[net.micro] BASIC TAB function and 80 columns

WEISS@RUTGERS.ARPA@sri-unix.UUCP (08/15/83)

I have recently noticed that the BASIC TAB function does not operate
correctly on an 80 column APPLE IIe. For example:

PRINT "123"; TAB(5); "5" 

will print a 5 in column 5 when the screen is set to 40 columns,
but will print a 5 in column 8 when the screen is set to 80 columns.
Instead of tabbing to column 5, the APPLE generates 4 blanks. It seems
that a TAB(N) will always result in the printing of N-1 spaces.

1. Is there a way to TAB correctly?

2. Does the IBM PC TAB correctly?

Sholom Weiss
WEISS@RUTGERS
-------

revc@noscvax.UUCP (08/23/83)

Ref: Tabbing by POKEing address 36.

That's what I like about Apples.  Everytime you want a
function to work right you have to POKE or CALL to some
undocumented address.

Isn't it nice to have such a user friendly system?  :-)


Bob Van Cleef

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