---
title: "Data File Format"
id: 76388
type: "computer_media"
slug: "data-file-format"
url: "http://localhost/computer_media/data-file-format/"
markdown_url: "http://localhost/computer_media/data-file-format.md"
published_at: "2026-11-11T08:02:47+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-11-11T08:02:47+00:00"
author: "David Anderson"
featured_image:
  url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/data-file-format-1.png"
excerpt: "A format for keeping notes on tape, written for a 2K MicroAce or ZX80."
post_tag:
  - name: "Downloadable"
    slug: "downloadable"
    taxonomy: "post_tag"
    url: "http://localhost/tag/downloadable/"
  - name: "ZX80"
    slug: "zx80"
    taxonomy: "post_tag"
    url: "http://localhost/tag/zx80/"
model:
  - name: "Sinclair ZX80"
    slug: "zx80"
    taxonomy: "model"
    url: "http://localhost/model/zx80/"
indiv:
  - name: "John Andrews"
    slug: "andrews-john"
    taxonomy: "indiv"
    url: "http://localhost/indiv/andrews-john/"
genre:
  - name: "Database"
    slug: "database"
    taxonomy: "genre"
    url: "http://localhost/type/database/"
media_type: "Program"
programmers:
  - name: "John Andrews"
    slug: "andrews-john"
    taxonomy: "indiv"
    url: "http://localhost/indiv/andrews-john/"
download_url: "https://archive.org/download/timex-sinclair-software-archive/Data%20File%20Format%20%281981%29%28Andrews%2C%20John%20D.%29%28ZX80%29%28US%29%28Program%29.zip"
mediadate: "1981"
images:
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/data-file-format-1.png"
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/data-file-format-2.png"
article_media:
  - id: 19700
    title: "Data File Format"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/data-file-format/"
media_type_tags: "Database"
license: false
---

# Data File Format

A format for keeping notes on tape, written for a 2K MicroAce or ZX80. The program is its own data: a table of contents in PRINT lines 100-299 lists each topic with the line number where its text starts, and the text itself sits in PRINT lines from 500 up, each block ending with GO TO 5000. RUN shows the table; enter a line number to read that block, and NEWLINE returns to the table.

The sample data (tire size and timing for a car) shows the layout; delete lines 100-115 and 500-515 to start your own file, and SAVE the program with the new lines. RUN 9000 shows how much memory is left. The article gives changes for 1K RAM.

Published in Syntax August 1981 ([Data File Format](https://timexsinclair.com/article/data-file-format/)).

## Source Code

```
  10 PRINT ," DATA FILE"
  20 PRINT ,"  ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄"
  30 PRINT
  40 PRINT "IF PROMPT= QUOTES - KEY NEWLINE"
  50 PRINT
  60 PRINT ,"DATA LISTING"
  70 PRINT "--------------------------------"
  80 PRINT "     DATA           LINE NO."
  90 PRINT "--------------------------------"
 100 PRINT "        AUTOMOTIVE"
 110 PRINT "TIRES",,,"500"
 115 PRINT "TIMING",,,"510"
 300 INPUT A
 301 CLS
 302 GO TO A
 500 PRINT " SIZE= H78-15.  PRESSURE= 30 PSI"
 505 GO TO 5000
 510 PRINT " 3 DEGREES BTDC"
 515 GO TO 5000
4999 STOP
5000 INPUT A$
5001 IF A$="" THEN CLS
5002 GO TO 70
9000 CLS
9001 LET P=18432-PEEK(16400)-PEEK(16401)*256
9002 PRINT P;" BYTES LEFT"
9003 LET T=2048-P
9004 PRINT ,"BYTES USED= ";T
9005 STOP
```