8-Bit Software Online Conversion

                                                                            To : 999 (All) From : 3PM Subject: Printer drivers I use VIEW with excellent driver by C.Ferrington, Acorn User Nov89, modified for my SWIFT24. Anyone know if he ever came up with the improved driver editor he was working on?                                                    To : 999 (All) From : 3PM Subject: Copyright If I modify/rewrite a text book prog. to correct gross errors which render the prog useless, ie not just printers errors, can I, say, offer it to 8-BS without tracing the author? Or is it infringing the publishers copyright by communicating that part of the work which is unchanged? If so, adding a single line which makes a prog perform a quite different function from the original would also infringe? Patents are granted on the basis of such ingenuity! Where can one find specific answers or is it back to ECU tossing?  To : 999 (All) From : 3PM Subject: Wanted Text : Morley AA board for Master 128  To : 999 (All) From : 15A (Steven Flintham) Subject: Software wanted Has anyone got a copy of Micropower's Imogen on 40 track disc that they'd be prepared to sell for next to nothing (£1.00-£2.00 including postage). I bought it on Play It Again Sam 5 (?) a good few years ago but none of the other games would work. I'm sure the disc was corrupt, but the supplier said it was my Watford DFS 1.30 (can anyone tell me if PIAS5 does work with this DFS? - it would be nice to know who was wrong!) and so I had to send it back and buy Exile instead (which I then proceeded to corrupt!) It was a fantastic game and I think the animation might put some of today's games to shame. I nearly completed it while I had my copy (with the aid of a cheat to give infinite transformations!), but I never finished it - can anyone help? Contact me via 8BS or write to: Steven Flintham 6 Laythorpe Avenue Skegness Lincolnshire PE25 3BX  To : L1L (Jock Smylie) & 999 (All) From : 15A (Steven Flintham) Subject: DFS disc space I haven't tried doing this, but if you can't find any other way and you're getting desperate, what about the following bit of code: *FX3,2 (turn off screen output) *SPOOL TEMP (redirect output to TEMP file) *FREE ('display' free disc space to TEMP file) *SPOOL (close TEMP file) *FX3,0 (restore screen output) and then write a routine to read the free space out of the TEMP file (deleting it afterwards), which will have the same format as the *FREE display on screen. You could do something similar with *INFO as well, although there are definitely neater ways of finding out the length of a file. I expect there is a better way (perhaps even an OS call) but I don't have any technical reference books on the DFS so I can't tell, and it's always nice to have a last resort!  To : 999 (All) From : 15A (Steven Flintham) Subject: Master 128 battery I would just like to thank everyone for all the information - I'm astonished at just how much everyone else seems to know about it!  To : 999 (All) From : 27N (John Ilsley) Subject: Eproms and Light pens I can offer a 16k Eprom blowing service. Price each 3.00 Programming of a Eprom that you have sent to me: 1=5.00, 2=9.00 3=12.00, for more ask me for details. Programming of a Eprom(s) that I have to buy for you: Buy & program 1=6.00, 2=10.00 3=9.50, for more ask for details. Eproms erased for 1.00. I cannot guarantee that ALL Eproms will erase and verify correctly. All programs/Eprom images must be supplied on either a 3.5" or 5.25" 40/80 track DFS/ADFS/HADFS disc. This disc will be returned with instructions etc... I supply only 16k (27128a) Eproms, but will program almost anything from 2k to 16k, 12volts or 24volts. Not CMOS Eproms though. These priced include P&P in Great Britian (exc Channel Isle/Isle of Man & Northern Ireland). Eproms that I program will be tested where possible if they do not require any external hardware. I nor 8BS will accept responsiblility for any mishaps to your self/hardware/ software resulting from this service. I can also supply light pens for £5.00p each. All of these prices include P+P.  To : 999 (All) From : 27N (John Ilsley) Subject: Wanted Atari 800XL cassette deck.  To : 20G & 0E7 & 999 (All) From : 3PM (DPJ) Subject: Mortgage comment. Guilty. Never do any error trapping until final version..what's that? I agree its not fair to others so I'll reform, a bit. Thanks for the tips. See 'Altrit' (possibly in this Issue) for starters. Line 350 for a 'no screen clutter' version. Remove 'REM' at Line 710 for an 'if you prefer it' variant. How about DEF PROCwhy(ohwhy) calls for multi-source input errors?. Somebody must have some neat procedures. W.H.Y? The 'Mgage' interest change procedure is to ask for Closing Balance at the due date for the change, select New Mortgage at next prompt and use these figures for the 'new' mortgage principal and start date. Just stick in any mortgage term (say 10 years) and at the next prompt change monthly premiums to your usual amount. The program cyclic prompts were designed with this in mind but you have to note all the data at the change date (from Detailed Listing) and do a bit of addition if you want the 'total period' mortgage cost. Thats messy, so program now extended to process changes painlessly. (See Altrit for method). Mgage will be re-issued along with additional facilities in due course. Many thanks 20G & 0E7 for the critique.  To : 27N (John Ilsley) From : L1L (Jock Smylie) Subject: Hardware projects I intend to make the sound control changes to my Beeb as you described in 8BS Issue 27, in the near future. Please continue with your intended articles. I am particularly interested in the forthcoming article regarding the connection of multiple drives to the Beeb.  To : 999 (all members) From : L1L (Jock Smylie) Subject: Barcode Reader Does anyone have a barcode reader for the BBC Model B that they do not use and would wish to sell to me. Some sort of operating software would also be needed. Alternatively would anyone be willing to design such a device. Or, does anyone know where I could buy a barcode reader. If anyone can sell me a barcode reader then they would need to include the cost of AIRMAIL postage to Australia in any asking price.  To : 999 (all members) From : L1L (Jock Smylie) Subject: ADFS,HADFS,DFS,Issue disks & the BBC Model B The use of ADFS for Issue disks is not very practical for a Model B with an 8271 DFS (v0.9E), as with my setup, as ADFS supposedly doesn't work with the 8271. I'm sure others are in this position also. Therefore a 2 disk option for DFS sounds good. Else, software could be included in a DFS archive. These options would be viewed by myself and others as much better than not getting the software at all. That is, the software often included in the ADFS extra section of the Issue disks. I also have a copy of HADFS (v0.33) but this does not work properly with the 8271 DFS either. When a program access a disk a sector error is produced. This results in the prorgam crashing. However if the disk command is issued again immediately it appears to work. There is a version 0.45 but I do not have it and therefore cannot test it. Some of the promising sounding software in past issues was not available to DFS users. I would be quite happy to send an extra disk per issue or to spend time unarchiving software, just to be able to have it.  To : 999 (all members) From : L1L (Jock Smylie) Subject: DISK vs DISC User 15A, Steven Flintham's comments regarding the spelling of programme and program seem valid enough. I would just like to add my view on the spelling of DISK/DISC. Disc appears to be becoming the widely adopted standard spelling. This could possibly be due to the now popular medium, the Compact Disc. I however thought that the computer disk was an abbreviation of the the floppy diskette. Anyway, it doesn't really matter does it !? I think that it is merely an issue of personal preference.  To : 999 (all members) From : L1L (Jock Smylie) Subject: IBM antivirus software I have sent Chris a couple of copies of VIRUscan. This software is a shareware virus checker and disinfection program for the IBM. I do not know whether it will work with the Master 512 or the Archimedes emulators, but it might. Anyway, anyone who wants a copy for the ir M512/Arc/IBM can contact Chris Richardson at the usual address.  To : 999 (All) From : 3WU (Fred Price) Subject: Spell Master One of the things I pass my time with is crosswords and when the Spell Master was installed in my old 8bit I found it was very good at anagrams and spelling. Unfortunately through a stroke I don't drive now and I am in the lucky position (vertical) of having my own private chauffeur (the wife) and I usually spend my time doing crosswords when traveling and the beeb's just a bit too big for the car. The one thing that gets round this problem is a dictionary that fits in your shirt pocket that works a 100% better than the Spell Master is the Franklin Wordmaster which is much more versatile and the Spell Master will still get used in the View mode so please dont think I am against it and it is available at Tandy's at £49.99 it contains a Theasurus with 780,000 synonyms for 41,000 words in all a very handy little tool.  To : 999 (All) From : 3SQ (Tim Parsons) Subject: Beebug Master Rom I would very much like to hear from anyone who has the Beebug Master Rom, with the possibility of a loan of or a copy of the Manual, please. I would also like to hear from anybody who has or knows the where abouts of Hi-Wordwise and/or Hi-Intersheet please. Tim Parsons, 40 Coniston Road, Flitwick, BEDS, MK45 1QH. 0525-715013.  To : 999 (All) From : YJ2 (Andrew Snodgrass) Subject: "Have You Lost Your Marbles Delux" by Andy Nibbs Here are the the codes for the default levels which appeared on Masterdisk Magazine issue 1 ....... Levels: A 39532 B 59311 C 56578 D 12485 E 25642 F 99931 G 54345 H 76754 I 61932 J Completed  To : 999 (All) From : YJ2 (Andrew Snodgrass) Subject: R.YJ2 Repton 3 codes Here are the codes for my Repton 3 compatible screens: A - TANKS B - TORNADO C - AMAZING D - ANTHRAX E - ROKROLL F - SHIFTIN G - COMPLEX H - CONTEST  To : 999 (All) From : YJ2 (Andrew Snodgrass) Subject: Codename Droid (Stryker's Run II) tip & query If you have ever tried replenishing your shields or blaster and failed despite the fact you have a spare battery try checking that the caps-lock is on. Help! I am stuck on sector 3 and keep on getting killed by the claws which fall from the roof. Also in this sector which computer are you meant to put the disc in and how do you do so?  To : 999 (All) From : YJ2 (Andrew Snodgrass) Subject: Lars Osterballe Hawkeye / Audiopak Has anyone managed to alter any of Lars Osterballe's programs to run on the Master 128 (according to the documentation this would require the complete gutting of the software) ?  To : 2J3 C.J.Richardson From : YJ2 (Andrew Snodgrass) Subject: TBI pool Last issue you discussed the possibility of setting up a seperate PD software house. What I want to know is: 1) Would it be independent of 8BS? 2) Who's going to run it? 3) Would prices increase (i.e. > 10p per double sided 80T disc)? 4) When would this PD house be implemented? 5) Would there be a regular Public Domain library update every issue (space permitting)? 6) In the meantime before any PD library is set up who do we send our 10 pences to in order to get Public Domain discs? While on the subject of PD software does anyone know if Frisky Clams are still in existence? I recently sent off an SAE for a catalogue and never recieved a reply. Editor.... You will see a mention of the future of the TBI pool in NEWS from the mag menu. However in reply to your points: 1. It will not be independant of 8BS at present. 2. I will be running it. 3. Prices increase to 100p for non members. For this they get disc and p+p. Members still pay only 10p if including disc and p+p. 4. Now! 5. When space permits there will be regular updates, plus a disc based catalogue. 6. Send all your requests to me.  To : 999 (All) From : YJ2 (Andrew Snodgrass) Subject: Arc to BBC Master 128 Link? I know many of 8BS members also have an Archimedes and I was wondering if it was possible to connect a 5.25 inch disc drive to eg the A3010 (which I am thinking about purchasing in the near future) or would it be preferable to use a serial link to tranfer programs? If it is posible to connect up a 5.25" drive would it have to have its own power supply or is there one present in the A3010? While on the subject of the Arc is there a (PD?) utility for reading native Apple Mac discs?          