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Atarf'· Edition
Program design by
RUSS WETMORE
for Star Systems Software, Inc.
Written by Russ Wetmore
Manual written by Ian Chadwick
Package design by MML & Associates Inc.
NanCE OF REGISTERED TRADEMARK
In this manual reference is made to Atori
which is e reqistered trademark 01 Atari, Corporation

Copyright" Second Edition, January 1985 by Batteries Included

All Rights Reserved

========{cBA1TERES~N:LLVED)>======
Telex 06-218290
PRINTED IN CANADA
JANUARY 1985
30 Mural SL Richmond Hill, Ontario L48 185 CaMd"
 Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Introduction ............... . .............. . ...... . .... .. ... . ............ 1

Chapter 2 Getting Started ............. . ... . ............... . ...... .. ................ 3

Powering Up ......................................................................................... , ..... 4

Chapter 3 HomeText ................ . , ... . ........ ....... .. ... .. .. ........... .... ..... 6
Moving Around the Text ................................................................................8
~rch and Replace ......................................................................•............. 11
Loading and Saving Files ............................................................................. 11
Print Preview ............................................................................................. 13
The Printer Commands ................................................................................ 14
Headers and Foolers ................................................................................... 18
Merging Files from HomeFind ...................................................................... 19
Configuration Files and Defaults ..................................................................... 21
HomeTexl Quick Reference Guide ............................ ................ .•..... .. ..... ... .... 23

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Chapter 4 HomeFind .......... . .... . ... . .... . .... . ..... . ......... •.. . ....•......... 25
Entering Data .... , .. " ............. ' ........... , ....... , ................................................. 28
Changes and Corrections ................................................................. ,' .......... 30
Making Information Requests .............................................................•........... 32
Printing Your Requests ................................................................................. 34
Merge Files .......................................................................................... ..... YJ
Quick Reference Guide HomeFind ...................... ,. '.' ........ ', ............................ 38

Chapter 5 HomeTerm ............. . .......................... . .... .. ................ 39

Basic Technicalities ............................................................................... "",.40
Placing or Receiving a Can ......................................................................... .44
Disk F~tures ............................................................................................. 47
Macro Commands ...................................................................................... 49
Configuration Files ............................................................... .. .................... so
HomeTerm Quick Reference GUide ...................... . .............. .............. 53

Appendix '/f CompuServe .......... . . ................................................... 55

 HO MEPAK USER'S This mlllnua\ and the computer proqr<'lms on the accomptlnying floppy disks which /!Ire described by
MANUAL this mllnullIi are copyrighted lind contllin proprlelllrY information belonging to Batleries Included.
This manul!il and the computer progrems on the IlIccompanying Hoppy disks which are described
by Ihis manual are copyrighted and contain propriet"ry Information belonging to &tteries Includ-
ed /!Ind Slar Systems Softwllre.
The IIccomp.!lnymg Hoppy disks mlly not be dupli~led. in whole or in p.!Irt, for /!loy pur(X)Se. No co -
pies of the floppy disks or this manual or the listings of the progrlllms on the floppy disks mtly be sold
or given 10 any person or other entity. Nolwilhsl/mcling the above, the <'Iccompanylng disks ffilllY be
duplic.!lted for the sole use of the original purchlllser. All rights reserved.

BATTERIES INC LUDED, or IIny de.!ller or distributor distributing this product. m~kes NO WARRANTY,
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, with respect to this m~nuAI, the rel~ted floppy disk(s}And ~ny other related ilems,
theirquslity, perfornulnce, merchAntAbility, or fitness lor sny particul~r use. It is solely the purch~ser's
responsibility to determine their suitability for Any particulAr purpose.

BATrERIESINCLUDED, will in noevent be held Ii~ble for direct, indirect or incidental damages resulting
from any defector omission in this manual, the floppy disk(s), or other related items and processes, in -
cluding but not limited. 10 any lnterruplton of services, loss of business or anticipatory profit, or other
consequential damages.
LIMITATIO NS O F
WARRANTY AND THIS STATEMENTOF LIMITED LIABILITY IS IN LIEU OF ALL mHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS
LIABILITY OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTiC-
ULAR PURPOSE. BATTERIES INCLUDED neither assumes nor aulhorizesany olher person 10llssume
for it any other warranty or liablltty In connection with the sale of its products_

This manual and the computer programs on the accompanying floppy disk.(s) which lire described
by this mAnulIllire copyrighted And cont~in proprjet~ry information belonging to BATTERIES IN-
CLUDED.

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PRODUCT BATTER IES INCLU DED reserves the right to mdke corrections or improvements lothis ffil!nuoll'lnd
IMPROVEMENTS lothe related floppy disk(s) ",\ any lime without notice and with no responsibility 10 provldethesechanges
10 purchllsers oi edrlier versions of its product.

WARNING ! This manual and the prog ram. contained on these disk(s) Are protected by Internalion"] C opyright
laws. Duplications by any means is strictly forbidden and II violation 01 copyright laws.
VIOLATORS WILL BE PROSECUTED ! All rights reserved.

TRADEMARKS "The following commercial products were used during the development of HomePak"';
CREDITS ACTION!'"
ACTIO N!'" Commercial Run-Time Package
MAC/65'" (SuperCari version)
BUG/65'" (Disk version)
OSS Inc., l221 B Kentwood Avenue, San Jose, CA 95129
The Next Step'"
Sierra On·Line, Sierra On· Line Building, Coa rsegold, CA 93614
Alari'" Macro-Assembler
Atari Co rp., 126S Borregel Avenue, Sunnyveie, CA 94086
ACTION I'" is a tredemerkol Action Computer Servic..
MAC/6S" end BUG/6S-' are trademarks 01 055, Inc.
The Next Step" is a trademark 01Sierra On· Line
Atari"' is a trademark 01Atari Corp.
HomaP.. lr.~ , Hom.T... t~ , Hom.Find~.nd HomaTa'm~ ara ".d,ma.D 01 Ban.ri.. Included.

THANKS Special thanks 90 to Ron Luxs for his u nUring support,

and to Joe Miller for all his technical help ."
1
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION Congratulations! You have bought three excellent programs ~ a word processor, database
manager dnd a telecommunications program - lor less than the price you would expect to pay
for anyone 01 them from anyone else! But you're not buying just run-ol-the-mill software with
CONGRATULATIONS! HomePak; you've got yourself three of the best programs of their type on the market. These
aren'l programs which have compromised. power and quality for a low price; you're going 10
find features and functions in this package which are equal 10 or better than even the most ex-
pensive programs you can buy for your computer. And HomePak is written by a well·known,
and respected professional programmer - Russ Wetmore.
There's no need to bend your ear with a 101 01 hyperbole. You'll find out quickly enough ex-
actly how good and how powerful HomePak is. What's more, you'll find that Ihe HomePak pro-
grams are edsier to use than most others which oller similar capabilities - with on screen help
menus and friendly prompt messages. HomePak finlllly gives II real meaning to the over-worked
term 'user friendly'.
HOMETEXT In HomePak you'll discover HomeText, is II word processor with all the features you need to
do your personal, school and even business writing. It even allows you to 'preview' your text.
seeing in g ra phic form how it will look on paper before you print il! HomeTed can use informa ·
tion you stored with HomeFind and insert it into leiters like the mail merge feature found in
more expensive programs. You con use HomeText to edit files and 'chats' saved online with
HomeTerffi.
HOMEFIND You also get HomeFind; II powerful 'natural langullge' datll bllse which stores and retrieves
da til in a manner similar to the wily you think. without the complexity of rigid field structures
lind records. This deceptively simple method of dealing with informlltion is more flexible cmd
ellsier to use thlln mllny do tllbases found on professional ond business computer systems.

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2 HOMETERM The third program, HomeTerm: '" simple but fulilediured telecommunications program which
.!IIllows you 10 sign onto bul!etln bodrds and databases, load and send Hies, chat lind record
conversatlons easily. It worKs with any Alan modem or other brand which connects through the
850 interface (such as the Hayes Sma rt mode m"') lind certllin other modems such .!IS the MPP
l OOO-C .... HomeTerm brings you the exciting world of telecommuniClltions without the difficulties
of wading through arcane and obscure technic,,) manuals.
In all you get three 'integrated' programs at " low price, on a copyable diskette, so you don't
have to worry aboul d"llnaging your master copy every lime you load a program. Each program
has been thoroughly tested <!lnd debugged 10 make sure it runs smoothly and properly. We're
sure you'n lind Home Pak the best dell] in II softwllre pockllge you've bought for your computer I
 3
CHAPTER 2
GETTING Before you begin work with HomePak, you need to prepare some disks. You will need blank disks lor
STARTED your d!lto files and your text files. You will also need to make ill backup copy 01 the master disk we pro-
vide so that you can work with the HomePak programs without worrying about damaging your original
disk.
HomeTexl and HomeTerm can both use any disk you use for files and 10 store your programs on,
PREPARING BLANK bul HomeFind needs ill new, blank disk to keep your data properly. For you r own organization, it's
DISKS WITH ATABI best to keep text files on their own disk, so you need to form,, ! d new disk for you r HomeText files.
DOSn You can use the SClme disk when you lire using HomeTerm as long as you have enough space for any
files you download from anothe r compuler.
Keep text lUes on their own disk. The first thing to do is 10 make sure your computer is properly hooked up and all c.ililes are attached.
Place 1'1 disk with Alari DOS n (Disk Operating System) in the drive. Tum on your drive, then your moni-
Format two disks. lor or lelevision set and - when the red 'Busy' Iighl on the disk drive goes out - turn on your compuler.
The first for 'HomeTexVHomeTerm When DOS is looded. and the menu screen appears, remove your disk and pul in 1'1 new disk. Choose
lUes': menu selection 'I' 10 formal the disk. This completely erases anything previously on the disk and prepares
The Second lor 'HomePak il to receive new data. When the process is complete, use the 'H' option to write DOS files to the disk.
Programs' Format t\IIO disks (you don't need the DOS files on the second disk) and label the first disk 'Home-
TextIHomeTerm Files' and the second 'HomePak Programs'. HomeFind will format its own disks from
WARNING: you cannot use ill within the program itself, so you only need to have 1'1 blank disk ready when you start it. WARNING: you
HomeF"llId data disk to store any cannot use 1'1 HomeFind data disk 10 store any other liIes or programs.
other files or programs. While you still have 005 looded, place the onginal HomePak disk in the drive and choose menu
selection 'J' to duplicale the disk. Follow the screen instructions, using the ongil1l'lll'ls the 'source' and the
disk you labelled 'HomePak Programs' as the 'destination'. The compuler will prompt you for edch mge
as the copy is being made. Once you have the copy, place your original in 1'1 safe place and only use il to
make backup oopies when required. Don'I cover the writEVprotect notch on your backup copy with a
sticker; you may want to change the screen oolors to suit your cwm pleasure and save those changes 10
the disk as the new start-up oolors.

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4 HomePak <!Ilreody conklins DOS, so you don'l need to write DOS to the disk for your own copy. Home-
Pak is an autoboot disk, which means it loads the menu program dIld starts Itself without needing any
specitli oommands from you.
POWERING UP While you can copy individll<!ll files from the original disk, it is not reoommended. thtIl you do 90. ElIch
program needs severol other programs or files to boot properly and you won'l be able 10 gel one working
alone. HomePak WdS wntten as an auto boot' disk which periOnTIS geYerdi functions before Iooding a sin-
gle progr\!lm. Keep all of the programs together on the one disl:. and you won't MYe any problems.
The process of ionl'llltting and dupliCdtlng disks Is further explained in the Alan Disk Operating
System manual. If you need more Information, refer hick to it.
When you're reody to start working with HomePak , tum off your computer arxi disk drive. You should
nc1N tum on your system in the following order:

1. Television or monitor
2. Printer lionel modem
3. 850 Interlaoe (if yoo are wing one)
4. Dlslt drive number one (make sure your HomePak disk is in the drive Mter it is turned on.)
5. Other disk drives
6. Ata ri oomputer (make sure you Mve no O!Irtridges like BASIC installed)
Make !lUre you have no cartridges U you're using an XL series computer, it isn't necessary to hold down the OPTION key during Jo"ding,
installed. as with 90me progr"ms. HomePak kllOW!l to cUS<!Ible BASIC For the 400, OCXJ and lax> machines, you
must mdke sure you don'! have the BASIC O!Irlridge in the slot when booting.
You will need a modem attached. to your system in order to use HomeTenn properly. You need a prin-
ter to produce 'hard' oopy with any ol the other programs, although you don't need one to use them to
create and store files or information.
HomePak works with the At"ri direct oonnect 835 and 103J modems and a direct connect serial-Io-
 5 parallel printer inter/lice such as the 'Ape FGce' .... The H omePlik mtlin menu screen wtll appear
shortly alter you turn on your computer. Milke sure your sound is turned up II bit on the Iv or
monitor so you can hetlT the sound prompts.

The main menu screen is how you get from one part 01 HomePak to onother. If you press the
THE MENU SCREEN SELECT key, you will see the colored b"r move from one program name to the next. The w r
changes color for each progMm and gives you III little sound prompt.
Using SELECT, position the bar over the progrllm you wonl to use lind press the START key.
The chosen program will lood. You will be prompted when you need to change your program
disk for your datil disk. You lire now retldy to beqin using HomePak!

Fig.! Main Menu Screen

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6
CHAPTER 3
HOMETEXT Word processing Is easily the most popu]"r use lor home computers (aHer entertainment).
Unlll you've tried ii, you're prob.!.bly nol awtlre of how easy writing Clin be with" computer. You
THE WORD ~n moille changes and corrections, move bloch of text around quickly, change and repillce
PROCESSOR choractel'3, words or phrases, search for references and words in your lexl, delete unwanted
malerial - all with a few simple keystrokes. Plus you gel 10 save your texl 10 disk as " perma-
nent record, and come bll.ck to it any time. Once you begin to use HomeText for your wri ting,
you'll wonder how you ever got alonQ without it!
Hometexl h""s several lldvanced i8(llures (1.8 well 1)8 the 'st~mdard' functions mentioned above;
for one, it allows you to IlIke key informotion out of your HomeFind doto ond Include it in the
leiters or text you write; very similor 10 the powerful 'moil merge' fe.!lliure found In expensive
business software. It Ot50 ollows you to print in bold, enhanced or underlined lexl.
You'll n eed a printe r to print To use HomeTexl properly, you'll need 0 printer, connected either 10 your 850 inter/oce or vio
out anyth ing you write. o seriol ~to · p"rallel Inter/oce such os the Ape·Foce.... You don't need to hove the printer on when
you're jusl writing the leiters, memos, reports or whotever to StlVe them to disk, but you will
need it hooked up properly in order 10 print out onything you write.
I..o.!!d HomeText from the moin menu by selecting the progrom ond pressing the START key.
When the copyright screen OppeOfS, press ony key to get to the writing screen.

BASIC WRITING Press any key once the program hos lcoded. AI first there's nothing on the writing screen; you
FEATURES hove an emply screen woiling for you. Toke 0 look al the bottom status lines on the screen;
you'll see you're in 'Reploclnq' mode ond you have about 8350 bytes left In the buffer. In order
to see whot you can do with HomeText, type In the Iwo p"ragrophs we've shown in the sample
screen.
Just type In the poragrophs; the words will 'wrap' oround the screen os you see below, in the
7

Fig. 2: Sample Texl

proper places. When you 9£1 to the end of II ~ragrdph (1'101 d sentence), press the RETURN
key. Use the DELETE/BACK 5 to correct any mislo!lkes. You'll need to have some sample lexllo
try the various ftMtures described below. Before you do anything else to the text once you've
typed it In, press SELECT and SlIve the lile on a blank, formatted disk under the name
'SAMPLE.TXT'.
All of Ihls text won't fit on the screen 0.'11 once; you'll see the top scroll up and out of sight as
you IIdd text to the bottom. The status lines at the bottom of the screen will be expillined in
more detail further on in the texl, but not to keep you in the dark, they are:

A B c
D E F

A: current filename of lexl C: Amount 01 memory left in the buffer

B: Key CLICK st<'llus 0: REPLAC E or INSERT mode

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8 E: current output device (P: for printer or disk filename)

ns menu)
F: current HomeF ind merge filenam e (selecte d from Functio
and as separat e screens . You
MOV ING AROUND HomeTed sees your docume nt in two ways; as the whole buffer
from the top to the bottom of the buller by pressing eTRL T or eTRL B respectively;
can move
THE TEXT wo!Ilch the screen d!spJey change when you try this. You ~n <'1150 move about the screen; to the
erRt Q , the middle left with e rRL A and the bottom with e TRL Z. To move
top left with
use eTRL W, <!Ind forward s by a lull screen by
backwa rds In the buffer by a full screen,
eTRL X.
line with e TRL S .md
Finally, you ~n move to the beginni ng and end of the current
e TRL D.
plus IlIn IlIrfOW key. These
Alari curso r controls function s ; You should be familiar with the Atari cursor control functions; CTRL
move the cursor up or down III line and forward or blad.wa rd a single space.
work here to erases the chlllract er
of the cursor IlInd CTRL DELETE
DELETE/BAC K S erases the chlllracter left blank spaces to
SHIFi DELETE erases the entire line. CTRL INSERT adds
right of the cursor.
the right 01 the cu rsor, but SHIFl' INSERT doesn't work here.

is that the 'buffer Splice left'

OTHER FEATURES There are several leature s IlIbout this mode you will discover; the first
Then, you'll see the~" chZlTllIcter used to signify
figure dacrel!lses with e.!Ich cha.TllIcter you type in. dot which lells you the texl
that you pressed RETUR N. Where the word breal:.s a.re, you'll see a smlllll
The ;1" charact er colored ffiMks on the blar justlllbo ve the lirst status
continu es on the next Hne. Finally, note the small her on.
represe ntations of Ihe 'tab stops'; describ ed III bit fu rt
line; these IlIre grlllphic
10 HomeT ed. Practic e
These key combin ations are describ ed in the quid. reference guide
a.nd the buller until you're Ia.milia.r with these comma nds. Tryedd ing
moving a.boutth e screen
your moveme nt through it.
more textlllnd see how illllllacis the buller size and that's because we're in
top of III chera.ct er, your new leiters write over the old -
II you type on
to see how this works. If you w",nt to insert a ch",racter,
'replece ' mode. Try typing over IlIbne of text the AtMi key;
'Replac e' mode. body of mlliterillil inlo somethi ng you've IlIlready typed, press
word or even III ["'!'Qer know which mode
nAiad key" loggles insert and border ch"'nge s color to let you
this toggles insert and replace modes; the screen full, you won'l be
repillce modes; well es the mesSllg e on the status line. When your buffer is IlIlmosl
you're in as
9 I!ble to use insert 10 IlIdd more chc'!racters than you have memory; you'll be put into replace mode
autom<!ltiCl!lly.
Press the Alari key and <;10 into Insert mode. Move the cursor 10 the lop of the buller then use
the CTRL <'!nd down IIITroW to move to the beginning of the first ~ro!lgraph lind press the space
bar live times; this indents the text properly. Move 10 the beginning 01 the next paT<'Igraphs (use
the CTRL and down orrow keys) o!Ind do the some. You'll see the words wrap lIround the screen
to fit properly. Try pic'!cing the cursor in the middle of the text lind typing a lew words; watch
how the words WTc'!P dround on the screen .!is the existing lexl is pushed to the right to make
Wf!Jy for your new texl.
Press the Atad key to go back to replace mode. You Cdn st<!llY in whichever mode suits you
best, toggling to the other when you need to. The ch"nge in border color will help remind you
wh", mode you're in.
The TAB Key The TAB key moves the c ursor to the next t"b stop - initi"l\y set to every five columns. If you
w"nt to "dd " t"b stop to the bar below the text, move the cursor to the correct position "nd
press SHIFT-TAB; another mark will be highlighted on the indicator bar. To remove a tab, move the
cursor over the loc"Uon and press GTRL-TAB. You'll see the mark disappear except at the end of
text. TAB doesn't force an Indentation; it only moves the cursor. To indenl the text use the Insert
mode and add spaces to the front of " paragraph.
The next step to learn is manipulating text 'blocks'. A block is any 1..'II"ge chun k of text you
BLOCK MANIPULA- wtmt to move, delete or copy. Press START to see the block menu IlIppear. It wit! appellir in the
TION COMMANDS middle 01 your text. but don't worry; It hlllsn'! hlllrmed anything.
Choose Move text. At the prompt. move the cursor (using GTRL and the IlIrrow keys) to the
beginning of a p<'lrlllgraph you typed. Press RETURN. Then move the cursor to the end of the
same parlllgrlllph and press RETURN. This defines the block 10 move. Now move the cursor to
Move texl. the top of the buffer (GTRL T) and press RETURN. The block (pIlIragrlllph) you defi ned will be
Copying lexl. moved to the new location immediately, erasing it from its old location and Inserting it Into the
new.

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10 Copying lext works exactly the same as

moving lexl, except that it duplicates the block
and I~ves the original In place, 80 you have
the block lIppearing twice in your text. Press
START aqll!n and choose Copy; place the cur-
sor ,,' the beginning of the first pdraqraph /!Ind
press RETURN, then at the end and preSI
RETURN. Move the cursor down one line and
press RETURN. The block is copied to the new
location; you'll see both blocks on the screen
now, one below the other. NarE: Move lind
Copy lexl only work with blocks of texl less
than one screen in length.
To delete a block, press START, and deflne
the paragr<'lph you Just copied by moving the
Fig. 3: Block Manipulation Window cursor and pressing RE1URN lit the beginning
lind end 01 the pIIrllQrllph "s you did with Move
"nd Copy. When you press RETURN "g"ln, the section you defined will di~ppear. Make sure
you re"lly want to erase it before you go aheadl
"NarE:" Move and Copy lexl fn case you chose the wronQ feature, don't move the cursor at all; press RETURN twice; the com-
only work with blocks ollexl puter will ignore the request and say "Never mind!"; you can't move or copy" block inside itself. If
leSll than 960 characters, or you want to leave without making any choices a t all, press the ESC key.
about one screen in length .
11
SEARCH AND To lind" p.'Irliculllr word or phrase, or even collection 01 leiters in " lext, press START and
REPLACE choose Find string. Type in the phrase business software lind press RETURN. W hetever you
search lor should be typed exactly <'IS it appears in the telC!, using the correct upper and lower
~se chllTlicters. The computer begins to sedrch from the current cursor location, so if you want
Whcllever you search for should to sedrch for a string in the entire buHer, move the cursor 10 the beqinning of the text buffer
be typed exactly", it "ppea rs first (CTRL T).
in the tex t. HomaTexl will stop at the first occurence althe string 1\ hods in the text and "sk you if you
wish to repJoce it. Type Y for yes, dnd when it asks you to type in the word or phrase to replace
the word, type computer proqroms. HomeTexl will ask you If you wllnt 10 replllce every one of
Ihese words it finds in Ihe lext. Type N for no (righl now, Ihere's only one).
You will be "sked if you wllnl HomeText 10 continue searching for more occurences of Ihe
word. If you say no, Ihe search will end and the cursor will be on the first chliTlIcler 01 the word
you se<'lrched for. TlIke II look III the last par<'lgrllph now; you'll see thllt computer programs hlls
repl<'lced business software.
HomeText will tell you if it didn't find the string in the text. and it wlll move the cursor 10 the
bottom of the text buffer when finished searching or rep\lICing. Use CTRL T 10 gel back to Ihe
top.
QUICK TIPS A populllr trick used in word processing is to use <'I short form of " frequently typed word or
phrllse In your text - such lIS wp for word processing - "nd then repl"ce every occurence when
you're lIll done typing; it CIIn s.!Ive you II lot of typing! Here's "nother sm,,11 tip for lIdv"nced
users; If you keep the START key pressed down, the window doesn't appe" r; you clln press M,
0 , C or F to choose your function, then answer the prompts. It will s.!Ive you a keystroke or two.

LOADING AND When you press the SELECT key, you'll see this menu IIppear. Numbers one to four will bring
SAVING FILES you II directory 01 what's on the disk in thllt drive lind how much space is left fo r Iiles. To Sllve
the lile (store it on your disk or other selected output device), press S lind "nswer with the lile
n<'lme MORE.TXT. II you have alrelldy 10000ded II lile, you'll be "sked If you w<'lnt to s.!Ive it with
Press the SELECT key. the s.!Ime n<'lme <'I9aln. The current filename will appear In the S\lI\us line once you load or s.!Iye
<'I file.
To load a file from you r disk, press L <'Ind type in the file n"me. To load the file you saYed elIrlier,
press L "nd type SAMPLE.TXT.

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12 You don't need to type in D: In case you still have texl In the buffer, you will be asked if II's okay to overwrite it when you
since this is the default . Iry 10 load a new file. Anything which is overwritten is erased for good. so be careful. You don',
need to type in D: or Dl : before II file nllme, since this is the deilluit.

rig. 4: HomeText Functions Menu Screen

APPEND, NEW Append allows you 10 IIlttlch another file to the end of the current huffer, if there is room
OUTPUT available for both files in the buffer. You Cdn siring files together for printing which are larger
than the buffer space by using the 'include lile' ie.!llure, described further !!Ilong. Press A "nd
tlnsweT SAMPLE.TXT. When you return to the text window, you'll see the file you saved WAS
duplicated; the second copy w"s appended to the end of the first.
New output device I!Illows you 10 c hoose your liM] output destination; you can rename the Iile
and print it to disk (device 0 :) or the printer (P:). Don't use a disk lileMme lor output If you
htlVe HomeFind merge liles In your lexl; il w!ll cause the lile to be wrillen and erllsed until
HomeTeJ:t encounters the HF End-ol-File (EOF) loken.
13 CONFIGURE PRINTER Configure printer allows you to change the default p rinter control commands (you can save these
lind several other changes 10 disk In the configuration file by pressing CTRL·W desc ribed later),
HomeText supports only three p ri nter control codes you can change; bold, e xte nded a nd underlined
print. You enter the codes (up to live decimal values, each separated by a Sp.!Ice) to turn the print
commands on and off separately. These command values <!Ire found in you r printer mllnU!lts. The
screen tells you what the 111051 or defl:!lult values fo r each control commands are.
If your printer supports other features, such as itlllies, you Cdn tell HomeTexl Ihe control codes
for th is insteeod of either Ihe bold or unde rlining fea tures described here. Anolher way 10 do this
Is by using Ihe 'special character' command, described below.
One of the most impressive and useful features of HomeTexi is the prinl preview function. This g ra·
phically lIIuslrates what your page will look like when ii's prinled, using dotted lines 10 replicate
PRINT PREVIEW e.!Ich line of lext, highlighting IIny specilll printer fe.!ltures (extended lind boldface words or chllrllC'
lers lire shown in blue, underlined words have a green line beneath them; normlll words or chllrllc,
ters lire printed in black).
Prinl preview works with line lenglhs of up to 158 characters and page lenglhs of up 10 88 lines
(how you alter these Is described in the next section).
Print preview needs 5400 bytes There Is one small drawback; print preview needs a 101 of memo ry 10 work - Ihere musl be aboul
remaining in the bulle r to pre· 5400 byles rema ining in the huffe r space in order to preview III single file in memory. This rne.!lns
view a fil e in memory. you can only preview files of Iwo PIIIges in length 1111 mosl, when the file is in memory. Try a preview
of Ihe file you have in the buffer; see how each word and paragraph Is graphically represented on
the screen. Press RETURN to conllnue or (at any lime during the preview), SELECT 10 quit. You will
be laid If you r file is too large to preview.
To preview a long lexl file. II you wanl to preview a long le xl Hie, first save il 10 d isk, Ihen dear Ihe buffer and ente r on a
bllInk screen p ress OPTION D lind Ihen Iype Ihe nllime of the file you wish 10 preview. Then, go 10
preview and files of IIny length can be previewed on Ihe screen.
BUFFER COMMANDS To dea r the huffer, use CTRL C ; you'll be asked to confirm It first. This complelely erases every·
thing you had there - all text - so make sure you have saved any importan t malerial first, because
Make sure you have saved you can't get It back o nce you've deared It.
important material fir. l. To delete a file on Ihe disk, press CTRL D and give the file Mme. A deleted file ca nnot be reslo'
red, so make sure ii's the file you want 10 delele first. To prevent importan t files from being acciden·
lally deleted, use the 'lock' command in Alari DOS 10 lock a file.

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( { ( ( ( ( ( ( ( { I { I ( ( r ( ( ( r r r r r ( ( (

14 To print II file, press C TRL P. M ilke sure your printer and inier flllce (il you have one) .!Ire both on
or else you'll get an error message. Print the file SAMPLE.TXT now lind see how II looks. Save Ihis
copy 10 compare with II later printout of the Sdme file we'll do, after weve made some changes to it.
THE PRINTER To formal your file for your printer - set the margins, define special lext features (extended, bold-
COMMANDS illce or underlining), centering, Justification and other features - you press OPTION lind the window
will appear. Formatting establishes how the output will look when it gets printed. Printer comm4ncls
are inserted into your lext at the location you wanl them 10 tllke effect. Preas OPTION to see the menu
which looks like this:

Fig. 5: The Prinler Format Window

Make l ure your cursor is in the There are several things to watch oul for when using Ihis menu. Firsl, make sure your cursor is in
right location before changing the right location before changing or adding a fealure. The feature will appear on the screen, in
or adding II fealure. Inverse characters, where Ihe cursor was positioned. HomeTexl has several default values which will
be used if you don't make any changes. In some cases, such as print fealures, you have 10 turn the
feature on first, then off where you wanllo relurn to normallext. In such a case, the Inverse name
will be preceded by a left-laCing arrow to tell you that Ihis is where Ihe command ends.
15 A QUICK EXAMPLE Load the lile SAMPLE.TXT lind place the cursor /lot the beginning of the first line - 'All about
word processing'. Press OPTION and choose C for center tex\. Return to the funcllons menu by
pressing SELECT and preview the text; you'll see the top line Is now centered on the screen.
Return to the text screen.
Move to the beginning of the second paragraph. press OPTION and then L for lelt margin.
Choose 25 lind press RETURN. Keep the cursor <!II the Mme pillce and press OPTTJON and
then L for left mllrgin. Choose 25 and press RETURN . Keep the cursor at the same pll!lce ",nd
press OPTION and S for spacing; choose 2 and press RETURN. Now go to the functions menu
again end preview the tellt; you'll see that the second end any following paragrllphs lire double
spaced. with a much more Indented left margin. Pracllce using the printer comm<!lnds and
previewing their effects before you use them in your printed document. Before continuing on,
re-lO<!ld SAMPLE.TXT so you C<!ln try other fMtures in <!In un-ch<!lnged document.
You ctln delete a print form(!Jt command by placing the cursor on the lirst character and pressing
Quick Tips CTRL-DELETE. One useful hint Is to create one common, handy print format with margins, headers
and footers, page dImensions and other necessary commands together. Save it as a file so you ctln
call II up any time and have your printer commands and page dimensions already entered when
you begin typing.
For advanced users, if you keep the OPTION k.ey pressed down, the window doesn't appear; you
CIIn press the desired leiter to choose your function. This mellns, of course, that you need to
memorize the proper commllnds in order to use this method.
PAGE DIMENSION
COMMANDS Commands which affect the dimensions of the printed. page - marqins, page length, spacing, line
length - should 611 be placed. at the top of the buffer, before you write any text. These include
mllrglns, line length. p.!Ige size, Hne spacing lind indentation of paragraphs. If some of these com-
mands ap~r lllter in a file, they clln ctluse your printing to come out Tllther awkwardly. Use the
Use the p rint preview feature to prInt preview fMlure to see whal the effect of II command is when pillced in the middle of the text
see the effect of II command. before you start 10 print your file.
While you ca.n vary Ihese dimensions in almost <!Iny location in your texl, ii's a better pTllclice 10
use standard dimensions throuQhout your document. rather than hllving the lext appellr in different
forms In the same document.

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 { { { ( ( ( ( ( ( r ( ( ( r ( ( ( ( ( ,

16 To mllke your brm!!1 commands edSY to read, you can place d carriage return (press RETURN)
between commands. Mosl of these commands are simple to use and obvious as to their functions.
M(llgins CAn be changed Margin. are the distance in charllcters from the left and topmost edges of the paper lit which the
anywhere in the text, but.. . lexl slllrts (left mllrgin) lind ends (right margin, counted from the left side), <'liS well as the number
01 lines from the top 01 the pdge the! printing will begin at and end ilIt (bottom margin). The [nitie!
defaults (Ire: left maI'Qln 5 Splices, right margin 70 spaces, top margin 6lioes, bollom margin 6111nes
(the normlli p.!Ige length is 66 lines from top to bottom and 80 characters wide).
Margins can be changed anywhere in the text, but there oIIre some constraints; the left mollrgln
should be entered first, before the right mollrgln. The voIIlue lor the left mollrgin must be lower tholln
thollt 01 the right, so you won't hollYe ISn overlap. Make sure you ieollve enough spaces between mollrgins
to p rint your longest word. To print 011 continuous output file with no top or bottom margins · say a
drollil copy lor editing· set top and bottom margins both to zero.
You can use the mllrgins to offset 011 section of text to emphollsize it, 1I method used when quoting
other mliteriollL Try this with the second paragraph. Make your left margin 10 spaces, you r right 60
at the beginning 01 the paragraph you want to offset. Don't forget to return the margins to normolll
at the end of the offset section.
Page site and line length Page size and line length depend on your printer and the type of paper you're using. HomeTeIl
depend on your printer and the defaults are set for the standollrd page size; 8 112" by II" - 66 lines ionQ oIInd 80 characters (spaces)
type o f paper you're u sing. wide (tractor feed paper has an extroll 112" on each side for the paper feed, but don't count It; II's
ignored by the printed). Don't set your page size or line length greater tholln your actual paper size,
or you may end up printing on the roller or platen of your printer! You normolllly won't chollnge your
page size In the middle 01 a document.

PRINTOUT Line spacing is the horizontolll distance between lines on a page, counted in number of lines. Lines
APPEARANCE which follow each other with no space between them hollve a spacing of 1. The space can be set to
oII\most any length, up to 23J lines, but there's not much point in setting It greater than your page
COMMANDS length. The default Is one space. Line spacing can be changed at any time, say to
double space one paragraph for emphasis. Make your second paragraph double spaced; don't
Line spacing cu be changed lorget to return to single spacinQ 1St the end of the parollgrlSph or you'll lind the rest 01 the document
at any time. appears double spaced. Look at the effect with print preview.
 17 Indentation Inden tation is the number of characlers HomeTexl will begin a p.!Iragraph in from the left
marqin (not from the left side of the p.!Ige). The default is zero, so the parag raphs don', begin
Inset from the margin unless you change it. II you want to indent your paragraphs, enter an
approp riate number; five is pretty standard. Indentation can be changed at any time; often text
which Is offset by cho.m;Jing the mo.rgins has no indento.tion.
Turn justification on and oH Justification is 0. method of evenly spacing text in a paragraph so that it lines up evenly o.long
whe re you wanl it. both mo.rgins. To do this, extro. Sp.!lOOS o.re edded between words to mo.ke each ltne the same
length. You must turn jusllflcetion on and off where you wo.nt it; if you turn it on at the begin-
ning of the bufler, before any text, o.nd don't turn it off, your entire buffer will o.ppear justified.
You can turn justification on or off anywhere (II to.kes plo.oo on the next line alter the com-
mand). If your text isn't justified, (called 'ro.g right') it will ltne up along the left merqin only.
Center only works on one line Center allows you to place the current line (It must be placed at the beginning of the line) in
at a time. the center of your p.!Ige, evenly sp.!Iced between the left and right mo.rgins. Center only works if
your line is less than a p.!Ige Hne long (fewer cho.racters than the right mo.rgin size minus the
left margin size). Center only works on one line e' a time, II doesn't center paro.graphs.
Block right only worlta on one Block right aligns the right end of the current line with the rightmost mo.rgin. Like center, it
line at a time. only works on one line at a lime, and only if the line is shorter than your page line length.
Block riQht is often used to place your address and do.te o.t the right edge 01 the top of a letter,
o.nd the closing at the right edge of the bottom.

TYPEFACES AND Bold, extended and underline are all type commands. Each must be turned on at the piece
PRINTER CONTRO LS where you went to begin the special type, end ofillgllin where you wo.nt to end it. Piece Ihe
Don't forget to tum off a type- cursor at these IOClltions lind co.lI up the print commllnd window, o.nswering the screen prompt
face command or the rest of with on (Y) o.t the beginning and again, but with 011 (N) lilt the end of the text.
your text will use it! Extended type to!!kes up twice as much Sp.!Ice (in width) liS norffilllitype on a p.!Iqe. You won't
In print preview; edended and see the typeillices on the screen, only the Inverse charllclers for the comffio!!nds to turn
boldface words or characters them on and 011. Don't forget to tum off a typefece command or the rest of your text will use ill
are shown in blue, underlined You can see what tell! you ho!!ve in the specilll typeface In print preview; extended lind bold-
words have a green line fllce words or cho!!reclers o!!re shown in blue, underlined words ho!!ve III green line beneath them;
beneath them. normo.l words or cho.rllcters lire printed In black.
Special cho!!racters lI110w you to send printer function codes to you r printer to get features not
supported by HomeText (Italics, super- and subscript, etc.). These characters lire not counted
towards Justification, so you don't have to worry about throwing your line off. You type In the ded-

) ) ) ) ) )
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 ( ( ( ( r ( ( ( , r , r r ( ( ( (

18 rna! vl!Ilue of the charllcter you want to send to Ihe printer (ie, ESC A Is Tl, followed by 65). Decimo!li
values grellter Ih"n 255 cen', be sent to the printer.
Remember when sending special ch ... racters, Ihlll most features such as iio!llics must be turned
off as well as on, so pillce you r special charllcters to turn on the fellture at the beginning of the
texl where you want it to IlIke effect. Then move to the end of Ihe ted where you wanl Ihe effect
to slop and enler Ihe special characters to turn the feature off.
End of page is II method 01 forcing Ihe printer to end Ihe page at the place where you place
End of p age. Ihe command. HomeText will print tiny foote r (see below) on the bottom of the page, then go on
to stllrt II new page. II you will be p.asting pictures or gr~phics Into your tex t, end of page Is a
good method to reserve ~ large bl~nk space for them. Try pl~cing an end of page command
after the second paragr~ph in your text ~nd preview it; see how the third and later p.!Ir~gr~ph8
appear on the next p.!Ige.
Wait per page isn't an appedrance command; it tells the computer to halt printing until told
Wait per p"ge. to resume when you press a key. This allows you to Insert separate pages one at a time when
prinlinq on a sheet-fed or leiter-quality printer. It must be the first command on (I line and
should be at the top of your buffer. II your printer Is ~ tractor-feed, dot matrix printer, you
won't need to wait; each page is fed directly inlo the printer ~utomat!cally.

You can include in your text one or more Jines al Ihe top and bottom of every page; ch~pler
HEADERS AND headings, p.!Ige number, name or whAtever, up to 255 characters In each (including CllTriage
FOOTERS returns and formatti ng commands). The text at the top of the p.!Ige is c~lled ~ header, at the
bottom II's A footer. A typical header might be:
Chapter I: Word processing PAge @ by Bob Smith
This will autom~lically print out at the top of every p.!Ige, and the page number will be incre·
mented to show the right number. For emphasis, you could malte the words "Chapter ]N bold-
f~ce ~nd center the phrase "Page @". You can see he~ders and looters in the print preview.
Header and looter commands
must start at the beginning 01 a H e~der lind looter commands must stllrt at the beginning of ~ line. They may contain their
line. own iormlltiing commllnds alter the opening command (such ~s centering, block right, etc.).
19 They must be closed (off) with anothe r header or looter command and the off command must
be followed by a ca rriage return. Headers and looters can have ca rriage returns in them as
well, so they can be mo re Ihan one line long .
You can have HomeTexi aulomdtically count and number your pdges by placing im "@" sign
in the header o r footer.

INCLUDING FILES Include allows you to link several files together for pr inting which would be too large (if com-
bined) 10 fit together in the buller. As mentioned earlier, the include command can /l lso be
The include command can also used to preview files of any length. You can also create special 'balch files' which have only
be used to preview files of any you r format files and a series 01 include commands for smaller fi les - say chapters - to print
length. long documents.
When HomeText encounters the include command, it then brings the file named Immediately
afte r the command (the name must be a valid filena me and device such as Dl:TEXT.LTR) and
Make sure the file to be inclu- prints it right after the last line (not looter line) in the current text. Make sure when you prinl
ded is o n the pro per d isk. your Iile, tha t the file to be included is on the proper disk before you begin.
If you wan t the included Iile to sta rt on a new page, place an end of page command on the
line belore the include file command. Include file commands must be the lirst thing on a line.
If you want to include more than one file, place the include commands one after another in the
lirst file 10 be printed. You cannot 'nest' include commands like FOR ·NEXT statements in
BASIC .
To test this out, move to the bottom 01 the buffer (CTRL·B) a nd press OPTION, inserting a
new page command at the end. Then press OPTION again and insert an Include command, for
D:SAMPLE.TXT. Make sure you r printer is hoo ked up and go to the functions menu lor printing
the document. Watch how HomeText flrst prints the buffer, then goes to the disk to call up the
next lile and prints it. You'll also see the effects 01 all of you r other format and printer com·
MERGING FILES mands in the printed lile; the line spacing and margins.
FROM HOMEFIND You can call up da ta from any merge file you have created in HomeFind by lirst enteri ng the
The merge token must be the na me of the HomeFind lile from the functions menu (CTRL H), and then inserti ng the merge
only Ihing on a line, followed to ken in the text where you want the data to be printed. Up to 80 characters (HomeFind's maxi·
by a carriage return; it can't mum record leng th) can be merged into you r te xt a t a ti me. The merge token must be the only
be placed in the middle of a th ing on a line, followed by a ca rriage ret urn; it can't be placed in the middle of a line or
line or within the text body. within the te xt body,

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( ( ( ( ( ««««'(((( ((CC( ( ( ( (

20 The merge command w!l\ bring into your texl the first record IIssoci"ted wllh 111.31 query
You will have 10 c reate the (explained more fully In the HomeFind chapter ). Of course, you wHl have to create the proper
proper HomeFind Jile in order HomeF!nd merge file first in order to use Ihls command.
10 use this command . When you use the HomeFind merge token, HomeTezt prints the first record into the body of
you r text. II there is more than one record in the file (say your file was titled 'address' ond con-
Quick Tips !/lined everyone's <!IIddress from the entire disk), then HamaTexl will print the next record, with
the 84me text; this is how you Cdn print Ihe Sdme letter to several people in your dllt"base (mai-
ling list). Simply type the merge command where you want to print the address, instead of
typing the entire adclreu Qut each time. HomeTe:llt will IrllnslAte the down arrow charllcters into
Cllrrillge return/line leeds where il encounters them. This merge leature can easily SlIIve you a
lot 01 time in typi ng, especially where letters lire involved.
More thlln one merge lile record can be called upon in 1I body 01 text, but ellch must be
aVlltillble on the proper disk lit print time, in the proper order to be Included in your text. ElIch
time HomeTexl encounters the HF merge token In the text, il includes the next record in the
same Iile. So if you have addreSS (!.nd phone number and two tokens in 1I letter, the lirst will be
repillced by the lIddress lind the second by the phone number.
II you created A merge lile ClIlled 'Bob', It will conillin 1I1l 01 your datll, such as address,
phone number, shoe size, job, make of CM (provided, of course, you hllve entered. ",1\ 01 this
inlo HomeFind). When you include the meTQe token in a letter to Bob, the Pl'OCJrllrn will print
out ooverlll leiters with elleh record, one right lifter another, in plllC8 01 the HomeFind merge
token. So the first letter will be okay il the first record is Bob's address, but the next w!\l hllve
the phone number instead of an lIddress, the next 1I shoe size lind so on. You end up with many
leiters, but only one printed correctly.
To lIvold this problem, create proper men;Je files; only hllve In them Ihe iniormlliion you need
to hAve prmted out in thAt leiter. II you create A 'generic' type file with too much informAtion in
it. you mlly lind it easier to 'Include' a Iile on 1I sepdTlIte page which does nothing bul cause
HomeTexl to print the remllinder of the records on the page without reprinting the text. This
include file could be nothing more thAn 1I series of merge tokens to represent the remllining
dAta In the file. So If your merge IHe hlls the Address, phone number, job and work !'Iddress in
it. but you only wlIn t the address, Include A file with three merge tokens on 1I blank PlIge. This
is fllster and easier tnlln printing four letters, one for each record!
21
To create a label list. If you want to creClte a label list, make your page length six, and your set top and bottom
margins o!Iccordingiy. Use a letter which only has an HF merge token as its entry.

CONFIGURATION The HomePak disk contains a number of special files with a -SET extension, called configuro-
FILES AND DEFAULTS lion files; one lor each of the three programs on the disk. These are records of the current
screen color, brightness ond tex t brightness, margins, key click sound and other features speci-
fic to each program in HomePak. For HomeText , this also includes tab settings, shift-lock and
the three basic prinler control codes.
You can change these features to suit your own use (see the quick reference guide in each
program lor what can be changed) and save these changes back onto disk by pressing
CTRL W in the fu nctions menu. When you load the HomePak program, the new settings will be
loaded automoti~lly.
Certoin settings in HomeTexl hove default values which can be changed when you type the
proper commonds in your text. These are always the same when you begin to use HomeTexl
each time. The defaults used are:
Left m<lrgin .. . . ........ 5
Righi margin .... .. . . ..... 70
Top margin ......... 6
Bottom margin ... . ................. 61
Page length ............. .66
Line length ................. . ............. . .... 80
Line spacing ................... . .. . .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. ....!
Justify ... . . .................... O FF
Indent .. . .. .. .. .. .. . .. ... . . .. O FF
Wail at end of page .. OFF

» » » ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
 ( ( ( ( ( ( «(('(l(' ( ( ( «(((c(cel

22 NOTES
23 ATARI CURSOR CONTROL KEYS
erRt Q
cursor to top left of screen
OTHER KEYS
TAB
cursor to next lab setting
HOMETEXT
Q uick Reference Guide
erRL A
cursor 10 middle left of screen
SHIFT TAB
set tllb al current column where cursor is
CTRL Z CTRL TAB
cursor to bottom left of screen remove tab at current column where cursor is
CTRL W CTRLarrow
cursor backwards one screen moves cursor one sp.'Ice in direction of lITI'OW
erRL X CTRL DELETE
cursor forward one screen delete one character to right 01 cursor
CTRL S SHIFT DELETE
cursor to begining of current line delete current line
eTRL D CTRL INSERT
to end of current line insert chllracter al cursor
CTRL T ArARI KEY Gi
cursor to top (beginning) of b uffer toggle between insert and replace modes
CTRL B
cu r sor to bottom (end) o f bu ffer

» » » » ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( r ( ( ( ( ( ( ( (

24 SCREEN CONTROL KEYS IN THE FUNCTIONS MENU:

To ch(l.nge screen color: To preview a p r int-oul:
SHIFT CTRL l (down) p
SHIFT CTRL f (up) To load a file into the buffer:
To change screen brightness: L
SHIFT CTRL < (down) To stlve the buffer as a file:
SHIFT CTRL > (up) S
To chenge text brightness: To append II lile to the end 01 the buffer:
SHIFT CTRL I A
To toggle the key click sound: To specify" new output device (P : or disk
SHIFT CTRL TAB filespec)
To change Ihe left hand mtlrqln: N
SHIFT C TRL M (Iogg-Ies between 0 and 2) To speclly printer configur"tion:
To save these changes on your progrCllm disk: C
CTRL W (make sure your data disk Isn't in the To get" disk directory:
drive!) I to 4
This will make your changes the new startup To el[it to the main menu :
defaults. X
To specify" HomeFind merge flle:
EDITING KEYS CTRL H
To d elete Ihe previous chllrllcter:
To p r int the buffer:
DELETE/BACK S
CTRL P
To delete the previous line:
To clear the buffer:
SHIFT DELETEIBACK S
CTRL C
CONSOLE KEYS To delete" file on disk:
To select Ihe printer command window: CTRL D
omON
To enter the Functions menu:
SELECT
To select the lexl block window:
START
25
CHAPTER 4
HOMEFIND You hear a 101 about database managers these days, but what is /I. database? It is simply any
THE INFORMATION organized collection 01 'data' - thai is, Information. facts, details, notes, names and addresses
MANAGER and the like. A da tabase manager is a means 10 add some sorl 01 order to the da ta you have
collected - fo r example, a name and address book is a simple method of organizing or manag-
ing that data .
Of cou r se, computer database managers offer a lot more than sloring your da ta; they offe r
flexible ways to retrieve, 10 sorl and select the information. For businesses which deal with many
clien ts, large Invento r ies or stoff, the database manager must be powerful, comp lex and very
flexible. This usually means difficult to learn and expensive as well.
Database managers generally depend on a rigid framework of entry lines called 'fields',
A m ean s 10 add order 10 the
which, once you have established their size, usually remain fixed and cannot be changed. So if
data yo u have collected .
you decide you only need ten characters for a person's business title but you find later you have
to enter 'Assistant Vice-president for Exemplary Sales Division', then you're out of luck. You
have to shorten the title down 10 lit the lield; something like 'Ast VP ESD' which doesn' t help or
tell you a lot . Many database managers aren't ve ry flexible when it comes to this type of thing.
Most of us don't think of data any way; we don't organize information into little fields in our
heads. When you think of Bob Smith, you don't mentally look up a box called 'title'; you think
"What's Bob Smith's title?". You don't perform a conscious 'sort and extract' routine when you
think "Who's Bob Smith?", so why should you have to learn to lit your thinking into the verte-
b rate structure of a database manager?
Well, you don't; HomeFind is a 'natural language' information manager; you type in informa-
tion the way it occurs to you; "Bob Smith's litle's Assistant VP Exemplary Sales Division" and
thaI's it. The next time you want to know about Bob Smith, you as k 'Who's Bob Smith?" and the
computer will a nswer with all of the information you've typed. in so far. O r if you ask "What's
Bob Smith's title?", it will answer with "A ssistant VP Exemplary Sales Division", just the way you
typed. it in.

»»»»»»»»»»»»») ) ) ) ) )
 ( r ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( (

All you have to lellrn is the simple style used when entering or retrieving information; you
26 don't need to fuss "bout separllte disks for separate data, llbout field lengths (lind extract parame-
ters or the like. The process i8 simple, 6(l.8Y and remarkably uncomplicated for whlll you c.!In do
with it.
There are some tricks you will lea rn liS you work with ii, especially how 10 properly organize
your information before you start to enler it, so you can retrieve it In the best manner.
Load the HomeFind progr<'lffi from the main menu by pressing SELECT to move the colored
b.1r 10 HomeFind lind press START. Follow the explanations which follow for c!"ellling 8. dalll disk
lind using the progrllffi.

CREATING A DATA Here is the screen you see once you have loaded the HomeFind program:
DISK

Fig. 6: HomeFind's Inilial Screen

Since you're just sl/llrting with thiS program, you'll need 10 make a new data disk. Remove the
program disk and put a blank dis k in the drive. If you're using more than one drive, you'll be
able to change the drive number a bit further along. For now, just press SELECT.
The screen changes to the Function menu screen, and the prompt asks you to choose what you
want to do. This is an abbreviated form of the screen, with only a few commands avail<!lble. Later,
when you are entering or retrieving d<!lta, you can press SELECT to see the full fe"ture screen.
27 Make a new data disk by You make a new data disk by pressing M - a process which lormats the disk In the drive noted
pressing M at the bottom 01 the screen as the 'data drive', e rasing any material on the d isk. You can change
the data drive il you have more than one drive by pressing 0 (do so now, and place your blank
disk in the chosen drive) or you can exit to the main HomePak menu by pressing X. You can also
return to the previous screen which Asks lor a n already prepared data disk by pressing RETURN
by Itself.

Fig. 7: The FiN;! Function Menu Screen

We will make a new data disk, so press M. You will next be "sked to name your d"ta disk -
choose a name 12 or lewer char"clers long (including spaces, numbers and punctuation) and
press RETURN. Use the DELETE/BACK SPACE key to correct any mistakes you make, o r the
SHIIT-DELETEIBACK S comblMUon to delete the entire line. You have a final chance to escape
without making a disk by answering N to the last question on the screen once you enter the
name.
HomeFind williarmat and prepare the disk, saying "Done!" when It's finished. Press any key to
continue. You'll be back at the function menu screen again.
Press RETURN to exit and we will be entering data on your new disk.

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28 ENTERING DATA Keep your data disk in Ihe drive dnd press RETURN. You will find yourself in Ihe main
HomeFind screen once the program checks your disk. rake a look at the bottom 01 the screen;
now you'll see the nllme of your dllttl disk In the left corner and the numbe r of bytes left on the
disk in the lower right; 91746 when you start with a new disk, or about 3700 records.
Belore you type anything in, check the quick reference eMrt to see how you can cho!lnge many of
the pdrameters of the proqr"m. The OPTION key toggles the printer on and off. SHIFT CTRL-TAB
combination loggles the key click. SELECT returns you 10 the Functions Menu screen . Other keys
and key combinellons will let you change the screen colors, brightness and the left Illllrgin.
You c<!ln Sllve these ch<!lnges as a configu ra tion file on your bo!Ickup proqr<!lm disk by pressing
CTRL W from the function menu screen (not when you're in the data entry screen) a nd make
them your own startup def",ults. The origin<!ll def<!lult conligur<!ltion Ille will be e r"'sed when you
CTRL W is one 01 several do this. CTRL W is one of sever<!ll comlllllnds not mentioned on the function menu screen (see
commands not mentioned on the quick reference for these comm<!lnds). Make sure your prog ram disk is in drive one, NOT
the function menu sc r een . your data dis k, whe n you SIIve a configu ration file!
Okay, let's try a few simple examples of entering Information. Type this in eX<!Ictly as you see
MaKe sure your prog ram d isk it here:
in in drive one, Nor your data
disk, when you Solve a configu- Mike's birthday's April 18, 1958
ration lile! Now press RETURN. You'll see what you typed appear in the lower middle section of the
screen. The top of the screen will tell you "Mike's news to me! New subject? YIN". The computer
has just told you it h<!ls never he.!lrd of Mike <!Inci w<!lnts to know if Mike is a new subject. Answe r
with Y for yes. Then the computer will My "birthday's news to me! New taq YIN?". Ag.!lin, the
computer w.!lnts to know If 'birthday' is a new \.,g to use in identifying 'Mike'. Ans wer Y. The
computer will now save the inform.!lt!on to the disk .!Inci tell you "Thtlnh!".
Every t!me you enter .!I new subject or a new t"g, HomeFind will .!15k you if it's new. You <!Ins·
wer Y for yes and the new item will be tldded to the inform.!lllon on disk. If you cnswer N or
.!Iny othe r ch<!lracter, the entire entry will be Ignored.
 29 INFORMATION ENTRY Whll! you hllve done is enter your first 'subject', 'tog' and 'object'. The process of entry is
SYNTAX always done in this simple three pdrl form;
l!Ju bjecl's lag's o b ject
Subject's tag's o b ject Notlce Ihe apostrophes (the" , " chaulclers) - they are very Important: they are the m,uKers
Notice the a post rophes - they which tells the computer where e.'lch porllon of the subiect and lag in tin entry statement ends.
a re ve ry impo rt a nt : The computer 'parses' ("Mlyze! the qrllmmllr of) each line to bretlk II up Inlo Ihese p.!Irts so It
can store them on the disk lind retrieve them properly later. You can type in up to 80 characters
for elleh p!lrt and the computer wi!! Ired! It all as one segment until II reaches the" 's " break.
This means that "Account 1 12345's", "follow up date for contract signing's", "Mike's" and "serial
number's" are all individual, legal entries.
HomeFind creates three indices; one index for each of subject, object and tag. You can ask
The rules a re lew /lnd simple: for information in anyone of them. The rules are few and simple:
1. Subjects and tags can't have apostrophes in their names, but
need an " 's " added to the end.
2. Objects Cdn', have aposl:ophes in them, even" 's n.
3. A tag Cllnnot be the same as a previously chosen subject and vice versa.
4. An object CM, but should not be, the ",me liS a preViously chosen subject or tog.
5. Each part cannot be longer than 80 characters and the entire line cannot be longer than 144
characters.
6. An entry must have all three ~rts.
Your entry must have all three p<!.rts to be correct. 11 you are missing any part, the computer
will tlsk for the object. You Cdn press RETURN 10 quit dnd the computer will say "Never mind!",
Your ent ry must have all three wh!ch mellns it has !gnored what you typed In. II the entry has a subject and to.'ll9 which you
parts. hove already entered, the computer will respond as if you were asking it for informtltion. If you
type "Mike's birthday" by itself, the computer will tell you "April 18, 1958".
II you type in some lnformo.'lltlon which Is already entered., the computer comes bIIck with
"That's no news to me!". II you type an entry which hdS the same subject o.'IInd 10.'119 but 0.'11 different
object - say "Mike's birthday's June 5, 1950", the computer will respond with a meSMge like
"Mike's birthday was April 18, 1958. Add or chllnge? AIC". You can do either or press RETURN
to quit that entry

) ) ) ) ) i»)}»~ »»))) ) ) ) i»)~»

 r ( r , ( ( ( r r , r ( ( ( ( ( ( ( (

30 and the computer will say "Never mind!", But if either the subject or the lag are different, the
computer will o!Iccept the entry. It will save the new entry as well as the old if you choose to
.,dd the change.

CHANGES AND While typing, you can use the DELETE/BACK S key to correct your entry, or erase the enllre
CORRECTIONS line with the SHIFT-DELETE/BAC K S combination. But whllt if you mllke a mislllke in the infor-
mation? Say you type "Cindy's sign's Virgo" but you later find out she's really II Pisces. Then
you wanl to change it.
The First method is to type the same line "gain, this lime with the new, correct information:
"Cindy's sign's Pisces". The computer will tell you th.,t her sign was Virgo lind ask if you want
10 add or change the entry. This method only works if there is one object lor a particular sub·
jecVtag combination. If you c hoose to add rlllthe r thllln chlllnge, then the next time you enter
Cindy's sign, the computer will assume you're merely adding to the growing list This way, you
can mlllke something like Bob's dog's mean, nasty, vicious or whllltever, all together.
FOI c hanging an entry use the The best method for changing an entry (and the only one which works when there Is more
wOld 'isn'I'. than one subjecVtag combination) Is to use the word 'isn't', so "Cindy's sign isn't Virgo". The
computer tells you the original entry and IlIsks if you wish to replace il. You answer Y and the
computer asks what Cindy's new sign is. Enter the new object and press RETURN . The compu·
ter will tell you "Thlllnh!" when finished. If you answer N, the computer deletes the entry com·
pletely, returning with "Forgot iI!H when done. Any other key than Y or N cancels the request to
change completely.
Continue entering the Informlltion you wish to store on the disk. For the examples below, type
in the following:
Robert's birthday's March 23, 1953
Mike's favorite color's blue
Mike's cor's Hondo
Mike's phone's 929·9909 (home)
Mike's phone's 596·1405 (office)
Rober/'s cor's Chevrolet
Susan's favo rite color's yellow
Robert's phone's 233·3331 (home)
Robert's favorite color's blue
 31 A little experimentlltlon will show you thai Ihe computer will accept "mike" equlIlly well "s
"MIKE" or "Mike". The program slores the iniormlliion in the form yOu enter ii, with upper /lind
lower C<'IS8 inl""ct, but it replies 10 your request in the C<'Ise you "sk In. So if you hi!lve entered
"Mike's dog's Rover" .md lISl "what's mike's dog?", you get "Rover's mike's dog".
Your screen will now look something Bite this;

Fig. 8: HomeFind's Main Screen

As you enter information, watch the 'disk storage left' line to see how much sptlce you've gal
left on the disk.

Enlering /I lot 01 simiillr ckita can be " bit 01 " chore. Whet if you wanted 10 enter a long list
of friends' telephone numbers? Can you imagine typing Bob's phone's 255-4491 , Judy's phone's
633·9090, 1M's phone's 444·2321' for" hundred friends? Thai's when the apostrophe comes Into
its own.
You ~n use an apostrophe as a 'ditto' (repellt) mllrk when entering repeated subjects or tllgs.
You must have one bllln\:. SPlIce before and after the sing le llpostrophe In order for Home Find to

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32 recognize it. In the phone list, you could type the Ilrsl entry "Bob's phone's 255·4491" and then
type ,,11 the olhers as "Judy's' 633-9090, 11m's' 444·2321" etc., using the llpostrophe to Signify
the t.!'Ig 'phone'.

MULTIPLE LINE Somellmes you w/3nl to break lin entry up - plIrticuiarly objects - inlo several lines f.!llher
ENTRIES than one long one. To do this, you inserl " CTRL-Down Arrow in Ihe entry where you want the
line 10 break. For example: "MArY'S address's 11120 Main 51. I ! I Apt. 301 [! I Dorado, I I I Calif
90\80", When you tis\:. "What's Mary's address?", you get:
Mary's address's
2OM"in St.
Ap!. 301
Dorado,
Calif 90180

COMMENTS Sometimes it's useful to be able to comment your entries with addillonllol information Indl you
don', need to reference in your requests lor inlormolion. In the examples "Mike's phone's 929-
9909 (home) and Mike's phone's 565-1405 (ofliee)", you might like to keep the Information <!Ibout
home <!Ind office out of the m<!lin entry so you don't h<!lve to remember eX<!Ictly how you entered
1\ when <!Isking for Inform<!ltion l<!Iter.
To comment an entry, you use the vertic<!ll w.r ('I ') ch<!lr<!lcler, Ilke this: "Mike's phone's 929-
9909lhome" and "Mike's phone's 565-140510ffice". Any eh<!lr<!lclers <!liter (<!Ind any spaces before)
the "I " ch<!lr<!lcter <!Ire treated <!IS <!I comment. Comments <!Ire ignored when H omeFind searches
for inform<!llion for <!I request.
MAKING INFORMA·
TION REQUESTS Once you have enough information entered, you will want to retrieve it; after <!Ill, th<!lt's wh<!lt <!I
d<!ltaw.se is really for. 50 let's try a simple request. Type "who's mike?". You should get this:
Mike's phone's 929-9909 (home)
Mike's phone's 596-1405 (office)
Mike's f<!lvorite color's blue
Mike's Cdr's Honda
Mike's birthday's April 18, 1958
That's <!Ill!
33 If you type in "what's M ike" or even just "mi ke", you'll qel the same response. You C<!In osl: lor
QUIC K TIPS simple requests on "ny single subject, lag or object And qet everything rell!led to that request.
You Ct'In (l;iso use the pronouns 'when' and 'where' inlerchongeably with 'what' o!Ind 'who'. Punc-
tuation in you r requests Is optional but helps keep the process friendly when you use them;
"who's mike" works as well as "who's mike?" but the llllter is easier 10 use.
You must type in the request Try other simple. single item requests like "what's phone?" lind "f"vor l!e color" 10 see what
ex,,"ctiy liS you entered it. happens. You must type in the request eXo!lctiy .!is you entered it; you must use "!"varite color",
not simply "color" or "596-1405 (offlce)" not merely "596·)405" or you will gel the message
"News to mel". This is why you should use comments 10 tldd informaUon like office or home for
phone numbers; you won't have to worry about the exact wtly you entered them later.
If you tlslt about something you hoven't entered yet, you'll get tI polite response "News to
mel". If you have objects which tire the same as a subject or tag, you won't be able to retrieve
information about them with a slmple request; you'll get the information for the ta9 or subject
reference Instead. For example, If you type "Dave's friend's llrn" and "lim's friend's PtluJ", If you
request only "Jim", all you'll get Is lim's friend's Paul". You'll have to use combined request.,
described below.

GETTING SPECIFIC : You can be more specifiC with you r reques ts. You ~n tlsk, for eXllmple "What's Roberl's (tlVO-
COMBINED REQUESTS ri te color?" or "What's Mike's ~r?" and get the tlnswer. Now if you "sk something Ihllt you
haven't entered previously, such as "what's Robert's house?", you'll be told the new item is "News
to me!" and be tlslted if it's new (in this case, a new tag). Then the computer will say "Tell me,
what's Roberl's house?" and you can answer with the correct object. If you now say "What's
Mike's house?" the computer will say back "News to me! Tell me, wha t's Mike's house?" and wait
for your answer. Hitting RETURN alone cancels the entry.

ANALOGOUS So far, you haven't been shown any real magic; just simple clean requests. Now you'Ulearn
REQUESTS some neat tricks. Type In the following:
Robert's nickname's Bob
Robert's hobby's fossll collecting
Acct. 11552's outstanding credit's $145
Acct. 1 1552's credit limit's $SOO

) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
 r
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34 AceL 11552's name's Li~ Harris

So now you ctln ask "what's Bob's hobby?", since
Bob has been cross-referenced with Robert. By the Mme token, you ClIn <!15k "What's LiM Hllr-
ris's outstanding credit?" and "what's Lisa Harris's credit llroll?".
HomeFind can only deal with a There's a hitch to Ihls. HomeFind CliO only detll properly with an lInlilagous request If the
request if the object is unique. object associated with the request ('Bob' or liM Harris in these examples) is unique and not
used elsewhere on your data disk. So if you type:
Bill's nickname's Bud
Bill's hobby's music
lohn's nickname's Bud
lohn's hobby's boating
and you lIslt "What', Bud's hobby?", HomeFind would respond with one reference, the last one
typed, but wouldn't be able to distinguish between Bill Md John or know which one you were
referring to here.
You must dlso mdke sure you order your informdtion in II wily thllt ffiIIkes lin analogous query
mellningful, liS well liS IIsking II relevllnt question. If you type:
SUMn's bike's red
SUMn's CIII's Tibby
SUMn's nickname's Sue
then when you IIsk "whllt's Sue's bike?", you get "Sue's bike's red", which is line, but if you IIsk
"what's Tibby's bike", you get "Tibby's bike's red", which is silly! Analogous requests require you
10 think out the request clellrly before you IIsk, so thllt you don't get lin IInswer which hilS no
PRINTING YOUR meaning. The OBJECT you use in lin dnlliogous request should have some meaningful relations-
REQUESTS hip 10 the TAG .

HomeFlnd doesn't provide a report p rintout like mllny other programs; most home users don',
The OPTION key toggle. need a fancy print out of their data. Instead, we offer a simple, easy method. 01 printing: the
OPTION key toggle. Press it once lind the "Printer : O FF" line at the bottom of the screen beco-
mes "Printer: ON". Press it 1I<;111in and It goes to OFF. Make sure your printer is turned on in
order to print.
When the printer is on, it echoes everything re/evanl which IIPpears on the screen 10 the
printer; your new entries, your requests, plus everything you list when in the functions menu
 35 section, below. You won" get prompts or error messages cluttering up your printout.

THE FUNCTIONS You can press the SELECT key any time ... nd immediately be Ifllnsferred to the functions
MENU menu screen. You will see thill! once you begin to enter datt!, several new options become
"dded 10 the few we SlIW before, which are described I!bove.
When you use HomeFind, you can only hove one disk in one drive active at II tlme. In order
To change the disk, you musl to chlmge the disk, you must select N for new da!" disk. II you simply insert a new data disk
select N for new data disk. without using this feature, you will damtlge It and destroy the datll on it PERMANENTLY when
HomeFind writes something to the disk. Never insert a new data disk without firsl u.inq the new
disk feature. You will be prompted 10 insert the disk. H omeFind maintllins certllin informlltion
llbout the current disk in memory which is cle/lred oul when you use this function.

Fig. 9: The Function Menu Screen

Milke sure you put your new disk in the proper drive if you hllve more than one. If you
choose the wrong drive number. you won'l be IIble to enter or request IIny information until you
chllnge it to the correct drive. Use the N function even alter you mllke II new data disk, before
you write 10 it, or request IIny in formation from the disk (i ncluding I!sUng 1111 subjects and tags.

) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) } ) } I )
 l l r (

36 Since HomeFind uses ~ specltll disk lorm~t for its dota, you can't copy It with your regular
DOS copy or dupllctlte feature (or write anything to the dis k). That's why we have provided tI
Always backup your data disks . simple routine to make backup copies of your data disks. You should always backup your dattl
disks alter each session with HomeFind when you have rTItIde additions, delellons or changes.
Choose B and follow the screen prompts to Insert the proper disks in the drive tiS necessary.
Backup formats the disk fi rst, so anything on it Is erased.
II's often useful to see the list of all subjects and tags you have on o!I disk, especi"lly when
you're adding or changing a 101 of dat". The Sand T choices will prinl the lisl on Ihe screen
for you. In order to get o!I printed copy, press Ihe OPTION key before you make the choice, and
again a£ter to lurn Ihe printer off.
HameFind deletes objecls lIutomatically, bul nol subjects and tags. When you delete an entry,
Ihe program doesn'l run through every connection and make sure something wasn't filed under
that h~dlng. This would simply take too long to do efficiently, bul il can leave 'dangling h~ ­
dings' on the disk which lake up space but "ren', used lIS references. To cor recl this, we have"
special feature called compress which you should do regullidy 10 your data disks.
Choose K 10 reorganize your Choose K 10 compress 10 reorganize your dat" disks. It cleans up the disk, reclaiming lost
data disks. space, removing deleled enlries and rTItIklng sure all of the links are correct. The screen will
show Ih"t ii's working, with" dot prinled lor each step along the way. Depending on how much
information you have stored on your disk, the process can take between one and IS minutes to
complete. Don'l remove your dal~ dis k while lis being compressed or you w ill d"mage il perma-
nently. Always press 'N' lor new disk lifter a compression, to read the new d irectory properly.
Run the compress function 10 You should run the compress function periodically 10 ensure you don't have tIny dangling
ensure spece is properly used. headings on your disk lind Ihe space is properly used. This is especially imporl"nl when you
hllve made ~ lot of deletions or chllnges to your data. Make sure you backup your disk before
Remove your data disk and you compress ii, Just In case.
place Ihe backup program disk M"ke o!I new disk, change D~ttl drive and EXit to the main menu were all discussed eIIIrlier.
in the drive BEFORE you write Remember Ih~1 when you make a new data disk, the blank is formatted first, erasing any mtlle-
the new file. rial on it. II you make a new dala disk alter you've been working with anolher, make sure you
choose N for use new dtlla disk belore you "tlempl to read or write from the disk a r you m"y
cause an error.
While it's not on the menu, CTRL W wriles a new startup configu ration file to your p rogram
 dis!::. M('Ike sure you remove your data disk "nd pllllce the backup progrom disk in the drive
BEFORE you write the new Iile; if you write it 10 your datil disk, you will wmage the data
MERGE FILES permanently I

A speci('ll f~ture of HomeFind is the merge l!les; it cre<!ltes II special file on ('I regu\er Alari
diskette which con be rMd into your document from HomeTexl. Press CTRL C In the Functions
menu; the program will es!:: you lor ('II search request; answer with" v<'Ilid query: Subject, Tag or
Subject's T<'Ig. The ~rch response is So'Ivecl in memory; only as many objects ('IS Ctln be slored
in memory can be &'Ived as ('I lile. Then give a disk filenllme. Home Find will write to disk /Ill of
the Objects <!associated with your query.
Later, when using H o meText, you Cdn insert 'merge tokens' into the text in order to call up
the objects saved in this file. This is e;'(pillined In more detll!l In the ch<'lopter on HomeText. If
you went to create a mel ling list, then use 'eddress' es your seerch request; the entire renge of
addresses on your disk (Bob's <'Ioddress, Sue's lIddress, Mike's address, etc.) will be s.!ived in the
lile. Records are printed Into your HomeTexl documents in the order in which they are saved.
You can use other databese managers to cre.!lte valid merge files, dS lon9 as certain rules are
followed: the entire record (not file) is no more thdn 80 chardcters long, multl·line entries dre
separated by ASCII cheracter 29 (the down arrow) and each record is separated by one and
only one carrioge return.

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 ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( l

38
ATARI
EDITING KEYS
HOMEFlND To delete the previous char.,cter:
DELETEIBACK S
pronoun + lag's object, or
subject's lag (no pronoun), or
tag's object (no pronoun)
Quick Reference Guide
Analogous query based on object:
To delete the previous line: pronoun + object + tag, or
SHIFT-DELETE/BACK S object + tag (no pronoun)
In the Functions Menu
SCREEN CONTROL KEYS CONSOLE KEYS To create a new data disk:
M
To chlmge screen color: To toggle the printer on end 01/:
SHIFT CTRL ~ (down) To change the dri ve number:
SHIFT CTRL t (up)
OPTION D
To enter the Functions menu: To copy the data disk:
To change screen brightness:
B
SHIFT CTRL < SELECT To change to a new data disk:
SHIFT CTRL >
N
INFORMATION SYNTAX
To chl!nge texl brightness: To list all subjects:
To enter Information:
SHIFT CIRL I S
Subject's Tag's Object
To list all lags;
To tOQgie the key click sound: Example: David's bicycle's red
T
SHIF1' CTRL TAB To change the left To retrieve information:
To compress the dala disk:
h(lInd margin: Allowable pronouns: Who's, what's
K
SHIFT CTRL M (toggles between 0 where's, when's
Single Item query: To exit 10 the main screen :
.!Iod 2) X
(this lakes effect at the first RETURN pronoun + subject, or To create a merge file for Homete:1:! use:
typed) pronoun + tag, or
CTRL C
pronoun + object, or
To save these changes on you r program simply enter the single word
disk:
CTRL W (make sure your data disk Multiple item query:
isn't in the drive!) This will make your pronoun + subject's tag, or
chllnges the new start up defllults.
 39
CHAPTER 5
HOMETERM Telecommunication means computer-Ie-computer communication over the telephone line. You
THE TELECOMMUNI- link your computer with one or more o thers so that you can send and rec€ive programs or 'elec-
CATIONS PROGRAM tronic mail', transmit o r relld information, chat with other users, store liles, do electronic shop·
ping or banking, read on-line mogazines or even an encyclopedia; all those things you do
locally, except over a dist<!lnce with a computer and a modem.
Computer-Ie-computer Modems (lor modulator/demodulator) ore the devices which link computers, translating the
communications electronic signals from your computer Into an audible tone which is then transmitted along the
phone lines. The tones are translated back into recoqnizeable signals by the modem at the
other end. II you have ever lifted your telephone receiver while transmitting or receiving a file,
you will have h~rd the sound 0/ the modems 't<!llking'. This isn't a recommended practice howe·
ver - it almost always causes your data to become scrambled or garbled when you pick up the
receiver to listen.
Modems are serial devices - meaning they transmit data sequentially, one bit at a time, tur-
ning the eight bils of a character into a stream of bits which follow one another. Your computer
re-assembles the bit stream back into eight bit characters when it receives the da ta from the
modem.
Modems such as the Atari 1030 and 835 plug either directly into the serial port on your Atari
or disk drive or into the 850 interlace which has the necessary serial ports, called the RS-232
outlets (RS-232 use a 'sta ndard' for pin connections, so you can use a lmost any modem with the
proper cable for your Atari). The 850 plugs into the serial pori itself. You must turn on your
modem first, then 850 (if you are using one), then disk drive, before you turn on your computer.
HomeTenn can tell which type of modem you are using.
HomeTerm works with the MPP·1000C@ modem as well - a modem which plugs directly into
the joystick poris. To set up your HomeTerm program lor the MPP modem, read the last section
in this chapter.

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( ( ( ( ( «««««« ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( (

40 None of the features described The first thi ng you'll need to use this program is a phone number of a ioc.!li bulletin botIrd
work properly without a modem system, users group, on-line network such tI CcmpuServe or a friend who hilS II modem hooked
or interlace aU,,"ched. up to his or her computer. This will allow you to lest the features of HomeTerm o!ind see what
telecommunication Is aU about. None 01 the fe.'llures described below work properly without a
BASIC modem or interface attached, 80 make sure they're all on properly before trying HomeTerm.
TECHNICALITIES
Telecommuniclliions isn't difficult or very complex, but it does require that you understand"
few technical terms and how it works in order to use It properly. You will probably have to try
the program out severlll times 10 get the hang of lI.
The first thing you need to know is Ihe speed of communlcaHon; both computers have to talk
10 each olher at the stlme speed. This is measured in baud. Most home computers transmit at
Baud 300 baud, which translates to roughly thirty characters per second or three hundred words per
minute. Many newer modems can switch 10 1200 baud - four limes as fast. People used to use
110 baud - a very slow speed - before faster modems became cheaper to buy. Many popular
modems - the so·called 'smart modems' - can work at several speeds and can tell what speed
the other computer Is working at and adjust to it. Check your modem manual for details. You
should try to make sure you know what speed the other computer is transmitting at before you
c.!IlI it up.
Dup lex The next item is duplex; modems are capable of transmitting data in both directions at the
same lime; in fuU-d uple::.: state (sometimes called echo .plex). they do just that. just like two peo.
pIe talking at the same time on a telephone. Your screen shows you what the other system
echoes back to you. Full duplex is the fa ster mode. In hall-duplex, you transmi t only one way a,
a lime (say, to the other computer), then Ihe other way (back to yOUf computer), like a CB ril '
dio. Your screen shows what you type. withoul an echo to your screen. When you're in hillf·
duplex and the other system Is in full. you get a doubling of charilcters, so if you type "HEL-
LO", you end up wilh "HHEELLLLOO".
Which duplex do you need? It depends on what the other person is also set at! There are no
sel rules for duplex; you will hilve 10 try one or the other if you have any troubles communlctlt-
ing. The duplication on the screen of any characters you type is one good indication that you
need to switch duplex. Often switching your duplex wltl c ure any problems. Some modems
hilV6 a switch to set the duplex mechanictilly; make sure the switch selling conforms to the
mode you need. Experimentation will show you what's necesstlry.
41 There are several choices involved in communications and transmitting files. The first step is to
establish what type of computer you are communicating with. Most computers converse with each
other in 'ASCII' code - straight characters; numbers, leiters, punctuation, withoul control or
escape codes or inverse characters. When two Ataris talk to each other, they can send the codes,
'ASCII' inverse Ch!lTacters and speCial symbols in ATASCIL CompuServe has special cursor control fea-
ATASCII tures it supports, using a systems called Vidlex. HomeTerm supports all three methods. You should
Vidtex consult your Alari manuals for II full expian.'llion of ASCII and ATASCII and the difference bet-
XModem ween them.
HomeTerm sup ports all four. Many bulletin board systems - particularly those using a CP/M computer or CompuServe (for
file transfers only) - use a lile transler protocol method designed and developed by Ward
Which method you should use Christensen, called the Xmodem protocol. HomeTerm also supports Xmodem. Which method
will depend on the computer at you should use - ASCII, Atar!, Vidtex or Xmodem - will depend on the computer a t the other
the other end of the line. end of the line. You will usually be able to talk or chat, read mail and in/ormation without
knowing which to use since you will be doing so in ASCII , but It is important to use the right
method. when moving files. You mlly have to experiment a bit first to get it right.
HomeTerm reserves 1I section 01 memory clllled a buller for use when transferring files. When
you send a lile. a~ much of it <"IS c<"ln be stored in the buller is loaded in • then transmitted to
the other computer. When the buffer is empty, it fills up again and continues doing this until
the entire file is sent. When you receive 1I file it works in reverse; liS much of the file as possi-
ble is stored in the buffer before being SelVed to disk, then once the buller is empty agllin, it
stllrts to /ill up. During the times the disk is being used, the computer doesn't transmit. It sends
a signlll to the other computer, telling it to wait until the operll\!on is finished, and when done,
sends another signlll to stllrt up again. The buffer is discussed in more detail later.
There are two other aredS which lire important but not usually critical to home use. One is
parity; when you transmit in ASCII, a stort bit is added 10 the front 01 the character - a zero -
to tell the hos t system to expect lin ASCII chllracter. After the leiter is sent, 1I parily bi! follows.
This is either a one or zero to ma.ke the sum of the bits in the character senl - including the
parity bit - come out either odd or even. Older systems used to use parity checking to ensure
the trllnsmission WllS correct. HomeTerm ignores parity, since it isn't used much on modern sys-
tems lInymore.
The final item Is slop bils. After each character has been sent, one o r two bits follow as a
'flag' to tell the receiving system that the entire character has been sent and the next bit

»»»»»») ) ) ) ) »»»1»»»)1)
««««(((((((((((((((((((((((((

42 received wi ll be the start bit of the following character. HomeTerm uses one stop hi t, since mosl
systems nowadays support just one father than two slop hils. You can', change eithe r the no-
pority or one slop bit protocol . but you won't often fi nd systems which need or use anything
else.

USING HOMETERM; Alter you load HomeTerm from the m<!l in menu, remove the program disk and place it in a
THE SCREENS safe location. You should place a lormCllted disk in one 01 your drives to store programs you
wish 10 retrieve from another {or host computer, or a disk wi th files you wish 10 send to another
computer. You r fi r st screen is the 'interactive mode' screen; this is the screen you see when c all-
ing another system, when transferring liles, when c hatting online. There are three screens in
HomeTerm; the others a re the Functions menu screen ond the Files menu.
The bottom two lines tell you the stotus of you r link to the other computer. You can see cur-
ren t size of your memory buller (7220 bytes), the baud rate (300), the duplex (lull) ond the
translation mode (ASCII), The stotus lines will also tell you what file activity you're performing
and the nome of the file. Finolly. the center box shows a timer you can set in the functions
menu screen to keep trock of how long you've been online (especially useful on systems which
charge for their services!).

Fig. 10: Interactive HomeTenn Screen Fig. 11: HomeTenn Funct ion Menu Screen
 43 Going to the functions me nu Press SELECT to go to the Functions menu screen. When you're online with another compu-
won't disconnect you h om the te r, going to the functions menu won't disconnect you from the other computer. However, if
other computer. you're talking to someone, ii's only good manners to tell them you're leaving for a moment,
since you can't talk to them from the functions screen.
There are actually two different function menu screens; one for a regular modem, another for
the Atari 835 or 1030 modems. These At"ri direct connect modems only support 300 baud. You
do not need and cannot use the cartridges which come with these or other modems (Telelink or
any other software)!
Not every feature of HomeTerm Not every feature of HomeTerm is listed on the screen; only the most commonly used are
is listed on the screen. shown, so you may have 10 refer to the quick reference card for such things as changing the
screen colors. leI's look at the fea tures shown on the screen, one at a lime, while we go
through the process of 'signing on' to a bulletin board, or calling another computer.

FIRST STEPS BEFORE 1£ you are using a modem through the 850 interface which supports more than one baud rate,
PLACING A CALL you need to make sure that you are calling at the right speed (the 835 and 1030 modems work
at 300 baud only). The B key toggles between 300 and 1200 baud. Try it and see it c hange on
the status line at the bottom of the screen. If your modem can transmit at 1200 baud and you
The B key toggles between 300 know the computer at the other end can as well, then use 1200. Otherwise, 300 baud is the
and 1200 baud. most common speed used. You can'l change your baud rate once you have connected to ano-
ther compute r.

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««((( (((((( «( «( « « « « ( «(CC(

44 You should start in ASCII mode when placing a call; you can change translation modes later
when Iransferring files. One of the reasons lor using ASCII to dial is thai your modem will
accept commands in ASCII, but roilY nol 'eke them In ATASCII (Atari) mode. If you can', get
the modem to respond, try pressing SHIFT·CAPS/ LOWR 10 set Ihe output to upperc.!l.se, then re-
entering your commands. Pressing CAPSfLOWH alone releases Ihe shift lock.
You select a duplex mode You select a duplex mode wi th P. Start out wi th full duplex; if you have problems, you can
withP. chl!nge once you're connected. If you're in half duplex mode and you get "doubled" keystrokes
on you r screen, switch to full duplex. Now you're ready to make a call. Press RETURN to switch
to the inte ractive screen.

PLACING OR In the inter",ctive screen, you type the commands to dial a number. II you're using an old
RECEIVING A CALL style 'acoustic coupler' modem, or one which doesn't have 'autodial' capability, you can still use
HomeTerm, but you'll have to manually dia l the number. Your modem document",tion will tell
you how to di",l and what you need to enter. The Hayes and other 'smarl modems' use a com-
mand like this: (refer to your modem ma nual lor deta ils)
ATDT555-1234 ~ RETURN .
This says "attention modem (AT - tells it a command is coming), touch-tone dial (DT; if you
were using a rotary phone, you use PD lor pulse dial) the number which follows (555-1234)".
When the modem on the other end 01 the line answers, you may see a mess.age on your screen,
lellling you that you are connected (such as 'carrier detected' or 'connected' (or you may have
to type something to gel the other computer to recognize you (RCP/M systems require a
RETURN , CompuSe rve needs a CTRL C ). When you're calling a friend, you may see nothing
al all and may be able to type without needing to send other signals.
If you have a modem which can answer calls (an 'auto-answer' modem), then set it to do so
(this means selling the proper switch in the Hayes or giving the modem the proper command in
others). In the functions menu for Ihe 835 and 1030 modems, you will see the A comma nd
which will allow you to manually answer the phone. Press CTRL A when the phone rings in
order to answer it and go online.

THE INTERACTIVE, OR Now tha t you've made connection, wha tever you type is automatically transmitted 10 the other
CHAT MODE compute r, as well as to your screen . When you're online with a bulletin board or electronic
da tabase, you should end each entry with a RETURN. When you're talking back and forth with
 45 II frIend, you should end each line or sentence with somethIng like GA for 'go ahead' and three
periods ( .. .) for 'more to come', so thai they know you're finished And can respond. Wait until
you see their end-ol.message sign GA before you begln typing your own reply. Another WfJy 10
signify who's talldng (especiAlly when saving the convers.!llion 10 a disk Ille for later reading) is
fo r one of you to use the TAB key before starting your line.
There are several things you can do while In the interadive mode; change screen colors, lexl
dnd screen b rightness, IIdjust screen margins lind more. These are explained in the quick refe -
Word wrap. rence guide. Some features won't be liS obvious /liS others; wo rd wrap for one. When your text
comes to the end 01 the screen, II b~h at the last word and continues on the line below, so
the words aren't broken in the middle. This isn't always neces~ry or wanted - say when captu·
ring a file. To turn 011 word wrap, use the SHIFT CTRL W toggle. The screen will tell you what
you've done. Word wrap is convenient when ~ding files formalled lor 80 column displays.
11 you're n ot the best typ ist in If you're not the best typist in the world, you sometimes make mistakes in your input and get
the world . the wrong response. HomeTerm has an edit Window, toggled by SHIFT CTRL E. When ii's on,
you see a line cut across the bottom of the screen. Everything you type lIppe1!lrs in this window,
bul Isn't sent to the other computer or the modem until you press RETURN. The edit buller can
hold up to 120 characters; some systems won't accept that much text at 1I lime without a car·
riage return - experiment to see what it can take.
When you press RETURN everything from the beginntng to the end is sent, minus any trai-
ling blllnks, no mailer where you placed the cursor when you pressed RETURN . You can use
the CTRL key, the arrow keys, and the TAB key or the DELETEIBACK S key to edit the window
before you send anything . The CTRL CLEAR keys wtll cJ~r the screen once RETURN is pres·
sed. The editing feature is particularly useful In CompuServe's CB section.
To save for later pre" the Sometimes when you're talking online or reading mes~ges or getting information, you see
OPTION key. material you want to ~ve for laler. To open the buller to begin saving what's appearing on the
To save 10 disk, p ress SELECT screen, press the OPTION key. The status Hne on the bottom tells you Ihal ca pturing is one
and the D. (and the screen border turns red). Press O PTION <!Igain turns the caplu re buffer off. You C<!In
slart <!Ind stop So!Iving dat<!l inlo the buller <!Iny number of times before ~vi ng , as long <!IS there's
room In the buffer for it. When you want 10 save Ihe buffer to a disk file, press SELECT for the
function menu and the D to dump. Ho meTerm will <!15k for <!I filename then. You can choose 10
dump the buffer 10 the printer (device P :) or the screen (device E), using CTRL 1 10 pause and

) ) ) ) ))))))))))))))))))))))))) ) )
 ««««((((((((((((((

46 Capture and Upload restart the output. The screen device can be used to review the buffer's Capture and Upload
a lile is the normal way to receive (capture, or download) and send (upload) II file, respectively.
You will be asked for the lilen..,me; if you're uSing more than one drive, specify the drive num-
ber, for example: D2 :TEST.TXT. You can also ignore uppercase in the filename, so 2: lest is lrell -
ted like D2:TEST by HomeTerm , without problems. The program ,,"ssumes you mean 0 1: if you
don'l specify II drive. If the lile you intend to send isn't on disk, you'll get an ertOr message.
Press lIny key to continue. You can get a disk directory by pressing the numbers one 10 four.
When you are talking with a When you are talking wilh a CP/M or RCP/M system, or any syslem which uses the Christen-
CP/M RCP/ M or Christensen sen (Xmodem) protocol (such as CompuServe for Iile transfers; often listed on the system's ope-
(Xmode m) use Receive and ning screens), you use Receive and Send files, rather than Capture and Upload . In both cases,
Send . you can simply press RETURN when asked for a filename and cancel the operation before it
gets slarted. To begin sending or receiving a file, press SELECT to return to the interactive
mode and the press START 10 initiate the process. Sometimes you have 10 type the command
for the host system to send the lile but press START belore you press RETURN, otherwise you
miss the Iirst few bytes that are sent. S and R automatically set the correct duplex and transla-
tion modes lor correct transfe r; you don't need to set them manually.
Using the Christensen Xmodem Using the Christensen Xmodem protocols, which breaks a file into 'records' for transmission,
protocols. the receiver waits 10 seconds for the Iirst byte of a record being senior one second between
each character in a record. II nothing is received in Ihis time period, the system aborts the pro-
cedure after retrying ten (10) times. The sender has only one time-oul; when nothing has been
received in acknowledgement for one minute.
Sometimes during a Iransfer of a file, you need to quit. To do this, press any console key
(START, SELECT or OPTION). This usually works, but it assumes the other system can reco-
gnize the cancel signal - no problem if you're t/llking to another HomeTerm user. Some systems
which use the Xmodem protocol can't recognize the cancel, so you have to wait it oul until the
remote 'times-out' or Ihe transfer is complete.
Belore you send a lile, you have to make sure you have the translation mode (T and A ) set
properly. In ASCII and Vidtex modes, there are several special key combinations to give you
special characters or commands (see the reference card). Once you begin to send or receive a
file, you will see you r data presented on the screen as it moves between computer and modem.
Once a file has been sent. you can clear the buffer in preparation for more tra nsfers (CTRL-C).
You cannot send or receive more with an intact buffer.
47 In Vidlex mode. In Vidtex mode, true cu rso r control Is Imple me nted, but you must go inlo the CompuSe rve
DEFALT progra m and choose the te rminal type of 'VIUfEX' with /I 38 o r 40 characte r by 21 line
screen in orde r 10 use II properly. Vidtex has clear screen lind cu rsor position ie"tures not used
in other systems. This is described in more delail, !!lIang with the DEFALT prog ram use, in your
CompuServe mo nuai.
If you wlInt to print a file rather than save It to dis k, give It a file nam e 01 P: for output, so
the copy goes directly to the printer. The C<'I rri('lge return/linefeed (CR/ LF) combination is
a lways sent to the mooem or the device, l!Iutomatlcally at the end 01 a line (EOL ch aracte r),

DISK FEATURES You've alreddy seen that the numbers I - 4 produce a directory of thot drive, if connected.
HomeTe rm min i-DOS There are more disk rela ted features available in HomeTerm - there is a mini· DOS function
which allows you to perform the most important DOS features without leaving HomeTerm or
going off·line!
Press CTRL F for the files sub·menu. It has several functions to allow you to ma nage you r
disks and files properly; copy, delete, rename, lock and unlock (wildcards are allowed) liles, get
a disk directory and format a disk. These features are all explained in you r Ata ri DOS manual;
consult that manual for more information. For other DOS features, such as copy an entire disk,
you'll have 10 disconnect, leave HomeTerm lind boot up DOS,
Copy uses the capture buffer to copy liles. You will be asked if the program can use the
entire buffer; if you answer N, the progrllm will use only the available free memory, which
means more disk swaps with one d rive (the routine needs at least 1024 bytes of buffer space to
operate) . You can also copy a file 10 the p rinter (device P:) or any othe r device (E:, S: or C :)
you wish. You can use !I wildcard in copy, but only the lirst fllename which matches will be
copied ,
M"ke sure you don't have your With rename, you can specify any valid drive for the !irst name, but the new name cannol
p rogram or data disk in the have a d rive speciliC3tion (Ihe file Is lIssumed 10 be on the SlIme disk). Wildcards are allowed.
drive whe n you formal the disk. One precaution: make sure you don't have your program or data dis k in the drive when you
press F 10 formal the disk! II you c hoose a selection bul change your mind, press RETURN ins·
tead of onswering with a filename and the command will be cancelled.

»»»»))))))) »)))))))))))))))
 ( , ««««««««««««« ( ( ( (

48

Fig. 12: Disk Files Function Menu

SPECIAL FEATURES You have noticed several other commands on the functions menu so far we hllven', discussed.
The first is the timer; sel with CTRL S. The tlmer is a 24 hour real time clock. You can enter
the current time and it will keep the clock running on the stllltus line 01 the screen. You can
resel the time to 00:00:00 by pressing CTRL R. This is useful to keep Ir",ck o f the lime you've
spent online when using /I system with e ithe r a time limit or a lee lor useage. You musl turn the
timer on to get it working alter you've set it; press the Alar j key to logg1e the timer o n or off (in
ei ther screen).
When you cllpture d"\a using the OPTION key. or send o r receive a lile using a function
The buller. menu choice, you use the buffer. There Is only one buffer and In order to use it for other pur-
poses, you must dear it; press CTRL C. You elIn also simply load or receive a file but change
your mind and dear the buffer without either saving It or sending It_ The buffer is usually dlM-
red automatielllly after a file transfer.
To add delays. Sometimes you need to add delays between characters when transmitting a file, so that the
other computer has enough Ume to fetch and display IMch character. CTRL D sets the delay in
49 increments of 50 milliseconds. Just type in the number you need to add to each line. Usually
between 10 and 50 delay increments are sufficient; delays greater than fifty are seldom
necessary.

MACRO COMMANDS Mac ros are simple keystrokes which allow you to transmit several commands or a long string
of characters (up to 70 characters lola\) without having 10 type the entire line in eClch lime. You
To 'automate' your dialing and can best use them to 'automate' your dialing and log-on sequence to such systems as Compu .
logging sequence. Serve, where a long keying process is involved. You can h;:tve up to len macros a t a lime and
store them 10 disk, <!lIang with severClJ other pClrameters, in a special configuration file.
Macros are transmitted in the interactive mode by pressing SHIFT·CTRL and the number 01
the macro - zero through nine (0 - 9). To abort a macro, press any key while in operation (you
can tell a macro is still working because the screen itself changes to green). To get a list of
your active macros, press SHIFT-CTRL
Macros are defined in the fu nction menu by pressing CTRL M. You will be shown the current
list and asked which one you wish to change. If you have entered data for that macro already,
you will get an edlt window which allows you to change a few characters if necessary, without
having to change the entire Ilne. Control characters appear in inverse ASCII.
To write a macro, you simply type in the characters and commands you want 10 send, ending
the sequence wi th a RETURN. A carriage return and line feed (CR/LF ) is sent a t the end of
each macro unless the last character is ESC.
Special charaders used in There are several special characters used in macros. These are:
macros. 1. CTRL C Toggles the capture buffer open and closed
2. CTRL M Sends the end-of-line characte r.
3. CTRL P Pauses for two seconds be/ore continuing
4. CTRL U "Use" the macro whose number follows immediately. This is like the Garo command
in BASIC; it allows you to combine several macros toge ther. Using CTRL U, you can link seve-
ral macros together into a 'giant' macro with many more commands than one along would per-
mit; almost 700 characters can be combined in one mega-macro this way.

»»»» »))) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
 { ( { ( ( f
, ,
{ ( ( (

50 5. CTRL W Walt for the next chero!lcter you specify to appear from the host. If the character hasn't
appeared in 30 seconds, the macro is "borted.
6. ESC N Mllkes the next character 'verblllim'; necess.!Iry to transmit control codes rather than
interpreting them as II command.

Here's an eXllmple of a mllcro used 10 call up lind log on to CompuServe. The ':' chtlri~cter
mellns 'CTRL: and the squ"re brackets - I )- aren't typed in-they're only shown here to diffe-
rentiate between control codes and other chllrllclers.

ATD555-1234[ 'P1I "M lI" Wj T [ 'PI [ESC! I 'CI [ 'WI: 77770,111 rM I [ 'WI : FREE·DEMO

A ca rriage return is always This rnllcro breaks down as follows:

sent after a macro is comple-
ted , heepl when the Ilisl cha- 1. ATD555-1234['PJ [-M) Coilihe number 555·1234 end pause for two seconds to allow the
racier in the macro is the modem to catch up to the input stream.
ESC key. 2. (" WI T )" PI Wail for the 'T' in the 'CONNECT' prompt from the modem then pause again
while the sign on message is being displayed..
3. (ESq ( 'q Send a CONTROL C so that CompuServe Co.'In o.'Iclmowledge the co.'lll. The ESC
tells HomeTerm tho.'lt the CONTROL C Is to be tro.'lnsmltteci to C ompuServe, not taken o.'IS 0.'1
command.
4. r WI; 77770,111 walls for the final ';' in the CompuServe 'USER 10:' prompt, then sends the
users ID code, followed by the end-of·line character.
5. [' WI; FREE· DEMO waits for the fino.'ll ';' character in CompuServe's 'PASSWORD:' prompt,
then sends the password.

You can So.'Ive your screen color and brightness choices to dis~, along with your current list 01
mo.'lcros, the current baud rote, key click, duplex mode o.'Ind translation type as 0.'1 conliguratlon
CONFIGURATION file, while In the function menu. This is done by pressing CTRL W. The defo.'lu lt configuration
lile which comes with the progro.'lm is called HOMETERM.SET. To So.'Ive your own default file
under that no.'lme (replo.'lcing the one on the program disk), press CTRL W. The default configu ·
ration file is always the one which boots up with the initial program lOo.'Id.
51 To save II diHerently named conliguT<'Ilion lile, press CTRL N. You will be asked to give the
filename. You ctln store as many as you want, as long as you given them each different ""mes
and you have enouQh disk. space.
To load II different configuration Ih"n the deloult once you're in HomeTerm , press CTRL L.
You will be asked for the name of the file to load. Using different configuration liles, you can
save several different sets of macros for use with different onli ne systems.
The configuration Hie commands are not shown on the function menu screen. They only work
in the function menu, not in the online or interactive screen mode.
SIGNING OFF
Once you've signed on 10 a system, you'll want to explore it, test what it h<!ls to offer, down-
load (capture) fi les or programs, read and \eo!lve messages or electronic mail (often called
Email) - whatever the system allows (most b ulletin bo"rds and databases have menus fo r you to
choose from). When you're finished, you'll have to sign off. Usually the system h.!ls .!I menu
choice for quilling; sometimes it's a single word. like BYE or QUIT. C heck with the system func ·
THE 83511030 FUNC - tions menu before you continue, so you know aheo!ld of lime how to leave properly.
TIONS MENU If your modem Is still hooked up, you will need to disconnect it (sometimes m.!lnually) or
place it 'on Ihe hook' so Ihal your phone line is clear again and the modem doesn't answe r
when someone calls! The Hayes Smart modem uses ATH .!IS the 'hang up' command. Check your
modem m.!lnu.!ll lor details.

There are some changes lor the Atad 835 and 1030 modems which reflect the different capa·
billtles of these devices. Since they are only 300 baud modems, you no longer have a b.!Iud rale
selector. In addition to the othe r features, you have H for hang up phone - this discon nects
you r system from the line.
You have CTRL A for .!Inswer phone. This isn'l an 'auto·answer' mode like smart modem -
Ihere is no simple way 10 detect a riny automatically with these modems. Instead, it picks up
Ihe phone and puts the modem into answe r mode (Atari modems are usually in originate
mode). To do this let the phone ring til least once, then press C TRL·A to answer Ii.
M is to mtlke tI phone Ctlll. It pulse dials a number (rather than touch tone dialing) which
you type in when asked - up to 15 digits, including punctutltion. Pressing SELEC T during the
dialllnQ process interrupts it and returns you to the Functions menu. II you make a connection,

) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
) ) ) ) ) )
 r
r ( r , ,
( ( ( ( ( ( (

52 you enter termin.,l mode right tJ way. Other than these lelliures, everything else works the 8tIme.

USING THE MPP Owners 01 this modem (which connects through the joystick pori) can <'lIlso use HomeTerm.
MODEM First you must obl.!!in the R: Handler disk from you r MPP de"ler. This is a progrlllm which emu-
lates the 85·232 h<'lndler in the 850 interface and IIl10ws you to use the MPP modem with a
variety 01 other software. This method, by the way, works with almost .!Iny custom R: Handler which
loads below memory location 9920 ($26CO), and that .-.lso properly conforms to the 850
speclflcaUon.
Next, copy the AUTORUN.SYS. HOMEMENU.OBJ, HOMETERM .OBI CInd HOMETERM .SET
progrllms onto a formatted disk with DOS files on It. Rename the AUTORUN.SYS progrllm
RUN.SYS (lIny name will do; thts is tempo rllry so thllt we don't hllve two files of the Sdme OlIme
Note: Only the "small" R: on the disk. or overwri te one). Copy the R: Handler (probably lIlso ClIlled AUTORUN .SYS) onto
Handler from MPP can be this disk. liS well. Choose DOS C or copy commllnd to append two files together. Afte r C type:
used with HO METERM .
RUN .SYS,AUTORUN.SYS IA . This will o/Ippend the RUN.SYS prog ro/lm to the end of R: Handler
liS the combined file with the name AUTORUN.SYS. Ero/lse the file RUN.SYS from the disk..
The reason we put HomeTerm on 0/1 sePll fo/lte disk now Is thllt we do n't hllve e nough sPlIce left
on the HomePo/Ik disk for the new AUTORUN.SYS with the other liles. The progrll m will lOo/Id
o/Ind work properly, but remember that you ClInnot 1000d HomeTest Of HomeFind from this menu
screen, even if the choices lire still there.
 MACROS: To send a right curly brace (}):
To initiate (tr,msmit) a m<!lcro: CTRL + _ (ASCII and Vidlex modes
53 ATAR! SHIFT - CTRL + 0 through 9 only)
HOMETERM QUICK To see the list of macros: To send a reverse apostrophe:
REFERENCE GUIDE SHIFT - CTRL + CiiI CTRL + , (ASClI and Vidlex modes
only)
CONSOLE KEYS:
In the Interactive screen mode: To toggle c"pture buffer onobff: IN THE FUNCTION MENU:
To change the screen color: OPflON Of no other file transfer mode To toggle computer and modem for Atari
SHIFT - CTRL ! : up has been selected) 10 Alar! mode:
SHIFT - CTRL t : down To go 10 the fundion menu: A
To change screen brightness: SELECT To loggle between 3(X) lind 1200 baud:
SHIFT - CTRL ( : down To begin (II file transfer opero!lUon: B
SHIfT - CTRL ) : up START To prepare 10 capture an Alari or ASCII
To change text brightness: hie:
SHUI - CTRL + I SPECIAL KEYS: C
To lock the keyboard in uppe~se only:
To loggle the key elicle.: To dump present buffer 10 device and
SHIFT - CAPSILOWR
SHIFT - CTRL + TAB filename:
To release the shift lock: D
To toggle the Edit window: CAPSILOWR
SHIFT - CTRL + E To change Ihe current Iilename:
To tab every eight spaces: N
To toggle the left margin shift: TAB
SHIFT - CTRL + M To ring the bell on the host computer: To loggle between half and lull duplex:
(either 0 or 2 splices) CTRL + G (ASCII and Vidlex modes p
To toggle the word·wrap only) To prepare to receive an Xmodem lile:
feature: To clear screen: R
SHIFT - CTRL + W CTRL + L (ASCII lind Vidlex modes 1-4 disk directories
To toggle the real Ume clock only)
on/off: To send a left curly brace (0:
Alari key (set and reset the CTRL + ; (ASCII and Vidtex modes
clock in the function menu only)
screen)

) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
 ( (
( (

54 To prepare to send an Xmodem lile: To set the timer clock: MACRO COMMANDS:
S CTRL + S (you must enter all three To Invoke (transmit) a macro:
time fields) SHIFT - CTRL + 0 through 9 (in Inte-
To select f!le transfer translauon mode:
ractive screen
T To write the default conligurlliion file:
mode)
To prepare to upl~d lin Alar! or ASCII file: CTRL + W (writes Di:HOMETERM.SET)
To Hst macros:
U 835/1030 modems only: SHIFT - CTRL Gil (interactive mode)
To exit to the Home Pak menu: To hang up the phone (disconnect) To edit or change macros:
X H CTRL + M (function menu mode)
To clear the buffer: To answer an incoming phone call (listen Commands or characters within macros:
CTRL + C for the ring first)
To set the output lile delay rate: CTRL ... A To toggle buffer open/closed:
CTRL + D (each increment Is 50 ms) To mlloke lin outgoing phone call CTRL + C
M To send a carrill;ge-return (Return)
To select the disk Ille menu:
CTRL + F character:
IN THE DISK FILES FUNCTION MENU: CTRL + M
To load a conliguratlon Iile: To copy a single lile: To p.!!use two seconds:
CTRL + L C CTRL + P
To change or edit ffillCrus: To delete a file from disk: To use another macro:
CTRL ... M CTRL + U + 0 through 9
D To wait for the next character before
To write a configuration file: To lock a file: proceeding:
CTRL + N (you give the filename; L CTRL + W + character
screen p.!Ifllmeters and macros saved) To make the next chll;racter verbatim:
To rename a Iile:
To reset the timer clock 10 all zeroes: R ESC
CIRL + R To unlock a file:
U
1-4 disk directories

.... : Atari key

55 USING HOMETERM With HOMETERM, the entire universe 01 ATARI BSS systems and commercilli dllta services
ON COMPUSERVE are jusl " few keystrokes IIway. Perhaps the i<!lrgest and most widely known of these is
SIG 'ATARI - Ihe ATARI Special Interest Group ioc.!lled on the CompuServe information Ser-
vice, (CIS). SIG 'ArARlls more than II simple BSS (Bulletin ~rd System). Among ils mony
HOW TO USE THE features are its powerful and versatile user forum. This features a sophisticated message transfer
ATARI SPECIAL INTE- system lind an onHne. real-lime conlerencing fllcility thllt permits over 100 users to converse
REST GROUP (SIG ) simultllneous!y or In privllie with others lIllllcross the nllllon. As well there lire 9 dlltah!!ses with
over 1I1most 1,000 public domain files aVdilllble lor downloading lit no extrd charge. (This repre-
SIG"ATABI - the ATARI sents over 1I megabyte worth of lree programs). Membership in SIGoATAR I is lIvlIilllble to
Special Interest Group lInyone with 1I CompuServe 10, with no additional charges beyond the normal connect rates.
To lIccess the SIG Just sign on to CompuServe by lollowing the log-on directions provided
with your CIS stllrier kit. (These <!Ire aV<!Iilllble lit most mllJor computer retllilers.) Alter dltlilng
IMPORTANT - Its perfectly all in, CompuServe wHl prompt you to enter your USER 10:. This ID, commonly refe rred to <!IS a
right to tell othen your USER PPN, is 1I 2·part number th<!lt looks like 77777,7777. Next enter the password proVided with you r
ID number but NEVER lell st<!lrier kit. Don't worry if you c.!In', see the password <!IS you type it tn. This is done for security
anyone e lse your private reasons so lInyone looking over your shoulder c.!In't <!Iccess your tlccount. IMPORTANT - Its per-
password . fectly ,,11 right to teU others your USER ID number, <!lIsa known liS 1I PPN. In fact, Ihey need 10
know this number to send you tiny EMAIL (Electronic Mail) or other messages on the system.
To access SIG ·ATARI. Think 01 this number <!IS just like you r street address for postal mail. NEVER, NEVER tell enyone
GO PCS-132. else your private J)o!Issworn. This Is just like the key to your house. Never give II to strangers!
Once online with CompuServe, you will be "positioned" at the "lOP" page 01 the VIDEO-
TEXT service. CIS Is structured Into tI "paged" lormat where each "page" is denoted with a 2 or
Enter a question mark "?" o r 3 letter <!Ibbreviation and a number. You may navigate <!Iround the system by ste pping thru the
the wo rd "HELP" and the menu selections until you arrive lit the J)o!Ige with the Information or service you desire, or you
system will display .. list of moy go directly to <!Iny page <!IS long as you know the page number. To access SIG oATARI, you
valid comma nds. may stari on page C IS·I <!Ind step thru the various submenus until you get to page PCS·132 or
you may save time and money by jumping there directly with the command: GO PCS·132 from
any othe r page in the system.
The first time you occess SIGoATARI, you will be greeted by the NEW MEMBER MENU. By
selecting the approp ritlte menu chOice, you c.!In re.!IId a b rief description about the purposes
and IMtures of the SIG, list out a LONG file of SIG Instructions, {it's a good Idea to open the
capture buffer on HomeTerm end then save this text to disk or pri nter), enter tiS e non-member,

) ) ) )
( ( ( ( ( l ( { r r f"(r((frr , ( ( (

56 To see a list of the iilvailable or sign up for SIG membership. There are no "ddillona! lees lor membership, but only mem-
section names, type th e co m- bers may use 511 the features of the Ilg. To loin, you must enter your FULL, REAL NAME when
mand : SN. prompted. Use 01 pseudonyms (handles) or flrsl nomes only is not permitted. The rest of the
signup process is l!Iulomatlc and lakes just II few seconds. You need only go Ihru th is slgnup
process once. On future visits, members P!!!S directly Inlo the mess!loge section of the 81q.
Before we examine the different ledtures allhe SIG program, eo discussion of the two opera-
ting modes avail"ble is In order. SIG "ATARI Cdn be lIccessed In "command mode" o r "menu
mode", In MENU mode, Ihe user may select a function by number from dn abbreviated menu 01
c hoices or type in the actu",] command itself. In COMMAND mode, the system Simply uses the
single word prompt "FUNCTION:" and expects the user to type in the proper command. In
eilher mode, you must terminate your input with the .... RETURN ~ key. New users generally use
MENU mode while they learn the system comm!lnds, then ch!lnge to COMMAND mode to save
lime a nd connect dollars afte r a few weeks of practice. Don't be afraid to experiment and 1I1lan-
don MENUs fOT the more effiCient COMMA ND mode. If you clln't remember the proper com·
I1l!Ind or Ihe exact command format when prompted, simply enter a question rn/lrk "7" or the
word. "HELP" and the system will display !I Ust 01 v/llid comm/lnds. In m/lny inst/lnces, you may
obt/lin /ldditional help o n /I SPECIFIC comm/lnd by typing: 7 xxx, where "xxx" Is the comm/lnd
in question. A system !IS powerful !lnd complex as the SIG progr!lm on CompuServe, by its very
n/l\ure, !lccepts /I I/lrge numbe r of system commands In !I variety 01 different command formats.
To compllCllte Ihls situation, CIS Is const<'lntly eXpllnding !lnd relining these comm!lnds. As !I
result, system document!ltlon Is often outd<'lted faster than it can be printed . In some C/lses, the
commllnds have just been renamed and the system will accept both the old and new nllmes.
Often, old commands are no longer documented online, but are still valid. As new commands
/Ire added, the onllne help Is updated as soon a5 possible, but as th is Is no t unde r the control
of the sysops, the updates are 'irregular'. In other words, if the system doesn'l respond eXlictly
as you would expect, it mlly not be your flmlt! The informlltion and progrllms aVllllable In
SIG "ATARI m!ly be accessed by individulIl section topics. To see !I list of the IIvailab le section
nllmes, type the command: Sa. Addltlonlll information for each section I is !lvailllble by typing:
XI (where ,:0 to 7). While lIccessing the message sections of SIG'ATARI, you ffiIIy scan the
meSMge headers or read the full text of the message. When SClInning, the header will display
the name of the SENDER , the REC IPIENT, the SUBJECT 01 the message headers In forwll rd
57 or reverse chronologic.!lll order, by specific subject th~ds, and even !ICOn lind mar k individual
messages fo r laler reading. You may choose a "QUick Scan" o ptio n whIch shows the subject
Fo r II detaile d descri ptio n 01 all Inio rmlllion o nly. Fo r a d e tlllled desc ription of a ll the scanning command va rlelions, type: ? S
the scanning command va ria- (for scanning) or ? as (quick scanning) al the FUNCTION: prompt. There lire simila r com-
tions, type: ? S mand variillions lor reading messages. You may elect 10 re/!ld messages in forward o r reverse
order, by subject threads, by WRITER, by ADDRESSEE, only specifically ma rked messages, or
To view the online instructions only NEW messages written since your last visit. To view the online Instructions for Tellding
for re ading messages, type: ? R mesSllges, Iype: ? R (III the FUNCTION: prompt). Alter re.1ding II mes5llge, you mllY immedill-
lely elect to (RE)ply to the writer, lind the system wilillutomlltically IIddress the reply for you .
When re.1ding a message thre.1d, you may choose to RE-REA D (RE) II mesSIIge or even back up
II step lind READ the PRE VIOUS mesSllge (RP).
As you might expect, to see II list of IIll vlliid reply options, type II "?" when prompted for II
response. To initillte II new message to IInother member or sysop, use the "I.:' commllnd. You will
be prompted for II SUBJECT (23 chars. mllx) and lin ADDRESSEE. II you wish the system to
lIutomllllclllly notify the other part y 0111 wailing mesSllge when they next enter SIG'ATAR!' you
must include their PPN when prompted for II name. The only exception to this is II message to
the head sysop. He will be IIl1gged to any meSSllge IMt includes his PPN 'or- the name
"SYSOP", You cannot send II private mesSIIge to IInother sig member, but you mlly send II p ri·
vate mesSllge to the primllry sysop if you IIddress it TO: "· SYSOP". (With the ' but without the
" ").
When re.1ding or scanning messages in SIG 'ATARI, you mlly limit yourself to II specific sec-
tion by typing the command: SSI (where 1=0-7). BEFORE reading or SCllOning. To oceess IIll
IIvllilable sections, use the commllnd : SSALL
You may enter the SIGo ATARI From the FU NCTION: or MAIN SIG MENU level , you mllY enter the SIG 'ATARI (COlnferen'
(COl ln/e rancing channe l. by clng channels by typing: CO (or CBl. The system will displllY II short text prepared by the
typi ng: CO (or CB). sysop which mlly Include II schedule of upcoming conferences or other timely informotion then
display you r NAME or HA NDLE as it wHl be seen by others and Indicate which of the 31 chan-
nels are In use. Unllk.e the C HAT feature of most private BBS's, the CO channels clln accommo-
date dozens of simultllneous users. COnlerencing is surprisingly simple once you gel the hllng
of it, liS long liS you k.eep II few simple rules in mind.
I - You may "converse" in li nes up to 80 ch",rllcte rs long simply by typing your words in from
the keyboard, but NO THING is trclnsmitted to others UNTI L YO U HIT THE . RETURN ~ KEY.

)))))))))))))))))))))))))))) ) ) )
( r ( ( ( ( ( ( ( r ( ( r ( r r ( ( ( ( r , ( , r ( ( ( (

58 Since others will be "talking" Since olhers will be "t<'llking" while you are composing your words, it's HIG HLY recommended
while you are composinq your Ihlll you use Ihe EDIT WINDOW f~ture of HOMETERM while in CO.
words. it's HIG HLY recom men- 2 - The system will consider every line you type as "convers",l!on" EXCEPT FOR LINES THAT
d ed thai yo u use the EDIT BEGIN WITH A SLASH (I) IN COLUMN ONE. A SLASH IN COLUMN ON E DENorES A
WINDOW feature of H OME· COMMAND TO THE SYSTEM. For example. to see a list of valid CO commands, type; IHELP
TERM while in CO. while in Co. To exil CO and return to the 51G, type: IEXIT (or CTRL·C). For a more complete
discussion of the CO commands, we suggest you read the helpfiles in the TELECOMMUNICA-
TIONS datil library.
Downloading database or data The lin!!l (and mosl popular) lelliure 01 SIG ' ATARI lire Ihe downlO/lding dllillbllses (11180 CIII-
libraries led Xks or dllill librllries). Like Ihe meSS/lge sections, the cIlItllbllses lire divided by subject,
roughly corresponding to meSS/lge sections. For extlmple, lit the time 01 Ihis writing, Section 2
WIIS nllmed TELECOMMUNICATIONS. Thus, IIny questions to the SYSOP about HOMETERM
would be left in Section 2 0 1 the message area, lind any programs lind help/i1es relating to ter-
minlli software, SSS's, etc., would be found in XA·2 (soon 10 be called DL-2). To enter this cIlItll'
base, type: XA2 (or DL2) .!It the FUNCTION: or MAIN SIG MENU prompt. The data.bdooa
include texl files lind program listings in mllny forms. Due to lir'nitlltions in Ihe CompuServe
network, lind peculillrities of your ATARI , some of Ihe programs are stored online in lormllts
Ihllt require you to DOWNLOAD them with special te rmlMI programs or with specifiC
procedures.
HO METERM will allow you to DOWNLOAD or retrieve MOST of these files using the XMO-
OEM or CAPTURE BUFFER protocols. And for those progrllms Ih.!ll require II specia l Compu ·
Serve protocol, we offer II public domllin terminlli progrllm online (thllt yo u mil)' OOWNLOAD
with HOMETERM) nllmed TSCOPE. But more llbout this in II moment.
As previously noled, this section of SIG' ATARI Is being revised liS this text wile being written.
Among the fS"-tures 01 the d atabllse that lire expected 10 remllin, o!Ire the powerful sS"-rchlng
o!Ind browsing commllnds. When II lext-flle or progrllm is submitted to Ihe d atabllses, the
UPLOADER Is required to supply II short descriptlon of the file lind 1I few mellnlngiu\ keywords.
Other members lIccesslng the dlItabdse mlly Ihen view these with the (S)can /lnd (BRO)wse
comm/lnds. To see 1I directory of just filenllmes, use the (S)c~m comm/lnd. The (BRO)wse
comlM.nd displllYs elIch file's description lind KEYWORDS lind gives you the option of reading
S9 the file, downlotlding it, or continuing 10 the next entry. The (S)C-'n lind (BRO)wse commands
support "ddilioMJ parameters or "switches" which permit the more experienced users to search
the d,,'abase files In many ways. For example, to (S)can for all files with the e )(tencler .DOC,
you could enter the command: S •. DOC.
Another variation of the BROwse comm"nd used In conjunction with the IKEYWORD "switch"
might be used 10 displlllY the descriptions of only those files denoted with the k.eyword "XMO·
OEM" like: BRC ':/ KEY;XMODEM. A complete discussion of "n the possible variations and
uses 01 these commands is beyond the scope 01 this lexl. O nce again, we recommend you ~d
the online documentallon for any specific datllblise command, by typing: ? xxx (where xxx =
command) or "?" ALL (lor help on all commands).
The chief reason lor maintaining a proqr/llm d/lltab/llse Is to support Iile transfers. When a pro·
gram is sent from the host computer (CompuServe) to your ATARI, the process is named
DOWNLOADING. When you send a file from your ATARI to the host computer (CompuServe),
the process is called UPLOADING. There are many different methods for UPLOADING and
OOWNLOADING, but they can be broken down into two b/IIsic types 01 transfer methods,
"SMART" and "DUMB" transfers. In both methods, one computer sends a stream of data to the
other computer. When this is done via modems over local or long dlst/lnce phone lines, line
"noise" or other f/llctors might /llIecl this dtlltl stream, possibly dropping
or chtlnging the vtllue of a single dtlta byte. Depending on
the nllture of the file being trllnsferred, such II "glitch" mlly
be insignificant, or II mlljor problem. In II DUMB tfllnsfer, the sending computer simply Irllns·
mits the dlltll stream and expects the receiving computer to take the responsibility (and possible
risk of Intlccu rate dolo) for displtlying and or storing the Incoming characters. This method is
usually used for sending texl flies and is probably 95·99.9% safe.
The (U)pload and (C)apture functions 01 HOMETERM perform such" DUMB transfer lind
should be used lor sending and receiving ftles from SIG oATARI whenever possible. We'll dis-
When transferring a BINARY cuss the eXllct procedure 10 do this in a moment. Sometimes, especially when trllns/erring a
FILE you MUST insu re that BINARY FILE where 1 gllrbled chllrllcter mlly prevent II progrllm from running correctly, you
every data byte is received MUST insure thai every data byte Is received IIccurateiy. In such cases, Ihe sending computer
lIcculo!lteiy. wilt trllnsmll a Iile In pieces or "blocks". The sending system uses an /IIlgorithm to calculate a
verifying code for a specific block 01 dala. The sending system transmits that block 01 datil and
the receiving computer will use the same algorithm or formula to calculate the verifying code.

»»»»»»»») »»»»»»» ) )
 r r r r r
{ ( l ( l ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( c ( (

60 If the codes match, the block Is /lslumed to ho!lve been transmitted accurately, lmd the sender
then re~ts this process with the next block 01 ckr.la. If the codes do Nor match, the sender
will attempt 10 resend the same block. As you might guess, this second process with all the
ve rification checks lakes considerably longer 10 complete a fHe transfer, sometimes inCl'eOsinq
the tra nsfer Ume by a factor 01 2·4 limes longer. Compounding the problem Is the iBet thel
there are many different algorithms or protocols used 10 verify IIccuracy. ObViously, both ends
must be using the same protocol if Ihis process Is to work.
The XMODEM protocol is one of the most commonly used protocols In the microcomputer
world. It features e verifying "Igorithm thet offers e reeson1!ble compromise between eccuracy
and speed. The protocol was crellted by WlIrd Christensen for use on IInother computer system
but w"s modified to run on the ATARI III few yellrs ago lind Is widely used by mlIIny ATARI ter·
minal programs, including HOMETERM. It was recently implemented by CompuServe for use
In SIG "ATARI, but a problem cropped up,
When XMODEM was lirst implemented in III public domain termin1!1 prog ram for the ATARI
nlIimed AMODEM, the XMODEM specifications were slightly modified to accomodate some uni·
que properties of the ATARL This "modWed" version of XMODEM was Incorporated into most
of the other ATAR! terminal programs and is now used by tens 01 thousands 01 ATARls. As long
as both computers use this same "modifled" XMODEM, there's no problems. When CompuServe
Implemented its generlll version of XMODEM, it nllturally followed the original specification,
not the modified Atari version.
Russ Wetmore therefore faced a difficult choice when wrltlng HOMETERM; should HOME·
HOMETERM was written to be TERM use the original XMODEM specs and be 100% compatible with CompuServe, or use the
100% compatible with all those "modified" version to be comptltible with the tens of thouslmds of other ATARI's? Fortunately, he
ATARIs using the "modified" mllde a wise decision "nd did what seemed impossible. Your version of HOMETERM WillS written
XMODEM protocol, and ALSO to be 100% compliltible with all those ATARIs using the "modified" XMODEM protocol, and
work with CompuServe version hence all the ATARI BBS's, and ALSO he Included enough 01 the orlginlll XMODEM specs to
01 XMODEM . enable HOMETERM to work with Compu5erves version 01 XMODEM.
Using HOMETERM, you w!ll be eble to DOWNLOAD the vest majority of SIG "ATARJ's pro·
grams (85+%) directly, end for those few others tha t require a speciel protocol, SIG'ATARI has
mllde ev"Hable online" free terminal program that you clln DOWNLOAD with HOMETERM at
no edditlonal ch"l'Qe. This program is named TSCOPE.XMO end is availllble with complete
documentetion from the TELECOMMUNICATIONS database.
61 To OOWNLOAD /I file FROM SIG "ATARI to your computer, you must use the Scan or
BROwse commands to find the EXACT FILENAME. FIRST - note the 3 letter extension. II the
extender Is .BIN, the Ille should nol be DOWNLOADED with HOMETERM. Use TSCOPE lor
these flles. If the extender Is .XMO, use HO METERM and choose "H" for XMODEM-RECEIVE
on HO METERMs function menu. For My other extender, select "C" for CAPTURE on the
HOMETERM menu. When you select "R" or "C' on the HOMETERM menu, you will be promp·
ted for a filename. This Is the name you wish 10 save the file under on you r ATARI disk. It does
not have to be the same name used on CompuServe. Once HOMETERM is sel up, you must tell
CompuServe to send you the file. Use the DOW command with the exact filename as: DOW
TSCQPE.XMO or DOW SIG-Co.OOC lind press .... RETURN ~ . CompuServe will then disp\lIY 4
choices of trllnsfer protocols:
I - A Protocol
2 - B Protocol
3 - XMOOEM Protocol
4 - DC2IDC4 Protocol
HOMETERM only supports selection 3 & 4, Use XMOOEM only if the filename uses the
extender .XMO. Use DC2fDC4 when using the "C"opture feature of HOMETERM. Currently,
A Protocol is used lor TSCOPE only, lind B Protocol is not
supported by lIny ATAR I termiMI proqrllm, including HOMETERM. If you select XMODEM, you
will be asked for a 7 or 8 bit trllnsfer. Select 8 bit for .XMO liIes. CompuServe will then lell
you that XMODEM has st/lrted lind you should hit your ATARl's "' START" key lind sit hIIclr..
When you select DC2IOC4 {which Is CompuServe's {lIncy name for DUMB trllnsfers), the file
will begin to scroll IMMEDIATELY, so be ready to press your ... START" or "'OPI'ION " key
instantly. In fact, most people hit "' START" to open the capture buffer BEFORE hilling
"' RETURN" to start CompuServe.
If you are sending a lile from your ATARI to CompuServe. the process is /limost identical. If
your file is lIlI lext, or a LISTed BASIC pgm, or source code, use "U"pload with HOMETERM. If
your proqrllm is II blnllry Ille or lOKENIZED BASIC (SAVE'd not LISTed), you should use
XMODEM·SEND on HOMETERM. CompuServe only accepts 6 letter filenames and II 3 leiter
extender. To prepare CompuServe to lIccept your UPLOAD, use the command: UPL fllename.ext

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62 ••• IMPORTANT •• •
WHEN YOU CHOOSE A FILENAM E FOR COMPUSERVE, THE EXTENDER I S VERY IMPOR-
TANTI! IF YOU ARE USiNG XMODEM 10 TR A NSMIT THE FILE WITH HOMETERM, YOU
MUST USE THE EXTENDER ".XMO". YOU SHOULD ALWAYS SELECT S-BIT TRANSFERS
WITH XMODEM. NEVER USE ",BIN" WITH XMODEM. USE HOMETERM'S "U"PLOAD FEA-
TURE FOR ALL TEXT FILES.
When sending hies with the "U"p\oad fea ture 01 HOMETERM, choose DC2IDC4 tIS the prolo-
col. You don'l require to be prompted for elleh line. Also, never send a file 10 C IS vie Ihe
"U"pJoad feeture if it conllllins inverse video or specla] ATASCII characters. Sometimes when
CompuServe is very busy, HOMETERM's "U"p\oad stream will overwhelm the system end send
ddt" faster Ih"n CIS can accept it. The system Iiler"lly "chokes", We suggest you set " del(!lY
speed of around 500 ms. when using "UNplOdd to send text to SIG"ATARI.
That then is 6 brief outline on how to use the lal'Qest Atari oriented "BBS" In North America,
SIG "ATARI on CompuServe. This is a service run by enthusiasts lor enthusiasts. From begin ·
ners to old· hands, the SIG is open to all. All it requIres Is an Interest in things Alari. See you
there!
Ron Luh
Sysop SIG "Aleri
October, 1984
 For
Technical
Support
or
Batteries
Included
Product
Information
please call

(416)
30 Mural Street Richmond Hill Ontario Canada L48 185
881-9816
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S:!IJON
 S:oIJDN

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S:3:J.oN
 S:oIJDN

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HomePak'·
Commodore 64 n. Edition
Program design by
RUSS WETMORE
for Star Systems Software, Inc.
Commodore 64 conversion by Glenn and Ray Kreisel
Manual written by Ian Chadwick
Package design by MML & Associates Inc.
Typesetting by Small Faces Typography Inc.
NanCE OF REGISTERED TRADEMARK
In Ihis manual reference is made 10 Commodore 64
which is " reqistered trademark of Commodore Business Machines.
Copyrighto Second Edition, January 1985 by Batteries Included
All Rights Reserved

======={c BA1TERIESii'NCLLOED )>======

Telex 06-218290
PRINTED IN CANADA
IANUARY 1985

30 Mural 51. Richmond Hill, OntariO L4B 185 CaMda

 HOMEPAK USER'S This manual dnd the computer programs on the accompanying floppy disks which CIre described
MANUAL by Ihis manual are copyrighted and conto!lin proprietl! ry iniorm!!tion belonging 10 BaUeries Included
and SllIr Systems Software.
This manual m<'ly not be copied, photocopied, reproduced, translated or reduced to machine read-
able form, in whole or in pari, withoullhe prior written consent 01 Batieries Included.
The accompanying floppy disks may nol beduplicated, in whole or in part, for emy purpose. No copies
althe floppy disksor this manual or the listings of the programs on the floppy disks may be sold or given
to any person or other entity. NotWithstanding the above, the IIccompanying disks may be duplicated
for the sole use althe original purchaser. All rights reserved.

LIMITATIONS OF BATTERIES INCLUDED, or any dealer or distribu tor distributing this product, makes NO WARRANTY,
WARRANTY AND EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, with respect to this manual, the related lIoppy disk(s) and any other related items,
their quality, performance, mercho!lntability, or fitness for o!Iny p.!Irticulo!lr use. It is solely the purcho!lser's
LIABILITY responsibility to determine their sUilo!lbility for any particular purpose.

BATTERIES INCLUDED, will in no event be held lio!lble for direct, indirect or incidental damages resuillng
from any defect or omission in this manual, the floppy disk(s), or other related items and processes, in"
eluding but not limited to any interruption 01 services, loss 01 business or o!Inlicipatory profit, or other
consequentio!ll do!lmo!lges.

THIS STATEMENT OF LIMITED LIABILITY IS IN LIEU OF ALL arHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS

OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTIC-
ULAR PURPOSE. BATTERIES INCLUDED neither assumes nor o!Iuthorizes any other person loassume
for il any other wo!lrro!lnly or liability in connection with the sale 01 its products.

This manuo!ll o!Iod the computer progro!lms on the o!Iccompanying floppy disk(s) which are described
by this manUo!Il <!Ire copyrighted o!Iod conto!lin proprieio!lry information belonging to BATTERIES IN-
CLUDED.

,
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) »»))))) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) /
( ( ( ( ( ( ««««( ««««««««(
PRODUCT BATTERIES INCLUDED reserves the right 10 m~ke corrections or improvements loth!s ma nual and
IMPROVEMENTS to the related floppy disk(s) atany lime without notice and with no responsibility to provide these changes
10 purchasers of ea rlier versions 0/ its product.

WARNING! This manual and the programs containooon these disk(s) are protected by Internatio na l Copyright laws.
Duplications by any means is st rictly forbidden and a violation of copyright laws.
VIOLATORS WILL BE PROSECUTED! All rights reserved.
"The following commercial p roducts were used during the development of HomePak"':
TRADEMARKS ACTION !'"
CREDITS ACTION !"' Commercial Run-Time Package
MAC/65'· (SuperCart version)
THANKS BUG/65" (Disk versio n)
OSS Inc., 1221 B Kentwood Avenue, San Jose, CA 95129
The Next Step'"
Sieno. OIl·Lille, Sieno. OIl·Line Buildillq, Coo.neqold, CA 93614
Alari'" Macro-Assembler
Alo. ri Corp., 1265 BorreQo., Avenue, Sunnyvo.ie, C A 94086
Specialtho.nks go to Ron Luks fo r his untiring support, and to Joe Miller for a ll his tec h nical
help."
ACTlON r" it a trademuk of Action Com pute r Services
MAC/65" and BUG/65" lire tro.demo. rh 01 055, Inc.
The Ned Step" i. a trademark 01 Sierra On· Line
Atui" i. a Irademo.rk 01 Alo.ri Corp.
HomePak"'. HomeTextTN , HomeFind' N , and HomeTerm'" ue trademarks QI Batteries Included.
 Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction .............................................. . ........... 1

Chapter 2 G etting Started ....... ... ....... .. .... . .. ....... .. ... .. . . .... . ...... .. ... 3
Powering Up .......... . . ........................................................................... 4
Chapter 3 HomeText .......... . .... _._ ........ . ... _. , ... . , .. _. _... , . .. , ... , .... . ..... 5
Moving Around the Text ............................................................................... 7
Search and Replace .................................................................................... 10
Loading and Saving Files ........................................................................... 20
Print Preview ......................... ........................ ...................... . . ......... 12
The Printer Commands ................................................ . . ......... 13
Headers and Footers...................... ............................. ............ . ......... 17
Merging Files from HomeFind ................................................................... 18
Configuration Files and Defaults .................................................................. 20
HomeText Quick Reference Guide ................................................................ 21

i»~»~»~»~»~»~»~»~»~»~»~»~»~
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( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( «««««((((((

Chapter 4 HomeFind .... . . ... •.... •.... . ..... . ....... •........ . .. 23

Entering Data ........................................ . .......................... .. ..................... 26
Changes and Corrections ......................................................... '._ ........... ".. 27
Making Information Requests ........................................................................ 30
Printing Your Requests............ ............... . .............................. 32
Merge Files..................... . ......... . ................................. 35
Quick Reference Guide HomeFind .................... . . ................................. 36

Chapter 5 HomeTerm ................ . ..... . ... . .... . .... .. .... .................... 37

Basic Technicalities ........... .............. . ................................................. 37
Placing or Receiving ~ Call............... ....... .... . ...... _.................. .41
Translering Files ........... . . ........... . ............ .44
Disk Features. .......................................................................... ~
Macro Commands ....
Configuration Files ....... . ........................................................................... G
HomeTrans ................. . ................................................. 50
HomeTerm Quick Reference Guide .................. 51

Appendix 'A' Copying a Diskette ................................. . . ... .............. 53

Appendix 'B' CompuServe . ....... ............................................................ 55

1
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION Conq rlltulatlons! You hllVe bought three e xcellent progra ms-a word processor, dalahllse
mllnager and 1I te lecommunications program - lor less than the price you wou ld expect 10 pay
CONGRATULATIONS! for /lny one 01 the m from anyone else ! But you're not buying just run-ol-the-mill so/tw<!Ire with
H omePak ; you've g ot yourself three althe best programs of their type on the ffillrket. These OT'
e n'! programs which have compromised power and quality for II low price; you're going 10 lind
features a nd functions In th is pdckage which liTe equlIl 10 or better them e ven the most expen-
sive programs you can buy fo r your computer. And HomePllk is wr itten by a well·lmown, and
respected professional programmer-Russ Wetmore.
There's no need 10 bend your ea r with II lot 01 hyperbole. You'll lind out quickly enough e x-
actly how good and how powerful HomePak is. What's more, you'll find that the HomePak pro-
grams are edsier to use th.!ln most others which offer similllr capabililies~with on screen help
menus and friendly prompl mesS.!Iges. HomePolk finally gives 11 real meani ng to the over-
worked te rm 'user friendly'.

HOME TEXT In HomePak you'll discover HameTe xt; a word processor with all the features you need to do
you r personal, school and even business writing. It even allows you to 'preview' your text, see-
ing In graphic fo rm how il will look on paper before you prinl it! HomeTexl can use informa-
tion you stored with HomeFind a nd insert it Into letters like the mail merge feature found in
more e xpensive programs. You Clln use HameText to edit files and 'chats' saved onHne wi th
HomeTerm.

You also gel HomeFind, is 1I powerful 'nalurlll Itlnguage' dtllabase which stores lind retrieves
HOMEFIND dal" In a manner similar 10 the way you think, without the complexity of rigid field structures
and records. This deceptively simple method of dealing with information is more Hexible and
easier to use tha n many dat"bases fou nd on professional lind business computer systems.

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 ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( (

2 HOMETERM In the thi rd prog rllm, HomeTerm; /I simple but full featured telecommunic.!lotions program
which allows you to sign onlo bulletin bo&rds and datllhllses, load and send files, chat and
record conversations easily. It works with tiny modem which connects to Ihe Commodore 64
(such liS the 1600 VicModem , 1650 AutoModem /lnd Hayes Smartmodem, through an RS-232
Interface). HomeTerm brjflgs you the exciting world of telecommunications without the difficul-
ties of w<'IdmQ through oreane lind obscure technical ITh!InulIls.
In /Ill you get three 'inteqrllted' programs lit II low price, on a coPYllble diskette, so you don',
hove to worry "boul damtlging your master copy every time you load II progr<!lm. Elach progrllm
has been thoroughly tested and debugged to make lure It runs smoothly and properly. We're
sure you'Ulind HomePak the best de4l In e softwere pcdege you've bought for your computer!

NOTE Throughout the text COM + hes been used to deslgnete the speciel Commodore key @.
3
CHAPTER 2
GEllING Before you begin with Home P"k, you need to initialize some disks for your data and te){\ files.
STARrED You 111180 need to make a btlckup copy ollhe master disk so that you can work with Ihe Home-
Pale programs without worrying' about dameging your oriQiMl disk.
FIRST STEPS
Format 2 disks HomeTexl.md HomeTerm ~n both use any disk you use 10 store your programs and files on,
Make a backup copy of the bul HomeFind needs II new, bl/lnk disk 10 keep your dlll!a properly. For your own organization,
masler d isk iI's best to keep texl files on their own disk, 90 you need to initialize a new disk for your
HomeText files. You ClIn use the same disk for HomeTerm CIS long as you have enough space for
PREPARING BLANK any files you downlOdd from another computer.
DISKS You11 need to forma t at least two disks; if you don't know how to do this from BASIC, then
read ahEhlld to HomeTerm chapter and use the "mini-DOS" menu and choose Format. Make sure
Make lure your program disk your program disk isn't in the drive being Formatted HomeFind will format its own disks from
ian', in the drive beinq for- within the program Itself, so you only need to have a blank disk re.!!ldy when you start it.
matted. WARNING: you cannot use a HomeFind data disk to store any other files or programs.
Use the copy program we provide to duplicate the program disk (see Appendix A). Follow
WARNING: you cannot use II. the screen instructions, using the original as the 'source' and a blank disk as the 'destination'.
HomeFind data disk to store The computer will prompt you for e<'Ich stage as the copy is being made. Once you have the
any o ther files or programs. copy, place your original In a SlIfe place and only use it to make backup copies when reqUired.
Don't cover the write/protect notch on your backup copy with a sticker; you may want to change
Ihe screen colors to suit your own pieosure and SIIve those changes to the disk as the new start-
up colors.
The process of formatlin<;land validating disks Is further explained in the Commodore manu-
als. If you need more information, refer to them.

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 ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( «« « (
4 POWERING UP When you're ready 10 start working with HomePak, turn on your system in the following
order.
Text 1. Television or moniior
2. Printer "nd modem
3. Disk d rive (the /irst drive Is number 8; make sure your HomeP"k disk is inserted in the drive
AFTER it is turned on).
4. Other disk drives
5. Commodore compute r
Type LOAD "": *",8,1 lind the main menu will load itself. You will need a modem attached to
your system In order 10 use H o meTerm . You need <'I. printer to produce 'harel' copy with any a l the
Type LOAD "0:*",8,1, three programs, although you don', need one 10 crellie and store Illes or information. Make sure
the volume is turned up a bit on the TV or monitor so you can he.!!T the sound prompts.

The main menu screen is how you get from

THE MENU SCREEN one part of HomePak 10 <'lnother. II you press
the F5 ~, you'll see the colored ber move
[rom one program Ildlll~ to the next. The bar
chllnges color for e.!Ich program lind gives you
II little sound prompt.
Using F5, position the hIIr over the progrllm
you wimt to use lind press F7. The chosen
progrllm will 1000d. You will be prompted when
you need to change your program disk for
your dlltll disk. You lire now ready to begin
using HomePlIk!

Fig. I Ml!lin Menu Screen

5
CHAPTER 3
HOMETEXT Word processing is easily the most popular use fOI home computers (after entertainment). UnW
you've tried ii, you're probYlly not awa re of how easy writing can be with a computer. You can
THE WORD make c hanIJe8 and corrections, m0V9 blocks 01 text around quickly, chllnge and replace charac-
PROCESSOR tem, words or phrases, search 10f references and words in your text, delete unwanted malerial- all
with a Jew simple keystroke.. Plus you get to SlIYe your leJd to disk as " perm.anenl J'6(X)rd, and
rome back 10 it any time. Once you begin to use HomeTexi lor your writing, )"OJ1l wonder how you
ever got along without ill
HomeTezt has se-.>eraJ advllnoed features as well as the 'standllrd' functions mentioned lIoo.....e; for
one, it ellows you to take key iruol'tt'latlon out of your Ho me Find data and include it In the letters 01
text you write; very similar to the p::IYIelful 'ma!i merge feature found in expensive buslness softwllre.
It .!IOO allows you 10 print in bold, enMnced or underlined text.
To use HomeTexl properly, you1J To use HomeTe:.d properly, you1l need a printer, oonnected to your C64. You don't need to have
need A printer the printer on when you're just writing the letters, memos, reports or whatever to save them 10 disk,
but you will need it hooked up properly in order to print out anything you write.
Load HomeTa! from the main menu by selecting the program and pressing the F7 key. When the
oopyright 8Ct"gerl appears, press any key to get to the writing 1ICTeen.

BASIC WRITING Press any key once the program has loaded. At first, there's nothing on the writing screen; you
FEATURES have an empty screen waiting for you. Take a look at the bottom status lines on the screen; you11 see
you're in 'Replacing' mode and you Mve about 13728 bytes left in the buffer. In order to see whot
you can do with HomeText, type In the first paragraph above.
As you type, the y,urds will 'wrap' around the screen as you see belON, In the proper places. When
you gel to the end of a paragraph (not a sentence), press the REI'URN key. Use the INSTIDEL to go
back oorred any mistakes. You need 80lTIe sample text to try the various features described next. Be-
fore you do anything else to the text once you've typed it in, press F51!1nd 8I!Ive the file on a blank,
formatted disk under the name 'SAMPLE.TXT'.

) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
 ((((C( ((((( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( «((((

Fig. 2 Sample Text

All 01 this text won', hi on the screen ~I once; the lop will scroll up and out 01 sight as you add
text 10 the bottom. The stlltUS lines a\ the bottom of the screen will be explained in more detail fur-
ther on in the text, bul not to keep you in the dark, they are:

A B c
D E F

A: current fHeMme 01 text

B: Key CUCK sttItus
C: Amount 0/ memory left In the buffer
D: REPLACE or INSERT mode
E: current print output device (Prmter or disk filename)
F: current HomeFlnd merge filename (selected from Functions menu)
7 MOVING AROUND HomeTe,,' sees your document In two WlIYS; as a whole buffer and as separate screens. You can
move from the lop to the bottom of the buffer by pressing eTRL + T or eTRL + B respectively;
THE TEXT watch the screen d isplay change when you do this. You can also move IIboul the screen; 10 the top
Move from the lop 10 the bottom 1elt with eTRL + Q, the middle left with CTRL + A. To move backward in the buffer" lull screen,
of the buller by presing use CTRt + W, and forward a full screen with CTRL + Z . You ca.n move to the beqlnning and
eTRL + T or CTRt + B end of the currenlline with CTRt + S (or CLRIHOME) lind erRL + D.
To the top left with eTRL + 0 You should be famlll<'lT with the Commodore cursor control functions. The arrow keys (alone
or shifted) move the cursor up or down a line and forward or backward a single space.
INST/ DEL erases the character left of the cursor and the Commodore key + INSTIOEL erase
the character right of the cursor. Use the SHIIT + CLRIHOME to erase an entire line. SHIIT
INST/DEL adds b lank spaces to the right of the cursor.
There are severell features about this mode you will discover; the !irst Is that the 'buffer space
OTHER FEATURES left' figure decreases with each character you type in. You'll see the :J" character used to sig·
nlfy thelt you pressed RETURN. Where the word breelks are, you'll see a small dot which tells
Note the small colored marks you the text continues on the next line. FiMlly, note the smelll colored mllrks just above the fi rst
above the statuI line; tbese are status line; these are graphic representations of the 'tab stops'; described eI hit further on.
the 'tab slops', Key combiMtions are described in the quick reference guide to HomeTu.:1. Proclice moving
elbout the screen and the buller un til you're familiar with these commelnds. Try adding more
text elnd see how it affects the buffer size a nd your movement through it.
If you type on top of a character, your new letters write over the old- that's because we're in
'replelce' mode. Try typing over a line of text to see how this works. If you want to insert a
charelcter. word or even eI larger body of material into something you've already typed. press
the Fl ; this toggles insert and replace modes; the screen border changes color to let you know
which mode you're in and the message on Ihe status line changes. When your buffer is almost
full. you won't be able 10 use insert to add more characters theln you have memory; you'll be
pul Into repielce mode automatically.
Press Fl ; this 1099\e8 insert and Press Fl 10 go into Insert mode. Move the cursor to the top of the buller then use the down
replace modes. arrow to move 10 the beginning of the first paragraph and press the space bar live times; this
Indents the text properly. Move to the beginning of the next ptlragrelphs (use the down arrow)
and do the same. You'll see the words wrap around the screen to fil properly. Try placing the
cursor in the middle of the lexl and typing a lew words; watch how the line wraps elround on
the screen as the existing text is pushed to the right 10 make way for your new material.

) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ,,
( ( ( ( ( «««« ( ( ( «««««« ( ( (

8 Text Press Fl to go back to replllce mode. You ClIn slay \n whichever mode suits you besl, tog·
gling to the other when you need to. The border color chenges will help to remind you what
mode you're in.
CTRL I (or the left arrow beside the ")" key) moves the cursor to the next tab slop - set lit ev-
ery five columns. CTRL I doesn't force lin indentation; it only moves the cursor. To indent the
text, use the Insert mode lind odd spaces 10 the fronl of a ptlro!lg rllph. To set II new l<!Ib IoclIl\on
at the cu rsor poSition, press SHIFT plus the left lIr!'OW beside the "]" key. To erose II lab position
(lit the cursor, press CTRL plus the left arrow.

BLOCK The next step to le.!lrn is m!lnipuiaUng text 'blocks', A block is any large chunk of text you want
to move, delete or copy. Press F7 to see the block menu IIppear in the middle of your text. Don'!
MANIPULATION worry; it hasn't harmed anything. The window looks like this:
COMMANDS
Press F7 to see the block menu .

Fig. 3: Block Manipulation Window

MOVE TEXT
Chose Move tez:t . At the prompt, move the cursor (using the tlrrow keys) to the beginning ola
paragraph you typed. Press RETURN. Then, at the prompt, move the cursor to the end of the SlIme
paragrtlph and press RETURN. This defines the block to move. Now move the cursor to the top of
the buffer (eTRL T) and p ress RETURN . The blod. (paragraph) you
9 defined will be moved 10 the new ioc.!ltion immediately, e rasing it from its old iOC<!ltion lind in-
COPYING TEXT serting it into the new.
Copying lext works eXllctiy the some as moving text, except thtl! it duplicates the block lind
leaves the original in p]o:Ice, so you have the block appearing twice in your lexl. Press F7 again
and choose Copy; pillce the cursor al the beginning of the first paragraph and press RETURN,
then at the end lind press RETURN. Move the cursor down one Hne and press RETURN . The
block is copied 10 the new location; you'll see both blocks on the screen now, one below the
other. Move lind copy text only work with blocks up to one fuJI screen In length.
To delete a block To delete a block, press F7, and deflne the paragraph you just copied by moving the cursor
and pressing RETURN at the beginning and end of the paragraph as you did with Move and
Copy. When you preas RETURN again, the section you defined will disappe.!lr. Make sure you
really want to erase It before you go ahead!
In CC!ose you chose the wrong fEMture, don't move the cursor at all; press RETURN twice; the
computer will ignore the request. You can't move, copy or delete a block Inside ilsell. 11 you
want to leave without making any choices at all, press RETURN.

SEARCH AND To lind a pa.r1iculor word or phrase, or even collection of leiters in a lexl, press F7 and
REPLACE choose Find .Iring. Type in Ihe phrase business software and press RETURN. Whalever you
To find a word or phrall8, press search lor should be Iyped exactly as II appears in Ihe lexl, using Ihe correct upper and lower
F7. CC!ose characters. The computer begins a sea.rch from the currenl cursor ioctltion, so you if you
want 10 se"rch lor a siring in the entire buffer, move the cursor 10 Ihe beginning of Ihe lext
Whatever you S8(1 rch for should buffer lirst (CTRL Tl .
be typed exac tly as it appears HomeText wlll slop al the Ilrst occurrence of the siring II finds In lhe lexl and ask you if you
in the tel[l. wish 10 replace it. Type "Y" for yes, and when \I asks you 10 Iype in the word or phrase 10
replace the original, Iype computer proqroms. HomeText will ask you If you want 10 replace ev·
ery one of these words it finds in the lexl. Type N lor no (righl now, Ihere's only one).
You will be asked If you wanl HomeTexl to continue sedrchlng for more occurrences of the
word. If you say no, the search will end and the cursor will be on the first chardcier of Ihe word
you se.'lrched for. rake a look at Ihe last paragraph now; you'll see that computer programs has
replaced business software.
HomeTexl will tell you if it didn'l lind the siring in the text, and It will move the cursor to the
bottom 01 the lext buffer when finished searching or replacing. Use CTRL T to get back to the
top.
) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
 « ( ( ( ( ( ««««««((((((( ( (

10 QUICK TIPS A popular Irick used in word processing Is to use " short form of a frequently typed word or
phrase In your texl - such as wp for word processing- and then replace every occurrence when
you're finished wrillng; II Cdn SlIve you 1I lot 01 typing! Here's tlnother small tip for advllnced
users; If you keep the F7 key pressed down, the window doesn't appear; you can press M, D, C
or F to choose you r fun cllon, then answer the prompts. It will save you II keystroke or two.
THE FUNCTIONS
MENU

Fig. 4: HomeTexl Functions Menu Screen

WADING AND When you press the FS key, you'll see this menu appear. Numbers eight and nine will bring
SAVING F1LES you tI directory of what's on the d isk in thllt drive and how much Sp!lce is left for Illes. To save
Preu the F5 key. the liIe (store it on your disk or print it), press '5' and answer with the file name 'MORE.TXT'. If
you have already loaded a file, you'll be asked If you want to save It with the same name again.
The current filename will appear in the status line once you load or save a lile.
To load a Iile lrom your disk, press '1' and type in the lile name. To load the Ille you saved
earlier, press L and type SAMPLE .TXT.
Anything overwritten is erased In case you still have le):1 In the buffer, you will be asked il it's okay to overwrite it when you
for good, be carelul. try to load a new file. Anything which Is overwritten Is erased for good, so be carelul. You don't
need to type in "S" alter a file name, since this Is the delault here.
II APPEND, NEW OUT· Append allows you to attach another file to the end of the current bufler, If there Is room aVlIila·
PUT AND CONFIGURE ble lor both files in the buffer. You can string files together for printing which are Jorger
PRINTER than the buffer space by using the 'include !!le' fe/lilure, described further along. Press A and
answer SAMPLE.TXT. When you return to the text window, you'll see the file you saved was
duplicated; the second copy was IIppended to the end 01 the first.
New output device !lllows you 10 choose your liMI output destination for the formdttecl print
copy; you can renllme the file end prin t It to disk o r send it the printer. Don', use a disk Ille-
name for new output device if you have HomeFind merge tokens in your text; it will cause the
file to be written and e r&sed unlll HomeTut encounters the HF End·Of· File (EOF) loken. The
NarE: For HomeTerm you1! default output device is "PRINTER". NarE: For HomeTerm you'll discover that you can make the
discover that you can make the screen a new output device, but this is not supported In HomeText.
screen tI Dew ou tput device, Configure printer allows you to chllnge the defllult printer control comm&nds (you ctln SIIve
but this is Dot supported in these &nd sever&1 other changes to disk in the configuration file by pressing CTRL + W
HomeTexl. described '&ter). HomeText supports three printer control codes you c<!ln change; bold. extend·
ed and underlined print. You enter the codes (up to live decimal vlllues, e<!lch sepdrllted by a
CONFIGURE PRINTER spdce) to turn the print comm<!lnds on and off sepdr"tely. These comm<!lnd vlllues are found in
your printer manuals. The screen tells you WMt the Illst or def"ult vlllues for each control com·
m<!lnds <!Ire.
If your printer supports other features, such as italics, you can tell HomeText the control
OI'HER FEATURES codes for this instead 0/ either the bold or underlining features described here. Another way to
do this is by using the 'sped&l character' command, described below.
Before you change any printer codes, m&ke surn you h&ve the correct printer type
est&bl!shed-Commodore seri&l pri nters (the default) or others (Centronics parallel printe rs us·
Ing inter/ace devices such <!IS the BusCard II BI Printer Inter/tics or the Ctlrd Co). Press the @ key
to choose your printer type; your choice ctln be SIIved to disk with your own conliguraton file.

If you are using a CARDeO Interface with a paraiell printer, before using HomeTerm , ty pe the
following from BASIC.

,1
OPEN ' 1,4,25 (RETURN)
PRINT
CLOSE I I
(RETURN)
(RETURN)
This lI110ws the Interface to pdS8 true ASCII characters to the printer.

) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
 ( ( ( ( ( ( «««( «««««(C«( ( (
12 PRINT PREVIEW One 01 the most impressive and useful features 01 HomeT.i xt is the print preview function. This
graphiC/lll!y illustrates on the high-res screen what your page will look like when It's printed, us-
ing dotted lines 10 repll(;4 te each line 01 text, highlighting tIny special printer features (extend·
Ezlended and boldfa c e charlle- ed Gnd boldillce words or ch"racters are shown as yellow, underlined words as green; normal
te ra are shown as yellow. words or characters are printed in black).
underlined words a 8 9reen. Print preview works with line lengths 01 up 10 158 ch!!raclers and page lengths of up to 88
lines (how you alter these Is desc ribed in the nexl section).
Try a preview of the file you hllve in the buffer; see how ellch word lind paragrllph is graphi·
CIIlly represented on the screen. Press RETURN to continue when finished or (III IIny time duro
ing Ihe preview), FS to quI!. You will be told If your lile is too ial'Qe 10 preview.
If you wanl to preview a long texl, save you r wri ting 10 disk lind cle.!lr Ihe buffer. Relurn to
the text screen a nd press F3 lind then D for include. Type in the fllename of the lexl you jusl
saved (with the correct dis k Id) lind press RETURN . Now go bGck 10 the Functio ns Menu lind
Preview the lexl. It wlll be CIIlled up from dis k and previewed for you.

BUFFER COMMANDS To de.!l r the buffer, use CTRL C ; you'll be asked to confirm it first. This complete ly erllses
Before you clear the buffer everything you had there- all text-so malte sure you hllve SIIVed any Imp:::lriant male rilll firsl , be-
make sure you have saved im- CIIUse you CIIn', get it back once you've cle.!lred It.
portant ma lerial. To delete a lile on Ihe disk, press CTRL D and give the lile name. A deleted file CIInnol be
restored, so mal:.e sure It's the file you wlln t 10 delete lirst.
To print II Hie make sure your To print a file (send il 10 the specified oulput device), press CTRL P. Ma ke sure your printer
printer is on . is o n o r else you'll get lin e rro r message. Prinllhe Iile SAMPLE.TXT now and see how il looks.
Sllve Ihls copy 10 compare with a later prlntoul of the s.!!Ime file after we've made some changes
to It.
13 THE PRINTER To fOflmli your file for you r printer- set the morgins, define special text ledtures (extended.
COMMANDS bold/lice or underlining), centering, Justificatlon and other features- you press F3 and the win-
dow will appear. Form<'ltllng eslabllshes how the output will look when it g ets printed. Printer
comma nds are i nserted Into your tex t 0.'1 1 the IOCllUon you want them to lake effecl. Press F3 to
see the menu which looks like this:

Fig. 5: The Printer Formllt Window

There are several things to walch Qut for when using Ihls menu. First, make sure you r cursor
Is In the right i0C4lion before changing or lidding a fedture. The fedlure will IIppear on the
HomeText has several default screen, In Inverse characters, where the cursor was positioned. The fedture will be followed by a
values which will be used if righi-facing arrow key and In some cases be followed by til value. HomeText has several default
you don'l make any changes. values which will be used if you don't make any changes. In some cases, such as print fea tures,
you hllve to turn the feature on first, then off where you want to return to normal text. In such a
case, the inverse name will be preceded by a left·facing IIrrow to tell you that this Is where the
command ends.

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 ( ( ( ( «««««« ( ( ( ( ( ( «««(C(

14 A QUICK EXAMPLE Load the file 'SAMPLE.TXT' and place the cursor al the beginning of the first line- 'All about
word processing', Press F3 and choose 'C ' for center text. Return to the luncllens menu by
pressing F5 and preview the text; you'll see the top line is now centered on the screen. Return
to the text screen.
Move to the beginning 01 the second pdragraph, press F3 and then 'N' for line length.
Choose 25 and press RETURN. Keep the cursor at Ihe so!Ime ploee and press F3 and '5' lor
spdcing; choose two and press RETURN. Now go to the functions menu again and preview the
texl; you'll see that the second and any following paragraphs are double spaced, with shorter
lines. Practice using the printer commands and previewing their effects before you use them in
your printed document. Before continuing on, re·l~d SAMPLE.TXT so you can try other fea·
tures in an un·changed document.
You can delete a print format command by placing the cursor on the first character and
QUICK TIPS pressing COM + INST/DEL. One useful hint is to create one common, handy print lormat wi th
margins, headers and footers, page dimensions and other necessary commands together. Save it
as a file so you can call it up any time and have your printer commands and page dimensions
already entered when you begin typing.
For advanced users, if you keep the F3 key pressed down, the window doesn't a ppear; you
can press the desired letter to choose your function. This means, of course, that you need to
memorize the proper commands in order to use thiS method.

PAGE DIMENSION Commands which affect the dimensions of the printed page- margins, page length, Sp.'lcing,
COMMANDS line length - should all be placed at the top of the buffer, before you write any text. These in·
clude margins, line length, page size, line spacing and indentation of paragraphs. If some of
Ma rg ins, page length, spacing , these commands appear later in a file, they can cause your printing to come out rather awk·
line length. wardly. Use the print preview feature to see what the effect of a command is when placed in the
middle of the text (before) you start to print your Iile.
Use the print preview to see the While you can vary these dimensions in almost any location in your te xt, it's a better p ractice
e llect of a command . 10 use standard dimensions throughout your document, rather than having the text appear in
different forms in the same document.
To make your fo rmat commands easy to read, you can place a carriage return (press
RETURN) between commands. Most 01 these commands are simple to use and obvious as to
their functions.
15 MARGINS Margin. are the distance between the text and the edges of the paper: the number 01
Defaults are: left margin 5, charllctera from the leftmost edge of the paper lit which the text starts (left margin) lind ends
right margin 70, top margin 6, (right margin, counled from the left side), and the number of lines from the lop of the page
bottom margin 61. that prlntlng will begin at lind end al (bottom margin). The initial defaults lire: left mllrgin 5
spaces, right margin 70 spaces. top margin 6 lines. bottom margin 61 lines (the normal page
Margin.s can be changed length Is 66 lines from top to bottom and 80 characters wide~.
anywhere in the text. MlIrgins can be chllnged anywhere in the text, bul there lire some conslrllints; Ihe left margin
should be entered first, before the right mllrgin. The value for the left margin mu.t be lower
than thllt 0 1 the righi, so you won't have lin overillp. Make sure you leave enough .paces
between margins 10 prinl your longest word. To print 1I continuous output file with no top or
bottom margins-say a draft copy lor editing-set lop and bottom margins both to zero.
You can use Ihe mllrgins to offset a section of text to emphasize it, a method used when
quoting other materilli. Try this with the second paragraph. Make your left margin 10 spaces,
you r right 60 al the beginning of the paragraph you wllnt to,ollset. Don't forget to return the
Paqe size and line length. margins to normal at the end of the offset section.
Page size and line lenqth depend on your printer and the type of paper you're using.
HomeTexl defaults are set for the standard page size; B 112 by 11" - 66 Hnes long and SO
chllracters (spaces) wide (trllctor leed paper hilS lin extra 1/2" on 8Ilch side lor the paper feed.
but don'! count it; it's ignored by the printer!). Don'l set your page size or line length greater
than your lIctulll paper size, or you may end up printing on the roller or pillten of your printer!
You normally won't change your page size in the middle of a document.
PRINIDUT
APPEARANCE Line spacing is the horizontal distance between lines on 1I page, counted in number of lines.
COMMANDS Lines which follow ..,ch olher with no space between them have 1I spacing 01 '1'. The space can
be set to 1Ilmost any lenglh, up to 231 lines, but there's not much point In setting II grellter thlln
Line spacing
your p.!Ige length. The default is one space. Line spacing can be changed lit any time, My to
double space one p.!Iraqrllph for emphasis. Make your second paragraph double Spliced; don'!
forget to retu rn to single spacing al the e nd of the p.!Iragraph or you'll find the rest 01 the
INDENTATION document appears double spaced. Look lit the effect wllh print preview.
Indentation Is the number 01 characters HomeText will begin 1I p.!Irllgraph in from the left
margin (not from the left side of the page. The defllult I. zero, so the parllgraphs don't begin
inset from the margin unless you chllnge it. If you wllnt to indent your paragraphs, e nter an
Ilpproprlate number; five Is pretty standard. indentation can be c hllnQed at any time; often text
))))))))))))))))))))))))) ) ) ) )
 ««««((((((((((((((((((((( ( ( ( (

16 which is offset by changing the margins has no indentation.

Justification is a method of evenly s~cing text in a paragraph so thai it lines up evenly along
JUSTIFICATION
both margins. To do Ihis, extra spaces dre added between words to make each line the same
length. You must lurn justification on and off where you want it; if you turn it on al the
beginning of the buffer, before any text, and don', lurn it off, your entire buffer will appear
justified. You can turn justification on or off anywhere (it lakes place on the next line after the
command). If your lexl isn't justified, (called 'rag right') it will line up along the left margin
only.
CENTER
Center a!lows you to place the current Hne (it must be placed at the beginning of the line) in
the center of you r page, evenly spaced between the left and right margins. Center only works if
your line is less than a page line long (fewer characters than the right margin size minus the
BLOCK RIGHT left margin size). Center only works on one line at a time, it doesn't center paragraphs.
Block right aligns the right end 01 the cur rent line with the rightmost margin. Like center, it
QUIC K TIP only works on one line at a time, and only if the line is shorter than your page line length.
Block right is olten used to place your address and date at the right edge of the top of a letter,
TYPEFACES AND and the closing at the right edge of the bottom.
PRINTER COMMANDS Bold, e xtended and underline are all type commands. Each must be turned on at the place
where you want to begin the special type, and 011 again where you want to end it. Place the
cursor at these locations and call up the print command window, answering the screen prompt
Don't lorget to turn all a
with "on" at the beginning and again, but with ''011'' at the end 01 the text.
typeface command.
Extended type takes up twice as much space (in width) as normal type on a page. You won't
see the typefaces on the screen, only the inverse characters for the commands to turn them on
IN PRINT PREViEW and off. Don't forget to turn off a typeface command or the rest of your text will use it!
You can see what text you have in the special type/ace in print preview; extended and
Extended and boldface are
boldface words or characters are shown in yellow, underlined words appear as a green line,
yellow, underlined green .
bold as yellow and normal words or characters are printed in black.
Special char(lclers Special c harac ters allow you to send printer function codes to your printer to get features not
no r mally supported by Homered (italics, super· and subscript, e tc.). These characters are not
counted towards justification, so you don't have 10 worry about throwi ng your line off. You type
in the decimal value of the character you wont to send to the printer (ie, ESC "pt is 27,
followed by 65). Decimal values greater than 255 can', be sent to the printer.
Remember when sending special characters, thai most features such as italics must be turned
off as well as on, so place your special characters to turn on the feature at the beginning of the
17 text where you wanl it to tale effect. n.en move to the end of the text where you Wdn! the effect to
stop /lind enter the special characters to rum the fe!!ture off.
End 01 ~9'e End 01 page is III method ol forcing the printer to end the J:»ge lit the pllIoe where you p!.K:e the
OOmrMnd. HomeText will print /lIny looter (see below) on the bottom of the page, then go on to start
QUICK TIP a new page. If you will be pasting pictures or graphics into your text, end of page is /II good
method to reserve a large blank space for them. Try placing an end of page COllllT\o!lnd " fter the se-
cond parltgraph in you r text 4nd preview it; see how the third .,00 i(lter parilgraphs o!Ippetlr on the
next J»Qe.
W Ait per ptlge Wail per page isn't dJl appearance COrnm.!lnd; it tells the computer to halt p rinting until told to re-
sume when you press a key. This 1I1lows you to insert separate p!IQe6 one al II time when printing on
a sheet-fed or letter-quality printer. It must be the first command on a line and should. be at the top
of your buffer. If your printer Is e tractor-feed, dot rTIo!Ilrtx printer, you won't need 10 wllil; each page
is fed directly inlo the prinler lIuloITll!IiCdlly.

HEADERS AND You Cdn include in your text one or more lines lit the top lind botlom of every pclge; chapler
FOOTERS hetldings, pclge number, !\lime or wh/!Iever, up 10 255 chl!rllders In el!ch (including Cdrrlllge retums
and fOrrMtting commands). The lext III the lop of the page is Cl!lled a heoder, at the bottom It's II
footer. A typlctli hel!der might be;
CMpter I: Word processing by Bob Smith
p...,@
This will lIuloITll!licdlly print out III the lop of every page, lind the page number will be incremenl-
ed 10 show the right number. For emphllsls, you could rMke the words "Chllpler I" boldfllce lind
You can automatically count (lnd cenler the phrllSe "Pllge @". You Cdn see hetlders lind footers in the prinl preview.
number pages by placing an HeI!der lind footer ooll"lffill.ncls must start III the beginning 0111 Hne. They JJlI!y oontl!ln their own
"@" in the heade r o r fooler. IOTm/lltirq ooIllI1l6flds lifter the opening OOll"lffill.nd (such as centering, block right, etc.). They must
be cloeeci (off) with llnother hei:lder or footer IXlffiJl'laI""l and the off colllInlllld must be followed by II
Cdrrioge return. HeI!ders lind footers can h.!ave ctlrrillge returns in them os well, so they CIIn be more
than one line long.
You CIIn Mve HomeTezt lIutolMlictllly count lind number your plIQeI by plaCing lin "@" sign in
the helIder or footer.

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, ) ) ) ) ) ) I ) )
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 ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ««((C(((CC ( ( C ( ( ( ( C

18 INCLUDING FILES Include I!llows you to link several files together for printing which would be too large (if com·
bined) to fit together in the buffer. The include command can also be used to preview II lext other·
wise too long to fil in the preview memory buller. You can also create special 'b!ltch files' which
have only your format files and a series 01 include commands for smaller files- say chapters-Io print
Make sur e when you prin t your long documents.
Iile thai the lila to be included is When HomeText encounters the include oommand, it then brings the file named immediately after
on the p roper disk before you the command (the Mme must be II valid filename such as "TEXT ,LTft,S") and prints it right after
begin. the last line (not footer line) in the current text. Make sure when you print your lile, tluIt the file to
be included is on the proper disk before you begin.
If you wanl the included file to start on a new page, place an end 01 page command on the line
before the include file collllM.nd. Include Iile commtmds must be the first thing on a line. U you
want to include more than one Iile, place the include commands one after another in the first lile 10
be printed. You cannot 'nest' include commands like FOR-NEXT stalements in BASIC.
To test this out, move to the bottom of the buffer (CTRL B) and press F3 , inserting a new page
command at the end. Then press again and insert an Include command, for SAMPLE.TXT,S. Make
sure your printer is hooked. up and go to the functions menu for printing the document. Watch how
HomeTexl Iirst prints the bulfer, then goes to the disk to call up the next file and prints it. You'll
also see the effects of all of your other format and printer conunands in the printed file; the line
spacing and margins.

MERGING FILES FROM You Ccln call up data from any merge file you have crealed in HomeFind by first entering the
HOMEFlND name of the HomeFind file from the functions menu (CTRL H), and then inserting the merge token
in the text where you want the data 10 be printed. Up to 00 characters (HomeFind's maximum
record length) can be merged into your lext at a time. The merge token must be the only thing on
a line, followed by a carnage return; it can't be placed in the middle of a line or within the text
body.
19 The merge command wltl bring into your text the lirst record associated with that query (ex-
pl"lned more fully in the HomeFind chapter). Of course, you will have to create the proper
HomeFind merge file first In order to use Ihls command.
When you use the Home Find merge lolten, HomeTe:d prints the !Jrst record into the body 01
your lexl. If there is more than one record In the file (say your HIe was titled 'address' lind con-
Mined everyone's address from the entire disk), then HomeText will print the nexi record, with
the same led; this Is how you Cdn print the same leiter to several people In your dat"belse
(mailing list), Simply type the me rge command where you want to print the address, instead 01
lypinQ the entire address oul each lime. HomeTe zt will transltlte the down arrow ch<!!lracters
into C<!!Irri<!!lge returnlline feeds where it encounters them. This merge feature C<!!In easily !alve
you a lot of time in typing, especially where leiters <!!Ire involved.
More than one merge Ille record can be called upon in a body of texl, but ~ch must be
aV(!lil(!lble on the proper disk. al prinl lime, In the proper order to be included in your text.
Each tlme HomeTexl encounters the HF merge token in the text, It Includes the next record in
the S(!ime file. So if you h(!lve address and phone number and two tokens in a letter, the first
will be repl(!lceci by the (!Iddress (!Ind the second by the phone number.
If you created a merge file called 'Bob', it will contain all of your dllta, such liS IIddress,
phone number, shoe size, job, rmlke of C<!!Ir (provided, of course, you mave entered <!!II\ of this
Into HomeFilld). When you Include the merge token in <!!I leller to Bob, the program wl\l print
out sever(!llietiers with e(!lch record, one right (!Ifter (!Inother, In pilice of the HomeFind merge
token. So the Ilrst letter will be okay if the first record is Bob's address, but the next will h(!lve
the phone number insle(!ld 01 (!In tIIddress, the next a shoe size (!Ind so on. You end up with
m(!lny leiters, but only one correctly printed.
To (!Ivold this problem, create proper me rge liles; only have in them the inform(!lilon you
need 10 h(!lve printed out In Ih(!lt leiter. If you cre"te (!I 'generic' type I!le with too much Infor-
m(!llion In II, you m(!ly find II easier to 'include' (!I file on a separ(!lte page which does nothing
but C(!luse HomeTed to print the termlinder of the reco rds on the page without reprinting the
text. This Include Hie could be nothing more thtlln (!I series 01 merge tOlens 10 rep resent the re-
maining cL!r.t(!l in the lile. So if your merge lile h(!ls the <!!Iddress, phone number, lob (!Ind work
Create a Jabel list. (!Iddress In It, but you only w(!lnt the address, Include a file with three me rge tokens on (!I bltllnk.
page. This Is faster (!Ind easier Ihtlln printing four letters, one for e(!lch record I
If you w(!lnt 10 create (!I label list, make your page length six, and your set top tIInd bottom
margins accordingly. Use a letter which only has (!In HF merge token as its entry.
) ) , ) ) )
 (((((((((( ( ( ((((((((((( ( ( ( (

20 CONFIGURATION The Ho mePak disk contains a number 01 special files with a .SET extension, called configu-
FILES AND DEFAULTS ra/ion files; o ne for each 01 the three programs on the d isk. These a re records of the current
screen, border -!lod text colors, key click sound, printer type and other features specific to elleh
program in HomePak . For HomeTexl , this also includes the three basic p rinter control codes.
Certa in d efault values c an be You can change Ihese features to suit your own use (see the quick reference guide in each
c hanged . program for what can be changed) and save these changes back onto disk by pressing
CTRL W in the functions menu. When you load the HomePak program, the new settings w!l\
be loaded in dutomotically.
Certain settings in HomeTed have default values which can be changed when you Iype the
proper commands in your te xt. These are always the same when you begin 10 use HomeText
each time . The defaults used are:
Left margin ................. . 5
Right margin ................ . 70
Top margin ............. . 6
Bottom margin .. . 61
Page length ............... . . . . . ........... . . 66
HOMETEXT FILE TYPE Line length .......... . 80
Line sPlIcing 1
Justify. OFF
Indent OFF
Wail at end of page ......... . ..... . ...... . O FF

HomeText files are special. unique files for use with this program . To convert these files to
ASCII or HomeTerm (PET ASCII) files for modem transfer, use the special HomeTrans transla-
tor program provided on the disk (and described in a later chapter). To convert other files to
HomeText lormat for editing, use the same program .
 21 CURSOR CONTROL KEYS
CTRL + Q SCREEN CONTROL KEYS
C64 cursor to top left of screen
CTRL + A
To change screen color:
COM + S

HOMETEXT cursor 10 middle left of screen

CTRL + Z
To change lext color:
COM + C
To chllnge border color:
cursor to bottom left of screen
QUICK REFERENCE CTRL + W COM + B
GUIDE cursor ~cltw"rds one screen To change the screen margins (toggles 2
CTRL + X spaces)
cursor forward one screen COM + M
CTRL + S To toggle the key click sound:
cursor to the beginning althe current line COM + K
CTRL + 0 To set a tab iOCdtion:
cursor 10 the end of the current line SHIFT - +- (beside "1" key)
CTRL + T To erase a tab setllng:
cursor to top (beginning) of buffer CTRL + __ (beside ~ 1 " key)
CTRL + B To So!I.ve these chlmges on your progro!lm disk:
cursor 10 bottom (end) of buffer CTRL + W (Make sure your data disk isn't in
the drivel)
OTHER KEYS This will make your changes the new startup
defaults.
CTRL + lor
cursor 10 next lab setting EDITING KEYS
CURSOR KEYS (SHIFT C URSOR)
moves cursor one space in direction of Arrow To delete the previoul character:
COM + INST/DEL INST/ DEL
delete one cho!lr",cler to right 0/ cursor To delete the current line:
COM + CLRlHOME SHIFT - CLRlHOME
delete current line To insert a space
SHIIT - INSTIDEL SHIFT - lNST/ DEL
Inser t chartlcier ,,' cursor

) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
«««« ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ««««( ( ( ( ( (

22 FUNCTION KEYS TO SPECIFY A HOMEFIND MERGE FILE:

CTRL H
To select tha printer command window: To print the buffer:
F3
CTRL P
To enler the Functions menu:
To cledr the buffer:
F5 CTRL C
To select the lext block window: To delete a file on disk:
F7
CTRL 0
IN THE FUNCTIONS MENU: To select the printer type:
To lo.!ld a file into the buffer: @
L
To save the buffer as a file:
5
To append a file to the end of the buffer:
A
To specify a new output device (Printer or
filespec)
N
To specify printer configuration:
C
To get a disk directory:
8 or 9
To exit 10 the millin menu:
X
23
CHAPTER 4
HOMEFIND You hear a lot about datab.!ase managers these d"ys, but what is a database? It is simply lIny
THE INFORMATION organized collection of 'dale' - that is, information, facts, details, notes, Mmes and addresses end the
MANAGER like. A database maMger Is a l'llMns 10 odd some sort of order to the data you h.!!Ye collected - lor
eMmpie, a name and address book is a simple method 01 organizing or managing that data.
Of courne, computer database maMgel'S offer 4 101 more than storing your data; they oller nexible
ways to retri~, to sort and select the information. For businesses which deal with I'I'I41lY clients, large
inventories or staff, the datAbase manager must be powerful, oomplex and very flexible. This uSUdlly
mMl1S difficult to learn and expensive as well.
Datab.!ase ITh'Illdgers genel'dlly depend on a rigid Immework of entry llnes Cdlled 'fields', which,
once you have established their size, usually remain fixed and cannot be changed. So if you decide
you only need ten characters for a person's business title but you lind later you have to enter 'Assis-
lanl Vice-president for Exemplary s"les Division', then you're out of luck. You have to shorten the title
down to fit the fjeld; somethlllQ like 'M VP ESO' which doesn't help or tell you a iol Many databa:ie
lIllIn&gers aren't very nexible when it comes to this type of thing.
Most of us don't think of data &TfW~; we don', organize information into little fields In our heads.
When you thinl:. of Bob Smith, you don', mentally look up a box O!IlIed 'title'; you think. "What's Bob
Smith's title?". You don't perlorm a conscious 'sort and exlrdct' routine when you think ~Who's Bob
Smith?", so why should you have to leam to fit your thinking into the vertebrate structure of a
datarese manager?
\-'kll, you don't; Home Find Is a 'natural lanquaQe' information maIlaQel"; you type in Informallon
the wlrj it occurs to you; M Bob Smith's title's Assistant VP Exemplary Sales DivisionHand that's it. The
next time you want 10 kna,..o about Bob Smith, you asl:. "who's Bob Smith?" and the computer will
answer with all of the information you've typed in 90 far. Or if you asl:. "what's Bob Smith's titler, it
will answer with ~Assisl.ant VP Exemplary Sales Division': just the wlrf you typed it in.
AU you have 10 leam is the simple syntax (style) lor entering or retrieving information; you don't
need to fuss about separate disks lor separate data, about field lengths and extract parameters or the
like The process is simple, easy and. remarkably unoomplicated lor what you can do with It. There

) ) ) ) ) ) , , , , ) ) , , , ,
( ( ( ( ( ( ( ([«««« ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( (

24 are some tricks you will learn as you work with it, especially how 10 properly olQanize you r informa-
tion before you start to enter ii, 50 you can retrieve it in the best manner.
Load the HomeF'ind program from the main menu by pressing FS to move the colored bar to
HomeFind and press F7. Follow the explanations which follow for creating a data disk lind using the
program.

CREATING A DATA Here is the screen you see once you have loaded the HomeFind program:
DISK

Fig. 6; HomeF'ind's Initial Screen

Make a new data disk. Since you're just starting with this program, you'll need to make a new data disk. Remove the pro-
gram disk and put a blank disk in the drive. U you're using more tMn one drive, you1l be able to
change the drive number a bit further along. For now, just press F5.
The screen changes to the Function menu screen, and the prompt asks you to choose what you
want to do. This is an IIbbreviated form of the screen, with only a few comnumds dvailable. [."ter,
when you are entering or retrievi ng data, you ca.n press FS to 900 the lull feature screen.
25 You m{llte" new dlllll disk by pressing M -" process which formats the disk in the drive noted
III the bottom of the screen 1:115 the 'da'a drive', erl!lsing IIny materi") on the disk. You can change
the dill", drive if you have more than one drive by pressing D (do so now, and place your bllln\::
disk In the chosen drive) or you can exil to the main HornePak menu by pressing X. You can
also return to the previOUS screen which asks for lin ,,]ready prepared dll'., disk by pressing
RETURN by itself.
We w!1l choose to mllKe " new data disk, so press M. You will next be asked to name your
dill/! disk - choose a nllme 12 or fewer choracters long (including spaces, numbers and punetu/!-
tion) and press RETURN. Use the INSTJDEL key to correct any mistakes you make. You h"ve a
fin,,] chllnce to escape without rTUlking a disk by tlnswer ing N to the Jast question on the screen
once you enter the neme.
HomeFind will formet end prepare the diSk, seying "Done!" when it's finished. Press eny key
to continue. You'll be back <!It the function menu screen <!Igein.

FUNCTIONS MENU

Fig. 7: The First Function Menu Screen

Press RETURN to exit end we wlll begin entering d<!lt<!l on your new disk.

,
) ) ) ) ) \ ) ) ) , ) I ) ) ) )
( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ««« ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( (

26 ENTERING DATA Keep your d.1ta disk In the drive and press RETURN. You will find yourself in the main
HomeFind screen once the program checks your disk. Take II look <'II the bottom 01 the screen;
now you'll see the name of your datil d isk in the left corner and the numbe r of bytes left on the
disk in the lower right; 174434 when you starl with II new disk, or about 7000 words.
Before you type anything in, check the quick reference chart to see how can you change
many of the parameters of the program. The F3 key toggles the printer on <'Ind ofl. COM K
toggles the key click. FS returns you to the Functions Menu screen. COM + and COM
will let you chllnge the screen colors, COM I chllnges the lexl color.
You con 8o!Ive these chonges os 0 configurotion file on your wckup program disk by pressing
CTRL W from the function menu screen (not when you're in Ihe dolo entry screen) lmd moke
them your own stortup defoults. The originol defoult configuration file will be er"sed when you
do this. CTRL W Is one of severol commonds not mentioned on the function menu screen (see
Make sure yOUI prog ram disk is the quick reference for these commonds). Make sure your program disk is in drive one, Nor
in drive one, Nor you r data your data disk, when you So!Ive 0 configurotion file!
disk, when you save a c o n· Okoy, so let's try 0 few simple exomples of e ntering InlormCition. Type this in exactly CiS you
figuration fil e ! see II here:
Mike's birthday's Apnl 18, 1958.
Press Return. You'll see what you type appear in the lower middle section 01 the screen. The
lop 01 the screen will tell you "Mike's news 10 mel New subject? YIN", The computer hlls just
told you it hos never heard of Mike ond wants to know if Mike is a new su b ject. Answer with
"y" for yes. Then the computer will So!Iy "birthday's news 10 me! New tag YIN?". Aga in, the com·
puter wll nls 10 know If 'birthday' is,, new lag to use In Identify ing 'Mike'. Answer "y". The com·
puter will now save the Information to the disk and tell you "Thanksl".
Every time you enter a new subject or a new tog, HomeFind will ask you if it's new. You
onswer "y" for yes a nd the new ilem will be odded to the informolion on disk. If you answer "n H

or o ny other cho rocter, the entire entry will be ignored.

INFORMATION ENTRY What you have done Is enter your first 'subject', 'lag' and 'ob ject'. The process 01 entry is
SYNTAX always done In this simple three pelrt form:
subject's tag's object
'Subject', '159' a nd 'object',
Tl Notice the apostrophes-they Notice the apostrophes (the .. ' .. c haracters) - they are very important: they are the markers
a re very important. which tells the computer where each portion 01 the subject and tag in an ent ry statement ends.
The computer 'parses' (analyses the grammar of) each line to break \I up into these parts so It
can store them on the disk and ret rieve them properly later. You can type in up to SO
characters lor each part and the computer will treat It all as one segment until it reaches the
"'s" break . This means that "Account #12345's", "Iollow up date lor contract signing's",
'''Mike's'' and "serio!ll number's" o!Ire all individuo!ll, legal entries.
HomeFind creates three indices; one Index lor each of subject, object and tag. You can asl::
Rules a re lew and simple. for Information in anyone of them. The rules a re few and simple:
I. Subjects and tags can't have apostrophes in their names, but need an " 's" added lolhe
end.
2. Objects can't have apostrophes in them, even" 's".
3. A tag cannot be Ihe same as a previously chosen subject and vice versa.
4. To avoid confUSion, an object should not be the same as a p reviously chosen subject or tog.
5. Each ptlrt cannot be longer than 80 characters and the entire line cannol be longer than
144 characters.
6. An entry must have all three parts.
You r entry must have 1111 three Your entry musl have all three parts to be correct. 1£ you are missing any part, the computer
paris to be correct. wlll as k for Ihe object. You can press RETURN to quit and the computer will say "Never
mind!", which means It has ignored what you typed in. II the entry has a subject and tag
which you have already entered, Ihe computer will respond as H you were asking it lor infor-
mation . II you type "Mike's birthday" by Itsel/, the computer will tell you "April 18, 1958".
II you type in some Information which is already ente red, the computer comes back wllh
"That's no news to me!". II you type an entry which has the same subject and tag but a dlf·
ferent object - say "Mike's birthday's June 5, 1950", the computer will respond with a message
like "Mike's birthday was April 18, 1958. Add or change? NC". You can do either o r preS!
RETURN to quit thai entry and the computer will !Illy "Never mind!". But II either the subject
or the tag are different, the computer will accept the entry. It will save the new entry os well
as the old if you choose to add the chanqe.
CHANGES AND While typing, you can use the INST/ DEL key 10 correct your entry, or e rose the entire line with
CORRECTIONS the SlflFT-LEFT CURSOR comb ination. But what if you make a mistake In the information? Say

) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ))))))) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
 (((( ( ((((((((((((( ««(((((( ( ( ( (

28 you type "Cindy's sign's Virgo" but you later lind out she's really" Pisces. Then you want to
change!!.
The first method is 10 type the same line agein, Ihls lime with the new, correct Inlorm"Uon:
"Cindy's sign's Pisces", The computer williell you thlll her sign was Virgo and "sit if you went
to add or chl'lnge the entry. This method ony works If there Is one object lor II ~rlicular sub·
jecVtag combination. If you choose to IIdd rather thlln change. then the next lime you enler
Cindy's sign, the computer will assume you're merely adding to the growing list. This WIJY, you
~n m<'lke something Like &b's dog's mean, nasty. vicious or whatever, <'Illiogelher.
For c hanging an e nt ry use the The best method for changing an entry (lind the only one which works when there Is more
wo rd 'iSll't'. than one subject/lag combination) is to use the word 'isn't', so "Cindy's sign isn't Virgo". The
computer tells you the original entry and asks if you wish to replace it. You answer "y" and the
computer asks what Cindy's new sign is. Enter the new object and press RETURN . The com-
puter will tell you "Thanks!" when finished. If you lInswer "n", the computer deletes the entry
completely, returning with "Forgot it!" when done. Any other key than "y" or "n" cancels the
request to change completely.
Continue entering the inlormtltlon you wish to store on the disk. For the examples below.
type in the following:
Roberl's blrlhdtly's March 23, 1953
Mike's favorite color's blue
Mike's car's Honda
Mike's phone's 929-9909 (home)
Mike's phone's 596-1405 (office)
Roberl'. car's Chevrolet
Susan's (tlvorite color's yellow
Robert's phone's 233-3331 (home)
Robert'. l<!Ivorite color's blue
A little experiment<!ltion will show you that the computer will tlcrept "mike" equtlily well tiS
"MIKE" or "Mike". The program stores the Iniormllllon in the form you enter it, with upper lind
lower C<!lse Inttlct, but It replies to your request in the c.!Ise you <!Isk in. So if you hllve enlered
"Mike's dog's Rover" and tlsk "what's mike's dog?", you get "mike's dog's Rover".
29 Your screen wi!! now look something like this:

Fig. 8: HomeFind's Main Screen

ADVANCED DATA As you enter information, wetch the 'disk 810r"ge left' line to see how much space you've <;follelt
ENTRY TIPS on the disk.
Apost rophes
Entering II 101 of similo!lf d.!r.la can be II bit of III. chore. What if you wanted to enter a long Itst of
friends' telephone numbers? Can you imagine typing "Bob's phone's 255-4491, Judy's phone's 633-
9090, Ian's phone's 444·2321' for e hundred friends? The!'s when the epostrophe comes inlo its own.
You can use (lin apostrophe AS II 'ditto' (repeat) mark when entering repell.led subjects or tags. You
must hove one blonk sptlce before ond after the single llpostrophe in order lor HomeFind to
recognize it. In the phone list, you could type the lirst entry "Bob's phone's 255-4491" "nd then type
"II the others "5 "Judy's '633-9090, I"n's '444-232]" etc., usim;lthe "poslrophe to Signify the tag
'phone'.

Multiple Line Entries Sometimes you want to bl'ellk an entry up - particularly objects - into several lines r.!!lher Ih.!!n
one long one. To do Ihis, you insert a Down Arrow in the entry by pressing the DOWN CURSOR
key where you wanl the line 10 break. For

»»»») »)))))) ) ) ) ) ) )
«««««««««««««(C(C«((
30 example: "Mary's address's 20 Main Sl ldown lIrrow)Api 301 ldown a rrow lDorado [down orrow]Ca lif
90108". When you ask "What's Mery's address?", you get:
M<!IfY'S address's
20 Main 51
Apt 301
Doro!ldo
Cal!I 90108

Comments Sometimes ii's useful 10 be able 10 comment your entries with additional information thai you
don', need to reference in your requests lor informlllion. In the examples "Mike's phone's 929-9909
(home) and Mike's phone's 565· 1405 (office)", you might Ilke to keep the information about home
and off ice out of the main entry so you don't have to remember exactly how you entered it when
asking for Informatlon Jater.
To comment an entry, you use the UP ARROW t key, like this: "Mike's phone's 919-9909 t horne"
and "Mike's phone's 565-1405 t office", Any chllrllcters after (and ~ny sptlces before) the" , "
character are trea.ted as a comment. Comments are ignored when HomeFind searches for informa
lion for a request.

MAKING Once you have enough Information entered, you will want to retrieve it; after all, that's what a
INFORMATION database is really for. So let's try a Simple request. Type "who's mike?". You should gel this:
REQUESTS Mike's phone's 929·9909 (home)
Mike's phone's 596·1405 (office)
Mike's favorite color's blue
Mike's car's Honda
Mike's birthday's April 18, 1958
That's It!
If you type in "what's Mike" o r even just "mike", you'll get the Sdme response. You can ask lor sim'
pie requests on any sin<;Jle subject, taQ or object and get everything related to that request. You can
also use the pronouns 'when' a nd 'where' interchangedbly with 'what' and 'who'. Punctuation in your
requests is optional but helps keep the process friendly when you use them; "who's mike" works as
well as "who's mike?" but the latte r Is easier to use.
31 You must type in the request Try other simple, single item requests like "what's phone?" and "favorite color" to see what hap·
euc!ly as you entered it. pens. You must type in the request exaclly as you entered il; you must use "favorite color", not
simply "color" or "596-1405 (office)" not merely "596-1405" or you will get the meSStlge "News to
"Newl to mel" me!". This is why you should use comments to add information like office or home for phone
numbers; you won't have to worry about the exact way you entered them later.
If you ask. about something you haven', entered yet, you'll gel a polite response "News to mel". If
you have objects which are the Mime as a subject or tag, you won't be able to retrieve information
about them with a simple request; you'll geltne information for the tag or subject reference
instead. For example, if you type "Dave's friend's hm" and "hm's friend's Paul", if you request only
"Jim", all you'll get is "Jim's friend's Paul". You'll have to use combined requests, described below.

GETTING SPECIFIC: You can be more specifiC with your requests. You can ask., lor example "What's Robert's favorite
COMBINED REQUESTS color?" or "What's Mike's Cdr?" and getlhe answer. Now if you ask something that you haven't
entered previously, such as "what's Robert's house?", you'll be told the new lIem is "M8\'{s 10 me!"
and be asked If it's new (in this case, a new tag). Then the computer will say "Tell me, what's
Robert's house?" and you can answer with the correct object. If you now say "What's Mike's house?"
the computer will say back "News to mel Tell me, what's Mike's house?" and wait lor your answer.
Hilling RETURN alone cancelslhe entry.
You can use "who's" and "what'," When you ask. questions, you can use "who's" and "what's" interchangeably. Also, you don't need
interchangeably. to end the query with a question mark except for good form.

MORE SPECIFIC : So far, you haven't been shown any real magic; just simple, clean requests. Now you'll learn some
neat tricks. Type in the lol!owlng:
ANALOG REQUESTS Robert's nickname's Bob
Robert'. hobby's fossil collecting
Acct. 1 1552's outstanding credit's $145
Acc!. 11552's credit limit's $500
Acd,II552's name's Lisa. Harris
HomeFind can only deal with So now you can ask "what's Bob's hobby?", since Bob has been cross-referenced with Robert. By
requests if the object il unique. the same token, you can ask "What's Lisa. Harris's outstanding credit?" and "what's Lisa Harris's
creel!t limit?",

) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) I
 ( ( ( ( , ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( (

32 There's a hitch to this. HomeFind can only deal properly with an analogous
request if the object 4ssocillied with the request ('Bob' or Lise HIITr!s in these eXllmples) is uni-
que and nol used elsewhere o n your wl4 disk. So il you type:
Bill's nickname's Bud
8l11's hobby's music
John's nickname's Bud
John's hobby's boating
Make lure you order you r and you !18k "What's Bud's hobby?", HomeFind would respond with one reference, the last one
inJormation. typed, but wouldn'l be "ble to distinguish between Bin and John o r know which one you were refer-
ring to here.
You must also make sure you order your informllltion in /I way thai makes an analogous query
m~ninglul, os well os osking 0 relevont question. II you type:
Suson's bike's red
Suson's cot's Tibby
Suson's nlcknome's Sue
then when you osk ''whot's Sue's bike?", you get "Sue's bike's red", which is line, but If you ask
"whot's Tibby's bike", you get "Tibby's bike's red", which Is sillyl Analogous requests require you to
The OBJECT should have some think out the request c!~rly before you ask, 90 that you don't get on answer which hos no meaning.
meaningful relationship 10 the The OBJECT you use In on IInlllOQous request should hllve some mEMnlnglul relationship to the
TAG . TAG.
HomeFind doesn't provide a report printout like many other progroms; most home users don't
PRINTING YOUR need II 10ncy print out of their data. Instead, we offer a simple, easy method 0/ printing: the F3 key
REQUESTS toggle. Press 1\ once lind the "Printer: OFF" line at the bottom 01 the screen becomes "Printer: ON".
Press it again lind it goes to OFF. Mllike sure your printer is turned on in order to print.
The F3 key I0991e.
When the printer is on, it echoes everything re/evonl which oppeors on the screen to the printer;
Make sur e your p r inter is tu r ned
on in o rder to print . you r new entries, your requests, plus everything you list when In the functions menu section, below.
You won't get prompts or e rror messages cluttering up your printout.
 to the functions menu screen.
33 THE FUNCTIONS MENU You can press the F5 key any time ond Immediately be Iransfer red
to enter data, several new options become lidded to the few we saw
You will see thllt once you begin
before, which are describ ed above.

Fig. 9: The Function Menu Screen

active at a time. In order to
When you use HomeFind, you Cdn only have one disk in one d rive
new do!\ta disk. If you simply insert a new data disk without
change the disk, you must select N for when H omeFind
you will damage II and destroy the data on !I PERMA NENTLY
using this feature, new disk feature .
a new data diU: without first usinQ the
Never insert a new d ata disk writes somethi ng to the disk. Never insert aooulth e currenl
ed to insert the disk. HomeFi nd mainlai ns certain informa tion
withou t firs t using the new disk You will be prompt
disk in memory which is cle.!lred out when you use this function .
feature. than one. If you choose the
Make sure you pul your new disk in the proper drive if you have more
to enter or request any informa tion until you change ilto
wrong d rive number , you won't be able
drive. Use the N function even after you make a new data disk, before you write to it, or
the correct
s and lags).
request any informa tion from the disk (includ ing listing all subject
Since Home Find uses a special disk format for Its dolo, you can't copy it normally (or write
have provide d a simple routine 10 make bdckup copies of your
anythinQ to the disk). That's why we

) ) ) ) ) )
, , r ( ( (

34 Always back up you r data disks dolo disks. You should always bdckup your d"ta disks afte r each session with HomeFind when you
alter each session . have made additions, deletions or chllnges. Choose B and follow Ihe screen prompts 10 insert the
Backup lormals the disk first , so proper disks in the drive as necessary. Backup formats the disk first, so anything on II is erased.
lInything on it is erased. It's often uselullo see the lisl 01 all subjects lind tags you have on a disk. especially when you're
lidding or changing 110 lot of data. The S and T choices will print the list on the screen for you. In
order to get a printed copy, press the F3 key before you mok.e the choice, and again ofter to turn the
printer 011.
HomeFind deletes objects oulomolically, but not subjects ond tags. When you delete an entry,
the program doesn't run through every connection and make sure something wasn't filed under that
heading. This would simply take too long to do efficiently, but it can leave 'dangling headings' on
the disk wh!ch take up space but aren't used as references. To correct th!s, we have lI. special feature
called compress which you should do regulo!lfly to your doto disks.
Choose K lor compress 10 Choose K for compress to reorganize your doto disks. It cleans up the disk, reclaiming lost space,
reorganize your data clitk•. removing deleted entries and making sure all of the links are correct. The screen will show tha~ it's
working, with a dot printed lor each step along the way. Depending on how much information you
Don', remove your disk while JI's have stored on your disk, the process can take quite some time to complete. Don't remove your dll.ta
being compressed. disk whlle it's bemg compressed or you will damage it permanently.
You should run the compress function periodically to ensure you don't have any dangling
Run the compress function headings on your disk and the space is properly used. This is especially important when you have
periodically. made a lot of deletions or changes to your data. Make sure you backup your disk before you com·
press it, just In case. After you compress a disk, always choose N fo r "new" data disk so the program
If you make a new data disk will read the new directory properly.
c hoose N to use new data disk Make a new disk, change Data drive and EX it to the main menu were all discussed earlier.
belore you attempt to read or Remember that when you make a new data disk, the blank is formatted lirst, erasing any material
write. on it. If you make a new data disk after you've been working with another, make sure you choose N
to use new dala disk hefore you attempl to read or wrile from Ihe disk or you may cause an error.
eTRt W w rites a new startup While ii's not on the menu, CTRL W writes a new starlup configuration file 10 your p rogram
file. dis k. Make sure you remove your data disk and place the backup program disk in the drive
BEFORE you write the new Iile; if you write II to your da ta disk, you will damage the data
permanently I
35 MERGE FlLES A special/ealute of HomeFind is the merge file; it cre"les a special llIe on a regular Commodore
diskette which c..'I.n be tellld into your document from HomeTed. Press CTRL C in the Functions
menu; the progr<'!lm will ask you lor" search request; answer with a v"Hd query: Subject, r"9 or
Subject's TIIg. The se.!Irch response is Sllved In memory; only as ffillny objects "5 co!In be stored in
memory c..'I.n be saved as /I Ille. Then give /I disk filen(l.me. HomeFind will write 10 disk <!Ill of the
Objects ilssoclated with yOUf query.
u. ter, when using Homered, you clIn inserl 'merge tokens' inlo the text In order to call up the
objects saved in this Ille. This is explained In more detail In the chapter on HomeText. If you want to
To create II. m"ilinq list. credle a mailing list, then use 'address' as your search request; the entire flllnge of addresses on
your disk (Bob's IIddress, Sue's address, Mike's address, etc.) will be $dved in the £ile. Records are
printed into you r HomeText documents in the order In which they lire saved.
You ca.n use other d"t"base m"n"gers to cre!lte v"Hd merge files, lIS lonc;1 "5 cert"in rules lIre
followed: the entire record (not lile) Is no more Ih"n 80 ch"racters long, multl-hne entries are
se~ra ted by ASCII character 29 (the down arrow) and each record Is separated by one and only
one cllrriage return.

DISK SPEED In HomeFind, the slow speed ollhe Commodore 1541 disk drive is most apparent. If you are
going to be using HomeFind In a business Gpplication or on any frequent hIIsis, you may wish to
consider the purchase of a ptlrallel disk drlve and an IEEE Interfllce such as the MSDS disk d rives
and BUSCARD lI S Interface. These will be found 10 speed up disk access considerably.

) ) ) ) ) ) , ) , ) ) ) ) ) ) )
 ( ( ( ( ( «(((((((( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( <. (

36 SCREEN CONTROL KEYS Single item query: pronoun subject. or

To chenge screen color· pronoun lag, or
COM + <'Ind COM -To chang e the text
C64 color:
COM 1
pronoun object. o r
simply enler the si ngle word
Multi ple item query: pronoun su b ject's tl!g, or
HOMEFIND To loggle the key click sound:
COM K
pronoun tag's object, o r
subject's tag (no pronoun).
QUICK REFERENCE To save these changes on your program disk: 0<
CTRL W (mal:.e sure you r da ta disk isn't in tag's object (no pronoun)
GUIDE the d rive!) Anl!logous query bl!sed on o b ject:
This will make you r changes the new startup pronoun object tag, or
defaults. object tag (no pronoun)
EDITING KEYS IN THE FUNCTIO NS MENU:
To dele te the previous charecter: To create a new data disk:
INSTIDEL M
To delete the previous line: To change the drive number where the datI! disk
SHIFT LEFT CURSOR is:
CONSOLE KEYS D
To toggle the printer on and off: To copy the dl!ll! disk:
F3 B
To ente r the Functions menu: To chl!nga to I! new dala dis k:
F5 N
To Credle 4 merge file lor Ho meTe,,! use: To lisll!ll subjects on the dala disk:
CTRL C 5
To list all lags on the dl!ll! disk:
INFORMATION SYNTAX T
To enter information : To compress the dl!ll! disk:
Subject's Tag's Object K (Alwl!Ys do I! (Naw) I!fte r I! compress)
EXllmpie: D<'Ivid 's bicycle's red To e xillo the HomePak menu :
To retrieve information: X
AlIow.!lble pronouns: Who's, whet's, where's,
when's
37
CHAPTER 5
HOMEI'ERM Telecommunication means compu ter-la-computer communication over the telephone line; link-
ing your computer with one or more others so that you CIIn send and receive programs or 'elec-
THE tronic mali', transmit or read Information, chat with other users, slore files, do electronic shopping
TELECOMMUNICA- or banking, redd on-line magazines or even an encyclopedia.
TIONS PROGRAM Modems (for modulator/demodultllor) are the devices which link computers, Ir<'!.nsiating the elec-
tronic signllls from your computer into an audible tone which is then transmitted along the phone
Computer-Io-computer lines. The lones <'Ire tronsillted b.o!ck into recoqnizeable slgnlllis by the modem lit the other end. If
communication. you have ever lifted you r telephone receiver while transmitting or receiving 0 file, you will have
heard the sound of the modems 'talking'. This Isn't a recommended practice however - it almost
always causes your data to become scrambled or garbled when you pick up the receiver to listen.
Modems are serial devices - meaning they transmit data sequenllally, one bit at a time, turning
the eight bUs (one byte) of a character into a strea.m of bus which follow one another. Your com·
puter re·assembles the bit strea.m bad. into bytes when it receives data from the modem.
Most 01 the features of The first thing you'll need to use this program is a phone number of a local bullelln board system,
HomeTerm do nol work without a users group, on-line network such as CompuServe or a friend who has a modem hooked up to a
modem. computer. Not all 01 the features described work properly without a modem attached, so make sure
it's on before trying HomeTerrn.

BASIC Telecommunication Isn't difficult or very complex, but it does require that you understand a few
TECHNICALITIES technical terms and how it works in order to use it properly. You may have to try the program out
several times to get the hang 01 it.
The lirst thing you need to know is the speed of communication; both computers have to t",lk to
The speed of communication each other al the same speed. This is measured. in baud. Most home computers transmit at 300
baud, which translates to roughly thirty ch",racters per second or three hundred words per minute.
Many newer modems can swltch to 1200 baud - four limes as last. People used to use 110 btIud - a
very slow speed - belore laster modems became cheaper to buy. The so·called 'sm"rt modems' can
work a' several speeds and even tell
what speed the other computer is working at and adjust to it. Check your modem m"nuallor

) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
 ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( l ( < « «l«< ( ( ( (

38 Duplex details. You should try to find out what speed the other computer Is using before you call il up.
The next ilem Is duplex; modems 111M capable of Irllnsmitling d.,tll in both directions a' the
same lime; in 'full-duplex' state (sometimes called 'echo-pJex'), they do just that, jusl lik.e two
people talking al the same time on II telephone. Your screen shows you what the other system
echoes back to you. Full duplex is the faster mode. In 'half-duplex', you transmit only one way
at a lime (say, to the other computer), then the other wtJy (bad: to your computer), like a CB
T<!Idio. Your screen shows what you type, without an echo to your screen. When you're in half
duplex <'md the other system Is In full, you Qet double of cherecters, so if you type "HELLO",
you end up with "HHEELLLLOO".
Which duplex you need depends on what the other person is lliso set at! There are no set rules
for duplex; you will hllve to try one or the other II you hllve IIny troubles communicating. The
duplication of charllcters you type is e good Indication that you need to switch duplex. Often swit-
ching your duplex will cure eny problems. Some modems heve a switch to set the duplex
mechllnically; make sure the swilch seltlng conforms to Ihe mode you need. Experimenletlon will
show you what's necessary.
There ere several choices involved in communicallons lind trllnsmilting (uploading or receiving
(cepluring or downloading) files. The first step is 10 esillblish whllt Iype of computer you lire com·
- ASCII munlceting with. Most computers converse with each other In 'ASCII' code - characters; numbers,
- C64 leiters, punctuation, without control or escape codes or Inverse characters. When two Commodores
· Vidilex talk to each other, they can send codes, Inverse characters and special symbols in C64 mode. Com-
HomeTerm suppo rts all three puServe has special cursor controlleatures it supports, using II system called 'Vidtex'. HomeTerm
methods. supports all three methods.
Many bulletin board systems - particularly those using a CP/M computer (or CompuServe for
HomeTerm also supports lile transfers only) - use II lile transfer protocol method designed and developed by Ward
Xmodem. Christensen, called the Xmodem protocol. HomeTerm elso supports Xmodem.
Which method you should use - ASCII, C64, or Vidtex - will depend on the compuler althe
other end of the line, You will usually be able to talk or chat, read mail and information in ASCII
mode, but il is important to use the right method when moving liles. You may have 10 experiment II
bitlirst to gel it right.
39 HomeTann reserves II eectlon of memory caned 1I buller for use when transferring files.
Buller
When you send <'I. file, as much of it as can be stored in the buffer Is loaded in, then transmil-
ted to the other computer. When the buffer is empty, it fills up IIgain and continues doing this
untillhe entire Iile is sent. When you receive a HIe it works in reverse; as much 01 the file as
possible is stored in the buffer before being ~ved to disk, then once the buffer is empty 11911in,
it starts to flll up again. During the limes the disk is being used, the computer doesn't transmit.
It sends a signal to the other computer, telling It to wait until the operation is finished, lind
when done, sends another siQn.!Iilo stllrl up again. The buffer is discussed in more detallialer.
Parily There <!Ire two other IIreas which lire importllnt but not usulIlIy criliC41to home use. One is
parity; when you trllnsmit in ASCII, II start bil is lidded to the front of the chllrllcter - II zero -
to tell the host system to expect lin ASCII chllrllcier. Alter the leiter Is sent, II pIIrity bi! fol·
lows. This Is either II one or zero to make the sum of the bils in the chllrllcter sent - including
Ihe pl!rity bit - come oul either odd or even. Older systems used to use pdrily checking to in·
sure the transmission was correel. HomeTerm Ignores parity, since it Isn't used much on
modern systems IInymore.
Stop bits Finally there lire slop bils. After each ch.!lracier has been sent, one or two bils follow as a
'fl.!lg' to teil the receiving system that the e ntire chllracter has been sent and the nexl bil reo
ceived will be the start bit of the follOWing ch<'lr<'lcier. HomeTerm uses one stop bit, since most
systems now<'ld<'lYs support lust one rather than two stop bils. You C4n't change either the no·
parity or one stop hit protocol, hut you won't lind many systems which need or use anything
else.
USING HOMETERM; Alter you load HomeTerm from the main menu, remove the progr.!lm disk and pi.!lce II in a
THE SCREENS safe location. Place a bl.!lnk disk in one of your drives to store programs you wish to retrieve
from .!Inother (or host computer). or II disk with files you wish to send to I!lnother computer.
Your lirst screen is the 'interaciive mode' screen; this is the screen you see when calling
another system, when transferring files, when chliiting online. There a re only two screens in
HomeTerm; the other is the Functions menu screen.

1 ) ) ) ) ) ) 1 ) ) ) ) ) )1)1)1 1 ) ) ) 1 ) ) 1
«««« «««( ( ( ««««««««(
40

Fig. 10: Interactive HomeTerm Screen Fig.ll: Homl'lTerm Function Menu Screen

The bottom two lines tell you theslatus of your link 10 the other computer. You can see current size
of your memory buffer, the typeo! Hie to download (program - PGM, or sequential- SEQ), the bdud
ra te (300), the duplex (lull) and the translation mode (ASCII). The status Ilnes will also lell you what
lile activity you're performing and the name 01the lile. The cenler box shows a timer you can set in the
functions menu screen 10 keep track of how long you've been online (especially useful on systems which
charge lor their services!).
41 Press FS lo go 10 the Functions menu screen. When you're onHne with ,~molher computer, Qoing
Going' to the fu nc tions menu
won', dillconnect you from the to the functions menu won't disconnect you from the other computer. However, is you're lalking to
other computer. someone, ii's only good mlSnners 10 lellthem you're l~ving for a moment, since you can'ltalk to
them from the functions screen.
Not every feo!lture 01 HomeTerm is listed on the screen; only the most commonly used <!Ire shown,
so you may heve to refer to the quick reference cord for such things as chllnging the screen color.
Let's look at the features shown on the screen, one "' a time, wh!le we go through the process of
'signing on' to a bulletin bo.:Ird, or calling l!lnother computer.

FIRST STEPS BEFORE H you lire using a modem which supports more than one baud rate, you need to make sure that
you are calling at the right speed. The B key toggles between 300 and 12(X} baud. Try it and see It
PLACING A CALL chenge on the status line et the bottom 01 the screen. If you r modem Cdn transmit lit 1200 baud and
The B key you know the computer at the other end can as well, then use 1200. Otherwise, 300 beud Is the most
common speed used. You can't change your baud rete once you have connected to another
computer.
When you use 1200 baud the When you use 1200 baud, you'll nolice thllt the border lines eround the stalus boxes diSlippeer
border lines around the status (Ihe border around Ihe edit window will also diSo!lppear). This is because the lines ere mllde of C64
boxes d isappear. sprLtes end Ihe C64 cannot operate with spriles on screen et that speed. There's nothing wrong with
your computer; the effect Is only cosmetic. (This Is 1Iiso noticed when SlIvlng end ioedlng files to
disk end occur for the SlIme reasons.)
You should sl<'lrt in ASCII mode when piecing e c<'lll; you cen chenge Iransl<'llion modesl<'lter
when Irensferring files. One of the rec'lsons for using ASCII to di<'lllsihal your modem will eccept
commands in ASCI!, but may not take them In PET ASCI! (Commodore) mode. If you can't get the
modem to respond, try holding down SHIFT to set Ihe output 10 uppercase, then re·ente r your
commends.
Select <'I duplex mode with P. Sterl out with lull duplex (the default); If you have problems, you
cen change once you're connected. II you're In hell duplex mode <'Ind you get "doubled" keyslrokes
on your screen, switch 10 full duplex. Now you're ready to make a cell. Press RETURN to switch to
the inter<'lctive screen.

PLACING OR In the Interactive screen, type the comm<'lnds to dial e number. If you're using an old style
RECEIVING A CALL 'ecoustlc coupler' modem, or one which doesn't have 'autodial' ClIpabillty, you can still use
HomeTerm, bul you'll have to dlel lhe number manually. Your modem documentation williell you

) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
««« ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( «««««««««(
42 Your modem documentation will how to dill! and what you need to enter. The Hayes and other 'smClrl modems' use a command like
tell you how 10 dial. this: (refer to your modem manual lor details)
ATD555-1234 . RETURN '"
This ~ys "attention modem (AT - Iells it a command is coming), louch-tone dial (0; if you were
using II rotary phone, you use OP for pulse dial) the number which follows (555~ 1 234)". When the
modem on the other end 01 the line answers, you may see a message on your screen, telling you
that you are connected (such as 'carrier detected' or 'connected') or you may have to type
something 10 gel the other computer to recognize you (RCP/M systems require a RETURN, Compu-
Auto-answer
Serve needs a CTRL + C ), When you're calling a friend, you may see nothing at all and may be
abie to type without needing to send other signals.
If you have a modem which can answer calls (an 'auto-answer' modem), then set it to do so (this
means setting the proper switch in the Hayes or giving the modem the proper command in others).
With an auto-answer modem, when someone calls you, the modem will answer the phone (don't
pick it up yourself!) and send out a tone lor the cal!er to recognize. You may see a message saying
you are connected, if your modem Co!In !>end s\,Ich prompts to your screen. Consult your modem
manuai for more information,

THE INTERACTIVE, OR Now that you've made connection, whatever you type is au tomalica!iy transmitted to the other
CHAT MODE computer, as weI! as to your screen. When you're onHne with a buHetin board or eiectronic
QUICK TIPS datawse, you should end each entry with a RETURN. When you're taiking wei: and forth with a
friend, you should end each line or sentence with something like 'G!\ for 'go ahea,d' and three
periods ( ... ) for 'more to come', so that they know you're finished and can respond. Wait unti! you
see their end·ol·message sign ('GA') before you begin typing your own repiy. Another way to
Signify whds talking (especially when saving the conversation to a disk fiie for later reading) is for
one 01 you to use CTRL + I (tab) before starting your line.
Screen and text colors You can change screen and texl colors in the interactive mode using COM + F and COM + B
(if the screen coior is black only). You can also turn the key click sound on and all with COM + K,
toggle the edit window with COM + E and toggle word wrap with COM + W. Word wrap formals
the text on the screen properly. When your text comes to the end of the screen, II breaks at the last
word and continues on the line below, so the words aren't broken in the middle. This isn't always
necessary or wanted- say when capturing a lile. The screen will tell you what you've done. Word
wrap is convenient when reading files fo rmatted for 80 column displays,
43 If you're nollhe besllypist in the If you're not Ihe besl typist In the world, you sometimes mtlke mistakes In your input and g-etthe
world . wrong- response. HomeTerm has an edil window, tOQg-led by COM E. When it's on, you see a line
cutlllCroSS the bottom of the screen. Everything you type IlIPpe<'lrs in this window in green lext, but
isn'l senlto the other computer or the modem until you press RETURN. The edit buffer can hold up
to 120 chtlr,~clers; some systems won'llliccepllhtll much text IlIt III time without a carriage relurn-
experimenllo see what il can !llIke.
Green was chosen becllluse, despite how It mtly look on your tv set, II's Ihe best color for visibility
when you use tI monochrome monitor or bl.,d. .,nd while Iv. The lexl color of Ihe edit window does
ch.,nge though when you ch.,nge lexl color on Ihe main screen, 10 maln!.,in differenli.,lion.
When you press RETURN, everything from Ihe beginning 10 the end is sent, minus any Irlllling-
blanks, no mllller where you pllllced the cursor when you pressed RETURN. You can use the arrow
kl"Yt;, CTRL lor Ihe INST/DEL. KeyS 10 edit the window before you send anything. The
SHIFT CLRIHOME keys w!ll clear the window. The editing feature Is particulllrly usefulln Com-
puServe's 'CB' section.
AI 1200 baud, timing is very critical tlnd the edil window cletlrs liS fast liS it is sent. In order to
prevenl your tr.,nsmission from being garbled, you will h.,ve 10 sel., very I.,rge del.,y rtlte between
characters (3,000 to 5,(00). Delays are discussed below. You won't have any trouble with receiving
files or communielltions, jusl sending. You mllyeven find th<!lt characters received.,re dropped from
lime to time. This is due to h.,rdwllre limitations in the C64 and you should log off and try agtlln til
300 baud If Ihis happens.
Malerial you wanl 10 ,ave Sometimes when you're ttllking o nline or reading meSS<'lges or g-eliing inform.,tion , you see
m.,lerial you wanl 10 S/l.ve fo r ltlter. To open the buffer to begin saving whlll's IIppe.,ring on Ihe
screen, press the F3 key. The stlltus line on the bottom tells you thlllt capturing is on (tlnd the screen
border turns red). Press F3 tlgtlln turns the ellpture buller off. You ctln start and stop saving- dtlta
Into the buffer any number of times before saving-, as long as there's room in Ihe buffer for It. When
you want to save the buffer to a disk file, press FS for the function menu and the 0 to dump.
HomeTenn will ask for., filename; you elln also choose to dump the buffer to the printer ralher than
10 disk by entering Ihe word PRINTER ralher than a flIename, you may send the buffe r contents to
you r p rinter. You lTh!Iy also type in the word SCREEN and the contents of the buffer will be sent 10
the screen for review. You can hold down the CTRL key to show down this display.
You may use these special names (PRINTER and SCREEN) when using- the Copy command in the
FILES submenu. This Is quite convenient for reviewing- text saved to disk after an on-line session.

) ) ) ) ) ) ) )
 ««««««««« «««««( ( ( ( (

44 Belore captu ring or sending liles, press FS to return to the functions menu.
If you are going to be talking with another Commodore computer, the arrow key beside the "\"
on the keyboard will put you into the Commodore/Commodore mode; this chonges your duplex 10
half and your translation mode 10 C64 mode. If you are going to talk 10 anothe r type of computer,
TRANSFERRING F1LES press T; you'll be given II choice of ASCII (for most communications). Commodore (for PETASCII
and Commodore files) and Vidtex (lor Compu5erve). If you don', know which to use, choose
Talking with ano ther computer. ASCII. You can always change later.
Capture a file is the normal way to receive (capture, or download) and Upload to send (upload) a
Capture and Upload.
file. You will be asked for the filename; if you're using more than one d rive, specify the drive
number, for example; TEST,9, You can also ignore uppercase in the fi lename, so test,8 is treated
When uploading or
downloading with XMODEM like TEST,8 without problems by HomeTerm. The program assumes you mean "8" if you don't
protocol anything other than specify a drive. If the file you intend to send isn't on disk, you'll get an error message. Press any key
normal ASCII le)[l, you will need to continue. You can get a disk directory by pressing the numbers eight or nine.
to set the Translation type 10 When you are talking with a CP/M or RCP/M system, or any system which uses the Christensen
(Xmodem) protocol (such as CompuServe for file transfers; often listed on the system's opening
C64.
screens), you use Receive Clnd Send files, rather than Capture and Upload. In both cases, you can
Xmodem transfers don', work on simply press RETURN when asked for a filename and cancel the operation before it gets started.
the C64 al 1200 baud. To begin sending or receiving a file, press RETURN to return to the interactive mode and then
press F7 to initiate the process. Sand R automatically set the correct duplex and translation modes
for correct transfer; you don't need to set them manually. When uploading or downloading with
Xmodem protocol Clnything other than normal ASCII text, you will need to set the Translation type
to C64.
The best way to do this is to answer anyon-line questions that the other system requires before
switching trClnslation type. If you do not, and type to another computer that isn't Blso a C64, it may
not understand what you Clre typing. When the other computer indicates that it is ready to send or
re ::eive, switch translation type just before pressing F7 to commence transfer.
Similarly, once the Xmodem transfer is comp leted, switch back to ASCII or Vidlex immedia tely.
Due 10 hardware limitations, Xmodem transfers don't work on the C64 at 1200 baud; you'll have to
use 300 baud for moving these liles.
 Using the Christensen Xmodem protocols. which b""ks" file into 'records' fo r transmission, the
45 receiver willis 10 seconds for the first byte of" record being sent or one second between edch
character in II record. If nothing is received In this lime period, the system aborts the procedure
offer retrying ten (10) Urnes. The sender has only one lime-oul; when nothing has been received in
acknowledgement for one minute.
Sometimes during II irllnsfer of 6 lile, you need to quit. To do this, press the RUN/STOP key. This
usually works, but illlssumes the othe r system Cc!on recognize the cancel signal - no problem if
you're ,")ltlng to another HomeTerm user. Some systems which use the Xmodem protocol can't
recognize the cancel, so you have to waUl! out until the remote 'limes-out' or the transfer Is
complete.
Before you send a file, you have to make sure you have the translation mode (T and A) set pro-
perly. In ASCII and Vidtex modes, there are several special key combln(l.tions 10 give you speci(l.l
ch(l.r(l.ciers or comm(l.nds (see the reference C(l.rd). Once you begin to send or receive II file, you will
see your d(l.\lI presented on the screen liS It moves between computer (l.nd modem. Once (I. file has
been sent, you c(l.n cle.!Ir the buffer in preparation for more tr(l.nsfers (CTRL + C). You cannot
send or receive more with (l.n intact buller.
In Vldtex mode, true cursor control Is implemented, but you must go Into the Comp uServe
DEFALT program and choose the terminllitype of 'V lDTEX' with a 40 character by 21 line screen
in order to use it properly. Vidtex has cle.!Ir screen and cursor position f(t4tures nol used in other
systems. This is described in more det(l.i\, along with the DEFALT program use, in your Compu -
~rve manual.
II you want to print a file rather than save it to diSl, give it a lile name of "PRINTER" for output,
so the copy goes directly to the printer. The C(l.rriage returnllineleed (CR/ LF) combin(l.lion is
always sent to the modem or the device, (l.utomatlc<'Illy at the end of <'I Hne (EOL character).
When you c<'Ipture (or receive) a file, you'll be <'Isked if II is <'I program (PGM in your diSK direc-
tory) file. Answer Y or N; the other £orm<'lt Is sequential (SEQ). II you capture the Ille (l.S the wrong
format, you can alw<'lYs change it back by using the copy lile routine, described below. Before you
attempt to transfer your HomeTextliles, you'll h<'lve to translate them to either Term or ASCII format .
using the HomeTrans Iile transfer progr(l.m provided.
DISK FEATURES You've already seen th<'lt the numbers eight or nine produce a directory of that drive, If con-
The 'mini-DOS' function . nected. There are more disk related. features available In HomeTerm - there is a 'mini· DOS' lunc·

»))))) »»»»»»»»»»» ) )
 ( ( l ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( f ( ( ( ( ( (

46 lion which allows you to perform the most important DOS features withoulleaving HomeTerm o r
going offline!
Press CTRL F for the files sub~ menu. It has several functions to allow you to manage your dis ks
and files properly; copy, delete lind rename files, get /I directory, initialize, vi!llid ate and formal a
dis k. These fea tures Clre all expio!lined in you r Commodore 154 1 ma nu!!]; consult illor more
information.
The capture buffer. Copy uses the capture buffer to copy files . You will be asked if Ihe program Cdn use the enti re
buffer; if you answer 'N', the program will use only the available free memory. which mean s more
disk swaps with one d rive (the routine needs at least 1024 bytes of buffer sp.!lce to operate) . You can
also copy a file to the printe r by calling the destination PRINTER or to the screen by calling the
destina tion file SCREEN. Use CTRL to pause screen copies.
COpy asks you if the destination file is a program file (Y or N). II you say N, the destination file
will become a SEQ (sequential) type file once copied. This allows you to change the format 01 a lile
if you made a mistake in specifying the type when downloading.
Rename With rename, you can specify any valid drive lor the first name, hulthe new name cannot have a
drive specification (the file is assumed to be on the same disk). Wildcards are allowed.
Make sure you d o n'l have your One precaution : make sure you don't have
your program or data disk in the drive when
proqram disk in the drive when you press F to format the disk! If you choose a
your press F to formal the d isk! selection but change you r mind, press RETURN
instead of answering with a filename and the
command will be cancelled.

Disk Files Function Menu

47 SPECIAL FEATURES You have noticed several other commands on the functions menu so I<!IT we hllven', discussed. The
The timer. lirst is the timer; set with CTRL S. The timer is a 24 hour re.!li time clock. You can enter the cur-
rent lime and it will keep the dock running on the sto!ltus line 01 the screen. You can reset the time
to 00:00:00 by pressing CTRL R. This Is useful to keep track 01 the tlme you've spent online when
using a system with either a tlme limit or II fee for usedge. You musl turn the timer on 10 get it work-
ing after you've sel it; presslhe COM T keys to toggle the timer on or off (in either screen).
When you c.!Ipture wla using the F3 key, or send or receive a file using a function menu choice,
The buller. you use the buffer. There Is only one buffer and in order 10 use it for other purposes, you must clear
it; press CTRL C . You can .:tlso simply load or receive tI file but ch.:tnge your mind and cle.:tr the
buffer without either s~lVlng It or sending It. The buffer Is usu"lly cleared .:tutomatlca!ly after a lile
transler.
Add delays. Sometimes you need to add delays between characters when transmitting a file, so that the other
computer has enough time to fetch o/Ind display the character then get ready for the next cho!l.racter
being transmitted, without losing any data. C TRL D sets the delay in increments of.50 mtllis-
ceonds. Just type in the number you need to add to each line. Usually between ten and 50 delay
increments are sufficient; delays greater than fifty are seldom necessary unless you are transmitting
at 1200 houd, when 3,000 to 5,000 may be necessary, due 10 hardware llmitatlons.

MACRO Macros are simple keystrokes which allow you to transmit several commands or a long string of
COMMANDS charaelers (up to 70 characters total in each) Without having to type the entire line in each lime.
You can best use them to 'automate' your dialing and log-on sequence to such systems as Com-
puServe, where a long k.eylng process Is Involved. You can have up to ten macros at a lime o!I.nd
QUICK TIPS
store them to disk, along with sever<'!ll other parameters, In a special conflguration lile.
Macros are transmitted in the interactive mode by pressing the Commodore key (COM) <'!Ind the
number of the m<'!lcro - zero through nine (0-9). To abort a macro, press any key while In operation
(you can tell <'!I m<'!lcro is still working because the screen itself cho!l.nges to green). To get a list of
your tlellve mtlcros, press COM M In either screen.
Macros. Macros tire defined In the funelion menu by pressing M. You will be shown the current list and
asked which one you wish to change. If you have entered data for Ihtl! m"cro alre.!ldy, you will gel
Current list. tin edit window which allows you to change a few characters if necessary, without having to change
the entire Hne. Control charaelers appear In inverse ASCII.
To write a macro. To write 0/1 mo/lcro, you simply type in the dl<'!lracters and commo!l.nds you want to send, ending the
sequence with tI RETURN. A carriage return and line feed (CR/ LF) is sent at the end of each macro

) ) ) ) )
 ( { ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( «««((((((((

48 unless the last character is the escape character (CTRL + D.

There are several special characters used In macros. These are:
I. eTRL + C Toggles the capture buffer open and closed.
2. eTRL + N Sends the end-ol-line character.
3. e TRL + P Pauses for two seconds before continuing.
4. CTRL + U "Use" the macro whose number follows immediately. This Is like the "GOTO" com-
mand in BASIC; it allows you 10 combine several macros together. Using eTRL + U, you can
link several macros togethe r into a 'giani' macro with many more commands than one alone
would permit; almost 700 characters can be combined in one megll-macro this way.
5. eTRL + W Wait for the n~xt ch~r~cter you specify 10 ~ppear from the host. If the character
hasn't appeared in 30 seconds, the macro is aborted.
A carri<lge relurn IS always 6. CTRL + ESC Makes the next character 'verbatim'; necessary to transmit control codes rather
sent aller a mac ro IS comple- than interpreting them as a command.
ted, except when the last cha - Here's a n example of a macro used to call up and log on to CompuServe. The ,,' character
racier in the m<lCfO IS the means 'CTRL: and the square brackets - I 1- aren't typed in-they're only shown here to dif,
ESC key. ferentiate between control codes and other characters.

ATD55S-1234("P] ("M] ["WI T ("P] (ESC] rC] ('W]: 77770,111 ("M] rW] : FREE-DEMO

This macro breaks down as follows:

1. ATD555-1234('P] [-M] Call the number 555-1234 and pause lor two seconds to allow the
modem to catch up to the input stream.
2_ r WI T ("PI Wait for the 'T' in the 'CONNECT' prompt from the modem then pause again
while the sign on message is being displayed.
3_ (ESC] I'CI Send a CONTROL C so tha t CompuServe can acknowledge the call. The ESC
tells HomeTerm that the CONTROL C is to be transmitted to CompuSe rve, not taken a s a
command.
4. ['WI: 77770,111 waits for the linal ':' in the CompuServe 'USER 10:' prompt, then sends the
users 10 code, followed by the end-ol-line character.
5. (,WI: FREE-DEMO wails fo r the fina l ':' charllcter in CompuServe's 'PASSWORD: ' prompt,
then sends the password.
49 CONFIGURATION You can ~ve your screen and text color choices to disk, along with your current list of
FILES macros, the current baud rate, key click, duplex mode and iransillition type as d configuration
liIe, while In the function menu. This is done by pressing e TRt W. The default configuration
lile which comes with the program is called 'HO METERM.SET', To lltlve you r own default file
under that name (rep l lllcim~ the one on the program disk), press eTRL W. The default con-
figuration file is ",\ways the one which boots up with the initial program load.
To save a differently named configuration Iile, press CTRL N. You wlll be asked to give the
filen/lime. You Cdn store as many as you wllln!, liS long as you g ive them ~ch different Mffies
and you h"ve enough disk space.
To load 0/1 different configurlltion Ih"," the default once you're In HomeTerm, press eTRL L.
You will be IIsked fOf the Mme of the {jle to 1000d. Using different conflguflilion files, you om
Sdve several different sets of mllcros for use wllh different online systems.
The configuretion file commends are not shown on the function menu screen. They only work
in the function menu. not in the online or interllctive screen mode.

SIGNING OFF Once you've signed on to II system. you'll want to explore it, test what II has to offer,
downlOlld (capture) files or progrllms, re.!ld and leeve messages or electronic mail {often called
EflUIil)- whGtever the system IIllows (most bulletin boards and databases have menus for you to
choose fr'Om). When you're flnlshed, you'll have to sign off. Usually the system has a menu
choice for qultling; sometimes It's a Single word like 'BYE' or 'QUIT'. Check with the system
functions menu before you conllnue, so you know aheed of time how to leave properly.
If your modem is still hooked up, you will need to disconnect it (sometimes manually) or
place It 'on the hook' so that your phone line Is dear IIgain and the modem doesn't answer
when someone calls! The Hayes Smarlmodem uses "ATH" as the 'hang up' command. Check
your modem mllnual for details.

) ) ) »»»»») ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) \ ) )
 ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( (

50

HOMETRANS There are three basic file types used by HomePak; ASCII-straight chllro!lcter files, useful lor
transmission 10 other brands of computers; HomeTe rm files using 'PET ASCII' format, for trans-
FILE TRANSFER mitting to other C ommodore computers (lotldable by Paperclip ..... by pressing CTRL J In Ihllt
program) and HomeTex! files crMled by the word processing portion 01 HomePak. These three
AND CONVERSION are not generally compatible with et'Ich other or other progrllms In Ihls p.!Ick.age.
To convert a file from one lormat 10 the other, use the HomeTr",ns program supplied with the
To conve rt a file from one disk. To load the program, type LOAD ''TRANSFER'', 8,1 from BASIC and the progro!lm will load
format 10 the other. aulomciic.!llly. You may II\SO load the transfer program from the mllin HomePak menu by typing
"T" after a conversion you w!l\ be returned to the menu .
The transfer progrllm is entirely screen driven; pillce your disk with the filets} to be converted
in the disk drive and lInswer with the name of the hie to be converted. Then you are shown a
list of the three file types. Give the lile's original type, the new Mme for the trllnslnted file nod
the new file type. The file is converted under the new Mme lind both now exist on your disk.
You ClIn continue to translate files until you answer N to the question about continuing.

PRG AND SEQ FILES In case you download a /ile in }-;omeTerm and define it as the wrong type (SEQ Instead of
PRG or vice versa), you can change it back to the correct type by using the Copy file feature
in the disk file sub·menu in Ho~ eTorm . This is explained in the chapter on HomeTorm and Is
not the same as translating a file with HomeTrans.
51 SPECIAL KEYS:
In the interactive screen mode: To lock the keybodrd in uppercase only;
To change the screen color:
C64 COM + F
To change text color:
SHirr LOCK
To release the shift lock:
SHIF1' LOCK 5g"in
HOMETERM COM + B (only when screen Is black )
To loggle the key click:
To tab every eight spaces:
CTRL + I
COM + K To ring the bell on the host computer:
QUlCK REFERENCE To toggle the Edit window: CTRL + G (ASCII and Vidlex modes only)
GUIDE COM + E To clear the screen (form feed);
To toggle the word-wrap f~ture: eTRL + L (ASCII and Vidtelt modes only)
COM + W To send a left curly brace ( {):
To loggle the redl time clock on.bff: CTRL + ; (ASCII and Vidtex modes on ly)
COM + T To send a right curly brace ( }):
function menu screen) CTRL + .... (ASCII and Vidtelt modes only)
MACROS: To send a reverse apostrophe:
CTRL + , (ASCII and Vidtex modes only)
To Initiote (transmit)" macro:
COM + 0 through 9 To send an underscore (_) character:
To see the list of macros: left lIrrow (beside "\" k.ey)
COM + M
FUNCTION KEYS: IN THE FUNCTION MENU:
To toggle c,,"piure buffer on/off: To toggle computer and modem for Com-
F3 (if no other file transfer mode has been
selected)
To go to the function menu:
....
modore 10 Commodore mode:

To toggle between 300 and 1200 baud:

.5 B
To begin III lile transfer operlltion: To prepare to receive a Commodore or ASCII
.7 file:
C
To dump present buller 10 device and
filename:
o
»)))) ) »»»» ) ) ) ) ) )
 ( «(((((((((( ( ( ( ( « ( ( ( ( '

52 To change the current output filename: To write a configuration file: MACRO COMMANDS:
N CTRL + N (you give the ItleMme; To invoke (trllnsmit) a mllcro:
To toggle between half lind lull duplex: screen ptlfllmeters dnd macros saved) COM + 0 through 9 (in inter<!octive
p To reset the timer clock to all zeroes: screen mode)
To prepare 10 receive tin Xmodem file: CTRL + R To Hst mllcros:
R To set the timer clock: COM + M (either mode)
To prepare to send An Xmodem file; CTRL + S (you must enter all three To edit or change macros:
S time fields) M (function menu mode)
To select file transfer translation mode: To write the default configuration file: Comm"nds or ch"racters within macros:
T CTRL + W (writes HOMETERM.SET,8) To toggle buffer openklosed:
To prepare to send an Commodore or CTRL + C
ASel! lile: IN THE DISK FILES FUNC· To send II carriage-return (Return)
U TIONMENU : chllrllcter:
To exit 10 the HomePak menu: To copy a single l!1e: CTRL + N
X C To pouse two seconds:
To clear the buffer: To delete II file from disk: CTRL + P
CTRL + C D To use <!onother macro:
To set the output file delay rate: To format II disk: CTRL + U + 0 through 9
CTRL + 0 (each increment Is 50 rns) F To w<!oll for the ned chllT<!ocleT before
To select the disk file menu: To initilllize " disk: proceeding:
CTRL + F I CTRL + W + character
To [Odd a conflguration file: To renllme " HIe: To make the next ch"racter verbatim:
CTRL + L R ESC (CTRL + I)
To change or edit m/lcros: To vIIltdate the directory:
M V
To get II disk directory:
8- 9
53
APPENDIX
COPYING A DISKETTE As mentioned in the main pari of this manual, i t is very important to both mo!lke b!lck·ups of
WITH A SINGLE your Program disk and any data disks with which you tire worltinQ. Owners of 1541 disk drives
DRIVE should use the program backup64 supplied on your Program diskette.
Reset the computO!r (turn it off and Ihen bdck on agllin).
Use the program backup64 Put the Program diskette in the drive lind close the door.
supplied.
Load the bock-up program as follows:
Type: load ~backup64,"8
Press: RETURN
The program will ,uk you for a name "nd an ID code. Any name up to 16 characters long
may be used, lind any 2 characters may be used lor the ID code. Use a name that will help you
identify the n",ture of Ihe conlents of the disk. For ~Iety, if it doesn't &lrelIdy h&ve one, put &
write-protect t&b on the origin&1 diskette. This will prevent any difficulty that miQht be c&used if
you &ccidently confuse the diskeltes during copying.
The program will format the destin&tion disk (the bl&nk one you just put in). It will then re-
quest you to put in the source (origin&l) diskette into the drive. The program w!l1 read as much
01 the diskeUe contents into memory lIS possible, then "sk th&t you exch&nge the diskette with
the destination diskeUe. The Informallon stored in the computer is put on the new diskette, and
the program will repeat the process until all Inlorm&tion on the origin&l diskette has been trans-
lerr-ed to the new disk. You now hove two copies of the diskette.
Take care 01 your diskettes. T&ke e&re of your diskettes. If one should become d&maged, ",II information (your Master Pro-
gram or liles) stored on th&t diskette will be losl. Make backup copies of ",n diskettes frequent-
Make backup copies 01 all ly. One day you will be gilld you did I
diskettes frequently. You will notice thllt your progrllm diskette lIlso cont&lns a progrllm e&!led bad:up64k . This is
simllllr to blIckup64 except thllt it is intended to be used If you do not hllve lIny devices (such
liS the BusCard II) plugged Into your C64 while using the copy progrcm.
The fastest copies lire possible The difference between these progrllms is thllt the btlckup64k version uses ALL of the RAM
with backup64 . in the computer lind thus copies are mllde somewhllt more quic kly. 11 cert",in perillerlll devices
lire &Uached they lIlso use some of the memory space lind thus problems ClIn lIrise when doing

) ) ) ) ) ) )
 ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ( ««((((((((((

54
a disk copy. Which progrllm to use is up to you. The fastest copies lite possible with
bacKup64k, but use it only if you h<'lve no other devices plugged into your C64 when doing II
Please nole that it is only when wckup. Pledse note Ihtll It is only when using backup64k that there is a restriction on h"ving
using backup64 thai there is a devices such as the BusCard II lIt1ached.
restriction on devices attached.
55
APPENDIX "B"
USING HOMETERM ON WIth HOMETERM, the entire universe of COMMOOORE BBS systems <!Ind CX)mmerciai cIata serv-
COMPUSERVES ices are just e few keystrokes away. Pern"p6 the largest ,,00 most widely known of these are the three
"SrG$~ thai comprise the COMMODORE INFORMATION NETWORK (GIN), located on the Com-
AND HOW TO USE
puServe infonnation Service, (CIS). E4ch "SrG~ or (S)peciaJ (I)nlerest (G)roup is more than II sim-
THE COMMODORE IN- ple BBS (Bulletin Board System). Among its I1UI.ny features are its pcM'erfuJ and versatile user forum.
FORMATION NEIWORK This f6!!tures a sophistiC4lec:1 message transfer system <lind an online, reiIol·time COnferencing fo!lcility
COMMODORE INFORMATION that permits 0\Ief 100 users to converse simultaneously or in private with others all llCJ'05S the nation.
NETWORK (ClN) Each CIN SIG oHers multiple databases with oYer I.CXXl public dol"Mln files available for downl<»d-
log /lit no extra charge. Membership In each CIN SIG is avallable to anyone with e CompuServe 10,
with no additional ch4rges beyond the nortnAl oonnect rates.
To access the SIGS To access the SIGS just sign on to CompuServe by following the iog-on directions prcmded with
your CIS starter kit. (These ore avoilelble ot most mojor computer retllilers.) After dioling in, Com-
puServe will prompt you to enter your USER lD:. This ID, conunonly referred to M 0 PPN, Is a
2-parl number thot looks like TTm,7Tn. Next enler the password provided with )'OUr starter kil.
Don', worry if you can't see the password as you type It in. This is done for geCUrity rea.sons so any-
one looking CNeT your shoulder can't ocoess your IICOOI.ml.
IMPORTANT- II's all right to tell IMPORTANT - It's perfect.ly 1111 righl to lell others your USER ID number, llisa known as PPN. In
others your USER ID number {lid, they need 10 know this number to send you IIny EMAIL (Electronic Mail) or other messages on
the system. Think. of this number as just like your street address lor postal mail. NEVER, NEVER tell
NEVER teU anyone else your anyone else your private password. This is just like the key to your house. Neier give it 10 strelnqersl
privllte password. Once online with Compu$erve, you will be ~posit!oned" al the "TOP" page of the VIDEOTEXT
sruvice. CIS is structured into a ~paqed~ lonnal where each ~P'ge~ is denoted with a 2 or 3 letter
abbreviation and a number. You mIIY nllVigale around the system by steppinI;J thru the menu selec-
lions until you a rrive al the page with the inloTTlllllion or gervice you desire, or you mIIY go dlmctly
To access the C64 SIG. to any page as long as you knoN the page number. To acoess the C64 SIG, you may start on page
CI$..I and step thru the various submenus until you get 10 page CBM-l or you rnH-I S!IVe time and
GO CBM. money by jumping there directly with the cornrnand: GO CBM from any other page In the system.

) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) , )
, ( ( ( ««««((( ( ( «««««(
56 The Iirst lime you llOOElSS Mch CIN SIG, you will be greeted by the NEW MEMBER MENU. By
selecting the appropriate menu choice, you ~n read a brief description "bout the purposes and fee·
It's "- good idea to save this lext lures of the S IG, list out 4 LONG file of SIG instructions, (\I's /I good Idee. to open the C(lpt\.\re
to disk or printer. buffer on HomeTenn and then save this texi 10 disk or printer), enter as a non-member, or Sign up
lor SIG membe~ip. There are no ~itioMI fees for membe~ip. but only members !'MY WJe aU
the leetures 01 the SIG. 10 join, you must enter your fULL, REAL NAME when prompted. Use of
pseudonyms (handles) or lirst names only is not permitted. The rest of the Stqnup process is !lutomel·
Ie lind tokes just II few seconds. You need only go thru this Signup process once. On future visits,
members pass directly Into the messoge section of the SIG.
Before we examine the different IMtures of the SIG program, /I di9CUSSion 01 the two operating
modes av.,lIable is in order. Each eIN SIG can be &CX::eS99d In ·corrulllmd mode- or -menu mode", In
MENU mode, the user f'f'IhI select a function by number from an abbreviated menu of choices or
type in the IIctual COl1lJTlilnd itseU. In COMMAND mOOe, the system simply uses the sinQle word
prompt -FUNCTION:- and expects the user to type in the proper coiTlIl'lllnd. In either mode, you
must tennlMle your inpul with the " RETURN. k8"J. New users generally use MENU mode while
thet leeam the system cornnl"-nds, then CMnqE! to COMMAND mcde to ScWe time and connect dollars
after a few weeks of practice. Don't be ilfrllid 10 experiment and abandon MENUs for the more effi·
If you can', remember the cient COMMAND mode. U you can't remember the proper command or the ~ct comrrwmd formal
proper command simply enler a when prompted, simply enter II question 1T\Ml "'?" or the word "HELP" lind the system will displl!)' II
question mark "1" or the word list of villid commands. In 1TliIny instanoetl, you may obtain additional help on lI: SPECIFIC command
~HELP". by typing: ?xxx, where "xxxu Is the COmrntlnd in question. A system liS pov.rerful and complex as the
SIG program on CompuServe, by its very nature, llcoept.s a large number of system cornmands in a
variety of different command formats. To complicate this situation, CIS Is constantly expanding and
refining these commands. As II result, system documentation Is often outdated faster IMn it can be
printed. In some cases, the cornrnands MY'!! just been renamed and the system will acx:ept both the
old lind new names. Often, old oorTlIMncis lire no longer documented online, but are still valid. As
new oommands are added, the online help is updated as 900n as possible, but as this Is not under
the oonlroJ of the Sysops, the updates are 'irregular'. In other words, if the system doesn't respond ex-
actly as you would expect, it ~ not be your fault! The Information lind programs avaiktbie in each
cm SIG are further divided into inchvidulli section topics. To see " list of the aVllilable section
names, type the co!l'lIJldlld: SN (or S8 after NCI'I., 84)
57 AdditioMt information lor each section I is availllble by typing: XI (where 1==-0 to 9). While
IIccesslng the message sections of the SIG, you mlly scan the message headers or read the lull
text of the message. When scanning, the header wlll displl1Y the ntlme of the SENDER, the
RECIPIENT, the SUBJECT of the meSSdge, lind the date and time It was written. You may scan
messllge headers In forwllrd or reverse chronological order, by specific subject threads, tlnd
''Quick Scan" even !Cdn and mark Individual messages for later re.!lding. You may choose a ''Quick Scan"
option which shows the subject information only. For II detailed description of all the scanning
command variations, type: ? S (lor scanning) or ? QS (quick scanning) at the FUNCTION:
prompt. There are similar command variations lor re.!ldlng messages. You mlly elect 10 ~d
mesSllges In lorward or reverse order, by subject Ih~ds, by WRITER, by ADDRESSEE, only
specifically mllrked messages, or only NEW messllges wrllten since your Illst vlsll. To view the
online Instructions for re.1din<;l mesSlIges, type: ? R (al the FUNCTION: prompt). After relldinQ
II meSSdge, you mlly lmmedilltely elect to (RE)ply to the writer, and the system will
automatiClllly lIddress the reply lor you. When relldlng 1I mesS<'Jge thre.1d, you mllY choose to
HE-READ (RA) 1I mesSIIge or even blIck up 1I step lIInd READ the PREVIOUS meSSllge (HP).
As you might expect, to see 1I list of all vlIlid reply options, type a "1" when prompted lor a
response. To Initiate 1I new mesSlIge to another member or sysop, use the "1" command. You will
be prompted lor a SUBJECT (23 chars. mllx) and an ADDRESSEE. If you wish the system to
lIutomatiCdlly notify the other party of a waiting message when they next enter that SIG, you
must Include their PPN when prompted lor a name. The only exception to this Is a message to
Ihe head sysop. He will be flagged 10 any message thlll Includes his PPN -or- the name
''SYSOP''. You cannol send a private mesMge 10 another SIG member, but you may send a
privale message to the primllTy sysop il you address it TO;"· SYSOP". (with the ' bul wilhout
the "").
When re.1ding or scanning messages, you may limit yourself to a specific section by typing
the command: SSI (where ''''' 0-9), BEFORE ~dlng or scanning. To access all aVlIilable sec·
lions, use the command: SSALL.
(CO)onferencing channels From the FUNCTION: or MAIN SIG MENU level. you rT!lIy enter the SiG (CO)nlerencing
channels by typing: C O (or CD). The system will display a short text prepared by the sysop
which mlly include a schedule of upcoming conferences or other timely Iniormllllon then
display your NAME or HANDLE as It will be seen by others and Indicate which of the 31 chan-
nels are In use. Unlike the CHAT feature 01 most prlvlIte BBS's, the CO channels can IIccom-

))))))))))))))) ))))))))))) ) ) ) )
( ««««««««««««««««
58 modllie dozens of simultaneous users. COnlerencing Is surprisingly simple once you gel the
hang of it, as long as you keep a few simple rules in mind.
\ - You may "converse" In lines up to 80 chcuacters long simply by typing your words in from
the keyboard, but NOTHING is transmitted 10 others UNTIL YOU HIT THE "' RETURN " KEY.
Since others will be "talking" while you are composing your words, It's HIGHLY recommended
that you use the EDIT WINDOW le.!Ilure of HOMETERM while In CO.
2- The system will consider every line you type as "conversation" EXCEPT FOR LINES THAT
BEGIN WITH A SLASH (I) IN COLUMN ONE. A SLASH IN COLUMN ONE DENarES A
COMMAND 10 THE SYSTEM. For example, to see II Ust 01 valid CO commands, type: IHELP
Fo r comple te d iscussion 01 the while in Co. To exit CO and return to the SIG, type: IEXIT (or CTRL C). For a more com-
CO commands read the plete discussion of the CO commands, we suggest you read the helpflles in the TELECOM-
helpfiles in the TELEC OM· MUNICATIONS wt<!l library.
MUNICATIONS data library. The £intll (and most popular) fMlure of the CIN SIGS are the downloading databases (also
called XA's or dat<!l libraries). Lik.e the message sections, the wlabases are divided by subject,
Downloading d ala bases. roughly corresponding to message sections. For example, let's say Section 2 was nomed
TELECOMMUNICATIONS. Thus, any questions to the SYSOP about HO METERM would be left
in Section 2 of the message ared, <!Ind tiny programs and helpliles relating to termintll softw<!lre,
BBS's, etc., would be found in XA-2 (soon to be called DL-2). To enter this wtabase, type: XA2
(or DL2) tit the FUNCTION: or MAIN SIG MENU prompt. The databases include text files and
program listings in many forms. HELP files will always be found in XAO of the Commodore
SIGs.
HOMETERM will allow you to DOWNLOAD or retrieve MOST of these files using the
XMODEM or CAPTURE BUFFER protocols.
As previously noted, this section of the SIG program is being revised as this texl was being
written. Among the fMtures of the database that are expected to remain, are the powerful sear-
ching and browsing commands. When <!I text-lile or progrom is submitted to the datobases, the
UPLOADER is required to supply a shorl desc ription of the lile ond a few meaningful keywords.
Other members accessing the datobase may then view these with the (S)can and (BRO)wse
commonds. To see 0 directory of just filenames, use the (S}can command. The (BRO)wse com-
mond displays e.!Ich lile's description and KEYWORDS ond gives you the option of reading the
lile, downloading it, or continuing to the next entry. The (S)ean and (BRO)wse commands sup-
port additional parameters or "switches" which permit the more experienced users to search the
59 detabase flies in m... ny ways. For example, to (S)can lor all files with the extender .DOC, you
could ente r the commllncl: S·,DOC.
Another VlIrilllion 01 the BROwse command used In conjunction with the IKEYWORD "switc h"
might be used 10 displo.'l¥ the descriptions of only thOle files denoted with the keyword
"XMODEM" like: BRO ":IKEY:XMODEM. A complete discussion of all the possible varillllons
lind uses 01 these commands is beyond the scope of Ihis text. O nce again, we recommend you
read the onHne documentation for tiny specific dlliabase command, by typing: ? xu (where
xxx '=' command) or "? ALL" (for help on all commands).
The chief re.!lson lor mai ntaining 1I program dl!labase is 10 support file tremslers. When" pro-
g rllm is sent from the host computer (CompuServe) 10 your C64, the process is mImed
DOWNLOADING. When you send a file from your CM to the host computer (CompuServe),
the process is called UPWADJNG. There are many different methods for UPLOADING and
DOWNLOADING, but they can be b roken down Into two basic types of transfer methods,
"SMART" and "DUMB" transfe rs. In both methods, one computer sends a stream of data to the
other computer. When this is done via modems over local or long distance phone lines, line
"noise" or other factors might affect this data stream, possibly dropping or changi ng the vll)ue
01 tI single dtlla byte. Depending on the ntllure 01 the file being trllnsferred, such a "glitch" may
be inSIGnlllcant, or a major problem. In a DUMB transfe r, Ihe sending computer simply
trllnsmits the data strellm and expects the receiving computer to take the responsibility (llnd
possible risk of iMccu rllte dlltll) for dispillying llnd or storing the incoming chllraclers. This
method is usulllly used lor sending text files llnd is probably 95-99.9% SlIfe.
The (U)pload and (C)aplure functions of HOMETERM perform such a DUMB transfer and
should be used for sending and receiving files from the SIGS whenever possible. We'll discuss
the eXllct procedure to do this In a moment. Sometlmes, especially when transferring a BINARY
FILE where J garbled chllracter may prevent a program from running correctly, you MUST
ensure thllt every dlItll byte is received llccurately. In such cases, the sending computer will
trllnsmit a £He in pieces or "blocks". The sending system uses a.n algorithm 10 calcuillte a verify-
ing code for a specific block of datil. The sendinQ system tra.nsmits thtll block of data and the
receiving computer will use the same algorithm or formula 10 calculate the verifying code. If
the codes mtltch, the block is tlssumed to htlve been trtlnsmitted accuTtltely, a.nd the sender then
repeals this process with the next block of data. lithe codes do Nor match, the sender will
tlttempt to resend the SlIme block. As you might QUesa, this second process with all the vertfica-
tion checks takes conSiderably longer 10 complete a file trtlnsfe r, sometimes increasing Ihe
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60 transfer time by II factor of 2-4 times longer. Compounding the problem is the fact that there
are many different <'Ilgorithms or protocols used to verily eccuracy. Obviously, both ends must
be using the same protocol if this process is to work.
The XMODEM protocol !s one of the mosl commonly used protocols in Ihe microcomputer
world. II fedtures a verifying algorithm thai offers a re.'lsonoble compromise between eCCUT<'ICY
and speed, The protocol was cre.'lied by Ward Christensen lor use on IInother computer system
but hAs been adapted to run on your C64 in HOMETERM. It was recently implemented by
CompuServe for use in the SIGS as an alternative to CompuServs', own proprietllry protocols.
To DOWNLOAD II lile. To DOWNLOAD a file FROM the SIG to your computer, you must use Ihe $c.,n or BROwse
commllnds to lind the EXACT FILENAME. FIRST -note the 3 leiter extension. 11 the extender is
.lMG, the file should not be DOWNLOADED with HOMETERM . Files with this extender heve
been stored In the detebases In e specie I forme! the! requires they be DOWNLOADED by e ter·
minal program that supports CompuServe's propriete ry B-protocoJ. If the extender Is .BIN, use
HOMETERM and choose "R" for XMODEM· RECEIVE on HOMETERM's function menu. For any
other extender, the flle is assumed to be an ASCJl text lile. For these liles, select "C" lor CAP-
TURE on the HOMETERM menu. When you select "R" or "C" on the HOMETERM menu, you
will be prompted lor a fllenama This Is the name you wish to save the file under on your C64
disk. It does not have to be the same neme used on CompuServe. Once HOMETERM is set up,
you must tell CompuServe to send you the file. Use the DOW commend with the execl fileneme
as; DOW F1LE.BIN or DOW SIG·CO.DOC and press "' RETURN ~ . CompuServe will then
displey <I choices of tr/lnsler protocols:
I- A Protocol
2- 8 Protocol
3- XMODEM Protocol
4- OC2lOC4 Protocol
HOMETERM only supports selections 3 and 4. Pick DC2/DC4 when using the "C"apture
feeture of HOMETERM. This corresponds to e "DUMB" Iile !r/lnsfer. You MUST use XMODEM if
the CompuServe filename uses the extender .BIN. You MAY use XMODEM insteed of DC2IDC4
("C"apture) for the other files if you desire the added security 01 knowing that EVERY BYTE in
the flel was verified as it W<!lS transferred. For det/liled progr<!lm listing, this may be desirable,
but for text files (I.e. - a product review), the extr<!l lime required lor the error checking (and
hence, the exira COST) Is h<!lJ"d to justify. If you select XMODEM, you will be <!Isked for a 7 or 8
61 bit transfer. Select 8 bit for .BIN files, 7 bit lor lexl files. CompuServe will then tell you thlll!
XMODEM has started lind you should hit your computer's F7 key and sit bdck. When you select
DC2/DC4 (which is CompuServe's fancy "",me lor DUMB Irons/era), the fi le will begin to scroll
IMMEDIATELY, so be re.!ldy to press you r F7 key instantly. In fact, most people hit F1 to open
the capture buffer BEFORE hitting " RETURN" to start CompuServe.
Sending- a Iile from your C64 to If you <!Ire sending II file from your C64 to CompuServe, the process is almost Identical. If
CompuServe. your file Is all texl, without any non-ASCII chllTllcters use "U"pJoad with HOMETERM. If your
program \s a binary file or TOKENIZED BASIC, you should use XMODEM-SEND on
HOMETERM . CompuServe only accepts 6 leiter filenemes and a 3 letter extender. To prepare
CompuServe to accept your UPLOAD, use the command: UPL filename.ext .
.. .... IMPORTANT··· ···IMPORTANT···
WHEN YOU CHOOSE A FILENAME FOR COMPUSERVE, THE EXTENDER IS VERY IMPOR -
TANT!! IF YOU ARE USING XMOOEM TO TRANSMIT THE FILE WITH HOMETERM, YOU
MUST USE THE EXTENDER ". BIN" FOR ALL BINARY FILES, OR FILES CONTAINING
INVERSE VlOEo. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS SELECT a-BIT TRANSFERS FDR THESE. NEVER
USE ':IMG".
When sending files wIth the "U"pl~d feature of HOMETERM, choose DC21DC4 liS the pro·
tocol. You don't requIre to be prompted for each line. Sometimes when CompuServe is very
busy, HOMETERM's "U"pl~d stream will overwhelm the system and send data faster than CIS
can accept It. The system literally "chokes". We suggest you set a delay speed of around 50)
ms. when usIng "U"pload to send text to Compu$erve.
That then is a brief outline on how to use the largest C64 oriented "BSS" in North America,
A service by enthusiasts for the C64 Information Network on CompuServe. This is a service run by enthusiasts lor
enthusiasts. enthusiasts. From beginners to old·hands, the SIG is open to all. AU it requIres is an interest in
things related to the C64. See you there!

Ron Luks
October, 1984

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