---
title: "String Function Translation"
id: 76635
type: "computer_media"
slug: "string-function-translation"
url: "http://localhost/computer_media/string-function-translation/"
markdown_url: "http://localhost/computer_media/string-function-translation.md"
published_at: "2026-11-11T08:02:15+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-11-11T08:02:15+00:00"
author: "David Anderson"
featured_image:
  url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/string-function-translation-1.png"
excerpt: "Shows how to get the effect of other BASICs' LEFT$, RIGHT$, MID$ and TL$ with the ZX81's string slicing."
post_tag:
  - name: "Downloadable"
    slug: "downloadable"
    taxonomy: "post_tag"
    url: "http://localhost/tag/downloadable/"
  - name: "TS 1000"
    slug: "ts1000"
    taxonomy: "post_tag"
    url: "http://localhost/tag/ts1000/"
  - name: "ZX81"
    slug: "zx81"
    taxonomy: "post_tag"
    url: "http://localhost/tag/zx81/"
model:
  - name: "Sinclair ZX81"
    slug: "zx81"
    taxonomy: "model"
    url: "http://localhost/model/zx81/"
  - name: "Timex/Sinclair 1000"
    slug: "ts-1000"
    taxonomy: "model"
    url: "http://localhost/model/ts-1000/"
indiv:
  - name: "Arthur Bumpus"
    slug: "arthur-bumpus"
    taxonomy: "indiv"
    url: "http://localhost/indiv/arthur-bumpus/"
genre:
  - name: "Utility"
    slug: "utility"
    taxonomy: "genre"
    url: "http://localhost/type/utility/"
media_type: "Program"
programmers:
  - name: "Arthur Bumpus"
    slug: "arthur-bumpus"
    taxonomy: "indiv"
    url: "http://localhost/indiv/arthur-bumpus/"
download_url: "https://archive.org/download/timex-sinclair-software-archive/String%20Function%20Translation%20%281982%29%28Bumpus%2C%20Arthur%29%28TS1000%29%28US%29%28Program%29.zip"
mediadate: "1982"
images:
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/string-function-translation-1.png"
article_media:
  - id: 19297
    title: "String Function Translation for 8K"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/string-function-translation-for-8k/"
media_type_tags: "Utility"
license: false
---

# String Function Translation

Other BASICs have LEFT$, RIGHT$ and MID$ functions; the ZX81 uses slices like A$(1 TO 3) instead. This program asks for a string four times and prints the result of each translation: the left part, the right part, a middle part, and the string without its first character (the ZX80’s TL$).

Use strings longer than seven characters. It ends with PROGRAM COMPLETED.

Published in Syntax August 1982 ([String Function Translation for 8K](https://timexsinclair.com/article/string-function-translation-for-8k/)).

## Source Code

```
  10 REM "STRING FUNCTIONS"
  20 REM ZX80/8K ROM
  30 REM ART BUMPUS
  50 REM LEFT$ (A$,N)
  60 GOSUB 500
  70 LET N=7
  80 REM PRINTS UP TO 7TH CHAR.
  90 LET B$=A$( TO N)
 100 PRINT B$;"""LEFT$(A$,N)"""
 110 REM RIGHT$ (A$,N)
 120 GOSUB 500
 130 LET N=7
 140 REM PRINTS FROM 7TH TO END
 150 LET B$=A$(N TO )
 160 PRINT B$;"""RIGHT$(A$,N)"""
 170 REM MID$ (A$,N1,N2)
 180 GOSUB 500
 190 LET N1=7
 200 LET N2=1
 210 LET N3=N1+N2
 220 REM PRINTS 1 CHAR. FROM THE 7TH
 230 LET B$=A$(N1 TO N3)
 240 PRINT B$;"""MID$(A$,N1,N2)"""
 250 REM TL$(A$)
 260 GOSUB 500
 270 LET B$=A$(2 TO )
 280 REM THIS DROPS THE 1ST CHAR.
 290 PRINT B$;"""TL$(A$)"""
 300 PRINT "PROGRAM COMPLETED"
 310 STOP
 500 INPUT A$
 510 PRINT A$;"=";
 520 RETURN
```