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Automaker a MicroDot Basic Utility by Dave Ward
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What's It All About:
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Make a Basic file into a SYStem file. Why?
Basic is a powerful language from which potent and useful tools can be
made. Sometimes novice users reject BASIC applications because of the
need for more than one file and the "apparent" difficulty of
launching. On the other hand you may not wish your code to be exposed
to the light of day. Either way a single SYS file is a neat and clean
way of presenting an application and here is the means of doing it.
Anything that can be done using BASIC.SYSTEM (10.6K) can be done faster
using MicroDot Basic. MicroDot is much smaller (4.0K) and more
powerful. It will do a whole lot of things that BASIC.SYSTEM will not
do. Take just one, it reads text to the screen. Be assured there are
many more. Converting from Basic.System BASIC to MicroDot is not
difficult.
What does Automaker do?
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You can convert almost any Basic program written in MicroDot basic into
a P8 SYStem file. Also non Microdot basic programs will often convert
satisfactorily so long as they contain no PRODOS calls.
You will need these 2 files:
AUTOMAKER (SYS)
MIDOT (BIN)
The resulting System file consists of a header, part of Microdot.System
and a Microdot Basic program all appended together.
Users needing other MicroDot modules must make their own arrangements
to bring about their use.
CAT40 40 column directory module
CAT80 80 column directory module
MULTI Buffer management module
RANDOM Random access file module
PACK Hires packer/unpacker module
SYSCALL MLI calling module
The MICRODOT program is the copyright of Kitchen Sink Software Inc.
903 Knebworth Ct.
Westerville
Ohio 43081
Telephone: */614/891/2111 USA
Requirements:
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First write your program. You may use : a ROM1 or ROM3 GS, a //c or
//c+, or a 128K enhanced //e.
NOTE: The basic program MUST be longer than 1 block
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Procedure:
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Having written your MicroDot program place it in a directory together
with AUTOMAKER and MIDOT.
1. Launch Automaker. Answer <C> then <RETURN>.
2. Enter the name of your MicroDot BASIC program then <RETURN>.
3. Enter the name of the SYStem file you wish to create <RETURN>.
After some disk activity the program creates the new SYS file and quits
back to your launcher.
Basic programs normally execute from $801 but higher locations are
sometimes required. AUTOMAKER takes account of files which need to be
relocated in order to work properly. It is essential that a Basic
file intended for relocation is saved from its correct working
location. ieEnsure that its working location corresponds with its
AUXTYPE.
You must prepare your file for use with AUTOMAKER by performing your
relocation first. Say you need to work at location $0a00 you could use
an exec file like this:-
POKE 104, 10 : POKE 103, 1 : POKE 10 * 256,0 : &.C
You must first LOAD then SAVE your BASIC file. Once you have performed
this task, AUTOMAKER will make lines 10-30 redundant. (See the snatch
of program from YOUR.FILE below.)
10 IF PEEK (104) = 59 THEN 40 : REM OK if AppleSoft starts above $3b00
20 POKE 103,1 :POKE 104,59 : POKE 59 * 256,0 : REM make room above $3b00
30 &.X, "YOUR.FILE" : REM start all over
40 REM the rest of your program starts here.
More about AUTOMAKER and MIDOT
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The Merlin source code for AUTOMAKER and the first part of MIDOT (the
header called MIDOT.NOAPEND) is enclosed. Midot is made up as follows.
MiDot $2000 - $21ff consists of a Loader & Setup program (source included).
$2200 - $29ff An abstracted portion of MICRODOT.SYSTEM
The BASIC portion of the resulting SYStem file is appended at $2a01.
Note. At present Automaker does not contain many error routines. For
instance, there is NO indication if you attempt to write to a protected
disk.
Acknowledgements
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The techniques employed by AUTOMAKER and MIDOT merely emulate ideas
present in Jerry Kindall's programs FLASHBOOT and SWITCH.HITTER.
These programs are available from QUALITY COMPUTERS. I am indebted
to Jerry Kindall (author of MicroDot). I am also grateful and to
Kitchen Sink Software for their help and for their permission to use
some of their copyright material.
Dave Ward
97 Lambert Road
Uttoxetter
Staffs. ST14 7QY
England Phone: 0889 562192
This program is freeware but shall only be used on condition that it is
used entirely at the risk of the user. This material has been
prepared for the BritishIIGSCLUB and for the benefit of the AppleII
community in general.
Postscript
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I would also really appreciate any suggestions for improvements or other
encouragements. Send them to the above address. I know its a pain to
write a letter. If you would like something changed I'll probably do
it - but I need to know about it. (You may also contact me on Genie
via P.GREEN.) DW June 30, 1994