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08 System Utilities
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TXTRDR.DOC
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TXTRDR.IMG
----------
A New Text File Reader for the C-128
This is the documentation for TXTRDR.IMG, a text file loading
and display program for the 128. This program is the direct
descendant of LDTXT.IMG for the 64 (found in DL4 on CBMCOM) and
operates on the same principle.
Text files are loaded from disk into a large RAM buffer
(approximately 63K) and are displayed or printed from there. The
fact that the files are loaded has several advantages: the drive
doesn't have to run the whole time you're reading a file on
screen, and you can view a file as many times as you like without
having to load it more than once.
FEATURES
--------
* The program runs in FAST mode (80 columns only).
* Files up to 249 disk blocks can be loaded.
* The directory can be viewed from within the program.
* Files can be output to the screen or a printer.
* Your printer's special features can be set up (margins,
skip-over-perf, etc). The default setup is for a Gemini 10x with
Tymac's "The Connection" interface.
* Files of either SEQ or PRG type can be loaded.
* File conversion fron SEQ to PRG.
* An assembly language routine handles the screen and printer
output (for improved speed).
OPERATION
---------
Simply load and run TXTRDR.IMG from disk.
To view the disk directory, answer 'y' to the prompt. If you
change disks, just answer "y" to the "View Directory" or "View
Directory Again" prompts to see the new directory.
When the program asks you to enter the name of the file,
remember to add the file type as well (name,s or name,p). Either
file type can be loaded, but MUST contain only text. SEQuential
files are loaded by a short ML routine. I suggest that you save
your text files as type PRG. This speeds loading considerably (it
allows use of the "burst" protocol). If you do this, be sure to
put something in the file name to indicate it is a text file.
After you load and view a SEQ file, the program will ask whether
you want it saved in PRG format.
The file will be loaded, and will be output to the screen or a
printer. The screen display will pause each 23 lines. When you
finish reading it, press the space bar and the screen will scroll
to the next page, leaving the last line on the previous page
visible. The printer output will scroll 54 lines, then wait for
you to press the space bar. At the end of any page, you can
terminate the output by pressing the "+" key.
TECHNICAL TIPS and MODIFICATIONS
--------------------------------
The majority of this program is in BASIC and can be easily
modified. There are two ML routines, one to load SEQ files (at
$1300), and one to handle screen and printer output (at $0b00).
The programs all reside entirely in bank 15 (RAM bank 0), while
BASIC variables and the text buffer are in RAM Bank 1.
The printer setup section can be easily modified, it's in lines
3000 and up in the BASIC portion. REM's indicate each of the
functions. To change the printer's secondary address (default =
7), change the value poked to $0b27 (line 50 in the BASIC program.
This program is original. Please make and distribute all the
copies you want, but don't sell it. Please let me know any
comments, complaints, suggestions, etc., by Easyplex.
Alan Murphy [75236,1433]
August 30, 1986