TXT2BA.DOC

                 Txt2Bas- C64/Vic Text To Basic File Converter



     
          Txt2Bas converts Basic programs stored in a listable format on
     BBS systems to their true Basic tokenized form. This version was based
     on an earlier version by Joel Rubin.
     
          There are faster versions of Text To Basic (/Sequential to Basic)
     converters available. The main advantage of this program is that it is
     fairly short to type in when the comment statements are left out.
     
          Using a Text to basic converter you can often read Basic programs
     written by other computer systems, and saved in a sequential form, and
     convert them to true Basic on your computer, even though your computer
     uses different tokens other than the computer the program was
     originally written on. You can also convert programs that could be
     read into your capture buffer, even though you don't have downloading
     capabilities.
          How does a Basic program get saved in a sequential form? Simply
     by listing it to the Disk Drive instead of the printer. (Note that
     Txt2Bas may convert such programs properly, although Syntax errors
     show up at the end of the program. That is because listing a program
     to the disk usually adds an extra marker and a 'Ready' statement.
          Here is a simple method to list a Basic Program on the Disk:
          Open 1,8,1,"filename,S,W"
          Cmd 1:List
          Close 1
     
          You can edit out the added carriage returns and 'Ready' statement
     in a word processor like Easy Script. (It would have to go through
     another conversion to be edited in Speedscript)

































                 Txt2Bas- C64/Vic Text To Basic File Converter



     
          Txt2Bas works with the C64 and the Vic-20 with either a disk
     drive or tape drive. When run the program you want converted should be
     on the disk/tape in the drive. Before running the program Poke 186,1
     if you are using tape.
          The file to be converted should be stored in a sequential form.
     Txt2Bas will ask for the filename. Input it. The program will then
     prompt " Any Upper Characters (Y/N): ?". Respond yes if the file
     appears in Upper case mode when you are in Upper/Lower case mode. Most
     PETSCII programs- includeing Hex2Bin- will appear in Lower case mode-
     for these you should respond N. Note that Hex2Bin has upper case
     characters in quotes that you do not want converted to lower case
     form.
          Txt2Bas converts the file to Basic form on a line by line basis
     using the input buffer. When it is finished it erases itself. If you
     have just typed in the program form you shouldn't test it on a
     sequential version of itself, unless you have already saved the
     program form- it will erase itself, just as it does for any other
     program.
          Txt2Bas erases itself by changeing the top of Basic pointer in
     line 63886. You cannot convert utility programs using line numbers in
     the range 63700 up, unless you renumber Txt2Bas, and remove the pokes
     in line 63886.
          When Txt2Bas finishes the converted program will be listable in
     memory, and can then be saved as a normal Tokenized Basic program.
     
          Txt2Bas.Seq is the listable version of this program. Txt2Bas.Bin
     is the true Basic form.
          Hex2Bin.Seq (Hex2Bin.Bin) is a Basic program that will be useful
     to those of you who cannot download programs in Compuserve, but have a
     capture buffer. It lets you read the programs into your capture buffer
     in a Hexadecimal form (:180000...), and converts them back to their
     true form. You can use Hex2Bin to get a copy of CBTerm/4.5 or
     CBTerm/4.9- a terminal program with true Xmodem capabilities. Version
     4.9 also allows users to Upload & Download even over DataPac.
     
                    Tony Romer