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XB3.TXT
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2006-10-19
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News Release:
EXTENDED BASIC III To Ship
While there have been many revisions to TI Extended BASIC
over the years, none is so extensive or fundamental as
Extended BASIC III by Winfried Winkler.
Rewritten and revised in the native language of Extended
BASIC, GPL, XB3 features substantial improvements in the
language itself, not just added calls and functions. Unlike
other Extended BASIC's, this one offers tangible benefits to
people who are casual XB users, as well as the hardcore
programmers. Why? Because this version of Extended BASIC is
the only one that will run virtually your entire library of
Extended BASIC programs, without modification, up to 50%
faster then the original version of TI Extended BASIC. Unlike
Myarc Extended BASIC - this version of Extended BASIC is
compatible with virtually all TI Extended BASIC programs and
add-on utilities.
Additionally, bugs that cause other Extended BASICs to
occasionally crash (and the infamous graphics screen show
that, while interesting, certainly didn't help your programs)
have been eliminated. XB3 is rock-solid and dependable -
great for anyone running programs for hours or days at a time
(BBS', etc.).
If you are interested in writing new programs, XB3 also
offers a wide range of added functions, calls, modifications
and conveniences - many of the best offered in other
variations along with a number of unique changes. These
include:
* Allows character definitions up to code 159 - in fact, XB3
is fully compatible with TI-BASIC
* The GOTO and GOSUB statements will allow you to jump to a
variable (as in GOTO X)
* Enhancements to the IMAGE command to allow more flexible
formatting
* Extensions to the CALL MOTION command that allows you to
stop and start all sprites at once
* The RESTORE command will reverse a RESequence
* The assembly LOADer recognizes a wider range of utilities
including GPL utilities for manipulating a stack, RADIX-100
math, and so forth for use in your assembly subroutines.
The loader also will load Compressed format assembly files
with REFerences - and adds a wide range of new REFerences
available for called subroutines
* A range of new calls including:
ALL(N) - Fills the entire screen with the specified
ASCII code
ALOCK(N)- Tests whether the Alpha Lock is set - returns
a value
BYE - Now legal within a running program
CHAR ALL- For controlling the character set
CHIMES - Sounds a chime
CLRS - Clears only the text area (columns 3-30)
COLOR - Now accepts the colorset description "All"
FIND - Will find the specified string within an array
of strings
GPEEK - GPL Peek command
GPOKE - GPL Poke command
HONK - Produces a "honk" sound
KEYS - Waits for the keys specified in the string
l$ and returns the value P with the keys
position in the string
MLOAD - Loads a memory-image file into the specified
memory location
MOVE - Move ranges of memory between RAM, VRAM, ROM
and GROM
MSAVE - Save a portion of memory to disk in memory-
image file format
NEW - Now legal within a program
PRNTPAT - Print a character definition to an Epson
compatible printer
QUIT - Turn on/off the QUIT key
SCREEN - Turn off and on the screen
VPEEK - VDP RAM peek
VPOKE - VDP RAM poke
WAIT - Pause program for a specified period
* A new range of functions have also been added:
ASC - Will handle an empty string without crashing a
running program
CLOSE - Will now close all open files at once
DEF - All user defined functions may be used outside
of a running program at the command line
DATE$ - Returns the current date with a clock card
HEX$ - Returns the Hexadecimal equivalent of a
decimal number
LWRC$ - Converts a string to lower case
TIME$ - Returns the current time with a clock card
UPRC$ - Converts a string to upper case
VAL - Will now convert a hex string into a numeric
value
* Virtually all math functions and floating-point math
routines (COS, SIN, etc.) have been re-written and are
typically 100% to 200% faster. Extensions have been made to
the RND function to allow ranges and more randomization
* A range of new commands available at the command-line,
including:
# - Displays a catalog of the device in quotes
after the function
APPEND - Defines all Control characters in inverse
video
ERASE - Allows you to delete a range of lines
OUTPUT - Saves the range of line numbers specified to
disk in Merge format
PERMANENT- Allows you to turn off or on the true-lower-
case character set as well as deactivate lower
case letters
SAVE - The "Protected" option now truly protects a
program from being listed
SIZE - Displays the amount of Low Memory space
available as well as other space
USING - Lists all CALL statements in a program
VARIABLE- Lists all the variables in a program
While many of the features and all of the speed enhancements
in Extended BASIC III are unique to this cartridge, it is
compatible to some degree with Mechatronics Extended BASIC.
Extended BASIC III is currently available in disk form for
those users with a Mechatronics GRAM-KARTE for $39.95.
A 96K cartridge version that requires only a console and 32K
memory expansion is expected to be available by June 15, 1993
for $74.95.
Finally, available by April 15, 1993, the XB3 SUPER MODULE.
This 256K module has built into it:
* Extended BASIC III
* The TE2 cartridge - allowing you to perform true text-to-
speech in XB3 WITHOUT any additional software(!)
* The Editor/Assembler cartridge
* TI-Writer, it's Editor and Formatter
* The Remind-Me! appointment program
* Mass-Transfer
* A full disk manager
* various other miscellaneous utilities
For a list price of $99.95. This cartridge is an entire
productivity package all-in-one module - plug it in and you
may never have to unplug it again. This version requires 32K
and a disk system.
Send all inquiries to:
Asgard Software, 1423 Flagship Dr., Woodbridge, VA 22192
************************************************************
XB3 v1.0 Super Module Benchmark
Time (Seconds)
Benchmark XB3 1.0 TI XB Difference
GRAPHICS/DISPLAY:
Print "Hello" 1000 times 61 91 +44.4%
Draw 100 random bars 21 44 +109.5%
(HCHAR & VCHAR test)
Create 28 sprites 5 times 40 47 +17.5%
with a pause between
incidents
Without a pause 10 13 +30.0%
Program to walk a character 16 20 +25.0%
across the screen __________
+45.2%
FILE I/O:
Read 1000 lines of a text 55 63 +14.5%
file from an HFDC
Write 1000 lines of text 69 76 +10.1%
to an HFDC __________
+12.3%
MATH FUNCTIONS:
Count from 1-1000 and 43 52 +20.9%
1000-1
Calc Sin/Cos/Tan 0-360 156 188 +20.5%
degrees
Calculate SQRT of 1-100 12 17 +41.6%
Generate 1000 random 37 81 +218.9%
numbers from 1 to 100 __________
+75.4%
STRING FUNCTIONS:
Build 100 strings by 9 12 +25.0%
adding a character at
a time from 1-250
Parse 1-250 characters 25 32 +28.0%
from 100 strings __________
+26.5%
Average of 13 Benchmarks: +77.3% faster