The BBC and Master Computer Public Domain Library

IMAGE

Professional, Originally Released On Cassette Only

Game Type          : Utility; Tape Copier; Eseential Utility

Author             : Peter Donn

Standalone Release(s)   : 1984: IMAGE, Peter Donn, £5.95

Compilation Release(s) : None

Stated compatibility    : Electron

Actual compatibility    : Electron

Supplier            : Peter Donn, 18 Tyrone Road, Thorpe Bay, ESSEX SS1 3HF

Disc compatibility     : Not Applicable

Instructions

Congratulations on buying the 'Image' V.2 tape copier. Once you have used it a few times, I'm sure you will agree it is the best available on the market. I wish you well to use it. Please use it for strictly legal purposes.

The 'Image' tape back-up system is composed of two programs. The first is the program you use for 99% of software. It can make back-ups when the programs contain CTRL codes in the filename, are locked, contain false addresses, are files, are very long, or are 300 or 1200 BAUD, or any combination of the above. In addition, it can be used to lock or unlock programs. The second is very specialised. It loads in programs not as programs, but simply as binary data, This should be used when the first program does not work. This program seals with programs that are recorded with changing filenames, extremely irregular CTRL blocks, or are composed simply as a continuous stream of binary data. Using this program, you can even back-up a program one block at a time.

Electron Users: If you have a Plus 1 attached to your machine, type:

      ?&2AC=0 <RETURN>, before running 'Image'.

How To Use The First Program

This program is extremely simple to use. To load it enter *RUN <RETURN>. Select key '1' to load in the program to be copied, and key '2' to record a copy on cassette. The UP and DOWN cursor keys control keys select the 300 or 1200 BAUD rate. The program will record programs up to &73 blocks long (BBC version).

Locks

On the bottom left hand corner of the screen you will see the message 'Last prog'. To the left of it is a single letter. If this is an 'L' the last program you have just loaded in was locked. If it was a 'U' then it was not locked. Underneath this message is another one - 'Re-lock' and to the left of this is another letter. If it is a 'Y' then the program to be recorded on cassette will be locked, and if an 'N' then it won't.

You can change this status by using the keys 'Y' and 'N'. If the program is locked, ths letter will automatically change to a 'Y' as soon as it has loaded, assuming you wish it to remain locked when you record it on cassette. If you want to unlock it, then press 'N' just before you record it.

Likewise, if a program is initially unlocked, then this letter will change to an 'N' presuming you want it saved unlocked. Press 'N' just before you record it if you wish it to be locked on cassette.

It should be noted that locked programs can only be *RUN'd, as using CHAIN or LOAD will give a 'Locked' message.

Locking a BASIC program

As you can only CHAIN a BASIC program, before it can be locked it has to be converted so it can be *RUN. To do this, follow the procedure below.

Load in or type in the BASIC program that you want converted. LIST the program to check it is there. Now type:

      P.~PAGE

      P.~TOP

Each time you do this you will get a number coming on the screen. Let us call the first number X, and the second Y. Type the following:

      PAGE=&A00

and load or type in CAREFULLY the program listed below. RUN the program. The computer will ask you for two values, one after the other. The first time, you enter your value X, the second time your value Y, that you obtained before. After entering both values, the computer will tell you how to SAVE the program onto cassette. To load and RUN this program you may type *RUN or CHAIN, unless you have locked it (using 'Image') in which case you have to *RUN the program.

The program follows:

       10REM *RUN BASIC (C) PETER DONN '84

       20MODE7

       30BTB$="OLDCRUNC"

       40INPUT'''"ENTER PAGE :&"A$

       50INPUT"      TOP  :&"B$

       60PA%=EVAL("&"+A$)

       70AD%=EVAL("&"+B$)

       80P%=AD%:[OPT2

       90LDA#PA% DIV 256:STA&18

      100OLDX#0:LDA#138:]

      110FORSCAN%=1TOLENBTB$

      120CH$=MID$(BTB$,SCAN%,1)

      130IFCH$<>"C" [OPT2:LDY#ASCCH$:JSR&FFF4:] ELSE [OPT2:LDY#13:JSR&FFF4:]

      140NEXT

      145P%=P%-3:[OPT2:JMP&FFF4:]

      150PRINT''"ENTER:"''"*SAVE""PROG""";~PA%;" ";~(AD%+&30);" ";~AD%;''"TO

   SAVE."

How To Use The Second Program

The second program will not run on the Electron, but is included in the package in case you have access to a BBC Micro, which the program WILL run on.

Only use this program when the first program does not work. To load this program from cassette, type *RUN <RETURN> and load in the second program (The third file on the Electron tape). Once it has loaded and is running, to load the program or data to be copied in, press the 'A' key. A 'K' will appear in the data window, meaning 'Press a key'. At this point, put your cassette in your cassette recorder (if it isn't already there) and press PLAY. As soon as you hear the high pitch tone at the start of the program, press a key. Once you have done this an 'L' will appear in the data winodw meaning the computer will accept the program data as soon as it is encountered. As the data is read in, characters will flash by in the data window, showing that the data is being read in successfully. As soon as the last part of the program has been read in (listed to the program playing on the cassette constantly so you know when it has reached the end) you must press the <ESCAPE> key.

To record the program onto a blank cassette, press 'B' or 'C' depending on whether the program was recorded as Blocks (lots of short sections with gaps in between - how normal program are recorded) or as a Continuous stream of data. After choosing an option, a 'K' will appear in the data window meaning 'Press a key'.

Now you must put your blank cassette in your cassette recorder and press PLAY and RECORD. After doing this, press a key, and an 'R' will appear in the data window showing that the program is now being recorded on the cassette. The data window is out of action throughout the duration of recording. The <ESCAPE> key is also out of action during recording, although you can use it to get back to the menu at the very start of choosing the record option, or, if you've chosen the Block record option, between recording any two blocks.

Another point should be made. Should you accidentally press the 'A' key instead of 'B' or 'C' when you want to record, it will reset some internal pointers and regrettably you will have to load the program again.

This program can only deal with programs up to &60 blocks continuously. If a program is longer that this do half the program at a time (press <ESCAPE) after loading the first &40 blocks for example and save it on cassette. Then load in the rest of the blocks and save them on cassette).

No error checking is done in the program, so before you load in the program please make sure that the cassette controls are in the optimum position. Should the program fail to make a correct copy of your program, try again, as it is probably due to it loading incorrectly.

When loading any of the 'Image' programs in, it is important you use the word *RUN. Abbreviations are not guaranteed to work.

Should your 'Image' cassette at any time become damaged, please return it together with 1.50, and it will be replaced.

WARNING: This tape back-up copier is NOT to be used for illegal purposes. Its use must be confined to making back-up copies of your own personal software, and these copies must be used by you only.

Instructions' Source   : IMAGE (Peter Donn) Inner Inlay

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