Computer News 80 Vol 06 No 01 ( 1993)( Construction News Publishing)[ Jan 1993]

48 Pages·56.9 MB·English

by  Construction News Publishing

P.O. BOX 680/CASPER, WYOMING 82602-0680 307-265-6483
JANUARY 1993 VOLUME 6 NUMBER 1 $ 4.00
INDEX EDITORIAL COMMENT
PROGRAM REVIEWS We start this new year, our sixth, with the
same enthusiasm that we had when we
DISKOPT started our first year, except that this year
by David P. Miller Page 3 it is even greater.
ANSITERM Ten years ago this spring Tandy/Radio
by David P. Miller Page 4 Shack placed the Model 4 computer on the
market. The Model 4 was such a giant leap
THE ARRANGER II forward in technology over the Model III.
by Mark Allen Reed Page 6 Who would have guessed that these powerful
machines would still be going strong and
still in demand today? But they are. And
with the new and greater software and
NEW PROGRAM hardware products being introduced this
year they will be even more in demand.
MagicDraw - Introductory Overview
by David Goben Page 7 David Goben has just released MagicDra w, a
mouse drawing program that has all the
features of the MS/PC drawing programs. We
have just completed the plug on clock and
THIS 'N' THAT date project. This unit is the same as the
by David P. Miller Page 14 ROMCLOCK that we have, except you do
not have to open up your computer to
install it. You simply plug it on to your the
TWO MODEL 4 BASIC PROGRAMS 1/0 bus connector on your Model 4P or
by Roger L. Favorite Page 15 Model 4 or 4D. Then like ROMCLOCK you
have instant date and real time every time
you boot up your computer. Like
A VISIT WITH DAVID GOBEN ROMCLOCK, the 1/O-CLOCK exterior clock
by David Goben Page 16 can be ordered with either TRS/LS-DOS
(Model 4) or LOOS (Model 3) programs.
LPRINT FROM DOS SUPER SYSTEM
by Richard Snow Page 20 We must tell you about our personal dream
system. As we have mentioned many times
over the years, a minimum system for
convenience of copying and backing up
PROGRAM LISTINGS disks is at least three drives. Well, thanks to
KEY/BAS Page 23 the development of the 1/O-BUS Interface,
KEY/ASM Page 23 here we sit at our personal work station
BLOOD/BAS Page 24 with a Model 4 that has 4 5-1/4 drives and
2 3-1/2 drives all in operation at the same
time.
TRS-80 SHOPPERS GUIDE
January
With CN80 Product Guide Page 25
1993
Vol. 6 No. 1 Page 1
There is also a 10 nieg hard drive connected How many times after the first of the year
to this work station along with a Dot have you written a date on a check that
Matrix printer, and a laser printer still said it was 1992. It is twice as hard to
both controlled via an A-B switch so we can make the typing fingers strike the right
jump back and forth between the two keys, especially when you are planning
without plugging and unplugging printer ahead. Or is it in the brain too. In any
cables. The RS-232 connector has a three event your discount coupon will be honored
button mouse plugged into it. We would also during January 1993.
have the modem connected to this machine,
but that is connected to another workstation CREDIT CARDS
that has a dedicated phone line near it. Again let us address the question of why we
Otherwise the modem would be connected to do not accept credit card orders. The reason
this workstation. Having this many drives is very simple. If we did set up a credit
on one computer may seem excessive to you, card system we would have to increase our
but during the course of the working day price on everything from fifteen to twenty
we are duplicating many disks of each size. percent, including our subscription rates. We
We also receive disks from our readers and do not feel that this additional cost should
our authors which contain data to be be added to the price the user has to pay.
transferred to our word processor program. Are you willing to throw away $20 on a
And if you are wondering what word $100 order? After all we accept your
processor is used to create Computer News personal checks or a credit card check.
80, it is SCRIPTSIT-Pro, which (in our
opinion) is the best Model 4 word processor Some have said "Why don't you add an extra
ever made for the Model 4. (And your amount to those who want to buy using
opinion, which we know you have - be their credit card?" The answer to that is,
dammed. -- We say that in jest, because that because it is against the federal law to
is the tone of the many letters we receive charge more for credit card sales than cash
concerning the favorite programs that sales. Oh, you didn't know that! Many mail
readers are familiar with. How can you order houses still advertise a sur-charge on
claim your favorite is the best unless you orders when you use a credit card. It is
have extensive knowledge of all the others?) illegal for them to do so, but no one has
complained so they get away with it.
SCRIPTSIT-PRO
Unfortunately SCRIPSIT-Pro is out of print For these and several other reasons we have
and has been off the market for sometime. no plans to install a system to accept credit
But if you can find a legitimate copy on card sales.
tlte used market it is well worth the
purchase price, whatever the owner is asking
for it. There is one great advantage to using
SCRIPSIT-Pro over many others and that is
that it is a very powerful what-you-see-is
what-you-get , as you type in the text. It
has column addition abilities and tab to the
REMINDER
period, even with proportional print drivers.
The other great advantage, and perhaps it's
most important feature is that it does not If the last four digits on your mailing label
take any memory larger than 128K (which is are 93/01, then this is your last issue. Time
required for its use) to create the great to get your renewal in the mail.
American novel length document. Or as
large a document that you wish, without Moving?
super memory capacities needed. Remember to send us your new address.
DISCOUNT TYPING ERROR
Some how our fingers just don't remember
that New Years eve has come and gone - for
about three months, usually. Our 10%
discount coupon for 1992, is correct except
it should say good till January 24, 1993.
Vol. 6 No. 1 Page 2
Bug Report The DISKOPT package consists of
DIRCHECK, a program that examines,
Henry Herrdegen reported that there is a reports errors found, and can make some
bug in his program PGMREC3/BAS which is repairs on the directory structure of the
on our disk series 19. media to be optimized; TESTFRAG, a
program that reports the number of
Line 250 The closing quotation mark after fragmented files on the media, and the
the "file full, .... " message got lost somewhere DISKOPT program itself. Each of these
in the shuffle! (It is there in the Model 4 programs will be covered in the following
program.) It won't show up unless you discussion.
exceed the 500 file limit, and it's easily
fixed. Insert the quotation mark between the I used DIRCHECK on each drive to be
exclamation mark and the colon: optimized, both floppy and hard. No errors
". ... possible!":GOSUB ... ". were reported on any of my working
-Henry H. Herrdegen disks/diskettes, so I manually 'hacked' a
diskette with a total of 17 directory errors
to see if DIRCHECK would find them all.
These errors included erroneous HIT and
GAT bytes, changing names without
Program Reviews updating HIT bytes, and changing extents
without updating GAT bytes. DIRCHECK
DISK OPT - A Review found all 17 errors and reported them as
by David P. Miller 'Repairable'.
DISKOPT by David Goben is a utility TESTFRAG is used to determine if
program designed to reorganize your optimization is desirable by reporting the
diskettes or hard drive partitions, placing number of fragmented files. TESTFRAG
all files on the media in a contiguous quickly scanned every disk/diskette I used
fashion. During normal use, files become it on, reporting fragmented files where
'fragmented' as they are stored, removed, expected (media not yet optimized), and
and updated. 'Fragmentation' is a term that reporting no fragmented files on any media
describes the storage of a file in several already having been optimized.
separate locations on the media rather than
in one continuous area. Since TRSDOS uses DISKOPT, the showcase program of the
available disk space near the beginning of trilogy, scans the drive and graphically
the disk first, a file can be broken into displays a map similar to that generated by
several sections while being written. This is, the 'FREE' command (similar because · the
for all intents, invisible to the user and to entire DISKOPT display always fits
programs accessing the file, but the fact completely on the screen). A prompt is then
that each portion of the file must be found offered to allow you to proceed with
when reading data from the file later can optimization or quit. Upon pressing
noticeably slow down operations. [ENTER], DISKOPT proceeds to move data,
graphically displaying the operation in
DISKOPT solves the problem by moving the progress, and lists the name of the file
files stored on your diskette or hard drive being moved. DISKOPT worked perfectly
partition, logically arranging their physical while optimizing four hard drive partitions,
location on the media so that each file is and a 360K and several 720K floppy disks.
stored as a single, continuous file and
restoring the speed of disk operations to the During the optimization process, I noticed
maximum possible using TRSDOS and the that several (sometimes large) unused areas
media involved. were left in between optimized files. At
first thinking this was a failure of the
My test setup consisted of a Model 4P with program, I later realized that DISKOPT was
a 20MEG hard drive connected and both placing files in such a way that they would
720K, 3.5" and 360K, 5.25" floppy drives; not surround such items as system (/SYS)
and a Model 4D with the same drive files that were not to be moved, or the
configuration. DISKOPT performed directory cylinder, which is usually located
flawlessly in all tests. at the midpoint of a disk. Thus, even
Vol. 6 No. 1 Page 3
though you may wish to 'pack' all your files file in the buffer and viewing it (when
together, DISKOPT will not do so if it off-line after the call) you can gain
means splitting a file into two or more valuable information on such equipment.
separate areas.
In the newest incarnation of ANSI-Term,
Overall, DISKOPT is quick, easy, reliable, several improved and advanced features are
and absolutely essential if you wish to offered. The screen display is composed of
maintain the maximum performance from 30 text lines instead of the 24 normally seen
your TRS-80 with a minimum of effort. on the TRS-80; support for AV AT AR
Although much the same results can be con trot codes is included; three 'loadable'
achieved by backing up all files, purge all display fonts (two 'PC'-style and a TRS-80
files from the media, and restoring them, font) are provided with a font editor to
the difference in time and effort saved by allow development of other needed fonts;
using DISKOPT is enormous. baud rates up to 19,200 work flawlessly; two
-David P. Miller transmission protocols infrequently
supported by other terminal software is
included: X-Modem lK (also called lK
Y-Modem) and Y-Modem Batch; and
ANSITERM - A review keyboard macros can be developed, stored
by David P. Miller and easily used. Each of these f ea tu res will
be covered in the following discussions,
The staff at CN80 selected me to review the along with other features and subjects.
latest copy of ANSI-Term for the Model 4
by Richard VanHouten. ANSI-Term is an First, the text display: the 30-line display
update for the original version which ran allows more information to be shown on the
only on the Model III under TRSDOS 1.3, screen at one time before scrolling off into
which limited storage, displays and 'lost-bit land'. This can be useful, as trying
functions to those available on that machine to read a message even at 2400 baud is
and DOS. difficult. I have frequently 'paused' a
message from a BBS only to find that the
The major 'draw' of the original version of information I wished to review was already
ANSI-Term is the use of high-resolution gone. The additional six lines of text gives
graphics to display an ANSI-standard you a 'second chance' to get the information
character set. ANSI characters are those used you want without starting all over again.
on 'PC'-compatible computers and therefore,
when connecting to Bulletin Board Systems Second, the AV AT AR control codes. As
(BBS's), the menu borders and ANSI images stated in the documentation for ANSI-Term,
developed by the System Operators (SYSOPs) this is probably the only TRS-80 program
can be viewed correctly on the TRS-80. supporting these codes. To be honest, I know
of no system that uses AV AT AR codes
This can be extremely useful when calling anyway, so I wonder about the need to
local BBS systems because the standard support them. To be honest, I don't know
TRS-80 character set causes the replacement what AV AT AR codes are or what they are
of ANSI 'box' characters with (usually) supposed to do. I suppose if you need them,
capital letters. When a menu is bordered however, they are indispensable.
with an ANSI box, the result is frequently
almost impossible to read on a TRS-80. Also, Next comes transmission speed. ANSI-Term
some BBS's offer on-line games using ANSI is the ONLY terminal program I have used
renderings, which leaves most TRS-80 users that sends and receives data at 19,200 baud
out of the picture. Finally, callers of BBS without error. My experience with TRS-80
systems such a:s offered by Seagate or terminal programs includes almost every
Western Digital are able to download such program written, and with only one
documentation files that give specifics on exception I have seen them all 'blow a fuse'
various hard drive 'bubbles' and controller at speeds over 9,200 baud when higher
boards. These files almost always make use speeds are offered. Transferring data at
of ANSI graphics to depict the location of 19,200 baud with a null-modem cable is
jumpers, connectors and various components much faster than any disk transfer program.
of the hard ware. By loading the resulting Doing so with ANSI-Term is a pleasure.
Vol. 6 No. l Page 4
In transferring files, I used a setup Y-Modem transmission, with 21K sent on the
consisting of a null modem cable, and aforementioned 537-byte test file. When
connected to a 'PC'-compatible computer these problems are corrected however (as
that provided a limited BBS system. they surely will be in short order), the
Downloading files from the 'Host' to my availability of Batch Y-Modem protocol
TRS-80 went smoothly regardless of using wildcard 'masks' will be a quantum
protocol; using the Y-Modem Batch protocol leap forward in TRS-80 communications.
I watched over 500K of data being moved
quickly to my TRS-80's hard drive in just a Keyboard Macros are used to send
few seconds. This was accomplished using often-needed sequences to the 'Host'
'wildcard' characters, and the 'Host' supplied computer and allow one to quickly generate
the filenames. No loss of data was found these sequences with only a few keystrokes.
despite the 19,200 baud transmission speed, For examples, your logon 1.0. may be
and end-of-file was properly set. assigned to one key and your password to
another. This would allow you to log on to
Because of hard ware problems, I was unable a BBS quickly with a minimum of effort
to test the operation of sending files to the and without having to remember your
Host computer (BBS). This was NOT a password. In addition, ANSI-Term lets you
problem with ANSITERM, as I tested the save several macro files and load them at
setup with several other communications will. This means you could set up a macro
programs; all with the same result. In fact, file for each BBS you call and use different
after setting up a connection with a Model 1.O.s and passwords with a minimum of fuss.
4 TRS-80 at each end, I still experienced ANSI-Term's Macro facility worked
problems with other communications flawlessly.
packages, but ANSITERM worked perfectly
(as far as making connection). Transmission Other comments: As noted in the ANSI-Term
of files using X-Modem protocol worked manual, screen updates (scrolling) require a
perfectly, transferring files at 19,200 baud noticeable amount of time and can even
with no loss of characters. However, several result in the loss of information as text
problems arose with the various file continues to come in but the hardware is
transfers. unable to keep up. This is understandable,
but nevertheless may affect your decision as
While file transfer using X-Modem to the value of the program.
proceeded flawlessly, the end-of-file was not
correctly set. Instead of the 537-byte file In conclusion, I feel that ANSI-Term, while
size of a typical test file, the received copy providing difficult to obtain services in
was listed in the directory as 640 bytes (five displaying ANSI graphics and supporting
128-byte X-Modem 'packets'). The contents high-speed transmission, may not appeal to
of file, when examined, now included everyone. This is a result of hard ware
erroneous data located in the previously limitations (high-resolution graphics boards)
unused portion of the last sector. The and economics (paying for connect time to
author assured me that this was normal and display ANSI pictures.) If you call local
could not be prevented using the X-Modem BBS's that use ANSI characters and have a
protocol. Microlabs board installed, or if you are
solely interested in high-speed file transfers,
Sending files using 1K Y-Modem and Batch ANSI-Term will admirably fill your needs
Y-Modem were evenmore distressing. (when the file-transmission problems are
Although Batch Y-Modem correctly picked corrected). However, if no local BBS's are
up an appropriate file using a 'mask' and available to you, if you have the Radio
sent the filename to the receiving computer, Shack board, or you are primarily interested
neither of these protocols knew when to in message conferencing, you may find the
stop. Transmission of a 3K file using lk showcase features of this program less
Y-Modem resulted in 149K of data being important than the inconveniences caused by
sent to the receiving computer before I hit the real-time screen updates: slower display,
the [BREAK] key. Upon examrnrng the possible loss of characters.
directory of the receiving computer, the file -David P. Miller
was indeed recorded as 149K in size. The
same situation occurred during Batch
Vol. 6 No. l Page 5
THE ARRANGER II: A REVIEW the disk name and statistics, however; no
by Mark Allen Reed filenames are included. Other Arranger
commands let you scan disks, manually add
In the days of single sided, single density, non-standard disks to the Arranger's library,
35 track disk drives, keeping track of your update disks after changes, and rename
files was easy; each disk didn't hold very disks. And making a backup copy of the
much, so all you needed was a stick-on label Arranger is easy; just press "B" and place a
and the DIR command. But today, with blank disk in the appropriate drive.
double sided, double density, 40 and 80
track drives, it has become easy to forget THE DOCUMENTATION
which file is on which disk. The Arranger's instruction manual is a
nicely-printed sixteen-page booklet
The Arranger II, by Dan Foy, is an (including one page for notes). It includes a
automatic disk indexing system that was table of contents, an index, and a technical
designed to help alleviate this problem. Its specification sheet. The manual is very
self-booting disk works on the Model III, the complete and well thought out. For
Model 4 (in Model III mode), and the Model example, error messages are explained in the
I (if it is equipped with a double density same section as the commands that might
adapter). The Arranger can automatically cause them, rather than in an appendix at
read all DOS types associated with these the back of the book.
computers.
A COMPLAINT
THE PROGRAM The Arranger expresses free disk space in
The Arranger works by scanning the disks granules, but I like to express it in kilobytes
in your library and saving pertinent (as LOOS and LS-DOS do). It would be
information on its own master disk. Your very nice if the Arranger let you use both
first step after making a backup copy of the granules and kilobytes as units of
program is to repeatedly use the "Add" measurement.
command.
CONCLUSIONS
After your disks have been scanned by the The Arranger is a nicely constructed disk
Arranger, you can use the program to obtain indexer for people who want a better way
a lot of different information. If you are to keep track of their files. If your idea of
trying to find the files WUMPUS/BAS and a disk indexer is a good memory, then the
WUMPUS2/BAS, you can search for all Arranger is not for you. But if you have
copies of them on all disks with one been looking for a program to help you keep
command. If you want to know which disks track of your files, then the Arranger is the
have at least 100 granules of free space, the best there is.
Arranger can find out with five keystrokes.
If you want a sorted listing of all /CMD The Arranger costs $39.95 (plus $3.00 for
files, the Arranger can do the job very shipping and handling) and is distributed by
quickly. Computer News 80.
-Mark Allen Reed
The Arranger's filter mode can create
several mini-libraries within the main (Editor's Note) The Arranger II program was
library. For example, you can limit searches written ten years ago, and the authors no
and listings to disks whose names start with longer have the source code or any desire to
"D," or to system disks, or to LOOS and update the program. It was through the
DOS PL US disks, or to disks with 35 tracks. ongoing insistence for over a year by CN 80
Finding all DOS PL US BASIC programs is that the program was brought back to life
easy: change the DOS type filter to so that users could take advantage of it's
DOSPL US and search for programs with an unique abilities. Maybe some programmer
extension of /BAS. will pick up the challenge to write a similar
program that would bring its features up to
The Arranger can also produce print-outs of date, and add the ability to add comment
anything you see on the screen, and it can lines. Until then it is the best we have for
print disk labels on standard 3 1/2 by 15/16 the job that it does. -CN 80
inch mailing labels. The labels contain only
Vol. 6 No. 1 Page 6
Magic Draw
under other programming projects, I quickly
An Introductory Overview countered that a public domain mouse-based
By David Goben program which I helped update to the new
mouse standard should be good enough. So
MagicDraw is a mouse-driven program that why bother re-inventing the wheel? As
is the most powerful Model 4 high-resolution always, Stan was quick to point out that the
(hi-res) drawing program ever produced. It program was limited in that it required the
has more features, it is faster, and easier to user to have GBASIC to run it (this left
use than any other hi-res artist program yet Radio Shack hi-res users out in the cold),
developed. It's also economical, selling for and the program supported a font format
l/4 the cost that it should be sold for. that was no longer supported and whose
MagicDra w is available for $65 (US) plus $4 proprietary data format was not legal to
S&H from Computer News 80. Additional distribute. I sighed, and not wanting to bury
font disks are sold separately. myself in another project, I said that I
would simply convert the program over to
YOUR SCA VEN GER HUNT LIST BASICG so that Micro-lab's users could use
To use MagicDraw, you need a Model 4 the GBASIC version, and Radio Shack users
computer equipped with at least 128K of could use my BASICG version.
memory (the additional 64K of memory to
make 128K is available at $12.95 + $4 S&H A couple of weeks later I had just about
from CN80, if you are among the last few finished the conversion. However, I found
not to have it). You also need to be using myself highly frustrated by the inherent
TRSDOS 6.2.x or LS-DOS 6.3.x (6.3 slowness of BASIC, and so found myself
recommended). Other hard ware required is a writing more and more machine-language
High-Resolution graphics board, either the subroutines to speed things up, until my
Radio Shack board (no longer available) or version of the program looked more like a
the Micro-Labs Grafyx Solution board ($99 + machine language program with a BASIC
$4 S&H from CN80). Because MagicDraw is driver than anything else. So I decided to
a mouse-based program, as opposed to most scrap the current project and write a
other, keyboard-based programs, you will machine language program which would
also need to have a 3-bu tton serial mouse. A work with both types of hi-res boards (just
2-button mouse is OK, but they are harder as Stan wanted me to do in the first place).
to use with MagicDraw. The 3-button mouse Two more weeks later I had finished the
should be compatible with the Mouse program. As was its design, it was a simple
Systems/Logitech standard, as is · the mouse drawing program that allowed the user to
sold by Computer News 80 ($26.95 + $4 do free-hand drawing, draw lines, squares,
S&H). A 2-button mouse should be type text using various font files, etc., all
compatible with the Microsoft standard. You by using the mouse as a medium for
will also need a mouse driver. Mouse+ pointing around on the screen. However, I
(Mouse Plus, $10 + $4 S&H from CN80) was very dissatisfied with the user interface.
version 1.2 (or later) is highly recommended It was like driving in the dark with the
for the very best results. Other, or older lights turned off. To recall commands, you
drivers may not work as well as this version had to have a command summary sheet close
of the driver. by for reference, or keep selecting the help
screen. This just wouldn't do.
Boy! That last paragraph looks more like an
ad than a part of a program overview. Instead of going ahead and submitting the
However, this is necessary because what you finished hi-res drawing program to CN80
need to use this new program is "stuff" that for distribution (at this time called
most people do not yet have as standard MPAINT), I decided to install a friendly,
equipment on their Model 4s, and they will easy to use user-interface. I chose to use a
want to know where to get it if they want windowing technique that I had been toying
to use MagicDra w. with for some time. I began using windows
as far back as 1984 when I wrote my first
EVOLUTION OF A PROGRAM Model 4 version of my SCRIPT word
A year ago Stan at CN80 suggested that I processor. This was the simplest of windows
write a mouse-based drawing program for in that the entire screen was a window into
the hi-res board. At the time being buried a block of memory resident data. This
Vol. 6 No. I Page 7
approach allowed for super-fast updates, as on the project. It was getting to be Summer,
opposed to addressing individual points on I needed to relax, and other projects were
the screen, which is much slower (VisiCalc falling way behind. So I put MagicDraw
used this later, snail-pace approach). I also (still called MPAINT so far) on the shelf,
incorporated it into my public domain until I could recharge my batteries.
UTILITY4 disk utility program (now at
version level 1.4). I began using small Not long ago someone made the snide
windows on the screen when I introduced comment that "until a 'promised' machine
BusyCalc, and later BCX, my two powerful language drawing program is released, if
spreadsheet programs. But now that I had ever, you can instead satisfy yourself with ... "
been playing around with mixed screen blah, blah, blah. This got David's goat. I had
techniques that are available with the hi-res just finished writing the software for the
boards, I was anxious to incorporate these 1/0-BUS external drive (something I now
ideas into a useful program. wonder how I got along without on my
Model 4P -- kind of like a microwave, I
After evaluating numerous approaches to guess), and was thinking about finishing up
windowing, I decided to incorporate the my 3/4ths-done SMALL C manual. Suddenly
method used by Macintosh and IBM PC's SMALL C got pushed back on the shelf. No
which used menu bars and drop-down one makes snide comments about me and
windows. A menu bar is simply a gets away with it, especially if they won't
highlighted line on the screen which has a say it to my face. So David went full-bull
number of options listed within it (called into the hi-res project again.
primary options). The theory is that the user
will select an option (in our case with the Each day a fistful of features were added.
mouse pointer). And once an option is Each day I had invented a brand new
selected, a small window appears to drop approach for accomplishing a task. Finally
down below the option, which contains a MagicDraw was getting so big that I was
list of secondary options that are related to running out of room. But I still had
the primary option. The user then selects an features that I needed to add. To get around
items from this secondary list, which may these problems, I had to invent totally new
lead to an immediate task being algorithms for accomplishing tasks. For
accomplished, or another window being example, painting a section of the screen is
displayed which lists items related to that a complex process. I had to invent a shorter
secondary option. (For those who do not way of doing it. In the end I accomplished
know what a mouse pointer is; it is visually that with an =incredibly= short routine, but
representation of a free-floating "cursor" on at the same time I also made it even more
the screen, usually an arrow, which can be powerful than most other painting methods.
moved by the mouse so as to point to Indeed, this is the very first time on any
different positions on the screen). computer that my particular super
memory-efficient approach has been used.
After having programmed this windowing
feature, I was suddenly dissatisfied with the Another approach I had to invent was a
entire program. After all, its windowing way to draw circles and ellipses without
menu system was the most impressive having to incorporate long and drawn out
feature of the entire program. I felt that if single precision math routines to derive sine
a program had a menu that was powerful, it and cosine values. Although I had already
should also be a very powerful program written such routines for both my BusyCalc
itself. and BCX spreadsheet programs, I thought it
a terrible waste of program space to include
It was at this point that MagicDraw was such huge routines to simply support one
conceived. I decided that the only way for feature: circles. Normally, to draw a circle
me to satisfy my insatiable quest for quality one must start with the radius of the circle,
software was that I could do no less than and an angle (called theta, for some reason).
write the most powerful program I could. What one does is multiply the radius times
With this settled in my mind, I set out to the cosine of the angle to derive the "x"
incorporate as many features as I could, yet horizontal offset from the .starting point
still keep the program easy to use. After 5 (the base of the radius), and multiply the
weeks of programming, I finally burned out radius times the sine of the angle to obtain
Vol. 6 No. l Page 8
the "y" vertical offset. What this results in is MAGICDRA W FEATURES
the x/y coordinates for a single point along Where does one start? Most drawing
the radius of a circle. Therefore, and as any programs have a couple of dozen features.
of you who have used BASICG and GBASIC Examples are Scott McBurney's DRAW
can attest, drawing a circle is a long, program, Micro-Lab's Pro-Draw, and
drawn-out process, because each individual PowerSoft's Power-Draw (a lo-res program).
point on the circle must be computed using MagicDraw features several times that. So
this polar-to-rectangular conversion method. there is little that it cannot do. Indeed, most
That's a =lot= of single-precision math, and of the "standard" features common to
thus a lot of time, and thus a slow process. drawing programs are enhanced in
MagicDra w. This on top of the easiest
I finally settled on an amazingly short positioning system you ever saw for accurate
routine that used very =simple= integer item selection and placement.
math. It dawned on me that a circle is a
perfect example of 8-quadrant symmetry, The Mouse
and so all one would have to do is calculate The mouse plays a crucial role in
just 45 ctegrees of the circle, and the MagicDraw. Without it you cannot do
remainder of the circle can be automatically anything. A mouse is used as an alternative
derived. This task was thus accomplished by input device, rather than relying on
utilizing a variation of Breseham's line keyboard controls. Drawing programs that
algorithm that added variable offsets to require "free-hand" drawing using the arrow
both axis, rather than just one. What keys are a farce. The mouse frees you to
resulted is a circle being draw so fast on accomplish drawing tasks that could never
the screen that that there is no need for the be done before, except by using the most
"traditional" approach of simply drawing a sophisticated methods. A mouse makes such
cross-hair proxy until it is sized right. Using tasks a breeze.
MagicDraw, you can see exactly how the
circle will look as you adjust its size. The mouse interface has been incorporated
into MagicDraw in such a way as to provide
Even the zoom mode ("fat bit editing") was incredibly smooth, accurate control. It is in
not good enough until I added an overlay fact so smooth that the mouse will seem like
grid so that you could see precise separation a natural part of the Model 4 interface.
of cells. It also features an "actual size" Indeed, once other programmers see what
inset at the top-left corner of the screen. MagicDraw does with a mouse, hopefully
Further, you can use the arrow keys and they will "jump on the band wagon" and
shifted arrow keys to scroll the zoomed begin producing mouse-based software (I'm
image around. You can watch updates on already toying with mouse-based hi-res
the inset and main screen at the same time. versions of Monopoly, Othello, and
This is the best zoom mode that has ever Mahjonng -- but these won't be out for a
been developed for the TRS-80. Fine while).
detailing was never so easy.
When you activate MagicDra w, an "Intro"
There are in fact so many innovations in screen is displayed, which instantly
this program using technology which had disappears when the mouse is moved (you
never before been used on the can alternatively keep the hi-res buffer
TRS-80, that it makes it the most innovative intact by executing MagicDraw with a
(and for me, my most ambitious and most trailing asterisk so that you can edit the
complex) program ever written for the current contents of the hi-res screen). The
Model 4. Were we in the hey-day of the mouse pointer is a non-destructive 8x8 dot
TRS-80, I could charge in excess of $240 for arrow pointing to the upper-left (it will
this program, and it would have sold like point down, right, or down-right if you
hotcakes (so lucky you that the market is point to the lower and/or right ends of the
not as broad as it once was, so you can get screen). This is the pointer (pen) used for
it for about 1/4 the price). free-hand drawing. You can begin drawing
by holding the left mouse button down (the
Well, enough boasting. Let's get into exactly mouse has its "tail" coming out the front,
what MagicDra w can do for you. a way from you). Release the button and you
stop drawing. (There are actually a total of
Vol. 6 No. l Page 9
40 mouse pointers in all, each representing a (having a default extension of /CLP). Once
different function or task.) MagicDra w finds the file, it will display the
clip nondestructively on the screen,
By pressing and releasing (clicking) the surrounded by a box. Use the mouse pointer
Middle button (both left-and-right bu itons to position the clip exactly where you want
if you are stubborn and are using a it, and click the left button to paste it in,
2-button mouse) activates and deactivates or click the right button to abort.
the menu. The right button aborts all
functions except · text prompts, where An icon file refers to a PostMaster icon file.
keyboard input is essential, such as You will be prompted for the filename of
spe~ifying a filename). the icon file (with a default extension of
/ICN). MagicDra w will then load up to 15
The Menu icons (5 x 3) onto the screen. If there are
The menu bar is displayed non-destructively more ·than 15 icons in the file (there can be
at the top of the screen (non-destructive as many as 30), then you will be prompted
means that it will not destroy whatever it to press ENTER to display the next
overlays -- it does this by temporarily grouping of icons, or BREAK to keep the
storing the overlaid data in a storage area currently displayed icons. Hundreds of icons
in memory). The options initially offered can be found in THE FILE CABINET. You
are: FILE, EDIT, ALT-SCREEN, FONT, can use these icons by subsequently clipping
PATTERNS, POINTER, OPTIONS, and them and inserting them into you current
CONFIGURATION. When you activate the drawing project.
menus, you will notice that in the menu
mode that the mouse pointer takes on a gray SA VE allows you to save the contents of the
shade of the initial arrow shape. When you screen to the currently defined filed. If no
point to one of the options on the main file has yet been loaded or saved, then you
menu and "click" the left button, a will be prompted for a filename. Like
sub-menu for that option drops down. As LOAD, save supports the /HR, /CHR, and
you move the mouse along within the /SHR file formats.
sub-menu, a reverse-video bar is displayed a
the current selection. As you move the SA VE AS allows you to save a file to a new
mouse pointer up or down, it moves right or different name.
along with it. This way you will see exactly
what you are choosing if you click the left AUTOSA VE sets (or resets) an internal flag
mouse button again. that tells MagicDraw to automatically save
the current screen to a file if the user
THE FILE MENU . , specifies NEW, exits, or tries to load a new
The FILE menu option offers you 8 file. When AUTOSA VE is active, you will
sub-options: NEW, LOAD, SA VE, SA VE AS, see a "+" marked to the left of its menu
AUTOSA VE, CLIP 'N' SA VE, DOS SHELL, entry.
and EXIT.
CLIP 'N' SA VE allows you to select a
NEW allows you to erase the contents of the portion of the screen and save it to a disk
screen. When selected, you will need to click file. When you select this option, a "pac
the left button again, or press ENTER to man" mouse pointers appears, which you can
confirm this action. position to any corner of the area to save
(the left end of this mouse is the "focal"
LOAD allows you 3 sub-options: load a point). Click the left button and move the
screen file, load a clip file, or load an icon mouse pointer to the other corner of the
file. A Screen file can be one of any 3 block to save. A non-destructive box will be
different formats: The old HR screen dump displayed around the currently selected area.
format, the newer crunched (CHR) format, Once you are satisfied, click the left button
or the newest supercrunched (SHR) format. again and you will be prompted for a
filename to save the clip under. This
A clip file is a file that is of a variable method is great for saving (and subsequently
size, up to the size of the screen, which can loading) ready-made icons. These have uses
be inserted (pasted) anywhere. You will be in transferring artwork between designs,
prompted for the name of a clip file giving children an easy artist palette, or
Vol. 6 No. 1 Page 10