How do you improve a great product? Easy, make it even better. That is exactly what Robert Fischer did with Tom Woods’s Pro/File 2068. It is called “Extensions“. Extensions are three separate newsletters in which the user types in the improvements to Pro/File 2068. My review is a combined listing of all three Extension issues.
A big feature is the use of variables using the VAL and CODE function which will save approximately 2000 plus bytes. There is an improved Save-Verify function, as well as an improvement on making a back-up master. You can save everything as well as the MC, so you do not need a separate Master Tape to load in first, or you can save the Basic with data just as it is done on the original Pro/File 2068, or you can save just the data itself. There is also a more compact display and edit menu, allowing more commands to be seen at one time on one screen.
There is a cursor wrap feature which I found extremely convenient. There are improvements to the Machine Code sort routine and the tally function. There is even a function that allows you to transfer Extentions improvements to any existing Pro/File data you may have. Extensions also has a routine to make it Spectrum and Microdrive compatible. There are more improvements that I have not listed. In order to get the full benefits of Extensions you should have all three issues.
Keep in mind that you do need Pro/File 2068, and the machine code sort routine from Tom Woods Breakthrough Newsletter before inputing the Extensions/improvements. Each issue of Extensions is $6.00 each and can be ordered from Robert C. Fischer, 221 Scoggins St., Summerville, GA 30747. There is also a version of all three Extension issues on tape, which can be merged with Pro/File 2068. It is called Pro/File Plus Three, and it costs $18.00.
With all the improvements offered by Extensions, you will still have all the capacity of the original Pro/File 2068 for your files.