jayf@islenet.UUCP (Jay Fields) (02/10/85)
Public Domain Review By J Fields
With this article we begin a new series of articles to replace the old,
sometimes-rambling Ramblings column. Each month we will try to review
something from one of our various public domain libraries. This month we will
start out with Washington Apple Pi's SigMac DiskJ#1 for the Macintosh.
SigMac Disk #1 contains free modem programs, entertaining and educational
MicroSoft Basic( demo programs, and several utility programs.
Modem programs include:
MacTEP(by Dennis Brothers): All the software you need to turn your Mac into a
telecommunications terminal. It even includes the pin connections for the
cable to attach any modem to the connector on the back of the Mac. This is
version 1.81, which includes support for auto-dialing with modems that have that
feature. Other features include file uploading and downloading with a special
download mode designed just for basic programs. Don't wait for MacTerminal;
telecompute today.
Real Mouse MacTEP (by Dennis Brothers and Loftus Becker): Loftus Becker took
MacTEP version 1.81 with all it's great features and made it even better by
adding mouse control of all the menus.
Mouse MacTEP Loader: Run this program to load and run Mouse MacTep. This
program clears out more memory so Mouse MacTEP can have enought room to load.
This uses the space that the desk accessories normaly, use so they become
unavailable. Oh well, you can't have everything in only 128k.
Demo programs provide excellent insights into how to optimize your own programs.
They are also entertaining to play with. Try altering different statements,
or using Mac's cut & paste capabilities to add these new features to other
programs. Demonstration programs provided on SigMac Disk #1 include:
Animation (from ST.MAC March 1984): Some animation technics in MS-BASIC.
Clear Screen (by Anthony Anderson): A little routine to clear the entire
screen. If you need the locations of the hi-res screen here they are.
Eliza An all-time favorite. You play the paitient and your Mac plays the
doctor. In this demo your computer takes on the role of a psychoanalyst.
Computers do say the darnest things.
FLASH(by Ron N.): This little routine is good for a cheap thrill and a short
lesson in setting up and calling a machine code routine from MS-BASIC.
MacArt (by Steven Medwin): Select up to ten windows on your screen and sit back
an watch. This routine creates windows of kinetic string art.
MacGlobe (by Karl Koessel, Andrew Tuline, and Christopher Allen)Learn how to
animate with MS-BASIC or just impress your friends with this 3D rotating globe.
Plus, it moves under mouse control.
MGLOBE.DAT (by Karl Koessel, Andrew Tuline, and Christopher Allen): The screen
data for MacGlobe. If removed MacGlobe will recreate it, but it takes 20 - 25
min.
Menu Demo (by Loftus Becker): A good look at how to implement a mouse based
menu system.
Mouse Demo (by George Acton): Take a look at how MS-BASIC allows you to read the
mouse location and the state of the mouse button.
Utility programs include:
DiskDump(by R.H. Nicholson): If you're a programmer, you have probably wondered
what secrets are hidden out there on that little 3.5" disk. Well, now you can
know what's there in all its gory hexadecimal detail. This program allows you to
look at any of the 800 or so blocks on the disk. Share your discoveries with the
rest of us in the form of a MacWrite document.
Disk Dump II (by R. H. Nicholson): Like the Disk Dump above but allows for the
output to go to the printer, screen, or a disk file.
LstFix Sets the font and size for the list window in MS-BASIC.
MacCopy(by Dennis Brothers): Allows you to append or copy text files. The
program can output to any device so it can be used to print files also.
MacWidth (by Dennis Brothers): Copies a text file making the line length conform
to a new value. Also gives a count of the words and lines in the new file.
MakeWrite (By Dennis Brothers): This program will change a text file to a
MacWrite Document file.
SHAPE (by Mike Cohen): This program allows you to draw with the mouse and save
your creation to the disk. The saved file can then be used later by another
MS-BASIC program to load an array for screen display.
Text Editor (By Loftus Becker): A text editor for ascii documents. If you don't
know what an ascii document is you are not ready for this program yet. Can not
be used on MacWrite files.
Also included on the disk are several useful or fun-to-read documents. Program
Notes gave me much of the information you see indented in the text above
regarding the uses of the disk files. Also included are the following:
1984 script The full script of the commercial that made millions sit up and take
notice of the machine destined to make them sit up and take notice.
Mac Error List The complete unexpurgated list of all the things that your Mac
can do wrong. We hope you never need it.
QDraw Notes I: Those with MS-BASIC most likely have noticed by now Appendix E
of the manual. It lists the calls to the Macintosh ROM routines but that is all.
No description of their function, no examples--just a reference to an
unavailable Apple manual. Well, here are some of the details that Microsoft left
out.
QDraw Notes II More of what Microsoft left out.
RS-232 PINS Want to make a modem cable or hook up your video digitizer? This
document details where to connect the pins.