https://inverseatascii.info/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/inverseatascii-s1e7-apx_mailinglist.mp3

This episode features Weekly Planner, originally released in 1981 by APX.  It was written by Ronald & Lynn Marcuse.  This program for the Atari 8 bit line of computers was written in BASIC and released on cassette and diskette.

Podcast: Download

The cover of the manual:

APX, Atari Program Exchange, was a software distribution model run by Atari between 1981 and 1984.  It was similar to shareware in that it allowed users to write and sell software as commercial titles, but it allowed for a central point of sale and distribution.  I like to think of it as a very early App store.

1981.  Similar to the Atari Connection magazine logo:

1982.  This one is my favorite.

1983.  This is the one I remember the most:

When the program loads you are presented with a menu of options. They are depicted in the screen shot below.  Note the program displays the date and day name:

Selecting add event.  After entering the date, it determines the day name as well.  Note in the example below that HOLIDAY is entered for the TYPE field.  None of the fields are limit restricted, however they are truncated to the internally defined size.  As such, HOLIDAY becomes H:

When selecting INQUIRY menu item, first select the Date, Time, and Person which can all have a wildcard.  Then select BROWSE or INQUIRY from the sub menu:

When selecting the INQUIRY sub menu, all matching records are displayed in full detail.  Select CONTINUE to move to next matching record:

When select BROWSE from the INQUIRY sub menu, a list of matching records is presented in partial detail:

The APPOINTMENT LIST main menu option allows you to print a daily agenda on a full sheet of paper.  It can be blank or populated with data matching filter criteria you specify similar to the INQUIRY function:

The CALENDAR main menu option allows you to print a full month calendar on a full sheet of paper.  It can be blank or populated with data matching filter criteria you specify similar to the INQUIRY function:

Appointment List Output (in PDF form)

Calendar Output (in PDF form)

As noted in the podcast I have updated the software to version 1.1.  I am hosting it for now.  Rename the file from .ZIP to .ATR.  I can’t host files named as .ATR so it had to be renamed.

Download

Once booted to BASIC prompt, enter: RUN “D:CALY2K”

The changes I made to the day name determination routine are covered in depth on my blog Unfinished Bitness at http://unfinishedbitness.info/2014/12/10/basic-what-day-is-it/

The following changes were applied to the original 1.0 code to allow Weekly Planner to work with dates from 2000 to 2099.  The 1.0 version would not work with dates beyond 1999.

Since there is not an easy or practical way to print Inverse ATASCII characters on modern computers, captured printer output will have to do.  Here is an image of the code changes:

Screen shot of my version 1.1 update:

Podcast: Download

This episode features Synapse SynFile+, originally released in 1983.  There was a second release in 1985 which provided compatability with the XL/XE computers.  Synapse was thrown into financial crisis by Atari after Jack Tramiel took over and refused to pay for 40,000 software units that had been shipped.  Broderbund software bought Synapse in 1984.  As such the 1985 release is sometimes credited as being published by Broderbund/Synapse.

https://inverseatascii.info/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/s1e61.mp3

This episode features Synapse SynFile+, originally released in 1983.  There was a second release in 1985 which provided compatability with the XL/XE computers.  Synapse was thrown into financial crisis by Atari after Jack Tramiel took over and refused to pay for 40,000 software units that had been shipped.  Broderbund software bought Synapse in 1984.  As such the 1985 release is sometimes credited as being published by Broderbund/Synapse.

Podcast: Download

This is an ad for FileManager 800, which SynFile+ grew out of.

Main Title booted on an 800 (1983 release):

Boot Error when cartridge is inserted or memory requirements are not met:

Main Title booted on 130XE (Copyright says 1983, version is 1.02, and supports XE memory footprint.  Should be 1985, unless this is an interim release, or the copyright update was missed):

Files Menu:

Records Menu:

Reports Menu:

Create Menu:

The SynFile+ option reloads the main SynFile+ program.

Adding Field, Selecting Type :

Form completed:

Altering a field type. Note placement of cursor, then press RETURN.  This screenshot is from the EDIT FORM, but it works the same during CREATE:

Defining a lookup table for lookup fields:

Opening a database:

Defining the initial index after opening.  This will only happen the first time a new database is opened, after that you use the RE-INDEX option from the RECORDS menu:

Database Status showing name, index definition, number of records, and maximum number of records:

Database Status after entering 104 records and altering the index.  This screenshot is where I realized something was wrong with the database.  It’s only reflecting 46 records.

Error during input (invalid entry for lookup field):

Error during record save.  This is where my database got corrupted and ultimately caused me to have the first 58 records zero’d out:

Setting a retrieval filter:

Using LISTS you enter all fields on one line:

Using LABELS you have more flexibility but still not enough:

The tutorial disk requires BASIC cartridge be inserted.  It walks you through the basic of databases through creating reports with a lot of explanation.

The main menu:

The start of the Database Introduction section:

Here is a sample report as printed to the printer, this one without column totals:

Download PDF: Cheat Sheet

Podcast: Download

This episode features Decision Maker, originally released in 1981 by Color Computer Concepts through APX.  It was written by James L Bruun.  This program for the Atari 8 bit line of computers was written in BASIC and released on cassette and diskette.  Absolute initial pricing was hard to discern as different sources listed different amounts at the time of release.

https://inverseatascii.info/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/s1e5.mp3

This episode features Decision Maker, originally released in 1981 by Color Computer Concepts through APX.  It was written by James L Bruun.  This program for the Atari 8 bit line of computers was written in BASIC and released on cassette and diskette.  Absolute initial pricing was hard to discern as different sources listed different amounts at the time of release.

Podcast: Download

APX, Atari Program Exchange, was a software distribution model run by Atari between 1981 and 1984.  It was similar to shareware in that it allowed users to write and sell software as commercial titles, but it allowed for a central point of sale and distribution.  I like to think of it as a very early App store.

1981.  Similar to the Atari Connection magazine logo:

1982.  This one is my favorite.

1983.  This is the one I remember the most:

There is no menu.  Starting the programs does just that, starts the program.  This is start screen:

Entering the choices you want to decide on:

Entering the common attributes for the choices:

Instructions for, and entering, the relative weights for each each attribute:

Entering the weights for each attribute and choice combination:

The results display complete with weighting graph and recommended choice:

Relative Attribute Weights:

Individual Attribute and Choice Weights:

Podcast: Download

This episode features Atari Mailing List, originally released in 1981.  This program for the Atari 8 bit line of computers was written in BASIC and released on cassette.

https://inverseatascii.info/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/s1e4.mp3

This episode features Atari Mailing List, originally released in 1981.  This program for the Atari 8 bit line of computers was written in BASIC and released on cassette.

Podcast: Download

Loading the program using CLOAD and examination of the secondary load.  The first load prepares the loading screen.  The second, forced, load loads the actual program:

Loading screen, complete with broken art:

Momentary title screen:

Main Menu:

Resume from BREAK.  Line 100 is the menu input routine:

Modifying code for disk use:

Adding a record:

Filtering data set via Delete function:

Title Screen:

Step 1: Defining name, number of fields, and number of output lines:

Step 2: Defining field labels and field sizes:

Step 3: Defining each output line format:

Step 4: Saving the customized code:

Data files are stored in a combination binary and ATASCII format, mainly ATASCII.  Looks like it could easily be completely deciphered.  You can also see in this screenshot the Atari Mailing List program on disk (AMAILLST.BAS), the Atari General List program on disk (AGENLIST.BAS), along with the list modification code created by the customizer (AEMMOD.BAS), a completely merged customized program (AEMAIL.BAS), and last the data file for the customized list (EMAIL).

This is output for ALL records sent to the printer:

Download PDF: Cheat Sheet

Podcast: Download

This episode features Atari Calculator, originally released in 1981.  This calculator for the Atari 8 bit line of computers was intended or release on cartridge in 1979 but was released on disk nearly 2 years later in 1981.

https://inverseatascii.info/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/s1e3.mp3

This episode features Atari Calculator, originally released in 1981.  This calculator for the Atari 8 bit line of computers was intended or release on cartridge in 1979 but was released on disk nearly 2 years later in 1981.

Podcast: Download

After program loading:

Interest Calculation Mode:

Statistics Calculation Mode:

Programming Mode:

Program Execution:

Manual Error:

Here is the source for the test program I wrote.  I used the commenting feature to document what it is doing at each step.  Comments follow a ‘:’.

Download PDF: Cheat Sheet

Podcast: Download

This episode features LJK Enterprises Letter Perfect, originally released in 1980.  The FIRST word processor for the Atari 8 bit line of computers, released within several months of the Atari computers initial shipping.  Also featuring an interview with LJK founder Ken Leonhardi.