C= “CURSOR” &
The official Newsletter of the
COMMODORE COMPUTER USERS GROUP [QLD]
OCTOBER 1984 VOL.1 NOQO.4
rr a a
CLUB ROOMS *¥MILTON STATE SCHOOL, BAYSWATER ROAD, MILTON
Apsara SS DDE essa Se STFS DPSS SESE IP FDIC TO I EE ED
-OnRLT EMT &
Diary for November =
Editorial 4
Starting with Diek’ Drives ~ FPt.s a
Notes & Gossip ?
Member’s Advertisements 3
Fublic Domain Disk Directory (insert? g
Using COMAL 17
Rook Review 18
Multi-Link | Ly
Software Review re |
Directory os
UD eepmeapentg LLNS SENET ae aT FSS ST ES SR I eT BT SE ESC ETA
Registered by Australia Fost - Fublication No. GQEGI958
CURSOR: a OCTOBER i984
a Sr oye For Ped om ee eS hk ES
Group aeeting on Tuesday, oth November 1984, at 7.30 pm in our club rooms. Visitors are welcome!
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Yes (!), this time we will really have the panel of experts to answer all your questions!!!
Workshop meeting on Sunday, 18th November 1984, frog 1 pm till 5 pa in our club rooms. To get
the maxigum benefit trom the workshop it is recommended that you bring your own coaputer
equipment.
Please note that workshop meetings are for geabers only!
eo os Pile eb dt mcs
Cannon Hill Sub-branch meets every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month at 7.30 pa, in the Cannon
Hill State School. For further information ring Barry Wilson ({VIC-20) at 399 6204 or Augy
Norman (C-o4) at 399 2080, after hours.
opringwood Sub-branch meets on the 3rd Thursday of the gonth at 7.30 pa, in the Springwood
Central Prigary School, Dennis Rd., Springwood, Contact Terry Steer at 200 9926 (after hours)
for further details.
Pine Rivers Sub-branch meets on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the amonth (1 pa - 3 pa) at the
Strathpine High School (rear entrance). Ring Clayton Lancaster at 285 4157 (after hours) for
further inforgation.
SSF" E lL FT eal. LMoLeeES Ts CROouUr Ss
Business Sub-broup meets after the main meeting in Milton (first Tuesday in the month) and at
the West End State School on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7.30 pm. Contact Ken Charters at
341 7222 during business hours for further information.
Primary Education Sub-Group aeets after the main meeting in Milton (first Tuesday of the month).
Venue for intermediate meetings still to be decided upon. Contact Bill Weeks at 208 8620
(working hours) or at 341 2823 (after working hours).
THPORTANT NOTICE: Copying of Commercial Software is not allowed at our geetings or workshops.
Failure to comply with this regulation will result in loss of membership!
FOR ALL YOUR
COMMODORE
HARDWARE & SOFTWARE
REGUIFEMENTS
en oe eT td
r wo Ks a ae r .
ot Pe eee roe 2 8e St Or VOY? | eee EY Wea
and
GEMINI-10X PRINTERS
Ry
CARD?+5 INTERFACES
Ample Stocks
available!
gerrir1i-tIOXx
CONTACT: LES VAN TOVIER - FH: 321 7822
43 ADELAIDE STREET BRISBANE
CURSOR = + = DETOBER 1984
Emer trore fal
several changes have taken place within our group in the last month
or So.
Recause of a pending change in his job status which will take him
away from Brisbane, our trusted secretary John Egan has had to
resign. Our thanks to John (and his wife Eaylene) for the many
months of work he has put into the club, both as treasurer and
Secretary.
We extend a very warm welcome toa Norm Chambers who has been
prevailed upon to take over the post af secretary at short notice.
Having experienced his valuable assistance at first hand in the
past we look forward to 4 great working relationship.
A further change is the arrival of another new sub-group. This one
is concerned with computers in primary education, and further
details can be found in the Notes & Gessip calumn.
This issue also carries the last chapter (no.6) of Paul Blair’s
Series of articles on Starting with Pisk Drives.
This has been a very good series for the beginner, and fortunately
Paul has supplied a further article on Track 18, which we hope ta
publish in next month*s issue,
Hopefully we will be able to publish Faul*s articles in a booklet
form early in the new year, thus making them available in a more
permanent form for the many newcomers to disk handling.
As promised in the last issue we have an eight Page insert which
lists all our disk based C-44 public domain programs. Even if voit
do throw your newsletter away after reading it, we would suggest
that you keep the insert tor reference purposes. We hope to update
this listing on a regular basis,
Don*t miss Greg Ferry’s article on Multi-Link. It really shows
that the C-64 is growing Up now,
Due ta the @-page disk insert a lot of material had to be held over
for the next issue. AS this issue is the last one for 1984 you can
expect an real bumper edition!
Ralph De Vries.
CURSOR 2 OCTOBER 1984
ST aeTiInG WITH PIiskK DPRIVES
Part 4 - Handy Tricks
(or the End is nigh!)
We have been looking at the directory track (Track 18) and I promised to show you a few tricks
that can be used with WEDGE. Let’s go....
Do you remember "don’t care” and "wild card"? You do? Fine, that’s a help. Try this-
>$0:FRObS
FROG aay not be the correct choice for the disk you are using, but let ae explain. If your disk
had FROGGER, FROGMARCH and FROGMIST on it, the syntax above would search and display only those
three entries, plus the usual disk ’header’ and "blocks free.’ information. So you can pattern
search your disks for that pesky program that you can’t find without having to read metres of
scrolling directories (and, like ae, blinking at the wrong aogent:).
The wild card ’?? can also be used to good effect. You could combine don’t care and wild card
to be even gore selective-
>$0:FR??GER
would find only FROGGER in the example given here. Handy if you can’t recall the exact name.
Another syntax can be used to find, say, the one SEQ file on your disk-
2$0:%=5
Or try this
$0: FROGS=F
This will give you any PRG files having FROG as the first 4 letters of the file nase,
Experiment for yourself,
WEDGE lets you load and save prograas with siaple commands-
/FROGGER loads FROGGER, like LOAD"FROGGER”, 8
*FROGGER loads FROGGER and runs it.
If the file is not to be loaded to the usual Basic load address then you would use-
ZMAYDAY which is the same as LOAD"MAYDAY",8, 1
SS el <P
CURSOR a OCTOBER 1984
Try wild card and don’t care with these commands. As your experience grows, you will find great
value in these short cut methods.
WEDGE also helps with SAVE. You would have used-
SAVE"LAST THO",8
but gay not have used-
<LAST TWO
which does the same thing. It may not seem auch to be able to omit the LOAD or SAVE words, the
quote marks, and °,8’ or °,8,1’, but as your disk experience grows you will type these commands
Many times. I’m a bit lazy, so the simpler syntax appeals to ae.
The last three WEDGE commands are not used often, but can be helpful.
The first command resets the disk drive - just as if you turned it off then on again-
2Ud
The second command changes the target drive number for WEDGE - the device number that it uses
when automatically OPENing and CLOSEing channels for use with your WEDGE commands. Note that it
does NOT alter the device number that the disk drive thinks it is. You have to do that with a
sottware or hardware change-
>#9 sends any future WEDGE commands to Device 7
>$8 would then redirect comands to Device 8
Lastly (aptly?), if you want to disconnect the WEDGE progra@ trom the computer operating systen,
use-
74
for Quit, as if you hadn*t guessed?
I have used the *>’ symbol throughout these notes, probably because I grew up with the original
Program that only allowed that symbol. As WEDGE matured and was rewritten for later Commodore
computers, the ’@* symbol was permitted as an alternative to *>’, probably because of different
keyboard layouts and to save having to shift some keys to type the wedge symbol. The Co4 WEDGE
supports both ’@* and *>’, so choose for yourself,
That’s the end of this introductory series. With a bit of encouragement, I might get to expand
some on the Mysteries af Track 18. No? Oh well...ee.
Paul Blair
CURSOR =
“J
; OCTORER i984
NOTE Smee (51S Se
PRIMARY EDUCATION SUB-GROUP
At the September meeting it was decided to fora a prigary education sub-group.
State primary schools can now officially purchase the C-44 for class room use, which aeans that
there will be a much greater demand for educational software.
Gur geaber Bill Weeks (hiaself a priaary school teacher) is the convener of this new group. Any
member who is interested in the educational aspects of the C-44 is welcome to join this group -
you don’t have to be a teacher to join, although we anticipate that teachers will fora a fair
percentage of the group.
Final details for meetings are still to be worked out, but for further information you can
contact Bill at 208 8420 (working hours), or at 341 2823 (after hours).
LIBRARY
Several books have gone missing from our book library. These include “The Anatomy of a
Comaodore 44" and "The Anatomy of a 1541 Disk Drive". If you, dear reader, have taken one af
these books out of the library, or know who did take one of these books, our book librarian
Cliff Yule would love to hear from you!!!
We expect that any geaber who borrows books, magazines, tapes etc., and loses or damages these
items, will make up the loss to the club. This rule will be strictly policed in future.
Please, please, you out there, who has overdue library aaterial! The rule is: you can borrow
material for one month only, unless you have made special arrangements with the librarian. If
you are unable to attend the next meeting we expect you to post the overdue material to our
librarian. Thanks for your co-operation.
EQUIPMENT NEEDED AT MAIN MEETINGS
We are still desperately short of members who are prepared tc bring some computer equipment to
our @ain meeting, particularly C-64 equipaent.
Now we are perfectly well aware that having to bring computer, disk drive, monitor etc. is a
pain in the proverbial, but why not club together with some friends and each bring a specific
piece of equipment? If half of our total membership would partake, it would mean fifty complete
outfits! It would really look like a computer users group than!
FLOPPY DISKS
ED
Although we are hesitant to condemn a particular brand of disks out of hand, we have to report
some problems with Control Data disks. Lately our disk librarian has had a considerably higher
failure rate with this particular brand, and the club has decided not to offer these disks to
our members at present. We are now supplying Fuji disks as an alternative.
ee nil
CURSOR -~¢ - OCTOBER i984
CAPITALIST!
Have you noticed that brand new bright red Alfa Romeo yet? It belongs to a bearded gentleman
Who occupies a rather prominent position in this group (no, not Terry Steer'). It proves that
there gust be money in writing software for the C-44!
IMPORT DUTY AND SOFTWARE
For the benefit of those readers who have been thinking of importing software from overseas we
have *borrowed’ the following article from the Sept. 64 issue of the ACT Users Group magazine.
™m = a
In a press release dated 5 July 19894, the Government announced a
significant reduction in the duty on pre-recorded floppy-disks and
tapes. Before this date, a duty of 35% was payable on the value of the
recorded disk or tape. In other words, you paid 35% duty on both the
tape/disk and its contents. As from 6 July, there is NO duty payable on
the recorded program contained on the tape or disk and the duty on the
tape/disk has been reduced from 35% to 20%.
Sales tax remains the same at 289% and is calculated on 128% of the
duty paid value of the media. For example, say you imported a tape or
disc for S29 (forgetting about "on top" charges such as bank fees,
freight or postage), here is what you would have paid and what you now
pay in duty and sales tax
Pre 6/7/84 From 6/7/84,
Value of tape/disc 62.99 $2.98
(Duty payable) $29.72 $5.42
Value of program $168.99 $18.82
(Duty payable) $6.39 GO.89
Value for sales tax assessment 632.49 $24.48
(Sales tax payable) $6.98 $4.99
Total Cost $33.98 $25.99
Toatal Duty and Sales Tax $13.98 5.39
Dealers are now clearly paying less for recorded tapes and discs;
but are we?
FOR SALE
COMMODORE 1520 Frinter/Flotter complete
Wut Spare PeNSis. FADS, +s «sew eam SIO MO
Fhone Roger Haigh at 07/3998037
COMMODORE COMFUTER USERS GROUF (QLD) DISK SOFTWARE
Generally the only disk software available is for the 64 but there is a small aay of Vic 20
| mies PET owners should contact the PET Sub-committee to find out what is available to
. Fa,
The Users Group has two types of disk software - Public Domain and Commercial. The Commercial
type can be borrowed for a period of one month while the Public domain type may be bought or
copied,
To borrow any of the Commercial programs, contact the Disk Librarian (Cliff Pottinger) at a club
meeting. Commercial sottware may only be borrowed by club members who have paid a $5.00 library
bond and unfortunately can not be sent to country members by mail.
Public Domain disks may be obtained by MAIL ORDER from Cliff Pottinger, 31 Wapping St, Acacia
Ridge, Qld 4110. at a cost of $5.00 per disk, which includes postage and packaging. Public
Domain disks aif also be obtained free of charge if you rane your own computer and disk drive
to a at Workshop ace where you ae eopy any disk onto your own blank disks. A fast copy
Prograa will be made availa le at the job can be done quickly.
COMMERCIAL SOFTWARE
to you sot
Pilot A computer language
Loga a " H
§-Pascal ; 7 °
Petspeed 44 A basic compiler
CP/¥ An operating systea
As only one a of each of the above is owned by the club, you may have to wait quite a while
Ee harry Bo item. If it is not available when you request it your name will be put ona
Waiting list.
NOTE - ITEMS ON LOAN MUST BE RETURNED AFTER ONE (1) MONTH!
EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE
The club also has about 50 different Commodore Educational Disks for which there is an extensive
Catalogue which is available for peruse) at meetings. As only two copies of this catalogue are
Owned at present we can not lend them out to everyone but we will lend it to schools who may
photocopy it and return it as quickly as possible. Special deals are given to schools for bulk
purchases (5 or more) of these disks - e.g. 1 free disk for every 5 purchased.
NOTE - The Commodore Educational Software is written to run on both PET and 64 computers.
COMMODORE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT KIT
This kit originally consisted of a book and three disks but we have placed most of the usetul
material on one disk. (Assembler, Machine Code Monitor, Sprite Editor, Character Editor etc.)
The other two disks contain mainly machine code subroutines and demonstration programs designed
for dealers to show off the 64’s capabilities but they are available if you really want thea.
ere of copies of the book that accompanies these disks are available from the book
ibrarian.
The following pages contain a directory and short description of the Public Domain Software.
64 PROGRAMS , Ul
"AYOTERY SPELL" Hangman type program from "Compute!" magazine. Sept.83
"CAVES OF ICE" Gase trom Compute! magazine Sept.83
"PLOT & DRAWTO" Run this program before loading "SPIRALIZER” '
"SPIRALIZER" From Compute! Oct 83. Try these inputs - Speed 7 - Radius 50 - Spin 18 - A
"DIAMOND DROF*® Game from Compute! Magazine Sep.83 ;
"PROGRAM MERGER" Merge two programs from disk - with different line nuabers - to form one
eam Compute! Oct.83
A.C SAVE" Save gachine code prograas,
"DISK APPEND" Append one program to another - does not merge thea.
"U-BOAT" Gase from Compute! Magazine Nov.83
"S/D FILE COPY" Copy files from one disk to another.
"PROG.FUNCT.KEYS" Frograa the Function Keys.
"PATHWAY" Game for up to 4 players from Compute! Nov.93
"DATA BASE i° Database prograa .
"ANCESTORS" Record your family tree on disk. From Practical Computing November 1981
"HUNCHRATH® Maths game from Compute's Gazette Nov.83.
"COPYCAT® Copy files from one disk to another.
"SUPER/ BASIC" Enhanced BASIC commands from Compute! Dec.83.
"Belo. Betting game
"GOBLIN" Game from Compute! July 83,
"MINEFIELD*® Game 2 it.
"HAWKMEN/OF/D" Game from Compute! June 83. Hawkmen of Dindrin.
"OIL TYCOON" Drill for oil
"MOTOR MONITOR" Motorists log.
"HARDHAT CLIMBER" Game
"DOMINATION" 2 Player game.
"BOWLING CHAMP” Bowling game from Compute!’s Gazette Dec.83.
"SPRITE CLOCK" Clock peogean
"T&S UTILITY" Track & Sector Utility.
"SIMPLE ASSEMBLER” For machine language programming. , .
"LX" Used for entering Some machine fanguage programs that are published in
pompute ublications.
"GAZETTE PROOFRDR" Proofreader program for entering some Compute: programs
"DISASSENBLER™ Disassembles Machine ayaa e programs from memory.
"SUPERBASIC DEMO" Demonstration of "SUPER/ asic progras
"DEMONS OF OSIRIS" Game from Compute! Jan.B4
“DEMON” Main pregr se loaded by the program above.
"MOZART" A silly musical,
“COLORBOT" Gage from Compute! Jan.84,
"TYPING DERBY" Practice typing and race the horse at the same tige.
CoGeusGsd. =, U2
LAWN How the grass - joystick.
BINGO 44 bane ’ Sek
Hodes Er aores to access The Australian Beginning
FRONTEND Used by TAR
DO5 Used by TAB
WRD.PROC.PETSPD A compiled version of North West User Group Word Processor.
CHESS baae
CHESS-44 Used by CHESS
CHESS/CLK Used by CHESS
CHS/CHAR Used by CHESS
SYMBOL CODE Mastermind type game froa RUN Magazine Jan.84.
B Game - Instructions Included.
REAKOUT
GAMBLERS DELIGHT Poker Machine
FLIP Don’t know what this one does.
MAGIC SQUARE Guess the missing nuabers.
SYMBOL HATCH Match pairs of hidden syabols.
AL-KHWARI ZHI Keep track of an ever increasing number.
SINGALONG Limericks.
BALL MAZE Game,
BASIE RESET 25 a program to recover a BASIC program after NEW or after using a Reset
Switch. Load it ,8,1 and then type SYS 850.
LABELMASTER Part of the Infosaster suite of prograas.
BAS.RESET CREA. Create a tape version of BASIC pESET-A5O.
FRONT25 Terminal program
PAS Terminal prograa
PONZ0 TUTOR-1 BASIC Tutorial Part 1
PONZ0 TUTOR-2 BASIC Tutorial Part 2
PONZO TUTOR-3 BASIC Tutorial Part 3
CLUB US
"HUSICNASTER" Musical program.
"3D GRAPH"
"LUNA ANDER S664" You need Screen Graphics64 or UltraBasic (Commercial programs) to run this
ogee
"SOUND DEMO"
"PIANO DEMO"
"SPRITE EDITOR®
"REACTION"
"SPEEDTYPE"
"TESTCARD®
"RAGTIME"
"WEDGE-64-$8000.C" Progragmers aid
"WEDGE-64-$C000.C" 2 “a
"SOUND TUT-1" Sound tutorial
"SOUND TUT-2° . ’
"SOUND EFFECTS"
"CANYONS OF ZELAS" A game
"PLANETFALL*” A game
"INVOICER®
"TAPE LABEL" Print labels for cassettes
Experimental sound generator
Co4 UTILITIES U4
{541 BACKUP Copy whole disk(D) or contents of BAN(B) to another disk.
1541 EXPLORER Read or write to disk RAM. Hex dump or disassemb.disk RAM/ROH
64 DISK LOGGER Prints programs start &/or finish addresses to screen or printer
B40RDIR Vi.0P Re-arrange disk directory in alphabetical order.
BAR 64 Examine Black allocation map. Instructions in REM statements.
BAM VIC . ; : " Vic 20 or 64
BANGET Loaded by "FAST BAM 64°
BLOCK FREE Indicates free blocks on a disk,
BOOT, DOSS. 2 Loads DOSS.2
CHECK DISK Checks out diskette atter ating. Takes gore than 1 hour.
COPY FILE Copy 1 file from a disk to another disk
COPY FILES Copy about 180 Blocks at a time to another disk.
DATA ENTRY Dats entry demonstration.
DBASE Database progra@ using relative files.
DIREADH4 Fast get directory read demonstration.
DISK ADR-1540/1 Software disk device nuaber change.
DISK ADR-2/3/4/8 =" 7 ; : ;
DISK CHECK Won*t load. pay
ae TIDIER hid for deleting tiles from disk,
Med
Je A DOS eee Bee .
FAST BAR 64 Examine Block Allocation Map.
FOET.BA
FILECOFY Copy, delete, rename, aoe - files.
FILEMERGE Reads 2 sorted files and writes a merged file.
FUNCTION KEYS Enables function keys. May be altered to suit.
INDEX File from "RANDOM FILE" Demonstration Prograa.
LISTADISK 64 Sort disk directory and print to printer - side by side.
LOAD ADDRESS #§ Reads and displays decimal and hex. load address of a file.
HAIL. FILE Relative file used by "MAIL.PROG"
MAIL. PROG Mail list a using relative files.
PERFORMANCE TEST Tests disk drive.
RANDOM FILE Pandom file degonstration.
RECORD. RTN Subroutine to pertora RECORD command.
RECOVER. 1541 Recover scratched tile. —
REL. AMEND Bequentiat’ reads Rel file created by "REL.WRITE" and amends.
REL.READ.RND Read Rel file backwards created by "REL.WRITE".
REL.READ.SEG ##§ Reads Rel file (created by "REL WRITE®) in sequential order,
REL. TEST File created bY "REL. WRITE",
REL. WRITE Creates a Relative file,
RELREAD Reads a Relative file (REL. TEST or MAIL.FILE).
SEQ. READ Reads a sequential file
SEQ. WRITE Creates a sequential file ("TEST")
SEQUENTIAL FILE Example of a program to read and write a sequential file,
SINGLE FILE COPY Single disk file copier.
TEST File read by "SEQ. READ
TSU64 Track and sector utility - read from and write to disk.
SUPERBASIC Enhanced BASIC plus
SUPERBASIC INST Instructions
MOIRE DEMO Superbasic demonstrations.
STAR DEMO , ;
J5 DOODLE DEMO
SFRITE DERO
PET EMUL
SPEEDSCRIPT Word processor. Complete instructions from Terry Steer $1.00
SPEEDSCRIPT INST Instructions.
TEXTMASTER of Word processor.
TH-iNSTRUCT i 9 Instructions for TEXTMASTER part j
TH-iNSTRUCT 2 , : : oe Ds
Use "COPY FILES" to put the "TEXTMASTER" program and instructions on to another disk before you
try to use then.
Hf ui
H a
ii f
U.G.PROGRANS , US
HELLO Introduction ae. ' —-
SPEEDSCRIPT Word Processor - allows you to print out the following instructions. This is
the latest version of eran Ve
INFOMASTER INST. pee file of instructions for the Infomaster suite of progragss to be
found on user group disks WA and U2, ' . Cone
INVOICER INST. Speedscript file of instructions for Invoicer prograa on this disk.
FASTSORTA4 INST. Speedscript file of instructions for Fastsorto4 program on this disk.
SSORTO4 INST. | Speedscript file of instructions for Ssorté4 program on this disk.
FASTSORTO4 Sort prograg.
FASTSORTSO4 TEST Test of sort prorat
SSORT LOADER Loads gle ‘
SSORTO4 Supersort prograa.
SSORT44 TEST Test of supersort prograa.
PONZO TUTOR-4 Programaing tutorial.
PONZO TUTOR-5 = Programaing tutorial.
PONZO TUTOR-& Frogramaing tutorial.
PONZO TUTOR-7 Programming tutorial.
COPY FILES Use this to copy the progrags you want off this disk.
INVOICER Prints invoices to printer.
PORTFOLIO Saves a portfolio of stocks to disk - instructions included.
80 COL FOR C64 Converts your 44 to 80 column display - if you can read it.
ULTRASORT Another sort prograa.
ULTRASORT DENO Demonstration of the above program. .
SPEEDO Speedscript Instructions written as Speedscript files.
oPEED1 ; ;
OPEED? ' : : : ; ;
SPEED . 3 : : ;
oPEED4 . ' ' ; , :
SPEEDS : : ; .
CCUBA UTIL. 4 , UA
"O4FASTGET.S.8" SEQ .
"40RD IR" PRG Re-arrange disk directory in alphabetical order.
"COCKROACH 2D" = PRG Copy a disk using two 1041 disk drives.
"COCKROACH 1D° FRE Copy a disk using one 1541 disk drive.
"COCKROACH E" PR6 Check a disks for errors:
"DIREADA4" PRE Demonstrates the use of FOET prograa. ;
"FEET. BASIC" PRE Fast nt from disk - basic loader program. Some instructions included in
Ca awe
. » BA" PR6 Used by DIREADS '
"FORMATTER® PR6 preatee screen format & blank data file for STNFOBAS TER
"INFOMASTER® PRE Data base program fro Microcomputer Printout Mag.Qct bo
"LOCK-UNLOCK® PRG Protect flee so they can hot be scratched.
"M-CODE MASTER® PR6 Assembler/Disasseabler. US@ in conjunction with the book "Commodored4
Machine Code Master" by David Lawrence. .
"COCKROACH 1B" PRE Copy the BAM contents of 4 disk to another disk.
"RAGTIME" PRG Musical progesd .
"REPORTNASTER® PRG Print reports from “INFOMASTER", eat
cae ef oan ene a suis ste i Program seems to be missing
" -{* utorial on the chips
"SPEEDSCRIPT® PR6 Word processor progras. Printed instructions available froe Terry Steer
"T5U44" PR6 Track & Sector nelity 1 bag
"WEDGE-64-$7000.C" PRG Programmers Aid - Printed Instructions available
"WEDGE-464-$8000.0" PRG ;
"WEDGE-64-$9000.C" PRG :
"WEDGE-64-$C000.C" PRG :
"COPY FILES" PR6 Copy files from one disk tO another.
7»
a
PERRY-64 UG PROG U6
10 "NICE LIST INST" PRG 1 "B/S COLORS" PRG
i "ERROR BORDER” PRE? "COLOR HISTOGRAM" PRG
1 "COLOR MESSAGE" PRE 2 "SCREEN POSITIONI® PR
2 "SIMPLE BORDER® PRG 2 "MOVING HEART" PRG
17 “"WEDGE-64-$8000.C2 PRE 17 "WEDGE-44-$C000.C" PRG
2 "HEDGE BOOT? PRE 36130 "MAZE" PRG
1 "WA7E JOY ADDS" PRE 2 "ECH DEMO" PRE
3 "FLASHING BORDER" PRG 2 "3-D HISTOGRAM® PRG
4 "Z-) HISTO SCALED" PRG 1 "COLOR TEST" PRG
3 "DATA MAKER" PRE "VERTICAL HISTO" FRG
3 "HORIZONTAL HISTO" PRE = 5 "TIMER HISTOGRAM" PRG
{ "RND COLOUR RAM" PRG 1 "JOYSTICK i" PRG
19 "GRAPHICS DATA" PRE 3 "GRAPHICS. BIN" PRG
3 *HRG TEST 1" PRG 3 "HRG TEST 1.2" PRE
3 "NICE LISTER" PRE 1 "TEST" SEQ
9 "CALC FREQ" PRE "CALC FREQ 44° PRG
3 "COSINE CURVE" PRE 4 "COSINE BANKED" = PRG
2 "CM.SCROLL DATA" FRG i "SAVE MC GRAPHICS” PRG
3 e tT PRE 9 "KEYBOARD" FRG
3 "PFOG CHARACTERS” PRG 9 "SPRITE GEN® PRG
3 "HRG TEST 2° PRE "HRG TEST 1.3° PRE
3 "HERG TEST 1.4" FRE 3 "HRE TEST 1,.5° PRE
43 "SPRITE EDITOR" PRG 2 "SCROLL. DATA" PRG
id "TSU64" FRE 3 "DOWN SCROLL" PRE
z "OCTAVE" PRE? "SINGLE NOTE" PRG
3 "TRAIN" PRE "SURF ® FRG
3 "BATTLE" a | "PING" PRG
2 "CM SCROLL PROG" FRG 1 "SM.SCROLL.BIN" PRO
2 HoL , PRR 4 "WAN DATA" PRG
2 "CDACE SHIP DATA’ FRG 11 “EAT TEXT" PRE
11 "PRINT TEXT" PRES "SPRITE MOVEMENT” FRG
é PANIMATION" PRE 2 "HOUSE" PRG
1 "ASCII/SCREEN" PRE? "MOVE CHARACTERS" PRG
2 "NEW CHARACTERS" FRG 32 “CHARACTER EDITOR" PRG
4 "CHAR BOOT" PRE 9 "STANDARD, SET" PRG
9 "COMPUTER.SET 5° PRG 1 "ROTATE. DATA FRE
5 "FILTER SONG" PRE? "5+27 EFFECT 1" PRG
2 "C427 VIBRATO" FRE 10 ‘“TOREQDOR?S SONG" FRE
13. "HAYDEN SONG" PRE 3 "FIRST SONG® PRG
7 "MUSIC SUITE 1" FRG 1 "SLIDE 1" PRE
3 "FILTER" PRE 3 "FILTER 28 ERG
3 "MULTIVOICE i" PRE "SPITE DEMO" PRG
5 "ARROW" PRE 9 "SPRITE GEN FULL" PRG
g "SPRITE GENERATOR" PRG 9 "S-B COLLISION" § PR6
4 eo_c COLLISION" PRG 19 “MUSIC SUITE 2" PRG
MOST OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE (C) BY GREG PERRY BRISBANE 1984. NONE MAY BE SOLD FOR COMMERCIAL
GAIN BUT MAY BE FREELY COPIED OR MODIFIED.
NW USERS BACKUP, 4
"WORD PROCESSOR" PRG
"@W/HP. DOC" SEQ
"HAILING LIST" PRG
"INTRO TO BASIC" PRG
"INTRO TO 6502" = PRG
"SPRITEMAKER 64" FRG
"AUSICMAKER 64" = PRG
"INTRO TO SID" PR6
"LIGHT CYCLES 44" PRG
"HONOPOLE 64° PRG
"TURTLE GRAPHICS" PRG
"LOADNE"
This is an ideal disk for beginners. Load and run “LOADME" first.
Co4 COMAL 0.14 14
This disk contains COMAL - a computer language - and ay Comal demonstration programs. One
book on Comal is in the Club’s book library and several booklets of Comal notes are available.
This listing will be updated when and if new public
domain software is added to our library.
The Library Committee
eee SRTES G2888 coece eeeee SOEeS SERRE BEES SEEEE SENET SUEES FERED HEETE GREED FOEET =eEEE SereS oom
e0ees gnats Genen eenedhessadhessadisnsetiiocsndionnstitess:diccsstiasantiansetlcassdtianastiassedianssdiaesstiansetiiosendicnnetiensedicesdcensdiasedbasediassedlecsstionnsdiansediasenttcssstiannationsdiassstiasssdbsacetbeenetesertpersstpeeta™ ears SSeS Sa Same Caace coece scene cecee cence eoeee coset eomms snows
St“t $2088 Ce CORRS SO SORES CEEEE HONE aEEEE SOEEE COONS SELES SUPE FERRE SOeEE Mee CERES anit SEES SE AONE KOON ALN FONE HEN SESE ORES GEE SESE SOOT FOEES Sones SOON EEES SERRE SS Ah OOSST At OOS
GROUF DISCOUNTS
On production of your current membership card you can
obtain club discounts at the following dealers:
C.W. Electronics -—- 416 Logan Rd. Stones Corner
Chandlers —- 43 Adelaide St. Brisbane
Chandlers - Fessels Rd. Upper Mt.Gravatt
Scarborough Fair Comp. Cnt. - S/Scarb. Fair Southport
E.C.F. Bookshop - 107 Elizabeth St. EBrisbane
a eccolhecsetbasentiecstbecasticssstbesan!
eer rR Eee eeee eeeee ee ree cones Soyer Stans SreEt OESEE CREST EOGDT COTES Sout: GEES: SEES Penes SOnED Seem Sete: SpEte Sore: Stes Soars SEES FEEES TOU! SUSE wenee Sone eons Gomes spams Genes autey sones eupes seas FESST STSTs Troee Don Cun ne Cn As Conte Samet Botte Sener EERE SORES SESE Semey
So CO SPSS Fetes CenEE Reser Sones SEeEs Saas Soeed Sabet BOGEH DOTEE TOTES COEDS SERED OOEEG SEPES SOOeE SneE StEEE COGEs ennee Sater Steer Saees eoeee BETET SPFTT FRETE Genes nese, snes wees cence opens BENE Sanat aaaes SuneE SEERG SONS
COME AND MEET AIMERIC AND JOHN (WE OWN THE
SHOP) NEXT TIME YOU ARE ON THE GOLD COAST.
WE FEEL WE HAVE ONE OF THE LARGEST AND
BREST RANGES OF COMMODORE SOFTWARE AVAILABLE.
RELAX AND HAVE A LOOK AROUND IN OQUR_ BIG
SPACIOUS SHOP.WE EVEN HAVE DESKS FOR YOU TO
SIT AT AND TRY SOME OF OUR GREAT PROGRAMS.
MPEerhS ALL DPaY SATURDAY
Sa. oCVam Tm S&S. SOopm.
ARE YOU
KEEPING UP
WITH THE
COMMODORE ”?
Scarborough Fai
Computer Centre
SHOP 5, SCARBOROUGH FA
SCARBOROUGH ST-,SQUTHPORT 075 => 5133
CURSOR =a GOETORER 1964
CEM Seb Flo Ces
USING COMAL
COMAL is a language distributed by Commodore as a public domain disk. It is described as a
replacement for BASIC, and has also been designed for use by schools. The Club has ten copies
of COMAL in the disk library for members to borrow and copy. There is also a rather old
handbook, the only documentation available, in the book library. I haven’t looked at this, nor
did I have any experience of COMAL before running my copy. My comments are therefore based on
what I have been able to learn from what is on the disk itself.
There are, of course, good and bad points about the language, but the good points are better
than the bad ones are bad... if you know what I ean.
Information about COMAL is available as soon as the program is running, in the form of a
four-way choice, HELP, DEMO, INFO, and PROG. Choosing the last enters you into the languge
Proper; the other three automatically run the appropriate information-giving programas. At this
stage you can easily access the keywords.
The list of keywords contains many familiar BASIC words, making it possible tor a BASIC
programmer to start straight away and learn only the new bits. Also in the keyword list are
words that allow structures similar to those of the Pascal language. In COMAL, at last, the
IF..THEN.. statement can lead to the ELSE.. that seems so natural.
Another structure available is the procedure, which is used in some fora by alaost all computer
languages. Groups of statements doing a meaningful thing can be labelled PROC (for procedure,
Siailar to a subroutine), and given a nage. The usefulness of procedures is that they can be
called by name in the program, giving greatly enhanced readability, (for example, IF A’ = °Y"
THEN playsong).
COMAL offers Turtle Graphics, just like so many languages do today. I don’t know how these
Compare to, say the LOGO original, but I have found it easy to learn the commands {eg FORWARD,
SETHEADING, FENUP) necessary to fill the screen With ay designs - and text. (Once a COMAL
program has been run, you can call any procedure in the direct mode, and a demo program is
available with lots of turtle procedures for you to do just that.
For potential programmers, the disk contains a large number of short programs demonstrating
progragm@ing techniques, like recursion, using the Clock, and reading the joystick.
Some other practical and morale-boosting features are the fact that syntax checking is done even
in the programming mode (ie with line numbers being used), with a disk file being accessed far
each error. As well, once you correct the error, the message is erased. This means the screen
doesn’t fill up with messy mistakes,
CURSOR - 18 - OCTOBER 1984
Here is one of those negative points: there is considerable difficulty with using a printer, to
the point where aspecial program (provided) gust be used to print out the directory. (Qne of the
problems arises out of the factthat no secondary addresses can be set for the printer output.
With both printers I have seen used, one Commodore and one non-, the default secondary address
used did not allow upper/lower case, causing prints of the intormation tiles to be full of
graphics characters where they shouldn’t be. To print out the Keyword list, we had to go
through Easyscript, would you believe.
COMAL never crashes, or at least I haven’t been able to make it, which aust be a useful feature
for children and frustratable users. It gives me the impression of professionality, in that all
the information you could need has been provided, and all possible incorrect responses have been
anticipated. All these make COMAL easy and relatively painless to use. If it cost money I
would recommend it to some people. Since it’s free, 1711 recommend it to everyone,
Pauline Francis
BOOK REVIEW
"TRICKS & TIPS FOR THE COMMODORE 64" by ABACUS Software (Data Becker Germany) - R.R.P, $29.95
Qur copy by courtesy of C.W, Electronics - 416 Logan Rd. - Stones Corner
Another book from the same people who published The Anatomy of the C-44 and The Anatomy of the
1541.
These two voluges were of a highly technical nature (mainly for people who know aachine code),
but this volume is for every C-64 user. In fact, for it’s wide range of topics covered, there
should be something in it for everybody. Soge of the topics covered include:
3-D Graphics - Colour line Graphics - Dividing the Screen - Soft scrolling.
Changing the Keyboard layout - Repeat functions on all keys - The WAIT command
Defining 16 Function keys - A ’MOUSE’ on the 64
No gore negative nuabers with the FRE command - DEF FN command - Screenduap
Programaing in FORTH - CPM on the C-64 -Interface and expansion options
Transferring data between a C-64 and 8032 PET - Synthesizer in Stereo
Data management on tape & disk - Pokes and other useful routines.
All in all the book covers a wide range of topics. Many programs have an assembly listing, but
in all cases there’s a Basic loader program listing as well, so you don’t have to know machine
code to enter the prograa.
Certainly not a cheap book, but uch better value for @oney than some other computer books. In
fact, we think it is good enough to add to our library! Thoroughly recommended.
Ralph De Vries
CURSOR ——a OCTORER i984
Networking Commodore 64s: MULTJ-LINK
Once upon a tiae, if you wished to network Commodore 445 or VICs the only choice was the
faithful VIC switch. The VIC switch will allow up to eight 645 or VICs to access the same 1541
disk drive(s) and any Commodore printers compatible with the 64/VIC serial bus, such as the
printer/plotter, 1525, 1526, 801, and 802.
This is not networking in the normal sense of the word. The VIC switch is a siaple device which
intercepts requests for access to the disk or printer and holds them in a queue until the
particular device is free. Each computer still accesses the 1541 at the same droning pace (in
fact, slightly slower). To load EASY SCRIPT into all eight computers takes more than 10
Binutes. Any one computer using large amounts of disk or printer access hangs the system for
all other users. On the other hand, the advantage of the VIC Switch is that it is cheap, at
around $280, and the only accessories required are a few cables,
I have been using the VIC switch for about 12 aonths in a class situation and have often thought
that there aust be a better system with true networking capacity. At last it is available:
HULTI-LINK.
MULTI-LINK, a product from Richvale Telecomunications in Canada, is a networking system in the
real sense. In the MULTI-LINK system, one Comaodore 44 acts as a controller for up to 48
satellite 445 and offers the sort of facilities previously only available on gore expensive
machines such as the BBC @icro via Econet.
The system overcomes most of the horrors of class use of the 1541 drive. It can use the 1541
but preferably uses the faster parallel IEEE 2031 disk drive (which apparently does not sutfer
the reliability problems of the 1541, or so I’m told) and a high speed communications link
between the master controller and the satellite units. By way of comparison to the VIC switch,
EASYSCRIPT can be loaded to eight satellite 445 in approximately 3 minutes instead of 10,
A summary of MULTI-LINK’s capabilities:
Uses 1541, 2031 or 4040 disk drive and can uUS@ any parallel drive such as 1001, 8250, or
hard disk. Up to 4 dual disk drives may be connected,
Allows the use of a wide range of printers, S€rial and parallel JEEE or centranics. (No
direct connections for RS 232 types.) Up to four printers may be connected at the same time.
Automatic cueuing of disk and printer access if a number of satellites wish to use the same
device, with the very iaportant added feature of Selectively limiting the time an individual
satellite unit aay tie up the system. Any satellite overusing the system aay be temporarily
halted, allowing access to other units. Also, the printer channel can be automatically closed if
it hasn’t been used after a specified tiae. This @liminates the problem of one user keeping the
printer open and preventing other users from gaining access,
CURSOR = 30 - OCTOBER 19°84
Siaultaneous downloading of programs to any number of specified satellites. For example,
once the program is loaded into the aaster, the command RUN 1-15 will download and run the
program on all satellites t-15 almost Simultaneously. Transfer between the master and each (!)
satellite is at approximately 4K/second, making it substantially faster than direct disk access.
Special features to allow the rapid transfer of commercial protected software to the
satellites. The aaster may be placed in a RECORD sode to record how a satellite loads the
program and a subsequent PLAY command will allow other satellites to effectively load/run the
progras in roughly one third the time.
Programs can be rapidly transferred between the master and satellites and the reverse,
Direct disk access com@ands are available on the master include LOAD, CATALOG, DISK (access
to the error channel)
The master coaputer can completely sonitor and control the activity of any satellite: view
the screen, lock the student out of the keyboard, send specific instructions or demonstrate
comsands. Some of the commands available through the a@aster include
MESSAGE: send messages to specified satellites. Can be used to enter program lines on
any or all satellites from the @aster or list/run programs etc.
QUERY: prevents satellites accessing the disk or printer until they receive permission,
SCREEN: displays the full contents of any satellite’s screen on the master. (Without the
satellite being aware of the monitoring.)
ALLOW/DISALLOW :prevents any satellite using the disk or printer.
BREAK : equivalent to pressing the RUN/STOP key on any satellite, stops program execution
on that satellite.
ECHO : duplicate the aaster computers screen to specified satellites. A complete class
may be instructed by demonstration or individual students may be given special attention.
HALT : freeze the screen display of any/all satellites and prevent the satellite
responding to its own keyboard.
A nuaber of facilities are available for restricting access to disk files to specified users.
Files may be automatically prefaced by satellite number, thus keeping a record of who’s prograa
is who’s. Files can also be labelled by as class files, allowing only a specified class to
access them, or as library files for general access. Destructive disk commands such as NEW,
SCRATCH, etc. can be automatically trapped and prevented.
CURSOR — a OCTORER 19384
If the computer lab has to be left unsupervised ('), the waster terminal can be locked and
password protected allowing the students to use the satellites only under the specified
conditions and not have access to the potentially destructive power of the master.
Summary
The system is a delight to use. The ain control program asks a series of siaple questions to
set up the desired parameters for the system which are then saved to disk. This allows a quick
changeover of system parameters between classes, for example. The operating commands are easily
@astered and the manual explains all the commands in a concise manner but provides a quite
adequate explanation of how the use the system. Since most of the commands are self evident
once seen in action, teachers and staff new to computing should not have a great deal of trouble
In learning and using the systen.
MULTI-LINK is supplied in a number of stages; a master control unit and a nusber of satellite
interfaces interconnected by flat ribbon cable. These connect via the cartridge port with
internal connections the the main processor chip. Prices are in the $700 mark for the
controller unit and $190 for each satellite connection. Local dealers should be consulted for
accurate quotes.
HULTI-LINK is distributed nationally through CYBEX COMPUTING in North Adelaide (Phone 08-287
2855) and other dealers. I wish to thank Charles Hatchman from the Computer Sales Centre in
Brisbane (07-354 3439) for background information on the system and John Hurley of Marcellin
College, Enogerra, for the use of their system for an afternoon.
breg Perry
SUCCESS WITH NATHS by C.B.5. Maths
Addition/Subtraction: $34.95 - Multiply/Divide: $34.95
Fractions:- Addition/Subtraction: $34.95 & Multiply/Divide: $34.95
GENERAL:
Success with Maths is one of the better educational software packages to come onto the
Market. You can select the number of problems to be attempted on all programs and once you
have completed the initial set you have the option of stopping, going back to the Menu or
continuing with the problems. All programs give an error analysis at the end of each set of
problems. The above features are essential in any Programs of this type. The programs are
ideally suited to children who have difficulty with these aspects of mathematics.
CURSCR a OCTOBER i984
ADDITION/SUETRACTION
One of my common criticisms of sathematics programs is that they do not have the capability of
selecting levels. This program achieves the level selection by allowing the user to indicate
the nusber of rows and coluans in the addition section and to indicate the nuaber of digits and
whether borrowing is required in the subtraction program. I consider this to be an excellent
program.
MULTIPLICATION/DIVISION
Levels are selected in this program by pre-selecting the number of digits in the aultiplier for
the multiplication section and the number of digits in the division for the division section.
By this method the child can progress from normal division to long division quite easily. This
program also has an excellent rating.
FRACTIONS - MULTIPLICATION/DIVISION
This prograa like the ones above are for children who are just learning or who have problems in
the particular area. It would be too slow for children who have mastered fractions and just
want to practice them. This program makes the child go through every step involved with
multiplying or dividing fractions. For example in multiplication the child has to cancel or
reduce before multiplying. In division the child has to reciprocate the divisor and then
cancel or reduce before the final multiplication. This is an extremely good prograa.
FRACTIONS - ADDITIONS SUBTRACTION
Once again an excellent program that takes a child through the various stages of changing the
fractions to least common denominator, adding or subtracting and then reducing the fraction to a
Mixed traction. Children are given help throughout all the programs by computer prompts. The
computer will advise the child of an error and if the error occurs again the computer will then
correct the answer with an explanation. I gust admit I found this helpful on occasions.
In conclusion 1 would have to say how good it is to see high standard educational programs now
being produced for the 44.
DALE 5ILBERT
STOP FRESS =
COMFUTER SHOW in CREST HOTEL * 8 - 11 November!
Wil be there with a stand !!!
CURSOR =e OCTOBER 1984
COMMODORE COMPUTER _USBERS GROUP (GED) DIRECTORY
Fresident: GREG FERRY Phive oo S295
secretary: NORM CHAMBERS Phi. 541, S651
Minute Secretary: ROGER HAIGH Piece? foOor
Treasurer: LESTER BENNETT Ph.200 1243
Education Officer: DEREK FARRELL Phiooas Goo?
Technical Officer: ROGER HAIGH Pheer? GOS 7
Chief Librarians: CLIFF FOTTINGER Pheey 7? 43520
Librarian —- Books: CLIFF YULE Bhp Zo tL
Librarian - VIC: JULIANNE FALLEN Fh. 3O 3983
Newsletter Editors:
RALFH DE VRIES Ph. sO S477
SOF EE SESE SEES SEES SSE ESTEE SESE SEER BETES GEESE SESSE EEEES SESEE SESS SECEE EEEES GETS EFETS GEEES GESTS GEEET GEESE GEES ceeTs GEESE SEEES SEETE STETE STTES SEES wees cones Sees SERRE SEE SENSE CEES SEES KEES SEES SEES SEES SOE SEES SEES SESE SEES SOE SSEEE SERES SEES SEE GEESE SEES emeee
VIC-29 Sub-Committee
Chairmans
CBM-64 Sub-Committee
BARRY WILSON FH.299 4204
Chairman TERRY STEER: PhH.200 S926
FET Sub-Committee
Chairman GREG FERRY Fh. 28 S295
<OTSe SCORE coEES GEEEe eens: canes GuuED Sends SeeEs GENES Sorns coses SEEGS SOmEE SuSSS GEEES SOEED GSeEt SEES SEUSS SaceD EDcES SEESS sees Saees Sense GOETt GOTES SOEET STORE SOND Sone, un cin, coes cages cueed Samer GOES SOGEE SSOGS SESE SOESS GOERS SEGEE SOEES SOEGS SEES GEOED Games Seees cones SetaS Stee? ScEGE Seems
For specific computer problems contact members af the
relevant Sub-Committee.
Flease enclose a stamped self-addressed envelope, when
contacting committee members by mail.
Flease address all editorial matter tas
24 Kaloma Rd. The Gap, Brisbane, QLD 4O61., CNGt: 8b
P.0. Box 274, Springwood please!)
Deadline for any particular MOnth is the second Tuesday
of that month.
The opinions expressed herein are those of the
Author(s), and not necessarily those of the C.C.U.G. (&
ar Chie Editor.
Fublished by C.C.U.G.(Q@), F.0.BOX 274, SFPRINGWOOD @ 4127
Frinted by GAF FRINTING, Lahore Street, THE GAF Q 4061
Sent COSTS SOSe COREE SESE GEESE SESE: Sere SESEE SOSED SESES SEESS SESE SESES SENSE SEEEE BEEGH SeSes SOEEE Sener eoeeE Sete: Sense ante: Sraes SoeEE aoeen Sones SETHE MEETS BOERS eee M,C metee CORE SOEEE SEEEE SERED SENET SEES SEES SEEEN abteG SETES ESPEN THEEE SENET PHOT ommEE SaeES
THE VIC CENTRE
commodore
COMPUTER
For professional service and support call in to CW Electronics.
Commodore's longest established Queensland Dealer.
Largest range of VIC & C64 software in Queensland. —
THE ONLY PLACE WORTH ITS SALT IN BRISBANE
416 LOGAN RD., STONES CORNER BRISBANE 397 0888
