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Table of contents: |
| COCO FRIENDS DISK MAGAZINE Issue #15 | Home | Index | Magazine | ||||||
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| Articles in section: ABOUT COCO FRIENDS DISK MAGAZINE |
| "ABOUT
CFDM" ABOUT COCO FRIENDS DISK MAGAZINE |
| Back to top |
"ABOUT CFDM" COCO FRIENDS DISK MAGAZINE is dedicated to those who still enjoy running under RS DOS. It will deal with that format exclusively. A primary goal is to keep the COCO community strong. By providing a unique means of communication, maybe old fires will be rekindled as you and I share our knowledge and experiences! The success of this effort depends on each one who becomes a subscriber. Everyone must contribute his/ her two cents in the form of articles, programs, opinions, experiences, etc. If this happens we will all look forward to the next issue. (Check out the manual with your starter kit for details on how to submit material.) Now let's have some fun!!! =* |
ABOUT COCO FRIENDS DISK MAGAZINE COCO FRIENDS DISK MAGAZINE is the creation and property of Rick Cooper. It is distributed solely by RICK'S COMPUTER ENTERPRISE. The material which makes up each issue remains the property of the author(s) or contributor(s) unless an agreement has been made otherwise. COCO FRIENDS DISK MAGAZINE is dedicated exclusively to those who enjoy the COCO3 operating under RS DOS. It is hoped that this publication will encourage the continued usage of our favorite computer. Neither CFDM nor RICK'S COMPUTER ENTERPRISE will be responsible for the submission or publication of any material that does not belong to the submitter. WE DO NOT ADVOCATE OR SUPPORT PIRACY! =* |
| Articles in section: ABOUT THIS ISSUE |
| CONTENTS...PART
1 (v1 i15) CONTENTS...PART 2 (v1 i15) PROGRAM DIRECTORY (V1 i15) THIS MONTH'S COVER |
| Back to top |
ABOUT COCO FRIENDS DISK MAGAZINE (2)
1 "ABOUT CFDM"
2 ABOUT COCO FRIENDS DISK MAGAZINE
ABOUT THIS ISSUE (4)
1 CONTENTS...PART 1 (v1 i15)
2 CONTENTS...PART 2 (v1 i15)
3 PROGRAM DIRECTORY (v1 i15)
4 THIS MONTH'S COVER
ACTIVE COCO (5)
1 A REAL SAD STORY.
2 ACTIVE HIGHLIGHTS
3 ADVENTURE SURVIVORS
4 COMPUTER RESET
5 MORE ACTIVE HIGHLIGHTS =>
____________________________________________________
ADVERTISEMENTS (6)
1 CFDM SUBSCRIPTION
2 For Free
3 Here's Patience Pair #3
4 SURPLUS AVAILABLE
5 UPGRADE NATIONAL DISK MAGAZINE
6 WANTED
ARTICLES OF THE MONTH (4)
1 BASIC MADE EASY, LABELPRC/BAS
2 Running programs for lazy folks
3 SHOULD I BUY A MODEM PART II
4 re: SHOULD I BUY A MODEM
=>
____________________________________________________
COCO FRIENDS ART GALLERY (4)
1 BUNNY
2 CFDM COMICS by Michael Lewis <g>
3 THE ELVIS STAMP
4 Ye Old Barn
FAMILY TREE (4)
1 ART HINMAN
2 FLOYD J. KEIRNAN
3 LEROY J. RAFALSKI
4 LIN AND NAN PADGETT
FORUM (3)
1 COCO SWAPPER
2 THE RAINBOW'S END
3 Uses for my CoCo =*
|
FROM THE EDITOR (5)
1 A CHANGE OF HEART
2 HOW ABOUT THOSE FRIENDS!!!!!
3 KUDOS
4 THE COCOPRO! SOFTWARE !!!
5 THE COCOPRO! SOFTWARE!! PART 2
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (5)
1 CORRECTION: ISSUE #13
2 EXCERPTS FROM LETTERS
3 EXCITED
4 IT LIVES
5 RETRACTION
POTPOURRI (4)
1 FROM THE HYMNAL =>
____________________________________________________
2 HRIDDLE
3 PERSONAL THOUGHTS
4 STRINGART REVISITED
PROGRAMS OF THE MONTH (8)
1 -= GOLF, A SOLITAIRE GAME -=
2 Accordion to Hoyle
3 Accordion to Hoyle <PART II>
4 C3ARTPAD - a simple drawing pad
5 C3PADPT2
6 GREY III
7 Rainbow Magazine Inventory Sheet
REVIEWS (3)
1 KING'S QUEST III (Part 1)
2 KING'S QUEST III (Part 2) =>
____________________________________________________
3 Review fo Pyramid Pair
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS (9)
1 Answers for: Turner & Remin.
2 Auto Key Repeat, Jim Grogan.
3 Dann McConnell (Q & A #11)
4 MODEM HELP
5 Packet Radio
6 SOME RELEVANT QUESTIONS
7 TO ROBERTA C. SOWELL
8 WHY REALTALKER WON'T COCO 3.
9 [Disto M.C./ADOS 3] ???
=*
|
Here's a description of the files on the PROGRAM/
SIDE. File names preceded by an asterisk are data
files and not to be RUN or EXECed!
NAME.........COMMAND..SECTION OR DESCRIPTION......
ACCORD .BAS..RUN...PROGRAMS OF THE MONTH.........
* BARN .NIB........ART GALLERY...................
* BFR .BIN........DATA FILE FOR ACCORD..........
* BUNNY .NIB........ART GALLERY...................
C3ARTPAD.BAS..RUN...PROGRAMS OF THE MONTH.........
* C3ARTPAD.NIB........GRAPHIC FILE FOR C3ARTPAD.BAS.
DEMO .BAS..RUN...PROGRAMS OF THE MONTH.........
* ELVIS .NIB........ART GALLERY...................
* FONT .BIN........DATA FILE FOR PRINTME7.BAS....
* FORTRESS.BIN........DATA FILE FOR HYMNAL.BAS......
GALLERY .BAS..RUN...MENU FOR ART GALLERY......=>
____________________________________________________
GOLF .BAS..RUN...PROGRAMS OF THE MONTH.........
GREYIII .BAS..RUN...PROGRAMS OF THE MONTH.........
* HRIDDLE .NIB........POTPOURRI (RUN GALLERY.BAS)...
HYMNAL .BAS..RUN...POYPOURRI (MUSIC).............
* LABELTUT.007........DATA FILE FOR PRINTME7.BAS....
* NAVYHYMN.BIN........DATA FILE FOR HYMNAL.BAS......
* NIBLOADR.BIN........PIX LOADER UTILITY............
PRINTME7.BAS..RUN...ARTICLES OF THE MONTH.........
* R .001........DATA FILE FOR DEMO.BAS........
RAINBOW .BAS..RUN...PROGRAMS OF THE MONTH.........
READDOC2.BAS..RUN...USE TO PRINT SP2.DOC..........
* SP2 .DOC........DATA FILE FOR READDOC2........
STRING3 .BAS..RUN...POTPOURRI.....................
* SUPRPUT2.BIN........DATA FOR DEMO.BAS.............
* WERUTHER.BIN........DATA FILE FOR HYMNAL.BAS......
=*
|
Midnight Blue Last week (12-8-92) we had a fabulous
clear night to view the moon. The area by
my house does not lend itself to beauty. So
I looked in various magazines until I found
the picture I was looking for.
In a travel magazine called "Country",
I found this picture of the moon rising over
a midnight landscape in Vermont. I really
do like the color blue and the various shades
and tints it offers. I hope you find this
kind of painting interesting, again it is
called monochromatic painting, meaning
painting with one color but various shades
and tints of that color. I will see if I
can do other types of one color paintings in
the future. =*
|
| Articles in section: ACTIVE COCO |
| A
REAL SAD STORY. ACTIVE HIGHLIGHTS ADVENTURE SURVIVORS COMPUTER RESET MORE ACTIVE HIGHLIGHTS |
| Back to top |
A REAL SAD STORY. Well, we all knew that it was coming, sort off, but it was still a shock when I received a call from Gray Augsburg, managing editor of The Rainbow, this morning confirming my earlier inquiry, yes, it is true, the May 1993 issue of the Rainbow will be the LAST one. Period. Except for the year 1985, I have every issue ever published. And they will remain a very valid source of information for years to come. For 12 years This magazine, OUR MAGAZINE, has delighted, informed and educated us in the use of our computer. Without The Rainbow, I would not be able to write the kind of programs I do, and my computer would probably sit in a closet somewhere gathering dust and earwig nests. (We have a problem with these in NE OHIO.) => ____________________________________________________ We are indeed fortunate that we still have CFDM to keep us going. Now more than ever, it behooves us to pass the word around and tell our Ccco friends about this magazine to keep it from following The Rainbow into the land of the GOSUB without a RETURN. But, all things must come to an end, sooner or later and we were lucky indeed to have such a wonderful magazine at our disposal for 12 whole years. As for me and my family, we will go on without The Rainbow. My Coco has many, many years left and I do not intend to desert it at this time. Therefore, THANK YOU LONNIE, AND THE ENTIRE RAINBOW STAF FOR THOSE 12 WONDERFUL AND EXITING YEARS.!!!!!! EOF - EOF - E O F ................ GEORGE *> |
ACTIVE HIGHLIGHTS Here are some highlights from the current issues of
some popular CoCo newsletters and magazines.
----------------------------------------------------
MI&CC Disk Magazine, issue #16: Announced Middle
America Fest, OS-9 concepts by James Jones, Hooking
up a Laser printer by Gene Lund, Genisis Quiz by
Terry Simons, Information on MI&CC's libraries, a
letter from Rick Cooper, articles from CFDM Friends
James C. Mills and Dan McConnell, recommendations
of COCOPRO!, NINE-TIMES, UPTIMES, CFDM (referred to
as Rick's Disk by Terry G. Simons) and Midwestern
Diskette. (See ad in ADVERTISEMENT section for
ordering information.)
=>
____________________________________________________
ADVENTURE SURVIVORS, #19: Announcements about MIDDLE
AMERICA FEST, 2nd ANNUAL LAST COCOFEST, demise of
COCOPRO! and T&D SUBSCRIPTION SOFTWARE. REVIEWed
MARTIAN CRYPT and CALIXTO ISLAND. List of future
adventure game review candidates. Maps & solutions
for the two reviewed games are included. Swap shop
lists of software, hardware, & back issues of A.S.
Membership: $6 for US, $7 Mexico/Canada, $10 for
all others. Check or MO to:
L. E. Padgett
24 Perthshire Drive
Peachtree City, GA 30269
Tel: (404) 487 8461)
=>
____________________________________________________
UPTIME, ISSUE 7: Announced MIDDLE AMERICA FEST and
2nd ANNUAL LAST COCO FEST. Article on the TANDY
Hi-Res interface with RS-DOS by Robert Gault (with
a program listing). Advertisements from HAWKSOFT,
KALA Software, FARNA Systems, COLORSYSTEMS, CERCOMP
and JWT ENTERPRISES.
Available from: JWT Enterprises
5755 Lockwood Blvd.
Youngstown, OH 44512
Yearly subscription rates are $15 per year of two
installments of $7.50 each. Published monthly.
=*
|
ADVENTURE SURVIVORS A.S. is a Club for CoCo adventure players. We
"don't do" (or review) arcade or simulation types of
games. Yes, we recognize "over-laps" of different
"types" of games exist, but we play and REVIEW only
those that are "problem solving" (our definition) in
nature - text and/or graphic.
Members receive the Club's Bi-monthly 6-8 page
Newsletter, a discount on the things (back-issues
and software) we sell, and any SPECIAL Issue made
during the year.
ANNUAL DUES: U.S. dollars only, please.
U.S. mailing addresses --- $6.00
CANADA and MEXICO -------- 7.00
All others --------------- 10.00 =>
____________________________________________________
The Newsletter always has my column (CEO TALK),
a REVIEW of an adventure or two (MAPs, verbs, and
SOLUTION/INFORMATION), a list of the next adventures
(6, member requested) scheduled for REVIEW, and the
SWAP SHOPPE (price list of back-issues, software,
and a few things our members offer). The Newsletter
may also include PROGRESS, CORRECTION(s), HELP, and
anything else of interest to adventure players.
We do provide a FREE HELP service to anyone -
member or not - that may be STUCK in an adventure.
Just send a SASE, state the adventure, and problems.
If we have HELP, it will be sent ASAP! If not, your
"call for HELP" (with your name & address) will be
placed in the Club Newsletter - remember Rainbow's
Scoreboard Pointers? =>
____________________________________________________
We send a free Intro-Letter to anyone interested
in our little Club. It goes into more detail, and
includes a list of VERBS, our Adventure Collection,
application & order forms, and a current SWAP SHOPPE
page. Just drop a line, or call if you wish.
ADVANTURE SURVIVORS
c/o L.E. Padgett
24 Perthshire Drive
Peachtree City, GA 30269
(404) 487 8461
=*
|
COMPUTER RESET P.O. Box 461782
Garland, TX 75046-1782
Tel: 214 276-8072
COMPUTER RESET has a liquidation sale on TANDY
products. Included are quite a number of COCO
software packages for $5 each. Here's just a
few of the titles:
SHANGHAI, INTERBANK INCIDENT, THEXDER, WHERE IN
THE WORLD IS CARMIN SANDIEGO, ROBOT ODYSSEY 1,
FLIGHT SIMULATOR II, HOME PUBLISHER, MICROSCOPIC
MISSION, DALLAS QUEST, PREDATOR, RAD WARRIOR,
COLOR COMPUTER ARTIST, ROBO COP, NFL FOOTBALL II
GHANA-GHANA, ETC.
=*
|
MORE ACTIVE HIGHLIGHTS Here are some more highlights from active magazines
and newsletters.
----------------------------------------------------
COCO-LINK, Jan/Feb 93: The first issue under new
Editor, Fred Remin. In REMINS RAMBLINGS, Fred tells
how it feels to become editor and what is needed to
keep COCO-LINK active. Frank Swygert of FARNA gives
News From "Up Yonder" (Frank is US based, COCO-LINK
is in Australia). Dr. Val Stephen contributes a few
short program listings and Robbie Dalzell explains
the COCO-LINK Public Domain Library. Two graphic
listings, reviews of WARRIOR KING, CROSS-ROAD II,
and MIND GAMES. Ads are from SUNDOG, CER-COMP, and
RICK'S COMPUTER ENTERPRISE.
(Information about receiving COCO-LINK should be
requested by writing Fred Remin at the following =>
____________________________________________________
address:
Fred Remin
11 Corcoran Cres.
Canungra, OLD. 4275
Australia
=>
____________________________________________________
COCO-1 2 3, Feb. '93 issue: President (of Glenside
Color Computer Club) Tong Podraza talks about the
coming Second Annual "Last" Chicago CoCoFEST, the
January meeting of the Glenside club is reviewed
by Howard Luckey, Alfredo Santos continues the
History of the CoCo series by covering the fifth
year (July '84-June '85), and Brian Schubring
reports on the ATLANTA CoCo FEST. Rogelio Perea
writes about Emoticons. Ads were from FARNA, MI&CC,
COCOPRO!, Bob van der Poel Software, and HAWKSOFT.
(COCO-1 2 3 is a publication of the Glenside Color
Computer Club. It is one of the benefits of being
a member. The cost is $12 per year. Contact:
George Schneeweiss, RR#2 Box 67, Forrest, IL 61741
TEL: 815 832-5571 =*
|
| Articles in section: ADVERTISEMENTS |
| CFDM
SUBSCRIPTION For Free Here's Patience Pair #3 SURPLUS AVAILABLE UPGRADE NATIONAL DISKMAGAZINE WANTED |
| Back to top |
CFDM SUBSCRIPTION Is your subscription running out? Here's how to check: On your mailing label next to your name is a number. The number after the last dash (-) is the last issue on your present subscription. Please don't let your subscription expire. WHEN YOU RESUBSCRIBE PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR ENTIRE SUBSCRIPTION NUMBER. THIS HELPS ME LOCATE YOU IN MY DATABASE! A single issue of CFDM is $6. Or get 3 issues for only $16. A 6 issue subscription is only $30 (a savings of 6$). Back issues are available at the same rates. COCOs FOREVER!! =* |
For Free I worked at the Shack two Christmases ago, and I got
a bag of software for $5.00. It's free if you want
it, here is what I have. In most cases, I have more
than one copy. Just leave me a message here, write
to me at 2123 Longview Rd, Warrington,PA 18976-1524,
or call (215) 343-1364.
---------------------------------------------------
1. Quasar Commander ROM-pak 26-3051
2. Color File 2 ROM-pak 26-3110
3. Predator ROM-pak 26-3165 (Coco 3)
4. Soko-Ban ROM-pak 26-3161 (Coco 3)
5. Color Baseball ROM 26-3095 (Coco 2)
6. Dungeons of Daggorath ROM 26-3093 (Coco 2)
7. Shanghai ROM 26-3084 (Coco 3)
8. Winnie the Pooh DISK 26-3244 (Coco 2/COMPOSITE)
9. Donald Duck DISK 26-3245 (Coco 2/COMPOSITE MON)->
____________________________________________________
10. Interbank Incident DISKS 26-3296 CoCo 2
11. Mindroll ROM 26-3100 Coco 3
12. Personal Finance II ROM 26-3106 Coco 2
13. Rampage ROM 26-3164 Coco 3
14. Mickey's Space Adventure DISK 26-3247 (Coco 2)
15. Thexder ROM 26-3072 Coco 3
16. Rescue on Fractalus DISK 26-3299 Coco 3
17. Microscopic Mission DISK 26-???? Coco 3
18. Kings Quest III (5 Disks) 26-3285 Coco 3
19. Direct Connect Modem ROM-PAK 26-2228
All software labeled Coco 2 will run on the Coco 3.
Some Coco 2 software relied on artifact color, so
a composite monitor would be helpful. All Coco 3
programs require 128k EXCEPT Kings Quest III which
needs 512K. ->
____________________________________________________
If you need recommendations of what to buy,
Thexder was once very popular (I have 2 ROM Paks)
and Kings Quest III,(1 copy, but I could MAKE more)
a text-command graphic interaction program, also
very popular, are the two best bets.
Interbank Incident is kind of like Leisure Suit
Larry, but only slightly. It uses Icons for
commands.
Microscopic Mission was recently reviewed in RAINBOW
I think, as was Rescue on Fractalus.
-stuart
=*
|
Here's Patience Pair #3
PATIENCE PAIR #3 is now available.
It consists of the two solitaire card games -
CANFIELD (Vegas style scoring)
&
HIDDEN ACES
Price: $5.00 + $1.00 for postage & handling
From: H. Allen Curtis
172 Dennis Drive
Williamsburg, VA 23185
*=*
____________________________________________________
|
SURPLUS AVAILABLE Hi CFDM Friends. Here's my surplus. All prices
include shipping:
1. Radio Shack DMP-105 printer..works just fine, I
have replaced with STAR NX-1000 Rainbow $55
2. Books: Color Computer Graphics by Bill Barden,
6809 Assembly Language Programming by Lance
Leventhal, The MC6809 Cookbook by Carl Warren,
TRS-80 Programming In Style ( a good reference
for basic programming) Thomas Dwyer & Margot
Critchfield, and Understanding Computer Science
from Radio Shack. The WHOLE lot for $18
3. Program Packs: Chess(26-3050),Diagnostics (26-
3019), Backgammon(26-3059),Gomoku/Renju(26-3069)
ALL four for $22
Call 609-848-2121 or write to order by reserving.
Each set only one available. Herb Schuler =*
|
UPGRADE NATIONAL DISKMAGAZINE Let the "UPGRADE National Diskmagazine", keep you in
touch with the entire CoCo Community. Filled with
articles from BASIC to OS-9 programming, hardware,
reviews & tips. Accompanied by 16 color graphics.
Required 128K CC3/drive & TV, RGB, or Mon.
We have an eight year record with a strong treasury
to assure confidence of delivery. Join in with
members in over 36 states and five provinces of
Canada. We have a 95% renewal rate!
Included is "Mid Iowa & Country CoCo" membership
opening our domain and shareware library to you.
Buy, sell, info. and more.
=>
____________________________________________________
Your subscription will bring you all Newsletters,
Plus Library, and other member privileges, for a
year. ($3 Sample disk)
Do you want support tommorrow? Join in today! Say,
"Send it quick" and receive... an UPGRADE plus added
bonus disk via return mail!
Annual rate: $16.00 US:$21.00 Canada:$31.00 Foreign
To: Terry Simons
1328 48th St.
Des Moines, IA 50311
(515) 279-2576 (after 8 pm)
=*
|
WANTED W A N T E D...
----------------------------------------------------
CLIP ART FOR "COCO MAX 3" AND "MAX-10"
MICHAEL LEWIS
1311 SECOND ST.
MOUNDSVILLE, WV 26041-1430
****************************************************
Have had no luck with getting NEWSPAPER 09 from
COCOPRO to print. I have taken on the chore of
producing a monthly bulletin for an organization I
belong to and would really like to use this program.
Gloria Dawson
Box 672
Maple Falls, WA 98266 =>
____________________________________________________
I've acquired an Epson EX-800 printer from a
thrift store and can't find an address on the label.
I need the operator's manual for dips etc. Can you
help?
Don Macander
15940 Finch
Harvey, IL 60426
=*
|
| Articles in section: ARTICLES OF THE MONTH |
| BASIC
MADE EASY, LABELPRC/BAS Running programs for lazy folks SHOULD I BUY A MODEM PART II re:SHOULD I BUY A MODEM |
| Back to top |
BASIC MADE EASY, LABELPRC/BAS Well, back to normal, there is a new solitaire game
this month, "GULF/BAS" but is is completely separate
from this months article. PRINTME7/BAS is set up for
an eight character margin with your printer set at
12CPI. Remove the STRING$(8,32); in line 16 to print
the article in 10 CPI. This months articles are: ...
1 LABELPRC/BAS # <RUN> THE PROGRAM ITSELF.
2 FONT/BIN # <---> THE FONT FOR LABELPRC/BAS
3 LABELTUT/007 <PRINT> THIS MONTHS TUTORIAL.
4 PRINTME7/BAS <RUN> THE PROGRAM TO PRINT OUT
THIS MONTHS TOTORIAL.
# INCLUDED ON DISK IF SPACE PERMITS.
George Quellhorst.
203B Meadows Drive.
Painesville,Ohio.44077-5361. *>
|
Running programs for lazy folks I am by nature a lazy person. I am not afraid of
work, but I will only do as much as is necessary to
get the job done. Thru-out the years I have gathered
a collection of disks with single programs on them.
When I wanted to run a favorite program, I had to
sort thru several cabinets of disks to find the one
I wanted. This seemed a waste of time so I gathered
all of the common ones into one cabinet. This was
better but I thought I could do even better. Next I
copied all of the similar programs onto a single
disk and labeled it. This condensed the collection
to about five disks and has lasted for the last few
months.
I found out that I really only ran about ten of
these programs regularly so I condensed them onto
one disk. Aha! It couldn't get much simpler than =>
____________________________________________________
that, but when I read the information about BOOT.BAS
in CFDM (I had never heard of it before), I said to
myself that this is no-typing heaven. Then I remem-
bered a program in The Rainbow that used the "DOS"
command to load a basic program and I realized I had
found nirvana.
The Rainbow program is called "AUTOBOOT" by Joel
Hegberg in the March 1992 issue. Since it is copy-
righted, you will have to look up the back-issue for
the code. It works by setting up the "DOS" track-34
to load in a basic program when the "DOS" command is
typed. I set it up to run "BOOT.BAS" and put all the
favorite game programs on the disk. Now all I have
to type is "DOS", press the arrow keys and press
enter to run any program on the disk.
=>
____________________________________________________
I hope this idea will help some of our Friends
who have similar problems with their disk files and
an aversion to typing.
John Daniels
648 Pleasant Grove Rd. SW
McDonald, TN 37353
=*
|
SHOULD I BUY A MODEM PART II You are limited to 1200 baud because the so-called
bit-banger port is not reliable beyond this limit.
With an RS-232 PAK you can take advantage of the
higher faster baud rates that are built into the
faster modems. The COCO PRO RS-232 PAK was selling
for about $45. Whether it can be found now, I don't
know. They were also selling a kit that you could
use to upgrade your own TANDY modem pak. It too was
designed by Marty Goodman and sold for about $25.
The TANDY paks were closed out for about $9.
Unless you can find a cassette based terminal
program, you will aslo need a multi-pak, slot-pak,
or y-cable (least desirable).
Hook-up is very simple. Install the multi-pak or
equivalent in the rom pak slot. Put your disk con-
troller in the appropriate slot and the RS-232 PAK=>
____________________________________________________
in another. Attach a modem interface cable between
the RS-232 PAK and the modem (COCOPRO supplied this
with their pak). Run a telephone jack cable from the
modem to an unused wall jack. Most modems will allow
you to hook a telephone into a jack on the back of
the modem so that you don't have to give up a phone
to use the modem. However, due to the possibility of
electrical surges damaging your computer equipment,
I suggest simply swapping the wall jack from modem
to phone when the modem is not in use.
Finally, you will need to confiqure your termi-
nal program to let it know what kind of setup you
have, i.e. baud rate, serial port or RS-232 PAK,
etc. And you will have to tell it some technical
stuff about the remote computer you are contacting.
Since each terminal program and each BBS' or ser-=>
____________________________________________________
vice is different, I won't go any further into des-
cribing configuration.
Whether you should get a modem and go on line is
a personal decision you will have to weigh. Things
you must consider are the initial cost (about $250
for new equipment--less if you can find used items),
cost of service or BBS' (DELPHI has 2 plans--4 HRS
for $10/month or 20 hrs for $20/month+$20 initial
fee--some of the other services like COMPUSERVE are
much higher), and cost of long distance phone calls
(This is especially true of us unfortunates who can-
not log on to TELENET or SPRINTNET with a local call
and of almost all BBS'). Weigh these against the
ability to download "FREE" programs and explore new
information sources, and the possibility of meeting
new friends. Worth it? A qualified maybe. =*
|
re:SHOULD I BUY A MODEM This is in response to Dale Kramer's request for
articles on modem setups. I have had a modem for a
year now, and I meant to describe the setup when I
read his first letter. I let it slip my mind how-
ever.
First, I'll describe my setup. It consists of a
STAR 2400 baud modem, COCOPRO RS-232 PAK (actually a
TANDY 300 baud modem converted by Marty Goodman into
a RS-232 PAK), SLOT-PAK III (necessary for use of
both RS-232 PAK and disk controller), and V-TERM (a
terminal program written by Tim Kientzle-a RAINBOW
contributing editor). All items were purchased from
COCOPRO, and all work excellently. Uses that I have
put it to include: DELPHI, a couple of hit and runs
at BBS', and to call up some hint lines for a couple
of adventure games. =>
____________________________________________________
Now, let's discuss what you would need to get
started. At a minimum you will of course need a mo-
dem, and you will need a good terminal program. As
for the modem, I would suggest a 2400 baud modem.
While you can find 300 and 1200 baud modems at rock
bottom prices, most services and BBS' require 2400.
And in the long run, a 2400 baud modem (about $70
for an external one--the only kind that the COCO can
use) will save you money in online time. Make sure
that the modem you get is HAYES compatible. A 9600
baud might be a consideration for the future, but
they are expensive at about $200. The terminal pro-
gram should be convenient and easy to use. I don't
think you can do better than V-TERM, and since COCO-
PRO is possibly turning over their publishing rights
to Rick, it may become available from him. =>
____________________________________________________
Since we are talking about terminal programs,
you might be interested to know basically that a
terminal program is an interface between you and a
remote computer. Without it you could not "under-
stand" what the other computer was trying to say,
and it could not understand what you wanted. It also
provides protocols (subroutines for conforming to a
set of rules for transferring files) for uploading
and downloading program files. Most terminal pro-
grams will direct dial a remote computer for you if
you have purchased a direct dial modem (suggested!)
While a modem and terminal program are the mini-
mum, to effectively communicate over the phone lines
you will need more. Without an RS-232 PAK, you must
use the serial port on the back of the CoCo. With
this you are limited to 1200 baud. (Cont-PART II) =*
|
| Articles in section: COCO FRIENDS ART GALLERY |
| BUNNY CFDM COMICS by Michael Lewis <g> THE ELVIS STAMP Ye Old Barn |
| Back to top |
BUNNY
"BUNNY" was created using "COCO MAX 3".
Since Easter is the next major holiday, I
thought I would do something along that theme.
HOPE YOU LIKE "COCO THE BUNNY".
"HAPPY EASTER TO ALL THE COCO FRIENDS"
MICHAEL LEWIS
1311 SECOND ST.
MOUNDSVILLE, WV. 26041-1430
=*
|
THE ELVIS STAMP
If you are one of the first 250 or so, to receive
issue #15, you will notice that your white mailer
has an ELVIS postage stamp.
When this stamp went on sale, I had the idea to
digitize it on an IBM and convert it to CoCo. Not
having access to a digitizer for IBM, I asked our
Friend Mike Brown to use his scanner to process it
for me. The project had a few drawbacks. The first
attempt produced a small picture on the IBM screen
with quite a few colors (over 200). It took quite
a few sessions and a number of hours to get the
colors to look decent. The result was a small pix
on the CoCo. I blew it up to full-screen for the
bigger picture, then decided to add the small one to
the bigger one. I hope you'll enjoy it! =>
____________________________________________________
RUN "GALLERY" to see my ELVIS STAMP picture.
=*
|
Ye Old Barn
Ye Old Barn was made using THE RAT as the graphics editor. I used an oil painting I made several years ago as a model. This old barn is very simular to the barn we had on our farm in Michigan when I was a boy. =* |
| Articles in section: FAMILY TREE |
| ART
HINMAN FLOYD J. KEIRNAN LEROY J RAFALSKI LIN AND NAN PADGETT |
| Back to top |
FAMILY TREE Hi, I am Art Hinman, a 67 year old CoCo nut from
Hummelstown, PA. My wife, Jean, is also a 67 year
old CoCo nut. We became addicted when our son gave
us a CoCo2 about 9 years ago.
Jean has her CoCo3, printer, disk drive and TV in
a corner of the kitchen. I have my CoCo3, printer,
disk drive and monitor in my shack in the basement.
She uses her set up for letter writing and games
while I copy programs out of RAINBOW and work up
simple utilities and data bases.
We are both natives of upstate New York. I served
in the AAF and after the war attended Cornell and
graduated with an engineering degree. Jean received
a degree in home economics from Cornell and joined
the Woman's Medical Specialist Corp as a dietitian.
We met and married while she was stationed at =>
____________________________________________________
Walter Reed Hospital in Washington DC and where I
was working as an ordnance engineer for the Navy.
She out ranked me at the time and I am still taking
orders!
In addition to the CoCo I play with model trains,
radio controlled model planes, photography, build
electronic projects and ham it up on the radio
amateur bands. We both love classical music and Jean
has her Hammond in a corner of the living room with
my hi fi in the other corner. Probably our greatest
love is traveling. We are on the road a lot visit-
ing our children and seeing the country. In recent
years we have attended many Elderhostel programs and
this seems to be our thing at the present time.
=>
____________________________________________________
We would enjoy hearing from our CFDM Friends. My
ham call is KD3KN and the address is:
7881 Jefferson Street
Hummelstown, PA 17036
!!! KEEP ON COCOING !!!
=*
|
Family Tree. Hello all you CoCo buffs. I am a retired Electronics
Engineer. I will be 80 in March and I and my wife
Harriet will celebrate our 50th in Oct. I was born
on a farm in Michigan about 15 mi S. of Holland. I
attended Coyne Radio in Chicago in 1932 and the
American Television Inst. in '36. Worked in ham
radio and radio servicing for several years until
Uncle Sam pointed his finger at me with a, sign up
or else I spent 4 1/2 yrs in the U.S.N. helping to
develope RADAR from its crude beginning to more like
it is today. And last but not least I got married to
a girl that I had met while attending a RADAR school
in Philadelphia in 1942. I was discharged in Dec.
1945 and returned with my wife on Christmas eve to
Phila. Later we went Grand Rapids Mich. where I
engaged in radio service. Then in 1948 I =>
____________________________________________________
decided to take Advantage of the G.I. bill and get a
B.S. degree in Electronics engineering from M.I.T.,
which I did and was graduated in 1952. I took my
first engineering job with IT&T in Fort Wayne Ind.
for 4 1/2 ys then with General Dynamics in Rochester
NY for another 4yrs, got tired of the snow and came
out to work for Northrop Corp. in Anaheim CA in 1961
where I retired in 1978.
I have one son, one daughter, four grandchildren,
and two great grandchildren. I became interested in
home computers in 1981 and after investigating
several I settled on the Tandy CoCo and have been
an avid supporter every since. Right now I have the
CoCo 3 with the 512K upgrade, CM-8 monitor,Magnavox
40 monitor, a double FD-502 drive, DMP-105 and the
Star NX-1020 printers etc. I have written =>
____________________________________________________
several sport simulations, one of which won a prize
in Rainbow's 2nd book of simulations. And several
have been published by T&D. I also like to paint art
pictures using the various graphic editors such as
Graphicom, Cocomax, Colormax and The Rat. I have had
two of my creations which I made several years ago
using Graphicom win prizes in the Rainbow Art
Gallery. I also like to play the graphic adventures
and have quite a few of them, part of them solved
and many of them never finished. I recently joined
L.E. Padgett's Adventures Survivors to help me get
by some hurdles on a few of them. I also enjoy
writing to other CoCo buffs and exchanging words-of-
wisdom, programs, ideas, art or what have you.
Keep up the good work Rick.
=*
|
FAMILY TREE Hello my CoCo Friends,
My name is Leroy J Rafalski. I reside in
southeast Wisconsin. I'm originally from Chicago,
Illinois.(The concrete jungle N.W. side.) I did
escape to Wisconsin about 12 years ago. I met
a wonderful woman thru a friend of mine and for
the 2nd time wedding bells were rung. (Remarried)
Upon my first marriage, I brought forth 3 child-
ren. Leroy Jr, Theodore, and finally,Vinalee my
daughter, who has made me a grandpaw twice.
The lady of my life now is Marianne. She is a
mother of 4, Carl JR, Michael, Timothy and also
1 girl, Tammy, who has made her a grandmaw
several times. The girls in the family have been
active. (All the boys have me worried).
I presently work for PWC Great Lakes Naval Base.=>
____________________________________________________
I work in two classifications, HVAC mechanic
and electrician for 10 years.
Prior to this I was self-employed two times in
the electronics field. (Roy,s RADIO & T.V. SALES
& SERVICE. There was not anything that could
not be repaired. The cost of these items T.V.s
radios became so inexpensive, they became throw-
away items. A $10 radio, a $49 B&W T.V. etc.
Cheaper to replace than to repair. Anyhow the
business all $35K was put in storage and is
still collecting dust.
My first computer was purchased in the good
old days of 78 or 79. It was a Model 1, 4K RAM,
B&W monitor w/tape for around $800 (What a
dinasour that was.) My cousin Jerome used it more
than I did. He later became a computer tech. =>
____________________________________________________
Then along came the CoCo, color, sound, 64k, and
ROMPAKS. My wife forgot I existed. The wife told the
kids to keep away from Dad & his computer things.
But the word was out. Dad's playing games on his
computer. Well it ended up, me not being selfish. We
played the games together. At Christmas Carl, Roy,
and Tim were all given CoCos. (Theory if they all
have their own then maybe they can teach this old
dog of 51 some new tricks.) Anyhow this old dog has
(fer himself) 64K CoCoII, 512K CoCoIII, CM/8, FD501,
FD501, DMP105, MULTI-PAK INT, PTC/64,MODEM PHONE300,
RECORDER, X-PAD GT/116, RS232, S&S CARTRIDGE, many
books & software. My wife treats my computer like it
has the plague. But it's OK. (Homemade meals are
better than TV dinners) Sincerely, Leroy J Rafalski.
P.O.BOX 688 SILVER LK WI. 53170 (414)537-4437 =*
|
ADVENTURE NUTS Hi CFDM'ers, we are Lin & Nan, a couple of CoCo
"Adventure Nuts". I (Lin) am 62, retired in 1990
(25 year pilot for Eastern Air Lines), and write a
bi-monthly Newsletter for ADVENTURE SURVIVORS - our
"home-spun" adventure players Club. We use RSDOS,
don't program, but do ENJOY reading about, viewing,
using, and "playing with" the efforts of others. I
will try to make an adventure REVIEW submission to
CFDM every once in a while.
Our three children - Lynda (married, living in
Carlsbad CA), Robert (1st Lt, 101st Airborne, Fort
Campbell KY), and Kelli (married, living in SC) -
are out of the house, and on their own.
We purchased our first computer, a 64K CoCo 1 F-
board, and a tape recorder in 1984. We hoped to
interest our children in computing, but things =>
____________________________________________________
did not quite work out that way. Their interest
faded away, and we got "HOOKED" on playing
adventures.
Now, one end of our den is "wall to wall" CoCos.
We have two (his & hers) 512K CoCo 3's, two sets of
DSDD's & controllers, CM-8, Magnavox CM135, DMP-105,
NX 1000 II, Blue Streak Interface, MPI & SLOT PACK
III, two CCR-81 tape recorders, DISTO & Tandy RS 232
paks, 2400 ZOOM Modem, 64K CoCo 2 with monitor & FD
502, joysticks, BATCHES of programs, and an old
Monroe RL-940 copier.
We primarily use Word Power 3.3 for correspond-
ence, and Walter Bayer's CIII PagesE v. 2.5 - a fine
desk top publisher - for special projects.
Nan also collects little village houses made by
DEPARTMENT 56. =>
____________________________________________________
We extend a SPECIAL THANKS to Rick Cooper, and
all CFDM contributors for helping to keep our CoCos
alive and well!
24 Perthshire Drive
Peachtree City, GA 30269
(404) 487 8461
=*
|
| Articles in section: FORUM |
| COCO
SWAPPER THE RAINBOW'S END Uses for my CoCo |
| Back to top |
COCO SWAPPER After watching CoCo dealers drop like flies, and
TANDY abandon us, and after talking to several CFDM
subscribers, I got to thinking we could really use a
source for CoCo hardware and software. I think that
we could use a CoCo TRADING TIMES.
I would like to hear what others think of the
idea.
What I thought of is to have a printed monthly
newsletter that we could subscribe to for about $3
for 6 month, and that any one could list items that
they have for sale or list the items that they are
looking for or whether they will trade CoCo items
for whatever? I think that there would have to be an
additional charge of about $2 for a listing.
I know that several guys have bought up the
remaining CoCo items at their local Radio Shack, =>
____________________________________________________
and they would like to trade them for other items
that they could use. This letter would be a great
benefit to them and to others who are looking for
these items.
I talked to Rick about this idea and he said that
we can use CFDM for this, but due to the limits on
disk space we can only list three items. I don't
think we can all put an ad in the same month, so I
think a COCO TRADER would be a good idea.
If enough CoConuts think that this is a good idea
K would very much like to do something like this.
Also I don't think that $3 for 6 months is too much
to cover the costs of printing and mailing this
letter.
Please let me know what you think of this idea,
either through the CFDM FORUM or write to me =>
____________________________________________________
directly. The CoCo Trader would only be a means of
bringing together buyers and sellers who would deal
directly with each other. The CoCo Trader would not
sell anything.
JIM STERNETT
3000 WOODLAND HILLS DR.
APT. 14
ANN ARBOR, MI. 48108
(313)-677-2418
If you call, please make it after 5 PM because my
wife said that she won't know what you are talking
about unless it's about George's card games. By the
way George, she says she can only win about 1 in 25
games of CALC...but she keeps trying. =*
|
THE RAINBOW'S END As reported via RED FLASH in issue #14, THE RAINBOW
is coming to an end with the MAY issue (that's the
one we'll get in April). This expected but still
shocking news came when Kim Lewis, one of RAINBOW's
advertising girls, called me last month. Her call
was to give me an opportunity to put an ad in the
last issue and also to ask for a sort of "farewell
letter to RAINBOW". Kim mentioned that Lonnie Falk
stated that "RAINBOW should have ended a couple of
years ago, but his heart wouldn't let him do it".
With it's passing many CoCoists may decide that the
CoCo is finished. I hope that some of the remaining
subscribers will try CFDM or one of the other
organizations still supporting CoCo! While I had
been led to believe RAINBOW still had close to =>
____________________________________________________
10,000 subscribers, other sources are now reporting
that only 3,500 to 4,000 were actually remaining!
This is dishearting news too! I suppose that there
are still quite a few who are still active but who
have let their RAINBOW subscription lapse in recent
months due to their disappointment in the change
thereof. Let's hope that somehow they're still
around.
What's the future for CoCo and CoCoists now? I'm
sure that many of us will continue on for a very
long time. It's our hobby and just because RAINBOW
goes, that won't effect our enjoyment. (We really
haven't depended on RAINBOW for sometime now.) And
there are still organizations such as MID IOWA &
COUNTRY COCO, UPTIMES, the Glenside club, =>
____________________________________________________
plus many local clubs and a few vendors, who will be
around as long as feasible. (Let's not forget the
specialty newsletters such as ADVENTURE SURVIVORS.)
As for CFDM, I've resolved to you that we'll be
active for at least this year...and I have no reason
to believe it won't be for much longer! If we can
pick up several subscribers from RAINBOW, that will
just give me more reason to carry on. At present we
are stronger than ever before. Our Friends continue
to support us with submissions and subscriptions.
Every letter or call I get is enthusiastic and that
bodes well for our project! So...DON'T QUIT COCOING!
AND DON'T QUIT TELLING OTHERS ABOUT CFDM!
Your Friend,
Rick =*
|
Uses for my CoCo A sad day indeed if my CoCo III should crash and
the Shack refuse to repair it. I know that the
Shack will still fix TRS-80 Model IIs, so the
CoCo will PROBABLY still be repaired. However, if
they keep support of the IBM-compatible computers,
sevice for the CoCo and all previous RS computers
will dwindle and die. Speaking of IBM-type, have
you seen the Tandy Sensation? It can do 16.8 million
different colors (thats 16,800,800) I cannot think
of 16.8 million different colors. I have 64 and I
can't always decide which 16 to use! Even if I
could access all 64 at once, I think I'd have
enough. (16.8 million!? Hah!)
I do use an Tandy 1000 for stuff. Not much,
but I do use it. I like it for certain things.
As far as the CoCo is concerned, I use it for ->
____________________________________________________
a lot more things. I do all my word processing.
The resume that got me my teaching job was done on
this CoCo III with Simply Better 2.0. I dabble w/
assembly code, and a very little technical stuff.
I wish I had more time to really DIG into the
abilities. I have seen some GREAT coco demos, and
even CoCo Max III looks super. If they can acheive
such impressive ability, I'm sure I could.
But for now, I dawdle along with my 512k CoCo III,
a DMP-105, and 2 single sided 35-track drives.
If CFDM ever goes 40-track, I'll die. Oh, I have
a CM-8 that I got for $25.00 because of a tiny 3mm
x 1mm chip in the glass screen!
I didn't renew my RAINBOW subscription, because,
like Elad, I was afraid it would fold. =*
|
| Articles in section: FROM THE EDITOR |
| A
CHANGE OF HEART HOW ABOUT THOSE FRIENDS!!!!! KUDOS THE COCOPRO! SOFTWARE !!! THE COCOPRO! SOFTWARE!! PART 2 |
| Back to top |
A CHANGE OF HEART A few years ago I had the good fortune to talk
with Paul Olmstead of SPORTSware. The reason for
that phone conversation escapes me now but somehow
the subjects of marketing software and the game of
RISK came up. I had written a RISK play-alike called
CC3FLAGS and Paul expressed interest in seeing it.
That exchange led to Paul's marketing some of my
software.
After a couple of years, Paul decided the cost
of advertising CoCo products was just not feasible
and told me he was closing shop. This was sad news
to me because SPORTSware had been my avenue of
sharing my work with other CoCoists. Then the idea
of RICK'S COMPUTER ENTERPRISE was born and I entered
the world of marketing software. My operation has
always been simple and straight forward. =>
____________________________________________________
I thought that offering quality software that was
useful and/or entertaining at a bargain price was
surely the way to do it. I have since come to the
realization that "unless you have a great idea, a
quality product, and an audience (consumer base)
that will give it a try, you will never become very
successful". In other words, it's very hard to do.
When I wrote CRAM (the first NIB COMPRESSOR) I
thought everyone would want it. NOT SO! Then when I
read Steve Ostrom's great idea for a RAINBOW INDEX
in a RAINBOW "LETTER TO THE EDITOR", I just knew I
had a winner. THIS DID BETTER, BUT STILL NO WINNER!
Then came the idea for CFDM. THIS HAS SURELY BEEN
MY MOST SUCCESSFUL IDEA, BUT I CAN'T BELIEVE MORE
FOLKS HAVEN'T TRIED IT!
(NOW BACK TO MY SPORTSware STORY ->) =>
____________________________________________________
I began to lease Paul's SPORTSware software.
The five programs were SUPER DISK, WAR GAME DESIGNER
ICON DISK, WAR GAME DESIGNER II, BARBARIAN QUEST and
WEEKLY WINNER. These programs became UNBELIEVABLE
OFFER #2 and sold for $33 + $2 s/h. Paul had sold
these programs individually for about $130 (total).
I just knew everyone would want this great package
at this give-away price. IT SEEMS NOT EVERYONE DID!
The truth is I have never really advertised this
package as I should have..and in the last issue of
CFDM I announced that I probably would not renew my
lease of the SPORTSware programs.
Recently I've had a change of heart. These are
great CoCo programs and I want them to continue to
be available. I've renewed the lease and they'll
be available for at least another year! =*
|
HOW ABOUT THOSE CONTRIBUTORS Just a short entry to let you know:
More than occasionally I am impressed to ponder
the fact "What an excellent group of Friends we
have!" The material we are presently receiving and
have received in the past is just GREAT! The support
that the Friends have given me, this project (CFDM),
and each other is more than I ever expected! When
I receive a subscription from a new Friend, who has
just tried CFDM, and read "..this is fantastic..just
great..a marvelous idea..fun..etc.", I just feel
sorry for the many CoCoist who have yet to join us!
KEEP UP YOUR GREAT WORK AND LET'S CONTINUE TO ENJOY
OUR COCOs AND OUR FRIENDS!!
=>
____________________________________________________
I've recently inherited Mom's bible for awhile. The
following scripture, which she had underlined, seems
to speak to us:
"Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like
men, be strong. Let all your things be done with
charity."
- I CORINTHIANS 16:13,14
=*
|
KUDOS Sorry, no room for a graphic KUDOS this month. This
disk is nearly full thanks to the following Friends!
THANKS! THANKS! THANKS! THANKS! THANKS! THANKS!
JOHN W. ANDERSON CLIFFORD GODDARD GEORGE QUELLHORST
NORM BARSON ART HINMAN LEROY J. RAFALSKI
JIM BENNETT MADMIKE HOKE HERB SCHULER
RICHARD BYRON FLOYD J. KEIRNAN TERRY SIMONS
JOHN CLEMONS KEIRAN KENNY JAMES STERNETT
H. ALLEN CURTIS VIC KELLS ROBERT A. TURNER
JOHN DANIELS MICHAEL LEWIS LESLIE WALTZ
GLORIA DAWSON DON MACANDER K.E. WEATHERBY
JAMES J. GIBBONS LIN & NAN PADGETT ROBERT WEDDLE
CHARLES GIBSON ROY L. PUTLACK and
STUART WYSS-GALLIFENT =*
|
THE COCOPRO! SOFTWARE !!! As reported last issue, I have purchased a lease of
the software belonging to COCOPRO!. I'll try to give
you the particulars on how you can get a super deal
on these programs. There are a few things I should
tell you from the start. Please keep these in mind
before purchasing these packages.
1) The original prices of these 13 packages totaled
around $400. Last advertised sale prices totaled
nearly $300. This is quality software. ELEVEN OF
THESE PACKAGES ARE OS-9 ORIENTED AND I CANNOT BE
OF ASSISTANCE TO YOU IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT
THEIR USE. PLEASE BE ADVISED OF THIS BEFORE YOU
ORDER THE OS-9 PACKAGES.
=>
____________________________________________________
2) The documentation to each package will be in the
form of loose leaf sheets, with 4 pages to a
sheet. You may bind these into booklets if you
wish.
3) This software was quite expensive for me to buy!
I hope you will help me recoup my outlay by
taking advantage of this special offer while
keeping in mind that I ONLY ASK YOU TO BUY WHAT
YOU WANT AND CAN USE!
----------------------------------------------------
At this time I can offer you the first special set
of packages. Those are SIMPLY BETTER and V-TERM.
Over the next few months I will be preparing the
documentation to more of the packages. (Please read
about the SUBSCRIPTION OFFER.) =>
____________________________________________________
Here's the deal: You may purchase any or all of the
packages listed in Part 2 of this article. The best
deal is the SUBSCRIPTION PURCHASE. This means you
will recieve SIMPLY BETTER and V-TERM immediately
and each month, for 4 months, you will receive the
next package in the series. Each package contains
2 to 3 of the software packages (see Part 2 for a
list of the packages).
I hope many of you will want all of this software.
For those unfamiliar with OS-9, I do not advise
buying the OS-9 packages (YOU MUST HAVE OS-9 LEVEL 2
FOR THESE PACKAGES!). I do STRONGLY recommend V-TERM
and SIMPLY BETTER! SIMPLY BETTER is simply the best
word-processor for the CoCo.
(PLEASE SEE PART 2) =*
|
THE COCOPRO! SOFTWARE!! PART 2 UNBELIEVABLE OFFER #4 (COCOPRO! SOFTWARE)
# NAME DOS ORIGINAL PRICE
1 SIMPLY BETTER RS ($24.95)
2 V-TERM RS ($24.95)
------YOUR COST $15.00 + $2 shipping/handling-------
3 DATA WINDOWS OS-9 ($39.95)
4 MULTI-MENU OS-9 ($14.95)
------YOUR COST $15.00 + $2 shipping/handling-------
5 NEWSPAPER O9 OS-9 ($34.95)
6 NEWS FONTS (for NEWSPAPER09)OS-9 ($ 9.95)
7 THE ZAPPER OS-9 ($14.95)
------YOUR COST $15.00 + $2 shipping/handling-------
8 OS9 LEVEL II BBS OS-9 ($19.95)
9 DISK MANAGER TREE OS-9 ($18.95)
10 TOOLS II OS-9 ($24.95)
------YOUR COST $15.00 + $2 shipping/handling--=>
____________________________________________________
11 LEVEL II TOOLS OS-9 ($19.95)
12 PRESTO-PARTNER OS-9 ($19.95)
13 DATA MERGER OS-9 ($12.95)
------YOUR COST $15.00 + $2 shipping/handling-------
SUPER DEAL-----SUBSCRIPTION PACKAGE $55 + $5 s/h----
All this software can be yours for the low price
of $55 + $5 shipping/handling. Your payment must
be received in advance and you must specifically
note that you wish to purchase the entire package.
Please note that you will be sent SIMPLY BETTER
and V-TERM upon receipt of your check. The balance
of the software will be mailed to you at the rate
of one set per month (some sets contain 2 and some
contain 3 of the software packages). =>
____________________________________________________
THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR HELPING ME KEEP THIS FINE
SOFTWARE IN THE COCO MARKETPLACE!!
- Rick Cooper
----------------------------------------------------
=*
|
| Articles in section: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR |
| CORRECTION:
ISSUE #13 EXCERPTS FROM LETTERS EXCITED IT LIVES RETRACTION |
| Back to top |
CORRECTION: ISSUE #13 Hi Rick,
Beyond the "call of duty", you have managed to put
together another outstanding issue.
The only problem with Issue #13 was a small bug in
DRAWPOKR. The bug makes the program a "Cheater's
Heaven" (an oxymoron). If after a cheater discards
he presses ENTER instead of CLEAR, then he would
always score well with
1) a Flush when 5 cards were discarded, or
2) a Full House with 3 cards discarded and a pair
remaining, or
3) 4 of a Kind with 4 cards discarded.
The bug can simply be removed by making a small
change in line 780. In that line insert just =>
____________________________________________________
before THEN the following: ANDQX=0
----------------------------------------------------
RICK: Thanks for the correction Allen. It came too
late for me to make the change. Now everyone can
hone their editing skills with this correction!
=*
|
EXCERPTS FROM LETTERS ....I'd like to take this opportunity to mention
again how much I appreciate and enjoy what you are
doing with CFDM, and after reading your comments in
the last issue, I'd like to add my thanks to your
whole family for being so supportive of, and
involved with the services you are providing.
- Leslie A. Waltz
----------------------------------------------------
Sorry I haven't ordered sooner but I've been busy
digesting my first seven issues of CFDM. They are
GREAT!!!! Can't wait until I get more issues.
- John W. Anderson
----------------------------------------------------
You offer a really unique service and it is
exactly what I need.
- K.E. Weatherby =>
____________________________________________________
Time to renew, and glad to. Hope you never have to
fold like RAINBOW and others.
....
Haven't had time to figure out how you put together
issue #11. Did get all files on a double 40 track
disk. It's full. I would like to see a tutorial on
that technique and how you produce the mag side.
- Roy L Putlack
----------------------------------------------------
You are right that there is correspondence among
the CFDM users. I've written and had correspondence
from Canada, Europe, Australia, and others in
addition to the notes on CFDM.
- Charles Gibson
=>
____________________________________________________
RICK: Thanks for sharing your experiences. To Roy:
The technique for making the "heavy disk" consists
of using DSKI$ to check the PROGRAM SIDE for unused
sectors, making a second disk which forces the extra
progs. to be placed on the first granules of the
disk, making a copy of the directory of the second
disk and hiding it along with all the used sectors
on the second disk to the first disk...Then writing
a small program to correctly place all that hidden
data to your second disk. Well, anyway this is the
gist of how it's done!
If I ever get to make that video, I'll try to share
a little on how the MAGAZINE SIDE is put together.
Thanks for asking!
=*
|
EXCITED Rick, Good Friend, I am sending in my first sub- mission for the FAMILY TREE section of CFDM. It took a while to get up the courage to do so as I usually don't like to talk about myself, being somewhat of a shy person. At the same time I want to renew my subscription. It doesn't run out until issue 14 but I don't want to gamble on missing an issue. So inclosed is my check for 60 bucks. Simply add 12 to my number which is 6-30-14! I want to say that CFDM is the greatest thing that has happened to CoCo. I am sure the good Lord has helped you in coming up with it and you are to be congratulated. The response from all those wonder- ful people is just terrific and very exciting! --RICK: Thanks Art, and AMEN!! =* |
IT LIVES Thank you very much for such a fine magazine such as
CFDM. If it wasn't for this magazine I think my CoCo
would just die (and me too). Since you send me these
disks that I asked for, my CoCo has found a new
life. There is so much good to come out of CFDM like
the ads in ADVERTISEMENTS. As I was looking through
the ads, I found one person that can help me out
alot when looking for stuff for my COCO3.
IF NOT FOR CFDM MY COCO WOULD BE JUST A COCO
!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BUT NOW IT LIVES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
P.S. One more thing I think we could use is a
listing of all CFDM members and addresses and phone
numbers. Then we could get in touch with someone
for help when we need it! =*
|
RETRACTION In my recent Review of MI&CC UPGRADE disk I erred
about not being able to print a hardcopy, said I
was disappointed with Terry Simmons.
I wish to inform everyone that Terry personally
called me in Wisconsin, from Iowa, to offer his
help. It seems my limited memory caused me to
forget that any word processor would load and print
out his text. Am I embarrased.
With Max-10 I was easily getting it done. Terry,
thanks again, for your concern and kind phone call
to me.
So remember, all who care to keep up with our CoCo
and any supporters, this is another excellent =>
____________________________________________________
Disk Publication for doing so.
Vic Kells
=*
|
| Articles in section: POTPOURRI |
| FROM
THE HYMNAL HRIDDLE PERSONAL THOUGHTS STRINGART REVISITED |
| Back to top |
FROM THE HYMNAL SO...I'm sorry !! But, I'm invoking a privilege. In preparing to produce this month's program I reviewed those pieces I have not shared with you yet. And, as I did I felt a mood settle in...so this month's selections. I just felt you might enjoy a few short pieces from my copy of "The Methodist Hymnal". I like to listen to these from time-to-time, specially if I'm feeling blue (we old folks have those days also). Not that I'm feeling blue today, but as I listened to them I just wanted to share them with you. Hope they brighten your day. Martin Luther wrote "A Mighty Fortress" wa-a-a-a-y back, you'll see his credits on the title page as the song plays. I wouldn't be surprised if this one is in many other Hymnals as well. Late 1943 (when I was 17) I went to Navy Boot Camp and was lucky to be assigned => ____________________________________________________ to the 'CHOIR COMPANY'; a rather lush billet as billets went in those days. You reallize I had "The Navy Hymn" drilled into me!! But, I still enjoy hearing it myself and maybe there are other Navy guys/gals from the second war out there who will have a special thought as they listen. Finally, another standard, so to speak, the old Spiritual, "Were You There". I heard this performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir when my wife and I visited Salt Lake City one time. If you have ever been in the Tabernacle for a Choir performance you can appreciate why I like this one. In the Tabernacle the music from the Choir and the ORGAN seem to be coming from everywhere; a rather stimulating experience, to say the least. Of course, "The Mighty Fortress" is one of their favorites, also.=> ____________________________________________________ I'll say this...for an unforgettable experience of the first order...visit The Tabernacle and hear the Mormon Choir in person. You'll never be the same. So, these are three of my favorites and I hope they are yours, also. As you listen, close your eyes (I say that a lot, don't I?) and pretend you are at the Tabernacle for a personal performance of the Choir. I have not been able to obtain a piano arrangement of "Chariots of Fire". If you have it, please copy it and send it to me. I just finished doing "Elvira Madigan" and maybe I'll share that with you next month, or maybe I'll give you Duke Ellington!! We'll see. My deal, you know! Take Care............. ...RUN"HYMNAL" and enjoy. See ya, Herb =* |
HRIDDLE
The correct answer to the HRIDDLE in the last issue
is "COCO MAX". The clues were: "COCO" written in
clouds, "MAX" in the shapes of the mountains. The 3
signs on the road stand for the 3 versions of COCO
MAX. The flag at the summit of the highest mountain
stands at the "max". The name "A. M. Cox & Co." is
made up of the letters in COCO MAX. "1 Disque Dr."
means a disk drive is needed, and "Woodhaven" is the
name of the standard font used by the program. The
"D." stamp represents the author of COCO MAX 3, Dave
Stampe. "Where is the color?" is a a pun on "Color-
ware" which was the company that marketed COCO MAX.
The HRIDDLE in this issue contains another secret
message. Can you solve this one?
(RUN "GALLERY.BAS" to see the HRIDDLE.) =>
____________________________________________________
The winner of the 1st HRIDDLE contest is our Friend
Norm Barson. Norm sent in the only correct answer to
this HRIDDLE! Now that we've seen how Jim's mind
works, maybe we can do better on the HRIDDLE in this
issue. GIVE IT A TRY, IT'S FUN!!!
(Norm will receive a package of 25 flippies for his
winning answer.)
=*
|
PERSONAL THOUGHTS TO UNDERSTAND AND HELP OTHERS
TO RESPECT AND BE RESPECTED
TO FORGIVE AND BE FORGIVEN
TO LIVE A GOOD LIFE AND MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR THOSE
WHO KNOW ME
TO BE HONEST AND TRUTHFUL EVEN IF IT HURTS
TO RESPECT MY ELDERS FOR THEIR WISDOM I WILL INHERIT
TO GIVE OTHERS CREDIT WHEN CREDIT IS DESERVED
AS THE OLD RAINBOW FADES IN THE MIST,
A SHINING LIGHT APPEARS, OUR SALVATION (CFDM)
KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK RICK!
=*
|
STRINGART REVISITED If you don't recall what stringart is, just refer
back to the description in Issue # 3. Here are
three more projects translated to the CoCo 3. Just
RUN each program. STRING3 and STRING4 are abstracts
titled "Pierced Planes" and "Starburst", respective-
ly. STRING6 will be easily recognized as it is
developed.
The programming involved is fairly simple, but it
requires a lot of effort keeping track of where you
are and which points are to be connnected. As before
I have shown the points ("nails") which are used to
"string" the designs. I have not used the high-speed
poke so you can better see the stringing sequence.
----------------------------------------------------
Only STRING3 appears in this issue. More later! =*
|
-= GOLF, A SOLITAIRE GAME -= Here is yet another one of "THOSE" solitaire games. This one is dedicated to Esther, who loaned me the book, and J.R.Waggoner, who KIND OF SUGGESTED that I write this particular game. ??? You will find that "GOLF" is a very ADDICTIVE card game. Resulting in cold cups of coffee, burned up cigarettes and a keyboard full of cigarette ashes, providing of course that you are a smoker. To see the instructions for the game, load in the program called GOLF/BAS on the flip side of this disk, type WIDTH80 AND LIST OR LLIST 140 - . ALL THE INSTRUCTIONS WILL FIT ON ONE 80 WIDE SCREEN. ENJOY .................................. GEORGE *> |
Accordion to Hoyle ACCORD is a program that simulates the solitaire game called Accordion (also known as the Tower of Babel). The game begins with a Stock of 52 cards. Cards are distributed from the Stock one at time in two rows of 13 positions each. The second row is considered to be a continuation of the first. Any card may be piled upon either the card left of it or the card three positions left of it IF it is the same suit or the same denomination. For instance, suppose there are five adjacent cards: Jack of Spades, 5 of Hearts, Jack of Clubs, Ace of Diamonds, and Jack of Hearts. None of the first four cards may be moved, but the Jack of Hearts may skip over two card positions and be played on the 5 of Hearts. Then the Jack of Clubs may be piled on to the Jack of Hearts. Finally, the pile headed => ____________________________________________________ by the Jack of Clubs can be moved on to the Jack of Spades. After the moves there are only two adjacent piles - the Jack of Clubs and the Ace of Diamonds. Moving piles in this way will empty positions in the row and allow more cards to be dealt from the Stock. The object of the game is to finish with all 52 cards in one pile. The strategy of the game is in deciding which piles to move and how many cards to deal from the Stock before moving piles. Because Accordion is a VERY difficult game to win, an easier variation of Accordion has also been included in the program. The variation, 2-Way Accordion, allows moving to the right as well as to the left. Thus, one may move a pile one or three positions right in addition to the analogous moves left. => ____________________________________________________ The two rows of Accordion and its variation are displayed on the upper half of the playing area screen. Each of the 26 positions of the rows has a unique label 0,1, ... ,9,A,B, ... ,O, or P. The labels facilitate the moving of piles by means of key commands. To move a pile from one position to another, merely press the key corresponding to the label of the pile to be moved followed by the key for the label of the destination position. Some possible pairs of key commands that cause moves are 6,5; A,9; B,8; D,C; and K,N for Accordion. Typical key command pairs for 2-Way Accordion include the above as well as 2,3; 8,B; and B,E. Pressing the S key serves to deal a card from the Stock to the first vacant position in the two =* |
Accordion to Hoyle <PART
II> rows. Pressing the R key brings to the screen a
brief summary of the Rules for moving cards and card
piles. Pressing the R key a second time erases the
summary from the screen. The Q command allows you
to Quit a game by pressing the Q key twice in
succession. At the bottom border of the playing
area screen is a menu that serves as a reminder of
all the key commands. If an illegal key or key
combination is pressed, a beep will be sounded.
Scoring for Accordion and 2-Way Accordion is as
follows: At the start of each game the score is set
to -52. For every move made the score is increased
by 1 point until there are 5 piles remaining and the
Stock is empty. For Accordion each of the moves
that reduce the piles to 4 and 3 adds 5 points to
the score. The move that reduces the piles to 2 =>
____________________________________________________
adds 10 points. The move that consolidates all 52
cards into 1 pile nets 50 points. Thus, for
Accordion the maximum score is 65 points. Because
2-Way Accordion is much easier to win, the scoring
for it is less generous. In 2-Way Accordion the 1
point scoring continues until there are only 3
piles. The move that reduces the piles to 2 is
worth 5 points and the one putting all the cards in
a single pile yields 10 points. The maximum score
for 2-Way Accordion is 12 points.
I hope you enjoy playing Accordion and/or 2-Way
Accordion as much as I did programming ACCORD.
=*
|
C3ARTPAD - a simple drawing pad
After the C3ARTPAD title screen, you get a menu of choices: Line, Polygon, Joystick, Box, Type, Cir- cle, Fill, HCLS, Save and Load. To make a choice, press a bracketed letter. Just note that L gets you LINE and O gets you LOAD. Most of the action begins with use of the right joystick to move a cursor. To speed things up you can set the initial position of the cursor near to where you want to place a graphic element. Let's take the choices as they come and, if you don't mind, follow me. LINE: select cursor position left. You then get a color choice: press 0 to E for colors 0 to 14 and a flashing cursor appears centered on the left border of the screen. Press the button to fix the beginning of the line, move the cursor and press the button => ____________________________________________________ to mark the end of the line. You can then return to the menu, erase the line, or draw another line. POLYGON: you begin drawing at the point bottom cen- ter. Choose Bottom for the cursor position as the polygon draws upward. Enter the number of lines and the length. If this would put you out of the graphic screen area you will get an "OFF LIMITS" prompt and you can try again. You can fill the polygon. JOYSTICK: there is also a joystick routine that sets your cursor positions (lines 1330 to 1610), but the routine in lines 1860 to 2040 allows you to use your joystick as a drawing tool. The bar with color choi- ces (0 to 9), remains at the top of the screen while you are drawing. A single press on a color key will change the color of a joystick trace even while it it is running. Press M at any time to return to = ____________________________________________________ the menu. Press the button for a flashing cursor. BOX: set one corner and then another diagonally op- posite. Press the button. Fill if you wish. TYPE: Choose your color, set the cursor at the pos- ition where you want to begin typing, and press the button. Depending on how far left you begin, you can type up to 39 characters in a line. Backspace to correct errors. CIRCLE: move the cursor to set the center, press the button then move the cursor to set the radius and press the button again. Enter the height. If the combination radius and height would take you outside the graphic area, you get an "OFF LIMITS" prompt. FILL: the polygon, box and circle each has its own fill routine. But you can also go back and change a fill color or fill an area. =* |
C3PADPT2 HCLS: simply erases everything on the screen and you can start again. I have made several drawing board programs for CoCo 3 but I found them all somewhat frustrating in use because the only routines I had for saving hi- res screens used too much disk space. I am glad I now have NIBSAVER (lines 430 to 1010) and NIBLOADR (lines 1020 to 1310). When you select SAVE, you can, if you will, type a title in a chosen color. This can be up to 39 characters long but shorter would be preferable as the title is centered above the picture as soon as you press enter. Note that the picture title is not the filename of your saved picture. You will have to enter the => ____________________________________________________ filename separately. Press any key after your file is saved and you get a cold start. You can load any NIB file into your graphic area. Press any key and then you can use the menu choices and embellish your picture. But note that, for some reason unknown to me, the HCLS command will not work if a loaded file is on the screen. If you load a file with a title or graphic elem- ents in the top two rows of the screen, whatever is there is stored by the HGET statement in line 1310. If, later, you save the picture again and you add a title, whatever was at screen top will be deleted. If you press N in answer to the title prompt, what- ever was at the top of the picture on loading will be restored by the HPUT statement in line 460. =* |
GREY III Okay, okay, for all you screen dump enthusiasts out
there, I finally got my tail in gear and completely
rewrote AUTOGREY (my 11-level hscreen 2 screen dump)
Actually, Jim Grogan wrote to me and said he had a
DMP-134 and AUTOGREY wouldn't work.
Presenting GREYIII.BAS. This is an 8 grey level
screen dump for the DMP-133/134, maybe 132. It
works on my DMP-133. The printer should be in
TANDY mode (I can't figure out IBM graphics mode)
and you use different colors on screen to simulate
the grey level printout. Printing takes about
1/2 hour, but the printout is REALLY nice. The
printout takes up 12 inches of paper, so it won't
fit on one sheet of paper. You could modify the
X loop in the program, but that would cut some ->
____________________________________________________
of the screen off as it printed. If that isn't a
problem, you could fit a picture on one sheet.
I even tried loading an Hscreen 4 picture from one
of Steve's disks. Although you sacrifice some
resolution, they too will print out pretty nicely.
Here are the correct DIP setting for the DMP-133:
BAUD rate: up up =>2400 baud via serial port
DIP SW 1.off =>Tandy mode 2.off =>CR=NL
3.on =>LF=NL 4.off =>11" paper
5.off =>no skip 6.off =>1/6" LF
7.off =>Tandy chars 8.off =>DP mode
Happy printing on the DMP-133/134 ! -*
|
Rainbow Magazine Inventory Sheet My latest purchase was a 512k COCO3 with CM-8,
FD-502 and MPI. Along with the system came a col-
lection of Rainbows back to 1983. I quickly found
that I needed some way to keep track of what issues
I had so I wrote the program "RAINBOW.INV". It pro-
duces a 1-page listing of all the years Rainbow has
been published. For ease of coding, I included all
of 1981 and went through 1996. Rainbow did not start
publishing until July of 1981 and, considering the
size of the last issue, 1996 is just wishful
thinking. I use a magic marker to mark the issues
that I have, along with the matching tapes or disks.
It should run on all printers and takes a full
sheet of paper. ( EDITOR'S NOTE: John's
"RAINBOW.INV" has been renamed "RAINBOW.BAS".)
=>
____________________________________________________
I now have some duplicate issues that I would
like to sell or swap. I have these issues:
1989 Oct, Nov, Dec $2.00 each or swap
1990 All except Jul
1991 All except Jul and Aug
1992 Jan thru Aug
I need these issues:
1984 Jan, Feb, Mar
1985 Dec
1986 Nov John Daniels
1987 Jan 648 Pleasant Grove Rd.
1988 Apr McDonald, TN 37353
1989 Jan, Feb =*
|
SUPERPUT 2: MULTIPUT My SUPERPUT program appeared in CFDM, issue #6.
One of our friends wrote in to say how he liked it.
Well,it's about to get even better!
The main feature of my new version of SUPERPUT
is the ability to execute 2 or 3 SUPERPUTs within a
single command. All the parameters are read in and
processed at one time, and then each action is exe-
cuted, one at a time, with as little delay between
them as possible. This can reduce the flicker when
using the "replace background-save background-place
character" method animation.
Other features in SP2 include:
*Changes that make the system run faster. I've found
new ways to deal with transparents and x-flips.
*The ability to access SP through two new BASIC key-
words. It makes SP easier to use when you don't =>
____________________________________________________
need to use the old EXEC&HFA0C.
*An ML subroutine that makes setting up buffers
easier - a better HBUFF. Just supply the dimensions
of the box, and it will do the calculations for you.
None of that junk that the BASIC manual tells you to
do.
*An ML subroutine that allows easier access to
action #12 (fast HCLS).
*Compatibility with BASIC programs that used the
first version of SUPERPUT. You can simply replace
the SUPERPUT.BIN file with SUPRPUT2.BIN. The old
EXEC&HFA0C,X,Y,W,H,B,A method has been preserved and
can be mixed with the new SPT and MLTPT commands.
*Docs for SP are included. Hopefully, it's clearer
and more complete than the last time I tried to
document this thing. =>
____________________________________________________
*The 2 programs that came with the 1st version of SP
have been upgraded to utilize and demonstrate SP's
new abilities.
- MADMIKE HOKE
----------------------------------------------------
RICK: Mike's programs are SP2.DOC, SUPRPUT2.BIN,
DEMO.BAS, and R.001. I've included Stuart Wyss-
Galifent's "READDOC2.BAS" so you can read or print
out Mike's documentation file, SP2.DOC. Here's how:
After preparing your printer, place your backup
disk with Mike's programs in drive0. RUN "READDOC2"
to print out the doc file. When the menu appears on
the screen, press L for LOAD A FILE. The directory
will appear. Type SP2.DOC and press ENTER. When the
drive light goes out, press N to see the file. The
HELP LINE is at the bottom of the screen. =*
|
| Articles in section: REVIEWS |
| KING'S
QUEST III (Part 1) KING'S QUEST III (Part 2) Review of Pyramid Pair |
| Back to top |
KING'S QUEST III (Part 1) Perhaps, this is the best graphics adventure you
will ever play on the CoCo. It requires a 512K CoCo
3, and one disk drive. It comes on 5 flippie disks
(10 sides, unprotected), and has the OS9 BOOT.
Some GREAT characteristics are bright CMP or RGB
colors, fine graphics, 3-D effect, special commands,
auto-sequences, animations, pop-down menus, humor,
and an excellent SAVE feature.
Information on how to convert to a hard-drive or
other types of disks, is in the REFERENCE CARD, and
ADDENDUM that are in the game package. A letter to
Rainbow 11/89, pgs 6 & 8 by Robert Zaker, "Remedy
for Numerous Disk Swaps", may be helpful.
Jim Issel gave an excellent review in Rainbow
8/89, pgs 90-92, and a little history on SIERRA.
A simple <DOS> will start the loading =>
____________________________________________________
process. <ENTER> to by-pass the TIME entry. Format a
SEPERATE disk for SAVEs at the OS-9 prompt - <format
d/0>. This is also where a <sierra> for CMP (TV)
colors or <sierra-r> for RGB is entered (during play
a CTRL-V will toggle between CMP and RGB). Next
select joystick use or not (a combination of SHIFT
and/or CTRL and ARROW keys can also be used to move
about during play). After the disk is flipped to
side 2, press the SPACEBAR to begin play in the
HOUSE, OR loading continues through Introduction,
Credits, Background Information, and auto-animated-
start outside the HOUSE.
A game clock, your location, points scored, and
an area for text entry are always (nearly) shown on
screen. Announcements, and responses to commands
appear in pop-down menus, which also act as a =>
____________________________________________________
game pause. Press ENTER or the joystick fire button
to remove a menu, and return to normal play.
The command parsor sometimes requires a simple
sentence, but usually accepts one or two-word (verb-
noun) commands. SPELL making is done in a special
pop-down menu, and the game booklet shows EXACTLY
(almost) what has to be typed-in for each one. Any
mistake there, causes DEATH!
Your character is GYNDION, a slave to MANANNAN,
an evil Wizard. GYNDION usually, must be near an
object, before he can perform an action on it. You
can move around at different rates of speed. It's
wise to move UP & DOWN Mountain Paths, Ladders, and
narrow Stairs <slow>. Other places, it's better to
go <fastest>. GYNDION will auto-slow-down when in
the presence of dangerous creatures. =*
|
KING'S QUEST III (Part 2) Initially, MANANNAN will give you a chore to do
(four possible, different ones - later he will also
be hungry), and that starts a "timed scenario". In
3 minutes he'll appear, and punish you if the chore
has not been done - a number of those too. In five
minutes he will announce his departure (or go to
bed). You then have 25 minutes before he returns -
search the HOUSE, find objects, solve problems, make
SPELLs, visit LLEWDOR (lots of things to do there),
return, and hide your objects. This "5 & 25 minute
scenario" will repeat until you dispose of MANANNAN,
and that must be done before you can progress beyond
the Town of LLEWDOR.
Objects that have an "*" beside them (check your
Inventory), can't be carried in MANANNAN's presence
(he'll ZAP you). Also, his STUDY must be left =>
____________________________________________________
in it's original state.
210 points can be earned by gathering objects,
and solving problems, but it can be finished with a
lesser number. Of course, DEATH can occur in many
places, and you can get into "no-win" situations.
Your TASK is to free the Princess (your sister)
from a DRAGON, and take her to The CASTLE.
There are a number of events that may not be as
they should, so you can solve a problem and/or earn
points. Leaving a scene, and returning is kind of a
"catch all" for most of these random events. Here
are a few of them:
The THIEF in the SHACK is not asleep.
The BANDITS are not in the TAVERN.
They don't say anything (in the TAVERN), when you
are a FLY, listening to them. =>
____________________________________________________
MaMa BEAR is in the GARDEN.
PaPa BEAR is behind the door, and throws you out.
There isn't any PORRIDGE on the table.
The CAPTAIN will not leave his quarters (normal).
There is a PIRATE by the SHOVEL.
There are no MICE in the east HOLD.
Hopefully, you have this marvelous Adventure. It
will give many hours of CHALLENGING ENTERTAINMENT!
If you need a little HELP with this one, "drop a
line" and we (Wife Nan, and I) will be happy to give
HINTS, or outright SOLUTIONS.
24 Perthshire Drive
Peachtree City, GA 30269
=*
|
Review of Pyramid Pair I bought a copy of Pyramid Pair from H. Allen Curtis as advertised in CFDM. I have found the two programs to be very good - not to mention addictive! I stayed up until 3 AM playing the first night I received the disk. The Pyramid Destruction game is one of the most popular of the simple addition types of solitaire and plays very well. I have only beaten it once. The Pyramid Contruction game is new to me but it is not just a reversal of the Destruction game. It requires a lot of mental agility to keep track of all the ways that a card will fit on the tableau. The graphics are excellent and the play is fast. The only thing I find annoying is the sound effect when you make a wrong play. The only solution is to never make a mistake!! Well worth the $6.00 cost. =* |
Answers for: Turner & Remin. To: Robert Allen Turner;
Yes, the data sheets DO exist. They can be had for
29 cents, the cost of a postage stamp, from Motorola
FREE for the asking. However I lost their address.
If you cant locate their address, drop me a line and
I will send you a copy of mine. George.
To: Fred Remin;
Extended Ados III can still be bought from the
author: Arthur J. Flexer.
11111 N. Kendall Drive. Suit A108
Miami, Florida.33176. Phone: (305) 274-3899
Should it no longer be for sale, drop me a line and
I will send you a copy of mine. => CTRL <2>
____________________________________________________
Just remember that EXT ADOS III HAS to be burned
into a 27128, 28 pin EPROM. It cannot be used from
disk like regular ADOS. Therefore you must have the
means to burn the progam into a EPROM or otherwise
send it to MARTY GOODMAN.
1633 Bayo Vista Drive.
San Pablo, California. 94808
Phone: (510) 233-8032.
Marty will sell and burn the EPROM for $15.00 U.S.
plus shipping charges for orders outside the U.S.
George Quellhorst.
203B Meadows Drive.
Painesville,Ohio.44077-5361
Phone: (216) 354-3812.
*>
|
Auto Key Repeat, Jim Grogan. Jim,
Get EXTENDED ADOS3, Besides offering auto key repeat
with an adjustable rate, you can access both sides
of your drives, 35, 40 or 80. Your choice of startup
screens and message. 6ms stepping rate. A fastly
improved BASIC editor, with LMOVE and LCOPY commands
(Moves or copies a BASIC program line) I.E LMOVE 100
-125 TO 200,1. Line number editing. Repeat your last
command with a single keystroke. Disk IO and printer
access in highspeed mode. Automatic line numbering.
( Auto 1,10 ), The next line number is on the screen
as soon as you press ENTER. An on screen menu that
lets you KILL, RENAME, LOAD, COPY etc. And much much
more. Not only that it is 99.99 % compatible with
RS-DOS. Once you buy the package, =>
____________________________________________________
you configure it to your liking and have it burned
in an EPROM (Erasable Programable Read Only Memory)
and put the EPROM in your disk controller instead of
the regular RS-DOS DISK ROM.
ADOS is still available by writing directly to the
author,
Arthur J. Flexser
11111 N. Kendall Drive. Suite A108
Miami, Florida. 33176
Phone: (305) 274-3899.
BTW Ados will also allow you to add a REALTIME clock
to your disk ROM.
George.=*
|
Dann McConnell (Q & A #11) After I bought CoCo Max 3 and Max 10 I saw your problem coming: all that tugging and shaking on the cassette and joystick plugs, something just had to break or come loose eventually. So I consulted, Rob Devries, a hacker friend, who made me an "Old Switcheroo II" as featured in Rain- bow, August 1988. The author is Mark Haverstock. Now I have my hi-res interface, tape recorder and right joystick permanently plugged in and can access any of them with a flick of a switch. Arthur Williams had one made too and I understand that he is just as satisfied as I am. =* |
MODEM HELP If anyone out there could help me out. I have a
Radio Shack TRS 80 DC-1200 modem. The problem is I
bought it off a friend. He couldn't find the trans-
former for it. It has 3 connectors on the back all
right in a row. But there is a small gape on the PC
board. It looks something like this:
I !! !! I !! I
I 1 2 I 3 I
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
The problem is on the back. It says 15 AC. Well OK.
But is that from pin 1 to pin 2 or pin 1 to pin 3
and pin 2 to pin 3 both. If anyone out there has one
of these modems, could you please check out the AC
volts for me. =>
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My address is as follows:
Robert Weddle
903 W. North St. Apt. 2
Lebanon, IN 46052
Phone
(317) 482-2219
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Packet Radio Does anyone know about using the Coco III with
Packet Radio. I think I understand the basics
of the set-up. The coco needs to run a good
terminal program, I think Ultimaterm would work.
I need a TNC, or Terminal Net Controller,
and I need a Shortwave radio. I think there is
some 2-meter packet activity and I have a 2 meter
transceiver and a Ham license (KA3PLA)
Can the Coco be run in this set-up. Does anyone
have EXPERIENCE with this sort of activity?/
-stuart wyss
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SOME RELEVANT QUESTIONS I am at present using some of the disks issued by you and have no difficulty in loading and using programs in the "BAS" mode. I cannot get into the programs in the "BIN" or machine mode. Please explain the method to utilize the "BIN" mode. Also, what is the "RS-DOS"? What is "ADOS"? ---------------------------------------------------- RICK: Great questions Clifford! Let's give it a whirl. The "BAS" and "BIN" modes that you refer to are the extensions (last 3 letters of a filename) of the files you see when you type DIR and press the ENTER key. The "BAS" stands for BASIC. That means that program was written in the programming language called BASIC (BEGINNERS ALL-PURPOSE SYMBOLIC => ____________________________________________________ INSTRUCTION CODE). Whenever you save a program using the SAVE command, the "BAS" extension will always be added to the name you give the file. Whenever you wish to use that program you will use LOAD and RUN to get that program to execute. As you look at other filenames in the DIR, you will see some "BIN" files. These files are sometimes executed by using LOADM (to load them) and EXEC (to execute them). If that is the case, they are usually referred to as machine language programs. But...... "BIN" files are not necessarily executable files.... sometimes they are data files or utility files. In those cases they are not loaded and executed by the user..they are loaded and USED by the mother program which may be a "BAS" or a "BIN" program! => ____________________________________________________ I recommend that you always refer to CFDM's PROGRAM DIRECTORY (found in the section entitled ABOUT THIS ISSUE). This file tells you what the purpose of each file on the CFDM disk is and how to (or if) you need to LOAD and/or EXEC or RUN it. There are other filename extensions too. These are usually not to be loaded or EXECed by the user. RS-DOS and ADOS are "programs" which allow your computer to "talk" to your disk drives. RS-DOS is short for Radio Shack Disk Operating System. ADOS is a Disk Operating System which was written and marketed by Art Flexer. The above definition is very skimpy, so I'll leave it for another Friend to give a more complete explanation. How about it? =* |
TO ROBERTA C. SOWELL Ms. Sowell, In response to your question in issue #12 about EDT/ASM III by CER-COMP. Yes, it is a complete Assembly package for the COCO 3. It consists of a full screen text editor (You can even use it to edit BASIC programs or any other ASCII file), assembler, and a separate debugger program. Advantages it has over DISK EDTASM+ from TANDY is that it comes up in 80 column mode without the need for patches. 32, 40 or 64 column modes are also available. You can change screen and text colors to any of the COCO'S 64 colors. It automatically sets up 2 ramdisks if you have 512K. The only disadvantage that I have found is that it does not seem to have macro capabi- lities as does DISK EDTASM+. This isn't necessarily too much of a problem though. Although I can't => ____________________________________________________ claim to be much of an Assembly programmer, this is a very fine Assembler package. =* |
WHY REALTALKER WON'T COCO 3. Someone asked a while back, in CFDM, "is there a
way to get the Colorware RealTalker to work on the
CoCo 3?". The answer, unfortunately, is no, not very
easily. I recently had the opportunity to examine
the "REALTK32" realtalker software, with the intent-
ion of modifying it for the CoCo 3. What I found was
that the RealTalker's SC-01 voice chip is mapped at
a port at $FFA0. On the CoCo 1 and 2, this memory
area is available. Nothing was mapped there, but on
the CoCo 3, one of the MMU ports (the one that con-
trols memory locations $0000-$1FFF), is mapped to
that address. Thus, the realtalker software confuses
the heck out of the coco by randomly switching 8K
memory blocks in that area and the system crashes.
Now, if you happen to be a competent hardware hacker
you might could re-wire your realtalker to use =>
____________________________________________________
a different port address. The software could then be
modified to use this new address. On the CoCo 3, you
have some free ports to decode and use in the $FF30-
$FF3F range. These ports are not available on the
CoCo 1 and 2, because, the ports at $FF20-$FF23
were 'mirrored' through $FF3F, thus making those
addresses unavailable for use. Hope this info is of
some help to you 'RealTalker' owners. I'm sorry that
the news was not more positive. -Bob.
P.S. It just ocurred to me that it may not be too
difficult to modify the RealTalker to decode
and use a port at $FF30. This would require
minimal changes to the address decoder, since
only bits 4 and 7 differ between these two
addresses. =*
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[Disto M.C./ADOS 3] ??? In issue #14, Rick Mentioned that Fred Remin was
looking for both ADOS 3 and the DISTO Mini Controll-
er. In my Glenside CoCo Club Newsletters that I
picked up at the Atlanta CoCoFest last October 3rd,
1992, is this ad from Art Flexser, SpectroSystems:
"PRICES SLASHED ON ALL ADOS PRODUCTS LIMITED TIME
ONLY! EXTENDED ADOS-3 $29.95 (REQUIRES ADOS-3)
DISTO REAL TIME CLOCK DRIVER $5.00
ADAPTER FOR CONTROLLERS LACKING 28 PIN ROM
SOCKET $10.00 ADOS-3 $24.95
EXT. ADOS-3 PLUS ADOS-3 $49.95
SMARTWATCH REAL-TIME CLOCK $29.95
(REQUIRES 28 PIN ROM SOCKET)
OS-9 LEVEL II DRIVER $10
EXT ADOS-3 DRIVER $5 WITH SMARTWATCH, $10 SEPERATE
ADOS FOR COCO 1 AND 2 $14.95" =>
____________________________________________________
The address given in the ad was:
SPECTROSYSTEMS, 11111 N. KENDALL DR., SUITE A108,
MIAMI, FLORIDA 33176 (305) 274-3899 DAY OR EVE.
ADD $2.00 SHIPPING, NO CREDIT CARDS OR COD's.
I don't know if Arthur is still in business, but
you can try writing to this address or giving him a
call.
As for the DISTO Mini Controller, I'm not sure
where it may be obtained. It should be noted that
this controller is virtually identical to the FD-502
controller. Perhaps what Fred was looking for was
the DISTO Super Controller, or Super Controller II.
These two differ from the FD-502 controller in sev-
eral aspects. First, they both have a built in mini-
bus for connecting DISTO super add-ons. Second, =>
____________________________________________________
the Super Controller I has 4 software selectable ROM
sockets which accept 28 pin ROM's. The Super Contr-
oller II has only one socket. Third, the SC II has a
buffered R/W function, that under OS-9, allows NO -
HALT operation. The SC I does not support this func-
tion. You might try contacting CRC INC, the manufac-
turer of DISTO products. The last contact I had with
them was January 27, 1992, so I do not know if they
are still in business. The address was: CRC Inc.,
11 Boul. Des Laurentides, Laval, Quebec, Canada
H7G 2S3 Telephone: 1-514-967-0195. I have written
them a letter several days ago, asking if they still
have any products available. I will let CFDM know if
or what the reply is. HOPE THIS IS OF SOME HELP -BOB
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