The Organizer is a database management program called “VU-FILE” that allows users to set record formats, enter data, save files, and configure printer output. The program relies heavily on machine code routines accessed via USR calls at addresses such as 17986, 19157, 19160, 17983, 19154, 19151, 17989, 17992, and 17992, indicating that the bulk of the application logic is implemented in assembled code rather than BASIC. The BASIC portion serves primarily as a loader and menu dispatcher, using a computed GOTO at line 2080 (`3000+200*(I-28)`) to jump to one of four option handlers based on keypress. System variables are read directly via PEEK at addresses such as 16603, 16565, 16566, 18585, 16586, 16583, 16584, and 16567 to display record count, percentage full, and ordering field information. A 10,100-character string array `F$` acts as the main data buffer, with the first 20 characters used for the file name and characters 21–52 used for printer output.
Program Analysis
Program Structure
The BASIC listing is a thin shell around an extensive machine code engine. Lines 50–51 are REM statements that contain the machine code data (the long token-encoded content in line 50 is the actual binary payload stored in the REM). Line 1100 allocates the main data buffer, line 1200 initializes the machine code via RAND USR 17986, and line 1400 jumps to the entry-point dispatcher at 3400. The menu loop lives at lines 2000–2080, and option handlers occupy the 3200–3810 range.
Machine Code Integration
Almost every significant action is delegated to a machine code routine via USR. The known call sites are:
USR 17986(line 1200) — initializationUSR 19157(line 3400) — entry-point mode selector, returns a value used to compute a GOTO targetUSR 19160(line 3548) — status refresh after displayUSR 17983(line 3560) — LPRINT handlerUSR 19154(line 3670) — pre-SAVE routineUSR 19151(lines 3695, 9996) — post-SAVE integrity check; a non-zero return triggersSTOPorRUNUSR 17989(line 3200) — resets something before returning to menuUSR 17992(line 3800) — printer format setup
The REM block at line 50 is the conventional technique for embedding a machine code binary directly in the BASIC program file; RAND USR 17986 transfers control into that block to self-install or relocate the routines.
Menu Dispatch Idiom
The four menu options (1–4) are mapped to key codes 29–32 via CODE INKEY$. The computed jump at line 2080 is:
GOTO 3000+200*(I-28)
This maps I=29→3200, I=30→3400 (skipped — 3400 is the real entry point), I=31→3600, I=32→3800, neatly dispatching to each handler without a chain of IF statements.
Status Display via PEEK
Lines 3500–3510 read system variables and application state directly from memory using PEEK:
| Address | Usage |
|---|---|
| 16603 | Displayed alongside the first 20 characters of F$ (likely current record number) |
| 16565, 16566 | Low/high bytes of a count (record count or pointer) |
| 18585, 16586 | Low/high bytes of used space |
| 16583, 16584 | Low/high bytes of total capacity — used to compute percentage full via INT(100*used/total) |
| 16567 | Field number used for ordering, displayed at column 20 |
Note that address 18585 is outside the normal system variable area, suggesting it is a variable maintained by the machine code routines rather than a standard system variable.
Data Buffer Design
DIM F$(10100) allocates a single large string to hold all database content. Slices are used for specific purposes: F$( TO 20) stores the filename/title, and F$(21 TO 52) is sent to the printer at line 3550. The machine code routines are expected to manage the remainder of the buffer.
Save and Integrity Check
The save sequence (lines 3610–3710) prompts for a filename, switches to FAST mode, copies the name into F$(1 TO 20), calls the pre-save USR routine, executes SAVE N$, then checks USR 19151: a non-zero result halts execution with STOP, acting as a post-save CRC or integrity verification consistent with the “CRC CHECK FAILED” message embedded in the line 50 REM strings.
Auto-Run Bootstrap
Line 9996 uses the idiom IF USR 19151=0 THEN RUN — only restarting the program if the integrity check passes, providing a self-validating load sequence.
Embedded Help Strings
The REM at line 50 contains all user-facing message strings in inverse video, including instructions for LAYOUT, DATA FIELDS, LIST, PRINT, ALTER, SEARCH MODE, COMMANDS, and the status display format. These are rendered by the machine code routines rather than by BASIC PRINT statements, keeping the BASIC portion compact.
Notable Anomalies
- Line 3505 peeks address 18585 which, as noted, is not a standard system variable — this is an application variable set by the machine code, and its use in a percentage calculation alongside 16586 suggests a possible byte-swap or typo (16585 and 16586 may have been intended), though this could be intentional if the machine code relocates data to that address.
- The GOTO target at line 3410 (
3450+50*A) produces 3450 when A=0 and 3500 when A=1, providing a two-state branch on the USR return value for the main operational loop.
Content
Image Gallery
Source Code
50 REM [F]#D#Q#[£]#[8]# RETURN#RND#▙#N#O#P#Q#R#S#T#U#V#W#X## (#[L]#[5]▘▘ SLOW IF ▙#[/] ▘/#/### LIST # ▗# OR #N##B[D]A ▖/#/###▄# ##▒▒[0]###▜#[)]#[9]#[X]#ASN #USR # STEP #N#O#P#Q#R#S#T#U#V#W#X#; GOSUB # CONT PI# LPRINT SLOW STOP STEP <># TO # AND # FAST LLIST ** THEN>=#<=# OR ""# ##▚##[I]###INKEY$ #[-]PI####PEEK PI# POKE PI#?###PI# FOR INKEY$ #[0]INKEY$ LN [0]INKEY$ LN #INKEY$ ###LN W#LN #INKEY$ #4#LN PLOT #LN [W]PI** GOSUB #[E]RNDE**RND▘#▝[J][Y]C▌ GOSUB [4] STEP / RUN 7[Y]F4 PLOT FOR Q#7 FOR MEXP RND7"#[L]C+[J][Y]UEXP RND4▀W/ GOSUB ></CHR$ FOR Q#7#7TAN UEXP RND><TAN E[E]RND GOSUB #[I]RND GOSUB #**RNDY#[Y]C▌ GOSUB [4] STEP / PLOT VAL 7#7£Y ><$4 CLSAT ""#[L]COS / LLIST GOSUB #[L]RND[J]M AND RNDE>=RND6PEEK RNDLN FOR INKEY$ CG FOR LN #PI AND #PI/ PAUSE ▛▐#K▘8#7#TAN 5▙RND GOSUB # AND RND#[S]COS PRINT WM AND RNDXLN LPRINT INKEY$ GOSUB #[N]RND LET TAN EPEEK RND6>=RNDE[P]RND76[P]RNDY▘##PILN [?]# GOSUB #[N]RNDESTR$ RND7Y#[Y]C▘F[R] GOSUB ##£▞ EPEEK RNDLN #PI**#$ FOR <#[L]C▝ GOSUB [K] GOSUB #PEEK RNDTAN LN ## RETURN STOPTAB -PILN [?]#U AND RNDX4 LOAD LPRINT TAN FASTSTR$ ,, GOSUB #[W]RND[R] GOSUB #ZSGN LPRINT TAN E>=RNDQ TAN U AND RND#ESGN RND[J]▐#K▘8# NEWZ( PLOT TAN ESGN RNDU<=RND#- # NEWZ#;#( UNPLOT #[R]""ESGN RNDTAN LN [0]INKEY$ [J]M AND RNDESGN RND FASTLN FOR INKEY$ LPRINT COS #7 NEWZXC NEXT ▞ #, RETURN#C FOR GOSUB [4] REM [K]PI/ SLOWE**RND)#▝LN PEEK PI GOSUB #[G]RNDE[E]RNDLN ?#**#X#▘ LN -##7▀.[R]4 PLOT LN -##[R]4 LOAD ▀LN -##7.[R]C RUN ▀/ LLIST FASTE>=RND[R] GOSUB PI##▀ LPRINT TAN LN [0]INKEY$ )3 IF LN VAL INKEY$ XC POKE #▚#,, GOSUB # FASTC4 GOSUB #>=RNDLN #PIS,PI#LN POKE PIACS #4~~ GOSUB #>=RND; FOR GOSUB [S]/▖; FOR GOSUB [K]AT [R]TAN AT ▘ TAN E[G]RND,,6[G]RND GOSUB #[E]RND[R] GOSUB #6[I]RNDEINT RND,,6INT RND GOSUB #[G]RND[R] GOSUB #6[C]RNDE>=RND,,6>=RND[R]TAN 6STR$ RNDLN [?]#[J]MNOT RNDLN ##LN ##ENOT RNDACS +ESTR$ RND▘ COPY COPY GOSUB #[L]RNDS# RETURN#4"ACS #4 LPRINT LN [?]#7#[V]# RETURN#4:ACS #4ABS LN [?]#F▘▘ #[V]# RETURN#4)ACS #COS ACS #4[X])5 LN [?]#;#[V]# RETURN#4)ACS #TAB ##)5 LN [?]#[R] GOSUB ##[V]# RETURNRNDK?ACS #TAB ###UNOT RND[E]#7### RETURN#4(ACS #TAB ##UNOT RND INPUT █MNOT RND### RETURN#4.ACS #TAB ## GOSUB #[N]RNDR GOSUB #ESTR$ RND AND ##Q F▘▘ #[V]# RETURN#4+ACS PICOS ACS #TAB ##LN [?]#Y#7[Y]4 CLS7###ACS #4J GOSUB #NOT RNDACS )KB FAST5~~INKEY$ ▘~~ GOSUB [L]4▀[J]/,,▘~~ GOSUB [L]4▝Y█ LPRINT 4$[L]W▘ COPY COPY#7LN [£]#### RETURN STOPTAB ##ACS #TAB ##TAN LN [V]▝GC IF H##LN [X]▛#TAN ▞MVAL LN [V]▝AT G4 PLOT ( PLOT TAN LN [=]#Y█[I]#TAN Y#[Y]4▘,,▘5 GOSUB #**RND FOR R GOSUB #S▖ FOR ,,/£E(RNDR GOSUB # FOR K▀[R] GOSUB PI6STR$ RNDTAN LN [£]#▘[S]"Y "[S]4 CLS###LN ## RETURN STOPCOS U<=RND#U AND RNDX[S]COS ▛#A ▘▙RND,, GOSUB #STR$ RND#7# FOR Q[?]7▘▘ LN [=]# PLOT ▘TAN E**RND)▖ LET GOSUB #[L]RND) GOSUB #[N]RNDLN ###[?]#LN [0]INKEY$ Y M AND RND) SLOW IF GOSUB #[L]RNDE**RNDTAN LN $#Y<M<=RNDU AND RNDWM AND RNDLN ASN #4 POKE U AND RNDXM<=RNDTAN E(RND▘U ,,6[E]RND6[G]RND6INT RND6>=RNDE(RND7#7#,,FFF6[W]RNDE£RND▘[A] ,,6**RND) GOSUB #[P]RND GOSUB #[C]RNDY▘M[R]RNDTAN LN $#LN FOR INKEY$ FOR COS LN ASN #4 PLOT TAN LN ?## NEW##LN #PI6SGN RND4 PRINT #[I]#LN #PI6PEEK RNDTAN LN #PICOS 6SGN RND NEW""TAB [3]# PLOT ▘TAN U[R]RNDM AND RNDLN ▝#LN ?##LN [A]#4▞LN PRINT # PLOT ▘TAN LN [/]#LN ▝#LN [3]#C8LN [/]## GOSUB #[U]RND,: [S]K▝#$▌C▒7<,[Y]4▞( SAVE £C<>[R]USR ▝#/NOT E[S]RND6SGN RND# PLOT █##[-]PIESGN RND6[S]RNDEPEEK RND6[U]RNDTAN EINT RND6SGN RNDTAN #[N]""SGN TAN RND12 COPYRWAAYSHLN ##LN ## RETURNE4▌LN 2INKEY$ / DIM RETURNF4▌LN 8INKEY$ / STEP RETURN#ABS ########▀##[;]##[▒]##>#####COS ##6##[Y]#LN W#LN ##LN 4#U<=RND[R]C RUN #<=#LN ZINKEY$ LN #####Y▝LN [;]#LN #INKEY$ Y▀#[;]#Y▘LN [;]#LN GOSUB # RETURN#""LN #PI GOSUB #[P]RND. GOSUB #[P]RNDC*##LN NINKEY$ GOSUB #SGN RND GOSUB [K]. GOSUB #>=RNDLN 8INKEY$ COS #5INKEY$ Q 6>=RNDLN ###[L]#EINT RND6SGN RNDTAN LN [V]▝ FOR 5[Z] CLEAR[R] GOSUB #RCOS 5 COPY RETURN[R] GOSUB #4 GOTO TAN Y "[S]4 CLSTAN LN #PI6SGN RNDTAN LN #####[J]M AND RNDLN WINKEY$ C RUN FOR LN [?]#▘#*LN TO #LN ASN #**E[N]RNDLN [?]#/ FASTY▞LN [;]#LN NEXT #U AND RNDM[R]RND#5INKEY$ Y,,LN [;]#[J]M[K]RNDM AND RNDLN ASN #**LN NEXT #U AND RNDM[K]RNDTAN ESTR$ RND7# RETURN#COS FTAN Y▛LN [;]#[J]M AND RND5. IF 6[L]RNDLN WINKEY$ COS FOR LN HINKEY$ RETURN STOPASN EINKEY$ RETURN#4▌LN [?]#/ REM LN [?]#LN [O]# FOR ▄#K▘=LN X# GOSUB #[N]RND[R] GOSUB PI##EPEEK RND£#LN QINKEY$ AND EINKEY$ E>=RND,,6>=RNDEPEEK RND#▞ FOR E[N]RND<$C▝ GOSUB [K]U AND RND PRINT LN EINKEY$ LET M AND RND###LN TINKEY$ 6PEEK RNDTAN LN NEW#COS NEW"" RETURN█4 PLOT PLOT ▘TAN U[R]RNDM AND RNDLN ▝#ESGN RNDLN [?]#LN ###LN [Z]#4▞LN .##[?]#LN [O]#LN ▝#LN [V]#C8LN [O]## GOSUB #[U]RND,: [S]S▝#$▌C▒7<,[Y]4▞( SAVE £C<>[R]>=▝#/NOT LN .##EINKEY$ E[S]RND6SGN RNDTAN Y▖LN [;]#▘RND[0]LN TO #LN [V]▝8""LN 8INKEY$ C FOR TAN LN GOSUB # RETURN STOPCOS RETURN#COS 53 IF 6[L]RND5 6[N]RNDE**RND FAST)6 [R] GOSUB #▞4FQ ( CLS6**RND6STR$ RNDQ█LN ##LN [?]#LN X# GOSUB #**RND[R] GOSUB ####[R]4▞ LPRINT 6**RND/[Q]M2#53# FOR GOSUB [K] LPRINT 6**RNDTAN U2##EPEEK RND# NEWZX[(]**WW#▐#K▘8 FAST$R LPRINT COS F FAST)3#U2##,[Y]4 LOAD <7( SAVE LPRINT [R]TAN U2#WTAB W#LN 7#Y~~▞▜LN [.]#LN S#4" RETURN#TAB ##LN 8INKEY$ # IF #LN ##LN ▛#ESGN RND#K▖ PLOT RND/▝ NEW[Z]#LN NEW#4 FOR LN 5INKEY$ ESGN RND#ACS #CLN LN ZINKEY$ /COS U[K]RND[R]M AND RNDC▞LN [O]##[(]#ESGN RND6PEEK RNDLN [(]#SQR EPEEK RND# NEWZ▐#K▘86PEEK RND GOSUB # AND RND#WM AND RND[S]4 LLIST RTAN LN EINKEY$ LN ▝#LN ### NEW[Z]#LN NEW#4 RUN LN 5INKEY$ Y COPYM2#Y#▞4E£RND▐#K▘8Y#7[Y]C▝Q ( SAVE TAN ESGN RNDACS #TAB W#Y"LN [;]#LN GOSUB # RETURNYCOS RETURNNASN W#/ INPUT ESTR$ RND GOSUB #[Y]RND▘4 GOSUB [K]TAN U""RNDXM""RNDCOS ESTR$ RND)5 ;6STR$ RNDTAN E(RNDF:=[J]F$ASN ##▞4[Y]4▌F( IF / LET #M""RNDE**RND6STR$ RND LPRINT 6AT RNDLN ▗#▘▝ TAN LN [=]#4 POKE EAT RND DIM E(RND), ;6[Y]RNDY COPYM2#▘A 5▙RND) THENRND GOSUB [K]TAN E[G]RND GOSUB #[C]RND#[L]TAB [7]INKEY$ TAN Y▝LN [;]#LN PLOT #LN PLOT #E**RND)#▝LN KINKEY$ GOSUB #INT RNDE[G]RNDLN QINKEY$ **LN ## GOSUB #[G]RNDLN #INKEY$ Y▀LN [;]#LN PLOT #LN (#LN ##COS FAST FOR LN HINKEY$ RETURN STOPQ[?] FOR LPRINT COS #F#/ FOR 5 THENRND# INPUT INKEY$ LN PLOT #[J]M AND RNDESGN RND FASTLN ## LPRINT COS #7 NEWZXC NEXT ▞ #, RETURN#C FOR GOSUB [4] REM ##/ SLOW LPRINT 6VAL RNDY▌LN [;]#LN ##LN [B]#LN [V]▝84▌LN 8INKEY$ C LOAD LN EINKEY$ EVAL RND DIM ▞##[J]LN ##Y£E#RND▘▜ GOSUB [L]+4 SAVE GOSUB #£RND, RETURN#4▀</ SAVE GOSUB [4]# RETURN£4 LET E£RND)▐ ;▞4Q▀7( CLSTAN #[W]##SGN ## THEN#LN ### LIST # GOSUB #[P]RND#[N]C5U2#WCODE W#LN 5INKEY$ GOSUB #[P]RND#[N]C?Y£LN ##LN ##LN ## RETURNE4~~Y$LN ##LN 2INKEY$ / TO RETURNC4▌LN [B]#/CHR$ RETURNF4▌LN 8INKEY$ /LN RETURND4▌LN ##/CODE RETURNP4▌LN ##/[V] RETURNQ4▖▘ TAN RETURNR4▌LN 5INKEY$ /[E] RETURNA4▌LN ##/[5] RETURNO4▌LN ##/[/] RETURNB4▌LN ##/[?] RETURNL4▌LN ##/▚ RETURNS4▞LN ### LIST # RETURNITAB LIST # GOSUB #(RNDE[W]RND[R] GOSUB #6SIN RNDE>=RND[R] GOSUB #6TAN RNDY:LN ##▘▘ TAN 5#RND) #▞▒#ACS T*ACS >K▝ INPUT H( PRINT #7U[X]RND[W]4 DIM U[W]RND[X]4 STOPTAN LN [/]#E#RND[R] GOSUB ###COS Y▒LN ##▘▘ TAN LN [/]# GOSUB ##RNDTAN £PRESS ENTER TO DELETE£[R][E][C][O][R][D]█[L][A][Y][O][U][T] USE THE KEYBOARDAS A TYPEWRITER TO ENTER TITLESOF A BLANK RECORD. MOVE CURSORWITH THE ARROWS. STOP TO EXIT£[D][A][T][A]█[F][I][E][L][D][S] MOVE THE CURSORUSING THE ARROW KEYS AND PRESS ENTER TO MARK THE START OFEACH DATA FIELD. STOP TO EXIT£[L][I][S][T] PRESS ANY KEY TO STOP£[P][R][I][N][T] PRESS ANY KEY TO STOP£USE SHIFT TO MOVE THE CURSOR TO THE FIELD WHICH WILL DEFINE THE RECORD ORDER AND PRESS ENTER £[A][L][T][E][R]█[A]█[R][E][C][O][R][D] STOP TO EXITSHIFT-6 TO SKIP A DATA FIELD£CRC CHECK FAILED PLEASE RELOAD£PRESS ENTER FOR THE STRING SELECT TO APPLY TO ANY FIELD OR USE SHIFT TO MOVE THE CURSOR TO DESIRED FIELD AND PRESS ENTER £[S][E][A][R][C][H]█[M][O][D][E] STOP TO EXITPRESS ENTER FOR ANOTHER RECORDOR ENTER A SELECTING STRING £DO YOU WANT THE STRING SELECT TO REMAIN ACTIVE? PRESS Y OR N FOR YES OR NO£[C][O][M][M][A][N][D][S]█[A][R][E][:] ENTER ALTER INFORMFORWARD BACK RESET ORDER SELECTQUIT LIST PRINT COPY DELETE£[E][N][T][E][R]█[A]█[R][E][C][O][R][D] STOP TO EXIT£ FIELDS RECORDS PERCENT FULLORDERED BY FIELD£ REM
51 REM
1100 DIM F$(10100)
1160 SLOW
1200 RAND USR 17986
1300 CLS
1400 GOTO 3400
2000 CLS
2005 PRINT AT 3,8;"[P][S][I][O][N]█[C][O][M][P][U][T][E][R][S] "
2010 PRINT AT 6,12;"VU-FILE"
2020 PRINT AT 11,6;"1-SET RECORD FORMAT"
2030 PRINT AT 13,6;"2-ENTER VU-FILE"
2040 PRINT AT 15,6;"3-SAVE VU-FILE AND DATA"
2050 PRINT AT 17,6;"4-SET PRINTER FORMAT"
2055 PRINT AT 21,1;"PRESS 1 TO 4 FOR DESIRED OPTION"
2060 LET I=CODE INKEY$
2070 IF I<29 OR I>32 THEN GOTO 2060
2075 CLS
2080 GOTO 3000+200*(I-28)
3200 RAND USR 17989
3220 GOTO 2000
3400 LET A=USR 19157
3410 GOTO 3450+50*A
3450 GOTO 2000
3500 PRINT AT 0,0;F$( TO 20);" ";PEEK 16603
3505 PRINT PEEK 16565+256*PEEK 16566;TAB 17;INT (100*(PEEK 18585+256*PEEK 16586)/(PEEK 16583+256*PEEK 16584))
3510 PRINT TAB 20;PEEK 16567
3548 LET A=USR 19160
3549 GOTO 3410
3550 LPRINT F$(21 TO 52)
3560 LET A=USR 17983
3570 GOTO 3410
3600 CLS
3610 PRINT "ENTER FILE NAME"
3620 PRINT AT 10,0;"SET PLAYER TO RECORD"
3630 PRINT "BEFORE PRESSING ENTER "
3640 INPUT N$
3645 FAST
3650 LET F$( TO 20)=N$
3660 CLS
3670 RAND USR 19154
3690 SAVE N$
3695 IF USR 19151<>0 THEN STOP
3700 SLOW
3710 GOTO 2000
3800 RAND USR 17992
3810 GOTO 2000
9995 SAVE "VU-FIL[E]"
9996 IF USR 19151=0 THEN RUN
Note: Type-in program listings on this website use ZMAKEBAS notation for graphics characters.