¢SOFTWARE SCENE¢¢¢THE RAMBIT TASKMASTER¢¢Reviewed by Alan Hitchen¢¢ The Taskmaster is a tape to disk transfer utility for standard single stage or commercial multi stage cassette files of up to 48k in size. The latter must be for your own use only of course. The program produces DOS compatible files, but they will only run from a Taskmaster menu disk.¢¢ A six page instruction manual is provided with the disk. This has a rather daunting technical approach, but it does include a very helpful flowchart to guide you through the steps needed to create a working disk copy. There are ten options available from the main menu and each has a help screen to explain their functions.¢¢ One of the most annoying things about this type of utility is making an apparently successful transfer that then refuses to run. The Taskmaster's main advantage over other transfer programs is that it allows such files to be altered by changing the execute address until the program does run. One of the transfer options allows the file to be saved with a list of possible addresses appended to it. Switching to the TaskMonitor module allows you to examine the list and substitute values in the program until you find one that works. This may still not produce a working copy but more trial and error alterations can be made until it does run.¢¢ As it is a program written some time ago (1987) Taskmaster does have some drawbacks. It can't handle very long files that exceed available memory, it can't use the 130XE memory banks, and it can't append shorter sections together to create a whole file, unlike some other programs.¢¢ However the Taskmaster's ability to tweak the program can make all the difference with a stubborn file. The TaskMonitor module can also assemble, disassemble, search, display memory, printer on/off and transfer block. This is a powerful utility that can be used for other purposes by those with the knowledge to use it.¢¢ All in all the Taskmaster is a useful program to have, but although it can be used by a complete novice, it would help if you have at least some knowledge of the principles involved in order to make best use of it when tackling a non running program.¢¢ The Rambit Taskmaster is currently distributed by Dean Garraghty Software at 4.95 pounds including postage.¢¢Contact address: DGS, 62 Thomson Avenue, Balby, Doncaster, DN4 0NU.¢
