Input Cursors (for the TS 2068)

I like to get newsletters with bits of programming that I can use to dress-up my programming or add to existing programs that I feel have “rough” spots in them. I have seen a variation of this one before but the Jan ’93 issue of UPDATE Mag. got me started playing around with this one again.

“On the TS2068 to get a question mark (?) displayed in an INPUT statement as a cursor you need to POKE 23617,236”

It works, but, how much does that help in making a program clearer? Some, I agree, but it I am asking the user for dollar amount why not make the cursor a flashing dollar sign ($) to keep money in mind during the INPUTing process?

 10 POKE 23617,240: INPUT " Testing ";a

Now, enter this short program and make yourself some notes.

 10 FOR x=255 TO 100 STEP -1
 20 POKE 23617,x: INPUT "test";a$
 30 REM press a key and ENTER
 40 PRINT x-11;" as cursor now "
 50 LET a$=""
 60 NEXT x

Some values just give a RAZZ but you can get past them with additional entries. Notice that the odd numbered POKEs change the cursor after the first character is input! Even numbers are stable until the ENTER key is pressed whereupon the system resets the proper code, thus if you want to use the INPUT with the “custom” cursor you must re-POKE 23617.

A few of these even make sense as useful cursors! I like value 209 with its NEW changing to DATA when changing a value inside a program. The > changing to a < for a “drive #” prompt almost looks MS-DOSian!