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PROGNOTE: SAM/PSION COMMS. by J.Jennings
The program Sam Comms has been developed from the need I had to
connect my Psion Organiser LZ64 computer to my SAM Coupe.
To use the program you need the Comms interface for both
machines (RS232).
The software for the SAM end consists of a Basic program, a
screen$ file, a font file, and a file called Blank. You will
also need the code file called ccode.cde off the comms software
that comes with the SAM Comms interface. This needs to be run,
the settings changed to:- 300 baud rate, data bits set to 8, and
stop bits set to 1. This then needs to be initialised and then
saved and transferred to a working disc.
(Eds note.. Samco have let me include a ready done comms code on
this disc, so you've no need to bother initialising one.)
With all the above files on the working disc the SAM software is
ready to run.
The Psion Comms setup should be set to the following:- 300 baud
rate, parity set to none, data bits set to 8, stop bits set to
1, hand set to none, protocol= none, echo= host, width= 64,
timeout= none, REOL=, REOF=, TEOL= , TEOF=
, RTRN and TTRN can be set to your own requirements (see
Psion Comms handbook). I will attempt to explain why settings
are set as above.
The SAM Software.
The options are:-
1.RECEIVE DATA
2.SEND DATA
3.LOAD DATA FROM DISC
4.SAVE DATA TO DISC
5.VIEW DATA IN MEMORY
6.CLEAR MEMORY
7.TASWORD CONVERT
1.RECEIVE DATA.
This prepares the SAM to receive data from the Psion. An
indicator shows the SAM's ready to receive state. The SAM
returns to the main menu when transmission is complete. Before
receiving the program clears the part of memory that the data is
loaded into (65536 onwards).
2.SEND DATA.
Before sending data a data file (ASCII Format) must be loaded in
memory by using the LOAD DATA FROM DISC option. This option as
the name suggests sends data to the Psion (I will cover the
method of reception by the Psion later).
3.LOAD DATA FROM DISC
This option can be used to load data already saved from the
Psion or can be used to load data prepared by a wordprocessor
like Tasword or Outwrite. This enables you to type in OPL
programs or Files or notes on the SAM making use of a full sized
keyboard and then send the data to the Psion.
4.SAVE DATA TO DISC.
This option is used to save data in its Psion format or Tasword
format after using option 7.
5.VIEW DATA IN MEMORY.
This option allows you to see the data as it was transmitted or
prior to sending or even after using option 7.
6.CLEAR MEMORY.
This manually clears the memory, which is done automatically
before receiving or loading.
7.TASWORD CONVERT.
This option allows recieved data to be converted into Tasword
format allowing the files to be loaded into Tasword or Outwrite.
The procedure strips out all unwanted control codes and pads
each line to 64 characters with spaces.
THE PSION END.
TO TRANSMIT.
Go to the main Psion Comms menu and select Transmit, you will
then be prompted to select Files, Proceedures, or Notes. By
setting the SAM to receive you can then transmit from the Psion.
TO RECEIVE TO THE PSION.
Select Capture on the Psion Comms menu and then press Mode key
this accesses another menu (you should make sure that the
capture buffer is clear by choosing the clear option), after
doing this select Term from the sub menu and the Psion is then
ready to receive data. Upon completion of the transfer press
the On/Clear key on the Psion and tidy up the file in the
capture buffer. Press Mode once again and select save to which
ever Pak you require (I select A and at a later stage copy to
another pak if necassary).
You are then asked what you want to save the conents of the
capture buffer as ie: File Proceedure or Notes.
Note: Setting the Width parameter to 64 allows any Notes or OPL
Progs to be captured in readable format but adds spaces which
lengthen the Notes or OPL Progs upon saving of these. However
this can be rectified by deleting all unwanted spaces in the
Capture buffer or after saving, editing from within the Prog
menu or Notes.
Files sent and transmitted contain which can be altered on
reception and transmission by using the RTRN and TTRN parameters
on the Psion.
I have found that by saving data files without conversion to
Tasword format and if you have Wordmaster, if you load the file
into Wordmaster you will see that a large dot is placed at the
beginning of all Files. These appear to be Wordmasters symbols
for control characters and by deleting all but these characters
one can then use them to prepare files. However some tidying up
is necessary at the Psion end to put them into some sort of
order. This program and its use is far from perfect but is a
start and I hope will be of use to the members who have Psions
or other computers as I'm sure that it may be adaptable to
others and I would welcome any improvements or enhancements.
The program will work on both 256k and 512k machines. As well as
the Tasword converted files loading into Tasword and Outwrite
they also load into SAMSCRATCH. Conversely OPL progs and Notes
can be prepared with SAMSCRATCH.
These notes were prepared on the Psion and downloaded into the
SAM and tidied up using SAMSCRATCH.
I must also thank Dave Tonks for the advice and help he gave me
on this project.
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Notes for Ferguson RGB converter by G.A.Bates
Dear Dave,
Looking back at my files, it's just a year since last I sent you
a contribution to SAM Supplement. This is very remiss of me,
particularly as I had the answer to a problem investigated and
reported by yourself as long ago as issue 6!
However, perhaps I can make amends now and pass on a couple of
other items at the same time.
The problem in question was the difficulty some members were
having in loading the Supplement editorial; all they got was a
blank screen!
It turned out that, in one case, the member concerned was using
a Ferguson TX TV with RGB input in conjunction with SAM's linear
RGB output and, in another, a Microvitec monitor. It was stated
that neither of these could utilise the linear RGB output and
must be connected to the TTL RGB, which considerably cuts down
the range of available colours.
However, this is not the case with the Ferguson Model MC01
TV/Monitor (which I assume is being referred to) which will
accept linear RGB. The problem is that it requires an RGB signal
of 0 - 1.5V for the full colour range, whereas SAM only provides
about half of this.
The answer is to amplify the linear RGB signals and I made up a
suitable three channel interface unit using high slew rate
op-amps to give the necessary frequency response - LM6361N. They
are connected in non-inverting mode as shown in the accompanying
diagram. Power is taken from the +5V line in SAM's SCART socket
but a -5V supply is also needed. This I derived from the +5V by
means of a DC-DC converter, available from Maplin's (Order code
FE57M). The arrangement of the converter is shown in another
diagram. The whole thing fits into a neat little box with
flying leads for the SAM SCART connector and 8-pin DIN to the
TV.
Actually, the 8-pin DIN goes into another little box, together
with the lead from my Ferguson RGB adaptor on the Spectrum. One
press of a button and I switch from SAM screen to Spectrum
screen and vice versa.
If anyone would like help with either of these interface units I
would be happy for them to give me a ring on 0332-42442 ext 6244
during office hours or 0742-669532 at other times.
Eds note...
Both wiring diagrams are in the program menu under
the heading "R.G.B."
The DUMP routine will have already been loaded for you to make a
hard copy of either of them.
----------------------------------------------------------------
DIR-DATE routine by G.A.Bates
This item concerns directories with dates appended to the
file names; very useful in conjunction with a word processor.
Being the owner of a SAM-bus and Masterdos I can call up a
directory which includes the date but it also includes a great
deal of other information and each file occupies a line on the
screen. Not very neat and, with a lot of files, a lot of
scrolling.
With just the file name and date displayed it should be possible
to have three columns on screen and remove the need to do any
scrolling. I started by reading the directory into a string
variable using DIR$, manipulating this to get the individual
file names and using FSTAT("filename",7) - needs MasterBASIC -
to get the date. Success, but very slow!
To overcome the speed problem I performed the same operation
from a RAM disc - very much faster - but first you have to get
the relevant information there. It's possible to back up the
whole of a directory to RAM disc but all we need is the
directory information without the actual files. To do this I
used the much more versatile Masterdos READ AT and WRITE AT
commands which enable as many as 1024 sectors to be transferred
at once. But first, determine how long the directory actually
is, using DSTAT(1,6) and read the exact number of blocks into a
suitable memory address. Make sure it doesn't clash with your
program; I corrupted the Tasword "help" screen by choosing an
inappropriate location!
Now format a RAM disc (d3) with the appropriate length directory
(you have to let it have one track for files!), make it the
current drive, go to the appropriate subdirectory and use DIR$
and FSTAT as before. Finally, revert to drive 1 and reformat d3
to zero length (it could cause problems if you left it lying
around - a big directory but no files!). I incorporated the
routine ("dir-date") into the SAM basic part of my LERM Samtape
version of Tasword II but there are obviously other possible
applications.
EDs note...
The routine described is in the issue under the
heading DIR-DATE on the program menu.
I have given you the option of copying it to another disc, but
not to run it from this issue, as it needs Masterdos to
operate. It is also non-autorunning.
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SAMSCRATCH 3.3-85
ver 3.3 Dave Hall. 85 column mods by Andy Wright
Yes, yet another Samscratch. Samscratch now has a paragraph
justify option operated using shift + F4. It's not as tidy as
I'd have liked but it works. It also works with the right margin
re-set.
The 85 column version was converted for me by Andy to help with
a Supplement project that I'm working on and is primarily
intended to be used with files created using the 64 column
version converted to 85 columns, although it's perfectly OK to
use if your eyes will take working in 85 columns. Note that
large 85 column files converted back to 64 columns may be too
large for the 320 line limit. I have included a simple 64 to 85
column converter for files saved as CODE, but the paragraphs
will need justifying in the 85 column version. In addition ver.
3.3-85, which prints in condensed mode offers the following
print options :-
Select print style
Pause between pages
Left or right margins or centered (also selectable
between pages)
Multiple copies if required
The paragraph justify option is included on the shift+edit help
page. Samscratch is now split into two files, a loader and
the word processor. The 'save program' option at the edit menu
will still work, but the loader will need to be copied over as
well.
The shift + F4 justify paragraph option has a restriction;
There must be a blank line between paragraphs
Blank lines created by the routine plus any pre-existing ones
will be removed, leaving one blank line between paragraphs.
The files are :-
Loader ss 85
Main scratch85
File menu85$
File help33text
After twice selecting load instead of save and losing a large
file each time, I have modified the edit screen to work with
letters instead of numbers, less chance of the 'finger slip
error'. I hope my small addition to Samscratch will help others.
With this facility added, I now use Samscratch in preference to
the faster but less friendly (keypress-wise) Tasword 2. Perhaps
before too much longer we will get a merge file option or even a
Masterbasic/Masterdos specific version of Samscratch.
----------------------------------------------------------------
POKES AND CHEATS compiled by Bob Evans
Another selection of pokes and cheats to help you beat that high
score.
SAM-LINK by P.Wood
Peter has managed to get the Opus disc drive to talk to the Sam
through the printer cable.
A full description of how he did it is in the "HINTS & TIPS"
section of this issue.
----------------------------------------------------------------
SAMOS sent in by Ian Spencer
This is a very useful machine code monitor. It makes good use of
MODE 3 with it's clear layout, and is very straight forward to
use. It is driven from a menu, which is displayed the whole
time.
----------------------------------------------------------------
.
BAZA sent in by Ian Spencer
Using the same basic layout as SAMOS, this is a database which
again is simplicity itself to understand and set up.
Very useful if you want a quick and easy way to store your
records.
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MACHINE CODE LESSON 2 by G.Bobker
The second in Geoff's series of machine code tutorials. This
month he continues the subject of PAGING from where he left off
last month.
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GERMAN TUTOR by Paul Skinner
An unusual subject for a computer, but done extremely well. This
is a teach yourself German database, comprising of a dictionary
of words, German/English, English/German translations using both
words and phrases, pronunciation, and the option to update if
more data is added.
DIR SORTER by Paul Skinner
A simple utility which sorts the directory of your disc into
alphabetical order, and resaves it to your disc. Makes DIR's
look very ordered and neat.
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HAM RADIO by Ian Spencer
Especially for all the radio hams out there, this is a demo
version of Ian's program which will allow you to recieve RTTY
throught the cassette socket of your Sam.
Ian says that this is only the first part of a much bigger
program, but you will need the Sambus for it to work correctly,
because of the timing problems.
The program on this issue will allow you to decode RTTY signals
at 45/50 and 75 bauds, and it allows unshift on space and
mark/space inversion.
The tones for "1" and "0" are centered around 1300Hz and are
shown in this demo version as a modulated border, rather like
the tape loading signal.
Ian has nearly finished the SSTV decode routines, and if anyone
is interested they can contact him for updates of the program.
His address is:
Fichtenweg 10C
5203 Much
West Germany
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SNAKE by D.J.Munro
A nice little game of centipede by Mr. Munro. See the letter in
the "HINTS and TIPS" section of this issue, for an explanation
of how he wrote it.
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ANIMATION by D.Tonks
This is an explanation of how I do animations on the Sam. I've
only given the basics of animation, with a demo to illustrate
it. This will get you used to the processes used, and hopefully
next issue, I will take it a little further and try to explain
how I did this issue's front end.
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