8-Bit Software Online Conversion

                                                        To: 999 (all members) From: K2H Subject: COMMENT (The Reactor) Although I am a 'new' senior citzen member, I found issue 31 even better than usual. I don't know how you find the time to carry out all the work involved! Snowman Tunes and Snakes and Ladders are particularly good, and Hints and Tips2 will be very useful. Keep up the good work!  To: 999 (all members) From: K2H Subject: AIRCRAFT SIMULATOR Does anyone know of a commercial or PD Program similar to the 'Landing an Aircraft/Helicopter' sequence in the BBC 'KRYPTON FACTOR' Program? (Disc for BBC MASTER128)  To: 999 (all members) From: K2H Subject: COPYING 8BS PROGRAMS I wonder how many members 'lift' some Programs from 8BS discs to incorporate them in their own discs? I have titles- GAMES1 to 8, ARCADE GAMES, BOARD GAMES, CARD GAMES, FLIGHT SIMULATORS, GRAPHICS 1 TO 7, MUSIC1/2, WORDS1/2, NUMBERS1/2, UTILITIES etc. It would therefore be most helpful, and save a lot of detective work, if (in 'ABOUT THIS DISC'???) a complete list of DIRS and File names etc could be incorporated so that a Program could be copied very easily.  To: 999 (all members) From: K2H Subject: 'RED ARROWS' DISC Has anyone got a DFS or ADFS disc disc version which WILL work on a BBC 128 MASTER? I have a tape and disc version which will work on a BBC B, but when I try to use them on my MASTER the flight instructions at the bottom of the screen are corrupted and cannot be read. I think the problem can be ovecome by using REPLAY but I wonder if there is an alternative solution. Any help would be appreciated.  To: 999 (all members) From: K2Q (JOHN NICHOLSON) Subject: CALLING OTHER GWYNEDD USERS I would very much like to hear from any other BBC users in North Wales. I am a relative newcommer to the BEEB, and I enjoy programming to meet my own needs. I am interested in developing software to help with joint authorship, ie producing magasines and articles co-operatively through a modem. I also am interested in developing software for keeping records of names and addresses etc, and I am at present developing a better wordprocessor that writes direct to disc instead of to memory. I would love to hear from any BBC users in the North Wales area, to share ideas problems, experiments with hard & soft ware etc. PHONE John Nicholson, (0286) 830312. Or write Tanrallt, Rhostryfan, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, LL54 7NT.  To: 999 (all members) From: K2Q John Nicholson 0286 830312 Subject: Programming problem Can anyone help me? I use a home brew program in basic that enables me to load, print, run, view, display, etc files or programmes held on disc at a single key stroke. The same program also calls normal '*' commands to copy or compact programes. The problem is that these operations destroy the basic program, and also once used it is not possible to return from a '*'command back to a basic program. Does anyone know how to get round this?  To: 999 (all members) From: K2Q John Nicholson 0286 830312 Subject: A problem with INTERWORD I have both INTERWORD and WORDWISE+ and I also have my own homebrew word- processor program. There are several features in INTERWORD that I like the look of but I have difficulty in using INTERWORD. When I load it I get a message like "ChazJezJimIan......" Where does this come from, and how can I get rid of it? Are INTERWORD files and Wordwise+ files completly different in format? Any advice would be appreciated.  To: 999 (all members) From: K2Q Subject: Improving the message system This is my first go at using the messag e system and I have not found it easy. May be that's me! It would help a great deal if the syste system could cope with line wrap. Also if it were easier to go back a and insert extra characters in line already printed without having to open up space using ctrl f6. Another problem I have as a new user is that it would be helpful if there wa was an easy means to got back to where you last came from when exiting any place in the menu. I use "!" in my own programmes to go back to the last question, and ctrl"!" to go back to the last programme used.  To: 999 (all members) From: K2Q John Nicholson 0286 830312 Subject: PRINTERS WANTED I need several more cheap but usable printers for BBC users. 9 pin quality is fine. Please phone me with details: John Nicholson, (0286) 830312.  To: 999 (all members) From: K2Q John Nicholson 0286 830312 Subject *** Active Radio Networking *** I have been exploring the realms of communication through the use of a modem. One soon finds out that the dream of instant electronic mail is more of an halucination. It is a good idea only for BT share holders. Another means of communicating may be through radio. Has any one considered a simple packet radio system? Is there any way that CB bands can be used for data transmission? Is it impossible for non-radio hams to get a limited ability licence only for data work? I welcome ideas and debate.  To: 999 (all members) From: K2Q John Nicholson 0286 830312 Subject: Aggressive games V creativity It concerns me that nearly all games programmes are so aggressive. All games seem to be a combat, with guns or zapping or destruction of some sort. Has any one written software for the BeeB that uses beautiful and creative graphics and sounds? I have a daughter now three years old, and she is facinated by the work I do with Wapping Editor. She loves to have a go with the mouse. Are there any absorbing programes for younger children that can help them to develop basic computer skills without becoming vandals? Folk may laugh at my innocence and naivety. We do not have a TV, and so are to some extent protected from the amount of violent material shown on television. As a Green Party member I do feel that there is a need to protect the minds of our children from mental pollution just as much as we might strive to protect the envir- onment. What do folk say?  To: 999 (all members) From: K2Q John Nicholson 0286 830312 Subject: "SPEECH ROM" INSTRUCTIONS I recently bought a lot of old BBC gear and with it discs containing sideways ROM images. Many of these I do not recognise at all, but I do recognise SLEUTH and SPEECH!. Alas, I do not have any documentation for these ROMs. Can anyone help?  To: 999 From: K2Q John Nicholson 0286 830312 Subject: Cheap printer ribbons & paper Can any one tell of a supplier of ribbons for a Cannon PW 1080A printer? I can re-ink old ribbons but after a a while they get torn to shreds. I would also welcome suggestions for a cheap supplier of tractor feed type A4 folded paper. BEEBUG seems to be the best deal I can find to-date, Bless them!  To: 999 (all members) From: K2D Subject: Guitars     If there are any guitar players out there - into rock - and have anything interesting or useful - i have been learning for 3 Months- then why not send it to 8BS, or contact me through 8BS.  To: 999 (all members)+K1J From: 0E7(Fred Nevin) Subject: THE DISAPPEARING POUNDS The total cost for three is `30 Waiter takes `5 Total cost to party of three = `25.00 Cost to individual is `25/3 = ` 8.30 Waiter gives `3 back & keeps `2 Individual receives `3.00/3 = ` 1.00 Individual costs = `8.3 + `1.0=` 9.30 Waiter is left with `2.00 Cost per person=`2.00/3=`0.70 =` 0.70 TOTAL COSTS= `8.30+`1.00+`0.70=`10.00 Therefore nothing has disappeared. At least this is my explanation.  To: 999 (all members)+2J3 From: 0E7 (Fred Nevin) Subject: Oldie/Hints Tips These Hints/Tips from the Wakefield user Group appeared in the ADFSextra files on issues 30 & 31 of the mag. I think they are very interesting and have put them all on one disc so that they can become a library. I have come across the following snags. To get them on one ADFS disc I have put files 1-90 into the $ Directory and in the same Directory created a second Directory into which I have placed files 91-204. So that I can have access to files 91-204 I have created a !boot file which calls up a MENU program which searches out another BOOT prog to give access to that Directory and the "Reed" program. This appears to work but to me seems a rather complicated way of doing what should be an easy task. The *DIR$.Directory name command does not appear to work in a !BOOT file or in any program I try.Why not?. Chris you were intending to put them all on issue 30 of the mag until you ran out of room so please what is the secret?. Other problems are:- How do I get a:- Printout of all the text on Disc. Printout of individual files. Access to an individual file without having to search through them all. Can anyone throw any light on these problems please. EDITOR..... I have hopefully answered some of these questions in my editorial "OK You Win" Date 7.12.93. See also the program REED on this disc. DFS users, order BBC-24 for your copy of these hints and tips.  To: 999 (all members) From: K2B (Colin Culpitt-Smith) Subject: Wanted for Master Does anyone have Rom cartridges for the Master that they wish to sell? I also am looking for a SW Rom/Ram board, such as Morley's or Vine Micro's, etc. If you wish to ring, my tel number is 0738-812186. Thanks.  To: 999 (all members) From: K2B Subject: Master's clock Although most Master owners probably are already aware, it came as a shock to me when I read that the clock is only programmed up to the year 1999! It will not accept any attempt to input 2000 or higher, or less than 1900! Why Acorn should allow for 84 years prior to manufacture, and only 15 years after is beyond me! They obviously assume our beloved machines won't last that long, but they've not considered nuts like us! Is there any technical 'whizz-kid' out there who knows if this problem can be resolved? Or do we all expect our Masters to be dead long before 1999?  To: 999 (all members) From: K2B (Colin Culpitt-Smith) Subject: New Year clear-out sale!!! I have the following items for sale:- 2 off Econet modules (Master) `5 ea 2 off " Rom chips ( " ) `3 ea 1 off ADFS Rom chip `8 1 off Edword word proc Rom `5 Acorn Data Recorder & leads `10 2 off Dot Matrix printers `20 ea 2 off 20mB Hard drvs, MFM `20 ea 40t D/S u/c drve, needs lever `8 40/80t D/S cased drve `18 40/80t u/c drve, needs switch `12 2 off BBC User Guides, vgc `3 Clares REPLICA,tape-disk util `3 BBC games on tape:- `1 ea - Galactic Commander - Star Striker - Proteanse - Missile Base - Sabre Wulf - Ultimate I also have a view-data terminal for sale. It's a Tandata 4000, & has a full keyboard, with auto-dial, auto-recall, auto-log-on to Prestel etc and non-vol memory. Almost new. `35 ono. For any of the above, please ring me on 0738-812186, and ask for Colin.  To: 999 (all members) From: K2B Subject: Editing in Basic tip Assume you wish to edit a Basic program line which is in the top half of the screen. If the cursor is in the lower half of the screen, rather than move UP the screen, I find it much quicker to use the DOWN arrow key. This forces the cursor down and then to 'flip' to the top of the screen - a much quicker route if you're impatient like me!  To: 999 (all members) From: K2B Subject: Master utils 'KEY1' & 'CatRd4' I've now had the opportunity to try out these programs by our Editor. 'KEY1' is a dual purpose function key utility, which allows you to define (or not) function keys, and saves any definitions in the machine to disk, using the SPOOL command. This allows for quick and easy re-loading with a *EXEC <name>. The only caution is the need to take care to avoid overwriting previously spooled definitions, as the program uses a default filename. You can however, over-ride this by entering your own filename. I found this utility very useful, and easy to use and modify to suit my own needs. Recommended! 'CatRd4' is the latest version of a program designed to keep us all up to date with the expanding 8BS catalogue. Although primarily for printing out the catalogue, you can also use it to view. You can opt to print out the cat on one side of fanfold, roll or cut sheets, or even on both sides. Another option is to print out only the latest pages - this saves on paper if you only need an update. The program is well documented and has on-screen prompts to insert the next sheet if using cut sheets, or when to turn the paper over if using fanfold or roll paper. I especially liked being able to print any page of the catalogue, but to do this, you need to preview first, making a note of pages you want to print. I am aware that CJR has spent a great deal of time on this program, which has resulted in an excellent tool for us all to use regularly, in keeping up to date with an ever increasing catalogue. I thoroughly recommend you use it - I guarantee you'll be impressed, as I am.           