From : 4B2 (Ron Marshall)
To : L1L (Jock Smylie)
Subject : Inkjets on the Beeb
I have a Canon BJ300 which is
switchable between Epson and IBM modes.
Works perfectly with View and WW+ on
the Master, with the embedded codes
(in WW) to suit. My deskjet 500C is OK
too, but the HP codes are horrendous.
If graphics are set up to suit Epson,
the Canon is ok there too. The Canon is
superb on my 486 PC with the deskjet
not far behind.
To: 999 (all members)
From: K5A (Robin Moffatt)
Subject: General
I am 15 years old and new to the BBC.
I am interested in programming and
games (amongst other things) and I
would be very grateful for any help
from anyone on the following points:
1) I would like to use a modem with my
BBC Master and would appriciate any
advice on using one, setting one
up and just general information eg.
what the different speeds are etc.
2) WANTED!!
i) Any Cheap bundles of games that you
are wanting to get rid of(!)
ii) A Cheap 5¼+3½ drive or double 5¼
drive
3) Is there any one who would like to
swap information/help about the BBC (I
know very little about the BBC but I
know a lot about the Archimedes)
4) I have got a Sanyo Model DR101 tape
recorder, and have tried, without
success to run tape games from it.
Whenever I try to load a game, it
printthe message "Searching", and
reads some blocks of data and then
prints the message "Data?" and doesn't
load the program. On the cassette
recorder there are 3 settings;
Volume, PH (2 settings- Nor an Rev)
and Mode, with 3 settings, Normal,
Data moni on and Data moni off.
Is there anyone who has any
suggestions as to why it isn't
working?
To: 999 (all members)
From: K3Y (Lorna Jenne)
Subject: Sideways Ram on B+
Having jut got a 64K ram upgrade kit
for my B+. Plus ATPL sideways rom
board,thanks to 8BS member who told
us about Flowchart sale of Beeb bits.
I need to fit them. I am quite
good with a soldering iron, but I was
wondering if any one out there has any
experience of these two kits and could
give me any advice on the fitting
process. I have a copy of Acorns 64K
Daughter Board instr. but does anyone
have any special hints?
To: 999 (all members)
From: K2U (DAVE BROWN)
Subject: GENERAL
HELLO ALL YOU BBC OWNERS I HAVE JUST
AQUIRED A SECOND HAND PRINTER A ACORN
AP-100A AT A LOCAL SCHOOL I HAVE
PLUGEDIN THE PRINTER ON MY SPARE BBC B
THE PRINTER LIGHTS UP BUT WILL NOT
PRINT THE BEEB CAPS AND SHIFT LOCK
BOTH LIGHT DOES THE PRINTER NEED
SOMETHING I DO NOT KNOW AS A NOVICE.
MY EPSON MX70 WORKS FINE ON MY OTHER
BBC BOT AS I WILL BE GIVING THE OTHER
ONE TO MY DAUGHTERS TO USE
ANY ONE OUT WHO CAN HELP HELP HELP
MANY MANY THANKS DAVID
TEL 0233 621053
To: 999 (all members)
From: 3TR (MIKE FLEMING)
Subject: HELP WITH IBM OSWORD7F
I am trying to write a program that
will run on an IBM PC in BASIC. I
DON'T use Windows, and will probably
use BASICA/GW-BASIC.
The problem is that I want to develop
the program on my MASTER-128/512, and
to be able to access discs at BLOCK /
SECTOR level...... like can be done
with BBC Basics OSWORD &7F. Could
somebody please supply an example
routine of:
A) How to pass the parameters for
track no.,track size, sector no
B) How to invoke the 'CALL &FFF1'
equivalent
C) How to access the results.
I have written programs/routines
that run on the BBC that can read
IBM discs, now I want an IBM prog
that can read BBC discs.
If I achieve my aim, 8BS will be sent
copies.
Thanks for any guidance.
To: 999 (all members)
From: 2J3 (Chris Richardson.)
Subject: 8BS wants:
A disc version of White Knight 12. Does
it exist?
Wanted urgently, a volunteer to
continue entering data into the 8BS
catalogue that YJ2 started. The
catalogue details weverything that has
been on 8BS issues.
The latest version of this list can be
found on TBI-00. Anyone wishing to
continue to update this list for 8BS
would be regarded as being a true hero
of our times as this would save the
editor a bit of his valuable time.
To: 999 (all members)
From: K2E (Mick Reeves)
Subject: Beebug Master Rom required,
preferably with manual. Also, can
anyone supply, or advise me where to
obtain a longer printer lead for my
son's Panasonic KX-P1081. The standard
one restricts the positioning of the
printer to his desk, and with that and
the computer, there isn't much room
for him to do any writing.
Please reply to:-
31 St.Mary'a Avenue,
Hemingbrough,
Selby,
N.Yorks YO8 7YY.
Tel:0757-638643. Thank you.
To: 999 (all members)
From: K5A (Robin Moffatt)
Subject: Flight sims
Is there anyone out there who would
like to swap information about 4th
Dimensions 'Birds of War'. I think
that it is a brilliant game, but that
the manual is pathetic, not even
explaining how to use the ILS!
Also, is there anyone who can
recommend a good flight simulator for
te BBC Master.
To: 999 (all members)
From: K5A (Robin Moffatt)
Subject:
(All for Master 128)
Red Arrows
Cholo
technoCAD (Seen advertised by
Technomatic in BAU Oct. '89)
Music Processor (Publishe by
Mid-Sussex Software)
Musical Dictation (Published by
Musicality Software)
I am studying Music G.C.S.E and I
would appriciate any advice or
programs for my Master 128 which would
help in writing/printing music.
To: 999 (all members)
From: K2I (John Wilson)
Subject: Dyslexic children
K3X expressed some interest in 8BS 34
in programs for dyslexic children.
There is a dyslexia centre devoted to
computer information as follows:
The Dyslexia Computer Resource Centre
Department of Psycology,
University of Hull,
Hull HU6 7RX
Tel: 0482 465589
I have not had reason to contact them,
but they may be able to help.
There are also some specific programs
written to assist in this area
including "Games for Dyslexic
Children" from IEC Software.
To: 999 (all members)
From: K2I (John Wilson)
Subject: Wordwise +
Can someone please lend me a Wordwise
Plus manual. I have a ROM but no
details of the subtlety of operation.
Guaranteed return in 72 hrs!!
I will gladly refund postage or any
other costs involved.
4 Rosebank, Lostock, Bolton BL6 4PE.
0204 492261
To: 999 (all members)
From: K3H (ALBERT SCHOFIELD)
Subject: TAPE TO DISC ON THE BBC'B'
First I would like to deal with MR.
Gallagher's problem which he is having
with 'MAGIC MUSHROOMS'. It is basically
a tape to disc problem as your disc
version has originated from tape and
has not been fully transferred. Just
over half way through the main file
there are two references to TAPE. Use
a sector editor to change these to
DISC and you will then be able to save
and load screens to disc.
This month I am going to deal with
the problem of LOCKED files on tape.
A LOCKED file on tape can only be
*RUN. It cannot be *LOADed or *DUMPed.
It cannot therefore be transferred to
disc. However there are plenty of
utilities for unlocking files on tape
and locking them again. Once unlocked
they can be transferred to disc in the
usual way and most files work just as
well unlocked as locked.
On the other hand some files when
unlocked will not work and locking
them on disc is of no use as this is
a different method altogether.
So what can be done ? If you have
sideways ram the ROM FILING SYSTEM is
very similar to the CASSETTE FILING
SYSTEM, so the file can be put into a
ROM image, locked once again and will
work from the RFS. A short loader
program can be used to load the ROM
image and *RUN the locked file
something like the following:-
10 *KEY10 *ROM|MPAGE=&E00|M*OPT1,2|M
*RUN filename|M
20 ?&FF34=0:*LOAD filename 8000
30 CALL!-4
The first line programs the break key
to enter the RFS. The OPT command lets
you see the file loading and then the
locked file is *RUN. The second line
selects the rom bank to be used, in
this case bank 4. Alter the 4 for any
other bank. Then the rom image is
loaded from disc. Use the filename you
have chosen. The last line 'presses'
the break key which initialises the
rom image and *RUNs the locked file.
That is one way of doing it. But what
if you do not have SWR. There is
another and better way but not as
simple. The reason the locked file
will not work when unlocked is because
the execution address is a false one
so if you can find the true execution
address then the file will work as
normal without having to be locked.
But how do you find it ? It is not
always easy. It is in the file
somewhere and in reverse order. In
some acornsoft games such as VOLCANO
the true execution address is the last
two HEX numbers on the file in
reverse. In the case of VOLCANO the
last two HEX numbers are A0 and 44,
therefor the true execution address is
&44A0.
Last of all there is another type of
locked file which when unlocked will
not work and when it is locked again
it still will not work so I can only
assume that it is locked originally in
some special way. That is why if this
type of file is backed up with a tape
copier which has unlocking facilities,
the resultant copy will not work. So
with this type of file the SWR method
cannot be used. The only way is to
find the true execution address. With
this type of file there is usually a
short machine code loader which
contains the true execution address.
The file can also be *DUMPED and
various addresses tried but unless you
are an expert in machine code it can
be a long task.
Next month I will be discussing
various tape to disc utilities.
To: 999 (all members)
From: K5P (ANDREW FAY)
Subject: PC+ 512K EXPANSION
I have recently bought a Master 128,
a 512 board and an external Z80
Co-Pro. I would like to be able to
expand my 512 to 1M, but I believe
that it needs to be soldered in. I was
wondering if anyone has an expansion
board for sale, or knows where I could
get one. Any suggestions here or
direct to me, please:
Andrew Fay,
Garden Flat,
12a Northumberland Tce,
West Hoe, Plymouth.
PL1 3DD.
Thanks,
Andy Fay.
To: 999 (all members)
From: K4R (ROBIN MOROM)
Subject: BUG IN SPELLMASTER
(OR HOW TO LOSE YOUR USERDIC)
If you are a keen user of Spellmaster
as I am, then you will know that one
of the many good features is the
ability to create your own dictionary
to add to the one supplied. This is
great because we all have words,
names, addresses, etc which are
special to us. On starting work it is
necessary to load your own dictionary
to sideways RAM. According to the
manual the command *DLOAD on it's own
will load the file USERDIC by default.
Unfortunately this is NOT QUITE
correct. It will, in fact load the
first file beginning with U which it
comes to! There is no error message
when this happens and you may load
garbage to the SWR. When you finish
with Spellmaster and do a *DSAVE this
garbage is then written to disc and
ovewrites your carefully collected
favourite words!
The answer of course is not to depend
on the default setting and always use
*DLOAD USERDIC 4 (or whatever) in full
in your !BOOT file.
I discovered this the hard way
by starting a Directory called UGROUPS
on my Interword letters disc and
losing all my long accumulated words.
To: 999 (all members)
From: K3Y (Lorna Jenne)
Subject: Fitting 64K RAM Upgrade to
B Plus
Any tips on doing the above? I have
just got a kit from Watford and have
some infomation from Acorn (1990) on
fitting the 64K Sideways RAM Daughter
Board. Any hints from anyone would be
most helpful.
To: 999 (all members)
From: K3Y (Lorna Jenne)
Subject: Equipment
DISPLAY ELECTRONICS 081-679-4414
sell lots of electronics including
computer equipment. I just got an
uncased 80 track drive for Beeb for
`38 (90 day guarantee),40 Track `25
They also sell printers etc and PCs.
They do mail order from Upper Norwood
and a shop at 215 Whitehorse Lane,
South Norwood. London. They are well
worth a phone call to see what is on
offer.
P.S. Just Got a 12" RGB Monitor from
them including connection lead for
`116.57
To: 999 (all members)
From: K5L (JOHN WHITHAM)
Subject: PRINTER HELP!
I HAVE RECENTLY AQUIRED AN OLIVETTI
JP101 PRINTER,FOR WHICH I HAVE NO
MANUAL OR INFORMATION OF ANY
KIND.CONSEQUENTLY I AM RIPPING MY HAIR
OUT,TRYING TO DISCOVER WHY THE CONTROL
CODES FOR SUCH THINGS AS UNDERLINING
etc. PRODUCE RESULTS RESEMBLING
"|||TEXT".(ie.vert lines & no underln)
IF ANYONE CAN SUUPLY ME WITH ANY
INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM OR
ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS PRINTER IN
GENERAL,MY REMAINING HAIR LINE WILL BE
ETERNALLY GRATEFULL.
To: 999 (all members) & L1L
From: 15A (Steven Flintham)
Subject: Driving inkjet printers
I don't actually know much about this
(so if anyone else has offered any
advice, ignore this!) but I believe
that inkjet printers will happily
accept text in the same way as dot
matrix and daisywheel printers,
probably utilising some fairly simple
control codes to change typestyle etc.
Graphics would almost certainly
require a specially written program,
but an Epson dot matrix emulation may
be available (or am I getting confused
with some laser printers here?)
Obviously, you wouldn't want to make a
purchase on this sort of advice, but
it would almost certainly be safe to
try connecting an inkjet.
To: 999 (all members)
From: 15A (Steven Flintham)
Subject: Reinking printer ribbons
A few years ago now, I bought a can of
'ReInk 21' from the subscription pages
of The Micro User (as it was then). My
first experiences with this were
somewhat abortive and it was left in a
cupboard until recently, but spurred
on by the recent comments in 8BS and
increasingly faint printout I recently
reinked the ribbons in both of our
LX80's.
ReInk 21 is (I believe - no
instructions were supplied and only
minimal details are given on the can)
a mixture of ink, solvent and (if the
original advertisement is to be
believed) printhead lubricating oils.
Ignoring the latter, I suppose the
idea is that the ink will be absorbed
by the ribbon and that the solvent
will help it to spread evenly, as well
as helping to spread the ink left at
the 'edges' of the ribbon which the
printhead does not use. It is designed
to be sprayed into the cartridge with
the ribbon inside.
I suspect that K2T's 'Ribbon Refresh'
is similar. Apart from avoiding having
to take the ribbon out of the
cartridge, you should bear in mind
that a reinking spray will actually
'add' ink to the cartridge, rather
than just spreading out the unused ink
as will WD 40 (although I admit that
this is probably cheaper and that
there is probably quite a lot of
unused ink on most ribbons)
PRESS BREAK