Loadtext 40/80 This program will allow you to read any sequential disk file saved as Pet Ascii code. Features and Operation: 1. Text files, such as those downloaded with VIDTEX can be viewed in 80 columns (if they were originally set up that way) with the help of an 80 column adapter (I use the B.I.-80), or with the "Screen 80" program published in the September 1984 issue of COMPUTE's Gazette. Standard 40 column mode can also be used. 2. Output can be to either the screen or printer. I configured the program for my setup (a Gemini 10X with Tymac's "The Connection" interface). The printer's device number and secondary address can be easily changed: they're in line 50. 3. Because text files are LOADed, they will enter the computer as fast as any program of the same size. This keeps the drive from running the whole time the file is being read, and may ease the strain on a hot, stressed 1541. 4. Maximum file size is 115 disk blocks or about 29440 bytes. *** DO NOT EXCEED THIS SIZE *** as it may cause system lockup. The program does *NOT* check this, so you must! 5. To temporarily freeze the output, press the space bar. Press it again to restart display or printing. 6. Press 'f1' to end the display while text is being printed to the screen (or printer).This will get you to the "print buffer again?" prompt. Select "N" to end. ALWAYS use this method to end the program as it resets the Basic pointers to their normal positions. This program works by lowering the top of Basic to 3048 and using the majority of RAM for a large text buffer. Text files are loaded starting at that address up to the end of the file. Once again, check the size of your file to be sure it doesn't try to load into the area occupied by your 80 column board, I/O devices, KERNAL ROM, etc. I used a short machine language routine to load the text. It is POKE'd into the cassette buffer each time the program is run. What it does, in effect, is to "fool" the computer into believing the text file is an ML program. If you have any questions or comments contact me by Email. Alan Murphy 75236,1433
Amiga7878