAG) message.

Iransfer actual data, such as when reading and

writing blocks of information. We'll be using (he 8K of free RAM in the 1 ID starting at $300(1.

available block on the device. This kind of addressing takt-s the place of physical block

Reserved or Unused- All Reserved and/or Unused

addressing, which would require specifying a

bils or Bytes must be set to zero.

The CDBdala which we discussed earlier make up tile remainder of the bytes senl with the command.

cylinder, platter Ndc), and sector. Because SCSI devices can have a very large

With the basics of the CDB's (Command

amount of storage space, the Logical Block

Description Blocks) now behind us. il's time to

Volume 1. Number2

When you waul to send an SCSI command lo

the CMD HD, you must BtbI define an area of RAM in the I ID lo use as ;i buffer. Many SCSI commands will require this buffer space to

48

TO BE CONTINUED IN ISSUE 3 Commodore World

How to Type In Program Listings Appearing in Commodore World

While Commodore World currently doesn't make it a habit ofpublishing type-in programs, a number of our columns do require entering sample TouseaiK-I.IS'r.loaditintoyourcompiitiTandtypeRUN.Makesiirethat any program you are currently workingonii saved first, or start CI1K-UST MUtlnes. For this purpose, we have created our CHK-LIST utility for the before you begin typing in a new program. After you have CHK-11ST in Commodore 64 and 128. Thisutility use a 16-bit CRC checksum method to verify that you have correctly entered each program line, and thai each of memory and running, type NEW. You maynoweitherloadorbegintypiri" the program you wish to have CHK-LIST check on. Whenever you wani to the characters in the program lines are in the correct order.

You'll notice that program listings appear witha column iifvaluestothe leftofthe program lines. These values are iheCHK-LIST values and are not 10 be entered as part ofthe program. A similar set ofvalues are generated by the CHK-LIST utility to allow you to verify that everything has been

entered correctly.

EnW the Cl IK-I.IST program from BASIC. You can use either a C-64 or a C-128 computer. Ifyou use a C-128, it can be in either 64 or 128 mode. He sure to enter each line carefully toavoid mistakes—until you actually have a IK-LIST working, finding errors in program entry won't be easy. After you have finished entering the program, be sure to SAVE a copy to disk beforcynu attempt toRUNit.just in case. Ifyou aren't feiniliar with how to

save a program to disk, you can use the following command:

check your program type in the appropriate SYS command given below; C-64 or C-128 in 64 mode:

C-128 in 128 mode:

Note that when typing in listings, some special characters will appear in

braces. Forrample, {CLR/HOME} means thatyou should enter the Clear key, which is done by holding down the SHIFT key while you press the

HOME key.Othertimesyou mayseeanumberaheadofthe key name, such as(.iSPACES)uri5CRSRU.Thisnieansyoii should press the key indica led the numbcroftim»shown. Most special kev.sareeasy to identify, sincethc

text used will generally match the text on the key. Exceptions are the space bar (SPACEJ, and cursor keys which include directions ({CRSR UP} (CRSR

DXl,[CRSRI.|and|CRSRRr]).Be.sure!ouSeihecorrectkeycomi,in;lli,ms

SAViraiK-UST",8

for color keys, such as <2> for (Wl IT}. CHK-LIST

A454

CHK-LIST

10 F=ABS[PEEK(6553 3)=255):Ma49152-

49264

192,-19,169,13,32,210,255,16b

DATA

AD20

133,251,165,254,133,252,238,3

3316 tv ■'.-■■;'

49280 DATA

193,-20,173,36,193,-20,201,20

578A

49288 DATA

76,16,192,-19,162,0,189,1,193

0679 8D92 E7FE

,253

12 C=0:PRINT"{CLR/HOME}WORKING"■

DF3S

20 READD;iFD=-256THEM40

A6E

32 POKEM,D:H=M+1.:PRINT", •; :GOTO20

936E

31 IFD<0THEND=0-D:M-M-1

40 PRINT:READCKiIFCoCKTHENPRINT"EHHOR I

49152 DATA 165,43,-45,133,251,165,44,-46 i J J J i A IJ A

49160 DATA 169,0,141,36,193,-20,169,147,

CD50

49168 DATA 210,255,32,194,192,-19,160 0

EA9C

49192 DATA 208,3,238.37,193,-20,173,37,1

6C15

49200 DATA 201,2,208,1,96,200,177,251

5795 F80F

DATA

609 5

49312

DATA

228,255,201,13,208,249,32 228,255,208,251,76,8,192,-19,

4 9320 DATA

106,106,106,106,32,180,192,-1

FAA2

49328

EBFD

E907 E8F.A A / D7

32,180,192.-19,96,41,15,170,1

49336 DATA 49344 DATA 4 93 52 DATA

0,0,169,0,141,190,192,-19 141

2,-19,169

49216 DATA 6,133,211,-236,169,61,32,210,

D52F

49224 DATA 169,32,32,210,255,160,?,177

9735

49232 DATA 251,32,213,192,-19,200,177,25

DCA6

0734

49240 DATA 213,192,-19,200,177,351,240,6

6032

f 32 D99D

49248 DATA 213,192,-19,76,90,192 -19 173

49368 DATA

41,]27,77,191,192,-19,141,191

49376 DATA -19,144 493 84 DATA -19,141

24,14,190,192,-19,46,191,192,

AC 30

49256 DATA 32,167,192,-19,173,190 192 -1

,191,192,-19

AC 90

9,32,167

FE71

9400 DATA

9408 DATA

9416 DATA 9424 DATA

49

141,191,192,-19,104,10,202,20 96,13,80,82,69,83,83,32

60,82,69,84,85,82,78,62

13,13,13,0,48,49,50,51

9432 DATA 52,53,54,55,56,57,65,66 9440 DATA

Volume 1, Number 2

18,173,192,192,-19,77,190,192

49392 DATA 190,192,-19,173,193,192,-19,7 ', 191,192,- 19 ,215

37C5 9A2A

191,192,-19,169,33,141,192,19

16,141,193,192,-19,96,162,8,7

,192,-19 D24B

20,193,-20,32,210,255,96 0 0

493 60 DATA 2

6040

240,6,32,210,255,232,208,245,

DATA

89

3,254

E70E

49304

9, 104

o , 3

49184 DATA 238,37,193,-20,200,177,251,13

EB74

72

49176 DATA 37,193,-20,177,251,133,253,20

2058

49296 DATA

A001

140

C9CD

8C3?

32

:

B2AE

,240,3

, -20

N DATA STATEMENTS!":END 50 PRINT"DONE.■iEND 60

49272 6

30 C=C+D:IFD<0ANDF=fflTHEN2C

(ami.)

DATA

HM486d 6E2F E3 50

SYS49152 SYS4864

67,68,69,70,0,0,-256,37944 Commodore World

Carrier Detect J!eA.

ON-LINE CONFERENCES: GENIE HOSTS A VISIT WITH THE COMMODORE GURJJ

GEnle,

languages Fortran and Cobol, but instead on a

learn that the Guru docs indeed have a family;

CompuServe, and Delphi offer 'real-lime'

real-timebeast that had to he worked in Machine

"My wife regards computers as something of a

conferences—the electronic equivalentto having

Language. When microcomputers started to

harmless aberration; I suspect she considers it

a guest speaker come to a user group meeting.

appear in 197ii, it was (forme) like a return to the

less harmful and less costly than drinking. My

This gives callers a chance to meet with others of

good old days. 1 restarted on a KIM-1 machine,

live year old daughter is gelling (juite interested

similar interests and sometimes meet a special

one of the first 6502 boards, IK of RAM, 2K of

in computers (I'm not pushing) and may get her

gucsi they may never have the opportunity to

ROM. and it could play chess. Because it was

own soon."

meet in person.

about the first factory-assembled system, it was

Many questions were askedabout the future of

also the starting point for a user community.

our Commodore 8-bil machines, and what steps

CiEnie had Jim Butterfield over for a real lime

Kim-1 UserNotes was a papular newsletter (for.

we can take. Butterfield observed that "we are

conference, iiullerfu'ld's name is often followed

its era), and later I collaborated on a hook called

into computer'fashion'rather than questions of

by "Commodore Ciuru". as he is well respected

Thfl'irtl Hook u/A7A /(a much-copied lillestyle).

tcchnicalexccllencehcre.Justas.withVCKs.most

forhis knowledge of our computers. Back before

Now: Commodore acquired the manufacturer of

people see BetaMax as technically superior to

the Commodore Pet. Butterfield was writing

the KIM-1, and was persuaded to launch ihelirst

VI IS, the tech arguments counted for little. The

programs, giving lectures, and writing articles

personal computer, the PET."

8-blt computers will work tor a long lime, and

Many

on-line

services

such

as

Recently, the Commodore Roundtable on

and books about computers. He has used.

The Pel still used afi5O2 chip, which Bullerfield

programmed, and written stacks ofarticles about

had programmed before, and was familiar with,

tvouldalways present a cost -effe c live way o flaking on some kinds of work. But I fear they are out of

each new computer Commodore put out on the market, Many have driven thousands ofmiles to

so he fell well qualified to assist others with their

fashion, and we won't see too many new ones,

Pets, and has continued helpingothers with their

...llemgorphaued is neverfuu.ofcoiirse.lt makes

hear him speak, but this time users wishing to ask

computers for the last fifteen years.

obtaining ANYTHING harder. As I see it, the

liutleriield listed the four computers he

most serious thing would be that users could no

currently owns and uses regularly: a Commodore

longer get the custom chips used by the 64 and

Just what is the Commodore C.uru doing these

128. "used for general programming and touting

days? Does Jim Butterfield still use a Commodore

around, and for preparing the M/L articles that!

(i4 or 128V Has lie loo embraced MS-DOS

do for the Gazette," An Amiga 2001), an Amiga

128. Say, the PLA, the SID, and some similar. There may be a second-source possibility; but Stockpiling older machines may also he a good

computers like olhers have? How does he feel

600, plus "a small and quite ancient MS-DOS

move for the fi'1/128 community."

aboui the world ol computing today?These and

machine." He has all four systems networked

It seems only natural, with the sheer volume ol

many Other questions were answered during the

together, so he can pass daia between them. In

programs that Jim Butlerlield has written over

conference. Jim uses a C-128. wriles articles for

his backup computer collection, ISutterfield has

Ihe years to be askedabout what he considers the

Compute Gazelle on Machine Language

an extra 64, a 11-128, a B-256. a PET 8032, and a

best programs forthe C64andabouthisfavorites,

programming, and uses a variety of "oilier"

couple of PET dual disks, "Just in case 1 come

his own and ihose by others. He commented that

systems to do odd jobs, including, as he stated il,

across somethinglhal needs melo look way hack.

he's impressed by programs that "have both

"clumsv ones like the clones."

Hard lo find room for more than three or four

technical excellenceandaeslheticappeal," noting

operating computers and their peripherals and

that "Best" is a relative term. He went on to

screens. Gets cluttered."

comment thai some of the most brilliantly

him questions and hear his views could do so without leaving home.

When asked how his association with Commodore computers began, Jim look us back

to 1963 when he became a programmer, "not on

Asked if his family shares his interest in

abusiness machine, with those uewlangled classy

Commodore computers, it was interesting to

Volume 1. Number2

50

conceived and executed programs such as GEOS,

and others like LITTl.K COMPUTER PEOPLE Commodore World

and JUMPMAN are programs he seldom runs. "I mostly run my own staff That isn't even for reasons of excellence: it's jusi that I'm comfortable with my own programs (And I try to targel my programs for DUMB users, which

is what I turn out to be Eater when I use them)." It's reassuring to know that even Gurus can run into problems with their own programs. Of his own

programs, Butterfield said that about eight of the 144 or so he's written could be considered classics, and listed a few. such as: Super.Mon, Copy-All,

and UniCopy, adding, "oddly, one ofthe programs I wasmost pleased with is I-'ileSort, which is almost unknown.! Il] grabs a "standard" type file, sorts it, and writes the result. Understands about computer related stuff like multiple fields, numeric/alpha, and ascending/descending. Ran perfectly

the first time 1 wrote il. Well, almost." The conversation turned to another [Suilcrlield natural, unexplored computer territory such as the C65 computers that Commodore moved

from their warehouses to mail order firms recently. Butterfield explained,

oilier "clone" chips. It has a new colour screen capability, can be clocked at a MUCH higher rate—and. yes, it does have bankswitching. There are 255

bank numbers, although I don't think you can really put that many in. And the machine can be triggered to be a <>4 (as does the 128)."

The conference went on lo more detailed discussions. Including ML programming questions about Bank switching in the 128, and further details concerning the C-65. Many users were able to ask questions, and several commented to Jim on things they've learned from him over the years.

This is what on-line conferences are all aboul: they give us the chance to

meet fellow Commodore users, and ask some of the most respected programmers and writers questions in a 'real-time' formal. There's far more "personality" to on-line conferences than can be shown in a short magazine article, fie sure to check out the conferences on your favorite on line network!

"Commodore made a few dozens, prototypes, of the C65 and recently blew

them out ofthe back door. There are quite a few proud new G>5 owners trying to find out how the insides of their machines work. And. being prototypes, they are MOTall identical. TheCliShasanewcuslom processor

chip with a LOT ofnew instructions that never existed before, not even in

Information Services (GEnie). Fora complete transcript ofihe conversation with

Jim Butterfield, download file #14633, BUTTERFIELD.TXT, from the Commodore RToa GEnie (page 625;3).

On-line News Nibbles Emulator Discussions out of COMP.SYS.CBM

Results from a vole conducted by a neutral third parly on Usenet have

resulted in ihe creation of several new newsgroups to cover the discussions ofemulatorprogratnsand hardware. Thecomp.sys.cbmnewsgroup. which

a shareware program. Registration allows use of all the features of the program. Registration fee is $15.00 U.S. or $20.00 Australian funds. For mure information, or lo register, contact Rod (lasson. 90 Ililliers ltd, Reynella SI 61. South Australia.

covers the range of Commodore 8-bit computers, has in the pasi been

inundated will) ankles and messages concerning IBM and olher platform

Unzipping PKzip 1.02 on 128

computers emulating the CM and oilier Commodore computers, causing

NZP128] I.SFX, a shareware utility by David Schmoll, gives 128 users the

tension and annoyanceaniongsltnieCommodore users. With newsgroups

ability to unzip MS-DOS PKzip 1.02 files. QPE is a small ulilily program

designed specifically to discuss these emulators, (he coinp.sys.cbm

which is used in conjunction with QWKRR128, giving an option to dissolve

newsgroup can remain strictly related to Commodore specific topics. The

newly created newsgroups include: comp.emulators.announce, comp.emulators.cbm.comp.emulators,appie2andcomp.emulators.misc.

ARC'ed or Zll'ed mail packets and load the offline mail reader. Note thai

UNZI[)l28unzi])'sl1K7.ipl.02files.notl1Kzip2.04gfiles.Thcsharewarefee for this program is $10.00. Contact David Schmoll, 1703 I'agosa Way, Aurora, CO. 80011.

DTJBBS Revision 940521

DTJBBS, a Commodore (il IS US program, has been revised. This IMS

New Dialogue 128 Extension Available

supports 300 baud to 38.4K bps modems using the SWIR'l.iuk cartridge,

Written by IlenrySopko. ISLANK-lT.iiXT, a very short extension program

and supports all Commodore 1541, 1571, 15H1 disk drives as well as

for the Dialogue 128 term program, will blank the screen after a minute of

CMD's KAMLink and I lard drives. DTJISBS is available as shareware from

inactivity from the computer keyboard. The screen is reactivated when a

Andrew Bernhardt, P.O. Box 669, Beatty, Nevada, 89803. The author

key is pressed, without interrupting program activity such as during a file

requests a small (noi more than S3S) shareware fee. DTJBBS is available for

transfer. The file is available in uuencoded form in the coinp.sys.cbm

downloading on lliesupport BBS, Second I lomeltlectronic Cottage. (702)-

newsgroup on I lie Internet, or on Fidonet.

553-3869 (300-9600 bps V.32). The BBS can be can also be downloaded from GEnie - tile numbers 14910,14911, 14912. and 14i)13.

Commodore Central

Delphi's Commodore Central SIG now offers three different conference QWKRR128 v4.3 Soon to be Released

nights. New Members can learn about Delphi on Monday nights.

Rod Gasson's 128 off-line mail reader has been upgraded and is currently

Wednesday night conferences center around using GEOS, while Friday

in the Beta testingslage. Enhancements include macros, which arc designed

tospeed typing, as well as offeruser possibilitiesIncluding message "Intro's" and "sign offs". Other new features include new character sets which allow

nights are open discussion nights. Each conference begins at 9pm EDT. The Commodore Cenleral SIti message forum has Commodore conversal ions ranging from inventive disk drive cleaning to Commodore magazines. The

uuencoded files to be saved in a format thai can be translated properly, the

SIG also offers a gateway to read the COMP.SYS.CBM newsgroup, as well

ability to save text files in PFT or ASCII format, Centronics printer support,

as a menued system to retrieve Commodore files from Interne! FTP sites.

and screen blanking. (iVVKRRl 28 V4.;! will be available on on-line services

Delphi offers 5 hours free access for new users. To join Delphi, dial 1-800-

and bulletin boards under the following names: QWKRR43.TXT.

695-1002 by modem. Once connected, press the return key several times.

Q\VKUR43A.5I:X,QWKRR4.HR.SI'XandQ.WKHUUr.SFX.CiWKRR12Kis

When prompted lor a password, type "FREE",

Volume 1, Number2

51

Commodore World

BBS SPOTLIGHT

OMNI 1 ACHATWITHOMNI 128 AUTHOR. BRIAN BELL

handshaking lines for high speed operation is desirable, and some brands do not support that—Supra and Practical Peripherals come to mind. SwiftUnk offers superior performance in all conditions, even at 2400 bps.

How did Omni 128 come about? Oinni 128 BBS had it's humble beginnings as a simple machine language

interrupt carrier detectroutineforaPUNTERtransferprotocolinafHend's

All baud rates from 38,4110 bps on downwards are supported. Omni 128

BBS program. Later in 1986,1 began to experiment with writing terminals

has the ability to use the full 38,400 bps bandwidth for all carrier rates,

that could handle the speed of a 2400 bps modem, and this eventually

without undesirable"over-runs"ofcaliersatlowerspeeds. a special feature

evolved into a machine language operating system with a HASIC race nn

top. Omni is currently agroup oflarge programs which run on tap oi the

unique to Omni and not found in any other UBS, even for 16/32 bit

ML operating system.

computers.

I've noticed that the program is upgraded often. What's the current version?

What kind ofdrive support does Omni 128 have, and are there any minimum

The main portion of the 1SBS is currently at version B.7VV, which has no

requirements?

The entire line of CMD drives and KAMLink based storage devices are

particular meaning—the "B" doesn't mean "Beta". But this, method allows dated using a year/rnonth/day/letter system.

supported, as are standard Commodore DOS compatible disk drives, such as the 1581/1571/1541 series. Minimum requirement is either a CMD

And the cost?

Kernal drives are not currently supported.

me to keep track of upgrades to the main. All modules are individually

KAMl.ink with 4 megabytes, or a CMD IID-Series hard drive. Xelec I.T.

The ISI5S package is $fS5.00. and the completed manual will be $15.00.

Is there supportfor specialfeatures in any ofthe devicesyou mentioned? Omni 128 has a unique and reliable system supporting the ilesible

And what does that include?

subdirectory arrangement that the CMD hard drives and RAMLink can

Approximately 100 on-line modules and utilities come with the system,

use. 1581 subdirectories are also supported. Kilher parallel or serial cables

including a simple network lor communicating with other Omni 128

maybe used on the CMD ill). Omni 128 reads the real lime clock in CMD

systems, and also a .special mode allowing communication with Color 64

devices lo set llie BBS time and date, and also recognizes the time-and-date

Network compatible BBS's. There is no currentHnk toother networks such as !■'] IK) or Internet, but plans are well developed for this to he implemented

stamp in all file operations such as file copying, pattern searching of

soon. On-line game packages are available for downloading at various

directories, etc.

systems and the home support board.

Terminal emulations seem to abound on Omni 128. Which ones are supported? The remote caller is supported with Commodore C/G graphics, ASCII,

Are there additional items a SysOp might want that would cost extra?

IBM ANSI color, RH'scrip (remote imaging protocol), and SupeRes hires

All ofthe system Tiles and extras are currently included with the BBS, but I

also will program special applications, time permit ling—either for free, or

graphics. AN'SI and Supelies modes are detected automatically on most

for a set fee. depending on the feasibility and complexity of the project. I

terminals, and soon so will the Rll'scripinode. EUPscripallows mouseable

have yet to charge anything for the special modules written for other

menus and other interactive features when calling from a Rll'scrip

SysQps, and they are available to all.

supporting terminal

Couldyou tell us which modems are supported?

/ understand that Omni 128 has a very extensive message base capacity?

Yes. There are twenty root message base areas, each with 9 additional automatically scanned bases, making up 191 automatically scanned areas.

Modem types tested and supported include (in order of preference). U.S. Robotics Sportster 14.4K modem, the Supra9{i/]4.4KFAXModem(digital

readout versions), the Supra 2400. Packard Bell 2400, Avatex 2400. and

Further, up to 990,001 separate message bases can be supported for SIG

Aprotek C-24 mini modem. Other modem types may or may not work

groups, and they can he entered simply by typing their number. Each message base can handle up to 100 separate chains (threads) each with

without additional programming, dependlngonindividual characteristics. I'm willing to test new modem types for compatibility/programming if

unlimited responses, andresponsescan beautoma I i call} weeded. Standard

they are shipped tome for evaluation. I'm in the process of testing dillerent

sequential files are used, which are .scanned at high speed.

models on a one-hy-oue basis, and with 28.ttK modems coming down

drastically in price. ($180 has been mentioned) these are on the lop of my

How about the upload and download areas?

list to work on.

The file Transfer section has the same generous limits as the message

Interfaces supported include CMD'aSwlftLink,theOmniTronixDeiuxe

base—up to 191 automatically scanned areas, or 990,001 SIG transfer

RS-232 interface, or any other compatible user port interface. Hardware

areas, each allowing up to 100 files. Fach area can have a unique device,

Volume 1, Number 2

52

Commodore World

path, and entry file. Files are shown using their full filenames and corresponding numbers, or the SysOp can elect to create a text file displaying the available files in any way they choose - which also displays at very high .speed. Tile descriptions arc unlimited as they are stored in separate files. Omni 12S seems to support a long list offile transfer protocols as well. Can you give us a rundown on those?

For both uploading and downloading (if files,

there is Punter, Multi-Punter, Xmodem

Isthenanythingwemisscdthatyou'dlikeourreaders

to know about?

Omni 128 has been in development for almost 7

Multiple Login Modules - The SysOp can arrange customize programs to execute before

the caller reaches the main menu. These can be

years, and has pioneered and perfected many

chained ifdesircd.

programs, plus many others which you won't

Midnight Update ■ In addition to many standard tasks the system performs at midnight.

things which have since appeared on other

find available anywhere else.

Quite a few programmers have signed onto

this project in the past year, and have an impressive array of program modules in

development and several finished. Omni's operating veneer is in BASIC-7. and as such can

customized applications can also be run and chained. 1'or instance, a .SysOp might want to have a certain group of files copied from one location or device, to another, every night, or only on certain days, etc.

Checksum, andXmodemCRC. Fordownloading be modified by anyone familiar with BASIC, only, there is also Xmodem IK CRC, Ymodem128 (batch-standard), Ymodem-1 K (batch), and Viiiodem- ] K/g (bill ch, streaming). l:or uploading

only, there is a Zmodem hatch receive system, with individual

file confirmation

after

completion. A "resume"rtinction is beingworfeed

though extensive mods to the "look" of the JSBS

are possible without programming.

My aim is to continue to upgrade the program in ways that best serve the 8. lfi. and .'12 bit computing worlds.

Gtherunique features ofinterest to the System

on.

Operator or Caller...

Can you explain how Omni's networking options

which can hold over 43.000 bytes of text is

operate?

The current networking system is comparable to a direct bulletin and mail transfer facilitywith no

shared echoes. Hans to Implement a UUCP type

lift work With QWK nit-lino reader support 8re In the works, in conjunction with another programmer who developed a very powerful network for C-Net 128. A special option allowing SysOps to exchange

files in batches is implemented The system also has a mode which allows sending and receiving

public and private messages to Color <>4-type network compatible systems.

You indicated earlier that there isn't a completed

Virtual Memory Editor - A .system text editor available on-line for the SysOp.

External Program Capability - In addition to

You may order Omni 128 by sending a letter requesting registration k>: Omm 128 BBS

4135N.36lh Tncoma. WA UX-107

Detailed information is also available on the author's system. Omni-World 12K (see listings), in message base El (b9 from main) and transfer area 1:1(113).

running modules designed specifically for the

system, Omni can automatically call off-line programs written in BASIC 7. either compiled

withBA.StC128orplainl5A.SlC. and evenCS-DOS auto-exec scripts. These programs run off-line.

and the 1SBS can be called automatically after

Omni 128 BBS Systems

The&llowingis a partial list ofsystems operating Omni 128 BB.S. Some may not be running the

they are finished. This opens up a lol of latest version - check the author's system for the possibilities for beginning and advanced

newest info.

programmers alike, whowantspecial things done at midnight, for instance. Oil-line programs can

9600 and 14.4K bps Systems

be run at anyrime ordate, determinedinadvance Omni World 128 by the operator. No human intervention is

Huggybear's Den

(206) 536-9353 (206) 582-8285

required once this is set-up.

Digital Illusions

(216) 341-1414

Dead Poet's BBS

(908) 288-8771 (915) 598*8442

operationmanualasyct.Whatkindofdocumentation in provided with the system right now?

printing to he disabled for maximum modem

Dragon's Lair

Currently, a L2 page setup document is Included

input/output speed.

The Battleship

(713) 957-3217

Negative CaSh Flow

(813) 526-2971

Video Mode Control ■ Allows local screen

with thesysleni. In addition, text lilcsarcincliuii'd

40 Column RGB-Lets you select a very viwid 40

containing approximately 150.0110 bytes of

column display on the HO column screen.

The Wizards' Workshop(713) 992-2526

detailed update instructions describing new

Especially useful for creating and examining 40

Smart Modem

(216) 543-1866

features and how to install them. These

column color graphics.

Cereal City BBS

(616) 962-1390

Reaper's Place

(519) 472-0641

to the printer to be directed to a disk file on any

Vic's BBS

(618)234-6235

unused device. VERY useful!

Tardis BBS

(805) 987-9541

Remote Control

(316) 421 -0333

The Twilight Zone/AZ Cybernet 2000+

(602) 827-2706 (813) 895-8915

dnnimentsandotherinformntinngatheredfrom

Print Hie-Allows outpul that would have gone

beta test SysOps over the last 6years will provide the basis for the completed system manual.

How do you handle technical supportfor registered SysOps?

Support for Omni 128 is available on the home

IMS system ai (206) 536-9353, 24 hours a day, andalsoviaU.S.MaU.Aseconddedicatedsupport

line should be installed this summer ("94).

Upgrades are released at the end of each month on the home board, andean be mailed ifdesired. The many Omni SysOps are usually glad to answer

any questions a new SysOp may have. Volume 1, Number2

Separate Last Call Date/Times - The system maintains three .separate 'last call date-time'

(l.CDT) for each caller. One records the last visit to the system proper, another, the message base visit, and the last, thetransferarea.Thecallerean

2400 bps Systems

edit both the message base und transfer LCDT The Ranch while on-line, to make different numbers of Greenwood Manor The Coffee Shop messages or files appear as NEW. This is very Civic 64/128 useful when a caller has not been on in a long period.and doesn't wishtoreadlargenumbersof Power User BBS

(206) 536-4689 (916) 865-7011 (206) 565-6306 (805)382-1125 (206) 427-1083

messages accumulated during the interval.

53

Commodore; Wtiritl

Over The Edge A-

COMMODORE PROVES THAT YOU CAN FAIL IP YOU TRY HARD ENOUGH...

but that isn't what most large companies would

Although I have not been over burdened with

think, hi the computerindustry.lhere'sageneral

mail for this column, 1 have been answering a tremendous number of questions about the

consensus that there is only one type of computer—MS-DOS—and anything else is

current status of Commodore. As we all know.

inconsequential. This mentality is frustrating to

Commodore International. Ltd,hasputitsmajor

deal with, bul unfortunately it is one that most companies and financial institutions subscribe to in today's computer industry. Other ll>- and

subsidiary Commodore Electronics, Ltd. into voluntary liquidation to help satisfy some oi'iis obligation6tocredltois.Thi5 announcement was

32-bit technology takesabackseat. Furthermore,

made in an April 2lJ. 1994 press release which stated that thecompany was rniauygoingtothrow

any 8-bit technology is considered so old and obsolete by corporate types that anything having

in the towel niter posting substantial losses in

to do with it will be ignored.

consecutive quarters. Prom what 1 hear, the

So when it comes down to the 8-bit C-(i4 and

company is so cash poor that they simply cannot afford to produce the products needed to fill

C-128 computers, it's impossible to tell at this twoproducts'AVell. the Amiga 1260isan example

point just what will happen with any rights or

ofwhatCommodore hasaiways done well with—

remaining inventory. Our attempts to contact

have been unsuccessful, ll is my hope that there

Commodore, and of five others that are engaged

an inexpensive computer with a fair amount oi bang liti the buck. If<.CD-32 product, which only recently appeared in the U.S. marketplace has

in serious negotiations for the purchase. In terms

thepotenliallobea real conlcuderiii the fledgling

C-12K available by our next issue. You can bet I'll

effectual data, there isn't much. Kascdon what I

CD same machine market. Again, this machine

be slaying on lop of this situation.

have heard from reliable sources, who prefer to

oilers a lot for its low price, and is aimed directly

Another question everyone is asking is, how

remain nameless, then1 are two, maybe three

at a market which will see substantial growth in

does a company go from being a leader in their

major companies interested in buying all or part

the next couple of years.

industry to bankruptcy? Easyl Don't bother with

orders. Sad. isn't it?

Now, this bit ofnews sent the rumor mill into high, gear. So far, I have heard of no less than three companies which have already purchased

the CFOofCommodore regarding the liquidation

will be more information regarding the C-64 and

of Com mod ore, hut anyone who really knows

.So, why do I so quickly discount the Other

marketing your product. Go to great lengths to

what these companies actually want lor their

product lines? Simple, The remaining Amiga

alienate the loyal customers that put you on top

money isn't saying.

product line is overpriced and underpowered

I very much doubt that any ofthese companies

(8 bit)! Spend outrageous amounts of money on

compared with today's less expensive and

are interested in resurrecting the entire product

developing state of the art technology, but allow

powerful DOS and Macintosh machines. Not to

it to become outdated! Grossly overpay your

mention the fad thai buyers in that price range

executives and board of directors! And last but

line: certainly not right away, anyhow. Indeed,

chances a re thai one or more ofthese companies are interested only in purchasing intellectual properly such as chip sets and/or patents. The

fettofthematteristhatveryiittteofCommodore's present product line is worth trying to salvage,

with the exception of perhaps the Amiga 1200

:md tfieir new CD-32 game machine. Why these Volume 1, Number2

typically are looking for a business machine with support froin major software vendors. A small

number of Amiga .1000's will probably be viable for sale to the niche desktop video market, but ii won't amount to much.

I didn'l mention lhe64or 128, did I? Don't get

not least, makeawholeslewofimserable business

decisions which result in your Inability lo pay your creditors] They have done such a great job.

1 think they might want to consider a 'Mow To' video on dissolving a major company.

Lei s take a closerlook at some ofCommodore's

me wrong; I think there Isvalue tothe 8-bitline— blunders, shall we? The Amiga is agood starting 54

Commodore World

It was al this pohll that Commodore linally did something right

point, since il marked Commodore's departure from the success they had

Unfortunately, they did it way too late. The release of the A-iSOO. A-12(10,

experienced with their K-bil line.

and A-4000 nli came within a few shorl months. New machines with

The Amiga 1000: The first Amiga was the AH100, which showed the

updated technology, and two of these (the A-600 and A-1200) aimed

promise of the Amiga architecture, bul probably also caused a loi people

squarely at the low-end market—and priced right. The A-1000, while

who may have been open to a new machine to turn and run. !t released

expensive, did maintain the high-end tor ilie desktop video niche, while the

before it was truly ready—the operating system was prone to crashing,

other two models could effectively sell to the market Commodore had

someone had bungled the motherboard layout, causing the connectors to

owned in the past. In fact, many C-64 and C-128 ownerswerefinally buying

have pin assignments backwards on some of the 'standard' connections,

their first Amiga. Yel, Commodore was already deep in financial trouble by the time tiiese

expandability was poorly planned. About the only good thing I can say about the A1000 is that it didn't stick around long.

products released, and were spreading their resources even thinner by

The Amiga 500: The most successful Amiga model to date released witli an

trying to regain the interactive/game CD market with CD-32, successor to

Improved operating system which was even further refined over the life ol

tlie failed CDTV. The really bad part of this was that Commodore was

the product Connections that were incorrect on tlie A1000 had been fixed,

betting the farm on CD-32. Hadn't they learned from past experience?

andsomeimprovementshad been rnade on expanability. but thosewishing

While CD-32 is indeed a sound product, they should have been well aware

to expand it too far found themselves faced with a myriad of items taking

that they didn't have the money to market it successfully at this point. They

up more and more desk space. Alas the price was too high, especially since

apparently felt that the 1993 Christmas selling season wasdoordieforthe

expansion was almost mandatory to operate

product, and lhal in a year it would be loo

anything but a handful ol games.

lale. They poured resources into gelling

The Amiga 2000: RnaUy. an Amiga that

CD-32 ready for a pre-Christmas release in

actually looked more like a desktop PC, the

the U.S.. hul failed to meet the deadline.

A-2000 offered true expandability phis

Only Amiga Makes It Happen

newer and higher speed versions of the (iHOxO family processor. Il also had built-in

Whether they had an adequate marketing campaign ready lo meet this challenge, well probably never know. Certainly, it

hard disk drive options, and an extra drive

never materialized. Meanwhile, so much

bay. But all this came at a price that was far

had gone into ramping up production on

too high for most of tile market that

CL1-32 lor the expected 'opening of ihe

Commodore was used to selling to. A base

flood gales', that Commodore could no

model A-2000 really shouldn't have cost

longerfiilftllordersfor A-1200 andA-4000

much more than an A-500; bul it cost quite a bit more, and the A-iJOO continued lo

machines.

COMMODORE

They

had

seriously

underestimated the demand for their new

remain theleaderlnsales.lt was also daring

eomputermodels, while the failed planning

the life of the A-2000 that Mac's and PC's

for CD-32 left them an abundance of this

began gaining some ground in the area ol

product sitting in the warehouse. Was Commodore management SO naive

graphics, an area where the Amiga had ruled

as to not recognize when they were making

uncontested. The Amiga 3000:

the same blunders, over and over?

Commodore regained

some of the technological ground they had lost in the area of graphics.

Apparently, to some degree, they were, Bul ihe final demise was probably

However, theA-300Qwas priced so high thai it could only be considered by

struckmorebygreed thanany thing. Try inglo recapture their lost computer

thuscivho might beshoppinglura fully dei/keil-oul A-2000. Granted, some

sales and at ihe same lime claim ihe lop position in Ihe interactive CD

of the cost was mandated by having a built-in SCSI controller and flicker-

market was indeed far more than a company in their situation should have

fixer for working in interlaced graphics modes. While the enhancements

been attempting. Indeed, it would seem to take a company blinded bygreed

nude the A-3000lookgoodlothe video market niche that Commodore had

or desire for market dominance to take such a huge gamble.

carved out, incompatibilities delayed thai very market from buying the

Now. what effect will all of this have on everyone who continues to use

A-3000 while waitingiorproduct upgrades. It was around this point In time

and enjoy ihe C-64 and C-128? Quite honestly. 1 don't believe that it will

lhal Commodore decided to turn their marketing efforts (?) toward the

haveanyefleclon I ho.se of uswho conliuue lo make use ohhese machines.

educational market—a plan doomed to failure with (he lack of any true

Why? Because wehaven't had any real support from Commodore formany

educational software (not to mention the lack of any real marketing savvy).

years. What about tlie availability of the Commodore computers, disk

With 'state-of-the-art' PC's selling for half the price ol an A-3000, it too was

drives, mice, modems, and software? These items have been out of

doomed to a dismal siinival at best. Yet again, the A-500 continued to he

production forsometime already, yet thereare still thousands ofcomputers

ihe leading seller for Commodore's Amiga line, but the price was still loo

and disk drives available both through mail order companies as well as in

high. Commodore needed a cheap Amiga to capture the low-end market

the pre-owncd market. N'ew hardware fromCMD. Rio, SSI and others, plus

lhal it had lost when they abandoned their 8-bit line.

a large offering of programs slill available round out the supply picture.

Meanwhile, Commodore marketing had taken another seemingly

1 guess the questions you need lo ask yourself is; does my computer

no-brainer victory, and turned il into a complete loss.TheirCDTV, with an

continue to perform ihe tasks for which I use it? Do 1 want lo spent a lew

utter lack of marketing, poor distribution, a price just out of the reach ol

ihousand dollars to switch platforms and learn how to use a new computer

consumers, withered and died. Their PC clone line, once successtul. was

and software? Most of the people I speak with answer the latter question

also dead.

with a definite \()!! low about you?

Volume 1, Number 2

55

Commodore World

In the next issue of

INDEX COMMODORE 8-Bit

43

CEE-64 Alive!

35

Centsible Software

43

Color64

W0 liL

35

Commodore World Computer Bargain Store

Inside Back Cover 35

Creative Micro Designs

28, 29

Creative Pixels

15, 43

dieHard

Th

5

O

T

World

FGM Connection

27

Group M MultiMedia

13

Harvey & Associates

35

comparisons in our super-big summer gaming

Living Proof

43

issue!

Loadstar

What's still available? What's current and what's new? We find the sources and make

9, 27

Mad Man Software

15

Micro Storm

43

Phoenix Network

lJlwemx Network

7

R & K Microtronics

35

Sodak Electronics

43

Software Hut

Our on-line expert take a tour of this new service and let's us know what it has to offer

to Commodore 64/128 users.

3

Software Support Int

Inside Front Cover

SOGWAP

27

Tycom

15

Sound Hardware hackers: Build your own sound digitizer board for the C-64 with these plans from the author of DigiMaster.

Commodore World Classified Advertising

CUD's Trackball

Subscribers may place classified advertisingin Commodore World ai acostol £10.00 per Issue, Your advertisement may contain up to 150

The first real Commodore 64/128 trackball

characters (including spaces) .Send your advertisement with payment

debuts, and we'll give you the first look.

lo: CW Classified Advertising, c/o Creative Micro I )esigns, Inc., P.O. liox 646. East Longmeadow MA 01028-0646.

It ain't over 'til it's over! The latest news on

Authors:

the Commodore liquidation/buyout front.

II you have an interesting subject which you can write about, and would like to see your article published here in Commodore World,

send for our Author's Guidelines by mailing a request to:

J

CW Author's Guidelines

All the other news, beginners tutorials,

c/o Creative Micro Designs, Inc.

programming techniques, tips, GEOS banter,

P.O. B»x 646

on-line service info, and a whole lot more!

EastLongmeadmv, MA 01028-0646

Volume 1. Number 2

!■ \A'\ J r r r

56

Commodore World

,

STAY IN TOUCH

WORLD

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