EWTILENI@PUCC.BITNET (Eric Tilenius) (01/20/87)
Thought all you folks might be interested in the news of the following piece of Color Computer software: BASIC FREEDOM, for the CoCo 1/2, and 3 is sold by Dr. Preble's Programs, and the ad will hit in March. Basically (ah, bad pun), BASIC FREEDOM makes using BASIC on the CoCo fantastically easier. Now, I know this might be baised, as I helped with the thing, but it's really true. Let's take the CoCo 3 version, for instance. The 1/2 version works almost the same... BASIC FREEDOM lets you move your cursor anywhere around the 32, 40, and 80 column screens. ANY of those screens. Plus, there's key repeat and diagonal cursor movement. Now, to EDIT a program, just move the cursor over the part you wish to change, and change it. You can INSERT, CHANGE, or DELETE characters, MERGE lines, TRUNCATE lines easily (from either end, etc.), then just hit RETURN and your changes will be entered. It's a bit like using a word processor, except you're in BASIC all the time. Also, the LIST command has been heavily modified. Now, you can LIST any groups of lines you wish on the screen. EG: LIST 10,32,40-60 will work, and typing LIST 10!3 will list 3 lines starting with line 10. A lowercase interpreter is included, so now you can use the 3's new lowercase mode when you program. Commands will be converted to uppercase. Stuff inside single or double quotes remains the same. Control keys are used to move you to the beginning/end of a line, and using this editor makes using the EDIT command look like the stone age. BASIC FREEDOM takes no user memory, and will not interfere with any BASIC program. As I said, I'm a bit biased, but I won't go back to using BASIC without it. For more info, look for the ad in March, or write to DR. PREBLE'S PROGRAMS. (See their ad in The Rainbow Magazine.) Hope this one helps a lot of you folks who use BASIC. - ERIC - ---------- EMAIL: ewtileni@pucc.bitnet -- or -- ewtileni@pucc.princeton.edu MCI Mail AND Delphi: TILENIUS CompuServe: 70346,16 Phone: 609-734-0048 ---------- "Violence is the last resort of the incompetent."