Sharp Pocket Computer 1360 - Competence Center

aldweb's free programs - TEXT

What is TEXT ?

TEXT is a text editor, just like Notepad in Windows, designed for the Sharp PC-1360. It was written in Basic so it is running quite slowly, but it anyway includes all needed features to print the written text to the CE-126P printer, the PC-1360's printer. Its main characteristics are :

• a full text editor, being a kind of WYSIWIG mode
• a quick mode to type text, without putting it in form (operation that will be made in the text editor mode)
• different options : top and down margins, right justify, cut of pages
• direct printing to the printer from within TEXT
• load and save features

Download TEXT (11 Kb)

How to install TEXT ?

TEXT includes a Load and a Save to Memory options, so to keep the data even when doing a RUN or CLEAR commands.

1. So, you will have to find a space in memory to put TEXT's data. I highly recommand you to use my trick that will move Basic's memory area and reserve some memory space for Machine Language routines or any data, just like TEXT's data (please refer to my Web site where I give all informations to set this feature).
2. Once you have done the first point, you will have to give an address of where to put the data used by TEXT. This is done in line 40 of the Basic program. Set the A variable to the given address.
3. You will also have to set up the B variable to the maximum size (in bytes) of memory space that you want to allow for TEXT's data. This is also done in line 40 of the Basic program.

How to use TEXT ?

The first time when you launch TOOLBOX, you need to RUN it. Then, unless you CLEAR the variables, the DEF M shortcut will give you access to the menu hereunder :

Press 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 according to your choice. In each of the menus, pressing the MODE key will bring you back to the preceeding menu.

1.TEXT
The TEXT mode is the main mode for writing text, putting it in form. It is quite slow (because fully writen in Basic) but allows many things.

The [] indicates where the cursor is. The three first line show three lines of text, and the bottom line is dedicated to place some informations :

• SML or CAP indicates whether you will print small letters or capital letters when pressing letter keys.
• Eventually DEF indicates that the DEF key was pressed, waiting for the action key related to a special function.
• Enventually SHFT indicates that the SHIFT key was pressed, waiting for a special character to be chosen.
• Ln. indicates Line number n.
• Cn. indicates Column number n.

Here are the events related to special keys :

• SML : to move from small letters (SML) to capital letters (CAP).
• INS : inserts a character from cursor's position.
• DEL : deletes the character under cursor.
• up, down, right or left arrow : moves the cursor in the given direction, with automatic vertical scroll when overlapping the first or the last displayed line.
• CLS : organises and edits the page according to the options chosen in item 3 of main menu.
• @ : character that will not be printed if final character of a line. It gives instruction to the program that this specific line should not be right justified if you chose the justified option.
• DEF and INS : inserts a line.
• DEF and DEL : deletes a line.
• DEF and up, down, right or left arrow : moves the cursor of 10 lines or columns in the given direction.
• SHFT + key : displays a special character according to the following matrix :

  Q -> !	I -> Pi character (3.14...)	G -> {	C -> diamonds character
  W -> "	O -> square root character	H -> }	V -> club character
  E -> #	P -> @	J ->	B -> ~
  R -> $	A -> `	K -> _	( -> <
  T -> %	S -> '	L -> |	) -> >
  Y -> &	D -> [	Z -> spades character	- -> exponent character
  U -> ?	F -> ]	X -> hearts character

• and of course, MODE : to go back to main menu.

2.RAPID
The RAPID mode is made to quickly input lines of text, without formating it.

Input the first line of text that you want to input. A ? prompt will appear, asking you to input your line. Be careful not to input more than 24 characters per line as the overnumerous characters will not be taken into account. Validate a line by pressing the ENTER key, this will bring you the ? prompt for the next line. To quit from inserting lines, just input the Pi character (3.14...) and ENTER.

3.OPTIONS
The options are ment to set up the printing options, like top and bottom margins, pages' cut, pages' length, right justification of text.

In each option, answer to the questions, either by setting up the value you want or by answering Y (for Yes) or N (for No) for Yes/No options. The options will be taken into account in the TEXT mode when pressing the CLS key.

4.PRINT
The PRINT mode will let you print the text to the CE-126P printer that needs to be connected to your Sharp PC-1360. A first screen will resume the options' configuration. TM stands for Top Margin, DM for Down Margin, Cut for Page Cut.

5.SAVE
The SAVE mode will allow you to save your TEXT's data. Two options are available :

1. SAVE MEM. will save the data into the memory of the PC-1360.
2. SAVE TAPE will save the data into the memory and also to a tape by launching a CSAVEM instruction.

6.LOAD MEM.
The LOAD mode will let you load your TEXT's data that previously needs to be put in the memory space allocated for Machine Language programs or TEXT's data. To load a TEXT's data from tape, you will then need to follow this procedure :

1. Execute a CLOADM from the tape
2. RUN or DEF M to launch TEXT program and then LOAD MEM. option.

What is currently missing in TEXT ?

The main feature that I believe is lacking in TEXT at the moment is that TEXT cannot send data through the serial interface. This is no big deal to do, I just did not take the time to do it yet. If you upgrade this program, adding these or any other features, I would really appreciate to get a copy of the modified program.