+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+››               Review of›       ChickScratch Word-Processor›       by Alan Sharkis, member  of›       THE OL' HACKERS A.U.G.,Inc.›› WARNING:›           If you wish to modify  this› word-processor  as  described  in the› review   and  in  the  documentation,› please be aware  that  there  is  not› enough  room  on  the  library   copy› (which  is  in  single density.)  You› MUST prepare an enhanced density  (or› double  density, if you wish) disk as› follows:››      1.  Format   a   blank  disk  in› enhanced or double density.›      2. Write the  DOS  you  will  be› using to that new disk.›      3.  Copy  "AUTORUN.SYS" from the› library copy to your new disk.›      4. Copy "*.*" (the rest  of  the› files)  from the library copy to your› new disk.›       5.   Rename   "SCRATCH.OBJ"  to› "CS.OBJ" on the new disk›      6. Put the new disk in drive  1,› reboot  your  computer   and   select› "SCUSTOM.BAS" from the menu.›       7.    Follow    the   on-screen› instructions from there.  Be prepared› to wait a considerable amount of time› while   the   new  version  is  being› written to disk.›› WHERE HAS IT BEEN?›› With that warning  out  of  the  way,› it's  now  time to talk about a dandy› little   word-processor  that  should› have had  more  recognition  than  it› did.   ChickScratch word-processor is› shareware.    The    version    being› reviewed  (v.  5.9) bears a copyright› date of 1987.  The author, Robert  E.› Chick,  listed his address in Guam at› the time, and  asked  for  donations,› but  didn't   suggest   an   amount. › However,  he  did   state   that   an› appropriate  donation  would  get the› user a copy of  the  source  code  of› this  word-processor;  either on disk› or as hard copy.  I hope  that  offer› is  still  good,  because  this word-› processor is a good choice  for  both› beginners and experienced users.›› HELP, ANYONE?›› The feature that most people will use› frequently, at  least  initially,  is› the series of help boxes that you can› access by pressing CTRL-H.  Don't  be› mislead  by  the  copyright notice at› the bottom of the second  help  box. › ChickScratch has five such boxes, and› they give the keystrokes for  all  of› the important functions.  They can be› called up any time the edit screen is› active.›› LIMITATIONS›› Any word-processor has to be a series› of   compromises.    The  limitations› imposed by the 40-column screen,  the› processing speed of the 6502, and the› memory   capacities  typical  of  the› installed user base are significant. › This  word-processor has a small text› buffer   (25,366  characters)  and  a› smaller   delete  buffer,as  measured› against the standards of  such  word-› processors as AW+ and Paper Clip, and› there's  no  way  to  use  the  extra› memory banks of the 130XE.  It  will,› however,  chain  files  very nicely. › More about that later.  ChickScratch,› at least in this version, has a limit› of forty characters on  the  screen. › It  will  not scroll horizontally, as› does AW+.   You  can  set  it  for  a› screen  width  of  less  than  forty-› columns,  and there are advantages to› such  a  display.   It  also  doesn't› allow for any block operations.   You› can't  highlight  blocks  of text and› ask that they be cut, pasted,  copied› or  print-formatted  in any way.  The› print-formatting is done via imbedded› commands,  as described later in this› article.  Block moves and copies  are› done  in  a  different, less familiar› way,  which  I'll  describe  for  you› now.›› TWO IMPORTANT BUFFER COMMANDS›› ChickScratch has  two  commands  that› take  text out of the main memory and› puts   it  into  the  typical  delete› buffer.  Those  commands  are  CTRL-E› (erase  to  the  right of the cursor)› and CTRL-D (delete to the left of the› cursor.)   Each  command  produces  a› prompt  that  asks  if  you  wish  to› delete  or  erase a sentence, a word,› or a  paragraph.   You  can  do  this› repeatedly,  and  the  units  of text› thus erased or deleted will enter the› buffer  sequentially.  You recall the› buffer at the  cursor  position  with› CTRL-R,  again,  one unit at a time. › You can kill the entire  buffer  with› CTRL-K.   This  can be handy when you› need more  buffer  space  (the  erase› buffer  has  a  small   capacity   by› today's standards.  In a sense, while› this block-less  method  of  cutting,› pasting and copying text puts more of› a management burden on the typist, it› also  represents  a plus.  Except for› real memory hogs like WordPerfect for› DOS,       most       word-processors› automatically kill the  text  in  the› delete  buffer  when the next unit of› text     goes    in.     I've    seen› ChickScratch's   method  of  handling› units of text before; indeed, it's an› option  that's  available  along with› block operations in some of  the  MS-› DOS,    Mac   and   ST/Falcon   word-› processors.  Block  operations,  like› horizontal  scrolling,  take  tons of› memory and longer code.  Robert Chick› made  a compromise that seems strange› today,   but   might  have  become  a› standard  if  his  program  was  more› well-known in 1987.›› USEFUL FOR SOURCE CODE, etc.›› When I first got this word-processor,› I  was  beginning to think that there› were some  major  details  left  out,› like  word-wrap on the screen.  As it› turns out, the word-processor has  to› be  put  into  "text"  mode,  not the› "program" mode  it  defaults  to  for› this  to  happen.  Why,  then, have a› mode in which word-wrap is not  shown› on the screen?  The "program" name is› a hint.  This mode is very  good  for› those  who wish to create and/or edit› source code  in  BASIC,assembler,  or› some  other  language.   In "program"› mode,  then,  the  word-processor  is› really an elaborate text editor.›› MORE COMMANDS›› Any really  efficient  word-processor› has  both  insert and type-over modes› and some indication on the screen  of› which    mode    is   selected.    In› ChickScratch, not only  do  you  have› all  of  this,  but  you   can   also› configure the program to start in one› mode or the other.  When insert  mode› is  selected via the CTRL-I toggle or› configured that way at  boot-up,  the› words, "Insert Mode Active" appear at› the bottom of the screen.   I  prefer› insert  mode  to  be the active mode,› and ChickScratch on the library  disk› defaults  to  typeover  mode,  so   I› simply   customized   it   with   the› "SCUSTOM.BAS"  program  at  the  same› time   that  I  selected  screen  and› charactor  colors  and  a  few  other› options.›› WANT TO FIND SOMETHING?›› ChickScratch has  a  find-and-replace› system  that  can  be  used to simply› find words, or to replace  them  one-› at-a-time or globally.  It also takes› some getting used to if you have used› other word-processors before, because› the commands are a little different. › However,  it's and efficient and fast› operation.›› EASE OF CURSOR MOVEMENT›› A simple concept like moving a cursor› around  a  screen in a word-processor› can   get   to   be   complicated  in› practice.    ChickScratch   makes  it› easy.  CTRL-Left Arrow and CTRL-Right› Arrow do what you'd expect them to do› -> move the character one space at  a› time. The motion is fast and smooth. › CTRL-Down   and   CTRL-Up   take  you› forward and back one  sentence  at  a› time.   SHIFT-Left  Arrow  and SHIFT-› Right Arrow move the cursor one  word› at a time in the indicated direction.› SHIFT-Up Arrow and  SHIFT-Down  Arrow› move  you  one  paragraph at a time. › The tab key moves you a preset number› of  spaces  forward.    This   number› defaults  to  five, but can be set to› any   number   using  CTRL-TAB.   You› cannot tab backwards.   Nor  can  you› preset tabs on the screen.  I believe› that this  is  a  limitation  of  the› forty-column  screen  more  than   an› oversight  on  Robert  Chick's part. › CTRL-T will move the  cursor  to  the› top of the currently-displayed screen› on the first press.  The second press› takes  you  to  the beginning of your› text.  CTRL-B takes you to the end of› your text.  CTRL-A takes you back 512› characters.    CTRL-X  exchanges  the› charactor under the cursor  with  the› one  to  the right of it -- handy for› correcting   transposition   errors. › CTRL-Z  will  take  you  forward  one› screen.›› WHATS USED, AND WHATS NOT›› ChickScratch    gives    a    running› character  count at the bottom of the› screen.  If you  need  a  word-count,› CTRL-W  will  do   that   for   you. › Remember  that   special   formatting› characters  are  included  in  either› count.   CTRL-U  can  be used to show› you how  many  characters  you  still› have free in memory.›› MORE FEATURES›› nother  nice  feature  allows you to› show false spaces on the  screen.   A› false  space  is  a  space  that  you› dind't  type,  but  is  inserted   by› ChickScratch  when  it does word-wrap› at the end of a line.  If  you  press› CTRL-O,    the   false   spaces   are› indicated  with  dashes.   You'd  use› this feature if you had to  insert  a› word  at the end of a line and wanted› to know  where  the  real  and  false› spaces were.›› TABS ANYONE?›› Tabulating  is  a problem for any 40-› column word-processor.  It's  usually› futile  to  try  to  get  the   word-› processor  to  allow   setting   tabs› wherever  the user wants them without› using large blocks of memory.  That's› probably  why  ChickScratch  makes no› attempt  to  provide  this  feature. › Tabs are set, by  default,  at  every› five  spaces, but you can change that› spacing with the  CTRL-TAB  command. › Nor does ChickScratch make an attempt› at backward  tabs,  decimal  tabs  or› other  goodies so common in 80-column› word-processors.      The      visual› component would just interfere.›› PRINT COMMANDS›› There   are   many   print-formatting› parameters   whose  defaults  can  be› changed by using SCUSTOM.BAS, but all› of  them, and perhaps a few more, can› also   be   changed   with   commands› imbedded  in  the text. Some of these› are familiar, and some are unique,  I› believe,  to  this program.  If there› are any that are  missing  from  this› program,  I  haven't   found   them. › Remember:   we  can't   realistically› discuss  such things as special fonts› and  redlining.   I  leave  those  to› programs like DD3.  But, I will  tell› you  that these imbedded commands are› entered in inverse video,  which  you› access  with  a  SELECT-CTRL-(letter)› command.   If you accidentally type a› command   that  ChickScratch  doesn't› understand, it fills in  the  command› with  a null (heart) character on the› screen   to  warn  you.   The  print-› formatting commands, then, will allow› for all of the following:››     1. setting left, right, top›        and bottom margins;›     2. setting page length;›     3. printing page numbers;›     4. defining headers and›        footers up to two lines long;›     5. releasing the left margin›        for "outdenting" a line;›     6. printing a line flush to›        the right margin;›     7. toggling indent on and off›        and setting the number of›        spaces in an indent;›     8. centering a line of text;›     9. toggling page-wait;›    10. varying line-spacing from›        single to 255 spaces;›    11. putting in a non-printing›        "information line";›    12. forcing a page feed (see›        comment below);›    13. linking the next file;›    14. toggling justification;›    15. Setting print column width;›    16. defining the starting page›        number;›    17. beginning print with a›        specific page number;›    18. toggling underline.›› REASSIGN NUMBER KEYS FOR PRINTING›› There  are  also ten number keys that› are   preset   to  the  Atari  XMM801› printer, but can  be  reassigned  for› your  own  printer  codes.  They send› the escape  character,  turn  double-› width  printing  on  and  off, select› pica, elite or condensed  type,  turn› bold  on and off, and turn continuous› underline on and off.›› HOW ABOUT LETTER KEYS?›› In addition, any letter key that  has› not  been assigned by the program can› be assigned  by  you  to  some  other› printer  function.  The documentation› tells you how.›› DOC FILES APLENTY!›› Speaking of that documentation,  it's› on the disk in three separate files. › The text buffer in ChickScratch isn't› long  enough to hold all of the docs,› so learn how to use file-chaining  if› you're  going  to use this program to› produce long documents.  If  you  set› your  print  formatting  in the first› file, it will carry through  for  all› files that are then chained.› It's important to put the "force page› feed" (ASCII 12) command at  the  end› of  your document.  ChickScratch puts› one   at   the   end  of  every  page› automatically, EXCEPT the last page. › Your  printer will stop in the middle› of the last page if it's not  a  full› page.   This   hint   is   especially› important  if you're using an ink-jet› or laser printer.›› FINALLY TO PRINT, OR TO SAVE ON DISK›› The actual printing of a document  is› done  with  CTRL-P.   You're prompted› for a device and filename.  The usual› device     is     "P:",     but     a› "Dn:filename.ext"   will   print  the› document   to   a   disk   file  with› formatting intact.  Printing to  "E:"› gives  you  a  quasi-preview  of  the› formatted  text  (remember, we have a› 40-column screen!).  The preview will› scroll, and the scroll can be stopped› and restarted with  CTRL-1,  but  you› can't escape from the scroll and back› to the edit screen; you must let  the› scroll finish.›› LOADING›› You  can  load  a  file from the edit› screen.  If you do, the file will  be› inserted  at  the  cursor  position. › This    is    handy   for   inserting› previously-saved blocks of text.  You› press  CTRL-L and you're prompted for› the filename.  If you leave  out  the› drive  number,   the   program   will› default  to  the  last-accessed drive› (or to drive 1 if you've just  booted› up.)   Similarly, you can save a file› from the edit screen.   Here,  you're› prompted  for  a filename.  If a file› was previously loaded into  the  edit› window,  the program will ask if it's› OK to use that filename.  You can say› "no",  and  give  a new filename.  If› you say "yes", the program  will  ask› if  you want to overwrite the file on› disk or to make a backup.   You  type› the  appropriate  letter and the file› is saved.›› DOS, ANYONE?›› There is  also  a  DOS  menu  screen,› which  you  access  with CTRL-M.  The› upper part of this screen  shows  the› files  on the current drive.  There's› a  highlight  bar  that  you  use  to› select the file on which you want  to› operate.   You move the highlight bar› with the arrow keys.   You  can  also› use  CTRL-  combinations   to   load,› delete,  rename,  lock  or  unlock  a› file,  or format a disk.  If you load› a file from this screen, however,  it› will replace whatever you have in the› edit buffer!  Note  that  YOU  CANNOT› SAVE  a file FROM  THIS  SCREEN. ›› DRIVES 1 OR 2 OR RAMDISK 8›› ChickScratch recognizes only physical› drives 1 and 2.  It will recognize  a› Ramdisk (drive 8) if a Ramdisk Driver› has been loaded.›› MY FEELINGS, AND TT TOO!›› I   was   enthusiastic  enough  about› ChickScratch to write this review  on› it.   I  was  also  recently  at  the› Connecticut  AtariFest,  where  I met› Brad Koda of Best Electronics.   Brad› had  set up a demonstration of the XE› Touch modification for the 130XE.   I› had  been  bemoaning the soft feel of› this keyboard  for  years,  and  even› preferred,  until recently, to do all› my writing on my  DOS  machine.   Now› that  I  have ChickScratch and the XE› Touch has been  installed,  I can  go› back  to  using  my Atari for writing› long documents. Score  another  point› for ATARI 8 BIT!›› +*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+››