Need For Diagnostic Software
[In the July/August issue] you solicited replies from your readers who could repair our computers, “even as a hobby” you said. It is my opinion that we have within our “community” the talent to write diagnostic software to aid in that repair. Hewlett Packard move over. Repair with such an aid is almost a sure thing. I bet one or more writers in collaboration could write a program using graphics that would have details including component placement that would require the “repairman” have only good soldering skills. I bet this program could even run on a 1000 that a 2068 owner had all but disgarded. Because, if we can’t keep ’em running, they will just die on our desks. But, being able to repair them will keep them running virtually forever! And the longer they live, the longer their support lives.
John J. Shepard III
Coldwater, Mississippi
Editor: Bravo, John! A very good idea. And even if there are those that don’t prefer to solder, they could at least be more knowledgeable when discussing the problem with the repairman. A sophisticated diagnostic program could even “self-test” areas like the ROM and the RAM to pinpoint the trouble. Color patterns generated on the TS2068 could even help fine tune the video circuitry. And of course if anyone does come up with a program such as this, they are welcome to submit it to TIME DESIGNS for possible publication.
Spectrum User Shares Programs
I was obliged to return to the U.S. after spending several years in Barcelona, where at a language school I worked for, we used Spectrums extensively. They lend themselves wonderfully and inexpensively to programs I was writing, dealing with all phases of the English language. I brought a Spectrum Plus back home with me, unaware that there were enough of them in this country to justify a magazine and software companies, so I’ve been happily surprised.
I’d like to offer a couple of little utility programs I was able to acquire, ones which I used frequently. The first one is used to put in the unerasable Line 0, useful for adding a copyright notice or anything else, and once in the program, it’s there for good, unless an advanced hacker comes along and figures out how to erase it. When you have entered the desired legend in Line 2, RUN it. You will then have Line 0 with this same info. Now erase Line 1 and you have your permanent legend.
The second listing is a program that will erase large blocks of listings, even entire programs, in a split second, almost before you get your finger off the ENTER key. I once bought one of those commercial “tool kit” programs with a DELETE feature, but if you had to erase 100 lines of listing, you could go out for a leisurely cup of coffee while waiting. This little program does it instantaneously. I chose to use Lines 9960 to 9990 only because I never used them for anything else. You can use any line numbers you wish, making the necessary internal changes in GOTO’s. Now, of course, simply MERGE this into the program you plan to modify. The program erases any portion of a listing you want, even itself, but one caution: if there are any UDG’s in the program, they will become distorted with each use of them. This is no cause for concern. Once the revised listing has been SAVEd and the Spectrum is unplugged briefly, no problem. It’s just that this delete program leaves a residue of oddball things in RAM that have to be cleared out completely, not just NEW’ed. If another program is loaded without completely emptying the memory this residue will play undesirable tricks with the UDG’s if any are present.
I hope a few people might find these items useful, and it’s nice to know that the Spectrum lives on here in the U.S.
Randall E. Larson
Tucson, Arizona
“NO-DELETE” PROGRAM:
“` 1 LET a=PEEK 23637+256*PEEK 23638: POKE a,0: POKE a+1,0: STOP 2 REM Any message you want here after the REM “`
BLOCK DELETION PROGRAM
“` 9960 REM DELETE; after using, clear memory completely 9965 CLEAR 65499: RESTORE 9975: LET a=65500 9968 READ n: IF n=257 THEN GO TO 9980 9970 POKE a,n 9973 LET a=a+1: GO TO 9968 9975 DATA 33,0,0,229,33,0,0,35,205,110,25,227,205,110,25 9978 DATA 32,1,235,225,167,237,82,216,25,205,229,25,201,257 9980 CLS : PRINT “Start :”;: INPUT a: PRINT a 9983 PRINT “End :”;: INPUT b: PRINT b 9985 POKE 65501,a-256*INT (a/256): POKE 65502,INT (a/256) 9988 POKE 65505,b-256*INT (b/256): POKE 65506,INT (b/256) 9990 RANDOMIZE USR 65500 “`
QL Bar Code Reader anyone?
Does anyone know where one could obtain a bar code reader program (and interface) for the Sinclair QL computer?
Joe E. Jenkins
[address omitted]
Amarillo, TX
Public Domain Program
I am writing to announce that I am putting one of my programs, T/S GRADER for the 2068 in the public domain. I am busy with other projects and see little purpose in extensive advertising for such a limited market. On the other hand, it is the best program of its type that I have seen (I wrote it because I was dissatisfied with other similar programs) and I want any interested persons to be able to obtain it. Therefore, any owners are free to give copies of the program and documentation to friends, user groups, etc. with no obligation to me.
It features machine code speed so you can see any student record or class record in about a second. It handles up to 255 classes simultaneously, each class can have up to 46 students, and each student can have up to 66 grades. For example, you could have 303 students, each with 66 grades, and divided into 7 classes. Or you may prefer something like 1275 students, each with 5 grades, divided into 28 classes. Students can be added to any class, deleted, or transferred between classes. Each class can be alphabetized. Grades are numeric between 0 and 254, each class can have grades weighted separately, bonus and demerit points can be given, and you can do statistical analysis of the grades. You can also calculate semester or yearly averages. Missed tests need not be averaged in.
There are many more features in this $20 program. If someone can not find a friend to make a free copy, I will still sell it for $15 since it is a lot of trouble for me to make individual copies of the documentation. I really prefer that they get it elsewhere if possible.
Robert C. Fischer
804 Old York Hwy, North
Apt 3-B
Dunlap, TN 37327
Christmas Greeting
A friend of mine has sent an interesting computer program that was used on some Christmas cards that he sent out. The mathematics involved shows a great deal of thought and experimentation to achieve the desired result. Listing #1 will work only on a computer that uses the standard ASCII character set, such as the TS2068. The program was written by Bob Lodge of Seattle, WA. Listing #2 is a version that has been written for the TS1000 which does not use the standard ASCII character set.
Thank you for publishing such a fine and unique magazine. I hope to see more “quick and easy” programs like the “Just For Fun” department in the defunct SYNC magazine.
Eric J. Kongs
Wilmington, California
Listing #1
“` 10 REM GREETINGS 20 REM BOB LODGE, 1986 30 FOR A=1 TO 2 40 FOR B=1 TO 4 50 LET X=2-ABS(SGN(B-3)) 60 FOR C=1 TO X 70 PRINT CHR$(84-7*A+5*B-8*X); 80 NEXT C:NEXT B 90 PRINT CHR$(A+31); 100 NEXT A “`
Listing #2
“` 10 FOR A=1 TO 2 20 FOR B=1 TO 4 30 LET X=2-ABS(SGN(B-3)) 40 FOR C=1 TO X 60 PRINT CHR$(57-7*A+5*B-8*X); 70 NEXT C 80 NEXT B 90 PRINT CHR$ (27 AND A=2); 100 NEXT A “`
“Get Lucky” Revisited
In reference to the article by Bill Ward on page 7 [of the September/October issue], I have enclosed a program listing created on the TS1000 for producing numbers for the California lottery. This lottery requires six numbers from 1 to 49, with no repeats. I have not yet had enough nerve to try any of my numbers!
Love the mag, except there is too much non-T/S 1000 stuff!
Chapman Burk
El Cerrito, California
Editor: This lottery thing is really catching on. Next issue we’ve got one for the Ohio lottery and a revised listing for the one in Florida. Good to see the TS1000 in on the action. I won’t even attempt to touch that last comment. We have equal number of TS2068 people who say there is too much non-2068 stuff, the QL people feel there is too much non-QL stuff, and perhaps the Z88 owners will feel the same. Seriously though, we are trying to offer a “balanced” publication.
“` 1 REM * DRAWS WINNING NUMBERS FOR LOTTERY * 3 REM * 10 SETS ARE DRAWN * 10 RAND 0 40 PRINT “10 SETS OF LOTTERY W INNERS ARE:” 70 PRINT 80 LET E=49 90 FOR F=1 TO 10 100 PRINT F;”.”; 110 DIM A(6) 120 FOR N=1 TO 6 130 LET T=INT (RND*E) 135 REM * DELETE ZEROES * 140 IF T=0 THEN GOTO 260 145 REM * DELETE DUPLICATE NOS. * 150 LET A(N)=T 160 FOR M=1 TO N-1 170 IF T=A(M) THEN GOTO 260 180 NEXT M 190 PRINT TAB (N*4+2);T;”,”; 200 NEXT N 210 PRINT 220 PRINT 230 NEXT F 235 PAUSE 200 240 COPY 250 STOP 260 LET N=N-1 270 GOTO 200 “`