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Ictari Issue 07
ICTARI USER GROUP ISSUE #7 September 1993
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* m a g a z i n e *
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I C T A R I U S E R G R O U P
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INDEX FOR ISSUE 7
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Program Description Author Contributor
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ASSEMBLY
SET X/Y CO-ORD 68K library routine Poshpaws
SPRITES Sprites code using Neomaster Peter Hibbs
TRACKER TCB tracker routine Diamond Software
ARP_BOOK Chapter 7 and 8 of this book Robert C. Arp
C
GEM_TUT Part 9 and 10 of GEM tutorial Tim Oren
GFA The professors last GFA section Professor
OVERSCAN Overscan utilty source code
PIXELS Pixels program
MISC
PRNTFNT2 Font printing program Poshpaws
ASTRA Corrupted file from disk 4 Darkelf
HANDWRITING Handwriting recognition program Professor
BIT-PLANE Bit plane information Professor
STOS Ictari Memberbase program + Source v1 Ictari
Thanks go to all the above Authors and Contributors for this issue.
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Hi there, welcome to Ictari Disk #7.
As I said in the scroller ( What do you mean you don't reader
scrollers) this is extremely late due to my external disk drive
breaking down. It was sort of working, but kept corrupting files, etc.
So eventually I managed to order a new drive and at last I have it and
after finishing this text file I can make all the required copies and
dispatch to you.
Moving on, I have now started back at University on my final year, but
all correspondence should be sent to my normal address. That reminds me
- any other students out there who want disks mailed to a temporary
address then please inform me of that address.
I have decided to do a major awareness campaign, whereby I will attempt
to spread Ictari Disks as much as possible in order to increase
membership. This includes:
Sending Disks to several major PD Libraries.
Inviting PD Libraries to join the subscription list.
Sending Disks to all major Atari Publications.
Sending Disks to PD/Shareware Authors.
Uploading Disks to Atari archives.
If anyone else has any ideas on how to increase membership and spread
Ictari Diskzines then please let me know. The more members the better
the service provided. Personal distribution is still one of the best
methods, so if you know 'anyone' who is or might be interested in
programming (ATARI) then pass on a copy. I hope to also reach WORLD
WIDE distribution, but currently only boast 1 German member.
One thing I would really like to do is advertise in major Atari
Publications, but this costs money - so I am therefore hoping to sell
advertising space in Ictari Diskzines, or agree sponsorships in order
to raise the cash. Another way to get the cash could be to write a good
program between us and send to a magazine and either use the cash
awarded to pay for advertising or maybe swap a program for an advert
with a magazine.
If any PD library or other company wants to advertise in Ictari
Diskzines or even sponsor Ictari User Group then please contact me.
Payment can be in the form of cash or free advertising, free PD, or
anything that I feel will benefit the members of Ictari User Group as a
whole.
Monolith Enterprises may soon be producing an Ictari Newsletter as part
of their services, or as a section of their current newsletter. All
documentation submitted to Ictari may be used, if you as an author
object to your article being used then please just state this when you
submit it. The sort of stuff used will be reviews and letters, etc.
Details of this move is being finalised and you will be informed next
month. Monolith Enterprises provide 2 services for Atarians, these are
a Diskzine called ST Plus+ and a Newsletter.
For further information contact Monolith Enterprises on :-
Monolith Enterprises
Department P(P)1
22 Brook Road
Shanklin
Isle of Wight
PO37 7LU.
Please mention Ictari User Group if you contact them.
I also hope to form links with other Diskzines and User Groups, even if
it's just to swap advertisements. If you produce any Atari Diskzines or
newsletters and want to contact me then please feel free to do so.
If you know of or have any Diskzines then please send me a copy -
presuming they are PD of course.
Diamond Software are always asking what it is that you want from this
User Group - likewise I will ask the same so I can provide those
services if possible. So please let me know those ideas of yours.
Books in my opinion are as vital to the programmer as are hardware and
software, and therefore I shall be spending more attention on book
reviews. Next month I shall have written reviews for what books I have
(not many), but I do hope to purchase and review more. If you have any
books, and want to write some reviews then please feel free. I will
publish more than one review on any particular book because a review is
simply one persons opinion.
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Nik,
Re: The Database resource file problem.
I'm afraid I wasn't clear enough on the use of the @ character. You
should put in your dummy string of the correct length, as you had
previously done. After you have entered the strings and tested them,
you should then replace the first character of each string with the @
sign. The length of the string will determine how many characters you
can put in, but the @ sign will tell GEM to treat it as a blank string
of that length. I hope this clears it up!
<PoshPaws>
OK Thanks, I think the problem is solved now, although I got round the
problem by just copying a blank string to each editable text field as
Morf did in his example on Disk #4. Thanks for your help though.
<Ictari>
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In response to Peter Hibbs's note, I have a falcon and would gladly
test out any software that he cares to send to me. I also now have the
atari docs and, while informative, gives the impression of being thrown
together. It makes no mention of how to program for CPX's.
<PoshPaws>
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My copy of Astra also seemed to be in a corrupted zip file (well I
think it was Astra - but it was definitely corrupted whatever it was!).
<PoshPaws>
I found that the was indeed one corrupt file, so I have put this file
on this disk. You should Unzip the file from Disk #4 and delete the
corrupted one, and replace with the one on this disk. <Ictari>
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To: TSC,
Protection - that which defends.
I only know about a couple of simple ones, but I'll give you what
I've got.
1] Format a disk as normal (however many tracks you think
people can read minus two). Then format just one track
with important info or check values one track after the
first non-formatted track. The disk should now not copy
correctly with most copiers (based on tests done years
ago!). To check that the disk is original, check that you
cannot read the track after the formatted ones (important
as the copier may have formatted this) and that you can
read the track after (with your info on).
Of course, If you know that this is what has been done,
you can copy it by hand and bypass it.
2] Due to a bug in the disk chip, the ST can read whole
tracks at a time, but cannot write them. Basically, if you
write out one of two values ($FF is one I think) while in
track mode, it will write out a two byte checksum instead.
So, If you write one of the tracks on a machine with a
compatible chip which does not have the bug and write a
track with a sector numbered $FF, you can search for and
read the sector but an ST can never write it.
This is the method used in Alternate Reality, I have never
seen a way round this.
3] Drill a hole through all disks to have the program on
(normally done commercially by laser before assembly - no
guarantees any other way!) making sure they are all in the
same position or test the whole track instead of one
sector. Find the track-with-the-hole by seeing which track
fails a format. Code into your program a routine that
tries to format that track and then tries to read it. If
it fails and the disk is not write protected, the disk is
yours; if it passes, it is a copy.
4] Random Number Encryption - my own technique.
Details witheld unless you REALLY want to know.
mainly used to keep info from clever prying eyes!
Remember, all protection relies on software in one form or
another! If they can read your code, they can undo what you have
done.
Si(gh).
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To: *.*
I have included the C source for a document displayer and printer that
uses GEM windows. It is not suitable as is but if you want a GEM doc
displayer or just some useful routines, please feel free to rip
into it - just give some credit if you use (or understand) any
of the routines.
Nik, I believe this will adequately satisfy your request for C code
dealing with Loading, Displaying & Printing ASCII files.
PoshPaws.
Thanks very much, just the code I needed, I look forward to going
through it some time in the near future. First of all I need to get a
decent C Compiler, and I could use a Hard Disk. <Ictari>
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To David Ashcroft,
I like the idea of an automatic journey router. You say you have run
into a few problems regarding the programming part - What? We can give
you some code, but we need to know what language it is written in. If
it's in C then we can't give you too much because we have only started
learning it ourselves! But we can give you a few speedy drawing sub-
routines written in assembly. We are also experienced in STOS, but I
don't think it's the best language to write that sort of thing - Do you
????
Steven Jordan & Andrew Martin <Diamond Software>
C would probably be best, with 68K used for the fast drawing stuff.
<Ictari>
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To The Space Cowboy (And anyone else who is reading this!!)
Yes, well, err, hmm... YES! The response to the group idea did not work
too well - In fact we did not get one call or letter. I don't really
care what we code either but there is nobody out there who wants to
code anyway!
In our top and bottom border routine we did what we did to the video
thingy (as you call it!) because the routine was not originally written
for the use in iCTARi. It was infact from one of our previous demos.
We thought that the doc displayer was crap from the first moment we saw
it - It had more bugs than an ants nest! and it was so slow that even
my grandmother could keep up with it !
Why do you want source codes to the left and right borders - they're
lame! LSD software ... We forgot and left them! He He.
By the time we get your reply it will be October
Steven Jordan & Andrew Martin <Diamond Software>
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Nik <Ictari>
You say in that questionnaire thing that you are well experienced in
programming yet we have yet to see what you can do - Why? Don't say
that you don't have time because you should already have some things
stored away on some of your disks.
Don't you know to walk down to your town centre and ask a telephone
company if they can install a telephone in your house?
How old are you? Do you live next to the coast?
Andrew Martin & Steven Jordan <Diamond Software>
Hmmm, First of all, I have done little in programming. I have done
several programs in STOS, with Personal Accountant being my main work.
I am pretty new to 68K and I am hoping to have a go at something but
quite simply I can't do anything without at least mastering sprite
manipulation. Most of programming time is spent on several C projects I
am working on, namely Ictari Memberbase and Personal Accountant.
I have contacted BT and am still awaiting their reply. I got my number
but don't know what the problem is. I will soon be getting Plymouth
Accommodation and so will have a number which people can ring then -
WEEK DAYS ONLY.
I am 20 - 21 in February.
Yes I do live near the coast. <Ictari>
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When I opened my envelope (at about 7.00am!) a wood louse crawled
out!!!!!! What the hell was it doing in there ???????? is this a new
promotion type of thing .... a free woodlouse with every purchase !!.
Steven Jordan < One Half Of Diamond Software >
Shhh Everyone will want one. <Ictari>
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To all Ictari User Group Members...
Does anyone have a modem or hard drive they would like to sell to me
(Steven)
Is there anyone out there who can code? Because Andrew and I are coding
a demo and we want your demo screens (See PROJECT.PRG for info.) or
perhaps we could code something else, but what?
As we are contributing each month, we want to know what you want - Do
you want demo sources, screen savers, tips etc.... ??????? What
language?
Does anyone actually read the documentation that we put beside our 68K.
If nobody does then please tell us cos it would save us a lot of time
and effort.
Steven Jordan & Andrew Martin <Diamond Software>
You teach me to code, and I will code. I read the docs <Ictari>
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To The Space Cowboy...
Your telling me the price of assembly language on the PC is over
inflated! Not only that but what about the registration fees for most
shareware packages. Eighty quid is well over the top me thinks.
You're not far wrong ... all the best people are doing the the BTEC
National in computer studies (including me and Steven). By the time you
read this our GCSE results will be given out. Oh err time to panic!!!!!
Andrew Martin <The other half of Diamond Software>
I expect 80 is expected to be payed by Businesses - the main use of
PC's. I personally would send a smaller amount with a letter saying you
are only a poor student, etc.
I'm doing the HND Computer Science (Science sound better than Studies)
course.
<ictari>
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To *.*
Next month we will be giving away the source to this months intro. It
isn't amazing (neither was last months!) but it's another source for
your collection. It is written in 100% assembly therefore you are going
to need DEVPAC II to assemble it.
** Diamond Software **
Well documented source is always appreciated :-) <ictari>
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To Diamond Software
Thanks for using the same format for your Talk file - saved me a bit of
work.
<ictari>
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To *.*
There's a lot of code being passed about but it's no use to people like
me who don't understand it. What I would like to see is code that
explains particular techniques and are simplified. For example what
about code showing a Scroller technique and does nothing else. Perhaps
two versions one with a Scroll Font used and one with just the text. It
would look very nice, but the technique would be there for people to
work on instead of just copying a piece of code. Other techniques could
be explained in a similar simplified and documented way.
Is this a good idea or what?
<ictari>
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To *.*
I can show a degas picture to screen - easy. I don't fully understand
it but it works. Some code explaining it might help?
That's not the request, I presume that to display a sprite you are just
displaying part of a degas picture ?? So how do you do this - perhaps
if I knew the theory behind displaying a degas picture I could do this.
Also not only that but I presume somehow you can say where to display
that on screen.
Therefore I would appreciate some code that would display part of a
degas piccy on screen at a certain screen co-ordinate. These two parts
labelled so I can experiment. Movement would be a bonus but surely it
just a matter of redrawing in a different position.
This would have to be considered the basics to know before you can do
anything whatsoever in 68k. A scroll text I presume is just drawing a
sprite that refers to a given character and putting on screen and
finally moving down from one side to the other.
A simple bit of code on this would be very useful. If I don't get any
then I will have to ponder upon the complications of the many Intro
Sources I have. Staying up to the early hours of morning with probably
only little success.
<ictari>
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To *.*
Another good point is how do you convert from a degas file to a data
file often used in intro's. I presume you just strip out the palette
and the animation bit as it's not needed. Is that it ? Can you convert
a DAT file back to a degas>. If you could then you could modify the
fonts of say an earlier intro.
<ictari>
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To Diamond Software
Where was that Text file for STOS explaining how to edit your raster
routine? it wasn't on the disk like the enclosed letter said. :-)
<ictari>
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To *.*
Does anyone know how the .PCX image file (used on PC's) are encoded or
know of any published documentation on the subject.
Peter Hibbs.
I'll ask around my PC Contacts <ictari>
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To *.*
Hands up those who are fed up with the revenge doc displayer.
What we need is a really good shell program that looks good, is fast,
and can uncompress text files - thus allowing more room on disk.
Perhaps when these basics are done we can add to it - allow it to do
simple disk utilities and perhaps unzip files to a blank disk.
This project requires two main things, first of all the shell and
secondly a decent doc displayer.
The Space Cowboy is working on a NON GEM shell in 68k, but I don't know
how he is progressing. I hope to hear from him soon.
When I get my Lattice C Compiler, I might attempt a GEM Based Shell,
but I don't know how fast or good it will be - but will do it anyway.
As for the Doc Displayer - I don't have a clue - I might be able to
code something - but it would most likely be crap. Therefore if anyone
has any ideas please let me know.
This project is little more than in its planning stage - so lets get
some code together.
I have decided to create this program as I wanted a program that would
help organise the administrative side of Ictari User Group. I wanted it
to act as a database as well as monitor incomes and receipts of
members. I also wanted the program to, at the touch of a button, post
transactions and print statements of all members with sufficient
credit.
After thinking about my initial requests I decided that the program was
similar to my Personal Accounts program which I previously written in
STOS Basic (See Disk #1). I wrote the program found in the STOS folder
of this disk in STOS, in order to get something up and running. I used
a bit of code from Personal Accountant, and I was not too particular
about making it tidy as this was only a working copy.
The STOS program works but is very messy, and has some poor programming
techniques. For example it saves all data to disk in ASCII format. A
decent program would have proper structures and Random Access.
I decided that C was quite clearly the obvious language for this
program. 68K and GEM don't mix in my opinion, so I got out my trusty
Laser C package, and knocked up the shell for the program using WERCS
as well. Unfortunately Laser C is the old pre-ansi C package, so I have
given up on it, as I will shortly be buying Lattice C v5, and thus
converting to ANSII C. This is why I have not included the source on
this issue.
I would appreciate any help I can get, either from ideas for
expansions, or code to do some of the things I need to do. For example
anyone know who to change frequency, turn off keyclick, and have pull
down menus in C?. In STOS there were simple commands to do this.
I would also appreciate any code to do with File Saving, Random Access,
as this is a subject I can struggle through, but not master 100%. How
should I do it?. Should I load all structures in one go and search
through memory, or search through disk space - thus saving memory.
I could probably struggle through this one on my own - but help, is
always appreciated. I know the program will probably only be ever used
by me - thus not for distribution, PD, etc, but once complete maybe
other clubs, etc would be interested in a custom copy?.
There's probably other problems that I will encounter, that I haven't
thought of yet. If you see potential problems, etc then let me know -
even if you don't have a solution. If you're not a C coder but have
ideas - then pseudo code is better than nothing.
Check out the program in the STOS folder to get a rough idea how it
works.
<ictari>
