8-Bit Software Online Conversion

                                                      To: 999 (all members) From: K2B (Colin Culpitt-Smith) Subject: Z88 to BBC Archiving I have been given the OK by a writer of some excellent s/ware for the Z88/BBC, to make it available to any user. One program backs up all Z88 files into one big archive file. However, there is a bug in this Archiver, in the machine code part. So before it can be offered to users via 8BS, are there any machine code experts out there, who would be willing to sort out what can only be a simple problem? Any help would be appreciated, and will benefit many users within 8BS. Ring me on 01738-812186, or contact me via 8BS.  To: 999 (all members) From: D3C (JIM MCCOLL) Subject: MUSIC ROM/MIDI Does anyone have any info about Music Roms and/or Midi connections for the Beeb? I have a Casio HT3000 keyboard and would like to link it to the Beeb. I would also appreciate any info on the Music Rom, I think that it is from Bee-Bug. I can load the Rom from disc into the SWR but can't get to run.  To: 999 (all members) From: 4TK Subject: Keyboard Malfunction Quite a few members appear to have problems with keys not operating, this is due in most instances to dust and foreign bodies getting underneath them. I too have had this problem in the past and have found a simple and cheap remedy. To clean the keyboard use a vacuum cleaner in the following manner. Fit the hose to the OUTLET. Give it a good blow OUT of the WINDOW tapping the hose along it's entire length to remove any dust. Place the nozzle close to the keys at one end and let it blow while you brush between ALL the keys with a CLEAN dry paintbrush. Still with the vacuum blowing from the same end TAP all keys. Now try them all. Should any still malfunction - do it again. Once you are satisfied everything is operating OK cover the keyboard with a strip of CLINGFILM PERMANENTLY. Normal clingfilm is wide enough to cover the keyboard and the keystrip and will adhere to the case sides in the usual way. One fault is that finger nails mark the clingfilm and it has to be changed frequently, in my case - weekly. When you do change the clingfilm you will be pleasantly surprised.... the keyboard will look as new!. For those of you who wish to do the job professionally proper 'SEAL 'n TYPE' shrink covers are available from; KADOR Pontcynon Industrial Estate ABERCYNON MID GLAMORGAN CF45 4EP Tel: 01443 740281 These are of excellent quality and very reasonably priced at around ten to fifteen pounds each. I should add that my catalogue is probably a couple of years old now. I bought one for my Beeb at a show for nine pounds from them. My best wishes to everybody, Henry Frost. Tel:(0181) 994 1989. EDITOR....... Remember, 8BS has spare key switches, keytops and keyboards for sale!  To: 999 (all members) From: K4U (Chris Robbins) Subject: Help Wanted 29 Sandpit Lane St. Albans Herts AL1 4EW Phone : 01727 830264 I've recently acquired a SIRIUS Model 457. It looks vaguely like a standard PC although the keyboard layout is a bit peculiar. But, I have no manuals and no other information on it, apart from three 5.25 inch discs, only one of which (a very early version of MS-DOS) seems to work. Any information would be much appreciated.  To: 999 (all members) From: K2B (Colin Culpitt-Smith) Subject: HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!! Can anyone please offer help and/or software? I have an eprommer known as 'SoftLife', but without the correct software, I'm stuck! This eprommer will program 8k & 16k eproms, in voltages of 25, 21 or 12.5. I've tried using other s/ware such as Morley's but unsurprisingly, it won't work properly! Any help appreciated. Please ring 01738-812186, or contact me via 8BS messages - Many thanks.  To: 999 (all members) From: Andrew Fay K5P Subject: Help Wanted Help Wanted:Can anyone help with the pinout ofthe serial port on a Red Leader from a Red Box system. Or alternatively tell me how the 5 pin to 7 pin Din lead for a Red Box system is wired up. I would also appreciate the pinout for a Red three (analogue input) unit and might even consider purchasing further Red boxes if I was offered, especially Red Ones. Many thanks, Andy Fay (01752) 673659  To: 999 (all members) From: Andrew Fay K5P Subject: Help Wanted Can anyone help with details of a BBC FireFly Personality Card from Quest International Computer Technology Ltd. I believe it should go between a SCSI Hard Disk and the 1MHz bus. The 1MHZ bus seems OK, but the SCSI end only has a 40 way IDC connector instead of a 50 way one. I would be greatful if anyone could help with the pinout of the 40 way IDC and the purpose of the 8 switches, marked A4-7, SEL 1&2, NPGFC & NPGFD. Many thanks, Andy Fay (01752) 673659  EDITOR.......... These messages arrived too late for this issue really. However I have bunged them into one file. They cover various subjects. To: 999 (all members) From: L1M (Janny Looyenga) Subject: COBWEBS (BBC B only)! THE SOLIDISK SIDEWAYS RAM UTILITIES. I sent these a long time ago and explained all in a message to Chris, but digged it up for you, so read on.. There are not many menu's which recognize bank E from the Solidisk SWR, so my husband (Mr Looyenga) wrote some handy utilities for me: START and ROMSL. The START program is ment as a sort of !BOOT file. When you have a ROM image on disc, say TD,- (a TAPE to DISC rom) - you have to LOAD it, give a hard BREAK for initialising and call it with *TD. You can put all in a !BOOT file except the *TD - this will not work and you'll get the error message BAD COMMAND. To avoid this all you can use this START program. When you make a !BOOT file and you put CHAIN"STARTTD" in it, the TD ROM is loaded and called by *TD. Beware: The TD-ROM is only suitable for use with the 8271 Disc Controller! You can use the START program for different 'work-discs', for instance word-processing: Do you use the SCRIBE rom? List the program and change the naam$= into SCRB1.3 and the bank$ you want it in, the E or F. At the end of the program you change the *TD into *SCRIBE,then !BOOT the disc et voila there is the SCRIBE menu and you can start editing. You can even load two ROMS with this program, but you'll have to make two files: an E-file and an F-file. Call it E-rom and F-rom. In the E-rom you put the ROM you want to load into the E bank and on the last line you chain the F-rom. In the F-rom file you put the ROM you want to load into the F bank and again on the last line you place the CALL you need to init the ROM. Use a !BOOT file to chain the E-rom! INTERWORD uses TWO ROMS... I hope it is clear now; but remember the ROM images have to be on the discs of course. Maybe now you understand why the file on disc is called STARTTD? The ROMSL will give no trouble I suppose, just LOADs ROM images into the wanted SWR bank (E or F) or SAVEs them onto disc. Btw: My husband's name is LUUT.  To: 999 (all members) From: L1M (Janny Looyenga) Subject: BEEBUG Volume 2. There are some files missing on my copy of this Volume: Issue 1 misses Tune - part of Composer Issue 2 misses DP1 Issue 6 misses Rapids game (damaged) Who has the missing files for me? Thanks.  To: 2J3 From: L1M (Janny Looyenga) Subject: SCREEN                                                                      