... a utility for indexing variables
This is the second of two
Variable utility programs. The first VARSORT1 which you will need to use
this program appeared in issue 11.
This is a program which
takes the sorted variables put to disc by VARSORT1, allows you to add a
30 letter description of their use and then print them to screen, paper
or disc.
A description of the program
follows:
GET THE VARIABLES
Line
100 begins by dimensioning the string variables used in this program.
'AN' is then made equal to 10 (this is the length of the individual
variable strings within the long string). The screen is made full width,
and a channel opened for input from the keyboard.
Line
110 assigns various well used routines to variable names.
Line
120 assigns variables to the colours used. The numbers used are the
numbers to be POKEd into the registers.
Line
1000 sets the Graphics mode to 0, clears the cursor, POKES in the
colours, sets a TRAP sending the program to the MENU on detecting any
fault and empties A$.
Line
1010 sets D$ to equal "D: XXX.DAT", sets the print position
and prints the heading Title and underlines it.
Line
1015 begins by a precautionary closing of channel 1, opens channel 1 for
input from the above program and prints a couple of messages on screen.
Line
1020 waits for an input from the keyboard, this will be contained in
'A'. 'A' is checked and if 155 (RETURN) then the program goes on to line
1035.
Line
1025 adds the character represented by the ATASCII number in 'A' to A$.
Line
1030 sends the program back to line 1020 for another character.
Line
1035 - when RETURN was detected in line 1020 it signified that the file
had been fully loaded and this line then closes the channel.
Line
1040 clears the cursor, clears the screen, prints the heading title and
draws a line.
Line
1045 makes 'COUNT' equal to the length of A$ divided by the length of
the individual string as represented by 'AN'. 'LI' (the screen line
number) is set to 5, 'PO1' (the screen print position) is set to zero,
'COL' (the screen column number) is set to 1.
Line
1046 starts a loop `A' running from 1 to `COUNT'. 'PO' (representing the
position of the individual variable string within the long string,
changed on each pass - of course) is set to equal the pass through the
loop times the length of the individual variable string.
Line
1047 sets the screen print position, prints the variable and adds 1 to
the line counter.
Line
1048 checks 'LI', if 17 then 'COL' is checked, if 1 then 'LI' is reset
to equal 5, 'COL' to equal 2, 'PO1' to equal 14 and the program sent to
line 1060.
Line
1050 checks 'LI', if 17 then 'COL' is checked, if 2 then 'LI' is reset
to equal 5,'COL' to equal 3, 'PO1' to equal 28 and the program sent to
line 1060.
Line
1055 checks 'LI', if 17 then 'COL' is checked, if 3 then 'LI' is reset
to equal 5, 'COL' to equal 1, 'PO1' to equal zero and the program sent
to line 1072.
Line
1060 sends you back for another pass through the loop. When the loop is
finished and the variables are printed on screen in three columns, the
program passes on to line 1074.
Line
1072 prints a message at the bottom of the screen asking you to Press
any Key for another page - this occurs only when the screen is full -
pressing any key clears the screen and Line 1073 sends you back for
another pass through the loop and so prints more variables.
Line
1074 - when all variables are printed this line prints the total number
and the length of the containing string.
Line
1075 prints a message at the bottom of the screen and goes to the Menu.
ADD
DESCRIPTIONS
Line
2500 sets the graphics mode to 0, so clearing the screen in the process,
POKEs the colours for this section, clears the cursor, empties B$.
Line
2505 establishes the title for this section, centres, it prints it,
skips a line and draws a line.
Line
2510 starts a loop 'L' running from 1 to the length of A$ divided by the
length of the individual string ('AN'), establishes 'PO' to represent
the position of each individual string within the long string (A$), 'PL'
to equal the position of the Individual String (composed of both
variable and description) within 'B$'. The BREAK key is then
disabled.
Line
2515 causes the variable (and its number in the list) to be printed at
roughly a third down the screen.
Lines
2520 to 2525 ask you to enter a description of the variable on the
screen.
Line
2530 prints a line of 30 dots and then takes the print position back to
one space before the first dot and then asks for an input, which will be
held in E$.
Line
2535 makes F$ equal to the variable at present on screen. E$ is added on
to the end of F$ and E$ is emptied.
Line
2540 clears the screen and then prints near the top the contents of F$,
At the bottom of the screen you are asked if an alteration is needed.
'N' would send you on to line 2545, but any other key will send you to
line 2543 which clears F$ and sends you back to line 2515 to have
another go.
Line
2545 makes B$ (at the position defined by variable 'PL') equal to F$ and
then goes back for another pass through the loop. This continues until
the loop is finished and all the variables now have a description tagged
on to the end and are all placed in the long string (B$). The program
then goes to the 'Press any Key for Menu' subroutine.
MENU
Line
3000 sets the Graphics mode to 0, POKEs the colours for this section,
dears the cursor, establishes the title for this section, centres it,
prints it, skips a line and draws a line.
Line
3002 sets 'AN' to equal 10, 'BN' to equal 40 and places the print
position at the start of the sixth line.
Lines
3005 to 3030 print the items on the Menu. The positions of these lines,
after the initial POS. instruction is controlled by the first two
characters in each line being an Escape-Tab and an Escape-Shift-Down
Arrow.
Line
3035 skips a line and draws a line and then asks for you to input the
number of your choice.
Line
3040 awaits an input just the press of a key.
Line
3045 makes this input (by deducting 48) equal the numbers shown, if they
don't match then the program simply goes back to the start of the
MENU.
Line
3050 sends the program to the line number as contained in 'D'.
PRINT ON SCREEN
Line
4000 sets the Graphics mode to 0, POKEs the colours, clears the cursor,
prints the heading and draws a line.
Line
4005 sets 'COUNT' to equal the length of B$ divided by 'BN' (i.e., the
number of variables and descriptions) and sets 'LI' to 5.
Line
4010 starts a loop 'A' running from 1 to 'COUNT', makes 'PO' equal to
'A' times 'BN.
Line
4015 sets the print position, prints the variables plus their
descriptions (as defined by 'PO') and adds 1 to 'LI'.
Line
4020 checks 'LP, if 19 then 'LP is reset to 5, a message printed at the
bottom of the screen - Press any Key. Upon doing so the screen clears
and line 4025 sends the program back for another pass through the
loop.
Line
4030 - when the loop is done and the variables all printed you are asked
to press any key for the Menu.
PRINT OUT?
Line
5000 sets a TRAP for line 5005, prints (on the MENU
and above the item Printer) a request to input the title that you wish
the printed copy to bear. The program then skips line 5005.
Line
5005 is the error line, requesting you to check the printer. and then
sends the program back to the start of the MENU section.
Line
5010 asks you to Please Wait. The title is then printed to paper.
Line
5015 starts a loop 'A' and 'PO' is again set
Line
5020 then prints the variable, a gap, and then the description to paper.
Line
5025 goes back for another pass through loop 'A'
Linu
5030 rings the Bell and then goes back to the Menu.
Line
6000 sets a TRAP to go to MENU. As in the print section. a request is
printed above the item 'Disc' on the Menu asking you to enter the
Filename under which you wish to save to disc. This input is held in
DD$.
FILENAME SUBROUTINE
Line
6005 sets D$ to equal D then DD$ is added to that The filename is then
checked and if found to have two D:'s
or
a number where a letter should be the program will return to the Menu.
Line
6010 asks you to Please Wait, rings a bell, opens a channel to write to
disk using the filename you have input, prints the data to disk, closes
the channel, rings the bell and returns to the Menu.
SCREEN DISPLAY SUBROUTINE
Line
10000 creates a loop `B' which prints a blank line from line 22 to line
5 and then returns.
Line
10020 is the 'Press any key for Menu' routine, which it prints at the
bottom of the screen, waits for an input, pauses and returns.
Line
10040 prints a line of asterisks and returns.
Line
10090 prints a blank line and returns.
Line
10100 prints, at the bottom of the screen, a 'Please Wait' message and
then returns.
These
two programs are very useful for sending in programs to magazines as
readers find descriptions of variables used to be helpful. Also I hope
that the utilities will enable you to analyse your own programs and
maybe improve your programming techniques.
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