‘commodore’
WORGB,
2 He NEWS MAGASINEG FOR COMMODORE S64 & 128 USERS « ISSUE ea) S44) 35 US.
*
'G EOS Moves Forward
Wheels & GEOS MegaPatch 3.0
4
‘Hobby & Electronic Show
_ Commodores Greet European Show Attendees
The SuperCPU v2 ‘a CMD Ships The SuperCPU 128 *
8) a)
i Plus... ® Device Polling in Machine vaviétfne
‘e Commodore World Article Index
e Downgrading The SID
= et
mn a 7
GPAD introduces byo new ways bo (MPROVE VOUWR
MGpIng tO Gel Your Aang si On SOmeuitia Liat Wit light 4/Tre Unger VOUT Computer ZV el GeLiOUL ‘your asbestos gloves) because CMD has just starting shipping their scorching lineup of BAM Expansion Units, the CMD'1./50 and CMD, i7pOKL. Commodore|users worldwideiare: warming up to'these hot little units--anditor, good reason! CMD’s new REUs wittipur ZING in your spell-checker, TURBOCHARGE your GEOS applications, and|deliveryour downloads with BLISTERING SPEED! Supplies of these RAMpaging REUS are limited, So order yours before it’s too late!
aanewene:
/512K CMD 4750 $99.0)
Features *Commodore REC controller chip for Maximum) COMpAalibiity *)Smallllic tno larger than) most Fame) Carinages wer power consumption than most
viftLink and! *Supplied complete with utilities and documentation) Creative Micro Designs, Ime 1-390-638-3263 2 MB/CMD 4750KL $1389
Noten GMbire
C O N T
. ISSUE 22
COMMODORE
WORLD
‘THE NEWS MAGAZINE FOR COMMODORE 64 & 126 USERS
hutp://www.cmdweb.com/cewhome,html
General MaNnacer Charles R. Christianson oa Eorror Doug Cotton Sd AbverrisinG SALES Charles A, Christianson (413) 525-0023 ° Grapnic Arts Doug Cotton
Evectronic Pre-Press & PRINTING Mansir/Holden ° Cover Design by Doug Cotton
Commodore™ and the respective Commodore product names are tradamarks or registered trademarks of Commodore, a division of Tulip Computers, Commodore World is in no way afliated with tho ownor of the Commodore logo and technology.
Commodore World (ISSN 1078-2516) is published 6 times annually by Creative Micro Designs, Inc., 15 Benton Drive, East Longmeadow MA 01028-0646. Second-Class Postage Paid at East Longmeadow MA. (USPS #011-801)
Annual subscription rate is US$29.95 for U.S. addresses, USS35.95 for Canada or Mexico, USS45,95 forall EC Countries, and US$57,95 toallother addresses worldwide, Allsubscription payments must be provided in U.S. Dollars. Mail subscriptions to CW Subscriptions, c/o Creative Micto Designs, Inc., P.O. Box 646, East Longmeadow MA 01028-0646,
pi se reproduced by any means without prior written consent from the publisher. All programs published in this publication are for the personal use of the reader, and may not be copied or in any way distributed Allrights reserved. Programming examples and routines inthis issuo which are presented for educational purposes may bo used in the creation of programs by the purchasor of this magazine, provided credit for tho routines is cloay presented in either the program documantation, or the program iselt Creative Micto Designs, inc., assumes no responsibilty for errors or omissions in editorial, program listings or advertising content. Creative Micro Designs, Inc. assumes no liability for advertisers claims or reliability
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: CW Address Changes, c/o Creative Micro Designs, Inc., P.O. Box 646, East Longmeadow MA 01028-0646.
Published March 1998
FKHeaTurRes
6 10 12
C64 Auve-A Reporr From THE Eurorean Hospy & Electronic SHow Malte Mundt
GEOS Moves Forwaro-Wxeets & GEOS MecaPatct 3.0
Doug Cotton
Conmopore Wortp Arricte INDEX
Compiled by Doug Cotton
Cocumns
18 24 28 30 32 34 36 38
Just For Starters By Jason Compton Looking for Trouble in all the Right Places GrapHic INTERPRETATION BY Bruce THOMAS Laser Magic
DemoMANia By SHERRY FREEDLINE
The Demo World Wakes Up
Carrier Detect sy Gaetyne R, GAasson SLIP, PPP, Clients, Servers... Oh My!
BASIC Instincts sy Doug Corton
Inside BASIC Part Two
Harp Tips sy Douc Cotton
Downgrading the SID in the C-64c and C-128D Assempty Line By DouG Cotton & Mark Fetows Device Polling
816 Beat sy Douc Corton
The SuperCPU Steps Up to Version 2
DeEraRTMENTS
From THe Eoiror On The Horizon Conmopore Trivia CuassiFied Aps Apverriser’s INDEX
COMMODORE WORLD
EXcitTIinGs TIMES?
With the world around us constantly changing, we too must accept change from time to time, or face possible extinction. This applies to many things in life, not just computers.
However, to avoid the kind of upgrade cycles that keep other platforms spiraling out of control of the user, we need to make wise decisions about our changes.
In the not-too-distant future, some new and exciting items will arrive in the Commodore software arena. There will be two new GEOS updaters vying to become the new standard in that arena. Several individuals are working on Internet-based applications of similar types, and again, there may be some competition there as well to become the ‘standard’ for our platform.
Regardless of which program does what and which is standard and which isn’t, one thing is certain: It will be far more exciting to have a choice than not having these applications to begin with.
Meanwhile, get a head start on finding out about the new GEOS updaters due out soon by reading this issue's coverage of Wheels and MP3. And also be sure to check out 816 Beat to get the scoop on the new SuperCPU that has begun shipping from CMD.
Oh, and get excited, because I believe that this year you'll find there will be plenty of reason to do so!
Doug Cotton Editor
Issue 22
SO, YOU THOUGHT YOU COULDN'T AFFORD LOADSTAR? Now YOu CAN BUY IT EVERY MONTH BY MAIL FOR LESS THAN IT COST IN THE EIGHTIES ~ BUT PACKED WITH MORE!
Loadstar #165
Contents Star Copier '98 Thanks to Bob Markland, our handy file copier is fixed! Fission This mouse-driven card solitaire is also one of Maurice's best. Mansion Using Cameron Kaiser's WORLD MAKER system, John invites you into the Charles Mansion, where no good deed goes unpunished. Puzzle Page #165 Number-teasers, word-puzzles and brain-stumpers a-plenty! Plus, Knees' monograph on mystery mores. Legal Beagle Ill Generate some more legal documents which you can customize for your own use. A Night On The Town Take a musical trip from the quaint eateries of the outer city into the heart of darkness we call "uptown" Room - 4k Contest Winner Asmall demo that gives you a glimpse of what the world of DOOM is like.
Twin Terrors
For one or two players, this exciting game offers 99 levels ‘of jumping and shooting. Gershwin Jukebox
Eight memorable tunes by George Gershwin, including Rhapsody in Blue (in three movements), the three Preludes, and Swanee, made famous by Al Jolson, Quicksmith Music
31 songs by musicologist Dave, all converted into the QUICKSMITH format by Lee Novak.
Clip Joint #2
A geoPaint document chock full of attractive images just ripe for clipping.
Geos Disk Tools
Ten tools for the Geos environment that will make your navigation faster and easier. All are well explained by our Geos Man About Town.
Diskovery
Your editor confronts another crisis, mourns a prolific C-64er, describes a new product, and introduces a Euro company. Jeff's Soapbox
Jeff mediates (or aggravates?) the battle of the operating systems.
LOADSTAR LETTER #54
Bill Gates Attacked Wheels/GeoFAX By Professional Pie Sweepstak
The Wendatat Letter Tic onsraniriinen| 1S published of monthly, It's the 1] biggest, most informative, and authoritative
Sige 1 Modan Pi
LOADSTAR™
‘aCenmaen® alten baveryen
spaue ve
® Centsible Software
A list of 50 commercial “in the box" programs from the world's largest CBM software store. Modern Printers
Looking for a new printer for your C-64/128? Read this first! Master Of Trades
In memory of a dedicated Commodorean, we present Part One of his autobiography,
Newsletter Naniskad
A compilation of tidbits from newsletters from all over the world,
Over 200K of documentation every month
automatically presented on disk.
tc a Sa a a i cant ech i ee cha i Vek ow ig ! LOADSTAR
' SEND CHECK OR MONEY ORDER TO: REACH US ON THE Wea! ' 1 PO Box 30008, SHREVEPORT LA 71130-0008 HTTP:// WWW.LOADSTAR.COM 1 1 CALL 1-800-594-3370 AND ORDER THIS MONTH'S LOADSTAR FOR $7.95 FENDER@LOADSTAR.COM JUDI@LOADSTAR.COM 1 I ‘OR ORDER THIS MONTH'S LOADSTAR LETTER FOR $2.00 JEFF@LOADSTAR.COM I H OR GET BOTH FOR $9.95! ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED. OR FAX YOUR ORDER TO (318) 221-8870 i 1 Name: 1 1 ADDRESS: _ 7 _ 1 1. = = = 1 1 fae esppeoreminc _ aa —— = 1 1 _ _ _ _ 7 1 1 DD send ne toadstar m6s tors7.95 XJ 3¥einchdk EZ] Stine wk (D1 Send ine The Londstar Letter #54 for $2.00 1 Send both for s9.95 1 Trost card Account # _ 1 ' Exp. Date Signature ' Wh ik a ih nn koi nm at tm po a i
Issue 22
3 COMMODORE WORLD
COMMODORE AND COMPUTER INDUSTRY NEwsSs
Dialogue 128 Terminal Software Freely Available In a recent announcement, Gary Farmaner, author of the popular Dialogue 128 terminal program declared the package free for distribution, Farmaner cited several reasons for the decision, which included a lack of time to devote to distributing the program commercially or provide adequate support.
While the program may now be freely
distributed, Farmaner has opted to retain all rightsto the software, and has placed some specific limitations on the distribution, indicated in his release statement:
“I, Gary Farmaner, sole author of the program Dialogue 128, do hereby authorize the release of the program Dialogue 128 and any accompanying documentation, to freeware, NON- COMMERCIAL distribution.
THIS IS FREE SOFTWARE,
Individuals are encouraged to give and post tosoftware distribution sites, cop! of the software and any electronically captured form ofthe documentation, aslong as this notice is included,
Commercial interests are permitted
to distribute the program and documentation as long as this notice i included, and NO CHARGE beyond reasonable media and duplication costs (at most $2 for diskette, and $3 for printed documentation).
Tretain full copyright on the software and documentation, The software and documentation are NOT being released to the publicdomain. Iretain theright torelease commercial updates at at future date,
‘The software is released AS IS, without warranties, guarantees, or support of any kind.
There is no charge for this software. However, if you do find it useful | would appreciate reading about it. Drop mea line at: dialog@turing.toronto.edu"
s
is made
COMMODORE WORLD
Commodore 8-bit Rights Not With Gateway 2000
A news item in Commodore World Issue #21 incorrectly stated that the Commodore 64 rights had been purchased by Gateway 2000, along with rights to the Commodore Amiga. Commodore World columnist Jason Compton now confirmed with C yy that this information is incorrect. The rights to the Commodore 64, 128, and many of the other 8-bit products apparently went to Commodore BY., a Netherlands-based PC manufacturer that was previously a division of the now bankrupt German company Escom. Commodore BV (http://www.commodore.net) is now owned by Tulip Computers, another Netherlands-based PC manufacturer,
SuperCPU 128 Shipping
Creative Micro Designs (CMD) has recentlycompleted work on the SuperCPU 128, their 20 MHz or cartridge for the Commodore 128 which provides acceleration for both the 128 and 64 modes. The product was releasedin early March, marking the first time an accelerator has been shipped for the Commodore
ele
128's native mode,
CMD also announced that the new board design used in the SuperCPU 128, dubbed the SuperCPU v2, isnowbeing used in the SuperCPU 64, replacing the original board designed for that product. Thenew hardwareand firmware provide additional capabilities not available in the older version. CMD notes that because of the new improvements, many programs run faster without making modifications to the programs themselves. CMD has also indicated that work is being done on a possible upgrade for older SuperCPU 64s that will give the older models all the capabilities of the new version.
Centsible Obtains Rights To Maverick
The rights to several programs previously produced by Software Support International have been recently purchased by Centsible Software (1-616-471-1089). Among the titles are the 1541/
4
1571 Disk Drive Alignmentand Amiga AmiDrive Alignment programs, Maverick 64/128 and Maverick Amiga.
Centsible nounced that they plan to have the Maverick archiving software for the Commodore 64/128 available for putchase by the end of April of this
ear,
Update For GeoFAX Available Maurice Randall recently announced that jon 2.1 of geoFAX is now shipping. The new version fixes several problems with that have surfaces over the last few months.
An updater for registered owners of version 2.0 can be obtained either by sending theirname, Email address and geoFAX ID number in Ei to Maurice Randall (arca93@delphi.com) or by contacting Maurice via his support BBS. Alternatively, the patch program may also be obtained on ¢ formatted 1541 di mailer (be sure to provide ample postage and your geo ID number).
Users who have V1.5—1.7 may purch: upgrade for $15.00 plus shipping and handling ($4 for North America, $6 for all others).
vel
by sending Maurice a blank ina stamped s
If-addressed
Desterm 3 Beta Released
Matthew Desmond, author of the Desterm terminal sofware, has released a beta test version of Desterm 3. The new version offers several features not previously available in the program, including Zmodem transfers and Turbo232 support. The new version also now uses standard disk routines, making it compatible with storage devices like RAMLink and RAMDrive,
‘arly reports seem to indicate that numerous bugs existin the beta release, and Desmond warns that several features found in previous releases have not yet been ported to the new version,
Patches for at least two bugs in the program have been recently posted on Desmond's web site (http://www.ionline.net/~mdesmond/ desterm.html), where the beta itself can also be
obtained, ©) 3
Issue 22
GENTSIBLE SOFTWARE We carry America’s Largest Selection of C64/128 Software ive new shipments of Supplies, Accessories, Hard- ware and Software arriving | Datamanager 2, i monthly. : i y. Accessories 6. Mapping the 64
€128 Superbase 128, .o0 | New this Month Dust C (Call for Choices)
64 Power Pack, -00] Tach 30 Joystick...$19.95 | cheat shee SS en and 64C Tach 5 Joystick....$17.95 (Call for Choiss) : $19.95
Tach 3 Joystick.....$15.95
Used 1571's.
Money Busines:
Alpine Tram Ridi 00] Icontroller.. $24,95
Bob’s Term Pro Used Printer. i (Call for choices) $15.95
Disk Special gi John Elway Quarterback...$12.00 | Mindscape
Wrath of the Demon, ....818.00 5 1/2” Floppy Disks Death Knights of Knnn,...s18.00| Power Player (Minimun Purchase 20)
Fs Suike Bape Bene Joysticks, ..$9,95 Pack of 20......$2.40
Prices listed do not include shipping and handling, U.S, Residents add $5.00 per order, All others add p . 7.00 per order, Call or Write for your free C64/128 Catalog listing Hundreds of Commodore items. : Geowrite Workshop ones Bours are 1PM to eM EST Monday thru Thursday, Info Line:1-616-471-1083 $14.95
i Peet
Home sprvnet.com sprynen cents
inbs Accepted ven Springs, ME 49108 zh
The Commodore LASER LOVERS’ DISK!
When you care enough to print the very best!
How many times have you looked at print media and asked, “Why can't Ido this on my Commodore?” Perhaps now you can!
y ) = My “LASER LOVERS? DISK” contains Maurice Randall's (801 )466 8084
POSTPRINT which will enable you to send PostScript files from geoWritedocuments. Ihave been printing PostScript fromthe Commodore | | Specializing in NEW and USED Commodore Hardware,
for over six years. This disk contains all the G jaser fonts resident in Software and Accessories at excellent prices. your printer and a few PostScript fonts that aren't. Included is a short history of PostScript on the Commodore, an introduction to PostScript Send $1.00 for a HUGE list of products. Office Hours:
programming specifically designed for Commodore users, and many sane sample programs which you may include in your own documents. 11:30 - 6:30 MST. Visa, MC, Discover and American Express accented.
Y should have GEOS 2. TOMO Coiba 3366 South 2300 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84109
—] Mail a $25 check to K, Dale Sidebottom P, O. Box 303, New Albany IN
47151-0303. Call (812)944-9132 if you have any questions. pnaveorank a Commodore World Back Issues
large capacity drive (such as a 1581, and a PostScript laser printer.
Do You Wish You Had More Commodore News? cw1 Commodore World Issue 1 CW12 Commodore World Issue 12 cw2 Commodore World Issue 2 CW13 Commodore World Issue 13
There just aren't enough good Commodore magazines around, cw3 Commodare World Issue 3. CW14 Commodore World Issue 14 Commodore World being one of the few. Have you considered subscribing cw4 Commodore World Issue 4 CW15 Commodore World Issue 15, toagood newsletter? The LUCKY REPORT isatwelve-page newsletter cws Commodore World Issue 5 CW16 Commodore World Issue 16 published 11 months ofthe yearfor LUCKY. Inc.,aCommodoreclubthat | | We Commodore World Issue 6 CW17 Commodore World Issue 17 is almost as old as the 64 itself. The edi e Sidebottom, has been | | EW? Peake am alla che published in many Commodore pub! We invite you toc owe cs Gwe peeieeworrumens out now! You may send only $5,00 for your first four issues; or GW10 _Commadora World lesué 10 GW21. __Gorritiodore World Issue'21 in $15.00 foranannual subscription, If you add $5.00 [$20 total CW11 Commodore World Issue 11. CW22 Commodore World Issue 22
‘ess to our 1000+
ou can become a LUCKY member with full a Shipping: U.S. and Canada $2.00 for fi
$1.00 por additional issues.; Foreign
Jo Phyllis Bunch 2518 Browns ratte Louisville KY 4020. TO ORDER CALL 800-638-3263
Issue 22 5 COMMODORE WORLD
issue, plus 100 per issue.
COMMODORE TRIVIA
by Jim Brain
Welcome to another edition of Commodore Trivia. As many of you may know, these trivia questions and answers have been donated by me to the Commodore community at large. Unlike other articles in Commodore World, these trivia questions have been placed in the public domain. I ask only that the trivia questions remain intact and unchanged, and
that my name and address appear somewhere so users can contact me. The trivia is also used fora contest I run on the Internet; contact meat the included address for more information. Because curiosity has the best of me, I always welcome a note or posteard detailing where the trivia goes. | also welcome new questions— provided they come with the answers. Enjoy!
Jim Brain Brain Innovations, Inc.
10710 Bruhn Ave Bennington, NE 68007 j.brain @ieee.org
COMMODORE TRIVIA #21 QUESTIONS
$180 Most people know what CPU is in a Commodore disk drive, but $190 In reference to Commodore, what does TOI stand for? what CPU powers the venerable CBM 1525 printer? $191 Name two values that, when poked to the screen, will yield the $181 What isthe maximum number of characters per line on a CBM identical character appearance. 1520? $192 What chr$ codes lock out and re enable the shift/commodore $182 Commodore rarely manufactured its own printer mechanisms. keyboard flip from uppercase to lowercase on the VIC-20? Who's mechanism did Commodore use in the DPS 1101? $193 What chr$ codes lock out and re enable the shift/commodore $183 What is unique about the DPS 1101 printer? keyboard flip from uppercase to lowercase on the C64? $184 Which was the first Commodore modem with DTMF dialling $194 What chr$ codes lock out and re enable the shift/commodore capabilities? keyboard flip from uppercase to lowercase on the C128? $185 Which was the last Commodore 8-bit peripheral drive $195 OnCBM machines prior to the VIC-20, what chr$ code outputs developed? the same character as chr$(44), the comma. $186 Whatisthe maximum sizeof RAM available for use for program $196 Is the character described in $195 of any use? storage on an expanded VIC-20 $197 Thespeed of Commmodore BASIC increased dramatically after $187 One of the most poular magazines for computers in the 1980's the first OS upgrade in 1979. Why? was COMPUTE! What Commodore content magazine did it give birth to? $198 COMAL, a programming language available for Commodore computers, was created by whom? $188 In a strange twist of irony, COMPUTE! was itself descended from a Commodore content magazine. Which one? $199 At the 1980 COMDEX, Commodore PET proved instrumental during a crisis. What happened? $189 COMPUTE! underwent a name change very shortly after introduction. What subtle change was made to the name? $19A_ Who designed the PET/CBM 8032 computer? $18A How were LOADSTAR and Commodore Microcomputing- $19B What was the "cursor gone out to lunch" bug in the first PETS? Power/Play once connected? $19C Ona PET/CBM (early models), what will "POKE 14,1" do? $18B_Whatisthe fastest Commodore ever clocked a 6502 or derivative CPU ina machine? $19D What version of BASIC would not utilize disk drives? $18C_Name onebyte that yields the same characterwhen printedand $19E Who is Lyman Duggan and why is he important? poked to a Commodore screen. SI9F Jim Butterfield notes to me that he received plenty of help in $18D Quick, which chr$ value flips to uppercase/lowercase mode? creating the first PET memory map (Q $0D8) from the Sphinx group, who published critical information in their early $18E Quicker, which chr$ value flips it back to uppercase/graphics? newsletters. How did Commodore influence the name of the roup? $18F How do you get INPUT to not display a question mark? =e
COMMODORE WORLD
Issue 22
=
$160 $161
$162
$163 $164 $165
$166
$167 $168 $169 S1GA
$16B
$16C
$16D S16E
S16F
COMMODORE TRIVIA #20 ANSWERS
__)
Variables can indeed be longer than 5 characters. The variable name fails becase the BASIC keyword "DEF" in it. As long as the maximum command line length. Theoretically, using automated code generation, you can get a variable name that is just shy of 255 characters in length. Oh, and Abacus wrote the offending book. The Commodore LCD Computer system, much like the Commodore 65, was a product that never reached the market. Do you remember this pint-size CBM machine? 72 keys, including 8 function keys and 4 separate cursor keys. Liquid Crystal Display. Yep, A 300 bps auto dial/auto answer modem. As referenced in $158, there are 8 integrated programs: Word Processor File Manager Spreadsheet Address Book Scheduler Calculator Memo Pad Telecommunications Package 4 AA alkaline batteries. 5 pounds. 3.6. It contained all of Basic 3.5 plus a few extras. An HP bar code reader, The 65C102 CPU. This CPU was built using the 65C02 core from Western Design Center, who licenses the popular 65C816S CPU as well. CBM licensed this chip at little or no cost as a result of a lawsuit settlement between WDC and CBM over
6502 architecture patent infringements.
Centronics Parallel (printer) port, and an EIA-232 (RS-232C) port.
32kB of battery backed RAM. 480 x 128 or 61440 pixels
96KB of ROM, which held the OS and the integrated programs.
Issue 22
$170
$171
$172
$173
S174
$17C
S17
SITE
$17F
The following text is centered on either the 40 or 80 column screen:
-0 122365 BYTES FREE ELECTRONICS, LTD.
As shown above in Q.$170, 122365 bytes, Column 70,
The printer is offline. Put the printer on-line, and the floppy will operate correctly.
One brute force way: While in the machine language monitor, type: m f63f5 [640b
23:
a
Tri Micro wrote the code, and created a version for the C64, It turns out that the 3+1 software included with the Commodore Plus/4 was originally designed to be but one of the many choices for bundled software with the 264. When the focus changed, 3+1 became the only software bundled, and some assumed Commodore had written it. (Ref. RUN April 1985:43)
David Simons (Ref: Commodore Power/Play April/May 1985:56.
Hewlett Packard. (Commodore Power/Play April/May 1985:56)
114. (P/P Apr/May 1985:57)
Renumbering GOTOs and GOSUBs when renumbering a program.
When merging over 255 records in the Word Processor, a printout might stop early int the file and continually reprint a single record, or entering one record might trash another record,
(RUN April 1985:43)
The 6502. The change in number owes more to a change in manufacturing process than anything else.
80. (RUN November 1984:37) Row 2 Column 2. (RUN July 1984:109)
Column 2-4 spell out CBM. (RUN July 84:109)
COMMODORE WORLD
C64 Alive—A Report from the European Hobby & Electronic Show
by Malte Mundt
November 1997, German: : It's time fortheannually show-called*Hobby&E Twas there with the German magazi
to show the world that the
lectronic”. 3064!"
t the biggest and best located stand! People simply could not miss us, On Tuesday, the 4th of November (the day before the show began) the halls were opened for the exhibitors. Amazed by the dimensions of the halls and our area, w in Lo prepare for the show, We had a mixture of six C64s and128s with us, a C65, two SX and a C64GS game consol
Wednesday morning: The doors of the show were opened. Ourstand looked really great: Seba, member of the group Plush (who also writes for GO64! from time to time) had prepared gigantic GO6 original Commodore advertising sheet original VIC-20 machine.
The front ofthe stand featured our two greatest attractions: A mega-equipped C64 system that includedaSuperCPU, RAMLink, REU, 1GBCMD HD and a CD-ROM driv GO64! issues, we had large tel
In the hall where we were located, we
be
ured
! and CMD logos, and one wall fe and an
vision with a SuperCPU and FD-2000 connected to it, Here we showed a demo-level of the upcoming SuperCPU shoot'em up, Metal Dust. A powerful amplifier and gi digi-music throughout the hall, Left of it two standard C64s were set up, on which we continously showed different demos,
We expected to talk with different kinds of people. Naturally there would be PC users bothered by the fact that there are still those who donot bow tothe Wintel-empire, and there would be other PC users who would find our display interesting, but wouldn't set up their C64 But those we were there forwerethe Commodore-
antic speakers spread the game’s superb
lovers who were not aware that new hardware and software is being made.
Aswe learned to recognize these three ki people, wehad great fun fooling with the disciples of Bill, who wanted to convince us to finally trash
our old machines. Those poor guys simply were unable to understand what is so special about a Commodore.
Many people were positively surprised when they spotted our stand. They remembered the
COMMODORE WORLD
Then, next to lots of
old times, when games were fun. Often we explained to someone what is now available for the C64/128. While 3.5" drives were known to , people were more stunned over the hard drive (“This HD-20, lused to have too!” -"Well, but now there is 1 GBinsidel!” -“P-P-Pardon?”). Even more were amazed at seeing the CD-ROM drive. Obviously the CD still is the symbol for the “modern age”, and the visitors were shocked to see one connected to a C64,
Since Metal Dust v demo version, so we ph the screen to give the show's vi play. In the beginning, people just stood in front of it and stared at the info screen, As the halls were occupied by more and more visitors, more people tried to play the game, The endmonster died thousand deaths, and so did the people at nearby booths, since they repeatedly got to hear the mighty guitar sound which accompanies it. There were also some odd quatations concerning Metal Dust: “Look, Amiga-trasht”, “Hey, Lown that gamel!", “There, that's Nemesis!”, “Is the music played with that CD-ROM drive?” “A C64
some (“Ah yes, such a 1581-dri
multimed
as shown in a playable
jaced
itors a chance to
with 1 MB memory, that’s a joke, isn’t it?” Later we
ran the new 4-player-game ame is shipped with a small userport cartridge which supplies twoadditional joystick ports. It was great: Many kids played the game and really enjoyed it—that they were playing on a 15 year old computer (which even
has not to be tuned up for that game) didn't matter—only the fun playing the game counted, and fun they really had!
We also occassionally showed the new SuperCPU-demo by DMAgie, in which a picture of a SuperCPU rotates and an awesome music plays. Again people stopped to gazeat thescreen, almost hypnotised by the rotating SuperCPU animation.
On Saturday Wolfgang Grimm and Markus Kanet arrived with their “Geos MegaPatch 3.0". Even those a GEOS were astonished about the new systemand the Win95/NT-like desktop. The show's visitors liked it a lot. Next to the machine we placed a sign: “10 times faster than Windows, and 10 times cheaper too!”. Butit was not allowed to stay
mong us who normally don’t use
in front of
long—the organizers of the show told us to remove it, since comparitive advertisement was prohibited. Obviously Geos MP 3.0 was really regarded as a rival against Windows! We said thanksforthe complimentand replaced the word “Windows” with “PC operating systems”...
Many people asked us about all the C64 hardware we there and listened to our explanations. Some of them then said nice handicraft work”, And while some C64 owners didn't feel good with the pricing, many found 400 DM for a SuperCPU not at all too expensive. Compared to what a someone might spend to upgrade from 90MHz to 166MHz (not much when expressed in percent!) a SuperCPU isn’t expensive when considering that it speeds up the machine by 2000%!
Many of our faithful readers also visited our stand to meet the makers of the GO64! magazi personally. Manuel “Sputnick” Nicksch also there. Manuel is working on a new like assembler (including machine language monitor) for the SuperCPU,
It was interesting to watch people who remembered the old times—it was almost possible to read theirmind: One would approach our stand, suddenly spot the blue power-on screen of a C64, slow down, then stop walking, Without coming closer he watches the screens, sees happy and fascinated people around the Commodore machines... he thinks it all over, fights against himself, then suddenly turn around and hurry away. This is not his world—not long time ago he bought a supermodern Personal C omputer with Office’97 and he feels good with it... or not?
Inthe hall there wasas the ceiling of visitor:
ign hanging down from ination Computer”, Surely alot ienced this fascination at our
booth. It was really great to see all these happy eyes.
a C64 booth in the year 1997—who would had considered this possible? It’s a little miracle, like GO64! itself, and clear proof of the fact that the C64 community is strong and holds together.
And if everythings works well, maybe in one year we will be present at the show a: perhaps even earlier at another one!
Issue 22
Need Input? It Doesn’t Get Any Better Than This...
For years, Commodore set the standard with the 1351 mouse. Sure, it was vastly superior to $49.25 using old digital input devices like the 1350 mouse or joysticks. But everything can be improved. Pius SIH Guaranteed 100% 1351-compatible, SmartMouse does everything the C-1351 does and more! This highly intelligent, three-button input device includes a built-in battery-backed Real-Time Clock, along with double-click and Turbo features for GEOS. Plus, it comes witha complete set of utilities for using the clock in GEOS and BASIC applications. Modern ergonomic designs makes SmartMouse a smooth operator that’s a pleasure to use. So, if you're tired of the slow, erratic movement of your current input device, make the intelligent choice and pick up a SmartMouse today!
SmartMouse is the Most Advanced Mouse Ever Created for the Commodore 64 and 128 Computers!
* Three buttons means convenience! If you're a GEOS user, the left * SmartMouse utilizes the same advanced technology used in today's button is configured as single click, the right as a handy double —_— powerful 486 and Pentium PC’s, providing you with unparalleled click and the center button is the TURBO button which doubles the accuracy and smoothness. speed at which the pointer moves across the screen. All three are fully programmable for other application.
Built-in battery-backed Real-Time Clock automatically sets the GEOS clock, displays time and can be used in your own programs. * SmartMouse uses the same custom gate array chip as the Commodore C-1351 mouse to guarantee 100% compatibility. * Includes utilities disk and detailed manual explaining the utilities and programming information. * Switches easily into joystick emulation mode on power-up by holding down the right button. * Attention Lefties! SmartMouse can be altered for left handed use,
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and 1 horizontal slot. Both units offer 7 switchable signals R A Y M (eo) N D per slot, address mapping on slot 2, and a reset button.
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Issue 22 9 COMMODORE WORLD
GEOS Moves Forward
InCommodore World Issue 21, Paul Sullivan's. phic Interpretation column was titled, SEOS What It Really Wants: RAM Expansion”. And if you didn’t heed Paul’s advice then, you'll may be doing so soon— especially if you plan to use either of the expanded GEOS Kernal patches due out in the next few wee
GEOS v2.0 has done reasonably well in terms of usability for those who wanted a point and click interface on their Commodore. But there have always been some weak points as well. In recent years, many of the inherent weaknesses of GEOS have been overcome, not so much by updates to the operating system itself, but by hardware upgrades that helped to centralize files, speed disk access, and even speed up the computer itself. Many of these hardware additions came with strings attached: you generally had to apply a minor Kernal patch or use a version of the GEOS CONFIGURE file specially made to support the particular piece of hardware you were adding. All of these little patches and variations of system files have led to something
nd GOS Mic
by Doug cotton
bordering on chaos, orat the least animmense logistical puzzle for the end user who wanted to use combinations of hardware in ways that were not considered to be in the ‘normal scheme of things’ by the developers.
With the release of two new products, Wheels (by Click Here Software) and GEOS O(by Megacom Soft), the days of al patches and custom CONFIGURE files will hopefully be over. In addition to integrating the wide variety of new hardware items that have materialized for GEOS over the past few years, these ‘upgrades’ also provide a variety of new features. But before we get into specifics, be forewarned: as the opening paragraph of this article hinted, both of these new systems absolutely REQUIRE that you have some compatible form of RAM expansion.
Wheels
The upgrade now officially called Wheels has been rumored for quite some time (as Project G). The 64 version will reportedly release ina few weeks for a price of $36.00, with the 128
sion to follow approximately three months later. To be able to use the Wheels upgrade, you must have an original GEOS 2.0 system disk and RAM expansion,
The roots of the Wheels upgrade go back several years, totheinception ofbetter disk driver routines that Click Here Software's proprieter and chief programmer Maurice Randall had ised. Public knowledge of some of these drivers came when Maurice released new drivers for CMD's gateWay 128 to replace the buggy Native partition drivers included with that system. As Maurice found himself more and more involved with various Kernal patches and driver rewrites—both for CMD and for his own —the idea of a major rewrite of the GEOS Kernal andassosciated GEOS utilities and applications took hold.
Wheels replaces the GEOS CONFIGURE with the toolbox, where you can set default parameters for RAM expansion and drives. Wheels will attempt to use the saved toolbox defaults during boot-up, but will still boot from other configurations if your equipment configuration has changed.
ve
Wheels Screen Shots
2 pene
1a
(eA (era (ce eons Vecens® PF Uartens 8 Pon PrarLe,
COMMODORE WORLD
10
Issue 22
MegaPatch 3.0 Screen Shots
RAM support includes Commodore or CMD 17xx-series REUs (any size), SSI SuperClone, GEORAM, BBGRAM, RAMLink, RAMDrive or SuperCPU SuperRAM. RAM disks can be any sizeup to 16 Megabyt consistofupto 8seperate RAM partitions within a RAM device.
Drive support includes 1541, 1571, 1581, CMD FD and CMD HD hard drives. Partition support for CMD devices is built into the system, and allows using 1581 and Native partitions on all, Commodore 1581 drive users may use either the standard 1581 mode, or may use disks specially formatted by the system in a CMD Native format referred to as an FD-1000 format (800K Native). This latter option lets 1581 users take advantage of the built-in CMD Native partition subdirectory support which is otherwise limited to actual CMD devices.
The ‘dashboard’ replaces the GEOS deskTop, and provides a multi-window environment. The background pattern and the colors for the screen and objects are user- definable. On the screen you'll see icons for up to four devices (these may be relocated anywhere on the screen), a default printer, the ash tray (which replaces the trash can) and up to 16 directory windows.
Each dashboard window shows the contents of a disk, or the contents of a partition or subdirectory when using CMD Native formatted devices. Up to 2040 files can be displayed per window, and the function keys can be used to define pattern matching to limit a window's display to specific types of files, or files within a given date range.
Each window may be independantly resized and moved, and may also be set to display files in either Icon or Text mode. Other window properties include a proportional slider control for scrolling through window contents, and a fuel gauge to indicate how full the disk or partition is.
Issue 22
File selection may still be done asin standard GEOS, and you can also perform click & drag n of single or multiple files (scrolling is automatic in this mode if you drag to the edges of the window in a scrollable direction, Copying files between any combination of disks, partitions and subdirectoriesis possible by dragging files between windows associated with the source and target directories.
Wheels also incorporates a new file selector box providing access to up to 255 files of the type specified by the application. ‘The file
selector also provides options for accessing files in different partitions or subdirectories on CMD devices.
GEOS MegaPatch 3.0
This upgrade comes from Germany's Megacom Soft, and is being written by programmers Markus Kanet (author of GeoDOS) and Wolfgang Grimm (author of TopDesk). MegaPatch 3.0, or MP3 for short, requires RAM expansion and a previous version of GEOS, Both 64 and 128 version are being developed, and Megacom indicates that the product will be ready for shipping in sometime in spring of 1998 for DM60 (about USS40). We have not yet heard whether the applies to the 64 or 128 sion, or both; or whether the English
e date and price
language version will be ready at the announced time, or if this only applies to the German language versi
The main user interface, called Windesk, departs radically from the standard GEOS deskTop in many respects, by employing ‘look and feel’ elements of Windows '95. Megacom has indicated that Windesk will allow file maintainence using a windowing structure, however, none of their current screen shots have shown these windows. We assume that this part of the system must still be under development. Windesk features a user-
bi
definable backdrop screen and a single GEOS menu that is similar to the START menu in Windows ‘95.
As with Wheels, the GEOS CONFIGURE program has been replaced. In MP3 the replacemt is called the Mega-Editor, which offers configuration and setup options for the TaskSwitcher, drives, partitions and SuperCPU.
Other improvements over standard GEOS. indicate that a new file selector will be available, providing a to up to 255 sorted files. Files within the selector can be selected by double-clicking the filename, and can also be chosen using keyboard controls. Options are also provided for working with subdirectories.
Other features mentioned for the release are a screen saver, task switcher (up to nine applications provided sufficient RAM is available), screen capture function, and print spooling.
Conclusion?
The announcements of these two expansion products for GEOS gives GUL users something to really look forward to over the coming months, but until both systems have released andcan be tested, any conclusion about either would be premature.
Both systems appear very similar in basic abilities, but provide user interfaces which differ widely in philosophy. MP3 offers more anciliary functions that are wrapped up in a user interface that may seem foreign to many current GEOS users. Wheels, on the other hand, appears to be a more modest offering, its user interface looks like a more natural evolution of the traditional GEOS. The suc: or failure of either product, however, will probably hinge more on the implementation of its abilities than on the features it boasts.
®
COMMODORE WORLD
Commodore World Article Index
jiect-bas
General Interest 1996—The Best Of The Best; Sherry Freedline; DemoMania; Issue 19, pg. 18 A Brief Introduction To Commodore Use In Germany; Joseph Gaudl; Foreign Exchange; Issue 1, pg. 10 A Grower's Guide to User Groups: Ahoy There, No Pirates Allowed!; Harold Stevens; J od Anatomy of the Printed Page; Don Radler; Feature; Issue 6, Bad File Names: What To Do About Those Annoying Comma Files; Jim Butterfield; Feature; Issue 4, p Cautious Market Decisior Commodore Club E Commodore Demo-Mani: Commodore Demos, Part Commodore Demos, Part . Commodore Drives Are History: Part II; Jim Brain; Feature; Issue 18, pg. 14 Commodore Guru Jim Butterfield Makes A Guest Appearance On GEnie; Les Songa; Carrier Detect; Issue 2 Commodore Liquidation Updat Commodore's Main Distributor; K. Dale Commodore's Major Developer; K. Dal Computer Wars; Joseph Gaudi; Foreign Excl Computing Down Under; Gaelyne R. Moran
ure; [ssue 16, pg. 37 ver The Edge; Issue 16, pg.
id Pankhurst Basic Instincts; Issue 16, pg. 48
European Vacation?; Joseph Gaudl; Foreign Exchange; Issue 9, pg. 16
FileSplitter; Doug Cotton; Feature; Issue 17, pg. 44
Flash 8: German Hi-Tech For The Commodore 64; Joseph Gaudl; Foreign Exchange; Issued, pg. 16
Game Tips From The U.K.; Andrew Fisher; Foreign Exchange; Issue 14, pg. 12
GUIS, Mice And Their Effect On Human Evolution; Don Radler; Over The Edge; Issue 5, pg. 55
Hardware Collectables: The Commodore LCD Computer; Jim Brain; Feature; Issue 13, pg. 20
Hardware Collectibles: The Commodore 264 Series; Jim Brain; Fi 36
Intelligence Quest; Doug Cotton; Feature; Issue 13, pg. 22
Lean Times In Demoland?; Sherry Freedline; Demo Mania; Issue 21, pg. 26
Let The Games Continue; Doug Cotton; Featur
Mastering the Don't-Do-It Key; Jim Butterfield;
eature; Issue 9, pg.
ssue 3,
COMMODORE WORLD
x of Articles Appearing i
12
22
Issues I Throug
Millenium’s Roy Batty: Tears '95 and Tears '97; Sherry Freedline; DemoMania; Issue 20, pg. 26
Neural Network on a Commodore 64; John Walker; Feature; Issue 16, pg. 16
Pondering The Pentium; Don Rae Over te Edge; :
Raining on the Pentium Parade Comgaring Platform Peici Charles A.
Christianson; Over The Edge; Issue 1, pg. 42
Run64; Doug Cotton; Feature; Issue 13, pg. 26 Seen Any Volkswagen Beetles Lately?; Harold Stevens; Jr.; Over The Edge; Issue 10, pg.55
Special Report: Amiga Technologies Forecast; Jason Compton; Feature; Issue 9, pg. 6
Special Report: Commodore Assets Sold!; Jason Compto
Spotlight On GUC: The German GEOS User's Club; Joseph Ga Issue 6, pg. 18
Spreadsheets by the Numbers; Sherry Freedline; Feature; Issue 9, pg. 22
Surviving The 90's; Charles A. Christianson; Feature; Issue 7, pg.
Take My Wife, Please; Harold Stevens; Over The E
The Commodore Customizer; Al Anger; Pictc
‘TheLatest Word On Commodore's Liquidation; Charles A. Christianson; Over The Edge; Issue 3
‘The Mensch Connection; Jim Brain; Feature; Issue 12, pg. 17
Things To Try When Your Computer Starts Acting Illogical; Mark Fellows; Hard Tips; Issue 2, pg. 26
Top 20 Public Domain Games; Tim Walsh; Feature; Issue 3
Understanding Spreadsheets; David Pankhur: ure; Issue 9, pg. 18
User Group Connection; Charles A. Christianson and Jenifer Esile; Feature; Issue 14, pg. 20
Virtual Reality: A Planned Disaster?; Don Radler; Over The Edge; Issue 11, pg. 42
Waiting For GODOT...; Joseph Gaudl; Foreign Exchange; Issue 10, pg. 14
Warning: Computing Can Be Hazardous To Your Health; Harold Stevens; Jr.; Over The Edge; Issue 17
What Commodore's Liquidation Means To 8-Bit Users; Charles A. Christianson; Over The Edge; Issue 2, pg. 54
What Lies Ahead For Commodore?; ‘Tim Walsh; Feature; Issue 2, pg. 19
Word Tools, Gaelyne R. Moranec; Feature; Issue 6, pg. 20
Working With GODOT; Joseph Gaudl; Foreign Exchange; Issue 11, pg. 13
Feature; Issue 8, pg. 8 Foreign Exchange;
Help & Information for Beginners
A Potpourri Of Commodore-Flavored Advice; Jason Compton; Just For Starters; Issue 20, pg. 18
Commodore BASICs: GEOS, Terminal Software & Changing Colors; Steve Vander Ark; Just For Starters; Issue 8, pg. 16
Commodore BASICs: Peeks, Pokes And Disk Commands; Steve Vander Ark; Just For Starters; Issue 7, pg. 16
Issue 22
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Back Issues: Single issu spurs iat g. Thre issues $4.00 each plus $1.00 each for shipping and handl
Commodore BASICs: Port Review & BASIC PRINT; Steve Vander Ark; Just For Starters; Issue 9, pg. 14
Disk Drive And File Name Basics; Steve Vander Ark; Just For Starters; Issue 3, pg. 16
Getting To Know The SuperCPU; Jason Compton; Just For Starters; Issue 18, pg. 22
If You Can't Beat ‘Em, Cheat}; Jason Compton; Just For Starters; Issue 17, pg. 10
Input Devices, Jason Compton, Just For Starters; Issue 14, pg. 10
Memory Matters; Jason Compton; Just For Starters; Issue 21, pg. 18
Printer Selection & More Simple BASIC; Steve Vander Ark; Just For Starters; Issue 11, pg. 10
Putting Disk Drive Enhancers To Work; Jason Compton; Just For Starters; Issue 19, pg. 24
Software: What You Bought Your Computer To Use; Steve Vander Ark; Just For Starters; Issue 4, pg. 14
Telecommunications For The Beginner & BASIC Program Flow; Steve Vander Ark; Just For Starters; Issue 10, pg. 12
The BASICs: Telling Your Computer What To Do Isn’tSo Hard; Steve Vander Ark; Just For Starters; Issue 5, pg. 14
The BASICs: Telling Your Computer What ToDo, Part 2; Steve Vander Ark; Just For Starters; Issue 6, pg. 16
‘The Great Cartridge Expanse; Jason Compton; Just For Starters; Issue 15, pg. 10
The Windows 95 Connection; Steve Vander Ark; Just For Starters; Issue 13, pg. 10
Tips On Device Numbers & Printing Commodore Graphics; Steve Vander Ark; Just For Starters; Issue 12, pg. 10
Understanding How To Talk To Your Computer; Steve Vander Ark; Just For Starters; Issue 1, pg. 16
Useful Items For The User Port; Jason Compton; Just For Starters; Issue 16, pg. 10
Why Our Computers Don’t Always Understand Us; Steve Vander Ark; Just For Starters; Issue 2, pg. 16
Telecommunications
A Compressed History Of The Internet; Jim Brain; Carrier Detect; Issue 6, pg. 52
AGlossary of Telecommunications Terms; Gaelyne Moranec; Feature; Issue 4, pg. 23
A guided tour of The Phoenix Network; Les Songa; Carrier Detect; Issue 3, pg. 49
A Primer Off-Line Mail Readering: Les Songa; Carrier Detect; Issue 4, pg.
Simple Guideto HTML; Jason Compton and Katherine Nelson; Featu pg.
Battle Of The ASCII's; Gaelyne R. Gasson; Carrier Detect; Issue 19, pg. 22
Creating ANSI Screens; Max Cottrel; The SySop’s Comer; Is
Downloading Made Simple; Gaelyne R. Moranec; Carrier Detect; Issue 12, pg. 42
DS2Network for C-Net 64 DS-2 BBS; Michael Bendure; BBS Spotlight; Issue 3, pg. 49
Email Web Assistant: Bringing The Web Home; Gaelyne Gasson; Carrier Detect; Issue 21, pg. 28
Exploring Novaterm 9.6; Gaelyne R, Moranec; Carrier Detect; Issue 13, pg. 39
Getting Your Files—And Decoding Them Too! Gaelyne R. Gasson; Carrier Detect; Issue 20, pg. 30
Graphic Diversions; Gaelyne R. Moranec; Carrier Detect; Issue 15, pg. 34
Hooked on modems? You're not alonel; Harold Stevens; Jr.; Over The Edge; Issue 9, pg. 55
HTML and the World Wide Web, Part 2; Katherine Nelson; Feature; Issue 13, pg. 4
HTML and the World Wide Web, Part 3; Katherine Nelson; Feature; Issue 14, pg. 19
TCan See Your Home Page From Here...; Gaelyne R. Moranec; Carrier Detect; Issue 8, pg. 50
COMMODORE WORLD
14
Internet: Today's Information Superhighway?; Craig Taylor; Feature; Issue 2, pg. 22
Interview With Fred Ogle Of Color 64 BBS; Doug Cotton; BBS Spotlight; Issue 1, pg. 40
Interview With Nick Rossi: The Programmer Behind Novaterm; Gaelyne. Moranec; Feature; Issue 13, pg. 42
Interview With The Author Of OMNI 128 BBS; Doug Cotton; BBS Spotlight; Issue 2, pg. 52
IRC Chatter; Gaelyne R. Gasson; Carrier Detect; Issue 17, pg. 34
Long Distance Run-Around; Gaelyne R. Moranec; Carrier Detect; Issue 9, pg. 52
More On Modem Set-Up; Max Cottrell; The SySop's Corner; Issue 14, pg. 40
Off Line Primer, Part Two; Gaelyne R. Moranec; Carrier Detect; Issue 5, pg. 53
See How QWERR 128 Stacks Up In The World Of QWK Mail; Doug Cotton; Software Review; Issue 1, pg. 26
Setting Up You Menu; Max Cottrell; The SySop’s Corner; Issue 15, pg. 32
So You Want To Run A BBS?; Max Cottrel; The Sysop’s Corner; Issue 12, pg. 40
Spinning The Web; Gaelyne R. Moranec; Carrier Detect; Issue 11, pg. 38
Surfing The Net Has A Price; Gaelyne R. Moranec; Carrier Detect; Issue 10, pg. 50
Telecommunications: Modems, Interfaces & Online Networks; Gaelyne Moranec; Feature; Issue 4, pg. 18
‘The Human Side Of Things: Net Etiquette; 7, pg. 52
‘The Modem Conundrum; Max Cottrel; The SySop’s Corner; Issue 13, pg. 32
‘TheSearch Is On: Finding StuffOn The Internet; GaelyneR. Gasson; Carrier Detect; Issue 18, pg. 32
“The Wave’ And The Net: Q& A; Gaelyne R. Moranec; Carrier Detect; Issue 14, pg. 42
Transferring Files On The Internet With FTP; Gaelyne R. Gasson; Carrier Detect; Issue 16, pg. 38
lyne Moranee; Carrier Detect;
GEOS
Accessing VLIR Files; Maurice Randall; GeoProgrammist; Issue 15, pg. 38
All About SuperGEOS; Maurice Randall; Feature; Issue 17, pg. 18
Back To Basics: Program Flow; Maurice Randall; geoProgrammist; Issue 10, pg. 40
Been To Any Good Shows, Lately?; Steve Vander Ark; Graphic Interpretation; Issue 8, pg. 36
Cleaning Out the GEOS Closet; Gaelyne R. Gasson; Feature; Issue 17, pg. 26
CLI: The German GEOS (Command Line) User Interface; Joseph Gaudl; Foreign Exchange; Issue 13, pg. 12
Create Your First GEOS Program; Maurice Randall; geoProgrammist; Issue 2, pg. 36
Creating Data Files; Maurice Randall; GeoProgrammist; Issue 16, pg. 42
Cross-Platform Transfers With GEOS Files; Paul Sullivan; Graphic Interpretation; Issue 20, pg. 22
Dealing With GeoPaint Files; Maurice Randall; GeoProgrammist; Issue 20, pg. 34
Dealing With GEOS Program Memory; Maurice Randall; geoProgrammist; Issue 3, pg. 38
Display Modes Part 2: 40-Column, pg. 80-Column, Or Both?; Maurice Randall;
3
eve Vander Ark; Graphic Interpretation; Issue 14, pg. 14
DualTop (An Alternative GEOS User Interface); Paul Sullivan; Graphic Interpretation; Issue 18, pg. 30
GeoFile: A Dynamic Partner For GEOS Users; Bruce Thomas; Feature; Issue 19, pg. 10
GeoKeys: A Key Development Hits The Market In Germany; Joseph Gaudl; Foreign Exchange; Issue 5, pg. 16
Issue 22
GEOS 101: An Introduction; Steve Vander Ark; Feature; Issue 5, pg. 18
GEOS 102: Installation & Your First Tour Of The deskTop; Steve Vander Ark; Feature; Issue 5, pg. 20
GEOS 103: Configuring GEOS; Steve Vander Ark; Feature; Issue 5, pg. 22
GEOS Boot Disks Made Easy; Paul Sullivan; Graphic Interpretation; Issue 19, pg. 16
GEOS From The Ground Up; Paul Sullivan ; Graphic Interpretation; Issue 15, pg 14
GEOS Morphing With Maurice Randall's geoMorph; Steve Vander Ark; Graphic Interpretation; Issue 1, pg. 28
GEOS Program Modes: 64 or 128, pg. 40 or 80 Columns?; Maurice Randall; geoProgrammist; Issue 5, pg. 38
GEOS: Productive, Useful And Still Fun; Steve Vander Ark; Graphic Interpretation; Issue 6, pg. 36
GeoWrite Done Right; Paul Sullivan; Graphic Interpretation; Issue 16, pg. 12
GeoWrite Done Right: Part II; Paul Sullivan; Graphic Interpretation; Issue 17, pg. 12
Get In Line; Gene Barker; GeoProgramist; Issue 12, pg. 46
Get It Together With GEOS; Steve Vander Ark ; Graphic Interpretation; Issue 13, py.30
Get The Most Out Of GeoWrite With A Little Fine Tuning; Steve Vander Ark; Graphic Interpretation; Issue 7, pg. 40
Getting Sidetracked With GEOS Games; Steve Vander Ark; Graphic Interpretation, Issue 2, pg. 34
Getting Started On Using GEOBASIC; Steve Vander Ark; Graphic Interpretation; Issue 10, pg. 38
Getting Started With GEOBASIC:Part2; Steve Vander Ark; Graphic Interpretation; Issue 11, pg. 36
Getting Started With GEOBASIC:Part3; Steve Vander Ark; Graphic Interpretation; Issue 12, pg. 38
Give GEOS What It Really Wants: RAM Expansion; Paul Sullivan; Graphic Interpretation; Issue 21, pg. 24
Importing & Exporting Graphics In GEOS; Steve Vander Ark; Graphic Interpretation; Issue 4, pg, 38
Input Filename Becomes Select Filename; Maurice Randall; geoProgrammist; Issue 8, pg. 38
It All Adds Up to GeoCale; Andrew Fisher; Feature; Issue 17, pg. 32
Mixing Desk Accessories & Dialog Boxes; Ma Issue 19, pg. 28
More Graphic Conversion Tools For Getting The Most Out OfGEOS; Steve Vander Ark; Graphic Interpretation; Issue 5, pg. 36
More On Creating And Altering Data Files; Maurice Randall; GeoProgrammist; Issue 17, pg. 42
Playing Games With GEOS: EnGEOyable Entertainment; Bruce Thomas; Feature; Issue 20, pg. 10
Programming Pitfalls; Maurice Randall; GeoProgrammist; Issue 18, pg. 36
ReadByte; Maurice Randall; GeoProgrammist; Issue 13, pg. 46
Reading GeoWrite Documents; Maurice Randall; GeoProgrammist; Issue 21, pg. 34
Rmember ‘Input Filename’? Building A Dialog Box In GEOS; Maurice Randall; geoProgrammist; Issue 7, pg. 42
Routine Stuff; Maurice Randall; geoProgrammist; Issue 11, pg. 46
Some Tips On Using GeoPublish; Steve Vander Ark; Graphic Interpretation; Issue 9, pg. 40
‘The Goose That Lays The GEOS Eggs?; Joseph Gaudl; Foreign Exchange; Issue 3, pg. 18
The Importance Of Macros In Programming GEOS; Maurice Randall; geoProgrammist; Issue 4, pg. 40
Understanding The Layout; Maurice Randall; geoProgrammist; Issue 9, pg. 42
Issue 22
15
Understanding VLIR Files; Maurice Randall; GeoProgrammist; Issue 14, pg. 45
What YouShould Know About GEOS &RAM Expansion; Maurice Randall; Feature; Issue 8, pg. 24
What You'll Need To Get Into Programming GEOS; Maurice Randall; geoProgrammist; Issue 1, pg. 30
YouJust Gotta Have This StuffFor GOS; Steve Vander Ark; Graphic Interpretation; Issue 3, pg. 36
SuperCPU & 65816 Processor
816 Beat: Improve SuperCPU Efficiency The Native Way; Doug Cotton; Assembly Line; Issue 17, pg. 47
A6502 Programmer's Introduction tothe 65816; Brett Tabke; Feature; Issue 16, pg. 20
A Sneak Preview of the SuperCPU; Mark Fellows and Doug Cotton; Feature; Issue 12, pg. 24
CMD SuperCPU RAM Expansion & Timing; Doug Cotton, pg. 816 Beat; Issue 19, ped
CMD's New Time Machine; Gaelyne R, Gasson; Feature; Issue 17, pg. 14
In Wein Beginnt’s: The SuperCPU Goes Abroad; Joseph Gaudl ; Foreign Exchange; Issue 15, pg. 12
Special Report: SuperCPU Update; Doug Cotton; Feature; Issue 18, pg. 13
SuperCPU Interrupts; Mark Fellows, pg. sue 20, pg. 42
The Great Divide; Doug Cotton, pg. 816 Beat; Issue 18, pg. 48
ure; Issue 12, pg. 20
Using The MVN And MVP Instructions; Mark Fellows, pg. 816 Beat; Issue 21, pg. 38
Peripherals
A Simple Guide to Disk Drives; Maurice Randa
Action-Replay: Datel’s Swiss Army Cartridge; Review; Issue 8, pg. 34
An Introduction To CMD DOS; Mark Fellows; Peripheral Vision; Issue 1, pg. 36
AnIntroduction To SCSI Devices And Commands; Doug Cotton; Peripheral Vision; Issue 2, pg. 46
Bonus Review: A Tale of Two Printers; Ron Hackley; Feature; Issue 7, pg. 30
Commodore Drives Are History; Jim Brain; Feature; Issue 11, pg. 18
Commodore World's Guide To RAM Expansion; Gene Barker; Feature; Issue 8, pg. 20
Devices 0 And 3 (Keyboard & Screen); Jirn Butterfield; Peripheral Vision; Issue 12, pg. 50
Disk Commands And The (DOS) Wedge; Jim Butterfield; Peripheral Vision; Issue 7, pg. 50
INPUT# Versus ‘The String Thing’ Jim Butterfie 42
Joystick, Paddle And Mouse; jim Butterfield; Peripheral Vision; Issue 14, pg. 48
Keyboard Tipping; Jim Butterfield; Peripheral Vision; Issue 18, pg.
Making It Neat: Simple Tips On Better Looking Output; Jim Butterfield; Peripheral Vision; Issue 6, pg. 50
Much Ado About Null; Jim Butterfield; Peripheral Vision; Issue 11, pg. 50
Printers & Interfaces: Which Ones Are Right For You?; Doug Cotton; Feature; Issue 1, pg 18
Relative File Programming, Part Two; Jim Butterfield; Peripheral Vision; Issue 9, pg. 48
Removable Media: Syquest Your System; Doug Cotton; SCSI Magic; Issue 7, pg. 48
SCSI COMMANDER Part 2; Doug Cotton; SCSI Magic; Issue 6, pg. 44
SCSI COMMANDER: A Simple SCSI Command Utility; Doug Cotton; SCSI Magic;
sue 11, pg. 14 reedline; Hardware: In
Sherry
Peripheral Vision; Issue 15, pg.
COMMODORE WORLD
Issue 5, pg. 44
SCSIdevicesand commands, part2; Doug Cotton; Peripheral Vision; Issue3, pg. 46
SCSI Magic: The Search For Errors; Mark Fellows; Peripheral Vision; Issue 4, pg.50
Serial Bus Basics; jim Butterfield; Peripheral Vision; Issue 10, pg, 48
Serial Bus Kernal Routines, Part 2; Doug Cotton; Feature; Issue 11, pg. 22
Serial Device Kernal Routines; Doug Cotton; Assembly L.
The Cassette Connection; Jim Butterfield; Periph 8.
The Direct Approach To Relative Files; Jim Butterfield; Peripheral Vision; Issue 8, py.d7
‘The Peripheral Bus; Jim Butterfield; Peripheral Vision; Issue 16, pg. 46
Understanding The Input/Output Stream; Jim Butterfield; Peripheral Vision; Issue 5, pg.49
Video Perfection From Scanntronik; Joseph Gaudl; Foreign Exchange; Issue 7, pg. 18
What Everyone Should Know About Printer Interfaces; Doug Cotton; Feature; Issue 21, pg. 10
Hardware Projects
128D Device Switch Installation
Build A Sega Gamepad Adapter; pgs
Build A Simple RS-232 Interface; Doug Cotton; Hard Tips; Issue 4, pg. 31
Build Your Own Audio Digitizer; Mark Fellows; Hard Tips; Issue 3
Changing Disk Drive Device Numbers; Doug Cotton; Hard
Disable The Built-In Drive On Your Commodore 128D; Al / 10, pg. 42
Monitor Cables For All Occasions; Mark Fellows; Hard Tips; Issue 7, pg. 49
Mouse Matters: Tips & Modifications For Mode Switching; Bruce Thomas; Hard ‘Tips; Issue 17, pg. 40
NTSC/PAL Conversion (Hardware); Doug Cotton; Hard Tips; Issue 20, pg. 46
Ramifications: RAMLink Pass-Through Port Modification; Mark Fellows & Doug Cotton; Hard Tips; Issue 8, pg. 46
estone; Hard Tips; Issue 6, ellows & Doug Cotton; Hard
ps; Issue 5,
BASIC Programming
Algorithm Choices, Or What To Do When You're Out Of Sorts; David Pankhurst; Basic Instinets; Issue 14, pg. 46
Applying Simple BASIC Programming Techniques With The Game BIG GUNS; Gene Barker; Basic Instinets; Issue 1, pg. 32
BASIC Advantages; David Pankhurst; Basic Instinets; Issue 13, pg. 48
BIG GUNS Becomes STARSHIP CONQUEST; Gene Barker; Instinets; Issue py. 38
Clever Speed; Gene
Finding Your Way Into The Next Millenium; David Pankhurst; Basic Instincts; Issue 17, pg. 50
Inside BASIC Part One; Doug Cotton; BASIC Instincts; Issue 21, pg. 30
Learn To Auto-Boot Programs With AUTOBOT 64; Gene Barker; Advanced Techniques; Issue 4, pg. 48
MakingPrograms That Work On Both The C-64 And C-128; Doug Cotton; Advanced ‘Techniques; Issue 1, pg. 34
More Tips On Common Code Programs; Doug Cotton; Advanced Techniques; Issue 3, pg. 44
Programming Pearls; David Pankhurst; Basic Instincts; Issue 18, pg. 44
Programming Pearls: The Prequall!; Doug Cotton; Basic Instincts; Issue 19, pg. 30
Screen I/O Techniques Part 1; Gene Barke Screen I/O Techniques: Part 2; Gene Barker; Basic Instincts; STARSHIP COMBAT Part 3: More Weapons And Cloaking: Gene Barker; Basic
COMMODORE WORLD
16
Instincts; Issue 4, pg. 42
STARSHIP COMBAT Part II: New Ships, Combat & Scenarios; Gene Barker; Basic Instincts; Issue 3, pg. 40
STARSHIP COMBAT Part IV: Implementing Previously Installed Features; Gene Barker; Basic Instincts; Issue 5, pg. 40
STARSHIP COMBAT Part V: The Final Installment!; Gene Barker; Basic Instincts; Issue 6, pg. 40
Text Adventure Game Data Structures; John Leeson; Advanced Techniques; Issue 6, pg. 46
Using BASIC’s LOAD: Part 1; Gene Barker; Basic Instincts; Issue 9, pg. 44
Using BASIC’s LOAD: Part II; Gene Barker; Basic Instincts; Issue 10, pg. 44
Using ML Subroutines; Gene Barker; Basic Instincts; Issue 11, pg. 48
Machine Language Programming
A Machine Language Program For Beginners; jim Butterfield; Feature; Issue 10, pg. 22
Applying Relocatable Machine Language To Create ‘Common Code’ 64/128 Programs; Doug Cotton; Advanced Techniques; Issue 2, pg. 44
Driving The GeoCable; Doug Cotton; Assembly Line; Issue 19, pg. 32
First Registers, First Debugging; Jim Butterfield; Assembly Line; Issue 11, pg. 52
Getting Ready For Machine Language; Jim Butterfield; Feature; Issue 10, pg. 16
Input And A Little Arithmetic; Jim Butterfield; Assembly Line; Issue 14, pg. 52
Looping With The Registers; Jim Butterfield; Assembly Line; Issue 12, pg. 52
Machine Language Elements; Jim Butterfield; Feature; Issue 10, pg. 18
Numbers And Arithmetic; Jim Butterfield; Assembly Line; Issue 18, pg. 38
Organization And Input; Jim Butterfield; Assembly Line; Issue 13,
Processor Status Register Flags; Jim Butterfield; Assembly Line; Issue 16, pg. 44
Review And Practice; Jim Butterfield; Assembly Line; Issue 15, pg. 40
Shortcuts To ‘Floating’ In Machine Language; Chris Brenner; Advanced Techniques; Issue 5, pg. 46
‘The Sliding Input Routine; Mark Fellows;
ssembly Line; Issue 21, pg. 36
Game Reviews ADayIn TheLife OFA Prehistoric Man; Sherry Freedline; Software: In Review; Issue
ames: Miniviews; Issue 6, pg. 33 9 es; Tssue 12, pg. 31
Apache str Sherry Arkanoid
ty Freedline; Games; Miniviews; erry Hredlnes Games: hi
Demon Stalkers: Raid on Doomfare; herri Fre ; Games; Issue 12, pg. 30
Escape Route: The Adventures of Eric Hawthorne, Private Investigator; Sherry Freedline; Games: Miniviews; Issue 3, pg. 33
F40 Persuit Simulator; Sherry Fre mes: Miniviews; Issue 5,
Final Assault; Sherry Freed ¢ 14, pg. 38
Flumi's World; Sherry Freedline; Games; Issue 14, pg. 37
Forgotten Worlds; Jason Compton; Games; Issue 16, pg. 30
Frogger; Sherry Freedline; Games; Issue 15, pg. 28
Freedline; Games; Issue 14, pg. 36
Freedline; Games; Issue 13, pg. 37
pg. 32
Gauntlet Il; Sher:
Issue 22
Grand Prix Circuit; Sherry Freedline; Games; Issue 16, pg. 30
Gryphon; Sherry Freedline; Games; Issue 13, pg. 34
Heavenbound; Sherry Freedline; Games: Miniviews; Issue 8, pg. 32
Island of the Dragon; Sherry Freedline; Games: Miniviews; Issue 3, pg. 32
Jordan vs. Bird: One on One; Jason Compton; Games; Issue 18, pg. 26
Karate Champ/Kung-Fu Master; Jason Compton; Games; Issue 17, pg. 30
Karnoy; Jason Compton; Games; Issue 18, pg. 27
Laser Squad; Sherry Freedline; Games: Miniviews; Issue 4, pg. 35
reedline; Games: Miniviews; Issue 5, pg. 32
‘eedline; New Games; Issue 10, pg. 35
Lions of the Universe; Sherry Freedline; New Games; Issue 9, pg. 34
ry Freedline; Games: Miniviews; Issue 4, pg. 34
McRat; Sherry Freedline
Mean Streets; Sherry Freedlin iews; Issue 7, pg. 36
Memory Manor; Sherry l'reedline; Games: Miniviews; Issue 7, pg. 37
Menace; Sherry Freedline; Games: Miniviews; Issue 4, pg. 34
Monday Night Football; Sherry Freedline;
Navy Seal; Sherry Freedline; Games: Miniviews; Issue 3, pg. 32
Qix; Sherry Freedline; Games; Issue 15, pg. 29
Questron II; Sherry Freedline; Games: Miniviews; Issue 7, pg. 36
Riddles and Stones; Steve Vander Ark; New Games; Issue 9, pg. 35
Rings Of Medusa; Sherry Freedline; Games: Miniviews; Issue 5, pg. 33
Skate Or Die; Sherry Freedline; Games: Miniviews; Issue 4, pg. 34
SkyFox; Sherry Freedline; Games; Issue 15, pg. 30
Slaterman; Sherry Freedline; New Games; Issue 10, pg. 34
Stickybear Math; Sherry Freedline; Games: Miniviews; Issue 7, pg. 37
Super Pogo Stick; Sherry Freedline; New Games; Issue 9, pg. 34
Superman: The Man of Steel; Sherry Freedline; Games: Miniviews;
SWAP; Steve Vander Ark; Games: Miniviews; Issue 3, pg. 33
The Amazing Spiderman; Sherry Freedline; Games: Miniviews
‘The Blues Brothers; Steve Vander Ark; Games: Mini
‘The Ghost of Genghis Khan; Sherry Freedline; Issue 17, pg. 31
‘The Honeymooners; Sherry Freedline; Gam pg. 35
‘The Magnificant Six; Sherry Freedline; New Games; Issue 10, pg, 34
The President is Missing; Sherry Freedline; Games: Miniviews; Issue 8, pg. 33
The Three Stooges; Sherry Freedline; Games: Miniviews; Issue 2, pg. 33
The Zinj Complex; Sherry Freedline; Games; Issue 18, pg. 26
Threshold; Sherry Freedline; Games; Issue 15, pg. 28
Tie Break Tennis redline; Games: Miniviews; Issue 5,
Time Traveller; Sherry Freedline; Games; Issue 14, pg. 36
Total Eclipse; Sherry Freedlin : Miniviews; Issue 6, pg. 32
Ultima V; Sherry Freedline; Games: Miniviews; Issue 6, pg. 32
Who Framed Roger Rabbit?; Sherry Freedline; Games: Miniviews; Issue 8, pg. 33
Wings of Circe; Sherry Freedline; Games: Miniviews; Issue 3, pg. 33,
Zamczysko; Sherry Freedline; Games; Issue 17, pg. 31
Everybody's Guide To The Internet; Gaelyne R. Moranec; Bookware: In Review; Issue 12, pg. 37
Leroy's Cheatsheets; Sherry Freedline; Accessories: In Revie!
RAM DOS 128 Case Study; Jim Brain; Bookwa ie 8, pg. 31
Simple Internet; Gaelyne R. Moranec; Bookware: In Review; Issue 5, pg. 35,
The Complete Idiot's Guide To The Internet; Gaelyne R. Moranec; Bookware: In Review; Issue 12, pg. 36
‘The Complete Idiot's Guide To Unix; Gaelyne R. Moranec; Bookwa Issue 12, pg. 36
‘The Software Manual: Programming the 65816; Jim Brain; Bookware: In Review; Issue 16, pg. 32
ames: Miniviews; Issue 9, pg. 33
sue 6, pg. 33
ssue 4, pg. 34 jews; Issue 3, pg, 32
; Issue 8, pg. 31
In Review; |
e: In Review;
Issue 22
17
Hardware Reviews
Big-D Device Switch Kits; Tony Perotti; Hardware: In Review; Issue 6, pg. 34
Boca 144EW Fax/Data Modem; Brian Bell; Hardware: In Review; Issue 4, pg. 36
BocaModem 2400; Les Songa; Hardware: In Review; Issue 4, pg. 37
Cartridge Port Expanders: CMD's EX3 & EX2+1; Jim Brain; Hardware: In Review; Issue 7, pg. 38
MD's 1750 & 1750XL REUs ; Jason Compton; Hardware: In Review; Issue 21, pg, 2
GeoCable Il; Gaelyne R. Moranec; Hardware: In Review; Issue 5, pg. 34
GeoKeys; Doug Cotton; Hardware: In Review; Issue 13, pg. 38
Handyscanner: For The C-64; Scott Eggleston; Hardware: In Review; Issue 10, pg. 36
Inkwell Systems’ Light Pen And Companion Graphics Software; Jason Compton; Hardware: In Review; Issue 14, pg. 32
Just For The Fun Of It: CMD's New GamePad; Sherry Freedline; Hardware: In Review; Issue 7, pj
Morse Coach; Jim Brain; Hardware: In Review; Issue 17, pg. 25
RAMLink; Jim Brain; Hardware: In Review; Issue 14, pg. 30
Screensaver Deluxe; Doug Cotton; Hardware: In Review; Issue 5,
Short Wave Listener; Jim Brain; Hardware: In Review; Issue 2
SmartMouse: A First Look At The New Input Device From CMD; Steve Vander Ark; Hardware: In Review; Issue 2, pg. 32
SmartTrack: A Proportional Trackball For The C-64/128; Les Songa; Hardware: In Review; Issue 3, pg. 34
‘The CMD FD-2000; Jim Brain; Hardware: In Review; Issue 12, pg. 32
Software Reviews
Buddy 64/128 Assembler System; Jim Brain; Software; In Review; Issue 10, pg. 32
CKit 94; Mad Man's Backup & Compression Utility; Gaelyne R. Moranee; Software: In Review; Issue 9, pg. 28
Digimaster: An 8-bit Digital Sound Editor for the C-64; John Serafino; Software: In Review; Issue 3, pg. 30
Financial Cookbook; Sherry Freedline; Software: In Review; Issue 5, pg. 30
Fontigus; Gaelyne R. Moranec; Software: In Review; Issue 11, pg. 32
GeoFAX; Doug Cotton; Software: In Review; Issue 10, pg. 30
Graphics Master; Sherry Freedline; Software: In Review; Issue 10, pg. 31
1 Paint: Powerful C-128 Interlaced Drawing Program. ; Sherry Freedline; Software: In Review; Issue 2, pg. 30
1 Port: C-128 Graphics Conversion Utility; Sherry Freedline; Software: In Review; Issue 2, pg. 31
Karma: A New Assembler For The Commodore 128; Jim Butterfield; Software: In Review; Issue 9, pg. 30
Label Maker & Keystone’s Dedicated Databases; Gaelyne . Moranec; Software: In Review; Issue 6, pg. 30
LoadStar's Compleat Crossword; Jason Compton ; Software: In Review; Issue 18, pg. 28
Lottoman & Lottoman II: Picking A Winner; Sherry Freedline; Software: In Review; Issue 8, pg. 30
Paper Models: The Christmas Kit; Sherry Freedline; Software: In Review; Issue 10, pg. 32
Photo Mover V3.0; Timothy R. Hewelt; Software: In Review; Issue 5, pg. 30
The Compleat Walt; Jason Compton; Software: In Review; Issue 20, pg. 18
The Compleat Dave ; Jason Compton; Software: In Review; Issue 21, pg. 23
The Fun Graphics Machine; Steve Vander Ark; Software: In Review; Issue 4, pg. 32
Turbo Assembler; jim Brain; Software: In Review; Issue 11, pg.
‘Two Tax Packages; Steve Vander Ark; Software: In Review; Issue 7, pg. 34
ec ®
COMMODORE WORLD
Just For Starters
LOOKING
I've always hated the troubleshooting sections of computer manuals. More often than not, trying to reference them for useful information is a complete waste of time: once you get beyond “Try making sure your device is plugged in,” they have nothing of value to offer. And of course in this day and age, qualified help for your 64 isn't always right around the corner.
There are afew common problems that you might be having, or may run into in the future, and your manuals might not give you the best answer. Li
's see what I can do to help out.
General Tips
The first thing to remember is that you should try not to panic. For one thing, Commodore equipment is on the whole reliable. Also, it’s a whole lot more difficult to work through your problems when you get agitated—that’s advice I sometimes have difficulty following, but | know it’s true all the same. We can’t solve everything in the comfort of your own home— there are definitely some problems you should send away for service if you're not an expert-—
but others are fairly easy to deal with,
Computer Troubles
Sometimes bad things happen to good computers. Keep in mind that the average age of a Commodore computer is something around the decade mark, so the occasional problem isn't to be completely unexpected.
COMMODORE WORLD
dy Jeson Compton
FOR TROUBLE IN ALL THE RIGHT PLACES
No Display/No Startup
The first thing you should make sure of when you get a black screen on startup is to verify thatitis the computer itselfand not the cabling or the monitor or TV you're using. You can tighten or replace cables and try using a different TV or monitor: particularly if you have the “3-cable” job used on the 1702 monitor, you can easily use a variety of
monitors and TVs that take composite input by using the Luma plug, The resulting disp] will be black and white but it will at least give you an answer,
But let's assume that it's not the display device or cabling to blame, What you should try next is to see if the computer is functioning at all. The best way to do this (aside from
18
checking the power light) is to try to get the computer to access the disk drive. On a 128, which will try this automatically, your answer is easy enough to get. On a 64, try issuing a simple disk drive command by typing blindly. I'd suggest loading a directory with load"$”,8
Ifyou get disk drive action, you know your computer is still functional. At this point, we've moved beyond the simple home remedy— information and pass it along to a qualified service individual.
Believe it or not, it might actually be better news if the computer is totally unresponsive. Why's that? Because instead of having to send away for repair, it might be a really simple problem: a fuse. Your computer has a fuse in it, either on the motherboard (64 models) or r supply (128s). And it can and does happen that this fuse will blow, Replacing it is child's play, and it’s a standard, regular hardware store fuse. While you should be very careful when opening your computer or the fuse hole on the power supply (please, please unplug everything before you work on it!), this is a simple cure.
If not just the fuse, again, scan the magazine for a service company,
ake this
in the pow
time to
Corrupted Displays
Ifyou're finding that your video is corrupted: that you get a garbage display when you turn on the computer and the computer may or may not work otherwise, first try a simple test
Issue 22
of turning the machine off, giving it a short rest, and powering up again.
Ifthis doesn’t fix the problem or it shows up with annoying frequency, you may have a power supply problem. The original C64 power supply in particular has often been blamed for a number of difficulties, including damaging the computer itself, Ifat all possible, try swapping power supplies, or invest in a heavy-duty unit. Also, try keeping the power supply unplugged from the wall while off. It may be that the damage caused cannot be reversed by changing the power source, but if you replace your machine you will at least be better equipped the next time.
Disk Drive Bothers
Floppy drives are workhorses—we ask them to be constantly reliable and dependable, we yell at them for being slow and throw all sorts of solutions at them to make them faster. And sometimes they're less than perfect.
Splat Files
Ifan error or power loss occurs while the 64 is trying to save a file, often a “splat” file results. These are easily recognizable: in directory listings, they are zero block files and are tagged with an asterisk. The question is, what to do with them?
They can not (and should not) be erased by normal means, like the scratch command. Instead, you have to do a validate (V) command, Hopefully, all will go well and you'll find an OK disk results. However, if there are other errors on the disk, the validate command may fail. My advice in this case is to do a file- by-file backup of the disk to another disk and to reformat the original. You'll be trouble-free after that,
1571 Headaches
Some 1571s (including those in 128Ds) have some trouble properly aligning to new disks that get inserted. If you've been putting in perfectly good disks but are getting drive not ready errors, it’s possible you're having this problem.
CMD and possibly other service companies can fix this mechanical defect for you. The remedy, which can get annoying (and which doesn’t seem to work in CP/M mode) is to:
1. Hold the disk deep in the drive while closing the door.
2. Perform an initialize drive command whenever you insert a new disk.
Issue 22
3. If you can tell the drive is having trouble reading the disk, give the disk a “thump” with your finger. It really works.
Unreliable Drives If you are having trouble with your disk drives—getting corrupted loading and saving, for example—and you havea long drive chain, that may be to blame. Because of the structure of the serial drive bus, the signal can get diminished as it travels across several feet and multiple devices inthe chain. As this happens, your data is not transmitted as cleanly and it may lead to errors.
Ifa drive is behaving badly, try unplugging the rest of your drives d hook it directly to your machine, If that solves the problem, you can be reasonably sure it’s the length of the chain causing the problem. One way to help remedy the problem is to make sure all of the devices in the chain are on. Particularly for 128 systems, this can make a difference.
A Word About Heat Allelectronics equipment is suceptible to some degree to overheating. Some ways to avoid this are:
- Avoid stacking things on top of your floppy drives. Old 1541s can throw offa lot ofheat and years ofuse with something ontop of them (like another floppy drive) can be bad for their health,
- Try to avoid putting any equipment inan enclosed space. If air can flow above and behind the device, it’s a much better environment,
- Get a mini-fan and set it to blow across your equipment, (I have known sysops, who by necessity have a lot of equipment running 24 hours a day, who have done this and found it reduced random crashes.)
One common impact of heat is to “work loose” the chips in your computer, This can result in unreliable operation. If you suspect this may have affected your computer, a good cure is to push down on all the socketed chips in your computer. If you start hearing satisfying “crunch” noises, it’s a good
19
indication that they had worked themselves a bit loose.
Keyboard Trouble
Unreliable keyboard trouble can be something very straightforward to cure, or it can be a symptom of a very serious problem.
One of the simple problems can be dirt. The area between your keys is suceptible to buildups of dirt, dust, hair, crumbs, nail clippings, etc. And over a number of years, that buildup can get downright formidable. 1 had a 64 which I used for nearly 6 years, and it wasn't until I started typing on a different 64 just how much trouble I was having with certain keys at home. When I returned home to try to clean out the keys, I was horrified at what | found.
A good tool to use for cleaning out those slats is a good stiff index or business card. Another in the “simple” category is to make sure that you don't have a malfunctioning or jammed device plugged in to your machine, particularly in Joystick Port 1. This port in particular generates keyboard-like response when manipulated, and if it’s stuck it can interfere with your typing.
3
Jason Compton is a freelance writer and Editor of Amiga Report, the online news resource for Commodore Amiga users. Jason can be contacted via Email at jason@cmdweb.com.
COMMODORE WORLD
HARDWARE
FD-2000 (800K and 1.6 MB) $179.00 FD Real-Timo-Clock Option... $39.00 Box of 10, High Density Disks (7.6MB) $14.95 Box of 10, Enhanced Density Disks (3.2 MiB) $20.00
Miscellaneous Hardware:
Monitors (40 column and 40/80 column) sn GALL, Aprote § Way User Pot Expander. $30.00 ‘Aprotok User Port Extenson Cable $19.00 £68 Computar (Remanulactured, wid &’ PS)". $99.00 (Remanutactured, wiJD & PS)... $109,00
(Wen) $139,00
SX-64 Computer (Remanlactured wilD) $299.00 CALL
CALL
‘84/64C PowerSupply (Now. 1.7 AMP.) $29.60 ‘64/64G RopairablePS (New. 1.7 Amp.) $39.00 C-64/64C Hoavy Duty Repairable PS (New, 434). $59.00 C-128 RopairablePower Supply (New, 4.3 Amp). $55.00 €-4280 intornal Power Supply (New, 4.5 Amp)... $39.00 1641-111581/RLv1 Power Supply (New, 1 Amp.) 825,00 CBM 1541C Disk Drive (New w/dD) $119.00 CBM 1541-11 Disk Drive (New widD) $129.00 CBM 1574 Disk Drive (Remanufactured wid) so... CALL EMD EX2+1 3-Port Cartidge Port Expander 1... $99.00 EMD EX 3-Pont Cartridge Port Expander... $34.00 CMD GooCablo I Print Cable 61/15... $28.00/$34,00 EMD Soga-stylo Gamepad for C-64/128 $24.95 GM SmanMouso (1381 Gompatble Movs)... 549.98, Fipn'Flo 25 Disk Holdar (5 25-inch ) 35.95 Floppy Disks (26 pack of DSDD 5.28-inch ) 510,00 Inkwel Light Pon Model 170¢ $75.00 Monitor Cablos ‘CALL Panasonic KXP-1150 8:pin Printer $199.00 Panasonic KXP-2023 24-pin Pr $259.00 Panasonic KXP-2190 24-pin Printar $299.00 Panasonic KXP-2023 Color Kit $65.00 ‘Smarting C-600 Printer interface $10.00
Big Blue Reader V4.10 (SOGWAP)... soe $38,00 CMD Utes : $24.95 JityON-64 (ML Monitor) $19.95
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BASIC 64 Compilor (AICUB) sn $17.00 BASIC 128 Compilor (Abacus) $25.00 Bilt! 64 Compiler (Skylos) $30.00 Buddy 64/128 AssombIOr jesus $39.00 Gobo! 64 (Abacus)
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ooCale 64/128 $40 00/545 00 goochar $29,00 Q00FAX $39.95 ooFllo 64/138 $40.00/845 00 geoMakoBoot (Makes Bootable copios) $12.95 gooProgrammar crane $45,00 JOOP ADIN
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Commodore 64 Tricks and Tips
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RAMCard ATC OptowAter Marko Kt. 81000819.00 butter; Ymodem batch: Ymodem-g; | inlemal C64 memeny
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20 Issue 22
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CARTRIDGES BUSINESS (cont) EDUCATIONAL & CHILDREN’S (cont) Blow Up (graphics cartridge) $8.00 Easy Finance | Engish VI (N€) cnn ste $5.00 Galaxion (game) $8.00 Easy Finance i! Engish Vil (new)... $5.00 Magic Desk | (productivity) $8.00 Easy Finance Il. Geography (new). scasasiiniomsasalt B00 Pole Position (game) $8.00 Easy Finance IV HiSt0¥y (NEW) sos Story Machine (children’s) $8.00 Easy Finance V Holidays & Seasons Computer Coloring Book . Tule Graphics Il (LOGO-type language) $8.00 Easyware Speneeel Graphs Kinder Comp ..
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COMMODORE WORLD 22
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Issue 22
Frontie
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23
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COMMODORE WORLD
Graphic Interpretation
One of the greatest ‘features’ of GEOS is the open nature of the system; by this I mean all of the programming information available to users. While every user is not a programmer, every user has benefitted from the many great programs that have been created by users who are programmers. We have also been very lucky that a lot of smart and adventurous people have been GEOS users.
Among these pioneers of GEOS, a number stand out for their contributions to using GEOS with a Laser Printer. These include Randy Winchester (whose series of articles in GeoWorld helped me start using a Laser for output in the fall of 1988), Dale Sidebottom (who has been a dedicated GEOS Laser user for many yea he has also recently made some HUGE new laser developments), Skip Goetzinger (whose Laser Direct service provided a means for GEOS users to have inexpensive access to Laser output and also published numerous Laser Printer Publishing kits to help do things right), David Ferguson of Quincy Softworks and Dweezil fame (who wrote a comprehensive GeoPublish Laser Printing Compendium), Jeanine Cutler (who bought an HP Laser and wrote a couple of articles for GeoWorld on how to use it) and Jim Collette (a brilliant young
COMMODORE WORLD
by Bruce Thomas
LASER MAGIC
programmer who wrote many fine GEOS programs).
We are going to explore the use of one of Jim's programs, ‘PS Processor’ is available from Creative Micro Designs, Inc. on the Collette Utilities disk. This terrific program allows easy manipulation of PostScript files and enables a variety of print options. The program uses a simple script file (written in geoWrite) that tells it where to place each page of a geoPublish document for custom Laser printing.
Compatibility The ‘PS Processor’ dox, and Jeanine Cutler's useful examples which come with the
24
program, incorrectly state compatibility problems. ‘PS Processor’ operates properly no matter which version of geoPublish or geoPubLaser you have. You must, however, have the properly matched versions of these programs, as that is where the incompatibility occurs,
If your geoPublish is dated 10/8/87 you must use geoPubLaser dated 3/10/88. For the two-disk geoPublish dated 10/4/88 you must use geoPubLaser dated 10/25/86. Using mismatched versions of these programs will result in improperly formatted output,
Once you have the correct geoPubLaser, a copy of it must be patched with ‘PS.Patch(disk)’. This patch program is also on the Utilities disk and enables ‘PubLaser to write the PostScript file to disk so ‘PS Processor’ can do its magic.
Which Page do You Want
In this article I will talk about three types of pages. Logical Page refers to a page as viewed in geoPublish and as written to disk witha patched geoPubLaser. Virtual Page refers to the page that is assembled in the memory of the laser printer prior to printing. Physical Page refers to the page that comes out of the laser with your document on it.
Issue 22
While normal geoPublish output prints one logical page to each physical page, ‘PS Processor’ takes advantage of the PostScript language to allow multiple logical pages to appear on each physical page.
‘PS Processor’ also makes it possible to print in landscape mode. Normally, output goes toan8.5"x 11" letter size physical page with the 8.5" side along the top -thisis called portrait mode. Landscape mode prints to the same 8.5"x 11" physical page but the 11" side is along the top (virtually rotating the output 90 degrees), In addition, output can now be formatted to fill an 8.5" x 14" legal size physical page in both portrait and landscape modes.
To make these printing options all possible, ‘PS Processor’ makes use of a virtual page in the Printer. Depending on the mode selected, the default virtual page allows different sections of the logical page to appear in different locations on the physical page. Luckily, we can move the location of the logical page, or we can move the virtual
Laser
page origin, by including coordinate offset values in our script file. Are you thoroughly confused yet?
The Coordinate Grid
As mentioned, the chosen mode determines the location the logical page will print to. This is best understood by placing X and Y coordinates on a graph Figure 1 shows the default origins and the relationship of the logical page orientation to each physical page mode,
In portrait mode the default origin is located in the lower left corner of the page. This allows the entire logical page to appear on the letter or legal size physical page.
In landscape mode the default origin places the top 8.5" of the logical page on the physical page with 2.5" of space along the right edge (this is true on both letter or legal size paper). If you wish to place your logical page at the left landscape edge of a legal size physical page you must use an offset of -240 to shift the logical page 3" left.
Where did the -240 come from? The coordinate system is based on the dot resolution of GEOS, not the Laser. The horizontal resolution is 80 dots perinch (dpi) and the vertical resolution is 72 dpi. Three inches multiplied by 80 dpi equals 240 dots for an offset. The offset values are in relationship to the origin with positive values moving the logical page right (X) or up (Y) and negative values moving the logical page left (-X) or down (-Y),
The Project I recently returned to school to drastically change my career path and wanted some cards [ could hand out to people I met in my future field of work. Rather than go toa local business, | put GEOS to work and made my ow! For my business cards | bought a package of perforated sheets with 10 cards on each sheet (these are commonly office supply stores). The cards are st size (3.5" x 2") and in geoPublish you can easily make a layout to mateh them. With
ilableat many
andard
Figure 1: Postscript position information for different paper sizes 14 inches — y< 11 inches | ae i+ 8.5 inches 9————+ ¥ Legend Letter Portrait mmmmes (jogical geoPublish page) @ i Bi Letter Landscape G 2: Ss Ss 5 f ' a § g Legal Portrait 8 Ls — — —Legal Landscape Legal Landscape Landscape corner (-24( corner (0,0) ns a 2 a Defaults X Axis. Portrait 80 dpi Origin (0,0) Landscape
Origin (0,-180)
Issue 22
25
COMMODORE WORLD
Figure 2: Laying out a business card in geoPublish
geos ! file ! mode : di Sn aera eee
wea
R. Bruce Thornas
Network Engineering Technology NAIT 1996 - 1998
Phone’ (403) 478-3613 email! rbthomas@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca
Crop Lines in four corners make cutting Pas out cards easier if printed on card stock 3
“PS Processor’ we only need to create one card in the geoPublish document and then add it to the virtual page multiple times via the commands in our script file.
Putting It All Into Practice To better understand the whole ‘PS Processor’ process we will look at my More understanding can be realized by printing Jeanine’s examples. Since ‘PS Processor’ allows us to place multiple logical pages logical page, onto each virtual page we only need to create one business card in geoPublish, The card sheets | bought had 1/ 2" borders on the top and bottom and 3/4" borders on each side. The rulers in geoPublish made it easy to create my card in the top left position by setting horizontal guidelines at 1/2" and 2-1/2" and vertical guidelines at 3/4" and 4-1/4" (Figure 2 T used a geoWrite file for my personal information. After importing this file (which was laid out entirely with ‘LW’ fonts for best quality laser output) | added the graphics and was ready to print. If you are going to take your printout toa copy shop to be copied onto card stock use the same layout but add crop line cut the cg
, or copies of the same
in the corners to mark where to s (Figure 2),
And, Action!
Just like a Hollywood movie, ‘PS Processor’ needsascript to make things happen. Scripts area collection of commands contained in a
COMMODORE WORLD
geoWrite file that instruct ‘PS Processor’ what to do with the logical pages in the disk file created by the patched geoPubLaser.
To print the business card in ten locations I page the script must use a clude’ commands with offset values. Here is the script I used:
series of
parallel
numcopi
clude 1 0 0
The first line tells "PS Processor’ that laser is connected to the 64 via a geoCable parallel connection. The second line sets the number of physical pages I want to print. By printing 10 pages I will get 100 cards. The third line adds logical page 1 to the laser's virtual page in the default location. The next four lines add logical page 1 to the virtual page at 2 inch intervals down the page (2" x 72 dpi = 144).
Since our cards are 3.5" wide we must shift the logical page 3.5" to the right. The next line (include 1 280 0) adds logical page 1 to
a
26
the top of the virtual page but shifted right 3.5" (3.5 x 80 dpi = 280). The next four lines add the logical page to the right side of the virtual page at the same .
Finally, the ‘print’ command is sent to the laser indicating the virtual page is complete and ready to be output on a physical page. If more virtual pages were to be created another series of ‘include’ commands would start on the next line. Since we are done, we add the nd to
nterval
‘last’ parameter to our ‘print’ comm reset the laser for another print job. is the end of our script and 100 business cards will pop out of the laser.
Other ‘PS Processor’ commands allow the use of serial interfaces or outputting a file to disk, enabling landscape mode and changing, the virtual page origin.
A Limitation
One thing that the ‘PS Processor’ can't make up for is the physical print area of various lasers, When I first printed off Jeanine's xamples I did so on an Apple Laserwriter. print area when using legal size paper (6-3/4" x 13" compared to 8" x 13-1/2" on a Canon laser). I didn’t realize this at first and thought there was a problem as the text was cut off around the edge Knowing the print area of the laser that will be used for output will allow you to get the most use out of this fantastic GEOS program and soon you too will be performing laser magic not otherwise possible.
e
M3
Issue 22
The New Standard in Modem Interfaces
High-Speed Support Turbo232 keeps The quest for faster online access has made33,6Kbps modems
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1 Turbo232 SwiftLink Compatible Designed to Hj] HIGH SPEED MODEM INTERFACE work with programs written for the i popular SwiftLink cartridge | Teppesetspglendromale errealerast amy
Easy Configuration A simple jumper block lets you quickly change the configuration for special situations
Null Transfers May be used as a null- modem interface for direct transfers with other computers
Zoom V.34 Plus
°33.6Kbps Faxmodem
¢ Upgradable to 56Kbps
¢ Compatible with geoFAX
¢ Perfect for use with Turbo232
Turbo232 $39.95 Modem Cable $9.95 Turbo232/Novaterm 9.6 $65.00 Zoom V.34 Plus $149.00 Turbo232/Zoom V.34 Plus $179.00
Turbo232/Zoom/Novaterm 9.6 $204.00 Note
subject to change without
1-800-638-3263
Demodlania
After writing my last column, I began to dread writing this one due to the lack of activity within theNTSC demoscene. Fortunately, alot ofactivity began last July, Due to space restrictions, we'll cover the releases that came out through September of 1997.
During that time, there were a grand total of
nine relea
es, plus a Issue of Driven honoring our sadly lost friend of the demo scene; Waveform (Driven #23). In addition, the long awaited NTSC Co-op Demo 1997 was finally released! Was it worth the wait? Well, read on and see for yourself.
Activity in the scene came back to life with two new demos from RPG; Eclipse and Graphic Ignorens, Shortly thereafter we welcomed back Venom with their new demo, Grave Diggers. Stephen Judd also added to all the activity with his release of Cool World, featuring a nice vector routine. Again, due to s
‘econstraints, I'll
to cover some of the releases in an upcoming column.
Driven’s Tribute to Waveform Everyone, even those only remotely active within the demo scene, can’t help but feel the almost overwhelming loss of one of the scene’s most energetic participants: John Kaiser, also known Waveform.
Out of respect, honor and the driving de: create an eternal tribute to our specia Driven released a special issue as a “Tribute to Waveform”. For those of you that never had the pleasure of John's acquaintance, this issue will
ire to | friend,
give you some insight as to why John is missed and why he was so very special to his friends as well as the Commodore Demo Scene.
COMMODORE WORLD
THE DEMO WORLD WAKES UP
This special edition of Driven consists solely of articlesabout Waveform submitted by, hisfriends is alone refreshes for the Commodore Demo ) this point: it's a group of special people bound together by their unique talents and their love of acommoninterest—the Commodore computer.
If you'd like to know more about John, his contributions to the demo scene and why he'sleft the scene with such an incredible loss, download this special edition of Driven today. Thanks to ting an eternal tribute toa person I'm honored to have been able to call my friend.
and associates. TI
everyone involved for crea
Life Sucks by BCI
Life Sucksis a short release created by a another new demo group, BCI-Bad Coders International. BCI consists of Local-H (coder), Phred (music), Sketch (coder), and UDD (artist). BCI's demo consists of a nifty looking “Life Sucks” logo complete with musicand the obligatory greetings
KS
4
a!
scroller. This demo isn't extraordinary on it’s own; but, when youthink about thework involved in producing something like this, it’s amazing. One of the best things loveabout thedemoscene
28
is the fact that “newbies” seem to be welcomed more readily now than they have been in the past.
not the first demo released by some of BCI'smembers; however, itisa one-pager limited tothenormal logo, music, and scroller. Life Suck simply looks great—clean and polished, Next time perhaps BCI will provide us with two pages showing all that they've learned since Life Sucks (just wait until you see Local-H's Co-op Contribution!). Keep up the good work BCI and thanks forgiving usa nice looking demotoaddto our collections (and for the greet)!
The Misadventures of The Fatman - Part 2 by The Fatman and Coolhand I think I may have missed reviewing The sof The Fatman - Part 1. If you ence, this is one demo you'll want to download. The , known simply as TEM to some, is also relatively new to the scene. In his short time with the scene he’s definitely made his name known to one and all with his comic book styled demo series, produced and created by both TFM and Coolhand. Coolhand is no stranger to the scene either. In fact, Coolhand has become a legend in the scene by hosting the weekly NTSC Demo Conferences on the IRC, editing the infamous Driven demo mag, and other miscellaneous activities, Coolhand hasnowadded another credit to his name by writing and providing the panel layout for The Misadventures of The Fatman. TFM puts the piecestogether providing thedemo ‘ene with a laugh or two. Each release has focused on circumstances familiar to those involved in today’s scene. And, if you're a regular within the IRC world, you're
Issue 22
sure to get a laugh or two from the demos. This Batman spooffeatures the antics of Fatman (who, of course, is always hungry) and Bobin (who is always trying to pry Fatman away from his food to solve the current dilemma).
While the demo's graphics have a bit of an amateur look to them, the content easily leads attention away from this fact. I think this quality lends a cozy feeling to the demo and
one’
makes an all-important point: Release those demos... we all start somewhere! I am REALLY looking forward to viewing more episodes of The Misadventures of The Fatman. Perhaps someday
atman and Bobin will meet up with igwoman”? To TEM and Coolhand I'd like to say, “You're
ahit! Thanks for your on-going contributions to the scenel!”
Icon by Saga In addition to announcing the news of all these releases, I also get to announce the fact we have another new group amongst us! threemembers: GHB-Artistand Writer, Shogun -PCConverter??? and Touch-up, and Dr. Moreau - Coder and Designer.
, Icon, introduces each member and tells the tale we've heard so often before. Each ofthem thought the C-64 was without a following until they found their way to the internet and the IRC’s#e64 channel. Before long, they discovered how active we still are and were inspired to dust off their Commodores and once again participate! I love it!
Saga is more or less a demo announcing their new presence in the scene. And what a demo iti It's only a one-pager; but, wow! The graphics are extremely professional! The demo is also equipped with music and a scroller relating their journey to today’s NTSC Scene. With an intro such as /con, one can't help anticipating their next release, Welcome to the Scene, Saga!
NTSC Demo Co-op 1997
‘The Co-op idea was first introduced during the last few months of 1996. At the time, everyone wasreally excited. Unfortunately, theenthusiasm
Issue 22
a. consists of
forthe production died down, and real lifeslowed itslong awaited release. Attimes, I have to admit, I didn’t think we'd ever see a finished product. The responsibility for gathering the various pages and tying them all together was handed from one person to the next until finally it fell into the hands of dW, a patient and enthusiastic member of Style.
Being the demo loving impatient person that I am, I'd log on to the IRC week after week after week begging for information regarding the Co-op. lly, on 10/3/97, the first ever N DemoCo-op was released to the public! [can'ttell youhowhappy lam tosee the project completed! Thanks to everyone involved for all their hard work and persistence!!!
Way back when the Co-op idea first began, individuals wishing to participate threw their d their abilities into a virtual hat. The were then further divided into three more hats; coders, artists, and musicians. From here one name was pulled from each hat to form five Each team was then responsible for creating a demo page. The creations were submitted and bundled into what you now know as the first official NTSC Demo Co-op.
The Co-op consists of five pages all accessed
through anastonishing3-D menusystemcreated bynone other than dW/Style, Dokken/Electron, Light, and The Fatman. The menu consists of a logo created by one of the scene's well-known comedians; Dokken, with music contributed by Light and the font supplied by The Fatman,
‘The excellent coding routine tyingall the parts together w the NTSC Co-op Logo at the top, followed by the list page titles floating in an animated, starry background, Pagesare selected by scrollingdown thescreen, highlighting atitleand pressingreturn, Themenuisprofessionalin appearance and lends to the excitement of the demo,
The credits dedicate the Co-op to the memory of Waveform. The Co-op keeps within Waveform’s“...personal mission tohaveasmuch fun as possible in the NTS toputas much life and energy into it [the scene] as possible.”
‘The demo consists of five pages: Pagino Del Grupo 6, Waveform Tribute ‘97, We Are Not Your Pal, Technobabble, and Sequestered. The credits for each demo can be found in a side bar
scene and...
elsewhere in thi clealong with some pictures to whet your appetite
The humor of Dokken begins the demo with Pagino Del Grupo 6. The highlight of this page is a David Letterman style top ten countdown list of the 10 most repeated phrases with demo greets.
Bet you can’t guess the number one phrase!
29
done by dW. The screen consists of
The NTSC Demo Co-op 1997 Credits
Pagino Del Grupo 6
Code: Dokken/Electron Art: Phantom/FOE Music: Phred
Waveform Tribute (E97
Code: The Fatman
Art: The Fatman Music: Zyron/F4CG
We Are Not Your Pal Code: Firestalker/FTA. Art: Burning Horizon/FTA Sprites: Local-H/BCI Music: Necrophic/CCS. Technobabble
Code: Fungus/CCS
Art: Carcass/CCS Music: Odie/Cosine Sequestered
Code: Macbeth/PSW Art: Necrophobic/CCS Music: Pinball Wizard/CCS. The Menu Page
Code: dW/Style
Logo: Dokken/Electron Music: Light
Font: The Fatman
Waveform Tribute ‘97 follows featuring a colorful page ofwaveforms dedicated to our dearly missed scener. I loved this page because of its brightand colorful presentation and upbeatstyle.
We Are Not Your Pal features a patriotic logo sure to capture your attention. It's a nice looking page adding that little extra flare to this long awaited release.
Nextupis Technobabble. The highlight of this page is a on featuringa guest spot from ourinfamousscene “manager”, Coolhand.
Last, but certainly not least, is Sequestered, which features a really “gotta see it” effect with a 3-D wrap-around graphic. The remainder of the page features the designs of someone's shirt.
1 deliberately left the descriptions somewhat brief. ‘The NISC Demo Co-op ‘97 has alread) earned a place on my “soon-to-be classic” demo disk. | hope you'll enjoy it as much as Ihave and as much as everyone involved had putting it together. These folks deserve a handful of kudos forpersistingand seeing this one-of-a-kind project through to completion, Thank you everyone!
oll of conversation that goes on and
Sherry Freedline is a freelance writer, Visit Sherry’s homepage on the Internet at http:// wiew.lm.com/~qt, or drop her Email at: sherry@cmdweb.com.
COMMODORE WORLD
Carrier Detect
By Gaclyse R. Gaston
SLIP. PPP, CLIENTS, SERVERS... OH MY!
In the near future, we'll be finding our way to the Emerald City and find that we're not in Kansas any more when it comes to Internet access, We'll have new programs and a new lexicon of words and phrases to gowith them. Have you ever wondered just what SLIP and PPP mean, and what using them will be like? Let’s take a look and see how we'll be using the Internet in the not- too-distant future,
SLIP (Serial Line Internet Protocol) and PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) are used for Internet connections, and when we use them, our computer becomes part of the Internet as a whole. From the user point of view, once online they each function essentially the same way, with slight variations on the initial set-up. You can only use one or the other, not both. So far, for the Commodore, the only protocol that's been developed has been SLIP. There's Daniel Dallmann’s Slip Demo (http://rpool1.rus.uni-stuttgart.de/~etk10217/C-64.html), and eventually we'll have other programs to use. Developers at Arkanix Labs (http://www.arkanixlabs.com/menu.html) are working on a program called NetStack that will also use SLIP access to the Internet.
SLIP and PPP are two different types of protocols. From a non- computer perspective, when the White House has any function, i required that they follow very specific protocols so that the event will go smoothly without any embarrassing mishaps, and computer protocols serve a similar purpose. Online, when we transfer files, we use protocols such as Zmodem or Xmodem and it’s essential that both computers involved are using the same protocol, as otherwise it won't work - it’s the same with SLIP or PPP. Your computer and the one you're accessing both need to use the same type of protocol (SLIP or PPP), else the connection won't function properly.
Currently, we use a term program and dial-in connection to get on the Internet. When we dial the Internet provider using a menu or
COMMODORE WORLD
UNIX shell account, we are prompted for our User name and password, similar to when phoning a Bulletin Board system, SLIP and PPP need to have additional information along with the User name and password, orit may receive this information at the time of connection, depending on what your Internet provider requires. Each and every computer on the Internet has a different address assigned to it that consists of a series of numbers separated by dots, known as the /P address. An example IP address is: 123.123.123.123
Some Internet providers assign a static IP address that stays the same whenever you access that particular provider, Other systems allocate a different number e;
Generally, the program that handles dialing and connecting to the Internet also handles the job of sending your name, password, and the IP number (or it receives the IP number from the service to use for that particular session). In Daniel Dallmann’s Slip Demo, the user must enter the required information each time they use the program, Other Commodore programs (when they appear) may handle this differently.
ch time you connect to it.
Hardware Will you need to update your hardware to make use a SLIP or PPP connection? This depends on what you already have. If you're serious about using your computer to its fullest potential online, you'll want a high speed modem (14.4k bps or higher) anda UART cartridge interface (such as the Turbo232, SwiftLink or HART cartridge) to “drive” the modem.
A fast (and reasonable sized) storage medium for transferring data, such as an REU (RAM Expansion Unit), RAMLink or hard drive is also important, because your computer will have more demand on
Issue 22
it in terms of software and data. We'll need enough disk space for both the programs we decide to use and for the data that these programs retrieve from the Net. For Commodore users in the ultra- fast lane, you may want to include a SuperCPU in the shopping cart as well.
Dallmann’s SLIP Demo requires either a UART cartridge int or his 9600 user port interface (the schematics can be found on his Web site). Arkanix Labs NetStack program is expected to require an REU and a UART cartridge.
face
Clients and Servers
Getting there is only part of the fun, Currently, when we use a term program and dial-in connection, once we're online, we use the programs that the Internet provider has made available to us, such as Email programs, Lynx for browsing the Web, newsgroup readers, etc. Some providers offer only the types of utilities they want their customers to use, even though there may be other programs or options available. Once SLIP and PPP become accessible to us, while of our Internet provider for utilities we use online, however, we'll have to rely on Commodore programmers to design and implement programs we can use.
A client is an application (or program) requesting a service from a specific server. One of the first programs we'll need when we have SLIP or PPP access is a program that handles retrieving, displaying and sending Email. The Commodore Email program would be referred to as the “client”, and it will connect with and use the mail servers that are on my Internet provider, Each Internet function suchas Email, FTP, browsing the Web, telnet, etc has a corresponding server on the Internet provider and requires it’s own client. The real fun partis that you can choose what client you want to use in order to access a particular Internet function, We won't have much variety to choose from when this type of access first becomes available, but it’s my hope that the information on how to make
we'll no longer beat the mere)
use of the SLIP or PPP connection is passed on to other programmers who will develop various client software, Hopefully, this will mean we'll have a variety of software to choose from.
One client application that everyone seems to want is a graphical Web browser. In order to have this, first we must have either SLIP or PPP access. | think we'll probably see before a graphical one becomes available, This will give the programmer a working (living?) environment in which to refine the web browser. Lynx, the text-based web browser that we use via our shell accounts, is constantly updated to keep up with the latest changes in HTML standards, and I'm sure our own browsers will be no different in this regard, One constant about the Internet - things change, and our programs will need to be able to adapt as well.
As our computers will be dealing with processing the information or files from the Internet, we'll need to have additional disk space for both the programs (or “client applications”) we want to use, and for the data it generates or retrieves for us. For example, Email programs and Web browsers will need enough space for both the program and our downloaded Email or Web
based Web browser
te
s. These programs will probably not be “small”, since there’s a variety of functions they'll need to include, and both Email and Web pages can take up a fair amount of space. When we have the ability to view graphics from the Web, we'll need to have even more disk space available.
The list below are some of the client applications we'll need once we have SLIP or PPP access:
Issue 22 31
Client Email
Purpose/Comments
Correspond with other users on the Internet. It should have the ability to store and use an address book, and should allow sending and receiving files through Email. Access and view pages on the World Wide Web. Will probably begin as text-only and later offer the ability to view graphics.
Web Browser
FTP Retrieve files from the Internet.
IRC Chat with other people around the world in real-time,
Telnet Connect to other computers on the
Internet.
Download and display messages in Newsgroups. May or may not have the ability to decode files included in newsgroup posts.
Newsgroup Reader
Finger Using a person's Email address, finger lets you read information about that person that they've made available to the public.
Ping This is used to test whether another
computer on the Internet is “live” (online) and the time it takes to send data to that system and have it returned.
Commodore Possibilities
Something we can consider in the realm of possibilities are Commodore-only Internet applications, such as a Chat program that lets one person chat with another in real time. Sure, it’s similar to IRC, but allow two Commodore computers to use PETASCI text and Commodore graphics. Another possibility is a BBS transfer system so Commodore BBS sysops can transfer their networked messages easily. As our computers would be connected directly to the Internet, one BBS transfer program could automatically connect to another Commodore computer and transfer messages directly between the two computers.
Stretching the imagination a little further, our Commodore BBS’s could be online and accessible to the rest of the world by way of telnet. Many other platform BBS's are available this way already, and there's already been one Commodore BBS connected to the net, but the Sysop had to use hardware between his Commodore and another platform computer to achieve it. Once we have the ability to connect our Commodore computer directly to the Net, this could be done without any additional hardware or the use of another platform
computer,
The road to SLIP or PPP access with our Commodore hasn't yet been paved with yellow bricks, but the glimmer of the Emerald City is visible, shimmering in the distance.
e
Gaelyne Gasson is the author of “The Internet for Commodore C64/128 Users” and can be contacted via Email at gaclyne@cmdweb.com or visit her web site at: http:// videocam.net.au/~gaelyne.
COMMODORE WORLD
BASIC
INS TING TS
by Doug Cotton
Picking up where we left off last issue, we're going to begin with creating a BASIC program on disk. We'll start with this rather than creating one in memory since the latter is a little more difficult.
For the purpose of this example, let's assume a fairly simple program. In fact, we'll use the simple program line that was presented in the last issue, which was:
10 PRINT*HI"
This will be simple to use since we already have the byte values which we PEEKed from memory (printed in the previous issue). To begin, let's identify our program and set up a few variables. The variables that we'll need are the starting address for BASIC, the device number of the drive we'll be creating the file on, and filename for the program.
In line 30, the variable SA has been set to 2049 for the starting address of BASIC. While BASIC technically begins at address 2048, programs stored on disk do not contain the zero byte that is always located at 2048, and are loaded instead at 2049 (on the Commodore 64).
In line 40, the va number as device 8. If you want to use a different device number, just change this variable,
The string variable F$ defines the filename. The P and W paramters that have been tacked on after the actual name indicate that the file should be of program (PRG) type, and that we will want to write to the file when it is opened later in the program.
Now we'll add the main program routine to our listing.
ble DV has been used to define the device
100
150
160
Line 100 opens the file our program will create. In line 110, we turn the start of BASIC address into two bytes to form a low (AL) and high
COMMODORE WORLD
32
INSIDE BASIC PART TWO
(AH) byte pair. Since these are the first two bytes of any program, we write these to the file in line 120,
The next three lines (130—150) form a loop to read data statments. Each data byte will be checked to see if the end of data has been reached, which will be indicated by a data value of -1. As long as the data we get is some other value, it will be written to disk (line 140), and we'll loop back (line 150) to line 130 to get the next byte of data. king of data, that’s all we need to complete the program. last few lines provide that, and are commented so that you can easily see what each part of the data is for.
After you have typed in the complete listing, SAVE it so that it can be loaded back later. Once the program has been saved, go ahead and RUN it. Check the directory of the disk drive you have specified in the DV variable, and you should find the newly created program. LOAD and RUN the program to see it operate.
Some Notes
You may have noticed that when we created this program, we assumed that the starting address for BASIC was 2048 ($0800). While this is the case for the Commodore 64 (or 64 mode on a Commodore 128), the starting address for BASIC 7.0 (in the Commodore 128's native mode) is actually higher than that; it begins at 7168 ($1000).
If you're using a Commodore 128 in its native mode, you'll quickly learn that the program will work anyway—provided you use the ‘short’ version of the LOAD command (LOAD “HI.BAS",8). This is because BASIC assumes that the program being loaded is to be automatically placed at the start of BASIC memory, unless otherwise instructed. If you use the longer version of LOAD (LOAD “HI.BAS”,8,1) then BASIC places the program directly at the starting address specified in the program itself. That is why using the “,1” at the end of a LOAD command should generally be reserved only for machine language programs or modules. Using the long form of loading in this case would work fine on a 64, but would cause the program to be incorrectly located on a 128 in 128 mode.
Please note that we've reworked the BASIC Keyword chart provided in the previous installment of BASIC Instincts. Last time it appeared, it was ordered by byte values to make it suitable for decoding existing programs. The version of the chart included in this issue is ordered
Issue 22
alphabetically by keyword. This version, then, is better suited for creating the code necessary to write a program directly to disk or memory.
As you look through the commands, bear in mind that some commands work only in BASIC 7.0. Check the notes at the end of the chart to help determine which commands these are. Since these
command will not work on a Commodore 64, you shouldn't use them when creating Commodore 64 programs.
In our next installment of BASIC Instincts, we'll move on to creating programs directly in memory. We'll also look into a related subject— creating more than one BASIC program in memory, and switching between those programs.
¢)
APPEND? asc AIN AUTO!
33
ANAM H
COLLISION COLOR’ CONCAT*
Issue 22
Commodore BASIC 2.0 & 7.0 Keywords & Tokens
Keyword — |Hex. Token| Dec. Token] Keyword | Hex. Token |Dec. Token $ $FE $0D]254 13 + $E5 229
NOTES: (1) Commodore 128 (BASIC 7.0) Only. (2) Unimplemented - Token has no function. (3) Reserved keyword for variable. (4) Reserved word made up of a keyword plus text or two keywords combined. (5) Direct mode only.
33
Keyword — |Hex. Token|Dec. Token Loop! MIDS MONITOR!
Keyword — [Hex. Token
PLAY* POINTER POKE
PRINT PRINT
RSPCOLOR* RSPPOS' RSPRITE!
SCALE!
COMMODORE WORLD
Harp Tips
By Doug Cotton
When Commodore first produced the Commodore 64 computer, the new machine quickly caught fire with the public because it offered very advanced sound and graphics capabilities at low price. It didn't take long for programmers to recognize these strengths of the C-64 and begin experimenting with getting more out of the venerable SID and VIC chips.
mes—the most popular software category of the time—fought for top ratings first by providing better graphics than previous programs. But before long, competition moved to the sound aspects of the programs as well. In time, programmers discovered that the SID chip could actually do more than Commodore themselves had dreamed possible. Not only could it provide some very advanced waveforms, but it could even be programmed to provide speech synthesis! Companies that had put out hardware speech cartridges were hit hard when S.A.M., the “Software Activated Mouth” hit the market. As the years progressed, so did the software, and digitized sound became the latest way to push the SID to its limits.
When Commodore released the C-64¢, a cost-reduced version of the original Commodore 64, they also introduced an updated version of the SID chip in which they fixed some hardware bugs found in the iginal chip. The bad news was that some sounds were quite different under the new chip. Speech synthesis and digitized sounds in many programs were unable to achieve the same volume levels as the would on the older SID chip. Commodore also provided updated SID chips on the Commodore 128D. Programmers were perplexed over the changes, but even worse, users who had upgraded found that some of their programs had sounded much better on their original C-64,
Figure 1: C64c (SID & Capacitors)
COMMODORE WORLD
Figure 2: C64c (CR7 Diode)
34
DOWNGRADING THE SID IN THE C-64¢ AND ¢-128D
Before we paint the newer SID chips as all bad, however, be aware that some SID programmers like the newer version's abilities to make
certain sounds that the older version couldn't produce. But for the most part, newer capabilities have not been an issue, since most users’ software collections predate the changes to the SID chip. It is for this reason that we devote this installment of Hard Tips on downgrading the SID chip in the Commodore 64e and 128D computers.
Before we proceed with the deta perform this ‘downgrade’, you need to be reasonably experienced with soldering and desoldering integrated circuits and other components on circuit boards, If you have any doubts about your capabilities in this area, you might rather consider sending your computer to CMD to have them perform the change for you (contact CMD for pricing). If you're planning to perform the modifications yourself, CMD can also provide you with the parts (SIDKITS1, $25.00 plus s/h).
To perform the modifications, follow these steps:
s, however, be forewarned: to
- Di the case.
semble your computer and remove the circuit board from
Using the diagrams included with this article, locate the 8580 SID chip (U9 on the 64e, or US on the 128D), Note: If your SID chip isn’t an 8580, you don’t need to perform this downgrade!
IfyourSID chip is socketed, removeit from the socket. If your SID chip is not socketed, desolder and remove the chip. Note: we often find it easier to ‘cut’ the chip out by carefully cutting each of
Figure 3: C128D
Issue 22
the pins with side-cutters, and then desoldering and removing each of the individual pins one-by-one.
MEETING 64/128 USERS THROUGH THE MAIL
Locate capacitors C80 and C81 on the 64c, or C96 and C97 on the 128D. Desolder and remove these, then replace both with 1800pf (182K) capacitors.
Locate itors C70 and C71 on the 64¢, or C82 and C83 on the 128D. Desolder and remove these, then replace both with 470pf (471) capacitors.
Ifyou have a 64e, locate, desolder and remove diode CR7, then replace it with a 12v zener diode (1N5242). Note: the line on the barrel of the diode indicates the polarity; make sure the lead from this end of the diode is soldered into the top padas viewed in Figure 2 (the one closest to resistor R100).
NO USER'S GROUP? USER'S GROUP FADING?
Join our world wide group for answers to your burning questions about C=64/128
COMMODORE MAILINK
Contact; Tom Adams, (President) 4427 39TH ST BRENTWOOD MD 20722-1022
tomadams@sysnet.net
Ifyou have a 128D, locate, desolder and remove diode CR17, then replace it with a shorting wire.
Install a 6581 SID chip. If your SID chip was not socketed, we recommend installing a socket first, That you can avoid possible damage to the new SID chip while soldering, and you
can easily replace the chip later if it becomes defective.
Reassemble your computer and test it. If the new chip fails, be sure to go back and check your work carefully,
6s
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ao2 $149.95 1541s $09.05 128 $199.95 Convor-A:Com
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Issue 22 35 COMMODORE WORLD
ASSEMBLY
LING
By Doug Cotton & Mark Fellows
While the subject of device polling has been touched upon in past lly been done in BASIC, and has overlooked some of the problems faced with certain devices that can populate the serial bus. Thisinstallment of Assembly Line provides machine language subroutines that perform device polling while avoiding some of the problems that can often be assosciated with this function,
Device polling is act of looking at the serial bus peripherals, determining what they are and what device address th ave. This is generally a simple task, provided you know what to check for. The routines provided here will correctly identify the following devices: Commodore 1541 (and many 1541-compatible clones), Commodore 1571, Commodore 1581, Commodore 17xx REUs (and clones) running RAMDOS, CMD ED series drives, CMD HD series hard drives, CMD RAMLink, and PPI RAMDrive. In addition, these routines will also indicate the existance of other devices that it cannot otherwise identify.
issues of Commodore world, it has gene
DEWICE POLLING
‘The real trick here is that these routines also perform a pre-check for a Xetec Super Graphix Gold interface. interface uses device number 14 to provide fast serial bus operation on Commodore 128 computers, However, since the Super Graphix Gold's "DOS" was not written to be very friendly when it receiv device polling, it can cause lockups on the serial bus when such commands are encountered. We circumvent this problem with the pre-cheel problem of its own with the HotShot+ interfi code has been included to avoid this.
The code provided here has been in use for a number of years in CMD's own MCOPY and FCOPY programs, soit has been field-proven to be effective in serial bus polling. The code has been extensively commented, so | won't attempt to explain it further here—see the comments for any further operational details.
his inte
commands used in normal
However, the method of checking used can also create a so some additional
idevpoil
rstupid, and don't mind this
COMMODORE WORLD 36
Issue 22
jsr dotsa
sei
jer cbyts a
snow the following reads the renaining bytes fron the rinterface -- otkerwise the hotsho
: sei jsr cbyts ‘ bit $90 bye - jst Stfab snow che
pla
cap #'0) bne ut] dda #$80
sta flaglt
uth rts
he first byte returned fron rand if it is a zero, then the device is an sg gold
ysend talksa
save it
would lock up
pinterrupts off sget next byte scheck status suntil done then untalk:
pull back byte and sconpare to petascii zero iif not, then neveraind ff it is then
yaot flaglé to avoid dev 14
sexit routine
ilsubroutines for sg gold check)
dotsa bit mode tpl + jap Seted
‘ jap Sedec
cbyts Ida #0 sta $a5 bit mode bl + jsr $e573 dnp $esds
+ inp $eeld
chksgg cpx #14
exdriv
oxdrts
chkdev stx $ba
fst opouls
php
jst closiS
plp
Issue 22
s(test for device)
yeheck mode ybranch if C64 switch to tal rewitch to ta!
pread bytes for shotshot+
reheck the node
iy
node and sget serial byte on C128 sget serial byte on C64
‘ind next valid device)
iget current device nunber tinerenent it
sand store it back
iis it de yes, better exit
ino, 60 compare to 8
snot less than 8, proceed slegs than 8, make it 8
ce 31?
iis current device , 80 skip
ses, check flaglt flag set, so si see if the devi ino, then start ove
ives, then check type
HE error, try next device store de idevice type in .a hen exit
set current device
yopen comand channel
sclose conmand channel
re number back to .x | invalid ldx #16
e interface
yuse result as index
xs0 ond device
erenent .x twice
else compare .x to 4
sndend stx cmdptr nusber in .x and
sbyte to be certais
7flag as unknown type sput index in a
di 2 ithen store sclose 15 jelear the carry rand exit
tial test
id strings}
output nd send m-r string estore index
ind move tO -X
st byte of addr yand send it
aget second byte of addr
and send it i read 2 bytes
st reset i/o settings set 15
for input
sget first value
ave it on stack
nd value
sget sec
seave it iclear i/o settings sretrieve first value exit
istsing for memory read command
set up epage pointer ;to command string
iset up index of 0 get character indirect
and output it sincrenent y i sdectenent x index
COMMODORE WORLD
Se1iSe BEAT
By Doug Cotton
CMD has recently released the next generation of SuperCPU accelerators, the SuperCPU v2. In addition to providing a Commodore 128 option, the version 2 hardware and firmware also replace the older SuperCPU 64, providing enhancements and features that apply to both SuperCPU models. In this installment of 816 Beat, we'll not only look at new additions in v2, but also point out some things that have changed.
SuperCPU 128
Ofcourse, the big news is that the SuperCPU 128—the only accelerator ever created for the Commodore 128’s native mode—is now a reality. The new SuperCPU v2 hardware sports 256K of Static RAM (SRAM) onits main board, allowing it to emulate all the RAM and ROM of both the Commodore 64 and 128.
As with the original SuperCPU 64, two of the 64K banks of RAM (128K) are mapped into the 65816’s Bank 0 and 1. However, the additional 128K added to provide Commodore 128 compatibility is not mapped in this manner, and is instead switched into Banks 0 and 1 in place of the original 128K as necessary. Under this scheme, the 65816's Bank 0 always contains computer RAM in any mode; in 128 mode, this will be either the 128’s Ba nk 0 or Bank 1 RAM, depending onwhich is active. The 65816's Bank 1 RAM will contain ROM data; by default the ROM data present will always be the C-64 ROM except when given C-128 ROM segments are mapped in while using 128 mode. These ROM images are further mirrored into the 65816’s Bank 0 RAM as necessary to make a composite image of the memory as it would exist on a C-64 or C-128 computer.
While the overall scheme may seem somewhat complex, it maintains the ability to modify ROM segments directly in the 65816's Bank 1, and provides for mapping in 65816 expansion RAM beginning at Bank 2. The latter serves to maintain a standard memory map for both the SuperCPU 64 and SuperCPU 128, regardless of vintage (v1 or v2).
More Optimization Capabilities
‘Those familiar with the original SuperCPU 64 (v1) no doubt know that it has four possible configurations for mirroring of memory. These configurations are known as the ‘Optimization Modes’. In the hardware this has grown to eight ‘base’ configurations, most of which offer one or two special flags that bring the total number of optim configurations available to 11 in 64 mode, and 19 in 128 mode. table, ‘Important SuperCPU Memory Locations’ provides further insight into the configurations available.
Despite the addition of many new Optimization Modes, the new v2 hardware maintains backward compatibility with all modes available in the original SuperCPU. Any changes made to the new Enhanced Optimization Register ($DOB3) are reflected into the old Optimization 's($DOB4), and vice-versa. This means that programs written touse the older registers will still achieve the desired results under the new version.
In looking over the new Optimization Modes, you'll see the special flags, labelled B and Z. The B flag controls the C-128 RAM Bank, so is
COMMODORE WORLD
=
38
THE SUPERCPU STEPS UP TO VERSION 2
only useful in 128 Mode on a SuperCPU 128, The Z flag controls mirroring of Zero Page and Stack ($0000-$01FEF). Turning off mirroring of these latter areas vastly increases the performance of programs since many of the microprocessor’s instructions use these areas of memory. This particular optimization has been included in the default setting of the SuperCPU v2, meaning that programs will generally run faster than ever without any modifications by the user.
Bear in mind that Optimization Modes only affect the true physical addresses specified by each; if you use the Commodore 128s ability to relocate Zero page to some other physical address, that area won't be optimized by the Z flag optimization.
In addition to having all the new Optimization Modes, the new v2 release has made accessing some of the more useful ones more easily available to users by setting up a key combination for switching between modes. From BASIC’s direct command mode, using the CONTROL and BACK ARROW keys together will toggle through the available modes. (Note: Like many of the JiffyDOS key commands, this function doesn’t work once a program is running or while in quote mode).
Other Registers
Another new register added in the v2 hardware is the SuperCPU Mode Detect Register ($D0B2). This register lets you determine if a detected SuperCPU is a v1 or v2, and if it is a v2 you can also find out whether it is in 64 or 128 mode.
There are no other additional registers, but there has been one other change to an existing one. In the register at location $DOB6, the bit that previously held the status of the reset switch (bit 6) is no longer valid in v2.
Timing Notes
Several timing changes have been made in the v2 hardware to improve performance. Probably the most beneficial is that color RAM is no longer treated as I/O, but instead as standard mirrored memory. This allows full speed reads of this area, and writes will also be at full speed, provided the cache isn’t waiting for another operation to complete,
Access to the special RAM in the I/O area ($D200-$D3FF) now takes only 1 cycle (previously it required 1.5 cycles). The registers in the $D07x and SDOBx ranges have also been optimized to work at full speed (any previous read or write to these registers caused the system to wait for the next 1 MHz cycle). Location $01 has also gotten a boost to full speed in 64 mode (previously writes waited for the next 1 MHz cycle, while reads have always been at 20 MHz.
The creation ofa 128 mode in the SuperCPU 128 has brought about some additional special timing requirements. Reading or writing locations $01 or $FFO0 in 128 mode causes the SuperCPU to wait for the next 1 MHz cycle. Reads from $D600, $D601 and $FFO1-SFFO4 also cause the SuperCPU to wait for the next 1 MHz cycle, though writes to these locations use the cache. Note that after any actual VDC chip access, further VDC access is blocked during the following 1 MHz cycle to allow the video chip enough time to complete the operation.
=
Issue 22
Important SuperCPU Memory Locations
Location Purpose
$D074' (53364) VIC Bank 2/GEOS Optimization (mirror $8000-SBFFF)
$D075' (53365) VIC Bank 1 Optimization (mirror $4000-$7FFF)
$D076' (53366) BASIC Optimization (mirror $0400-$07FF)
$D077' (53367) No Optimization (mirror all memory) (v1 default)
$D07A® (53370) Software Speed Select - Normal (1 MHz or 2 MHz in 128 Fast mode) $D07B° (53371) Software Speed Select - Turbo (20 MHz) (*SD079)
$DO7E? (53374) Hardware Register Enable
$DO7F* (53375) Hardware Register Disable (*S$D07D)
$DOBO° (53424) SuperCPU Mode Detect Register
OOxxxxxx = SuperCPU v2 in 128 mode O1xxxxxx = SuperCPU v2 in 64 mode 11xxxxxx = SuperCPU v1, no SuperCPU, or SuperCPU disabled
$DOB2* (53426) Bit 7: Hardware Register Enable Flag (1=Enabled) Bit 6: System 1 MHz Flag (1=Enabled) $D0B3°7 (53427) Enhanced Optimization Register (v2 only)
00xxx1BZ = VIC Bank 0, $0000-S3FFF
O1xxx0BO = VIC Bank 1, $4000-$7FFF 00xxx0B0 = VIC Bank 2/GEOS, $8000-SBFFF 01xxx1B0 = VIC Bank 3, $CO00-SFFFF
10xxx0BO BASIC Opt., $0400-$07FF
11xxx00Z = No Opt. All Mem., $0:0000-$1:FFFF (v2 default) 11xxx1BZ = No Opt. per Bank, $0000-$FFFF 10xxx100 = Full Optimization (no mirroring of any memory)
$D0B4° (53428) Bits 7 & 6: Optimization Mode Flags: OOxxxxxx = VIC Bank 2/GEOS Optimization Enabled O1xxxxxx = VIC Bank 1 Optimization Enabled 10xxxxxx = BASIC Optimization Enabled
11xxxxxx = No Optimization
$DOB5* (53429) Bit 7: JiffYDOS Switch Flag (1=Enabled)
Bit 6: Speed Switch Flag (1=Normal, 0=Turbo) $DOB6° (53430) Bit 7: Processor Emulation Mode Flag (1=Emulation)
Bit 6: Reset Switch Flag (1=Switch pressed) (v1 only) $DOB8* (53432) Bit 7: Software Speed Flag (1=Normal, 0=Turbo)
Bit 6: Master Speed Flag (1=Normal via any source) $DOBC® (53436) Bit 7: DOS Extension Mode Flag (1=Enabled)
Bit 6: RAMLink Hardware Registers Flag (1=Enabled) $D200-$D2FF* (53760-54015) System RAM $D300-$D3FF° (54016-54271) User RAM (available for user programs)
Notes:
Write only, hardware registers must be enabled to activate location.
Write only, active with hardware registers enabled or disabled.
Write only, active with hardware registers enabled or disabled, but does not over-ride hardware Speed switch.
Read only with hardware registers disabled, Read/Write with hardware registers enabled, write access reserved for system only. Read only with hardware registers disabled, Read/Write with hardware registers enabled.
Read only with hardware registers enabled or disabled (write with hardware registers enabled has no effect).
Changing values in this area affects all other optimization mode registers, and changing other optimization mode registers affect this location. The B flag assigns control of this register to a specific Commodore 128 Bank (0=Bank 0, 1=Bank 1), while the Z flag contols mirroring of Zero Page and Stack memory (S0000—$01FF) (O=mirroring on, 1=mirroring off). Default for Z is 1, B is 0.
* Denotes a duplicate register location.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Enabling the SuperCPU hardware registers also causes some changes in the Kernal ROM memory map ($E000- $FFFF). To avoid problems, do not leave the hardware registers enabled any longer than necessary. Also note that mirroring of I/O is always performed when I/O is mapped in.
Issue 22 39 COMMODORE WORLD
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COMMODORE WORLD 40 Issue 22
The weit is ever.
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