JAN - FEB '94 VOL 12-1
rr
o
TORONTO Tim -SINCLAIR USERS CLUB
•JAN -FEB '94 VOL 12-1
SINC-LINK IS A PUBLICATION OF
THE TO/tOfiTO TIMEX-SINCLAIH USERS
CLUB AND IS ISSUED 6 TIMES A
YEAR. CLUB HEMKRS RECEIVE FR^
COPIES AS PART OF THE 920.00
ANmJAL MEMBER&IIP FEE.
NEUS.ETTERS ARE EXCHMBEDt FREE
OF CHARGE, NITH OThSR
Tlf^X^SINCLAIR USER BROUPS.
PLEAX CREDIT miS PUO^ICATION
AND THE AUTHOR IF YOU COPY
tlATERIAL.
THE TS20S8 A ZX-Bl GROUP flEEIS
ON THE FIRST UEDNESDAY OF EACH
nONTH AT J 4 RICHOME COURT,
SCARKmJUSH, ONT. 7Pn START.
THE OL SIB UILL MEET AT 3B6
ONEIDA DRIVE, BURLINGTON, ONT.
7PM START. NEXT HEETINB TO BE
AmKMM^CED.
SINC-LIf^ IS PRODL^D ENTIRELY
ON SINCLAIR AND TIMEX-SINCLAIR
COMPUTERS.
SEND CORRESPONDANCE TOt
SINC-LINK EDITOR, TORONTO
riMEX'SINCLAIR USERS CLUB, 14
RICHOME COURT, SCARBOROUGH,
ONTARIO, CANADA MtK 2Yi.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS:
PRESIDENT
TREASURER
SECRTTARY
ACTIVITIES
QL CONTACT
NEWSLETTER
LIAISON OFFICER:
I Out-of-town aembers
o
mm
/I
TORONTO TIHEX-SINCLfllR
USERS CLUB
( AREA CODE 416)
RENE BRUNEAU (531-9749)
BILL LAWSON ( 444-8772 )
GEORGE CHAMBERS ( 751-7559 )
LOU LAFERRIERE ( 820-3725 )
HUGH HOWIE ( 634-4929 ) lOTE tBf AREA CODE 905
JEFF TAYLOR < 244-8583 )
GEORGE CHAMBERS. 14 RICHOME COURT.
SCARBOROUGH. ONTARIO MIK 2Y1
( 416-751-7559 )
TORONTO TIHEX- SINCLAIR USERS CLUB
2
SINC-LINK
TORONTO TIMEX SINCLAIR
USERS CLUB STATS
JAN TO DEC 93
DATE
NN
RN
US
JAN 14
21
S
21
FEB 4
2
1
2
NAR 2/5
9
6
11
APR 9
1
2
MAY 6/14
1
6
6
JULY 9
3
5
3
AUG S
2
5
6
SEP 2
0
2
2
ODT 7/19
2
2
1
NOV 10
0
2
1
DEC 30
1
0
1
8
1
4
9
1
5
1
O
3
1
O
TOTALS 42
43 56
29
CODE I NM«NEW NEMBER
RNvRENEW US«USA
CAN* CANADA
THE NEW YEAR HAS ARRIVED.
HERE ARE SOME STATISTICS ON OUR
CLUBS MEMBERSHIP FOR 1993.
RECORDS ARE MAINTAINED BY SYMBOLS SUCH AS
<US> FOR UNITED STATES AND <CAN) FOR
CANADA THESE ANNUAL STATS BEGIN
JANUARY AND END, THIS YEAR ON DECEMBER 30
OUR AMERICAN MEMBERSHIP IS DOUBLE THAT
OF OUR CANADIAN.
NEW MEMBERS (US) 29.
NEW MEMBERS CCAN) 6.
RENEWAL MEMBERSHIPS
US 21, CAN 19.
IN JANUARY 1993 HUGH HOWIE, OUR GL
LIBRARIAN PUT ON A DRIVE FOR NEW
MEMBERS, PRIMARILY FOR QL»rs.
THE REPONSE WAS TERRIFIC. HUGH SAID,
•THEY'RE OUT THERE" AND WENT ON TO
PROVE IT. HUGH TAKES HIS TASK VERY
SERIOUSLY. HE'S THE GUY WE LOOK TO
FOR QL INFORMATION.
THE OUT OF TOWN»i-» ARE VERY MUCH
AWARE OF GEORGE CHAMBERS AND HIS
INTEREST IN AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE
2066 MACHIONE. GEORGE HAS GIVEN
MANY YEARS TO THE CLUB. THERE ARE
FEW AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY THAT
HAVE NOT COME UNDER HIS
*I>^EDED ASSISTANCE'.
JEFF TAYLOR, NEWS LETTER EDITOR,
TOOK OVER THE DUTIES OF PRESIDENT
WHILE THE PRES, RENE BRUNEAU WENT
BACK TO SCHOOL TO LEARN
! ! MORE COMPUTING ! !
I HAVE STRAYED FROM JUST REPORTING
STATS. ON THE OTHER HAND, PEOPLE
WHO MAKE THE CLUB WORK ARE STATS,
RIGHT, INCLUDING CONTRIBUTORS.
RIGHT?
REGARDS W K CBILL) LAWSON
SINC-LINK
3
DID I recently recieved a phone call from Bob Swoger to
YOU give me a way to solve a problem that I had written
KMOW about in one of my newsletter articles. He helped
■? me with that and sent me a copy of his LogiCall disk
for my evaluation. It is a very interesting program
and includes several clever files as a part of the suite of
programs. One of them is a way to keep track of where each of
his disks are in his disk files. (He says he has over 400
disks! )
Seeing this program made me realize that I had tried to solve a
similiar probem in a different way. I was always wondering
where I had disk space available. Cataloging disk after disk to
find enough space to file something drove me to the following
solution. I realize that this could be a database application,
but I wanted to have a single page with this information on it!
I am a MScript fan so I have a MScript file loaded in my
RAMdisk called freblk.CT. It contains two columns with the
following information:
disk number
blocks free
description of contents
I have used the Add feature to bring in my current file below as
an example. The $ signifies that it is a Spectrum disk. The
catalog to text feature In MScript allows me to call up the
freblk.CT file and then catalog any new disks or revised disks.
I often put several catalogs in the text then Block delete every
thing between the disk number and the free blocks message. I
update the appropriate disks and the delete the catalog
messages .
I have about 100 5 1/4 disks and 24 3 1/2 disks and the printout
fits on one page. This scheme would probed>ly be awkward for
Bob's 400, but it is a simple solution for me.
It allows me to find a disk by description and locate where I
have space available.
SAMPLE
00
00
Larken Utilities
50
01
02
Chambers Utilities
51
02
05
Disk Index
52
03
03
Utilities
53
04
22
Tasword 2+
54
05
12
MScript
55
06
01
Adventure Programs
56
07
55
Timachine work disk
57
08
07
Games
58
09
00
Best Business/Utilit
59
10
34
$ Beta Basic/Utilit
60
11
04
$ Tape A Games
61
12
03
$ Adventure games
62
13
02
$ Tape copiers /Util
63
14
00
$ Combat games
64
Les Co tt re 11
19
Ramdisk RBAKUP
02
GFC Sine-Link
01
b/u of 66
00
DSDD Omnibus
47
DB, cmpres
56
77
16
Assmbl r/dissmbl rs
01
Interbank Database
00
$ Languages
47
misc
77
15
Single drive disk
77
05
$ misc. b/u
Cocoa, FL
SING-LINK
"Tony EHIzzard
512 E Court, Wei set-, Ida. 83672
My sozii Ron» tells me that the QL
supporting journals need articles on QL
use and that, since I'm a heavy user, I
should write some* Okay« But most of
you are computer buffs; I'm not. The
QL is the only computer iVe ever used,
excepting a couple hours playing with a
Timex-Sinclair. When my sons advised
me to get one of those "super- buy" QL
computers I asked, "What do I need
with a computer?" With a little
argument they convinced me that if I
only used the word-processor it beat
my WD-40-soaked IBM Selectric every
way imaginable. Turns out they were
right. That is, after I nearly beat the
thing to death learning Quill (old dog,
new tricks situation). And I went
through the same trauma with Text87.
(This is a Text87 doc.)
Materially, my mind works on
mechanical and electrical logic; not
computer logic. Therefore, after I read
a new program's manual I call Ron to
find out what it means. He's developed
into quite a translator.
My present hardware amounts to a
Magnavox RGB monitor, 896K Trump
Card, dual 5 1/4 Mitsubishi discs from
Sharp, a Seikosha SP 1200- AS 9 pin and
an Epson LQ-500 24 pin printer and a
back-up QL with a monocrome monitor.
The Seikosha just prints mcdling labels
these days; the 24-pin doing the heavy
work. I picked up a cheap Tandy A/IB
switch to put between them and made
up a cable from switch to serial 1.
Both lights of the *&#!90 disk drivers
come on every time a floppy is called,
always have; Stuber wasn't very
anxious to help fix it and it still drives
me nuts. Otherwise, I*m happy. (Ron
has about talked me into networking
the backup QL; might be fun.)
Software? More than I use. Taught
myself Quill and Archive out of the
originals. Ron bought me Taskmaster;
so far it's mastered me* (But I hope to
write its "screen saver" into every boot
I have!) Bought Stuber's early version
of Xchange and have had to learn to
use it for its mail-merge feature, which
use I will describe herein. Also have
Bill Cable's Archive enhancements and
like what I've used very much but for
the awfully slow screen changes.
Following is one layman's use of the
QL:
As mentioned, I was interested in a
good typewriter - QuilL It soon made
the old way comparable to chiselling
stone. And, until someone writes a
mail-merge for Text87, I'll continue to
use it for special purposes. Being
politically oriented, if I'd had Quill 25
years ago, a lot more politicians would
have had to make a lot more excuses
concerning their actions.
Being, at the time of my QL
purchase, maintenance manager of a
good-sized vending machine business, I
soon saw the advantage of a machine
data-base for the whole operation and
began spending my evenings typing in
data for every machine in the business.
My crew groaned when I first exposed
them to the print-outs, but soon they
were looking for updates of equipment
on locations to help their preparations
for repairs, etc.
Next, two of my sons turned their
correspondence into a magazine and I
got elected to keep the address data-
base - now up to about 1400 names.
Have also developed my own six-
page or so monthly (?) medl-out sheet
(Texts? produced) and regularly update
its address data- base.
Lastly, I run an irrigation-ditch
lateral in our part of town 7 months of
the year and my wife has now become
secretary-treasurer. A tax bill must be
sent to each address on the ditch-hne
each year. In the past the secretary
had triplicate legal forms printed,
crash-numbered and bound at
considerable cost. Then she had to
laboriously hand-enter all the
information for each address.
Last year I used Xchange's mail-
merge feature and set up the whole bill
on an 8 1/2 X 11 sheet in Quill; then
SINC-LINK
created an Archive data- base to hold
each lot*s detailed info* This entailed
lcx>king back through years of dusty
records and making trips to the county
assessor*s office to find the answers to
riddles caused mainly by individualistic
penmanship*
To create a form including all the
necessary legalisms on one sheet really
challenged QuilPs versatility, (Samples
are provided if the publisher has
display space, ) I could never have
managed it without Quill's ability to u$e
custom translates in the printer_dat.
Happily, I had made drivers beforehand
using translate codes (as shown by
Mike de Sosa in an article from an old
Time Designs) to take advantage of the
LQ-500's founts*
When it came time to merge the data
into the form most everything had to
be jockeyed around some more.
Through frustrating trial and error I
discovered that the Xchange mail-merge
only worked so many lines down the
page. Because the tax-payer tear-off
payment stubs had to be at the bottom
of the sheet and had to carry the same
number as the main bill, this meant that
I couldn't merge bill numbers I had set
up in the data-base. Finally I used a
manual numbering machine. However,
Ron recently brought his new public
domain, updated, Xchange and we
discovered (just before my QL's original
membrane, as well as that of the back-
up, decided to quit) that that problem
has been corrected. This year's bills
went out with the numbering merged
perfectly.
To have everything align properly
on the merged sheet I discovered that I
had to allot the proper number of
spaces on the doc (even though it
pushed things out of place in the Quill
template) and then be sure to fill every
space of every field in the database.
That meant a lot of spaces run into the
31 fields on the Archive screen I had
created.
During the course of €J1 this
research and set-up I discovered that
through the passage of time, selling off
of parcels, etc., the ditch tax had lost
much of its equity. So before the 1993
billing this cantankerous old dog
attacked Abacus hoping to equalize the
tax- base per square foot. But after
learning its basics, I found it easier to
use a calculator. Seems that, given
length & width, Abacus could figure
square fcx>tage of each lot, but I know
zilch about math formulas and
programing. Maybe someone can explain
to me how to set up Abacus to do that
job in the future.
Last year I printed the bills on
continuous feed paper. This time I
used a cut-sheet feeder. One seems to
work about as well as the other
although the cut-sheet eliminates the
extra time needed to tear all the
perforations.
By the way, a local programer wrote
a special PC program for another ditch-
lateral company in town which went on
computer a year before us. They still
have a glitchy situation with botched
bills while, except for the manual
numbering - now corrected - our bills
printed out without a hitch first time
out.
Don't know if this is what QL
publications need, but this is how I use
my QL. As for the technicalities of how
some of the objectives are accomplished
- I tend to forget the details until I
have to do it again. Then re-reading
the manual usually refreshes my
memory.
Again, I'm not a computer buff,
tool when I see it operate. Now when
the grandkids play the simple Quanta
library games on my QL, I get nervous.
And when the membrane gave up I
W€usn't sure how life would progress.
Luckily, Frank Davis of Mechanical
Affinity had me fixed up with new-
production membranes in just two days.
Real service!
Hey, when the QL "died" I was too
busy using mine to attend the funeral.
- end -
SINC-LINK
MIDDLE WEISER IRRiaATION LATERAL
NOTICE OF TAXES
DI STRI CT
TAX LEVY FOE 1993
Weiser, Idaho, November ,1993
♦firstname* *lastname*
^street*
*city*, *state* *2ip*
*careof*
Please take notice that your taxes for the
year 1993 on the below described property
amount to the sum of
*writtenamnt* DOLLARS $*amnt*
DESCRIPTION OF LANDS
*descriptionl*
*description2*
♦descriptions*
*lotl* *b*
*lot222**b2*
*lot3* *b3*
Lot ! Blk ! Apportionment }
Total Tax $*amnt*
! 1/2 Pd. 1993
! Balance Due
! AMOUNT AND DISTRIBUTION
! Penalty
I Advertising
\ Total Paid t
Year
*yr*
1993,
*y2*
on or before
said
*y3*
11 becoBe
ilinquent
ON ABOVE PROPERTY
Tax ! Interest! Amount
♦tax*
*tx2*
*tx3*
! *in*
! *i2*
! *i3*
IMPORTANT - Notice is hereby given that the assessments above indicated
are due and payable at the office of the District, sane being the hone
of Bart»i^ Blizzard in Weiser, Idaho. Said assesaMent will becoM de-
li^ient at 6:00 o'clock p.a. on the third ffooday of
{ *tot*
! *to2*
I *to3*
provided that if one-half of the sase shall be paid
date, the reaainder say run without interest but wi
if not paid on or before 6:00 o'clock p. a. on the third Monday of June,
1994. A penalty of two percoit will be added to all delinquent assess--
aents and an interest diarge of ten <10) percent per annia fro« January
lat will accrue until settlsMnt. THXSX AiKHniTS ASE SIT BT LAW.
Make renittance payable to: AA£BARA BLXZZABD, Secretary
512 Bast Court. W«i«er. Idaho 83672
// the owner's name is not correct
please indicate below:
Present Owner
Address
MEMO:
Secretary
Your cancelled check is your receipt
FOR PROPER CRBDIT CUT AND RBTURN THIS PORTION WITH PAYMBNTJFOR PROPER CREDIT CUT AND RETURN THIS PORTION WITH PATMENT
No.*niii* 1993 1 »o.*niii* 1993
FULL OR FINAL PAYMENT
. 19
Barbara Blizzard, Secretary
12 East Court, Weiser, Idaho
FIRST INSTALLMENT
, 19
Barbara Blizzard, Secretary
512 East Court, Weiser, Idaho
SINC-LINK
7
MIDDLE WEISER IRRIGATION LATERAL DISTRICT
NOTICE OF TAXES
TAX LEVY FOR 1993
No, 105
Mary Anderson
434 E Court
Weiser, ID 83672
Weiser, Idaho, November ,1991
Please take notice that your taxes for the
year 1993 on the below described property
amount to the sum of
Thirty-five-
DOLLARS $ 35.00
DESCRI PTION OF LANDS
AMOUNT AND DISTRIBUTION
Hanthorn Add*n.
140' X 100* 14000 sq'
Lot
Blk! Apportionment
14-15 4
Total Tax $ 35.00
1/2 Pd. 1993
Balance Due
Penalty
Advertising
Total Paid t
THE FOLLOWING TAXES ARE DELIQUENT
ON ABOVE PROPERTY
Year 1 Tax ! Interest ! Amount
It the owner *s name is not correct
please indicate below:
Present Owner
IMPORTANT - Notice is hereby given that the assessaents above indicated
are due and i^ayable at the office of the District, saae being the hose
of Barbara Blizzard in Weiser, IiUOio. Said assesflneiit trill bccoae de-
li^^t at 6:00 o'clock p.B. on tlie tblrd Hoaday of Peceaber^ 1093,
provided that if one-half of the saae shall be paid on or before said
date, the reaainder say run without interest but will becoae delinquent
if not paid on or before 6:00 o'clock p*B. on the third Honday of June,
1994* A penalty of two percsest vill be added to all delinquent assess-
■ents and an interest charge of ten (10) percent per ann» trtm January
1st will accrue tmtil settlsMnt. TOSE AMDOIITS AU SBT BY LAV.
Make resittance payable to: BARBARA BLIZZARD, Secretary
512 last Court. Weiser. Idaho 83672
Address
NEMO:
Secretary
Your cancelled check is your receiut
FOR PROPER CREDIT CUT AMD RETURN TBIS PORTION WITH PAYMENT
No. 105 1993
FULL OR FINAL PAYMENT
, 19 1
;POR PTOPER CREDIT CUT AND RETURN TBIS PORTION WITH PAYMENT
No. 105 1993
FIRST INSTALLMENT
. 19
Barbara Blizzard, Secretary
512 East Court, Weiser, Idaho ]
Enclosed find S in Final and Full !
Barbara Blizzard, Secretary
512 East Court, Weiser, Idaho
Enclosed find t in navment of
payment of taxes levied for the year 1993 on |
the property described in the Tax Notice bear- 1
ing the same number and year as this stub and 1
from which this stub has been detached. |
Respectfully, j
the First Installment of taxes levied for the
year 1993 on the property described in the
Tax Notice bearing the same number and year
as this stub and from which this stub has
been detached. Respectfully,
SINC-LINK
-TURBO SWITCH p-ot^ TKi«^ ZXQl
Transcribed from the Winter 1993 issue of ZXir QLive Alive
Th* vhole idea of experiwnting vith a 'TURBO
--ach» cate froi reading thf book "EXPLORER'S 8UIDE TO THE
T/S 1000' by Nike Lord. On page 58(1) of the book under the
heading 'Keyboard Scanning' he tells how the systei variable
NAR6IN lay be changed froi 55 to 31 by taking pin 22 of the
ULA chip HI6H or LOH. This is supposed to be of use to the
coiputer ianufacturer to enable the T/S 1000 to be used in
either the USA which uses 31 blank lines at the top and
bottot of the screen, or in the UK which uses 55 blank
lines. The book also states on page 52(2) under the heading
•NHI Handler' that 'Hhen in the SLOW lode the UBl uses the
tiie occupied by these blank lin#s to carry on with your
prograi".
So I thought if I increased the nutber of lines on
•y T/S 1000, I light increase the speed of prograi
execution. And it works well. I use direct video and have
not tried it using the RF lodulator, but if you use direct
vidM I think you will have success froa the lodification.
To test the speed of prograi execution I use the
following BASIC prograi:
10 FOR H « 1 TO 500
20 leXT N
30 PRItIT •FINISHED'
With pin 22 HI6H the coiputer takes 20 seconds,
! the pin LOH, the prograi takes 28 seconds, (About a 28Z
incffise in speed. Don). This is a considerable increase in
speed. One light ask •»iy have a TIKBO Switch?" Well, when I
use ly UORDt prograi (word processor) at the •TURBO' spe#d
the cursor pi inks at about twice the norial rate and do#s
not s#ei to liss keys as it did in the past, and when
playing gaies I use the slower speed so that I can get a
higher score!
When using the higher speed I find the lonitor
screen is filled with lines froi top to bottoi, when using
the slow speed I find a blank screen at the top and bottoi
1/2 inch of the screen. I can switch froi 'TURBO' to norial
at any tiie without any crashes.
Lastly, how is the lodification carried out? You
have to take the T/S 1000 circuit board out of it's case and
locate resistor R30 which is located between the ULA chip
and the regulator heat sink. It should have the colors Brown
Black Brown.
Using a soldering iron, lift the left hand end of
the resistor clear froi the circuit board hole. Also locate
resistor R38 which is four resistors down froi R30, and
solder one end of soie two core cable to the left hand end
of R38, which should be a 5V rail. To the raised left hand
end of R30, solder one end of a IK 1/4H resistor. Bend the
resistor upwards and solder the other end to the right hand
end of R34, which is a OV rail. To the junction of R30 and
the added IK resistor solder the other core of the two core
cable, toe the other end of the cable solder a switch of the
single throw single pole type.
That coipUtes the circuit board lodification. Try
connecting a lultiieter to the solder connection between R30
and the IK resistor, and ground. Hhen the T/S 1000 is
powered up, the 'TURBO' switch should change the voltage
fros nearly 0 volts to if^g^iy § volts, flnd if you have your
lonitor connected you should see the screw flicker.
The switch should be lounted soiewhere convenient,
accessible froi outside the T/S 1000. I have ly T/S 1000
lOunted inside a steel chassis and so I lounted the 'TURBO'
switch on the front panel with the words 'TURBO' and
'NORHAL' along side the switch. Try EMTERing and running the
prograi that I LISTed earlier and see the difference the
switch lakes. ENJOY!
SINC-LINK
732068" LARKEN TIDBIT
by 6. Chambers
Here is an interest ing thing I did with my system in recent days. It
may prove useful to some of our member Sm
I had typed up a letter, using the word processor MSCRIPT. While
attempt ing to print out the letter I inadvertent I y did something to the
computer which caused it to lock up. I was not able to release it. The
NMl^A key function did nothing. What a quandary. I was not looking
forward to re^typing the letter.
I was sure that the material I had typed was still in the computer.
So when all else had failed I saved the whole of the computer RAM
memory, starting at the screen, to a Larken disk, using an NMI^type
save. This gave me ten tracks on a disk.
I then loaded the ^doctor. BV* program (on TTSUC library disk HI), and
used two of it's options to find the tracks that contained my typing.
First I used the option which told me what programs were on each of the
tracks of the disk. Then using option "0" / loaded the tracks likeliest
to hold my data. I found the letter on tracks 7 and 8 of the NMI-^ Save.
Though actually on tracks 3U and 35 of the disk. Do you follow me?
Now, the option "D" told me that the first track with text was loaded
into the computer, starting at address 50000, and was 5090 bytes long.
I ^ broke out of the ''doctor'' program and did a save of that part of
memory holding the track. Although the track was loaded into memry
starting at 50000, I knew that the first 2^4^ bytes were concerned with
informat ion about the file; that the actual data started at 5002H^ So I
did a save of code; PRINT USR 100s SAVE "lostl.CM" CODE 5002^^,5090. The
".CM" suffix was used since my version of MSCRIPT uses this suffix.
I did the same thing for the second track. Loading the second track
containing text and saving it, this time using the command PRINT USR
100: SAVE "lost 2. CM" CODE 50021,5090.
I then installed MCRIPT in the 2068, loaded the first track, and then
merged the second track. Note that with MSCRIPT (Dohany's version) you
use the Add option to merge a file.
Everything was back in MSCRIPT, except for a missing word between the
two f i les. There were a few lines of superfluous garbage which were
easily removed. I was struck with how easy it was. The seventh track of
a lO^track Larken NMI^type save starts at address U692H, while MSCRIPT
stores text starting at address H692U7. That's called serendipity.
And^ if you are curious as to the the meaning of "serend i pity" , the
d ict ionary describes it as 'the faculty of finding valuable or agreeable
things not sought for'. How apt!
SINC-LINK
SPORTS GAMING AND THE T/S 2068
I*m sure many of us utilize our computers as an aid in
pursuing another hobby. Perhaps you have an astronomy program
to plot star and planet positions for your sky viewing. Or
maybe you have an interest in stamps or coins and use a database
in cataloging your collections. My "other" hobby is collecting
sports games - the table-top, board games that generally use
dice, charts and cards to represent real or imaginary athletes
and teaEis. Probably all of us have seen games of this nature,
football or baseball most likely, but there actually are games
representing nearly every sport:
My own collection has grown to over 200 games, starting
with the classic Cadaco All-Star Baseball game when I was about
ten or so. Over the decades since, I've accummulated games in
just about every sport, with a special emphasis on obscure,
limited production games. With a collection that grows with
every new game that I can find, I've found it convenient to
catalog them, but rather than use a database such as Pro/File or
Vu-File, I just list them by sport in an MSCRIPT file. For my
purposes, at least, a word-processor makes a superior database,
especially with respect to ease of typing, editing and hard copy
formatting.
"Merging" ray two hobbies goes beyond just cataloging my
collection, however. From the time I got that first T/S 1000
back in the early 'BOs, I realized that a computer could
actually help me play the games. Like many computer users, game
players tend to "tinker with the hardware", modifying the
original, perhaps adding features that are either missing or not
handled to the owner's satisfaction. As a matter of fact, quite
a few games have originated from this feeling of "I can do it
better". Many of these were one shot efforts, produced with
great expectations of challenging the long-dominant leaders in
the sports game field, such as APBA and Strat-O-Matic, but then
burning out rather quickly when confronted with the harsh
reality of high production costs and expensive advertising. In
spite of their defunct status, however, these "one-man show"
games are among ray favorites.
Several times I've also tried my hand at creating games
from scratch, once even with a vague idea of actually producing
a hockey game for sale. Looking back on that '70s idea seems a
little amusii^ now, since I knew only a little about hockey and
even less about the mechanics of game production and marketing.
When I got the T/S 1000, however, the idea of creating my own
games was replaced almost immediately by the realization that
the machine could help me play the game that I was focusing on
at that time, a boxing game produced by Aval on Hill called
"Title Bout". It might sound odd, but I've actually played the
games in my collection very little, many not at all, content
just to look at them occasionally. Many gamers, on the other
hand, conduct solitaire season replays for their favorite
baseball team, for example, compiling comprehensive statistics.
For myself, the time investment in such a project always seemed
prohibitive, so the appeal of a game representing boxing might
seem understandable: only two fighters to deal with at a time,
few statistics and a short contest. Added to that was the fact
SINC-LINK
that "Title Bout" was extremely well done - very playable,
realistic and accurate, and most importantly, a lot of fun.' I
spent hours playing hundreds of fights, mostly the great
heavyweights of boxing history.
The computer was a natural for this game. Unlike many
other sports games, the necessary random number generator was
not dice, but rather "action cards" from which one took a
reading to determine what was occuring in the ring. The deck of
80 cards represented two rounds, each card being used once then
discarded. Even though I felt that action cards had an
advantage over dice in terms of speed and play flow, it was
still somewhat of a hassle shuffling the deck after every two
rounds, especially to make sure that cards didn't stick together
thereby compromising randomness. Enter the computer and a
rudimentary grasp of Basic. My first program was simply to
display a "card" on the screen, mimicking the deck. Read a
"card", press enter for the next one, and repeat 40 times per
round. My first departure from this literal reproduction of the
deck was to realize that more than one reading could be taken
from the screen "card". The physical deck had several
categories on each card - different random numbers that might be
used for determining who was in control of the action or if a
punch had been landed, for example, but only one reading could
be used from each card, for randomness* sake. Each "reading" on
the computer card, however, was independent of the others on the
same card. By taking several readings at a time, I was able to
cut down the number of <ENTER>*s from 40 to about 15 per round-
But what the computer giveth it also taketh away: the machine
needed to know when exactly 40 readings had been used in order
to end the round and I was required to tell it!
As the months passed and my programming knowledge
increased, I was able to go beyond this very elementary
presentation of one aspect of the game, the action card deck,
and incorporate other elements. A few lines to display the
fighters* names and scores, for example, were added to the
program to eliminate the need to move markers on the actual
gameboard. Again, however, I had to input this information, so
the net work/time saving was minimal . The fact that more and
more of the game was going onto the screen did please me,
though .
At about this time I was corresponding with a man in Iowa
concerning an article I had written for a game magazine on Title
Bout boxer ratings. I mentioned that I had a new little
computer arul that I was attempting to program the game. He was
intrigued to the point of wanting to purchase a T/S 1000 just to
see my effort. Unfortunately he couldn't find a 1000 and
instead bought a Commodore 64 and immediately typed in my
program (from a 2040 printout - that takes both patience and
good vision!) and began making suggestions for improvements.
One idea he expressed struck me as both desirable and naive -
he saw no reason the entire game couldn't be computerized. I,
on the other hand, saw plenty of difficulty in achieving such a
goal - the number and complexity of charts in the game depicting
events such as cuts, knockdowns and so on as well as our amateur
status as programmers discouraged me from seeing the idea as
viable.
SINC-LINK
Our correspondence eventually ended as did a lot of my
interest in programming Title Bout. Over the next few years, I
was constantly working on some game or another with respect to
the computer but I had pretty much taken TB as far as I thought
I could - the game was probably 95* autoplay at that point,
requiring only an occasional input. I couldn't just choose two
boxers, start the program and come back 10 minutes later for a
decision because, sure enough, about the fifth round some
obscure condition would require human input. Since I was
playing the game so little, this situation didn*t really bother
me much.
About this time, my brother in Arizona bought his first
computer, a 286 clone. Doug doesn't share my interest in games
but thought it might be fun to translate the TB program to GW
Basic as a project we could work on during one of my semi-annual
visits. I mailed him the 2040 printout of the program a couple
of days before I flew in, assuming we would spend most of the
time just re-typing it, but was astonished to find he*d entered
the whole thing, even going so far as to figure out how to
correctly translate Sinclair basic in many cases. With the
drudgery out of the way, we worked on things like screen
presentation and the use of color graphics. But Doug's real
contribution was to encourage us to go ahead and try to
incorporate the last few elements of the game that would make it
truly an autoplay game. He had a lot of good ideas, especially
considering the fact that he'd never even seen the board game,
relying on my description of it. It took us all of my vacation,
two weeks, but we did finish it. I came home with the completed
program on a Citizen 200-'GX printout, ready to type the new
changes back to my TS and even more ready to go out and buy an
80 column printer! I did both I'm happy to report and not long
after added a disk drive to complete my system.
I don't see much being added to the program in the future
and I doubt that I'll play the game very often, but I would
certainly be glad to share the Title Bout program with anyone
interested enough to send a cassette or disk (Larken) to: Mike
Stephens, 312 Newton Avenue, Oakland CA 94606-1320.
SINC-LINK
INSTRUCTIONS FOR BOXING:
My attempt to translate Avalon-Hill 's boxing board game.
Title Bout, into Sinclair Basic consists of two versions of the
program: BOX08.BH is the regular program while QBOX.BH
eliminates ail screen display to provide a faster, result-only
outc<^e. A ten round bout that normally takes 11 minutes or so
can be run off in about six with QBOX*
The game has four screens in addition to the opening credit
screen. They are:
1. "Boxer Choice Screen": 20 all-time heavyweight boxers
may be chosen by letter. <AUTOPLAY> allows you to watch or walk
away. The bout proceeds to conclusion with no input necessary.
<CONTINUE> requires a keypress at various times « such as the
end of the round* after a knockdown, etc.
2. "Round Screen": shows each boxer's style. (S) lugger or
(B)oxer. Important ratings are displayed:
CF: control factor; ability to control the fight
PL: punches landed; punching accuracy modified by
opponent's defense
HP: hitting power
KDRi tendency to be knocked down
HV: hit value; ability to land stronger punches
Higher ratings are better except for KDR. When a fighter
becomes tired a "t" shows before his name and his HP and PL
ratings are decreased by one each round.
3. "Action Screen": shows punches landed & missed, fouls,
clinches, knockdowns, etc. Cuts are described when they happen
then coded by letter (A-I) and round number. To see a
description of all cuts, break into the program and check lines
6720-6600. Total points from punches landed in the round appear
to the right of the name. (AGG) gives 1 point to the higher
aggressiveness rating (if any) . On a Knockdown or 5 point
punch. Killer Instinct CKI) will be shown at the top - the boxer
landing the big punch will retain control until KI disappears.
The timer showing the round and count is at the bottom right;
the count decreases from 40 (this could be converted to a
digital clock if anyone is interested. In the board game 40
cards constitute one round). The length of a bout is set at 10
rounds but that too could be altered.
4. "Score Screen": displays controls won. punches landed
and missed, and points frcm punches landed for the round
completed and the fight. Judges' and referee*s scoring is not
shown until the bout is over but "My" score provides an
objective (though unofficial) analysis based strictly on who
scored the most points in the round. The officials' cards may
not agree! Scoring is on the 1 point must system. Knockdowns
for are shown under "K*s" and cuts (if any) are shown in coded
form. TKO/condition information is displayed if pertinent.
I would be happy to correspond with anyone regarding this
program, including adding other fighters and providing options
for a clock, bout length and other scoring systems. A 64 column
version utilizing Taswide is also available. For those with IM
compatible computers I highly recommend the game "TKO Pro
Boxing" by the creator of Title Bout and a professional
programmer. Hundreds of boxers are included and a running
commentary adds a great deal to the gome, available from Lance
Haffner Games.
Please send questions and conments to: Mike Stephens. 312
Newton Avenue. Oakland CA 94606-1320.
The Larken disk version of this gaune is available
in the TTSUC disk library. Ed.
SINC-LINK
name
Dec Hex
Instr-Dec
Reaarks ( 9 }
name
Dec
Hex
Instr-Dec
Remarks
tranok
3011
3014
3017
3019
3022
3025
3028
3031
3032
3034
3037
3038
3041
3042
3044
3047
3049
3050
3053
3054
3056
3059
_3062
3064
3067
3070
3072
3074
3075
3078
3079
3081
3084
3087
3090
3093
3094
3096
3099
3102
3104
3107
3110
3113
3114
3116
3119
3123
3124
3127
3128
3129
3131
3133
3135
3137
3138
3139
3140
3141
3143
3144
3147
3148
3150
3151
3153
3154
3157
3158
3160
3162
3164
3166
3169
3170
3171
3173
3175
3178
3180
3183
3186
3187
3188
0BC3
0BC6
0BC9
OBCB
OBCE
OBDl
0BD4
0BD7
0BD8
OBDA
OBDO
OBDE
OBEl
0BE2
0BE4
0BE7
0BE9
OBEA
OBBD
OBEE
OBFO
0Br3
0BF6
0BF8
OBFB
OBFE
OCOO
0C02
0C03
0C06
0C07
0C09
OCOC
OCOP
0C12
0C15
0C16
0C18
OCIB
OCIE
0C20
0C23
0C26
0C29
0C2A
0C2C
0C2F
0C30
0C34
0C37
0C38
0C39
0C3B
0C3D
0C3F
0C41
0C42
QC43
0C44
0C45
0C4 7
0C48
0C4B
0C4C
0C4E
0C4F
0C51
0C52
0C55
0C56
0C58
0C5A
0C5C
0C5E
0C61
0C62
0C63
0C65
0C67
0C6A
0C6C
0C6F
0C72
0C73
0C74
LD HL, (8236)
LD DE, 8329
LDIR
CALL 1135
GALL 3651
CALL 1084
LD A, (8224)
AND A
JR Z, 3064
LD A, (8223)
DEC A
LD (8223)
AND A
JR NZ, 3001
LD HL, (8245)
LD (HL), 245
INC HL
LD (8245), HL
LD A, (HL)
CP 249
JP Z, 2424
LD (8221). A
JR 2996
LD HLt (8245)
LD A, (8247)
CP 100
JR 3110
INC HL
LD (8245), HL
LD A, (HL)
CP 249
JP Z, 2424
LD (8249). A
LD HL. 8249
LD A, (8221}
CP (HL)
JR Z, 3104
CALL 3807
LD HL, 8249
JR 3090
CALL 2860
JP 2981
LD HL, (8245)
INC HL
LD (HL), 249
CALL 2307
LD DE, (8245)
INC DE
LD HL, 8260
INC HL
LD A, (HL)
249
Z, 3143
245
Z. 3127
A, (HL)
A
CP
JR
CP
JR
LD
LD (DE)
INC DE
INC HL
JR 3128
LD (DE), A
LD HL, 8250
INC HL
LD A, 253
CP (HL)
JR NZ, 3147
INC HL
LD (8241), HL
LD A, (HL)
CP 249
JR Z, 3180
CP 245
JR Z, 3153
LD HL, 8328
INC HL
CP (HL)
JR NZ, 3169
LD (HL), 245
LD HL, (8241)
JR 3153
CALL 3651
LD A, (8194)
AND A
BET NZ
JP 1596
encdbf
savebf
Idbuf
errnu
attempts counter
attempts counter
temp 6
block in use
temp6
name end
curtrk
temp 6
d
temp6
name end
curtrk
nextrk
PRINT
LPRINT
CAT
temp6
name end
indir
temp6
name end
block in use
directory
1st block
temp2
name end
block in use
block in use
temp 2
savebf
nmif lag
3191 0C77 LD C, 9
3193 0C79 LD A, (HL)
3194 0C7A RST 16
3195 0C7B INC HL
3196 0C7C DEC C
3197 0C7D JR NZ, 3193
3199 0C7F INC D
3200 0C80 INC HL
3201 0C81 LD C, 0
3203 0C83 LD A, (HL)
3204 0C84 CP 249
3206 0C86 JR Z, 3216
3208 0C88 CP 255
3210 0C8A JR Z, 3216
3212 0C8C INC C
3213 0C8D INC HL
3214 0C8E JR 3203
3216 0C90 LD B, 3
3218 0C92 LD A, 32
3220 0C94 RST 16
3221 0C95 DJNZ 3219
3223 0C97 LD A, C
3224 0C98 PUSH HL
3225 0C9A PUSH BC
3226 0C9A CALL 1781
3229 0C9D POP BC
3230 0C9E POP HL
3231 0C9F DEC HL
3232 OCAO DEC HL
3233 OGAl LD A, 32
3235 0CA3 RST 16
_3236 0CA4 RET
3237 "Disk Contents"
3253 "Disk Name
3266 0CC2 LD A, 2
3268 0CC4 LD HL, 4656
3271 0CC7 LD DE, 5633
3274 OCCA CALL 1046
3277 OCCD LD A, 245
3279 OCCF RET
3280 OCDO CALL 3266
3283 0CD3 LD HL, 3253
3286 0CD6 CALL 1925
3289 0CD9 CALL 1212
3292 OCDC CALL 1084
3295 OCDF LD HL, 23611
3298 0CE2 SET 4. (HL)
3300 0CE4 LD HL, 12804
3303 0CE7 LD A, (HL)
3304 0CE9 AND A
3305 0CE9 JR Z, 3311
3307 OCEB RST 16
3308 OCEC INC HL
3309 OCED JR 3303
3311 OCEF LD A, 13
3313 OCFl RST 16
3314 0CF2 LD A, 13
3316 0CF4 RST 16
3317 0CF5 CALL 1063
3320 0CF8 CP 244
3322 OCFA JR Z, 3334
3324 OCFC CALL 2156
3327 OCFF CALL 1013
3330 0D02 LD A, C
3331 0D03 AND A
3332 0D04 JR NZ, 3342
3334 0D06 LD HL, 8226
3337 0D09 LD (HL), 34
3339 ODOB INC HL
3340 ODOC LD (HL), 34
3342 ODOE XOR A
3343 ODOF LD (8243), A
3346 0D12 LD HL, 8328
3349 0D15 INC HL
3350 0D16 INC HL
3351 0D17 LD A, (HL)
3352 0D18 CP 250
3354 ODIA JR Z, 3423
3356 ODIC CP 255
3358 ODIE JR NZ, 3350
3360 0D20 INC HL
3361 0D21 LD A, (HL)
3362 0D22 CP 254
3364 0D24 JR Z, 3350
3366 0D26 LD (8245), HL
i end of block
; end of track map
; decdmp
; <pointer @
; <pointer # 3283
; 2068
; Spectrum
; roms
; block used
; print
; "Disk Name
; print to
; drvO
; Idbuf
; flags
; prleft
; start of disk name
; 1st byte in chnls
; spec
; gtfil
; endoln
; prognm
*
*
; temp 4
; directory end
; end of track map
; cell not used
; temp 6
Oops I These are the missing pages from Les Cottrell's excellent
Larken ROM Disassembly. See also vols. 11 --2, 11-^3. 11-5 & 11-6.
SINC-.LINK
name Dec Hex Instr-Dec Resarks (10) naiie Dec Hex Instr-Dec
trac
3369
3371
3374
3375
3377
3379
3381
3383
3384
3386
3387
_3389
3391
_3392
3394
3395
3397
3399
3400
3402
3404
3405
3407
3408
_3409
3411
3414
3415
3418
_3421
3423
3426
3429
3432
3435
3437
3438
3441
3444
3447
3450
3453
3456
3459
3462
3465
3466
3468
3469
3471
3473
3475
3478
3479
3481
3482
3483
3484
3487
3489
3490
3493
3512
3525
3539
3552
3555
3558
3571
3574
3576
3577
3579
3582
3584
3586
3588
3590
3592
3594
3596
3598
3600
3601
3603
3606
3609
3610
0D29
0D2B
0D2E
0D2F
0D31
0D33
OD35
OD37
0D38
0D3A
0D3B
0D3D
0D3F
0D40
0D42
0D43
0D45
0D47
0D48
0D4A
0D4C
0D4D
0D4F
0D50
0D51
0D53
0D56
0D57
0D5A
0D5D
005F
0D62
0D65
0D68
0D6B
0D6D
0D6E
0D71
0D74
0D77
0D7A
0D7D
0080
0D83
0D85
0D89
0D8A
0D8C
0P8D
QD8F
0D91
0D93
0D96
0D97
0D99
0D9A
0D9B
0D9C
0D9F
ODAl
0DA2
LD B, 9
LD DE, 8226
LD A, (DE)
CP 34
JR Z, 3394
CP 94
JR Z, 3391
CP (HL)
JR Z, 3394
INC HL
DJNZ 3374
JR 3350
INC DE
JR 3374
LD A, (DE)
CP 94
progns
vildcard
; * vildcard
JR Z, 3407
LD A, (0£)
CP 34
JR Z, 3411
CP (HL)
JR NZ, 3350
INC DE
INC HL
JR 3394
LD HL, 8243
INC HL
LD HL, (8245)
CALL 3191
JR 3350
LD HL, 3493
CALL 1922
LD A, (8325)
CALL 1781
LD A, 47
RST 16
LD A, (8324)
CALL 1781
LD HL, 3526
CALL 1922
LD A, (8243)
CALL 1781
LD HL. 3539
CALL 1922
LD HL, 8328
INC HL
LD C, 0
LD A, (HL)
CP 255
JR Z, 3483
CP 245
CALL NZ» 3481
INC HL
JR 3468
INC C
RET
LD A, C
CALL 1781
LD A, 13
RST 16
JP 1596
*«LARKEN LRDOS 1986"
"Track/Side"
"Total Files"
"Free Blocks"
ODEO LB HL, 3558
0DE3 JP 1822
"Y File Open"
DDF3 LD A, (8195)
0DF6 a» 128
0FD8 RET Z
0FD9 OUT 8, A
OfDB LD A, (8203)
ODFE SET 2, A
OEOO OUT 16, A
0E02 LD B, 20
0B04 DJNZ 3588
0E06 IN A, 16
0E08 BIT 0, A
OEOA JR Z, 3598
OEOC JR 3590
OEOE IN A, 16
OEIO RRA
OEll JR C, 3598
0EI3 CALL 3631
0E16 LD A, (8221)
0E19 RRA
OEIA RES 7, A
crcsv
; temp 4
; tesp6
; LARKEN LiCDOS
; print to
1986
decdmp
vars offset
decdmp
total files
print to .
teBp4
decdi^>
free blocks
print to .
; end of track aap
; block used
; decdmp
<pointer § 3423
<pointer #
<pointer # 3444
<pointer § 3456
doserr
<pointer # 3552
drvsel
EAMdisk
; delay
track
3612
3614
3617
3619
3621
3623
3625
3627
3628
___3630
3631
3634
3637
3639
3641
3643
_3645
3646
3648
_3650
3651
3652
3655
3657
3660
3663
3666
3669
3670
3671
3672
_3674
3675
3677
3679
3681
3684
3686
3687
3689
3691
3693
3695
3697
3699
3701
3702
3703
3705
3706
3707
3708
3710
3712
3714
3715
3717
3719
3721
3723
3725
3727
3729
3730
3732
3734
3736
3738
3740
3742
3743
3745
3746
3747
3748
3750
3752
3753
3755
3758
3760
3761
3763
3765
3767
3769
3771
3773
OEIC
OEIE
0E21
0E23
0E25
0E27
DE29
0E2B
0E2C
0E2E
0E2F
0E32
0E35
0E37
0E39
0E3B
0E3D
0E3E
0E40
0E42
0E43
0E44
0E47
0E49
0E4C
0E4F
0E52
0E55
0E56
0E57
0E58
0E5A
0E5B
0E5D
0E5F
0E61
0E64
0E66
0E67
0S69
0B6B
0E6D
0E6F
0K71
0E73
0E75
0E76
0E77
0B79
0E7A
0E7B
0E7C
0E7E
0E80
0B82
0E83
0E85
0E87
0E89
0E8B
0E8D
0E8F
0E91
0E93
0B94
0E96
0E98
0E9A
0E9C
0E9E
0E9F
OEAl
0EA2
0EA3
0EA4
0EA6
0EA8
0EA9
OEAB
OEAE
OEBO
OEBl
0EB3
0EB5
0EB7
0EB9
OEBB
OEBD
OUT 22, A
LD A, (8202)
OR 20
OUT 16, A
LD B, 10
DJNZ 3623
IN A, 16
RRA
JR C, 3625
RET
LD A, (8195)
LD HL, 8221
BIT 0, (HL)
JR NZ, 3646
RES 0, A
OUT 8, A
RET
SET 0, A
OUT 8, A
RET
DI
LD A, (8195)
CP 128
JP Z, 4066
CALL 3666
CALL 3675
LD BC, 4500
DEC BC
LD A, B
OR C
JR NZ, 3669
RET
LD E, 20
LD B, 1
LD C, 20
LD HL, 8304
IN A, 16
RRA
JR C, 3684
OUT (C). B
LD A, 180
OUT 16, A
LD B, 6
LD C, 22
DJNZ 3699
LD D, (HL)
INC HL
IN A, 16
RHA
RET NO
RRA
JR NC, 3703
OUT (C), D
DJNZ 3701
DEC £
JR NZ, 3701
LD C, 16
208
20
; hspd
3734
16
3721
B
LD B,
IN A,
CP 11
JR Z,
IN A,
RRA
JR C,
JR 3743
OUT (C),
LD B, 8
DJNZ 3738
IN A, 16
RRA
AND 46
RET NZ
SCF
RET
LD E, 20
LD B, 1
DI
LD C, 20
LD HL, 8304
IN A, 16
RRA
JR G, 3758
OUT (C), B
LD A, 148
OUT 16, A
LD B, 7
LD C, 32
DJNZ 3773
; dvsel
; curtrk
; dvsel
; RAMdisk?
; delay
; delay
; delay
16
SINC-LINK
name
Dec Hex Instr-Dec
Remarks (II)
name Dec Hex Instr-Dec
Remarks
3775 OEBF
3777 OECl
3778 0EC2
3779 0EC3
3780 0EC4
3782 OECE
3784 0EC8
3786 OEGA
3787 DECB
3789 OECD
3791 OECF
3793 OEDl
3795 0ED3
3797 0ED5
3799 0ED7
3800 0ED8
3802 OEDA
3804 OEDC
3805 OEDD
3806 OEDE
nextrk 3807 OEDF
3810 0EE2
3813 0EE5
3815 0EE7
3817 0EE9
3818 OEEA
3820 OEEC
3822 OEEF
3824 OEFO
3825 OEFl
3827 0EF3
3830 0SF6
3832 0EF8
3834 OEFA
3836 OEFC
3837 OBFD
3839 OEFF
3840 OFOO
3843 0F03
3844 DF04
3845 0F05
3846 0F06
3848 0F08
3849 0F09
3852 OFOC
3853 OFOD
3854 OFOE
3856 OFIO
3658 0F12
3660 0F14
3662 0F16
3664 0F18
3865 0F19
3866 OFIA
3868 OFIC
3869 OF10
3870 OFIE
3872 0F20
3873 0F21
3876 0F24
3877 0F25
3878 0F26
3880 0F28
3883 0F2B
3885 0F2D
3886 0F2E
3887 0F2F
3890 0F32
3892 0F34
3893 0F35
3895 0F37
3896 0F38
3897 0F39
3898 0F3A
3900 0F3C
3902 0F3E
3904 0F40
3905 0P41
3906 0F42
3908 0F44
3909 0F45
3911 0F47
3914 0F4A
3917 0F4D
IN A, 16
RRA
RET NC
RRA
JR NC, 3775
INI
JR NZ, 3775
DEC E
JR NZ, 3775
LD A, 208
GOT 16, A
LD B, 7
DJNZ 3795
IN A, 16
RRA
JR C, 3797
AND 14
RET NZ
SCF
RET
tV HL, 8221
LD A, (8195)
CP 128
JR Z, 3844
LD A, (HL)
BIT 0, A
JR Z, 3839
IN A, 16
RRA
JR C, 3807
LD A, (8202)
OR 80
OUT 16, A
IN A, 16
RRA
JR C, 3834
INC (HL)
CALL 3631
RET
INC (HL)
RET
RST 8, ERR 11
delay
curtrk
nmif lag
RST 32
LD HL,
INC HL
LD A, (HL)
CP 57
JR NC, 3846
CP 49
OR C, 3846
LD B, 48
SUB B
LD B, A
LD C, 6
XOR A
ADD A, C
DJNZ 3869
DEC A
LD (8205), A
LD B, A
INC A
SRL A
LD HL, 8324
LD (HL), 2
INC HL
LD (HL), A
LO HL, 8328
LD A, 245
LD (HL), A
LD A, 1
INC HL
LD (HL), A
INC A
DJNZ 3895
LD B, 100
LD A, 245
INC HL
LD (HL), A
DJNZ 3904
INC HL
LD A, 55
LD BC, 9
LD DE, 23
LD (HL), 255
; integer out
; next char
(23645); chadd
integer out
integer out
var of set
block used
block used
end of track nap
3919 0F4F
3920 0F50
3922 0F52
3923 0F53
3925 0F55
3926 0F56
3928 0F58
3929 0F59
3931 0F5B
3932 0F5C
3934 DF5E
3936 0F60
3937 0F61
3938 0F62
3941 0F65
3942 0F66
3945 0F69
3948 0F6C
3949 0F6D
3950 0F6E
3951 0F6F
3952 0F70
3953 0F71
3954 0F72
3955 0F73
3957 0F75
3958 0F76
3961 0F79
FORMAT 3962 0F7A
3965 0F7D
3968 0F80
3970 0F82
3972 0F84
3973 0F85
3975 0F87
3976 0F88
3979 0F8B
3982 0F8E
3985 0F91
3988 0F94
3991 0F97
of range 3994 0F9A
3997 0F9D
3999 0F9F
.. 4002 0FA2
4005 0FA5
4008 0FA8
of range 4011 OFAB
4014 OFAE
of range 4016 OFBO
4017 OFBl
4020 0FB4
4021 0FB5
4024 0FB8
4027 OFBB
4030 OFBE
4033 OFCl
4034 0FC2
4036 0FC4
4039 " RAM-
4051 0rD3
4054 0FD6
4057 0FD9
4058 OFDA
4061 OFDC
4062 OFDE
4063 OFDF
4064 OFEO
4066 0FB2
4069 0FE5
4072 0FE8
4075 OFEB
4078 OFEE
4080 OFFO
4082 0FF2
4085 0FF5
4087 0FF7
4088 0FF8
4090 OFFA
4092 OFFC
4095 OFFF
4096 1000
4098 1002
4099 1003
INC HL
LD (HL), 254
ADD HL, BC
LD (HL), 253
INC HL
LD (HL), 249
ADD HL, DE
LD (HL), 255
DEC A
JR NZ, 3917
LD (HL), 250
RET
XOR A
LD (8320), A
LD E, A
LD HL, 8304
LD BC, 5120
LD A, E
ADD A, (HL)
LD E, A
INC HL
DEC BC
LD A, B
OR C
JR NZ, 3948
LD A, E
LD (8225), A
RET
CALL 2444
LD HL, 8226
LD B, 10
LD (HL), 0
INC HL
DJNZ 3970
XOR A
LD (8221), A
LD (8224), A
CALL 1121
CALL 3848
LD DE, 12804
LD HL, 4039
LD BC, 16
LDIR
CALL 3651
CALL 1084
CALL 3807
CALL 1121
LD HL, 8304
LD (HL), 255
INC HL
LD A, (8221)
LD (HL), A
GALL 3651
CALL 1084
LD A, (8221)
LD HL, 8205
CP (HL)
JR NZ, 4005
JP 1596
-DISK"
LD HL, 32768
LD A, (8024)
INC A
LD BC, 5120
DEC A
RET Z
ADD HL, BC
JR 4061
CALL 3937
LD A, (8225)
LD (8320), A
CALL 4147
SET 6, A
OUT 7, A
CALL 4051
IN A, 244
EX AF, AF'
LD A, 240
OUT 244, A
LD DE, 8304
EX DE, HL
LDIR
EX AF, AF'
OUT 244, A
; cell not used
; 1st block
; name end
; end of track
; directory end
; wprot
; prognm
; curtrk
; errnu
; clrbf
; start of disk name
; "RAM-DISK"
savebf
Idbuf
nextrk
clrbf
curtrk
savbf
Idbuf
curtrk
; >pointer § 3961
; raddr
; write protect off
; hor sel reg
enable upper 32K
of dock bank
start of a block
; hor sel reg
SINC-LINK
drv4
MOVE
Dec
Hex
Instr-Dec
4101
1005
XOR A
4102
1006
OUT 7, A
4104
1008
RET
4105
1009
CALL 4147
4108
lOOC
OUT 7, A
4110
lOOE
CALL 4051
4113
1011
IN A, 244
4115
1013
EX AF, AF'
4116
1014
LD A, 240
4118
1016
OUT 244, A
4120
1018
LD D£» 8304
4123
IDIB
LDIR
4125
lOlD
EX AF, AF»
4126
lOlE
OUT 244, A
4128
1020
XOR A
4129
1021
OUT 7, A
4131
1023
LD A, (8320)
4134
1026
PUSH AF
4135
1027
CALL 3937
4138
102A
LD HL, 8225
4141
102D
POP AF
4142
102E
CP (HL)
4143
102F
RET Z
4144
1030
JP 1100
4147
1033
LD A, (8221)
4150
1036
LD C, A
4151
1037
LD B, 0
4153
1039
LD HL, 4175
4156
103C
ADD HL, BC
4157
103D
LD A, (HL)
4158
103E
LD C, A
4159
103F
AND 7
4161
1042
LD (8204), A
4164
1044
LD A, C
4165
1045
RRA
4166
1046
RRA
4167
1047
RRA
4168
1048
RRA
4169
1049
AND 7
4171
104B
LD (8203), A
4174
104E
RET
4175
70 71 72 73 74 75
50. .
10. . 60. . 20.
4223
107F
CALL 2444
4226
1082
CALL 156
4229
1085
LD A, 32
4231
1087
LD (DE), A
4232
1088
CALL 132
4235
108B
LD A, (8234)
4238
108E
CP 10
4240
1090
JP Z, 2127
4243
1093
CALL 156
4246
1096
LD A, 32
4248
1098
LD (DE), A
4249
1099
LD DE, (8241)
4253
109D
INC DE
4254
109E
PUSH DE
4255
109F
CALL 2343
4258
10A2
LD A, (8224)
4261
10A5
CP 10
4263
10A7
JR NZ, 4341
4265
10A9
POP DE
4266
lOAA
LD HL, 8226
4269
lOAD
LD BC, 9
4272
lOBO
LDIR
4274
10B2
EX DE, HL
4275
10B3
LD DE, 13430
4278
10B6
FUSE DE
4279
10B7
UD BC, 50
4282
lOBA
LDIR
4284
lOBC
CALL 120
4287
lOBF
POP DE
4288
lOCO
INC DE
4289
lOCl
EX DE, HL
4290
10C2
LD A, (HL)
4291
10C3
CP 249
4293
10C5
JP Z, 1596
4296
IOCS
PUSH HL
4297
10C9
LD (8240), A
4300
lOCC
CALL 129
4303
lOCF
LD A, (8221)
4306
10D2
LD HL, 8240
4309
10D5
CP (HL)
4310
10D6
JR NZ, 4300
4312
10D8
CALL 123
4315
lODB
LD A, (8224)
4318
lODE
CP 25
4320
lOEC
JP Z, 2320
Reiaarks (12)
name
enable upper 32K
of dock bank
track buffer
; curtrk
; chip select table
; raddr
; rbank
30 31 32 33 34 35
. 40.. 00 05
; wprot
; gtfil
; indir
; errnu
; gtfil
; teflip2
; errnu
; "Z Hmme Exists"
OP£N#
; savebf
; name end
tempi
nextr
curtrk
tempi
loadbf
errnu
Dec
Hex
Instr-Dec
4323
I0E3
LD HL, 8226
; prognm
4326
10E6
LD DE, 8306
; name track
buffer
4329
10E9
LD BC, 9
4332
lOEC
LDIR
4334
lOEE
CALL 120
; savebf
4337
lOFl
POP HL
4338
10F2
INC HL
4339
10F3
JR 4290
4341
10F5
LD HL, 4307
; "Z Name Exists"
4344
10F8
JP 1822
; doserr
4347
"Z Name Exists"
4362
llOA
NOP
to
; all NOP»s
4399
112F
NOP
4400
1130
JR 4409
4402
1132
JP 4474
4405
1135
POP AF
4406
1136
POP HL
4407
1137
JR 4509
4409
1139
CP 211
; OPEN #
4411
113B
JP Z, 4537
4414
113E
CP 212
; CLOSE »
4416
1140
JP Z, 4846
4419
1143
CP 213
; MERGE
4421
1145
JP Z, 7565
4424
1148
CP 214
; VERIFY
4426
114A
JP Z, 6491
4429
li4D
CP 216
; CIRCLE
4431
114F
JP Z, 6952
4434
1152
CP 217
; INK
4436
1154
JP Z, 5517
4439
1157
CP 218
; PAPER
4441
1159
JP Z, 5514
4444
115C
CP 236
; GO TO
4446
115E
JP Z, 5610
4449
1161
CP 238
, INPUT
4451
1163
JP Z, 5356
4454
1166
CP 244
, POKE
4456
1168
JP Z, 5594
4459
116B
CP 245
PRINT
4461
116D
JP Z, 5308
4464
1170
CP 252
DRA¥
4466
1172
JP Z, 6667
4469
1175
CP 253
CLEAR
4471
1177
JP Z, 6285
4474
117A
LD HL, 4480
"W Invalid
Coffisand
4477
117D
JP 174
print message
4480
"V Invalid Command*'
>pointer §
4474
4499
1193
LD HL, 23623
subppc
4502
1196
INC (HL)
4503
1197
GALL 141
end In
4506
119A
JP 186
jpout
4509
119D
PUSH HL
4510
119E
PUSH BC
4511
119F
PUSH AF
4512
ilAO
LD A, D
4513
llAl
CP 3
4515
11 A3
JP Z, 7854
4518
11A6
CP 4
4520
11A8
JP Z, 5066
4523
llAB
CP 5
4525
llAD
JP Z, 5298
4528
IIBO
CALL 6251
4531
11B3
POP AF
4532
11B4
POP BC
4533
11B6
POP HL
4534
11B6
JP 5650
4537
11B9
RST 32
♦
next char
4538
IIBA
GALL 144
*
9
evalu
4541
IIBD
LD A, B
4542
IIBE
AND A
4543
IIBF
JR NZ, 4554
*
*
err 11
4545
llCl
LD A, C
4546
11C2
CP 2
4548
11C4
JR C, 4554
•
♦
err 11
4550
HC6
CP 16
4552
11C8
JR C, 4556
4554
IIGA
RST 8 ERR ll
>
integer out
range
4556
IICC
LD (13434), A
4559
IICF
LD (8240), A
tempi
4562
11D2
CALL 156
4565
11D5
LD A, 34
4567
11D7
LD (DE), A
4568
11D8
PUSH DE
4569
11D9
POP BC
4570
IIDA
LD HL, 8226
»
prognm
4573
HDD
EX DE, HL
4574
IIDE
OR A
18
SINC-LINK
Mond^, 17 January 1994
22 2nd Ave.N.
St MaAuea, Que.
JOL 2H0
G. Oiambeis
Toronto TSUG
14 Richome Court
Scarborough Ont.
MIK 2Y1
Dear George
I did not original^ intend to set prices as it is difiQcult to estaUish the real valw. However, many
peofde have asked for prices so I set some with the understanding fliat I would comkier the best
offer. Prices do not include shaping for obvious reasons. I am smdingyou a copy in case anyone
in Toronto area is intei^ested.
I would not object to selbig items such as tfie modem , monitor, mi^odrive or software gcovps
sepaiatd^ but would like to keep die basic system intact as a q>ectrum without tfie disk system is
fcffi attraclive. However, I am not adamant about that.
I have moved 19 to a 386 DX 40 running windows and do not have time to devote to two
op^atii^ systems evm flimigli I am retired , also at my age it is harder switching between the two
different systems.
PS : You must have two different computer lists for members as you miss^
the last issue of SINC-IJONKalfliou^ it ^>pearsconiw labds.
Yours Tmfy
Keith Worrell
SINC-LINK
PRCX3RAM
FIGHTER PILOT (Spectrum)
PRIG COST PRICE
$ 16.95 US $ 6.00
NOERM n (Tenmnal sofhvare) vvitfa $ 24.95 US) $ 15.00
LOADER V (add-on forMTem) ? }
B. Carter Smart n mamiai) $ 6.95 US}
SPECTERM64 (Tennmal software) $ 30.00 US $ 10.00
PROFILE 2068 - DATABASE (THOMAS WOODS) $ 29.95 US $ 10.00
CASBOARD 2068 (flexible BBS)
$ 19.95 US
$
6.00
THF WOR Y - NOVFTiiOFT ^DESKTOP PGKf^
S 19 95 US
10 00
(plaimer/notepad/td book/c^c/clock/hk»ytfam^ cal)
PIXEL PRINT PLUS DESKTOP PUBLISHER ( $ 25.00 ccrnipL)
$ 10.00 US
$
5.00
FnisJT PACK 1
ICON PACK
$ 19.95 US
$
6.00
FONT LIBRARY 1
$ 19.95 US
$
6.00
CLIP ART ICON LIBRARY VOL I
$ 19.95 US
$
6.00
PIXEL SKETCH & CHIAPHICS EDITOR
$ 19.95 US
$
6.00
TIMEGATE (game)
$ 16.99 US
$
6.00
SPEECH SYNTHESIZER
$ 16.95 US
$
6.00
MSCRIPT (WORDPROCESSOR)
$ 23.95 US
$
8.00
TASWORD n (WORDPROCESSOR) with
$ 24.95 US }
$
10.00
TASPATCH (iqjdate for Tasword to 2+)
$ 9.95 US}
TASWORD KEYBOARD OVERLAY
S 5.95 US }
PERSONAL ACCOUNTANT (SOFTSYNC)
9
•
$
6.00
007 SPY (Spectrum |»ogram for making backup copies)
9
•
$
6.00
UPLOAD 2000 (loads baste TS 1000)
$ 21.90 US
$
5.00
20
SINC-LINK
PROGRAM
PRIG. COST PRICE
ZEUS ASSEMBLER $ 19.95 US $ 6.00
ZEAL DISASSEMBLER ? $ 6.00
ZEUS MONITOR DISASSEMBLER ? $ 6.00
ZIP COMPILER $ 16.96 US $ 5.00
COMPLETE MACHINE CODE TUTOR S 19.95 US $ 6.00
HOT Z (assemU/disassem/editor) $ 14.95 US $ 5.00
BYTE POWER MAGAZINE (13 TAPES AUG 86 - WINTER 89) $ 10.00
PQOKg ORIG. COST EBKS
TIMEX SINCLAIR TECHNICAL MANUAL
TS 2068 BASICS AND BEYOND
POWERFUL PROJECTS WITH YOUR TIMEX SINCLAIR
ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO TS HOME COMPUTING
INSIDE THE TIMEX SINCLAIR 2000
TS 2068 BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE GUIDE (SAMS)
TS 2068 INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED GUIDE (SAMS)
TS USER GROUP GUIDE TO TELECCM^IMUNICAllONS
$ 25.00 US
$ 10.00
$ 9.95 US
$
5.00
$ 12.95 US
$
5.00
$ 8.95 US
$
3.00
$ 11.95 US
$
4.00
$ 9.95 US
$
5.00
$ 9.95 US
$
5.00
$ 7.50 US
S
3.00
5INC-LINK
TIMEX SINCLAIR TS-2068 COMPUTER
HARDWARE
TS-2068 COMPUTER with
SPECTRUM ROM SWITCH (instaned)
ORIG. COST
$ 159.00 US >
? >
PRICE
$ 50.00
AERCO PRINTER INTERFACE CP 2068
$ 54.95 US
$ 14.00
MONITOR MAGNAVOX COLOR
$ 206.88 US
$ 50.00
LARKEN DOS SYSTEM W/RAMDISK and
5 1/4 DISK DRIVE AND POWER SUPPLY
$ 331.00 CAN }
$ 100.00 US }
$ 125.00
TS-2050 MODEM (comitL w/numual)
WC 2050 MODEM BOARD AND EXPER. GUIDE
A&J MICRODRIVE MODEL 2000 with
PRINTER INTERFACE & 14 CASSETTES)
9
t
$ 149.95 US)
? }
$ 30.00
$ 5.00
$ 30.00
WINKY 2000 (tape loadmg aid)
$ 22.95 US
$ 5.00
MORSE CODE TRANSLATOR (THOMAS WOODS)
(CASSETTE & HARDWARE INCL. I/O PORT )
$ 16.95 US >
$ 69.95 US)
$ 20.00
PROGRAMS
PRICE
HACKER (Speclmm game)
S 12.95 US
$ 5.00
TIMEX FLIGHT SIMULATOR
$ 11.00 US
$ 5.00
MUSICOLA (music tods)
$ 24.95 US
$ 10.00
BRITAIN INVADED
$ 18.95 US
$ 8.00
NIGHT GUNNER (Spectrum)
$ 15.95 US
$ 6.00
TOMAHAWK (Spectrum)
$ 15.99 US
$ 6.00
VOICE CHESS
9
•
$ 6.00
DIAMOND MKE H
$ 16.95 US
S 6.00
22
SINC-LINK
FOR SALE
$200 (U.S.) FOR ALL
HARDWARE
3 QL Computers with power supplies (one needs keyboard membrane)
QL Trump Card
QL Printer
Seikosha SP-1200 Printer
2- Amber Monitors
2- keyboard dust covers
2 joysticks
SOFTWARE
QL Project Planner
QL Entrepeneur
QL Decision Maker
QL Monitor
QL Cavern
Psion Chess
Sign Designer
Touch Typist
The Lost Kingdom of Zkul
3 D Slime
BOOKS
QL Peintre
Mortville Manor
Wanderer
Tank Busters
Mailbag
Spellbound
Recipe
Utility
Agenda
Locksmithe
QuilL Easel Archive & Abacus on the Sinclair QL
The Sinclair QL Series
Advanced Programming with the Sinclair QL
Introduction to Superbasic on the Sinclair QL
Using Graphics on the Sinclair QL
Database Management on the Sinclair QL
Word Processing with the Sincliar QL
Making the Most of the Sinclair QL
Blueprint
QL Easel
QL Quill
QL Abacus
PERIODICALS & MAGAZINES
CO
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o
to
o
w
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Quantum Levels: Vol 1. No. 1 thru Vol 2, No.5 ;
Update: OCT 88, JAN 89, APR 89, JUL 89, JAN 90, JUL 90 & OCT 90
The QL Report July 85 thru Oct 88
Sinclair QL World: JUN 85 thru AUG 90 (Missing MAR, APR 86, OCT 86, SEP87, MAR 88,
JAN 89, JUL AUG 90)
QUANTA: JAN 86 thru DEC 90
MANUALS
QL Service Manual
QL Technical Manual
QL Printer Manual
2 - QL User Guides
Trump Card Manual
James V. Hageman
8868 Cayuga Drive
Niagara Fails, NY 14304
(716) 297-5685
Jeff Taylor
75 Lemonwood Drive,
Unit 335
Islingtori;^ Ontario
CANADA M9A 4L3
2 8 January 1994
Mr. Les Cottrell
108 River Heights Drive,
Cocoa, Florida
U.S.A. 32922-6630
Dear Les,
First of all, allow me to apologize for taking so long to respond
to your letter. I've been carrying it around in my briefcase for
almost three months, always intending to get-around-to-it but never
actually sitting down to type this. Anyway, sorry for the delay.
Second, I would like to thank you for making the effort to
continue producing excellent articles for all the newsletters you
write for. I know your articles are appreciated and I thought you
ought to know.
Third, despite what George has written in his out-of-town letters,
the club and newsletter are not about to fold. George has been
involved in the club since its inception and all the phone calls,
writing and mailings are starting to take their toll (He's in his
seventies) . This and the feeling that there isn't that much more to
write about the 2068 and Larken system and his recent exposure to
DOS machines have all contributed to a dwindling interest on his
part. Nobody blames him, after all, he has pretty much run this
club by himself for a long time and now he wants to move on.
The trouble is, there's no one to replace him! The other club
movers are Bill Lawson, Rene Bruneau, Hugh Howie and myself. Bill
is practically and legally blind and Rene and I have young families
and careers to occupy most of our time. Hugh is a QLer exclusively
and has no interest in the smaller Sinclair computers. So^ what to
do? We need a retiree to devote all his time to minding the day-to-
day operations. Want to move to Toronto? Anyway Rene and I have
decided to continue as best we can when George finally says he'^s
had enough.
Fourth^ by now you have seen the November-December ' 93 issue and
realized that we (oops^. I mean I) have missed issuing a section of
your LKDOS disassembly. My fault and I^m embarrassed to admit that
the missing section cannot be located. So^ with head hung low^ I'm
going to ask if you would send another copy of your complete
disassembly. I will publish the part left out and ensure that the
complete document goes into a binder for our paper library.
Thafs about it other than to say thanks for your support and keep
up the good work
That's all for now...
Regards r
