Well, the birthday meeting was a smash hit! Thanks to all of those who attended. The Club made a substantial amount of money and now is looking forward to future expansions. Joe Danko and the other officers have shared ideas with me about how we think the Club can expand and we want your input!
September and October are going to be important meetings for this reason and something else ... ELECTIONS! In November, don't forget, the SPACE elections will be held. Please plan to attend the meetings to get more information on these comming events.
I would like to take some time here to talk about Lance Rinquist. Many of you know him, he is at the meetings faithfully with a table of new software, for the ATARI computers and 2600/7800 systems. Lance has some good software, software that is becomming rapidly hard to find. I noticed AUTODUEL, LORDS OF CONQUEST, DROPZONE, F-15 STRIKE EAGLE, and a few other REALLY GOOD titles on his table at the last meeting. Lance has told me that in order to serve the ATARI user better, he has lowered his prices almost to his cost. On some titles, he barley makes $3. I think that this kind of service should not go by unnoticed. We are very lucky to have Mr. Linquist comming, there is literally no place left to buy ATARI software of this kind. COMPUTER STATION has been unable to get ATARI software new for four months and there is no other ATARI dealer here in Minnesota. All in all it is really up to you, but please, if you see something on his table that you need, consider purchasing it. I have many of these programs and I will start bringing them in for demostrations. Lance is doing his best to support the ATARI community, let us try to help him out, too.
That's really about it for this month. Now that the fall season is here, computers will begin to come back on, and the September through Christmas meetings usually are above average attendances. Please try to come to see what the future holds for SPACE, right now, it looks REALLY BRIGHT! See you all at the meetings, Happy Computing!
The following is what I got from Nathan. I asked him If he had takers down the minutes or had someone take them. Pat Krenn could not make it to the meeting due to prior commitments.
Damm! I knew I forgot something! No, tell you what, just relate the events of the evening.
The main things are:
SIGN UP SHEETS for T-Shirts will be at the next meeting, also there will be a $2 deposit on each T-shirt ordered.
Dave Cole won the BALLBLAZER tournament, the ARCHON tournament was left in limbo cuz of time, the finalists were Nathan Bock,Dave Cole and Benjamin Brosdahl.
The library will be offering software
for sale as usual, at the meeting or
via the US mail. All disks are $3
each. If you can't make the meeting
call Joe Danko at 777-9500 after 6 PM
or mall your request to:
Joe Danko
2766 Chisholm Av. N.
N. St.Paul, MN 55109
Mailed software will cost an
additional $1 for each multiple of 3
disks or so.
BLANK DISKS will be for sale at 30 cents ($0.30) each.
DISK OF THE MONTH
SIDE 1 * SPACE DOM 000 * EPSONR ACT 027 * SEP90SIDE1 000 * GEM ACT 051 * XXXXXXXXXXX 000 * GEM COM 044 * DOS SYS 037 * SPARTA ACT 026 * DUP SYS 042 * ACSIEVE C 006 * AUTORUN SYS 003 * ACSIEVE COM 046 * HELLO 026 * C8SIEVE C 006 * DISKFORMMAC 007 * C8SIEVE COM 046 * BOOKDOC TXT 020 * CCSIEVE C 005 * GEM TXT 007 * CCSIEVE COM 102 * TPNEWS TXT 054 * SIEVE DOC 045 * TPDEV TXT 022 * HELP DOC * DD3LABELTXT 043
DISKFORMAC
A new MACRO for TEXTPRO that will
convert a SPARTADOS directory listing
to a list of straight file names.
BOOKDOC
This text file explains about a group
of large files available to download
on GENIE that is a very complete book
of instructions for Daisy-Dot III. If
a few people are interested I will
download it. The files fill 5 disk
sides.
GEM .TXT,GEM.ACT,GEM.DOC
SPARTA.ACT,EPSONR.ACT
GEM is a program that provides a menu
interface to send setup commands to
your printer. It is written for a
STAR-MICRONICS GEMINI-10X but it can
be adapted to drive other model with
the ACTION! source code files.
DD3LABEL.TXT
A text file by the author of
Daisy-Dot III explaining the most
efficient methods of printing on
standard 3 1/2 X 15/16 inch labels.
SIEVE files
A group of 'C' source and executable
files to run the 'Sieve of
Erasthanes' popular processing
benchmark algorithym. The stated
purpose of this is to show the
superiority of the latest ATARI 'C'
compiler, CC65. This system is
available for download on GENIE and I
will make it available through the
SPACE library if there is some
interest. It will probably fill
several disks with all the libraries
and utilities and demos.
TPNEWS, TPDEV text files.
News about the upcoming 'final'
TEXTPRO release and the availability
of MAC65 source code for those of you
interested in continuing the
development of TEXTPRO on your own.
SIDE 2
* SPACE DOM 000 * DUP SYS 042 * SEP90SIDE2 000 * AUTORUN SVS 145 * TURBOBASIC 000 * AUTORUN BAS 002 * DOS SYS 037 * TRAVERSETUR 168
TRAVERSE
This side is devoted to a two-player
board game simulation written in
TURBOBASIC. A cross between checkers,
chess and imagination, it is very
interesting and fun to play. As
originally written it was operated
with the keyboard so I added code to
make it run with the keyboard and the
joystick in port 1 at the same time.
Since it is written with TURBOBASIC
it will only run on XL/XE machines.
OTHER DISKS THIS MONTH
JOYSTICK JEOPRODY
A ones-sided disk with a BASIC
version of the TV game show with
sets of questions.
Advanced Music System II PLAYER.
A new AMS player program that
supports the original AMS files as
well as the new GUMBY STEREO files.
The AMS II Player will only find
files that are write-locked.
Side 2 of this disk includes a group
of AMS II music files.
AMS II MUSIC DISKS..4 DISKS..8 SIDES
A mixture of normal and stereo AMS
files. It seems to be all new
material.
Info CHANGES - memo to registered
users
TEXTPRO NEWS - Page #
August 15, 1990
===========
ANOTHER TPX
===========
An interim update of TPX ONLY will be released in early September. This is not a full upgrade but supplies additional features. If you do not have access to the online services and you want me to mail the package to you please send a blank disk and a mailer and I will forward it to you. TPX v4.55xe is both a test vehicle for and a bridge to the next full release. The next full release, version 5, will be available at the beginning of next year. It will be sent to you when it is ready. There is no extra charge to registered users for the full upgrade.
Enhancements to the interim version include...
- Conditional macro branching - both (Y/n) and menu style
- Full support for macro input mode throughout the program, including search and replace
- Change editor fonts at any time to the ATARI font in RAM or any font on disk
- Using the SpartaX cart the ENTIRE PATH IS SEARCHED for all FNT, CNF, MAC loads and file copies to screen from the editor - a single directory can contain all of the TP support and help files and TP will find them as long as the directory is in the PATH
- Set toggles from a macro
- SHIFT-CLEAR and CTRL-CLEAR clears the command line during command input
- Improved bank switch support from the editor and the menu for 130XE's and compatibles
- Parameter command to allow the user to set the amount of free space to be left in a buffer during a load
- Global filename variables to simplify cross bank loading from a macro
- Use the space bar for manual entry of the SELECT-P filename variable.
And some other things I don't remember.
The usual bug fixes and adjustments are also included. BUGS WILL BE NEW AND IMPROVED.
Because of the greater interest in the TextPROxe program supporting extended RAM the next release will be based upon this revision rather than on the PLUS versions. The PLUS version will be fully updated and enhanced where appropriate, but the text buffer will be a bit smaller. The LOMEM version will not be greatly modified, the only changes being bug fixes and alterations to offer macro compatibility with the new versions.
The usual bug fixes and adjustments are also included. BUGS WILL BE NEW AND IMPROVED.
Because of the greater interest in the TextPROxe program supporting extended RAM the next release will be based upon this revision rather than on the PLUS versions. The PLUS version will be fully updated and enhanced where appropriate, but the text buffer will be a bit smaller. The LOMEM version will not be greatly modified, the only changes being bug fixes and alterations to offer macro compatibility with the new versions.
FOR THE FIRST TIME MACRO FILES REQUIRE REVISION TO RUN CORRECTLY WITH THE NEW VERSIONS.
The SELECT+CTRL-A and the SELECT+CTRL-M functions are different in v4.55xe. A macro file to do the required conversions to your old macros is included.
All CNF, print, and font files remain unchanged.
There are also files included for an interactive macro system . The documentation to these files is also included, along with additional support files. The docs are Appendices B and C to the main documentation and are acompanied by an updated TOC file that includes reference to them.
======================
THE FUTURE FOR TEXTPRO
======================
The source code to TP shows the effect of three different programmers. Charles Brannon's original modular code, Mike Collin's clever and compact routines, and my own efforts.
TP began as an enhanced version of the SpeedScript word processor written by Charles Brannon for the now defunct COMPUTE! magazine. (we offered the program free to COMPUTE! - never got a reply to the submission)
Charles Brannon's original code was a fine job, and held up as a skeleton under all of the additions and modifications that transformed it into TP. Charles also wrote a very informative book including the commented SpeedScript source code which proved invaluable in disassembling and modifying the program.
Mike Collins is a computer programmer now working on his masters in computer science in Texas. The disassembly and labeling of the original SpeedScript source code, including the correction of a number of typos from the book, was done by Mike. Mike also wrote almost all of the original code modifications, including the excellent macro and print justification routines
My own contribution to the development of TP consists of working with Mike on the overall design of the program and developing specific features, such as the file divide. I also wrote all of the current modifications to TP, including TP+, TPL, and TPX. Since my own degree specialization is in history and I consider myself one of the world's worst assembly language programmers this should offer hope to some of you that are wondering if you can modify the source code to TP.
The next release, v5.0, will be the last written by me. Mike finally burned out on the code, and I am getting the same way. Sooner or later you just run out of original (or useful) ideas.
To allow the further development of TP the source to the v5.0 release will be available to REGISTERED USERS ONLY for an additional $12.00 to cover the additional disk and handling. For those who have not registered TP the source code only is $40.00. If you want the source package let me know in a note that you send back with the mailer so I can inform you when it is ready. This will be a multiple disk package with the source to TP+, TPX, and TPL in ARC form.
THIS CODE IS LARGELY UNCOMMENTED!!
If you would be interested in a package with commented code and limited phone support for an extra charge let me know. If enough folks show interest I will take the time to write a commented list and supply my home phone number for LIMITED TECHNICAL SUPPORT in modifying the program - NO COLLECT CALLS. It can be neat to have your own personal machine language word processor that you can modify for your own purposes.
You need the MAC-65 cart (or the disk based MAC-65 with S-DOS 2.3) and two double density drives, or the equivalent, to modify and compile the TP source.
For all of the folks waiting to write spell checkers, 80 col editors, and other additions to work with TP, or event to put out your own WP, here's your chance.
One of the major features of the final release will be provision to use add-ins that can be loaded at any time. With the source code available these could be written with ASSEMBLER EDITOR or ACTION!
For those that do not want to modify the program or write add-ins there is no reason to get the source package. Your copy of the next release is already paid for and you will receive it in the mail early next year.
I appreciate your support of the TextPRO program. Aside from the additional support that you receive you also have the satisfaction of knowing that you have paid for what you are using and helped to develop and distribute a better product to the entire ATARI community.
Once again, thanks for the support.
-ronnie-
***Information on TextPRO source code***
If you are an ATARI 8 BIT software developer and you need an editor for your programs let me know. What I can and cannot do is listed below.
I can...*
Send you the source code you can use
to produce your editor* Provide
LIMITED ASSISTANCE both on the phone
and online to answer questions about
the source code.
I can't...*
Write the editor myself - not enough
time - I need any time available to
work on the ATARI to complete the TP
project and the committment to the
registered users that have sent me
money.
Is a TP type editor what you need?
TP was developed from the SPEEDSCRIPT
3.0 program from COMPUTE! Magazine by
Charles Brannon. The original code
has been modified and added to by
Mike Collins and myself. The basic
design of the editor has not been
changed since SPEEDSCRIPT, i.e.
- it writes direct to the screen
- text memory is contiguous and is
moved with every insertion
- no characters are added or removed
on saves and loads
TP also does some character conversions that SPEEDSCRIPT does not to insure that the character conversions in the editor are reversed before writing the file back to disk. These conversions are done at the same time as the screen code conversions.
If you know how to work with these limitations or modify the character set and the character conversions to support your program the editor may work well for you. Bear in mind that most, if not all, developers will be much better programmers than I. Programming is a hobby for me. The reason for the technical assistance is not that I can help you with the programming, but because I know TP. In a program with as many routines as this one, and w/o many comments, there isn't a substitute for just knowing how something works. All TP source is in MAC65 format and works through subroutine modules. There is not a single macro in the code. The source for the last version, v5.0, will be sent to registered users with the program package for a small additional fee to cover the disk and handling. This version has a lot of WP stuff hanging on it that a developer probably dosen't want. I have the source to all of the earlier versions also, and some of these would be easier to extract an editor from, depending on your purposes.
What will it cost...
If you are a developer that I know
from reputation it will cost you a
disk and a mailer. I set no
requirements and ask no fees at all.
In any case let me know what you need
by writing to -
Ronnie Riche
1700 Aycock St.
Arabi, La 70032
or on GEnie
Notes from the EDITOR -
The SYSOP posted a message on
the BBS a while ago about the
users of the BBS. If memory
serves me correct - only about
28 out of 68? usres are club
members. so, at the SEPT 14th
meeting I'm goint to have a
small workshop with the modem.
* Orders for T-Shirts must be recieved no later than 12 OCT 1990.
* Do not send cash thru the mail, use check or money order to make payment for
your selections.
* Make your check or money order payable to SPACE.
* Send payment and the completed order for to:
SPACE
C/O M. SCHMIDT
11349 Palm St. NW
Coon Rapids, Mn 55433
* you may pick up your order at the NOV SPACE meeting.
Published by the Saint Paul Atari Computer Enthusiasts (SPACE), an independent organization with no business affiliation with ATARI Corporation. Permission is granted to any similar organization with which SPACE exchanges newsletters to reprint material from this newsletter. We do however ask that credit be given to the authors and to SPACE. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of SPACE, the club officers, club members or ATARI Corporation.