When I first started customizing MSCRIPT a couple of eons ago, I sort of promised a semi-regular newsletter to keep users abreast of latest developments. After two issues it died. Why? Because suddenly there were more Mscript owners than I could cope with. I simply don’t have the resources (time & money) to do mailings to so many people.
Now it appears that TIME DESIGNS may serve as an excellent vehicle for such a newsletter. It may appear sporadically, since I tend to say something only when I have something to say.
BUG REPORT (Hey, I’m only human)
Bug #1: If your MS5A won’t Add Text from wafer, then BASIC Line 375 needs fixinq. Should be:
375 NEXT I: PRINT " "; INVERSE A;C$; INVERSE Z;" ";: IF C$="L" OR C$="A" OR NOT U THEN RETURNBug #2: If you have an AERCO Interface and your printer messes up when printing tex, then you probably need Version 5.1. See VERSION REPORT below. Stock Mscript’s AERCO output routine had sneaky flaws which hid from me up to and including version 5.0. These flaws cause the strobe generated by the AERCO Interface to sometimes be too long for many printers, with wierd results. The strobe is the signal from the interface to the printer that says: I got good data for you NOW. The strobe should last no longer than the data, but long enough for the printer to notice it: a few microseconds. With the AERCO Interface, strobe duration is controlled by software rather than hardware, and interrupts must be OFF when the strobe is initiated. If an interrupt occurs after the strobe is started, the strobe will be too long for some printers.
Another output routine flaw can let printers lacking a “print-error” signal generate a “false error signal” which aborts printing prematurely.
The problem described by Mel Rout in the “TS Communique” column on page 5 of the March/April 87 issue of TDM, indicates he needs Version 5.1 or higher. Joe Williamson‘s reply can probably be disregarded, with thanks for the effort.
Thanks to Jerry Chamkis of AERCO and P.E. Skipper of the world at large, for helping to defumigate this one. Actually it’s two separate bugs, but I call it one. All 3 of my printers, of course, work perfectly with Version 5.0. Alas, all printers are not created equal, but all should work perfectly with V5.1 and higher.
VERSION REPORT
Version 6 is in the works. I decline to speculate as to when it will be ready, or to describe new features in advance. Now’s the time to send me your suggestions. Customized Mscript users who have “registered” with me and paid their dues will be notified when V6 is available.
Versions between 5 and 6 (such as 5.2) are “intermediate” versions, steps along the way toward V6. BASIC Line 1 tells full version number. The latest version can always be obtained by request. Payment is in the form of voluntary donation, as usual.
VERSION 5.1 corrects sneaky machine-code flaws in the AERCO print routines of versions 5 and below. The pokes necessary to upgrad from V5 to V5.1 are too extensive for publication here.
VERSION 5.2 changes BASIC so that a backup may include current text. This has several uses: your backup may include your letterhead and/or usual printcode definitions. Or you can reload work-in-progress all at once, rather than reloading first the program and then the textfile. Version 5.2 simplifies the View Memory facility, to make room in BASIC for Backup’s include-text function.
There are at present four “standard varieties” of Customized Mscript: MS5T for cassette tape only, MS5A for A&J and cassette, MS5D for AERCO disc and cassette, and MS5Z for ZEBRA disc and cassette. SPECIAL VARIETIES of Customized Mscript are available for use with Tasman and Byte-Back serial interfaces and for RAMEX disc, but not yet for Oliger or Larken disc. I would need those devices on loan in order to develop such varieties.
DUES REPORT
Many Customized Mscript owners have not “paid their dues”, probably because they’re ignorant of the big picture. The facts are these: I do NOT hold the Mscript copyright and cannot legally sell Customized Mscript, or control its distribution. Dealers who distribute Customized Mscript rather than Stock Mscript do not pay me a cent. The only compensation I get for the enormous work of customizing Mscript comes directly from happy and fairminded users in the form of voluntary donations. To date I have been compensated for my work at the rate of roughly $2 per hour. My thanks to all Customized Mscript users who have registered, and paid their dues or expressed their appreciation.
THE FUTURE
I believe that the wheel needs to be re-invented continuously. Were it not, we’d still be riding around on round rocks instead of steel belted radials. I plan to go right on improving Mscript and other things as long as possible.
Jack Dohany, 390 Rutherford Ave., Redwood City, CA 94061 (415) 367-7781. Send legal size SASE for list of available “Fairware” programs.