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^C^1IBM CHARACTER CUSTOMIZER
^Cby
^CJames Schmidt


  The IBM CHARACTER CUSTOMIZER is a tool for redefining the upper half of the
IBM mode character set while in graphics modes.  The new character sets you
create can be used to spruce up program screens -- or even provide the basis
for program animation.  And because they can be saved as COM files instead of
BASIC bLoad files, character sets created by the CHARACTER CUSTOMIZER are easy
to use with programs.

Using the Program
-----------------
  There are two character sets that you can redefine.  Set 1 includes
original characters 0 through 127; Set 2 contains original characters 128
through 255. Once you have chosen a set, the CHARACTER CUSTOMIZER work screen
displays the first character of the set on an editing grid.  Data for the
character (in decimal form) is displayed next to the grid.

  These commands are used to edit characters and load and save character sets:

Arrow keys -- move cursor.

INS -- toggles pixels on/off in editing grid.  (Arrow keys move cursor.)

+/- -- used to select new characters to edit.

TAB -- reverses which pixels are activated in the editing grid. (Activated
pixels are turned off and vice versa.)  A single line or the entire cell can be
reversed; you are prompted for which of these you want.

F1 -- loads a character set from disk.

F2 -- saves character set to disk (as a BASIC BLoad file).

F3 -- changes which character to edit (by character number.)

F4 -- clears cell.

F5 -- copies current character to another character.  Use the +/- select the
character to copy to or use F3 to enter it manually.

F6 -- shifts character from side to side or up and down.

F7 -- displays entire character set.

F8 -- clears entire character set.

F9 -- toggles sound.

F10 -- creates a COM file from the character set.

  There is a third character set provided, HIRES.DAT.  This character set is a
redefined IBM graphics character set.  The first eight characters of the set
are a recreation of our stickman, Alfredo.  The rest could be used as aliens in
a space invaders type game or as objects of an adventure game.

  Using a character set within a BASIC program can be very messy, involving
several pokes and peeks and possibly crashing your system until you get it
right.  But if you save the set as a COM file and run it before you enter
BASIC, it will reserve its own portion of memory and wait patiently for you to
use it in your programs.

  To give you an example of this, here is the source code for a quick little
demo using the HIRES.DAT file as a com file.

10 SCREEN 1
15 FOR I=0 TO 3:R$(I)=CHR$(128+2*I)+CHR$(128+2*I+1):NEXT:I=0:J=1
20 WHILE J<39
25 I=(I+1) AND 3
30 LOCATE 9,J:PRINT "  ";
35 J=J-(I=0)
40 LOCATE 9,J:PRINT R$(I);
45 FOR DELAY=1 TO 100:NEXT
50 WEND
55 LOCATE 9,J:PRINT " ";

  Create a COM file with the F10 option and run it from DOS.  Get into BASICA
(or GW-BASIC) and enter and run the program.  You'll see Alfredo run across the
screen.  This will give you some ideas for using the sets. 


DISK FILES THIS PROGRAM USES:
^FIBMCHRED.EXE
^FBRUN20.EXE
^FRETURN.EXE
^FSET1.DAT
^FSET2.DAT
^FHIRES.DAT