SYNC in the Home Office
Our theme section in this issue is “SYNC in the Home Office.” Among the reasons for buying a computer is to get a tool that will take care of some of the drudgery of home record keeping and financial calculation. We have had a number of requests for such programs, so we have gathered several programs that illustrate something of how the Sinclair computer series can be used at home. In addition we have included several programs on time calculation, display set up, and making and maintaining support records.
This section is not an exhaustive presentation, and we hope to see more programs developed by our readers for home office work. Normally we do not accept programs showing how to use your computer as a calculator since we assume most people have calculators. This does not exclude programs which combine a series of time consuming steps on a calculator. In such cases the computer does what it is supposed to do, namely, compute.
Browsing through the ads and Resources Column of this issue and our last issue will show quite a variety of programs of possible use to the home office. If you have used one of these products and found it valuable, we hope you will write up a short review for us. Several reviews of products useful to the home office top off the theme emphasis of this issue.
We are planning a “SYNC on the Job” theme section for our Mar/Apr issue.
SYNC Buyer’s Guide Issue
The May/June issue of SYNC will be a buyer’s guide issue. We will have some regular articles, programs, and reviews, but the majority of the content will be a directory with short descriptions of all known peripherals, add-ons, software packages, books, and other products related to the Sinclair and Timex/Sinclair computers.
Vendors are invited to submit a product description of up to 60 words for each product they have available for this computer series. The description should include product name, order number, cost, ordering details, ROM and RAM requirements, and as complete a product description as possible within the 60 words. Send the descriptions to:
Buyer’s Guide Issue
SYNC Magazine
39 E. Hanover Ave.
Morris Plains, NJ 07950.
Machine Language Series
In this issue we are beginning a series of articles by Harry Doakes which will give newcomers to computing the benefits of machine language programming. Harry is no stranger to SYNC readers because of his articles “TR$ and LET A$=A$+B$ on the ZX80,” “Safe Machine Code Routines,” and “Maps and the ZX80/81.” If you have specific areas of interest in machine language programming, drop us a line.
Sinclair Inquiries and Service
If you need hardware repairs, contact Sinclair’s authorized service center:
MicroSync Services
162R Marlboro St.
Keene, NH 03431
Inquiries concerning repairs (past, present, or future) should be mailed to MicroSync’s Customer Service Department. Please send a stamped addressed envelope for additional service information. MicroSync is offering one year maintenance agreements for Sinclair and Timex/Sinclair computers. For further information contact MicroSync.
Sinclair Research Ltd. promises a prompt reply to customers with technical questions, product operating queries, or other problems. However, only mail inquiries can be answered. So write a letter indicating the details of your problem to:
Technical Department
Sinclair Research Ltd.
4 Sinclair Plaza
Nashua, NH 03061
SYNC on the Newsstands
You will be receiving this issue of SYNC somewhat earlier than you may have expected. The reason for this is that we have advanced the publication time about a month in order to enter into newsstand distribution of SYNC.
SYNC Program Listings
Before entering the programs in this issue, readers should note the following:
The ROM and RAM requirements for using a given program are shown at the top of the first page of the article. Observe these carefully. NEWLINE and ENTER are used interchangeably.
A letter after a number shows the type: b for binary; d for decimal; h for hexadecimal.
In PRINT statements:
#: Enter a necessary space.
A (32): Use the graphic character on the A key 32 times. The underline means use the graphic on that key.
A: The overline means use the key in inverse.
INPUT: An underlined word found on the keyboard should be entered from the keyboard, not spelled out. If the keyword will not ENTER, hit THEN, the keyword you want, backspace and delete THEN, continue entering the line. This memory saving technique may be disregarded if you have enough RAM.