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  • S1E7 APX Weekly Planner – Supplement

    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

    APX Weekly Planner

    The cover of the manual:

     

    Many Faces of APX

    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:

    APX Weekly Planner in Action

    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:

     

    Printed Output

    Appointment List Output (in PDF form)

    Calendar Output (in PDF form)

    Weekly Planner Version Update:

    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/

     

    Change Summary

    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.

    • Line 11: Added: REM UPDATED BY WADE RIPKOWSKI (2014)
    • Line 100: Changed version to 1.1, added (wr), spaced out word M E N U
    • Line 140: Set Instructions to lowercase (differentiate from Menu better), added one space before Press to properly center it
    • Line 420: Changed 19 to 20
    • Line 950: Changed 19 to 20
    • Lines 960,962,964: Removed
    • Line 966: Renumbered to 974
    • Lines 960,962,964,966,968,970,972: Added
    • Line 990: Changed to new month table values: 033614625035
    • Lines 991,992,994: Propercased Month and Day names
      • Changed Code

      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:

      Update Main Menu

      Screen shot of my version 1.1 update:

       

      Show Links:
      • Atari Mania: http://www.atarimania.com/utility-atari-400-800-xl-xe-weekly-planner_29819.html
      • Atari Archives: http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=20079
      • Wikipedia Day of Week Determination: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Determination_of_the_day_of_the_week
      • Time and Date Calendar Tools: http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/?year=2014&country=1
      • Unfinished Bitness Day Of Week: http://unfinishedbitness.info/2014/12/10/basic-what-day-is-it/
        •  

         

        Intro music is an excerpt from a chip tune by Jordon Gladstone named The Christmas Is In Another Castle.  It is used under Creative Common license Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International.
        18 min
      • S1E6 Synapse SynFile+

        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.

        Intro music is an excerpt from a chip tune by Wizwars named 8 Bit Raceway.  It is used under Creative Common license Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States.
        29 min
      • S1E6 Synapse SynFile+ – Supplement

        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

         

        Box Art
        1983 Release:
        1985 Release:
        Predecessor Ad

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

         

        Synapse SynFile+ in Action
        Booting

        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):

         

        Menus

        Files Menu:

         

        Records Menu:

         

        Reports Menu:

         

        Create Database

        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:

         

        Open File

        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.

         

        Input

        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:

         

        Reports

        Using LISTS you enter all fields on one line:

         

        Using LABELS you have more flexibility but still not enough:

         

        Tutorial

        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:

         

        Report Output
        Without Totals

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

        Atari 8 Software
        RelYear RelMonth Publisher Title
        ------- -------- ------------------------ --------------------------
        Sierra On-Line Homeword
        Alpha Systems MagniPrint
        tmq Software, Inc File-Fax DBMS
        Alpha Systems MagniPrint II
        1980 Atari Graph It
        1980 Atari Mailing List
        1980 03 LJK Enterprises Letter Perfect
        1981 03 Swifty Software, Inc File It
        1981 03 Atari General Ledger
        1981 03 CE Software Letter Writer
        1981 03 Magic Lantern Mail List
        1981 05 Swifty Software, Inc File It 2
        1981 07 Dynacomp, Inc Mail List 2.2
        1981 08 Computer Age Software InfoFile
        1981 10 PMS General Ledger
        1981 11 Synapse Software File Manager 800
        1982 Atari Home Filing Manager
        1982 01 Artworx Form Letter System
        1982 01 Artworx Mail List 3.0
        1982 03 Atari Home Accounting System
        1982 06 Creative Software Home Inventory
        1982 06 Creative Software Household Finance
        1982 06 The Computer Seen SW Inventory Control
        1982 06 Creative Software Loan Analyzer
        1982 09 Swifty Software, Inc File It C
        1982 09 Acorn Software Products Language Teacher
        1982 11 A Bit Better Software Magic Mail
        1983 05 Financial Software Plus Inventory
        1983 09 SIM Computer Products Home-Calc
        1983 11 Soft Sectre Homebase
        1984 07 non-standard MAGIC! Lister Plus
        1984 10 Sierra On-Line Homeword Filer
        1984 10 Sierra On-Line Homeword Speller
        1984 12 Batteries Included HomeFind
        1984 12 Batteries Included HomePak
        1984 12 Batteries Included HomeTerm
        1984 12 Batteries Included HomeText
        1985 06 Artworx Linkword Language Spanish
        1985 06 Artworx Linkword Language German
        1985 06 Artworx Linkword Language German
        1985 06 Artworx Linkword Language French
        1985 08 Kidstuff Software Home Base
        1985 11 Tri Micro Home Office
        1986 02 Royal Software Inventory Master
        1987 02 XLEnt Software First XLEnt Word Processor
        1987 09 Intellicreations Graphics Companion I
        With Totals
        ATARI SOFTWARE
        Type Title Price
        -------------- ------------------------ ------
        Word Processor Atari Word Processor 149.95
        Word Processor AtariWriter Plus 0.00
        Word Processor AtariWriter 80 0.00
        Word Processor AtariWriter C 0.00
        Word Processor AtariWriter A 79.95
        Utility Calculator 29.95
        Education Conversational French 59.95
        Database Data Perfect 99.95
        Utility Decision Maker 15.95
        Finance Family Finances 49.95
        Word Processor First XLEnt Word Proc. 29.95
        Word Processor Letter Perfect 149.00
        PIM Mailing List 19.95
        Education MasterType Improved 39.95
        Education MasterType 39.95
        Utility Print Plus 29.95
        Education States & Capitols 14.95
        Database SynFile+ 44.95
        PIM Timewise 0.00
        Spreadsheet VisiCalc 199.95
        -------------- ------------------------ ------
        ******

         

        Command Cheat Sheet

        Download PDF: Cheat Sheet

         

        Show Links:
        • Atari Mania: http://www.atarimania.com/utility-atari-400-800-xl-xe-synfile_15764.html
        • Synapse Wikipedia entry: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synapse_Software
        • DIF Wikipedia entry: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_Interchange_Format

          •  

           

          Intro music is an excerpt from a chip tune by Wizwars named 8 Bit Raceway.  It is used under Creative Common license Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States.
          29 min
        • S1E5 APX Decision Maker

          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.

          Intro music is an excerpt from a chip tune by Wizwars named 8 Bit Raceway.  It is used under Creative Common license Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States.
          24 min
        • S1E5 APX Decision Maker – Supplement

          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

          Many Faces of APX

          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:

          APX Decision Maker in Action

          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:

           

          Breakdown of Use Case Weighting

          Relative Attribute Weights:

          • VARIETY = 75 (most important)
          • QTY P/YEAR = 0 (least important)
          • QTY P/TYPE = 0 (least important)

            •  

            Individual Attribute and Choice Weights:

            • VARIETY – STAY SAME = 50
            • VARIETY – BY EP CNT = 99  (most important)
            • VARIETY – BY YEAR = 25
            • VARIETY – BY TYPE = 25
            • QTY P/YEAR – STAY SAME = 33
            • QTY P/YEAR – BY EP CNT = 00
            • QTY P/YEAR – BY YEAR = 99
            • QTY P/YEAR – BY TYPE = 00
            • QTY P/TYPE – STAY SAME = 33
            • QTY P/TYPE – BY EP CNT = 00
            • QTY P/TYPE – BY YEAR = 00
            • QTY P/TYPE – BY TYPE = 99
              • Show Links:
              • Atari Mania: http://www.atarimania.com/utility-atari-400-800-xl-xe-decision-maker_29964.html
              • Atari Archives: http://www.atariarchives.org/APX/showinfo.php?cat=20044
              • Analog Computing Review: http://analog.katorlegaz.com/analog_1981-03_120dpi_jpeg_cropped_thumpnugget2/analog_1981-03_023.html
              • Radio Shack Executive Decision Maker: http://www.retrothing.com/2007/10/radio-shack-exe.html
              • Modern Executive Decision Maker: http://www.amazon.com/Abernook-Executive-Decision-Maker/dp/B0012ULOKW

                •  

                 

                Intro music is an excerpt from a chip tune by Wizwars named 8 Bit Raceway.  It is used under Creative Common license Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States.
                24 min
              • S1E4 Atari Mailing List

                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.

                Intro music is an excerpt from a chip tune by Wizwars named 8 Bit Raceway.  It is used under Creative Common license Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States.
                21 min
              • S1E4 Atari Mailing List – Supplement

                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

                Manual Cover Art

                Atari Mailing List in Action

                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:

                 

                 

                Atari Mailing List Customizer in Action

                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:

                 

                Output and Data File
                Data File

                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).

                 

                Printer Output

                This is output for ALL records sent to the printer:

                Ripkowski,Wade
                User,Joe
                Command Cheat Sheet

                Download PDF: Cheat Sheet

                 

                Show Links:
                • Atari Mania: http://www.atarimania.com/utility-atari-400-800-xl-xe-mailing-list_12881.html

                  •  

                   

                  Intro music is an excerpt from a chip tune by Wizwars named 8 Bit Raceway.  It is used under Creative Common license Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States.
                  21 min
                • S1E3 Atari Calculator

                  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.

                  Intro music is an excerpt from a chip tune by Wizwars named 8 Bit Raceway.  It is used under Creative Common license Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States.
                  29 min
                • S1E3 Atari Calculator – Supplement

                  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

                  Box Art

                  Atari Calculator In Action

                  After program loading:

                   

                  Interest Calculation Mode:

                   

                  Statistics Calculation Mode:

                   

                  Programming Mode:

                   

                  Program Execution:

                   

                  Manual Error:

                  Test Program

                  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 ‘:’.

                  Source
                  0000 ALG :Set Algebraic Mode
                  0001 CLR :Clear registers
                  0002 CLMEM :Clear memory locations
                  0003 11111 :Signify user input (Start mileage)
                  0011 STP :Get user input (into X)
                  0012 STO :Store result in memory location 0
                  0013 0
                  0021 22222 :Signify user input (End mileage)
                  0029 STP :Get user input (into X)
                  0030 STO :Store result in memory location 1
                  0031 1
                  0039 33333 :Signify user input (Gallons)
                  0047 STP :Get user input (into X)
                  0048 STO :Store result in memory location 2
                  0049 2
                  0057 44444 :Signify user input (Price per gallon)
                  0065 STP :Get user input (into X)
                  0066 STO :Store result in memory location 3
                  0067 3
                  0075 RCL :Recall memory location 1 (End mileage)
                  0076 1
                  0084 - :Subtract next number from it
                  0085 RCL :Recall memory location 0 (Start mileage)
                  0086 0
                  0094 = :Get subtract result
                  0095 STO :Store result in memory location 5 (Miles)
                  0096 5
                  0104 / :Divide by next number
                  0105 RCL :Recall memory location 2 (Gallons)
                  0106 2
                  0114 = :Get divide result
                  0115 STO :Store result in memory location 6 (Miles per gallon)
                  0116 6
                  0124 RCL :Recall memory location 2 (Gallons)
                  0125 2
                  0133 * :Multiply by next number
                  0134 RCL :Recall memory location 3 (Price per gallon)
                  0135 3
                  0143 = :Get multiply result
                  0144 STO :Store result in memory location 7 (Total fuel cost)
                  0145 7
                  0153 / :Divide by next number
                  0154 RCL :Recall memory location 5 (Miles)
                  0155 5
                  0163 = :Get divide result
                  0164 STO :Store result in memory location 8 (Cost per mile)
                  0165 8
                  0173 STP :Stop program
                  Usage
                  1. When 11111 appears, enter the start mileage such as 1109.4, then enter CONT or press Shift-8 (@).
                  2. When 22222 appears, enter the end mileage such as 1463.8, then enter CONT or press Shift-8 (@).
                  3. When 33333 appears, enter the number of gallons such as 11.13, then enter CONT or press Shift-8 (@).
                  4. When 44444 appears, enter the price per gallon such as 3.299, then enter CONT or press Shift-8 (@).
                  5. Observe results in memory locations 5 through 8, which are:
                    • 5 = Distance (miles)
                    • 6 = Miles per gallon
                    • 7 = Total cost
                    • 8 = Cost per mile
                      • Command Cheat Sheet

                      Download PDF: Cheat Sheet

                       

                      Show Links:
                      • Atari Mania: http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-400-800-xl-xe-calculator_28613.html
                      • Atari Wiki: https://atariwiki.org/wiki/Wiki.jsp?page=Atari%20Calculator
                      • Atari Connection, Fall 1981: https://archive.org/details/Atari_Connection_Volume_1_Number_3_1981-09_Atari_US
                      • Infix Notation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infix_notation
                      • Postfix Notation: http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postfix_notation
                      • Reverse Polish Notation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_Polish_notation
                      • TI-30: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TI-30
                      • Casio FX-702P: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casio_FX-702P
                      • TI-85: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TI-85
                      • Casio fx-9750G+: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casio_graphic_calculators

                        •  

                        Intro music is an excerpt from a chip tune by Wizwars named 8 Bit Raceway.  It is used under Creative Common license Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States.
                        29 min
                      • S1E2 LJK Letter Perfect

                        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.

                        Intro music is an excerpt from a chip tune by Wizwars named 8 Bit Raceway.  It is used under Creative Common license Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 United States.
                        31 min