By C.J.Richardson. This program will archive up to 50
filenames into one. Especially useful
for DFS users. DFS has a filename
limit.
The program will allow you to add files
to the archive at a later date. You
cannot delete files from the archive
(the program could be adapted to do
so).
The program allows you to de-archive
all files or just one and then run it.
You may view the files in the archive.
You may also use * commands.
To use the program:
CHAIN"Arch`de"
The main menu offers you 3 options and
a * command facility:
Option 1. Archive Files.
Choosing this option takes you to a
sub-menu with 2 further options. The
first of which is to start a new
archive, the second to continue
building an existing archive. Both
options start by asking which archive
you want to begin/add to. You then
enter the name/s of the file/s to
archive. Finish by pressing RETURN.
Option 2. De-Archive Files. When you choose this option you are
first asked which archive you want to
split. Enter the filename of the
archive you wish to split. You are then
presented with the available archived
files in that archive. You may now
choose option 1 to de-archive all of
the files or option 2 to de-archive
just one of the files.
If you choose to de-archive just one
file, when de-archiving is complete,
you will be given the option to CHAIN
or *RUN the de-archived file or to
continue in the archiver/de-archiver.
If you use a twin drive, you have no
need to copy archived files to the
blank disc first. Make the drive with
the blank disc the current drive with
*DR. <num>. Then when prompted for the
source file, enter the full pathname
including the drive number.
For example. The archived file View is
in drive 2. The blank disc is in drive
1. Load the de-archiver. Type *DRIVE 1.
Type RUN. Enter 2 to de-archive.
Enter :2.View. Enter 1. The file will
be de-archived directly from drive 2 to
drive 1.
Option 3. View Archived Files. Choosing this option allows you to see
what files are in an archive. Enter
the name of the archive.
* Command. Type * followed by any * command to
change drives etc. Remember that some *
commands corrupt memory and will
overwrite the program.
Do not enter file names longer than 10
characters. This will not allow full
pathnames in ADFS, but as ADFS uses a
directory structure, there is no need
to archive files for ADFS.
This program will probably feature on
future 8BS issues as it enables single
programs to be easily fished out of a
large archive. As a lot of the programs
submitted to 8BS are short and sweet,
this will no longer pose a problem for
DFS users.
From: D5B (Jon Ripley)
Subject: Robert
Robert...(C) 1994 Jon Ripley
I wrote this ROM image for my younger
brother who had a BBC B and used it
only for tape games. It was meant to
be in the highest priority ROM socket
so it would be selected on power on and
CTRL-Break.
It is designed for a BBC B computer
but it will happily work on any BBC.
And is happy in any ROM socket.
I doubt that the program itself will
be of much help to anyone. (Unless you
are called Robert and primarily use
your BBC for playing games on tape.)
I submitted this program as a working
example of a ROM image.
You are welcome to alter the program
for your own needs. (If you submit the
program to anyone or give it to
someone I ask you to credit me for
writing the original source code.)
Instructions...
>*HELP ROBERT
Robert+ 1.00
Back Reverse text
Beep Beeps
Double Double height text
Echo Print a text string
Home Home text cursor
Shell Command Shell
Small Small text
Type Type on all FSs
C+BREAK Load a game
S+BREAK Command Shell
*Back <text>
This command prints the reverse of any
text you enter.
*BACK HELLO WORLD!
Prints
!DLROW OLLEH
And...
*BACK LEWD DID I LIVE EVIL I DID DWEL
Prints
LEWD DID I LIVE EVIL I DID DWEL (!!!)
*Beep
Beeps!
*Double <Text>
Prints double height text (in any
mode).
*Double Big!
*Echo <text>
This command prints text in a format
similar to that used by the *Key
command.
*Echo Hello!
Displays
Hello!
*Echo |LBeep!|G|MBeep!|G|MBeep!|G|M
Will clear the screen and print
'Beep!' 3 times and beep 3 times.
*Home
Moves the text cursor to the top-left
corner of the screen.
*Shell
Selects the command shell.
The following menu is displayed:
As this was written for my younger
brother 'Robert' for his BBC you are
somewhat stuck with that screen!
There are 3 menu options to choose
from.
1) Load a game
Attempts to CHAIN"" a tape program.
2) Use BASIC
Enters BASIC.
3) Use * commands
Enters command mode. You can enter any
* commands.
*Small <text>
Displays half height text in modes 0
to 6. In mode 7 you will just get a
row of .
*Type <filename>
This is the same as the *Type command
on most DFS's but can be used on any
filing system.
C+Break
Tries to CHAIN"" a tape program.
S+Break
Same as *Shell. See *Shell above.
Enjoy!
Robert (C) 1994 Jon Ripley
From: K6N (Brian Raw)
Subject: Parallel Data Transfer V.2
Unfortunately I could only test the
first version of this using two BBC's
which worked fine, however when I
recently tested it on a PC it would
not work. It turns out that PC's and
probably some other computers also
control the passage of data through
their printer ports with the BUSY
signal rather than the ACK signal as
the BBC does.
Just a small change is required to the
adapter i.e. linking ACK to BUSY. The
software however has been radically
altered not least because the timings
are different.
In addition though there are now two
methods of reading the data received:-
Binary...saves all the data as sent.
Ascii....removes all line feeds and
also has a routine to filter
out standard printer commands
which may be customised.
This will depend on the data
being sent not the type of
printer you have.
From: D5B (Jon Ripley)
Subject: Secret Maze Adventure Game
This adventure game was created using
my mini-adventure creation system
available soon only from me.
The adventure file was made into a
stand-alone *Runable adventure using
one of the adventure utilities
supplied on the disc.
You are stuck in an underground
catacomb and must escape. This is a
fairly logical maze and can easily be
mapped.
You have 100 moves before you become
trapped forever...
From: D5B (Jon Ripley)
Subject: Secret Maze
First there was M25!, then there was
Time Switch, and now, the third
adventure game never before released
on the BBC computer. Secret Maze!
This is a small game only containing a
handful of rooms and no objects or
doors. It is, however a difficult game
to complete and can be mapped.
From: D5B (Jon Ripley)
Subject: A quick View Spell tutorial
Recently a lot of questions have been
asked about how to use Acorn's View
Spell package, in response I have
written this tutorial which explains
how View Spell works and how it can
effectively be used to check your
documents.
This tutorial does not cover the use
and creation of user dictionaries and
the more advanced features of the
application, these will be covered in
a future article if the need arises.
If you require any further information,
then give me a call (01323 721091) and
I will answer your questions about any
aspect of this program.
From: D5B (Jon Ripley)
Subject: Hypnotic spiral
A bit of a misnomer really since this
spiral is not hypnotic at all! However
it does create a rather interesting
optical illusion. (And another 1 liner
from my archives.)
Stare at the centre of the spiral for
about 30 seconds and then look at
something. I will leave you to
discover what happens next.
I apologise for the black stripe that
some people might get on their
screens, this is unavoidable.
From: D5B (Jon Ripley)
Subject: An example file from JJR-10
One of the many recent additions to my
library was a disc full of challenging
wordsearches or wordsquares as they
are sometimes called.
This wordsquare contains all the BBC
BASIC keywords for you to find. This
file should be printed for the best
results.
From: D5B (Jon Ripley)
Subject: A/DFS disc format identifier
OSARGS can be used to determine the
currently selected filing system but
there is no feature to determine the
format of a disc without having to do
it manually.
This program runs on any BBC with DFS
and tests whether a disc is ADFS or
DFS format.
It works by attempting to load some
DFS data from the disc, if it is
unable to do so then it assumes that
the disc is ADFS formatted.
From: D5B (Jon Ripley)
Subject: Blank Keystrip Printer
This program is one of the many
utilities on my Printer/View/Wordwise
utilities disc soon to be available
from me at JJR PD.
When you run the program you will be
asked how many function key strips you
would like to be printed. You should
then put some paper into your printer
and follow the prompt in the program
to start printing.
The printed keystrips have three
sections which are for the function
key, SHIFT + function key and CTRL +
function key. You may fill them in as
you wish.
This program can be used to build up a
library of function key strips for all
your programming needs. Either having
the definitions as used by programs
such as View/Interword/8BS Messaging
System/etc or even your own functions
programmed using the *Key command.
From: D7P (JOHN RATCLIFFE)
Subject: PROGRAM HELP
I have sent a program to Chris which I
have written to help you to keep track
of variables when developing Basic
programs. I tend to forget what string
or numerical variables I have used in
a program, so this will remember for
you. (As long as you remember to tell
it as you go, along).
It is easy to use once you get used to
working within a text window, and the
f0 and f1 function keys are all you
use. Just take care not to press f9
though because this removes the help
program and just leaves your own work.
It is arranged so that you can get rid
of the help program once you have
finished. Hope someone finds it
useful.
From: D7P (JOHN RATCLIFFE)
Subject: TELEPHONE NUMBER PROGRAM.
The program called NUMBERS will file,
retrieve, alter or remove telephone
numbers.
When storing numbers I file them under
several different headings. For
example:- John Smith Builder or Smith
John Builder or Builder John Smith. In
this way, even if you only remember
that John Smith is a Builder you can
still find his number etc. When you
want to remove or alter a number you
need only input it once and the prog.
will deal with all listings of that
number at the same time.
When you are filing numbers you should
give the full number with STD code,
but when you need to alter or remove
the number you only need give the last
four digits of the number if you wish
and the program will find it for you.
Once again, I hope someone finds it of
some use.