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The BBC and Master Computer Public Domain Library
Hints And Tips By Topic
From 73 de G4BLT @ GB7WRG
Go To All In One Page
Go to Numerical Order
Introduction
Programming Hints
001 Finding the last line number in a BASIC program.
003 Padding strings to a certain length.
004 Scrambling the random number generator.
005 Self validating INPUT.
006 Shortened IF statement.
009 Key pressed check.
010 The use of INPUT LINE.
011 Function to ensure a certain number of characters are entered
012 Number input function.
013 Status functions.
014 Star commands in a program.
015 Alphabetic sort.
016 Program size.
017 Find a string in a program.
019 Locking out lower case.
020 Putting a function key into a buffer.
021 Press space to continue.....
022 Time Delays.
025 Cube roots.
026 Integer Variables.
030 Program Verify.
032 Unwanted spaces.
035 Saving Memory.
036 Simplified star commands.
037 Menu.
038 Double Height INPUT.
039 Timed INPUT.
040 Date input routine.
041 User key editor.
044 Multiple menu technique.
046 Extra large printing.
047 MODE 7 box.
048 Centered text.
049 Screen border.
050 Novel screen clearing!
051 Inverse colour text.
053 String formatting.
054 Capitals conversion.
055 TAB command.
057 Reversing flags.
058 WHILE...DO structures (BASIC 5).
059 Variable names.
061 RESTORE statement.
062 Abbreviations.
064 Error reporting.
065 Error calls.
066 Storing a MODE 7 screen.
069 Ignoring shift/caps lock.
072 Top 10 speed techniques.
075 Random numbers not including zero.
076 Jumping out of loops and porcedures.
077 *FX lookalike.
078 Reading *FX calls.
080 Text screen dump.
089 Moving text, Part 1.
090 Moving text, Part 2.
091 Shadow printing.
104 Controlling shift/caps lock from within a program.
105 GOTO/GOSUB line tokens.
112 Use for EVAL.
122 REM alternative.
123 VDU code reminder.
124 VDU oddities.
125 DIM oddity.
126 Alphabetic comparision.
127 On error tip.
128 Date compression.
129 Number compression.
134 Writing legal programs.
146 VDU terminator.
156 INKEY(-256) command.
157 Calendar functions.
163a BASIC program format part1.
163b BASIC program format part2.
164 'Hard' break/reset.
167 Auto-date function.
168 Drawing text boxes.
171 Negative INKEY codes.
172 Another calendar function.
174 Decimal-Hex-Binary convertor.
175 TRACE.
176 Simple menu selection.
177 Remarks and all that.
179 Reading/writing registers with OSBYTE.
187 Hasing around.
204 Attractive menu boxes for the Master.
Miscellaneous Hints
002 Paging mode on/off and halting a scrolling screen.
018 Wacky error message!
024 Simulate a duff TV!
034 Lower case commands.
042 Saving User key definitions.
056 Altering the cursor.
068 Secure cipher code.
070 Caps lock and shift reverse!
073 Interlacing in modes 0-6.
074 Interlacing in mode 7.
110 Slowing down programs.
147 Character founts.
188 Master/Arc scroll quirk.
201 Configuring the Escape key.
Sound Hints
007 Simple bleep.
008 Changing the simple bleep.
102 Speech procedure.
106 Pretty VDU7 Bell.
107 Key pressed bleep.
132 Speech! hint.
Printer Hints
023 Printer output only.
080 Text screen dump.
096 Printer pound/hash sign fix.
097 Printing listings (1).
098 Printing listings (2).
099 Greek characters.
100 Printer routine snag.
180 Printer snag.
189 Master/Compact/Arc printer ignore character.
I/O & Hardware Hints
028 User port experimenting part 1.
029 User port experimenting part 2.
079 User port experimenting part 3.
101 Second Processor hints.
111 Tube indicator.
113 Altering the RS423 format.
150 Incorrect capacitors.
162 High quality audio output.
170 Composite video colour.
185 Master battery pack + internal modem.
186 Master PSU tip.
202 Beeb composite video output.
Filing System Hints
027 Disk relocate.
031 Tape reset.
045 Ultra simple disk menu.
060 Opening disk files.
071 Acorn DFS 0.90 and 1.20 DNFS workspace.
081 Booting from secondary drives.
082 Building a !BOOT file.
083 "Can't extend" errors.
084 *SAVE bug.
085 Disk drive hints.
086 Formatted disk speed.
087 Acorn DFS PAGE setting.
088 Auto loading of disk files.
103 Super fast relocate.
114 Another relocate program.
115 Saving files.
116 Comparing disk files.
117 Comparing programs with memory.
118 !BOOT file hint.
119 *RUN hint.
120 *EXEC file nesting.
121 Merging BASIC programs.
140 ADFS filename snag.
141 Reset to ADFS.
143 *MOVE syntax.
144 ADFS *COPY syntax.
149 When is a 1770 FDC not a 1770 FDC?!
155 Splitting large files.
159 Accelerating step rate.
165 Date stamping disks.
166 Date stamping disks (for Master).
169 !BOOTing convert.
178 Disky Flops.
184 Master ADFS compacting routine.
190 Rescuing files with the E attribute on ADFS.
192 *EXEC files on Master.
197 Disk hint, 40/80 Tracks.
198 High density floppy disks.
199 Disk backups.
200 !BOOT and MosPlus hint.
203 Master/BBC 1772 DFS chip snag.
ROM Hints
033 Fitting both BASIC 1 and BASIC 2 in one Beeb!
067 Sideways ROM search.
109 Disabling ROMs.
133 ROM/RAM board fix.
142 Language problems.
148 Rom sockets.
160 Killing ROMs.
173 ROM problems.
191 Uses of *SRWRITE on Master.
Wordwise (+) Hints
043 Wordwise and the user keys.
063 Underlining in Wordwise.
108 Wordwise pad charater snag.
135 Wordwise cursor hint.
136 Wordwise margin tips.
137 Wordwise plus line tip.
138 Wordwise plus bug.
139 Wordwise plus paging hints.
182 Stripes in Wordwise plus.
View Hints
153 View extended highlights.
154 !BOOT file for Viewspell.
183 View text ruler.
193 Making the most of View (1) - expanding your macros.
194 Making the most of View (2) - yet more macros!
195 Making the most of View (3) - function keys.
196 Making the most of View (4) - registers.
205 Master View/Viewsheet hint.
Interword hints
151 Interword TAB hint.
152 Interword line hint.
Graphics Hints
052 Drawing circles and discs.
092 Graphics demo.
093 Exploring fractals.
094 Blanking the screen.
095 Auto screen off.
130 Coloured text and backgrounds.
131 Stripey background hint.
145 Plotting ellipses.
158 Multiple windows.
161 Instant Migraine!
181 Friangle.