$ 1.50
JULY, 1985
V0L.5 NO.e
H VUL.O NU.D
M.A.C.E. Journal
"Devoted Exclusively To The Atari Computer User"
IN THIS ISSUE...
ATARI LOGO WM
NEWS FROM CE5
SOFTWARE REVIEWS
MACE BIRTHDAY PARTY
BO-COLUMN BOARD REVIEW
DATAMATE - data storage in strings
Published by the Michigan Atari Computer Enthusiasts
Ok folks, get ready, here come the corrections
to last month's column!
Dave Duberman from Atari finally agreed to
come to the birthday party two days after the
Journal went to the printer! It was nice to
see that ST's really do exist! We all had a
great time, Dave had a great time, and I would
like to thank Dave and the powers that be at
Atari for his attending!
Dave called again two days after the meeting
and told me that we could take members'
orders for the ST now! The only catch was it
had to be done before this meeting. Gee, talk
about a rush job. If you did get one, good luck!
If not, fear not! ST's should be in the stores
in about a month for the same price so there is
not a big savings advantage. If you decided to
wait, you may be better off! Just think, the
pioneers out there will have to deal directly
with Atari if something goes wrong. You'll
have a local store to go back to! I hope with
Atari's decision to sell ST's to user group
members a real improvement in consumer
relations is included.
case anymore. The price difference between
what the club could get them for now as
opposed to Rite-Way, Just Software, etc, just
isn't worth it, We're only talking about a
*10.00 savings now. And besides, remember
all those great door prizes we had at the
birthday party.
Till next month!
Kirk
* A * A # A * A * A * A # A * A * A # / '# A #
COMING
ATTRACTIONS
July 16th
MACE Library Disk Demos
SynCalc Demo - Paul Glass
MACE Awards Night
August 20th
MACE Swap Night
(contact Scott Garland for table
reservations - members only!)
September 17th
What this all comes down to is this! MACE
members were able to buy ST's because they
belong to the dub. The club placed a bulk
order on behalf of its members. MACE is not
responsible for the product you receive. You
will have to deal directly with Atari should
problems arise.
Movin' on, I didn't ramble in last month's hall
of fame because I am not yet a Past President.
But, I must say, I really have enjoyed it! 'Tis
a great group we have here and I've made lots
of new friends. My biggest goal was to bring a
feeling of togetherness back to the group and,
my gosh, I think it's working! I've only got
two meetings left after this one (maybe,
depending on September's election), but I have
thoroughly enjoyed it!
In answer to a few questions concerning future
Indus group purchases, I don't plan on it at
this time, The original purchases offered a
noticable savings to members. That is not the
Election of Officers
# A # A * A # A * A * A * A # A * A # A # A *
The MACE Journal is published monthly by the
Michigan Atari Computer Enthusiasts. Unless
otherwise noted, material published in the
Journal is in the public domain and may be
reproduced for private or user group use
providing proper credit is given.
Submissions to the Journal can be mailed to
the PO Box, uploaded to the MACE BBSs, any
officer's BBS, or uploaded directly to the
editor at 646-4455. Where possible,
submissions should include a disk or tape file
in AtariWriter or similar format and a working
copy of the program. Specify format for screen
dumps (AtariArtist, Koalapad, etc,). Authors
whose submissions are published will receive
a certificate good for a free disk or tape from
the MACE library. Deadline for submissions
is the first of each month.
ID AT AMATE*
Data Storage in Strings
by Ann McBain Ezzell
The Atari's character set has* with one
exception, a printable character for every
integer from 0 to 255. (The exception is 155,
which corresponds to a carriage return.) This
accounts for those funny-looking listings you
sometimes see, with lines like*
100 A$="#$%&"
This may look like something out of a comic
strip, but it is actually a compact
representation of the numbers from 35 to 38.
DATAMATE will create such a string for you
from your data, then write string assignment
statements like line 100 above and save them
to disk or cassette for inclusion in another
program. By taking advantage of the Atari's
method of keeping track of variables, you can
even put your data string into a specified
location in memory.
Using strings to store data has the benefit of
taking up less memory than the DATA
statement method, as well as requiring less
time than repetitive PEEKing and POKEing.
Some of the more obvious applications include
handling redefined character sets, machine
language subroutines, player/missile graphics
data, and custom display lists. You may be
able to find other uses for the strings created
by DATAMATE, but remember that only integer
values from 0 to 255 can be stored in this way.
APPLICATIONS
The simplest use of DATAMATE is for loading
machine language routines into a BASIC
program. If you have a relocatable routine,
make a string from it with DATAMATE and call
it using*
100 X=USR(ADR(ML$))
You can of course also pass any needed
parameters in the USR call. Non-relocatable
routines can be stored with DATAMATE and
POKEd into their proper locations*
100 FOR 1=1 TO LEN(ML$)
110 POKE 1535+1,ASC(ML*(I»
120 NEXT I
130 X=USR(1536)
This would put your routine into page six.
Some of the other uses of DATAMATE require
some knowledge of how the Atari stores and
handles strings and other variables. As the
Atari encounters each new variable, either as
program lines are typed on the keyboard or
ENTERed in from disk or cassette, the name is
stored in the variable name table and eight
bytes are allocated in the variable value table.
Locations 130 and 131 hold the address of the
beginning of the variable name table
(FEEK(130) + 256*PEEK(131) will give you the
VNT address)! 134 and 135 hold the address of
the variable value table (VVT).
Your Atari uses three types of variables,
scalar (simple numeric values), array, and
string. Each type of variable uses its eight
bytes in the VVT in a different way! here we
are only concerned with string variables. The
first byte indicates the type of variable. 129
and 128 respectively indicate dimensioned and
undimensioned strings. Byte 2 shows the
variable number, from 0 to 127. The third and
fourth bytes combine (low byte/high byte) to
tell you the location of the string in terms of
its offset from the string and array table,
which starts at the end of the BASIC program.
(Locations 140 and 141, labelled STARP, hold
the address of this table.) Bytes 5 and t> hold
the actual length of the string and the last
two bytes hold its dimensioned length.
The structure of the variable value table gives
you the power to manipulate strings for
special uses. You can force a string to a
chosen location and specify its actual and
dimensioned lengths. You have to know how
far into the table the eight bytes for your
string are, so the easiest thing is to make
your string the first variable in the table.
You can do this by having that string be the
first variable of any type referenced in your
program. If you have been working on a
program for a while, put in a line dimensioning
your string before any other variables are
mentioned, LIST the program to disk or
cassette, type NEW, and reENTER the
program. Variables will be entered into the
VNT and VVT in the order in which they appear
within the program. (When you SAVE a
program, the VNT and VVT are saved along
with the tokenized program. LISTing saves
only the program itself, in untokenized form.)
Listing 2 shows one way of setting up a string
in memory to hold a redefined character set.
The full character set for the Atari takes up
1024 bytes of memory - 128 characters times 8
bytes per character. I will assume that you
have generated the data to define a new
character set and have used DATAMATE to
create a string called DAT$ to hold the data.
Now you need a safe place to store your data
and some way to put it there.
Line 100 dimensions DAT$, making it the first
entry in the variable table. Since you will be
moving DAT$ and setting aside IK of memory
for it elsewhere, you can dimension it to one
byte initially and not waste space in the
string and array table.
One reasonably safe location for your new
character set is above what your Atari thinks
is the top of memory. Location 106, RAMTOP,
holds the number of pages (1 page = 256 bytes)
of available memory. You can change the value
in RAMTOP and your Atari will more or less
leave the area above it alone. You do have to
be careful, though, because certain actions
will disturb some of the memory above
RAMTOP. Issuing a GRAPHICS or "CLEAR
SCREEN" (PRINT CHR$(125)) command will
clear out the first 64 bytes above RAMTOP.
Scrolling the text window wipes out up to 800
bytes. It is best to leave a buffer zone unless
you are certain that your program will not do
anything to interfere with the area above
RAMTOP.
Full character sets must start on a IK
boundary (i.e., an address evenly divisible by
1024, or a page number divisible by 4). Half
sets, like those used in GR.l and GR.2, can
start on a 1/2 K boundary. Since this example
deals with a full character set, line 110 moves
RAMTOP down by eight pages (four pages for
the character set plus a four page safety
zone). This puts the start of the character set
on a IK boundary.
Lines 120 and 130 define VT and AT as the
addresses of the variable value table and the
string and array table. Line 140 sets OS equal
to the offset between the start of the
character set (remember that it is four pages
above the new RAMTOP) and the string and
array table. The value of OS is broken down
into a high byte and a low byte in line 150.
Next, the new values are POKEd into the
variable table. You do not want to change the
first two bytes in the table. The third and
fourth bytes receive the offset for the
string's new location, the next two the new
actual length (0 + 256*4 = 1024), and the last
two get the new dimensioned length. If you
were writing your own program, you would now
be ready to put in the string assignment
statements. (Remember? That's what
DATAMATE is for.)
In this example, just to prove to you that this
really does work, I have filled DAT$ with A's,
which should put 65's into 1024 bytes starting
four pages above the new RAMTOP. (65 is the
ATASCII value of "A".) Line 200 looks into
this area of memory and prints out the
contents for you.
After changing RAMTOP, you must execute a
graphics command so that the display list and
screen memory area will be moved below the
new RAMTOP. If you are using this technique
to set up a new character set, you will have to
POKE 756 with the page number of your
character set, so that ANTIC will fetch the
character data from there instead of the
normal ROM character set.
Now you know how to put a string where you
want it to be. You will find that this method
is much faster than looping through DATA
statements and POKEing each number into its
target location. You can also use this string
manipulation technique to set up an area for
player/missile graphics, with a large blank
string encompassing the PMG area and small
strings which hold your player data moving
around as substrings within the larger one.
Nan-relocatable machine language routines can
be written to reside above a lowered RAMTOP
or some other "safe" area and handled in the
same way. You could also store a custom
display list in a string and force it to its
proper location. Unfortunately, you cannot
place strings in page 6 with this method,
because the offset from the string and array
table would have a negative value.
If you need to specify the location of more
than one string, dimension the strings you
need at the beginning of your program and
treat each one as in Listing 2. Remember that
you will use VT+10 through VT+15 for the
second string, VT+18 through VT+23 for the
third, and so on.
USING DATAMATE
Type in Listing 1 and SAVE it. If you want to
use DATAMATE to make strings from DATA
statements in existing programs, you should
also store it using the LIST command so that
you can merge it with your program. To make
strings from a binary file or from keyboard
entries, RUN DATAMATE and follow the
screen directions. To make strings from DATA
statements, load your "host" program, make
sure that there are no lines that will overlap
with DATAMATE, ENTER DATAMATE, and
GOTO 30000. You will need to know at what
line to start reading the data and how many
items to read.
Your first choice when using DATAMATE will
be the method of data entry* DATA
statements, binary file, or keyboard entry. If
you choose the keyboard, you may use decimal
or hexadecimal format, Next you must specify
the name of the string which will hold your
data. Remember that only upper-case letters
and numbers are allowed in string names, and
that the first character must be a letter.
DATAMATE limits your string names to 10
characters in length. You can include the "$"
character at the end or not, as you wish.
If you want to read the instructions, press
"Y"» otherwise press "N" to continue.
Depending on the method you choose, you will
have to answer certain questions about your
data. For DATA statements, give the line
number of the first DATA statement and the
number of items. The binary file method will
ask you for a filename! be sure to specify the
device (cassette or disk drive 1). For entry
from the keyboard, you must give the number
of items. With all methods, DATAMATE will
then ask for the line number to begin string
storage and the line number increment to use.
Be sure to choose values that will not
overwrite line 30000, the beginning of
DATAMATE.
You will have a chance to correct your entries,
then the program will begin getting the data.
The first two methods proceed on their own!
for the third you must enter items from the
keyboard one at a time. Use two characters
for every hexadecimal entry. When you have
entered the specified number of items, you
will have a chance to correct any mistakes you
may have noticed. You can choose to reenter
all of the data or only selected items.
Once all the data has been converted to string
form, the program will write string assignment
statements. The screen will go blank during
this part of the program to speed it up. If the
screen is blank for more than a short time, the
internal speaker will click occasionally to
assure you that your computer has not gone to
sleep. The display will return and you can see
the newly written lines. DATAMATE can LIST
the lines to cassette or disk so that they can
be ENTERed into your program as needed,
SPECIAL PROGRAM TECHNIQUES
As I mentioned above, the Atari has no
printing character which corresponds to the
number 155. DATAMATE will note and replace
any values of 155 in your data in such a way
that the actual value will be put back before
the data is used. Another data value which
can cause trouble is 34, which prints out as
quotes (“). Since quotation marks are used as
string delimiters, trying to include them as
part of a string will cause an error. Values of
34 are also replaced with dummy values.
DATAMATE takes care of this is in a
subroutine starting at line 31000.
Each time that a value of 34 or 155 is found in
the data, FLAG34 or FLAG 155 is incremented,
This not only notes that one of those values
has been found, it determines the dimension of
the array used to hold its location in the
string. (Two elements are needed for each
entry in the array to allow for string indices
greater than 255.) The routine starting at line
31000 dimensions the arrays HOLD34 and
HOLD155 as needed, then replaces the 34's
and 155's with dummy values and fills the
arrays with the locations of the replaced
characters. Lines 30400-30595 write program
lines to put the correct values back into the
string like this}
100 DAT*<2,2) = CHR$(34). DAT$<45,45> =
CHR$(34)
The new program lines are all written using
Atari's “forced read" mode, which acts as if
the RETURN key were being pushed
continually. See lines 30310-30330 for an
example. Location 342 holds auxiliary byte
number one (AUX1) for I/O Control Block
(IOCB) zero. IOCB zero is normally used for
the screen editor (E!). A value of 13 FOKEd
into 842 sets the screen up for input as well
as output.
If you want to use the "forced read" mode in
your own programs, clear the screen and
position the cursor at least four lines down
from the top. Print whatever program lines
you want to be entered, then print "CONT" (for
continue). Position the cursor at the top of
the screen. POKE 842.13 and STOP the
program. The "forced read" mode will go into
effect and read down the screen, entering each
line as if typed in from the keyboard, until it
reaches the CONT command. It will then
continue the program starting with the first
statement on the physical program line
following the line where the STOP command
was. POKE 842,12 to get back to the regular
screen editor mode (keyboard input/screen
output) and repeat as many times as
necessary. The process is interesting, if
rather dizzying, to watch, but will happen
about 30% faster if you turn off ANTIC (POKE
559,0) while it is happening. POKE 559,34 to
turn the screen back on.
PROGRAM OUTLINE
30000-30285
Initial screens to determine method of DATA
entry and provide instructions
30290-30640
Write string assignment statements and enter
them using Atari "forced read" mode
30700-30780
Save new lines to disk drive 1 or cassette
31000-31040
Replace values of 34 and 155 with dummy
values and place location of dummy values into
arrays for later reinsertion of actual values
31100-31180
Read values from DATA statements and
convert to string form
31200-31290
Read values from binary file and convert to
string form
31300-31495
Input values from keyboard and convert to
string form
31360-31390
Correct values in string from keyboard entry
31400-31410
Subroutine for decimal entries from keyboard
31420-31435
Subroutine for hexadecimal entries from
keyboard
31500-31550
Error handling
31600
Get single value from keyboard
31700-31740
Get information for string assignment
statements
31300-31850
Check validity of filename
I think that you will be able to find many uses
for DATAMATE, both with programs you write
yourself and those you find in magazines (they
are notorious for using DATA statements
instead of strings). Good luck, and enjoy the
program.
30000 REM DATAMATE Listing 1
30010 CLR :DIM BF$(14),D*(3),NAME$(11)
:POKE 710,146
30015 ? "{CLEAR](DOWN)(TAB)(TAB)DATAMA
TE":? "IDOWNlCreate a string -from:":?
“(DOWN]{TAB}1) DATA statements":? "{DO
WNJCTABJ2) Binary file"
30020 ? "{DOWN){TAB>3) Keyboard entry"
:? "{DOWN}Select desired method of inp
at:“;:OPEN 01,4,0,"K:“
30025 GET 01,M:IF M<49 OR M>51 THEN 30
025
30030 M=M-48:? CHR$(M+176);
30035 METH0D®31000+100*M:IF M<>3 THEN
CLOSE 01:GOTO 30055
30040 ? :? "{DOWN}{DOWN}Entries in (1)
Decimal":? "{DOWN}{TAB}{TAB}{LEFT}{LE
FT}(2) Hex{TAB}";
30045 GET 01,NUM:IF NUM<49 OR NUM>50 T
HEN 30045
30050 CLOSE 01:NUM=NUM-49:? CHR*(NUM+1
77)
30055 ? :? :? “Name of string (up to 1
0 characters)*
30060 INPUT NAMES:IF LEN(NAMES)*0 THEN
? “CUP}";:GOTO 30060
30065 IF ASC(NAMES)<65 OR ASC(NAMES)>9
0 THEN ? :? "fBELL1 FIRST CHARACTER MU S
T BE UPPER-CASE A-Z ":? "CUP}CUP}”;:GOT
0 30055
30070 L=LEN(NAMES):IF ASC(NAMES(L))=36
THEN L=L-1:STRFLAG=1:REM S last chara
cter
30075 FOR 1=1 TO L:A=ASC(NAMES(I))
30080 IF A<48 OR (A>57 AND A<65) OR A>
90 THEN ? :? "{BELL} ONLY A-Z AND 0-9 A
LLQWED IN NAMES ";‘.GOTO 30055
30085 NEXT I:IF NOT STRFLAG THEN NAME
S(L+l)="S"
30087 POKE 752,1:? :? :? " DO YOU WAN
T INSTRUCTIONS? (Y/N) ";
30090 GOSUB 31600:IF A<>89 AND A<>78 T
HEN 30090
30095 IF A=7S THEN 30285
30100 ? "{CLEAR}{DOWN}DATAMATE will cr
eate a string for data";:? "storage fr
am DATA statements, binary"
30110 ? "files, or keyboard entries in
decimal":? "or hexadecimal format. 0
NLY integer"
30120 ? "values from 0 to 255 are alio
wed.":? :? "When choosing a name for y
our string,"
30130 ? "avoid using BASIC keywords.
You may":? "use a name of up to 10 cha
racters.":?
30140 ? "The starting line number for
string":? "storage must be chosen so t
hat the"
30150 ? "new lines will not overwrite
the":? "beginning of this program at 1
ine"
30160 ? "30000. Also be sure not to c
hoose":? "line numbers that will inclu
de lines"
30170 ? "already present if you are re
ading":? "from DATA statements in a pr
ogram.“
30180 ? :? "Use only D: or C: as devic
e names.":? "{DOWN}{TAB} PRESS ANY KEY,
TD CONTINUE ";:POKE 764,255:G0SUB 31600
30190 ? "{CLEAR}{DOWN}If you have any
values of 34 or 155":? "in your data,
this program will"
30200 ? "replace them with dummy value
s and":? "write assignment statements
to put"
30210 ? "the correct values back into
the":? "string when it is used."
30220 ? :? "This is necessary because
CHR*<34)":? "is quotes (";CHR$(34);"),
which will cause an"
30230 ? "error when encountered in the
middle":? "of a string.":? :? "CHR$(1
55) is a carriage return,"
30240 ? "which will not print properly
.":? :? "If vou want to print out your
string,"
30250 ? "you may have to POKE 766,1 so
that":? "any non-printing characters
like":POKE 766,1
30260 ? "{UP} and (DOWN) will print pr
operly.“:? "POKE 766,0 to return to no
rmal mode.“:P0KE 766,0
30280 ? "fnnWN} {TAB} PRESS ANY KEY TO C
ONTTNUE";:POKE 764,255:G0SUB 31600
30285 POKE 752,0:6OSUB METHOD:SUBSTRS=
INT(STRLEN/80)
30290 REM write string assignment stat
ements
30295 ? "{CLEAR}{DOWN}The screen will
go blank briefly":? "while the string
assignment statements":? "{UPlare bein
g written."
30300 ? "fnnWN>{DOWN}{TAB} PRESS ANY KE
Y TO CONTINUE " : GOSUB 31600:TRAP 31500:
POKE 559,0:IF FLAG34 OR FLAG155 THEN G
OSUB 31000
—~7 —
30305 ELN=SLN:IF SUBSTRS=0 THEN 1=0:60
TO 30335
30310 FOR 1=0 TO SUBSTRS-1:? "{CLEAR}{
DOWN}{DOWN}CDOWN}{DOWN}":POKE 766,1:PO
KE 53279,0
30320 ? ELN;" NAMES;1*80+1I
*80+80; ")=";CHR*(34);DAT*(I*80+1,1*80+
80):POKE 766,0:? "CONT"
30325 POSITION 2,0:POKE 842,13:STOP
30330 POKE 842,12:ELN=ELN+LNINC:NEXT I
30332 IF SUBSTRS*80=LEN(DAT*) THEN 303
60
30335 ? "{CLEAR}{DOWN}{DOWN}{DOWN}{DOW
N} "
30340 POKE 766,1:? ELN;" ";NAME*;"(";I
*80+1;")=";CHR*(34);DAT*(1*80+1):POKE
766,0:? "CONT"
30345 POSITION 2,0:POKE 842,13:ST0P
3035O POKE 842,12:ELN=ELN+LNINC
30360 IF FLAG34=0 AND FLAG 155=0 THEN 3
0600
30400 REM write lines to correct chang
es Tor values o-f 34 and 155
30410 IF FLA634=0 THEN 30510
30415 LINES=INT(FLA634/3):IF LINES=0 T
HEN J34=1:60T0 30480
30420 FOR J34=0 TO LINES-1:? "{CLEAR}{
DOWN}{DOWN}{DOWN}{DOWN}":POKE 53279,0
30425 ? ELN; :FOR K34=J34*6+.l TO J34*6+
6 STEP 2:IT=H0LD34(K34)+256*H0LD34(K34
+ 1 )
30427 ? NAME*; " ("; IT;",";IT;")=CHR*(34
):;NEXT K34:? "{BACK S}":? "CONT"
30430 POSITION 2,0:POKE 842,13:ST0P
30435 POKE 842,12:ELN=ELN+LNINC:NEXT J
34:J34=6*LINES+1
30440 IF LINES*3=FLAG34 THEN 30500
30480 ? "{CLEAR}{DOWN}{DOWN}{DOWN}{DOW
N}“:POKE 53279,0
30485 ? ELN;:FOR K34=J34 TO FLAG34*2 S
TEP 2:IT=H0LD34(K34)+256*H0LD34(K34+1)
30487 ? NAME*;"(";IT;","; IT; ")=CHR*(34
):";:NEXT K34:? "{BACK S}":? "CONT"
30490 POSITION 2,0:POKE 842,13:ST0P
30495 POKE 842,12:ELN=ELN+LNINC
30500 IF FLAG155=0 THEN 30600
30510 LINES=INT(FLAG155/3):IF LINES=0
THEN J55=l:GOTO 30580
30520 FOR J55=0 TO LINES-1:? " {CLEAR} {
DOWN}{DOWN}{DOWN}{DOWN}":POKE 53279,0
30525 ? ELN;:FGR K55=J55*6+1 TO J55*6+
6 STEP 2:IT=H0LD155(K55)+256*H0LD155 (K
55+1)
30527 ? NAME*;“(";IT;IT;")=CHR*(15
5):";:NEXT K55:? "{BACK SI":? "CONT"
30530 POSITION 2,0:POKE 842,13:ST0P
30535 POKE 842,12;ELN=ELN+LNINC:NEXT J
55:J55=6*LINES+1
30540 IF LINES*3=FLAG155 THEN 30595
30580 ? "{CLEAR}{DOWN}{DOWN}{DOWN}{DOW
N)":POKE 53279,0
30585 ? ELN;:FOR K55=J55 TO FLAG155*2
STEP 2:IT=H0LD155(K55)+256*H0LD155(K55
+ 1 )
30587 ? NAME*;"(";IT;",";IT;")=CHR*(15
5):";:NEXT K55;? “{BACK S}":? "CONT"
30590 POSITION 2,0:POKE 842, 13:ST0F'
30595 POKE 842,12:ELN=ELN+LNINC
30600 ELN=ELN-LNINC
30610 POKE 559,34:? "{CLEAR}{DOWN}";NA
ME*;" complete and listed -from":? "lin
e ";SLN;" to line ";ELN;“."
30620 ? "{DOWN}{DOWN} PRESS ANY KEY
T O SEE NEW LINES ":GOSUB 31600
30640 POKE 766,1:LIST SLN,ELN:POKE 766
*0
30700 ? :? "{TAB} SAVE NEW LINES (Y/
N) ? “
30710 GOSUB 31600:IF A<>89 AND A<>78 T
HEN 30710
30720 IF A=78 THEN POKE 752,0:END
30730 ? "{CLEAR}{DOWN}{TAB} SAVE CRE
ATED STRING":?
30740 POKE 752,0:? :? "LIST to what fi
le";:INPUT BF*:GOSUB 31800
30750 POKE 752,1:? :? "Prepare storage
device.":? ;? "{TABI PRESS ANY KEY TO
CONTINUE ";:GOSUB 31600
30760 BACK=30740:TRAP 31500:LIST BF*,S
LN,ELN:POKE 752,0
30770 IF BF*(1,2)="C:" THEN ? :? "Stri
ng LISTed to cassette.":END
30780 ? :? "String LISTed to disk as:“
:? "{TAB}";BF*:END
31000 REM replace 34’s and 155’s
31010 DIM H0LD34(2*FLAG34),H0LD155(2*F
LAG155):J34=l:J155=1
31020 FOR 1=1 TO LEN(DAT*):IHI=INT(1/2
56):ILO=I-IHI*256
31025 IF ASC(DAT*(I))=34 THEN H0LD34(J
34)=ILQ:HQLD34 <J34+1)=IHI:J34=J34+2: DA
T * (I, I) = " x "
31030 IF ASC(DAT*(I))=155 THEN H0LD155
<J155)=ILG:HOLD 155 <J155+1) = IHI:J155=J1
55+2:DAT*(I,I)="y“
31040 NEXT I:RETURN
31100 REM create string + rom DATA stat
ements
31105 ? "{CLEAR}{D0WN3CREATE STRING FR
OM DATA STATEMENTS”:?
31110 TRAP 31110:? :? "First line of D
ATA statements"INPUT DLN
31115 TRAP 31115:? :? "Number of items
INPUT STRLEN:GOSUB 31700
31120 TRAP 31175:RESTORE DLN
31125 FOR 1=1 TO STRLEN:READ D:IF D<0
OR D>255 THEN 31180
31135 DAT$(I)=CHR$(D):IF D=34 THEN FLA
G34=FLAG34+1
31165 IF D=155 THEN FLAG155=FLAG155+1
31170 NEXT I:RETURN
31175 ? :? “{BELL} OUT OF DATA AT ";I-1
;" HEMS {DOWN}":? " PLEASE CHECK DATA S
TATEMEN TS":POKE 752,0:END
31180 ? :? "{BELL) ITEM » I; • IS NOT
WITHIN 0-255 {DOWN}“:? " PLEASE CHECK DA
TA STATEM ENTS":POKE 752,6:END
31200 REM create string from binary fi
le
31205 ? "{CLEAR}{DOWN} CREATE STRING
FROM BINARY FILE":?
31210 ? :? "Binary filename":? * (in
eluding device)INPUT BF$:GOSUB 3180
0
31220 BACK=31210:TRAP 31500:OPEN #2,4,
0,BF$:GET #2,A:GET #2, B
31225 IF A< >255 OR B<>255 THEN POKE 75
2,1:? : ? ** {BELL}NOT A BINARY FILE " :CLQ
SE #2:GOTO 31210
31230 GET #2,LOST:GET #2,HIST:GET #2,L
OEN:GET #2,HIEN
■-> 12C'5 STRLEN=HIEN*256+L0EN-HIST*256-L0
ST+l
31240 ? :? "Length of string will be:
";STRLEN:GQSUB 31700:TRAP 31500
31280 FOR 1=1 TO STRLEN:GET #2,D:DAT$<
I)=CHR$(D):IF D=34 THEN FLAG34=FLAG34+
1
31285 IF D=155 THEN FLAG155=FLA6155+1
31290 NEXT I:CLOSE #2:RETURN
31300 REM create string from keyboard
entries
31305 ? "{CLEAR}{DOWN}CREATE STRING FR
OM KEYBOARD ENTRIES":?
31310 TRAP 31310:? :? "Number of entri
es";:INPUT STRLEN:GOSUB 31700
31315 ? "Enter data one at a time:":?
:POKE 752,0:ENTRY=31400+20tNUM
31320 FOR 1=1 TO STRLEN:GOSUB ENTRY
31325 DAT$(I)=CHR$(D): IF D=34 THEN FLA
634=FLAG34+1
31330 IF D=155 THEN FLA6155=FLAG155+1
31335 NEXT I:POKE 752,1:? :? ■{TAB}{TA
B>LAST ENTRY "
31340 ? "{TAB} ALL ENTRIES CORRECT? (Y/
Nl";
31345 GOSUB 31600:IF A=89 THEN RETURN
31350 IF A=78 THEN 31360:REM correct e
ntries
31355 GOTO 31345
31360 POKE 752,0:? :? :? "Correct:":?
"{TAB}(1) All entries":? "{TAB}(2) Sel
ected entries
31365 GOSUB 31600:IF A<49 OR A>50 THEN
31365
31370 ? CHR$(A+128):? :IF A=49 THEN 31
315
31375 TRAP 31375:? :? "Which entry # t
o correct";: INPUT I: IF K1 OR DSTRLEN
THEN 31480
31380 ? :GOSUB ENTRY:DAT*<I,I)=CHR*(D)
:IF D=34 THEN FLAG34=FLAG34+1
31385 IF D=155 THEN FLAG155=FLAG155+1
31390 ? :GOTO 31340
31400 TRAP 31485:? "Entry # ";I;" ";:I
NPUT D:IF D<0 OR D>255 THEN 31485
31410 RETURN
31420 TRAP 31490:? "Entry # ";I;“ ";:I
NPUT D$:IF LEN(D$)<>2 THEN 31490
31425 D1=ASC(D$):D2=ASC<D$(2))
31430 IF Bl<48 OR (Dl>57 AND Dl<65> OR
D1>70 OR D2<48 OR (D2>57 AND D2C65) 0
R D2>70 THEN 31495
31435 Dl=(Dl-48)*(D1C58)+(Dl-55)*(D1>6
4):D2=(D2-48)* <D2<58) + (D2-55) t (D2>64):
D=16*D1+D2:RETURN
31480 ? :? "{BELL} ENTRIES FROM 1 JO
STRLEN;" ONLY ":GOTO 31375
31485 ? :? "{BELL} NUMBERS ONLY 0-255 I
CORRECT LAST ENTRY ":GOTO 31400
31490 ? :? "{BELL} TWO CHARACTERS ONLY !
CORRECT LAST ENTRY ":GOTO 31420
31495 ? :? "{BELL} HEX FORMAT 0-9.A-F *
CORRECT LAST ENTRY ":GOTO 31420
31500 REM error checking
31510 POKE 559,34:E=PEEK(195)
31520 ? "{BELL}":POKE 752,1:CLOSE #2:1
F E=170 THEN ? " FILE NOT FOUND ":TRAP 3
1500:GOTO BACK
31525 IF E=162 THEN ? " DISK FULL ":TRAP
31500:GOTO BACK
31530 IF E=130 THEN ? " UNKNOWN DEVICE "
:TRAP 31500:GOTO BACK
31535 IF E=165 THEN ? " BAD FILE NAME ":
TRAP 31500:GOTO BACK
31540 IF E=138 THEN ? "DEVICE DOES NOT
RESPOND":TRAP 31500:GOTO BACK
31545 IF E=167 THEN ? " FILE LOCKED - U
NABLE TO WRITE ":TRAP 31500:GOTO BACK
31550 ? " ERROR NUMBER ";E;" AT LINE
PEEK(186>+256*PEEK(187):END
31600 OPEN #1,4,0,"K:GET #1,A:CLOSE
#1:RETURN
31700 TRAP 31700:? :? "First line -for
string storage"INPUT SLN
31710 TRAP 31710:? :? "Line # incremen
ts“;:INPUT LNINC:?
31720 TRAP 40000:POKE 752,1:? :? :? "{
TAB} ALL ENTRIES CORRECT? (Y/N) »;
31730 GOSUB 31600:IF A=78 THEN POP :CL
QSE #2:POKE 752,0:GOTO 30285
31735 IF A< >89 THEN 31730
31740 ? "{CLEAR}LDOWNlCreating string.
..DIM DAT$(STRLEN>:FLAG34=0:FLAG 155=
0:RETURN
31800 REM check -filename
31810 IF BF$="C:" THEN RETURN
31820 IF LEN(BF$)<3 THEN 31850
31830 IF BF$<1,2)<>“D:" THEN 31850
31840 RETURN
31850 ? :? "TBELLT SPECIFY C: OR D:FILE
NAME":? :INPUT BFt:GOTO 31810
0 REM Listing 2 - Variable manipulatio
n demo
100 DIM DAT$(1)
110 POKE 106, PEEK (106) -8: RAMTOF'=PEEK (1
06)
120 VT=PEEK(134)+256*PEEK(135)
130 AT =PEEK(140)+256IPEEK(141)
140 0S=(RAMT0P+4)1256-AT
150 HI=INT(OS/256):L0=0S-256*HI
160 POKE VT+2,LO:POKE VT+3,HI
170 POKE VT+4,0:POKE VT+5,4
180 POKE VT+6,0:POKE VT+7,4
190 DAT4="A":DAT*(1024)="A":DAT* <2)=DA
T*
200 GRAPHICS 0:FOR 1=0 TO 1023:? PEEK(
256*(RAMTOP+4)+1);" :NEXT I
MACE JOURNAL
LISTING
CONVENTIONS
To reduce our readers' eyestrain, we have
adopted a special method for listing programs*
Programs will be listed in 38 column format,
and certain characters will be replaced by an
abbreviated form of their function, printed
within curly braces (see below)* Any
characters to be typed in inverse video will be
underlined, and control characters will be
represented by their respective letters within
curly braces. If a character within braces is
also underlined, toggle the inverse video on
and then hold down the control key while
typing the character.
This method may seem awkward at first, but
you should quickly get used to it, and the
listings will be much easier to read. The
special characters which will be spelled out
are as follows}
When you see.
You should type*
{CLEAR}
ESC SHIFT <
OP>
ESC CTRL -
<D0WN>
ESC CTRL =
{LEFT}
ESC CTRL +
{RIGHT}
ESC CTRL *
{BACK S}
ESC DELETE
{DELETE}
ESC CTRL DELETE
{INSERT}
ESC CTRL INSERT
{DEL LIND
ESC SHIFT DELETE
ONS LIND
ESC SHIFT INSERT
{TAB}
ESC TAB
{CLR TAB}
ESC CTRL TAB
{SET TAB}
ESC SHIFT TAB
{BELL}
ESC CTRL 2
{ESC}
ESC ESC
{COMMA}
CTRL , (eowia)
{PERIOD}
CTRL . (period)
{SEMI-COLON}
CTRL | (seni-colon)
{SHIFT =}
SHIFT =
If you see5
Type!
{A}
CTRL A
A
INV, VIDEO A
CA}
INV. VIDEO C
— 1 o —
BASIC XE‘ Gives Your Atari 130XE All
The Performance It Should Have Had In
The First Place
In the home computer races, the Atari 130XE stands out as a price leader. But using underpowered Atari
BASIC” on this otherwise fine machine is like racing in the Indy 500 with half your cylinders missing.
So don’t get left at the starting line with only half an “engine.” Change to the performance leader now! Buy
BASIC XE from OSS, the only programming language designed especially for the Atari 130XE.
Just look at what you get for one low sticker price:
BEST MILEAGE: With over 60,000 more bytes
for your programs, BASIC XE lets you use all the
memory you paid for.*
MORE HORSEPOWER: Run Atari BASIC pro¬
grams 2 to 6 times faster.* Even with its incredible
power, BASIC XE is compatible with Atari BASIC.
BETTER HANDLING: With auto line number¬
ing, renumbering, program cross referencing,
English error messages, and more.
CLASSIC DESIGN: Show ofT the sleek struc¬
tured style of your own programs when you use
BASIC XE statements like PROCEDURE,
IF...ELSE, and WHILE...ENDWHILE.
FREE ACCESSORIES: Get over $100 worth of
Atari BASIC options FREE when you buy BASIC
XE: complete Player/Missile Graphics support,
string arrays, DOS access, SORT commands, read¬
able listings...over 50 extras at no additional charge.
■ If you’re ready to step up to real performance... YOU need BASIC XE now!
■ If you haven’t written your first BASIC program... YOU need BASIC XE now!
■ If you’re already a real pro in BASIC... YOU need BASIC XE now!
■ BASIC XE may well be the best buy any Atari owner ever made.
Optimized Systems Software, Inc.
1221B Kentwood Avenue. San Jose. California 95129 (406) 446-3099
*Want to know more? Call or write for free brochure or ask your local dealer.
Atari 130XE ™ and Atari BASIC™ are U.S. registered trademarks of Atari Corporation.
ERROR MESSAGES
Atari Never Told You About
[After the mass firings in Sunnyvale when
Jack Tramiel took over, certain documents
marked "Top Secret" were found in a trash can
at a rest area on 1-80 East, The MACE
Journal is proud to be the first to present this
valuable information to the world of Atari
users, -Ed,]
Note? The following error messages result
from external malfunctions, including operator
error, and are only implemented on machines
containing the experimental PSI (Pretty Small
Integrated) chip. To determine if your machine
has the PSI chip installed, set up a loop to
read location 53770 (*D20A), the random
number generator. Concentrate on a number
between 0 and 255? if you can force the output
of 53770 to equal your chosen number more
than 87.45*4 of the time, you are one of the
lucky few with the PSI chip.
ERROR 256 - Operator Negligence
You failed to stare intently at your 410 or
1010 recorder during the entire CLOAD
process. Rewind the tape to within ,01 mm of
the original recording position, take a deep
breath, and hold it while watching the tape
grind through the recorder. It has been shown
that blinking during a cassette load can set up
shock waves sufficient to knock the tape head
out of alignment and abort the load.
ERROR 257 - Keyboard Adhesion Error
There is peanut butter or some other sticky
substance underneath your keycaps. (This
error does not occur on Atari 400's with the
original membrane keyboard.) You can try to
pry off the keycaps yourself and clean up the
mess, or face ridicule by bringing your machine
to the service department of your local
computer store.
ERROR 258 - Disk Damage Error
Your toddler has been trying to play your
disks on his Fisher Price Record Player. This
error can also occur when disks have been used
as Frisbees, coasters, or to jimmy a lock.
ERROR 260 - TMF Error
A Transient Magnetic Field has erased all of
the data on your disks and/or tapes. You are
now the owner of 253 flat black plastic
squares which can be used (with little success)
to tile your rec room floor.
ERROR 261 - Release Date Shock
A previously-announced Atari product has
been released on time} the shock was too much
for your computer, which will be inoperative
for the next three months, thereby bringing
things back to normal.
ERROR 262 - Poor Programming Technique
You have aggravated your BASIC cartridge by
writing "spaghetti code", full of tangled GOTO
statements. In retaliation, it has renamed all
of your variables as carriage returns
(CHR*(155)). No recovery possible.
ERROR 263 - Late Night Error
This error most often occurs at 4 am and is
due to the fact that the computer is being put
to sleep by your yawns. Grinding No-Doie
between the cartridge and its connectors will
prevent this error, as it will totally disable
your system and you will be able to get lots of
sleep in the next few months while you are
waiting for your machine to be repaired.
ERROR 264 - Fed Detected
An FBI informant has tapped into your phone
line and is monitoring your pirate downloads.
For *59.95 (plus *2.00 shipping and handling)
you can buy an Honesty Chip which will
immediately switch the transmission to a
public domain program. The Honesty Chip is
available from I, M. Cott, Cell Block 534, San
Quentin, CA 94013.
ERROR 265 - CUI Error
The operator is guilty of Computing Under the
Influence of proscribed substances. Power
down and wait for operator detoxification
before attempting further operation.
ERROR 266 - Malfunction Timeout
It has been too long since an error has
occurred, so the Error Generator, ERRGEN, at
location 49155 <*C003) has chosen to spice up
your life. This error is seldom seen because
of the unlikelihood of operating your computer
for more than 15 minutes without an error.
— 12 —
TWO STRATEGIC
GAMES
Reviewed by Charles M. Hostetler
[The reviewer reports that he has been a
strategic games fan since the early 60's, when
he started playing "Blitzkrieg" and "Battle of
Britian". Since then* he and his wife Susan
have collected some 2000 or so "simulations"*
plus a number of boardgames.
He purchased his Atari 800XL in the winter of
'84 in hopes of using it in his law practice* but
managed to write only one single-page will*
which took about 8 hours, since he didn't have
a word processor and had to use the "LPRINT"
command. He has since been employed by an
insurance company and can dedicate the time
spent with his Atari to playing and reviewing
games. He has been a member of MACE since
last fall. -Ed«I
turn
STAR WARRIOR
Epyx
£U)3
I picked up this disk for *8.00 at a closeout of
Epyx software? I think it was well worth the
money. Star Warrior comes with a rule book
and two 4x8 cards? one for a summary of the
19 Commands (this is a keyboard* not a
joystick, game), and one for a two sided map of
the playing areas.
In Starwarrior you play a native of the Planet
"Fornax" who, with others, has decided that
the recent acquisition of your homeworld by
the Stellar Union has led to unpleasant side
effects, such as "taxation without
representation". As such you hope that the
acquisition of two “Furies" (suits a la
Heinlein's Starship Troopers) can allow your
group to "make a statement" and lead a revolt.
The statement you hope to make is the
destruction of the Military Governor.
That is Scenario Two in the game. Scenario
One is the diversion of Union forces whilst
your compatriot does in the nasty Governor.
Your mission #1 is limited by time. You can
choose your own time limit, which sets the
time before "RECALL" when you are to return
to your starting "square" to be successful. In
mission #2 -there is no set time limit, but the
longer you spend trying to blow up the
Governor, the more energy you use.
There are nine types of enemy units varying
from infantry which can be ignored as long as
your shields are up on maximum, to heavy
tanks and Nitron Guns (the latter being a type
of artillery best shot at before being shot by).
You have a choice of three basic suits? the
Dragoon, Marauder, and Ninja? or you can
design your own from components, (There is a
cost chart).
To get around, you can "fly", “jump", or "walk".
Flight is recommended for rough terrain. When
flying it is a good idea to zigzag as straight
flight does seem to attract more enemy units
than needed.
You are not without weapons. Your Powergun
is effective at close range provided its range
is properly set. I wouldn't recommend it too
highly, however, as it's not as sure as a
well-placed missile, or the Blaster. Also, the
Powergun uses the same energy that the rest
of the systems use, including your shields and
flight power. The rulebook calls the Powergun
the weapon of choice for the Ninja suit as it is
the quietest and least likely to attract other
"baddies".
The blaster fires three charges that have a
cumulative effect (unlike the Powergun).
Naturally, the number of charges you have is
limited.
Missiles explode in a mushroom cloud and are
targeted by direction and range. These too are
limited in number. They are also the only way
to destroy “installations", which are worth
more points than units and are where the
Governor can be found,
“Installations" are of two basic types? Towns
and Forts. These may be civilian or military.
The only way to tell is through your "0"bserve
command. This is particularly important as
points are deducted for doing in innocent
civilians.
13 —
The screen display is about 80% a square that
represents a terrain type. These are mountain
(good graphic background), clear, swamp, and
forest (all of average graphics). Rather than
scrolling, exiting a square blanks and flashes
the screen to the next square. You can move
diagonally. The entire playing area is about
80 squares. These repeat the last terrain
rather than wrap around to the "other" side.
I've never visited half a field in dozens of
games.
You have available an "invisibility" command
with the Ninja suit and a Decoy option with the
Marauder. Both of these options are helpful
when your shields are down and your medical
system is failing. (Your wounds are regularly
healed at a modest rate, otherwise.)
You also have about 12 "windows" on your
display that tell your direction, number of
missiles, charges for your blaster, energy
units left, the type of enemy unit present, if
any, etc.
I thoroughly enjoyed this game, and if you like
strategic simulation games, you probably will,
too!
SARATOGA.
APX Classics from Antic
Program by Paul Wehner
This is a game simulation of 1777, when the
British had their last, best chance to win the
American Revolutionary War. The British plan
was to concentrate their three armies, and in
the process, eliminate Washington's
Continental Army as an effective force. As
history tells us, Washington met and defeated
Burgoyne (Gentleman John) near Saratoga.
The game uses the system of "Eastern Front",
allowing the solitary player to use the joystick
to control his American forces and read the
British dispositions. The cursor also scrolls
the screen through the 15 screen map.
Forests, mountains, cities, rivers, and forts
are depicted with good graphics.
Unfortunately, the one lack of the system is
the lack of place names. (This may be an
inherent limitation of the system.)
Battles are joined by commanding your unit to
a square occupied by an enemy unit, When all
your orders are in and START is pushed the
battles are fought, complete with sound
effects. The usual way to destroy enemy units
is through surrounding them, although
repeated attacks can destroy a unit. Retreats
are handled automatically by the computer.
The documentation is all on the reverse side
of the disk, a feature that I wish more
companies would consider. The documentation
can be printed or read on screen. There are
multiple scenarios from which to choose,
including one simple enough for beginners to
learn the system and still win. Victory is
determined by control of such places as New
York, Boston, and West Point (Washington,
D.C. not being around yet). Supplies and
seasonal changes (the Revolutionary forces
double in the summer) are handled
automatically, also. Overall, this is an
excellent game and well worth the $15.95 price
tag from Antic Arcade.
— 1 4 —
EDUCATIONAL
SOFTWARE
by Hugh McLean
Co-Sysop, BUNKY'S BOARD (313) 546-3689
My interest in educational software is fairly
deep-seated, and while neither extensive nor
exhaustive, it is intensive. One of my first
real computer projects was a rather lengthy
educational program for BUNKY, which proved
to be beneficial for both of us* I am somewhat
disdainful of the psychological advertisements
that subtly suggest my parental inadequacy
and primordial myopia because I don't rush to
the local computer store and purchase a
computer for my college bound child. If I
would just be responsible as a caring parent
should, my child would have a computer and be
a successful student. The rather ambivalent
equate that “student failure" is equivalent to
"parental frugality" irritates me.
Another thing that perturbs me is the hype of
availability of "educational software", that
ubiquitous term which delineates inferior
systems by virtue of volume of programs which
are designated as "educational". Many of
these "educational" programs advocate the
advantage of "hand/eye coordination", and
after all, we certainly wouldn't want our
children to be deprived of that. Hand/eye
coordination, in my opinion, is that inane
ability to generate a higher score in FAC-MAN
or DONKEY-KONG, and has absolutely nothing
in common with S.A.T. or A.C.T. scores.
I was excited about purchasing a VCR a few
years ago - excited because at last I could
rent some really good tapes and enlarge the
horizons of my educational pursuits by
studying some of the topics I was too busy to
pursue formally. Alas, my enlightenment was
only an ambitious dream, for I found almost
nothing available. Sick, trashy, x-rated
movies abound, but try to find something on
archaeology, or even the French language,
With current technology making
color-sensitive, erasable, optical disks
coupled with computer controlled laser
machines that can function frame by frame, or
sequentially, an educational tool exists that is
totally amazing and virtually unexplored.
Today's computer technology reminds me of the
early 1900's when automobiles were invented
before the support systems of macadam roads,
expressways, gas stations, lead free fuels,
synthetic elastomers, curved shatterproof
wind-shields, and AM/FM stereo tape players.
I anticipate that personal computers are more
than a passing Hoola Hoop fad, and that they
will be the progenitor of new tools that will
provide as yet unimaginable conveniences
tomorrow that will be as common as gas
stations are today.
I recently read an article in the March '85 High
Technology magazine entitled "The future of
Educational Computing", by Moses T.L. Ma that
was as rare as it was refreshing. According to
the article, learning has four levels, each one
associated with a different type of mental
operation?
1. MEMORIZATION? This is usually a
repetitive operation where a student learns by
rote and doesn't understand what he is
memorizing, or its application? math functions,
spelling, color and symbol associations, etc.
This is the prime area that educational
software uses, since repetitive functions make
good use of the computer.
2. UNDERSTANDING! This level of learning is
the process by which underlying principles are
discovered. The student finally realizes the
function of his memorization efforts.
3. CREATIVITY? This progressive level of
learning is achieved when the student
develops his ability to think for himself, using
the understanding that he has acquired.
Educational software hasn't really done much
in this area, understandably, since it is easier
and less time-consuming to develop
"memorization" software.
4. WISDOM! "This level goes beyond
memorizing efficiently, understanding
completely, and creating beautifully, to the
ability to see underlying realities."
While these four levels of learning may seem a
bit beyond the scope of the personal computer,
they nevertheless represent goals to which
educational software should aspire.
- 15 -
Jan Landis displays our Birthday Cakes
Kirk Revitzer and Dave Duberman
cut our Birthday cake
Dino Roggero raises important questions
about the 520 ST.
Sharie Middlebrook and Burt Gregory
tally renewal memberships
I
\
l
Dave Duberman our guest speaker answers questions from MACE members
Dave & Bev Zappa custodians our gth Bjrthday celebration
of our Disk Library M
Dave Duberman explains the 520 ST
to Dino Roggero and Alva Thomas
Dave Duberman gives an exclusive
demonstration to Eric Wujicik
(Detroit News) and Howard Kenig (WHYT)
Some of the items given away to the MACE members
RALLY SPEEDWAY
Adventure International
Reviewed by Jav Slatkin
Did you ever run across a game that wasn't
long, wasn't complex, but was just plain fun?
Well, those games are hard to come by these
days, but I've just run across one here,
The object of RALLY SPEEDWAY is simple!
get across the finish line alive before your
opponent does, When you first boot up the
game you get the main menu for a brief moment
and then the title screen. It's not very
"classy", but the game play more than makes
up for it.
You have several options to choose from, such
as the type of track. You have your choice of
a dry, wet, or icy track. I usually choose wet
because the game is more fun on a slippery
track but in my opinion an icy track is too
slippery. You have a choice of your "top
speed", You can choose 40, 80, or 100 mph.
You also have a choice of rate of acceleration*
fast, medium, or slow,
You also have another option which is nice to
have. The two choices are called "Real Life"
or "Only in a Computer". In "Real Life" when
you're speeding around the track and make
contact with a tree or house you have a violent
crash and you see your driver rolling through
the flames as he's tossed out of the car,
"Only in a Computer" is nice. Instead of
crashing, you drive through the houses and
trees! You can cut across the wooded terrain
and onto the track again. I think it's fun.
In addition, you can not only make your own
track, you can save it to disk! When you
create a track you can start from scratch, or
alter any of the two tracks programmed into
the game and save those to disk as well.
Playing with two players is a different story
altogether. You can take out your aggressions
on your opponent by bumping him into a violent
crash. When you get so far ahead of him that
your opponent is going off the screen, he
obtains a 5 second penalty. I found these
quite frequent in game play, Even the most
masterful drivers will receive this penalty
often.
Comparing this game to the amount of disk
space it takes up, I think this game is
excellent ! I find it excellent compared to any
car-driver game for that matter. This game
contains brilliant sound and smooth four-way
screen scrolling. On a scale from 1 to 10 I
give it a very solid 9.
ACE ©O CARTRIDGE
Magic Software
Reviewed by Murray D. Kucherawy
I love my Atari 800. I bought it in 1982 and
when I got tired of playing games, I installed
a BIT-3 board, purchased the 80 column
version of Letter Perfect and did serious word
processing on a letter quality printer. My
wife edits a medical journal and after seeing
my system, she purchased two for her office.
Her office is in a university hospital and she
still chuckles over the raised eyebrows when
she talks about her Atari word processor.
The 800XL with its "closed" construction
seemed to shut out third party entrepreneurs.
Except for a brief flurry concerning Atari's XL
expansion box, the 80 column capability was
gone. MACE's birthday party, however, gave
us a real surprise. Magic Software of Monroe,
MI introduced ACE-80, a 12K cartridge which
will put 80 columns on your TV or monitor.
There are two versions. 80XL works in all
Atari computers with at least 48K. In the XL
and XE models, you can program in BASIC in 80
columns. It also fits the left cartridge slot of
the 800 but, of course, you can't
simultaneously use BASIC. ACE-80 is aright
cartridge slot version (yes, you heard
correctly!) which is specifically designed for
the 800 so that the left slot is available for
your BASIC cartridge.
The central question of this review then
becomes "How legible is the display?". The
answer depends on what you are using for your
display. A monochrome monitor produces an
excellent display ("WOW!", to quote a local
dealer) - comparable to the BIT-3 display. A
color monitor takes away some of the
resolution but it is still good. A color TV
gives a good/fair display depending on how
well the set has been tuned but I could not
recommend it for extended use. I was unable
to test it on a B/W TV but my guess is that
the display would be very good on a properly
tuned set. I recommend you see the display on
your terminal before you purchase. The final
screen appearance can be "fine-tuned" to your
liking by use of the START and SELECT keys.
Unfortunately, this adjustment must be
performed at each session. My suggestion to
the designers would be to have a file written
to disk after initial set-up so that subsequent
screen set-ups would be automatic.
With the cooperation of LJK, Magic Software
sells reasonably priced versions of LETTER
PERFECT, DATA PERFECT and SPELL
PERFECT which have been modified to run with
ACE 80. The list price of ACE 80XL/ACE 80 is
$49.95 . At less than 25% the cost of an 80
column board, this is a very attractive way of
upgrading your Atari to professional levels.
SY DRAFT
-OFFICE, ART & DRAFTING SUPPLIES-^
LINCOLN CENTER
26130 Greenfield
Oak Park, Ml 48237
Phone
(313) 968-2620
YOUR WORD PROCESSING CENTER
SPECIAL PRICES FOR MACE
SSDD DISKS: 10 for
ICO for
lOOO for
TIGER HATS
DISK PUNCH
DOUBLE-UP DISK PUNCH
INDUS GT DRIVE
MEMBERS
* 6.98
* 65.00
*600.00
* 1.99
* 5.00
* 8.95
*227.00
GREETINGS
FROM YOUR EDITOR...
First, I would like to thank EVERYONE who
pitched in and helped out at last month's
meeting. When we found out just a few days
before the meeting that Dave Duberman from
Atari actually would be attending, we knew
that attendance would be up and we would need
even more volunteers than normal for a
Birthday meetings. Due to all the help we got
from our members, things went smoothly and
everyone seemed to have a good time.
Thanks are also in order for our advertisers
and supporters who donated so many door
prizes. Remember these merchants when it's
time to go computer shopping* Sector One
International, RiteWay, Family Computer
Center, Just Software, Software Library, OSS,
Sy Draft, and DataWorld Distributing. (Hope I
haven't left anyone out!)
MPP lOOOE MODEM * 96.00
MPP MICRO STUFFER *103.00
ATARI PRINT SHOP * 30.00
KOALA PAD - ATARI * 29.95
FLIGHT SIMULATOR * 34.00
BMC PRINTER BX80 *185.00
SCM D100 PRINTER *190.00
PANASONIC 1091 PR1NTER*279.00
DATA CASE (HOLDS 50) * 8.50
MEDIA MATE (HOLDS 50) * 9.50
DISK CASE (100 W/LOCK)* 13.00
4E HAVE HARD-TO-FIND ITEMS LIKE:
COLOR PRINT SHOP PAPER
PRINT SHOP ENVELOPES
COLOR PRINTER RIBBONS
SOFTWARE IS ALWAYS 30% OFF
Keep those submissions coming in - we have
had some very good articles lately, and I hope
they continue.
- 19 -
THE SHELL GAME input of 155, which is the ATASCII code for a
CRACKING ATARI LOGO carriage return. This will make the program
loop until the <RETURN> key is pressed,
by Ann McBain Ezzell WAITKEY can be used whenever you want to
wait for a specific keypress.
Working with Logo and turtle graphics can help
children (and adults) develop the ability to
estimate angles and distances. This month's
"game" will offer practice at several different
levels as the user tries to follow the path
drawn by a turtle. This game could be
improved by the addition of sound effects
and/or color changes} feel free to tinker with
it as you wish. If you are feeling adventurous,
you might think about adding some error
checking to make sure that the leader turtle
doesn't go off the edge of the screen.
To play the game, type in the procedures and
global variables as listed here, then type
"FOLLOWME". You will have to choose a level
of play from 1 to 4. On all levels, the leader
turtle draws a path by choosing an angle and a
distance and adding them to a list of
commands. The possibilities increase with
increasing levels of difficulty. Level 1 allows
only RT 90 and LT 90, and the distance is
always FD 20. Level 2 adds in RT 45, LT 45
and FD 40. At Level 3, the turtle can also turn
RT 30 or LT 30, and go FD or BK 20, 40 or 10.
Level 4 adds a 60 degree turn and a distance
of 30 (FD or BK). At Level 1, you must match 5
moves to complete the game successfully} this
number increases by one for each higher level.
The main procedure calls procedures which
introduce the game, get the level of play, run
the game, and ask if you want to play again.
TO FOLLOWME
TITLE
TYPE CENTER LEVEL OF PLAY ( 1 - 4 ) }]
GETLEVEL
CS
TELL CO 1 2 31 HT
MAKE "PATH C1
RESET
PLAY
FINISHED
END
TITLE prints out an introduction to the game
and calls the procedure WAITKEY with an
TO TITLE
TS CT
PR "
PR CFOLLOW THE TURTLE...]
PR "
PR C WATCH THE TURTLE AS IT ADDS
STEPS]
PR CTO ITS PATH AND TYPE IN THE
PROPER]
PR CCOMMANDS TO MAKE YOUR TURTLE
FOLLOW]
PR CTHE SAME PATH.]
PR "
PR CHIT < RETURN > TO CONTINUE]
PR "
WAITKEY 155
END
TO WAITKEY IN
IF EQUALP RC CHAR IN CSTOP]
WAITKEY IN
END
The next step is to get the difficulty level for
the game. The prompt is printed in TITLE
rather than GETLEVEL so that the program
can loop through GETLEVEL until a valid
response is given (1-4) without printing out
the prompt each time. If the input is a number
and if it is between 0 and 5, the number is
echoed back to the screen and the program
waits for a carriage return to continue the
game. This WAITKEY 155 could be eliminated,
but many people are used to pressing
<RETURN> after an entry. An extraneous
<RETURN> can often mess up your program, so
it's a good idea to plan for one.
TO GETLEVEL
MAKE "LEVEL RC
IF NUMBERP 5LEVEL CIF AND ILEVEL > 0
ILEVEL < 5 CPR ILEVEL WAITKEY 155 STOP]]
GETLEVEL
END
RESET clears the screen before the start of
the game and after each successful round
during the game. It also puts the turtles at
— PiO—
position CO 20] to put them nearer to the
center of the split graphics screen so they are
less likely to run off the edge. When moving
the turtles# the pens must be up so that they
won't leave a trail back to the center#
TO RESET
CS
TELL C0 13HT PU
SETPOS CO 20]
SETH 0
PD ST
END
PLAY is heart of this game? it controls the
leader and follower turtles and checks to see
that the two paths are the same. First it calls
MAKEPATH to start the selection of the
leader turtle's path. MAKEPATH uses a
procedure ITEM which is from the Atari Loop
Reference Manual, page 59. ITEM will return a
specified item from within an object# whether
word or list. There are four lists set up as
global variables which contain the choices
available to the leader turtle. There are only
two choices for turning, RT and LT# but the
other lists each contain four choices for the
path. ("DIR has two FD's and two BK's
because Levels 1 and 2 only allow forward
motion# while 3 and 4 allow either direction.)
Depending on the value of .LEVEL# a random
choice will be made from each of the lists in
turn and the commands will be added to the
list {PATH. (The higher the level# the greater
the possible value for the random number,)
Each time MAKEPATH is called, JPATH will be
lengthened by four items (for example# RT 90
FD 20).
PLAY then tells turtle 1 to execute the
commands found in JPATH. You must type in
commands to make turtle 0 follow the same
path. If the two lists (JPATH from
MAKEPATH and JPATH2 as read from the
keyboard) are not equal# PLAY calls MISTAKE#
which prints out the correct list of commands
and the number of steps matched correctly.
AGAIN asks if you want to try again#
returning control to TOPLEVEL if the answer
is other than "Y“.
If the two paths are the same# and the game
has not reached the maximum number of rounds
for that level# PLAY calls itself after
executing a RESET and a DELAY. DELAY is
simply a recursive procedure which counts
down from its input to 0.
TO PLAY
MAKEPATH
TELL 1 SETPN 0
RUN JPATH
CT PR CENTER THE COMMANDSJ]
MAKE "PATH2 RL
TELL 0 SETPN 2
RUN JPATH2
IF NOT EQUALP JPATH JPATH2 [MISTAKE]
IF 4 * ( {LEVEL + 4 ) > COUNT JPATH
[DELAY 20 RESET PLAY]
END
TO MAKEPATH
MAKE "PATH LPUT ITEM ( 1 + RANDOM 2 )
JTRN JPATH
MAKE "PATH LPUT ITEM ( 1 + RANDOM
{LEVEL ) JDEG JPATH
MAKE "PATH LPUT ITEM ( 1 + RANDOM
{LEVEL ) JDIR JPATH
MAKE "PATH LPUT ITEM ( 1 + RANDOM
{LEVEL ) JDIS JPATH
END
TO ITEM JN {OBJECT
IF JN = 1 [OUTPUT FIRST {OBJECT]
OUTPUT ITEM JN - 1 BF {OBJECT
END
MAKE "TRN [RT LT]
MAKE "DEG [90 45 30 60]
MAKE "DIR [FD FD BK BK]
MAKE "DIS [20 40 10 30]
TO MISTAKE
CT PR [SORRY.,. WRONG MOVE]
PR [THE MOVES SHOULD HAVE BEEN!]
PR JPATH
TYPE [YOU MATCHED \ ]
TYPE ( COUNT JPATH ) / 4 - 1
TYPE CHAR 32
PR [MOVES]
AGAIN
END
TO DELAY JN
IF JN = 0 [STOP]
DELAY JN - 1
END
21 —
If PLAY cycles through the maximum number of
rounds without an error# control passes to
FINISHED, which offers congratulations and
calls AGAIN to ask if you want another try.
TO FINISHED
CT PH [CONGRATULATIONS!]
PR [YOU FOLLOWED THE TURTLE!]
AGAIN
END
TO AGAIN
TYPE [DO YOU WANT TO PLAY AGAIN?]
MAKE "ANSWER RC
IF EQUALP 'ANSWER "Y [FOLLOWME] [CT
.CALL 39929]
END
This game is not fully polished# it would be
easy to add color and sound to liven it up.
Less simple would be adding error checking
(which is why I didn't do it). You might change
the flow of the program so that MAKEPATH is
called the necessary number of times for each
level to create the entire path before drawing
any of it. That way you could check to see
that the leader turtle did not go off the edge
of the screen. Then you would have to write a
procedure to check the input list against the
appropriate part of the leader's path. There
may be an easier way to control the turtle# I'd
be glad to hear it.
BURNOUT ALERT!!
Your dedicated Editor is running out of ideas
for this column. Maybe you are getting tired
of reading it - if you're not# SOMEBODY had
better come out of his or her shell and send in
some suggestions. Better yet# send in some of
your own procedures or Logo activities. You
don't have to have a perfectly complete
program# half of the fun of Logo is tinkering
with it and tailoring it to fit your needs,
Maybe someone else has the perfect solution
to that problem that has been bugging you for
months. You'll never know unless you ask.
new users forum
by Tom Sturia
You say you can't tell a bit from a byte? You
finally purchased a disk drive to replace that
slow cassette, but DOS is a foreign language?
AtariWriter is great# but why won't it
underline? Your family bought a modem# but
bulletin boards "hang up" on you when you call!
IS THAT YOUR PROBLEM BUNKY ?
Well, MACE has just the thing for you and your
family - the New Users Forum. We'll do our
best to answer your questions# show you how
to use your Atari for something besides games
and explain "How things work!"
We'll meet monthly at the Southfield Civic
Center# in one of the upstairs meeting rooms
at Parks & Recreation (across the hall from
the Pavilion). Meetings will be on the fourth
Monday of each month. The first three
meetings will be on June 24th# July 22nd and
August 26th. These meetings are free?
however, seating is limited# and MACE
membership cards will be required for
admission.
So# if you are interested in attending the New
Users Forum# get those questions and/or
requests ready. Please call me (from 7-10 pm
at (313) 477-2345) if you would like to have a
specific topic or software package discussed
at the Forum and I'll try to have an "expert"
there to speak on the topic.
MACE SIGS
The following Special Interest Groups are still
active. Contact the person listed for more
information.
Atarimusic SIG5 Mike Lechkun, (313) 973-8432
or MACE EAST BBS, (313) 978-1685
FORTH Interest Group* Tom Chrapkiewicz#
(313) 562-8506 or 845-4570 x60
SIG-EDJ Mark Kennedy# (313) 465-5849
evenings
THOUT
ICE
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1020 PRINTER $49.00
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TOUCH TABLET $ 44.00
CK85 KEYPAD $29.00
HAYES 300 $149.00
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JOYSTICK CABLE $ 2.00
VG170 JOYSTICK $ 5.50
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MONITOR CABLE $ 4.00
1020 PEN PACK $ 2.50
1020 PAPER PK. $ 3.90
1025 RIBBON $ 1.75
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Designed and Printed by Phyllis Evans
Using PRINT SHOP and HOMETEXT
A TECHNICAL VIEW
OF THE CES
by Todd Meitzner
My primary reason for going to the Consumer
Electronics Show (CES) was to see what was in
store for Atari* Although Atari didn't seem to
offer any new hardware additions to the 8-bit
computers, others did* ICD was there with
their "US Doubler" for the 1050 disk drive,
which allows you to use true double density on
your 1050* It comes with their SpartaDOS
Construction Set* Also shown by them was
their clock card which plugs into the cartridge
slot (it still allows other cartridges to be
plugged in as it includes a cartridge jack at its
far end). It is supported by their SpartaDOS
for time dating of disk files.
Although it is not out on the market yet,
BATTERIES INCLUDED had their 80 column
board working on their Atari* The display was
shown on a green screen monitor. It plugged
into the cartridge port and was about the size
of a normal cartridge. I couldn't see if
another cartridge could be plugged into it. The
only bad part is that it will work on only the
XL and 130 XE series computers (it seems
there are some timing differences from the old
800/400s).
MPP was there sharing a booth. They showed
off their line of products. While the literature
on their hard disk interface hadn't arrived, we
were able to get some information out of them.
The entire package included the interface to
the computer (an XL or 130XE), a SASSY
interface to the hard disk, and the 10
megabyte hard disk. The price for this was
under $1000. The DOS they preferred for the
hard disk was OSA+ 4,0. They also indicated
that the interfaces may be available separatly.
Telsys Computer Peripheral Products were
there showing their printer interfaces. The
one we saw also was able to dump the control
characters in both their graphics form or in
another form (e.g. A A = Control-A). The price
on the literature was below $60.00.
Although they were not there (I didn't see
them) some literature was left in Atari's room
from Quantum Microsystems, Inc. about their
Q-Modem. It's a direct connect modem for the
8-bit Atari computers. It connects through
the serial port and is also powered by it. It
comes with its own software and is capable of
auto-dial and auto-answer. They even claim
to have a 1200 bps option board for it.
Unlike the 8-bit computers Atari did have
some new hardware for the 16-bit ST
computers. Atari in addition to showing the
520ST also showed the new 260ST.
The 520ST will be the computer store version
and will most likely retain the operating
system totally in RAM. It has to use either an
analog RGB monitor or Atari's high-resolution
monochrome monitor and has to use an external
1 or 2 sided disk drive (2 sided available
later).
The new 260ST is the mass market version and
has the operating system in ROM. Unlike the
520ST it has a TV interface but is also able to
use the monitors. It also has a built-in single
sided disk drive. The power supply is also
built in. It will be available sometime after
the 520ST is introduced.
Atari also mentioned that the 15 megabyte
hard disk would be available for the ST
sometime late this year.
As to other companies supporting the ST
series, there were several. Haba Systems, a
maker of software for the Macintosh, intends
to port all its present and future products
over to the ST. They make among other things
word processors, file managers, electronic
speedsheets, and communications software.
They are also coming out with both 10 and 20
megabyte hard disks and a 1200 bps modem.
Also in Atari's room an independent company
showed off the Compact Disk (CD) interface.
They had on the CD an encyclopedia which they
could access through the ST. Among other
things it was capable of cross referencing an
entry through many different subject headings.
A number of companies were coming out with
software on the ST, although unfortunatly
others took a wait and see attitude. Among
the former are Batteries Included, which will
write in GEM for both the ST and IBM, Sierra
On-Line and SubLogic which will be coming out
with some games for the ST, Infocom (yes, Zork
will be available on the ST), and others.
Other details of the ST were also talked about
in the Atari room* Although Atari doesn't say
they will expand the memory of the ST
computers, they say there is nothing in the
operating system to prevent this from being
done,
Initial systems will come with Logo, While
it's good at graphics and recursion, don't
attempt to write a terminal program in it.
Forth was there and was booted up in a demo
mode, It seems to be a 32 bit version of Forth
and of course supports the grahics, They still
didn't know if it would be released, though.
An alpha version of GEM-write was on a disk,
however I didn't see it up and running,
Someone said that another version of "C" was
just ported over from the Macintosh and was
much easier to use,
No word yet if the development package would
be available to the ordinary user. It was said
that the information was too technical and
that it may be rewritten for the ordinary user.
It appears that the ST can be hooked into a
network. This can be done through one of
three ways* through the serial port (9600
bps), through the MIDI interface (about 70k
bps), or through the hard disk interface (1,33m
bps). The last is by far the fastest and looks
to be promising.
/SA. A.C..E-.
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ELE.CTRODESJ ®
Acme electro-neural
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CA. 18*18
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MAGIC LANTERN
by Richard Q. Fox [72356*242]
Lee C. Zion [70155*656]
Bob Geayer [71425*463]
Doug Lange [74365*610]
& Tom McComb [72456,1042]
43K and BASIC required* printer optional.
Reviewed by Ann McBain Ezzell
There are a lot of public domain programs
floating around on local and national bulletin
boards? some of them are obviously amateur
and some are of professional quality. MAGIC
LANTERN, in spite of a few problems with
error handling, comes closer to the latter
category than the former. It does what it sets
out to do* and it does it well. What more can
you ask of a program?
This program serves two purposes? it allows
you to set up a “slideshow" of pictures created
with the Atari Touch Tablet or Koala Pad, and
it also lets you dump your pictures to a
printer. The screen dump works just fine on
my Gemini-10 printer? the control codes to set
up the printer are written in such a way that
they could easily be tailored to fit your
machine.
MAGIC LANTERN is easy to use? after you
see a title screen, you choose a disk drive
from 1-4 for loading the pictures. The
program will only accept numeric input in the
proper range, but does not have any provisions
for attempts to read from a drive which is not
available. For example, if you respond "2" but
only have one drive turned on, the program will
end with an error. This is one of the little
glitches which could and should have been
smoothed out.
After you choose a drive, MAGIC LANTERN
will read the disk directory and list all files
having a ".PIC" extension. You can hit <ESC>
to view all of the files, or use the cursor and
<RETURN> keys to select certain ones.
Pushing the space bar starts the show. While
one picture is one the screen, the next is being
loaded into an alternate screen memory area.
The first picture "fades" (rather abruptly, but
it fades) into the second one, then a third
picture is loaded into the first screen memory
area. This display flipping means that you
don't have to sit and watch the picture being
loaded in like you do with Microlllustrator
(the software which comes with the Touch
Tablet and Koala Pad).
While the program is cycling through the files
on the disk, you can use the <SELECT> and
<OPTION> keys to pause and restart the show,
or you can return to the main menu by pressing
<START>. This will let you switch to a
different picture disk. Switching disks
without returning to the menu, will cause the
program to look for the next file on the
previous disk and halt with an error message.
You can also print the current picture by
pressing "P". There is an error trap here, but
it doesn't tell you what is causing the error.
When the print routine encounters an error,
the program simply returns to the main cycle
and loads in the next picture, leaving the user
to figure out what is going wrong.
I can't fault the printing routine itself,
though? it's the best one I've found so far for
this picture format. I have used PrintWiz by
Allen Macroware, which offers a variety of
picture sizes, shapes, and graphics modes, but
does not handle colors well. (Indeed, the
documentation states that PrintWiz does not
"stress color interpretation".) MAGIC
LANTERN, on the other hand, not only has
distinct shades from white to black for each of
the four color registers available in the
Microlllustrator format, it also "sorts" the
color registers according to luminance and
color so that the brightest color in your
picture will be white on the printout and the
darkest will be black. The only other screen
dump I have seen for Microlllustrator pictures
simply assigns white, black, light and dark
grey to the color registers and leaves it to the
user either to draw pictures that will print out
acceptably or delve into the BASIC listing to
change the color assignments. Clearly, MAGIC
LANTERN'S solution is the more "elegant".
The picture on the following page was printed
with MAGIC LANTERN, which is available on
several local BBSs and from the MACE disk
library. Direct comments to the authors via
CompuServe (accounts listed above).
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i
PAGE ZERO
by Ann McBain Ezzell
This month I'm going to tell you about some
memory locations that you might find useful
when writing your own programs or trying to
understand someone else's. I'll start, of
course, on page zero and work my way up.
16 ($10) FOKMSK
Handles POKEY chip interrupts. Bit 7 set
indicates the BREAK key is enabled! you can
use this location along with 53774 <$D20E) to
disable the BREAK key. Set up a subroutine
and do a GOSUB to it after every GRAPHICS
command!
100 IF PEEKG6X128 THEN RETURN
110 POKE 16, FEEK(16)-128! POKE 53774,
PEEK(16)J RETURN
77 ($4D) ATRACT
Attract mode timer and flag. You have
probably noticed that most programs will start
cycling through screen colors if no keys are
pressed for a while. This is built-in
protection for your monitor or TV screen.
ATRACT is set to 0 each time a key is
pressed, then incremented every four seconds
during the vertical blank. When the value
reaches 127, it is set to 254 until attract mode
is terminated (usually by a keypress). You can
force your Atari into attract mode with a
POKE 77,128 command. Alternately, you can
prevent attract mode from taking over during a
joystick-driven program by periodically
executing a POKE 77,0 command.
82, 83 ($52, $53) LMARGN, RMARGN
Left and right text margin columns. These are
initially set to 2 and 39, and only affect
GRAPHICS 0 and the text windows. You can
squeeze more characters into a logical program
line (three physical lines) by setting LMARGN
to 0. RESET returns to the default values.
84 ($54) ROWCRS
Current graphics or text screen cursor row,
from 0 at the top of the screen to a possible
maximum of 191 at the bottom (GR. 8). You can
POKE 84 to set the cursor where you want it
on the screen, or FEEK(84) to find the cursor.
85,86 ($55,$56) COLCRS
Current graphics or text screen cursor column,
from 0 at the left side to a possible maximum
of 319 at the right (GR, 8). The value is
stored in low byte, high byte order, so location
86 will always be 0 in modes other than 8
(because the other graphics modes have a
maximum of 160 columns, 0-159).
88,89 ($58,$59) SAVMSC
Holds the address of the beginning of screen
memory in low/hi byte order. You will often
see SAVMSC used in programs which load and
save screen displays. You can also calculate
the address of screen memory (PEEK(88) +
256#PEEK(89)) and use it as a reference to
PEEK or POKE directly into screen memory.
106 ($6A) RAMTOP
The size in pages (1 page - 256 bytes) of RAM.
In a 48K machine, this location will hold a
value of 160. You can POKE RAMTOP with a
lower number to set up a (more or less) safe
area for such things as redefined character
sets, player/missile graphics, and so on.
186,187 ($BA,$BB) STOPLN
The line where the program was stopped
because of an error, BREAK, STOP or TRAP.
You can use this number to write your own
error messages.
195 ($C3) ERRSAVE
The number of the error which stopped or
TRAPped the program. (See May and June '85
Journals for explanations of error codes.)
559 ($22F) SDMCTL
Direct Memory Access (DMA) enable, This
register is used when setting up
player/missile graphics. You can also use it
to speed up your program execution by about
30% by setting it to 0, which will blank the
screen until you restore its value (PEEK it
first to make sure you reset it properly), It's
a good idea, though, not to put in the blanking
command until your program is completely
debugged? pressing RESET to restore the
screen display will also erase any error
messages.
That's all I have room for this month - I hope
to be back next time with more information
about useful locations.
O —
M* A* C. E.
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