Adventurer #05 30 ноября 1996

Софт

System - Description of programs: ZX-ASM3.0, Universal XAS Converter v2.1, Format Utility v2.01, Commander DOS v1.9, Super Catalog v1.12, Text Designer v1.0, The Dizzy Editor v1.0, Digital Studio for Covox, Alfasoft Music Crasher v2.13. Printer driver fonts created by Mach v2.4.

 (C) Alexander Kotov (CAV Inc.)


     Hello, dear readers, is
me again. Perhaps I've already fed up with
their arguments, but you do not write
that you would be interested to see, so
read it, guys. Gently pour from the speakers sound track 
"Fable" by Robert Miles, set aside the fourth issue

ZX-Format'a, and came to me the idea to share
some of my thoughts. A first thought
so ...

      Engaged once the guys from the ZX-FORMAT
take away my bread. You may ask, what
this, and how this ratio has to
"System"? Yes, the most direct: they come from

describe the system programs, but in my
look like something is wrong. The guys from FORMAT'a
matted fool. Put in a full journal
description version XAS'a 5.05, while the annex FIG understand 
what version, but apparently not 4.18 (possibly 3.091)


     Second, what is wrong with this approach -
is that given the author's evaluation of the program. Yes, it's 
certainly good, but not seriously.


     How do I write a description on kakuyunibud program? I 
write what I'm about It think it previously worked with

her, and not peredirayu description. Well,
it was so, adhering, and now briefly
describe what awaits you today (I can not
to swear on, hurting the music is good.
Yes, ROBERT MILES - it's cool). And waiting for you
selection of new, well, old sistemok (for
someone like), a short description of the driver
print vector fonts.

     Do you think this is all that awaits you?
Well, well, let's see ...


                 ZXASM 3.0


          (C) A. Khokhlov, K. Afendikov,

                 Rubtsov


     Got the same in my eyes long sought the mythical ZXASM 
(from ZX-Format'a, by the way). At first glance - a steep 
thing, after learning the description of the conviction 
steepness increases, but ... Honestly, the thing do something 
cool, but try to drive, I found some things that I really did 
not like. Frankly, I a few lazy, working XAS'e: and

put tab, and type commas me some tired, well it right. 
Assembles it is slower than XAS, somewhere once every two and a 
half, and indeed, operates medlennovato. Not supported DEFM, y 
DEFS abbreviated syntax (t.e.oblast filled with zeros, unlike 
XAS'a and TASM'a where you could fill in the region

memory than anything). But all the same pain
PWM its drawback is the slowness.

     What's good in ZXASM'e, so it's editor, here's where the 
really cool thing. Describe I have it I will not, revered in 
themselves HELP'e all of its features. But just say that

this text, I stuffed in it. Itself
system is very steep. There are all sorts of
bells and whistles and bells and whistles. Using commands
conditional events can create libraries of procedures and still 
make a lot of things. 

     To the editor is attached converter
files from GENS'a, TASM'a 2.xx, 3.xx, MASM
and ZXASM'a v2.xx. When testing revealed a glitch. Namely: the 
texts in the format TASM 3.XX and MASM converted did not want 
to. 

     In conclusion we can say that
ZXASM - a very good thing, and if I
had not moved to the XAS, it is more
everything would have worked in ZXASM'e (a general -
a matter of taste).
P.S. It turned out that the above-described disadvantage 
suffered only the version converter tera, which was placed in 
the ZX-Format'e (This is not a reproach Editorial Format'a), 
version in FAULTLESS # 2 is fully operational.


From the Editor: We could add that ZXASM
for people who like cool bells and whistles, and XAS - for 
"lazy", loving comfort at work.



      Universal XAS converter v 2.1


     (C) MAX PETROV, Virtual brothers


     Judging by the description, the converter is steep and
converts all that horrible but ...

     So, management has been done to
Sinclair joystic'a and the Kempston mouse. Sucks it was made, 
buggy are terrible. In Overall, things are: not on my Pentagon'e

mouse. The idea is that the program, which uses the mouse, 
there should be something that not everyone has this device.

Thus, the ZX-FORMAT'e everything runs smoothly, and
This converter is obtained so that

FIRE button is pressed continuously, and therefore
converter operation at once, I did not check
smog. But thanks to RAY'yu, which is something
there corrected, I can share my impressions about this product 
of human genius. Converts it pretty quickly, but

does not recognize the format of MASM and TASM 2.xx.
Honestly, he works a few
buggy: a comma after all the registers and also the flags, ie, 
C, NZ, PM, Z, PO, etc. It's good that he XAS

with them can understand, but for this
need a little postaratsya. (I do not want to seem immodest, but 
my nedodelany converter TASM'a 2.X of XAS commas

puts a lot better).

     Converts it, not only in XAS, but
and from the text (or rather, in GENS-format).
From the text it is, again, recognize
GENS-only files (or rather, considers all
files that have extension of "C" are).

        And by the way, I can tell you who
responsible for poor performance envelope -
a Virtual brothers. Hey! You guys are metal
AEs hear? If you undertake to do so
something, so at least check how this
will work on other machines.

RAY: Glitches in the converter are not the reason for my 
"climbing" on it, because was corrected only control, or rather,

only one address. My SORRY Max Petrov and Virtual Brothers, but 
how to contact you, I do not know ... And BIG THANKS for 
wonderful assembly! 


        Format Utility v 2.01


        (C) HI'DI Ltd. 1994

          Dmitry R. Altbresin

          Michael Yu Kondratyev


     Perhaps you have noticed
at the date of this program? I
promised you not only nove, but also well
forgotten past. By the way, for in 1994
This program was quite steep, so
and now she has not lost its steepness.

The first thing that catches your eye at work
with this program, so the interface
a la DCU. For 1994 it was cool
and still looks good. Starting
working with her, I thought it was just another formatter type 
DCU and ADS, but digging realized that it is not. The program 
has a lot of settings for all modes (You can save the 
settings). You can not restore an entire disk, but any track, 
and even one! There ability to recover the disk from the 
information obtained in the mode CHECK. Very I greatly amuse 
yourself, go to Menu ABOUT. That there usually is? Information 
Only about the authors of the program. And yet here were two 
subsections. Test your computer and disc. The test drive 
program gives all characteristics of the disc, plus a directory 
as short and full of DEC / HEX format. In

the geometry can be found than it was
formatted: so the program recognizes
discs after DCU, after himself and standard
formatted. In the test computer

checked the memory, the presence of AY,
Kempston joystic'a and mouse, as well as the speed of your 
machine with respect to Standard SPECCY. The program also 
recognizes the type of printer interface (I shows ZX-Lprint 
III, though, he's me and worth it) and type TR-DOS'a. Frankly, 
I first saw the program, wherever was granted such a service.


     Despite the fairly long-standing issue
recommended.


           Commander-DOS v 1.9


            (C) Tishkov Peter

                16.06.95


     After seeing this program, I asked myself
question: "What nafig?" It appears this is ...
Commanderie! That is to say boot from the bells and whistles.
Frankly, for the year 1995 could be
would be even better to come up with. The first impression of 
this Commanderie disgusting. Some work it is understood that 

sort of thing and not so bad. Thus,
What is the present Commanderie.

     Dual-panel shell with control
from CURSOR and KEMPSTON joysticks. There
command system with menu-type pull-down, in
of which contains a bunch of all functions. In addition to the 
usual Commanderie operations: copy, delete, etc. here there 
copy the entire disk, a calculator, sravnilka and even a little 
trivia. Quite a number of infusions of the Commanderie. There 
is a micro-computer test (memory ' type DOS). Copies are 
adequately long. A feeling that does not use extra memory. 
There staring the screens and something else. Managing all 
Commanderie quite uncomfortable, and I do not liked it. In 
general, what can I say nedotyagivaet programm to no

falls short. Jemmini and CONVER commander'y
much more convenient for all its shortcomings
and glitches.


           SUPER CATALOG v 1.12


               (C) Sirius group

              Dancers Dmitry

               Oleg jumpers


    Another system of the great brotherhood of catalogers. The 
system, in general, not bad. Done quite well.

Window interface, command line, etc.
There is a search for the mask, view the entire list of titles 
and programs. Sufficiently convenient management system. There 
is a description, and more about this program can not say.

It is not something extraordinary, though
his work does. Now, about what a
It does not, but we would like. Do not paint program that can 
not make comments to the program. It would be nice to add a 
shipping directory as a text file. Yes ... How many catalogers I

saw none satisfied me completely, will probably, I do 
everything myself. 


       PROFESSIONAL GRAPHIC UTILITY

               version 1.52


     (C) 1996 SEAMANS BEERUSERS HACKERS

                   GROUP

            writen by ROM 'FUX


     As the name implies - a program to work with graphics. I 
do not know how What about the word professional, as well as 
the program is not bad. It is intended to excision of sprites 
from the standard screens. When you boot from the screen 
remains Only bitmap images, without attributes. Sprite can cut 
any reasonable size (larger than the screen is still not will 
be). It is possible to generate mask for a sprite.


     A significant drawback is
that can create only one sprite,
ie chain sprites you do not specify. The Office is set in a 
fairly wide range (keyboard, KEMPSTON and SINCLAIR two 
joystick). Print Speed 

sprites with a mask quickly enough.

     As always happens with us with
pirated versions of programs, so the loss of the supporting 
files. So the program, when trying to invoke one of the options 
menu for a file on disk and can not find. Likewise there is no 
description file format and the text of the print driver. So 
once again appeal to all - and pirates and distributors: try 
all the same programs sell the entire Lift example

PC'shnyh pirates (see "Computerra" N 30
p.33).

     And to start I can say about
as there are data in the file sprite (with mask). At the 
beginning of the data come from a mask, followed by data 
sprite, that's such a simple format. 


              TEXT-DESIGNER

               version 1.0


            (C) Dmitry Plyasunov


     Finally in my hands hit first
program of the new direction for the Speccy,
namely, the creator of the descriptions. Voobsche-I
I know of the existence of another system
such a plan, this system is called
Presentation Master. But I have to say about it
anything as long as I can not. So, what can
TD? Actually, in version 1.0 is
only the opportunity to ask the control buttons, the type of 
font (4 * 8.5 * 8.6 * 8.8 * 8), and way of text output (pixel 
by pixel, or familiarity). Texts must howl at IBM

encoding (ASCII). As a result of
executable program is obtained by block
which can already be used. Work
the program is very simple. Glitches were noticed. I will wait 
with impatience the next version that, in general, good program.


RAY: The description for RDM (see "Application")
done exactly in this system. From himself
I note that the display font, different from the 8 * 8 by the 
brakes lightly. 


            The Dizzy Editor

               version 1.0


          (C) Welcome Corp.

             by Denis Parinov


     This program belongs to the class
Automatic game creators. By the same
nice class includes HURG, GAC
and a few other items can, I will not say which ones. By 
launching this program, I thought that you can create a full 
game of Dizzy (Dizzy or not) but ... It was only a demo version 
on the editor (though author scroll to the contrary). In

This editor can only create
landscapes, well, drive him to Dizzy. AND
everything! Neither work with objects, or programs
formation program logic, nor shipping the finished game block 
on the disk (Only the landscape is not considered). To

to be considered truly GAME DESIGNER'om in this program should 
be added In addition to these things still work

Users with sprites (user'a), modified hats playing field, etc. 
If the author (s) do (did) these things, then this program 
would be really cool. 


       Let us talk a bit about the music
rather, the programs to work with her. A
begin our review of the remake of one of the editors of 
digitized music. 


          DIGITAL Studio for COVOX



     You probably noticed the lack of marks on the alteration 
of the editor. It's a mystery an enigma. I do not think that 
the authors agreed to rework his brainchild.

So, some impressions of this pro
products. The first thing that catches the eye is
Port COVOX'a default (# DD), I do not
know who though such, all normal
People who do not COVOX'a was hanged this
pribambas on the printer port. But here, to
Fortunately, you can configure to any port.
Listen to music, applied to the program, I dragged a bit: the 
quality is much better than the native DIGITAL'a (8-bit

after all), though still not stereo ...

     Deciding to listen to the old modules I DIGITAL'ovskie big 
bummer. New DIGITAL them played, but very, very quiet.

After some investigation it was found that the files of type 
SONG normal loaded and running. The same applies

files tools. The only zamorochki - with the module file. By the 
way, DIGITAL for AY refused to play the modules DIGITAL'a

for COVOX, or rather he tried to play ...

     What is bad in the new DIGITAL'e, so it
no compiler. Without it, it will be a thing in itself, as it 
was in its time SAMPLER'om.



     Except FLASH TRACKER'a, then
This remake is only the second DIGITAL'a
editor, who has supported COVOX'a (o
first you can read in SPECTROFON'e
N 19).


        ALFASOFT MUSIC CRASHER v 2.13


                 (C) ALFASOFT


     As the name implies - a program to "vykusyvaniya" music 
from the program. Many similar programs, but if, for example, 
STEALER ONLY rip Files in this program and they can hear. 
Search is carried out across the disk, sought 
NESKOMPRESSIROVANNYE Mouzon, written in SOUND TRACKER'e. 
Rather, we seek everything, but normally can be handled

Only uncompressed. Generally, it is possible
say that there are more than handy thing to
such operations: it SOUND TRACKER, converted by John Doe, but 
this kaknibud another time. 


     Well, with the description sistemok finished, go to the 
next part of my article. Long ago, I promised to deal with 
programs from MACH 2.4, some materials even been published (see 
description ADVENTURER N2). Today I bring to your attention the 
printer driver fonts created in the above program. 

     We'll start with the file format. Program file MACH 2.4 is 
very different from the standard ". chr" - file with IBM. And

Therefore, the fonts you have to create yourself, or write to 
us and we than be able to help. Thus description of the format 
... 


     The file format of the program MACH 2.4


  field length of comments


  cod 1, the code symbol

  len a length of the description

                        symbol

  recs len description of the character



     Information about the following characters in

  the same format. Ie comes first

  description of the first created the character

  then second, etc.

     As you can see, the format is fairly
simple. We now turn to the most driver. My diligence was 
vyuzhen of MACH'a and brought to the kind of people you

see it. This article has no text
driver. Full text of the example you will find on the disk in a 
format XAS'a and a text file (TASM format 2). 


     (Files MFD_HL. X and MFD_HL. C)

Editorial Note: For the "lazy", we wrote
unpretentious "pechatalku" with which you can download the 
established MACH font to make it to the Eran inscription to any

style and size (within reason,
course), and then ship your "creation" as the display file. 
(Program MACH_PRN).



     When using the driver does not allocate memory from the 
address # C000 length two kilobytes - this area is used for

buffer, and transfer it to other addresses
given nothing. Driver in the current configuration is 
configured to load address font with # 9C40. You can 
reconfigure it to any desired address, the main thing is not to 
climb the buffer. Before printing in END_ADR variable should be 
set address of the last byte of the font. Next you should 
install the HL start address line and call the procedure P_V.


     Attention! The main set of registers
not saved!

     The line may be present such
Team:

   # 01 n - size of the symbol on the X (max 127)

   # 02 n - size of the symbol on the Y (max 127)

   # 16 y, x - coordinates of the character in pixels
             crystals, measured from the lower
             He left corner of the screen

   # 19 n - the main type of characters (0-6)

   # 18 - toggle italics / direct


     Teper few comments on the paper
and compile the driver. Faced with the symbol code that is not 
in the current set, driver goes to the caller.

If you want, and in the presence of the symbol Fonte
with any code to 255, this symbol will
printed. Variables PER_5 and BUFF desirable to leave as large 
as they there, as when casting a character used pure method of 
forest fire. " 

     All reviews and recommendations, please
sent to the editor.


     Oh, and who are well able to develop fonts, respond!


                  *