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Loadstar 128 13
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q13.d81
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t.loader
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2022-08-28
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LOADSTAR LOADER
by Earle P. Mitschke
We've all encountered the hassle of fumbling through our disk
collections, looking for a particular program; then when we find the disk
and look at the directory, trying to figure out which is the boot file, and
whether it's a BASIC boot or a ML boot, and if it's ML, then what is the
address to SYS to. Whew! There's gotta be a better way!
And there is. It's called a LOADER program -- a program that provides
a menu when you RUN the first file on the disk and allows you to boot any of
the bootable programs on the disk with a few simple keystrokes.
There have been many loader programs. Some are slower than others,
though. Since LOADSTAR LOADER uses a SEQuential list of programs that you
have selected to be loadable from that disk, setup time is minimized. Not
only that, you don't have to deal with the cryptic names that some boot
files are tagged with. Call each program whatever you like. There's even a
field to describe the program.
LOADSTAR LOADER, which is written in BASIC 7.0, can be loaded and run
from any normal BASIC start position. If you have a directory sorter, it's
best to make LOADSTAR LOADER the first file on the disk. Then you can load
the disk with SHIFT-RUN/STOP or have it auto-boot. If you really want
speed, then use the sorter to put the SEQuential file that LOADER makes,
"loader.dta", second on the directory.
With LOADSTAR LOADER you can add to, edit and delete from a database
of up to 36 programs per directory. We've put a "loader.dta" file for Side
Two of LOADSTAR 128 #13 on Side Two already, so when you Run It from the LS
menu, it gives you a menu of the programs on this side, complete with
comments.
So you see, LOADSTAR LOADER gives you the convenience of our LOADSTAR
menu -- without all the work!
Starting off: Boot LOADSTAR LOADER and insert a disk that has some
RUNnable programs on it. Use the "P" command to PUT a copy of
LOADSTAR LOADER onto the disk. Now use the "A"dd command to enter data.
Just follow the prompts. Don't worry if you enter the wrong data, it won't
save the data till you're happy with it. After the data is added you can
still edit or delete it. You then can save it to disk or continue adding
data. If you don't save it to disk, a command box will come up before you
exit LOADSTAR LOADER, so you can save the data before it disappears into
electron heaven.
To load and run a program use the "L"oad Program command from the Help
Screen. LOADSTAR LOADER will default to Load Screen upon running. Just
enter the number of the program you want and sit back. LOADSTAR LOADER will
load the program into the proper environment and check to see if there is
any new data to save before exiting.
Extra Features : These next three options will check to see if there
is any new data to save before proceeding.
aNother Disk : With this command you can load another disk with the
file "loader.dta" on it. If it is found it will load the file and come up
into the load environment.
Current Device: Press C and you can change the device you're working
with. LOADSTAR LOADER doesn't have to exist on the device, but the
directory in the drive (whether hard disk or RAMDisk) should have a
"loader.dta" file on it. You can boot a program on any drive.
@ Disk Command : With this command you can get a directory (to check a
listing) or issue a disk command. So if you are using a hard drive,
RAMLink, 1581, etc. you can open a sub-directory with a disk command.
Other Stuff :
(1) If you are a two-monitor Commodore 128 user you can turn off the "Goto
40 Col." prompt by changing the variable "se" in line 10 to a 2 from 1.
There is a REM on this line concerning this.
(2) On the "A"dd or "E"dit sections. On the "Insert Into Position" command
line LOADSTAR LOADER does a simple alphabetical sort. This will give you an
idea where the listing would fit in an alphabetical database. You can set
up the database any way you wish.
(3) For those machine language programs without BASIC LOADers, you can write
simple BASIC patch programs to BLOAD and SYS to them. Check the file
"128patch" to see how I do it.
Give LOADSTAR LOADER a try. We have it set up to run any program on
Side Two of this issue. Only "loader.dta" is needed on a side you want to
access. "loader" needs only to be in memory.
Use this handy program to make your disk collection easier to boot --
you'll be glad you did.
EPM
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