12. Building Blocks


General Description

This remarkable program enables the user to create 3-D objects on a 2-D screen. It allows you to construct a picture with building blocks, whose positions are determined by the specification you give to the computer. Use the L key to expand your creation to the Left, R if you want it developed to the Right and so on. You can charge the colour of the blocks by keying in the first letter of the colour you require, and if you want to see the computer draw the shape for you, simply press P for Playback.

Detailed Description

   Line 10-20 First part of delete trick.
   30-100 Credits (can be deleted if 'no room').
   120 Set text window.
   130 MAX = Maximum number of operations, depends on size of memory, if 32K machine then MAX can be much higher.
   140-180 Set up variables.
   190 Clear graphics area.
   200-210 Jump to procedures to initialise cube and to display cube on the screen.
   220 Display for playback.
   230-360 Input from keyboard and display option in window.
   370-380 Jump to procedure to give help (i.e. list of commands).
   390-420 Add move to C$(LT) so computer can play back picture later. Also sets colour of lines to colour chosen.
   430-610 Procedure to initialise cube.
   620-690 Procedure to display cube on screen.
   700-780 Procedure to display help in window.
   790-1070 Instructions.
   1080-1110 Second part of delete trick.

Educational Notes

This program is valuable for its ability to bring geometric examples to life. Art teachers will find it useful as an aid to demonstrating the power and techniques of perspective, and computer students will waste hours trying to demonstrate that they have missed their vocation.