8-Bit Software Online Conversion

CHANGES TO 8-BIT SOFTWARE ========================= There are a number of changes which are being implemented, some of them within this issue, and some of them taking effect as from issue 21. Be warned that this article is VERY long, but it really is important that members read all of it (skipping over the parts of little relevance to them), as it outlines how 8-Bit Software is going to be run from now on. Not all of the changes are for the better - let's start with the bad news, but please have the patience to read the explanation as well, and some of the good news, before giving up on 8-Bit Software altogether! This issue has been supplied free to everyone who sent a disk and return postage and packing (and some who didn't). Issue 21 will require everyone to send a disk, return P&P, and a 50p coin. I don't see this as an excessive charge, considering that this still means you can get hold of an issue for as little as #1.30 (reckoning 50p for the disk and 30p for the postage & packing, BOTH of which YOU STILL HAVE TO SUPPLY YOURSELF). Since some libraries now charge #1.50 or more per disk, this is still a very good deal. It is still MUCH cheaper to get your PD software from 8BS because of the new TBI arrangements which will be outlined in a separate article. The charge is to cover not only miscellaneous expenses (publicity, printer/disk drive/machine wear & tear, disk labels, SSAEs for enquirers who won't supply them, long phone calls, etc.) but also as a (small!) charge for the immense amount of time that goes into collecting, compiling and editing everything that goes into an issue of 8BS. Even Duncan - the most committed supporter of truly free PD - has agreed that a charge of this nature is reasonable, if undesirable. Despite this, I still feel that charging anything, however little, for 8BS is something I would rather avoid. If issue 21 goes OK, and if everyone treats this in a reasonable manner, then issue 22 might be free again (this partly depends on whether my parents receive a phone bill between now and then!) However, this is planning a bit far ahead. Meanwhile, if anyone feels that either (i)They have a good reason why they think it is totally unreasonable to charge for 8BS, or (ii)They have a good reason why they think they personally should be let off paying, then please let me know, and I will attempt to argue with you (in the former case), or consider not bothering to insist that they personally should pay (in the latter). Anyway, this brings me to three more points: (i) I am very open to criticism! Well actually I'm quite stubborn, but this is the first issue of 8BS I've edited, so any suggestions, comments, criticisms etc WILL BE READ ALL THE WAY THROUGH, and I will do my best to reply to everything. Do please let me know what you think of this issue! If you do send comments etc. on 8BS in general rather than particular programs, then I will, where I think it appropriate, quote your criticism in the disk magazine and then reply to it. If you DON'T want anything you write to be included in the disk magazine, for whatever reason, then please make this absolutely clear (i.e. put something like "The following paragraph not for publication"). See below (near the end) for details of how to send text/messages/software in. (ii) When sending your 50p, don't just send it loose in the envelope - it will rip its way out due to its weight. Instead, tape it to the back of the disk envelope or a piece of card or something, or even the inside of the envelope (securely). If sending a 50p gives you a problem for some reason (you're allergic to metallic alloys?), send two 1st class stamps instead - but don't do this unless you desperately need to. Remember that the 50p charge is IN ADDITION to the postage and packaging which you need to supply as normal. (iii) Apart from the practical/financial conditions of membership of 8BS mentioned above, the most important condition of your membership is that 8BS is a user group which is supposed to be for the benefit of EVERYONE - not just programmers writing software and everyone else just taking it. All members are expected to contribute something occasionally, whether PD software (your's or someone else's), comments on other peoples' programs appearing in 8BS, reviews (of commercial/PD software, concerts, shows, albums, ANYTHING), news (anything you think we should know), advertisements (free!), contacts, questions (anything you want to know, about hardware, software, programming, etc - we will find out), and any information that may be of use to members (especially answers to other peoples' questions). If you can't think of anything else, I'm sure you can write an angry reply to something I have said that has irritated, upset, offended or confused you (perhaps I should try to be controversial?) If you want to write a major article or series of articles, you probably don't need to ask whether I want it or not first, since I will probably publish just about anything. It would also be a good idea if you let me know what sort of things you would like articles to be written about. Submitting three comments on members' programs each issue used to be a requirement for membership, but now I simply expect everyone to occasionally submit ANYTHING (within reason) along the lines of these categories (or think up something new!) If you don't think what you have programmed/written is worth playing/using/reading, send it in anyway and let everyone have a chance to see it! Even if you can't think of anything large to write, loading up your word processor and putting together a few brief comments on someone else's software, or a few questions, won't exactly take you very long! People who consistently refuse to contribute anything at all will risk having their membership terminated. THE GOOD NEWS (i.e. OTHER CHANGES) Unfortunately this issue is a little bit below standard, for a number of reasons. Firstly I have recently finished my A-levels and am a little tired, secondly I am not in contact with many of the original members and so am short of messages, articles, software etc., and thirdly I decided to put catalogues from a number of 8-bit PD libraries onto this issue, so that members could take advantage of various special offers from 8BS and from GLM PD - this has resulted in a serious shortage of disk space. When I think of a fourth excuse I'll let you know. However, things ARE going to improve. All the best bits of 8-Bit Software are going to remain the same. There will be a continued effort to gain more and more submissions, and to increase membership - if you know anyone who might want to join, PLEASE encourage them to. I can now handle both 5.25" and 3.5" disks - find some Master Compact owners! TBI The TBI pool is going to remain, but with a vastly expanded selection of software (mainly from other peoples' libraries!), and a tiny charge (10p per disk) for any TBI software ordered with issue 21. See the separate article for details. DISK MAGAZINE I am going to make a determined effort to include 200K of text on every issue. It will include FULL documentation for the programs on side two, plus useful and informative articles on a variety of topics from the simplest aspects of computing to the most obscure machine-code programming techniques, plus news, contacts, information, suggestions, feedback for programmers, and a lot of meaningless gibber from me (you're reading it). SOFTWARE Hopefully the software side of the disk will consist mainly of members' programs, most of which is not available anywhere else. I will select the best software from my substantial collection of other PD, although anything from the GLM or BBC PD demo disks will be excluded, as it will be assumed that everyone has a copy of these. I would hope to have something of interest to everyone in each issue - programming stuff, general utilities, games, music, demos, applications, educational s/w, etc. QUESTIONNAIRE In order to find out where peoples' interests lie, so that we can prepare issues that will be as useful as possible, this issue contains a computerised questionnaire. It really is very easy to fill in (believe me), and none of the questions are particularly difficult. Please see the separate article "Questionnaire Instructions" for details of how to fill it in. This really is very important, as the results (analysed by computer) will make all the difference as to how 8BS is run. NONE of the information given will be released to members unless you wish to appear in the database of members' interests, in which case your name, user i.d. and interests will be published so that other members can write to you via 8BS. You can also, if you really want to, choose to have your phone number published. I will include a statistical analysis of the results of the questionnaire in Issue 21 if possible. ADFS For members with ADFS, there will be a section of TBI which will make available disks from BBC PD's catalogue, not one per disk as from BBC PD, but up to 630K on each disk - again, see the separate article on the new TBI arrangements. In addition, for those of us (myself included) who regularly convert 8BS issues to ADFS for more efficient storage and use, compatibility with ADFS will be improved considerably. All you need to do to transfer this issue to ADFS is to take a blank ADFS disk, *CDIR $.MAG, *CDIR $.SW, *CDIR $.BBCPD. Then list-copy everything from drive 0 of this issue into $.MAG, everything from :2.$ into $.SW, and everything from :2.B into $.BBCPD. You can then start up the magazine, software menu or BBC PD catalogue by entering the appropiate directory and CHAINing !MAG, !MENU, or CATLOAD respectively. Bear in mind that converting your 8BS issue to ADFS will cause a few problems when exiting from any of the menus, but everything else should work. If you want me to send issues to you in ADFS format rather than DFS, let me know. COMPATIBILITY 8-Bit Software is now being produced on a Master 128, but I don't want members with BBC Bs to think that they will be neglected - the B is still the standard for compatibility, and although I will occasionally include Master-only software if it is particularly good (as Duncan has done in the past), I will do my best to ensure that everything is tested on a B before it goes out. The other areas which BBC B owners may find irritating is my occasional reference to facilities that only exist on a Master - the Master System Editor (EDIT) being the most noticeable example. To be quite honest, this is largely unavoidable - virtually all of the programming tasks I undertake require some use of an editor that allows manipulation of both BASIC programs and textfiles. Some people disagree with my preference for EDIT over View etc. for word-processing, though this is mainly a matter of opinion (I still think my opinion is right!) See notes below on text submissions. DISK FORMAT I would very much like to move to ADFS, but this has to depend on the results of the questionnaire. HADFS could also be an option. In any case, I can always archive programs, although that will be done as little as possible. Issue 21 can be supplied im the following formats: DFS 80T DS (the standard) DFS 80T SS (TWO DISKS REQUIRED) ADFS L ADFS M (TWO DISKS REQUIRED) The formats other than DFS 80T DS are simply conversions of the DFS 80T DS version, with minor disadvantages (no automatic boot files etc. to load the menus). If you know anyone who has any of the above formats, either 3.5" or 5.25", please let them know about 8-Bit Software - Issue 20 can also be obtained in the above formats, and is still free upon receipt of disk and P&P until 31st August. DISK MAGAZINE FORMAT This magazine has mostly been prepared in Master EDIT, and formatted to a sensible width for 80-column viewing, with the usual Teletext menu screen. I am aware that a majority of members have previously indicated a preference for a purely Teletext-based magazine, and the one issue (number 16) that was produced in that format (created by Andy Nibbs) was a pleasure to read since you could scroll both up and down, apart from it being generally better-looking (especially on a TV like mine). However, there are a number of problems with this. Firstly, the use of control codes in the Teletext magazine meant that the articles could not really be printed out effectively, and so a complete set of extra copies of the magazine, in 80-column format, had to be included as well. This meant that issue 16 occupied two disks instead of just one, an inconvenience for everyone. Secondly, an immense amount of time has to go into the creation of a Teletext-based magazine - even issue 16 retained the old 80-column format in many articles due to this - and this was the reason why the Teletext format was abandoned, despite its popularity, in issues 17, 18 and 19. Chris Richardson's Teletext Article Printer (see program documentation) solves the first problem fairly effectively, but as for the second problem, it is likely to get worse rather than better. However, the questionnaire will once again test your opinions on this, and we will see what the results are. REQUIREMENTS FOR SUBMISSIONS Those members who received a pre-publication copy of this information should note that several minor modifications have been made - I suggest you read through it quickly again! Please read these notes carefully before you get together your submissions, either text-based messages/articles/comments for the magazine, or PD software. Also read the additional notes below on the new text/messages arrangements. - TEXT - If you wish to submit text on any subject to 8BS, please note that I reserve the right to edit it for grammar, spelling, brevity, and clarity. If I make MAJOR changes to anything that you write, I will send it back to you for approval. The preferred text format is unformatted ASCII, e.g. as produced by Master EDIT (no RETURNs or extra spaces at the end of lines, but two RETURNs at the end of paragraphs). If you can't manage this, refer to the program documentation for details of how to use the software on side two to convert your text. If you can't convert it, send it unconverted and ask for additional instructions. I would appreciate it if members made documentation for their programs detailed enough to make the software easy to use, but as short as possible. - SOFTWARE - All software written by members should, wherever possible, meet the following requirements (some of these are simply for machine-code programmers). If it doesn't, please let me know why, and any way I can get round the problem. Firstly, it should be Econet-compatible. This means that locations &90-&9F, &B00-&CFF, and &D60-&D7F should not be altered by any of your programs. This still leaves &900-&AFF for any machine code you want to write - if you require more memory for machine code, find it either by increasing PAGE, or by decreasing HIMEM. Bear in mind that different machines will have PAGE set to different values under ADFS, DFS and Econet. Although this should not trouble you if you're just writing BASIC, if you're moving PAGE from machine code, try reading its value first - it could be as high as &1D00 (BBC B with ADFS) or as low as &E00 (Master with ADFS). If you are writing a Master-only utility program, you should use the Transient Utility Area for programs shorter than 512 bytes - see Master Reference Manuals. Legal calls should be used wherever possible in every other area also. Although a (fairly recent) Beebug article suggested that this doesn't really matter any more, as no new 8-bit machines are going to appear that will require upward-compatibility of your software, there is still the possibility that doing things in an illegal manner will cause chaos with interrupt-driven or SRAM software that people are using, and you can't expect to know all the difficulties that various add-on hardware may cause with an illegal call. It would be nice if most software was legal enough to run on a co-processor or second processor! If your program loads graphics data directly into screen memory, prefix the address with FFFF to ensure TUBE compatibility (e.g. do *LOAD Picture FFFF3000 rather than *LOAD Picture 3000). This will still work on non-TUBE processors anyway. Avoid writing graphics directly to screen memory wherever possible (it isn't always). Watch out for the usual tricks that will work on the B but not on the Master, the most common example being this silly business with fonts that made many B games (e.g. Overdrive, Sinistar etc.) incompatible with the Master. I would also like any software submitted to be easily convertible to ADFS. This is not at all difficult to do, the only requirements being avoidance of using DFS sub-directories (e.g. don't have a file "MENU" that includes the line 480 CH."D.GAME"), and no *DISC or *DRIVE commands included in the coding. To assist me in correcting any minor incompatibility problems, please avoid surrounding your programs with layer after layer of protection - there is really no need for this, as it is PD software after all, besides which, as I have pointed out elsewhere in this magazine, it prevents other members from learning from your coding. This is, of course, your choice - if you have a particularly excellent program which uses a trick you want to keep secret then we'd rather have the software protected than not have it at all. But do try to avoid it wherever reasonable. If you are going to alter the Master's CMOS RAM, only alter the bytes that you are allowed to (essentially 30-49). When you submit software to 8BS, it will be assumed that the software is PD, and members may copy it freely, unless you specifically state otherwise (either within the title screen/instructions/program or within a message/letter to me, in which case I will add a note in the Program Documentation section of the disk mag). Simply putting (C) <name> is not enough, as many PD programs have this on in any case. If your program is not PD, then state whether it is shareware (a registration fee is expected from those who use it in return for extra documentation, add-ons or software), donationware (like shareware but the user generally receives nothing in return for his financial contribution), careware (like the last two except the money goes to a charitable cause), or freeware (I think this is the same as PD but the author retains copyright). Definitions are somewhat confused - some programs that are essentially donationware come under the heading of shareware, the main difference being that a shareware registration fee is legally obligatory, while a donationware contribution depends on your own perception of how much the software is worth to you. Potential shareware authors should note that it is well-known that most people will not register unless (a) they have been very impressed by the original program, and (b) they expect to get something substantial in return for their registration fee. Finally, there is one last non-PD category into which you can place your software submission if you wish. This is to state that the software is free to all 8-Bit Software members but they may NOT pass it on to anyone else. Note that PD programs may also be altered by anyone, but this does not allow you to turn a PD program written by someone else into part of a shareware, donationware or commercial package to make you money, and of course any new version of someone else's PD program must credit the original author fully. If any grey areas do arise, get in touch with the original author and ask for permission for whatever you want to do. You should also inform me if you do not wish to receive user comments on your software - if you do not tell me otherwise then members' comments, suggestions and criticisms will be invited. If you wish you may include an additional SSAE with your software, which will allow me to send any comments to you as soon as I receive them, so that you can send back your reply to any criticisms to appear in the same issue as the criticisms themselves. I will do my very best to get everything you submit into the issue immediately after I receive it, but this may not always be possible. Very large submissions will be placed into the TBI pool so that members with a specific interest in them can obtain them. HOW TO SUBMIT TEXT/MESSAGES/SOFTWARE I am planning to write a message-managing program that will take all the hassle out of collecting inter-user messages. For this reason, all messages should be sent to me on side zero of YOUR DISK FOR ISSUE 21, under the following filenames: 999 Any messages/info/adverts/questions for all members ARTICLE Any lengthy piece of text for the disk magazine ART2 If you are submitting a second lengthy piece of text! ART3 A third ... etc. COMMENT Any comments etc. on members' software in previous issues DOCUMEN Textfile for disk mag containing info on any s/w submitted DOCU2 A further textfile of documentation if necessary DOCU3 A third ... etc. MESSAGE A message to me specifically (comments on issue, etc.) QUEST The filled-in data file from the questionnaire on this issue If there is more than one message in any particular category (for example, in 999 or COMMENT), simply join all the files together. You can place the file QUEST on the disk simply by filling in the questionnaire (see separate article), then copying the file QUEST from this disk onto the one you are sending for issue 21. Finally, you can send messages to individual members under the filename !<ID>. For example, if you were sending a message to user ZZ9, you would type in the piece of text, then save it on your disk under the filename "!ZZ9". This message would then be sent to that member ONLY. Please do NOT do this unless you really want to keep your message private - remember that a lot of people might also want the information which you are sending to a particular member, or might know something about what you are asking a particular member. Also lots of private messages will mean less software on the disk, as I will have to leave extra room for individual messages. A list of user IDs of members who have contributed to this issue (and some others) is included in the article "Conclusion". If you are submitting software, please include a brief MESSAGE to me mentioning it. The various files of any software submission should be copied onto side 2 of the disk, and all the text onto side zero, the documentation under the filenames above, unless it is included within the software itself. You do not have to print out any text that you send me separately, but you can if you really want to. PLEASE QUOTE YOUR USER ID (FROM TOP OF MENU SCREEN) IN ALL CORRESPONDANCE!