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2019-04-13
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Speedscript File Conversion
This is the .DOC file for spdcnv.img. This, being the latest version,
will convert Speedscript files to either ASCII or PETSCII.
Changes from the Original Version
The first version was written entirely in BASIC. In order to speed up the
conversion process, proceedures were changed, and a major part of the
conversion is done by 3 'RELOCATABLE' machine language routines. For those who
have something that is running starting at 49152 in memory will want to pick
another place for these routines. I'm sure everyone has there own favorite
places for something like that.
Since this new version reads the entire text file into memory first, it
was necessary to protect it from BASIC. To do this, the top of memory is
lowered at the very beginning of the program.
Instructions
Load in the program. If you need to relocate the ML portion of the
program, change the variable ML in line 10 of the program. All sys's to these
routines will adjust accordingly. This version is written for use with both
disk and tape. It does, however write a sequential tape file.
On start up, you will be asked for a device number, which is preset to 8
for disk. If you wish to permanently change your version to another device
number, change the number in line 7 of the program. If 8 is the device you
desire, press RETURN. Otherwise, select the device number you want, and press
RETURN.
At this point, the ML portion of the program is loaded into memory,
beginning at the location defined by the variable ML.
Next, you will be asked which way you would like to convert your file
(ASCII or PETSCII). Preset on this is ASCII. If this is acceptable, press
RETURN, or select 'P' and press RETURN.
Next is 'EDITING REQUIRED'. If you have pre-edited your material from
Speedscript by placing returns in the text where you want them, answer (N)o to
the question. Preset is (Y)es.
If editing is desired, you must determine maximum line length. Since the
ML does search back from a maximum line length, you will never have lines
longer than what you have specified. Preset on this is 40 (for 40 columns).
You will now be asked for the original file name, and then the new file
name. Answer both of these questions accordingly.
The last question you will be asked (disk users only, tape users
automatically have this function) is if you need to change the media to receive
the new file. For tape users, this is forced to yes to allow you to reset the
dataset to for the info. Disk users may find this option handy to place the
conveted file onto there terminal program disk for later uploading. The disk is
initialized from in the program after the change to avoid overwriting other
data.
From here on, the program will take care of things. The file is printed on
the screen as it is written to the receiving device. This is not necessary, but
was done so the results could be seen immediately.
To give you an idea of the difference between this version, and the first
version, I tried timing a conversion using both. The file I used was a little
over 5800 bytes long. The original version took 10 minutes 35 seconds to
convert. This version took 2 minutes, 2 seconds. Time may vary for you, but
this seems to hold true. Tape users will find this takes longer for them, but
the same file was loaded from tape, converted, and sent back to tape in just a
touch over 6 minutes. But don't hold me to that!
There is one hitch in the program. Unlike the original, this one does not
detect a leading space at the beginning of a sentence. So unless you don't care
about the finished text, don't double space unless you have to. I'll try to
cure this in another version.
Watch for the ASCII and PETSCII to Speedscript converter to come.
I would like to hear any comments or suggestions anyone has about this
program. You can leave me a message on the board, or Email me. Hope this is
what all you SS users were looking for.
Regards, Steve Hammer
74776,1570