I/O BOARD

NEWSROOM XETEC FIX

I own an Atari 130XE, a Panasonic 1080i printer and a Xetec Graphix interface. This setup worked fine, until I got Newsroom from Springboard Software. For some reason, I got a lot of strange characters on my page when I tried to create a newsletter. Springboard's customer support was unable to help me, but with the help of a friend and a lot of experimentation a fix was found.

Set the Newsroom printer driver to Epson MX-70 and set the Xetec DIP switch to the ON position. The program will run faultlessly. Just don't forget to reset the DIP switch when you're done!

Robert Shutts
Joliet, IL

TALKING TODDLE AUTOLOAD

My kids just love Talking Toddle Type (October 1988 disk bonus). To speed up the fun, those with a 130XE and SpartaDOS 3.2 can AUTOLOAD the .SPK speech files with a STARTUP.BAT file. Put TODDLE.EXE, all the .SPK files, and the SpartaDOS system file RD.COM on a SpartaDOS formatted disk with X32D.DOS on it. Create a file named STARTUP.BAT on the same disk containing the following commands:

BASIC OFF
KEY OFF
RD D3:
COPY D1:*.SPK D3:
TODDLE. EXE

This batch file turns off internal BASIC so you don't have to hold down [OPTION]. The keyboard buffer is also turned off, since kids usually press the keys longer than adults. An internal RAMDISK named D3: is created to store the .SPK files which are subseqently loaded into memory. Finally, the assembly language program is loaded and executed.

When the initial Toddle Type selection menu appears, [SELECT] the Speech Drive and [ 3]. Press [START] and away your kids go. My next project is to figure how to make Drive 3 the default Speech Drive in the assembly language progrwn and eliminate the need to [SELECT] the correct Speech Drive and press [START]. Any suggestions?

Rick Reaser
Pacific Grove, CA

Any SpartaDOS users out there have some suggestions?--ANTIC ED

WONDERFUL

I think it is wonderful that you have decided to give more space to the Atari 8-bit computers. It is wonderful that somebody still cares, and it is with gratitude that I am subscribing for the disk issue. I hope I am helping you in your endeavor to support the Atari 8-bit. Thanks for the many years of support.

Nathan Block
St. Louis Park, MN

You've given us the best help we can ask for. As 8-bit advertisers drift away, subscribers like you enable us to keep on doing the job of fighting to keep the 8-bit Atari alive.--ANTIC ED

EXTRA 130XE MEMORY

I am trying to use the extra memory on my 130XE to run a long program, and my lack of success has me confused. How can I load my program and data into the extra memory?

Norman Hall
Allentown, PA

Two articles from Antic back issues might be of assistance. 130XE: How Atari's New 8-bit Does It (July 1985) lists some ofthe specifications for the extended RAM. In 130XE Memory Management (November 1985), lan Chadwick, author of the invaluable resource "Mapping the Atari" (COMPUTE! Publications) tells how to use that extra 64K, and includes a type-in BASIC tutorial Program. --ANTIC ED

POLYHEDRON PRINTOUTS

I wrote you to see if there was a screen dump program that would produce a reverse printout (black on a white background) of screens generated by Polyhedron Designer (October 1988). A few days later I remembered your December 1987 Disk Bonus, Antic Publisher I ran Antic Publisher, loaded a PICTURE.PIC file from Polyhedron Designer, and obtained a black-on-white image I could edit with the Graphic Editor. Another case where a writer answered his own question!

Theodore Winkel
Madison, IN

POLYHEDRON PROBLEMS

I just finished booting the October 1988 Antic monthly disk. Talking Toddle Type is great and The Seven Skulls was a challenge. Having worked as a Russian linguist for a number of years, I really enjoyed the Quizzer program. Imagine my dismay when Polyhedron Designer didn't work. It split the design and put it all over the screen. What happened?

Keith Hansen
Warrensburg, MO

It's impossible to tell what went wrong just from your letter. The most likely problem is that the parameters were entered incorrectly and resulted in an object too big to show on screen. Try using the parameters shown in the screen shot on page 28--the results should be the same as in the picture.--ANTIC ED

PAPERCLIP TRANSPLANTS

Dr. Brilliant stated in his article on memory upgrades (November 1988) that the only use for expanded memory on a 130XE would be a large RAMdisk. Right at this moment I am using the 130XE version of PaperClip on a 130XE beefed up to 320K. (I have the upgrade by Scott Peterson.) With my expanded memory I have 128K of space in which to type my document. I would say this qualifies as a commercial program that uses the extra RAM.

Brent Fisher
Jackson, MI

Since PaperClip is not currently available commercially, this doesn 't completely disprove Dr Brilliant's assertion. Still, there may be other programs that utilize the extra RAM. We'd be glad to hear from readers who use any such programs.-- ANTIC ED

UP TO ATARI

I was pleased to read in your October 1988 Editorial that you will be increasing the amount of space dedicated to the 8-bit. I would also like to see more software offered in The Catalog. At the end of the editorial you said, "What happens is largely up to you--the Atari 8-bit user." I would like to take issue with that statement--I believe that is is up to Atari Corp, to get off their duff and support us 8-bit users. If Atari would advertise and come out with an inexpensive hard drive, maybe they could compete.

Ross Himes
Chesterton, IN

As announced in the January 1989 Antic, we're working on getting more 8-bit products into The Catalog. For us, a lot does depend on you users. We're in business, and if 8-bit products don't sell, we can't keep offering them. So encourage your friends and local dealers to buy Antic 8-bit Software!--ANTIC ED

NOISY 1050

I've read many complaints of noisy Atari 1050 disk drives. To fix the problem, take off the cover and put a very light drop of fine machine oil (sewing machine oil is excellent) on the metal runners on which the head moves back and forth. Voila! A quiet 1050! I've been doing this for three years now and have never had a problem. Just remember to use a very small amount, so oil does not get on the head itself.

Michael Seaman
Willowdale, Ontario Canada

As always, please keep in mind that opening the drive voids any warranty you might have left. Antic takes no responsibility for results of home repairs or hardware modifications.--ANTIC ED

DESPERATELY SEEKING RECORDER

I am writing to you after many attempts to locate an Atari 1010 Cassette Recorder. It seems the 1010 Recorder is out of production. Is there any way I can hook up my audio cassette to my Atari 800XL so I can retrieve data and programs stored on cassette?

John Holland
Columbia, SC

Unfortunately, you can't use an audio cassette with your 800XL. Your best bet is probably to get in touch with a Iocal users group, where someone probably can get you access to a 1010. One group in your area is: GRACE (Greenville Regional Atari Computer Enthusiasts), 18 Bedford Lane, Taylors SC 29687.-- ANTIC ED

Antic welcomes your feedback but we regret that the large volume of mail makes it impossible for the Editors to reply to everyone. Although we do respond to as much reader correspondence as time permits, our highest priority must he to publish I/O answers to questions that are meaningful to a substantial number of readers.

Send letters to: Antic I/O Board, 544 Second Street, San Francisco, CA 94107.