8-bit Software (c) Duncan Webster April 1992
Issue 19 (c) April 3rd 1992
CONVERTING VIEW to ASCII (user guide)
The program is loaded by typing '*VIEWASC' when an instruction
header is displayed and a prompt given for the name of the file to
be loaded for conversion. The filename may include drive
number/directory in the usual way. On the Master series, temporary
filing system instructions are supported. On completion of editing
a prompt is given for the filename of the output file. If it is
necessary at this stage to input star filing system commands, this
may be done, as if the 'filename' string starts with '*' the string
is passed to the Command Line Interpreter, following which another
prompt is given for the filename (or another star command). To
encourage good computing practice, a prompt is also given for a
backup copy.
The program removes all soft spaces, tabs, highlights, headers,
footers and rulers. It removes all stored (edit) commands with any
following bytes up to and including the next carriage return,
except that text following a 'CE' command is printed as ordinary
text.
Error messages on loading or saving are the normal filing system
error messages, with the addition of error 129 - "File too long",
produced if the View file would be too long to load without
corrupting the program. The maximum length handled is of the order
of 22K, so this should not in practice be a problem.
After a <BREAK>, or after an error on saving,&c., key f2 will save
the file currently in memory, which starts 2 bytes above OSHWM, and
should therefore be preserved after a <BREAK>. Alternatively, the
program as a whole may be restarted by pressing key f0. After an
error on loading, or if it is desired to load and process another
file, the program may be re-entered at the appropriate point with
key f1. The program requires that BASIC be the current language.
Dr H. Clarke.