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* * * * * E D I T O R I A L * * * * *
Aren't holidays hard work? I've finally got mine over with, and
I reckon that it will only take me a month or so to get
straight.
The week after I came back, we had a show in Birmingham, and I
have to finish this in time to catch Brian, before he goes away
on his holidays. Roll on Christmas, let's have a day off!!!.
The show that I mentioned in Birmingham, was for me, a test of
the Sam's popularity, as it is the first All Formats since the
hibernation. I have to report that I was pleasantly surprised at
the interest being shown in the machine. Bruce was there with
his new game "BOING", and some Sams to sell, and he was doing a
brisk trade. Colin McDonald was there showing his "Spellmaster"
which he had ready for sale. Also present was Bob Brenchley and
Dave Ledbury giving their support. John Wase popped in to see
how things were going, and overall the atmosphere was one of
optimism.
Whilst on the subject of optimism, I am still managing to get an
issue together each month, but that doesn't mean you can sit on
your backsides and read them. I still want to hear from you (
yes you at the back who thinks I can't see him), so come on,
write with your views, news, programs or anything else you want
to. If I get to the stage that I have nothing to publish, you
will get nothing to read, so get the keyboard humming and lets
see what you can do.
On a less optimistic note, she who rules all has said that the
decorating is overdue, so if you can't open the slider on you
disc next month, it's only the wallpaper paste.
---oooOOO OOOooo---
OOPS DEPT.
I think that the holiday has addled my brain (who said what
brain??), there were a couple of slipups in the last couple of
issues:-
ISSUE 23
The PROGRAM NOTES did not work as they should in this issue, and
the last part was missed out. There is a patch on this issue
that will cure that. Look at the ODDS & ENDS menu to find it,
and how to use it.
ISSUE 24
Dave Halls Masterscratch program has a SAVE PROGRAM routine in
it that won't work properly because I changed some of the
filenames to make it load from the mag. The files that you need
to swap over are:- MSLOAD, SAM.FONT, LAST, MSFONT, HICHARS,
HELP.TXT and MDSCRATCH
If you have trouble, send Dave a disc and a stamp, and he will
send you a fully working copy.
His address is:-77 Newton Rd, Stowemarket, Suffolk IP14 5AE
He is also on the lookout for more reviewers, so if you fancy
doing a review, please contact him.
Steve Monk could also do with your help compiling the news
section. If you have any Sam related news, please contact him
at:-
31 Southbourne,Washwood Park, Ashford, Kent TN23 2UB
---oooOOO OOOooo---
Jason Highfield
4 Pirbright Close
Bradley
Membership Number: 135 BILSTON
West Midlands
Telephone Number: (0902) 493704 WV14 8PZ
Dear Dave
I was one of the first people to purchase a Sam back in late
1989 and have been continually impressed with what the machine
has to offer. The design of the machine is excellent (as I'm
sure all Sam users already know). But, what has impressed me the
most about Sam is how you have been able to expand the
capabilities of the machine with new add-ons!
The SamBus, 1Mb external memory and MasterDos are excellent
"tools" to purchase in their own right, but put them together
and they are even more powerful. The thing is you don't have to
buy all 3 "tools" at once!!! Having this modular approach to
expanding the Sam is brilliant and shows how well things have
been thought out. For instance the new sam Digitiser is a black
and white model which can be upgraded to a colour model, and I
hear such add-ons as GenLock can be added as well! The
Kaleidoscope interface is also compatible, to give even more
colours and shades!
But even though the Coupe is a good machine with great
capabilities the Sam has never taken the mass market by storm.
I'm not going to go through all that because this is something
you all know. What I am going to say is "Don't be put off the
Coupe because of SamCo's downfall." I'm not saying that the
liquidation of this company is not a great loss, far from it.
But the Coupe is bigger than just this one company! There are
many people and organisations who are backing Sam (the
Supplement is just one of many Sam supporters). The
hardware/software that SamCo were just about to release is being
bought by other companies to sell, so the likes of the digitiser
and E-traker should still become available and by the time you
read this someone may have even bought the Sam (Who are West
Coast Computers anyway)!!! The Sam is not a mass market machine
and probably never will be (This is the mass market's loss and
our gain)! The Sam has a different kind of user base which in
many respects is better than what the "big" computers have. The
Sam has a community feel all of its own and the important thing
to remember is that most of the people who promote the Coupe do
it not for profit but because they like the machine. Think about
that!!!
Any way now I've got that off my chest here's a suggestion.
All paper magazines have binders in which you can safely store
all those back issues. Why should it be any different for disk
magazines. The small flip top disk boxes (made by Sumpak I
think) hold exactly 12 3.5" disks. If you could get some with
the Sam Supplement logo printed on them (I have some with the
old MGT logo on) you could sell these as "binders" for the
magazine. I'm sure many people will find this beneficial as
keeping track of the hundreds of disks you can accumulate can be
quite daunting.
If possible could you please print a list of all the "Loading
Factors" for ALL the various add-ons available as I'm sure many
SamBus owners don't know the limit they can plug into their Sam
without purchasing the external power supply unit.
I was impressed with the new menu system (the joystick/cursors
keys approach is much more user friendly) and was pleased that
you have included my "jump to page" option. On this disk I have
included an update of that option so its display is more
pleasing to the eye! For this I have moved the status messages
(such as "last page" etc.) to the top line as if you got a
message printed in its previous place when you accessed the new
jump routine the text would scroll off the top of the page. Very
untidy indeed! I have also included how many pages each section
has so people know how many pages they have to jump around in.
(This makes such things as jumping to the last page easier)!
Finally I have altered the printing messages. Each print option
now tells you when the machine has stopped sending information
to the printer with the "finished" statement and a beep. (Just
in case you are doing something else in between printing you can
hear when the machine is free). These are all minor changes but
I hope they will make life a little easier!!!
Oh well, I've taken up far too much of your time so I'll go now,
keep up the good work.
Yours faithfully: Jason "Venger" Highfield.
P.s. Could you ask Rob Evans if he could produce a map for Sam
Strikes Out!
P.P.s. Could you please tell Dave Hall I'm available for any
reviews he might want doing.
P.P.P.s. Is it possible that after you have selected an option
on the Main/Program menu the highlight will still be placed on
the item last selected instead of the first item!
+++++++++
ED's REPLY...
I'm glad that you think the Sam is still a viable
machine. I think that even Alan Miles would agree that his
"baby" deserves someone behind it who could put money into the
machine. A commodity sadly lacking with Samco.
Now to try and take your other points/questions one at a time...
A "binder" for the mag is certainly a good idea, could someone
give me the address of Sumpak or any other box maker, and I will
make enquiries.
The question of loading factors is a tricky one, as no 2
machines have the same power output. I, for instance can run 2
drives, a 1 meg and a printer interface on my machine with no
trouble, whereas I know of users that have trouble if any 2
extras are used together. All I can suggest, is that if you add
an extra, and the machine starts to behave erratically, then fit
the extra power supply to the Sambus. I am trying to find an
alternative extra supply from somewhere like Tandys or Maplins,
because, at the moment I don't know if the "official" ones are
available.
Thanks for the modified "jump" routine. I have incorporated it
into this issue.
Rob says that he will have a go at Sam Strikes Out, so keep
watching the Pokes/Tips column.
I've passed your name on to Dave hall.
The short answer to the "jump back to where you came from"
question is no, I haven't got the time at the moment.
-------------------
Kevin Cooper,
157 Newtown Road,
Saturday, 15th August 1992. Carlisle,
Cumbria,
CA2 7LL.
Dear Dave, Brian and the crew, Tel:(0228) 47058.
Just another letter, with a few points, mainly questions
and a bit of moaning.
Before I forget to say, 50p is enclosed, so can you please
just add this disk to my sub.
Right then, where should I start......
I find I get a lot of interference on the computer picture.
I've got one of those Y aerial connectors, which allows you to
connect two aerials into one socket, which cuts out swapping
aerials over. But because of this, I get interference from the
normal T.V. aerial, other computers and a video (and maybe
interference from other cables-all my cables are together at the
back of the computer worktop, to keep them out of the way).
Unplugging the T.V. aerial from the Y connector takes most of
the interference away, but that is a waste because that is what
the Y connector is designed for. Anyone know of any way to stop
the interference?
While I'm here I might as well ask if anyone knows if it's
possible to connect the printer from an Amstrad 8256 to the Sam.
I'm not technical at all so anybody else know? Also if there is
a way to connect a CBM 4040 dual floppy disk drive (5 1/4) to
Sam? It's got a connector on the back which looks like a serial
connector on a printer.
My drives seem to be going again, but also the computer.
Sometimes the computer will crash without reason, Now and again
it won't accept keywords, like "run" or "load". With the
drives, I keep getting error messages, like "Check Disk In
Drive" (yes, there IS a disk in the drive), "Missing Disk",
"Network Off", "Not Understood" (the drive starts to whirr then
this is displayed), "Track N sector N error" (N is a number),
"Format Track Lost", "Directory Full", "File Not Found","No Such
Drive". I've cleaned the heads and tried different versions of
the DOS (just in case it is corrupt) and various other things. I
still get the error messages. I'm trying to find my tape lead
(to connect the Sam to a cassette recorder) in case I get a
repeat of what happened this morning. I'd been programming for
about an hour, half an hour was spent looking up a keyword (I
couldn't understand what the Sam manual meant after 25 minutes
of trying what it said, so I ratched out the Supplement
Glossary, and in 5 minutes worked out what to do). So after this
hour of programming, I came to save the program. The disk
started whirring, then I got the error message "Not Understood".
I kept trying, but the same thing kept happening. I was a bit
worried that I wouldn't be able to save the program, so I
decided to try and save it using drive 2. Now drive 2 has always
given me trouble, and after months of trying to get it repaired
I gave up. 99 times out of 100 when trying to do a directory of
drive 2 I get "Check Disk In Drive" (although the disk spins
first). I tried saving on drive 2, but just got the same error
message, "Not Understood". So in short I couldn't save the
program, and I had to give up and switch the computer off. An
hours work down the drain. Something strange also happened the
other day on drive 2. I wanted to do a short directory of drive
2, so I typed "Device d2" (to change the device to drive 2), put
a disk in the drive and then typed "dir". I was expecting to get
"Check Disk In Drive", but this time the drive didn't even start
spinning. But, you know when you Snapshot a Spectrum game, and
you load the game in from tape, press break, and you get a
pattern whizzing up the border of the screen. I got that
pattern, but it was whizzing it was going quite slow. Wierd. But
what with Samco gone, I can't do a thing. Anyone any ideas why?
That's it for this time. Keep up the good work.
Yours, Kev
P.S. Remember a while back when you had loads of those little
plastic disk bags, and you didn't want them? Got any more you
don't want?
ED'S REPLY..
You are in trouble, aren't you. Firstly the aerial
problem. I have a similar setup between an ST and a Spectrum,
which both share a TV through a splitter. To be perfectly honest
the picture off either is quite bad, and I now tend to only plug
in the machine I wish to use. I can only put this down to the
splitter causing cross interference, and I'm afraid I have no
cure (but some clever person out there might, hint, hint). I
find it worse if both machines are powered up, but it's still
quite bad using only one at a time through the splitter.
The problems you are having with your Sam sound quite serious,
and I would suggest that you contact Bruce Gordon, who is still
doing a repair service for Sams.
------------------
To:Mr.Dave Tonks, 9 Princess Drive,
The Hon. Editor, Sawston,
Sam Supplement, Cambridge
37, Parker Street, Cambs.
Bloxwich, CB2 4DL
Wallsall,
West Midlands, Membership no:308.
WS3 2LE.
AUGUST 9th 1992
Dear Dave,
Now that Sam have left us high and dry again can anybody
carry us on with the Kaleidoscope! What do I plug into the
socket at the back? I am very sorry for Alan Miles and Co. and
not too struck because it can't do us a lot of good.
Unfortunately I'm not surprised. I smelt a rat about February
and was nervous about about letting them have any credit like
the Samdisk and the hardware kit , rightly but sadly as it turns
out. With the number of receiverships occurring you get a nose
for companies in trouble.
Phil Glover's disczine suggests there may be some hope. I hope
Sam can do another Phoenix act, but this scenario is hardly
likely to galvanise the software houses into action. I feel the
best hope for Sam lies with the array of talent involved with
the disczines. If they can get together and set up a forum or
council, call it Fred ( Oh! that's been done!), Bert then or
what you like to try and keep this great idea going and give a
lead I am sure members will be prepared to do any "donkey" work.
It would be nice actually to see discs amalgamate but perhaps
they do serve different "markets". Can you provide a list of who
can supply what hardware and software as that would be most
helpful just now? It is ironic that Micromart for 27.8.92 has
such a good SAMCO write-up.
I hope my last letter in issue 22 in response to your cry
for material did not upset too many readers, especially
adventurers and Specloners, it was written tongue in cheek to
stir things up. I'm not really either a Luddite or a flat
earther although fond of the theory which really was advanced
seriously once that the wind is caused by the trees waving their
branches about _ love it!
Thank you for your offer re Howard the Duck which I will
take up. However I have got Spectral writer on tape, I think, as
I used to back up all Wafadrive programmes to tape with my
Multiface ( except the ones on Wafa when the Wafadrive died of
course!). So when I find time to find it and find it I'll send
you both. I also have the Spectral Writer booklet which I am
happy to share with members BUT is there any pirating problem? I
guess club members can use it but not sell it or give it to
non-members or some such formula!
Noel's screens were partly copied from magazines which is
obvious but certainly not ported as I don't have the equipment.
Are they that good ?
yours sincerely
Jerry Hathorn.
(G.S.Hathorn)
EDS REPLY...
I think the Closure of Samco worried a lot of people, but
as I have said before, I personally think that it is in a much
better position to recover this time than it was last.
There are people out there, who at this very moment are putting
together a rescue package, and hopefully this will have the
funds behind it that Alan Miles was always short of.
The supply of hardware is not a problem, and the Supplement can
get most of what was available before, contact Jean at my
address for further details.
I'm very interested in your offer of Spectral Writer, and look
forward to tryng to convert it for the Sam.
Don't undersell yourself with what you can do with your Sam. I
can assure you that you are way up the programming ladder
compared with some members that we have, who are just starting
out on the programming road. To prove my point, I've included
your program in this issue.
-----------------------------
25 Hillside Drive
Long Eaton
Nottingham
NG10 4AH
26.08.92
Dear Dave;
You said you were hard up for material, so I thought I'd
send this in. I wrote it to read batches of Word Processor files
rather than load them into the W/P individually, mess around
with Subdirectories, etc. (I keep all my W/P files in
appropriate Subdirectories for ease of use, and then forget
where I've put them...).
The program works under either Dos; under MasterDos you can
ignore Subdirectories if you want. The program is called
"Browse" (if you can think of a better name, please rename it!),
and uses a machine code file "prntbl.obj". Full documentation is
in "browseinfo".
By the way, should we be sending contributions to Brian in
Croydon, you in Walsall, or doesn't it matter?
Yours Sincerely;
Dave Marriott.
ED'S REPLY...
Thanks for the program, and especially the program
notes which saved me a lot of typing.
As regards sending in programs, either Brian or myself will
accept them, but if you are getting close to an issue and you
need your item to be published, sending them to me in Walsall is
quicker.
------------------------
6, Cornyx Lane,
Solihull,
West Midlands
B91 2SJ
Tel. 021-705-3047
Mem. No. 384
Dear Dave,
Please find on this disk some more SOUND MACHINE tunes. They are
jazz guitar solos:-
I don't know why
Ramona
Spanish Town
Air on a G String
Sorry about forgetting the titles of the previous set which
appeared in Issue 22. They were Albatross, Fig Leaf Rag,
Snowbird and American tune.
Thanks for your explanation about how to get a display with 4
screens whilst playing a tune. Unfortunately I can't get it to
work as shown on this disk. I wonder if you could have a look at
what I have done and hopefully find the error. I enclose a stamp
for the return of the disk.
Many thanks,
John Hutchings
ED's Reply....
Again John, I envy you the ability to use the Sound
Machine to make music with, and if space permits there is at
least some of your tunes on this disc.
As regards the program you sent me, it actually works fine
except for LINE 40, which puts the machine into MODE 1. As the
screens you are loading are MODE 4, you get the garbage instead
of the screen. Once you have changed line 40, you may have to
change some of the print positions for the menu, but that's all
there is to it.
-----------------------
David Hall : 77 Newton Road : Stowmarket : Suffolk : IP14 5AE
Tel. 0449 675828
Greetings to all,
Our hardworking editor, Dave Tonks, has allowed
me just enough space to include a merge routine for Master-
scratch. It should be on this disc with the name "paramerge", I
will detail below the steps needed to install it, but first its
purpose.
The routine contains the new improved (I think) paragraph-reform
still operated by Caps shift + F4, it should be a little faster
and neater. You can now pull text between narrower margins, but
be warned, if doing this in a very full file, if you run out of
room then some of the text may be lost. You can also reform
between margins using only text contained within those margins.
This is selected by a new control function- CNTRL J. This will
offer the use of Part line only, press P for part, any other key
for full line.
Another new control function is CNTRL U, this will un-justify a
paragraph.
The Caps shifted left and right cursors now give move left or
right by word instead of 10 columns.
The routine also corrects a few bugs, these mainly concern the
960 line 85 column mode (my maths needed a bit of help).
Herewith the 'MERGE', (you can add the corections from Dave's
OOPS section at the same time). These instructions may be rather
excessive but ignore what you dont want.
1) Load Materscratch from issue 24.
2) Press Q to quit on the Scratch Main Menu.
3) Type CLEAR and press return.
4) Type MERGE "paramerge" and press return.
(takes a while so dont panic.)
WARNIMG:- DONT use Masterbasic's MERGE* or you'll lose most of
the program, the lines are pretty spread out.
5) Type DELETE 7170 TO 7200 (unwanted lines).
6) Make corrections outlined in OOPS if required.
7) Re-save program with SAVE OVER "mdscratch" LINE 10
If you now press F4 the program should run normally, with the
modifications fully functioning. If any one prefers, send me a
disc containing Masterdos or Masterdos/MasterBasic and a stamp
for the return postage, and I'll send them a copy of the
completed program.
Regards to all, David Hall
-------------------------
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