5
April 1982 D Volume 5 Issue 4
f
: 4
C oyanh Ee r. aided
design aril
three-dimensional
methods
«=) V ie V V ‘Ss:
C ki IF-800
H ewet
Pz at ard |
Critical. pe th
bubble B gorting
Hypercubes
=e
WRETEMAS TES
~N ox
Processines
System
Cromemco System One
MicroCentre introduce Cromemco’s new System One computer,
available with an integral 5 megabyte Winchester hard disk, ata
new low price.
The System One supports the full range of Cromemco interface cards,
including high resolution colour graphics, and software packages.
The choice of operating systems includes CDOS, CP/M and
CROMIX—Cromemco’s answer to Unix.
Call MicroCentre for (4 Cromemco
ps
MicroCentre Ltd editing Bacon :
Complete Micro Systems i
mak oe Oe Aakers Tel: 031-556 7354
Computer-aided design — page 70
Editor
Peter Laurie
Associate Editor
Duncan Scot
Deputy Editor
Toby Wolpe
Assistant Editor
Bill Bennett
Sub-editor
John Llebmann
Prestel Editor
Martin Hayman
Editorial Secretary
Julle Milligan
Consultants
Technical Nick Hampshire
Software Chris Bidmead
Peter Wood
Editorial: 01-661 3500
Advertisement Manager
David Lake 01-661 3021
Advertisement Executives
Phillp Kirby 01-661 3127
Ken Walford 01-661 3139
Midlands office:
David Harvett 021-356 4838
Northern office:
Geoff Alkin 061-872 8861
Advertisement Secretary
Mandy Morley
Publishing Director
Chris Hipwell
Published by IPC Electrical Electronic
Press Ltd, Quadrant House, The Quad-
rant, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5AS. Tel:
01-661 3500. Telex/grams 892084 BIP-
RESG.
Typeset and printed by Eden Fisher
(Southend) Ltd, Southend-on-Sea.
Distributed by IPC Business Press
(Sales and Distribution) Ltd, Quadrant
House, The Quadrant, Sutton, Surrey
SM2 5AS.
Subscriptions: U.K. £10 per annum;
Overseas £16 per annum; selling price in
Elre subject to currency exchange fluc-
tuations and VAT; airmail rates available
on application to Subscription Manager,
IPC Business Press (S & D) Ltd, Oakfield
House, Perrymount Road, Haywards
Heath, Sussex RH16 3DH. Tel: 0444
59188.
© IPC Business Press Ltd 1982
ISSN 0141-5433
Would-be authors are welcome to
send articles to the Editor But PC
cannot undertake to return them.
Payment is at £30 per published page.
Submissions shoula be typed or
computer-printed, Handwritten mater-
lal Is liable to delay and error.
Every effort is made to check articles
and Itstings but PC cannot guarantee
that programs will run and can accept
no, responsibility for any errors,
CONTENTS
4]
43
46
53
54
58
Editorial] / Canned thoughts
Feedback / Portable graphics; genealogy on micros; DNA parallels
Printout. / Commodore’s universal micro; ITT 3030; plug-in music
module
Printout Extra / Computer Fair preview
HP-83 / We review the Hewlett-Packard HP-83 computer with a special
look at its graphics and plotting facilities
Oki Micro / John Dawson reviews the Oki IF-800 colour computer
which is supplied with high-resolution colour graphics, a built-in printer
and two 5.25 in. drives
6 2 Hornet / The Hornet critical-path analysis program tested by Peter Wood
10
17
83
89
92
94
97
100
106
117
143
144
148
159
175
CAD / John Lewell brings us up to date with the latest developments in
computer-aided design
3-D Graphics / M S Khaira introduces interactive three-dimensional
computer graphics
Pet bookie / A day at the races on the Pet, a game by Philip Day
Art / Brian Reffin Smith continues his series on graphics and design on the
BBC Micro and the RML 380-Z
The Perfect Machine / Fiction by David Haynes
Down on the farm / Martin Hayman visits Bridgets experimental
husbandry farm in Hampshire to discover how microcomputers are coping
in the countryside
Hypercube / Jonathan Bowen explores the possibility of a fourth
dimension with a program for creating n-dimensional cubes
Education / Mike and Wendy Cook develop a program to help in
teaching children or adults with reading difficulties
Sorts / Cliff Stanford and Eric Dale present two different routines —
bubble sorting and shell sorting for string arrays
Open File/ A 13-page section of your programs, including Z-80 Zodiac,
ZX-80/81 Line-up, 6502 Special, Pet Corner, Apple Pie and Tandy Forum
Micromouse’/ British organiser, John Billingsley, sets the scene for this
yéar’s Micromouse final at the Computer Fair
Puzzle
Payroll on the Pet / Roger Valentine presents a complete payroll
program for the Pet
Microcomputer Buyers’ Guide
The War Machine / Zork — an advanced adventure game with a
‘mixture of science fiction and fantasy.
Prestel page number 357
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
PROTECH INSTRUMENTS & SYSTEMS
DISC DRIVE SUB SYSTEM
PROTECH announce professional quality
fully enclosed Dual 8” Disc Drives
manufactured specifically with OEM and
End Users in mind.
STANDARD FEATURES INCLUDE:
* Stylishly designed rugged steel enclosure.
* Modular construction for easy maintenance.
* Filtered 240V over-volt protected power
supplies.
* 50-way Bail Mounting connector, accessing
all (not just a sub set) of disc drive I/0 signals.
* Two Shugart 800/801 industry standard disc
drives.
* 90 day parts and labour warranty.
EXTRA ENGINEERING FACILITIES INCLUDE:
** Host to Drive Cables. ** Alternative disc drives to
** 110V Mains power. customer specification.
** Customer defined colours. ** Complete systems from Micro's to Mini's.
** Customised screen printed front panels. ** Maintenance Agreements.
OEM's and Quantity Users - please contact
Ray Albone at: 334 Selbourne Road, Luton, Beds. LU4 8NU. Phone: 0582 596181
PROTECH - part of our product is ourselves! Manufacturing and Engineering facilities at
our modern 30,000 sq.ft. factory in Luton ensure local expertise,high volume production
benefits and fast response.
and from PROTECH DATA SYSTEMS...
..a newcomer to our range... DAIZY ‘for WORD PROCESSING
& DATA PROCESSING
FEATURING:
Powerful 4MHz Z80 CPU.
64K RAM with Parity Check Bit.
Interrupt structure; Real Time Clock.
8” Disc Drive controller.
DMA Controller for even faster access.
Auto System check on Power-Up.
3 Serial.1/O’s + Communications Controller.
CP/M powerful World Wide operating system.
Support Software such as enhanced Wordstar.
MailMerge. DataStar. BASIC. COBOL. Assembler
and much more.
All ata price no Company can.ignore, i.e. Daisy +
Daisy Wheel Printer + 8” Dual Disc Drives
(0.5 Mega bytes of storage) with C/PM WordStar.
Around £6000 or Lease Purchasing if you ibd
ke Ke OK OK KOK OK
PROTECH, particularly adept at problem solving, supply both Hardware and Software for Single
User Micros’ to Multi-User Minis’. Our standard Hardware includes: ANDROMEDA (our own in-house
Z80 Micro); ALPHA MICRO (an 8/16 Bit Multi-User Micro); ELBIT DATA PACT (16 Bit Multi-User
Mini); and, ‘of course, the new DAIZY. We offer a wide range of Terminals and Printers,all to suit the
End User.
For further details please contact: Dave Siseman at Protech Data Systems Ltd.,
25 Kneesworth Street, Royston Herts. Phone Royston 41676
@ Circle No. 257
id PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
ZENITH \data
systems
WHETHER YOU'RE A DEALER OR OEM-
Zenith can offer a product capability that includes:
@ Microcomputers, CP/M based with storage to 10 Megabytes
@ Systems that start from £1795*
@ Word processing, including letter quality printer from £2985*
(or lease from only £14 per week)
e A comprehensive range of Printers, VDU's, systems and
applications software
@ 12'"'green screen Monitor— in Apple colours. (Dealer/OEM's only)
Equally important Zenith is a company that:
e Is supported by the multi million dollar Zenith Radio Corporation
of America
@ Is committed to holding comprehensive UK stock
e Offers Country-wide service support
e Offers Dealer support including National Advertising Campaign
© Offers Realistic Discount Structures
* Prices correct at time of going to press.
NEW DEALER ENQUIRIES WELCOME
Ol could be interested ina Dealership (| wouldlike to receive details of your OEM terms |
Name Position
Company Address |
|
data |
Telephone 44 MAMA
The quality goes in before the name goes on. |
Or call Dave Taylor or Jim Detheridge at-
| Zenith Data Systems Bristol Road, Gloucester. GL2 6EE. Telephone 0452 29451. |
@ Circle No. 103
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
But the real beauty of the CompuStar is
its "shared logic” design concept. Each
user station contains its own distinct
microprocessor and RAM. The result is
lightning fast program execution. Even
when ail 16 users are on-line. Even when
all are performing different tasks! A spe-
cial multiplexor circuit in the CompuStar
ties all external users together to “share”
the system's disk resources so that no
single user ever need wait on another. An
incredibly exciting concept!
A remarkable breakthrough in price/performance, the CompuStar boasts nearly 1
megabyte of on-line mini-disk storage (almost 2 megabytes on CompuStar Il) and
can be easily expanded to 20, 36 or 96 megabytes of hard-disk in just seconds. And
since each user statlon can accommodate up to 64K or RAM, a total of over one
million bytes can be incorporated into the system to tackle even your most difficult
Programming tasks.
CompuStar user stations can be configured in a countless number of ways. A series
of three Intelligent-type terminals are offered. Each is a perfect cosmetic and
electrical match to the system. The CompuStar 10 - a 32K programmable RAM-
based terminal (expandable to 64K) is just right if your requirementis a data entry or
inquiry/response application. And, if your terminal needs are more sophisticated,
select either our CompuStar 20 or CompuStar 40 as user stations. Both units offer
dual disk storage in addition to the disk system in the CompuStar. The Model 20
features 32K of RAM (expandable to 64K) and 350K of disk storage. The Model 40
comes equipped with 64K of RAM and over 700K of disk storage. But, most
importantly, no matter what your investment in hardware, the possibilty of
Out New CompuStarTM 10 Megabyte Disk Storage System (called a DSS)
features an 8 inch Winchester drive packaged in an attractive, compact desktop
enclosure. Complete with disk, controller and power supply. Just plug it into the Z80
adaptor of your SuperBrain and turn it on. It's so quiet, you'll hardly know it's there.
But, you'll quickly be astounded with its awesome power and amazing speed. The
secret behind our CompuStar DSS is its unique controller/muttiplexor. It allows
many terminals to “share” the resources of a single disk. So, not only can you use
the DSS with your SuperBrain, you can configure muttipte user stations using our
new series of CompuStarTM terminals, called Video Processing Units of VPU'sTM.
obsolence or incompatibility is completely eliminated since user statlons can be
configured in any fashion you like - whenever you want.
G.W. COMPUTERS LTD, 01-636 8210 01-631 4818
*** THE NEW DBMS (DATABASE) ***
DBMS2 is arecord relational as well as a file relational database management tool that is capable of belng at different times, many different things. The one core program can be
set up to perform tasks normally associated with the following list.
Accounting Budgeting Cashflow
Stock control Address mailing Letter writing
Simulations Time recording Filing
Calc-type predictions Hospital indexing Profit analysis
Bureaux services General analysis Mathematics
Answer what-if's Employees records Tabulate values
Print reports Sort files Edit records
Within hours perform all the above In French or German.
The list is as endless as that which meets the requirements of your own imagination.
Within the appropriate frames of reference you could ask questions like the following:
Find someone whose name begins with W, who is either in London or Birmingham, and available for work at a salary of less than 10,000.00; and is under 40 years of age, not
married, of credit worthiness grade 1, with a car, prepared to travel, and who likes horses, does not mind the hours he works, is congenial and has good references. When you
find such persons produce a printed list of them showing their names, telephone numbers, and what their salaries are as well as thelr salary If Increased by 10% and show
their availabillty for work. At the end of the jist enumerate the total of such persons.
Find all stock items that are codes micro-computers that are either in warehouse 1 or warehouse 2, where the quantity on hand is more than 50 units, the cost is less than
1000.00, the selling price higher than 2000.00; that are not in cartons, bought from supplier 52, allocated more than 20, rated for tax at .15% and weigh less than 50 tbs. When
you find such categories then print a report showing the description, cost price, quantity on hand, lead time for refills, what the selling price should be ifraised by 12.3% as well
as the profit in either percent or round figures of that projected selling price.
Find alt patlents who suffered from cold, that are either girls or women younger than 23 years old, and who live In London at a socio-economic grade higher than 3; do not smoke;
have more than 3 children, are currently at work and where treatment failed to effect a cure in under 6 days. When you find such persons then print a list showing their age,
marital status, income, and frequency of illness in the past 2 years. ;
Currently you can ask 5 types of questions 20 times for a single selection criterion, and then you can compute 10 mathematical relationships between the questions for the
individual as weil as for the total number of matches. In all some 60 bits of information relating to one record or a group or records on simply one permutation of the selection
criterion, with a cross referencing facility as well. F
Every word in the system, as well as the file architectures, print masks, and field attributes, Is capable of alteration by you without programming expertise (but with some
thought).
ALL IN ONE PROGRAM FROM G.W. COMPUTERS. THE 0BMS82 II.
G.W. COMPUTERS LTD, 01-636 8210 01-631 4818
*** ALL YOU NEED FROM A COMPUTER SYSTEM ***
DATABASE MANAGEMENT + WORD-PROCESSING + MODELLING + DIY INTERPRETER + SERVICE
TWO TYPICAL PACKAGE DEALS NORMALLY NORMALLY
01 — SUPERBRAIN 64K RAM 320 K 1950.00" 01 — SUPERBRAIN OR N/STAR QD 2395.00
02 — EPSON MX80 FT (OR SIMILAR) 475.00 02 — NEC 5510 (OR SIMILAR) 1695.00
03 — CABLE 25.00 03 — CABLE ADAPTER 25.00
04 — 12 MONTH WARRANTY 410.00
05 — DELIVERY IN U.K. 50.00
06 — TRAINING SESSION 50.00
07 — CPM HANDBOOK 8.75
08 — 50 BASIS EXERCISES 8.75
09 — BOX PAPER (2000 SHEETS) 20.00
10 — DBMS2 (DATABASE) 575.00
11 — MAGIC WAND 190.00
12 — MBASIC-80 150.00
13 — SUPER CALC 150,00
14 — 25 DYSAN D/SIDE DISKETTES 150.00
15 — DOS+ AND DIAGNOSTICS 125.00
16 — MSORT & DSORT 75.00
17 — RECOVER + AUTOLOAD 25.00
18 — INSTANT BASIC 9.00
19 — S0°GAMES ON DISK : 100.00
(NOT INC VAT) 6320.50
OUR PRICE 4950.00
(NOTE: ITEMS 1 AND 2 ARE MORE FLEXIBLE)
EXTRA SPECIAL SUPERBRAIN PROGRAM MAIL ORDER OFFER OF THE 5 MAIN PROGRAMS
DBMS2 + SORTS + MAGIC WAND + MBASIC 80 + SUPER-CALC NORMALLY 1140 POUNDS
OUR PRICE « «22% 2 $95.00 «22s 2 +VAT
04 — 12 MONTH WARRANTY 235.00
05 — DELIVERY IN U.K. 40.00
06 — TRAINING SESSION 50.00
07 — CPM HANDBOOK 8.75
08 — 50 BASIC EXERCISES 8.75
09 — BOX PAPER (2000 SHEETS) 20.00
10 — DBMS2 (DATABASE) 575.00
11 — MAGIC WAND 190.00
12 — MBASIC-80 150.00
13 — SUPER CALC 150.00
14 — 40 MEMOREX DISKETTES
15 — DOS+ AND DIAGNOSTICS
16 — MSORT & DSORT
17 — RECOVER + AUTOLOAD
18 — INSTANT BASIC
19 — 50 GAMES ON. DISK
ae INC VAT) 4325.50
UR PRICE 2995.00
WARRANTY NOTE: WE HANDLE ALL REPAIRS OURSELVES.
WARRANTY COVERS FREE REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT IF DEFECTIVE IN FIRST THREE WEEKS. : F
THEREAFTER UP TO 12 MONTHS THE COVER PROVIDES INSURANCE ON ALL SPARE PARTS AND LABOUR COSTS (EXCLUDING CARRIAGE).
CALL OUT MAINTENANCE IS ALSO AVAILABLE AT 25.00 MINIMUM (LONDON) 50.00 MINIMUM ELSEWHERE IN U.K. PLUS MILEAGE.
CALL ONLY BY APPOINTMENT AT 55 BEDFORD COURT MANSION,
BEDFORD AVENUE, LONDON W.C.1. TELEX 892031 TWC G
6 PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
——
integrated Desk Top Computer with 12 inch Bit-Mapped Graphics or Character
Display, 64Kb RAM, 4 MHz Z80A.© Two Quad Capacity Floppy Disk Drives,
Selectric® Style 87 Key Keyboard, Business Graphics Software.
The North Star ADVANTAGE Mis an interactive integrated graphics computer
supplying the single user with a balanced set of Business-Data, Word, or Scientific-
Data processing capabilities along with both character and graphics output.
ADVANTAGE is fully supported by North Star's wide range of System and
Application Software.
The ADVANTAGE contains a 4 MHz Z80A® CPU with 64Kb of 200 nsec Dynamic
RAM (with parity) for program storage, a separate 20Kb 200 nsec RAM ta drive the
bit-mapped display, a 2Kb bootstrap PROM and an auxiliary Intel 8035 micro-
processor to contro! the keyboard and floppy disks. The display can be operated as
SuperBrain users get exceptional performance for just a fraction of what they'd
expect to pay. Standard SuperBrain features include: two double density mini-
floppies with 350K bytes of disk storage, 32K of ram memory (expandable to 64K)
to handle even the most oS sgneend”| programs, a CP/M® Disk Operating System
with a high powered text editor, assembler, debugger and a disk formator. And, with
SuperBrain's S-100 bus adaptor, you can add all the programming power you will
ever need . . . almost any type of S-100 compatible bus accessory.
SuperBrain's CP/M operating system boasts an overwhelming amount of available
software in BASIC, FORTRAN, COBOL, and APL. Whatever your application .
General Ledger, Accounts Receivable, Payroll, Inventory or Word Processing.
SuperBrain is tops in its class. And the SuperBrain QD boasts the same powerful
performance but also leatures a double-sided drive system to render more than
700K bytes of disk storage and a full 64K of RAM. All standard!
Whatever model you choose, you'll appreciate the careful attention given to every
engineering detail. A full ACSI! keyboard with numeric pad and user-programmable
function keys. A non-glare, specially focused, 12-inch CRT for sharp images
everywhere on the screen, Twin 2-80 microprocessors to ensure efficient data
a 1920 (24 lines by 80 characters) character display or as a bit-mapped display (240
x 640 pixels), where each pixel Is controlled by one bit In the 20Kb display RAM. The
two integrated 5% inch floppy disks are double-sided, double-density providing
storage of 360Kb per drive for a total of 720Kb. The n-key rollover Selectric style
keyboard contains 49 standard typewriter keys, 9 symbol! or control keys, a 14 key
transfer to auxiliary peripheral devices. Dual universal RS-232 communications
numeric/cursor control pad and 15 user programmable function keys.
ports for serial data transmission. And, a single board design to make servicing a
snap!
G.W. COMPUTERS LTD, 01-636 8210 01-631 4818
01 = ADDRESS SECTION
02 = STOCK CONTROL
03 = A/C RECEIVABLES
04 = SALES LEDGER
05 = A/C PAYABLES
06 = PURCHASE LEDGERS
07 = BANK UPDATE
08 = USER DATABASE AREA
09 = INVOICE CREATION
«aa BUS
ket
(BUSINESS EFFICIENCY)
WIDELY USED IN U.K./FRANCE/U.S.A. AND ENGLISH SPEAKING COUNTRIES FOR ITS OVERALL FLEXIBILITY AS A COMPLETE BUSINESS PACKAGE
INCLUDES INVENTORY, DATABASE MANAGEMENT, INVOICING, MAILING ADDRESSES, STATEMENTS, SALES/PURCHASE LEDGER WITH OR WITHOUT AUTO
STOCK UPDATE AND DOUBLE ENTRY JOURNALS INCLUDING NOMINAL LEDGER; PLUS A'C RECEIVABLE AND PAYABLE MAKING AUTO BANK ENTRIES.
10 = ORDER FILES
11 = 30/60/90 DAY AGE ANALYSIS
12 = ARITHMETIC SECTION
13 = PRINT CUSTOMER STATEMENTS
14 = PRINT SUPPLIER STATEMENTS
15 = PRINT AGENT STATEMENTS
16 = PRINT TAX STATEMENTS
17 = RUN SEPARATE PROGRAMS
18 = CHANGE VOCABULARY
Huuud
NOMINAL ANALYSIS
AGED DEBTOR ANALYSIS
OISK DIRECTORIES
FILE MANAGEMENT
SORTS
DISK SWAP/EXIT SYSTEM
WHICH OPTION .
(LEVEL 8.00@875.00)
monn on
|
++++++++ SUPER — BUS ++++++++ A NEW HIGHER LEVEL OF THE ABOVE PACKAGE...
HAS BEEN REDUCED IN SIZE BY 50 PER CENT TO A SINGLE 15K BASIC PROGRAM, MAKING ALL FILE RETRIEVALS A MATTER OF NANOSECONDS. WORKS
UNDER M/PM AND COMPUSTAR FOR COMMON DATA RETRIEVAL LEVEL 10.00......
#8 1475.00 ***
DBMS (DATABASE) HAS 01=; 02=; 04=; 06=; 07=; 08=; 17=; 18=; 21=; 24=. PRICE 475.00
FOR ANY SIZE RECORD UP TO TWENTY FOUR FIELDS FILE ARCHITECTURES CAN BE DESIGNED WITH COMPLETE FREEDOM
OVER THE LINGUISTIC CONVENTIONS ASSIGNED TO EACH FIELD. THE FILE THEN CAN STORE 32000 RECORDS WHICH CAN BE SEARCHED BY THE RANDOM
ACCESS NUMBER (RETRIEVED IN LESS THAN ONE SECOND) OR ‘KEY’ RANDOM ACCESS ON SPECIFIED FIELD OR SEQUENTIALLY COMPARING FOR LEFT
FIELD PARTS, FIELD-INKEYS, OR PARTS OF RECORD, AND THEN CHANGED, PRINTED, DELETED, SKIPPED.
GRAMA (WINTER) LTD/G.W. COMPUTERS LTD. ARE THE PRODUCERS OF THIS PACKAGE WHICH IS UNEQUALLED FOR ITS LEVEL OF TOTAL INTEGRATION,
LINGUISTIC FLEXIBILITY ANO MAXIMISED DISK/MEMORY CONSERVATION.
AUTHOR TONY WINTER (M.D.; 8.A.LIT; B.A.HON.PHIL; AND LECTURER)
G.W. COMPUTERS LTD, 01-636 8210 01-631 4818
IMPORTANTIII. NO HARDWARE IS ANY VALUE WITHOUT THE SOFTWARE, AND OUR SOFTWARE IS UNEQUALLED. WE GIVE YOU A DISCOUNT TO SET YOU
GOING. JUST DECIDE ON THE SYSTEM YOU INTEND PURCHASING, AND TAKE 10% OF ITS VALUE OFF THE PRICE YOU WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE
SOFTWARE. YOU COULD GET THE SOFTWARE FREE WITH THE HARDWARE IF YOU CHOOSE THE BEST SYSTEM WE SELL.
» SUPERBRAIN
64K + 320 K DISK
64K + 700 K DISK
64K + 1.5 M DISK
64K + 6.3 M DISK
N'STAR & GRAPHICS
5.7-MG CORVUS DSK
10 MEG CORVUS DSK
20 MEG CORVUS DSK
CORVUS MULTIPLEX
CORVUS MIRROR
ADVANTAGE N/STAR
CORVUS DSK
1995.00
2495.00
2995.00
4595.00
2395.00
2250.00
3250.00
4250.00
695.00
695.00
2395.00
NORTH STAR
64K MDL 10 VPU
64K MOL 15 PRNT
64K MDL 20 VPU
64K MDL 30 VPU
64K MDL 40 VPU
10 MEG INTERTEC
BUS VER 8.00
BUS MANUAL
DBMS2
N'STAR QD & CPM
OKI MICRO 80
COMPUSTAR
1695.00
1595.00
2495.00
2795.00
2995.00
3250,00
875.00
25.00
575.00
2395.00
295.00
PRINTER
OKI MICRO-82A
OK! MICRO-83
OKI MICRO-83A
EPSON MX80FT
EPSON MX100
TEXAS 810
NEC 5510
NEC 5525
QUME 9/45
QUME 5/55
DRE 8830
PRINTER
575.00
795.00
850.00
475.00
575.00
1395.00
1695.00
1895.00
1695.00
1950.00
1675.00
— ssSS89898959895909292929090909090 iCwC—«< I
SYSTEM 1
64K+750 K DISK
CRT AND GRAPHICS CP/M
IN 1 'N/STAR’ UNIT
2395.00
IF YOU WISH TO MAKE THE WARRANTY TO 1 YEAR
THEN ADD 5% OF HARDWARE COST. OTHERWISE
NO MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE, SIMPLY ADD-HOC
CHARGES AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRATION, SAME
QUALITY SERVICE. (SITE MAINTENANCE ON
APPLICATION).
MAIL ADDRESS: G. W. COMPUTERS LTD, 55
BEDFORD COURT MANSIONS, BEDFORD
AVENUE, LONDON WC1. TELEX 892031 TWC G
. BOSTON OFFICE TELEX 94-0890.
SYSTEM 2
64K+5.6 MEGABYTE CORVUS
MICRO-WINCHESTER & CRT
IN 1 “SUPERBRAIN’ UNIT
SYSTEM 3
64K+1.5 MEG
CRT AND TWIN 5”
IN COMPUSTAR UNIT
MBASIC 80
CIS COBOL
MAIL MERGE
DATASTAR
DBMS (DATABASE)
DBMS (EXTENDED)
MSORT & DSORT
4595.00
2950.00
150.00
420.00
55.00
190.00
475.00
575.00
75.00
FORTRAN-80
PASCAL UCSD
SUPER SORT
BASCOMPILER 190.00
MAGIC CALC (CPM)
BUS VER 8.00
LETTERIGHT
COBOL-80
WORD-STAR
CBASIC
MAGIC WAND
T/MAKER
BUS VER 9.00
UTILITIES
200.00
475.00
120,00
155,00
975,00
100,00
320.00
250.00
75.00
190.00
150.00
975,00
75,00
DUE TO LONG TERM CONTRACTUAL COMMITMENTS, WE ARE ONLY GIVING RESTRICTED DEMONSTRATIONS BY APPOINTMENT AT ONE OF OUR LONDON
OFFICES. WE EXPORT TO ALL COUNTRIES.
CONTACT TONY WINTER ON 01-636 8210 OR 01-631 4818 AND IF UNAVAILABLE THEN LEAVE A CALL-BACK MESSAGE (CLEARLY STATING YOUR TELEPHONE
NUMBER AND NAME) ON THE 24 HOUR ANSWER-PHONE, WE CALL BACK ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.
OR SIMPLY LEAVE YOUR ADDRESS ANDO WE’LL MAIL YOU A STANDARD INFORMATION PACK. MAIL ADDRESS: 55 BEDFORD COURT MANSIONS, BEOFORD
AVENUE, LONDON WC1.
CALL ONLY BY APPOINTMENT AT 55 BEDFORD COURT MANSIONS,
BEDFORD AVENUE, LONDON W.C.1. TELEX 892031 TWC G
PRACTICAL COMPUTING :April 1982
@ Circle No. 104
f
Practical Computing
Olivetti DY311 — Price: £1050.00
Practical Computing is not only the name
of a magazine. It is also a philosophy about
which we feel strongly at Millbank Computers.
Practical computing solutions which
meet the needs of the user is the basis on
which we have built up our range of hardware,
software and services.
We start with the Millbank System 10 —
the ‘heavy duty’ micro computer available
exClusively from us and our appointed dealers.
With 700K, 1.6 MB and hard disc options, the
Millbank System 10 is arguably the most
reliable micro available in the UK — supported,
Qume Sprint 5 Range - Prices from:
£1700.00
Olivetti DY811 - Price: £1995.00
naturally, by twelve months full warranty.
Our range of printers covers dot matrix
and letter quality printing at virtually every
acceptable speed, specification and price point.
The CP/M disc operating system opens
up a vast range of readily available software —
including ‘Financial Director’ — a British
Accounting suite of stunning quality and
E.A.M.1.S.anew Management System for Estate
Agents.
Service and support is an integral part of
our practical computing philosophy.
Call us today.
MILLBANK
COMPUTERS
u aes
>
Millbank Computers Limited, Millbank House, Amyand Park Road, Twickenham TW1 3HN. Tel: 01-891 4691.
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
-and where to findit.
BIRMINGHAM
Based in the heart of the professional area
of Birmingham, Midland Micro Ltd
provides a comprehensive computer service
to users in the Midlands. ;
We supply everything from a single
diskette to an advanced network or
Mini-computer system using standard
software and tailor-made packages.
Services provided by our experienced
staff include consultancy, training,
maintenance, and full after-sales service.
Contact: Ernest Willcox or lan Willcox
Midland Micro Ltd
George House, George Road
EDGBASTON, Birmingham B15 1PG
Telephone: (021).455 7431
CALNE, Wiltshire
Suppliers of accounting and related
business software in particular, the Financial
Director package incorporating bought and
sales ledgers, cash book, nominal ledger,
budgets and monthly management
accounts. : :
Other software, eg. order entry, invoicing
and stock control, tailored to individual user
requirements.
Microshade provides a total sales and
support service for the System 10.
Contact: Bryon Horton
Microshade (Business Computers) Ltd
Westhill House, 4 Market Hill
CALNE, Wiltshire
Telephone: (0249) 814879
CAMBRIDGE
The Avery Computer Company
showroom caters specifically for the needs
of local small businesses. A wide range of
systems cover applications from financial
modelling, forecasting, payroll etc. to large
multi-user systems which can carry out all
the functions of the electronic office.
We supply standard and customised
software, special computer-aided learning
courses and, above all, maintain close client
liaison before and after installation.
Contact: Michael Avery or David Spry
The Avery Computer Company
13 The Mail, Bar Hill
CAMBRIDGE CB3 8DZ
Telephone: (0954) 80991
CHELTENHAM
EXETER
Teffont Business Systems have
specialised in ‘word communication’
equipment throughout south-west England
for the past three years.
The computer division markets Micro and
Mini computers. We put strong emphasis on
well-proven business software,
word-processing, telecomunication, and
professional service/training by experienced
engineering and training staff.
We also supply ‘Europe’s No.1’ range of
facsimile machines and are Prestel dealers.
Contact: Stephen Taylor
Teffont Business Systems Ltd
48-49 High Street, EXETER EX4 3DJ
Telephone: (0392) 30438/9
EPSOM, Surrey
The primary business of Bryan Wright
Ltd is the production of programmes to
meet specialised and individual needs,
exclusively for the Millbank System 10
Micro-computer range.
Consultancy and advice to potential
Micro-computer users. ;
Specifications, analysis and programming.
A personal after-sales service for users’
operational problems, for changing
requirements in programming, and system
upgrading. Pr i
Address labels and mailing-list service,
with statistical analysis by areas or other
criteria including delivery within a
reasonable distance from Epsom
Contact: Bryan Wright or Denis Wright
Bryan Wright Ltd
1st Floor, 57 South Street
EPSOM, Surrey KT18 7PX
Telephone: (78) 22653
LONDON (C)
Forte Data Systems offer a complete
business computer service from feasibility
study to implementation. We provide a wide
range of evaluated business packages based
on cost-effective solutions to user
requirements, using Customised software if
necessary.
First-time users find our free consultation
service an ideal starting point, existing users
may be more interested in our main-frame
and distributed data processing software
development service.
Contact: Mr V. Sippy
Forte Data Systems
27 Rathbone Street, LONDON W1
Telephone: (01) 637-0164
LONDON (N)
BD Computer Systems brings
‘mainframe’ levels of skills and
professionalism to the Micro market. Our
experience in selling and installing large
computers now provides full operational
systems solutions in the Micro market.
Our customers range from a small
professional user to a large Government
department.
We are ideally placed to serve all London
and Home Counties organisations north of
the Thames.
Contact: Hugh Benham,
Susan Weitzkorn or Peter Hines
B D Computer Systems
2 Old Brewery Mews
Hampstead High Street
LONDON NW3 1PZ
Telephone: (01) 435-4442
MANCHESTER
LONDON (S)
Calderbrook Technical Services (CTS)
moved successfully into the Micro
computer business in the mid 1970s and
now offer a wide range of products from
personal to business systems, plus a vast
software library.
CTS apply avery high level of technical
and engineering skills to system design,
installation, training and after sales service &
maintenance.
Contact: Peter Fawthrop
Calderbrook Technical Services
31-33 Church Street
LITTLEBOROUGH, Lancs OL15 8DA
Telephone: 0706 74342/79332
SWANSEA
‘We won't blind you with science’ is
the basis of this locally owned company’s
services to businesses, institutions and
individuals.
Partners have wide-ranging business and
computer experience and have built up an
impressive range of books, manuals,
personal computers, business computers,
standard software and consumables.
Contact: David Lewis,
Robin Phelps or Don Price
The Computer Shack
14 Pittville Street
CHELTENHAM, Gloucestershire
Telephone: (0242) 584343
Croeso Computer Services Is a well
established Micro computer systems house
specialising in turnkey systems for financial
companies, bakeries, licenced trade
stock-taking and petrolstations.
We design specialist software systems for
individual requirements in business,
industry and the professions. A wide range
of computer equipment is available.
Contact: Simon Shellard or
Michael Breach
Croeso Computer Services
516 Mumbles Road, MUMBLES
Swansea, West Glamorgan
Telephone: (0792) 61555/6
Micro Automation Computing Ltd was
formed in 1979 with over fifty man years of
computer experience to provide and
support systems and software based on
Micro and Mini technology. ;
Special emphasis is placed on real time
systems for commercial, industrial and
engineering applications. Services available
include the supply of complete computer
systems, tailored turnkey systems and
packages, data base applications, specialised
drivers for word-processing and colour
graphics, and systems software for Micros.
Contact: David Shorter
Micro Automation Computing Ltd
207 Putney Bridge Road
LONDON SW15 2NY
Telephone: (01) 874 2535
This Is not a comprehensive list Of
Millbank dealers so if your area is
not covered by any of the dealers
listed here call us direct.
Millbank Computers Limited
Millbank House Amyand Park Road
TWICKENHAM TW1 3HN
Telephone: 01-891 4691
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
@ Circle No. 105
9
Lowen GM802 64K RAMcard £140 GMB13 280 CPUI64K RAM card £225
microcomputersystem you care to GM803_ EPROM/ROMcard £65 Ev6414_ —s|EEE 488. card £140
Wh ure Y yi busi GM807_ 3APSU. £40 GMB15-4 Single drive disk unit
name. WheMer you require a business GMB808K* EPROM programmer . £29.50 with PSU (350K) £325
system, an educational system, a GM809 FOC card £125 GM8415-2 Double drive disk unit
a a process control system or any other GMB10K 5APSU/8 with PSU (700k) £550
system, there is a combination of slot motherboard £69.50 GM816) MulfiliOboard .£425
aaa MultiBoards to fulfil that function. a a ae ace s a pot seooet board : fe
A A cor en.
This concept ensures maximum kit) GM824_ASClikeyboord £57.50
flexibility and minimal obsolescence. Software
Maintenan ind expansion is great
tatced by oe aan ae ldaa| ” GMS12 CPIM 2.2 for Multiboard.... £90 GM524 Gem Dis disassembler
desi MultiBoard is b d th GM517 Gem-Zapeditiasmtape... £45 debugger tape £30
ser aimeballitereliel elelee etl Mua GM548 Gem-Zapeditiasmdisk. .£45 GM525 Gem Dis disassembler/
80-BUS structure, which is finding GM519 Gem Pen editor! debuggerdisk.
increasing acceptance among other text formatter tape £45 GM526 Comal-80tape £400
British manufacturers; thus broadening GM520 Gem Pen editor! GM527 Comai-80disk . £400
the product base. textformatter EPROM.......£45 GM528 APLdisk £200
10
ae,
CHEAPSKATE
6 a Y =
MultiBoard a
STOP &
PICK UP ANY
MULTIBOARDS
ON YOUR WAY
Samp PSU withan
8-slot Motherboard
9
3amp PSU forthe
smaller system
ESOTERIC
ROUTE
b
anascom
OWNERS
START HERE
ROUTE
Simllar to the popular With a 59 key full
GM811 CPU card, the new GM QWERTY layout, this
GM 813 CPUIRAM card has ASCll encoded
64K of dynamic RAM 813 keyboard includes
replacing the ‘bytewide’ CPUIRAM cursor control keys,
caps. lock, two key
rolloverand
auto-repeat.
sockets. Anextended
addressing mode
facilitates future memory
expansion up to 2
megabytes! The RP/M 2
Utilising the powerful 4MHz Z80A
Microprocessor the GM811 CPU
cardcanbe usedaseithera monitor retains full RP/M GM
stand alone controller or as the
— CPIM compatability.
heart of acomplex os 4 824
microcomputer system. Four ~ KEYBOARD
‘Bytewlde’ sockets allow great
flexibility in the type and size of
memory devices chosen. Input J
and outputfacilities include J =|
both programmable serial and : boar
parallel interfaces —RS232, 1200 000
baud CUTS cassetle interface, :
Z80A PIO, and an eight bit input
port.inan expanded system
the unique on-board RP/M
monitor allows the creation of
cassetie or Eprom based
programs or files which are
upwards compatible witha
disk based CP/M system.
80 BUS STATION
ROUTE FARES
Hardware (Built & tested)
GM5241 Gem Pen editor
text formatter disk . £45
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
The GM812 Intelligent Video Controller card features an
onboard Z80A processor to provide independence of
the host processor and the ability to redefine the
functions and parameters of the display.
Normally used in an80 x 25 mode the card contains
aprogrammable character generator allowing
three additlonal modes of operation — inverse recovery Circuitry.
characters, 160 x 75 block graphics, or user GM 845 Drive unit
defined characters. = . ‘
A keyboard socket allows buffered character = ae Se EEC R Hah icdeoaeaoteetD
inpulandia light pansocnells ployed tor . 250 drives. This gives a storage capacity of 350K
specialist applications. Being VO mapped the F per drive. Power for the drives Is provided by an
card does not occupy any system memory space ae - J integral supply ual
GM 809 FDC
The GM809 floppy disk controller card can
support up to four disk drives in either single or
double density modes. The card uses the Western
Digital 1797 controller and has variable write
precompensation and phase locked loop data
AUTO-EXCHANGE
All your RP/M software automatically
transferred to CP/M
The GM802 RAM board provides a full
64K of dynamic memory. The 80 BUS
RAMDIS signal Is fully supported so
thatany EPROMiIn the system is given
— < ' —
priority over the RAM, preventing any
Possibility of bus contention. Page : FILL-UP WITH SOFTWARE
Mode Is also supported by the card
p se i
which, with the appropriate software, "
ACPIM 2.2 package
lsavailable withthe
GM 809 card and
Pertec drives.
On-screen editing
auto single/double
j density selection and
includes Editor/Assembler; Text Editor! eel ye olden
Formatter; DisassembleriDebugger; ' supported. Running
Pascal and Comal-80. These packages . under CPIM isa wide
can also be run under CPIM. N | range of utilities,
application software
and languages.
allows up to four memory boards to
be used ina system.
ONE
WAY
The GM803 Eprom Board willacceptup to 16
2708 or 2716 Eprom devices. This allows the
addition of up to 32K of firmware to the
system. The board supports the Page Mode
system and consequently need not occupy
any memory spoce when notin use.
The Gemini I/O board
provides a unique
solution for intertacing to
“the real world”. The
Anumber of manufacturers are busy i) oe Soren “ie
working on additional 80-BUS boards } ] = nis Cena:
which will progressively increase the
80 BUS compatibie battery back up.
potential of your MultiBoard system. prototyping boards are Daughter
available from both Vero boards may also
and Winchester be added and
Technology. These allow
the user to easilyadda
card of their own design
to the system.
these include A-D,
D-A, opto-coupling
and serial
Interface boards.
i =
+ ee”
nae. ia , j : The GM808 Eprom
—_ 4 ! ag . xe programmer connects to
AM AM = ee. = the PIO onthe CPU card
— nae and allows the user to
819 820 This low cost lightpen tok ale ag Cie ue
SPEECH Wher id. can be used with the ;
BOARD ee IVC for many
appilcations,
aH | including answer
aS 9
= =| selection, editing,
OES)
The EVC IEEE 488 Controller card has
been designed to fully implement
GIL IEEE 488 intertace functions. This
card gives the user a very versatile
method of controlling any
menu selection and
movement of equi
quipment fitted with a standard
The Beery roolecianics pea di data IEEE 488 or GPIB interface at minimal
speech board utilises the : cost.
National Semiconductor
Digitaiker chip set. This gives GEMINI MULTIBOARDS COMPUTER INTERFACING TARGET ELECTRONICS
a vocabulary of over 140 & EQUIPMENTLTD., 416 Cherry Lane, Bristol BS4 3NG.
oe and ise sounds. at —BUY THEM AT YOUR je Iie SS gata Tel:(0272) 4244196.
ui -boar * ‘
woeaker LOCAL MICROVALUE Edinburgh EH12 5NG yi so
~ DEALER Tel: (034) 337 5644
W.Yorks.
CC ee Tel:(0937) 63774,
All the products on these wo pages rs 700 Bumage Lane, Burnage,
Ofe available while stocks last from. Manchester M49 4NA. HENRY’S RADIO
the MicroValue dealers listed on right Tel:(061) 4341 4866.
(Mail order enquiries should
404 Edgware Road, London W2.
Tel:(04) 402 6822
ACHR Israeli _ ELECTROVALUE LTD. : Bat
pos mee Cooley be Se ae post 28 St Judes, Englefield Green, TIx:262284 (quote ret:1400).
Borclaycard welcome Egham, Surrey TW20 OHB. LEEDS COMPUTER CENTRE,
Tel:(0784) 33603. 1ix:264475. 62The Balcony,
INTERFACE COMPONENTS LTD. SKYTRONICS, Merson enn Leeds.
Oakfield Cormer,Sycamore Road, 2 North Road, The Park, Tel: (0532) 458877
Amersham, Bucks. Noftingham.
Tel:(02403) 22307.TIx:837788. Tel: 45053/45215
@Circle No. 106
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
11
ANGLIA COMPUTER CENTRE
SPECIALISTS IN MICROCOMPUTERS FOR BUSINESS,
AND SCIENCE
88 ST. BENEDICT’S STREET, NORWICH NR2 4AB.
TELEPHONE: (0603) 29652
From the LARGEST EAST ANGLIAN
Microcomputer specialists and APPLE II DISTRIBUTORS:
Trade in your “PET” for something better{!!
Apple II still only £799.00 at ANGLIA plus
FREE ‘Anglia Invaders’ or ‘Microchess' programme.
SPECIALIST EQUIPMENT AND PROGRAMMES FOR APPLE II
ANGLIA FOR
APPLES AND
= MLR a ina
WAAOT
No. 1 UNIQUE GRAPH PLOTTING SOFTWARE
FORTHE DIGIPLOT!)
To plot graphs created by ‘Apple Plot’ and ‘Visicaic’
[21SEC pede A oe Sn ee oe . e eeeroh £895.00
APPLE PLOT : x £37,
VISICALC ..... we a i auaeaRORD
DIGIPLOT SOFTWARE ...........0.0. ee Pre cesesnccveess sivas weonrnesia — seve 105,00
(FREE when you purchase ‘Digipiot’ from us)
No. 2. SOFTWARE tNTERFACE BETWEEN ‘GRAPHICS TABLET AND ‘DIGIPLOT’ sve 95,00
(FREE when you purchase either ‘Graphics Tablet’ or ‘Digiplot’ from us)
Ow
No. 3. Get the most versatile and low cost printers for your Apple II and take advantage of its
versatile character set from within ‘Apple Writer’ by using the EPSON/APPLE WRITER
ADVANCED CHARACTER GENERATOR ................ £49.00
(FREE if you purchase an Epson Printer a
EPSON PRINTERS
Fe i EesreoK PROGRAMME suitable for personal, departmental, societies or pe Epson MR80 F/T wens. £499.00
[ Featangnee ak os . annie a paar with graphics Pee |
No. 5. COSTING your production of ASSEMBLED PRODUCTS includes Stock Controt and pson MX100 ..... ‘ :
Price Update of individual items (written in Pascal) ........00c0..0cs.ceoeee .£650.00 EPSON MX130 ............CALL
Epson Apple Intertace with cable
No. 6. PROPERTY RENTAL — suitable for Estate Agents. £60.00
No, 7, EXAM TIME — save yourself time in preparing Multiple Choice Questions and After
Exam Tuition. Suitable for schools, colleges and industry training . £49.50,
APPLE Ill—STILL WAITING??? THEN GET IN TOUCH WITH US
APPLE It's are hard at work .on THE HARD DISK NETWORK
SEE 'T RUNNING at our showroom and save your company £1000s on Minicomputers or Mainframes
PRPRBZBER —
INVOICING PURCHASES WORD FINANCIAL BASIC PASCAL COBOL
& SALES PROCESSING PLANNING
Are you stl trying to grasp computing with a 2X80/81? — we will trade your 2X80 OR ZX81 for something better!!!
Starting with ACORN ATOM so
We are full stockists of all Acorn Atom products and programmes plus our own.
= .
The ANGLIA ATOM MONITOR to help you into the heart of machine code COMPUTING 0.02... eee een 14.95
(FREE with every assembied Atom purchased from us FAST DELIVERY.
We also stock the Seikosha GP80 Printer and Atom connecting cables.
ENGINEERS! DRAUGHTSMEN! DESIGNERS! ARCHITECTS!
Enter the drawing office of the future today with this revolutionary Microcomputer-based draughting machine for as little
as £1.00 per ‘hour.
WE ALSO DISTRIBUTE: Anadex . . . Tandy TRS-80 .. . Tangerine .. . Tantel... North Star... Video Genie . . .
Qume ... Paper Tiger . .. Olympia . entronics . .. Starwriter... Sharp ... Texas Instruments TI/99/4.
TELEPHONE: (0603) 29652. All prices quoted exclude VAT.
Note: Soon opening other branches in East Anglia and London. Sales and Technical Staff required. Interested parties please apply in writing.
12 PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
@ 45ms access time.
NOW YOUR HP-85 IS COMPLETE
WITH THE MSC-9800H 5.0Mb wincHESTER DRIVE
@ 22 bit error detection/11 bit error correction.
@ 256 byte data buffer.
@ Software compatible with HP9895 floppy drive.
@ Compact desk top unit measuring 636" x 10%" x 12”.
@ Low cost per byte.
JUST PLUG IN AND RUN!!... OTHER MODELS AVAILABLE.
U.K. DISTRIBUTORS:
MSC-9800 — STANDARD IEEE-48/MSC-9800 L-HP9800 SERIES COMPATIBLE.
ANGLIA COMPUTER CENTRE
88 ST. BENEDICTS STREET,
NORWICH NR2 4AB.
TEL: (0603) 29652/26002.
Tired of
hearing
about
PASCAL?
We think you've
waited long
enough.
At last, there is an easy to understand
Pascal sampler to help you learn Pascal
programming, LinkSampler. And to fill the
needs of the Pascal programmer, two
Pascal utility programs to Increase your
programming productivity, LinkVideo and
LinkDisk.
Link Systems backs its commitment to
quality Pascal software with fifteen years of
mainframe and micro computer
programming experlence.
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
The Easiest Way to
Learn Pascal
@ LinkSampler is an entertaining
Pascal learning tool, supplied with easy to
understand documentation. LinkSampler
includes a full diskette of games, math
procedures and financial programs.
LinkSampler | will help you put into
practice what you have read in books.
£49.95
An Interactive
Pascal Utility
@ LinkDisk fills the needs of the
programmer for manipulating individual
bytes of Pascal mass storage media.
lt compares, examines and changes any
byte on an Apple Pascal disk and translates
DOS Basic into Pascal.
Compare.
This function enables you to insure that a
disk copy was performed without error, and
the copy is readable. Good for Pascal and
Basic.
Examine.
Enables you to examine and change
data on mass storage, change data byte by
byte and alter any nibble of data.
Translate.
Enables you to translate DOS 3.3 text
and Binary files into Pascal. £54.95
A Multi Function
Programmers Aid
@ LinkVideo saves valuable input,
output programming time, and provides
terminal independence for essential screen
functions.
@ Erase to Endof line.
@ Erase to End of Screen. @ Clear Screen.
@ Cursor Moves (both input arid output).
@ Line and Screen Erasure.
@ Filters, Validates and prompts input for
Strings, Fields, Boolean, Social Security
Numbers, Telephone.Numbers, Dates,
Integers, ‘Pseudo-Reals. - '€44:95
LINK@:
SYSTEMS
U.K DISTRIBUTORS:
ANGLIA COMPUTER
CENTRE
88 ST. BENEDICTS STREET,
NORWICH NR2.4AB.
TELEPHONE:
(0603) 29652/26002.
(All prices exclude VAT)
@ Circle No. 107
13
Apple & Atari hardware
’
) at hard-checked prices
Atan 800.
*Hardware or software, you don't have
to shop around. We continually check
all our prices and were certain
they are as competitive as you will
find anywhere.
f PACKAGE SYSTEMS NET VAT TOTAL PRINTER & ACCESSORIES
Apple Executive System 1950.00' 292.50 2242.50 Silentype Printer 170.00 25.50 195.50
Apple Top Secretary System 2150.00 322.00 2472.50 10 Rolls Thermal Paper 28.00 4.20 32.20
Apple Education System 1425.00 213.75 1638.75 10 Blank Disks SS/SD 17.00 2.55 19.55
APPLE HARDWARE VIDEO MONITORS :
Apple 48K Video Output only 625,00 9375 = news BMC 12” Green Screen 120.00 18.00 138.00
16K Add on 45.00 6.75 51.75 9" Black & White Monitor 100.00 15.00 115.00
Disk Drive with Controller (16 sec} 345.00 51.75 3396775 Cables 5.00 0.75 5.75
Disk Drive without Controller 275.00 41.25 316.25 OTHER ITEMS :
ACCESSORIES ; ZB0 Softcard 170,00 25,50 195.50
Programmers Aid | 25.00 3.90 29.90 ( i
Auto Start ROM Pack 33.0) idSu 32950) pea meeevecc ues <
Graphics Tablet 399.00 59.85 458.85 Sales Ledger 150.00 22.50 172.50
Appletel System 525.00 78.75 = 603.75 | General Ledger 150.00 22,50 172.50
TV Modulator 14,00 2.10 16.10 | purchase Ledger 150.00 22,50 172.50
INTERFACE CARDS Stock Control 150,00 22.50 172.50
Prototype/Hobby Card 12.00 1.80 13.80 | Payroll 150.00 22.50 172.50
Parallel Printer Card 79.00 11.85 90.85 Invoicing 150.00 22.50 172.50
Communications Card 100.00 15.00 115.00 Financial Planning 150.00 22.50 172.50
High Speed Serlal Card’ 90.00 13.50 103.50 | atari
Centronics Card 100.00° 15.00 115.00 400 16K Computer 250.00 37.50 287.50
Integer Card 90.00 13.50 103.50 | g§0016K Computer 480.00 72,00 552,00
Language Card 95.00 14.25 109.25 410 Tape Recorder 50.00 7.50 57.50
Controller Card 95.00 14.25 109.25 | B10 Disk Drive 260.00 39.00 299.00
_ Eurocolour Card 65.00 = 9.75 74.75 | 922 Thermal Printer 200.00 30.00 230.00
IEEE — 48 Card 200.00 = 30.00 230.00 | 825 80 Column Printer 400.00 60.00 460.00
16K RAM Card (48K to 64K) 60.00 9.00 69.00 850 RS 232 Interface 110.00 16.50 126.50
SOFTWARE 16K Ram Upgrade 50.00 7.50 57.50
Disk Utility Pack 12.00 1,80 13.80 Conversational French 30.0Q 4.50 34.50
Apple Post Program 27.00 4.05 31.05 Conversational German 30.00 4.50 34.50
| The Shell Games 15.00 2:25) 17.25 Conversational Spanish 30.00 4.50 34.50
a Elementary My Dear Apple 16.00 2.40 18.40 | Conversational Italian 30.00 4.50 34.50
Apple Bowl Diskette 13.00 1.95 14.95 Assembler Editor ROM 30.00 4.50 34.50
i. 3.3 Operating System 34.00 5.10 39.10 | Microsoft Basic 45.00 6.75 51.75
DOS 3.3 Tool Kit 41.00 6.15 47.15 Visicalc 105.00 15.75 120.75
Apple Writer 1.1 34.00 5.10 39.10 | Word Processor 73.00 10.95 83.95
il Stellar Invader 13.00 1.95 j 4.95 Video Computer System 69.56 10.43 79.99
Apple Plot 34.00 5.10 9.10 ‘
oa ecnacaiie 19.00 285 21.85 HARDWARE CONDITIONS OF
APPLE DISTRIBUTED SOFTWARE GUARANTEE BUSINESS.
The Go Between (Centronics) 26.50 3.98 30.48 Aint sen croduces an We accept cheques or Access,
Micro Modéller 375.00 5625 431.25 puaacee pea Seartfom Le Barclaycard, American Express and
Visicalc 3.3 105.00 15.75 2075 purchase against defects in materials Diners Club Cards, Allprices,
VisiFile 135.00. 20.25 155.25 and workmanship. specifications and terms are subject
VisiPilot 95.00 14.25 109.25 During the guarantee perlod, to change without notice at the
VisiTrend/VisiPilot 135.00 20.25 155.25 Metrotech will repair or replace,-at no discretion of the management. All
VisiTerm 80.00 12.00 92.00 extra charge, components thatprove | offers subject to availability.
VisiDex 105.00 15.75 120.75 eee ida ccuaearaiad Prices correct at time of going
Desktop Plan Il 105.00 15.75 120.75 stating hed balgte and acting ’ | topress.£.& O.E.
LANGUAGES proof of purchase. Hardware Post and packaging
Pascal Language System 225.00 33.75 ae as ae ar, one pe six if,in | subject to confirmation.
Apple Pilot ~ 75.00 25: B6.25 roduct has been damaged b 7 \
Apple Fortran 95.00 14.25 109.25 Oedderd, misuse or hiespolese
CIS Cobol with Forms -2 410,00 61.50 471.50 : 3
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
WORDSTARt™! Version 3.xx has now
. been released. New features Include: column
move capabilities, horizontal scrolling—up to
240 columns and even clearer menus. Also
released is MicroPro’s own spelling checker-
SPELLSTAR.
WORD-STAR 3.x ‘£195/£30
MAILMERGE 3.xx (optional) £55/£10
SPELLSTAR (optional) £105/£10
IN ADDITION METROTECH SUPPLIES A TRUE
ENGLISH DICTIONARY, REPLACING U.S.
WORDS WITH ENGLISH.
Tian) * RECORDS
ee MANAGEMENT
Ideal for office records including
personnel, stock, clients and accounts.
Features include:
@ Comprehensive calculation
@ Record selection on updates and reports
®@ Full sorting facilities
@ WORDSTAR INTERFACE -for selective
mailing.
COMPSOFT DMS £345/£25
(Taw *MICROPLAN
If you have any problem that you
would normally solve with a pen, paper and a
calculator, then MicroPlan will help you.
MicroPlan will perform most types of calcu-
lations working on rows and columns, as well
a§ advanced financial analysis.
MICROPLAN £245/£20
CALGSTAR
CalcStar is MicroPro’s new electonic Spread
sheet and financial modelling Program-a
sophisticated, yet easy to use calculating and
planning tool. CalcStar also links with
WordStar, so you can easily include your final
calculations within your report.
CALCSTAR £120/£20
POINTS TO REMEMBER
@ All software Is ex-Stock except MDBS and
available on standard 8" disks or 5” disks for
Vector MZ, Superbrain, Dynabyte and
NEC PC 8000.
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
Lae
we us .
@ Prices shown as Software with manual/
Manual only.
@ tmi WORD-STAR is a trademark of
Micropro.
@ METROTECH are sole U.K.
distributors for DYNABYTE
micro-computer systems.
+ Z -.
LANGUAGES/UTILITIES
SUPERSORT! £105/£20
WORD-MASTER SUPERIOR
TEXT EDITOR £60/£20
MET/TWAM INDEX SEQUENTIAL FILE
ACCESS IN CBASIC II £55/£20
CBASIC Il COMMERCIA
DISK EXTENDED | BASIC £75/£30
SBASIC COMPILER
STRUCTURED BASIC £175/£30
ICROSOFT BA
INTERPRETER «955/25
MICROSOFT
BASIC COMPILER £195/£25
MICROSOFT FORTRAN 80 £215/£25
MICROSOFTCOBOL 80 ©6§£315/£25
MICRO DATA
BASE SYSTEMS
MDBS is a database system offering full
network CODASYL- orientated data
structures, variable length records, read write
protection, one-to-one, one to many and
many to many set relationships. Add on
features are an intereactive report writer and
query system, a dynamic restructuring system
and a recovery transaction logging system.
MDBS prices start from £600/30
Primer manual £5
(2 BCPL*
BCPL CINTCODE is a full and extended
implementation of the popular Systems
Programming lanquage BCPL CINTCODE
gives a dramatic reduction in the space
required for programs, requiring about a third
of the store of fully compiled Z80 code.
BCPL £250/£35
HOW/TO ORDER
@ State disk type and size @ Add 15% VAT
@ Jnclude £2 per Software itemifor Postage
and Packing
@ Enclose cheque/PO's payable to
METROTECH
i
| i . |
SELECTOR II-C2
An easy to use Information Management
System requires CBASIC II £185 /£30
SELECTOR IV
An advanced Information Management
System, requires CBASIC II £275/£35
DATASTAR a
Powerful data entry, retrieval and
update system £150/£30
COMMUNICATIONS
BISYNC-80/3780 and BISYNC-80/3270
are full function IBM 2780, 3780 and 3270
emulators for micro computers. BISYNC-
80/3780 gives you a Remote Job Entry
terminal for the price of a’micro!
BISYNC-80/3270 combines the local
processing power of a micro with a
sophisticated screen capability. Make your
dumb terminal smart!
MET/TTY will connect your micro to a
Timesharing service In simple teletype
emulation.
BISYNC-80/3780
BISYNC-80/3270
MET/TTY
FINANCIAL REPORTING
REPORT WRITER You input the values. Report
Writer will perform your calculations and
produce a report with your headings, totals
and summaries. £70/£10
GLECTOR General ledger option in Selector Ill,
requires Selector Il! and CBASIC Ii
£125/£30
pleased s
Newly
INFOSTAR from MICROPRO
cB 80 £295/£30
Mailto METROTECH MAIL ORDER,
WATERLOO ROAD, UXBRIDGE,
MIDDLESEX UB8 2YW
CREDIT CARDS Telephone orders welcome
Tel: 0895 58111 Ext 247 or 269.
Trade Enquiries Welcomed
A MEMBER OF THE GRAND METROPOLITAN GROUP .
ica |
Oo
£445/£20
£445/£20
£95/£20
TBA
=
@ Circle No. 108
15
16
Vic 20 Colour Computer £199.99*
C2N_— Cassette Unit £44,95*
4016 16K Computer £550 |
4032 32K Computer £695
2031 171K Single Drive Floppy Disk £395
4040 343K Dual Drive Floppy Disk £695
4022 Tractor Feed Printer £395
8032 32K Computer £895
8096 96K Computer £1195
8050 950K Dual Drive Floppy Disk £895
8023 Tractor Feed Printer £895
8422 22 Megabyte Winchester Disk £3495
9000 SuperPet 134K
Multilanguage Computer £1495
*Price inclusive of VAT, All other prices VAT extra.
All prices are correct at time of going to press.
At Commodore -
we leave you no choice
Send to: Commodore Information Centre, 675 Ajax Avenue, Slough, Berks., Tel. Slough 79292.
I'd like to know more about how Commodore can help me make the right choice.
Nd ee Pilon ed
Nature of Business Company. |
Addres:
Tel.
zcommodore
COMPUTER
Quite simply, you benefit from our experience _
PRACTICAL COMPUTING Aprii 1982
Commodore Official Dealer List
London
AddaW13
01-579 5845
Capital Comey Systems W1
01-636 3863
Logic Computer Systems SW1
Q1-222 1122/5492
Merchant Systems LtdECA
01-583 6774
Micro Computation N14
01-882 5104
Microcomputer CentreSw14
01-878 7044/7
Sumlock Bondain LtdEC1
01-250 0505
Informex-London LtdSE13
01-318 4213/7
CSS (Systems) Ltd ES
Ot-254 9293
Meares Consultants Lt@NW3
01-431 3410
Data Base NW2
01-450 1388
Surrey & Middlesex
Douglas Moore Lid Kingston-Upon-Thames
01-549 212)
Micro Facilities Ltd Hampton Hill
01-979 4546/941 119
PPM Ltd Woking
04867-80111
Datalect Computers Ltd Croydon
01-680 3581
Datalect Computers Ltd Woking
04862-25995
Johnson Microcomputers Camberley
0276-20446
Wego Computers Ltd Caterham
0883-49235
Cream Computer Shop Harrow
01-8630833
Da Vinci Computer Shop Edgware
01-952 0526
L& J Computers Stanmore
01-204 7525/206 0440
Kent, Sussex & Hampshire
Amplicon Micro Systems Brighton
0273-562163/608331
Business Electronics Southampton
0703-738248
HSV (Microcomputers) Ltd Hants
0256-62444/0703-331422
Milhouse Designs Ltd Alton
042-084517
The Computer Room Tonbridge
0732-355962
Scan coupes Storrington
09066-5432
Essex
Dataview Colchester
0206-865835
CSSCLId Iiford
01-554 3344
DOM Brentwood
0277-229379
Stuart R Dean Ltd Southend-on-Sea
0702-62707
Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxtordshire & Wiltshire
Commonsense Business Systems Ltd High Wycombe
0494-40116
Orchard Computer Services Wallingford
0491-35529
Wymark Micro-Computer Centre Salisbury
04254-77012
Alphascan Ltd Banbury
029575-8202
JR Ward Computers Ltd Milton Keynes
0908-562850
The Computer Shop Oxtord
0865-722872
Kingsley Computers High Wycombe
0494-449749
Hertfordshire & Bedfordshire
ere Business Systems Ware
}20-68926
Bromwall Data Services Old Hatfield
07072-60980/63295
Computer Plus Watford
0923-33927
HB Computers (Luton) Ltd Luton
0582-454466
Photo Acoustics Watford
0923-40698/32006
MMS Lto Bedford
0234-40601
Brent Computer Systems Rickmansworth
87-71306/7032
East Midlands, South Humberside & Derbyshire
Davidson Richards Ltd Derby
0332-366803/4
Roger Clark (Business Systems) LtdLetcester
0533-20455
Arden Data Processing Leicester
aaa 2255 aN is
letos Systems Lid Nottingham
0602-48108
Caddis Computer Systems Ltd Hinckley
0455-613544
AJR Ltd Arnold Nottingham
0602-206647
East Anglia, Lincoinshire & Northamptonshire
Arden Data Processing Peterborough
0733-47767
HB Computers Ltd Kettering
0536-520910
Sumlock Bondain Ltd Norwich
0603-26259/614302
Dataview Norwich
0603-616221
West Midlands, Staftordshire & Warwickshire
Joseph Ware Associates Birmingham
021-643 8033 "
Camden Electronics Ltd Birmingham
021-773 8240
Micro Associates Birmingham
021-328 4574
Taylor Wilson Systems Dorridge, So!lhull
05645-6192
Walters Computer Systems Ltd Stourbridge
03843-70811
@ Circle No. 109
CBS Consultants Ltd Birmingham
021-772 8181
Peach Data Services Burton-on-Trent
0283-44968
Computer Services Midlands Ltd Birmingham
021-382 4171
Business Equipment Rentals Ltd Rugby
0788-65756
Business Equipment Rentals Ltd Coventry
0203-20246
North Wales. Cheshire & ide
Rocktiff Micro Computers Mol
0352-59629
North Wales Computer Services Colwyn Bay
0492-33151
Office & Business Equipment (Chester) Ltd Queensferry
0244-816803
Catiands information Systems Wilmslow
0625-527 166
Rockliff Micro Computers Liverpool
051-521 5830
Manchester
Cytek (UK) Ltd Old Trafford
061-872 4682
Executive Reprographic Manchester
061-228 1637
Sumiock (Manchester) Ltd Manchester
061-834 4233
D Kipp Salford
061-834 6367/9
Computastore Lid Manchester
061-832 4761
Lancashire
Preston Computer Centre Preston
0772-57684
Tharstern Ltd Burnley
0282-813299
Yorkshire & Humberside
Ackroyd Typewriter Co Ltd Bradtord
0274-31835
Alcor eo tet Sie Ltd Huddersfield
0484-512352
Deans Computer Services Leeds
0532-452966
Holbrook Business Systems Sheftield
0742-484466
Holdene Lid Leeds
0532-459459
Microware Computers Hull
0482-562107
Mitre Finch Fishergate
0904-52995
Yorkshire Electronics Morley
0532-522181
Computer Centre (Sheffield) Ltd Shettield
0742-53519/588731
Microprocessor Services Hull
0482-23146
Ram Computer Services Ltd Bradford
0274-391166
North East
Currle & Maughan Gateshead
0632-774540
ns Instruments Houghton-Le-Spring
0783-260452
Hate Go aoe idea plesclitte
0642-781193
Key Computer Services Ltd Jesmond
0632-815157
Avon, Wales & West Country
Calculator Services & Sales (Bristol) Ltd Bristol
0272-779452/3
ae pipes (Swansea) Sketty
0792-29004
McDowell Knaggs & Associates Worcester
0905-28466
Somerset Business Computers Taunton
0823-52149
Milequip Ltd Gloucester
0452-411010
Reeves Computers LtdCarmarthen
0267-32441/2
Welsh pamper Centre Bridgend
0656-275
Sigma Systems Ltd Carditt
0222-21515/34869
Reeves Computers Newport
0633-212331/2
Computer Shack LtdCheltennam
0242-584343
Midland Micro Stourport-on-Severn
02993-77098/6706
Sumtlock Tabdown Ltd Bristol
0272-276685/6
Radan Computational Ltd Bath
0225-318483
Devon & Comwali
AC Systems Exeter
0392-71718
Devon Computers Paignton
0803-526303
Jeftrey Martin Computer Services LtdTruro
0872-71626
AC Systems Plymouth
0752-26086
JAD integrated Services (Plymouth) Ltd Plymouth
0752-662616/29038
Scotland
Ayrshire Oftice Services Ltd Kilmarnock
0563-24255/20551
Holdene Microsystems Ltd Edinburgh
031-557 4060
Robox Oftice Equipment Lid Glasgow
041-221 8413/4
Gate Microsystems Ltd Dundee
0382-28194
Gate Se LtdGlasgow
041-221 9372
Mac Micro Ltd\nverness
0463-712774
Eire & Northern freland
Northern Ireland Computer Centre Co. Down
02317-6548/9
ese! peneuter LtdDublin 2
0001-60068 1
Islé of Man
Resource Planning LtdDouglas
0624-4247/8
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
MORE FROM
MICROS OURCE
MICROSOURCE sells mainly APPLE software, peripherals and books. We cannot list
all our products in a short space, so look in back issues and other magazines. We can
get hold of most of your wants quickly, and at a competitive price. We specialise in the
specials, what you need but cannot get elsewhere. Write or ring for a quote or more
_ information — you can’t lose!
SPECIAL OFFERS
Valid until 31 May
DIGITEK EXPANDER CARDS — 25% OFF
ALL PRICES INCLUDE VAT. ADD £2 post and packing per card
COLOUR CARD
RAM CARD
Z80 SOFTCARD
PARALLEL PRINTER CARD
SERIAL PRINTER CARD
APPLE SPELLER is only one of a series of spelling verifiers coming on to the
market. We have decided to sell this one because it received the best review in
SOFTALK. It makes any of the following word processor packages into something
approaching the power of a dedicated word processor. It interfaces with
APPLEWRITER, APPLE PIE, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, LETTER PERFECT, MAGIC
WINDOW, and SUPERSCRIBE II. You can make your own dictionary, besides
using the 30,000 + one provided. Proof reading is fast. What more can one say
except the special offer price is £48.50 incl VAT and P&P.
BOOKS
For ASSEMBLEY LANGUAGE PROGRAMMERS we recommend the following
two books for beginners:—
APPLE MACHINE LANGUAGE by Inman and Inman £10.50
ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE by Randy Hyde (contains introduction to the SWEET 16
routines) £11.95
For BUSINESS USERS we recommend both for content and range of listings.
APPLE BASIC FOR BUSINESS by Parker and Stewart which contains details of file
handling as well as general business programming €12.50
APPLE BASIC! DATA FILE PROGRAMMING by Finkel and Brown is a self backed
guide at
For GRAPHICS preg rammers.
GRAPHICS SOFTWARE FOR MICROCOMPUTERS by Korites takes you from basic
plotting a point to perspective and hidden line removal in easy stages, building
up the programs as you go £15.95
Just generally:
WHAT'S WHERE IN THE APPLE £9.98
BENEATH APPLE DOS €11,95
ALL ABOUT APPLESOFT €9.95
SOFTALK
Softalk is THE APPLE magazine in the USA and up to now has not been available
except to registered APPLE users in the USA only. By special arrangement, we
can now offer subscriptions to you.
For a trial issue, of the BUMPER CHRISTMAS EDITION, send £3 to MICRO-
SOURCE at the address below. For a six month subscription starting with the
January issue, send £17.
If you want the Christmas edition, plus a subscription, send £19.
SPECIAL SOFTWARE
As well as being able to get almost any existing APPLE SOFTWARE or peripheral
quickly, we have a team of writers producing the software that we, as users
ourselves, wish was available. This month's new offering is:—
NEW! XMON
EXTENDED MONITOR
Written by Colin Richardson
XMON extends the Apple Il System Monitor to offer a number of new commands
for example:—
— S — single step
— T —trace
— M — improved move command
— (CTRL-R > — relocate machine language programs
—( L-F > — comprehensive find command
plus many more.
Powerful new editing features are provided, and text page two can now be used
in exactly the same way as page one.
XMON comes with comprehensive documentation, making it both effective and
simple to use.
£22.00 INCL VAT
PRESTEL is going to take off on micros this year. We can be reached through
PRESTEL on 0727 72917. We hope to have TELESOFTWARE for sale soon, and
other PRESTEL software e.g. printing pages on a graphics printer. We are
interested to hear if you have anything to market in this area.
ALL PRICES INCLUDE VAT UNLESS SPECIFIC MENTION IS MADE. ALL PRICES
INCLUDE P&P
MICRO OURC
Tel: Park Street (0727) 72917
1 Branch Road,
Park Street
St. Albans.
@Circle No. 110
17
READY TO USE ¢ EASY TO LEARN
Professional business computers at
realistic prices.
FORCE 2 is no toy — it’s the full-force, industry standard, S-100 small business
computer with everything the first time user needs to get into computing.
FORCE 2 is low priced and starts paying for itself immediately, because it has
all the FORCE-POWER you'll need for your accounting applications and
specialized information tasks. It even comes with WORDSTAR for word
processing, included in its low price.
FORCE 2 is upward compatible with INTA’S other FORCE Computer Systems,
so your computer can grow along with your business.
FORCE 2 computer includes:
| All the Hardware
you need
Microcomputer: S-100 compatible
single-board Z-80A-based CPU with
up to 4K of onboard EPROM for
storage of bootstrap and diagnostics;
158 instructions; full vectored interrupt
capability (8 bit plus NMI.)
Memory: 64K x 8 bits of dynamic
RAM on single card, expandable up
to 8 cards for a total of 512K; memory
access time is 250 nanoseconds.
Floppy Disk Controller: single board
interface based on NEC HPD 765
floppy-disk controller LSI chip; DMA
interface transfers data to andfrom
memory at 500K bits/second;
accommodates up to 4 floppy drives.
Power Supply: highly reliable open-
framed linear supply with fully
protected outputs; designed to
accommodate fully expanded system.
18
Motherboard and Chassis: nine-card
slot board with gold connectors for
highest reliability; fully terminated
signal lines for improved performance.
Chassis is fabricated of rugged metal
and has highly efficient cooling system
and removable air filter. Front panel
features Reset and lighted Power
On/Off switch.
Cables: two RS-232 cables — expand-
able to 6 total — and one 50-pin
floppy disk system interface cable
provided with standard system.
Floppy Drives:2 IBM-compatible
8-inch double-density double-sided
floppy disk drives mounted in self-
contained chassis; online storage of
2.4 megabytes (IBM format), expand-
able to 4.8 megabytes.
Power Supply and Chassis: open-
framed linear supply in panel has
lighted AC Power On/Off switch.
CRT: standard 24 lines by 80 characters;
typewriter keyboard with separate
numeric keyboard, full range of display
attributes and editing capabilities.
Desk: Elegant wood and metal desk
custom designed for FORCE
computer systems.
All the Software
you want
CP/M — Operating System
Digital Research's CP/M 2°2 has
become the standard of the micro-
computer industry because of its
tremendous versatility, efficiency and
ease of use. FORCE 2 can utilize any
CP/M-compatible operating system,
which allows you, the user, to select
the very best software to do your
special computing jobs.
WordStar Word Processing Application:
INTA recommends and supplies
MicroPro’s WordStar Word Processing
Software System, because it’s been
designed for easy use by non-technical
clerical personnel — yet it transforms
FORCE 2 into a very sophisticated,
highly flexible word processing system.
@ Circle No. 111
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
Other Software
available includes:
DataStar Data Entry and Retrieval
System
MicroPro also has produced an all-
purpose software system for helping
you standardize the entry, retrieval,
updating and printing out of all your
records — it's called DataStar and it
allows you to decide how you want
your forms set up according to the
way you do business.
And a Full Complement of Business
Applications
INTA has developed a host of
specialized application programs for
all kinds of businesses and professions,
and can help you evaluate the relevancy
of these programs to your business.
All programs sold by INTA are pre-
configured to run immediately and
reliably on your FORCE 2 computer.
Cost:
FORCE 2: £5,499
FORCE 10: £7,499
Prices include shipping and handling.
There are no V.A.T. charges.
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
>
Sac Saseeier
The Three-User
System to grow with
FORCE 10 is the ideal system for
business environments involving
simultaneous accounting and word
processing requirements. FORCE 10
has plenty of forcepower to handle
sales order entry for one operator,
while another is updating your mailing
list, and a third operator is preparing a
special report for your next meeting.
And FORCE 10 is fully compatible
with the entire INTA FORCE Computer
Systems line, so you can add on
satellite FORCE 2 Systems and more
FORCE 10 Systems — or eventually
expand up to the even bigger FORCE
35 System and beyond.
FORCE 2 SYSTEM (Does not include printer or chair)
Inta Corporation
Computer Products Division
Plaza La Reina Office Tower
6033 West Century Boulevard
Fourth Floor
Los Angeles
California 90045 U.S.A.
Telephone: 213-417-8432
Telex: 664611 HQLAX CTRLSA
Telecopier: 213-645-6654
IN'TA
CORPORATION
@Circle No. 112
19
NQSCOM uum
MEANS SOLWTIONS
nascom
MEANS PERFORMANCE
Nascom have come a long way SOFTWARE: BACK-UP:
since their acquisition by Lucas. We have a team of programmers who We have a nationwide dealer net-
With the knowledge of over are writing software and courseware —_ work giving full sales back-up and
30,000 units already in the field especially for UK educational bus- after sales service. From our head
you can buy with confidence iness and domestic users. office we have a freephone service
from NASCOM. FREE ADVICE: line to sort out any problems.
PRODUCTS: We have appointed experts to advise SYSTEM EXPANSION:
We have kits, built and tested on the specialist use of micro NASCOM machines are designed
boards, and our fully assembled and computers in to grow with users. Easily and
tested NASCOM 3 U.K. schools, simply NASCOM systems can be
system with a full homes and expanded by adding extra modules
choice of configura- businesses. to the basic system.
tion either cassette or
disc based. Alternative
operating systems
include NAS DOS and
CP/M.
= a
g523*,
& qn sy Been”
SY" #a8a
3
Learn more about
NASCOM now.
Complete the coupon
on the opposite page
for further informatio!
and a full list of dealer
@ Circle No. 113
20 PRACTICAL COMPUTING Aprif 1982
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
authorized stockists
e
NORTHE mps
Semicomps Northern Ltd.,
East Bowmont Street,
Kelso, Roxburghshire. Tel: (0573) 24366
yy Of the Nascom
», country fies
y Business & Leisure
We specialise in tailoring
systems to your specific
requirements.
16 The Square, Kenilworth, CV8 1EB.
Tel: Kenilworth (0926) 512127
G, ler AEs
oy
Eley Electronics, 100/104 Beatrice Road,
(off Fosse Road North), Leicester. Tel: 0533 871522
Ll
Business & Leisure
Micro Computers
MID-SHIRE'S COMPUTER CENTRE
68 Nantwich Road, Crewe, Cheshire
Stationstraat,
Tel: (0270) 211086
6241CL,
Bunde (L),
Netherlands.
Tel: 043 641147
ELECTRICAL ELECTRONIC & MICROCOMPUTING
RETAIL & REPAIR
18 Station Road Lower Parkstone OTHER NASCOM PRODUCTS
Poole Dorset BH14 8UB PARK STONE .
Tel Parkstone (0202) 746555 aReeTeNe| Kits from £125 + VAT
Built from £140 + VAT
Systems from £376 + VAT
MicroGann Amateur radio C.8. radio NEW
UU Electronics Computers .
879.374 George Slreetaberdeen ttn * Advanced video controller from £155 +
Telephone: 0224 633385 VAT
* Enhanced BASIC from £40 + VAT
* Pascal compiler from £45 + VAT
9 East Street, Colne, * Compiled BASIC from £150 + VAT
Nr. Huntingdon, Cambs.
Tel: Ramsey (0487) 840710
Contact Paul Jephcott
SPECIAL OFFER
tmp Printers £199 + VAT
including graphics ROM
12 months warranty
SRS MICROSYSTEMS
161 sae Road, Oakwood, LUCAS LOGIC LIMITED
London NASCOM MICROCOMPUTERS DIVISION,
Telephone! ‘1 -363 8060 Welton Road, Wedgnock Industrial Estate,
Warwick CV34 5PZ, England.
. To Lucas Logic Ltd., Nascom Microcomputers Division, Welton Road
Clapham Junction | Wedgnock Industrial Estate, Warwick CV34 5PZ, England a
London SW11 1HH Please send:
Tel: 01-2237730 ] LiteratureO Dealer List 0 Prog. Book FormO
| Dealer enquiries welcome
Name .
Position
nverakae me Aaa | oad @ ett aM. |
'20niC ; ’ af stablishment . \
I
l
Address
2 NORTH ROAD, THE PARK, NOTTINGHAM NG7 1AG
TELEPHONE (0602) 45053
@Circle No. 114
21
ZX81
USERS
From ““BYG BYTE” comes a fully
compatible, assembled, tested and
guaranteed
16k RAM PACK
PLUG-IN MEMORY
Send to Name.......... i
00 ee So ne |
All cheques and postal orders made payable to
CAPS LTD
Dept D
And forward to 28 The Spain
Petersfield, Hampshire GU32 3LA
Allow 28 days for delivery
WHY PAY MORE?
Fully inclusive price each
£34.95 ie
22 PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
Word
processing
for the
businessman
TRIUMPH ADLER (UIC) UMITED
formerly Adios Business Systems Lid,
e Bret at Raed, Londor ECIM 7a)
hone: 01-250 1717 Teles, 897772
y, A TRIUMPH ADLER
of letters:
£3135.
Like all Adler products, the Alphatroniic is built
to the highest technical standards. It is supported by a
nationwide dealer network who are on hand just
when you need them, whether it be for advice,
assistance or technical service.
So if you want a word processor (with a free
microcomputer) — Trust Adler.
Price exclusive of VAT.
It’s true-—not only is the Alphatronic an
impressive word processor but it is also a very
versatile micro-computer.
It produces the kind of typing that keeps the
fussiest of managing directors happy — thanks to
the success proven daisy wheel printer.
You can trust the Alphatronic because it’s from
Adler. It is the only word processing micro-
computer that has a pedigree of superbly made
office products catering to every conceivable kind
of business requirement.
When used as a microcomputer it can solve your
problems with Accounts, Stock Control, Payroll
136
Bees
feo
wees
5 and the usual routine office work.
—_$ —— SEO
ys Please give me more information on the
7 TRI U M PH ADLER the Adler Alphatronic Microcomputer.
Triumph Adler (U.K.) Ltd.,
27 Goswell Road, London ECIM 7AJ.
Telephone: 01-250 1717. Jame. ;
Pp Company___ ———
- Address ie
“ANOTHER TRIUMPH FROM ADLER
@ Circle No. 116
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982 23
24
Wherever you are
intheUK there's a
Genie dealer nearby
_—— ATI
Genie I & II Approved Dealers
AVON Microstyle, Bath, 0225 334659/319705. BEDFORD
Comserve, Bedford, 0234 216749. BERKSHIRE P.C.P.,
Reading, 0734 589249. BIRMINGHAM Ward Electronics,
Birmingham, 021 554 0708. Consultant Electronics,
Birmingham, 021 382 7247. A.E. Chapmanand Co.,
Cradeley Heath, 0384 66497/8. BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
Photo Acoustics, Newport Pagnell, 0908 610625.
CAMBRIDGESHIRE Cambridge Micro Computers,
Cambridge, 0223 314666. CHESHIRE Hewart Electronics,
Macclesfield, 0625 22030. Mid Shires Computer Centre,
Crewe, 0270 211086. CUMBRIA Kendal Computer Centre,
Kendal, 0539 22559. DORSET Blandford Computers,
Blandford Forum, 0258 53737. Parkstone Electrics, Poole,
0202 746555. ESSEX Emprise, Colchester, 0206 865926.
GLOUCESTERSHIRE Computer Shack, Cheltenham,
0242 584343. HERTFORDSHIRE Photo Acoustics,
Watford, 0923 40698. Q Tek Systems, Stevenage,
0438 65385. Chrisalid Systems and Software,
Berkhamstead, 044 27 74569. KENT Swanley Electronics,
Swanley, 0322 64851. LANCASHIRE Harden
Microsystems, Blackpool, 0253 27590. Sound Service,
Burnley, 0282 38481. Computercat, Leigh, 0942 605730.
LEICESTERSHIRE Kram Electronics, Leicester,
0533 27556. LONDON City Microsystems, EC2,
01 588 7272/4. Wason Microchip, N18, 01 807 1757/2230.
Premier Publications, Anerley SE20, 01 659 7131. NORTH
EAST Briers Computer Services, Middlesbrough,
0642 242017. General Northern Microcomputers,
Hartelepool, 0783 863871. HCCS Associates, Gateshead,
0632 821924. NOTTINGHAMSHIRE Midland
Microcomputers, Nottingham, 0602 298281. Mansfield
Computers, Mansfield, 0623 31202. East Midland
Computer Services, Amold, 0602 267079. Electronic
Servicing Co., Lenton, 0602 783938. NORFOLK Anglia
Computer Centre, Norwich, 0603 29652. Bennetts,
Dereham, 0362 2488/9. OXFORDSHIRE Micro Business
Systems, Whitney, 0993 73145. SCOTLAND Computer and
Chips, St Andrews, 0334 72569. Scotbyte Computers,
Edinburgh, 031 343 1005. Victor Morris and Co., Glasgow,
041 221 8958. SHROPSHIRE Tarrant Electronics, Newport,
0952 814275. SOUTH WEST Diskwise, Plymouth (0752)
267000. West Devon Electronics, Yelverton, 082 285 3434.
Bits and Bytes, Barnstaple, 0271 72789. SUFFOLK Elgelec
Ltd., Ipswich, 0473 711164. SURREY Croydon Computer
Centre, Thornton Heath, 01 689 1280. WALES Tryfan
Computers, Bangor, 0248 52042. WEST MIDLANDS Allen
TV Services, Stoke on Trent, 0782 616929. WILTSHIRE
Everyman Computers, Westbury, 0373 823764.
YORKSHIRE Advance TV Services, Bradford,
0274 585333. Huddersfield Computer Centre,
Huddersfield, 0484 20774. Compnite, Bradford,
0274 668890. Superior Systems Ltd., Sheffield, 0742 755005.
Photo Electrics, Sheffield, 0742 53865. NORTHERN
IRELAND Business Electronic Equipment, Belfast,
0232 46161. Brittain Laboratories, Belfast, 0232 28374.
Sole Importers:
OME
Chesterfield Road, Matlock, Derbyshire DE4 5LE.
Telephone: 0629 4995. Telex: 377482 Lowlec G.
@Circle No. 117
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
Telephone: 01-591 6511 Telex: 892395
GENERAL
Hardware orientated:
Some Real Microprocessors
6 Updating Supplements tor Some Real Microprocessors
Some Real Support Devices :
6 Updating Supplements for Some Real Support Devices
Microprocessors from Chips to Systems
Microprocessor Interfacing Techniques
IC OP-AMP Cookbook
RTL Cookbook
IC Timer Cookbook
Ciarcias Circuit Cellar
8089 I/O Processor Handbook
The CRT Controller Handbook
The 68000 Microprocessor Handbook
16 Bit Microprocessor Handbook
4 and 8 Bit Microprocessor Handbook
Software Listings:
Computer Programs that Work
Home & Economics Programs
Education and Scientific Programs
Some Common BASIC Programs
Practical BASIC Programs
Professional Programs: Chess, Medbil. Wdproc
Business:
Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable
General Ledger
Small Business Programs (Microsoft Basic)
Other:
PIMS: Personal Information Management System
Buyers Guide to Microsoftware
Program Design
Ploaremiming! Techniques: Simulation
Numbers in Theory and Practice
K2 FDOS
CP/M Handbook
CP/M Primer
CP/M Users Guide
Calculating with BASIC
Dr Dobbs Journal Vol 1
Or Dobbs Journal Vol 2
Or Dobbs Journal Vol 3
Best of Interface Age: Software
Programming the Z8000
Z8000 Assembly Language Programming
FOR THE Z80, TRS-80, ZX81, 380Z
Z80 Programming for Logic Design
Z80 Assembly Language Programming
Z80 Instruction Handbook (Wadsworth)
Programming the Z80 (Zacs)
Z80 Software Gourmet Guide and Cookbook
32 BASIC Programs for the TRS-80 (Level Il) 16K
Introduction to the T-Bug
(Guide to TRS-80 Machine Language Monitor)
30 Programs for the Sinclair ZX80
Cambridge Collection tor the ZX81
CONCERNING LANGUAGE
Beginners Guide for the UCSD PASCAL Systems
A Practical Introduction to PASCAL
The PASCAL Handbook
Introduction of PASCAL (including UCSD PASCAL)
SCELBAL—BASIC Language Interpreter (Source Code)
BASIC BASIC
Advanced BASIC
Users Guide to North Star BASIC
Microsoft BASIC (a guide)
Secret Guide to Computers
Fifty BASIC Exercises
PASCAL Programs for Scientists & Engineers
FOR THE 6502
(PET, APPLE, ATARI etc.)
First Book of ATARI
Best of Micro. Vol 2
Programming the 6502 (Zacs)
6502 Applications
6502 Instruction Handbook
The PET Revealed
Library of PET Subroutines
32 BASIC Programs for the PET
First Book of KIM
PET/CBM Personal Computer Guide (2nd edition)
Apple Il Users Guide
PET and the JEEE (GPIB) Bus
6502 Assembly Language Programming
Some Common BASIC Programs (PET CBM)
PET Graphics
NEW BOOKS
Don't (or How to Care for your Computer)
Science & Engineering Programs for the Apple Il
Some Common BASIC Programs for the Atari
Interfacing to S-100/IEEE 696 Microcomputer
Introduction to Word Processing
MICROCOMPUTER PRODUCTS
ROOM PC, 11 CAMBRIDGE HOUSE, CAMBRIDGE ROAD, BARKING, ESSEX IG11 8NT, ENGLAND
£20.85
£20.85
£43.00
£20.85
£40.45
£13.10
£9.85
£4.25
£7.50
£6.00
£4.95
£5.95
£5.95
£15.95
£15.95
£3.95
£16.50
£23.00
£9.85
£10.25
£25.00
£14.85
£14.85
£39.95
£6.50
£2.40
£4.75
£4.75
£6.00
£15.50
£12.10
£8.45
£10.10
£4.95
£15.50
£15.50
£15.50
£9.95
£12.10
£14.85
£6.30
£13.50
£3.50
£11.95
£10.25
£11.10
£7.60
£6.95
£4.95
£9.50
£4.95
£13.95
£11.50
£10.00
£7.00
£6.50
£10.00
£7.15
£4.0C
£10.25
£12.70
£TBA
£5.50
£10.75
£10.25
£3.50
£10.00
£10.00
£11.10
£7.00
£11.00
£11.50
£10.95
£11.85
£9.85
£TBA
£9.65
£11.60
£11.10
£11.10
£9.95
INTERNATIONAL LTD.
DR DOBBS JOURNAL
Volume 1 £15.50
Volume 2 £15.50
Volume 3 £15.50
Special Deal on Prepaid Orders
All 3 Volumes £40.00 plus £3.45 p-p (inc. VAT}
These volumes are reprints from Ihe early issues of
Dr Dobbs Journal. Covering such areas as
An 8080 Disassembler
Extended Accuracy Arithmetic Routines
A SC/MP Subroutine Supervisor
An Inferactive Programming Language tor
Control of Robots f
Computer Apptications for ihe handicapped
A High-Speed Memory Test Program for the 6502
Palo Alto Tiny BASIC |
Floating Point Routines for the 6502
FORTH Oump Programs
Aulodump
Z80 RAM Tester
These volumes are for the Micro enthusiast who is concerned wilh Improving hls programming technique
examining speciatized applications and utilities. as well as making tuff use of program listings. Most articles
were contributed by readers willing to share their sotutions and ideas with you. If you wish to develop your
own underslanding and skill can you afford lo be without these volumes? All prepaid orders witl be
despatched by return of post.
Retailer
and OEM
FOR FUN
8080 Galaxy Game £6.95
SUPER-WUMPUS—A Game in 6800 Assembler Code & BASIC £4.25
Computer Music Book £6.75
Computer Rage (a Board Game) £6.95
Introduction to TRS-80 Graphics £6.30
Take My Computer Please . . . (Fiction) £3.25 MAIL
Introduction to Low Resolution Graphics for PET, Apple TRS-80 £6.00 ORDER
6502 Games £10.25
Inside BASIC Games £14.50 TELE-
PHONE
FOR THE NOVICE CREDIT
Getting Down to Business with Your Microcomputer £5.50 hse)
Getting Involved with Your Own Computer £5.50 x
How lo Profit from Your Personal Computer £6.50 VISIT +
Microcomputer Potpourri £1.95
Hobby Computers are Here £3.00
New Hobby Computers £3.00
Understanding Microcompulers and Small Computer Systems £7.50
Understanding Microcomputers and Small Computer Systems
and Audio Cassette £9.25
From the Counter to the Bottom Line £10.00
Buying a Business Computer £9.75
You Just Bought a Personal What? £8.75
How to Make Money with Your Microcomputer £7.00
MAGAZINE BACK ISSUES
Micro 6502 Journal £3.00
Personal Computing £3.00 Full
Interface Age £3.25 :
Or Dobbs Journal £2.15 descriptive
Computer Music Journal £3.75 .
Recreational Computing £2.15 Catalogue:
BYTE ‘ £3.60 available
Creative Computing £4.25
Calculators and Computers £1.95 £1—
Kilobaud Microcomputing £4.25 deductable
Compute—for the 6502 £3.75
68’ Micro £2.50 trom
80-Microcomputing £4.95 first
On Computing £1.95
S-100 Microsystems £2.50 purchase
99°ER £3.00
99'ER Subscription (6 issues) £13.00
Magazine Storage Box (holds 12) £2.15
BYTE NIBBLE REPRINTS:
a) A TMS-9900 Monitor £3.50
b) BASIC Cross-Reference Generator £1.25
c) ‘Tiny’ PASCAL in 8080 Assembly Language
(‘d needed touse this) £13.00
d) A'Tiny’ PASCAL Compiler £13.50
e) An APL Interpreter in PASCAL £43.00
f) Computer Assisted Flight Planning £2.35
g) Computerised Wine Cellar £2.00
h) The Design of an M6800 Lisp Interpreter £13.00
Trade
Enquiries
ORDER INFORMATION
MAGAZINES: Magazine back issues that are not currently in stock are often difficult to obtain. For unavailable
back tssues there is a photocopying service at 15p per page ptus 25p p’p plus VAT.
Welcome
BOOKS: Most books are published in the USA and stocked in Britain by Microcomputer Products International
Ltd. We aim to keep all of these books in stock and as a resuit of this, most prepaid orders are despatched by
return of post,
Please add £1.00 towards postage pius 15p VAT for EACH book purchased. If purchasing more than 3 books at
any one time, please add 25p plus 4p VAT for each extra title (over the 3).
PAYMENT: Ail payment must be in sterling and drawn against a UK Bank. Send cash. cheques, postal orders,
§MO. Access or Barclaycard No. to: Microcomputer Products Internationai Lid., Room PC, 11 Cambridge House
Cambridge Road. Barking, Essex IG11 8NT. Telephone: 01-591 6511. Telex: 892395.
@Circle No. 118
lf you are puzzled by all the talk of financial modelling
packages ....
If you would like to know how computer modelling ona
micro could help your business ....
Then come to one of our HALF DAY
MANAGEMENT SEMINARS
on the use of computer modelling in business by means of
MINIMODEL
the most powerful, flexible and easy-to-use micro-
computer modelling package available today.
For booking form send a copy of this advert with your letterhead or
The Seminars cost
£20 + VAT per person.
They run from 9.30 to
12.30 plus discussion time
on the following days:
Birmingham May 11
Leeds May 12
London May 13
The seminars are for
Financial Directors, Chief
Accountants, Managers
and Entrepreneurs who
want to run their business
better.
MINIMODEL helps
answer your WHAT IF
questions ....
WHAT IF petrol goes up
5p?
WHAT IF the pound
moves 3% against the
dollar?
WHAT IF the Chancellor
alters National Insurance
business card to in the Budget?
GREAT NORTHERN, ©2110 sevicestiies
116 Low Lane, Horsforth, Leeds LS18. 5PX. Telephone (0532) 589980
‘ve
th
SEES
tei Att
i“
: cea
1, Montague Street, Holborn, London WC1B 5BP @ Telephone: 01-580-9792 @ Telex: 24263 TARDIS G
MICROCACHE
This innovative package will transform your microcomputer into an extremely powerful. machine. Consider these features:
*. Microcache will improve the speed of your microcomputer by up‘to 50,000%
- Microcache is transparent to the user and his programs
- No- modification of existing applications programs is required
- Microcache improves reliability and results in quieter running
- Available for virtually all disk based microcomputers
Unbelievable? Consider your system. What restricts its speed? The answer is almost Invariably disk accessing rather than processor speed.
Microcache very substantially reduces the number of disk accesses required. This is achieved by means of a highly intelligent RAM buffer
placed between your disk drives and processor. The effect is staggering. It is available either as an add-on box of hardware and software, or
software only (CP/M and MP/M systems only) for those wishing to use their own RAM boards.
The Silicon Disk System (another Microcosm Research first) is also available for those seeking to add a “RAM
disk” to their system rather than speed up their existing drives via Microcache.
The Microcache Box (hardware plus Microcache and/or Silicon Disk System software) costs from £496 (for a
64K Silicon Disk System) but varies according to the amount of RAM required and the microcomputer used.
Ring Peter Cheesewright for details.
Software only:
Microcache £395 Silicon Disk System £295
*Special offer*: 20% discount on all orders receive before 1st June
Microcosm Research Ltd. specialises in operating systems, communication software, utilities and other systems software. *NEW*— MP/M |i is
here. We can configure it for your hardware and help you design your multi-user business system.to make fuil-use of it.
@ Circle No. 120
26 PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
PRINTERS
NEC SPINWRITER
TEC STARWRITER
The Daisywheel Printing Terminal series
that sets a new standard for print quality,
reliability and serviceability, Unbeatable
performance at a realistic price.
The unbel-
% ievabie quality print-
er from the world’s largest
print head manufacturer. A whole stable
of machines to suit a wide variety of app-
lications: MX80 , MX82, MX 80FT/1 &
MX80 FT/New Type 2. Mx100
Green Screen
Fully intelligent
terminals with
24x80 display &
dual intensity,
blinking, reversed,
underlining and
protect fields,
wee seth
0372 66397/62071
@Circle No. 121
OKI MICROLINE
QUME SPRINT 9
so ay .
| all machines to be in operation at same time
ANACOM | TALLY| TEXAS
QANTEX | RICOH | EPSON
Impeccable
print quality
printers utilising the
NEC print “thimble”. KSR and RO versions
available all with a whole host of impressive
features you have come to expect from NEC.
Multi-port
printer
buffer
means
one to
four
Printers
can be int-
erfaced with one to
four computers in any combination to allow
The Hazeitine Esprit
is a buffered terminal
capable of displaying
the complete 128
ASCII character set.
Based on a 12” dia-
gonal non-glare CRT,
the video is crisp
and clear with
each character
presented on a large mat-
rix to reduce ave eae Ss
Green Screen
SCREENS
HAZELTINE | TVI
DEC VT 100 | BMC
The e Printer aoe
ADD-ONS
PRINTER BUFFERS (16k)
SINGLE SHEET FEEDERS |
matrix printer. 40, 80 or 132 columns, 6
Or 8 lines per inch, 96 ASCII characters
plus 64 graphics characters, Centronics int.
automate the only thing
left in word process-
ing that needs auto-
mation. No word
processing system
is truly automatic if
an operator is required to hand feed sheets
into the printer, or resort to perforated
continuous stock. This handling individ-
ual sheets can now be a thing of the past.
ORTHAMBER
LIMITED
3 & 4 DAWES COURT,
ESHER, SURREY.
Tel: Esher (0372) 66397 or
62071 (from 01 nos dial
78-66397 or 78-62071
Importers, Distribu-
tors & Wholesalers
of quality Com-
puter products.
28
7), PET PRINTER GRAPHICS
PLUS
by Com PU TACE LTD . North Star Horizon CEERI
i}
To Sa Por
“= A-RelOS 82 5
Where A=1-G2"S0R
F=2¢A
COMPUTACE LTD., INFABCO :
GROUP, International Base, | ‘ fastest reply use--
Greenwell Rd., East Tullos, COMPUTACE LTD.,
ABERDEEN AB1 4AX PO BOX 50D
KT3 3BD
TEL: (0224) 876622. NEW MALDEN, SURREY KT3 3
This graph is a typical
example printed by
AUTOGRAPH ona
STANDARD COMMODORE
3022 or 4022 PRINTER.
(Please specify when ordering)
No disk drive or plotter required
Simple to use. Hard copy.
Fully flexible graph
dimensions and position on
page. Automatic scale
option. Variable background
formats. Plots any X,Y
function. Multiple graphs
on same exes. Full °
Alphanumeric labelling for
professional quality
presentation:
AUTOGRAPH is supplied with
extensive documentation.
Send for Brochure.
AUTOGRAPH 1 (16k, 32K only)
Plots any function as illus.
or in.spaced dots. £39.50 incl.
AUTOGRAPH 2 (16K, 32k only)
As Autograph 1 but
includes data point plot
option with joining lines
and marking circles. Autographs
1 and 2 combined pack. £49.50 incl.
CURVE FIT 1 (32k only)
Powerful Linear and Non-
Linear Regression of any
function to a least squares
data fit. Complete with plot
of regressed curve & data.
£55.50 incl.
CURVE FIT 0
As Curve Fit 1 plus Cubic
Spline Fit, Integrals and
Gradients throughout.
£65.50 incl.
Send for Brochure and details of
combined packs at reduced prices.
Including: Epson Printers and Oxford
Computer Systems Compiler.
@Circle No. 122
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
Electronic Brokers Ltd
VDU&PRINTER| DEC SALE
a a from our
AJB3e2 DAISY WHEEL
PRINTER / PLOTTER
Scoop purchase of Anderson
Jacobson AJ832 Daisy Wheel
Printers complete with full keyboard
integral stand and RS232. interface
Utilising the %
famous QUME
Printer Mechanism
14 £995.00 | .
5-9 £950.00 ~
10+ £895.00
HAZELTINE Heooo
VISUAL DISPLAY UNIT
27 x 74 Display, 64 ASCil, RS232,
full half duplex and full aditing XY cursor
addressing and batch mode, green
phosphor CRT, detachable keyboard.
SPECIAL QUANTITY DISCOUNT
OFFER
1-2 £299.00 5-9 £255.00
34 £275.00 10+ £250.00
Also a few
OR DS ..£36
14/35 32KW Core, &ft cab . £2750. 00
11/35 S6KW Core, KT11D,.£53000.00
11/45 32KW Core, 4ft Cab - £5950. 00
11/45 'SEKW Core, 4ft Cab. £74§0.00
AZO | 64KW Core, 2 Cabs,
£18000.00
vT100
8A-205-BR 32KW MOS .
1000 %2xB0 DBEGLASS/LAZ6 and FLuSeeY pigcBRIVES ——
display RS232 LA180 MATRIX SPECI URCHASE —
Ri0/3000r ° PRINTERS’ BRAND Wew SURPLUS
300/1200 LASS 3Ocps k eyeerd printer with 11 At . iat .... £995.00
~ baud £199.00 integral stand, 132 column tractor- RXV1 ual Floppy & Ctl .. £995.00
—_______________________ teed, upper/lower case ASCII RXBE Dual Floppy & Ctl ....... £995.00
__AJ2142 ACOUSTIC COUPLERS — | A36 with20mA...... _. £450.00
Special Purchase of Anderson- Jacobson LA36 withRSede....... £495.00 OPTIONS
Acoustic Couplers suitable for use with LA35 — Receive only version of
BA‘ 1FE Expander Box ....
” ~- £885.00
RS2392 or 20mA devices, full or half LA36 — AMAZING VALUE: DB11A/B Unibus Repeater .... £525.00
duplex, at speeds up to 300 baud. LA35 with 20mA ..... . £250.00 DOD11A/B Backplane ......... £125.00
Attractive woodencase...... £125.00 (A35 withRASege....... £275.00 DJ11AA Multiplexor (NEW). .£4250.00
VT50 AND VT52 DECSCOPE VDUS
VT50 DECscope, 12 x 8D upper case
ASCII, 9 switc picletenls baud rates
75-9600 baud, 20mA or RS232 ASCII. Integral stand (NEW)
interface... .......&250.00 LA180 printer standard parallel
VvTs2 DECscope, “24x 80 upper/lower (Centronics type) interface
case ASCII, 9 switch-selectable baud sw... eee £495.00
* rates 75-600 b baud, laa or RS232 LA180-ED with optional RS232 or M9301 Bootstrap module £325.00.
Interface seen .. ... £525.00 20mA interface .£670.00 M9312 Bootstrap module £395.00
=r ,» ==, —= Electronic Brokers Ltd., 61/65 Kings Cross Road,
= LondonWC1X 9LN.Tel:01-278 3461. Telex 298694
DL11W Asynchronous interface £395.00
DR11W DMA Interface (NEW) £625.00
FP11E Floating Point (11/60) £1875.00
KE11A Extended Arithmetic .. £625 00
KE11B Extended Arithmetic .. £596.00
KT11D Memory Management £750.00
M7258 Printer Interface . £325.00
LA180 high-speed output printer
with 180 cps printing, 132 column
tractor-feed, upper lower case
@ Circle No. 123
ROCK SOLID TRAINING
SYSTEMS FROM BRITAIN’S
BRIGHTEST EXPERTS
Teach SST BASIC i in 12 hours. Our LITTLE GENIUS self-instruction courses
on floppy disk will teach you to master your Micro in 3 easy stages.
Each course consists of well-structured fully interactive lessons and is available in 3
separate disk modules.
1. Beginners 2. Advanced 3. Disk operating system at £19.95 each+ VAT '
OR take advantage of our SPECIAL OFFER-3-in-one pack price £49.95+VAT !
BE A LITTLE GENIUS YOURSELF I
\
|
Rush me my order for/send information on:
*BASIC/PASCAL for Machine.............
Stage Nos. 1, 2, 3 or 3-in-One (Ring as Required)
Courses in BASIC for Apple, ITT 2020, PET and RML 380Z.
Also PASCAL for Apple.
Available from most computer retailers or direct |
Inthe U.K, write to: In the US wnite to:
Little Genius, Suite 504, Albany House, Little Genius, 34-38 83rd Street,
324, Regent Street, London WIR SAA. Jackson Heights, New York, U.S.A.
England. Tel: 01-580 6361
J
I
|
@ Circle No. 124
!
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982 I
Cheque enclosed/Purchase Order Enclosed/Send C.O.D.*
*Delete as required
29
i EAT MONEY!
SO NOW THERE’S DISKTOOLS®
ONE FAMILY
ONE AIM
TO OVERCOME THE BUG
DISK REVIVER
DISK KLENE
DISK ORGANISER
Recover lost files easily
Dispose of ‘bad sectors'
Organise jumbled disks
The best CP/M disk editor in the world
—modifies any byte on a disk! DISK EDIT tl
Intelligent multifile spooler DISK SPOOL
saves console o/p in file DISK LOG
PHONE OR WRITE FOR BROCHURE WHETHER YOU HAVE:-
HARD ORFLOPPY DISKS,
Z80 OR 8080,
CP/MV1 ORV2ORMP/M,
BUSINESS SYSTEMS LTO. DISKTOOLS WILL SAVE
g YOU TIME AND MONEY.
48 Hedley St, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 5AD Tel 0622 679595
# AILIBM formats
# AES/Lanier
# Apple li
« Atari
# CPT 8000
#* Diamond
DISKETTES
HAL Computers Limited
Invincible Road,Farnborough
Hants.GUl4 7QU
. Telephone 0252 5i717!
30
@ Circle No. 125
The best diskette
for your system
LEARN PROGRAMMING
AND MICROS
IN CAMBRIDGE
“PROGRAMMING IN BASIC”
Dates: 10-12 March & 5-7 April
“PROGRAMMING IN PASCAL”
Dates: 22-26 March & 26-30 July
“INTRODUCTION TO DESIGN OF MICROPROCESSOR
SYSTEMS”
Dates: 29 March-2 April & 10-14 May
“ADVANCED SYSTEMS DESIGN USING PASCAL”
Dates: 26-30 April & 21-25 June
“Z8000 WORKSHOP”
Dates: 24-27 May
Write or phone for Course Prospectus
and Booking Form
CAMBRIDGE MICRO COMPUTERS LTD
Cambridge Science Park
Milton Road
Cambridge
CB4 4BN
Telephone: 0223-314666
@Circle No. 126
# Nexos 2200
# P2000
# P5002/Micom
* Wang
* Zenith
#* — among others
We keep stocks of 30,000 for immediate
delivery to dp and wp users
FOR YOUR RECORDS THE DYSAN Y IS: 0252 517171
@Circte No. 127
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
MiIcrOware
Microware (London) Ltd., 5 Western Court,
Huntly Drive, London N3 INX
Tel: 01-346 8452
USE
YOUR
4 %(BRAIN
Does it make sense to pay more when Superbrain
gives exceptional performance for just a fraction
Lil of what you would expect to pay.
Standard Superbrain has from 350K bytes of
disk storage and 64K of ram memory.
o
a NC OA SSE |
Its CP/M operating system gives you an
overwhelming amount of readily available
software in BASIC at £145, FORTRAN,
COBOL & APL.
Microware prices are from:
—._ — £1599
Why throw money away when you can buy Also available
WORDSTAR at £175.00. SUPE2BRAIN’
Microware supply a complete range of popular QD : ] 8 5
software at prices that are hard to beat including
DATASTAR, D BASE II, MAIL MERGE, SUPERBRAIN
MAGIC WAND and FULL ACCOUNTING 1-6Mbytes
PACKAGES!
any popular software supplied. ae SS 3] 95
Plus Limited Supplies at:
£995
And you should see the prices we can
offer on Daisy Wheel Printers. Including
QUME, TEC Starwriter, NEC and RICHO.
@ Circle No. 128
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982 31
THINKING ABOUT BUYING
A COMPUTER SYSTEM?
TALK TO DATALECT FIRST!
COMMODORE [
No. 1 best seller in the U.K. Tackles
your bookeeping, stock control and
word processing. This system is
reliable and superb value.
APPLE
One of the most versatile on the market.
Expandability up to 48 kbytes of user
memory, supported by a large range
of programs and peripherals.
HEWLETT
PACKARD
A portable (only 20 ibs) specialist
computer with a fully integrated
key board, display and printer.
ACT800 series
A large microcomputer system
supported by an excellent range of
programs. Expandable to multitasking ©
up to 20 meg.
... because who else provides all
this—ata price you can afford
We offer you a choice of these budget priced,
easy to operate microcomputers. Starting in
price from an amazing £200 for a computer,
£1,500 for a complete system. All come with
a versatile range of programs to meet todays
modern business needs.
Try one out for yourself
if you’re not sure how a microcomputer can
help, call in at our WOKING or CROYDON
SHOWROOMS.
Keeping you going
| Fast reliable SERVICE if you’re based in
/ London and the South.
Buying your system
Attractive terms, leasing and the best deals
available in London and the South.
Remember, when you buy from Datalect
you’re getting 10 yrs EXPERTISE, SERVICE,
ADVICE and TRAINING and the best
after-sales care.
SHOWROOMS:
CROYDON. 7, St.Georges Walk, Croydon, Surrey.
Tel: 01-680 3581
WOKING. 32, Chertsey Road, Woking, Surrey.
Tel: 04862 63901
® Registered trademarks of Commodore,
Apple Inc., Hewlett Packard, ACT.
Position
Address
DATALEC
COM PUTE RS ; __ Post Code__
ECT C B
Your computer company for London and the South Dept PC, 33/33 Portugal Rd., Woking, Surrey GU21 SJF
@ Circle No. 129
32 PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
CuMANA
TRS 80 MODEL III
DUAL DENSITY DISK DRIVES
GE ror DEPENDABILITY
AND QUIET OPERATION
INTERNAL DRIVE PRICES CAPACITY
1 x 40 Track Drive
2 x 40 Track Drives
1 x 80 Track Drive
2 x 80 Track Drives
1 x 80 Track Double Sided Drive
2 x 80 Track Double Sided Drive
Internal Drive prices include Disk Controller Board, Power
Supply Unit and all Cables and Connectors required for
installation.
ae
£420
£599
£460
£695
£620
£999
184K Bytes
368K Bytes
368K Bytes
737K Bytes
737K Bytes
1474K Bytes
EXTERNAL DRIVE PRICES
1 x 40 Track Drive
2 x 40 Track Drives
1 x 80 Track Drive
2 x 80 Track Drives
EXTERNAL 2 Drive Cable
£219
£399
£285
£539
£15
External Drives are directly compatible
with the TRS 80 Model | and Video
Genie Expansion Interfaces.
You can depend on Cumana; we scour the world markets for top quality products to give you
efficient, trouble free operating. Like DISKS from TEAC of Tokyo and other leading names.
Cumana are alert for the latest proven developments and promise you attentive service.
Write or ‘phone for Data Sheets.
Call your nearest dealer for a demonstration:
RADIO SHACK LTD..
188. Broadhurst Gardens.
London NW6
Tel 01-624-7174
COMPSHOP LTD.,
14, Station Road,
New Barnet. Herts
Tel: 01-441 -2922
COMPSHOPLTD.,
311, Edgware Road
London W2
Tel: 01-262-0387
COMPSHOP LTD.
19, Herbert Street.
Dublin 2
Tel 604165
LONDON COMPUTER
CENTRE, 43. Grafton
Way. London W1
Tel: 01-388-5721
NLC,
61. Broad Lane
London N15
Tel: 01-808-0377
CROYDON COMPUTER
CENTRE, 29a. Brigstock
Road. Thornton Heath
Surrey.
Tel: 01-689-1280
P J EQUIPMENT LTD.,
3. Bndge Street
Guildford
Tel 0483-50480!
R.0.S. ELECTRICAL
LTD., 157-161. Kingston
Road. Portsmouth
Tel: 0705-812478
TANDY HASTINGS
LTD., 48, Queens Road.
Hastings
Tel: 0424-431849
MICROW ARE
COMPUTING
SERVICES, 57. Queen
Charlotte Street. Bristol
Tel; 0272-279560
BLANDFORD
COMPUTERS, Higher
Shaftsbury Road.
Blandford Forum.
Tel: 0258-53737
TAPE SHOP
321 Viaduct Road
Brighton.
Tet 0273-609099
PARWEST LTD.,
18. St. Mary Street
Chippenham.
Tel: 0249-2131
COMPUTER SHACK
14, Pittville Street
Cheitennam
Tel 0242-584343
TANDY
GLOUCESTER,
13, Clarence Street
Gloucester
Tel: 0452-31323
COMSERVE,
98, Tavistock Street
Bedford
Tel 0234-216749
CLEARTONE
COMPUTERS, Prince ot
Wales Ind Estate
Abercarn. Gwent
Tel 0495-244555
EMPRISE LTD.,
58. East Street.
Colchester
Tel: 0206-865926
MAGNUS MICRO-
COMPUTERS,
139 The Moors.
Kidlington, Oxford.
Tel: 08675-6703
CAMBRIDGE
COMPUTER STORE,
1. Emmanuel Street
Cambridge
Tel 0223-65334
1.C. ELECTRONICS,
Flagstones
Stede Quarter
Biddenden. Kent
Tel 0580-291816
MICRO CHIP SHOP,
190. Lord Street.
Fleetwood. Lancs.
Tel: 03917-79511
HARDEN MICRO-
SYSTEMS, 28-30. Back
Lord Street. Blackpool
Tel: 0253-27590
AMBASSADOR
BUSINESS COM-
PUTERS LTO.,
Ashiey Lane Works
Shipley. W. Yorks
Tel: 0274-595941
Q-TEK SYSTEMS LTD.,
2 Daltry Close, Old
Town, Stevenage. Herts.
Tel: 0438-65385
COMPUTER & CHIPS,
Feddinch Mains House.
St. Andrews, Fife.
Scotiand
Tel: 0334-72569
HEWART MICRO-
ELECTRONICS,
95. Blakelow Road.
Macclesfield,
Tel, 0625-22030
KARADAWN LTDO.,
2 Forest Way.
Great Sankey
Warmington
Tel: 0925-572668
PHOTO-ELECTRICS.
459 London Road.
Shetfield.
Tel 0742 53865
ARC ELECTRONICS,
54 Heron Drive. Sandal
Nr. Wakefield.
W. Yorks WF2 6SL
Tel: 0924-253145
VICTOR MORRIS
LTD., 340 Argyle
Street. Glasgow,
2 BLY.
Tel: 041-221 8958
COMPRITE LTD.,
Thonite House.
Laisterdyke
Bradford.
Tet: 0274-663471
GNOMIC LTD.,
46. Middle Street.
Blackhall.
Harte l
Tel: 0783-86387 1
BRIERS COMPUTER
SERVICES, 1. King
Edward Square.
Middlesbrough
Cleveland,
Tel: 0642-242017
3 LINE COMPUTING
36, Clough Road. Hull.
Tel: 0482-445496
H.C. COMPUTER
SALES LTD., 182.
Earlsway. Team Valley
Trading Estate.
Gateshead.
Tel; 0632-874811
EWL COMPUTERS LTD.,
8. Royal Crescent.
Glasgow.
Tel: 041-332-7642
EVERYMAN
COMPUTING,
14 Edward Street.
Westbury, Wilts.
Tel: 0373-864644
Please add VAT to all prices
35 Walnut Tree Close, Guildford. Surrey. GU1 4UN.
Deli i
Telephone: (0483) 503121. Telex: 858306 a be
advised at time of order.
CumMANA Ltp
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
33
Wida Software
Specialists in Educational Software For Schools and Colleges
Computer Assisted Course in German: Beginners to
O'Level: Textbook: Workbook; 6 Language Lab Cas-
settes; 9 Apple diskettes of teaching and testing routines.
Apple only: Complete set:
(20% discount for schools)
Individual Testing Routines: article and adjective endings,
pronouns, word order, etc. Send s.a.e. for details.
Any four routines: Apple Disk £15.00
Pet Cassette £10.00
Starter Pack for building up library of tests. No knowledge
of computing needed. Suite of 5 programmes: Tester,
Testmaker, Editor, Multiple Choice Specimen, Directory
of Tests. Apple Disk £20.00
Pet Cassette £15.00
The Ultimate Language for Teachers: Mix sound graphics
and text for questions on screen
Disks & Manuals £84.00
Tutor and Test Mode; fill-in, multiple choice, matching;
includes alternative answers Appie only
Disk & Manual
APFELDEUTSCH
GERMAN ROUTINES
TEACHER’S TOOLKIT
APPLE PILOT
ARISTOTLE’S APPLE
£20.00"
Lite Raft for Teacher Thrown into Depths of Computer
Studies. ;
20 Apple programs to O'Level
10 Appie Disks
PEDAGOG AIDS
£60.00
Plug-in Replacement Chip for (New ROM) Pet Gives
Umiauts, accents, etc. Full instructions.
FRENCH & GERMAN
CHIP Kit (Pet only) £35.00
THE LOWBROOK TAPES Suite of 6 Numeracy programmes for the primary schoo! _
(fractions, carrying over, etc
et Cassette £10.00
SHAPE MANAGER
Does for shapes what a word processor does for words.
From Sinta Software. Kit (Apple) £39.95
Lower-Case word processing with Appie Writer. Full shift
key operation. Plug-in fitting with disable switch. Manual,
fitting instructions, software on disk.
Apple only £46.50
All prices incl. VAT: EN oe
———)
WIDA SOFTWARE 2 Nicholas Gardens, London WS 5HY. Tel: 01-567 6941
@Circie No. 130
TYPE-RIGHT
H+G COMPUTERWARE
P.O. BOX 34, CHEADLE, CHESHIRE. SK8 4PT
THIS MONTH'S SPECIAL OFFER:
EPSON MX—80FT/2 £465
(Includes V.A.T. & Carriage}
* 9x9 DOT MATRIX * TRUE DESCENDERS
* FRICTION FEED or PIN FEED
* BIT IMAGE PRINTING
* BI-DIRECTIONAL WITH LOGIC SEEKING
* VERSATILE INTERFACE OPTIONS
* 8 INTERNATIONAL CHARACTER SETS
* HIGH RESOLUTION GRAPHICS
** OFFER CLOSES MAY 30th 1982 **
QUALITY 5.25” DISKS
* SSDD PER PACK OF 10 £19.50
* DSDD PER PACK OF 10 £25.50
Features include:
* FREE LIBRARY CASE
WITH EVERY 10 PACK
PRINTERS
EPSON * TEC * INTEGREX * MICROLINE * NEC * BUTEL * QUME * FUJITSU
* QLYMPIA * RICOH
DISK DRIVES 5.25”
for TRS80 | & Ill, VIDEO GENIE | & li, ATOM, HEATHKIT & PROTON
* SINGLE SIDED 35/40 TRACK
* DUAL SINGLE SIDED 3640 TRACK
* SINGLE SIDE 80 TRACK
* DUAL SINGLE SIDE 80 TRACK
* APPLE Il SINGLE DRIVE
CX80 COLOUR PRINTER
features Include: * 7 COLOURS * PET GRAPHICS
(INVERSE DOUBLE SIZE CHARACTERS
COLOUR COMPUTER NOT NECESSARY FOR USE
SWITCHABLE BAUD RATE
CENTRONICS INTERFACE (STANDARD)
* OPTIONAL — APPLE Ii, TRS80, IEEE 488 & RS232
*APPLE SCREEN DUMP CARD AVAILABLE
* SEND FOR COLOUR BROCHURE
PRICE £875.00
MONITORS: B/W OR COLOUR
* ALL PRICES EXCLUDE V.A.T. * S.A.E. FOR FURTHER DETAILS
* PAYMENT BY CHEQUE OR BANKERS ORDER * CARRIAGE AT COST
TEL: 061 428 2014
@Circle No. 131
Epson MX80 FIT Printer only £347
Mr. RETAILER
POINT OF SALE
MENU
11=BANK ACCOUNT
12=CASH SALES
13=CREDIT SALES
14=CREDIT CARD SALES
15=DEPOSIT SALES
16=CREDIT NOTES
17=REFUNDS
18=PAYMENTS RECEIVED
19=PAYMENTS OUT
20=DISPUTED INVOICES
O1=NAMES & ADDRESSES
02=STOCK CONTROL
03=RE-ORDER REPORTS
04=STOCK ON DEPOSIT
05=STOCK VALUE
06=PURCHASE LEDGER
07=QPEN PURCHASE LEDGER
08=GENERAL PURCHASE LEDGER
O9=QOPEN SALES LEDGER
10=GENERAL SALES LEDGER
ACCESS
COMPUTERS
2 ROSE YARD
MAIDSTONE
KENT
ME14 1HM
Tel: (0622) 58356
21=HISTORY FILE
22=SALES ENQUIRIES
23=PURCHASE ENQUIRIES
24=VAT ACCOUNT
25=SALES STATEMENTS
26 =PURCHASE STATEMENTS
27=SALESMAN STATEMENTS
28=DAY CLOSE DOWN
29=END MONTH PROCEDURE
30=RUN A NEW PROGRAMME
As it’s name implies a programme dedicated to the retail trade, Turn any micro that works on CPM into a
POINT OF SALE Till and Complete Bookeeping System. Every aspect of the retail trade has been incorporated
i.e.: ‘sales section’; cash sales, credit sales, credit card sales, deposit sales, credit notes, refunds, payments
on account, account enquiries, which of course is the most important thing you need. Once invoked all you
have to do is input stock number, asks quantity, shows price and description. If correct you cari total sale or
continue. If you total, Mr. Retailer will ask amount tendered. Then shows you change given. Then prints
invoice/receipt showing the above mentioned in greater detail. As invoice is printing Mr. Retailer automati-
cally adjusts stock, automatically enters double entry ledgers, automatically enters salespersons account,
automatically enters VAT, automatically enters weeks sales, automatically enters months sales, automati-
cally enters years sales. Ail this done from POINT OF SALE. No other further book keeping required and its
fast, so no customer frustration! Does not require special trained operators.
Multi-user systems available.
S.A.E. for printouts or make an appointment for a demonstration.
34
Mr. Retailer Programme
£975 + vat
Complete System:
Superbrain, Epsom MX80
F/T Printer,
Backup service,
including Mr. Retalier
programme £3,395
@Circle No. 132
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
Put some
Petspeed compiled programs Just ZIPP through
your Commodore computer.
To illustrate the point Oxford Computer Systems
(Software) Ltd., have produced an enlightening
demonstration disk entitled “Life in the Fast Lane”,
which gives objective comparisons between Pet
Basic, Petspeed and the altemative Basic
Compiler.
Petspeed is the only optimising Basic Compiler
available for any microcomputer, which is only one
of its other advantages.
FASTER — Petspeed is capable of
7h ie. ace the speed of the DTL Basic
Compiler and up to 40 times the speed
PESPEED
@Circle No. 133
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
of Pet Basic.
SHORTER PROGRAM SIZE - the size-of long
programs is considerably reduced.
COMPATIBLE ~ Petspeed will compile ANY Pet
Basic program.
OPTIMISATION - Petspeed is the only optimising
Basic Compiler available for any microcomputer,
because of its optimisation, programs run much
faster.
SECURITY — Your programs belong to YOU.
Oxford Computer Systems (Software) Ltd. makes
no claim on Petspeed Compiled programs. No
key or security device is required for compiled
programs and users can build in their own
protection. Petspeed code is unlistable and
compiled programs cannot be tampered with.
PRICE — we will leave you to compare prices.
Also available COMPILED INTEGER BASIC —
150 to 200 times the speed of Basic Compiled.
Compiled Basic is for those applications where the
speed of the machine is required without the
inconvenience of assembly level programming.
Ideal for scientific and educational users.
Compatible with Petspeed. PY
Petspeed for 8000 series
Compiled Basic
Special Offer: Petspeed for 8000 series PLUS
Compiled Basic for just £320.
Prices do not include VAT or postage & packing.
Write or phone today for a free copy of the ‘Life in
the fast lane’ demonstration disk.
Oxford Computer Systems (Software) Ltd.
7 & 8 Park End Street, Oxford OX] 1HH
Telephone Oxford (0865) 49597
COLUMBIA ~a complete range
of microcomputers from
320K~SOM
Single and multi-user upgradeable/expandable
microcomputer systems from Columbia Data
Systems offer the disk storage capacity that’s X
exactly right for you. Single user machines to
take 54” or 8" floppy disks giving 320K-
2.4M capacity and multi-user machines
with up to 80M on hard disk. Up to 5
users can work on different programs
simultaneously while sharing a single
processing system. Ideal for word pro-
cessing, general accounting or other
special purpose business applications.
meres
we
tem 5
Icarus handle the whole range of microcomputer systems produced by Columbia
Data Systems of the U.S.A. This includes CP/M and MP/M single and muin-terminal
units with hard and floppy disk storage capacities. It is adaptable to suit each and every micro-based
application there is. So whenever you need a microcomputer, for whatever purpose, Columbia and Icarus have the answer.
The Icarus dealernetwork
ABRAXAS COMPUTER DATA WARE, 48 Eaton Drive, FARMFAX LTD, 17 Hylton Road, MICROAGE LTD, 53 Acton Road, SHEFFIELD COMPUTER
EMPLOYMENT, 357 Euston Road, KINGSTON, Surrey KT270X. PETERSFIELD, Hants. LONG EATON, Nottinghamshire. CENTRE, 225 Abbeydale Road,
LONDON NW13AL. Tel: OL 546 2984 Tel: 0730 66123 Tel: 06076 64264 SHEFFIELD $7 IF]J. Tel: 0742 53519
Tel: 01 388 2061
DAYTA, 20b West Street, Wilton, B, FITTON, 97 Melbourne Road, MICROSERVE LTD,811 Kennedy SORTFIELD LTD, E. Floor,
A.P. LTD, Maple House, Mortlake SALISBURY, Wilts. ROYSTON, Herts. Way, Pelham Road, IMMINGHAM. Milburn House, Dean Street,
oe he CH3 5UR. Tel: 0722 74 3898 G.T. OFFICE SYSTEMS, 12 Tel: 0469 72346 eee NE:
7 DRAGON SYSTEMS LTD, 17 Clovelly Road, LONDON W5 5HE. MICRO SOLUTION LTD, Park 3
AMCOLTD, Playfair Road, LEEDS Walter Street, SWANSEA, W. Glam. Tel: 01 567 9959 Farm House, Heythrop, CHIPPING SPOT COMPUTER SYSTEMS
LS$10 2GP. Tel: 0532 708321 Tel: 0792 749486 NORTON, Oxon. Tel: 0608 3256 LTD, New Street, Kelham Street
G.LC.C., P.O. Box 519, Manama, Indus. Estate, DONCASTER
BASIC BUSINESS SYSTEMS, 61 DUPLEX COMMUNICATIONS, 2 Bahrain. OMEGA ELECTRIC LTD, S.¥ si
- . . Yorks. Tel: 0302 25159
Loughborough Road, WEST Leire Lane, Dunton Bassett, AEMMA LTD, Unit 24, Lee Bank Flaxley Mill, Flaxley Road,
BRIDGEFORD, Nottingham. Lutterworth, LEICESTERSHIRE. * fan ee rf . = MITCHEL DEAN, Glos. STAG TERMINALS LTD, 30
Tel: 0602 819713 Tel: 0455 209131 pea Ore tere) a aoa eteiert Tel: 045 276 532 Church Road, Teddington, Middlesex.
BIRMINGHAM. Tel: 021 643 1609 Tel: 01 943 0777
BUSINESS INFORMATION EASIBEE COMPUTING LTD, ANATNeSea STDS RANMOR COMPUTING LTD,
SYSTEMS, 602 Triumph House, 133/135 High Street, LONDON URp aNe coGHieistere Nelson House, 2 Nelson Mews, STUKELEY COMPUTER
189 Regent Street, LONDON. E6 1HZ. Tel: 01 471 4884 MER ORO > Yous pee SOUTHEND-ON-SEA. SERVICES, Barnhill, STAMFORD,
Tel: 01.437 1069 agt: HORNS: Tel: 0702 339262 Lincs. Tel: 0780 4947
ESCO COMPUTING LTD, 154 Tel: 0274 637867
BORDER COMPUTING LTD, Dog Cannongate, EDINBURGH. ROGIS SYSTEMSLTD, Keepers © TERMACRE LTD, 126 Woodwarde
Kennel Lane, BUCKNELL, Tel: 031 557 3937 eee, os a Neal Lodge, Frinenden, NR. Road, LONDON SE22 8TU.
Shropshire. Tel: 054 74 368 ESCO COMPUTING LTD, 40a Tel: 01 388 5721 ea Kent. Tel: 01 693 3037
CAMBRIDGE MICRO Goweustmees GRASGOWGSIIPH! 00 re pemiers aonucvi ? THAMES VALLEY COMPUTERS,
COMPUTERS, Cambridge Science Tel: 041 427 5497 ee Go pene ‘tO §.D.M. COMPUTER SERVICES, _10 Maple Close, MAIDENHEAD,
Park, Milton Road, CAMBRIDGE. ee ELITES Broadway, BEBINGTON, Merseyside Berks. Tel: 0628 23532
Tel: 0223 314666 EFFICIENT BUSINESS SYSTEMS, ay ac micROS, Wellson H. L63 SND. Tel: 051 608 9365
i 9 Clarence Street, BELFAST 1, Ree ae: seen 4 ae aa TURNKEY COMPUTER
COMMONSENSE COMPUTING _N. Ireland. Tel: 0232 647 538 CCT Pigs abe Uys S.M.G. MICROS, 39 Windmill TECHNIQUE, 23 Caldergien Road,
2LTD, P.O. Box 7, BIDEFORD, REAATD < oiegn incre ene el: 96 31436 Street, GRAVESEND, Kent. St. Leonards, EAST KILBRIDE.
Y 3 > $ 8 Tel: 0
Devon, Tel: 02372 4795 SHPORTS Barnet PRU WReE Tel: 0474 55813 ‘el: 03552 39466
CONQUEST COMPUTER SALES SAPPHIRE SYSTEMS, 19-27 Kents THE COMPUTER ROOM, 87 High
LTD, 92 London Road, BENFLEET, Hill Road, BENFLEET, Essex. Street, Tunbridge, Kent.
Essex. Tel: 03745 59861 Tel: 03745 59756, Tel: 0732 355962
CULLOVILLE LTD, Thornfield, F . WELSH BUSINESS SYSTEMS
~ Woodhill Road, SANDON, For further details, orifyou want LTD, 1 Windsor Chambers, Windsor
Chelmsford, Essex. Tel: 024 541 3919 5 to become a dealer yourself, contact: Arcade, PENARTH. Tel: 0222 700059
DATA PROFILE, Lawrence Road, WORD PERFECT, 40 Rose Street,
Green Lane, HOUNSLOW, WOKINGHAM, Berkshire.
Middlesex. Tel: 0734 782148
Tel: 01446 1917
Computer Systems Ltd.
Icarus Computer Systems Ltd. Deane House 27 Greenwood Place London NW5 1NN Tel: 01-485 5574 Telex: 264209
@ Circle No. 134
36 PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
x,
At Comshare,while we’re develop-
ing our software, we’re also developing
our biceps.
(As we’re No.1 suppliers of finan-
cial packages in Europe, it’s important
to have both.)
Fastplan is our powerful new
menu driven micro based financial plan-
ning system, at a cost effective £395.
However, add 24 offices through-
out Europe, custom-built training
schemes, a free enhancement service,
as well as our Helpline and you'll
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
YTHER MICRO FI
PA KAGES, AW
James Lascelles, Comshare Ltd.
=
ANCIAL PLANNING
appreciate that brains aren’t everything.
Muscle counts as well.
PC4/4/82
32-34 Great Peter Street, London SWI.
I want to know more now. Please send me your
Fastplan Factsheet.
Name:
Company:. :
Address: z
ie
Making the computer make sense.
@ Circle No. 135
Sis
GET YOUR APPLE INT
@i
N
With the help of ORBIT software-you can give your Apple the performance
of a £2,500,000 mainframe computer. Because ORBIT is parameter driven it
can be configured to suit your requirements without the expense of a
tailormade package.
ORBIT includes:
SALES LEDGER STOCK CONTROL
PURCHASE LEDGER INVOICER
GENERAL LEDGER SALES ORDER CONTROL
The ORBIT design philosophy means that any of these modules can be used
stand alone or as part of an integrated business control system. The capacities are
set by the disk storage attached to your system.
Before you make a decision about management or accounting software send for our full
operating manuals. Price is refundable on purchase of an ORBIT program.
Vlasak also produce the highly successful PAYROLL 2 BETA,
MEGASTOR high capacity 8-inch disk drive, PRO-TECT to back
up the Apple Profile hard disk and are specialists in the
provision of personalised continuous stationery. ee ee ee
box(es) and return coupon to us
F
i
, F i Please send me details Please send me the ORBIT
APPLE is the registered trade mark of APPLE COMPUTER INC. j Oj about ORBIT System O Ledger System Manuals
g y
J Please send me the ORBIT (Purchase, Sales, General
\ \ \ \ I O Stock Manual at £12.00 Ledger) at £35.00 (inclusive of
1
7 ' I
\\ \ } YEARS BKPSRIENCE WITH!
i
(inclusive of postage & packing) postage & packing)
Sak Wah APPLE COMPUTERS AND wT
> heme 1) ACTOUNTING/MANAGEMENY | enclose a cheque/postal order for £
Mousey V4 CONTROL PROGRAMS ‘he ae
1 AME
ATS hee COMPANY:
Y7SPSMS |
ie / men) \ Ti DMA AGOKG Es | ADDRESS
NATIONWIDE DEALER NETWORK
CJ Please send me dexails of other products (specify)
4
| I |
ee ls es es se ee ee
4
I—
| TELEPHONE: = =
_ Zz
@Circle No. 13
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
MICRO PRO
Wordstar™ 3-X
Mail Merge
Data Star
Supersort I
Spellstar (USA dictionary)
Calestar
MICRO SOFT
Basic-80 Interpreter
Basic Compiler
Fortran-80
Cobol-80
MISC
Compiler Systems CBasic-2
CB80
Sorcim Pascal/M
Sorcim Supercalc
Ashton Tate d Base II
Ecosoft MicroStat
Organic Milestone
(critical path)
CP Mis TM of Digital Research.WORDSTAR is TM of Micro Pro
Other Products constantly being added to our range.
Send /arge s.a.e. for latest list
TRADE ENQUIRIES WELCOME
Ordering Instructions: “PANcayeaR
Cash with order. Specify disk format. —-
Add £3.00 per itern P&P. Add 15% VAT =m)
BAMBERPLAN LTD
PO BOX ll CRANBROOK KENT
TNI7 2DF Tel:(058080)310
@Circle No. 137
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
Don’t Gamble
when there’s so
much at stake!
We’re your
One Stop Shop
for Apple, Superbrain
and other leading personal
computers. We can offer the
Tabs accounting and stock control
packages, Wordstar for word processing and Visicalc
for financial modelling. We provide on-site maintenance
and tailored programming services second to none. We
pride ourselves on giving first class customer support
and training.
Call us now and arrange a demonstration or ask for details
of our free weekly seminars.
LT. ~ nin as
S/S T3u) LY5)9
COMPUTER SALES AND SERVICES
make sure you get it right
260 Cambridge Heath Road, London E2 9DA
Telephone: 01-981 7311 Telex: 8952578
@Circle No. 138
39
The
Essential
TRS 80 Levels Il 16 K Tape
Video Genie 16 K Tape
The Newest and Most Astounding Arcade
Game that TALKS has just Reached Planet
Earth. Youcan't help yourself. You have to
stop them at all cost. Don’t let up. Written
especially for high quality graphics you'll
simply be dazed and excited by the action.
TRS 80 Levels I! 16K Tape
Video Genie 16K Tape
Itis the year 2734. Our planet has chosen you to carry out the most important mission of the decade. The following is your top-secret mission briefing!
Several months ago the Kromorfkrom Empire invaded our planet and stole some of our newly developed and highly efficient “‘Krotnium”’ Star
Cruiser fuel cells. Your mission is to infiltrate the Kromortkrom Empire and pass yourself off as commanding officer of one of their fuel transport
vessels, Once you have accomplished this, you must recover the fuel so that one of our Star Cruisers can warp in and take it back to our planet. You
will be given a small shuttle armed with a powerful laser device. Eventually the aliens will uncover your plot and you will be forced to shoot and destroy
them to protect the fuel. While you are defending at least one fuel cell, the aliens will be unable to use any of their high-powered battle equipment, for
fear of accidently destroying a fuel cell. Once the aliens have reclaimed all of the fuel cells they will then be able to unleash their newest and most
terrifying weapon ever: the Solar Waster! BBLE MAI ———
Watch out behind you!
As you hurry through
the maze collecting
modules you score points.
Dodge the alien Ramships and fire
missiles to destroy them before they get
you. The alien Flagship uses his deadly
laser bolt to transform a Ramship into
: But don’tlet the Gobblemen
Ws catch you. If you are crafty,
pe s
another Flagship or into your ship’s attack you they come in fast.
double. Look out! Destroy your double Just don’t lose your nerve.
AMS | Cosmic
=
Fighter Fea
than before! Soon your space station
nears but before you can dock the station
neek up behind them and
neutralise them to gain extra points.
Force and you could destroy yourself. TRS 80 Levels 11 16 K Tape
" TRS 80 Level 1116K Tape ——_— oa Video Genie 16 K Tape
Your fighter appears below a convoy of TRS80Level 116K
Aliens! if you destroy them another set Video Genie 16K Tape
comes under attack! Survival is up to you!
The excitement is just beginning!!
Just keep a watch. When they
Video Genie EG3003 16K Tape . :
——— ;
SS
appears who seem to be slightly cleverer
Vi
3-D means that as you wander througt¥the mazes and buildings 7 ig Ti
full screen graphic display constantly shows your position ina Tapés Owes OTE re
perspective format as though you were actually there! This “rat’s r THEESSENTIALSOFTWARECOMPANY |
eye” view adds an entirely new dimension to adventure. T= | (Viscounti Ltd.) 01-837 3154
English language commands can be entered at any time to manipu- G2 | 47 Brunswick Centre, London WC1N 1AF
late your environment. The command sets are extensive and sophisti- 4
t {
i I
I !
! {havea microcomputer. t
2 Please send me your software catalogue. |
cated. Dozens of objects are scattered throughout the mazes and , ee pe emer: :
buildings. You can pick them up, burn them, throw them, etc. You = ! \enesra cheacbipe ciaiiote E
may need the sword to fight of an ugly little man. Or a steel rod to 5! (plus 50p post & packing) '
hold apart crushing walls. Deathmaze 5000 and Labyrinth allow the 1 Signature 1
traditional one and two word commands. Asylum incorporates our = beinvone !
Advanced Language Interpreter (ALI), which allows full sentence i :
: > 1
Input. ” 1 P.
: : : osicode l
Deathmaze and Labyrinth consist of over 550 locations! | waccessnois '
Asylum tops 1200 locations!
@Circle No. 139
Canned thoughts
improve the mental ergonomics, spread pesticide on the
worms, and help the naive user?
‘The problem is largely historical. Computing started with
operations on bits. The complexities of bytes, files, lan-
Editorial ===
SOFTWARE AUTHORS: stock in trade is, or should be, canned
thought. Yet, too often, what they wish on their unfortunate
victims is a can of worms.
What are the symptoms of brain damage induced by software?
We all know the archetypal programmer — the withdrawn
antisocial being, silent or wildly enthusiastic by turns, sullen,
argumentative, pedantic and incapable of rational conver-
sation or interest in anyone else’s ideas. The worms have
burrowed deep into the heads of these unfortunates.
William Blake wrote on this subject, and was of the opinion:
Oh head, thou art sick
The invisible worm
That flies in the night
In the howling storm
Has found out thy bed
Of crimson joy
And his dark secret bag
Does thy life destroy
The discriminating observer has to admit that Blake under-
stands the symptoms. But where do these worms come from?
The fundamental problem is, as so often in human affairs,
no-one’s fault. The things that computers can do are so much
more complicated than the things people can do that the user
needs a complete outfit of new concepts to handle them.
These concepts are much harder to grasp than say, the
concept “tree” because there is nothing to see. A recent
editorial recalled the horrors of first trying to come to grips
with computing. For weeks ‘“‘files”, “bytes”, “floating-point
arithmetic”, “vectors”, “indexes” “‘string pointers” and a
_whole host of ill-digested intellectual phantasms swirl about
in your poor head. Only after a good deal of experience does
some substrate of reality emerge, on to which to tack these
words.
The worms hatch out of the conflict between the ideas already
comfortably installed in one’s head and the new ones that
have to be forcibly constructed out of such unpromising,
invisible materials. The conflict makes the worms. If you are
not all that keen on worms, the question to ask is, “‘Could we
reduce the conflict?” This is a hard one to answer because it
depends on so many things.
Think, for instance, of the steps you have to go through as a
newcomer to develop an idea of a disc file. You might start
with a paper file in a filing cabiriet. You have to make it
invisible and continuous. You have to get away from pages of
paper and move over to ... well, there are pages, but they
are not quite the same. You have to spread this invisible,
continuous file over a piece of black plastic that you are not
allowed to touch and then get to grips with the idea that parts
of it are in RAM and parts are not, and that if it is not closed
at the end of everything there is nothing there next time you
look.
The whole process is an agonising business of making some-
thing out of nothing. It is not unlike trying to plaster a
ceiling. You get a good solid lump of concept on your trowel,
slap it up, and wait for it to fall on your head. If it stays up
you have to get some more up beside it quick before it dries
out and then, nine times out of ten, they will both fall off.
The difficulty of the whole business is-compotnded by lan-
guage. Practically all the words used in computing have
perfectly good meanings already: sector, record, memory,
processor, bus. In relearning them you have to throw away
hundredweights of perfectly good associations.
It improves matters a little if the concepts are well explained,
but in the end, explanations of computing are about as much
practical use as explanations of bicycling. You have to get on
the thing and wobble into the ditch. So how could we
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
One easy way of simplifying things is to go through the manual
Ultimately, this all comes down to marketing. You do not sell
The time is ripe for some powerful, simplifying ideas that start
guages, output were grafted on to the central concept of the
processor. They arose in ways that made sense to the
engineers who built the machines and the systems program-
mers who made theim go. We, obedient users, 40 years down
the road, docilely assume that we have to learn all these
tough ideas too, even though they correspond only vaguely
to the ideas we want to manipulate.
Let’s start with the idea of screen and file in the context of word
processing. You might expect the letter corresponding to the
key you hit to appear on the screen as it would on paper. You
then expect the document you have created to be “‘in the
computer’s memory banks”. This is not at all unreasonable.
Yet how many word-processing packages start out with
exotic questions about the number of disc sectors to allocate?
How many more, which avoid that difficulty, expect the user
to manage the business of writing RAM to disc and paging in
new buffers full of text for editing? Most of us have met the
word processor that leaves the files empty if you do not go
through some absurd rigmarole of closing them? Even those
that spare us these troubles are quite capable of allowing a
text to be edited that cannot, in the end, fit on to the disc.
Even though the user must, by virtue of the power word
processing gives you, understand and manipulate more ideas
than you need simply to type on paper, there are no word
processors that restrict their concepts to those the user
actually needs. Of course, if every software package requires
the user to make decisions about disc files, it is hard to realise
that the user need not necessarily know or care about them.
A great American aircraft builder used to advise his designers
to ‘‘simplicate and add more lightness”. This is no bad advice
for the software author too; the difficulty is that simplifica-
tion is very much harder work than complication. Yet this is
work that urgently needs doing at this stage of the game.
of whatever software is to get the treatment, and look for the
word “must”. “If there is not enough disc space you must
erase ...”; “To open a file you must ...”. Whenever
something “must” be done the computer ought to do it. The
user ought only to be asked when choices are to be made and |
the choices should be presented in understandable terms.
“Do you want to keep your back-up version of this text, or
erase it”? Ideally, anything in memory should also be on disc
and the user should be unaware that RAM exists. When hard
discs become commonplace it may be unnecessary for the
user to know explicitly about either RAM or files: it might be
better to present some in-between concept — just as the idea
of a CP/M file conceals the ideas of sector directories and
random access.
computers or software: you sell power, speed, convenience,
prestige — in the customer’s terms. If the customer cannot
understand what it is you’re trying to sell, then you will never
sell it. You have to offer concepts that are already properly
understood. You certainly cannot assume that the intellec-
tual scrap-heap we have come to accept is already there.
with the user rather than the machine. Let us ask what
concepts are actually needed to manipulate the kind of
information that people want to put on micros. Then we ask
how they can be made to work using the available hardware
and software. If only one-tenth of the passion that goes into
the language debate could be focused on this much more
important problem, we would make startling progress. {J
4)
42
(gym SS
TURBOCHARGED PERFORMANCE:
when you need s
Starta stopwatch on our new
Turbocharged Series 5000SX and
Series 8000SX microsystems and
watch them run rings around
other systems.
Built to the highest standard of
reliability, they support a mixture
of Sin and 8in floppy and
Winchester drives with tape back-
up units. In other words, a storage
capability extending from 400KB
to 130MB.
But what makes the Series
5000SX and Serles 8000SX really
pull away from the rest of the field
is their unique and exceptionally
powerful disk operating system —
TURBOdos. Written specifically for
the Z80, TURBOdos loads
programs up to six times quicker
than CP/M*. And processes files up
to five times faster.
TURBOdos gives the new systems
many of the features available only
on minicomputers. In multi-user
mode, it allows multi-processor
network users to share mass
storage, printers and other
peripherals. And its advanced
ait itt + ia
o 30
NS
fallure detection and recovery
facility makes a TURBOdos system
virtually crash-proofl Other
features include:
@ Full CP/M compatibility even in
multi-user/network systems.
® Upto 30% more data can be
stored on each floppy disk,
compared to CP/M.
@® Support for up to 2000MB of
hard disk storage.
@® Random access to files up to
67MB.
@® Upto 16 users supported in
multi-processor mode.
@® Automatic concurrent print-
spooling support for up to 16
printers.
@ File and record-locking facilities.
@ Complete diagnostic self-test is
performed at every start-up.
® Read after write verification of
all disk update operations.
@ When errors are detected,
operator is given clear
diagnostic messages and a
variety of recovery options.
OEM, system house and dealer enquiries are invited.
without crashing
User-defined program auto-load
at cold or warm start.
Disks can be changed at any
time without warm start delays.
Command files may be nested
to any depth.
User programs may activate
command files for execution.
Communications channel
interface.
Real-time clock support.
Systems are easy to configure
due to modular construction.
*CPIM is a trademark of Digital Research
yor? @ Circle No. 140
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
Feedback =_——
Our Feedback columns offer readers the opportunity of bringing their computing
experience and problems to the attention of others, as well as to seek our advice or
to make suggestions, which we are always happy to receive. Make sure you use
Feedback—it is your chance to keep in touch.
Improved graphics
LIKE R J GREENHILL, Feedback, January
1982, I found the Portable Graphics
series by Wynford and Jane James most
useful and certainly the best published
games for some time. However,
Greenhill’s random-movement selector
does not eliminate all the difficulties of
Wallball.
I find that the computer tends to find
itself in dead ends of its own making
relatively quickly, so my improvements
may be of interest.
I have incorporated a speed-up
arrangement in line 350. This line is
simply a time delay from which 5 is
subtracted at each pass. It is reasonably
simple to replace the 5 with a variable
which is changed by the setting of the skill -
level entered in line 1060. So, at skill
level 1, a larger number is subtracted
than at lower skill levels. This causes the
movement of the trails to accelerate, and
before long you will find you need plenty
of skill to avoid a crash.
In addition, I have incorporated a scor-
| ing system. This is a simple counter which
increments at each move made by the
computer. When one game ends, line
360, the score is added to a running total
if the player wins, and subtracted from
the running total if the computer wins.
The final score is printed after the final
run, in line 440. The increments can be
fixed or made variable in the skill-level
line — higher increments for more skill.
The effect of these two improvements
is that the player tries a high skill level for
a higher score and lets the computer run
for as long as possible before trapping it
so as to build up the score. By this time,
however, the acceleration has built up so
that it is much more difficult to control
the player’s trail.
In addition to these changes to Wall-
ball, perhaps I might point out two errors
in other programs of the same series
which readers may not have found. In
Head on Crash, November 1981, I found
that after clearing the board the first time
the score continues, but subsequent clear-
ings will not reset the board and the
score. This is quickly remedied as follows.
Eliminate NH =0 in line 85 and re-insert it as
Line 81 NH=0.
In Alien Maze, December 1981, line
650 has a misprint. and should start with:
650 If CB =0 then Poke, etc
not 650 ECB =0 then Poke, etc
B L Hensman,
Keighley,
West Yorkshire.
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
Maze corrections
|] SUCCESSFULLY used the maze-making
program on “Portable Graphics” Practi-
cal Computing December 1981 — on my
UK 101. There appears to be an error in
line 650, which should read:
650 IF CB =0 THEN POKE P1, W3: POKE P2,
W3: POKE P3, W3
A repetitive division-by-zero error
tended to occur in line 105, which |
prevented by inserting a new line:
104 IF LD =0 THEN LD=2
Other UK 101 users may be interested in
this amendment to line 950, for which
experiments were recommended in the
article:
950 TL=53332: BL=54164: TR=53357:
BR =54189: LL =64: DW=2: CD=3
Simon Talbot,
Garston,
Hertfordshire.
Authors reply
R J GREENHILL’s letter in January 1982
Feedback was a constructive criticism of
our portable graphic series which started
in the October 1981 issue. It was clear
from several letters we received that we
should have clarified the keyboard-
control command used by the Super-
board. We feel that Greenhill’s own
explanation should resolve these prob-
lems for readers.
Regarding Rem statements within
programs, it is sometimes difficult to
include these when only 4K RAM is
available. We concede that on shorter
programs we should not omit Rerhs — a
bad habit.
We had already begun to incorporate
the keyboard-control commands into
subroutines in later programs and — as
Greenhill said — this should aid portabil-
ity.
We are currently working on a collec-
tion of portable programs which we hope
to have published in 1982. If any reader
feels that features in the previous pro-
grams made transfer to their own micro a
problem, we would be pleased to hear.
from them. Any other suggestions for
improving portability would also be wel-
comed.
Wynford and Jane James,
Royal Tunbridge Wells,
Kent.
Family tree
THE ARTICLE “Climbing the Family
Tree” in the November 1981 issue is a
reminder that family records represent an
DNA twist
WE VERY MUCH enjoyed the article ‘DNA
the First Machine Code’ by John Leach,
in the January 82 issue. However, we feel
that we must attempt to rectify certain
slight misconceptions expressed by
Leach, in aspects of the genetic code as it
is understood today. Also, we wish to
point out certain program errors and |
modifications.
Firstly, and most importantly, what
Leach says about messenger RNA is mis-
leading. He implies that mRNA is made
by attaching itself to the start codon, and
is copied along the DNA from that. This
‘| almost ideal database which is more eas-
ily handled by computer than manually.
Yet few serious genealogists will be satis-
fied with no more than 30 direct ances-
tors. So often it is the collaterals which
provide the clues to extend the main line
further back.
There must be many people tackling
these wider problems for themselves and
thereby reinventing the appropriate
wheels for organising the data about rela-
tives or indexing the names in public
The time is ripe for them to meet and
share their experiences. The Society of
Genealogists plans to organise in June
this year a seminar to provide an oppor-
tunity for that exchange. The director of
the Society, A J Camp, would like to hear
from anyone wishing to attend or contri-
bute to such a meeting. Write to him at
the Society, 37 Harrington Gardens,
London SW7 4JX, mentioning any spec-
ial interest or progress you have made.
The detailed program will depend on the
response and will be sent to you in due
Similarly, the Society is considering a
newsletter on the applications of comput-
ers to records of genealogical interest. If
you would like to subscribe or contribute
to it, please let the director know.
A Sandison,
Chairman, Computer Committee,
Society of Genealogists,
London SW7.
A simplified explanation of what gen-
erally happens is this: mRNA is made by
an enzyme RNA polymerase which binds
to a reconision site on the DNA before
the coding part of the gene — or program
— called the ‘promotor’. The enzyme
moves down the DNA, making an exact
complementary copy of that strand of
DNA, except that it makes the copy in
(continued on page 45)
43
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@Circle No. 141
44 PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
(continued from page 43)
RNA, which contains the base uridine
instead of thymine.
This mRNA contains a good deal of
material additional to the coding part of
the gene, including the start and stop
codons. It also contains an area recog-
nised by the ribosome. The ribosome
attaches to this site, but starts to translate
the message into protein from the start
codon,
The best comparison of this with the
way a computer program works that we
can think of is that the promotor region
acts as the name of a program. The
program is called up by its name, from
whatever form of storage, disc, tape or
chromosome, to a short-lived copy — the
program loaded into the computer’s
RAM or the mRNA. The start codon acts
as the first line number, anything else is
not read. The program is run from that
copy and not the original.
Whilst on the subject of anology, the
computer mimics genetics in other ways.
Perhaps the most interesting is the use of
library routines. A kind of library is used
by certain specialised genes, such as the
immunoglobulin genes. These code for
the proteins protecting us from infections
caused by bacteria, viruses, and other
foreign bodies. These genes are bizarre in
that each gene is constructed by a combi-
nation of several pieces of DNA from
various sets. In other words, there is a
series of programs, any of which may be
selected, and which may use a combina-
tion of two library routines, one from
each set.
This leads to an enormous variety of
related proteins coded for by a relatively
small amount of DNA. Every time man
thinks he has been clever, life has beaten
him to it.
Other niggles with Leach’s article are
that; transfer RNA is not a hairpin struc-
ture. It has a clover leaf appearance, with
the anti-codon on the second leaf. This
consists of the triplet of bases which
complement exactly, and therefore pair
with the codon.
Leach is correct when he states that
three-dimensional structures play an
important role, since shape defines func-
tion in proteins. However, he implies that
if just any one of the amino acids in
haemoglobin is changed, sickle-cell
anaemia results. The change causing
sickle-cell anaemia is a very specific one.
The glutamine in position 6 in the B chain
is replaced by a valine.
Other amino acid changes in haemo-
globin may have profound effects on its
function, but will not necessarily result in
sickle-cell anaemia. Altogether, about
150 kinds of mutent haemoglobin have
been found in humans. Nearly all are the
results of a single amino acid change.
Here are one or two points about the
program listing. a) In line 330 the Goto
340 statement is not required. b) In line
2520 the first D$ should be E$.
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
Add 2625 IF EP =0 AND DP =0 THEN PRINT
“Enzyme and DNA not selected”:
GOSUB 2860: GOTO 2200
and in line 2320 alter 2630 to 2625. Alter
line 2590 to read:
2590 GOSUB 1740: FOR 1 =1 TO 12:
PRINT :NEXT | :GOSUB 2800: GOTO 2200
David and Linda Priestley,
Henton,
Oxfordshire.
Micros in schools
THE ARTICLE by Tony West in the Janu-
ary 1982 edition on the use of microcom-
puting in primary schools gave a reason-
able description of a program which he
obviously finds helpful and stimulating
for the children in his charge. However,
the article, although an adequate descrip-
tion of one particular program, never
attempted to answer the one question
which teachers who have had no experi-
ence of computers ask: why use a com-
puter?
To moderate the rush of teachers who
tread this article to the micro shops, I feel
I must give some reasons why the micro
should not be used for this particular job,
at least not in this form.
If this program were guaranteed to
meet the aims and objectives which the
teacher had set out to achieve, how could
35 children in one class make use of it?
The only answer for this program would
be for each child to have access to the
machine.
We have two microcomputers in the
school where I teach, and we have great
difficulty in coaxing the children into
using them. It is not that they do not want
to; we have not the time to let them.
Some advice on how to overcome this
problem would be more useful than a
fairly technical description of a program.
Tony West says: “Numerical accuracy
in adding the digits is ignored and the
child can correct any such mistakes”. I
hope I have not taken this quotation out
of context, but what a statement for a
teacher to make. Supposing the child did
not realise he had made a mistake?
The second quotation I would like to
draw attention to is: “Should he make a
mistake when entering these digits, the
computer waits until the correct digit is
pressed”. If the child knows the correct
digit then the program is wasted on him;
if he does not then ignoring his attempts
does not help him.
The rest of the article describes the
programming tricks which make the
program run. They are the trivial parts.
What is much more important is how they
allow the child to learn. In a program
which is a test where wrong answers are
not allowed, there seems to be little scope
for learning.
Before we make computing attractive
to primary schools, we must make it right.
The process which Tony West is trying to
teach with the program under question is
only one part of the complete addition
algorithm which primary schools tradi-
tionally teach. The whole process must
undergo much greater analysis before we
decide if the use of a micro is justified.
There is no doubt in my mind that the
microcomputer offers a challenge to
primary education. | think it has enorm-
ous potential which we are only just
beginning to appreciate. However, there
is a great deal of hard work to be done to
realise that potential, and programming is
only a very small part of that work.
Feedback
Colin Watkins, |
Primary Computing Co-ordinator,
Birmingham Educational Computing
Centre,
Birmingham.
Comal again
HAS ANYONE a Data-statement generat-
ing program for the TRS-80 level III? I
need it for machine code and assembly
language programming. Also, I would be
very interested in corresponding with
anyone trying to implement Comal on a
TRS-80. Since receiving a copy of the Pet
6502 version, I have been very impressed
with its simplicity and structured
approach.
When defending Basic many claim that
it is easy to learn; but what they do not
mention is that it is easy to learn badly.
Comal is easy to learn but it forces the
user to analyse problems and to write
programs in a more disciplined manner.
By adopting a hotch-potch of the two
for its otherwise sophisticated machine,
the BBC is doing present and future
computer users a great disservice. Why is
there no ‘While Do’ facility for example?
In today’s modern businesses the
keyword for efficiency is ‘structure’. It is
sad that the BBC educates the population
in computer programming with little
emphasis on this vital approach. How
long will it take to re-teach all these -
people to reach the level of the rest of
Europe where Comal and _ structured
programming is already so widely taught
from schools upwards.
C J Brady,
Shoreham,
West Sussex.
Unix group
1 HAVE BEEN asked by the American
commercial Unix organisation user group
to form a similar group in the United
Kingdom. Since the Computer Retailers’
Association also has an interest in Unix,
we will hold a session for all interested
parties in commercial Unix. Al! parties
wishing to attend should write to: Dr
Keen, Chairman of Technical Group,
Computer Retailers Association, Owles
Hall, Buntingford, Hertfordshire.
SG9 9PL.
Tim Keen,
Buntingford,
Hertfordshire.[]) .
45
Universal appeal of
CBM ’s new micros
COMMODORE Business
Machines is about to upset the
microcomputer applecart with
the introduction of a “univer-
sal microcomputer”. The new
machine will be capable of
running software originally
written for rival machines. In
addition there will be two new
personal computers, and a
video game which will double
as a microcomputer will also
be released.
The universal microcom-
puter will initially be able to
emulate the Apple, Tandy and
IBM microcomputers, thus
opening up the machine to a
large sector of the microcom-
puter software market. It will
feature as an option on the
Commodore 64, using plug-in
modules. The beauty of the
move is that it means Commo-
dore users will now be able to
implement packages
developed by rivals, after they
incurred the expensive
development costs. The target
price of this machine will be
under $1,000, grossly under-
cutting the opposition.
The new computers are all
aimed at the lower end of the
personal micro market. It
appears that Commodore is
CBM founder Jack Tramiel — plans in the pipeline.
Cheaper RAM
for ZX-81
BYG BYTE is an alternative
16K RAM pack for the ZX-81
microcomputer. Costing only
two-thirds the price of the
Sinclair memory add-on, the
Byg Byte is fully compatible
with the ZX-81. Each pack is
fully assembled and tested
before leaving the factory, and
it is cased to avoid handling
problems.
At only £34.95 including
VAT, postage and packing,
together with the maker’s full
guarantee, the Byg Byte must
tepresent considerable value.
Delivery time is currently
within 28 days. Byg Byte is
available from Computer
Aided Printing Services, 56
Trafalgar Avenue, Brox-
bourne, Hertfordshire EN10
TDL. O
46
Noise pollution is the price
we have to pay for
microcomputers and word
processors. The rasp of the
dot-matrix printer is as
common as the tap of the
typewriter these days, but
often it is much louder. To
remove these unpleasant
noises Ventguard has
developed a range of
printer covers. They are
available for the
Commodore 4022 and 3022
tractor printers, as well as
a number of the popular
word-processor printers —
Qume, Nec and Diablo
among others. All
functions of the printer
remain accessible with the
cover in place. Contact
Ventguard, Unit 12, High
View Avenue, Keyworth,
Nottinghamshire.
Telephone (06077) 5856.
making an attempt to produce
a range that is both cheaper
and more accessible than any
other. One of the “fun” per-
sonal computers will be little
more than an intelligent music
synthesiser, though it will not
be on sale in Europe until later
in the year.
The move by Commodore
into emulators is unpre-
cedented in the world of
microcomputers but is a well-
established part of the main-
frame computer business.
There are a host of companies
offering IBM plug-compatible
products, allowing them to
ride on the back of the larger
company’s success and market
penetration.
There are a couple of side-
effects of this trend. Firstly the
price of hardware tends to
drop significantly — because
of the intense competition,
manufacturers try to recoup
profits by software and sys-
tems sales. Secondly there is a
tendency for the manufactur-
ers to attempt to protect them-
selves by inventing ever more
complex protocols. All this
goes very much against the
traditions of the microcompu-
ter industry, so it will be inter-
esting to see what the response
toCommodore’s move will be.jy
Building up
knowledge
ARCHITECTS involved in com-
puting will be able to build on
their knowledge at the RIBA
computer conference and
exhibition. The exhibition will
cover those aspects of comput-
ing that are relevant to the
architect and other building-
industry professionals.
The conference will take
place on each of the three
days, but each day’s session
will be self-contained, allow-
ing delegates to attend only
the parts that are relevant to
them.
Day one of the conference
will deal with how to choose
and use a computer for your
office. The speakers will deal
with the packages available
and cover topics in general
terms, allowing a more
detailed treatment on days two
and three. The second day will
concentrate on the practical
application of the technology,
with papers being presented
that are based on users’
experience of various com-
puter applications. The third
and final day will take the
topic of computer-aided
design and drafting a stage
further. The conference will
cost around £45 per day. It
runs from April 20 to 22 at the
Bloomsbury Crest Hotel,
Coram Street, London WC1.
The organisers can be con-
| tacted on 01-637 8991.
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
The new ZX-81 desk console unit from Traffic Technology
should prove to be a neat answer to the ‘“‘Where-did-I-put-
that” question. Moulded in a heavy-gauge, black, grained
ABS plastic the console arrives fully assembled and ready
to plug in. There are recesses to accept the ZX-81 micro-
computer, the 16K RAM pack, the printer, power unit, a
cassette recorder and assorted cassettes and pencils.
Underneath is a detachable base cover with non-slip feet.
At the rear of the console is a switch panel with a three-
position slide switch for Save/Run-List/Load which earths
the unused inputs to the cassette recorder and the com-
puter. There is also a switch for the 9V power supply. The
console measures 19.25in. by 13.5in. by 3in. and weighs
just over three pounds. It costs £33.33 from Traffic Tech-
nology, P.O. Box 2, Warminster, Wiltshire BA12 70X. J
A e
Champion’s
e e
winning ways
AMONG commercially-
available chess computers, the
world champion is the Chess
Champion Mark V. The
machine has been proving its
worth and pitting its “brains”
against those of the human
champions Karpov and
Korchnoi. When key positions
in the recent world champion-
ship match were fed into the
Mark V, the computer came
up with a few surprises.
Chess commentator
Raymond Keene — who was
Korchnoi’s second in the two
Russians’ previous clash —
commented: “The Mark V’s
results were remarkable. On
several occasions the machine
was able to improve on the
play in the match and once it
succeeded in seeing more than
the commentators. Naturally if
the Mark V had to face
Karpov now it would be
slaughtered, but it is still a
temarkable machine”.
The Mark V also recently
uncovered twoalternative solu-
tions to a set problem said to
have only one answer.
Contact SciSys of Suite 8,
266 Fulham Road, London,
SW10 9EL.
SimpliCalc answers
‘what if?’ questions
SIMPLICALC is a 134-line Basic
program which performs a
host of “what if?’”’ projections
and other routines. The pow-
erful program will run on an
8K or larger Pet. It was
developed by Mark Turner of
the Cronite Group, whose
major problem was compres-
sing of the program into a
small enough memory that,
once loaded, there would still
be sufficient RAM left for the
complicated and numerous
calculations.
The program is not a Basic
version of machine-code Visi-
Calc but a new program which
recognises that in small com-
puters, program and data fight
for memory space. With Simp-
liCalc you can get a lot more
data in than you could using
more traditional calculating
routines, without the need for
a costly disc drive.
The designer believes that
among the many people who
will find the program useful
will be accountants with their
own Pets who, it is envisaged,
will find SimpliCalc an effi-
cient way of working out such
problems as when to advise
clients to seek separate tax
elections for husband and
wife.
The program was originally
written for the Pet, but is now
being prepared for the Vic-70
and the Apple microcompu-
ters. Versions for the Sinclair
and the BBC Micro are under
way.
SimpliCale is available
either on cassette at £29.90 or
on disc at £39.80 including
VAT and postage and an
instruction manual. For
further information contact
Mark Turner, The Cronite
Group Limited, Montgomery
Street, Birmingham B11 1DT.
Telephone 021-773 8281. J
ITT 3030 puts the
accent on h expansion
THE ITT 3030 is a microcom-
puter with the emphasis on
expansion. Although the ITT
2020 used the 6502 processor
— the machine was similar to
the Apple II — the new micro
is Z-80 based. Based on a
modular construction, the
3030 can be upgraded into a
much more powerful system
simply by changing the plug-in
printed-circuit boards in the
central processor cabinet.
Manufactured in West
Germany, where it was
developed, the 3030 is of
totally European conception
and has been designed for the
small and medium-sized busi-
ness. The basic machine
includes the CP/M operating
system — which means it will
have a wide base of available
user software. In addition, the
U.K. division of ITT Con-
sumer Products has reached an
agreement with a software
house, MPSL, to develop a
range of software using the
machine’s own operating sys-
tem BOS.
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
The price and specification
of the 3030 indicate that it is a
machine destined for the more
serious application. The manu-
facturer claims that it will be
able to begin work within
hours of delivery. For the basic
end-user price of £2,500 the
purchaser receives the central
processor, 64K of RAM, twin
mini-floppy drives, a separate
keyboard that has been spe-
cially extended for word pro-
cessing, the CP/M operating
system, the BOS operating
system, the Autowriter word-
processing package, and the
Autoindex database package.
The 3030 can be upgraded
to a 16-bit machine simply by
removing the CPU board and
replacing it with another con-
taining the Intel 8086. In a
similar way the memory can be
expanded from 64K to 256K.
Other upgrades include doubl-
ing the density of the mini-
floppy disc, and the addition of
hard discs which can offer a
total of LOMbyte on-line.
A multiple RS-232 interface
card allows the ITT 3030 to
become a multi-access,
multi-programming computer,
both these functions are sup-
ported by the BOS operating
system. Up to four users can
access files or undertake pro-
cessing at the same time.
The BOS operating system
uses the MicroCobol language,
and a UCSD Pascal-
supporting operating system is
also available. Among the
packages already prepared for
the machine are the usual
ledgers, a payroll program,
stock control, and a program
generator. For more details
about the ITT microcomputer
contact ITT Consumer Pro-
ducts (U.K.), Chester Hall
Lane, Basildon, Essex. o
47
Printo eee
The new Transdata Cx 502-S SUPERSPEED Microcomputer
offers CP/M performance up to 5 times faster than
conventional floppy disc systems. The unique high speed
master processor and intelligent disc controller combine to
give unrivaled processing power: superior to many
Winchester disc based systems:
High Speed Master Processor
The Z80B 6MHz Master Processor gives a 50% increase in
throughput over more conventional Z80A systems.
Intelligent Floppy Disc Controller
The Cx 502-S exploits the full power-of the FLEXIBUS multi-
processor architecture common to all members of the Cx 500
family of Microcomputers. The Z80 based floppy disc
controller features a 10Kb full track cache buffer, advanced
DMA and automatic error recovery. The twin 8" double-sided
double-density disc drives provide 2Mb of storage with
software selectable single density for |BM compatibility.
CP/M x5=Cx502
Load 20Kb in 1 Second
The Cx 502-S programme load performance outstrips many
Winchester Disc competitors and response times for disc I/O
bound applications are dramatically reduced.
MP/M on Floppies?
By applying the sophisticated and proven technology of the |
advanced Cx 500 hard disc systems, the new Cx 502-S offers
viable multi-user capabilities. For those applications where
large on-line storage is not required and cost per user is an Ty Wie | cm. | lial
important consideration the answer is the Cx 502-S.
ai
|
A True Member of the Growing Cx 500 Family 1
Transdata's Cx 500 Family of Business and Scientific 4
Microcomputets features upgrade potential from single-user
floppy disc based systems to multi-user hard disc systems
with cartridge tape back-up. Experienced End Users,
Computer professionals and Distributors will value the
quality, reliability and after sales support offered with
these advanced U.K. manufactured Microcomputers.
OEM Discounts available
Dealer and Distribution enquiries 7
welcome
Cx500 Microcomputers — |
established through vA a
success.
/
i
LD eencor, UMITED
| em __. DATA arian AND ia aes SYSTEMS
[
Transdata = Battlebridge House 87-95 Tooley Street,
London, SE1 2RA Telephone: 01 403 5115 Telex: 8952068
ae aes \
@Circle No. 142
48 PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
The speed to rival
Winchester systems
THE NEW Z-80B processor
chip which runs at a fast 6MHz
gives the Superspeed micro-
computer its name. The CP/M
performance of this machine is
up to five times that of other
floppy-disc-based systems and
can provide more power than
many of the Winchester
hard-disc systems. The 6MHz
operation of the processor
provides a 50 percent increase
in throughput over conven-
tional Z-80A systems, loading
a 20K program in one second.
The CP/M operating: system
gives the user a wide base of
applications software to
choose from, but if this is rot
enough the user can add
MP/M together with Winches-
ter hard discs to provide a
multi-user system. The
floppy-disc controller features
a 10K buffer, advanced direct
memory access and automatic
error recovery. The twin 8in.
double-sided, double-density
disc drives provide 2Mbyte of
storage with software-
selectable single-density for
IBM compatibility.
The one-off price of the sys-
tem is £3,500, that is for the
minimum configuration which
also features 160K of RAM
and four I/O posts. The
machine is part of Transdata’s
Stitch in time for
clothing industry
CLOTHMAN is an integrated
system developed for use by
the clothing industry. It has
been developed by Taunton
Electronics, a microcomputer
systems house that specialises
in providing computer systems
for the clothing and allied
trades.
There are five areas in
which the Clothman system
can improve or simplify tedi-
ous bookwork. These are:
providing piece-work calcula-
tions which can be extended to
year-end reports; production
of work-in-progress reports
with up to 10 process points;
order processing, enquiry and
status reporting; work-ticket
printing on special copy-
through tickets; and style rate
book reporting and printing.
The system has been pro-
duced with the co-operation of
a clothing manufacturer and is
already fully operational in a
number of factories, varying in
size from 55 to 250 em-
ployees, Clothman runs on an
Apple II computer or can put
on the Nestar system with up
to 64 Apples connected to a
large disc back-up.
Clothman has been
developed and conceived so
that the system can be used by
non-specialists, though the
price of the package includes a
week of operator training at
the company’s training centre
in Taunton, Somerset.
Clothman costs £2,250 and
is available direct from Taun-
ton Electronics. Telephone
Bishops Lydeard (0823)
433142.
Cx500 family of CP/M-based
microcomputer systems.
Languages available include
Basic, Fortran, Cobol, PL/1
and APL. Also available is a
fully-comprehensive, on-site
maintenance contract employ-
ing Transdata’s. own field-
service engineers. Transdata is
at 87-89 Tooley Street, Lon-
don, SE1 2RA. Telephone
01-403 5115. H)
Typewriter
solution
OLIVETT! daisywheel type-
writers make excellent micro-
computer printers — the only
problem is interfacing them.
The £250 Discom interface is
approved by Olivetti and will
allow a typewriter to interface
all the common buses — RS-
232, IEEE and Centronics.
Details can be obtained
from Discom, Old Manor
Farm, Ashton-under-Hill,
Worcestershire. Telephone
Evesham (0386) 8819, exten-
sion 62.
Fast Episode fits the
desk-top bill
THE EPISODE is a microcompu-
ter with “micro” dimensions
— it occupies about as much
desk space as a sheet of fools-
cap paper. Even so it is a pow-
erful stand-alone system based
on the Z-80A processor run-
ning at 4MHz, The Episode is
capable of running CP/M
packages markedly faster than
other systems.
The Episode will work with’
virtually any VDU and printer
and can be used as a station in
a network linked to other
equipment. It is an extremely
Equipped with the standard RS-232 serial output, this
analogue/digital/analogue board enables almost all
microcomputers to interface with the analogue signals of
the real world. Featuring eight-bit resolution of any signal
in the range 0-2.5V, the board can handle both DC and AC
currents. Output can also be in the 0-2.5 range, with a load
driving capability of 25mA. The baud rate can be any one of
15 standard rates between 50 and 19,200. The kit version
costs £39.50 and the built version £49 from Ambit Interna-
tional, 200 North Service Road, Brentwood, Essex. Q
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
mobile computer: weighing
only 15 pounds it can be car-
ried easily to the place where
you want to use it. The other
dimensions of the Episode are
the 7:5 inches height, 9-5
inches width and the 14-5
inches depth.
The mass integral storage is
provided by twin mini-floppy
disc drives of either single,
double or quad density. A
maximum of 1-6Mbyte of on-
line storage is thus available.
Other features of the system
are two RS-232C serial inter-
faces, a Centronics compatible
parallel interface, a battery-
operated calendar clock, and
64K of RAM.
Episode is available from
Equinox Computers, who will
market the machine with a
number of applications pack-
ages. Software includes word
processing; invoicing stock
control; sales, purchase and
nominal ledgers; and a sales-
management package.
The Episode microcompu-
ter costs £1,995 plus VAT. For
further details contact
Equinox Computers, 16
Anning Street, New Inn Yard,
London EC2 3HB. Telephone
01-739 2387/9. a
49
Print
Next One hits
routine tasks
THE NEXT ONE is a program
generator that costs only £100
plus VAT. .Written for the
Apple II microcomputer the
program will also run on the
ITT 2020 and there is a CP/M
version too.
The Next One writes to a
‘disc file the program state-
ments which make up the
created program. It is really a
tool to take all the drudgery
out of programming by writing
the tedious input/output sub-
routines between the
keyboard and the disc, and the
disc and the memory. It is not
intended to replace program-
mers.
Target programs generated
by the Next One are written in
a structured form, which is
ready for use. within a few
minutes of creation. There are
many diagnostic features built
in to the program and its struc-
tured nature makes it easy to
read and understand. The
Next One is available from
Logical Computing, 26 Wide
Lane, Swaythling, Southamp-
ton. Telephone Southampton
(0703) 583857.
Composing oneself
with Music Maker
THE PLUG-IN Music Maker
module for the Texas Instru-
ments TI-99/4A computer
allows music to be composed,
edited and played. It assists
the creation of musical com-
. positions by serious musicians
and beginners alike.
Notes can be entered, one
measure at a time, into the
microcomputer’s memory.
Music can then be replayed at
the touch of a key.
Serious musicians will be
attracted by the system’s
method of composing, placing
notes on the traditional treble
and bass staves. Novices can
compose using sound graphs.
Either method allows the user
access to three voices.
There is a flexible choice of
key- and time-signatures, and
a total of 30 different speeds at
which the music can be played.
Any note can be accepted,
provided that it is in the
three-octave range from the
second A below middle C to
the second A above middle C.
There is a facility for repeat-
ing passages of music, and if a
printer is added to the system,
the music can be printed.
Computer owners who con-
sider themselves to be in the
‘musical avant-garde will find
the system capable of many
interesting sound effects. The
Music Maker module costs
£34.95 and is available from
Texas dealers. For details ring
Texas Instruments. on
1 0234-67466. Q
Printout==
Economy of
Cintcode
BCPL CINTCODE is a new
implementation of an estab-
lished systems programming
language, BCPL. It permits
larger and more complicated
systems to be built and main-
tained on microcomputers.
It adds a number of extra
features and only uses one-
third of the space used by fully
compiled systems such as
Pascal. Telephone RCP,
Blewbury (0235) 850218. J
How to make Tandy
run as terminal
TERMINAL is a product which
allows the Tandy TRS-80
range of microcomputers to
act aS remote terminals to
larger mini- or mainframe
computers. The emulator runs
under the standard Tandy
DOS operating system, but a
CP/M version is planned.
Under Terminal, the baud
rate used will be software-
selectable between 110 and
9,600baud. Also software-
selectable are the word length,
Zilog chip makes
huge power savings
THE Z-80L is the latest version
of the well-proven Z-80
microprocessor. The new chip
is still an eight-bit device, but
it consumes only 10 percent of
the power of the standard
Z- 80.
The Z-80L is available for
operation at three speeds:
1MHz, 1:5MHz or 2:5MHz in
the L1, L2, L3 versions. The
low power consumption of the
Z-80L family — 75mW —
means that they are ideally
suited for use in hand-held or
portable battery-powered
products. On the other hand,
the low power consumption
allows battery back-up to be
implemented easily in systems
where the data being proces-
sed is of a critical nature or
where the application relies on
continuous processing.
In other respects the chip is
fully compatible with the stan-
50 .
dard Z-80, allowing it to be
replaced directly in circuit
boards without any redesign-
ing. Additionally the device is
fully supported by Z-80
development systems and in-
circuit emulators, allowing
products to be developed,
tested and debugged quickly.
The Z-80L can be used in
conjunction with all the
eight-bit peripheral devices
currently offered by Zilog.
Low-power versions of the
peripheral chips will be avail-
able in the future. The Z-80L
is produced in both ceramic or
‘plastic packages. For further
details contact Zilog, Babbage
House, King Street, Maiden-
head, Berkshire. Telephone
Maidenhead (0628) 36131.
the number. of stop-bits and
the parity. There are input and |
output translation tables for
total control over all transmit-
ted and received data, and
screen-print facilities. Echo-
ing, flashing cursor, lower
case, and error checking are all
provided for, and so are pro-
grammable break sequences.
Translation tables are pro-
vided for IBM, Univac, ICL
2900 and ICL 1900. Terminal
costs £45 for TRS-80 models I
and III, and £55 for model II.
The CP/M version will be
available soon. Contact MTW
Computer Services, 4 Wyvern,
Tamworth, Staffordshire, B77
2RL. Telephone Tamworth
(0827) 61320. Q
Source of
TRS-80 facts
TANDY TRS-80 microcomputer
users will find the TRS-80
software sourcebook. an
invaluable aid. The first vol-
ume of the sourcebook lists
the details and sources of over
500 applications programs,
written in the U.K. for the
TRS-80 models I, II, III, the
Tandy Colour Computer and
the Pocket Computer.
Entries are indexed by a
series of seven categories:
Business, Inventory Control,
Education, Games, Home-
Personal, Statistics-Maths, and
specific industrial-professional
programs. The book also con-
tains an entry form for those
who wish to submit their own
software packages. The book
costs £3.95 and is available at
Tandy stores.
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
Sharp bring you the MZ8OB.
A machine that offers you functions
previously only associated with more
powerful, more expensive computers; that
gives you versatility to handle a huge range
of software and hardware applications in
scientific, business and personal use.
The MZ80B opens up anew world of
graphic display potential, more flexible data
storage and retrieval, and ease of operation.
Here is the computer from the future.
Available today.
Stunning Graphic Display.
Seeing is believing. The large-screen,
high-focus, green-face display
incorpereieed in the MZ80B gives you high-
resolution graphics of 320 x 200 dots.
An additional graphic RAM can be
added which allows another 320 x 200 dot
resolution pattern to be displayed.
This dual high-resolution graphic
ability is especially useful for simulating and
displaying a dynamic picture..[t can display
40 characters x 25 lines or 80 characters x 25
lines via software switching.
In addition there are facilities for full,
on-screen an reverse video, partial
scrolling anda full range of graphic symbols.
Choracter and Grophic Printer.
This fast, quiet printer will reproduce
your graphic displays and, of course, print-
out upper and lower case letters and
symbols. A tractor/friction feed version is
also available.
Data Storage retrieval.
The MZ80B has a remarkable
memory. 64K of RAM. And that constitutes
all the memory area, giving flexible storage
of any computer language and its software.
The cassette deck is electromagnetically-
controlled, with a data transfer speed of
1800 bits/sec combined with a unique
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
bat a
=
“*
G
Oa
programme search
facility to make data storage
and retrieval super-fast
Lea
=< me
Atypewniter-style keyboard
incorporates characters and symbols plus a
numeric key-pad and ten user-definable
keys for fast and simple operation.
BASIC is, of course, provided with
Z-80 Assembler Packages, PASCAL anda
BASIC compiler.
Floppy Disk Drive.
A twin Floppy Disk Drive unit can be
added which will give you 560 bytes of
storage on double-sided, double-density
disks.
Comprehensive Documentation.
Each MZ80B comes complete with a
full set of documentation including an
owners’ manual giving full circuit diagrams,
amonitor reference manual and
programming manuals.
Interfaces
RS-232C and IEEE Interfaces are
available from January 1982 allowing the
MZ80B to communicate with scientific
instruments and other peripherals.
cP/iir'22
CP/M* is also available making a
wide range of packages ifithediatety avail-
able including wordprocessing, financial
modelling, data base management to
mention but a few. CP/M* also increases
the disk capacity to 680K.
(CP/M* is a Trade Mark of Digital Research Ltd).
—»)
othe’
SHARP ELECTRONICS (UK) LTD., COMPUTER DIVISION,
SHARP HOUSE, THORP RD., NEWTON HEATH,
MANCHESTER M10 OBE. TELEPHONE; 061-205 2333.
Fwy on€arth don’t you find |
| out more?
|
|
| |
| Please send ~! |
me fullinformation on ———
| the Sharp MZ80B computer. |
PC 4/82
| Name |
|
| Address
| Tel: |
| To: Sharp Electronics (UK) Ltd., Computer Division, |
Sharp House, Thorp Road, Newton Heath,
@ Circle No. 143
51
on aes
one good reason why I should
choose aVIC 20 home computer’
1. VIC is outstanding value
for money. No other colour
home computer can give so
much for under £200.
2. Total standard memory
25K made up of 20K ROM and
5K RAM.
3. Fully expandable to 32K
of user RAM.
4. Microsoft Basic inter-
preter as standard.
5. Accessible machine
language as standard.
6. Connects direct to
monitor or standard television.
7 Fullsize typewriter-style
keyboard.
8. Full colour and sound.
9, All colours directly con-
trollable from the keyboard.
10. 62 predefined graphic
characters direct from the
keyboard.
IL. Full set of upper and
lower case characters.
12. 512. displayable characters
direct from the keyboard.
13. High resolution graphics
capability built into the
machine.
M4. Programmable function
keys.
15. Automatic repeat on
cursor function keys.
16. User-definable input/
output port.
IZ Machine bus port for
memory expansion and ROM
software.
18. Standard interfaces for
hardware peripherals.
19. VIC 20is truly
expandable into a highly
sophisticated computer system
with a comprehensive list
of accessories (see panel below).
20. Full range of software for
home, education, business and
entertainment ondisk,cassette
and cartridge.
Accessories include:
e Cassette tape unit.
© Single drive 5}” floppy disk unit(170 K bytes
capacity].
© 80-column dot matrix printer.
© 3K, 8K and 16K RAM expansion cartridges.
© Programming aid packs; machine code
monitorcartridge, programmers’ aid cartridge, high
resolution graphics cartridge.
e Plug-in conversion box for a full 32K,
40-column x 25 lines VIC including Prestel com-
patability.
© Prestel/Tantel interface package.
e RS 232C communication cartridge.
e Memory expansion board
© |EEE/488 interface cartridge.
¢ Joysticks, light pens, paddles and motor
controllers.
21. Books, manuals and learn-
ing aids from Teach Yourself
Basic to the VIC programmers’
reference guide (a must for
advanced programmers).
22. Full support forVIC owners
— their own magazine ‘VIC
Computing’aswellasa national
network of VIC user groups.
23. National dealer network
providing full service and
support to VIC owners.
24. Expertise and experience
—Commodore are world
leaders in microcomputer and
silicon chip technology.
25. Commodoreisthe leading
supplier of micro-computers
in the UK to business, schools,
industry and the home.
26. VIC 20 is the best-selling
colour home computer in
the UK.
How many reasons wasit
you wanted?
commodore
VIC 20
The best home computer
in the world.
SE
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE VIC 20, TELEPHONE OR WRITE TO: COMMODORE INFORMATION CENTRE,
BAKER STREET, HIGH WYCOMBE, BUCKS, OR TEL: SLOUGH 792972.
@ Circle No. 144
The 1982 Computer Fair, being held at London’s Earls Court exhibition centre on
April 23-25, provides a showcase for the whole gamut of small business systems and
home computers. We look ahead to the highlights of the Fair.
Computer Fair preview
THE COMPUTER Fair will be the biggest
show of its kind ever held in the U.K. The
Fair will be concentrating on the micro-
computers that are becoming a part of
our everyday lives, and to avoid confu-
sion, it will be divided into two areas, one
for the business microcomputer user and
a fun section for the more frivolous home
user,
In the business section, the main
exhibitors will be displaying a variety of
microcomputers aimed at the serious
computer user. A number of leading
companies will be displaying their pro-
ul
haiti i
The IBM micro can be seen at the Fair.
ducts to the public for the first time. One
of the more interesting products to be
shown at the fair will be the IBM per-
sonal computer which is on sale in Britain
through Microcomputerland.
The IBM personal computer repre-
sents an important trend in micro-
computing. In the past, the industry has
been dominated by smaller companies
with rapid growth. Now the larger, more
established equipment manufacturers are
moving in, bringing with them new stan-
dards in hardware and software, as well
as reliability and support.
Industrial charm
These advances have been made at the
expense of some of the charm of the
industry, but are well worth the price. If
you would like an opportunity to see the
IBM personal computer at first hand,
then call in at the Microcomputerland
stand, number 407.
Tangerine expects to be launching the
new Tigress microcomputer at the Com-
puter Fair. The Tigress is a major new
British microcomputer that will compete
on far from equal terms with the better-
known imported machines. The micro is
aimed at the businessman and the top-
. of-the range hobbyist. One of the most
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
attractive features of the Tigress is the
built-in Prestel unit and its telephone
answering facility. This enables the com-
puter to connect directly with Prestel and
down-load pages. All current or pro-
jected Prestel standards are catered for.
Tigress processors
In addition each Tigress will be able to
act in a telephone-answering mode,
accepting messages from other terminals
or computers over the telephone net-
work. It will be possible to connect the
machines using the integral Econet com-
munications network.
The Tigress employs three processors
—- the main CPU is the Z-80 which runs
CP/M. A 6809 will be in control of all the
input, output and communications func-
tions of the machine, while a separate
dedicated chip will control the real-time
high-resolution graphics. The target price
of the basic Tigress system will be around
the £600 to £700 mark; discs will be
extra.
In addition to this exciting new
machine, Tangerine is showing a range of
software. Marketed under the Tansoft
label, this software is designed to run on
the new Tangerine disc units and will
| include a disc-operating system. There is
also some utilities software covering such
functions as reformatting. The focal point
of interest will no doubt be the Tangerine
Forth package.
The ZX Village
Home and hobby computer users will
find much to their taste at the show, with
_the finals of the U.K. Micromouse com-
petition and the ZX Village. Ever mind-
ful that this just might be the time and the
place for the launch of the ZX-82, the
Fair’s organisers have allocated a whole
section of the show for the Village which
will be, to all intents and purposes just
like a space-age market.
The ZX Village will be an ideal place
for users to bring themselves up to date
with the latest developments on the Sin-
clair scene. Sinclair Research is exhibiting
at the Computer Fair and in the past
Sinclair has produced a few surprises. In
this area of the show user groups and
clubs will be able to use stands free of
charge.
If the ZX Village combines the excite-
ment of the eastern bazaar with the tech-
nology of the space age then the Micro-
mouse competition combines the same
technology with the flavour of a Roman
circus. As tiny robotic mice endeavour to
find their way through labyrinths of
Minotaurian proportions, baying crowds
of supporters will cheer on the heros and
offer a “thumbs down’”’ to the vanquished
in the time-honoured tradition of the
amphitheatre.
If it all sounds a little too light-hearted
for you, the techniques and technology
used in building and running these
Micromice are some of the most sophis-
ticated around. The competition is not
really about mice at all, but about build-
ing ever-better robots, to specification.
The strength of such a competition is
represented in the interest shown in it by
top engineering concerns. To find out
more about the Practical Computing
Micromouse finals, you can read the rules
of the competition on page 143 of this
issue of Practical Computing.
Package deal
The Computer Fair is to be held at the
giant Earls Court exhibition centre in the
heart of the nation’s capital. It is the first
time a major computer show of this size
has been held at that venue. If you are
intending to stay over night in London for
the Fair, you might be interested to know
that Pharoah Hughes Associates Ltd is
offering a special package deal.
In the best tradition of business pack-
age deals the offer can include both
»
. DNA,
d VIC EXPANSION
Home computers are amply catered for.
reasonably-priced accommodation in
twin-bedded hotel rooms and reduced-
rate rail travel. There is a choice of either
two-star or three-star hotel accommo-
dation, and both include continental
breakfast and admission to the show.
Two-star accommodation costs £13.80
per person and three-star £15.30. For
more details telephone Pharoah Hughes
Associates on 01-995 8995.
The Computer Fair is being organised
by IPC Exhibitions Ltd, in conjunction
with Practical Computing and Your
Computer. For more details telephone
01-643 8040. Q
53
= See eee eee
Printout extra==""
a
Plotting to put
HP-83 graphics
on to paper
54
Exploded pie segments and
clustered bar charts are
child’s play for the
Hewlett-Packard graphics
plotting package. David Watt
reviews this tablet and plotter
which turn statistical data into
shaded and coloured hard
copy for permanent display.
* HEWLETT-PACKARD is renowned for pro-
ducing equipment of very high quality,
which is particularly respected by mem-
bers of the scientific and engineering
community. The equipment for this
review was provided by Microdigital —
now a subsidiary of Laskys, the hi-fi chain
— and consisted of an HP-83 computer, a
9111A graphics tablet, a 7225A plotter,
dual mini-floppy disc drives, VisiCalc
Plus, and graphics demonstration soft-
ware. The system also included a 16K
add-on memory module, HP-IB interface
and cables, mass-storage ROM, and
plotter/printer ROM.
The equipment was connected using
the HP-IB interface bus, invented by
Hewlett-Packard and since adopted as the
IEEE-488-1978 standard. The HP-IB
interface allows several devices to be
connected on a common bus. Each device
has a unique address which may be set by
adjusting switches at the back. Up to 15
devices may be connected on one bus.
The IEEE-488 interface is also used by
the Commodore Pet.
All the equipment worked well, with
the exception of an apparent fault on the
plotter. The pen did not always lift clear
of the paper when being moved between
plots, and therefore drew faint traces on
the paper.
Attractively styled
The equipment looks extremely well
made, and is styled attractively in match-
ing light-grey plastic cabinets, with
dark-grey front panels. The HP-83 com-
puter is the same as the HP-85, but
without the integral tape cassette drive
and printer. It is very pleasant to use: the
keyboard design, in particular, is excel-
lent with a number of useful special func-
tions keys. The Sin. display screen is easy
to read, despite its small size, though it is
only possible to display 16 lines of 32
characters. The HP-83 has a larger dis-
play memory, a total of 64 lines, which
can be displayed by scrolling up or down.
The graphics tablet has a large, white
ceramic platen, a stylus attached by a thin
cable, and four lights marked Digitise,
Menu, Error and Line. The platen is
marked out with a large rectangular plot-
ting area, measuring 11.9 by 9.36 in. and
16 square “softkeys” grouped in fours
above the plotting area. In the bottom,
right-hand corner of the plotting area is a
small dot called the self-test dot, used for
testing the platen and stylus circuits,
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
When the tablet is switched on, all the
lights flash on and off and a sequence of
notes is sounded on the tablet’s tone
generator. The tone generator may be
‘programmed to give an auditory acknow-
ledgement when an operation is per-
formed — when a softkey is selected,
for example — or if an error occurs.
At the rear of the tablet there is a row.
of switches used for setting the device
address on the HP-IB interface. The tab-
let may also be connected to a non-
intelligent device for data logging, in
which case the switches may be set to
“talk-only”. One of the switches is used
to initiate the graphics tablet self-test,
which makes all the lights flash and
start-up tones play. If the stylus is
touched on the self-test dot, the start-up
sequence will be played again.
Tracing lines
The stylus contains a ball-point pen
cartridge which may be either inked or
inkless and has a spring-loaded micro-
switch which operates when the pen is
pressed on the platen. It can be used in
two ways. For single-point digitising the
X, Y co-ordinates of the pen are trans-
mitted when the pen is pressed on the
platen and the switch closes. [he alternat-
ive mode, continuous digitising, is useful
for tracing lines. In switch-normal mode,
a line is started by pressing the pen once
and points are taken continuously until
the pen is pressed again. In switch-follow
mode, points are taken only while the pen
is kept pressed down, on the tablet.
The Digitise light indicates when the
graphics tablet is ready to receive a loca-
tion. The Menu light comes on when one
of the softkeys is to be selected. As the
name suggests the softkeys can be used to
select options from a menu; they are used
by many of the programs in the graphics
demonstration software.
The plotter has several push-buttons
along the front, which are used for setting
it up. The Chart Load switch causes the
pen to move up to the top-right corner,
and releases the electrostatic hold-down
on the plotter so that a sheet of paper or
mylar may be placed on the platen. The
electrostatic hold-down feature makes
sure the paper lies flat and does not move
about.
Pen movements
The pen may be moved about the
platen and raised or lowered using — ,
—,], |, and Pen Up or Pen Down. There
is also a button marked Fast to move the
pen more quickly. The lower-left and
upper-right limits of the plotting area can
be set, if you do not want to use the
default values, by moving the pen to the
required positions and pressing Enter,
followed by the buttons marked Lower
Left or Upper Right. The button at the
rear of the plotter marked Confidence
Test generates a test plot.
The pen can be moved in increments of
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
XYZ CORPORATION
Costs & Expenses, 1981 Forecast
MANUFACTURING 56. 6%
RESEARCH & DEV. 8.7%“
Soy
GENERAL & ADMIN 15. 2%
MKTG & SALES 19.32 .
}
The tablet and plotter can deftly transform statistics into graphical form.
0.032mm. which the plotter will take
charts up to 210 by 297mm. A4-sized
paper. The pen velocity can be varied
between 10 and 250mm./s. and labels
can be printed at up to three characters
per second. Five character sets are avail-
able. Two use the £ sign instead of “‘#”’,
and one has the symbols @, A, @, 2.
The printer/plotter and input/output
ROMs provide a number of extensions to
Basic for use both with the graphics tablet
and the plotter. Amongst these are Limit,
Scale. Digitise and Cursor, Printer Is and
Plotter Is from the Printer/Plotter ROM;
and Output and Enter instructions pro-
vided by the input/output ROM. The I/O
ROM was not supplied for review, but all
the software provided worked perfectly
Figure 1. Plotter/printer ROM statements.
LINETYPE
LOCATE
LORG
MOVE
MSCALE
NOBLINIC
PDIR
PEN
PENUP
POT
PLOTTERIS
PRINTERIS
RATIO
RPLOT
SCALE
SETGU
SET I/O
SETUU
SHOW
LABEL TRANSLATE
LABLE USING UNCLIP
LAXES WHERE
LDIR XAXIS
LGRID YAXIS
LIMIT
DIGITISE
DRAW
EPROM
ERASE
FRAME
GCLEAR
GRAPHICS
GRID
IDRAW
iMOVE
IPLOT
without it and so does not depend on it.
HP-85 Basic has a powerful set of
graphics commands. Graph switches the
screen to the graphics-display area,
GClear clears the screen below a
specified line, and Frame draws a line
round the edge of the screen.
Scale command
The Scale command sets the horizontal
and vertical, X and Y, units. The default
values for scale are zero 0 to 100 in both
directions. The ranges for X and Y can be
set independently, and can range over
any values; they do not have to start at
zero. .
The screen has a resolution of 256 dots
horizontally by 192 dots vertically, so
when using the default scale, the y units
are shorter than the x units. However,
setting the scale so that the number of Y
units is three-quarters the number of X
units gives equal-sized units, which make
it easier to draw regular shapes like
circles or polygons.
Points are plotted according to the
current scale, and mapped automatically
on to the graphics display, so it is easy to
expand or contract a display. ,
The X-Axis, Y-Axis statements may be
used to draw axes specifying where to
position ticks; Plot is used to set a point
on the display, Move moves the pen
without drawing a line; Draw is used to
draw a line. IMove and IDraw are the
same as Move and Draw except that they
move the pen a number of units relative
to the last pen position.
Labels may be written anywhere on the
display using the Label command, and
(continued on next page)
55
(continued from previous page)
can be written vertically or horizontally
by specifying the label direction with
LDir. Another powerful feature of
HP-85 Basic is the ability to create your
own characters using BPlot.
These features are considerably
enhanced by the use of the plotter/printer
ROM. A list of all the commands it
provides the plotter/printer ROM is
shown in figure 1.
The Plotter Is and Printer Is commands
are used to direct output to specified
devices: | is the address of the HP-83
CRT; 705 is the default address of the
graphics tablet, and 706 the default
address of the plotter on the HP-IB inter-
face. A plot can first be displayed on the
CRT and if it is satisfactory it can then be
output on the plotter.
The Limit, Scale, Show, Locate and
MScale commands allow considerable
flexibility in defining the plotting limits.
The Limit statement allows a program to
Set the physical plotting area for the
HP-7225A plotter, as an alternative to
setting them using the buttons on the
front panel. The Show statement allows
the ranges for X and Y units to be
defined, and scales the plotting area
automatically so that X and Y units are
the same size. MScale sets the user units
to millimeters, so that precisely-scaled
objects can be drawn or measured. You
can specify windows in the plotting area
using the Locate statement: for example,
you can define a part of the plotting area
to contain your main plot while another
portion is reserved for labels.
Dots and dashes
_ Lines can be plotted using varying
combinations of dots and dashes with the
Linetype statement. Eight combinations
are available, and the length of the repeti-
tive pattern can be specified.
The plotter/printer ROM provides sev-
eral new commands for drawing axes and
labels. The Axes statement allows both
the X-axis and Y-axis to be specified,
together with major and minor tick
marks. Thus it combines all the features °
of the XAxis and YAxis statements in
one. The Grid command allows a grid to
be drawn instead of the axes alone. In
addition to the standard Label statement
the plotter/printer ROM has a Label
Using statement which operates in a simi-
lar fashion to Print Using; a format mask
is defined which governs the position and
ptint format of the data specified in the
rest of the statement.
For labelling it is possible to specify the
character size, the ratio of character
height to width, and the slant of charac-
ters, all using the CSize statement. When
using the plotter, labels can be drawn in
any direction — not just horizontally and
vertically — with the LDir statement.
For digitising, Digitise, Cursor and
Where are statements that interrogate
the plotter or graphics tablet to find the
56
The review system
HP-83 computer
16K memory module
ROM drawer
Mass-storage ROM
Plotter/printer ROM
Input/output ROM
HP-IB interface
7225A plotter with personality
module for HP-IB interface
9111A graphics tablet
Dual mini-floppy disc drive
TOTAL
£1,486.35
£194.88
£29.73
£98.19
£98.19
£199.77
£260.94
£2,115.00
£1,355.00
£1,693.00
£7,351.05
HP-85 computer
£2,146.95
HP-85, 16K memory module,
ROM drawer, plotter/printer
ROM, I/O ROM, HP-IB, plotter
and graphics tablet £6,400.66
Software
Graphics presentation
VisiCalc Plus
X,Y co-ordinates of the pen or cursor.
The plotter/printer ROM provides some
additional facilities for use with the CRT
graphics. BPlot has been improved so
that your characters can be as large as
you like, filling the whole screen if you
wish, and BRead allows a character
created on the screen to be stored for
re-display by BPlot.
Both the plotter and the graphics tablet
have internal microprocessors, and will
execute commands given in Hewlett-Pac-
kard’s graphic language, HPGL. This
enables you to use features not available
through the plotter/printer ROM, such as
changing the speed of the pen or using a
different character set on the plotter, and
obtaining information on the status of the
graphics tablet. To use many of these
functions it is necessary to have the
input/output ROM.
Practical value
The Graphics Presentation software
and VisiCalc Plus was provided to test the
system. The Graphics Presentation pack-
age consists of six programs: a drawing
program; an area- and distance-measuring |
program; a continuous line-drawing pro-
gram; a graphic data-entry program; a
music-demonstration program which
plays ‘‘Daisy Bell’ using the sound
generators of both the HP-83 and the
9111A; and an asteroid game. They were
great fun to use, and effectively demons-
trated the facilities of the graphics tablet.
The first four programs have a practical
value as well.
The programs all display help instruc-
tions, the HP-83’s CRT to tell you how to
use the softkeys, but they tended to scroll
off the screen too quickly. You have to be
ready with your finger on the Pause key
to be able to read the information.
VisiCalc Plus is the ubiquitous VisiCalc
program with the addition of some very
useful programs which take data stored
Review
by VisiCalc and generate line graphs, bar
charts, pie charts or fit regression curves.
It showed up well in the example de-
scribed in the VisiCalc manual which
produced the various charts on the plot-
ter. The bar and pie charts could be
shaded in various ways, stacked or clus-
tered bar charts could be drawn, and
exploded pie segments could be drawn to
emphasise a particular sector.
The review system was supplied with
special paper for plotting, four different
coloured pens and mylar for producing
overhead-projection slides. One obvious
application for the plotter is in preparing
material for presentations, lectures or
reports.
The detailed documentation supplied
with the system was of very high quality:
diagrams and examples were provided in
abundance. The sheer quantity of
documentation was daunting at first, but
you should soon learn to find your way
around it.
You may be amused by the following
item from the introduction to the
Plotter/Printer ROM Manual: “By the
time you get the plotter/printer ROM and
the manual, you will have accumulated a
stack of literature at least 1.8 m. tall.
And you are wondering where to dig in”’.
It clearly caters for every level of user
from the absolute beginner to the experi-
enced programmer.
Conclusions
@ Ail the Hewlett-Packard equipment is
made to a very high standard. It looks
good and feels good to use. The documen-
tation is also extremely good.
@ The plotter has many very useful feat-
ures and it was possible to produce excel-
lent graphs with it. It is even possible to
digitise information by positioning the pen
— a special digitising sight is available —
and pressing the Enter button.
@ The strength of the graphics tablet is
the ease with which it can be used to enter
data from charts or graphs. It can also be
used as a design tool for creating draw-
ings.
@ Hewlett-Packard has an extensive ser-
vice network and a good reputation for
reliability.
@: The VisiCalc Plus programs provide
powerful extensions to VisiCalc, and the
graphics demonstration software would
be useful for digitising drawings and
graphs, and possibly as design tools. The
source code was supplied for the VisiCalc
Plus programs — not VisiCalc itself —
and the graphics demonstration pro-
grams, so they could be easily enhanced.
The packages are reasonably priced.
©) The hardware is rather expensive by
normal standards, and seems to be aimed
primarily at scientific, engineering and
business users demanding high-quality
equipment and service.
@ The system is particularly suited for use
in business graphics, statistics, medicine,
numerical control, surveys and design. [J]
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
Colour me Prism
Hard oF in colour? It’s here today, with a
range of 400 shades ata price you can afford.
Sr ie Equipment’s Prism printer brings colour
within reach of every business, engineering and
scientific work station. ?
Think what this means in speed of recognition, range of variables 0
and graphic presentation.
As well as colour, the Prism printer comes with a host of other
advanced features, including
@ Single sheet feed
e ee with additional 2K buffer
@ High speed print mode (in excess of 200 cps)
@ Correspondence quality print
Opt for Prism colour now, and bring a whole new dimension
to your work.
Trade enquiries welcome.
oy, h,
Teen? Equipment Limited —
peripheral people
70-82 Akeman Street, Tring, Herts. HP23 6AJ. U.K
Tel. Tring (0442 82) 5551/9 & 4011/9 Telex: 82362 BATECOG.
@ Circle No. 145
Equipped with an unusually
high level of sophisticated
hardware, this integrated
microcomputer system is
clearly designed to appeal to a
wide range of business and
technical users. John Dawson
finds out whether its practical
performance matches up to
the advanced specification.
THE OKI IF-800 Model 20 personal com-
puter is an eight-bit machine intended as
a small business computer, for scientific
purposes, and for diverse applications
such as instrument control and running
business colour-graphics software. It uses
a Z-80A CPU running at 4MHz, backed
up by 64K of dynamic RAM for program
store and 16K for the monochrome dis-
play, or 48K if you have the colour
monitor. There is a 2K bootstrap ROM.
The IF-800 has a built-in printer which
uses a'five-by-seven-dot matrix, and con-
sequently produces no lower-case
descenders. The printer provides for both
tractor and friction paper feed. The other
input/output facilities for the computer
are listed in table 1.
Two Sin. double-sided, double-density
58
mini-floppy disc drives are built into the
computer. Each drive has a capacity of
280K, giving a total on-line storage capa-
bility of 560K. With four floppy-disc
drives in place, the machine can access
1.12Mbyte. A brochure accompanying
the computer, dated November 1981,
offers a 5.2Sin. hard-disc drive with a
capacity of five or ten megabytes.
The computer is delivered as two units:
the first incorporates the keyboard, prin-
ter and CPU/memory. The second unit
contains the VDU and the two floppy-
disc drives mounted on a plinth to raise
them above the keyboard. Power and
data connections are brought neatly
down the inside of one leg of the plinth to
plug into the back of the computer/
keyboard unit.
Eight-colour image
The computer is supplied with a mains
lead wired directly to the machine and a
continental three-pin plug at the far end
of the lead. Despite this, the IF-800
contains a 240-volt power supply and the
first job you will have to undertake after
unpacking the computer is to cut off the
plug to substitute a standard U.K. plug.
An eight-colour image is available on
the IF-800 with a high-resolution display
— 640 horizontal by 200 vertical pixels.
Alternatively the machine can be sup-
plied with a green monochrome display
with the same resolution.
The story, however, does not end
there. The colour mask in the colour
cathode-ray tube is perceptible to an
operator using the computer, and the
effect of this is to lower the apparent
resolution. When this is combined with
the absence of lower-case descenders in
the VDU type fount, the result is to make
the machine unsuitable for use over
extended periods by, for example, a
word-processor operator.
Any computer should have an easily-
legible character set that will not cause
fatigue when used for a number of hours
at a stretch — nothing less is acceptable,
certainly not in the prestige, up-market
product range to which the IF-800
aspires. The poor quality of the 80-
character IF-800 alpha-numeric display
is a serious shortcoming.
In addition to the normal typewriter
keys on the IF-800 keyboard, there are
10 user-programmable “‘soft keys” and
32 special-function keys, including a
numeric keypad. Three keys are dedi-
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
cated to printer functions: to print the
current contents of the VDU on the
printer; eject a “form” length of paper
from the printer; and echo whatever is
typed in at the keyboard to the printer.
The soft keys are repeated along the
bottom edge of the VDU screen, and
some of the CRT control options allow a
label field to be displayed across the
bottom of the VDU indicating the func-
tion of the 10 programmable soft keys.
The keys along the bottom edge of the
VDU are particularly useful when a
menu of commands is provided for a user
to choose from. The first three characters
of the command are displayed when the
CRT display is in 40-character mode, and
the first seven characters of a maximum
of 15 are displayed when the VDU is in
the 80-character mode.
A reset switch and a key to break into
the operation of a Basic program are
| located on the jeft-hand edge of the com-
puter. A diverse and comprehensive set
of sockets scattered round the computer
will allow you to plug in additional
peripheral devices such as a light-pen, an
acoustic coupler or British Telecom
Modem, laboratory instruments, a printer
with a Centronics interface, or the two
additional floppy-disc drives.
Hard information
Two manuals are supplied with the
computer. The Operation Manual con-
tains 200 pages packed with hard infor-
mation about the system and example
Basic programs. The second manual is
the Basic Reference Manual
which
COLOR 1
COLOR FG» BEB. SB
Daen
O: GLME 1: BLUE
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
HEN USE BLUE AS CHRACTER COLOR...
Two built-in mini-floppy double-sided,
double-density disc drives — 280K per
disc. An extra two disc units can be
connected.
Loudspeaker: Can switch a tone on and off
with a frequency range from 65Hz to
1,976Hz.
Calendar clock: A hardware clock is fitted,
powered by a NiCad battery. It displays the
year, month, day, hour, minute, second
and day of the week on request.
ROM cartridge: Holds 20K, the interface is
said to be addressable to 1Mbyte.
RS-232C interface: From 110 to 9,600
baud under software control.
External I/O interface: Three slots for
optional cards to give a Centronics-type
parallel interface, an IEEE-488 interface,
and a two-channel, 12-bit D-to-A board or
an eight-channel, 12-bit A-to-D board.
Audio cassette I/O: Uses non-standard
BMC protocol; cassette recorder motor
control by Basic instruction.
Printer: Five-by-seven-dot matrix;
tractor/friction feed; paper up to 9.5in.
wide; no lower-case descenders.
Dimensions: width 20in. (51cm.); depth
26.7in. (68cm.); height 19.9in. (60cm.).
Weight: 77Ib. (35kg.) with monochrome
display; colour display weighs an extra
11lb. (5kg.).
Table 1. Dimensions and input/output channel specifications.
devotes about 30 pages to a general
explanation of the Oki Basic interpreter,
and a further 100 or so to a more detailed
description of the use of each command
and intrinsic function.
The IF-800 is likely to be marketed
into offices, scientific and hospital
laboratories, and possibly executive con-
ference rooms. Many of the machine’s
users will be intelligent and capable
people who are quite ignorant about com-
puters. The documentation supplied with
the machine is crucially important, par-
ticularly where small detail is concerned,
because this group of users is unlikely to
have the accumulated wisdom that will
allow them to disregard red lights and to
cope with unexpected error messages
when following programs in the Opera-
tion Manual.
For example, there is a caution that
you should not attempt to remove a disc
from the disc drive when the drive-select
— APPOINT THE COLOR FUNCTION
5. 196152422786632
9.291382622129181
5.3851 64867134584
5,477225575851661
COLOR
3: VOL oo um 6: Vl 7?
light is on. Yet the red light remains on
the whole time on drive 1, presumably to
indicate that the drive is selected rather
than that the head is in contact with the
disc, reading or writing material. Even if
it were possible to select the second drive
manually this 1s an incredibly clumsy way
of removing a disc. There is no cross-
reference in the manual to tell you how to
Overcome the problem.
Additional boards
The Operation Manual does improve
when it reaches the technical description
of the various additional boards that can
be attached to the basic system. There is
plenty of information, well set out, on the
pin connections, voltage levels and timing
patterns that are expected by the D-A
and A-D boards, the IEEE-488 interface
and so on. A technician in a polytechnic
or university laboratory should be able to
interface the IF-800 to other equipment
without difficulty after consulting these
sections of the manual.
There are, however, numerous other
small discrepancies in the Operation
Manual and generally too little attention
has been given to a user approaching the
computer for the first time. The poor
introduction to the documentation has
been overcome to some extent by an
impressive training program supplied on
disc. The program demonstrates some of
the Graphics Macro Language commands,
described later, and many of the other
Basic commands concerned with drawing
on to the screen. The screen photographs
were taken while this program was run-
ning and you should be able to see the
command in the lower portion of the
screen, with explanatory comments and
the effect of the command in the upper
half. Training by the compdny supplying
the machine is still necessary for other
aspects of the computer’s operation.
The IF-800 is supplied with an exten-
ded Basic interpreter based on Basic-80
developed by Microsoft. The version of
the language supplied allows various
screen formats with either’ abrupt or
(continued on next page) |
59
(continued from previous page)
smooth scrolling, and a Basic command
which will access a Graphic Macro
Language. Circle, for example, will draw
a circle or arc on the screen, given co-
ordinates for the centre, the radius of the
circle and the colour of the line.
A further parameter allows you to set
the elongation of the vertical axis of the
circle, and the ratio of the vertical to the
horizontal axes can be set between zero
and one. Zero will make the computer
draw a straight line while, a ratio of one
will draw an ellipse. In the same way, the
angle of arc that is to be drawn can be set,
where zero represents 90 degrees, 0.25
represents 180 degrees, and 0.5 starts or
stops an arc at 270 degrees.
Another basic command, DEF CHR$,
allows you to redefine the graphics
characters held in the machine. The
eight-by-eight screen matrix can be con-
trolled by a character string consisting ot
eight bytes expressed in hexadecimal
notation, concatenated into a string.
The Basic interpreter contains many
commands peculiar to the machine.
Although the machine runs CP/M and
has a vast quantity of software available
through Lifeboat Associates, it is unlikely
that WordStar, Fortran-80, Pascal,
muSimp/muMath or the Peachtree finan-
cial packages will make adequate use ot
the special hardware and software
features available on the IF-800.
For example, the Pen commands in
Oki Basic will return the horizontal and
vertical position of the light-pen on the
screen to a resolution of one pixel. It
should be possible to use the light-pen for
editing purposes in a word-processor
program, selecting first a command at the
top of the screen such as Delete, and then
selecting the character or word to be
deleted anywhere on the screen.
In the same way, it should be possible
to scroll the screen in any direction
merely by placing the light-pen on the
appropriate boundary. Obviously Word-
Star does not have this facility in the form
LINE (155 9112 ) -
UWE CXL s WD
—
in which it is implemented on a Super-
brain or Cromemco. In the absence of
software designed specifically for the
IF-800 it is constrained into the mould of
a Straightforward business computer with
a colour display.
The Oki Basic interpreter has two
commands for storing and retrieving
machine-code programs from disc, and
has both Call and USR commands which
transfer program execution to a user
machine-code subroutine. There are no
details in the manual to tell you how to
return to the Basic program at the end of
the machine-code subroutines.
VARPTR returns the address of the
first byte of data identified with a variable
name. VARPTR can be used to obtain
the address of the variable array so that it
can be passed to an assembly-language
subroutine. For example the instruction
VARPTR (A (ZERO) )
identifies the lowest element of the array.
Conclusions
@ The IF-800 costs £4,300, including VDU,
printer and double disc drive.
60
BOR BF CBS GHLY FRR
(BF: DRAW
ae pete
CHEER OF REC Tale
@ The comprehensive input/output
facilities on the IF-800 will be attractive to
scientists wishing to gather and display
complex information in graphic form.
Business executives may find the colour
display a useful presentation device for
their colleagues.
@ The tidy appearance of the computer |
must be set against the fixed relationship
between the keyboard and the VDU which
is poor ergonomic design.
@ Operation of the machine is quite separ-
ate from programming it, and the confu-
sion over details such as the orientation of
the label on a floppy disc and the drive-
select light on the floppy disc units is an
unnecessary burden on a small business
looking for a robust system for the first
time.
@ The 80-character display is not backed
up by a sufficiently high-resolution dis-
play on the colour VDU to make it accept-
able for prolonged use as a word pro-
cessor or for other applications which
demand reading or correcting text.
@ Dot-matrix print is acceptable for
memoranda and papers that will be used
within an office, but the lack of lower-case
descenders on the IF-800 printer makes
documents tiring and annoying to read.
@ Despite its length, the documentation
supplied is inadequate to allow anyone
unfamiliar with microcomputers to oper-
ate the machine successfully.
@ A wide choice of C/PM software should
be available, but this is unlikely to take
| advantage of the sophisticated hardware
| features of the IF-800. Software that is
specific to the machine will take longer to
emerge, but when available will provide a
powerful and versatile system.
@ The IF-800 appears to be strongly made
and should be reliable in operation.
@ If the price/performance ratio is attrac-
tive to you, and if you have the facilities to
write appropriate software without
needing too much support from the sys-
tem manuals, the IF-800 is worth con-
sidering.
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
FREE 3
MICRO COMPUTER SOFTWARE
(with complete hardware system price)
ADLER
‘ALPHATRONIC
£2495 «var
_— hye (prices subject to change)
Includes: Adler Alphatronic P2 Micro Computer, Daisy Wheel
Printer, 0.C.S.C. Financial Accounting/Book-keeping/Incom-
plete Records, 0.C.S.C. Payroll System, General Data
Management System, Word Processing System or Invoice
and Sales Ledger System.
| NEC
PC800:
from
£2150. var
(prices subject to change)
Includes: 64K Business System, Twin Disk Drives, NEC Dot
Matrix Printer, 0.C.S.C. Financial Accounting/Book-keeping/
Incomplete Records, 0.C.S.C. Payroll System, Wordstar,
Mailmerge & CPM System
SUPERBRAIN
£2550. var
{ptices subject to‘;change)}
Includes: 64K RAM/320 Disks, Epson MX 80 Printer,
0.C.S.C. Financial Accounting/Book-keeping/Incomplete Re-
cords 0.C.S.C. Payroll, Wordstar and Mailmerge.
Other software and peripherals purchased of which prices can
be adjusted in the above.
We were established in 1969 as a consultancy and software
house, our consultants are well qualified and members of
several professional institutes.
We undertake consultancy and contract work at a very
reasonable fee and our systems can be tailored to meet your
requirements at anominal fee.
Other micro manufacturers, distributors and dealer enquiries
are welcomed. :
Also we are looking for distributors abroad and commission
agents in the U.K. Please ring for details Watford 48580.
OVERSEAS COMPUTER SYSTEMS CONSULTANTS
182a QUEENS ROAD, WATFORD, ENGLAND
CALLERS BY APPOINTMENT PLEASE
@Circle No. 146
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
SYSTEMS FOR
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PLUS — games cartridges; extra RAM packs: 3K, 8K,
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48K memory
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61
In these days of recession and
tight monetary controls, many
companies look to micros to
improve efficiency and
profitability. Peter Wood tests
Hornet, a package designed to
appeal to any firm aiming at
effective project planning.
ONE APPLICATION of particular interest to
manufacturing and building industries,
and also to any company involved in
project planning, is Precedence Network
Analysis. Traditionally available on
mainframes, Claremont Controls has
brought this application to the Pet.
Hornet is a precedence-network
analysis program written for the Com-
modore 8032 computer, 8050 disc unit:
and any suitably-interfaced printer, pref-
erably with 132-column print width.
Using Hornet, complex sequences of
activities can be analysed to determine
how much delay, if any, may be tolerated
in each activity. This information can
help with the assignment of priorities on a
project, and lead to better use of
resources. An up-to-date record of work
completed may be kept, so that future
events and activities are simultaneously
rescheduled.
The program is available in four levels
Program level
‘Number of activities
Bar chart
Printer width
Actual starts/finishes
Target starts/finishes
Real run date
Shutdowns
Time-base options
User-defined sorts
Table 1 Resources
of sophistication — Hornet 1, 2, 3 and4
— which differ only in the number of
facilities offered — see table 1. It is
possible to use Hornet without being
familiar with basic precedence-network
theory, but understanding the principles
involved will probably allow more effi-
cient use of the program and lead to
more satisfactory results.
All projects are made up of sequences
of distinct activities or tasks, each of
which is dependent on other activties.
There will, therefore, be a particular
sequence in which the various activities
must be completed. In figure 1 there are
four activities A, B, C and D. Activity C
cannot possibly start until A and B have
both been completed. It is also dependent
on D, which is shorter than the total
length of A and B, and can be carried out
at the same time as A and B.
The boxes are divided into six com-
partments. The top-centre indicates the
activity reference and the bottom-centre
shows the duration of the activity. The
62
Hornet takes
the critical path
to completion
top-left and top-right compartments
show the earliest possible start and finish
dates, while the bottom-left and bottom-
right compartments show the latest
allowable start and finish dates. Any
activity which has the same early and tate
start and finish dates cannot be delayed
without extending the network complet-
ion time. Such activities are termed
critical. In figure 1, A, B and C are all
critical, but D has a “‘float’’ of 2 days.
As well as analysing simple networks,
Hornet contains several special facilities
to allow large and complicated networks
to be analysed. Apart from the normal
“end of precedent/start of successor” link
— known as link type — used in figure 1,
four other link types may be used:
Link type 1 is a “lead link”, where the start of a
successor is tied to the start of the prece-
dent, usually with a delay period built-in. It
2 3 4
512 1024 1024
yes yes yes
80/132 80/132 80/132
yes yes yes
no yes yes
no yes yes
no yes yes
no yes yes
no yes yes
no no yes
may be used where a shared resource is
necessary to start each activity, and avoids
the need to split the precedent into two
activities.
Link types 2 and 3 are “premature start’ links,
allowing a successor to start before the
precedent is complete, so that an activity
could start before transfer of a shared
resource. These two links are essentially
similar, but the delay is measured on the
precedent for type 2, and on the successor
for type 3.
Link type 4, the “lag” link, specifies that the
finish of a precedent must precede the finish
of the successor by a Specified period.
Often the lead and lag links will be used
together to represent a series of activities
which follow each other but are in part
concurrent.
Frequently the periods during which
activities can take place are prescribed by
external constraints. The package allows
the specification of such conditional start
and/or finish dates, known as “target”
dates, for individual activities. A target
constraint will not override the analysis
logic. If it is impossible to achieve a
target, it will be ignored and reported to
the output. Target dates can be used to
move individual events within their
period of float to optimise available
resources, which is particulaly powerful
when used in conjunction with the
resources module in Hornet 4.
Nearly all projects are subject to shut-
down periods, such as holidays or tem-
porary suspensions in work. The program
allows up to 32 such shutdowns to take
care of lost days in calculating start and
finish dates.and precedence delays. Since
not all activities are subject to shutdowns, |
each activity can be specified as insensi- '
tive, as required.
The analysis of a network is initially
concerned with the prediction of when
each activity must be carried out in order
to achieve the required completion date.
As the project progresses true start and
finish dates become known and may be
substituted for the estimated or predicted
dates. When these actual dates are
entered, all.other considerations for the
particular activity are overruled, and suc-
ceeding .activies are calculated from the
known date references.
The program provides a “real run
date” facility. Whenever the calculation
mode is selected, a current or analysis
date may be entered and any activities
not yet started are automatically delayed
until the current date. Activities with
both an actual start and finish date are
labelled “historic”, while activities with
only an actual start date are labelled
“working”. At any stage in the project a
feport may be produced on past perfor-
mance, future schedules, and the status of
activities which are under way.
The 40-day week
Activities of zero duration are accepted
by Hornet and handled in the same way
as normal activities. They may be used as
milestones within the network and are
useful in defining individual sub-projects
within a large network. They may also be
used to extend the number of precedents
on any one activity beyond the five
| allowed on the screen display.
The program will run under any of
three time scales, called Units, Weeks
and Calendar. The Unit scale starts from
1 and runs through to project completion.
The scale may be taken as hours, weeks
or even years. The Weeks scale offers a
weeks/days division, where the number of
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
days in a week may be defined by the
user, up to a maximum of 40 days. The
Calendar time scale works on real dates,
with a maximum of seven working days in
a week; true calendar dates are given on
all reports. A clever piece of program-
ming allows the user to switch between
any of the time scales at any time without
having to re-enter data or re-calculate.
It is therefore possible to plan a network
on a Weeks timescale, then convert it to
real dates when the start date is known.
Three types of report may be gener-
ated: Time Analysis, Bar Chart and List
of the Activity data. Each type may be
printed with the activities arranged in a
number of ways, e.g., activities with no
float first, or arranged in order of start
date, or normal numeric sequence. It is
also possible to print a range of activity
numbers — 100 to 299, for instance — or
to include only those active over a
defined period. Any combination of these
sort facilities may be used simultan-
eously.
Main menu options
Each activity is referenced by a 25-
character description as well as an activity
number. Within this description, a
“search string’’ may be defined, for selec-
tive report printing. This character string
may be.of any length and positioned
anywhere within the description field.
Whenever a report is specified it is poss-
ible to select activities on a full or partial
match with this search string, which could
be very useful if a number of individual
jobs or orders make up the complete
network.
If a simple coding is used, it is possible
to select all activities concerned with a
particular job, or a summary of all jobs,
or individual activities associated with a
particular task across all jobs. This may
be of specific interest to factory produc-
tion or office management where several
distinct jobs are active at the same time,
each at a different stage of development.
Hornet uses the same type of screen
display for all data entry. Fields are
defined within triangular brackets into
which the user may key the data. This
type of screen handling, probably origi-
nated on the Pet by Anagram Systems,
enables simple, fast data entry with a
minimum of mistakes.
As usual with Pet-based business soft-
ware, the program disc is inserted in drive
Figure 1
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
SSSSSSSSSS Scheduled activity,
non-critical.
Critical activity.
Activity with specified
actual start and
actual finish.
WWWWWWWWWW Working activity,
which has an actual
start date but no
actual finish date.
Activities are shown
as working up to real
run date.
Overrunning activity:
a critical activity
which has actual
start but no actual
finish, and should
have been completed
and is therefore
delaying project
completion.
Float for the activity.
Shutdown periods.
Target start and
finish markers,
showing exclusive
dates.
Dummy activities
which may be
overwritten by a
target finish marker.
Real run date,
printed on preceding
time unit week or
period-division
marker.
cccccccccc
AAAAAAAAAA
XXXXXXXXXX
TTT
< =
DDDDDDDDDD
Table 2
zero and the data disc in drive one, and
the program is loaded and run with one
keystroke. While the program performs
its initialisation routines it displays a
rather pretty windmill, followed by the
standard copyright information. The
main menu is then displayed, with nine
options:
@ Add Activities
@ Update Activities
@ Delete Activities
@ View Activities
@ Resource Module Menu — on Hornet 4
only
®@ Calculate Network
@ Print Network Report
@ System Status
@ Format Network Report
The top line of the screen shows, in
reverse video, the job name of the net-
work currently under analysis and the
name of the task currently being per-
formed. The bottom line, also in reverse,
gives the current status — either what the
program is doing or-what it expects you to
do, together with two reference numbers .
Pe NN Software review ——
showing the number of activities entered
into the network and: the last activity
number that was modified.
The cursor is positioned to the left of
the first menu option, and may be moved
down the screen by pressing any key.
When it is next to the required option,
this option is selected by pressing shift-
return. This method of selection is consis-
tent throughout the package, and insures
against any unintentional selections that
would otherwise waste time. Hornet 4
allows the user to interrupt any of the
calculation or printing functions by
means of the shift key, after which the
process may be continued or aborted.
Each full screen of data is entered by
the operator field by field, and checked
for validity by the system when shift-
return is pressed. If any data is incorrect
the offending entry is highlighted, and the
user is invited to correct it before continu-
ing. If a search string has been defined,
then those character positions within the
description field are underlined for ease
of identification.
Pressing Escape followed by a letter
will perform certain special functions —
for instance, A for add mode, U for
update — which makes for very fast data
entry. Both entry of new and updating of
existing activities is very straightforward,
thanks to the well thought-out screen
design and data-entry routines. Deletions
are. also possible, but are protected
against accidental erasure by the
requirement to press Escape followed by
D before any deletions can take place.
In several places throughout the pack-
age, a ‘progress bar” is displayed. It
looks rather like a horizontal thermo-
meter which indicates how far the
machine has progressed through a certain
procedure, and reassures the user that the
computer has not “died” during a long
calculation routine.
Error reports
The Calculate Network or Report
Printing options will recalculate the net-
work if the activity data has been
updated. The reports follow the format
set up by the user with the Format Net-
work Report option. If the network has
already been analysed, the user is invited
to alter the real run date if required.
The calculations are made up of four
distinct parts, each performed automati-
cally. The first stage, Data Checking,
works through the activities locating the
relevant precedent. Any activities not
found generate a detailed error message
on the printer and a note on the screen.
The second stage finds the order in which
the activities are to be calculated and
checks for logic errors in the precedence.
If a logic loop is detected, a list of all
activities that cannot be printed is pro-
duced on the printer and a note appears
on the screen. The sequence of actual
dates is also checked at this stage: if an
(continued on next page)
63
(continued from previous page)
activity has been given an actual date the
preceding activities must also have actual
dates. Errors are reported on printer and
screen.
The analysis proper then begins. It is
made up of both a forward and a back-
ward pass, to give both the early and late
start and finish dates. Once the forward
pass has been completed, the project-
completion time is displayed on the
screen. When the analysis is complete the
results are stored on disc. If report print-
ing has been selected, the reports are
then produced.
Formatting of reports is simple, and the
user may set up these parameters:
Printout Title to be printed in the heading of
the report, up to 35 characters long.
Output required. The three types of report
possible are time analysis, bar chart, and
activity data-listings. They are specified for
printing by Y for yes or N for no.
Printout Sequence. This sets the priority of the
sort criteria available — Numeric, State
date, Critical and Float — such that the first
selection is the main sort criterion. Any
activities with equal priority are sorted on
the second criterion, and so on.
Printout Range allows the user to define a
range of activity numbers to be printed from
the entire network.
String Search. If a string search has been set
up in the System Status, then activities may
be selected for printing on the basis of a full
or partial match within the defined area. of
the activity description.
Auto Paging is a simple yes/no selection for
page headings. if auto paging is selected,
the reports take care of perforations and
reprint the headings on each page, assum-
ing a 66-line page.
The System Status option from the
main menu permits the user to specify
any one of the following system-level
parameters:
Password. If a password is provided at this
stage by the user then the suite cannot be
run unless the correct password is entered.
Printer Width sets the maximum print width to
either 80 or 132 columns.
Shutdown Periods allows up to 32 shutdown
periods to be defined.
Timescale sets the timescale to be used to
Units, Weeks or Calendar.
Week Length. If either Weeks or Calendar
have been selected, this parameter sets the
number of working days per week.
Commencement Date. If Caiendar timescale
has been selected this will be entered as the
first working day of the project.
Activity Search String. This defines the posi-
tion and length of the search string within
the activity description field. When the
search string option is used, the program
allows “wild card” or “pattern matching” to
be used in the same way as the Pet DOS:
2" can be used to represent any individual
character, and “*” may be used to repres-
ent the remainder of any string.
The bar chart uses the symbols shown
in table 2, with one character represent-
ing one period unit. The activity data
printout lists all details on network
activities. The data printed is :
Software review ==
@ Activity number
@ Activity description
@ Duration
@ Non-shutdown status
@ Actual dates
@ Remaining duration
@ Target start
@ Scheduled delay
@ Preceding activities with link type and delay
Conclusions
@® The program does its job very effi-
ciently and is very easy to use.
@ The data-entry routines and screen
layouts are excellent.
@® Most businéss users will probably buy
the Hornet 3 or Hornet 4 program, as they
give the range of facilities required for the
majority of applications.
@ Hornet 1 and 2 will most likely suit
educational users, especially technical col-
leges, polytechnics and universities.
@ A resources module is available but
was not reviewed.
@ The program was a pleasure to use.
® The manual is well-written and accur-
ate.
@ Hornet provides yet another niarket-
place for the business microcomputer as a
cost-effective alternative to larger
machines.
@ Hornet 3 is priced at £990, Hornet 4 at
£1,500, and is available from Commodore
Key Dealers. Details from Roy Stephen-
son at Claremont Controls. Telephone
0669 21081. i}
Plot your data — drawings,
graphs etc.
Due to overstocking weare able
to offer at greatly reduced
prices, brand new, boxed,
Hewlett Packard A4
Plotters with IEEE 488
interface.
Compatible with
PET Commodore and
Hewlett Packard 85 computers
— (other models not tested) —
these excellent high quality A4
size Plotters offer a range of
advanced features at a genuinely
reduced price.
Write today for further details.
BIG SAVINGS
ONGRAPHICS (&c5)
PLOTTERS
Engineering Computer Services Limited,
Piccadilly, Tamworth, Staffs, B78 2ER.
Telephone (0827) 873300.
@ Circle No. 148
64 PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
Ofcom
The new, APPLE-II compatible Euro- PAL
colour microcomputer now available
ex stock £ 975;
MAIN FEATURES: excl. VAT
Compact computer with the famous 6502
CPU, APPLE-II compatible, so one can
use all the APPLE-II hardware and soft-
ware without any modification.
Many interesting features give the
PEARCOM an enormous technical lead.
Just to name a few:
— 14 VO expansion slots as standard
— On board expandable to 96 Kbyte of
RAM, 32K standard
— 6 ROM/EPROM sockets jumper
adjustable.
— Professional reed-switch keyboard
with numeric pad
— 7 Function keys
— Built-in HF modulator with HF PAL-
colour output
— Sound through TV signal and
through built-in loudspeaker
— LED indicators for the main-units
— An industrial type, 5 Amp. power-
supply
— Bus compatible with the Applesoft
Card and the Z80 Softcard from
Microsoft, which comes with CP/M
and Microsoft BASIC (optional)
PEARCOM Ltd. a : aera ote
Riverside la - Stanstead Abbotts - Ware, Herts SG12 BAP - UK pple Vomputer Anc. :
PEARCOM International Marketing & Publicity Dept.
PO Box 350 - 3720 AH Bilthoven - Tlx 70375 - Holland PEARCOM
Int. Marketing & Publicity
P.O. Box 350
3720 AH Bilthoven
VERGECOURT Ltd. (Distributor)
17 Nobel Square - Basildon - Essex SS13 1LP England - Tel. 0268-728484 - Tlx 995323
DEALER INQUIRES INVITED
o '
: : NEW ACT SIRIUS 1
Minicomputer Performance. Personal Computer Price.
16 bit processor: £2,395
ACT Sirius 1
Memory 128K -1024K
Disk Capacity 1.2Mb-10 Mb
Processor 16 bit
Operating Systems CP/M-86, MSDOS
| Languages Microsoft BASIC
Compiled BASIC
COBOL
PASCAL
FORTRAN
£2395
ACT Sirius 1 is a new generation personal
computer. Quite simply, it has no competition at the price.
It’s the first personal computer developed from the
outset for business and professional use.
It’s launched with more software than anything
before it.
It’s supported and distributed solely by ACT —
the biggest name in personal computer software.
And it’s developed by Chuck Peddle, formerly of
Commodore and generally regarded as the father of per-
sonal computing.
SOFTWARE SPELLS SUCCESS
ACT Sirius 1 has more software than any other
new personal computer:
A choice of two operating systems — CP/M-86 or
MSDOS, from Microsoft.
For Software Houses
The ACT Sirius 1 has alanguage for you. Microsoft
BASIC 80, two BASIC Compilers, two COBOLS,
PASCAL and FORTRAN.
For Applications
Wordstar, Mailmerge, Pulsar, SuperCalc and
MicroModeller — all the best sellers.
And the ACT Sirius 1 can run any software written
for CP/M — that means hundreds of specialised packages.
THE BODY IN QUESTION .
Ergonomics play a vital part in the design of ACT’s
Sirius 1.
The screen tilts and swivels to suit the user and
glare is eliminated.
The display is razor sharp; and the brilliance and
contrast can be adjusted using keys on the low-profile
detachable keyboard.
boa best price /performance ratio you've ever seen on a personal computer.
Typical Personal Typical Business
Computers Systems
32K-64K 48K -256K
140K-1Mb 1.2Mb-10 Mb
8 bit 8 bit
CP/M or Machine Specific | Usually Machine Specific
Microsoft BASIC BASIC and perhaps
perhaps one or two one or two others
others, eg PASCAL
£1800- £3000 £4500- £8500
STAYING OUT IN FRONT
The ACT Sirius 1 is designed to keep you out in
front. Winchesters, networks, multi-user facilities and
colour graphics are all scheduled during the next twelve
months. And all at the same record-breaking price levels
of the ACT Sirius 1.
SEEING IS BELIEVING
The ACT Sirius 1 goes through the most
exhaustive quality control process of any microcomputer
— including the much vaunted Japanese products.
ACT Sirius 1 has been successfully operating in
testing field trials for over 6 months already. And now it’s
at your nearest ACT Dealer — ready to revolutionise your
ideas on personal computers.
Clip the coupon for literature. Better still, call
David Low now on the hot line 021-454 8585, get the
name of your nearest dealer and see a demonstration as
soon as you can — because seeing is believing.
PC4
To: ACT (Microsoft) Ltd, FREEPOST,
Birmingham B16 8BR.
|__| Please send a brochure and name of my nearest dealer
I am interested in dealership — send the dealer pack
and ask your sales director to contact me.
Name
Position
Company_
Address
Telephone
ACT wo.1 in Total caWipulling:
@ Circle No. 150 67
The DAI Personal Computer is
‘High Performance:
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Standard Features
24k Resident High-Speed Basic
16 Colour High-Resolution Graphics (255 x 335)
Scrolling Screen Editor
Sound Commands for Music Generation
Very High Speed Hardware Maths Option
Resident Monitor for Machine Language Programming
3 Programmable Parallel Ports |
Standard TV Interface via Aerial Socket -
RS232 Serial Port and Dual Cassette Interfaces i‘
Manufactured by: Available from: 7,
D AT Data Applications LU}uid. 7 J
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Personal Computer Division yr os va“
THE 16b Dyer Street wf | A J
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@Circle No. 152 79
Computer-aided design techniques are already well established as tools for
Computer methods are now poised to move out of the drawing office to take
This CAD has plans
THERE |S MORE to computer-aided design
than meets the eye. This dynamic,
fastest-growing sector of the computer
industry heralds a total change for the
industrial world. Senior management in
every company that manufactures some-
thing had better take notice of CAD: to
ignore it will be akin to having ignored
the Industrial Revolution of the last cen-
tury.
CAD is not simply an aid in the rela-
tively simple task of producing an
engineering or architectural drawing. It
is an electronic medium in its own right
which is fast, intelligent and interactive.
Blueprints — diagrams on paper — are a
medium which belongs to an earlier age.
Uncomfortable transition
For the moment, we are stuck in the
uncomfortable period of transition.
Manufacturers are still geared to basing
their product on familiar and reassuring
“working diagrams”. They lie around the
office or factory, constant and visible
proof that work is in progress.
Even when the new oil refinery is on
stream or when that neat little extension
| to the clubhouse is completed, then the
builder makes yet another set of drawings
— what the Americans call “as-builts” —
to act as a guide for repairs and mainten-
ance. Drawings have been around in one
form or another for 20,000 years, but
now, suddenly, they are not at all essen-
| tial.
rn
70
CAD systems must be able to handle all the relevant design information.
for factories
of the future
The most far-sighted people in the
computer-graphics industry are aware
that the present craze for hard-copy
devices — printers and plotters — is but a
passing phase along the road to total
automation. The destination is the com-
pletely integrated factory in which the
process of design and manufacturing is a
single task. Karl Marx and his concept of
the division of labour — an accurate
analysis in its time — will be finally
discredited as computers and robots team
up to create all the necessary products of
the future.
This vision is not mere science fiction.
In the United States they already have a
by John Lewell
name and an acronym for it: computer-
integrated manufacturing or CIM. It is
the next step beyond CAD/CAM —
| computer-aided design and manufactur-
ing. Just as we are getting used to the idea
of CAD/CAM, at least to the extent of
understanding what the initials stand for,
along comes CIM. You can be sure that it-
is coming because it is market forces
which provide the motivation for the
change. :
The keys to economic survival are
efficiency, competitiveness and product-
ivity. The world’s population is expected
to double and treble before it finally
stabilises, and the emphasis will be placed
on the most efficient uses of energy and
materials. Our present use of resources is
so wasteful because industry is not organ-
ised on a rational basis. Under the influ-
ence of those same market forces it has
evolved like a Gothic cathedral, each
generation tacking on its own contrib-
ution.
Now the time has arrived when in-
dustry has to increase its efficiency and
productivity. It can do it only by the
complete integration of computers into
the industrial process. Piecemeal
computerisation will not work in the long
run. If you streamline one part of the
Operation, then you tend to create a
bottleneck somewhere else. To get rid of
the bottleneck you have to use a compu-
ter.
Everyone who has used a computer for
even a simple task realises the impor-
tance of understanding the process which
is being computerised. When a system
has been analysed rationally, you may
find that you do not need a computer at
all. Yet no individual can keep in mind
every one of the millions of operations
that go on in a factory and so the best,
simplest, the most rational manufacturing
solution can never be achieved. What is
needed is integration, and this will be the
keyword to the future.
Agent provocateur
Why is CAD proving to be the agent
provocateur in this leap towards the
future? After all, industry has been using
computers for years. So far, word
processing, payroll accounting and even
numerical control have not provoked a
total rethink of how to run an entire
manufacturing process.
The reason is simply that design is an
“upstream” operation, whereas those
parts of a business which are often the
first to be computer-assisted are mainly
“downstream” operations. Word process-
ing is downstream of management
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
design engineers, yet they are still far from having reached their full potential.
charge of the average factory’s entire design and manufacturing process.
instructions. Invoicing is done after you
have made and delivered the product.
Payroll is the most downstream operation
of all: everyone is paid in arrears. But this
downstream computerisation does not
have a knock-on effect. It does not neces-
sarily force us to make other changes.
CAD, by contrast, does.
Frank Lloyd Wright was one of
America’s greatest architects, yet some of
his greatest buildings were designed on
the back of an envelope. He and his
sophisticated, so the number of visual
representations increases. For
instance, with a model of the human body
a display might one day be able to show
the skeleton, or perhaps the nervous sys-
tem, or the blood circulation, or the
familiar skin-covered figure itself. More
easily displayed with current technologies
are engineering designs which involve
structural, electrical. piping or instrument-
ation models. All these models are
related to each other. You cannot change
assistants would fill in the details later on,
in the conventional way. The design took
shape in Frank Lloyd Wright’s head. It
was a synthesis of experience, of know-
ledge of materials, of the environment
and of architectural forms. More than.
that, it also contained the vital element of
originality. A Frank Lloyd Wright build-
ing had all the elements of good design.
Being an exceptional sort of man,
Wright did not spend much time develop-
ing his concepts diagrammatically. The
model was in his head. The secret of
design is in conceiving the model, and not
at all in making a representation of the
model on, for instance, a piece of paper.
The essence of CAD is in the creation
of the model. If computers are going to
be really useful in assisting us with
designs then they have to assume the role
of Frank Lloyd Wright’s head.
The computer has to contain the
model. Where else could you put it? On
paper? That would be far too complex. In
our own heads? We are notall Frank Lloyd
Wright, andthe designcapability ofevenhis
brain would not be sufficient for a high-
technology product, such as acar or aspace
shuttle. The machine hastobe programmed
with all the relevant information about the
properties of materials, about the envir-
onmentin whicha productwill be used, with
appropriate marketing information — not
to mention a whole library of existing
designs.
Graphics are one of the windows into
the model. They are a communications
link which provides a visual representation
of it. As graphics displays become more
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
A typical stand-alone system is based on a minicomputer with VDU and plotter.
one without changing the others. The
great advantage of CAD is that the com-
puter can be programmed to make many
of the changes automatically, and to warn
you if something is not possible. The
truth of my opening statement should
now be apparent. There is, literally, more
to CAD than meets the eye.
Graphics displays
Nevertheless, for the time being, CAD
is mainly concerned with producing
diagrams. Early graphics displays could
show only the outlines of objects, conve-
niently echoing the tradition of engineer-
ing drawings. This does not necessarily
mean that vector displays, or even draw-
ings themselves, will be with us forever.
In the last two years, raster displays have
made great strides, bringing with them all
the benefits of full colour and fully-
shaded surfaces. They point us in a new
direction: the computer model itself need
not be related to ‘‘wire-frame” drawings
at all.
Much of what passes for computer-
aided design would be better described as
computer-aided drafting. By the time the
operator sits down at the terminal most of
the work has already been done. A deci-
sion has been made to build a particular
product, the shape and function of which
is largely known. The CAD system is
used to tidy up the details, put in all the
symbols, put lettering in the right places,
and then to print out sets of isometric and
orthographic drawings.
Operators can, of course, refine and
modify the designs. With a stroke of the
pen you can magnify, rotate or move the
image — or any part of it — and make
additions and improvements. Using the
keyboard you can type in facts and fig-
ures, descriptions and dimensions. You
can ask the system to automatically
retrieve the previous drawings, and there
is always an instant library of symbols at
your command, ready to be pasted into
any position on the screen.
Even when it is being used as a high-
class drafting aid or as an expensive
“ideas pad” the average CAD system is
an effective and impressive tool. Shortly
after it is installed, senior company men
will murmur approvingly about high pro-
ductivity ratios — that is to say: how |
much more work is being done as a-result
of using the new toy. It is not unusual to
find that the work is completed in a
fraction of the time. A piping diagram
may have a 2:1 ratio, a mechanical diag-
ram 4:1, an instrument diagram 5:1, and
others may be even higher.
The bottleneck
What used to take a week to design on
paper may take only a couple of hours
with a little help from your friendly com-
puter. Suddenly, the rest of the manufac-
turing process seems to be abysmally
lethargic. The whole factory has become
one long bottleneck. At this point, CAD
has to be extended to CAD/CAM. A
design is created with computer assist-
ance, then the computer automatically
instructs the machine-tools to start turn-
ing out the new product.
Those companies that have already
made a heavy investment in CAD/CAM
are beginning to reap the rewards:
indeed, many of them could not survive
without it. In the United States pafticu-
larly, there is such a shortage of fully-
trained design staff that it would be
impossible to handle a large defence con-
tract without CAD. Automated manufac-
turing carries the process one stage
further as components are produced with
only a fraction of the highly-paid work-
force which was previously needed. The
time between design and production
shrinks dramatically, while last-minute
changes can be made without escalating
cost.
Best answer
CAD/CAM is seen in the United States
as being the best answer to the Japanese
lead in manufacturing techniques. At
present still in its early stages, CAD/
CAM usually means that the computer
design station has been linked up to some
numerical-control machinery. The
machine-tools are placed under the con-
trol of punched tape which comes directly
from the designers. Though this is a leap
(continued on next page)
71
(continued from previous page)
forward, it is still a long way from the goal
of CIM, where all the operations of the
factory are plugged into a common
database.
CAD/CAM not only provides
increased productivity, there is often an
outstanding increase in product quality as
well. Machine-tool paths are generated
more quickly and more accurately. The
numerical-control programmer no longer
has the task of making hundreds of
error-prone calculations in specifying
tool path motions, and is provided with a
visual feedback guide at each stage.
Product testing
Other benefits include the ability to
test a product before it has been man-
ufactured. CAD deals with a model
rather than an image, and models can
simulate processes. This is particularly
useful when physical tests might be
dangerous or impractical. Much has been
learned from flight-simulation techniques
— which are now so advanced that in
some countries an airline pilot can
theoretically qualify for a licence without
setting foot in a real plane. Trucks and
cars can be tested in simulated bad
weather conditions while many design
variants are tried out in order to find the
best solution.
Introducing CAD into a company usu-
ally implies a long-term commitment to
CAD/CAM. A _ good example is the
Hughes Tool company which manufac-
tures equipment for the drilling industry.
CAD has already helped to give Hughes
Tool a competitive edge by halving the
time needed to design a new product. A
single designer, using a CAD system, can
now produce a design for a new rock-
drilling bit in under two weeks. It is an
industry in which speed is essential,
because drilling bits are often custom-
made to cope with a specific problem
which a drilling team has just encoun-
tered on site. Work is held up until the
new bit arrives. Using an Applicon
special-purpose graphics computer,
Hughes Tool’s designers in Houston,
Texas maintained their lead in the mar-
ket. Once the CAD system was working
successfully the company was able to
extend the program to include design
analysis and structural analysis- — the
next steps along the road to CIM.
First steps
A company’s first step in CAD might
be to use a service bureau to produce
some of the routine drawings. Royal
Graphics of San Francisco and Houston is
one such bureau, and has grown dramat-
ically since introducing computer graph-
ics in 1970. Most of its clients are
architects. Using a Calma system. with
standard software and specially-written
subroutines, Royal Graphics produces
more than 1.000 drawings a month.
Over the years a vast library of symbols
72
has been created which can be slotted
into the design. Architects can be pro-
vided with data such as the gross area or
the gross volume of a building. Instant
tile-count or brick-count can also save
the client time and effort. With an 80
percent annual growth rate — and no
CAD sales force — Royal Graphics
proves that the bureau service is in
demand.
After using a bureau and becoming
familiar with the new techniques, a com-
pany may want to buy a CAD system to
use in-house. The simplest approach is to
buy a turnkey system from a manufac-
turer such as Computervision, Calma,
Auto-trol, Applicon or Summagraphics.
These companies, and others like them,
will specify and deliver a complete, pack-
aged system to meet your needs. Full
training for the operators is supplied
along with the equipment and software,
no previous experience of computers is
necessary.
A typical CAD system is modular,
allowing you to add to it as your needs
change. A stand-alone system would
include a minicomputer and mass storage
with its system software. The work station
consists of a digitiser. a graphics
tablet, a function keyboard, an alpha-
numeric keyboard, and a VDU. An
appropriate hard-copy device such as a
flatbed plotter will be linked to the
system. Larger systems may have extra
output devices such asa film recorder oran
electrostatic plotter. Several additional
work stations can often be supported by
One central-processing facility. Individual
users can create their own design data-
bases ona single system while each person
works on a different project.
Interesting art-form
The design of CAD work stations is an
interesting art-form in itself. Operators
have to spend many hours at a time at the
work stations and it is very important that
it should be as comfortable as possible.
Once they have tried it, most designers
prefer using a computer to working with
passive instruments. The constant
interaction usually increases concen-
tration.
There has been a steady stream of
innovations in work-station design. For
example, Calma Corporation was the first
manufacturer to introduce a voice-
control unit. The operator wears a head-
set with a lightweight microphone
attachment, which provides up to 50
functions under voice control. These can
include commands such as Zoom, Pan,
Multiple View, or Composite Image —
all achieved without a keyboard, pen or
menu. Calma claims a 99.8 percent accu-
racy rate for the input commands, and the
technique reduces eye movements and
achieves a faster operational speed.
Another graphics company, Genisco,
has produced a three-dimensional display
called Spacegraph. On this system you
Design ===
can actually see the model suspended in
space, so that it looks like a real object
rather than an image; for this three-
dimensional effect you do not even have
to wear special spectacles.
Once it has been decided to use CAD,
one of the first questions to ask is
whether you need a customised system or
a general-purpose system. The fastest-
growing segment of the CAD industry is
in providing general-purpose systems,
though purpose-built systems may still be
the best buy for some users, particularly
for firms with printed-circuit designers on
the staff.
Building your own CAD system to
cope with exacting specialised work —
such as printed-circuit board design —
can give you an increased throughput of
work. Britain has many small system
houses which could design a purpose-
built CAD system.
Industry boom
Outside consultants can frequently be
helpful. In the computer-graphics world
there are two sorts of consultant: general-
ists and specialists. A good generalist who
knows the industry can save a client a
considerable sum of money. New products
come on to the market almost daily
- this is a booming industry. Your con-
sultant should establish a broad picture of
what you are trying to achieve, and point
you towards specialists or to appropriate
manufacturers. Since CAD demonstra-
tions tend to be somewhat lengthy, and
manufacturers are scattered round the
country, ‘‘shopping around” can be
time-consuming and expensive.
A complete, self-contained turnkey
system for professional designers costs
between £20,000 and £500,000 and there
are some signs that the minimum price
will come down this year. In 1981, Ram-
tek, the market leader in raster displays,
launched a desk-top terminal in the U.S.
at just under $6,000.
The micro future
It will be a few years befote micro-
computers have the speed and memory
capacity to cope with the millions of
calculations needed in a useful graphics
display. Personal computers can produce
interesting and colourful presentation
graphics, but they are not yet serious
contenders in the professional design mar-
ket. They are, however. ideal training tools,
since many of the techniques used in the
larger systems can be performed by a micro
— but without the speed and resolution
which are necessary in most desigri tasks.
Computer-aided design is not a
panacea for all the problems of ailing
manufacturing industries. What the plan-
ned introduction of CAD can do is to help
many engineering and architectural firms
to increase their productivity and reduce
their costs. All companies in these areas
should at least take a look at CAD and
evaluate its usefulness. Q
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
Beelines
vic
a 40 column display with
32K of extra RAM as ‘well!
your
The Colour Writer VIC Expansion gives you the most
cost effective way of expanding your VIC to 35K AND
we give you the added bonus of a 40 Column display
free of charge. Now you can have the luxury of a
32K Pet AND Colour to enhance your programs. The
Colour screen consists of 960 characters in a40 column
by 24 row layout (to Viewdata standard) with the 25th
line for status information. The programmable features
include 7 foreground and background colours,
flashing, double height characters, block graphics and
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PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
for 3D disp
THE PROCESSES of defining, storing,
manipulating, interrogating and finally
outputting pictorial information are the
essence of computer graphics. The graph-
ics operation is essentially passive, and
the observer has no direct control over
the picture being presented. Interactive
graphics also use the computer to prepare
and present pictorial information, while
allowing the user to influence the picture
as it is being prepared.
From the user’s point of view, com-
puter graphics can be divided into the
following areas:
@ Representing pictures to be presented.
@ Preparing pictures for representation.
@ Presenting previously prepared pictures.
® Interacting with the picture.
The word “picture” is used in its
broadest sense to mean any collection of
lines, points, text, etc., to be displayed on
a graphics device. It may be anything
from a line to a fully-scaled repre-
sentation of an aircraft, ship, or building.
Textual material
Pictures represented in computer
graphics can be considered as a collection
of lines, points, and textual material. A
line can be represented by the co-
ordinates of its end points X,, Y,, Z, and
Xe, Yo, Z,, a point by a single co-ordinate
triplet X,, Y,, Z,, and textual material by
collections of lines or points.
A series of points, each of which is a
position vector relative to a local
co-ordinate system, may be stored in a
computer as a matrix of numbers. The
position of these points can be controlled
by manipulating the matrix which defines
the points. Appropriate computer hard-
ware or software can be used to generate
lines, curves or pictures as- output.
Pictures ultimately consist of points
whose co-ordinates are stored in a file —
an array — prior to being used to present
the picture. This file is called a database.
Very complex pictures require corres-
pondingly complex databases and a com-
plex program to access them. These
databases may involve ring structures,
tree structures, etc., and may contain
points, substructures, and other non-
graphic data.
Figure 1. Windowing techniques.
Line partially within window:
part from a-b displayed,
part trom b-c not displayed
ine entirely within window:
entire tine dieptayed
Line entirely outside
af window:
not displayed
Line partially within
window: part fram b-c¢
displayed; parts s—-b,
c —d not displayed
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
Interactive displays are
available through arithmetic
operations on the graphics
database. R S Khaira provides
the transformations on which
to base your graphics
algorithms.
Points are the basic building blocks of a
graphic database. There are three basic
methods or instructions for treating a
point as a graphic geometric entity:
@ Move the beam, pen, cursor, plotting head
to the point.
@ Draw a line to that point.
@ Draw a dot at that point.
The best way to specify the position of
a point is to: use homogeneous co-
ordinates in which an N-dimensional
space is represented by N+1 dimensions.
If the position of a point in three dimen-
sions is given by the triplet X, Y, Z, it is
represented by four co-ordinates hX, hY,
hZ, h, where h is an arbitrary number.
A database used to prepare the picture
for representation is hardly ever the same
as the display file used to present the
picture. The database represents the total
picture, while the display file represents
only some position, view, or part of the
picture. The display file is created by
transforming the database.
The picture contained in the database
may be resized, rotated, translated,
partially removed, or viewed from a par-
ticular point to obtain necessary perspec-
tive before being displayed. Many of
these operations can be accomplished by
using simple linear transformations
involving matrix multiplications. Among
these are rotation, translation, scaling,
perspective and stereoscopic views.
Homogeneous co-ordinates are very con-
venient for accomplishing these trans-
formations.
A four-by-four matrix can be used to
perform any of these individual transfor-
mations on points represented as a matrix
in homogeneous co-ordinates. When a
sequence of transformations is desired,
each individual transformation can be
sequentially applied to the points to
achieve the desired result. If, however
the number of points is large, this is
inefficient and time-consuming.
An alternative method is to multiply
together the individual matrices repres-
enting each required transformation and
then to finally multiply the matrix of
points by the resulting four-by-four trans-
formation matrix. This matrix operation
is called concatenation and saves a signif-
icant amount of time when performing
compound matrix operations on sets of
data points.
In some graphics applications the com-
plete database is displayed, but fre-
quently only portions of the database are
needed. This process of displaying only a
part of the complete picture database is
called “windowing”. It is not easy to
achieve, particularly if the picture data-
base has been transformed.
In general there are two types of win-
dowing — clipping and scissoring. Clip-
ping involves determining which lines or
portions of lines in the picture hie outside
the window — see figure 1. Those lines or
portions of lines are then discarded and
not displayed. In the scissoring technique,
which is not used here, the display device
has a larger physical drawing space than
is required.
In two dimensions, a window is
specified by values for the left, right, top
and bottom edges of a rectangle. Clipping
is easiest if the edges of the rectangle are
parallel to the co-ordinate axes. When
this is not the case, the rotation of the
window can be compensated for by rotat-
ing the database in the opposite direction.
The final step
’' As a final step in the picture
presentation process it is necessary to
convert from the co-ordinates used in the
picture database, called user co-
ordinates, to those used by the display
device, called display co-ordinates. In
particular, it is necessary to convert co-
ordinate data which passes the window-
ing process into display co-ordinates such
that the picture appears in some specified
area on the display, called a viewport.
The viewport can be specified by giving
its left, right, top and bottom edges if
two-dimensional, and if three-
dimensional by specifying a near and far
boundary too. In the most general case.
conversion to display co-ordinates within
a specified three-dimensional viewport
requires a linear mapping from a six-
sided frustum of vision to a six-sided
viewport.
To interact with the picture you need
some type of interactive device to com-
municate with the program while it is
running. In effect this interrupts the pro-
gram so that new or different information
can be used to accomplish the task. The
simplest is, of course, the alpha-numeric
keyboard. More sophisticated devices
(continued on next page)
77
Qanht
lation
lays
(continued from previous page)
include light pens, joysticks, and so on.
The ability to represent,or display a
three-dimensional object is fundamental
to the understanding of the shape of that
object. Furthermore, the ability to rotate,
translate, and project views of that object
is also, in many cases, fundamental to the
understanding of its shape.
This is easily demonstrated by picking
up a relatively complex, unfamiliar
object. You naturally rotate it, hold it at
arm’s length, stand back from it, etc., in
order to obtain an understanding of its
shape.
To do this with a computer we must
introduce an analysis of the shape in
three dimensions, and we immediately
introduce homogeneous co-ordinates.
Hence a point in three-dimensional space
[x y z] is represented by a four-
dimensional position vector [x y z I] or
[X Y Z H]. Again the transformation
from homogeneous co-ordinates to
ordinary co-ordinates is given by
(X Y ZH) = [x yz t] *T
and [x' y' 2’ I] =
a
HH a
where T is some transformation matrix
and x’, y’, and z' are the transformed
co-ordinates,
The generalised four-by-four trans-
formation matrix for three-dimensional
homogeneous co-ordinates is
id
Teh ij cr
| mons
It can be partitioned into four separate
sections:
i}
The three-by-three matrix produces a
linear transformation in the form of
scaling, shearing, and rotation. A linear
transformation is one which transforms
an initial linear combination of vectors
into the same linear combination of trans-
formed vectors. The one-by-three row
matrix produces translation and the
three-by-one column matrix produces
perspective transformation. The final
Figure 3. Three-dimensional rotation.
78
NNNNOOCDOO
WOWOOWWOO
-O-0=+0-0
aot ett ooo
900s
—~-43=4340000
—==4=900-4=0o00
"=0O0-0-~0-0
eh eh eth eth et kt
Figure 2. Rescaling a parallelepiped.
single-element matrix produces overall
scaling.
The total transformation obtained by
operating on a position vector with the
four-by-four matrix and normalising the
transformed vector is called a bilinear
transformation. It gives a combination of
shearing
local scaling
overall scaling
rotation
reflection
translation
perspective
The diagonal terms of the general
four-by-four transformation matrix pro-
duce local and overall scaling. The
product
Ixy z1] x [a000]= fax ey jz 1} =[x’ y’ 2’ 1]
0e00
00j0
0.001]
Which shows the local scaling effect.
Figure 2a shows a parallelepiped rescaled
as a unit cube. Overall scaling is obtained
by using the fourth diagonal element, i.e.,
Ixyz1]x[1000]=[xyzs]
0100 |= [x’ EN
0010 |= [XY 21
o00s} =S=
This effect is shown in figure 2b.
If the determinant of the three-by-
three component matrix is +1, then it
produces a pure rotation about the origin.
Before considering the general case of
three-dimensional rotation about an
arbitrary axis, consider several special
cases. j
In a right-handed co-ordinate system, a
| point may be rotated clockwise by
degrees around the x axis by
~“OUNMOODLY
A|0O 0
Bj0 0
cjo 1
D/O 1
E|1 0
Fala) 10:
G|1 1
1111
Oso om oS)
ee et et et ot
NNNNHOOCCOSO
NNOONNOOSO
NONONONO
=
y =ycos@+zsin@
Z cos 6—y sin @
ie., the x-dimensions do not change.
Thus the transformation matrix will have |
zeros in the first row and first column,
except for unity on the main diagonal.
The transformation matrix for rotation
around the x-axis is
T=f1 © (en) |
0 cos @ sing 0
0 -sin @cos 6 0
0 oO 0 1
Rotation is assumed to be positive in a
right-hand sense as you look from the
origin outward along the axis of rotation.
Figure 3a shows a —90° rotation about
the x-axis.
Rotation about the y-axis is carried out
by x’ = x cos 6— z sin @
Mia 2Y:
z’'=2zcosé+xsiné
In this case zeros appear in the second
Tow and second column of the trans-
formation matrix, except for unity on the
main diagonal. The complete matrix is
T= ie 60. -sin@e ¢]
0 0
0 1
‘ee 0 cosé@ “|
0 0 0 1
Figure 3b shows a rotation about the
y-axis.
Rotation about the z-axis is carried out
by
x cos 6+ y sin 6
<
oi
y cos @— x sin 6
2 =2
The complete transformation matrix is {
T=[cos@ sin@ 0 O
-sin@cos@ 0 0
0 0 1 0
0 0 Oo #61
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
’ Some orientations of a_ three-
dimensional object require reflections. In
three dimensions the simplest reflections
occur through a plane. For a rigid body
‘the determinant of the reflection trans-
formation will be —1.
In a reflection through the xy-plane,
only the z-co-ordinate values of the
position vectors of the object will be
changed: in fact they will be reversed in
sign. Thus the transformation matrix for a
reflection through the xy-plane is
T=fl." oO 6
Om 0 FO
Q@ @ =) 7%
6 0 ® 0
The reflection of a unit cube through the
xy-plane is shown in figure 4.
For a reflection through the yz-plane
T=Fio oOo 0O
Oot oO 10
OO 0
O10 OF
and for a reflection through the xz-plane
T= © 0 0
G =)" Q ©
@ (0) hme fa
0.07 0) 1
Three-dimensional translation is
obtained by writing
KYZH]=yz1]f1
0
0
3-00
=oO0°0
When expanded this yields
[X ¥ ZH] = [(n + |) (y + m) (z + n)1)
<2 CHRS C12) oe
SCALE OPTION. *
-amNmoow>r
NODA = ot oe
ao4wo32=0+40
NNN A + = — =!
-=o-080-0
NNA=sANNH AS
<A Saeki k enon a
Figure 4. Three-dimensional reflection.
It follows that
Sgt =
=e er
mY p
eat y+m
“je,
veaqazton
The procedure for rotations about an
abritary axis is to translate the object and
the desired axis of rotation so that the
rotation is made about an axis passing
through the origin of the co-ordinate
system. The method involves a three-
dimensional translation, a rotation about
the origin, and a translation back to the
GOTO 3166
REM 2 AXIS ROTATION
TC1,13=TC2,2)
Té2,2)=COS<T2>)
Graphic =
initial position. If the axis about which
rotation is desired passes through the
point
=[Imn 1]
then the form of the transformation
matrix is
i O10) 6
O19 0)..0)
[IXYZH] = [kyz1]x Bee aan
—-! —m—n 1
1000
0100
<1 Tone tuo
(mn1
where the elements in the four x four
rotation matrix R are, in general, given
by matrix A. The generalised three-
dimensional rotation is a very important
capability. A derivation for determining
the elements of the rotation matrix R is
given by Rogers and Adams in chapter 3
of their book.
Non-zero elements in the first three
rows of the last column of the four-by-
four transformation matrix yield a per-
spective transformation. A perspective
projection is obtained by concatenation
of a perspective transformation followed
by a projection on to a two-dimensional
viewing plane. A perspective projection
is given by the transformation
[XY ZH] = [xyz1]
ooo =
oo=+-0
fo Wo me (eo)
-=a7 O90
= [x y 0 (rz+1)]
(continued on next page)
GOSUB 9000:REM SETS F3,4,L3,4
INPUT "X-STRECHING FACTOR"; A
INPUT ""-STRECHING FACTOR" ;E
INPUT "2-STRECHING FACTOR") J1
INPUT "OVERALL SCALIHG FACTOR";S
GOSUB 3508: REM ZEROIZE T<¢4x4)
FOR I=F4 TO L4 FOR I=1 T
UCT, 19=KCI) (UCI, 2)=¥C1) FOR J=1 TO 4
UCL. 39=Z¢1) SUKI, 4>=1 530 TC
I,J>
NEXT J:
: TC2,2) = E (3,32 =
RETURN
GOSUB 3500: co MATRIX UsT
FOR I=F4 TOL
MCD) =VCLL Vel 4)
VCD HEVCI,2)7V¢1,4)
ZC1=¥C1,39/¥ 01,4) NEXT I
GOTO See
REN. ROTATE
REM
T(1,2)=SIN(T2)
TC2,1)#-T¢1,2)
GOTO 3166
REM ZEROIZE THE T(4X4) MATRIX
04
=6
NEXT I
REM AH SUBROUTINE WHICH READS IN
REM S$ AND FINDS IT IN NSCSHAPES>
REM IT SETS F3-L3¢RANGE UF LINES>
REM AND L3-L4¢THE RANGE OF POINTS)
INFUT"NAME CF SHAPE OR @ FOR ALL"; St
IF S#="@" Melee 9416
FOR I=1 TO N7-
IF S#=NSCI) THEN 9168
NEXT I
?"NO SUCH SHAPE" GOTO 9916
F3=FCID = LS=tCID
REM SEARCH L1,L2 FOR RANGE F4-L4
F4=32006 : L4=-
FOR I=F3 TO L3
[F L1¢1,1)<F4 THEN F4=L1¢1,1)
IF L1¢1.2)<F4 THEN F4=Li¢1.2)
IF Li¢1,1)>L4 THEN L4=L1¢1,1)
IF L1¢1.2)>L4 THEN L4=Li¢1.2>
ROTATE OPTION.
‘GOSUE 9000 : REM SETS F3,4,L3,4
INPUT “ROTATION ANGLE": T1
T2=11/57.2957795
2"WHICH AXIS OF ROTATION ¢X,4,Z)
INPUT Es
GOSUB 35@@ : REN ZEROIZE (4x4)
IF BE = "X" THEN 3200
IF Bf = "Vv" THEH 3300
IF Bf = "2" THEN 3400
2"NO SUCH AXIS
GOTO 3040
FOR I=F4 TO L4
UCL, I=XC1) UCL, 29=¥C1)
UCT, 3)=Z¢1) :UCI, 49-1
NEXT I
GOSUB 95@0 : REM MATRIX V=UtT
FOR I=F4 TO L4
KCID=¥CL, 19 YCD=AVCL, 29: 20D =¥C1.3)
NEXT I
GOTO Sea
REM ¥-AXIS ROTATION
TC1,1)=1°TC4,4)51
163, 3=COS¢T2} 'T(2,29=1¢3,3)
Té2,3)=SINCT2
1(3,2)2-T(2, 3
GOTO 3140
REM Y-AXIS ROTATION
TC1, 1)=COS<T2) :T¢3,395TC1, 1)
13, 1=SINCTZ)
TC1,39=-T¢3) 1)
T(2.2)=1:T64,.4)=1
TRY AGAIN"
GOTO 9016,
NEXT I
IF F4=3260@ OR L4=-1 THEN ?"POINTS ERROR"
RETURN
> L3=N8-1 L4=N9-1
MATRIX MULTIPLICATION
MH ALL FOINTS FROM F4 TO L4
M ARE MULTIFLIED BY THE MATRIX
CALLED T(4X%4), INTO YCF4TOL4>
; I=F4 TO L4
K=1 TO 4
J=1 TO 4
A= AFUCT, DI*TCILKD
=a
NEXT K
RETURN
EHD
NEXT I
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982 79
(continued from previous page)
The ordinary transformed co-ordinates
are then
ad
I
a
=
N
o+
N
il
4
i
X|N I]< =|x
i
=
N
+
_
The geometrical effect of this transforma-
tion can be indicated with the aid of
Figure 5.
The non-transformed point P is trans-
formed to P' by the above operation with
= Ik. In figure 5 the centre of pro-
jection is located at [0 0 —K] and the
plane of projection is z = 0. Since this
operation produces no translation, the
origin is unchanged and the xy- and x’y’-
co-ordinates share the same origin. By
using the similar triangles shown in figure
5 it follows that
x x
Kk (z+k)
Considering the yz-plane in a similar
manner gives
or x’ = x/(Z+1)
; z
Fawhg*)
These are the transformed co-ordinates
produced by the matrix operation with r
= Vk. This operation produces a perspec-
tive projection on the z = 0 plane from a
centre of projection located at z = —k.
Perspective can help distinguish the
ambiguous interpretations of a wire-
frame drawing. In some cases it helps to
exaggerate the perspective, equivalent to
distorting the objects, though the
distortion may have undesirable side-
effects.
Once an object has been transformed
to a desired position, many techniques
can be used to display it. Shading, colour-
ing, etc., are frequently device-
dependent, while other methods such as
hidden-line removal and clipping can be
accomplished in either software or hard-
ware.
Stereo pairs can be used to create an
illusion of depth in place of hidden-line
removal. In a stereographic projection, a
x
Plane of projection
Figure 6. Stereographic perspective.
Rotation matrix R.
n,?+(1—n,?)cosé
Re n,n,(1—cosé)—n,sin@
n,n,(1—cos@)+n,siné
0
80
n,n(1—cos@)+n,sine
n?+(1—n2?)cosé
n,n3(1+cosé)—n,sine
Center of projection
Figure 5. Perspective transformation.
Separate perspective view must be
created for each eye. A stereo viewer is
then used to view the apparent single
three-dimensional object. For a human
with average eyesight, the strongest
stereo effect occurs at a distance of about
50cm. in front of the eyes. Thus for an
eye separation of 5cm, the stereo angle is
€ = tan~"(5/50) = 5-71°.
For a stereo viewer, let d be the scaled
separation distance between the eyes —
see figure 6. If the viewer has a focal
length of k units, then the value of d is
fixed by the requirement
tan-'(d/k) = 5-71°
so d must equal k/10 to maintain the
correct stereo angle e.
To obtain this scaled eye-separation
distance from a single view of the object,
a +d/2 = +k/20 horizontal translation is
performed before creating the right-eye
view. To create a stereo pair, the matrix
containing the new position vectors is
Sates a by use of the two matrices:
right eye
; 0
1
ce)
3 Q ° —1/k
W/20 0 O -/200 0 0
which create two separate perspective
views, one for the left eye and one for the
right eye.
At this intermediate step the left-eye
view is to the right of the origin, and the
right-eye view is to the left, as shown in
figure 7. The last operation is to separate
the two perspective views by the proper
distance along the x-axis in order to place
each view directly in front of the proper
eye.
1 e a7 0
QO Oe)
OsO” 0 om
n,n3(1—cosé)—n,sin@
n2n3(1 —cosé)+n,sing
n3*?+(1—n3?)cosé
0 0
Graphics™===
In figure 7, (x)g is the average value
between the largest and smallest value of
x'n; (xt is the average value between the
largest and smallest value of x’,. If D =
/ (x): —(x)g- then the value of D must be
calculated by searching the normalised
x'-values of each perspective view. A
final horizontal translation in the
x-direction of
L = D+ (E-Dy2
for the right-eye view, and —L for the
left-eye view places the stereo pair in the |
proper position.
The value of E is the actual eye-
separation distance for the human
observer, measured in the scale of the
output device. For example, if the final
points for the left-eye view fall between
—4sx,'s-2,
and the final points for the right-eye view
fall between
2s x'p=4,
then you might choose to plot these two
views on a standard sheet of paper, using
a 10-unit scale between —5<x’<5. Then
E, the actual 5cm. distance between
human eyes, measured on this scale
would be about 2:5.
The two programs are written for the
Research Machines 380-Z, and exemp-
lify how the matrix transformations can
be manipulated using Basic. The trans-
formation algorithms assume that the
Right eye view
Ho
Left eye view
(9a }--—— BD ——___+ (*’,
E |
v
Right eye
Figure 7. Intermediate stereo position.
database is presented in ordinary co-
ordinates. They then develop the neces-
sary homogeneous co-ordinate represen-
tation, perform the transformation, and
retum to ordinary co-ordinates.
To implement the transformations you
should fully understand the mathematical
theory presented, as well as the graphical
capabilities e.g., the co-ordinate system,
of your computer system. High-
resolution graphics are necessary for
satisfactory results. Satisfactory displays
were achieved on a Tektronix-4010
VDU with a resolution of 1,024 by 780. |
Referencés
Interactive Computer Graphics by BS
Walker, J R Gurd and E A Drawneek,
published by Edward Arnold, 1976.
Principles of Interactive Computer
Graphics by W M Newman and R Sproull,
second edition published by McGraw-Hill
Kogakusha, 1978.
Mathematical Elements for Computer
Graphics by D F Rogers and J A Adams,
published by McGraw-Hill, 1976.
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
="
COMMODORE DATA GENERAL FUTURE
TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS
Gate Microsystems have thought it out for TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS, combining high
you first. performaiice with advanced distributed processor
A range of small computers to cover every architecture.
ei practical application. From this comprehensive armoury our experts
Star names that are all star performers: can cover your every hardware and software
COMMODORE, the popular multi-function — requirement, off the shelf or tailor-made, with full
professional. training facilities and a prompt, caring after-sales
APPLE, the most versatile of micro-computers. service. Word processing to payroll, stock control
Superb interactive single and multi-terminal _to statistics, invoicing to information analysis .. ina
business data processing systems from DATA host of different contexts—we've given ourselves
GENERAL. the complete range of options first
The powerful Series 88 from FUTURE Now we present them all to you.
The Nethergate Centre, 35 Yeaman Shore, DUNDEE DD1 4BU. Tel: 0382 28194.
Abbey House, Bothwell Street, GLASGOW. Tel: 041-221 9372.
18M
\\
Ny\
Ze Ze f
e227 GM
a
FED EELERET |
-..now on the IBM Personal Computer.
TABS unique business software is a flexible package
designed to maximise business efficiency and profitability.
TABS is also . Each IBM module may be run
individually or together. Modules currently include
System Generation, Sales Ledger, Purchase Ledger,
Nominal Ledger, Stock Control and Payroll.
The system is f : so that updated
information on one module automatically updates
information on a related module e.g. items entered on the
Sales Ledger would deplete Stock Control.
Each module is enabling end users
to adapt each module to suit their unique accounting
requirements.
The TABS system is . It bridges the gap
between micro and mini computers facilitating expansion
from the single user system to the multi user system on
SYSTIME and D.E.C.
@Circle No. 157
Finally, TABS is 1 . The modular system
currently running on the IBM Personal Computer, PET,
Apple and Superbrain will shortly be available on most
CPM microcomputers.
We would, however, like to add a word of caution to
the end user. Naturally a package as flexible as this is a
sophisticated product and although simple to operate we
strongly advise professional help either from your Dealer
or from TABS during its installation.
on en es ee es ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee = &
For more details about TABS software and hardware, please tick PCIBM
box(es) and return coupon to us. We are pleased to offer credit
card facilities to our customers
Dealer ona,
Please send me details of your Dealer Plan
User enquiry
Please send me details about TABS accounting systems
Please send me the TABS User Manual £20 inc p&p
1
i
Il
I
i
. |
l enclose cheque/postal orderforf — y |
il
i
i
y
Signature. —_——-=
Name ____
Wi
Accounting
Business Systems
TABS Ltd. Sopers House, Chantry Way. aides ba Hants SP10. 1LU TA S
Telephone: Andover (0264) 58933 3°
On es es es ee ee ee ee ee ees es
Tel. _——
f
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| is to become a millionaire.
THE PROGRAM generates a random
number of horses from three to eight,
calculates the odds against each horse,
accepts bets to win on all races, and also
each-way and place bets if six or more
horses are in the race. There is the oppor-
tunity to amend or cancel a bet before the
ok
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PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
If you enjoy the excitement of an
occasional flutter on the horses,
this simulation will allow you to
gain experience of the racetrack,
without losing any real money.
The object of Philip Day’s game
SEPTEMEER 13601
=" oj aleleelela(aleletale rel
Hé="BACE SOUR HORSE"
il
LFOe J3=8THENGE J3=.5
GOSUESSA: PRINT" Sepa OF He To =328
Be J3S0: Le ys6 °F ¢J3=0: G67 3=0: HE?
GOUSUBE44 : [FAS="“"AHDCRS=TSTHEMS6e
PRINTCEHE" Mi" J$: [FAS>CHRECM+E4 ORAS" A" THEM Se
HH”
if
i Ds
f NS
F | RS
W eh. | a:
“off” to allow flexibility, e.g., to correct
keying-in errors.
Any number of horses can be backed,
but you must stay within your credit.
Each-way bets cost, double the amount
keyed in. A financial statement is pre-
i cea
sented after each race showing how much
you have won or lost. Each race is a
unique combination of horses and odds,
and you require both judgement and luck
to be successful.
(continued on next page)
Tm aoe nde ieloh Ge eat"
‘ [:$=" "RR eR Re BBE Bi"
ria"
EVEHS" :
+50
PRI
“CRC =o8: GOTOSRS
[$=" Sinjeial! : f=" alee)"
S+SGe I: POREHC I. J
HT CSHE
PRIHTI¢:FORIJSLTOM PRINT SM! MEST PORER OMS. M+ife: TPMSe THEME Se
PRIWTDS" 2" T$: GOSUBE48 > [FRS="W" THEN SS
IFAF="E"THEMPRIHTUS "EACH WAY BOM S69 GOTOSee
IFA#="F"THEMPRIMTOS" PLACE aE
(listing continued on next page)
83
(continued from previous page)
A perfectly fair set of odds against a
win is one in which
N
% (prob) =
that is, the sum of all the probabilities is
unity, where the probability for any horse
is given by
Prob = 1/(Odds + 1)
The first problem when writing this
program therefore was to devise a simple
way of generating random odds for the
horses, but such that the
= (prob) =
condition was satisfied to give a reason-
ably fair game. This was neatly solved by
generating random numbers in the range
0 to 1, then dividing each by their sum to
obtain the relative probability for each
horse. The odds are then calculated using
the equation:
Odds “INT (1/prob) — 1
The truncation effect of the INT func-
tion gives a slight advantage to the Pet on
some bets to win. In a real race, the
bookie lowers his odds such that
= (prob) > 1
to-give him sufficient advantage to enable
him to make a living. The.equations could
be amended along the same lines to make
the game tougher if required. Maximum
odds are limited to 30:1 for outsiders,
while low odds are catered for by strings
“2:1 ON” and “EVENS”, as appropri-
ate.
The next problem is form. If all races
ran to form the favourite would win every
time and the rank outsider would always
come in last. In the real world this obvi-
ously does not happen, and must be
allowed for in the program. °
Form weighting
A.random “form” weighting parame-
ter in line 370 determines the extent to
which the horses will run to form in any
particular race. The punter is, of course,
unaware in advance of how well his
choices will run, adding the excitement to
. the game. This tantalising effect is
achieved by the conditional part of line
410:
IF X < (5 + 210 + 5% FM P(J)/TP)
THEN...
which determines the progress of each
horse on a partly random, partly form
basis. The first .5 is a fixed element,
which Z/10 encourages a close and there-
fore more exciting finish, FM is the form
weight for that race, while the remainder
is the form for each horse. These factors
were found by trial and error to give a
satisfactory. compromise between pre-
dictable and random results, but they
could easily be altered to give different
racing conditions.
The next aspect of the program con-
84
cerns the finishing order. Arrays G(J)
and F(Z) capture each horse as it teaches
the post and stores its identity. Lines 470
to 520 compute the win, each-way and
place winnings and return the stake
money for successful bets, a place bet
pays at one-quarter odds. The last part of
the program prints out the account.
Substantial use of For-Next loops,
strings for Printing and Gosub limits the
amount of memory needed to 3K, per-
mitting a quick load from cassette or
allowing the game to be one of several on
a menu.
Checking the stakes
The stake Input function is reasonably
well-protected against invalid entries.
Note that lines 120 and 530 are the only
ones with the reverse-heart clear-screen
symbol, which can easily be confused
with the cursor-up symbol found else-
where in the program. Although written
for the 32K Pet, the program could be
adapted for other machines by changing
the Peek and Poke values, etc.
The game runs as follows:
@ Type Run andeturn to begin. You start
with’ £10,000 credit. The screen then dis-
plays the hotses and their odds.
@ Type the letter of the horse of your choice.
(listing continued from previous page)
266 IFAF=CHRE( 139 THEHZ86
276 GOTO2S4
DOH
PRINTDS "WIN" J&: BOM =S7
LCMD=VALCLE>
NEXT: PRINT" "TAECZ29" ":
358 GOTO19G
PRINTI#: FORJ=1701
400 IFH(J)3=325927+SG4JI THENS4
428 NEXT: IFZ¢=NTHEN39@
GOTO46a
& IFGCJ)=OTHENF(Z)=3:G(J)=1 :2aZ+1
GoTC4ze
$66 IFBCUD=STHEHAR=L CUD # COCUS 74419
IFBCUD=69THEHA=L (UD #0 8574429
E=B: J=¥:HF="5ECOHE “: GOSUE6ES
B® E=C: J=W:Hs="STHIRD ": GOSURE6a
IFCR>=1E6THEN? 28
IFCRC1THEH?S
M4 GETAS: IFAS=""THEN6IG
RETURN
6f6 IFOCJ>=1THEHOS=GF
IF Z=1 THENRETURN
596 FRINTHSCHRS$( +645"
PRINTTAECSa>"
HW PRINTCS"EXCEEDS
FORJ=17022:FRINT"
FORJ=1T02@48 : NEXT >: FORJ=1T08 -
": RETURH
PCM HELM ECOKEHCMD Mi PRINTISI£: GOTOS3SH
3HG INPUT" SORDDODORORRREDDBEORODDD mal" | Ls
IFL¢M9<=GORINT (LCM) 9<>L CM THENES@
1 TS=@:FORJ=1 TON: TS=TS+L¢J>: IFBCJO=89THENTS=TS+L 61)
IF TSSCRTHEN7 14
SPRINT "MBB J#K#: FOKESS367+404), 163 > NEXT
PRINTCS"S@UHDEF STARTER’S ORDERS" -FM=RNDIC 1) te: IFFM<. 2THEHFM=a
FORJ=1T01580 :HEXT:FRINT' WES" ATHEY RE CF FR" KE
FORJ=170N: D=PEEKCHC J) 3 >: K=RHDC 1): TFHC1 2=SeS72THEHFRINT "NW KETS
B IFRCC.5+2/18+. SHE M#P CID CTP THENPOKEHC J >, 32° HC JDSHC J 941: POKEHC I), DD
@ PRINT" TABC29>" SRACE OVER" : FORJ=1TO156@: NEXT
USF C19: YSF C2) H=F CS): TFHCETHENS2@
IFBCY)=690RB CV =SHTHENE=L CY COC 7441 >
TFBCH>=690RBCW>=8GTHENC=L CHR CO CHO S4+1 9
52@ IFBCUS=87THENA=LCUD (OCU +19
536 CR=CR-TS+A+E+C > FRINT ROS bBBBBISRESULTS FOR RACE HO"; T
544 PRINT" emt HORSE ODIS STAKE BeT WINNINGS”
556 E=H: J=U:H#="SeFIRST ": GOSUBEEG
GOSUB7 Ha: FRIHTTABC SH A+B+C -FRIHTTABCE> "LESS TOTAL STAKES
GOSUB76a:PRINTTARCS)"2FROFIT/LOSS THIS RACE "J A+B+C-TS
6 GOSUR7HG:PRINTPS"YOUR CREDIT HOW STAHDS AT ":CR
PRINTFE"SFRESS ANY KEY FOR THE HEXT RACE" :POKE1SS,@:GOSUBS4@ :GOTO1Z9
OF=STRECOC ID 4+" 5 1". TFOCID=. STHEMUS=F F
"OSTAEC 189L CJ 2 TABC 26 CHREC BCT > TABC SQ 9E : RETURM
CREDIT"CR"CHANGE BETS": GOTU138
SCONGRATULAT IOWS
PRINTPS"270U ARE BANKRUPT — EHD GF GAME": HEAT: END
The horse identity then changes into
reverse field to indicate that you have
chosen it. If there are five or fewer horses in
the race then, WIN will be displayed auto-
matically.
@ If there are six or more horses, ‘press W to
bet to win, E for each-way, or P for place as
required.
@ Type in the amount of your stake, then
press Return. You must. stay within your
current credit. Larger or illegal entries will
not be accepted.
@ To cancel a bet, type the appropriate horse
letter and press Return.
Extra bets or changes can be made by
repeating the last four steps as necessary.
@ Press key ‘X' to start the race. You can
keep an eye on the horses that you backed
because they are In reverse field. When the
race is over, the screen displays the first
three horses, their odds and your winnings,
if any, the profit or loss on the race and the
updated credit figure.
Races can be run indefinitely, but you
drop out of the game if your credit falls
below £1.
Although the game is designed for one
player, a group of people could hold a
competition, each person taking his turn
on the machine, until he is either bank-
rupt or wins a £1,000,000. Oo
"378
— MILLIGHHAIRE '§":HEXT: END
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
Laskys is the friendly store, the ideal place to come and meet the microcomputer. See our superb range of
hardware, from pocket computers to complete business systems. Hear expert advice on which machine will
suit your needs and your pocket. Try your hand at programming with our careful guidance. Select from our
growing range of software and peripherals, and finally buy the system of your choice with the help of our
easy cash or credit terms.
All of our computers are fully guaranteed, some for two years, and when it comes to after-sales service we
have no rivals. Faulty products can be returned to any Laskys store in the U.K. and be repaired by
experienced technicians in one of our six Nationwide Service Centres.
It’s so easy to buy from Laskys. Visit a store near you, or telephone our head office for advice on 01-200 0444,
7-9 Queensway
(off Bayswater Road)
London W2 3RX
Tel: 051-229 6425
19/21 Corporation Street, Birmingham,
82 ALP. Tel: 021-632 6303
Manager: Peter Stollard
300 yords from Bullring Centre.
16/20 Penn Street, Bristol, BSI JAN.
Tel; 0272 20421. Manager: Steve Heynes
Between Holiday Inn and CBA
The Forum, Nocthgote Street, Chester,
CHI 282. Tel: 0244 317667.
Manager: Jeremy Ashcroft
Next to the Town Hall.
451, James Centre, Edinburgh, EH! 3SR
Tel: 031-556 6217. Manager: Colin Draper
East end of Princes Street,
St. James Centre.
1/4 Guildhall Arcade, Preston, PRI IHR
Tel: 0772 59264 Manager: Jim Comishy
Directly under Guild Hall
12/1451, Mary's Gate, Market Street,
Manchester, MI IPX. Tel: 061-832 6087,
Manager: Lesly Jacobs
Corner of Deansgate
22/24 West Nile Street, Glasgow, G7 2PF
Tel: 041-226 3349.
Manager: David Livingstone. Between
Buchennan Street and Cenwal Station
58 Leopold Street, Sheffield, $1 2GZ.
Tel: 0742 750971
Manager: Justin Rowles. Top af the
Moor, opposite Town Hall
33 Dale Strea!, Liverpool. L2 2HF
Tel; 051-236 2828. Manager: Mark Butler,
Between the Town Hall ond Magistrates
Courts
42 Tottenham Coun Road, Londor
WI 9RD. Tel: 01-636.0845.
Monager: Vass Demosthenis
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
NETT VAT.
1250.00 187.50
165.00 24.75
Osborne 1 Computer
Osborne 12” Monitor . .
a
Laskys, the retail division of the Ladbroke Group of Companies.
TOTAL
1437.50
189.75
85
86
‘aT
mn “
ATARI
400 16K Computer.
@ 400A Computer
800 16K Computer
410 Tape Recorder .
810 Disk Drive
822 Thermal Printer
825 80 Column Printer
850 RS 232 Interface
16K RAM Upgrade
LightPen .
Pair Paddles .
Pair Joysticks
70 Cable .
Printer Cable
Interface Cable .
RS 232 Cable
Monitor Cable
Thermal Paper
Master Disk ... .
5 Blank Disks Sy
Word Processor .
Inv, Prog. 1
Conversational French
Conversational German
Conversational Spanish
Conversational Italian
Music Camposer ROM
Touchtype .
Cale/Tor... ;
Graphit
Statistics. .
Eng. Czar .
Hangman .....
Kingdonmiiwawe: .....-
States and Capitals
States Europe
Scram... . : paris:
TelelinkROM ......
Asteroids ROM
Bask/Ball ROM .....
Blackjack .
Chess ROM
Missile Command ROM
Space Invaders ROM
Space Invaders... . .
@ Star Raiders ROM
Super Breakout ROM
Assembler Editor ROM
Pilot ROM
Microsoft Basic... ...
e Memory
Guaranteed quality — thousands
heady sapped Any fouky chp
should be retumed to us with
12. months of pure!
2114 Low
with proof of purchase for taglsteseet by retum aR port.
4116 66p V.AT.
200 nanoseconds
wer 300 nanoseconds
p + V.AT.
*
kdl di ee eS al
MAKE FRIENDS WITH A MICRO
TOTAL
345.00
299.95
599.95
66.95
365.00
265.00
550.00
145.00
65.00
45.00
12.00
12.00
12.95
28.50
25.00
25.00
25.00
4.00
21.95
16.00
9518
15.95
39.95
39.95
39.95
39.95
35.95
13.95
13.95
9.50
9.95
oS
9.95
ae
17.50
19.95
35.95
29.95
9.95
29.95
PRINTERS
Epson - SpringSpecial
MX80T Newtype 2
MX80FT/1
MX80 FT Newtype 2
Epson Interfaces
Epson/Sharp Cassette
Epson/Sharp Disk
Epson/Apple
Epson/TRS 80 Bus
Epson/TRS 80 Expansion
Epson Ribbons
Epson MX100 Ribbons
eMicroline 80 |.
@ New Microline 82A
Microline 80 Tractor
Diplomat Card (Apple-Microline)
Microline Ribbons
Seikosha
@SeikoshaGP80A......
@ Seikosha GP80D (for MZ-80)
@ Seikosha GP 100
Seikosha Interfaces
Seiko/Apple
Seiko/Pet
Seiko/Video Genie (EG3016)
Seiko/RS232
Seiko/TTL Serial
Seiko/IEEE 488
Seiko/Sharp (Disk) .
Seiko/Ribbons
Seiko Paper 8% ” X11” 2000 Sheets
Paper Delivery
PRICES
MARCH/APRIL 82
65.00
120.00
85.00
59.00
25.00
7.00
8.50
270.00
395.00
45.00
85.00
2.25
195.00
252.13
215.00
59.00
59.00
33.00
79.00
43.00
59.00
59,00
4.00
12.00
3.00
9.75 74.75
18.00 138.00
12.75 97.75
8.85 67.85
375, 28.75
1.05 8.05
1.28 9.78
40.50 310.50
59.25 454,25
6.75 SIL75
12.75 97.75
0.34 2.59
29.25 224.25
37.82 289.95
32.25 247,25
8.85 67.85
8.85 67.85
4.95 37.95
11.85 9.85
6.45 49.45
8.85 67.85
8.85 67.85
0.60 4.60
1.80 13.80
0.45 3.45
‘VIDEO MONITORS var rom
BMC 12” Green - Spring Special 120.86 18.14 139.00
New 12” Green Screen 125.00 18.75 143.75
VM129 12° B/W... 183.00 27.45 210.45
VM906 9” HI-RES B/W 150.00 22.50 172.50
VM9109° BAW
125.00 18.75 143.75
9° B/W Shilo 85.00 12.75 97.75
Cables _. fe 5.00 0.75 5.75
Colour Monitors 14” New!
di e
Terms & Conditions
Ove Conditions of Business
Inorddition to cash we accept As cess Barglaygard Stereo Club Amencan Express, Diners Club und cheques covered
by a bank ers card
Oficial orden wekome — pleaseconinct your nenres! Lash
yiitore
All previows Loskys Adveri.vemenn are superseded by this Not all stores corry every adverised sien
Prices correct at ime ol going to press E AOE
A Borer Guerantes
1
he products are warranted against detects in material ond workmanshtp for @ pariod of one year from the date of
purchase, two years tor Appie and Sharp products
During the warranty penad, the company will repax [oF af im own phon
replace }ar no charge. components thal
Prove defective This rs prov ded the product returned, shipping prepaid. of by person. staling when it was bought
and enclowny proot of purchase
This warranty does net apply if, 19 the opiman ol the company, the produc! has been damaged by «
or misapplication
_
ident, msurer
AT LASK YS.
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
MAKE FRIENDS WITH A MICRO
WIZ= SN speciat orrer!
A proper full size microcomputer for less than the real
cost of a toy microcomputer. The Sharp comes with
48k of RAM and the screen and cassette are built in,
instead of being expensive extras.
Total
VAT
Nett
347.00 52.00 399.00
MZ 80K NETT V.AT. TOTAL
MZ 80K Computer 48K 347.00 52.00 399.00
MZ 80FD Dual Disks . . 560.00 84.00 644.00
MZ 80P3 Dot Matrix Printer 365.00 54.75 419.75
MZ 80F 1/O Disk Interface 52.00 7.80 59.80
MZ 80 FMD Master Disk and Manual 20.00 3.00 23.00
MZ 80 FI5 Disk Coble ....... 8.00 1,20 9.20
MZ 80 FOS Extra Disk Cable 7.00 1.05 8.05
MZ 80 1/0 Expansian Box 96.00 14.40 110.40
MZ 80 BM Basic Manuol : 6.60 6.60
MZ 80 TIOB Basic Tape : 9.50 1,43 10.93
MZ 80 T20C Machine Language 18.00 2.70 20.70
MZ 80 TU Assembler 36.00 5.40 41.40
MZ 80 1/0-1 Universal Interface Card 40.00 6.00 46.00
MZ 8170 AE FDOS far MZ 80K 67.00 10.05 77.05
MZ 8T7OBE Basic Compiler for MZ80K 40.00 6.00 46.00
MZ 8T40E Pascal for MZ80K 40.00 6.00 46.00
MZ-80 DPK - Double precision Basic 38.00 5.70 43.70
New MZ80K Cassette
Software NETT -V.AT. ‘TOTAL
WDPRO - Professional Word Processor 39.13 5.87 45.00
Appolo— Ward Processor 24.95 3.75 28.70
Cassette Database 29.47 4.43 33.90
ZEN Editor/Assembler 19.47 2.93 22.40
ZEN M@D 2.6... 10.43 1.57 12.00
CESIL Wl Be 14.95 2:25 17.20
Music Composer/Editor : 10. 43 157, 12.00
0c, ae 5.47 0.83 6.30
Cosmecad 12K . Ege 8.00 1.20 9.20
Home Budget ... . 5.47 0.83 6.30
Spoce Invaders ......... aw: 5.47 0.83 6.30
Storirek «ss. = ' 5.47 0.83 6.30
EO wae : 5.47 0.83 6.30
PC1211 NETT =V.AT. TOTAL
@ PC1211 Pocket Computer 69.52 10.43 79.95
CE121 Cassette Interface’ ; 11.00 1.65 12.65
CE122 Printer/Cossette Interface . 60.86 9.13 69.99
CSR700 Poper Rolls (40) ...... 5.00 0.75 575
EA 8OQR Ink Ribbons arate 1.80 0.27 2.07
MICROCOMPUTERS
AT LASKYS
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
PRICES
MARCH/APRIL 82
\N*) PC 1500
ne Pocket Computer
Anew upgraded pocket computer with expanded
capacity and greater convenience for use in business,
management, engineering and hobbies.
TOTAL
PC 1500 New Pocket Computer . . 169.95
CE 150 4 pen printer/plotier . . . . 149.95
7
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MZ 80 FD Duol Disks . 560.00 84.00 644,00
MZ 80 P5 Dot Matrix Printer 387.00 58.05 445.05
MZ 80 P6 Dot Matrix Printer . 440.00 66.00 506.00
MZ-8BP51 -P6 Interface .... . . 30.00 4.50 34.50
MZ-8BP5C -P6 Cable 24.00 3.60 27.60
MZ 80 FI Disk Interface . 94.00 14.10 108.10
MZ 80 MDB Master Disk and Manual 30.00 4.50 34,50
MZ 80 F15 Disk Cable .... ; 8.00 1.20 9.20
MZ 80 FOS Extra Disk Cable . . 7.00 1.05 8.05
MZ 80 BJC Disk Cable Jointer 15.00 2:25 17.25
MZ 80 EU Expansion Box . 47.00 7.05 54.05
MZ 80 GMK Grophics Option . . 112.00 16.80 128.80
MZ 80 1/O-2 Universal Interface Card 40.00 6.00 46.00
MZ 80 TIOC K-B Converter . . 7.00 1.05 8.05
NZ 8 BDO2 FOOS for MZ 80B . 67.00 10.05 77.05
MZ 8 BTO3 Basic Compiler for MZ 80B 40.00 6.00 46.00
MZ 8 BTO2 Pascal far MZ 80B . 40.00 6.00 46.00
MZ-80 DP8 -. Double Precision Basic 38.00 5.70 43.70
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Desktop Plonll ....... a. 110.00 16.50 126.50
CCA Datamanogement a 56.00 8.40 64.40
@D.B. Master V.2. 4. 105.00 15.75 120.75
APPLE Il + 48K £799.00inc.viaz, Werd Processing
Apple Writer... .. ae: 39.00 5.85 44.85
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NETT = =V.AT. = TOTAL Mailmerge (80 Col.) ....... 68.50 10.28. 78.78
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88 PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
In these pages Brian Reffin Smith keeps you up to date with computer-
based art and design and lays the foundations for graphics routines to
use on your own micro.
The direct route
THE BBC’S computer-literacy series The
Computer Programme is already well
under way, and you may already have
seen programme 6 on graphics and
sound, with which I was involved as a
technical consultant. It will be shown
again on BBC-1 at 11.35 pm on Monday
April 26.
Convincing proof
The programme should provide a
convincing demonstration for any doub-
ters you may know who still believe that
computers are confined to number-
crunching and text. After all, simple
graphics are a much simpler route from
the machine into the human brain — and
the possibilities of sound have hardly
been explored yet. This month’s competi-
tion may encourage you to change that
lamentable state of affairs.
For now, let us merely celebrate the
fact that the high-resolution graphics on
the BBC Microcomputer go up to 640 by
256 points in two colours. You need
maximum memory to handle it, and a
monitor rather than a TV for a proper
display, but at least we do have some-
thing which begins to live up to the
description ‘“‘high-resolution’’.
It is absurd to call a display of around
100 units square “high-resolution”, as
some manufacturers do, and those nasty
little graphics characters are no help
either. To anyone seriously interested in
computer graphics, a display of less than
256 by 256 is low. You really need 512
by 512, and a monitor to display it on.
For storage, laser videodiscs may seem
rather exotic, but they will eliminate
videotape recorders quite soon. At pres-
ent, you can only play them, not record,
but for less than £1,000 you can get your
own disc made up from film, videotape,
colour slides or photos which you supply.
Pressings then cost about £3 each.
BEGINNING GRAPHICS
SO FAR we have looked, in quite simple
terms, at the way in which images are
stored and manipulated in the computer.
We have seen that images are related to
an internal symbolic representation
which is held inside the machine and can
be manipulated there, thus changing the
image that is the resulting output.
| This month, for a change, we look at
how a simple routine for drawing circles
can be expanded into a more general
program. You will see that there is a
metaphor here: you can quite often get a
routine from a magazine like this, or a
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
Round in circles
book. or from a friend, and adapt it to do
something that seems to go way beyond
(continued on next page)
CENTRE X.Y
Rapil 0.8
40,30
1 .
/MURBER OF 81308
COME CEWERATION
pesdus
AL FOR REGULAR SHAPED
FOR CIRCLED? 1S
24m
7 °
Chae
A popular disc player is not available in
the U.S for less than £500. As for the
U.K. market, if I were cyincal, I would
think the manufacturers were trying to
sell us all videotape machines before
introducing discs. On each side of a mun-
dane disc, you can store 54,000 colour
images — heaven knows how many
megabytes of data. A project at the Royal
College of Art connects a disc machine
up to a computer, able to call up or run
any sequences from an art and design
visual database of thousands of images.
Canada exhibition
Finally, an invitation. I have organised
a show of Canadian artists and musicians
who use computers, at the Canada House
Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London.
Opening on March 24, it continues daily,
except Saturday, for about a month.
There will be the work of several artists,
including graphics, paintings, robots and
video, all done by, with or in spite of
computers.
Competition
THIS MONTH’S competition — the one
| with fame and a fiver as the exhilarat-
ing spurs to excellence — is about
sound. I know that many computers
do not make sounds, and that those
that do use a wide variety of com-
mands to control them. But that does
not matter because we only want a
short description — an algorithm in
words — of how to do something.
Think about how to use sound
instead of, or as well as, graphics to
present information to a user. The
sort of information could be trends,
quantities, qualities — the kind of
thing a business person or manager
might need. You can choose any con-
text, from education to ICI, from a
small business to a hospital.
In less than 200 words, explain
how a computer could use sound to
replace or to enhance other informa-
tion. The address is Art, Practical
Computing, Room L306, Quadrant
House, The Quadrant, Sutton,
Surrey, SM2 SAS. As usual, do not
send anything you want back; and no
tapes, please. My
89
rVV—_—
REM***POLYGON PRAWING WITH CONE FORMATION - B.R.SMITH 1982
CALL" RESOLUTION" ,O,2:
PUT12: REM***CLEAR SCREEN
INPUT"CENTRE X,Y";HS,VS
REM*** SET UP GRAPHICS
INPUT"RADII A,B (MAKE EQUAL FOR REGULAR SHAPE)";A,B
INPUT" NUMBER OF SIDES (120 FOR CIRCLE)";N
INPUT"CONE GENERATION (Y/N)";ZC$: IFZC$="N"THEN180
INPUT"POINT OF CONE X,Y";PX,PY
ANGLE=2*3.142/N
C=COS( ANGLE) :S=SIN( ANGLE)
XA=1:YA=1
FORI=1TON+1
X=XA*C-YA*S
Y=XA*S+YA*C
XA=X: YA=Y
IF I>1 THEN P$="LINE" ELSE P$="PLOT"
CALL P$,A*XA+HS,B*YA+VS,3
IF ZC$="N" THEN 290
CALL" LINE", PX,PY,1:
NEXT I
(continued from previous page)
the original intention. It is the way many
graphics programs and routines emerge.
The whole story is in the program
listing. A simple circle routine at lines
180 to 290 has been expanded first to
draw ellipses, then to draw polygons of
any number of sides, then to draw cones.
The circle routine was, itself, first
developed from a _ polygon-drawing
routine.
Lines 220 and 230 simply generate
. each new point from the last one, using a
few sines and cosines. Line 260 adds on
HS and VS, the horizontal and vertical
shift, give the centre of the figure, having
| multiplied the X and Y points by A and B
to give the two radii of the ellipse. Make
them equal, and you get a circle — or a
regular polygon, if using less than about
120 sides, entered at line 150.
The program was written on the
Research Machines 380-Z — which has a
screen of about 300 by 200 pixels, with
the origin at bottom left. If you operate
another computer you need only plot
points and lines, with any resolution. Line
260 plots a point when I is 1; otherwise it
draws a line to the new point from where
you were before. The third parameter to
the plot commands — 3, 1 or 16 —
merely give the colour; 16 means no line.
Mustering courage
If you answer “Y” to the question at
line 160 — you do want cones — then
line 280 draws from each point on the
“rim” of the circle or polygon to a fixed
point, entered at 170, which becomes the
tip of the cone. The second half of line
280 moves back. to the rim, but without
drawing a line, and is thus ready to con-
nect up the next part of the rim.
If you are feeling courageous, try writ-
ing a program that will draw two
polygons, each with the same number of
sides, and will connect each point on the
first to the corresponding point on the
second. In other words, if you use four-
sided, regular polygons — otherwise
knowns as squares — you end up with a
box. Beware of jumping in and out of
loops.
90
CALL" PLOT", A*XA+HS , B*¥ YA+VS,16
CENTRE X, ¥ \ = =
70. TC
RADIT A,B (MAKE EQual FOR REGULAR
40,40
NUMBER OF SIDES (120 FOR CIRCLE)? 20
CONE GENERATION (Y*4M)? Y
POINT OF COWE x, Y? 300, 30
Ready
8
At
ANALOGY
BOX
Conceptual art, in its heyday
inthe 1960s, was “art about
art’, which often consisted |
of words and diagrams or
descriptions. One
masterpiece was a framed
message, black on white,
reading “This is not a Work
of Art”, another consisted of
a radio wave — invisible, of
course — beamed through a
gallery ata certain time ona
certain day, or so they said.
What is the computer-
graphic equivalent
of this sort of art?
Book choice
WHEN PEOPLE ask for advice on books
about computers and art, or just compu-
ter graphics, I have to tell them that there
are very, very few books on either topic
which are any good at all. Most of them
are expensive too. You are likely to gain
at least as much knowledge from the
pages of computer periodicals as from
many books. However, there are a few
which are worth having, and if the cost
seems prohibitive, you could ask your
library if Mrs Thatcher has left them any
money for a book that is, after all, related
to her Information Technology Year.
Strictly in the library class, or at least a
group purchase, is Visual Art, Mathema-
tics and Computers, edited by Frank J
Malina and published by Pergamon
Press, Oxford in 1979. It is big, wide-
ranging, and costs, believe it or not, £31.
It consists of reprints, over several years,
from the journal about art, science and
technology called Leonardo. I cannot
think of any existing book that is more
likely to stimulate the imagination.
Though short on techniques as such, it is
long on ideas and has plenty of pictures.
Then there is an excellent book edited
by David Clark, who works in the audio-
visual centre at London University. Cal-
led Computers for Imagemaking, it is, for
the most part, simply presented. Yet if
you digest it thoroughly, you will know as
much as most people about the area it
covers, It deals with technical, practical,
theoretical and psychological aspects of
computer graphics. The paperback edi-
tion costs £6.50. It was published in 1981
by Pergamon Press.
Mathematical Elements of Computer
Graphics by D F Rogers and J A Adams
is a superb book crammed with routines,
and with an appendix of Basic listings.
However, it does become very advanced,
and assumes that your Basic can manipu-
late matrices; certainly a book to aspire
to. It is an import from the United States,
published by McGraw-Hill at £12.95.
Expensive items
I realise that all these titles are quite
expensive items, but there is really no
point messing around with anything
inferior. You might get together with
some friends to share a copy — some-
thing which we do not do enough.
Finally, for the purists, there is New-
man and Sproull’s computer-graphics
bible, Principles of Interactive Computer
Graphics. Personally I find it hard going,
though many people swear by it. The
second edition, published in 1978 by
McGraw-Hill Kogakusha, costs £9.95 in
paperback.
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
THE PROFESSIONALS CHOICE
Word Processing - Wordstar £250, Mailmerge £75.
Act Sirius 1
16 Bit Stand Alone micro with
superb features.
128K,1.2MB Floppies,
CPM86 as standard — £2395.
Altos
Up to 4 terminals and 40MB
of Winchester Disc.
One of the biggest selling
small business systems
starting at £2350.
16 Bit system with 8 terminals available soon.
OKI 1F800
Quality graphics micro with
full colour screen and integral
printer. 64K and Basic
are standard — £4750.
Wide range of
peripherals available.
LSI M3
High specification
Stand Alone micro. CPM, 64K
and up to 10MB of Winchester
in one package. Very easy to
use, Detachable keyboard.
User programmable
function keys. From £2250.
Superbrain
Still’a leader in 8 bit price
performance. KGB having
sold over 400 Superbrains
has unbeatable experience,
onthem. From £1875.
Full on-screen facilities enabling the printing of
standard letters and preparation of mail shots.
Accounting - From £300 per module.
Integrated accounting systems with Invoicing,
Sales, Purchase and Nominal Ledgers.
Financial Modelling - Micromodeller £645.
Budaets, forecasts and accounting data become
easy to prepare. Allows “what it” projections.
Calculation - Supercale £175.
Electronic worksheet for preparation of budgets
and tables of data.
Record Keeping - DMS £400.
Personnel, stock or any other records
with quick retrieval. sorting and reporting.
For the busy sales office to manage
sales leads and marketing lists.
Accounts -IRIS £750.
Incomplete records and time recording systems.
Payroll - Graffeom £500.
Up to 500 employees both weekly and monthly paid.
Automatic deduction for items like company pensions.
Graphics -Price depends on application.
Fullon-screen graphics both colour and
black and white.
Engineering -SPERT £450.
Suite of programmes for PERT analysis and
civil engineering applications.
Communications - Liberator £250.
Enables a micro-computer to act like a mainframe
terminal and transfer data from Floppy disc to
another computer.
Languages - From £175.
Most major computer languages are available: Basic.
Cobol, Fortran, Pascal and Assembler.
Solicitors - Solace £1600.
Solicitors accounting, client accounting and
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Multi-terminals -MP/M and Oasis from £350.
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@Circle No. 159
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
THE PERFECT
MACHINE
GC in, garbage out”, mut-
tered Amadeus. Above him the
main frame of the rotating Analyser
trembled slightly, and he watched as one
green ball dropped in a gentle arc, pop-
ped like a heavy pea from its churning
/ mechanical pod, to land on and crack the
Stone flags near his feet. It rolled a short
distance ahd stopped. A second ball did
the same.
The great wooden machine did not
stop, however, but began in its insistent
way to pull one of its bearings from the
massive wall. Amadeus looked up sadly
as the bearing wobbled and a tiny trickle
of dust fell twenty feet to the floor.
Fifty feet above him a stone gallery
spanned the great hall, clearing the mov-
ing wooden structure by inches. Sullivan
was up there, his signalling arms silhouet-
ted against the roof lights, his mouth
open but his words lost in the roar from
the rotating machine.
Amadeus pulled the stop lever and the
great contraption began to slow as Sulli-
van Clanged down his long iron ladder.
They stood for a moment in the shadows
cast by the tilting beams and watched as
the machine came to a standstill. Sullivan
broke the silence.
“The same bearing as before, Doc-
tor’?
“Yes, the same”’.
oe a nodded to the few over-
alled workmen standing by and the
offending section was dismantled. Long
bolts clanged to the ground, timbers were
noisily disassembled, and a hammering
began that echoed around the hall.
At the same time Bishop Widred and
his entourage entered down the main
stone staircase. The entourage sniffed at
the dust and the noise. The bishop
adjusted his crimson cloak and looked
displeased. “Another bearing problem,
my Lord’’, called Amadeus, half turning
but more interested in the work than the
bishop’s presence. The entourage man-
aged to project a communal stare of
disapproval across the hall while the
bishop spoke.
“We must have results, Amadeus, and
we must have them soon. | am under
considerable pressure from the rest of the
College. They are talking of withdrawing
funds. You know it goes against the grain
with them to investigate such matters.
Your experiments have aroused great
controversy”. The bishop stared into the
dark shadows of the Analyser. The
‘ workmen’s hammering continued to
echo. After a pause he spoke again.
2
“Perhaps the others are right after all.
Perhaps this is heresy”.
Amadeus interrupted.
“Tt is not heresy, my Lord, and it will
work. I know it will”.
“Yes. Yes. I understand your
enthusiasm but —”. The entourage
behind him looked sufficiently sceptical.
ishop Widred walked slowly
towards the workmen, who ham-
mered less loudly in deference to his
presence but did not look up.
“Tell me again, Amadeus”, he called
without turning, ‘“Tell me what it is that
you seek”’.
Amadeus spread his arms towards the
Analyser and explained.
“The main frame. This large outer one.
by David Haynes
It spins on axes that are fixed in the
structure of the building. The angles of
rotation are adjustable. Within this we
have other frames which become pro-
gressively smaller like a nest of dolls.
These inner frames vary in shape accord-
ing to calculations made by me, and they
are linked by adjustable axles one to
another. They turn easily on their bear-
ings. The angle of pivot and the gearing
of one frame to another are calculated
and fixed before each run. That is a
skilled adjustment which Sullivan takes
care of”.
The bishop nodded and asked him to
continue.
“Well, my Lord, within the whole struc-
ture run channels, tubes and hatchways
which we can preset as well. The machine
is turned by a steam engine under the
floor, and once the correct speed of rota-
tion is reached, Sullivan inserts the
spheres at the top. After a while, if we are
lucky, the spheres eventually drop into
this cage here”, he pointed, “where the
numbered troughs indicate the answer”.
“Yes, yes. The answer. But what is the:
question, Amadeus”?
s here are numbers which we use
every day, my Lord. Numbers of
this world such as 1, 2, 3, 7, 9, and so on.
They account for real things. We assume
that they go on for ever. There are also
negative numbers. We use these often in
calculations”’.
Amadeus bent down and lifted the
green ball from the floor. It was the size
of a baby’s head.
“We colour the spheres to represent
individual numbers. Some green, some
red. Many, many colours and combina-
tions of colours. You can see some of
these lying around on the floor. They are
definite numbers. What we seek are
numbers that seem somehow more real
than these and yet continue to remain
unknown. They must have a precise value
and yet they remain imprecise within our
numbering system. They slip through the
nets fashioned by our minds, and yet
within nature they are basic. As though
our way of counting things is based on the
wrong system to start with. This great
machine has been designed to find such
numbers”’.
‘ G™ me an example, Amadeus”’.
“The most needed number is
that relating to the truths regarding
circles and spheres”’.
“Religious truths’?
“T believe that truths will always lead
to God, certainly”’.
“But you will never find God in that
way, Amadeus”. The bishop looked hard
at him.
“T can try, my Lord.”
“You believe that you can measure
Him with numbers”? the bishop asked.
“In any case we know the number that
you seek. It has been established as a
standard by the Church for many years’.
“But the standard is not exact. There is
more to learn of this number’s nature.
Men should know such things. We must
make the attempt”.
“If you would pin God down to a
number, then that is heresy, Amadeus”.
“T seek only the truth about the world.
Let me continue to try — just one more
attempt my Lord”.
The workmen had reassembled the
frames. The bishop stared for a while at
the dark oil stains that they had left on
the floor. Without looking up he nodded.
yee climbed to his crow’s nest
and began to assemble the coloured
balls in their delivery hopper, while
Amadeus pulled a lever to start the steam
engine. The floor rumbled as the drive
spindle turned. A second lever was pulled
and the main frame began to turn. The
noise grew louder. Dark shadows from
the massive timbers of the outer structure
moved jaggedly around the walls, and the
light from the roof scattered and broke
into shards as the smaller frames and
cages spun and tumbled within it. Sulli-
van released the cascade of coloured balls
which rolled and banged, clattering
through the ever-changing wooden maze
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
——_
NN! a
as it tumed, strained bearings whining.
At last one ball fell into the counting
troughs, then another, and another. With
great excitement Amadeus crouched to
note the results. More balls fell, heavily
and noisily, and still others — and then
no more.
Amadeus stood slowly and handed the
paper to the bishop. The paper trembled
in each man’s fingers.
The bishop read aloud:
i »
ee
\)
Both men began to laugh as Amadeus
pulled the stop lever.
» ae done it, my boy? Is this
itae
Amadeus nodded, still smiling.
‘*You will need to run checks of course,
but — this is wonderful news”.
He beckoned to the entourage.
“‘We have done it! We have done it! I
shall get an Archbishop’s chair for this!
“3and14159265358979328”. | Amadeus you're a genius”.
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
But Amadeus had his eyes closed and
was no longer listening. If we can apply
these results, he was thinking, to improve
the accuracy of the machine’s bearings
and rotating parts then we can achieve an
even more accurate result. Then we can
continue until we have a machine that is
almost perfect. His smile broadened as he
dared the thought that he could not utter.
Why not a machine that is perfect? A
machine that is never wrong?
Never wrong about anything? iH]
93
ONE OF THE most inimical environments
imaginable for the microcomputer is on
the farm: mud, moisture, unsympathetic
use by horny-handed sons of toil to whom
a tractor printer is likelier to evoke
wheeled machinery than electronic.
Nowhere would this seem to be truer
than in the cowshed.
To the expected problems of human
heavy-handedness are added those of
bovine indifference. In a milking parlour,
all machinery must be built to withstand
regular washing-down with high-pressure
hoses, frozen winter and scorching sum-
mer alike.
Nevertheless, dairy management is one
of the biggest growth areas in on-farm
computing, which itself is no mean per-
former in the systems-sales stakes, Where
a year ago there were only six firms
supplying agricultural systems and soft-
‘Pastures
for micros
Martin Hayman, never afraid
to get his. boots dirty, visited
ADAS’s experimental farm to
inspect its micro-based system,
which actively monitors the
health and performance of a
large dairy herd.
Agricultural officer Chris Laycock keys in a cow indentity. The 40-character display reads
out information from the management system.
ware, now there are more than 20 and
their number is growing.
Dairying seems to have been one of the
first areas of farming to receive concerted
attention from computer people. Reading
University’s mainframe has had its Daisy
herd-management program running for
nearly 10 years, but it’s not particularly
useful to a farmer who essentially wants
to eliminate some of the guesswork from
his everyday business and has been told
that this is the kind of task to which a
computer is ideally adapted. A dairy herd
of about 300 cows, can be said to be
substantial. This is approximately the
number of records that a medium-sized
micro can manage comfortably, given
that the information the farmer wishes to
have about each beast is as follows:
@ the quantity of milk delivered at each milk-
ing, hence
®@ the appropriate weight of feed it needs;
@ its welght on leaving the milking parlour;
@ details of pedigree, where it was _ pur-
chased, veterinary records.
94
The first three items can be considered
as monitoring programs, and will ideally
be used on-line; the last is more of a
database system and can be expanded
according to the way the farmer wishes to
manage his herd.
In human terms, the problem of
implementing such a system, which from
a purely computing point of view seems
not so difficult, is input of data. How do
you identify an individual cow, measure
its milk yield, mete out the right quantity
of feed into its manger, and weigh it as it
exits from the milking parlour, and at the
same time enter all that data into the
micro?
It is impracticable to have cowmen in
their white aprons — the only people who
become intimate enough with each cow
to read the freeze-brand number on its
rump — dashing in and out of the messy
work area to key details into a keyboard.
It’s clearly a case for automatic data
collection, and this is where the work at
the Agricultural Development and
Advisory Service’s Bridgets Experimen-
tal Husbandry Farm, near Winchester,
Hampshire, is directed.
Borrowing some techniques from
industrial process control, the National
Institute of Agricultural Engineers, in
collaboration with Ellesmere Electronics,
has developed a system known as Auto-
mated Farm Management System for the
1980s (AFMS-80) to identify automat-
ically €ach cow on its arrival in the milk-
ing stall, record its milk yield, deliver a
ple-programmed quantity of feed into
the manger, and to weigh the cow on its
exit. These operations are managed by
three dedicated microprocessors and a
purpose-built micro based on a 54K
Motorola 6800 processor with software
developed by NIAE’s Dr Allen Burgess.
The interfacing hardware between the
cow and the micro is interesting. It was an
important consideration that any system
implemented should not require substan-
tial modification of existing work prac-
tices based on the so-called ‘herring-
bone” milking parlour, not least because
Ellesmere Electronics is a division of the
milking-equipment manufacturer Full-
wood and Bland which builds them.
The first obvious sign that this is no
ordinary dairy operation is when the cows
arrive for milking. Slung around their
necks on a bright-yellow, plasticised rib-
bon is a blue box about the size of a large
bar of chocolate. This is the cow’s elec-
tronic identity card.
Each of these transponders, as they are
known, can be programmed with one of
65,000 identities — enough for any con-
ceivable herd, or aggregation of herds,
since the system is eventually intended
for distributed control of several farms
via Modem-landline links.
The transponder is energised by a coil
on the front of each manger and transmits
its identity as a radio signal to the cow-
identification processor and the milk-
yield processor, alerting the latter to
record the yield against the cow’s identity
number, and the former to deliver the
appropriate predetermined quantity of
feed for her. But how to persuade the
cow to lower her head and eat and thus
energise the whole system? Elementary
—a small quantity of feed is delivered to
the manger as a “carrot”.
The milk is weighed on a strain gauge
and the figures for each individual cow’s
yield are recorded against its identity in
the main farm-management system,
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982'
which is a conventional-looking micro
away: from the dairy parlour. Here the
data can be printed out at the time of
milking, and averaged to give a weekly
mean. This part of the system is now
working, with a 99 percent success rate in
identity capture, says agricultural officer
Chris Laycock.
Concurrently with the milk-weighing
operation, the cow-identification pro-
cessor signals the required balance of
feed required by each cow to the gravi-
metric feeding hoppers and the rest of its
dinner cascades down over its nose. In
productivity terms, this is the single most
important operation of AFMS-80.
Layout of the farm office.
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
The traditional skill of the dairyman is
to judge how much feed to give to a cow
during its lactation period in order to
obtain the best margin of return. A cow’s
milk yield grows and declines over a
10-month period, with two months
drying-off, when it does not produce
milk.
When Tess of the D’Urbervilles was a
milkmaid, this was all done by the skill
born of observation and experience. Now
the farmer has immediately at his dis-
posal the exact figures of each of the
twice-daily milkings, and of the weekly
mean. Further, any significant shortfall
can help detect disease in the individual
cow, or to assess the quality of feeds.
Chris Laycock showed me a weekly
printout which indicated that average
yields, for the week in which I visited,
were down by around 15 percent for a
substantial proportion of the herd. This
was attributable, he says, to a change to a
different feed silo with a rather poorer
grade of silage. In an experimental farm
such as Bridgets this is useful for test
purposes; for the average dairyman, it
represents an important step in improv-
ing his management judgement by put-
ting more precise and useful information
at his fingertips, and detecting illness as
early is possible.
Applications ===
By contrast the weighing operation,
which is undertaken as the cows leave the
milking parlour, has attained only a 60 to
70 percent success rate. The processor is
programmed, however, to reflect a figure
with a variance in weight, after positive
identification on the weighbridge, of
greater than 30kg. Cows are not by
nature unruly beasts but they cannot be
trained to step up in an orderly human
fashion, one by one, on to the weigh-
’ bridge. Nevertheless, over the course of a
week, the success rate attains 93 percent.
The farm’s director, Edwin Mundy,
enters the usual caveat with respect to
micros used in a traditional field of activ-
ity: “It is reasonable to expect that if used
intelligently, AFMS- 80 should make par-
lour operation easier, but one could fore-
see difficulties if it is viewed with sus-
picion by any operator who is called on to
work with it’’.
This is to say no more than that any
computer-based system needs expert
human skill. To this end there is a
monitor in the dairy parlour itself, giving
a 40-character, single-line display of
prompts such as “Cow number y Dump
Milk (mastitis)” and “Feeder number 4
failed”. System fault conditions can then
be rectified, either by hand, or by punch-
ing in data on the two keypads.
It also permits data to be entered or
retrieved by hand. If, for example, the
system fails to capture an identity, the
dairyman would then enter by hand the
freeze-brand number, which is twinned
with the transponder’s identity.
The most ambitious part of the
AFMS- 80 is the microcomputer station,
which is in an office overlooking the dairy
parlour at. Bridgets, but might well be
elsewhere, connected to a telephone line.
Data gathered from both the automatic
parlour equipment and the parlour-
control equipment is stored on 8in. flop-
‘pies, and further specific data may also be
entered via the keyboard.
Obviously the database work has to be
typed in manually — details of where the
stock came from, of its pedigree, its
medical history. Once at this point, herd
data may be manipulated and processed
in the conventional way.
One neat touch is the automatic digital
clock which switches on the whole system
ready to run —- along with a memory test
— at 4.30am. One of the interactive
programs which should shortly be run-
ning is the Daily Events and Action List,
which will highlight, via the parlour unit,
those cows which need veterinary atten-
tion, cows due on heat, due to be served
and due to calve.
AFMS-80 is still in its development,
although many farmers have expressed a
strong interest — the farm receives more
than 5,000 visitors a year. With the
increasing size of dairy herds and the cost
of skilled hands, it is not surprising that
automation has its attractions for
forward-thinking farmers. Oo
95
96
400 16K Computer. .......
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800 16K Computer........
410 Tape Recorder......
810 Disk Drive
822 Thermal Printer ;
825 80Column Printer... ..
850 RS 232 Interface
16K RAM Upgrade
Pair Paddles . .
Pair Joysticks . .
(ZO Cable . .
PrinterCable...........
Interface Cable ......
RS 232 Cable
MonitorCable .....
Thermal Paper
Master Disk a CMON
5 Blank Disks i ae
Word Processor .. .
Inv. Prog. 1 . nae
Conversational French
Conversational Spanish .
Conversational Italian
Music Composer ROM
Touchtype. . .
Gren . oc
Statistics...
EngxGzar . :
States and Capitals... ...
States Europe
Serena ss. ay
Telelink ROM
(2 Ee oe
PIONGWION, 2...
IRinigchotmincicier » Qeareiel. ©
AsteroidsROM..........
Bask/BallROM .........
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EhessROM ~ .. ioe oe. .
Missile CommandROM .. .
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ConversationalGerman ....
TOTAL
345.00
299.95
599.95
66.95
365.00
265.00
550.00
145.00
65.00
45.00
12.00
12.00
12.95
28.50
25.00
25.00
25.00
4.00
21.95
16.00
95.95
15.95
39.95
39.95
39.95
Laskys, the retail division of the Ladbroke Group of Campanies
@ Star Raiders ROM
Super Breakout ROM .
Assembler Editor ROM
Pilot ROM
Microsoft Basic
Technical Notes
Operating System Lists
OOS Lists
DOS 2 Manual
Birmingham
19/21 Corporation Steet, Birmingham,
62 41P, Tel: 021-632 6303,
Monger: Peter Stollord
300 yords from Buillring Centre.
e
Bristol
16/20 Penn Street, Bristol, BSI 3AN.
Tel: 0272 20421. Manager: Steve Heynes.
Between Holiday Innand C&A
Chester
The Forum, Northgate Street, Chester,
CHI 282. Tel: 0244 317667.
Manager: Jeremy Ashcroft,
Next to the Town Hall,
Edinburgh
4S1, James Centre, Edinburgh, EH} 35k
Tel: 031-556 6217, Manager: Colin Droper.
Eost end of Princes Srreet,
Si. James Centre.
Preston
1/4 Guildhall Arcade, Preston, PRI THR.
Tel: 0772 59264, Manager: Jim Comisky.
Directly under Guild Hall.
Space InvadersROM .......
Spacelinvaders! 6 c...2..55
JAICROCOMPUTERS)
TOTAL
2 6 See 29.95
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35.95
35.95
39.95
dbotes B5% 4 79.95
io ae 59.95
oe : 17.95
seerevatrs 11.95
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Poy eee 5.95
‘Il Shops
Across Lake U.K.
7-9 Queensway (off Bayswater Road)
London W2 3RX Tel: 051-229 6425
Manchester
12/14 St. Mary's Gate, Market Street,
Manchester, M1 IPX. Tet: 061-832 6087.
Manoger: Lesly Jacobs.
Corner of Deansgote.
Glasgow
22/24 Wes! Nile Street, Glosgow, G7 2PF,
Tel: 041-226 3349.
Manager: David Livingstone, Between
Auchannon Street and Centrat Station,
Sheffie
58 Leopold Street, Sheffield, St 2GZ.
Tel: 0742750971.
Manager: Justin Rowles. Top of the
Moor, opposite Town Hail,
Liverpool
33 Dale Street, Liverpool, L2 2HF.
Tel: 051-236 2828, Manager: Mark Butler.
Between the Town Holl ond Magisirates
Courts.
London
42 Tottenhom Court Road, London,
WI ORO, Tel: 01-696 08.45,
Manager: Vass Demosthenis.
@ Circle No. 160
PRACTICAL COMPUTING Apnil 1982
Topology
Jonathan Bowen strikes out beyond our familiar, solid world with a program to
generate projections of cubes of four, five and more dimensions.
eal
SL
See
K Apex
X
EVER SINCE the concept of a _ three-
dimensional, physical world has been
understood there has been a fascination
with the possibility that there might be
fourth, and further, dimensions. Henry
More (1614-1687) considered that spirits
have four dimensions. In The Time
Machine, H G Wells suggested that the
fourth dimension is time, which can be
misleading since time is somewhat differ-
ent from the other three, spatial dimen-
sions we know.
Abbott’s Flatland is probably nearer
the mark, Abbott considers the life of a
two-dimensional square which suddenly
has the chance to travel in three dimen-
ZINN
OF
er’
cf
PLT LOS
sions. This gives the square the ability to
see inside objects in its two-dimensional |
world, something it previously thought
was impossible. Using this analogy from
three to four dimensions, we would be
able to see inside solid objects if we were
able to break out of our own three-
dimensional world irito the fourth dimen-
sion.
Taking the analogy further, when a
three-dimensional object crosses a two-
dimensional world, its inhabitants simply
see an object appear from nowhere, grow
in size, changing its shape in a rather odd
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
UNS
KY
NE
Bea
SY
NE
Figure 1. Projection of
an eight-dimensional cube.
HYPERCUBE
manner if the object is irregular, and then
decrease in size until it disappears again.
In our world this would be the equivalent
of an object suddenly appearing some-
where, growing in size, shrinking and
then disappearing without trace. If this
sounds disturbing it is because we do not
fully understand the fourth dimension.
We may define a dimension as being a
direction which is at right angles to any
other dimension. In our world we simply
run out of directions after we have
defined three dimensions — length, width
and height, for example.
Added dimension
There is no reason why there should be
anything special about three dimensions,
apart from the fact that we live in a
three-dimensional world. Thinking in
terms of three dimensions is simply of the
most practical use to us. We are quite
willing to project three-dimensional
objects into two dimensions when we
draw or photograph them — again, this is
because it is useful to us.
There is no reason why we may not
project objects of more than three
dimensions. Note that in this case we also
have the choice of projecting them into
three dimensions if we wish. Probably the
simplest and most interesting objects to
consider for projection are ‘‘polytopes”,
which are geometrical figures bounded by
portions of lines, planes or hyperplanes,
for polytopes of two, three, and four or
more dimensions respectively.
In two dimensions the polytope is
known as a polygon and in three dimen-
sions it is known as a polyhedron. For
simplicity we shall restrict ourselves to
regular polytopes in which all the ver-
tices, edges, faces, etc. are the same. In
two dimensions they are the equilateral
triangle, square, regular pentagon etc. —
there are an infinite number of them.
In three dimensions there are only five
regular solids, known as the Platonic
polyhedra: they are the tetrahedron,
cube, octahedron, dodecahedron and
icosahedron. A complete description of
these and many other polyhedra may be
found in Mathematical Models by H M
Cundy and A P Rollett.
Regular polytopes
In four dimensions there are six regular
polytopes, five of which may be consi-
dered as the four-dimensional equival-
ents of the Platonic polyhedra. They are
described in H S M Coxter’s Regular
Polytopes. It turns out that the tetrahed-
ron, cube and octahedron have similar
equivalents in any number of dimensions.
A simple algorithm may be used to
generate the polytope for the next dimen-
sion up in each case, and they may be
projected in two dimensions. The cube
was choosen here since it produces more
interesting projections, with square
rather than triangular sides. For those
interested in investigating more compli-
cated polytopes, Coxeter’s Regular Com-
plex Polytopes is recommended.
A cube of N dimensions may be gener-
ated from a cube of N—1 dimensions in
the following manner. Take the (N—1)-
dimensional cube and redraw it, dis-
placed by a distance equal to length of
one of its sides along a new dimension.
Join the corresponding vertices of each of
the old cubes to form the new cube.
You can demonstrate the process by
starting with a “cube” of zero dimen-
sions. It consists of a single point, as does
any zero-dimensional object. Displace
the point along any dimension by a given
distance — say a distance L from the
origin along the X-axis, see figure 2. You
now have a line of length L or a one-
dimensional cube.
Next, displace the line a distance L
along a new dimension — say the Y-axis
— and join the corresponding ends as in
figure 3. You have now formed a square,
which is a two-dimensional cube.
Now expand along the Z-axis, join the
(continued on next page)
97
(continued from previous page)
corresponding comers, and form the
standard three-dimensional cube — see
figure 4,
By displacing the cube along a new axis
— say the W-axis — and joining the
corresponding vertices, you form what is
generally known as a hypercube or four-
dimensional cube — see figure 5. You
may continue this process as many times
as you wish to form a multidimensional
cube of any given number of dimensions.
The listed program draws
N-dimensional cubes. It was written for a
Research Machines 380-Z microcompu-
ter with high-resolution graphics, but
could be adapted to run on any computer
with Basic and a line-plotting facility of
some sort. The number of dimensions
that can be plotted is limited by the
resolution of the plotting device. Above
about eight dimensions the cube becomes
too complex to be viewed on the 380-Z
screen.
Other systems may be able to plot
more or fewer dimensions than this.
Below three dimensions the figure is no
longer a true cube. The program draws
the cubes symmetrically, so that above
about four dimensions some very pretty
and interesting patterns are produced —
see figures 1 and 6.
The program works as follows. First
the desired number of dimensions is read
into the variable N in line 170. Lines 260
to 400 initialise the arrays XM and YM
which contain the co-ordinate offsets
necessary to plot each possible direction
of the cube’s sides. Lines 410 to 520
calculate the origin co-ordinates X0,Y0
and the size factor F. Line 530 positions
the origin.
The For loop from lines 540 to 830
calculates the start and firiish positions of
each side of the cube and draws a line
N-dimensional cube-drawing program.
N-dimensional cube PReaman
to run on Research
with high resolution_graphics,
Written ax Jonathan Bowen
Imperial Coilege, London
te 2 81
PYRI ) 1981 J.P. BOWEN
ie ) »,11¢10), 12010)
OTO 140
G
“N-dimensional cube program”
a
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30
TAB(S)3N3; “dimensional cube”
Po. ba
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60
70
80
90
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20
21
22
23
24
23
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
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37
38
39
40
41
42
43
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WANN S< MOM a2 HO TN DMO VION TD
98
achines 3802
Sw7 2Az.
of dimensions (2-10)"3N
Figure 4. Generating a cube.
between them. Arrays JA and JB contain
flags — with values of 0 or 1 — which are
used to indicate which co-ordinate offsets
are to be used for the beginning and end
co-ordinates of each side plotted. Lines
610 to 660 calculate the starting position,
and line 670 positions the current co-
ordinates at that position. Lines 680 to
730 calculate the end position and line
740 draws a line to that position. Finally
the program loops back to line 90, dis-
plays the number of dimensions of the
cube — line 140 — and prompts the user
for a new value of N. The program may
then be rerun if desired or terminated by.
qa
TON
One
HEN XO=X0+X1(J)
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jefelelelelelelelelstelsiclelelslelalelslelalelelalsiclelclelcleleleleleleleleletel
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i=)
Figure 5. Generating a hypercube.
typing a carriage-return on a blank line.’
The following lines contain special calls
and commands to control graphics on the
Research Machines 380-Z, and must be
changed for other systems:
Line 90 puts the 380-Z into graphics mode in
which only the last four lines are used to
display text while the rest of the screen is
used for plotting.
Line 180 sets the resolution and clears the
screen.
Line 230 resets the screen to normal mode.
Line 530 sets the position of the origin on the
screen, For other systems the values of X0,
YO and F — the co-ordinates of the new
origin, and the size factor — will probably
need to be adjusted. Change lines 410 to
520 as necessary. :
Line 670 moves the current position to the
co-ordinates X, Y. It also draws a point at
that position, but this is not necessary for
the program to work.
Line 740 draws a line from the current position
to a new position at co-ordinates X, Y.
In line 260 the value of z is specified as
3.14159, It may be given to more or
fewer decimal places, depending on the
accuracy of your Basic. Alternatively, it
may be calculated using the expression
4.0 %ATN(1.0).
The program is written in a standard
Basic, and there should be few problems
transferring the program to another com-
puter with the necessary hardware and
software graphics capabilities.
Flatland by E A Abbott, sixth edition, Black-
well, 1950.
Mathematical Models by H M Cundy and A P
Rollett, second edition, Oxford University
Press, 1961.
Regular Polytopes by H S M Coxeter, second
edition, Macmillan, 1963.
Regular Complex Polytopes by H S M Coxe-
ter, Cambridge University Press, 1974.
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
= Topology
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Available for most CP/M machines including Xerox 820, Superbrain,
North Star, IMS 5000, Equinox, RARE, Osborne, CPM Apple, Vector,
Sharp, NEC, 8” IBM Format.
Also available for PDP 11 and GEC:4080 series.
Other languages to follow.
Write or phone for full details.
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Figure 6. Projections of cubes in five, g_ Year of purchase: i
six and seven dimensions. ho ce ce ce ee ees oe nn ee ee
. @Circle No. 161
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982 99
Reading matters
SPECIFIC DIFFICULTIES in acquiring read-
ing skills can be a cause of distress to
parents, exasperation to teachers and
downright misery to the student. The
problem often does not lie with the
amount of effort the student is making
but with the lack of some specific skill.
Children, or for that matter adults,
experiencing difficulty with acquiring
reading skills will often not know why
they are failing to make progress.
Research has shown that reading dif-
ficulties are often associated with an
inability to recognise shapes and patterns,
since reading depends fundamentally on
the ability to recognise letter shapes.
Although recognition problems can be
easy to appreciate in young children and
those with severe difficulties, they can be
overlooked once a reader has achieved
some proficiency. Where these difficul-
ties persist they can lead to “hiccups” in
the flow of reading causing loss of contex-
tual cues and leading to further confu-
sion. For example, a student reading
“dent” in place of “‘bent’”’-can be thrown
into confusion over the rest of the sen-
tence.
Slowness in recognising letters also
affects reading speed. It is generally ack-
nowledged that slow reading speeds are
not only inefficient but also disrupt com-
prehension.
Remedial techniques such as teaching
specific rules or approaches — e.g., magic
e or word division — can themselves be
hindered by poor letter recognition. The
magic e rule relies specifically on know-
ledge of the names and sounds of the
vowels. Difficulties with either of these,
even if confined to just one letter, mean
the student’s use of the rule will be inef-
fective and frustrating.
Difficulties masked
As a reader acquires skill, it becomes
more difficult to detect specific problems.
Often this is because the speed of reading
can mask minor difficulties or because
the student uses a reading technique
which ensures that any problems are kept
as private as possible.
The conventional way of diagnosing
problems in letter recognition is to use
flash cards. Flash cards are like a pack of
large playing-cards. On each one, a single
letter is printed in large print. The
teacher holds up one card at a time and
the pupil is asked to identify it. This
method can be used to see if any gross
difficulty is being experienced. Its major
drawback is that it will not detect the
child who requires only slightly longer
than average to recognise the letter; the
speed and timing of presentation cannot
be sufficiently quick or accurate. To
overcome these limitations the profes-
100
-| 790-860
Turn your micro into a
tachistoscope — a device
which displays letters or
figures on the screen at a
given rate to help children or
adults over reading
difficulties. Mike and Wendy
Cook show you how to make
the software transformation.
sional research worker turns to a
tachistoscope.
A tachistoscope is a machine much
used by research workers in the field of
psychology. It is a device for presenting a
series of letters or figures on a screen with
an accurately-controlled display time and
display rate. These devices were designed
before the advent of interactive comput-
ers and have tended to be expensive and
PROGRAM FUNCTIONS
100-160 Sets up initial variables and
turn on real-time clock.
Reads in the prepared groups;
there may be up to 20 groups
as defined by Data statements
in lines 1280-1340.
Titles and the inputting of the
number of characters required
for display.
Selecting the type of letter
group required.
Defines full alphabet.
Enters keyboard-defined letter
group.
Picks letter group from your
defined set.
Converts letter group to lower
case if necessary.
Tests whether letter group has
more than one type of letter in
it: with only one type of letter
this would crash the program
at lines 1020-1030.
Enters the display time and
gap time. '
Makes up random letters from
chosen group for display.
Consecutive letters are tested
to ensure that they are not the
same.
Draws box on display for the
characters as a guide to where
the letters will appear.
Runs tachistoscope.
Pauses until a key is pressed
and loop for another run.
Data statements for prepared
groups. Those shown are the
ones that have been found to
be useful. They may be altered
or added to by putting extra
Data statements in front of line
1340. For clarity, use one data
statement per group and
always end the group with the
number zero:
180-200:
210-330
340-410
380
420-600
610-750
760-780
870-1000
1010-1040
1050-1140
1140-1240
1250-1260
1280-1340
only used by professionals. Careful use of
this instrument has helped to diagnose
specific reading difficulties, and to devise
a course of treatment to help overcome
them.
The tachistoscope enables letters to be
presented for a very short length of time,
much shorter than would be possible
manually. The rate of presentation can be
accurately controlled, whereas with man-
ual presentation there is always a ten-
dency to pause until the pupil has made
an attempt. A tachistoscope can show
each letter for such a short time that
recognition has to be almost subliminal,
the delay between each letter can be long
enough for the brain to process the
information and for the student to
respond.
Our program enables a computer to act
as a tachistoscope, and as such it is much
more flexible than many conventional
tachistoscopes. It is written for a TRS-80
disc-based system or Level-II Basic,
though no disc commands are used. A
real-time clock is used to control display
times; it can be replaced by timing loops
as shown with only a small loss in accu-
racy.
For non-specialists
For best use of the program, the
lower-case modification should be instal-
led, but it will run perfectly on upper-
case-only machines. The ideas it
embodies can easily be adapted to any
personal computer — there are no essen-
tial special graphics or commands. The
program is written to be used by non-
specialist and is particularly difficult to
crash so it is slightly longer than a ‘bare
bones” program. Though the menu sys-
tem is often considered to make a pro-
gram easy to use, the binary tree
question-and-answer system was chosen
for this program. It was found that it
forced the user to think about changing
parameters which might have been over-
looked, and for testing, this was consi-
dered to be a more suitable form of
operation for the program.
The program asks for each parameter
that is to be used: the display times; the
letter set required; the number of letters
in the run; and the timing required. The
program then draws a box in the centre of
the screen, and the letters are flashed
within it. The student has to say the letter
name, or the letter sound — depending
upon the exercise — at sufficient speed as
‘to keep up with the display.
At the end of the predetermined
number of characters, any or all of the
parameters may be changed. Any para-
meter can be left unaltered simply by
pressing Enter.
The practical operation of the program
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
consists of diagnosis and training phases.
In the diagnosis phase, the program
allows letters to be presented at realistic
rates so that difficulties can be detected.
The rate can be altered to suit the needs
of individual students.. Two components
determine the overall speed of presenta-
tion:
@ the length of time for which the letters are
presented,
@ the delay between presentation of succes-
sive letters.
both of which can be individually control-
led using options provided in the pro-
gram.
The computer program can be used to
detect slowness in letter recognition, or to
pin-point specific difficulties such as b/d,
j/g confusion, or problems naming
vowels, etc. Alternatively it can be used
to make a detailed analysis of patterns of
difficulties with the aim of discovering
specific areas of weakness. For example,
n,u,m,w confusion would indicate visual
difficulties; confusing a,e,i,o indicates
auditory difficulties; confusing b,d,p,q
indicates confusion over orientation, and
so on. On the basis of such analysis,
appropriate remedial techniques can be
implemented.
For training, the computer program
can be used to increase a student’s speed
in recognising letters, or to aid discrimi-
nation of specific letters. Overall slow-
ness can be improved by practising the
full alphabet — option F in the program
— at increasing speeds. In such cases,
where there are no discrimination prob-
lems, we recommend fast presentation
times of 0.05 to 0.1s., and gradually-
Glossary
Magic e: The rule which states that ane at
the end of the word makes the previous
vowel say its name rather than its sound,
for example hat/hate or cod/code.
Word division: The word is split into its
component parts, each of which is read
separately before the whole word is
attempted. For example, “preliminary”
becomes PRE+LIM+IN+ARY.
decreasing delay times beginning 1.5s.
and working towards 0.3s.
Where there are specific difficulties,
the prepared-group — option P in the
program — is useful. A problem group
can be pre-programmed so that the stu-
dent is given practice in discrimination.
Slower presentation times in the range
0.3 to 0.7s. are necessary, but the delay
times can be shorter at 0.2 to 0.6s.
Diagnosis of problems obviously
requires the parent or teacher to be pres-
ent, but for training purposes the pro-
gram can be used by students working
alone. Only a brief explanation of the
program should be necessary.
It has been found that 30 is the best
number of characters for a run if the full
alphabet is being used, while 15 seems
sufficient for smaller groups.
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
There are three choices.for the type ‘of
character group:
F, the full alphabet is useful for diagnosis and
general speed training.
P, prepared groups, are used when emphasis
is to be placed on a subset of Jetters. They
are stored in Data statements at the end of
the program and can be added to or
changed by altering these statements. This
mode is useful for training on specific
difficulties.
D, defined groups, allows the operator to
define a set of characters from the
keyboard. This is usefu! in experimenting
with groups for subsequent inclusion in the
prepared group list. The frequency of
occurrence of any particular letter is gov-
erned by the number of times it appears in
100 *TACHISTOSCOPE BY M.K,COOK 1982
110 CLEAR 1000
480 IF DF$="" THEN S20
490 FOR A=1 TO LEN(DFS$)
500 PRINT MID$(DF$,A,1);" "4
510 NEXT
520 AS=INKEYS : IF AS="" THEN S20
S30 T=ASC (As)
540 IF T > 90 THEN 520
350 IF T = 8 AND LEN(DFS) >
TO S20
560 IF T-= 8 THEN 320
= 13 AND LE* $)
580 IF T <> 13 THEN
IF LEN(DF$) > 2%
Atgy" ";
600 GOTO 760
610 PRINT" YOU HAVE
INPUT"PRESS R i
IF LEN(AS) > 2
IF AS <> "R" Thi
650 FOR A=1 TO NM
660 PRINT"GROUP ";A;' asd - "5
670 FOR Al=1 TO LEN(G${A))
680 PRINTMID$(G#(A),A1,1)3" “3
690 NEXT
7Q0 PRINT
710 NEXT
720 GOTO 620
VAL (AS)
TO 610
740 IF NG=0 THEN At=AS+"XXX"
750 D$=G% (NG)
760 INPUT"UPPER OR LOWER CASE ( U/L )
770 IF Cs = "U" OR C$ = "L"
780 IF Cs="U" THEN T$=D% 2 GOTO 830
790 Ts=""
800 FOR A=1 TO LEN(D$)
850
120 DIM RS(101),G6% (20)
130) 6©CLS : RANDOM
140 CMDR”
150 N=10 : DT=.3 2 GT= 1.5
160 NM=1
170 READ As
180 IF AS <> "O" THEN GS(NM)=GS(NM)+AS = GOTO 170
190 READ AS
200 IF AS <> "O" THEN NM=NM+1 : GOTO 180
210 PRINT"RANDOM LETTER TACHISTOSCOPE - PRESS ENTER AFTER EACH ANSWER"
220 PRINT
30 T1=0
240 IF D%="" THEN 280
250 INPUT"SAME AGAIN OR CHANGE SOMETHING ( S/C ) “;AS
260 IF At="S" THEN 1010
270 IF AS <> "C" THEN PRINT "PLEASE ANSWER ONE LETTER S OR C ” : GOTO 250
280 PRINT"LAST RUN YOU HAD "s5N;" CHARACTERS"
290 INPUT"ENTER NEW FIGURE OR PRESS ENTER FOR SAME NUMBER ";T1
300 IF T1 <> O THEN N=T1
310 IFN > 100 THEN PRINT"100 IS THE MAXIMUM" =: GOTO 290
320 < 1 THEN PRINT "STOP MESSING ABOUT" : GOTO 290
330 " THEN 370
340 INPUT"DO YOU WANT THE SAME GROUP OF LETTERS ¢ Y/N ) ";AS
350 IF At="¥" THEN 760
360 IF AS <> “N" THEN PRINT"PLEASE ANSWER ONE LETTER ( Y OR N ) "a GOTO 340
370 INPUT"FULL ALPHABET / PREPARED GROUP / DEFINE GROUP ( F/P/D )"3R%
380 IF Rs="F" THEN D$="ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ" : GOTO 760
390 IF R&="P" THEN 610
400 IF R® <> "D" THEN PRINT"PLEASE ANSWER ONE LETTER ( F,P OR D )":GOTO 370
410 IF DFS="" THEN GOTO 470
420 IF DFS <> "" THEN PRINT : PRINT”"CURRENT LETTERS ARE - "gDFS
430 INPUT"DO YOU WISH TO ADD LETTERS OR INPUT A NEW SET (¢ A/N )"3AS
440 IF AS="N" THEN DFS="" :GOTO 460
450 IF AS <> “A" THEN PRINT"PLEASE ANSWER ONE LETTER ( A OR N )":GOTO 430
460 PRINT
470 PRINT“PLEASE ENTER LETTERS — PRESS ENTER TO FINISH"
O THEN PRINT A$;AS;
> 1 THEN PRINT :
: DFS=DFS+As
+N PRINT"MAXIMUM NUMBER OF LETTERS REACHED"
eD ";NM;" GROUPS”
EW YOUR GROUPS OR THE GROUP REQUIRED ";As
RINT"PLEASE TYPE JUST R OR GROUP NUMBER": GOTO 620
: GOTO 730
‘IF NG > NM THEN PRINT"THIS IS QUTSIDE THE RA ‘GE OF YOUR PF PARED GROUPS ":GO
: GOTO 630
"50%
THEN 780 ELSE 760
810 TS=TS+CHRs (ASC (MIDS (D$,A,1)) +32)
820 NEXT
830 IF LEN(T$) < 2 THEN PRINT"THIS GROUP IS TOO SHORT " :GOTO 370
B40 A=2
IF LEFTS(T¢,1) <> MID$(T$,A,1) THEN 870
the group. As the letters are picked out of
the group at random — with the constraint
that the letter picked must not be the same
as the last letter — it is usual to have at least
three different letters in the group. The
program will prevent you from putting only
one letter in a group. Note the back-space
arrow still works, and so it is possible to
delete an entry.
U/L allows the characters to be pre-
sented in either upper or lower case. The
lower-case hardware modification has to
be installed for this to work, but no
software driver is needed. Upper case can
be more readable, but lower case occurs
more frequently in rea‘ing and so is
preferable. More difficulties show up
(continued on next page)
DFS=LEFTS(DFS,LEN(DF$)-1) : bu
Ds=DF% : GOTO 760
ELSE GOTO 52
(listing continued on next page)
101
(listing continued from previous page)
860 IF A < LEN(T#) THEN A=A+1 : GOTO 850 ELSE PRINT"THIS GROUP OF LETTERS IS ALL
THE SAME” : GOTO 370
870 PRINT"CURRENT DISPLAY TIME IS ";DT;" SECONDS”
880 T1=0
890 INPUT" INPUT NEW TIME OR PRESS ENTER TO KEEP CURRENT TIME "yT1
900 IF T1 <> O THEN DT=T1
910 TD=INTt(DT* 40)
920 IF TD > 252 THEN PRINT"DISPLAY TIME TOO LONG ”
930 IF TD < 2 THEN PRINT”DISPLAY TIME TOO SHORT “
940 PRINT" TIME BETWEEN DISPLAYS IS CURRENTLY ";GTy" SECONDS”
950 T1=0
960 INPUT" INPUT NEW TIME OR ‘PRESS ENTER TO KEEP CURRENT TIME
970 IF T1 <> O THEN GT=T1
FBO TG=INT(GT#40)
990 IF TG > 252 THEN PRINT“TIME GAP TOO LONG ”
1000 IF TG <¢ 2 THEN PRINT"TIME GAP TOO SHORT " :
1010 FOR A=1 TO N
1020 RS(A) =ASC (MIDS (T#,RND(LEN(TS)),1))
1030 IF RS(A) = RS(A-1) THEN 1020
1040 NEXT
1050 CLS
1060 PRINTCHRE (23) 5
1070 X1=36: X2=73: Y1=20: Y2=29
1080 FOR A=X1 TO X2
1090 SET(A, Y1) :SET(A, Y2)
1100 NEXT
1110 FOR A=Y1 TO Y2
1120 SET(X1,A) 8SET(X2,A)
1130 NEXT
1140 FOR A=1 TO 900:NEXT
1150 TS=16448 * TICK STORE
1160 CP=538+15360
1170 FOR A=1 TO N
1180 POKE(CP),RS(A)
1190 POKE(TS) ,O
1200 IF PEEK(TS) < TD THEN 1200
1210 POKE(CP), 32
1220 POKE(TS),0
1230 IF PEEK(TS) < TG THEN 1230
1240 NEXT
1250 PRINTS 960,"PRESS ANY KEY FOR ANOTHER RUN";
1260 IF INKEYS="" THEN 1260 ELSE CLS :
1270 *DATA STATEMENTS FOR GROUPS EACH GROUP TO END WITH ZERO
1280 DATA
1290 DATA
1300 DATA
1310 DATA
1320 DATA
1330 DATA
1340 DATA
1GOTOQ 890
#GOTO 890
s GOTO 960
GOTO 960
Education
(continued from previous page)
when using lower case; for example, b/d
confusion is common but B/D confusion
is rare. The quality of the display can be
improved by carefully adjusting the
brightness control of the monitor.
This program has been found to be
very helpful in both diagnosis and train-
ing. When using a new teaching method
there is always some doubt whether the
student is responding to the method-or
the novelty of the situation, but whatever -
the reason, this program works. It is
intended as a tool for remedial teaching,
to help teachers or parents to diagnose
and teach, though it is not a teaching
machine which will diagnose and over-
come letter-recognition difficulties by
itself
The program listing is for disc Basic
using the real-time clock. For Level II
Basic, remove line 140 and replace the
following two lines:
1200 FOR A1 = 1T0 10 % TD : NEXT
1230 FOR A1 = 1T0 10 % TG : NEXT
Lines 920 and 990 may then be
removed to allow a longer time to be
specified.
Any educational establishment which
would like a machine-readable copy of
this program should write on headed
note-paper, enclosing a cassette tape or
formatted disc with return postage to M
K Cook, Department of PMC, John Dal-
ton Building, Manchester Polytechnic,
Oxford Road, Manchester. 9
102
@ Circle No. 162
HOW FO
GET MORE
THE COMPUTER
TRAINING AND
EDUCATION
CENTRE.
CP/M* (User level) 2days
A practical course designed for those unfamiliar with
CP/M, familiarising the new user with the operation of
the typical hardware attached to a disc-based Z80
microprocessor system, and giving an understand-
ing of the facilities available and of its management
of disc files.
Advanced CP/M 2 days
This course is designed for those who wish to modify
the standard CP/M operating system and includes a
detailed investigation of BIOS and its interaction
with CCP andBDOS.Previous assemblerexperience
is essential.
Programming in BASIC 1 week
Giving a thorough understanding of the BASIC
language and enabling the student to put this
knowledge into practical use, facilitated by hands-on
sessions and practical exercises.
EC
A professional organisation with first class
training facilities in Central London.
*CP/M is the T/M of Digital Research Corp.
tWordstar is the T/M of Micropro Corp.
@Circle No. 163
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
Programming in PASCAL 3days
Giving an.understanding of structured programming
techniques as used in PASCAL and providing
practical experience on a microcomputer.
Wordstart Wordprocessing 2 days
Giving the user an understanding of the facilities
available in the Wordstar/Mailmerge Wordprocess-
ing System and hands-on experience which enables
this knowledge to be put to practical use.
All courses are in London. A wide range of
hardware is available for practical work.
Contact The Courses Secretary, Computer Training
& Education Centre Ltd, 102-108 Clerkenwell Road,
London EC1. 01-251 4010/4019.
LOO Uo eee ee Jt aR
(OROUUNSE UL Re a, coer cc eee
AG GSS ee oe
= .
|
|
103
Now you can do all
| accountinc ith
the filing typing and
Silicon Office is the latest microcomputer
oftware program from the Bristol Software Factory.
Designed specifically for use with the
‘ommodore PET 8096, it’ll help you run your office
vith the minimum amount of effort and maximum
fficiency.
Think of it like three normal software packages
n one, each separate package totally interactive with
he other.
For around £4,500, you can have the complete
Jectronic office, the solution to practically all your
yusiness problems. The price includes Commodore
\ardware, a high quality daisy wheel printer and
ilicon Office software.
Silicon Office is made up from a flexible
nformation management system which lets you
create and maintain an extensive filing
arrangement. Allowing you to search
quickly through your records, making
cross references between files in order to
gain the facts you require.
A highly sophisticated word
processing program allows you to
generate letters, documents and reports.
Letting secretaries get on with the more
important tasks.
And a fully comprehensive
calculator means you can handle all the
number crunching you're ever likely to
do in a business situation. Leaving the
— ee ES ee oe
accounts department to concentrate on more
profitable things.
But that’s not all by any means.
Silicon Office also has a special
programmability feature which means you or your
dealer can expand and tailor the Silicon Office
program to your business.
When Silicon Office is used in an everyday
business situation, certain command sequences are
inevitably repeated. By writing short, very simple
programs which are entered into the computer’s
memory, Silicon Office can perform the necessary
tasks, automatically.
And last, but by no means least is an optional
communications facility.
It doesn’t take much imagination to see the
potential of Silicon Office in virtually any line of
business.
So to get a better grasp, send away for our
brochure. It'll only cost you a stamp. And it could save
you a fortune. Or talk to your
local Commodore dealer who
has all the facts at his
fingertips.
You'll soon see how
you're much better off with
Silicon Office. Than without.
Fey
ELEN OFFELE a
I can’t wait to get my hands on a free copy of the Silicon Office brochure.
Name
Position.
Company
Address
J own a Commodore PET (Please tick box)
YES[] NO] |
Gael
USF Send to: Bristol Software Factory, PO Box 14, Horley, Surrey.
SELLER EIN a nen ag
-RACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
Sa? o—_—- Le
"eCircle ell
105
106
FAST
BUBBLES
A large part of any business
package’s working life is spent
sorting information. Cliff
Stanford shows how even the
common bubble sort can be
streamlined for efficiency.
THE MOST COMMON sort routine is the
bubble sort. In this method, adjacent
pairs of strings in an array are compared
with one another and, if necessary,
exchanged. This is tedious since in each
pass of the array, a particular string may
only move one place upwards. Con-
versely, one string only will move — or
bubble — to the end of the array on each
pass.
An example of the bubble sort is given
in the program listing, starting at line
9000. In this particular implementation
| — which was written for Commodore
microcomputers — rather then using two
For-Next loops, b is used to indicate the
bottom of the part of the array which has
not yet been sorted. This prevents the
time-wasting sorting of elements which
are already known to be in the correct
order.
Batcher’s method
However, to create a sort algorithm
whose running time is notably faster than
the bubble sort, non-adjacent elements of
the array must be selected for compari-
son. This means that strings may mave in
both directions more quickly than the
single step at a time possible with the
bubble-sort algorithms. Such an
algorithm was devised by K E Batcher in
1964. Not surprisingly it has become
known as the Batcher sort.
Batcher’s method involves setting
various pointers into the array and com-
paring the elements pointed to. The main
pointer in the implementation shown is p
which starts as the largest exact power of
two which is less than the number of
elements to sort. For example, with 100
elements to sort, p would start at 64.
other pointers are q, r and d which take
various values as the sort progresses.
The algorithm specifies precisely which
two strings are to be compared and, if
necessary, exchanged. If follows there-
fore, that as many comparisons are neces-
sary to sort an array which is already in
order as for one which is random.
Six main stages
The code for the Batcher sort starts at
line 10000 in the program listing. You
will note that six steps are highlighted:
@ Step 1: T is set to the least integer, such
that 2' is greater than or equal to n, where n
is the number of elements to be sorted. The
value of tis used to set p to the largest exact
power of 2, less than n.
@ Step 2: 0 Is initialised at the largest exact
power of 2, less than n. Ris set to zero and
dis set to p. At this stage, q, d and p are all
equal but it will soon be apparent than this
situation does not remain.
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
REM #1 He IR KR KK KK KK KK KK KK KKK KKK RK KK KER KKK ERK EKER ERK KE KEK KK
REM**
REM**
REM**
REM**
REM**
REM**
BATCHER / BUBBLE SORT ROUTINES
IMPETUS COMPUTER SYSTEMS
CLASSIC “OFFICES,
LONDON NW4 3NN
HENDON CENTRAL
DATED:
J UY, BUSSE
REM A 1 RK KK KK RK KKK KK HK KR KKK RRR KK KERR KERR KKK ERK RK K KEE KKK KK
REM
INPUTN: DEFFNRU(I
DEFFNRD(I)=INT(R
GOT06GGGD
B=N
)=IN
ND(1
(
1)
I<>INT(I)):DIMA$(N),BS(N)
T=O:FORJ=1TOB-1: IFB$(J)>B$(J+1) THENTS=B$(J):B$(J )=BS(J+1):B$(J41)=T$:T=J
NEXT: IFTTHENB=T: GOTO9G19
RETURN
T=FNRU(LOG(N)/LOG(2)):P=2( T-1)
Q=24(T-1):R=9:D=P
S=PORR: G=N-D-1:FORK=RTOGSTEPS*2:H=K+S-1: IFG<HTHENH=G
FORI=KTOH:J=I+1
IFA$(J)>A$(J+D) THENTS=AS(J):AS$(J)=A$S(J4D):A$(J4D)=T$
NEXT
NEXTK
IF0<>PTHEND=0-P :Q=0/2:R=P:GOT019930
P=INT(P/2): IFPTHEN19920
RETURN
REM
BENCH TEST
:REM
:REM
:REM
STEP
STEP
STEP
JREM STEP
> REM
> REM
STEP
STEP
) FORI=1TON:A$="":FORJ=1TOFNRD(4)+2:A$=AS+CHRS(FNRD(26) +64): NEXT
A$(1)=A$:B$(1)=A$: PRINTA$: NEXT: PRINT
PRINT"BATCHER",
PRINT"BUBBLE”,
:TI$="9GGGGG" :GOSUB1GOAD:X$=TIS$
:TI$="GB9GGG" :GOSUB9GDD: Y$=TIS
X=O:FORI=1TON: IFA$(1)<A$(I-1) THENX=1
NEXT: FORI=1TON: IFB$(1)<BS$(I-1)ORAS$(I)<>B$(1) THENX=1
NEXT: IFX=@THENPRINT"ARRAYS SORTED CORRECTLY": GOT06G100
PRINT"ERROR DISCOVERED IN CHECKING ARRAYS":STOP
PRINT"BATCHER SORT TOOK:
@ Step 3: The algorithm should read at this
point: for | = 0 to n-d-1: if (i and p) =r then
do step 4. This is however wasteful as it
means that, each time through the loop, i
must be incremented at all stages between
0 and n-d-1. It becomes clear on studying
the operation of this algorithm that i follows
a set pattern. It is, possible, therefore, to
obviate the need to test i at all. We set s
equal to por r, and g equal to the top limit of
n-d-1. K then becomes the various starting
points for the i loop and his the end of each
small loop. The only test necessary is to
check before entering the loop that his not
greater than g. Lines 10030 and 10040,
although longer than the line above, operate
very much faster. J is simply i + 1 to avoid 1
being added in six times on line 10050.
@ Step 4: This is the straightforward test and
exchange using the elements pointed to by j
andj + d. Itis possible to use i instead of j in
this line but | had decided that | did not wish
the zero element of the array to be included
in the sort.
@ Step 5. 0 is now tested against p. If they are
not yet equal, then d becomes the differ-
ence between q and p, qis halved and r is
set to p. We must then return to step 3 for
the new values of q, d and r.
@ Step 6. When q and p become equal, we
halve p.and return to step 2. The reason for
the integer function Is that it forces p to end
at 0 giving us a clean exit.
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
"X$:PRINT"BUBBLE SORT
The program lines from 60000
onwards compare the Batcher sort with
the speeded-up version of the bubble
sort. When the program is run, the user is
prompted for a value of n. Line 60010
then generates n random strings of length
between 2 and 6. These are put into a$(i)
and b$(i). The Batcher method then sorts
the a$ array and the bubble sort the b$
array. The time taken to sort each array is
recorded in x$ and y$ respectively.
Time trials
Line 60060 checks that the a$ array is
correctly sorted. Similarly, line 60070
checks that the b$ array is correctly
sorted and that the two arrays still con-
tain identical data. If any discrepancy is
discovered then an appropriate message
is printed. Otherwise, the message
Arrays sorted correctly
is printed and the timings for the two
sorts are listed. :
If the program is run for values up to
about 25 elements, it will be seen that the
bubble sort is indeed quicker. This is,
simply because the Batcher spends a
good deal of time setting pointers and
initialising variables. However, from
about 25 elements onwards, the Batcher
TOOK: "Y$
sort moves into its own. When sorting 40
strings, the bubble sort takes about twice
as long as the Batcher: for 100 strings the
time saving becomes something like 70
percent and for 1,000 strings, the Batcher
takes about 10 minutes as opposed to
marginally less than three hours for the
bubble sort. These timings were made
under Basic 4.0.
Under Basic 2.0 the times saved would
be substantially greater because of the
garbage-collection problems in moving
the strings so many times. Interestingly,
for large arrays a Batcher sort written in
Basic may even out-perform a bubble
sort written in assembler. On the other
hand, the machine-code version of the
Batcher sort which I have developed will
sort an array of 1,000 elements in less
than 10 seconds.
The Batcher sort is a most efficient
algorithm for sorting volumes of data in
| situ. If anyone would like a copy of the
assembler sort, send a cheque for £15
plus VAT — £17.25 — and I will send
him a disc with both the source code and
‘absolute code. Please state the disc for-
mat — 3040, 4040 or 8050. Basic 2.0 and
Basic 4.0 versions will be included on the
disc.
107
Sortins ===
How shell method
orders strings
Eric Dale scrutinises the shell
algorithm as a solution for
faster sorting.
TO ORDER a list alphabetically is an
everyday requirement in data processing.
For efficient use of computing time, the
ordering routine should be very fast in its
response. Certain string-sorting tech-
Niques require data to be moved about in
memory until it is positioned correctly.
Such an upheaval can be compared to
moving house, lock stock and kitchen
| sink.
For example, a street of five homes,
which house families C, A, D, B, and E,
has been selected for reorganisation in
such a way that family A will live at
number 1, family B at number 2 and so
on. Imagine the uproar and chaos such a
move would cause.
A simple solution to the problem is
that the door numbers should be altered
so that the new street numbers appear as
3, 1, 4, 2 and 5. This answer is sometimes
used in string sorting, especially where
long strings. are involved. At first data
must be compared letter by letter, but
then on completion of the comparison
only the addresses need by changed.
Having decided on the method of
| mobilising data, it is important to choose
an algorithm or set of rules for selecting
the pieces of data for comparison and
when this will take place. The sorting
: algorithm I have chosen is a shell sort.
In brief, the idea is to start with a
coarse adjustment to the list and as
rapidly as possible make finer and more
‘detailed movements until the sort is com-
pleted. In a list of 20 elements the sort
ee re ever i
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108
starts by comparing entries displaced by
10 positions and ordering them. Having
completed the cycle through the list, the
displacement is halved and the sort
begins again. The whole operation is
repeated until the order is alphabetic.
If two strings are out of order, the
exchange is treated as an interrupt. and
the current position in the list is stored —
a case of “Mind my place in the queue
while I am away’’. The addresses of the
strings are exchanged and a reverse-
direction comparison begins, allowing the
misplaced element to bubble up the list.
The servicing of the interrupt is termi-
nated when the element has achieved its
rightful position, and the proceedings can
continue as befare — “I have returned to
claim my place in the queue”’.
To time any program sort is very dif-
ficult, since it depends so much on the
original data. You can, however, use the
times taken to complete the sorting with
the original data in the following orders:
@ Alphabetic — already sorted
@ Random order
@ Reverse order
The test data should be of the worse
possible type. It should have two proper-
ties:
@ strings all the same length
@ only the last letter is different
For example,
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaab
aaaadaaaaaaaaaaa
would take longer to sort into order than
h
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaab
aaaaaaaaaa
SOURCE Fur STRING
EMODIFIED STRINGS
tHE HAME STRING
FOR
ie US Die
aK
The program should be stored in the
top of memory at 32000 — 7D00 hexa-
decimal — and appropriate protection
should be given to it by changing loca-
tions 49, 51 and 53 to 124 (7C). Entry is
made by a Sys call. The string array to be
ordered is stored with the title A$, but
this can be altered by changing the con-
tents of locations H and H+1.
The program begins by finding the
location of the start-of-string storage and
searches for the required string-array
name — A$ in this case. Failure to find
the array returns the user to Basic. If the
name A$ is encountered, the data con-
cerning the number of members is stored
and used to compute the first offset for
comparing the members. Each member
of the array called A$ has its details
stored in three bytes,
@ The first byte contains the string length.
@ The second byte contains the low-byte
address of the start of the string
@ The third byte contains the high-order byte.
Two members are compared letter by
letter. Some strings will be longer than
others and in such a case the number of
letters in the shorter string will be the
maximum number of comparisons to be
considered. For example,
9999
will require three comparison operations
when considered against
999
The outcome will be
999
9999
Very fast times for sorting have been
tecorded with this program and there
may be scope for its use with floating-
point numbers.
SHELL METHOD
Bey
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POUPL IGATE
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(continued on page 111),
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
WHEN IT COMES
O MICROCOR
SOFT WARE
WE WROTE
SO
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Copyright © 1981, by Lifeboat Associates.
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PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
@ Circle No. 165
109
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4
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To: CLENLO COMPUTING SYSTEMS LIMITED,
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PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
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PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
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Sorting
(continued from page/108)
31S IT THE RIGHT HEADER
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LEMENT NUMBERS
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7& STORE IT CHI &
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GET DATA ON STRIHG
LO>
3SET UP HEXT STRIHG—
;RADODRESS SO AS HOT TO-
;OVERRUN
;RETURN
#LOOK FURTHER ON
3SET UP WHEW SEARCH AREA
7CHECK IF GONE TOO FAR
3ACC-HI SHOULD BE +
31IF HOT STOP
#START TO PRODUCE S=¢H+15/2
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(continued on next page)
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111
(continued from previous page)
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112 PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
ae Sorting <=
@221 7EC1 AD 78 ?7F LBA PL 2SRAVE ‘YOUR PLACE
e222 7EC4 90 30 7F STA PLAS
@223 7EC7 AD 79 7F LOR PH PSAVE YOUR PLACE
@224 7ECR 8D 81 7F STA PHHAS
@225 7ECD AD 79 7F L26 LDA PH eDROP BACK ONE & RETEST °
@226 7ED0 8D 70 7F STA CH
@227 7EDS AG 78 7F LBA PL ICOMPARISON TAKES CURREFT
Be2e rEDEG G&D 7C 7F STA CL SPRIMARY FOINTER VALUE
azz9 7ED9 33 sec sSET UP OOUBLE PRECISION
@23@ 7EDR ED 72 7F spc DUM1 sSUBTRACTION
@231 7END 8D 7a 7F STA PL #CL-S=PL
a Con Pn e compact 1.
@233 7EES ED 73 7F sBC DUM2
8234 7EEG 8D 79 7F STA PH
@235 7EE9 ICHECK IF NEW PRIMARY POINTER STILL IN RANGE tan a one om uter
@236 TEED aTHE HEL! PRIMARY POINTER MUST BE >=
@237 7EED #70 THE ORIGINAL <PHDUP+PLDUP> g
0238 7EES AD 73 7F LOR PL 3S0 PH/PL -— PHOUP/PLDOUP
e239 7EEC 38 SEC ;SHOULD BE POSITIVE
e240 7EED ED 7A 7F SBC PLDUP
6241 7EFA AD 79 7F LDR PH
@242 7EF3 ED 7B 7F SBC PHDUP
0243 7EF6 EA NOP
8244 7EF? ER NOP
e245 7EFB ER HOF
e246 7EFS 10 @3 BPL L168 20K + VAT
@247 7EFR 4C Ol 7F IMP EXITN 2NOT OK
e248 7EFE 4C F270 L168 JMP La
Bi er fe" Siw ae pnt seven INCLUDING VISUAL DISPLAY
e288 7Fe2 AD ee: LOA #o ZWAS PREVIOLIS OP A REVERSAL? |
251 7FQ4 CD GE 7F CMP RF N “ke A D K A D
e252 7Fa7 Fe 1B BEQ L22 sNO N
0253 7Fe9 af GE 7F STA RF yYES CLEAR IT
@254 7FeC AD 80 7F LOR PLUAS
e255 7FOF 80 78 7F STA PL
e256 7F12 AD e1 7F LDA PHAS
@257 7F15 8D 79 7F STA PH
e258 7F18 AD 7F 7F LDR CHWAS
@259 ?7FiB 8D 7D ?F STR CH
@260 7F1E AD 7E ?F LOA CLUAS
e261 7F21 8D 7C 7F STA CL
e262 7F24 AD 78 7F 122 LDA PL
8263 7Fe 18 che
@264 7F28 69 83 ADC #3
e265 7F2A EA NOP
@266 7F2B eD 78 7F STA PL SINCREMENT PRIMARY POINTER
0267 7F2E 90 24 BCC Lé
e268 7F30 EE 79 7F INC PH »THERE WAS CARRY
e269 7F33 18 cLe
e270 7F34 AD 7C 7F L6é LDA CL BINCREMENT COMPARISON PTR
e271 737 69 23 ADC #3
e272 7F39 8D 7C 7F STA CL
8273 7F32C 98 a4 Bcc L7
@274 7FSE EE 7D 7F INC CH
Q275 7F41 18 cLe
8276 7F42 AD 7C 7F L?7 LOR CL 2RUN OUT OF WORDS?
e277 7F45 CO 34 7F CMP NSL #NEXT STR ADDR LO
e278 7F48 Fea 2a BEQ L11 VES
@279 7F4AR 40 F2 7D JMP LS #NO
p2ee 7F4D AD 70 7F L11 LDA CH
e281 7FS@ CD es 7F CMP NSH
eze2 7F53 Fa e3 BEO EXIT1 svES
e283 7F5S5 4C Fe 7D JnP La 3zNO
e264 7FS8 AD 77 7F EXIT1 LDA SH sVES DONE ONE RUN.
e2e5 7FSB C9 Aa CMP #@ sHAVE ALL BEEN DONE?
e206 7FSD FO OS BE@ L1i2 sVvES
@287 7FSF 4C 9a 7D IMP L108 + NO
@286 ?F62 AD 76 7F Li2 LOA SL u
e289 7F6S C9 al CMP #1 P
e290 7Fe? Fo 03 BEO RORS JRETURN TO GASIC EPISODE — Ahigh performance standalone
291 7F69 4C 9a 7D MP L18 2 : 5
e292 7F6C 62 RBAS RTS ȴES GO TO BASIC computer at a down to earth price. Capable
0293 ?F6D aa 12 .BYTE a 4sFLAG FOR SECOND STRING SHORTER T of sharing data bases.
HAN 1ST .
8294 7FEE ae RF .BYTE @ #FLAG FOR REVERSAL RECYCLE
@295 7FEF BO J - BYTE @ sLETTER COUNTER FOR COMPARING STR P| FLEXIBLE COMPACT ADAPTABLE Th
IHGS —_ _ 3
B296 7F7Q 41 H -~BYTE $41 41ST STRING HEADER E . d | h . f VDU". e
@297 7F71 aa .BYTE $80 22ND = ACD pisode allows user choice o 's and
ozss 7F?3 08 buna lBvTe @ youn printers, takes up the desk space of a legal
asee 7F74 Ba NL BYTE 2 sLO NUMBER OF ELEMENTS document and under its CP/M operating: system
9301 (PF7S aa NH .~BYTE @ aHI . i ili } H
302 7F76 ea SL BYTE @ #L0 SEPARATOR ¢SHELL> ensures availability of technical and business
e303 7F77 eA SH BYTE © dHI software for both technical and non-technical
e304 7F7B BA PL BYTE @ aLO PRIMARY POINTER user.
@305 7F79 Ba PH BYTE @ sHI “ CSHELL > i
e3e6 7F7AR OO PLOUP .BYTE @ 2COP'Y OF LO PRIMARY POINTER
@307 ?7F7B 8a PHOUP BYTE @ scopy OF HI “ SHELL > . Ar . . . -
a3ea 7F7C 00 cL “BYTE © ;LO COMPARATOR POINTER @ Word processing/ mailing M Financial planning
@309 7F7D 28 CH -BYTE @ sHI “ €SHELL>
eee Case Rs RSM EOTE’ @ SPLACE SAVING @ Integrated accounts Mi Stock control
1 7F7F oe CHWAS .BYTE & .
Oale Free 08 PLUAS BYTE B @ Payroll @ Information management
@313 7Fal 26 PHUAS .YTE a
0314 7FS82 a0 LopuP .BYTE @ »LO DUPLICATE - gage
@315 7F83 aA HIDUP BYTE @ »HI_ OUPLICATE ® Awide range of languages and utilities is
@316 7F84 ea NSL -BYTE © sNEXT STRING ADORESS<(LO> available under CPIM to the technical user.
0317 7FS8S oa NSH PYTE @ sNEXT STRING RODRESSCHID
@318 7Fec ea RDi BYTE @ BASIC, FORTRAN, COBOL, PASCAL etc.
6319 7FE7 80 -BYTE @ g C d : . | f |
320 7F88 Ab -BYTE @
Bee eee ae seetEle an be used with existing malnframe terminals.
e322 ?7FGA aa -BYTE @
0323 7FeB e8 -BYTE @ Standard features
0324 28 BYTE a . .
seed EE levTE a Z80A Processor, 64K RAM, Diagnostic PROM, Dual
Gees fhee. Wee el 5" double sided double tracked drives (1.5 MB total),
Dual RS232c ports, Centronics parallel port, battery
calendar clock.
**Adds viewpoint VDU or similar. (This offers fora
limited period only and appiles only to this
ERRORS = 9nd
SVYMBOL TABLE
SYMBOL YALUE
CH 7F7D CHWAS 7E7F cL 7F7C cLuas 7F7E particular Episode model. Other Episode
DuMd 7F?2 puM2 ?F73 EXIT 7FES EXITN ?Fe1 models from just £1450).
EXITR 7EAA F 7F6D GET1 ?OFF GET2 7E16
H 7F70 HI eess H1QUP 7Fe3 Ss ?F6F REGISTERED
Lt 71a = 18 7osa LI 7F4aD 0 OL12 7F62 TRADEMARKS: &
Lia 7E2F Lis 7DEe Lis 7EFE 119 7D81 CPIM — Digital ee
L2 7048 L21 7DAC L22 7F24 Lz6 7ECD Research c\
L3 7E3A La 70AR8 is 7DA1 Ls 7F34 eS Ro}
L7 7F42 Ls 7DF2 i) 2057 LoDUP ?Fa2 All prices ev on ay
MUL 7DBE NH PF? NL ?F74 NSH 7FS5 exclusive ner” 9 ah
NSL 7F84 ON 7E3D COON! 7E6B PH ?F?79 of VATand Ce) oct. ow?
PHDUP 7F7B PHUAS ?Fe1 HE 7F7S PLDUP 7F7AR carriage eS) 3 ol &
PLUAS 7F8a PUT1 7E8A PUT2 7EARQ RBAS 7F6C att ra 9 ye)
ROI 7Fe6 RET 7DéS «RETR 7066 REV 7E7E Se yo PN TP ay
RF 7F6E SH Pe? SL 7F76 STRC 7ESE ove qe 913
STRP 7ESB n a Ae
1H] gels Ne
END OF ASSEMBLY 1e on™
» @ Circle No. 167
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982 ats
SEUSS electronics
48 JUNCTION ROAD, ARCHWAY LONDON N19 5RD 100 yds FROM ARCHWAY STATION & 9 BUS ROUTES
TELEPHONE: 01-263 9493/01-263 9495 TELEX: 22568.
YOUR SOUNDEST CONNECTION IN THE WORLD OF COMPUTERS
4
IC 20 UK101 4 a
* 24 Colours, 8 for Characters, 8 for Border, UK101 Kit inc 8K memory £125 ¢
16 for screen mixed as you wish. Ready Built inc 8K memory £175
*3 tone Generator for sound : 9114 £10
*Uses Pet Basic *Plugs into T.V. 4K Expansion 8x
* Memory expandable to 32K Parallel Printer interface £24.50
*VIC complete with STN Sound Kit pan)
Colour Kit
T.V. Modulator and NEW NEW NEW
32K Dynamic Memory Board
onl £
P.1.0. and Eprom Programmer Kit
only £24.50
J1 Expander £12.50
VIC Cassette Deck
ONLY £34.00
Available soon
VIC Dot Matrix Printer
PET
4016 16K RAM 445.00
APPLE I! PLUS 4032 32K RAM 560.00
AUTOSTART “EUROPLUS” ena 32K RAM ee
48K Apple Computer 649.00 - 096 96K RAM 1040.00
Disc Drive with Controller 4040 Disk Drive 560.00
8050 Disk Drive 755.00
4022 Printer 80 Col 350.00
299.00 8023 NEW Printer 785.00
8026 Pri i
Colour Card 69.00} : ie
Silentype Printer 199.00 fos aes 2031 Single Drive 349.00
Graphics Tablet 425.00 , Mesnccmmelice
we Modulator 14.00 ARRIBA WR 4 range of PET accessor
A range of APPLE
4
5 \ Utilises 280, 12K level tl Basic, Integral
\ Cassette Deck, UHF Of, 16K RAM, all
TRS80 features. Simply plugs into monitor
of UHF TV. With V.U. Meter, NOW WITH
accessories and
LOWER CASE AND SOUND,
Disc Drive without Controller
Software are
available.
PRINTERS
INTERFACES AND CABLES
FOR APPLE Il, PET, TRS80,
RS232,UK101,SHARP SUPER-
PARALLEL PRINTER INTERFACE INC CABLE
BOARD ALL AVAILABLE. CHROMASONICS PROGRAMMABLE SOUND KIT £24.50
—_-" SOUND KIT (FITTING EXTRA) £8.20
EPSON MXBOFT/1 £399 | | GaSe rng ore
LOU i
EPSON MX80 £359 Dual single se ibet Gr and EXPANSION BOX INC 16K RAM confi
: i 16K/32K
Dot matrix pani suithe et siiiecot eae Y Wrelnesd. true NEW GENIE Il NOW AVAILABLE £310
graphics interface. Centronics descenders
parallel and serial. Pet and EPSON-MX80 FT/2 £440
Apple compatible. True bidirec- An FT/1 with high resolution
TANTEL
tional, 80 cps graphics PRESTEL BY TANTEL
EP80 MX82 £389 SEIKOSHA GP80A £195 COMMUNICATIONS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
As MX80 plus high Resolution Dot a aah 7, 80 columns, re FOR BUSINESS & HOME. UP TO DATE INFO
Graphics atures ics, double widt 180,000 pages of information on Travel, News,
investment, Holidays, Hotels Etc., Etc. £159
TANTEL IS POST OFFICE APPROVED. SEND FOR DETAILS.
DEMONSTRATION. AVAILABLE AT OUR SHOWROOM.
see us (omputer
AT Pairz=
EPSON MX100 only £575
MONITORS
£99.95 HITACHI PROFESSIONAL
9”
2 £149.00
9” Green Screen £99.00
12” Green Screen £125.00
12” BMC Green Screen £159.00
ALL ITEMS CARRY 1 YEAR GUARANTEE
Please add VAT 15% to all prices. Postage on computers, printers and cassette decks charged at cost, all
Other items P&P 30p. Place your order using your Access or Barclaycard {Min. tel. order £10). Export
enquiries welcome. Official orders welcome. _ Prices valid for cover date of this magazine only.
@ Circle No. 168
114 PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
Now available from Interam, the highly
regarded North Star Horizon with mini-
winchester disk drive. This integral hard disk
gives you a massive 3, 6, 9 or 12 million
character storage capacity sufficient for
virtually al! applications. However if you
require even further capacity then up to four
M26 Winchester hard disks can be added
externally giving access to over an incredible
100 million characters of data.
Using Starlink, our enhanced CP/M com-
Patible multi-user operating system this data
storage can be accessed by one or more users
in a time sharing or multi-processing environ-
ment.
Starlink, — Multi-User CP/M Compatible
Operating System — Developed by Dr. Lee
of Interam, is at the heart of system expansion.
Starlink logically integrates the North Star
Horizon with a range of Winchester disks
and/or additional 1/O, memory and processors.
Features include independent login and logout,
print spooling, file !ock and unlock for
common files, five priority levels, two-way
private communications, mai!/news/message
facilities etc. In all, over 20 utilities are
incorporated in the Starlink package.
The following
components are
recommended for use
with Starlink:-
Rodime Mini-Winchester hard dikk-THik
impressive unit achieves it's drive performance
through elegant and reliable engineering design.
The RO 100 series provides formatted
capacities from three to twelve megabytes.
Fast access times enable you to obtain the
information you require at great speed and the
increased storage capacity will give you plenty
of scope for database expansion to cope with
your growing needs.
Action Computers Single Board Computer
For dedicated multi-user processor power.
One DPC180 card is devoted to each user
providing exclusive use of the on-board Z80A
CPU, 64K RAM and serial t/O. The obvious
benefit of distributed processing is very limited
loss of CPU time per user facilitating expansion
to a larger number of users than would be
possible with timesharing.
Interam Serial (/O — Our brand new four
serial input/output card. Each board has all
the necessary features to operate in a power-
ful interrupt driven, reai-time, multi-user
system. The board includes four 2661 program-
mable synchronous/asynchronous serial devices
for communicating with terminals, modems
or printers. Two and three serial 1/O port
versions also available.
North Star’s 64K HRAM Memory Card
This card offers increased utilisation of the
Horizon address space, increased reliability
and lower cost. HRAM utilises individual
16K x 1K dynamic RAM chips. These boards
feature memory parity checking and bank
_ switching, designed to optimise operation of
North Star hardware and software products.
Existing North Star Horizon users can
‘expand their systems to take advantage of
all these new Products by
purchasing th relevant
upgrade
Package.
Horizon is a trade mark of North Star
Computers Inc. CP/M is a trademark of Digital
Research Inc. Starlink is a trademark of TTL
& Interum Ltd
Send off the coupon today and expand your
horizons.
Ml
GEES Microcomputer Specialists
46 Balham High Road London S\W12 9AQ Tel: 01-675 5325
De I “|
Company
i |
Tet No Us
| PLEASE SEND ME DETAILS OF THES! AND OTHER PROD! 01S
Rm SS
@ Circle No. 169
116
, 1,200,000 more bytes at your
@oppic PET SUPERBRAIN TRS-80
Foramere £1,950
PHONE JANETTE BROOKS
ON 0925-810828 or
SEND COUPON
AND GET THE FACTS
a NOW!
To: Lisiar Computers Ltd., Genesis,
Birchwood Science Park South,
i Risley, Warrington, Cheshire WA13 7BH
I Please send full details of LISIAR plug-in
memories.
Please tick as required.
LISIAR 1 —1.2 Megabytes [_]
LISIAR la—2.4 Megabytes {_]
LISIAR 2 —10 Megabytes {_]
My computer is:
APPLE [_] PET [_} SUPER BRAIN [_]
TRS 80[] iii a
Meet Lisiar 1 and Lisiar 2—the most potent
plug-ins ever to break through the price barrier.
LISIAR 1 uses floppies to give you 1.2 Megabytes
for £1,950. 2.4 Megabytes available as an optional
extra.
LISIAR 2 is the most powerful Winchester you
can buy at anywhere near £3,950.
And both models plug in to your personal
computer. No fuss, no fiddling adaptations.
Just INSTANT conversion to full professional TELEPHONE
potential, with all the space and capacity you need DEALER ENQUIRIES INVITED
for really professional programs. es a ee |
@Circle No. 170
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
ADDRESS
Jeb eee
es ee ee ee ee ee ee
i Zz
>
=
m
Open
File
This new section of
Practical Computing will
be appearing in the
magazine each month,
incorporating Tandy
Forum, ZX-80/81 Line-up
and the other software
interchange pages.
Open File is the part of
the magazine written by
you, the readers. All
aspects of microcomputing
are covered, from games to
serious business and
technical software, and we
welcome contributions on
CP/M, BBC Basic,
Microsoft Basic, Apple
Pascal and so on, as well as
the established categories.
Each month the best
contribution will be
awarded £20; others
receive £6. Send
contributions to: Open
File, Practical Computing,
Quadrant House, The
Quadrant, Sutton, Surrey
SM2 SAS.
PET
CORNER
Cassette files
1 ENCOUNTERED recently an interesting
bug in the way the Pet opens cassette files,
writes David Haslam of Stockport,
Greater Manchester. One program I was |
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
Pet Corner: Cassette files bug; Screen Print for 4000 series,
Going down for the lower-case descenders; Othello;
Kaleidescope
117
120
125
Z-80 Zodiac: Solving polynomials on Nascom
Apple Pie: Developing menu routines
Tandy Forum: Tape catalogue; Function-input routine,
Binary clock
127
6502 Special: Extending Basic; Double-vision hardware
modification; Random Poke for graphics
133
ZX-80/81 Line-up: Bar-chart plotter; Line-drawing
routine; Print At program suite; Card shuffle; Think quick; Flight
of fancy; Read data routine; The money program; Hex loader 135
anil
Guidelines for contributors
Programs should be accompanied by
documentation which explains to other
readers what your program does and, if
possible, how it does it. It helps if
documentation is typed or printed with
double-line spacing — cramped or
handwritten material is liable to delay and
error.
Program listings should, if at all possible, be
printed out. Use a new ribbon in your
working on stored as lines of text as a
Basic file. 1 wrote the following sub-
routine to read the line numbers into L3
and the line of text into L$.
As I was not interested in using the link
bytes, line 50 merely skips those in pas-
sing, they are in LA$,LB$ if needed.
Lines 60 and 70 are needed because the
Get statement interprets a zero as a null
string. I use this property to terminate line
90 on the end of line zero byte of the Basic
text.
This routine worked satisfactorily on
all subsequent lines, except for the first
line of text in the stored file. The file in F$
had been opened for read by the
command Open 1,1,0,F$.
Lé= "": GET#1,LA¢.LB#.LL#, LH&*
IF LL#=""THEN LL¥=CHR#¢ E> 4.
IF LHS=""THEN LHS=CHRECG>
LG=ASC(LL4)+256#ASCCLHF >
GET#1. OF:
RETURN :
=) OVO
Si)
38
35
REM LINE OF TEXT = L#
> REM LINE NUMBER = L3
IF Q$<¢>""THEN L#=L#+U$:GOTO 38
printer, please, so that we can print directly
from a photograph of the listing and avoid
typesetting errors. If all you can provideisa
typed or handwritten listing, please make it
clear and unambiguous; graphics
characters, in particular, should be
explained.
We can accept material for the Pet, Vic and
Sharp MZ-80K on cassette, and material
for the larger machines can be sent on
1BM-format 8in. floppy discs.
Here is the bug. The first line would
read correctly if I deleted LAS from line
50, thus indicating that the first cassette
buffer pointer is one byte too high
immediately after the Open command.
So the solution which worked was to have
this on the same line as the Open com-
mand.
POKE 187, PEEK(187) —1
Finally, for those who might wonder
why I did not use Input # instead of Get
# on line 90, the reason is simply that
although it would be satisfactory on lines
of text with no embedded quotation
marks — it would terminate on the zero
byte — problems arise when the line of
(continued on next page)
REM STRIP LINK BYTES & LINE HUMBER
ialZd
(continued from previous page)
text contains, say, just one embedded
quotation, in which case there is a con-
tinued read until usually a file data error
occurs.
Screen print
MAY I offer a small contribution to the
excellent screen printer program by J Dick
and M Valentine which appeared in Pet
Corner last June, writes D A Harris of
Surbiton, Surrey. Altering a few lines
allows. the program to be used with a
series 4000 Pet and 4022 printer. The
listing shows the lines which need to be
altered.
7 ORTA AS,84,26,62,F2,A9,06,20
DATA E2,F2,AS.35,85,02,64,EF
DATA 15,24,46,BBR,20,A6,F2,A9
DATA @5,A9,.11,20,.46,BB,13,681
DATA 69,48,35,0F,A9.92,.20,46
CATA BE,4C,BO.X¥,35,8F ,A9,12
CATA 20,46,68,A5,.0F,20,46,8B
DATA 0&@,3C,26,DF,BR,A2,06,AS
DATA AG,F2,60,A5,02,A6-03,AS
DATA 63,F5,A6,02,20,FE,F 7,68
Mob RE wo
i & G1 th 03 Oo ~
Going down
THE DOT-MATRIX printers supplied by
Commodore for use with the Pet, though
robust and reliable, are in some ways
annoying and quixotic, writes A D Maude
at Aberystwyth, Dyfed. One of their
shortcomings is the inability to print cha-
racters with tails which go below the line,
known as “descenders”, such as q,g or p.
Some models, such as the 3022, have
the facility to move the paper on by a
fraction of a line separation, and to print
special characters designated by software.
This program uses these facilities to pro-
duce descenders at the cost of a slower
rate of printing.
As the main line and descenders are
printed on separate sweeps of the printer
head, paper in a traction-feed printer °
must be under a slight tension. Otherwise,
it may not move on by quite the correct
Othelio
0 POKES9459, 255: POKES9469, 205
1 P=SS005: X1=33085: ¥1=33125:W1=33205: B1=33285:
2 GOSUBSO0O
5 PRINT’": DIMB(?,9, 2)
10 REM OTHELLO: NOT BY SHAKESPEARE
REMARKABLY COMMITED BY S.CRONK 15/5/1981
REM CONNECT WIDEBAND SPEAKEASY SPEECH UNIT
PRINTSPC (16)3 “OTHELLO”
PRINTSPC(15) 5) "€flecereee"
PRINTSPC (12); "BY STEVE CRONK"
PRINT
PRINTSPC(419¢"1 23454678
PRINTSPC (10) ; “OfELELELELCEE LEE
PRINTSPC (9) 5 "A%"5SPC¢23) gy" xX"
100 PRINTSPC (10); "%"3SPC (23) 5 "¥"
110 PRINTSPC(9); "Bx"
120 PRINTSPC(10) 5 "%"
130 PRINTSPC(9)
140 PRINTSPC(10)5
150 PRINTSPC(9) 5"
160 PRINTSPC(9) 5"
170 PRINTSPC (10) ; “%": PRINTSPC (9) 3 "HZ"
180 DATAI3020, 33100, 33180, 33260, 33340
190 DATASS420, 33500, 35580
195 RESTORE
200 FORJ=17T08
210 READAs A=A+39:FORK=ATO(A+15) STEP 2st aL +1
220 B(L,J,1)=K:B(L,J,2)=46
230 NEXTK:L=0:NEXTJ
240 GOSUBSCOO
250
260
270
275
276
280
290
300
PLAYER"
GOSUESO0O
Pi=1:G0T0276
Pis2
REM
GOSUB4000: IF G=i THEN S10
IFB(XM, YM, 2) =46THENSOL
118
Going down
1 REM PRINTING WITH DESCENDERS
16 CLR:GOSUB S@e6
24 DIM X$¢7>
3@ PRINT#6,CHR¢(29>:FOR K=1 TO 7:READ X$¢(K>-FRINTH#4,X$CK> “NEXT K
40 PRIHT#4: PRINT#4 :PRINT#4
5a FOR K=1 TO 7:AS=X$CK)>:GOSUE 46GB :NEST K
66 CLUSE 4:CLOSE S:CLOSE 6:°STOF
490@ REM
4616 REM 4% SUBROUTINE FOR FRIHTIHG At 44%
4820 CP=1:E="""REM CP=176 FOR UPPER/LOWER CASE
493@ FOR N=1 TO LENCAt>:C#=NIDECAS.N, 1>
4648 IF C$=""" THEN CP=1
4055 IF C$="m" THEN CP=0
4066 IF CP=1 THEN 4990
4976 IF C#="F" OR C#="Q" OR C#="¥" OR C#="G" THEN C#=" "
468@ IF C#="J" THEN C$=CHRE(254):REMN THE DOT FOR A J
4698 BS=BF+C$* NEXT N
416@ FRINT#S. Di$¢@> :PRINT#6. CHRS¢(S> :PRINTHS. EF
4110 REM FRIHT DESCEHDERS
4126 CP=1
413@ FOR J=1 TO 5:FOR N=1 TO LENCAS> :C¥=MITSCAS,N,1>:DS=" "
4146 IF C#=""I" THEN CP=1:GOTO 41ce
4150 IF C¢ " THEN CP=6:GOTO 4186
4166 IF C$=Ci$¢J> AHD CP=@ THEN D#=CHRE¢C2545
PRIHT#4, DS;
NEXT_N
PRIHT#5, Di¢¢J> :PRINT#E . CHREC1>:PRINT#4:NEXT J
G@ FRINT#E, CHR#¢12) : PRINT#4 -RETURN
REM :
@ REM #** SET UP SPECIAL CHARACTERS AND PREFARE PRINTER ¥##%
DIM D1s¢5>,C1#¢5)
OPEN 4,.4:OPEH 5.4,5:OPEN 6.4.6 RESTORE
6h FOR J=@ TO 5:Di¢¢J>=""
FOR N=1 TO €:READ A: D1I#¢.J9=D1$¢.J9+CHRSCAD: NEXT N
H6H READ C1#¢J>:NEXT J:RETURH
REM
REM SFECIAL CHARACTER DATA
DATH 8,6,9,64,6,6,"."
DATA 2,1.1,126,8,0,"J"
DATA 127,46,68,68,56,6, "F"
4 DATA 56,68,68,4G, 127.8, "0"
DATA 112.9,5,9,126.6,"""
DATA 56.69,69,69,62.8,"G6"
REM
REM TEXT TO BE PRINTED
"A.D. MMAUDE, “WEHIVERSITY SCRILLEGE OF "WSARLES, “HEERYSTHYTH. "
"THHE DOT MATRIX PRINTERS SUFPLIED BY “CMOMMOLORE FOR USE WITH"
"MTHE "PETM ARE ROBUST AND RELIABLE, BUT IN SOME WAY'S ARE JUST At
“BLITTLE ANNOVING AND QUIXOTIC. WHE OF THEIR SHORTCOMINGS IS THEIR"
“MINABILITY TO PRINT CHARACTERS WITH TAILS WHICH GO BELOW THE LINE."
distance, and so the descenders may be
slightly displaced.
Othello
TWO PEOPLE can play Othello on the pro-
gram from Stephen Cronk of Litlington,
near Royston, Hertfordshire. The program
checks for legal moves and scores and
outputs suitable verbal remarks and
instructions at various points during the
game via the wideband Speakeasy speech
synthesiser.
If you do not have the Speakeasy unit,
delete line 60010. The £ sign in line 80 is
the graphic character "- " and the % in the
following lines is the character “I’’.
LfSSSeeeee”
PRINTSPC(10) 3"%":PRINTSPC (9) 5 "E%": PRINTSPC (10) 5 °"%"
:PRINTSPC(10)3"%"sPRINTSPC(9) 5 "GK"
B(4,4,2)=87:B(5, 4,2) =81:B(4,5, 2) =S81:B(5,5,2)=87
GOSUB 10200: POKES3078, 133: FORJ=1TOSO0: NEXT: POKES3079, 32: GOTO280
3O1
30S,
310
315
316
320
330
340
350
340
C=871C1=61:R=0
IFPi=1 THENC=81:C1=87
XT=XMa YT=YM
R=0
IFRND(1) >. 7THENGOSUB10400
W=0: Z=0: GOSUB79000
«1 GOSUB7000
1: GOSUB7000
: Z=Q1 GOSUB7000
Z=1:GOSUB7000
370 Z=-1:GOSUB7000
380 W=-1:2=0: GOSUB7000
390 Z=~-1:GOSUB7000
400 2=1:GOSUB7000
410 IFR=OTHENSOO
420 R1=R1+1:GOSUB5000
500 IFR1=40THENIS00
S10 IFP1=1THEN275
520 IFP1=2THEN270
525 FORJ=1T02000: NEXT
530 PRINT"; SPC (10);
S35 IFWT>BTTHENS6O
540 PRINT’BLACK WON BY"; BT-NT
550 60TCS70
560 PRINT"WHITE WON BY"; WT-BT
565 GOSUB10300
570 END
5000 FORX=1T08:FORY=1T08
5010 POKEB(X,Y,1),B(x,Y,2)
5020 NEXTsNEXT: RETURN
4000 IFPi=1THENPOKEP, 49
4001 G=01GOSUB10100
POKEY1,32
IFP1#2THENPOKEP, 50
POKEX1, 32: GETAS: IFA2< >" THEN6040
POKEX1, 102: GOTG4020
IFAS="N" THENG=1: RETURN
IFAt<¢ "1 "ORAS >"B" THEN6020
POKEX1, VAL (AS) +462 XM=VAL (AS)
POKEY1, 32: GETAS: IFAS< >“ THEN6080
POKEY! , 102: GOTO6060
IFAS< "A" ORAS >"H" THEN6O60
Pl=2: BT=2:wWT=2
6009
6010
6020
6030
4040
6045
6950
6060
6070
6080
(continued on next page)
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
10000 RESTORE
10010 READ AS; IFAS< >230THENI1O010
10020 READAS: IFAS<-1 THENRETURN
10030 GOSUBE0000
10040 GOT010020
10100 RESTORE
10110 IFP1=2THEN10160
10120 READAS: IFAS< >240THENINIZO
10130 READAS: IFAS<—1THENI0150
10140 GOSUB60000: GOTO10130
10150 FORA6=1T07: READASs NEXT: GOTO10180
10160 READAS: IFAS< >250THEN10160
10170 READAS: IFAS<-1THENIOLEO
10175 GOSUB60000:60T010170
10180 READAS: IFAS<-1 THENRETURN
10190 GOSUB60000: GOTG10180
10200 RESTORE
10210 READAS: IF AS< >270THEN10210
10220 READAS: IFAS<~1 THENRE FURN
10230 GOSUB60000: GOTO10220
10300 RESTORE
10310 READASs IFAS< >290THEN10310
10320 READAS: IFAS<-1 THENRETURN
10330 AS=A5+64: GOSUB60000: GOTO10320
10400 RESTORE
10410 READAS: IFAS< >SOOTHEN10410
10420 READAS: IFAS<—1 THENRETURN
10430 GOSUB600001 GOTG10420
40000 POKES9457, AS: POKES9448, 237: POKES9468, 205
60010 IF PEEK (59469) /4=INT (PEEK (59469) /4) THEN60010
60020 RETURN
£1000 DATAZ30, 52,57, 57, 245 38, 63, 14, 21,0,41,63,31,92.44,15,2, 13,6
61010 DATA2S, 25, 23,61, 13, 25,27, 63,-3
61015 DATAZ40, 45,35,0,41,42,27
61020 DATA-3, 250, 14,24, 47,0, 25,-3, 42, 54,55, 55,63, 12,55, 55
41930 DATAIS, 63,-3
61040 DATAZ70, 56, 2,0, 42, 31,63, 16,44, 42, 10,20, 43, —3
61050 DATAZ9O, 25, 50, 13.27, 92,87, 111, 94, 26, 35, 152,134, 33,17, 55,13, 18, 63,63
61080 DATA-3
61090 DATASOO, 56, 39, 31,63, 139, 137, 146,63, 29,50, 49,13, 63,-3
READY.
(continued from previous page)
6090 POKEY1, ASC (AS) ~645 YM=ASC (AS) -64
6100 RETURN
7OOO XT=XmM: YT=YM: F=0
JOLO XT=XT+Z: YT=V¥T+W
7020 IFBC(XT,YT,2)=CORB(XT, YT, 2) =46THEN7TSOO
IFYT¢ 1ORYT >BORXTS 1ORXTSSTHEN7ZSOO
XTmXT #2: ¥T=VT+H
IFB(XT, YT, 2) =CTHENF=!
IFXT>SORXT<1 ORYT >BORYT< 1 THEN7070
GOTO7O030
IFFeOTHEN7S0O
XT=Xrtg YTHY Ma BCxM, YM, 2)=C
XT=XT+Z2YTEVT+W
IFB(XT, YT, 2) =CTHEN7TS00
BCXT, YT, 2) =C: R=R+1
GOTO7090
RETURN
PRINT" "gSPC(13) ; "INSTRUCTIONS"
GOSUB 10000
PRINTSPC (12); "£££eeeeeeeerre"
PRINT
PRINT" THE PLAYER MUST PLACE A COUNTER IN A"
PRINT" FREE SQUARE ADJACENT TO AN OCCUPIED"
PRINT"SQUARE IN SUCH A WAY THAT AT LEAST ONE”
PRINT"OF THE OPPONENT’S COUNTERS LIES BETWEEN"
PRINT" THE CURRENT COUNTER AND ANOTHER OF HIS"
PRINT"GWN COUNTERS IN STRAIGHT LINE”
PRINT’ALL THE OPPONENTS COUNTERS SO"
PRINT"SANDWICHED BECOME CAPTURED
PRINT: PRINT" PLAYER 1=0"
PRINTSPRINT" PLAYER 2=W"
PRINT: PRINT" PRESS ANY KEY TO START
GETAS: IFAS=""THENG1 40
RETURN
GOTO9O00
PRINT" GAME OVER": FORX=1T08; FORY=1TOS
IF BCX, Y,2)=81THENWT=WT +1
IF BCX,Y, 2) =87THENBT=BT+1
NEXT: NEXT: RETURN
Kaleidoscope
THiS GAME has been devised on the Pet
4032 by lan Payton of Winnersh, Berk-
shire. Kaleidoscope is fully portable and
requires no special graphics or cursor
controls. All that needs to be changed are
TL — top-left of VDU, SD — screen depth, SL
— screen length, RW — reverse blank, BD —
half-density block, OB— ordinary blanks.
You are asked first whether you would
like a negative or positive kaleidoscope
effect. If you choose ‘Negative’ the screen .
is filled with reverse blanks, if not, it is
A border is then drawn around the
screen in half-density blocks and the
arrays are set up.
The program then goes through a
routine which plots reverse blanks on the
screen, or ordinary blanks if the space is
already occupied. After you press the
the variables: simply cleared. spacé key, it waits for another key.
READY.
100 REM xk HOOK
110 TL=32768
120 SD=24
130 SL=40
140 TR=TL+(SL-1)
150 BL=TL+((SD-1) *SL)
160 BR=EL+(SL~1)
170 RW=160
180 BD=102
190 OBR=32
200 FORX=1TOSD/2
210 PRINT
220 NEXTX
230 PRINTTAR( (SL-12) /2) "KALEIDOSCOPE"
240 PRINT
250 PRINT
260 PRINTTAR( (SL-12)/2-1) "BY I.F.
270 FORX=1TOSD/2
280 PRINT
290 NEXTX
FORX=1TO1500
NEXTX
PRINT’DO YOU WANT A NEGATIVE OR POSITIVE"
PRINT
FRINT"KALEIDOSCOFE EFFECT
FORX=1TOSD/2
PRINT
NEXTX
GETNES
TFNP$="'N" THEN420
TENP$="P" THENGOSUBIOO: GOTO460
GOTOs8O
GOSURPOO
FORNL=TLTOBR
POKENL, RW
NEXTNL |
FORPL=TLTOTR
POKEPL, BD
NEXTPL
FORPL=TLTOBLSTEFPSL
POKEPL, ED
POKEPL+(S1L.-1) , BD
NEXTPL
FORPL=BLTOBR
540 POKEPL, BD
S50 NEXTPL
560 LO(1)=TL
570 LC(2)=TR
580 LO(3)=EL
590 LC(4)=ER
600 D1i(1)=1
610 D1(2)=-1
620 D1i(3)=1
630 D1(4)=-1
640 D2(1)=SL
650 D2(2)=SL
460 D2(3)=-SL
570 D2(4)=-SL
680 XX=INT((SL-4)/2)
690 YY=INT( ¢SD-1) /2)
700 FORX=1TO04
710 L2(X)=LO(X)
720 NEXTX
730 X=INT(XX*RND (1) +1)
740 Y=INT (YYERND (1) +1)
750 FORZ=1T04
JOO L2(Z)SL2¢Z) + ((X#D1 (Z)) + (YKD2(Z) ))
770 NEXTZ
780 IFPEEK(L2(1))< >0BTHENCR=0EF: GOTOS00
790 CR=RW
800° FORZ=1T04
810 POKEL2(7Z),CR
820 NEXTZ
8350 GETGGS
840 IFGGS<>"
850 GETGGS
860 IFGGS=" "THENS9O
870 IFGG$="S" THENGOSUB940: END
880 GOTOSSO
890 GOTO700
900 FORX=1TOSD/2
910 PRINT
920 NEXTX
930 RETURN
940 FORX=1TOSD
950 PRINT
960 NEXTX
970 RETURN
READY .
KALEIDOSCOFE ¥kk*d kaKE
PAYTON"
CNZP) “2
“THENB9O
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982 119
ZODIAC
Solving polynomials
THE SCIENTIFIC use of a computer usually
concerns Numerical Analysis, writes
Daniel Zlatnik of Mozkin, Israel. Most
commercial systems software contains
Numerical Methods as an important part
of their library.
I am using my Nascom 2 micro-
computer to run numerical methods with
much success. This short program calcu-
lates the roots of a given polynomial. The
simplest example is the linear equation of
the form:
ax+b =0
where a and b are known constants and
a# 0.
The root of the equation will be xo, the
value of x that will satisfy the equation.
For this equation x) = —b/a.
Another simple standard equation is
the quadratic equation:
Figure 2.
REM*e* INITIALIZATION #2¢
. CLS
PRINT" HBRORRSCHESKAOK SEES EOE OES"
PRINT" ¢ POLINOMTIAL ROOTS ie"
PRINT" seesessessesesssetscessetes”
PRINT" URITEN BY D. ZLATHIK."
PRINT" THIS PROGRAM FINBS THE ROOTS OF A-*
PRINT" GIVEN POLINOM WETH THE FOLLOWING”
PRINT" FORK:"
PRINT" ew Ge re, ee ea
PRINT"P(X)=AX #BX #€X +DX +EX #FX"
PRINT
PRINT" DATA REQUESTED IS:A,B,C,D,E,F*
PRINT" AS REAL OR INTEGER CONSTANTS, AND"
PRINT" EPS (REAL NUMBER LESS THAN : 1)THE™
PRINT" DEGREE OF ACCURACY(ERROR LINIT)®
REM ee@ INPUT DATA See”
PRINT® ENTER DATA: ¢
PRINT"
PRINT” Leb
PRINT" D="S: INPUT D
PRINT” E="s: INPUT E
PRINT” Fe*;: INPUT F
PRINT
PRIWT* ENTER EPS (AS 0.1,0.01 ETC.)"
PRINT" EPS=";s INPUT EPS
120
ax? + bx +c =0
where a + 0, and b and ¢ are given
constants. For this second order equation
we have two roots:
+b + VF —4ac”
2a
_b- Ve Tac”
2a
These roots will be identical when
b? —4ac =0
xy =
X =
or
b? = 4ac
For b’<4ac there are two other roots
called-complex roots.
Two more complex examples are the
trignometric equation
x? +x sin x =cos x
and the polynomial equation in the
common form:
Pn(X) =aX*+a,X* 1+ ..
a> Ce
This program for the Nascom 2 compu-
ter is based on a method that is good for
any sort of one-variable equation as well
as for polynomial equations, which is
defined in line 350. Any other equation
a +a, 1% +
Figure 15
can be defined in this statement, using the
algebraic functions provided by the com-
puter. The initialised printing formats will
have to be changed as well, according to
the equation structure and constants.
Figure 1 shows a graph of a function
F(x) which crosses the x-azis at x = —3, x
= —1,x = 2, and x = 3. These values are
roots of this function for starting to
search for the first root of this function.
The program asks for an X,; defined as
the left limit of x. X,, the right limit of X
is equal to —X,, If for example you take
PRINT
PRINT” FOR FINDING THE ROOTS ENTER”
PRINT" XL (XL<O) FOR THE LEFT LIMIT OF -X.*
PRINT" XR (THE RIGHT LIMIT) IS TAKEN AS:°
PRINT" XR=-XL. THE ROOT IS SUPPOSED TO*
PRINT" BE FOUND BETWEEN THESE LIMITS"
PREINT™ XL="S:ENPUT XL
REM #8 HAIN PROGRAK #4#8
DEF FNPCX)=A#Xt5+BEXTA+COXPI+DENT2 +E OXFF
cis
XT=ABS(XL)
YL=FNP CXL)
XR=XL#1
YR=FUP(XR)
IF YLeYR=0 THEN 6OTO 440
IF YL®YR>O THEN 6070 400
XS=XR
X=(XL4XRI/2
Y=FNP(Y)
IF Yie¥=0 THEN GOTO 520
IF YL®Y¥>0 THEN GOTO 550
XR=X
TRY
IF XR-XLCEPS THEN GOTO 520
GOTO 440 i
Open file
Figure 4.
X, = —6, the program. will search for
roots which are between X,; = —6 and Xq
= +6.
The program starts by putting X,, =
X,, Xp: = X, + 1, it calculates the values
of F(X,,) and F(X,;) and then it checks
the three possible cases. First, if F(X,))
*F (Xp) = 0, then X,, or Xp, is an
exact roots of the function, the root is
printed and the search to the right is
carried on.
Secondly, if F(X,:) * F(X.) >0, then
there is no root between X,, and Xp;
because they are both positive, and the
search to the right is carried on — see
figure 3. If F(X,,) * F(Xp;) <0, then
there is a root between these limits (X,),
Xpi) so the program starts a loop succes-
sively approximates to the root.
Each step of the loop halves the inter-
val between X, and Xx. The loop ends
when the statement
Xp - X, <EPS
is true.
Figure 3.
PRIWT" ROOT IS BETWEEN:XL="7 XL, "AND: XR=">XR
XL=XS
GOTO 580
XL=X
YL=Y
GOTO 500
IF XL>=X1 THEN GOTO 710
GOTO 380
IF XRD=Xt THEN GOTO 710
XL=XR
YL=YR
GOTO 390
IF YL=0 THEN GOTO 690
PRINT" ROOT IS: XR=*;4R
IF XR>=X1 THEN GOTO 710
XL=XR#1
60TO 380
PRINT" ROOT IS: EL=";XL
GOTO 600
PRINT" LIMITS EXCEEDED, IF MORE ROOTS ARE"
PRINT" TO BE FOUND, ENTER: RERUN ITH"
PRINT® LARGER LIMITS. IF NOT PRINT END.*
INPUT A$
IF AS="RERUR” THEN 60TO 330
END
2
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
| | om — ||
ZXSI
PERSONAL
COMPUTER
122.
1980 saw a genuine breakthrough —
the Sinclair ZX80, world’s first com-
plete personal computer for under
£100. Not surprisingly, over 50,000
were sold.
In March 1981, the Sinclair lead
increased dramatically. For just
£69.95 the Sinclair ZX81 offers even
more advanced facilities at an even
lower price. Initially, even we were
surprised by the demand — over
50,000 in the first 3 months!
Today, the Sinclair ZX81 is the
heart of a computer system. You can
add 16-times more memory with the
ZX RAM pack. The ZX Printer offers
an unbeatable combination of
performance and price. And the ZX
Software library is growing every day.
Lower price: higher capability
With the ZX81, it’s still very simple to
teach yourself computing, but the
2X81 packs even greater working
capability than the ZX80.
It uses the same micro-processor,
but incorporates a new, more power-
ful 8K BASIC ROM - the ‘trained
intelligence’ of the computer. This
chip works in decimals, handles logs
and trig, allows you to plot graphs,
and builds up animated displays.
And the ZX81 incorporates other
operation refinements — the facility
to load and save named programs
on cassette, for example, and to
drive the new ZX Printer.
BASIC manual
Every ZX81 comes with a comprehensive, speciailly- wntten
manual ~ a complete course in BASIC programming, from
first principles to complex programs.
Sinclair ZX81 Personal Com
the heart of a system
that grows with you. 4
Higher specification, lower price —
how’s it done?
Quite simply, by design. The ZX80
reduced the chips in a working
computer from 40 or so, to'21. The
ZX81 reduces the 21 to 4!
The secret lies in a totally new
master chip. Designed by Sinclair
and custom-built in Britain, this
unique chip replaces 18 chips from
the ZX80!
New, improved specification
@ Z80A micro-processor ~ new
faster version of the famous Z80
chip, widely recognised as the best
ever made.
@ Unique ‘one-touch’ key word
entry: the ZX81 eliminates a great
deal of tiresome typing. Key words
(RUN, LIST, PRINT, etc.) have their
own single-key entry.
@ Unique syntax-check and report
codes identify programming errors
immediately.
®@ Full range of mathematical and
scientific functions accurate to eight
decimal places.
@ Graph-drawing and animated-
display facilities.
@ Muiti-dimensional string and
numerical arrays.
@ Up to 26 FOR/NEXT loops.
@ Randomise function — useful for
games as well as serious applications.
@ Cassette LOAD and SAVE with
named programs.
@ 1K-byte RAM expandable to 16K
bytes with Sinclair RAM pack.
@ Able to drive the new Sinclair
printer.
@ Advanced 4-chip design: micro-
processor, ROM, RAM, plus master
chip — unique, custom-built chip
replacing 18 ZX80 chips.
_,
Kn
Kit or built —it’s up to you!
You'll be surprised how easy the
2X81 kit is to build: just four chips to
assemble (plus, of course the other
discrete components) — a few hours’
work with a fine-tipped soldering iron.
And you may already have a suitable
mains adaptor — 600 mA at 9 V DC
nominal unregulated (supplied with
built version).
Kit and built versions come com-
plete with all leads to connect to
your TV (colour or black and white)
and cassette recorder.
16K-byte RAM
pack for massive
add-on memory.
Designed as a complete module to
fit your Sinclair ZX80 or ZX81, the
RAM pack simply plugs into the
existing expansion port at the rear
of the computer to multiply your
data/program storage by 16!
Use it for long and complex
programs or as a personal database.
Yet it costs as little as half the price
of competitive additional memory.
With the RAM pack, you can
also run some of the more sophisti-
cated ZX Software — the Business &
Household management systems
for example.
—| pm | oo | ||
ZX8I
6 Kings Parade, Cambridge, Cambs., CB2 1SN.
Tel: (0276) 66104 & 21282.
Available now-
the ZX Printer
for only £49.*
Designed exclusively for use with
the ZX81 (and ZX80 with 8K BASIC
ROM), the printer offers full alpha-
numerics and highly sophisticated
graphics.
Aspecial feature is COPY, which
prints out exactly what is on the
whole TV screen without the need
for further intructions.
At last you can have a hard copy
of your program listings — particularly
useful when writing or editing
programs.
And of course you can print out
your results for permanent records
or sending to a friend.
Printing speed is 50 characters
per second, with 32 characters per
line and 9 lines per vertical inch.
The ZXPrinter connects to the rear
of your computer — using a stackable
connector so you can plugin a RAM
pack as well. A roll of paper (65 ft
long x 4 in wide) is supplied, along
with full instructions.
How to order your ZX81
BY PHONE - Access, Barclaycard or
Trustcard holders can call
01-200 0200 for personal attention
24 hours a day, every day.
BY FREEPOST - use the no-stamp-
needed coupon below. You can pay
yo: Sinclair Research, FREEPOST, Camberley
by cheque, postal order, Access,
Barclaycard or Trustcard.
EITHER WAY - please allow up to
28 days for delivery. And there’s a
14-day money-back option. We want
you to be satisfied beyond doubt -—
andwehaveno doubt that you will be.
inclair Research, FREEPOST, Camberley, Surrey, GU15 3BR. Order
Qty | Item Code | Itemprice | Total
= oe £ £
Sinclair ZX81 Personal Computer kit(s). Price includes
___| 2X81 BASIC manual, excludes mains adaptor. 12 49.95
Ready-assembled Sinclair 2X81 Personal Computer(s).
Price includes ZX81 BASIC manual and mains adaptor. 11 69.95 1
Mains Adaptor(s) (600 mA at 9 V DC nominal unregulated). 10 8.95
| 16K-BYTE RAM pack. | 18 49.05 |
Sinclair ZX Printer. : 27 49.95
| 8K BASIC ROM to fit 2X80. 17 19.95
Post and Packing. |. i 2.95
C1 Please tick if you require a VAT receipt TOTAL &
*| enclose a cheque/postal order payable to Sinclair Research Ltd, for 2
*Please charge to my Access/Barclaycard/Trustcard account no.
“Please delete/complete as applicable. | i ea vie | if the | | | | |
Please print.
Name: Mr/Mrs/Miss |_|__| | ae ees Se ee
Address:|_| | | | | | | Lf eee |
| | ss — .. SS |
FREEPOST —no stamp needed.
@Circle No. 171
54
ie)
LA
How the ZX8I compares with other personal computers
SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION 2x81 2x80 ACORN APPLEI| PET TRS80 TRS80
ATOM PLUS 2001 LEVEL! _LEVELII
ROM 8K 4K 8K 8K 14K 4K 12K
GUIDE PRICE _ Basic unit - inc. VAT £70 £100 £175 £630 £435 £290 £375
Unit plus 16K RAM (*12K RAM) £120 £150 £285" £630 £530 £360 £375
COMMANDS _LIST, LOAD, NEW, RUN, SAVE e e e e e e e
STATEMENTS PRINT, INPUT, LET, GOTO,
GOSUB/RETURN, FOR/NEXT IF/THEN e e e e e e )
STEP e e e e e e
TAB e e e e e
ARITHMETIC ABS, RND e e e e e e e
FUNCTIONS INT e e e e e
ATN, COS, EXP, LOG, SGN, SIN, SQR, TAN e e e e
ARCSIN, ARCOS e
STRING CHRS e e & e e
FUNCTIONS LEN e e e e e
ASC(CODE), STR&, VAL, INKEYS e @ e
NUMBERS FLOATING PT+10=* e e e e e
INTEGERS e e e e e
NUMERIC AZ e e
VARIABLES AA-Z2@ : e e e
An-Zn, n=any alphanumeric string e e
STRING AS&. BS e
VARIABLES AS to ZS e e e
Ang to Zn n=any alphanumeric character ® e @
NUMERIC SINGLE DIMENSIONAL e e e
ARRAYS MULT! DIMENSIONAL e e e e
DISPLAY ROWS 24 24 16 24 25 16 16
COLUMNS 32 32 32 40 40 64 64
LOWRES GRAPHICS (<7000 pixels) e e e e a e e
HIRES GRAPHICS (>40000 pixels) e e
SPECIAL USR (CALL, LINK) e e _e@ e e e
FEATURES PEEK, POKE (OR EQUIV) e e e e e e
Sinclairsoftware §Theultimatecourse If you owna
e e
on cassette. in ZX81 BASIC Sinclair ZX80...
programming.
The unprecedented popularity of the
ZX Series of Sinclair Personal
Computers has generated a large
volume of programs written by users.
Sinclair has undertaken to
publish the most elegant of these on
pre-recorded cassettes. Each pro-
gram is carefully vetted for interest
and quality, and then grouped with
others to form single-subject
cassettes.
Software currently available
includes games, junior education,
and business/household manage-
ment systems. You'll receive a
Sinclair ZX Software catalogue with
your ZX81 — or see our separate
advertisement in this magazine.
Some people prefer to learn their
programming from books. For them,
the ZX81 BASIC manual is ideal.
But many have expressed a
preference to learn on the machine,
through the machine. Hence the
new cassette-based ZX81 Learning
Lab.
The package comprises a 160-
page manual and 8 cassettes. 20
programs, each demonstrating a
particular aspect of ZX81 program-
ming, are spread over 6 of the
cassettes. The other two are blank
practice cassettes.
Full details with your Sinclair ZX81.
The new 8K BASIC ROM used in the
Sinclair ZX81 is available to ZX80
owners as a drop-in replacement
chip. (Complete with new keyboard
template and operating manual.)
With the exception of animated
graphics, all the advanced features
of the ZX81 are now available on
your ZX80 — including the ability to
drive the Sinclair ZX Printer.
— | js | oe ||
ZX8I
6 Kings Parade, Cambridge, Cambs., CB2 1SN.
Tel: (0276) 66104 & 21282.
ay Vom You Fan tom :
ye ey =
i i oo IS,
Menu drive
WHEN YOU want a menu for your new
program, says F Williams of Llangol-
len, Clwyd, you should be able to go back
to that rather successful routine you used
last time, and with your renumber utility
patch parts of the old program into your
fiew one. After a few changes it ought to
work well and — more important — it is
free from bugs. Program | is a skeleton
for a typical menu routine.
All this is fine as far as it goes, but it is
not really as easy as all that. In reusing ari
old routine you will still have to make a
number of alterations especially if you
want a tidy layout. Because you have
skimped on planning the bugs come
swarming in.
Program 2 is therefore the next stage. |
It provides a standard routine that you
can patch straight into any program: all
you need do then is write the required
words into the Data lines. The program
first reads strings from the Data state-
ments in lines 1340 onwards. The main
title is read first, as M$(0), followed by
the words of ‘each “choice” line. The
string “—” terminates this operation.
The Read operation takes Data in the
order it Occurs anywhere in the program,
so if you have more than one Read
operation in the program you may find it
reading the wrong list of data.
While reading the strings, the length of
the longest one is measured in line 1110.
The program jumps out of the Read loop
when it réads a string as ““—”’, and the
variable X is adjusted to become the
number of lines. § is used to denote the
number of unused lines on the screen —
line 1140 — and then to denote the size
of the three free spaces in the layout.
H is the size of left-hand margin, calcu-
lated to put first the title, then the longest
string, symmetrically on the screen. Then
the title is printed, followed finally by
each line of the menu in a loop in lines
1240 to 1290.
Lines 1310 and 1320 input the number
of your choice, and verify it. This is
carried back to the main program
because the action to be taken will vary
from program to program. It could be
covered in a simple ON | GOSUB -,-,-...
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
statement or could be much more
complex.
General-purpose routines like this one
cari be used to build into a library of
useful subroutines. You can even put the
whole library in, the first few thousand
lines of every program you write.
Routines to read and write random-
access files are particularly useful, though
certain standardisation of the file-record
structure is necessary. Thé disadvantages
are that. your finished program is
unnecessarily long and complex and some
routines may not even be called by every
Program 1.
if REM EXAMPLE FROGRKAK
196 REM MENU SUBROUTINE
iif HONE :
12 HTAB 11:
139° VIAB 8
148 HTAB é:
15 PRINT
168 HTAK 6:
178 PRINT
188 HTAR é:
199) FRINAT
2068 HTAB 6: FRINT
219 PRINT
226 HTAB 6:
238 PRINT
249 PRINT : HTAR 26:
258 1% = VAL (AED:
2: GOTO 2 4%
268 RETURN
Program 2.
1999 REN
1916 REA
1929 REW
1938 DIA
1946 REM READ LINE
1859 HOME : RESTORE
1968 READ HE(O)
1678 FOR X = 1 T0 29
1889 : READ ME(X)
1696 :
TTY99 = IF
. MAX IS 35 CHRS": STOP
(tS FE WEEN SGHECKO) 3 J TREN J =
1128) WEXT
1138 X = X= 4
1149 5 = 28 - X: IF X < 8 THE
ag S INT (S / 3): FOR Y
1148 H (46 - LEN (mh£(@)))
GIN WIDTH
FOR Y = 1 T0 1?:
PRINT) "We
PRINT
"?
FRINT “da
"4.
uc
BRUNT SoS me N Glee
MENU SUBROUTINE NO.2
GENERAL PURPOSE ROUTINE
WE( 28)
WORDING
sJ = 9
nou won
NS
= 110
1p 7 |
1178
1219
1226 H =
FOR Y = 1 TO &:
18 - (J / 23
1239 REM PRINT MENU LINES
1249 FOR Y = i TO X
1259 : HTAR H: PRINT Y;". "3
1269 : IF Y < 18 THEN PRINT " "5
1279 : PRINT ME(Y)
1289 : IF X < 8 THEN PRINT
1294 NEXT
1300 FRINT : PRINT
1316 VTAB 22:
1326 1 = VAL
1336 RETURN
1346 DATA
1359 DATA
1348 DATA OR THIS.
1376 DATA OR ADD NORE YOURSELF!
1386 DATA -
PRINT = NEXT
CAE) cieteaeh <1 OR: Ie
MENU NO.2
FIRST CHOICE.
OR THIS GNE."
OR TRY AGAIN."
IF ME(X) = "-" THEN GOTO 1139 F
LEN (WEq(X)) > 35 THEN PRINT CHRE (7);"LINE "5X5" IS TOG LONG
ly
HTAB H: FOR L = 1 TO LEN (ME()): PRINT "-"5:
x
program. These snags can be reduced if
the program is “crunched”.
The best alternative is to write a
program-writing program. Using the
Apple’s Exec command, such a program
will write the simple subroutine itself, and
splice’ just the simple subroutine — not
the general-purpose one — into your
program. This sort of program-writing
can be recommended for steadying the
nerves.
Though no other micro will do it, the
Apple accepts direct commands from a
(continued on next page)
VIAB 3: HTAB if: FRINT "--- MENU NO.1 ---"
PRINT "=":
: NEXT : PRINT
YOUR FIRST ALTERWATIVE.”
« ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE."
INFUT "ENTER ITEM NO. "GAe
IF 1% < 1 OR IX > 5 THEN YTAK
HES Ut Mer
EN (M2(X)): REM FIND LONGEST LINE
= 20 - (2 * X)
os
TAB H:
PRINT : NEXT : KEN SPACE
PRINT ME(@): REM H IS LEFT MAR
NEXT
HTAB (22 + J / 2): INPUT ""SAE
THEN GOTO
125
ani
(continued from previous page)
text file, instead of from the keyboard,
and in exactly the same way. To write-a
program from the text file, it must’ con-
tain all the same key strokes you would
make if you were writing the program
yourself. When you sit down at, your
keyboard to write a new subroutine into
the program you are working on your
type:
LOAD XXXXXX
1500 REM MENU ROUTINE
1510 PRINT
and so on, and that, letter for letter, is
what must be Printed into the text file.
Because you cannot write text files
directly from the keyboard, the next job
is to write a program that will write that
file.
To summarise:
@ Your program works everything out and
then writes the text file.
@ The text file commands the Apple; and keys
in the routine.
@The routine is, at that stage, in Apple's
memory. Save it to disc before running it.
The first part of the program 3 is a
straight forward Input section. It Inputs
from the keyboard the menu title and the
words to go on each line, and also Inputs
the name of the main program you want
to add your routine to, and the line at
which you want to add it.
It is followed by a short section that
calculates the line spacings and margin
settings, as in program 2. Text-file hand-
ling is done in lines 340, 350 and 570 just
as in any other file writing. Note the D$
in the commands, and do not confuse
these lines with the lines that actually
write the text into the file.
For the other lines, think exactly what
you do when you key in a new program,
and make your program Print those key
strokes into the text file. Include the
commands you would use to, insert this
new routine into your main program.
You can use variables in this program,
and the Apple will substitute values for
them when it Prints to the file. Just
include the variables among the strings in
the Print statements, with the usual use of
the quote marks and semicolons between
them.
Because the quote marks are used to
mark the beginning and end of strings,
the Apple cannot also accept them as part
of a string — it obeys them instead of
Printing them. However, you must enter
quote marks into your file somehow, so
that it can output them later. The Apple
will accept them if they are called by
CHR$ (34). To avoid typing CHR$(34)
every time, you can call it CS.
L is the variable used for the line
number, and is incremented by 10 each
time it is used. S and H are the same as in
Program 2, and M$(0...) are the strings
of words.
From line 360 to line 560, all the initial
Prints are instructions to write the line to
the text file, and all the remainder of the
126
line is interpreted by the computer and
then written to the file.
When run, this program writes the text
file. It then commands EXEC TEXT FILE
and the Apple abandons your program —
so be sure to save it first — and looks to
the text file for all its input instructions.
Program
REM MENU EXAMPLE 3.
TIM LE(28)
It accepts these as direct commands,
andloads your main program, writes the
new lines as dictated by the text file, and
even tidies up by deleting the text file
itself. It renames your program “Original
...” in case anything has gone wrong, and
saves the completed program.
REM PROGRAM TO WRITE A MENU FROGRAN
REM
REN FIRST INPUT STRINGS
HOWE :
HTAB 6: PRINT "
VTAB 6: HTAB 10: PRINT “WRITE A MENU SUBROUTINE"
VTAB 9: PRINT "ENTER THE NAME OF YOUR PROGRAA:-"
YTAB 12: PRINT "INSERT MENU ROUTINE AT WHICH LINE?”
VIAB 15: PRINT "ENTER:- WENU
VTAB 19: HTAB 26: INPUT ""5NE:
IF LEN (NE) > 33 THEN PRINT
CHRS.": GOTO 119
YVTAB 13: HTAB 28: INPUT ""SAFs:1L =
134: REM LINE
VTAB 16: HTAB 20: INPUT ""5HE(G): REM
‘ TO STOP.)"
VIAB 22: HTAB 19: PRINT "(ENTER ~
POKE 35,21: VTAB 18
FOR X = 1 TO 28
HEAL ING:"
REM
CHRE (7);"TOO LONG. MAX LENGTH IS 33
FROGRAN
VAL (Af): IF La 1 OR L > 65999 GOTO
HEADING
PRINT "LINE “3X;" WORDING: "3: INPUT ""3HE(X)
: IF ME(X) = "-" THEN GOTO 238
: IF LEN (ME(X)) > 33 THEN PRINT
33 CHRS.": GOTO 138
“: IF LEN (NE(X)) > J THEN J =
NEXT
X= X - 1: POKE 35,24: CALL - 958
PRINT :
wie S
REM
REM NEXT CALCULATE VARIABLES
5 268 = Xs SUE Oe <eetHeNen = 20 — (X * 2)
5 in] (S / 3)
H
I!
> "¥" GOTO 69
INT ((4@ - LEN (WE(G))) / 2)
CHRE (4):CE =
FINALLY WRITE THE TEXT FILE
HTAB 1@: INPUT "ARE ALL ENTRIES CORRECT? meat: IF
CHRE (7);"T00 LONG. MAX LENGTH IS
LEN (ME (X))
LEFTE (AE
CHRE (34): REM CTRL-Z & "
ENTER LINE “HONEY & “PRINT DE;""ON 1,C,0"% HERE IF YOU WANT TO
THE ACTION
PRINT DE;"QFEN TEXT FILE"
FRINT DE;"WRITE TEXT FILE"
REM PRINT TO TEXT FILE
PRINT "NEW"
PRINT "LOAD “jNE
PRINT Ly" REM MENU SUBROUTINE" :L
= Et 18
PRINT Li" HOMESVTAB "SSs":HTAB "SHs":PRINT "ZCEsHE(9)sCErk = L + 19
PRINT Ly" HTAB "SH Z":FOR ¥ =
s"S:NEXT:PRINT":L = Lo + 16
PRINT L3" OTAB "3(S * 2) + 22k =
H = INT ((35 - J) / 2)
FOR ¥ = f TO X
© PRINT Li" HTAB Mt sHem eats
TOPRINT “PRINTESS CEP Yeats
: PRINT MECY)5CE
mL =k + 10
: IF X < 8 THEN
NEXT ;
i gL ie
5 LEN (ME(G))s":PRINT “SCE3"="3CE
Ew 18
PRINT L3" PRINT':L = L + 19
PRINT Lj" PRINT: HTAB 205 INPUT ";CES"ENTER ITEM NO. "SCE" SAL SL
L + 19
PRINT L5" Id = VAL(AE): IF 1% < 1 OR 1% > "SX;"THEN VTAB PEEK(37)
2 GOIN) eg te eee iil =
PRINT Ly” RETURN"
REM NOW DO HOUSEKEEPING
eteeli8
PRINT "RENAKE "SNE5",ORIGINAL "SNE
PRINT "SAVE “SNE
PRINT “DELETE TEXT FILE”
REA TEXT FILE WRITTEN
PRINT DE;"CLOSE TEXT FILE®
STOF :
IT
PRINT DE;"EXEC TEXT FILE”
For “£" read “$” throughout this listing.
REM RENOVE THIS LINE AND SAVE PROGRAM ON DISK BEFORE RUNNING
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
Tape catalogue
THIS PROGRAM was written to run a
mail-order catalogue, writes Gavin Smith
of Farnham, Surrey, and greatly eased
the number of sheets of paper which were
scattered across the table whenever it was
time to send in the collected money. It
can be used for other purposes with very
little modification,
On running the program you are given
ten options:
@ Load file from tape.
@Save file on to tape.
@ List of all the customers in memory.
@ Examine a file from the customer's name.
@ Examine a file from the account number.
@ Alter a customer's file.
‘6 FOR 2Z=!1 TO 2@0@: NE:
1a
HF=6
PRINT" =--MENU---"
@ PRINT'1-LOAD FILES FROM TAPE"
PRINT" 2-SAVE FILES FROM TAPE”
PRINT’ 3-LIST OF THE CUSTOMERS IN MEMORY"
PRINT"6-ALTER A CUSTOMERS FILE”
160 PRINT"?-ADD ANOTHER FILE"
116 PRINT"8-CLEAR ALL FILES FROM MEMORY"
120 PRINT"9-DELETE A SINGLE CUSTOMER"
130 PRINT"1G-END PROGRAM"
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
isis[3) .
a PRIRG GRR Corey ack ny xee (CD G. SMITH 374781 #48"
DIM NAS<SO),ANCS@), AD$(5O),TES<(S8), ANC SG), WI (SO), DAS(SO)
PRINT“4-EXANINE A FILE FROM A CUSTOMERS NAME"
PRINT" S-EXAMNINE A FILE FROM AN ACOUNT NUNEER"
144 INPUT"TYPE IN THE NUMBER OF YOUR CHOICE "3CH
@ Create a file.
@ Clear all files from memory.
@ Delete a single file.
@ End program.
The first two options are routines to load
to and from tape, and are machine-
dependent. Anyone modifying these sec-
tions for their machines will have to
change the command Input#-1 to their
equivalent command to load a variable
from tape; the command Print #-1 is used
to load a variable on to tape.
The third routine lists the names of all
the customers which are currently stored
in the computer. If more than ten names
are stored the computer will stop after
every ten names and wait for you to read
the names and then press Enter before
continuing to the next ten names.
The fourth and fifth routines are simi-
lar, except that the program first asks for
the name of the customer. It then scans
through the names unti] what was typed
in corresponds with the first part of the
customers name. So if you have a cus-
tomer named John and you want to find
his file, you could type Joh: it would find
it unless there was a second file, which
was before John’s, and also started with
the letters Joh. The fifth option asks you
to type in the customer’s account
number. It then scans through al] the
account numbers in memory until a
match is found. When a match is found in
either this routine or the routine which
FOR X#1 TO
HEAT
PRINT" FILE
RETURN
PRINT“FILE
156 CH=INT(CH):1F CH=10 THEN ENC 715@ CH=INT<CH): IF CHK1 OR_CH>?_THEN 7070
160 IF CH<1 OR CH>9 THEN 30 7168 ON CH GOTO 717057190, 7210, 723857250, 72707290
170 ON CH GOSUB 1660, 2000. 30010, 5090, 6400, 7060, 8880, 9800, 10008 £176 INPUT"WHAT 1S THE NEW NAME" SNASCX>
180 INPUT“HIT ENTER TO CONTINUE"$ AAS 7186 GOTO 7360 fe
19@ GOTO 30 ths Taare I$ THE NEW ACCOUNT NUMBER" sANEX)
10@@ INPUT"POSITION THE TAPE, S ENTER WHEN AP! ON" 4 )
Roe E TAPE,PRESS ENTER WHEN THE TAPE 1S IN POSITION" sXX$: INPUT Tere hat eee il oir ERNELIPCUR EES ETTORE
1010 FOR X=1 TO HF 7228 GOTO 7360
1020 INPUTH#~1>HAS<X)»ANCX) -AD#CXD,» TESCX) » ACK) WIC) DASCRD 7238 INPUT"WHAT IS THE NEW TELEPHONE NUMBER"s TES<X)
1038 NEXT 7248 GOTO 7368
1048 RETURN 725@ INFUT"WHAT IS THE NEW) AMOUNT OWING" AOCX
2008 PRINT"HIT ENTER WHEN THE CASSETTE IS READY"; ASS: PRINT#-1,NF 2268 GOTO 7300
2014 FOR X=1 TO NF eee BNET SOne | IS THE NEW WEEKLY INSTALLMENTS" s'W1¢X>
202 PRINTH=-1,NA#CX)» ANCX?,ADSCXD, TESCX) AOCX) + WICK» DAF £288 &
20368 NEXT is ae 7290 INFUT"WHEN WAS THE LAST’ DATE A PAYMENT WAS MADE"; DAS(X)
204@ RETURN 7306 INPUT"WANT TO CHANGE ANYTHING ELSECY/N)"; AAS
3400 FOR X=1 TO NF 7310 IF AAS="Y" THEN 7@86
3G1G@ PRINTNAS(X> 7328 RETURN
3020 IF X/1@=INTCX“18) THEN 3858 8000 NF=NF+1
383@ NEXT 8@10 INPUT"WHAT IS THE CUSTOMERS NAME": NASCNF)
3048 RETURN 8026 INPUT"WHAT IS THE ACCOUNT NUMBER"; ANCNF >
3950 INPUT'HIT ENTER TO CONTINUE" :AAt 8836 INFUT"WHAT IS THE ADDRESS" 5 AD$<NF >
3068 GOTO 3030 ee eal at IS THE TELEPHONE NUMBER"; TES<NF>
5000 INPUT"WHAT IS THE NAME OF TH VOU WANT "5 NPUT"! NUCH DO THEY QUE"; ANCNF>
510 FOR X=1 TO NE aa ee eB tea IN ag 8060 INPUT"WHAT ARE THE WEEKLY INSTALLMENTS" WIT (NF >
S020 IF LEFTS<(NAS$(X),»LEN(NS))=NS THEN S@ea 8978 INPUT“WHEN WAS THE LAST PAYMENT MADE"$ DAF CHF)
5030 NEXT 8886 RETURN
5040 PRINT"FILE NOT FOUND" 9000 INPUT"ARE YOU SURE YOU WANT ALL THE FILES DELETEDCY/-N)"s ANS
5a5@ RETURN 9810 IF ANS<>"Y" THEN RETURN
560 PRINT"FILE FOUND" ane Resa ee ANT EILES DELETED"
578 PRINTNAS<X);" ACCOU cf 9834 :
5030 PRINTADS (> Geuneae nce 18880 INPUT"WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE FILE YOU WANT DELETED": Ns
5090 PRINT" TELEPHONE NUMBER"; TES 1600S IF Nf="" THEN PRINT"ILLEGAL": GOTO 16600
S1G@ PRINT"AMOUNT OWING $"3AQCX) 10016 FOR X=1 TO NF
S11@ PRINT"WEEKLY INSTALLMENTS $";WI¢X) 10026 IF LEFTSCNASCX),-LENCNS>>=NS THEN 10060
5126 PRINT" THE LAST PAYMENT WAS MADE ON "sDAS<K) 16836 NEXT
$13@ RETURN pose foulatss NOT FOUND"
6966 INPUT’WHAT IS THE ACCOUNT NUMBER OF THE CUSTOMER"; 19656 N
6018 FOR X=1 TO NF BEBO le a 1006 PRINT"FILE BEING DELETED"
6928 IF ANCX)=N THEN 606 10065 IF X=HF THEN NF=NF-1:GOTO 16169
6830 NEXT 18078 FOR Y=X+1 TO NF
6840 PRINT"FILE NOT FOUND" 18680 NAS<Y-1>=NAS<Y>
6658 RETURN 19890 ANCY-12=ANCY>
6968 PRINT"FILE FOUND“ 1018@ Abs (Y-1)=Abs¢y>
6078 PRINTNASX>: " ACCOUNT NUMBER": ANCX> 10119 TE#¢Y~1)=TES<¥>
6680 PRINTADS<X> 1012 AOCY !)=ADCY>
6090 PRINT" TELEPHONE HUMBER "sTE#(X> 16136 W1¢Y-1)=W1C¥>
6104 PRINT"AMOUNT OWING $"340¢x> 1014@ Das<¥-1)=DASCY)
6118 PRINT"WEEKLY INSTALLMENTS $"3WI1¢X> 1815 NEXT: NF=NF-1 ,
6120 PRINT" THE LAST PAYMENT WAS MADE ON "sDAS<(X) 19168 PRINT"FILE DELETED": NAS<(NF+13="": ANCNF+1)=8
613@ RETURN 18178 RETURN
uses the name of the customer, the pro-
gram displays al] the information which is
stored for that customer.
The sixth option first asks you for the
customer’s name whose file you wish to
alter. It then displays all the information
on that person, and asks you which item
you wish to change and how you wish to
change it.
The seventh option asks you to input
al] the information about the customer to
the list of other customers, but will not
clear the other customers which are
stored in memory.
INPUT"WHAT’S THE NAME CF THE FILE YOU WANT TO ALTER"SNS
IF LEFTS<(NAS(X>,LEN(NS>)=NS3 THEN 7060
PRINT"THE FILE BEFORE ALTERATION: "
PRINTNASCX D5" ACCOUNT NUMBER": ANCX)
PRINTAD$¢X)
PRINT" TELEPHONE NUMEER "+ TESCX)
PRINT"AMOUNT OWING $"5A0<X)
PRINT"WEEKLY INSTALLMENTS $"3hIICX>
PRINT"THE LAST PAYMENT WAS MADE ON "sDA#CX)
INPUT"WHICH ITEM DO YOU WISH TG CHANGE,
1=NAME, 2=ACCOUNT NO. » S=ADDRESS,» 4=TEL. NO. »S=AMOUNT OWING,
G6=WEEKLY INSTALLMENTS, 7=LAST PAYMENT DATE"$CH
The eighth option is used when you
wish to delete all the files in memory so
that you can start afresh. Before deleting
the files, the program asks you to confirm
that you want it to destroy the files. If you
type ‘““Y” it will destroy the files; any
other input will return you to the menu.
The ninth option is used to delete a file
for which you have no more use. If at
anytime you type 10 for your option
before saving the files on to tape, you
should type Goto 30 rather than Run if
you wish to retrieve them.
Input functions
THIS SUBROUTINE for the TRS-80 lets you
input a function to the program that you
are running, writes R J Broughton of
Grantham, Lincolnshire. The function is
converted to the code by which the com-
(continued on next page)
NF
NOT FOUND"
FOUND"
127
Open le
(continued from previous page)
puter stores program lines, and placed in
line 40 of the subroutine.
command further down the program.
You enter the function in the form that
you want it, e.g.,
Y = SIN(X)
T = U*V+W93
or you can even enter sequential steps,
S + *SIN(X): A = (S44)/2.5
The subroutine can be repeated as
often as is necessary as each new function
will overwrite the previous one, and anew
colon and Rem is placed at the end of that
new function.
The TRS-80 Basic remembers its arith-
metic functions in specific codes, so it is
necessary to search the inputted string for
these functions. Line 110 performs this
task, with the arithmetic functions stored
in array F2$(n). If one such function is
found, the respective code is stored in the
array F3(n). This loop then repeats for
the next letter in the inputted string.
If an arithmetic function is not found,
the program moves on to the next line
120, and compares the character with the
arithmetic operator codes in the array
F1$(n). If there is a match, the specific
code is stored in array F3(n) and the
program moves on to the next character
in the string F$.
If the operator is not found, the pro-
gram moves on to line 130 and checks the
ASCII value of the character. If it lies in
the valid range, the value is stored in the
array F3(n).
The program takes the next character
in the inputted string and repeats the
process until the entire string has been
coded. The program now moves on to line
150 and Pokes the array F3(n) values into
the space left in line 40, beginning at
address 17241. A colon and Rem are
Poked in immediately afterward to make
all the remaining dots valid.
There are 55 dots in. line 40 after the
Rem. If you anticipate entering a function
with more than 55 characters, put more
dots in line 40. Poking out the five-byte
code for the line number is fatal.
If you run line 170, it will show the
contents of line 40 as stored by the com-
puter, 10 lines at a time. When using the
subroutine as part of a program, the pro-
gram can be placed from line 160
onwards. If you miss out the Rem state-
ments in lines 10 and 30 you must change
the Poke address numbers in line 150 to
suit the new placing of line 40 in the
memory.
The following variables and arrays are
used:
1%: integer counter for F$, data, & Poke
routines,
11%: integer counter for F1$ array,
12%: integer counter for F2$ array,
13%: integer counter for F3 array,
F1: array for arithmetic operator codes,
F2: array for arithmetic function codes,
F3: array of F$ codes to be Poked into
line 40,
128
You access the function by a Gosub’
REM 4% SUBROUTINE TO INPUT LINE INTO THE PROGRAM +x
GOTO6S
REM *** FUNCTION WILL BE PUT INTO LINE 49
REM ttt SUBROUTINE TO INPUT FUNCTION
DIM F1$¢12).F1¢12>,F2s¢ 19>, F2¢ 13>, F3¢50>
CLEAR 590 :
99 DATA =,213,+,265,.-,206,%,297.7;298,0, 299, SGN, 215, INT. 216,.ABS.217,S0R,221,RND.
222, LOG, 223, EXP, 224,COS,225,SIN, 22€, TAN. 227, ATN, 228.RND, 222,F 1%, 242
9@ FOR I%=1 TO 6'READ F12¢1%>,F1¢1%9:NEXT I%*FOR I%=1 TO 13:READ F2e¢1%>, F2¢1%):
NEXT 1%
129 INPUT"ENTER FUNCTION REQUIRED "“;F#'13%=1
11@ FOR 1%=1 TO LENCF2>'FOR 12%71 TO 13'IF MIDS¢F#,1%,3)=F246 12%) THEN F3¢ 13% =F
2¢ 12% )' 194-13%4+1'14=1%+2°NEXTI%: ELSE NEXTIZ2%
120 FOR 11%=1 TO 6'IF MIDS¢FS,1%,19=F1#¢11%> THEN FSC 13% =F 1¢ 11%)? 13%-13%4+1 |NEXT
1% ELSENEXT1I1%
199 F4x-ASCCMIDS¢FS,1%,1)>: IF F4%>=35 AND F4%<=99 THEN FS¢19%)=F4%: axel 3%+1
142 NEXTI%
15@ FOR Ix=1 TO 13%-1:POKE17240+1%,F3¢ 1%): NEXTI%: POKEL7240+1%, 56: POKEL7241+1%, 14
ie
160 REM #** START OF MAIN PROGRAM
170 REM AX-O:FORI%=17236T017296 : PRINT 1%, PEEK¢ 1% >, CHR2¢ PEEKC 1% > >» EFA%- LOTHENINPUT
REM DISPLAYS CONTENTS OF LINE 48
4% A%-@'NEXTI% + ELSEA%=A%+1 “NEXTIX °
In the listing tis represented by | (line 80)
F$: inputted function to be Poked into
line 40,
F1$: array of arithmetic operators,
F2$: array of arithmetic functions.
Binary clock
THE IDEA for this binary clock program -
first occurred to Killian McCourt of
Avoca Lawns, Warrenpoint, County
Down, while he was working on a base.
converter.
The decimal-binary converter is con-
tained in the subroutine from line 5000
onwards. It works by dividing the integer
part of the variable T by 2. If the result is.a
whole number, 0 is added to T, otherwise
REM aaa OEE
REM # 24-HOUR BINARY CLOCK *«
REM * VERSION 4 i.9K x
REM 4 COPYRIGHT ¢C> *
REM # KILLIAN MC COURT
REM 4 16-8-1981 *
REM Saucers Fates EK
CLEAR 15a
CLS ‘PRINT CHR#¢ 22);
CHR#¢ 22 9;
164 FOR I= 1 TO 19080 ‘NEXT
‘PRINT@151,"24-HOUR"
1 is added. After several loops when T is
less than one, T contains the binary equi-
valent of the initial decimal value of T.
Lines 290 to 340 contain the routine
which formats the display, using strings to
make the time display neater. The clock
part of the program is in lines 360 to 420,
where the hours, minutes and seconds are
calculated and added up.
The program is intended as a novelty
only. The For-Next loop in line 350 gives
approximately a one-second delay after
all the conversions and calculations have
been done in the other parts of the pro-
gram. The speed of the program depends
on the length of the strings. 5H]
'PRINT@216, "BINARY CLOCK" ‘PRINT
110 PRINT@S13,"ENTER THE CORRECT TIME IN THE FORM OF HOURS, MINUTES & SECONDS"
'PRINT
126 INFUT"THE HOUR ¢1IN DECIMAL? IS";0H
138 OH=INTCOH> ‘IF OH<G OR GH>Z3 THEN 120
140 INPUT"THE MINUTES ¢IN DECINAL> ARE"sOM
150 OM=INTCOM> ‘IF OM<G OR OM>S9 THEN 140
169 INPUT"THE SECONDS (IN DECIMAL) ARE"; 0S
174 OS=INTCGS> - IF OS<& OR OS>59 THEN 16a
126 FOR I=1 TO 3
19% GN I GOTO 288, 218, 226
298 T=0H ‘GOSUBS@G9 :HeT +GOTOZ3e
218 T=0M 'GUSUBSG0G <M=T «cOTOZ20
220 T=0S 'GOSUBS@69 ‘S=T -GOTOZ3a
223 NEXT
248 REM SROKA IOC
256 REM * START OF CLOCK ROUTINE *
266 REM ¥ STRINGS ARE USED *
270 REM * TO FORMAT DISPLAY +
288 REM SOROS
298 H$=STRECH) -ME=STRECMD : STRECS >
268 LH=LENCHS2~1 =LM=LENCMS2-1 «LS=LENC St 9=1
31@ RHf=RIGHTSCHS,LH> 'RMS=RIGHTSCME,LM> #RSF=RIGHTSCS4,LS >
326 HH$=STRINGS¢ S-LH, "B" >
33@ Ht=HHF+RHE <MF=NMF+4RME = SF=SST+RSS
348 CLS 'PRINT@4QZ,HS+" + “4mee" : “ase
256 FORI=1 TO 23@ 'NEXT ck APP. 1 SECOND
360 IF $=111911 THEN 338
376 O$=0S+1 :T=0S +GUSUBSGGG «S=T ‘GUTOZSa
280 IF M=111011 THEN 460
398 S=G :OS=Q <OM=O0M+1 :T=0M
406 IF H=16111 THEN 423
416 S=@ -OS=8 «M=G -OM=G 'OH=GH+1 'T=O0H -GOSUBS99G :H=T :GOTO29a
426 H=6 'OH=6 ‘S=@ ‘OS=G :M=4 -OM=8 -GOTO23B
SOGG REM (aCOGOCROO OIA,
5410 REM * DECIMAL TO BINARY CONVERSION ROUTINE +
5O26 REM SCHOO OE,
5030 T#=""
594G T=T¢2 +IF T=INTCT> THEN T#="G"+TS ELSE T#="1"+Ts
5056 IF T<i THEN 5078 ELSE 5060
5069 T=INTCT? :GOTO5a4a
507 T=VALCT#> > RETURH
'GOSUBSS66 «M=T ‘GOTO29a
*MMF=STRINGSC6-LM,"6" > 'SSE=STRINGECE-LS, "
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
The new Prism 132C
colour printer
manufactured
by Integral Data
Systems is the latest
addition to the DE range of
printers.
Combining reliability with
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as microprocessor driven
controller, correspondence
quality print, six software
selectable.character sizes and
auto sheet feed. The Prism
prints the four basic process
tii=i—£_
SPECIAL OFFER ON PAPER
TIGER PRINTERS
T 445 92 cps.
Serial/Parallel sctartane.
so?
saerair Parallel virieee, “$550
Graphics.
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Tel:(0442) 40571/2
onSasRseRs &
fj FaMA wa SA Ss © IN D
colours and mixes too, allowing
superb colour reproduction for
all kinds of charts and graphs.
@ Full colour @ Sprint mode
(200 cps) @ Auto sheet feed
@Pin addressable high-res.
graphics Telex: 825554 DATEFF G
The Prism 132C full option
model comes complete at Ring for details of your
ONLY a SOS nearest stockist (0442) 40571/2
i. DS Dealer enquiries welcome
Data Efficiency Ltd
@ Circle No. 172
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982 129
LONELY Genie I Microcom-
puter, early eighties, with large
peripheral family but currently
unattached, would like to meet
interesting, attractively pack-
aged software, Genie or Tandy
specification, for programming,
problem solving, entertain-
ment and long-lasting
friendship. Reply in confi-
dence. Box No RS232.
ANSWERING MACHINES
“fice certified
Buying your first Genie I microcomputer is just the start of a long and enthralling adventure, for it won’t
be long before you will want to expand your system with some of the wide range of peripherals which
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] Firstly there is the The supreme advantage of the Genie I system is
its compatibility with the TRS 80, which means
that literally 1000’s of pre-recorded programs are
which immediately expands your already available, just waiting to be plugged into
Genie’s capacity to 32K RAM, and your Genie!
up to 48K RAM if ired. Itcan A :
Fae connected to yea Alien _ The recent improvements in the Genie system,
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a compact unit with 80 column, 5 x ell
7 matrix print-out, which connects }) SPECI AL TECHNIC AL GENIE
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Then there is the
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GIVES foe greater storage Please send me FREE, I6 page colour brochure on the
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PRACTICAL COMPUTING Apnil 1982
ANNOUNCING
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* Extensive Business Packages
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* Highest Quality Specification LSE oo A
* Large Memory Capacity EES wee + e
Vv
\39_ @Circle No. 175 ¢ KOO <
Extending Basic
TO ALLOW my UK 101 to control a
TRS-80 Line Printer VII 1 wrote this
program by using added Basic com-
2080
age
grea
aaa
1FaQ
1Foa
1Fae
1Fe2
1Fa4
1Fa4
{Fes
1FO6
IFO? 6a
1F@s 4CBiFC
1F@B
1F eB
1Fa@D
1FOF
1FLL
iF i4
a 1F14
1Fi6
1F18
1F1A
1F1iC
1Fic
IF iF
1F21
1F23
1F23
1F26
1F28
1F2A
1F2A
1F2D
iF 2F
1F 31
1F31
1F33
1F35
1F35
1F37
1F32
@ 1F39
iF 3B
1F 30
1F 3D
1F3F
1F44
1F4i
1F43
1F45
1F45
1F47
1F43
TO ADD COMMAHMDS TO
) 24 JAN 1982
* = F1F QQ
POUTY cmP
BNE
FOR
MOF
HOP
HOP
RTS
JmMP
sEXPANSION LINK
NOLF
ASSS
COFF
pees
4C3BFF
CVECT
CHF
BNE
JMP
sSAVE PRESENT 73,C4
NOTINM LDA
STA
LDA
STA
sCHECK FOR COLON
200209 JSR
C93A CMP
DG@2ZH BNE
sRESTORE UNLESS
296Cea
C958
o@18
ASCS
SSEE
ASC4
SSEF.
ASR
CMP
BHE
i “ON" TOKEN 7?
208088
c99a
FOLF
JSR
CMP
"STOP" TOKEN 7
che
BEQ
TOKEHM ‘?
cmp
BER
"DEF" TOKEN 7?
CMP
BEQ
TOKEN 7
CMP
BER
TOKEH 7
CMF
BER
C3eF
Fa2c
DPR DT
C937
Fe@34
Pe)
FQ37
"POKE"
C96
Fas4
“pOS"
COB2
Fort
ASEE
$85C3
ASEF
1F46 9504
1F40 4COBFF
Gg iFs@ i
1F5@ i
1F5a@ ;
1FS5@ i
1FS5@ 3
1FS5a@ 3
1F5a ;
1FSo
1F5@ i PO!
LFSa
iFs@
1F52
1FSS
1FS7
RSTORE LDA
STA
LDR
STA
RSTOR2
AIAa
SDiAge
ASIF
8D1Ba2
PON LDA
STA
LDA
STA
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
JMP
mands, writes R A Shackleford of Hamil-
ton. It also illustrates a method of extend-
ing Basic by adding user commands to it.
The TRS-80 Line Printer VII is a
dot-matrix Printer similar to the Seikosha
GR-80. In addition to the Centronics
interface it has a 600 baud serial interface
as standard. By providing switching be-
tween 300 and 600 baud on a UK 10! or
Superboard, and adding some circuitry to
indicate to the UART, through the’CTS
line, when the Printer is busy, control ot
the Printer can be effected through the
use of the Save flag. Printer-mode selec-
tion, head positioning and other control
functions can be controlled by turning on
the Save flag by a Poke 517,0 and then
using PrintChr$(X) statements where X
is the required control code for printing.
A better way to control the printer
would be to create Basic commands
which could be embedded as statements
iCODE IH 65@2 ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE
BASIC
sCOPYRIGHT R A SHACKLEF CRD
sSTOP LINE FEED FROM PRINTING
#F0—~A
HOLF
FORM FEED CONTROL
$FCB1
sCONTROL-C VECTOR BREAK FOR RDCED COMMANDS
LDA
£98
#$FF
HOTIMM
$FF9B
POINTER VALUES
#C3
SEE
04
FEF
#Q0C2
#$3A
RSTOR2
i+ CHECK
HEXT IS "P"
#Q0BC
#50
RSTORE
iP CHECK
FOQBC
#499
PON
30M TOKEN
#8F
PSTOP
iSTOP TOKEN
#497
PPRINT
sPRINT TOKEN
#395
PDEF
sDEF TOKEN
#96
PPOKE
#$82
PPOS
jRESTORE IF NO VALID TOKEN
$EE
$03
sEF
C4
tFFSB
DAOAAAECOMMAND HANDLERSKSEKEEIAERES
IN
sOUTPUT TO PRINTER NOT SCREEN
#400
#O21A
#£1F
#0216
(listing continued on next page)
in any Basic program. One method of
doing this without excessively slowing the
execution of Basic is by attaching a com-
mand Parser to the Control-C check
routine to check each statement for the
presence of added commands. Adding a
machine-code routine of about 240 bytes
allows the addition of eight commands to
Basic to control printer output.
The program uses two bytes of page-
zero memory $EE and $EF for tempor-
ary storage. It only requires changes to
two bytes to relocate it to another area-in
memory. To use the routine
@ Press Reset.
@ Press C. answer memory size with 7900.
@ Press Reset.
@ Press M then key in program from "1FO0”.
@ Enter "021C/0B, Carriage-return then 1F”.
@ Enter “0000G to return to Basic via the
Warmstart routine”.
The additional commands are then avail-
able in Basic. After any Reset, re-enter
the monitor and execute the last two
steps to point the Control-C vector back
to the new routine.
The program operates by intercepting
the jump to the routine for the Control-C
key check which is stored at locations
21C/D. It first tests to see if the computer
is in immediate mode. If it is, it skips the
additional command routines. To speed
up the routine, a check is made only if a
colon is found, since the beginning of a
new line is a special case which would
require much more code to implement
and would, in consequence, run more
slowly. This also means that if an added
command is to be used at the beginning
of a line of code it is necessary to precede
it by a colon.
The routine then looks at the first
character following the colon to see if it is
the letter P which is used to precede all
the added commands. Otherwise the
statement is re-scanned by the normal
interpreter for execution.
If a P is found, the program checks for
one of a series of command tokens to
decide what action is required. These
tokens are those generated by the
interpreter from the normal Basic
keywords to speed up program execution.
If no valid token is found, an error is
indicated.
The program uses a number of routines
in the Basic interpreter as well as some
entry points in the monitor. Users of
monitors other than the Synmon and
MonUKO! may have to change some of
the monitor entry points.
The following are added:
PON. All subsequent output goes to the
printer and not the screen.
PSTOP. All subsequent output goes to the
screen and not the printer.
PPRINT. Prints contents of the printer buffer
and performs carriage return without line
feed.
PDEF S. Sets printer to single-width print
mode.
(continued on next page)
133
Open file
(continued from previous page)
PDEF D. Sets double-width print mode on the
printer.
PDEF G. Sets printer graphic mode.
PPOS (X). Positions print head to character
position defined by variable X.
PPOKE (X). Positions head to dot X.
Double vision
WHILE EXAMINING the character-
generator chip of my UK 101 I found that
joining pins 23 and 24 together gives a
permanent lower case, writes Chris
Thompson of Orpington, Kent. Charac-
ters 65 to 90 appear in lower case, as do
characters 97 to 122. Other characters,
including the cursor, also changed posi-
tion.
Joining pins 1, 2, and 3 of IC 70 create
inverse video reminiscent of the ZX-80
screen, without the flicker. If pins 2 and 3
are joined, about 80 percent of the screen
appears normal, while the remainder con-
tains a repeated image of the last line and
half of the top section.
Random Poking
WHEN I WAS asked to write a graphical
program for the UK 101, writes Jona-
thon Sunderland of Berkhamsted,
Hertfordshire, I came up with a program
that generates four random characters
and Pokes them so that the first character
is repeated to fill a quarter of the screen.
The next character fills the next quarter
and so on.
Once the process is complete it starts
over again using four more random
characters.
LIST
20 A=INTC(RND(130)#254+1)
B=INT(RND(130)#254+1)
C=INT(RND(130)#254+1)
D=INT(RND(130)#254+1)
IFA=BORA=CORA=DTHEN20
IFB=AORB =CORB=DTHEN3O
IFC=AORC=BORC=DTHEN4SO
IFD=AORD=BORD=CTHENSO
FORU=53259TO53282 : POKEU,A:NEXTU
FORU=53323T05334G: POKEU,A:NEXTU
FORU=53387T053410:POKEU,A:NEXTU
FORU=53451T053474 : POKEU,A:NEXTU
FORU=53515T053538: POKEU,»A: NEXTU
FORU=S3579TOS3602: POKEU;A:NEXTU
FORU=53G43TOS53G66 : POKEU,A:NEXTU
FORU=53707T053730: POKEU,A:NEXTU
FORU=53771TO53794: POKEU,GSNEXTU
FORU=5 3835 T053858 : POKEU,C 2 NEXTU
FORU=S3899TOS3922:POKEU,C :NEXTU
FORU=S3963TO053966: POKEU,C:NEXTU
FORU=54027T054050: POKEU,C INEXTU
FORU=54091T054114: POKEU,C INEXTU
FORU=54155T054i 78: POKEU.C: NEXTU
FORU=54219T054242: POKEU;C:NEXTU
FORU=53283T053306 : POKEU;D:NEXTU
FORU=5334 77053370: POKEU,D:NEXTU
FORU=534117T053434 : POKEU, DZ NEXTU
FORU=534757053498: POKEU,D:NEXTU
FORU=S3539T053562: POKEU,D : NEXTU
FORU=S3603TO05362G : POKEU;D: NEXTU
FORU=53667TOS3690: POKEU, D: NEXTU
FORU=53731T053754: POKEU, D:NEXTU
FORU=53795 T053818: POKEU,B:NEXTU
FORU=S38S9TOS3862 : POKEU,B: NEXTU
FORU#S3923TO53946 : POKEU,B 2 NEXTU
FORU=53987T054010: POKEU,B:NEXTU
FORU=54051T054074: POKEU,B -NEXTU
FORU=541157T054138: POKEU,8 :NEXTU
FORU=54179T054202: POKEU,B:NEXTU
FORU=54243T054270: POKEU,B -NEXTU
GOTOZO
{listing continued from previous page)
750 1F5A 2eBco0 PEXIT JSR s00BC
769 1F50 DOBS POPOS BHE NOT IM
779 1FSF FeBS BEG NOT InM
78@ 1F6l sPSTOP
790 iF61 ;OUTPUT TO SCREEN,STOP PRINTING
gaa 1F61 A969 PSTOP LDA #569
810 1F63 eDiAge STA $821A
S2@ 1F66 ASFF LDA #EFF
832 1F68 SbiBae STA #@21B
84a 1F6B D@ED BNE PEXIT | sALWAYS BRANCH
850 1F6D sPPRINT
860 1FED ;CARRIAGE RETURN WITHOUT LINE FEED
870 1F6D ASIA PPRINT LDA #$1A
880 1F6F 2@BiFC JSR $FCB1
aga 1F72 DQE6 BHE PEXIT
9@@ 1F74 sPDEF A
310 1F74 ;REPLACE A BY $.D OR G TO CEFINE MODE
920 1F74 20Rcua PDEF JSR $00BC
934 1F77 C953 CMP #353 +s
949 1F72 Fae BEG SINGLE
954 1F7B C944 CMP #244 30
360 1F7D Fege BEG DOUBLE
37Q@ 1F7F C947 CMP #247 jt
538 1F81 FeeB BEQ GRAF IC
990 1F83 4C9BFF “IMP $FF9B sERROR OUTPUT
1808 1F86 ASLE SINGLE LDA #€1E sCONROL CODE
191@ 1F8e@ peas BHE OPT
162@ 1FSA ASIF DOUBLE LDA #51F ;DOUBLE CONTROL
193@ 1F8C Dag2 BNE OPUT
1040 1FeE ASI2 GRAFIC LOA #$12 ;GRAPHICS MODE
1950 1F9@ 2QBiFC PUT JSR $FCB1
1062 1F93 DBCS BNE PERIT
1070 1F95 ;
1@8@ 1-95 3
1490 1F95 ;
1108 1Fe5 }PPOKE ¢X
1110 1F95 ;OUTPLITS DOT POSITION FOR NEXT PRINTING
112@ 1F35 ;BASED ON VARIABLE X.RANGE @<x<479.
1130 1F25 2eBcen PPOKE JSR $0@BC
1140 1F98 ASIB LDA #518 5 ESC
1150 1F9A 2@B1FC JSR $FCB1
1iea@ 1F2D AgIA LDA #$10 5 POS
1176 1F9F 2QB1FC ISR FCB1
1189 1FA2 20F5AB JSR $ABFS
119@ 1FAS 2005RE JSR FAE@®S H/L IN AEZAF
1200 1FAS ASAE LDA AE
1210 1FAA 2@BiFC JSR #FCB1 +H
1220 1FAD ASAF LDR AF
1230 iFAF 2@B1FC Jsr $FCB1 iL
1242 1FB2 DeAS PLINK BNE POPOS
1280 1Fe4 FeAZ BED POPOS
1260 1FB6 ;
1278 iFE6
1280 1FB6 ;
1290 1FBE
1309 1FB6 j
1310 iFB6 iPPOS (x)
1320 1FB6 ;POSITIGNS PRINTER TO CHARACTER LOCATION
133@ 1FB6 ;DEFINED BY x. RANGE @¢x<79
1349 1FBE ZaBCaS FPOS JSR $G08C
135@ 1FBS ASIC LDA #19
1360 1FEB 2QB1FC JSR $FCB1 POS
1370 1FBE 2@FS5AE JER $ABFS
138G 1FC1 20Q5AE “ISR $EQS
1390 1FC4 RaAF Loy SAF
14a0 iFce AgGO LOA #900
1410 1FC8 Fe SED
1426 1FC3 18 BCOCOH Cie
1430 1FCA 6901 ADC #501
1448 1FCC 88 DEY
1450 1FCD D@FA BNE BCDCON
1460 1FCF DS CLD
1470 1FD@ 48 PHA
149@ 1FD1 29F@ AND #eFQ
1490 1FD3 4A LSR A
15@@ 1FD4 4A LSR A
1519 1FOS 4A LSR A
152@ iFDé 4A LS A
1538 1FD7 9930 ORA #$39
154@ 1FD9 2661FC JSR $FCB1
1556 1FDC 68 PLA
156G 1FDD 290F AND #0F
1576 1FDF 9936 ORA #230
1589 1FE1 2@BiFC JSR $FCB1
159@ 1FE4 Dacc BHE PLINK
1600 1FEé FOCA BEG PLINK
1610 iFES - ENC
‘D1F GQ, 1FES
Hs pee 9 8 Pea Ae CE
1F@@ C9 QA DG 24 EA EA ER 6 4C B1 FC AS Se C9 FF DA
iF1a @3°4C SB FF AS C3 85 EE AS C4 85 EF 20 C2 Ba cS
1F20 3A DG 2A 20 BC @@ CS SG DA 1B 28 BC ea CS 90 Fa
iF30 1F C9 8F FG 2C C9 97 FO 34 C9 95 FO 37 C9 96 FO
iF4a 54 C9 B2 FQ 71 AS EE 85 C3 AS EF 8S C4 4C 9B FF
IFS AS G@ ED 1A @2 AD IF SD iB 2 2a BC Ga OA BS FA
iF6@ 683 AS 63 60 1A @2 AS FF SD 1B 22 D@ ED AS iA 20
\F7@ Bi FC DG ES 28 BC a2 C9 53 Fa OB C9 44 Fe AB CS
1F80 47 FO 9B 4C 9B FF AS 1E D2‘“B6 AS IF DO a2 AD 12
iF9G 28 Bi FC D@ CS 20 BC @@ AS 1B 29 Bl FC AS 1a 24
iFAG 81 FC 20 F5 AB 20 @5 PE AS AE 20 Bi Fo AS AF 20
1FB@ B1 FC ba AS FA AT 20 BC BF AY 1a 2a B1 FC 28 FS
1FCG AB 28 G5 AE Ad AF AS @@ FS 1S 69 41 SS DA FA DS
IFDG 448 29°F 4A 4A 4A 4A G9 30 20 B1 FC 68 29 GF as
1FE@ 3@ 20 Bi FC D@ CC FO CA oy
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
ZX-80/81
LINE-UP
Bar chart
THE HISTOGRAM PLOTTER program from
Darren Moseby of Clay Cross, Derby-
shire, fits into the ZX-81’s rather limited
memory. When Run, the program comes
up with the prompt “No. columns”, anda
number between 0 and 11 should be
entered. The prompt “Input No. n
columns” comes up, where n is a number
between 1 and a specified column
number. A number between 0 and 20
should be entered in response.
When all the column values have been
entered there is a short pause and the
screen clears. The graph is then plotted,
using two different graphics characters
for the alternating columns.
The program can easily be expanded if
more memory is available, and can be
implemented on other micros that have a
Print At X, Y command.
Line draw
A STRAIGHT LINE from a point with co-
ordinates X1, Y1 to a second point X2,
Y2 is constructed by the program from
M Saiepour of Nottingham. It also deter-
mines whether a third point X3, Y3 lies
on the line. The ZX-81 must be fitted
with the 16K RAM.
Bar chart
REM * BAR-CHART *
SCROLL
PRINT "NO.COLUMNS 7"
INFLUT A
SCROLL
PRINT TAR 634A
DIM Z°A>
FOR B= 1 TOA
SCROLL
FRINT "IMPUT HO.
"SB "COLUMN":
INFUT 2¢B)
FRINT 2°82
HEXT B
PAUSE Se
ELS
FOR E=6 TO 2&
PRINT AT E,@;26-E
NEXT E
FOR C Ta B-1
FOR D Vila rane)
LET AS = "
IF C~2#INTC(C/29=8
A$ = "gsranhic H"
PRINT AT S8-D.e+is At
NEXT I
NEST C
=1
i
THEH LET
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
Line draw
INFUT 1
INPUT ‘tt
INPUT 32
INPUT 2
LET H=x2-¥1
LET Y="2—"'1
2=HES s
0 per
=
ab at
og Oo eo ae
LET H=#
FoR F=1 To =
ee
wt Et
elf,
a,
aa!
LET H=H+'''2
HEAT F
THPUT eo
IHFUT 4S
Ue ff
GoOTd
a et
meg Ty TY Bc Puce ee ee a
=
a
c us =
pall
Da ee
a |
ms
AWD Be
GOTO :
Tr Yast
Zi
FRIHT AT
GOTO. 168
PRINT AT 83 "VE!
6070 168
mo
oo iT
me
to 0
AWD Yaa Ck
ho Po fe
fue oy
PON CN Bon]
tm re
toa!
If the gradient of the line is equal to the
gradient of the line from X1, Y1 to X3,
Y3, and X3 lies between X1 and X2, and
Y3 lies between Y1 and Y2, then the
point X3, Y3 lies on the line. For values of
X and Y which are off the screen, the plot
statement must be removed from line
120.
Print At programs
A SUITE of programs demonstrating the
use of the Print At statement comes from
D Stocqueler of Exeter. The programs
were originally written for an 8K-Rom
ZX-80 and can be converted for use ona
ZX-81 by slight alterations to the Pause
statements.
An adequate explanation of the Print
At statement is given in the Sinclair
manual, it does away with calculating the
address of the shifting display RAM and
then having to Poke characters into this
area.
The Etch-a Sketch program simulates
the simple, children’s drawing toy. A line
Etch-a-sketch
LET A=11
LET B=16
PRINT AT A: Bs
"Caranhic srace2"
FALSE {&
LET At=INKE'S
Ag="5" THEN LET B=B-1
" THEH LET A=A+1
" THEH LET A=A-1
S" THEN LET B=B+1
A" THEN ces
Ag="1" THEN PAUSE 208
GOTO 38
i
br
Rie Gi a
Fame
TAD ee et ee LO
t
REM PROGRAM BY M.SAIEPOUR B.Sc.
M.Sc:
THEH LET 2=HES 4
“BlvetS2-Y1 A Ose-H1OTHEH GOTO 135
“s THEM GOTO
ty h a
AT THEH GOTO
FRINT AT 28. RMS
SCROLL
IF B>2 THEN LET B=B-1
IF EC3 THEN LET B=E+4
IF INKEY#="B"
THEH LET B=E+2
IF B>26 THEN LET B=B-4
PRIM AT tea". ."
A FRUSE 16
4 LET S=5+1
IF HOT PEER
CPEEE (1e390+e55#P EER
49=62 THEN GOTO 38
OF
PRINT AY erect UeeRede
PAUSE 3
CLs
HEST F
PRINT "S'OUF
PAUSE 1868
FL
tA | vonett
eee lor
| a OM
1m
Pict
=
os!
ee
oe
i i
SCORE 15 "3s
Pha ee ee ee
Wo dy On
St © mS
is drawn in the direction of the arrows on
keys 5,6,7 and 8 every time one of these
keys is pressed. Pressing key 0 clears the
screen and key 1 stops the flicker on the
ZX-80 for long enough for you to exam-
ine what you have drawn. Do not draw
lines to the very top, sides and bottom of
the screen as weird thing begin to happen
if you try.
The object of Skier is to manoeuvre
yourself down a ski slope without collid-
ing with any trees. As with most arcade
games, there is no way of beating the
machine; the object is to beat your own
high score.
(continued on next page)
135
—_—_—_—_—_—_———— Open file
(continued from previous page)
The game auto-starts itself to save con-
tinually pressing Run, Newline etc. The
skier atitomatically travels to the left and
only moves to the right if B is pressed. The
skill level can be changed by altering the
value in line 100. Beware of trying to
avoid the trees by moving to the edge of
the screen as the program counters this
tactic.
The short routine in Sliding Letters pro-
duces a most interesting display. The
computer accepts a string input, prints it
on the screen at different places and then
scrolls. It will work on an 8K ZX-80 as
long as
45 PAUSE 10
is added. For an effective display the
inputted string should consist of inverse-
video characters.
Sliding letters
HM INPUT At
FOR F=1 TO 2
AT F.FHO
PRIWT
SAS AF
SCROLL
HES F
GOT 2
Card shuffle
THE FOLLOWING ROUTINE. entitled Card
Shuffle will be usefiil to those intending to
write their own card-game programs.
writes Gary Nugent of Dublin, Ireland.
The routine shuffles suited cards, which
are required in Poker, for example.
Line 10 should be the first line of the
program. Lines 11 to 20 can be placed
anywhere within the main card-game
program.
The cards and their suits can be read by
Peeking locations 16427 to 16530; 16427
is the address of the first character after
the Rem keyword.
The numerical values of the cards are
found by Peeking the odd-numbered
locations, and the suits are found by
Peeking the even-numbered locations,
starting at 16428.
Since ten is the only number in the deck
which has two digits, it is represented by
T, since this simplifies the routine. The
suits are represented by their initial let-
ters.
Card shuffle
1 pial ACSCSC4CSCéECPCSCSCTCICR
z ISDSDEDP LSD SUTOITOUKI
3 = S8S3sTs.ISGSKSAH2
_HSH4HSHEH? HSH3HTHIHGIHKH
LET 2=16427
FoR I=-@ To 31
BET JSENDCS2371 |
LET X=FEEKS2+2#.19
LET Y=FEEKCS+2#JI+1)
POKE 2+28J,FPEEKC2+2#1>
POKE S+2#1.N
FOKE 2+24J+1,FEEKCSt+24#I+1>
FORE 2+2#1+1.'r
NEXT I
136
Think quick
THE GAME of Vitesse tests the partici-
pant’s ability to think quickly, writes
Douglas Fyffe of Exeter, Devon. When
the program is run, an asterisk appeais in
one of 10 positions along the screen.
The first asterisk remains on the screen
for one second and, in that time you must
find the correct firing key ahd press it.
The firing keys are
gee Ki Terie BI OC
If you have chosen the right key, the
asterisk explodes and the game speeds up.
If you are wrong the game slows down.
After 15 asterisks have appeared, the
game finishes and you are told how many
you destroyed.
Vitesse
LET T=S
LET H=8
FOR S=1 To 15
BRIA Ht RStees=1
Hawes 1 bs
PORE 16437,255
LET CE=IHKEY'S
IF C#="9" THEM LET C#="1@"
5 Wee
MOO may fe Ca Rae
IF C#=STR# F THEN GOTO 16
_
11 LET T=T#1.1
12 CLS
13 HE¥T 5
14 FRIHT "YOU! GOT "SH
15 STOP
16 FRINT AT 8
i7 LET T= THO, E
12 LET H=N+1
13 60TO 12
ee S-15 “inwetike"
Flight of fancy
SPITFIRE puts you into the cockpit. of a
Second World War fighter. Ahead you
see a squadron of hostile aircraft: Bv
carefully manoeuvring your plane, you
must line your targets up with the cross-
‘wee
EET,
(LE
LET
LET
CLS
LET S=KX+INT ¢(RHD#39+1
LET. T=+INT CRND#39—-1
PRINT AT 9,14; "x hia sash"
PRINT AT 3.16; "drexhTarach"
PRINT AT 11.14; "9raehTarach"
PRINT AT 11,16; "araxh¥orach"
FRINT H
IF H¢€1 THEN GOTQ 35
PRINT AT ‘2-1;
“ar sehTGYarach"
LETA#=INKEYS
21 IF A¢="6" THEN LET 'r'=''-2
2 IF AS="5" THEN LET X=S+2
'G IF Ag="F" THEN LET ‘'=¥+2
IF At="8" THEN LET #=K-2
IF INT ¢RHD#6>+1=1 THEH LET
H=H-INT CRHD#1S9+1
| IF Ag="1" THEN GOTO 28
GOTO S
IF =15 AND Y=18 THEN GOTO 34
3 GOTO S
36 FRINT AT 1a, 44;
LET 5=S+1
FAUSE 5a
) POKE 16437,255
GOTG 3
PRIHT
H=168
5=6
YsINT CRHDeZ2)
S=INT CRHDS¢3G+1
Be RRR EON One
~A OV CN Pa
"Tv iri"
oy)
YW) Go 0) G) 4
“YOU GOT "iS
hairs on the canopy and blast it with your
guns.
The aim is to shoot down as many
enemy craft as possible before you are
finally destroyed yourself. You should
control your craft, not the eriemy.
If you lose sight of the enemy squadron,
you are forced to return to base.
The controls are
1 — Fire
5 — Left
6 — Down
7— Up
8 — Right
The length of the game can be altered
by changing the value of H in line 1, or
changing the 6 in line 25.
Read data
STEPHEN CARSON-ROWLAND’S Read Data
routine for the ZX-81 — ZX-80/81 line-
up, December 1981 — is very pretty but it
is not really necessary, explains J Arotsky
of St Helens, Merseyside. The Sinclair
instruction book gives a hint of how to do
it. There are two relevant points to con-
sider:
@ TheZX-81 allowsa string of any length, The
only limitation is the amount of memory
available. :
@ Sinclair Basic has superb string handling.
These two factors can be used to pro-
vide a very acceptable substitute for Read
Data. For example, the program shown
here is a machine-code load routine, with
all the appropriate Poke values accom-
modated in a string. A full-stop is used as
a data separator as it is easier to type than
a comma. Obviously you can use any
separator that you wish.
The program is an adaptation of Chris-
topher Cldrke’s program from the
December ZX-80/81 line-up. When it
has run, remove all the lines except line
10 and proceed as described in the article.
The same method can also be used with
strings. For example, the program in list-
ing 2 still leaves 500 bytes free.
If you want to edit line 10, then step-
ping along it is extremely tedious. Does
anyone know how to use machine code to
(continued on page 141)
Read data — listing 1.
FEM 123456789123456789
LET B=1
LET C-16514
LET AS="237 115. 54. 64. 42. 54. 64.
. 75. 28. 64. 237. 66. 68. 68. 77. 77.
~ 261."
FOR A=1 TO LEN At
IF AS(AD=". "THEN GOSUB 20a
NEXT A
STOP
FOKE C,VALCAS(E TO A-1)>
LET B=A+i
LET C=C+1
RETURN
Read data — listing 2.
16 LET A$="JANUARY .FEBUARY . MARCH
SAPRIL .MAY .JUNE .JULY . AUGUST
- SEPTENBER . OCTOBER -NOVEMBER . DECEMBER
LET B=1
FOR A=1 TO LEN AS
We ASCAD=". " THEN GOSUE 266
PRINT ASCE TO A-1>
LET B=A+i
RETURN
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
0 to
in one second
<=.
RICOH 1600S °°." x ms
if It's high performance you're 630 SPRINT 5 WRITER RP. 1600
looking for, the Ricoh 1600S Is for you, (10 DATA)
offering an amazing 60 characters in
just ! second. An updated version of PRINT SPEED
the trled-and-tested 1600, the new S (CPS) 40 45/55 55 60
model has been re-designed and fitted
with all sorts of extras. Yet one thing PRINT ELEMENT DAISY- DAISY- THIMBLE DOUBLE
hasn't changed — the price, making WHEEL WHEEL DAISY-
the 1600S cheaper than any equivalent WHEEL
model on the market. This superb sr
performer incorporates the Z80 micro- AUTO
processor, auto bidirectional printing BIDIRECTIONAL Yes No No No
and look-ahead logic, increasing speed =
and efficiency. Other capabilities AUTO LOGIC
include proportional spacing, graph SEEKING Yes No Yes No
lotting and word processing enhance-
wank The printer includes a standard PROPORTIONAL
centranics Interface, and RS232 and UNM
IEEE options ore available. CAPABILITY Yes Yes Yes No
The Ricoh 1600S is available only EXTENDED
from Micropute and their authorised
dealers, all backed up with a natian- CHARACTER SET No No Yes Yes
wide service network. if you're
interested in the 1600S either as o leo UAE, Yes x Ye Ye
customer or as a dealer, send the = = s
coupon now, CUSTOM INTER-
“Picture shows 1600s fitted with uractor feed option” FACE OPTION No No No No
JPlease send me details on the Ricoh 1600S
pers PRICE £1675 £1950 £1950 £1450
ey The above information was gathered from distributors and
Ecompony abstracted from their current literature. Prices shown are those
ne advertised at the present time.
Tel.No
on 1600S THE aoa HAS
] — THE PRICE HASN'T
@Circle No. 176
PRACTICAL COMPUTING Apri! 1982 137
me AS) NTR JN
|Rele) @ire
TOMORROW
t
The distributed processing system for the PS!) 80
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Tel: {0727} 66222
Telex: 267102
In Scotland contact:
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Glasgow G1 5PL.
Tel: 041-552 6731
@Circle No. 177
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@ Apple support software for DOS 3.3, CP/M and Apple Pascal
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Now at last you can have all the features you want |»
in one expandable system with memory from 32K up to
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As well as powerful N- Basic by Microsoft, full CPM
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N-Basic packages are already available for sales,
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And when you consider the cost/performance ratio,
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The NEC PC8000 Personal Computer is available ae
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A 8 i ei CLE JINILS
== Open file
Read data — listing 3.
@ LET Ags" "
THFPLIT BS
IF B="EHD" THEH
GOTO 148
eT AS=AE+Bs+", "
GOTO 28
PRINT At
(continued from page 136)
Poke an alteration in the line? This is easy
enough if you wish merely to alter a
character, but if you want to alter the
length of A$. This is a particular problem
if you want to use the string as a data
base, storing the words and clues for
Hangman for example.
One way round this problem is to cre-
ate the string not a a program line — see
listing 3, which produces an A$ which can
readily be altered though, Run destroys
all your words and clues for Hangman.
The money program
A RECENT Apple-Pet item gave a routine
for printing sums of money in conven-
tional £.p form so that columns line up,
notes W E Thomson. A ZX-81 cannot use
the same method because of its different
string-handling procedures, but these,
plus the ZX-81’s logical functions, pro-
vide a neat solution to this problem.
In this test program, the four lines 100
to 130 constitute the line-up procedure.
The routine has two operands: D, the
column in which the decimal point has to
appear; and F, a positive sum of money
expressed in pounds and fractions of'a
pound that do not necessarily correspond
to whole numbers of pence. Line 100
converts F to pence, rounded off to the
nearést integer.
Lines 30 to 60 allow the input, and
printing in the form in which it is input, of
an expression such as
69.95/1.15
the basic cost of an item whose cost
including VAT is £69.95. It is followed by
its value in pounds and fractions of a
pound, and its value in pounds and pence
correctly lined up.
The routine always prints at least one
pound figure: 50p becomes 0.50; Sp
becomes 0.05, Op becomes 0.00. If the
forms .50, .05, .00 are preferred, delete
(“0" AND F < 100) +
in line 110.
Hex loader
IN RESPONSE to G J Langford’s letter —
Feedback, January 82 — J Chalmers of
East Grinstead, West Sussex has written
a hex loader program for the ZX-81.
The program was written using 3K of
RAM, but can be converted to fit into 1K
by reducing the amount of information
displayed at any one time. This is
achieved by making ‘the display file a
maximum of one line long just before
every scroll is executed. Poking the sys-
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
“ss
Money program
16 FRINT AT
“4 LET [=23
36 IHWPUT EF
40 PRINT EF
4 LET F= AL
PRLT iFe
FEM START
LET F=IHT (1684eF+8.5
LET F#=<"8" AWD Fe
LET L=LEH F#-2
Pa Pe ee TL am
1 ‘yr ay A
tha
my ha
ay FY ey Ea aE
GOTO Sa
tem variable DF-SZ (16418) with 23
performs this task.
Operation of the program is simple.
After Run, a string-input prompt is dis-
played along with a decimal address and
the present contents of that address. If
you wish to change the byte, enter the
New byte in hex and press Newline;
otherwise just press Newline. To stop the
programming mode press S and a mes-
sage will appear inviting you to check the
program. Pressing L will set the counter
to the start of your program and it can be
stepped through and be inspected byte by
byte. It can also be altered if necessary.
A special feature of the program is the
inbuilt decimal to hex cqnverter. During
machine-code programming, entering H
will access this routine. On access you
simply enter a decimal number smaller
Hex loader
REM <FLIT HERE OWE
LET x=16514
LET A=PEEE ¥
GOSLIE 1688
PRINT »
INFLIT el
IF AS¢13= "H" THEH
IF Aftis= "5" THEM
IF A¥¢1ls= " " THEN
PRINT “ "; At
FORE -:
Eien
ooToO 26
SCROLL
FRINT:
IF INEEYS ="L"
GOTO 238
SCROLL
INFUT A
PRINT A:
GOSUE 188
PRIWT . At
GOTO 2a
REM DECIMAL TO HES
LIM A#¢43
26 LET D=4896
SH FOR I = 1 TO 4
GOTO
pee ent
1 a
S|
THEH RUN
Se PD PR Pe fac ee ee ey Oe
oi CP ee he ee Et a
a
a
a
PRINT TAE D-L:FS<ToO Lo; "
REM EMD OF LINE-UP ROUTIME
GuTO 4
Sue
OF LINE-UF ROWTINE
pice AND FCLGs4+STRE F
wr rca bo
than 65535, and it will be automatically
printed along with its hex equivalent.
‘When your machine code has been
perfected, the hex loader program can be
deleted, leaving only line 1 which con-
tains the code. To run machine code you
must use the USR function. If the state-
ment
LET L = USRX
is executed, where X is the starting
address of your machine code, the code
will be executed until a return is found
indicating a return to Basic. A full set of
machine-code instructions can be found
in appendix A of the Sinclair manual, and
an appropriate return — e.g. C9h — can
be selected from there. On return to
Basic in this example the variable L will
contain a value corresponding to the con-
tents of the be register pair.
FER BYTE OF MACHIWE CODE >
REM MACHINE CODE LOADER: FOR 24°
s 164 CODE AF + CODE AFCZ9-476
il
TPReSe Ee Teen beke
CONYWERS [OH
A LET A$ ¢ To=CHRE CINT CAR D+285
AH = A-D# INT ¢A-DD
= Ii/1i5
IF AF¢1> ="8" AWD AFCZ3 ="e"
a6 RETURN
THEM LET A# = ACS TO 4)
H]
141
142
@
<@ommunications
Northern Office: Dean House - Dean Hall Lane - Shaw Green - Euxton -
Nr. Chorley - Lancs. Tel: 0257 453360
Midlands Office: 2 Leire Lane - Dunton Bassett -
Nr. Lutterworth - Leicestershire. Tel: 0455 209131
@ Computer Interfacing @ Equipment Design @ Systems Analysis @ Software Development @
OLIVETT! ET 121
Telex-tape preparation
The OCTET 121 is capable
of punching man-readable
‘headers’. The full 4K of
memory can be text-edited
prior to punching. The OCTET
121 will also read in tapes
where fast telex tape handling
is required. Multiple OCTETs to
one tape punch station is also
available.
PRESENTS
The OCTET 121@ a multi-use communicating terminal
and electronic typewriter
Micro-computer
Use the OCTET 121 asa letter
quality printer. A wide selection
of Daisy Wheel typefaces are
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control the buffer are standard
features.
OCTET 121
OCTET 121 communication is
achieved by simple cable
connection or through an
acoustic modem. Ideal for
remote offices who would like
to use the main office telex
facilities. Prepare text at the
remote office and transmit to
main office to cut tape for
forward transmission.
@ 4,000 char. memory
@ Integral Text Editor
@ Battery Back-Up
@ KSR ‘Control Key’
Sequences
@ Multiple Baud Rate
Selection
@ RS232C Connection
Mini/Mainframe computer
The OCTET 121 is a true KSR
with all standard controt
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OCTET 121 has many uses and can be installed very easily in your office.
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® OCTET 121 is a trade mark of Duplex Communications
@Circle No. 180
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
Micromouse maze enthusiasts
all over the U.K. are counting
down to this year’s Euromicro
Euromouse Contest. The lucky
winners will be sponsored to
compete in the European
Finals at Haifa, Israel in
September. John Billingsley
reports.
THE MICE WILL BATTLE it out at the Com-
puter Fair in London’s Earls Court from
April 23 to 25, 1982, after “limbering
up” a week earlier at the London Com-
puter Club’s own Computer Fair in the
theatre of the Polytechnic of North Lon-
don.
The contest was originally modelled on
the Micromouse Maze Contest, first
devised by IEEE Spectrum, in which
mice entered the maze at one corner and
left by another. Simple-minded wall fol-
lowers could find their way through.
The Euromicro Contest demanded
more intelligence from the mice by set-
ting the target at the middle of the maze
so that a cunning arrangement of pas-
sageways would have the wall followers
running in circles.
Micromousee
The heat is on
The maze consists of 16 by 16 squares
and each mouse starts in the bottom left
corner so that the location of the centre
target is well defined. The 1980 maze was
built to accommodate American micro-
mice in the hope of tempting one or two
of them across the Atlantic. Although a
few registered for the contest, none
arrived to compete.
In the 1980 maze the walls were sup-
ported between pegs inserted into holes
in the base. Unfortunately the manufac-
turer bonded hardboard to the bottom of
the chipboard, causing the whole base to
warp slightly, which was enough to baffle
one or two particularly fastidious mice.
Honourable bunch
Mouse builders are on the whole an
| honourable bunch, and the judges have a
relatively easy time. Nevertheless, there
have been one or two points of conten-
tion in the past. When a mouse has a
dazzling array of control buttons it is
always possible that the handlers are pul-
EUROMOUSE Maze Contest — British Heat, Earls Court, April
23 to 25 1982. Rules of competition.
1.Dimensions
The maze consists of 16 by 16 squares.
The squares are based on a 7in./18cm.
matrix. The walls of the maze are
0:5in/12mm. thick, and the passageways
are thus 6-5in./16:-5cm. wide. The walls are
2in./5cm. high, painted white with red tops.
The target post at the centre, 1in./2.5cm.
square, is 8in./20cm. high, and can be
removed if desired. The starting square is
at the ‘bottom left’ corner of the maze, and
the mouse is initially orientated so that the
target is diagonally to its right. The running
‘surface is chipboard, sprayed with black
paint.
2.Tolerances
Dimensions should not be assumed to be
more accurate than five percent: the maze
may be made up to metric or imperial
dimensions, and quoted figures may be
approximations (to five percent). Joins in
the maze base will not involve steps of
greater than 0-5mm. — possibly covered
with tape. However, warping of the maze
base during transport or storage may result
in a change in gradient at a join of as
much as 4°.
3.Contest rules
(a) Each mouse is allowed a maximum
total of 15 minutes to perform. The judges
have the discretion to request a mouse to
retire early if by its lack of progress it has
become boring, or if by erratic behaviour it
is endangering the state of the maze.
(b) If the mouse can succeed in finding its
way from the start to the maze centre, the
time is noted. The handlers can then
restart the mouse, so that it can profit from
any learning ability in making a second
run. Within the 15-minute limitation any
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
number of runs can be made, and the
mouse is credited with the shortest time of
a successful run.
(c) If a mouse “gets into trouble”, the
handlers can ask the judges for permission
to abandon the run and restart the mouse
at the beginning. lf any other handling
occurs, the judges may impose an
appropriate time penalty, and a mouse
which has been so handled will be beaten
by any other mouse which has reached the
centre without handling. A mouse may not
be restarted merely because it has taken a
wrong turning — the judges decision is
final. The judges may add a time penalty
for a restart.
(d) Within reason, and at the judges’
discretion, battery changes and minor
repairs may be made — however the
15-minute timer must continue running.
(e) If no successful run has been made,
the judges will make a qualitative
assessment of the mouse’s performance,
based on distance achieved,
“purposefulness” versus random behaviour
and quality of control.
(f) If a mouse elects to retire before three
minutes have elapsed, the judges may at
their discretion permit it to perform again,
with a 10-minute limit, later in the contest.
(g) The judges will use their discretion to
award the prizes, which in addition to the
major prize may include prizes for specific
classes of mouse — perhaps lowest cost,
most ingenious, best presented, etc.
(h) Before the maze is unveiled the mice
must be accepted and caged by the
contest officials. The handlers will place
the mice at the start under the officials’
instructions.
ling a fast one by choosing a bias towards
left or right-handedness, or by signalling
“that last route wasn’t bad, go flat out
and don’t try to improve it”.
The starting procedure must therefore
be written down before the beginning of
the contest so that matters of strategy are
left to the mouse, not to the handler.
Although it is not mentioned in the
tules, the judges’ job will be made much
easier if a mouse announces its arrival at
the centre either audibly or by simply
flashing an LED. The mouse must not
pollute or damage the maze — one or two
mice have a reputation for hurling them-
selves against the maze walls, and this
practice will be strongly discouraged.
Sample competition maze.
(i) Although the superstructure of the mice
may “bulge” above the top of the maze
walls, mice must be subject to the following
size constraints — width 25cm., length
25cm. There is no height limit but beware
of toppling! Mice must be completely
self-contained and must receive no outside
assistance. The method of wall sensing is
at the discretion of the builder, however,
the mouse must not exert a force on any
wall likely to cause damage. The method
of propulsion is at the discretion of the
builder provided that the power source is
non-polluting — internal-combustion
engines would probably be disqualified on
this count. If the judges consider that a
mouse has a high risk of damaging or
sullying the maze they will not permit it to
run. Nothing may be deposited in the
maze. The mouse must negotiate the
maze; it must not step over or otherwise
illegally cross any maze wall. The means
of locomotion of the mouse is again at the
discretion of the designer.
4. Virtuoso Display
Mice have 10 minutes to display their
abillties. Their dimensions must be such
that they could run in the maze. Their
performance must be limited in travelling
range to be accommodated either within
the maze, or on an eight foot (2.4 metre)
square surface of hardboard. Handling will
be discouraged.
The Micromouse Maze Contest was first
held in the U.S. by IEEE Spectrum.
143
Puzile=====
= Solution to February puzzle
r @ Ss Sif a Remember the numerical bees? They
| = ; - : managed to fill that honeycomb after all
— even without the hive’s new Bee Bee
hex nS Cee computer, which really is due for
delivery any day now.
ag oO 9 by Tony Roberts ee a _ 4
Clues Up f
Across 5. Same digits as 2D but in a
1. Square. different order.
3. Cube. 6. See note below.
4. See 7U. 7. Sum of three times the total of
5. Square. all two-digit numbers, the total
6. Twenty more than the sum of all of all the three-digit numbers,
the three-figure numbers, 5U 3D, 4A, and half 9U.
and 2D. 8. Cube.
9. Square
Down \
1. See note.
2. See SU.
3. See 7U.
4. Cube.
5. Square.
Notes
2-digit numbers are consecutive
squares.
3-digit numbers are consecutive
cubes.
5-digit numbers are each made up of
digits sharing a common total.
MACHINE LANGUAGE MADE SIMPLE
2X80 AND 2X81
Mailing
Floppy Disks?
Use Swan Disk Mailers — and get
Safety in the Mail
Now used by over 1,000 computer companies,
Swan Disk Mailers provide outstanding postal
security at economical prices.
Combining great strength with simplicity of use,
Swan Disk Mailers are manufactured from rigid white
corrugated, holding up to four disks.
This new book is a must for any SINCLAIR user who
wants to make full use of his SINCLAIR.ZX80 and
ZX81. Go beyond Basic into the world of MACHINE
LANGUAGE PROGRAMMING and open computer
horizons you never thought possible! Learn how.to use
the SINCLAIR computer's own language and finally
find out what PEEK and POKE is all about!
MORE COMPUTING POWER IN LESS
SPACE! FASTER
RUNNING PROGRAMS!
Written for the complete beginner as
well as for the experienced
he SINCLAIR user, MACHINE
mm LANGUAGE MADE SIMPLE has
over 120 pages packed with
programming techniques, hints and
meee tips
WRITE YOUR OWN MACHINE LANGUAGE
PROGRAMS...
‘ USEFUL BASIC PROGRAM TO EDIT MACHINE LANGUAGE * COMPLETE
DESCRIPTION OF THE INSTRUCTIONS GROUPED BY SUBJECT AND BY
3} USEFULNESS * NUMEROUS SAMPLE MACHINE LANGUAGE ROUTINES came
There are two sizes available: 8-75”X 8-75” & 6”X 6”
OI AL
Soin Intoidiniioitninivicisirard
Winaeres FOR THE SINCLAIR 80 & 81 * SIMPLE EASY TO USE LOOK UP.
* £8.95 (plus 50P p&p) *
es eee
Please send me copies MACHINE LANGUAGE MADE SIMPLE
: FOR YOUR ZX80 & ZX 81. 5
ring Orders to: Melbourne: House Publishers, 131 Trafalgar Rd, ae, SE10 |
Correspondence: Glebe Cottage, Glebe House, Station Rd, Cheddington.
01 -607 9938 i Leighton Buzzard. pansy LU7. on a a |
Please enclose cheque or P.O. tor £9.45 per copy. Orders outside the i
for Free samples | ‘sete “
and prices ADDRESS -pcave2
@ Circle No. 181 @ Circle No. 182
144 PRACTICAL COMPUTING Apni 1982
DO NOT ADJUST YOUR SET!
This is
an Octy
at
Photograpn taken from a Tv receive:
That’s the colour
of the Digitek PAL
Encoder Card for
APPLE II computers.
Featuring an on-board UHF modulator
and the unique Digitek ‘Safety Tab’ for
sure, easy handling.
This principal member of the Digitek
range of Apple expander cards not only
gives the best quality PAL version of the
Apple's colour graphics capabilities, but is
also simplicity itself to install.
One plug-in card is all it takes to transform
your dull display into a techni-colour master-
piece.
Also in the Expander Range are a 16k Ramcard,
Z80 Expansion card, High speed serial interface,
and more!
Send in the coupon for details and your nearest
stockist.
DIGITEK
EXPANDER CARD SERIES
The people who are really into Apples.
Digitek International Ltd., Unit 14, Grafton Place,
Dukes P. trial Estate Chelmsford Ess.
Make the most of your
Sinclair ZX Computer...
Sinclair ZX
software
on cassette.
3.22 per cassette.
The unprecedented popularity of
the ZX Series of Sinclair Personal
Computers has generated a large
volume of programs written byusers.
Sinclair has undertaken to
publish the most elegant of these
on pre-recorded cassettes. Each
program is carefully vetted for
interest and quality, and then
Cassette 1-Games
For ZX81 (and ZX80 with 8K
BASIC ROM)
ORBIT -your space craft’s
mission is to pickup avery valuable
cargo that’s in orbit around a star.
SNIPER - you’re surrounded
by 40 of the enemy. How quickly
can you spot and shoot them when
grouped with other programs to they appear?
form a single-subject cassette. METEORS - your starship is
__ Each cassette costs £3.95 cruising through space when you
(including VAT and p&p) and comes meet a meteor storm. How long can
complete with full instructions. you dodge the deadly danger?
Although primarily designed LIFE-J.H.Conway’s ‘Game of
for the Sinclair ZX81, many ofthe —_Life’ has achieved tremendous
cassettes are suitable for running
on a Sinclair ZX80 —if fitted with a
replacement 8K BASIC ROM.
Some of the more elaborate
programs can be mun only ona
Sinclair ZX Personal Computer
augmented by a 16K-byte add-on
popularity in the computing world.
Study the life, death and evolution
patterns of cells.
WOLFPACK - your naval
destroyer is on a submarine hunt.
The depth charges are armed, but
must be fired with precision.
pack. GOLF -what’s your handicap?
sep ocie tr pects erie 4 It’s a tricky course bat you eonttal
below. And the description of each Kiceneee ye vouabers
cassette makes it clear what Cassette 2-Junior
hardware is required. Education: 7-11-year-olds
8K BASIC ROM For ZX81 with 16K RAM pack
The 8K BASIC ROM used in the CRASH - simple addition— with
the added attraction of a car crash
if you get it wrong.
MULTIPLY -long multi-
plication with five levels of
difficulty. If the answer’s wrong —
the solution is explained.
TRAIN - multiplication tests
against the computer. The winner’s
train reaches the station first.
FRACTIONS - fractions
explained at three levels of
difficulty. A ten-question test
completes the program.
ADDSUB- addition and
subtraction with three levels of
difficulty. Again, wrong answers
are followed by an explanation.
DIVISION - with five levels of
difficulty. Mistakes are explained
graphically, and a running score is
displayed.
SPELLING - up to 500 words
over five levels of difficulty. You
can even change the words yourself.
Cassette 3- Business and
Household
For ZX81 (and ZX80 with 8K
BASIC ROM) with 16K RAM pack
TELEPHONE -setup yourown
computerised telephone directory
and address book Changes,
additions and deletions of up to
50 entries are easy.
NOTE PAD -a powerful, easy-
to-run system for storing and
ZX81 is available to ZX80 owners
as a drop-in replacement chip.
With the exception of animated
graphics, all the advanced features
of the ZX81 are now available ona
ZX80-including the ability to run
much of the Sinclair ZX Software.
The ROM chip comes with a
new keyboard template, which can
be overlaid on the existing
keyboard in minutes, and a new
operating manual.
16K-BYTE RAM pack
The 16K-byte RAM pack provides
16-times more memory in one
complete module. Compatible with
the ZX81 andthe 7X80, itcan be used
for program storage or as a database.
The RAM pack simply plugs
into the existing expansion port on
the rear of a Sinclair ZX Personal
Computer.
a #:
sbahe8e
retrieving everyday information.
Use it as a diary, a catalogue, a
reminder system, or a directory.
BANK ACCOUNT-a
sophisticated financial recording
system with comprehensive
documentation. Use it at home to
keep track of ‘where the money
goes,’ and at work for expenses,
departmental budgets, etc.
Cassette 4-Games
For ZX81 (and ZX80 with 8K
BASIC ROM) and 16K RAM pack
LUNAR LANDING - bring the
lunar module down from orbit to a
soft landing. You control attitude
and orbital direction—but watch the
fuel gauge! The screen displays your
flight status—digitally and graphically.
TWENTYONE -a dice version
of Blackjack.
COMBAT - you're on a suicide
space mission. You-have only 12
missiles but the aliens have
unlimited strength. Can you take
12 of them with you?
SUBSTRIKE - on patrol, your
frigate detects a pack of 10 enemy
subs. Can you depth-charge them
before they torpedo you?
CODEBREAKER - the
computer thinks of a 4-digit number
which you have to guess in up to 10
tries. The logical approach is best!
MAYDAY -in answer to a distress
call, you’ye narrowed down the
search area to 343 cubic kilometers
of deep space. Can you find the
astronaut before his life-support
system fails in 10 hours time?
| Please send me the items I have indicated below.
Cassette 5-Junior
Education: 9-11-year-olds
For ZX81 (and ZX80 with 8K
BASIC ROM)
MATHS -tests arithmetic with
three levels of difficulty, and gives
your score out of 10.
BALANCE - tests understanding
of levers/fulcrum theory with a
series of graphic examples.
VOLUMES - ‘yes’ or ‘no’
answers from the computer toa
series of cube volume calculations.
AVERAGES - what's the average
height of your class? The average
shoe size of your family? The average
pocket money of your friends? The
computer plots a bar chart, and
distinguishes MEAN from MEDIAN.
BASES -convert from decimal
(base 10) to other bases of your
choice in the range 2 to 9.
TEMP - Volumes, temperatures
—and their combinations.
Howto order
Simply use the order form below,
and either enclose a cheque or give
us the number of your Access,
Barclaycard or Trustcard account.
Please allow 28 days for delivery.
14-day money-back option.
— | | om — ||
ZX SOFTWARE
Sinclair Research Ltd,
6 Kings Parade, Cambridge,
Cambs., CB21SN. Tel: 0276 66104.
| L Qty | Code | Item Item price | Total |
| 21 Cassette 1-Games £3.95
| | 22 Cassette 2-Junior Education £3.95 |
| |. B | (Gassette3 Business and Household — [ £3.95 |
| | 24 Cassette 4-Games _ j hey || |
p 25 Cassette 5-Junior Education { £3.95 |
| 17 *8K BASIC ROM for ZX80 £19.95
| | 18 L *16K RAM pack for ZX81 and ZX80 | £49.95 |
| | *Post and packing (if applicable) £2.95 | |
Total £ |
7 *Please add £2.95 to total order value only if ordering ROM and/or RAM. |
Tenclose a cheque/PO to Sinclair Research Ltd for £
| Please charge my Access*/Barclaycard/Trustcard no. |
| | aj SS eS Se eee | |
*Please delete as applicable,
| Name: Mr/Mrs/Miss | aS aS |
| Address: | | — a ee |
erp ae
@Circle No. 184
ae CA
Fe YOU HAVE AN
anos MICROCOMPUTER
NU YOU'LL NEED
ss
“ONINIS'
All you've ever wished for in an
information management
system.
OMNIS sets new standards in database programs and levels of
performance that you never believed were possible on a
microcomputer.
@ OMNIS is written in UCSD Pascal+, this
means a better structured, faster running
set of programs than could ever be possi-
ble using Basic-— We believe that UCSD
Pascalt is the best microcomputer
language available — OMNIS proves it —
@ OMNIS is structured around powerful file
handling modules. These modules give
you the flexibility to store and retrieve
your information in the way that you
want. Full multi-key indexed access is
available to all your database files, you say
what you want — OMNIS does the rest.
OMNIS has an application waiting for it in
every business, school and laboratory and
workshop. Wherever information needs to be
stored and retrieved. OMNIS is available for
both APPLE Il and APPLE ///. We can also sup-
ply OMNIS for use on APPLE microcomputer
networks (yes, with true multi-user record lock-
ing). Trade enquiries welcome.
@Omnis provides you with a versatile
report generating module that enables
you to define your own reports, lists, mail-
ing labels etc.
@ OMNIS has unparalleled search facilities
to allow you to be selective. Those hours
of fruitless searching through rows of card
indexes becomes a thing of the past.
@ OMNIS lets you design your own screen
layouts for data entry and inspection —
you may have up to 10 screens per file.
All registered users of OMNIS will be sent FREE
BACKUP disc and you will be kept informed of
all updates and upgrades. Free help will be
given to all registered users via an OMNIS hot-
line
OMNIS — All you ever wanted
APPLE II* version - £174.00 (incl VAT & pp)
©
APPLE ///* version - £225.75 (incl VAT & pp} Oe: \s
BLYTH COMPUTERS LIMITED
Wenhaston, Halesworth, Suffolk
"trademarks of APPLE Computer Inc IP ] 9 9DH
+ trademark of the Regents of the
University of California.
San Diego
ae aay
rN "ie BARCLAYCARD]
* Registered Trade Mark
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
<2 050 270 565 hl
a™~5 24 hour phone service aes oe:
ey
ee
i
oe
@ Circle No. 185
147
RAM BARGAINS
4116-200ns. 80p each
100+ 68p each
2114-200ns. 85p each
100+ 75p each
2114-450ns. 80p each
100+ 70p each
2716 Single +5V £2.20 each
50+ £2.00 each
2532-450ns. £4.20 each
£4.00 each
£1.90 each
1 £1.40 each
Other IC's available.
Add 50p P&P + VAT at 15%.
ATHANA FLOPPIES
Minis with free plastic library case + Hub rings
/S-S/D £17.95 for 10
£23.50 for 10
£26.50 for 10
£15.50 for 10
£24.50 for 10
£25.50 for 10
D/S-D/D
S/S-Quad D
8" discs. S/S-S/D
S/S D/D
D/S-D/D
All other disks available.
Add 85p P&P + VAT at 15%.
24-HOUR TELEPHONE SERVICE
FOR CREDIT CARD USERS
QUANTITY DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE —
OFFICIAL ORDERS WELCOME
OPUS SUPPLIES
te Be
@Circle No. 186
“Pr TLEBANK
MICROCOMPUTING COURSES
“,. microcomputing ...”
— what's it all about?
— good for your business?
— wish to keep up with the kids?
— want to be better-informed?
—... ete,
Come on a 1-week residential course for
BEGINNERS in a peaceful Lake District
setting
Peter Gardner,
Tottlebank, Blawith,
Near Ulverston,
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@Circle No. 187
PUTTIN TITTIES C CL LULL
TRS-80 COLOR COMPUTER
“C.C. WRITER” A WORK PROCESSOR
FOR YOU
Tel:
Lowick Bridge 660
(Code 022 985)
“C.C. IS E.C.” Designed from scratch to be easy to use this
powerful program complete with a superb Instruction manual
is just what the user wants! No experience needed here and
no short cuts either! Features include, A CLEAR MENU,
INSERT, DELETE, MOVE, SAVE, LOAD, CHAIN, PAUSE (insert
single sheet of paper), FORM FEED, DOUBLE SPACE, PAGE
HEADER, PAGE NO, JUSTIFY (right margin), SET LEFT MAR-
GIN, SET LINE LENGTH, SET PAGE LENGTH, SET PARAGRAPH
INDENTATION, SET FIRST LINE POSITION (new page. PLUS,
FORCE {new page), CENTRE, SKIP (a no of lines) INDENT (both
margins), NEW LINE, SEND {ASCII codes to printer), if that’s
not enough then try the LINE SEEKER or the GLOBAL EDIT
features. “C.C. WRITER” will drive any printer that can be
connected to the COLOR COMPUTER. Every one of these
useful features is well documented and explained in ‘the
manual supplied with “C.C. WRITER”. If you're not convinced
then the MANUAL is available separately at £6.00. REFUND-
ABLE on purchase of the program: “C.C. WRITER” is written in
EXTENDED BASIC and will run in 16 or 32k. Priced at £29.95 it
represents good value for money. If you order NOW we will
pay the VAT and postage. PAYMENT with order please to the
sole U.K. distributors
DEPT CC, WORK FORCE
140 WILSDEN AVE
LUTON, BEDS LU1 SHR
FOUUTUUAYECOAUOLEOUGUU OULU SOREL OLULALEU OLA UUAETAOLULL
@Circle No: 188
148
Pet holds the
purse-strings
The idea of writing your own
business software should not
necessarily fill you with
trepidation. Roger Valentine
and John Hartopp turned
their hands to the task and
created a complete payroll
suite, which they present here.
IN A CHOICE: likened by many to re-
inventing the wheel, we decided at the
Outset that we would write all our own
business software. As a bureau offering
professional services, we needed a pro-
gram which could handle a large number
of clients with diverse problems. More
importantly, we were not at all impressed
by the programs available. on cassette
from software suppliers.
The rest is free
After much shopping around and
budget-stretching we had decided to buy
a 32K Pet, a Commodore printer and a
cassette unit. With the advent of inexpen-
sive micros such as the Vic, it becomes
increasingly likely that many more small,
low-budget companies will consider tak-
ing a tentative step towards computerisa-
tion.
Cheap and effective business software
is therefore a must. If you buy a computer
just to run this program, you can produce
a year’s payroll for under £20 a week,
which is about what we would charge our
clients. The advantage of doing it yourself
is that you have the computer for other
jobs too and subsequent payrolls cost you
nothing. ‘
Anyone opting to write their own
A sample pay-slip.
PAY. HO.
INS.HO.
TAS CODE
WEEK HO.
WE
PAY - NORMAL TIME
OVERTIME ¢1>
OVERTIME £2)
SICK PAY
HOLIDAY PAY
BONUS/ADJUSTMENT
GROSS FAY
TAX
Ne
ADJUSTMENT
TOTAL DEDUCTIONS
HET PAYABLE
GROSS PAY TO DATE
TAX TO DATE
payroll program from scratch should
start by obtaining the specifications laid
down by the Inland Revenue and the
Department of Health and Social
Security forcomputerised payroll routines.
They are extremely complex, but you
must follow them to the letter.
It is simple to write a program which is
technically more accurate than the man-
ual tax and national-insurance tables, but
unfortunately this is not what is required.
The manual tables incorporate a number
of roundings and approximations
designed to make’ life simple for the
non-computer user, so a computer
routine must use the same approxima-
tions as would a manual system.
Although the variety of tax codes that
you are actually likely to encounter in
practice is rather limited, there are three
different types of code, all of which must
be catered for:
Numeric codes with suffix are by far the most
common, and many employers could prob-
ably manage with a program which covers
these alone. They present no real problem,
except that, because manual tables only go
up to code 360, a special routine must be
included to cover higher codes; otherwise
the computer’s results will be “too accu-
Numeric codes with prefix are rather rare, D
and F prefixes do sometimes occur, and
each requires a separate routine.
The non-numeric codes are NT, BR, and OT.
NT means no tax is deducted and usually —
but not always — that no tax should be
refunded. BR means that the whole of the
pay is taxed at the basic rate, and is not the
same as OT, which means that the whole of
the pay is taxed, but at whichever rate is
normally applicable. Note that though OT is
really a normal suffix code, it may be read
as “OT”, so it is safer if your program
accepts it as a valid non-numeric code.
All the above code types may be either
Week | or cumulative. Anyone who
| Operates a payroll, or who has ever paid
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
EMPLOYEE PAY SUMMARY
MAME
MW. CLARK
D. BRON
MNS. J. BROWN
TOTAL
- WEEK HO. 35
Nil.
TOT?
wan
Sew
fo
wd
The tabulated printout of an employee’s pay summary.
too much tax, will be familiar with what
this means. D codes are never cumula-
tive; F codes may very rarely be. Fortu-
nately, special Week-1 tables, W1, are
no longer in use, so Week 1 codes can be
treated exactly the same as the others,
but on a non-cumulative basis. There are
six different NI rates, a to f. but since this
program is designed only for not-
contracted-out employers, it uses only
rates a, b, and c.
The program requires about 22K, most
of which is taken up by the employee
arrays. A 32K machine will hold data for
more than the 100 employees, but we
have chosen that number to allow ample
room for modifications to the program.
The screen display is for a 40-column
Pet. The 3 cursor right; *; 3 cursor left
routine which appears first in line 210 is a
standard Pet trick to avoid crashing the
program with Return. There are no
Peeks, Pokes or other machine-
dependent features, but you must be able
to use massive two-dimensional arrays
which may be difficult on old-ROM Pets.
In the program all arrays have been
dimensioned even though this is not
essential on a Pet. Val should return zero
for a non-numeric string otherwise some
of the validification routines must be
modified.
Special formats
The printer formatting should be
adjusted for your particular printer. Most
of the formatting — subroutine 7500 in
program |; 9500 in program 2 — is
conventional, but for the weekly sum-
mary in lines 12000 to 14300 of program
2 we have cheated by using the Pet
printer’s own formatting facilities. These
involve using a template, defined by the
row of 9s and As in lines 13060 and
14070.
The Pet defines device number 3 as the
screen, and 4 as the printer. We have
used this to copy information directly
from screen to printer, but you may have
a Copy facility to do this even more
simply.
Variables used in the program are
listed in table 1, and the arrays are listed
at the end of program |. This is more
than just a service to the user: the Pet’s
chaining facility is dependent on the sec-
ond program being shorter than the first.
Rather than adjust the various pointers at
addresses 44 to 49 to make program |
artificially long, we have simply extended
the listing. For that reason, Pet users
should not omit the Rems or lines 12000
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
on words, unless they are adding a
routine of equivalent length.
The most interesting feature of pro-
gram | is subroutine 6000 which searches
for an employee by name, or by part of a
name. For example, “Smith” will find A
Smith, Smith A., B. Smithson, etc. If all
names have initials with at least one full
stop, “.” will find them all. Otherwise
program | isa standard database routine.
Program 2 opens with a long list of tax
and NI parameters, most of which should
be instantly recognisable to payroll users.
All the data which is likely to be
amended in successive budgets is held
here, so up-dating is easy. Line 6180
relates to the old W1 tables. It has been
pushed out of the way with a Rem state-
ment, rather than deleted, just in case it is
needed again. GPTR, short for GPoin-
(continued on next page)
Table 1.
Ail arrays used are listed at the end of pro-
gram one.
T, Q, T$, Q$, AND T{) are local variables
which occur throughout the programs.
N$ Week number ——>W
D$ Date of run
DA$ Date temporary
CL$ Company name
NE$ Number of employees —~—>NE
Q1$ Formatting string
Q2$ Formatting string
Standard input to questionnalre
(numeric)
Standard input to questionnaire
(alphabetic)
Standard input to payroll
(also called GPTR) GPointer
Number of bandwidths
Number of pay-slips to be printed —
set to 1
Week number of run
Week number (temporary)
Week number for tax
Number of employees
Employee number
Employee’s NI
Employer's Ni
Gross pay
Gross pay for tax
Gross pay for NI
Band
Free pay
Taxable pay
Tax
Logical device number
O * Obligatory print flag
K, L and M are loop-control variables
J is the main ioop-control variable, which
usually defines the employee being
processed
Sample printouts
Listings
VIC 20 domestic cassette interface
Why purchase a special cassette deck at twice the price
when you may use our interface on your existing home
cassette player? £19.55 inclusive of VAT plus £1.50 p&p.
VIC 20 3K, 8K and 16K RAM expansion packs at £24.50,
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each.
The 3K attaches tothe enhanced 16K RAM pack costing
£74.75 to give 19K RAM.
The 8K RAM pack may easily be expanded to the 16K by the
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Battery RAM backup is available. All contained in neat
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CEL Customised Electronics Limited,
Winker Green Millis, Stanningley Road, Armley, Leeds,
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Telephone 0642 247727.
@ Circle No. 189
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@Circle No. 190
PET HI-RES
The new HR-40 board offers —
8k of its own RAM
64,000 individually addressable points
320 by 200 resolution
machine code utility software in EPROM
existing PET features unaffected
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low price of £149 plus VAT
There’s no limit to what you can do when you
have the HR-40 board fitted to your PET. The
single dot resolution allows you to draw
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more. If you’ve got one of the new 4000
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the HR-40B, but it won't cost a penny more.
The HR-80 board for the 8032 is now available
at the same low price.
SUPERSOFT are PET/CBM software specialists.
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Wealdstone, Harrow, Middlesex.
Tel: 01-861 1166
@Circle No. 191
149
SUPERBRAIN SOFTWARE (64X:00 OR QD)
{Available shortly on other CP/M based machines)
‘THE TYPING MASTER’
The tutor that puts you in a class of your own
. Full documentation on disk.
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. Atotal of 29 multi-line Practice exercises for use
in Non-timed or Timed modes.
. Built-in error-checking on alt facilities.
. Exercise print-outs (with results attached).
Designed by a typing instructor, written as a
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£35.00 (No Vat or postage to pay)
Dealer enquiries welcome: Ask about the Business
Version.
Now a computer keyboard need not deter you
Please send cash with order, stating DD or QD to:
ANTHONY ASHPITEL, 56 LONDON ROAD, HAR-
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@Circle No. 192
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LEICESTER
@Circle No. 194
150
THE
MAME
lorie As
A. SMITH
SMITH A.J.
TOM L. SMITHSOH
Fi. JOWES
AH. OTHER
BE. BLOGGS
HH. CLARE
BD. BROuH
He. 7. BROW
TOTAL
fe
i a
ree fe fa fe
ot
2
mn
Cie
-
Py]
fat at Te
ect git), Paine mF
i
be
s
q
4
3
>
|
Pa}
1
orb
x
CA fe Li
m) OTD ee
eal
re fa 1
®
Res
1
™
tll
as
s
Ly
te
Company tax and National Insurance details.
(continued from previous page)
ter, is a parameter used for BR and D
codes. X is the number of bandwidths.
The heart of the program is in lines
$000 to 6320 and subroutine 8000 where
the tax and NI calculations are per-
formed. Line 6700 starts the routine for
D codes, 6800 to 6850 for F codes.
Subroutine 7000 is a tedious way of deal-
ing with codes above 360, using one of
the spare arrays. T() has been dimen-
sioned to 10 — line 10 in program 1 and
line 500 in program 2 — so will hold
codes up to 3600. If you ever have to
handle a code greater than this, simply
re-dimension T().
Copies required
Subroutine 8000 advances the week,
e.g., for holiday pay in advance, and 8400
Tequests a date for such pay-slips. Only
the current pay date is actually stored.
Lines 9000 to 9260 print the pay-slips,
first to the screen and then to the printer,
using variable DV to decide which. Lines
10000 to 10140 update the employee
data, and lines 10200 to 10205 update the
weekly summary. Note that the period
summary is not updated untii lines
11500 to 11540.
Business programs should be able to
make countless copies of everything. The
routine at lines 16150 to 17000 in pro-
gram 2 and option 7 in program | allow
security copies of the data tape to be
made at will. Similarly, all printouts can
be duplicated. Only the number of pay-
slips printed is not under the user’s con-
trol; it is pre-defined by variable Z in line
900 of program 2, and we have set this to
1 so that you can race through the payroll
in no time at all. If you do not use
carbonised stationery you may set this to
whatever you like.
Formatting is for either individual or
continuous AS pay-slips. They need not
be pre-printed, but you will probably
adjust the formatting to suit your own
stationery. Note that the variable O is the
obligatory print flag. Only the obligatory
lines, for which O=! will be printed
unless there is actually an amount to print
that, for example, those employees who
are not paid overtime, holiday pay, etc.
need never know that they exist. On the
other hand, if you have pre-printed
stationery, or simply want all pay-slips to
have the same format, set O permanently
to l.
Program | sets up and amends payroll
data, and when you first start you will use
option |. All other options lead to the
dead-end of asking for a data tape; |
though option 7 at least has the courtesy
of returning you to the menu. Option |
leads to a question-and-answer routine,
where you are asked for two pages of
data for each employee. At the end of
each page you have the option of correct-
ing that page or continuing.
There are three distinct classes of user:
@ New companles setting up a payroll for the,
first time.
@ Existing companies bringing in the compu-
ter payroll from Week 1 of a tax year.
@ Existing companies bringing in the compu-
ter payroll at any other time in a tax year.
If you are in the first two catagories,
page two of the data questionnaire is
easy. Users in the third category must be
sure to transfer all their existing manual
records on to the computer including data
for employees who have already left,
otherwise the program will not provide
accurate end-of-year information.
The “paid to week” question is to
prevent the inadvertent double-payment
of employees who, for example, have
already received holiday pay in advance.
If therefore refers to the week number
for which you have paid each employee.
For new starters, enter 0, not the week
shown on their P45, as double-payment
by different employers is quite normal.
At the end of the questionnaire — as at
the end of all options which allow you to
change data — you may record a data
tape, or return to the menu. Do not
forget to record the tape later, of course,
using Option 7.
Option 2 uses the same routine to add
new employees. Option 3 deletes em-
ployees by reference to either their name
or number. Note that “deleting” an em-
ployee does not involve destroying any
data; the employee is merely flagged as
having left, and is omitted from future
payroll runs. Data for ex-employees can
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
be examined as easily as that for current
employees.
Option 4 allows any employee’s data to
be examined, amended, or printed out,
again by reference to name or number.
You may amend any one of the 16 fields
of data per employee. Any change to pay,
tax, or NI, details will not be incorpo-
rated into the current-period summary,
so fraudulent alterations will show up as
unexplained imbalance at the period end.
Key in 17 to exit from this mode or to
examine next employee.
Option 5 prints out an up-to-date P35
listing. This is not just a year-end facility,
but may be used at any time to check
payroll controls you may be keeping.
Option 6 is used only rarely. It enables
you to change certain suffix tax codes en
masse, which will be necessary only on
instructions from the tax office. Only
codes L, H, P, and V may be changed in
this way, as they are the only codes which
will be covered by such a blanket instruc-
tion. Instructions of this kind are fre-
quently issued after a budget.
Play it safe
Option 7 allows you to record a data
tape. Option 8 loads and runs the payroll!
program itself. You can use both pro-
grams without this option, but you will
often find it necessary to make some last-
minute data amendments just before the
payroll run. You can run straight into
option 8 without first recording any
amendments — whether or not you do so
is up to you. In general it is safer not to do
this in case a major disaster in the payroll
run forces you to start over again.
Program 2 asks first for the tax week
and current pay date. It must be eight
characters long so use DD.MM.YY If it
has not been run from program | it will
request your data tape.
Each current employee will then be
Program 1.
i REM #44¢¢¢ PAYROLL: Two PROGRAMS BY Rg.
4 GOTO16
PRINT" APRESS SPACE SIHEN READY"
QF=""-GETAS: IFQF=""THENG
RETURN
displayed in turn, together with a full
menu if the employee has not yet been
paid, or a very much abbreviated menu
otherwise. Option | enables you to run
quickly through the payroll in all simple
cases. It will pay the employee the normal
gross wage, and print a pay-slip immedi-
ately. Options 2 to 8 allow you to compile
a pay-slip in the normal way, and Option
9 prints out the compiled pay-slip.
The pay-slip is first displayed on the
screen. You may either key C to cancel it
and return to make adjustments; or key P
1o print it out. Alternatively press R to
record the pay details while skipping the
printing, should you ever need to do this.
Cassettes available
The other two options on the full
menu, and the only two on the abbrevi-
ated menu, are W to advance the week —
e.g., to pay holiday pay in advance — or
X to skip to the next employee. On a full
menu, use of option 9 on its own will
result in the employee receiving no pay
but possibly a tax refund. Option X will
simply leave an employee off the current
week’s payroll, and he will receive any
tax rebate which may be due when he is
next paid.
At the end of the payroll run, print out
the weekly summaries, period summary if
required — it will be zeroed after print-
ing, otherwise carried forward— and lastly
record the data tape. The average run
time for 100 employees is 45 minutes, or |
25 minutes if Option | is applicable.
Copies of these programs are available
on cassette for £5 for the two programs
from: R G Valentine, c/o V&H Accoun-
tancy Services, 182c Kingston Road,
Staines, Middlesex. Anyone using the
programs, can receive free up-dates
whenever tax or NI changes occur by
sending a stamped, addressed envelope
to the same address.
G.VALENTIHE: 1991 toe
1G DIME 164, 14>, E¢C108,3>,P¢6), T8C4>, TO1G>
28 X=5:GPTR=1: REM:
146 PRINT" CIWRBREH PAYROLL:
SEE LINE S325 &
PROG 2
SET-UP AND AMMEMDMENTS
161
115
126
136
148
144
PRINT" ser
PRINT" MM 1:
PRINT" #
PRINTS
PRINT"
PRINT"®
142. PRINT"
143 PRINT"M
144 FRINT" @
145 G50SUBE
IFQS<¢" 1"ORQS>"8" THENI45
AUD EMPLOYEE
DELETE EMPLOYEE
P35 LIST ee
“BLANKET ~
SRECORD CHANGES
RUN PAYROLL
ONHU SOI
ONVAL (OS >GOT0204, 1686, 2605, 2688,
PRINT " "istetatatete)"
INPUT" COMPAN'
IFCL$="*#" THENZ18
SET UP WEL PAYROLL
AMMENMD/INSPECT EMPLOYEE DETAILS
AX CODE CHANGES
7668. 3856, 35998, 16006
HAME WRDEeEEM" ; CLE
INPUT" HHO. OF EMPLOYEES NOmEeEMM!" | HES
IFNES="#" THENPRINT TT)" : GOTG220
2 @ NE=/ALCNE#) : IFNE> 1@@GRNEC1 THEHNES="%" : GOTO225
EH=1 : GOSUEZ4@: GOSIIES356 : GOTO1 a8
’ PRINT" CISENTER DETAILS OF ALL CURRENT EMPLOYEES
PRINT" ARMED EMPLOVEES WHO HAYE LEFT DURING THE
FRINT"
FRINT" CURRENT TAX ‘EAR. Sl": GOSUES
FORJ=EHMTONE
PRIHT!SSEMPLUTEE HUMBER® "> J
INPUT" SHAME DBDEEMMN [E¢<¢J.15
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
(continued on next page)
“| WHILE...
ACORN ATOM
PROGRAMMER’S TOOL-BOX
A packed 4K EPROM (fits vay pscckel)
1200 BAUD CASS. OP. SYSTE
Visible Load & Save Routine
PLUS
*TRACE(X) — controlled execution.
“STEP — single step execution.
FIND — any string of chars. in program.
VAR — list variables.
LVAR — print variables.
AUTO X,Y — automatic line numbering
RENUMBER X,Y — any start, any step.
DELETE X to Y — any range of line nos.
HEX — HEX & ASCII dump
IHEX — HEX dump in instruction format.
(*VIA chip required).
PLUS Additional BASIC statements
READ, DATA & RESTORE
KEY X — scans keyboard-input to variable.
INKEY $X — scans keyboard-input to string.
IF... HEN ELSE
ENDWHILE
CURSOR X,Y — position cursor as required.
ON ERROR
BEEP X,Y — sound any duration, any pitch. |
ZERO — zeros all basic varlabies. |
POP — close out sub-routine. |
STOP — useful de-bugging instr. ‘
Real value at £24.50 + VAT & 25p P & P. Sae fordetails
& cat.
*NASCOM MAGAZINE*
“MICRO-POWER”’
1982 subscription 6 copies £5.95 Europe £9.80
Other overseas £11.80 Issues 1-4 (1981) €3.95
Europe £6.60 Other overseas £7.80
Send Sae for details & cat.
PROGRAM POWER
5 Wensley Road, Leeds LS7 2LX.
Tel. (0532) 683186.
@Circle No. 195
INSURE
YOUR COMPUTER
Impact damage, Fire & Theft Insurance
for your Computer, Equipment:
£1 to £1,500 cover £8.00 p.a?
£10) 0 (excess) x/s
£1,500 to £2,500 . £16.00 p.a.
£15 x/s.
For details:
KGJ Insurance Brokers,
6 Hagley Road, stourpridge:
West idlands, DY8 10)
Tel (03843) 5333/2545
@ Circle No. 196
@_ Joystick
TAMARISK JOYSTICK
£22.50 inclusive
GAME EXTENSION SOCKET
£6.50 inclusive.
from TAMARISK DESIGN SERVICES
290 Brooklands Rd, Manchester M23
061-969 8729
@ Circle No. 197
151
MICROCOMPUTER
ENGINEER
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@Circle No. 198
2X81 1 6K Blidincss ceeoonee
NASTY INVADERS £4.95
Get them before your bosses get youl
NASTY MOUNTAIN £4.95
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Adventures on your way through the Mountain. If
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PETTY CASH/VAT £10.00
Enter Date, Narrative and Gross Value of each Cash
Purchase. Classlfies Into 20 Sub- and 13 Main-
Headings and gives Gross, VAT, Net and Exempt
Subtotals and Totals.
VAT BOOK INPUTS £12.00
As the Petty Cash/VAT Program but with the facility
to add in your Non-Cash Items to give inputs
Bottom Line Totals.
@ user program test facility
@ prices include VAT and P&P
Cheques/P.O.s to:- GILTROLE LTD.,
DEPT. PC, P.O. BOX 50, RUGBY, WARKS. CV21 4DH
@Circle No. 199
TRS-80 Compiler
Work- Station
Model | and III, and Video Genie
Speed up your Basic Program Development
EDIT — Full-screen BASIC editor with
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commands and functions tet you find,
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up and simplifies repetitive procedures
such as power-up, file reorganisation.
£9.50
Speed up your Basic Program Execution
ACCEL2 — Compiler for Mode! t and II
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speed-ups of 20-30 times for integer
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less if I/O limited. Very easy to use.
Professionals note: Full instructiéns for
selling derived code on tape or disk. No
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TSAVE —Writes compiled code toSYSTEM
tape. Makes core-image backups of any
machine-language programs. £4.95
UT
PO Box 39. Eastleigh, Hants, England, SO55wWQ
@Circle No. 200
152
(continued from previous page)
IFES(J. 1)="#"THEHFRINT "TT" : GOTO286
INPUT"EN.1. NUMBER pORBRRRBRHIBBI" ;ES¢ 7,2)
IFES¢J.2)="#" THENPRINT "7TT1" : GOTO296
INFUT"SITAX CODE S00RRR RR EDRREESI" | CF
EH=J : GOSUBS368
IFQ#="4" THENPRINT" TT)" : GOTOS68
E#(J,3)=0¢
INPUT" BWEEK 1 <Y/N) DEER SRDBEEZE! | OF
IFQS="¥" THENE CJ. 4>=1 :GOTO378
IFQS="N"THENS?@
PRINT" TTT" : GOTO346
INPUT" SFOUNDS / HOUR 2BBRDRDEIBEI" | TF
IFT$="*" THENPRINT" TT)" : GOTOS76
ECJ, 1 SVALCT#)
INFUT" SHGORMAL WEEKLY FAT DBmeeReat"' > TS
IFT#="#" THEHPRINT" TY" : GOTOSea
EC J. S5.=VALCT#)
INPUT"SN.1.RATE ACEC PaROb DESI" | OF
IFQ#="A" THENEC J. 39=1 : GOTOS20
IFQ#="B"THENEC J. 3 GOT0426
IFQ#="C"THENE( J, 3>=3 : GOTO424
PRINT" TY)" : GOTO39a
PRINT" SRFRESS C TO CANCEL
IFQ$="C" THEN2Z78
INPUT"TGROSS PAY TO DATE em bem steaual"; Ts
IFT#="*" THEN4S25
ECJ, (=VALCTS)
INPUT"NTAX TO DATE SSD ESR ORSRHICaI" | Ts
IFT#="%" THENPR IIHT" TTI" : GOTO438
ECJ,8.=VALCT#)
INPUT’ 95. P.-PRE'Y. EMPLOYMENTIB@BEenE aI" ; TS
IFTS="#" THENPRINT "TTT" :GOTO44G
6 EC J, 11 =VALCT#>
INPUT" SITAX - “7 we SURE RMEL" | Tt
IFTS="%" THEMPRINT"TT}" : GOTG45a
E¢J,12.=V"ALCT#)
INPUT" SPAID TO WK.NG. (OR GONGR Beem ai" | TH
IFTS="4#"THENPRINT" TT)" : GOTO466
6 ECJ,13.=VALCT#)
INPUT" SH. 1. CATO DATECOR G>:BRbeedmal > TF
IFTS$="#"THENPRINT" TT)" : GOTO474
ECJ, 99=VAL CTS)
INPUT" SH. 1. CB)TO DATECOR G>smobeeteml" | TS
IFT#$="*" THENPRINT" TT)" :GOTO486
E¢J, 18)=VALCT#>
INFUT" #H.1.CER)TO DATECOR G>hebeelnmt" | Tt
IFTS="*#"THENPRINMT "TT" :GOTO48S
ECJ,1490=VALCTS>
INPUT" SHAS THIS EMPLOYEE ALREADY LEFT CY Nae RESB a" | OF
IF OF="Y" THENEC J. 6)=8:GOTOSas
IF @$="N"THENEC J, 62=1 :GOTOSaG
PRINT" TT!" :GOTO43a
OG PRINT" MAFRESS C TO CANCEL SPACE TO CONTINUE" : GOSUBE
IFG#="C" THEH425
@ NEXTJ
RETURN
IFCL$="" THENGOSUBS@30
M@ HE=NE+1 : IFHE>1SaTHENNE=196 :GOTO196
EN=NE : GOSUB260
PRINT "TisleleleRHY MORE?"
GOSUBE
IFQ¢=""'"THEN1O18
IFQS="N"THENLOT&
GOTO1630
GOSUB3358 : GOTO196
IFCL#=""THENGOSUBSG35
PRINT "Cisleiatela)"
INPUT"EMPLOYEE NUMBER <H=N/K Da DEEESEN" ; TS
O IFTS="4" THENPRINT "TI" :GOTO2016
3 IFT#="H"THENGOSUBGABG
EN=ALCT#) > IFECEH, S)=@THEHTS="%" : GOTO2G28
ECEN, 62=6
3 PRINT" TIdsieisNY MORE?"
& GOSUBE
ITF QS=""'"THEN2G18
IFGS="H"THENIG73
GOTOZH7a
IFCL¢="“THENGOSUBSU8S
PRINT " “Isialeiatel'
INPUT"EMFLOYEE NUMBER CN=N/KONSREER EI" | TS
26 IF TS="*" THENPRINT "'T)" :GOTOS81G
IF T#="N" THENGOSUB6G8
EN=VAL¢T#) : IFECEN, 3>=6THENTS="*#" : GOTO3828
GOSUBE0G8
G PRINT" TielelsieNyY NORE?"
A GOSUB6
IFQ#=""'"THEN3G1G
IF#="" THEN LA7G
GOTOS67e
IFCL#<>""THENS218
PRINT " TIeletelaietelstetele)
J GUSUBIHG :GOTO1a6
FRINT “TteRPRESS FR TO RECORD
9 PRINT" SOR M TO RETURH TO MEHU
GOSUBE
IF Q$="M" THFNEFF TIIFN
IFG¢<>"R" THEHS97@
@ PRINT" TIsseleneiSe ECORI DATA TAPES"
GOSUBS
B OFEN1, 1,1
SPACE TO CONTINUE” : GOSUBE
NO DATA TO RECORD" : FORM=1TOS0G: NEXTN: GOTO16G
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
& PRINT#4,"
8 Q¢=" 39:TAX TO DATE <="
@ PRINT" CeleleWRITIHG "J CLE
PRINT#1,CL4
FRINT#1.NE
FORJ=1T06 :PRINT#1,P¢ J) > NEXTS
8 FORJ=1 TONE
PRINT#1,E#¢ J, 12
PRINT#1,ES¢J,2>
PRIHT#1,E#¢J,3)
NEKTJ
FORJ=1TONE
FORK=1T014
PRINT#1,E¢5,K>
HEXTK
@ MEXTI
3 CLOSE1
RETURN
PRINT “TlselteleeeBBIOAL DATA THFES"
& GOSUBS
A OFENL, 1.4
IHPUT#1,.CLS
PRINT "CialeleteeFEADING "3 CLE
INPUT #1. HE
FORJ=1T06: INFUT#1,F¢J> :NEXTJ
FORJ=1TOHE
INPUT#1,E#¢J, 12
INPUT#1,.E#¢J,2)
MW IHPUT#I1,E8¢J,3)
HEXTS
FORJ=1 TONE
FORK=1T014
INPUT#1,E¢ I,K)
HEXTK
-NEXTI
CLOSE1
RETURH
G@ PRINT "Tistelatetn"
INPUT"EMPLOVEE HAME sPm Emm" 5 Tt
IFT#="#"THENPR INT "'T1" :GOTOS816
FORJ=1 TONE
FORK=1TOLENCES (J. 1) >-LENCTS)> +1
A T=6: IFMIDECES (J, 1. K, LENS TS) 9=TSTHENGOSUB7 O88
IFT=1THENS 108
HEXTK
NEXT S
PRINT "CisleleHANE HOT FOUND" : GOTC661G
T#=STR#CJ> > RETURN
PRINT "CisistesteF OUND: "SF E$¢ J, 19
2 PRINT" MIS THIS CORRECT?"
GOSUBS
TFG$=""'" THENT=1 ‘ RETURN
IFQS="H" THENRE TURN
GOTO7H38
IFGK>ECEN, 1 OTHENQ=INT C1 OG+.5)7108
Q14=STR#CQ>
FORK=1 TOLENCQ1#) : IFMIDS<Q1#,k, 19=". "THEN7S4@
HEATK
1$=01$+", 66": GOTO?56a
K=LEHCQ1$)-K
IFK=1THENQ14=Q14+"6"
IFO=1 THENPRINTQ#; O14
RETURH
IFCL#=""THENGOSUBS8G8
PRINT" Tisleleleia_ISTING P35"
OFEN4, 4
PRINT#4, CHRE¢ 1 CL ¢
PRIHT#4
NAME MoT. TAX"
PRINT #4
61% L=G:M=6:FORJ=1 TOME
A S=EFCS,1> > G=ECJ, 3): L=L+Q‘ GOSUB7560 : O2F=01F O=EC J, S9+EC J, 1G9+EC J. 14): M=M+Q
GOSUB?7S66
GOSUB?766
HEXTI
PRINT#4
Q¢="TOTAL" : Q=L : GOSUB7586 : H2$=0 14: Q=H : GOSUB756a : GOSUB7 786
CLOSE4
9 GOTO1G6
M IFLEHCas <25THENQS=0F+" ": GOTO? 7GG
O TFLENCQ1$><1QTHENQ1S="_ "+01: GOTO? 714
TFLEH(Q2# > <16THEHOZ#="— "+024 : GOTO? 726
PRINT#4,LEFTS( 2%, 20); 0195 TREC 40~C2G+LENCO1#) 2) 5 Oat
RETURH
DV=3:0=1:PRINT"SN" 5
OFEN4, Dv: CHI4
1 PRINT" SEMFLOYEE HUMBER®
PRINT" 1: NAME ;
PRINT" 2:H.1.HO "ZS ESCEN,2)
PRINT" 3:TAX CODE, "J ESCEN, 3)
PRINT" 4:HK. ">: IFECEN, 49=6THENTS="HO"
IFECEN, 49=1THENTF=""ES'
PRIHTTS
Gg=" S°PAY“HOUR :": Q=ECEN, 1): GOSUB75H8
Oss" 6: PAY/WEEK °":Q=E CEH, 5): GOSUB75a6
PRINT" ?:HI RATE os
IFECEH, 39=1THENTS="A"
IFECEH, 3)=2THENTS="B"
IFECEH, 39=3THENTS="C"
PRINTT#
Q#=" 8:GF TO DATE ti
>"SEN
"JESCEM, 1)
CEN, 7> : GOSUB7S jaa
CEN, 8) : GOSUB758
(continued on next page)
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
Payrol] =" 4
MICROCASE
“turns a board into a real computer”
For NASCOM 2
COMPUKIT
SUPERBOARD
ALSO UNCUT FOR NASCOM 1
ZX81 EXPANSIONS ETC.
Direct from us or from your dealer —
but make sure you see a
GENUINE MICROCASE
SIMPLE SOFTWARE LTD
15 HAVELOCK ROAD
BRIGHTON, SUSSEX BN1 6GL
(0273) 504879
@Circle No. 201
Pascal for Nascoms and Sharp MZ80K
Hisoft offer a very fast 12K Pascal compiler producing
Z80 object code directly i.e. no P-code.
STATEMENTS: CASE .. OF, IF _.. THEN .. ELSE,
. UNTIL, WHILE .. DO, -
ND
INTEGER, REAL (7 ae, figs.), CHAR,
BOOLEAN, ARRAY, SET, COLOUR.
Many standard procedures and functions are sup-
ported including trigonometric functions and all proce-
dures and functions may be used fully recursively.
The object programs run very fast and require only the
runtime routines (4K) to be present.
Price: Nascom Pascal £35
Sharp MZ80K Pascal £37
New Monitor for Nascoms
NASMON is a new 4K monitor incorporating a powertul
‘front panel’ display of memory, registers and flags
together with an extended screen editor. We ora a
range of software to run under NASMON; BAS1
12K BASIC Interpreter with 11 digit floating point arith-
metic, NASGEN, a very fast Z80 assembler, NASNEM, .
a 2¥%K disassembler and NASPAS, the i2K Pascal
compiler described above.
Prices: NASMON
NASGEN in EPROM
NASGEN on tape
BAS12K on tape
NASNEM in EPROM
NASNEM on tape
Z80 Development Package for Gemint G805 Disk
Owners
The package comprises an extended screen editor, a
fast 280 assembler and a debuge er with a ‘front panel’
mode and a Z80 disassembler. All supplied on one 5%
inch diskette with full documentation. Price £50.
All prices are fully inclusive.
Full details may be obtained from:
-HISOFT
60 Hallam Moor, Liden, SWINDON, SN3 6LS.
Tel: Swindon 26616
(anewering machine service).
@Circle No. 202
TYPES:
ZX81 16K RAM EXPANSION PACK
Quite simply good value for money at £34.50
including VAT plus £1.50 P&P. Contained in a
neat specially designed case.
Junior Maths Pack One to run on 1K RAM
ZX81 — five helpful programmes on cassette
for £5.75 inclusive. Logic, Sums, Nimb, Divi-
sion and Money.
CEL Customised Electronics Limited
Winker Green Milis, Stanningley Road, Armley,
Leeds, LS12 3BB
— telephone 0532 792332.
tea Road, Middiesbrough, Cleveiand,
SCBneee 0642 247727.
viC 20 — RAM Expansion Packs — see separate
advertisement in this issue.
@ Circle No. 203
153
(continued from previous page)
S119 OF="19°GF CPRE'. > ‘
8126 a¢="11:TAXCPRE’> '
$13@ PRINT"12:PAIU TO WEEK
8156 G$="13:HI CATO DATE: :Q@=ECEN, 9) -GOSUE7San
$166 Q¢="14:NI ¢B)TO DATE:" ECEN, 16): GUSUB7Sea
BI7G Qt="15:HICERITO DATE: ":@=E¢EN, 14): GOSUB7Saa
& PRINT" 16:CURREHT/LEFT Os
T#="CURRENT": IFECEN, 6€9=GTHENTS="LEFT"
PRINTTS
PRINT#4: CLOSE4: IFDY=4THENSGBG
PRINT" 17: SCORRECT®"
3 PRINT" CENTER P TO COPY TO PRINTERIN
INPUT"ENTER FIELD NO. TO BE ANMENDED Setegam", TS
@ IFTS="*#" THENPRINT" TH :GOTOSZ14
IF TS="P" THENDY/=4 : GOTOSBES
T=¥VALCT#) : IFTKAORTD17THENTS="%" : GOTOS223
IF T=16THENE CEN, 6>=-1¥#¢ECEN. 6)=4) : GUTOSH00
IFT=4THENECEN, 49=-14#¢ECEN, 4)=6> : GOTOSHHG
@ IFT=17THENO=6: RETURN
INPUT" XEHTER NEL DATAMBORMEMI" 5 Ot
Tandy Gol BM IFT<=3THENES EM, T)=Q#: IF T=STHENGOSUES 368
y Colour Computer £25 & IFQS="*#" THEHPRINT "TT : GOTOS278
JOYSTICK GAME Single Joystick 8295 GOTOS35a
7 8306 ECEN,2.=VAL CoS)
Be iek lain Ss ag erly $305 IFQ$="BR" THENE CEN, 2)=@:GOTOS348
Aimee RebctOack G91@ 1F08- "61 "ORU#= "OT THENECEN, 2)
oe sha 5315 Os="HT" ; 22)=281
Cosmic Fighter Meteor Mission ALL £9.90 8320 TS=LEFTS(Q4,1): IFTS="D"ORTS="F" THENE CEN, 2)=VALCRIGHTS(O$, LENCQS)~1))
TANDY COLOUR COMPUTER OWNERS 8325 IFECEN, 2)+GP>XANDT$="D" THENGS="%"
Now available - Chromasette Magazine. 2230 IFECEN, 2.=GAHDT$<>"D" THEHGS="e"
A monthly tape of at least 6 programs. Single 8346 RETURH
copy £5.95. 6 month sub. £32. 12 month £55 8250 IFT=7ANDCOs="A"ORQF="B"ORG$="C" DTHENS378
VIDEO GENIE & TANDY MODEL 183 8366 IFTCO?THENS406
Now available in UK Cload Magazine. S365 OS="#" :COTOSZEO
America's monthly program tape for games 8378 IFQS="A" THENE CEN, 3)=1
orlentated people. Why pay high prices when 8371 IFOS="B" THENECEN, 3)=2
each month you can receive a cassette with at 8372 IFQS= “CATBENECEH. sary =
least 6 programs. Latest issue includes:- gece GSO ai Spoor) shar = 14> THEMI=T-4
SPACE WAR Fighthe enemy ashe iesatyougl | | $430 ECTS Ee
* CATERPILLAR Similar to the arcade game 34301 ECEN,Q)=VALCOS)
“Centipede”. ELEPHANT ADVENTURE Full 8446 GOTOSEGa
length Safari adventure program. Plus 4 other 9068 IFCLS=""THENGOSUBSoaa
, Programs. 39605 PRINT"TUSE THIS SECTION ONLY ON RECEIPT OF
Single cassette £5.75 6 month subscription £28.50 9006 PRINT" ai
12 month subscription £52.00 All programs for 961G PRINT"P?X AUTHORITY FROM TAX OFFICE
Model 1 Level 2. Most for Model 3. Over 44 9626 PRINT" SRBBIUFF IN ADD TO CODE
back issues available plus many programs for 9621 FRINT" =
Level 1. Post your order to MICRODEAL, 9625 PRINTTAB<15); "CTO REDUCE CODE”
Deal House, Bridges, Bodmin, Cornwall. 9626 PRINTTABC15); "SUSE LEADING MINUS>"
ALL PRICES INCLUDE TAX & POSTAGE 9626 PRINT" SUB BSH FeNL MeleOF sleledf, cistelelellelsielate)"
9635 FORM=1TO4
@Circle No. 204
G@=ECEM, 11): GOSUBTS6a
G=E CEN, 12> :GOSUB7S96
>"jZECEN, 13>
VIDEO GENIE-
OWNERS
JOYSTICKS Ai2¥ voystick
interfaced for
your computer. Will work with
all the Big 5 Joystick Games.
Tandy Model 1 Level 2 £22.50
Video Genie £22.50 Single Joystick
LE STICK The ultimate Joystick. Real
Home Arcade Action. Brings
those Joystick games to life.
Tandy Model 1 Level 2 £32
Video Genie £32
9646 INPUT SDD DB ODESESERON SP BO BORER" | TSM)
S650 IFTS¢(M>="*"THENFRINT "TI" :GOTO9G4a
39060 PRINT" HI"
2 9870 NEXTM
Side 1: 368 PRINT"PRESS C TO CANCEL :
Business Man an TPC THENCE A ae
4 F 9895 FORJ=1T04: TC J=VALCTS6I> >: NEXT
ine sinus masvoscone| || 2108 Ford=iraVe
Ate Ui 911G IFRIGHTS(ES(J,3>. 12="H" THENEC J, 29=EC J, 294+TC1) ESCS, 39=STRECECS, 2) + "H"
ation, selling, computers, F126 IFRIGHTSCESCS,3>, 19="L"THENEC J, 29=EC J, 294762) ESS, 39=STRECECT, 2) 4"L"
advertising and investing in the 9130 IFRIGHTS(ES¢( 3,3), 1>9="P"THENEC I, 2>=E6 J, 294+7(3) :ES¢3, S9=STRECECI, 2) 9+"P"
stock market etc. 9146 IFRIGHTSCESCS, 3), 1 =" THENE CS. 20SEC I, 29+764) ES CS, 39=STRECEC I, 294 "0"
Side 2: Two more super games in-
SPACE TO CONTIMUE" : GOSUBE
3158 NEXT
3166 GUTO1G6
10666 IFCL#=""THENGOSUBSGGa
16665 PRINT" TseissFRESS SFACE TO LOAD PAYROLL
19619 GOSUBE
16626 LOAD"PRYROLL"
cluding STARS and KILLER TANK.
Delivery within a week.
* SEND TODAY *
jap tg tere THIS SECTION IS FOR IMFORMATION ONLY
, . ; 2 : 3 a ;
ChequesPO's to: Amoll Technical, 12026 :IT IS NEVER CALLED:HENCE ABSENCE OF “REN-
56 Banks Road, Sandbanks, Poole : = were
4 12036 -E#¢J.1>=EMPLOYEE HANE 2
Dorset, BH13 7QF. 12048 :£$¢J,2)=N. 1. NUMBER
: 12058 :E$¢J,3)=TAX CODE
@ Circle No. 205 12866
12078 :E¢(J. 1)=PAY/HOUR
7ECJ,.29=TAX CODECNUNERICS
‘ECS, 39=H. 1. RATE
7ECJ.4)=WK.1 FLAG
‘EC J.S>=HORMAL HEEK“S PRY
ARDEN.
—
ONAL COMPUTERS
88C Regional Micro-Computer Centre
VIC-20 CASH & CARRY PRICES
exc. VAT inc. VAT
00 40 |i
Post and packing at cost (£3.50 for VIC-20, VIC 1515 or VIC jj
1540 inc, VAT). Full price list on request. Access & Barc- |
laycard welcome. Telephone orders accepted. {A division of §
Advanced Business Computer Systems Ltd.). y
= == =
@ Circle No. 206
154
g 166 Park Road Peterborough PE! 2UF 12120 :E¢J,6>=CURRENT EMPLOYEE FLAG
Ne ies che CON AUBIN OSS). 2207 5% 1213@ :E¢J,7)=GROSS PAY TO DATE
Leicester (0533) 22255 1214@ :E¢J.3)=TAX TO DATE
soa ole aM baal Me 1215@ :E¢J,9)=H.1.¢A) TO DATE
°ECJ,19)=H.1.¢B> TO DATE
SECS. 119=PREY EMPLOYMENT © -5. >.
7ECJ.12.=PREY EMPLOYMENT : -TAX
Vic-20 Computer 173.00 198.95 °E¢€J,13)=PAID TO WEEK HO.
VICIC2N cassette deck 34,35 39.50 3 = 4DR
VIC 1515 printer ae 201.25 [E¢J,14)=H.1. CEMPR.> TO BATE
VIC 1540 disk dri 09,60 04
VIC 1210 BK RAM. 24.50 28.18 >$¢J,1)=GROSS PAY THIS WEEK
VIC 1111 16K RAM 58 64 :$¢€J,2)=TAX THIS WEEK
1S¢J,39=H.1.¢A> THIS WEEK
:S¢J,49=N.1.¢€B> THIS WEEK
S¢J,5S=N.1. CEMPR.> THIS WEEK
:=PC1>=GROSS FAY FOR PERIOD
‘FCZD=TAX FOR FERIOD
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
12309 :FCS)=TOTAL H.1. FOR FERTOD
'PC4)=EMPEE. N.1. FOR PERIOD
:PCSI=EMPR. N.T. FOR PERIOD
6 :FX6>=TOTAL N-I. & TAX FOF PERIOD
O -ARRAYS C.K-R.M FOR TAK/M.1.DRTA
PCQSCUMULATIVE BARDWIDTHS
TROOSTAX RATES
PKOX=CUMULATIVE ANHUAL TAXES
TNC LEN. I. RATE
‘MC2I=N, 1. RATE
@ cHKSI=H. 1. RATE
AB SHC4>=H_TLRATE CEMPLOVER>
B ARRAYS T4,7,.G FOR TEMPORARY STORAGE
Prog
4 GO
6 OF
ram 2.
TO186
S PRINT" SFRESS SPACE WHEN READY"
=": GETS: IFQS=""THENE
I.R. & D.H.S.S. DATA
DIMC CRIA CK+19, KCK C4)
C¢1)=11256
Ce2.=13250
C¢3)=16758
3 C4) =22258
CS) =27 75a
RO1)=.3
R¢25=.4
2 RCOB3=.45
R¢4)=.5
B¢S)=.55
R(6)=.6
C1) =3375
K¢esoa41 7S
2 KCS=575o
Ke4) =8508
Ke5)=11525
GPTR=1
HCL =. 8775S
H¢2>=, 275
IFCL#€>" "THEN
B DIMEC1Ga, 149,E8¢18@, 3>,P¢65,7¢C18)
Z2=1:REM#aHO. OF COFIES OF PHY 'SLIPH
PRINT "SIIB R'&sH PAYROLL
PRINT" eleya)"
BOSUESSHG
D#=DAF
PRINT" xia"
IHFUT"TEHTER WEEK HO si BEOEm al" | HE
IFHS="#" THEN1@25
W=MALCNE > : IFUCLORWSS4 THENNF="4#" > GOTO1G25
IFCL#<>""THEN1114
PRINT "ate"
PRIHT"LORD FAYROLL TAFE" : GOSUBS
OPEN1. 1.6
IHPUT#1, CL#
PRINT" CIstelelelel ORDIHG "5 CLE
INPUT#1.HE
FORJ=1 706: INPUT#1,F6.3)>NEATI
8 FOR J=1TONE
FOR K=1TO3
INPUT#1,ES¢ J.)
MENTE : MEXT J
FORJ=1 TONE
ar FORK=1T014
1698
1935
1166
1165
1116
1i11
1115
1116
1128
1121
lige
1125
113@
ies
1148
1145
1154
IHPUT#L,ECI,K>
HEXTK
HEXTI
CLUSE 1
FORJ=1 TOHE
IFECJ,6)=@THENI 18a
FORK=1 707 :G¢K)=6 : HEXT
Held
PRINT" BSCS, £23
PRINTTABCS@) ; " SHEEKS" 3H
IFECJ, 13)>=NTHEMPRIMT" SIPRIB TO WEEKB";3ECJ,13>:GOTO11E5
PRINT" M1: aPAY AS HORMAL"
PRINT": HOURS WORKED"
PRIHT"#IS: OVERTIME AT TIME AND A HALF"
PRINT" #4: OVERTIME AT DOUBLE TIME"
PRINT" #: SICK FAY HOURS?
PRINT" 96: HOLIDAY FAY CHOURS)
(continued on next page)
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
Payroll ==
LOW PRICE — HIGH QUALITY
SOFTWARE FOR COMMODORE PET
PURCHASE AND SALES CONTROL £50 + VAT
Runs purchase and sales ledgers with VAT typed in or
calculated from either the gross or the net amount.
Purchase and sales analysis by accounting period with
totals for net, gross, VAT and 99 analysis codes. Due for
payment report.
INVOICE PRINT £50 + VAT
Prints invoices on your own stationery, laid out according to
your own instructions which you key in on the first run. This
programme is an optional add-on to be used in conjunction
with purchase and sales control.
STOCK CONTROL £40 + VAT
Keeps detailed stock record including stock location, recor-
der level, quantity on order, cost and selling prices and
stock valuation. 4
NOMINAL LEDGER £40 + VAT
Produces trial balance and up to 20 reports in addition to
profit and loss and balance sheet from up to 1000 nominal
accounts. This programme is intended for use on its own,
but It can read files set up by our purchase and sales control
and stock control programmes.
ELECTRONIC AIDS
(Tewkesbury)
Mythe Crest, The Mythe, Tewkesbury,
Glos. Gi20 6EB
Phone: (0386) 831020 or (0684) 234003
@ Circle No. 207
@oppic computer
%* 14” DECCA COLOUR MONITORS *
INC. COLOURCARD FOR APPLE II
LIMITED NUMBER AVAILABLE £295
Altos CP/M & MP/M Systems from £4,500
Apple II Systems from £1,800
Payroll program with Batch Input
for CP/M & MP/M — £600
All enquiries to:
ACTION COMPUTER SERVICES LIMITED
28 CHURCH mL LOUGHTON, ESSEX
1-502 1311
All prices subject to VAT
@ Circle No. 208
PROGRAMMERS
— to take playing
games seriously
If you have = micro-
programming experi-
ence, especially in 6502
Assembler and_= are
interested in writing
entertainment software,
Please ring
MISS L. HOWIE
PERSONNEL OFFICER
THORN EMI VIDEO
PROGRAMMES
01-836 2444 Ext. 217 or 154.
®@ Circle No. 209
155
Professional
Products for
Practical People
ASCIl Keyboards
@ Upper & Lower Case
plus Control
@ Low Power
Consumption
eBShift & Alpha Lock
@ Autorepeat (Model 777)
@ Parallel Data Output
@ Metal Mounting Frame
@ Suitable for Tuscan,
Tangerine etc.
Model KB756A 56 key £39.50
KB710 Numeric Pad £ 7.50
KB771 72 key £55.00
KB777 77 key £62.50
Accessories available include: -
Metal Case £12.95
Edge Connector £ 1,95
OC to DC Convertor £ 5.00
(for operation off single 5V suppty)
High Resolution
Computer Monitor
B12‘ Green P31 Phosphor @ Toroidal Transformer
®80 Character B Composite Video Input
Line Capability @ Ideal for Apple, Gemini,
@ 22 MHz Video Bandwidth Nascom, Tuscan etc.
@ 240V AC Input MODEL 101 £129.50
U.K. Orders add 15% VAT on order total
Orders under £15 add £1.50 p&p. plus VAT
Overseas orders add £2.50 p&p
FULL DATA SHEETS ON REQUEST
Citadel Products Ltd
Dept. P.C. 50 High Street Edgware
| Middlesex HA8 7EP_ Tel:01-951 1848 J
@ Circle No. 210
156
(continued from previous page)
LS
1166
1162
1165
1167
1178
11a
1172
PRINT" #I?: BONUS FAY (POUNDS)
PRINT" mS: FOST-THY ADJUSTMEHTS
PRINT" RO: sho MORE ENTRIES
PRIHT "ats: FOCHO PRY: HO REFUHDD
PRINT" 8: CHANGE WEEK
eae ee Barut oer t
Gi LATHEN1 176
ae 98GH,1200, 1210, 1256, 1360, 1358, 1400, 1450.15
@ G1 =Ec J. S>: GOTOSaas
A PRINT" ES¢s.15; "siete"
INPUT" HOURS 322 FBS" | HS
IFHS="*" THENL 228
GCL HINT (VAL CHS #E CJ, 19#188+. 55/7108
GOTO1126
PRINT"; ES€I,15; "ela"
INFUT" 3/T HOURS €1. 5%) U2 BRERgE" | Ht
IFH#="#" THEH1255
GCZ2=INTCVAL CHS HEC IT, 191. 5#106+. 59/108
GOTO1124
PRIHT"I" ;E€¢CJ, 19; “state"
IHMPUT' W/T HOURS C24 > ee OME ZI" 5 HE
IFH#="#"THEHLS85
GiSd=IHTCVALCHF HEC. 1942¢1598+. 59/7108
GOTG1126
A PRIWT'" ESet, 1) i "tee"
IHPUT" SICK HOURS 2BRR ERI" | HE
IFH$="#"THEN1355
GC49=IHTCVAL CHS #E CT, 19#108+.
GOTO11268
G& PRINT" E¢¢ 3.15; "slater
INPUT" HOLIDAY HOURS Sereda" | HE
IFHE="#" THENL 485
BESI=INT EVAL CHS ECT, toe leet. 597198
GOTOLi2a
O PRINT"! E$¢3,19; "eiaial"
INPUT" IEONUS PAYMENT Seb Rede Rt" | HE
IFH#="#"THENI4SS
8 GOSUB17 a6
= GC69=T
@ GOTO1125
@ PRINT"; ESS, 15; "Siete"
5 PRINT SADIJUSTMEHT 15 NORMALLY oe DEDUCTIONS"
PRINT’ SKUSE LEADING MIMUS SIGN FOR ADDITION)"
INPUT" SeRMOUNT® OF ADJUSTMENT semi tR ml" | HE
IFH#="*#"THEHIS 7&
@ GOSUB1 fae
GC? 3=T
GOTO1126
7aa FORK=1TOLEN CHE?
A TEMIDS¢H$, KR. 1)=". "THEN1 730
728 MENTE: GOTO1748
HE=LEFTSOHS, KAM IDS CHE, K+1.2)
G@ T=VAL CHS) : RETURN
@ MEN+1: TFNS4THEHH=3
4 GOTO1126
4 G=G¢134+6029460354+664 946059 +6¢8)
G=IHT¢G#108+.59/168
HI=6:ER=6
IF GCHL THEHS 168
GN=HU
IFG<NUTHENGN=IHT CGH29/2+.25
IF G=NLTHENGHSHL
HISIHT¢GHFHCES J. 3) 9 %166+.4997188
G@ ER=IHT(GN#H¢49#100+. 4997108
IFLEFT#<cES¢J.3), 19="D" THEME 7aa
BS IFLEFTS¢CES¢J.3>. 13="F" THENG Soa
T=ECJ, 2) : IFT>S68T HEHGOSUE7 O88 : GOT0E 128
4 GOSUESEGa
2H Gi=GtE< J, 7): IFECI
»4)=1THEHG1= “G
NN=H752: IFEC I, 4 )=1THENNH= 1/S2
IFF2=G1 THENTA=8: GOUTGE318
TE=IHT¢ £G1-F 4165+. 48019108
IFTEOINTCC¢ 12%#HH+ 1 SAHDTCH a THEHS 286
TA=INTCTPO#RC1>
BA REM :HeA 61: IFECS, 49=1THENTA=< INTC TP#49 74 04R¢ 1d
6198 GOTDSSES
Ha B=1:FORK=2TOX
6568
6°ou
668g
618
IFTPSINT¢CCCK) #HH+ 1 THEHBHK
NESTE.
TA=ABSCCINT (CCE #HH#LE T4714 9-INTCTP DD
G& TR=TA#RCB+1>
A TA=TA+¢C THT CK Bo #HH4 18 T4918 14>
TA=INT tC TA#2
IFECI,4)= 1 THENSS aa
@ TA=INTS<TA-Es J J,9>9#108+. 597168
PRINT":
TAs INTCGDARCGF+E © J, 2)+1) :GOTOESOG
TP=G
IFE<J,4)=@THENTP=G6+E61,7)
PRACTICAL COMPUTING
$630
6858
7@ea
rei
7a2H
7BSb
7648
7958
PREG
7678
7166
rile
7128
3648
5605
3618
8G26
3400
ssee
3518
3528
9038
31608
9118
3126
3138
3144
9145
91590
9168
917&
9196
9158
3208
9265
3218
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(continued on next page)
CAL COMPUTING April 1982
Payroll] ===
ELECTRONICS
RS232C
INTERFACE
The interface, which has full handshak-
ing, is supplied complete with an
EPROM containing the necessary
utilities for use in one of the spare ROM
sockets in the PET. It is housed in a
single unit which attaches to the user
port and progammes for terminal emu-
lation etc. are provided on disk or cas-
sette for 3000 or 4000 PETs. (Please
state.) —-
POWER FAILURE?
Our low cost standby supplies are com-
pletely self contained utilising sealed
lead/acid batteries in a single case and
will supply a system comprising 32K
PET, dual disk drive and printer for in
excess of 30 minutes with no interup-
tion of the supply during switchover.
The output is 240V at 50Hz which is
available at the multiple sockets on the
front panel and a power failure lamp is
also included.
PRICE £225
EPROM
PROGRAMMING
The programmer is self contained and
includes its own power supply, the only
connection to the PET being to the user
port. It is unique in that no ‘personality
modules” are required since different
memories are accommodated by the
use of a switch which can select one of
the following: 2704/08/58/16, 2532,
6654/58 (CMOS) and, as an option, the
INTEL single chip microcomputer
8748/49 and their CMOS counterparts,
Software is supplied on disk only and is
available for 3000 & 4000 PETs,
STANDARD PROGRAM-
MER PRICE £185
WITH OPTION £195
DATA SHEETS AVAILABLE
FOR ALL PRODUCTS,
PLEASE ADD VAT TO ALL
PRICES.
TELESSOR ELECTRONICS,
14 BRIDGE CLOSE,
THURMASTON,
LEICESTER.
TEL. (0533) 693583.
@Circle No. 211
157
Payro]| ==
(continued from previous page)
“36205 $¢3,4)=ER+S¢J,49 SCJ. 5 =HI+ER+S¢3. 59
16596 PRINT" TIMMeMsideePRESS S FOR SAME EMPLOYEE"
16516 PRINT" WOR SPACE FOR NEXT EMPLOYEE"
16528 GOSUBG6 -
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11548 P¢6>=PC(2>+P¢3>
12090 PRINT" TIslelseeEFRESS SPACE FOR FINAL SUMMARY"
12618 GOSUBE
12628 PRINT"S"
13686 GPEN4,4:OPEN3.4,2:0PEN2,4,1
13616 PRINT#4,CHR$(1>CLS
BEEBUG runs a regular magazine devoted exclusively to 13820 PRINT#4
the BBC Micro (10 issues per year). 13636 PRINT#4,"WEEKLY SUMMARY - WEEK NO."HW" WE "Dt
FOR
THE
INDEPENDENT NATIONAL USER
GROUP FOR THE BBC MICRO
IF YOU OWN A BBC MACHINE, OR HAVE
“ORDERED ONE, OR ARE JUST THINKING ABOUT
GETTING ONE, THEN YOU NEED BEEBUG
New program listings in each issue: 13046 PRINT#4
3.D. Noughts and Crosses and Full Colour Moon Lander in 13856 PRINT#4
April issue. Latest news on the BBC project. What you 13866 PRINT#3, "RARARARARAAARAARAAARARARA 99999. 99="
should know before you order your machine. Hardware and 13078 PRINT#2, "GROSS FAY THIS HEEK"CHRS(29),E¢@, 7)
Software Hints and Tips: 1365 PRINT#2,"TAX PAID THIS WEEK" CHRS(29)>,E(@,8)
What the Manual doesn't tell you 13696 PRINT#2,"N.1.~-EMPLOYEE"CHR#(29>,E€8,9)
How to upgrade the A option. How to add joysticks and 13895 PRINT#2, "CADJ. >"CHR#(29)-E(G,1>
games paddles. 131@@ PRINT#2
Beginners Guide to Basic: starting in the April issue. 13165 T=INTCCECG. 7>-E¢G, 9)-E¢@. 19-EC8,. 35+. 6G15¥100571668
Reviews of the latest sofware. 13115 PRINT#2,"N.1.-EMPLOYER"CHR#(29>,E¢G,14)
Di 13126 FRINT#2, "N. 1, COMBINED"CHR#(29),EC, 99+E(G- 14)
Sean sonW are ANU cere, 13130 PRINT#2
Regular advice Clinic to answer your queries. 13135 PRINT#2, "NET PAYABLE"CHRE(29),T
BEEBUG Settware Competition with Cash Prizes 13140 FORJ=11010 PRINT#H2 :HEXTI °
All this and much more when you join BEEBUG 14@00 PRIHT#4, "EMPLOYEE PAY SUMMARY - WEEK NO."W" WE "DS
14819 PRINT#4
Membership: 14928 PRINT#4,"
perio afer Sans Se 8 ae sah
6 months £4.50 ‘ on
1 year £8.50 lalla 14058 PRINT#4, "CEE) CER) ¢TOT"
14966 FRINT#4
1487@ PRINT#3, "ARRARRRARARARAARARARAARAAAR 99999.99- 99999. 99~";
14080 FPRINT#3,"9999.99- 9999.99- 9999.99"
S.A.E. for further details
@Circle No. 212 14096 FORJ=1TONE
14095 IFECJ,6>=GTHENI4118
14190 PRINT#2,E$¢J, 1YCHRS(29> SCJ.1) S(J,2) SCJ,3) SCJ,4)" S¢J,5)
14110 NEXTJ
14115 PRINT#4
14126 PRINT#2, "TOTAL"CHRS(29) $(®.1) $8.2) $(@.3) 3(@.4) $¢@,5)
MILLFIELD SCHOOL
offers 300 courses in 60 diffferent
games coaching, creative arts and
other activities, including
1438 CLOSE2 :CLOSE3:CLOSE4
14408 PRINT CIMsBEPRESS R TO REPEAT SUMMARY
1441@ PRINT" M8 OR SPACE TO CONTINUE
14420 GOSUB6
14430 IFQS="R"THEN13000
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14458 GOTO14420
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14550 O=1:0$=" : 2 PERIOD" :G=P¢1):G0S
@ Circle No. 213 14569 Qf="P,A.V.E. TOTAL" :G=P<2) : GOSUB9500
. 14578 QF="N. 1. TOTAL" :Q=P¢(3> : GOSUBSSHE
ROTTEN APPLE?
14586 PRINT#4
14596 Q$="N.1. (EMPLOYEE >" : Q=P¢4) : GOSUB9ISGG
Anita Electronic Services (London) Ltd
are specialists in the repair and service of
14668 O$="N. 1. CEMPLOYER)": G=P¢5> : GOSUB9580
the Apple I] Micro Computer, Apple Disk
14605 PRINT#4
14618 Q$="TOTAL TAX AND N.1.":Q=P<6): GOSUB9SAR
Drive and associated printers including
Apple Silent Type, Centronic, Anadex,
1467@ CLOSE4
NEC, Qume, Ricoh and Empson.
COMPUTING
in the summer holidays, for young
people, adults and families.
for 30 page prospectus, contact:-
JOHN DAVIES, MILLFIELD SCHOOL,
STREET, SOMERSET.
Street (0458) 42291
14760 FORJ=1T06 > PC J>=6:NEXTJ
15666 PRINT "ClelelsielstHOl] RECORD NEW DATA TAPES”
1567& GOSUBS
16908 OPEN1,1,1
16610 PRINT" TIsseeMRITING "; CLE
16920 PRINT#1,CL#
16630 PRINT#1,NE
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16896 FORJ=1 TONE
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16126 NEXTK
16138 NEXTJ
16148 CLOSE1
16150 PRINT" “RMAMAPRESS R FOR SECURITY COFY
16160° PRINT" SOR SPACE TO FINISH
16165 GOSUEG
16176 IFQ¢="R" THENI608G
16130 IFQ#=" "“THENI7608
16198 GOTO16165
17009 PRINT"T}" -END
READY.
We offer a fast on-site service or alterna-
tively repairs can be carried out at our
workshops should you wish to bring. in
your Apple.
Apple Maintenance Contracts are avail-
able at very competitive prices. Trade
enquiries welcome.
For further information telephone or write
to:—
MR E. J. HALPIN
Anita Electronic Services Ltd.,
15 Clerkenwell Close,
London E.C.1.
01-253 2444
@Circle No. 214
158 PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
| ALAN PEARMAN LTD
BUYERS
The Buyers’ Guide to microcomputers is a
summary of low-cost computers available in the
U.K. It appears every third month; we add new
computers and amend existing information, as
required, to keep it up-to-date. Systems are listed
by manufacturer.
Microcomputers
ACORN COMPUTERS
Systems 1, 2, 3, 4, 5:6502-based. 1-32K RAM COS or DOS. Hex or
full keyboard. Personal, scientific business or educational use.
Disc module, CMOS RAM Card, 80-by-25 character VDU interface,
8K static memory, analogue interface, daisywheel printer inter-
face, cassette interface, VDU, laboratory interface, in-circuit emu-
lator, universal interface, PROM program, Econet interface,
switched-mode PSU. Software includes, Pascal, Lisp, Forth, float-
ing-point extension, ONLI extension. System 1-3 Reviewed Sep-
tember 1979.
“Atom: 6502, 2-12K RAM, up to 40K external memory, full keyboard,
Basic in ROM, high-resolution graphics, cassette and TV interface,
parallel port, I/O lines. Should eventually be able to link into a ring.
Acorn Computers Ltd., 4a Market Hill, Cambridge CB2 3NJ (0223)
312772. Reviewed November 1980.
BBC Micro: 6502A or Z-80, 2MHz, second-processor option with
up to 96K RAM, 32K in normal operation, full keyboard, cassette
and disc interfaces, Centronics type interface, A-D interface,
integral loudspeaker and sound generator. Options include: clock,
voice synthesiser, Econet, teletext adapter and a 16-bit processor.
VDU; eight modes including text and colour. Reviewed January
1982.
From £65 for
System I kit;
£285 for
System 2 kit;
£670 for
System 3 kit
From £130
£229 and £399
Maple: Z-80A, 16-64K RAM, S-100 bus, CP/M, 8in. discs, RS232
serial and parallel. Sold mainly as Micro-APL system. Alan Pear-
man Ltd., Maple House, Mortlake Crescent, Chester CH3 5UR.
(0244) 46024.
ALPHA MICRO
From £2,450
AM-1010, AM-1051: WD-16, 64K-16MB RAM, S-100, four 8in. up
to 90MB hard discs, RS232 up to 20 ports. Alpha Micro, 13 Bruns-
wick Place, London N1 6ED. (01) 250 1616.
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
From £7,500
MONOPOLY
TANDY V
ENIE
% Computer challenges you at Monopoly as a player.
% For up to 6 players {including computer).
% Unique system featured whereby computer detects the
skill of best player then adjusts its skill automatically to
match that player.
x Computer's game at highest level is ‘strong’.
*% Every game different, close, exciting and challenging.
% Game data can be saved on tape to continue game at
another time.
%& Easy fool-proof entry ideal, even for children to use.
% 2 versions of Monopoly included. ‘Standard’ — as to
rules. ‘Popular’ — slight variation to rules.
% Many, many hours of fun for all the family.
On tape for the VIDEO GENIE and TRS-80. Model
1 & 3. Level 2. 16k. £9.95 inclusive.
4 BELL LANE
WHE AT!
OXFORD OXS 1xY
COMPUTICS
MCR ORSHOsF 7
@Circle No. 215
PARTRIDGE & MAY LTD
COMPUTER SERVICES
PRINTER STATIONERY
Standard 912" x 11” with sprocket holes, Box of 2,000
sheets, plain or striped, £12.65 incl VAT (local) cwo.
Self-adhesive labels 4” x 1%" x 1,000, £7.50 incl VAT
(local) cwo. Postage UK mainland £1.50.
Stockists of Verbatim/Shugart diskettes, printer rib-
bons and wide selection of printers and Acorn Atom —
Further details on request.
Hardware & Software Consuttants.
0268-781017.
7, MANNS WAY, RAYLEIGH, ESSEX SS6 9QB.
@Circle No. 216
Call COMPUTALINE on
(01) 840 1177/3444
For Printers eg Oki.matrix from £245
Dalsywheel from £730
For Computers eg Superbrain* from
£1910
£Call
Apple*
For Value, whether you need hardware,
software or full systems, call
COMPUTALINE
St James’ House, 105-113 The Broadway,
Ealing, London W13 9BL
@ Circle No. 217
AMO Westivare.
Introducing the DAVSORT for the Apple. A
machine code routine to sort or merge and
sort Real, Integer or String arrays.
Features:
* Linear time scale, approx 500° entries per
sec.
* Uses original array space.
* Easily incorporated in Applesoft pro-
grams.
* Demonstration programs and documen-
tation. £24 (incl)
Send for details of:
Machine code utilities including, Rem
Maker, Change Variables, Binary Catalog,
Selective Catalog, Restore Deleted Files,
Rename ‘Hello’.
Educational programs available on request.
AD HOC SOFTWARE,
462 Cottingham Road, Hull HU6 8OR.
@ Circle No. 218
1S9
* BIG EARS *”, ©
4
SPEECH —
INPUT
FOR ANY
COMPUTER
Hugely successful Speech Recognition System,
complete with micropnone, software and full Instructions,
BUILT TESTEO & GUARANTEED ONLY £49
PLEASE STATE COMPUTER UK101 SUPERBOARD NASCOM2
Vic 20, Micron, BBC Aficro ZX8081, PET, TRS80, MZBOK. APPLE 1!
ZX80 ZX81 5
MUSIC SYNTHESISER
+16 LINE CONTROL PORT
Pray 3-parl music, sound effects. ie}
drums ete. Full control of attack, decay
and frequency. Input/Ouipui tines provide
control and monitor taciilty for Home Security, Robot Control
Modet Railway, etc. etc. Works with or without 16K RAM,
Add keyboard to make a live performance polyphonic synihesisert
Full instructions/soltware included
AMAZING VALUE AT ONLY $1 9.50 «KIT)
Extra Connector at £2.50 £25.50 (BUILT) ‘
COLOUR MODULATOR KiT £12
AGB in, PAUUHF out BuiLT £18
UK101/NASCOM COLOUR GRAPHICS «iT £45
Inc. Modulator. Still tne best selting system! Butt £60
Please add VAT at 15% to all prices
Barclay/Access orders accepted by telephone
VVILLIAIM] Somer House. Billericay Roag_ deem
bal , .
STUART EsserGuigss0
SYSTEMS Ltd Telephone: Brentwood (0277) 810244
@ Circle No. 219
SUSSEX
SUPERBRAIN FROM £1550*
NEW TELEVIDEO SYSTEMS
multi-user, multi-tasking and
communications
RANGE OF CP/M SOFTWARE
PRINTERS FROM EPSOM TO
-SANDERS
WE ARE ALSO A WORD PROCESSING
BUREAU
* Subject to $ surcharge
THE ELECTRONIC OFFICE
Phoenix Bultdings
Regency Road @ 32 West Street
Brighton @ Tel: Brighton (0273) 722248/9
@ Circle No. 220
SOFTWARE
VICMEN
A full-feature version of the popular “Puckman” arcade.
game for the UNEXPANDED VIC. Written entirely in
machine-code for fast action.
SUPPLIED ON CASSETTE at £7
VICGAMMON
Standard Backgammon game for the VIC with 3K
expansion. Rapid computer responses. Instructions on
how to play are included.
SUPPLIED ON CASSETTE at £7
More VIC software will be available by the time you read
this, Phone 051-227 2642 for details. Generous
DEALER DISCOUNTS available — phone Dave on
051-227 2299 for details.
BUG -Bi
"98-100 THE ALBANY, OLD HALL STREET,
LIVERPOOL L3 9EP
@Circle No. 221
160
ALTOS
ACS-8000 series: Z-80, 64K RAM dual Bin. disc, single user. Z-80, From £2,300
208K RAM, single floppy disc, 10-40 Mbyte hard disc, magnetic and £6,800
cartridge tape back-up, CP/M or MP/M. Business and scientific
use.
ACS-8600 series: 8086 based, with 8089 DMA, 128K to IMbyte From £8,950
RAM, 10-80Mbyte hard disc, magnetic tape back-up, up to eight
users, Xenix or MP/M-86. Business and educational use.
APPLE COMPUTER
Apple II Plus: 6502, 16-48K RAM, 8K ROM, colour graphics, 54in. From £695
discs, general use. Own bus. Reviewed October 1979.
Apple III: 6502A with supporting chips, giving ita superset of 6502 POA.
instruction set. 96-128K RAM, colour graphics, integral 5%in.,
RS232, four 50-pin expansion slots. Apple Computer (U.K.) Ltd.,
Finway House, Heme] Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP2 7PS. (0442)
48151.
ATTACHE |
Attache: 8080, 64K RAM, S-100, parallel port, 8in. discs, business From £1,737 to
system. Colt Computer Systems, Fairfield Works, Fairfields Road, £7,000
Hounslow, Middlesex. (01) 577 2686
BASF
System 7100: Z-80A, 64K RAM, RS232, 5%in. discs, business From £4,937
systems. MPR, 4 Fitzroy Square, London W1. (01) 388 4200.
BILLINGS
BMS: Z-80A, 64K RAM, 8in. 200MB hard discs, business system. From £4,295
Mitech Data Systems, 8 Guildford Road, Woking, Surrey. (04862)
23131.
BL MICROELECTRONICS
Biproc: Z-80 or TMS9980 kit, 1K RAM, 2K monitor, RS232, cassette, From £150
TV. BLM, | Willow Way, Loudwater, High Wycombe, Buckingham-
shire HP11 IJR. (0494) 443073.
BLEASDALE COMPUTER SYSTEMS
UDS: 8080, Z-80, 6809, 32K-IMB, Multibus, CP/M, 5in., 8in., POA.
hard, RS232, four parallel] ports, IEEE 488, development system. —
Bleasdale Computer Systems, Francis House, Francis Street, Lon-
don SWI. (01) 828 6661.
BMG MICROSYSTEMS
BMG MS 5000 range: 8085 or 8086, 64-768K RAM, CP/M, MP/M, From £6,000
BOS 8in. discs or Hard Disc — 40Mbytes, 20Mbytes of which are in
an exchangeable cartridge. Up to 8 remote VDU's and printers.
BMG Microsystems Ltd.,. Micro House, Hawksworth, Swindon,
Wiltshire SN2 1DZ. (0793) 37813.
BRUTECH ELECTRONICS
BEM: Single-board processor with 6502 and no RAM. Data Preci- From £133
sion Equipment, 81 Goldsworth Road, Woking, Surrey GU21 1LJ.
(04862) 67420.
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
Buyers’ Guide ==
BYTRONIX MICROCOMPUTERS
Megamicro: 8080/Z-80, 64K RAM, 8in. discs, CP/M. Business and
University use. Bytronix, 83 West Street, Farnham, Surrey GU9
TEN. (0252) 726814.
CANON BUSINESS MACHINES
Canon BX-1/BX-1d: 6800, 64K RAM, 5%in. integral, RS232, V24
ports, business use. Canon Business Machines, Wadden House,
Stafford Road, Croydon, Surrey. (01) 680 7700.
From £3,250
COMART
Communicator range: Z-80A, 64K RAM, S-100 bus, scientific,
educational, research and business use. CP100/200; twin 5.25in.
drives, CP-500; single 5.25in. and mini-Winchester hard disc
giving 4.8byte CP/M, MP/M-II. Reviewed June 1981.
From £1,995
COMMODORE BUSINESS MACHINES
Pet: 6502, 8-32K RAM, IEEE ports, integral Yin. screen, personal
and general use. Reviewed August 1979.
8000 Series — SuperPet: Upgrade of original Pet. 12in. screen,
5%in. discs, business and general use. Reviewed October 1980.
Vic 20: 6502, 5K RAM, 16K ROM, keyboard, personal and game:
use, IEEE interface, uses special cassette £35, disc and printer
soon, RS-232, Modem use, low-resolution colour graphics. Com-
modore Business Machines, 818 Leigh Road, Slough Industrial
Estate, Slough, Berkshire. (75) 74111.
From £460
From £898
From £165
| COMPSHOP
UK101: 6502, 4-8K RAM, TV interface, RS232, full keyboard,
single-board, personal use, similar to Ohio Superboard. Comp-
shop, 14 Station Road, New Barnet, Hertfordshire EN5 1QW. (01)
441 2922. Reviewed May 1980.
From £199 for
kit
COMPUCOLOR
Compucolor II: Z-80, 8-32K RAM, 5%in. integral discs, lin.
colour VDU, RS232. General use. Dyad Developments, The Priory,
Great Milton, Oxfordshire OX9 7PB. (08446) 729. Reviewed June
1979.
Copernicolor II: 8080A, 8-32K RAM, 5%in., 8in. and Winchesters
available, VDU, RS232 bus, standard ASCII keyboard with optional
keyboards available, graphics 128 by 128, Basic, assembler, For-
tran. Based on Compucolor I, wide range of software. General
use. Copernicus Ltd., 7 Wey Hill, Haslemere, Surrey. (0428) 52888.
From £998
From £1,200
COMPUCORP
655-675: Z-80, 60K RAM, own OS but will run CP/M with modifica-
tions, RS232, IEEE and others optional. 1-4 5%in. discs, 16 by 80
VDU. Business use. Barnet House, 120 High Street, Edgware,
Middlesex. (01) 952 7860.
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
From £2,898 to
£4,750
UK101 SOFTWARE ON TAPE.
from the guy who wrote ‘‘La Passe Temps”
GALACTIC HITCHHIKER (8K) An Adventure, all in
machine code. A beauty! (£7.00)
SUPERTREK (8K) Sail boldly through the universe
Zapping moving Klingons in real time. Superb graphics.
(£7.00)
LUNAR LANDER A teal challenge. You won't get
down in less than three hours. (£3.00)
LE-PASS-TEMPS This is what a computer game
SHOULD be like (£3.00)
STARTREK (8K) The old favourite, beautifully
presented. Not real time but great graphics nonetheless
(£6. 00}
“NEW *
Please phone for details of the exciting range of
TAQWA ADD ONS:
Others available include a BASIC TUTOR (8 x 4K
Programs) £12.00 and lots more games.
Each program comes on its own cassette by return 1st
Class Mail, Available for 16 x 48 or 32 x 48 display and
compatible all monitor ROMs. All inclusive from:
A. KNIGHT (DEPT PC}
28 SIMONSIDE WALK, ORMESBY, CLEVELAND
Tel: (0642) 321266
@Circle No. 222
SHARP MZ-80K
LOWEST PRICE
ON THE
SOUTH COAST
RICE OAT + vat
PRICE
XITAN SYSTEMS LTD
ES7esesvie} 23 CUMBERLAND PLACE
SOUTHAMPTON SO1 2BB
TEL 0703 38740
@ Circle No. 223
THE POWER BANK
Plug your micro computer video unit and Printer into
the POWER BANK and forget about a disabling break in
the electricity supply. This unlt will continue to run
your system for up to one hour in the event of a mains
failure WITH NO INTERUPTION TO YOUR WORK!
Batteries
included
Vital when running business systems. This unit will of
course suppress MAINS SPIKES and SURGES.
SIGNWAVE OUTPUT
Retail price £320 + VAT
Weight 13Kgms Size 43cms x 20cms x Scms
POWER TESTING LTD
1 St Mary's Lane, Upminster
Tel: Upminster 26938
@ Circle No. 224
rie TEL:
=S* 01-337 4541
EASIVIEW COPYHOLDER £24.00 plus V.A.T.
Fitted to any model PET in seconds. No tools required.
EPROM PROGRAMMER For ail 5V. Eproms.
Own power supply and user pon connector.
CONCORDIA AUTOMATION
COMPONENTS LTD.
6 Central Road, Worcester Park, Surrey.
@ Circle No. 225 |
161
PUBLIC APOLOGY
We would like to apologise for our extremely low
prices but we can’t help it. Our 5} Library Cases
really are only £1.90 each; our MX80/Commodore
4022 ribbons are only £5.95 each; our BASF SSSD
53" discs are only £15.00 per ten; our Verbatim
Datalife SSSD discs are only £17.00 per ten; our
11” x 91” Listing Paper is only £10.00 per box of
2000 sheets; our mailing labels start from £7.00 per
1000 tabels; and we could go on. In fact you would
be hard put to find better value for money than
ConSup when you need consumables for your
computer.
We would also like to apologise for having two of
the best 4K Eproms ever developed for the Com-
modore PET.- “BASMON” is an assembler and
disassembler with extended monitor functions
including interrupt driven M/C Trace; Hex/Dec Con-
vert; Dump; Screen Dump; and many more.
“PLUSDOS” has all the usual functions such as
Auto-Number; Renumber; Find; as well as many
new ones including Join and Merge new prog-
tammes. Both chips reside inside the PET and are
outstanding value at €35 each or both for £65.
(Dealer enquiries welcomed).
We faithfully promise to continue to give good
value and reliable service. We've always sold the
Commodore system and now we can also supply
the new SIRIUS | — Circle the number below and
we'll rush you details, Alternatively, write or phone
us today.
ConSup
62 Tritton Road, London, SE21
Tet: 01-6704411 (40 lines)
{One last apology — prices do not include VAT or
P & P so check with us first).
@Circle No. 226
Summer Courses
July 18-24 / 25-31
Practical Computing
Intensive Introduction to
Com puting
Hig Peter Ford, B.Sc. and Derek Seed,
F rie details of courses, accommodation etc. from:
Projects Director, Giggleswick School,
Settle, North Yorkshire BD24 ODE
Tel: Settle (072 92) 3545
@ Circle No. 227
VETS FOR PETS
Anita Electronic Services (London) Ltd.
are specialists in the repair and service of
Commodore Pets, Commodore and
Computhink Disk’ Drives and compatible
el Al Anadex, NEC, Qume,
icoh and Empson:
We offer a fast on-site service or alter-
natively repairs can be carried out at our
workshops should you wish to bring in
your pet.
Pet Maintenance Contracts are avail-
able at very competitive prices. Trade
enquiries welcome.
For further information telephone or
write to:—
JOHN MEADE
Anita Electronic Services Ltd.
15 Clerkenwell Close
London E.C.1.
01-253 2444
@ Circle No. 228
162
COMPUTER CENTRE
Minikit: Z-80, 16K RAM, serial and parallel, 54in., CP/M, S-100. From £800
Manxikit: Z-80, 16K RAM, serial and parallel, 8in., CP/M, S-100. From £911
Computer Centre, 9 De la Beche Street, Swansea SAI 3EX.
COMPUTERMART
Computermart 2000 range: Z-80A, single/multiple, 16-256K, CP/ From £6,000
M, S-100 bus, graphics, 8in. single-density double-sided 180MB
hard disc, géneral/business use. Computermart, 60 St. Faiths
Lane, Norwich, Norfolk. Norwich 615089.
CROMEMCO
Single Card Computer: Z-80, S-100, 1K RAM, 20mA/RS232. OEM From £273
and industrial use.
Z2: Z-80, 31A power supply, motherboard, 21 sockets, serious From £573
hobbyist and OEM use. Reviewed February 1979.
Z2-H: Z-80A, 64-512K RAM, S-100 bus, CDOS, IOMB formatted From £5,373
fixed disc, two 5%in. discs, hard discs up to 7OMB.
System 1: Z-80A, 64K RAM, S-100 bus, model CS-1; 790K storage, P.O.A.
model CS-1H; 5.5Mbyte storage, CDOS and Cromix.
System 2: Z-80A, 64-512K RAM, S-100 21 slots, CP/M, VDU, two From £2,095 to
5\in. discs, hard discs up to 70MB. Multi-channel interface avail- £6,408 for
able. General/business use. seven users
System 3: Z-80A, 64-512K RAM, S-100, CP/M, two or four 8in. From £3,568 to
discs, hard discs up to 7O0MB, general/business use. Datron £8,304 for
Microcentre, 2 Abbeydale Road, Sheffield S7 IFD. (0742) 585490. seven users
Microcentre, 30 Dundas Street, Edinburgh EH3 6IN (031) 556 7354.
Comart, P.O. Bax 2, St. Neots, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE19
4NY. (0480) 215005.
DATA APPLICATIONS
DAI Personal Computer: 8080, 48K RAM, colour graphics, 20 From £595
Eurocard industrial interface modules, RS232, industrial use. Data
Applications, 168 Dyer Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7
2PF. (0285) 2588. Reviewed February 1981.
DIGITAL DATA ELECTRONICS
SPC/1: 8085, 32-48K RAM, own OS, COMAL, Assembler and From £1,995
Pascal, graphics, up to three 54in. drives, up to four 8in. drives,
10MB Winchester, up to four 20MB cartridge, many ports. DDE,
Clark House, Pump Lane, Hayes, Middlesex. (01) 573 8891.
DIGITAL MICROSYSTEMS
DSC-3: Z-80, 64K RAM, CP/M, 8in. discs, hard discs up to 28MB, From £3,445
RS232/V24, business and general use.
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
‘DSC-4: Z-80, 128-512K RAM, CP/M, 8in. discs, hard discs up to
28MB, RS232, RS422, business and general use.
‘Hex-29: AMD 2900, 16-bit, 64K-1,024K RAM, Hex bus, 8in. discs,
hard discs up to 28MB. Eight to 32 Ports, RS232. Modata, 30 St. Johns
Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 9NT. (0892) 41555. Extel, 73/5
Scrutton Street, London EC2A 4TA. (01) 739 2041.
Buyers’ Guide
From £3,995
From £6,445
DURANGO
F85; 8085, 64K RAM, own bus and OS, graphics, four RS232 ports,
integral 9in. VDU, 9 x 9 printer, keyboard and two 54in. disc
drives. General use. Comp Ancillaries, 64 High Street, Egham,
Surrey. (07843) 6455.
From £7,500
DYLE HOUSE
System 2000: Z-80, 64K RAM, dual 8in. discs, own OS, business
use. Dyle House, 36 Abbot Way, Wellingborough, Northampton-
shire. (0933) 79135.
POA
DYNABYTE
Dynabyte 5000: Z-80, 32-64K RAM, S-100, CP/M, MP/M, CP/Net,
RS232, 5% or 8in. discs, hard discs up to 96MB, expands to
multitask/user system. Business use. Microtech Ltd., Waterloo
‘Road, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 2YW. (0895) 58111.
From £1,600 to
£12,000
EACA
Video Genie EG3003: Z-80, 16-48K RAM, S-100, CP/M, 5%in.
discs, RS232, personal and general use. Lowe Electronics, Bentley
Bridge, Chesterfield Road, Matlock, Derbyshire DE4 5LE. (0629)
4995. Reviewed February 1980.
From £369
ECS MICROSYSTEMS INC
Aristocrat: Z-80A, 32-180K RAM, 12K PROM, dual 5¥in. drives,
964K. Three RS232 and one parallel port, CP/M, wide range of
protocols, business and general use. Telecomputing Systems Ltd. ,
Seacourt Tower, Westway, Oxford. (0865) 723621.
From £3,950
EQUINOX
200: 2-80, 64-512 RAM, S-100 bus, CP/M, Omnix, MicroCobol,
MVT FAMOS, cartridge disc, six serial and one parallel port,
business use.
300: WD- 16, 64-256K RAM, S-100 bus, CP/M, Omnix, MicroCobol,
MVT FAMOS, cartridge disc drive, six serial ports, business use.
Equinox, 16 Anning Street, New Inn Yard, London EC2A 3HB. (01)
729 4460/01) 739 2387.
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
From £7,500
From £10,500
All Business Applications
Full Personal Attention
Hugh S. O’Neill Computers
111 High Street, Selsey,
CHICHESTER, SUSSEX.
Tel. Selsey (024361) 5856
@ Circle No. 229
3 DAY MICROCOMPUTER
PROGRAMMING COURSES
START EVERY MONDAY
INCLUSIVE COST £170
Part-time courses
seven days a week
MICROTEACH
160 Edmund Street,
Birmingham
Tel: 021-236 4322
@ Circle No. 230
PAPERMATE
PLUS
A super word processor for all
16/32K PETs. £45 on tape
£46.50 on disk.
FLEX-FILE
A low priced database for CBM
disk owners. Can be linked to
Papermate and Papermate
Plus. £65 (disk only).
Add VAT to all prices
SUPERSOFT
Dept. P1, 10-14 Canning Road,
Wealdstone, Harrow, Middlesex
Tel: 01-861 1166
@ Circle No. 231.
163
CASSETTE ONE
“| had your invaders/React cassette | was
delighted with this first cassette”
— P. Rubython, London NW10
“| have been Intending to write to you for some days to
say how much | enjoy the games on ‘Cassette One’
which you supplied me with earlier this month. Please
let. . . into the secret of your first time load every timel”
— E. H., London SW4
CASSETTE ONE SIDE ONE 1K
MACHINE CODE PROGRAMS.
React, Invaders, Phantom aliens, Maze of death,
Planet lander, Bug splat, Bouncing letters
CASSETTE ONE SIDE ONE 1K
BASIC PROGRAMS
| Ching, Mastermind, Basic hangman, Robots
CASSETTE ONE SIDE TWO
* has large screen versions of Invaders and Maze of
Death eady for when you get 16K. All on Cassette One
lor £3.80.
CASSETTE TWO
— just out, ten 16K Basic games.
OTHELLO CRASH
AWARI ROULETTE
LASER BASES PONTOON
WORD MASTERMIND PENNY SHOOT
RECTANGLES GUN COMMAND
All on Cassette Two for £5
Reccrdee on quality cassettes, sent by first class post.
rom:
Michael Orwin, 26 Brownlow Road, Willesden,
London NW10 9QL
@ Circle No. 232
#RS SOQ MODE LET
GRAPHICS & ANIMATION — 48K
Disc or tape
Obtain the full potential of your machines
graphics capability with this m/c code
programme. Only £12
Limited quantity 4}” electrostatic printer paper
for Tandy or Centronics quick printer £7.40 per
roll including postage and packing.
Send SAE for overview to
R. Hopkinson
. lliffe House, Oadby Ind Estate, Leicester.
@Circle No. 233
AOU UUAQUANCURUUALUUUREAAU ACO UUUUAAUEEUUUA AAU AOU Qe UAE tan
TEXAS ial 7 TI-99/4 +
4
“THE CUBE”
No not just another cube program but a 3D graphic
simulation designed to demonstrate the graphics
available on this M/C. this program permits all the
same moves as the mechanical puzzle along with
scrambling and unscrambling commands. The
user can spin the cube to view the reverse and
record up to 30 moves for a quick unscramble. If all
else fails a scrambled cube can also be saved on
tape at any time. Excellent graphics and good
documentation.
“QUADCUBE” (Tm)
When you've solved “The Cube” then try “‘Quad-
cube” very similar in style but based on a4 x 4 grid
rather than the more usual 3 x 3. Increased enjoy-
ment, complexity and frustration are the differ-
ences, with all the cube’s facilities available. More
squares more moves. Each program fs available
on tape at £9.00. Both are ideal demonstration
programs showing clearly the graphics ability of
this micro whilst giving the viewer an easy refer-
ence to the complexity of the problem being
solved. Includes VAT + post.
WORK FORCE
140 Wilsden Avenue,
Luton, Beds LU1 5HR
| UUUUEAEUAAGAUCTTUUNALANNUUUOUUALCOL EUGAOSRGOUNTUO NEGA AM OAGU ALANA UUOUUUAE
@ Circle No. 234
164
| EUROCALG
Euroc: 8080, 64K RAM, 8in. discs, 15in. VDU, CP/M, business use. From £8,000
Eurocalc, 55/56 High Holborn, London WC1. (01) 405 3113.
EXIDY
Sorcerer: Z-80, 48-55K RAM, S-100, RS232, CP/M, 5%in. discs, From £749
MBasic, CBasic, Pascal, Algol, Fortran, Cobol, plug-in ROM pack
programs, Separate VDU. Liveport, The Ivory Works, St. Ives,
Cornwall TR26 2HF. (0736) 798157. Reviewed May 1979.
GNAT
System 10:Z-80, 65K RAM, own bus, CP/M, graphics, 54%in. discs, From £2,995
RS232, RS449, 12in. VDU, full keyboard, optical IEEE. Business
use. Millbank Computers, 98 Lower Richmond Road, London
SWI16. (01) 788 1083. Reviewed December 1980.
HAYWOOD
Systems 1000-8000: Z-80, 32-65K RAM, 6000 is S-100, 3000 single- From £2,359
board, CP/M, graphics, 5%in. discs, three serial and parallel ports.
Business, scientific and general use, Haywood Electronics Assoc.,
11 Station Approach, Northwood, Middlesex. (01) 428 9831.
HEATH/ZENITH
H8: Single-board WH8 assembled, 8080, 16K-65K RAM. Heathbus From £321
nine slots, cassette interface, nine-digit LED.
Z89: Z-80, 16-48K RAM, CP/M, integral 54in. drive, optional dual From £1,570
external, two RS232, full keyboard, 12in. VDU.
WH-11A:LSI-I, 16-bit 16-32K RAM, own busand OS, optionaldual From £1,250
8in. drives, serial and parallel ports. Heath Ltd., 11b Bristol Road,
Gloucester GL2 6EE. (0452) 29451. (01) 636 7349.
HEWART
6800Mk II: 6800 single-board, 1K monitor, 1K user RAM, IK VDU = From £155
RAM, 128byte scratchpad, education and home user. S-50 bus.
6800S: 6800, 16K monitor, 8K Basic in ROM, graphics, 5sin. drive. From £229
Hewart, 95 Blakelow Road, Macclesfield, Cheshire. (0625) 22030.
HEWLETT-PACKARD
85A: 16-32K RAM, 32K ROM, IEEE 488, RS232, graphics, 5%in. From £1,830
drives, integral 32 by 16 VDU, integral thermal printer, QWERTY
and numeric keypad. Scientific use. Hewlett-Packard, King Street
Lane, Winnersh, Wokingham, Berkshire. (0734) 784774.
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
== Buyers’ Guide=== A
HYTEC MICROSYSTEMS
H-3000: Z-80A, 4MHz, 32-128K RAM, two minifloppy discs, stan-
dard I/O, two parallel, three serial ports, single board.
H-4500: Z-80, 64-208K, two minifloppy discs, standard I/O, two
parallel, three serial ports. 4MHz option.
H-7000:Z-80A, 4MHz, 32-128K, two 8in. floppy discs, standard I/O,
two parallel, three serial ports.
From £2,381-
£2,640
From £3,110
£3,350
IMAGE DATA PRODUCTS LTD
Image Data Eight: 6802, 4-40K RAM, 43-way bus, own OS, Basic
assembler and editor, viewdata-style graphics, up to four 5%in.
discs, up to 12 RS232 ports. Image Data Products, 1-4 Portland
Square, Bristol BS2 8RR. (0272) 40248.
£500-£4,000
INDUSTRIAL MICROSYSTEMS
Series 5000: Z-80, 16-56K RAM, CP/M, S-100, two or three 5%in.
discs, two serial and one parallel port, desk unit, business and
general use.
Series 8000: Z-80, 64-256K RAM, S-100, CP/M, MicroCobol, MVT
FAMOS, Omnix, two, three or four 8in. disc drives, two serial and
one parallel port, desk unit, business and general use. Equinox, 16
Anning Street, New Inn Yard, London EC2A 3HB. (01) 739 2387/01)
729 4460.
From £1,500
From £2,500
INSTAR
Omegar: 16-bit, 48-256K RAM, dual floppies, hard discs, up to 12
simultaneous users, business use.
Asatayd: 2-80, 16-56K RAM, dual floppies, CP/M, S-100 bus,
business use. Instar, 61 High Street, Croydon, Surrey CRO 1QD.
(01) 680 5330,
From £7,500
From £4,950.
INTERTEC.
Superbrain: Z-80, 64K RAM, 256 static RAM, dual Shugart, optional
hard disc, CP/M, S-100 bus, business and general use. Encotel,
Succombs Hill, Upper Warlingham, Surrey. (820) 5701. Sun, 138
Chalmers Way, North Feltham Trading Estate, North Feltham,
Middlesex. (01) 751 6695. KGB, 88 High Street, Slough, Berkshire.
(75) 38581. Icarus Computer Systems Ltd., 27 Greenwood Place,
London NW5 INN. (01) 485 5574. Reviewed April 1980.
ITHACA INTERSYSTEMS
Pascal Micro DPSI: Z-80, 64K-1MB RAM, full IEEE S-100 bus, CP/
M version 2.2, graphics, 8in. and hard discs, RS232, four parallel
and two serial ports per S-100 board. Ithaca Intersystems, 58
. Crouch Hall Road, London N8 8HG. (01) 341 2447.
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
From £1,495
From £4,258
ASSEMBLY ,,
LANGUAGE —
_ PET
" VIC
PET from 8K: VIC 20 from 3.5K
Both books cover WHOLE 6502
Instruction set, AND CONTAIN
FULL 6502 ASSEMBLER
PRICES: 2/3/4000 PET & VIC BOOK £10
ALL PET & VIC: book + ASSEMBLER —
ON TAPE £15: ON DISK £17.
VIC BOOK
CONTAINS M/C LANG MONITOR
SAE details from: DR P HOLMES (P)
21 Colin Drive |
LONDON NW9 6ES
@Circle No. 235
SHUGART
MINI FLOPPY DISC DRIVES
** THE LOWEST PRICES ANYWHERE **
SA 400 5%” £105
State Machine.
BRAND NEW — 3 MONTH LABOUR
& PARTS WARRANTY.
Also available Tandon TM100 — 1 drives
ENCOTEL SYSTEMS LTD
530 PURLEY WAY, CROYDON, S7
01-686 9687
@ Circle No. *
*
¥) ST seneavig “imple
On our launch we are pleased
to offer you
£1350 OF FREE
MICROCOMPUTER
software and services which
includes: Incomplete Record/
Book-keeping/Financial
Accounting and Payroll, General
Data Management, Invoicing,
Letter Writing or Word
Processing systems and one day
training with first 50 ADLER-
ALPHATRONIC
MICROCOMPUTERS sold at
£2,345 each, leasing from
£15.60 a week excluding VAT.
Please telephone for a
demonstration to
Watford 48580.
OVERSEAS COMPUTER
SYSTEMS CONSULTANTS
182a, Queens Road, Watford.
*.
*
@ Circle No. 237
165
C33 CHRISALID SYSTEMS AND SOFTWARE
TRS80/GENIE SOFTWARE:
POOLPLAN — the ultimate In football analysis and
pools prediction. YOU set the forecast parameters,
based on your own results analysis. Keeps the
league records. Works for Aussie and amateur
teams. Min system: 16k+printer.
2 tapes and manual: £29.50.
FREEZER MANAGER — a must for alt hoteliers,
caterers, schools and the large family. Can save ten
times its cost, avoiding “past-date” food.
Tape and manual: £15.75.
LUNAR LANDER — but with a big difference!
Pseudo real-time and very exciting graphics.
Tape: £5.50.
BUSINESS & HOBBY SOFTWARE
GENIE DEALERS — ALL ACCESSORIES ETC.
Cheques/PO’s to: “Chrisatid’’,
15 Kestrel Close, BERKHAMSTED, HP4 2HY.
@Circle No. 238
80 X 24 VDU
Assembled and tested printed clrcuit board provides
the electronics part of a 24 lines by 80 characters Visual
Display Unit for any computer with RS232 interface.
Microprocessor based — 55 software selectable func-
tions — 16 baud rates to 9600 baud — X, Y cursor
addressing — 96 ASCII (true descenders) 32 graphics
characters (continuous) 8x12 matrix — character
generation in Eprom — real CTRL-G bleep — requires
SCIl encoded keyboard and video monitor (U.K. stan-
dard).
VDU-1 Assembled and tested P.C.B.
PSU-1 Power supply (for above) £
All prices subject to £2 Registered Delivery, plus VAT.
We also sell SS-50 printed circuit boards (memory,
graphics, prototyping, clock, sound synthesiser)
Send 20p stamps for further information.
BARCLAYCARD
iat]
SIRIUS CYBERNETICS LTD, “™
USTON PLACE, LEAMINGTON SPA,
WARWICKSHIRE.
TEL: (0926) 316110.
@ Circle No. 239
@ ACORN
Atom & BBC
Your local Fruit and Nut
NORTHERN COMPUTERS
Churchfleld Rd, Frodsham,
Warrington WA6 6RD.
0928 35110
@Circle No. 240
AND REPAIRS
- APPLE: PET - VIC- BBC -ITT-
and other makes
Micro Malfunction? Send or drop your micro
in to us. We'll repair it in our workshops
and return it. Our staff are fully qualified
and we are Main Dealers and Software
Specialists for most leading makes.
ALSO FULL MICRO SERVICE CONTRACTS
IN LONGON AND EAST ANGLIA
MICROSTORE MICAO MANAGEMENT
327 King's Rd. LONDON 32 Princes St. IPSWICH
SW3. Tel: 01 352 9291 Suffolk. Tel: 0473 57871
@Circle No. 241
166
uy
2020: Built under licence from Apple. See entry under Apple Il. From £827
ITT, Star House, Mutton Lane, Potters Bar. (77) 51177.
KEMITRON ELECTRONICS
UDS 3000: Z-80, 1-64K RAM, Kbus, own OS, CP/M, 8in. andhard From £640 to
discs, ports up to 256. Kemitron Electronics. (0244) 21817. £4,000
LOGABAX
LX-500: Z-80, 32K RAM, S-100, CP/M dual 5%in. drives, business From £3,000
use. LogAbax Ltd., 1-7 Wesley Avenue, London NW10. (01) 965
006}.
LSI COMPUTERS
M-One: 8080, 8-16K RAM, own OS, dual Shugart 8in. drives, two From £5,995
serial and one parallel port, 12in. VDU and full keyboard. Business with software
use. Package
M-Two: 8085, 64K RAM and 4K EPROM. Launched in December P.O.A
1980. LSI Computers, Copse Road, St. Johns, Woking, Surrey GU21
1SX. (04862) 23411.
LUXOR
ABC 80: Z-80, 16-40K RAM, 12in. VDU, IEEE 488, RS232, 5%in. From £795
drives, loudspeaker, personal and education use. CCS Microsales,
7 The Arcade, Letchworth, Hertfordshire ST6 3ET. (04626) 73301.
MICRO V
Microstar: 8085, 64K RAM, three RS232, serial inputs, StarDOS, From £4,950
twin 8in. drives, general use. Data Efficiency Ltd., Maxted Road,
Maylands Avenue, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. (0442)
63561.
MICROMATION
Z-Plus: Z-80, 64K RAM, S-100 bus, CP/M, MP/M two serial and From £3,950 to
six parallel ports, business use. Rostronics, 115-117 Wandsworth £8,550
High Street, London SW18 4HY. (01) 874 1171. Reviewed May 1980.
MICRONEX
MX-100:Z-80A, 64K RAM, S-100 bus, RS232, CP/M, Pixel graphics From £3,485
display system, twin 8in. drives. Micronex, Harford Square, Bristol
BS18 8RA. (027) 589 3042.
MICROSOLUTION
British Genius range: Z-80, 64K RAM, CP/M, Basic, BCPL, From £2,850 to
Fortran, Cis-Cobol, dual 5.25in or 8in. discs or hard disc. RS 232 £7,000
and Centronics interface, separate keyboard, 24-x-80-character
screen. MicroSolution Ltd., Park Farm House, Heythorp, Chipping
Norton, Oxfordshire, OX7 5TW, (0608) 3256.
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
MIDWEST SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS
MSI 6800:6800, 16K-56K RAM, 5% or 8in. or hard discs up to 1OMB.
Systems 1,2,7 and 10. System 7 runs Flex, MSI, DOS and SDOS,
RS232. System 10 is System 7 with hard disc. Business use.
Strumech (SEED), Portland House, Coppice Side, Brownhills, Wal-
sall, West Midlands. (279) 4321. Reviewed March 1980.
From £1,100 to
£12,000
MITREFINCH
MF 3000: 16bit, 64K to 1.25Mbyte RAM, Cartridge hard disc, up to
32 simultaneous users; business users. Mitrefinch Ltd., Tower
House, Fishergate, York. YO] 4KA. (0904) 52995.
From £7,500
MODULAR BUSINESS SYSTEMS
Tutor:8085, 32-64K RAM, Intel Multibus, CP/M, optional graphics,
twin 5%in. drives or four 8in., two RS232 serial ports.
Elite: 8085, 32-256K RAM, Intel Multibus, CP/M, 5%in. to 24MB
hard discs, RS232, 24-bit TTL programmable port. Modular
Business Systems, 21 Chappel Lane, Yeadon, Leeds LS19 7NX.
From £2,500
From £5,400 to
£25,000
NASCOM
Nascom 1; Z-80, 2-64K RAM, serial and up to 16 parallel ports, 8K
Microsoft Basic, 1K monitor in EPROM. Personal use. Reviewed
January 1979.
Nascom 2: Z-80, 1K RAM expandable to 256 with Nascom System
80 case. Nasbus, 8K Basic, 2K monitor and 2K character generator,
low/high resolution graphics and colour. 5% in. single or twin floppy
discs, RS232, parallel port, Kansas City cassette port. Lucas Logic
Limited, Warwick, CV34 5PZ.
From £125
From £295
NATIONAL MULTIPLEX
Pegasus: Z-80, 48K RAM, S-100 bus, 5%in., 8in. drives, CP/M,
12in, VDU, business use. London Computer Store, 43 Grafton Way,
London W1. (01) 388 5721,
From £2,700
NEWTRONICS
Elf II: Single-board on 1802, 256bytes to 64K-RAM, Hex keypad,
RS232 I/O and VDU interface, optional keyboard, machine code,
tiny Basic, full Basic, assembler/disassembler, Text Ed, personal,
R & D, and educational.
Explorer 85: 8085, 4-64K RAM, S-100 bus, RS232, VDU interface,
CP/M, TV and cassette interface, personal and full business
system. Newtronics, 255 Archway Road, London N6. (01) 348 3325.
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
From £50 for
kit
POA.
Buyers’ Guide==" 4)
ACCOUNTS-CP/M
Payroll £400
Sales ledger & invoicing £400
Job analysis, payments and
nominal
£400.
ESTATE AGENTS: marcr-sno-man
DATA PROFILE LID, rex house
LAWRENCE ROAD HOUNSLOW MIDDX
01-572 6381
@Circle No. 242
Come in on the
homecomputer boom
For £1,000 wecan provide you withan agency selling
home computers into an exciting new market with
massive growth potential - and give all the training,
technical and marketing support required. Now’s
the time to stake your claim and secure your future
In your own exclusive territory. And you could start
part-time. For further information write with full
details to Russel Price, Adda Computers Ltd.,
Unit 8, 1-7 Broomfield Road, West Ealing,
London W13 9AP.
@ Circle No. 243
Sintrom Sale
Micropolis Disks (5.25")
1027T Tandy single density inc PSU and case ie cable)
OS 160
1037T Dual disk version of above PNDS 320
1023T Tandy double density inc PSU and case (no cable)
PNDS 300
1033T Dual disk version of above PNDS 600
1015 MQD1 35 track, no PSU, no cable, no case PNDS 95
1041 MOD1 As above with $100 controller and MOOS PNOS
295
1053 MOD2 Dual disk, double density unit with PSU, case,
$100 controller and MOOS (suitable for sorceror with $100
expansion chassis} PNDS 750
MISC $100 cards
OM6400 M, S and C inc 64K dynamic RAM card PNDS 295
OMB 6400 as above with bank switching PNDS 395
Prices are fob reading 90 day warranty, add PNDS
10 p + p + VAT terms: Cheque with order
SINTROM ELECTRONICS LTD
14 Arkwright Road, Reading, Berks, RG2 OLS.
@ Circle No. 244
For those interested in Computing in
Medicine
2ND SYMPOSIUM ON DATA
PROCESSING IN CARDIOLOGY
HARROGATE
May 18th-20th, 1982
Topics include office technology, data
base management, E.C.G. processing,
image processing, ultrasound
analysis, real time signal processing
etc.
Comprehensive equipment exhibition.
Enquiries for company exhibition facilities or appll-
cations to attend as a delegate/speaker contact:
Dr.G. Williams, Consultant Cardiologist, Killingbeck
Hospital, York Road, Leeds LS14 6UQ.
@ Circle No. 245
167
ZX MICROFAIR s.
£3}
7b
CENTRAL HALL WESTMINSTER, ~“%
LONDON Swi
FRIDAY 30 APRIL 1982 (12.30-8.30pm)
SATURDAY 1 MAY 1982 (10.00-6.00pm)}
(By tube to St James Park Underground)
EVERYTHING FOR THE ZX80/81
STILL THE BIGGEST SELECTION ANYWHERE.
Hardware, Software, Books, Mags, New Products, Bring &
Buy, User Groups, Buffet, Showguide.
Low price admission: Adults 60p, Children {under 14) 40p.
ADVANCE TICKETS (Friday 30th April ONLY): Adults £1,
Children 50p.
(Cheques to ‘ZX Microfair’) from:
Organiser: Mike Johnston, 71 Park Lane, London N17 OHG.
Apologies to visitors who had to wait to see the 2nd
show. This time there will be more space and TWO
DAYS to see everything.
Low cost to exhibitors
Enquiries welcome.
@Circle No. 246
LYNC 2.0-
Communications Program
LYNC 2.0, from Midnight Software, is
a powerful communication program
for CP/M micros, using an RS232 serial
link.
— Full error checking protocol.
— Transfers at up to 9600 baud. _
— Allows display of local AND remote direc-
tories,
-Can send and fetch files WITH NO
OPERATOR AT THE REMOTE END.
- May also be used as an intelligent terminal.
— Only £85.00 + VAT (8 Single Sided, Single
Deueity, (Other formats, please phone)
Taylor Micro Systems Ltd, Hamstead
Ind. Estate, Old Walsall Rd, Great Barr,
Birmingham B42 1D. Tel: 021-358-2436
@ Circle No. 247
CF81
CASSETTE FILTER
FOR SINCLAIR ZX81
Having trouble loading programs?
DONT fiddie endiessly with the volume.
DONT modify your recorder or 2X81.
DONT buy a new recorder.
JUST plug in the NEW CF81 and
LOAD your programs RELIABLY.
onty £9.99 inci vaT, P&P
G M HARRIS
28 Ridgway Rd, Farnham, Surrey.
@ Circle No. 248
VIDEO MONITORS
AND KEYBOARDS
£39.50
PLUS VAT
PLUS CARRIAGE £7.50
Secondhand factory reconditioned profes-
sional 9°’ video monitors — complete with
power supply — fully tested but unguaran-
teed. Composite video input — suitable
Nascom, UK 101, Atom etc. Complete with
circuit and instructions.
Separate secondhand matching keyboards
£21.75 plus VAT, carriage £3.50.
BOX NO. 500
@Circle No. 249
168
NORTH STAR
Advantage: Z-80A plus 8035, 64K RAM with 20K display RAM,
twin §.25in. discs. 12in: screen, 24 x 80 characters, 240 x 640
pixels, 87-key keyboard, graphics CP/M or graphics Basic/DOS,
provided with Busigraph, diagnostic and graphics demo software.
Horizon: Z-80A, 16-56K RAM, 5%in. twin drives, S-100 bus, own
OS, business, educational or scientific use. Comart, PO Box 2, St
Neots, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE19 4NY. (0480) 215005.
Equinox, Kleeman House, 16 Anning Street, New Inn Yard, London
EC2A 3HB. (01) 729 4460. Reviewed April 1979.
From £2,195
From £995 to
£2,500
OHIO SCIENTIFIC
Ohio Superboard and Challenger 1: 6502, 8K Basic in ROM, 2K
monitor, 4K RAM, full keyboard and VDU interface. Hobbyist use.
Reviewed June 1979.
Challenger 2: 6502, 48K RAM, dual 8in. drives, serial port, low-
cost business use.
Challenger 3: 6502, Z-80 and 6800, 48-56K RAM, OSI 48-pin bus,
serial port for VDU, CP/M, expands to eight users, 10, 20 and 75MB
hard disc, business use.
Challenger 4: Similar to Challenger | but 64 by 32 display, colour
and sound option. U-Microcomputers, Winstanley Industrial Est-
ate, Long Lane, Warrington, Cheshire WA2 8PR. (0925) 54117/8
CTS (0706) 79332. Millbank, 98 Lower Richmond Road, London
SW16. (01) 788 1083. Reviewed September 1979. Mutek, Quarry
Hill, Bath, Wiltshire. (0225) 743289.
From £160
From £1,500
From £2,300
From £450
PANASONIC
Panasonic: 8085, 56K RAM, full keyboard, integral 24 by 80 VDU,
integral twin 5% or 8in. floppy drives. Three RS232, business use.
Panasonic Business Systems, 9 Connaught Street, London W2. (01)
261 3121. Reviewed June 1979.
From £4,150
RAIR
Black Box: 8085A, 64-512K RAM, mini-floppy discs, up to sixteen
RS232C serial ports, SMB and 10MB hard discs, IEEE 488 interface,
CP/M and MP/M, general and business use. Rair, Wellington
House, 6-9 Upper St. Martins Lane, London WC2H 9EQ. (01) 836
6921. Reviewed November 1979 and August 1980.
RCA
From £2,750
Cosmace: 1802 micro with Hex pad and TV interface. Machine-code
programming with Tiny Basic option. HL Audio, 255 Archway Road,
London N6 5BS. (01) 348 3325.
From £79 for
kit
RESEARCH MACHINES
380-Z:Z-80, 4-56K RAM, RS232, CP/M, twin 5% or 8in. discs, high-
resolution graphics. Sold: principally to higher and secondary
education. Reviewed December 1978.
From £830 to
£3,500
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
= Buyers’ Guide ===
280-Z: Board version of 380-Z. Research Machines, PO Box 75, Mill
Street, Oxford. (0865) 49791.
ROCKWELL
Aim-65: 6502, 1-4K RAM, full keyboard, RS232, discs, hobby use.
Portable Microsystems, Forby House, 18 Market Place, Brackley,
Northamptonshire NN13 5SF.. (0280) 702017. Reviewed July 1979.
SALMON ELECTRONICS
From £722 for
4K version
From £250
Archives: Z-80 at 4MHz, CP/M, S-100, serial and parallel I/O, 12in.
display, 5%in., 8in. or 19MB hard disc or 8in. Winchester, 104 keys
including 23 configured for Wordstar. Salmon Electronics, PO Box
26, Croft-on-Tees, Darlington. (0325) 721368.
£3,400
SATTCO
Databoard 4680: Z-80, 16-64K RAM, own bus, full-colour gra-
phics, 54in., 8in. and hard discs up to 1OMB, 64 interface units.
General use. Microsystems Technology, PO Box 5, Knutsford,
Cheshire WA16 9DU. (0565) 52911
P.OA.
SD SYSTEMS
SBC-100: Z-80, 1-48K, S-100 bus, Basic in 8K ROM, four ROM
sockets, optional 54in. drives, RS232 serial and parallel, single-
board. Reviewed January 1981.
SD-100/200:Z-80, 64-265K RAM, 8K PROM, S-100 bus, RS232, CP/
M, ldin. VDU, twin 8in. drives, business, industrial and general
use. Barcellos, Kimberley House, Vaughan Way, Leicester. (0533)
26584.
From £155
From £3,750
SEN ELECTRONICS
Organiser: Inte] 8085, 64K RAM, multi-user Basic, 8in. drives or
20MB hard discs, three RS232, business use. SEN, 5 London Street,
Chertsey, Surrey KT16 8AP. (09328) 66744.
From £7,500
SGS-ATES
Nanocomputer: Z-80, 6-64K RAM, Gamma bus, 2K NC-2 monitor
in ROM, Basic as option, RS232, cassette interface, Hex keypad.
Midwich, Hewitt House, Northgate Street, Bury St Edmunds, Suf-
folk IP33 1HQ. Reviewed October 1979.
SHARP ELECTRONICS
MZ-80K: 2-80, 16-48K RAM, 10in. integral VDU, integral cassette,
loudspeaker, 5%in. disc optional, general use.
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
From £350
From £480
*
Western Computers Limited
é
comart
North Star Horizon
Cromemco
PLEASE CONTACT US FOR DETAILS
Blackpool Airport,
Blackpool, Lancs.
Phone Blackpool 404676/42660
@ Circle No. 250
-s *
2? Bg
“ | Brilliantly simple
On our launch we are pleased
to offer you
£1350 OF FREE
MICROCOMPUTER
software and services which
includes: Incomplete Record/
Book-keeping/Financial
Accounting and Payroll, General
Data Management, Invoicing,
Letter Writing or Word
Processing systems and one day
training with first 50 ADLER-
ALPHATRONIC
MICROCOMPUTERS sold at
£2,345 each, leasing from
£15.60 a week excluding VAT.
Please telephone for a
demonstration to
Watford 48580.
OVERSEAS COMPUTER
SYSTEMS CONSULTANTS
182a, Queens Road, Watford.
*
@ Circle No. 251
169
ZX80/81 INTERFACE
At last — a well designed interface that allows you to
use the ZX80 or 2X81 as a controller.
It provides:
@ 24 programmable I/O lines.
@ Units can be daisy chained up to 96 I/O lines.
@ Can be used in Basic or machine code.
@ Screw terminals and ribbon cable header pro-
vided.
@ Design eliminates mechanical linkage problems.
@ Provision for external power supply.
@ Does not Interfere with Sinclair expansion units.
@ Detatied notes and software provided.
£45.00 PLUS V.A.T.
Cheque with order please to:
BAX BYTRONMIC ASSOCIATES
88 RUSSELL BANK ROAD
SUTTON COLDFIELD, WEST MIDLANDS 874 4RJ
Tet: 0675 81448
Bytronic Associates also provide a wide range of equip-
ment for learning how to use micros as controllers, e.g.
steppers, DC motors, ADC, DAC, pneumatic units etc.
Brochure available on request
@Circle No. 252
MICRO ADS
are accepted from private readers only, pre-paid and in
writing, per word, minimum charge £2.
Please make cheques payable to Practical Computing
and send to Room L310, Quadrant House, The Quadrant,
Sutton, Surrey SM2 5AS.
—_ = mat
ZX 81 (16K) SOFTWARE. CHAMPIONS
QUIZ — it's fun for all ages. Four quiz pro-
grams on one cassette. All questions use
RND function. £4.50. ROSE CASSETTES,
et aa Lane, Solihull, West Midlands
PET 3032 with BASIC 4 ROMs. Complete with
Command-O, separate cassette, & manuals
£625. Also CommWordPro 3 disk and Invader
“a 61082 or 01-839 2401 (evenings
only).
VIDEO GENIE 16K. 6 months old, virtually
unused, excellent condition. Selling because
upgrading. £275. Day 01-568 1185. Night
09904 2698.
MZ-8QK BUSINESS SOFTWARE, Cassette
based. Invoicing & Statements, S.A.E. for full
ae Bellwood, 6 Barlow Road, Sheffield
NASCOM SOFTWARE. 2K position indepen-
dent, relocatable disassembler. Requires
NAS-SYS. Tape £8.00. |. R. Lowman, 6
Victoria Avenue, Hull HUS 3DR.
ACORN ATON ...12kRam, 14KROM, 3AMP
PSU, MANUALS ETC. 20 Plus programs inc
Acorn Disassembler, Soft VDU. £220
TEWKESBURY 296494. Evenings.
SOL 8080A-based complete working system,
with 4 16K S100 memory boards, NorthStar
disk controller board, 2 mini-floppy drives,
screen, 50 diskettes,. So-Star, NorthStar
BASIC, CP/M. Cost £3,955. £950 ono, might
Split. 01-602 2446.
VIEWDATA/PRESTEL add-on adaptors for
your microcomputer or any television. Only
£185.95. Also Teletext adaptors. Bristol
(0272) 502008.
170
PC-1211: Pocket computer.. Programmable in Basic with cassette
interface. Sharp Electronics, Sharp House, Thorp Road, Newton
Heath, Manchester M10 9BE. (061) 205 2333. Reviewed July 1980.
PC-3200: Z-80, attractive package for business use with separate
keyboard and computer unit, printer, display and twin 5\in.
drives. Software now available on-line and conversion for CP/M
being developed.
From £85
From £3,500
SINCLAIR RESEARCH
ZX-80: Z-80A, 1-16K RAM, 4K Basic in ROM, cassette and TV
interface, touch-sensitive keyboard, educational use, 22 graphics.
Sinclair Research, 6 Kings Parade, Cambridge CB2 1SN.
Reviewed July 1980.
ZX-81: Z-80A, 1-16K RAM, 8K Basic in ROM, cassette and TV
interface, thermal printer at £49, touch-sensitive keyboard, educa-
tion and games use. Animated-display facility. Two modes, fast
with screen blinking, slow without. Reviewed June 1981.
From £79 for
kit
From £49 for
kit
SINTROM ELECTRONICS
matrix printer, can be expanded with 10 micros beyond CPU.
Memory to 1.2GB. Claims performance similar to DEC PDP-11/34.
Butel-Comco, Unit 10, Garrick Industrial, Centre, Garrick Road,
London, NW9 6AQ. 01-202 0262.
Perlflex 630/48: Z-80A, 32-48K RAM, S-100, CP/M, twin Micro- From £1,995
polis 5%in. discs, two serial and three parallel ports.
Perlflex 1024/64: Z-80, 64K, S-100, CP/M, dual 8in. discs, two From £2,750
serial and three parallel. Sintrom Electronics, Arkwright Road,
Reading, Berkshire RG2 OLS. (0734) 85464.
SIRTON COMPUTERS
Midas Range: Z-80, from 8K RAM, S-100 or IEEE bus, CP/M, MP/ £785-£2,150
M, graphics, up to four 54in. or 8in. drives, hard disc, RS232, 8-bit
parallel, IEEE 488. Sirton Computers, Unit 14, 29 Willow Lane,
Mitcham, Surrey CR4 4NA. (01) 640 6931.
SMOKE SIGNAL
Chieftain 511-821: 6800/6809, 32-64K RAM, S-50 bus, Flex DOS68/ From £1,807
68d/69 dual 5%in., 8in., dual RS232, video board, wide range of
options, general use. Windrush Micro Designs, Gaymers Way,
North Walsham, Norfolk. (069) 245189.
SOLID STATE TECHNOLOGY
| Athena: 8085, integral dual mini-floppies and mini-cassette, and From £3,000
SORD COMPUTER SYSTEMS
M200 Range: Z-80A, 64K RAM, S-100 bus, Sord OS, graphics,
5\in., 8in. or hard discs, two RS232, integral 80x 24 VDU. Business
use. Midas Computer Services Ltd, 2 High Street, Steyning, Sus-
_sex. (0903) 814523.
‘From £1,850 to
£6,950
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
SOUTHWEST TECHNICAL PRODUCTS
C/09: 6800, 56K RAM, Flex OS, 5%in., 8in. or 1SMB hard discs,
business, educational and scientific packages.
$/09: 6800, 128K RAM — 380K RAM, Uniflex, OS, support up to 16
users in foreground and background mode. Southwest Technical
Products, 38 Dover Street, London W1X 3RB. (01) 491 7507.
Buyers’ Guide=—==
From £3,000 to
£10,000
TANDBERG DATA
TDV Series: 8080A, 32-64K RAM, Intel bus, 4K Basic disc system
in ROM, one plus three 8in. discs, or 2.5MB disc cartridge, eight
ports, semi-graphics, CP/M version available, educational use.
Tandberg Data, 81 Kirkstall Road, Leeds, LS3 IHR. (0532) 35111. :
TANDY
From £4,000
Model 1: Z-80, 4-48K RAM, RS232, Level I and Level II Basic in
ROM, separate keyboard and 12in. VDU, small business and
personal use. Reviewed November 1978.
Model 2: Z-80, 64K RAM, integral 8in. disc, integral 12in. VDU,
detachable keyboard, CP/M serial and parallel ports, Level I
Basic, business use. Tandy, TRS-80 Division, Bilston Road, Wed-
nesbury, West Midlands WS10 7JN. (021) 556 6101. Reviewed
March 1980.
Model 3: Z-80, 4-48K RAM, 12in. display, integral unit with slots for
two 5%in. drives, 65-key keyboard, 12-key data pad, printer
interface, compatible with Model | software.
From £349
From £1,995
From £499
TANGERINE COMPUTER SYSTEMS |
Microtan 65:6502, 1-48K RAM, Tanbus, IEEE 488, Tanbug in ROM
(1K), Pixel graphics, 5%in. discs, 32 I/O lines and three serial ports,
from single-board upwards. Tangerine Computer Systems, Fore-
hill, Ely, Cambridgeshire. (0353) 3633.
From £69
TECHNALOGICS
TECS: 6800, 56K RAM, Basic and Prestel terminal software, RS232,
two cassette ports, two parallel ports, 5%in. discs. Technalogics,
Windmill Works, Station Road, Swinton, Manchester M27 2BU.
(061) 793 6323. Reviewed November 1979.
TERODEC MICROCOMPUTER SYSTEMS
TMZ-80: Z-80, 64K RAM, CP/M, MP/M, CP/Net, twin 8in., up to
32MB hard discs, multi-user business use. Terodec, Unit 58,
Suttons Park Avenue, Earley, Reading, Berkshire, RG6 1AZ. (0734)
664343/6,
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS
From £895 for
kit
From £3,000
TI-99/4: 990 16-bit, 16K RAM, Basic in 26K ROM, high-resolution,
colour graphics, up to three 5%in. discs, joystick, cassette and
other ports, RS232, personal usé. Texas Instruments Ltd., Manton
Lane, Bedford MK41 7PU. (0234) 67466. Reviewed August 1980.
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
From £299
FOR ZX81 WITH 16K RAM. Three programs:
Flight Demonstration, Flight Simulation and
Ftight Test. These are semi-serious programs |:
using an aircraft filght instrument panel and |.
are suitable for teaching situation, flying clubs
or entertainment. £5 cassette. Sqn Ldr Peter
. Evans, 5 Broadmeadow, Bolton BL7 9AY.
PET 16K, large keyboard, 100 programs,
manuals, cassette, sound. £425. Gerrards
Cross 83175.
ACORN ATOM 12k. in/out chip. v.g.c. P.S.U.
Creed teletype + paper. Book + Invaders.
£195. Ashford (Middx) 58992.
2X81, 16K, rebuilt in stylish case with proper
keyboard. Books on games and machine
code: Programs (including defender). Worth
around £200, only £130. 67, Boileau Road,
Eating. 997 6967.
CROMEMCO SYSTEM THREE. Dual disk
drives, single side single density Hazeltine
1500 V.D.U. Centronics 779 Printer. £2,500.
Phone: (049481) 5950 (evenings).
KIM 1 single board micro computer wanted.
Non runner considered. Tel: 01-995 6470.
Anadex DP-8000 LINE PRINTER. Pet Inter-
face. V. good condition, £275. 01-985 7061
(N. K. Gibbs).
WANTED. Apple dual disc drive(s) and daisy
wheel printer. 0604 35217 office hours; 9-3
Saturdays.
HP41C. Calculator with many accessorles.
Phone for details (01) 556 3150.
TRS-80 MACHINE CODE GAMES ‘cassette
featuring “BREAKOUT”, “INVADERS” &
“SUBMARINE BATTLE” — £5 inclusive.
Money with- order, delivery by return. A.
Moseley, 59 Plymstock Road, Plymstock,
Ptymouth, Devon PL9 7NX.
TELETYPE 43 Printer with keyboard. RS232
interface. £250 including a full box of paper.
David Pike, Rivendell, Birch Way, Storrington.
Tel: Storrington 2663.
“SHARP MZ80K Educational Software.
Calorimetry £5, Galvonometers £5, Gas Laws
£5, German Vocabulary Test (2 volumes)
£7.50 per volume. Send for full details to
Quality Software, 21 Dunes Drive, Formby,
Merseyside L37 1PE.
TANGERINE BASIC ACCELERATOR.
.Pseudo-compiler and interpreter make
floating point programs 2 to 4 times faster. £30
for tape plus instructions or send SAE for
ae B. Przybyla, 15 Brixham Ave., Swindon
3 1E.
“ATOM" TOUCH TYPING TUTOR £4.50.
“NASCOM 2” TOUCH TYPING TUTOR
£5.50. Both progs on cassette with instruc-
tions P&P free: from Lloyd’s, 35 Magheraboy
pea Portrush, Co. Antrim BT56 8NX. (0265)
101:
TRS 80 Mod | Expansion interface (OK).
Brand new and warranted. Surplus to
requirements. Tel 041-639 3822.
DOCTOR DARK’S SMOOTHWARE. Pro-
rams for Nascom/Gemini G805 with CP/M.
hris Blackmore, 31 Herne Rise, Ilminster,
Somerset TA19 OHH for details.
171
Buyers’ Guide====
TRANSAM COMPONENTS
TRS-80 L2/VIDEO GENIE SOFTWARE on
cassette: Full screen editor — many powerful
features (state memory size) £5. Adventure
games, exciting real-time graphics: Nightmare
Park, popular park of doom £5. Dive Bomber,
raid simulation 3 skill levels £5. M. A. Morling,
The Mount, Hatfield Heath, Essex CM22 7DR.
APPLE II PLUS 48K. 1 year old £500. Cram-
lington (near Newcastle) 0670 712952.
ITT 2020 DISC DRIVE. Used only a few times
as second drive. £175. Phone South Benfleet
52147.
FOR SALE. 64K, disk, TRS-80, expansion
interface with all manuals, system disk and
green screen monitor £900. Tel. (0443)
690174 night or (0685) 74397 day.
5 VIC PROGRAMS. Killer Park, Life,
Starseed, Gobbler, Vic Musik: all for £6.50 on
cassette or sae for details.and free game to:
Soft Toys, 14 Lockharton Avenue, Edinburgh.
ACORN ATOM 12K + 12K, PSU, MANUAL,
BOOK, SOFTWARE. £280 ono. Tel: 0573
24516. After 5.00. ;
ATOM (8KROM + 1KTEXT) SOFTWARE.
O’s & X's, Battleships, Mathstest, 4 off house-
hold accounts. £4 for cassette. Cheques pay-
able to Charles Towns 27 West Avenue, Gos-
forth, Newcastle NE3 4ES.
UK101 AND SUPERBOARD PROGRAM
BOOK. 17 high quality utilities and games in
assembler and basic. £2.50 inc. p&p, or
S.A.E. for details. Dr Mike Whittle, 1 Old Croft
Close, Kingston Blount, Oxford.
VIC20 NIGHT DRIVER 5K. Listing £1. Cas-
eats £2. 21 Pict Lane, Princes Risborough,
ucks.
FOR SALE ZX80. New 8K ROM, both man-
uals, leads + programs. Good condition £60
ono. Phone 01-551 0621 after Spm.
MICRCOTAN 65. Expanded to 24k with
TANRAM/BASIC/XBUG/TANBUG. V2.3
BASIC TOOLKIT, Games and Forth on tape.
£325 ono. Tel: Uxbridge 51166 ext 228 (office
ieee) or St. Albans 60432 (evenings), Denis
ield.
UK101, 8K, cased, sound , new monitor, soft-
ware, tape recorder. £175 ono Hatfield, Hert-
fordshire 64826.
ATOM SUPER SOUND SYNTHSISER. 9 tone
channels, 3 noise channels, 6 parallel ports,
amp and speaker. Envelope, volume, pitch all
under Software control, plugs into ATOM
expansion socket £79.95. 8 WAY Joystick
VIC-20 PROGRAMS!!! Six Great programs on
one cassette (including Bandit & Apollo Disas-
ter). For instant despatch send cheque/P.O.
for £4.95. To “Titan Programs” at 83 Ashwood
Road, Rudloe, Corsham, Wiltshire SN13 OLG.
SMALL BUSINESS SYSTEM. Intelligent ter-
minal. 56K. memory. Twin 8” floppy discs.
Centronics 702 Printer (165 cps — upper and
lower). Operator's table and cabinet for
printer. Various software. Offers around
£2,800. For details phone Frinton-on-Sea
4554.
172
Triton: 8080, 32K RAM, CP/M, 1K TBIOSin ROM, uptothree 5Min. From £296
discs, or four 8in., serial and parallel ports. Reviewed December
1879.
Tuscan: Z-80, 8-64K RAM, S-100 bus, CP/M, RS232, TV and
cassette interface, from single-board, personal use to full business
system. Transam, 59 Theobalds Road, London WC1. (01) 405 5240.
From £150
TRANSDATA LIMITED
Cx502: Z-80A, 64K RAM, CP/M, MicroCobol, 8in. floppy discs,
four V24/RS232 interfaces, "flexibus" multi processor architecture.
Professional business and scientific use. Communications software
available.
From £3,495
Cx503: Z-80A, 64K-208K RAM, CP/M, MP/M, MicroCobol 20MB
Winchester disc, 8in. floppy disc for back-up, four V24 serial
interfaces. Business and general use.
From £6,490
Cx504: Z-80A, 64K-208K RAM, CP/M, MP/M, MicroCobol 20MB From £7,990
Winchester disc, cartridge tape back-up, 8in. floppy disc, four
RS232 interfaces. Business and general use. Transdata Limited,
Battlebridge House, 87-95 Tooley Street, London SE1. (01) 403
$115.
ULBRICH AUTOMATION
Powerhouse II: Z-80, 16-32K RAM, RS232, Sin. internal VDU,
integral mini-cassette, 2K monitor, IEEE, 14K Basic DOS, OEM
users. Powerhouse Microprocessors, 5 Alexander Road, Hemel
Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP2 5BS. (0442) 42002.
From £1,200
VECTOR GRAPHIC
MZ: Z-80, 48K-64K RAM, CP/M, 5%in. discs, optional graphics,
serial and parallel ports. Business and general use. Almarc Data
Systems, 906° Woodborough Road, Nottingham (0602) 52657.
Reviewed October 1980.
From £2,300
WESTERN DIGITAL
Pascal Microengine: MCP1600, executes P-code directly, 64K From £2,295
RAM, own bus, 5%in., 8in. or hard discs up to 18MB, two RS232,
two parallel ports. Pronto Electronics Systems, 466-478 Cranbrook
Road, Gants Hill, Ilford, Essex 1G2 6LE. (01) 554 6222.
ZENTEC
ZMS-70:8080A-1, 32-64K RAM, up to 12K ROM, dual integral 54in.
discs, 600MB, RS232, integral 15in. VDU, 16 function keys. Zigal
Dynamics Ltd., Bank Chambers, 13 High Street, Chesham,
Buckinghamshire. (02405) 75681.
From £4,000
ZILOG
MCZ Series: Z-80, 64K RAM, RIO OS, Zilog bus, optional graphics, From £3,000
8in. discs, and hard discs, four RS232, one parallel, stand-alone or
networking. Zilog (U.K.) Ltd., Babbage House, King Street,
Maidenhead, Berkshire. (0628) 36131.
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
ZX81 Listings (16K). Nightmare Park £2.00,
Rat Trap £1.00. SAE for catalogue and free
program. Andrew Rushton, 194 Shay Lane,
Walton, Wakefield WF2 6NW.
Nascome 2 16K, cased, graphics, toolkit,
zeap, nas-dis, xtal Basic. Much software
£325. Tel: 0323 57572
VIC 20!! Games/educational programs in full
colour/sound. Also programs/instructions for
user characters/high resolution graphics. All
for 3.5K RAM. Phone 0634 814118 for full
details.
Sharp MZ-80K, 48K, extended Basic, many
games, 1 year old (as new), £330. Telephone
0625 22649.
$100 boards, SD-sales 3 card set, CPU, FDC,
RAM also other assorted S100 boards.
ASR-33 TTY etc. delivery possible. Phone
0294 822634, 7-9pm.
Apple || Europlus 48K with one disk drive,
controller, manuals, software £875. Tel:
Rickmansworth 78335 after 6 pm.
Sharp MZ80K. Now available, a program
which allows single stepping through a
machine code program, whether in RAM or
ROM. After each step the status of the regis-
ters, the flags and the stack are displayed.
Also the last step and the next step are
disassembled and displayed. Registers mod-
ifiable between steps. Other options include
Disassemble, Modify Memory, Find, Save,
Load, Goto, Continue and Breakpoints with
loop counter. Ideal for debugging or learning
machine code. £17.50. Also, excellent high
resolution chess board display (and associ-
ated software) for use with MZ80Ks with high
resolution modification. £12.50. Easy to use
but quite comprehensive word processor,
includes repeat key. £12.00. Tel: 0268 26703
for details.
Acorn Atom, extra floating point ROM, colour
board, PSU, manual, £175. Halifax 62124.
16K ZX81, PSU, leads, manual, books, Sin-
clair tapes, other software tapes, £95. Tel:
01-455 1652 evenings.
’ TRS-80 m/c program, fast 3-D representation
Rubik’s cube, £3.50. (0270) 584493.
Pet 32K. Toolkit, arrow etc plus extensive
software and books. Includes cassette deck.
£650 ono. Tel: 04465 3684.
Apple ll plus (48K) and games and support,
£550. Martin Stamp 01-251 1577 x54.
8K Pet old ROM small keyboard, £240. Bristol
292685.
VIC20 games, superb Splat and Cybernauts,
colour and sound £2.50 each or both for £4
P&P and cassette included. Arthur 0204
655393.
Pet (8K) Pelmanism, Roadsweeper, Space
Shuttle simulation on same cassette £5.
S. Kearon, 17 Northend Lane, Sunningdale
SLS OEB.
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
Superior Yahtzee by professional programmer
for 16K VG/TRS-80 including sound and
graphics. Hours of family fun for only £3.50.
Cheques/PO to If... Then...Software, 28
Whitecastle, Swindon.
TRS-80 Model 1 16K Level !l complete: CPU,
tapedeck, monitor, manuals, instruction tapes,
£325. Phone Ross Bunnet, Windsor 60283.
Wanted. Computer with disc drives under
£1,000. Chris Laycock, 10 Linden Grove, Tel-
ford TF1 1QS. Telford 55041.
Nascom 2 RAM 'B' board 32K, graphics ROM,
tool kit ROM, case for keyboard/power supply,
TV. cassette,.£400. Berkhamsted 74182.
8K Superboard, metal cased, 48x32 display,
2-speed cassette interface, Cegmon, OSI/UK
newsletters, manuals, 5 program cassettes,
vgc. £120. Phone 041-881 1342.
TRS-80/Video Genie, 16K. Double precision
mathematic and trigonometric subroutines.
Twenty one functions. Cassette, listing,
instruction, £8 plus 38p P&P. Enquiries’ wel-
come. Snell, 45 Chiltern Gardens, Stanley,
Co. Durham DH9 6QS.
Tandy CTR80A cassette recorder — brand
new and boxed, completely unused. Green
screen 9” monitor, superior metal cased type
— six months old. Both items for £95. Phone
0202 873442.
Pet 3032 upgraded to Basic 4+ using Disk-
0-Pro, 4022 printer, 2031 disk drive, Visicalc,
space-saver board, SW32 word-processor, 12
floppies and numerous books. £1,550 0.n.o.
Tel: Reading (0734) 791770 after 5.30 pm and
w/ends.
As new Aculab floppy tape with extended.
Basic and tapes for TRS-80 Level II. Cost
£200 will accept £125. Tel: 03596 498.
TRS80 and Video Genie quality software at a
fraction of the usual prices. Send s.a.e. for
comprehensive lists. P. Wilson, 9 Cotswold
Terrace, Chipping Norton, Oxon.
Disk drive for your PET. 800K Computhink
disk drive complete. First offer of £250+,
secures buyer to collect. Call Welwyn Garden
City (07073) 31983.
TRS-80. 48K, Level II with Hitachi 12” VDU,
cassette, manuals, etc. £499 ono or will split.
High Wycombe (0494) 444612.
VIC-20 games, full sound and colour. Special
introduction offer — 5 original action games
on one cassette — £7.50 will run on Standard
machine. C.W.O. or S.A.E. for details to R.
Titley, 18 Huntingdon Gardens, Fairmile,
Christchurch, Dorset.
Video Genie: Games/educational programs.
SAE for details. T. Smith, 26 Wesley Grove,
Portsmouth, Hants PO3 5ER.
ZX81 Toppix. Detailed DIY graphics update,
£2. 16K m/c easyloaders, load REMS without
spaces anywhere in listing. Hex and decimal
£4 or £2.50 each. All plus SAE. N. J. Petry,
3 Lester Drive, Worle, W-s-M BS22 ONG.
For sale: printers Creed 7E ex telex, £120
ono, IBM Selectric 725 Golfball £140 o.n.o.
Both for conversion for use with micros.
Richard 0527 33272.
Controller plugs into one of the Synthesiser
ports £14.95. 5V5A power supply £44.95. All
built and cased. All prices fully inc. For more
details send SAE to: R. Shillito, 5 Ingarfield
Road, Holland, Clacton, Essex.
8K PET, integral cassette, manuals, TIS Basic
Workbooks, as new, £300 ono. Tel: 021-706
2601.
TRS-80 MODEL 1, 16K, Green screen and
numeric keypad. Cassette Recorder and vari-
ous software. £250. Tel: 042 482 417.
CENTRONICS 737-2 PRINTER. £300. Sprin-
ter 20 high speed thermal printer/plotter £110.
Phone: Bedford (0234) 85942 any time.
PET ADVENTURES — CAVERN 1/2/3 very
complex sequence of underground adven-
tures, each 16K, complex labyrinth, many
commands. Treasures, monsters, magic!
Decisions are yours! 1-£5, 1/2-£8, 1/2/3-£10.
|. Gray, 175 Pershore Road, Evesham,
Worcs.
ZX81 1K Munchie-Man M/c version with two
monster chasing you. Displays score. Speed
variable. £3.50. V. C. Vinyard, 53 Bloomfield
St., Ipswich, Suffolk IP4 5JH.
NOT JUST A RANDOM MAZE. Nor just a mini
adventure. But both and more. “Warrior” for
the ZX81 16K. Also improved “Startrek” ter-
rific. £4.00 each or £7.00 for both. J.W.V. 139
Allington Drive, Strood, Kent.
VIDEO GENIE. 16K, V.V. meter and extra
keys second cassette included Crofton video
monitor. Sound joysticks Z80 assembler
arcade games, chess + other s/w many books
al lil condition £500. Tel: 0234
Casio FX-501P/FX-502P software: excellent
quality, original software available for both
calculators!! Mathematical/games/educational
etc. Listings for cassettes. SAE for details.
Also interested in contacting good calculator
programmers. SAE: Jonathan Gerson, 2
Princes Crescent, Hove, Sussex BN3 4GS.
TRS-80 Mode! I Level I! 48K, VDU, tape, lower
case, RS232C, books, games. Six months
old, original boxes, £650. Cumana (Teac) twin
discs, TRSDOS, LDOS, Scripsit, £500. Wilm-
slow (0625) 524596.
Cassette 1: 10 games includes: Blackjack,
Bomber, UFO and Artist. Cassette 2: Graphic-
text put any character anywhere. Save data
on cassette. Both for 1K ZX81. Each cassette
£2.99, both £5.00. Send cheque to A. South-
all, Withymore Cottage, Bliss Gate Road,
Rock, Kidderminster, Worcs.
TRS-80 MODEL 2 64K with dual 8” expansion
drive unit. Software includes CP/M, Wordstar
3.0, Mailmerge & Spelistar. £2,750.
VISTA 300 DAISYWHEEL PRINTER, Inter-
face cables for TRS-80 Mod 1 or 2. £900. All
equipment complete with cables, etc and as
new, virtually un-used. Tel: 042 482 417.
APPLE 11 PLUS 48K, with 9” Hitachi Bew
monitor, 6 months old £720 ono. Tel: 01-367
5164.
173
LEEDS COMPUTER CENTRE
or Il EUROPLUS NG 2) 1]
BBK) cence sumansear ess gese EO t VAT £150 -; p/P £3.00
ae Disk with enuid, , ... £360 + vaT
ak Disk without controller £275 + vat FREE 6 programme tape with each C2N
Qn) monies Bia J. cassette recorder £40 inc VAT. Price
~ Tiger eaters all isourted, Post & Packing includes fully tested unit with fitted plug.
£4. Complete range of Vic-Peripherals.
SHARP MZ 80K G COMMODORE PET
Full range of
printers Ricoh
48K MODEL _NE 4000SR. WITH LARGE 12” GREEN SCREEN RP 160. Daisy.
£345 + VAT Epson MX. Range.
| 32K MODEL BD80P.
P/P £5.00 p-p-¢5.00 £520+ vat Waltes 0
COMPLETE RANGE OF COMMODORE EQUIPMENT EX-STOCK
Official orders welcome: goods dispatched 24hr delivery. Please phone for our lowest prices.
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ADVANCED COMPUTER EQUIPMENT (LEEDS) LTD
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@ Circle No. 255
ARE YOU LOST IN THE WORLD
OF siapda peter
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April issue out Price only 70p
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@Circle No. 256
174 PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
Magic meets
Science Fiction
in this game
from The War
Machine
reviewed by
Peter Fitch.
IN THE FIELD of Adventure games, the
Zork project was one of the early main-
frame attempts to create a fantasy world
that a player could wander through and
manipulate. Subsequent microcomputer
Adventures owe a great deal to it.
Unfortunately, Zork itself —-which has
now been condensed to fit on to disc-
based micro systems — suffers by com-
parison with more recent Adventures.
They have improved on features origi-
nally devised by the Zork programming
team, and they incorporate flashier
graphic effects which make the games
more visually appealing although, inevit-
ably, less complex and rewarding. Only
so much can be crammed into a given
amount of memory, and an Adventure
programmer never has enough.
Unfair to Trolls
Zork is a 48K game marketed on
floppy disc for the Apple II and other
computers. It is a classic machine-code
Adventure type game and leans heavily
on the original. | have never had the
pleasure of playing Adventure on a main-
frame, so I cannot compare Zork with it.
I can only say that it is the best of the
class I have come across.
It is an open-ended Adventure without
any in-built time limit, though there are
the normal internal time limitations. It is
a game of points for objects and actions,
which is rather a pity. I would have
preferred a more substantial goal.
The game is supplied in a plastic zip-
lock bag containing the disc and a well-
printed explanatory booklet. There is an
evil Troll-like entity on the cover which |
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
assume is the one | keep killing near the
beginning of the game. He is being
intimidated by a sword-carrying Hero
type. It is a pity that no-one has started a
“Save the Trolls” campaign. At the rate
Adventure players go through them, the
population must be dropping very rapidly
since the advent of micros.
The disc loaded without problems, giv-
ing a standard description/action screen
display. The booklet explains the con-
text and aims for the uninitiated and the
grammar for inputting commands to the
puppet in the Adventure world. As
movement occurs in the world, the com-
puter updates from the disc, but not so
often or so much as to upset the flow of
the game.
Conclusions
Zork is an enjoyable Adventure game,
though it is not very origina! apart from its
presentation.
@ As a puzzle it is good but it would have
been improved by a few new ideas.
@ After playing Zork for three months there
were still some areas of the game which
remained unsolved.
@ Ratings:
Physical quality
Perceived complexity
Subject complexity
Realism
Play balance
Overall
Very good
Very good
Fair
Fair
Very good
Good
End of 2 ca
The puppet is manipulated as one has
come to expect in this type of game.
Commands such as “Go west”’, ““W”’, “tie
rope” and “take skull” can be inputted
and obeyed. It is pleasing that the gram-
mar is sophisticated enough to allow
more complex orders to be inputted in
what approximates to English, for exam-
ple, “Go west and take rope’’; ‘“Tie rope
to railings and climb down”.
A sequence of orders can be inputted
and obeyed although each action counts
as a time unit. Handling is tremendously
improved. The vocabulary is very large
too, compared to many other Adventure
games, and there is little searching for the
correct word as in some games. Active
response from the puppet is limited.
There is no bartering for equipment at
the beginning of the game. This is unfor-
tunate since this useful part of the game
could easily be chained in.
Sufficiently complex
The surface environment is quite large
and well-described and laid out. It does
not seem like rooms, which can some-
times happen in other games which use
the surface. It is bounded by the usual
impenetrable woods and mountains, and
contains a river, a dam with power sta-
tion, a lake, a falls and other atmospheric
touches. This is a complete contrast to
other games where you are forced to
crawl round dank tunnels all the time,
without a sight of sunlight. The under-
ground part of the game which, thanks to
the foresight of the programmer, some-
times comes to the surface, is large
enough, complex enough and varied
enough for many hours of pleasure.
Magic plays some part in the game and
not always in context, which could be
annoying. Magic should be logical and
not arbitary if it is to exist. There is a
Troll quite near the beginning of the
game but little else in the way of danger-
ous beings.
The only other mobile danger is that
other well-tried character, the thief. He is
quite lethal if attacked, and steals a little
too often and at times illogically. Can you
really believe that he could take away
your only light without you noticing or
attempting to stop him? He is also very
difficult to kill,
There are no major bugs, though I
would suggest that you avoid inserting
elements out of context. They seem to
hang around in the background even
when they have disappeared for the pur-
poses of the game. Q
The War Machine is published monthly by Emjay, 17 Langbank
Ave, Rise Park, Nottingham, NGS 5BU. £1.25 an issue, £13
for an annual subscription, postage and packing included.
WS
ALL DEVICES FULL SPEC. AND FULLY GUARANTEED. TERMS OF BUSINESS:
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0588. Telex: 8956095 TOTAL COST INCLUDING P & P.
Tel Watford (0923) 40588. T SHOP HOURS: 9.00am - 6.00pm MONDAY TO SATURDAY.
MAIL ORDER CALLERS WELCOME AMPLE FREE CAR PARKING SPACE AVAILABLE.
COMPUTER )280cTC 309 WATFORD’S UNIVERSAL
Z80ACTC 325 :
me micro exeansion | SPECIAL
280S10-1 £15 | 7495 50 $320 270 | 4076 60
Rene eeiuaee 4S $323 270 | 407726 SYSTEM j
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Giaterecs ZN419CE 190] 7410454 L$32a 200 | 4082 21 | extremely versatile and economical
ZN423E 138] 74105 65 LS$325 320 | 4085 65 Expansion System as published in E.T.I., 14+ 25+
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ZN42SE 345) 7410935 S327 315 | 4089 140 | Jow cost flexible expansion system for | 2114L-300n p P
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gNa27E ee vase g34g 190 | 40a 168 | TK BET TANGERINE, ote” 2532 360p 345p
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ZN429E LS353 186 nee aaa The Motherboard (interfaces with the 2716 200p 195p
2732-450n ene te3ee 33 | a0s8 += ss | Computer) has capacity to accept up to | 2732 beet 4782
Hs $367 37 | 4099 95 five daughter cards and can be paral- 4116 Pp p
nes 150 yasi3e 4 (S363 90 mice 35 leled for even more daughter cards. 4334-3 325p 290p
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aieak 748201 eee ae 122 | Just look at the Expansion possibilities.
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$384 it:
KeMos2114) ae 748287 ailesay saullcee ace as a9 Oe SS daughter cards. Full kit: £36.50 Muct phone
5101 270 panes 210} 74142 190 | LS73 25] S390 62 ba ize SOUND CARD — Utilising up to hres ee
74S470 325] 74143 250 74 25 393. 60 ~ i ul e'
Pee Soniasazy 620| r4iaa 250 | ters 28 | Less iss | aatz 800 Ae te vie aE ea foneveuppli (Aah g
6503 | 600 | 748472 1150 | 74145 70 14876 = 20 | L$399 220 | 4415 = 480 a ee : through, we
6504-250 550 | 748475 825| 74147, 99 | (S78 24} S445 140 | 4419 280 PIO CARD — Using two 6520 PIA chips, do th
6505 600 | 748571 620| 74148 =75 | 1883 50 | LS471 620 | 4422 770 | this Board offers Centronics parallel o the rest.
6521 150 |75150 1251 7arer as. | teak ae | LSA 243 | Gaze 223 | printer driver, digital to analogue con-
6522 VIA 350 [75108 6 4 : 44490 «999 verter and a host of other output
75182 99 | 74153 5 | LS90 35 | LS640 226 er "
be32 RIOT "370 75183 74154 «75 | is91 = 80 | _ (S641 . 225 | 4450 = 350 | facilities. Full Kit: £19.95
Be4e CRTC 1450 | 75154 150] 74728 7e | LS82 3B | LSe45 210 | 228) 380. | PROM PROGRAMMER — This simple MX Series
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LS670 175 | 4501 28 2716r single rai ' u
$673 550 | 4502 90 | Kit: £25.95 Now available
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4506 65 four 2716 or two 2732 EPROMS.
4000 v4 | 4507 340 | (4 x 2716) Full Kit: £11.95
from stock at very
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754912 «
4508 265 *
4 4510 68 7 5 -@ ractor Feed, 9x:
“002 Na Be ee er Me Paccacts 16 MX80T 10” Tractor Feed, 9x9
6810 120) TTL7400 74167 185 | 1S124 105} 4006 66 | 4511 RAM CARD — 8 eerosaccepts matrix, 80 column Speed 80
4 1 3 451275 fe Se ,
eat 130] (TEXAS) — | Faiz? 250 | ustze 30] 200, BB | asta. a9. | X 2114 RAMs. Board is supplied fully CPS bi-directional Centronics
6840 420 00g populated. Full Kit: £28.50
6843 EV a00) rn tes) SSataiaze a2) 4008) 35) 484 : ' Interface, Baud rate 110-9600
6845 £975 7401 n 74174 9-72 | 1813338 | 4010 40] 4515 198 Soon available: SPEECH CARD; HIGH (RS232)
6847 850 74020011 7417572: | 1136-28 | 4011 15] 4516 75 | RESOLUTION GRAPHICS CARD; DISC
6850 7403 1a | ate SB] tStae 35 | 0128 | 4517 45 | INTERFACE CARD; 32K DRAM CARD £315
id es i eA ; @ MX80FT Has Fricton & Tractor
$852 255 7405 1B 74178 «95 | S145 78} ao1g 75 | 4519 29_| (NB PCBs may be bought separately). as D
eae 508 7406 28 74179 68 |LS147 199 | 4015 66 | 4520 78 z es feed plus all the MX80T’s
50 7407 28 74180 65 Ls148 99 4016 32 | 4521 200 facilities. £355
HB) ee aE EEE 2/8, gel ST) ayy RD'S
4 i 401 68 , :
81LS96 90 ae He 74184 99 | LS155 391} 4019 42 | 4527 115 I (2 WATFO @ MX80FT2 Has high resolution
baa all COS |) a fee irl eae ie me Ultimate Graphics option plus all the
8166 00 7412, 20~=«|:«741BB «290: J 68157 35. | aga) 70 | 4529 150 M N aly 3 jon °
8123 125 741326 74190 70 |1S158 36 | 4022 66 | 4530 90 Monitor IC. MX80FT's facilities. £39!
B203 Bea eee come ese icacen 20) a3t 130 @ MX100 132 Column plus all the
8212 170 7416 25 74192 70 | LS161 41 | 4024 46 | 4532110 A 4K Monitor Chip specially designed facilities of MX80FT2. Value for
eae 425 TAS 22s |e tare foie i ee ae fase on to produce the best from your: Super- SST) : £520
4 ;
baze ate Jan M3 74195 65 | S164 48 | 4027 3g | 4538115 board Series | & II, Enhanced Super- money.
8226 250 7422 20 74196 65 | LS165 145 | 4028 58 } 4539 115 board & UK 101. As reviewed by Or.
8228 so} 674230 22 | 74197 BS | LS16G 85 | 4029 = 77? | 4541140 A.A. Berk in Practical Electronics, June
ony 2 742528 74198 §©=6 99: | S170 170 | 4030 50 | 4543135 ae " .
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8255 S| ATT me Dime | De te TTS | CUT a Sa De me Price only £14.95 + 50p P&P
. 74246 LS! 4033 165 rice o . :
8257 800 ee nc 74247 150 | 15181 130] ao3a 195 | 4554 190 @ TEX EPROM ERASER, Erases up to
8T26A 99) 7432 26 |} 74248 «4150 | 15183 275] 4035 95 | 4555 50 32 ICs in 15-30 min. £33
8127 150) 7433 27. «| 74289«150:| S190 58 | 4036 «275 | 455655, AS aut a £9
| me 2 i Be gle Bie NEW J. |e sursn PSU Ready out on
4 74259 195 | L 4038 = 110 ’ eady built'an
BSTOSN go] Jaap 47—«(| 7426s 68 |tstas 65 | 4039 290 | 4559395 | SEIKOSHA @ Sv. : y _
8T97N 99 7441 68 74273. 195 |LS194 40 | 4040 59 | 4560 180 teste
9364 AP 550] 7442 ag | 74276 «150 |1S195 40} aoa «= 78 | 4561 104 GP100 @ Attractive Beige/Brown ABS CASE
AM26L531C = 125 7443 90 74278 160 | 15196 58 | 4042 60 | 4562 495
AM26L532A 125 7444 90 74279 «90 |1S197 85 | 4043 70 | 4566 9175 for Superboard/UK101 or Home
-3- 74283 90 |1S200 345 | apaa 65 | 4568 260 _ _ Unihammer Printer, £26
pve lols tek waae.~=«88—«| 72a 199 | Lezo2. 348 | aoas 190 | 4569 «175 gives normal and double cay APY Awe
‘AY 38912 600 jaa? ~—50 74285 199 | 5221 60 | 4046 75 | 4572 36 width characters as well as dot | @ Extra 4K o (Bo
AY-5-1013 300 7448 50 Nees es nea 3 ae ie rey ace resolution graphics 10” Tractor feed. 2114L-300nS) £6.99
AY-5:2376 800 | aes ote ~—«| 242a7 236 |usza2 as | aoag 30. | 4582 © 99. |_-~Parallel Interface standard. £195 | @ Full ASC11 coded keyboard type
FDI774 £18) 5453, ae ~S« 74298 «100: | LS243 a5 | 4050 © 30 '| 4583099 ‘756° £39
IM6402 360) 54506 ~—«| 24351 «195 | S244 80 | 4051 78 | 458400 48 Ready built) £9
MeraEs Es 7460 46 see ae Teese re | See Lo | ees oi e epaile apis = eady built)
7470 35 74366 S | LS24 40 | 4053 78 @ 4x4 matrix keypa
MC 14414 695 4367 5S |1S248 65 | 4054 125 | 4598 290 2 3
MC14412 wiheeas 30 Jasea «58 igzag be 4055 128 | 4599-595 SOF TY:2 (reed switch assembly) £4
pe260D 695 7a74a 25 74390 99 |1S251 40 @ C12 Cassettes in Library Cases 40p
HSER te ae oe Oey 120 As reviewed in PE September 1981. The @ 8%" Fan fold paper (500 sheets)
SFF96364E 7480 48 complete microprocessor development (no VAT) £6
SFC71301 7481 = 120 system for Engineers & Beginners. New we 500 sheets’
T™MS2716-3V powerful instruction. Accepts any 24 pin @9% We fold paper ( "ea
Wastes 5V single rail EPROM. Supplied fully Leone ah coe
ULN2004 built, tested & enclosed: in a black ABS | @ Teleprinter Roll (no VAT) .
ZB0CPU25 case. Price incl. encapsulated plug-in @ UHF Modulator 6MH2 280p
EApAGE USM power supply. £169 | @ UHF Modulator 8MH2 450p
ZB0AP10
; ‘DO 14 pin 44 | EDGE CONNECTORS ZERO
CRYSTALS PIC ORBEE ORS Switches DILPLUGS {6 4g. | double type i) Geer ineeaicn eae
9968KiHe 100° (Cannon Type) 4 way (Headers) 24 pin 88 _ 435 Lisoekat
OOK Hz 70 (Solder Bucket) ] Bway 85 2x 10 way ae DIL Sockets
200K Hz 295 Socket Covers} 8 way 90 z x is ped 180p 4145p 24 way 600p
ca ee 1500 10 way 145 2 x 22 way 199p 200p | 28 way 850p.
1 28M Hz 392 | 8867237M 240 130p HEADERS : 2 x 33 way (2X81) 210p — 40 way 975p
ee ee pees eee 185p ith ae 36 way Cent 2 x 25 way 225p 220p
18M He 395 | 100M Hz 200 wil aon 70 Parallel 550 2x30 way 245p —
1 008M 290 | 107M Hz oe res on a ee 2 x 36 way 2395p —
18432M 220 | 10 24M Hz 0 wa "
20M HZ 20 12 Oy Be 380 PCB PINS (right angle) 20 ay 145 DIL SOCKETS tow Wire - a4 vid 3085 = Pasion
5 700M 320 ie OM He 275-422. Wav 210p _275p S50 way 235 (TEXAS) profile wrap | 2% 75 way 550p —
3 57954M 150 | 18 OM Hz ae 8 pin 8p 252 Fully cased
3 6864M 300 | 18 432M 4 14 10; Pp ,
40M Hz 200 19 968M Hz 325 TMC ERE OP Woeisver cc aati 16 Bi 10p 42p VIC 20 MICROCOMPUTER E Fantood:
4032M Hz 290 } 24 0M Hz 200 14 pin plug 145p 24 pin plug 240p 18 pin 16p 52p | Connects directly to a colour TV
480MHz = 200 | 26 69M 290 16 pin plug 165p 40 pin plug 380p 20 pin 22p 60p | set. 5K RAM expandable to 32K
4 194304M 200 | 27 648M 330 Double ended DIP Leads " 3 70 exictock £165 £78
4433619M 120 | 27 145M 240 Length 14pn 16 pin 24 pn 40 pin 22 pin Sp ad ' (p&p 450p)
5 OM Hz 200 | 38 66667M 290 6 185p 205p 3900p 465p 24 pin 25p 70p |CASSETTE Deck for above
5 185MHz 300 | 48 OM Hz 270 Iz 198p 215p 315p 490p 28 pin 28p 80p including a free 6 program cas-
5 24288M 390 | 1000MHz = 3375 24 210p 235p += 345p 5540p 36 pin 2 105p | sette £34
6 OM Hz 220 4 1160MHz 300 36 2320p 250p += 375p «5595p 40 pin 30p 99p
@ Circle No. 102
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
176
FREE
LIBRARY BOX with every TEN-PACK
SRPLUS RS
NEW DISK DIRECTORY & DISKWRITER
when ordering two packs or more
MSPLUS ES
BRUSHED CHROME PAPERMATE PEN
when ordering 5 — 9 TEN-PACKS
SOARS
GOLD PLATED PAPERMATE PEN
when ordering 10+ TEN-PACKS.
VERBATIM The World's tavourite media ‘Datalife’ are alt
double density with hub ring reintorcement
EXC VAT
MD525 S/Sided 40 track £18.95
MD550 D/Sided 40 track £24.95
MD577 S/Sided 77 track £26.95
MD557 D/Sided 77 track £34.95
10 & 16 Hard Sector at same prices
Manutactured
. exclusively for us
: to our own design,
5 . the SOL keeps
: your valuable
disks flat & dust
free, while at the
same time allow-
ing you Instant visual selection of any single disk. The
standard SDL holds 20 disks. while the SDLX holds 28
disks. The SDL may be uprated to an SDLX retrospec-
tively
SDL only
SDLX only
DISICING DISKMAILERS
This product also exclusively ours. is a strong plastic
envelope for mailing one. two or three disks. in Safety and
comes complete with warning labels & address labels
DM only 50p
£8.65
£10.39
U.K, P&P RATES EXC VAT
DISKING SUPERLUXE DISK LIBRARY
NORMAL ORDERS
FOR THE FINEST
MINIDISKS & ACCESSORIES
All disks are factory fresh and individually
certified 100% error-free.
MEMOREX The Ultimate in Memory Excellence based on
many years of experience with recording media
EXC VAT
MEMX 1S/S S/Density £18.45
MEMX 1D S/S D/Density £21.45
MEMX 2D D/S D/Density £23.95
10 & 16 Hard Sector at same prices
DISK DRIVE HEAD CLEANING KITS
Prevent head cra-
shes and ensure
efficient error-free
operation
Enough for 26 bi-
monthly cleans &
a lot cheaper than
a service Call!
CKS5 only £16.50p
ALL PRICES ARE EXCLUSIVE OF VAT
PLEASE ADD 15%
DISICINIG FREEPOST, Liphook, Hants, GU30 7BR. England.
DISKING INTERNATIONAL FREEPOST LIPHOOK HANTS GU3O 7BR UK TELO428)722563
BASF FlexyDisk’
BASF cross-linked Oxide coating for long media lite and
special lubricants minimise head wear
EXC VAT
BASF 1 S/S S/Density £17.95
BASF 1D S/S D/Density £21.45
BASF 2D D/S D/Density £25.95
10 & 16 Hard Sector at same prices
SUPERBRAIN SOFTWARE
DATAKING coming soon: will mathematically massage
any Datastar or Wordstar data file. and columnate with
report writer. Instant Sales. Nominal or Purchase ledger
or Comprehensive Sales/Purchase Reporting for Data-
star users
DATAKING only
DATAKING User Manual
PLASTIC LIBRARY BOXES
The genuine Egly Box that stores and protects your disks
in tens — Unbeatable — (FREE with every ten disks
ordered)
LB only
ATTENTION THE TRADE
Please write to us on your letter headed paper, and ask for
our special trade prices and offers
Give your software the ullimate in presentation. We can
make the SDL & SOLX in your colour PVC. with your logo.
Sample plastics swatch available free by request
£49.00
£2.50
£1.90
ISikING
We accept Armed Forces and all
Ministry of Defence Establishments
orders over £50.00 in value. All other
Discs (1-5 PACKS) each pack at 95p
Disks (64+ PACKS) each pack at 65p
SDL or SDLX at95p customers cheques with order = eee —
DM (each at 25p) Tens at80p please payable to DISKING. if you DESCRIPTION 7 PRICE EXC. VAT
LB at45p are a large establishment, and et
CKS at75p cannot raise cheques without an
DATAKING SOFTWARE post free
Pea ie ; '
DATAKING USER invoice, please post or telephone us
your order, and we will send a pro-
MANUAL post free forma invoice by return, for your — +
accounts department to pay against
: TOTAL GOODS VALUE EXC. VAT £ |
URGENT ORDERS i ae ||
= TOTAL DELIVERY AND INSURANCE £ z |
Either post your cheque not forget- CREDIT CARD ORDERS SUB TOTAL EXC. VAT ie
ting to stamp it first-class. or tele- VAT £
phone your order with credit card —
No.. mentioning in either instance We accept Barclaycard and Access VALUE OF CHEQUE PAYABLE TO DISKING —
that your orderis URGENT. Youmay card. You may write your ¢/card No. =
then pay FIRST CLASS POST for on your order or telephone the order, Name:
your goods. if required day of night, 365 days a year. You = = —— a =
FIRST CLASS RATES EXC VAT ay Speak for as long as you like, | Address:
First TEN-PACK £1.80 oe pon pelo to give full details of E
what you. wish to purchase, your
SCORE fe pessoa _ Bee credit card number, credit card hol- = —
der’s name & address, and delivery | PC 4/82 Tel No:
or invoice address if different. F |
My Access/Barclaycard* Number is: |
*Please delete that which is not applicable
@ Circle No. 258
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982 177
‘CFA
(Pronounced ‘Saefack’)
“THE BEST ACCOUNTS PROGRAMME ON THE MARKET” — £1200
(Fully tailored to your own requirements — £300 if you buy the hardware from us, otherwise + £600
MAIN MENU
. ADDRESS PROGRAMME 16. BANK RECONCILIATION
. SALES INVOICES 17. PURCHASE LEDGER
PURCHASE INVOICES 18. SALES LEDGER
STOCK CONTROL 19. END OF MONTH PROCEDURE
ORDER CONTROL . VAT STATEMENTS
PAYROLL . MANAGEMENT FINANCIAL REPORTS
. PAYMENTS MADE . PROFIT & LOSS ACCOUNT
. PAYMENTS RECEIVED . BALANCE SHEET
. CREDITORS . CAPITAL ASSETS
. DEBTORS . DEPENDING ON VERSION
. SUPPLIER STATEMENTS . DISK DIRECTORIES
. CUSTOMER STATEMENTS . ALTER INCORRECT FILE ENTRIES
. AGENTS STATEMENTS . PRINT LEDGER CODES
. PRINT CUSTOMER INDEX . PRINT STOCK LIST
. PRINT SUPPLIER INDEX . FINISH USING ‘CFACC’
= PLEASE ENTER SELECTION NUMBER-—
| ‘CFACC’ ACCOUNTS PROGRAMME — COPYRIGHT COMPUTERS FOR ALL LTD |
1. The Programme resides ya! “in core” leaving BOTH DISKS FREE for files and enabling disks to be changed during use.
2. Every Programme issued is “PERSONALISED” with your Company's details. Our “After Sales Service” Is positive, giving you
constant access to the Author of “CFACC”. — We arrange Nationwide hardware support.
3. You need only enter Invoices and other payments in and out and “CFACC” will produce all the DATA for the MENU Programmes (it
will ask the user for any other information it needs).
4. All relevant information is stored for CUSTOMERS, SUPPLIERS, EMPLOYEES and others.
5. Automatic VAT Calculations. _.
6. Automatic calculations of WAGES and SALARIES. This section would normally cost £500.
7. INVOICES can be produced automatically using Customers’ names and addresses from file and Stock items from file — all
calculations are automatic.
8. INVOICES are automatically printed on plain paper or on your own stationery. Invoices entered are retained for automatic printing
at the end of the day, lunchtime etc.
9. STOCK FILE is automatically UPDATED whenever a Purchase of Sales Invoice is entered and the User's attention is drawn to any
item which has reached RE-ORDER LEVEL.
10. Customer Statements printed on demand showing Current, 1 Month, 2 Months, and 3 Months and over figures. These are
automatically updated as payments are entered. The User's attention is drawn to any Customer exceeding his CREDIT LIMIT.
REMITTANCE NOTES are produced of invoices selected for payment — CHEQUE PRINTING optional.
11. “Open Item” ledgers retain all invoices until they are paid (Purchase and Sales).
12. Outstanding Orders are retained on file until invoiced (Purchase and Sales).
13. Automatically calculates COMMISSION due to Agents and Salesmen.
14. DEBTOR and CREDITOR lists available on demand with individual Aged Debt Analysis.
15. PROFIT & LOSS ACCOUNT, BALANCE SHEET and TRIAL BALANCE printouts on demand.
16. MANAGEMENT FINANCIAL REPORTS include: i) GROSS PROFIT RATIO.
ii) RATE OF STOCK TURNOVER.
iii) NET PROFIT as a PERCENTAGE OF SALES.
iv) INCOME STATEMENTS.
v) AGE OF DEPT ANALYSIS.
OMNANSoVs
17. CAPITAL ASSETS STATEMENT on demand.
18. INCOME & EXPENDITURE is analysed into 70 ledger classifications and the amounts in any one of these can be called at any
time — classifications can be changed by the user.
19. ENVELOPES or ADDRESS labels can be printed from Address Files.
20. Full Random Access to any record in any file — No Limit on Record Lengths.
21. Ledgers are automatically updated after every transaction.
22. All sections of the Programme and files are fully integrated. :
23. Some Programmes on the market claim to be easy to use with no need for a manual (BUT TO THE LAYMAN THEY
SIMPLY ARE NOT). “CFACC” really is USER ORIENTATED — WE ARE PREPARED TO LET YOU PROVE THIS FOR
YOURSELF. MONEY REFUNDED IN FULL IF YOU CAN SHOW US A BETTER MICROCOMPUTER ACCOUNTS PROGRAMME
WITHIN 7 DAYS OF USE.
24. The PRICE makes “CFACC” the best VALUE FOR MONEY on the Market.
25. Fully tested and debugged. ; ! ;
26. All Equipment is fully tested by us prior to installation — Normal Guarantees on all Equipment Service Contracts available —
Finance and Leasing can be arranged.
27. DELIVERY and INSTALLATION FREE within UK. ;
28. We have examples of other Accounts Programmes on the market which you are welcome to try, and compare them with
“CFACC”.
29. PETS, TANDY’S & APPLES taken in part exchange for complete systems.
30. Automatic Loading — You simply insert the Disk.
31. “CFACC” will run on any CP/M Micro with a true 64K.
32. Special versions nipble with ‘Back Order Files’, Job Cost Files’, Raw Finished Stock Files for manufacturers, Client Account
Files with time allocation for Service Industries.
33. We also stock other Software such as Calcstar, Datastar, various languages, Supersort etc.
64K ‘SUPERBRAIN’ (350K DISK STORAGE) — DAISYWHEEL PRINTER WITH KEYBOARD
— “CFACC” ACCOUNTS — “WORDSTAR”’ Word Processing.
* * ALL FOR £4,286 x *
| Computers For All Ltd, Stratford on Avon (0789) 840064 |
Ring for our information folder which will tell you the questions to ask the Others.
@ Circle No. 259
178 PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
LONDON COMPUTER CENTRE
NEW! from Tele Video
the 802 £2,250
Expandable to multi-user system and hard disks.
Superbrain compatability.
CPM operating systems 64K Ram. Real Time Clock.
Detachable keyboard with 12 function keys (Wordstar option).
Expandable up to 6 users, multi-tasking system with
Emperor 20 (10m byte hard disk) 64K processor, back-
up floppy disk £4,500.
Plus each user terminal with 64K Ram, only £1,050.
‘Green screen — true decenders.
Built in 1 Mbyte dual disk drives.
Full graphic capabilities.
OPTIONS.
10m Hard disk £1,995.
a= AC £2,395
— ee 128K RAM
o= SHMTUS 7 1-2M storage
SIRIUS 1
16 bits for the price of 8 bits
The SPECIAL LCC SUPERBRAIN
a WITH NEW EXTRA FEATURES
APPLE SYSTEM ; FROM £1,795
48K Apple Dual 40 Track Disk Drives & 12” =
Green Screen Monitor
80 Column card with Decenders
CPM Softcard
16K (Integer) Card
Centronics Parallel Card
Serial Printer/Communications Card
AUTO SHEETFEEDER £580
Eli | AUTHORISED TAN zat
wide
Automatic DEALERS
Sheet Feeder et et SE
H Model | Model II Model IIt
fits all 48K System with CPM 16K £650
below 2 Disk Drives and TRS DOS at 48K £695
Green Screen no extra charge 48K with disk
Complete £995 from £1,995 drives £1,350
PET! APPLE! TRS80! HORIZON! OWN ERS!
Let LCC — the BIG COMPUTER CENTRE —
put you a cable’s length away from
LETTER QUALITY PRINTING with 7 Star Printers.
Olivettl ET21. 20 CPS. Doubles as typewriter £795
TEC 40. 40 CPS. JAPANESE DIABLO 630 uses Diabio Daisy Wheel &
Ribbons £1,23
Daisy Wheel Il 60 CPS. RICOH 1600 Daisywheel £995
Qume SPRINT 5. 45 CPS. £1,350
FLOWRITER RP 1600 60 CPS.
The most intelligent Daisy
8K Buffer/Bi Directional Printing
X ON/OFF. Right justify Repeat Built-in £1,500
NEC. 55 CPS. £1.650
FUJITSU 80 CPS. Plastic/Metal wheels £1,695
DEMONSTRATIONS ON ALL MODELS
ALL PRICES ARE EXCLUSIVE OF VAT AND DELIVERY
DEALER ENQUIRIES INVITED ON ALL PRODUCTS
43 GRAFTON WAY, LONDON W1P 5LA (Opposite Maples )
OPENING HOURS: 11-7 MON-FRI 12-4 SAT Tel: 388 6991/2
24 hour answer phone: 01-388 5721
@ Circle No. 260
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982 179
PROFESSIONALS IN APPLICATIONS
FOR
ACCOUNTING, INVOICING & STOCK
CONTROL
FINANCIAL MODELLING AND PLANNING.
WORD PROCESSING AND MAILING.
PROJECT CONTROL & COSTING.
DATABASE & TAILORED SOFTWARE.
APPLE AND CP/M.
SINGLE AND MULTI USER.
UK AND INTERNATIONAL EXPORTS.
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
KOMPUTATION AUTOMATION INFORMATION LID
203A Belsize Road, London NW6
01 328 7038 01 328 3968
24 hour personal answering service O01 486 4808
U ‘
@opric computer
PLUS OTHER GOOD MICROS
@Circle No. 261
FINAL RADIO AND ELECTRONICS
EXHIBITION AT BELLE VUE
by the Northern Amateur Radio Societies Association
in the
LANCASTER HALL,
BELLE VUE, MANCHESTER
on Sunday 4th April 1982, doors open at 11 a.m.
The North’s Premier Amateur Radio and Electronics Event
Features
Inter club quiz, Grand raffle, Construction contest
Amateur computer stands, RSGB bookstall
Radio Society stands and Trophy, Home Office and
Raynet stands
The following traders have booked space
Eurova Ltd Amateur Radio Exchange Stephens James Ltd
J Birkett The Amateur Radio Shop Isherwood Electronics
Radiotronics Microwave Modules Bredbury Electronics
Lowe Electronics John’s Radio Display Electronics
PM Electronic Services New Cross Radio SGS Electronics
PKG Electronics W. H. Westlake The Computer Junk Shap
US Electronics Telecom Arrow Electronics Ltd
Thanet Electronics Leeds Amateur Radio Royd Electronics
Electrovalue Ltd Newton Engraving Ace Mailtronix Ltd
Elphan Electronics Packer Communications Gemini Electronic Com-
J Peterson Micro Print Ltd ponents
Elkan Electronics Chris Moulding Tony's Radios
Sutton Electronics . Gemini Communications J. M. G. Electronics
S.M.C. (Jack Tweedy) Ltd R.S.G.B. Books Sota Comm. Syst. Ltd
Wilson Valves Scorpio Amateur Aerials M K Electronics
Belle Vue has ample car parks
FM Talk in on GB3NRS & G8NRS/A on 145MHz CkS22 R2 RE
and on 433MHz Chs SU8 RB4 RB/4
ADMISSION 60p BY RAFFLE TICKET AND EXHIBITION PLAN
ENTER AT REAR OF BELLE VUE OPPOSITE MAIN CAR PARK OFF HYDE ROAD AS?
@Circle No. 262
180
miCROMAS
GENERAL ACCOUNTING
NOMINAL
LEDGER
NOMINAL
LEDGER
PAYROLL
For use as a complete system or in module form for
any CP/M with Microsoft BASIC from a European
and nationwide dealer network trained in system
implementation.
Contact us for your nearest dealer.
P.R. Daly & Co, Limited
Sustems Consultants
Oaklands Gate,
Northwood,
Middx.
Tel. Northwood (09274) 29815 or 28683
@Circle No. 263
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
CP/M Z80/8080 SOFTWARE
now on mail order from
| dioifal devices lid
SuperSoft
EXCLUSIVE EUROPEAN
DISTRIBUTORS
C COMPILER
The compiler supports most of version 7 Unix
standard C. * Macro expansions « Include files
¢ Inline assembly code * sre code may be
ROMed « Programs may be ORGed for any location
* Completely dynamic memory allocation is supp-
orted * A two pass compiler, the first pass of the
compiler produces'an intermediate code * Pass two
contains both the translator and the optimizer « An
important feature of the compiler is that assembly
code is produced ¢ ‘Hand optimization" of critical
sections is possible « Re-ontrant code « Relocatable
Requires: 48K CP/M, (more recommended)
C compiler: £115.00 Manual only: £15.00
28000 cross-compller: £265.00 CP/M to code.
Requires 28000 assembler: £270.00 (CP/M)
Manuals only: £15.00
FORTRAN IV & RATFOR
The SSS FORTRAN compiler is fast, efficient, and
complete (full 1966 ANS! standard with extensions).
RATFOR compiler compilesinto FORTRAN allowing
the user to write structured code while retaining the
benefits of FORTRAN * Many advanced features
he fa * complex arithmetic * character vari-
ables ¢ functions « SSS RATFOR allows the use of
contemperary structured programming techniques
¢ REPEAT...UNTIL...WHILE !F...THEN...ELSE
¢ $SS RATFOR Is suo with source code.
Requires: 32K CP/M, 280 only.
SSS FORTRAN ened licence required) £140.00
RATFOR (For SSS FORTRAN only £65.00
Manuals only: RATFOR €5.00 ORTRAN £15.00
FORTH
StackWork’s FORTH is full, extended FORTH
ce ae that produces COMPACT,
ROMable code © As fast as complied FORTRAN
As easy to use as Interactive BASIC * SELF COM-
PILING includes every line of source code necessary
to re-compile itself; EXTENSIBLE, add functions
at will; CP/M COMPATIBLE; 280 & 8080 ASS-
EMBLERS inluded. (Please specify).
£115.00 Manual only: £25.00
DIAGNOSTICS II
A complete program package designed to check
every major area of your computer. ¢ Memory Test
© CPU Test (8080/8085/Z80) » Printer Test * Disk
Test ° CRT Test © Every test is ‘'submit’’-able ¢ All
eutput can be directed to a log file for unattended
at * A quick test for immediate verification
of the working of your system ¢ Memory test
includes * Default to the size of the CP/M Transient
Program Area ° Printout of a graphic memory map
© Burn in test ¢ Bank selection option * Memory
speed test * Spinwriter/ Diablo/Qume test. (Serial
interface). -
ee 32K CP/M
£65.0
DIAGNOSTICS I: £52.00
DISK DOCTOR
DISK DOCTOR for CP/M: a program to recover
‘‘crashed’’ discettes AUTOMATICALLY! © DISK
DOCTOR does not require any knowledge of CP/M
file structure! If you can operate CP/M, then you
can use DISK DOCTOR © Verifies discettes and
locks out bad sectors without touchirig the good
files that remain « Copies whatever can be read
froma ‘crashed’ file and places it into a good file.
e ies discettes without stopping for bad sectors.
e “‘Un-erases”’ files.
Requires: 48K CP/M. Two drives are needed for
pel operation.
Manual only: £10.00
Manual only: £10.00
P Manual only: £5.00
UTILITY PACK t Generai utilities £45.00
UTILITY PACK II General utilities £45.00
{See eartier issues for details}
-tronic fil 9
ENCODE/DECODE I/l
A sophisticated encryption system to protect your
files ¢ Needs user Ye ines * password © and 10
digit combination © 10,000,000,000 combinations
® Version || does second pass hash ¢ Uncrackable.
Requires: 32K CP/M
ENCODE/DECODE |: £40.00
ENCODE/DECODE II: £65.00
Manuals only: £15.00
TERM H
The TERM ii subsystem is an interactive program
——, Ea CP/M computer to communicate with
other TERM II user and other computers In general .
e Users may ‘‘talk’’ easity to one another ° Users
= § transmit selected ASCII files to one another
and with an external computer system by emulating
an ASCII terminal © Perform, under user control,
character translation » Distributed as an
assembler source flie and requires the user to patch
the modem tei d into the program,
Requires: 32K CP/M
Manual only: £20.00
£115.00
TERM { £90.00 Manual only: £5.00
TINY PASCAL
Chung/Yuen ¢ Random & sequential Disk I/O
¢ Compiles completely into 8080 code * Complete
source code for compiter and library * 36K CP/M
£65.00 Manual only: £5.00
SCRATCHPAD
ELECTRONIC WORK SHEET ° A user interactive
data modelling program suitable for; ¢ financial
planning ¢« General purpose mg « For
executives, researchers or family bi
correlations for sound decision ma
labels and corresponding j
* Cross referenced
d calculation
able column
ed, quickly
plik screen viewing
RAPH performs
Dispiays In graphic
aph ¢ Scatter Graph
gan * Median ¢ Max and
© Regression * Easy torun
° DA‘ A-VIEW easy to use, free
organising Information * Elec-
ets» Date book © Easy editing
* Retrieval by file, string or keyword.
SCRATCHPAD £115.00 STATS-GRAPH £115.00
DATA-VIEW £115.00 Total package £300.00
Manuals only: £20,00 each. All three £50.00
MAG
PRISM is a complete information management
system integrating the best features of a versatile
database system with those of a sophisticated
program development system * PRISM/IMS is the
database management section * No programming
whatsoever is required; applications include
* Patient records * information control * Customer
lists * Entirely menu operated, yet uses multi-keyed
files * Powerful browse and query capability.
PRISM/ADS Is a complete development too! for
specialized applications: « User defined menus
© Screen management functions * Complete library
of fully debugged routines (e.g. entry & edit)
* Complete file management aul provided.
PRISM/ ADS includes PRISM /IM
PARISM/LMS is the ultimate multipur; list
management system. ¢ 1001 uses — mailing lists,
customer lists, parts lists etc. * Store the inform-
ation you require « Menu driven ¢ Fully formatted
© No programming or technical expertise.
PRISM requires: 48K CP/M & CBASIC-2. Cursor
addressing CRT with clear screen.
PRISM/ ADS £585.00 Manual only: £80.00
PRISM/IMS £380.00 Manual only: £68.00
PRISM/LMS £210.00 Manual only: £60.00
MAGSAM
Picks up where your BASIC leaves off by providing
it with a powerful Keyed File Management System
that is quick and easy to use, providing features
seldom found on any computer micro, mini or main-
frame ¢ Sophisticated access techniques, random,
sequential and generic retrievals by key. © Second-
ary indexing with any number of keys * Key and
record deletes with auto reclaim of freed space
© Concantenated keys * Fite structures are dynamic-
ally allocated, and compatible with BASIC file
facilitles « Interactivetutorlal and filedump facilities.
MAGSAM ill CBASIC-2, Microsoft BASIC 80
compiler /interpreter 8080 or Z80.
£136.00 Manual only: £55.00
MAGSAM IV high performance assembler version
75% faster than Ill.
CBASIC-2 only Source 8080 assembler.
£240.00 Manual only: £55.00
Magsam needs 32K, 48K recommended If memory
is critical, telephone hot-line for exact details.
MAGSORT
Full feature Sort/Select/Merge ¢ Interfaces to
CBASIC-2, Microsoft BASIC, FORTRAN-80 © Only
2 statements » No dedicated memory, relocation or
special interfacing * Runs stand alone ¢ Written in
8080/Z80 assembler uses entire user memory for
buffer * Fastest possible sorting.
£240.00 . Manual only: £55.00
ECOSOFT
MICROSTAT 2. Advanced stats pack for use In
research, education and industry. * Complete Data
” Management Subsystem. « Includes edit, sort, rank
order and many more. ¢ Data transforms, arithmetic
and logarithmic. ¢ Hypothesis tests. ¢ ANOVA.
* Simple & multiple regression. © Correlation
analysis. © 11 Non-parametric tests. Also includes
* Moments ¢ Skewness * Kurtosis « Stepwise
multiple regression ¢ Faster sort ¢ Longer file
names ¢ Ability to declare each data file's numeric
* precision ° Expanded manual giving equations and
file structures.
Available In CBASIC-2, Microsoft BASIC 60, &
North Star DOS.
Manual only: £25.00
£175.00
NORTH STAR HORIZON
MATCHMAKER | & II from SoHo © converts
N*BASIC programs to run under CP/M. Converts
BASIC to a COM file * Programs convert by loading
and restoring * Version Il for DOS 5.2 ¢ Version |
for DOS 5.1 © Totally self-installing under CP/M 2
* North Star Horizon only.
MATCHMAKER I £65.00 Manual only: £5.00
MATCHMAKER If £75.00 Manual only: £10.00
NORTH STAR BUS from SZ Software * Global line
editor with scrolling * 26 commands for locate,
change, line, insert, copy, append, line move, erase
columns, etc. * Packs programs. * Formatted
printing with full cross-referencing of all variables,
strings, arrays, functions and subroutines * Co-
resident with BASIC or ROMable.
NORTH STAR SORT © Adds ‘'SRT’’ statement
© Co-resident or ROMabie © Sorts 1800% faster
* Sorts 1 & 2 dimensional arrays and aye
North Star BUS £50.00 North Star SORT £60.00
Manuals only: £10.00
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Software available from stock on North Star 5.25 in
SS/DD, 8 in 1BM 3740 SS/SD, and on Superbrain
0D/OQD, other formats available piease enquire.
CASH WITH ORDER for ppd by return. Uniess
account customer, Post Packing at £1.50 per
Lawl bad VAT at 15%. Ali orders sent 1st class
post. The manual cost is deductable on subsequent
software purchases. No VAT on manuals, Dealer
terms available on request.5+ 20%, 10+ 25% etc.
Technical advise HOT-LINE (0892) 20307, answered
only when technician avaliable.
BARCLAYCARD, ACCESS, DINERS CLUB,
AMERICAN EXPRESS, ACCEPTED.
DIGITAL DEVICES LIMITED
134 LONDON ROAD . SOUTHBOROUGH
TUNBRIDGE WELLS . KENT
Tel: (0892) 37977-9/ 39546-9 Telex: 95582
The following are registered trademarks: Z80 and Z8000 of gio ine. CP/M of Digital Research, UNiX of Bell Laboratories,
CBASIC-2 of Compiler Systems, Microsoft BASIC 80 and FORTRA
RISM, MAGSAM and MAGSORT of Micro Appli
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
-80 of Microsoft inc., North Star of North Star Computers Inc.,
ications Group, MICROSTAT II of Ecosoft inc.
@ Circle No. 264
181
April 23-25, 1982
Earls Court, London
Friday & Saturday: 10am—6pm
Sunday: 10am —5pm
Admission £2.00 adults
£1.00 children under 16. Personal computers
Home computing
Small business systems
The computer is with us and soon to be as familiar in the home as your
television, video or hi-fi. But much more versatile!
A home computer can be the family’s resident teacher, accountant, home
economics expert, memory bank and endless source of amusement! It can do
anything you programme it to do — from teaching mathematics to the children or
computing the most economic use of household fuels for yourself, as well as
providing hours of fun on a rainy afternoon. Most important of all, the home
computer will teach you and your
family about computers — and this
is the technology that your children
are growing up with.
In the office, the personal
computer is rapidly replacing the
obsolete mound of box files,
adding machines and notebooks
on thousands of desk tops.
Microchip streamlining means
increased efficiency in hundreds
of different fields.
Sponsored by
Practical Computing
and
Your Computer
= adult
1 (Computer I FP
f T=. 1 A ll H
| Cut this coupon and |
] exchange for half-price ' V UC =
ticket at the door.
u - !
182
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
Bringing computers
to everyday life
At The Computer Fair you can see and compare an enormous
range of personal and home computers. Find out what they can do
and which one would suit you best. Talk to the experts and discover
for yourself how much — or how little — you need to spend. Choose
from an amazing abundance of software programs and packages,
cassette units, VDU terminals and scores of computer games.
Swap your views and know-how with hundreds of other home
computer enthusiasts — and find out a whole lot more from
‘computer professionals.
\ NAL OY \ Plus— The Micro Mouse
: \ 5 | rs Contest.
= | - ean Sila F . i Come and watch the
3 — ee] FE Im x J: incredible ingenuity of
Bit * betel of ‘4 computer controlled
IN “mice” and how they find
their way (or not!) to the
centre of amaze. The
knockout heats and the
Euromicro British Final
can all be seen at The
Computer Fair!
Bring the whole family —
don’t miss this
opportunity of bringing
computers into your
everyday life.
: AN ms pm ITC retina
cn
for remders of
e 1 (Omputer
ctical ee
i Fa this coupon and
exchange for half-price
\ | ticket at the door. |
1,
——_ a
PRACTICAL COMPUTING Aprif 1982 183
45 MULTINATIONALS
CWP CUSTOMERS?
C|WP is a long established service company
based in Rochester Row, London SW1.
C|WP Computers is an Apple authorised
level 1 service centre.
C|WP now offers
Practical Computing
readers the chance to
buy at its special prices.
Contact C/WP if you
are interested in:
Financial forecasting
Communications
CPM on Apple
Apple/Visicaic Offer
Apple 48k Europlus £ 579
Disc drive with Controller £ 310
12” green Monitor £ 110
Silentype Printer £ 180
Visicalc 33
VAT and installati
one
12 months guarantee ae
C/wp Com
put
01-828 3127 _
108 Rochester Row
London SWIP typ
@Circle No. 265
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
184
apun thepeople for Rian}.
statistics pe ee
Mas Pesce
3 Consoles available:
Atari 400 with 16K RAM(AF36P) £345
Atari 400 with 32K RAM(AF37S)£395
Atari 800 with 16K RAM (AFO2C) £645
Lots of other hardware: 16K RAM Module (AFO8J) £64.00
Cassette Recorder (AF28F) £50.00 32K RAM Module (AF44X) £125.35
Disk Drive (AFO6G) £345.00 32K Upgrade for 400 (AF45Y) £75.00
Thermal Printer (AFO4E) £265.00 Floppy Disk (YX87U) £2.75
Printer Interface for 400 (AF41U) £49.95 Le Stick (AC45Y) £24.95
Printer Intertace for 800 (AF42V) £49.95 Joystick Controllers (AC37S) £13.95
Interface Module (AF29G) £135.00 For full details ask for our hardware leaflet
Versawriter (AF43W) £169.00 (XH54J) SAE appreciated
NOW YOU CAN JOIN THE U.K. ATARI COMPUTER OWNER’s CLUB. An independent user’s group.
Four issues of the club magazine for only £1.60! Address your subscription to Graham.
THE CHOICEST GEMS OF ATARI SOFTWARE FROM MAPLIN
Adventure Games Page Flipping -C-16K-(BO55K) £9.95 Poker Solitaire -C-16K-(BO17T) £10.95
Star Warrior -C-32K-(BQ248) £28 95 Page Flipping D-24K-(BO56L) £10 95 Blackjack -C-8K-(YG62S) £8.95
nee Cea ae . Master Memory Map -Wallchart-(KH57M) £4.00 FastGammon -C-8K-(YL33L) £9.95
nvasionDrion -C- : 1 Reversi (Othello-type) -C-16K-(BO19V) £14.95
wee 2 Business Programs
Gaacieempie, 24K (80140) £14 95 visicae -O- 32K-(¥L39N) 6119.95 ok C CURcREM F828
Hi-ResAdventure//2 -0-4BK-(BO25C) £24 95 eri ocessor Wes WARE an HurDlyD W-Co16K-(3038R) C19.98
fy Bes eave D-aPKCHENBSLY E24 oe Gartiatar -D-24K-(YG50E) £16 95 Humpty Dumpty & Jack & Jill -C- 16K -(BO38R) £19.95
AdvertureLand -C-24K-(BOOOA) £14 95 Graph—It “C- ae on 2 eaten Sie ce
‘ Statistics C-16K-(YGS2G) £11 9!
Pirates Adventur: C-24K 01 14 : -C- 16K:
Miscenimeoseble Cake a Ff Arcade Games caterers CRIP Staal ¢ )2,99
Wood Caste -€ 24k (80030) £14 95 er we ax veson) £98.98 Jig-Saw Puzzles -C-16K-(BO41U) £19.95
he Count -C-24K-(BQ04E) £14.95 RAS -C- -(B04'
Strange Odyssey “€-24n {BOOS} £14.95 Space Invaders “E-BK -(YG70M) £24.50 prea ee el “D-1OK {0508} £24.98
Mystery Fun House C-24K-(BQO6G) £14.95 MissileCommand E-8K-(YG64U) £29.95 Mind Bogglers(3 Programs) -C-16K-(YL38R) £8.95
Pyramid of Doom -C-24K-(BOO7H) £14.95 Super Breakout ~E-8K-(YG67X) £29.95 99 9
Ghost Town -C-24K-(8008)) £14.95 Tani Trek -C-24K-(YL36P) £8.95 Muelcinroezame
S iclandi “24K =(BO09K) £14.95 Tan Trek -D-32K-(YL37S) £11.95 Music Composer ; E-8K-(YG48C) £32.50
Savagelslandil “C-24K (6010) £14.95 Star Trek 3.5 -C- 32K -(BO15R). £14.95 Movie Themes (use with
Golden Voyage -C-24K -(BOQ11M) £14.95 Race In Space -C- 16K -(80350) £14.95 Music Composer) -C-16K-(8034M) £9.95
Energy Czar -C-16K-(YG53H) £8.95 Shooting Gallery -C- 16K -(BO36P) £14.95 Computer Languages
Kingdom -C-8K-(YG55K) £8.95 Mountain Shoot C-16K-(8012N) £10.95 Basic A + -D-48K-(8031J) £52.50
Teach-Yoursalt P Baskett TE-BK-(YGEIR) £29.95 ee wee eo ce
‘each-Yourse rograms jasketba -BK- Basic A+
Conversational French -5C- 16K -(YG44X) £22.50 Tank Trap -C-16K-(YL34M) £8.95 OperatingSystemA+ -D-48K-{BQ32K) £99.50
i demaiscice eel ey Tank Trap 0-32K-(YL350) £11.95 0S Forth -0-24K-(YL29G) £44.90
onversationalSpanish = - 5C - 16K -( YG46A) 5 Pilot : -8K- 4
Conversationalitalian SC 16K -(YG478) £32.50 allillaitedaaar AP (yGS8N) £12.95 Ganities See an ee
Touch Typing -2C-16K-(YG49D) £14.95 +
States & Capitals ~C-24K-(YG5BL) £8.95 Cypher Bow! C -32K -(BO20W) £22.45 3D-Super Graphics 0-48K-(8028F) £29.95
Eavopean Countess Thunder Island -C- 16K -(BO37S) £10.95 30-Super Graphics ~C-48K -(BQ29G) £29.95
Capitals C-16K-(YG57M) £8.95 Rotating Tilt -C- 16K -(8048C) £14.95 Atari World (Graphics) -D-48K-(B027E) £43.95
Lunar Lander -C- 16K-(BO16S) £10.95 Assembler Editor -E-8K-(YG68Y) £34.50
Learn Programming Jumbo Jet Lander -C-16K-(BO46A) £29.95 Assembler -C-16K-(YL32K) £14.95
Invitation toProgramming -C-8K-(YG43W) £11.95 Submarine Commander ~C-16K- (80478) £24.50 6502 Disassembier -C-8K-(YL30H) £8.95
Basics of Animation C-32K-(B057M) £9.95 Sunday Goit -C-16K-(BO13P) £10.95 6502 Disassembler -D-8K-(¥YL31J) £11.95
Basics of Animation -D-32K-(BO58N) £10.95 Oarts -C- 16K-(BQ42V) £19.95 Character Generator -C-16K-(YL27E) £9.97
se ee ese Dia abe Tournament Poo! pa aor £19.95 Character Generator -D-16K-(YL28F) £12.50
jayer Missile Graphics -D- “{ 1 Snooker & Bithards -C- 16K -(B044X) £19.95 Telelink -E- 8K-(YG59P) £14.95
Display Lists -C-16K-(BO51F) £9.95 Chess -E-8K-(YG63T) £29.95
Display Lists -D- 24K -(8052G) £10.95 Microchess -C-16K-(YL40T) £15.95 Key: C= Cassette. 0 = Disk, E = Cartridge.
Horiz/Vertical Scroll -C-16K-(B053H) £9.95 Checker King -C-16K-(YL41U) £15.95 2C = 2 Cassettes etc. 8K: 16K etc, shows
Horiz/Vertical Scroll 0-24K-(B054J) £10.95 Cribbage & Dominoes -C-16K-(BO43W) £14.95 munimum memory requirement
Send sae now for our new software leaflet with details of all the above programs. Order As XH52G — Issue 2.
Lots of exciting new software titles available soon. Keep in touch with Mapiin!
Subscribe now to America’s ieading Atari-only magazine — Analog — 6 issues per year for just £9.00. Order as GG24B.
: Maplin Electronic Supplies Ltd
P.O. Box 3, Rayleigh, Essex.
~ Tel: Southend (0702)
a) 552911/554155.
Note: Order codes shown in brackets. Prices tirm until 15th May. 1982 and include VAT and Postage and Packing
{Errors excluded)
strations arent
s NO! yion at
: W
@ Circle No. 266
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982 185
THREE PET TITLES
LIBRARY OF PET
SUBROUTINES
-A book‘which will save the software
designer considerable time by providing
55 proven subroutines to integrate with
his own programmes.
Each subroutine is preceded bya page i
of general information describing its
purpose and implementation and
possible problems that may arise. Basic,
machine language and a combination of
both, are used throughout this
publication.
THE PET”
REVEALED
NICK HAMPSHIRE
L A NICK AAMPSHIRE COMMODORE Pi
&
&
2
we
PS
«
. We like this book very much and
thoroughly recommend it.”
Printout
“".. well prepared, fun to use,
and will help in better
program development.”
Compute
All 3 publications are
widely used by
Commodore Business
Machines.
Please send me:
. copy/ies of Library of PET Subroutines Name .
@ £10.00 each
Address
. copy/ies of The PET Revealed
@ £10.00 each
... copy/ies of PET Graphics @ £12.00 each
payable to
merset.
| enclose a cheque for £ .
Computabits Ltd.,.P.O. Box 13. Yeovil, So
I
186
THE PET REVEALED
A reference book which details everything
you need to know about the workings of the
PET. Containing information helpful to
writing more elaborate programmes, which
in turn create more interesting functions.
Should be congratulated.
Supplies some much needed, useful
and correct documentation.’
Compute
‘PET Revealed’ will save you an
awful lot of time. | rate this book
as good value for money.”
Printout
PET
GRAPHICS
This book has two
objectives. One, to
provide the reader
with an introduction to
the programming tech-
niques used to generate
graphic displays.
Two, providing the
programmer with a
complete package of
machine code routines
giving a wide range of
normally unavailable graphic
functions. The book contains
many comprehensively
analysed routines and photo-
graphs to illustrate the effects
created.
y
an invaluable guide to
graphics on the PET.’
Micro Forecast
Postcode
@Circle No. 267
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
Check our prices against similar lists!!!
Micro Business Centre Ltd,
Linthouse Lane, Wednesfield,
Wolverhampton, West Midlands.
Tel (0902) 725687
Check our prices against similar lists!!!
S* A.B.c. Ltd,
Sutton Computer Centre, 28 High Street,
Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands.
Tel 021-354-2684
MICROCOMPUTERS
ABC HARDWARE — JUST LOOK AT THESE PRICES!!!!!!8
*% 12” Green Screen Monitor + cable
* New! Colour Card for Apple — true colours, inc. mod.
* Box of 10 blank discs
99:95
49.95
14.95
Add 15% V.A.T. (P&P inc.)
APPLE © Cost VAT. Total
* Apple 111 pee aes 2545.00 381.75 2926.75
* Disk 111 ie thee. G65:00' S775 442575
Silentype 111 % : 222.00 33.30 255.30
* Apple 11 48k. + colour
card, modulator F rr 695.00 104.25 799.25
* Disk Drive + contr.3.3 ............. 375.00 56.25 431.25
* Disk Drive 295.00 44.25 339.25
*% 12” Green Screen Monitor ........... 99.95 14.99 114.94
Programmers Aid .............-. 26.00 3.90 29.90
Autostart Rom Pack 33.00 4.95 37.95
* Versawriter — graphics pad ......... 149.95
* Silentype 195.00 29.25 224.25
* Tante! (Prestel) ...... 170.00 25.50 195.50
B/W Modulator .... “4 ARG OD 14.00 2.10 16.10
Pascal Lang. System ....... .--. 245.00 36.75 281.75
Applesoft Firmware Card ........ 95.00 14.25 109.25
Integer card : 95.00 14.25 109.25
16k. Ram Card sii sak) ae 95.00 14.25 109.25
Apple Pilot .... Noreen 79.00 11.85 90.85
Apple Fortran .. 40500 1575. 120:75
Apple Prototype/Hobby Card 12.00 1.80 13.80
Parallel Printer Interfaee ... 65.00 9.75 74.75
High Speed Serial Interf E 65.00 9.75 74.75
Centronics Card f 65.00 9.75 74.75
Communications Card .............. 103.00 15.45 118.45
Colour Card inc. T.V. mod
true colours .... 4 ne 49.95 7.49 57.44
IEEE-488 Interface .... 230.00 34.50 264.50
Thermal Paper for Silentype Paris 41 3.16
C.P.S. Multifunctlon Card
(Clock/Printer Card) veces 005100 920:25 155.25
Supertalker ...... sy . 140.00 21.00 161.00
Romplus + Keyboard Filter era 127.00 19.05 146.05
Rom Writer ....... 105.00 15.75 120.75
AD + DA 16 Channel. tg 210.00 31.50 241.50
Numeric Keypad ...... : a 75.00 11.25 86.25
Videx 80 colcard ...... 185.00 27.75 212.75
JUST AVAILABLE — NEW PRODUCTS
TO ENHANCE YOUR APPLE SYSTEM
Apple 5.25” Winchester from: .... . 1872.00 280.80
Joln up to 127 Apples
WITS oir sc assisce seis .. 449.00 67.35
Micro Modem . 169.00 25.35
The Mill (6809 board) ............... 230.00 34.50
Expeditor Basic Compiler Gene 79.95 12.00
Micro Modeller ..................... 9399.00 59.85
Micro Planner ..... 695.00 104.25
EXCLUSIVE ABC
SOFTWARE
DISKIO — Disk program and file recovery system — you'll wonder how
you managed without it! Send for full details.
49.95 7.50 57.45
INTEGRATED SALES/PURCHASE/NOMINAL LEDGER SYSTEM,
WILL SUPPORT 50 — 5000 ACCOUNTS. WRITTEN AND FULLY
SUPPORTED BY OUR QUALIFIED STAFF. AVAILABLE INTE-
GRATED OR STAND ALONE.
Integrated
Stand Alone ..
889.95 133.50 1023.45
349.00 52.35 401.35
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
COMMODORE PETS AT
CASH AND CARRY
PRICES! ! 1!!!
Looking for a Pet computer? — try us last — up to 12.5% off list prices
PLUS £50.00 TRADE-IN for your Sinclair ZX80 or 81. Pet 4083 (new
screen), Pet 8032, Disk Drives, Printers, etc, all In stock.
VIC PERSONAL COMPUTERS — on continuous demonstration at
both showrooms.
CIFER MICROCOMPUTERS
British Made — Twin Z80 (4MHZ) Microcomputer System + CPM 80
column display — 64k. User Memory + 64k. Screen Memory
2600 RANGE
2683 £1970.00 ex V.A.T.
2684 (400k. integral DD) £2357.00 ex V.A.T.
1880 RANGE (All integral drives + 1000 x 300 point graphics)
1886 (2 x 800k. integral DD) £2700.00 ex V.A.T.
1888 (3 x 800k. integral DD) £3150.00 ex V.A.T.
1885 (6 to-12 mgb.) from £4530.00 ex V.A.T.
1887 (1 x 800k. + 1 Winchester) £4980.00 ex V.A.T.
PRINTERS
Selection from our vast range:
Cost V.A.T. Total
Epson MX 100 . : 00d ..... 549:95 82.50 632.45
Epson MX 82/F/T ..... bane : 399.95 60.00 449.95
Olympia Scripta K.S.R. 945.00 141.75 1086.75
Olympia Scripta R.O. wens) 775.00) 11625) (891725
COMPUTER BOOKS
+ MAGAZINES — GOOD
SELECTION IN
BOTH SHOWROOMS
Beneath Apple D.O.S.
Computers for Kids
(Apple, Pet, TRS80)
Introd. to Pascal
Z80 Assembly
Basic Applications ...... ;
(No VAT — sent by return post - — many other titles)
Note: All goods in stock at time of going to press. We will not be beaten on prices,
Phone David Anderson for latest prices. Allow 7 days for cheque clearance.
Advantageous leasing terms for businesses. Suppliers of Micro Computers to
Public Companles — Locai Authorities — Educationa! Establishments etc.
@ Circle No. 268
187
SPECIAL OFFER!
48K ARRLEM ss 02. . fee. £640 ex VAT
APPLE DISK + CTL -..... (ooh
APBEEIDISK®. . 2h econngae E27 Ow die i
35L supply a full range of
hardware, software and
accessories to meet all your needs
at highly competitive prices.
Prices include p&p.
ORDER NOW FOR EARLY
DELIVERY!
P.0. BOX 19
SANDBACH
CHESHIRE
Telephone Nos.
09363-6031 or
09367-3842
@Circle No. 269
BA Cat
Are you ov
Cool things down with the APPLEFAN!
Your Apple will not only run more efficiently, with less
risk of breakdown, but will be well organised, with easy
access to all input/output ports.
Simple to fit, no soldering or drilling — the APPLEFAN
still allows access to the lid of your Apple.
APPLEFAN may be removed at any time.
Basic model only £68.60 +VAT.
Ask your Apple dealer for a demonstration,
or post the coupon for our brochure!
Hiteck Products 21 Station Rd, Knebworth, Herts. Tel 0438 812137
188
rheating?
Convert
your PET
toaterminal
for £180!
Useful in programming and linking to
Paper tape punches, instrumentation
and control devices.
@Can be used as a normal printer
interface.
@High speed transmission via
RS232 and not JEEE,
Why spend £4000 on aterminal
when you can convert your
Commodore PET for only £180 to
do exactly the same thing?
Kingston offer you this with NETKIT
—ahardware/firmware package
which dramatically widens the scope
of the PET, and maintains Kingston's @ Detailed manual, cable correc-
reputation as market leaders in tions and supporting software also
computer communications and \y sm included.
interfaces. c/ 4, Hundreds of NETKITS have well
@Netkit allows the PET to = documented operational reliability in
link to any RS232 Device, numerous applications. Find out
including another PET, more for yourself, just send
micro,most mini and for further information on
main frame computers. NETKIT and other
@Easy to use, no Kingston products: Once
complicated machine @ you've seen our leaflet you
code for input. may wish to take up our 30
@Gives automatic day sale or return offer. We
character conversion. are sure you'll be convinced.
KINGSToOn
Kingston Computers Limited, Electricity Bulldings, Filey, Yorkshire, U.K.
Telephone: 0723 514141 Telex: 52163
@ Circle No. 270
—'by hiteck
Please send me your brochure of APPLEFAN!
NAME:
ADDRESS: i
a ~~
@Circle No. 271
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
If you intend to become the fast-
est growing peripheral supplier to
e mini and micro markets, you've
got to start with the right product—
the best.
So naturally, when it comes to
flexible disk drives, we searched,
researched and searched again,
looking at every product and manu-
facturer, to make sure Microware
customers could depend on
exceptional product performance
and reliability.
It took a lot of time and we
ended up where we started: with
Control Data flexible disk drives.
And Control Data obviously
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
liked our approach to customer
service as well. Because we are now
officially appointed UK distribu-
tors for Control Data flexible disk
drives.
So if you want flexible disk
drives with built-in reliability and
service, you know where to come.
Control Data flexible disk
drive performance, now
available through Microware:
@ 5ms track to track
@ Head load solenoid
@ Band stepper
© 250K, 500K, 1000K
@ Door open status
@ Industry standard compatibility
Microware # is more than
flexible disk drives.
We're also in complete drive
subsystems, offering switch-mode
power supply, 110—240 volt
selectable, over voltage protection
—all enclosed in attractive desk-top
cabinets for all popular micros.
Between us we guarantee the
best price/performance ratio.
microware
Microware (London) Ltd., GE 5)
5 Western Court,
Huntley Drive, CONTROL
DATA
London N.3.
Tel: 01-346 8452.
@ Circle No. 272
189
TRADE AND EXPORT
Definitely the very best deal for
D.E.M.. UXSSTRIBUTORS ANDO OEALERS
throughout Europe
THe SINGLE SOURCE FOR MICROCOMPUTER EQUIPMENT,
PERIPHERALS, SUPPLIES ANDO SOFTWARE
EPSON - ANADEX - TEXAS INSTRUMENTS - QUME - DIABLO - NEC -
RICOH - OKI - CENTRONICS - TEC - OLYMPIA - ADLER - APPLE -
_ COMMODORE - HITACHI - SHUGART - CONTROL DATA - BASF -
FACIT - FUJITSU - PRINTRONIX - DATA PRODUCTS - OLIVETTI- ETC. ETC.
Obtain substantial savings by combining your purchases with
hundreds of other trade buyers throughout Europe
@ No commitment to purchase minimum quantity
@ Parts and labour warranty
@ Fast delivery
Telephone or write for details of
INFORMEX CONSORTIUM PURCHASE SCHEME
INFORMEX-LONDON LTD INFURMER te
8-12 Lee High Road, London SE13 5LQ
Tel: 01-318 4213 (10 lines) Telex: 892622
AGENTS REQUIRED WORLDWIDE
Have you bought a 2X81? .
Now here's a cassette
recorder to match it! |
The ECR81 Enhanced Certified Recorder from MONOLITH is a major
advancement in cassette recorder technology which minimises the
problems associated with standard audio recorders. This is a high
quality proven cassette mechanism, enhanced to provide just z {
the right signal levels to ensure reliable read and write data “ hy ~ i
transfer between the magnetic tape and your ZX81. ~
s now Cy y 5
@ Each ECR81 comes complete with its own individual iA e- j e 50
certification tape, tested and serial numbered to prove your Pz ‘ —™
machine reliability. ay ae /
le “Z Including VAT.
complete
@ Signal enhancement circuit board with phase - locked - loop
control and signal shaping for peak performance.
- om a 7 @ A long life head is fitted, matched
To: MONOLITH ELECTRONICS CO. LTD., 5/7 CHURCH STREET, CREWKERNE, SOMERSET to TDK CrO2 high bias, super
Please supply me with Price | Total | avilyn|cassette tapes.
(Oty.) Monolith ECR 81 Enhanced Certified Recorder(s) | £47-50 @ Mains & DIN connector leads provided,
(Each)
ne @ Certification of tape head alignment - height and azimuth.
@ Certified tape tension, torque and speed.
@ Fast forward and rewind tape search controls.
to be used with my ZX81
The ECR81 is also suitable for Sinclair ZX80
Prices include VAT ap '9 @ Please allow up to 28 days delivery. @ The ECR81 is
Please print aa backed by our 14 day money-back option, @ The ECR811 is
not suitable for audio reproduction,
MONOLITH
| Ben : electronic products
eee ee er eS SS J Telephone: Crewkerne 0460 74321
Nameanrmmveiniss. (LL iL i | i | 1 | |_| ze Me
|
|
a
|
|
: l also enclose postage & packing per recorder | £2.50
|
|
a etal |
I
4 a
@ Circle No. 274
190 PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
The Radio Shack TRS-80'™ Model Ill is a ROM-hased
computer system consisting of
@A 12-inch screen to display results and other information
@ A 65-key console keyboard for inputting programs and data
to the Computer @ A Z 80 Microprocessor, the ‘‘prains”’ of
the system @A Real-Time Clock @Read Only Memory
(ROM) containing the Model tit BASIC Language (fully
compatible with most Model | BASIC programs! @ Random
Access Memory (RAM) for storage of programs and data
while the Computer 1s on amount is expandable from ~ 16K
to “48K”, optional extra) @ A Cassette Interface for long-term
storage of programs and data (requires a separate cassette
recorder, optional extra) @ A Printer Interface for hard-copy
output of programs and data {requires a separate line printer
optional/extra) @ Expansion area for upgrading to a disk
based system (optional ’/extra) @ Expansion area for an RS
232-C serial communications interface (optional: exiral
All these components are contained in a single moulded case
and all are powered via one power Cord
Oise Drives Kit with 2x40 Track Drives
Oise Drives Kit with 2x80 Track Drives
£599 + VAT
£729 + VAT
HITACHI
PROFESSIONAL
4\ MONITORS
6" £126 £99.95
12'' —£199 £149 [va
®@ Reliability Solid state circuitry using an IC and silicon
transistors ensures high reliability. @ 500 lines horizontal
resolution Horizontal resolution in excess of 500 lines is
achieved in picture center. @ Stable picture Even played
back pictures of VTR can be displayed without jittering
@ Looping video input Video input can be looped through
with built-in termination switch. @ External sync opere-
tion {available as option for U and C types) @ Compact
construction Two monitors are mountable side by side in a
standard 19-inch rack
ACORN ATOM
UNIQUE IN CONCEPT —
{ie THE HOME COMPUTER
: THAT GROWS AS YOU DO
veeny =) Fully Assembled £187.50 «va
\ inc. PSU
Special features include @ Full Sized Keyboard @
Assembler and Basic @Top Quality Moulded Case
@Optional High Resolution Colour Graphics @6502
Microprocessor
THE EPSON MX SERIES
80, 132 Column
Centronics Parallel
Bi-directional
Upper & lower case
True Descenders
9x9 Dot Matrix
Condensed and
Enlarged Characters
@ interfaces and
Ribbons available
MX80T £339 - vat
MX80F/T £389 - vat
Delivery is added at cost
ee
MICROLINE 80
® 80 cps Uni-directional @ Small size: 342 (W) x 254(D) x
108 (H} mm. @ 160 Characters, 96 ASCII and 64 graphics @3
Character sizes: 40. 80 of 132 chars/line ®@ Friction
and Pin Feed @Low noise: 65 dB @Low weight: 6.5 kg
A eo O29 HOD ON ONE RD fad nn es ew bee
@ 4 Mhz Z-80CPU @ Dynamic RAM @ 2K ROM @ BASIC
is provided @ High Resolution Graphics @ 9°° High Focus
Green Display ® Upper and Lower Case @ 80/40
Characters x 25 line display @ Electro Magnetic Cassette
Deck included @ ASC11 Keyboard @® Numeric Keypad @
Sound Output @ Built-in Clock and Music
Available Soon-Discs. Printers and other Accessories.
COMPUKIT UKi01
# 6502 based sysiem best value tor money on the
market. # Powertul 8K Basic Fastest around # Full
Qwerty Keyboard # 1K RAM Expandable to 8K on board
# Power supply and RF Modulator on board. # No Extras
needed Plug-in and go # Kansas City Tape Interface on
board. * Free Sampler Tape including powerful
Dissassembier and Monitor with each Kit # If you want to
learn about Micros, but didn't know which machine
to buy then this .s the machine for you
KIT ONLY £99.95.+ vat
Fully Assembled £149 + VAT
PLUS £4.60
Post &
Packing
WE ARE NOW STOCKING THE
APPLE Il AT REDUCED PRICES
AUTOSTART
EURO PLUS
Eo 48K
£649
+ VAT
Getting Started APPLE II 1s faster, smaller, and more
powerful than its predecessors And it's more fun to use tog
because of built »n features like
@ BASIC The Language that Makes Programming Fun
@ High-Resolution Graphics tin a 54,000 Point Array! for
Finely-Detailed Displays @ Sound Capability that Brings
Programs to Life. @® Hand Controls tor Games and Other
Human-Input Applications. @ Internal Memory Capacity of
48K Bytes of RAM, 12K Bytes of ROM: for Big-System Per
formance in a Small Package @€ight Accessory Expansion
Slots to let the System Grow With Your Needs
You don't need to be an expert to enjoy APPLE Il. tis a
complete, ready-to-run computer. Jus! connect it to a video
display and start using programs (or writing your own) the
first day You'll find that its tutorial manuals help you make it
you! own personal problem solver
Ideal for small businesses, schools, colleges, homes, etc
Suitable for the experienced. inexperienced, hobbyist,
teacher, etc
GENIE |
Erte tn ni inet Tre eee
ont
¢219
.NAT
NOW INCLUDED: Sound, Upper and lower case, Extended
BASIC and Machine Code enabling the Writing and
Execution of Machine Codes Programming direct from
Keyboard
16K RAM. 12K Microsoft BASIC
Extensive Software Range
Self-Contained PSU UHF Modulator Cassette. External
Cassette Interface. Simply plugs into TV or Monitor
Complete and Ready to Go. Display is 6 lines by 32 or 64
Characters Switchable. 3 Mannuals included, Users Guide,
Beginners Programming and BASIC Reference Mannual
BASIC Program Tape Supplied. Pixel Graphics
£299 - vat
The NEW GENIE! an ideal Business Machine. 13K
Microsoft BASIC in ROM. 71 Keyboard. Numeric Keypad.
Upper & Lower Case. Standard Flashing Cursor. Cassette
Interface 16K RAM Expanded externally to 48K
GENIE | & 1) EXPANSION UNIT
WITH 32K RAM ~— £199 «var
PARALLEL PRINTER INTERFACE CARD
£35.00 + VAT
TEAC FD-SOA has 40 tracks giving 125K Bytes
unformatted single density capacity
The FD-50A can be used in double density recording
mode.
The FD-SOA ts Shugart SA400 interface compatible
Directly compatible with Tandy TRS80 expansion
interface
Also interfaces with Video Genie, SWTP, TRS80
North Star Honzon, Superbrain, Nascom. etc, etc
Address selection for Daisy chaining up to 4 Oisks
Disks plus power supply housed in an attractive grey
case
40 TRACK
Single eA
Disk Drive £225 MoU
77 TRACK
Single
Disk Drve £299 + vat
Double
Disk Drive £389 + Ves
Double
Disk Drive £499 BAT
Please make cheques and postal orders payable to COMPSHOP LTD., or phone your order
quoting BARCLAYCARD, ACCESS, DINERS CLUB o: AMERICAN EXPRESS number
r
=~;
[=e A =,
Red 4 =
owe ee SS
“Europes Largest Discount
Personal Computer Stores"
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
14 Station Road, New Barnet, Hertfordshire, ENS 1QW (Close to New Barnet BR Station — Moorgate Line).
Telephone: 01-441 2922 (Sales) 01-449 6596 Telex: 298755 TELCOM G
OPEN (BARNET) — 10am - 7pm — Monday to Saturday
311 Edgware Road, London W2. Telephone: 01-262 0387
OPEN (LONDON) — 10am - €pm — Monday to Saturday
WE IRELAND: 19 Herbert Street, Dublin 2. Telephone Dublin 604165
CREDIT FACILITIES ARRANGED
send S.A.E. for application form
TELEPHONE SALES
OPEN 24 hrs. 7 days a week
01-449 6596
@ Circle No. 275
191
Buy our
*
LAID
Electronic Typewriter
and you havea
Daisy Wheel Printer
for your computer
absolutely FREE
The T/Printer 35 is a superb portable type-
writer that also doubles as a computer printer. It’s the
first electronic typewriter that’s truly portable (it
weighs only 17 pounds and is supplied with an ABS
carrying case) and has all the features you'd expect of an
electronic office typewriter. Except price.
Features include self-correction, dual function
100 character keyboard, triple pitch (10, 12 and 15
characters per inch), up to 12 in. wide paper—all with
excellent print quality. And with Olivetti reliability.
Best of all, when you're finished using it as a
typewriter, it’s all set to go to work as a word processing
quality computer output printer.
That makes the T/Printer 35 about the most
versatile and cost effective piece of equipment you can
buy. You get all the advantages of having a daisy wheel
printer and electronic typewriter in a compact unit. And
at one low price of £475* including carrying case.
*The T/Printer 35 costs £475 with Centronics compatible parallel interface.
With RS-232C interface it costs £535. Prices listed are exclusive of VAT.
Datarite Terminals Ltd
Caldare House
144-146 High Road
Chadwell Heath, Essex RM6 6NT
Tel: 01-590 1155
92
Buy our
£475"
Daisy Wheel Printer
for your computer
and you have an
Electronic Typewriter
absolutely FREE
i
The T/Printer 35 is the lightest weight and
lowest cost daisy wheel printer you can buy for your
computer. So it will fit within your budget and you can
carry it wherever you take your micro. Yet it is tough
enough to give years of reliable service. Interchange-
able typefaces (standard Olivetti 100 character daisy
wheels), variable pitch, multiple copies—all the features
you would expect of more expensive word processing
printers.
Yet the T/Printer 35 costs only £475 with
parallel interface. Operating speed under computer
control is approximately 120 words per minute of letter
perfect output. What typist can equal that?
Then when youre finished using it as a
computer printer, the T/Printer 35 is ready to go right
on working as an electronic typewriter.
That’s the dual-purpose T/Printer 35—the
versatile computer printer that fits your budget.
Orders are shipped within the UK carriage-free.
To order or for more information about the T/Pnnter 35:
Datarite Terminals Ltd
Caldare House
144-146 High Road
Chadwell Heath, Essex RM6 6NT
Tel: 01-590 1155
@Circle No. 276
FANTASTIC OFFERS
VIBES =P YER
Would you like to touch-type effortlessly at 95 words
per minute?
Is typing slowing your speed of programming?
Would you like your secretary to be quicker
and more accurate?
“Video Typer” is very easy to use.
Learn fast, yet at your own pace. There are many
features including:
Automatic speed rating in w.p.m.
Automatic accuracy rating (as a percentage).
Special typing, lines.
Simultaneous graphic display as the keys are pressed.
It has built in to it the latest speed learning
techniques to help you develop >your typing. skills
to their highest level.
Contains a series of step-by-step lessons which
progress in line with your accuracy and speed.
It is designed by experts to help you and your office
staff learn to touch-type fast.
Please specify Screen Control Codes, (44k required).
A C/PM programme from Western Digit&l Systems.
£49.50.
Buy any two of these programmes from Western Digital Systems and
get one free.
ENCIPHER-DECIPHER
A worthwhile investment for anyone concerned with data
security. You issue a short ore line command to make your
File totally different. There are hundreds of millions
of 8 character passwords for you to invent at will.
Within seconds the file has been written back in place on
disc but now is completely changed.
Using the wrong password to decipher the file can only
make matters worse.
Strings of
encipher files.
Enciphered files can be transmitted by Modem
or Data courier.
Disc editors, DDT and disassemblers reveal nothing.
A programne from Western Digital Systems £49.50.
passwords can be used to further
DISC-MASTER
DIRECTORY DATABASE
You can find in seconds any file or group of files
according to name, type, disc title, or disc number.
Searches can be according to CP/M wild cards (?in place
of a letter; * in place of word or part).
You choose a disc title and number. The disc's directory
tracks are automatically read by the programme into a
master data base,
Updates are automatic. It removes from the data base
files no longer appearing in. the disc's directory and
inserts the new ones.
The information can go to the screen or printer.
AC/PM programme from Western Digital Systems
Dise doctor by Supersoft Associates. £49.99
Dealer enquiries welcome.
A programme to Recover Crashed Discs automatically.
Does not require knowledge of CP/M File structure.
Other C/PM software: Menu driven and virtually automatic.
The Word by Oasis Corporation, £49.50 Specify CP/M formats
Rated No.1 spelling corrector by Byte magazine: Price may increase in line with falls in the pound. Other
A spelling proofreader and computer dictionary (32K required) U.S.A. programmes also available at special prices.
With all orders please state computer model and disc format
Orders with payment (state computer model & disc format) >>DEALER ENQUIRIES WELCOME<<
SYSTEMISE LTO.,36 TRINITY ARd.,London SWl7 7RE TEL 01-672 1132
@Circle No. 277
WORLD CUP 82
ZX81 SOFTWARE (16K)
This programme will simulate the 1982
World Cup action. Set each teams perform-
ance rating and kick off.
Other programmes included
ENGLISH LEAGUE * PREMIER LEAGUE * WORLD
LEAGUE * ANGLO/SCOTTISH LEAGUE
® set your own weighting
@ league positions on request
® relegation/promotion
Menu —
STYLAFONT DAISYWHEEL PRINTER
only £549
EPSON MX80 FT /2 £375 VISICALC 3-3
@ 10 year history
£9 FA
APPLE 48K £599 TRANSTEC MONITOR £99 COP * SER I Ee Cur senegencer
2:DISK DRIVES AND
PASCAL £225 @ set your own weighting
CONTROLLER £599 80 COL CARD + KEYBOARD ;
2.80 CARD + CP/M £120 SHIFT : @ last 10 years history
WORD STAR £145 ZARDAX
UNLIKE MOST GAMES SOFTWARE, THIS PACKAGE WILL
HOLD YOUR INTEREST.
SEND £5.50
Complete word processing
Package including the Stylafont
only £1999:
GLENROTHES COMPUTER SERVICES
81, ARDROSS PLACE,
GLENROTHES,
FIFE KYS 2SQ.
Drop in for a byte at:
THE BROMLEY COMPUTER SHOP
49 Beckenham Lane
Shortlands
Bromley, Kent
01-460-2580
01-464-0541
@Circle No. 278 @Circle No. 279
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982 Nos
Castle Electronics
Service -at Supermarket Prices!
~ | COLOUR
COMPUTER
@Graphics character set @Plug-in programme/memory cartridges la
@Golour @Sound @Proqrammabie function keys @5K memory
expandable to 32K @Standard PETBASIC @Full-size typewriter
keybuard @Low-priced peripherals @Joystick/paddles/lightpen 189-95
@Self teachiny materials @Cassette Deck now available £44.95 NC.
BRITISH DESIGNED
Acorn Atom PERSONAL COMPUTER
8K ROM + 2K RAM kit £140.00 4K Floating Point ROM £ 23.00
8K ROM + 2K RAM Ass £174.50 Colour Encoder f 21,85
12K ROM + 12K RAM kit £255.00 Mains Power Supply £ 9.20
12K ROM + 12K RAM Ass £289.50
COMPUTERS
TANGERINE mee i
e
microtan gone
Microtan 65 Kit £79.35 ARE FULLY FROM £345.00
ALL PERSONAL
COMPUTER ENQUIRIES
HASTINGS
(0424)
fg lool: slaalaladoalagier ol
Microtan 65 Built .£90.85 Plus All A ie
Tanex Min, Config. Kit ...£49.45 oe a i
20 way Keypad -£11.50 v Model 400 16K £345.00
PTANTEL PRESTEL ADAPTER GUNFIDENCE eek ee
€199.00 ALL PRICES Cassete : £ 50.00
7 : Disk Drive £345.00
; Aa We hold a complete stock of ali the irk
-— Tangerine equipment. Send SAE or INCLUDE VAT ae opener —
Phone for details.
COMMODORE (38!) @&appie
16K PET £550.00 A .
32K PET feo900 Sa heir—
Dual Disk Drive ...... £699.00 ZX8i BUILT-IN SOUND—
Printer £454.25 FOR HIGH RES. GRAPHICS
External Cassette . £ 44.95 IMMEDIATE Apple i Plus 48K ........£790.00
DESPATCH Disk Drive + Controller £383.00
£69.99 D.D. without Cntrller £303.00.
Pascal Card ......... £264.00
CASSETTE SOFTWARE: Strathclyde Basic Course, Eurocolour Card ...£73.00
Complete range of PET
equipment in Stock
Basic Basic Course, Invaders, Treasure Trove of Games Hitachi 9"" Monitor £146.00
ic Maths, Algeb ? ae .
aoeoincsens os atistical Packs and lots more! We Stock Alt the Goodies for Apple!
ALL PRICES INCLUDE VAT : ACCESS & BARCLAYCARD WELCOME
ORDERS NORMALLY DESPATCHED DAY OF RECEIPT
South East Computers
MicroComputers for Business
£43 Package B
from Only £17 Package A fom Ci ALTOS MULTI-USER
ook ” HARD DISK SYSTEM
per OFFICE AOC EM p 1 x ALTOS 8000/10 Computer with
1 x CBM 8096 Computer bat nan Disk
1 x CBM 8050 Dual Disk Drive 208K byte Memory (4 users)
1 x CBM 8023 Matrix Printer ao viel en ea
2x TV!I912C VDU's
1 x OK! Microline 83A Printer
SEC BUSINESS SYSTEMS SUPPLY A WIDE RANGE OF EASY-TO-OPERATE SYSTEMS AND PRO-
GRAMMES TO MEET ALL OF TODAYS BUSINESS NEEDS + FULL RANGE OF COMPUTER FOR ALL
RELATED PRODUCTS + LEASING AGREEMENTS + FULL AFTER SALES SERVICE BUSINESS
y ie 7 ENQUIRIES:
he Complete Computer Une, Re Roving o
jas tings
IS CASTLE STREET, HASTINGS, EAST SUSSEX TNS4 SDY oepxpca “26844
@ Circle No. 280
Connecting cables, plus Silicon Software
194 PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
Two Ss
about the new
Transtec BC2
The Transtec BC 2 is a brand new business computer with a
64K capacity and double sided double density disk drives —
500K per drive. It features a 12” non glare green screen and is
-. Gos
housed in a beautifully styled cabinet with separate matching ‘ handie tres en t
keyboard. And for under £2,000, you'll find it’s designed to make you, § Transte C range of Re eXCiting never’
not break you. Find out more about the full range of Transtec | “uPPorting software > COMputers
business computers by clipping the coupon and sending it to your :
nearest Transtec office.
I'd like to know all about Transtec. |
| Name
Company
| Address — iS a | 0 0 i PICO
| — —— | 13A Small Street, Bristol W.1. Tel: 0272-277462
=— = OS irre ere eee eae eee rc 35 Lisburn Road, Belfast. Tel: 24009
IDA Complex, 22 Macken Street, Dublin 2.
Tel: 713049/715954 @Circle No. 281
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982 195
Avon Computer Rentals
FREEPOST1 THORNBURY BRISTOL BS12 1BR
@ Circle No. 282
LOOKING FOR 5%
AVALON HILL
MICROCOMPUTER GAMES
No less than 10 thrilling, action packed games on cassette, suitable
for use with Pet, TRS 80 and Apple computers. And our latest
titles include programs for the Atari.
TANKTICS
A unique game which uses a
board and counters as well.
The computer moderates
combat and movement and
keeps records letting you plan
your strategy in this classic
tank vs tank battle.
£15.95 + £1.60 p&p
Also available in-this series:
** MIDWAY CAMPAIGN £10.95 t PLANET MINERS £10.95
* B-1 NUCLEAR tt LORD OF KARMA £12.95
BOMBER £10.95# EMPIRE OF THE
* NORTH ATLANTIC OVERMIND
CONVOY RAIDER £10.95°* CONFLICT 2500 £10.95
*° NUKEWAR £10.95 * ACQUIRE £12.95
* 16k all machines
t 16k TRS 80, Apple, PET: 24k Atari t? 48k TRS 80; 32k Apple, PET:
“* 16k TRS 80, Apple, PET: 32k # a Ae. eoaUe tarsi
a. tari;
All games on cassette only not available reer
When ordering by mail, please add £1.60 postage & packing per
game. Please send cheque/PO’s to: AVALON HILL GAMES,
650 High Road, North Finchley, London N12 ONL, Dept” ”
LOOK OUT FOR MORE NEW MICROCOMPUTER GAMES IN
1982. Trade enquiries welcome,
£18.95
@ Circle No. 283
A
WINCHESTERS ?
We ook jock what youre lodking for...
Our new Micro Winchester gives you from 5 to
20 M.bytes of hard disc storage from as little
as £1425,00 for a complete ready-to-go, plug-in
system with software.
Our new drives pack enough data to run
serious business or technical applications
software into a mini-floppy size 5%" unit and
your data is protected in the sealed enclosure.
‘Controllerbility’
Our controller comes with a range of adaptors
to plug on to most popular micros. Real time
and multi- ‘tasking applications benefit trom
the controller's interrupt capabllity and macro
tevel command structure and the OEM version
features a simple software interface and CP/M
2.2 BIOS with extensive development aids. The
software comes on either 5'4" or & diskettes
together with Boot PROMs.
HAL Computers Limited
Invincible Road, Farnborough
Hants.GUI47QU
Telephone O252 51717!
196
Service and Support
!f you are impressed with the
specifications so far, there is more to
come. Our packaged sub-systems are
assembled in-house and they calry a
full one year parts and labour warranty. Out
controllers are built completely from TTL Jogic —
there are no fancy chips — so we can fix them if
they ever break down. Dozens of floppy disc drives
go through our workshops every month and we are
well known within the industry both for our
training courses and our heavy investment in
computer based disc test equipment. If your
Winchester ever stops working you can depend
on us fo fix it:
=
HEATH H89,
TRS-80.
@ Circle No. 284
PRACTICAL COMPUTING: April 1982
SEIKOSHA GP-80
The Smallest 80 Column Dot
Matrix Printer.
Unique printer principle. 80 col
lines. 30 cps. 12 cpl. Plain Paper
Tractor drive. Weight 2.5 kg.
Footprint 12.6 sq. ins. Bit
addressable graphics. Parallel
interface standard. RS 232 Apple
Pet TRS 80 options
EPSON MX SERIES
ee Low Noise, Low Price-
High Performance Printer
Six models. 80 cps. Bi-directional
Parallel interface. RS232 Pet Apple
TRS 80 Video Genie Sharp
options. Letter quality. Lower case
descenders. Condensed enlarged
and bold characters. Models
provide tractor roll and sheet feed -
MX-80 £353 __ bit image graphics - up to 15 ins
MX-80 F/T £399 = P9Per MX-82 £447
MX-80 II £399 MX 80F/T-II £447 MX-100 £569
ANADEX DP-9000 RANGE
Fast, Versatile Printers.
Seven models. Up to 15 inch paper
Foe ‘
r width. Lower case descenders.
» 160-220 cps bi-directional printing.
RS232 current loop & parallel
j interface. X on X off. Optional 2K
{ a \
ae ‘
‘uc = buffer. Multiple print densities.
Fast print of high-density bit
image graphics.
DP-8000 £541
DP-9000L £747 DP-9001 £888
DP-9000 £841
DP-9500 £935
DP-9500L £841 DP-9501 £982
LEAR SIEGLER 310
Professional Dot Matrix
Printer.
High throughput. 180 cps. Bi-
direction. Fast head travel. Space
skip over. Lower case descenders.
Enlarged and bold fonts. Parallel
RS232 and current loop interfaces.
X on X off. Condensed character
option. Sound reducing option.
£1386
e@ Authorised distributor
®@ Rapid delivery
® Dealer educational & quantity discounts
®@ Prices exclude VAT
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
OKI MICROLINE 80 & 82A
Compact 80 Column Printer.
80-120 cps. Uni direction ML 82A bi-
direction). Parallel interface. Serial
interface option. (ML 82A standard).
Pin and friction feed. Tractor
option. Condensed and expanded
characters. 80, 40, 66 and 132 cpl..
ML 80 £299
ML 82A £437
OKI MICROLINE 83A
Medium Speed 15’ Printer.
120 cps. Bi-direction. Pin and
friction feed. Tractor option. 132 cpl
at 10 cpi. 4 character sizes. Graphic
characters. Parallel and serial
a
interface. Fast serial interface
TEC STARWRITER
Best-Buy Daisy Wheel Printer.
Bi-direction. 25 cps. Low cost
supphes. Standard Daisy Wheel.
Carbon and fabric ribbons. Parallel
or RS232 interface. Sheet feeder
options.
Parallel Interface £1020
Serial Interface £1067
RIVA TERMINALS LTD.
New Head Office: Woking Business:Park
Albert Drive, Woking, Surrey GU21 5JY
Tel: Woking (04862) 71001 Telex: 859502
Northern Office: Tel: Harrogate (0423) 503867
@ Circle No. 285 |
197
ATTENTION
ZX81 Owners!
The April issue of Your Computer is full of good things:
® How to write your own adventure game for the ZX81
® Review of the growing range of ZX81 boards and control ports
® How to adapt the ZX81 to use Atari joysticks
Also in this issue:
@ Expanding your VIC20. Tim Hartnell! looks at peripherals and add-ons
® BBC graphics. A further look at the colour and graphics facilities of the BBC micro.
All this, PLUS our regular features and pages of program
listings and games for YOUR micro.
Why not place a regular order to avoid disappointment?
Or take out a subscription by completing the coupon.
{ To: Marketing Department, Room 316, Name
iPC Electriesl EfectronicPresm, © © 9) | NAMEN +b. ee -e eevee re eee eeeteme eee eeeeee renee Besceneeg
| Quadrant House, The Quadrant, Chea @ {ae a. rr *
Sutton, Surrey SM2 5AS
| Pleaseisendime FZissuesiof YOUrGOMPULEL, «cise cece eee ee cope e He HEE eB e ee oo cI8T is + 0 Sietere ete
ljenclose cheque/PO for £8 UK/£14 Overseas,
( Payable tOlRGBUSINeSSIPRESSIEt, 9 aininte ois wiois vide nie o ME Rp ses WE eee es os ea sees
IMPROVE YOUR PETTING TECHNIQUE!
WITH PROGRAMMING THE PETICBM by RAY WEST
NEW and COMPREHENSIVE — the only book dealing with all aspects of Commodore’s PET and CBM 2000, 3000, 4000 and 8000 ranges of
microcomputers and peripherals. Contents include this and much more.
INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW. Plan of the book; sources of information and help; features and chronology of CBM hardware.
BASIC AND HOW IT WORKS. Storage of BASIC and its variables; pointers, syntax; modifying and optimising BASIC.
PROGRAM AND SYSTEM DESIGN. What the equipment can do; charts, structured design, algorithms; estimating size, timing.
EFFECTIVE PROGRAMMING IN BASIC. Subroutines, DATA, Data handling, crashproof INPUT, rounding, sorting, etc.
ae REFERENCE TO BASIC KEYBOARDS. Full descriptions, examples, notes for all keywords, plus DEL, DLD, PDP, PRINT USING,
etc.
DISK DRIVES. Description;'six FILE types; CBM disk handling; direct access; machine-code; reliability; bugs.
ALPHABETIC REFERENCE TO DISK BASIC. All BASIC 4 disk commands with syntax, examples, and notes.
OTHER PERIPHERALS AND HARDWARE. Cassettes; tape handling; storage; ROM routines; printers; modern; keyboard; reset switches.
GRAPHICS AND SOUND. Tables of characters; graphics; CRT chip; 6502 animation, bar plots, 80 by 50 etc; user-port sound.
10 TRANSITION TO MACHINE CODE. Introduction to 6502; a BASIC monitor; MLM, Supermon, and Extramon; easy examples.
11 MORE 6502 MACHINE-CODE. 6502 addressing, PC, SP, etc; seventeen typical problems; debugging.
12 ALPHABETIC REFERENCE TO 6502 OPCODES. Examples, notes, full details on all opcodes, ADU to 1YA. ;
13 USING ROM ROUTINES. IRQ, NMI, RESET; BASIC and the kernel; modifications — LIST, PRINT USING, TRACE; relocating loaders.
14 EFFECTIVE 6502 PROGRAMMING. BASIC CURGET and wedges; assemblers; examples; PIAs, VIA, IEEE; common mistakes.
15 INDEX TO BASIC ROMS AND RAM. Memory map; the first four pages; comparisons and detailed explanations of BASICs 1, 2, and 4.
16 MATHEMATICAL PROGRAMMING. Accuracy; equations; statistics; simulation; finance; matrices; how ROM routines work, etc.
17 BUSINESS AND EDUCATION. Examples, applications, cautions; menus, users, input; packages; documentation; education.
( tgidiaaa 6502 reference charts; tables; SUPERMON listings; pseudo-opcodes; ASCil glossary
INDEX.
CaArNnA MaAWN=
Many programs, diagrams, and charts.
Paperback, 504 pages, 19 x 26 x 2} cm. CUT OUT OR COPY THIS COUPON, OR WRITE TO:
ISBN 0 95076500 7 I ever LIMITED, PO BOX 438, HAMPSTEAD, LONDON NW3 1BH. |
U.K. and Europe Price £14.90* (includes ! Sendhaes:. - 7 copy/ies of ‘Programming the PET/CBM’ by Ray West. I
p&p) | Cheque/postal order value ........ is enclosed. (£14.90 each). |
LEVEL LIMITED, PO Box 438, ! | a |
Hampstead, London | eee Ree en ee ee nh er ari. Ci Cerne Urarm ny |
NW3 1BH. CN ee eee cee SF Be |
*5 or more £13.99 each (RMN Serica. 2 sores. Sega a AE Scrcesescate 8 Re gar |
| PC4 \
@Circle No. 286
198 PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
TTLs 74192 74LS197
CONNECTOR SYSTEMS
COMPUTER COMPONENTS .
74 SERIES Oe eee oe JUMPER LEADS CPUs ; MEMORIES INTERFACE ICs | CRYSTALS
7400 lip 74195 ae 7418241 80 24” cable with DIP header 1602CE 750p | D101A 400p | AD558C!I = 775p | 32 768KHz 100p
in ‘tp | 24196 60p | 74L8242 B0p 14pin 16pin 24 pin 40pin | 56594 "€12] 2102 2L =: 120p | ADS61J £14] 100KHz 300p
ee 120 | Jaio7 gop. | 74L8243 80p Single 1145p 165p 240p 380p | E502 450p| 21078 500p | AM25S10 350p| 200KHz 370p
by e 74198 100p | 74LS244 65p Double = 210p 230p 345p 540p | Eso2a 650p | 2111A 3000 AM26LS31 160p!10MHz 320p
370p | 2112A AM26LS32 190p} 1 0083MHz 350
7405 fee eee eres) ee ae 24” cable with sockets ose] soon |2114 2. Sop | DaceO £20 | 1 8432MHz 250p
Lge 25P | 74559 150p | 74LS253 40p : 20pin 26pin 34 pin 40 pif | Egg £10 | 2147 450p |DM8131 375p| 200MHz 250p
LAF 25P | 74278 1580p | 74LS257 45p Single 160p 210p 270p 340p | Egn9e £15 | 40273 300p | 0P8304 450p! 2 4570MHz 250p
ee tap 74279 B0p | 74LS258 40p Double = 290p 385p 490p 540p | go35 760p | 4044 45 + 700p | DS8832. © 250p | 3276MHz 150p
5 P | 74283 75p | 74LS259 90p 24” cable with 25 way D. Conn 8039 850p | 4116 15 90p | DS8B33 = 225p | 3. 5795MHz 100;
7410 12p
7441 20p |, 74284 200p | 74LS260 24p Male 500p Female 540p 8080A 350p | 4116 20 75p | LF13002 450p | 3 686MHz 300p
De 505 | 74285 ©. 200p | 74LS266 25p B085A 550p/41183 500p|MC1488 65p 4 00MHz 1150p
7413 5p | 74290 200p | 7418273 70p INS8060 = £11] 4118 4 450p | MC1489 -«65p._ 4 194MHz =250p
OM aa 74293 1100p | 74LS279 45p TMS9980 =: £20 | 4164 2 650p | MC3418 9950p’ 4 43MHz 125p
oe 35m | 74298 100p | 74LS280 250p 280 370p | 5101, bop | MCB Sa GOO Miz” tae
74365 40p | 74LS283 45p | 4038 —«- 120 Z80A 450p | 6116P 650p P Zz Pp
Lea: 2p 74366 40p | 74LS298 160p 4040 60p IDC CONNECTORS 280B £16} 651445 400p|MC3485 500p;6144MHz 150p
7421 205 74367 40p | 74LS299 400p | 4041 70p | No. of ways 8088 £19 | 6810 200p | MC4024 =. 325p_ | 7 OMHz 150p
7422 225 ; 74368 55p | 74LS323 250p | 4042 55p 10 20 36 34 40 7489 210p | MC4044. 3325p: 7 168MHz 200p
ying 32, | 74390 1006 | 74LS324 180p | 4043 60p | Header apne 74$189 9325p |MM58174° £12) B OOMHz = 175p
P| 74393 100p | 74LS348 150p | 4oaa 70p 90p £1.5 £2.00 £2.44 £2.70 748201 350p ) ULN2003A 100p|886MHz 175p
7425 27P | 744 120p | 7418365 32 Sock DEVICES 74$289 325p | ULN2004A 100p| 1000MHz 175p
7426 30p Ee P Di geeP! esdas5 120p |) Socket 3242 B00p| °°~* 75017 10 7MHz 250
74LS367 32p | 4046 80p 90p £1.7 £2.00 £2.40 £2.70 501 160p z Pp
7427 25P | 74LS SERIES | 7415368 50p | 4047 75p | Edge Conn eae 450P | ROM & PROM | 75110 160p| 12MHz_—350p
7428 28p | 74LS00 = 11p P Biecs ; 5522 500p|74S188 =. 325p | 75140 160p| 143168MHz 150
aie isp | patsor 12p | 74tS373 BOP | 4048 55p £2.00 £2.50 £3.20 £3.80 £5.60 | 2255 75p| 748087 308m | 70112 Ee ia telat od
7492 25p | 74LS02 1p ie mer Nace a 6551 700p| 748288 2268p | 7e115 iop | 18 OOMHz 200p
7433 270) || mausoaill \2pulaneaccumen ences 30p 6821 180p | 74387 -325p. | 75150P + 140p | 18432 250p
7437 27 | 7aso4 12 | FaL8378 Gop | anse bop 328 £10] 745471 650p | 75154 © 140p | 19 968MHz 390p
7438 27p | 74LS05 15 Ip | 4052 80p 6847 £10|74$473 850p MH:
P | 74LS390 55p | 4053 60p EURO CONNECTORS 75182 220p | 20 00OMHz 175p
780) 17P | 74LS08 14p | 74rS393 60) 6850 180p| 745474 ~~ 650p | 75304 325p | 26 690MHz 300p
7441 rls || ees UES | Sie S py ee eds Plug Socket | 6852 370p| 74S570 650 | 75361 150p| 27 145MHz 250p
7442A 6p | 741810 15p | Sacsaee sob | 4085 — 125P | DINa1612 2x32way £3.00 £3.50 | 6875 600p| 745571 650p | Ja3e3, 150p | 38 667MHz 350p
7445 60p | 741511 15p | 7arSsaq 4956 | acce «OP | angled 2x32way = £3.50 £4.40 | 8154 950p | 745573 950P | 75365 160p| 48 0MHz 300p
74468 93 | 741512 150 | 7aLSsa1 135p.| 4060 gop | *RTIed SxS2way £4.00 — | 8155 B00P | EPROM 758512 72p| 555MHz —400p
7447A 45p | 74L813 25 | Jar Seao aan 060 SOP | (for 2x32way specify a+b or 8205 320P | Tropa 8 764534 72p| 116000MHz 350p
7450 17p | 74LS14 40p | 7acse41 2000 ‘on 4 atc) 212 180p | 3702 300 754912 70p
7451 17p | 74LS15 —- 30p | 74L S642 200p | 4067 400p | p 3 6 821 180p 2716 215p | 8126/28 120p | KEYBOARD
7453 17p | 74LS20 -15p | 741S643 200p | 4068 18p 1N41617 31 way £2.00 £2.00 | 8224 250p 2564 £38 | 8795/96 90p| ENCODER
ie ae vareee 15P | 74LS645 250p | 4070 16p 8243 450p 2532 450p 81LS96 140p QPP
mee aeoll reco 15P | 74LS668 200p | 4071 16p 8250 B50p| 2732 450p | 81LS97 120p| crt
| 74LS27— 18P | 74LS669 200p | 4072 16p MIN. D CONNECTORS 2716-300 £5|81LS98 = 140p| CONTROLLER
7473 30p | 74/28 18p | 74L¢670 IN. D CONN 8251 350p 602 22
170p | 4073 16p | No. of $4 2732-300 £7.50 | 9! Op} COM5037. «£18
aA 20p | 74LS30 14p 4075 ek [ge I Gd a |e BONE 9637AP 160p| SFFg3634 £8
7478 3op | Tatas 1ep | TASSERIES | 4075 G0p- MALE 8257 Bod | GENERATORS | SNGZ2E 8 350P| Tusoee7 cis
7480 sop | 741837 16p | 74800 60p_| 4077 26P | Solder 95p 135p 200p 280p | 8259 800p} COMB116 £8 | FNav7EB B500| Cod® £10
7483A 5p | 7aLs38 16p | 74802 SOP | 4078 20P | angled 1860p 230p 265p 425p | 8279 950p| MC14411 £7] Suaoge B® 6005| 0822 £10
7485 60p | 741S42 40p eal 4 ices 16 TMS9918 £60] are P| 9365 £60
7486 = -22p | 74L847 40p | S4c08 = 8 | 4086 «= 72p FeMAre ZB0PIO — 350P | ay 3 1015P 300p DIL SWITCHES
7489 = 210p | 74LS51 -15p . solder 125p 190p 245p 375p | Z80APIO 400p E Ai an
7490A 25p | 741855 30p | 54810 80P | 4089 = *150P | angled —«175p 240p 310p 500p |Z80CTC —350p| AY 5 101SP 350p ay p
P | 74511 60p | 4093 40p ZB0ACTC 400p| 'M6402 4450p 6 Way 105p
ome he | ace ae ‘op | 4094 150p | Hood = 125p 125p 125p 126p P|TR1602 _ 300p | DISC CONTROL | 9 way —120p
74928 30p | 74LS74 16p | 74820 BOP | A agp | (Top or Side Entry) ZB0ADART 8600p) [1602 | S00R YO m71 £201 sows 1500
749GA —30p | 741875 zap | 71882 = SOP | tose ZB0ADMA £12 Paes ea y
7494 40p | 74LS76 20p 2805101 £20) CHAR.GEN TEXTOOL
74837 90p | 4097 340p HAR.GEN. FD1793 £32
7A95A 50 | 741883 45P | 74837 Bop | 4098 90p RO-3-2513 FD1795 —-£35| ZIF SOCKETS
P | 74LS85 55P |: 74574 90p | 4099 90p MODULATORS |} UC 750p | FD1797 £37} 24 Pin 600p
Ei 120p | 74LS86 = 16p 74585 300p | 40102 150p EDGE CONNECTORS 6MHz UHF 375p} LC 700p 40 Pin £11
ae a8 ates oe 74586 180p | 40103 180p 0.1" 0.156" |8MHzUHF 450p| 74S 262 £10 28 pin 850p
74109 «308 | 7 “tees 355 | 748112 90p | 40105 120p | 2x18 way 150p
74116 Op | 741895 45p | 748113 SOP ae tale wey 335 170p | LOW PROFILE DIL SOCKETS BY | wiRE WRAP SOCKETS BY TEXAS
74118 75p | 74LS96_ 100 ao | B8pin 25p 18 pin 50p 24 pin
74119 90m | 7aLS107 455 | 748124 300p | 4501 28p | 2x25 way 350p 200P |a pin 9p 18 pin 16p 24 pin 24p| ,SPIN 25P 18 pin 50p 2A pin ee
745132 160p | 4502 70p | 1x43 way 260p -_ ; : ‘ p! pao Beacie Pp
74120 70p | 74LS109 30p A 14 pin 10p 20 pin 18p 28 pin 26p) 16 pin 40p 22 pin 65p 40 pin 100p
74121 27 | 748112 34p | FaSyag azep | asoe 750. | TIT way Joop — | "PIN 11p 2Zpin 22p 40 pin 30p
Tate al Tacerie dee meV ee lame aa] Sooner id Create SOUND EFFECTS on your
45157 250p | 45 p reate n
ales 40m | ratSi28 Sop | 748162 300 | 4508 200p 2X 80/81
74132 30p | 74LS124 120p | 542175 Sa0h | 4611 sop 5 with the USER PORT
Tae 32p tee ace cole 350p moa é5p Full range AUDIO OUTPUT direct to speaker will simultaneously drive
ae aa eae wee 745189 350p | 4514 150p VOLTAGE REGULATORS RELAY & SPEAKER and allow 6 other control Guinin and simultaneous
Fite “RE | esas de | sue Se Seis Hae] PREECE | ao rey Oa it te PO ie
74147 = =100p | 74LS136 30p roe 00 la aes 75 | 4A ne NO =e 80781 AND THE ONLY one, allowed DIRECT SPEAKER & RELAY DRIVE.
74148 © 75p | 74LS138 34p | 548001 BOOP | Ae08 70 | SY 7805 0p 7008 SEP | PRice kit £11.50 Built £14.95 + 70p p&p.
74150 60p | 74LS139 36 | 54854; oop | 4521 1150p | 12¥, 7812 S0p 7912 55P | Reprint PCW articles with lots of applications £1.00 + large SAE.
74151A 45p | 74LS145 75p | 748560 70p | 4526 75p i3y Ae: ae pate ea
74153 45p | 74L8147 160p | 54856, 3005 | 4 Pp O)
ip 527 90p 4
raise | ENE OB |Zeseee Om | Seay 8 | Ei icoma Tabteate Retasee * ACORN ATOM +
74155 50p P | 548087 350p | 4532 90p Basic 8K + 2K Kit £120 Built £135
74156 _50p | 74LS153 40p | 748 4534 J 2VAlCOm Am Cones Opi tencop Fully expanded 12K + 12K + VIA £188
74159 100p | 74LS154 90p eee “ene Pieces ae 15V100mA 78L15 30p 79L15 70p yeeea oep EESTI)
74160 60p | 74LS155 40p | 346574 400 PSU 1.8A £8.00 3A 5V £22 (p&p £1.25
p | 4538 1120p . U 1.8A £8, 5V £22 (p&p £1.25)
ee Bag Chale 350 748471 6509 4539 120p OTHER REGULATORS Send SAE for detailed list
P ip
rates Sop | 7asteo op | 74957) 900p | 4569 2900 | TSI Saee TEHOSKC $500 * UK101 &— INTERFACING SYSTEM *
74165 55p | 74LS161 40p e 4556 450 LM312T 200p 78MGT2C 140p | A 2 board system connects to computer exp. skt to provide wide ranging
74166 70p | 74LS162 40p | 4000 CMOS 4560-1805 | LM337T —-225p 7BGUIC —.200p | facilities accessible from BASIC or MACHINE CODE.
74170 140p | 74LS163 40p | 4000 15p | 4566 1805 LM323K 500p 79GUIC 225p | 1. DECODING MODULE. Provides 5v dual supply, 16 bit prog. 1/0 port.
74173 65p | 74LS164 45p | 4001 14p | 456g 3000 LM723 37p 79HGKC = 700p | Extensive decoding for various interfaces incl. PSG. kit. £27.50
74174 60p | 74LS165 100p | 4002 15p | as69 ¥06 TLag94 400p TL497 300p | 2, ANALOGUE BOARD: Provides D/A Converter, 8ch. multiplexed A/D
74175 60p ence 90p | 4006 65p | 4583 90p 78S40 300p LM305AH 250p | converter. PSG+VIA provide complex timing and counting functions and
74176 50p | 74LS170 90p | 4007 18p | 45g4 50p 16 bit port. Kit £39.95
74177 + 70p | 74LS173_70p | 4008 60p | 4sa5 100
74178 100p | 748174 6p | 4009 30p | acota "gop #& MEMORY EXPANSION PCB *
ee 50p LS1 50p 4010 30p 40085 120p A FE : a.
182A 130p | 74LS181 140p | 4011 14p | 40097 90p Low price versatile system for ATOM, UK101. Various combinations
74182A 90p | 74LS190 50p | 4012 20p provide 8K RAM + up to 16K EPROM or 16K RAM. PCB £11.50 (Incl.
741844 90p | 74LS191 50p | 4013 35p aac eS * SPECIAL OFFER * interfacing data)
74185 120p | 74LS192 50p | 4014 60 1-24 25-99
74186 500p | 7418193 60p | aois _—6op_| 4028 118 | 2174L-200 90p | 85p * SOFTY Il x
74188 325p | 74LS194 40p | 4016 30p | 14500 700p 4116-200 76p 70p | Software/Hardware development tool for programming, debugging, verify-
74190 —-50p | 74LS195 50p | 4017 45p | 14599 —-290p | 2716 210p © 200p | ing and burning in most +5v EPROMS.
74191 50p | 74LS196 60p | 4ois 60p 2532 450p 425p Complete with PSU £169 + £1.50 p&p
TECHNOMATIC LTD
MAIL ORDERS TO: 17 BURNLEY ROAD, LONDON NW10 1E0
SHOPS AT: 17 BURNLEY ROAD, LONDON NW10
(Tel: 01-452 1500, 01-450 6597. Telex: 922800)
305, EDGWARE ROAD, LONDON W2 Tel: 01-723 0233
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
SEND
DETAILED
PLEASE ADD 40p P&P & 15% VAT (Export no VAT)
SAE FOR Government, C
olleges, etc. ORDERS WELCOME
price List BARCLAY & ACCESS CARDS ACCEPTED
STOCK ITEMS ARE NORMALLY BY RETURN OF POST
@ Circle No. 287
199
COMPUTECH for @apple
Authorised dealer, service centre and
system consultancy
SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS!
As authorised dealer and service centre for Apple computers we have acquired extensive experience
of users’ needs and the most cost effective means of satisfying them from the considerable resources
of this popular and reliable machine. Over 1,000 of our financial accounting packages have been
installed. In the process we have have detected areas of special need and opportunities for enhancing
these resources. Our own manufactured hardware and system software have been produced to meet
these requirements. As a result we have compatible products for all configurations of Apple || and
ITT 2020 installations - and the new Apple /// !
Apple /// now on demonstration - systems from £1,645
Pro-File 5 MB mass storage for Apple /// £2,256
Computech mass storage for Apple Il and Apple ///, up to 12 MB, from £1,950
COMPUTECH SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE INCLUDES:
Payroll for 350 employees, 100 departments, all pay periods, printed payslips, approved year end
documents, very quick and easy to use, £375. Sales, Purchases and General Ledgers £295 each,
detailed statements. Job Costing and Group Consolidation are amongst many and various applications
of the General Ledger package, which supports values to totals of one thousand million accurate to a
penny! Our Utilities Disk available like other packages in 13 sector or 16 sector format, is widely used for
reliable, error checking, copying, including single drive, and the renowned DPATCH program beloved of
programmers for £20. We have developed a Terminal Utilities package which enables Apple to Apple
and Apple to mainframe communications with local processing and storage as well as Apple to host
communications from the amazingly low price of £130. Our Graphics Utilities program for use with the
Microline and Epson families of printers enable the plain paper production on low cost printers of high
resolution screen pictures, graphs etc. - free with Microlines or £30 separately. Keyboard Driver enables
the use of our Lower Case adaptor with BASIC programs and Applewriter Patches supplied FREE
with our Character generator package (total cost £50) is separately available on disk with documents for
£10. At the same price CAI (convert Apple pictures for !TT) makes binary high resolution picture files
display properly on the ITT 2020. We sell the famous Visicalc for‘£111 and have delivered systems using
it to do amazing things like production control, shipping accounts and stocks and shares valuations! The
versatile Applewriter word-processing package at only £39, especially employed with our Lower Case
Character Generator is widely used by people who cannot type to produce word-perfect copy! Experience
with Apple systems has led to the design and manufacture of compatible products with enhanced features
at very favourable prices to satisfy users’ needs. These include the Diplomat Serial Interface which Fas
handshaking capability and switchable options (£80), the Diplomat Parallel Interface which enables the
direct use of text and graphics with the Microline and Epson printers and is a complete ‘plug in and go’
item with gold-plated edge-connector at £80 and has optional direct connection for Centronics 730/737
printers. Our new Diplomat Communications Card at £95 is a sophisticated peripheral especially suitable
for Apple to mainframe communications at high speeds in full duplex mode with switch selectable bit
rates and other options. The Lower Case adaptor is available for Apples (revision 7 and earlier) as well as
ITT 2020, complete with diskette software for £50. It offers true descenders on screen and the £ sign. We
also have an Optional Character Generator for the ever popular Microline M80 at £15. This provides
f sign and improved digits and lower case characters with USASCIl special symbols. Our price for the
Microline M890, with graphics, 40, 80 and 132 characters per line, friction, sprocket and teleprinter feed,
is only £295, amazing for this small, quiet reliable ‘look alike’ printer. Tractor option is £40 and Serial
Adaptor £80. The Microline M82, bidirectional printer with both parallel and serial input is only £345, it
can have an optional 2K buffer, while the Microline M83 full width adjustable tractor 120 cps printer with
similar specification is only £595. Then for all computer users there is the unique Micromux which from
£800 provides up to 16 ports for simultaneous independent serial asynchronous communications! Telephone
for data sheets or to arrange a demonstration or for the address of our nearest dealer. Please hurry - the
demand for our products has been such that some have been temporarily out of stock. We offer the
effective low cost solutions you need. Prices exclude V.A.T., carriage and packing.
COMPUTECH SYSTEMS
168, Finchley Road, London NW3 GHP. Tel: 01-794 O2&02
AGENTS THROUGHOUT THE UK ANDI OVE RSE AS
@ Circle No. 288
200 PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
Ba/AIN-WAVES
nv MicroMeds Ltd.
53 ACTON ROAD, LONG EATON, NOTTINGHAM NG10 1FR
e Telephone (06076) 64264
erlios Upgrade to Intertec DOS 3.2
and much more.besides
The improved SuperBrain™ DOS The 2BEST s improved SuperBrair™ DOS
SuperBios 1.7
SOURCE LISTING AVAILABLE
Upgrade for existing SuperBios owners = £20
io) MULTIPLE CHARACTER SETS
6) er ( BLOCK GRAPHICS $190 plus vat
Dim, Reverse, Underline
INCLUDES SuperBios, WordStar patchfile, and demonstration programs in source-code
Prices exclude VAT and carriage
SuperBrain TM of Intertec Data Systems
ee | No. 289
SUPER aS]
PAYROLL
TOTALLY INTEGRATED MSL ACCOUNTS SYSTEM
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE & SUPPORT
FOR QUOTATIONS OR FURTHER DETAILS CONTACT
EASTFERN LIMITED
19 ALEXANDRA PARADE WESTON-SUPER-MARE AVON TEL: 0934-418346
@ Circle No. 290
PRACTICAL COMPUTING -April 1982 201
202
“THE MAGNIFICENT FIVE!”
£150.00
ZARDAX
£79.95
MAGIC WINDOW
o
=
£175.00
WORDSTAR
—eEEE
SBD SOFTWARE (Dept. W1PC)
A wonderful writing tool has at last
appeared on the market. ZARDAX can
be used with a 40 of 80 columns on your
Apple ff. Enter your text in free-form,
then anter your format commands and
watch as ZARDAX either prints (or
Videoprints, to the screen) your copy.
Powertul and versatile, yet easy to use
Finally the first professional spetting
verification programme is evailable for
. THE APPLE SPELLER
interfaces to all Apple word-processors
that write e standard Apple binary or
text file to a diskette. There is 8 30,000+
word dictionary with space to add
another 8,000 words. Proofreading lor
spelling mistakes ix no longer a
problem
Arevalutionary concept in Apple word
processing. No modifications are
needed to your standard Apple Il
system. MAGIC WINDOW formats the
text as you enter it. You can type up to 80
characters per tine and see your fetter
of report exactly the way it will be
printed. Look into our MAGIC WINDOW
and experience @ wonderland in word
Processing
itis now simple to get mass mailing
capability with nal touch. The
“document’ is created with any word
processor which can generate a
Standard Apple {i text file. The ‘data file’
{names etc.) can also data base as long
as it is again an Apple DOS 3.3 text file.
BASIC MAILER merges them together.
For CPM systems WORDSTAR is the
finest, most versatile word processing
software on the market today.
'WORDSTAR is the word processing
software behind your computer, and it
can easily produce quality results
You'll save time and money.
15 Jocelyn Road, Richmond TW9 2TJ. Telephone 01-948 0461 Telex 22861
All prices are plus VAT, postage & packing free
ee ee
Please telephone for a full catalogue, or use the coupon provided.
Dealer enquiries are welcome
Name .
Company
Address
a ee ee ee
@Circle No. 291
Screen handling for
CBASIC programs
Stock urdate
RECORD
PART NUMBER
DESCRIPTION
PRICE
QUANTITY
Microscreens provides professional
forms-style input to CBASIC programs. It
will run on a computer with 48K of store,
CP/M and a VDU with an addressable
cursor. At last the interactive nature of the
Microcomputer can be used with one of
the most popular languages. Dumb ter-
minals can be used in page mode. Full
control of protected fields, highlighting
and cursor controlled editing is provided.
Numbers and dates are validated on
input.
@ Only 7 program fields needed
@ Compact (2 4K) and fast
@ User can ‘draw’ his own formats
@ Automatic configuration supplied
£125 plus VAT. Manual only £6.50. Please
add £1.00 post and packing to each order.
Available on 8” s.d. and North Star
formats
McMILLAN COMPUTING SERVICES
PO BOX 82
READING RG3 5XF
READING 414751
CBASIC is atrade mark of Compiler Systems Ltd. CP/M is a
trade mark of Digital Research Ltd
@ Circle No. 292
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
TCL SOFTWARE
TCL Software i
supplies and su
increasing range of CP/M b i irene :
| ie es ur central London
as producing and supplying notes Br out o a SA ROGAE ple. cl Why ne ell one
ae : not call in and see us
,or
such as TCL Pascal. W
.Wea j senda
re a British company and n SAE plus 50 pence for our latest catalogue
our new software cat | |
: ay which give ipti
Sur new sow Greil Heaere np eels gives a full description of our packages
ee
TE Se somes: OR
cPp/M USER GROUP
See our catalogue for details
FTWARE BUSINESS AND ACCOUNTING
\ TCL SO \ ) PAYROLL ..----- potter £500/£40
_—_—_————" a, = ORDER ENTRY AND
Prices: Software plus Manual/ Manual alone INVOICING .. eee cern _ £350/£40
NAME AND ADDRESS... ---- £250/£40
: STOCK CONTROL «20 £350/£15
LANGUAGES COMMUNICATIONS SALES LEDGER «+. -- 0 £350/£15
TCL DISCBASIC «.---02r00"" _£55/£6 TTY 5 en £180/£1 PURCHASE LEDGER .----+-° £350/£15
CBASIC2 .--.--2erret £75 /£10 ET sexe ee £115 GENERAL LEDGER ...-- “*" (€350/£15
BASIC 80....- te to ae ENS BISYNC - 80 . ce £445/£30 INVOICING «eee eeeret ' £250/£15
BASIC COMPILER «2-000 £195 METTY eae ot -£95/£20 BIMUELOWE . sabel- tate £455/£10
TCLPASCALCP/M «+> £120/£9 BGAN Sec oe £25 TINIEREG oe oe eet meg £350/£1
TCL PASCAL PET..-.--22002 7° £120/£9 TIME RECORDING --.--- 0+ °° £400/£40
tee PROFESSIONAL AND SCIENTIFIC
2 adi £450 SURVEY. ANALYSIS-SNAP . - - £1200/£5
‘mm: 2% T/MAKER ...22- e000 £1557£15
apres eee TAF WWAITER 0. -------- SOB2ESS
er cine" £328 MU SIMP/MU MATH «=> - pp 5¢ £135
a Bele ais son ihe CO Ecc
Bere.» sionals pes a9 aesieoiale = . MICROSTAT ene Bee SS
COMAL ...-
CBBO {compiles to machine code
CBASIC compatible) .----- >>" £250/£25
OPERATING SYSTEMS 3SID
(Gi FD TUSCAN VERSION... .£95/£22
Cosy CP/M ENHANCEMENT £200/£15 : ‘ 2 Beye RS
ELECTRONIC OFFICE . _ ee ema
WORD PROCESSING...-- ae Nee eee
MAILING SYSTEM © ---- > coos WN Sih
WORDSTAR ....-- ce £255/£15 DMR co orrerro easels aa ;
WORDSTAR/ MAILMERGE |, £315/£15 IBM/CPM «2-0. £125
DATASTORE ..----->° | £200/£15 REFORMATTER .------ £125
DATASTAR..-----000000 £195/£25 RATFOR...--5-°°°° .£37.50
DATAFLOW ..--- etl 7 5 eee £100
BMS kis ee £400/£10 QSORT.....--- er pig)
GENERAL DATABASE ..------ Le
DBASE N .se--eceerec £395/£35 PEARL IN) geese £295/£25
NEW! NEW! NEW! NEW!
EXCELLENT NEW CP/M UTILITIES
Examine sections of Use diskspace better
your disks, diagnose COMPRESS .----: £20
and (usually) cure. ARCHIVE ..---- °° £100
DDUMP ....--- + £35 Re-design keyboard
OTEST 0s. £35
DIAGNOSTICS It .. £65 SMARTKEY.. +--+ £45
DISK DOCTOR ...- £65 Simplify your
RESTORE/SPOOL applications software
UNSPOOL/QSUB . £45 SUPERVYZ ..----- £65
NEW! NEW! NEW! NEW!
NEW OFFICE AND NEW APPLICATIONS
LITERARY AIDS WORD PROCESSOR
INDEXER ..-----> £100 plus calculator
DOCUMATE ..---> £45 plus programming
Pol {Ceres £45 functions .-..---° £270
TYPING TUTOR ..- £35 SUPERCALC....- £185
NEW ; ESTATE AGENTS £800
\WWORDPROCESSOR FILEFORCE (Database
WITH VISICALC with many extras) £250
FUNCTIONS ...-- £270 GRAPHICS ...---: £30
AUTHORING (helps
non-programmers to
write computer-aided
OR CARRIAGE learning programs) £30
ALL PRICES EXCLUSIVE OF VAT
DISK FORM
Seiad Babe aecity cet
51/,"’ A2: Research M format for 8” Please specify clearly when orderi
51/,"" A3: Tuscan and achine 51," a el ee el requife tht eal
uperbrai y packa ] lll ks
For other formats Aer vite DOS 3 5¥, ge or just the manual. Please also city the
machine type, the mem i i i
ef see ory size, size of drives, disk
fo mata dan other intormatior ou think cou dbe
: an. ee hd
% A Giviaen of TRANSAM| relevant. Telephone/credit card orders accepted.
f | ake Cc 1eques/ postal orders a able to
if aes
ansa .Vvunt u 1} carriage charge £2.50
59/61 THEOBALD’S ROAD, LONDON WC1
Tel: 01-405 5240/2113
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
@ Circle No. 293
203
SOFTWARE FOR CP/M
HIGH QUALITY SOFTWARE — WITH HIGH QUALITY SERVICE
NEW THE FORMULA £300. Application Builder and Reporter. SPELL STAR £125. Option for
Wordstar. SUPER CALC £165. Spread Sheet financial planning. ,
WORDSTAR - Professional word processing software. On-screen formatting, MICROSOFT FORTRAN COMPILER
Mais Aretliprlusts eerchleta contest, BISEKIeuraeh Monipulotion. Emtornal MIGROSOFT COBOL £310
file read/write. Background printing during editing etc. MAGSAM - Versatile easy to use Keyed File Management System for £130
MAIL—MERGE - Powerful Wordstar enhancement for file merging and £65 Microsoft Basic or CBASIC.
docunientipersonalisetion: CIS . COBOL - ANSI’ 74 implementation to full level 1 standard. Supports £425
DATASTAR Screen orientated system for Data Entry, Retrieval and Updating. £175 random, indexed and sequential files, features for conversational working,
screen control, interactive debugging, program segmentation etc.
SUPERSORT - Sort, merge and selection program. £125
CONFIGURABLE BUSINESS SYSTEM (CBS) - Unique information FORMS.2 - Automatic COBOL code generator for screen formats. £100
management system with user definable files, powerful report generator, menu- £225 PASCAL-Z £265
driven for ease of use. No programming experience necessary!
STRUCTURED BASIC - Relocatab! i £160
ACCOUNTING PACKAGES by Median - Tec: PAYROLL, SALES, PURCHASE, £300 : nae a |
NOMINAL Specially developed by UK software house to exacting specifications. each CBASIC-2 - Extended Disk Basic pseudo compiler and run-time interpreter. £75
Written in Microsoft Basic each package may be customised by end user, all are SELECTOR Iti - C2 - Information management system written in CBASIC-2 £185
widely used. Ledgers are open item. Payroll caters for weekly and monthly pay ‘ : .
PROJECT COST CONTROL/JOB ACCOUNTING - A comprehensive set of SELECTOR IV - Upward compatible version of II with enhanced reporting. £300
Programs to monitor budgets, account for expenditure and project completion £150 BSTAM - Telecomms facility for exchanging files between CP/M computers. £100
etc. Ideally suited for contractors. Written in CBASIC-2. ASCOM - Facility for communicating with other computers. £95
STATISTICS PACKAGE - Over 25 routines including Regression & ANOVA £100
TRANSFER - CP/M to CP/M file exchange - telecomms source code €125
MATHS PACKAGE - Over 40 easily used routines. £100
IBM - CP/M COMPATIBILITY - Powerful utility to transfer data to/from BAC Ooo a Misan oA ssamnles 99
IBM machines in standard disk format. €110 CP/M 2.2 - Standard Version 8°’ Single Density. £99
MICROSOFT BASIC INTERPRETER £155 Please contact us for availability of other products ee
All orders must be PREPAIO. Add £1 per item P & P (Minimum £2.00) and VAT
MICROSOFT BASIC COMPILER £205 CP/M is trade mark of Oigital Research
TELESYSTEMS LTD
PO. Box 12, GREAT MISSENDEN, BUCKS, HP16 9DD
Telephone (02406) 5314
@ Circle No. 294
Combine accurate flight characteristics with the best in animation graphics
and you'll have SubLOGIC’s
T80:FS1 Flight Simulator
forthe TRS:80
SubLOGIC's T80-FS1 is the smooth, realistic Special Features:
simulator that gives you a real-time, 3-D, e 3 frame-per-second flicker free
out-of-the-cockpit view of flight. animation
e Maximum transfer keyboard input
Thanks to fast animation and accurate repre- e Constant feedback cassette loader
sentation of flight, the non-pilot can now learn _
basic flight control, including take-offs and Hardware Requirements:
landings! And experienced pilots will recog- ¢ Radio Shack TRS-80, Level 1 or 2
nize how thoroughly they can explore the © 16K memory
aircraft's characteristics. Nothing else!
7
§ apsges
~ ines
Once you've acquired flight proficiency,
you can engage in the exciting British Ace
3-D Aerial Battle Game included in the
package. Destroy the enemy's fuel depot
while evading enemy fighters.
INCLUDING VAT POST & /\ MICROCOMPUTER
Computer and aviation experts call the PACKING. SEND £1.00 FOR (= = APPLICATIONS
T80-FS1 a marvel of modern technology. DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE OF
You'll simply call it fantastic! 4 MS. 42A CHURCH STREET,
OVER 200 TRS-80 PROGRAMS CAVERSHAM, READING,
feancrcano a a 7s RG4 8AU, ENGLAND.
=m | | TEL: (0734) 470425
204 PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
ITSA
SECRETARY'S
DREAM!’
Yes, Piiceon is the one with the full A4 screen — thats 66
lines of 80 characters displayed in green — so you can
view a full page before you print without-eyestrain. Use it
as a unique stand-alone ‘system or as an intelligent
peripheral of a mini or mainframe. Its got a 16-bit 8086
processor, disc storage and runs CP/M-86 — so soft-
ware is no problem. We're the sole UK agents and can
offer a Piiceon to suit your application, together with full
technical back-up. So if you want the highest perfor-
mance in micros at a very reasonable price — come and
see Piiceon at Pall Mall — you won't be disappointed.
We also have Superbrain, Compustar and ACT Series
1 in stock at very attractive prices, together with a full
range of.supporting peripherals and software. If there is
‘IT'S GOT
AN A4
SCREEN!!’
not a software package available off-the-shelf to suit
your needs — don’t worry — our professionals will write
it for you.
Standard software in stock includes Wordstar,
Mailmerge and Spellstar, BASIC-80, FORTRAN-80,
COBOL-80, ALGOL-80, PASCAL M, CIS COBOL, pius
many application packages.
if you already have a system — ask us about our
service and maintenance schemes — they're the best in
the business.
MICRO NETWORKS
60 PALL MALL LONDON 01-839 3701
@Circle No. 295 205
5MB WINCHESTER APPLE Il
FOR APPLE II and
LOWEST COST/MBYTE FROM ANY SUPPLIER ITT2020 PAY RO L L
SINGLE APPLE CONTROLLER
PASCAL COMPATIBLE “DROP IN” BIOS £30 - 43
LICENSABLE “PROTECTED SOFTWARE” OPERATING SYSTEM
(only available to bona-fide software suppliers) A program with many outstanding features in spite of its low price!
j Example: If you enter net pay — the program will compute gross
DEDICATED APPLE Il pay deductions!
FAST DELIVERY
HEWLETT-PACKARD 9845 Spline: Upwards com-
SUBSYSTEM DOES NOT INCLUDE APPLE ORIVE patible with HP Spline but: four times faster, more accurate, more
“ versatile. Also available For HP85. £43.48 + Tape cost.
me, $l ——
Also: ZX81 + 16K programs to professional standard: full-
featured PAYROLL £21.74. fast, flexible, big (16 to 48K)
STOCK CONTROL PACKAGE £21.74 Critical Path Analysis
£13.04 * Business or Home BUDGET Program £13.04 * LOAN,
VAT, MORTGAGE £6.96 for all three GOLD — a good adven-
ture game with a chance to win'a Memotech £6.96 * RELIABLE
16K RAM Pack £36.52 *Memotech 48K RAM.
Prices include Postage and Packing, but VAT must be added.
Details from and orders to:
HILDERBAY LTD
8/10 PARKWAY, REGENTS PARK
LONDON NW1 7AA
TELEPHONE 01-485 1059 TELEX 22870
@ Circle No. 297
Are your diskette
= et Problems
head
ae = _allin the
| i" is : ry head?
came = A major cause of read
a errors and downtime is the
a ae _/| build up of oxide and
~~ foreign bodies on heads.
But it doesn’t have to be — not even in environments
where diskettes are subject to dust and other airborne
debris.
The simple solution is a Compuclean diskette, which
will keep your heads clean and prevent the cumulative
effects of oxide build-up. It takes just thirty seconds and
costs less than fifteen pence a day.
But our ability to solve your problems doesn't end there.
Find out how much we have to offer now.
Send for our colour catalogue to:
Willis Computer Supplies Ltd., FREEPOST,
PO Box 10, Southmill, Bishops Stortford, Herts.,
CM723 IBR Tel: Bishops Stortford (0279} 506491.
and Service
rae £1450
TO PLACE YOUR ORDER, OR TO MAKE
FURTHER ENQUIRIES, CONTACT:-
symbiotic
computer systems
| oF
| Name |
85/87 STATION ROAD, WEST CROYDON, cattery |
SURREY CRO 2RD es i , :
| WILLIS Supplies = , |
01-680 8606 a for people who know better «|
@Circle No. 296 — CO “@ Circle No. 298
206 PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
J}
GirFAM THE SPECIALISTS IN
man wwe
) a computer systems
> 3100 sy STEMS
MIDAS $100
SYSTEMS
MIDAS 1: From £835
MIDAS 2: From £1,790
MIDAS 3: From £2,450
MIDAS 3HD: From £5,495
ITHACA-DPS 1: From £1,494
@ Our versatile Z80 Microcomputers are available as standard units or custom
configured to your exact specification from a comprehensive range of stocked
$100 boards.
Disc storage capacity of the MIDAS 3 can be 2M Bytes, expandable to over
80M Bytes with a Winchester Hard Disc Unit in our MIDAS 3HD range.
MIDAS runs CP/M and MP/M. Other Software includes M-BASIC, C-BASIC,
FORTRAN, COBOL, CIS-COBOL, PASCAL and Word Processing.
A MIDAS 3D with 64K RAM and 2M Bytes storage on two 8” drives with two
Serial |/O Ports and CP/M only £2,965.
Printers, VDUs and other peripherals stocked to give complete package
system at keen prices.
B OAR R ) Ss We stock over 50 different $100 Boards all from quality manufacturers, such as Godbout,
\ SSM, Micromation, Dual, Ithaca, Vector, S.D. Systems, Morrow, Pickles & Trout, etc.
PROCESSOR
i
Z80 Starter Kit
C 100
8085/88 CPU £190
Z80A CPU 4MHz (4 Types) From £157
8086 (tba)
2716 EPROM (2 x 16K)
2768/27 16/2732 Programmer
VIDEO BOARDS
£95
From £143
Static RAM 16-64K 24 Bit add.
Dynamic RAM 64K 8/16 Bit
Memory Manager
From £175
£683
£60
1/0 BOARDS
He or 4s/2p or 3p/1s ete From £120
D & D/A8 or 12 Bit From £220
(RE 488 interface £360
We are the sole UK Distributor for Integrand
Mainframes and Disc Enclosures, available
in nine models including Desk Top and Rack
Mounting, with or without provision for Disc
Drives. All units totally enclosed, painted on
all external surfaces and complete with
power supply etc.
‘SOFTWARE
CP/M 1 & 2, MP/M, PL/1, C-BASIC 2, M-
BASIC V5, XYBASIC, FORTRAN 80, COBOL
80, CIS-COBOL, PASCAL/Z, PASCAL M/T,
Forth, MAC, ZSID, Disassembler, Wordstar,
Datastar, Magic Wand, Wordmaster,
Supersoft etc etc.
24 x 80 1/0 Drive £240
24 x 80 Memory Mapped £240
DISK CONTROLLERS
Single Density 5” or 8” From £150
Dise 1D/D DMA £282
Double D/D + Serial I/O £336
MISCELLANEOUS
Real Time Clocks (2 Types) From £120
Graphics 256 & 512 x 256 £280
Maths Board AMD 9511
Extender Boards/Logic Probe
Mother Boards 8-20 Way
Prices exclusive of VAT.
a
We are pleased to discuss your requirements and will advise you as to whether your
needs can be met with one of our computers.
All of our systems are specials as they are configured to suit your specification, thus.
ensuring that you get what you want rather than what happens to be available.
Write or phone for a catalogue.
Unit 14, 29 Willow Lane, Mitcham, Surrey
caddie’ 01-640 6931/2/3
———_ — -)
@ Circle No. 299
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
207
‘¢
L & J Computers
192 HONEYPOT LANE, QUEENSBURY, STANMORE, MIDDX HA7 1EE. 01-204 7525
THE “PET” SPECIALISTS
GET THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS!
WE CAN SUPPLY ALL YOUR ‘PET’ NEEDS AT CASH & CARRY
PRICES
£585.00°
4032 40 Col. PET.
8032 80 Col. PET £755.00° 4022 Printer £357.00°
4040: 347K Disk £585.00" 8024 Printer £975.00°
OR WE CAN SUPPLY, INSTALL AND TRAIN YOUR’STAFF AT THE
NORMAL PRICE WITHOUT ANY EXTRAS!!
TRY US!
YOU WILL NOT BE
DISAPPOINTED
8050 IM Byte Disk £755.00°
=
EXT CASSETTE DECKS (INC COUNTER & SOUNDBOX) £657£55*
Printers
CBM 4022 & 8024
Centronic 779
Centronic 737
Spinwriter 5510
CBM 8026 & 8027
NOW IN STOCK! Single floppy disk drive £350°
Disk Drives
CBM 8050
CBM 4040
CBM 3040
Sundries
Interfaces:
Disks:
Paper
Labels:
C12 Cassettes
Library Cases
Dust covers
TOOL KITS (BASIC 2 & 4), SUPERCHIPS. . . AND ALL SORTS OF
OTHER CHIPS ... UPGRADE YOUR PET EVEN MORE!!
THE “MUPETs” AREHERE!
3TO 8 PETs ONLY NEED 1 DISK DRIVE. .
Daily demonstrations: Ring:for details.
* PRICES DO NOT.INCLUDE VAT
PERSONAL SHOPPERS WELCOME
Phone & Mail Orders accepted.
{rolt & tractor feed) |
ALL GOODS SENT SAME DAY WHEREVER POSSIBLE
LARGE S.
SOFTWARE
As well as a full range of Petsoft and Commodore Software, we
have some highly reliable “Home-Brewed’’ programs available.
STOCK CONTROL & INVOICING £60
(Handles up to 500 items — 32K) (180 on 16K). Stock depleted on
invoicing, search etc. Cassette, disk (& print option).
3000 item; 4040/8050
CASH BOOK
Enter daily/weekly amounts — printout and totals, weekly/monthly
analysis, totals and balances.
4032 & 8032 versions
STOCK TAKING for the licensing trade
OUTSIDE SERVICES (For Mini-Cabs etc.)
Sae for free software booklet
VISICALC “OZZ” ‘Commodore Business Programs
COMPSOFT DMSV Bristol Trader, Item & Monitor
ANAGRAM LEDGERS Superpay Word Processing.
COME AND
SEE THE NEW
FULLY WORKING AND OPERATIONAL
ASK US ABOUT ALL THE ADD-ON-GOODIES
THAT GO WITH THE VIC ...!
=F
@ Circle No. 300
£110 & £120
£240
£220
at £189
{inc VAT)
A.E. FOR-LISTS ETC.
ICRO-8'
TRS-80 and VIDEO GENIE.
LOOK AT the programs you get FREE when you subscribe .. .
% Level | in Level ll — Convert your Level Ii TRS-80 to operate as a Level | machine. Opens a whole
new library of software for your use.
multiple ORG programs.
edit memory, punch system tapes etc.
cord.
programs each month ready to load on cassette.
£16.00 L) (magazine only) or £43.60 UO (magazine
on application.
BLOCK CAPITALS PLEASE
Address
208
UK Subscription Dept.
24 Woodhill Park Pembury Tunbridge Wells Kent TN2 4NW
GET THIS free software offer when you subscribe to MICRO-80 — The specialist magazine for
* Copier — Copies Level Il System tapes, irrespective of where they load in memory. Copes with
* Z80 MON — A low memory, machine language monitor which enables you to insert OP codes,
* Improved Household Accounts — Powerful enough to be used by a small business.
* 80 Composer — A music generating program which enables you to play music via your cassette
% Plus Two Games — Poker and Cube (a version of the Rubiks cube for Disk users)
and don’t forget MICRO-80 is now available in monthly cassette edition as well — ail the published
Please enrol me for an annual subscription and send me my FREE cassette program. | enclose
(enclose your cheque/P.O. made payable to MICRO-80 and send to the above address)
Software offer, and cassette edition prices applies to U.K. residents only. Overseas subscription rates
and cassette edition).
@ Circle No. 301
PRACTICAL COMPUTING Aprli 1982
“Yet another ‘advanced $100 board from Hi-tech Electronics, SAM ~~ High technology means lower
(Simply Add Memory) is a full 64 K byte memory board with bank _ prices: Hi-tech Electronics new
select, designed to IEEE specifications. Features include: switchable | SAM memory costs just:
reset in or out of bank — bottom 16K bytes optionally in all banks —
upper 48 K bytes in selectable bank — 8K block disable switch — top £199
8 K block with 1 K disable — fast 64 K D RAMS for 4 MHz operation + VAT
with on-board refresh.
To order your SAM now, phone or
write to:
HITECH ELECTRONICS
54 HIGH ROAD, SWAYTHLING, SOUTHAMPTON $02 2JF
A Grand Metropolitan’ Electronics Company TEL 0703 581555 TELEX NO. 47388 HTEL
®@ Circle No. 302
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982 209
MP) Microware (London) Ltd:. 5 Western Court, Huntly Drive, London N3 INX Tel: 01-346 8452
.—} <i, — .
F " a, : aii
« ‘ - + ’ ei i
rm - a . i. J : y p wi
* = * J ea) 7 , 3
7 ?
-_—
: y
— a wy 4 > a r '
x “4 \ "oe Oa) es ; | a ry : wat. .
¥ “ v : *, ve
MEMOREX FLOPP
w FOR END USERS = =DISKS
eo sreses, £1.59
yates, £4.99
g' ik, £2.39
g' mite’, £3.45
fullrange &
of 53” and 8” \
models available
104 1D £3.25
104 2D £3.75 dy
Soft Sectored full range
10 Sector available an
16 Sector
In stock
Dust Covers for Micro’s &
Printers & VDUs from £6.95
Floppy Saver Kits from £7.95
Indexing Systems from £1.50
see ae ee
@Circle No. 303
WHY YOU NEED THE INSPECTOR.
f you're serious about programming, you need read and alter files, locate strings in memory or on
to set all your utilities together in one place — disk. The uses are endless. The manual, alone, is an
inside your Apple. The Inspector comes on an education. And it's always there when you need it.
Eprom that simply plugs into the D8 socket, or on
a disk ready to merge with Integer Basic for yy need the most powerful disk and memory
automatic loading on boot. Either way, it stays at utility available for your Apple. You need the
your fingertips, ready to call without disturbing Inspector.
your current program.
ee your local dealer, or order direct for just
he Inspector puts you in total control of both £45.00. Access or Visa accepted. Add
memory and disks. You can search forward £1.50 P & P. VAT excluded.
and backwards, edit, read nibbles,
map disk space, dump the screen
to a printer, examine every secret oe!
of your Apple. Use The Inspector
to repair blown disks, undelete fs
files, input “illegal” commands, Ao || DDP RESEARCH & MARKETING
17 NOBEL SQ., BASILDON
ESSEX Sods) TEE!
TEL: (0268) 728484
Apple is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. |
@ Circle No. 304
210 i PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
BLNCK BOX
MICROCOMPUTER
RAIR
EXPANDABLE HARD DISK SYSTEMS - fast delivery
ASK FOR DEMONSTRATION AT YOUR PREMISES
.
RAIR 3/30 5 Mbyte 64K Microcomputer with 1 Hazeltine Workstation .............. £ 4,280
RAIR 3/30 5 Mbyte 128K Microcomputer with 2 Hazeltine Workstations ............. £ 5,810
RAIR 3/30 5 Mbyte 256K Microcomputer with 3 Hazeltine Workstations ............. £ 7,590
RAIR 10 Mbyte Add on Hard Disk for extra storage ..... 2.2.0.0... eee eee eee eee £ 2,500
Workstations: IBM, Hazeltine, Tektronik etc. . 2.0.0.0... ccc cence ee eee ees POA
Printers: Diablo, Qume, NEC, Oki, Texas, Anadex etc. ... 0.6... foc ccc eee ene POA
Lease Purchase. Rentals available from 3 months.
% Stop Press: ICL now manufacture Rair Black Box under license ®
COMPETITIVE QUOTATIONS FOR SOFTWARE
DESIGNED TO YOUR REQUIREMENTS
Examples below include software designed to your own specifications on Rair Black Box Microcomputers:
Invoicing. Integrated with Stock, Sales & Accounts... from£750 Estate Agents Client Matchup .................5.6. from £550
Stock. Integrated with Invoicing & Accounts........ from £650 Brintersiestimator.. .:. games a csactmen tgs = yd from £950
Sales. Integrated with Invoicing & Accounts........ from £750 Associations/Hirers etc. Member Tracker.......... from £500
Payroll. Integrated with Accounts.................. from £795 Surgeries Patient Controller ...................0055 from £500
Purchases. Integrated with Stock & Accounts...... from £750 Haulageil odds'Sortencat Sem § onc. geen. from £500
Name & Address. Integrated as required........... from £550 Solicitors Bookkeeper ..... 2.2.62... cece cee eee from £850
Accounts. Integrated to Balance Sheet P&L........ from £750 Insurance Brokers Paper Eater. Rentals permonth...from£ 65
MAIL ORDER CP/M SOFTWARE
INCLUDING: Black Box. Comart Communicator. Comart Educator. Cromenco. Excidy Sorceror. Gemini. Nascon. ICL. North Star
Horizon. Rair. Research Machines. Sharp MX. Superbrain. SD Systems. Transam Tuscan. Vector MZ. 8" IBM Format and others.
BYROM SOFTWARE GRAFFCOM INTEGRATED ACCOUNTS SUPERSOFT INC.
BSTAM-Utility to link one microcomputer Payroll £500 DIAGNOSTICS 1
to another also using BSTAM £95 (£6) Sales £450 DIAGNOSTICS 2
BSTMS-Utility to link a micro to a mim oF Purchases £450 TERM
mainframe €95 (£11) Stock £350 TDL SOFTWARE (Technical Design Labs)
COMPILER SYSTEMS General Accounts £400 BUSINESS BASIC
CBASIC v 2.08 €65(€15) Invoicing £350 ZTEL (Text Editing Lang)
CREATIVE COMPUTING Time Recording £400 LINKER
CS-9001 BASIC Games 1 €14 HP/Rental/Lease £400 MIC ROSOFT INC.
CS-9002 BASIC Games 2 14 Name & Address £200 BASIC-80 5.21
CS-9003 ADVENTURE 1.0 £14 GRAFFOX ENGINEERING GRAPHICS BASIC Compiler 5.3
CS-9004 BILINGUAL Onginal Adventure £14 20&3D POA FORTRAN-80 3.43
CS-9005 BASIC Games 3 £14 INFORMATION UNLIMITED COBOL-80 4.01
CS-9006 BASIC Games 4 £14 WHATSIT (Database Management System) £80 /SORT 1.01
PR DALY - INTEGRATED ACCOUNTS KLH SYSTEMS EDIT-80 2.02
Name & Address £200 Spooler for CPM systems v3.0 £70(£6) MACRO-80 3.43
Stock £350 MICROFOCUS MULISP 2.10
Invoicing £200 CIS COBOL version 4.4 £400 (€25) MUMATH 2.10
Sales £350 FORMS 2 v11 £100 (£10) MICROTECH EXPORTS
Purchase £350 MICROLOGY REFORMATTER
General Accounts £500 FTNUMB (FORTRAN-80 RENUMBER CPM—IBM
Payroll £350 & REFORMATTER) £50 (£5) CPM—DEC
Time Reloading £500 PEACHTREE MT MICROSYSTEMS
DIGITAL RESEARCH MAGIC WAND WORO PROCESSOR £185 (£20) PASCAL MT-5.25
MPM 1.1 £195 (€20) PHOENIX SOFTWARE ASSOCIATES (For Z80 only) PASCAL MT-5.25 with SPP
MPM 2.0 £250 (€30) PLINK-Disc to disc link loader €72 (£15) Library Sources
CP/M86 £160 (£27) PASM-Macro Assembler b £72 (£15) Speed Programming Pkge. (Sottbus)
CP/M 2.2 €95(£20) — PEDIT-Line editor with Macros £72 (£15) RAIR
CP/NET £120 (£14) BUG-Very powerful debug €72(€15) Enhances software for Black Box
SID £50 (€ 14) PDEVELOP Package with all the above £193 (€33) MP/M
ZSID €55(£14) PLINK-2 Overlay Link Loader £185 (£15) CP/NET
MAC £60 (£14) MICROPRO INC. BASIC-80
TEK €50(€14) WORD-MASTER 1.7A £75 (€22) BASCOM-80
DESPOOL £55 (£6) TEX-WRITER 2.6 £37 (€17) FORTRAN-80
PL/I £300 (£27) WORDSTAR 3.0 £250 (€38) COBOL-80
BT-80 €140(€20) MAILMERGE 3.0 {requires Wordstan £75 (£10) PL/1-80
TINY-C ASSOCIATES SPELLSTAR 1.0 (requires Wordstan £125 (€10) PASCAL-80
Tiny-C language tor 8080, 8085, 280 systems €55(£39) | WORDSTAR TRAINING MANUAL (£18) MACRO-80
NEW PRODUCTS WORDSTAR CUSTOMIZATION NOTES £50 SUPERSORT
MICROPRO INFOSTAR TBA SUPER-SORT 1.6: Version 1 £125 (€22) MSORT
FOX & GELLER QUICKSCREEN TBA Version 2 £110 (£22) DATASTAR
MICRO AP SELECTOR V TBA DATASTAR V.101 £175 (€25) BSTAM
DIGITAL RESEARCH CB-80 TBA CALCSTAR £150 (£25) BSTMS
WORDSTAR
Prices above are for Software and Manual. Prices In brackets denote Manual only. MERGEPRINT
£45 (£9)
£55 (€9)
€72(€7)
£80
£35
£35
£185
£205
£260
£380
£75
£65
£105
£105
£130
£98 (£17)
£98 (£17)
£150 (£25)
£265 (£50)
£110
£125 (£25)
£250
£150
£175
£225
€275
£425
£325
£225
£100
£150
£100
€225
£100
£125
£275
£100
MAIL ORDER INFORMATION. Due to price fluctuations please phone for current prices, updates. new releasesand Order information.
fa
i!
Payment by Access and Barclaycard welcomed.
NMetcalfs
ALL PRICES SUBJECT TO 15% VAT AND FLUCTUATION.
111 HIGH HOLBORN LONDON WC1
TEL. . 01-534 3095 TELEX 893959
@ Circle No. 305
IRVINE BUSINESS SYSTEMS A
NEW PRODUCTS
1.B.S. now manufacture Industrial quality S100 products in Scotland.
1.B.S. 1903 and 1906. $100 19” Sub Rack System.
These racks were designed originally to the exacting specification of the
Electricity Generating Board for use on nuclear power stations.
= is a 3U high card cage and 8 amp power supply and will take 6 S100
cards.
1906 is a 6U high card cage and 16 amp power supply and will take 12 S100
cards.
*% IEC mains connector, filter, fuse and tap change switch on rear panel.
® Key operated ON/OFF/RESET for maximum security.
*® Heavy duty painted front panel.
*® Carrying handles.
% Supplied assembled complete with Power supply.
(EEE (696) motherboard, card guldes, and cooling fans.
The'6809 centre
Micro-Computer Hardware
FUJITSU MICRO COMPUTER “JUST ARRIVED FROM JAPAN” EX VAT INC VAT
Fujitsu Micro 8 Twin 6809" 64K computer 868.70 999.00
Fujitsu Dual 5” Disc Drive with Adaptor (656 Kb) 1216.52 1399.00
Fujitsu Z-80 Alternative Processor Card 50.00 57.50
APPLE ALTERNATIVE PROCESSOR CARDS
Stellation The Mill 6809" With Disk Editor & Assembler 239.13 275.00
Stellation The Mill 6809’ With Pascal Speed upkit 239.13 275.00
Microsoft Z-80 Softcard, With CP/M and Basic 19130 220.00
SOUTH WEST TECHNICAL PRODUCTS CORP - SS-50c MICRO-COMPUTERS
[HRCA eearasoceddian goon eee GOee eee <cape-ar Cos anc ae . ‘
NERS SAISOG I a ee ae poss 00 SWTPC S/09-64K ore sine ports (2 MHz) 1448.70 1666.00
Ret Pete ep, Se an. os i SWTPC 69/A 8K Computer with 1 port (1 MHz} 634.78 730.00
1.B.S. 64K CMOS Static RAM/PROM Board for $100 ; SWTPC MP-09 6809 Processor board(S-Bug.1MHz) 200.00 230.00
This is a superior quality Ramv/Prom board for the industrial user, the board | SWTPG MP-S2__ Dual Serial Intertace 11000 12650
will accept either H6116-3 (2K x 8) Ram chips or 2716 EProms in any SWTPG MP-L2 Dual Parallel Interface 110.00 126.50
Come : SWIPC 8209 _Intellegent 9" Terminal 860.00 989.00
% S100 |EEE (696) Compatible. * 24 Bit Addressing. SWTPC DMF-2 Qual 8” DS/DD disk drive (2.5 Mb) 2347.83 2700.00
* en be used with any Cre * mal ae at Ga with standard Rams f SWTPC D-5 Dual5” DS/SD disk drive (740 Kb} 1216.52 1399.00
* Wait state generation for Proms. antomable. ’ es wera
% Prom/Ram selectable on 2K boundary. % Low power. Je ce SeMIPUTER - SOLE UK DISTRIBUTOR FOR THIS 8” x 8” PCB
* Prom/Ram can be disabled tc suit popular memory mapped devices. 1 -77-68' '6800' CPU With 256 Bytes Ram & Parallel Port 10.43 12.00
PRICES: MON 1 Software Monitor & 2 Serial Ports 10.43 12.00
BARE BOARD £65.00 MON 2 Rom Monitor with Serial Port 10.43 12.00
hy bled/T . 16K 32K 48K 56K 64K 6809" CPU With 1 K Ram, 2K Rom & 2 Ports 10.43 12.00
ssembled/Tested Cassette 300-2400 Baud Cassette Interiace 5.22 6.00
£179.00 £239.00 £299.00 £329.00 £359.00
Educational and industrial discounts available.
SOFTWARE SALE (whilst stocks fast)
Microsoft Basic 80 ......... Rietcacies
4KRam = 4K Static Ram Board 10.43 12.00
Dynaram 32K Dynamic Ram Board 10.43. 12.00
VDU 40 x 24 Memory mapped VDU Board 10.43 12.00
PIO 2 Paratiel I/O Ports & Timer 10.43 12.00
ROMA 8 x 2708 or 2716 Rom Board (8K-16K) 10.43 12.00
...WAS £175 NOW £149.00
Lb tere eee ae -cser1s-WAS £180 NOW £159.00 — Prog 2708 Eprom Programmer Board 10.43. 12.00
ntroductory offer isk CTRL Hard Sectored Disk Controller Board 10.43 12.00
MicroPro CALC STAR .... weeeesssese.-WAS £175 — NOW £149.00 System manuai—"6800'CPU.MON1&4KRamBoard 4.35 5.00
® Visit our stand at the Thames Valley Business Show, on 23/24/25th March Design notes for other boards (each) 87 1.00
82.
%® Stand H50/51.
*® The Fulcrum Centre.
%® Slough.
Micro-Computer Software
6800° CASSETTE SYSTEMS SOFTWARE
SWTPC CST-012 Disassembler, with move function 10.00 11.50
SWTPC CST-014t Text Editor with source listing 28.00 32.20
SWTPC CST-015t Two Pass Assembler with source jist 28.00 32.20
SWTPC CST-016t Text Processor with source listing 28.00 32.20
SWTPC CST-017t Program Relocator with source list 16.09 18.50
SWTPC CST-003 8K Basic Interpreter V2.3 15.22 17.50
The above prices exclude V.A,T. at 15%
IRVINE BUSINESS SYSTEMS LTD
P.O. Box 5, 10 North Vennel, Bourtreehill, Irvine, Ayrshire KA11 1NE.
Tel; 0294-21888. Telex: 777582 Mark: attn. IBS PC ae ica ee ee as
? TSC ‘6809° Cassette Macro Assembler 60.78 69.90
@Circle No. 306 TSC *6809° Cassette Basic 60.78 69.90
FLEX9 OPERATING SYSTEM SOFTWARE, ON 5” OR8" DISKS
FOR MOST °6809" MACHINES
TSC Flex Configurable -+ Editor & Assembler 120,00 138.00
Tsc TS-003 Sort Merge Package 58.26 67.00
e ave TSC TS-004 Debug Package 58.26 67.00
TSC TS-005 Disk Utilities 46.96 54.00
TSC TS-006 Text Processor 58.26 67.00
TSC TS-009 Editor & Macro Assembler 69.57 80.00
Tsc TS-017 Disk & Memory Diagnostics 52.17 60.00
e ec no og oO TSC TS-007 Basic 52.17 60.00
TSC TS-008 Extended Basic 75.65 87.00
e TSC TS-016 XBasic Pre-Compiter 40.87 47.00
TSC TS-019 Pascal 145.22 167.00
ma e ou r uSl ness Washington RMS. Record Management System 145.22 167.00
| C.S.C Tabula Rasa Spreadsheet Tabulation Program 120.00 138.00
Microware Stylograph Word-Processing System 173.04 199.00
Books (Please add 1.50 p&p per order)
Osbourne 4 & 8-Bit Microprocessor Handbook 13.60 13.60
Osbourne 16-Bit Microprocessor Handbook 13.60 13.60
Practical Micro-Computer Programming with the M6800 16.75 16.75
‘6800’ Assembly Language Programming 11.60 11.60
Scelbi - 6800" Software Gourmet Guide and Cookbook 8.50 8.50
6801, 68701 & 6803’ Micro-Computer Programming & Interfacing 9.95 9.95
‘6809° Assembly Language Programming 1210 12.10
The MC6809 Cookbook 5.60 5.60
‘68000’ Microprocessor Handbook 5.90 §.90
Blank Disks & Cassettes (Please add 1.50 p&pper order)
Accutrack Disk x 10 5” SS/SD Soft Sectored 16.96 * 19.50
Accutrack Disk x10 5" DS/DD Soft Sectored 29.48 33.90
Accutrack Disk x10 8” SS/SD Soft or Hard (32) Sectored 17.83 20.50
Accutrack Disk x 10 8” OS/DD Soft or Hard (32) Sectored 32.17 37.00
Cassettes C-12x10 6minutes per side 4.34 4.99
@ Come and try any of our systems or make use of our mail order service.
@ All prices Include carriage charges within mainland UK, except where stated.
@ All prices are correct at time of going to press and subject to availability.
@ Send for our latest price list and catalogue covering our vast range.
@ Further information is available on ail the products listed, send for details.
@ Store opening hours — 9.30 to 5.30 — Monday to Saturday — Access and Visa.
Stiring Microsystems Limited — The '6809' Hardware and Software Store.
more efficient.
Come to a free seminar at
The LONDON MICRO CENTRE and find out
what a micro processor can do for you.
See what our business programs do — and try them
out yourself.
At our seminar, you can ask any question you like
and get an answer you can understand.
Seminars are held every Wednesday and Saturday
from 10.30 am till noon at
The LONDON MICRO CENTRE
47 Lower Belgrave Street
LONDON SW
Telephone 01-730 8791
Contact us today for further information
Open evenings and weekends.
The LONDON MICRO CENTRE Lid. - An EMG Company
241 Baker Street, London NW1 6XE. Telephone: 01-486 7671.
@ Circle No. 307 @ Circle No. 308
212 PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
CUMANA promise you absolutely reliable
and compatible
FLOPPY DISK DRIVES
40 and 80 TRACK CASED UNITS
Dual Disk Units
2 x 40 Track single sided
Drives
2 x 80 Track single sided
Drives
2 x 80 Track double sided
Drives
Single Disk Units
1 x 40 Track single sided
Drive
1 x 80 Track single sided
Drive
1 x 80 Track double sided
Drive
Disk Drive Cables
2 Drive Cable
4 Drive Cable
£15.00
£25.00
Cumana Ltd., offer you a dependable flow of exceptionally high quality DISK DRIVES from TEAC of Tokyo featuring
high reliability and compatibility. Cumana have an enviable reputation and aim to continue giving you the best service
in the business. These main powered Disk Drive units are designed to interface to a wide range of computers such as
Genie | and Il, SWTP, Heathkit, Superbrain, Nascom, Atom and the BBC Micro.
Write or ‘phone for Data Sheets
Call your nearest dealer for a demonstration:
RADIO SHACK LTD.,
188. Broadhurst Gardens
London NW6
Tel: 01-624-7174
COMPSHOP LTD.,
14, Station Road.
New Barnet. Herts
Tel; 01-441-2922
COMPSHOP LTD..
311, Edgware Road.
London W2.
Tel: 01-262-0387
COMPSHOP LTD.,
19. Herbert Street
Dublin 2.
Tel: 604165
LONDON COMPUTER
CENTRE, 43. Gratton
Way. London W1
Tel: 01-388-5721
NLC.
61. Broad Lane.
London N15.
Tel; 01-808-0377
CROYDON COMPUTER
CENTRE, 29a. Brigstock
Road. Thornton Heath.
Surrey.
Tel: 01-689-1280
CuMANA LTD
P J EQUIPMENT LTD.,
3. Bridge Street
Guildford.
Tel: 0483-504801
R.0.S. ELECTRICAL
LTD., 157-161. Kingston
Road. Portsmouth
Tel; 0705-812478
TANDY HASTINGS
LTD., 48. Queens Road
Hastings
Tel: 0424-43 1849
MICROWARE
COMPUTING
SERVICES, 57. Queen
Charlotte Street. Bnsto!
Tel: 0272-279560
BLANDFORD
COMPUTERS, Higher
Shattsbury Road.
Blandford Forum.
Tel: 0258-53737
TAPE SHOP
32i Viaduct Road
Brighton.
Tel: 0273-609099
PARWESTLTD.,
18. St. Mary Street
Chippenham.
Tel: 0249-2131
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
COMPUTER SHACK
14, Pittville Street
Cheltenham
Tel: 0242-584343
TANDY
GLOUCESTER,
13. Clarence Street.
Gloucester.
Tel: 0452-31323
COMSERVE,
98, Tavistock Street
Bedford.
Tel; 0234-2 16749
CLEARTONE
COMPUTERS, Prince ol
Waies Ind. Estate
Abercarn. Gwent
Tel: 0495-244555
EMPRISE LTD.,
58, East Street
Colchester.
Tel: 0206-865926
MAGNUS MICRO-
COMPUTERS,
139 The Moors.
Kidlington, Oxford
Tel: 08675-6703
CAMBRIDGE
COMPUTER STORE,
1. Emmanuel Street.
Cambridge.
Tel: 0223-65334
1.C. ELECTRONICS,
Flagstones
Stede Quarter.
Biddenden. Kent
Tel: 0580-291816
MICRO CHIP SHOP,
190. Lord Street.
Fleetwood. Lancs.
Tel: 03917-79511
HARDEN MICRO-
SYSTEMS, 28-30, Back
Lord Street. Blackpool
Tel: 0253-27590
AMBASSADOR
BUSINESS COM-
PUTERS LTD.,
Ashley Lane Works.
Shipley. W_ Yorks.
Tel: 0274-595941
Q-TEK SYSTEMS LTD.,
2 Daltry Close. Old
Town. Stevenage. Herts
Tel: 0438-6538!
COMPUTER & CHIPS,
Feddinch Mains House.
St. Andrews. Fife
Scotland
Tel: 0334-72569
35 Walnut Tree Close. Guildford. Surrey, GU1 4UN.
Telephone: (0483) 503121. Telex: 858306
HEWART MICRO-
ELECTRONICS,
95. Blakelow Road.
Macclesfield
Tel: 0625-22030
KARADAWN LTD.,
2 Forest Way.
Great Sankey.
Warrington.
Tel: 0925-572668
PHOTO-ELECTRICS.
459 London Road.
Sheffield.
Tel: 0742 53865
ARC ELECTRONICS,
54 Heron Drive. Sandal.
Nr. Wakefield.
W. Yorks WF2 6SL
Tel: 0924-253145
VICTOR MORRIS
LTD., 340 Argyle
Street. Glasgow
G2 BLY.
Tel: 041-221 8958
COMPRITE LTD.,
Thorite House.
Laisterdyke,
Bradtor
Tel: 0274-663471
GNOMIC LTD.,
46. Middie Street.
Blackhall.
Hartlepool.
Tel: 0783-863871
BRIERS COMPUTER
SERVICES, 1, King
Edward Square.
Middlesbrough
Cleveland.
Tel: 0642-242017
3 LINE COMPUTING
36. Clough Road. Hull.
Tel: 0482-445496
H.C. COMPUTER
SALES LTD., 182.
Earisway. Team Valley
Trading Estate.
Gateshead.
Tel: 0632-874811
EWL COMPUTERS LTD.,
8. Royal Crescent.
Glasgow
Tel Bs 1-332-7642
EVERYMAN
COMPUTING,
14 Edward Street.
Westbury, Wilts.
Tel: 0373-864644
Please add VAT to all prices
Delivery at cost will be
advised at time of order
213
Bien down to a new low price!
For less than the price of some dot matrix
printers, the Smith-Corona TP-1 brings the
benefits of daisywheel printers
within the reach of most micro users.
Now letters, documents, forms,
Invoices, reports, price lists etc.,
can be printed with the quality
that until now was not readily
affordable.
This quiet, reliable machine
will produce 120 wpm.
Sole Distributors:
Old Manor Farm, Ashton-under-Hill,
Evesham, Worcs. Tel (0386) 881962
/ Please send me details of the TP-1
© Simple reliable mechanism
© Serial or Parallel interface
e IEEE option
© Single sheet and fanfold paper
+ VAT
|
|
woes... Vrade/OEM* |
|
LoS CHIP Oe) Gaemoninn s Seyicheacach chiesc a * Delete as necessary A
_ @Circle No. 309
PROTECT YOUR SOFT VVARE INVESTMENT
APPLE’
COPY TT PLUS - re newest ana tastest vit-copier
version 3.0
Apple Copy Il Plus gives you the power to make back-up Copies of nearly all the “protected” software packages currently available Several thousand
Apple users have already recouped their investment many times over with Copy II Plus
RELAX
With the Apple Copy I! Plus tn your top
drawer you can stop worrying about
accidental damage to your valuable
diskettes. The Copy II Plus allows you to
make back-up copies for norma! uSe. so
you can keep your originals safely locked
away ~ away from the dangers of spills
or stray Magnetic fields. or just the wear
and tear of everyday usage
EXTREMELY VERSATILE
Version 3.0 of Copy II Plus is an advanced bit-
copier which can defeat nearly every protec-
tlon system now in use. It will copy most
DOS 3 2 and 3.3 diskettes including
Visicale 3.3, Desk Top Plan. Magic Window.
D8 Master (2.4) Dataplan, the Apple Special
Delivery Software range and many. many
more
UNIQUE
@ Copy I Plus is the on/y bit-copier that
allows you to make back-up copies of itself
for complete peace of mind
@ Copy I! Plus ts the fastest bit-copier by far. It
copies 5 tracks at a ttme and makes acom
plete disk copy 1n only 35 seconds, while
ordinary bit copiers take 5—7 minutes!
FEATURES
@ easy to use Menu
@ comprehensive instructions
@ copy with 1 or 2 drives
@ track-by-track copy program report
®@ copies half-track and irregular track
spacing
@ variable search parameters — for non
standard sync or header nibbles
@ ‘display’ option shows data being copied
@ “examine buffer’ option helps identifica-
tron of protection system used
Access
HOW TO GET YOUR COPY 1! PLUS
Copy II Plus needs 48K DOS 3.3, and at least
One disk drive
Send £45.00 + VAT to
Apple Orchard Lid
7a Church Lane
Loughton
Milton Keynes MK8 OAS
or: Phone 0908 53595 and quote your
Access or Diners Club card to our 24-hour
answerphone
Please allow 7—14 days for delivery — or tell us
to rush if that’s too long
On
ye G
ry %
G a
( =
@ Circle No. 310
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
NCCS
The National Computing Centre
Oxford Road, Manchester M1 7ED
The National Computing Centre, Manchester, and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. are pleased to announce that as from
1st April, 1982, N.C.C. Publications will be marketed and distributed exclusively by Wiley.
N.C.C. publications cover all aspects of computing with particular emphasis on the requirements of the data
processing professional. 24 new titles are planned for 1982 and there is an active backlist of 120 titles. Details on the
forthcoming publications programme can be obtained from Mr. John Wilson, John Wiley & Sons Ltd., Baffins Lane,
Chichester, Sussex PO19 1UD. Tel: (0243) 784531
New titles:
REVIEWING YOUR DATA
TRANSMISSION NETWORK
by P.R.D. Scott, NCC, Manchester
This review is an exercise to ‘know your data network’, in terms
of how users view the system, what is happening on the
network, and how much the network is costing. The need for
careful management of the network is stressed, so that
Operation, expenditure, future enhancement, expansion,
modification, and ultimately replacement of the network are all
properly planned. The aim is to provide a systematic approach
to assessing the quality and cost effectiveness of the
communications element of a computer network.
April 1982
085012 326 7
approx. 160pp
£25.00
PROGRAMMING EMBEDDED
MICROPROCESSORS —
A High-Level Language Solution
by R.L. Foulger, NCC, Manchester
Gives guidance on the use of high-level languages to program
embedded systems — an embedded system being regarded asa
product which contains a microprocessor but which is not itself
a computer. Examines language aspects of special relevance to
embedded applications, enabling engineers and designers of
embedded microprocessor products to make an informed
choice of language from the available options. Languages
considered include PL/M, PLZ, MPL, BASIC, Pascal, CORAL 66,
RTL/2 and FORTH.
April 1982
085012 336 4
approx. 200pp
£15.00
yn, Distributed by
1807(YV) 982, John Wiley & Sons Limited
DATABASE FOR THE SMALL
COMPUTER USER
by R.A. Elbra, NCC, Manchester
This book looks at the options available to a small user, defined
as a business or part of a business with only a limited use for
computer facilities. Following a resume of why a database
would be useful! for such an installation, three alternatives are
examined in turn. These are:— using a minicomputer with a
DBMS, using a shared data machine and participating in a
distributed database (the last being an option available to small
users who form part of a large user). The advantages and
difficulties of each method are given.
April 1982
085012 328 3
approx. 150pp
£12.50
INTRODUCING COMPUTER
SECURITY
by M.B. Wood, Manager, Data Processing Division of N.C.C.
An introductory text for people involved in security of
computer systems. Surveys the principles of security as applied
to modern business and administration systems. Practical
application of these is illustrated in chapters dealing with
physical security, fire, access control, software, communications
and people. The book also offers guidance on computer crime
and abuse. It discusses data security and confidentiality,
especially in relation to privacy legislation.
April 1982
085012 340 2
approx. 160pp
£7.50
Baffins Lane - Chichester - Sussex PO19 1UD - England
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
@Circle No. 311
2NS
Fighting your way through
the silicon jungle?
We carry a comprehensive selection of
microcomputer software, hardware and
peripherals
Apple ] [ Accounting
Apple /// Stock Controf
Sharp 3201, MZ80B Database Management
Superbrain Production Control
Altos Graph Plotting
Millbank System 10 Word Processing
We are to you as Jane was to Tarzan!
Well, perhaps not quite, but please
*phone us for a brochure which explains
exactly how we can help
THE AVERY
COMPUTER COMPANY
13, The Mall
Bar Hill
CAMBRIDGE
Tel. Crafts Hill 80991 (24 hours)
@Circle No. 312
PET EPROM PROGRAMMER
ACORN EPROM PROGRAMMERS
SUITABLE FOR ALL PET OR ACORN COMPUTERS
Only 6” x 4” x 2”
* Pet leee Port Connector and
Cable
* Acorn Expansion Port Connector
and Cable
* Independently Powered
* Mains switch with neon indicator
light, anti surge fuse at rear.
* Zero force insertion socket.
* Indicator light for read and pro-
ramme.
* Switch select for read and pro-
ramme.
* Switch select for 2716/2532
Eproms.
* The programmer can read and
programme 2716 and 2532
Eproms.
And read any 2716/2532 pin com-
patible ROMs, ie, any Pet ROM/
Eproms.
* Software control programme sup-
plied on tape.
* Instantaneous read of Eprom/
ROMs verificatlon of data.
* Total price inc P&P £47.50.
* Remittance with order
2532 compatible EPROMS
£10.50
2716 compatible EPROMS £4.50
Incl P&P
THE
2716/2532
MODEL £46.00
PLEASE ADD
£1.50 P&P
The programmer includes the software
tape for reading/programming the 2716/
2532 Eproms. Plus a FREE programme
for making your Own Pet graphics on a
2716 Eprom.
PET SUPERBOARD 32 Mey
ONLY
INC P&P
* This board can be plugged into
any ROM socket from $9000 to
$FO00,
* You can plug up to 8 ROM/
Eproms into the board in any com-
bination of 2k or 4k, 2716/2532.
* Simply slots onto the expansion
port, no soldering or wires
required.
* Each chip Is programme select-
able at a speed of 3y5.
* You can now have viscal, toolkit,
etc plugged into one socket.
* It is possible to run a 32k m/c
programme from any single ROM
location
* The board plugs onto the expan-
sion port and is compatible with
any other add on board.
* Up to 7 boards could be used
simultaneously giving a maximum
of 224k of on board ROM/Eprom.
* These boards could be used to
have several languages residing
in the Pet permanently.
* Can also be plugged into the
character generator socket to run
8 different character sets.
@ SAE for further details.
COMPUTER INTERFACE DESIGNS
4 Albert Road, Margate, Kent CT9 SAN.
Tel: (0843) 294648.
@ Circle No. 313
SireS
Payroll, Stock control
VAT Reports
P & L Accounts
Even Trial balances and
SuperBrain can work as a word processor
Provide All Tektronix type graphics
and even emulate a Tektronix terminal.
gs Communications to most mainframes and MINIS
a Runs IBM “BISYNC” protocol emulating 3270s or 2780s.
g& Programming languages include PASCAL FORTRAN BASIC COBOL!
@ Disk capacities from 360K to 10M bytes @ Prices from £1,695 plus VAT
m Full range of CP/M software and peripherals
® NEC spinwriters. EPSON printer MICROPRO software
= DEALERS BEST DISCOUNTS
g We also sell CROMEMCO and North Star Hardware. Telephone: 01-840 1926
26 New Broadway, Ealing, London W5 |
ST Commercial => Ltd
Brain Specialists
Simplify all your accounting
Sales, Purchases, Invoicing,
@Circle No. 314
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
THE
3rd LONDON
COMPUTER
FAIR
“Po —_______——_
APRIL 15th 16th & 17th 1982 10am -6pm
(7pm 16th]
Ra saad
Including: Retail Exhibitors - Hobbyists
Club Stands - Seminars - Workshops
Bring and Buy Sale [17th only
aoa) —- :
Admission £1.00
en
POLYTECHNIC OF NORTH LONDON
THEATRE
© Opposite Holloway Rd. tube station ©
max, SPONSORED BY EDUCATIONAL COMPUTING,
COMPUTING TODAY and Or
defier booder
WHY BUY FROM CAMDEN?
-tHE HARDWARE
- tHE SOFTWARE
-tHe BACK-UP
-tHE EXPERIENCE
-tHE KNOWLEDGE
Superbrain
64K QD MODEL
PLUS EPSON MX80FT
PLUS FULLY INTEGRATED
ACCOUNTS PACKAGE
£21 PER WEEK LEASE
OR PURCHASE
* WE SUPPLY
* WE SUPPLY
* WE SUPPLY
* WE SUPPLY
* WE SUPPLY
CAMDEN ELECTRONICS LTD
MAIN DISTRIBUTORS FOR ALL THE LEADING MAKES OF
MICROCOMPUTERS AND PERIPHERALS.
OFF THE SHELF PROGRAMS TO SUIT MOST APPLICATIONS
FROM THE LEADING SOFTWARE HOUSES — WITH PROVEN
RELIABILITY.
FROM OUR OWN ENGINEERING WORKSHOPS WITH FULLY
QUALIFIED TECHNICIANS OR ON-SITE SERVICE — YOUR
CHOICE.
AS ONE OF THE COUNTRY’S LEADING DISTRIBUTORS WITH
PROVEN SALES RECORDS — AND ONE OF THE PIONEERS OF
THE MICROCHIP.
OUR FULLY TRAINED STAFF WILL ADVISE ON YOUR
ee die del TO SUIT YOUR NEEDS AND IMPROVE YOUR
NESS.
Apple lil
128K MODEL
INCLUDES MONITOR
VISICALC I! — SOS
MAIL LIST MANAGER
AND APPLE BUSINESS BASIC
PLUS SILENTYPE PRINTER
Bien \ PLUS ADDITIONAL DISK DRIVE
ee : £24 PER WEEK LEASE
= OR PURCHASE
(SYSTEMS DIVISION)
\
462 COVENTRY ROAD, SMALL HEATH, BIRMINGHAM B10 0UG
ten aah bere
PHONE: 021-771 3636 (10 lines)
TELEX: 335909 (CAMDEN G)
i
@Circle No. 316
For the best PET software...
For Basic IV CBM/PET, 3 functions £59.95 + Vat
with improved "Toolkit" commands
For Basic I PET, adds 25 commands
including Basic IV, in ome 4K rom
For any 32K PET/C8M fpr retrieving
disk data by KEYED Random Access
For any PET/CBM, counts 1-4 roms
in one rom slot, switch selection
For software selection of up to 8
roms, in any two Spacemaker Quads
PRONTO-PET.... Soft/hard reset for 40-colum PETs £9.99 + Vat
SUPERKRAM, REQUEST & KRAM PLUS will be available shortly
COMMAND-O, ....
DISK—O-PRO.... £59.95 + Vat
KRAM.. wwe eeces £86.95 + Vat
SPACEMAKER IV £29.95 +-vat
"USER 1/0 £12.95 + Vat
We are sole UK Distributors for these products, which are available
from your local C3M dealer, ae direct from us by mail or telephone
order. To order by cheque write to: Calco Software, FREEPOST,
Kingston—pon—-Thames, Surrey KT2 7ER (no stamp required). For same-day
Access/Barclaycard service, telephone 01-546-7256. Official orders
accepted from educational, government & local authority establishments
... at the best prices!
£395
£275
£125
£125
£34
£29
WORDPRO IV PLUS
WORDPRO III PLUS
WORDPRO IT PLUS
VISICALC
TOOLKIT Basic IV
TOOLKIT Basic IZ
less' £98.75
less £68.75
less £31.25
less £25.00
less £9.50
less £7.25
£296.25!
£206.25!
£93.75!
£100.00!
£24.50!
£21.75!
RRP
RRP
RRP
The items above are available by mail or telephone order at aur
Special Offer Price when purchased with amy ome of our software
products. This offer is for a LIMITED PERIOD oly. IK - AID 15% VAT.
OVERSEAS airmail postage - add £3.00 (Europe), £5.@ (autside Europe).
Calico Software
Lakeside House - Kingston Hill - Surrey - KT2 7Qf Tel 01-56-7256
@ Circle No. 317
218
ve; systems Itd.
A/D BOARD FOR NASCOM
¢ 8 input channels
e 30 miscrosec conversion
© Over voltage protection © Full flat/interrupt control
e Prototyping area ¢ NASBUS compatible
Price £135 + 15% VAT (post free)
GRAPHICS BOARD FOR NASCOM
e 384(H) x 256(V) high resolution graphics display
® Fully bit mapped © Mixed text and graphics
© Full software control e NASCOM 2 or 4MHz
NASCOM 1
® 8 bit resolution
¢ Sample and hold
* Graphics software supplied
Price £55 + 15% VAT (post free)
EPROM PROGRAMMER
© Programs 3 rail: 2708/2716
Single rail: 2508/2758
2516/2716
2532/2732
e Software supplied for Read/Program/Verify
* Can be used with other machines with 2 parallel ports
Price £63 + 15% (post free)
DUNCAN
e Fast real time interpreter/control language for NASCOM 1 or
2 (please specify)
Price £12 + 15% VAT (post free)
MEMORIES «
e 4116-150ns 95p each + 15% \YAT (min order 8)
© 64K-200ns £10 each + 15% VAT
MONITORS
© BMC 12” green phosphor — 18MHz
Price £175 x 15% VAT (carriage paid)
6 Laleham Avenue, Mill Hill,
London NW7 3HL
Tel: 01-959 0106
@ Circle No. 318
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
Mind your
Language
... It's essential these
days with so much verbiage
around. But, there’s no misunderstandings with
dBASE I — absolutely the last word in High Level Language
for micro systems,
“By using dBASE II on all our new software development we
have cut development time by 90%” — Robin Coles of Dataflow B.V.
dBASE M1 is the most powerful, easiest to use micro database
management system available. It handles information by
relational rather than hierarchical contexts so that users don’t get
bogged down with system syntax. Data bases can be created and
initial data entered in less than a minute. The system can be
programmed so that even untrained personnel can accurately
run even your most complicated applications.
With dBASE I you can extend the power of your micro
computer to jobs that were previously reserved for larger
i es. General ledger, accounts, payroll, stock control, tax
accounting, mailing labels and scheduling are just some of the
tasks dBASE 1 will handle.
The interactive reports, and prompts, are in plain English for
ane licity of use. dBASE If — 8080, or Z80 systems, with
of memory running with CP/M, one or more disk drives
and an 80 column cursor addressable VDU and an optional
printer.
Unlike other systems, you don’t have to change the way you
operate to use dBASE IL Indeed, you'll be amazed just how
quickly you can benefit from dBASE I and you'll wonder how
you managed without it before — at only £435 it’s a must.
If you need further proof then contact: the people who believe in
Quality, Reliability and Support.
ESL Dealers
Applied Micros Ltd, 14 Clifton Road, Heaton Moor, Stockport, Cheshire. 061-431 9390.
Atlantic Microsystems Ltd., 72 Honor Oak Park, London SE23. Tek 01-699 2202.
Bondbest Ltd, 66 Wells Street, London WC1. Tel: 01-580 7249/6702.
Boyd Microsystems Ltd., 59 High Road, Bushey Heath, Herts. Tel: 01-9500303.
The Electronic Office, 33 West Street, Brighton, Sussex. Tcl: 0273 505223.
ISIS Computer Services Ltd., Millwood House, Middle Assendeon, Henley on Thames, Oxford.
Tek 0491277735.
Micro People Ltd., 1 Union Street, Long Eaton, Nottingham NG10 1HH. Tel: 06096 69117.
Encotel Systems Limited,
530-539 Purley Way,
CROYDON, Surrey.
Tel: 01-686 9687/8. Telex: 265605
@Circle No. 319
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
YOUR DATA
LIFELINE
The DATALIFE Series of magnetic media from Verbatim,
incorporates many advanced data shielding benefits.
These ensure a longer, more trouble-free recording, storage and
retrieval life — quite simply Datalife is the best range of media
available today.
And now BFI, the UK’s major distributor of Verbatim products,
has introduced a new service — Called the Datalife Line.
Call us on the Datalife Line and we can offer you fast deliveries,
competitive prices on Verbatim products, excellent back-up
and technical advice on flexible disks, mini diskettes, data
cartridges, digital cassettes, alignment disks, XE diskg and
Datalife head cleaning kits.
. > * r eg ™
f~ AL I lor patsy A fn
CCA I = iF Th
VALL oe OLOUCST TE Le
LI N
E NOW:
BF Electronics Ltd.,
516 Walton Road,
West Molesey,
Scottish Distributor:
Computer Supplies Co.,
8/18 Union Street, Bo'ness, Surrey. KT8 0QF
West Lothian, Scotland. Tel: 01-941 4066
Tel; 050-682-3393 Telex: 261395
@ Circle No. 320
219
SOS Missile Command... .Multihead Destructors destroyed
city... SOS Missile Command... Cluster Mines sighted.
SOS Missile Command. Plasma Projectile assault... SOS
Missile Command...Satellite Bombs in range...SOS Missile
Command...Megon Annihilator destroyed further. city...SOS
SCORE 1e24d
Together, Mike Chalk and Kansas
bring you not just another Arcade game
... an EXPERIENCE !
YOU command the ground-to-air missiles to save the cities from
total Alien destruction, progressing to TEN levels of difficulty from
not-to-easy to bloody impossible! Multiple displays with five types
of Aliens and Satellite Bomber. Infinite missile ‘sight’ control.
Based on the Arcade game of the same name, this is easily the finest
computer game of its kind available today. It demands quick responses
and no small amount of skill to overcome the Aliens even at the lower
levels of play. As the game proceeds, so does the risk of total ahillation.
giving at last, a very, very competitive game indeed, and one which
will satisfy even the very skilled gamesman.
Available only from Kansas—£9.50
Programs for the TRS-80 and Video Genie. All prices are Vat paid and post free. Same-day first
class return post service. All software in stock and fully guaranteed as we are the actual
nsas publishers. Free catalogue upon request. ACCESS & BARCLAYCARD WELCOME
SS —EEE—EESE——————E— SS
Kansas City Systems, Unit 3, Sutton Springs Wood, Chesterfield, S44 5XF. Tel. 0246 850357
THE REVOLUTIONARY TWOSOME.
SDM Computer Services are major distributors of the Intertec Superbrain
micro computer. This machine has established itself as the micro for the
serious business user ... it is not an upgraded hobby system.
Running, as it does, under the CP/M operating system, there is a wealth of
readily avallable commercial software and SDM have their own tried and
tested suite of packages covering:
Invoicing @ Stock @ Sales ledger @
Purchase & Nominal ledgers @ Payroll
All models are available from double density through the 1.5MB system to
the (shortly to be announced) Superbrain W6 which includes a 5MB
Winchester.
Full software and engineering support when you buy from SDM.
MPI-88G ~— everything you need
SUPERBRAIN — built for commerce
This printer has more standard facilities than any other at a similar price:
— RS232 serial and Centronics type parallel,
> Es 1K byte buffer
p cate — Upper and lower case 96 character ASCIl set,
| 4 100 cps maximum
' — 10, 12, 16.5 cpi and correspondence font
F — High resolution graphics {vertical 72 dots/inch,
horizontal 82 dots/inch)
— 6 or 8 lines per inch paper feed
— Full forms control
All the above list and others are standard at no additional cost.
Whether it is for your Superbrain business system or any other computer
with RS232 or Centronics interfaces you cannot find a better printer.
Supplled ex stock for the amazing price of £475 plus VAT and P & P
S.D.M. COMPUTER SERVICES
BROADWAY, BEBINGTON, WIRRAL,
MERSEYSIDE L63 5ND. Tel: 051-608 9365.
@ Circle No.:321
220 PRACTICAL COMPUTING Apnil 1982
SUPEXBRAIN W6
5 Megabytes
of Winchester Disk Storage with
Data Error Recovery
by MicroMeds Ltd. for icaRuS
Error correcting hardware protects your data
Fast seek times implemented by controller
Up to 6 logical disks defined to your choice by utility program
Disk error utility reports track and sector of last error
Boot from hard disk
Easy-to-use format program
All Intertec utilities rewritten by MicroMods
System supported by SuperBios with full DOS 3.2 compatibility
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
System with 1 x80 track floppy drive £3,950.00
Retrofit from £1,450 plus fitting charge
External Boxed System £1,750.00
Nationwide dealer network
ae For further detajls, please contact:
Zed
Computer Systems Ltd.
Icarus Computer Systems Ltd. Deane House 27 Greenwood Place London NW51NN Tel: 01-485 5574 Telex: 264209
All prices exclude VAT and carriage SUPERBRAIN is TM of Intertec Data Systems
@ Circle No. 322
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982 221
FREE © 16K WITH GENIE |
~
£299 ‘ee N £299
FREE PET INTERFACE
WITH EPSON PRINTERS SEIKOSHA GP80A
MX80T £359 £179
MX80F/T £399 WITH PET INTERFACE
MX100 £570 £239
40 TRACK DISK DRIVE TO FIT TANDY,
GENIE, SUPERBRAIN, ETC.
£179 SINGLE
PAPER FOR SEIKOSHA 8” X 11”
£12/2000 sheets
PAPER FOR EPSON etc 93” x 11”
£12/2000 sheets
£349 DUAL
KRAM ELECTRONICS
VICTORIA HOUSE
17 RHIGHCROSS STREET
LEICESTER
(0533) 27556
cits Prices exclude VAT and carriage
PET — CENTRONICS INTERFACE
(SUITABEE FOR TAPE & DISK
MACHINES)
£69
LS
PERTEC P80 | RICOH RP 1600 TRIUMPH-ADLER STYLIST
* Heavy duty matrix printer ata * Advanced daisywheel printer * Low cost daisywheel printer
sensible price. * 80cps. for word processing, mini and for most popular micros and
* 80/120 character lines. micro applications. * 60cps. minis. * 14.5cps. * Proportional
* Optional character sets, with * Intelligent option includes spacing. * Bidirectional / logic
true descenders. * Centronics Qume/Diablo compatible seeking. * Range of type styles
and RS232 serial interfaces. commands and auto and languages.
£439 + VAT bidirectional operation. £695 + VAT
£1395 + VAT
Trade and OEM discounts Write or call for further information. id
available. Butel-Comco Limited vA
Garrick Industrial Centre,
Garrick Road, London NW9 6AQ. i,
Telephone: 01-2022277. + Technology for business
@ Circle No. 323
222 PRACTICAL COMPUTING Aprit 1982
Pete & Pam
Computers
VISICALC 3.3 Our Price €105.00
At last — Visicalc on 16 sector OOS 3.3 with ¥2 additional commands.
Enhanced Manual is included.
VISIDEX £10500
New from Personal Softcatd — type in whatever key wards, phase dates
or numbers you want the info to be associated with and store away
VISITERM
Allows your computer to communicate with larger computers or other
personal computers. Link your personal computer with your company’s
mainframe.
VISIPLOT £85.00
Automatically creates high resalution graphs and charts. Visualise data in
six different formats and 6 different cotours. Data can be directly entered
or data files loaded from VISICALC 3.3.
VISITREND €129.00
Allows you to perform sophisticated math operations on a time series data
such as stock prices of production figures. Includes multiline regress
Cumulative total percent charge lead/lag moving averages, smoothing and
various transformations which let you create new time series. This package
also includes VISIPLOT.
VISIPAK
A Visicalc 3.3, Visitrend}Plot and Visifile all in one pack
VISICALC UTILITIES VUn03
From Progressive Software — add to Visicalc’s capabilities
VISIPLUS + £19.95
PASCAL JOB CONTROL SYSTEM — from High Technology £195.00
A fast sophisticated job cantrolicosting system able to control costs on
400 jobs providing useful reports and maintaining 50 cost centres.
DB MASTER £129.95
The data base with 100 fields operating of multi diskette fles for large
capacity.
DB MASTER Utility Pack No.1 £60.00
Links OB Master with Apple text tiles and VISICALC 3.3 add, delete or
change existing OB Master tields and more,
DB MASTER for Corvus — available soon
INFORMATION MASTER — Date Base
A dream to use has advanced facilities such as global change and
£79.00
£325.00
£39.95
Allows you to consolidate Visicalc models.
£295.00
£79.00
calculator mode of entering figures. A system that a novice can use with
ease
DATA MASTER £55.00
A utility for use with INFORMATION MASTER allows the splitting of data
base system selectivity change of field types and transter of print formats
TRANSIT £29.00
A utility that enables you to fink INFDRMATION MASTER to many files
including those created by VISICALC. With 500 sub cost centres. Worth its
weight in gold!
DATA FACTORY (88 fields)
PFS PERSDNAL FILING SYSTEM
PFS REPORT
VISIFILE
New date base from Personal Software
WORDSTAR for Apple £169.00
\f you want the best in ward processing for Apple then WOROSTAR is the
answer. Very well documented and great to use. Requires the installation of
a 2-80 Softcard.
MAILMERGE £69.00
Allows you to maintain name and address lists and merge fields into text
fo form letters etc.
SUPERSORT
For use with Wordstar and Mallmerge.
DATASTAR now available on Apple
CALCSTAR — The very tatest from Micropro
An electronic speed sheet ala Visicaic with the capability of moving
information inta Wordstar for improved presentation and ease of use.
A must for every Wordstar user.
DATASTAR £99.00
The very latest from Micropro, Calcstar, an electronic spread sheet ala
Visicale with the capability of moving information inta Wordstar for
improved presentation and ease of use. A must for every Wordstar user.
LETTER PERFECT £99.00
A WP system that wilt work with both 40 and 80 column system
configurations.
APPLE PIE £99.00
A separate package ts available lor use either 40 col, Double Vision, Videx,
Smarierm or Suprterm 80 cot boards
SUPER TEXT
A WP system that has added arithmetic functions to WP power
SUPER TEXT FORM LETTER
SUPER TEXT ADORESS BOOK
All thee SUPER TEXT together
MAGIC WINDOW
A complete letter writing system — much advertised
BASIC MAILER
SOFTKEY
(Basic or pascal version available) A 15 Key pragrammable keypad.
Patch for WORDSTAR and SOFTKEY to permit use of programmable pad
with WORDSTAR, £29.95
SUP-R-TERMINAL £195.00
WIZARD 80 £195.00
A new 80 colump board with both switchplate and softswitch.
VIDEX VIDEOTERM
£99.95
£55.00
£55.00
£139.00
£105.00
£169.00
£99.00
£85.00
£55.95
£29.95
£150.00
£55.95
£39.95
£99.00
£185.00
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
40180 Column switchplate £12.95
Video softswatch £21.95
Character Eproms: French, German, Katakana, Spanish, Inverse, Math and
Greek symbols, Super and subscript, Line draw graph £17.95
Videoterm Utilities disk £22.95
NEW! — VIDEX KEYBOARD ENHANCER ff £89.00
The very latest from Videx — uses 6504 micioprocessor to provide
typewriter like keyboard, adds ability to store macro instructions, —
temembering words and phrases. Can semember what you typed whilst
your Apple was busy talking 10 disk or doing other things. Can auto-repeat
any key held down. Replaces the existing keyboard encoder for easy
installation
PASCAL TUTOR £79.00
Il you want to feasn Pascal this is the package to use — complete with
two disks.
APPLE MUSIC THEORY £29.95
Apple Inc’s own program designed to teach the fundamentals of music
APPLE HOW TD £29,95
Lessons in integer programming
APPLE SHELL GAMES £14.95
An interesting shell in which ta place your children to learn in the best way
TYPING TUTOR £12.95
Programs from eduware
Algebra 1 — Compumath: Fractions ~ Compumath: Oecimals —
Spelling Bee Each
Arthmetic skills
Compuread
Perception
Counting Bee
Edu-pac 1 022.5
CHEMISTRY LAB SIMULATIONS £55.00
No. 1 — Acid-base titration, Avrogadro’s number — No.2 Ideal Gas law and
entropy — No.3 Calorimetry experiments, Hass’ law — Thermodynamics of
an Equalibrium reaction and heat of Vaporisation —
AIDS TO D" LEVEL COMPUTER STUDIES
§ disks by Pedagog Aids
MDUNTAIN MUSIC SYSTEM
A 16 voice digital synthesizer for Apple, now much reduced price.
Crae 2.0 — Meat — Applesoft Program Optimiser Each €13.95
Applesolt structured BASIC — OOS Plus — MultDisk Catalog Il —
Quickloader — Applesolt Utility Programs Each £15.95
Disk Organizer fl — Disk Recovery — The Directory Manager — Graphic
Writer for Viger 445/460/560 — Higher Graphics 1 Each £17.95
Progtam Line Editor — Higher Text |} — Applesoft Command Editor
Macro Screen Editor — Graphic ump Programs for 445/460/560 Tiger,
Anadex 9501, Spinwiiter, in both PASCAL and BASIC Each £20.95
Apple Qoc — Program Line Editor in ROM ~ Applesoft Extended Editor {AXE}
Each £24.95
DAKIN 5 Programming Aids 3.3 {12 utilities in one pack) £49.95
APPLE DOS TOOL KiT £36.95
Animation, programming and assembling all in one pack from Apple Inc
PASCAL PROGRAMMER £79.00
The pascal programmer's dream — all the utilitles you wanted to use but
never had time to write
DOS SOURCE 3.3 £24.95
A disassembled listing of OOS on 4 sides of 2 disks — Limited Edition.
SENSIBLE SOFTWARE UTILITIES
Applesoft Programme Optimiser
Muhi Disk II
Super Otsk Copy tlt
DOS Plus
Disk Organiser 1
Disk Recovery
Applesof Plus Structured Basic
GRAPHIC UTILITIES
Apple World
30 Supergraphics
Animation Pack
Animation Pack Editor
Graphic Enhancement
Saturn Navigator (needs animat. pack)
Micropainter
PASCAL Graphics Editor (Sirius) £59.95
VERSAWRITER. £149.95
Superb graphics tablet from Versa Computing — you don't have to go to
the expense of an Apple Graphics Tablet for graphics capatuhty.
VERSA EXPANSION SOFTWARE £20.95
Auxiliary pack for the VERSAWRITER includes the abiity to draw in fine
detail using magnification mode
BOOKS
Beneath Apple DOS
HYDE — Assembly Language Programming
INMAN — Assembly Language Programming
MACHINE COVERS — only the best material used
Apple only
Single Disk
2 stacked disks
Appie, 2 disks and 3” monitor or Apple and 12” monitor
Apple and 2 disk
Epson MX 70/80
Paper Tiger 445 - 460
Apple. 2 disks and 12in monitor
12in monitor cover
in monitor cover
BASF DISKS (for 10)
OYSAN DISKS (for 10)
Kassette disk boxes 525 in 2.45
780 SOFTCARD £195.00
A 7.80 microprocessor for Apple comes with CPIM operating system and
Microsoft Basic 5.
COBOL 80
FORTRAN 80
BASIC COMPILER
ASSEMBLY LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT (6502, 8080 and 280) £79.00
MYCHESS £20.95
A chess game for Apple with a ZB0 Softcard installed — beats Sargon I.
Z TERM £59.00
Software that allows you to emulate the terminal of your choice whilst
using Apple with a 2-80 Softcard.
THE MILL — A 6809 plug in board for Apple £249.95
Can tun at full speed whilst the 6502 runs at 20%. Comes with either a
Pascal speed up kit to increase the speed of execution of Apple's U65D
Pascal ot a 6809 assembler. Also available a debugging utdity. Coming
Soon — OS3 Operating System
£20.95
£26.95
£12.95
£10.95
£15.95
£60.00
£239.00
£12.95
£14.95
£17.95
£17.95
£17.95
£17.95
£14.95
£34.95
£21.95
£39.95
£17.95
£15.95
£15.95
£20.95
£11.95
11,95
£11.95
£5.95
£2.95
£4.45
£8.95
£7.95
£5.45
£5.45
£3.95
£7.35
£5.45
£18.50
125.00
£299.00
£109.95
£199.00
64 RAM CARDS
Here at last! Can be used in pairs to emulate a disk drive
2 cards and card emulating software
Singie board £225.00
VISTA B INCH CONTROLLER CARD : £349.00
Works with 6 inch double sided double density drives to give autobool
capability in Applesoft, C/PM, and Pascal on Apple.
£499.00
REMDTE DPERATING SYSTEM — RDS £459.00
Provides multiple Apple Il users with the capability of utilising the disk
storage available from one contro! Apple. up to 127 remote computers may
be connected to one central Apple containing up to 8 floppy disk drives
starter system |1 central + remote boards) with software and cables.
APPLE OS9 — STELLATION TWO'S MILL 6809
Now available with OS9 and BASIC 09.
BASIC 09 allows simultaneous sunning of separate programs. It has to be
seen to be believed. {0S9 is modeled along the lines of UNIX).
£399.00
£124.00
£349.00
Single board
EPSON MX-80 T A
9 = 9 matrix printer with friction and tractor feed.
€PSDN MX 80 T
Tractor feed only
INTERFACE AND CABLE
For the above {nan-graphich.
GRAPPLER from Orange Micro £99.00
An interface for the Epson MX 80. and 100 that obeys Apple protocols and
has a graphics dump programme in ROM producing 2 sizes of picture and
360 degrees rotation with positive or negative image.
AIO Parallel | Serial Interface trom SSM 119.95
MDUNTAIN CPS — Multi-function Card £135.00
A bi-directional serial interface — parallel port and clockicalendar card — alt
on one board. Can be’ made ta use phantom slots.
RAMCARD £99.95
A 16K Expansion card lor your Apple. It will provide additional memory tor
Visicalc toad integer trom a System Master and is fully compatable with
Apple's Pascal System. The only board with Neon Read Write indicators
The only card with data bus lines for faster data retrieval.
RAMEX 16 £89.95
UK entrant to the expansion card markel — does not need to be sibboned
to the memory afea.
THE MANAGER
A utility that moves DOS onto a 16K expansion card — freeing
motherboard Ram space for ‘arger programs
TG PRODUCTS
JOYSTICK — Self-centering, adjustable pots
PADOLES — Top quality controllers £20.95
VERSA EXPANDER PORT £12.95
An expansion cable ZIP socket for the Apple game 1/0 socket allows zero
insertion force of peripherals requiring connection to game socket
ee SPECIAL OFFER & ©
EXPEDITER It
An Applesoti Compiler from On-Line Systems,
TASC — THE APPLESOFT COMPILER £99.00
A two pass compiler from Microsoft — the Applesoft authors. Comes with
extensive documentation and copyable disk. Compiles to disk so can
compile any length of programme. From 2 to 20 times improvement in speed
NEC GREEN SCREEN MONITOR, £139.00
ABT NUMERICAL KEYPAD £74,95
APPLE HOW TO £29.95
Requires Int Basic or 16K Expansion Card — teaches calculating and
programming.
APPLE MUSIC THEORY
ELEMENTRY MY DEAR APPLE
Tuition for children.
ECHO It SPEECH SYNTHESIZER £139.95
Based on TMS 5200 chip from TI — type in speech direct from keyboard.
EXPANSION CHASSIS £399.00
Long awaited — here at last — More slots for your Apple.
£349.00
£65.00
£19.95
£3495
only £49.00
£29.95
£19.95
—=====EEeee ANS ——————————
Apple Gaiaxian — Galaxy Wars — Head-On — Galactic Revolution —
Gatactic Trader — Galactic Empire — Mystery House — Bridge Partner -
Checker King — Gammon Gambler — Roulette — Craps — Apple 21
Puckman — Global War — Space Warrior — Apple Typhoon — Sneekers
Galactic Attack — Olympic Decathlon — Cribbage — Star Dance — Asteroid
Field — Anti Ballistic Missile All at £12.95
Microsoft Adventure — ABM — flog Fight — Phantoms Five — Drbitron -
Pulsar — Microchess 2 — Odyessy — LA Land Monopoly — Morloc’s Tower
— Rescue at Rigel — Space Eggs — Trilogy of Games — The Prisoner -
Raster Blaster — Autobahn — Space Raiders — Tawala’s Last Redoubt
Gamma Goblins — Apple Panic — Red Alert — Firebird — Genetic Dritt
Mad Venture — Space Quarks — Castle Wolfenstein — Appleoids
Pegasus Il — Softporn Adventure — Cross-Fire — Jaw-Breaker — Zork Il —
Crush-Crumble and Chomp — Dragon's Eye — Dark Forest — Star Thief —
Bug Attack — Outpost — Borg — Sneakers — Hi Res Soccer All at £14.95
Cyborg — 00-Topos — Oavid's Midnight Magic — Akalabeth — Pool 1.5 —
Beer Run — Epoch — Hadron — Russki — Duck — Ulysses — Wizzard and
the Princess An at £17.95
Computer Conflict — Computer Quarterback — Cartels and Cutthroats -
Space Album — Bul Budge 30 Graphics Tutor — Cyber Strike — 3 Mile
Island — Adventure 789 — Temples of Apshar — Hellfire Warrior — Zork
— Computer Baseball — President Elect — The Battle of Shiloh — Tigers in
the Snow — Warp Factor — Compute: Conflict — Gorgon — Fhght
Simulator — Ultima — Trick Shot — Robot War — The Best of Muse —
Cops and Robbers — Southern Command All at £20.95
Computer Air Combat — Computer Ambush — Computer Bismark -
Operation Apocalypse — Torpedo Fire — Dragon Fite — Napolean’s
Campaigns All at £29.95
Authorised Apple Sales and Service
LONDON RETAIL, 98 Moyser Road, London SW16 6SH
Tel: 01 677 205217341
MAIL ORDER AND DISTRIBUTION, Waingate Lodge,
Waingate Close Rossendale Lanc BB4 750.
Tel: Rossendale (0706) 227011
: VISA
Prices do not include VAT
Piease add 15% VAT to your remittance
Postage and packing FREE
Telex No. 635740 Orders welcome by phone or telex PETPAM G
@ Circle No. 324
223
Metal cased 9 PM101
CROFTON
MONITOR
10 MHZ Bandwidth
P4 Standard
Also available
with P31
Price on application
NEW-PrINcE MONITOR
High resolution
24 MHZ Bandwidth
P31(green)Standard
P4 high resolution
standard
Price on application
DEALER OEM
enquiries welcome
CROFTON ELECTRONICS LTD
35 Grosvenor Road, Twickenham, Middx TW1 4AD
01-891 1923/1513
Telex: 295093
@ Circle No. 325
~ SINCLAIR 2X81
2X81 bullt + mains adaptor £60.83 (Post
PRINTERS £2.95 extra).
Buy any of the below and get a tree
interface kit and word processor program
for UK101 or Superboard. Seikosha
GP80A £199. Centronics 737 £335. OKI
Microline BO £295. OKI Microline 82A
£399. Epson MX70T £259. Epson
MX80T £359. Epson MX80F/T1 £399.
Epson MX80F T2 £449.
SHARP COMPUTERS
MZ80K 48K £345. PC1211 £82. 46 sam-
ple programs for £15. We can supply any
Epson printer to run direct from the
MZ80K without Vo box for £39 plus
printer price.
VIC 20 COMPUTER
VIC 20 with free kit to allow use of a
normal cassette recorder £165. Kit b
itself £6. New low cost memory board.
No need for a mother-board. Comes with
3K high resolution area + socket for a
rom + sockets for 24K of ultra low cur-
rent Nmos ram (just plug in chips to
expand memory) £49. Extra memory
chips £39 per BK. Vic printer £199. Joy-
stick £6-52.
|
| |
ee
\e—=
5V POWER KITS
Fully stabilized 5V computer and TTL
power kits. Short circuit and over-voltage
protection 1. 5A £7-83, 3A £12-17, 6A
£20.
UK101 AND SUPER-
BOARD
UK101 with 1K and free power supply
and modulator buik £149. The below
accessories suit both the UK101 and
Superboard: Extra ram £2-10 per K. 16K
memory expansion complete kit £50, built
£58. 32K memory expansion kit £74, built
£82, Cassette recorder £19. Cesmon
£22-50 Wemon £19-95. Assembler/
Editor tape £25. Word processor pro-
- gram £10. Centronics interface kit £10.
610 expanion board £179. Cased mini-
floppy disc drive with DOS £275. Cas-
sette recorder £19. The below suit only
Superboard: Colour adaptor board built
£45. Guard band kit £10. Series 1 only 30
lines x 50 characters display expansion
kit £14. UK101 display expansion kit £14.
ACORN ATOM
8K rom +2K ram Kit £120, built £150, 12K
rom + 12K ram kit £168, built £198. 4K
expansion rom £25. Power supply £10.20
a
NEW GENIE.1 £299
EG3014 Expansion box with 16K/32K
ram £199/£213. Disk drive £220. Ldos
£88. Newdos + £49. Ajedit disk. Colour
board £36. Parallel printer interface £36.
Monitors: EG100 white £69. OVMSPGR
green £99. Colour gene poa. Genie 3
poa. peraniecetl ~
‘SWANLEY ELECTRONICS
Dept PC, 32 Goldsel Rd, Swanley, Kent BR& 8EZ
Tel: Swanley (0322) 64851
Postage £3-50 on computers, £4-50 on printers and 45p on other orders.
Lists 27p post free. Please add VAT to all prices.
Official credit orders welcome.
224
@ Circle No. 327
Don't spend
more than £500
on a Local Area
Network until
you know about
Clearway
Clearway brings the benefits of Local Area
Networking to you at very low cost. So if
you're thinking about a networking system
be sure to find out more about Clearway.
REAL
TIME
Developments Limited,
Lynchford House,
Lynchford Lane,
Farnborough, Hampshire
GUI4 QJA
Telephone: Farnborough
(0252) 546213
Telex: 858893 Fiete! G
eT)
Mail the coupon now
for full information
I'm Interested In
Clearway — the low
cost Networking System,
please send me details.
Send to: Real Time Developments Limited,
Lynchford House, Lynchford Lane,
Farnborough, Hampshire GUI4 6JA
@Circle No. 326
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
NEW books from
Prentice-Hall International
BASIC Programming on the
Microcomputer
Neil Cryer and Pat Cryer
Forbeginners with no experience of computers, this comprehensive book has been writtenwith particularreferenceto
the BBC Microcomputer, the amazingly versatile home computer which has been causing so much interest and
enthusiasm in the computing world. BASIC Programming on the BBC Microcomputer provides a step-by-step
course on BASI|Candteaches you howtowrite programsusingthe BBC’s enhancedversionof BASIC. Itshows you how
to make the best use of the machine and explains special features for which the BBC Microcomputer is renowned—
including colour graphics, animation and sound.
Designed for use while you are sitting at the machine, this book actively involves you . Approved by
through frequent and clearly labelled activities on the computer and by providing points ACORN
to think about and discussions of the material covered. :
Every program has been tested on a production model of the BBC Microcomputer. 0) PUTERS
£5.95 Paperback 224pages 13-066407-3 April 1982
BASIC Programmer's Notebook Starting FORTH: An Introduction to the FORTH
Earl R. Savage Language and Operating System for Beginners and
Techniques and subroutines for efficient, accurate program- Professionals
ming in BASIC for games, instruction and record keeping, Leo Brodie, FORTH Inc.
written in Level Il BASIC.
£14.95. Hardback 360pages 13-842930-8
10.45 k 110 é :
: oo re: (ae £11.95 Paperback 13-842922-7
Explore Computing with the TRS-80 The UCSD Pascal Handbook: A Reference and
(and Common Sense): Guidebook for Programmers
With Programming in BASIC Randy Clark and Stephen Koehler
Richard V. Andree and Josephine P. Andree £11.95 Paperback 356pages 13-935536-7
£11.95 Hardback 230pages 13-296145-8
£8.95 Paperback 13-296137-7 Prices are correct at the time of going to press but may be subject tochange.
Book Orders
These books can be ordered from your usual bookseller. In casejof difficulty contact:
Prentice-Hall International,
66 Wood Lane End, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP2 4RG, England.
Telephone: 0442 58531.
@ Circle No. 328
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982 225
TWICKENHAM
COMPUTER CENTRE LTD
With the best microcomputers available
| La (x commodore @oppic IC
Y2 day Wednesday - ’phone for latest Prices
PRINTERS SOFTWARE ACCESSORIES
Anadex Micro Modeller Z-80 Softcard
Epsom Visicalc Monitors
Ricoh Magic Window Graphics Tablet
RY
NEW TO OUR RANGE fetely Tae] «~ + VAT.
= TWICKENHAM COMPUTER =
4 = Sea . oe CENTRE LIMITED _
72, Heath Road Twickenham Middlesex TW1 ABW
@ Circle No. 329
CITY MICROSYSTEMS LIMITED
65 LONDON WALL, LONDON EC2M 5TU
01-588 7272
SUPERBRAIN TELEVIDEO SYSTEMS VIDEO GENIE
asia, with VISICALC
Multi-user, multi-task, multi-processor, televideo
reliability with complete expandability.
One to sixteen users. Complete system £1275, inc. Computer,
320K, 680K and 1.5MB Diskdrives, MO, gga in oe
ull graphics available. F ;
Wide range of standard packages. Vast library of standard software.
Complete business accounting systems from £2000. Word processors from £1420
ADVICE, TRAINING AND MAINTENANCE
ALL YOUR COMPUTER REQUIREMENTS READILY AVAILABLE
IN THE CENTRE OF THE CITY — LONDON EC2
VISITORS TO OUR OFFICES MOST WELCOME 10.30am-4.30pm
@ Circle No. 330
226 PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
SEIKOSHA
_
it
~
—
The Seikosha GPLOOA
Manufactured by the Seiko Company, Japan.
DEALER
80col dot graphics for around £215: Ft
WELCOME
Seikosha introduce the GPIOOA.
A wider and updated version of the
highly successful GP80. Now able to
take standard width paper, the
amazingly compact GP1OOA offers
big printer performance at a fraction
FEATURES INCLUDE:
@ 80 col. 30 cps. ¢
@ Dot Matrix unihammer action. —
@ ASCII standard. 116 characters.
INTERFACING for most systems:
@ Standard: Centronics. |
@ Options: RS232C, Serial TIL,
20mA current loop. IEEE-488.
Apple ll,
of the cost. a = Sharp (GP1OOD).
With a high quality output that @ Upper and lower case. ae ry 7
includes full graphics capability, the Double width printing DIMENSIONS:
Seikosha’s proven reliability and —s— ae — Depth - 9%" (234mm)
variety of interfaces make the @ Up to 10” paper width.
GPIOOA the ideal choice for
hobbyists, educationalists and
@ Original + 2 copies.
@ Tractor feed.
Width - 1744" (420mm) _
Height - 5%" (136mm)
businessmen. Full service support is -~ OPTIONS:
provided by DRG Business Machines’ @ Self testing. : peeneeal —
nationwide distributor network. @rincn teed.
DRG
BUSINESS
MACHINES
—ea_
Birmingham: Microcomputers at Laskeys, (021) 6326303. Bradford: Eltec Services Ltd.,
(0274) 491371. Bristol: Microcomputers at Laskeys, (0272) 20421. Chester: Microcomputers
at Laskeys, (0244) 317667. Edinburgh: Microcomputers at Laskeys, (03 1)5562914.
Frodsham (nr Warrington): Northern Computers, (0928) 35110. Glasgow: Microcomputers
at Laskeys, (041 ) 226 3349. Leicester: Kram Electronics, (0533 ) 27556. Liverpool:
Microcomputers at Laskeys, (051 ) 236 2828. London: Microcomputers at Laskeys(W1),
(01) 636 0845. London: C/WP Ltd. (SW 1), (01) 828 3127. London: Chromasonic Electronics
(N19), (01) 263 9493. Manchester: Microcomputers at Laskeys, (061 ) 832 6087. Preston:
Microcomputers at Laskeys, (0772) 59264. Sheffield: Microcomputers at Laskeys,
(0742) 750971. Watford: Watford Electronics, (0923) 40588.
DRG (UK) Ltd, Reg No. 22419 England. (Peripherals & Supplies Division) 75—
13/14 Lynx Crescent, Winterstoke Road, Weston-super-Mare, BS24 9DN. Tel: (0934) 416392. fete? |
@ Circle No. 331
APPLE SOFTWARE
A.C.E. — A program line editor with macro facilities £19.95 A48K
Akalabeth — An advanced fantasy role playing game £22.95 M48K
Apple-Doc — Cross reference utility + Variable replacement £22.95 A48K
Apple Panic — Chase little apples up and down ladders £16.95 M48K
AppleWorld — Allows you to produce 3-D animated graphics £38.95 M48K
Ascii Express Il — A complete intelligent terminal package £42.95 A48K
Asteron — The ultimate Asteroids replica game £19.95 M48K
Autobahn — Road race game with sound and hi-res graphics £14.95 M48K
Beer Run — Catch the Artesians before the Guzzlers and Bouncers catch you £16.95
M48
Both Barrels — 2 hi-res action games on one disk £12.95 A48K
Castle Wolfenstein — An action adventure in hi-res graphics with speech £18.95 M48K
Copts & Robbers — An adventure game in the tombs of ancient Egypt £19.95 M48K
Nascom&Gemini
USERS
NEW 32K CMOS.
CPS Multifunction card — Serial, Parallel and Clock on one card £183.95 Card
Cranston Manor — A new hi-res adventure like Wizard and the Princess £19.95 M48K
Crossfire —- Stop the aliens from taking over the city £16.95 M48K
Cross-Ref — Cross reference Apptesoft programmers utility £14.95 A32K
Cyber Strike — 3-D hi-res action arcade game in space £19.95 M48K
Dark Forest — An adventurous game of strategy and conquest for up to 6 players
£16.95 M48K
Dogfight — Hi-res jet combat game for 1 or 2 players £18.95 M32K
Epoch — Hi-res 3-D shoot-up in space. Our favourite £19.95 M48K
E-Z Oraw 3.3 — The poor man's graphics tablet. Very easy to use £28.95 M48K
p 9!
EXPEDITER Ii — THE APPLESOFT COMPILER AT ALOW, LOW PRICE = £56.95
. A48K
Falcons — The best invaders style game for the Apple £18.95 Mask
e ender Bender — Super car game in hi-res colour graphics £14.95 M48K
FEATURES: Galaxy Wars — Colour graphics + Sound effects + Hi-res arcade style game £13.95
. M
EFFECTIVELY REPLACES EPROMS. Galactic Antack — A hi-tes Star Trek type game £19.95 maak
Does away with the inconvenience of EPROM programming Gorn ore — Yet setier sypert _— eo ey on eed reek
i j j enetic Drift — A departure from the normal arcade game. Great fun b 4)
sat fe compromise of assigning valuable address space Hadron — A 3-D battle in the midst of a meteor field £19.95 M48K
1) ° “Higher Graphics — Hi-res picture drawing utility £23.95 M48K
ON BOARD RECHARGEABLE NiCad BATTERY HiRes Socoat=- Engish footsall for or2 players in hives E1698 MaBK
RETAINS MEMORY FOR OVER 1000 Hrs. Jawbreaker — Eat up the dots but watch out for the Gobblers £16.95 M48K
Battery 1s automatically charged during power-up periods. KRAM — Fast and powerful Keyed Random Access Method for quick clek wecas
HIGH SPEED OPERATION up to 6 MHz WITHOUT WAIT- es The a erage developrient ent oe —— ee Heals
st Master — An excellent companion product to Apple-Doc :
STATES. Memory Management System — Enables youto put DOS onaRAMcard £29.95 M64K
FULLY NASBUS! and GEMINI-80 BUS? COMPATIBLE. Microsoft 16K Ram Expansion Card. includes FREE Memory Management ovale
£114.95 Card
PAGE MODE SCHEME SUPPORTED. Missile Detence — Hi-res animation and sound arcade game * £18.95 mask
j ; Mission: Asteroid — Hi-res adventure in 21 colours. Save the World!! £10.95 M32K
The beard en be conteered to provide one 32k byte page or MuhiBoot Upgrade — Upgrade 3.2 disks to boot under 3.2 or 3.3 £23.95 M48K
two completely independent 16k byte Panes. , Mystery House — Hi-res adventure using over 100 pictures £12.95 M48K
Complete pages of 64k bytes are simply implemented by adding esa we ne ll pees of an pce am a Seri bet
more boards on to the bus. lympic Decathlon — Long jump, high jump, hurdles plus much more :
Online — A new concept in dial-up software for the Apple £59.95 A48K
Boe oa oaior HARDWARE READ WRITE Gieviet — Gove your seca airpost from aici By iar) apniara”_ eros ni
PROTECTION ape Caer Siete oe ane letra one iar eed
z NB i : Pascal Graphics Editor — Professional graphics editing package for Pascal £49.95
4K blocks in either page are link selectable to be aligned on any F M64K
. Pegasus It — The latest in pub games now available for the Apple £16.95 M48K
4K boundary Phantoms Five — A fighter-bomber mission in 3-D real time graphics £18.95 M48K
FULLY BUFFERED ADDRESS, DATA AND CONTROL Pool 1.5 — Hi-res colour graphics poo! table simulation. 4 games £19.95 M48K
SIGNALS Pulsar tl — 2 superb hi-res arcade games on one disk £14.95 M48kK
- Raster Blaster — A very realistic full colour pinball simulation £15.95 M48K
MEMORY I.C. SOCKETS ARE LINK SELECTABLE TO Se ca emerson tomes nea. Eee ae
SUPPORT ANY 24 PIN 2k byte MEMORY I.C.s. . Shuffleboard — Real time hi-res simulation by the authors of Pool 1.5 £19.95 M48K
Thus the board can support up to 32k bytes of any mixture of Sneakers — Waves of little creatures attack you in hi-res £16.95 M48K
cmos, nmos rams or 2716/2516 eproms were peventare — An aqventuge for adults only eens Mask
P cl : ard a ac s — Hi-res super-fast arcade style game 14.95 M48K
All options are link selectable 4 wire links plugged into ~~ Space Saks — Shocl coon the Guanes cetorstne! get you £16.95 M48K
gold-plated socket pins, avoiding the risk of damage and the sean iro you) shields fromthe dreaded rane RAM ships ca Hed ers
1 7 ; H HY tar venger — ast pacei game of gueriiia warlare In space .
peo VeRIence caused by soldering links directly to the board. Star Cruiser — Save yourself from the swooping aliens £18.95 M48kK
The printed circuit board is manufactured to the high quality SuperGraphics — A 3-D game development system in colour £23.95 M48K
demanded by industrial users and conforms to B.S.9000. SUPERSCHIBE Il WORD PROCESSOR. TRUE UPPER/LOWER CASE ON
The board comes assembled and tested and is supplied with a SCREEN iS j £73.95 M48K
minimum of 2k bytes of low-power cmos ram. Fully TASC — An optimising Applesoft compiler from Microsoft _ £129.95 A4BK
documented The Dictionary — Checks spelling of any standard OOS text or binary file £54.95 M48K
e Vv. IL E Ww! The General Manager — User-friendly hierarchlal database package £54.95 M48K
AVAILABLE NO Threshold — Yet another fast action arcade style game £21.95 M48K
PRICES: Time Zone — The largest adventure ever. Hi-res colour graphics, 1,182 rooms £54.95 |
: M48K
Board sat ime Bre stn Ulysses & The Golden Fleece — Another adventure like Wizard and pi Princess
A 9.95 M48!
Board with 32k bytes £170.00 Visicalc 3.3 — The 16 sector version with enhanced manual 19.95 asi
i j i j Visidex — Store and retrieve information by key words 19.95 M48
Bare Boards (circuit diagram supplied) . £37.50 Visifile — A database package from the same stable as Visicale £149.95 M48K
HM6116-LP/3 Very low power 2k cmos memory I.C. £6.50 Visiplot — A hi-res graphics graph plotting package £94.95 M48K
Visit U: i? Appl : an fine terial £89.95 M48K
siterm — Use your Apple as an on-ti E
Please add 95p P&P and VAT @ 15% Visitrend — Performs maths operations on time series data £149.95 M48K
1 : bs — Wizard and the Princess — Hi-res adventure in 21 colours £18.95 M48K
sERIBUE is a trademark of nascom microcomputers a division of LUCAS LOGIC Wizardry — 3-D adventure. The best we have seen yet £28.95 M48kK
trademark of GEMINI MICROCOMPUTERS LIMITED Z-Term — A full feature terminal package for the CP/M Apple £65.95 M48K
SS SE = sean a =e | A: Requires Applesoft in ROM M: Will run on any Apple
eques and P.Q.s to:
Pp ocesses Please specify which DOS you require when ordering. If you don’t see what you are
Fro Forfurther: eee LANCS. looking ie sibel give us a call. WE ALSO Conhaa aes SOFTWARE
° information mi SERVICE WHICH IS SECOND-TO- 5 ra
4 i VAT AT 15%. Add 50p P+P for ord der £30 totally.
Please supply me with the following: PRICES ING EEE Wee p ak ee
Price Please write or telephone for your free copy of our up-to-date software list.
Dealers inquiries Invited. PERSONAL CALLERS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY PLEASE.
| SPIDER SOFTWARE
= Total enclosed ¢ } wage 98 AVONDALE ROAD,
ess: an SOUTH CROYDON,
SURREY.
[ POST CODE _ Tel: 01-680 0267 (24 hours a day — 7 days a week)
Gl La 6S Gs Ge
@ Circle No. 332 . @ Circle No. 333
228 PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
SYSTEM 4000
EPROM EMULATOR/PROGRAMMERS
P4000 PRODUCTION EPROM
PROGRAMMER
This unit provides ‘simple, reliable’
programming of up to 8 EPROMs. It
has been designed for ease of
operator use — a single ‘program’
key starts the blank check — pro-
gram — verify sequence. Indepen-
dent blank check and verify controls
are provided along with mode, pass/
fail indicators for each copy socket
and a sounder to signal a correct key
command and the end of a program-
ming run. Any of the 2704/2708/
2716 (3 rail) and 2508 / 2758 / 2516
/ 2716 / 2532 / 2732 EPROMs may
be selected without hardware or per-
sonality card changes.
2 year warranty. Price £545 + VAT:
+ £12.00 DELIVERY
VM10 VIDEO MONITOR
This compact, lightweight Video
Monitor gives a clean crisp picture
on its 10” screen. Suitable for use
with the EP4000, SOFTY and other
systems. 12 month warranty. Price
£88 + VAT, carriage paid.
MODEL 14 EPROM
ERASERS
MODEL UV140 EPROM
ERASER
Similar to model UV141 but with out
timer. Low price at £61.50 + VAT,
postage paid.
EP4000 EPROM EMULATOR/
PROGRAMMER
The microprocessor based EP4000
has been designed as a flexible, low
cost, high quality unit for emulating
and programming all the popular
NMOS EPROMs without the need
for personality cards, modules or
hardware changes. Its software
intensive design permits selection of
the 2704 / 2708 / 2716 triple rail
EPROMs and the 2508 / 2758 /
2516 / 2716 / 2532 / 2732 single rail
EPROMs for both the programming
and emulating modes.
The video output (T.V. or monitor) for
memory map display in addition to
the built-in Hex LED display, for
stand alone use, is unique in this
type of system. This, with the double
function 28 key keypad, powerful
editing features, powered down pro-
gramming socket, buffered tri-state
simulator cable and 4k x 8 data RAM
gives you the most comprehensive,
flexible and compact systems avail-
able today.
2 year warranty. Price £545 + VAT:
+ £12 DELIVERY
MODEL UV141 EPROM -
ASER >.
14 EPROM capacity &%
Fast erase time e
Built-in 5-50 minute timer
Safety interlocked to prevent eye
and skin damage
Convenient slide-tray loading of
devices
Available Ex-Stock at £78 + VAT
Postage Paid
GP INDUSTRIAL ELECTRONICS LTD,
UNIT E, HUXLEY CLOSE, NEWNHAM INDUSTRIAL ESTATE,
PLYMOUTH, DEVON PL7 4JN
TELEPHONE: PLYMOUTH (0752) 332961 (Sales) / 332962 (Technical Service).
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
SO FTY “ko,
SYSTEMS cs
SOFTY 2
LOW COST 2716
EMULATOR/PROGRAMMER
@ Direct output to T.V. @ High speed
cassette interface @ On card
EPROM Programmer @ Multifunc-
tion “xuch keypad @ 2K Monitor in
2716 @ 2K RAM @ 128 byte
scratchpad RAM @ 2K EPROM
Emulation @ Can program 2732/
2532 in two halves. @ Editing
facilities including — Data entry/
deletion, Block shift, Block store,
Match byte, Displacement calcula-
tion @ Supplied with ZIF socket,
Simulator cable, comprehensive
manual, Antistatic lined EPROM tray
and PSU. SOFTY 2 £169 + VAT
(includes p&p)
SOFTY 1
LOW COST 2704/2708
EMULATOR/PROGRAMMER
@ Direct output to T.V. @ High speed
cassette interface — On card
EPROM Programmer @ Multifunc-
tion keypad @ 1K Monitor in 2708
@ 1K RAM @ 128 byte scratchpad
RAM @® 1K EPROM Emulation
@ Comprehensive editing facilities
@ Supplied with ZIF socket, Simula-
tor cable and comprehensive
manual.
SOFTY 1
£120 + VAT
SOFTY 1 Power Supply £20 + VAT
SOFTY 1
CONVERSION CARD
Enables SOFTY to program the
single rail EPROMs, 2508 / 2758 /
2516 / 2532. Selection of device
type and 1K block are by pcb slide
switches. ZIF Programming socket.
Supplied built and tested. £40 +
VAT.
EX-STOCK EPROMS
1-24 25-99 100 up
2732 = 6:50 Sif 4:95
2716 =. 2:80 2:60 2:40
2708 2:80 2:60 2:40
ADD VAT AT 15% — POSTAGE PAID
(Built and tested)
WRITE OR TELEPHONE FOR DETAILS
ON ANY OF OUR PRODUCTS
@ Circle No. 334
229
—s"
ozwise
U
for @gappic
Apple I Apple /// Reserve these
ae ag ee conver. dates now!
Good service — low prices
® Ist National Apple User Convention
Apple User Exhibition
— June 5-6 — June 4-6
It’s going to be the biggest Apple
Apple User Convention
Full.systems
Computer professionals to analyse your require-
ments, demonstrate your system, deliver, install
and train your staff at no extra cost. event ever held - and a MUST for
all Apple users.
Add-ons at discount prices From Friday, June 4 to Sunday,
Just look June 6, the whole of the
Ramex 16K RAM card only £69. ultra-modern Fulcrum Centre in
Videx videoterm 80-col card only £179 Slough will be completely devoted
Z80 softcard only £189 to the Apple.
Cash with order only — please add 15% VAT. And it will be an action-packed
Write or ‘phone for full details weekend. Some of Britain's top
Apple experts will be revealing
OZ i @ co puters their secrets. There will be
hands-on demonstrations of Apple
28 CROFTS ROAD, HARROW, MIDDX. HA1 2PH. programs. Plus a comprehensive
01-863 2309 24 hour service exhibition of all the latest Apple
hardware and software.
There’s bound to be a big demand
@ Circle No. 335 for Apple '82 — so early booking is
; advisable.
ws coms ees QELEGATE APPLICATION FORM me Gen Ce
R NEW | wish to attend Apple ‘82. the First National Apple User Convention.
Please reserve delegates places at £12 per delegate £
ViMmMe MODULE
A REAL TIME BATTERY SUPPORTED CALENDAR
CLOCK MODULE FOR YOUR TANDY OR
VIDEO GENIE MICROCOMPUTER AT A
| would like you to arrange accommodation for the following nights:
Friday June 4 le | Saturday June 5 [ ]
tor adults and child(ren). Accommodation costs £17.00 per night
for a single bed in a twin room. Single rooms are available for £21.00.
Children under 5 years free.
Children over 5 and under 14 years £1.00
Accommodation includes bed, Continental breakfast; VAT and service charge.
All extras to be paid for separately on departure. £
Please give preference of hotel in order of choice:
Post House Hotel Excelsior Hotel []
Ariel House [_] Skyway Hotel Lal
| | would like to reserve a car parking space for the duration of the |
Convention. (£2.00). £
TOTAL £
REALISTIC PRICE
1 enclose my cheque as payment, or debit
my Access/Barclaycard/American Express
account No
——
Signed
Please tick appropriate box if 7
interested in any of.the following:
—_ Coach trips to London
| for shopping LJ
— Coach trips to ta) |
London for theatre
Choice of play or show eae
Company Coach trip to Windsor Cc]
Safari Park
aul Coach trip to [ ]
Position Windsor Castle
; Coach trip to Oxford fas]
aoa The above will of course depend on
sufficient people being interested in
particular trips. pci/a|
£69.25
includes delivery and VAT
Place your order now or contact for further information
me) JOHN BIRKWOOD ASSOCIATES
| JBA| WYVERN HOUSE, 49 STATION ROAD, BILLINGSHURST,
W. SUSSEX. TELEPHONE (040381) 3813
Tel:
| POST TO: Apple “82, Europa House, 68 Chester Road, Hazel Grove. Stackport SK7 5NY|
2 es oo eee eee ee ee
@ Circle No. 336 @Circle No. 337
230 PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
PERBRAINQD 64K || APPLE II 48K SUPERPET 134K
TRY BEFORE YOU BUY! It you are considering the acquisition of a microcomputer why not visit our demonstration suite one evening and try our Apples, PETs and
Superbrains first. We can open outside our normal hours to suit you. Even weekends! Come and see the range of business utilities your competitors are using. We
have the full TABS integrated accounting system Nominal, Sales, Purchase Ledgers, Payroll, Stock Control, etc, Video Training films, word-processing, automated
tiling and tinancial modelling systems ready to help you. We are Authorised Dealers for several micros and are in business to sell you a solution rather than one
manufacturer's specific hardware. After ali, to a business it's the effort and money you Save that's important not the internal machine specifications, We offer our
business cllents lease/rental terms to bring the benefits sooner, without capital drain.
FOR EXAMPLE A TYPICAL BUSINESS SYSTEM COMPRISING SAY, AN APPLE II, A DISK DRIVE, MONITOR, PRINTER
AND VISICALC CAN BE INSTALLED ON YOUR DESK AND WORKING FOR YOU NEXT WEEK FOR LESS THAN £12.00 PER
WEEK EX. VAT AND ALL DEDUCTIBLE!
Naturally, we provide full support and after-sales service of the highest level. INTERESTED? CALL NOW FOR DETAILS.
MASS MIGROS "31436"
WELLSON HOUSE, BROWNFIELDS, WELWYN GARDEN CITY, HERTS. Telex 298641.
2222222222929 9 9999999999999. 99.999 9999999992 2.9.92 99.99 9.999.999 9999999999999 9222999?
@ Circle No. 338
You dont need a big computer
fo run Britain's N°l payroll program
Don't take a sledge hammer to crack a nut. _ friendly and flexible. It comes complete with
You can get all your payroll needs from a comprehensive manual and software support,
micro computer and the AUTOPAY program. nationwide. For small or large companies
Autopay, from Micro Management, is fast, up to 300 employees, AUTOPAY pays.
PO Mere mre mre mem OR ORDO ROR OR OR IO RIOnLenremLe mr emiemle mie mie me iL’ iL’ in mn ib,
NESE EO Rene Brom enone nromre ne mrem vm cmre mre monroe niente mionre)
MICRO MANAGEMENT Micro Programs that think BIG! @
Ml 32 Princes Street, IPSWICH. Tel: (0473) 57871
@ Circle No. 339
PRACTICAL COMPUTING Aprif 1982 Zot
“ATTENTION COMPUTER DEALERS”
Let us be your Exporter/Purchasing Agent in the
United States for the following products: —
MICROCOMPUTERS:-— Ohio Scientific,
Onyx.
PRINTERS:— Okidata, Centronics, NEC,
Xerox/ Diablo, Anadex, Printerm, Eaton.
TERMINALS:— Micro-term, Televideo,
Hazeltine, Zintec, Beehive.
MAG-TAPE:— Alloy engineering cart-
ridge and reel.
FURNITURE:— Printer Stands, CRT
Stands, Computer Tables.
MISC:— Blank Floppy Disks, Blank
Cartridge and reel mag tape, CRT Cables,
etc.
NOTE
IF YOU DONT SEE YOUR NEEDS, PLEASE
CONTACT US WITH YOUR REQUIREMENTS.
SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL INC
500 CHESHAM HOUSE,
150 REGENT STREET,
LONDON W1R 5FA
SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL INC
15920 LUANNE DRIVE
GAITHERSBURG, MARYLAND
20760 U.S.A.
Telephone 301-977-0100. Telex 710-828-9703
Cable Address SYSINTL. GAITHERSBURG MD
e Circle No.
INFRA COMPUTER COMPONENTS LTD
EPROMS RAMS
2708 £2.40 2114 2L
2716-350ns £6.00 2114 4L
2716-450ns £2.90 4116 — 150ns
2532 £4.50 ‘4116 — 200ns
2732 £5.00
Z80 A PIO
74LS SERIES
74LS 00
1.C. SOCKETS 74 LS 1-10
8. pi 07 74 LS 27
i 74 LS 85
74 LS 86
74 LS132
74 LS139
74 LS157
74 LS161
74 LS165
Quantity discounts available on request. All prices exclusive of VAT &
Carriage. Government, Education Authorities & Trade welcome.
INFRA COMPUTER COMPONENTS LTD.
PENDORRIC HOUSE - 7 WESTFIELD ROAD
GREAT SHELFORD - CAMBRIDGE CB2 5JW
Telephone: (0223) 841728/843953 Telex: 81416 ICC UKG
340 @ Circle No. 341
CU-GRAPH
ACORN COMPATIBLE
GRAPHICS CARD
8 colours in 512 x 256 pixels
@ Uses EF9366 graphics processor chip.
@ Each plane of colour (red, green, blue) displays 16kB of
memory, giving 512 x 256 resolution; each pixel can be red,
blue, green, white, yellow, cyan, magenta or black.
@ Only 256 bytes of the host computer memory are used, all
48k bytes of screen memory being on the memory map of
the EF9366 only.
® Text display can be superimposed on graphics, and can be
up to 85 coloumns by 32 rows, using an on board character
generator. Each character can be scaled for height, width,
slope and orientation, all independently.
@ Driver software for use on Acorn and Cubit systems is
available now, and a high resolution graphics extension to
Acorn BASIC will follow later.
£190*; £155t Eurocard monochrome, 16k bytes. £380*:£275t
with piggy-back extension for colour and Centronics Printer
Interface.
*Price for 5V only RAM. fPrice for 3-rai} RAM.
CONTROL UNIVERSAL LTD
Unit 2, Andersons Ct, Newnham Rd, Cambridge, Tel 0223 358757.
232
@ Circle No. 342
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
Plain talk.
You should be able to talk to
your computer in simple,
everyday language.
It should talk to you in the
same language. Yours.
Through Vector Graphic products the right system can be found for you
and your company. We can provide a package specifically designed to
help your business including solicitors packages, accounts, stock control,
payroll, job costing, estimating, planning, printers job costing,
~ manufacturing and a host of scientific and technical systems.
in All Vector systems are based on the
Industry Standard S-100 Bus
Configuration and CP/M
operating system.
Give Almarc a ring today
and we'll arrange a
demonstration, It couldn't
be simpler than that.
Almarc
APPROVED ALMARC DEALERS
BALDOCK ModusiSysiems
odus Syste (0462) 8 4848
BIRMINGHAM Taylor Micro Systems Ltd
9
(021) 358
DONCASTER’ — Reed Computing (0709) 6708 ia 7
HIGH WYCOMBE c (0494) 40116 Almarc Data Systems Limited,
(0423) 68223. Great Freeman Stree
ms (0536) 511357 ss
(0532) 456944 Nottingham NG3 1FR. Tel: (0602) 52657.
c r ¢ ants (01) 4098
ConBicr Grok (0507) 604271/2 Telex: 37407 Almarc/G.
MACCLESFIELD Resolux Ltd (0625) 28220
SU a an eye Also at: Green Street, High Wycombe,
TYNE & WEAR HP. Micros (0632) 859923
TYNES WEAR HPT (es 592 Bucks. HP11 2RF Tel: (0494) 23804. [DATA SYSTEMS
@Circle No. 343
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982 233
If that Apple
is just out of Reach.... ARBOR SUPPLIES
5.25" Diskettes — 70 Packs’
Feent Cre! DYSAN - UNBEATABLE QUALITY
Single Sided/Single Density £22.00
SingleSided /Double Density £25.50
Double Sided/Double Density £31.00
DoubleSided/* Quad ‘Density £43.00
If you have a short term requirement for a
microcomputer system for evaluation, KYBE ACCUTRACK-With Free Box
training or just hands-on experience — come SingleSided/Double Density
!
to Atlanta! BLANK LABEL — Economy for APPLE & PET
Apart from Apples we have top quality SingleSided/Single Density £15.00
printers, monitors, disk drives and a huge (PLEASE SPECIFY IF 10 OR 16 SECTOR DISKS REQUIRED)
range of software including VisiCalc,
Visidex, Wordstar, Format-80, Magic Disk Storage — 70 D/sK caraciTy
Window, Micromodeller, APM, CIS Genuine : . rie B £
COBOL and all Aerating Gecktaies. enuine EGLY ‘PlaStic Library Boxes 1.90 ea.
A complete system can be working for you Drive Head Cleaning Kits
within a few days of your enquiry with no 26 Weekly Cleans for 60
capital expenditure!
Rental Hotline
01-729 1411/2
Atlanta Data Systems
350/356 Old Street, London, EC1V 9DT. 01-739 5889
All Prices exclude Postage and VAT
UK P&P -Diskettes £0.60 per pack; Library Boxes
£0.50; Head Cleaning Kits £0.60 ea.
VAT is calculated at 15%, of total goods + P&P value
Please make Cheque /PC. payable to ARBOR SUPPLIES
or quote your ACCESS Number
{L.CHAMBERLAIN GARDENS, ARBORFIELD CROSS,
NR.READING, BERKS. Tel. (0734) 470174
@Circle No. 344 | @ Circle No. 345
Bw
The Micro Support Centre icc
THROUGHOUT THE
AUTHORISED DEALER FOR THAMES VALLEY
TELEPHONE
e new 0990 23377/23536
WORDPROCESSING BUSINESS
FT 150 SYSTEMS
complete wordprocessing
SYSTEMS
we market and support a
systems including standard wins pene? of business
Xerox 820, Xerox applications software from
Wordprocessing, superb Diablo highly reputable and
630 printer, installation, up to
one day’s training and hard
experienced software
houses including:
backed reference manual for
only
FOR PROFESSIONAL
FOR STANDARD MODEL
64K RAMI2 x 5;” DISKS
ALTERNATIVE 2 x 8” DISKS £2250 Datu Manaoetvent Gme
Purchase Ledger
Sales Ledger
Nominal/General Ledger
Payroll
Stock Control
SUPPORT
1600 SERVICE ENGINEERS to service and main-
tain equipment on your premises through the
Rank Xerox national service network.
SUPERCALC
£3695 £125 extra
The Micro Support Centre
Index House
Ascot, Berks.
PRICES EXCLUDE VAT
XEROX AND RANK XEROX ARE REG. TRADE MARKS OF RANK XEROX LTD.
@Circle No. 346
234 PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
CRYSTAL ELECTRONICS
CC ELECTRONICS
FOR YOUR SHARP MZ80K CP/M 2.21(XTAL)
BASIC CP/M FACILITIES INCLUDE:
* Dynamic file management Fast assembler
* General purpose editor *« Advanced debugging utility
YOUR SHARPCP/M 2.21(XTAL) PACKAGE INCLUDES
* Hardware modification (if fitted bya SHARP dealer does NOT break
the guarantee) * SHARP CP/M 2.21 (latest version) on disc * XTAL
Monitor and Operating system « 7 Digital Research manuals * 12
months guarantee and up-dates (on all our products)
CP/M 2.21 (XTAL) FROM £150 + VAT
Ask your SHARP dealer for further details or contact CRYSTAL
ELECTRONICS
CP/M SOFTWARE HOUSES—XTAL CAN HELP YOU ESTABLISH
YOUR SOFTWARE ON THE SHARP.
XTAL BASIC (SHARP)
Takes 5K less memory. has all the features of SHARP BASIC PLUS
Multi dim strings. error trapping. logical operators. machine code
monitor, more flexible peripheral handling. improved screen control.
increased list control. auto run, If..then..else —and it doesn't stop there
-it grows. You can extend the commands and functions at will — 10K,
12K, 16K, BASIC?. SHARP:to XTAL BASIC conversion program is
included. £40 plus VAT.
Bi-directional serial board for your SHARP RS232 compatible ‘150
Baud to 2400 Baud adjustable. <5.6,7,8 Bit words, plugs into MZ801/0
£99.50 plus VAT. Includes software for bi-directional use in XTAL BASIC,
software for using SHARP BASIC with serial printer and self-diagnostic
software for testing Baud rate etc
Members of Computer Retailers Association & Apple Dealers Association
Shop open 0930— 1730 except Saturday & Sunday
40 Magdalene Road, Torquay, Devon, England. Tel: 0803 22699
COMPUTERS
AND
COMPONENTS
@Circle No. 347
Access and Barclaycard welcome
MicroSec
oe Ay
File St+r
og
MicroSec’s
Filestar package will
enable your CP/M@® system
to read, write, list directories MOTOROLA
and initialise 3740 compatible disks for:
INTEL
@ IBM 3740 Basic Exchange Data-sets
@ DEC RTAI ASCII Files
@ INTEL ISIS tl ASCII Files
@ MOTOROLA MDOS ASCII Files
All this for only £195 + VAT!!!
‘Phone or write to MicroSec for further information or guidance on
machine suitability.
MicroSec, 49b Market Parade, Havant, Hants PO9 1PY.
Telephone (0705) 450055
® CP/M is the registered trade mark of Digital Research
@ Circle No. 348
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
VIDEOTEX
SYSTEMS ‘82
CONFERENCE
Cunard International Hotel
Hammersmith, London W6
May 5,6,7, 1982
This important two day conference will cover in
depth, both technical and marketing aspects of
videotex technology.
Presentations will be made by experts, drawn from
the industry’s leading equipment manufacturers,
system operators and users.
Subjects include: Day One— The politics - Gateway
- Direct transfer - Hardware and Software compatability
- International! networks. Day Two— Marketing the
product - Economics - Umbrella services - The
Canadian experience - Private systems - The next ten
years.
Speakers include: John Wakeham, MP,
John Durham, Alan Haimes, David Gilbert, Ken Knight,
Ted Sedman, J Déring, Murray Cook, Tony Book, Jenny
Clayton, Tim Chapman, Colin Tipping, Geoff Hutt,
Andrew Lighting, Anthony Harris, James Smith, John
Marsh, Chris Singer, Mike Aston and Malcolm Smith.
Conference organised on behalf of AVIP The
Association of Viewdata Information Providers Limited.
ith
Run in parallel wt ON
VIDEOTE Ss) {Hotel May 5-
Cunard Internationa
BRR RRR eee
PC
Full details from: Sue Bonnell,
IPC Conferences Ltd, Surrey House,
Throwley Way, Sutton, Surrey SM1 4QQ.
Tel: 643 8040 Ext. 4889 and 4891
Please send details about Videotex Systems '82
conference/exhibition to:
Name
Company
Address
Tel:
SERRE EKER
@ Circle No. 349
235
Knighis T.D & |
COMPUTERS
SHARP DEALS — MZ-80B £899
Deal A — Sharp MZ-80K with full 48K, BASIC, PASCAL +
NONPKOGKAMISS . eee ee ve. ms #: aoe. . £345
Deal C — as deal A plus FORTRAN, FORTH + 16
POGnaniSie.< See. se EERE £379
Deal F — as deal ? plus MACHINE CODE, KNIGHT
COMMANDER + 100 programs. eoede5
Deal ? — Sharp MZ-80B with 64K, RAM, 8K VRAM, 4K
ROM, and BASIC. et ae mee 21. LOOS
Deal 1B — as deal 1 plus our MZ-80B easy Assembler + 70
programs. Jso0 tee -# Wey ene, ae
NEW PRODUCTS FOR SHARP
MZ-80P4 160 column/150cps £645, MZ-80 single floppy
disk, the PC1511 hand held computer and colour printer,
MZ-80DU colour terminal.
NEW SOFTWARE FOR SHARP
KNIGHT COMMANDER for the MZ-80B giving
RENUMBER, TRACE, SINGLE STEP, DUMP
VARIABLES, etc. — as supplied to Sharp. Our latest B
programs include Jumbo Flight Simulator, Dis-assembler
and Circuit Of Doom. For the MZ-80K we introduce
Machine Code Trace, KNIGHTS POWER MONITOR, Rus-
sian Gold Divers, Fighter Cockpit, etc. We are just back
from Japan for the second time in six months and have
hundreds of exclusive Sharp items. Write, phone or telex
for our latest prices and newsletters. All prices exclude VAT
but inclusive delivery. ACCESS and VISA welcomed.
KNIGHTS TV AND COMPUTERS
108 Rosemount Place, Aberdeen.
Telephone: (0224) 630526. Telex: 739169 KNIGHT
@ Circle No. 350
PETS
Apple it — 48K Computer.
Apple lit — 128K Computer.
Video Monitors — Colour and Black &
White.
Disk Drives,
CBM 4016 — 16K 12” Screen 40 Col. Com-
puter.
CBM 4032 — 32K 12” Screen 40 Col. Com-
puter.
oar 2031 — 170K Single Drive Floppy
isk.
CBM 4040 — 340K Twin Floppy Disk Drive.
CBM 4022 — 80 Col. 65cps Tractor Printer.
CBM 8032 — 32K 80 Col, 12" Screen Com-
puter.
CBM 8096 — 96K 80 Col. 12” Screen Com-
puter.
CBM 8050 — 1 Meg. Twin Floppy Disk
Drive.
CBM 8422 — 22 Meg. Winchester Disk
Drive.
Please phone for latest prices.
We offer some of the best deals around!
Silentype Printer.
All Apple related products available. Please
call for prices.
PRINTERS
Epson MX80FT — 80/132 Col. Frictlon/
Tractor.
Auto Bi-Directional.
Descenders.
Ricoh RP1600 — 164 Col. 60cps Daisy
Printer.
Scripta — 17cps Daisy Printer at low prices.
We will quote for any type or make of printer
available.
9x9 Head True
CAN YOUR
COMPUTER
READ THIS? | IL
Light-pen and signal conditioning unit enable your computer to read all
types of bar code. Typical applications include data collection, ticket
Identification systems, security checkpoint verification, stock control
identifying assemblies in service, repair or manufacturing environ-
ments, programming computers and intelligent instruments, matching
of patient and transfusion blood, retail product price information at
checkouts etc. Various interface options available for all computers
0201
Hardware from £149 + VAT .Further details on request
Professional quality light pens for use with VOUs, graphics
terminals etc. Stainless steel construction, glass lens
optics, built in buffer amp and touch sense switch.
£50 + VAT
‘FAST DATA light pen system (complete hard-
ware/software package) for Commodore
PETs. This is a quality product designed for
serious use. Typical applications include
Computer Aided Design (CAD), wordprdces-
sing, data selection etc. When the pen is
Pointed at the screen its high resolution coor-
dinates are automatically returned as BASIC
variables. Compatible with Supersoft & MTU hi-
res boards.
Data sheet available
Complete system £149 + VAT
ture available.
Full litera-
(PC) 1 Green Lane
ALTEK seuss, sre
Phone (093 22) 44110 — 24 hours
Access... Visa... Callers by appointment
@ Circle No. 351
DEMONSTRATIONS
AT YOUR PLACE
We are able to demon-
strate complete business
systems at your site in
our mobile demon-
stration unit (up to 4
people at a time).
Just phone for an
appointment anytime.
SOFTWARE
Word-processing
Payroll
Incomplete Records
Book-keeping
Invoicing
Stock Control
INTELLIVISION
Superb TV Game for your TV. Cartridges Include:
Space Battle, Skiing, Boxing; Poker, Golf, Tennis,
Roulette, Horse Racing, Basketball, Backgammon
& many others.
Free soccer game with unit.
vic
VIC20 — Computer. Works with
our colour TV.
{C1530 — Cassette Unit.
VIC1540 — Single Floppy Disk
Drive.
VIC1515 — Printer.
Expansion Memory, Games Car-
tridges, Programmers’ Aids &
Tutorials.
Low price computer. New acces-
sories coming In all the time. Cail
for latest news and prices.
BOOKS
Full range of computer books
available from Beginners Guides
to Advanced Machine Code Pro-
gramming.
2’ND HAND
We have a constant changing
range of 2'nd hand and ex-demo
equipment at considerable
savings.
Sales Ledger
Purchase Ledger
Record Keeping
Financial Packages
Time Recording
Silicon Office
ey
S
8.
Q
Ye
DAVINCI
COMPUTER
SHOP
65 High Street,
S
p
E
Cc
I
A
L
O
F
F
E
R
S
id
\Qter Shop __ Edgware, Middx.
moe owrecomens HAB 7DD.
Open Mon-Fri 9.00-5.30
Sat 9.30-5.00
Telephone: 01-952 0526
a PARCLavcaRD!
P. N
Gas
ACCESSORIES
All types of accessories and stationery supplied.
Stationery
Continuous Labels
Daisy Wheels
Auto Sheet Feeders
Dust Covers
Installation & Training
Floppy Disks
Storage Boxes
Printer Ribbons
Tractor Feeds
Cassettes
Maintenance
@Circle No. 352
236 PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
INDEPENDENT COMPUTER ENGINEERING LID
A BRITISH 5%” WINCHESTER
DISK DRIVE
INTERFACE-COMPATIBLE WITH YOUR MICROCOMPUTER
* 3.14, 6.28, 9.42, 12.56 MEGABYTE CAPACITIES
* FAST ACCESS TIMES
* OPTIMISED SEEK TIMES
* ON-BOARD MICROPROCESSOR CONTROLS DRIVE OPERATION AND PRO-
PROVIDES DRIVE DIAGNOSTICS
THE ICE WINCHESTER SUBSYSTEM COMPRISES:
* Winchester Drive/s (RODIME), Controller, Cables, cabinet and Software to
support your system.
* Subsystem can be enhanced to provide 2 Winchester drives, or Winchester
plus floppy disk drive.
* Your BACK-UP problem solved with 20 Megabyte Streamer Tape Subsystem.
* Whisper Quiet Operation.
* APPLE, S100 BUS, IBM PERSONAL COMPUTER, XEROX 820, SUPERBRAIN,
DIRECT 280 CONNECTION. Call us with YOUR Interface problems.
ALL SALES ENQUIRIES TO: Ashford (STD 07842) 47271 or 47171
ICE - INDEPENDENT COMPUTER ENGINEERING LIMITED.
16/18 LITTLETON ROAD, ASHFORD, MIDDLESEX TW15 1UQ. TELEX 8952042
@ Circle No. 353
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982 237
UKIO1-UKION-UKION
| co | GAMES
CEs a oS
SPACE INVADERS (8k) . .£5.50 ASTEROIDS (8k)........ £5.50
Written entirely in fast 6502 This is the real, completely
machine code, ‘Space Invaders’ machine-code ‘Asteroids’. 9 levels
needs no introduction. Excellent of speed, 3 levels of difficulty, 6
use of graphics make this asuperb key control {including a Hyper-
version of a classic game. Pace button) and very fast, very
FIGHTER PILOT (8k) .... £5.50 Sm™oorn graphics. Need we say
You're at the controls of a deep
space Starfighter with amissionto SPACE WARS (8k)...... £4.50
destroy alien rockets and fuel Your Solar System is littered with
dumps. Using 6 keys you can debris from an Intergalactic Space
swoop and straffe or climb and War. Your task is to collect debris
bomb all over the moving land- and to do this you must steer in
scape. Machine code subroutines and out of alien spacecraft. A real
enhance the excellent graphics. test of reflexes.
SHE SET OF FOUR’... oscuro. £15
. send 95p (redeemable against first order) for full catalogue and FREE
listing. Please state ‘UK 101’ on order
All prices include VAT and P&P available from
Oasis Software, Lower North Street, Cheddar, Somerset.
Tel: Cheddar 743409
Dealer enquiries welcome
‘ACCESS ORDERS
a NY | TAKEN BY PHONE
24 HOURS A DAY
Save your time
on paperwork
and calculations
Visit The LONDON MICRO CENTRE to see
word processing and business programs in action.
The Centre stocks a full range of software packages,
but experience has shown that programs should
normally be tailored to meet the client’s
particular needs.
We are main SUPERBRAIN, SORCERER and
APPLE dealers. We can provide any printer to fit
these computers.
You can rent a word processor and a micro system
from £12.90 per week.
Contact us today for further information
The LONDON MICRO CENTRE
47 Lower Belgrave Street
LONDON SW1
Telephone: 01-730 8791
Open evenings and weekends
The LONDON MICRO CENTRE Ltd - An EMG Company
CUM Ie
@ Circle No. 354
@ Circle No. 355
PHOTO ACOUSTICS LID
THE ONE STOP COMPUTER SHOP—
$.B.D. Software is proud to announce their distribution agreement with
the most up to date APPLE-only magazine in America.
CALL A.P.P.L.E.
MAGAZINE
In today’s fast changing world of the APPLE you just can’t afford to stay
CBM 8032
CBM 8050
£875.00.
£875.00
£189.95
£97-95
VIC 20 computer
Expansion box
behind, so don’t settle for anything less than the best APPLE-only .8K RAM packs £29.95 CBM 8026 £1,006.00
magazine in America. 8K RAM pack £44.95 CBM 4032 £690.00
Now you can purchase this outstanding magazine for the low price of 16K RAM pack £74.95 CBM 4040 £690.00
£1.75 per issue. ; : Joysticks £10.00 | CBM 4022 £399.00
Your subscription for 12 or 24 magazines may start from any month in C2N cassette deck £44.95
These prices are Cash and
Carry. Ring Dick at Watford for
quote.
1981.
Single back Issues are available at£2.25 per issue including postage and
packing.
A bound volume of the issues in 1980, 1979, 1978 are available for
£20.00, £15.00 and £10.00 respectively, including postage and packaging.
(Please note that in 1980 & 1981 there were only 9 issues published but in 1982 there
will be 12 issues.)
LC !2issues@£21.00 [) 24 issues @£40.00
Europe Air Mail postage, add £6 per {2 issues
** Software Available x*
£784.00
£384.00
Genie | computer
(Ring for quote)
EG3014 Expansion £228.00
EG3013 Expansion £234.00
EG3013/W Expansion £264.00
EG400 disk drive £243.00
12” B/W monitor £79.00
12” green monitor £87.00
Apple tl computer
Disc drive + cont.
Disc drive without £301.00
Eurocolor card £70.00
9” Hi-res B/W monitor £99.00
9” Hi-res green monitor
£110.00
12” B/W monitor £79.00
12” green monitor £87.00
* * Games software avail **
58, High Street
Newport Pagnell
PAD)RESS iccccscrctessitss+conn 2 RE gon Wes ee, Se em
ILO VAIN | aremerereere sree etait. POSTCODE:
Please start my subscription
Expiry Date
Barclaycard/Access Number *& Software avail. **
Please make cheques payable to CALL APPLE (UK)
Send to:- CALL APPLE (UK), c/o SBD Software.
FREEPOST, RICHMOND, SURREY TW9 1BR
255a St. Albans Road,
Watford, Herts.
ine pose amp (oC dial Bucks. (entrance in Judge Street)
elephone: 01- Tel: 0908 610625 Tel: 0923 32006
The Famous Book RARCLAvCAn® ALL PRICES INCLUDE VAT
GS)
; @Circle No. 357
238 PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
CREDIT CHARGE MAIL ORDER
“ALL ABOUT APPLESOFT”
Now available @ £9.50 incl. P. & P.
6
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Wy Ups Das SI SSCS
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US
Tees >>
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ORCHID SM1Z80 B. A CPM business computer.
THE ORCHID TABLET. A sophisticated digitising tablet
with Z80A computer board.
THE ORCHID SM2Z80 B. A high resolution colour
graphics computer with frame grabbing facility.
STAND No. 456 — SEE YOU THERE!
ORCHID COMPUTERS LTD.
3, Collins Street, Oxford OX4 1XL, England. Telephone Oxford (0865) 722102/3/4/5
STAND NO 357
64K-£79
The growth of interest in computer use caused by the introduction of the Sinclair ZX81 has made new and
exciting demands on the ingenuity of electronic engineers. At Memotech we have focused our attention
on the design of an inexpensive, reliable memory extension.
The Memopak is a64K RAM pack which extends the memory of the ZX81 by a further 56K. Following
the success of our 48K memory board the new memory extension is designed to be within the price range
expected by Sinclair users. It plugs directly into the back of the ZX81 and does not inhibit the use of the
printer or other add-on boards. There is no need for an additional power supply or for leads.
The Memopak together with the ZX81 gives a full 64K, which is neither switched nor paged, and.is
directly addressable. The unit is user transparent and accepts such basic commands as: 10DIM A(9000)
0-8K ...Sinclair ROM
8-16K...Memopak memory which can switch in or out in 4K blocks to leave space for memory mapping.
12-16K...Memopak memory which holds its contents during cassette loads and allows communication
between programmes.
16-32K...This area can be used for basic programmes and assembly language routines.
32-64K...32K of RAM memory for basic variables and large arrays.
With the Memopak extension the ZX81 is transformed into a powerful computer, suitable for business,
leisure and educational use, at a fraction of the cost of comparable systems.
Memotech Ltd:3 Collins Street -Oxford:OX4 1XL-Telephone 722102/3/4/5
@ Circle No. 358
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982 239
APPLE II 48K........ -£670.00
DISK DRIVE
WITH CONTROLLER.....-£370.00
DISK DRIVE
WITHOUT CONTROLLER... .£290.00
BMC 12" GREEN MONITOR
12" GREEN MONITOR....£145.00
PC 1211 POCKET COMPUTER.69.50 ©
MZ 80K (48K) COMPUTER. PHONE FOR
MZ 80B (64K) COMPUTER. “‘SRICE.
DUAL DISK DRIVE.....2---550.00
P3 PRINTER....+++.2+e+e + 360-00
PG PRINTER. «we. £0%,.9upe 745800
P6 PRINTER..-....0++++420-00
SPEED BASIC.....-.+-+++ 10.00
MACHINE CODE.......++++-17-40
EDITOR/ASSEMBLER........ 35-00
PASCAL INTERPRETER...... 40-00
MZ 80K DUST COVER....... 5.00
APOLLO WORD PROCESSOR... 24.95
MALC EL.. lca tees te. dee Meee
DATA BASEssssssecseesee> 29.50
ZEN EDITOR ASSEMBLER.... 19.50
MACHINE LANGUAGE........17.74
MZ 80K DUST COVER...,...5-00 a
POSTEOON. os ..aseeces.0-05-00 a
ADDRESS BOOK.......+.22.5-00 a
MOONLANDER...+.seeeeeee5200 a
GOMPATs 2. eereeemeemes aa5s00 3 ALL PRICES EXCLUDE VAT_
\ MAIL ORDER FORM
EPS PUEAS EERSUR PIA pope tetelele scctelalote ciatvtale’. » oleic sravayerase av NORE Eaae
| once i ee Ean.
Sd cou ses enw en coos: MP Sy ee ee ce
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ONO, OF sor io 1) cae:
OuUpenor oystems Lid. Sheffield
178 West Street, S1 4ET. Tel.(0742)755005.
Mait Order
Accessories
Postage Rates
a.75p b.1.00 c.1.50 d.2.50 e.5.00
BOOKS
(SEND SAE FOR FULL LIST)
BASIC HANDBOOK........000. 13.95 c
SOFTWARE SECRETS(MZ80K)...7.95 b
APPLE II USER GUIDE....... 11.10 c
BASIGNBASIC... Rhus aeetees 8.95 b
PROGRAMMING Z80.......---- 11.95 ¢
PROGRAMMING 6502......-+..10.75 ©
PROGRAMMING VIDEO GENIE...5.00
ZX 81 COMPANION. ....22000-/295
ZX 81 POCKET BOOK.........5.95
GETTING AQUAINTED ZX81....4.95
GETTING AQUAINTED ACORN...7.95
HINTS & TIPS ZX81......24.4.25
ERM RANDBOOK.- = . camicleeed). SOye
6502 GAMES... cescecccesee LO525 C
MICROSOFT BASIC........---8.75 b
ATOM BUSINESS... 2220000000 .6095 a
APPLE PASCAL GAMES.......-11.45 b
WORD STAR MADE EASY.......7.60 b
APPLE
WMPUE AC... §... Siemans 97-50 b
VISTPLOT. 0. ccc ccs e cee 00 0 95800)5
VISITREND/VISIPLOT.....-.135.00 b
VISIDEX. 2c. cceeeeeeee eee 105.00 b
CIS COBOL........202050++4/5.00 b
MICROMODELLER.....2-2+2---420.00 b
APM. wcccccvcccccovvvceeeell9.00 Db
APPLEWRITER...2e22eee022+39.00 BD
MAGIC WINDOW..........++-79.00 b
co cc ao =
VIDEO GENIE
SOMO NOD e.g. 0s pesese> eetadd &
COPGUR FDO. wins eine svi neied9266 b
SYNTHESISER....2eeeeee0+-45.00 D
DUST COVER....eeeeeeeeees9-00 a
|
|
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ADDRESS. cece ccc ccccccccecccceccsoes |
I
I
I
I
VIC 20 COMPUTER......173.90e
VIC CASSETTE DECK....39.09 d
VIC PRINTER.....-....200.00
3K RAM CARTRIDGE.....26.04 b
8K RAM CARTRIDGE.....39.09 b
16K RAM CARTRIDGE....65.17 b
JOVS TICK .12 stele sees eet 622) ib
PADDUES « « « sic:e\6 slepetevereral lrai in
INTRODUCTION TO BASIC
PART Lance ss ccccbe as ol 5.00) Db
VIC GAMES ROM CARTRIDGES
VARIOUS FROM.........17.356
VIDEO GENIE
MKI with sound &
lower CaSe€...e2.e2200- 309.00
MKII
BUSINESS COMPUTER.....309.00
EXPANSION UNIT
WITH 16K ROM..........199.00
ACORN ATOM
ACORN ATOM 8+5
with colour+PSU......199.00 d
ACORN DISK PACK......299.00 d
FLOATING POINT ROM...20.00 a
GAMES PACKS 1-10.....10.00eac
WORD PACK ROM....«..-26.00 a
COLOUR ENCODER.......39.00 b
B.B.C. ROM PACK.....-PHONE b
MAGIC BOOK.......2.009.90 1€
MATHS: PACK secs see meric OOO) a
ATOM. CHESS oe 126% «is, . 10500! a
ATOM ADVENTURES....-.10-00 a
Cotes esecrewsceeereseereseseetesenere
@ Circle No. 359
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
@oppic
Apple li + 48K £649.00
Disk drive + controller
£349.00
Disk drive
16K Ram card
Pascal system
@ APPLE SOFTWARE
Visicalc (3.3)
Visiplot
Visidex
Visitrend/plot
Apple word
Apple writer |
Apple writer il
Desk top plan ll
DOS plus
Aplus
Appleguard
@ WORD PROCESSING
Apple Writer (1) £39.00
Apple writer ll (80 col) p.o.a.
Magic window £59.95
Mailmerge (80 col) £60.95
Wordstar p.o.a.
@ MONITORS
12” green screen
9” b/w Hi-Risul
@ COLOUR MONITOR
14" JVC-PAL/SECAM/NTSC
£289.00
£60.00
£239.95
£105.00
£19.95
£19.95
£19.95
£129.95
£127.95
Euro colour card
Integer card
Language card
Parallel interface card £87. 00
Communication card £99.00
Centesonic card £99.00
High speed serial card £94.95
@ PRINTERS
Silentype
Centesonic 737
Paper Tiger
Epson
MX80 T2
MX80 FT/1 i
Epson/Sharp cassette £65.00
Epson/Sharp disk p.o.a.
@ GAMES
Space Warrior, Alien Rain, All
Snoggle, Galaxy Wars, Gob-
bler, Star Cruiser, Alien,
Typhoon, Cribbage, Galactic
Empire all at £12.95
Star Mines, Apple Panic, Tar-
tusian, Tawala’s Creature,
Venture. all at £14.95
Star Thief, Missile Defence,
Epoch, Soft Porn Adventure,
The Wizard and the Princess,
Threshold, Sneakers, Oldofo
Revenge, Peagus 4 all at
£17.95
at DEANS
SHARP
|
@PC 1211
PC1211 Pocket computer
£69.95
interface
oy 95
CE121 Cassette:
CE122 Printer 9.95
CSR700 Paper roll (40) a 0.a.
@ MZ80K
MZ80K computer 48K £345.00
MZ80FD Dual disk £550.00
MZ80P3 Dot printer £360.00
MZ80F I/O Disk interface
£49.95
MZ80F 15 Disk cable £8.00
MZ80 VO Expansion box
£94.00
MZ80T 20C Machine lan-
£18.00
£35.00
guage
MZ80TU Assembler
MOST of our prices are heavily discounted therefore
please send cheques payable to DEANS. Credit-card
sales add 3%. Add 15% VAT. Postage and packing free
on books & software.
DEANS
191, KENSINGTON HIGH STREET, LONDON W.8.
Tel. 01-937 7896 Ext. 3.
WHAT'S the CATCH?
HOW COME THESE PRICES ARE SO LOW?
There is no catch except you always catch a good DEAL.
DE.
A
ATARI’
£295.00
£549.00
£49.95
£295.00
400 16K computer
800 16K computer
16K Ram upgrade
Disk drive
@ VIDEO RECORDERS
Sony SLC5
Sony SLC7
JVC HR7200
JVC HR7300
Akai VS5
@ FLOPPY DISC
5}” Verbatim SSO
5}"Verbatim SS/DDX10
£19.95
53” Verbatim DS/DD
£2.60
@ BOOKS
APPLE
Apple Il Ref. Manual £11.00
6502 Assembly language
£12.10
DOS 3.2 Manual £6.00
Apple {i Basic tutorial Pascal
Reference Manual £8.50
@ 2X81
Getting Acquainted with your
ZX81 £5.95
Mastering Machine code on
your ZX81 or 80 £5.95
The Gateway Guide to the
ZX81 and ZX80 £5.95
49 Explosive Games for the
ZX81 £5.25
£390.95
£548.10
£451.53
£477.95
£2,30
@ Circle No. 360
A
A & G Computerware 34
Access 34
ACT 66, 67
Adler 23
Almare 233
Altek 236
Anglia 12, 13
Apple Orchard 214
Atlanta 234
Atlantic Computer Shop 44
valon 196
Avery 216
Avon 196
B
BFI 219
Beeline 3
Black Box/Rair 211
Ree cones sa ie
romley Computer
Butel se 222
Cc +
Calco 218
Cambridge Micro Computers 30
Camden 218
Centronics 69
Chromasonic 114
City Microsystems 226
Clenlo 110
Commodore 16, W70s2
Commodore Machines 104, 105
Compsho 191
Computabits 186
Computace 28
Computech 200
Computer Aided Printing Services 22
Computer Facts 139
Computer Fair 182, 183
Computer Interface 216
Computers for All 178
Comshare 37
Control Universal 232
Crofton 224
Crystal 235
CTEC 103
Cumana 33, 213
CWP 184
D
Data Applications 68
Data Efficiency 129
Datalect 32
Advertisement Index
Datarite 192
Davinci 236
DDP 210
Deans 241
Digital Devices 181
Digitek 145
Discom 214
Disking 177
DRG 227
Duplex Communications 142
East Fern 201
Electronic Brokers 29
EMG 131, 212, 238
Encotel 219
Engineering Computer Services 64
Equinox 42, 112, 113
G
Gate 8)
Glenrothes 193
G.P, Industrial 229
Gram 30
Grama {Winter) 6,7
Gt. Northern Computer Services 26
Guestel Inside Back Cover
H
Hal 30, 196
Hilderbay 206
Hitec 242
Hitech 209
Hiteck 188
Hobby Electronics 174
I
IBR 140
Icarus 36, 221
LC.E. 237
Informex Centralex 190
Infra 232
Inta Corporation 18, 19
Interam 11S
10 Systems 218
Irvine 212
Ithaca Outside Back Cover
J
John Birkwood Assoc. 230
John Wiley & Sons 215
K
Kai 180
Kansas 220
Keele 99
KGB 91
PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
Kingston 188
Knights 236
Kontron 138
Kram 222
L
Laskys 85, 86, 87, 88, 96
Level 198
Lifeboat Assoc. 109
Lisiar 116
Little Genius 29
L & J Computers 208
London Computer Centre 179
Lowe 24, 130
LSI 74, 78
Lucas Logic 20, 21
Macmillon, J. 202
Maplin 18S
Mass Micros 231
Melbourne House 144
Memotech 239
Mercator 102
Metrotech 14,15
Micro Business Centre 187
Microcentre Inside Front Cover
Microcode 228
Micro Computer Applications 204
Micro Computer Land 132
Mjcro Computer Products International 25
Microcosm 26
Micromanagement 231
Micromods 201
Micronetworks 205
Micropute 76, 137
Microsec 235
Microsource 17
Micro Support Centre 234
Microvalve Dealers Pe
Microware 31, 183, 210
Micro 80 208
Millbank 8,9
Monolith 190
N
Northern Amateur Radio Sch. 180
Northamber 27
oO
Oasis 238
Overseas Computer Systems 61
Oxtord Computers 35
Ozwise 230
P
Pearcom 65
Penbie International 234
Pete & Pam 223
Photo RecueieS 238
P.R. Dal 180
Prentice Hall 225
Protech 176
Ram 61
Real Time Developments 224
ive 197
SBD 202, 238
SDM 220
S.E.C. 194
Sharp 51
Sinclair Research 121, 122, 123, 124, 146
Sirton 207
Soft Option 39
epider Software 228
Ss 216
Stirling 212
Superior Systems 240
Swan 144
Swanley 224
Symbiotics 206
Systemise 193
System Logic 39
Systems International 232
iv
3rd London Computer Fair 217
3SL 188
Tabs 82
Technomatic 199
Teleprinter 57
Telesystems 204
Transam 203
Transdata 48
Transtec 195
felilcea Computer Store 226
Videotex 235
Visconti 40
sak 338
Ww
Watford 4
Wida 34
Willis 206
Viadtall 230
Your Computer 198
oO
Zenith 5
241
| TEC Mail Order SottWees
THE MORE YOU TAKE
THE MORE YOU GAIN FROM COMPUTING
MILESTONE: £210.-
Manual alone: £20.-
“Critical path" network analysis program for scheduling
manpower, dollars and time to maximise productivity.
NEW IMPROVED. Interactive project management pro-
gram that runs under CP/M, MILESTONE canbe used to
track paper flow, build a computer, check a department's
performance, or build a bridge. MILESTONE can be used
by executives, engineers, managers, and small
businessmen.
~ Produce PERT chart in minutes.
~ Find critical tasks that can't be delayed.
— Investigate tradeofts between manpower, dollars
and time.
Give plans to others using a printed project
schedule.
Change details and immediately see the results
on screen.
— Balance time, manpower and costs.
Requires 56K RAM and CP/M. Specify Z80 or 8080. Also
available for Apple Pascal, UCSD Pascal or CP/M-86
operating systems. (Milestone-86 version 290 1) For-
mats: 8, NS, MP, SB, TRS2, OB-1, XX, IPC, IDW.
ACCESS/80
A report generator and cross-tabulator. Virtually any
report that can be described on paper can be generated
by using your existing ASCII data files. Produces reports
in minutes that would take hours to program in BASIC.
oa | — Report Generator and Cross-Tabulator —
10.-
Read ASCIl files and create sorted reports with subtotal-
ling capability. Provides multi/dimensiona! cross tabula-
tion and computation. Includes operating system
commands.
— Level Il — Output and Logic Processor — £354.-
Everything in Level | plus, wnte out new files in any sorted
order (including subtotalling). Load arrays from files. Per-
forms binary search on sorted arrays in memory. Includes
contro! language extensions for complex applications.
Requires CP/M and 48K RAM. Formats: 8, NS, MP,
CDOS, SB, TRS2, APPL.
DATEBOOK Il: £210.-
Manual alone £18.-
- Schedules appointments for up to 27 different
doctors, lawyers, rooms, etc.
— File structure allows for appointments up to one
year In advance.
— Searches for openings that fit time of day, day of
week and/or day of year constraints.
— Appointments made, modified or
easily.
- Copies of day's appointments can be printed
quickly.
Requires 56K RAM and CP/M. Specify Z80 or 8080. Also
available for Apple Pascal, UCSD Pascal or CP/M-86
operating systems.
Formats: 8, NS, MP, SB, APPL, TRS2, OB-1, XX, 1-5,
IPC, IDW.
PERSONAL DATEBOOK — 110. Manual alone
20
Time management and appointment scheduling calendar
for an individual or small office with up to nine staff
members. Displays one appointment schedule on screen
at a time. Cancellations can be put into hold file for easy
tescheduling at your convenience. Menu dnven com-
mands do not require referral to manual.
Requires CP/M 2.x and 56k RAM. Specify Z80 or 8080.
Also available for Apple Pascal, UCSD Pascal or CP/M-
86 operating systems. Formats: 8, NS, MP, SB, APPL,
TRS2, XX, IPC, IDW.
WHATSIT?
A data base/querry/retrieval system that communicates
cancelled
or deleted at any time. 116 page manual assumes no
Programming knowledge. Requires CP/M, CBASIC2
ANDO 24k RAM. Formats: 8, NS, MP, SB, APPL, OB-1,
XX.
THE FIELD COMPANION £210.-
Manual alone £20.-
Created for the needs of the travelling Salesman or
Professional. Allows you to track the time spent with your
clients, each client having up to four user-defined sub-
fields. Expense accounting is provided and is itemised in
a detailed journal for budgeting and tax reporting pur-
Poses. Maintains appointments and current customer list
including shipping and billing addresses, year-to-date
sales and person to contact for follow-up. Invoicing fea-
tures retrieves required data from both customer and
product lists. Special instructions and discounts are sup-
ported. Invoice copies may be output to a printer or sent to
the home office via modem, permitting electronic transfer
of the content of any report. Requires 56k RAM and CP/M
or CP/M-86 and 128k RAM. Formats: 8, NS, MP, APPL,
SB, XX, IPC, IDW.
FOOTNOTE £125.-
Automatically numbers and formats footnote calls, foot-
notes and text, placing footnotes on the bottom of the
correct page. At the user's option, the footnotes can also
be removed from the text file to a separate note file.
Footnotes can be entered singly or in groups, in the
middle or at the end of paragraphs. After running FOOT-
NOTE the user can re-edit the text, add or delete notes,
and run FOOTNOTE again to re-number and re-format.
Price includes PAIR, a companion program that checks
that underline and BOLDFACE commands are properly
terminated. Requires CP/M, WordStar, 48k RAM. For-
mats: 8, NS, MP, SB, APPL, OB-1, XX.
CBASIC/86: £230.-
Manual alone £20.-
Industry standard intermediate code basic compiler with
runtime interpreter for CB/M-86. Features include chain-
ing, integer and external precision arithmetic, random and
sequential records of any length {not limited to 256 bytes).
Requires CP/M-86, Formats: 8, |-5.
Personal PEARL: £210--
— User friendly application software generator. A fourth
generation language, automatically creates completely
new programs in CBASIC. Excellent documentation
makes it easy to create “personal” software such as
checking and financial programs, name, address and
telephone lists, etc.
Requires CP/M, CBASIC2 and 48K RAM. Formats: 8,
NS, SB, TRS2, APPL, OB-1, MP.
SPELLBINDER: £354-,
Manual alone £35.
Full feature word processing system with Office
Management capabilities. Its special features include
ease-of-use by office personnel, flexible print formatting &
output, and powerful macro capability which allows fea-
tures to be added for the unique requirements of each
user. Mail list macro Is included for mall merge with form
letters.
Requires CP/M & 32K RAM. Formats: 8, NS, MP, CDOS,
SB, APPL, XX
ACT:
New text and prices:
CP/M compatible macro assembler family supporting all
major 8 bit micros. ACT features include full macro capa-
bilities, comprehensive pseudo ops, link file structures,
cross reference map and algebraic expression proces-
sor. Requires 32k RAM and CP/M.
ACT | - 6502 £130ACT-86/88
ACT | - 6800 £130ACT-6809
ACT | - 8080/Z 80 £130Manuals £18
COPYRIGHT:
£130
£130
PASCAL/M: £280.-
Manual alone £15.-
CP/M compatible language for 8080/Z80 CPUs, sup-
ports full Jensen & Wirth plus 45 extensions to Standard
Pascal Including Random access files,, 40 segment pro-
cedures & 16 bit BCD real type. Also includes symbolic
debugger which features trapping on stores, examining
and changing variables and tracing of program execution.
ae CP/M 2.2 & 56K RAM. Formats: 8, NS, APPL,
2.
PASCAL/M for 8086/88: £350.-
Manual alone £15.-
All the features of PASCAL/M for the 8086 and 8088
processors running under CP/M-86.
Requires CP/M-86 and K RAM. Formats: 8, 1-5.
PASCAL: Sort - £140.-
Manual alone £14.-
Fully commented source code Into which the user simply
places the particular file description and sequence
requirements to obtain the desired sort. Can run stand-
alone or as a overlayed segment of larger program. Uses
indirect Shell-Metzner in RAM, interleaved polyphase
(Fibonacci) merge on disk, full sector buffering and shor-
test seek logic. Can match machine ianquage sorts even
under Pcode interpretation. Requires CP/M 2.x and 56k
RAM and CP/M-86 and 128k RAM. Pascal?M,UCSD
Pascal or Pascal /MT. Formats: 8, NS, APPL, XX, MP,
TRS2, IPC IDW.
SUPERCALC: £210.-
Allows a layman to manipulate business data in a variety
of forecasting and accounting applications. Combines the
interactive nature of an electronic spreadsheet with the
power and convenience of a simple simulation language.
Video display can be scrolled over entire worksheet using
cursor controls. Symbolic vector reverrences eliminate
repetitive low level data manipulation commands. Easy to
use menu driven "Help" commands. Requires CP/M and
48K RAM. Formats: 8, NS, MP, SB, APPL, TRS2.
Call for terminal formats.
SUPERDOS: £100.-
Upgrade of CP/M2.2 for Superbrain. Includes ADM/31
Hazeltine, or Superbrain Terminal emulation mode. Other
new features include 132 character keyboard buffer,
repeat on all keys, key click, user programmable numeric
keypad, 30% disk read/write improvement, real time
clock, baud rates to 19,2K on RS232 ports, printer hand-
shake modes, 4 new utilitles, and 4 fixes.
Requires Superbrain 3.0. Format: SB.
TRANS 86 — £104.-
Manual alone £15.-
8086/88 Translator for existing 8080/Z80 programs. New
source code is easily edited and assembled using ACT It
to produce hex code which is executed by 8086/88 CPU.
Emphasizes the extenslons and features available In the
8086/88. -
Requires CP/M & 32K Ram. Formats: 8, NS, APPL, OB 1,
XX
MAILER — £75.-
A fast and easy to use malling list program. Address
labels can get printed in any desired order including
alphabetically. Data can be selected. APPL.
IMP — £310.-
Instant mathematical programming for complex
engineering design as well as allocation problems, stati-
Stics, transport and many other applications. It allows a
user to enter difficult mathematical problems (slmul-
taneous non-linear equations, linear programming con-
structs and multivariate analysis problems) in simple
algebralc form. APPL.
Access/80 Friends Software; Pearl Relatlonal Systems; Pascal/M, ACT, Trans 86, Supercalc Sorcim, CBASIC 2,
CBASIC/86 Compiler Systems; Datebook II, Milestone, Textwriter Itt Organic Software; Speliguard ISA; CP/M, CP/M-
86 Digital Research; Superbrain Intertec Data Systems; S-Basic Topaz Programming; Spellbinder Lextsoft; Selector [V;
Selector/86, Glector Micro Ap.
Prices quoted do not include dealer Installation and training. Prices and availability subject to change without notice.
controversationally, accepting questions and updates in
simple sentences. Store, index and retrieve information
about one or more aspects of related or unrelated sub-
jects. Information is stored under your designated “sub-
ject" and “tag” headings, which can be added to, changed
London
5 to 9
= — 17 WIGMORE STREET
und Betriettberatungs GmbH LONDON, WH OLA.
ORDERS oust specify disk type and format. Add 15% VAT to
orders, Add £1 per item postage and packing. All orders must be
prepaid. Make cheques, POs etc payable to HITEC Company, 5 to 9, 17
Wigmore Street, London W1H 9LA. Manual costs are deductible from.
subsequent software purchase. Dealer Inquiries welcome.
@ Circle No. 361
242 PRACTICAL COMPUTING April 1982
FOUR GOOD REASONS
FOR CHOOSING GUESTEL
The Systems — Whatever your micro,computer
hardware or software requirements, Apple
- systems can meet them and we can supply
them to rent or buy. Visit our showrooms in
London, Brighton and Bristol or use our nationwide mail
order service — one of the largest and most efficient
in the country.
Guestel provide sales, service and an in depth knowledge
of Apple systems.We buy bigger so you can buy cheaper.
The Consultancy — Micro com se systems are
simple to use once you know how But how do you
learn when so much of the so-called advice is in
confusing computer jargon? Come to
us.We talk plain English. Quite simply, we :
will help you to identify your particular
needs for hardware, software and
support services — then we'll match them
with Apple systems.
The Service — Immediately you come to us with your needs
you'll get a personal service. Whatever your requirements, we
respond right away. And once your equipment is installed our
@ reliable back up service ensures that help is aways on hand
when you need it.We operate a two tier maintenance agreement,
" witha 24 hour call out service.We also have an in house engineering
TE ‘facility and a telephone enquiry service 4 — with emergencies.
: =| Our fast, efficient mail .
i within easy reach.
The Know How — Some of Britain's leading
companies have come to us for help in developing
major custom built micro computer linked systems
~ your guarantee that we have the depth of
technical knowledge and the experience to help with your
needs, large or small.
; : EXPANSION THROUGH EFFICIENCY
8-12 NEW BRIDGE STREET LONDON EC4V 6AL TELEPHONE 01 583 2255
41/43 BALDWIN STREET BRISTOL 0272 27461
15 GRAND PARADE BRIGHTON EAST SUSSEX BN2 2QB TELEPHONE 0273 695264
AUTHORISED APPLE DEALER AND LEVEL ONE SERVICE CENTRE
U
@oppic’ APPLE Ill NOW AVAILABLE
Appleis a trademark of Apple Computer Inc., Cupertino, CA, USA.
@Circle No. 362
244
Open Library