To: 999 (all members)
From: L1M (Janny Looyenga)
Subject: TimeLapsed (part 2)
Those who have played the TimeLapsed
game might have noticed that I was
wrong concerning the sound. I told you
that S was sound on and Q was quiet.
But only the S key can be used which
toggles the sound on and off.
But I found the chain barricade which
is in the Dungeons 1989! From there
you can teleport to the Church 2050;
the Crypt 2050 or Falling 2050.
It is all confusing without notes and
the best thing to do is to draw maps
either, otherwise you'll soon be lost
somewhere. There is a lot to visit...
Places to visit:
The Forest 0002 1000 1989 2099
The Dungeons 1439 1989
The Crypt 1560 1989 2050
The Museum 1900 1989 2150
The Church 1560 1989 2050
The Mine 1521 1989
Large Cave 2753 1066 1989 2060
Falling! 1989 2050
And here the single ones:
In a cave 1750
A passage 2150
Transporters 2150
Space-lost 2600
A cave 1989
Small cave 1989
An aerobed 2475
A passageway 2050
Nearly There 1989
These are the Time-places I found and
because of 1989 being all around, I
suppose that this is the present time
for you and you'll have to cut down
all barricades to find what??? and to
return to 1989 again (Nearly There
1989)???
ENJOY!!!
To: 999 (all members)
From: L1M (Janny Looyenga)
Subject: CATER
On behalf of Chris Brederode thanks
for your suggestions, questions,
improvements, etc. All your advice can
be done but not by Chris himself.
Being very busy! I received some new
programs from him which I'll translate
as soon as possible. You are allowed
to change his programs to your hearts
content and that leaves me with the
thought that I'll have to translate
the REM's too! His programs are indeed
very user-friendly when you can read
it all...I'll do my best.
Some improvements you can make:
To let the caterpillar run and grow
faster: you can change the time in a
lower number on lines 1950 and 2060.
To let it move immediately this CAN
be done, but you'll miss the chance to
view the rules again and last but not
least: The Automatic Pilot!
What's that?!
Press ! when the caterpillar is there
and you shall see...and wonder...
To: 999 (all members)
From: K4V (Trevor Crapper)
Subject: Getting Started
Just a little primer for those of you
who may be thinking about building a
database. Don't get put off by the
names used in these program, FIELD, no
in this case it isn't where we grow
potatoes, or put the cows out to
graze. This is the area where you type
in your data. FIELDNAME, oddly enough
farmers do name their fields, a read
through a book on English place names
will tell you what some are called. In
our case though it is the name you
give to your FIELD. You may be told by
the program how many characters long
this name can be. RECORD, does in this
case stand for the collective number
of FIELDs you have for each individual
entry in your database.
Good advice time now, gather as much
information on your choosen subject as
you can. One of the jobs that could
take up a lot of time is deciding what
each Fieldname is to be called and in
conjunction where each Field is to be
placed. To save a lot of frustration
at this stage sit down and draw up on
paper a list of likely Fieldnames and
then shuffle then around until you
have something approaching a database.
All this does help in others way too
because it stores vital info and it
also keeps reminding you. There is
nothing so infuriating as to get
halfway through typing in your data
only to find you have missed some part
out! If you can draw up a simple Xmas
Card list of names, addresses, post
codes and card sent then you are well
on the way. If I can do it so can you.
To: 999 (all members)
From: K6B (STEVE/CONNELL)
Subject: SOFTWARE
DOES AYONE KNOW OF ANY PROGRAMS THAT
WILL RUN ON A PC THAT WILL LET ME READ
AND WRITE BBC DISKS.TEL.0942/515259.
To: 999 (all members)
From: K6B (STEVE/CONNELL)
Subject: PRINTERS
CAN ANYONE HELP ME I HAVE A CP80
PARALLEL PRINTER WHICH WILL NOT PRINT
OUT GRAPHICS,I HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING I
CAN THINK OF TO GET IT TO WORK BUT
NOTHNG HAPPENS,I CAN PRINT TEXT OK BUT
NOTHING ELSE.
ALSO I'M LOOKING FOR A MOUSE SO IF
ANYONE OUT THERE HAS A SPARE PLEASE
GIVE ME A CALL ON 0942-515259
To: 999 (all members)
From: 0E7 (Fred Nevin)
Subject: VIEWSHEET HELP!
I have a problem with VIEWSHEET that I
belive is impossible to solve but
someone out there may know
differently.
PROBLEM
If I put a value into slot A1 I
want it to appear in slot B1 (This can
be achieved by placing A1 in slot B1)
We now have the same value in slots A1
& B1
(Here comes the hard part)
If I put a new value into slot A1 how
can I get it to go automatically into
slot B2 and the original value in slot
B1 remain unaltered.
I want to use slot A1 as an INPUT SLOT
only and have each successive Input
transferred to another designate slot
without loosing the previously inputted
slot data.
Can this be achieved by any method
HELP!!! please
Fred
To: 999 (all members)
From: K5U (Simon Godfrey)
Subject
I've seen in various Beeb magazines
instructions for connecting an
external speaker to the beeb in order
to give louder sound... Two such
articles appeared in 8BS issue 17 and
more recently in issue 27.
This however, will not improve the
sound quality very much and will only
increase the volume to the Beeb's
maxmum.
I found a much better solution in the
Island Logic Music System manual a few
years ago.........
"...One unforunate design oversight
with the BBC B computer is the absence
of an audio output. The BBC B speaker
will provide enough volume and
fidelity for most users. However the
more advanced user may wish to connect
the system up to either an external
loudspeaker or even a Hi-Fi amplifier.
etc..... There are two methods.....
1. attaching a speaker to PL15 ...etc
(as described in 8BS issues 17/27)
2. A more substantial modification can
be achieved by taking a co-ax cable
from the two unused socket holes PL16
on the main PCB to a socket fixed into
a spare hole in the back of your BBC B
(eg econet expansion hole). It is
important that the polarity of the
cable is correct. The cable must be
soldered in to PL16 using a 'plate-
through-hole' technique. This work must
be done by a qualified technician."
I had no problem in locating the PL16
holes on my Model B. They are two
soldered holes on the left-hand side
of the main circuit board, just under
the keyboard. Where they are on the B+
Master or Compact - and whether they
carry the same signals I don't know...
Once one end of the cable is connected
to PL16 and the other to an output
plug/socket (eg a female phono socket)
a lead can link your beeb to the
'audio in' or 'line in' of a Hi-Fi,
tape-recorder or another type of
amplifier. As my monitor has an
internal speaker, I have connected my
beeb to the monitor's 'audio in' so I
can control the beeb's sound by
adjusting adjusting the volume knob on
the monitor - VERY LOUD to very quiet
These instructions are pretty vague,
but hopefully they will make sense to
anybody 'qualified' to carry them out.
If you're unsure of what you're doing,
I suggest you let someone else have a
go - then blame them when everything
goes wrong!!!
If you don't know any such person, a
TV/Hi-Fi repair shop should be able to
add the audio output socket very
cheaply, then the lead from the Beeb
to the amp will cost around `2.
I cannot accept any responsibility for
loss of machine, life or limb in
connection with the above alteration.
I would, however be happy to advise
or guide anyone who gets stuck.
(contact me via 8BS message system)
To: 999 (attn. R.Moffatt K5A)
From: K5U (Simon Godfrey)
Subject
You may have tape problems for a
number of reasons:
** VOLUME **
Most BBC-compatible tape decks output
to the computer at a fixed volume only
but some may not - in which case
you'll get errors if the volume is too
high or low. You can test for this by
trying to load something with the
volume set to its lowest (zero). If
nothing happens, then it's obviously
not a fixed volume tape deck. Set to
about ¾ and try again.. then slightly
louder, quieter etc - trial and error.
** TONE **
You didn't mention whether your tape
player has a TONE control - If it has,
this should be set to MAX, or TREBLE
as the Beeb's data is recorded on tape
at quite a high pitch, which will be
muffled if the tone is set too low.
Likewise, sound filters such as Dolby
should be turned OFF at all times.
** MAINS LEADS **
The audio lead from the tape to the
Beeb should be kept as far away as
possible from mains leads, the monitor
and other high-voltage things like
mains-adptors etc.
** DIRTY TAPE HEADS **
This is usually regarded as the main
'fault', but so long as they are
cleaned once or twice a year they
should not cause any problems. Rather
than buying a 'tape care kit', it's
much cheaper AND EFFECTIVE to clean
them with a cottonwool-bud soaked in
Isopropryl Alcohol. This is available
from most chemists for `1 - Big bottle
WARNING!!! This is Poisonous stuff !!!
** TAPE HEAD ALIGNMENT **
This I think is the most important...
If the play/record head (the one in
middle) is badly adjusted, the quality
of sound will reduce considerably.
It's perhaps easier to understand why
if you think of the tape-head as a
skier (left&right skis reading left&
right sound), and the tape/music
as ready-made ski-tracks... if the
skier's skis are too far left (fig.1)
then the journey will be rough (so the
sound will be distorted)...
figure£1 (badly adjusted)
L
[[ R [[ TAPE [[
Tape-Head
There are two screws connecting the
tape-head to the chassis/mechanism.
One of these is the adjustment screw.
The other fastens the head in place -
please note the fastening screw should
be as tight as possible. Otherwise the
head may wobble (or come off!!!)
To adjust the head's position (the
'azimuth') you will need to tighten or
loosen the adjustment screw. This
screw often has a spring underneath it
or coloured-glue on the screw head to
keep it in place.
Most tape decks have a small hole in
the outer casing, just above the tape
head. You can insert a screwdriver
through this. If you don't have a
small hole, you may need to play a
tape with the tape-door open...
(if this is possible??)
You must <PLAY> a cassette in the tape
deck WHILE you are adjusting the head.
The tape should be a CLEAR recording,
with lots of tinny noises (cymbals etc)
Beware! - This tape may get mangled!!!
Basically, listen to the tape's music
very carefully as you adjust the screw.
When the music is at its clearest, the
head is at its prime position.
But.. tapes previously recorded with
badly adjusted heads will now only
play clearly on badly adjusted heads..
*** Confused??? *** I hope not..
Please don't attempt the above if
you're not >50% sure you understand!
I accept no responsiblity for... etc
To: 999 (attn. R.Moffatt K5A)
From: K5U (Simon Godfrey)
Subject
If you are planning to write/play
music on your Beeb, I'd strongly
recommend you to get hold of a
MUSIC 5000, which is an 8-track stereo
synthesizer using a ROM-based language
called AMPLE. You create your music
rather like a Basic program.
Each section of music, instrument,
sound effect etc is stored as a 'word'
and each word is called-up from the
main 'word' to play the full piece of
music. (confused???) It's similar to
PROCedures in Basic.
The main problem (I find) with the
5000 is that it doesn't let you 'play'
the music from the Beeb's keyboard -
unless you shell-out a further `150 or
so on a special add-on keyboard.
However, If you're interested in
writing STRUCTURED music, Ample is
great - and has some excellent sounds,
which you can alter or create yourself
You should be able to pick up a 2nd
hand one for around `50 (see 8BS ads
or 'Micro Mart' magazine). If you'd
like further info or a brand new 5000
I do believe the manufacturers are
still supporting it. Send SAE to:
Hybrid Music Information Technology Ltd
88 Butt Lane, Milton, Cambridge CB4 6DG
Telephone: (0223) 861522
If you just want to use the Beeb as a
'musical wordprocessor' for writing
and printing scores, then Hybrid also
supply a software package 'Music
Publisher' which does just that job,
and can print complicated scores on
any Epson-compatible 9/24-pin printer
To: 999 (for attn. of 3TR)
From: K5U (Simon Godfrey)
Subject: Running BASIC programs on PC
I've no idea how you can execute
OSWORDS on the IBM, but the following
info might help you:
Two packages still being produced for
the IBM PC are:
BeebPC(BASIC) 1.16
BBC Basic for the IBM - Full basic
commands except for 10 or so commands
related to sound or memory.
`39.00
BeebDOS 3.00
When installed on an IBM, the PC will
then read/write/create BBC-format
disks. Nearly all formats - DFS, ADFS,
Single Density, Double Density,
40-track, 80-track etc...
Uses DFS commands with a 'B' in front
eg. BCAT, BFORM, BWIPE etc
`45.00 Full vesion
` 5.00 Test Pack
The test pack tests for compatibility,
the `5.00 is refundable if you buy the
full vesion later.
Supplier/Info:
Microboss Ltd, 3 Hadleigh Road,
Frinton On Sea, Essex, CO13 9HG
Tel: 0255 671095
I haven't actually tried either of the
above but from the info sheets they
sent to me about 9 months ago it looks
pretty impressive. ...but expensive
I purchased 'BBC BASIC86' for the PC
from an advert in MicroMart magazine.
(for `35 I think) - This is an
excellent vesion of BASIC, but of
course doesn't read BBC disks as
BeebDOS does. I believe the guy I
bought it from had MORE copies of it.
Unfortunately I no longer have his
address.... A quick (long!) look
through MicroMart might be a goodidea!
To: 999 (all members)
From: K2K (Peter Davy)
Subject: Re-ink
Steve Flintham's mention of Re-ink in
the magazine issue no.35 has prompted
me to report on my limited experience
with it. I too obtained my can from the
Micro User but I did receive an A-5
sheet of instructions. My copy is now
well speckled with ink as a result of
having it too close when spraying my
first LX-80 ribbon. Before ordering
from the Micro User I did ask a local
computer shop if they stocked a
re-inking kit. They said no and
strongly advised against it on the
grounds that it could damage the print
head. No doubt a sincerely held view
but possibly influenced by the
prospect of a sharp decline in ribbon
sales!
I found that about 12 squirts gave
good results with an LX-80 ribbon.
With an original ribbon the darkness
of the text seems to diminish to
infinity - however long the ribbon is
used there is always something visible
on the paper. With a re-inked ribbon I
have found that over about one A-4
sheet the darkness can deteriorate
from "acceptable" to blank paper. No
it wasn't the print head having been
damaged by using Re-ink as all was
well when a new re-inked ribbon was
installed!
To: 999 (all members)
From: K5A (Robin Moffatt)
Subject: Archimedes Mice
Does anyone know if it is possible to
modify the Archimedes mouse so that it
can be used on a BBC Master with AMX
Super Art
To: 999 (all members)
From: K5A (Robin Moffatt)
Subject: Arc to BBC
Is there a filetype on the Arc I
could use to transfer pictures onto the
BBC, and if so, how would I then
access the pictures on the BBC
To: 999 (all members)
From: K5A (Robin Moffatt)
Subject: HELP!
When using my Master 128 I sometimes
find that the colour intensity will
'flicker', sometimes being being
normal but sometimes becoming more
intense, as if I had turned it up.
Is this my monitor playing up or is it
my computer. Will it affect my
computer. Is it damaging?
HELP!
HELP!
HELP!
To: 999 (all members)
From: K5A (Robin Moffatt)
Subject: Mandelbrots
PLEASE Would anyone like to have a go
at explaining to me how te mandelbrot
set is obtained?
PRESS BREAK