Print At On Your C128
by Ken Stroehel

Reprinted from GOCUG, January 1989

While the 128's deluxe BASIC 7.0 does not have a PRINT AT command in and of itself, many users will be relieved to know that the CHAR command (page 242/243 of the System Guide) can be used in such a manner to allow you to place text at a particular position on either the 40/80 column text screen or a 40 column bit mapped graphics screen.  However, there is a slight quirk when using the CHAR command with the 128's unique split screen/graphics and the window mixtures (GRAPHIC2 and GRAPHIC4 on the 40 column screen).  The CHAR command when using GRAPHIC2 or GRAPHIC4 will only place text on the graphics bit map portion of the screen.  If you try to place characters at a certain position on the exact portion of the screen with the CHAR command, the text will appear on the GRAPHICS screen in the specified position even if that portion of the graphics screen is not visible at the current time.  Here is a simple method to allow  the placement of text on the text portion of a split graphics/text screen:

SYS 49176,0,row,column:PRINT 'Your text'

This method will also work on a normal text screen without a graphics screen invoked, however this method will not place text on the graphics screen.  Note that the zero separating the memory address and your row values simply passes a zero to the .A register which is unused by this kernal routine.


Multitasking on the C   -128

Reprinted from GOCUG,   January 1989

This info comes from Com'  putoy Cult May   -June 88,   via the Savannah User Group Publication BYTS and BITS Nov. 88 issue via The Function Keys.  When you run a program in the 64 mode that replaces BASIC,   such as   Designer'  s Pencil   or    Doodle",   you can press the reset button to return to the 128 mode.  You can  run a basic program in 128,   break out of the program and type   GO64",   the  first program is still running on the 64 side.


If your C   -128 just locked up while running a BASIC program,   here'  s how to  regain control of the computer and save the BASIC program in memory.  Hold   down the run   /stop key and press the reset button.  You will then come up in  the MONITOR.  Type '  x'   to get back to BASIC.  List your program   - it should  still be there.


C128 Scroll Slow   -Down
by John Poland 
Reprinted from RANDOM BITS via CURVE via CHUG

Want to slow down the scroll of a pgogram listing or a long directory listing   without holding the C   = key   ?  Press the ESC key,   then the letter A key.  Lists   or directories will now be slow until RESET,   RUN   /STOP   -RESTORE,   or ESC C   (press   ESC,   the C   ) is pressed.


C-128 Screen Flashing
SYNTAX ERROR via CURVE via CHUG

Flash any PRINT statement in C-128 mode by adding a CHR$(15) between the PRINT   and the quotation mark.

C-128 Tip
by Danny Gaspard
Reprinted from BRACE via CHUG

Type the following in Direct Mode:

BANK 15 : SYSS 32800,123,45,6 <Return>

You'll see the designers of the 128, and a small message. (128 mode only).


80 column B   /W Cable for the C128
by John Poland
Random Bits via CURVE via CHUG

Making an 80 column black and white monitor cable for use with the C   -128 and a 1702 or a VCR,   or a modulator and game switch to a color or black and white TV   set   :

Materials needed   :
1 9   -pin male sub   -d connector plug  278   -1537
1 9   -pin sub   -d connector hood  278   -1539
1 RCA type phono jack
1 Single conductor shielded wire long enough to reach from C128 to monitor (278 numbers are Radio Shack stock numbers.)

1.  Solder one end of the wire to the RCA plug,   center conductor to plug
center,   shield to plug shield.
2.  Solder the other end of the center conductor to pin 7 of the sub   -d
connector.  This is the monochrome output.
3.  Solder the shield wire to pin 1 of the sub   -d connector.
4.  Place cover over sub   -d connector and screw it together.
5.  Plug the sub   -d connector into the C128 jack.
6.  Plug the RCA plug into the phono jack on the front of the 1702 monitor or VCR or modulator.
7.  The switch on the back of the 1702 monitor is then used to switch between 40 and 80 columns.


80   -column Display Help
CCCC via CHUG

To improve the 80   -column display,   try this one   -liner from Twin Cities 128 via the Cougar.

POKE 54784,  9   :POKE 54785,  232

   (try other numbers between 231 and 235   ).  This changes the number of raster lines per character,   placing the pixels closer together.


Loading Commercial Programs
COUGAR Courier via CHUG

Here'  s a tip from Jim Butterfield to help you load commercial programs on the 128 in 64 mode.  If you have a problem loading commercial software,   try pushing the CAPS LOCK KEY before loading any program with a compatibility problem.  Apparently the value in memory location   #1 is different on the 64 and the 128.  Pushing the CAPS LOCK KEY on the 128 will store the same number.